Top 10 for 2014 (A New Year's Mega-Post!)

Happy New Year everybody!

We are big fans of New Years around these parts. There's something sort of magical about the promise of new beginnings, and it's always nice to reflect on what the past year has brought into your life. In that spirit, we've gotten together our top ten of 2014. "Top Ten of what?" you say. Well rather than limiting ourselves, we've decided that this is more of a grab-bag. Our top ten whatevers that have brought us joy or interest or definition in the last year. So without further ado, here is our official Top Ten of 2014, in no particular order. 

#1 - The Wicked and The Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie

Caitlin: Holy crap. This was the comic this year that came out of left field and knocked me on my ass. Gorgeous art. Interesting characters. The first five issues have been released in novel form. I cannot oversell this book. If you have even a passing fondness for graphic novels you will be just as obsessed as I am by page 5. 

CT: Confession time; I finally read The Wicked and The Divine this week and absolutely everything Cait says up there is true. It's a really unique and interesting story, and I basically want to pull random pages out and just hang them on my wall because the art is so beautiful. 

Caitlin: Yeah but we would never really rip pages out of the comics. Right? RIGHT?!?!

#2 - Seattle

CT: Oh, beautiful Seattle. Caitlin and I both have friends up in the Seattle/Olympic Peninsula area and we get up there just about every opportunity that we can. This summer I took the train from LA to Seattle and spent a week up there. It was one of the most wonderful, relaxing vacations of my life. We both love love love the city and the area, and we're really hoping to fit in a little writing retreat up there this year. 

#3 - Stomach Aches (frnkiero andthe cellabration)

Caitlin: Good grungy punk music for anyone who's a fan of The Bouncing Souls or Rancid. My favorite track is probably "Tragician", but the best song title of the year (and possibly the decade but we will give everyone else another 5 years just in case) goes to "She's the Prettiest Girl at the Party and She Can Prove It With a Solid Right Hook".

#4 - The Secret Place by Tana French

CT: Holy cows and horses and everything else you can find on a farm. This book. Ok, so let me back up just a moment. Tana French's novels are all set in the Dublin Murder Squad, and are really some of the most outstanding crime novels out there. Without ever delving too deep into the supernatural, French manages to work little bits of magic around the edges of the world. Like you could just see it out of the corner of your eye. The Secret Place is her newest novel, and picks up (as many of her books do), characters that you've met before on the periphery of her other books. This was one of those books that I devoured in about three days, and then thought about obsessively for a couple of weeks, and then finally just reread immediately. Whether you're really into mystery novels or not, I would definitely recommend this book. 

#5 - Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Caitlin: Like any good nerd I am on board with Marvel's cinematic game. By the end of the summer everyone was so enthralled with Guardians of the Galaxy (with good reason) that Cap is probably going to be overlooked a lot, but I don't think it should be. Marvel managed to give us a comic book inspired spy thriller. And you know the SHIELD reveal shocked the shit out of you; don't even try to play it cool. 

CT: Yes and yes. This movie had the feel of a Cold War era spy novel, but with all the wit and heart that Marvel has imbued all of their films with. Now, I'm definitely biased because Captain America is one of my favorite characters of all time, but this was a really spectacular movie all around. 

#6 - Hannibal

CT: I feel comfortable speaking for the both of us when I say that this is probably one of our favorite shows of all time. To start off, we're huge fans of Thomas Harris' original books, along with Silence of the Lambs and Manhunter (we're touch and go with the other movies). We're writers, readers, and watchers that are obsessed with world building, and this is a first class world. Bryan Fuller's reimagining of the Hannibal story is as dark as they come, but at the same time gorgeous. The cinematography on this show is unmatched, and the score is wholly unique. We both literally cheered with joy when they were given another season. I personally cannot wait to see what Fuller does with Francis Dolarhyde.

Caitlin: CT is right. This show is probably my favorite thing on network TV. We both look up to Fuller so much, and he is such a huge influence on our style of writing. You're not a true fan of this show until you can eat while you're watching it...

#7 - Ledges (Noah Gundersen)

Caitlin: I've been a fan of Noah for a few years now, and as such I was thrilled when he released his first full length album this last February. I've become an active recruiter to his fanbase, and I force almost everyone I know into sharing my obsession with this kid. From the opening song, this is a strong, multilayered album. It's for sale on iTunes, or if you are like me and need a physical copy check out noahgundersenmusic.com. 

CT: I went with Caitlin to Noah Gundersen's concert in LA last February, mostly because it was at the Troubador and I'd never seen anything there before. But my jaw dropped at the first note of music (Noah and his siblings opened the show with the four of them a cappella) and Caitlin basically had to scoop me up and carry me home at the end of the night. Since then Ledges has been playing non-stop in our house, our cars, our hearts (okay, okay, might have gotten a little carried away there). Just listen to him, though. Sheeesh. 

#8 - As Above, So Below / The Quiet Ones

CT: I love a good horror movie, but I'm SUPER picky about them because so many are disappointing. And it seems like horror movies find a technique that really works and then everyone imitates it until it's been run into the ground. That's very much the case with "found footage" films. It's everywhere because it's a really, really effective way to make your audience feel like they're stuck in the situation with the characters. But unless it's used well, "found footage" can just make your horror movie clunky and cliche. Both of these films really used found footage well. Rather than being the crutch, it was just a technique used to tell an already well put together story. I found myself caring about the characters in both movies, and wanting them desperately to find their way out of the situation (something that's increasingly rare in horror movies for me). In addition (and I think this is huge), both of these movies stuck the ending and in very different ways. They've both stayed with my since I saw them, and I will definitely be seeing both again. 

#9 - Musketeers (BBC)

Caitlin: As a big fan of all things swash and/or buckle, this show was my jam. It has lots of really good looking guys with swords and ladies who know how to throw a punch. For the Whovians out there Peter Capaldi plays the villain for season 1. I really recommend this show for anyone who likes a bit of swordplay and snappy dialogue in their TV experience. The new season starts in just a few weeks, so you still have time to catch up before the next adventure begins. 

#10 - The Good Wife

CT: I blew this show off for WAY too long. It's kind of a terrible title, and I'm generally not really into legal dramas. But finally I decided to check it out and I think I watched the entire thing in about a month. My GOODNESS this show is full of talented people. It's incredibly well written, with a fascinating set of characters. Julianna Margulies is a force of nature, and I will follow Alan Cumming to the ends of the earth. It's not sci-fi or fantasy or any of the other things that usually blow my hair back, but it is wonderful storytelling and high class drama. 

We hope all of you have had a wonderful year! Here's to  2015 to remember!

Much Love, 

Caitlin & CT