I’m currently watching the second season of SyFy’s reality
series
“Heroes of Cosplay” and I gotta level with you guys, I actually really
like this show.
I have never done cosplay, which for those that are not familiar,
is when fans of any genre dress up as their favorite characters from books,
video games, movies, tv, anime, cartoons, websites, you name it. Most times you see cosplayers that either
commission or make their own costumes, at conventions around the world.
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| Even cat memes |
I have a lot respect for cosplayers. Unfortunately it’s something I probably
wouldn’t do myself. Hell we didn’t even
pay full price for Halloween costumes as a kid, so costumes are not generally
something I would invest time or money in.
However, one day I do see myself wearing a Wonder Woman or Applejack
from MLP costume, but never mind that.
I do like seeing how fans interpret well known costumes but
I hate going to conventions. They have
become so overpriced these days and I usually buy a bunch of crap just because
it has some random anime character on it.
I hate that being a nerd these days means dollar signs for movie marketing
execs and others. So I do not attend
conventions much but I still like seeing the costumes. This show lets me do that from the comfort of
my own house.
Now, I do want to warn you that this ABOVE ALL ELSE is a
reality show, and thus ironically is scripted and many of the convention
competitions are faked or altered. Heavy
editing makes drama out of the dumbest situations and makes everyone appear
like an asshole. All the hallmarks of
reality TV are alive and present in this series.
This has given the Cosplaying Community bait at which to
moan and bitch about, as evidenced by these articles,
Seven Reasons Why Heroes of Cosplay Is Terrible and
5 Things I Learned From SyFy's "Heroes of Cosplay". I get that this
show is an unreal representation of actual cosplayers but you know what? I don’t care.
I’m still not going to pay $60 and up to stand in line with a bunch of
sweaty people in elaborate costumes just so I can gawk and then shell out
another $50 for a picture with Nathan Fillion. It ain’t worth it, mmmmkay?
Out of all the cosplayers on the show, my favorite is Jesse,
who coincidentally, is the only male cosplayer in the cast of Season One. Yes, as you can probably guess all the female
cosplayers are thin and young, half of which sport impressive racks. (Yes, those too are fake) I like the fact that Jesse is quite laidback
and dresses like a pirate to walk the streets of Portland with his girlfriend
and their friends. His segments are
refreshing change of pace from all the cat-fighting and drama that occurs.
And the cosplayers that the show follows aren’t even the best
part. The best parts is slowing down the
B-roll footage to spot impressive costumes of your favorite characters worn by
convention goers in the background.
Most of the drama, although entirely manufactured by the
shows, stems from the tight deadlines the cosplayers set for themselves, like
say making an elaborate costumes in just two weeks. Obviously this plays off super fake but it is
amusing to see the female cosplayers ring in their significant others into
helping out. The husbands and the
boyfriend literally become super-competent sidekicks that end up making costume
magic. Despite seeing this inequity,
these relationships are more functional and supportive than anything you
usually see on reality tv.
The show also edits the footage in a way that paints some of
the cosplayers as antagonists such as Yaya Han and Monika Lee. I actually respect Yaya for putting so much
effort and craft-making into her costumes.
The show makes her seem kind of an elistist, but the things she says aren’t
wrong. She participates as a cosplay
judge in most of her segments, and tends to judge based on the craft-making
aspect, such as hand-sewing, embroidery and custom fabrication of props. She seems to be an accomplished seamstress and
works long hours on all her costumes. I
respect her hustle and her business acumen.
Monika is somewhat her protégé and is much younger. Monika says things that make her seem super
bratty but I feel that is just a symptom of her age. That being said, Monika is my least
favorite.
Ultimately what this show boils down for me, is nerds making costumes, and I love them all for it. I don't doubt that in real life all the cosplayers are superchill and friendly people. If you love cosplay and have aspirations for being a renowned cosplayer I would suggest that you avoid this show. However, if you're like me and get giddy with excitement at spying someone doing a Avatar; The Last Airbender cosplay without clicking around the internet feeling vaguely like a perv, then this show is for you.
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