2018’s Distorted, starring Christina Ricci and John Cusack, has an 18 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. As somebody who genuinely loves bad movies, I had to check it out. What really caught my eye, though, was the 74 percent Popcornmeter score supported by over 500 ratings, suggesting this low-budget flop might actually be better than critics would have you believe. My takeaway is that it’s a pretty run-of-the-mill, boilerplate psychological thriller. It’s adequately acted, shot well, and sells its paranoid premise like any other film cut from the same cloth.
The screenplay, on the other hand, doesn’t do the film any favors. Cusack and Ricci play off each other tremendously, and there’s a lot to be said about their on-screen chemistry as they unpack a conspiracy involving a suspicious luxury apartment, subliminal mind control, and mental illness. It’s a great concept with solid production values, and everybody on screen is doing what they can with the material. But it also feels like they were working from a first draft that wasn’t fully realized before going into production.
When Bipolar Paranoia Becomes Justified
Like most second-rate psychological thrillers, our unreliable female protagonist has to have some sort of mental illness. Lauren Curran (Christina Ricci) suffers from bipolar disorder, which concerns her husband, Russel (Brendan Fletcher). Since Russel is a successful businessman, though you never actually see him working, he decides they need to move out of the city and into a futuristic apartment complex off the beaten path. These smart homes are everything you could possibly want, with top-notch amenities and security, which is especially important to Lauren because an earlier home invasion resulted in the death of their child, rightfully triggering her illness.
Right away, nothing is as it seems in Distorted. Lauren, and only Lauren, hears strange buzzing noises and sees odd images on her television screen. When she checks the CCTV feeds she can access through her iPad, she witnesses other tenants behaving strangely. Her paranoia is fully primed after speaking with a resident named Phillip Starks (Vicellous Reon Shannon), who works in consumer psychology and talks endlessly about subliminal messaging.
When Lauren expresses her concerns to Russel, they’re written off as bipolar delusions, making him question her mental state. Of course, there are plenty of shots of Lauren staring down a pill bottle, likely Lithium, as if taking an extra dose or skipping one would send her into a psychotic break, which isn’t really how that works. Her suspicions, however, are validated by John Cusack’s Vernon Sarsfield, a journalist, hacker, and conspiracy theorist who’s been keeping tabs on her apartment building for his own reasons.
In so many words, Lauren isn’t paranoid. Vernon is about to expose a massive subliminal mind control conspiracy that’s using her and her fellow residents as human test subjects, and he needs her help to dismantle it before it’s too late. Meanwhile, Russel tries checking her into a psychiatric hospital because, to his credit, Lauren has had episodes like this before, and he’s not seeing what she sees.
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You Get What You Get
Though Distorted tries hard to play with the “unreliable female protagonist with a mental illness” setup, it doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Christina Ricci does an excellent job acting terrified when the moment calls for it, and Cusack delivers at a high level as well, but the story is structured in a way that makes any seasoned psychological thriller fan immediately clock what’s going on. You’re not left wondering if Lauren is crazy. You’re thinking, yeah, something weird is happening here, and she will eventually be vindicated.
Because of this, there’s no real tension. Lauren’s “hallucinations” are visually interesting, but I never bought them as hallucinations. It’s obvious she’s being manipulated, and picking up on that early completely shatters the illusion Distorted is trying to sell.
My experience watching Distorted is one of those rare instances where the critic versus audience split actually favors the critics. I wouldn’t call it 18 percent bad because it’s shot and acted well, and it has enough striking visuals to keep things engaging. But the story is both sloppy and obvious, which is a death sentence for any psychological thriller.
If you’re a fan of the talent involved, it’s worth a watch, but it’s not going to rock your world. It’s still way better than The Glass House, though.
As of this writing, Distorted is streaming on Netflix.
Roommates, Todd Tucker ruffled some feathers with the message he dropped for Kandi Burruss ahead of her one-woman show. The internet isn’t too happy about his choice of words. Now, folks are questioning whether he threw shade or just made a joke that didn’t hit!
Todd Tucker Raises Eyebrows After Dropping Message For Kandi Burruss
Todd Tucker sent words Kandi Burruss’ way as she gears up for her one-woman show, ‘I Do, I Did, I’m… DONE.’ The father of three shared a post on Instagram that gave more than a simple “good luck” or “break a leg” — he added a lil’ play on words telling his former wife:
“Yo a** aint done lol just kidding! Go Support your girl Kandi!!!! @citywineryatl on April 27th.”
Even though it seemed to be a lil’ jokey joke, fans weren’t here for it one bit! Some folks said he took it too far, while others said they love that Todd and Kandi can still joke around after finalizing their divorce.
The Internet Thinks Todd Is “Doin’ TOO Much”
After the Roommates peeped Todd’s message for Kandi, TSR’s comment section was flooded with reactions. Some folks said Todd cracked jokes because he allegedly got paid after their divorce, while others felt he was just playing in Burruss’ face.
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Instagram user @lisonup wrote, “Todd said, 🎶 I’m staying, I’m staying, and youuuu, and youuu, and youuu, you’re gonna loovee meeeeeeeeee🎶”
Instagram user @iamkingsamuel wrote, “Man just happy about that 2M payout 😂😂😂😂😂😂”
While Instagram user @rob_lane_edits wrote, “It was a scheme.”
Then Instagram user @london.llaflare wrote, “I would too if I was getting 2M.”
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Another Instagram user @mogulk___ wrote, “He not tryna get kicked out the back yard 😭”
Instagram user @theshaysims wrote, “He’s playing in her face i don’t like that.”
Then another Instagram user @_thelittlethick1 wrote, “He Got His Money, He Wanna Play Now 😂”
While another Instagram user @toychele81 wrote, “U know.. Life is better on good terms! Not everything has to include drama! Love to see it!”
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Finally, Instagram user @cheryl.fleming.7902 wrote, “I really think they still love each other ❤️❤️”
Todd & Kandi Finally Call It Quits FOR REAL
Folks online appear to be up in arms about Todd’s post because his message comes after TMZ confirmed that he and Burruss officially finalized their divorce. Exact deets on their settlement still aren’t public, but for now they are both going their separate ways and will co-parent accordingly. According to court docs, the former husband and wife had until March 11 to break down their settlement and submit paperwork. The docs are reportedly set to include a parenting plan for their two kids, nine-year-old Ace and their six-year-old daughter Blaze.
Discord also tells EW why her safety pins weren’t a way to skirt the rules on the runway: “I don’t think I cheated, and I don’t think RuPaul thought I cheated, either!”
Roommates, the Disney Channel debates are getting real spicy and the timeline is not letting up anytime soon. And now, Macaulay Culkin has entered the chat, dropping his own take while putting some respect on Brenda Song’s name. Clearly, everybody’s got opinions—and they’re not holding back.
Macaulay Culkin Backs Brenda Song Amid Disney Debate
On Friday, Macaulay took to Instagram to share a photo of Brenda in her iconic London Tipton era from ‘The Suite Life of Zack & Cody’ and ‘The Suite Life on Deck,’ rocking a sparkly fuchsia top. Alongside the pic, he wrote, “Not that anyone asked, but I’m throwing my hat into the debate. THIS is my Disney Channel Mount Rushmore.” His post comes right after Raven-Symonésparked major reactions online for sharing her own Disney Channel Mount Rushmore—one that had plenty of fans disagreeing and sounding off across social media.
TSR Comments Go OFF Over Brenda Song
Fans and fellow celebs alike ran straight to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section to throw in their two cents. Some couldn’t get over how sweet it was to see Macaulay Culkin ride so hard for Brenda Song, while others kept it simple, saying she’s literally that girl. And of course, plenty of folks added that she’s easily on their Disney Channel Mount Rushmore, calling her run straight-up iconic.
One Instagram user @kennyjknox said, “Rightfully so I still say prindl and I for sure still be passing the plate“
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This Instagram user @pinupdollashleymarie shared, “Ahhh! STOOOOPPPP!! I love you two together so much I can’t handle 😭”
And, Instagram user @aminebenrejeb22 joked, “London Tipton’s really great Really great, really great London Tipton’s really great And deserves the opposite of hate (Which is love!)“
Meanwhile, Instagram user @pinklilypadsss commented, “i love how much you love being her man.“
While Instagram user @livvifantasy claimed, “Excellent Choice! She carried my childhood🔥”
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Finally, Instagram user @tin.zo added, “her playing baddie after baddie really did something for my confidence“
Christy Carlson Romano Calls Out Shia In Disney Debate
Roommates, it looks like not everybody is getting love in this Disney Channel Mount Rushmore debate. While the internet keeps weighing in, Christy Carlson Romano has stepped into the chat—and she’s making it clear she’s not here for all the picks. After Raven-Symonénamed Shia LaBeouf as part of her lineup, Christy hopped on X to voice her opinion, writing that he doesn’t deserve a spot and even teasing a deeper explanation before deleting the post.
Whew! Her comment instantly sparked reactions, with fans speculating about possible tension between the former ‘Even Stevens’ co-stars, while others jumped in with their own Mount Rushmore picks. And if you’ve been keeping up, you already know Christy hasn’t exactly been quiet about where she stands when it comes to Shia.
In the era of peak TV, it’s harder than ever for a series to stand out as truly flawless. Even the most acclaimed dramas tend to have a weak season, a divisive storyline, or at least a handful of episodes that don’t quite measure up. That’s what makes Successionsuch a rarity. Across four tightly constructed seasons, the HBO drama never once dips in quality, delivering a run of television that feels remarkably consistent from beginning to end.
Created by Jesse Armstrong, Succession built its reputation on sharp writing, exceptional character work, and a tone that balances biting satire with genuine emotional weight. What truly sets it apart, though, is its consistency. Whether it’s a quiet character moment or a high-stakes spectacle, the series never loses momentum,consistently delivering at an elite level and earning its reputation as one of the best modern dramas.
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What Is HBO’s ‘Succession’ About?
First airing on HBO in 2018, Succession follows the Roy family, the ultra-wealthy owners of the global media conglomerate Waystar Royco. Patriarch Logan Roy, played by Brian Cox, is a ruthless and aging CEO whose looming retirement sparks a power struggle among his children, Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Roman (Kieran Culkin), each of whom believes they are the rightful heir to the empire, even as they repeatedly prove just how unprepared they arefor the role.
What unfolds over four seasons is less a traditional corporate drama and more a deeply dysfunctional family saga. Characters like Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen), Shiv’s opportunistic husband desperate to climb the corporate ladder, Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun), eager to secure his place within the family, and Connor Roy (Alan Ruck), the eldest sibling with political ambitions but little interest in the business, add to the show’s rich ensemble. As the series progresses, the performances only grow stronger, with standout guest appearances and increasingly complex characters who may not be easy to love but are impossible to look away from.
Despite its focus on billionaires, Succession remains grounded in recognizable human behavior. Whether the characters are on a luxury yacht, a private jet, or halfway across the world, they are still, at their core, insecure and deeply flawed people whose need for validation feels painfully real. That combination of heightened stakes, exceptional performances, and razor-sharp writing is what allows the series to thrive and evolve with each season. It’s also a big part of why the show remained so compelling from episode to episode and earned widespread critical acclaim, including three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series.
‘Succession’ Doesn’t Have a Single Weak Episode
Across four seasons, the series never relies on filler or narrative detours like so many other shows — even great ones — often do. Every episode serves a purpose, and even those that feel smaller in scale are carefully constructed to build tension, often setting up explosive moments later in the season. A big part of that comes from the ever-shifting dynamic between Kendall, Shiv, and Roman, whose relationships constantly evolve between alliance and rivalry. Their often hilarious, biting barbs contrast with the rare moments of genuine vulnerability between siblings who have always been searching for love and validation. It’s a dynamic that never feels repetitive, no matter how many times they circle the same question of who should take over. That level of precision is rare, especially for a show operating on such a large scale and under immense pressure and expectations.
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That consistency is also driven by the show’s exceptional writing. Jesse Armstrong and his team built the series on an incredibly strong foundation, creating characters that feel fully realized from the very beginning. The cast elevates that material even further, delivering performances that make even the Roys’ most despicable moments strangely compelling. The show also isn’t afraid to take big narrative swings — and when it does, they pay off in a major way. By the time it reaches a major death, the series delivers one of its most poignant episodes, and arguably one of the best hours of modern television.
Very few dramas manage to sustain that kind of quality from beginning to end. It’s a series where there are no weak links, and no episodes that feel skippable. It’s that consistency, more than anything else, that cements its status as one of the best modern dramas and a true 10/10 achievement.
Antony Starr in Guy Ritchie’s The CovenantImage via MGM
Separately, Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie have teamed up for some of the most entertaining action hits of all time, but when they work together, the force of the duo can’t be denied. They first teamed up for the ’90s crime thriller Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which co-stars Jason Flemyng and Dexter Fletcher. Not only was this the first time they collaborated, but this was also Statham’s feature acting debut, and the film made it immediately clear that he was a star. They reunited just two years later for another classic crime thriller, Snatch, which also features Brad Pitt. The film is currently streaming for free on Tubi. Their most recent work on Wrath of Man and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre has also earned acclaim from fans, even if they haven’t been box office smashes.
In 2023, mere months after the release of Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Ritchie distanced himself from Statham with his military thriller, The Covenant, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal. The critically acclaimed masterpiece holds scores of 82% from critics and 98% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, but despite these good reviews, it grossed only $21.9 million at the global box office against a $55 million budget. The film is set during the war in Afghanistan, and it follows a local interpreter who risks his life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain. The Covenant is currently absent from streaming both in America and international territories, but the film is making up for its lack of a streaming home by surging into the VOD top 10 in several countries around the world. It’s one of the most popular purchases on both Apple TV and Prime Video.
From long-running series to one-off guest spots, Bruce Willis has been all over our television screens. How many of these appearances do you know?
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Guy Ritchie Is Reuniting With Jake Gyllenhaal in Two Months
Guy Ritchie’s next directorial effort, In the Grey, will be released on May 15. The film will see Ritchie reunite with his Covenant leading star, Jake Gyllenhaal, and it also stars Henry Cavill and Eiza González. Even The Wheel of Time veteran Rosamund Pike has been recruited for a big role in the action thriller, which follows an elite team of specialists who find themselves caught up in a legendary heist. The action thriller has been subject to several delays after wrapping production over two years ago.
Check out The Covenant on VOD platforms like Prime Video in America, and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Ritchie’s future projects.
If you listen to the memes about Chuck Norris, he’s the toughest guy in the world. So, while publicly it has been reported that the actor died on March 20, 2026, after an emergency hospitalization, we fans know that he was just beating up the Grim Reaper and taking over his job.
Chuck Norris, after defeating The Grim Reaper and taking his job.
The action star was taken to the hospital on Wednesday, and his family reported his death on Friday morning on Instagram. They did not specify a cause, which is fine, because he was 86 years old, and his tough-guy image doesn’t need the detail of whatever illness finally destroyed his body: “To the world,” his family wrote, “he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength.”
For all the jokes and memes about Chuck Norris, it is important to remember that he was still a man. “To us,” his family said in their statement, “he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family. He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved.”
The Amazing Life Of The Toughest Man Who Ever Lived
A glance at his bio confirms this. In a Hollywood landscape where actors seem to marry and divorce within a year, Chuck Norris had two marriages, both lasting almost 30 years. He had five children and numerous grandchildren, and he was known for being a family man off-screen.
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Chuck Norris fights Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon.
Norris took to the martial arts that would define his career while serving in the United States Air Force, starting with the Korean technique of Tang Soo Do. Eventually, he would add karate, judo, taekwondo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu to his repertoire, earning black belts in all of them. He became so prolific that he eventually invented his own style, called Chun Kuk Do.
Being such an expert in martial arts disciplines, he quickly found work in Hollywood as a trainer and sparring partner to various celebrities. Bruce Lee asked him to appear in Way of the Dragon, and he trained screen legend Steve McQueen (Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Towering Inferno); it was McQueen who suggested to Norris that he elevate his stunt and martial arts appearances into a full-blown acting career. He continued to both teach and write books about martial arts and fitness throughout his life.
Norris took McQueen’s advice, though, and his movies were instantly popular, starting with 1977’s Breaker! Breaker! Throughout the 1980s, he made a wide variety of military-action flicks like Missing in Action and The Delta Force, as well as popcorn fare like Firewalker. He made every kid’s fantasies come alive when he starred in Sidekicks as the martial arts buddy of a young teenager.
Chuck Norris in Sidekicks
The 1990s saw him star in fewer movies while he was busy as Texas Ranger Cordell Walker in Walker, Texas Ranger and in a variety of other appearances. That show would become immensely popular and cement him as the all-American hero to the point where the majority of his work afterward was appearances as himself, including his turn as Booker in The Expendables 2 (which, let’s face it, was more about the actors than the characters they played). He also earned a reputation for being very pleasant to work with, as numerous co-stars from Walker, Texas Ranger have said, recalling him after his death.
The actor was also known for his conservative politics and Christian values, which were reflected in appearances, endorsements, and one of his nine books. He also published two memoirs, one in 1987 and the other in 2004. He wrote prolifically for conservative blogs and campaigned for Republican presidential candidates. His rugged and independent persona fit right in with the GOP’s image.
The loss of Chuck Norris to the world is devastating, as an important icon of positive masculinity, strong values, and fighting with honor. Condolences to his family, and best of luck to him in his new role as Everlasting Badass.
In the age of sprawling prestige television, it’s easy to forget the unique power of a story that knows exactly when (and how) to end. Single-season thrillers offer something increasingly rare in modern TV: a tightly constructed narrative that begins, builds, and concludes without the need for cliffhangers designed to stretch across multiple years. With no filler episodes or narrative detours, every scene carries weight, every clue matters, and the tension can build with relentless precision.
That focus is exactly what makes those shows so addictive. The result is television that feels immersive without being overwhelming — the kind of story you can devour in a matter of days while still enjoying a fully satisfying conclusion. So, to celebrate this creative feat, here are some single-season thriller masterpieces that sometimes prove the most gripping stories are the ones that don’t overstay their welcome.
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1
‘Dept. Q’ (2025)
Matthew Good as Carl Morck and Alexej Manvelov as Akram Salim standing in the doorway of a shed in Dept. Q.Image via Netflix
Set in Edinburgh, disgraced detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) is reassigned to head a newly formed cold-case division after a traumatic shooting leaves his partner seriously injured and his reputation in tatters. Unfortunately, the department is a little more than a bureaucratic afterthought buried in the police station’s basement. Luckily, with the help of a small team, Carl begins reopening long-forgotten cases, starting with the mysterious disappearance of a prominent prosecutor years earlier.
Ok, yes. This is still an ongoing series, but there’s no denying how brilliantly this show methodically builds tension in one single season. Rather than relying on constant twists, Dept. Qcarefully unravels its mystery piece by piece, allowing the characters and their psychological scars to shape the narrative. Plus, the Scottish noir atmosphere — bleak landscapes, morally complex characters, and a creeping sense of dread — creates a story that feels both grounded and intensely suspenseful. It’s a stellar introductory season that stands tall in its own right, and the fact that it still has more to say is a win for all crime-show lovers.
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2
‘The Day of the Jackal’ (2024)
Eddie Redmayne as The Jackal waiting to shoot a sniper rifle in The Day of the JackalImage via Peacock
Based on Frederick Forsyth‘s iconic novel, a highly skilled assassin known only as the Jackal (Eddie Redmayne) is hired to carry out an audacious assassination on a billionaire tech entrepreneur. Meticulous and almost impossibly disciplined, the Jackal uses advanced tech and elaborate identities to carefully navigate his mission. Meanwhile, an MI6 analyst finds herself dangerously close to tracking him.
As far as espionage thrillers go, The Day of the Jackalshines in how it builds suspense. Instead of relying on chaotic action sequences, the show turns preparation itself into the thrill. Every forged act, disguised identity, and near-miss encounter tightens the tension. This only elevates as we’re shown the other perspective of agent Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch) as she engages in a true cat-and-mouse journey. Yes, it’s a steady build throughout the season, but with each new twist and discovery keeping us on our toes, who wouldn’t want to stay to the end (even if there is another season in development)?
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3
‘All Her Fault’ (2025)
Sarah Snook and Michael Peña make their way through a crowd in All Her Fault.Image via Peacock
When Marissa Irvine (Sarah Snook) arrives to pick up her young son from what she believes is a playdate, the woman answering the door has no idea who she is — and insists the child was never there. As panic spreads and the search intensifies, investigators and family members begin piecing together the events leading up to the disappearance.
Rather than unfolding as a straightforward procedural, All Her Fault thrives on shifting perfectives and unreliable accounts, exposing the cracks in seemingly ordinary suburban lives. Across every episode, secrets begin surfacing in layers, turning what first appears to be a simple disappearance into a knot of lies, guilt, and emotional fallout. It’s the kind of fear that weaponizes everyday dread (particularly parental fear) and stretches them into a tense, psychologically charged mystery.
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Collider Exclusive · Taylor Sheridan Universe Quiz Which Taylor Sheridan Show Do You Belong In? Yellowstone · Landman · Tulsa King · Mayor of Kingstown
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Four worlds. All of them brutal, complicated, and built on power, loyalty, and the price of survival. Taylor Sheridan doesn’t write heroes — he writes people who do what they have to do and live with the cost. Ten questions will reveal which one of his worlds you were made for.
🤠Yellowstone
🛢️Landman
👑Tulsa King
⚖️Mayor of Kingstown
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01
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Where does your power come from? In Sheridan’s world, everyone has leverage. The question is what kind.
02
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Who do you put first, no matter what? Loyalty in Sheridan’s universe is always absolute — and always costly.
03
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Someone crosses a line. How do you respond? Every Sheridan protagonist has a line. What matters is what happens after it’s crossed.
04
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Where do you feel most in your element? Sheridan’s worlds are as much about place as they are about people.
05
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How do you feel about operating in the grey? Nobody in a Sheridan show has clean hands. The question is how they carry the dirt.
06
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What are you actually fighting to hold onto? Every Sheridan character is fighting a war. The real question is what they’re defending.
07
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How do you lead? Authority in Sheridan’s world is never given — it’s established, maintained, and constantly tested.
08
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Someone new arrives and tries to change how things work. Your reaction? Every Sheridan show has an outsider disrupting an established order. Sometimes that outsider is you.
09
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What has your position cost you? Nobody gets to where these characters are without paying for it. The bill is always personal.
10
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When it’s over, what do you want people to say? Sheridan’s characters all know the ending is coming. The question is what they leave behind.
Sheridan Has Spoken You Belong In…
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The show that claimed the most of your answers is the world you were built for. If two tied, both are shown — you’re complicated enough to straddle two Sheridan universes.
🤠 Yellowstone
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🛢️ Landman
👑 Tulsa King
⚖️ Mayor of Kingstown
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You are a Dutton — or you might as well be. You understand that some things are worth protecting at any cost, and that the modern world’s indifference to history, to land, to legacy, is not something you’re willing to accept quietly. You lead from the front, you carry your family’s weight without complaint, and when someone threatens what’s yours, you don’t escalate — you finish it. You’re not cruel. But you are absolute. In Yellowstone’s world, that combination of ferocity and loyalty doesn’t make you a villain. It makes you the only thing standing between everything that matters and everyone who wants to take it.
You thrive in the chaos of high-stakes negotiation, where the money is enormous, the margins are thin, and the wrong word in the wrong room can cost everyone everything. You’re a fixer — the person called when a situation is already on fire and needs someone with the nerve to walk into it. West Texas oil country rewards exactly what you are: sharp, adaptable, unsentimental, and absolutely clear-eyed about what people want and what they’ll do to get it. You’re not naive enough to think this world is fair. You’re smart enough to be the one deciding who it’s fair to.
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You are a Dwight Manfredi — someone who has served their time, paid their dues, and arrived somewhere unexpected with nothing but their reputation and their wits. You adapt without losing yourself. You build loyalty through respect rather than fear, though you’re not above reminding people that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Tulsa King is for people who are still standing when everyone assumed they’d be finished — who find, in an unfamiliar place, that they’re more capable than the world gave them credit for. You don’t need a throne. You build one, wherever you happen to land.
You carry the weight of a system that is broken by design, and you do it anyway — because someone has to, and because you’re the only one positioned to do it without the whole thing collapsing. Mike McLusky’s world is for people who are comfortable operating where there are no good options, only less catastrophic ones. You speak every language: law enforcement, criminal, political, human. That fluency makes you invaluable and it makes you a target. You’ve made your peace with both. Mayor of Kingstown belongs to people who understand that keeping the peace is not the same as being at peace — and who do the job regardless.
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4
‘The Outsider’ (2020)
Ben Mendelsohn standing next to Cynthia Erivo, who is staring at him concerned in The Outsider.Image via HBO
A quiet town is shattered when a beloved Little League coach is arrested for the horrific murder of a young boy. The case seems airtight — DNA, fingerprints, eyewitnesses — yet equally convincing evidence places the suspect miles away at the time of the crime. As detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) tries to reconcile the impossible contradiction, the investigation begins pointing toward something far stranger than anyone anticipated.
While perhaps being a lesser-known Stephen King TV adaptation, The Outsider operates like two thrillers slowly morphing into one. On the one hand, it unfolds as a bleak procedural mystery. That is, until the narrative gradually tilts into supernatural horror. That tonal shift could easily feel jarring, but here, it works, as the show never abandons its psychological grounding. The result is an eerie hybrid of crime drama and existential dread — one where the true horror lies in confronting the possibility that the world might not follow any logical rules at all.
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5
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
DA John Stone (John Turturro) sits in court with his client Nasir Khan (Riz Ahmed) in ‘The Night Of’ (2016).Image via HBO
When college student Nasir ‘Naz’ Khan (Riz Ahmed) impulsively borrows his father’s taxi for a night out, he meets a mysterious woman, and they spend the evening together. To his horror, Naz wakes up beside her brutally murdered body, with no memory of what happened. Arrested almost immediately, he becomes trapped inside the unforgiving machinery of the American criminal justice system while his defense attorney scrambles to untangle the truth.
What makes The Night Of so riveting is how patiently it examines the ripple effects of a single accusation. The show moves far beyond the question of guilt or innocence, instead exploring how the intricacy of the flawed justice system reshapes the people caught within it. Ahmed’s performance masterfully captures Nasir’s gradual transformation as the case drags on, while the series itself becomes a slow, suffocating portrait of institutional pressure. It’s a thriller where the suspense comes not just from the mystery, but from watching a life quietly collapse. It’s a true shining gem of the miniseries format.
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6
‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (2018)
The Crain brothers and sisters stand together in The Haunting of Hill House promo photo.Image via Netflix
Told across dual timelines, The Haunting of Hill Housefollows the Crain family as they grapple with the traumatic experiences they endured while living in a haunted mansion during their childhood. Years later, the adult siblings remain haunted not only by ghosts but by the emotional scars left behind by their time in the house.
While the series is undeniably a shocking horror story, its structure functions like a psychological thriller, slowly revealing the truth behind the family’s past. Creator Mike Flanagan layers clues throughout the narrative, building toward devastating revelations about grief, memory, and family trauma. Between its hidden ghosts, intricate storytelling, and deeply emotional character arcs, the show proves that suspense can be just as powerful as jump scares (of which the show has plenty).
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7
‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)
Camille (Amy Adams) is bedridden.Image via HBO
Journalist Camille Preaker (Amy Adams) reluctantly returns to her small Missouri hometown to cover the murder of two young girls. The assignment forces her back into the orbit of her cold, domineering mother and fragile half-sister, reopening old wounds she spent years trying to escape. But as Camille digs deeper into the investigation, the town’s carefully maintained facade begins to crack.
As an adaptation from Gillian Flynn‘s novel, Sharp Objects operates less like a traditional whodunit and more like a slow descent into generational trauma. The mystery unfolds alongside Camille’s own psychological unraveling, blurring the line between investigation and self-destruction. Adams delivers a mesmerizing performance that anchors the entire series, making each revelation feel as emotionally devastating as it is narratively shocking. By the time the final twist lands, it feels both horrifying and tragically inevitable.
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‘Black Bird’ (2022)
Inspired by real events, Black Bird follows Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), a charming drug dealer sentenced to a decade in federal prison. Offered a chance at freedom, Jimmy agrees to a dangerous deal with the FBI: he must befriend suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) while both are incarcerated and coax a confession from him. If Jimmy succeeds, he could walk free, but if he fails, he’ll remain behind bars.
There’s no doubt the series thrives on the psychological tension between its two central characters. Egerton’s Jimmy must constantly balance manipulation with survival, while Hauser’s eerie portrayal of Larry keeps viewers guessing about how much he truly knows. Each interaction becomes a game of trust and deception, where a single wrong move could destroy Jimmy’s chance at freedom. The result is a claustrophobic, character-driven thriller that proves suspense doesn’t always require action, just two people in the room with the truth hanging between them.
Latto just put the world on notice about her pregnancy, and now it looks like her loved ones are receiving customized announcements. A newly surfaced video shows an adorable package that could be anything from a pregnancy keepsake to a gender reveal invite or baby shower save-the-date! The clip shows the arrangement fully decked out in cheetah print, which fans know is Big Mama’s whole vibe, but 21 Savage also made an appearance in the new video!
Fans are speculating the announcement could be official confirmation that 21 Savage is the father of Latto’s unborn baby. Instagram account @babyjade first shared the preview of the package early Sunday, though her relationship to either rapper is unclear.
In the clip, a box displays a baby cheetah stuffed animal alongside what appears to be a note. But what folks didn’t miss were Latto and 21’s government names, Alyssa and Shéyaa, at the front of the setup.
Latto and 21 have not publicly confirmed whether they’re expecting a child together. Still, fans started speculating that 21 is the daddy after a man’s tatted arm in Latto’s new ‘Business & Personal’ music video appeared to resemble Savage’s. Also, folks peeped his baby photos in the scrapbook that the raptress was putting together in the visuals.
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Latto Confirms She’s Now Big Mama With One Kid
Latto broke the internet when she returned to social media with two MAJOR announcements on Friday, March 20. The Atlanta femcee dropped her new single, ‘Business & Personal,’ and showed off her baby bump in the music video. Fans started speculating that she was pregnant ever since she went off the grid. In the visuals, She gives viewers a closer look at her growing belly. At one point, a man appears to caress her bump, but his full face isn’t shown in the visual. The moment had folks doing detective work and later claiming that the man’s arm matched 21’s.
Latto BEEN Said 21 Was “Her Man, Her Man, Her Man!”
Despite the confusion and concerns, Big Mama has made it clear that 21 Savage holds the key to her heart. In September 2025, TMZ caught the ‘Georgia Peach’ femcee out in NYC. When she was asked if she ever gets tired of hearing about 21, Latto responded saying, “Nope! My man, my man, my man!”
Season 1 concluded on Saturday, March 21, with Stacy (Michelle Pfeiffer) and the other members of the Clyburn family still dealing with Preston’s (Kurt Russell) death. They remained in Montana but ultimately they had to pack back up for New York. It was an adjustment for most of them — with Paige (Elle Chapman) nearly getting arrested and Stacy remaining in therapy.
Ultimately, Stacy returned to Montana while the rest of her family stayed behind in New York — for now.
The Madison follows the Clyburn family from New York City, who “relocate to the Madison River valley of southwest Montana for emotional recovery following a tragedy that shattered the family.”
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In addition to Russell, 74, and Pfeiffer, 67, the show stars Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Matthew Fox, Beau Garrett, Alaina Pollack, Amiah Miller as members of the Clyburn family, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers. Rebecca Spence and Danielle Vasinova make up the rest of the cast.
“Taylor has a wonderful knack of putting what he wants to be known from the script into the script. There is always a specificity to what locations are — to what moment of the scene is the most resonant to character descriptions,” executive producer and director Christina Alexandra Voros told Us about collaborating with Sheridan, 55. “There’s so much DNA in the scripts themselves that there are fewer conversations than you would think [between us]. We’ve been working together for a very long time. I feel lucky enough to have been trusted with interpreting his writing for screen for a very long time.”
Taylor Sheridan has assembled a star-studded cast in his newest hit The Madison — but who does each actor play after numerous shocking onscreen deaths? According to the official synopsis, The Madison follows the Clyburn family from New York City, who “relocate to the Madison River valley of southwest Montana for emotional recovery following a […]
“The experience of grief is something that’s universal. The way it becomes personal is in the specificity with which it is examined,” Voros exclusively told Us Weekly. “Part of the reason the show is so resonant to me is because I think anyone who watches it can see themselves in these characters — or see loved ones resonating in these characters. We feel more for a character and characters make us feel more for ourselves when those experiences are very specific.”
“Living with a character in a moment — waiting for luggage at an airport or standing in a coroner’s office — are the quiet moments where you do not have the distraction of anything else other than the enormity of what you are dealing with,” she continued. “The emotional space is a very resonant place for storytelling to live.”
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