How We Hype is a twice-monthly feature on Hypable where we tell you what we’re doing in fandom over the weekend!
Meeting with my Harry Potter book club to discuss ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ ‘Quidditch,’ and ‘Beedle the Bard’ – Danielle Zimmerman
Since last summer, my friends and I have been meeting regularly to discuss the Harry Potter novels, one at a time. We formed our book club because we all wanted to re-read our favorite series and discuss details that we previously missed or things that still didn’t make sense to us. We’ve since finished the series, but haven’t wanted to move on just yet. So, we decided to read Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages, and Beedle the Bard after finishing Deathly Hallows. I can’t wait to discuss these companion books with my book club because the last time I read Fantastic Beasts and Quidditch was when I was in middle school and I have never before cracked open my copy of Beedle the Bard. It’s just so exciting to go through these books and see how all of the details J.K. Rowling wove into them connect to the series and the larger world. Plus, with Fantastic Beasts on the horizon, there’s no better time to discuss these pieces with a few great friends and some great food (and maybe even a butterbeer or two).
Introducing my friends to Whimsic Alley – Ariana Quiñónez
Fellow Hypable staffer (and my cyber-soulmate) Danielle visited me in Los Angeles this past weekend, and I knew we had to indulge our fandom side by visiting the famous fantasy store Whimsic Alley. It has everything your little geeky heart could desire! Overpriced throw pillows with your favorite Westeros house motto? Check. Downton Abbey aprons demanding to know what is a week-end? Check. Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin house ties? Check, check, check, check. I can’t wait to bring even more of my friends back again!
Having a fandom-y lunch at ABC Studios – Tariq Kyle
One of the best parts about being a Disney employee (okay, Disneyland but it still counts) is the access I have to ABC Studios over at Burbank. My friends and I are going to be heading over there this weekend for lunch at the ABC Studios Commissary and a visit to the gift shop. Last time I went I perused through the sound lots (not inside them, of course) and so I’m looking forward to catching glimpses of more sets from shows like Once Upon a Time and the like! Maybe I’ll catch Edward Kitsis or Adam Horowitz around — who knows!
Seeing ‘Jurassic World’ – Kristen Kranz
Jurassic Park and the two less stellar, but equally entertaining sequels have a special place in my heart. I never would have chosen them as a film series I would enjoy, but thanks to my rom-com adverse brother I have come to love watching dinosaurs chase dumb humans around an island. And now, we get to watch a whole new generation of dumb humans underestimate the power of nature and get chased around an island. The fact that Chris Pratt is running around saving the day and Bryce Dallas Howard is kind of in charge of the whole mess is just icing on an already delicious cake.
Reading ‘Invasion of the Tearling’ – Caitlin Kelly
This week, Invasion of the Tearling, the sequel to last year’s much hyped Queen of the Tearling was released. I quite enjoyed the first book (though it wasn’t without its faults), so am looking forward to returning to the world and seeing what comes next for Kelsea, now that she is truly coming into her own as the queen. The first book had a lot of things I love in my fiction, such as a feisty heroine, magic, and an intriguing world with a lot of history, so I hope the sequel continues to deliver what was fun about the first book.
Reeling from the ‘iZombie’ season 1 finale – Mitchel Clow
Did the cure work on Major? How will everyone in Liv’s life react to her refusing to give her dying brother a blood transfusion? Will Peyton ever come back into the loving arms of Ravi? And just what does Blaine have planned next? The first season of iZombie ended in many a bang, leaving me thirsting for more crime solving, brain eating action. If you’re a Veronica Mars fan and haven’t yet tried out this procedural with a twist, do yourself a favor and amend that immediately by binge watching the 13 episode first season.
Rereading ‘Dragonfly in Amber’ in preparation for ‘Outlander’ at San Diego Comic-Con – Laura Byrne-Cristiano
Season 2 of Outlander is currently filming in Scotland. This season the locations include Scotland and France. We’ve had recent casting announcements that include both French and U.K. actors. I will be attending Comic-Con in less than a month, and even though I’ve read all the Outlander novels, I want to make sure I remember all the finer points of book 2: Dragonfly in Amber so I can ask some detailed questions about the upcoming season. It’s expected that executive producer Ron Moore, author Diana Gabaldon, and co-stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan will be there.
Binge-watching ‘Orange is the New Black’ season 3 – Brandi Delhagen
It’s been a year since the season 2 finale of Orange is the New Black where Rosa ran Vee over with the van and Piper ratted out Alex to get her back in prison. It’s the reunion everyone’s been waiting for — Alex and Piper. Just kidding. Who really likes Piper? How can someone be that annoying and selfish to get their ex-lover back in prison with them? When Alex finds out that the reason she’s behind bars again is because of Piper things are going to get real, and fast. Since my girlfriend is out of town I plan on going to one of my best friend’s houses to kick back and binge watch season 3 in its entirety. We’ll mainly be on the lookout for Ruby Rose. I hear she looks good in orange. It’s going to be a long wait for season 4 already.