Funny or Die’s 2014 miniseries The Spoils of Babylon is everything that the 2010s-era SNL wished it could have captured in a bottle. Hosted by Will Ferrell‘s jaded fictional author and filmmaker Eric Jonrosh, this epic tale about two romantically attracted siblings, Cynthia (Kristen Wiig) and Devon (Tobey Maguire), and the rise and fall of their family business, is simply too good to be true. Joined by Haley Joel Osment as their son Winston and the critically acclaimed Tim Robbins as father Jonas Morehouse, these are actors who have proven themselves both dramatically and comedically, and they bring that expertise to the table in this spoof of the popular “televised event” of the early 2010s.

With about as much production quality as Comedy Central’s Drunk History and with premises hitherto that of IFC’s Documentary Now!, The Spoils of Babylon hits the nail on the head with a perfect balance of noir-ish melodrama, hilarious visual comedy, and a plot too compelling to turn away.

‘The Spoils of Babylon’ Is Hilarious on Multiple Levels

The most memorable bits in the miniseries are those imbued with an underlying childishness. Moments like the performance of Jonas Morehouse’s death (similar to that of the king in Shrek The Third), the action-packed slap fight between Cynthia and Dixie Melonworth (Jessica Alba), and Cynthia’s messy response to Lady Anne York’s (Carey Mulligan) self-assertion at breakfast make the most of the ridiculousness that comes from such a melodramatic premise. The frequency with which beats are either cut off or extended into oblivion is nothing short of the show’s finest highlight.

An appreciation can be found in allowing the indiscretion of some joke setups to play out, such as when Jonas has to repeatedly tell Devon to “keep reading, there’s more” when he gifts his son an overly-inscribed compass. Of course, Devon would be able to see that there is more to be read, but for the sake of drawing out the bit for as long as humanly possible, some stopping and starting was necessary. The run-on bit is even boosted when Jonas starts to recite the inscription as though it were biblical scripture, just one testament to the show’s common denominator in that every beat meant to be taken seriously makes the show one notch sillier.

Without question, the name of the game in The Spoils of Babylon is melodramatics. Performative comedy blossoms in this series as characters habitually lose their composure for extended periods of time, no matter the pettiness of the reason for their upset. For the sake of drama, the characters behave haphazardly and contrary to what is obviously the main priority at any given moment. A prime example is when an injured Devon manages to stop bleeding out long enough to tell his entire life story, and no sooner than he catches up to the present does he immediately keel over and give up the ghost.

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Sometimes you can almost see the actors themselves stifling their laughter at the absurdity of their own performance – look closely at Kristen Wiig while Tobey Maguire delivers his character’s emotionally volatile eulogy to his recently-buried daughter. But above all, this teleplay will remind you to never underestimate the secret weapon that is throwing up both fists and screaming “NOOO!” into the air.

Just as well, comedic momentum is upheld by other complementary jokes. Random and unprecedented breaks in accents across actors throw the focus of entire scenes. Props (and characters, for that matter) are occasionally blessed with comedic obviousness that goes unaddressed, like the giant banner that reads “Welcome Home Darin” when Devon returns home from war, Devon’s mannequin wife Lady Anne York and their literal doll baby, or the comically large wine glasses that Devon and Cynthia sip from on the beach, which could only stem from Eric Jonrosh’s affinity for wine.

Each episode of the miniseries is bookended by the cranky and tangential babblings of Jonrosh — a character who was based on a latter-years “Orson Welles who had kind of fallen from grace” — as he stubbornly refuses to comply with his script, inappropriately flirts with his waitress, and branches off into personal factoids about himself and his fictional cast.

‘The Spoils of Babylon’s Cheap Production Quality Is the Only Kind That Would Have Worked

Low-budget sets and props, use of miniatures and dioramas, and ostensible practical effects give The Spoils of Babylon a laughable production quality, resembling that of community theater or a home video. Cheap wigs, fake birds, and car scenes with green screens parade through six episodes the way a fifth-grader with a dream commands a living room full of appeasing adults. The presentation could be improved, but no one’s going to actually say something about it. However, this amateur production value lends itself to supporting a focus on a narrative riddled with greed, vanity, murder, and powerlust.

Added to the noir-centered performative comedy of the miniseries is a more esoteric running joke in the incorporation of experimental film practices as the story progresses through the ’50s and into the ’70s. The avant-garde visual format is not as common in mainstream television and film, but is guaranteed to give film students a chuckle. During the characters’ most cerebral and emotionally torrential moments (which, admittedly, are nearly indiscernible from the rest of the show), Eric Jonrosh chooses to employ surrealist editing techniques like stark superimposition of footage, blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it title cards, prose poetry voiceover, and stylized dialogue recordings. The style is inherently random and haphazard, so it’s an appropriate choice for the scenes in which it’s used, but it makes processing the events more of an artsy-fartsy challenge to less familiar eyes.

‘The Spoils of Babylon’ Is Designed To Test Audiences’ Patience

Image via Funny or Die

Art fans are especially bound to appreciate the display of artistic dedication in representing Devon Morehouse’s wayward and wandering years abroad. His unfortunate substance habit is reflected in a shift in musical tone through the use of jazz music, and his voiceover account is revitalized through ample samples of fluent spoken word poetry, with adjusted vocal inflection and emphasis, no less. Although the character’s objective situation is no laughing matter, the retelling of his profound exploration of the soul reels in the mockery of dramatics that call the 1950s their home. This chapter of the series is packed with wordy, metaphorical narration and a bombardment of overt references to jazz artists like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, and Freddie Hubbard. And in true Spoils fashion, Devon’s sudden passion for the written word isn’t just a one-off joke for the art world, but it continues to serve the story in combatting Cynthia’s added attacks.

Writer-director team Matt Piedmont and Andrew Steele, both seasoned sketch comedy writers, used The Spoils of Babylon to explore pushing the limits of an audience’s patience. Instead of needing quicker and more rushed attempts for laughs, Piedmont and Steele could work superfluous bits and run-on jokes into the show. Since the plot of Spoils is thick and sensitive, the floor is cracked open for increased nonsense. For example, between Devon’s flippancy toward his father’s news and Jonas’ reaction to his son’s news, the back-to-back excessiveness of Jonas Morehouse’s final moments is worth every bit of laughter. Such gratuitous instances of borderline wasteful writing are sprinkled across all six episodes.

You Are Right to Weep for the Characters in ‘The Spoils of Babylon’

Image via Funny or Die

With an abundance of goofiness going on for the whole of the miniseries, it’s easy to forget that there is a coherent storyline to be followed. The thread of Cynthia’s and Devon’s forbidden eternal yearning for each other holds together the myriad of nonsensical and downright foolish comedy in The Spoils of Babylon. The longer they go on fighting their feelings, the more they end up hurting each other in the process. Shifting the role of antagonist from this intangible doomed attraction onto the destructive character of Winston adds a layer of conflict that amplifies the already-exceeding drama of the storyline from its midpoint to its explosive ending.

Cynthia Morehouse deserves some slack for the position she’s put herself in. Sure, she disregarded her father’s values, murdered Devon’s wife, sabotaged the progression of the auto industry, ripped Devon’s research institute from under him, and instilled in her son a horrible moral compass, but it was all in the name of love. Cynthia’s undying affection for Devon took hold of her life in a way that clouded her self-control. Her greedy and vengeful actions left Devon no choice but to retaliate in an attempt to bring her to a sense of remorse. In agreeing to return to the company, Devon managed his own self-control in trying to “kick” Cynthia by setting a boundary between them. This finally saw Cynthia reach a change of heart and pursue positive changes for the company. But with Winston knee-deep in the company, it became too late to reverse the shame that was brought on the Morehouse name.

If the plot of the main characters isn’t entertaining enough, there are plenty of stories in the wings of the cast. The love story between Cynthia’s goon generals, Rod and Herman (Val Kilmer and Steve Tom, respectively), is one worth rooting for. As is the character of poor, peaceable Chet (Michael Sheen), Cynthia’s second husband, who did not deserve to be wedged into the chaos of this family’s story, nor to have his death go so brutally unnoticed. The fates of innocent sweetheart Seymore Luntz (Toby Huss) and beloved Marianne Morehouse (Jellybean Howie), despite some lackluster dramatization, remain a truly tragic sting. Rest assured, it is appropriate to think that Winston’s demise in particular is the least satisfying after the destruction he caused his family.

The Spoils of Babylon is available to stream on Pluto TV in the U.S.

Howie Mandel is walking back his on-air clapback to Kelly Ripa over his physical appearance.

“I have been debating for 48 hours whether I should make this post or not, and I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing,” Mandel, 70, said in a Saturday, March 28, Instagram video. “Philosophically, I don’t believe that somebody who’s a comedian needs to apologize for a joke. It is a joke, it is meant as a joke, and it’s not meant to offend.”

He continued, “You can not like it and, in all my years in the business, I haven’t ever publicly apologized for [a joke].”

Mandel was interviewed on the Monday, March 23, broadcast of Live With Kelly and Mark, where Ripa, 55, publicly complimented the game show host’s appearance.

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“You just celebrated 70 years. You’re 70 years old,” Ripa’s husband, Mark Consuelos, began before Ripa chimed in, adding, “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Mandel seemed perplexed by Ripa’s remarks.

“What do you mean it doesn’t make any sense?” he said. “I look great. That doesn’t mean anything to me.”

Ripa later attempted to clarify that she thought Mandel looked “great” and couldn’t believe he was actually his age.

“It’s like saying you’re smart for a stupid person,” he added. “‘Oh, you look smart! You seem smart!’ I don’t look good.”

Without further addressing the heated exchange, Mandel and Ripa continued their interview as planned. He apparently had a change of heart by Saturday.

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“This is hard for me, but this is for Kelly Ripa, who in the past has been incredibly supportive,” Mandel continued in his video message. “Not only have I been a guest on her show, but I have cohosted with her and I have known her for years.”

According to Mandel, he simply “tries to be entertaining” whenever he walks onto the Live stage.

“Sometimes as a comedian, things don’t land the way you mean then to land,” Mandel acknowledged of his jokes. “Not only do I want to say, ‘I’m sorry,’ to Kelly but … you’re right. You’re absolutely right, and I’m sorry I didn’t see it that way.”

At the end of Monday’s broadcast, Mandel took some time to self-reflect about his reaction.

“I do, I look great for my age. I really do,” he said. “I look fantastic. I just have to embrace the fact that I look this good.”

James Blake says that he no longer wants partial credit for Kanye West’s latest album, “Bully.”

“The way I pitched his vocals and constructed the track from his freestyle is partially there,  majorly peppered with other newervocal [sic] takes,” Blake, 37, wrote in a recent post on Vault. “The spirit of my actual production is mostly absent, other than that. My original version is a completely different production in spirit.”

Blake is currently credited as a producer on West’s song “This One Here,” from his “Bully” LP that dropped Friday, March 27.

“Happy for the fans, but I’ve asked to be taken off the producer credits for now, as I don’t want to take credit for other people’s work,” Blake stated. “This version isn’t what I created with Ye. It’s not personal!”

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He concluded, “I just hit a point where I don’t want to be credited on music where I can’t affect the end result.”

Blake and West, 48, had been friends and collaborators for many years, though their bond seemingly dissipated by 2023.

“We haven’t seen each other for a little while. I think it’s probably a no-comment from me,” Blake told Variety in October 2023, seemingly reacting to West’s controversial antisemitic remarks. “I say that with sadness.”

West was suspended from Instagram in 2022 after making a series of derogatory and false comments about Jewish individuals while simultaneously praising dictator Adolf Hitler and Nazism. He issued a public apology in January, two months before “Bully” was released.

“In early 2025, I fell into a four-month long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life,” West wrote in an open letter published by the Wall Street Journal, blaming his behavior on his bipolar disorder. “One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected moments — many of which I still cannot recall — that led to poor judgment and reckless behavior that oftentimes feels like an out-of-body-experience.”

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Kanye West has apologized for his antisemitic behavior, but one group dedicated to combating bigotry isn’t letting the rapper get off that easily. “Ye’s apology to the Jewish people is long overdue and doesn’t automatically undo his long history of antisemitism — the antisemitic ‘Heil Hitler’ song he created, the hundreds of tweets, the swastikas […]

He continued, “I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”

West further apologized to the Black community, claiming he “let [them] down.”

“My words as a leader in my community have global impact and influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that,” he concluded. “As I find my new baseline and new center through an effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity.”

Exes Taylor Swift and John Mayer reportedly closely avoided a recent run-in.

Swift, 36, was spotted leaving Paul McCartney’s Saturday, March 28, concert outside Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre, according to photos published by TMZ on Sunday, March 29. The pop star walked out of the venue in a group that also included Olivia Rodrigo.

According to the outlet, Mayer, 48, was photographed leaving the Fonda Theatre just moments earlier without running into Swift.

Swift and Mayer were romantically linked from 2009 and 2010 after collaborating on his song “Half of My Heart,” despite a 13-year age gap. (Swift was 19 while Mayer was 32 when they were reportedly an item.)

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Speculation ultimately swirled that the two called it quits when Swift included a breakup song called “Dear John” on her 2010 album, Speak Now.

“Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone / Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?” Swift sings. “The girl in the dress, cried the whole way home / I should’ve known

Well, maybe it’s me / And my blind optimism to blame / Or maybe it’s you and your sick need/ To give love then take it away / And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors / Who don’t understand.”

While Swift famously doesn’t name her musical muses, Mayer called out the 14-time Grammy winner for her “cheap songwriting” in a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone.

“It made me feel terrible. It was a really lousy thing to do,” he told the outlet in June 2012 of Swift allegedly writing a song about him. “I never got an email. I never got a phone call. I was really caught off guard. … [That’s] abusing your talent to rub your hands together and go, ‘Wait ’til he gets a load of this!’ That’s bulls***.”

Swift ultimately rerecorded “Dear John” for Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and urged her fans against resurfacing any bad blood with Mayer.

“As we lead up to this album coming out, I would love for that kindness and that gentleness to extend onto our Internet activities,” Swift told fans during a June 2023 concert on her Eras Tour. “I’m putting this out now because I want to own my music and I believe that any artist who has the desire to own their music should be able to.”

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She continued at the time, “I’m 33 years old. I don’t care about anything that happened to me when I was 19, except the songs I wrote. So, what I’m trying to tell you is that I’m not putting this album out so that you should go and feel the need to defend me on the Internet against someone you think I might have written the song about 14 million years ago.”

Swift is now engaged to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, while Mayer was recently dating influencer Kat Stickler.

Influencers Lucky Blue and Nara Smith are getting candid about the realities of adding a fourth baby to their brood.

“I mean, we thought we were really done after three,” Lucky told People while attending the Clarins Night of Extra event on March 20. “And to be honest, four has been an adjustment.”

He continued, “It’s been really tricky to navigate, but it’s been good, and I think now we’re finally hitting our stride with it.”

Nara, for her part, agreed with her husband’s take on their new family dynamic.

“Now we have a 5-year-old, so a lot of bargaining,” she said. “So that’s been fun.”

Lucky and Nara tied the knot in February 2020, welcoming daughter Rumble Honey to their family in October that same year. The influencers went on to welcome son Slim Easy and daughters Whimsy Lou and Fawnie Golden in 2022, 2024 and 2025, respectively.

“she’s here! welcome to the world little angel 🤍,” Nara and Lucky wrote in a joint Instagram post in 2025, sharing the birth of daughter Fawnie Golden.

Ahead of their youngest’s arrival, Lucky and Nara admitted that they thought they were done having children.

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“After Whimsy, we are absolutely done now,” Nara told GQ Hype in a profile published in August 2024. “Having toddlers is the best sort of birth control because they’re wild.”

Nara went on to explain that she had always wanted to be a young mother.

“Lucky had Gravity when he was really young. It felt like a natural thing, ‘Yeah, I think I’m ready to have kids,’” she told the magazine, referring to Lucky’s daughter with ex-girlfriend Stormi Bree Henley. “When I’m 40, they’ll be 20, and we’ll grow up together. I want to build my life with them rather than trying to integrate them into my life later and it worked out great. I love being a young mom.”

Nara, for her part, rose to online fame sharing cooking and lifestyle content, sparking the ongoing “trad wives” controversy, a term used to describe women who prefer to follow “traditional,” i.e. conservative, stereotypes. Nara, however, has denied the idea that she identifies with the label.

“The other day, someone brought it up to me, and they were like, ‘You have a very traditional way of life.’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’” Nara said on a July 2025 episode of Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast. “We split chores. I work. My husband works. We have children. We split everything. I cook because I love to, not because I have to. Lucky cleans. There was nothing traditional.”

Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for House of David Season 2.House of David is again one of the most popular TV shows on Prime in the U.S., even before its global debut this week, on March 27. The biblical biopic stars Michael Iskander as David, the shepherd boy and musician destined to be king. David’s road to the throne is anything but conventional, and as he is brought to the palace of the reigning king, Saul (Ali Suliman), the intrigue and tensions are palpable. Returning for a second season, House of David ramps up the romance and drama and delivers on all fronts.

The female characters in House of David are forces to be reckoned with. From Saul’s queen, Ahinoam (Ayelet Zurer), to a servant girl named Kazia (Inbar Saban), the series is full of intelligent and cunning women. Two new characters enter the storyline this season, with Lyna Dubarry playing a healer named Sara and Joy Rieger as the headstrong and tenacious Dina. The women in House of David have never been more prominent than they are in Season 2. These eight moments showcase the strong writing, directing, and acting that make House of David so dynamic to watch.

Mychal Tries To Stop Loving David for Her Family’s Sake

Image via Amazon/MGM Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection

When a would-be marriage for Saul’s eldest daughter Mirab (Yali Topol Margalith) ends in disaster, the princess feels her opportunity for marital happiness slipping away. Mirab attempts to take her destiny into her own hands and figures that while she does not love David, he is at least a kind, decent, and good man who would make a suitable husband. She tells her father that, to make up for his cancellation of her first proposal, he could give her to David as a bride.

This maneuver drives a dagger into the heart of her younger sister, Mychal (Indy Lewis), who is in love with David. Their father, the king, is a stubborn man, and once he has made his mind up, there is no changing it. So Mychal, heartbroken as she is, realizes that for her family’s peace and unity, she must try to stop loving David. This task may have been easier for her if it were only her heart on the line, but David also loves her, and every time she is with him, the pain is bitter.

Mychal proves that she is a courageous person who tries to put others before herself. Unlike Mirab, who saw an opportunity and seized it, no matter whom she hurt, Mychal is willing to suffer herself so that others can have peace. Luckily, David has something to say and to do about the situation, but Mychal’s actions to put her sister and David’s well-being above her own speak volumes.

Kazia Works Her Way up the Social Ladder

Image via Prime Video

Audiences were introduced to Kazia (Saban) in Season 1. As a servant in Saul’s palace, she already has a high ranking position in that she personally attends to the royal family, including the king and queen. Similar to Season 1, Kazia remains a clever and ambitious social climber. She has connections both in and outside the palace and knows how to navigate her way through any situation.

When Saul and Ahinoam (Zurer) have marital discord, Saul makes Kazia his concubine. Kazia knows she now has even more influence over the king and uses that influence to make a bold social statement. When Saul holds a feast to honor Jonathan (Ethan Kai) and Sara’s (Dubarry) marriage, Kazia asks to attend the event as a guest, not a servant. This is extremely taboo and brash, but her influence over Saul is so powerful that he allows it.

Furthermore, Kazia chooses to attend the feast, wearing a necklace that used to belong to the queen. These events start a downward spiral for Ahinoam, and ultimately, she is banished and thrown out of the palace. This is a phenomenal victory for Kazia as Saul has clearly chosen her over his wife. It is only left to wonder how far her ambition will take her and what sway she will command in the palace.

Mirab Supports Mychal

Image via Prime Video

After David beats the odds, he survives an ambush and a suicide mission set for him by the queen. Saul must now grant David permission to marry Mychal, per his word and the details of their arrangement. Mirab is disappointed, to say the least. The one thing she wanted was not to be embarrassed. David publicly demonstrated that he would rather risk his life to marry Mychal than be coerced into marrying her.

Although devastated, Mirab chooses to support Mychal and be present for her sister on her wedding day. This touching scene is even more poignant because their mother has been exiled, and Mychal is sad not to have Ahinoam there. This time, it is Mirab’s turn to put her own feelings aside and support her sister’s happiness. Later in Season 2, when the truth about David is finally revealed to everyone, including Mychal, Mirab is there for her sister again. She comforts and reassures her, even though everything they hoped for and knew about David has collapsed. Mirab is coming into her power in Season 2, and it shows.

Dina Being Unapologetically Dina in Every Scene

Image via Prime Video

Joy Rieger joins the House of David cast in Season 2 as Dina. When Prince Eshbaal (Sam Otto) is accused of taking advantage of Dina in Season 1, he is exiled when he refuses to marry her. After being kidnapped and tortured, Eshbaal returns a changed man, and though he has ulterior motives, they are yet to be made known in the series.

Part of Eshbaal’s 180 is now being willing to marry Dina. This choice is a brilliant one for the series and for audiences, as Dina becomes an important character for Season 2. Dina, who was raised by her father as if she were the son he had wanted instead, is different from any other woman Eshbaal has ever met. She is a skilled hunter and tracker and likes being outdoors. Dina is also refreshingly blunt and independent. She lets Eshbaal know in no uncertain terms what her expectations are for him as a husband and what she will and will not do for him as a wife.

Rieger is exceptional as Dina, who is a formidable match for Eshbaal. Though she does not love him, she is intrigued by him and is self-possessed enough to know that she can choose to marry him without feeling dependent. Dina speaks her mind no matter what situation she’s in and refuses to let anyone else tell her what she can or cannot do. When the women in the palace use manipulation and underhanded schemes to get their way, Dina is a therapeutic change in that she is up-front, honest, and frank. She is unlike any of the other women in the series and is destined to be a fan favorite character.

Mychal Chooses To Stay Instead of Leave With David

Image via Prime Video

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Chaos shatters through the palace when the truth is revealed that David is the one chosen by God to be the next king of Israel. This monumental secret has been well-kept from everyone, even Mychal. Shortly after they are married, Mychal learns in an instant that David is the person the prophet Samuel (Stephen Lang) anointed, and her father is trying to kill him.

House of David does a terrific job of giving this moment the complicated and nuanced ethos it deserves. Half of Mychal’s instincts are telling her to flee with her husband, and the other is telling her to stay. Mychal’s feelings and thoughts are a swirling mass of confusion, betrayal, and trepidation. She fears for David’s safety, but at the same time has to acknowledge that he has been hiding this from her the whole time. Contrary to what many sweeping romances would write, Mychal does not follow David. She stays in the palace. It could be that loyalty to her father puts her at odds with loyalty to David, or she feels hurt and afraid and chooses to remain in safety. Either way, David leaves without her, and their fate as a newlywed couple hangs in the balance.

Queen Ahinoam Is Exiled

Image via Prime Video

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Queen Ahinoam is an extremely shrewd person. She is always trying to stay one step ahead of everyone else and find the most advantageous opportunity for her family and herself. Despite all of her conniving and manipulating throughout the series, her house of cards crumbles in Episode 6, “Forged in Fire.”e

Sara Heals More Than Jonathan’s Body

Image via Amazon Prime Video

When Jonathan is wounded, Kazia tells him about a healer of great skill. Jonathan travels to the healer, and while there, the healer’s granddaughter and skilled assistant, Sara, attends to him and saves his life. Jonathan suffers more than just a flesh wound as he is still grieving his first love, Naomi, who died of illness. Pining for his beloved, Jonathan has not been interested in anyone since. That is, until he gets to know Sara.

Like Dina, Sara is unlike any other woman Jonathan has met. Being a healer was rare for a woman, and Sara is very skilled at it. She is also inventive, caring, and kind. As Sara tends to Jonathan, he starts to develop strong feelings for her. Finally working up the courage, Jonathan asks her to marry him. She says no. Sara explains that Jonathan’s heroics in battle inspired her brother so much that he joined the army and was killed as a result. While Sara knows it’s not Jonathan’s direct fault, she can’t help but make the mental connection, especially when she treats Jonathan for an arrow wound, the very same injury that killed her brother.

Jonathan gets some time to brood for a while, but after being encouraged by Samuel to find joy in his life, he realizes that he wants nothing more than to marry Sara. In take two of the proposal, Sara speaks her mind, and unlike other women who have craved riches and power, she does not, and is strongly opposed to the thought of being the next queen. In a shocking moment for Season 2, Jonathan confides in Sara that he knows he will not be king, that God has chosen another.

Trusting Sara with this secret shows how deeply he trusts her and how much he wants to marry her, assuring her that they would never have the pressure of being monarchs. Unlike Ahinoam, who tried to control her husband, Mychal, who doubted her husband, or Mirab, who tried to swindle a husband, Sara proves to be a loyal partner. She states her mind and her thoughts, and meets Jonathan as an equal. As a true partnership, they go forward together in the series, and it is clear why Jonathan could not and would not love any other.

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House of David

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Release Date

February 27, 2025

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Network

Prime Video, Wonder Project

Directors

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Jeff T. Thomas, Jon Gunn, Jon Erwin, Lynsey Miller

Writers

Jon Erwin, Jon Gunn, Jonathan Walker, Bekah Hubbell, Nathan Andrew Jacobs, Laura Kenar, N.D. Wilson

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• 
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  Alexander Uloom

  King Achish

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Prince Harry is reportedly seeking enhanced security to bring Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to the U.K. to visit King Charles.

However, palace sources say they are concerned about the suggestion that the grandchildren could be used as leverage, while the duke’s allies insist the request is about safety, not manipulation.

Any visit, including to Sandringham, appears contingent on security arrangements. At the same time, pressure is growing for Prince Harry and Meghan to be given a “half-in, half-out” royal role out of fear that they may “crash and burn” on their own.

Prince Harry Accused Of Using Children As Leverage While Requesting Enhanced Security For Visit To King Charles

According to The Sunday Times, a source close to Harry says he wants “an enhanced package of security, so he can stay as long as he wants whenever he wants, and see his father with the children.”

The report suggests Harry hopes for an invitation to Sandringham, but any visit would depend on the security arrangements being agreed to.

A source noted, “Would he go? It would depend on who was there. If the king was to say, ‘Come up and spend some time with the family,’ he’d love that.”

But palace insiders have reportedly reacted strongly, saying they would be “horrified by any suggestion of using the king’s grandchildren as a form of bargaining tool.”

The dispute centers on Harry’s insistence that he cannot safely bring his family without increased protection.

Prince Harry And The Palace Reportedly Clashed Over Grandchildren’s Visits And Security

Tensions between Harry and the palace have run high for years. In 2024, friends of the king accused Harry of implying Charles might never see his grandchildren unless security concerns were met.

Harry has argued publicly that Meghan could face serious threats from the press and the public if she returned to the U.K.

According to the Daily Beast, Omid Scobie’s book “Endgame” also recalled Harry telling Charles, “Don’t you want to see your grandchildren again?” after being asked to leave Frogmore Cottage.

At the time, a friend of the king called it “emotional blackmail,” while another noted that denying the children a meaningful relationship with their grandfather could have long-term consequences.

The last time Charles saw Archie and Lilibet in person was during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, with contact since then largely limited to video calls.

Allies of Harry insist this is about safety, not manipulation, while palace sources have highlighted the potential consequences of mixing private family visits with formal royal security arrangements.

Prince Harry Believes His Father Can Fix His Security Issues

The Sandringham situation adds another layer of complexity. Harry reportedly appears open to visiting on royal grounds, but only if he receives the enhanced security he wants.

The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) has become central to the feud, with both sides blaming the other.

For years, Charles avoided speaking to Harry partly because he was suing the government, and there were fears that private discussions could be misused.

However, according to the Daily Beast, Harry’s camp has argued the dispute isn’t really about security, saying it’s rooted in “power and control” over him rather than real safety concerns.

Sources say the current system works perfectly for the palace: requiring Harry and Meghan to give 28 days’ notice and pre-approve plans “suits the palace down to the ground.”

Harry’s side has asked why Charles doesn’t overrule the committee. Officially, it’s considered “inappropriate,” but sources say the palace doesn’t want them flying in and out freely, showing up unpredictably, or acting like quasi-royals while living outside the institution.

Pressure Mounts For Prince Harry And Meghan Markle To Get ‘Half-In, Half-Out’ Royal Role

Meanwhile, pressure is growing on Charles to offer Harry and Meghan a “half-in, half-out” role within the royal family, allowing them to carry out duties even while living in the U.S.

Tina Brown, former Vanity Fair editor-in-chief, warned that the Sussexes could “crash and burn” financially if such an arrangement isn’t made.

Brown pointed out that Harry and Meghan’s current revenue streams, like their Netflix deal, are “starting to dry up.”

She urged the palace to act before the couple faces serious financial trouble, suggesting they be given a “limited international role” to maintain their royal connections.

Brown made the comments in a recent “Fresh Hell” Substack essay amid reports that Netflix may pivot its royal coverage to Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Book Deal Might Be In Jeopardy

Brown’s claim about Harry and Meghan’s revenue streams drying up comes after a source revealed to NewsNation that Penguin Random House, the publisher behind the duke’s record-breaking memoir “Spare,” is “done” with the couple.

While Harry’s memoir was a global success, selling over 6 million copies, he has yet to write another book, despite signing a multi-book deal worth around $40 million. Instead, he has allegedly been asking for more money after collecting $20 million.

“The executives at Penguin Random House are fielding near weekly calls from Camp Sussex asking for more money,” an industry source said. “They think there are royalties, but there aren’t. Penguin overpaid and, with marketing, printing, and other costs, even with millions of copies sold, they will never earn out or get royalties.”

Another source noted, “Harry has a fundamental disconnect to the concept of money, and certainly that money can, indeed, run out.”

“Penguin Random House is done with (the Sussexes.) It will never publish another book by them. They were (financially) burned,” the source added.

When done right, a miniseries has the potential to overshadow both its longer small-screen counterparts and the best of cinema. With a limited number of episodes to convey their story, these shows often attempt to fit maximum creativity and brilliance into each installment, and that approach has led to some of the most celebrated productions of all time. Sure, not every miniseries is automatically a masterpiece, but the truly great ones are all the more enjoyable because of their contained narratives.

Several great miniseries have graced our screens over the years, especially in the past decade, but only a handful have achieved true perfection. With flawless narratives, performances, and productions, these shows easily rank among the best of all time and are more than worth watching for any fan of great television. From immersive period pieces to creative superhero shows, horror gems to tense dramas, read on to discover our handpicked selection of flawless miniseries where every episode is absolutely perfect, including some of the most acclaimed shows of recent years.

1

‘Ripley’ (2024)

Image via Netflix

Created, written, and directed by Steven Zaillian, Ripley is a period psychological thriller miniseries adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels. Starring Andrew Scott as the title character, New York City con man Tom Ripley, the show explores his descent into darkness after he is hired to go to Italy and convince the prodigal son of a shipping magnate to return to America. The series also boasts an ensemble supporting cast that includes Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, Eliot Sumner, and more.

Released on Netflix in April 2024 to critical and audience acclaim, Ripley was a popular and highly recommended title at the time of its premiere, debuting at number six on Netflix’s list of top 10 English TV shows. Presented in beautiful black and white, the series is an undeniable masterpiece, boasting supremely polished writing, direction, cinematography, and performances. A visually stunning drama that draws inspiration from classic Italian cinema and Renaissance art, the show earned several accolades, including four Emmy Awards out of thirteen nominations, three Golden Globe nominations, and a Peabody Award.

2

‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ (2023)

Image via Eike Schroter / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Created by Mike Flanagan, The Fall of the House of Usher is a Gothic horror drama miniseries inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, primarily his 1840 short story. The series revolves around pharma billionaire siblings Roderick (Bruce Greenwood) and Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell), exploring their rise to wealth and power in the 1950s and the eerie present-day events that lead to their family’s inevitable doom. The ensemble cast also includes Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan, T’Nia Miller, Zach Gilford, Willa Fitzgerald, Mark Hamill, and more.

The Fall of the House of Usher was quite well-received by critics at the time of its premiere, and even more so by audiences. A haunting Gothic series that looks at the classic themes of greed and moral decay through a contemporary and timely lens, the show is a gorgeously produced masterpiece with amazing performances and visual design that draw viewers into its chilling world. Arguably one of Flanagan’s best shows yet, the series perfectly balances moving character drama with stomach-turning horror, brilliantly adapting some of Poe’s most iconic works, including popular favorites like “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Masque of the Red Death.”

3

‘Watchmen’ (2019)

Image via HBO

Inspired by the eponymous 1986 DC Comics series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Watchmen is a superhero mystery drama series developed by Damon Lindelof that serves as a sequel to the legendary graphic novel series. Set 34 years after the original story, the show follows a series of escalating events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, involving costumed police officers, a mysterious corporation, and a white supremacist group inspired by the vigilante Rorschach. While investigating these troubling incidents, Detective Angela Abar (Regina King) uncovers a decades-spanning conspiracy centered on the all-powerful superhuman, Doctor Manhattan. Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Andrew Howard, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeremy Irons, Jean Smart, Hong Chau, and more star in key supporting roles.

A brilliant reimagining of the iconic comics that’s both original and faithful to the source material, Watchmen is a masterfully crafted series that’s essentially a sci-fi conspiracy thriller dressed in the tropes of the superhero genre. The show was universally acclaimed during its original run and has been widely hailed as the greatest superhero show of all time. Its complex writing, gorgeous visuals, and mindblowing performances earned the series a massive number of accolades, including 11 Emmy Awards.

4

‘Adolescence’ (2025)

Image via Netflix

A British crime drama miniseries created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, Adolescence follows the story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is arrested for the murder of a girl at his school. As the story unfolds, we learn more about how the child’s actions may have been influenced by severe cyberbullying and exposure to online misogyny. Graham also stars in the series, playing Jamie’s father, Eddie. The ensemble cast includes Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, and more.

Easily one of the biggest hits of 2025, Adolescence is a gripping crime series that has earned near-universal acclaim for its direction, writing, cinematography, and performances, especially that of its young star. Its powerful, timely story is brought to life in four haunting episodes, each filmed in a single long take. A perfect show without a single weak moment, the series has sparked important conversations about how social media exposes children to unprecedented levels of harmful content and garnered several accolades, including acting Emmy wins for Graham, Cooper, and Doherty.

5

‘WandaVision’ (2021)

A Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) miniseries inspired by the Marvel Comics characters Vision and Scarlet Witch, WandaVision was created by Jac Schaeffer and stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / The Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany as Vision. Set shortly after the events of Avengers: Endgame, the show begins with Wanda and Vision enjoying an idyllic, sitcom-like life in the suburb of Westview, New Jersey, but as time passes, darker secrets come to light about the nature of their new reality. Besides Olsen and Bettany, the series also stars Debra Jo Rupp, Fred Melamed, Kathryn Hahn, Teyonah Parris, Randall Park, Kat Dennings, and Evan Peters.

A genre-bending miniseries that follows a complex mystery story while paying tribute to the history of sitcoms, WandaVision is arguably Marvel’s best show to date. A favorite of critics and audiences alike, the show has been praised for its breathtaking visuals, powerful themes, and great acting. Each episode pays tribute to an iconic era of sitcoms, but underneath that seemingly comedic exterior is a dark, emotionally charged story of magic, mystery, and love.

6

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

Image via HBO 

A historical drama miniseries created by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, Chernobyl is a dramatized exploration of true events surrounding the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Over the course of five episodes, the show recounts the events that led to the disaster, the efforts of first responders who worked to clean up the aftermath, and the sinister cover-up that followed. The series stars an ensemble cast that includes Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, and more.

Chernobyl was easily one of the biggest international successes of 2019, closely followed by audiences around the world during its initial run and widely acclaimed by critics. Though fictionalized, the series is largely true to history, a fact that makes it all the more immersive and suspenseful. Praised for its atmosphere, writing, cinematography, music, and performances, the show earned several accolades, including 10 Emmy Awards out of 19 nominations and nine BAFTAs out of 14 nominations.

7

‘When They See Us’ (2019)

Image via Netflix

Based on the real-life 1989 Central Park jogger case, When They See Us is a crime drama miniseries created, co-written, and directed by Ava DuVernay. The series explores the lives of the five Black and Latino suspects who were falsely accused of rape and assault, leading to decades of imprisonment for a crime they didn’t commit. The show’s ensemble cast includes Jharrel Jerome, Asante Blackk, Caleel Harris, Jovan Adepo, Michael K. Williams, Logan Marshall-Green, Joshua Jackson, Blair Underwood, Vera Farmiga, and more.

Released in May 2019, When They See Us was a critical and commercial success, reportedly streamed by over 23 million viewers within its first month. A moving story of systemic injustice and a decades-long fight to right wrongs, the series has been praised for its performances, writing, and direction. A heartbreaking true story, the show received numerous accolades, including 11 Emmy nominations and a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Limited Series. A companion special hosted by Oprah Winfrey was released in June 2019 that features interviews with the creator, cast, and the real Exonerated Five.

8

‘Dracula’ (2020)

Image via the BBC

A three-part horror drama inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel, Dracula was developed by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat and stars Claes Bang as the iconic vampire. Beginning with the familiar story of Jonathan Harker’s (John Heffernan) doomed visit to Transylvania, the series explores Dracula’s blood-soaked history, the secret depths of his psyche, and his generations-spanning conflict with the Van Helsing family. Dolly Wells, Morfydd Clark, Joanna Scanlan, Jonathan Aris, Sacha Dhawan, Catherine Schell, Lydia West, and more star in supporting roles.

Dracula first aired on BBC One in the UK over three consecutive days, winning favorable reviews from critics and audiences ahead of its Netflix release. An underrated masterpiece, the series is easily one of the most insightful adaptations of the classic Gothic novel, with an entertaining balance of horror and humor that helps bring new life to the source material. Though it hasn’t quite received the attention it deserves, the show is practically perfect in every way, from its story and performances to its art design and cinematography. It’s a deliciously thrilling watch for fans of the vampire genre.

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Release Date

2020 – 2020-00-00

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Network

BBC One

Directors

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Jonny Campbell, Damon Thomas, Paul McGuigan

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Kim and Khloé Kardashian are reminiscing about their recent Tokyo trip.

In a Saturday, March 28, post to Instagram, Kim, 45, shared a series of photos from the pair’s vacation with her three younger kids, Saint, 10, Chicago, 8, and Psalm, 6. (Kim is also mom to daughter North, 12, whom she welcomed with ex-husband Kanye West.)

“JAPAN THINGS 🇯🇵🕹️👾🏁🥋⚔️,” Kim captioned the post, to which Khloé, 41, replied in the comments section, “We had the BEST time!!!!!!! 💘.”

Khloé, for her part, also shared several memories from the trip via Instagram on Saturday, including an image where she was all smiles with daughter True, 7, and son Tatum, 3. (Khloe welcomed her two kids with ex Tristan Thompson.)

Related: Kim Kardashian’s Kids Join Her and Lewis Hamilton on Tokyo Trip

Kim Kardashian’s kids tagged along on mom’s trip to Tokyo with her casual date, Lewis Hamilton. An eyewitness told Us Weekly on Monday, March 23, that three of Kardashian’s children — Saint, 10, Chicago, 9, and Psalm, 8 — were spotted out and about in Tokyo. It is unclear if Kardashian’s eldest daughter, North, also […]

She captioned the upload, “Tokyo 🇯🇵,” and added in the comments section, “💋💋” and “Muah.”

While on the trip, several social media videos showed Kim walking the streets of Tokyo alongside Khloé and Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton. The outing comes weeks after news broke that Kim and Hamilton’s longtime friendship had turned romantic earlier this year.

“She has felt ready to put herself back out there recently,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in February of Kim and Hamilton’s “casual” relationship.

Later that month, Hamilton and Kim stepped out to attend Super Bowl LX, watching the game from a private box. A second insider exclusively told Us that the pair are “going strong and really happy.”

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Related: Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton Spotted Together in Tokyo Amid Romance

Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton recently stepped out together in Tokyo, Us Weekly has learned. Kardashian, 45, and Hamilton, 41, were spotted walking side by side on a crowded sidewalk in Japan on Sunday, March 22, according to social media footage. The Skims mogul rocked a gray dress with over-the-knee heeled boots, while Hamilton kept […]

“Lewis is head over heels and those closest to him believe he has finally met his match,” the separate source shared. “He has waited over a decade for his dream girl and is crazy about her.”

While Hamilton and Kim have busy schedules, the second insider noted that the pair have continued to keep in touch.

“They are both very committed to making things work no matter how long the distance is or how busy they are,” the second source said, noting that the twosome frequently FaceTime while Hamilton is in the paddock between his F1 races. “Because their relationship started with a friendship first, those closest to them believe this could be endgame for them both.”

Earlier this month, Hamilton made headlines when he reacted to Kim’s look from the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

“GUCCI GIRL,” Kim wrote via Instagram at the time, alongside a series of behind-the-scenes photos, to which Hamilton replied with a single heart-eyes emoji.