Connect with us
DAPA Banner
DAPA Coin
DAPA
COIN PAYMENT ASSET
PRIVACY · BLOCKDAG · HOMOMORPHIC ENCRYPTION · RUST
ElGamal Encrypted MINE DAPA
🚫 GENESIS SOLD OUT
DAPAPAY COMING

Entertainment

3 Binge-Worthy Prime Video Series to Watch This Weekend (June 19-21)

Published

on

The Teen Titans standing and looking skeptical.

We’re now in the second half of June, and the early summer 2026 slate has been packed with must-watch shows. The return of the Gilmore Girls replacement, Sweet Magnolias, created by Sheryl J. Anderson, has been keeping Netflix subscribers entertained; Rip (Cole Hauser) and Beth’s (Kelly Reilly) ranch rivalry in Dutton Ranch has kept Paramount+ subscribers hooked, and Apple TV’s new adaptation of Cape Fear has been topping the streaming charts. But, once again, Prime Video has been making a strong case for the title of best streamer. With that in mind, here’s a look at three Prime Video shows you need to binge this weekend.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Prime Video.

Advertisement

1

‘Every Year After’ (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes: 73% | IMDb: 6.3/10

The Summer I Turned Pretty was arguably Prime Video’s defining show of 2025, and the feature film finale is getting closer by the day. But to pass the time, Prime Video has just debuted the perfect replacement. Every Year After, based on Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, follows Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), who, a decade after falling in love during a summer at Barry’s Bay, explore whether their first love was true love.

A touching, heartwarming series set against a gorgeous backdrop, Every Year After is an easy watch waiting to whisk you away this weekend. All eight episodes in the series are available to watch right now, and, with its success on the streaming charts, there’s a chance this could be the start of another YA franchise. “If showrunner Amy B. Harris has her way, we’ll hopefully be spending more summers in Barry’s Bay, and I’d welcome the chance to return,” said Meredith Loftus in Collider’s review.





















































Advertisement

Collider Exclusive · Taylor Sheridan Universe Quiz
Which Taylor Sheridan
Show Do You Belong In?

Yellowstone · Landman · Tulsa King · Mayor of Kingstown

Four worlds. All of them brutal, complicated, and built on power, loyalty, and the price of survival. Taylor Sheridan doesn’t write heroes — he writes people who do what they have to do and live with the cost. Ten questions will reveal which one of his worlds you were made for.

🤠Yellowstone

Advertisement

🛢️Landman

👑Tulsa King

⚖️Mayor of Kingstown

Advertisement

01

Where does your power come from?
In Sheridan’s world, everyone has leverage. The question is what kind.




Advertisement

02

Who do you put first, no matter what?
Loyalty in Sheridan’s universe is always absolute — and always costly.




Advertisement

03

Someone crosses a line. How do you respond?
Every Sheridan protagonist has a line. What matters is what happens after it’s crossed.




Advertisement

04

Where do you feel most in your element?
Sheridan’s worlds are as much about place as they are about people.




Advertisement

05

How do you feel about operating in the grey?
Nobody in a Sheridan show has clean hands. The question is how they carry the dirt.




Advertisement

06

What are you actually fighting to hold onto?
Every Sheridan character is fighting a war. The real question is what they’re defending.




Advertisement

07

How do you lead?
Authority in Sheridan’s world is never given — it’s established, maintained, and constantly tested.




Advertisement

08

Someone new arrives and tries to change how things work. Your reaction?
Every Sheridan show has an outsider disrupting an established order. Sometimes that outsider is you.




Advertisement

09

What has your position cost you?
Nobody gets to where these characters are without paying for it. The bill is always personal.




Advertisement

10

When it’s over, what do you want people to say?
Sheridan’s characters all know the ending is coming. The question is what they leave behind.




Advertisement

Sheridan Has Spoken
You Belong In…

The show that claimed the most of your answers is the world you were built for. If two tied, both are shown — you’re complicated enough to straddle two Sheridan universes.

Advertisement

🤠
Yellowstone

🛢️
Landman

Advertisement

👑
Tulsa King

⚖️
Mayor of Kingstown

You are a Dutton — or you might as well be. You understand that some things are worth protecting at any cost, and that the modern world’s indifference to history, to land, to legacy, is not something you’re willing to accept quietly. You lead from the front, you carry your family’s weight without complaint, and when someone threatens what’s yours, you don’t escalate — you finish it. You’re not cruel. But you are absolute. In Yellowstone’s world, that combination of ferocity and loyalty doesn’t make you a villain. It makes you the only thing standing between everything that matters and everyone who wants to take it.

Advertisement

You thrive in the chaos of high-stakes negotiation, where the money is enormous, the margins are thin, and the wrong word in the wrong room can cost everyone everything. You’re a fixer — the person called when a situation is already on fire and needs someone with the nerve to walk into it. West Texas oil country rewards exactly what you are: sharp, adaptable, unsentimental, and absolutely clear-eyed about what people want and what they’ll do to get it. You’re not naive enough to think this world is fair. You’re smart enough to be the one deciding who it’s fair to.

You are a Dwight Manfredi — someone who has served their time, paid their dues, and arrived somewhere unexpected with nothing but their reputation and their wits. You adapt without losing yourself. You build loyalty through respect rather than fear, though you’re not above reminding people that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Tulsa King is for people who are still standing when everyone assumed they’d be finished — who find, in an unfamiliar place, that they’re more capable than the world gave them credit for. You don’t need a throne. You build one, wherever you happen to land.

Advertisement

You carry the weight of a system that is broken by design, and you do it anyway — because someone has to, and because you’re the only one positioned to do it without the whole thing collapsing. Mike McLusky’s world is for people who are comfortable operating where there are no good options, only less catastrophic ones. You speak every language: law enforcement, criminal, political, human. That fluency makes you invaluable and it makes you a target. You’ve made your peace with both. Mayor of Kingstown belongs to people who understand that keeping the peace is not the same as being at peace — and who do the job regardless.

Advertisement

2

‘Teen Titans’ (2003–2006)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 7.9/10

The Teen Titans standing and looking skeptical.
The Teen Titans standing and looking skeptical.
Image via Warner Bros. Animation
Advertisement

As The Boys and Invincible have recently shown, superhero shows are hugely popular on Prime Video. So, this weekend, why not head back to 2003 and binge-watch one of the very best? Created by Glen Murakami, David Slack, and Sam Register, Teen Titans follows five teenage superheroes as they face the world’s most evil villains, as well as typical teenage angst.

Few animated superhero shows are better than Teen Titans. A pitch-perfect adaptation of the DC Comics superhero team, 66 episodes of Teen Titans are currently available, with each season growing from strength to strength. With animation inspired by anime and a desire to tackle some nuanced, mature themes, this is a show you certainly won’t regret watching.

3

‘The Night Manager’ (2016–Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Although there was a 10-year wait between Season 1 and Season 2, nothing could stop this clever, twisting series from being a hit. Based on the 1993 novel by John le Carré, The Night Manager follows Tom Hiddleston as former military officer-turned-hotel manager Jonathan Pine, as he is caught up in a criminal underworld.

Advertisement

Also featuring the likes of Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, David Harewood, and Elizabeth Debicki in Season 1 and Diego Calva, Camila Morrone, and Hayley Squires in Season 2, The Night Manager is a star-packed whirlwind that will keep you hooked from its very first moments. A winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globes, this is one of the best adaptations on streaming today.


03126759_poster_w780.jpg
Advertisement


Release Date
Advertisement

2016 – 2025-00-00

Network

BBC One

Advertisement

Franchise(s)

Based on a novel by John le Carré

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Entertainment

Sharon Osbourne’s Hospital Trip Sparks New Concern

Published

on

Other Celebrities Who Have Used Ozempic

Sharon Osbourne recently gave fans an unexpected health update after missing a significant event honoring her late husband, Ozzy Osbourne.

The television personality revealed she had been hospitalized earlier in the week, preventing her from attending the unveiling of Ozzy’s statue at France’s Hellfest festival.

While she offered few details about the incident, the announcement sparked concern among supporters already familiar with her long and often challenging health journey.

The unveiling of a statue dedicated to Ozzy Osbourne was meant to be a memorable occasion for fans celebrating the legendary rocker’s legacy. However, one notable absence quickly caught attention.

Sharon Osbourne addressed the situation on social media, explaining why she could not attend the ceremony.

Advertisement

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be at Hellfest for the unveiling of Ozzy’s statue. Unfortunately I had an unexpected trip to the hospital earlier in the week,” Sharon wrote.

Although she did not reveal the nature of the medical issue, she took the time to acknowledge those who made the tribute possible.

“A big thank you Olivier Garnier, Ben Barbaud and everyone at Hellfest. Special thank you to @philippe_pasqua_officiel for the absolutely stunning statue!” she continued.

Her message left fans relieved to hear from her directly, but many remained concerned about her wellbeing due to the lack of additional information.

Advertisement

Fans Rally Around Sharon Osbourne

Other Celebrities Who Have Used Ozempic
MEGA

Supporters quickly flooded Sharon’s social media pages with messages of encouragement and recovery wishes.

Many expressed concern after learning she had required hospital treatment, while others focused on sending positive thoughts during what has already been an emotional period for the Osbourne family following Ozzy’s passing.

One fan wrote, “Get better Sharon we love you.”

Another added, “Sending lots of positive vibes … get well soon.”

A third supporter shared a longer message of encouragement, writing, “HEY SHARON! I hope you’re feeling better. And that’s an awesome statue. I wish i could see it in person! Ozzy would have loved that along with all the other outpouring of love from millions of others. Much love to you and your family!”

Advertisement

The responses reflected the deep connection many fans have developed with Sharon over decades in the public eye.

Sharon Osbourne Has Faced Health Challenges Before

This is not the first time Sharon Osbourne has dealt with a serious health scare.

In late 2022, she was hospitalized following a sudden medical emergency that left many wondering about her condition. Months later, she discussed the frightening incident during an appearance on the U.K. talk show The Talk.

“It was the weirdest thing,” Sharon said. “I was doing some filming and suddenly they told me that I [passed out] for 20 minutes. And I was in hospital, I went to one hospital, they took me to another hospital, and I did every test over two days, and nobody knows why.”

The mystery surrounding that episode remained unresolved even after extensive testing.

Advertisement

Earlier health battles have included a COVID-19 diagnosis in 2020 that briefly required hospitalization. Sharon has also openly discussed her past battle with colon cancer, a disease she successfully overcame and remains in remission from today.

Her willingness to speak publicly about difficult health experiences has often resonated with fans facing similar challenges.

Preserving Ozzy’s Legacy Through Technology

Sharon Osbourne and Ozzy Osbourne attend Total Recall Los Angeles premiere
XYZ/©2012 NCNA PHOTO / MEGA

Despite her recent hospital visit, Sharon Osbourne has remained focused on projects designed to preserve Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy for future generations.

As The Blast reported, earlier this month, she and her son, Jack Osbourne, discussed plans to create an artificial intelligence version of the late music icon. The project is being developed with Hyperreal, a company specializing in highly realistic digital human performances.

Responding to criticism surrounding the idea, Sharon defended the decision and explained why she believes the project aligns with Ozzy’s wishes.

Advertisement

“Technology moves on,” she said. “For somebody to turn around to me and say I’m doing a cash grab, no. You don’t know my husband. I know my husband. And my husband would say to me over and over: ‘How long do you think I’ll be remembered?’”

She also emphasized the family-focused purpose behind the initiative.

“[It’s something] that will pass on through our family, and it’s for our grandkids,” she concluded.

Family United Behind Future Plans

Sharon, Jack, and Kelly Osbourne attending Grammys
Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA

While Sharon sees the AI project as a way to preserve Ozzy’s memory, Jack Osbourne believes it also serves another purpose.

During the discussion about the initiative, he argued that technology makes such projects inevitable and that the family should be the ones guiding how Ozzy’s image is used moving forward.

Advertisement

“Either we do it, or someone else is gonna do it,” he said. “And for me, it’s not about pretending he’s still alive. It’s making sure he’s never forgotten.”

For now, fans continue to await more information about Sharon’s health.

Until then, supporters remain hopeful that her recent hospital visit was only a temporary setback as she continues honoring Ozzy’s legacy and supporting her family through a period of major change.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Extremely R-Rated Action Comedy Is Every Assassin’s Worst Nightmare

Published

on

Extremely R-Rated Action Comedy Is Every Assassin’s Worst Nightmare

By Robert Scucci
| Updated

Every so often, I come across a movie that’s so downright nutty I have to tell everybody about it. 2025’s Killing Mary Sue was just added to my ever-growing list, and anybody who wants an action comedy that’s as explosive and hilarious as it is original shouldn’t sleep on this one. And if you want to know why this movie is so nutty, it’s worth knowing that the two political figures constantly at odds with each other in this film are named Weiner and Koch.

Weiner and Koch get laughs on their names alone, but our protagonist is also a literal Mary Sue. For those of you not in the know, a Mary Sue is a fictional character who’s unrealistically capable, and it’s typically considered a pejorative term geared toward the fairer sex. In the case of the young woman everybody wants to kill in this movie, she’s seemingly invulnerable, but also such a slave to her impulses in public that her family constantly has to deal with life-ruining amounts of bad press. So she’s a Mary Sue in some respects, but also a total trainwreck, which is incredibly fun to watch.

Weiner, Koch, Jake Busey, And The Murder Plot

Killing Mary Sue

Killing Mary Sue boasts a painfully simple premise, but it’s executed to perfection. We’re introduced to a young Mary Sue Harper (Onie Maceo Watlington), who witnesses her father get murdered by the convenience store clerk he was trying to rob. This traumatic incident shaped her personality more than she’d like to admit, and it causes problems when she grows into a young adult (Sierra McCormick) living with her mother Janine (Katie Killacky) and stepfather Bradley Weiner (Dermot Mulroney), a corrupt politician of the highest order.

The story goes like this: Mary Sue travels the world, working meaningless odd jobs for Bradley because he wants her out of his house. Bradley, who’s up for re-election, has his work cut out for him because Mary Sue is hopelessly incapable of avoiding drug binges, fights, and general havoc wherever she goes. Janine knows this, their housekeeper Carrie (Rita Rehn) knows this, and, most importantly, Anita Koch (Kym Whitley), Bradley’s political rival, knows this.

Killing Mary Sue

So Bradley hatches a genius plan with his campaign manager Wes (Jake Busey), which basically boils down to “have my stepdaughter assassinated.” Here’s where it becomes hilarious. Mary Sue mistakes the first assassin for a welcome-home gift in the form of a male prostitute. When she and her mother get roughed up, she accidentally kills him because she was underwhelmed by what she thought was his foreplay and wanted to show him how rough she really likes it. She strikes him in the face once, and he never gets back up.

Realizing he’s dealing with the kind of young woman who’s so clueless it’s actually dangerous, Bradley reaches out to his associate Knox (Martin Kove) for more assassins to finish the job, and pretty much the same thing happens. Wave after wave of highly trained mercenaries get wiped out by Mary Sue, who just wants to do drugs, play video games, and loaf around the house unwholesomely. It all escalates to the point of absolute absurdity.

Advertisement

A Total Riot

Killing Mary Sue

One of the reasons Killing Mary Sue is such a blast is that it never takes itself seriously. It’s a bloodbath from start to finish, and I’ll never not be amused by somebody who’s so good at what they do when it’s the last thing they actually want to be doing. Mary Sue is a total monster, and it’s beautiful to watch such an apathetic young woman lay everybody to waste without even trying. Even better, she’s snarky as hell the whole time because she really doesn’t want to be bothered while she rests before her next bogus odd job that Bradley cooked up: managing a Russian banana farm.

But what really seals the deal, outside of our protagonist, is just how hopelessly incapable Bradley is as a father figure, husband, elected official, and criminal. Across the board, he messes everything up, and if he approached his personal and professional life with even a shred of honesty and integrity, he probably wouldn’t have such a Mary Sue problem in the first place. The one thing that consistently triggers her throughout the movie is how he physically can’t even say “I love you” to her. If he had shown her even a little affection, maybe she wouldn’t be such a loose cannon who just wants to feel seen and heard by her family.

Killing Mary Sue

At the end of the day, Killing Mary Sue is a total riot from start to finish. It doesn’t necessarily have a John Wick-level body count, but the bodies certainly drop in similar fashion given the circumstances. Everybody, especially Bradley, keeps a completely straight face because they’re never fully in the know. They genuinely don’t understand why wave after wave of hired killers keep showing up at their home, and Mary Sue is more annoyed by the inconvenience than afraid for her life.

Killing Mary Sue

That dynamic alone is reason enough to fire up Killing Mary Sue on Tubi the next chance you get. If you like action comedies, this one more than delivers on its promise.


Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Summer House’s Dara Levitan Confirms KJ Dillard Split

Published

on

Who Is — And Isn’t — Returning for ‘Summer House’ Season 11? West Wilson and More

Summer House‘s Dara Levitan is single but maybe not ready to mingle after her split from costar KJ Dillard.

“Do you want to know what’s setting me off? Well, I’m single,” Dara, 33, shared on the Thursday, June 18, episode of her “Five More Minutes” podcast via Bravo and Cocktails. “That’s all we’re going to say about it because I can’t do tears this morning, and there’s no way I’m talking about it without crying.”

KJ, 28, and Dara’s romance began in summer 2025 while filming season 10 of the Bravo reality show. The pair met through mutual friend and castmate West Wilson.

Before the pair confirmed their breakup in their own words, costar Jesse Solomon accidentally spilled the beans on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen earlier this month.

Advertisement
Who Is — And Isn’t — Returning for ‘Summer House’ Season 11? West Wilson and More


Related: Who Is — And Isn’t — Returning to ‘Summer House’ Season 11?

Fans are on their toes waiting to see who will — and won’t — return for Summer House season 11. Season 10 was filled with drama as Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula navigated their relationship woes. After deciding to call it quits after four years of marriage, Amanda quickly moved on with costar West Wilson […]

“They broke up, yeah,” Jesse, 33, said on the June 9 episode after being asked why KJ and Dara unfollowed each other on social media. “Last I heard, they were broken up. Sorry if that’s not public.”

Advertisement

In her latest podcast episode with cohost Carly Rivlin, Dara discussed dating alongside guest and skincare expert ⁠⁠Sean Garrette.

While Dara acknowledged that she has “no idea what I’m doing when it comes to men and love,” the Bravo star sounded off on dating apps and trends in time for summer.

When asked about hooking up with or without makeup on, Dara joked that it’s been a minute since she’s had to choose.

Advertisement

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had any kind of casual hookup so let’s circle back in 90 days and see where we’re at to see if I’m talking to a man,” she said.

Dara added, “I love them against my will, but I don’t like them.”

Summer House viewers had a front-row seat to Dara and KJ’s love story, which included a few ups and downs.

While appearing on the June 2 episode of the “More Life With Carl Radke” podcast, KJ revealed that he and Dara took a brief break after Summer House season 10 wrapped filming while he was experiencing mental health struggles. (KJ was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder late last year after being hospitalized for self-harm.)

Advertisement

He explained that Dara “broke up” with him “because she had to.”

“Dara, I think, was gonna hang on … but that wouldn’t have been good for either of us,” KJ said. “I needed the time, because after the hospital, I went to recovery … and that’s when we broke up. Looking back, if me and Dara were dating when I was in recovery, it would have been a mess. I would have been focused on saving the relationship rather than focusing on my health. Recovery changed my life.”

Advertisement

Summer House is streaming now on Peacock.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

‘Sad’ Jessica Simpson Pulls Plug On Ohio Show For ‘Safety’

Published

on

Jessica Simpson at the World Premiere Of Hulu's ''All'S Fair''

Jessica Simpson is once again at the mercy of Mother Nature.

The singer’s concert in Ohio was abruptly called off this week, marking her second weather-related cancellation in less than a month. Fans were left scrambling for refunds yet again.

Jessica Simpson has been riding high on her music comeback, but the road has not been entirely smooth. A string of canceled shows now threatens to overshadow her hard-earned momentum.

Jessica Simpson at the World Premiere Of Hulu's ''All'S Fair''
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Simpson’s scheduled performance at the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio, has been canceled, according to a notice she shared on her Instagram Story. The venue cited dangerous weather conditions as the reason for the last-minute call.

“Unfortunately, due to the impeding inclement weather, the Jessica Simpson concert scheduled for Monday, June 22, has been canceled,” the notice read. Ticketholders were told refunds would be processed within 48 hours.

Advertisement

Simpson shared the update herself, writing alongside the cancellation notice, “I’m so sad, and I will miss y’all! I look forward to seeing y’all soon!!” She also tagged the venue directly in her post.

A Reno Show Was Axed Just Weeks Earlier

Jessica Simpson cancels Ohio concert
Instagram Stories | Jessica Simpson

The Ohio cancellation came less than a month after a similar disruption out west. The Express Tribune reported that Simpson’s scheduled performance at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno was called off on May 30.

No detailed public explanation was widely confirmed at the time, though such last-minute cancellations are often tied to logistical challenges or scheduling conflicts. Fans quickly took to social media expressing disappointment over the cancellation.

Several ticketholders voiced frustration over travel arrangements made ahead of the show, while others expressed understanding and support for the singer. The Reno stop had been part of a limited run of dates.

Concert Cancellations Are Nothing New For Jessica Simpson

JESSICA SIMPSON ON THE TODAY SHOW
©2006 RAMEY PHOTO/ MEGA

Weather and health setbacks derailing Simpson’s shows are not a recent phenomenon. Back in 2004, TODAY reported that the singer canceled a performance in Manchester, New Hampshire, while battling a kidney infection during her “In This Skin” tour.

At the time, a spokeswoman for Columbia Records confirmed Simpson was under a doctor’s care after also canceling a show in Providence, Rhode Island, just days earlier. “I can’t wait until the doctor says it’s OK for me to get back out there,” Simpson said in a statement.

Advertisement

More than two decades later, the singer continues to face the same unpredictable hurdles that come with a packed touring schedule, proving that career interruptions are simply part of the territory for any working performer.

The Singer Recently Reflected On What ‘Home’ Truly Means To Her

Jessica Simpson seen posing outside the Bowery Hotel in NYC on Feb 04, 2020
MEGA

Despite the setbacks, Simpson has remained candid about how much performing means to her. The Blast reported that the singer opened up about her creative journey in an emotional message to fans earlier this month.

Simpson described how she has come to view home as “a feeling, not a place,” a sentiment that shaped her latest EP, “Nashville Canyon, Pt. 2.” She specifically referenced the track “Fade” as a turning point in her healing process.

The singer recalled writing that track nearly three years ago, during a period when she felt the course of her life had changed forever. Looking back, she said she has chosen to move through life with strength, courage, confidence, and compassion.

Jessica Simpson Thanks Fans For Believing In Her Comeback

Jessica Simpson Seen out and out
MEGA

Simpson also used the moment to express deep gratitude toward the fans who have stuck by her throughout her 15-year break from music. “Each and every single one of you that bless my heart by comin’ to MY HOME on the stage have become a major part of my journey through the pain and the joy,” she wrote on Instagram.

The singer added that their unwavering support has given her a renewed sense of purpose, especially after years of staying out of the spotlight. She admitted that stepping back on stage initially felt unfamiliar after spending so long away from touring.

Advertisement

Simpson’s comeback has been built almost entirely on that same fan loyalty, with sold-out stops and emotional moments defining much of her return. Even with recent cancellations testing that bond, she has continued to show appreciation publicly at every opportunity.

With two shows scrapped due to the weather in a matter of weeks, can Jessica Simpson’s comeback tour still find its way back home to the stage?

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Jose Alvarado Wants Taylor Swift at More Knicks Games

Published

on

Why NBA Star Jose Alvarado Says Taylor Swift Needs to Come to Knicks Games More Often Inline

Taylor Swift’s appearance at the 2026 NBA Finals sparked backlash from some basketball fans — but New York Knicks player Jose Alvarado is all about Swiftie mania.

Alvarado, 28, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, June 18, that it was “amazing” having Swift, 36, sitting courtside during Game 4 of the Knicks’ championship series on June 10 against the San Antonio Spurs.

“That’s a surreal superstar, and I was happy she was cheering us on,” the point guard said while promoting his partnership with Bacardi Rum during the post-parade celebration at Tonita’s Caribbean Social Club in Brooklyn. “And [she] seemed like she was having a good time, and we won, so even better.”

Alvarado teased, “She got to come more often,” since Swift, a longtime New York resident, seemingly brought the team good luck after the Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit and defeated the Spurs 107-106.

Advertisement
Why NBA Star Jose Alvarado Says Taylor Swift Needs to Come to Knicks Games More Often Inline

Taylor Swift and Mariska Hargitay at NBA Finals.
Al Bello/Getty Images

While Alvarado is cool with Swift coming to games, he joked that her tying the knot with Travis Kelce, a Cleveland Cavaliers fan, could cause tension.

“The house [is] gonna be divided, one side gonna be a loser, and then one side gonna be a winner,” he teased.

Kelce, 36, proposed to Swift in August 2025, and while the couple are preparing to get married this summer, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end was not by Swift’s side when she attended the Knicks game earlier this month.

Taylor Swift Jokes She Screamed for Entire Knicks Game


Related: Taylor Swift Jokes She Was Screaming for ‘100 Percent’ of Knicks Game

Advertisement

Taylor Swift has no regrets about losing her voice at the New York Knicks game. “I got home and was like, ‘You gotta stop screaming, you’re screaming too much, you’re screaming instead of talking, you’re too excited,’” Swift, 36, joked during her speech at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City […]

Swift, however, wasn’t alone at the game. She was spotted in floor seats with longtime friends Alana Haim, Este Haim and Mariska Hargitay.

The foursome turned heads throughout the game in part because they were wearing custom T-shirts showing team support while honoring different celebrities.

Swift, for example, was wearing a “Stevie Knicks” shirt, paying homage to Fleetwood Mac icon Stevie Nicks. (Harigitay, 62, wore the same tee.)

Advertisement
Why NBA Star Jose Alvarado Says Taylor Swift Needs to Come to Knicks Games More Often Game 4

Este Haim, Taylor Swift and Mariska Hargitay.
Al Bello/Getty Images

The Haim sisters, meanwhile, donned Knickelback and Knickole Kidman shirts, which were in honor of the band Nickelback and actress Nicole Kidman.

Following the Knicks epic Game 4 win, Swift found herself at the center of controversy when some fans, celebrities and sports analysts threw shade at her by claiming she pulled focus from the team.

JalenBrunson-Defends-Taylor-Swift-Fandom


Related: Knicks’ Jalen Brunson Issues Message to Swifties About Monica McNutt Drama

New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson is issuing a message to anyone still criticizing Taylor Swift’s appearance at the 2026 NBA Finals. “I just want to say something to the Swifties: She’s a really good one,” Brunson, 29, said in a postgame interview on Saturday, June 13, after winning the NBA championship. “Cut her some […]

Advertisement

“I’ll tell you the one that bothered me was Taylor Swift. Come on,” actor Hank Azaria confessed on the June 11 broadcast of The Dan Le Batard Show. “I know she’s the hugest thing in the world, but we had to sit with her all through the NFL and now she’s at the Garden. Come on.”

Shannon Hart, who is married to Knicks player Josh Hart, exclusively told Us that Swift was clearly a fan, noting how invested she was in the team all night long.

“Just seeing how into the game she was, that was really cool,” Shannon, 31, said on June 12. “Jumping up and down, hugging each other.”

Why NBA Star Jose Alvarado Says Taylor Swift Needs to Come to Knicks Games More Often Championship

Jose Alvarado at New York Knicks Championship Parade.
Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images

While the Haim sisters are from Los Angeles, Alana, 34, told Vogue on June 11 that she is also a fan of the Knicks. However, it was Swift who came up with the idea of making shirts to support the NYC team.

“I got a text from Taylor that was really the text that you want to get as an amateur screen printer. She said, ‘I want to wear this shirt to the game, can you make it for me?’” Alana recalled. “And I was like, ‘I thought you would never ask, this is my dream.’ Whenever I start out a session with a friend, I go, ‘Let’s talk about fonts, let’s talk about sizing,’ and [Swift] came up with Stevie Knicks.”

Advertisement

The Knicks later won the NBA championship in Game 5, marking their first title since 1973.

“[It’s] something that you can’t really put into words,” Alvarado told Us after the historic win. “I’m a kid from the city, and I got to able to witness something that we haven’t done in 53 years, and it just brings so much joy, and everybody together.”

Advertisement

The athlete added, “Me experiencing [the victory] is the best feeling in the world, just to be a part of something that I can see people getting together and showing so much love and appreciation.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Marvel Icon Foolishly Thinks He’s Safe From AI

Published

on

Marvel Icon Foolishly Thinks He’s Safe From AI

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated

The new Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailers have really emphasized how the titular hero has grown up. As he deals with a mutating body, a bevy of new villains, and even a showdown with the Incredible Hulk, one thing’s for sure: Peter Parker’s not a kid anymore. The same can be said for Tom Holland, the man behind the mask. He was only 19 when he swung into the MCU in Captain America: Civil War. Now, the actor is 30, and life has seriously changed him. Some of the changes are good, like an engagement with his Spider-Man costar Zendaya; others are bad, like his hairline trying to creep up.

This has been on my mind ever since I watched Tom Holland’s appearance on Spain’s El Hormiguero talk show. Intellectually, I know that Tom Holland is a grown man, someone closer to middle age than to his teenage years. But when the actor spoke about the topic of AI, he seemed as naive as any child. The actor said, “I feel protected” because artificial intelligence doesn’t understand emotional expression or “the difference between being happy and being sad.” While Holland spoke about the importance of creativity and passion when it comes to making movies, he also ignored a fundamental reality: as a masked action star, he might be the most replaceable actor of them all! 

Spider-Man Vs. Ultron

When he appeared on El Hormiguero, Tom Holland was very blunt about AI, something that he pointed out “doesn’t have a soul.” When it comes to generative AI, the Spider-Man actor said that, “Creativity is safe from AI because creativity has to do with the human experience.” Continuing, he said that creativity is “about emotions, it’s about understanding one another.”

The Marvel icon then waxed philosophic about the limitations of this new technology. “AI can sift through data, but it can’t understand people’s emotions. It doesn’t understand the difference between being happy and being sad.” Comparing his work to another medium entirely, Holland finished his thoughts: “The way artists paint, it’s not about what they’re copying, it’s about expressing themselves. So I feel protected.”

To be clear, I fully agree with Holland that AI is soulless and that the creative things made with it will never have the same spark as human creation. Furthermore, I agree with his stance that creativity is about sharing and enjoying what humans have to say. However, the problem is that the Spider-Man: Brand New Day star is focusing entirely on what he and other like-minded people would or would not buy, i.e., that they wouldn’t buy an AI-made product. However, Holland would be better off focusing less on what he’s not buying and more on what Hollywood is selling.

Advertisement

Copy And Paste Actors

Hollywood is fascinated by AI for the same reason that countless CEOs are fascinated with it: they think they’ll make more money by having to hire fewer people. This means fewer artists, effects gurus, and editors. It also means fewer actors; like, one of the big things that SAG actors went on strike for was protecting themselves from being replaced by AI. Tom Holland, bless his soul, thinks that he is safe from being replaced by this technology, but that’s just not true. If you have any doubt about that, just check out the growing legion of Spider-Man videos fans have made via AI. 

Spider-Man is particularly easy to recreate with AI because half of his movies are just action scenes involving a hero with a mask. It’s not hard to portray Holland and others unmasked, either; again, a quick perusal of existing AI fan videos proves that. Granted, all of these fan videos are nowhere close to the quality of even the worst Marvel movie. So, Holland is right that AI-generated stuff will never be as good as human-made stuff. Where he is wrong, though, is that he doesn’t think every big studio will try to use AI whenever possible, including with actors if they can get away with it, because they’re gambling nobody will notice.

Pull The Plug, Spidey

Given a choice, most moviegoers would avoid AI-assisted films. This is why some directors are calling for an AI rating system which would (much like Steam does for PC gamers) create some much-needed transparency. This would allow someone to ask themselves the big question: “do I want to pay full price for a movie they cut corners on?” Without such a rating system, though, it’s the Wild West out there. Hollywood can and will sell you discount slop at full price, with CEOs laughing all the way to the bank while the rest of us gripe about how movies have gotten so bad without knowing exactly how.  

So, Tom Holland (you are reading this, right?), it’s not enough to sit back and assume the importance of creativity and the human spirit will keep you safe from AI. If this issue really means that much to you, it would be better if you spoke out directly about the matter to fans, directors, studio heads, and so on. Of course, Marvel has already been busted using AI before, and former employees have spoken out about its usage behind-the-scenes. If the Spider-Man actor were to strongly speak out against this technology, he might just lose his cushy acting gig in the MCU. That leaves us with a depressing reminder: when one of the biggest superhero stars in the world can’t say anything more strident for fear of reprisal, it’s obvious that nobody is truly safe from AI.


Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Shoppers Say This Flowy Maxi Dress Hides the ‘Mom Pooch’

Published

on

summer skort

Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!

Finding a summer dress that’s comfortable, flattering and easy to wear is harder than it should be. Too often, breezy dresses look shapeless, while fitted styles cling in all the wrong places. That’s why shoppers can’t stop talking about one flowy Amazon maxi that reviewers say hides the “mom pooch” and earns “many compliments.”

The dress in question is the Popvil Spaghetti Strap Flowy A-Line Maxi Dress, a colorful summer style that’s racking up more than 100 five-star ratings. Available in several vibrant prints, including a standout rainbow stripe pattern, it delivers the easy, throw-on-and-go appeal shoppers look for this time of year. Even better, it’s available for $50 on Amazon.

Advertisement

Get the Popvil Spaghetti Strap Flowy A-Line Maxi Dress for $55 (originally $63) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

The flattering silhouette is what keeps earning praise. The A-line shape skims rather than clings, while the adjustable spaghetti straps and lightweight fabric make it an easy pick for hot summer days. One shopper called it “perfect for a cruise in the Caribbean,” noting the length “is right at my ankle” and works with both flats and wedges.

summer skort


Related: Bye, Leggings! This Bestselling Skort Was Made for Hot Summer Walks

Advertisement

As much as we cherish our leggings, the summer months mean making some smart wardrobe swaps — and that’s where this athleisure skort comes in. Designed with moisture-wicking material, making it a practical option for exercise and activities, shoppers can’t get enough of how good it feels. Sure, technically it’s a sports skort, but it’s […]

The fabric has also become a favorite among reviewers. “This dress is absolutely gorgeous! It is breezy and lightweight. It is extremely soft on the skin, and the colors are perfect for spring and summer,” another customer shared.

Practical details help seal the deal. The maxi dress features side pockets that are actually deep enough to use, making it an easy choice for vacation dinners, backyard barbecues, farmers market trips and everyday errands. Pair it with flat sandals during the day or dress it up with wedges and gold jewelry at night.

Reviewers continue to rave about the fit, comfort and versatility. “Can not say enough about this dress. It hugs you perfectly and looks fantastic. The pockets are [of] perfect depth and hold almost everything,” one buyer wrote.

Advertisement

For $50, it’s an easy way to add a flattering, compliment-worthy maxi dress to your summer wardrobe.

Get the Popvil Spaghetti Strap Flowy A-Line Maxi Dress for $55 (originally $63) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more from Popvil here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Holly Madison Recalls ‘Falling Out’ With Kendra Wilkinson

Published

on

Holly Madison Recalls Falling Out With Kendra Wilkinson Following Drama With Show Producer

Holly Madison confirmed that she still is not in touch with her former Girls Next Door costar Kendra Wilkinson.

“Kendra and I don’t speak, but I’m not opposed to speaking,” Madison, 46, shared on the Thursday, June 18, episode of E!’s “Hot Goss” YouTube show. “We had a falling out, but it was after the show. It was stuff that had to do with our spinoffs and working with the same producer.”

Madison believes the unnamed producer “tried to pit us against each other and got in our heads, so that’s a shame.”

Another upsetting moment came when Wilkinson, 41, claimed that she was never friends with Madison.

Advertisement

“At the time, she was really caught up in the tabloid cycle. If her thing to get in the tabloids that week was a rift with someone, then she was going to say it,” Madison claimed. “If somebody wrote a clickbait headline, she was going to retweet it and I’m sitting here like, ‘Wait, I just sent your son a Christmas gift.’”

Holly Madison Recalls Falling Out With Kendra Wilkinson Following Drama With Show Producer

Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner, Bridget Marquardt, Kendra Wilkinson
! Network / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Nearly 16 years after Girls Next Door concluded, Madison has a new perspective on why Wilkinson may have acted the way she acted.

“I think she was just really caught up and we were never as close obviously as

me and Bridget [Marquardt],” Madison claimed. “We don’t have much in common, but we shared a lot of experiences and had a lot of good times together, so I never thought of her as not a friend.”

Madison, Wilkinson and Marquardt, 52, starred on the hit reality TV series The Girls Next Door, which focused on their lives in the infamous Playboy mansion while all dating Hugh Hefner at the same time.

Advertisement

The reality show’s success led to Madison and Wilkinson getting their own spinoff shows, Holly’s World and Kendra, respectively.

Wilkinson has since stepped away from reality TV to focus on her career as a real estate agent. As for Madison, she remains a cohost of the “Girls Next Level” podcast with Marquardt.

“Bridget and I have always been super close. We’re still super close. We do a rewatch podcast together,” Madison told “Hot Goss” hosts Eyal Booker and Lonnie Marts IIV. “We’ve never even had a fight or anything in our 25 years of friendship.”

In a previous interview, Madison confessed that she hadn’t really thought about clearing the air with Wilkinson “until recently.”

“I don’t know if she would reach out because she really seems to be happy not having anything to do with anything from the past,” she explained. “I think that’s great. But I would not continue to hold a grudge at this point.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Alix Earle and Benson Boone Spotted at L.A. Hotspot

Published

on

Alix Earle Says She Wants to Date a Rockstar So Bad Is Over Football Players After Braxton Berrios

Alix Earle and Benson Boone sparked romance rumors after being spotted out to dinner in Los Angeles — and leaving together in his car.

The twosome were photographed on Thursday, June 18, leaving celebrity hotspot Craig’s after seemingly enjoying a meal together.

Earle, 25, was all smiles in a picture published by Extra, wearing oversized jeans and a black sheer lacy tank top. The influencer’s hair was down with light wavy curls and her skin was sunkissed.

The “Beautiful Things” singer, 23, wore a similarly casual ensemble for the date, rocking black jeans, black boots and a black shirt that showed off a little bit of his chest around the neckline. Boone topped off his look with tinted sunglasses and carried a distressed leather jacket.

Advertisement

As the pair left the restaurant, Boone was seen opening Earle’s passenger side door before walking around and getting into the driver’s seat, according to a video posted by TMZ.

When asked, “Are you two dating?” Boone told the outlet, “Uh, no.” The musician then clarified that he and Earle were “just hanging out.”

While Boone denied that he and Earle are a couple, it’s not the first time the duo have spent time together this month, causing some fans to speculate that their relationship isn’t strictly platonic.

Advertisement
Alix Earle Says She Wants to Date a Rockstar So Bad Is Over Football Players After Braxton Berrios


Related: Alix Earle ‘Wants to Date a Rockstar So Bad,‘ Is Over Football Players

Alix Earle is ready for a rockstar romance — and done with football players — after a transformative weekend at Coachella. “Why is he amazing? He’s perfect,” Earle, 25, said in her 2026 Coachella recap video posted on Thursday, April 16, after seeing Sombr perform live in the desert on Saturday, April 11, ahead of […]

Their L.A. outing comes just days after Earle was featured in Boone’s Tuesday, June 16, TikTok video teasing his upcoming music video for “The Time of My Life,” which comes out on June 26.

In the video, Boone and Earle both wore medieval costumes as they lip-synced to the lyrics of the Grammy nominee’s unreleased track.

Advertisement

“The queen fr,” Boone captioned the cheeky clip, tagging Earle.

Boone wore leather pants, a leather vest, white shirt and leather gloves in the video as he held a giant sword in his lap, using it as a microphone. Earle, for her part, donned a flowy shirt, white blouse and corset that showed off her toned stomach.

Alix Earle Sparks Romance Rumors With Benson Boone After Being Spotted at LA Hotspot TikTok

Alix Earle, Benson Boone.
Courtesy of Benson Boone/TikTok

The pair previously hinted at their playful relationship via TikTok on June 10 when Boone recreated a post made by Earle earlier in the month.

In the video, Boone wore a black lace minidress — like the one Earle wore in her own upload — while sitting on a leather couch. He proceeded to get up and twirl around on a balcony, skipping as he sang along to his upcoming song, “The Time of My Life.”

“This song is going to wreck me,” he wrote over the clip, tagging Earle in the caption.

Advertisement

Boone’s wardrobe and dancing in the video was a nod to Earle’s previous clip in which she wore a lace dress and frolicked on a yacht while lip-synching to the same song. “Release it now plz,” she captioned her video.

Alix Earle Isn't Worried About Tom Brady Seeing Other People: ‘Never Been Serious’


Related: Alix Earle Isn’t Worried About Tom Brady Seeing Other People: Source

Alix Earle and Tom Brady are continuing to keep things casual. “Alix and Tom have never been serious and their relationship has always been casual and ‘I’ll see you when I see you’ vibe,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. The insider notes that Earle, 25, went to Zero Bond with “several friends” and “mainly […]

Advertisement

Earle and Boone’s flirtatious banter and dinner date comes after recent splits for both of them.

The “Slow It Down” singer broke up with Maggie Thurmon in September 2025 after dating for nearly two years.

Us Weekly confirmed in December 2025 that Earle had split from NFL player Braxton Berrios after their two-year romance.

She was later linked to Tom Brady after the pair were spotted getting cozy at a party over New Year’s in St. Barts.

A source exclusively told Us in February that Earle and Brady, 48, were “hooking up,” but noted that “neither wants anything serious,” so “it’s casual.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Prime Video’s 10-Part Detective Thriller Is So Good, Another Season Is Already on the Way

Published

on

Maggie Q in Ballard

Move over, Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver). The Bosch universe welcomes a new LAPD detective in its official spinoff, Ballard. This time, it’s Renée Ballard (Maggie Q) of the Cold Case Unit. The spin-off isn’t the first time Ballard has made her mark in the Bosch universe, but it’s certainly the first time a female protagonist is leading the investigation. Harry might’ve had his problems and lawsuits in the original Bosch series, but Ballard clearly has her own challenges — most of which come from being looked down on as a woman in the LAPD. It doesn’t help that her division has the least stellar reputation compared to the elite Homicide Department. There might be a case to solve in the spin-off, but Ballard is a story about proving others wrong when the odds are stacked against you.

What Is ‘Ballard’ About?

Once a stellar detective in the LAPD, Ballard is booted from the Homicide Division to the basement depths of the newly formed Cold Case Unit. Being put in charge of a department sounds like the promotion of a lifetime, but for Ballard, it’s a humiliation ritual. With little to no funding, outdated resources, and barely enough personnel to keep a division running, Ballard and her team of volunteers must make do with what they have as they trace back evidence with little to no leads. Unbeknownst to them, their tenacity shows a surprising result: a serial killer may still be on the loose.

Advertisement































































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

Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt

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

Advertisement

🔧John McClane

🎭Ethan Hunt

Advertisement

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.





Advertisement

02

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





Advertisement

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.





Advertisement

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.





Advertisement

05

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





Advertisement

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.





Advertisement

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.





Advertisement

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.





Advertisement

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.





Advertisement

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.





Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

Rambo

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

Advertisement

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.

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

Ethan Hunt

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.

Advertisement

Although the Cold Case Unit is constantly mocked, it holds one of the most important cases in the LAPD: the unsolved murder of a councilman’s sister. It is this particular case that becomes the division’s starting point and prompts Ballard to recruit former cop Samira Parker (Courtney Taylor) to the team. Parker has long suspected that a group of LAPD officers may be involved in illegal corruption, including some of the very people who have berated Ballard. With two separate cases that may be connected and practically no clear leads beyond evidence that was initially dismissed or overlooked, Ballard and her team find themselves chasing answers wherever they can. In Ballard, it’s all eyes on the details.

Advertisement

‘Ballard’ Is a Unique Standalone Story Despite Being a ‘Bosch’ Spin-Off

The good news is that newcomers don’t need extensive knowledge of the Bosch franchise to follow Ballard. Although Harry makes a few appearances to help Ballard out, the spin-off stands on its own. Ballard features a fully developed murder mystery and conspiracy that has never appeared in previous Bosch installments. More importantly, the biggest difference between Bosch and Ballard lies in their protagonists. While both are willing to get creative to solve their cases, Harry has the freedom to go completely rogue. Unfortunately for Ballard, being a female detective means having her entire move scrutinized, forcing her to stay as close to the rule book as possible.

For context, Harry and Ballard first crossed paths in the series finale of the franchise’s other spinoff, Bosch: Legacy, Episode 10, “Big Dawn.” The two initially don’t get along, as their first encounter isn’t exactly on the best of terms. Ballard needed files on an old cold case that Bosch had once worked on. Although he initially withheld a few details from her, he eventually recognized her genuine desire to seek justice for a forgotten victim. As a result, the two developed a professional working relationship that continues in Ballard.

‘Ballard’ Addresses the Harfmul Effects of Toxic Masculinity in Police Work

Maggie Q in Ballard Image via Prime Video
Advertisement

Ballard deals with an uncomfortable reality that women have to face in the workforce: toxic masculinity. In the line of police work, gender-based discrimination is even more pronounced. In the beginning, when asked about her demotion to Cold Cases, Ballard casually skirts off the accusations, saying it has something to do with her male colleagues not liking her vocalness. While that is partly true, the real reason has to do with her being a victim of assault. The sickening part is that the majority of her superiors don’t take her complaint seriously — a disheartening experience that any victim of assault knows too painfully well, no matter the workplace.

While Ballard’s assault is an unavoidable theme in the series, the detective refuses to let her trauma consume her. She does the work necessary to pursue justice not only for victims of her cold cases, but for herself. In the aftermath of the Season 1 finale’s shocking cliffhanger, it looks like the unfair treatment Ballard has endured so far is just the tip of the iceberg. The detective might have plucked out a few bad seeds in the department, but there is still an entire system going against her. As Ballard gears up for Season 2, scheduled to premiere in July 2026, the new season is expected to bring even more heat to the Cold Case Unit.


03211539_poster_w780.jpg
Advertisement


Ballard

Advertisement

Release Date

July 9, 2025

Advertisement

Network

Prime Video

Directors
Advertisement

Jet Wilkinson

Writers

Michael Connelly, Brandi Nicole, Galeesa Murph, John Coveny, Julissa Castillo, Kendall Sherwood, Liz Hsiao Lan Alper, Michael Alaimo, Ralph Gifford, Thania St. John

Advertisement


Advertisement
  • instar53302286-1.jpg
  • instar50806193.jpg

    Courtney Taylor

    Samira Parker

Advertisement


Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025