The Smashing & Dashing 2025 Character Awards! // feat. movies and shows, too, because I can't help it

Hi, friends!

I've already listed out all the books I read in 2025 and all the movies I watched in 2025, but it isn't enough to just say them, I want to talk about the characters.

I know, I know, I should stop talking about 2025 and just move on with the new year. The thing is, though, that I experienced about 100 different stories last year, from words on a page to people on a screen! One doesn't just get over that.

With the recent announcement of the Oscar nominees for this year, I'm in the mood to give out some awards myself. Therefore, I'm going to fill out the Smashing & Dashing 2025 Character Awards! Credit to C. G. Drews of PaperFury for creating the tag ages ago, and to Katie Hanna and Sarah Seele for always reminding me about it. Their posts are awesome, you seriously need to check them out. I'm just a copycat.

But me being me (i.e. too obsessed with a visual format), I'm going to be including characters from movies and TV shows, so each question will get a book answer and a movie/TV show answer.

Additionally, I'm going to try to only use each story once as I have a ton to choose from. Wish me luck!

Just because I'm talking about these characters does not mean that I like the stories they are from, but they should get props all the same. Let's get into it!

1. Most Relatable Character

Book: Harriet Manners from Geek Girl. I'd related to her in the TV show and just as much in the book. I want to read the rest of the series ASAP. She's awkward but adorable and I want to strive to have heart compassion.

Movie/TV show: Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries. She's just wants to do her job and experiment with poisons and not be bothered by people. I'm not into poisons, but there were so many times that I felt what she was feeling, especially when Jinshi is trying to be sparkly and flirty and Maomao has her priorities in a different place. 

#notimpressed

2. Most Pure Animal Companion

Book: Paganini, who is a rabbit, from the Vanderbeekers books! Those kiddos also have a sweet, sweet dog, but I can't think of his name right now.

Movie/TV show: This has made me realize how few animals I see in movies and that makes me sad. The cow from The Rare Breed (1966) is pretty stinking cute. His name is Vindicator, which doesn't quite live up to how adorable he is, but that's fine. The poor guy has been dragged all over the place, from England to the Wild West!

3. Fiercest Fighter

Book: Agatha from The School for Good and Evil. She and her best friend Sophie are stuck in a magical school and Aggie will stop at nothing until they're out of there, and she has tons of obstacles to face, like Sophie herself.

Movie/TV show: Evelyn from Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). If you've seen the film I don't think any explanation is needed. If you haven't, just know that Evelyn is facing both physical and emotional battles.

4. Am Surprised That I Loved You??

Book: Lord Peter Whimsey from Gaudy Night. I'd read Whose Body? a couple of years ago and did not like Peter. Here, I had several times where I was cheering for him. He'd mellowed and had a deeper side and we met his nephew which explained a lot.

Source

Movie/TV show: Mary Yellan from Jamaica Inn (1939). This is surprising because I'm not usually a fan of her Maureen O'Hara's acting, but I sympathized with her immediately (debut for the win!) because she's just trying to find a new home and instead immediately gets thrown into conspiracies.  

5. Best Sassmaster

Book: Hercule Poirot from The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot. I already talked about this, but he says such cutting things to Hastings and I love it. I should've written down more of what he said because at least once per story he had me giggling. 

Movie/TV show: Myeol-mang/Kim Sa-ram from Doom at Your Service (2021). ACK. I LOVE my sassy boy. I mean with iconic blue/green hair the sass has to live up to the look. He's the personification of doom itself, and has been nihilistic for a while until he found someone to bother. Then the sass comes out full force when he's in front of Dong-kyung. For example, he can hear peoples thoughts and the first time we see him, someone has bumped into him and thought, "wow, he's handsome" which Sa-ram immediately answers out-loud with "I know." 

And now my computer dashboard is covered in gifs of him that I don't know what to do with, so another one is going into this post. It's the only rational thing to do.

That sassy smirk!

6. Best Antihero

Book: André-Louis from Scaramouche. He does some heroic things, but the term might fit him because he doesn't believe what he's saying, he's just using a means to an end? I already compared him to Anne Elliot, so check out that post for more about him.

Movie/TV show: Charlie Babbitt from Rain Man (1988). He's a jerk, he's selfish, he's greedy, and to top it all off he's kidnapped his brother. Then he grows and goes through some character development and does unexpected things so that I was cheering for him.

7. The Best Friends Of All

Book: Betsy and Tacy. Tacy is bashful (sorry, I will never get over that being the one word used to describe her) but not around Betsy! They trust each other and will do anything for each other. Even skipping school, kind of.

Movie/TV show: My dudes Arjun, Kabir, and Imran from Zindagi na Milegi Dobara (2011)! They have their issues (especially two of them have beef with each other) but they work through it (with Kabir's help of being the peacemaker) and I love them. 

8. Best Villain To Hate

Book: The Snow Queen from Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy! She is horrible to the sweet Marvelous Boy and I just want to keep him safe.

Movie/TV show: Velma Von Tussle from Hairspray (2007). She's HORRIBLE. Yes, I guess the word I use to describe villains is horrible as I've used it for both these gals, but it's true!

9. Award for Best vs. Worst YA Parents

I don't really read enough YA to say, so we're just going with parents in general. And having four seems like a lot, so I'll have one from a movie/show and one from a book.

Best: (Book) Peter and Kira from Beartown. This book in and of itself can capture such a spectrum from best to worst for parenting, and in addition to being amazing parents, Peter and Kira are now one of my favorite couples of all time. They go through absolutely horrible things and have to figure out how to keep their family together and how to feel whole again.

Worst: (Movie/TV show) Do Min-Ik's mother from The Secret Life of My Secretary (2019). Her son isn't really her son, but he loves her and they act like they are related and all Min-Ik wants in life is to be loved by her. Early on there's this moment where the mother is telling him who he should date (for mergers in the company) and he asks, "If I do this, will you accept me as your own?" and she callously replies: "Her family will, at least." CRUEL.

10. Ship Of All Ships In 2025

Book: I'm really struggling with this one, now that I've already used Peter and Kira. But they don't even really qualify as a ship because they got together long before the book started. 

Aaaaaaaaaand, I've got nothing that I haven't already used, which is pretty sad. But, I do complain every time I read romances, so maybe it should be expected. I have to dip into my rereads from last year, so in that case it would be my All the Crooked Saints couples. Forever and ever, Beatriz and Pete. Forever and ever, Marisita and Daniel. *hugs them*

Movie/TV show: Let's see how many times I can get away with talking about k-dramas...I'm giving this award to my DARLING Woo Young-Woo and Lee Jun-ho from Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022). Just thinking about them I want to CRY because it's the cutest of all cute things and ACK. I can't. I watched most of this series in 2024, but in the three episodes that I watched in 2025 I cried several times just looking at Jun-ho's face. Real, body shaking, sobbing, tears. 

Find yourself a person who will listen to you talk as much as Jun-ho will listen to Young-Woo talk about whales. 

SOULMATES

11. Most Precious Must Be Protected

Book: Poppet and Widget from The Night Circus! I ADORE these twins and would do anything for them. They have premonitions that make them worried and it makes me say OH BABIES and just want to feed them hot chocolate and treats and keep them away from it all.

Movie/TV show: Pugsley Addams from Wednesday is a sweetie and I need him to be more careful because as it is, he doesn't think things through. He himself may not be the most precious from everything I watched, but he's definitely the one who most needs to be protected. HE JUST WANTS A FRIEND. And baby doesn't realize that a zombie is not an ideal friend. I want him and Agnes to become BFFs. Is that too much to ask? And she's got her head on her shoulders better than he does, so she can help protect him, too.

12. Honestly Surprised You’re Still Alive

Book: Sophie Foster from Legacy, book 8 of Keeper of the Lost Cities. The girl just goes through a lot, and it's amazing that she's made it this far, what with multiple near-death experiences in every book. Book 10 hasn't come out yet, so I can still be worried for her.

Movie/TV Show: Barry Allen from The Flash. I'm only 2 seasons in with 7 to go and I have no clue how Barry has lasted this long. I get it, he has supernatural recuperation skills, but dude. He basically breaks bones every day of his life and I just feel bad for the poor guy. And I'm fairly sure it's just going to get worse as the seasons go on.

13. Award For Making the Worst Decisions

Book: Poor Zoey from The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner. I relate to her, she's really trying to make her life better, but she does that in ways that hurt other people. She just needs a hug and a cupcake and someone to read her stories.

Movie/TV show: All of the characters in The Mummy (1999). I feel like banging my head against a sarcophagus watching them do things that they were told not to do. Like going back to the creepy haunted place. Or leaving each other alone when they are being hunted by supernatural beings. Come on, guys!

This was a valid reaction, though.

14. Most In Need Of A Nap

Book: Poly from Spindle. I know, she's been asleep for a couple of hundred years, but that wasn't good sleep. And besides, I get tired just reading about whatever Luck is doing without explanations, so I can only imagine being around him would want me to have a nap, too.

Movie/TV show: Brian from The Breakfast Club (1985). Poor baby is just trying to get good grades and escape from the pressure and is instead put into detention. And made to do all the work, which is totally unfair.

Honey, if you drink that Coke you won't be able to take a nap.

15. Want To Read/Watch More About You

Book: I want more of all of the stories in The Chronicles of Harris Burdick. More new stories, continuations to the old stories, all of it.

Movie/TV show: This is going to be a hot take, but I wanted more of Roger's mother, Mrs. Thornhill in North by Northwest (1959). I was vibing with that movie at the beginning when it was Roger trying to prove to his mother that he's not crazy and I wanted that to be the whole movie. I don't need Eve or anyone else, I wanted just the two Thornhills on a wild adventure. 

And with that, the awards have all been given out! Do you know any of these characters? How well do you think they deserve these awards? How would you describe best villains? Any one have any good k-drama suggestions (I just finished a new one and I need help)? Who are your favorite sassy characters?

Thank you for reading!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Inklings // December 2025

Hello, dear readers!

I hope you're all having a good MLK day today! Most of my posts this month have been wrapping up 2025 and that continues today as participate in the December 2025 addition of Heidi's monthly link-up, Inklings!

How it works:

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to Heidi's blog in your post.

2. Make sure to come back and leave a link to your entry in the box on that month's post: Heidi's post for December 2025.

This month's prompt is:

A party scene in book or film

This one took me a while to come up with because as an introvert, party scenes usually seem loud and overwhelming. But then I remembered my love for Barbie (2023). One day I'll get around to writing my thoughts about it, but for today I'll talk about the party scene!

There aren't spoilers in this post as this scene happens within the first 20 minutes of the movie. In fact, if you watch the trailer, this scene features pretty heavily. 

"Hey Barbie, can I come to your house tonight?"

Time to dance the night away. Planned choreography to a bespoke song ensues.

It's a real rager, but no party is complete with thinking deep dark thoughts.

*record scratch*

Barbie, perfect as ever, has a way to make up for it though.

But then the dancing seems to be controlling her more than she's controlling it.

I love this scene for several reasons, and the first is because, as my mom pointed out, the dancing is just what one thinks the Barbies one is playing with look like when having a party. Next, this world has been established as being a utopia, but this is a vital scene that reveals something else is going on. Such an abrupt tone shift is a masterpiece in storytelling and I love it.

What to all of you think of this scene? Anyone else have Dua Lipa stuck in their head now? Who would you be in this scene (I'd probably be Alan)?

Thanks for reading!

Chloe the MovieCritic

My Top 10 Movie Sequels // mysteries and time travel tend to get it right

Hi, friends!

A popular trend in cinema is to just do the same thing that's been done before, i.e. make a sequel or a remake of a previously made film, but this isn't anything new in Hollywood; just see how many Thin Man or Andy Hardy movies there were. As overused as it is, I get it; sometimes I watch a movie and think "that's so good, I wish there was a sequel!" 

What happens most frequently is when a sequel comes out it disappoints me (don't get me started on Descendants 3 (2019), Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), or The Son of Robin Hood (1956)). Today, however, I'm going to be looking at those few times when the sequel is just as good or even better than the first.

A rarity indeed, but it still happens! Enough for a top 10 list!

I'm disqualifying things like Marvel movies which are SET UP to have sequels or things that were already books with sequels (that would be a whole list in and of itself). For example, I really enjoy the sequel to Murder on the Orient Express (2017), but as Death on the Nile was already a book I loved I'm not counting.

Talking about sequels is always potentially ripe for spoilers for the original movie, but have no fear, there are no spoilers for any movies here! I'll just be talking about why I love the sequels without talking about the plot or what happened in the first movie. Enjoy!

Honorable mentions: Paddington 2 (2017), Mary Poppins Returns (2018), Descendants 2 (2017), Fantasia 2000 (1999), and Eloise at Christmastime (2003).

10. Men in Black 3 (2012)

I grew up watching the first two movies A LOT. They're quotable and fun, but can also feel a little corny, like they're trying too hard to be wacky. Which is a vibe in and of itself, but that means that sometimes I need to be in the right mood. This one, though, isn't just about fun, it has so much at stake emotionally. It can be HARD to do a time travel movie, but this one absolutely killed it.

It's super clever, too, as by going into the past they created a way to show off "new" tech, meaning 1960s tech, which baffles Jay. It's is an asset, but not always one that works, which creates a new challenge. That's how you do world building, even if your story is still on Earth.

I love getting to "meet" Kay again with a whole new perspective. Then Griffin is super fun, too. The 60s vibes complete with Andy Warhol and mercury cars and eating pie sell the whole story. 

9. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

I'm sorry, but I'm not a huge fan of the original movie. I know, I know, you should all be throwing your tomatoes at me. I think what it was missing was an older character to keep everyone grounded...like Indy's dad...

Yep, I love this one because it has Sean Connery. The dynamics between him and Harrison Ford are what make this for me.

I think it's like how in Pride & Prejudice you need the extremes of Lydia being silly and Mary being strict to understand how well balanced Jane and Lizzy are? If Indy is by himself he tends to annoy me, but in contrast to his father, I love what each of them brings to the dynamic.

My experience with this series is unorthodox as the first movie I saw was Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls, so maybe I got used to the idea of an older Indy and going back to the first didn't cut it for me? Whatever the reason, this is my ideal adventure story.

8. The Incredibles 2 (2018)

A disclaimer should be that I am not a fan of the original. Like, at all. It always creeped me and made me uneasy. Because of that, I was a little skeptical going in to a sequel, but no fear, I had a BLAST watching it.

I like that we get more time with the kids and the whole role-reversal for the parents (which may only be appreciated sequentially from the original). I love the struggles of navigating boys and math and a burning baby. The new characters we meet are fun and quotable ("Uncrush? Would you unpunch someone?") and even though I could see where the plot was going I wasn't complaining about it. It's about the journey, not the destination, right?

7. Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010)

I've actually watched this one a TON more than the original, so much so that I often forget that the first one exists. It's been long time since I saw last watched this, but now that I'm reminiscing I'm remembering how much I adore it.

I love the premise for this movie. Romances in movies are overrated; give me cousins that HATE each other. The first movie is about tension between siblings, which can happen, but this shows kids uniting against a greater evil: rich relatives. The way that the cousins bicker and then have to resolve their class differences? *chef's kiss*

There are wartime problems not for the faint of heart; "he fell over!" There are pigs and debt collection and ginger soda and gas masks and Nanny McPhee knowing the exact right thing to do.

6. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

I know I said I was disregarding the MCU, but let's talk about DC briefly: I'm not well versed in their universe, having only seen a couple movies, so I think of these as individual films. 

I only read one comic growing up, and that was Wonder Woman, from my mom's old collections. I LOVED Wonder Woman. So I was super hyped for the 2017 movie, and then it did not live up to that expectation one iota. Why are we in World War II?? Steve is a pilot but that's all the mention we get of any war? If you want war go watch Captain America. He's the one with a shield. Where's Diana's magic lasso and invisible plane??

This sequel, though, is my version of Wonder Woman. I love it. I've only seen it once, but the WHOLE TIME I was like yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. I see now that the first movie was to set up all of the payoffs for this, but I still think we could've jumped right to this epic spectacle. It even has the arena training! What's not to love? 

The vibe of 80s is so on point, complete with themes of indulgence and wishes and what they cost. I just love it a lot. And we get the Cheetah, so I'm happy.

5. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

When people say sequels are never as good as the first one, I agree with them, and then point to this movie. I talked about my love for the original last year and I have just about as high an opinion of the second one. I can't speak for the third or fourth movie, but this movie is solid.

Mainly because it has one of my favorite movie villains of all time: Lord Shen. Who would've ever thought of an evil albino peacock? It checks out, though, as peacocks are mean.

I love the way that the fighting styles are different for each animal, something that was carried over from the first film in full commitment as new warriors are introduced. The jokes are funny ("my old enemy: stairs.") and the stakes are high. It actually talks about some deep things, including the horrors of (though it never uses the word) genocide. I love the theme of inner peace and find it so powerful in relation to trauma.

4. Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

Mysteries have some of the best sequels as there's so much more fun in store to investigate. I don't love this one as much as the first, but it's still a delight and I ADORE getting more time with Sherlock. Especially because we see Sherlock and Enola interact more which brings out their similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses.

"One should always have steps to avoid people stepping on you. That's a tip. You should probably write that down." 

More screen-time for Enola and Tewkesbury is always a good time and this one plays into it adorably. Dance lessons and fan lessons and walks in the park. Tewkesbury really is trying his best and as his mother, I'm quite proud of him.

This film is a good continuation as it takes the message from the first movie ("you'll do well on your own, Enola") and tweaks it: one should be able to get by on one's own, but that doesn't mean that has to be the way it is. Because I love and relate to the first movie so much I think doing things on my own would be the extreme that I would fall into, so it's a good reminder to have. Enola inspires me by always being so willing to help others and any chance we get to watch that is a joy.

It's about fighting abuses in the working class, which is totally up my alley.

And there is another sequel coming this year! Expectations are high, but Jack Thorne hasn't let me down yet.

3. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

Did I mention that I love sequels to mysteries? Or maybe it's just Sherlock Holmes adaptations.

ACK. The VIBES, folks. From Guy Richie's directing choices to Hans Zimmer's score, this movie (and the first, too!) is immersive like no other. The pacing is on fire, the quips are witty and scorching, it's brilliant. There's Don Giovanni and roaming around Europe and chess.

Really, all a movie needs to get me devoted to it is to include chess elements.

It's so clever that everything I try to say about it seems dull in comparison, so just take that as one of the highest recommendations I can give. I could just watch this movie over and over again, and I know that because I have.

Plus, I've talked about it before, but I really love Madam Simza. She makes this whole movie for me.

The following get the top places as they have not just one sequel I adore, but multiple. They are:

2. Back to the Future Part II  and Part III

The second time travel story of this list, so maybe that's a sign.

You know how some people say that The Lord of the Rings is just one book? That's how I feel about these movies. They all go together so well, I think of them as just a solid chunk. Yet it wasn't originally planned to have a sequel, so I can count them in this list.

On paper, what they did in the sequels shouldn't work; they reused scenes from the first one basically shot for shot, just with a different context. It should be a cop-out, it shouldn't work...but it does. It's all about playing with history repeating itself and it's brilliant. It works because they change enough around everything else. It's cheesy at times but it knows it and plays into it. The audience knows certain "comeuppances" and can look forward to them and be satisfied.

The characters do the same things because they are who they are, but they also have moments of change. For example, Marty's character arc through all three is one of my all-time favorites, so what more could I want?

The first movie is classic and great as a standalone. The second movie introduces new themes (indulgences and depravity at its worst...huh, same as Wonder Woman 1984...) and gives a future to avoid. Then the third movie is probably my favorite of the whole bunch. My favorite genre of westerns are parodies (see Support Your Local Sheriff) and I love seeing Doc and Marty in the wild west, complete with inventions and Clint Eastwood references.

And finally, the series that claims the first spot is:

1. Star Wars 

It's a given, as this is one of my favorite stories of all time. The original is, of course, iconic, but the continuation in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and The Return of the Jedi (1983) gave the story so much more.

I mean, the huge plot twist didn't come until The Empire Strikes Back (1980), so without that we wouldn't be able to say, "Nooooooooooo!"

With that fan base established, "the prequels" and "the sequels" were born. Do I think every sequel in this franchise is great? No, as I've seen Rogue One (2016) twice and Solo (2018) once, and they were fine but not for me. I haven't gotten into the spin-off series such as The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch, Asoka, etc.. I can take or leave the prequels. The point is, it has created a lot of other stories that many people do enjoy, and that's beautiful. 

Speaking of the ones I really enjoy...

This is always controversial, but I LOVE the sequels; in fact, The Last Jedi (2017) might be my favorite movie of the whole series. I know, I know, crazy! And you probably feel Rick-rolled after reading this whole post just to get that answer. If you want my explanation for why, check HERE. 

Do I think Rise of Skywalker (2019) lived up to The Return of the Jedi? No, I don't, as the creators got caught up in marketing and trying to please everyone instead of making the story the way they wanted to. I still really love Rise of Skywalker (in fact, to this day it's the only movie that I've seen twice in the theater!) and think it has a ton of merits, just that as far as endings go, The Return of the Jedi takes the cake.

So let's talk about that.

The Return of the Jedi has everything I could want: facing one's fears and temptations, a masterclass in tension and suspense, and adorable Teddy bear creatures. It set up what redemption means so that the rest of the series (prequels and sequels) could follow. It became the standard for an ending, taking everything that had happened in the first two films and completing the (motion) picture.

I love it, and I hope the film says, "I know."

This is my entry in Hamlette and Quiggy's Film. Release. Repeat. Blogathon!

 If you want to hear discussions about more fun sequels or remakes, check it out! And thanks to Hamlette and Quiggy for hosting and giving me a chance to do one of my favorite things: make lists!

What are your favorite movie sequels? Are there any other mystery sequels I should watch? How do you feel about time travel? Has anyone else seen Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang? Thanks to all of you for reading! 

Chloe the MovieCritic