Characters in television shows usually become popular because fans fall in love with them and their stories. But sometimes, characters also become popular because the audience loves to hate them. The unlikability of such TV characters is often predetermined by their creators, which is why they become the popular villains. However, there are several other characters who were meant to be neutral at worst, but still ended up being disliked by fans, and unfairly so.

Many such characters are either designed as character foils, whose existence and actions are meant to contrast with those of the heroes, or they are simply meant to be neutral. But unfortunately, fans often misinterpret their design or objective and develop an antipathy, unexpectedly turning them into hated characters. These characters often face intense backlash from fans, but if analyzed well, they actually serve as crucial, realistic anchors against their more chaotic counterparts. With that in mind, here’s our ranked selection of some of the most unfairly hated TV characters of all time.

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Skyler White

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

Image via AMC

A Guinness World Record-holding crime drama created by Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad revolves around a terminally ill chemistry teacher who resorts to making and selling crystal meth with his former student to safeguard his family’s future. Bryan Cranston’s Walter White and Aaron Paul’s Jesse Pinkman are undoubtedly the two most-loved antiheroes of 21st-century TV, even if they were designed as character studies of total moral decay. Contrastingly, Walter’s wife, Skyler, played by Anna Gunn, is quite strongly disliked.

Skyler White is designed like any normal, rational, law-abiding woman who fears the worst consequences of her husband’s dangerous actions. Unfortunately, to fans, her character goes against the thrill and excitement of White and Pinkman’s dangerous and unpredictable world. While the writers clearly intended for the audience to sympathize with a wife reasoning with her husband’s moral ambiguity, Skyler never got her fair share of respect or love from fans.

7

Debra Barone

‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ (1996–2005)

Image via CBS

Created by Philip Rosenthal, Everybody Loves Raymond is a sitcom that centers on the titular character, a successful sportswriter who navigates his dysfunctional family and work life with his particular brand of humor. The show’s real comedy comes from how Raymond resigns to his meddling, overbearing parents and how his wife, Debra, deals with the chaotic family dynamic. While fans love Ray Romano’s iconic Raymond Barone, despite his lack of boundaries and inability to fight his own battles, Debra gets the exact opposite reaction.

Played by Patricia Heaton, Debra Barone is often unfairly labeled as a nagging wife and woman who is always controlling and loud. In fact, her character is but a victim of a classic sitcom trope, where she is designed as the voice of reason so her husband and others can be goofy, childish, or obnoxious to balance the narrative. Her apparent “annoyed wife” persona is often seen as an obstruction to Raymond’s fun nature, especially because Raymond depicts her as such when narrating the story from his perspective.

6

Beth Dutton

‘Yellowstone’ (2018–2024)

Image via Paramount Network

Taylor Sheridan and John Linson’s epic neo-Western saga Yellowstone follows the powerful Dutton family and their struggles to maintain the legacy of the titular Montana ranch amid cultural, social, and political clashes. The show focuses on the complicated family dynamic between John Dutton III, the current patriarch, and his children, Beth, Lee, Kayce, and Jamie. Of all the main characters, Bethany “Beth” Dutton assumes a very prominent and influential role in the story and is widely considered the show’s star character, yet is often hated by fans.

Played by Kelly Reilly in what became her breakout role, Beth Dutton is a complicated, controversial character with deep-seated personal issues that are often misunderstood. For many, she is a powerful feminist icon, while for others, she comes across as selfish and abrasive. While her personality is largely a survival mechanism stemming from her childhood trauma, Beth Dutton was intentionally designed to be the aggressive anti-heroine who is hard to like, so her characterization, while polarizing, is ultimately appropriate.

5

Ross Geller

‘Friends’ (1994–2004)

Image via NBC

David Crane and Marta Kauffman’s landmark sitcom that reinvented the genre and redefined ’90s television, Friends began as a funny, quirky, slice-of-life comedy about six friends navigating life, love, and friendship in ’90s New York City. While many of the six lead characters (and several recurring/side characters) have been loved and adored, becoming fan-favorite sitcom legends, Ross Geller is an exception. A paleontologist by profession and a divorced father, forever in love with his high school crush, Ross Geller is often seen as a deeply flawed man with childish temper tantrums.

While David Schwimmer earned several awards and widespread acclaim for his portrayal of the character, Ross’s likability curve has plunged from a lovable, awkward romantic to the most annoying, obnoxious one in his gang. What were once popular sitcom tropes have turned into seemingly problematic character designs in the contemporary lens. By pegging his characteristics against real-world standards, fans often end up hating Ross unfairly, not realizing that his increasing neuroses were only meant to provide comedic fuel to the show.

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Zoey Pierson

‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005 –2014)

Image via CBS

Following in the footsteps of Friends, Carter Bays and Craig Thomas created How I Met Your Mother, a sitcom that evolved from a cult classic to a pop culture icon with its heartfelt and hilarious showcase of romance, friendship, and 21st-century life in New York City. Seen from the perspective of Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor), How I Met Your Mother explores his friendships, career, and the trials and tribulations of his love life. While Ted and his romantic escapades are often hated by fans, and for obvious reasons, several of his romantic partners are often misjudged, like Zoey Pierson.

Played by Jennifer Morrison, Zoey is the ex-wife of a billionaire boat enthusiast and an activist who strongly believes in her causes. She campaigns to save a heritage building from being torn down, which ends up becoming a professional bottleneck for Ted. Fans often hate Zoey because she became a roadblock for Ted’s dream project and manipulated him. However, if seen more objectively, Zoey Pierson is one of the few women who genuinely challenged Ted and brought a substantial obstacle to Ted’s otherwise stagnant life, pushing him towards his ultimate dream.

3

Elena Gilbert

‘The Vampire Diaries’ (2009–2017)

Image via CBS Television Studios

One of the most popular young adult fantasy series of the 21st century, The Vampire Diaries was developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec and adapted from the novel series. The show follows Elena, an orphaned teenager who falls in love with a 162-year-old vampire named Stefan (Paul Wesley). Her life is further complicated by Stefan’s unpredictable brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder), and Katherine Pierce, Elena’s doppelgänger. While most of the characters of The Vampire Diaries have a massive fan-following, Elena Gilbert is an exception.

Played by Nina Dobrev, Elena is one of those rare main characters who are hated more than they are loved by their own fans. While many criticize her for constantly making the wrong choices (and her damsel-in-distress attitude), they often overlook her self-sacrificing nature and compassion. Viewed from the creator’s perspective, Elena Gilbert is just an emotionally overwhelmed teenager living with the trauma of the loss of her loved ones and navigating life among supernatural beings.

2

Karen Fillippeli

‘The Office’ (2005–2013)

Image via NBC

The iconic American adaptation of the British mockumentary sitcom, Greg Daniels’s The Office is one of the quirkiest workplace sitcoms ever made. The show follows the daily occurrences at a small paper company office, centered on a misfit group of employees and their wild antics, providing endless laughter and stealing hearts. While most of the characters of The Office are loved and hated for all the right reasons, there are a few, like Karen Filippelli (Rashida Jones), who are rather unfairly disliked by fans.

Throughout its nine seasons, The Office became a fan favorite for its perfect balance of cringe, meta humor, and endearing moments, even from the most disliked characters. And that is why the general dislike towards Karen is unjustified and often stems from perceiving her as the main obstacle in Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam’s (Jenna Fischer) relationship. Karen Filippelli is ultimately just an ambitious, career-driven woman who does not fit into the goofy environment of the Scranton office and gets caught in the middle of a messy office romance through no real fault of her own.

1

Howard Hamlin

‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)

A spin-off of Breaking Bad created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, Better Call Saul is centered on Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), charting his transformation from a small-time lawyer and con-man to a much more complex and morally compromised criminal lawyer. The neo-noir legal crime drama chronicles how Jimmy’s identity, persona, and moral compass change due to people, circumstances, and choices over the course of his life. Among all those Jimmy considers enemies, Howard Hamlin, managing partner at Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill, is his closest personal nemesis that even fans hate.

Played by Patrick Fabian, Howard is often seen (particularly by Jimmy) as the reason why Jimmy never got a chance to practice at the prestigious firm and become a respectable lawyer, which triggered his moral decline. While the character was initially intended to be Jimmy’s main antagonist and roadblock to success, Howard evolved over the seasons to be a sympathetic and fundamentally well-meaning person who is simply a scapegoat in the feud between Jimmy and his brother, Chuck McGill (Michael McKean). Unfortunately, across the six seasons of Better Call Saul, Howard remained hated by fans, even though his initial intentions and actions were more than justified by the end.

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Release Date

2015 – 2022-00-00

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Network

AMC

Showrunner

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Peter Gould

Directors

Vince Gilligan, Thomas Schnauz, Peter Gould, Michael Morris, Adam Bernstein, Colin Bucksey, John Shiban, Michelle MacLaren, Daniel Sackheim, Jim McKay, Minkie Spiro, Terry McDonough, Larysa Kondracki, Melissa Bernstein, Gordon Smith, Andrew Stanton, Bronwen Hughes, Giancarlo Esposito, Keith Gordon, Michael Slovis, Nicole Kassell, Norberto Barba, Rhea Seehorn, Scott Winant

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Writers

Ann Cherkis, Marion Dayre, Ariel Levine, Jonathan Glatzer

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MrBeast has officially entered a new chapter of his life after quietly marrying longtime girlfriend Thea Booysen during an intimate weeklong celebration on Richard Branson’s private Necker Island.

While the YouTube superstar has built his career around massive productions watched by millions, he chose a strikingly different approach for one of his biggest personal milestones, keeping the ceremony focused on family, close friends, and privacy.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, married fellow content creator and author Thea Booysen during an intimate ceremony attended by about 70 guests on Richard Branson’s 74-acre Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.

The weeklong celebration began on July 14, combining the couple’s wedding with several days of activities for family and friends.

Before exchanging vows, guests spent time snorkeling, kitesurfing, and exploring the island’s wildlife, including its famous lemurs and flamingos. The ceremony itself was officiated by an ordained minister who is also a longtime family friend.

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According to PEOPLE, Booysen wore a custom Nicole + Felicia Couture wedding gown while Donaldson opted for a Ralph Lauren tuxedo. Celebrity planner Marcy Blum oversaw the week’s festivities, with styling by Jeremy Noig and entertainment provided by On the Move Entertainment.

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds shared their first dance to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ hit “Die With a Smile” before celebrating late into the evening.

Rather than ending with an extravagant celebrity afterparty, Booysen joked that many guests wrapped up the night playing card games and board games, calling the gathering delightfully “nerdy.” Guests also enjoyed an extensive menu featuring sushi, Wagyu beef, seafood, and a carrot cake selected because it is Booysen’s favorite.

MrBeast And Thea Booysen’s Romance Began In South Africa

Although millions know MrBeast through his YouTube empire, his relationship with Booysen started far from the cameras.

The pair first met in South Africa in 2022 after a mutual friend invited Booysen to dinner while Donaldson was visiting the country.

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Booysen admitted she initially expected the world’s biggest YouTuber to be very different.

She told PEOPLE, “When I met him, I was quite surprised how down-to-earth he was, and also how intelligent he was. I thought YouTubers were just sort of a persona, but when I met him, I was quite surprised to see that he’s actually a nice guy. He wasn’t sitting there with an ego.”

Donaldson recalled that they “vibed instantly” because of their shared curiosity and love of learning. After returning to the United States, he sent Booysen a direct message on X, beginning a long-distance relationship that eventually led to frequent international visits.

The couple made their first public appearance together at the Kids’ Choice Awards in April 2022 before Donaldson proposed on Christmas Day in 2024.

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Looking back on the proposal, MrBeast explained, “I intentionally dropped a large box to make noise before presenting the real gift — with the ring inside — to her. And then I went down on a knee and proposed.”

MrBeast Chose Privacy Over A Viral Wedding

For someone whose videos routinely attract hundreds of millions of views, Donaldson deliberately avoided turning his wedding into online content.

Speaking before the ceremony, he revealed he wanted the day to remain almost entirely private, with only a professional wedding photographer documenting the celebration.

He previously told PEOPLE, “This will definitely be more family and friends — definitely more private. It will be the ultimate way to take some time away and enjoy things.”

That decision reflects a consistent boundary Donaldson has maintained between his personal relationships and his online career. While his philanthropy challenges, competitions, and business ventures regularly dominate YouTube, Booysen has largely remained outside the spotlight except for occasional appearances alongside him.

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The choice of Necker Island also reinforced that desire for privacy. Owned by Richard Branson, the exclusive Caribbean retreat has long attracted high-profile guests seeking secluded celebrations and can accommodate private weddings of up to 200 guests while remaining closed off from the public.

Why Necker Island Has Become A Celebrity Wedding Destination

MrBeast and Booysen’s ceremony adds another notable chapter to the history of Necker Island, one of the world’s best-known private luxury resorts.

Branson purchased the island decades ago before transforming it into an exclusive destination known for hosting celebrities, entrepreneurs, and world leaders.

The island offers everything from private beaches and luxury villas to wildlife experiences and water sports, making it a sought-after location for destination weddings and milestone celebrations.

Its wedding program allows couples to customize nearly every aspect of the celebration, from intimate beach ceremonies to larger events, while keeping the experience highly private.

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For Donaldson, whose career has largely unfolded in front of cameras, the secluded island provided a rare opportunity to celebrate one of life’s biggest moments away from the constant attention that accompanies being the world’s most-subscribed individual YouTuber.

The Newlyweds Are Already Looking Ahead

Despite finally becoming husband and wife, Booysen suggested their relationship will feel much the same once the celebrations end.

She shared, “It sounds silly, but this is really just a formality. Ever since we started dating we’ve been doing it with the goal of marriage. The difference is now the world knows we’re married, but we’ll still come home to our house and dogs and cats, and then we’re off to our next adventure!”

She also described the week as unforgettable, noting, “This is cliché, but it was heaven.”

Reflecting on having loved ones together in one place, Booysen said, “We were so happy, and there was so much love. We work a lot and don’t get to be around all our friends and family, so to have everyone in one place was really special.”

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She added that the couple now hopes to create a new tradition by gathering family and friends for a similar weeklong reunion every year.

For Booysen, one memory stood above everything else.

She revealed, “Jimmy really went out of his way to make all the guests super comfortable and feel included, and got to know my extended family, and it was all so incredibly special. It just made me love him all the more.”

With the wedding now behind them, the newlyweds are turning their attention to the next adventure they have long envisioned together.

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Netflix’s hit reality show “The Ultimatum” is heading toward its highly anticipated finale, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the four couples who participated. After weeks of emotional trial marriages, difficult conversations, and unexpected connections, the remaining couples must decide whether to get engaged to their original partners, leave with someone new, or walk away single. 

Ahead of the finale and reunion airing on Netflix beginning on Wednesday, July 22, The Blast has compiled some must-know details, which couples are reportedly still together, and behind-the-scenes information on filming the reality show in Las Vegas.

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Netflix’s newest season of “The Ultimatum: Marry Or Move On” premiered on July 15, giving fans just enough time to binge the series once (or twice) before the finale and reunion on July 22.

If you didn’t get a chance to watch it all and want some tea, we’ve got it for you! Let’s start at the beginning. The show began with six couples, but before moving into their new homes and starting their trial marriages, they were down to four. One couple decided before the trial marriages with a new partner began, that they would get engaged, and another couple was asked to leave by hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey.

Jessica Grace and Edris got engaged during The Choice before the trial marriages even began. Edris asked and Jessica Grace said yes! That ended their time on the series.

More About Who Left ‘The Ultimatum’ Early

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The other couple to end their time on the series before the trial marriages were Jebin and Alex. But their story ends very differently than Jessica Grace and Edris’ did.

They became the first couple in the history of the show to be asked to leave because Jebin wrote Alex a note that included some harsh words and the truth about where he stands on marrying her.

The letter in question according to PEOPLE: “I’m really not sure what you came here to do. You already had two dates with Killian. Then you look me dead in the face and say you’re falling for someone. You say that you should go talk to him. You say his name over and over to me and point at him when he walks by.”

It continued with Jebin writing that he now feels “less confident” in Alex and that she must have “something else on” her mind.

“I am not the focus for you. I don’t want you to make me look dumber than you already have. You ruined it. You ruined everything. You f-cked us over. I want to say things can get better, but this time, you did it,” the letter continued. “I honestly hope to God you guys weren’t touching on camera. I’m not f-cking doing this. Who knows what else you’ve done. You’re into him. I don’t even know. There is no way we are getting married.” 

And Then There Were Four Couples…

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As the trial marriages with their new partners began, there were only four couples left. Each of the couple’s moved into an apartment in Ariva Serviced Residences in Southwest Las Vegas to begin their journeys.

Hayley arrived with Blake and then partnered with Killian for a trial marriage, while Blake partnered with Killian’s girlfriend, Ashley. Luke and Monica swapped partners with Casey and David.

Ahead of the finale and reunion, it’s been reported by Us Magazine that all four couples are still together. We won’t know until the finale who actually got engaged, so that’s a missing piece to this puzzle that will soon be revealed.

One ‘Ultimatum’ Participant Was Arrested

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TMZ reported that Blake Robertson, Hayley’s boyfriend, was arrested in October 2025, after filming had wrapped, being accused of assaulting Hayley.

Blake’s attorney told TMZ, “Blake’s case was rightfully dismissed by the prosecutor almost immediately, and all records were expunged.”

Hayley declined to press charges and told TMZ she had conversations with Blake about the incident. She also shared that she feels accountability is important.

Where Was Season 4 Of ‘The Ultimatum’ Filmed?

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Season 4 of hit Netflix series was filmed in Las Vegas. The four couples lived at Ariva Serviced Residences in Southwest Las Vegas and was often filmed frequenting nearby restaurants, attractions, and other areas of Sin City.

Jessie Boskamp, Duty Manager of Ariva Luxury Residences and Ariva Serviced Residences, previously spoke to The Blast to share some information about how the complex was chosen to be the backdrop of the series.

“The production team first reached out to us around January 2025 while they were scouting locations in Las Vegas. After several site tours, they quickly saw that Ariva offered exactly what they were looking for,” Boskamp, told The Blast exclusively. “They toured our furnished residences and amenity spaces, met with our team to discuss logistics, and ultimately presented Ariva to their production team as the ideal location.”

From mid-March to mid-May of 2025, the cast and production team made Ariva “their home throughout the filming process.”

In most episodes of the series, Ariva’s apartments and amenities are highlighted. The couples worked out in the gym and yoga studio, spent time by the swings and firepits, and enjoyed the view at the Sky Lounge.

The season finale and reunion both premiere on Netflix on Wednesday, July 22.

Liam Gallagher has joined the growing list of football figures and fans unhappy with the introduction of a World Cup halftime show.

The Oasis frontman shared his disappointment in a series of posts on X, although he appeared to spare Justin Bieber’s performance from his criticism.

The halftime show represented one of the biggest changes introduced at the 2026 World Cup, alongside the debut of Super Bowl-style championship rings for the winners and water breaks during each half.

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Taking to X, Gallagher voiced his displeasure over the World Cup halftime show, which featured a host of high-profile artists.

In an initial post, he likened the spectacle to a “bad trip,” although he did not elaborate on what he meant.

He later responded to a fan who suggested Oasis would have been perfect for such a stage.

“It’s not about us, well it is, but still it’s absolutely insane behavior it’s cuckoo with a capital K,” the singer wrote.

Gallagher also admitted the show nearly pushed him over the edge.

“It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on, or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge,” he added.

Justin Bieber Was The One Bright Spot For Gallagher

Despite criticizing the show as a whole, Gallagher appeared to be impressed by Justin Bieber’s performance. The “Baby” singer was a late addition to the World Cup halftime lineup, which also featured global stars including Shakira and BTS.

In a separate post acknowledging Bieber’s appearance, Gallagher simply wrote, “Justin Rules.” He later praised Bieber’s acoustic rendition of “Everything Hallelujah” in the comments of a fan’s post.

The fan wrote, “Who thought Justin Bieber playing some acoustic Hallelujah song was going to slap??”

Gallagher replied, “ME,” making it clear that Bieber’s performance was one of the few parts of the show he genuinely enjoyed.

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Netizens Shared Liam Gallagher’s Frustration

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Gallagher’s opinion resonated with many fans, who flooded the replies to his posts with similar reactions.

“America certainly knows how to kill a football match. Utter shocker of a half-time,” one fan wrote.

“This is genuinely nonsense. It doesn’t belong in the World Cup. They can have their halftime shows during the Super Bowl,” another user added, referencing the tradition’s American roots.

A third commented, “As an American, I’m sorry. We were all equally embarrassed for halftime.”

One more person wrote, “Nailed it. It’s giving ‘I took the wrong turn and now reality’s glitching’ vibes.”

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The Biggest Changes At The 2026 World Cup

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Beyond the introduction of a halftime show, the 2026 World Cup featured several significant changes.

The biggest was the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, marking the first World Cup with that format after seven editions featuring 32 nations dating back to 1998.

FIFA also introduced water breaks, a controversial addition that effectively split each match into four periods rather than the traditional two uninterrupted halves.

For the first time in World Cup history, the champions also received bespoke championship rings. Each ring was individually numbered and custom-fitted, featuring the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side and personalized details reflecting the winning nation on the other.

Will The Halftime Show Return In 2030?

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FIFA has yet to confirm whether the World Cup halftime show will return for the 2030 tournament. It also remains unclear whether the bespoke championship rings introduced in 2026 will become a permanent feature.

What is already confirmed is that the 2030 World Cup will be primarily hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.

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As part of FIFA’s centenary celebrations, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will each stage one commemorative opening match honoring the inaugural 1930 World Cup, which was held in Uruguay. All six host nations will qualify automatically for the tournament, while the remaining places will be decided through the usual qualification process.

Speaking ahead of the 2026 final, however, Trump presented a different proposal. “I had a great idea for Gianni: You have to do two countries. Announce us again next time, and then announce another country after that. It’ll take out some of the anger and the shock,” Trump told Jenny Taft of Fox Sports.

The fantasy genre is packed with masterpieces, books that have truly changed the way we experience the genre. Think of the usual suspects — The Lord of the Rings, the Stormlight Archive series, the Earthsea Cycle — the books that have shaped fantasy on the page, creating some of the most daring, wondrous, and timeless worlds and allowing us to escape our reality for a few hundred precious pages. Not all fantasy masterpieces are as recognized as the genre’s titans; indeed, many become forgotten in the sands of time, which is what could be said of Joe Abercrombie‘s The First Law trilogy.

This gritty, subversive fantasy saga turns all the genre’s usual tropes on their head, focusing on flawed characters in a broken, politically corrupt continent. A defining entry in the grimdark subgenre, The First Law trilogy is not nearly as recognized as it should be, but all that can change if only readers picked up the first book, which will undoubtedly grab their full attention from the opening pages. The first book in the series, The Blade Itself, has some of the strongest opening pages of any fantasy book, throwing the reader directly into the action and refusing to let go. A book is only as strong as its opening pages, and The Blade Itself is a masterclass of how to open a fantasy saga.

What Is ‘The Blade Itself’ About?

As expected from a grimdark fantasy, The Blade Itself is set in a bleak, corrupt, deeply cynical world. The plot follows three characters as their paths collide, courtesy of a mysterious mage. There’s Logen Ninefingers, a barbarian who travels south after losing his companions in the north. There’s Inquisitor Sand dan Glokta, once a dashing hero who suffered mutilations as a POW, now a torturer investigating corruption in Adua, the capital city of the Union. Finally, there’s Captain Jezal dan Luthar, a vain nobleman whose self-interest clashes with his sense of duty as the loom of war approaches. The three characters find themselves joining the mage Bayaz, First of the Magi, who recruits them to go on a dangerous quest. Meanwhile, the Union is threatened by King Bethod in the north and the Gurkish Empire in the South.

The Blade Itself is primarily a character-driven story. There’s not much plot per se, rather the basis for what will eventually become the First Law trilogy. However, the book is exceptionally well-written, particularly regarding the protagonists’ characterization. Logen, Jezal, and Glokta are three of the most fascinating characters in fantasy, each one amoral, elusive, contradictory, and endlessly compelling. The Blade Itself also has some unexpected, pitch-black humor, making it a far richer, more engaging read.

‘The Blade Itself’ Hooks You in From the Opening Pages

Image via  Bragelonne

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The Blade Itself opens with a prologue, ominously titled “The End.” Immediately, we are introduced to Logen Ninefingers, and from what we can read, he’s a fearsome warrior. The premise of these four pages is simple: in the freezing north, Logen becomes separate from his companions before being attacked by two enemies, whom he refers to as either “Shanka” or “Flathead.” Here, Abercrombie’s prose is incredibly vivid but economical: in a few well-chosen words, he immerses us in this barren, freezing place, setting the stage by describing key features — the earth, the wind, the trees — but without wasting too much time being overly descriptive.

Similarly, the action is muscular and fast-paced; much like an actual battle to the death, it avoids flourishes and sticks to the facts. Through it all, Abercrombie’s writing flows effortlessly; it’s sequential, almost messy, but incredibly effective at grabbing your attention and completely submerging you into this arctic hell. Although just four pages long, “The End” successfully makes you feel the stress, the life-or-death stakes; in just over a thousand words, you’ve come to root for Logen, despite knowing next to nothing about him. There’s an incredible effectiveness to this prologue; you don’t know anything about this world except that it’s dangerous and unforgiving, ideas that spread to the overall worldbuilding. It’s tremendously astute, worldbuilding by way of action rather than info dumps.

Two pages then separate the prologue from Part I, a quote from the Greek poet Homer that surely inspired the book’s title as the only content here. Then, we jump straight into the aftermath, in the four-episode chapter titled “The Survivors.” Logen’s journey continues, picking up after barely surviving the Shanka attack. Once again, Abecrombie brilliantly sets the scene, first by describing Logen’s battered state, then by putting us in his decision-making process. He survived, but now what? Surviving alone requires tools, the equipment he left at his camp when the attack began. Thus, he goes back to the place where the violence erupted, finding the remnants of the camp he once shared with his companions.

It’s here that we see another side of Logen, as he mourns his surely dead companions and expresses a sentimental attachment for an old pot that had accompanied him for the last decade or so, and which somehow survived the attack. There’s a haunting melancholy to the scene, as Abercrombie’s gloomy prose paints a somber portrait of a veteran of conflict realizing he might never escape the cycle of violence. That Abercrombie manages to do so much character work while actively progressing the plot is genuinely astonishing, and it’s something you can expect throughout the rest of the book. In The Blade Itself, the characterization is the main event, and worldbuilding comes through character beats. Not many fantasy books can say that for themselves.

‘The Blade Itself’ Is a Must-Read for Any Fantasy Fan

Image via  Gollancz

The restless, near-harrowing yet immersive quality of these ten opening pages is a perfect testament to The Blade Itself‘s overall approach and quality. These introductory chapters are a microcosm of what Abercrombie has in store for you: there will be action, ruthless and enveloping, messy yet consciously written; there will be humor, dark, bordering on macabre, but successful at bringing some much-needed levity; there will be a sense of sorrow, a pervading wistfulness that clashes against the bleak, oppressive environment to create a distinctly haunting atmosphere.

Above all, The Blade Itself will offer you a vivid portrayal of survival in the face of near-total amorality. You won’t find knights in shining armor here, but rather broken, profoundly flawed, self-serving anti-heroes doing what they can with the hand they’ve been given, playing a rigged game with one hand tied behind their backs. If you love the war-infested, political intricacy of A Song of Ice and Fire and the melancholy, character-driven storytelling of Kazuo Ishiguro‘s works, then The Blade Itself and the larger First Law trilogy are perfect for you.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 11 seconds ago

Once upon a time, it seemed impossible that we’d ever get a Deadpool movie. And we probably never would have if Ryan Reynolds hadn’t leaked test footage online, causing such a massive fan response that 20th Century Fox had no choice but to greenlight that first film. After they made one sequel, Disney bought Fox, and we got the crowdpleasing team-up Deadpool & Wolverine. At that point, the Merc With a Mouth was officially part of the MCU. This led fans to frantically speculate about when we’d get another movie featuring the raunchiest superhero ever made.

Historically, Reynolds has played coy with such questions, indicating that he wants plenty of space between Deadpool movies and that he thinks the character would work better in an ensemble than a solo film. It was therefore all the more shocking to hear the actor casually confirm over the weekend that Marvel Studios is working on a new Deadpool movie. That’s the good news for fans: we’ll be getting another solo movie featuring this popular character, probably sooner than anyone imagines. The bad news? Beyond the fact that the studio is working on it, there are basically zero details about this new movie.

The Merc With A Mouth Has Plenty More To Say

This information comes to us from Ryan Reynolds. Over the weekend, he was attending Fanatics Fest and dishing with his fans about all things Deadpool. He started talking about things from the character’s publication history that he would like to see in a future film. “There’s a few really deep cuts that I think are missing behind the movies. I think there’s a few deep cuts missing from some of the comics,” he said. “There’s certainly some stuff that, you know, I love that Fabian Nicieza wrote that is incredible. Gerry Duggan, who was a friend, was an incredible comic writer.” Nicieza co-created Deadpool, and Duggan was the writer for the 2013 Deadpool series.

For those in attendance, this initially seemed like nothing more than the actor’s wishlist of things he’d like to see in some hypothetical, future sequel. However, he ended his thoughts with a quiet bombshell of an announcement: “There’s stuff upcoming. There’s eventually, you know, remotely another Deadpool film. It’s going to be great.” Upon this announcement, The Hollywood Reporter reached out to their sources close to Marvel Studios. Those sources confirmed that the movie is in very early development and that no writer or director is currently attached to the project. It’s possible the movie will tackle the comics stories Reynolds alluded to, but he was vague (possibly deliberately so) about exact details.  

More Superhero Team-Ups Await

When and how Deadpool appears again in the MCU will likely depend on the resolution of Avengers: Secret Wars. That Doomsday sequel is supposed to reset the whole cinematic universe, paving the way for recasting characters and making it so that certain groups (like the X-Men and the Fantastic Four) have always been there. This may allow for a new version of Deadpool, one who has experience with the various iconic Marvel heroes. Alternatively, his uncanny ability to break the fourth wall might make him one of the only characters who understands that all of reality has been rewritten around him.

Of course, we can always cross our fingers he ends up in an adjacent multiverse, allowing for a big-screen adaptation of the infamous comic Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe. Hey, a fanboy can dream, right? At any rate, we’ll likely know a bit more about the Deadpool movie by the end of the year. Until then, fans can enjoy their overloaded plates full of Marvel entertainment like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. Just be sure to take a page out of Deadpool’s book and leave room for some chimichangas!

Solomon “Bear” Brown has been granted a temporary civil protection order against a man in Washington for alleged stalking and harassment in the weeks after his brother’s tragic suicide.

“My eldest brother Matt recently ended his life,” Bear claimed in a July 2 court petition obtained exclusively by Us on Tuesday, July 21. “A witness reported seeing Matt‘s body floating down the Okanogan River; however, the volunteer search and rescue organization was unable to locate him.”

The former reality star claimed a man who was involved in a private search and rescue group allegedly located Matt’s body.

Bear claimed not to know this individual – who Us has chosen not to identify – aside from his association with the local Washington town and the recovery of his brother. He does, however, allege the man “vaguely claims to have been a very close friend of my brother – has since the search incessantly attacked me online, including on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.”

Related: Bear Brown Claims Brother Matt Struggled With Relapse Before Disappearance

Bear Brown has shared details of his brother Matt Brown’s past struggles amid the Alaskan Bush People alum’s disappearance. Posting via TikTok on Thursday, May 28, Bear, 38, claimed that Matt, 43, had been grappling with some tough situations in his personal life. “He has been struggling for a long time, you know, with alcohol […]

Bear requested the court schedule a hearing for a full protection order, which was subsequently granted and set for later this month.

“The incessant — and increasingly unhinged — attacks are extremely concerning. He has posted dozens of videos on social media, spewing hate, and vitriol against my family,” he alleged, per the documents. “In particular, he has targeted me repeatedly, making all manner of bizarre and strange claims, including that I sent people to harass his family – even though I do not even know this individual – and publicly defaming me by bizarrely claiming that I was responsible for the Palmer Fire in 2020.”

The Palmer Fire was a wildfire that began on August 18, 2020, in Okanogan County, Washington, scorching a total of 17,988 acres of timber, brush, and grasslands.

“After appearing for 14 seasons on the Alaskan Bush People reality TV show, I have become a recognizable personality; unfortunately, what comes with being recognizable is unwarranted criticism from fans, followers, and naysayers,” Bear continued in the docs. “The best way to handle it is usually to ignore it, which is what I try to do. However, I am afraid that [his] behavior has become too erratic and dangerous to ignore.”

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Related: Bear Brown Condemns ‘Hateful‘ Comments Amid Fears for Brother Matt

Bear Brown slammed people leaving disrespectful comments about brother Matt Bear amid the family’s concerns for his well-being. “First off, I’m not just making a video on rumors. It’s a very, very, very, very small chance it’s not him. It’s like 99 percent him,” Bear, 38, said of the family’s fear for Matt, 43, in […]

Bear claimed that a July 1social media post from this man “is perfectly representative of why I have become afraid for my life.”

He also asked the court to include protection orders for his ex-wife Raiven, mother Amora, brothers Noah, Josh, Gabriel, and sisters Snowbird and Rain.

He also requested the court to order the man to “stop posting, publishing, sharing, or encouraging the disclosure of any personal identifying information of me, my family members or any other protected person,” in addition to removing all information from the internet that has already been posted.

Under the temporary order, the man has to stay at least 1,000 feet away from Bear and his family. Part of the reality TV star’s request also includes a court ordered evaluations for both mental health and drug and alcohol, and that he surrender any and all firearms he may own.

Bear pointed to a concerning comment on the man’s most recent TikTok video.

“[It stated] with regard to me, returning to Washington to attend my brother‘s funeral that he is ‘locked and loaded, waiting with my dog,’” he wrote in the petition. “This rises above the behavior of some immature, petulant, blowhard, who will eventually tire himself out and occupy himself with the next shiny thing that catches his attention. This is an active threat to harm me with a firearm.”

He added, “I genuinely fear for my life. I likewise fear for the safety of my family members who will be around me while we attend my brother‘s funeral. I do not know what to expect, other than his own representation that he is ‘locked and loaded’ – and all that statement plainly implies.”

Bear said in docs that he also contacted the local police for any guidance and a deputy acknowledged that the man in question “may indeed pose a danger,“ and encouraged him to file a request for protection order.

Related: ‘Alaskan Bush People’ Family: A Comprehensive Guide

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The family of Alaskan Bush People showcased their unique lifestyle for viewers from 2014 until 2022. The Discovery Channel docudrama-style reality show followed Billy Brown and Ami Brown as they survived in the remote wilderness of Alaska — and later Washington state — with their seven children, Matt Brown, Joshua “Bam Bam” Brown, Bear Brown, […]

Bear also claimed that this man has publicly posted his cell phone number — along with phone numbers of most of his family members — and as a result his family has since been “subjected to an onslaught of unwanted text messages and phone calls, severely disrupting our daily lives, our privacy and our sense of safety.”

The former reality star also alleged that this individual “very recently engaged in increasingly strange, hostile and disturbing behavior involving my deceased brother, and my family. After locating my brother’s body [he] filmed and posted images of my brother‘s deceased body from the knees down, which I found deeply inappropriate and upsetting. He then took possession of my brother‘s truck, displayed it as a so-called memorial in town, allowed people to vandalize it in the name of ceremony, and repeatedly refused to return it when asked, even stating that he intended to keep it.”

Bear also alleged that this man “used copyrighted intellectual property and my brother‘s image to create and sell T-shirts, claiming the proceeds were for charity to help the family, yet we have not received any of those funds.

“When confronted about returning the truck or profiting from images that do not belong to him, [he] becomes enraged, abrasive, insulting, and threatening,” he continued. “Over time, his conduct toward me in particular has become increasingly aggressive, spiteful and unstable, including demanding an apology video from me despite my having done nothing to warrant one.”

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Bear claimed when he arrived in Washington on July 2 to assist with his late brother’s funeral arrangements and cremation, he was within miles of this individual.

“His most recent posts are threatening and unhinged, including statements that this was my ‘last chance,’ [and] that he was going to make me ’pay.’ Based on this escalating pattern of behavior, I am genuinely concerned that he may attempt to assault me or shoot me, and I fear for my safety and the safety of those around me.”

Because the man had not yet been served with court papers, Bear’s temporary protection order was reissued by the court on July 14 and the next hearing is set for July 28.

Netflix subscribers have shown they still have an appetite for ambitious international genre stories. Human Vapor, the streamer’s new eight-episode Japanese sci-fi thriller, racked up 24.3 million hours viewed, landing in Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV rankings shortly after its debut. It’s another reminder that some of the platform’s most compelling original series continue to come from outside Hollywood.

Premiering on July 2, Human Vapor revives a little-known Toho cult classic from 1960, but don’t expect a straightforward remake. Instead, the series borrows its central supernatural concept and builds an entirely new mystery around it, combining crime drama, political conspiracy, body horror, and science fiction into a thriller that’s as interested in corruption as it is in spectacle.

What Is Netflix’s ‘Human Vapor’ About?

Image via Netflix

The first scene features an action-packed moment: a well-known television professor is interviewed during a live broadcast when a mysterious force suddenly attacks him, causing him to explode right in front of the audience. The tragic incident gives birth to a new mysterious character called the Human Vapor, who can transform into gas and kill victims from inside.

The case leads detective Kenji Okamoto (Shun Oguri) back to work, while reporter Kyoko Kono (Yû Aoi) sees the attack herself. The pair has a complicated history and is getting more and more involved in each other’s investigation as they find out more murders. The issue doesn’t turn out to be a supernatural serial killer case but becomes something unpredictable and more significant. The Human Vapor is systematically targeting people connected to the mysterious White Center, an organization whose buried secrets stretch back decades and tie together politicians, organized crime, law enforcement, and a long-forgotten meteorite disaster.

Although Hollywood usually creates a negative impression of remakes, Human Vapor cleverly avoids the pitfall of remaking the 1960 film scene-for-scene. The 1960 original Human Vapor, directed by Ishirō Honda, tells the story of a man who became a victim of a scientific experiment and began using his powers to commit thefts, while relying on tragic love. The adaptation on Netflix retains the memorable supernatural theme but tells a completely different story, turning it into an eight-episode thriller about a conspiracy.

Rather than relying on nostalgia, writers Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan, Hellbound) and Ryu Yong-jae build an entirely new mythology that explores institutional corruption, revenge, and the abuse of power. The project also represents a behind-the-scenes milestone as the first collaboration between Netflix and Toho, the legendary Japanese studio best known worldwide for Godzilla. It’s an ambitious partnership that modernizes one of Toho’s lesser-known properties without abandoning its tokusatsu roots.

‘Human Vapor’ Balances Body Horror With an Expansive Mystery

Image Via Netflix

The gruesome opening sequence makes it easy to assume Human Vapor is primarily interested in shocking viewers. While the series certainly embraces graphic body horror, that’s only one piece of a much larger puzzle. The investigation gradually introduces journalists, corrupt officials, yakuza figures, livestreamers chasing internet fame, and survivors connected to the White Center’s dark past. Every new character expands the conspiracy rather than distracting from it, allowing the mystery to grow organically across all eight episodes.

The title villain also stands apart from many modern genre antagonists. Played by model Uta Uchida in his acting debut, the Human Vapor is an unsettling presence who often says very little, making his quiet demeanor almost as unnerving as his ability to drift through the air before violently dispatching his targets.

Visually, the series blends practical effects with CGI to bring the gaseous transformations to life. While some digital effects are more convincing than others, the show consistently finds inventive ways to build suspense, turning everyday smoke, steam, and lingering clouds into reminders that the Human Vapor could be anywhere.

Netflix Continues Finding Global Genre Hits

Image via Netflix

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Netflix’s Human Vapor is yet another case of its content surpassing geographical borders and reaching audiences across the globe. The show is similar to Hellbound, Parasyte: The Grey, and several other recent Asian genre productions in that it trusts its audience to understand unfamiliar contexts and appreciate original storytelling without diluting it to make it more universally relatable.

This conviction is what distinguishes the series from a host of competing shows. The audience is presented with neither yet another crime drama nor another superhero story, but with a breathtaking mixture of film noir, sci-fi, political thrillers, horror films, and emotional dramas. Its strong streaming performance suggests subscribers are responding to exactly that kind of originality. By transforming an overlooked 1960 cult film into a sprawling modern conspiracy thriller rather than a nostalgia exercise, Human Vapor demonstrates that some of the best reboots don’t try to recreate the past — they use it as a starting point for something entirely new.

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Human Vapor

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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Network

Netflix

Directors

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Shinzo Katayama

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