It's a Cult Phenomenon [Overview]

My name is Jen, and I am addicted to stories. This is why I attend Comic-Con, the mecca for story-lovers. Here is where I tell you about it.

So, I've thought a lot about how to post about Comic-Con. I think some people want to know every single detail of every panel and watch videos of them. To them I say, you should actually attend! The experience of watching it online or reading about it can't compare even a little bit. Maybe 1%. I honestly had to remind myself multiple times during the Captain America movie yesterday that screaming loudly and clapping for everything wasn't really appropriate social behavior outside of the Con. I seriously have no voice from screaming and laughing so much. Anyway, I decided to break it up. Today is a basic overview with my favorite and least favorite panels. 

Let me start with addressing a comment that I (and people I know) get a lot. Mostly from the dismissive people, I guess, who are looking for an excuse for why they didn't buy a ticket to the Con. That is this (now pay attention): if you want to go to panels, and you plan correctly, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND IN LINE (well, not much, anyway). Here's the thing, after four days of Comic-Con-ing, my butt is way more sore than my feet. This means I spent way more time sitting in panels than waiting in line. Here's the trick: get your badge on Wednesday, and then come early to get in the Ballroom 20 or Hall H lines each day and sit and chill. It is nice and cool, you can eat your breakfast, hang with your friends, read a book, even take a nap. And then, as soon as the doors open, you get right in.

The sun isn't beating down on your head, you're not inching forward slowly for hours, and everyone is in a good mood. You don't have to wait for people to leave and I seriously did not miss one panel this year and we had great seats.

The other side of this is, if you want to go to one panel at the end of the day, this strategy won't work. You have to be a serious panel-goer, or else you should just hang out in the exhibit hall or go to minor panels. If you are in line behind 7,000 others for the last panel of the day and it's starting in an hour, you aren't getting in. If you go get into Ballroom 20 and watch the first 7 panels that you don't care about just for the last panel of the day, that doesn't make you a serious panel-goer, it makes you a jerk. Leave the seat free for the serious TV fans. I never feel guilty about my strategy because I'm legitimately interested in the panels, otherwise I wouldn't be in the room. I agree that Comic-Con needs a better system for those people who just want to attend one or two panels, but with the current system, this is the best strategy.

Anyway, I wrote down tidbits throughout the weekend and took lots of pictures. Keep in mind, I'm a TV person more than anything, so I don't really go to movie panels, and I don't spend much time in the exhibit hall because you can't do all the panels and the entire exhibit hall, and it makes me a little crazy. Plus, the best swag is exclusively for panel-goers anyway. I have lots of new t-shirts now. Enough to outfit me for Comic-Con next year plus more if I didn't make my own. More on those things later. Now, it's time for my favorite and least favorite panels.

Favorite panel: It's a tie between Game of Thrones and Doctor Who. I loved that Doctor Who was in Hall H this year. Thank you for that. I actually most likely wouldn't have gone to Hall H at all otherwise. Doctor Who was great because the stars are so sweet and likeable and grateful. They are so appreciative of their fans, and they showed an amazing sneak peak for the second half of the series. Plus, Matt said "Bow ties are cool" during the panel, which is a major win.

Game of Thrones was pretty epic because of George R.R. Martin's moderating and Jason Momoa. Momoa was hilarious. He was wearing Drogo eye makeup and he yelled in Dothraki. He also said his favorite scene was a sex scene and then put his arm around Emilia Clarke. He did another hilarious thing that I can't really share because I don't post spoilers on my blog, but suffice it to say he was very funny. Martin wasn't the most epic moderator ever, but since he wrote the books, having him there at all was awesome, and he did a great job. I felt a little sorry for poor Lena Headey, who desperately wants to find some humanity in Cersei Lannister. Sorry, Lena, she's just that evil.

Least Favorite Panel: Without a doubt, it was The Big Bang Theory. Jim Parsons was great and seemed very shy, and Kunal Nayyar was really enthusiastic and just so happy to be there. The others, though... Kaley Cuoco, “America's sweetheart," proved that just because you look sweet doesn't mean that you actually are. She insulted and mocked a very nice and nervous fan. Come on Kaley, that's not what Comic-Con is about (unless you're Seth MacFarlane). Simon Helberg, when Chris Hardwick (the moderator) asked him about his “nerdy side,” vehemently denied that he was nerdy multiple times and made the most disgusted face. Great move in a room full of 4,250 admitted nerds, Simon. I know that the cast are mostly “Norms” or “Muggles” as I like to call them, but seriously, get over yourselves. Ugh.

Ok, I don't want to end on that note. To end, you get some pictures of Kit Harington looking absolutely terrified for no reason.

More later, including a swag post!