There are few shows as full of humor and chaos as What We Do in the Shadows. Created by Jemaine Clement, this mockumentary series about vampires originated as a single film before evolving into a full series. At the heart of the series is a cast of lovable characters, bridging the gap between monsters and humanity. Their antics have proven endlessly entertaining, worming into the minds and hearts of viewers. This is especially true for the repeating gags, of which there are many. Each new season brought new arcs and new jokes, and much like the cast, they will never get old. The series may be complete now, but it still lives on in our hearts.

What We Do in the Shadows follows a group of vampires and their familiars. Having moved to America decades ago, their original goal was to initiate the process of taking over the country. Somewhere along the way though, they lost that plot and decided to just start hanging out. Like the film before it, the characters in What We Do in the Shadows are followed by documentary crew, a narrative device that you’ll find is baked into a lot of the best recurring jokes.

1) Bat!

One of the best parts about What We Do in the Shadows is that it takes vampiric elements that society has taken for granted and adds a humorous tone to them. For example, when Laszlo Cravensworth (Matt Berry) wants to transform into a bat, he will, without fail, scream “Bat!” into the air before transforming. It’s part of his process, and while the others don’t seem dependent on this method, they don’t hate him doing it. Yes, Laszo does mention the need to scream “Bat!” when training others. It’s a whole thing, and we love it.

2) House Meetings

Vampires love house meetings. At least, some vampires seem to love them. Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak) is one such vampire, and he has made it his duty to ensure that house meetings are a constant in his house. Fans of the show can probably hear Nandor’s high-pitched call in their minds right now, as he repeats “House Meeting!” until his housemates hear and respond to his call.

It goes without saying that Nadja and Laszlo were largely not fans of these house meetings. Collin Robinson (Mark Proksch) seemed to enjoy them, but that’s more of a strike against against them. One might imagine that a vampiric house meeting would be daring, dark, or dastardly. That was not usually the case, with one or two exceptions. Usually, Nandor just needed to remind people to stop leaving their half-eaten food (humans) around the house.

[RELATED: 7 Funniest Lines From What We Do in the Shadows]

3) Colin Robinson’s Need for Dullness

Colin Robinson is not your stereotypical bloodsucking vampire. No, he’s an energy vampire, and thus he lives on the dullness in life. Yeah, he does need to bore the heck out of people to get his energy, but he really loves it. They say if you love your job you never work a day in your life, and Colin Robinson kind of proves it. What makes this gag noteworthy is that Colin is clearly capable of feeding off of anyone, traditional vampires included. He can’t seem to resist feeding off of his vampiric roommates, and their frustration about it may spur him on.

4) Gregor’s Trials and Tribulations

Gregor was introduced early in the first season of What We Do in the Shadows, and it’s safe to say that things did not go well for this character. Once upon a time, in Gregor’s first life, he had a whirlwind romance with Nadja (Natasia Demetriou). He was a knight who was summarily decapitated in battle, ending their liaison. Since then, Nadja has sought Gregor’s soul out, finding him in every life to continue the romance. Or so she claims. She could be finding guys that bear a passing resemblance to Gregor, implanting Gregor’s memory over them, and creating a happy little lie for herself. Only, things don’t seem to end all that happily for Gregor, as she somehow always ends up dead (looking at you, Laszlo).

The latest victim, uh, version of Gregor goes by the name of Jeff. Nadja’s obsession takes her to his window on many occasions, as her love for him returns. This kicks off a series of antics and mayhem, none of which go particularly well for poor Jeff.

5) The Neighborly Sean

While most of the housemates may be vampires (except for our precious Guillermo), there are plenty of humans filling the scenes. No, it’s not always about food. Enter Sean (Anthony Atamanuik), the neighbor. At first, Sean’s appearances were more about reminding viewers of the extent the cast had to go through to keep their secrets. Over time, it evolved into a bit of a running joke, as Sean’s memory gets wiped again, and again, and again.

The memory wiping had only just begun, as the closer he and Laszlo became, the more often Sean’s memory needed to be cleaned up. In one instance, they helped Sean save his marriage while wiping his memory, so it’s not all bad. Except for the part where they probably can’t risk doing it again.

6) Pronouncian Shenanigans

As vampires, the main cast has been around for a very long time. Colin Robinson doesn’t even understand how he was made or why, but that’s a whole different story. Naturally, this crew has some struggles with adapting to the modern world. In particular, Nandor and Laszlo seem to struggle with pronunciation, to an intentionally comedic level. Laszlo often acts poised and sophisticated, all while butchering common turns of phrase. Meanwhile, Nando has his own struggles, including nearly any word that ends with “tion” and “ing.”

7) Guillermo Has a Way of…Accidentally Killing Vampires

Guillermo de la Cruz (Harvey Guillén) is the darling of the series, and anybody who denies this is looking for a fight. But seriously, Guillermo may be one of the few humans to survive the series from beginning to end, but there’s a reason for it. It all begins when Guillermo seemingly kills one very important vampire, by accident, of course. That could have been the end of this joke, but it kept happening. First, as a mistake here and there, but before long, Guillermo was intentionally taking down vampires. He had a good reason for it, but it’s still one of the best running gags of the series.

It all comes down to the blood, as any good vampire story will tell you. Guillermo is the descendent of the infamous Van Helsing, the vampire killer. So, killing vampires runs in the family. This explains all the accidental murders and the ease of the intentional ones.

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8) Nadja Doll

At one point in What We Do in the Shadows, Nadja and the rest decided to summon their human souls as a means of handling unresolved issues. Laszlo’s was fairly easy (if disturbing) to put to rest, while Nadja’s was much more complicated. Ultimately, the two versions of Nadja decided that her human soul would reside in a little Nadja doll. That ended up lasting most of the series, with the doll becoming involved in many comedic and dramatic ways, including offering an excuse for Nadja to literally argue with herself.

9) Laszlo & Nadja’s Inability to Keep a Familiar Alive

Throughout the first few episodes, it becomes very clear that there’s something special about Guillermo. It isn’t just that the audience loves him – it’s because Guillermo is made of harder stuff. Guillermo is Nandor’s familiar, yet he often gets stuck playing the role of familiar for the rest of the household. Largely because Nadja and Laszlo are incapable of keeping another familiar alive. Their familiars have died to everything from poison, fire (a tragic candle accident), becoming a meal for the Barron, you name it. Their last attempt at a familiar, Topher (Haley Joel Osment), got the most screentime, largely because he lasted the longest (which does not mean he lived to tell the tale).

10) The Cursed Witch Skin Hat

The cursed witch hat is arguably the grossest set piece for What We Do in the Shadows, but it’s also probably one of the funniest. It all began sometime in the distant past when Laszlo was given a cursed hat made from a witch’s skin. He was given the hat as a means of cursing him, but for some reason, Laszlo never saw it that way (the magic of the hat?). As such, Laszlo held on to this accursed (and ugly) item for centuries. Unsurprisingly, this causes a lot of strife, beginning with how much Nadja hates the stupid hat.

Nadja’s hatred of the Cursed Witch Skin Hat is only the beginning, as there’s another vampire obsessed with it, for some insane reason. Simon the Devius (Nick Kroll) likewise desperately wants the hat, and he’s willing to do, well, devious things to get it! It becomes a bit of a recurring gag, with bigger and bigger stakes each time Simon tries.

Every episode of What We Do in the Shadows is streaming on Hulu.

The post 10 Best Recurring Jokes From What We Do in the Shadows appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Your Disney+ subscription now includes a whole new world: rewards. Disney announced on Thursday that it has launched the Disney+ Perks program, which offers Disney+ and bundle subscribers rewards, subscriber-only discounts, everyday savings, and access to one-of-a-kind experiences and limited-time sweepstakes — including a chance to attend the Hollywood red carpet premiere of Freakier Friday or a vacation on the Disney Cruise Line’s new ship, the Disney Destiny. The always-on program is live as of May 29 for U.S. subscribers with additional international rollouts to follow later this year.

Disney+ Perks is available for free to current Disney+ and bundle subscribers. To enroll in the program and access your rewards, simply visit the website (disneyplus.com/perks) or the new “Perks” tab below select titles and login with your Disney+ credentials. As long as you have an active Disney+ subscription, you’ll automatically have access to the offerings.

RELATED: Everything Coming to Disney+ in June 2025

The Disney+ Perks dashboard is where you’ll access your subscriber-only benefits, which are sorted into three categories: Special Offers, Sweepstakes, and Dropping Soon, where members can keep track of current and upcoming Perks.

At launch, Disney+ and bundle subscribers will have access to:

• A chance to win tickets to the Freakier Friday World Premiere and be among the first to see the all-new sequel before it arrives in theaters August 8
• A chance to win a 4-night cruise on the Disney Destiny, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, sailing from Ft. Lauderdale beginning November 2025
• A 6-month free DashPass membership from DoorDash (for New to Doordash subscribers only)
• 20% off on adidas.com and in the adidas app
• 15% off purchases at Funko.com and Loungefly.com
• A 3-month free trial of CLEAR+
• A 2-month Super Duolingo free trial
• Free in-game emoji from Disney Emoji Blitz
• Early access to the closed release of Disney Pinnacle by Dapper Labs, a monthly Mystery Capsule + until June 26th to claim a $10 Dapper Credit
• Special summer savings at Walt Disney World Resort: Stay 2 nights or longer at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels and get rates starting from $99 per night at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Free MONOPOLY GO! and Star Wars TIE fighter in-game TOKEN

Disney also announced that Hulu Perks will launch on June 2. The streamer’s first-ever suite of offerings will complement the Disney+ Perks program by unlocking even more benefits for Hulu and bundle subscribers throughout the summer, including prizes from and inspired by Hulu originals like The Handmaid’s Tale and Only Murders in the Building.

Upcoming Hulu-exclusive Perks include chances to win tickets to Lollapalooza, a taping of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and passes to San Diego Comic-Con 2025, plus Perks from partners like Microsoft, Pure Green, LG Electronics, and more. Entering a sweepstakes is as easy as accessing your Perks dashboard and clicking a button.

“Our fans are some of the most passionate in the world, and Perks are our way of thanking them for subscribing to Disney+,” said Samantha Rosenberg, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Disney+. “Whether it’s access to in-demand experiences that only Disney can offer or everyday savings and special discounts from top brands, we’re building two complimentary programs that are all about celebrating our viewers.”

Disney notes that new Disney+ and Hulu perks “will drop regularly, giving fans more reasons to check in, discover something new and engage with the stories they love.”

The post Disney+ Launches New Perks for Subscribers: Here’s How to Claim Rewards & Benefits appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In numerous forms of media, the apocalypse provides people with an excuse to surrender to their primal instincts. In the Mad Max franchise, everyone fights over resources using tricked-out vehicles, while Snowpiercer depicts the lower class on a train having to eat bugs to survive. HBO’s The Last of Us isn’t as fantastical as those properties, but it’s still got plenty to say about humanity and what becomes of it after society collapses. David’s group, for example, resorts to eating humans to survive the cold winters in Colorado. Season 2 takes things a step further by introducing a cult full of religious fanatics who have no qualms about gutting their enemies.

At first, the Seraphites don’t seem so bad, with the Washington Liberation Front, aka the WLF, ambushing them while they peacefully make their way to their new home. However, as The Last of Us Season 2 progresses, it becomes clear that the Seraphites are every bit as dangerous as the WLF and answer to a strange figure who appears in art all over Seattle.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Last of Us Part II video game!

The Seraphites Have Their Own Way of Doing Things in The Last of Us

When Ellie and Dina arrive in Seattle, they stumble across the bodies of a group of Seraphites. Since they don’t have any guns and there are children among them, Ellie takes the scene as more evidence that Abby and her group have to go. Visiting the WLF outpost changes things, though, because the two girls stumble upon WLF soldiers with their guts spilling out and the words “Feel Her Love” written in blood on the wall, making it clear the Seraphites aren’t just retaliating but fighting in someone’s name.

The actions of the WLF’s leader, Isaac, only pour fuel on the fire because, while he’s a disturbed individual, he knows what it’s like to subjugate people and still doesn’t have any problem torturing Seraphites, whom he refers to as “Scars.” The conflict between the two groups clearly dates back several years, and while the details surrounding it are murky at best, there is mention of a treaty in The Last of Us Season 2 that’s no longer in place. So, at some point, the groups met up and came to some kind of understanding, but all that went out the window, and it’s hard to believe the “her” the Seraphites talk about didn’t have something to do with that.

[RELATED – The Last of Us Shows Why Video Game Adaptations Can’t Please Fans]

The Seraphites Feel More Than One Person’s Love in The Last of Us Season 2

Exploring more of Seattle allows Dina and Ellie to come across more Seraphite propaganda. They notice symbols and portraits of a white woman who is seemingly the group’s prophet. However, Season 2’s finale throws that theory for a loop by showing a different art piece that portrays a Black woman as the prophet, with Ellie even going as far as to ask, “Is there more than one?” The show doesn’t explore the topic any further because Ellie has bigger fish to fry, but Season 3 is sure to dive into the Seraphite lore, especially during the attack on the group’s island.

While next season is sure to adapt some of the major Seraphite moments from The Last of Us Part II, things are going to be different because there’s only one prophet in the game. She dies before Ellie arrives in Seattle, sparking an all-out war between the Seraphites and the WLF. The show may have events play out the same, but rather than have the elders assume control of the group, it will opt to have another person fill the role of prophet or even build different factions. How that alters the course of Abby’s story remains to be seen, but, given her appearance in the theater in the finale, it’s entirely possible that the new prophet has a mean streak and won’t think twice about wiping out the WLF when they come knocking on her door.

The Last of Us Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.

Did you catch Ellie’s line about there being more than one Seraphite prophet in The Last of Us Season 2? How do you think the change will affect Season 3’s story?

The post The Last of Us Made a Surprising Change to One Major Character With Just One Line appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The release of a new movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is always a monumental event. There are so many things to consider, such as potential cameos, post-credits scenes, and character introductions. However, before worrying about the future, it’s important to look at the past to figure out which MCU projects are worth watching before heading to the theater. The only problem with that is that it’s a lot harder to keep track of who shows up in what and which shows and movies matter going forward. Even films like Captain America: Brave New World, which seem pretty straightforward, have countless callbacks that don’t make sense without viewing a handful of other projects.

While Brave New World‘s theatrical run is already over, the movie is now available to stream on the Disney+ streaming platform, meaning a whole new audience is ready to discover it. However, they won’t have a good time unless they watch all of the MCU projects on this list ahead of time.

1) Avengers: Endgame

While Sam Wilson’s journey in the MCU begins long before Avengers: Endgame, the movie reveals enough about his character to understand what he stands for. He returns from being dust and immediately goes to help the Avengers in the Battle of Earth, even dropping Steve Rogers’s iconic “On your left!” line along the way. But Sam’s biggest moment in Endgame comes after the fight is over.

With the Infinity Stones still in the Sacred Timeline, Steve goes on a solo mission to return them. Sam is present when his friend leaves, but he grows concerned when Cap misses his return window. Steve chooses to go back in time and be with Peggy, and after returning as an old man, he hands his shield to Sam, who promises to do his best.

2) The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Not long after the events of Endgame, Sam gives up to the shield to the United States government in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier because he doesn’t think he’s worthy. John Walker becomes the new Captain America, which forces Bucky Barnes into action because he doesn’t want anyone ruining the name. Sam and Bucky also have to worry about a group of super-soldiers who are causing problems all around the world.

Throughout the entire series, Sam wrestles with what it means to be Captain America, and he learns more about what the government does to Black people who don the stars and stripes. However, he makes a decision about his future at the end of the show that sets the stage for his first solo movie.

[RELATED – 10 Captain America Movie Mistakes You’ll Never Be Able to Unsee]

3) Eternals

Eternals seems like a movie that the MCU wants everyone to forget. Despite introducing a new team of heroes to the franchise, there have been almost no references to the Chloé Zhao-directed movie since its release. Brave New World doesn’t care about any of that, making the end of Eternals a major part of its plot.

At the end of Eternals, Sersi and her allies have to fight against Ikaris, who wants to allow a Celestial, Tiamut the Communicator, to destroy the Earth. They save the planet, but there are still consequences, with the body of the Celestial finding a home in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

4) The Incredible Hulk

Since Edward Norton’s recast, The Incredible Hulk has been the black sheep of the MCU. The only olive branch that was extended to it was the return of William Hurt’s Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in Captain America: Civil War. However, Brave New World once again bucks the trend by making the events of The Incredible Hulk important to its story.

Both of the major villains in Brave New World made their debuts in The Incredible Hulk, and their history becomes the backbone of the threat that Captain America faces. It may seem strange to return to a Phase One MCU movie this late in the game, but it’s required viewing ahead of the fourth Captain America movie.

Captain America: Brave New World is streaming on Disney+.

Are you planning on watching these MCU projects before Captain America: Brave New World? Are there any other movies and shows that you think are worth watching? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Which MCU Movies & TV Shows to Watch Before Streaming Captain America: Brave New World on Disney+ appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Ms. Marvel star Aramis Knight, who portrayed Red Dagger on the Marvel Cinematic Universe series, has a disappointing update about a possible second season. In an interview with Screen Rant to promote his new film Karate Kid: Legends, the actor was asked about his possible future in the Marvel franchise. While Knight would be happy to return if the opportunity presented itself, he fears audiences might have seen the last of Red Dagger, citing how much time has passed since Ms. Marvel debuted. Knight also shared that he was in line to reprise his MCU role at various points, but things never worked out due to a variety of factors.

“I wish not, but I think so,” Knight said when asked if his time in the MCU is over. “I don’t think so. I mean it’s been a long time now, so I am not really sure. I mean I would love to. I was supposed to make appearances and other things but it didn’t end up working out and some logistical stuff and COVID stuff and I think also creative stuff. But I mean that was also an amazing show, but I dunno, I’m still waiting for the call to be honest.”

Ms. Marvel premiered on Disney+ back in 2022, bringing Kamala Khan to the MCU. The show earned enthusiastic reviews, with many praising its unique style and Iman Vellani’s performance in the titular role. Ms. Marvel laid the foundation for Vellani to reprise Kamala in 2023’s The Marvels, the feature film that saw her team up with Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau on a new adventure. At the end of the movie, Kamala looks to recruit Kate Bishop to form the Young Avengers.

[RELATED – Ms. Marvel Star Iman Vellani Has an Idea to Make the MCU Special Again]

Kamala hasn’t been seen since The Marvels, but the character was referenced during Daredevil: Born Again Season 1. In the now famous bank heist episode, Matt Murdock has a brief interaction with Kamala’s father Yusuf Khan. It’s revealed that Kamala is visiting friends in California. It has not been confirmed when Vellani will return for another Marvel project.

In the years since Ms. Marvel premiered, Marvel Studios has re-evaluated its strategy and made some notable changes. Even Kevin Feige realized it had become too much like homework for viewers to keep up with all the MCU content, so he’s moving forward with a “quality over quantity” approach. This means fewer movies and TV shows each year, which means Marvel is going to be more selective about what gets the green light. While The Marvels ended with a tease for a new superhero team, that film bombed at the box office with just $206.1 million worldwide. It seems unlikely there will be a follow-up to that project (be it a movie or TV show), raising questions about Ms. Marvel’s MCU future. Right now, the best bet might be to give her a supporting role in a film or series.

If Kamala is to return at some point in the Multiverse Saga, it would probably be in either Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars. Vellani was not among the 27 actors confirmed for Doomsday Marvel revealed in late March, but there are more casting announcements that will be made at a later date. Perhaps Vellani will be part of that next wave. If not, odds are audiences will have to wait until after Secret Wars to see her again. The start of a new saga for Marvel could serve as a gateway to deliver on the Young Avengers tease.

The post Ms. Marvel Season 2 Gets a Disappointing Update (What’s Next for Kamala Khan?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Oh, Dennis Reynolds, the resident sociopath of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Thanks to Glenn Howerton’s mastery of comedic timing, there’s an argument that Dennis is the show’s funniest character. That said, a similarly strong argument could be made for Rob McElhenney’s Mac, Danny DeVito’s Frank, Kaitlin Olson’s “Sweet” Dee, and Charlie Day’s Charlie. In other words, it’s a show where all five scheming, foul-mouthed protagonists are pretty much tied for first. And, given how the show has been running for 20 years now, each of those characters have received episodes that expand their respective personalities in noteworthy ways. And it’s not always in an episode where they’re fronting the A-plot.

What follows are some of those episodes for Dennis. “Some” because Season 4’s “Dennis Reynolds: An Erotic Life” and the “Mac and Charlie Die” two-parter didn’t make the cut, nor did Season 6’s “Mac Fights Gay Marriage” and “Dennis Gets Divorced.” Yet they too are incredibly important. “An Erotic Life” shows us just how much of a sex symbol Dennis deems himself to be. Meanwhile, the “Mac and Charlie Die” duology has him explain what a glory hole is, and it’s glorious. Then there’s that Season 6 duology, which introduces none other than Maureen Ponderosa…the woman he marries, divorces, pays for her transition into a cat, and, ultimately, “maybe” murders.

1) “The Gang Exploits a Miracle” (Season 2, Episode 7)

Dennis’ extreme, unhealthy vanity was a presence in the character even early on. His cohorts seem to acknowledge this as well. For instance, he, Mac, and Charlie just kind of accept and agree upon the fact that their dynamic is “The Looks, the Brains, and the Wildcard.”

But this is something Dennis takes too far, and too much to heart, the very moment the concept of his fading looks pops up. For instance, in Season 7’s “How Mac Got Fat,” which sees him get a chemical peel and die his hair black. Then there’s the Season 2 masterpiece “The Gang Exploits a Miracle,” which sees both the A and B-plot firing on all cylinders. As for the B-plot, it really just comes down to Dee telling Dennis his face looks fat, at which point he begins to starve himself (and, at one point, equate his vain attempt to decrease the size of his already slender face to “Jesus and Moses out in the desert”).

2) “The Gang Finds A Dumpster Baby” (Season 3, Episode 1)

Dennis’ vengeful nature is the ultimate quality of his that has grown as the series has progressed. If he’s wronged, you better believe he’ll come back with a quickly yet thoroughly thought-out plan carried out via manipulation and fueled by vindictiveness. He comes back with both barrels, in metaphorical terms. It’s just, later in the show, you wonder if that metaphorical nature might be swapped out for a literal one.

The best early days example of this is in “The Gang Finds a Dumpster Baby,” where a hippy turns him away when he tries to become an environmentalist. On one hand, he wants to do this because he just watched An Inconvenient Truth and wants to combat the “sad, throwaway culture” we’re living in. On the other hand, you know he’s just in it to inflate his ego. Either way, he gets rejected, which sets him down a course of sleeping with the condescending hippy’s girlfriend after planting in his head the idea of tying himself to a tree. Then, after sleeping with the girlfriend and untying the man, he waves on a bulldozer to tear down the tree.

3) “America’s Next Top Paddy’s Billboard Model Contest” (Season 4, Episode 3)

Dennis’ neediness is pretty well tied to his vanity. His opinion of himself always comes in first place, but he also needs that inflated view of self positively reinforced by a third party, even if he has absolutely no respect for that third party.

This is especially true if that third party he has something he wants, usually something that will help further inflate his already bloated vanity. Like a billboard. Then again, that bloated view of self can mislead Dennis, like when he’s in a contest to be on the aforementioned billboard and his competitors are actual stallions. To watch him play a losing man’s game of that type is compelling stuff.

4) “Mac and Dennis Break Up” (Season 5, Episode 9)

Dennis likes to think he’s independent. He likes to think he genuinely doesn’t need anyone, especially Mac. But he’s wrong and Season 5’s “Mac and Dennis Breaks Up” proves it.

When Dee insinuates that they would be lost without one another, Mac and Dennis decide to go their separate ways for a short time. For Mac, this makes him needier than ever. The same thing happens with Dennis, but in his case it’s arguably even stronger and less expected. He just wants to watch Transporter 2, but Dee has her attention locked on getting a cat out of her wall. So, still in her apartment, he gets Charlie over to watch the movie with him. But, given how the situation involves cats, Charlie’s attention also moves to the wall. Dennis pathetically sits in the background asking if they’re ready to watch the movie. That is, until he swallows an apple seed and goes to the toilet to emit the most hilarious vomiting sound in television history.

5) “The D.E.N.N.I.S. System” (Season 5, Episode 10)

It’s always been hinted at that Dennis has the confidence to do well with women. But it wasn’t until Season 5 that he, quite excitedly, explained just how he does so well.

As it turns out, he just flat-out plays horrible mind games. The entirety of his system in “The D.E.N.N.I.S. System” is so on-brand for him that it’s naturally one of his best episodes. But it’s also just a well-constructed 20 or so minutes of television. There’s also charm in knowing that the actress playing the latest target of his system is his real-life wife.

[RELATED: 10 Best It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Episodes]

6) “The Gang Buys a Boat” (Season 6, Episode 3)

“The Gang Buys a Boat” is a great episode for the entirety of the gang, but mostly for Dennis, and this is all because of one scene.

Dennis’ monologue about “the implication” is both his most iconic and a notable turning point. This is the first time we truly see Dennis as a full-on predator (even more so than in “The D.E.N.N.I.S. System”). He even has a name for his process of making women feel trapped. The fact that Howerton sells it all in a way that’s funny, even through a dead-eyed stare, is seemingly something only he can do.

7) “The Storm of the Century” (Season 7, Episode 6)

Charlie has the Waitress, Dennis has Jackie Denardo. Or, in Dennis’ words, “Charlie, I might be in love with this woman…not for the right reasons, mind you.”

He’s referring to the newscaster’s breasts. Their size is really the only thing he knows about her. And their size is enough to make the ultra-confident man quiver and studder when he finally comes face-to-face with her. Denardo actually came back twice after “The Storm of the Century,” once in Dennis’ daydream in “The Gang Saves the Day,” which has every member of the gang hallucinate their ultimate dream, and once in Season 14’s “Paddy’s Has a Jumper,” in which she only shares screentime with Frank (who is equally enamored with her).

8) “The Gang Gets Quarantined” (Season 9, Episode 7)

“The Gang Gets Quarantined” is really a great episode for all five characters. For Frank because it focuses on his descent into paranoid insanity revolving around his newfound fear of hair. For the others, because they’re locked in Paddy’s bathroom experiencing alcohol withdrawal.

The first one to experience withdrawal is Dennis, who has been obsessing over the gang getting their harmonizing right so they can open for Boyz II Men. Meaning, he’s been refraining from drinking to spare his throat. All of the gang ends up vomiting uncontrollably and getting the shakes, but Dennis ends up looking like an absolute ghost. To prove to Mac and Dee that he’s feeling fine, he asks them if a sick man could belt out a drawn out, high-pitched note (by belting out that drawn out, high-pitched note), to which Mac replies, “Yeah, dude.”

9) “The Gang Misses the Boat” (Season 10, Episode 6)

“The Gang Misses the Boat” is an interesting episode and, given how it has Charlie and Dee have sex, an important one. But it’s also important for Dennis as it’s arguably the first time we really see him lose control over his temper. His Range Rover has been submerged in water and, instead of getting it out, he attempts to sell it. Finally, he meets an interested buyer who isn’t put off by it being submerged. But then the prospective buyer lets slip that he’s going to be purchasing it for his daughter, as a “Starter car.” To that, Dennis lets loose with one of his most iconic rants to date.

“I have contained my rage for as long as possible, but I shall unleash my fury upon you like the crashing of a thousand waves! Begone, vile man! Begone from me! A starter car? This car is a finisher car! A transporter of gods! The golden god! I am untethered, and my rage knows no bounds!”

10) “Mac & Dennis Move to the Suburbs” (Season 11, Episode 5)

“Mac & Dennis Move to the Suburbs” has screentime for Charlie, Dee, and Frank, but this is really the two title characters’ episode all the way through. As the years have gone on, Mac (especially after officially coming out of the closet) has grown increasingly obsessed with Dennis and, in turn, Dennis has become increasingly dismissive of Mac.

This episode essentially locks them in a location that’s far away from their big city comfort zone and it works like a charm. Both characters go insane in their own ways, with Mac chopping up a dog (which he names Dennis) and feeding it to Dennis in a bowl of mac and cheese and Dennis, well, fantasizing about stripping naked and screaming at a neighbor.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia returns for its Season 17 debut (the second part of the Abbott Elementary crossover) on July 9th.

The post 10 Best Dennis Reynolds Episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Daredevil: Born Again was a critical hit for Marvel Studios, but that word of mouth didn’t lead to high viewership figures. It wasn’t even the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest TV show of the past year. According to data compiled by Variety, Agatha All Along was the top Marvel series, accumulating 9 million viewers (based on total 35-day viewing). That is a considerably larger audience than Daredevil: Born Again, which saw 5.8 million viewers by the same metrics. That’s a difference of 3.2 million viewers between two of the MCU’s high-profile Phase 5 TV shows.

When compared to the larger television landscape, neither Agatha All Along or Daredevil: Born Again was a viewership juggernaut. Among the top 100 shows of 2024-25, Agatha ranked 45th, while Daredevil came in 92nd place.

A spinoff of WandaVision, Agatha All Along premiered on Disney+ last fall. It earned positive reviews, particularly for Kathryn Hahn’s performance in the titular role. Despite the success, a second season of the show hasn’t been greenlit yet. However, Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum has mentioned the studio is open to that possibility if the right story presents itself. Hahn would be excited to return if Agatha All Along Season 2 ever gets off the ground.

[RELATED – Kathryn Hahn Comments on Agatha All Along Season 2: “Would Be Thrilled to Come Back”]

Daredevil: Born Again, a continuation of Netflix’s Daredevil, launched in early March. Even before the first season debuted, Marvel Studios was moving forward with a second season. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is set to release on Disney+ in March 2026. Set photos from earlier in the year teased some notable developments, such as Matt Murdock’s new superhero costume.

This is another troubling sign for Daredevil: Born Again. Despite the positive reviews, it also failed to chart on Nielsen’s ratings list of the top 10 original streaming shows (a first for Marvel Television). Considering Daredevil star Charlie Cox’s fan-favorite status, it’s surprising to see Born Again struggle so much with viewership. One possible reason for this is MCU fatigue. Since Disney+ launched, Marvel has launched a bevy of TV series, so many that even Kevin Feige realized the studio had to slow down its output. It’s become increasingly difficult for casual audiences to keep up with MCU offerings, meaning people may have opted to skip Born Again entirely.

It’s also plausible that viewers who didn’t watch Netflix’s Daredevil felt alienated by Born Again since they were unfamiliar with the storylines and character arcs being continued. Hopefully, things pick up when the second season arrives next year. As Marvel scales back, the studio will be producing fewer movies and TV shows annually. This means Daredevil: Born Again is a key project for them moving forward. Ideally, they’d like it to be a hit. Strong reviews are great, but strong viewership figures that drive subscriptions are even better from a business perspective.

The post Marvel’s Biggest TV Show of the Last Year Might Surprise You appeared first on ComicBook.com.

All ten episode titles for the first season of Dexter: Resurrection have been revealed, teasing a long awaited showdown. Dexter: Resurrection is one of the most anticipated shows of 2025, as it will bring back America’s Favorite Serial Killer. From 2006 – 2013, Dexter dominated Showtime as its most popular series thanks to its thrills, kills, and incredible ensemble cast. Michael C. Hall was frequently recognized for his nuanced performance as serial killer vigilante Dexter Morgan and when the show ended, fans immediately missed him. This allowed Showtime to bring him back for Dexter: New Blood in 2021, a show that was meant to close the door on this era of Dexter for good.

However, it did just the opposite it would seem. Despite the fact Dexter was killed, fans wanted to see Michael C. Hall return to the role again. They weren’t pleased with how it ended and ratings for New Blood were otherwise through the roof. So, everyone involved put their heads together and figured out a way to bring Dexter back to life. Now, we are getting yet another sequel series known as Dexter: Resurrection. Plot details have remained under plastic wrap for about a year now, but we do know Dexter emerges from a coma and heads to New York City to find his son which in turn introduces him to new foes.

All 10 Dexter: Resurrection Episode Titles Revealed

However, we have been given some new clues about what the new season will entail. The official Showtime account on Reddit revealed all the episode titles for the first season of Dexter: Resurrection. You can view the full list of episodes below.

101 – A Beating Heart…

102 – Camera Shy

103 – Backseat Driver

104 – Call Me Red

105 – Murder Horny

106 – Cats and Mouse

107 – Course Correction

108 – The Kill Room Where It Happens

109 – Touched by an Ángel

110 – And Justice For All…

The first episode, titled “A Beating Heart…”, seems to be in reference to Dexter being brought back to life and awakening from his coma. Episode 2, titled Camera Shy, may be about Dexter trying to avoid being caught on camera in a bustling city. It’s possible he will have broken out of police custody once again as he killed a cop at the end of New Blood and is under suspicion of being the Bay Harbor Butcher. Perhaps someone posts his picture on social media or something of that nature? Episode 3, “Backseat Driver”, may be in reference to Dexter befriending a ride share driver named Blessing Kamara.

Episode 8, “The Kill Room Where It Happens”, obviously means we will be seeing Dexter wrapping people up to be killed once again. The fact it’s part of an episode title definitely suggests something may go wrong here or Dexter will have to reveal his ritual to a new person. Episode 9, “Touched by an Ángel” seems like it may be the one where we finally get to see Dexter and Angel Batista have a confrontation. Batista was called to Iron Lake at the end of Dexter: New Blood after learning that Dexter was still alive, but we never got to see their showdown. It seems like they will finally come head to head in a dramatic way here, the penultimate episode of the season.

No matter what happens here, the show won’t end this season. Michael C. Hall has confirmed that Dexter: Resurrection is planned to be a multi-season series that he will continue to star in for years to come. Of course, that presents a lot of questions on how he will avoid getting locked up or killed again with the walls closing in on him once more, but that’s part of the thrill of this show.

Fans expect the first proper Dexter: Resurrection trailer to drop on May 31st, as the cast and crew of the show are hosting a big panel at CCXP in Mexico. This would be the most likely place for a trailer to drop, so hopefully it gives us a good taste of what’s to come.

Dexter: Resurrection premieres on Paramount+ with its first two episodes on July 11th.

The post Dexter: Resurrection Episode Titles Tease a Long Awaited Showdown appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When talking about contemporary horror with substance, it’s impossible to ignore the name Mike Flanagan. Over the last decade, the director and screenwriter has established himself as one of the most consistent figures in the genre, skillfully balancing the essence of horror with emotionally resonant plots, dense dialogue, and themes like grief, faith, trauma, and redemption. With a distinctive and much-discussed creative vision, Flanagan has built a filmography that goes well beyond simply trying to scare – his stories often strike a psychological, spiritual, and emotional chord. From The Haunting of Hill House to Midnight Mass, along with some strong Stephen King adaptations, he has shown that horror doesn’t have to stick to convention.

Flanagan experiments, takes risks, and constantly looks to evolve his work. From undeniable successes to a few more uneven titles, each of his projects reveals a different facet of a filmmaker who knows how to turn fear into something more reflective. But among them all, which stands out as the best and which falls short?

12) Absentia

The beginning of it all. Absentia feels like an early sketch of the filmmaker Mike Flanagan would eventually become. It’s his first feature, made on a tiny budget, and while it’s rough around the edges, you can already see some of the key elements that would later define his work – a creepy atmosphere, emotional themes, and a focus on grief, disappearance, and the fear of the unknown. The idea is there, and it’s interesting, but the execution doesn’t quite hold up. The writing, direction, and acting are okay, but nothing really grabs you, mostly because the movie feels uneven and a bit inconsistent.

Absentia ends up being more of a curiosity than a must-watch. It’s valuable if you want to understand where Flanagan started, but compared to what came after, it feels amateur.

[RELATED: The Life of Chuck Teaser Promises Another Compelling Stephen King and Mike Flanagan Collab]

11) Before I Wake

Good idea, poor execution. Before I Wake is easily Flanagan’s most inconsistent film. The premise has a lot of potential, but the movie gets stuck trying to juggle family drama, fantasy, and horror, and ends up not fully committing to any of them. There are a few visually strong moments, but the tone is all over the place, and emotionally, it just doesn’t land. The plot feels like it’s going in circles, never really pushing any of its ideas far enough. That said, you can still sense Flanagan’s usual sensitivity trying to break through – the themes are there, even if they’re not well explored.

Before I Wake is a bit immature, but it doesn’t feel dishonest. It’s clear that there was heart behind the project, even if the result doesn’t quite come together. For anyone following Flanagan’s work, it might be worth watching just to see where he was trying to go.

10) Ouija: Origin of Evil

Flanagan took a generic bomb and managed to turn it into something decent. But that’s just it – decent. In Ouija: Origin of Evil, the ’60s aesthetic works in the film’s favor, along with some solid direction and strong performances, especially from the child actors. Still, we’re clearly in familiar territory: jump scares, haunted house tropes, and a plot that doesn’t leave much of an impression. It feels like Flanagan was playing by the studio’s rules while quietly trying to push against them. The result is a film that’s technically competent, but limited – both by its origin as a franchise sequel and by the genre formulas it never fully escapes.

Ouija: Origin of Evil is worth checking out mostly to see what Flanagan can do with weak material. He elevates a franchise that started at rock bottom, and that’s no small feat. But despite the improvements, the film still feels disposable.

9) Oculus

Oculus is where Flanagan begins to find his voice. The movie is a narrative experiment where reality and illusion blur, and horror comes from the instability of what is seen. The story is, at its core, about distorted memories and inherited guilt. And even with a limited budget, the filmmaker already shows his fixation with more fragmented narratives and pain as the driving force behind the story. On the other hand, the pacing could be better, as the execution is a little repetitive. The characters are shallow and the emotional development is weaker. The film is more interesting as a sketch of Flanagan’s style than as a complete film.

Oculus has a structure that carries the filmmaker’s ambition. But, ultimately, it’s not so memorable. It is merely revealing and an important step in his career.

8) The Midnight Club

Flanagan decided to speak to a younger audience here, and this is clear in the (relative) lightness of its tone. The Midnight Club is a pleasant series with heart, but one that never really manages to move you. The horror stories are good, but the episodic structure hinders engagement. The most beautiful thing about the series is the idea of giving a voice to those who are dying. The characters talk about fear, regret, and fantasy as a form of resistance. But it lacks depth – it lacks the weight that marks his other works. It’s good, but perhaps the most “neutral” of his filmography.

The Midnight Club has good intentions, but its execution is uneven. The drama works in part, but it still lacks a little intensity. It has potential, but not the impact that Flanagan manages to achieve in other works.

7) Doctor Sleep

Doctor Sleep has a thankless task: to be the sequel to both versions of The Shining – King’s book and Stanley Kubrick’s film. Flanagan tries to please both sides, and as a result, the movie falters at times. It’s a good and very valid attempt at conciliation, but the story alternates between introspective drama and supernatural action without balance. Yes, the direction is solid and there are some strong moments, especially with the return to the Overlook Hotel – an honest fan service. Also, it transforms Danny Torrance into a broken man trying to rebuild his life, and that alone is worth the effort. It’s an ambitious film, but you can’t always get it right.

Doctor Sleep is quite interesting as a proposal rather than as a final result. Its merit lies precisely in its sincere attempt. It’s as if the filmmaker could say that he respects the story and legacy of The Shining, but wants to tell something else.

6) Hush

Minimalist, direct, and cruel. Hush is an exercise in language, and that’s what makes it so special. Here, Flanagan delivers a work that is pure narrative control. The fact that the protagonist is deaf completely changes the rules of the game: sounds are no longer warnings, but threats. It’s a suspenseful film that never lets up, where every technical choice counts towards creating just the right amount of tension. In other words, with Hush, the director simply shows that he doesn’t need ghosts to haunt an audience. With few elements, he does it perfectly.

Very well executed, Hush is a simple story that grabs your attention. It’s not ranked as one of Flanagan’s best works because it still lacks the emotional or narrative weight of his other great productions.

5) Gerald’s Game

Few people believed that this King’s book could be turned into a good movie. But Flanagan not only proved that it was possible – he made it a statement of identity. With Gerald’s Game, he takes a simple situation and turns it into a psychological nightmare about abuse, memory, and resilience. With this film, the director grandly proves what time and practice can do to shape someone professionally. Here we see his obsession with past pain manifesting itself more clearly. It’s a movie that shows how he masters intimate horror, the kind that comes from within and not from scares.

Gerald’s Game is a difficult adaptation that worked. With few resources and a lot of creativity and courage, the viewer remains interested in the story at all times. The performances are essential, but the greatest merit lies in transforming a minimalist premise into a tense psychological study.

4) The Haunting of Bly Manor

Let’s cut to the chase: The Haunting of Bly Manor suffers from coming right after The Haunting of Hill House, because it’s not a sequel in terms of impact, only in aesthetics. But that doesn’t diminish it. If the first season was about loss and grief, this one is about love – in all its forms. It’s a more contemplative, more subtle work, and for that very reason, it’s often underrated. Flanagan takes the horror out of the picture to let the drama breathe, so the result is a story that scares less but touches more deeply. For some who are expecting something more terrifying, it’s a sure rejection, but the slow-paced narrative is intentional, which also shows a different and cool vision of Flanagan for us to watch.

More melancholic, The Haunting of Bly Manor is a sensitive story with good dialogue and a moving ending. It is highly cohesive in what it sets out to do, although not exactly the director’s most memorable project.

3) The Fall of the House of Usher

This series is a celebration of the grotesque. In The Fall of the House of Usher, Flanagan flirts with excess (and has fun doing it). It’s a story laden with brutality that, rather than metaphors, offers a raw exposure of a lineage rotten to the core, paying the price for its own mistakes. By freely adapting Edgar Allan Poe, he creates a scathing critique of capitalism, ego, and the legacy of power. There’s something cathartic about seeing the characters being swallowed up by their own corruption. The aesthetics are impeccable, the editing is sharp, and the use of literature as a basis shows a more sarcastic side of Flanagan.

With The Fall of the House of Usher, the filmmaker unabashedly shows that he can also be literary, but quite cruel when he wants to be. It’s a well-constructed and versatile series with a consistent pace and mastery, but perhaps it lacks the emotional weight that is his trademark. It’s great in execution, but more cynical than engaging.

2) The Haunting of Hill House

Mike Flanagan is now a big name, but it’s only with The Haunting of Hill House that he becomes serious business. The show redefines the use of trauma in horror, transforming a haunted house story into a fable about the weight of childhood. It’s about unresolved pain, and ghosts serve perfectly as a metaphor for everything we bury and pretend we’ve forgotten. The structure of the episodes is brilliant, precisely because it’s crafted layer by layer. Besides, the character development is very careful, and the famous Episode 6, with its almost uninterrupted sequence shot, is simply a masterclass in filmmaking.

The Haunting of Hill House is haunting, yes – but more than that, it is deeply human. And perhaps that is why it is so scary. It is a significant milestone in Flanagan’s career, because it’s basically the turning point, when it goes from being promising to becoming essential.

1) Midnight Mass

Midnight Mass is the heart of the filmmaker’s career. But it’s not just his best work – it’s his most personal, most painful, and most daring. Here, he abandons the adaptation format and delivers something entirely his own, a profound reflection on faith, addiction, regret, and, above all, the desperate need to find meaning amid chaos. There is something almost theatrical about the long monologues, but they never feel gratuitous, because each line is like a scar being opened. This is where horror ceases to be merely aesthetic and becomes existential, which places Flanagan in the position of artist and thinker. In other words: if you want to understand what drives him, this series is the key.

The horror is intimate, the characters are flawed and human, and the ending is, paradoxically, the most hopeful and tragic of all. He takes a risk and hits the mark. With tight control over the script, direction, and theme, Midnight Mass has Flanagan’s greatest emotional and philosophical density. It marks the peak of his career.

The post Every Mike Flanagan Movie & Series Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Rick And Morty’s eighth season started with a bang as the season premiere saw Morty and Summer trapped in a “Matrix-like” environment thanks to stealing their grandpa’s phone charger. While the episode to kick off season eight was one with plenty of laughs, it appears as though the second episode is planning to bring back Beth Smith’s doppelganger once again. Adult Swim might have previously shared a brief preview for the next installment, the Cartoon Network programming block has gone one better and released the full two-minute intro for Rick And Morty’s next episode.

The next episode is titled “Valkyrick” and will air on Sunday, June 1st at midnight. Not only is Space Beth making a comeback but it appears as though the Gromflomites will be returning as well. The alien bug race has had a major part in Rick And Morty since the very start of the series, routinely causing some major headaches for Rick Sanchez. In “Valkyrick,” it appears as though Space Beth will be undergoing an assassination mission to take out the Gromflomite queen. Rather than waiting for any sort of plan, the Beth of the stars immediately flies into action but gets more than she bargained for.

[RELATED: Rick and Morty Premiere Puts New Spin on Adult Morty & Summer]

The Question of Space Beth

One of the biggest questions surrounding both Beth and her doppelganger is which Beth Smith is the real Beth Smith. Space Beth first appeared in Rick And Morty’s season four finale, “Star Mort Rickturn of The Jerri,” introduced as a Beth who was far closer to her father in the technological awareness department. Ever since, Space Beth has been a regular part of the cast, appearing throughout the subsequent episodes and even having a fling with Beth herself. To this day, many wonder which Beth might be the real deal and perhaps that question will finally be answered in season eight.

Rick And Morty’s eighth season will house ten episodes in total. While there might not be previews for future installments, Adult Swim had previously released episode titles to give fans a glimpse at the animated series’ future. Here are the current episode titles for season eight.

• Summer of All Fears
• Valkyrick
• The Rick, The Mort & The Ugly
• The Last Temptation of Jerry
• Cryo Mort a Ricker
• The Curicksous Case of Bethjamin Button
• Ricker Than Fiction
• Nomortland
• Morty Daddy
• Hot Rick

As of the writing of this article, Rick And Morty has been renewed all the way up until season twelve, meaning that the Smith family isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. While Justin Roiland might have departed the series, his voices have since been recast and co-creator Dan Harmon and showrunner Scott Marder are sticking with the Adult Swim series.

Want to see what the future holds for Adult Swim’s biggest original series? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Rick And Morty and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Rick And Morty Season 8 Shares New Lore-Building Opening For Episode 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

As if Severance wasn’t already complicated and mysterious enough, the team behind the hit series is exploring two ideas for spinoff shows. Ben Stiller revealed this himself in an interview with Variety on Thursday, alongside fellow producer and series star Adam Scott. He definitely shared this news on purpose, but he was guarded, and shared no further details or hints. Stiller helped develop the show from the beginning with creator and showrunner Dan Erickson, and has directed 11 out of its 19 episodes himself. He’s still keeping plenty of secrets on behalf of Lumon Industries, but he gave us this tidbit to ponder.

“There are two specific ideas — that I won’t tell you — that we’ve talked about internally as possible spinoff ideas,” Stiller said when the topic of franchise expansion as broached. It sounds like these are ideas in their earliest stages, and they may not even have been pitched to Apple TV+ yet. When asked where they were in the creative process, Still said, “They are nascent.”

Stiller and Scott were equally tight-lipped about the future of the main series. Asked how far along Season 3 is, Still replied, “I don’t want to talk about where we’re at in our process.” He also declined to comment on the total number of seasons he expects for the show, or the fates of particular characters.

[RELATED: 5 Great Severance Moments Unlike Anything Else on TV]

One hypothetical both were happy to comment on was the idea of Severance in other forms of media. Both imagined that the setting would be interesting for video games, with Scott remarking, “I think it lends itself to one.” They also hoped to see more merchandising for the show, particularly Lumon Industries office supplies. They imagined these could take on the hyper-specific look and feel of the cult-like company, becoming “bespoke.”

It’s hard to speculate about what a Severance spinoff would be about without also leaning on fan theories. The show has intentionally kept viewers in the dark about many key aspects of its setting and core premise, from the prevalence of Severance at other offices around the world to the cult-like communities that surround Lumon. The show could take us to other places and follow brand new characters going through this process, but it seems to be concentrated in the town of Kier for a reason. Any other Severed workplace would be further away from the Eagan family’s headquarters.

Any progress on these spinoffs will likely be as slow and methodical as the work on the main series itself. Severance Season 3 is in the works now, but there’s no word on when we might see it. The first two seasons are streaming now on Apple TV+.

The post Ben Stiller Teases Severance Team Are Considering Two Spinoff TV Shows appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Though Wednesday Addams isn’t one for big displays of emotion, Wednesday‘s horror fans can rejoice! In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, show creators Al Gough and Miles Millar teased what’s to come in the new season of the hit Netflix show, which premieres this August. Their big promise? Wednesday will be going even darker and lean more into the horror aspect of the show’s horror-comedy tone. While Millar and Gough are well aware of Wednesday‘s broad, family audience appeal, the show’s second season will push the envelope with its fear factor. The upped horror element reflects the creator’s wish to up the stakes and sense of danger in the world of Wednesday.

“There’s some moments which are definitely horror movie-worthy,” Millar teased. “We have that in Season 1, but I think this season there are moments that are very intense, I’ll say.” Wednesday Season 1 had its fair share of bite, Gough and Millar are doubling down to bring horror fans a more scream-worthy Season 2 as they evolve the show.

Gough and Millar Promise More Frights in Wednesday Season 2

In addition to more straight “horror” moments in Season 2, Gough and Millar teased more of everything that made Wednesday such a hit when it debuted in November 2022 on Netflix.

“We certainly set out to really stretch ourselves and stretch what the show could do and see where our characters could go,” Millar said. “The last thing you want is people to be disappointed having waited for so long. We really want to ensure that the show is loaded with surprises and comedy and action, and that they see the characters they love, but also introduce new ones.”

We’re not sure yet exactly how these new characters — played by Steve Buscemi, Thandiwe Newton, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, Billie Piper, and star of the 1991 The Addams Family, Christopher Lloyd — will factor into Season 2’s heightened horror. However, they are all no strangers to the genre.

RELATED: Wednesday Season 2 Sneak Peek Brings the Addams Family to Nevermore

Jenna Ortega is set to return in her star-making role as Wednesday Addams, but this time, she won’t be the only Addams at Nevermore Academy. Her younger brother Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) will enroll at the school. Wednesday’s parents, and Gomez (Luis Guzmán) and Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) also find themselves sticking around campus, yet we’re not sure why yet. Even Wednesday’s Grandmama (Joanna Lumley) will be making an appearance on the show’s second season.

Wednesday Not to Leave Its Beloved Horror-Comedy Tone Totally Behind

Fans of horror may be chomping at the bit for Wednesday‘s darker tone, it won’t all be doom and gloom. The series’ juxtaposition between horror and levity, all set against a compelling mystery, is what made the show a smash for Netflix. Gough and Millar claim to have not lost sight of that.

“Season 2 definitely has some moments which are more straightforward horror, and we’re very aware that the show is watched by everybody in terms of the age groups,” Millar said. “So we want to make sure that it’s never torture porn, but that there’s enough bite to it that it feels that there are real stakes and that people die in this world, and it’s scary at moments. And I think that’s the great tonal shift that the show makes between comedy and horror.”

The bar is undoubtedly high among both horror fans and family viewers for Wednesday‘s second season. The series distinguished itself by leaning more toward horror and mystery rather than humor and camp from previous incarnations of The Addams Family. Even so, it seems no matter how scary Season 2 of Wednesday might get, Gough and Millar will be ready to counterbalance with levity at a moment’s notice to make for another hit season of television.

Wednesday Season 2 premieres with Part 1 on August 6th and Part 2 on September 3rd on Netflix.

The post Wednesday Showrunners Tease Big Season 2 Change (& Horror Fans Will Be Excited) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Some of the most iconic villains in TV history have managed to become more popular than the heroes of their respective series. In almost every TV show, there is a clear protagonist, and a clear antagonist, and it typically works out that audiences favor the hero above all else. However, this isn’t always the case, as, sometimes, villains have enough charisma, personality, and growth to overshadow their heroes. On countless occasions, too many to list fully, villains in TV shows have become more popular among audiences than the series’ heroes.

While the likes of The Blacklist’s Raymond Reddington, The Mandalorian’s Boba Fett, and Doctor Who’s Master have captivated us, some villains have truly stolen audiences’ hearts. Whether they’re redeemable or not, these villains have become iconic in their own right, with some becoming the main reason viewers keep returning to these shows.

7) Kilgrave in Jessica Jones

David Tennant is best known as the 10th (and later 14th) Doctor in Doctor Who, so it was surprising he portrayed one of Marvel’s most sinister villains so brilliantly. Marvel Television’s Jessica Jones Season 1 featured Tennant’s Kilgrave as its primary antagonist, and his mind-control ability made him a truly haunting villain. Even so, Tennant’s performance captivated audiences, which has spurred rumors about his return to the MCU, despite his death in Jessica Jones. Now that Krysten Ritter is back for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, the chance might be there for Kilgrave to return to wreak more havoc, too.

6) Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal

Dr. Hannibal Lecter might be one of the most deplorable characters ever created, as a brilliant forensic psychologist and secret serial killer and cannibal. However, this didn’t stop audiences falling in love with Mads Mikkelsen’s version of the iconic villain in Hannibal, in which Lecter is tasked with supervising FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) while investigating a serial killer in Minnesota. The bond formed between Graham and Lecter made the latter a more likeable character, despite his heinous private activities, and he became the core of the show, making it one of the greatest horror TV shows ever.

5) Jim Moriarty in Sherlock

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman made a fantastic pair in Sherlock, but it was Andrew Scott who stole the show whenever Moriarty would be featured in the popular BBC series. Moriarty is Sherlock’s most prominent, long-running, and powerful threat, posing problems for the sociopathic Consulting Detective even long after his death. Scott’s delivery of Moriarty elevated the legendary villain with humor and levity, but also sinister and unpredictable textures that made him a complete wild-card. Moriarty might have been killed off quite early on, but his legacy was felt even in Sherlock’s later seasons.

RELATED: 3 Times Sherlock Was the Best Version of the Character (And 3 Times It Failed)

4) Benjamin Linus in Lost

Considered to be one of the greatest TV shows of all time, Lost mastered its character development, and not just for its protagonists, the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. Michael Emerson’s Benjamin Linus became a core part of Lost after his debut as the leader of the Others in Season 3, and despite making some questionable and sometimes-horrific decisions, Ben was eventually humanized through flashbacks to his awful upbringing and redemption in Lost’s final season. Ben eventually became one of Lost’s most developed and beloved characters, going from villain to bona fide hero as Hugo’s (Jorge Garcia) right-hand-man.

3) Sue Sylvester in Glee

While musical comedy-drama Glee’s popularity waned in its later seasons, the love for Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) never died out. Sue Sylvester was an ever-present thorn in the side of William McKinley High School’s Glee Club, regularly fighting Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) over the dispersal of the school’s budget. Sue was one of Glee’s most hilarious characters, witty, dark, and sometimes even delightful. Many argue that, in the show’s later years, Sue Sylvester made Glee worth watching, and became far more popular than any of the newer young cast.

2) Negan in The Walking Dead

Jeffrey Dean Morgan made his debut as Negan in The Walking Dead Season 8’s finale, “Last Day on Earth,” and has gone on to become a staple of the show and its spinoffs. While he started as the terrifying leader of the Saviors, who made his mark immediately by killing Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) and Glenn (Steven Yeun) with his barbed wire-wrapped baseball bat, Lucille, Negan went through an immense transformation after Rick Grimes’ (Andrew Lincoln) success. Negan now co-leads The Walking Dead: Dead City alongside Maggie (Lauren Cohan), and he is still an incredibly likeable, charismatic, and complex character.

RELATED: 7 The Walking Dead Mysteries That Are Still Unanswered

1) Loki in Loki

Since his first appearance in the MCU back in 2011’s Thor, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki has become one of the epic franchise’s most-changed characters. He has gone from a formidable, scheming villain to a bona fide hero and one of the MCU’s most powerful characters after Loki Season 2. Hiddleston’s love for the character is evident throughout, and his dedication to Loki has made the former God of Mischief and current protector of the multiverse one of the most popular and beloved characters in the franchise’s history, so it’s very exciting that he’ll be returning in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday.

Who are your favorite TV villains? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Times TV Villains Were More Popular Than the Heroes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Last of Us Season 2 changed the fate of a character that famously died in the games. The Last of Us is a world that is painfully unforgiving. Anyone can die at any time, as fans are coming to understand now. Joel, Jesse, children, pregnant women, it really seems like no one is off limits and that’s what makes the franchise so compelling. There isn’t really plot armor like there is a lot of other big franchises. One could argue that Ellie has a bit of plot armor since she’s immune, but the writers use that to hurt her as well. She feels awful that she can’t use her immunity to save others.

However, some fans of The Last of Us were surprised to see the show made some big changes from the game. Some key sequences from the game were revealed and while a lot of this comes down to pacing or not needing to show every single action scene from the game, there were some other more notable things that weren’t featured in the show. For starters, Ellie never kills Alice the dog when breaking into the aquarium. This was a pretty notable moment in the game for a variety of reasons, but it was mostly cut because Ellie kills a pregnant woman right after and it was deemed to much to throw at the audience at once.

The Last of Us Season 2 Spares Shimmer

However, it seems like The Last of Us Season 2 generally spared the audience from violence against animals in general. Early on in The Last of Us Part 2 the video game, Ellie and Dina are riding on their horse, Shimmer, when they are suddenly ambushed. Shimmer accidentally trips some sort of explosive mine and causes Shimmer to buck everyone off. A WLF soldier then shoots Shimmer in the head, killing the animal once and for all. However, Season 2 doesn’t have this moment at all. Shimmer lives well past his point of death and actually survives the season..

While we can’t be certain of Shimmer’s fate for the rest of this story, it seems like there’s a good chance that Shimmer will be one of the few living creatures that comes out unscathed. Even those that live in this story are burdened with all kinds of trauma or physical wounds, but Shimmer has been spared from the chaos much to the surprise of fans. It’s unclear if Shimmer will return in future episodes, but there may be room for him in Season 4.

It’s likely Shimmer and Ellie won’t be very present in The Last of Us Season 3 as the season will revolve around Abby. Although details on the next season are pretty scarce, it will continue to adapt the second game which heavily features Abby as the main character. Ellie will eventually return, despite the Season 2 cliffhanger leaving viewers to wonder if she got shot, but Abby will be front and center in Season 3.

What did you think Shimmer surviving in Season 2? Let me know in the comments.

The post The Last of Us 2 Character That Dies in the Game, But Lives in the Show appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Antony Starr is hitting out at fans of The Boys, specifically a segment that appreciates his portrayal of Homelander. That appreciation comes for all the wrong reasons, the actor says, admitting that reactions from fans toward his character and performance still surprise him. And as he reveals, the cause of his surprise is how The Boys fans seem to admire and cheer on Homelander as a hero. While speaking to Entertainment Weekly during the outlet’s Awardist Drama Actors Roundtable, Starr calls the hero worship for Homelander “surreal,” and continues to make it clear to fans that Homelander is not someone to love.

“We had a bunch of guys that we all kind of knocked them down a little, but on social media to say, ‘This guy is not the hero of any story,'” Starr tells the outlet. “They were really glorifying him, they loved him. Which is surreal. What I didn’t expect was that people would be so conflicted around it and, you know, finding themselves finding empathy for this monster.

For Starr, it’s clear Homelander is a monster from the start. EW notes that the character has the largest body count on the show, where he consistently manages to outdo himself with each cruel decision that arises. Fans who still loved him after he let an entire plane full of innocent people crash due to his carelessness may be missing the point.

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Homelander In The Boys Is Not a Hero

Homelander’s inspiration from the original The Boys comic run mirrors the Amazon streaming version, but they diverge due to their actions and the forces working to manipulate them. Where comic Homelander leans into being a dictator like Starr’s portrayal, his evil deeds are part of a ruse by another member of the Seven. The series avoids this for its Homelander, instead ensuring all of that evil is poured into Homelander himself and increased exponentially.

Homelander is framed for raping Billy Butcher’s wife in the comic, but in the series, Homelander does the deed and is a foil for Butcher (Karl Urban). Series creator Eric Kripke called the show a “fun house mirror” for what’s happening in current events and culture. Keeping that in mind, it is one bloody fun-house mirror.

Not only have we seen the entire plane of innocent passengers, but he has also deafened a blind hero, had his fans murdered to create a backlash to get him into the Oval Office, forced The Deep to devour his dear octopus friend, Timothy, and eventually pushed to take over the United States as its de facto leader. Toss in a relationship with a Nazi and you’ve got a poisonous recipe for a character.

The Boys season 5 is currently in production and will be the final season of Prime Video’s hit series. It doesn’t have a return date yet. Prime Video also has several spinoffs in development to keep The Boys universe growing.

Do you think Homelander has a sympathetic bone in his body? Are you fearful that he could win out in the end of the series? Let us know in the comments.

The post Antony Starr Reminds The Boys Fans of the Truth About Homelander (& They Need to Hear It) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While bending fans are waiting for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender to release its second season, work has already begun on the third season that is set to conclude the live-action adaptation. The streaming service has yet to confirm when we can expect Aang and the gang’s live-action comeback but that doesn’t mean earth-shattering news isn’t making its way to the ‘net. In a new report from Deadline, Netflix’s live-action adaptation has confirmed that a major player in Sokka and Katara’s life won’t just be making a comeback but they’ll be played by a new actor.

Adam Beach is set to take on the role of Sokka and Katara’s father, Hakoda, in the upcoming third season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The final season won’t be the first time that we saw Hakoda, as the Water Tribe father was previously featured in a flashback in Avatar’s first season. Played by Joel Montgrand originally, Netflix did not share the reason as to why the character was ultimately recast. Beach is no slouch when it comes to works in the pop culture sphere, as fans might know him for his roles in The Good Doctor, The New Mutants, Suicide Squad, and Joe Dirt.

[RELATED: Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 Starts Production, Avoiding Stranger Things’ Biggest Issue]

Hakoda’s Impact on The Series

Hakoda might not have been traveling alongside his children with the last airbender but he was spending his time wisely in the fight against the Fire Nation. In the original animated series, Sokka and Katara’s father left to lead the Water Tribe against the potential conquerors, looking to do all he could to stop the Fire Lord Ozai’s advance. As fans know, Hakoda would play a significant role in the third season, reuniting with the gang to once again fight the Fire Nation. Unfortunately for Hakoda, not everyone was thrilled with his actions.

When Hakoda returned, Katara was quite angry with the fact that he had left both herself and Sokka alone to fight the war. While the water bender understood why her father needed to leave, it didn’t make it any easier to be abandoned. Needless to say, adapting these scenes to Netflix’s live-action adaptation will be no easy feat.

Avatar: The Last Airbender News Incoming

Luckily, fans might not be waiting long for news on Aang and his friends’ return. On May 31st, Netflix is planning to air their major event for the future of the streaming service known as “Tudum.” On top of seemingly releasing new information about Avatar: The Last Airbender, the platform also will be revealing tidbits regarding One Piece, Squid Games, Stranger Things, Wednesday, and many more. While nothing has been confirmed as to what Avatar might have in store this weekend, we’re crossing our fingers for a season two release date and/or trailer.

Want to see what the future holds for the live-action benders? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Avatar: The Last Airbender and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via Deadline

The post Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Recasts Major Character For Season 3 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Phineas and Ferb is coming back for a new season of episodes ten years after the original came to an end, and we got to talk to some members of the original voice cast all about coming back for the new episodes. Phineas and Ferb is still one of the most popular Disney Television Animation franchises ever produced, so it wasn’t that big of a surprise to see that the animated series was going to come back for another round after all this time. What was a surprise, however, was that this new series was going to pick up right where everything left off.

Phineas and Ferb is returning for Season 5 this Summer, and ComicBook got the chance to talk with original Phineas voice star Vincent Martella, returning Ferb star David Errigo Jr., and original Isabella Garcia-Shapiro all about coming back for the new wave of episodes. It’s here they opened up about how much has changed (and not change), and their excitement for potential new seasons to come. Read on for our full interview below (which has been edited for length and clarity).

RELATED: Phineas and Ferb Season 5 Has Some Surprising Guest Stars (Including Leslie Jones)

NICK VALDEZ, COMICBOOK: It’s been ten years since Phineas and Ferb originally ended, and I can’t imagine how it feels for you all. How was it being in that booth and bringing these characters to life again?

VINCENT MARTELLA: It’s incredibly surreal getting to bring these characters back and getting to to breathe life into them again. Phineas has been a part of my life for twenty years, and I’ve worked on a lot of really wonderful things in my career that have meant a lot to me. But by far, Phineas and Ferb has meant the most to me because not only do I love working on it, but what it means to all the fans of the show and what it means to Disney fans. So, I’ve said this many times before, but, just the fact that we’re back right now, I really hope they let us keep telling stories and keep playing these characters for as long as possible because it is truly a great joy working on this show and playing Phineas.

DAVID ERRIGO JR.: It’s a dream come true, honestly, to be a part of something that’s that’s so iconic…to have been brought on late in the game too. The journey was kind of like, “Oh, we’re gonna have this crossover episode.” And, “Okay, yeah, it might only be this.” And then at the end of that session, they’re like, “but we might be working on something next Summer,” which was Candace Against the Universe. And then, of course, we’re recording Candace Against the Universe, and I was like, “Oh, well, that’s probably it.” And then at the end, they’re like, like, “But we might be having something else…”

So to to actually get to go in and now be a part of the series proper, it’s a dream come true. Getting to know all of these wonderful, talented people. People who have now become some of my best friends in the world. I would not trade it for pretty much anything.

ALYSON STONER: I would say that Phineas and Ferb is actually my longest and most stable and secure relationship in my life. And that is true. It has consistently been positive, nurturing, mutual, inspiring. So it’s a deep joy, and it’s so beautiful that when you’re speaking about professional endeavors, you can actually feel your heart warm when talking about a project. I mean, just to to feel like you’re your whole self, you’re fully connected in your body when you go to work. It’s not, “Oh, gotta go to the office, check out for the day.” It’s so embodied, and it’s just so lovely. The people are great. Every part of the team is special.

I’ve always wondered if there’s a process for getting back into that mindset of these characters after all this time, but it sounds like they’re really just been a part of you this entire time.

MARTELLA: It’s been such a part of my life that even when I’m doing Phineas’ voice and when I’m speaking like Phineas, to me all I hear is Phineas. I just hear him. I hear Phineas Flynn. It’s not even like I’m hearing myself. So whenever I watch the show and things like that, I really separate myself from it. So for me at this point, it’s such second nature to me, that there’s no huge great process anymore for it because it’s been such a big part of my life.

ERRIGO JR.: I think Ferb was always kind of a part of me. Literally, when the audition came out, my ex-wife listens to it, and she goes, if you don’t get this, I don’t understand your business at all. I think he was just always in there.

STONER: I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to hit the register of Isabella. I had stopped singing for other projects in that period. So knowing that there were going to be so many songs, I did get myself back into some voice lessons and make sure that I was trained up because with Danny and some of the other music folks, because I do have a singing background, they’ll throw me in as a variety of voices to do different layers of harmonies and what have you.

So I was like, “Oh, I have to put my music theory hat back on and make sure that I can hear Danny’s super interesting choices.” Because he won’t just go for the simple third harm[ony]. He’ll be like, “Can you give this a dissonant rub for half of that note and then switch over, and it’ll be a little Beatles-esque? And then we’ll go to Doo-wop.” Like okay, Sure. And right in the moment, you have three minutes to do it.

ERRIGO JR.: That’s one of the astounding things about Alyson. I’m gonna puff you up a little bit right now because, Swampy has been kind enough to let me shadow some of his voice direction, recently. So I’m in for a good chunk of the records, and I get to see a lot of people doing their work. One day some some wires had gotten crossed and somebody hadn’t gotten Alyson the information that they needed to know that they were gonna be singing that day.

It was like watching magic happen because Alyson was like, “Give me ten minutes with the music, and then I’ll come back, and I will nail it to the wall.” They didn’t say that, but that’s what happened. And it wasn’t ten minutes. It was three minutes, and it was perfect. I didn’t get to tell you that day because I had to run away. But I was so impressed with how quickly you turned that around.

STONER: We were lucky that that had a lot of rapping in it. Rapping I can do with my eyes closed.

Phineas and Ferb Season 5 premieres with Disney Channel on June 5th and Disney+ on June 6th.

The post Phineas and Ferb Cast Talks Returning to Series After 10 Years, Singing and More appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Yellowstone stands out like a sore thumb in the current era of television. It doesn’t feature superheroes or take place in a fantasy world, focusing on a family in Montana who fights corporations and shady individuals to protect their land. The Duttons don’t do things by the book, though, with Rip Wheeler and other cowboys on the ranch taking extreme measures to make sure they still have a place to work. In fact, the cowboys act a lot like a gang, which isn’t all that surprising, given that Yellowstone has a massive connection to another show that puts seedy characters in the spotlight, Sons of Anarchy.

Sons of Anarchy, which aired for seven seasons on FX, concluded four years before Yellowstone dropped its first episode on the Paramount Network. However, the time between the two shows allowed one person to intertwine them.

Yellowstone and Sons of Anarchy Cover Similar Ground

At first glance, it’s easy to see the surface-level similarities between Yellowstone and Sons of Anarchy. Both deal with tight-knit groups facing threats at every turn and working outside the law to achieve their goals. That doesn’t mean everyone is a bad guy, though. Sons of Anarchy has Jax Teller, who gains control of his father’s motorcycle club and wants to clean it up to make his family proud. He’s a lot like Yellowstone‘s Kayce Dutton, who runs from his father’s dreams for him for many years and starts a family of his own because he doesn’t like the way he does things.

The influence Tig Trager has on a character like Rip Wheeler is also pretty apparent. Tig does all the dirty work for Clay Teller’s club in Sons of Anarchy, which includes killing people. However, as the seasons go on, he starts to let the guilt get to him, and he turns over a new leaf. Rip has a similar arc, with him starting out as nothing but John Dutton’s enforcer before learning that family is more important than land.

Bringing similar characters to life isn’t the only thing connecting Yellowstone to Sons of Anarchy, however. There’s actually an actor who plays major roles in both shows and is responsible for bringing the Kevin Costner-led series to life.

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Taylor Sheridan Went From Sons of Anarchy Star to Yellowstone Creator

Biker gangs in Sons of Anarchy can’t go unchecked, so cops like to keep an eye on them. The Charming Police Department plays a major role in the FX series, and its most upstanding officer is David Hale, played by Taylor Sheridan. Hale always tries to do the right thing, earning him the nickname “Captain America.” Sadly, he dies in the Season 3 premiere while trying to stop a group of shooters from firing into a crowd. But Sheridan never forgot about his time on Sons of Anarchy, using it as an influence when he created Yellowstone.

Sheridan even wrote a role for himself in Yellowstone, playing horse trader Travis Wheatly, who shows up on the Dutton’s ranch from time to time and kicks it with the cowboys. After Costner exited the series in Season 5, Wheatly got an even more prominent role, helping Beth Dutton sell off some horses to make enough money to save the ranch. There were some complaints from fans about how much screentime Sheridan was getting, especially after his feud with Costner went public, but it’s hard to blame the guy for wanting to play around in a world he created.

Like the series that gave him his big break, Sheridan didn’t stop at one show, creating 1883 and 1923 for Paramount, following different generations of the Duttons as they settle on the land that the modern family lives on. There are also sequel series in the works, including one focusing on Kayce as he tries to defend Montana from evildoers, which will likely follow in the footsteps of the Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C., and give the spotlight to a group of characters who didn’t get enough time to shine in the flagship show.

Yellowstone is streaming on Peacock, and Sons of Anarchy is available to watch on Hulu.

Did you know about the connection between Sons of Anarchy and Yellowstone? Which show do you think is better? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Sons of Anarchy and Yellowstone Have a Secret Connection That You Never Realized appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There are many iconic TV shows that, despite having a weak start, really picked up after finding their footing. It’s often the case nowadays that TV series that don’t perform so well in their first couple seasons are ultimately cancelled by the networks or streaming platforms they call home. However, there are certain shows that prove this could be a very bad idea, as some of the most popular shows on TV didn’t get off to the best start.

In fact, it has taken some now-beloved TV shows at least two seasons to really get into their groove, including the likes of Parks and Recreation, BoJack Horseman, and Breaking Bad. This throws into question many streamers’ pattern of cancelling poorly-performing shows after two seasons, as their best might still be to come. These shows prove patience is sometimes the best course of action, as they truly achieved legendary status after their sophomore seasons.

1) Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)

The political satire mockumentary series from Greg Daniels and Michael Schur featured an ensemble cast with Amy Poehler at the helm as Leslie Knope, Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation department of Pawnee, Indiana’s local government. During its first season, Parks and Rec received a mixed response, but major changes were made to the narrative, character dynamics, and Knope herself following audience feedback, which proved hugely beneficial. Parks and Rec became one of the most successful and popular shows in TV history from Season 2 onwards, with Seasons 3 and 4 even hitting 100% approval ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.

RELATED: Parks and Recreation Star Addresses Chances of Getting Another Reunion

2) The Expanse (2015-2022)

The Expanse’s first season carried a lot of weight, as it was tasked with fleshing out a future where humanity had colonized the solar system, and it seemed to crumble under the pressure. However, after its second season, The Expanse became a much more focused, existential show that delivered incredible character development, scientific authenticity, and high-octane action sequences. Three of The Expanse’s six seasons received 100% approval ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, which is very impressive, and the series pulled off a very satisfying finale, while leaving the door open for a possible continuation in the future.

3) BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)

At first glance, BoJack Horseman is yet another adult animated sitcom that does little differently to similar shows that came before. However, following the lackluster first season, the Will Arnett-led series became an in-depth and important exploration of mental health issues, addiction, sexuality, and trauma, making it one of the most unique shows on TV. It’s a comedy, sure, but its humor is underlined by heartfelt messages, which spurred its success. Seasons 2 and 3 garnered 100% approval ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, and the series has been lauded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

4) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Despite a bit of a lull in its later seasons, Buffy the Vampire Slayer really hit its stride after Season 2. Buffy Summers’ (Sarah Michelle Gellar) adventures and battles against the forces of darkness became the stories of a generation, and the series grew along with its cast, who matured and became seasoned performers and characters as the show progressed. Season 3 earned an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the series became one of the most highly-acclaimed shows on TV, proving the value of featuring strong female characters.

5) Succession (2018-2023)

Of course, Succession was one of the most popular shows on TV throughout its entire four-season run, but its second season marked a major and consistent shift into the series receiving widespread critical acclaim. Succession focused on the Roy Family, with Logan Roy (Brian Cox) at the helm, and its various members’ fights for control over the family business, entertainment conglomerate Waystar RoyCo. Succession’s family drama, intense and demanding writing, humor, and production value have made it one of the most celebrated TV shows in history.

RELATED: Succession’s Brian Cox Has a Shocking Theory About Final Season

6) Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Over five seasons, Breaking Bad became one of the most revolutionary and substantial TV shows in history, receiving near-universal critical acclaim in every season after its second, with only its first garnering a small selection of criticism. Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) turn to a life of crime after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis made for heavy-hitting subject matter, but this didn’t deter audiences. Breaking Bad actually holds a Guinness World Record as the most critically-acclaimed TV show of all time, while Season 1 got heat for its sometimes-forced storyline and gruesome imagery.

7) The Office (2005-2013)

Based on Ricky Gervais’ The Office, that aired between 2001 and 2003, The Office was almost a word-for-word adaptation in its first (and partly second) season. The Steve Carell-led mockumentary sitcom became one of the most successful, celebrated, and acclaimed TV shows ever after its second season. Its ensemble cast became household names, and while the series experienced a lull after Michael Scott’s (Carell) departure in Season 7, The Office is a prime example of a TV show excelling after its second season, breaking the shackles of its UK-based predecessor to become a success story in its own right.

What TV shows do you love that became better after their second seasons? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Shows That Got Better After Season 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Say a Hail Mary for Matt Murdock. Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again failed to chart on the Nielsen top 10 list of original streaming shows, making the Marvel Television series the first not to enter Nielsen’s streaming charts. (2024’s Agatha All Along, the WandaVision spinoff that was the first series to be released under the rebranded Marvel Television banner, notched 426 million minutes in its premiere week and charted over the course of its nine-episode season.) Marvel Studios’ revival of the Netflix-aired Daredevil series is the only live-action MCU show with such a distinction.

The first-week viewership of Secret Invasion cracked the top 10 in the summer of 2023 with a recorded 461 million minutes of viewing (equivalent to about 8.54 million views), while Echo debuted at No. 10 with 731 million minutes when Disney dropped the entire five-episode season in January 2024. It should be noted that Secret Invasion and Echo were made available on both Disney+ and Hulu, while Echo was the first Marvel series to release its entire bingeable season all at once. Echo was also Marvel Studios’ first TV-MA rated show, with Daredevil: Born Again being the second.

RELATED: Marvel Officially Confirms Their New TV Strategy (And It’s What They Should Have Done All Along)

Following Daredevil: Born Again‘s two-episode series premiere on March 4, the streamer reported that “Heaven’s Half Hour” and “Optics” reached 7.5 million views in is first five days of availability (Disney+ defines a view as total stream time divided by an episode’s run time). That was the biggest Disney+ premiere of the year so far, but fell short of Loki season 2 (10.9 million views over three days) and Agatha All Along (9.3 million over seven days, compared to Born Again‘s first five).

Born Again marks the first Daredevil project to be produced by the Kevin Feige-led Marvel Studios, which began integrating enemies Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Kingpin Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) into the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe starting with Spider-Man: No Way Home and Hawkeye, respectively, in 2021. Cox went on to reprise his role in 2022’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and again in Echo, which featured D’Onofrio’s Fisk in a larger role and set up his mayoral run in Born Again.

Premiering 10 years after Marvel’s Daredevil debuted on Netflix, Born Again also saw the return of Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson), Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer), and Frank Castle/the Punisher (Jon Bernthal). Newcomers to the MCU include Zabryna Guevara, Nikki James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, and Michael Gandolfini.

Marvel Studios has since announced that Krysten Ritter, who played Jessica Jones across three seasons of her own self-titled Netflix series as well as The Defenders, has joined the cast of Daredevil: Born Again season 2. The currently-shooting second season will stream in March 2026 on Disney+ as Marvel TV shifts to more traditional annual releases of new seasons.

Unlike the rejiggered first season that underwent a creative overhaul after releasing head writers Chris Ord and Matt Corman, showrunner Dario Scardapane (The Punisher) broke the sophomore season from the start.

“I don’t want to oversell it. I do happen to think it’s some of the best writing we’ve ever had on this show,” Cox said of Daredevil: Born Again season 2 in a recent interview. “I am sure everyone always says that. I texted the showrunner, Dario, the other day and was like, ‘Obviously we’re still halfway through shooting it, but huge, huge credit to what you’ve pieced together here.'”

“He’s done something which I’m really excited about,” Cox continued, “which is that he’s fleshed out characters that in the previous iteration of the show often get left behind. So, it feels much more like an ensemble than it’s ever felt.”

The post Daredevil: Born Again Officially a Ratings Misfire for Marvel (Can Season 2 Recover?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Sandman Season 2 will introduce us to the rest of the Endless, and the latest preview gives us our first glimpse of their wayward sibling, “The Prodigal,” a.k.a. Destruction. Destruction will be played by Barry Sloane, and he is featured in a new teaser image published by Entertainment Weekly on Wednesday. He fits in nicely with the other ageless, primordial beings in this setting, though we know that he has actually abandoned his siblings and his responsibilities in the time of the series. The Prodigal’s story is a fan-favorite in the original Sandman comics, and showrunner Allan Heinberg seems to have captured the heart of it in this adaptation.

“He has such a lightness of touch, and he’s such a loving human,” Heinberg said of Sloane. “That’s really what we were looking for in casting this role. You think of Destruction, especially as he’s presented in the comics during The Song of Orpheus story, as the ultimate destroyer of worlds. His story in the comic, and in our show as well, is actually a soul that’s in conflict. He wants to create, he doesn’t want to destroy. So you need an actor who is so full of love and so full of joy and yet looks like the archetypal soldier.”

The Sandman Season 1 introduced us to our titular hero, Dream (Tom Sturridge) as well as his closest sibling, Death (Kirby) and their younger twin siblings, Desire (Mason Alexander Park) and Despair (Donna Preston). The Season 2 trailer has already introduced us to two more Endless — Delirium (Esme Creed-Miles) and Destiny (Adrian Lester) — and shown a brief scene where they all gather for a family meeting. They acknowledge the absence of Destruction, but it looks like he won’t stay apart for the whole season.

Destruction’s Story

For those curious, Destruction’s departure from his family and duties is explained in the original comics, but this may be a spoiler for the TV show. Destruction abandoned his realm and his responsibilities 300 years before the events of the main series because he refused to take responsibility for the creation of the atomic bomb and the unprecedented havoc it would cause. He traveling through different worlds, Destruction longs to be creative, but doing so goes against his very nature.

[RELATED: Everything Coming to Netflix, Disney+, Max & Other Streaming Services in June 2025]

The other Endless only refer to Destruction as “Brother” or “the Prodigal” after he leaves his realm, “the Fulcrum.” His departure causes major rifts for the family, though it’s not actually the reason for the family meeting we saw in the trailer. However, it sounds like Destruction’s story will be a major part of this final season’s arc, especially since Heinberg is focused on the Endless. He told EW that he conceptualized this series as “a family drama above all.”

The Sandman Season 2 drops in two parts on Netflix. The first part premieres on July 3rd, followed by the final installment on July 24th. Season 1 is streaming there now.

The post Netflix’s The Sandman Reveals Dream’s Lost Endless Brother, Destruction (But Where Has He Been?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Jeremy Renner reflected on his near-death experience in his recent memoir, My Next Breath, and claimed that he went through a version of death that offered him peace and calm before he was revived. According to Variety, the Avengers star recently expanded on his experience during an interview with Kelly Ripa on the Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast. Renner called the 2023 accident a “magical” experience that left him “pissed off” after he was revived and realized he was back on the ground after the accident. As he explains to Ripa, he felt in the moment that he was a “man who didn’t want to come back,” and it has brought a new outlook to him upon his return.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful relief to be removed from your body,” Renner told Ripa. “It is the most exhilarating peace you could ever feel. You don’t see anything but what’s in your mind’s eye. Like, you’re the atoms of who you are, the DNA, your spirit. It’s the highest adrenaline rush, but the peace that comes with it … it’s magnificent. It’s so magical.”

The Hawkeye star also admitted that he was prepared to go away forever and had made peace during his experience.

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“I didn’t want to come back,” he continued. “I remember I was brought back and I was so pissed off. I came back, I’m like, ‘Aww!’ I came back and saw [my] eyeball and I’m like, ‘Oh sh-t, I’m back.’ Saw my legs. I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s gonna hurt later.’ I’m like, ‘All right, let me continue to breathe.’”

Renner had revealed in his memoir that he had briefly died 30 minutes after his shocking Sno-Cat accident on New Year’s Day 2023. As Variety notes, Renner was hospitalized for blunt chest trauma, including eight broken ribs, a broken right knee, a broken ankle, a broken left leg and ankle, and a broken clavicle and shoulder.

“I could see my lifetime,” Renner wrote in the book. “I could see everything all at once. In death, there was no time, no time at all, yet it was also all time and forever.”

The actor explained how his second chance at life has opened the door to changing up his life in a way that puts his fears at ease.

“[To] really be able to be back here and live it on my terms as the captain of my own ship. And get on it or off it, I don’t give a f-ck. I’m going to live life on my own terms and for nobody else. [It’s] very clear. The white noise is ripped away,” Renner added.

Now that he’s back to work and feeling much healthier, Renner is also ready to return to his role as Hawkeye for the next Avengers entries, even if Season 2 of his Disney+ series has fallen due to budget issues and a pay dispute. He wants to return, though, when the schedules can work out.

Renner can be seen in Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+, and he’ll be appearing in Rian Johnson’s third entry in the Knives Out series, Wake Up Dead Man. It’ll hit theaters and Netflix in the fall.

Will Hawkeye Season 2 ever happen? How much will Hawkeye factor into Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars? Let us know in the comments!

The post Jeremy Renner Admits He “Didn’t Want To Come Back” From Near-Death Experience During Snowplow Accident appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Penguin executive producer and showrunner Lauren LeFranc shares what would need to happen for a second season of the acclaimed The Batman spinoff show to happen. Speaking with Deadline, LeFranc discussed her work on the critically acclaimed show and offered her thoughts on a potential continuation. Though The Penguin was conceived as a limited series, she would be open to making another season as long as the creative team found the right story to tell. LeFranc is in the process of figuring out what that narrative could be, while progress continues to be made on other The Batman-related shows.

“Beyond Colin [Farrell], it depends on whether there’s a story that we can make richer than what we’ve already done,” LeFranc said, also highlighting how pertinent star Colin Farrell’s availability is to The Penguin Season 2. “I fully arced everything. I’m in the process of exploring what that would be, if there will be more.”

The Penguin earned widespread critical acclaim, including numerous award wins and nominations for Farrell and Cristin Milioti. That level of success caused fans to wonder if HBO would move forward with a second season, especially after DC’s Sgt. Rock (which was set to star Farrell in the titular role) was delayed, possibly opening up the actor’s schedule to make more Penguin.

[RELATED – More The Batman TV Spinoffs Are on the Way (But What About Part II?)]

However, The Penguin Season 2 does not appear to be imminent. LeFranc’s comments are very similar to those made by studio executives, including Warner Bros.’ Channing Dungey. In April, she admitted that “there’s nothing in the works at the moment” and reiterated that The Penguin was meant to be a limited series. That can be reflected in the show’s Emmy campaign, as HBO submitted it in the Outstanding Limited Series category. That implies the network does not intend to move forward with a second season.

It’s encouraging that LeFranc has not shut the door completely on a Penguin Season 2. Like any good creative, she’s keeping herself open to all opportunities. The larger question is whether or not the right story for a second season ever materializes. The Penguin acts as a bridge between the first two films of Matt Reeves’ Batman Epic Crime Saga. Farrell seems to be reprising the role in The Batman Part II, which doesn’t premiere until 2027. Any narrative arc for The Penguin Season 2 would likely be influenced by that film. It took Reeves a long time to finish the Batman Part II script and there could be changes down the line, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens with Oz Cobb on the big screen in a couple of years.

Given how beloved The Penguin was, most fans would probably be disappointed if a second season never got off the ground. However, it would arguably be more disappointing if The Penguin Season 2 was made and didn’t live up to the high standard set by the first season. Unless LeFranc and her collaborators can figure out a compelling story, The Penguin should remain a limited series. That way, its place and legacy in the larger franchise would be cemented. Right now, the priority for everyone involved with the Batman Epic Crime Saga should be getting The Batman Part II to theaters.

The post The Penguin EP Reveals What’s Needed for Season 2 to Happen appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends is back with a new season of adventures with Spider-Man, Spin, and Ghost Spider, but they will also be inviting some new friends in on the fun, and we’ve got your exclusive first look and details on the much-anticipated season 4. Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends will be picking up where the hit Dino-Webs season left off in season 3 and will dive into a new Water-Webs story arc for season 4 when it premieres on Monday, June 16th, on Disney Channel and Disney Jr. The new season will welcome Captain America to the show as well, but being that it’s a water-themed season, it’s only appropriate to also invite everyone’s favorite land shark Jeff, and you can check him out in the new poster below. You can also get your first look at the new season with our “Webs Ahoy” clip in the video above.

As you can see in the clip above, the Water-Webs season will lean into Pirate adventures on the high seas, and that includes the Spidey Crew’s amazing new Pirate Ship. The ship features a web cannon and a high lookout to keep track of what’s happening on the water, and the Spidey crew needs all of those advantages to chase down Green Goblin in his Goblin Ship, which admittedly looks pretty cool as well.

As they sing Web Ahoy (another song to add to the show’s growing list of catchy tunes), they catch up to Gobby and return all of the stolen items he took from passing ships, but the fun doesn’t stop there. As we mentioned previously, being on the water means you can pull in other great water-based characters, and few of those are more beloved these days than Jeff the Shark.

The adorable comics character has become even more popular thanks to his healing powers in Marvel Rivals, and now he will be popping up in several episodes throughout the season. He will also be getting a brand new song titled fittingly “It’s Jeff”, and both of the new songs were written by series’ songwriter and composer, Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy).

[RELATED: Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Join Spidey and His Amazing Friends in New Clip (Exclusive)]

Captain America will make his first appearance in the series in the short “Captain America Lends a Hand”, and then he will join the show’s lineup of recurring characters throughout season 4, joining characters like Iron Man, Black Panther, Ms. Marvel, Reptil, Squirrel Girl, Hulk, and more. Many of the show’s great villains will also return, but we’re also excited to see what other new villains make their way into the show this time around.

Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends continues to entertain fans with some of Marvel’s most beloved characters, and the show is the No. 2 streaming series for kids and boys 2 to 5. So far, it has 2.3 billion views across Disney Jr. and Marvel HQ YouTube channels, and it has been streamed for 896 million hours and counting on Disney+. Seasons 1 through 3 are available to stream on Disney+. The series regular voice cast for season four features Alkaio Thiele as Peter Parker, Audrey Bennett as Gwen Stacy, and Carter Young as Miles Morales, while returning guest cast includes John Stamos as Tony Stark, Bindi Irwin as Isla Coralton, and Kylie Cantrall as White Tiger.

Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends will premiere on Monday, June 16 on Disney Jr. (8:00 a.m. PDT) and later that day on Disney Channel and Disney Jr. on Demand, with six episodes available the following day, Tuesday, June 17, on Disney+.

Are you excited for the new season? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends Reveals Season 4 Premiere and Jeff the Shark’s Debut (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Last of Us Season 2 set up a pretty significant moment, but never paid it off and fans are very upset. The Last of Us Season 2 came to an end this past weekend and the reception to the show has been more mixed than Season 1. It seems like Season 2 has left audiences underwhelmed, including those who hadn’t played the game. Those who have played the game know that The Last of Us Part 2 the video game, which Season 2 partially adapts, is a very violent game. The whole point of the story is about how violence creates violence through revenge, war, and so on. However, Season 2’s violence felt pretty minor relative to the game.

Of course, a video game is never going to be a one to one translation for TV. There’s going to be more violence in a game because that’s the gameplay, it’s what fills the hours, it’s what keeps the player engaged. It’s interactive and therefore, it’s almost disproportionate. It’s unreasonable to expect a real person to slay that many people in real life, but we suspend our disbelief. Still, Ellie kills about four or five people in Season 2, two of which are sort of a freak accident. Some fans feel like this doesn’t accurately portray Ellie’s rage from the games and sort of just makes her actions feel aimless.

Ellie Never Uses Seth’s Rifle in The Last of Us Season 2

Now, fans are even more upset because they realized that Ellie never used Seth’s rifle that she was given when leaving Jackson. We see Ellie training with a rifle with Tommy early on in the show, so it felt like they were definitely setting up for her to feel like a decent marksman, especially after she also used a rifle in Season 1. But it never happens. In fact, fans have also started to get upset as they noticed that artwork of Ellie holding the rifle has since been changed to remove it from her hands. It’s all a bit puzzling and has enraged some fans.

Others have pointed out that The Last of Us Season 2 also removed shots of Ellie shooting an assault rifle, further highlighting changes to scale back her violence. It’s unclear exactly why these changes were made. Some have felt that The Last of Us Season 2 was scared of making fans dislike Ellie for her actions, though that’s sort of the point of the story in the game. You aren’t supposed to love and support her unconditionally, you are meant to be conflicted about her actions and question when she has crossed the line.

Of course, only time will tell what happens in future seasons. The Last of Us Season 3 has a chance to lean into the violence given Abby has already demonstrated how brutal she can be and there’s quite a bit of action in her side of the story. As for Ellie, it’s probably too late to make that change. If they try to make her more violent in future seasons, it will feel a bit jarring given the guilt she felt over killing Owen and Mel in Season 2.

The post The Last of Us Season 2 Never Paid Off a Major Moment (And Fans Are Furious) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It seems like we can expect more TV shows set within Matt Reeves’ Batman universe following the success of The Penguin. The world of Batman is one rich for exploration and that is proven by all of the adaptations we have gotten over the years. Not only are there nearly a hundred years of comics to pull from, but we’ve seen so many cartoons, movies, and video games that all have radically different takes on the character. Adam West’s Batman, for example, is a far cry from the Robert Pattinson Batman. He’s a very adaptable character and one that audiences keep yearning to see. Not only that, but Batman’s villains also make for rich protagonists too.

The Penguin expertly proved this last year as it was one of the best TV shows of 2024. The huge success of the show has caused people to wonder if we will get a second season of The Penguin, but HBO doesn’t seem to know right now. They have submitted the show to awards shows as a limited series and have been cagey about what the future holds in store for Oz on the small screen. It seems like there not only needs to be a story, but a willingness from Colin Farrell to step into that makeup once again. It’s expected he will return in future films, but as a lead in his own show? It’s anyone’s guess right now.

HBO Is Developing More TV Spin-Offs for The Batman

However, HBO seems interested in at least finding other shows within that world. The Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc spoke to Deadline noted that not only are they beginning to explore if there’s room for The Penguin Season 2, but also the potential for other Batman spin-offs. LeFranc revealed that they’re in the “early stages” of developing other spin-offs in the Matt Reeves Batman universe, but neglected to share any specifics. We already know that Joker, Riddler, and Catwoman all exist in this world, all of whom may be ripe for their own limited series.

When HBO began developing The Penguin, it was also working on shows around the Gotham City police department and Arkham Asylum, but those projects ended up being scrapped or shelved. It’s possible they return, but it’s hard to say right now. A show around Jim Gordon would be interesting, but it was sort of done to an extent with Fox’s Gotham. That said HBO could probably do a much more effective version of a Gordon-led show with its writing and budget.

HBO’s interest in continuing to develop spin-offs for this universe should give hope to those who feared that The Batman Part 2 isn’t actually happening. The movie has been delayed many times, causing some to think DC’s new leadership is throwing it all out in favor of making something that connects to its new universe. However, if that were the case, it seems unlikely they’d continue to invest resources into developing new TV shows in that very specific world.

It was recently reported that Matt Reeves would turn in a draft of The Batman Part 2 by Memorial Day, which was earlier this week. James Gunn had also noted that he received promising updates on the film just prior to this and is expected to have gotten pages from the script before being handed a full draft. Only time will tell what happens, but it seems like things are on course right now and it’s believed that The Batman Part 2 will start shooting sometime in early 2026 for a 2027 release.

What Batman characters would you like to see get a TV show? Let me know in the comments.

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Author George R.R. Martin addressed his most brutal in a new blog post on Tuesday, and while he clearly rebuked them, he did not offer much of a rebuttal. The writer behind A Song of Ice and Fire was announcing a new animated feature film adaptation of a novel by his late friend Howard Waldrop. Martin will produce this new movie following several short films based on Waldrop’s work in recent years. In the middle of this announcement, Martin set aside a couple of paragraphs to predict the outpouring of hostility from commenters who want him to announce his next novel, The Winds of Winter. He assured them that he still cares about his magnum opus, but did not offer any update on the delay.

“I know, I know. Some of you will just be pissed off by this, as you are by everything I announce here that is not about Westeros or THE WINDS OF WINTER,” Martin wrote in the blog post. He went on to paraphrase some of the brutal commentary he has seen online — “You have given up on me, or on the book. I will never finish WINDS. If I do, I will never finish A DREAM OF SPRING. If I do, it won’t be any good. I ought to get some other writer to pinch hit for me… I am going to die soon anyway, because I am so old.”

Relentlessly, Martin went on with other commentary that has become increasingly common among ASoIaF fans online. “I lost all interest in A Song of Ice and Fire decades ago,” he paraphrased. “I don’t give a s— about writing any longer, I just sit around and spend my money. I edit the Wild Cards books too, but you hate Wild Cards. You may hate everything else I have ever written, the Hugo-winners and Hugo-losers… You don’t care about anything but WINDS OF WINTER. You’ve told me so often enough.”

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“Thing is, I do care about them,” Martin went on. “And I care about Westeros and WINDS as well. The Starks and Lannisters and Targaryens, Tyrion and Asha, Dany and Daenerys, the dragons and the direwolves, I care about them all. More than you can ever imagine.”

Martin had nothing else to say on the topic beyond acknowledging the critiques he has glimpsed online, or perhaps seen in messages directed at him. For years, fans’ reactions to the ongoing delay of his book have cycled between impatience and sympathy. Many felt for the author when he had to try and write his novel under the pressure of a blockbuster TV show, but now the series is over and Martin continues to take on other projects, many are becoming frustrated again.

For Martin, this new movie, A Dozen Tough Jobs, is likely just as personal as The Winds of Winter. He has described in previous blog posts, and in his book Dreamsongs, his long friendship with Waldrop. The two met as children through science fiction fan zines, and corresponded for the rest of their lives. Waldrop passed away in January of 2024, and Martin has written about how shaken he was by the loss. Adapting Waldrop’s work for the screen is partially a way of honoring his friend.

Last we heard from Martin, The Winds of Winter was approximately 75% done in 2023, with no release date in sight. The author has always maintained his intention of finishing A Song of Ice and Fire with two more books, but in recent years he has acknowledged that other work is just as important to him. For now, fans can find Martin’s incomplete series in print, digital, and audiobook formats.

The post George R.R. Martin Responds Brutally to Complaints About New Non-Winds of Winter Job (& He’s Right) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s unfortunate that some of the best TV shows in history haven’t always stuck the landing, and have produced some of the most disappointing series finales. It’s widely recognized that TV shows, such as Breaking Bad, The Good Place, Friends, Parks and Recreation, and more, have had incredibly strong finales that uphold the popularity of their entire series. However, not every TV series has been so lucky to have a successful send-off, and some finales have actually hurt the reputation of their entire show.

It’s disappointing that the final episodes of iconic shows like Battlestar Galactica, How I Met Your Mother, and Lost, among others, didn’t provide more satisfaction and closure. Controversial last-minute choices, wildly unpredictable character reveals, lackluster deaths and twists, and unresolved cliffhangers that will never be addressed have made these finales some of TV’s worst, and this has also soured our memories of these whole series’, which is a dire shame.

1) Battlestar Galactica – “Daybreak”

Concluding Season 4 in 2009, Battlestar Galactica’s finale, “Daybreak,” received a very mixed response from audiences and critics alike. The final episode of the popular sci-fi series saw the Galactica arrive on a prehistoric Earth, where the surviving crew decided to abandon technology and integrate with the primitive human population. Some thought this a satisfying ending, but too many plot lines went unresolved, the ending was far too idealistic, and the finale lacked any action or drama.

RELATED: Battlestar Galactica Creator’s Rule for New Reboot Revealed (and It Makes Sense)

Throughout its four-season run, Battlestar Galactica was praised for combining concepts from political dramas, sci-fi adventures, and psychological thrillers into a tightly-packed series. While the final episodes saw Battlestar Galactica get its best ratings since Season 2, the polarizing narrative soured the impact of the series finale. It’s unfortunate such an iconic chapter in TV history couldn’t be wrapped up more neatly.

2) Pretty Little Liars – “Till Death Do Us Part”

Talk of disappointing finales and it’s hard to ignore the ending of Pretty Little Liars, as the once-popular series’ last episode revealed the identity of the mysterious “A.D.” who’d been threatening to release the secrets of the core group. Instead of “A.D.” being revealed as a character audiences already knew, which would have been more shocking, she was actually a completely new character. “A.D.” was revealed to be Alex Drake, the previously-unseen identical twin sister of Spencer Hastings (Trojan Bellisario).

This was a wildly anticlimactic reveal from the series that had upheld its biggest mystery seven years. Alex’s backstory and motives didn’t provide clear closure or explanation for the events of the series, so Pretty Little Liars left many questions unanswered. “Till Death Do Us Part” was a messy, confusing, and lackluster ending to this once-exciting and unpredictable show.

3) Killing Eve – “Hello Losers”

Throughout its first season, written by acclaimed Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Killing Eve was lauded as one of the best TV shows in modern memory. The series’ popularity dwindled in its later years, however, and came to a sorry end with the series finale, “Hello, Losers.” Killing Eve’s finale ended with Villanelle (Jodie Comer) and Eve (Sandra Oh) finally sharing a passionate kiss before the former was shockingly killed on the orders of Carolyn Martens (Fiona Shaw).

As well as being a wild departure from the source material, Killing Eve’s finale was criticized for being a huge betrayal of the show’s exploration of its complex female characters. Many suggested the series finale supported the dangerous “bury your gays” trope, in which LGBT+ characters are killed off to create drama. This is the antithesis of the show’s ethos, and marked the continuation of lackluster storytelling in Killing Eve’s later episodes.

4) Skins – “Everyone”

At one point, Skins was a revolutionary series as a hard-hitting, gritty teen drama, the British Euphoria of its era. Unfortunately, however, the series seemed to become increasingly outlandish as it progressed, particularly in Season 4, which concluded the stories of the second bunch of students at Roundview College. Skins Season 4 ended with rushed plot lines, uncharacteristic choices, and a tragic and meaningless death, which polarized audiences.

Freddie’s (Luke Pasqualino) death in the penultimate episode of the season caused huge controversy, and the subsequent resolution in the season finale made it even worse. The episode, “Everyone,” leaves many questions unanswered, as it ends with Cook (Jack O’Connell) attacking Freddie’s killer and exclaiming, “I’m Cook!” Cook’s episodes in Skins Season 7 in 2013 provided some closure, but the ending of Season 4 was still a major disappointment.

5) Seinfeld – “The Finale”

Seinfeld is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential TV shows in history, so the poor reception to its last ever episode luckily didn’t cause much damage. Many felt as though Seinfeld’s finale was too much of a deviation from the show’s usual comedic style, as it put its core characters in an unrealistic and unexpected position. Almost devoid of jokes, poorly written, and leaving the story unresolved, Seinfeld’s finale was too ambitious for its own good.

RELATED: Seinfeld Star Reflects on Series Finale: “It Didn’t Quite Land the Way They Wanted”

After years of watching Seinfeld feature its otherwise-hilarious characters in normal, everyday scenarios, the finale seemed much too big. It didn’t fit the overall tone and removed any semblance of humor, which was a shocking end for such an iconic comedy series. By 1998, it was time for Seinfeld to come to an end, it’s just a shame it didn’t have a better, more representative farewell.

6) Dexter – “Remember the Monsters?”

While Dexter’s story has continued in a number of recent spinoffs, the ending of the original eight-season run received a hugely negative response. “Remember the Monsters?” was the most-watched episode of Dexter’s entire run, and the biggest telecast in Showtime’s history. Dexter’s (Michael C. Hall) choices, especially abandoning his son, Harrison (Jadon Wells), were uncharacteristic to his history and the show’s whole themes, which caused huge controversy.

The finale of Dexter was completely botched, and it makes it hard to watch back any episode of the series, knowing how it ends. Unresolved storylines may have been addressed in spinoffs, including Dexter: New Blood and the upcoming Dexter: Resurrection. Even so, “Remember the Monsters?” will go down in history as one of the worst finales ever, and that image of Dexter as a lumberjack will always be a hard one to forget.

7) The Flash – “A New World”

After 11 years, The Flash Season 9, Episode 13, “A New World,” brought the DC series and the Arrowverse to a close in an extremely lackluster fashion. Full of inconsistencies and unresolved storylines, The Flash’s finale was perhaps in response to the poor reception of DC’s live-action projects generally at the time. The ending was rushed, the villain was too-easily defeated, and no homage was paid to iconic characters from the series.

The Flash was the last remnant of the Arrowverse, trudging along for as long as it could before it eventually fizzled out. Grant Gustin was praised as speedster Barry Allen, aka the Flash, but after he was glossed over in the DCEU’s reviled movie version of The Flash, and given no semblance of a satisfying ending in his own show, the future is uncertain for Barry Allen in any future DC project. Hopefully he has embarks on more welcome adventures than he has in recent years.

8) How I Met Your Mother – “Last Forever”

How I Met Your Mother very nearly stuck the landing – really, it came so close – but the series’ final moments completely fumbled the bag. At the very end of How I Met Your Mother’s finale, “Last Forever,” it’s revealed that the titular Mother, Tracy McConnell (Cristin Milioti), had actually passed away by the time Ted (Josh Radnor) is recounting his history to his children. This shocking reveal, and his romantic reunion with Robin (Cobie Smulders), spurred a hugely negative response from audiences and critics alike.

RELATED: 7 Best Sitcoms to Watch on Netflix

Beyond just the finale, the entire last season of How I Met Your Mother was criticized for focusing too heavily on Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin’s wedding, only to undo it in the finale. This made many feel as though their time had been wasted, and the episode veering away from the series’ central themes of falling in love and building a family was also criticized. How I Met Your Mother was popular throughout its run, so it’s a shame its ending was so poor.

9) Lost – “The End”

Lost is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, and some would argue that it’s finale neatly wrapped up the narrative, marked a happy ending for most characters, and resolved the storylines it needed to. However, not everyone agrees, as some were unsatisfied with the answers given to some of the show’s longest-running mysteries, and the open-ended nature of the story revolving around Hugo (Jorge Garcia) and Ben Linus (Michael Emerson), who remained on the Island.

Lost came to a close with Jack (Matthew Fox) killing the Man in Black (Terry O’Quinn) and then sacrificing himself to save the Island and allow his surviving friends to finally leave. Many were satisfied with this emotional ending, including the side-story of the Oceanic Flight 815 survivors reuniting in the afterlife and moving on together. This isn’t a universal opinion, however, which, honestly, is to be expected from such a complex and narratively-rich series.

10) Game of Thrones – “The Iron Throne”

HBO’s Game of Thrones was a cultural revolution and a massive event series for most of its eight-season run. Unfortunately, however, it is perhaps also the biggest example of a major series completely flopping at the end of its run. Game of Thrones’ finale “The Iron Throne,” saw Jon Snow (Kit Harington) kill Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), allowing Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright), of all people, to become the new King of the Seven Kingdoms.

Many had issues with the fact that many of Game of Thrones’ most powerful female characters were neglected and killed off in the final season. Others complained about the repetitiveness and predictability of these final episodes and the anticlimactic ending of Bran Stark claiming the Iron Throne. For such a monumental show, Game of Thrones really struggled to keep up momentum, and fans may never be satisfied with the show’s lackluster finale.

Which series finales ruined their whole shows for you? Let us know in the comments!

The post 10 Awful Finales That Totally Ruined Great TV Shows appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Game of Thrones star Rory McCann has never actually watched the series himself, even after all these years. The actor who one played Sandor Clegane — a.k.a. The Hound — is currently promoting his new movie Tornado, which comes to theaters in the U.S. on May 30th. In an interview with ComicBook, he estimated that he’s watched about five or six episodes out of the 73 in the series. McCann explained that other things always seem to take precedence over watching the show he spent a decade making, especially since he knows the story and spent so many years on the set. However, that also means he hasn’t been able to get interested in House of the Dragon so far.

“I haven’t really watched all of Game of Thrones. I haven’t had time,” McCann said. “I tried to, but what was it, 90 hours? No, I haven’t watched. I’ve probably watched five or six episodes of Game of Thrones. I haven’t really watched it, so I haven’t watched House of the Dragon. I think I’ve watched one episode and I went, ‘I can’t do this. I’m going sailing. I’m playing golf. I’m sorry, I’ve got too much to do.'”

“I mean, I knew it anyway,” McCann went on. “I had the scripts anyway, and any time I was there, I had to see it again and the recordings to do dubbing and stuff… But there’s still people that I know personally from Game of Thrones that I’ve still never really seen them in the show at all. When you’re at the bar going, ‘I heard you were really good, so I’ll have to watch it sometime.’ I go, ‘You bastard, I was in that for eight years.’ ‘Were you a good guy or a bad guy?'”

[RELATED: Game of Thrones Season 9: 5 Storylines Left Unresolved by the HBO Series]

That’s a loaded question for McCann, who played a complex character on a journey of atonement. Sandor Clegane was Joffrey Baratheon’s sworn shield, with a noble family and impeccable warrior skills. However, he refused to accept knighthood, believing that the entire institution was corrupt and disingenuous. The Hound bore burn scars all over his face from his abusive older brother, and he is best-remembered by many fans for his time mentoring Arya Stark (Maisie Williams).

Knighthood would have been a big topic for Game of Thrones fans this year if HBO hadn’t altered its schedule. The network just recently announced that the new prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has been pushed back to 2026. House of the Dragon Season 2 is filming now, and is also expected to be released next year. Game of Thrones itself is streaming now on HBO Max.

The post Game of Thrones Star Admits They Still Haven’t Seen the Whole Show (And for a Good Reason) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When Disney bought Star Wars in 2012, it left a lot of projects in limbo. Among them, Star Wars: Underworld, a live-action TV series that would bridge the gap between Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: A New Hope while focusing on the seedier side of the galaxy. Fans who were looking forward to Underworld and its companion video game Star Wars: 1313 were understandably disappointed when the projects were abandoned, but to paraphrase Luke Skywalker, nothing is ever really gone.

Star Wars has a long history of recycling ideas from canceled projects, and in true franchise fashion, several elements from Underworld eventually found their way into various animated series, books, and even a film or two. Here is a list of 10 concepts from Star Wars: Underworld that were reused for other projects.

1) Saw Gerrera’s Live-Action Debut

Before his standout role in Star Wars: Rogue One and Andor, Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) showed up in the fifth season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars (voiced by Andrew Kishino). Saw is far from the only Star Wars character to get his start in animation before making the leap to live-action, but unlike Ahsoka Tano and Bo Katan Kryze, Saw was supposed to be flesh and blood in the first place.

George Lucas initially created the Rebel extremist for Star Wars: Underworld, but when the series was abandoned, he asked Dave Filoni to incorporate the character into The Clone Wars.

2) Director Krennic Was Originally Working With Jyn Erso and the Rebels

Like Saw Gerrera, Rogue One‘s Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) was also supposed to make his debut in the abandoned Underworld. Apparently, the outline for what would eventually become Rogue One was developed during pre-production on the show, with one big difference: Krennic was supposed to be a Rebel spy.

In the earliest drafts of Rogue One, Orson Krennic was also a double agent, working for the Imperial Security Bureau and secretly leaking intel to Jyn Erson. While this might have been a cool concept in theory, after watching Ben Medelson gleefully chew the scenery as Rogue One‘s resident villain, we prefer the version of Krennic we have now.

3) Han and Chewie’s Bromance Was Supposed to Start Earlier

Say what you will about Solo: A Star Wars Story, but the movie did a good job telling the origin of Han Solo’s (Alden Ehrenreich) friendship with Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo). If George Lucas had his way, however, the pair would have met a lot earlier than 2018. While the two best friends would have still hooked up around the same time chronologically, the story would have been told through the live-action Star Wars: Underworld series rather than a one-off anthology movie.

Considering how many iterations Solo went through before it hit theaters, there’s a good chance Han and Chewie’s first meeting would have played out differently on the small screen. Unfortunately, fans will probably never know for sure unless Lucasfilm decides to publish the 50 or so Underworld scripts that were written before the project was cancelled.

4) Lando’s Most Humiliating Defeat Would Have Been Must-See TV

Another bit of long-time Star Wars lore that Solo made canon was Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) losing the Millennium Falcon to Han Solo during a card game. Much like Han’s introduction to Chewie, the infamous Sabaac game, where Lando gives up his favorite ship, was planned to happen in an episode of Underworld.

It is unknown whether the two events would have occurred in one Han Solo-themed episode of Underworld or separate episodes. Given how George Lucas and Dave Filoni structured The Clone Wars, though, it’s highly likely that Underworld would have had a Han Solo origin arc at some point, spread out over several chapters.

5) Palpatine Finally Gets a First Name

It’s hard to imagine millions of Star Wars fans losing sleep over not knowing the Emperor’s first name, but we’re sure someone was curious. Those handful of fans were no doubt ecstatic when author James Luceno included that bit of trivia in his 2014 novel Tarkin. Luceno, however, will be the first to tell you that he didn’t create the moniker “Sheev” —George Lucas did, and he originally planned to unveil it to the world via Underworld.

It’s anybody’s guess how long Lucas had been sitting on Sheev before 2014, but Luceno suspects the creator had the name in his back pocket for a long time, probably before Underworld was even a thought in his mind.

6) John Williams Returns to A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Fans were divided over most aspects of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but one thing everyone agreed on was that John Williams’ score slapped. While Disney’s decision to bring the maestro back for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a good one, if producer Rick McCallum had his way, Williams would have returned to the franchise even sooner. McCallum, who worked closely with George Lucas on the prequels, had initially played with the idea of asking Williams to return as composer for Star Wars: Underworld before the project was abandoned.

Underworld would have marked the first time Williams composed anything Star Wars-related for the small screen. With the show never making it past the planning stage, fans would have to wait until Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) to hear the composer’s first contribution to the Star Wars on television.

7) The Church of the Force Gives Non-Force Sensitives a Taste of Jedi Life

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary by Pablo Hidalgo officially introduced the Star Wars fandom to the Church of the Force, an organization made up of non-Force users who worship the Force and study the ways of the Jedi. While technically, the Church was represented in The Force Awakens through member Lor San Tekka (Max Von Sydow), the group’s name is never mentioned onscreen. Hidalgo would reveal during an episode of the Star Wars Book Worms podcast that the Church of the Force was supposed to be a part of Star Wars: Underworld, though he suspects George Lucas came up with the general concept even earlier than that.

8) The Pyke Syndicate Was Central to Underworld

With a name like Underworld, it only makes sense that the series would focus on Star Wars’ various outlaws. Chief among these would have been a brand new gang of cutthroat miscreants, the Pyke Syndicate. George Lucas envisioned Underworld‘s Pykes as one of the galaxy’s biggest criminal empires, a role they eventually fulfilled when they showed up in the fifth season of The Clone Wars. Lucasfilm would finally fulfill Lucas’s initial vision of a live-action Pyke Syndicate with 2018’s Solo before giving them an even bigger role in 2021’s Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett Disney+ series.

9) Even Kratos Is Powerless to Resist the Influence of Star Wars

Perhaps the weirdest project to rise from the ashes of Star Wars: Underworld is 2018’s God of War reboot. According to the game’s director, Cory Barlog, the seeds of what would eventually become God of War were planted during his tenure at Lucasfilm when he was allowed to read some of the scripts that had been written for Underworld.  “It was the most mind-blowing thing I’d ever experienced.” Barlog told VentureBeat in 2016.

The director went on to describe a script depicting a young Palpatine’s fall from grace that particularly tugged at his heartstrings. “They made the Emperor a sympathetic figure who was wronged by this [expletive] heartless woman. She’s this hardcore gangster, and she just totally destroyed him as a person. I almost cried while reading this.”

We don’t know how that story specifically inspired Barlog to resurrect the then-dormant God of War series, but gamers everywhere should be glad it did.

10) The Return of Boba Fett

Fan favorite character Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) was always destined for greater things. When George Lucas unceremoniously fed him to the Sarlaac in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, fans refused to believe that was the end of the character. The fans would be proven right when Lucas resurrected the character for Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, although not in the way they expected. Instead of the armored warrior with the stones to stand up to Darth Vader, Fett returned as a little kid (Daniel Logan) who basically got all of his cool stuff from his dad. It wouldn’t be until Star Wars: The Mandalorian that fans would finally get to see the Boba Fett they remembered in action, and boy was it worth the wait.

Had Star Wars: Underworld not gone the way of the dodo, however, fans would have been treated to the return of Boba Fett much sooner. While Underworld’s Boba Fett would have been closer to the little kid version — Daniel Logan even started training with Darth Maul actor Ray Park to prepare for the role — we can assume Fett would have gotten to do a lot more than he did in Clones. Luckily for fans, most of Fett’s Underworld arc was later incorporated into The Clone Wars with Daniel Logan reprising the role, albeit not in the way he expected.

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The Last of Us is working overtime to fill the void left behind on HBO by Game of Thrones. The two series are similar in a lot of ways, including featuring undead hordes and young protagonists. However, there’s one massive difference between the properties that makes The Last of Us more relatable than Game of Thrones: the former takes place in a version of the real world. While Game of Thrones visits massive castles that have to fend off dragon attacks, The Last of Us sends Ellie and Joel to familiar cities like Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh. But setting something in the real world also comes with its fair share of challenges.

One of the problems HBO’s The Last of Us keeps running into is that, because it pushes its outbreak back ten years, placing it in 2003 instead of 2013 like the game, there are constant continuity errors. Some are easy to look past, but the one in the Season 2 finale is big enough to warrant an explanation.

The Last of Us Sends Ellie to an Iconic Seattle Location in the Season 2 Finale

As soon as Abby plunges the broken golf club into Joel’s skull, Ellie wants to learn as much about the former Firefly as possible. She spends three months in the hospital thinking about getting revenge, and thankfully, her good friend Dina has the same plan. Dina uses the information Eugene gave her about the Washington Liberation Front, aka the WLF, and puts together a plan to get to Seattle. Once Ellie and Dina get there, they fly by the seed of their pants, trying to avoid getting into the middle of the conflict between the WLF and the Seraphites.

Ellie eventually sneaks into the hospital where Nora works and tortures Abby’s friend for information. All she gets out of her is the words “whale” and “wheel,” which isn’t enough to go on when Jesse recommends heading back to Jackson because Dina’s not in great shape. Before they can head out, though, they have to grab Tommy, who’s in the middle of a firefight with WLF soldiers. Jesse and Ellie head to the top of a building to get a better vantage point before charging in, but Ellie notices an aquarium and a Ferris wheel in the distance. The two locations make Nora’s last words make a lot more sense, but the only problem is that the Ferris wheel shouldn’t be there.

[RELATED – The Last of Us Season 2 Made One of the Game’s Darkest Moments Even Worse]

HBO’s The Last of Us Doesn’t Care About Continuity Errors

The developer of The Last of Us games, Naughty Dog, includes plenty of notable landmarks to make its title more realistic. One of the most notable is The Seattle Great Wheel, which officially opened in June 2012, a little over a year before Outbreak Day. And with the show following The Last of Us Part II‘s story so closely, the powers that be felt they had to include the Ferris wheel. The show’s timeline makes things much more complicated, though, as some suspension of disbelief is required to get onboard with the structure being there in 2003.

What helps HBO’s case is that Ferris wheels have been around since the 1800s, so it’s easy to say that, in the show’s reality, some Seattle bigwig got the idea earlier and made sure the attraction got done before Cordyceps took over the world. But even if they hadn’t, the show probably wouldn’t care because it’s already thrown caution to the wind when it comes to continuity errors. For example, the Pearl Jam song Joel sings to Ellie in Season 2, Episode 6, “Future Days,” didn’t come out until 2013, meaning it was already a hard sell for the game. However, HBO isn’t concerned about nitpicking, especially when it’s the only thing in the way of a good story coming to life.

The Last of Us Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.

Did you know that the Ferris wheel in Seattle in The Last of Us wasn’t built until 2012? Does it bother you that the show really doesn’t care about continuity errors? Let us know in the comments below!

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Star Wars: Ahsoka star Rory McCann opens up about taking over the role of Baylan Skoll for the show’s second season. In an interview with ComicBook to promote his new film Tornado (which is out in theaters on May 30th), the actor shared his thoughts on replacing the late Ray Stevenson and continuing the character’s journey on Ahsoka Season 2. He also discussed his lightsaber training, crediting his experience portraying the Hound on Game of Thrones with helping him prepare for sword fighting in the galaxy far, far away. McCann is excited about joining the franchise.

“I think it’s the right decision to carry on his storyline, not just cut it off,” he said about playing Baylan Skoll. “We’ve done it before with other things. I hope the fans embrace it and I’ll do my best. I’m just starting now, so I’m just trying to be in the right zone for doing it. It’s pretty bloody exciting. I mean, I remember being a kid with my dad, going to the first one probably in the late ’70s and ’80s. Now I’m training with a lightsaber at night, so it’s pretty exciting.”

McCann then shifted gears to his lightsaber training. “Thrones has really helped with that. Same kind of moves, same blocking,” he said. “Doesn’t have the same sexy sound though. Oh, my God … Lightsabers are lighter, but having said that, the Thrones swords were stunt swords and you’ve got to pretend that they’re three times heavier than they are. But it’s all pretend, really. It’s all very exciting.”

[RELATED – Every Star Wars Rebels Character Confirmed for Ahsoka Season 2 (And Where You Last Saw Them)]

Stevenson portrayed Baylan on Ahsoka Season 1, which was released shortly after the actor’s passing. Many fans considered Baylan to be one of the show’s most compelling characters. Back in January, it was reported that McCann had been cast to take over the role, a development that was confirmed during Star Wars Celebration Japan in April.

While Ahsoka Season 2 does not have a release date yet, it is currently in production. Star Rosario Dawson has been teasing fans with behind-the-scenes glimpses that tease her physically demanding performance. Official details about what’s in store are being kept under wraps, though it has been confirmed that Hayden Christensen is once again reprising Anakin Skywalker.

Stevenson gave a memorable performance as Baylan, but McCann is correct in saying it’s the best decision to continue the character’s story. Ahsoka Season 1 left Baylan’s arc unresolved. He parted ways with his apprentice Shin Hati to follow his own path on Peridea, locating statues of the Mortis gods in the finale. That was clearly a tease for future storylines involving Baylan, and it would have been strange if the thread was dropped entirely. Recasting the role was the way to go, and McCann seems like an inspired choice to play the character. It’s clear he understands the magnitude of following Stevenson’s footsteps and will do everything in his power to deliver a captivating performance.

As fans wait to see what the Ahsoka Season 2 story will entail, McCann’s teases about his lightsaber training indicate Baylan should be involved in action sequences in some capacity. Characters such as Ahsoka, Sabine, and Shin are also on Peridea as Season 1 concludes, so there’s no shortage of potential duels Baylan could have (or perhaps he faces a different threat on his new quest). It’ll be fascinating to see how Baylan factors into the narrative and what role the Mortis gods play. Hopefully, McCann is able to put his stamp on the role and carve out his own legacy in the galaxy far, far away.

The post Star Wars: Ahsoka’s Rory McCann Breaks Silence on Taking Over Baylan Skoll appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For decades, stories of the Star Wars Rebellion have largely focused on iconic figures: Princess Leia, Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Han Solo. Even within the more recent Andor series, Luthen Rael has been presented as the shadowy and untrustworthy mastermind, pulling strings from his Coruscant antique shop. Luthen is the one making the impossible choices, orchestrating the dangerous missions, and delivering powerful monologues about the costs of freedom. Yet, with the conclusion of Andor, a new, vital truth has emerged, subtly woven into the very fabric of the story: the true architect, the foundational force behind Luthen’s entire operation and, by extension, a significant portion of the early Rebellion, is none other than Kleya Marki.

Far from being merely an assistant, Kleya is the unyielding, strategic core that kept Luthen’s desperate gamble alive, a revelation confirmed by Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy himself. This recontextualizes much of what we thought we knew about the Rebellion’s origins, showcasing the quiet, unseen labor that truly built the galaxy’s hope.

Kleya’s Calculated Resolve and Strategic Prowess Made the Rebellion a Success

Andor masterfully peeled back the layers of Kleya’s character, culminating in a striking realization: she was not Luthen’s apprentice, but rather his guiding star from their very first encounter. Tony Gilroy, in recent interviews, has been remarkably clear about this dynamic. Speaking with Nerdist, Gilroy stated, “Kleya, not Luthen, was in charge the whole time… She’s actually been in charge of the thing from day one, from the moment they met. Kleya’s been in charge of everything. She really has been the boss. He’s afraid of her all the way through.” This isn’t merely a character beat; it’s a fundamental reorientation of the series’ central partnership.

RELATED: 5 Great Concepts for More Star Wars TV Shows on Andor’s Level

From their initial, horrific meeting where a young, traumatized Kleya is discovered by a guilt-ridden Luthen during an Imperial massacre, it becomes evident that her unwavering conviction and thirst for retribution are her driving forces. Luthen’s early actions, while seemingly of his own volition, are framed by Gilroy as a response to Kleya’s innate defiance. As he further elaborated to Collider regarding the flashback episode, “The girl who plays her young […] just transfused that steel all the way through, and you realize Kleya is the organizing principle in that shop, Kleya is the muscle there, Kleya is the stalwart. [Luthen’s] only there because he’s so guilty and he’s conforming to her reality all the way through.”

Kleya’s contributions weren’t limited to mere emotional motivation. She consistently demonstrated a strategic mind, often serving as Luthen’s tether to reality and the pragmatism required for their clandestine operations. While Luthen engaged in the public-facing, high-stakes negotiations and acquisitions, it was Kleya who managed the intricate network of communications, vetted intelligence, and maintained the operational security of their antiquities business – a front that was itself her domain. Her meticulous nature and stern demeanor, often misinterpreted as mere coldness, were in fact reflections of the immense pressure she carried, knowing that every detail, every misstep, could lead to catastrophe. She was the one who ensured the Tinian Codex was cleaned of listening devices, the one who deciphered critical messages, and ultimately, the one who made the gut-wrenching decision to end Luthen’s life to protect their network and the vital Death Star intelligence. This grim act, born of pure, unadulterated dedication to the cause, underscores her paramount importance.

Kleya’s Unsung Sacrifice for the Greater Good Illustrates the True Cost of Commitment

The very nature of Kleya’s role demanded a level of self-effacement that kept her largely in the shadows. Unlike Luthen, who occasionally indulged in theatricality or faced direct threats in the field, Kleya remained largely unseen, her sacrifices often unacknowledged. Her existence was the rebellion, her justification the downfall of the Empire. Actress Elizabeth Dulau, who portrays Kleya, echoed this sentiment in an interview with Vogue Singapore, noting that Gilroy had told her, “the rebellion is her entire life. It is her raison d’etre. She wakes up in the morning, and she’s thinking about that. She goes to work and she waits her entire day. Everything she does goes into trying to achieve that end goal of building this rebellion with Luthen.”

This deep-seated commitment manifested in the quiet endurance of immense personal cost. Kleya lived a life of constant vigilance, stripped of personal attachments or comforts. Her journey is a stark reminder that the Rebellion was built not just on grand gestures, but on the relentless, thankless toil of individuals like her. The final scene, with Kleya taking in Yavin in all its glory, offers a rare moment of introspection. Gilroy described this moment to Star Wars News Net, highlighting how Elizabeth Dulau conveyed “just the little slightest Mona Lisa, kind of bit of pleasure that she realizes what her contribution has been. She sees what they’ve built.” He emphasized that “none of this stuff exists if she hadn’t been the person and lived the life that she had, and made the sacrifices that she had, and no one will ever know that.”

This speaks volumes to the core theme of Andor: the quiet, often unacknowledged labor that fuels major movements. Kleya’s story is a powerful testament to the idea that true leadership isn’t always about being the public face, but about possessing the foresight, the resolve, and the unwavering dedication to build the foundation, piece by painstaking piece. The Rebellion may have found its voice in Mon Mothma and its hero in Cassian Andor, but it found its foundational backbone in Kleya Marki, the unsung architect who was truly in charge all along. Her sacrifice, often in the shadows, ensured that the sunrise of freedom would eventually break.

Andor and other Star Wars content is streaming on Disney+.

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Rick and Morty Season 8 has officially made its premiere with Adult Swim, and the first look at its next episode is teasing a new adventure for Space Beth. Ever since she was first introduced to the series, Space Beth has been an interesting character. Initially serving as a mirror to Beth had she gone on a lived her dream life away from her family, Space Beth has since made her return to the series and has become a member of the extended Smith Family dynamic. But as a character herself, there’s still a lot of material to explore with solo stories.

Space Beth has been intriguing in the family as following her romance with Beth, Space Beth herself has been on the sidelines with little else developed about how she ticks. This could be getting a big change in the coming episode as Rick and Morty Season 8 has dropped the first look at Episode 2 as it teases Space Beth is going to be at the center of the next big story. Check it out below as spotted by @swimpedia on X as it teases what’s coming next.

How to Watch Rick and Morty Season 8 Episode 2

Rick and Morty Season 8 Episode 2 is titled “Valkyrick” and it will be making its premiere with Adult Swim on Sunday, June 1st at 11:00PM ET. Adult Swim teases the episode as such, “Space Beth calls her dad for a ride.” Naturally, there’s so much that could go down in an episode that’s teased like this as this could be from the episode’s opening minutes before getting into a much larger episodes with Space Beth and her father. And considering Space Beth’s expanded role in the Smith Family, there is a lot of potential ground to cover with such an idea.

Space Beth has been an intriguing addition to the series as it offers up a new chance for Beth herself to be explored in a new kind of way. Not only does it mean that there’s potential for more space faring adventures with her at the center, but it’s been made clear in the preview that Space Beth is even going to be reaching out to her father for some help in her current situation. And that’s just an interesting dynamic.

RELATED: Rick and Morty Season 8 Review: Back in Action for 100 More Years

What’s Next for Rick and Morty Season 8?

Rick and Morty’s premiere for the season didn’t really seem to tee up any major serialized story, but at the same time it made some great advancements for both Morty and Summer as characters. That’s the same hope for this coming episode as while it could end up being another episodic story, this episode could end up giving us more of Space Beth as a character herself. There’s so little we understand about her at this point as we’ve only seen her through Beth’s point of view, so this could be the chance to make that happen.

That’s the key to Rick and Morty’s longevity as well. While Rick and Morty might not want to focus on a grander serialized narrative that carries between episodes, but it makes some major updates across multiple seasons. Space Beth is one of the characters who could stand to help make that happen as there’s still so much that can happen out in space across multiple seasons, and she could even be at the center of a big story arc. As Rick and Morty works through Season 12, everything could be on the table for the future.

The post Rick and Morty Promo Teases New Space Beth Episode appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Apple TV+ has provided ComicBook with an exclusive new clip from Ewan McGregor’s travel series, Long Way Home. There’s a lot to watch on streaming these days and sometimes and it can even be a bit hard to find the time to watch everything. However, I want to shine a light on a show I recently wrote a big recommendation for: Ewan McGregor’s Long Way Home. The series sees the Star Wars actor pair up with his best friend Charley Boorman so they can travel cross-country on vintage motorcycles, which obviously presents all kinds of unique challenges that make for compelling TV drama.

It’s a beautifully shot docuseries that allows viewers to experience travels that they may otherwise not be able to. On top of that, McGregor and Boorman’s dynamic is incredibly charming and keeps the show feeling light and fun. There’s nothing else quite like it on TV and I highly recommend it, even if you’re not typically interested in travel shows. The best part of the show is just watching two friends hang out, discovering new foods, cultures, and overcoming various obstacles with the resources they have.

Apple TV+ has given ComicBook an exclusive clip from Long Way Home which shows some of the treacherous conditions the two must overcome on their adventure. Charley and Ewan set up camp in a freezing location with winds rapidly blowing through their tent. It’s obviously not the most luxurious or comfortable camping spot, especially given the frigid temps, but it shows the lengths the two are willing to go to for their journey. You can check out the clip from the show below along with a description of the series.

“Long Way Home follows Ewan and Charley as they ride refurbished vintage motorbikes from Ewan’s home in Scotland to Charley’s in England — but rather than take the shortest route, they go the long way! They head across the North Sea to Scandinavia, all the way up to the Arctic Circle and then down to the Baltics and through continental Europe, before eventually hopping back over the English Channel two months later. It’s an adventure that will take them to more than 15 countries, through spectacular scenery and along some of the greatest driving roads in the world. Along the way they’ll immerse themselves in each country’s culture, meet the locals and try their hand at unique and eclectic activities.”

New episodes of Long Way Home debut on Apple TV+ on Fridays.

The post Apple TV+’s Long Way Home Clip Shows Ewan McGregor Camping in Freezing Weather (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Sandman showrunner Allan Heinberg said on Wednesday that the show was not actually canceled over the sexual misconduct allegations against Neil Gaiman. Netflix announced that this series would end with Season 2 back in January, and at the time, the accusations against Gaiman were just beginning to impact many of his adaptations. However, Heinberg told Entertainment Weekly that the streamer, the studio, and the creative team had decided to end the show shortly before Season 1 even premiered. He said that Season 2 was already in post-production when the reports about Gaiman began to circulate, so he doesn’t think it had any impact on the story or content of the new episodes. Still, he said that the announcement of the show’s ending came at “unfortunate timing, for sure.”

“It was a decision we made three years ago,” Heinberg said of the show’s cancellation. The reason, he explained, was actually the content of the original comic book by Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg. The book often goes off on tangents about other characters, where Dream (Tom Sturridge) is only distantly involved. “There are some volumes where he just appears in two scenes,” Heinberg pointed out.

Beloved as some of these stories are, Heinberg wanted to keep the focus squarely on Dream. He also kept in mind his original pitch for the adaptation, where he told Netflix this would be “a family drama above all,” depicting the strife between Dream and his siblings, the other Endless. We’ll meet the rest of them in Season 2. Looking at the rest of the comic series with a birds’ eye view, he felt that there was only one season’s worth of “hard story” left to go without stretching it.

[RELATED: Good Omens Ending With Feature-Length Final Episode Instead of Full Season]

As for the shocking allegations against Gaiman, Heinberg felt that they came after Season 2 had wrapped. “I can’t say that it affected our process, which is scheduled years in advance, he said. “These are your delivery dates and you just keep going. So it’s been in the periphery of my experience and the background of my experience, but it hasn’t been part of the world of the making of the show, if that makes sense. Every production is its own little island. Even though we were in London, my experience was very limited to the making of the show, even in my personal life, which I did not have for the last six years.”

Gaiman has always been very direct and interactive with fans on social media over the years, making this case very emotional for many readers. The author was publicly accused of sexual assault by five women in July of 2024. In the following months, Disney halted production on a planned adaptation of Gaiman’s novel The Graveyard Book, and Prime Video paused production on Good Omens Season 3. Another report on the allegations hit in January of this year, just before the cancellation of The Sandman and all of Gaiman’s ongoing work with Dark Horse Comics.

Gaiman himself has denied engaging in any non-consensual sex at any time in his life, though he wrote on his blog that amid all the allegations, here are “moments I half-recognize and moments I don’t.” It’s unclear if any legal action against the author will move forward at the time of this writing.

The Sandman Season 2 will premiere in two parts on Netflix — first on July 3rd, then concluding on July 24th. The first season is streaming there now.

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It’s about time. Marvel fans were thrilled when it was announced that Tom Hiddleston — whose trickster God of Mischief, Loki, died in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, only for his past self to escape into a branched timeline in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame — would be looped back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Avengers: Doomsday. The last time we saw this time-slipping alt-2012 Loki in his self-titled Disney+ series, he sacrificed himself to destroy the Time Variance Authority’s Temporal Loom, saving the branched realities of the multiverse that he then presided over from his throne at the End of Time.

Loki’s glorious purpose also meant saving his friends, including the Loki variant turned TVA fugitive Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), TVA agent and best friend Mobius (Owen Wilson), TVA repair guy O.B. (Ke Huy Quan), and B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku). The latter reappeared in last summer’s Deadpool & Wolverine, and it seems that Di Martino’s Sylvie will be making the jump to the Sacred Timeline as part of the ever-expanding Avengers: Doomsday cast.

“Playgrounds,” Di Martino captioned a since-deleted Instagram post (below) that fans have taken to mean Sylvie is in Doomsday. Di Martino’s Sylvie stunt double, Sarah Irwin, has also reportedly been spotted in the UK, fueling speculation that the character is set to return (presumably to reunite with the long-lost Loki).

RELATED: New Avengers: Doomsday Set Photo Shows Two Returning Characters

“I think, at this point, if anything comes back to threaten freewill in general, I feel like Sylvie will be there to fight the good fight. It kind of depends where the story goes, where the bigger picture goes,” the Loki star previously told ScreenRant about her role in the MCU moving forward.

“No one knows but Kevin Feige,” Di Martino continued of the Marvel Studios president and producer. “I mean, she could go anywhere. Again, the possibilities are limitless. That’s what’s so exciting about it. You just never know.”

The Anthony and Joe Russo-directed Avengers: Doomsday started principal photography last month at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. Perhaps not coincidentally, Buckinghamshire’s Pitstone Quarry doubled as the Void, a “metaphysical junkyard” at the End of Time that first appeared as a location on Loki, when Marvel Studios shot Deadpool & Wolverine there in 2023.

Along with Hiddleston, the Doomsday cast includes Robert Downey Jr. (Doctor Doom), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier), Letitia Wright (Shuri/Black Panther), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Wyatt Russell (John Walker/U.S. Agent), Tenoch Huerta Mejia (Namor), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova/Black Widow), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Lewis Pullman (Bob Reynolds/Sentry), Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres/the Falcon), David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr/Ghost), and Channing Tatum (Gambit).

The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast members Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Susan Richards/Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/the Thing) are all set to return, as will Fox’s X-Men movie alums Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and James Marsden (Cyclops).

Marvel Studios has dated Avengers: Doomsday to open December 18, 2026 in theaters (previously May 1), followed by Avengers: Secret Wars (also delayed from May 7 to Dec. 17, 2027).

The post Loki Star May Have Accidentally Revealed Avengers: Doomsday Return to the MCU appeared first on ComicBook.com.

All good things must come to an end, including a fan-favorite Netflix series. The animated series Big Mouth was a runaway hit for Netflix, airing eight full seasons, plus a spin-off, Human Resources, which lasted for two seasons, on the streamer. Recently, fans had to say goodbye to this beloved cast of characters as the final season of Big Mouth premiered last week. While the show did a solid job of providing the conclusion fans deserved, there are still some lingering questions revolving around this show. Likewise, there are a surprising number of unresolved plots.

Big Mouth is an animated comic-of-age story with strong sitcom elements. Created by Andrew Goldberg, Nick Kroll, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett, the show took an unabashed look at puberty and teenage drama. The show’s primary focus is a group of middle school teenagers as they begin puberty, starring Nick Burch (Kroll), Andrew Glauberman (John Mulaney), Jessi Glaser (Jessie Klein), and a seemingly ever-expanding cast. Fans loved seeing their open and honest conversations about the topics that society often shies away from.

Ironically, it seems the show (intentionally or not) shied away from a few points fans wanted to see resolved. Spoilers follow for Big Mouth Season 8.

1) What Was Going On With Guy Bilzerian?

Seriously, what is going on with Guy Bilzerian? By the time Season 8 rolled around, viewers were already exceptionally aware of how much this guy stunk. He’s a sketchy divorce lawyer with an endless supply of concerning quotes from his “law commercials.” He’s also the owner of “Guy Town,” a terrible husband, and an even worse father. None of this is up for debate, and frankly, nobody expected a happy ending for this character.

During the final season of Big Mouth, Guy Bilzerian dashes through his home, tearing out everything of value. It’s pretty obvious that Guy is in some sort of trouble, and while we don’t feel any sympathy for him, it’s concerning to see the house stripped bare. Guy Bilzerian is never seen again, though the house and its emptiness do come up a couple of times. Where did Guy flee to, and why? More importantly, will Jay’s family be okay? They lost the only (presumably) income they had, and worse, they possibly have nothing to their name. Will a repo company be coming to take the house away?

2) Where Is Lola’s Mom? And Who Is Her Dad?

Cookie Skumpy, Lola’s mother, is another enigma of the series. Lola mentions her mother a lot throughout 8 seasons, yet fans only have a few distorted images of the woman. Here’s what we know: she’s a negligent and abusive mother who doesn’t have any trouble leaving her teenage daughter to effectively fend for herself. Likewise, we know she has a parole officer and that she tends to follow bands around the country.

Some fans were hoping/anticipating that we would get to finally see her in the final season of the show. Several fans even theorized her potential connection to the Ponytail Killer (more on that in a moment). All of that was a bust, as Cookie Skumpy never made her appearance. We also never learned about Lola’s father. While Lola doesn’t need her parents present to be happy, it would have been nice to have these questions answered.

3) Was There More to the Ponytail Killer?

The Ponytail Killer was first introduced in Season 1, a serial killer that specifically targets people with ponytails. For a brief moment, it looked like Coach Steve was the killer, simply because of all his connections to past victims. Likewise, there have been a few jokes regarding Andrew’s potential culpability. Every appearance of The Ponytail Killer left fans with more questions and theories. Frankly, if Season 8 hadn’t revealed who The Ponytail Killer is, people probably would have rioted.

The good news is that The Ponytail Killer was officially revealed (and caught) in season eight. Skip ahead if you don’t want spoilers! Leore Paulblart, the Rabbi’s son, is to blame. Fans had previously theorized that it was him, even going so far as to posit that he needed the hair to run his dog wig business (yes, really). Well, it seems like the fans were pretty spot-on about this one, so why does it feel unfinished? It feels like there needed to be more to this mystery, either a deeper motive, a copycat killer, or a partner. Something still feels off.

[REATED: Netflix Announces Mating Season, A New Series From Big Mouth’s Creators]

4) Why Was Judd So Obsessed With His Supplier And Her Son?

Judd Birch is the eldest son of the Birch family, and he’s probably most famous for his dark humor and attitude. He clearly enjoys disobeying his loving and supportive parents, and overall doesn’t seem to have much concern for others. With one notable exception. During season seven, Nick and Andrew follow Judd to his dealer’s house. However, nothing goes according to plan, as Judd is seen happily playing with a little child out in the yard.

The moment brought Nick’s jealousy to the forefront, but it also raised a lot of questions about Judd. Starting with, why is Judd spending so much time with his dealer and her family? Does Judd have a secret child? Those questions were never answered, as Judd’s dealer and her child never appear in the final season.

5) Why Didn’t the Kids Get A Different Primary After Their Hormone Monsters?

Big Mouth‘s spin-off series introduces a plethora of new characters, from new Lovebugs and Hormone Monsters to Logic Rocks, Addiction Angels, Ambition Gremlins, and more. The show only lasted two seasons, but that was long enough to make one important point clear: Many people get a new primary Human Resource character once their Hormone Monster is done (aka: once puberty is over). Becca Lee is a new character in this series, and she is an adult with a plethora of feelings/monsters. Her primary is arguably the Lovebug (Sonya/Emmy). Conversely, her husband Barry, who also has a full set of monsters, clearly has a Depression Kitty (Cat Stevens) as his primary.

This raises an interesting question – what would later become the primaries for the leading cast of Big Mouth? Would Jessi get an Ambition Gremlin, like her mother wants? Would any of the crew get a Logic Rock? Likewise, following the introduction of the Compassion Pachyderm (Coco), it would have been nice to see her become one of the kids’ new primaries. We know that not everyone will have monsters representing their feelings, but plenty of them do, and it would have been nice to see a hint at what their adult versions would have had.

6) Where Is Montel?

Montel LeBeverly is the adorable child of Maury and Connie, aka a bundle of joy, who showed the audience exactly how a new Hormone Monster is born and raised. Montel appeared in both Big Mouth and Human Resources, and their plot took up a lot of space in the series. Starting with Maury’s pregnancy, the Hormone Monster story shifted drastically for at least two seasons, as the pair negotiated this new time in their lives. After Montel is born, the little Monster quickly grows up, and by the time the season is out, Montel is off to college (to become a Shame Wizard, of all things).

That was the end of Montel’s story. Seriously! Two plus seasons of introductions and development, only for Montel never to appear in the final season. We understand that education is not a fast process, but it would have been interesting to see Montel working alongside the Shame Wizard. Anything to let the viewers know how Montel is doing.

[RELATED: 7 Best Shows to Binge on Netflix in May 2025]

7) What Was Going on With Mila & Lotte?

Mila and Lotte Jansen are twins introduced early in the series. For the most part, it’s safe to agree that these two are background characters. Yet there is one very concerning point we would like answered about the twins. Are they joking, or are they cannibals? It all begins with a dark joke here and there, with the first real hint dropping in Season 3 (one of them comments on how much they would love to eat the flesh of the people attending a child wedding).

8) Did Coach Steve Get Stuck In Human Resources?

Back when Nick was still struggling to find the perfect Hormone Monster for his needs, Tyler (a younger and now fired Hormone Monster) left the doorway to Human Resources open. We all know what happened next, as Andrew, Nick, and Jessi hopped through the portal to kick off a new series of adventures. The noteworthy comment to pull from here comes from Maury, who mentions that children who stay in Human Resources become stunted in some way, emotionally or physically.

Based on Maury’s description, we have to wonder – did Coach Steve get stuck in Human Resources at one point? It would explain his sweeter and more childlike manner. We don’t have any proof one way or the other, but it would be keeping with the show to tease something but never outright say it. While we’re talking about Coach Steve, what happened next? Did he ever get to leave the diaper barge?

9) Did Gina Ever Learn About Charles Lu’s Affair With Jay?

Most viewers remember the infamous time when Jay was with Charles Lu, and by with, we mean that for a moment he was happy to be Charles’ side piece. He thought he was following in his parent’s footsteps, but it turned out that Jay needed more than physical contact to feel loved, so he ultimately broke it off. One thing we’ve been wondering about since then, did Gina ever find out that Charles cheated on her with Jay?

It’s not unreasonable to assume that Gina would learn the news. Jay let it slip to Lola, who is not known for her secret-keeping. Plus, she’d have plenty of reasons to want to verbally attack Charles (probably publicaly, knowing her). So, why did viewers never get to see this confrontation?

10) What Happened to Caitlyn & The Baby? And Has Greg Gotten His Life Together?

Jessi went through a lot in the final season but ultimately seemed to come out stable and happy. The same cannot be definitively said for her entire family, much of whom was absent this season. Jessi’s mother appeared several times (mostly to react to Jessi’s new uh, habits and boyfriend), but Jessi’s father only appeared in a couple of brief moments. His biggest cameo is a concerning one, as he’s seen bumming around Shannon’s condo. Yes, he was just hanging around his ex-wife’s place because he needed to charge his phone and grab a snack.

Now, it’s possible that Greg was just looking for an excuse to check in on his daughter (or get a cameo in the final season), but it also could be the sign of something more concerning. What if Greg is still struggling to hold a job and support his family? Worse, Caitlyn only appears once, during a musical number, and the baby is nowhere to be seen. Here’s hoping they’re okay because fans aren’t likely to know it for certain.

The post 10 Big Mouth Mysteries Still Unanswered After the Last Episode appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Do you remember sitting in front of the TV and being told that you can do anything? That no adventure was too great for you to handle? That every clue could be found and any mystery solved? Well, all of that self confidence was bestowed upon us by some very inspiring Nickelodeon cartoons that we watched as kids, and these new Funko Pops will pick up where the shows left off. Specifically, the drop includes 5 Funko Pops from the shows Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer.

Check out your favorite childhood characters like Blue and Magenta and Dora and Boots, but watch out, you might have to tell Swiper to stop swiping if you had him to your collection. Read below for a full list of available Pops and their individual links. 

• Blue’s Clues Magenta Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure – See here at Entertainment Earth / at Amazon
• Blue’s Clues Blue with Couch Premium Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure – See here at Entertainment Earth / at Amazon
• Dora the Explorer Boots Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure – See here at Entertainment Earth / at Amazon
• Dora the Explorer Dora Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure – See here at Entertainment Earth / at Amazon
• Dora the Explorer Swiper Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure – See here at Entertainment Earth / at Amazon
• You can check out more of the lastest and greatest Funko Pop releases right here via our weekly roundup.

Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Hits Theaters With New Merch

Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch opened in theaters this past weekend, and it’s already breaking box office records. With the help of Tom Cruise’s franchise-ending Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the two films combined accomplished the biggest Memorial Day haul of all time, bringing in $322+ million domestically. That’s a lot of people who went to see the adorable alien this weekend. And what better way to celebrate a new movie obsession than with some new merch? One of our favorites is listed below.

Many Moods Stitch / $39.99 / See on Amazon and Walmart: “Inspired by Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch film, the Many Moods Stitch interactive plush toy brings Disney Stitch’s personality to life! This 13.5-inch Stitch plushie features expressive, LCD screen eyes and over 50 sounds and reactions. Scratch his head to reveal his lovable side, rub his belly for playful antics, or “feed” him when he’s hungry. Jiggle, tilt, or hold Stitch upside down to activate silly phrases, sound effects, and animated eye reactions—but too much bouncing might make him grumpy! When it’s time to wind down, gently rock Stitch to hear adorable yawns as his eyes close for sleep.”

Want to stay up to date with all the latest toys and collectibles? Then keep an eye on our Gear Page!

The post Funko Gets Nostalgic With New Blues Clues and Dora the Explorer Pops appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Ahsoka series on Disney+ has already brought beloved characters from Star Wars Rebels into live-action, thrilling fans by bridging the animated and live-action realms of the galaxy far, far away. With the second season already in production, excitement is building as several more key figures from Rebels are confirmed to join the upcoming inevitable battle against an old foe. The first season of Ahsoka left audiences with significant cliffhangers, most notably the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger to the main galaxy, while Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren remained stranded on Peridea. These developments set the stage for an epic continuation, deeply intertwined with the fates of the Ghost crew and other characters vital to the early rebellion. Let’s take a look at the Rebels characters confirmed to appear in Ahsoka Season 2, revisiting their last known whereabouts and speculating on what the future has in store for them.

1) Ezra Bridger

In animation, Ezra Bridger (voiced by Taylor Gray and played in live-action by Eman Esfandi) was last seen in the emotional finale of Star Wars Rebels, making the ultimate sacrifice to remove Grand Admiral Thrawn and his fleet from Lothal by calling upon the Purrgil to hyperspace them to an unknown location. This heroic act saved his home planet and cemented his status as a true Jedi. For years, his fate was a mystery, a lingering question in the minds of his friends and the audience. The first season of Ahsoka finally resolved this cliffhanger, revealing that Thrawn and Ezra had indeed been transported to Peridea, a planet in a distant galaxy. In Ahsoka, we see Ezra having survived this journey, albeit stranded far from home, demonstrating his resilience and growth as a Force user. His reunion with Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren was a central plot point, culminating in his eventual long-awaited and hard-earned return to his home galaxy alongside Thrawn.

[RELATED: Star Wars: Ahsoka Star Just Gave Us a Big Hint About Season 2]

Now officially back in the main galaxy, Ezra’s role in Ahsoka Season 2 will undoubtedly be a significant one. Having been away for so long, he will undoubtedly experience a degree of culture shock, which includes the news of a full-fledged Galactic Civil War that culminated in the fall of the Empire, as well as the growing threat posed by Imperial remnants. Ezra’s connection to the Force, honed during his isolation, and his experience as a pivotal player in the early rebellion will make him a valuable ally in the coming conflict with Grand Admiral Thrawn. 

Additionally, up until this point, Ezra had no knowledge that Hera Syndulla and his beloved late Master, Kanan Jarrus, had a child together. Ahsoka Season 1 ended before viewers could witness any real reunion between Hera and Ezra beyond Hera’s shock at seeing him again, but Jacen was notably absent. Ezra’s relationship with Jacen, who himself is not only Force-sensitive, but clearly possesses great talents like his father, will likely play a significant role in Season 2. Ezra’s journey from a street-smart orphan to a capable Jedi Knight has been compelling, and his continued evolution in live-action promises to be a highlight of the season.

2) Hera Syndulla

Captain Hera Syndulla (voiced by Vanessa Marshall and played in live-action by Mary Elizabeth Winstead) was last seen in animation in the epilogue of Star Wars Rebels, continuing her distinguished service in the New Republic military and raising her and Kanan Jarrus’ son, Jacen Syndulla. Her unwavering leadership, exceptional piloting skills, and strategic brilliance were instrumental throughout the rebellion, earning her immense respect within the New Republic. In the first season of Ahsoka, Hera reprised her role, now a formidable general advocating tirelessly for the recognition of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s potential threat, often facing skepticism from her New Republic peers. She played a crucial part in assisting Ahsoka and Sabine’s perilous journey to find Ezra, providing essential logistical support and demonstrating her characteristic blend of determination, pragmatism, and compassion.

With her confirmed return for Ahsoka Season 2, Hera’s involvement is set to deepen, especially with Thrawn’s return to the main galaxy. Her military expertise and long-standing personal history with the Grand Admiral will undoubtedly position her as a key player in the unfolding conflict. Her enduring love and concern for Ezra’s well-being and her strong bond with Sabine also suggest she will be deeply involved in their future endeavors. 

Furthermore, the development of her son, Jacen, could become a significant storyline, potentially seeing him interact more directly with the Jedi legacy that his father left behind in the form of his apprentice, Ezra. Hera’s continued presence provides a vital link to the events of Rebels and a grounded, strategic perspective amidst the more mystical aspects of the Force.

3) Sabine Wren

Sabine Wren (voiced by Tiya Sircar and played in live-action by Natasha Liu Bordizzo) made her last appearance in Star Wars Rebels, which saw her alongside Ahsoka Tano, embarking on a determined journey to find Ezra Bridger in the unknown regions of space following the defeat of Thrawn on Lothal. This epilogue left Sabine grappling with her Mandalorian heritage and her deep connection to the Ghost crew, while also hinting at a new path. The Ahsoka series picked up this thread directly, revealing Sabine’s continued search for Ezra, even living in his old hideout on Lothal, and her eventual reunion with Ahsoka, now as Ahsoka’s former Padawan. The first season showcased Sabine’s struggles with her latent Force abilities and complicated history with Ahsoka, but ultimately, she began to tap into them, learning to wield a lightsaber and playing a critical role in reaching Peridea and aiding Ezra’s return.

[RELATED: What Hayden Christensen’s Return in Season 2 of Ahsoka Could Mean]

With her return confirmed for Ahsoka Season 2, Sabine’s journey will undoubtedly continue to explore her development as a Force-sensitive Mandalorian warrior. Her experiences on Peridea, including facing off against Shin Hati and the Nightsisters, would have profoundly shaped her understanding of the Force and her own capabilities. Now stranded on Peridea with Ahsoka, her continued training could be central to the plot. Additionally, with Shin Hati and Baylon Skull also on Peridea, Sabine will no doubt find herself wrapped up in their machinations. 

Furthermore, if and when Sabine returns to the main galaxy, her Mandalorian heritage might become even more significant as the story unfolds, especially if it delves into the political landscape of the rebuilding of Mandalore under Bo-Katan Kryze as seen in Season 3 of The Mandalorian. Sabine’s unique blend of artistic creativity, warrior spirit, and burgeoning Force abilities makes her a compelling character with many potential avenues for future storylines.

4) Zeb Orrelios

Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios (Steve Blum) was last seen in a delightful live-action cameo in The Mandalorian Season 3. He was residing on the New Republic correctional facility planet Adelphi, where he shared a drink and friendly banter with Captain Carson Teva. This appearance confirmed his continued survival after the events of Star Wars Rebels and subtly hinted at his role within the New Republic era, suggesting he was involved in some capacity with law enforcement, pilots, or security. It was a welcome sight for long-time fans of Rebels, providing a tangible link to his journey and showing that the Lasat warrior had found a place in the galaxy after the fall of the Empire.

With his confirmed return for Ahsoka Season 2, Zeb’s role is expected to expand beyond a mere cameo, potentially reuniting him with his surviving Ghost crewmates. Given the events of the finale of Rebels that showed Zeb bringing former ISB agent turned rebel, Alexsandr Kallus, to Zeb’s new home planet, it’s highly likely Zeb and Kallus will both return for Season 2. His immense strength, formidable combat skills, and unwavering loyalty to his friends would make him an invaluable asset in facing the looming threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn. Furthermore, his unique perspective as believing himself to be one of the last of his kind for years could bring interesting dynamics, particularly if the story touches upon themes of rebuilding civilizations or finding one’s place in a changing galaxy. Seeing Zeb interact more extensively with Chopper, Ezra, Sabine, and Hera in live-action promises to be a fan-favorite moment, bringing the full Rebels crew closer to a live-action reunion.

Star Wars Rebels and Ahsoka Season 1 are streaming on Disney+.

The post Every Star Wars Rebels Character Confirmed for Ahsoka Season 2 (And Where You Last Saw Them) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Phineas and Ferb is coming back for new episodes later this Summer, and the original creators behind it all haven’t ruled out a return to the ten year time skip seen in the original series. Phineas and Ferb is now back in action with a new revival series ten years after its original run with Disney came to an end, and everyone is picking up right from where it all left off. With the original creators and voice cast from the original series returning for their respective roles with the new episodes, fans are getting a special kind of reunion for Phineas and Ferb.

But one of the most exciting episodes from the classic Phineas and Ferb era was fittingly an episode that moved the series’ timeline forward ten years. “Act Your Age” came shortly before Season 4 came to an end, and offered a whole new look at the future for everyone. Speaking to ComicBook ahead of the new Phineas and Ferb revival premiere, series creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh reveal that a return to this future timeline is still potentially on the table, “We haven’t said no to anything yet…”

Will Phineas and Ferb Keep Acting Their Age?

When asked about a potential return to the “Act Your Age” future timeline with Phineas and Ferb‘s new revival, Marsh explained that there’s a freedom to explore whatever stories they want, “We haven’t said no to anything yet, and it’s been kind of fun. Although I think we had the same freedom when we made the first episodes, it felt this time like, ‘Oh, we’re getting a whole fresh batch. We can go explore things that we didn’t think we could.'” In fact, it feels like the team can have all sorts of ideas to explore for their episodes, “And I’m sure we could’ve, but now it feels like we can give some air to a whole Buford episode or a whole Baljeet episode. So it means things like that are a lot more possible.”

As for potentially returning to the ten year time skip seen “Act Your Age,” Marsh explained that it would just need to have a story that would make it compelling to make, “I think, if we were to go back and do something with the older characters, it would just have to be a good enough story and an emotional enough story to make that compelling.” So for fans hoping to see more of this future in the Phineas and Ferb revival, it sounds like it’s on the table along with many ideas that are now possible too.

RELATED: Phineas and Ferb Season 5 Has Some Surprising Guest Stars (Including Leslie Jones)

When Does Phineas and Ferb Season 5 Come Out?

Phineas and Ferb will be officially returning to Disney Channel for its new season on June 5th, and will begin streaming with Disney+ on June 6th. Series creator Dan Povenmire will be providing the voice for Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz once more, and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh will return for Major Francis Monogram. They will be leading their returning fellow stars from the original series (and sequel projects) Vincent Martella as Phineas Flynn, David Errigo Jr. as Ferb Fletcher, Ashley Tisdale as Candace Flynn, Caroline Rhea as Linda Flynn-Fletcher, Dee Bradley Baker as Perry the Platypus and Alyson Stoner as Isabella Garcia-Shapiro.

Disney teases what to expect from the new Phineas and Ferb series as such, “[T]he new season of ‘Phineas and Ferb’ will follow the inventive stepbrothers as they tackle another 104 days of summer. Candace is more determined than ever to finally bust her little brothers while their pet platypus, Perry, continues to lead a double life as the suave Agent P, whose sole mission is to thwart Dr. Doofenshmirtz from taking over the Tri-State area.”

The post Phineas and Ferb Creators Tease Return to 10-Year Timeskip: “We Haven’t Said No” (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The San Diego Comic-Con in July is an annual tradition bringing many joys to pop culture aficionados. For many years, particularly from the mid-2000s to the late-2010s, it’s also become a glorious home for big movie news and trailer premieres. Within the hallowed space of Hall H (a must-visit room at the convention), Marvel Studios, Warner Bros., Lucasfilm, Legendary Pictures, and countless other entities have launched major Earth-shattering events that gave ordinary people exciting glimpses into the future. This is the event where Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’s title was revealed, for instance, and the first Iron Man trailer premiered and set the world ablaze.

In recent years, though, movies and TV studios have begun to dial back their commitment to dropping big news exclusively at Comic-Con. Partly this is due to films like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Brigsby Bear bombing despite costly Comic-Con presences. COVID-19’s upending of the entertainment industry is even more impactful in this regard. Plus, the dialing back of quantity in some franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe means there’d be less to show off at Comic-Con panels. Reflecting this trend, DC Studios is only, much to the inevitable chagrin of fans everywhere, bringing one project to 2025’s Comic-Con.

What DC Studios Title Will Appear At Comic-Con?

Given that 2025’s San Diego Comic-Con occurs from July 24-27, 2025, Superman (which opens two weeks earlier on July 11) won’t be part of the event. Instead, DC Studios co-head James Gunn announced on Threads that the outfit will only bring Peacemaker season two to this event. Gunn and Cena will headline a panel dedicated exclusively to this HBO Max program. However, Gunn confirmed he would be open to discussing any project stewing at DC Studios during the panel.

Peacemaker’s sophomore season drops in August 2025, just a few weeks after SDCC 2025. That makes it logical to focus heavily on those upcoming eight new hours of DC Studios programming. Still, fans will inevitably be frustrated that one of the first DC Studios SDCC panels isn’t as jam-packed with projects as a typical Marvel Studios panel. In 2019, for instance, Kevin Feige and company showed up to promote a barrage of Phase Four projects for both the big and small screen, not to mention announce a Blade reboot that still hasn’t materialized.

Gunn’s DC Studios, meanwhile, is keeping things smaller and contained for now in its SDCC 2025 plans. After all, there isn’t much else the outfit could show. June 2026’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow just finished shooting, but it’s also deep into post-production. There isn’t much completed footage they could show off. The only other post-2025 DC Studios movie with a confirmed release date, Clayface, won’t start shooting until October 2025. Meanwhile, highlighting fellow DC Universe TV show Lanterns may distract from Peacemaker’s second season.

Gunn and company seem intent on ensuring this returning HBO Max program doesn’t lose its specialness. Also, announcing too many projects before they’re ready has hampered many other franchises. A more focused SDCC 2025 panel can help DC Studios avoid that problem.

[RELATED: New Teen Titans Go! Movie In the Works With DC Studios, Says WB Exec]

The DC Universe’s Future Is Still In Flux

Still, the sparse DC Studios SDCC 2025 slate is bound to lead some DC fans to start grumbling simply because, whether intentionally or not, it reflects how uncertain the franchise is until Superman drops. With the proposed Sgt. Rock movie currently shelved, Supergirl is the only post-Superman DC Universe movie that’s actually been shooting before this James Gunn directorial effort hits theaters. Other potential features in this franchise beyond the 2026 title, Clayface, are still a mystery.

This tactic can’t help but feel like Gunn and other DC Studios heads are holding back a bit to see how the public responds to Superman. This blockbuster has been building plenty of hype, but could still backfire financially and critically. If that happens, Warner Bros. would be back in its mid-2010s spot of having a bunch of DC blockbusters on the docket despite audiences expressing disinterest in the characters. Thus, the immediate focus on the future is a follow-up to the beloved 2022 TV show Peacemaker, which can exist separately from Superman.

It’s an understandable move to ensure the DC Universe doesn’t get too ahead of itself. However, it is still likely to irritate long-time followers of these characters. After all, it’s been years since Gunn’s initial announcement of the DC Universe’s Phase One projects, and there’s been minimal movement on productions like The Authority or The Brave and the Bold. An SDCC 2025 panel focused solely on Peacemaker Season 2 is bound to exacerbate those concerns. For now, though, these fans are left to be patient and try to enjoy Gunn and Cena’s amiable rapport at this forthcoming SDCC 20225 panel.

Peacemaker’s second season begins airing on HBO Max on August 21st.

The post DC Studios Only Bringing One Project to Comic-Con (& Fans May Be Disappointed) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Peacock is the streaming platform that surprises you. It doesn’t always make the most noise, but when you check it out, it spreads its feathers—and suddenly, there’s more to watch than you expected. It might not have the constant buzz of Netflix or the prestige drama catalog of Max, but scroll for a bit and you’ll find a treasure trove of modern and classic shows that can keep you laughing, and even finish in one week if you’ve got enough time.

Modern Family

One of the funniest shows of the last decade. This mockumentary-style sitcom revolves around a modern extended family navigating the daily life and chaos of parenting, blended households, generational gaps, and relationships. Everyone is perfectly cast and have become iconic for their roles. With 250 episodes across 11 seasons, this one is a time commitment, but you can crush it seven days if you’ve got nothing else going on.

Long Bright River

Moody, introspective, and rooted in the true crime world, this detective drama gives us a chance to see Amanda Seyfriend in a different kind of role, far from the glowy princess she often plays. She delivers a rich performance in this story of addiction, family trauma, and mystery. 

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Open pocketbooks, marble staircases, the city of stars and fast lanes to riches. LA can bring out a certain set of glamour and drama, and this show splays it all. The elite women of Beverly Hills are at the beating heart of opulence, scandal, and entertainment — it’s a great show to have on while you’re washing the dishes or settling into bed. With 14 seasons (and an After Show), it would be near impossible to watch it all in one week, but it will keep you entertained the whole time.

The Caroll Burnett Show

One of the comedy icons of the 20th century, there’s something special about watching the sketches, songs, and brilliance of a performer who helped shape modern comedy. A masterclass in old-school comedy and a glimpse into TV history. There are eleven seasons of the series, but with each episode just 22 minutes apiece it’s one you can breeze through.

Leave It to Beaver

This quintessential 1950s sitcom is full of charm, childhood innocence, and idealized suburban American. It’s an easy, simple, endearing time capsule of another era, a show that shaped early days of TV. There’s also less of this series than you might think, though each of its six seasons have 39 episodes.

Southern Charm

One that’s been on my list for awhile, this is a peek into the social going-ons in Charleston, South Carolina. Southern charm, decorative tradition, and generational wealth mixed with gossip and drama make this show a fun glimpse into a unique, colorful microcosm. 

Parks & Recreation

This hilarious, ever-so-quotable comedy follows the employees of a small-town Parks Department with big ambitions. Led by the ever-optimistic Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), juxtaposed with the tired cynicism of Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) and deadpan April (Aubrey Plaza), among others, its iconic cast creates a laugh-out-loud dynamic. Parks & Rec is also shorter than you think, with seven seasons total (and the first has only six episodes).

Monk

An obsessive-compulsive detective solving San Francisco’s strangest crimes. Smart, quirky, and surprisingly heartfelt, Monk is a comfort watch for many friends, especially those who love some charm mixed with procedural mysteries. In addition to all eight seasons of the series, Peacock has the original movie, Mr. Monk’s Last Case.

Vanderpump Rules 

People can’t help but get invested in this spinoff from Real Housewives that follows the personal and professional lives of the staff of Lisa Vanderpump’s glamorous L.A. restaurants. What more could you want for a weeklong binge than hot drama, gossip, and behind-the-scenes chaos in the heart of West Hollywood?

Poker Face 

A stylized series from Knives Out mystery thriller-pro creator Rian Johnson. Wicked sharp and funny Natasha Lyonne plays a woman (a casino worker on the run) with a special ability to tell when people are lying. The series also has amazing guest stars with every new episode, with Season 2 premiering new ones every week.

The post 10 Hilarious Peacock Shows You Can Binge in One Week appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Friends turned its six main stars into household names, but even for recurring characters, it was life-changing. For example, Jessica Hecht played Susan Bunch throughout the series, and while she only appeared in 13 episodes, fans likely remember her as the partner of Carol (Jane Sibbett), Ross’ (David Schwimmer) ex-wife. In a new interview with PEOPLE, Hecht said she is “grateful” for the role, but also grateful that she wasn’t in the main cast. She feels that most people couldn’t handle the “responsibility” of keeping the beloved show afloat for all those years. This is especially true now that Hecht has seen Friends‘ incredible legacy in the age of streaming.

“That show affecting so many people’s lives and the actors on that show affecting so many people’s lives… I watch it with awe, and I understand the need for that,” Hecht said. “I’m also grateful that I wasn’t a lead character in many ways, because the responsibility of that is more than most people could manage.”

Hecht praised the six stars of the main cast — Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry — for handling their stardom “gracefully.” She also shouted out director James Burrows, feeling that he helped the cast hold onto the real heart of the show without being distracted by the fame. “The fact that they were each unique within that beautiful cluster was truly an accomplishment,” she said.

[RELATED: 7 Most Underrated Friends Episodes That Deserve More Love]

Carol and Susan feel like a huge part of Friends‘ story, so it’s strange to realize in hindsight that they made so few appearances. The two are introduced in the pilot episode, where Ross is still grieving his recent divorce. The heartbreak over his ex-wife leaving him for a different person is devastating on its own, while the show’s punchlines about her sexuality serve as a time capsule for the perception of the LGBTQ+ community over the last three decades. However, the dynamic is not dropped like a throwaway joke — Ross must learn to co-parent with both Carol and Susan in the years that follow, and the show was praised for this storyline as often as it as criticized.

Hecht went on to play other brief but important roles on TV, like Gretchen Schwartz on Breaking Bad and Carol Mannheim on The Boys. This week, she made headlines when she was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in Eureka Days on Broadway last year. It’s her third Tony nomination, and she told PEOPLE she was extremely grateful for the honor. Those that want to revisit her time on Friends, the series is currently streaming on HBO Max.

The post Friends Actor Says They’re Glad They Weren’t a Series Star (& the Reason Makes Sense) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The world of The Last of Us is very complicated. After the Cordyceps infection ravages the world, the Federal Disaster Response Agency, aka FEDRA, seizes the opportunity to claim power, tossing civilians into quarantine zones and treating them however it sees fit. FEDRA’s extreme methods lead to revolts all around the country, including in Kansas City, where Joel and Ellie visit in Season 1. The show’s central duo finds themselves trying to avoid the conflict between FEDRA and the rebels in the city, but it’s not as simple as just walking by, and they lose a couple of friends along the way.

Ellie finds herself in the same boat in The Last of Us Season 2 when she and Dina arrive in Seattle to find Joel’s killers. Abby’s group, the Washington Liberation Front, aka the WLF, is at war with religious fanatics known as Seraphites. The show’s second season touches on the details of the conflict on several occasions, even teasing events happening off-screen that are sure to become more critical once Season 3 rolls around.

The Last of Us Season 2 Establishes the WLF and Seraphite War

Ellie first hears about the WLF from Dina, who has Eugene to thank for giving her a heads-up about the organization. They believe that the WLF is made up of Abby’s group and maybe a few more people, but that goes out the window when they arrive in Seattle and see a group of dead Seraphites. Seeing dead children only strengthens Ellie’s belief that she needs to hunt down Abby, and things don’t change until she sees what the Seraphites are capable of, gutting people all over town. Still, the only fight Ellie wants to be part of is one that involves the group that came to Jackson Hole and killed Joel.

The Last of Us Season 2 doesn’t only provide Ellie’s perspective, however, as Episode 4 introduces Isaac Dixon, the leader of the WLF. A former FEDRA officer, he does everything he can to ensure the people of Seattle don’t have to fear for their lives. Throughout Season 2, he’s planning a major attack on the Seraphites because the two sides are at each other’s throats again after a period of peace. It’s unclear which side is responsible for the current situation, and the show won’t be able to provide an answer until Season 3, which will push the war in Seattle to the forefront.

[RELATED – The Last of Us Season 2 Has Changed One of Its Best Characters For the Worse]

The Stage Is Already Set for The Last of Us Season 3

By spending so much time with the WLF in Season 2, The Last of Us ensures it doesn’t lose any momentum going into Season 3. Season 2, Episode 7 reveals during its final moments that it’s turning back the clock in the next outing by showing Abby’s perspective during Ellie’s three days in Seattle. Abby’s the subject of many conversations during the second season, but she doesn’t appear after her group leaves Jackson Hole. In the finale, Isaac even talks about how she goes missing at the worst time because he’s hoping she will take over the WLF once he’s gone.

Isaac expects to die during the attack on the Seraphite island, which is going on when Ellie heads to the aquarium and kills Mel and Owen. However, the show doesn’t show him again after the boats hit the water, leaving his fate a mystery. Abby’s condition when she gets to the theater doesn’t make it seem like the WLF is having a great day, though, mainly because she has a mark on her neck from being on the wrong end of a noose. Whether Abby makes it to the island remains to be seen, but it’s clear she’s having as rough a week as Ellie, driving home the point that The Last of Us isn’t about right or wrong but rather the humanity one is able to tap into when times get tough.

The Last of Us Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.

Did you realize that The Last of Us Season 2 was setting up Season 3 the whole time? Where do you expect the story to go? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The Last of Us Was Preparing You for Season 3 And You Didn’t Even Notice It appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Simpsons has wrapped up a new season helping to mark the 35th anniversary of the long running series, so now it’s time to see which of the new episodes were actually the best of the best for Season 36. The Simpsons is one of the longest running television shows of all time, and is gearing up to continue even further as Fox has chosen to renew the animated series for four more seasons in the future. As we wait on what’s coming for everyone next, it’s the best time to go back and look at what’s come before in the last wave of episodes.

The Simpsons Season 36 was a pretty eventful year for the animated series. Continuing with the experimental spirit that has been present for the last few years, The Simpsons has aired episodes exploring new sides of its core characters while also showcasing much of its extended side cast in a whole new kind of way. There were some episodes that made some big swings, and either did or didn’t pull it off in the process. But either way, read on for our rankings of every Season 36 episode.

#18 – Desperately Seeking Lisa (Episode 3)

One thing that needs to be clarified about this list is that just because this episode is on the bottom, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily “bad” by any means. In fact, this is a rather solid episode that sees Lisa going on a new adventure. But what makes it stick out in a bad way from the rest of the season is how it feels too much like previous seasons’ episodes. It comes right after two experimental episodes that kicked off the season, so it’s almost too much of a return to standard that it ends up on the bottom of this list. It’s just kind of there.

#17 – The Yellow Lotus (Episode 2)

The Simpsons is far from the only animated series to offer a parody on The White Lotus lately, and is not even the only one to kill off a long time character in the process. That’s why it’s ended up so low on this list because it’s not entirely an original parody of the HBO series. Although it has Chloe Fineman doing a Jennifer Coolidge impression, it sort of wastes having Sideshow Bob returning for a new story. It’s ultimately revealed that he wasn’t scheming anything overall, but it’s a decidedly less punchy version of the character that fans have come to love. It’s ultimately just sort of there.

#16 – The Last Man Expanding (Episode 13)

The Simpsons does often take on current pop culture topics, so this was the inevitable Ozempic episode. When Springfield gets hooked on a new weight loss drug known as “Othinquic,” it turns out Homer is the last person in town who refuses to take the drug. It naturally turns out that he’s right in the matter as the drug comes with such severe side effects that the rest of the town tries to steal Homer’s body fat. It’s a fun Springfield episode as the town is great when they go full mob in situations like this, but it hits its ceiling pretty quickly.

#15 – The Man Who Flew Too Much (Episode 10)

This is one of the more experimental episodes this season that didn’t quite work out so well. It starts out promising with the return of the Pin Pals with a new line up, and even brings Fausto back to kill him later in the episode (to only reveal he was just fine during the end credits). The episode sees Homer and the others trapped on a mountain, and even nearly resigns all of them to a bleak fate before Homer saves them all when he’s woken back to life by the smell of Marge’s cooking. But it also makes some odd choices like bringing back Mona Simpson through a hallucination. It’s a solid story for the episode, but not all of it ultimately connects as well as other episodes this season.

#14 – Homer and Her Sisters (Episode 9)

This season in particular had some pretty fun character pairings that have either been rarely seen in the past, or still have room to explore. This episode brought Homer, Patty and Selma together in a fun way as they saw things eye to eye for one of the actually few times they have agreed on things. It leads to some cute moments where we can see what their dynamic is like when the three of them get along, and even ends with Marge realizing that she likes everything broken the way it is. It’s a cute episode, but also just largely not memorable when compared to some of the heavier hits of the season.

#13 – Bottle Episode (Episode 11)

Speaking of rare character pairings, The Simpsons delivers a unique Marge and Smithers team up with this episode. When Marge uses Mr. Burns’ very expensive wine for some stew, she works with Professor Frink and Smithers to craft a new wine that tastes just like. Then Marge and Smithers start to sell the fake wine to reach people to give their profits back to the poor. It’s a pretty fun way to team up the two characters without needing much involvement from Homer, and really opens the floor for the two of them maybe teaming up more in the future. There’s clearly a good vein of material here.

#12 – Treehouse of Horror XXXV (Episode 5)

The milestone 35th Treehouse of Horror special unfortunately wasn’t one of the best out there. While the three shorts themselves are fine (with the Thanksgiving inspired Mr. Burns special standing out in particular), it wasn’t the best Treehouse of Horror special we got this season. It has some cool animation with its blend of Homer together with stop-motion jeans from Robot Chicken’s Stoopid Buddy studio, a dash of Pacific Rim between Bart and Lisa, and even an opening from the legendary Jorge R. Gutierrez, but this season hits so much harder with Treehouse of Horror later.

#11 – Shoddy Heat (Episode 4)

This episode was one of the first real changes to The Simpsons‘ canonical past fans got this season. This revealed that Grampa Simpson was a detective for a short while following Mona leaving him and Homer behind, and that’s a completely new kind of angle than fans have ever gotten on the father and son duo. It might conflict with a few things shown in past seasons, but it ultimately is for a great result as it adds new wrinkles to Abe’s past overall. Not only revealing he’s got a close history with Agnes Skinner, but Abe was also a lot more competent than fans knew. It’s a pretty fun episode.

#10 – Abe League of Their Moe (Episode 15)

Grampa got his fair share of focus episodes this season, and this one was the better of the two that looked into his past. Not only did we get to see that Abe spent a lot of time with his own grandfather as a kid, but all Abe wants to do is watch a baseball game together with his own grandson. That desire to do so eventually leads to a fun connection with Moe, and the two rather lonely adults make great friends. It’s such a great idea that it’s a surprise it’s taken so long for it to happen, but the episode itself then detours to a focus on an international player Moe and Abe get to Springfield. It really doesn’t end as well as it starts, but still very enjoyable.

RELATED: The Simpsons Showrunner Addresses How Canon Really Works in the Series

#9 – Stew Lies (Episode 16)

“Stew Lies” is one of the more complicated episodes to rank as it has one of the best cold opens in recent memory, but the rest of the episode doesn’t reach those heights. That being said, it’s not like the episode is lackluster. The episode opens with Bart and Lisa connecting in a whole new kind of way, but soon detours to then focus on Fat Tony’s origin story for the first real time in the series. It’s here we get to see the mafioso as a child, and he teams up with Homer when a Guy Fieri rip off steals a thought to be stolen recipe. It all comes to a heartwarming end, and is a great episode overall. It’s just that it starts so hot but ends so mildly that it can’t get higher on this list.

#8 – Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes (Episode 7)

The second of the Treehouse of Horror episodes for the season was miles better than the first. Continuing through with the Treehouse of Horror Presents tradition of offering a new Horror story outside of the traditional format, this episode offers three stories inspired by the works of Ray Bradbury. One sees Bart hearing a woman screaming from under the ground, one sees Superintendent Chalmers replacing himself with a robotic clone, and the third sees Homer secretly watching dumb TV shows in a world dominated by high brow entertainment. They’re just better crafted than the other shorts seen in Treehouse of Horror XXV and uses the characters better.

#7 – Full Heart, Empty Pool (Episode 17)

But the best Grampa focused episode of the season brought him closer together with Homer. The two don’t really see eye to eye often, but when they do it usually ends up with some hilarious shenanigans revealing just how close to one another they actually are. This episode sees the father and son duo creating a brand new game that seniors can actually play (because it doesn’t take much motion), and it becoming such a big deal that Homer eventually sells out to become an officially recognized sport. It’s not the episode with the highest stakes or big changes to the canon as earlier entries in this list, but it’s just a nice dash of fun.

#6 – Convenience Airways (Episode 8)

There are a few episodes this season that don’t make big changes to the characters, nor do they shift the status quo in any big ways, but “Convenience Airways” is a very strong example of what can be done with a self-contained episodic story. When the family has to fly with the titular airline (because Homer has been banned from every other service), they soon realize that they are stuck on a plane with the worst kind of flyers. Every single bad habit you can think of is at play, and soon they find the plane is actually an experimental flying prison that everyone needs to break out of. It’s a fun reveal making for one of the most fun stories of the season.

#5 – The Flandshees of Innersimpson (Episode 12)

The Simpsons Season 36 was really focused on telling emotional stories with its characters, and finding new ways to explore these long running relationships. One of the most effective examples of this came in this episode as Homer and Ned’s long running rivalry/friendship was broken down once more. These episodes are often great as Ned’s patience is tested to unbelievable lengths, but the climax of it also reveals that Ned and Homer actually need each other to be happy. It’s a complex relationship where neither side is actually served, but without one another they really fall apart. It’s an unique and effective way of looking at the duo even after all these years.

#4 – Women in Shorts (Episode 6)

This one might not be as emotional as the others, but it’s definitely one of the most experimental episodes of the season and one of the most experimental episodes The Simpsons has released in a long time. Mirroring a format once seen in Season 7’s “22 Short Films About Springfield,” this episode highlights the women across Springfield for the first real time for many of the characters. Each of them gets a short moment that results in a funny or wild kind of sketch, and it’s certainly such a unique experience. Especially for fans of these characters who rarely get the spotlight.

#3 – P.S. I Hate You (Episode 14)

Speaking of characters who don’t always get the spotlight, Marge has a really great standout episode of her own this season. This not only pairs her against Shauna Chalmers, but also reveals that Marge is definitely more complex than she had been seen on the surface in the last few years. It’s a retcon to her character that doesn’t really shake up the series for the worst as it continues Marge’s trend of burying her emotions, but reveals those emotions in a unique way. It’s such an fun episode that it goes out on a high when Marge tells Helen Lovejoy to kiss her ass, and it’s completely earned emotionally. It just hits all the beats you’d want in an effective Marge episode.

#2 – Bart’s Birthday (Episode 1)

The Simpsons made headlines with its Season 36 premiere as fans who tuned in unknowingly were surprised to see that it was billed as the actual series finale. Recruiting massive guest stars tied to its past like Conan O’Brien and Tom Hanks for the occasion, The Simpsons pokes fun at A.I. as Bart is trapped in what a “final episode” for the show would look like. Surprise guest stars like John Cena, Danny Devito returning as Homer’s brother Herb for a sudden reunion, and Bart celebrating his 11th birthday, it was an episode where The Simpsons openly challenged the fact that its end seemed to be coming year after year.

But at the same time, it was made clear that the show was not slowing down any time soon. You couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season for long time fans.

#1 – Estranger Things (Episode 18)

The Simpsons kicked off Season 36 with a hilarious take on what a series finale for the show could look like, and followed it up with a season finale that actually served as a perfect finale for it overall. “Estranger Things” is one of the best episodes the show has released in a long time. Not only putting an emotional new context on Bart and Lisa’s love of The Itchy & Scratchy Show, but also added a layer from Marge as she loved seeing her two children bond. Then when the two drift apart, a time skip leaping ahead 35 years into the future showcases a new take on what their future looks like.

Offering a much more grounded future for The Simpsons than seen in the past, Bart and Lisa once again bond over the fact that they shared a tough childhood together. Realizing that the two of them really only have each other in the future, they decide to support one another and return to the good relationship they once had as kids. It’s such a good finale for the season that it would almost serve as a great finale for the show. But as of now, The Simpsons is running through at least Season 40.

The post Every The Simpsons Season 36 Episode, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Mandalorian star Katee Sackhoff opens up about the frustrations she has with fans over their treatment of her character Bo-Katan Kryze. On an episode of her podcast The Sackhoff Show, the actress talked Star Wars with her Mandalorian co-star Brendan Wayne. At one point, Wayne explained why he’s a big fan of Bo-Katan’s arc across franchise canon. He enjoyed that the character was “a tough leader who had to learn how to lead again.” While Wayne loves the Bo-Katan redemption story, Sackhoff pointed out that there are fans who are still critical of the character even though she’s evolved over the years.

“I think it really frustrates me when people don’t see her pain or they don’t see the redemption,” Sackhoff said. “They still hold her to the terrible, terrible mistakes she made but they don’t allow the growth of her 15-20 years later.”

Prior to making her live-action debut in The Mandalorian Season 2, Bo-Katan was a recurring character on the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She’s introduced as a member of the Death Watch, a Mandalorian terrorist group at odds with Bo-Katan’s sister Satine, who is a pacifist. A key arc on The Clone Wars features Death Watch teaming up with Maul to take control of Mandalore. Maul eventually takes the throne for himself, leading Bo-Katan to see the error in her ways. After the Republic defeated Maul’s forces, Bo-Katan became Regent of Mandalore, but was removed when she went against the Empire.

[RELATED – New The Mandalorian Season 4 Rumor Isn’t What Star Wars Fans Want to Hear]

On The Mandalorian, Bo-Katan’s primary goal is to reclaim her home planet years after the Great Purge that saw the Empire wipe the Mandalorians out, with her main target being Moff Gideon. During the show’s third season, Bo-Katan is successful in her mission, overcoming the Imperial remnants still on Mandalore, ushering in a new era for her people.

Sackhoff’s feelings are very understandable. Part of what makes following a character for years so great is watching them evolve over that time. It can be a fun experience to see them change, reflecting the very human desire to improve and be better. While Bo-Katan wasn’t always a heroic figure, nobody is perfect and she deserves her chance at redemption like anyone else. Her arc is compelling because she realized her mistakes and made efforts to correct them — and, like all the best characters, she always felt like she was acting out of best intentions. On The Clone Wars, she was doing what she thought was best for her homeworld, and on The Mandalorian she’s atoning for those errors.

From an actor’s perspective, it’s probably a more appealing prospect to play a character who does evolve over the course of several years. It can always be entertaining to play a one-note villain who relishes in being evil, but that can get stale. Sackhoff has clearly enjoyed getting a chance to paint a fascinating portrait of Bo-Katan, exploring multiple sides of the character as she reemerges as a dedicated leader. Whether or not she returns in The Mandalorian & Grogu remains to be seen, but hopefully Bo-Katan will return at some point.

The post The Mandalorian Star Shares Frustration With Fans’ Treatment of Their Character (& They’re Right) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fans of the undead have plenty of options when it comes to consuming zombie media, with new movies and television series focusing on the walking dead rising from the grave at a steady clip. The Walking Dead, Black Summer, and Zom 100: Bucket List of The Dead being only a few examples of properties that are available on Netflix alone. While these zombie franchises were big in their own right, many fans have been waiting years for a big undead show to make its return. All Of Us Are Dead was confirmed for a second season all the way back in 2022 and it appears as though cameras are set to roll soon.

For those who might need a refresher, or an introduction, on All Of Us Are Dead, the South Korean zombie show debuted on Netflix in 2022. Taking place mostly within the walls of a high school, a science experiment goes awry as most of the student body is transformed into the walking undead. In a struggle to survive, those who were able to dodge the virus were forced to band together and work toward escaping their school while also learning to put past grudges to bed. According to a new report online, All Of Us Are Dead’s long-awaited second season will begin filming this summer, so fans waiting to see what the future holds for the undead won’t be waiting for years.

[RELATED: All of Us are Dead Renewed for Season 2 by Netflix]

All Of Us Are Dead Speedbumps

While many fans might be thrilled to learn that All Of Us Are Dead will return for a second season, this doesn’t mean that everything is smooth sailing for the zombie series. Initially, the Netflix project had revealed that South Korean actress Roh Yoon-seo, an actress/model best known for her work in series like The Frog and Black Knight, was in talks to join the series. Unfortunately, the plans fell through apparently and no word has been revealed regarding the fate of her potential character.

All Of Us Are Dead returning for a second season should be no surprise if you look at the original success the horror series saw when it landed on Netflix. Not only did the show become the third-highest non-English television series for the streaming service, it grew to become the sixth-highest-watched television show on Netflix at the time. In the first twenty-eight days of release, All Of Us Are Dead was streamed for a stagger 536.39 million hours, showing that this zombie series had serious legs.

The Walking Dead’s Competition

Most zombie media these days will at least be slightly compared to The Walking Dead, especially if the undead arrive in the form of a television series. Despite the AMC franchise bringing its main series to a close, it has continued via new spin-offs that also are finding their way to Netflix. While All Of Us Are Dead might not be as big as The Walking Dead, it could well be on its way.

Want to see what the future holds for all members of the undead? Follow along with ComicBook.com for all the latest updates on All Of Us Are Dead and every property expanding on zombie lore.

Via What’s On Netflix

The post Netflix’s Biggest Zombie Original Has Big News For Its Return With Season Two appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The White Lotus just concluded its third season on HBO and creator/writer/director Mike White has already been given the green light for a fourth installment. Given that the Season 4 news came before Season 3 had even premiered, fans have hoped that new episodes might be on the way sooner rather than later. We don’t know yet when any real news on The White Lotus Season 4 will arrive, nor when production is slated to start, but Wednesday morning did confirm that it will be at least another month before anything can even begin moving forward.

On Wednesday, CBS unveiled the full cast of Survivor‘s landmark 50th season, which airs on the network in 2026. While that show isn’t in any way connected to The White Lotus on paper, they do have one major thing in common: Mike White. The filmmaker took part in Survivor: David vs. Goliath, the 37th season of the series, and was a massive fan-favorite.

Survivor 50 is the first season in five years to feature a cast of all returning players, and the cast reveal on Wednesday confirmed that Mike White is returning to Fiji as part of the upcoming installment. So he will be sequestered on an island for the next month or more for the pregame and the filming of the actual season. That means any work he may be doing on The White Lotus will have to be put on hold until after Survivor 50 finishes production.

Fortunately for fans of The White Lotus, Survivor isn’t as long of a game as it used to be, now lasting 26 days instead of 39. And there’s obviously the possibility that White already wrote the new season of The White Lotus before heading off to film Survivor 50, meaning that pre-production could begin as soon as he returns.

[RELATED: Everything Coming to HBO Max in June 2025]

There’s also the notion that work on The White Lotus Season 4 wasn’t going to begin until later this year anyway, meaning that White’s casting in Survivor 50 has no bearing on the hit HBO show at all.

Who’s on the Survivor 50 Cast?

Mike White is one of 24 returning players taking part in Survivor 50, and one of three from his original David vs. Goliath season. One of his fellow Season 50 castaways, Angelina Keeley, has actually appeared on The White Lotus (as have other Survivor alum who played with White).

The Season 50 cast also includes an original Borneo castaway, two five-time players, and a pair of recent winners. You can check out the full cast of the new Survivor season below.

• Jenna Lewis-Dougherty
  • Survivor: Borneo
  • Survivor: All-Stars
• Colby Donaldson
  • Survivor: The Australian Outback
  • Survivor: All-Stars
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
• Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick
  • Survivor: Pulau
  • Survivor: Guatemala
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
• Cirie Fields
  • Survivor: Panama – Exile Island
  • Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
  • Survivor: Game Changers
• Ozzy Lusth
  • Survivor: Cook Islands
  • Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites
  • Survivor: South Pacific
  • Survivor: Game Changers
• Benjamin “Coach” Wade
  • Survivor: Tocantins
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
  • Survivor: South Pacific
• Aubry Bracco
  • Survivor: Kaoh Rong
  • Survivor: Game Changers
  • Survivor: Edge of Extinction
• Chrissy Hofbeck
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers
• Christian Hubicki
  • Survivor: David vs. Goliath
• Angelina Keeley
  • Survivor: David vs. Goliath
• Mike White
  • Survivor: David vs. Goliath
• Rick Devens
  • Survivor: Edge of Extinction
• Jonathan Young
  • Survivor 42
• Emily Flippen
  • Survivor 45
• Dee Valladares
  • Survivor 45
• Quintavius “Q” Burdette
  • Survivor 46
• Charlie Davis
  • Survivor 46
• Tiffany Ervin
  • Survivor 46
• Genevieve Mushaluk
  • Survivor 47
• Kyle Fraser
  • Survivor 48
• Joe Hunter
  • Survivor 48
• Kamilla Karthigesu
  • Survivor 48
• Unnamed Player
  • Survivor 49
• Unnamed Player
  • Survivor 49

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Survivor completely reinvented television when Jeff Probst accompanied 16 strangers to Borneo and tasked them with “creating a new society” and voting one another off in a game for a million dollars. That first season of Survivor launched on CBS 25 years ago, if you can believe it, and the show has gone on to become one of the most iconic programs on TV. Season 49 is set to air on CBS this fall, and it’ll be followed by the landmark 50th season, which will be the first installment to feature returning players since Season 40, Winners at War.

The show has been teasing the Season 50 cast reveal for a while, which Probst has said started with a list of 200 names. On Wednesday morning, Survivor and CBS finally made the Season 50 cast official as they head off for production, revealing a list of 24 players made up of new winners, all-time legends, and some of the most popular castaways in history.

Two players in Survivor 50 are considered the best players to never win the game, and by competing in their fifth season, both of them are tying Boston Rob’s record of appearances. Those two players are also two of the most beloved Survivor castaways of all time: Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth.

Survivor 50 is also bringing back contestants from the first couple of seasons of the show. Jenna Lewis-Dougherty competed in the very first edition of Survivor and returned a few years later for Survivor: All-Stars. Then there’s Colby Donaldson, the most popular player from Season 2, Survivor: The Australian Outback, who will be returning to play for the fourth time in Season 50. This marooning will also see the return of David vs. Goliath fan favorite Mike White, who is better known as the creator, writer, and director of HBO’s The White Lotus.

[RELATED: Survivor 49 Cast Includes Famed Marvel Producer]

In addition to some Survivor icons, Season 50 will also include some of the most popular players from the “New Era” of the game. 11 of the 24 players in Survivor 50 are representing the last few seasons, including Season 48 winner Kyle Fraser and his breakout co-stars, Kamilla Karthigesu and Joe Hunter. There are also two unnamed castaways from the cast of Season 49, which is going to air on CBS this fall.

Here’s the full list of Survivor 50 cast members:

• Jenna Lewis-Dougherty
  • Survivor: Borneo
  • Survivor: All-Stars
• Colby Donaldson
  • Survivor: The Australian Outback
  • Survivor: All-Stars
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
• Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick
  • Survivor: Pulau
  • Survivor: Guatemala
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
• Cirie Fields
  • Survivor: Panama – Exile Island
  • Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
  • Survivor: Game Changers
• Ozzy Lusth
  • Survivor: Cook Islands
  • Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites
  • Survivor: South Pacific
  • Survivor: Game Changers
• Benjamin “Coach” Wade
  • Survivor: Tocantins
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
  • Survivor: South Pacific
• Aubry Bracco
  • Survivor: Kaoh Rong
  • Survivor: Game Changers
  • Survivor: Edge of Extinction
• Chrissy Hofbeck
  • Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers
• Christian Hubicki
  • Survivor: David vs. Goliath
• Angelina Keeley
  • Survivor: David vs. Goliath
• Mike White
  • Survivor: David vs. Goliath
• Rick Devens
  • Survivor: Edge of Extinction
• Jonathan Young
  • Survivor 42
• Emily Flippen
  • Survivor 45
• Dee Valladares
  • Survivor 45
• Quintavius “Q” Burdette
  • Survivor 46
• Charlie Davis
  • Survivor 46
• Tiffany Ervin
  • Survivor 46
• Genevieve Mushaluk
  • Survivor 47
• Kyle Fraser
  • Survivor 48
• Joe Hunter
  • Survivor 48
• Kamilla Karthigesu
  • Survivor 48
• Unnamed Player
  • Survivor 49
• Unnamed Player
  • Survivor 49

Season 50 of Survivor is set to air on CBS in the spring of 2026.

Which of these returning Survivor players are you most excited to see back on the show? Who do you think was snubbed from the cast? Let us know in the comments!

The post Survivor Announces All-Star Returning Cast for Season 50 appeared first on ComicBook.com.