A Recap & Ranking Of Conventions I Attended In 2014

So, halfway through my review of Buffy’s “Tabula Rasa”, I needed a break. Sometimes these really deep, intricate reviews can severely mentally drain you. Especially when you’re trying to juggle a full-time job, two part-time jobs, and two university modules at the same time. Therefore, to counteract all this work...I decided to create more for myself by writing this recap of my times on the convention scene in 2014, as well as giving some general advice and information about conventions and ticket types (primarily in the United Kingdom). Now, unlike my other convention-related posts, this one won’t be 20-25 A4-pages long. This is because, frankly, I’ve already written gigantic reviews of the conventions themselves, so most of the details are contained within those specific reviews. I will try to keep this post as brief as possible...but you know I get excited and fan-flailey, so bear that in mind. What this post will do is recap the year, talk about some of the highlights, talk about some of the best guests, and talk about advantages and disadvantages of different convention companies.

Angel, "Offspring" Review (3x07)

Brief Synopsis: “As the crew researches a prophecy predicting the imminent arrival of a being that may have a profound impact on the world, Darla arrives at the hotel, pregnant, angry, and looking for daddy Angel. Cordelia, hurt that Angel lied to her about sleeping with Darla, takes Darla’s side in the matter. As vampire births should be impossible, Angel looks to Lorne for answers.”

Buffy The Vampire Slayer, "Once More With Feeling" Review (6x07)

Brief Synopsis: “A mysterious demon has arrived in Sunnydale and brought with it the ability to make everyone in town burst into song and dance, revealing their innermost secrets. The strange musical influence over Sunnydale takes a more sinister turn when some people can’t stop dancing and burst into flames. Can Buffy and the Scoobies stop the demon before they spill their secrets and become human torches?”

Angel, "Billy" Review (3x06)

Brief Synopsis: “A wave of unexplained and extreme violence against women is traced back to Billy, the young man that Angel was forced to free from a demonic prison a few weeks earlier. Billy's merest touch can cause an otherwise good man to become violently misogynistic...and the results can be deadly. Can Billy be stopped before the infected Wesley hurts Fred, who are alone in the hotel together?”

Buffy The Vampire Slayer, "All The Way" Review (6x06)

Brief Synopsis: “Dawn sneaks out and spends Halloween night with a friend and two guys. What Dawn isn’t aware of is that the two guys are vampires and are contemplating turning her into one as well. Meanwhile, Tara expresses concern that Willow is too reliant on magic, while Xander and Anya celebrate their engagement in public.”

Angel, "Fredless" Review (3x05)

Brief Synopsis: “Fred’s parents make a surprise visit to Angel Investigations, trying to hunt down their daughter. Rather than being happy to see her parents for the first time in five years, Fred runs away from them in terror. Are Fred’s parents as loving as they seem or do they want to find their daughter for a darker purpose? Meanwhile, a strange insect-like demon is stalking Angel.”

"Buffy Fanmeet" Review

Guests met and discussed in this review :-

• Eliza Dushku

• James Marsters

• Nicholas Brendon

Buffy The Vampire Slayer, "Life Serial" Review (6x05)

Brief Synopsis: “Buffy decides that in order to pay her mounting bills and take care of Dawn she must go back to college and find herself a job. These new ventures are made much more difficult when ‘The Trio’ decide to test the Slayer with a series of challenges to determine the extent of her abilities.”

Angel, "Carpe Noctem" Review (3x04)

Brief Synopsis: “An old man casts a body-switching spell on Angel and enjoys the many pleasures of being eternally young, handsome, and bloodthirsty in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Angel is dying in an old man’s body in a retirement home. Can Angel Investigations figure it out and save Angel before his human heart gives out?”

Wales Comic Con 2014 Part II - A Detailed Review

Guests met and discussed in this review (with the franchise I most associate them with personally) :-

• Anthony Head (Rupert Giles in “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”)

• Emily Head (Anthony’s Daughter & Carli in “The InBetweeners”)

• Mark Sheppard (Badger in “Firefly”, Crowley in “Supernatural”, and King of the nerd TV shows)

• Ian Beattie (Ser Meryn Trant in “Game Of Thrones”)

• Road Warrior Animal (Wrestler)

• Booker T (Wrestler)

• Lance Storm (Wrestler)

• Doug Williams (Wrestler)

• Paul London (Wrestler)