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Entertainment

10 Greatest Crime Shows of the Last 5 Years, Ranked

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Close-up of Mike McLusky looking tense in Season 4 of Mayor of Kingstown

The crime genre has always been far and away one of television’s most prolific, popular, and acclaimed. After all, it’s not just any genre that could be able to produce revolutionary classics of the stature of The Sopranos, The Wire, and Breaking Bad. But even with the genre’s outstanding track record, the last five years in particular have represented a bit of a golden age for crime television, with the release of several gems bound to go down in history as some of the genre’s best.

Whether it’s a miniseries like Mare of Easttown, a new chapter in a big franchise, like Dexter: Resurrection, or a new show that promises to provide some of the best televisual content in the coming years, like MobLand, the crime genre is one that has flourished beautifully in the 2020s. Five years have been enough to prove that there’s no time like the present to be a fan of crime television.

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10

‘Mayor of Kingstown’ (2021–Present)

Close-up of Mike McLusky looking tense in Season 4 of Mayor of Kingstown
Close-up of Mike McLusky looking tense in Season 4.
Image via Paramount+

Ever since the creation of Yellowstone back in 2018, Taylor Sheridan has become one of the most prolific voices in modern television. The writer and producer, who began his career as the screenwriter of films like Sicario and Hell or High Water, has created a whopping nine TV shows since Yellowstone. His third was Mayor of Kingstown, and fans are lucky that it’s still on the air.

It’s one of Sheridan’s highest-rated shows on IMDb, and for good reason. Though critics disliked the first two seasons, viewers have been there all along, singing the praises of this enthralling crime melodrama that’s bolstered by one of Jeremy Renner‘s strongest performances to date. It’s also a show that definitely gets better as it goes on, making it so that there’s even more of a reason to check it out today.

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9

‘MobLand’ (2025–Present)

Tom Hardy with slicked hair against a brick wall in Legend
Tom Hardy with slicked hair against a brick wall in Legend
Image via Paramount+

Anchored by a jaw-dropping cast that features the likes of Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren, MobLand is only one season in, yet it already shows the potential to become one of the most beloved crime shows of modern times. It’s executive-produced by filmmaker Guy Ritchie, and all those who enjoy the director’s unique energy and sophistication are guaranteed to love MobLand.

The series doesn’t really reinvent the mobster genre in any significant way, but it never needs to. It executes all of the genre’s tropes with such panache that it’s difficult to resist, and its sense of suspense makes it one of the most intense crime shows in recent memory. Gritty, violent, darkly humorous, and delectably character-driven, it’s a must-see for anyone who loves Guy Ritchie.

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8

‘Bosch: Legacy’ (2022–2025)

Titus Welliver in Bosch: Legacy
Titus Welliver in Bosch: Legacy
Image via Amazon MGM

Having aired its pilot in 2014, Bosch is one of the best police procedurals that the small screen has seen at any point during the 21st century. After fans thought that the show had come to its natural conclusion following its seventh season, Bosch: Legacy—described by Titus Welliver himself, the show’s star, as a bona fide eighth season of Bosch—came into the picture.

It’s an incredible return to form, one of those Prime Video thrillers that are totally unpredictable. Though rising production costs and platform changes led Prime to cancel the series after its third season, fans’ love for it will never die. Intense, impeccably plotted, and tweaking the original series’ formula in all the right ways, it’s easily one of the greatest American crime shows of the 2020s so far.

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7

‘Mouse’ (2021)

Go Mu-Chi (Lee Hee-joon) and Jeong Ba-reum (Lee Seung-gi) working together in Mouse
Go Mu-Chi (Lee Hee-joon) and Jeong Ba-reum (Lee Seung-gi) working together in Mouse
Image via tvN

It’s not just the United States. Korea, too, has offered some of the best crime series of the last five years, but it’s easy to pick the best of the bunch: It has to be Mouse. One of the best K-dramas with the most plot twists, Mouse follows a detective and a rookie officer who work together to hunt down a serial killer. It’s a familiar enough concept, but the things that this K-drama does with it are constantly surprising.

This cat-and-mouse game should prove to be a gripping watch for all those who enjoy dark murder mysteries, even a tiny little bit. Popular thanks to its intense twists, its morally grey characters, and its mind-bending and psychologically-charged mind puzzles, it’s a grim and intricately plotted televisual crime masterpiece.

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6

‘Dexter: Resurrection’ (2025–Present)

Michael C. Hall as Dexter in Dexter: Resurrection.
Michael C. Hall as Dexter in Dexter: Resurrection.
Image via Paramount+

Dexter started out as one of the most beloved serial killer crime shows ever made, but things led all the way to a finale that’s universally hated by fans. Dexter: New Blood was created as a way to explicitly course-correct the original’s controversial ending, but it ended up having just as widely-disliked a conclusion itself. Dexter: Resurrection is the second course-correction that the franchise has put out, and so far, it seems like things will finally turn out well this time.

It’s one of those thrillers whose every episode is a masterpiece, at least so far. One season in, this rediscovery of everything that made the original magical in the first place is obviously a must-see for fans, but also so great that it should motivate anyone who hasn’t seen Dexter to jump aboard the train ASAP. With Michael C. Hall at his best and a healthy dose of campy absurdism, Resurrection is everything that fans had been waiting for years.













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Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz
Which Action Hero Would Be
Your Perfect Partner?

Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
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Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.

🎖️Rambo

🍸James Bond

🏺Indiana Jones

🔧John McClane

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🎭Ethan Hunt

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01

You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner?
The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.





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02

You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel?
How you get there is half the mission.





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03

You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do?
This is when you find out what someone is really made of.





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04

The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest?
Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.





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05

How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission?
Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.





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06

Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them?
The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.





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07

Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do?
Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.





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08

What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace?
A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.





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09

Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with?
No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.





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10

It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now?
The last question is the most honest one.





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Your Partner Has Been Assigned
Your Perfect Partner Is…

Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.

Rambo

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Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.

James Bond

Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.

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Indiana Jones

Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.

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John McClane

Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.

Ethan Hunt

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Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.

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5

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022–Present)

David and Lucy on the moon in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
David and Lucy on the moon in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Image via Netflix

At launch, CD Projekt Red’s action RPG Cyberpunk 2077 was nothing short of a disaster; but with time, the various improvements and updates delivered by the developer turned the game into something that can only be called a masterpiece. Along with this reappraisal came Netflix’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, a prequel to the video game that didn’t need any live service in order to get great.

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Right off the bat, this miniseries proves to be one of the best cyberpunk anime of all time. With a level of visual flair and of stylish action that you don’t often see in many cartoons these days, Edgerunners is a relentlessly wild ride that never lets up. Perfectly paced and perfectly written, it’s perfect for all those who love not just the game that inspired it, but the cyberpunk genre in general.

4

‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)

Kate Winslet stands outside the police station in Mare of Easttown.
Kate Winslet stands outside the police station in Mare of Easttown.
Image via HBO

HBO has put out some of the greatest miniseries of the 2020s as a whole, and Mare of Easttown is right up there as one of the studio’s best. It’s one of those detective shows that are perfect from start to finish, bolstered by one of the greatest performances of Kate Winslet‘s career. It’s ambitious, mysterious, impeccably written, and absolutely mesmerizing.

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It’s not just a twisty, irresistibly suspenseful murder mystery, but also a gripping character study with a raw emotional heart. The way it explores themes of grief and trauma is anchored in some surprisingly solid world-building, making for a drama that’s impossible to take one’s eyes off of at any point. It’s grounded, perfectly paced, and psychologically complex in ways that all fans of the crime genre should be able to appreciate.

3

‘Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord’ (2026–Present)

Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
Image via Lucasfilm/Disney+

Who would have expected Star Wars, of all franchises, to produce one of the best crime series of the 2020s? That is, indeed, what Maul — Shadow Lord is: a crime show through and through, following the Sith Lord’s attempt to escape an Empire-occupied planet following the Clone Wars. It has only been one season, and yet this is already one of the best Star Wars shows thus far.

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Maul has been one of the franchise’s most fascinating characters since Dave Filoni brought him back in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and all Shadow Lord does is further expand the complexity and emotional resonance of the villain with the help of Sam Witwer‘s visceral performance. Action-packed to the core, this Clone Wars sequel runs at a breakneck pace that all fans of the genre are pretty much guaranteed to enjoy.

2

‘Adolescence’ (2025)

Jamie smirking while sitting at a table in Adolescence
Jamie smirking while sitting at a table in Adolescence
Image via Netflix

Netflix’s Adolescence is far more than just one of the best miniseries of the 2020s so far. It’s a gripping four-episode dissection of incel culture and how modern society is failing its young boys by allowing them to fall victim to it. Boosted by Stephen Graham‘s masterful performance and especially Owen Cooper‘s star-making work, it may be a relatively short drama, but it’s one with a ton of staying power.

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Each episode of Adolescence is done in a single shot, and that’s far more than just a simple gimmick: It’s a stylistic foundation that allows the series to tell its engrossing story visually as often as it does verbally. It’s true televisual perfection, a thematically sharp miniseries where every element works in perfect conjunction with the others to deliver a harrowing story that feels awfully timely.

1

‘The Penguin’ (2024)

Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb in 'The Penguin'
Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb in ‘The Penguin’
Image via HBO

Matt ReevesThe Batman became one of the most beloved depictions of the Caped Crusader in history as soon as it came out in 2022, and fans immediately started to clamor for more content set in this particularly fascinating version of Gotham City. That’s where The Penguin came in, and somehow, it managed to not just live up to expectations, but significantly surpass them.

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It’s one of the most perfect HBO shows of the last 10 years, because instead of sticking by the same kinds of tropes that have made superhero shows and movies feel stale during the 2020s, it’s a gritty crime drama first and foremost. With Colin Farrell and Cristin Milloti‘s powerhouse performances and the writing team’s incredible work, it’s a crime saga with as much pathos and gravitas as it has heart.


the-penguin.jpg
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The Penguin

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Release Date

2024 – 2024-00-00

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Showrunner

Lauren LeFranc

Writers
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Lauren LeFranc


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Entertainment

10 Forgotten HBO Shows That Are Perfect From Start to Finish

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A man and woman talking to someone in a music room in Hung.

There are HBO shows that will go down in history as being among the most memorable for both the premium network and television, period, like The Sopranos, The Wire, and Sex and the City. But then there are shows that sort of came, went, and have fallen off the map. For whatever reason, these series did well when they were on the air, some receiving critical acclaim. But following their end, they have been largely forgotten.

From crime dramas to comedies, miniseries to episodic shows, these HBO classics are ones you’ll want to pull out of the streaming vault today and watch, or re-watch. They boast talented casts, compelling stories, and will keep you entertained from beginning to end.

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‘Hung’ (2009–2011)

A man and woman talking to someone in a music room in Hung.
A man and woman talking to someone in a music room in Hung.
Image via HBO

In a flipping of the script, Hung stars Thomas Jane as Ray Drecker, a high school sports coach who, after a house fire and no insurance to cover the damages, finds himself in a precarious position. He needs money, and he needs it fast, so he turns to the world’s oldest profession and begins working as a prostitute. Since his manhood happens to be above average size, finding clients is easier than he expected. With the help of his friend Tanya (Jane Adams), Ray begins a secret and lucrative business while putting his life back together.

Hung also stars the late Anne Heche as Ray’s ex and, in the show’s third season, adds Stephen Amell is a young, equally endowed competitor. The comedy drama is plenty hilarious, switching a premise we typically see with a female to putting the male in the hot seat, and it’s refreshingly funny. The show isn’t done in poor taste but reflects the desperation of a man and father who will do what it takes, bringing joy to lonely women through his aptly named company, Happiness Consultants.

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‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Justin Theroux stars in The Leftovers, an underrated supernatural post-apocalyptic drama. It’s about a catastrophic event that eliminates two percent of the global population, leaving survivors to deal with the aftermath of the Departure. Kevin Garvey (Theroux) is police chief, and together with his family and others he meets along the way, they try to rebuild civilization. However, society begins to fracture, and various cults emerge, each with its own distinct beliefs, which causes friction.

Most notable is Henry “Holy Wayne” Gilchrest Jr. (Paterson Joseph), who declares himself the second coming of Jesus, duping and controlling vulnerable people who believe him. While The Leftovers started very dark, it shifted focus in its second and third seasons. Interestingly, the series wasn’t hugely popular when it was first airing, but it has since developed a cult following. That said, it’s not one of the best-known HBO series, beloved by the small group of fans who appreciate its storytelling, direction, and depth.

‘Rome’ (2005–2007)

Ray Stevenson as Titus and Kevin McKidd as Lucius walking through a market square in 'Rome'
Ray Stevenson as Titus and Kevin McKidd as Lucius walking through a market square offscreen in ‘Rome’
Image via HBO
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More than 20 years ago, HBO offered up a compelling historical drama and one of the best shows about ancient Rome called Rome that stars Kevin McKidd and the late Ray Stevenson. They are soldiers Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, respectively, involved in events during Ancient Rome’s transition from a Republic to an Empire. Many characters were based on real-life people, though the stories are largely fictional.

As a co-production with the UK and Italy, Rome was a big undertaking that paid off: the show attracted big viewer numbers and plenty of awards and accolades. However, the high production costs meant it did not run for its planned five seasons, ending at two. Today, given the scope of shows like Game of Thrones, Rome may very well have been before its time. It is likely to have lasted much longer had it launched today.

‘Landscapers’ (2021)

Olivia Colman as Susan and David Thewlis as Christopher watching a small fire in an alley in Landscapers.
Olivia Colman as Susan and David Thewlis as Christopher watching a small fire in an alley in Landscapers.
Image via HBO
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Lasting just four episodes, Landscapers is a binge-worth British American true crime black comedy drama that is worth checking out today. Inspired by real events, Olivia Colman and David Thewlis play Susan and Christopher Edwards, a mild-mannered couple who shockingly murder Susan’s parents and bury them in the garden. For more than a decade, no one knew of the crime while this couple continued their lives as if nothing had happened.

Based on the 1998 murders of William and Patricia Wycherley, Landscapers is a bingeworthy miniseries that no one remembers today, a fascinating tale that you won’t believe is based on real events. Despite Colman’s A-list Hollywood status, however, this is one of her lesser-known projects, overshadowed by all the work she has done before and since. But the show maintains an almost perfect 98% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score.



















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Collider Exclusive · Horror Survival Quiz
Which Horror Villain Do You Have the Best Chance of Surviving?
Jason Voorhees · Michael Myers · Freddy Krueger · Pennywise · Chucky

Five killers. Five completely different ways to die — if you’re not smart enough, fast enough, or self-aware enough to avoid it. Only one of them is the villain your particular set of instincts gives you a fighting chance against. Eight questions will figure out which one.

🏕️Jason

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🔪Michael

💤Freddy

🎈Pennywise

🪆Chucky

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01

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Something feels wrong. You can’t explain it — you just know. What do you do?
First instincts are the difference between the survivor and the first act casualty.





02

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Where are you most likely to find yourself when things go wrong?
Setting is everything in horror. Where you are determines which rules apply.





03

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What is your most reliable survival asset?
Every survivor has a quality the villain didn’t account for. What’s yours?





04

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What kind of fear is hardest for you to fight through?
Knowing your weakness is the first step to not dying because of it.





05

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You’re with a group when things start going wrong. What’s your role?
Horror movies are brutally clear about who survives group situations and who doesn’t.





06

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What’s the horror movie mistake you’re most likely to make?
Honest self-assessment is a survival skill. Denial is not.





07

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What’s your best weapon against something that can’t be stopped by conventional means?
Every horror villain has a weakness. The survivors are always the ones who find it.





08

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It’s the final scene. You’re the last one standing. How did you make it?
The final survivor always has a reason. What’s yours?





Your Survival Odds Have Been Calculated
Your Best Chance Is Against…
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Your instincts, your strengths, and your particular way of thinking under pressure point to one villain you actually have a fighting chance against. Everyone else — good luck.


Camp Crystal Lake · Friday the 13th

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Jason Voorhees

Jason is relentless, but he is also predictable — and that is the gap you would exploit.

  • He moves in straight lines toward his target. He doesn’t strategise, doesn’t adapt, doesn’t outsmart. He simply pursues.
  • Your ability to keep moving, use the environment, and resist the panic that freezes most victims gives you a genuine edge.
  • The Crystal Lake survivors were always the ones who stopped running in circles and started thinking about terrain, water, and distance.
  • You think like that. Which means Jason, for all his indestructibility, would face someone who simply refused to be where he expected.


Haddonfield, Illinois · Halloween

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Michael Myers

Michael watches before he moves. He is patient, methodical, and almost impossible to detect — until it’s too late for anyone who isn’t paying close enough attention.

  • But you are paying attention. You notice the shape in the window, the car parked slightly wrong, the silence where there should be sound.
  • Michael’s power lies in the invisibility of ordinary suburbia — the fact that nothing ever looks wrong until it already is.
  • Your spatial awareness and instinct to map every room, every exit, and every shadow before you need them is precisely the quality Laurie Strode had.
  • You are not a victim waiting to happen. You are someone who already suspects something is wrong — and acts on it.


Elm Street · A Nightmare on Elm Street

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Freddy Krueger

Freddy wins by getting inside your head — using your own fears, your own memories, your own subconscious as weapons against you. That strategy requires a target who can be destabilised.

  • You are harder to destabilise than most. You’ve faced uncomfortable truths about yourself and you haven’t looked away.
  • The survivors on Elm Street were always the ones who understood what was happening and chose to face it rather than flee from it.
  • Freddy’s greatest weakness is that his power evaporates in the presence of someone who refuses to give him the fear he feeds on.
  • Your psychological resilience — the ability to stay grounded when reality itself becomes unreliable — is exactly the quality that keeps you alive here.


Derry, Maine · It

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Pennywise

Pennywise is ancient, shapeshifting, and feeds on terror — but it has one critical vulnerability: it cannot function against someone who genuinely stops being afraid of it.

  • The Losers Club didn’t survive because they were braver than everyone else. They survived because they faced their fears together, and faced them honestly.
  • You ask the questions others avoid. You look directly at what frightens you rather than turning away.
  • That directness — the refusal to let fear fester in the dark — is Pennywise’s worst nightmare.
  • It chose the wrong target when it chose you. You are exactly the kind of person whose fear tastes like nothing at all.


Chicago · Child’s Play

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Chucky

Chucky’s greatest advantage is that nobody takes him seriously until it’s already too late. He exploits the gap between how something looks and what it actually is.

  • You don’t have that gap. You take threats seriously regardless of how they present — and you never make the mistake of underestimating something because of its size or appearance.
  • Chucky relies on surprise, on the delay between recognition and response. You close that delay faster than almost anyone.
  • Your instinct to treat every unfamiliar thing with appropriate scepticism — rather than dismissing it because it seems absurd — is the exact quality that keeps you breathing.
  • Against Chucky, not laughing is already winning. You are very good at not laughing.

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‘Bored to Death’ (2009–2011)

Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, and Zach Galifianakis in Bored to Death
Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, and Zach Galifianakis in Bored to Death
Image via HBO

Fans were anything but bored watching Bored to Death, even campaigning for the show to return when it was cancelled after three seasons. This led to rumors of a potential follow-up film that never came to fruition. The comedy stars Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ames, a New York City-based writer who is struggling to pen his next novel, and moonlights as a private investigator. But he’s not exactly good at the job. While Ames is a fictional character, he is based on the real author of the same name, who also created the show.

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The series has a star-studded cast that also includes Zach Galifianakis as Jonathan’s best friend and Ted Danson as his editor and father figure. Airing for three seasons, Bored to Death was praised for its writing and acting, a memorable show airing after Curb Your Enthusiasm in the premium network’s primetime lineup.

‘Enlightened’ (2011–2013)

Laura Dern and Mike White as Amy and Tyler sitting at a table at a restaurant in 'Enlightened'
Laura Dern and Mike White as Amy and Tyler sitting at a table at a restaurant in ‘Enlightened’
Image via HBO

Airing for just two seasons, the Mike White series Enlightened stars Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe, a 40-year-old woman who returns home after spending time in a treatment facility following a mental breakdown. She was demoted at work but fails to take accountability for the fact that her downfall is the result of her own self-destructive behavior, including heavy drinking and having an affair with her married boss.

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After some quiet time to reflect, Amy realizes she needs to follow a different path, and she works towards inner healing, self-help, and meditation. But others around her aren’t so convinced she can stick with this calmer routine. Enlightened follows Amy’s journey to enlightenment with healthy doses of both comedy and drama. It’s a show that tackled the topic of mental health long before this was common on television.

‘Generation Kill’ (2008)

Two American soldiers and a journalist with a camera stand in a street in Baghdad in Generation Kill, 2008.
Two American soldiers and a journalist with a camera stand in a street in Baghdad in Generation Kill, 2008.
Image via HBO

A seven-part miniseries, Generation Kill, like other HBO shows, has a pretty jam-packed cast including Alexander Skarsgård, Lee Tergesen, Jon Huertas, and Marc Menchaca. Set during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and based on the Evan Wright book of the same name, the series follows the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion of the US Marine Corps and reporter Wright, played by Tergesen, who is covering the events.

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Aiming to offer a realistic account, Generation Kill is in the same vein as other shows like The Pacific and Band of Brothers, yet it doesn’t receive as much fanfare as those shows. The series earned positive reviews for its authenticity and attention to detail, and an intense and gripping look at the beginnings of war.

‘Tanner ’88’ (1988)

A man talks at a podium with many microphones as people hold signs behind in Tanner '88.
A man talks at a podium with many microphones as people hold signs behind in Tanner ’88.
Image via HBO

Decades before Veep, which coincidentally is also an HBO show, and even long before mockumentary style shows were a trend, there was Tanner ’88. The most essential HBO miniseries, written by Gary Trudeau, strategically aired right before the 1988 U.S. presidential election, which saw George H. W. Bush eventually defeat Michael Dukakis for the presidency. In this series, however, it’s about Jack Taner (Michael Murphy), a fictional former Michigan U.S. representative who is hoping to secure the Democratic Party nomination.

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The series features appearances and cameos from real-life political figures, including Bob Dole, Kitty Dukakis, and Jesse Jackson, and centers around Tanner’s moves to find his voice. This ironically includes strategies and tricks to promote his authenticity and integrity. Initially, Tanner ’88 was not well reviewed. Viewers and critics were arguably unsure of what to do with such an original concept show. But in the decades since, the satire and wit of the series has been recognized as being ahead of the TV curve. Considering how both mockumentary sitcoms and reality TV have blown up in the 21st century, Tanner ’88 was onto something. But it’s largely forgotten as one of the shows that helped pave the way.

‘We Own This City’ (2022)

Jon Bernthal in We Own This City
Jon Bernthal in We Own This City
Image via HBO

Jon Bernthal is on a hot streak of late, with roles in everything from Punisher to The Odyssey and The Bear, as well as performing in Dog Day Afternoon on Broadway. All this work has overshadowed a smaller but powerful crime drama he was in just a few years ago. We Own This City is based on the nonfiction book Baltimore Sun by Justin Fenton and tells the story of Sergeant Wayne Jenkins (Bernthal), a corrupt officer who went on to be convicted of corruption alongside other members of his gun trace task force team.

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The six-episode miniseries tells the story in a non-linear fashion with flashbacks to help set up not only Jenkins as a cop who engaged in bad behavior, but also as a flawed human who loved his family. The series has drawn comparisons to The Wire, a darker look at law enforcement from a different lens, sharp and pointed commentary on systemic corruption. Bernthal is widely praised for his performance, and given his other projects since, it’s prime time to check out this show you might have missed.

‘The Corner’ (2000)

David Simon's miniseries 'The Corner'
David Simon’s miniseries ‘The Corner’
Image via HBO

Another show that has drawn comparisons to The Wire, The Corner is dark and gritty, a story of the drug-infested streets of Baltimore. Based on the non-fiction book The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood by David Simon and Ed Burns, both of whom worked on The Wire as well, Burns also on Generation Kill and We Own This City, the show quietly made waves as a precursor to The Wire, which came two years later.

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The focus is on one family who lives in the center of a poverty-stricken area and their hardships with drugs, money, and familial strife. The series is a perfect tie-in to The Wire, that very corner depicted on the show. There are also many character crossovers with Homicide: Life on the Street, one of the most groundbreaking crime shows. The Corner is one of the best but also the most forgotten drama from a team that seems to have perfected the genre.

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“The Big Bang Theory ”cast: See Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, and their brainy costars, then and now

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The stars have continued to make waves in film, television, and theater — among other career milestones.

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12 Dead After Plane On Skydiving Outing Crashes In Missouri

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Plane Skydiving Outing Adventure Crashes Missouri 12 People Pass Away 2

Brazil saw two fatal airborne incidents unfold on Saturday and Sunday this past weekend. And while the internet is still in disbelief, particularly over the bungee jumping failure, another tragic accident is being mentioned in viral reactions. A plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers on a skydiving outing in Missouri crashed in a field on Sunday (June 14) before bursting into flames. Authorities say everyone on board died.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Viral Video Shows 21-Year-Old Woman In Brazil Being Tossed Off Bridge Before Her Bungee Safety Cord Is Attached

What Happened To Skydiving Plane In Missouri? 

The crash happened shortly after the skydiving plane took off from a local airport around 11:30 a.m. Skydive Kansas City was operating the private plane, Dennis Jacobs said. He is the acting airport manager and the director of the Bates County Emergency Management Agency. The plane appears to be a single-engine turboprop plane.

“It had just taken off and made a left turn” before the crash, Jacobs said. “In my opinion, I think it was losing power, and he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire.”

Sky diving companies operate in the region eight or nine months of the year. The season usually starts in late March or early April and lasts into October or November. Someone answering the phone at Skydive Kansas City declined to speak to a reporter from The Associated Press.

The crashed occurred on a sunny day in the area. Data from the digital flight tracking company FlightAware shows the plane had already completed two short flights on Sunday before the crash. Two more successful flights were logged Saturday, and five on Friday, according to FlightAware.

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It’s not yet known what factors may have contributed to the crash, Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing said. Additionally, those details will be part of the investigation carried out by NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) officials.

Missouri Officials Believe Crash Could’ve Been An “Accident”

The Pacific Aerospace 750XL that crashed is a model that’s popular for skydiving. It also has proven useful for carrying cargo, aerial surveying and medical evacuation flights. The aircraft can carry more than 4,000 pounds and is capable of taking off and landing on short runways, according to the manufacturer. According to FAA records, the plane was built in 2010.

Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson emphasized that the public is safe and this “appears to be an accident.” However, the exact cause of Sunday’s crash won’t be clear for a year or more until the NTSB publishes its final report.

Plane Skydiving Outing Adventure Crashes Missouri 12 People Pass Away 2Plane Skydiving Outing Adventure Crashes Missouri 12 People Pass Away 2
Emergency personnel investigate the site of a plane crash at the Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Mo., Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said poor maintenance has been a factor in a number of previous skydiving plane crashes. That’s because these companies are not held to a high standard under FAA rules. Guzzetti said skydiving companies are governed by the same rules as any private plane owner. It’s not governed by the more stringent rules that charter flight operators and airlines adhere to.

“There’s been a whole history of skydiving accidents for inadequate maintenance and deficient safety culture,” said Guzzetti who used to be a crash investigator for both the NTSB and FAA.

The NTSB has previously raised concerns about the weak oversight for skydiving operators in past crash investigations. The agency said after a 2019 crash that killed 11 people in Hawaii that the FAA’s regulatory system isn’t strong enough to ensure the safety of skydiving flights. The small airport serves around 30 aircraft, all privately owned, including crop-dusting companies and skydiving operators, Dennis Jacobs said.

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Family & Loved Ones Reportedly Witnessed Crash

Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson said that some of the occupants’ family members witnessed the crash. Clergy and volunteers went to the site to assist relatives, Anderson said. Also, on Sunday afternoon, officials were working to identify all victims and notify their next of kin.

A heap of blue and silver mangled metal lay in the grass near Butler Memorial Airport. Meanwhile, a massive lineup of emergency vehicles gathered on a nearby street. Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration were also on scene Sunday afternoon, Anderson said.

Plane Skydiving Outing Adventure Crashes Missouri 12 People Pass Away 2Plane Skydiving Outing Adventure Crashes Missouri 12 People Pass Away 2
The wreckage of a plane crash burns in a field in Butler, Mo, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (Mid America News Review via AP Photo )

Emergency responders put out the fire in the wreckage soon after the crash, Jacobs said, calling the scene “brutal.” First responders also checked the area under the flight path and did not find anyone who might have tried to jump out before the plane came down, he said.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Singer Oliver Tree & Five Others Reportedly Killed After Two Helicopters Collide In Brazil (PHOTOS)

Associated Press writers Kristin M. Hall, Rebecca Boone, Josh Funk and Hannah Fingerhut contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

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House of the Dragon’s Biggest Change Yet Marks the End of an Era

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HBO’s House of the Dragon has slowly but surely been settling into its stride, even though many may agree that it is time for a change. The adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s Targaryen history, Fire & Blood, took its time setting up the generational trauma that was necessary to tell this story.

Even so, Season 3 is fast approaching, and the Dance of the Dragons has not reached its pace. Though the Targaryen civil war has had battles, the war itself has been a long time coming. Performances from Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith have kept viewers locked in, but House of the Dragon is about to see the end of an era as it finally discards the long-standing tradition that has defined the show for two seasons.

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‘House of the Dragon’ Season 1 and 2 Was a Slow-Burn Set-Up

House of the Dragon’s predecessor, Game of Thrones, made its mark with an expansive ensemble cast and a high-stakes world that got to blood and guts pretty early on. House of the Dragon was meant to be the antithesis after the long-running fantasy series came to a close. There needed to be a change to separate the two George R.R. Martin creations, and House of the Dragon did this by introducing a slow-burn drama that would go on to inform the highly anticipated Dance of the Dragons.





















































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Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz
Which Lord of the Rings
Character Are You?

One Quiz · Ten Questions · Your Fate Revealed

The road goes ever on. From the green hills of the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom, every soul in Middle-earth carries a destiny. Ten questions stand between you and the truth of who you are. Answer honestly — the One Ring has a way of revealing what we most want to hide.

💍Frodo

🌿Samwise

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👑Aragorn

🔥Gandalf

🏹Legolas

⚒️Gimli

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👁️Sauron

🪨Gollum

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01

You are handed a responsibility that could destroy you. What do you do?
The weight of the world falls on unlikely shoulders.




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02

Your closest companion is heading into terrible danger. You:
True loyalty is revealed not in comfort, but in crisis.




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03

Enormous power is within your reach. Your instinct is:
Power corrupts — but only those who reach for it.




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04

What does “home” mean to you?
Where we long to return reveals who we truly are.




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05

When a battle is upon you, your approach is:
War reveals what we are made of — whether we like it or not.




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06

Someone comes to you for advice in their darkest hour. You:
Wisdom is not knowing all the answers — it’s knowing which questions to ask.




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07

How do you see yourself, honestly?
Self-knowledge is the most dangerous kind.




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08

Which of these best describes your relationship with the natural world?
Middle-earth speaks to those who know how to listen.




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09

You encounter a wretched, pitiable creature who has done terrible things. You:
How we treat the fallen reveals the height of our character.




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10

When the quest is over and the songs are sung, what do you hope they say about you?
In the end, we are all just stories.




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The Fellowship Has Spoken
Your Place in Middle-earth

The scores below reveal your true character. Your highest number is your match. Even a tie tells a story — the Fellowship was never made of simple people.

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💍
Frodo

🌿
Samwise

👑
Aragorn

🔥
Gandalf

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🏹
Legolas

⚒️
Gimli

👁️
Sauron

🪨
Gollum

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You carry something heavy — and you carry it alone, even when you don’t have to. You were not born for greatness, and that is precisely why greatness chose you. Your courage is not the roaring, sword-swinging kind; it is quiet, stubborn, and terrifying in its refusal to quit. The Ring weighs on you more than anyone can see, and still you walk toward the fire. That is not weakness. That is the rarest kind of strength there is.

You are, without question, the best of them. Not the most powerful, not the most celebrated — but the most essential. Your loyalty is not a trait; it is a force of nature. You would carry the person you love up the slopes of Mount Doom if it came to that, and we both know you’d do it without being asked. The world needs more people like you, and the world is lucky it has even one.

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You were born to lead, and you have spent years running from it. The crown is yours by right, but you know better than anyone that right means nothing without the will and the worthiness to back it up. You are tempered by loss, shaped by long roads, and defined by a code of honour you hold to even when no one is watching. When you finally step forward, the world shifts. Because it was always waiting for you.

You have seen more than you let on, and you say less than you know — which is exactly as it should be. You are a catalyst: you do not fight the battles yourself, you ignite the people who can. Your wisdom comes not from books but from an age of watching what happens when it is ignored. You arrive precisely when you mean to, and your presence alone changes what is possible. A wizard is never late.

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Graceful, perceptive, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure — you see things others miss and act before others react. You do not need to make a scene to be remarkable; your presence speaks for itself. You are loyal to those you choose to stand beside, and that choice is not made lightly. You have lived long enough to know that the most beautiful things in this world are also the most fragile, and that is why you fight to protect them.

You are loud, proud, and absolutely formidable — and beneath all of that is one of the most fiercely loyal hearts in Middle-earth. You don’t do anything by half measures. Your friendships are forged like iron, your grudges run as deep as mines, and your courage in battle is the kind that makes legends. You came into this fellowship suspicious of everyone and ended it willing to die for an elf. That is not a small thing. That is everything.

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You think in centuries and act in absolutes. Order, dominion, control — not because you are cruel by nature, but because you have decided that the world left to itself always falls apart, and you are the only one with the vision and the will to hold it together. You were not always this. Something was lost, or taken, or betrayed, and the version of you that stands now is the answer to that wound. The tragedy is that you’re not entirely wrong — just entirely too far gone to course-correct.

You are a study in contradiction — pitiable and dangerous, cunning and broken, capable of both cruelty and something that once resembled love. You are defined by loss: of innocence, of self, of the one thing that gave your existence meaning. Two voices war inside you constantly, and the tragedy is that the better one sometimes wins, just not often enough, and never at the right moment. You are a warning, yes — but also a mirror. We are all a little Gollum, given the right ring and enough time.

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Constant warfare takes a backseat to the political intrigue and building of drama that fans of A Song of Ice and Fire understand will come to a boiling point. House of the Dragon cleverly starts when the infamous Half-Year Queen is a teenager. Portrayed by Milly Alcock, Rhaenyra Targaryen lives a comfortable life until her mother dies, and her father marries her best friend, Alicent. Because Rhaenyra is the only heir to King Viserys (Paddy Considine) and female, this is almost designed to lead to a civil war.

Indeed, Alicent has male heirs, but the genius of House of the Dragon is that it wasn’t a death sentence on its own. What would eventually cause the Targaryens to wage war against each other were years of hostility and parents passing on their hatred and prejudices to their children. Parental abuse causes the civil war, not dragons, which is a fascinating way for the spin-off to differentiate itself from Game of Thrones. HBO wins this one as the tension was effectively built. However, Season 3 is ready to dive headfirst into the war that fans have all been waiting for once and for all.

‘House of the Dragon’ Is Ready for the Battle of the Gullet to Explode

The deaths of the Queen Who Never Was, Rhaenys, and Meleys were heartbreakers for Team Black, but these were small battles in House of the Dragon Season 2. Even the brutal strike against Aegon’s (Tom Glynn-Carney) manhood was a small price to pay in the greater scheme of things. Fans want to see Criston Cole (Fabien Frankle) get his just deserts and for Daemon to saddle up. Especially after the baffling decision to keep the Rogue Prince in a fever dream for the large extent of Season 2, it’s time to take up arms.

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House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal promises that it’s about to happen. The Game of Thrones spin-off is apparently leaving this slow-burn storytelling behind and starting a new era of guts and glory. The bloody battle from Fire & Blood, known as the Battle of the Gullet, is reported to take place in Episode 1 of the third season. In the book, this is a huge strike against the Blacks, but it results in heavy casualties on both sides. This is the moment that everyone has been waiting for and will herald in a new age of the long-awaited Targaryen civil war.

This conflict is known as the bloodiest war in Westeros history and is blamed for the eventual extinction of the dragons. It is so monumental that it is referred to many times in Game of Thrones, though with differing perspectives. With only one more season confirmed to close out Rhaenyra’s story, the time to strike is now. House of the Dragon has had fans waiting for some time to see this war come to fruition, and it looks like fire and blood are finally here.


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Release Date

August 21, 2022

Network

HBO

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Showrunner

George R.R. Martin

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Directors

Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

Writers
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Gabe Fonseca

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    Fabien Frankel

    Ser Criston Cole

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Pat Sajak gives update 2 years after retiring from “Wheel of Fortune”

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The television presenter spun the wheel on the main series for the very last time in June 2024.

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Dips It Low For A$AP Rocky At Magic City (WATCH)

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Spicy Date Night! Footage of Rihanna Dippin' It Low For A$AP Rocky During Night At Magic City Is Turnin' Heads (WATCH)

Footage of Rihanna dippin’ it low for A$AP Rocky during their night at Magic City strip club is turnin’ heads online.

RELATED: Aww! Rocki Irish Steals The Show As Rihanna Shows Off Her Baby Girl In New Video That Has Fans Obsessed (WATCH)

Footage of Rihanna Dippin’ It Low For A$AP Rocky During Night At Magic City

On the evening of Sunday,June 14, The Shade Room obtained footage of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky during their apparent date night at Magic City strip club in Atlanta, Georgia. In the clip, Rihanna was seen hitting the pole and dropping it low.

The Footage Is Turnin’ Heads

Social media users slid in TSR’s comment section, droppin’ reactions to Rihanna dippin’ it low for A$AP Rocky.

Instagram user @jayeleigh_ wrote, Strip club dates do be fun as hell, they ain’t wrong 😂😂😂”

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While Instagram user @hennessy_._ added, I know a baby free night when I see one 😍👏 @badgalriri”

Instagram user @regin3 wrote,Should’ve played pour it up”

While Instagram user @_suckafreesi added, This is considered a concert and I woulda bought tickets to this 🙁”

Instagram user @bryttain_ wrote,Ri about to end up prego again, no more music from her but it’s ok. Fenty made her a billionaire, I wouldn’t make another song either 😂”

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While Instagram user @simonechanell_ added, Ri is exactly who she think she is and how I be out with my man when I have one 😂😂”

Instagram user @i_lovesmiling wrote, Still can’t distract us from the fact her bd was wearing a thong😂😂but go RiRi🔥👏🏽💯”

While Instagram user @shidrika added,Idc what yall saying i’m trynna go w my man 😂😂😂”

Instagram user @temporary.alcoholic wrote,If I go get wings and see riri I’d be so happy lol”

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While Instagram user @thecoreyshow added, She said she’d work the pole before working the mic. Yall never getting that album.”

Before Footage of Rihanna Dippin’ It Low For A$AP Rocky At Magic City, She Already Had The Internet Talkin’

As The Shade Room previously reported, Rihanna already had the internet talkin’ before dippin’ it low for A$AP Rocky. Last week, footage surfaced of her doing ‘fit check while on the street. In the clip, she shouted Rocky out a few times, calling him her “baby daddy” and dropping some spicy words.

Click here to see the NSFW video.

RELATED: That’s How You Feel? Rihanna Drops Spicy Comments About A$AP Rocky In New Clip (VIDEO)

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Anthony Stewart Head’s Graphic, R-Rated Dystopia Predicted Humanity’s Worst Obsession

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Anthony Stewart Head's Graphic, R-Rated Dystopia Predicted Humanity's Worst Obsession

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published

Repo: The Genetic Opera started its life in 2002 as a stage play that was then turned into a 2008 musical film by writer and star Terrance Zdunich. It was never a mainstream hit due to a very limited theatrical release, even earning supporting actress Paris Hilton a pair of Razzies for her performance, but Repo became a cult classic for its ensemble cast, catchy music, and compelling story. It was also very prescient, both for its cyberpunk worldbuilding and for its predictions about humanity and the pursuit of perfection.

Great, Another Subscription …

The movie takes place after an epidemic has struck the world, skyrocketing the megacorporation GeneCo to public prominence as they lease out organs similar to the way dealers lease cars. Should someone not be able to pay for their organ, the Repo Man is sent to collect the body part, regardless of the consequences. With all the medical operations going on, cosmetic surgery has also become insanely popular, but the pain of repeated surgery has created an addiction to the painkiller Zydrate.

Repo: The Genetic Opera 2008

But GeneCo’s CEO, Rotti (Paul Sorvino), is terminally ill in a way that no money can fix. His three children, Luigi, Pavi, and Amber Sweet, bicker King Lear-style over the inheritance of the company, but Rotti doesn’t want to leave it to any of them. Instead, he wants to leave the company to Shiloh (Alexa Vega of Spy Kids fame), the daughter of Nathan and Rotti’s ex-fiancée Marni. Shiloh has a rare blood disease that she inherited from Marni.

Marni died years ago from Rotti’s murderous and jealous meddling and has been blackmailing Nathan (Anthony Stewart Head) ever since by framing him for the death. Nathan is his head Repo Man, a fact that Shiloh is unaware of. Rotti’s blackmail doesn’t end there, either. Blind Mag (Sarah Brightman) is a famous singer and the spokesperson for GeneCo, held hostage by eyes provided to her by Rotti. She was Marni’s best friend and wants to retire, but leaving GeneCo means a visit from the Repo Man, and Nathan doesn’t want to do the job.

Repo: The Genetic Opera 2008

Shiloh sneaks out of her sickbed and becomes more aware of the real world around her, and she is guided by GraveRobber (Terrance Zdunich), a wily Zydrate dealer who knows all the ins and outs of the city. As the swirling whirlpool of life under GeneCo begins to suck everyone in, secrets kept for generations find their way to the surface. Blind Mag’s final show brings everyone together as the future of the company hangs in the balance, affecting not just Shiloh and Rotti’s feuding heirs, but the fate of everyone’s organs and lives.

Unfairly Underrated Modern Classic

As a film, Repo: The Genetic Opera is a work of art that deserved better than an arthouse release in only seven theaters. Zdunich presented audiences with a rich world of visual despair and economic scarcity. It has the vast scale of an opera, its setting oscillating between wealthy urban dwellings and the dark spaces of a city built on the bones of the dead. The story is intimate in scope, following the struggle between two men grieving over a long-deceased woman, while also being grand in scope, by making those men a king and his chief enforcer. Their personal clash affects more than just their own lives, with fallout affecting all of humanity.

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Repo: The Genetic Opera 2008

Zdunich’s cyberpunk vision hits us at our deepest core by making our very organs a commodity and our bodies a palette that can be altered at will. The poor struggle to stay healthy while the wealthy try to ward off aging and make themselves as beautiful as they can. Everyone is addicted to painkillers to ward off not only the physical pain but the agony of the world around them. If this all sounds familiar, that’s not an accident.

Yet somehow, this operatic tragedy manages to be uplifting through its rock music soundtrack. Each song illustrates the character singing it, from the nearly sinister GraveRobber to the conflicted Nathan and the angry Shiloh. Rotti is grave and majestic in his secretive and nefarious plans, and Brightman’s performance as Blind Mag intertwines love, determination, and awareness of her own mortality in a moving mosaic.

Paris Hilton Knew The Assignment

Repo: The Genetic Opera 2008

As a viewer and a fan of this film, I was surprised to find out for this article that Hilton’s performance as the cosmetic surgery-obsessed Amber Sweet was so disliked as to earn her Razzies. The celebrity is indeed largely playing herself: the spoiled daughter of a rich father, using her inherited wealth in an attempt to promote her own fame. However, Hilton turns up the heat in her onscreen appearances, portraying a woman who is as desperate for perfection as she is flailing to be a sultry seductress and pop singer.

Even at her worst, the real-life Hilton has never been as cunning or as selfish as her portrayal of Amber Sweet. Her performance and singing are actually really good, especially in the self-deprecating Shakespearean climax, and her scenes are some of the most memorable in a movie stuffed with incredible visuals and songs. It seems to me that she was awarded the Razzie more because of who she was than how she performed.

Repo: The Genetic Opera 2008

Of course, it is the interplay between Head and Vega that takes center stage. Vega was a perfect choice at that point in her career, transitioning as she was from Spy Kid to grown woman. She portrays Shiloh’s growth from a coddled young girl to an independent woman with all the growing pains that such a transition causes. Not a little girl anymore, she rages through punk and metal styles before evolving into an adult, just like a typical teenager, but also mature enough to carry the ending of her story. She clashes with Head, seeing only a father who doesn’t understand her and not the secrets beneath.

Nathan, meanwhile, is a heart-wrenching bundle of regret for his lost love, hatred for his job, and desire to protect Shiloh at all costs. Head’s performance as the titular tragic figure in the story is a stark reminder that the recently deceased actor was more than just Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Nathan is very well aware that he is one of the villains of the story, and Head performs this inner conflict as deeply through his singing as his acting. His tribute to Marni is emotionally one of the strongest songs in a film that tugs at the heart at every moment.

REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA SCORE

Repo: The Genetic Opera is a cult classic whose soundtrack finds its way around, drawing more people to the movie. It is an underrated film that deserves a wider audience, especially in honor of Anthony Stewart Head. Fortunately, it is available for free on Tubi as of this writing, and once the songs get stuck in your head, you can listen to the soundtrack on Spotify.

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George R.R. Martin’s Least Favorite Game of Thrones Series Is Officially One of the Best

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Matthew Needham with his hands folded in 'House of the Dragon'

Despite suffering the metaphorical dragonfire of George R. R. Martin‘s ferocious pen, it looks like the series about which he has been most heavily critical since his work began being adapted is proving him wrong, following the release of reviews for House of the Dragon Season 3.

The latest season has debuted with a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 31 reviews, which makes it one of the best-reviewed seasons in the wider Game of Thrones franchise so far, and a huge W for the prequel ahead of its June 21 premiere on HBO. The new season is the penultimate installment of the series, bringing the Dance of the Dragons closer to realization as the wipeout of the Targaryens looms.

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The early reviews suggest that Season 3 is bigger, bloodier, and more confident than the first two seasons, with critics praising its spectacle, character work, and improved momentum. That is especially notable after Season 2 drew frustration for building toward war without fully delivering on the scale many fans expected. Based on the first reviews, Season 3 does not seem to have that problem.



















































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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz
Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive?
The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars

Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.

💊The Matrix

🔥Mad Max

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🌧️Blade Runner

🏜️Dune

🚀Star Wars

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01

You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do?
The first instinct is often the truest one.





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02

In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely?
What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.





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03

What kind of threat keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.





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04

How do you deal with authority you don’t trust?
Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.





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05

Which environment could you actually endure long-term?
Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.





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06

Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart?
The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.





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07

Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all?
Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.





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08

What would actually make survival worth it?
Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.





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Your Fate Has Been Calculated
You’d Survive In…

Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.

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The Resistance, Zion

The Matrix
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You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.

  • You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
  • You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
  • You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
  • The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.


The Wasteland

Mad Max
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The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.

  • You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
  • You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
  • You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
  • In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.


Los Angeles, 2049

Blade Runner
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You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.

  • You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
  • In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
  • You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
  • In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.


Arrakis

Dune
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Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.

  • Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
  • You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
  • Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
  • In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.


A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars
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The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

  • You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
  • You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
  • You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
  • In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.

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How Good is ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3?

Collider’sTherese Lacsongave Season 3 an 8/10, writing, “… as it is now, despite all the stumbling blocks along the way,House of the Dragonis still spectacle TV worth tuning in for.”CBR’sKatie Dollalso gave the season an 8/10, praising the show’s momentum: “In its penultimate season, the show is finally escaping the runway to reach an exhilarating destination of political intrigue, savvy spectacle, and juicy characterizations.”Screen Rant’sAngel Shawwas similarly positive, giving the season an 8/10 and writing, “So long as this momentum continues, we can certainly count onHouse of the Dragonseason 3 to prove us wrong aboutGame of Thronesendings.”MovieWeb’sMelody McCunegave the season 4/5, hailing the focus on war at last by writing, “Strap in, folks. It’s all sword-clashing, fire-breathing action from here on out, with a smattering of political machinations for good measure.”

The cast of House of the Dragon Season 3 includes Emma D’Arcy (Truth Seekers) as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Matt Smith (Doctor Who) as Daemon Targaryen, Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One) as Alicent Hightower, Tom Glynn-Carney (Dunkirk) as Aegon II Targaryen, Ewan Mitchell (Saltburn) as Aemond Targaryen, Steve Toussaint (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) as Corlys Velaryon, Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill) as Otto Hightower, Fabien Frankel (Last Christmas) as Criston Cole, and James Norton (Happy Valley) as Ormund Hightower.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 on HBO.

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Release Date

August 21, 2022

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Network

HBO

Showrunner
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George R.R. Martin

Directors

Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

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Writers

Gabe Fonseca

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    Fabien Frankel

    Ser Criston Cole

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‘Ahsoka’ Star Confirms Season 2 Exit

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Star Wars fans have been treated to two new projects so far in 2026, one on Disney Plus and one on the big screen. The first Star Wars project to emerge from hyperspace was Maul — Shadow Lord, the critically acclaimed Disney Plus series starring Sam Witwer as the famous Dark Side Force user. Maul — Shadow Lord was renewed for Season 2, and Witwer has since confirmed that fans won’t have to wait too long before a new batch of episodes is streaming on Disney Plus. Star Wars fans have also been returning to the theater for the first time since 2019 thanks to the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is well on its way to becoming the lowest-grossing Star Wars movie ever. It was thought that Ahsoka would premiere before the end of 2026, but it has since been confirmed that the show will return in early 2027.

In addition to Rosario Dawson in the lead role of Ahsoka Tano, the first season of the hit Disney Plus show also starred the late Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll and Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati. Sakhno is expected back in Season 2, but Stevenson has been recast with long-time Game of Thrones star Rory McCann, famed for his role as The Hound. However, one Ahsoka Season 1 star who has officially confirmed she will not be back in Season 2 is Claudia Black, who portrayed Mother Klothow. During an interview last year with Bleeding Cool, Black explained her departure from the show, saying that Disney refused to pay her a fair salary as a single mother:

“I’m going to be transparent. They picked up Season 2, they picked me up with it, and then Disney, which is structuring things differently these days, could not pay me what I needed to be paid as a single mother to keep all my responsibilities going at home in Los Angeles, because they were filming in London. It was not something that I could make happen, and therefore, I had to bow out for Season 2. It was very sad for me.”













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Collider Exclusive · Star Wars Quiz
Which Force User
Are You?

Light Side · Dark Side · Or Somewhere Between
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The Force is not a binary. It is a spectrum — from the serene halls of the Jedi Temple to the shadowed corridors of Sith space. Ten questions will reveal where you truly fall. The Force has always known. Now you will too.

🔵Jedi Master

🟡Padawan

🔴Sith Lord

Inquisitor

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Grey Jedi

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01

What is the Force to you?
Your relationship with the Force defines everything else.




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02

When you feel strong emotions — anger, grief, love — what do you do?
The Jedi suppress. The Sith feed. Others choose differently.




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03

The Jedi Council gives you an order you disagree with. You:
How you handle authority reveals your alignment.




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04

You are offered forbidden knowledge that could give you enormous power. The cost is crossing a moral line. You:
The dark side’s pull is never more than a choice away.




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05

Your approach to training and learning is:
A student’s habits become a master’s character.




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06

In a duel, your lightsaber fighting style reflects:
Combat is the purest expression of a Force user’s philosophy.




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07

A defeated enemy lies at your feet, powerless. You:
Mercy — or its absence — is the truest test of alignment.




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08

The Jedi Code forbids attachment. Your honest view on love and bonds:
The source of the greatest falls in the galaxy.




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09

Why do you use the Force at all? What’s the point?
Purpose is the difference between a knight and a weapon.




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10

At the final moment — light side or dark side pulling at you — what wins?
In the end, every Force user faces this moment. What does yours look like?




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Your Alignment Has Been Determined
Your Place in the Force

The scores below reveal how the Force sees you. Your highest number is your true alignment. Read on to understand what that means — and what it will cost you.

🔵
Jedi Master

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🟡
Padawan

🔴
Sith Lord


Inquisitor


Grey Jedi

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Disciplined, compassionate, and deeply attuned to the living Force, you have walked the path long enough to understand its demands — and accept them. You lead not through authority alone, but through example. You have felt the pull of the dark side and chosen otherwise, every time. That is not certainty. That is courage.

You are earnest, powerful, and brimming with potential — and you know it, which is both your greatest asset and your most dangerous flaw. You act before you think, trust your gut over your training, and sometimes confuse impatience for bravery. The Masters see something in you, though. The question isn’t whether you have what it takes — it’s whether you’ll be patient enough to find out.

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You are not simply dangerous — you are certain, and that is worse. You have decided what the galaxy needs, and you have decided you are the one to deliver it. Your power is genuine and formidable, earned through sacrifice that would have broken lesser beings. But examine your victories carefully. Every Sith believed their cause was righteous. The dark side’s cruelest trick is that it agrees with you.

You were forged in fire and reshaped by those who found you at your lowest. You serve, because service gave you structure when you had none. Your allegiance is not to an ideology — it is to survival and to the master who gave you purpose. But there is something buried beneath the conditioning. The Jedi you hunt? You recognize them. Because you remember what it felt like before the choice was taken from you.

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You have looked at the Jedi Code and the Sith Code and found both of them incomplete. You walk the line not out of indecision but out of conviction — you genuinely believe both extremes miss something essential. The Jedi don’t fully trust you. The Sith think you’re wasting your potential. They’re both partially right. But so are you.

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What Else Do We Know About ‘Ahsoka’ Season 2?

Practically nothing is known about the plot of Ahsoka Season 2 at this time. Hayden Christensen is confirmed to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in the series, as well as other members of the Rebels gang, including Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla and Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren. The show was written and created for TV by Dave Filoni, who has now assumed the role of President at Lucasfilm.

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Check out the first season of Ahsoka on Disney Plus and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Season 2.


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Release Date
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August 22, 2023

Network

Disney+

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Directors

Steph Green, Jennifer Getzinger, Peter Ramsey, Rick Famuyiwa

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Celeb Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Layke Shares the Sneaky Summer Skincare Mistakes You Might Be Making

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Celeb Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Layke Shares the Sneaky Summer Skincare Mistakes You Might Be Making

Summer is officially glow season, but some of your favorite warm-weather habits could actually be sabotaging your skin.

To find out what not to do this summer, ET caught up with celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. John Layke, who shared the biggest skincare mistakes he sees during the hottest months of the year and how to avoid them.

Dr. John Layke/Instagram

First up: Overdoing it with heavy active ingredients.

“During the peak summer months, skin is more sensitive to the sun when using retinol, so decrease the frequency of usage to 3 days per week and ensure multiple reapplications of sunscreen,” Layke says.

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But that doesn’t mean you should break up with retinol altogether just because the sun is out. Layke recommends reaching for the ProRetinol Age Rewind from his Beverly Hills MD line with Dr. Payman Danielpour to help maintain a smooth complexion.

Beverly Hills MD

“It helps increase cellular turnover, leading to fresher, healthier skin,” the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group doctor explains.

And while everyone loves a good serum, sunscreen like his brand’s Sheer Radiance SPF Drops remains the foundation of any summertime skincare routine.

“Appropriate sunscreens, which contain protective actives like zinc oxide can mechanically protect the skin from overexposure of UV rays, especially when using a retinol. … Some of the biggest mistakes I see is the lack of reapplication when being in the sun, especially during peak hours of 10am and 2pm, when UV rays are strongest,” he explains.

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Beverly Hills MD

And if you’ve been putting off a laser treatment until fall, you may not have to.

“As long as people are aware that protecting the skin is paramount, microneedling or laser resurfacing can be done at any time of the year. This means no direct exposure for 6 weeks following the treatment to avoid any untoward hyperpigmentation that may occur in the healing skin,” he notes.

For those seeking an instant refresh, Layke points to HydraFacials as a seasonal favorite.

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group/Instagram

“It will improve the texture of the skin temporarily and leave a noticeable glow.”

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If you’re seeking something beyond a quick glow-up, Botox remains a popular option year-round, though summer plans may impact the longevity of your results.

“This is related to the increase in outdoor physical activity, which has been shown to decrease the longevity of neurotoxins due to an increase in the metabolism of this purified protein.”

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group/Instagram

But before you head inside after a day at the beach or pool, don’t forget one simple step: rinse off.

“Excess chlorine exposure in a pool, or salt exposure to the skin can cause irritation and dryness. Make sure to rinse soon after swimming to avoid.”

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