Jennifer
Marvel movies and more Marvel movies. It seems that that’s all we see these days, not to mention the new series popping up on Disney+ too.
But being how popular the Marvel Cinematic Universe is, it doesn’t really surprise me, yet there are some things they just can’t seem to make fit. I’m talking about "Venom". Even though he in from Marvel, he hasn't been fully integrated into the MCU continuity yet. Maybe they are wanting to give it a little time? Especially as some people would call Venom a villain, hence the original Spider-Man movies, but I wouldn’t.
To me, he’s more of an anti-hero and there’s nothing wrong with those. The Venom movie got to shine a light on the character. That’s what I think was needed to really understand the complexity of Venom and how he comes to be with Brock and how they both end up understanding each other better and realizing that they might just need each other to survive.
The movie starts off with humans messing with something that really shouldn’t be messed with! An alien race that wants to take over the world but needs to use the right humans as hosts to do it. Everyone knows THAT isn’t a good idea! But you guessed it, they have their own plans and although you might feel like this is a story you have seen before - trust me once you watch Venom you’ll understand why it’s on a whole new level.
Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
Melanie - I just want to add in that even though I am not a huge Marvel fan, or a big Tom Hardy fan particularly, I really enjoyed this movie - WAY more than I was expecting to. I thought it was clever and funny. Yes the humor is dark but the conversations between Tom's character and the entity were very entertaining. I definitely recommend it and would also note that it totally works as a standalone. You don't need to know anything about Venom or the Marvel World to enjoy this!
And Now For The Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Venom Prize Pack" featuring a the Venom DVD, A Vemon Mystery Figure, and A Sticker all from Jennifer Rhodes Cleere!! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - What’s your Marvel Movie? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on April 11th (and then posted here on the blog as well on April 12th Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Emojis. They’re everywhere and I do mean everywhere. We just don’t have them in our phones anymore. They’re now merchandise like keychains, pillows and even shirts. But what I want to talk about now is the "Emoji Movie". I was kind of skeptical at first about this movie, but after watching it I was like alright, not bad. It’s about an emoji who can not only just make his face but do others as well. In a nutshell, someone who’s different from what everyone (or is it everything with an emoji?) is used to, and just like in the real work they don’t like different.
Instead of trying to understand him the plan is to delete this emoji. This scares him so he runs off. Through that and the friends he meets along the way, he starts to realize the world is much bigger than he thought, and that maybe just being yourself is not such a bad thing after all. Definitely a lesson that everyone can benefit from!
Emojis aren't just everywhere, Jenn. It's like they have become an extension of ourselves and part of our every day existance and communication. It's actually hard to imagination that there was once a time when they didn't exist at all. Scary thought, right? But they were only invented in 1997.
With the popularization of technology such as the web, cell phones, texting, messaging, in the 2010's they became much more common place. You don't even need to find the right words to express your thoughts anymore. Chances are there is the perfect emoji out there already just waiting for you to click on it!
Oh yes the days before Emojis! I remember those. In fact when Greg and I met in a chatroom you didn’t actually get emoji faces – if you wanted to smile you typed in :- ) - A big smile was :- D etc. Funnily enough those then became the commands to make the faces. At first there were just the basic ones and then it just grew and grew. Now, as Dave said, there is pretty much an Emoji for everything and the list of available ones seems to grow everyday. Of course not all Emoji’s resonate with their original programming – take for example “the poop emoji” – which apparently was meant to be ice-cream (Ummmm personally I am not buying that), or the egg-plant. Well we all know what THAT is used to represent. (Check out the video just before the giveaway for more on THAT!
In the last few years we have seen the Emoji elevated to a whole new status! Doctor Who in season 10 had an episode about a future where there was a colonist taken over by robots who basically only spoke "Emoji" which sounded hilarious - until you see the repercussions it entailed. In all seriousness though when you start to think about it our Emoji culture would be the equivalent of hieroglyphics found in ancient Egypt and that is seriously insane.
And finally I have to circle back to the purple eggplant emoji! Netflix has a reality show called The Circle which I will admit, was addicting, and I can't wait for season 2. The "contestants" took social media interactions to a whole new level. In fact that was the ONLY way they could communicate, and emojis were definitely front and center! It really showed how the whole tone of a written communication could be changed with the simple addition of a little picture or two. That is the level that Emoji culture has reached! Check out the trailers below for the Doctor Who Emojibots, and for some of Joey's best moments from The Circle season one and then don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway! Message - Inside jokes are awesome - winky face emoji - Hashtag Watch The Circle - Hashtag You're Welcome - Send!
And Now For The Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away an "Emoji Prize Pack" featuring The Emoji Movie DVD, Heart Eye Emoji Bag, Key chains, Stickers, and Suckers from Dennifer Rhodes Christy, and the random stickers and things from the Melanie's Muses Swag Hoard! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Letting us know what is your MOST used Emoji? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qualifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on April 4th (and then posted here on the blog as well on April 5th Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Dave -
1987. John Landis. David Alan Grier. Steve Guttenberg. Arsenio Hall. Carrie Fisher. Michelle Pfeiffer. Phil Hartman. Rosanna Arquette. Never since this film and never again will you see so many names attached to a movie you never watched, and probably never heard of.
The best way to describe "Amazon Women on the Moon" is a skit comedy. Imagine "Saturday Night Live" made for the big screen but without limits. It opens with Arsenio Hall having the worst possible day ever in "Mondo Condo". Lots of other brands of humor are thrown around in this comedy that is reminiscent of someone flipping through channels after only a few minutes per program. You even see a second or 2 of static between skits to signify the channel changing. Some of the most memorable skits here are the David Alan Grier led "Blacks Without Soul", (with an appearance by BB King), The cheesey 1950's B-movie parody "Amazon Women on the Moon" (which they opted to use as the title), along with the take off of "Ripley's Believe it or Not" titled "Bullshit or Not!" So many memorable sketches in this movie, there is literally something for everyone. But be forewarned, its not tame and not actually everyone. Its Rated R for a very good reason. Check out the trailer here and let us know if it will make it ont your watch list!
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
Welcome to our Thursday Music Feature! Today Susan and Dave share their opinions on Rock Music and where things are today! I LOVE how passionate they both are about this. Can't wait to hear what you think! Be sure to let us know in the comments!  Susan SaysRock has always been a genre that faces the claim that the genre is a dying breed. Those of us who have immersed ourselves in that world, in the non auto-tuned pop monstrosities that now plague the airwaves, know this not the be the case. I find myself annoyed when you see artists like Machine Gun Kelly & Post Malone attached to the genre that seemingly mocks the great work that established artists such as ACDC, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Black Sabbath, hell even Bowie, Zeppelin and so on built. There are those of us who have found solace in the heavy riffs and meaningful lyrics. Who appreciate a singers natural voice, free from this produced nonsense you hear in the charts nowadays. With rock, no matter the sub genre, you know that when you go to a concert, you get to hear exactly what you hear on a cd, vinyl or streaming service. You won't get any lip synced bullshit with rock music.
Those who come out and criticize rock music, who claim that a band or singer straying from what rock is deemed to be, if they change up their typical sound, someone has to jump on the rock is dead bandwagon. What the genre needs is more recognition. What the genre needs is influence of talent that's shown itself even more in the last two years, as more and more people find peace in music, amid the pandemic. What rock music needs is to remember that when a fad of pop music falters, rock will always hold the line. We are mid way through March and already, in the UK alone, rock bands have held the number 1 spot in the main charts...not Rock chart...the main charts. Those albums include: You Me at Six with SUCKAPUNCH Bring Me The Horizon with POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR Foo Fighters with Medicine at Midnight Mogwai AS THE LOVE CONTINUES ARCHITECTS with FOR THOSE THAT WISH TO EXIST & Kings of Leon with WHEN YOU SEE YOURSELF Now, come and tell me that Rock is dead...  Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis! You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!) Dave SaysHEADLINE NEWS: GENE SIMMONS SHOOTS HIS MOUTH OFF. (And this is coming from a huge Kiss fan that actually met him at the first Wizard World I worked.) Well, no, this isn't exactly news. He's done it before. He's said these words before too. "Rock is Dead". In fact, Marilyn Manson uttered these words in 1998 song of the same name from the "Mechanical Animals" album. Do you want to know what I say though? DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! They say the same thing every few years to get someone else in an uproar. There was a time when rock had quite the stranglehold on popular music. But different times, music evolves, other genres become popular. So what? You can't always have the same thing sounding the same, constantly. That would be, well, in a word, BORING! As I mentioned before, I don't mind when bands branch out. I don't want to buy the same record from an artist every couple of years. They are allowed to grow and mature. A couple times, I may not have particularly loved it but if that's what the band wants to do, let them. The term "sell out" is thrown around a lot. And if they are making the record someone else wants to hear instead of the one that isn't in their hearts, that is also a way of selling out.
Me and a friend had this conversation in high school, after class (or during class. Who actually paid attention in class?). We were talking music and the metal bands we were listening to and he mentioned his dad saying he liked heavy metal. "Really? Like who?" "Steppenwolf, Rainbow, "And we kinda had a laugh like "Those are not heavy metal! Maybe they were back then but not now." So, it kinda harkened me back to that conversation. In his dad's time, they were probably some of the heavier bands around but as time goes on and music expands, we consider them more classic rock now. Obviously, they weren't classic rock when they first came onto the scene. Some of the moves can be shocking. Just like the song goes "When did Motley Crue become classic rock?" In my years, we had heavy metal, glam metal, speed/thrash metal, death metal. Those were all the versions we really needed. I still considered them more than rock. Rock was more like Tom Petty, The Beatles, R.E.M... I wouldn't lump Poison, Def Leppard, Skid Row, etc in the same genre as them. They may not be the heaviest but they are heavier than those bands. But, in the end, what are talking about anyway? Opinions. We have all have them, just like something else we all have. You can't really argue over who's opinion is right. Well, you can because some are just stupid. But it will never get resolved. You can't change someone else's mind. Instead, you should feel bad for us old folks now who ruined out eyesight back in the day trying the lyric sheet that came with cassette tapes! I definitely can't do that now! I need my reading glasses to read the lyric sheets that come with a CD....and still have trouble! Google, here I come! There are so many versions of rock, it will never be completely dead. Not unless every SMF in the world stops listening to it, and you can bet your Sweet F.A. that I will never stop. "Remember this at least, it’s the nature of the beast".  This was on Nuno Bettencourt's page after the Grammy debacle and how they handled the EVH tribute-- or lack thereof. ---- The writing has been on the wall for decades. But it wasn’t until last night and it hit hard...that rock and roll has been forgotten and left behind. Not by its fans, thankfully. Or the artists keeping it alive and well. But definitely in our main stream music industry of Auto Tune driven Vocals and pushing buttons chosen over actual musicians playing instruments. Look there are great young bands coming and some great bands still Rocking. Rock Is not dead, and will NEVER die, but its respect is hanging by a thread. And for what Rock and Roll did for nearly a century to get us here to all these different genres... it deserves just a little more respect and has earned the right to be celebrated at the Grammy’s. Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh go léir (Win It Wednesday Post - Blame Susan - But Hey Prizes!)3/17/2021
Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh go léir
Today in Ireland, we celebrate the feast of St. Patrick, our patron saint. But just like last year, due to Covid, we are still in a national lockdown. The typical celebrations are halted, no pints supped in beer gardens while listening to traditional ballads. (Mel - In the prize pack there is a Guinness Pamphlet with songs from the 70s - and in typical America fashion - apparently NONE of them would ever be heard sung at an actual Irish Celebration!)
Mel - Playlist now available on my Spotify .... apparently lol #TheMoreYouKnow
Agus anois, is beannacht Éireannach é seo.
And now, this is an Irish blessing.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d'aghaidh Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís, Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú. May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields And until we meet again May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Slan mo chairde agus feicfidh mé sibh go léir Dé Domhnaigh le haghaidh Melanie's Muses beo
Goodbye my friends and I will see you all on Sunday for Melanie's Muses live
Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!) And Now For The Giveaway -
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Irish Prize Pack" featuring "Seamus the leprechaun" (Paddy is actually in the picture because Seamus is still in his wrapper),& Complete swag set from Susan Harris, A circa 1970's actual Guinness Sponsored Pamphlet complete with totally inaccurate Irish traditions from Charles Berry, Clover Scarf from Vicky Pond, and the random stickers and things from the Melanie's Muses Swag Hoard! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Letting us know who's your favourite actor/actress or musician from Ireland? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qualifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on March 28th (and then posted here on the blog as well on March 29th Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
When you think about ordinary fairy tales, this movie probably doesn't come to mind. It’s anything but an ordinary tale, but that’s OK because it still works.
I’m talking about "Shrek" of course - Not the sequels, or the series, or anything else that might now be out there, Shrek but the original one! So listen up because I’m about to tell you why you should watch if you haven’t already. 
(Susan's Favorite Image ^^^)
It starts off with our hero, who is a ogre. It seems to be a grumpy person who just wants to keep anyone and everyone out of his swamp, but because of Farquaad, the villain in this story, that doesn’t happen, and that turns out being for the best. Don't let his grumpy exterior fool you. He cares, he just finds it easier to push everyone away.
His tryng to get rid of all the fairy tale creatures is what results in him meeting donkey and princess Fiona, and the rest, as they say, is history!
This story just really reminds me that no one actually wants to be alone and that with the power of friendship anything can be accomplished. Sometimes people push others away simply because they can't express themselves any other way. True friends will find a way .... and remember YOU can be that friend too ... you never know who out there might need it. Kindness costs nothing. To finish up with something Shrek related, as I got a little off track, I'll note that here’s also something interesting about Fiona that you find out about in this movie, but no spoilers I’ll let you find out about that all on your own.
Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
Welcome to our Thursday Music Feature! Rogue PR recently reached out to offer the opportunity to feature some new music on Melanie's Muses. We know Musers love to discover new things and so Susan will be bring us some new music AND interviews with new to us artists! She will also be creating an EXCLUSIVE - Muser Playlist featuring ALL the new music she discovers! Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!
And Now The Interview With Ren Marabou What first got you into music? I'd have to say my Dad. Growing up my Dad always had records playing in the house. He has a very eclectic musical taste so I got to hear music from all the greats, Elvis, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Iron Maiden, Queen, Neil Young, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Motorhead and the like. Who inspired you to make music? My first introduction to Nirvana is what kicked off my passion to want to play guitar and sing. Kurt was such an enigmatic character; his music and his insane stage presence instantly drew me in. How would you describe the music that you typically create? I like to experiment and genre hop from album to album. Keeps things interesting. My last album 'Ultra Mega' was a modern rock album with 90's influence and my upcoming album 'Way Finder' is a Melodic Death Metal, Viking Metal album. What is your creative process like? I generally have a particular musical direction in my head at first. I pick up my Cassidy Axeman guitar and riff around for a while. It's a fairly quick process from initial riff to tracking in the studio. Once I have a guide guitar down, I begin to write and lay down the rhythm section. My favorite part is walking around the studio with a note pad and pen while listen back to the track, jotting down lyric's. Soon as I have a verse or a chorus, I jump in front of the mic and scream my lungs out. Who would you most like to collaborate with? So many artists I'd love to collaborate with. Working with Richie Kotzen would be a dream come true, the man is such an incredible musician. If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be? An opening slot with Amon Marth on a tour promoting my upcoming album 'Way Finder' would be amazing. The album is heavily inspired by them so it would be an honor to open for them. What is one message you would give to your fans? You all rule, thank you so much for all the support. Hope you all enjoy the new album. What is the most useless talent you have? My face recognition skills. It's a useless talent that annoys my family and friends a lot. I can see a face for a split second and I'll never forget it. I'm a nightmare watching tv and movies with. I point out all the actors who I've seen in other shows and movies. Maybe if I was a detective it would be useful but alas, I am a musician. What song of yours would you recommend new fans listen to first to get a feel for your music? Maybe something from my second album ‘Solar Systems’, Maybe ‘Friends in the pocket' or ‘Comfort me’ from my third album 'Ultra Mega' Do you sing in the shower? What songs? Sometimes but it's usually lyric's I've come up with for a new song. I have caught myself singing Elvis a few times and Christmas songs at Christmas time. What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career? something creative in the arts or crafts world. Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? I've performed all over Ireland, UK and Europe. My favorite would probably be Frannz Club in Berlin. Such a great vibe in that place. Can't wait to get back there when gigs come back. My least favorite venue is no longer open so I'll leave that nameless. How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business? Overall, positively I feel. It's a fantastic tool for exposure and there are opportunities that where not there before the online world for bands. I do miss the Hussle of the old days sometimes. Phoning venues, handing out flyer, calling to radio stations and record labels with physical music. What’s next for you? I'm in the studio working hard at the moment on my fourth album 'Way Finder'. The first single to be taken from it is 'Ode to Sol' which is out on the 27th of February and will be available on all major platforms including iTunes, Spotify and Amazon music. I regularly post teaser videos, updates and news about releases and shows on my Facebook and Instagram. Susan's Verdict: I was very intrigued to listen to Ren's work when I realized he is from Ireland and it seems we share a talent for being able to remember every single movie or TV show that an actor has been in lol I'm gutted that I didn't find Ren's music, especially his Way Finder album while I was writing the last book in my Ever Chace Chronicles series, Of Gods and Monsters, because he has some Viking and Norse worthy songs on that album! While I was listening, I kept thinking that these sounds would sound at home playing in the background of a Vikings or The Last Kingdom episode... I took Ren's advice and listened to his fourth album and I had major Amon Amarth and Volbeat vibes which I love...here's hoping that once Covid f**ks off, I might get to see Ren in a show around Ireland...sure no doubt he'll pay a visit to Cork at some stage! Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
Jennifer -
This movie is a little bit older, like 30 years older - but in case you haven't noticed I do love older movies. If you haven’t heard of it by now or seen it, where have you been? With the sequel just arriving on Amazon Prime over 30 years later it seems to be everywhere now more than ever. The movie I’m talking about is "Coming to America".
Before you ask - Yes I did watch the sequel - and I will say that I was pleasantly surprised and it was not as bad as I thought it would be.... But I want to talk about the original!
The original movie starts out in a different country called Zumunda. That is where we meet the royal family along with Prince Akheem, our main character, played by Eddie Murphy. Honestly, who doesn’t love Eddie Murphy? The prince's birthday is coming up and along with that so is an arranged marriage. He’s not too thrilled with that idea, and after meeting his bride to be he decides he definitely doesn't want any part of it!
Deciding to look for his own bride, one that he can actually have a conversation with, he heads to America, Queens, New York to be exact, and that’s where our story takes off and shenanigans ensue. Now you know me and spoilers so I’ll just leave it there. I’m sure many you have already seen this classic of a movie, but you never know ..... there might be some that haven't! And with the sequel now available it would be the perfect time to watch!
Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
Any Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article are Amazon Affiliate Links
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!) 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Coming To America Prize Pack" featuring a Coming To America DVD, and Emoji Prizes from Dennifer Rhodes Christy, and random stickers and things from the Melanie's Muses Swag Hoard! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - What’s your favorite Eddie Murphy movie? (Feel free to also add if you preferred the old school R rated movies or the PG ones he gradually edged towards). The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on March 21st (and then posted here on the blog as well on March 22nd Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
"Droughtlander is the (overly long) period of time between airings of seasons of the wonderful show Outlander." (Source Unknown)
Jennifer Bollnow -
In case you have been living under a rock, Outlander, on Starz has become an international phenomenon. The TV series is based on the book series by Diana Gabaldon which follows Claire Randall, who, while on her second honeymoon, accidentally travels 200 years back in time. She meets her soulmate, Jamie Fraser and they fight for each other, their family and friends, against superstitions and even for Scotland’s freedom itself. The show is currently filming Season Six and although the setting is currently in the US in early 1770’s, it is filmed in Scotland.
Each season is full of extravagant sets, amazing, detailed costumes, props and even theme song changes that reflect the setting, time period and mood of the season. All this takes a lot of time to put together. In past years, fans in the Scotland area were even responsible for delays in filming by having tours near the set. All in the hopes of getting a peek at the stars, Catriona Balfe and Sam Heughan or even getting a scoop on the upcoming season. All this makes for a long wait between seasons. Fans have termed this time between new seasons as Droughtlander.
Season 5 aired on May 10th 2020. Covid shutdowns delayed filming for season six. Now safety protocols have changed how they work together, film (especially the many intimate scenes the series is known for) and how they keep cast and crew safe.
Droughtlander will be longer than usual this time, so fans are looking for something else to watch to tide them over other than rewatching each previous season. (Because most fans have all watched it more than once.)
Here are some recommendations (some are a little out of the box):
If you like the Time Travel or Fantasy aspect of Outlander.
Doctor Who (2005) -TheDoctor (in all of their regenerations) travels through all space and time, in their T.A.R.D.I.S., helping those in need. (Melanie - ALWAYS A fan of this suggestion - If you haven't watched before try BLINK - (Season 3 - Ep 10))
Quantum Leap (1989)-Dr. Sam Beckett travels within his own lifetime, leaping into the body of strangers. He helps to right wrongs and help the underdogs with the assistance of the hologram of his pal, Al. Always hoping his next leap will be the leap home. True Blood (2008)-In a world where Vampires have made themselves known to humans, telepath, Sookie Stackhouse encounters her first “live” vampire in her hometown in Louisiana. The series follows her relationships with vampires and more. (Melanie - Not sure I would have thought of this for Outlander Fans - but Hey the first few seasons ARE outstanding!) Melanie - I would add in here:- Salem - Magic and Witch Hunts - An interesting take on things. 3 complete seasons!
If you like the romance of a good period piece.
The Tudors (2007)-The reign and relationships of King Henry VIII (Melanie - I rewatch this ALL the time! LOVE it!)
Poldark (2015)-Ross Poldark returns to his home after the American Revolutionary War to find life had moved on without him. He proceeds to start over with many obstacles stacked against him. (Melanie - Another great one!) North and the South: Book 1(1985), Book 2 (1986) and Book 3(1994)-Two West Point Classmates (from very different backgrounds) end up lifelong friends. This friendship is put to the test as they end up on two different sides of the American Civil War. **Patrick Swayze stars in Book 1 and 2** Melanie - I would add in here:- Versaille (Like the Tudors but at French Court - 3 Fabulous seasons) The Borgias (But there is an AWFUL cliffhanger - I still rewatch though - It's worth it just to see Jeremy Irons as the Pope)
If you like the action and fight scenes of Outlander.
Rome (2005)-The end of the Roman Republic from the viewpoint of nobility to ordinary Romans. **Tobias Menzies as Brutus**
Black Sails (2014)-set as a prequel to Treasure Island. **Bear McCreery does the soundtrack for this as well as Outlander. (Melanie - This series was outstanding from beginning to end) Vikings (2013)-Follows the life of Ragnar Lothbrook, his family and the Vikings of Kattegat. (Melanie - We all know Greg LOVES this show - but not so much the final seasons. Earlier ones are awesome!) Melanie - I would add in here:- The Last Kingdom - Like the Vikings but from the BBC / Netflix. I LOVE it! The Muskateers - BBC Adaptation - 3 Fabulous seasons!
Jennifer Bollnow is a TVaholic with no possibility or desire to rehab. She met Melanie when they worked together on the former Voice of TV website. She especially loves sci-fi, fantasy, Christmas movies and anything with Patrick Swayze. She loves helping people find their new favorite series. Her current obsession is Outlander. This is her third guest article for Melanie's Muses!
Susan -Architects are a British metalcore band from Brighton, East Sussex, formed in 2004 by twin brothers Dan and Tom Searle. The band now consists of Dan Searle on drums, Sam Carter on vocals, Alex Dean on bass, and Adam Christianson and Josh Middleton on guitars. They have been signed to Epitaph Records since 2013. I can't believe its taken me nine studio albums before I found Architects, but their song Animals which was released in October 2020 snagged my attention. It's an emotional charged song that to me, seems like it has political undertones, referring to the sometimes painful society that can leave you feeling stifled and perhaps the lyrics below refer to the person we are when online, where sometimes, fiction blurs with reality,
What I love about this album is that its raw lyrics and heavy riffs are exhilarating outlook on an apocalyptic world we find ourselves living in. I think because I have never listen to early albums from Architects, I could have an open mind about the album and I find myself comparing it to Sempiternal by Bring me The Horizon which is one of my all time fave albums. With the release of For Those Who Wish to Exist, gods, even that album title, speaks volumes of the tone of the album, an epic, foot stomping, head moshing set of songs that start you off on a slow melodic path with Do You Dream of Armageddon? and then hits you square in the jaw with Black Lungs An complex, emotionally charged album that tells a story with each song, each lyric that resonates with those of us who find solace in music during the crazy times we live in.
Standout tracks for me: Do You Dream of Armageddon?, Black Lungs, Dead Butterflies, An Ordinary Extinction, Animals, Goliath and Dying is Absolutely Safe. From the cradle to the grave, destined to break like the waves Existence is so threatening It takes a fierce grace to crack us open A moment sat with our sentencing And the light comes flooding in, oh, the light comes flooding in When the leaves fall in the spring Dying is Absolutely Safe Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
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