Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2.Marvel has had a rocky road with their Disney+ original shows, but there have been a few bright spots lately, specifically with the return of Daredevil. 2025 introduced Daredevil: Born Again, which reintroduces fans to the titular hero and his exploits in the MCU. However, this darker and tragic series is all about power, which comes in many shapes and sizes, but one of the most interesting is strength, as this is a superhero show.

Superhero series are all about the heroes and beating up bad guys, and while Daredevil: Born Again is much more nuanced than that, fans do still love a good brawl. That is why this list will rank the strongest characters who have appeared in the first two seasons of Daredevil: Born Again based on known feats, fighting potential, memorable moments, powers, abilities, and overall strength. Uatu the Watcher technically appeared, but this list will exclude him since he didn’t fully appear.

10

Angela Del Toro (White Tiger II)

Played by Camila Rodriguez

Image via Disney+

Fans want to see more superheroes, and Daredevil: Born Again has already introduced a younger hero with lots of potential. After the death of her uncle, Angela Del Toro (Camila Rodriguez) took up the mantle of White Tiger, hoping to assist in the fight alongside Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) and Daredevil (Charlie Cox).

Some of the strongest characters in this series are vigilantes, but Angela is still young and lacks experience, putting her at the bottom of this list. However, the power of the amulet is strong, giving her superhuman speed, strength, and agility. White Tiger II is a fan-favorite comic character with lots of potential in the MCU, and Daredevil: Born Again is only the start of her story.

9

Jack Duquesne (Swordsman)

Played by Tony Dalton

Image via Disney+

Mayor Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) had united New York City because of his hard stance on vigilantes, and his first example was going to be Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton), a rich socialite who becomes the Swordsman at night. He was smeared during the days leading up to the trial, but after escaping custody, he supplied Daredevil and the resistance with endless funds.

Initially introduced in Hawkeye, one of the best superhero TV shows, Swordsman is a fun character and a decently powerful vigilante. His sword-fighting technique is elegant and strong, able to fend off armed guards with ease. Swordsman may not be one of the strongest characters, but he is a street-level threat who handles crime with grace.

8

Bastian Cooper (Muse)

Played by Hunter Doohan

Image via Disney+

Kingpin has always been the main villain in Daredevil, but Daredevil: Born Again introduced a new threat, Muse (Hunter Doohan). This serial killer has a twisted passion for art, using the blood of his victims to create his masterpieces. Underneath the mask, Bastian Cooper is a martial arts master with a twisted fascination for his therapist, Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva).

Fans didn’t expect this serial killer to be that proficient a fighter, but his martial arts past made him a formidable foe who fought toe to toe with Daredevil. Muse was an excellent Daredevil villain who could have been handled better, but his lasting impact in season two shows potential. Daredevil: Born Again could use some more villains, and Muse proves that by being a terrifying enemy.

7

Buck Cashman

Played by Arty Froushan

Image via Disney+

Kingpin always has a right-hand man to do his dirty work. In the original series, it was Wesley (Toby Leonard Moore), and in this one, it is Buck Cashman (Arty Froushan). This former British operative found new work in the American underworld, and while he seems cold, calculated, and dedicated to the job, he had a budding friendship with Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini).

Buck isn’t a vigilante or superhero. In fact, he doesn’t have any abilities whatsoever, but superpowers are overrated, as he has proven to be the most effective character in the series. With just a gun and a sense of purpose, Buck has handled countless characters, even if they aren’t superpowered. Even so, he can probably handle some heroes or vigilantes because he has never failed a job.

6

Hector Ayala (White Tiger)

Played by Kamar de los Reyes

Image via Disney+

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As mentioned earlier in this list, Angela Del Toro is the new White Tiger, but her predecessor, Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes), is also one of the strongest characters in Daredevil: Born Again. Season 1 had a few vigilantes, and one of the most interesting was White Tiger, who possesses an amulet that enhances his strength. While he was let go after trial, he was murdered after court by a task force member.

Hector Ayala doesn’t have an extensive combat history, but the amulet is the source of his power, and it instantly made him a powerful vigilante. With plenty of crime-fighting experience, White Tiger would be able to beat any normal person and maybe some actual vigilantes, but as proven by his final appearance, he can be killed fairly easily.

5

Jessica Jones

Played by Krysten Ritter

Image via Disney+

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The Marvel Netflix shows were fantastic, and one of the best was Jessica Jones, so it was only a matter of time until the titular hero appeared in the MCU. Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again introduced Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) by having her take down a group of mercenaries sent after her and her daughter. Now teaming up with Daredevil, it seems her powers are fading.

Jessica Jones is the most complicated character to rank, because normally she would easily be number one, but the second season introduced her powers fading in and out. This complicates matters since she isn’t consistently powerful. However, Jessica Jones is still shown to be powerful, ruthless, and more than capable. Her power fluctuations put her lower than expected, but she is still one of the strongest characters in Daredevil: Born Again.

4

Benjamin Pointdexter (Bullseye)

Played by Wilson Bethel

Image via Disney+

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One of the most surprising storylines of Daredevil: Born Again is Bullseye’s (Wilson Bethel) redemption arc, and while he may never be fully redeemed, fans are happy to see him working with Daredevil. After killing Foggy (Elden Henson) at the beginning of the first season, Bullseye has his sights set on Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) after she tried having him killed, and the mayor.

Bullseye doesn’t have any enhanced strength, but his military experience makes him a proficient fighter. However, his main superpower is his inhuman aim and precision, which allows him to make any household object a lethal weapon. Bullseye is one of the greatest MCU villains, and this season has further proven his storytelling potential alongside his skills that make him a strong Marvel character.

3

Frank Castle (Punisher)

Played by Jon Bernthal

Image via Disney+

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Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), also known as the Punisher, is a lethal vigilante who briefly appeared in the first season of Daredevil: Born Again. However, his absence in Season 2 has left fans wondering where he is, but they are soon to find out with The Punisher: One Last Kill and Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to feature the vigilante and highlight what he has been up to.

The top of this list can go any way, with each character having their own strengths, but Punisher’s brute strength and unrelenting motivation make him more dangerous than most. With a massive kill count, Frank Castle is one of the most effective anti-heroes in the MCU, and he has further established himself in Daredevil: Born Again. Fans can’t wait to see what the Punisher does in One Last Kill.

2

Matt Murdock (Daredevil)

Played by Charlie Cox

At long last, the star himself finally appears on this list, which is only natural since Daredevil is one of the strongest street-level vigilantes. After losing Foggy Nelson, Matt nearly killed Bullseye, sending him into a reclusive state, focusing solely on the law. However, with Fisk now running for mayor, the only way to stop him is for Daredevil to return.

Daredevil: Born Again is one of the best MCU TV shows, and it is all because of the titular hero and his desperate style that feels grittier, raw, and more dangerous. This unhinged fighting, when paired with his enhanced senses and expert combat skills, creates one of the most powerful street-level characters Marvel has to offer. This season has further shown his unrelenting desire for justice that he will have to achieve through his skills as a hero.

1

Wilson Fisk (Kingpin)

Played by Vincent D’Onofrio

Image via Disney+

If Daredevil is the second-strongest character in his own show, then the only one stronger must be the main villain, which is, of course, Kingpin. The king of street-level crime himself has worked his way up to becoming mayor of New York City, and while his initiative to clean up the streets of vigilantes has won public favor, his own goals are something much darker.

Daredevil and Kingpin are relatively interchangeable, but the latter takes the edge because of his increased training and display of feats, which puts him equal to many heroes. His brute strength seems superhuman, and his cunning ploys mixed with his brutal style make him even more dangerous. Plus, after losing Vanessa, he has nothing holding him back, making him one of the most dangerous characters in the MCU.

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Daredevil: Born Again

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Release Date

March 4, 2025

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Disney+

Showrunner

Dario Scardapane

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Directors

Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff

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It’s on, Bravo fans! During NBC’s annual Upfront event, the network made huge announcements about the status of some of its most exciting shows. In addition to the return of Bravo staples, including “Married to Medicine” and “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” the Bravosphere is in for even more fun, as a few new series were revealed as well. And that’s not all, as the network is gearing up for the return of major players, including NeNe Leakes and Vicki Gunvalson. Check it out below.

NBC’s annual Upfronts events always bring good news, and today was no different. According to Bravo’s The Daily Dish, several of the network’s biggest series were renewed for additional seasons.

In addition to the productions mentioned above, “Summer House,” “Below Deck Down Under,” “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” “Southern Charm,” “The Valley: Persian Style,” “Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition,” and “Top Chef” received series renewals.

Other shows, such as “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” “The Real Housewives of New York City,” and “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” had earlier renewal announcements, according to The Blast.

Bravo Has A Stacked Lineup For The Summer 2026 Slate

A handful of shows will also make a splash in Bravo’s summer 2026 lineup. The “Summer House” spin-off, “In The City,” starring Kyle Cooke, Lindsay Hubbard, and Amanda Batula, will premiere in the coming weeks, while “The McBee Dynasty,” “Below Deck Mediterranean,” and “The Real Housewives of Orange County” will air in June and July 2026.

Speaking of Orange County, the new batch of episodes will include Gunvalson as a full-time cast member. For those unfamiliar, the OG of the OC was fired from the network back in 2020. Cohen, however, offered her a spot on the main cast during BravoCon 2025, according to The Blast.

“… I miss filming. I missed my girls. I missed the joy of being an Orange County Housewife,” she said.

Leakes Is Returning To Bravo After Many Years Away In August 2026

Along with Gunvalson, Leakes is also making her grand return to Bravo after leaving “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” in 2020. While Leakes will not be a full-time cast member on any show (yet), the outspoken reality star will be featured in the franchise’s 20th-anniversary spin-off, “Roaring 20th.”

The program will follow “a group of beloved Housewives from across the years embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, making their way through some of the most memorable locations in the franchise’s history,” according to a press release.

Throughout the episodes, the ladies will travel from Orange County, ending on the East Coast. Each episode will also feature appearances from fan favorites who will “pay tribute to the past, embrace the present, and look toward the many miles still ahead.”

Leakes will have a heavy presence in the Atlanta episode, according to The Blast. Her appearance came as a surprise to many viewers, given that the 58-year-old had sued the network for racial discrimination.

Despite that, both parties were able to come together for a greater cause. “People are very happy about it. Listen, we are going to be celebrating 20 years of Housewives, and it would be hard not to without her, and so I’m happy about it,” Cohen said.

“This has been a really long, long journey, and gosh, I’m happy, overjoyed to say that I will be returning to Bravo. I almost can’t believe the words that are coming out of my mouth. I’m so happy. I’m excited to see all of you girls. It’s going to be a time. Yes! B-tches, I am back. Now pick your faces off the floor. OK!? See you on Bravo. Love you,” Leakes shared.

‘Next Gen NYC’ Is Coming Back For Season 2

Bravo lovers can also expect to see more of the “Next Gen NYC” cast when the series returns to the network with new episodes on June 24th at 9 PM EST.

Season 2 will feature returners Ariana Biermann, Riley Burruss, Emira D’Spain, Brooks Marks, Ava Dash, Gia Giudice, Georgia McCann, Charlie Cakkour, Shai Fruchter, and Hudson McLeroy. They will be joined by newcomers Rowan Henchy, Liam Obergfoll, and Kendall White.

Based on the series synopsis, the new slate of episodes is “anything but chill.” The cast will take viewers on a ride, as they touch on “lingering scandals,” navigate “messy breakups,” and the ever-changing dynamics within their friendships.

“Eager to carve out their own identities, they’re determined to make it on their own terms while also navigating the pressure to curate the right vibe, the right circles, and a feed that keeps up with the life they’re chasing. In a world driven by image, ambition, and constant visibility, they quickly learn that making it is one thing — holding onto it, and each other, is another,” the description continued.

Brand New Shows Will Premiere On The Network Soon

Adding even more excitement to the Upfronts, Bravo announced brand-new shows coming to the network, including Lisa Vanderpump’s “Lisa Las Vegas” and “Secrets, Lies, and Texas Wives.”

Vanderpump’s series will follow the restaurateur as she opens her first hotel on the famous Las Vegas Strip, while the latter will follow a “tight-knit circle of glamorous women” raising families, running ranches, and balancing their hectic schedules as Southern socialites.

University of Missouri football star Ahmad Hardy is in stable condition after being shot at a concert in Mississippi on Sunday, May 10, the school has confirmed.

“Ahmad is deeply loved by his teammates, coaches, friends, family and fans,” the Tigers’ athletic department wrote in a statement shared via social media on Monday, May 11. “We will continue to stand beside him and his family through this difficult time, offering our love, prayers, strength and support.”

The statement continued, “A timeline for his return to football activities is unknown at this time. Mizzou Athletics will provide more information on his status when it becomes available.”

Hardy, 20, is “alert” and “moving around,” as of Monday morning, a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, adding there is “optimism that he will play football again.”

Related: Ole Miss Football Player Corey Adams Dead at 18 After Fatal Shooting

Collegiate football star Corey Adams has died. He was 18. “We are devastated to learn that Corey Adams, a freshman on the team, passed away last night in Cordova, Tennessee,” a Sunday, July 20, statement from the University of Mississippi’s football team read. “While our program is trying to cope with this tragic loss, our […]

Hardy is a running back for the Tigers and in 2025, his first season with the program, led the team in rushing yards, carries and touchdowns. He topped 100 yards in each of his first five games with Missouri last season, earning the Doak Walker Award for the National Player of the Week in Week 3 after rushing for three touchdowns against the University of Louisiana.

Before transferring to Missouri, Hardy spent his freshman season at the University of Louisiana Monroe, where he was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the all-conference first team.

The shooting comes less than two months after he welcomed his first child, son Ahmad Hardy Jr. He shared a photo of himself holding the newborn via X on March 2, writing, “Welcome : Ahmad hardy jr 💙🫶🏾,” alongside the pic.

“No feeling like it,” he told 247Sports in March. “I love my son. I can’t wait to see him today.”

The school has not said what concert Hardy was attending, but the rising junior is an Ona, Mississippi native. His Mississippi roots gave Missouri’s game against Mississippi State University last season extra meaning, as he rushed for a career-high 300 yards and three touchdowns.

Related: LSU Football Alum Devonta Lee Dead at 26, Mother Reveals Tragic Detail

Former Louisiana State University football player Devonta Lee has died after a years-long battle with cancer, his mother, Lacresia Brown, confirmed to local Arkansas TV station KTVE on Thursday, February 26. He was 26. Lee played three seasons at LSU from 2019 to 2021, winning a national championship with the Tigers as a true freshman. […]

“I’m from Mississippi,” Hardy told reporters at the time. “A lot of teams didn’t recruit me coming out of high school, so it was kind of personal. But then, again, like I told the guys, the seniors, I was doing it for them.”

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In addition to being a standout football player, Hardy is also an accomplished horse trainer. He owns four of them and told 247 that when his playing days are over, he hopes to become a vet.

“Whenever I get done playing, I’ll probably train horses for the rest of my life,” he added.

The Tigers will open the 2026 season on September 3, at home against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

James Cameron is not only one of the most successful filmmakers of all-time, but also a major Hollywood innovator who revolutionized visual effects and created the template for what is considered to be a modern blockbuster. Even though Cameron pushed the boundaries of what was possible with the science fiction genre, True Lies was a spy film that predated the ’90s resurgence of the genre when James Bond returned in Goldeneye a year later, and Tom Cruise starred in Mission: Impossible a year after that. Even though Cameron had already forged a relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger through their work on The Terminator and its sequel, True Lies asked the Austrian action star to step outside of his comfort zone and play a flawed family man. The result was a film that offered all the action and spectacle that a summer blockbuster necessitated, but also included a surplus of heart.

Schwarzenegger’s plays Harry Tasker in True Lies, an international secret agent who has to mask his identity by pretending to be a lowly computer hardware salesman to everyone, even his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) and their daughter Dana (Eliza Dushku). It’s amidst his pursuit of an international terrorist organization that True Lies merges its espionage storyline with the family comedy, as Harry’s attempts to rekindle his marriage go disastrously awry. True Lies is a rarity because it is genuinely suspenseful, even if much of the humor feels fairly tongue-in-cheek. It’s also a feat of technical wizardry that has aged well because how it utilizes filmmaking components that aren’t entirely reliant on visual effects.

‘True Lies’ Was a Self-Aware Espionage Thriller

Cameron is often not given nearly enough credit for his skills as a writer, as True Lies is very clever in how it creates tension between Harry and Helen. Harry has to make his life seem as boring and uneventful as possible in order to avoid attracting suspicion, which only makes Helen believe that he isn’t being emotionally engaged with her; it wouldn’t make sense for someone in a fairly mundane line of work to be involved in so many international trips, especially when he doesn’t really explain to her what his work entails. Helen understands that Harry has been withholding, which she perceives as disinterest. Although the ‘90s were an era in which cheating was stigmatized in films, Helen’s willingness to have an affair with the shady car salesman Simon (Bill Paxton) is a genuinely heartbreaking moment for Harry when he realizes that he hasn’t been there for his family.

Even though Cameron had given Schwarzenegger his most famous role with the T-1000 in The Terminator, True Lies featured a more challenging performance because he had to show vulnerability. Few movie stars in the history of Hollywood have had as much charisma as Schwarzenegger, but Harry is a character who is flawed as both a husband and a spy, as he often assumes that he has to bottle his emotions and prevent others from helping him. The beauty of the film is that Harry unlocks his potential to be a better hero by working alongside Helen, and that they become closer as a couple as a result of saving the world together. Cameron has frequently put empowered female characters at the center of his films, and True Lies was one of his many blockbusters that prominently included themes of maternity. Helen isn’t weakened in any way by the fact that she is a mother, as it’s her love for their daughter Dana that gives her even more strength and courage to do the right thing.

‘True Lies’ Is Pure ‘90s Escapism

The chemistry between Schwarzenegger and Curtis is remarkable, but True Lies has a stacked cast filled with great actors, ensuring that each of the most minor characters has something memorable to do. Paxton is genuinely hilarious as a complete scumbag, showing once again why he was such a great collaborator with Cameron. Tom Arnold also provides a lot of humor to the film with his role as Harry’s partner, but he has a critical role in the story itself, and is not solely utilized for comic relief. Art Malik, who had previously played the main villain in the Bond film The Living Daylights, is also perfect as the antagonist Salim Abu Aziz — there’s often a tendency to give bad guys some sort of tragic backstory, but True Lies simply presents a villain who is evil for the sake of it.

Even though Cameron has not ended his reign as the “King of Blockbusters,” as the recent success of Avatar: Fire and Ash indicates, True Lies feels like a film that couldn’t be made today. It was based on an obscure French comedy, but was presented to audiences as an original story that wasn’t part of an established franchise. The movie was carried by the weight of its leads in Curtis and Schwarzenegger, and few could sell a film of this size purely on their involvement. There’s also the fact that True Lies felt a bit more innocent in its depiction of terrorism and urban devastation, and has been colored in a completely different context in the aftermath of 9/11. Although there has been no shortage of fans that have begged Cameron to consider making a sequel, True Lies may be a product of the ‘90s that will never be replicated.

Bold and the Beautiful 2-Week Spoilers for May 11-22 2026 see Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) scrambling with a dirty new plan to screw over Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), but her stepsister hits back hard.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers for Monday, May 11th: Liam Afraid Hope Will Back Down

Monday, May 11th, we’ve got Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) worried that Hope is having doubts and second-guessing herself and her future. He doesn’t think she’s appreciated at Forrester Creations, and he really wants her out from under Steffy’s thumb. But if you think about it, Hope has literally never worked anywhere else. Not that I can remember. So, I’m sure there’s some trepidation about going into the unknown.

Plus, this week she tells Liam that she is very proud of Hope for the Future and says that she’s going to fight for it. So, basically, Hope wants everything to go her way and, you know, once again, she’s willing to shake up the power structure at Forrester Creations to get what she wants, which is Hope for the Future back online. And, you know, Steffy’s right. She’s not a team player. But also, Hope is right to some extent because I think Steffy is enjoying taking a personal slap at Hope.

Bold and the Beautiful: Ridge Gets an Offer

Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) gets an offer he can’t refuse from Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang). She’s trying to seduce Ridge into giving her Steffy’s job. Now, Brooke knows Ridge doesn’t have the Forrester shares to force this change. And Brooke told Hope she doesn’t want to mess up Ridge and Steffy’s relationship. Yet, that’s exactly what Brooke is doing. And she won’t stop pushing until Ridge agrees to try. So Brooke is pressing Ridge to give Steffy a new title and then put Brooke in her place. But co-CEO is where the decisions are made. So where exactly is she suggesting they put Steffy? In marketing, finance, something like that. If Brooke gets her way, Steffy could end up ranking lower than COO Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor). And you know, Hope would love that.

Donna Logan (Jennifer Gareis) tries to get Katie Logan (Heather Tom) to put the Logan family above business. Donna really doesn’t want Katie to hire Hope because she knows Brooke will lose it. Little do they know, Hope’s trying to start a Forrester civil war on top of the Logan civil war that is already raging.

Tuesday, May 12th on B&B: Brooke Seduces Ridge & Steffy is Blindsided

Tuesday, May 12th, Brooke shows Hope a different side of herself. Maybe a more ruthless side, fighting for her, you know, what she wants selfishly. I wonder if Brooke’s going to try and play the destiny card and tell Ridge that it’s their fate to run Forrester Creations together like his parents did. Basically, Brooke’s using every manipulative tool in her tool belt, which is under her lingerie. You know, she is trying so hard to bend Ridge to her will. And I’m very bothered that she’s using her sexuality to do it. However, that’s in line with her character. So yeah, not surprised.

Steffy’s caught off guard when Ridge approaches her with this Brooke nonsense. Steffy tells Ridge that Brooke has earned her spot at Forrester in terms of being in management, but Steffy makes it very clear that Brooke will not get her job, and Steffy demands that Ridge tell her he understands that Brooke can’t just make this power grab. This week, after the tense Steffy chat, Ridge reports back to Brooke at the Logan Mansion, and she looks none too pleased at Ridge’s lack of progress with forcing Steffy out so she can take her job on Bold and the Beautiful.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers Wednesday, May 13th: Brooke & Hope Move Forward

Wednesday, May 13th, Hope and Brooke make a new path forward. If she tells Hope that Ridge talked to Steffy, who pushed back hard, I could see Hope telling Brooke they need to push forward, find another way, and that means going to Eric Forrester (John McCook) to convince him to use his shares to side with Ridge so that they can knock Steffy aside. With Eric, they could make it happen. Brooke may even ask Donna to help her sway Eric, although I don’t know if Donna’s going to be on board with that.

After Steffy’s understandable negative reaction to being asked to just hand her job to Brooke, we are going to have Ridge facing some doubts. Steffy might make Ridge doubt Brooke since what she demanded that he do by pushing Steffy out in favor of Brooke is pretty unreasonable. And I’m guessing Steffy knows the root of this problem is Hope and her line. So, Ridge may tell Steffy if she hadn’t laughed in Hope’s face, things might not have gone this far.

Thursday, May 14th on Bold and the Beautiful: Bill & Katie Worry

Thursday, May 14th, we’ve got Katie and Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) actually concerned about Brooke’s power grab. So, I wonder if they worry that she will convince Ridge to set Steffy aside, which means that Hope might stay at Forrester Creations when they want her to join them at Logan. Plus, Miss Dylan (Sydney Bullock) gets a formal new job offer at Forrester Creations. If she accepts, she’ll be working with Daphne Rose (Murielle Hilaire) on the fragrance line as her assistant. And obviously, she’s going to say yes.

This week, Remy Pryce (Christian Weissmann) is back up to Forrester, peeking through an office door, looking stunned as Dylan and Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) are chatting and happily hugging like best friends again. I expect more threats from Remy after he sees this because it’s something he can use to leverage and basically tell Dylan, “Go do this Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) thing or else I’m going to ruin what you have rebuilt with Electra.”

Bold Spoilers for Friday, May 15th: Hope’s Using Brooke

Then on Friday, May 15th, Brooke hopes that Ridge will make the right choice. Brooke has decided she is the right choice and that Steffy is the wrong choice. But to be honest, Brooke pulling this because Hope got her worked up is not only beyond the pale, although I can see how Steffy’s owed a bit of heat for targeting Hope personally. But to me, this is looking like a total redo of the coup plot, but with a twist. It’s Brooke being used by Hope this time instead of her using Carter. And I wonder if Steffy is gonna fire Hope because she realizes she is behind this, which would only amp Brooke up more.

Zende Forrester‘s (Delon de Metz) frustrated with his job at Forrester Creations. Steffy said that Zende is a team player for understanding the focus on Eric’s new couture line, but it seems like Zende was bottling things up because he snaps and furiously tells Carter that he designed an entire collection that’s never going to see the light of day. So, I wonder if the COO reassures Zende and agrees that yes, it’s an issue or he may just throw Steffy under the bus and say it shouldn’t have gone like this.

Week of May 18th-22nd on B&B

All right, the week of May 18th through the 22nd, the very last day of May sweeps, by the way, is Wednesday, May 20th. Zende is close to a breaking point this week. And I wonder if Hope will enlist him and ask Zende to tell Ridge that Brooke should replace Steffy. You know, Hope may be doing some campaigning behind Steffy’s back to try and encourage Ridge to appoint Brooke co-CEO. Dylan is excited about her new job with Daphne on the fragrance line, but Remy could ruin everything, and Dylan may soon have to go reluctantly talk to Deke on Remy’s behalf. But of course, Dylan needs to hide that she’s his cousin, or it’ll all seem very suspect.

Bill and Katie may try to sweeten the deal for Hope to lure her over to Logan. I wonder if Katie will support Brooke or talk smack about her trying to grab Steffy’s job since Brooke has been so mean to Katie lately. Eric may find himself in a very tough position stuck between Brooke and Steffy.

I’m not sure that Ridge would ask his dad to take sides, but I’m betting Brooke and also Hope would ask him to take sides. Look for an update on Daphne and Carter’s baby making plans. Hopefully, we’ll get an update on Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) and Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) soon. Donna is nerve-wracked about what lies ahead and Steffy and Hope’s feud is back and worse than ever.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 20 seconds ago

FX’s The Bear is one of the most frustrating shows on TV right now. After delivering two seasons of top-tier television, the show seemingly went too mainstream, causing a series of behind-the-scenes issues which effectively ruined both season three and four, in my opinion. Thanks to studio interference and writer turnover, the narrative of The Bear has completely stagnated over the past few years, resulting in long, drawn-out montage sequences, season-long arcs that go nowhere, and a show that focuses more on “vibes” than strong characters and interesting material.

On occasion, The Bear will do a standalone episode that isolates these issues and gets us back on track. Season three’s flashback episode “Napkins,” which focuses entirely on Tina, is a great example of this. Likewise, the brand new spin-off episode “Gary,” which has been released on Hulu as a standalone project, manages to cut out all of the most annoying parts of The Bear, including the presence of its protagonist, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), and give us something we can actually enjoy watching.

No Carmy? No Problem!

At its core, The Bear is a show about a struggling restaurant run by a whiny little emotionally stunted crybaby named Carmy. Despite being an exceptionally talented chef, Carmy is tormented by his trauma, which includes his mother’s bipolar disorder, emotional abuse from his former boss, and the loss of his brother, Mikey, who took his own life before the narrative kicked off. I’m not trying to minimize any of these things, because that’s obviously a lot for a person to take on. Still, I just don’t buy Carmy’s emotional process, which offers a lot of cinematic style over substance.

In the first season, Carmy frequently clashes with fan-favorite character Richie, portrayed by Fantastic Four‘s Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Richie was Mikey’s best friend before he died, and he carries a massive chip on his shoulder. In “Gary,” we get to see a bit more of that relationship during the good old days, before everything fell apart. We’ve caught glimpses of this before via brief flashbacks, but we’ve never had this much time to sit with the lifelong friends and watch them develop their bond, which is central to The Bear’s tone.

A True Bromance Breakdown

“Gary” specifically follows Richie and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) as they embark upon a road trip from Chicago to Gary, Indiana. On the way, they jam out to some tunes, share a few laughs, and even find themselves in an emotional tug-of-war that recontextualizes some of Richie’s edgiest moments from the first season of The Bear. By the end of the hour-long special, we see just how codependent their relationship had become, and how their relationship was challenged by Mikey’s worsening drug addiction. For my money, it’s the best thing to come out of the show since season two’s “Fishes.”

One of the reasons that “Gary” works so well is that the special eliminates Carmy as a character. Fans of The Bear have complained for years that Carmy is the least interesting element of the show, especially since his entire arc now revolves around this idiotic idea that no man has the ability to manage a job and a girlfriend at the same time. Truly revolutionary stuff. Instead of focusing on a guy that really just needs to go to therapy, “Gary” highlights a pair of relatable men who are stunted by their own bromance with each other, and unable to let it go due to their own self mythologizing nostalgia.

A Creative Partnership That Makes Sense

Another reason that “Gary” feels like such a breath of fresh air is that the special was actually written by Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal themselves. The pair of actors have incredible chemistry together both as performers and creative minds, which can likely be attributed to their many shared projects.

Before they were best buds on The Bear, Moss-Bachrach and Bernthal played another dynamic duo in Netflix’s The Punisher series. Since then, they have maintained a real-life friendship and performed on stage together multiple times. They’re currently slated to lead a Broadway rendition of Dog Day Afternoon together in June.

“Gary” feels like the first step in getting The Bear back on track. The special has tons of heart, some amazing feel-good moments, and a fair share of gut-punches that perfectly deliver on what made the first two seasons of the series work. Now that we know season five will be the show’s last, we can only hope that Christopher Storer and crew conclude things gracefully, with enough love and care for the characters to reach “Gary’s” high-water mark. “Gary” is streaming on Hulu now.

General Hospital two week spoilers for May 11th through the 22nd are going to see Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) enraged at several people that he loves. Plus, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) is simply astonished at an unexpected twist.

General Hospital Spoilers Monday, May 11th: Valentin Utterly Astonished

On Monday, May 11th, we’ve got Valentin just stunned by what has happened and he demands to know from Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) what the heck was in that syringe. I do wonder if Valentin realizes that Nina meant to stab him because she certainly did.

So, we’ll see how JackBrennan (Chris McKenna) reacts to the drug. This is that special drug that Willow Tait Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) gets from Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) to keep Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) locked in. I don’t think it’s the same drug that Willow initially used to cause his stroke, but either way, it’s bad news.

Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) starts to put two and two together and may realize Willow is drugging Drew. This could happen if Brennan winds up brought into General Hospital‘s emergency room with similar symptoms that Drew had. Plus, Nina warns Willow. I’m sure it’s about Brennan getting dosed and she may tell her about the living room brawl between Valentin and Brennan.

Also, we’ll see if Nina remembers that Drew missed that injection or if Nina is so freaked out over what happened to Brennan, she just kind of flips out and, you know, it fogs over in her brain. At Carly Spencer‘s (Laura Wright) house, she is warning Charlotte Cassadine (Bluesy Burke) she can’t do that no matter what happens. So, it’s something to do with Valentin.

GH Spoilers: Chase Gets Too Chummy with Willow

And Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) bumps into Willow, saying that he’s glad she’s there. He was hoping she would be. They seem to be in swimsuits, maybe at the Quartermaine property. Drew is starting to move his fingers now that he missed a dose. So, this is a huge break for him.

Dante shows up at Lulu Spencer‘s (Alexa Havins Bruening) on Monday right after she’s reeling from her confrontation with not Nathan. And she can tell that Dante’s looking to bicker, but Lulu says she’s not in a good place to have it out with him. And Dante says he does not care and he vents over finding out Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) didn’t shoot Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) did and that she’s known all along.

Lulu definitely has some explaining to do to Dante and Lulu wants to know if Dante has evidence that Rocco shot Cullum and he doesn’t really have hard evidence. Ethan Lovett (Nathan Dean) and Ava Jerome (Maura West) are clashing. Ethan hauled Ava out of the gallery and is holding her in a car while Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) have their discussion. And Ava wants to know what Ethan is going to do with her. Ric is pleading his case. So, at Ava’s gallery, Sonny is holding a gun on Ric and yelling, “He better explain,” and he better do it fast.

Tuesday, May 12th on General Hospital: Curtis on a Mission

On Tuesday, May 12th, Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) is a man on a mission. It’s probably about his suspicions that Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) was driving the other car. This plot is garbage. Moving on. Lulu heads to see Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) and Lulu may vent to Britt about Nathan trying to send her and the kids away.

It could be to ask if Britt told Dante or to warn Britt that Dante knows Rocco did it. This could be a bonding moment or a confrontation. Dante confronts not Nathan. Of course, Dante’s big mad that Lulu and Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) are keeping the Rocco secret. And Dante wouldn’t think that his former best friend would do this. Yeah, he wouldn’t. And that’s not him, right?

Danny Morgan (Asher Antonzyn) and Charlotte have a chat with Rocco and things get heated. And this may be about Jason or they may bring up Britt and upset him. Isaiah is in the hot seat. He may be interrogated about Jordan’s crash. Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) is still hoping to get a warrant. Laura doesn’t like it and wants to shut it down because bottom line, Jordan is 100% at fault. She caused her own wreck.

GH Spoilers for Wednesday, May 13th: Krissy Gets an Invite

On Wednesday, May 13th, Ethan offers Kristina Corinthos Davis (Kate Mansi) an invitation. Maybe it’s out to dinner or drinks. She told Ethan she’s been dating women lately, but Kristina has dated men in the past. And Kristina had a big crush on Ethan years ago. Or it could just be a friendly thing. Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) brings Jacinda Bracken (Paige Herschell) in on his plan. This is to take Willow down by getting her and Chase to cheat. I think Jacinda might be down to help Michael push Willow and Chase together.

Curtis is concerned about Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper). She’s distraught, which still doesn’t justify her and Curtis’s witch hunt when they’re to blame. Willow has a meeting with Sidwell and I wonder if she’s going to tell him Nina accidentally injected Brennan. And of course, Sidwell intends to kill Drew, but Willow doesn’t know it yet. So, this may be when Sidwell tells Willow they’re just going to go ahead and kill her hubby.

Thursday, May 14th on General Hospital: Carly Hounds Nina

Thursday, May 14th, Nina is grilled by Carly and it may be about what went down at the house between Brennan and Valentin. Laura Spencer Collins (Genie Francis) explains some action she took. She’s having to defend it. Could be to Sidwell. Could be to Curtis for trying to end this thing with Isaiah.

This week, Britt and Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) are at her place over Bobbie’s Diner, toasting with shots. I don’t know if they’re getting drunk to celebrate or commiserate because Britt is also pondering her options. And it may be about all of it. The totality – Cullum, her meds, Cesar Faison’s (Anders Hove,) final project, trying to protect Rocco, which of course Lucas doesn’t know about yet.

Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) is on the war path. Could be about Brook Lynn  Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) and the crash or about Chase getting too chatty with Willow while in a bathing suit. Dante has a hard talk with somebody. I’m betting it’s with his son Rocco about shooting Cullum and he may be upset that Rocco didn’t come to him. But of course, Jason and Cassius just kind of took over.

General Hospital Spoilers Friday, May 15th: Cullum Stonewalled

Friday, May 15th, we’ve got Carly stonewalling Cullum. And I wonder if he’s grilling her about Jack. This week, Jordan gets a visit from Molly Lansing-Davis (Kristin Vaganos). Remember, she and Jordan were really close when Molly was in that domestic partnership with TJ.

Valentin does some strategizing on Friday, and it may be about how to handle the Brennan situation or how to locate Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy). Cassius confides in somebody surprising. I wonder if it’s Joss because she’s his captive and has no choice but to listen.

Elizabeth tells Dante something important and this may be about what she figured out earlier in the week. And Ric and Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) are a united front where Molly is concerned.

General Hospital Spoilers for the Week of May 18th-22nd: The Search for Joss Heats Up

The week of May 18th through the 22nd is big because sweeps ends on Wednesday, May 20th. So expect big action at least early in the week. The search for Josslyn intensifies. Carly’s determined to find her daughter. Valentin is determined. We’ll see if Brennan’s up to doing anything. He would be determined if he was awake. So, how long till Cullum finds out Cash has snatched Josslyn up? And I also bet Cullum’s going to be annoyed that Joss got one over on him.

Dante may take action after talking to Elizabeth. Plus, this whole thing puts Dante in a tough spot. He can kill the PCPD investigation into Colum’s shooting because the WSB already took it over, but Dante may stick with it because he wants to protect Rocco from the WSB, so he may keep pushing things in another direction. Cassius tries to make amends with Lulu. It’s not going to be easy.

Plus, now he has to babysit Josslyn. Jordan continues to struggle with her injuries and looking to blame somebody else. Nina tries to do damage control. That Brennan and Valentin thing spiraled out of control so fast.

And Willow fears the worst. Her plans are all falling apart and Drew’s twitching his hand and could tell someone soon what she did. Michael’s devious plan for Willow and Chase is underway. And we could see Brook Lynn do the right thing if she finds out Isaiah has been grilled by the PCPD.

Bhad Bhabie popped out on Mother’s Day with a whole new look and fans are STILL chattin’ about her transformation! While it seems she drew inspiration from Britney Spears, others are seeing Amber Rose and name-dropping her in the comment section. Bhabie’s new hair comes shortly after addressing allegations that she’s morphing into a wannabe Black woman.

RELATED: Clapback Season! Bhad Bhabie Responds After Trolls Accuse Her Of Changing Her Appearance To Look Black 

Bhad Bhabie Shows Off Blonde Buzz Cut 

After posting about her mother, Barbara, on Instagram, Bhad Bhabie gave fans a lil’ Mother’s Day surprise. She circled back with two posts showing off her fresh blonde, buzz cut. In the first post, she included four photos—two selfies of her hair transformation, her daughter Kali Love and a photo of Britney Spears. She captioned the post, “MOM.” The new cut really highlights her multiple neck and chest tattoos in red and black ink. Despite going bleach blonde, the 23-year-old kept brunette eyebrows.

Her second post included two other selfies. It appears the photos were all taken on the same day, given that she’s wearing the same outfit in all her new cut  photos.

Fans & Amber Rose React To Bhabie’s New Look

Colletively, Bhad Bhabie’s new hair posts collected over 5,000 comments and more than 300,000 likes on Instagram.

Under the first post, @julia__julia__julia wrote, “Omg i thought it was amber rose.. but ya’ll both pretty.” 

@oriannabliss commented, “I actually love this sm on her.” 

“Kinda makes sense, she basically is this generation’s Amber Rose, literally followed every step she did,” @youainthardfoo__ added.

“Morphed into amber rose 😂,” @juiceunlocked commented.

“Amber Rose lil sister white chocolate,” @lilsportyd added.

@official_woodboye commented, “Why I thought this was Amber Rose.” 

And while fans were name-dropping Amber Rose, she ultimately slid in the comment section, dropping several heart-eyed emojis.

RELATED: Stay Mad! Sexyy Red Claps Back At Trolls As Fans Rush To Defend Her New Hairstyle (VIDEO)

By Joshua Tyler
| Published 44 seconds ago

The trouble with traveling to other planets has always been the vast distances involved and the limitations of lightspeed travel. As far as we know, nothing in the universe can move faster than the speed of light.

This fundamental fact means that even if you go as fast as the laws of physics will allow, it would still take decades to reach the nearest inhabited planet. Science Fiction has long theorized that the solution to this problem might be warp drive.

The idea behind a warp drive, popularized by Star Trek but rooted in real theoretical physics, is that instead of moving a ship faster than light through space, you move space itself. A ship inside a “warp bubble” would stay relatively still while spacetime in front of it compresses and spacetime behind it expands, effectively carrying the vessel across enormous distances faster than light could normally travel.

Physicists have done real work to explore this possibility, but research from the University of Sydney suggests one huge obstacle: Space isn’t empty.

That big, black void between planets is actually full of radiation and tiny particles, which their research suggests would be “swept up” into the warp bubble and then focused into areas in front of and behind the ship. This wouldn’t actually be a danger for anyone inside the warp bubble, but for anyone hanging out at the ship’s destination, it would spell certain doom. They explain, “Any people at the destination would be gamma rays and high-energy particles blasted into oblivion due to the extreme blueshifts for [forward] region particles.”

This problem might be solved by aiming your craft just a little off to the side of your destination, allowing the release of all that energy into some unpopulated part of space, but even that may not do it. It could be that the particles will blast away from the craft in all directions.

It’s hard to seek out new life and new civilizations if you wipe them all out the moment you arrive. When we finally get Starfleet up and running, we’ll probably need a better alternative to the warp drive.

Quite often, fantasy films are—at least to some degree—family-friendly. It’s not the most common thing in the world for a fantasy film to be rated R by the MPAA, and when they are, these movies don’t always pan out quite like fans of the genre would expect. On a few noteworthy occasions, however, cinema has treated us to some truly exceptional R-rated fantasy films. And on even more precious occasions, these movies go on to have a tremendous impact and influence on the genre as a whole.

Their being rated R often means that these masterpieces of the genre can approach their fantastical elements with more maturity, a darker tone, and less concern for commercial whims. That’s probably why they’ve proven to be so immensely impactful over the course of the history of fantasy cinema. From adaptations of Arthurian legend to fully-original cult classics, these gems are easily among the greatest fantasy films of all time.

7

‘The Fall’ (2006)

Image via Roadside Attractions

Based on the 1981 Bulgarian film Yo Ho Ho, Tarsem Singh‘s The Fall is one of those forgotten fantasy movies that are still perfect today. Due to its incredibly complicated release process, allegedly partly due to Harvey Weinstein having disliked the movie and deciding to sabotage it as a result, the film has never been able to meet the kind of praise that it so definitely deserves. Though it’s definitely a movie that favors style over substance, that’s only a nitpick when the style is this delectably perfect.

Shot over four years across 24 countries with no CGI, The Fall proved that visual ambition in the 21st century still existed in the same kind of old-school fashion that defined ’80s fantasy. It’s too singular and niche of a movie to say that it’s had a widespread impact across the entire fantasy genre, but there’s no denying the inspiration that it has shown in the fields of indie and arthouse fantasy. It’s a cult classic unlike any other that deserves more respect.

6

‘The Green Mile’ (1999)

Stephen King is, of course, a legendary writer best-known for his work in horror, but fantasy is another genre at which he has constantly excelled. That leaves us with Frank Darabont‘s adaptation of King’s novel The Green Mile, the director’s follow-up to The Shawshank Redemption (also based on a King story). It’s one of the heaviest fantasy movies ever made, but it’s also far and away one of the most acclaimed and widely beloved.

Led by Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan at their most emotionally stirring, this tear-jerker is a genre-blending example of low fantasy that mixes its magic with elements from a prison drama. The resulting concoction is one of Hollywood’s greatest ’90s classics. There’s a case to be made that it more stronly changed the way prison dramas were made, rather than fantasy films; but the impact that it’s had on low fantasy is undeniable, and as such, that’s enough to call it one of the most influential outings the genre had at any point during the ’90s.

5

‘Fanny and Alexander’ (1982)

Image via Sandrew Film & Teater

When it comes to hyper-influential fantasy movies, it’s not all Hollywood blockbusters. Case in point: Fanny and Alexander, a coming-of-age epic that legendary Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman (one of the greatest filmmakers in history) intended as his final movie. That didn’t end up being the case, but that doesn’t detract from the utter brilliance of this classic. Over three hours long in its theatrical cut and over five hours long in its television cut, this is an equally flawless masterpiece in both of its versions.

Fanny and Alexander is one of the best international coming-of-age movies in history, and like the rest of Bergman’s most notorious movies, it’s had a tremendous influence on many movie directors since. The film set a new gold standard for how magic realism could be applied in movies; and though its fantastical elements are definitely subtle, they’re brilliantly used nonetheless. There are many great fantasy movies which show magic through the eyes of a child’s innocence, and a remarkable number of the ones released after 1982 owe at least some of their greatness to Fanny and Alexander.

4

‘Legend’ (1985)

Image via Universal Pictures

Back when it came out right in the middle of the ’80s, Ridley Scott‘s fourth-ever feature film, Legend, was trashed by critics and destroyed at the box office. The fact that the English auteur had followed up Blade Runner, one of the most complex sci-fi films in Hollywood history, with a straightforward fairy tale movie puzzled audiences the world over. In the years since, however, it’s become one of the biggest cult classics of Scott’s whole filmography.

There are plenty of elements that make this one of the most perfect fantasy cult classics, from Tim Curry‘s iconic performance as Darkness to the delectably campy tone that permeates the whole thing. The film definitely favors visual spectacle over narrative depth, and that’s precisely the department where Legend changed the game altogether. Production design, visual effects, and makeup work were already crucial elements of the fantasy genre before 1985, but Legend proved how they could all be art forms unto themselves. Echoed by filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro and Tim Burton, the visuals of Scott’s underrated gem have aged like fine wine.

3

‘Excalibur’ (1981)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Directed by John Boorman, Excalibur is Medieval dark fantasy at its most epic and entertaining. The film actually began development as a Lord of the Rings adaptation that ended up going unproduced, and though you can still see remnants of that vision here, Excalibur is an entirely unique kind of adaptation of Arthurian legend. With its star-studded cast and a delightful visual style, it has joined the ranks of Legend as one of the biggest fantasy cult classics of the 1980s.

It’s one of the best R-rated fantasy masterpieces ever made, an operatic and highly detailed epic whose lush, dreamlike beauty more than makes up for the relative lack of substance of the narrative. Unapologetically dark, sexy, bloody, and fever-dream-ish, Excalibur set a new standard for how ambitious and full of theatrical grandeur adaptations of legendary fantasy source material could be. There has never been another Arthurian movie quite like it.

2

‘Conan the Barbarian’ (1982)

Image via Universal Pictures

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The movie that transformed Arnold Schwarzenegger from a world-renowned bodybuilder into an international movie superstar and box office magnet was Conan the Barbarian, John Milius‘ classic sword-and-sorcery masterpiece. Ideas to make a film about Robert E. Howard‘s iconic character from pulp fiction had been floating around in Hollywood since the 1970s, but the adaptation ended up materializing at exactly the right time, because it’s difficult to envision anyone but Schwarzenegger in the titular role.

It’s not just thanks to its star, though, but also thanks to Milius’ direction and the phenomenal work of the rest of the team that this is one of the best dark fantasy masterpieces of all time. There was a widespread perception before 1982 that the sword-and-sorcery subgenre was camp by nature, but Conan proved that it could be serious, brutal, and properly epic. There was a noteworthy boom in the production of fantasy media in the ’80s—including films, of course—, and many would argue that it was Conan the Barbarian that served as a major catalyst for such a revolution.

1

‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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There is probably not a single fantasy filmmaker working today who’s more influential than Guillermo del Toro. The Mexican auteur has had an impact on the genre—dark fantasy in particular—that cannot be overstated, and that has resulted in several of the greatest fantasy films of the ’90s and of the 21st century. The discussion of del Toro’s best films can veer in many different directions, but more often than not, the conversation of what his magnum opus is ends up in a single place: Pan’s Labyrinth.

This Spanish-Mexican co-production is one of the darkest fairy tale movies of all time, and perhaps the most perfect example of what dark fantasy can achieve in the 21st century. Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and sharply criticizing fascism and authoritarian violence, del Toro’s mastepriece re-defined fantasy as a highly mature vehicle for complex themes and nuanced political commentary. Fantasy hasn’t been the same since 2006.