If you’re interested in participating in the Geek Out Challenge, read this post here! Each day I will be posting a question for that day for the next 30 days. When I reach day 31, I will release all 30 questions in a single post with links to all of my answers. Follow along each day with your own post or feel free to wait until the entire challenge has been released and take it on when you like! Be sure to link back to the master post at the end or link back to each post for each day.
Day 7 – What fandom do you love that you didn’t think you would?
Well all have that one fandom that we were absolutely positive we’d hate when a friend introduced us to it. For me, that fandom was Doctor Who. I really enjoy telling this story about how I feel in love with the British TV show, because not only was I able to rise out of terrible and abusive situation and move on, but also because it’s an amazing origin story about how I fell in love with one of my all time favorite fandoms.
After just (literally just) getting out of an abusive relationship, I found myself lost and feeling like I didn’t have a purpose. I had called my parents and best friend the weekend before and finally told them about everything that was happening. They all got in their vehicles and had me moved out and back into my parents’ home in one day. I had been living with my parents again for about week and was feeling super low about myself and situation.
I felt like a failure on so many levels. My 5 year abusive relationship had come to an end after I finally put my foot down after an extremely explosive fight that shook me awake to my situation. Despite how toxic it was, it still hurt to end it. I had lost so many friends during that time, too. I had to call my mom and ask her for her help because I didn’t know what to do, just that I had to get out of there. I had to move back in with my parents and commute to my job again on top of it all.
Things were pretty bad. My mental health was in the worst state that it had ever been in. It was during these tough times that Alec pushed me to finally watch Doctor Who. I was vehemently against watching it for some really stupid reasons. 1) I’m not that big of a Sci-Fi fan, which is a LIE. 2) It’s too popular, but when has that stopped me before? 3) It looked silly, and it sounded silly! But what did I have to lose? I needed a distraction and one episode wouldn’t hurt…
One episode was enough to keep me coming back. Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper captured my heart. The distraction from my personal life was welcomed and healed my broken heart in a way that only fandom can. That is until the first season ended, when I realized that the Doctor regenerates. Through my tears (and snotty nose), I told Alec I would never watch Doctor Who again! They took away Eccleston, and I didn’t want to get to know this new Doctor.
Alec gently prodded me back to Doctor Who after two weeks of “mourning” my first Doctor. He told me he thought I would really like the new Doctor, Tenant. I was hesitant but watched the episode anyway, and a Whovian was born! Alec was right; I LOVE David Tenant. I still missed Eccleston, but Tenant’s era really pushed me out of the darkness that my life had become.
I was getting out of bed. I was finding motivation to workout. I was eating better. I was happy to get out of the house. I rewarded myself with episodes of Doctor Who and enjoyed pinning things about the show on Pinterest. Alec and I watched tons of episodes together (that eventually became a part of our Skype date night activities once we were dating). I even had a Doctor Who college graduation party! Alec and I were also super close to having a Doctor Who themed wedding but ultimately decided to do something a little more classic and “us” instead.
Doctor Who was truly an important part of a dark time in my life despite not wanting to give it a chance initially. To think that I put up such a fight about watching it is laughable now. After all, I love Sci-Fi, and I’ve never cared about jumping on the bandwagon before. I might have been worried about how cheesy the show was, but that honestly only added to its charm. It lifted my spirits during an emotionally trying time, and continues to bring me immense joy today. I’m thankful for the hard times I endured and am looking forward to all the brighter times I have ahead. There’s only one real way to end this post and that’s with…
Allons-y!
What fandom do you love that you didn’t think you would? Let me know in the comments below OR take on the challenge yourself and link back to this post so I can see your answer!
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Though I never had to much love for it on it’s initial run, I started watching the Dragon Ball Kai remake of DBZ, for some reason I got really into it. (The Sub ) The series itself just clicked and the community behind it was pretty fun as well. Though the series is very flawed narratively speaking it just feels me with a primal sense of enjoyment. Love the villians, and the side characters much more than Goku.. but most seem to agree and it’s really fun to talk about with them and seeing their videos and thoughts about it all.
There is much more than guys shouting.
Unfortunatly the whole Monica Rial versus Vic thing put so much drama on the thing I dropped the Dub completely. No matter which side you believe there are some terrible people there with no love for the show but only for themselves … the japanese releases are keeping me happy though
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Ah, it really does suck when fandom drama happens. I met Vic at a convention, once and he was super polite. I initially read everything that was going on and it did affect how I started viewing some of my favorite fandoms, because you just never know.
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I do not know who is right and wrong in the whole KickVic regardless of what side people are on though, people are throwing each other under a bus there. Weird how it is no longer about the fans but very much about them all. No matter who did what, that is very bad for a fanbase. creating division and hate.
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I agree.
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Good grief I remember Dr Who, being the offensively British chap that I am it’s nice to hear about Dr Who again. It’s been a few years since I’ve watched it but my favorite series were 2 and 3. The Yana reveal was near perfect and the Daleks are at their absolute best in these 2 series, plus the cyber men, slitheen, family of blood, clockwork robots just so many iconic and amazing creatures.
But anyway, a franchise I never thought I’d like was Godzilla. Back in the day I used to think things like Godzilla were silly, grown men trampling around a mini city like an episode of Power Rangers seemed so stupid to me. But sure enough, I grew to love the Big G and now he’s a quintessential aspect of my pop culture loving life. I also got into other Kaiju franchises like Kamen Riders, Gamera and general Toho/Japanese tokasatsu culture. Godzilla for me is an example of the phrase “Don’t knock it till you try it” cos now I’ve been exposed to the wacky nature but also hard hitting drama this franchise can bring, I can’t help but love it through and through.
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That is so cool! I never would have guessed Godzilla.
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Oh me too, and now he makes up like 50% of my blog XD
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Just wanted to say love your challenge and will def be doing on my blog during this year sometime !!! love it megan !! Guess for me was Harry Potter. off the top of my head, I l loved medieval and magical things growing up and believing in what is not possible like a loser LOL. I’m not hardcore as anyone else but still love the films, characters and have been meaning to get some merch of it. haha.
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I can’t wait to see your answers, Lita!
I have a lot of love for HP, too. I loved magic when I was younger (and still do)!
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I plan to do this for september 🙂 so cannot wait haha 🙂
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I can relate to this. I watched a Youtuber back in high school explaining Doctor Who and was like, “I have no interest in this.” Give it 5-6 years and I binged it all in months. Never thought I’d give it a chance. Really enjoying reading your answers to this challenge 🙂
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Thank you so much, Meagan! ❤ It's funny how similar our experiences were. 🙂
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At a former workplace it seemed like everyone I came across was a Doctor Who fan. I knew of the show, but that’s about it, so I made my way through the Doctors 9-11 and was surprised at how invested I became after just a few episodes.. This was right before Peter Capaldi began as The Doctor, who I love JUST ABOUT as much as David Tennant 🤓
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David Tennant is my favorite, too! Capaldi was great as well. I’m not currently caught up (which stinks), but I hope to catch up as soon as I can.
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I really like Jodie Whittaker as the new Doctor as well. I knew her from watching Broadchurch, another British show that I love
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I also watched her in Broadchurch but haven’t had the chance to see her as the Doctor yet!
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Wife and I have watched every Dr. Who ever made. Tom Baker defined the character for us.
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Wow! That is amazing! My mom’s favorite Doctor is also Tom Baker. 🙂
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It is a sure sign of impending old age.
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