By Douglas Helm
| Published 27 seconds ago

There was once a time when The Walking Dead was must-watch television, as the early seasons had people absolutely gripped with its take on an apocalyptic zombie-infested world where the humans were just as scary as the so-called “Walkers.” While the show had some people drop off in later seasons, myself included, it’s maintained a loyal following and has become a full-blown franchise for AMC. If you’re interested in re-visiting this popular series or checking it out for the first time, you can stream it now on Netflix.

More Lore Than You Could Shake A Stick At

The Walking Dead is the type of series that draws you in instantly with its first episode, which was directed by series creator and first season showrunner Frank Darabont.

Based on the comic series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, this is a distinct zombie-filled world and there’s plenty of atmosphere and interesting characters to get you invested right from the jump. The first season also happens to be one of the best seasons, with the quality sort of rollercoastering after that.

The Walking Dead, at first, follows survivor and sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) who becomes the leader of a group of survivors in the zombie apocalypse in Atlanta, Georgia.

While Lincoln’s character gives us a central lead to anchor many seasons of the series, it is undoubtedly an ensemble show with a great cast that also includes Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and many more. One thing the show does really well is creating characters who run the gamut from likable and understandable to abhorrent and extremely hateable. 

Not A Quick Binge

The Walking Dead also isn’t opposed to killing its darlings, with the heightened tension of essentially anyone being in danger of dying throughout the show’s run. Which is a long tie to maintain tension, because this show went on for a whopping 11 seasons and 177 episodes before eventually ending in 2022. A light binge, this show is not.

With that being said, be prepared to not love every season of The Walking Dead. It’s hard enough to maintain quality for just a few seasons, but with 11 seasons across multiple showrunners, you have to expect that not everything is going to be great. Personally, I dropped off after the season with The Governor, but generally, most fans like the first five seasons and the last few seasons. 

The Walking Dead definitely has a lull in the middle of its 11-season run with the sixth, seventh, and eighth seasons only getting middling reviews. I can wholeheartedly recommend at least the first few seasons but you’ll have to decide for yourself if the rest is worth watching.

The good news is, if you really enjoy the series on Netflix and the world of The Walking Dead, as many people do, then you’ll have numerous spin-offs like Fear the Walking Dead, World Beyond, Tales of the Walking Dead, Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and The Ones Who Live to dive into next.

Taylor Frankie Paul has taken a major step away from the spotlight after voluntarily checking into a rehab facility as personal and legal challenges continue to unfold. 

The reality star’s decision comes after months of public scrutiny surrounding her relationship with Dakota Mortensen, a domestic assault investigation, and changes to her custody arrangement. 

While those closest to Paul say she is focused on getting better, her latest move marks another chapter in a difficult year for the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star.

Taylor Frankie Paul voluntarily entered a rehab facility after her doctor recommended she seek treatment, according to sources. 

PEOPLE reported that the 32-year-old’s stay was entirely voluntary and that she has since left the facility.

A source told the outlet that Paul is “committed to getting better,” while another insider emphasized that those closest to her fully support the decision. 

“The people around Taylor want her to get help,” the insider said, adding that everyone involved simply wants “to see her get better.”

The source also explained that protecting Paul’s children has become the top priority, saying, “Everyone is just trying to protect the kids.”

Recall that the influencer shares a two-year-old son, Ever, with former partner Dakota Mortensen, as well as a daughter, Indy, and a son, Ocean, with ex-husband Tate Paul. 

Paul’s Rehab Stay Follows Domestic Assault Investigation

Taylor Frankie Paul’s decision to seek treatment follows months of legal developments involving Mortensen. 

The former couple became the focus of an open domestic assault investigation tied to incidents that allegedly occurred on February 24 and 25. 

The Draper Police Department confirmed the investigation to PEOPLE in March. Around the same time, footage from a 2023 incident was released, showing Paul yelling and throwing chairs at Mortensen while a child was nearby.

The reality star had previously been arrested on allegations of domestic violence in 2023. She later entered a guilty plea in abeyance to aggravated assault, meaning the charge would ultimately be dismissed if she complied with the conditions of her plea agreement. 

The remaining charges connected to the case had already been dismissed. As the assault investigation continued, both Paul and Mortensen sought court protection.

Mortensen first requested a protective order in March before Paul filed one of her own in early April. Although prosecutors later announced they would not move forward with criminal charges against Paul, a judge ultimately approved mutual protective orders lasting three years.

Taylor Frankie Paul’s Custody Arrangement Changed As Legal Case Played Out

The legal proceedings also reshaped parenting arrangements involving Ever. When the protective orders were first granted, Mortensen retained custody while Paul was limited to supervised visitation for up to eight hours each week. 

Supervision was required to be provided either by an approved individual or by someone selected through the guardian ad litem process.

That arrangement did not remain in place for long. Just over a month later, the court eased those restrictions, ending the requirement that Paul’s parenting time be supervised.

The revised order allows the reality TV star to spend one midweek day with Ever, without overnight visits, in addition to alternating weekends. 

Holiday custody, however, remains with Mortensen, who was designated Ever’s custodial parent for those occasions.

Paul’s Reality TV Future Changed Amid Personal Struggles

The legal turmoil extended well beyond the courtroom. As news of the investigation surfaced, The Blast reported that production on season five of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was paused.

When filming eventually resumed, Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen were no longer part of production. Even so, one source suggested Paul’s story with the series may not be finished.

The insider told PEOPLE she “has the option to return,” adding that a future appearance remains possible.

According to the same source, Paul received encouragement from both producers and cast members while focusing on rebuilding her personal life.

“She’s receiving strong support from the cast and producers but is focusing on her kids and mental health issues and recovery from an abusive relationship,” the source said.

The insider also claimed Paul “is doing great, and realizing how abusive her relationship actually was.”

Taylor Frankie Paul Also Lost ‘The Bachelorette’ Opportunity

At the same time “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” paused production, another major opportunity slipped away for Taylor Frankie Paul.

ABC canceled her season of “The Bachelorette” just three days before its scheduled premiere after the 2023 video showing Paul attacking Mortensen was made public.

Following the video’s release, a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson announced the network’s decision.

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“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” the spokesperson said per The Blast.

Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy and his girlfriend, Jordan Meyers, are engaged ahead of welcoming their first baby.

“We’re engaged!!” Kennedy, 34, announced via Instagram on Tuesday, June 30, alongside photos from the proposal. “I love you, adventures with you forever and ever. Thank you for making me the luckiest guy in the world.❤️‍🔥.”

The couple’s engagement comes just weeks after news broke that they are expecting baby No. 1.

“We are thrilled to share that Jordan and I are expecting our first child together,” Kennedy, 34, told People in a June 11 statement. “We have previously kept our relationship out of the public eye, and this is the first time we’re sharing it publicly. We wanted to keep things personal while we were building our relationship together, and we’ve shared this news privately with close friends and family for some time now.”

Related: Celebrity Engagements of 2026

Several stars took the next step in their relationships in 2026 by getting engaged to their significant others. Sports Illustrated model Clarissa Bowers kicked off the New Year by announcing her engagement to Jackson Morgan by showing off her ring via social media on January 4. Allison Holker joined the list on February 12 when […]

Meyers told the outlet that she is four months along and confirmed that the pair have been dating for eight months.

“The second I met James, we instantly felt such a strong spark between us,” she shared at the time. “We initially connected on Instagram and then met in person at one of his shows. I’m from North Carolina, so I went to visit James for what was supposed to be ‘three days,’ which has now turned into eight months together. Watching our love grow and preparing to become parents together has been the most incredible experience.”

Later that day, the expectant parents made their red carpet debut at the grand opening of The Vanderpump Hotel in Las Vegas, where Meyers debuted her baby bump in a sparkling pink and silver mini dress.

“As we prepare for this next chapter, it felt like the right moment to share it more widely,” Kennedy told People. “This is an incredibly special and meaningful time for us, and we feel deeply grateful to be stepping into this new chapter surrounded by love and support from our family and friends.”

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Related: James Kennedy‘s Dating History

James Kennedy‘s love life has played out almost entirely on Vanderpump Rules — from drama-fueled hookup rumors in the early seasons to a five-year engagement, a whirlwind post-split romance and, most recently, a pregnancy announcement with a girlfriend fans barely knew existed. After eight months of dating, Kennedy revealed in June 2026 that girlfriend Jordan […]

Prior to Meyers, the DJ was in a relationship with Ally Lewber from January 2022 to December 2024. They split on the heels of Kennedy’s arrest for domestic violence.

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“I was not hurt physically. Emotionally, yes,” Lewber, 30, later clarified to People, adding that the couple had been arguing because she was “suspicious” that the sober reality star had relapsed.

Ultimately, prosecutors declined to press charges against Kennedy over the incident.

The Bravolebrity previously dated costar Rachel “Raquel” Leviss from 2016 to 2021. They were briefly engaged.

Love Island USA‘s Kenzie Annis stood behind her decision to explore multiple men at once in the villa.

During the Tuesday, June 30, episode of the show, Kenzie confessed to Dylan Wrona that she secretly had a makeout session with Gal Tshnieder. She defended her decision to explore her feelings for Gal — despite it upsetting Dylan.

“To me, a kiss is like a handshake,” Kenzie told Aniya Harvey the next morning. “I am just seeing if there is chemistry.”

While Dylan cried when he heard the news, he ultimately hooked up with Kenzie hours later. Their future remained unclear, however, as things have gotten tense in the villa — especially coming off of Casa Amor. When the experiment came to an end, some of the Islanders were at odds with host Ariana Madix having to step in to break up an argument.

Related: TV and Film Mistakes Spotted on Social Media

While TV shows and movies have teams dedicated to making sure nothing goes wrong on the production side, things slip through the cracks from time to time. That’s where fans come in. Over the years, viewers have pointed out the entertainment industry’s mishaps including the famous Starbucks cup of 2019 that popped up in a […]

“It’s a lot of emotions. It’s a really hard night tonight,” she told the group. “It’s hard for the girls to come from Casa. It’s obviously gonna be really hard for you guys as well.”

She continued: “So if we could squash it now, that way we can get to everybody and we can find out how everyone’s feeling.”

This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in. Earlier this month, Ariana addressed claims that voting was rigged in the villa. The host

replied to an Instagram comment after Caleb McDaniel and Sol Dean were not announced as a top couple during the Thursday, June 18, episode of the show — despite an online campaign for the season 8 bombshells.

“Unfortunately, they were not in the top 4,” Ariana wrote in response to a message that read, “They @loveislandusa messing up the show.” Ariana also “liked” a comment which stated that “legally” production “can’t tamper with results” despite the speculation on social media.

Fans were left frustrated when Sol and Gabriel Vasconcelos ended up dumped from the villa following a group vote. This came after America chose their favorite couples — and the bottom three were left at risk of elimination, leaving the remaining girls to decide which guy went home and vice versa.

This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in to debunk rumors. In June 2025, Ariana slammed the insinuation that the show was “rigged,” telling The Wrap, “You can have whatever opinions you want to have about the show itself, but I will tell you: Don’t you start making up conspiracies.”

She continued: “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, so I’m the debunker.”

At the time, Ariana also denied that any Islanders were coming into the villa with a plan on how to win.

“As much as someone might try to gamify the show for themselves while they’re in there as an Islander, you cannot for 24 hours a day,” she added. “It’s nearly impossible to really be able to fully keep that mask on at all times.”

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Ariana encouraged viewers to show their enthusiasm by voting, saying, “If America does feel a certain way about certain Islanders, they do get their say. So if someone is trying to super gamify everything, and if they find out that they’re in the bottom, they’ll be like, ‘Wait, oh.’”

New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.

Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!

Most genres aim to generate a strong emotional reaction. Thrillers are all about excitement and suspense, romance tries to get the audience to swoon with joy, and comedies never hide their intention of making the audience laugh. Horror is special. Its goal is to generate its own emotional reaction, as well as a viscerally physical response in the audience. As long as viewers are screaming, squirming, and covering their eyes in fear, the genre is doing its job.

Another genre that horror often blends remarkably well with is adventure, seeing as some of the greatest horror gems of all time also happen to be adventure movies. Both genres are rooted in sky-high stakes and overcoming monumental challenges, so watching a hero journey through a strange land while combating monsters, demons, and the like can often be absolutely engrossing. Overcoming the unknown is what both horror and adventure movies are all about, so the marriage between these two genres is often remarkable.

8

‘Lake Michigan Monster’ (2018)

Image via Arrow Films

Before he broke onto the cult comedy scene with Hundreds of Beavers, indie filmmaker Ryland Brickson Cole Tews charmed festival crowds with the irresistibly hilarious B-horror comedy Lake Michigan Monster. Inspired by the likes of Monty Python, the earlier seasons of The Simpsons, and the work of Canadian auteur Guy Maddin, it’s one of those forgotten 2010s movies that have aged like fine wine.

Micro-budget productions are always at their best when they celebrate their own cheapness, and that’s certainly what Lake Michigan Monster‘s whole sense of humor is founded on. It’s a hilarious mishmash of genres, influences, offbeat moments, and tributes to Golden-Age Hollywood B-horror movies; and though it’s not particularly scary, it’s still a must-see horror adventure production.

7

‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ (1954)

Image via Universal Pictures

A clear inspiration for Lake Michigan Monster, as well as for countless other horror movies that came after its release, Jack Arnold‘s Creature from the Black Lagoon was one of the last classic Universal Horror movies that the studio produced during Hollywood’s Golden Age. It still remains the best film in the franchise, a timeless classic that may not be all that terrifying nowadays anymore, but is still just as entertaining as it always has been.

The film was shot in 3D right as the fad was coming to an end, but whereas many 3D films from its time were so gimmick-heavy that they could never stand the test of time, Creature from the Black Lagoon actually has merits that have allowed it to remain iconic. Aside from pioneering groundbreaking underwater cinematography and introducing one of the most memorable monster designs in film history, the movie is also an unexpectedly emotional creature feature which has aged wonderfully.

6

‘The Descent’ (2005)

Image via Pathé Distribution

Directed by Neil Marshall, The Descent is one of the best British horror movies of the 21st century thus far. With an ending so overwhelmingly bleak that it was originally removed in North America, it truly is one of those horror adventures so harrowing that those with a weak stomach are better off steering clear. Horror veterans, on the other hand, ought to consider this one of those modern classics that they should watch at least once in their lives.

It’s one of the heaviest adventure movies of all time, enough to make pretty much anyone want to avoid spelunking for the rest of their lives. Claustrophobic, emotionally complex, and complete with some of the scariest monsters of any horror movie from the 2000s, it’s a near-masterpiece that focuses on gradually building up a hugely effective sense of suspense rather than on springing cheap jump scares on unsuspecting viewers.

5

‘Ravenous’ (1999)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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Despite having an exceptional cast led by Guy Pearce at the top of his game, Ravenous is still one of the most underrated folk horror movies of all time. Set in the mid-19th-century US, this Western dark comedy is one of the most unique Westerns that the ’90s ever saw. After a troubled production history that included its original director being replaced by Antonia Bird three weeks into the shoot, the movie became a box office bomb upon release. In the years since, however, it has become a bit of a cult classic.

It’s definitely the sort of horror movie that favors style over substance, but that style is so darkly hilarious, so delightfully gory, and so entertainingly gonzo both in terms of tone and visuals that it’s hard to complain. It’s an almost experimental genre experiment that somehow works remarkably well on every level that matters, making it one of those criminally underappreciated ’90s gems that deserve infinitely more love nowadays.

4

‘Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack’ (2001)

It was 1954’s Godzilla that pretty much invented the entire kaiju genre, a cornerstone of the horror genre so groundbreaking and important that no list of the best horror movies ever could ever possibly be complete without at least one kaiju classic. In the case of this particular list, that kaiju classic is a relatively modern one: Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, by far one of the best Japanese Godzilla movies to date.

Serving as a direct sequel to the original Godzilla by ignoring the events of every other installment in the series, it’s one of the most suspenseful, entertaining, and visually impressive entries in the franchise’s history. Turning Godzilla into a terrifying villain and his classic foes into heroic guardians was certainly a bold choice, but one that director Shusuke Kaneko pulls off exceptionally well. Balancing a strong human narrative with brutal monster action in precisely the way that all kaiju movies should aim for, it’s a must-see for all those who love adventure horror.

3

‘Alice’ (1988)

Image via First Run Features

Not many people have heard of 1988’s Alice, and that’s perfectly okay, because this surrealist dark fantasy masterpiece by experimental Czech auteur Jan Švankmajer feels like exactly the sort of international indie gem destined to remain an obscure cult classic forever, the kind of masterpiece that makes you feel like you’ve discovered a gold mine when you finally watch it. It’s also the type of surreal movie that makes you feel like you’re tripping balls.

A loose adaptation of Lewis Carroll‘s legendary Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this masterclass in surrealist filmmaking is an animated/live-action hybrid unlike any other. By no means does it carry much of the whimsical innocence of Carroll’s work, however. Instead, Švankmajer’s film operates on a nightmarish dream logic that should delight any fan of David Lynch‘s work, creating an unsettling, almost grotesque sense of absurdity which benefits the story marvelously.

2

‘King Kong’ (1933)

Image via RKO Radio Pictures

There would be no kaiju genre without King Kong, one of the most perfect fantasy movies of the 20th century. Combining live-action sequences with stop-motion animation in ways that were absolutely revolutionary at the time, the film may no longer look quite as convincing as it may have back in 1933, but its wonderful black-and-white imagery still titillates the imagination in ways that not many other creature features from the era ever could. Adventure monster films have been absolutely foundational for adventure horror, and King Kong is right up there as one of the most important.

The film single-handedly saved RKO Pictures from bankruptcy during the Great Depression, and it’s not at all hard to see why. Even all these many years later, it’s still one of the most entertaining horror movies from Hollywood’s Golden Age, a pre-Code classic that introduced cinema to one of its biggest icons. Visually magical, elevated by Max Steiner‘s timeless score, narratively weighty and emotional, and even complete with some unexpected thematic depth, it’s a real icon of the genre that will never get old.

1

‘Jaws’ (1975)

Image via Universal Pictures

Nowadays, blockbusters are Hollywood’s bread and butter; but it was only in 1975 that Steven Spielberg became the father of blockbusters when he made the adventure creature feature Jaws. Never before had a film had such a widespread release strategy, nor such aggressive marketing, and the film industry simply hasn’t been the same since. All these many years later, this is still one of the best horror masterpieces of the ’70s, genuinely one of the most important movies in the history of American cinema.

As far as adventure horror goes, it simply doesn’t get much better than Jaws. What’s not to praise about this legendary masterpiece? It’s an absolute masterpiece in suspense, with Spielberg’s airtight direction, John Williams‘ deceptively simple yet undeniably haunting score, and the wise decision to show very little of the actual shark all contributing to making this one of the most nail-biting cinematic experiences of the ’70s. Visually striking, perfectly acted, and exceptionally written, Jaws is the cream of the crop when it comes to adventure horror.

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Jaws

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Release Date

June 20, 1975

Runtime

124 minutes

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Writers

Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb

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Taylor Frankie Paul‘s ex-husband, Tate Paul, has filed a restraining order against the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star.

According to documents viewed by Us Weekly, Tate, 32, filed a motion for a temporary restraining order in a Utah court on Tuesday, June 30. A hearing has been requested.

The exes, who were married from 2016 to 2022, share two kids together: daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 6. Per People, the order was filed against Taylor, 32.  Tate also filed a petition to modify the terms of their divorce and custody agreement. Additionally, TMZ reported that Tate is requesting sole custody of both children.

Us has reached out to Tate and Taylor’s reps for comment.

Years before The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered on Hulu, MomTok became a TikTok craze in 2020. The interest intensified when Taylor, 31, revealed in 2022 that she indulged in “soft swinging” with other people’s partners — and she was subsequently going through a divorce from Tate.

At the time, Taylor, who shares two kids with Tate, reflected on addressing her past marriage on screen, exclusively telling Us, “I don’t know how [Tate] feels. It was a lot less bad than he thought. He saw the trailer and he and his fiancée were worried. Obviously that’s really triggering to hear that, especially for her.”

Related: Inside Taylor Frankie Paul‘s Relationship With Ex-Husband Tate Paul

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Long before Taylor Frankie Paul earned the title of ABC’s Bachelorette, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star found herself married to Tate Paul. In 2016, the couple got married and welcomed a daughter named Indy less than a year later. At the end of 2019, Taylor announced she was expecting another child, and their […]

She continued: “I can’t imagine wanting to hear that with someone else. So I think they struggled, but when they watched it. I guess it wasn’t as bad as they thought.”

Most of Taylor’s arc on the show, however, has centered around her romance with ex Dakota Mortensen. The pair have been involved in an ongoing custody battle over their 2-year-old son, Ever, following multiple domestic violence incidents and allegations. Earlier this year, Mortensen alleged Paul had been physically violent with him during a February incident, in which Mortensen claimed that Paul had allegedly choked him and shoved him into a window, per documents obtained by TMZ at the time. Paul denied the allegations of child abuse.

Mortensen was later granted temporary custody of Ever, while Paul filed for a protective order against Mortensen and claimed that he assaulted her in his truck. The order was granted and a judge ruled that the exes have to stay at least 100 feet away from each other. Earlier this month, a judge ruled that Taylor no longer needed supervised visitation of Ever and that she can have her son on alternative weekends and one midweek day.

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Earlier this week, the Bluffdale Police Department confirmed to Us that Mortensen called the cops with questions about the exes’ protective order amid their ongoing custody battle. The case was ultimately sent to the District Attorney’s office, who will decide if a violation occurred. The exes’ next hearing is scheduled for July 8.

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Related: Mormon Wives’ Taylor Frankie Paul, Dakota Mortensen’s Relationship Timeline

Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen‘s complicated romance was thrust into the spotlight on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — and their relationship status remains unclear. Before the show premiered on Hulu in September 2024, Taylor and Dakota started dating following her divorce from husband Tate Paul in the wake of a high-profile “soft […]

In March, TMZ released unseen footage from Taylor and Dakota’s 2023 domestic dispute where Taylor was seen throwing chairs before one hit her and Tate’s daughter. Tate, for his part, has not publicly spoken out in the years since his ex-wife became a public figure.

“I just respect his privacy a lot, and I know that’s what he likes,” Taylor exclusively told Us for her March cover story. “But he and I have always been really good friends and [have a] very healthy coparenting relationship.”

For two seasons, House of the Dragon has struggled with the allegations that it is a slower and less interesting version of Game of Thrones. Even after the divisive finale of HBO’s flagship fantasy series, George R.R. Martin’s labor of love is beloved in prestige drama circles. After its conclusion, the prequel series about the Dance of the Dragons was intriguing but didn’t provide the same zest as its predecessor.

Now into Season 3, House of the Dragon has achieved the potential it was always meant to. The series has rewarded audiences’ patience for its slow-burn pace. The political intrigue of the fantasy story has differentiated the show from Game of Thrones in the best way possible, elevating it to a modern classic.

‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Is the Highest Rated Yet

House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 did the hard work of setting up the generational trauma of the characters, and now the show is yielding results. The early years of the fantasy were instrumental, setting up the lifelong friction between Princess Rhaenyra and her childhood best friend, Alicent Hightower. As they grew, so did their resentment, and Season 3 finally reached the boiling point.

After an adult Alicent (Olivia Cooke) orchestrates a coup to put her son, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), on the throne instead of his older half-sister, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), the tension rises. It is the Battle of the Gullet, however, that marks the best years of the show. House of the Dragon Season 3 marks a Rotten Tomatoes best for the series and has been a decided improvement from Season 2.

The sophomore season of House of the Dragon was divisive, to say the least, particularly with fan-favorite character Daemon Targaryen’s (Matt Smith) plotline at Harrenhal. The Rogue Prince was wasted in the cursed castle as he grappled with his niece-wife’s claim to the throne and was plagued with nonsensical visions for a time. Daemon returns at the end of the season to pledge fealty to Rhaenyra, and the story finally reaches its full potential.

Now with Daemon being Rhaenyra’s unrelenting supporter, the Dance of the Dragons has finally begun, promising more fire and blood than ever before. This is a comeback that fans have been waiting for and one that is as thought-provoking as it is exciting.

‘House of the Dragon’ Has Surpassed ‘Game of Thrones’

Game of Thrones was such a popular fantasy show in its day that it would be difficult for any fantasy series to surpass it. House of the Dragon was slow going in establishing itself, but it was time well spent. The Fire & Blood adaptation is at its best when it is nothing like its predecessor. Game of Thrones was high-octane from the first episode, but House of the Dragon succeeds in drawing out the drama.

At its core, the prequel is an anti-war narrative that needs time to gestate. It can – and should – exist outside the realm of Game of Thrones. Its recent success proves that the Song of Ice and Fire adaptation doesn’t need carbon copies. Shows that exist in the extended universe should be different from one another.

Streaming hit A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms demonstrates that as well. It takes archetypal characters, but instead of placing them in life-or-death situations, it succeeds with comedy and low-stakes drama. Additionally, House of the Dragon isn’t the long-form epic that Game of Thrones is. This is a brutal civil war where there is no obvious winner.

Whether viewers root for the Blacks or the Greens, neither side comes out ahead. This is the war that drives dragons to extinction and decimates more than one House. Westeros may survive, but it is never the same. Thanks to Season 3, House of the Dragon has become must-see TV that has established itself as a classic.

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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

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 30 seconds ago

Star Trek: Voyager wasn’t every fan’s cup of tea, especially if you preferred the darker, more serialized misadventures over on Deep Space Nine. However, Voyager did one thing arguably better than any Trek before or since: demonstrating just how weird exploring the galaxy can get. This is especially true in “Persistence of Vision,” an episode where the crew is forced to have increasingly bizarre hallucinations that cause some characters to reflect on the past. This includes Captain Janeway, who sees a vision of the husband that she left back in the Alpha Quadrant. Other characters hallucinate in different ways, including Chief Engineer B’elana Torres.

Normally, this hotheaded half-Klingon is all business, especially during an emergency. However, she ends up hallucinating a sexual fantasy involving Commander Chakotay, which many fans thought meant that she secretly had feelings for him. Incidentally, Chakotay actor Robert Beltran thought the same thing, and he imagined this episode might be setting up a relationship between their characters in later episodes. However, Torres actor Roxann Dawson pushed back against these claims, arguing there was simply no way that her character would fall in love with the ship’s first officer.

Breaching Her Warp Core

The premise of “Persistence of Vision” begins like many Star Trek: Voyager episodes: with the ship getting ready to make contact with an exotic race of aliens. The Botha are standoffish at first, but are willing to negotiate with Captain Janeway about safe passage through their little corner of the Delta Quadrant. Soon, crew members start seeing wild hallucinations and have no idea why this is happening. Eventually, it is revealed that these hallucinations are being caused by a telepathic Bothan. While everyone sees different things, B’elanna Torres gets an especially spicy fantasy involving Commander Chakotay.

Somewhat disappointingly, we find out that the Bothan caused all these chaotic hallucinations simply because he could. Janeway speculates that the alien might have done everyone a favor by forcing them to confront buried emotions. Because of this, Chakotay actor Robert Beltran believed that Torres must be secretly holding a candle for his own character. In an interview with The Official Star Trek: Voyager Magazine, he said, “That was very interesting to me because it revealed in Torres how she might be feeling about Chakotay. This entity reveals all of our fantasies, and we got to see how she feels about him.”

Carrying A Torch Through The Delta Quadrant

In that same interview, Beltran speculated that his character might harbor secret feelings for Torres. “Maybe he’ll feel the same for her,” he said. “That’s not quite confirmed, but it’s possible, and it sets the stage for some further development of their relationship.” It’s a provocative idea, one that is even explored in Pathways, a Star Trek: Voyager book written by “Persistence of Vision” screenwriter Jeri Taylor. However, one person who has been fighting this interpretation from the very beginning is B’elanna Torres actor Roxann Dawson.

In an interview with Cinefantastique, Dawson said, “the strength of that alien, the way he could get to us as Humans, was that he understands the deep need…we all have to love and to be loved.” She believes that her character’s “trance” was not “a reflection of a direct attraction to Chakotay” but instead “a desire to give in to a side that she does not give into easily…I don’t think that necessarily means that he is always on her mind…it was more of a reflection of her need to please, to fulfill, all of these things are very real, very human.”

Red (Hot) Alert

In other words, since Torres is half-human, half-Klingon, the telepathic trance temporarily brought out human aspects (like being a lonely people pleaser) that she often tries to repress. In another interview with Star Trek Monthly, she opened up about how weird it would be for her character to love Chakotay, someone who is basically a surrogate father to her. “I see Chakotay as a combination of mentor and father figure for B’Elanna. She might have some romantic feelings towards him in a kind of Freudian sense, but I don’t see them getting together on any other level than as a mentor and pupil.”

This is one argument that Roxann Dawson ultimately won. There weren’t many sparks between B’elanna Torres and Commander Chakotay after this, and her character eventually ended up with Robert Duncan McNeil’s Tom Paris. Chakotay remained relatively unlucky in love, never hooking up with Captain Janeway despite lots of heavy-handed flirting. He finally hooked up with Seven of Nine in the last four episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, but they are apparently broken up by the time of Star Trek: Picard. That’s okay, though: Chakotay likely would have been just as checked out of any romantic relationship as Robert Beltran was checked out of his performance!

Lucky guests invited to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding are keeping the magic of the enchanted day a mystery for a reason.

“The save the date was sent electronically, and guests had to agree to an NDA before they could see any details,” a source exclusively shares with Us Weekly.

Another insider reveals that invites were sent electronically “and included guests’ names so those who were on the guest list wouldn’t make the invites public.”

Although Swift and Kelce, both 36, have yet to confirm any details about their upcoming nuptials, all signs point to a magical Fourth of July weekend in New York City as Madison Square Garden prepares for a special event.

Related: Kennedy Wedding Planner Shares New Theory About Taylor and Travis’ Nuptials

Wedding planner RoseMarie Terenzio knows a thing or two about pulling off a secret ceremony — and she has some theories about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s upcoming nuptials. Terenzio, known for planning John F. Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette’s secret 1996 wedding, appeared on the Monday, June 29, broadcast of CBS Mornings to share her […]

A third source tells Us that a wedding event will take place at Madison Square Garden.

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The New York Times reported on June 24 that a permit was filed with New York City to close the streets surrounding MSG from July 2 to midday July 4 for an event on July 3. The outlet cited three people who have knowledge of the matter, with a city official who was briefed on the preparations further insinuating that MSG is planning to host the wedding on July 3.

Us has reached out to Swift and Kelce’s reps for comment.

Swift and Kelce have been together since 2023, getting engaged two years later in August 2025.

While a source previously told Us that the couple initially were hoping to get married in Rhode Island, both parties agreed it would be better to pivot to the Big Apple.

“Rhode Island wasn’t great because the nature of the access and the perimeters were too difficult to secure,” the source explained. “So the main issue with Rhode Island ended up being security.”

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While Swifties eagerly wait for any and all updates ahead of the July 4th holiday, one insider previously told Us that lucky guests still don’t have all the details about what could unfold during Hollywood’s wedding of the year.

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“Taylor and Travis told guests to be in NYC. No other location was provided,” a source previously dished to Us. “They’re putting their guests on hold for a couple of days. They are spending a lot of money – in the millions.”

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While all could be revealed in just a matter of days, the Grammy winner has been looking forward to her wedding day for quite some time.

“I’m so excited about it,” Swift previously said on an October 2025 episode of the Graham Norton Show. “I know it’s gonna be fun to plan because I think the only stressful weddings are the ones where you have a small amount and people are on the bubble.”