Dexter: Resurrection‘s Kadia Saraf sat down with ComicBook.com for an exclusive interview where we dove into how she discovered the character of Detective Claudette Wallace, her meeting with Dexter himself, and much more. Dexter: Resurrection has seen the emergence of a bunch of new friends and foes in the Dexter universe. The titular serial killer is in uncharted territory now that he has moved to New York City, opening himself up to all kinds of new threats and opportunities. However, one of the biggest threats posed to him isn’t even necessarily because of anything he did.

Frequently, a season of Dexter begins with Dexter messing up or creating an issue that snowballs into a larger conflict. However, this time, the catalyst is from his son Harrison, who kills a man and becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation. Dexter’s no stranger to good investigators, but Harrison isn’t. This all leads to the introduction of one of Dexter: Resurrection‘s best characters, Detective Claudette Wallace, who doesn’t miss any details.

I spoke with actress Kadia Saraf ahead of the premiere for Dexter: Resurrection‘s seventh episode to talk about how she developed the character, what it was like to finally share the screen with Dexter, and much more. As you might imagine, there are some spoilers below, so if you’re not fully caught up on the show, you may want to bookmark this for later.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

ComicBook: What was your audition process like for this show? How did you get involved with it?

Kadia Saraf: It started with David Zayas and myself. We have been friends for many years. My kid and his grandkid, they’re in an acting program, and we came to see their show and he said, ‘Oh, Dexter’s coming back. We’re resurrecting him. And I saw this character in the script that you should definitely ask your reps about.’ And I did. I was initially told that it’s already out to someone as an offer. I remember in the moment when I got that email back thinking maybe it’s not over until it’s over kind of thing. Probably three days later, the audition came in and I had a very short time to tape it. So I taped actually the scene, the first scene that Claudette and Oliva introduced by the garbage dock.

I did that one and then one of the scenes where we’re going through finding out what happened in the hotel room. So I sent those tapes in, and the next morning I woke up and thought to myself, ‘Oh, I wish I had another day.’ I had these ideas to do some more with the character, and my manager just texted me back, ‘Have some faith, just have some faith.’ And I remember having goosebumps and so in that moment, I just let go. That was in December [2024]. Then when the industry came back after the holidays in January, I got an email, a call that I’m being tested and that I don’t need to do anything else.

I was kind of shocked, what do you mean you don’t have to meet me? I don’t have to do pushups and pullups and prove all the things that I can do and all the reasons why they should hire me. And she said, no, they already know and saw the tape, and you were Claudette. They’ve been looking for Claudette for a long time, and you are Claudette. And it was one of these really, really special moments. I mean, they say it takes 20 years to become an overnight success kind of thing. It’s been an accumulation of a lot of work. And then this unique moment was just played out with ease, if that makes sense.

How much of Claudette is on the page? As I am talking to you and seeing her in the show, you’re two very different people. She’s very proper, very straight, very heavy eye contact, and intimidating. How much of that is something you brought to it?

So we’ll go back to the tape because what was interesting to me is that what I brought to them initially was exactly what they were looking for. But when I showed up on set, suddenly I had these millions of questions because there’s more scenes, there’s a lot more progression. How is she at home? They kind of calmed me down and said, ‘Everything’s okay. You already understand her.’ They gave me some pointers of who she is. I think the pointers that were anchoring me more where she has a very flat affect, and that is pretty much all that I needed because she is on the page, but I think the way I personally picked it up from the page is because of all those elements that I can so relate to her.

It is pretty much in her demeanor. I mean, the body language is a little different than my own, but that’s the fun part where you get to explore is how would a person like this is so hyperfocused, how does she move? What does she do with her arms? These are not things we usually think about. Everything is so natural, but with her, it is very much condensed. It is consolidated almost.

Jack Alcott said in one of the interviews, she is a human laser beam and that to me was like, oh, yes, this is what it is. She is honed in and it just informs everything else, whether it’s the language, the cadence of her speech, the body movement and all of that. But I would say the writing was pretty much, the writing is brilliant on the show, and Clyde and Scott very much knew who she, apparently they’ve been developing this character for a long time. I heard later. So they knew her very well, and they were very excited to bring her to life and to give it to me, to bring her to life. So what I found so special is that I picked it up. I picked their vision up from the page. Naturally, there were many elements that were natural to me.

That’s very interesting. Like you said, the human laser beam kind of thing. She has these eyes that you could burn right through someone’s head.

Ask my kids. [laughs]

It feels like she could spark a confession, whether you’ve done it or not, just by staring at you long enough, which maybe your kids can relate to that.

Yeah, they can absolutely relate. It’s when I don’t yell and I don’t get upset when I’m just quiet and look at them. Everything just is laid out.

What kind of research did you do to prepare for this? Did you read anything? Did you talk to anybody?

Books! I mean, this is a world that I already immersed myself in prior. Anything that has to do with forensics and human psychology, human behavior, body language, the littlest movements in the face, like how to read people, that fascinated me forever. And so again, it was just sliding just deeper into this world. But for me, research, I can show you books that I created. I wrote an entire notebook that is Claudette writing everything about the case. So I really dove deep as Claudette to understand what it is that she sees.

If I may be more intuitive as Kadia, Claudette might be more the quick calculations of things. It’s pretty much parallel to somebody’s intuition, but it’s really all in the mind. Everything just makes sense or doesn’t make sense. There’s not a lot in between. They’re quick calculations. I would say that I am very much like her in that regard. I mean, I do pay attention to details. If I want to teach you the letters A, B, and C, I feel like I would have to know and master A all the way to Z. I can’t just master A, B, C. So the same thing happened here with everything that has to do with criminology, with law enforcement, with the system in New York, talking to detectives and understanding her, how long she’s been there to have that kind of experience.

Also because of the partnership with Oliva, it gave me freedom to soften just a little bit more to explore how much she allows herself to be in that space, because she’s very unique and she has respect. She’s getting the respect that she deserves, but I’m sure there’s a lot of raised eyebrows as well. But yeah, there’s a lot of hours and hours of pages written and pages read. I created a whole chart of all the serial killers and how many kills they had and when they were caught, who’s still in prison, what their sun sign, moon sign, and ascendant. It’s pretty deep. It goes deep.

I saw in your credits that you had a “Story by” credit on an episode of Law and Order. I don’t totally know how that works in terms of whether you get a writer’s credit or a story credit. Does that mean you just kind of came up with the broad strokes, or did you write something?

So the way it works is we brought the concept for the episode because the reason I started learning a ASL (American Sign Language) a few years ago, and I’ve learned a lot about the deaf community and felt that their story needs to be told in a very honest way.

So the showrunner and I sat down and talked about it and agreed on it. I brought all the stories, the important points of what they’re experiencing with the system and justice system in New York and the country, but it’s specifically to New York. And then there were writers who actually wrote the teleplay. So it’s dialogue in the scenes that would be getting the writers credit, I got the story by, but there’s suggestions of what they would say and wouldn’t say. And so it’s a very collaborative kind of project. But yeah, it was an incredible manifestation of an idea, and they were very open and excited about it too.

I asked because I thought that was interesting and hearing you talk about your process of building this character is very clear, you’re driven by storytelling. It’s not just about showing up and saying your lines. You dig deep. Did you talk with David Zayas at all about his time as a cop in New York in real life?

Yes, he has fascinating stories. He is such an amazing human and we wanted to work together for many years, by the way. We’ve always looked for opportunities, but our roads never crossed in that way. And so to be able to do this on Dexter is, I mean, you can it up really. I could write down a list of the things I want, and it’s just so much better than what I imagined, and I have very, very big and vivid imagination.

But we did talk, and he is incredible as an actor, storyteller, a friend, and just working with him and he has such a wealth of knowledge of this world, and you wouldn’t know. He doesn’t walk around that just, it goes deep. It doesn’t go out. It goes deep. And yes, he’s shared how it actually works, what things would be truthful in terms of our behavior and what is movie magic, and we also have to accept that there’s some movie magic in there. I always question things like, wait, that doesn’t make sense and then everybody got that half smile. I was like, ‘Oh, okay. Movie magic in that part. Okay.’ I accept that.

I spoke with the actor who played Ryan, Bryan Lillis, and he said his scripts only included the scenes that he was in, and he had to kind of get it out of Jack as to what was going on with the rest of the show. Was that your experience or did you have a bit more context?

Yeah, I saw the scripts before as they were coming out and yeah, I knew that [my meeting with Dexter] was coming in episode seven, so I knew the meeting was coming in episode seven, not before, and well, that was the first time I met Michael [C. Hall].

We were both in the makeup trailer at the same time, but we didn’t meet. That was I think my first day he walked out when I walked in or something like that. And we didn’t meet until then. At some point, a couple of weeks in, I kind of shared in the makeup trailer that I actually like it like that, and I would like to keep it like that and meet him for the first time as Kadia meeting Michael, same as Claudette meets Dexter.

I watched the show originally, so for me, it would be a much more immersive, impactful experience to meet him as Dexter. That scene has so much tension, and it’s just the way we met each other there. It is not a coincidence. And there’s even a scene, there’s a part there. I don’t know if you clocked it, where we both glanced at each other at the same time. We catch a glance at the same time. That was spontaneous. I’m so happy they included that because it was so natural. And then, yeah, I was told that Michael also enjoys the fact that it could be a candid meeting.

What was the actual process of working on that scene? What was it like to finally get to that moment where you could interact with Dexter? Claudette knows who Dexter is prior to this encounter, and that’s a big reason why it’s so tense.

So, because Claudette knows him a lot less than Kadia knows him… [laughs] There was just an episode and a half before that. It was still speculation. There was a lot of back and forth happening with Batista and then Oliva and Claudette kind of bouncing ideas and trying to put the pieces together. At this point, for me, the experience of meeting him, it remained a little fresh. It wasn’t like all this history because it was important to me. It wasn’t, ‘Uh oh, Dexter is in my lecture hall.’ It was, ‘Oh wait. Oh, they’re together. Let’s see what happens there.’

Claudette doesn’t emotionally attach herself much to findings. It’s not an emotional attachment. It’s simply, is there truth to it? Is it logical? She just collects pieces of information and puts them together. So for her, it was a moment where now everything comes together for her so she can move from there forward, but not just in theory. She actually could read their body language and see the two of them together.

Are there any interesting fan theories you’ve seen? Maybe ones that at this rate, don’t hold any water that you can talk about or some that you’re thinking about that could be interesting for the future?

There’s a lot of things. My kids, my teens, they’re in high school, so they have TikTok, so they send me all kinds of theories They just sent me a picture of Claudette and Dexter as a couple, and I’m like, okay. People are taking it where they want to take it. The fan base here goes wide and deep and high, and I can’t even, the wide array of theories, everyone sees the show differently, wants something else from the show, and so they will create whatever they create. I mean, I’ve seen one theory about her being a serial killer or something like that, but that’s about it. I mean, there’s no snowball growing and walking down the hill.

Since you mentioned your kids are seeing things on on social media, do you watch the show as a family?

So with the original show, I didn’t want to sit and watch with them because I didn’t want to rewatch it, so I don’t get in my head as a watcher. My daughter, she’s going to be a senior now. She binge watched it, all of them, all the way up to New Blood in a span of maybe a month and a half while writing her essays and doing her hair or whatever, all at the same time. But I don’t believe my oldest and my youngest have watched the original show, but we do watch the show together. We watch it as it comes out. We sit together and watch it.

That’s gotta be so much fun.

It’s unbelievable because I’ve been doing this for a while, and my children have been my readers for auditions for over a decade, and they’re also actors. They’re also in the businesses in some capacity. For them to be able to witness what it takes to be able to get a job like this and to work with people like that and to see, and it sets the bar for them of what the co-stars and the show creators and writers and the crew do, all this experience that I bring home, it sets the bar for them, and they know what it takes. They’re not born into this.

They know what it takes for them to sit and watch me. They’re just blown away and the compliments from them mean the most. I mean, my youngest child, he is going to be 15, sometimes he holds me and he says, “You did it. You did it. You were always a star. Now the world knows.” It’s just this old man in a young body telling me things, it’s really hard to put into words because they watched it and now they see something blossom from it, and it’s just priceless. It’s priceless.

Are they rooting for you or for Dexter?

By the way, I kept spoilers from happening here too. My daughter came to set one day, but I did not tell her. It was really hard, really hard to not tell them and to try to hide it. When I worked on the scenes I tried for them not to be spoiled, but I don’t know who they’re rooting for. I mean, they ask questions. I guess now they’re just enjoying the chase and it’s not so easy to root for one, because there’s moments that you kind of lean towards Claudette or Claudette and Oliva together. I mean, Dominic Fumusa is incredible. And then Dexter becomes so lovable suddenly with his relationship with Harrison. I don’t know. Do you find yourself rooting for one character?

I root for drama. I want whatever the most dramatic thing is to happen. I think Dexter’s at his best when he gets put in a corner and has to do whatever he has to do to get out of that, whether it’s break his code or chew his own leg off, metaphorically speaking, it is always the most tense when Dexter is against the corner.

We all are, and all characters are, if you think about it.

I recently watched these episodes at the airport during a big layover because I couldn’t wait to get home to watch the screeners. Despite all of this noise around me, I was just hyperfocused on the drama of this show because it’s so much fun to watch.

And isn’t it an amazing show? Everything, the writing the story, the people, the cast, it’s just such a wholesome buffet of drama, like you said. I just enjoy every aspect of it. It’s fantastic, really.

New episodes of Dexter: Resurrection premiere every Friday on Paramount+ with only three more episodes remain.

The post Dexter: Resurrection’s Kadia Saraf Talks Episode 7, Creating Claudette, and More (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In his company’s most recent quarterly earnings report, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed news that had long been suspected: Hulu will be integrated into the Disney+ app. The standalone Hulu app will be phased out in 2026 (though people can still get subscriptions to solely Hulu), as the only way to experience shows like King of the Hill, Shōgun, and The Bear will be through a single Disney+ and Hulu app. It’s a form of consolidation that puts most of Disney’s streaming future on one app.

It’s a little bittersweet to realize that the Hulu app that first launched in the final days of October 2007 will no longer exist by 2026. However, anyone worried that this signals Hulu and its programming going the way of the dodo need not fret. On the contrary, this seems to confirm that Disney is slightly pivoting its streaming future to largely focus on Hulu, which could be a very wise move for the studio.

Disney Has Already Indicated Its Streaming Future Is Hulu-Centric

On July 8, 2025, Disney released a sizzle reel of all the big new and returning shows dropping on Disney+ and Hulu for the rest of the year. In years past, the sizzle reel would’ve been crammed full of teases for big shows based in the worlds of Star Wars, Marvel, and other major Mouse House properties. However, the only two Disney+ TV shows highlighted here were Wonder Man and a new Percy Jackson season. The Zombies 4 TV movie also got a shout-out, but that was it for Disney+ exclusives.

Meanwhile, Hulu programming like Chad Powers, All’s Fair, Alien: Earth, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, King of the Hill, and Only Murders in the Building dominated the sizzle reel. The heavy imbalance in favor of Hulu programming in this sizzle reel indicates where Disney’s streaming future lies. Now that the Mouse House fully owns Hulu and Disney divisions like Lucasfilm and Marvel Television are significantly cutting down on their small-screen exploits, Hulu and its shows will be the primary driver of narrative streaming shows for this company.

Upcoming original projects for 2026 and beyond at these streamers further bear this out. Only Vision Quest and an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit show are either shooting or have finished principal photography for Disney+. Hulu, meanwhile, has a bevy of further shows on the horizon, including The Plot, The Testaments, and a Murdaugh murders show. This is a wise shift on many fronts, including how Disney+ seriously struggled to launch big, buzzy shows in its first five years of existence. National Treasure: Edge of History, Big Shot, and Turner & Hooch (among many others) just never caught on with the general public like The Bear or Only Murders in the Building.

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Hulu’s Already Got a Track Record for Producing Television

More importantly, with regards to Hulu, this streamer already has over a decade of experience launching and maintaining original programming. Disney+ required labels like Marvel Studios, Pixar, and Lucasfilm to overhaul their entire structure and creative priorities to produce overly expensive TV shows for the streamer. In contrast, Hulu already has the know-how and creatives who can produce tons of multi-season small-screen programming. That’s a more reliable and drama-free source of streaming productions than hurriedly converting film labels into TV production houses.

Plus, Hulu is intertwined with John Landgraf’s FX label, a domain that’s produced countless Emmy darlings and mainstream hits like Shōgun, The Bear, and Atlanta (among many others) over the years. That ensures Hulu can deliver prestige programming as well. There are just so many mechanisms in place already at Hulu, making it the clear frontrunner as Disney’s streaming champion. On top of all that, Hulu now has decades of brand familiarity with audiences as the place where TV lives.

Chucking that away, especially when Disney+’s original programming has garnered such a mixed reputation, would be foolish. Thus, Hulu getting folded into the Disney+ app is the biggest indicator yet that the home of King of the Hill’s 14th season is a critical piece in Disney’s future streaming empire. Though its standalone app will fall imminently, Hulu isn’t going anywhere. As long as it keeps producing shows like The Bear and Only Murders in the Building, this label will be the primary driver of Disney’s original streaming programming.

Are you surprised that Hulu is going away? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Why Disney’s Huge Hulu Change Is Secretly Genius appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Batman‘s most guarded secret is his alter ego as billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne. At one point or another in the Dark Knight’s storied history, those who have become privy to the Batman’s secret identity include his allies (Alfred Pennyworth, the Robins, Superman), his romantic interests (Vicki Vale, Silver St. Cloud, Catwoman), and even his rogues gallery of villains (Hugo Strange, Ra’s al Ghul, the Joker). But there’s a lesser-known character who deduced the greatest secret of the world’s greatest detective: Bruce Wayne’s bodyguard, Sasha Bordeaux.

Peacemaker season 2 introduces the character to James Gunn’s new DC Universe, in which she’s played by Argentine actress Sol Rodríguez (Star Trek: Picard). Rodríguez’s Sasha Bordeaux is one of the A.R.G.U.S. agents tasked by Director Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) to hunt down Chris Smith (John Cena) over his illegal use of a dimensional portal — and for killing his son, Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag Jr., in 2021’s The Suicide Squad.

But could this current A.R.G.U.S. agent be Bruce Wayne’s former bodyguard? “I think she could [be],” Rodríguez tells ComicBook. “It hasn’t been talked about with James if that’s ever going to happen. I’m crossing [my] fingers. If he ever wants to make that happen, I’m here for it.”

While Peacemaker‘s Sasha Bordeaux doesn’t officially have a connection to the as-yet-uncast Bruce Wayne/Batman, Rodríguez incorporated her character’s comic book history into her backstory. “In my work for the character, I do have it in my backstory … I had it in the back of my mind,” she explains. “I didn’t bring it with me. Because I wanted to do a different version honoring the character but also doing what James was asking me to do, and honoring this Sasha in Peacemaker‘s world.”

In the comics, Sasha first appears in 2000’s Detective Comics #751 when the board of Wayne Enterprises votes to assign Bruce Wayne a bodyguard. While working the Wayne detail, Sasha becomes suspicious of her principal’s inexplicable disappearances, and in Detective Comics #756, discovers Bruce’s Bat-Paraphernalia. Six months into protecting Bruce Wayne, Sasha becomes Batman’s “bodyguard,” joining the caped crusader in the field as his masked, Kevlar-suited backup.

A romantic relationship develops between Bruce and Sasha, but after she’s framed as an accomplice to murder and imprisoned, she fakes her death when she’s recruited by the covert government agency Checkmate. Originally a sister organization of Task Force X’s Suicide Squad, Checkmate has included the likes of Amanda Waller and Maxwell Lord — two characters who exist in the DCU, played by Viola Davis and Sean Gunn, respectively. As the chess-themed organization’s Black Queen, Sasha serves alongside Waller’s White Queen and White King’s Bishop, Mr. Terrific, in the Greg Rucka-penned Checkmate.

Your move, James Gunn.

John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick return for season two, joined by new cast members Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodríguez, and Tim Meadows. Peacemaker returns August 21 on HBO Max.

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“I need to find the Peacemaker. He killed my son,” General Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) says in the trailer for Peacemaker season 2. The self-loathing jingoistic mercenary (John Cena) expressed remorse over killing American hero Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) during a still-canon mission to Corto Maltese in 2021’s The Suicide Squad, admitting in a sob session that Flag was right to call him a “joke.” But as Chris Smith says in the trailer, “I don’t want to be a joke anymore. I want to be a real hero.”

While Flag Sr. pursues Peacemaker over his use of the Quantum Unfolding Chamber — or the QUC, similar to the dangerous interdimensional technology that Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor operated in Superman — he’s also motivated by revenge. As a father himself, Grillo tells ComicBook how parenthood informed his performance.

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“It’s impossible not to let it kind of saturate your being,” the actor, who first played the elder Flag in the animated Creature Commandos, says. “The way for me anyway when I prepare, it’s like, ‘What would I do in this situation? How would I be in this situation?’ So it’s hard not to think of [what I would do].”

“If it were me, I would be hellbent on getting this guy in the ground,” Grillo continues. “And that would probably blur a lot of other things around me, which is what I think Flag is dealing with.”

As the new director of A.R.G.U.S., and with agents like Sasha Bordeaux (Sol Rodríguez) and Langston Fleury (Tim Meadows) at his command, Flag is dealing with “having this new position and dealing with this power that he has, while still having this one major objective,” Grillo says. “Which is to annihilate Peacemaker and to use everyone around me, with my authority, to get that done.”

Series creator and The Suicide Squad writer-director James Gunn previously defended Peacemaker killing Flag, who threatened to expose the truth about Amanda Waller’s (Viola Davis) Project Starfish and the US government’s involvement with the starfish-like alien Starro the Conqueror.

“People constantly are writing on Twitter about how awful [Peacemaker] is and how mad they are that he killed Rick Flag — and I may get s–t for saying this — but what he was doing, he had a reason for doing it,” Gunn said back in 2022. “He kills Rick Flag in The Suicide Squad because there’s a piece of evidence that he believes will cause the world a great amount of disturbance and death and violence. He’s covering up the truth, so if you believe in the truth being out there no matter what, you definitely don’t agree with that.”

Peacemaker comes from “not a natural rights perspective, he comes from a utilitarian perspective,” Gunn added. “He believes that the world is better off without that bit of information [about Starro]. And if that means killing a guy he really likes and looks up to, he’s willing to do that.”

John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick return for season two, joined by new cast members Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, and Tim Meadows.

In Peacemaker season 2, Chris “discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be,” a discovery that also “forces him to face his traumatic past and take the future into his own hands,” per the synopsis. James Gunn wrote all eight episodes of Peacemaker and directed three, including the first episode premiering August 21 on HBO Max.

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The post Peacemaker: Frank Grillo on How He Connected With Rick Flag’s Revenge Story in Season 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The first two episodes of Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth are now streaming on Hulu, and so far, critics and fans alike appear to be loving it. Despite already contradicting a popular fan theory, the series boasts a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and is expected to gain even more popularity as future episodes air. But as good as Alien: Earth is, you can only re-watch the two available episodes so many times without getting sick of them. If you’re looking for something else to watch with the same sci-fi movie-turned-TV show vibes, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

It’s only natural to finish Alien: Earth and still hunger for some Grade-A science fiction. But sci-fi is a broad genre, and jumping from the corporate-owned dystopia of Alien: Earth to the moneyless utopia of Star Trek: The Original Series wouldn’t feel right. You want to follow up Alien: Earth with something gritty, something grounded. Something that evokes nostalgia for an ’80s property while expanding on it and going in its own direction. In short, you want our picks for the three sci-fi shows you should watch after Alien: Earth.

1) Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles

One of the major plot points of Alien: Earth revolves around the universe’s three different kinds of artificial life—synths, cyborgs, and hybrids—duking it out to become the last android standing. So it only makes sense to go from that show to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, a series that also revolves around artificial intelligence and mechanical life. Acting as an alternate follow-up to Terminator 2, The Sarah Connor Chronicles follows Sarah Connor (Lena Headey) and her son John (Thomas Dekker) as they continue to try and stop the evil Skynet from becoming sentient and kicking off a future war between humans and machines.

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Far from the usual cheapo, TV cash grab, hoping to make money off of its big screen counterpart, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles introduced a wealth of new lore to the Terminator universe and was generally well received by fans of the franchise. Along with the human resistance and Skynet, both introduced in the original Terminator, The Sarah Connor Chronicles featured a new Cyborg Resistance started by machines that had switched sides and were now fighting against Skynet and a faction called The Grays, consisting of the opposite: humans that had jumped ship and were now working alongside the machines.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles isn’t currently available to stream, but episodes can be purchased from Prime Video and Apple+.

2) Alien Nation

One of the things fans love about the Alien franchise is the blue-collar, down-to-earth way it deals with the future. Many go as far as to refer to the Nostromo crew as “space truckers,” a stark contrast to the explorers and galactic wizards found in fellow sci-fi franchises, Star Trek and Star Wars. Alien Nation, an all but forgotten gem from 1989, presents its world in a similar fashion.

Based on a movie of the same name, Alien Nation takes place in a fictional version of 1991 where a UFO containing 300,000 aliens appears above L.A. After a three-year quarantine, the aliens, dubbed “Newcomers,” are integrated into human society where they face the same bigotry that plagues human minorities. Like the best sci-fi, Alien Nation used the fictional Newcomers to tackle real issues like racism, sexism, and homophobia while still finding time to find humor in the little quirks that differentiate the aliens from us, like their predilection for getting drunk off of spoiled milk.

Much like Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Alien Nation isn’t available to stream anywhere. Fortunately, you can find the entire series on YouTube in reasonably good quality.

3) Andor

Normally, we’d consider Star Wars the furthest thing from Alien in terms of tone and aesthetic, but Andor isn’t your typical Star Wars. Andor takes a darker, more realistic approach to the Empire and its particular brand of space fascism. Andor, like Alien: Earth, takes a popular film series and expands upon themes and ideas only hinted at on the big screen. It uses its extended format to examine life for the average galactic citizen under Imperial rule, something the movies never really take the time to get into.

Another thing Andor and Alien: Earth have in common is their attention to detail and the way they perfectly recreate the retro-futuristic aesthetic of the first films in their respective franchises. Both shows somehow manage to nail the look of 70’s science fiction without coming off as cheesy or silly looking. If you have access to Disney+, we can’t recommend Andor enough, especially if you’re looking for a sci-fi series to watch following Alien: Earth.

What do you think, are these TV Shows good picks for a post Alien: Earth binge-watch, or is there something better? Let us know in the comments.

The post 3 Sci-fi Shows to Watch After Alien: Earth appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Every now and then South Park departs from its cutout-like animation style. It doesn’t always work as well as it should, e.g. in “Korn’s Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery,” “A Scause for Applause,” or “Handicar,” but when a stylistic departure hits it really hits. It’s something the show has been doing here and there for a long time, and most notably it worked very well for Trey Parker and Matt Stone not once but twice in Season 10. Here, we’re going to be analyzing why an animation switch worked so well for five episodes. Six, if you count a two-parter as two episodes.

However, it should be noted we’re not looking at the instances where an episode has put a real person’s face on a typical South Park residents’ animated body, e.g. Mel Gibson in “The Passion of the Jew.” That is something that has continued to great effect even in its hit newest season. But it’s not what we’re unpacking here. Instead, we’re specifically examining why it has worked when the show has gone from one animation style to another.

Recreating The Simpsons and Family Guy in “Simpsons Already Did It” and “Cartoon Wars”

Season 6 was the year where the show tried to go forward without Kenny. Parker and Stone enlisted a few techniques to make it work and, no disrespect to the parka-clad kiddo, but it does indeed work. One of the things they did was have Kenny’s soul enter Cartman’s body and, thanks to Chef’s parents, have it extracted. Another thing they did was kill off Ms. Choksondik.

The scene occurred in “Simpsons Already Did It,” but that’s not the only thing that made this episode so important. This was the first time the show adopted the animation style of another popular show. However, unlike in the Family Guy skewering episode, this one is all about showing reverence for The Simpsons.

“Simpsons Already Did It” is great because it reflects the real-life South Park writing process. There were several times early in the series’ run where ideas were floated in the writers’ room only for someone to chime in with “Simpsons already did it.” Art reflects life.

The next time the show adopted another series’ animation style was four years later, in the aforementioned Family Guy-focused episodes, “Cartoon Wars Part I” and “Cartoon Wars Part II.” These episodes are even more important than “Simpsons Already Did It” because they inspired a significant amount of controversy and behind-the-scenes turmoil.

This was not because it so savagely takes down Family Guy. In fact, Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane called the episode “funny and accurate.” Even for those who can’t stand Family Guy, that’s a respectable reaction. No, the controversy stemmed from the fact the episode focuses on the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Like with Season 5’s “Super Best Friends” (which, like “Cartoon Wars,” is not available for streaming), Parker and Stone intended to show Muhammad at the end of the second part. The whole discussion posited by the episodes more or less hinged on this moment. But, after disagreements with Comedy Central, it was ultimately decided by the network to censor the image. These negotiations took so long that they were the reason the episode was split into a two-parter.

Fortunately, the two episodes still work extremely well. It could even be argued that the question that ends the first episode (which amounts to whether or not Comedy Central will back down and not show Muhammad) is made even more poignant because they did in fact back down.

But while the commentary about censorship is the meat of the episodes, all of the Family Guy stuff is what makes them so funny. It’s a spot-on take-down, and the take-down wouldn’t have been effective had the world of South Park not temporarily moved fully into the Family Guy realm.

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Becoming Japanese Warriors in “Good Times with Weapons”

“Good Times with Weapons” is an episode that makes fantastic use of Butters—arguably the show’s best character. Specifically, by having him get a ninja star to the eye and then have the boys try to dress him up as a dog, with Butters whimpering in pain, and take him to a vet so they don’t get caught with their newly purchased weapons. Then, once they get distracted, Butters drags himself to the hospital only for the doctor to reject him because he’s “a people doctor.” Poor little guy can’t catch a break.

What’s even better about the ninja star scene is how it immediately cuts back to the traditional animation style as soon as Professor Chaos’ helmet is knocked off. We first see the boys transition to Japanese anime animation style as soon as they start playing with their weapons. We’re entering into their imaginations. As soon as they recognize that the villain they’ve been fighting is Butters and he does indeed have a sharp object in his eye, that’s when we (and they) cut out of that imagined anime world a re-enter reality. It’s a very well-done moment.

“Good Times with Weapons” is the type of episode that works best either as the premiere or the finale. It’s just such a big swing. And, in this case, it was the premiere of Season 8, which many fans agree is the show’s most consistent and consistently hilarious year. In 2015, Parker and Stone listed “Good Times with Weapons” as their second-favorite episode they have ever made.

Saving the World…of Warcraft in “Make Love, Not Warcraft”

Just as Parker and Stone listed “Good Times with Weapons” as their second-favorite episode, they listed “Make Love, Not Warcraft” as their third-favorite. And that’s somewhat ironic as, during production, the episode stuck fear in the heart of Parker. Up to the day before it aired, he did not think it was going to work. He told the producers, “I’ve lost it. I don’t know how to do this anymore” and even begged the executive producer to tell Comedy Central that South Park wouldn’t air that week after all.

Even with the addition of machinima (the World of Warcraft animation style), “Make Love, Not Warcraft” didn’t take all that much more time to craft than the average episode. It did take about a month to plan the episode and collect data, but the machinima scenes only took five days to craft. The team tackled the non-machinima scenes simultaneously. All due credit to Blizzard Entertainment for being on board to assist Parker, Stone, and crew in making the episode. It can’t be easy to trust that a satirical show will be respectful of your cash cow.

And in that is one factor that helps make the episode so special. It’s actually fairly loving. Plenty of people had already ripped on World of Warcraft and the people who spend so much time playing it and similar MMORPGs. Those are fair targets for a show like South Park to aim its lens towards. And, sure, the episode does poke fun at the gradually deteriorating physical appearances of those who sit in front of a computer all day, but it really only utilizes Warcraft to tell a compelling story of frustration and vengeance.

But, at the end of the day, “Make Love, Not Warcraft” is one of the series’ funniest episodes for two reasons. One is a particular scene, and one is a bit of trivia. As to the former, the shot of Cartman’s mom bringing down a bedpan to catch her son’s explosive diarrhea (half of which ends up on her) only to walk away with a smile and the comment that “that’s a big boy, isn’t he?” will never not be funny. Two, the game that Butters plays, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, ended up becoming a real game.

Calling It Heavy Metal in “Major Boobage”

Sometimes South Park features real-life Colorado landmarks, other times it goes to a whole other cinematic universe; in the case of “Major Boobage,” the world of the cult classic film Heavy Metal.

Heavy Metal was such an odd film for South Park to emulate. By 2008 it wasn’t exactly a part of the mainstream cultural conversation. But it works like a charm.

Seeing Kenny enter a world to the tune of “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)” by Don Felder and “Heavy Metal” by Sammy Hagar (both of which were used in the actual film, as was “Radar Rider,” featured in the scene where Kenny and Gerald Broflovski charge at each other riding big-breasted ostriches) is perfect. He’s just so happy.

And, for those unfamiliar with Heavy Metal, the episode’s depiction of everything being focused on massive breasts is pretty spot-on. It’s a very sexual (and violent, which the episode also touches on in a few quick shots) film. There are so many great moments in this episode, most of which take place in the Heavy Metal world, making the eight-week production (eight times the norm) well worth it.

The post The Best Episodes of South Park Completely Changed the Show’s Animation appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Simpsons is broadly considered one of the most successful and influential animated TV shows of all time, with its lasting impact on pop culture and the genre plain for all to see. The show has tackled various issues over its multiple decades on the small screen, with episodes examining or lampooning current events and other relevant features of modern society for many years. While The Simpsons keeps its focus predominantly on comedy, it hasn’t been afraid to branch over the course of its run so far, delivering stories that are heartfelt, interesting, and, on more than one occasion, surprisingly emotional.

In fact, there have been several episodes of The Simpsons that have been downright sad. While the wacky adventures of the titular family typically gives way to comedic antics, there are times when the subject matter is a little more serious, and that can often prove to be unexpectedly emotional. While they may be somewhat rare, especially in the show’s more recent seasons, the saddest episodes of The Simpsons are more than capable of making its audience well up with tears.

10) Moaning Lisa (S1, E6)

In one of the best episodes of The Simpsons season one, the focus was on Lisa as she faced something of an existential crisis. As well as a subplot involving Homer attempting to beat Bart at a video game, the episode’s main story followed an incredibly disillusioned Lisa as she tried to find some meaning or purpose to her life. “Moaning Lisa” ultimately saw Lisa identify her passion for music, particularly jazz, with the help of musician Bleeding Gums Murphy.

What makes “Moaning Lisa” such a sad episode is not necessarily the thrust of its narrative, but the actual subject matter. Seeing Lisa despair over various elements of her life is something that many viewers can likely identify with, compounded by her young age and the reactions of those around her. While its ending ultimately sees Lisa gain a creative outlet, seeing her so upset throughout the episode is something that makes it an especially sad early chapter in The Simpsons‘ history.

9) Four Regrettings and a Funeral  (S25, E3)

One of The Simpsons‘ best running gags throughout its run has been its chalkboard gag, in which the opening of each episode features a different—and usually hilarious—written message in front of Bart on a chalkboard. However, season 25’s “Four Regrettings and a Funeral” featured a different sort of message: an emotional farewell to Mrs. Krabappel after her voice actor, Marcia Wallace, passed away. The sad tribute is capped off by Bart’s troubled expression, making it an especially upsetting moment.

The episode itself is also decidedly sad in tone. It features multiple characters reflecting on their biggest regrets at the funeral of a local man, making it a morbid commentary on life, death, and seizing the moment. While “Four Regrettings and a Funeral” is a relatively sad episode from beginning to end, it’s really the opening chalkboard gag, and the real-world context behind it, that makes it such an emotional watch.

8) Bart Gets an F (S2, E1)

Since the very earliest episodes of The Simpsons, Bart has been the show’s prankster. Introduced as a lovable rogue, Bart’s childhood troublemaking became a core part of the character and his stories, though other aspects of his personality have also been explored. Season 2’s “Bart Gets an F” establishes Bart’s academic difficulties, as its story follows the young student as he attempts to pass a difficult test in order to earn a passing grade for the entire year.

What makes the episode such a sad one is simply that its story is relatable to so many, and it shows a much more vulnerable side of Bart as a character. Seeing Bart struggle to study and apply himself no matter how hard he tries is something that the majority of people have experienced in their life, and the emotional roller coaster of the episode’s story makes it one of the most unforgettable entries to The Simpsons‘ early years. Though it’s relatively mundane in its subject matter, “Bart Gets an F” is one of the most emotional episodes from across The Simpsons‘ entire run.

7) Lisa’s Substitute  (S2, E19)

Over the course of The Simpsons, Lisa has changed considerably since the show’s beginnings. Season 2 in particular saw her develop massively as a character, with one of its most heartfelt episodes standing out as an important moment for Lisa. “Lisa’s Substitute” saw the introduction of Dustin Hoffman’s Mr. Bergstrom, a substitute teacher who swiftly became something of a hero to Lisa, with his immersive lessons and sensitive nature striking a chord with the young Simpson.

The episode inevitably ends with Berstrom’s departure, though not before he’s able to share one final piece of moving advice with Lisa. Its ending also sees an inattentive Homer realize his error and attempt to make things right with Lisa, prompting one of the most tear-inducing endings to any episode across the show’s run. “Lisa’s Substitute” is an episode that stands out as especially sad, even several decades after it initially aired.

6) Old Money (S2, E17)

While it may not be the most memorable of Simpsons episodes, season 2’s “Old Money” is an incredibly sad chapter in the lives of the Simpson family, particularly that of Homer’s father, Abe. It sees Grampa Simpson fall in love with Bea, another resident at the Retirement Castle, with the pair flirting and enjoying one another’s company. However, after Homer patronizes his father and drags him away from a date with Bea, Grampa later learns that she died, leaving him a considerable sum of money.

Seeing Grampa briefly find love in his old age only to have it taken away so abruptly is upsetting enough, but the episode’s exploration of his dismissal of the money is especially heartbreaking. Everything about the episode’s story is deeply upsetting, from Grampa and Bea’s short-lived relationship to his abject misery following her death and everything in between. It’s an episode that tugs at the heartstrings from beginning to end, making it an incredibly sad moment in the show’s history.

5) ‘Round Springfield  (S6, E22)

Airing squarely within the golden era of The Simpsons, Season 6’s “‘Round Springfield” serves as an example of the emotionally complex storytelling the show is capable of. After learning that her hero, Bleeding Gums Murphy, is in the hospital, Lisa reconnects with him. However, the subsequent death of the classic Simpsons character then hits her incredibly hard, and the episode then goes on to follow Lisa trying to honor Bleeding Gums’ memory even as she mourns his loss.

It’s an episode that delves into grief, particularly the ways in which children process death and loss. It’s an episode that brings yet more sadness to Lisa Simpson’s life, but all the while shows that she can lean on her family and her own emotional maturity to navigate through the difficulties of grief. Bleeding Gums’ final farewell to Lisa is a moment that stands out as one of the most emotional in the history of the entire show, making “‘Round Springfield” an especially poignant episode.

4) Mother Simpson  (S7, E8)

Season 7 saw the introduction of Homer’s mother, Mona, to The Simpsons, filling in a blank in the character’s backstory. His enigmatic mother appeared after believing her son had died, prompting the pair to reconnect. The episode, “Mother Simpson”, explains the reasons for Mona’s absence while also exploring Homer’s past and his feelings toward the mother who he believes abandoned him.

“Mother Simpson” is an episode that is packed with laughs, but still manages to be incredibly sad. The story of how Mona was forced to leave her son behind is tragic, while the brief connection she shares with her family is made all the more upsetting when it’s ripped away again. “Mother Simpson” is an episode that manages to blend comedy with truly emotional drama, and its final scene of Homer silently watching the sky is one of the most poetically sad endings in the show’s history.

3) Dog of Death (S3, E19)

There are many Simpsons characters who deserve more attention, and Santa’s Little Helper is often considered one of them. Despite being a part of the titular family, the Simpson’s dog is rarely the focus of whole episodes. Interestingly, when he is, it often makes for incredibly memorable and emotional scenes, with the bond between human and canine facilitating decidedly powerful narratives. Season 3’s “Dog of Death” was among the first Simpsons episodes to focus specifically on Santa’s Little Helper, and it’s consistently sad right up to its final moments.

The episode sees Santa’s Little Helper get sick and require expensive veterinary treatment. The resulting financial strain this puts on the family causes the upset dog to run away, ending with him being reconditioned as a brutal attack dog by Mr. Burns. The culmination of this is a scene in which Santa’s Little Helper remembers all the happy memories he has shared with the Simpson family, breaking through his conditioning in a moment capable of bringing a tear to the eye of even the most hardened viewer, and establishing “Dog of Death” as a uniquely emotional episode of the show.

2) Alone Again, Natura-Diddily (S11, E14)

Although it aired just after the end of what is widely considered The Simpsons’ golden era, season 11’s “Alone Again, Natura-Diddily” is an episode that still stands out. It marked one of the most shocking and unexpected developments in The Simpsons‘ history, as it saw Maude Flanders be abruptly killed off. The death of the Simpsons’ neighbor caused her husband Ned to spiral into a pit of grief, with the episode going on to chronicle his short-lived relationship with a Christian rock musician shortly after Maude’s death.

There are several moments of comedy in the episode, but it’s still unbelievably sad. For the show to kill off one of the Simpsons’ closest neighbors was shocking, and seeing Ned’s difficulty in processing the sudden loss of his wife is deeply tragic and incredibly upsetting. Ned’s grief is the focal point of the entire episode, making it a rare Simpsons story that is based purely on a deeply sad emotional premise.

1) One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish  (S2, E11)

Season 2 of The Simpsons featured a number of episodes that were distinctly emotional, but none stand out quite as much as “One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish.” The episode sees the Simpson family dining at a sushi restaurant, only for Homer to eat a rare and exotic fish that is deemed highly poisonous. Told he likely only has 22 hours to live, the episode takes the viewer on an emotional journey of a father and husband attempting to make the most of his final day on Earth.

Seeing Homer bravely face the prospect of death and trying to work through a list of final tasks is pretty powerful in its own right. However, the melancholic thrust of the episode stems largely from Homer’s inability to please everyone, forcing him to constantly revise his list as the time ticks away. The episode’s final scene sees Homer prepare himself for death by tuning into to an audiobook of the Bible, only to awake in the morning to find that the danger has passed. The ending makes it one of the most heartwarming Simpsons episodes, although its story is deeply unsettling right up to the final moments.

The post The Simpsons: 10 Saddest Episodes of All Time, Ranked   appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fans got their first look at the new Harry Potter and Hagrid together on Sunday, but Nick Frost is not actually in the shot. Fans spotted The remake filming out in public on Sunday, with Dominic McLaughlin dressed up as Harry walking alongside the massive figure of Rubeus Hagrid. However, according to those that shared the video, a body double was standing in for Frost in these exterior shots. It makes sense, as a close-up would be difficult in this case, possibly drawing attention to the effects used to make Hagrid look so tall. The Harry Potter series is filming now and is reportedly on track to premiere in early 2027 on HBO.

Fans glimpsed Harry and Hagrid shopping for school supplies on Sunday on Borough Street in London. This is likely the early part of the story, when Hagrid has retrieved Harry from the Dursleys and taken him to Diagon Alley to get everything he’ll need for Hogwarts.

This is actually one of the first sequences where the show has a chance to be more faithful to the books — in the first novel, Hagrid takes Harry back to the Dursleys after this shopping spree, and they’re responsible for getting him to the Hogwarts Express, which leads to his confusion over finding Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. However, in the first movie, Hagrid takes Harry straight from Diagon Alley to King’s Cross Station, but inexplicably abandons him there to find his own way.

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The team behind the Harry Potter remake have said that sticking to the books is one of their top priorities for this series. Most of the movies’ diversions from the books seemed to be done for brevity, but that won’t be an issue with this series, which may go on for as long as 10 seasons. It’s unclear how the show would break up the books to reach that length, but it seems the extra screentime would go to transitional moments like these.

Harry Potter is filming primarily at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios, which is in a suburb of London. However, this is the second time the cast and crew have been spotted within the city itself getting exterior shots like these. The last sighting was at the London Zoo, and they were likely filming Dudley’s (Amos Kitson) birthday party, as all the right actors were present. Unlike the movies, this scene even featured Dudley’s friend, Piers Polkiss, played by Mickey McAnulty.

The Harry Potter movies are streaming now on HBO Max, and the novels are available in print, digital, and audiobook formats. This remake series will premiere in early 2027 on HBO.

The post Harry Potter HBO Series Set Video Reveals First Look at Hagrid and Harry Together appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Even the Fastest Man Alive can’t outrun a viral meme. Grant Gustin played the scarlet speedster Barry Allen in nine seasons of The Flash between 2014 and 2023, the long-running superhero show crossing over with Arrow, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and Batwoman as part of The CW’s Arrowverse. But it was the series finale of Arrow — which memorialized Stephen Amell‘s Oliver Queen, who died in the five-part crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths — that birthed the meme of Gustin flashing the peace sign next to Queen’s grave.

The image, which originated on Arrow co-star Echo Kellum’s Instagram in January 2020, first went viral on Reddit and quickly became a meme:

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“There’s been some captions attached to it I wish weren’t attached to it,” Gustin said when asked about his favorite version of the meme at Chicago FanExpo 2025. “But I don’t know, I feel like sports-related ones are always funnier to me, because I’m a sports guy. Like whenever someone’s been eliminated from the playoffs, when it’s a team I don’t like, at least.”

“It’s been used [a lot],” he continued. “For a while there, it was sent to me once a week. It’s sent to me by people I’m hearing from for the first time in years. Because it reaches different corners of [fandom]. Suddenly, someone sees the meme because it’s about something they care about. It’s touched every corner of the internet, I feel like.”

Gustin has embraced the now iconic meme. “I’ve joked that when I die, that will be on my tombstone,” he added. “I feel like I’m more famous for that than anything I’ve ever done.”

Elsewhere during the panel, Gustin recreated the Flash run and reflected on playing the DC superhero for nearly a decade. “He just changed a lot, evolved a lot. But I never felt like I was trying to find him,” he said of Barry Allen. “I always felt like I was bringing a lot of myself to him, and following the guidelines of the writers who worked on our story. It was just very natural, and I grew as the character grew.”

During a previous appearance on Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast, Gustin told his fellow DC alum he’s “of course” interested in potentially playing the Flash in the newly rebooted DC Universe. “There’s a lot of things that I’d have to like ask… not for, but about,” he told the former Smallville and Justice League star. “I’d be more interested in the [creative].”

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The post The Flash Star Grant Gustin Reveals What He Really Thinks of THAT Arrowverse Meme appeared first on ComicBook.com.

From time-traveling womanisers to space dads who make a mean plate of jambalaya, here’s our ranking of every Captain to sit in the Chair.

There’s no question more likely to divide the Star Trek fandom than “who’s the best captain?” Ask it in a room full of Trekkies and you’ll hear impassioned speeches about diplomacy, charisma, and maybe even hairlines. And while there’s no real right or wrong answer, (whatever floats your boat—or ship) it’s fun to debate and Trekkies have spent many a happy hour comparing personal rankings.

While there are some who would argue no one could live up to the commanding presence and charisma of James T Kirk in Gene Roddenbury’s Original Series, over its nearly 60 years of films, animated series and spin-offs, Star Trek has given us a whole host of Captains, each facing different challenges and each inspirational in their own way. While Star Trek Shows are very much an ensemble effort, the captain does tend to appear front and center, so for this list, we’re focusing only on main-series captains in Star Trek canon—the ones whose names appear in the opening credits and who command their ship week after week. That means no one-off favourites, no First Officers who took the con once or eventually got their own command, no Mirror Universe warlords like Lorca, and no animated anomalies like Dal (sorry Prodigy fans).

With those ground rules in place… Engage!

7) Michael Burnham (Star Trek Discovery)

Michael Burnham’s journey to Captaincy in Discovery is one of the more unusual in Trek history—she starts out as a disgraced first officer, mutineer, and prisoner, only to eventually become captain of the ship she helped save more times than we can count. She certainly eared her place in the chair, but she doesn’t get there until season three, and some fans have argued the series would have felt less disjointed had she been made Captain from the start. Making Burnham the protagonist of the show felt a little odd when she didn’t yet have the rank and authority to support her adventures (there’s a reason Captains are usually the focus). Sonequa Martin-Green anchored the series with undeniable charisma, but the early seasons often tied Burnham’s story too tightly to Spock’s and her family legacy.

Once she finally took the captain’s chair in Season 3, Burnham became the clear leader she was born to be, and she truly came into her own when Discovery traveled to the 32^nd Century. Sometimes her storylines skewed a little too far toward her being the “galaxy’s chosen one” for comfort, and she suffered a little from main character syndrome. Still, her empathy, emotional intelligence, and persistence made her a worthy addition to Starfleet’s upper ranks—even if her captaining style sometimes felt a little unorthodox.

6) Jonathan Archer (Star Trek: Enterprise)

The first captain of the original Enterprise, the first Warp 5 capable starship, had the unenviable job of writing the rulebook as he went along—and sometimes, it showed. We have to cut him some slack; Jonathan Archer’s pre-Federation missions meant no Prime Directive, no First Contact protocols, and no long history of Starfleet diplomacy to look back on for inspiration (and yet he still navigated first contact with many species including Klingons and Andorians). Unfortunately, it also meant more than a few instances where he seemed to make rash decisions, or go against his own morals.

Scott Bakula definitely brought an inherent relatability to Archer in Enterprise, especially when hanging with his dog Porthos, but too often the character came across as reactive instead of visionary, stubborn and set in his ways, rather than diplomatic and curious to explore, which some would argue are essential qualities for a Starship Captain. The Xindi and Temporal Cold War arcs gave him more to do in later seasons, but he never quite reached the inspirational heights of his successors, despite being arguably more down to Earth.

5) Christopher Pike (Star Trek Strange New Worlds)

Before Discovery and most recently Strange New Worlds, Christopher Pike was a more of a footnote in Star Trek history—the “other” captain of the Enterprise first seen in the Pilot episode of The Original Series “The Cage.” Anson Mount’s portrayal of the character in Season 2 of Discovery changed that instantly, leading to the actor securing his own show with the creation of Strange New Worlds and firmly securing Pike in Star Trek History. His Pike is a warm, collaborative leader who cooks for his crew, gives them room to shine, and even after learning of his fate (as seen in The Original Series in “The Menagerie” Parts 1 and 2) he somehow makes his tragic future into a challenge to live better, not a death sentence to fear.

Unlike some Captains, Pike doesn’t hog the spotlight; he’s happy to let Spock, La’An, or any of his very competent crew take center stage in any given mission, deferring to their expertise—but that humility is part of his charm. He’s even got a sense of humor, showing us throughout Strange New World’s that he’s a space dad in the best way possible, with just enough swashbuckling energy to remind us of Kirk but setting himself apart by showing the maturity and wisdom that comes with age.

4) Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek: Voyager)

Kate Mulgrew’s Janeway was the first female Captain to lead a Star Trek series, and she did it while stuck 70,000 lightyears away in the Delta Quadrant, cut off from Starfleet, with a decimated crew made up of trigger-happy Starfleet officers and Maquis rebels at each other’s throats—RESPECT! That alone should be enough to cement Voyager’s Captain as one of the most resourceful captains in Trek history, but she’s also a romantic at heart and her occasional loneliness and crises of confidence made her one of the most human of all the captains.

She didn’t like bullies, and she didn’t like threats, and boy did she make it known! Janeway could occasionally be stubborn, but above all, she was fiercely protective of her crew. Despite some inconsistent writing, with her clipped cadence and calm but powerful presence, Kate Mulgrew created a consistency in her character that made her feel trustworthy to her crew and audiences. Whether negotiating with the Borg or deciding the fate of Tuvix (sorry, Tuvix…), Janeway always made choices she could and would stand by—even if they weren’t always easy. Fans were delighted to see Kate Mulgrew reprise her role in Prodigy, where she has rightly made the rank of Admiral. She’s the kind of captain you’d follow into uncharted space.

3) Benjamin Sisko (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Benjamin Sisko of Deep Space Nine, had a somewhat different job from other captains. Tasked with running a space station instead of a starship, he nonetheless gave his all to the role, delicately balancing Starfleet’s orders with the needs of the many different species aboard the station. He navigated some complex political situations, and he proved he wasn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty, commanding from the front lines playing a vital part in the war effort during the Dominion War.

As if that wasn’t enough, he managed to balance duel responsibilities, also acting as the Bajoran Emissary of the Prophets. Avery Brooks gave Sisko a commanding and serious presence, necessary for one of Star Trek’s darker shows, but he also gave his character a warmth and emotional intelligence that made him endlessly compelling. He could be a spiritual leader, a baseball coach, and above all a loving father to his son Jake. In short: Sisko got things done, whether Starfleet liked it or not!

2) James T. Kirk (The Original Series)

What?! Kirk’s not top of the list?! Kirk is undoubtedly Star Trek’s original action hero—bold, charming, occasionally reckless, but always decisive. William Shatner’s performance gave the character a swagger that’s often imitated but rarely matched. Kirk showed he could outthink his enemies as often as he could outshoot them. The Original ‘Golden Trio’, ‘The Triumvirate’ of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy was a friendship for the ages, that would never again be matched in Trek, and Kirk clearly valued the counsel of his friends as much as his own instincts.

Yes, some aspects of his character, like his tendency to flirt with any female alien who might stray in his vicinity, are firmly products of the 1960s, but Kirk’s adaptability, curiosity, and willingness to risk himself for his crew remain timeless. Without him, the idea of a “Starfleet captain” simply wouldn’t exist as we know it. In many ways, Kirk was the show in The Original Series. It’s no surprise that the iconic character has made a come back in recent years, with Chris Pine’s portrayal of the Character in JJ Abrams reboot films bringing the character to a new generation of fans and Paul Wesley being the latest actor to step in to the famous shoes, giving us a younger, less refined version of Kirk in Strange New Worlds.

1) Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

If Kirk was the blueprint, then Jean-Luc Picard is the gold standard. Patrick Stewart’s unflappable Captain of the Enterprise-D, redefined what a Starfleet captain could be: not just a warrior or an explorer, but a philosopher and diplomat with a strong moral compass. Preferring a good cup of Earl grey to a one-night stand, Picard led with reason, empathy, and an unshakable belief in the ideals of the Federation, making him the ultimate embodiment of Trek’s vision for the future. Gene Roddenbury famously didn’t want Patrick Stewart in the part, he certainly had some big boots to fill coming straight after Shatner’s Kirk, but the Shakesperean actor soon proved himself more than worthy of the role.

Sure, Picard’s leadership style might have been a slightly less entertaining than Kirk’s (a little less avant-garde) preferring to do things by the book, but you couldn’t really fault it when, there were lives at stake after all. Whether delivering a spine-tingling speech, outmaneuvering the Borg, or defending Data’s right to self-determination, Picard always placed principle above ego. Fans were delighted to see Stewart return to the role in Picard. He wasn’t perfect—nor was he infallible—but he was the kind of leader who made you want to be better. Every captain since has been measured against him, and for good reason.

Who’s your favorite captain? Let us know in the comments!

All seasons of Star Trek are streaming now on Paramount+.

The post Every Captain in Star Trek Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Few things in Game of Thrones were as heavily theorized about as Jon Snow’s parentage. The idea that Jon’s true parents are Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark – aka R+L=J – dates back to the 1990s, with fans beginning to speculate on it even just a year or so after the publication of George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones. The books have not yet been able to confirm it, but Game of Thrones‘ later seasons did indeed make Jon Snow into a Targaryen – though can also be fairly criticised for not doing a lot with the reveal.

Jon’s real identity sparked some tension with Daenerys Targaryen but, despite him killing her, his heritage wasn’t actually a major factor in Game of Thrones‘ ending. It’s hard to image that being the case in The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring (when they eventually arrive). Martin has done a lot to set up this reveal, and the POV nature of the books can give it more depth and allow us to understand how Jon himself really feels about it. Alongside that, though, the books can fix another problem with Game of Thrones‘ Jon Snow/Targaryen twist: his name.

Jon Snow’s Targaryen Name In Game Of Thrones Didn’t Make Sense

When Game of Thrones finally revealed the truth about Jon Snow, it also gave him a Targaryen name. This itself made a lot of sense; given Eddard Stark was attempting to hide his nephew’s identity, he changed his name too, naming him after his own mentor and father figure Jon Arryn, which only supports the ruse that the child was Ned’s. So it was no surprise there was another, more Valyrian name to be revealed. And not only that, but the show gave him the Targaryen name: Aegon. Five kings have been called that in Westeros history, starting with The Conqueror himself. So, from that perspective, there’s a certain logic to it… except for one problem.

Rhaegar already had a legitimate son named Aegon, from his marriage to Elia Martell. That child, along with his sister Rhaenys, was infamously killed at the end of Robert’s Rebellion. Aegon was confirmed to exist in the show, and there was never an explanation for why Rhaegar gave his second son the same name as his first. The books do suggest that Rhaegar was obsessed with the Prince That Was Promised prophecy and perhaps believed they would be called Aegon, but the show never draws this connection.

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What’s more, giving that name to Jon Snow didn’t deepen his Targaryen identity, but made it feel as though the show was artificially inflating his importance. Oh, of course he’s called Aegon, because what other name could there possibly be?! At best it’s careless, at worst it’s a plot hole, and the reveal deserved better – something it’s likely to get in The Winds of Winter.

The Winds Of Winter Probably Won’t Repeat This Mistake

George R. R. Martin has long demonstrated a far more meticulous approach to naming and lineage than Game of Thrones. The Targaryen family tree is well documented, and the author has spoken before about the importance of names. While, yes, this includes reusing names for kings like Aegon, which reflects some of the English history he was taking inspiration from (e.g. eight King Henrys), he’s also very deliberate in his choices. In a 2014 interview [via Blinbox Books], he said he “wrestled” with a lot of names, and that until he finds the right name, he “can’t find the character.”

So, if Jon is called Aegon in The Winds of Winter, there will at least have been a lot of thought put into it. We can expect an explanation of the reasoning and deeper meaning behind it, because Martin would be aware of the confusion otherwise. However, it’s much less likely that will be Jon’s name in the books, for a simple reason: the other Aegon Targaryen (allegedly) still exists.

A Dance of Dragons introduced Young Griff – who claims to be Rhaegar’s first son, Aegon, having secretly survived the end of Robert’s Rebellion. He’s arrived in Westeros at the beginning of The Winds of Winter, and will be making a bid for the Iron Throne. There’s some doubt about whether he’s the real deal or not, but to introduce one secret son of Rhaegar called Aegon, to then follow it with another, would be confusing, absurd, and unnecessary.

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The Two Big Theories For Jon Snow’s Real Name In The Winds of Winter

If not Aegon, there are a couple of strong contenders for what Jon’s name could be. One popular idea is that he’s Jaehaerys Targaryen. This name would honor Jaehaerys I, the Conciliator, who is not only Westeros’ longest-serving king, but also regarded as its wisest. Unlike Aegon the Conqueror, who represents House Targaryen’s power and ambition through fire and blood, Jaehaerys stands for unity and compromise.

Those traits fit more closely with Jon Snow: a man who seeks peace where possible, and is willing to sacrifice personal glory for the greater good. Given Jon has brought wildlings to the Wall – a plot point that will presumably continue after his inevitable resurrection in Winds – and will likely be a major force in uniting the realm against the White Walkers, the name of the conciliator is rather fitting.

Another compelling possibility is that Jon could have been named Aemon Targaryen – yes, after the Night’s Watch’s Maester. Aemon and Jon have a deep bond and clear parallels in their story: both are characters who have to choose between their family and their vows; who face tests of love against their duty. Those echoes are clear in Jon’s arc in the books and the show, and so it would be a fitting choice. It’s also a name that Rhaegar himself might choose. He corresponded directly with Aemon, including about the Prince That Was Promised prophecy. That gives Rhaegar giving Jon this name even more weight.

There are other Aemons in history that could have parallels with Jon Snow. Aemon, son of Jaehaerys I, had an elder brother named Aegon who died as an infant. Aemon the Dragonknight joined the Kingsguard at a young age, taking vows that would prohibit him from having kids, and rose to the position of Lord Commander, becoming known as one of the noblest and most skilled knights in Westeros, which certainly sounds very Jon Snow coded. But, whether it’s Jaehaerys, Aemon, or something else entirely, The Winds of Winter – or A Dream of Spring, depending on when Martin reveals it – should give a lot more depth and meaning to Jon Snow’s Targaryen name.

All eight seasons of Game of Thrones are streaming on HBO Max. The Winds of Winter does not yet have a release date (but let’s keep hoping).

The post The Winds of Winter Theory Fixes Game of Thrones’ Jon Snow Targaryen Name Mistake appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Netflix‘s catalog of drama TV shows is among the deepest and most impressive in the streaming world, and subscribers need to take full advantage of it. Over the years, the platform has released a number of great original dramas such as Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Bridgerton. These recurring series capture general TV audiences’ attention each time they drop a new season. Even in the realm of limited drama series, Netflix stands out. Titles like The Queen’s Gambit, Godless, and Baby Reindeer have attracted widespread praise. Those on the hunt for their next thrilling binge session have a ton of Netflix drama shows at their disposal.

The following 10 drama series are the best and most binge-worthy titles on Netflix, and subscribers should definitely add them to their watchlist.

1) Narcos

Netflix’s Narcos takes audiences through a dramatic deep dive into the Colombian drug trade from the 1970s to the 1990s. The show’s three seasons examine the rise and fall of prominent figures like Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura) while focusing on the American Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) fight to take them down. Moura and Pedro Pascal deliver standout performances in this captivating drama based on true events. Narcos impressively tackles its subject material with nuance, addressing both the successes the failures of law enforcement’s efforts to combat the kingpins. Containing plenty of exhilarating action and tension, Narcos makes for an incredibly easy binge.

2) Vikings

Fans of historical dramas in search of epic battles and compelling character arcs will have a blast binging Vikings on Netflix. The series, which originally aired on History, predominantly fixates on the life of Viking warrior Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), who led his army to Anglo-Saxon England. Clashes between Scandinavian and Saxon combatants are abundant in Vikings, and the show’s fight sequences are riveting and brutal. Even in its quieter moments, Vikings produces engrossing drama through its array of unique personalities—from Ragnar’s children to English Kings. It’s hard not to fall in love with Vikings while experiencing its glorious narrative.

3) Peaky Blinders

Another top-notch historical drama, Peaky Blinders is widely considered among the best shows on Netflix. The story revolves around Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his family, who run a street gang in Birmingham, England in the years following World War I. Peaky Blinders is beautifully crafted with complex character dynamics, palpable suspense, and gruesome violence over the course of its six seasons. Murphy’s Tommy remains an all-time great TV character portrayal, and Peaky Blinders‘ supporting cast is excellent, too. Peaky Blinders‘ gorgeous cinematography and memorable musical score exist as even more reasons to start binging the show, so Netflix subscribers should add it to their watchlist now.

4) The Crown

The British royal family takes center stage in Netflix’s dramatized account of its history. The Crown starts from the beginning of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign in the 1950s and chronicles the royals’ stories until the 1990s. Each of The Crown‘s six seasons is excellent television, as the cast, writing, sets, cinematography, and score harmonize wonderfully and keep viewers engaged. Although The Crown takes many creative liberties in its recreation of true events, the series presents an unrelenting drama that’s impossible to take one’s eyes off of. Thus, even those uninterested in the House of Windsor’s affairs over the decades will find themselves mesmerized by The Crown.

5) Ozark

Highly praised and viewed as one of the greatest crime dramas of the last decade, Ozark is a must-watch on Netflix. In the show, Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) hastily moves his family to the Missouri Ozarks to settle a money laundering dispute with a powerful Mexican drug lord. There, Marty endures one danger after another involving the cartel and local residents, triggering an enthralling series of events full of interesting characters and action. It’s hard to find a TV show more addicting than Ozark, as the series’ gripping tension and multitude of shocking plot developments make for an amazing and satisfying binge. Comprised of just four seasons, Ozark is a fantastic series about moral corruption and class disparity. No one who starts watching Ozark will regret it.

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6) Breaking Bad

Those who enjoyed Ozark are bound to love Breaking Bad even more. Commonly dubbed as the greatest TV show of all time, Breaking Bad centers on Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a chemistry teacher who starts cooking and selling methamphetamine to fund his family’s future after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Working alongside Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul)—a former student of his—Walt seeks to make a fortune while evading the law and bosses who want him dead. Across five seasons, Breaking Bad unearths Walt’s moral depravity as he rises and falls in the drug world. The series’ plot threads develop at a gradual place, but the payoffs are well worth the investment. Astonishing, disturbing, and absorbing all at once, Breaking Bad is the perfect crime show to binge over a week or two.

7) Mr. Robot

The masterful character study at the heart of Mr. Robot deserves much more recognition. A crime drama and psychological thriller, the show fixates on Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), a mentally unstable cybersecurity engineer who joins the covert hacker group fsociety to orchestrate the mass erasure of consumer debt. At times it’s challenging to fully comprehend Mr. Robot‘s enigmatic story, which includes flashbacks and alternate realities, however the series leans on its extraordinary characters to bring everything together. Rami’s Emmy-winning lead performance is a major highlight of Mr. Robot, while the show’s unbridled intensity and stunning plot twists make it an exhilarating binge.

8) Black Sails

One won’t find many binge-worthy TV shows about pirates in the streaming world, but Black Sails prevails as an outstanding exception. Set in the early 18th century, the series functions as a prequel to Treasure Island and depicts numerous fictional and real-world pirates as they fight to control New Providence Island in the Golden Age of Piracy. From Captain James Flint (Toby Stephens) and “Long” John Silver (Luke Arnold) to Charles Vane (Zach McGowan) and Anne Bonny (Clara Paget), Black Sails‘ band of characters offer plenty of fascinating qualities. Black Sails also features thrilling battles, both on the high seas and on land. Intricate schemes and unpredictable betrayals among the pirates make Black Sails an exciting viewing experience for all lovers of good TV. Netflix subscribers should queue-up Black Sails and start binging it today.

9) Ripley

The newest adaptation of the novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, Netflix’s limited series is spellbinding from start to finish. The tale follows Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott), a skilled con artist who poses as a rich man’s son and commits a succession of crimes across Europe. Scott expertly portrays Tom’s irresistible charisma, underlying deceitfulness, and capacity for sinister acts. Ripley generates an air of mystery and intrigue as it peels back the layers of its main character. The tension mounts as Tom’s list of misdeeds lengthens, paving the way for some breathtaking episodes. Audiences will never know what’s coming next in Ripley, which makes the miniseries a terrific and quick binge.

10) The Fall of the House of Usher

Renowned for blending horror elements with first-rate drama, writer-director Mike Flanagan delivered one of his most intoxicating projects with the Netflix limited series The Fall of the House of Usher. Inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe, the show’s eight episodes tell the story of Roderick (Bruce Greenwood/Zach Gilford) and Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell/Willa Fitzgerald) and their lives of corruption as heads of a pharmaceutical company. The Fall of the House of Usher chronicles the siblings’ rise to power in the past and focuses on the mysterious deaths of Roderick’s children in the present. Nothing can prepare audiences for The Fall of the House of Usher‘s jaw-dropping series of events as the supernatural creeps into a narrative of tragedy and ruthlessness. Elevated by scattered jump scares, horrifying death scenes, and superb acting performances, The Fall of the House of Usher is truly a masterpiece of television.

All of these entries are available to stream on Netflix.

The post 10 Best Dramas to Binge on Netflix Right Now appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Critics may not be in love with it, but Prime Video’s new spy thriller Butterfly is an undeniable hit in its first week out. The series is 68% fresh right now on Rotten Tomatoes, which is certainly not bad, but it’s far from the 89% fresh rating it got from the site’s user-based “popcornmeter.” On top of that, Butterfly is the number two most-watched show on Prime Video this week according to FlixPatrol, and it’s far ahead of number three show, Countdown, while it’s within striking distance of the number one show, The Summer I Turned Pretty. The binge model may be helping here, as those who got hooked on Butterfly had access to all six episodes at once starting on Wednesday. The whole series is streaming now on Prime Video.

Butterfly is adapted from a graphic novel series created by writer Arash Amel and published by Boom! Studios. It stars Daniel Dae Kim as David Jung, a former U.S. intelligence agent now living in South Korea and tryign to escape his past. Reina Hardesty plays his daughter, Rebecca, who has followed him into that line of work against his wishes.

It’s not the most innovative premise, but then again, it’s a classic for a reason. The series has everything you’d want from a good spy thriller series — intrigue, action, and a careful balance of superhuman competence and emotional stakes. Still, on the surface, the show has a lot in common with other shows hitting streamers lately, including Prime Video’s own Reacher and The Terminal List, among others.

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For a lot of critics, that seems to be the main problem. The series doesn’t stand out enough from others in its genre, and its open-ended format left some feeling unsatisfied rather than excited for a second season. The negative reviews of the series also focused on its slow and unexciting character development, while the positive reviews focused on the fun side of a formulaic approach. They felt this was a suitable summertime binge-watch, and that it didn’t make any false promises to be more.

Butterfly may not stand out in the crowded spy thriller genre, but it’s not a heartless regurgitation of tropes, either. Fans of this kind of action will definitely find something to love here, and long-time fans of Kim won’t be disappointed. The six-episode series is streaming now on Prime Video, and the Butterfly graphic novels are available in print and digital formats.

The post Prime’s New Reacher Rival Is a Streaming Hit (As Viewers Disagree With Critics) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Choosing the right actor for a book-based character is never simple. The audience already has images and expectations in their minds, and any choice that seems off quickly becomes a target for criticism. Now imagine that in fantasy – the pressure is even greater given the weight the genre carries. However, when the casting hits the mark, the success is immediate: the character comes to life, becomes memorable, and can even elevate the entire series. It’s this kind of casting that turns a good adaptation into something unforgettable. Over time, countless actors have managed to capture the essence of important literary figures, so much so that, years later, their performances have become part of pop culture history.

Here are 10 examples where the castings were so perfect in fantasy TV shows that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. They are all proof that sometimes, finding the right performer is the key to a production’s success.

1) Geralt of Rivia – Henry Cavill (The Witcher)

One of the best things about watching The Witcher is Henry Cavill, not just because he was a visually perfect match for Geralt of Rivia, but also because he brought a rare level of commitment to a fantasy adaptation. He’s a declared fan of the books and games, and it shows in every detail of his performance, from his tone to his posture. On top of that, Cavill insisted on doing his own action scenes, which helped keep the character consistent and believable throughout. This kind of dedication is rare and makes a real difference, because Geralt isn’t just a monster hunter; he’s a complex, cynical character with his own moral code, and Cavill manages to convey all those layers.

The Witcher did have its weak points and received mixed reviews over its first three seasons, but very few (if any) questioned whether Cavill was the right casting. The truth is, his work ensures that Geralt remains one of the most solid elements of the series and even serves as an anchor when the script falters. This mix of restrained charisma, convincing physicality, and fidelity to the original material made him almost impossible to replace – something Netflix is ironically about to test with his departure from the role.

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2) Percy Jackson – Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

When the Percy Jackson and the Olympians movies were released, the reception was far from positive (especially from fans). Even the author, Rick Riordan, was disappointed with how unfaithful the adaptations were to the books. So, when the show was announced and the cast revealed, Walker Scobell faced enormous pressure: to erase the bad impression left by the films and deliver a Percy Jackson that felt convincing for a new generation. In the end, he succeeded. One clear advantage was that he’s the right age for the character, which added authenticity. But more importantly, he captures Percy’s sarcasm, impulsiveness, and insecurity, while also balancing his heroic side with the fact that he’s still a growing kid.

On the show, it’s clear he’s not just delivering lines – there’s a natural ease in how he reacts and interacts with the rest of the cast, making the audience believe in him as Percy right away. It’s still early to cement his legacy in the role, since the second season hasn’t aired yet, but so far, it’s safe to say the casting was spot-on. Scobell has the potential to leave an even bigger mark and become the definitive face of the demigod.

3) Alina Starkov – Jessie Mei Li (Shadow & Bone)

One of the best castings in fantasy shows overall was Jessie Mei Li in Shadow & Bone. Alina Starkov is a character who needs to balance vulnerability and strength, and Li delivers that duality with remarkable consistency. Even with some changes from the original material to include her mixed-race background, the actress embraced the approach and turned it into a building block for the character, adding nuances that weren’t present in the books. She conveys the weight of a protagonist carrying enormous expectations, without losing the human side that makes her relatable.

Li’s performance is truly one of the pillars holding Shadow & Bone together, especially in moments when the plot drags or loses focus. Beyond being convincing, her work is strategic, keeping Alina compelling even when the story around her isn’t cooperating. She knows how to use silence, hesitation, and expression to communicate as much as a well-written line. It’s no surprise that Leigh Bardugo, the author of the saga, praised her, saying she perfectly embodied the protagonist.

4) Lestat – Sam Reid (Interview with the Vampire)

Before the release of Interview with the Vampire movie, there was a lot of speculation about Tom Cruise’s performance as the vampire Lestat (especially since Anne Rice herself was hesitant). Cruise did manage to understand the character enough to portray him well. However, once fans saw Sam Reid in the role, it was on another level. This is one of those cases where an actor seems made for the character. Reid perfectly embodies what’s written in the books, not only because he’s a fan of the story but also because he captures Lestat’s essence like no one expected. His portrayal delivers charisma, humor, and danger without tipping into caricature.

Reid naturally commands the screen, and like the vampire himself, seduces effortlessly – an essential quality for Lestat to function as both anti-hero and antagonist. But what makes this casting truly perfect is that Reid doesn’t soften the character’s darker sides; he fully embraces the vampire’s moral complexity and turns it into high-level entertainment. The show has a promising cast overall, but it’s no exaggeration to say that Reid is one of the biggest reasons the production works so well.

5) Jamie Fraser – Sam Heughan (Outlander)

Another truly remarkable casting is Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser in Outlander – for many fans, it’s almost impossible to separate the actor from the character in their minds. From the very first season, he embodied the blend of bravery, vulnerability, and romance that defines Jamie in the books. Author Diana Gabaldon reportedly took less than five seconds to know he was the right choice for the role. It’s not just about physical appearance, either – Heughan conveys the emotional weight of Jamie’s decisions, making him far more three-dimensional than many protagonists in historical dramas.

Alongside Caitríona Balfe, he’s one of the main reasons Outlander became such a hit, even if it remains somewhat niche. But the decisive factor that makes this casting perfect is consistency – and a powerful one at that. Across the seasons, Heughan has maintained a high standard of performance, even when the show’s pacing fluctuated. He serves as a foundational pillar, supporting not only the story itself but also its romantic core and dramatic stakes. It’s fair to say that much of the series’ long-term success rests on his shoulders.

6) Mad Sweeney – Pablo Schreiber (American Gods)

Pablo Schreiber was a casting win from the start. In the novel American Gods, Mad Sweeney is an unpredictable leprechaun full of dark humor, but Schreiber’s casting brought something extra: a more imposing presence that actually subverts the traditional expectation of the character. On screen, there’s aggression, sarcasm, and cynicism all balanced just right, without losing the vulnerability that makes the character genuinely interesting to watch. This made the leprechaun move beyond a comedic figure to a character who is truly three-dimensional and capable of carrying drama too.

But a really cool point to highlight is his chemistry with the other characters, especially Laura Moon (Emily Browning), which brings genuine emotional depth to the series without feeling forced. Mad Sweeney ends up being far from just another anti-hero, much less a comic relief; he has weight in the story. He’s the character who steals the scene and makes the audience care about him. That’s something many literary adaptations fail to achieve with secondary characters.

7) Lyra Belacqua – Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials)

Many people first noticed Dafne Keen in Logan, but with His Dark Materials, she quickly proved she could carry a large-scale fantasy show on her own. Her version of Lyra Belacqua blends curiosity, rebelliousness, and intelligence with a realism that prevents the character from feeling overly childish. Keen had already shown her talent in Logan and Deadpool & Wolverine, but here she expands her range, naturally balancing action-packed sequences with moments of emotional vulnerability. This is another standout casting, and it’s important to note that Keen’s role as the protagonist carries significant weight.

Lyra needs to be convincing both in intimate dialogue and in action sequences, and Keen delivers in both. The success of this casting lies in its credibility. She appears so natural, as if it weren’t acting at all, which is one of the key reasons the audience stays invested in the series. Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials isn’t simple, but Keen gives such a memorable Lyra that it’s hard to imagine the show working without her.

8) Ned Stark – Sean Bean (Game of Thrones)

Game of Thrones made history, not just because of its plot, but also due to its casting. With such a vast ensemble, many characters were brought to life by actors who clearly knew what they were doing. But among so many great choices, Sean Bean stands out – not only did fans recognize it, but the production team didn’t even require an audition. Both the showrunners and author George R. R. Martin immediately saw that he was perfect to embody Ned Stark. Bean has an extraordinary ability to convey honor and integrity naturally, making Ned instantly one of the most respected characters in the show.

In short, Bean didn’t need to reinvent the role; he lived it so organically that it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the part. The first episodes of a series are crucial, and the brilliance of this casting lies in how it alone established the tone for Game of Thrones. Bean’s presence gave authenticity to a new world for the audience and laid the foundation for the production to earn respect from the very first season. It doesn’t matter that Ned Stark died early on, because his performance was so brilliant that its impact left a lasting mark through the entire story.

9) Morpheus – Tom Sturridge (The Sandman)

Comic book adaptations also make a big impact on this list. The Sandman was a hit, but what many people couldn’t stop praising was Tom Sturridge’s performance as the Dream Lord. Bringing one of Neil Gaiman’s most iconic and ethereal characters to life was a daunting task, yet he did it with jaw-dropping mastery. His Morpheus exudes an almost hypnotic presence with contained melancholy, perfectly capturing the character’s spirit without overdoing it. His posture, diction, and even his gaze are all calibrated to convey the existential weight of an immortal being who carries infinite wisdom, yet also profound emotional complexity.

Sturridge understands that Morpheus doesn’t need dramatic outbursts to make an impact; the character’s power lies in dominating the scene with small, human nuances here and there. That’s why the show maintains a tone faithful to the source material, balancing tension, introspection, and reflection without losing narrative strength. Gaiman himself expressed admiration for the performance, revealing that even after roughly 1,500 auditions, he was convinced Sturridge was the perfect choice. The fact is: the actor elevated the protagonist and carried the production like no one else could.

10) Moiraine Damodred – Rosamund Pike (The Wheel of Time)

The Wheel of Time was abruptly canceled, but that doesn’t diminish the commanding presence of Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred. Based on the character from the saga by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Moiraine is wise, cautious, and powerful in an almost mythical way, and Pike captured all of that completely. She handles exposition-heavy dialogue with ease, while still giving the impression that she always knows more than she reveals (something few actors can convey). The actress has also mentioned preparing extensively for the role, and known for her complex performances, she delivered the kind of work that truly deserved greater recognition.

Moiraine needs to be simultaneously a leader, strategist, and manipulator, and Pike balances these facets with enviable precision. She projects authority and confidence to the audience while leaving room for doubt and mystery. In short, she acts as the gravitational center that makes the show cohesive and engaging. The protagonist of The Wheel of Time remains intriguing throughout the series, but that intrigue exists almost entirely because of Pike’s performance.

The post 10 Perfect Castings in Fantasy TV Shows Based on Books appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Leaders of the newly-merged Paramount Skydance Corporation held a press conference on last week to discuss their plans for the entertainment company going forward, from broad strokes plans to specific franchises and minutia. They had promising things to say about many of their biggest properties, but the Star Trek franchise may have the most to gain from this change. The whole organization is overhauling its approach to streaming, and executive Dana Goldberg said that the company will be investing heavily in the Star Trek franchise. Most excitingly, she said the wall between the streaming productions and the movie productions will be torn down, putting the full might of Paramount at Starfleet’s disposal for the first time in decades.

“Star Trek is absolutely a priority, and it’s a priority across the company,” said Goldberg — who is both the co-chair of Paramount Pictures and the chair of Paramount Television — according to a report by Variety. “We’re not going to be siloed off so that there’s a conversation happening about television and another conversation [about film plans].”

This is a huge win for the Star Trek franchise, which has sadly been limited by internal divisions for years now. Back when Star Trek was a huge hit for CBS on broadcast TV, it only made sense that CBS’ parent company Paramount would capitalize on that success, leading to big screen movies like The Wrath of Khan. However, Paramount and CBS split in 2006, which is why Paramount’s movie trilogy from 2009 to 2016 had no synergy with the TV world at that time.

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The canonical positioning of those movies frustrates many fans to this day. They take place in a separate in-world continuity known as the Kelvin timeline, named for the attack on the USS Kelvin which was the first major event to differentiate this story from the original. For some, the Kelvin timeline has become a fun addition to the worldbuilding, but even those fans would likely be excited to see a new approach behind the scenes.

Fans of the newer, streaming-era Star Trek shows on Paramount+ also have a lot to look forward to here as the talent and resources of the movie studio backs up the ongoing successes of the serials. As it is, the streaming team has consistently put out big hits, and has even handled a made-for-streaming movie called Section 31 that was well received.

Made-for-streaming movies will not be a part of Paramount Skydance’s strategy going forward, according to the company’s new streaming executive Cindy Holland. The company has not announced any specific new plans for the Star Trek franchise, but the strategy alone already has many fans excited. For now, you can stream the Star Trek catalog on Paramount+.

The post Star Trek’s New Era Is Reversing a 20-Year Trend (& That’s Great) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

TV lovers looking to binge a captivating mystery show have so many great options on HBO Max. In the 15 years since its launch as HBO Go, the streaming platform has amassed an impressive library of TV series. Legendary titles such as Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and The Wire have paved the way for more recent successes like Succession, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us. HBO Max’s catalog is also brimming with some of the mystery genre’s best shows. From gripping detective stories to tense murder mysteries, there exists a plethora of entertaining and award-winning series for fans to enjoy.

HBO Max subscribers need to add these amazing mystery series to their watchlist now.

1) Mare of Easttown

Mare of Easttown is arguably the crown jewel of HBO original mystery shows. Set in a small Pennsylvania town, the limited series revolves around detective Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet), who endures personal and professional challenges when the murder of a teenage girl shakes the community. A winner of four Emmys, Mare of Easttown features incredible acting performances by Winslet, Evan Peters, and Julianne Nicholson while telling a riveting mystery with tons of twists and turns. Viewers will find themselves guessing the killer’s identity again and again before Mare of Easttown‘s astonishing final episode. There aren’t many other shows that have pulled off a murder mystery this well, and viewers won’t have a hard time binging it.

2) Sharp Objects

Patience is key when watching the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects, but the payoff is well worth it. Based on the Gillian Flynn novel of the same name, Sharp Objects centers on Camille Preaker (Amy Adams), a struggling reporter who investigates the murders of two girls in her hometown. As the mystery unfolds, Camille confronts her history of self harm and addiction, as well as her complicated relationship with her mother. Sharp Objects‘ plot is never quite what it seems, and the show concludes its intriguing buildup with a shocking reveal. Adams superbly portrays a complicated character whose past and present turmoils thrillingly collide. Those who love a satisfying slow burn will have a blast binging Sharp Objects and will forever be changed by its ending.

3) The Outsider

HBO’s The Outsider adapts Stephen King’s novel with an excellent screenplay and an first-rate cast. In the 10-episode limited series, detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) investigates the gruesome murder of a young boy. Ralph believes he has found the killer, but the emergence of new evidence suggests something supernatural and far more sinister is responsible. An engrossing mystery from start to finish, The Outsider takes audiences on a wild ride with its unpredictable story. Mendelsohn’s commanding lead performance is complemented by Cynthia Erivo, Jason Bateman, and many more. The series’ palpable suspense and well-developed characters make it an incredibly easy binge, and the final episodes contain plenty of surprises and thrills.

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4) Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies boasts one of the best casts of any HBO show, and its murder mystery tale impresses just as much. Based on Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same title, the series’ two seasons fixate on five Monterey, California women who find themselves at the center of a homicide investigation. Big Little Lies Season 1 takes viewers back in time before the murder, unearthing all of its characters’ secrets and interpersonal drama. Season 2 then centers on the fallout and legal proceedings while leaving the door open for a potential third season. Big Little Lies might not have the tension and eeriness of the typical murder mystery, however its compelling, character-driven narrative produces an array of engrossing plot threads. Moreover, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Zöe Kravitz, Shailene Woodley, and Laura Dern are fantastic. Big Little Lies makes for an extraordinary binge, so HBO Max subscribers should start watching as soon as possible.

5) True Detective

True Detective delivers four seasons of traditional self-contained murder mystery tales, and they are all great to binge. Set in different time periods and locations across the United States, each season of True Detective introduces a new mystery and set of characters. Murders, kidnappings, and other grisly crimes lie at the center of the series, which generates some truly unsettling atmospheres and intense moments. True Detective doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary with the mystery genre, but its classic approach is near-perfectly executed. Layered characters and plots that keep viewers guessing until the season finale are trademarks of True Detective, cementing the HBO Max show as a must-watch mystery.

6) The Investigation

Not all HBO Max subscribers have heard of The Investigation, but it’s a series everyone needs to see. The Danish miniseries bases its story on the real-life investigation of the 2017 murder of a Swedish journalist. Those unfamiliar with the true story will be gripped by The Investigation, which depicts its events with great attention to detail and treats its subject material with the seriousness it warrants. The Investigation isn’t the most exhilarating crime show, though its well-paced deep dive into the criminal case will leave a strong impression on viewers. Furthermore, Søren Malling’s performance as Chief Inspector Jens Møller, along with The Investigation‘s outstanding supporting cast, nicely elevate the series.

7) The Alienist

The Alienist additionally figures among the most underrated mystery shows on HBO Max. Spanning two seasons, the series takes inspiration from Caleb Carr’s novel of the same name. The Alienist takes place in the late-1800s and chronicles a succession of brutal murders in New York City, which a criminal psychiatrist and a newspaper illustrator must investigate. Functioning soundly as an engaging mystery and an immersive period piece, The Alienist paints a complex portrait of justice and corruption true to the time period and setting. Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans, and Dakota Fanning prove a terrific lead trio in this suspenseful mystery, as their fascinating characters encounter a number of unpredictable obstacles during the case. Fans of binge-worthy crime shows will thoroughly enjoy The Alienist thanks to its brilliant cast, well-written characters, and intricate mystery.

All of these titles are available to stream on HBO Max.

The post 7 Great HBO Max Mystery Shows to Binge Right Now appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Love has always been in the air in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Iron Man, despite adopting a playboy attitude, Tony Stark reserves a special place in his heart for Pepper Potts, whom he eventually marries and has a kid with. Even Captain America, who loses the love of his life due to being frozen for 70 years, can’t get over his feelings for Peggy Carter and travels back in time to get another chance with her. Unfortunately, there’s just as much heartbreak in the MCU as there are happy endings. Peter Quill doesn’t get to be with Gamora because he loses the version of her he loves, but at least there’s an explanation for their split.

A few relationships in the MCU fail before they ever really begin, such as Hulk and Black Widow’s attempt to be a couple in Avengers: Age of Ultron. However, a couple of years ago, the franchise brought two characters together who had a strong connection, only to rip them apart for no good reason.

She-Hulk and Daredevil Had the Chance to Be the MCU’s Best Power Couple

It feels like a majority of MCU projects take place on the East Coast, but She-Hulk: Attorney at Law bucks the trend by heading out to Los Angeles, California, where Bruce Banner’s cousin, Jennifer Walters, works as a lawyer. A visit from her Bruce ends in disaster when Jen gets exposed to his blood, turning her into a Hulk. She has to learn how to balance being a hero and a lawyer, which proves pretty challenging at first. Going up against a New York City attorney, Matt Murdock, in court helps Jen embrace her new reality, and it comes out that the two have more in common than their career choices. After She-Hulk and Daredevil bust a crime ring, they spend a night together, setting the stage for a super couple that puts Wanda Maximoff and Vision to shame.

Daredevil takes a back seat for the rest of She-Hulk, but he does return in the finale, attending the Walters family BBQ and fielding questions from Jen’s dad. The good vibes are gone by the time Matt returns in Daredevil: Born Again, however, with him still harboring feelings for Karen Page. The two drift apart after Foggy Nelson’s death, and Matt meets someone new, Heather Glenn, a NYC-based therapist. Their relationship goes up in flames when Heather decides to take a job with Wilson Fisk, and while there’s still time to repair it, Matt should just cut his losses and call Jen, especially given the situation he currently finds himself in.

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The MCU Can Still Make Another Daredevil and She-Hulk Team-Up Happen

Matt never mentions his time in Los Angeles in Born Again because there are bigger fish to fry. Fisk becomes the mayor of NYC and begins to implement wild policies that affect life in the city. The one that does the most damage is the formation of the Anti-Vigilante Task Force, which doesn’t just target people in masks but anyone the mayor sees as a threat. In the Season 1 finale, Daredevil decides he’s going to raise an army to fight back, recruiting Karen and a few cops who don’t like what’s going on. Jessica Jones will be by Daredevil’s side in Season 2 as well, but there’s no reason that he shouldn’t reach out to Jen, as she likely would be more than willing to help out. Sure, she might be upset that Matt seemingly ghosted her, but she’s not going to let innocent people continue to get hurt.

With the two back together again, sparks are sure to fly, and they won’t all be from the AVTF’s guns. Pairing Daredevil and She-Hulk up again will also help the heroes get buzz going ahead of the next two Avengers films. As of writing, neither character is confirmed to appear in either movie, which is a shame because they’re as qualified as anyone else. If giving their relationship another chance is what it takes to put them in the spotlight, then there’s no time to waste.

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is streaming on Disney+.

Did you like She-Hulk and Daredevil as a couple? Would you like to see them team up again in the MCU? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 3 Years Ago, the MCU Fumbled Its Best Romantic Pairing appeared first on ComicBook.com.

We’re more than halfway through the month of August already — if you can believe that — and another week of new streaming additions is on the horizon. August has already been a big month for movie and TV fans with a Netflix subscription, especially after the debut of Wednesday Season 2, and the coming week has even more in store.

Starting Monday, August 18th, Netflix has five consecutive days of new additions planned for its roster in the United States. There aren’t any titles coming this week that can match up to the popularity of something like Wednesday, but this wave does include a brand new animated series from the creator of BoJack Horseman.

You can check out the full list of this week’s Netflix additions below!

Monday, August 18th

CoComelon Lane: Season 5 — NETFLIX FAMILY
The CoComelon Lane kids are back, exploring their world and embracing their imaginations on fun field trips to the airport, an apple orchard and more!

Extant: Seasons 1-2

Tuesday, August 19th

America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys — NETFLIX SPORTS SERIES
Through never-before-seen footage and interviews, this series tells the definitive story of the Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones’ impact on NFL history.

Titans: The Rise of Wall Street: Season 1

Wednesday, August 20th

Fisk: Season 3

Rivers of Fate (BR) — NETFLIX SERIES
When a teen is kidnapped by a sex trafficking ring, a river pirate and a fierce mother embark on separate quests to find her — until their paths cross.

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Thursday, August 21st

The 355

Death Inc.: Season 3 (ES) — NETFLIX SERIES
When the founder of Torregrosa Funeral Home dies, his scheming right-hand man is poised to take over the business. But the owner’s widow has other plans.

Fall for Me (DE) — NETFLIX FILM
Lilli is suspicious of her sister’s new fiance, but when an attractive stranger enters her life, she’s suddenly distracted by the thralls of desire.

Gold Rush Gang (TH) — NETFLIX FILM
At the tail end of World War II, a bandit leader and his crew go up against his sworn enemy and the Japanese army to rob a train full of gold.

Hostage (GB) — NETFLIX SERIES
When the British prime minister’s husband is kidnapped and the French president starts receiving threats, both leaders must face an impossible choice.

One Hit Wonder (PH) — NETFLIX FILM
These two singers never had much luck with their careers. Now, they’re risking everything for a chance at stardom — and love.

Friday, August 22nd

Abandoned Man (TR) — NETFLIX FILM
After serving time in prison for his brother’s crime, a man warily reunites with family, finding hope and healing in a life-changing bond with his niece.

Long Story Short — NETFLIX SERIES
From the creator of “BoJack Horseman” comes this animated comedy about a family over time, following siblings from childhood to adulthood and back again.

The Truth About Jussie Smollett (GB) — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
From RAW, the producers of Don’t F**k with Cats and Tinder Swindler, comes The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, a shocking true story of an allegedly fake story that some now say might just be a true story. Featuring interviews with police, lawyers, journalists, investigators who claim to have uncovered new evidence about the case, and with Jussie himself, this compelling documentary invites the audience to decide for themselves who is telling The Truth About Jussie Smollett?

The post Everything Coming to Netflix This Week (August 18th) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Timothy Olyphant is back on the small screen, delivering a great performance in one of 2025’s most hyped TV shows. It’s essentially business as usual for the actor who, since Deadwood, has been about as reliable a star as you can get if you want to give your series some serious acting cred. From Justified through to the canceled-too-soon Santa Clarita Diet, he’s always worth watching, and that proves to be the case again in his latest role: the synthetic Kirsh in Alien: Earth, which reunites him with Noah Hawley after their work together on Fargo Season 4.

As Alien: Earth‘s reviews make clear, this is one of the franchise’s strongest entries, and the decision to finally go to Earth pays off. Kirsh is one of many reasons why. Olyphant is every bit as great as we’ve come to expect, and yet Kirsh is nothing like the characters we’ve seen the actor play before. The synth is odd, icy cold, and cuts a frustrated figure as he serves as mentor to Sydney Chandler’s Wendy (the Alien franchise’s new human-synth hybrid), and yet always compelling to watch. But as good as Olyphant is, it’s also a reminder that he needs to return to another show with its roots in Sci-Fi and the 1970s: The Mandalorian.

Olyphant’s debut in the Star Wars franchise came in The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 1, “Chapter 9 – The Marshal,” where he played Cobb Vanth, the episode’s eponymous Marshal. Olyphant brought all his Western genre experience to the Mayor of Mos Pelgo, instantly winning over audiences. There’s a mix of Han Solo-like coolness with genuine altruism that made him a fascinating, fantastic gunslinger-type character. The actor’s charisma shone through and paired perfectly with Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin, but there was also an emotional vulnerability to him that we rarely see in those roles.

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Vanth seemed like a new hero destined for bigger things, with plenty more of the character’s story to flesh out and definite interest in seeing it. He briefly returned in The Book of Boba Fett, where he was shot and almost killed by Cad Bane, but that itself clearly set up a new future for the character. Boba Fett‘s post-credits scene included Vanth being healed in a bacta tank, and his wounds also being treated by the Modifier, meaning he was going to receive some cybernetic upgrades.

Alas, that was currently the last we saw of him, but while he’s now gone fully synthetic in Alien: Earth, it would still be great to see what happens next to the Marshal after his own augmentations. The Book of Boba Fett had its problems, but Vanth wasn’t one of them; indeed, had the show focused on him, it might’ve fared better, because that’s how interesting a character he is. As Star Wars continues to explore this New Republic era, it would make sense for him to appear again. He’s not confirmed for The Mandalorian and Grogu, but that doesn’t mean a surprise appearance won’t happen.

The Star Wars franchise will never fully leave Tatooine behind, so there should always be hope for his return (Olyphant has played coy about coming back as Vanth). As the Mandoverse builds up to a climactic event with Grand Admiral Thrawn, it’s going to need all the heroes it can get. Olyphant is one of the very best of the Disney+ era, and it’d be a massive shame to let that go to waste.

Alien: Earth Episodes 1 & 2 are now streaming on Hulu. All episodes of The Mandalorian can be found on Disney+.

The post Timothy Olyphant’s New Sci-Fi Is Good, but He Must Return to This 48-Year-Old Franchise appeared first on ComicBook.com.

South Park‘s Season 27 debut nabbed the series its highest numbers in over 25 years. Specifically, since the debut of Season 3, “Rainforest Shmainforest.” And Season 3 is exactly what we’ll be discussing today. Not because of its terrific viewership numbers, but because it was the first season to have a trilogy, which the show actually wouldn’t do again for quite some time. However, it’s almost not even an official trilogy. At least not the same way “Imaginationland” is. But it’s a ton of fun, and perhaps even better than “Imaginationland.” Fortunately, both of the trilogies are able to stream in full, unlike the two-parter “200” and “201.” Specifically, they’re available on Paramount+, as the show has now left its former home of HBO Max.

Here we’re going to go through Season 3’s “Meteor Shower Trilogy,” as it were. We’ll unpack each of the three episodes, observe how they (loosely) tie into one another, and what makes each of them so special and iconic.

The Cartman-Focused “Cat Orgy”

All three episodes of the “Meteor Shower Trilogy” have distinctly different focuses, but there is a throughline. Each episode has at least one of the core four boys as well as a focus on at least one character who, at that point in time, didn’t receive much spotlight. In the case of “Cat Orgy,” it’s Cartman and Shelley Marsh, who really only previously had an integral role in Season 1’s “An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig.”

“Cat Orgy” isn’t the strongest installment of the “Meteor Shower Trilogy” (that would be “Jewbilee”), but it is the most impressive. It manages to take Cartman, a character who wore an Adolf Hitler costume with reverence and joy in the first season, and make him come across as compassionate and something of a voice of reason. In Shelley, he meets his match. As his babysitter, she’s calling the shots, and he’s forced to do what she says. When she introduces her 22-year-old boyfriend (Shelly is 12), Skyler, Cartman immediately sees he’s taking advantage of her.

At first, Cartman is just trying to bust Shelley for having a boyfriend over, and that’s a funny scenario that the episode gets plenty of mileage out of. However, when Skyler dumps Shelley because she won’t give him “any action,” she’s heartbroken. Cartman both tries to cheer her up and ascertain just what she was thinking. Skyler’s a man and she’s just a little girl. He’s a creep and she’s his victim (it seems one of several victims).

Together, they team up to exact revenge on this guitar-loving pedophile, and it’s quite possibly the only time where Cartman’s vengeful nature actually manages to line up with an ethical response. In other words, it’s an episode that gives Cartman a genuine character arc, which isn’t usually something he experiences. Typically, he does something awful and then faces the repercussions of that action.

“Cat Orgy” also works because it features, well, a cat orgy. Mr. Kitty hasn’t been seen so much in recent years, mostly because there’s only so much Trey Parker and Matt Stone can do with him. He just meows a whole bunch, then gets yelled at by Cartman until he runs off. But, let’s face it, that worked really well throughout the first few seasons (especially for anyone who has a needy cat), and it was never done better than here. Not to mention, this is the episode with a bunch of references to the then-new release Wild Wild West, and it’s hilarious hearing Cartman call Clyde Frog “Artemus Clyde Frog.”

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The Stan-Focused “Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub”

Even in the early seasons, when he popped up fairly often, Pip was a forgettable character. That was part of his point; he was dismissed by the core four boys and even by the staff of South Park Elementary School (e.g. in Season 1’s “Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride,” where Pip is the only kid to not get a helmet during football games). And thanks to episodes “200” and “201” being removed from streaming, now fans can’t even see that he was, in fact, killed off.

But “Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub” was an important episode for him. Specifically, in hindsight, it signaled the beginning of his end. This was the first episode where Butters got more than a single little line, and even that was rare prior to this point. In other words, this was the exact point where Butters entered the fray and took over Pip’s role as the oft-dismissed boy, and did it much better.

The narrative of this episode primarily follows Stan, Gerald Broflovski, and Randy Marsh. Gerald and Randy’s B-plot is them breaking away from being boring family men for one night and experimenting. Their definition of experimentation, as it turns out, is watching one another masturbate in a hot tub. Randy spends the rest of the episode worrying that anyone will find out, which a few have, since Gerald immediately spread the word.

The more interesting part is the A-plot, with Stan trapped in the basement of Mr. Mackey’s house as the party rages on the floor above. The only other kids there are Pip, Butters, and Dougie, all of whom Stan deems the biggest “Melvins” at South Park Elementary. By episode’s end, Stan learns that these “Melvins” aren’t so bad once you get to know them, but that’s swiftly dismissed as soon as Kyle asks him how his night was in the final scene.

This is the most political episode of the three, and like Stan’s plot, it’s very well done. Specifically, the ATF and its highly controversial handling of Waco. At one point, they blast music just like the ATF did in real life. It was more like they blasted the sounds of screaming and babies crying, but here it’s the music of Cher, a pretty great dig at her then-recent hit album Believe.

The Kyle and Kenny-Focused “Jewbilee”

“Jewbilee” pairs Kyle and Kenny, and between the two, it’s Kenny who runs away with the episode. Gerald and Sheila Broflovski are heading to Mr. Mackey’s meteor shower party, therefore solidifying that as the trilogy’s true connective tissue. They drop Kyle, Kenny, and Ike off at what amounts to a Jewish Boy Scout camp, which ends up being a pretty exclusionary place. An Asian boy is thrown out into the cold (where a bear is known to be lurking), and anyone who is not “Kosher,” like Kenny, faces the same fate.

And Kenny does face that fate once Moses arrives. And in Moses, we get the most bizarre South Park character up to this point. His appearance and voice are yanked straight from the Master Control Program in Tron, and it’s hard to say why they went in that direction, just as it’s hard to pinpoint why it works so, so well.

“Jewbilee” has the best sense of focus of the three episodes. The single locale works really well here, even better than Cartman’s house or Mr. Mackey’s house. It’s a fresh location, and because of that, the episode feels a bit fresher by extension. It was also a heartwarming way to round out the trilogy. Kenny saves the day and the Cartman (not to mention the heads of the camp) learn to become more accepting of outsiders. And having the episode’s villain, Garth, say he’s from the Synagogue of Antisemites is really a top-tier early-season joke.

The Argument for the “Meteor Shower Trilogy”

South Park has always been a risk-taking show and arguably the best example of that came from the first time it had a two-part episode. That would be Season 1’s finale, “Cartman’s Mom Is a Dirty Sl-t” and the sophomore episode of Season 2, “Cartman’s Mom Is Still a Dirty Sl-t.” That two-parter wasn’t a risk so much because it ended a season on a cliffhanger, but because when the second season debuted, it did not answer the question that had been posed at the end of Season 1. Instead, it did a Terrance and Phillip special.

The “Meteor Shower Trilogy” was a different kind of risk. It was Parker and Stone’s effort to see how the central quartet could function when they were forced to separate, and in that, there’s the argument why this trilogy is the best.

It shows that they can, in fact, each have a compelling narrative and even (kind of) grow as characters. Cartman shows his sweet side to Shelley, Stan opens his mind to individuals he’s openly thought weren’t worth his time, Kyle learns to accept accountability for his choices, and Kenny sacrifices himself to save a group of people who just threw him out of their gathering.

The “Meteor Shower Trilogy” is also incredibly rewatchable, and it’s the one trilogy (or even multi-part narrative in general) where each episode is fun and functions as a single piece. If viewed as a trilogy, it works. If you just check out “Cat Orgy,” that works too.

What’s your favorite trilogy of South Park episodes? Let us know in the comments below!

The post South Park’s First Trilogy Was Arguably Its Best appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Unlike the DC Extended Universe, which likes to pit its heroes against each other, the Arrowverse goes out of its way to make everyone friendly. Sure, Team Arrow, Team Flash, the Legends, and Team Supergirl can have issues, but they all come together at the end of the day, putting their differences aside to save their cities. Of course, characters from different shows are able to mingle with one another as well, leading to partnerships like Green Arrow and The Flash, who work together on several occasions and always find time to sneak away at the end of a crossover to get a beer together.

Based on his status, it would be fair to assume that Superman also has his fair share of friends in the Arrowverse. After all, he’s a legend on Earth-38, revealing himself years before his cousin, Kara Zor-El, makes her debut as Supergirl. However, there’s one character that has serious beef with the Man of Steel, which is a shame because they’re a great duo in other DC media.

Superman and Martian Manhunter Don’t Get Along in the Arrowverse

Supergirl gets to have the spotlight to herself in the first season of her solo series. While there are references to Superman and his exploits, he’s nowhere to be seen, as he calls Metropolis his home, while Kara patrols the skies of National City. It becomes clear pretty quickly that Supergirl needs a support system, so she begins working with the Department of Extranormal Operations, aka the D.E.O., led by Hank Henshaw. Throughout Season 1, Hank begins exhibiting strange behavior, and when other people catch on, he reveals that he’s actually J’onn J’onzz, otherwise known as the Martian Manhunter. Having another superhero around isn’t much of an issue, but things get complicated when Superman comes around in Season 2.

When Kal-El arrives in National City, Kara takes him straight to the D.E.O., wanting to show off her cousin to all her friends. While Winn Schott starts to geek out immediately, the hero gets an ice-cold welcome from J’onn, which makes it clear that the two have history. Things are tense at the D.E.O. headquarters until it comes to light that J’onn keeps Kryptonite around in case a Kryptonian ever goes rogue. Superman doesn’t appreciate J’onn having little faith in him, but it’s a matter of world security for the D.E.O., especially with another member of the El family flying around. After battling Metallo together, the two come to an understanding, and Superman takes the Kryptonite with him to the Fortress of Solitude. It’s just a shame that J’onn couldn’t work through his issues earlier because few characters in the DC Universe understand him better than Superman.

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Martian Manhunter Knows What It’s Like to Be the Last of an Alien Race

Both Superman and Martian Manhunter come to Earth after losing their homeworlds, but their paths diverge thereafter. While Clark Kent gets to grow up on a farm with a loving family, J’onn has to hide his real appearance and find a way to fit into society. Thankfully, the Justice League becomes the Martian Manhunter’s new family, one that doesn’t care what color he is or whether he can read people’s minds. The comic books do a wonderful job of portraying J’onn’s journey, showing him grow from someone skeptical of humanity to one of its sworn protectors. However, the Justice League cartoon does an even better job, especially in the Season 2 episode “Comfort and Joy,” which features the best Superman and Martian Manhunter team-up.

Around the holidays, the entire Justice League finds different ways to celebrate, such as The Flash working with the Ultra-Humanite to deliver gifts to children. Superman wants some peace and quiet, though, so he heads back to Smallville and invites the Martian Manhunter to join him. Despite finding the human customs strange, J’onn enjoys feeling like a part of the Kent family and learns all he can about the people who are important to them. He also finds a way to remember his people by singing a song in his native tongue, allowing Clark to learn a little more about his friend. The Arrowverse has its reasons for starting Superman and the Martian Manhunter off on the wrong foot, but it’s a shame that drama takes the place of wholesome moments like the one from Justice League.

Supergirl is streaming on Netflix.

Did you enjoy the Martian Manhunter and Superman’s relationship in the Arrowverse? How would you have changed it? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The Arrowverse Nearly Ruined One of DC’s Most Wholesome Friendships appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Avengers are back in the spotlight in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after years on the back burner. At the end of Thunderbolts*, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine saves her hide by revealing the New Avengers to the world, turning a group of anti-heroes into Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. However, they aren’t the only good guys in town, as Sam Wilson is putting together his own squad, starting with Joaquin Torres, aka Falcon. The two groups are going to duke it out in Avengers: Doomsday, which will also feature the Fantastic Four and X-Men. However, none of those teams has as much potential as the Young Avengers.

There have been young heroes in the MCU for a long time, such as Iron Man’s buddy Harley Keener and Cassie Lang, though it’s taken a long time for a couple of them to decide it’s worth getting together and forming their own team. Well, the wait is almost over because the Young Avengers will be assembling for the first time in the MCU before 2025 is over.

The Young Avengers Are Part of the MCU’s Most Terrifying Project

The first inkling that the Young Avengers are coming to the MCU happens in The Marvels. After teaming up with Captain Marvel and Photon, Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, decides she likes having partners. Her mission takes her to New York City, where she attempts to recruit Kate Bishop in the same way Nick Fury reached out to Tony Stark in Iron Man. Kate seems receptive to the offer, but that’s all she wrote. There hasn’t been another Young Avengers tease since The Marvels, leaving their status in the MCU a mystery. Fortunately, a Disney+ animated series is about to pick up the baton by bringing Kate and Kamala back together for the first time.

With the conclusion of Marvel’s What If…?, Marvel Studios is looking for another way to revolutionize the animation game. The next big idea is Marvel Zombies, which will continue the story of the Season 1 What If…? episode “What If… Zombies?!” While a few heavy hitters are part of the show’s cast, including Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Simu Liu, Iman Vellani and Hailee Steinfeld are also part of the proceedings, as is Dominique Thorne, who plays Riri Williams, another candidate for the Young Avengers. While it remains to be seen how much the three characters will interact in Marvel Zombies, whatever time they spend together will be a great tease of things to come.

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The MCU May Pit the Young Avengers Against Another Mystical Threat in the Future

The big threat that all of Marvel Zombies‘ characters will face is an undead Scarlet Witch, who has already killed her fair share of heroes. It seems unfair to give magic to a zombie, but that’s the danger that comes with unleashing a virus onto a world with enhanced beings. While the animated Young Avengers deal with all that, their live-action counterparts will have a test of their own if Marvel Studios takes the direction many think it’s going to. At the moment, a dangerous threat is brewing in the MCU, and it already has its claws dug into Riri, offering her a deal she couldn’t pass up. The rest of the franchise’s young heroes are sure to want to mull over offers when the time comes, which puts them in serious danger.

At the end of Ironheart, Riri comes face-to-face with The Hood’s master, Mephisto. It takes very little time for the mysterious figure to start buttering up Riri, telling her everything she wants to hear at a time when she feels less than. Well, he doesn’t stop there because he also offers to bring her AI companion, N.A.T.A.L.I.E., back to life in exchange for something the young hero won’t miss. Ironheart doesn’t reveal what Riri is giving up, but she’s not going to be the last person to make a deal with the devil. Based on his agreement with Parker Robbins and his latest one with Riri, it’s clear that Mephisto targets younger people, serving up their wildest dreams on a silver platter. Kate and Kamala could find themselves in a bad spot if they link up with Riri in live-action, setting the stage for the action-packed Young Avengers project the world has been waiting for.

Marvel Zombies releases on Disney+ on October 3rd.

Are you excited to see the Young Avengers assemble in Marvel Zombies? Do you hope they get to shine in live-action as well? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The Young Avengers Are About to Assemble in the MCU for the First Time appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Throughout its eight-season run, HBO’s Game of Thrones introduced dozens of family units and famous houses, but many of them were led by some of TV history’s worst parents. Adapted from George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire, HBO’s live-action Game of Thrones became one of the most popular and successful shows on TV during its eight-season run between 2011 and 2019. The series explores the battles for the powerful Iron Throne between several warring factions, but also focuses on smaller-scale stories involving the core families of Westeros – some led by questionable parents.

Game of Thrones boasted not only an impressive adult cast, but also a cast of fantastic young and child actors. Unfortunately, many of these now-household names played the children of some pretty abhorrent parents, and this even encompasses lords, ladies, kings, and queens. While the likes of Mace Tyrell, Robert Baratheon, Balon Greyjoy, and Tywin Lannister were pretty irredeemable, these Game of Thrones parents have them beat as the worst of the worst.

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7) Cersei Lannister

Played by Lena Headey, Cersei Lannister was one of the most prominent characters throughout Game of Thrones’ entire run, initially as the wife of Robert Baratheon, later as the mother of two kings, and finally as the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms herself. Her hunger for power at any cost, however, made her a pretty terrible mother, as she made awful choices in an effort to manipulate and control her children, especially Joffrey and Tommen, who rose to the role of King of the Seven Kingdoms. Cersei certainly loved her children, but not more than she loved herself.

6) Randyll Tarly

While Randyll Tarly (James Faulkner) seemed to be a good father to Dickon, his relationship with his first son, Samwell, left a lot to be desired. Samwell explained to Jon Snow in Game of Thrones season 1 that his father was disgusted by his affinity with books and knowledge, rather than being a strong fighter, and this prompted Randyll to send Samwell to the Night’s Watch, effectively exiling him for life. Randyll eventually loses his life alongside Dickon, spurring confused feelings from Samwell, whose father hated him to his very core, but was nevertheless still blood.

5) Lysa Arryn

While it could be argued that Lysa Arryn is one of the few parents on this list who actually cared for her child, Robin, the manner of the boy’s upbringing was very questionable. Played by Kate Dickie, Lysa proved herself to be a formidable woman as the Lady Regent of the Vale, but she smothered her son with so much love that he grew up into an entitled, spoiled, and bratty boy. This made him ill-prepared to face the dark world of Westeros as it actually is, though he luckily breaks free from this persona after his mother’s death.

4) Jaime Lannister

One of the first shocking reveals of the Lannister family is that Cersei Lannister’s children – initially thought to be with Robert Baratheon – have actually been fathered by Cersei’s own brother, Jaime Lannister (Nikolai Coster-Waldau). In an effort to keep this hidden from the world, however, Jaime had nothing to do with his three kids’ upbringings, making him inadvertently one of the worst parents in all of Westeros. He may have been a caring uncle, but, as a father, he failed repetitively, and only began to turn the tide far too late, just in time to see all his children killed.

3) Walder Frey

One of the most abhorrent characters in Game of Thrones, Walder Frey, was portrayed fantastically by David Bradley. The head of House Frey, Walder has a plethora of children from countless wives – so many that he actually routinely forgets his own kids’ names, and pays little attention to them beyond their political value. He is twisted, arrogant, domineering, and lecherous, even to his own children. He does make sure his offspring are cared for and kept alive, but doesn’t have any involvement in their upbringing or nurture – which they might actually be grateful for.

2) Stannis Baratheon

For most of his time in Game of Thrones, Stephen Dillane’s Stannis Baratheon seemed to be a very loving and caring father to his daughter, Shireen. However, things took a turn for the worse in season 5, episode 9, “The Dance of Dragons,” in which Melissandre convinced Stannis to sacrifice his daughter to the Lord of Light. Instead of putting up a fight, Stannis did so, burning Shireen alive. While some Game of Thrones parents have done terrible things to their kids, few have killed them so heinously, easily making Stannis one of the absolute worst.

1) Craster

There’s one harrowing Game of Thrones parent who has Stannis Baratheon beat, and that is Robert Pugh’s Craster. While Stannis felt guilt for Shireen’s death, Craster wilfully sacrificed his sons to the White Walkers. His daughters arguably had an even worse fate, however, as it was his custom to marry them when they came of age and father incestuous children with them. This disturbing and unapologetic abuse clearly makes Craster one of the most disgusting and sadistic individuals in Westeros, and it’d be hard for anyone else to become a more cruel or exploitative parent than him.

Who are your least favorite parents in Game of Thrones? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Worst Parents in Game of Thrones appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Every movie can have value and provide entertainment—even the bottom rung of B-movies, especially when they’re combined with the antics of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 gang. A TV show focusing on a single captive human making fun of low-quality cinema with robotic companions Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot, Mystery Science Theater 3000 has endured as a beloved project for decades for a reason.

It’s an incredibly witty program full of fun puppet characters and endlessly quotable observations of subpar cinema. The 10 greatest episodes of this show, ranked below from “least best” to greatest, are an especially fun showcase for all of Mystery Science Theater 3000’s charms. Come enjoy how every movie can provide chuckles, and remember, “it’s just a show, I should really just relax.”

10. Mac and Me

The season 12 premiere of Mystery Science Theater 3000 covered Mac and Me, one of the most infamous bad movies in history. Decades of anticipation over seeing the Satellite of Love inhabitants cover this E.T. knock-off could’ve resulted in a disappointing episode. Instead, Jonah Ray and company produced a knockout funny episode, especially with Crow T. Robot’s observation that Mac and Me is “like a Pixar film, in that it exists and has a title.” The ludicrousness of this E.T. pastiche and the hideous, static designs of those aliens inspired plenty of iconic MST3K antics.

9. Space Mutiny

A super low-budget sci-fi film full of abandoned factory backdrops and clumsy “futuristic” costumes was a perfect vessel for MST3K silliness. In particular, these characters got so many laughs out of giving the film’s lead actor so many ludicrous names, like Slab Bulkhead or Punt Speedchunk. Some running gags in TV show episodes overstay their welcome. Not this one, which just gets funnier and funnier as the runtime goes on.

8. The Creeping Terror

There’s no question that 1964’s The Creeping Terror has one of the stupidest-looking movie monsters ever put to celluloid. This beast consuming teenagers and local townsfolk looks like a rug, a slug, and lots of assorted living room clutter got bound together. Such a misguided creature design inevitably produces lots of MST3K laughs while the sharp wit of Servo and Crow keeps things entertaining even when that man-eating entity isn’t on-screen.

7. Hobgoblins

As noted by MST3K’s leads, Gremlins rip-off Hobgoblins doesn’t feature a ton of its titular beasts, especially in the drawn-out first act. That means, though, there’s plenty of time for riffs and jokes about the most 80s teenagers who ever lived, as well as some truly awful “youthful” dialogue. Once those Hobgoblins do show up to create mayhem, the MST3K crew gets a lot of mileage out of the critters, particularly in acting like a bunch of Hobgoblins charging a door are just trying to spread pamphlets about their religion.

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6. Manos: The Hands of Fate

“Every frame is like someone’s last known photograph!” That Joel Hodgson line perfectly encapsulates the lived-in, dingy look of Manos: The Hands of Fate, one of the most inexplicable bad movies ever made. While some dismal features inspired tedium in the Satellite of Love gang, that’s not a problem here. Manos keeps conjuring up bizarre digressions and storytelling points that keep the entire episode lively. It’s only natural that one of the all-time great bad movies would produce an MST3K installment this hysterical.

5. Cry Wilderness

One of the first MST3K episodes released in 2017 after the show’s lengthy time off the air, skewering Cry Wilderness demonstrated that this program hadn’t lost a beat in its disappearance. This 1987 film about Bigfoot is a ludicrous enterprise that provides belly-laugh-inducing fodder for the MST3K characters right from the get-go, like the characters riffing on the sight of Bigfoot hollering outside the adolescent protagonist’s house.

4. Mitchell

Sometimes, it’s fun to watch the MST3K robot characters suffer. There’s just something so amusing about hearing outsized emotions expressed by these intentionally jangly-looking automotons. One of the best examples of this phenomenon came in the Mitchell episode, in which Tom Servo begins shrieking in frustration at an inane “comedic” exchange between the titular lead and a snarky kid. Such a banal and tedious movie brought out the best spicy barbs from these characters. Their misery is, once again, our joy.

3. The Final Sacrifice

It’s bizarre The Final Sacrifice was ever in danger of vanishing entirely from the cultural consciousness, given that it stars a character with as cool of a name as Zap Rowsdower. Luckily, season nine of MST3K made room for the movie and launched it into eternal notoriety. This ridiculous adventure film just sparked creative fireworks from the Satellite of Love crew, including unforgettable jokes about beer on the sun and a guy’s hair being on fire. Thank you, Zap Rowsdower, for inspiring such glorious MST3K laughs.

2. I Accuse My Parents

Like many classic MST3K episodes, the I Accuse My Parents installment doesn’t just cover that classic B-movie. It also saw the show’s main characters skewering a short film. Here, that shot was The Truck Farmer, a dry 1950s educational segment. These Truck Farmer quips would already be enough to guarantee this episode a place on this list thanks to jokes like Crow’s confident declarations that “Texans” are the new problem Texas farmers must grapple with. However, I Accuse My Parents and its story of a goody-two-shoes being led astray is also a hilarious treat. No MST3K fan can ever hear the phrase “essay contest” the same way again after how the Satellite of Love inhabitants rake this feature over the coals.

1. Laserblast

Laserblast seems like it was made in a lab for Mystery Science Theater 3000 mockery. The stop-motion aliens, the dumb plot, characters exhibiting traits like saying “hush, hush!” at the end of every sentence, it’s all so perfect for MST3K ridicule. All that potential gets exploited and then some in this endlessly hysterical episode. Scenes like two aliens talking to their leader in gibberish inspire especially hilarious commentary, as do the dumb antics of these dimly written teenagers. If there’s any episode perfectly summing up how MST3K can wring comedic gold out of abysmal cinema, it has to be the Laserblast installment.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 is now streaming on Peacock.

The post 10 Best Episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Most Star Wars fan theories end up being as wrong as Anakin Skywalker killing younglings. Rey isn’t Obi-Wan Kenobi’s granddaughter or the reincarnation of the Chosen One. Star Wars: The Last Jedi reveals that she’s no one before Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker walks that back and explains that she’s the daughter of a Palpatine clone. It’s not worth spending too much time thinking about that can of worms, though, as Rey’s lineage is far from the only aspect of Star Wars that opens the door to speculation. In fact, a detail as minute as an empty chair in a meeting can cause serious debates.

It’s a gamble whenever Star Wars attempts to recontextualize a moment from the original trilogy. After all, those movies are sacred ground. That doesn’t stop Lucasfilm from pushing the envelope though, even going as far as to have Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi meet up one more time after their battle on Mustafar. How the powers that be connect Star Wars: Andor and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to Star Wars: A New Hope using a supporting character isn’t as brazen, but it’s noteworthy nonetheless.

The Latest Projects About the Empire’s Reign Introduce an Important Imperial Figure

Star Wars loves the era between Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Star Wars Rebels and the Star Wars Jedi: Survivor games are just a couple of the projects that fall in that 19-year window. However, they’re chopped liver compared to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: Andor, which follow the events leading up to the destruction of the Death Star. It comes to light that the one pushing the super weapon hardest is Director Orson Krennic, who recruits Galen Erso for the project and forces the scientist out of retirement when work stalls. All of Krennic’s hard work, including the destabilization of Ghorman, is an effort to get a real seat at the Imperial table alongside the likes of Grand Moff Tarkin.

What Krennic doesn’t account for is the Rebellion growing right under the Empire’s nose. His subordinates, including Dedra Meero, fail to keep the details of the Death Star in-house, providing Cassian Andor and everyone else on Yavin 4 an opening. Andor and Co. are able to infiltrate the Imperial stronghold on Scarif and transmit the Death Star plans to the Rebel fleet. Krennic is present on the planet, and in a poetic form of justice, the very weapon he worked so hard to get operational kills him. With Krennic being an important part of Imperial history, many fans thought it was strange that A New Hope makes no mention of him. They had to create their own theory to find a place for him in the story. Unlike Director Krennic, though, Star Wars fans can enjoy the fruits of their labor.

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Director Krennic’s Star Wars Legacy Is a Tragic One

A New Hope is, of course, the first Star Wars project to have ever been released, so fans have had nearly fifty years to comb through all its details. One thing that has always stood out is the empty chair in the meeting room on the Death Star. As the Imperials discuss the threat the Rebellion poses with the Death Star plans, Darth Vader and Tarkin walk into the room and assure everyone that there’s nothing to worry about. However, Vader doesn’t sit down, seemingly confirming that the empty chair in the room doesn’t belong to him. A New Hope doesn’t mention a missing Imperial, so fans have taken that to mean Krennic’s death is the reason for the meeting feeling incomplete.

The idea remained nothing but a fan theory until the release of the canon-ish 2017 anthology novel From a Certain Point of View. In the short story “Fully Operational” by Beth Revis, General Cassio Tagge discusses his arrival on the Death Star shortly after the Battle of Scairf and his feelings about Krennic. He remembers the last meeting in the room, when Krennic had discussed using the weapon on something bigger than Jedha City. Of course, that line of thinking got Krennic killed, and while Tagge remembers his colleague’s childish attitude, he also can’t help but think about how passionate he was about acquiring power.

Did you believe the theory that Director Krennic was the Imperial missing from the meeting in Star Wars: A New Hope? How do you feel that it turned out to be true? Let us know in the comments below!

The post A Confirmed Andor Fan Theory Will Change How Star Wars Fans Watch the Original Movie appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In what is bound to be a huge loss for Netflix, the Duffer brothers are reportedly set to leave the streaming platform. Per Matthew Belloni, Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer have decided to leave Netflix behind and move on to Paramount. The move was apparently due to Paramount’s theatrical film component, as Netflix was unwilling to give them theatrical releases. Their last project at Netflix will be the long-awaited final season of Stranger Things, which will premiere later this year on the streaming platform. Over the course of their time at Netflix, the Duffer brothers have made Stranger Things and put a spinoff series into development for the streamer.

They also have the animated series, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, which features a new character named Nikki Baxter and is expected to debut sometime next year. Along with the spinoff and the animated series, the Duffer brothers also helped to produce the stage play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow. The duo previously had two other projects in development at Netflix including the supernatural series, The Boroughs, and the horror series, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. The Boroughs is set to star Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters, Bill Pullman and Denis O’Hare and will debut sometime next year. While Something Very Bad is Going to Happen will star Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco and is set to premiere next year.

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Prior to their work at Netflix, the Duffer brothers directed two shorts titled We All Fall Down and Eater. They then directed their first and only feature film, Hidden, in 2015. The film, which they also wrote, starred Alexander Skarsgård, Andrea Riseborough, Emily Alyn Lind, and Heather Doerksen. The duo has also written episodes of the television series Wayward Pines and The Grounded. While it remains to be seen what the Duffer brothers do next, per Deadline, any Stranger Things extensions would be carved out of the Duffer brothers’ Paramount deal.

Stranger Things is easily one of Netflix’s biggest shows, alongside Wednesday and Squid Game. The loss of the Duffer brothers will be a big one for the streaming service. However, it’ll also allow the brothers to do more than tell stories on the small screen. Although they only have one feature film under their belts (for now), their work for Netflix has shown they are capable of crafting exciting and engaging stories. Paramount has mainly found success in its Star Trek offerings on the small screen, and the Mission: Impossible films on the big screen. However, 2025 has shown that Paramount is also willing to take more risks, with the adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk, a movie that once seemed impossible to make. Whatever the Duffer brothers and Paramount do together, it’s bound to be exciting.

The first four seasons of the Netflix phenomenon Stranger Things are now streaming exclusively on Netflix. The fifth and final season of Stranger Things will drop in three separate volumes later this year. The first volume of Season 5 is set to premiere on November 26, with the second volume following on December 25, and the final volume hitting on December 31. Per Netflix, each new volume will be released at 5 PM PST.

The post The Duffer Brothers Are Leaving Netflix After Stranger Things (And There’s a Big Reason Why) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

King of the Hill’s revival was recently revealed to be the biggest animated series for Disney released in the past five years, which is even more impressive considering it overtook the runaway hit that is X-Men ’97. While a fifteenth season for the Hill family hasn’t been confirmed yet, signs are looking good for fans hoping to see Arlen’s return. With the fourteenth season becoming a hit, a recent report has broken down just how much money Hank, Peggy, and Bobby’s big comeback has scored for Hulu and its parent company, Disney.

According to a new breakdown by Parrot Analytics, King of the Hill’s fourteenth season has brought in around $100 million USD in streaming revenue for Hulu. Surprisingly enough, this figure is around double what the Beavis and Butthead series has brought in, putting some perspective on Arlen’s success in a relatively short amount of time. The recent revival decided to release all ten of its episodes at once on August 4th, and while we aren’t sure if this strategy overtook potentially releasing the installments weekly, Hulu has to be happy with what we’ve seen from King of the Hill so far. If the actors’ glee at making a comeback is any indication, the cast might be willing to explore Arlen for the long haul.

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The Revival Vs The Original

The King of the Hill revival has surpassed the original thirteen episodes while still retaining the spirit of what came before it. While it’s impossible to deny the success of the fourteenth season, some fans have noticed that things look a little different than the original show. In a recent interview, showrunner Saladin Patterson revealed that the reason why the comeback looks different is that the original technology no longer exists.

“The hand-drawn animation, the watercolors, those don’t exist anymore. If they exist, they certainly don’t exist at a cost where you can do a TV show.” Patterson explains, “So it has to be updated, and so we updated it with the current style and makeup of animation that animated shows do. I admit it does look different and maybe jarring to some people. I just want to put out there that even though it’s updated, we still went and tried to give it an age-old look, to make it feel more like the color palette and the landscape of the original, more so than other shows. We certainly went through a lot of back and forth with the background designers and things like that, to make our colors feel closer to what they felt in the original and the tones and things the most that we could.”

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to Hank, Peggy, and Bobby’s future? Follow along with ComicBook.com for the latest updates on King of the Hill and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via Parrot Analytics

The post King of the Hill Revival Brings in Big Money For Hulu appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The impact of Game of Thrones on the world of fantasy shows is huge, and literally everyone knows it. Even today, it’s a production that influences a lot out there. Mixing politics, wars, complex characters, and an epic story, the HBO series simply changed the game and won a legion of fans around the world (including both longtime George R. R. Martin book fans and the general audience who never dared to follow a fantasy story). Despite the infamous ending, many other shows have tried to fill that space somehow and replicate the level of its massive, historic success. But the truth is, none of them really managed to establish themselves as the new benchmark for the genre. In fact, it’s pretty hard to get close to what Game of Thrones built over time, even six years after it ended.

Here are 12 fantasy TV shows that tried (and for different reasons, didn’t succeed) to be the “new Game of Thrones.” From super ambitious productions to simpler ones, each has its strengths and weaknesses, but together they show that reaching that high level and building such a worldwide legacy is no easy task.

1) House of the Dragon

The universe of Martin is so vast that, besides Game of Thrones, other stories have already been produced or are in progress. House of the Dragon is one that came right after and caused quite a buzz for being the first spinoff of the series. It’s undeniable that it arrived with the huge pressure of being the successor, focusing on the story of the Targaryens and their power struggles in Westeros. And the ambition was clear: to replicate the massive success of the original franchise with political drama, battles, and dragons in the spotlight. But despite maintaining the dark tone and visual impact, it didn’t quite reach the heights of GoT, especially due to pacing issues and a narrative that, at times, still feels too tied to fan expectations (which makes it lose spontaneity).

The biggest problem with House of the Dragon wasn’t the technical quality (which is high) nor the well-built universe, but rather the gigantic shadow of what came before. The show tries to be “more of the same” instead of reinventing itself. It has value for those who are fully into the lore, but even now, it hasn’t managed to win over the general audience as the groundbreaking fantasy show that everyone around the world tunes in to watch. Like it or not, it didn’t break through the bubble like GoT.

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2) The Witcher

With Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia (at least in the first seasons), The Witcher had a promising start by betting on a mix of adult fantasy, monsters, and ambiguous characters. Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s books, the show is set on a continent where humans, elves, and other creatures coexist under the threat of war and magic. The structure initially focused on isolated adventures of the monster hunter, which created a disconnect from the serialized and political storytelling of Game of Thrones. Yes, the show gained fans, especially among those who already knew the universe, but why did it fail then?

Over the seasons, attempts to increase political complexity and drama ended up compromising the script’s cohesion, resulting in changes that didn’t please everyone. The Witcher never had that web of dark characters and power plays that made GoT a phenomenon, even with excellent production and cast. It remains a very good series, but far from the weight and maturity needed to capture the general audience’s attention and become truly grand.

3) The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Amazon invested billions to expand J. R. R. Tolkien’s universe with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, focusing on the events of the Second Age of Middle-earth, involving the rise of Sauron and the forgers of the Rings of Power. The intention was to build an epic saga that could rival the cultural impact of Game of Thrones. However, despite the grandeur of the production, the reception was polarized. Many fans of the original material complained about creative liberties, slow pacing, and a lack of narrative tension. The show tried to capture the sense of scale and mythology, but fell into the classic problem of productions that prioritize visual effects over story development.

A billion-dollar budget isn’t a guarantee of cultural success, and the lack of an engaging story with complex characters caused The Rings of Power to alienate the general audience. It’s a shame because the ambition was huge for the fantasy genre, but the final product didn’t reach the necessary level.

4) Shadow & Bone

Not everyone has heard of Shadow & Bone (mainly because it was cancelled), and that says a lot. Based on Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse book series, the story revolves around a young orphan who discovers she has a rare power capable of changing the fate of a country divided by a mysterious threat. The show features accessible worldbuilding, likable characters, and a mix of adventure and romance. However, by opting for this cleaner formula, it deliberately distances itself from the tone and complexity that made Game of Thrones a TV giant.

Here lies the main reason for its failure as a “replacement:” Shadow & Bone doesn’t try to compete exactly at the same level of political complexity, moral violence, or narrative scale. It’s a lighter, less ambitious fantasy. This limited its appeal among older audiences and critics who expected a modern take on the kind of fantasy GoT popularized. The series performed well and has been praised by younger viewers, but it’s still far from achieving a significant cultural impact.

5) The Last Kingdom

Set during the Viking invasions of England, The Last Kingdom follows a Saxon noble raised by Vikings as he struggles for his land and identity. This show won over many viewers with its straightforward storytelling and focus on battles and personal dilemmas. Unlike Game of Thrones, there’s no explicit magic or continent-wide power struggles, as it leans more on historical drama with political nuances but maintains a more traditional and linear approach. It’s a production that knows how to please, tried something different within the genre, succeeded, but didn’t manage to reach phenomenon status.

The show’s success lies in its consistency and gradual character development, but that same limited format that captivates its audience also prevents it from being seen as a possible GoT replacement. The lack of moral ambiguity and the relative simplicity of the plot reduce its potential. In the end, The Last Kingdom is an excellent fantasy production on TV, but not something vast enough to resonate globally.

6) His Dark Materials

Another book-based series is His Dark Materials, which follows the journey of a young orphan through parallel worlds, facing a powerful conspiracy tied to the Church and a substance called Dust. The show stands out for its philosophical approach, themes of free will, institutional critique, and its fantastic elements like the daemons (animal manifestations of the characters’ souls). It’s quite thought-provoking, but despite being well-made and visually appealing, its more contemplative story is geared toward a young-adult audience, much like Shadow & Bone. Consequently, it doesn’t fit the mold of the adult fantasy Game of Thrones that defined.

Besides, all that philosophy, allegory, and almost metaphysical struggle isn’t something that attracts everyone. Unfortunately, this limits its reach. His Dark Materials is a respectable TV show, good for those who buy into its concept. But in short, it’s too niche.

7) The Wheel of Time

Let’s face it: The Wheel of Time is one of the most ambitious fantasy adaptations of the last decade, based on Robert Jordan’s vast book saga. The series follows a powerful Aes Sedai (a member of an all-female order of magic users) and a group of young people crucial to the world’s fate, fighting against dark forces. With high production values and a strong cast, the show tried to capture the political complexity and epic scale of Game of Thrones, but it stumbled on pacing and script adaptation issues. While it improved in later seasons, it still suffered a drop in ratings and was eventually cancelled. GoT had its ups and downs, but never declined that sharply.

The failure of The Wheel of Time lies in its inability to maintain a story that’s epic, dense, and emotionally engaging for a massive audience all at once. Instead of building a universe that appeals beyond the book fans (which GoT managed), the show struggled. The ambition was there, and the potential too, but inconsistent execution made it hard to become a legit successor to the HBO hit.

8) Britannia

Set during the Roman invasion of Britain, Britannia mixes history with druidic fantasy, magic, and mystical creatures. Throughout its episodes, the show tries to create a dark and violent atmosphere, featuring a diverse cast fighting for control over a mystical, wild land inhabited by Celtic warriors and druids with powers. The premise is intriguing, and although it boasts an interesting aesthetic and impactful moments, the problem lies in inconsistent writing and characters that aren’t always deeply developed. Like it or not, this impacts the viewer’s ability to engage with the story they’re watching.

Because of these combined flaws, Britannia unfortunately limited its success potential, preventing the show from reaching the massive engagement level that Game of Thrones achieved. The series definitely has qualities and a loyal fanbase, but its sometimes confusing story and uneven focus kept it confined within a bubble, lacking the broad and multifaceted appeal needed to attract wider audiences.

9) See

Not everyone has heard of See, but it’s a strong bet thanks to how it flirts with the fantastic through its unusual setting and special abilities (though it’s more of a dystopia). The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity has lost its sight and developed tribal cultures to survive. It follows a warrior protecting his children, who were born with sight, threatening the world’s established norms. The premise is creative, not to mention the brutal action scenes, but the tone and structure are far from what you’d expect from a production capable of establishing itself as the “new Game of Thrones.”

See doesn’t have multiple complex narrative threads, let alone the intricate power politics that made GoT a phenomenon. Its more linear, heroic focus puts it far from the grand experience that grabs mass attention (it even struggles due to poor marketing).

10) The Shannara Chronicles

Underrated yet held back by the clear target audience it aimed for, The Shannara Chronicles is based on Terry Brooks’ books. It’s a lighter fantasy that follows a group of heroes trying to save their world from evil forces, among elves, druids, and magic. There’s no denying it: the show invests in adventure and a more youthful tone. The idea is simple, lacking complexity, and stands in strong contrast to the political webs and moral ambiguity of Game of Thrones. So why is it on this list? Simply because it tried to be something big within the genre, directly influenced by GoT.

The Shannara Chronicles managed to build a very loyal fanbase, but asking for more than that is a stretch. It doesn’t reach the depth, cruelty, or shock that marked the HBO phenomenon. Another show canceled after two seasons, it could’ve been bigger. It probably would never have reached the heights of Game of Thrones, but it’s fair to say it had more potential to grow than it did.

11) Emerald City

Game of Thrones was a hugely successful book adaptation. With Emerald City, the idea was to try the same (even though the Oz universe is mostly known from the movie The Wizard of Oz and the Broadway play Wicked). Here, the series attempted to reinvent the classic we all know, presenting a darker, more adult version of Dorothy and her group, set in a metropolis filled with politics, magic, and violence. The concept aimed for a modern, less cheerful take on the cinematic adaptation, with a story seeking complexity and twists. It had everything to become big, but the execution was problematic: a confusing script, very uncharismatic characters, and a lack of balance between the different tones it wanted to have.

Only one season was produced before cancellation due to low ratings. Emerald City simply failed to translate its promising concept, and it’s a shame because there was room to be bold enough to compete with fantasy sagas in the post-Game of Thrones era. Unfortunately, it ended up more like a failed experiment.

12) The Bastard Executioner

The biggest draw for The Bastard Executioner was its creator, Kurt Sutter, who is well known for the hit Sons of Anarchy. But that alone wasn’t enough, despite the effort. The show’s plot proposed a medieval drama full of violence, intrigue, and twists, focusing on a reluctant knight who leaves war behind for a peaceful life – only to be pulled back into the fight. However, the production failed miserably to engage both critics and audiences, suffering from a confusing script and a general lack of originality. It’s a shame.

GoT was always praised for its complex universe and the fact that there were no clear heroes or villains. It drew from medieval themes but broke the expected mold for stories in that atmosphere, while The Bastard Executioner felt like a generic, poorly executed attempt to copy the medieval formula. On top of that, it was canceled after just one season. Without strong storytelling and compelling characters, violence and setting alone won’t be enough to succeed.

What fantasy series were you most disappointed by? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 12 Fantasy Shows That Tried & Failed to Be Game of Thrones’ Replacement appeared first on ComicBook.com.

With the fifth and final season of The Boys having wrapped production, Antony Starr is taking time to reflect on his time as Homelander. The actor shared a post on his Instagram account two days ago reflecting on his time as the controversial character, along with a slew of photos—a mixture of behind-the-scenes images and promotional images. The actor revealed that, while production wrapped a bit ago, he took some time to let things settle before he said goodbye to both the hit comic book adaptation and the controversial character he played, Homelander. “Been waiting a little to let things settle and try and process the end of this show.”

In the Instagram post, Starr begins by explaining that it’s difficult for him to truly put into rides what the show has meant for him. “The Boys. Difficult (for me) to put into words what an incredible ride this has been. How much life and growth has occurred. How amazing the team is,” Starr says, noting how much of a whirlwind it has been over the past six years. “It’s truly been the highlight of my career. When we began, I had no idea what was coming. This juggernaut left the station and never stopped. Except for that Covid moment. Oh and the strikes. That was a thing too. But apart from those two times, it never stopped, boldly making its mark on the television landscape. There’s nothing else like it. It lives in its own lane.”

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The Boys has been a huge success for Amazon since it debuted back in July of 2019. The show, which is an adaptation of the comic book series of the same name, is an often satirical and disgusting take on superhero stories and has been known to consistently push the boundaries, usually with Starr’s Homelander at the forefront. The series has been a consistent performer for the streaming service, and while it’s nearing its end, there’s no denying the impact it has had on comic book adaptations and on the lives of its promising cast.

“At the end of the shoot, all there really is to say is- thank you. The incredible Canadian crew. The amazing production team. The insanely talented cast. The people at Amazon and Sony that took a chance on this insane thing(and made the great choice in casting me,tyyy)and all the other people that contributed in some way, big or small, to this beautiful, complex, warped, delicious show,” Starr continued in his post. “I love this show. And I love this character. Truly. I will dearly miss heading to work, knowing what we were aiming for but never knowing where we would find ourselves by the end of the day…only that we would have fun and it would be creatively rewarding in the extreme.”

Starr continued by calling Homelander a “complicated character,” one that allowed him the space and range to “discover and push boundaries” in a way the actor never expected. He concluded his post by saying, “Huge gratitude to my co-parent with this twisted gem of a character- Eric Kripke. We created a monster, sir. And I will miss him, and you. Til we roll out the last season. When I’ll see you. But this creative chapter is closed, and I’ll miss it, brother.”

Homelander is the most powerful and twisted member of The Seven. He’s known for being the Seven’s golden boy, despite the despicable things he often does behind-the-scenes, and sometimes out in the open. In reality, he’s far from a good guy and is often manipulative and unstable. Despite everything wrong with Homelander, Starr has consistently delivered a strong performance throughout every season of The Boys, with fans and critics often noting his presence as the screwed-up “hero” on screen.

As of now, the fifth and final season of The Boys does not yet have a release date, although it’s expected to hit Prime Video sometime next year. For now, fans can rewatch the first four seasons and relive Starr’s menacing presence as Homelander before he returns for one final season.

The post After Six Years, The Boys’ Antony Starr Reflects on Playing the “Complicated Character” Homelander appeared first on ComicBook.com.

These TV shows tell stories and include characters that could easily transform how you look at life and death, so they need to be watched at least once in your life. Some TV series have been truly revolutionary, capturing our imaginations and altering our perspectives on some of life’s most important, relevant, and prominent aspects. Whether classic shows that hold an important place in TV history, or newer shows that have signified huge progression for representation, storytelling, and heart on our small screens.

These seven shows include some of the most life-changing moments of TV we’ve ever seen, which shouldn’t be a surprise coming from creatives such as the Wachowskis, David Simon, Taika Waititi, Michael Schur, and Ricky Gervais, among others. Alongside classic shows like The Wire and Six Feet Under, more modern series such as Sense8, Reservation Dogs, and After Life tugged at our heartstrings and made us look at life differently. We’re still thinking about the messages in these series even years after they ended, cementing them as some of the best shows in TV history.

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7) Sense8 (2015-2018)

Developed by the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski, Netflix’s Sense8 features an ensemble cast who come together to examine themes of connection, humanity, sexuality, acceptance, identity, gender, and politics. Sense8 focuses on eight individuals spanning the globe who realize they are part of a new species of human who are connected telepathically and emotionally, allowing them to share experiences, memories, and skills. While Sense8 only ran for two seasons and a feature-length finale, the high production value, visually-spectacular settings, incredibly rich and raw performances, emphasis on empathy, and beautiful messaging makes this series one to watch.

6) The Wire (2002-2008)

Widely regarded to be one of the greatest TV shows of all time, HBO’s The Wire was created by former police reporter David Simon, which made it an incredibly authentic crime drama. Told over five seasons, The Wire spotlighted real people living and working in Simon’s hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, and has been celebrated for exploring society, politics, and urban life unashamedly and accurately. While The Wire received mixed reviews during its run, it has gained an immense cult following in the years since its finale, and has been lauded as one of the most realistic depictions of American life.

5) Six Feet Under (2001-2005)

Developed by Alan Ball (True Blood, American Beauty), Six Feet Under focused on the Fisher family, who run a funeral home in Los Angeles. This setting allowed the series to examine life and death at an extremely intimate and raw level. The ensemble cast deliver intense drama but also some hilarious moments, providing levity and heart throughout the show’s five-season run. Six Feet Under has been celebrated as one of the greatest shows of all time, and its final episode, “Everybody’s Waiting,” is still considered to be one of the best TV finales ever, so it needs to be watched.

4) Reservation Dogs (2021-2023)

Throughout its three-season run, FX’s Reservation Dogs received critical acclaim and a number of accolades, being celebrated for shining a light on the lives of Indigenous teenagers who reconcile their heritage with their desire to expand their lives beyond their reservation. Devery Jacobs (Echo), D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Caught Stealing), Paulina Alexis (Ghostbusters: Afterlife), and Lane Factor (The Fabelmans) lead the remarkable cast, and bring their own experiences to life in this heartfelt, powerful, and relevant series. Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi’s Reservation Dogs is one of the most important shows of the modern age.

3) After Life (2019-2022)

It’s surprising that this comedy-drama series from Ricky Gervais actually contained so much emotion, with the tragicomedy focusing on newspaper writer Tony Johnson (Gervais), who comes to terms with life in the wake of his beloved wife’s (Kerry Godliman) death from breast cancer. The comedy comes from Johnson’s opinion that he can say or do whatever he wants regardless of others’ emotions and the consequences, though this path soon forces him to accept there are people he cares about. After Life is an unexpected, heartbreaking, and beautiful examination of life, death, and grief.

2) BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)

We seldom see an adult animated series explore so many facets of the human experience, yet the one that manages to cover most involves Will Arnett voicing a self-loathing, cynical, alcoholic horse, BoJack Horseman. Developed by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, BoJack Horseman has been lauded for examining themes including depression, trauma, suicide, racism, sexuality, addiction, and more, delivering some hugely important storylines with dark comedy enhancing every moment. BoJack Horseman is one of the greatest TV shows of all time, and one of those must-see shows if you’ve ever dealt with any of those experiences that make us human.

1) The Good Place (2016-2020)

Exploring some of the most prominent ethical questions head-on, The Good Place packs a huge punch that makes it one of the most important and life-changing shows in TV history. Developed by Michael Schur (The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation), The Good Place brought together Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper), Tahani (Jameela Jamil), and Jason (Manny Jacinto) in a twisted afterlife, where they explore their lives, moralities, personalities, and ethics in attempts to become better people even after their deaths. The Good Place received immense praise for its originality, writing, acting, and tone, and delivered one of the most emotional finales in TV history that will stick with you and make you re-examine your life long after watching.

What are your favorite TV shows that you felt changed your life? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Life-Changing TV Shows You Need to Watch Once in Your Life appeared first on ComicBook.com.

2025 is Pedro Pascal‘s year. The actor has become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars, leading several projects and building a varied career that flows easily between drama, action, comedy, and even sci-fi. With a totally charismatic and memorable presence, he’s won over audiences in both big productions and small ones, showing he can bring depth to any kind of role. Pascal has made his mark on pretty much everything he’s touched lately – whether he’s standing out in a movie, carrying a show on his back, or elevating a simple scene with subtle moves and smart choices.

Here are 10 of Pedro Pascal’s best movies and TV shows, ranked not just by the production, but mainly by his performance. More than just a fan-favorite actor, he’s proven to be someone who truly transforms whatever material he’s given – and this list breaks down exactly how and why that happens.

10) Eddington

Pascal tries hard here, and it’s not a bad performance, but there’s just not much to save in Eddington overall. Playing Mayor Ted Garcia in a messy political satire, he delivers something safe and controlled, which ends up being a problem given how over-the-top everything else around him is. It’s one of those cases where the acting itself is fine, but the project just doesn’t hold up, whether because of the script, direction, or overall tone. Pascal does his best to keep some dignity in the chaos, but he’s stuck in a role with no real arc and zero room to shine.

On top of that, audiences basically ignored Eddington. There were a few reviews, but nothing strong enough to generate any kind of real buzz (even with Ari Aster directing). Unlike other roles where Pascal steals the scene even with limited time, here he’s just there – and that’s it. The impact is close to none.

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9) Prospect

Perhaps one of Pascal’s most underrated works is Prospect, an indie sci-fi movie that some people only checked out after finding out he was in the cast. In the film, he plays Ezra, an opportunistic mercenary, and gives a solid performance – especially considering the limited budget and the more stripped-down style of the production. He does a nice job balancing a threatening presence with a bit of vulnerability, landing somewhere between villain and reluctant ally. Still, it’s a role that calls for restraint, and there aren’t any big dramatic moments or standout lines.

The only issue here is that Pascal isn’t really the centerpiece of Prospect, since the focus stays on the main character, and he ends up more in a supporting role. Most people who watched it liked what he did, but it’s not the kind of performance that caught on with fans or helped push his career forward. It’s a decent watch for anyone curious about his range, but it doesn’t stand out as one of the must-see roles in his filmography.

8) Materialists

Materialists isn’t a film that landed the way it was supposed to, but one thing that really stands out about Pascal’s casting is how it highlights something people don’t always notice: he knows how to shift gears. Here, he takes a different route: a modern romantic comedy (or at least, that’s how it was marketed) filled with fast-paced dialogue and a charismatic lead with just the right amount of mystery. As Harry, a billionaire tangled in a love triangle, he’s consistently relaxed and likable. He also happens to be the only one in the cast who seems at ease, especially when others get stuck in overlong monologues and pointless detours.

The response to Materialists was lukewarm, and that dragged the movie down a bit. Still, Pascal walked away without a scratch. A lot of people didn’t care for the film, but pretty much everyone agreed that he was the only one who looked like he knew what he was doing. It’s not a complex role by any means, but it’s another example of how he can lock into a tone and elevate it, even when the material isn’t great. In the context of his filmography, it’s a solid middle-of-the-pack performance – enjoyable, versatile, but ultimately forgettable.

7) The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The plain truth is that playing Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps was a tough gig: hardcore fans, the legacy of the franchise, and the danger of falling into a flat, flavorless version of the character. But Pascal avoided disaster by giving Reed a more grounded and emotionally mature take, far from the generic “brilliant but cold” scientist from earlier iterations. There’s a quiet sensitivity in his performance, especially in scenes where the character wrestles with doubt, even if the script doesn’t fully commit to digging deeper (especially with more attention going to Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm).

What holds First Steps back in this ranking is that Pascal’s version of Reed just didn’t connect with audiences in a big way. It’s a solid performance, but also a little too safe. There’s no big standout moment, no burst of charisma that defines his take as the definitive one. He does his job well, but the movie seems more focused on setting up future MCU plans than on making these characters shine in the present. It works for what it is, but it won’t be the first thing people remember when talking about his best roles.

6) The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Stealing the show – that’s exactly what Pascal does here. In The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, he’s up against a chaotic and self-aware Nicolas Cage, and still manages to stand out with ease. His character, Javi, could’ve easily become a walking stereotype as the eccentric superfan with too much money and not enough sense, but Pascal gives him charm and depth. He doesn’t overplay the humor, instead grounding the role with an oddball sincerity that ends up making Javi more likable than Cage’s exaggerated version of himself.

The chemistry between them is a huge part of why the movie works, and why so many people ended up loving it. Their bromance gave the internet plenty to meme, but also showed that Pascal has untapped comic timing that deserves more screen time in his career. It’s not a role that demands emotional range or heavy drama, but it proves he can carry a weird concept and make it feel natural. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent was an offbeat project, but Pascal nailed exactly the energy it needed – and that’s what made it land.

5) Gladiator II

It would have been easy for Gladiator II to fall into the trap of grandiose action without emotional depth, but Pascal manages to avoid this. As Marcus Acacius, a traumatized general with divided loyalties, he brings a quiet gravitas to the film. His performance is controlled, almost minimalistic, but effective – he lets silence and posture do the heavy lifting in most scenes. Rather than trying to steal the spotlight, Pascal plays into the weight of the story, adding tension through subtle choices and a constant sense of inner conflict that grounds the spectacle around him.

The script clearly favors the younger leads and the large-scale set pieces, limiting his arc to something more functional than fully fleshed out. Still, Pascal leaves a mark. Even with less screen time, critics noticed him, and his role ended up being one of the most praised aspects of Gladiator II. It’s not one of the most iconic performances in his career, but it proves again that he knows how to make the most of what he’s given, especially when working within the machinery of big studio productions.

4) Narcos

Pedro Pascal as Javier Peña is what really gave soul to the last seasons of Narcos. His performance is marked by a slow, impressive evolution, starting out as the typical tough agent but gradually showing exhaustion, guilt, and frustration. It’s a slow burn where each episode chips away at the character, making his choices more complicated. The show has a lot of strong characters, but Peña is one of the few who actually gets real emotional depth.

Narcos is probably one of the series that boosted Pascal’s career the most, giving him way more visibility (and audiences really connected with the character). He ended up carrying a big part of the plot in the final seasons, but more than that, the production was the turning point that moved him from “supporting actor” to leading man. If he’s dominating Hollywood now, a big part of that is thanks to his journey on this show. It’s not his most explosive role, but it was key in showing what he’s capable of and getting him where he is today.

3) Game of Thrones

How does such a minor character manage to stand out so much in a huge show with a strong main cast? In Game of Thrones, Oberyn Martell only appears in one season, but Pedro Pascal made such an impression that it’s still remembered as one of the best character introductions in the whole series. He shows up with this mix of arrogance, sensuality, and self-righteousness that takes over every scene he’s in. From the very first moment, it was clear he owned the role; and his physical and emotional commitment in the fight with The Mountain (Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson) became one of the show’s most unforgettable moments.

Even with limited screen time, Pascal built a fully rounded character who had a big impact on both the story and the fans. If Narcos put him on the map, Game of Thrones made him an international name – and for good reason. Oberyn is so memorable because Pascal played him with intensity, style, and perfect timing. Few characters in the show got introduced and written off with such impact that people still talk about them years later.

2) The Mandalorian

At this point, we’ve reached one of the most special projects in Pedro Pascal’s career. His work as Din Djarin in The Mandalorian is basically a masterclass in how acting under restrictions can reveal a truly great performer. For most of the series, he’s stuck behind a helmet with no facial expressions (even though parts of it were performed by a stunt double), yet he still manages to communicate complex emotions using just his voice and body language. The character became a Star Wars icon not just because of Baby Yoda, but because Pascal brought real humanity to someone who could’ve easily been just another action figure with robotic lines. That’s a rare skill.

Every long-running show has its ups and downs, and yes, The Mandalorian isn’t exempt from that, but Pascal has been the steady constant throughout. He kept his performance solid even when the scripts faltered, building a silent, empathetic, and layered lead. This role showed off a surprising range in his acting and helped him become a familiar face for a whole new generation. It’s definitely one of the standout moments of his career so far.

1) The Last of Us

The number one spot has to go to The Last of Us. As Joel, Pascal delivered the most complete and emotional performance of his career so far. Right from the first episode, he brings a raw mix of pain, coldness, and buried affection to the role. Sure, the chemistry with Bella Ramsey holds a big part of the story together, but Pascal shows that silence and introspection can be just as powerful as any action scene. You connect with him right away, even when the show’s second season starts dividing opinions.

Critics aren’t wrong in calling his performance one of the most impactful on TV in the last few years. Unlike other roles where he leans more on charisma, here Pascal gives Joel real vulnerability. It’s not an easy character, since he’s complex, morally gray, and emotionally fragile, but the actor handles it all so naturally that it feels like the role was made for him. It’s safe to say The Last of Us is the peak of his career, and probably the role he’ll be best remembered for years to come.

What is your favorite Pedro Pascal role? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 10 Best Pedro Pascal Movies and TV Shows, Ranked From Worst to Best appeared first on ComicBook.com.

South Park has been a lightning rod for controversy with its twenty-seventh season, and we don’t just mean the storylines that involve Stan, Kenny, Kyle, and Cartman. With the future of the Comedy Central show originally in jeopardy thanks to a myriad of factors, Trey Parker and Matt Stone worked out their legal issues with Paramount behind the scenes. Despite the legal success, many animation fans are wondering if the series might be canceled in the face of its story controversies, causing a past interview to resurface where Stone and Parker talked about the potential series finale.

In 2015, the South Park creators sat down to talk with outlet IGN about how the story of South Park would end, injecting their traditional style of comedy into the mix. To start, Trey Parker confirmed that he believed the Comedy Central series would end quietly, “I think it’s going to end with a fizzle, for sure. I think it’s just going to end with some dud, and we’re gonna go, ‘F*** this, man,’ and walk away.  We’ve thought that for 18 years. We’re like, ‘Okay, well, they’re going to cancel us, for sure!’ We’ve been waiting to get canceled for 18 f***ing years.”

Alongside Trey Parker, Matt Stone hilariously noted, “Some sort of whimper. Either drop the mic, get sued, get thrown off television — something like that. We won’t stop until we get canceled. We’re renewing. They have to f***ing cancel us, goddammit!” Luckily, it doesn’t appear as though we have to worry about South Park ending anytime soon.

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South Park’s Scheduling Controversy

Due to the licensing battle between the likes of Warner Bros, Paramount, and Park County, the original debut date for the twenty-seventh season of South Park was pushed back by several weeks. While the season would make its triumphant debut, each episode has been delayed so far, with the third episode doing the same. Luckily, the delays have only been weeks in length, with Parker and Stone needing a little more time to weave their hilarious premises for the small screen. The next episode will arrive on Wednesday, August 20th, on Comedy Central, with the installment hitting Paramount+ shortly after.

While many animation fans believed that Parker and Stone making fun of the current U.S. administration might result in a series cancellation, current Paramount CEO David Ellison showed his support for the South Park creators. Earlier this month, Ellison stated, “Matt and Trey are incredibly talented. They are equal opportunity offenders and always have been. I do not want to politicize our company in any way, shape, or form.” Even if the creative duo does see their series canceled, Paramount would still be on the line to grant them their major payday all the same.

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to the sleepy Colorado town on Comedy Central? Follow along with ComicBook.com for the latest updates on South Park and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via IGN

The post South Park Creators Talk Series Finale in Resurfaced Interview appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Prime Video has been steadily raising the bar for its television programming, and the 2025 lineup is no exception. The streamer currently offers something for every TV viewer, from high-octane spy thrillers to supernatural horror, and tons of originals you can’t watch anywhere else. This summer, the slate is especially strong and only gaining momentum. New seasons of fan-favorite Prime shows are now streaming all episodes, and a few exciting fresh releases are already making waves with critics and audiences.

So if you’re looking for a world to get lost in this weekend, your new favorite show is somewhere on this list just waiting to be binged. 

1) Butterfly

Butterfly has emerged as one of Prime Video’s most talked-about originals of the summer. Set in South Korea, the story follows a former spy pulled back into the profession after years of trying to live a normal life. The stakes escalate quickly when they are tasked with protecting someone from their past, forcing them to confront dangerous truths and old betrayals. The series has already gotten praise for its unpredictable twists and stylish cinematography. 

Reviewers have also given high marks for the first season’s layered plot and excellent characters, with standout performances from Daniel Dae Kim and Reina Hardesty. For anyone who loves slow-burn espionage with the occasional high-intensity action sequence in the vein of Killing Eve, Butterfly is an ideal binge. The fact that it’s brand new means you can get in on the ground floor before the inevitable Season 2 hype begins in earnest.

2) Ballard

Another recent Prime Original, Ballard is a Bosch: Legacy spinoff that follows Detective Renée Ballard as she leads the LAPD’s underfunded cold case division. Tasked with solving decades-old homicides, Ballard and her volunteer team uncover a web of corruption within the department. As they delve into unresolved cases, including a serial killer investigation, they face escalating threats from inside and outside the force. 

What makes Ballard particularly binge-worthy is its fresh perspective within the Bosch universe. Maggie Q delivers a standout performance, and the series introduces a diverse new cast, including Courtney Taylor and Michael Mosley. With its excellent writing and timely themes, Ballard offers a compelling watch for fans of crime drama seeking a new series to dive into.

3) Sausage Party: Foodtopia

The second season of Sausage Party: Foodtopia is out, and it picks up right where the first left off, with Frank, Brenda, and the rest of the surviving groceries still trying to keep their new society from collapsing. After establishing their so-called utopia, the food citizens now face the reality of running it, which means more political scheming. 

Season 2 doubles down on what made the first season a cult hit: absurd comedy and satire so good that it pushes every joke to its most ridiculous limit. In both seasons, the writers poke fun at concepts like government bureaucracy and celebrity worship, all via an unhinged grocery “utopia.” But what makes this show truly binge-worthy is its star-studded voice cast that features Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Ed Norton, and Michael Cera. 

4) Andhera

This tense Indian supernatural horror series follows a Mumbai cop who partners with a scarred medical student to unravel the disappearance of a woman that plunges them into a realm of ancient unseen threats. Spanning eight episodes, the way the series builds tension throughout has quickly gained it a cult following.

Andhera has earned glowing reviews for its gritty realism and great performances. It’s also one of those shows that refuses to spoon-feed easy answers; it demands attention, rewarding binge-watching with a deeper understanding of its interwoven storylines. For crime drama fans tired of formulaic procedurals, or horror fans looking for an elevated supernatural tale, this Prime Original is a fresh, unpredictable alternative that still delivers the satisfaction of a mystery well told. And luckily, all eight episodes of Season 1 are already available to stream. 

5) The Summer I Turned Pretty

Now in its third season, The Summer I Turned Pretty continues the love triangle saga of Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, with many fans claiming the show has only gotten better. Set against the sun-soaked backdrop of Cousins Beach, the show explores a first love and themes of brotherhood and friendship with heartfelt drama and earnest romance. 

Still hanging out in the top ten for Prime, Season 3 finds the characters grappling with the aftermath of big decisions, forcing them to reevaluate what, and who, they want. It’s perfect late-summer viewing, a comfort show with enough drama to keep you clicking “next episode.” And as a Prime Original, the production quality and soundtrack are top-tier.

6) Countdown 

Countdown is a fast-moving Prime Original crime drama that follows LAPD Detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles). After a Homeland Security officer is murdered in broad daylight, Meachum is pulled into a secret multi-agency task force. The team includes undercover agents from the FBI, DEA, and other branches of law enforcement. What starts as a standard investigation quickly unravels into a massive conspiracy that could endanger millions.

Fans of the show say it delivers on its promise of gripping action in every episode, including tons of high-speed chases. The ensemble cast, which contains Jessica Camacho as DEA agent Amber Oliver as and Eric Dane as FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe, delivers strong performances that carry the story. With twists that keep the stakes high and a plot that doesn’t bog the action down, Countdown is a binge-watch for crime thriller fans who just can’t get enough.

7) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

The third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds beams viewers right back onto the USS Enterprise, with Captain Pike, Number One, and Spock leading the crew into another round of space adventures. The new season, which is currently airing new episodes weekly, keeps to the beloved formula while introducing new alien worlds. 

An exciting combo of lighthearted romps and tense moral deliberations, the show stays true to Trek and builds on the previous seasons brilliantly. It’s clear the writers know how to honor decades of Star Trek history without getting bogged down in it, and the cast, especially Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck, bring enough on-screen chemistry to make every mission feel worth the ride.

8) We Were Liars

Based on the best-selling YA novel, We Were Liars unfolds on a private island owned by an ultra-wealthy family, where a summer gathering takes a tragic turn. Told through a fractured, unreliable perspective, the series gradually reveals what really happened that fateful year and how it’s shaped the characters in the present. It has it all: romance, mystery, and family drama, and some viewers have called it downright addictive.

Fans of the novel will likely appreciate the adaptation, while the dreamy visuals and compelling characters will hook newcomers. The binge appeal comes from piecing together the puzzle, and the fact that every episode ends with a hook that makes it impossible not to lie to yourself about “just one more.” Think Big Little Lies meets The White Lotus, but with a fun, YA twist.

9) Reacher

Alan Ritchson is back as Jack in the third season of Prime Video’s hit action series, once again adapting one of Lee Child’s bestselling novels. This time, Reacher is drawn into a deadly conspiracy after a close friend from his military past is killed. As usual, he’s got brute strength, sharp intelligence, and a strict moral code to take down those responsible. The fight choreography and set pieces are as excellent as ever.

Season 3 cements Reacher as one of Prime’s most reliable crowd-pleasers. It’s straightforward, confident storytelling filled with lean, propulsive action. If you’re behind or haven’t seen it yet, it’s perfect for a binge session. Every episode gives you a complete arc while still building toward a bigger showdown. Fans of Bosch, Jack Ryan, and old-school action thrillers will feel right at home.

10) Good Boy

Good Boy is an acclaimed K-drama series that follows a team of former South Korean Olympic medalists who become police officers through a special recruitment program. Led by Yoon Dong-ju (Park Bo-gum), a former boxing champion, the team also includes sharpshooter Ji Han-na (Kim So-hyun) and other elite athletes. Together, they form a special criminal investigation unit to combat organized crime and corruption in Insung City.

Fans have praised Good Boy for its dynamic fight choreography, as well as the magnetic performance from Bo-gum, who brings a charming intensity to the lead role. The action is thrilling, the editing fun, and the tonal tension between drama and comedy keeps it addictive from start to finish. It may be one of the most binge-worthy new shows, and thankfully, its first season is now streaming globally on Prime Video. 

What Prime show are you binging right now? Did it make our list? We love chatting with readers, so leave a comment below!

The post 10 Best Shows to Binge on Prime Video in August 2025 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

HBO Max has been in the news a lot lately, and it’s not just thanks to the name change. Various series including Courage The Cowardly Dog, What’s New Scooby-Doo, The Powerpuff Girls, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, and other Cartoon Network favorites have been removed from the streaming service. Earlier this year, the platform removed a good deal of episodes and shorts from the Looney Tunes catalogue, leaving many left to wonder where they could catch the “homeless” installments. Luckily, you can now catch the vast majority of Looney Tunes streaming once again and totally for free.

Looney Tunes has dropped close to eight hundred of its shorts on Tubi, the free streaming service that has been bolstering its roster in recent years. This doesn’t account for all of the episodes that feature the likes of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and their fellow anthropomorphic companions, but it does compile the majority of the beloved franchise. While the current collection is a little difficult to navigate thanks to Tubi placing all the shorts under one “season,” this is still great news for fans who have been looking to binge the series once again or for the first time. You can check out Looney Tunes on Tubi by clicking here.

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The State of Looney Tunes

Alongside the original catalogue, Tubi is also hosting more modern takes on the characters, including The Looney Tunes Show and The Sylvester And Tweety Mysteries, to name a few. This doesn’t mean that the entirety of the franchise has been removed from HBO Max, however, as the streaming service does still house the modern reboot that arrived in 2020 titled, “Looney Tunes Cartoons.” On top of these previous episodes, HBO Max also houses the recent film, “The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” which received wide acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

Luckily, next year will give Looney Tunes another major project in theaters as the long-awaited Coyote Vs. Acme movie is hitting the silver screen. Originally, this film, which mixes traditional 2-D animation with live-action actors, such as Will Forte and John Cena, was scrapped by Warner Bros Discovery. Following the film’s cancellation, the company Ketchup Entertainment snagged the release rights and plans on unveiling the movie on August 28th, 2026.

Earlier this year, John Cena shared his thoughts on the film finally getting a release date, saying, “Rewarding, certainly for everybody a part of the project. Anytime you put your heart and soul into something and it gets shelved, it is tough. Again, it ain’t my sandbox, so I completely understand those decisions, but the fact that companies could talk together and the movie could get shown. We do what we do to try to entertain, and I know the audiences that were able to see Coyote vs. Acme were entertained. So hopefully that audience grows larger… I just saw it for the first time very recently. It’s a bunch of fun, and man, I’m glad it’s out of the dusty box.”

The post Looney Tunes is Now Free to Watch (And Here’s How) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Many actors who appeared in The Walking Dead have gone on to become huge stars and reach new levels of fame. As AMC’s flagship series, The Walking Dead featured a huge ensemble cast, forming a group of survivors who band together during a zombie apocalypse to stay alive under near-constant threats from the undead “Walkers” and human antagonists alike. While some cast members from The Walking Dead are exploring new stories in the growing franchise, several others have become household names and have moved on to even bigger projects.

Some extremely talented actors have passed through The Walking Dead and its spinoffs, many of which were well-known before joining the post-apocalyptic series. The likes of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Michael Rooker, Melissa McBride, Norman Reedus, and more had already appeared in prominent projects before assuming major roles in The Walking Dead, but others used the eleven-season-long series as a springboard. These stars became very famous after appearing in The Walking Dead, and continue to develop their varied careers to this day.

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10) Andrew Lincoln

Okay, we’re starting with a bit of a cheat. Andrew Lincoln was pretty well-known prior to being cast in The Walking Dead, most notably as Mark, the videographer with the cue cards who loved Keira Knightley’s recently-married Juliet in Richard Curtis’ iconic 2003 Holiday rom-com, Love Actually. However, Lincoln became a household name after debuting as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead, the leader of the Atlanta/Alexandria survivors and the co-star of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. The series sky-rocketed him to new levels of fame and notoriety.

9) Kerry Condon

Before starring as Stacey in Better Call Saul, Siobhán in The Banshees of Inisherin, and FRIDAY in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Irish actor Kerry Condon had an important role in The Walking Dead. Condon appeared in four episodes of The Walking Dead season 4 as Clara, a survivor who tried to feed Rick to her undead husband. Clara introduced the central theme of season 4, questioning whether one can be redeemed . Condon has gone from strength to strength since her The Walking Dead appearance, and will next be seen in Anthony Maras’ Pressure alongside Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser.

8) Sonequa Martin-Green

Sonequa Martin-Green had starred in a number of independent movies prior to debuting in The Walking Dead season 3 as Sasha Williams, a role that she played for five years before Sasha sacrificed herself to become a weapon in the war against Negan (Morgan). Since then, Martin-Green has become even more well-known as Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery, and has had roles in New Girl, Once Upon a Time, Invincible, and Space Jam: A New Legacy, among others. Her career is continuing to develop in some exciting ways even eight years after she left The Walking Dead.

7) Corey Hawkins

Corey Hawkins’ The Walking Dead career was short-lived, but the series was the perfect platform for him. Hawkins portrayed Heath in The Walking Dead season 6 until he mysteriously disappeared. Hawkins only appeared in four episodes of The Walking Dead before moving on to some major movies, including Straight Outta Compton, Kong: Skull Island, BlacKkKlansman, In the Heights, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Color Purple, and more. Hawkins’ career is set to grow even further with upcoming roles in Nadia Latif’s The Man in My Basement, Bart Layton’s Crime 101, and, most excitingly, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in 2026.

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6) Lauren Ridloff

Following only two on-screen roles, deaf actor Lauren Ridloff was cast in The Walking Dead as Connie, a survivor introduced following season 9’s six-year time jump. She portrayed Connie for 30 episodes, exploring a tender relationship with Daryl (Reedus), and has since gone on to even bigger projects. This includes roles in New Amsterdam, Sound of Metal, and Accused, but Ridloff is surely now best known as the MCU’s first deaf superhero, the speedster Makkari from 2021’s Eternals. Ridloff’s MCU future might be uncertain, but there’s no doubt that this is just the beginning for the talented actor.

5) Cailey Fleming

Young actor Cailey Fleming first gained recognition as a young Rey (Daisy Ridley) in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but it was Judith Grimes, debuting in The Walking Dead season 9, that gave her even more notoriety. Fleming starred as Judith, Rick and Lori’s (Sarah Wayne Callies) daughter, in 32 episodes of The Walking Dead, and has since appeared in the MCU’s Loki series as a young Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), and, most recently, in IF alongside John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds. At only 18-years-old, Fleming has a huge career ahead of her thanks to The Walking Dead.

4) Colman Domingo

Okay, one more cheat. Colman Domingo didn’t appear in The Walking Dead, but he played the central character of Victor Strand in the series’ first spinoff, Fear the Walking Dead. Domingo regularly played bit-roles beforehand, but he has emphasized how Fear the Walking Dead saved his career. Since, Domingo has starred in many remarkable projects, including If Beale Street Could Talk, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Candyman, Euphoria, The Color Purple, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Rustin, Sing Sing, and more, and earned back-to-back Academy Award nominations for the latter two, cementing himself as one of the greatest actors of his generation.

3) Danai Gurira

Danai Gurira had an incredible stage career before debuting in The Walking Dead season 3 in 2012 as Michonne, a lone survivor who becomes a central character. Gurira portrayed Michonne until season 10, and then returned in The Ones Who Live alongside Andrew Lincoln. Since then, she has starred, most notably, as the Wakandan Dora Milaje warrior Okoye in the MCU, appearing in some of the highest-grossing movies in history. She is set to expand her career in Sam Hargrave’s Matchbox in 2026 and Michael B. Jordan’s The Thomas Crown Affair in 2027, so Gurira’s future is very bright.

2) Jon Bernthal

Jon Bernthal was central to the early days of The Walking Dead, as he starred as Shane Walsh, Rick Grimes’ partner in the King County Sheriff’s department who leads the Atlanta survivors until Rick returns. Shane became one of The Walking Dead’s original antagonists, earning Bernthal a huge amount of praise that has led to him accepting some incredible roles in the years since. Most prominently, Bernthal stars as the MCU’s Frank Castle, the Punisher, but he has also earned an Emmy Award for his brief role in The Bear, and has appeared in major movies including The Wolf of Wall Street, Sicario, Baby Driver, King Richard, and more, while he’s set to soon appear in The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

1) Steven Yeun

Few actors from The Walking Dead have reached the level of success that Steven Yeun has accomplished since his brutal departure in the premiere of season 7. Glenn Rhee was Yeun’s first major on-screen role, but, in the years since, he has taken on acclaimed roles in the likes of I Origins, Okja, Sorry to Bother You, Nope, Invincible, and Mickey 17, among others. However, it was Lee Sung Jin’s Beef that earned Yeun his first Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards, while Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari saw Yeun nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards, and his exciting career shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Who are your favorite actors who became famous after appearing in The Walking Dead? Let us know in the comments!

The post 10 Actors in The Walking Dead Before They Were Famous appeared first on ComicBook.com.

More than just a comedy, The Office included some surprisingly emotional moments throughout its nine-season run between 2005 and 2013. The American remake of The Office – developed by Greg Daniels – became one of the most successful and beloved sitcoms ever during its release, and has persisted as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. While celebrated as one of the funniest shows on TV, The Office also contained some incredibly heartfelt, emotional, and tender moments that became some of the series’ most memorable scenes.

Led by comedy legend Steve Carell, The Office’s cast proved perfect at delivering both the sitcom’s comedic and emotional moments. John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, and Carrel himself contributed to some of the series’ most poignant and heart-wrenching scenes, spanning the entire run of The Office. Now that a follow-up series, The Paper – starring Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore – is gearing up to stream on Peacock in September 2025, we hope the impact of these emotional moments from The Office are repeated and remembered.

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7) Michael and Darryl Sing in the Car (“Employee Transfer”)

During The Office season 5, episode 6, “Employee Transfer,” Michael (Carell) and Holly (Amy Ryan) relocate the latter to Nashua after she is transferred to her old branch. They’re driven by warehouse worker Darryl (Craig Robinson), but the pair realize that the distance will be too much to sustain their relationship, causing them to break-up on the journey. Michael and Darryl drive home without Holly, with the former being very upset, but Darryl tries to console him by singing the blues. This moment of connection and friendship between Michael and Darryl is one of the series’ most memorable moments.

6) Pam Cries to the Camera About Her Crushed Dreams (“Boys and Girls”)

The Office season 2 marked the start of the series’ deviation from the original British show’s storyline, and one new story was shown in episode 15, “Boys and Girls.” Jan (Melora Hardin) leads a “Women in the Workplace” seminar at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, where Pam (Fischer) expresses her desire to be a graphic designer. Jan suggests she should follow her dream, and Jim agrees, but Pam’s then-fiancé, Roy (David Denman), quashes the idea. This prompts a very emotional response from Pam, who cries during one of her talking heads, crushed under the weight of her unsupportive fiancé and dashed ambitions.

5) Jim Consoles Dwight in the Stairwell (“Money”)

The Office season 4 two-parter, “Money,” not only saw Michael declare bankruptcy after Jan’s firing from Dunder Mifflin, but also saw Jim and Pam stay at Dwight Schrute’s (Wilson) bed-and-breakfast, Schrute Farms. This was in the wake of Dwight and Angela’s (Kinsey) break-up, with the former still in intense grief. Usually depicted as enemies, “Money” saw Jim console Dwight after finding him sobbing in the Dunder Mifflin stairwell, expressing how painful his former crush on Pam was, and how powerful love can be. This was a beautiful shared moment between the two adversaries, teasing their evolution into firm friends.

4) Michael Questions David Wallace on the Phone (“Business Trip”)

Following Holly’s emotional transfer in The Office season 5, Dunder Mifflin CEO David Wallace (Andy Buckley) sends Michael on a restorative international business trip to Canada. However, despite making a sale, this trip only reminds Michael of how much he misses Holly, therefore prompting him to berate Wallace over the phone. We see Michael’s true emotional state at this moment, and it’s fantastic to finally see him standing up for himself. This scene also just reminds us of how heartbreaking Holly’s transfer was two episodes prior, making it even harder to watch.

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3) Oscar Offers Angela a Place to Stay After Her Divorce (“Livin’ the Dream”)

The Office came to an end after its ninth season, and the last few episodes contributed to some of most heartbreaking episodes. Season 9, episode 21, “Livin’ the Dream,” saw Dwight finally promoted to Regional Manager after Andy (Ed Helms) quit, but Dwight’s rise coincided with Angela’s descent. She lost her husband, her home, and her cats, prompting Oscar (Oscar Nunez) to offer her a place to stay. Angela and Oscar often came to odds in The Office, so this was a beautiful moment of redemption and care from the latter, and a rare moment of vulnerability from the former.

2) Pam Watches Jim’s Video and Reads the Note (“A.A.R.M.”)

After “Livin’ the Dream,” the double-episode, “A.A.R.M.” sets up the series finale perfectly, most emotionally by resolving the marital problems in Jim and Pam’s relationship. After Jim refused to return to work at Athlead, Pam worries she isn’t enough for her husband, but this prompts Jim to enlist the documentary crew’s help to edit a video of their entire relationship, and Jim finally shows Pam the teapot note from Secret Santa in The Office season 2 – the contents of which are still private. This video makes both Pam and the viewer very emotional, looking back at The Office’s entire run.

1) Jim Says Goodbye to Michael (“Goodbye, Michael”)

Season 7’s “Goodbye, Michael” marked Steve Carrel’s departure from The Office, which is easily remembered as the entire series’ most emotional episode. Michael relocated to Buffalo to be with Holly, leaving Scranton a day before he said he would to forego emotional goodbyes. Jim works out this scheme, however, and promises to meet Michael for lunch “tomorrow” where he hopes to tell Michael “what a great boss [he] turned out to be.” With both Krasinski and Carrel tearing up, this moment is easily the most heartbreaking scenes in The Office’s history, but one scene might still have it beat.

Honorable Mention: Kevin Spills His Famous Chili (“Casual Friday”)

The Office became renowned for starting most of its episodes with hilarious, standalone cold opens, and the opening of season 5, episode 26, “Casual Friday,” is perhaps the most memorable. In the scene, Kevin Malone (Brian Baumgartner) arrives at the office early, bringing in his famous chili. As he narrates how proud he is of his family’s famous chili, he spills the entire pot on the carpet, and makes futile attempts to shovel it back into the pot. This is a truly heartbreaking moment of defeat from Kevin, who was routinely the butt of the joke in The Office.

What moments in The Office do you find the most emotional? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Most Surprisingly Emotional Moments in The Office appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Alien: Earth takes the Alien franchise into a new frontier in TV episodic format. In case you didn’t notice, though, the new show opens on a surprising tribute to the original Alien. Taking place in the year 2120, Alien: Earth sees the crew of a Weyland-Yutani cargo ship, the USCSS Maginot, which gets decimated by a bloodthirsty xenomorph, causing the ship to crash-land on Earth, unleashing the xenomorph upon the local populace. While there have been numerous previous attempts to bring the xenomorphs to Earth – from some of the original concepts for Alien 3 to the Earth-based story of 2007’s Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem – Alien: Earth accomplishes that mission while building out the Alien mythos in some very unexpected ways.

With the first two episodes of the first two episodes of Alien: Earth also make some loving nods to the iconography of the first two Alien movies. One in particular unfolds right from the very opening moments of Alien: Earth, with the series beginning its story in a very familiar fashion to the original Alien.

Alien: Earth’s Opening Pays Tribute to the Opening of Alien (1979)

Alien: Earth‘s first episode opens with the crew of the USCSS Maginot awakening from an extended sleep in cryostasis, with the groggy crew exiting their cryochambers and eating breakfast. This scene is a near-perfect parallel to the opening of Ridley Scott’s Alien, in which the crew of the Nostromo similarly awakens from hypersleep as they near their return to Earth.

Moreover, the tribute to Alien is even more unmistakable from the musical cues, and by the way in which the show’s title is introduced. Like Alien‘s slow title reveal, Alien: Earth‘s title comes in the form of each letter gradually phasing into view until the title is completely spelled out. Adding the fact that Alien: Earth‘s 2120 timeframe takes place just two years before the 2122 setting of Alien, it is quite clear that the intent from the beginning was to build a connection to Scott’s film from the very first minutes of the series.

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Alien: Earth Recreates the Atmospheric Sci-Fi Feel of Alien (& Aliens)

What really stands out about the introductory episodes of Alien: Earth is the subtle seasoning of nostalgia, borrowed from both Alien and Aliens. In its first episode, Alien: Earth adopts the slow-burn horror movie style of Alien to remarkable effect, culminating in a rogue xenomorph slaughtering the crew of the Weyland-Yutani freighter, causing it to crash on Earth. Interestingly, Alien: Earth shifts gears in its second episode in a manner markedly similar to the tone shift of Alien to Aliens.

The second episode of Alien: Earth plays more like the action-horror hybrid of Aliens, with the xenomorph unleashed in a sprawling apartment complex and an elite team of soldiers trying to contain it. Neither of Alien: Earth’s first two episodes oversteps the line of nostalgic tribute into distracting territory, either, simply hewing to a similar rough template of Alien and Aliens while lovingly but subtly paying homage to both, like tipping its hat to the opening of Alien. In doing so, Alien: Earth also continues another trend the Alien franchise has seen of late.

Alien: Earth Is Continuing the Alien Franchise’s New Winning Streak

For every timeless classic the Alien franchise has produced like the original Alien and Aliens, it has also had its share of divisive entries like Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection, and the Alien vs. Predator movies, with the franchise never quite managing to hit with the same impact as its first two installments. That is, until the release of Fede Álvarez’s acclaimed Alien: Romulus in 2024, which not only acts as a kind of narrative intersection for the Alien franchise (including some of the teases established in Ridley Scott’s Promotheus and Alien: Covenant), but one which emerged as one of the most widely beloved Alien movies since the original two.

With the strong early response to Alien: Earth, the Alien franchise is snowballing into quite a resurgence, not unlike that of the equally re-energized Predator franchise. Ultimately, Alien: Earth marks a new beginning of sorts for the Alien franchise as its first episodic entry, so it is fitting that the first moments of the show’s first episode should harken back to where it all began with the show’s Easter egg reference to Ridley Scott’s Alien.

The first two episodes of Alien: Earth are available to stream on Hulu, with new episodes releasing on Tuesdays.

The post Alien: Earth’s Opening Is A Perfect Easter Egg Callback to Ridley Scott’s Original Film appeared first on ComicBook.com.

WWE got SmackDown started by bringing in some new blood, but that wasn’t the only fresh addition to the blue brand before all was said and done. Tonight’s SmackDown pushed several stories forward regarding its various Championships, but it also introduced welcome new match-ups between some of its current SmackDown superstars, and some of these feuds have incredible potential moving forward. We’re getting into all of the biggest moments from tonight’s WWE SmackDown and revealing if they were big hits or unfortunate misses, so let’s get started with the first hit of the night.

HIT: Calling the Blue Brand Home

The first big hit of the night was in the very first segment of the show, and that was thanks to Sami Zayn. During Zayn’s segment with the MFTs, it was revealed that Zayn was now officially a part of the SmackDown roster, and he was going after Solo Sikoa and his United States Championship.

That would result in a reunion with Jimmy Uso and a new pseudo alliance with Jacob Fatu, who are both enemies of Sikoa’s faction. This allows fans to see more of what they loved about Zayn and Uso from their Bloodline days, but also adds a new wrinkle in the involvement of Fatu, who instantly brings an unreal intensity to every match and segment he’s in. It feels fresh and familiar all at the same time, and it’s a win for everyone involved.

HIT: Much-Needed Payback

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship picture also got a welcome boost, though this wasn’t due to any new additions to the roster. Instead, it was simply due to allowing Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice to actually look like a threat for once, even if Alexa Bliss still claimed the win against Piper Niven in their solo contest.

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After Bliss got the win, Niven, Alba Fyre, and Chelsea Green all worked together to demolish Bliss and Charlotte Flair, with Green appearing especially devastating by throwing Flair into the ring post and then over the barricade. Niven then took out Bliss back in the ring, and after weeks of feeling inconsequential as threats, Green, Niven, and Fyre finally have some actual momentum on their side. Whether or not WWE continues that remains to be seen, but for now, I’ll simply enjoy this move in the right direction Even in a loss, Bliss and Flair are still as over and on fire as ever, and fans are definitely behind the continuation of their Tag Team success, so it was a real win all around.

HIT: The WWE Women’s Championship Picture

Between two different segments during tonight’s SmackDown, the WWE Women’s Championship picture has become far more intriguing. The first segment featured WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton being confronted by Jade Cargill, who wants another shot at Stratton and her Championship, and Stratton initially balks at that. Then Nia Jax joins the conversation and wants her next shot at the Title, and after some arguing, a Triple Threat between the three at some point seems inevitable, though it’s not been made official.

That was interesting enough, but then later in the show, we see Kiana James talk to Stratton, though it isn’t about challenging. Instead, James says that she and Giulia can act as protection for the Champion, as the Champ always has a target on their back, and who better to have in her corner than them. Stratton turns her down, but that paves the way for a threat from James, who said that, despite having a Title already, Giulia could still challenge for Stratton’s as well. Having Giula waiting in the wings and perhaps affecting the result of a match against Cargill and Jax would certainly be a way to kick off a new feud and unseat Stratton as Champion while keeping her looking strong, but we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out.

HIT: The Real Miz Is Back

The Miz made his return to SmackDown last week and picked up his alliance with Carmelo Hayes, but fans started to see teases of a possible turn on Hayes right away. With tonight’s episode, it’s clear as day that a heel turn for Miz is coming, and if this story is done right, this could be a true shining moment for both Miz and Hayes by the end of it.

Miz is taking every opportunity to make himself shine at the detriment of his partner, and that presented itself tonight when Miz let Hayes do most of the work in their match against Fraxiom and then tagged himself in when Hayes had it won and stole the pin. Hayes is clearly getting frustrated with Miz constantly screwing him, and this was pointed out in a stellar confrontation with the Motor City Machine Guns.

Now the Motor City Machine Guns with clash with Melo Don’t Miz next week, allowing MCMG to get a fresh match-up as the storyline between Miz and Melo continues to build. If WWE plays this right, this could be a way to let Miz do what he does best while also building one of its brightest stars into a beloved babyface that the crowd can really get behind. Hayes is simply too good to be in limbo on the SmackDown roster, and this could be the key to finally changing that.

MISS: Running In Place

DIY and The Street Profits are two of the best Tag Teams in WWE, so even without any major stakes attached, they will always deliver in the ring. That said, this is a match we’ve seen before relatively recently, and we’ve also seen both teams in the mix with the rest of the immensely talented Tag Division as recently as SummerSlam.

That means if you’re going to have them face each other again, there needs to be a new wrinkle to the battle to make it different, and this match had zero of that. It’s going to be fun to see them tussle again, and having Candice LeRae involved is always a plus, but there’s something missing from this feud to really make it stand out from what they’ve already accomplished in the recent past.

HIT: A Feud No One Saw Coming (But It Should Rule)

The name of the game tonight was fresh match-ups, and that couldn’t be more applicable to the out-of-nowhere confrontation that happened later in the show. That confrontation took place backstage when R-Truth was asked about Cena’s return to form, but his celebration was cut short by Aleister Black, who called out Truth for not showing up for Damian Priest last week.

That drew out the more intense side of Truth, which was exactly what Black wanted. Black said, “There he is, Mr. Killings”, and that resulted in a match set for next week’s SmackDown. After Black left, Truth switched his hat around and said, “You must have forgot.” If we get this more intense Truth versus an already intense Aleister Black, this feud could absolutely rule.

Those are our hits and misses this week, but what were your favorite (and not so favorite) moments of SmackDown? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things wrestling with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Tonight’s WWE SmackDown: 5 Hits & 1 Miss (August 15) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

WWE SmackDown was in full build mode for Clash in Paris, as several stories either gained steam or added new pieces to shake up the eventual match. That was true of feuds like Tiffany Stratton vs Jade Cargill or Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair’s ongoing rivalry with Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice. That said, neither of those had the biggest shakeup, as WWE made an unexpected change and moved one key Superstar from Raw to SmackDown full-time, and it couldn’t have been at a more perfect time.

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown began with Solo Sikoa and his MFTs jumping in the ring, but soon they were interrupted by Sami Zayn. Zayn got a major reaction from the SmackDown crowd, but he would get an even bigger one when he revealed that he wasn’t just confronting Sikoa in the moment.

Zayn took great pleasure in revealing to Sikoa that not only was he now an official SmackDown superstar, but he was going right after Sikoa’s WWE United States Championship. That drew Sikoa’s ire, and the MFTs came in to attack Zayn accordingly, but Zayn got some help from his former Bloodline teammate Jimmy Uso.

Jimmy ran out and helped Zayn in the ring, but the numbers advantage was still in Sikoa’s favor. That’s when Jacob Fatu hit the ring and ran right past Tala Tonga to collide with Sikoa in the ring. While it took all three superstars, they did finally get Tonga out of the ring and knocked him down to the floor, and Nick Aldis then revealed that he had set up a six-man Tag Team match for the main event of SmackDown that would feature Zayn, Uso, and Fatu against three MFT members.

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Why It’s the Perfect Time for a Move

This is a welcome move for Zayn, as he just wrapped up a storyline that never reached its potential due to the departure of Karrion Kross. Zayn won their last match against each other at SummerSlam, which pretty much closed that book on that story even before it was known that Kross wasn’t returning to WWE.

Even before that story, Zayn had already been featured in storylines or feuds with Seth Rollins, Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, CM Punk, and Jey Uso. After his story with Kross, it was unclear what he would do next, but there weren’t that many fresh options on Raw to jump to next.

Now that he’s on SmackDown, that changes up considerably. Not only does this story allow him to fit right into an established history with Jimmy Uso, but it also allows him to bring new energy to that history and story with the presence of Jacob Fatu, whom Zayn hasn’t really interacted with when they’ve both been on the same side. While we are still Bloodline adjacent, this still represents something fresh that Zayn can work with and make even better, especially with the United States Title in his crosshairs.

This also means Zayn has a new locker room to work with in regards to potential opponents. Aleister Black, Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, Randy Orton, R-Truth, Rey Fenix, and Andrade all present intriguing potential feuds for Zayn after this current story is done, and if more call-ups happen over the next few months from NXT, that pool expands even further. It’s a great move for Zayn and will hopefully help his current run find some new (and much-needed) direction.

Who would you like to see Zayn match up with on SmackDown? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things wrestling with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post WWE Raw Superstar Suddenly Moves to SmackDown (And It’s Exactly What They Needed) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

On the cusp of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars arriving in theaters, it’s fun to look back at the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what has led to this moment. While the entire slate that started way back with Iron Man in 2008 has been lauded over the years, there are plenty of threads and characters that have popped up only to disappear. A few of these have been understandable, since they are the major villains of their respective films and TV shows. Others have only gotten one appearance to this point, but could appear again in the future, with some guaranteed to come back at this point.

For the sake of this list, we’re not going to include any of the out-of-universe shenanigans like Marvel’s What If? on Disney+, even if there are parts that could be considered a piece of that MCU tapestry. That could always change, but keep in mind that we’re talking comics, and it is supposed to be fun.

But we’ve seen quite a lot of one-and-done characters to this point, and they’ve helped to establish the power rankings within the MCU. Some have pushed the limits higher, like the Celestials in The Eternals or Howard the Duck in his small scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy. We’ve seen the literal bedrock of the Marvel Universe down to a low-level humanoid alcoholic duck. We won’t be ducking on the low end with this list, but we will start at the bottom and work up to the strongest to date. Scroll down to see the power unfold, ranked, and be sure to disagree in the comments.

10) Man-Thing

Ted Sallis, better known as Man-Thing, was introduced with Disney+’s Werewolf by Night special and even landed on Sakaar at some point, at least according to his bust’s presence among the Champions at the Grandmaster’s arena. He’s a recurring prisoner throughout the MCU, being locked up three times if we count Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Hydra uprising.

It lands at the base of this list because it seems that the MCU’s Man-Thing is almost indestructible. His body’s composition makes him able to slip through any hole, survive most physical attacks, and gives him superhuman strength and stamina. He also lands here due to his ability to detect emotions and his trans-reality powers that allow him to open portals. His sensitivity to emotions can cause him to secrete acid if he detects negative thoughts or emotions, making him a deadly force against evil.

9) Namor

One of the MCU’s first mutants, Namor, was first introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as a villain declaring war on Wakanda to protect his kingdom, Talokan. He demonstrates several powers on screen during his war on the African nation, and they place him firmly in the listing.

Namor can fly, breathe above and below the water, and has super everything. He can also use underwater telepathy, can speak several languages, and has had centuries to master physical combat. He’s strong enough to be a powerful hero or an Avengers-level villain for these reasons.

8) Xu Wenwu

The power of the Ten Rings fuels this mythical villain from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, allowing him superhuman powers and much more as long as he’s wearing them. As a result, Xu Wenwu has existed since at least the Middle Ages and grew to become a mythical figure who conquered most of Asia under the banner of the Ten Rings. The power of his rings is seemingly derived from some of the same powers within the multiverse, to the point that they rival the Infinity Stones in sheer power. Once in Shang-Chi’s possession, we also see that they can defeat the Dweller-in-Darkness with one hit.

Xu Wenwu adds to his power with his physical mastery, knowledge, and experience beyond what most can achieve in one lifetime. As a human who ascends, he earns this spot on the list. With the Ten Rings, Xu Wenwu is possibly the strongest human in the MCU.

7) Cassandra Nova

If Xu Wenwu is the strongest human, a competitor for the strongest mutant is Cassandra Nova. She’s the main villain in Deadpool & Wolverine and is an Omega-level mutant with powers similar to Charles Xavier, her twin brother. With no sense of duty to be benevolent, she has all of his powers with no incentive to hold back. She can regenerate herself with her telekinesis powers and can enter someone’s mind after initiating physical touch with them. She also has Paradox on her side, giving her access to the Time Variance Authority and more power within the Void.

On top of her powerful mutant powers, she has also acquired her gang and several tools from variants she has slaughtered in The Void. This includes a sling ring belonging to Doctor Strange that ended up in the void. This allows her to travel through different realities and take control of the Time Ripper after it is introduced in the climax.

6) Hela

The third and oldest of Odin’s siblings, and the ruler of Hel in Asgardian lore, Hela made quite the impact with her MCU debut. Crushing Mjolnir in her hands, handily beating up Thor after he returns to Asgard. This comes after she’s summoned countless dead warriors, slaughtered the Warriors Three, and unleashed the giant wolf Fenris on Asgard.

Hela was also the first to wield Mjolnir in the MCU, which she lost after being banished. Even Odin was only able to banish her after binding her with his lifeforce. Once he died in Thor: Ragnarok, her imprisonment was undone, and she returned to claim the throne. With Odin dead, there was only one force she couldn’t defeat.

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5) Surtur

The mythic lord of Muspelheim was introduced at the opening of Ragnarok, taking Thor prisoner and outlining his powers if the Crown of Black Fire was combined with the Eternal Flame. The fire was left inside Odin’s vault and remained there until Thor and Loki decided to unleash the fire demon and fulfill his role in the Ragnarok myth.

Using the Twilight Sword, Surtur can lay waste to Asgard and destroy the realm, taking Hela’s life in the process. The Hulk almost screws up the plan for Thor by attacking the large fire demon. The last time we see him, he has thrust the sword into the heart of the city as it explodes.

4) The Grandmaster

The ruler of Sakaar in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is seemingly still one of the strongest Elders of the Universe if we get more information in the future. But as it is, the Sakaar ruler is the host of the Contest of the Champions until he is eventually overthrown by his subjects after the events of Thor: Ragnarok. He is also the brother of the Collector, a fellow Elder of the Universe in the comics.

We have to assume he has some powers similar to his comic book counterpart, so that would be enough to land him on the list. He’s nowhere near the power of Galactus, but does have similar immunity to aging and other diseases. He can also apparently “will” the death of another being, while also showing the power to resurrect others despite the severity of their injuries. There isn’t a guarantee this transfers over to the MCU, but we’re considering him part of the cosmic pantheon.

3) Galactus

One of the latest additions comes from The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the introduction of Galactus. Similar to his version from comics, he is fueled by the Power Cosmic and the galactic scales that help to direct his hunger. Galactus must feed on planets for sustenance and acts as a balancing force for the universe.

Galactus can bestow his powers onto any number of heralds, can survive in space without oxygen, and has other tools. He also has incredible strength and is so far the only character to almost hit a character out of the atmosphere and into space.

2) Mistress Death

Introduced in Agatha All Along and played by Aubrey Plaza, this version of Mistress Death is somewhat different from the force of nature from Marvel Comics. Still, this is Death. She is a cosmic entity that holds firm over life and death in the universe. She can kill, resurrect, and tap into the infinite knowledge of the universe. While she’s not involved in the major cosmic happenings and universe-hopping, controlling life and death makes her one of the most powerful.

It should also be noted that the version of Death that portrays Rio Vadal in Agatha All Along is actually a step down in her powers. She only takes on a human form to deal with lesser beings, leading to her desire to kill Billy Maximoff and undo his second life. So she can get so much more powerful.

1) Arishem the Judge

And finally, the strongest of the MCU’s one-time characters is Arishem the Judge. He is the prime Celestial, creator of the Sun, the Deviants, the Eternals, and the one who plants all of the Celestial seeds in their respective planets. Outside of the embodiment of Eternity in Love and Thunder, this is the closest the MCU gets to literal gods. He is also the closest we’ve gotten to the One Above All in the MCU.

Thanos with the full Infinity Gauntlet is likely the strongest being we’ve witnessed during the Infinity Saga, but he’s also not one-and-done. He’s also augmenting his power, whereas the Celestials are just naturally at their power levels and born that way. An anomaly versus a force of nature.

Do you agree with the ranking? Are there any strong one-timers in the MCU that deserved a spot over our choices? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll keep it in mind for the future.

The post 10 Most Powerful Marvel Characters With Only One MCU Appearance, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Being a superhero isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of sacrifice to put on a mask and take to the streets every night to protect the innocent. Even the Arrowverse, which prides itself on embracing the campy side of the source material, puts its heroes through the wringer. Barry Allen, aka The Flash, gets it worse than most, losing his mother at a young age and watching his father die after finally reuniting with him after years apart. Central City’s resident hero also has to watch his daughter from the future cease to exist, powerless to save her because she threatens the stability of the timeline.

While Barry has a rough go of it, he’s not the only Arrowverse hero to lose people over and over again. The hero who started it all, Oliver Queen, can’t catch a break during his run on The CW’s Arrow. Eventually, the franchise throws him a bone by allowing him to make up for his major mistakes, but even then, there’s one moment that he can’t set right despite having all of the power in the world.

The Queen Family Never Finds Its Footing in Arrow

Oliver Queen is a typical rich kid early in his life, opting to party instead of making something of himself. His parents, Moira and Robert, don’t set the best example, making shady business deals to keep their empire flourishing. Where the money comes from doesn’t make a difference to Oliver, though, so when his father offers a trip on the family boat, he takes it. Of course, tragedy strikes when the Queen’s Gambit goes down, with Robert sacrificing himself so his son can live. Oliver doesn’t waste the opportunity, training for five years before returning to Starling City to become a vigilante. Unfortunately, being a hero doesn’t stop darkness from coming Oliver’s way.

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Oliver loses his best friend Tommy shortly after coming home, and when Slade Wilson comes to town to get revenge, he doesn’t pull any punches, killing Moira in front of her children to prove a point. The losses mount in subsequent seasons when Laurel Lance dies in Arrow Season 4 at the hands of Damien Darhk, and her father, Quentin, can’t survive a run-in with Ricardo Diaz in Season 6. It’s hard to imagine Oliver being able to withstand much else, but he doesn’t get a choice when his half-sister, Emiko, shows up. While she’s out to take down Oliver, he understands where she’s coming from. Sadly, she dies as well, making sure the siblings never have a chance to connect. Oliver doesn’t forget about any of his departed loved ones, though, and he gives nearly all of them a second chance.

Oliver Queen Becoming the Spectre Changes the Arrowverse for the Better

During the “Elseworlds” crossover, Oliver makes a deal with the Monitor to save the lives of The Flash and Supergirl. The upcoming “Crisis on Infinite Earths” will kill him, but he’s ready to make that sacrifice. When the time comes, it’s a shock to everyone but Oliver, who is content to pass the baton. However, the multiverse has other plans for him, sending Jim Corrigan to offer him the chance to become the Spectre, an omnipotent being who has the ability to go toe-to-toe with the Anti-Monitor. Oliver confronts the villain at the end of “Crisis” and creates a new multiverse to replace the one that was destroyed.

When the other heroes arrive on the newly dubbed Earth Prime, many things are different, such as Supergirl and National City being on the planet. Oliver also helps the people in his life by bringing Tommy, Quentin, Moira, and Emiko back to life. They all gather at Oliver’s funeral to remember their hero, but there’s one person missing: Robert. It turns out that the Queen family patriarch’s death is a fixed point in time that Oliver is unable to change, which can’t be an easy pill to swallow. While Robert wasn’t the best father, he was the one responsible for Oliver turning his life around, and he’ll never get to learn what kind of man his son turned out to be.

Arrow is streaming on Netflix.

Were you happy to see all the dead Arrow characters return? How do you feel about Robert Queen not being able to return? Let us know in the comments below!

The post One Arrowverse Hero Got to Reset All of Their Mistakes (With One Major Exception) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Star Trek built its franchise on the back of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), the intrepid explorer who led his crew into the far regions of space, always carrying with him the mission directive and values of Starfleet – even when those directives and values were put to serious test. The new era of Star Trek television has taken things back to those formative years in Starfleet before Kirk and Spock led the USS Enterprise out on its mission to explore new regions of space and any new lifeforms encountered along the way. Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 delved into Spock’s backstory, as well as the Enterprise’s time under the command of Kirk’s predecessor, Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Now Pike’s spinoff series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, is coming full circle, by finally revealing the story of Kirk’s first time sitting in the captain’s chair of a Starfleet vessel – and the terrible lesson he was forced to learn about leadership, which would change him forever.

Captain James T. Kirk of USS Farragut

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episode 6, “The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail”, both the USS Enterprise and USS Farragut become the targets of an ambush by an enormous scavenger vessel that is feared across the galaxy. The Enterprise is captured for power-siphoning and parts-stripping, while the Farragut’s captain, V’Rel (Zoe Doyle), is severely injured in the attack, leaving First Officer Kirk as acting captain. Spock (Ethan Peck), Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), and Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush) all beam onto the Farragut before the Enterprise is captured, leaving them stranded with an overwhelmed Kirk, who must figure out how to rescue the other ship and take out the scavengers before they counter-attack.

The crux of the episode tracks Kirk as he goes from a cringeworthy start at commanding a ship to slowly but surely gaining the advice, support, and respect of the officers we know will one day become his crew and surrogate family. That includes a warming scene of Kirk confiding in Spock for the first time about his doubts as a captain, and Spock being the level-headed and stoic foil Kirk needs for balance. However, the episode throws in a dark twist to break up all the warm nostalgia, as Kirk learns the true price of command and the kind of calls a captain must make.

Kirk’s First Time As Captain Ends In Horror

Eventually, Kirk and the officers left on the Farragut devise a plan to use the scavenger’s ship’s own weapons against it, causing the massive vessel to blow a fuse. The Enterprise is able to escape, while the Farragut goes on the offensive, annihilating the scavengers’ vessel. Kirk is riding high on his first successful mission as a captain – that is, until scans of the wreckage reveal a startling truth: the scavengers, beings who appeared in clunky steampunk-style armored spacesuits, are in fact humans.

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Research turns up the startling truth: the scavengers are descendants of a 21st-century space mission that the nations of Earth united for, to help heal the scars of devastation from WWWIII. The mission was meant to underscore a new era of hope, peace, and discovery for humankind; instead, the vessel vanished into space, and the crew was presumed dead. It becomes a haunting mystery for the crew to ponder how an advanced group of humanity’s best scientists ended up being roving savages; it becomes even more haunting for Kirk to know he gave the command that wiped out an entire community of human beings, people whom they’ll never get answers from.

The episode ends by showing the formative mentor-mentee bond taking shape between Kirk and Pike. The latter man informs Kirk that his trauma must become the bedrock of his outlook as a captain: empathy. Always remembering that your supposed enemy may not be that different from you than you think.

As any Star Trek TOS fan knows, that’s advice Kirk would take to heart for the rest of his days as a captain.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is streaming on Paramount+.

The post Star Trek Reveals Kirk’s First Mission As A Captain (And the Chilling Lesson That Changed Him Forever) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

If you were a DCU conspiracy theorist, you might have something to say about the subtext of a new story in the expanding shared universe that presents its envious hero with a shiny new alternate reality where everything is a dream come true. And while that’s not for me to say, one of the most notable things about Peacemaker Season 2 is that it has so much depth given what it appears to be on the surface. Because, like Season 1, John Cena’s Peacemaker is very, very different to Superman. Now that I’ve sat on the first five episodes, I’m also convinced it’s better.

This is not a cheap shot at Superman, by any means, because I liked the first DCU movie a lot. It was almost everything I wanted, but the accusations of it being a little… busy, let’s say, did ring true. And watching Peacemaker Season 2, you get to see what might have been if Gunn had the same amount of time to flesh out his Superman story. And make no mistake, this is very much a James Gunn joint, even though he’s only marked director on three of the eight episodes. It’s just not exactly the same one who made Superman.

Peacemaker Is Definitely the Grown-Up Side of the DCU

Peacemaker Season 1 generated a lot of conversation thanks to the creative team — and Gunn at its head, of course — embracing far more outrageous subject matter than the Snyderverse had dared to; than any DC property had dared to, actually. Or Marvel for that matter. Pot shots were taken at DC superhero royalty (including scatalogical accusations), there was near-nudity, drugs, swearing, and the unthinkable claim that Wookiees have teeth in their buttholes, and yet it still managed to have heart and depth. Peacemaker Season 2 pushes all of the naughty stuff, right from the start of Episode 1, and uses the multiverse to tell a disarmingly deep story.

That shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, though, because while Gunn handled the god-like majesty of Superman, he’s proved repeatedly that he has a way with broken, seemingly irredeemable characters. If you thought making you care about Rocket Raccoon was impressive, it’s nothing compared to how compelling Gunn makes Cena’s redemption tour as Peacemaker. Episode 1 features a sequence that belongs on The Boys as a backdrop to Chris’s existential crisis, and the juxtaposition of full-frontal nudity and heartfelt message storytelling works perversely well. It also features another exquisite C-bomb (and as a Brit, I can confirm Harcourt is right about the meaning).

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Some of the more NSFW elements will no doubt lead to accusations that Gunn is being provocative for the sake of it, but it’s mostly well-balanced, thanks to the substance. The story is more compelling than some of the jokes suggest. Alongside Cena, Jennifer Holland happily gets more story as Emilia Harcourt, Freddie Stroma is reassuringly great as dangerous dipsh-t sidekick Vigilante, and Steve Agee is again good as John Economos. The only slight casualty of the story this time is Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo, whose story is just a little less interesting than I wanted it to be.

Cena’s performance, meanwhile, is once again genuinely charming and just goofball enough without him becoming a victim of the jokes. When you look back at his WWE career — and indeed, the wider circus-like context of “sports entertainment” as a whole — you get all of the background to this layered performance. As Peacemaker, he manages to be both clown and charismatic hero; provocative and empathetic, and I genuinely can’t wait to see him return. It all makes a lot more sense when you go back and watch him rapping before crowds of thousands of adoring fans who made him the hottest ticket in WWE for a long time.

Peacemaker’s Return Makes It 3 out of 3 for James Gunn’s First DCU Releases

But of course, this isn’t just a continuation of a popular show: Peacemaker Season 2 was also tasked with integrating Gunn’s precious pre-DCU treasures into the new timeline (according to whichever rules he wanted to bend). That means quite a few Superman characters return, notably including a more prominent role for Frank Grillo as the vengeful Rick Flag Sr. He’s good, but you will struggle to see how he’s the same character as the one previously seen in Creature Commandos.

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The other new cast members include David Denman in a role I’m not allowed to reveal, Tim Meadows (who has lots of fun as an oddball ARGUS agent), and Michael Rooker as Eagly’s nemesis, Red St. Wild. They all integrate seamlessly, which is important, because Gunn has been very insistent that this whole canon-defying gambit was going to work. And when the explanation for how Peacemaker is still DCU canon despite everything, it’s incidental, while also feeling like Gunn is winking at you over the back of the TV. If it means I get more Peacemaker, I honestly couldn’t have cared if it was 70% less well-handled, but I didn’t have to worry about that.

Peacemaker Season 2 has the same flood of heart as Superman, is another excellent exercise in world-building, and by virtue of feeling more like a pure expression of Gunn as a creator, I’d confidently say it’s the better of the two. It almost goes without saying that the music is also typically brilliant. So, all in all, that makes it the third success in a row for the DCU for me, so I think we can all agree that the franchise is in the right hands.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Peacemaker Season 2 debuts on HBO Max on August 21st.

The post Peacemaker Season 2 Might Genuinely Be Better Than Superman (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fantasy is a favorite genre for many, but dark fantasy is hitting new heights of popularity on TV these days. Several shows in this realm manage to blend the supernatural and magical with a heavy atmosphere, full of unexpected twists, well-developed and morally gray characters, and dangerous worlds where threats are constant and choices carry real (often cruel) consequences.

If you still think fantasy is just about swords and perfect heroes, it’s time to rethink: here, there aren’t exactly heroes and villains, and what really matters is who comes out on top. But what are the best ones ever made? Here are 10 of the best dark fantasy TV shows ranked. This list is simply your starting point to understand what makes the genre so fascinating nowadays.

10) Shadow & Bone

Shadow & Bone has a universe that, in theory, is quite interesting: Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) is an orphan who discovers she has a rare ability that could save her country, divided by a dark threat called the Shadow Fold. The problem is that, in practice, the series loses its way in character development and a story that doesn’t quite maintain a strong pace. The impression is that the show relies too much on aesthetics and too little on real development, leaving that “okay, so what?” feeling.

It’s not a bad show – quite the opposite. Shadow & Bone entertains, especially considering it’s a book adaptation (which also influenced the launch of the series Six of Crows). However, compared to other dark fantasies, it doesn’t leave as strong a mark. Its audience is pretty niche but also quite loyal. If you expect complexity, emotional layers, and a story that truly challenges you, you might find the show shallow and a bit formulaic. It’s a matter of taste.

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9) The Witcher

When The Witcher first hit streaming, it came in with the intention to make a big impact – and it definitely did. Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) is a character who carries the show on his shoulders, set in a world full of monsters, politics, and magic that’s incredibly compelling. The series follows this lone monster hunter as he navigates a continent riddled with intrigue and dangerous creatures. It’s an excellent dark fantasy, but it only ranks here because of two things: the non-linear structure can sometimes be confusing (though that’s not an issue for everyone), and while the action scenes are top-notch, the writing stumbles at times.

Still, there’s no denying that The Witcher built a huge fanbase and brought a darker, more mature tone to the fantasy genre (something that was missing before). In short, the show shines in key moments but struggles with inconsistencies along the way that could definitely be improved.

8) Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

This is a show that really makes an impact when we talk about dark fantasy. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina knows exactly what it wants: gothic horror with a teenage vibe, plenty of witchcraft, and modern themes. The story follows Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka), a young half-witch, half-mortal who has to juggle her normal life, the challenges of the occult, and the pressures of a traditional witch family. The gothic visual style is one of its strongest points, and the series isn’t afraid to dive into controversial topics.

On the other hand, it’s hard to ignore that sometimes the writing feels a bit caught between genuine horror and teen drama, which can undercut its impact (though not all the time). Still, it’s a show worth watching for those who enjoy a mix of supernatural elements, social commentary, and a touch of stylish excess. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina stands out when you’re looking for something truly dark.

7) True Blood

The vampire craze comes and goes in the world of movies and TV, and when The Vampire Diaries hit the screen, it made a big splash. However, True Blood is a different story – when it premiered, it was a breath of fresh air: vampires living openly among humans, blending suspense, politics, and social critique in a bold, adult mix. The story centers on Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a telepathic waitress who gets involved with vampires (and other creatures) in the small, secret-filled town of Bon Temps.

Sookie brings an interesting energy that makes us care about the supernatural conflicts. Its main flaw was trying to push the envelope too far after a while, with storylines that became somewhat confusing. But honestly, True Blood remains historic and almost cult status. You can’t deny the cultural weight and impact the series had on the genre – it was a pioneer in many ways.

6) Supernatural

After 15 seasons, Supernatural is basically a monument for dark fantasy fans. Who hasn’t heard of the Winchester brothers? The series follows Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) as they hunt various supernatural creatures and face bigger threats. What really stands out here (and is rare in many shows) is the genuine chemistry between the two leads. Along with that, the mix of horror, action, and even some well-timed humor are its biggest strengths.

If you stop to think about it, Supernatural doesn’t have glaring negatives. However, it ranks here because it’s a show that didn’t know when to quit. Many seasons recycle the same formulas, with storylines that drag and a natural fatigue that impacts the overall experience. Still, for fans of the genre, it’s that classic you can’t help but respect – even with the repetition.

5) Penny Dreadful

If you’re into dark fantasy with an artistic edge, Penny Dreadful is a real treat – and it’s a shame it’s so underrated and often forgotten. The show brings together classic horror figures like Dracula, Frankenstein, and Dorian Gray in a rainy, mysterious Victorian London. It follows tortured characters whose paths cross in a story filled with suffering and a more melancholic suspense. Eva Green deserves a special shoutout here, stealing every scene, while the production doesn’t hold back on the heavy, layered atmosphere.

The pacing can be slow, but only if you’re expecting more action and less dialogue. Penny Dreadful is a show for those who want to dive deep into complex characters and psychological subjects, so it’s probably not really a binge-watch series. But within the dark fantasy genre, it’s spot on.

4) Interview with the Vampire

Interview with the Vampire scores points for striking a masterful balance between the original material and appealing to today’s audience. With a mature tone true to Anne Rice’s classics, the show focuses on the emotional complexity of some of pop culture’s most famous vampires. The plot follows Louis (Jacob Anderson) as he narrates his immortal life, marked by desire, guilt, and a search for meaning. That heavy, melancholic mood is always present, paired with elegant visuals and characters who truly feel the weight of immortality.

What stands out most is the depth the series delivers: far from the usual vampire clichés, it leans into existential drama and moral conflicts. For anyone who wants a dark fantasy that goes beyond the obvious, Interview with the Vampire is one of the best choices out there.

3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The ultimate classic, Buffy the Vampire Slayer might seem like just another vampire (and monster) show, but it’s actually a masterclass in using fantasy to explore growing up, identity, and empowerment. The protagonist, Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), is a teenager who discovers she’s the “Chosen One,” destined to fight evil forces while trying to live a normal life. The series’ sharp writing, packed with razor-sharp dialogue and deeply layered characters, makes all the difference.

On top of that, there’s no denying the cultural impact and influence Buffy has had on countless shows that followed in the genre. This is a production that’s aged remarkably well and shaped the way fantasy is done on TV. Its relevance is still strong today, and it’s no coincidence a reboot is in the works.

2) The Sandman

The Sandman is strong proof that comic book adaptations can be complex and smart. The show follows Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), the Dream Lord, who, after being imprisoned for decades, tries to restore order to the dream world. Need something darker than that? The story is dense, blending mythology, philosophy, and horror to create a universe that goes far beyond surface-level entertainment. There’s real meaning and symbolism here.

Along with its jaw-dropping visuals, the series also stays impressively faithful to Neil Gaiman’s original work. The Sandman has received widespread praise and can easily be considered one of the most respected and successful adaptations today for anyone looking for fantasy with depth and originality.

1) Game of Thrones

In the fantasy genre as a whole, Game of Thrones shines (and everyone knows it). And yes, in dark fantasy, the series stands out too. Based on George R.R. Martin’s books, the show presents a brutal medieval world full of intrigue, magic, and battles. It earns its place on this list because it isn’t afraid to reveal the darkest side of a universe where morality is gray, anyone can die, and monsters can be both real and human.

Despite its controversial ending, the series left a huge impact on pop culture, not to mention the overall quality of its episodes. Game of Thrones revolutionized the genre, raised production standards, and paved the way for much bolder fantasy shows. It is, without a doubt, the pinnacle of the genre – for better or worse.

The post 10 Great Dark Fantasy TV Shows Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Netflix has a vast collection of movies and shows to binge, but sometimes that can make it hard to find the perfect show to sit down and enjoy. We’ve all been there: analysis paralysis is real, even for something as chill as your next binge-worthy series. When it comes to action series, Netflix has a complex selection, ranging from crime dramas to high-stakes adventures and anything else users could dream of. Best of all, they have a massive international selection, so there really is something for everyone. Some of Netflix’s most noteworthy series fall under the action umbrella, and that means now is the perfect time to tune in.

Netflix has been working hard to maintain its status in the streaming wars, and while many fans have differing opinions on that matter, at least we all get new content to enjoy. There are dozens of new originals each year, and many of us are counting down the days until the next big release.

While we’re waiting, these seven action shows are the perfect distraction.

1) One Piece

One Piece is a beloved manga and anime that has earned quite a reputation for itself. Given Netflix’s rising obsession with creating live-action adaptations of popular anime series, it wasn’t a surprise that they would choose One Piece. What was surprising was how good the live-action series proved to be (though die-hard fans may still have problems about the changes made along the way).

One Piece is a Netflix original and a live-action adaptation, and it has pulled brand-new fans into the community. It helps that Eiichiro Oda has been involved as a consultant from the beginning, ensuring that the story stays true to the heart and tone of the original. The show follows the iconic Straw Hat pirates, introducing their goals and the first round of characters. At the helm is Monkey D. Luffy, a determined young pirate who is certain that he’ll find the infamous treasure and become the king of the pirates. Naturally, that task is going to prove easier said than done, but it does open the door to countless adventures in the process.

One Piece has an expanding cast of characters, starting with Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), Nami (Emily Rudd), Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu), Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson), and Sanji (Taz Skylar).

2) Warrior Nun

For those looking for a bit more fantasy in their action, there’s always Warrior Nun. Warrior Nun is based on the comic character created by Ben Dunn. It’s another Netflix original, though this only has two seasons for fans to binge. On the bright side, there may or may not be a trilogy film set heading our way, so that’s something to look forward to.

The story follows Ava Silva (played by Alba Baptista), an orphan who gains supernatural powers due to being in a strange place at the right (or wrong) time. She joins the ancient order of warrior nuns, putting her on the front line against demons and forces of evil. Naturally, everyone wants to control the power Ava now carries, adding even more complications to the mix.

Warrior Nun ran for two seasons, with a total of 18 episodes. Each episode is between 37 and 52 minutes long, so there’s a binge-worthy amount of content worth diving into.

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3) Sakamoto Days

Anime fans have almost certainly made note of the fact that Netflix has been obtaining more rights to their favorite series, especially in recent years. One of the newer series to hit the platform is Sakamoto Days, an anime that launched in 2025 to great success. The story follows Taro Sakamoto, a retired hitman — well, sort of. As far as he’s concerned, he’s retired. The rest of the world isn’t so inclined to agree with that. So, his peaceful retirement keeps getting interrupted by aspiring proteges and old enemies.

Sakamoto Days is based on the manga created by Yuto Suzuki. The series has a surprisingly wholesome base, as Sakamoto only wants to be there for his wife and daughter. He runs a little store that keeps getting interrupted by the mayhem, and that’s where the action comes into play. Fans who appreciate the series should consider giving the manga a try, for obvious reasons. Netflix is currently releasing the first season.

4) Lupin

Next up is a crime thriller and action series that fans should make note of. It’s a French series that follows Assane Dio (Omar Sy), a thief who is so inspired by the famous thief that he creates an entire career and persona based on him, hence Lupin. Lupin was instantly met with critical acclaim, so if you’ve been meaning to see what the fuss is about, now is the perfect time to give it a try.

As a child, Assane watched his father get framed for theft by a rich man, resulting in his father’s early demise. Naturally, Assane grows up craving revenge against the Pellegrini family, and that means going to Count of Monte Cristo levels of extreme, complete with subterfuge, disguises, and the works. Naturally, that’s only the beginning of this tale, as it unfolded in three parts (two seasons).

5) The Last Kingdom

If historical drama is more your cup of tea, there’s always The Last Kingdom. The series is based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Series. The Last Kingdom is considered complete, though fans can also watch the feature-length film, Seven Kings Must Die, to get a full conclusion to this adventure.

Split into five series, The Last Kingdom delves into different novels from the novel series, including The Saxon Stories, The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman, and The Lords of the North. All things said and done, the series and final film cover 13 novels. The first story begins in the year 866, and the final concludes in 937, just to give readers an idea of how much time is covered in these tales. Alongside having a fair bit of historical drama, the series doesn’t shy away from war and the price of power. Unsurprisingly, the series has an immense cast, reflecting the longer form of storytelling available.

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6) Dandadan

Dandadan is a newer series that took social media by storm last year, thanks to its killer theme song (“Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts). It’s based on the manga created by Yukinobu Tatsu, and it cleverly combines sci-fi elements with fantasy, not to mention a fair bit of comedy, drama, and action. It’s got a bit of something for everyone, and that’s before taking the striking designs and color palettes into account.

It all begins with an unlikely friendship. Momo Ayase was raised to believe in ghosts and yokai, but she never bought into aliens and cryptids. Ken Takakura (aka Okarun) is the complete opposite; he thoroughly believes in aliens but thinks ghosts are all hocus pocus. So a bet is placed, but the results of said bet will have lingering consequences, as two teens realize they were both right. The first season of Dandadan dropped last year, and the current season is actively updating on Netflix each week.

Dandadan is Fūga Yamashiro’s directorial debut, and fans have quickly fallen in love with both the manga and the anime. The first three episodes of Season 2 aired in theaters, which is a growing trend for popular anime.

7) Cobra Kai

Last, but not least, there’s Cobra Kai. Cobra Kai is a comedy-drama and martial arts series based on The Karate Kid films. So if you grew up loving those movies, you really ought to see how the story continues. More importantly, it has a few surprise reprisals, including Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso) and William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence). Also along for the ride are Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Peyton List, Vanessa Rubio, and Dallas Dupree Young.

The story begins 33 years after Johnny’s infamous defeat (as seen in The Karate Kid). It’s safe to say that life hasn’t quite gone according to plan for the man, as he has fallen from the perfect life he had, including becoming estranged from his son. Conversely, things are going pretty well for Daniel, who owns a dealership and has a family. Granted, he’s not always the best at connecting or being emotionally present for his children. That sets the scene for Johnny’s revival of the classic dojo, which in turn rekindles the rivalry so many of us are familiar with, this time transforming into a rivalry between opposing dojos.

While The Karate Kid films were created by Robert Mark Kamen, Cobra Kai was created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg. Cobra Kai ran for a total of six seasons, so there’s plenty of content for fans to binge and enjoy. The series is delightfully nostalgic, but it doesn’t coast on that premise, instead striving to create a worthwhile story for fans old and new.

What are your favorite action series on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 7 Awesome Action Shows Streaming on Netflix appeared first on ComicBook.com.

September is still a couple of weeks away but Hulu is already getting subscribers prepared for the month ahead. The streaming service recently unveiled its monthly newsletter for September, which reveals the complete list of movies, TV shows, and specials being added to the lineup. 24 of the 30 days in September are now confirmed for new additions, making it a pretty packed month for Hulu.

The month will kick off with several popular film titles hitting Hulu’s lineup. The biggest movie additions include The Bob’s Burgers Movie, The 40 Year-Old Virgin (celebrating its 20th anniversary), Trap, Mean Girls, and How to Train Your Dragon.

Perhaps the biggest new addition, however, arrives at the end of the month. September 30th will see Hulu debut the first two episodes of the new sports comedy series Chad Powers, starring Glen Powell.

You can check out the full list of Hulu’s September arrivals below.

September 1st

America’s Next Top Model: Complete Season 16
Amsterdam
The Bob’s Burgers Movie
Breaking Up
Call Me By Your Name
Clueless
Devil’s Due
Donnie Darko (Theatrical Cut)
Evil Dead Rise
Finding Forrester
The 40 Year-Old Virgin
Gandhi
How To Train Your Dragon
How To Train Your Dragon 2
I Am Number Four
Invincible (2006)
Jennifer’s Body
John Tucker Must Die
Juno
Just Married (2003)
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Mean Girls (2004)
The Meg
The Meg 2: The Trench
Mrs. Doubtfire
Need For Speed (2014)
Never Let Me Go (2010)
Night At The Museum
Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian
Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb
The Nun II
Nosso Lar 2: Os Mensageiros
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Roll Bounce
See How They Run
She’s The Man
Space Jam (1996)
The School Of Rock
Trap (2024)
World War Z

September 2nd

Betrayal: Complete Season 3
Hannah Montana: The Movie
The New Boy

September 3rd

Reminder: Complete Season 1 (DUBBED & SUBBED)

September 4th

Blood & Myth: Documentary Premiere
Abducted in the Everglades
Digital Addiction: Complete Season 1
Digital Addiction Special
I Survived . . .: Complete Season 4
The Chef’s Garden: Complete Season 1
Rachael Ray’s Meals in Minutes: Complete Season 2B
The First 48: Complete Season 27

September 5th

Memphis to the Mountain: Complete Docuseries
Ballpark Blast! by MLB and pocket.watch: Complete Season 1
I love You, Beth Cooper
LOL Live with Brandi Denise
LOL Live with Malik B
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Parental Guidance
Sacramento
There’s Something About Mary

September 9th

Only Murders in the Building: Three-Episode Season 5 Premiere
Jeopardy: Season 42 Premiere
Jeopardy: Complete Seasons 20, 21, 27, 34, & 35
Wheel of Fortune: Season 43 Premiere
Wheel of Fortune: Complete Seasons 16-18, 28, 37-39
Sister Midnight
Uncle Drew

September 10th

Tempest: Three-Episode Series Premiere
Court Cam: Complete Season 6
I Survived . . .: Complete Season 5
Oceanfront Property Hunt: Complete Season 1
Alone: An Inside Look
Disappearance at Clifton Hill
Color Out of Space
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot
Paradise Hills
Settlers (2021)
The Square (2017)
Swallow (2019)
Werewolves Within
Would You Rather?
The Rental

September 11th

The Shallows

September 12th

Himouto! Umaru-chan: Complete Season 1 (SUBBED & DUBBED)
Insomniacs After School: Complete Season 1 (SUBBED & DUBBED)
Dead Poets Society
Drumline
I Don’t Understand You

September 13th

Tracker: Complete Season 2
Botched Bariatrics: Complete Season 1
Death by Fame: Complete Season 3
Murder Under the Friday Night Lights: Complete Season 4
The OceanGate Disaster: Complete Season 1

September 15th

Futurama: Complete Season 13

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September 16th

Celebrity Weakest Link: Series Premiere
Name That Tune: Season 5 Premiere
Jackdaw

September 17th

Dancing with the Stars: Season 34 Premiere
High Potential: Season 2 Premiere

September 18th

Reasonable Doubt: Season 3 Premiere
Food Wars! The Second Plate: Complete Season1 (SUBBED & DUBBED)
I Survived . . .: Complete Season 9
Alone
Fugitive Hunters Mexico

September 19th

Swiped: Film Premiere

September 21st

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery: Documentary Premiere

September 22th

Into the Void: Life, Death and Heavy Metal: Complete Docuseries

September 23rd

Valiant One (2025)

September 24th

Doc: Season 2 Premiere
FX’s The Lowdown: Two-Episode Series Premiere
Murder in a Small Town: Season 2 Premiere

September 25th

99 to Beat: Series Premiere
The Floor: Season 4 Premiere
The Golden Bachelor: Season 2 Premiere
Shark Tank: Season 17 Premiere
A Seance With…: Complete
Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy: Complete Season 4
Bigfoot Captured: Complete Season 1
Cryptid: The Swamp Beast: Complete Season 1
Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive: Complete Season 1
MonsterQuest Specials: Complete Season 1
Ozark Law: Complete Season 1
Zombie House Flipping: Complete Season 7
I Survived . . .
The Surfer (2024)

September 26th

Hell’s Kitchen: Season 24 Premiere
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test: Season 4 Premiere
The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior: Complete Season 1
The Man in My Basement: Film Premiere
Ghostbusters: Answer the Call
Dragon Ball Z Battle of Gods

September 27th

Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks: Complete Season 2
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune: Season 6 Premiere

September 29th

Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg?: Complete Docuseries
America’s Funniest Home Videos: Season 36 Premiere
Bob’s Burgers: Season 16 Premiere
Krapopolis: Season 3 Premiere
The Simpsons: Season 37 Premiere
Universal Basic Guys: Season 2 Premiere
Vermeil in Gold: Complete Season 1 (SUBBED & DUBBED)

September 30th

Bloody Axe Wound
Chad Powers: Two-Episode Series Premiere

The post Everything Coming to Hulu in September 2025 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fantasy has become one of the most popular genres of TV thanks to genre-defining shows like Game of Thrones and The Witcher, and fans looking for their next binge after repeat watches of those hit series should head to Tubi. Fox’s free streaming service has been adding new TV shows and movies spanning horror, drama, and comedy titles throughout the month of August. Many of the new streaming titles were included on Tubi’s August 2025 newsletter, but one underrated fantasy show that is a must-watch for any fan of the genre wasn’t on the list and nearly went overlooked on the streamer.

The show in question is Merlin. All five seasons of the British fantasy-adventure drama started streaming on Tubi on August 14, 2025.Created by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps, and Julian Murphy, Merlin is based on the Arthurian legends of Merlin and King Arthur and follows the wizard and king as young men as they struggle to face and understand their destinies in a kingdom where magic is banned. The series ran for a total of 65 episodes across five seasons on BBC One from 2008 until 2012. More than a decade later, fans can revisit the complete series for free on Tubi.

Why You Should Watch Merlin

TV viewers looking for an action-packed fantasy-drama should definitely have Merlin at the top of their watchlists. Airing between 2008 and 2012, Merlin was released just before the big fantasy boom that began with the release of Game of Thrones in 2011 and has continued with other big-name titles like The Witcher, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and The Wheel of Time. Those shows have darker, grittier themes, but Merlin is the perfect streaming option for fantasy fans looking for a lighthearted binge, the series blending its magic and adventure with humor through witty banter from the leads and Merlin’s often hilarious attempts to hide his magic.

Merlin also makes a strong case for character-driven stories. The series stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Arthur Pendragon, Angel Coulby as Guinevere, Katie McGrath as Morgana Pendragon, Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon, Richard Wilson as Gaius, and John Hurt as the voice of the Great Dragon. The show does not sacrifice its characters for the sake of big action and fantasy but instead chronicles and puts a heavy focus on Merlin and Arthur’s maturing mindsets and relationship as they deal with their own struggles in a world of illegal magic and royalty. The plot is heavily driven by both their character development and also that of the cast of characters around them, and delves into their fears and hopes as it explores their motivations.

Other Fantasy TV Shows Now On Tubi

Merlin Seasons 1 through 5 is just one of the many fantasy TV shows available to watch on Tubi. The streamer’s content catalog changes monthly, but you can find some of the fantasy series currently available to stream on Tubi below.

The Dead Zone (6 seasons)
Dresden Files (1 season)
Wolfblood (5 seasons)
Silent Hill: Ascension (1 season)
Arabian Nights (1 Season)
Camelot (1 Season)
Being Human (4 Seasons)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (7 Seasons)
The Magicians (5 seasons)
Good Witch (7 Seasons)
Monster Squad (1 Season)
The Listener (5 Seasons)
Theatre Macabre (1 Season)

The post Tubi Now Streaming Every Season of an Underrated Fantasy Series appeared first on ComicBook.com.

After the box office success of this summer’s Superman, the next chapter in the DC Universe is arriving shortly with Peacemaker Season 2, which premieres on HBO Max on August 21st. Fortunately, it looks like James Gunn and Co. have another winner on their hands. The first reviews for Peacemaker Season 2 have been published, and critics are loving what they’ve seen. As of this writing, Peacemaker‘s second season boasts an impressive 100% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes with 30 reviews submitted. This makes it the third consecutive Certified Fresh project in the DCU since the new continuity kicked off late last year with Creature Commandos.

The animated series sports a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95%. Superman actually has the DCU’s lowest critics score to date with 83%. When compared to entries in the old DC Extended Universe, Peacemaker Season 1 had a score of 93% and The Suicide Squad came in at 90%. A critics consensus for Peacemaker Season 2 hasn’t been published yet, but skimming over the reviews shows it’s being praised for the performances of the cast, the over-the-top, R-rated humor and violence, and a surprisingly strong emotional core.

Gunn has described Peacemaker Season 2 as the “direct follow-up” to Superman. Though the two projects are very different in terms of style and tone, there are plenty of connections between them. Multiple characters from Superman return in Peacemaker. In fact, these connections were why Superman was released on home media so quickly after its theatrical premiere. Gunn wanted to give people an opportunity to watch the movie before Peacemaker returns.

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HBO Max has been busy putting together a notable promotional campaign for Peacemaker Season 2. The show received a Hall H panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, where a trailer was revealed. That preview set up the basic premise of the upcoming season, showing Christopher Smith discovering the existence of a different reality where his life is seemingly perfect. The multiverse angle brings a show that started life in the DCEU into the DCU. Ahead of the Season 2 premiere, Gunn has been co-hosting a Season 1 rewatch on the official Peacemaker podcast, sharing what is and isn’t canon in the DCU.

Peacemaker Season 1 was one of the few DCEU projects to earn widespread praise, and it’s great to see Season 2 follow suit. The DCU now has another notch on its belt as things really rev up, winning over critics and audiences with stories that are entertaining and heartfelt. After experiencing its fair share of ups and downs in the 2010s, it was vital for DC Studios to get the DCU off to a strong start, and they’ve achieved that. The reception to Peacemaker Season 2 will only continue to build forward momentum for the franchise, generating excitement for what’s to come.

One of the more notable takeaways from the Peacemaker Season 2 reviews is that multiple critics have called out the show’s genuinely affecting story. Throughout his career, Gunn has mastered the art of balancing comedy with heart. The Guardians of the Galaxy movies make people laugh hysterically in one moment and uncontrollably sob the next. With that in mind, it isn’t a shock that Peacemaker Season 2 makes viewers care about the characters with an emotionally charged narrative about finding a sense of belonging. But it’s great to see there’s much more to the show than just R-rated shenanigans. It sounds like Peacemaker Season 2 might be even better than its predecessor.

The post Peacemaker Season 2 Rotten Tomatoes Score Continues Great DCU Trend appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When WandaVision premiered on Disney+, it was an instant sensation, and for good reason. The show’s unique blend of sitcom history brought to life with gorgeous sets and costumes, the compelling mystery surrounding exactly what was happening inside the Hex, and Wanda’s long-awaited transformation into the Scarlet Witch captivated audiences week after week. It was a show that kept us guessing abd pouring over every detail to try to figure out what would happen next. However, after the series finale, many of us were left with more questions than answers. While WandaVision wrapped up the central plot of Wanda’s grief and coming into her true powers, it left several threads dangling. Some of these were clearly meant to set up future MCU projects, but others felt like loose ends that were never fully addressed.

Years after its release, we still find ourselves questioning certain plot points of WandaVision that, despite every subsequent MCU project, just don’t quite add up.

1. The True Nature of the Maximoff Twins

One of the most heartwarming (and then heartbreaking) parts of WandaVision was the introduction of Billy and Tommy. Born from Wanda’s magical Hex, they quickly became a key part of the show and a treat to long-time comic fans who were excited to see the two future Young Avengers make their MCU debut. However, their existence was tied directly to the Hex. As soon as Wanda began to take down her created reality, her children began to dissolve, which stopped her at that moment. In the finale, however, Wanda knew they would vanish entirely when the Hex came down, but that didn’t leave her any less heartborken and alone. Since the twins were directly tied to the Hex, it was firmly established that they were a product of Wanda’s magic and not truly real.

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However, the post-credits scene of the finale completely contradicted this. As Wanda is studying the Darkhold, she hears the voices of her children calling out to her. This gave her hope that they were not gone forever and were somehow still out there in a different reality. This plot point became the central hook for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but even after that film and the events of Agatha All Along, their existence is still confusing. Were they always real, but just displaced souls? How did they survive the Hex’s destruction if they were only magical creations? The details of their existence remain a bit of a magical question, but chaos magic sometimes lacks reason.

2. Very Little Consequences for Wanda

Wanda Maximoff held an entire town hostage, forcing them to live as characters in her sitcom reality. She manipulated their minds, controlled their actions, and caused them not only physical pain, but deep psychological wounds as well. The show makes it clear that the people of Westview were not just actors playing along; they trapped inside their own bodies and suffering. In the finale, the residents confront Wanda, detailing the pain she caused them. Yet, after the Hex comes down, Wanda is able to just fly away with no consequences whatsoever for taking an entire town hostage.

The MCU has a history of holding its heroes accountable, but Wanda’s escape was a bit too convenient (though necessary for the moving parts of the MCU at the time). While the rest of the MCU frequently shown Wanda punished for her actions, such as being sent to the Raft in Captain America: Civil War, the fact that she was able to just walk away from what was essentially a hostage situation is still not the most logical conclusion. WandaVision made it very clear that her actions were essentially torturing a whole population, only to have the authorities seemingly forget about it in order to set up for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Magic.

3. Monica Rambeau’s Sudden Powers

An adult Monica Rambeau was a fantastic addition to the MCU, especially in the context of the fantastical events happening in Westview. Her journey was a truly emotional one, from her grief over her mother to her determination to help Wanda. WandaVision established that Monica’s repeated trips through the Hex’s energy field were altering her at a molecular level, and her final trip gave her powers. She came out on the other side of the Hex wtih superhuman vision, allowing her to see different types of energy, and was able to absorb it as well.

However, her sudden powers felt a bit rushed; like a convenient plot device to give her a new ability to have a stake in the final battle. The show spent so much time on the emotional and psychological aspects of the story that this sudden genre shift into a superhero origin story was out of place. While her powers were a set-up for her future as Spectrum, the way they were introduced felt unearned and lacked the build-up that a major character’s origin story usually gets.

4. Hayward’s Over-the-Top Villany

Acting Director of SWORD, Tyler Hayward, was a frustrating character to say the least. While it was clear from the start that he was the true villain of the story, his turn to full-blown mustache-twirling bad guy was a bit too on-the-nose. He was obsessed with getting his hands on Vision to weaponize him and saw Wanda as a monster, but his actions— like trying to shoot the children and reactivating the “White Vision” with a piece of Wanda’s energy— was very much a typical villain-of-the-week take rather than a complex character with questionable motives.

Hayward’s motivations were, for the most part, a mystery. Though he wanted to use Vision’s body parts, we never learned if he working for someone else or if he was doing so under SWORD’s directives. Was he just a power-hungry bureaucrat? The show never fully explained the basis for actions. While he served his purpose in the plot, he was a very one-dimensional character whose cartoonish villainy paled in comparsion to the complex and fascinating character arcs for Wanda and Agatha Harkness.

5. Why Didn’t Wanda Question Her Brother’s New Face?

One of the most shocking and exciting moments of the show was the return of Pietro Maximoff, Wanda’s twin brother who died in Avengers: Age of Ultron. But instead of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who played the character in Age of Ultron, the role was filled by Evan Peters, who famously played a different version of Quicksilver in the X-Men film series. Peters’ surprise appearance as Pietro led to a frenzy of fan theories about the multiverse and the X-Men joining the MCU. The show even had a few playful nods to the change, including Darcy Lewis flat out saying that Wanda “recast” Pietro.

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But the “recasting” wasn’t Wanda’s doing, but instead was Agatha Harkness doing what Agatha Harkness does best— causing havoc. Wanda didn’t seem to notice or care that her brother looked completely different. She immediately accepted him, despite his new face and personality. While her actions could be rationalized as a response to her grief, the unexpected surprise, and her deep desire to see her brother again, the fact that she didn’t question her supposedly resurrected twin felt like a missed opportunity. Instead, it was a shortcut to tie in the meta-joke, but it broke the emotional realism that the show had so carefully built.

What’s your favorite MCU Disney+ series? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 Things That Still Don’t Make Sense About WandaVision appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In the latter half of the 20th century, director Ridley Scott redefined the look of cinematic sci-fi with the one-two punch of Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982). With those two films, Scott almost singlehandedly took the colorful, hopeful space fantasy of Star Trek and Star Wars and gave it a dark, dystopian makeover. Alien and Blade Runner function like two sides of the same coin, presenting a grim future where large, faceless mega corporations run both Earth and space. Naturally, fans would want to put both franchises in the same universe. Unfortunately for them, Alien: Earth just killed any hope of an Alien/Blade Runner connection in canon.

Alien: Earth begins with a bit of onscreen text detailing the universe’s three forms of artificial life: cyborgs, synths, and hybrids. Noticeably absent are Replicants — Blade Runner‘s genetically engineered synthetic humans. With one single omission, the series effectively put an end to a 26-year-old fan theory that Rick Deckard and Ellen Ripley once breathed the same polluted air.

The Alien & Blade Runner Shared Universe Theory Began With A DVD Special Feature

The fan theory that Alien and Blade Runner are set in the same universe originally stems from the 1999 release of the Alien: 20th Anniversary Edition DVD. The disc included a biography of Tom Skerrit’s Dallas in the bonus features, which briefly mentions that the captain worked for Blade Runner‘s Tyrell corporation before joining Weyland-Yutani. Fans took that one Easter Egg and ran with it, pointing out other similarities between the Alien and Blade Runner franchises as proof that they belong to a shared universe.

And make no mistake, there are several things Alien and Blade Runner have in common. Both movies inhabit bleak capitalist dystopias — one where corporations have effectively replaced the Government, and the Asian infiltration of American culture that dominated ’80s sci-fi is in full swing. From there, it’s not hard to speculate that Weyland-Yutani’s colony on LV-426 in Aliens is one of the same “off-world colonies” mentioned in Blade Runner.

Meanwhile, the Alien/Blade Runner shared universe fan theory turned out to also be a creator theory. In a commentary track on the same Alien: 20th Anniversary Edition DVD, Ridley Scott expressed his opinion that the Earth the Nostromo crew was desperately trying to get back to was the same world inhabited by Deckard and the rest of the Blade Runner cast. Over a decade later, the Blu-ray of Scott’s confusing Alien prequel Prometheus would include a booklet containing a diary entry from Guy Pierce’s Peter Weyland that further cemented the connection between Alien and Blade Runner.

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In the diary entry, Weyland mentions a mentor who ran his company, “Like a god on top of a pyramid overlooking a city of angels,” and focused on “genetic abominations” rather than “simple robotics.” While Weyland never mentions Eldon Tyrell by name, a sentence about this “mentor” implanting his creations with “artificial memories” leaves little doubt who the CEO is talking about. These special features would seem to confirm the theory that Alien and Blade Runner are connected in some way, if not for two simple facts: 1) Special features aren’t generally considered canon, and 2) out of all the various creators involved with the Alien and Blade Runner franchises Ridley Scott is the only one pushing the narrative that the two IPs are related.

Creator-Fueled Fan Theories Are Nothing New

Believe it or not, directors expressing non-canon theories about their films is fairly common. A good example is Adam Marcus claiming that Jason Voorhees was a deadite. The director said this after including the Necronomicon in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday as an Easter Egg, but every single other Friday the 13th film contradicts his claim. The same can be said for Ridley Scott’s claim that two of his most influential films share a setting.

As fun as the idea of Alien and Blade Runner being set in the same universe is, nothing on screen has ever directly supported the idea. Neither Blade Runner 2049 nor Alien: Romulus makes any direct references to a shared universe between the two. Scott himself could have put a reference to the Tyrell Corp in Prometheus proper rather than burying it in the special features of the film’s home release if he really wanted to canonize the connection. Instead, we have the complete opposite with Alien: Earth putting the fan theory to rest once and for all.

Alien: Earth Shows Us An Earth Too Bright and Clean For Blade Runner

It’s not just the series’ deliberate lack of Replicants that disproves the fan theory but the way Earth itself appears. The planet — at least what we’ve seen so far — looks too clean, too nice to be the same Earth from Blade Runner. Then again, it seems to be too clean for a planet run by giant businesses as well, but that’s neither here nor there.

In addition to that, the series states that five corporations control the Earth and most of space: Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic, Threshold, and Prodigy. One would assume that, were the Earth in Alien: Earth‘s title the same Earth from Blade Runner, one of those corporations would be the Tyrell corporation or, at the very least, the Wallace corporation from Blade Runner 2049. Instead, no replicants, no Tyrell/Wallace, and no rainy, pollution-ridden backdrop, point to no connection between Alien and Blade Runner.

But hey, thanks to Predator: Badlands, it looks like we’ll be getting a new crossover between the Predator and Alien franchises. If that proves to be successful, who knows, maybe we’ll get an official Blade Runner/Alien crossover someday. And until then, there’s nothing wrong with personal headcanons.

Were you disappointed in Alien: Earth putting the kibosh on Blade Runner and Alien being set in the same universe? Let us know in the comments.

The post Alien: Earth Just Killed This 26-Year-Old Fan Theory appeared first on ComicBook.com.