Plenty of shows took 2025 audiences by surprise. Alongside Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham‘s Adolescence stunning audiences into vital discourse and hit medical drama The Pitt outperforming most expectations, it was a Hulu political thriller that no one expected to be a post-apocalyptic sci-fi tale that is possibly the year’s biggest TV surprise. Paradise, a series that marked a reunion for This Is Us showrunner Dan Fogelman and star Sterling K. Brown, delivered eight unmissable episodes in 2025 and a quick second-season renewal.
After almost a year of waiting, that second season finally arrived today, with the first three episodes debuting at the same time on Hulu. “In season two, Xavier searches for Teri out in the world and learns how people survived the three years since The Day,” an official synopsis for Season 2 reveals. It continues, “Back in Paradise, the social fabric frays as the bunker deals with the aftermath of Season 1, and new secrets are uncovered about the city’s origins.”
Today, the embargo was lifted on official reviews of Paradise Season 2, revealing that critics are already confirming this to be no one-season wonder. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, following the first 30 reviews, Paradise Season 2 boasts a near-perfect 90% score and is already “certified fresh.” Called a “cut-above” by one critic and “the best show of the year” by another, this impressive score is already a 4% increase on the four-time Primetime Emmy-nominated first season.
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‘Paradise’ Season 2 is “Even Better” Than Season 1
Sterling K. Brown as Agent Xavier Collins wearing a tactical vest with other people in Paradise.Image via Hulu
Among the many critics praising Paradise Season 2 is Collider’s Meredith Loftus, who awarded it a 7/10 score in her official review. “Fogelman and Brown ambitiously bring Paradise to the next level with Season 2, and, by and large, they succeed,” Loftus wrote, adding, “Even with a heavier emphasis on life after the apocalypse, the show’s political thriller themes remain as timely as ever, and the stakes are elevated with twists that connect the season’s characters in surprising ways.” She concluded:
“Previously, Brown discussed a three-season plan for the series, and if things go according to plan, then Paradise Season 2 is a worthy middle chapter that stands strong while setting up an explosive Season 3.”
The first three episodes of Paradise Season 2 are available now on Hulu. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest updates.
Hilary Duff is spilling juicy tea on her early sex life!
The multi-hyphenate star shared details about how she was able to figure out intimacy early in life while talking about her other life experiences. She previously shared her hot takes on sex and beliefs she had to debunk herself after getting active.
Besides her acting projects, Hilary Duff’s open conversations on sex have brought her to the headlines, along with the recent “toxic mom group” drama.
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Hilary Duff Gets Candid About Early Sexual Experiences
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Duff shared what went on behind closed doors for her as a young adult exploring intimacy. In discussing the subject, she noted that her sex life in her 30s is higher on the scale of enjoyment as compared to her younger days.
The Disney Alum admitted that she spent her 20s trying to figure things out, understand her body, and discover what she enjoys.
“I finally feel like I know a lot about sex. My whole 20s, sex was not always enjoyable. There was so much to figure out. Now, I finally understand it,” she told the Los Angeles Times amid promoting her upcoming album.
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Continuing, as she explained how being a teen star put her in a position where she had to grow up and figure out how to talk about sex as a public figure, she related it to probably being “a female thing.” Ultimately, experience and confidence are vital; she also added that she is “not ready to be put out to pasture.”
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The Singer Raised Eyebrows With Her Song Lyrics
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Last month, Duff released a single, “Roommates,” which had explicit, descriptive sexual lyrics and, in turn, ignited online conversations. The Daily Mail noted how the chorus talked about late nights, secret hookups, and a sexual encounter in the back of a dive bar.
“I only want the beginning, I don’t want the end / Want the part where you say, ‘Goddamn’ / Back of the dive bar, giving you head /Then sneak home late, wake up your roommates,” she sings. Fans were stunned by the lyrics as they were a total flip of what she usually sings about.
Another part was about how she and her love interest had become roommates to the point that she was trying to ignite sex appeal, but the other party seemed uninterested.
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“I’m touching myself by the front door / But you don’t even look my way no more /I’m touching myself looking at porn / Cause you don’t even look my way no more,” the artist voices later in the track.
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The Disney Channel Alum’s Previous Sexual Misconceptions
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Back in 2020, while Duff was still expecting her third child, Mae, she sat down with Sarah Hyland and Ashley Benson on the “Lady Parts” podcast, discussing their early views on sex.
They shared how details of sexual acts were not explained to them properly in their adolescent years, with Benson saying that she went to a “Christian school growing up, and so it wasn’t really explained in the right way.”
Benson continued, sharing that the sex education she got was mainly from older friends whom she asked questions. At this point, Duff dropped the bombshell, revealing that she “thought the first time you have sex you’re going to get pregnant,” to which Benson concurred, adding her own thoughts as well.
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The “Lizzie McGuire” star added that people do not really talk about the fact that sex is also for pleasure and not confined to the boundaries of love.
She shared that this was something she had to discover on her own, saying that young girls aren’t also taught to derive their own pleasures from intimacy. In her words:
“I think as a young girl you get taught, ‘Well, you want the guy to feel good’ or something, and that’s really a terrible mentality to go into starting to have sex with.”
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The Mother-Of-Four Revealed A Wild Sexual Experience
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Duff played a game of “Never Have I Ever” with her younger costars back in 2016, and some truths were spilled. One of the questions asked if any of them ever had sex in a public place, and Duff responded affirmatively.
In the video filmed for US Weekly, the singer was seen to be embarrassed immediately after answering the question. “We shouldn’t have to be answering these things!” she said, blushing, then joked that she had never had sex before.
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When one person reminded the “How I Met Your Father” star that she already had her son, Luca, at the time, she quickly chimed that it was an immaculate conception. The other cast members, however, did not feel embarrassed about the topic of their previous sexcapades as Duff did.
Hilary Duff Said She Is Used To Public Scrutiny
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Growing up in the spotlight has its perks, but one of them is not being easily judged by the public. Duff’s life has been in the public eye since she was a teenager, and she admits that she is not a stranger to rumors and having her life dissected in the media.
After Ashley Tisdale released a statement about a “toxic mom group” which Duff was seemingly part of among other mothers, the singer maintained silence on the matter initially.
The Blast shared that the mom of four addressed the statement months later and pointed out that she is used to shutting down widespread rumors about her by simply taking her mind off the noise and doing something relaxing.
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“I mean, this is not new for me, I’ve had this since I was maybe 15 and starting to get followed around by paparazzi,” she noted before explaining that most times social media escalates stories with clickbait without even covering the true full details.
Nicki Minaj has been using her voice to prop up the MAGA movement … but a new study finds that her platforms have been reportedly boosted by an coordinated army of more than 18,000 bots.
Politico shared the report, which was compiled by the disinformation detection company Cyabra … in it, analysis of Nicki’s social media activity from November 11 to December 28 found that thousands of fake accounts used similar language to praise Nicki’s posts and attack authentic accounts who were critical of Nicki.
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According to Cyabra, there was one day in December where 56 percent of all comments on Nicki’s political posts were fake.
The report says, “This pattern suggests a deliberate attempt to integrate into genuine conversations, increasing the credibility and visibility of the amplified content.”
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And Nicki’s sworn enemy, Cardi B, once again caught a stray. Nicki has been antagonizing Cardi for years, but this time it was Trump advisor Alex Bruesewitz who dragged Cardi into the fray.
Bruesewitz — who counts Nicki as a “very close friend” — called the report “100% BS.”
He posted, “Politico’s Jason Beeferman is also a fake news hack who fails to disclose that the company that conducted this report, Cybara (sic), is partnered with Cardi B’s agent.”
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This statement prompted Cardi to respond, posting, “I do not have anything to do with that and I don’t give AF!!”
Days of Our Lives Spoilers: Alex Hits Justin with Big News
On Monday, February 23rd, Alex shares exciting news with his dad, Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth). Alex tells Justin that he and Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) ran off and got married in Chicago. His fiancée surprised him with a wedding. Justin is going to be sad that he missed it, but everyone missed it. And it was just the two of them and Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu). They plan to have a bigger ceremony later.
Plus, Bonnie Kiriakis (Judi Evans) is thrilled when she gets an update from Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman). Her steamy book may be officially ready to be published by DiMera. Meanwhile, Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) makes a shocking discovery. It may be that Stephanie is missing, or she might find Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) in the closet.
DOOL Spoilers: The Mystery Kidnapper Targets Stephanie Johnson
The stalker makes his move on Monday. A guy in scrubs and a mask chats with and then chloroforms Stephanie in her office at the hospital. He stashes her down in a basement storage room. This is neither Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) nor Owen Kent who snatches her.
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The kidnapper (Dan Coons) is an actor who plays bit parts on Days. It definitely looks like there is more than one stalker, or perhaps we have a stalker and a henchman, or full-fledged co-conspirators.
Jada is sifting through evidence with Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) as they check Stephanie’s office. This week, Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) tells Kayla that Jeremy doesn’t fit the usual profile of a kidnapper. Kayla asks if Marlena thinks Jeremy is actually capable of kidnapping Stephanie.
Days Spoilers: Alex Kiriakis Vows Revenge and Punches Jeremy Horton
On Tuesday, February 24th, Alex makes a vow. He promises that if anyone lays a finger on Stephanie’s head, he will kill them. We know he soon corners Jeremy at the hospital and punches him.
Kayla lays into EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) at University Hospital while Alex and Jada listen. Kayla may be blaming EJ for Stephanie’s kidnapping, perhaps suggesting the budget cuts meant security cameras weren’t maintained. The DiMeras were involved in Stephanie’s past kidnapping where Owen was the perpetrator back in 2016.
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Steve is out and about in Salem searching everywhere for his daughter, but they have her well-hidden. It looks like they never even left the hospital with her. The kidnapper confronts Stephanie in a showdown in the storage room. She is tied up, and Jeremy is there smirking at her, even though he wasn’t the one who physically snatched her.
Days of Our Lives Sweeps Week Climax: EJ DiMera’s Scheme and a Dangerous Shooting
Wednesday, February 25th, is the last day of sweeps. EJ makes an offer to a minor criminal named Liam Selejko (Hank Northrop). So, EJ rolls up and scares the young man because Liam is the one link tying Vivian Alamain’s (Louise Sorel) henchmen to the DiMera kidnapping.
EJ wants Vivian to pay and wants her in prison. He may ask Liam to lure the henchman Klaus so they can nab him. This could be what triggers Shawn-Douglas Brady’s (Brandon Beemer) shooting, as Jack Junior (JJ) Deveraux (Casey Moss) and Liam are with Shawn when the violence breaks out. It may be the “bad guy” Klaus who pulls the trigger.
Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) and Sarah bond over being moms. Chanel is up for a baby checkup and gets to hear the heartbeat, but Johnny isn’t there. Elsewhere, Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) and Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) are searching for Stephanie. Rafe gets into a secret lab because Cat has an ISA code-reading device. Rafe is shocked when he sees a mysterious tube.
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Teen Drama Erupts: Holly’s Meltdown and Ariana’s New Romance on DOOL
Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) goes off on Arianna “Ari” Grace Horton (Marissa Reyes) after already raging at Tate Black (Leo Howard). If Holly finds out Ari was offered a spot in the sorority she wanted, she might blow up. Ari claps back and tells Holly to “snap out of this glitch” because it’s not cute. However, the poor girl is being drugged.
Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) works to convince Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) that they need to run because they aren’t able to get the evidence they need. Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) is encouraged by Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier), and his support works on her guilty conscience regarding the hidden bug that tanked Titan.
Ari has a “meet-cute” with Liam and gives the handsome criminal a kiss on the cheek. You know her mom is going to hate that. On Thursday, February 26th, EJ DiMera and Abe Carver (James Reynolds) talk about their agreement. EJ wants Johnny to stay CEO at DiMera, and Abe wants Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) out of the job for good. Reviving Lexie Carver (Renee Jones) may be part of EJ’s plan to push Theo out. Paulina Price (Jackée Harry) is supportive of Theo, but Abe may not agree with her.
Tate comforts Holly. She’s distraught about the video and Ari just read her the riot act. Her life is falling apart while Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) is cheering from the sidelines. Speaking of, Sophia blackmails Rachel Black (Alice Halsey). Sophia calls Rachel to tell her she has to give Holly a gift, but Rachel can’t tell Holly it’s from Sophia. Johnny tells Chanel he’s sorry for missing the baby appointment.
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Days of Our Lives Spoiler: Alex Kiriakis – Owen Kent
Days of Our Lives Spoilers: The Return of Owen Kent and the Search for Stephanie Intensifies
On Friday, February 27th, Leo and Dimitri are anxious. Steve and Jada are pounding the pavement to find Stephanie. Meanwhile, she is trying to get free from her chair in the storage room. Alex and Brady go out looking for her. Remember, Brady helped rescue her from Owen Kent way back when she was kidnapped before on Days of our Lives.
Wes Ramsey is back as Owen Kent. Steve grabs a guy in a black hoodie in the park expecting it to be Jeremy, but it is Owen. Brady is there when it happens. Again, neither Owen nor Jeremy are the ones who actually chloroformed Stephanie.
Salem’s Future: A Human Trial and New Love Connections on DOOL
During the week of March 2nd through the 6th, Ari continues crushing on Liam. Dating an ex-con might not be good for her social profile, even if he is handsome. Gabi digs up more of Stefan DiMera’s (Brandon Barash) writing samples to see if her divorce documents were forged.
The DiMeras will be furious if Gabi gets a cut of the estate when the will reading happens soon. The search for Stephanie intensifies. Since a “rando” snatched her, Jeremy should have an alibi, but he still looks guilty. Alex, Steve, Kayla, and Jada are all hands on deck to find her.
EJ pursues Cat to figure out their connection, and she kisses him soon. Is it for ISA business or for pleasure? Meanwhile, Rafe is nearly ready for a human trial of his serum combined with Versix. The “test tube lady” should be awake soon.
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Jada is drawn to Shawn after his shooting, while Theo has his mind on Gabi. Shawn and Jack Junior face danger trying to find the person above Liam in the kidnapping food chain. That is likely what puts Shawn in the line of fire.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” With these words, Charles Dickens described the terror and tumult of the French Revolution, an era in which wisdom clashed with foolishness. Of course, he could have easily been describing a different struggle altogether: the struggle for Millennials to find their favorite cartoons on streaming!
Historically, some of the best cartoons are owned by Warner Bros, but it has become increasingly hard to find these animated classics on HBO Max. Fortunately, another streamer is about to get all your favorite old shows, and you won’t have to pay a thing to see them. That’s because on March 1, Tubi will begin streaming some of the animated hits that helped define your entire childhood!
Tubi Is In Its Cartoon Era
While the streamer tried to keep this animated extravaganza a secret, fans soon discovered that Tubi was planning a massive rollout of cartoons. In turn, the streamer revealed the whole list of what it will be streaming, proclaiming on X that it is entering its “cartoon era.” That’s a bold claim, but they have the animated lineup to back it up.
Superhero fans are sure to enjoy titles like The New Adventures of Batman, Justice League, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Fans of vintage adventure shows will enjoy throwbacks like Jonny Quest, Captain Planet, The Plastic Man Comedy Adventure Show, and The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest. Fans of after-school comedies, meanwhile, will enjoy series such as Animaniacs, Tiny Toon Adventures, and Pinky and the Brain.
If you’re in the mood to relive classic Cartoon Network, Tubi will be adding titles likePower Puff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, and Ed, Edd ‘n Eddy. Certain franchises are getting more shows than others: for example, the streamer is adding eight different Scooby-Doo titles, five Looney Tunes titles, five different Tom & Jerry titles, and five Yogi titles.
Believe it or not, this is just a partial list of what’s coming to Tubi. Be sure to check out the full list to see how many of your favorites are coming to the streamer.
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my cartoon era starts march 1 🙂↕️
Abbott & Costello Cartoons Addams Family (1974) Adventures of Batman, The Animaniacs Aquaman Astro and the Space Mutts Atom Ant Baby Looney Tunes Batman: The Brave and the Bold Be Cool Scooby-Doo! Beetlejuice Ben 10 (2005) Beware the Batman…
Fans across the internet have been generally delighted to learn how many animated shows and movies are coming to Tubi on March 1. Some of these are younger cartoon fans who are eager to check out the glory days of their favorite franchises. However, most of the excited fans are Millennials who grew up watching these shows on Warner Bros. networks like Time Warner and TBS.
Many such WB titles have been disappearing with alarming regularity from HBO Max. This has baffled fans who are suddenly asking why the streamer isn’t taking advantage of its extensive library of content. Now, fans are about to flock to Tubi for their cartoon fix, and not for the first time: Looney Tunes proved to be an immense success when it went from Max to Tubi, paving the way for a long-awaited franchise revival.
Mark Your Calendar, Cartoon Fans
All of the above titles and more are dropping on Tubi on March 1. Animation fans need to mark their calendar and start streaming their favorites right away. Don’t forget that this is the perfect time to introduce your friends to a new show or two.
These days, we pay with our clicks, and Looney Tunes is proof that fan interest can help revive old franchises. Clicking on your favorite titles this March is a great way to show companies like Warner Bros. that you want more of a certain franchise. Plus, you can do it in the best possible way: by reliving your childhood, one classic cartoon at a time!
John Davidson has been a hot topic online for going on 24 hours. The Tourette’s advocate sparked tense reactions after he shouted the n-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting during the BAFTA Awards. Despite airing hours after the show wrapped, the BBC did not edit out the racial slur. Meanwhile, they seemingly edited “Free Palestine” from a speech and alleged other tics Davidson exhibited throughout the show. As Black online spaces demand accountability across the board, Davidson is clearing the air on his intention and his controversial tic.
According to Deadline, John Davidson broke his silence on the BAFTA Awards incident on Monday. In a statement, Tourette’s campaigner clarified that he feels “deeply mortified if anyone” considers his “involuntary tics to be intentional or carry any meaning.”
“I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which, more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits, and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome,” John Davidson reportedly said in the statement. He added, “I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness, and understanding from others, and I will continue to do so.”
Additionally, Davidson said he chose to leave the BAFTA Awards early into the ceremony given that his tics were causing “distress.” Variety previously shared that Davidson had shouted other offensive things like “shut the f*ck up” during a speech and “f*ck you” during a win annoucement for a family and kids’ movie.
Delroy Lindo Says No One Checked On Him And MBJ, BBC And BAFTA Apologize
At a BAFTA Awards afterparty on Sunday, Delroy Lindo admitted that he and Michael B. Jordan did what they had to after John Davidson yelled the n-word. He told Variety that he wished someone had checked on him and MBJ after their presentation, indicating no one did.
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Elsewhere, in a statement obtained by The Shade Room, BBC didn’t explain why they failed to edit out the racial slur. However, the British outlet apologized for not doing so.
“Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. We apologize that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”
Meanwhile, in a statement BAFTA apologized to MBJ and Delroy Lindo and to “all those impacted” by John Davidson’s tic. “We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism,” it wrote.
People With Tourette’s Are Speaking Out
Amid the heated backlash on the internet, people with Tourette’s have begun sharing their experiences. Some have admitted to also having the n-word as a tic, while defending the “uncontrollable” nature of tics associated with Tourette syndrome. Others have shamed violence and ableist suggestions, and still some have pointed the finger at BBC for not going the extra mile, and airing the disheartening moment.
Ella Purnell as Lucy in Fallout Season 2 finaleImage via Prime Video
The furor surrounding HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry has barely died down; Wuthering Heights and The Housemaid are still doing major box office business. But a new erotic romance series has emerged as an online obsession. The series was released mere days after Wuthering Heights grossed over $80 million at the worldwide box office in its opening weekend, following divisive reviews that called into question its overly sexualized tone. Meanwhile, Heated Rivalry has turned out to be the breakout hit of the year, following a premiere last November in Canada. The six-episode series follows a clandestine romance between two hockey players played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. Wuthering Heights, on the other hand, stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as lovers on the opposite ends of the British class spectrum. The new show, which debuted on Prime Video, might have more in common with Greg Berlanti‘s hit Netflix series You.
Released on February 18, the eight-episode psychological thriller is based on a novel by Catherine Ryan Howard and stars Dove Cameronand Avan Jogia in the lead roles. It follows a couple’s relationship from innocent beginnings to a horrific twist and unfolds in a non-linear structure. The show has earned a 64% score from critics and an 84% score from audiences on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a clear difference in opinion. In her review, Collider’s Jasneet Singh praised the two leads and wrote that “their wild, tantalizing physical chemistry is the foundation of the show’s murder mystery.”
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Here’s the New Prime Video Erotic Thriller That’s Taking Streaming by Storm
The show in question is 56 Days, developed by Karyn Usher and Lisa Zwerling. It’s co-produced by Atomic Monster, whose founder, James Wan, serves as an executive producer. According to FlixPatrol, 56 Days is the most-watched show on the global Prime Video charts, having replaced the long-running champion Fallout and the reality series Beast Games. 56 Days also managed to overtake holdover Prime Video hits such as The Night Manager, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and the relatively recent Cross. With such a smashing performance right out of the gate, it would appear that 56 Days is just what Prime Video needed to appeal to different audience demographics. The streamer was becoming synonymous with content geared toward older men, which seems to be changing now.
You can watch 56 Days at home. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Wheel of Fortune star Vanna White rang in the new year with a wedding to her now-husband, John Donaldson.
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White wasn’t the only star to walk down the aisle this year. Love Is Blind season 2 alum Iyanna McNeely, for her part, married boyfriend Alex Lewis on January 17 in a dreamy Chicago ceremony.
Stranger Things star Maya Hawke, for her part, said “I do” to longtime boyfriend Christian Lee Hutson in a surprise Valentine’s Day ceremony the next month. February also brought a wedding for Dance Momsalum Brooke Hyland and longtime love Brian Thalman.
Keep scrolling to see the stars who exchanged vows in 2026:
Beyond the Gates spoilers for Feb 23-27, 2026are seeing Katherine “Kat” Richardson (Colby Muhammad) reaching an absolute breaking point—honestly, she’s looking a bit unhinged—and June (Jasmine Burke) is about to spill some major tea that could bring down a whole house of cards. Plus, Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) takes her health crisis to the national stage.
Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Katherine “Kat” Richardson Reaches Her Breaking Point and Snaps Over Clinic Drama
First off, let’s talk about Kat. Kat has been under so much pressure lately, and this week, it looks like she finally snaps. Spoilers for Wednesday and Thursday show her locking horns with Dana “Leslie” Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) and Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) over the clinic.
Kat is trying to protect her legacy, but Leslie is just relentless. By Thursday, things take a darker turn when Kat gets some news about Laura Peterson’s (Destiny Love) unsolved accident from a year ago.
This news sends her into a tailspin, and she is absolutely set off. We’re hearing that her confrontation with Leslie and Eva is going to escalate on Friday to a point of no return. Kat is usually the composed one, but she is officially unhinged this week.
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BTG Spoilers: June Spills the Tea: The Truth About Hayley Lawson’s Ring Exposed
Now, over at Orphey Genes June is playing a very integral role. We know June sees and hears everything as a server, and this time, her observation skills are going to be a total game-changer.
She noticed Lynette Wise (Domini Madison) flashing that ring around—the one that actually belongs to Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings). On Monday, June gives Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) a valuable tip about that ring. This is the big spill everyone has been waiting for.
With Joey getting this intel, the net is finally tightening around Hayley’s mugger, and it looks like Lynette, Hayley, and Randy Parker’s (Maurice P. Kerry) little scheme is starting to crumble.
Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Anita Dupree Goes Public with Cancer Diagnosis on the Gayle King Show
Speaking of big moves, Anita makes a massive decision this week. On Monday, she decides to go public with her cancer diagnosis, and she’s doing it in a big way—appearing on the Gayle King Show.
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Yes, we’ve got Gayle King guest starring as herself! By Thursday, Anita’s televised interview turns into a citywide call to action. It’s a huge moment for the Dupree matriarch, but you have to wonder how the rest of the family—and her enemies—are going to react to her being so vulnerable in the spotlight.
Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Katherine “Kat” Richardson – June
BTG Spoilers: Samantha Richardson Faces a Difficult Choice Between the Clinic and High Society
Elsewhere in Fairmont Crest, Samantha Richardson (Najah Jackson) is struggling. She’s trying to balance school, the debutante ball, and her work at the clinic. It’s a lot for anyone, and she’s reaching her limit.
Luckily, June is there for her too, offering some sage wisdom to help her figure out where her heart truly lies. It’s looking more and more like the clinic is going to be her main focus, despite Leslie’s efforts to push her out.
Joey’s Shocking Escape and More Beyond the Gates Spoilers for the Week
We’ve also got Joey orchestrating a shocking escape on Tuesday, while Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) gets some intel that leaves him absolutely enraged. And keep an eye out for Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges), who runs into a familiar face while working undercover on Wednesday.
It is going to be a wild week on Beyond the Gates. Who do you think Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe) is meeting with on Friday? And is Kat finally going to take Leslie down, or is she just going to destroy herself in the process?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a show that fans love to endlessly rewatch because they always find something new to appreciate. However, those fans are increasingly finding something old to hate: the character of Xander Harris. He was written to be an adorkable male presence in a female-dominated show, but many of his jokes and actions (like that time he magically roofied every single woman at Sunnydale High so they’d fall in love with him) just seem wildly problematic in retrospect.
Honestly, the best thing Xander ever did was date Anya, but he left her at the altar, becoming nothing but “bad joke support character” by the show’s final season. However, Buffy came dangerously close to improving Xander in the most shocking way: by brutally killing him off. Even more surprisingly, he was going to be the final form adapted by the First Evil, effectively making one of Buffy’s oldest, closest friends into the series’ final Big Bad.
The Big Bad That Never Was
This information comes to us courtesy of the original DVD commentary tracks for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (just in case you needed another reason to embrace physical media). In the commentary for the episode “Dirty Girls,” writer Drew Goddard said that the writing staff considered ending Xander’s first encounter with Caleb (a minion of the First Evil, played by Nathan Fillion) in a very different way. Instead of simply having the henchman rip our hero’s eye out, Caleb would have immediately killed Xander!
Obviously, the writers ultimately decided against this plan: in Season 7, Xander narrowly survives his encounter with Caleb and makes it through the final episode intact, although his former fiancée Anya dies. However, I can’t help but feel like the writing staff made the wrong call here. Had Caleb killed off Xander, it would have legitimized him as a major threat while making the First Evil’s final appearances that much more chilling.
The Change That Would Have Made Season 7 Unforgettable
You see, the First Evil’s gimmick is that she can take the form of anyone who has previously died. This is how she impersonates Buffy (who died twice) to torment the Slayer and to manipulate others, including Spike. When Buffy’s former boytoy vampire comes back with a new soul and a muddled brain, the First manages to deceive him, ultimately transforming Spike into her murderous attack dog.
It was always fun seeing the First Evil take the form of various deceased characters, but how much cooler would it be if it took the form of Xander after Caleb killed him? Buffy would suddenly be receiving taunts and threats from someone wearing the face of her closest friend. This would have made the First that much scarier to audiences because taking Xander’s appearance would be a constant reminder of just how deadly this ancient evil really was.
Joss Whedon’s Self-Insert Character Nearly Died Onscreen
Plus, the writing for Xander’s character had gotten increasingly worse over the years, so killing him off would be an effective (if drastic) way of making the character interesting again. Additionally, Joss Whedon has frequently stated that Xander is his own self-insert character, which is why the young man serves as the quip-spewing class clown of the Scooby Gang. Now that Joss Whedon has been canceled (both for allegedly cheating on his wife with unnamed cast members and for allegedly abusive behavior on the Justice League set), some fans might find it downright cathartic to see his surrogate character get killed onscreen.
The Buffy revival is right around the corner, and it may very well retroactively redeem Xander, making him a more likable character. Until that happens, though, he will be remembered by the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom as a guy who gets just a little creepier every time they rewatch the show. Because of this and (let’s be honest) how weak sauce the First Evil was as a final villain, it would have been better for the show if Xander had been killed off so he could take his rightful place as the scariest Big Bad of them all.
The popular streamer has added dozens of new movies this month, and Watch With Us has selected only the very best for you to view.
At the top of our watchlist is How to Train Your Dragon, the hit live-action remake of the 2020 animated classic.
Also on our radar is the creepy horror flick The Black Phone, starring recent Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke, and the ‘90s Robin Williams comedy Mrs. Doubtfire, which still makes us laugh.