Netflix has no shortage of spy thrillers, but Unfamiliar actually trusts its audience to make deductions. The German-language thriller, which landed on the streamer as a six-episode limited series, knows exactly how much information to reveal and when to hold something back. Each revelation changes what we thought we knew about the story, the characters, and, most importantly, the marriage at its center.

Unfamiliar has the chilly Berlin atmosphere, Russian intelligence operatives, and shadowy government conspiracies you’d expect from a modern espionage drama, but its most compelling conflict happens much closer to home. Meret and Simon Schäfer aren’t simply trying to figure out who is coming after them. They’re trying to determine how well they actually know the person they’ve spent the last 16 years beside. And six episodes suddenly feels like a pretty frustratingly small amount of time to spend with them.

What Is Netflix’s ‘Unfamiliar’ About?

Image via Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Meret (Susanne Wolff) and Simon (Felix Kramer) appear to have built a quiet life in Berlin. They’re married, they run a restaurant and a secret safe house, and they’re raising their teenage daughter Nina (Maja Bons). There’s only one problem: The couple isn’t who their daughter thinks they are.

Sixteen years earlier, Meret and Simon were agents for Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, or BND. They eventually abandoned their old identities and disappeared into a new life, leaving their past behind — or at least trying to. That arrangement starts to collapse on Nina’s 16th birthday, when an injured stranger arrives at their safe house claiming he needs protection.

Meret immediately senses something is wrong, and she’s right. The stranger knows details about the couple’s past that he shouldn’t know, including information about an undercover operation in Belarus in 2008. That mission involved Josef Koleev (Samuel Finzi), a ruthless officer with Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, who has now resurfaced in Berlin.

‘Unfamiliar’ Makes Its Spy Games Feel Personal

Image via Netflix

The show certainly delivers the expected spycraft, as characters hack databases, manipulate surveillance footage, break into secure locations, and resort to some decidedly unpleasant interrogation techniques. Even the BND itself gets an interesting treatment. Rather than presenting German intelligence as an impossibly efficient machine filled with James Bond-style super-spies, Unfamiliar portrays an agency constrained by bureaucracy, oversight, and the country’s stringent rules around intelligence gathering. The result is a world where Meret and Simon’s willingness to operate outside those boundaries becomes part of what makes them so effective and dangerous.

Meret and Simon have been together long enough that they don’t need to explain themselves to one another. They have shared history, shorthand, and a deep understanding of how the other person operates, which makes the gradual erosion of their trust far more painful than a conventional spy-thriller betrayal. Their entire adult lives have been built around deception, and their former careers required multiple identities and carefully constructed lies, and they’ve carried those habits into the life they’ve created together.

Meanwhile, Nina’s presence gives those secrets an additional weight. She has grown up believing she knows her parents. As pieces of their past begin surfacing, the consequences aren’t confined to Meret and Simon. Their daughter is forced to reconsider the people she thought she understood.

Six Episodes of Unfamiliar Leave Plenty of Story Behind

Image via Netflix

The irony is that Unfamiliar‘s biggest strength also makes its six-episode run feel too short. The series is disciplined in its storytelling, and doesn’t spend hours wandering through unnecessary subplots. The show leaves plenty of room to keep exploring this world, particularly through the BND and characters such as Julika Ritter (Seyneb Saleh), a determined agent who is increasingly willing to trust her instincts rather than those above her. Josef and Vera Koleev’s marriage also introduces another fascinating variation on the show’s obsession with secrets, loyalty and power.

There’s a reason audiences have compared Unfamiliar to shows such as The Americans, Slow Horses and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Espionage is most interesting when the danger isn’t confined to some anonymous geopolitical crisis and is what happens when the lies required to survive professionally become inseparable from the lies people tell in their personal lives.

Unfamiliar doesn’t need a bigger conspiracy or louder action scenes to justify another season. Meret and Simon’s story may reach a satisfying point, but there’s still plenty left to uncover, and after spending six episodes watching this carefully constructed web of lies unravel, it’s hard not to want another few hours inside it.

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Unfamiliar

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Release Date

February 5, 2026

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Netflix

Writers

Paul Coates, Kim Zimmermann, Alexander Seibt

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Lindsay Clancy’s attorney is addressing online conspiracy theories about her ex-husband Patrick Clancy after a Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in her triple-murder case for the death of their three children.

“I think Patrick, you heard the 911 call, I think you can judge his credibility by that 911 call,” Kevin Reddington told reporters on Friday, September 4, after a deadlocked 11-1 jury failed to reach a unanimous decision. “I don’t know what is in Patrick’s mind. He testified, and the jury was able to evaluate it.”

When a reporter pointed out that many online conspiracy theorists have called Patrick a murderer, the lawyer responded, “Not by me.”

Lindsay was on trial for the murder of her three young children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months. The mother has not denied she strangled her children to death before jumping out a second-story window in an apparent suicide attempt. Instead, her defense team argued she is not criminally liable because of her documented mental health issues leading up to and at the time of the killings, including postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder.

Related: Lindsay Clancy’s Ex-Husband Patrick Breaks Silence After Mistrial

Patrick Clancy and his legal team are reacting to a judge’s decision to declare a mistrial in his ex-wife Lindsay Clancy’s murder case. “Patrick Clancy is grateful to the Court and to the jurors for their hard work, their commitment and their perseverance,” Patrick’s attorney David Meier said in a statement to CBS News on […]

The prosecution argued she was able to differentiate right from wrong when she strangled her children, claiming it was a premeditated and cruel act.

During the court of the weeks-long trial, a number of conspiracies were shared online, alleging Patrick was responsible for the children’s deaths and framed his mentally fragile wife. Some have pointed to his inconsistencies while testifying on his ex-wife’s behalf. (Patrick has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against some of his wife’s health care team, alleging they overmedicated the mother and failed to properly treat her mental health issues, resulting in their children’s deaths.)

“That’s his testimony,” Reddington said of Patrick’s time in court. “People get nervous when they testify. They say things and they get confused. It’s not easy to be on that witness stand.”

When asked again to comment on Patrick’s credibility, Reddington reiterated, “He testified. Jurors weighed his testimony and uh, you know, I mean — most of you didn’t hear the 911 tape.”

He continued of the online conspiracy theories, “I mean people on the internet, they’re going to say — regarding the people on the internet, I certainly don’t dismiss them. It’s amazing what people on TikTok and Instagram — I do know those things — it’s amazing how they’re able to [find out] facts and they do investigations and it’s truly amazing, this whole concept of the internet.”

Shortly after judge declared a mistrial in the high-profile case, Patrick broke his silence via his attorney.

Related: Patrick Clancy Appeared Stressed With New Wife During NYC Outing Amid Trial

Lindsay Clancy‘s ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, looked stressed when he was spotted having a conversation with his new wife, Rachel Danis, in New York City while Lindsay is on trial for killing their three children in Massachusetts. Patrick, 39, and Danis were spotted at an apartment in Manhattan around 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, according […]

“Patrick Clancy is grateful to the Court and to the jurors for their hard work, their commitment and their perseverance,” David Meier, the father’s attorney, said in a statement to CBS News on Friday. “The loss of Patrick’s children is something from which he will never recover and from which there will never be closure.”

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Lindsay remains in custody and under psychiatric care at Tewksbury State Hospital in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. A GoFundMe established to financially assist her parents, Michael Musgrave and Paula Musgrave, as they remain by their daughter’s side has increased its goal to $3 million in the wake of the mistrial.

A status update hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 28, as the prosecution weighs the possibility of a retrial.

If you or someone you know is pregnant or just had a baby and is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

Milo Ventimiglia’s wife, Jarah Mariano, is returning to the surf for the first time since giving birth to baby No. 2.

“So good to be back in the sea. Finally got into the water the other week at 2 months postpartum and paddled on my surfboard for the first time in over 2 years,” Mariano, 42, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, September 5. “I caught 0.3 waves, but I am stoked.”

She continued, “Being connected to the ocean and surfing again is such a necessary step in reconnecting to myself. Seeing how I’ve been pregnant for what feels like the past 10 yrs with 2 babies only 17 months apart in age, this all means more to me than I can ever explain on an IG caption.”

Mariano and Ventimiglia, 49, welcomed son Rock-Anthony in July. (The couple’s eldest daughter, Ke’ala, previously arrived in January 2025.)

Related: Milo Ventimiglia Makes Rare Comment About Bonding With ‘Magical’ Daughter

Milo Ventimiglia has loved embracing daddy duty. “I hang with my kid,” Ventimiglia, 48, said of his favorite hobbies on the Thursday, February 19, episode of Annie F. Downs’ “That Sounds Fun” podcast. “[I’m] just watching my daughter, kind of, observe life and be curious herself.” Ventimiglia’s wife, Jarah Mariano, gave birth to their daughter, […]

“These last couple of weeks have been chaos, but in the best possible way,” Mariano wrote via Instagram at the time, announcing her son’s birth. “Welcome back home Rock-Anthony Makoa Ventimiglia. Can’t wait for all of the adventures ahead with our family of 5!”

Us broke the news in October 2023 that the This Is Us alum and Mariano secretly wed several months earlier after a private courtship. One year later, Mariano revealed her pregnancy with Ke’ala, who was born in 2025 just weeks after their family home was lost in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

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Related: Milo Ventimiglia’s Wife Jarah Mariano Gives Birth to Their 2nd Baby

Milo Ventimiglia and his wife, Jarah Mariano, are officially parents of two babies under the age of 2. “These last couple of weeks have been chaos, but in the best possible way,” Mariano, 42, wrote via Instagram on Monday, July 6. “Welcome back home Rock-Anthony Makoa Ventimiglia. Can’t wait for all of the adventures ahead […]

“We’re doing great. My wife is the strongest person I know, and to be able to rebound from any of that is huge,” Ventimiglia exclusively told Us in December 2025. “But at the same time, [we’re] still dealing with insurance a year later. We’re still dealing with the remnants of the fires, but thank God we’ve been responsible with our funds and finances and were ready for something like this to happen.”

According to the actor, he and Mariano learned to appreciate the “simple necessities of life” after their home was destroyed.

“There’s nothing we need other than a roof over our head, food on our table,” he told Us at the time. “But [with] everything now I’m like, ‘What does my kid need? What would give her freedom?’ It’s anything from ‘Hey, let me make sure I’ve got a handful of pacifiers so she can sleep’ to ‘Well, I should probably set up a 529 exchange [account] so her college is paid for.’ And these were things [I learned] through friends of mine that had been fathers way earlier than me.”

Bringing Up Bates alum Katie Bates is clearing up rumors that she and husband Travis Clark are expanding their family after reconciling following his affair scandal.

During a Saturday, September 5, Instagram Story Q&A session, Bates, 25, acknowledged that she received “lots” of questions about whether she is pregnant.

“No, I’m not pregnant,” Bates clarified. “[I’m] just soaking in the two sweet babies we have.”

Katie, one of Gil and Kelly Jo Bates’ 19 children, has been married to Clark, 25, since 2021. The couple are parents to daughter Hailey, 3, and son Harvey, 23 months.

Related: Bringing Up Bates’ Travis Clark Praised Wife’s ‘Love’ 3 Months Before Affair

Bringing Up Bates alum Travis Clark publicly celebrated his wife, Katie Bates, less than three months before admitting he was unfaithful in their marriage. “Happy 25th to the easiest person in the world to celebrate,” Clark, 24, wrote via Instagram in October 2025. “You love so deeply, give so much of yourself to everything you […]

Katie announced in January that she suffered a pregnancy loss with what would have been the pair’s third child. The next day, Clark publicly apologized for his infidelity.

“This is hard to write, but I owe the truth and I owe an apology. I was unfaithful to my wife,” Clark wrote via his Instagram Stories at the time. “I had an affair and repeatedly broke her trust. There is no excuse for what I did. This was my failure and my responsibility alone. I know that words don’t begin to express the damage I caused or the depth of the hurt I’ve brought into her life, but I am truly sorry.”

Katie and Clark have since been working through the nursing student’s cheating scandal and attending couple’s therapy.

“I’ve been sitting in what I did for a couple months now, and I feel so much inside but it’s hard to find the right words,” Clark wrote via Instagram in March, addressing the scandal. “At the end of last year, I made decisions I deeply regret. I’m disappointed, ashamed, and honestly, disgusted with myself.”

He continued at the time, “The last couple months have been humbling. A lot of hard work, therapy, time with God. I know I’m not owed anything, but I am desperately fighting for my wife and my family every single day.”

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Amid their reconciliation, Katie and Clark relocated their family of four to Texas while reprioritizing their relationship and shared faith.

“On June 28th, 2026, I finally stopped running. I gave my life to Jesus and began a new life in Christ. Today I was baptized,” Clark wrote via Instagram last month. “To be honest, most of my life I’ve been running and chasing and I didn’t even realize it. I had an amazing life, a beautiful wife and family I loved, opportunities, money, a career, and somehow I was still deeply empty after reaching so many of the things I thought would fulfill me. In December of last year, I woke up frustrated, confused, exhausted, and started questioning almost everything I had ever believed.”

Katie replied, “Love you.”

I’m all for showing some skin, but sometimes I simply feel better with my upper arms covered. Instead of hiding underneath layers this autumn, I’m opting for flattering fall dresses with strategically roomy sleeves.

I landed on the following 13 fall dresses for hiding underarm ‘bat wings,’ including sweater dresses, burgundy knits and little black dresses. Even better, the lineup starts at $14, so go ahead and snag a style (or two, or three) for the season ahead!

13 Slimming Fall Dresses That Hide Underarm ‘Bat Wings’

1. Our Favorite: I’m a sucker for a dress with pockets, and this ribbed shift dress is a total winner. Plus, it easily pairs with sneakers for errands, lunch and everything in between.

2. Beautiful Burgundy: The long sleeves on this loose knit midi dress disguise underarm bat wings, while the flowy A-line skirt flatters the hips.

3. Fall Florals: Who says florals are only for spring and summer? I’m keeping them in rotation with this smocked floral dress, which has billowy long sleeves for plenty of coverage and a mini length that looks especially cute with white sneakers.

4. Sweater Weather: Consider this turtleneck sweater dress your fall outfit formula. The roomy long sleeves completely cover the upper arms, while the side slit keeps the midi silhouette from feeling overwhelming.

5. Cute and Casual: A pair of slim cream leather sneakers would make this floral mini dress an easy weekend outfit. The three-quarter sleeves offer coverage without feeling as heavy as a full-length layer.

Related: 13 Breezy Three-Quarter-Sleeve Dresses That Flatter Underarm Jiggle

Hate it or love it, everyone has something that makes them feel self-conscious. Whether you prefer to wear all-black to combat sweat stains or opt for loose-fitting styles to conceal your curves, there’s always a fashion fix to your style dilemmas. Need tips for concealing underarm batwings? We found 13 breezy, three-quarter-sleeve dresses that will […]

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6. Burgundy Beauty: Few colors get me more excited for fall than burgundy, so this long-sleeve sweater dress immediately caught my eye. I like how the streamlined silhouette balances out the completely covered arms.

7. Olive Obsession: I’d personally go straight for olive in this smocked babydoll dress, but there are plenty of other shades and prints if green isn’t your thing. The fitted bodice and billowy sleeves also give it that flattering mix of shape and coverage I’m after.

8. Desk to Dinner: This button-front sweater dress is exactly the kind of piece I’d wear with sneakers for the morning commute, then change into heels at my desk. Come dinner, the fitted silhouette already feels polished enough for evening plans.

9. Fall Florals: Instead of another printed floral, I’m drawn to the subtle floral texture on this chocolate-brown dress. The semi-sheer sleeves keep the upper arms covered without taking away from its light, feminine feel.

10. Belt It: I love that this camel sweater dress can be worn loose or cinched with a belt when I want more definition. I’d add suede sneakers for a casual day, then belt it and switch to boots when temperatures really drop.

11. Pretty in Pleats: I’m drawn to the movement of this textured fall dress, from its billowy sleeves to its tiered skirt. The rich burgundy shade makes the whole floaty silhouette feel especially right for fall.

12. Throw-On Hero: When I don’t know what to wear, a black waffle-knit dress like this is my favorite solution. I’d pair it with low-profile leather sneakers for running errands, grabbing coffee or meeting friends for lunch.

13. Easy Elegance: I love how this long-sleeve maxi dress manages to look polished without feeling fussy. The smocked empire waist, billowy sleeves and rich brown shade do most of the styling for me.

UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping

Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Shop the UsNow Fall Sale –>

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Related: 15 Slimming Dresses That Make Underarm ‘Batwings’ Disappear — Starting at $10

If there’s one thing spring is getting Us excited about, it’s the sunny, summertime weather ahead. As we inch closer to a new season, it’s time to curate a fresh capsule wardrobe. Though often overlooked, dresses with 3/4-length sleeves are surprisingly slimming, specifically when it comes to concealing underarm “batwings.” Whether you’re tired of stressing […]

Lindsay Clancy will remain in custody at a mental health facility after a Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in the mother’s high-profile triple-murder case.

“I’m going to declare a mistrial at this point,” Judge William Sullivan announced in court on Friday, September 4, before granting Clancy’s defense team one hour to file an emergency appeal. The appeal was ultimately denied and the deadlocked 11-1 jury was dismissed.

Clancy was on trial for the murder of her three children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — before attempting to die by suicide. The mother has admitted to strangling her children to death, but argues she should not be held responsible due to her well-documented mental health issues, including postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder.

The prosecution representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts claims that despite her mental health issues, Clancy was aware of her actions and acted in a premeditated manner when she killed her children.

Related: Where Is Lindsay Clancy Being Held After Mistrial? Details on Her Housing

UPDATE — 9/04/26, 5:10 p.m. ET: The judge presiding over Lindsay Clancy‘s nearly six-week murder trial officially declared a mistrial on Friday, September 4, after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision and were deadlocked 11-1. Clancy’s attorney was granted a hail mary opportunity to petition a higher court to put the Judge’s decision […]

As both the prosecution and the defense prepare for the likelihood of a retrial, a GoFundMe for Clancy’s parents, Michael Musgrave and Paula Musgrave, has increased its overall goal to $3 million as the mother remains in custody and under psychiatric care at Tewksbury State Hospital.

Learn more about the facility where the Clancy will stay as she awaits her fate below:

Where Will Lindsay Clancy Stay After the Mistrial

Clancy will remain at the Tewksbury State Hospital located in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, where she has remained since her 2023 arrest.

What Is Tewksbury State Hospital?

Tewksbury State Hospital is a comprehensive mental health care facility located on a 700 acre parcel of land capable of housing 370 patients at one time. The main hospital is 700,000 square feet, per the website, and features 12 patient care units. There are 41 buildings in total, equalling 1.1 million square feet of facility space.

In 2017, the facility housed, on average, 361 patients every day.

The facility is also a Joint Commission accredited hospital, per the facility’s website, meaning it adheres to a globally established gold standard for healthcare quality and patient safety, including rigorous international benchmarks focused on patient rights, access to care, facility safety, medication management and more.

The facility focuses on providing health care for those struggling with both physical and mental ailments.

What Type of Care does Tewksbury State Hospital Provide?

According to the facility’s website, the Tewksbury State Hospital provided “a broad range of services” to patients, including “a physician on site at all times, around-the-clock nursing care, rehabilitation services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, psychology services, social services, nutritional services and an on-site dialysis clinic.”

The facility also boasts a slew of speciality services for patients who need additional care, including a neurologic rehabilitation unit, a Huntington’s Disease program, substance abuse disorder and High Risk Services, staff with Department of Corrections backgrounds and a “multidisciplinary staff provides psychiatric, psychological, and neurobehavioral care to patients with both significant mental health issues and complex medical needs.”

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Related: Prosecutor Speaks After Judge Declares Mistrial in Lindsay Clancy Case

After a Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial due to a deadlocked jury, it’s not currently clear whether she’ll be retried for the killings of her three children. Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said there hasn’t been a decision on a retrial while addressing reporters following the mistrial declaration […]

The hospital’s website also dedicates a section to detail how it provides care to what it describes as its “challenging patients.”

“Tewksbury Hospital provides services to individuals who are not able to receive services in other settings,” the website reads. “The average patient admitted has been denied placement by 3 or more health care facilities because of behavioral issues and/or due to a high risk history which necessitates increased resources to provide a safe environment.”

In order to provide a high standard of care, the facility also works with five separate Massachusetts state agencies: Department of Health, Department of Mental Health Regional Offices, MassHealth Department of Medical Assistance, Department of Public Safety and the Mass Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

Does Tewksbury State Hospital Allow Visitors?

Yes, the facility does host visitation hours for its patients, though circumstances and hours can vary depending on a patient’s needs.

Suggested hours for family or friends to visit patients obtaining physical health care are Sunday through Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm. For patients in need of mental health care, suggested visitation hours are Monday through Friday, 1 pm to 4 pm and 6pm to 8pm.

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When speaking to the press following the mistrial, Clancy’s defense attorney Kevin Reddington reiterated that his client has been visited by a number of nurses and a chaplain since her arrest.

“She had people who would meet her, nurses who would know her and visit with her,” Reddington said at the time. “A chaplain who never knew her, who went for three years and continues to visit with her because of the type of person she is.”

If you or someone you know is pregnant or just had a baby and is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

After HBO recently released the official Harry Potter trailer, excitement for the show’s debut remains high despite mixed reviews. The first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will include eight episodes and premiere on December 25, 2026. Featuring a talented cast: Dominic McLaughlin stars as the lead, with Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, along with a charming ensemble, some of whose previous work is worth revisiting on free streaming platforms.

Emmy-winning John Lithgow, known for his acclaimed performances on stage and screen, was confirmed in February 2025 to join the main cast of Harry Potter as Albus Dumbledore. Prior to this role, Lithgow appeared in several projects, many of which achieved success, though not all. One such project will soon become available to stream for free this month, where it hopes to redeem itself after disappointing critics and audiences.

Released in 2019, Pet Sematary is the second film adaptation of Stephen King‘s 1983 novel and the third overall in the series. Starting September 25, 2026,the supernatural horror film will be available on Kanopy, a free, ad-free streaming platform, TV Insider reports. It will be joining several other titles debuting on the same day, including HBO’s drama film The Great Lillian Hall, the British classic Where Angels Fear to Tread, the 2025 war thriller Battle of Oslo, Doctor Who: Series 4, the miniseries Kafka, the documentary I Am Martin Parr, and the 2024 feature-length documentary The Bones. Kanopy is accessible only through participating libraries and institutions.

‘Pet Sematary’ Could Have Been Better

Directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer, with a screenplay by Jeff Buhler, many believe Pet Sematary is worse than King’s novel mainly because it replaces slow psychological tension with typical jump-scares and changes important plot details. Critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes also reflect this sentiment, noting that while the adaptation “takes its source material in a few different directions,” it feels more like “an exhuming almost as often as it does a revival.” The 58% RT series starring Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and Lithgow. After moving from Boston to rural Maine with their two children, the Creed family finds a mysterious graveyard in the woods behind their new house that can resurrect the dead.

Pet Sematary streams for free on Kanopy in a few weeks. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming coverage.

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Release Date

April 5, 2019

Runtime

100 minutes

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Director

Dennis Widmyer, Kevin Kolsch

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Producers

Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian

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After all the subpar Terminator sequels to hit theaters in the past few decades, it’s easy to forget that there are other franchise installments out there that actually work. While the movies are often hit-or-miss, television has been one medium that has elevated the James Cameron-created concept to something more philosophically engaging than any of the action-focused sequels. One such series, in particular, has recently begun to chart on the Apple TV Store, proving that audiences are hungry to see the war against Skynet continue. If you guessed Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, you’re right on the money.

‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ Went Beyond the Typical ‘Terminator’ Plot

The two-season Terminator continuation hit Fox at a weird time. The first season aired in the midst of the Writers’ Strike of 2007-’08, only a few years after the previous film installment, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, tried and failed to recapture the magic of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Even stranger, another sequel, Terminator Salvation, was in the works at the same time The Sarah Connor Chronicles hit the network, so the program had a lot stacked against it from the get-go. But truth be told, the series is the best (and certainly the most creatively engaging) entry in the larger franchise after James Cameron’s initial two films. Rather than use its connections to T2 as a crutch, trying to endlessly recreate the 1991 classic as was the case with most sequels, The Sarah Connor Chronicles uses it as a stepping stone to build something new, something that none of the films were able to accomplish — and all without overly subverting what made The Terminator and that first sequel great in the first place.

The premise is quite simple: In the years after T2, Sarah Connor (Lena Headey) and her son John (Thomas Dekker) are on the run after their actions at Cyberdyne, at least until a new Terminator sent from the future, designated “Cameron” (Summer Glau), is sent back to the ’90s to protect them. Given John’s desire not to have to live in a post-apocalyptic future, Sarah convinces Cameron to take them forward in time to 2007 for another shot at stopping Judgment Day (now set for 2011) and ensuring that Skynet is never created in the first place. Instead of just repeating the same old antics, their world is made further complicated by FBI Agent James Ellison (Richard T. Jones) and Kyle Reese’s (Jonathan Jackson) previously unknown brother Derek (Brian Austin Green), who each threaten the Connors’ well-being by bringing new T-888s to their doorstep. With an expanded cast and a more complex mythology, The Sarah Connor Chronicles balances fan expectations with new creative avenues crafted just for the series.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles took great care to explore both Sarah’s psychological instability and John’s struggles in accepting his destiny. Headey played Sarah a bit differently from Linda Hamilton, trying to merge the two incarnations of the character from the first two films into a well-rounded, psychologically complex individual. She certainly succeeded, presenting a case study in what bleak news of the future can do to a mother who truly wants what’s best for her son. Likewise, the show is perhaps the greatest adaptation of John Connor, acting as a bridge between the kid we met in T2 and the soldier we know he may one day be. Issues of fate and whether one can change their intended path were woven intimately throughout while simultaneously offering answers to long-wondered questions about how the Terminator timelines work.

‘The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ Will Likely Never Return, but the Series Deserves High Praise

Unfortunately, The Sarah Connor Chronicles was cancelled before it had the chance to appropriately conclude its divergence in the larger Terminator timeline. The impromptu series finale, “Born to Run,” ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, though one could arguably work it out in their mind as to how it might work as a circular conclusion meant to bookend the tension between John’s fate and Sarah’s hopes. But no matter how you view it, the journey is worth undertaking. Too many Terminator sequels have either decided that John Connor is no longer relevant to the Future War against Skynet or that Sarah Connor’s sacrifices in preventing Judgment Day meant nothing, but The Sarah Connor Chronicles doesn’t fall into either of these traps. Instead, the Fox drama reminds us of the importance of these characters while still making them feel deeply human and relatable, no matter the apocalyptic stakes at hand.

When it comes to Terminator media, fans have been burned one too many times. It’s sadly just par for the course these days. While we eagerly await James Cameron’s anticipated return to the franchise, there’s truly no better time to revisit Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Even in light of the controversial ending, it’s one of the few post-T2 installments actually worth the effort.

Sometimes, you don’t plan to watch a full 2–3 hour movie. I know I don’t. I just press play, give it a few minutes, and if it doesn’t pull me in, I’m out. Most films lose me somewhere in the middle anyway, even if they start strong.

But action movies are a bit different when they’re done right. When the story is tight and the action actually makes sense, you don’t feel the time passing. One scene leads into the next, and you’re not waiting for things to get better because they’re already gripping. That balance is hard to get right, which is why so many films fall apart halfway through. The ones on this list don’t have that problem. They stay consistent, keep the tension alive, and actually feel riveting from start to finish.

1

‘Speed’ (1994)

Image via 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved

In Speed, during a routine assignment, officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) becomes involved in a situation that involves a bomber who targets public transportation. After stopping an earlier threat, Jack learns that a new device has been placed on a city bus with a condition that it will detonate if the vehicle slows below a specific speed. He rushes to locate the bus and boards it while it is already in motion. Inside the bus, he meets Annie Porter (Sandra Bullock), a passenger who is forced to take control of the vehicle after the driver is injured.

As the story continues, Jack works with Annie to keep the bus moving while managing the passengers and steering through traffic. The attacker places certain conditions that require constant attention, since any mistake could trigger the device. While Jack is trying to talk to the authorities, as well as find a solution to eliminate the threat, the moving bus becomes the main focus.

2

‘Die Hard’ (1988)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Die Hard begins on the night of a corporate Christmas party, where John McClane (Bruce Willis) arrives at a high-rise building in Los Angeles to reconnect with his wife. While the event is underway, a group of armed men, led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), takes control of the building and holds the employees hostage. While McClane slips away from the main floor to avoid being caught, he quietly watches what’s happening inside the building while staying hidden.

Following the takeover, McClane moves through different levels of the building while using limited resources to interfere with the group’s plan. He establishes contact with outside authorities and attempts to pass information about the situation. Each action he takes creates a response from the attackers that forces him to adjust his approach while working to reduce their control over the hostages and prevent their plan from being completed.

3

‘The Raid’ (2011)

Image via Sony Pictures Classics

The story of The Raid begins when a special police unit enters a heavily guarded apartment building that is controlled by a crime leader named Tama (Ray Sahetapy). The group, led by Officer Rama (Iko Uwais), climbs floor after floor with a goal to occupy the building and seize its leader. But early in the mission, they are discovered, and what began as a planned operation quickly turns into a desperate fight for survival inside the confined space.

With the growing situation, the members of the team become separated, and their communication breaks down. Still, Rama keeps pushing forward through the building, facing armed opponents stationed on every floor. The environment limits escape routes, and eventually, they are forced into confrontation. Each fight shifts Rama’s position in the building, as he continues toward his goal while adapting to the shifting conditions.

4

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

Image via Tri-Star Pictures

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Terminator 2: Judgment Day follows as a young boy named John Connor (Edward Furlong) becomes the target of a machine sent from the future known as the T-1000 (Robert Patrick), which is designed to locate and eliminate him. At the same time, another machine, the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger), is sent back with the purpose of protecting him. Initially, John does not understand the situation, but the presence of both machines forces him to recognize the threat surrounding him.

After the chase, the T-800 focuses on protecting John and explains the future events tied to his survival. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), John’s mother, joins them as they try to stop the rise of technology that could cause future destruction. Together, they move from place to place while avoiding the T-1000, whose ability to adapt makes every encounter dangerous.

5

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Mad Max: Fury Road takes place in a desert wasteland where resources are controlled by force. Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) is captured by a group led by Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). At the same time, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) begins transporting individuals away from Joe’s control in an attempt to escape. Their paths eventually cross in the desert, and they pull Max into the struggle.

As the journey continues, the group is chased by the forces determined to drag them back into the controlled territory. However, they have to keep moving because stopping is too dangerous. The environment adds further difficulty, with limited resources and harsh conditions affecting every decision. Each encounter during the pursuit alters their direction while they continue to move toward safety.

6

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Image via Warner Bros.

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The story of The Dark Knight takes place in Gotham City, where Batman (Christian Bale) continues working alongside Lieutenant James Gordon (Gary Oldman) to reduce organized crime. Their efforts begin to produce results until a new figure known as the Joker (Heath Ledger) emerges and disrupts the existing structure. His actions are unpredictable and not tied to a clear objective, which changes how the city responds to him.

As the situation slowly unfolds, district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) steps in to maintain order through the law. Meanwhile, the Joker’s actions spread chaos and force people into making difficult choices. Batman continues to respond, but each move against the growing threat brings heavy consequences.

7

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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In Aliens, after surviving a previous encounter, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returns to a distant planet with a group of marines who are sent to investigate a colony that has lost contact. When they arrive, they discover that the colony has been overtaken by alien creatures. Based on her earlier experience, Ripley provides information, helping the group understand the nature of the threat they are facing.

The team is attacked by the creatures on their way to the colony and begins to lose its members. However, Ripley takes responsibility for protecting a child named Newt (Carrie Henn), who survived the initial outbreak. The group keeps searching for a way out while facing repeated attacks inside the tight, dangerous space of the colony.

8

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

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Raiders of the Lost Ark follows archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), who is tasked with finding a religious artifact known as the Ark of the Covenant before it is obtained by opposing forces. His search takes him across multiple locations as he follows clues connected to the artifact’s history. During the journey, he reunites with Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), who becomes involved in the search.

When Indiana proceeds with information collection, he comes across individuals who are attempting to reach the artifact first. The search leads to several confrontations as both sides attempt to gain control. However, Indiana relies on his knowledge and experience to navigate each situation while continuing toward the final location where the artifact is believed to be hidden.

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Raiders of the Lost Ark

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Release Date

June 12, 1981

Runtime

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115 minutes

Writers

Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Philip Kaufman

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Trends come and go, but there are certain pieces we inevitably find ourselves reaching for every fall, and a classic striped sweater will always be near the top of the list. Kate Middleton just demonstrated exactly why the timeless style deserves a permanent spot in your chilly weather rotation, and the Spicy Sandia Long Sleeve Crewneck Sweater makes it easy to recreate her look fit for royalty for just $20 at Amazon.

The Princess of Wales was recently spotted sporting a classic striped sweater while attending The Glasgow Commonwealth Games, pairing the preppy staple with a vibrant emerald green blazer for a look that was equal parts playful and refined. While her exact knit may come with a royal wardrobe price tag, this $20 Amazon lookalike has a similar crewneck silhouette and timeless stripe pattern that captures the same effortlessly polished aesthetic.

Get the Spicy Sandia Long Sleeve Crewneck Sweater for $20 (originally $30)at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Lightweight sweaters are undeniably the MVP of transitional wardrobes. This one is substantial enough to wear on its own as temperatures start to dip, but not so much so that you can’t layer it underneath a jacket later in the season. The classic crewneck and striped design also ensure it won’t look dated come next fall when it gets chilly once again.

Related: Kate Middleton’s Christmas Sweater Look is Just $39 on Amazon!

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With the Christmas season officially around the corner, it’s time to get our holiday outfits in check! Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok are all great places to spark creativity, but our favorite place to look for inspiration? The fashion archives of Kate Middleton! Inspiring a look we’re about to wear on repeat this season, we need […]

Better still, it comes in so many colors, and it’s practically impossible to run out of ways to wear it. Follow Middleton’s lead and pair it with tailored trousers and loafers for an elevated everyday outfit, or keep things casual with straight-leg jeans and sneakers. The button detailing at the cuffs adds an understated finishing touch that makes the piece look palace-ready, even though it won’t break your budget.

Shoppers are especially impressed by how versatile the weight and fit are. One five-star reviewer described it as a “lightweight sweater with great quality, color, thickness to wear alone or layered for warmth,” and went on to praise its “good fit,” which is neither too loose or too tight, hitting that sweet spot right in the middle.

“The sweater isn’t too bulky or heavy,” agreed another five-star reviewer. “The cut is very flattering and the buttons on the sleeves make the sweater look nice and more expensive than it really is.”

If you’re ready to start building your fall wardrobe, Middleton’s timeless look is an excellent place to begin. At just $20, this classic striped sweater delivers the polished, wear-everywhere versatility you’ll reach for throughout fall and well beyond.

Get the Spicy Sandia Long Sleeve Crewneck Sweater for $20 (originally $30)at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

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

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Related: Not a Drill! We’re Copying Kate Middleton’s Family Photo Outfit for $25

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Taking royal photos sounds fancy, but the British family decided to do it differently this time around. The Prince and Princess of Wales swapped the palace setting and upscale attire for a casual outdoor backdrop and everyday clothing. Kate Middleton‘s outfit was particularly chic, and as long as you have white pants and this striped […]