Young and the Restless has Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) devastated by recent events. Nikki’s husband tossed her out and Jack’s wife walked out on him. And both of course are hoping that their marriages can be mended. But something that happens this week could change everything for the worse.

Y&R spoilers have Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Diane Jenkins Abbott (Susan Walters) hatching a revenge scheme this week that could backfire on them. It’s We’re going to talk about how Victor and Diane’s scheme could push Nikki and Jack into each other’s arms.

Nikki Goes to The Abbott Mansion on Young and the Restless

All right, so this week Nikki goes to the Abbott mansion and Diane answers the door and Nikki wonders if she’s back for good. But no, Diane is just picking up a few things. And she tells Nikki that Jack’s not there. So, Nikki can’t hold his hand. And she tells Diane she just wants to help. She insists that Victor drugged Jack and says otherwise he wouldn’t have touched Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk).

And of course Nikki solely blames Victor for all of this. But Diane doesn’t. And she claps back on Nikki that she’s tired of everybody seeing Jack as the victim. That’s so awful because he is the victim of drugging and sexual assault. Diane not believing him is victim shaming. I don’t care if it’s a man or a woman who had it done to them.

Diane Shuts Nikki Down on Y&R

And then she rants about Nikki and Jack having an unhealthy desire to fix each other’s lives. And Nikki says she feels bad because Victor only targeted Jack because he saved her life when she was spiraling back into alcohol addiction. But Diane’s over it. She slams the door in Nikki’s face. Olive branch denied.

Even though Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland) just encouraged Diane to show Jack some grace, she’s not going to do it. And it looks like she is going to do the opposite because later this week, spoilers have Jack leaning on Nikki for support. That’s fine. And if you remember, Nikki told Victoria Newman that she doesn’t think her and Victor’s marriage can bounce back this time, which shocked Victoria.

Victor And Diane Give Jack A Taste Of His Own Medicine

So, here’s where things go from bad to worse. Because Victor thinks that Diane should give Jack a taste of his own medicine and helps her do it. That sounds like a recipe for disaster. First of all, because Victor cannot be trusted. He set Jack up for all this mess.

And since Diane’s on fire about Jack being in bed with Patty, a taste of his own medicine sounds like setting it up so Jack walks in on Diane in bed with another man. Now, you know, whatever it is that Victor and Diane cook up this week, the fact that she’s conspiring with Victor is going to be a huge issue for Jack, rightly so.

Diane Plotting with the Enemy on Young and the Restless

Diane is scheming with the man who put Jack through hell. He ruined their marriage. And don’t forget Victor was planning to take Jabot from them. Because that was why Jack said that they needed to take Jabot offline and it damaged their business, but it was the only way to stop Victor from using the AI on them.

Jack and Diane were completely united in that. And I just don’t understand how she would even talk to Victor at this point because she knows that he wants to destroy Jack. And here she is doing something, some sort of scheming with the mustache.

So, what I’m worried about is that Victor and Diane are going to meet in her room at the GCAC, get under the sheets, and make sure Jack walks in on them pretending to have just had sex. Or, you know, even worse, Victor and Diane might do the deed. It wouldn’t be the first time because they were married before, but I think it’s more of a maybe a setup, something like that if they go this route on Young and Restless.

This Could Backfire On Victor And Diane

So, whatever it is that Victor gets up to with Diane, her working with the man who has kidnapped Jack and given him to a crazy woman more than once is beyond the pale. That seems like a deal breaker to me. And of course, Jack will run to Nikki and tell her, you know, you won’t believe what Victor and Diane were up to, scheming behind our backs, scheming to hurt us both.

That’s the direction I think this is headed in with Victor and Diane. And right now, Victor is so angry. He may also want to make Nikki jealous or just hurt her, knowing that Jack would obviously run and tell Nikki whatever he saw.

Victor Blames Nikki on Young and the Restless

Now, Victor told Nikki recently that she betrayed him and she stabbed him in the back by choosing Jack. So, I could see Victor deciding on the nuclear option and somehow convinces Diane to go along with it. But if Victor and Diane pull a stunt like this, I think they might wind up with a rude awakening because Nikki keeps begging Victor, “Think twice. Admit you’re wrong. Stop what you’re doing.” But he won’t. He won’t do any of it.

Meanwhile, Jack has been begging Diane to forgive him, and she will not show him any grace, which is terrible. And Nikki and Victor are at a standoff. Both are refusing to give in and the fractures in their marriage are widening every day. So, whatever scheme that Diane and Victor get up to this week could push Nikki and Jack over the edge.

Could Nikki And Jack Sleep Together on Y&R?

So, Diane and Victor may make it look like they sleep together, you know, trick Nikki and Jack into thinking they did, or they could hurt them in another way. But the problem is from there, I think Nikki and Jack will turn to each other for comfort after this incident, and they may decide their marriages are too broken to fix. So, while Victor and Diane might pretend to hook up, we could see Nikki and Jack actually making love.

You know, not to get payback on Victor and Diane, but out of an overflow of broken heart emotion. Nikki and Jack may think they have no one else to turn to and it’s just comfort and then it’s just hugging and then it’s a kiss on the cheek and then it’s a romantic kiss and then before you know it Nikki and Jack are, you know, clothes off in the sheets.

Victor & Diane’s Plot Bloes Up in Their Faces on Young and the Restless

So, if this is what Diane and Victor are planning with this taste of his own medicine, I could see it blowing up in their faces and making both of their situations so much worse. From there, it could spiral out of control because Nikki and Jack may overstep. Because they’re tricked or misled or manipulated by their estranged spouses.

And then things may escalate because if Diane and Victor found out that they drove Nikki and Jack into each other’s arms. They may retaliate in the same way and really do the deed. I tend to think initially Victor and Diane wouldn’t fool around, but it might be a cruel prank. Whatever they do, obviously their stunt is designed to hurt Jack, which means it probably will also hurt Nikki.

And if Jack and Nikki wound up together and telling their estranged spouses bye-bye, I mean, they kind of deserve it at this point. And, you know, I’m back to this is I’m not in love with the way this writing is going because Jack is clearly Victor’s target, and walking in and seeing Jack with Patty.

Shocking Couple Swap Coming on Y&R?

Yes, that’s terrible. But even so, Diane has done so much worse. And when Traci said, “You need to show grace,” Diane thought about it and told Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor), you know, she probably needs to, but she just can’t. She could, but she’s choosing not to.

So, we could wind up with a bizarre couple swap because at one point Diane was married to Victor and they were in love and of course Jack was married to Nikki and they were in love and it would be super soapy. So, we’ll just wait to see how it plays out. One thing I know is Kyle would not be very happy.

Barbie Ferreira is setting the record straight on her “Euphoria” departure, and it has nothing to do with drama. The actress, who played Kat Hernandez for the first two seasons of the hit HBO series, revealed she chose to walk away because she didn’t want to feel sidelined. Barbie Ferreira’s admission comes days after the third season of “Euphoria” premiered on Sunday.

Barbie Ferreira Says She Refused To Be A ‘Background Character’

“Some people are like, ‘I would do that.’ I’m like, ‘Good for you,’” she said during an appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, insisting her exit “wasn’t dramatic.” “You want to be a background character for nine months? That’s, like, totally fine and cool. But I was like, I want to do other stuff.”

Ferreira explained that her departure didn’t happen overnight, but rather came after ongoing discussions about her character’s direction. “It was kind of the opposite of dramatic,” she said, describing it as a “long process” of “having conversations with people and us trying to figure out how to make Kat, like, a fully fleshed out character, and it just wasn’t going anywhere.”

When it became clear there wasn’t a clear path forward, she made the decision to move on. “I don’t need to be on the biggest TV show on Earth if I’m not, like, acting, you know?” she said. “So I would rather do an indie movie where I’m acting, I’m flexing my muscles, I’m being creatively … asked to do things rather than kind of sitting around to be a background character.”

Ferreira Previously Addressed Exit In Emotional Statement

Back in August 2022, Ferreira confirmed her departure in an emotional message shared to Instagram. “After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character, Kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye,” she wrote at the time. “[I] hope many of you could see yourself in her, like [I] did, and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today.”

“[I] put all my care and love into her and [I] hope you guys could feel it,” she added.

Since then, she has consistently denied speculation that a behind-the-scenes feud with the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, played a role in her unexpected departure.

Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Euphoria’ Return Sparks Backlash Over ‘Humiliating’ Storyline

Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney’s return to “Euphoria” is already stirring controversy among fans. Viewers were quick to criticize the direction of her character, Cassie Howard, with many claiming the show was “humiliating” the actress following its long-awaited return after nearly five years.

In the premiere, Cassie is shown preparing to marry Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi. However, her opening scene raised eyebrows, featuring her in a revealing dog costume while filming provocative content for social media. The moment only intensified as Sweeney’s character barked like a dog and drank water on all fours, leaving some viewers uncomfortable with the portrayal.

As the storyline unfolds, Cassie, who is struggling financially, also suggests starting an OnlyFans account, adding another layer to a narrative that some fans feel continues a pattern of degrading arcs for the character.

Sam Levinson Celebrates ‘Euphoria’ Stars’ Success

Series creator Sam Levinson says it’s a thrill to see many cast members thriving. “The thing is when you’re casting, every person that walks in, you’re hoping this is the person, this is going to be the character,” he told The Associated Press at the season premiere. “And sometimes when they do, they walk in, they have the talent, they’ve got the passion, the enthusiasm for it, and they inspire you.

He added, “To see them working with such incredible filmmakers like (Christopher) Nolan and (Guillermo) del Toro … it’s just exciting.”

‘Euphoria’ Became A Launchpad For Hollywood’s Rising Stars

Since premiering in 2019, “Euphoria” has played a major role in shaping the careers of some of Hollywood’s biggest young stars. The gritty teen drama helped launch and solidify names like Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and Zendaya, while also bringing wider recognition to actors including Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow.

The series has also featured more established talent, such as Colman Domingo, who has earned two Best Actor Oscar nominations in recent years, and the late Eric Dane. Tragically, another one of the show’s breakout stars, Angus Cloud, passed away in 2023.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 57 seconds ago

Everyone remembers that iconic scene from the first Star Wars movie in which Leia, via hologram, implores an old family friend for assistance: “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope!” Ironically enough, the executives in charge of the world’s most popular sci-fi franchise are now saying that to its most popular television stars. “Help me, The Mandalorian & Grogu, you’re my only hope!” 

Ever since The Rise of Skywalker disappointed fans and critics alike in 2019, there hasn’t been a new Star Wars movie in theaters. Making matters worse, the various TV shows on Disney+ have been a decidedly mixed bag, resulting in lukewarm audience reception. One major exception is The Mandalorian, so Disney is trying to play it safe by thrusting the show’s popular protagonists onto the big screen. Simply put, The Mandalorian & Grogu is the House of Mouse’s attempt to make the franchise seem exciting and relevant again. There’s just one problem: it’s on track to have the lowest weekend opening for a live-action Star Wars film in box office history.

A Bad Feeling About This

Why do I “have a bad feeling” about The Mandalorian & Grogu’s bad performance? It’s not the keen mystical insight of the Force or even the intuition of a street-savvy smuggler. The highly reliable site Box Office Theory is currently projecting that this next Star Wars film will make $71 million in its opening weekend. At first glance, that may seem like a decent chunk of change. But that is far below the opening weekend for Solo: A Star Wars Story, which earned $84.4 million when it premiered, ultimately becoming the lowest-earning live-action movie in franchise history.

Does that mean The Mandalorian & Grogu is definitely going to bomb as Solo did? Not necessarily: as Yoda reminds us, the future is always in motion. Part of what made Solo: A Star Wars Story such a box office failure is that, after its notorious change of directors and subsequent reshoots, it had a massive budget of $365.7 million. The movie went on to earn $393 million, but after you factor in the cost of marketing, it became the first Star Wars movie to actually lose the studio money. 

Everything Falls Apart

The Mandalorian & Grogu reportedly has a slimmer budget of $166 million. That means it will be much easier for this film to make a profit than it was for Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Disney may very well consider any level of profit (no matter how modest) a success for this theatrical spinoff of their most popular Disney+ show. However, it’s worth noting that Solo suffered at the box office because it premiered five months after The Last Jedi, a movie that deeply disappointed fans. Following on the heels of more disappointments like The Rise of Skywalker and The Acolyte, this next movie may have a much harder time winning audiences over.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I hope The Mandalorian & Grogu is successful and, through good word of mouth, can restore this bruised and battered brand to its former glory. But these low box office projects hint that bringing Pedro Pascal’s popular bounty hunter to the big screen may not be “the way” when it comes to winning fans back over. Solo actually lost Disney money, and The Rise of Skywalker was the least profitable in the franchise. If The Mandalorian & Grogu is similarly disappointing, then Disney’s failure will be complete: they will have turned the most popular sci-fi IP in the world into one that regularly bombs at the box office.

A mom in Florida has been accused of exposing her baby to methamphetamine by preparing baby formula with water she used to clean needles.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement via Facebook that Jalyn Brownworth was charged with child neglect with no bodily harm after police said her baby showed signs of exposure to methamphetamine.

Brownworth, 32, was arrested on April 9 after medical staffers at a local hospital contacted police to report that they believed her baby had potentially been exposed to drugs. Medical staff called the Department of Children and Families, which launched an investigation into the matter.

Police said that Brownworth brought her baby to the hospital after she grew concerned over behavioral changes. After medical staff examined the baby, they grew to suspect that the baby had been exposed to an illicit substance.

Related: Mother Who Drowned 7-Month-Old Baby in Bathtub Deemed ‘Not Well’ in Court

A woman in Florida who was arrested after being accused of drowning her own 7-month-old daughter in a bathtub has been deemed “not well” during the first court hearing in her case, which took place on Thursday, January 15. Tierra Scott-Franklin has been officially charged with premeditated murder. A judge would not grant her bond […]

The baby ultimately tested positive for methamphetamine, according to police. Amid the investigation, authorities learned that Brownworth fed her baby formula that she made with water that had been contaminated after she previously used it to clean hypodermic needles that were used to inject methamphetamine.

Police said that the baby is in stable condition and recovering. However, it’s not currently clear whose custody the baby is in following Brownworth’s arrest.

Brownworth has also been ordered to not make contact with the baby when she is eventually released from jail.

She is currently in custody at the Alachua County Jail on $20,000 bond, according to WCJB.

The investigation into the case remains ongoing.

Brownworth’s next court date has not been made publicly available. It is not currently clear if she has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest.

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Related: Newborn Drowned After Mom Allegedly ‘Dropped’ Her In Portable Toilet

A New Mexico woman gave birth inside of a portable toilet and “dropped” her newborn daughter inside the toilet’s holding tank, where the infant drowned, according to police. Now, Sonia Cristal Jimenez, 38, is facing one count of intentional child abuse resulting in death, which is a first-degree felony, the Las Cruces Police Department said […]

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding updates in the case.

Babies who are exposed to methamphetamine while in the womb and after birth face the possibility of severe health risks, which include low birth weight, premature birth, neonatal withdrawal and long-term neurobehavioral issues, according to the National Institute of Health.

Methamphetamine use during pregnancy has been linked to a higher chance for pre-term delivery, poor growth and low birth weight. The National Institute of Health reported that some studies have suggested that methamphetamine use in pregnancy can increase the chance for the baby to have high blood pressure, placental abruption and fetal or infant death.

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 9 minutes ago

Ever since it was announced in May 2025, the Elden Ring movie has been eagerly awaited by fans of the video game. Written by George R.R. Martin and FromSoftware game developer Hidetaka Miyazaki, the game put players in a world ruled by demigods whose war for dominance destroys the one artifact holding the land in balance. On April 6, 2026, news leaked that the movie Elden Ring has begun filming.

This happened because a random group of social media users stumbled over a set piece in England that features iconic imagery from the game. The setting itself is reminiscent of the game’s dark fantasy setting, but it also features a statue of Queen Marika, who is a major game character responsible for breaking the titular Elden Ring and causing chaos in the Land Between. The online influencers shared a video of the set online, once again igniting enthusiasm from the game’s fans.

Alex Garland Leading The Charge

The incredible game was written by a fantasy legend and a renowned game creator, and the script was written by another game writer, Alex Garland. While most people know him for Annihilation and the controversial Civil War, Garland is also credited as the writer of the popular video game title Devil May Cry and three of its sequels and re-masters. Garland’s skill as a director are proven by his movies, but he has written two novels, The Tesseract and The Beach, as well as several major screenplays beyond those he directed, including Sunshine, Dredd, 28 Years Later, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

It also helps that Garland is a real fan of the game, so having creative control over both the script and the direction of the movie is a strong indication that the film is in good hands. We’ve seen “true fans” like Alex Kurtzman and Chloe Zhao malign franchises like Star Trek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer before, but Garland doesn’t seem the type to misrepresent his source material, even when he changes it to suit his own plot. Annihilation strayed from some of the themes of the Jeff VanderMeer novel, but retained the dreamy essence of the story, and some even consider his adaptation superior to the novel. Civil War proved that he doesn’t cater to Hollywood controversy.

Further Developments Are Imminent

These elements hint that fans can expect an Elden Ring that will capture the qualities of the game they enjoy, even if it chooses not to rely on its familiar player-characters. Garland always puts a lot of thought into what he writes, especially if he is going to direct it. That is why out of 22 writing credits, he only has directed seven films, including Elden Ring.

Unfortunately for emphatic Elden Ring fans, they’ll have to stay in suspense just a little while longer. There is no release date for the movie as of this writing, so we’ll all just have to be satisfied knowing that it has progressed far enough to begin filming. While that isn’t a guarantee that the movie will make it to theaters, it is definitely enough to stoke the imaginations of fans everywhere by revealing that the beloved setting has been brought to life from their video game screens.

Brit Eady Confirms Split From Husband Mike Cunningham After Five Years!  

Brit Eady is officially closing the door on her marriage.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum, 37, confirmed she and husband Mike Cunningham are separating after five years together—using the final day of the year to publicly rip the bandage off. “I’m posting this on the last day of 365 to remove this facade of faking like this marriage is going to work,” Brit wrote in a pointed Instagram post on Dec. 31.

Making it clear there’s no turning back, she added, “Everybody can’t come into the next chapter. I’m done hurting and I want to be happy in my next chapter. Cheers to 2026 of putting my happiness first 🥂 ✌🏽.” She also shut down speculation head-on, writing, “And for the record as much as I can’t stand him, we are not going to create a false narrative that I’m walking away because of any fake made up rumors.”

The announcement was paired with a polished, almost cinematic photo of the former couple and a follow-up slide reading, “… & ima come out of every storm like it was never raining,” set to Usher’s breakup anthem “Papers.”

Beyond the breakup itself, Brit used the moment to unpack deeper emotional truths—revealing how disrespect has played a major role in her personal unraveling. “I can be chill, fun, easy to get along with … I can vibe with anybody,” she wrote. “But the second I feel disrespected, everything in me shifts. My peace goes out the window, my patience disappears, and that soft version of me turns sharp real quick.”

She continued, “I’m self-aware enough to know I’m a good woman. I’m kind, I’m genuine, I’m understanding, and I always try to lead with love. But that’s exactly why disrespect hits so deep … because I know how much grace I give before I ever lose it.”

Brit made it clear her reactions didn’t come out of nowhere. “When I snap, it’s never random, it’s a reaction. What you put in is what you get out of me.” While acknowledging she’s still growing, Brit Eady emphasized that peace—not proving a point—is now the priority. “Learning that not everyone deserves a response. Learning that peace is better than proving a point,” she wrote, adding, “Growth isn’t about never being triggered… it’s about recognizing what triggers you and protecting yourself before you get there.”

Mike Cunningham, for his part, offered a restrained response amid the very public split. In a statement to PEOPLE, he said, “All marriages have ups and downs, we just happen to go through things publicly. I’ve always had the upmost respect for my wife and our union. In spite of some of our issues being brought to the public, I will not feed into the drama and narratives being painted.”

The couple married in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, opting for a courthouse ceremony and Zoom vows instead of a traditional celebration. “I was a little sad about that,” Brit previously shared on RHOA, “but being a wife was way more important.”

She’s also been open about how their relationship began—revealing Mike was initially her insurance client before friendship turned romantic. “I met Mike when I launched my insurance agency. And Mike was my client so I didn’t want to date my client so we became friends,” she recalled. “And probably about two or three months of him FaceTiming all the time, I was like, ‘Wait a minute, I’m going to watch out for you.’”

She added that a trip to Las Vegas sealed the deal. “We dated and we went on our first trip to Vegas and I said, ‘Mike, I’ll come to Vegas with you but you not getting none.’ When I tell you we had the best time. I was like, ‘Okay, he might be the one.’”

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Olivia Davis is a Staff Writer at All About The Tea. Olivia’s hobbies include binging Netflix series, and watching Housewives on Bravo. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in History.

Bethenny Frankel Reveals Alarming Stage 2 Kidney Disease Diagnosis and Urges Fans to Not Ignore the Warning Signs

Bethenny Frankel is getting real — and a little raw — about a health scare she says she didn’t see coming.

The Real Housewives of New York alum revealed on TikTok that she’s been diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease, and she says she’s speaking out not for sympathy, but as a warning. “I have a medical announcement. Not because I want you to worry, but because I want you to take precautions in your own life, be mindful,” Bethenny, 55, said in her Jan. 22 video.

According to the SkinnyGirl founder, this wasn’t some random discovery. She said she’s been staying on top of her health with routine testing. “I’d been proactive about blood tests, bone density, all the things,” she explained — but repeated labs showed something was off.

“My kidney function was coming up low. That led to a referral to a kidney specialist — a visit she admittedly tried to dodge. “I didn’t want to go … I didn’t feel like going today,” she confessed. Still, she went — and the news hit hard.

“He said to me, ‘You have stage 2 chronic kidney disease,’ ” Bethenny shared, adding that doctors believe it could be autoimmune-related or tied to a near-fatal allergic reaction she suffered years ago. “It could have been caused by ‘this traumatic experience I had years ago when I almost died from an allergy attack. It could have done damage to the kidney.’ ” Stage 2 kidney disease involves a mild loss of kidney function, and doctors say it can often be managed with close monitoring and blood pressure control.

But Bethenny Frankel revealed the condition may already be affecting her daily life.

She said it’s likely behind recurring infections. “I do get UTIs, not as much anymore,” she noted. And when it comes to treatment, the advice was simple — but not easy for her. “I don’t drink a lot of water … I’m holding a bottle, but I’m not usually drinking it.” When she told her doctor she drinks kombucha instead, she said his response was blunt: “Water is your medicine. You have to drink a giant — I think he said 1.5 [gallons] — and you can put your hydration packets in it.” The doctor also gave her a long don’t list — including ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, turmeric, and even ice cream, which she was eating during the video. “I remembered after,” she joked.

This diagnosis is just the latest in a string of health issues for Bethenny. In 2023, she was diagnosed with long COVID and the autoimmune condition POTS. Earlier this month, she also battled a bacterial infection while vacationing in St. Barth’s.

Bethenny Frankel said she decided to be transparent because this may not be temporary. “Maybe this is something I’ll have to deal with forever, but I just wanted to tell you because I think it’s important to go get all your bloodwork done.” She urged followers to stay vigilant. “Be thorough,” she said, encouraging regular testing and follow-ups.

“Then do the follow-ups for anything that seems like an outlier. And frankly, get your bloodwork done maybe six months and then six months later, because different stuff could come up and sometimes it’s an aberration and sometimes it means something.”

In her case, she said, “In this case, it was a pattern.” And in true Bethenny fashion, she ended with a mix of honesty and humor — saying she’s still trying to understand what it all means, and joking that she hopes to get clarity from “part-time doctors” on TikTok. “I don’t know exactly what it means. Many of you will, which is also why I’m sharing with you.”

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Nancy Zhāng is an Entertainment Blogger for All About The Tea. Nancy covers hot topics, recaps and celeb news. She loves to multi-task as a writer and a private chef. She received a B.S. in Mass Communications from LSU. Nancy’s married and the proud mom of 2 German Shepherds.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 28 seconds ago

Ever since John Wick started John Wicking, “John Wick” has basically become its own action subgenre. If you hear anybody say something is “like John Wick,” you can expect a lone assassin who can effortlessly level rooms full of henchmen with reckless abandon, never run out of bullets, and be fueled by some sort of revenge arc that lets them tap into near-superhuman abilities.

Netflix’s Kate (2021) is one of those movies. There’s not much plot to it, but the action is highly stylized and expertly choreographed, and your brain turns smooth as you watch countless bodies drop by gun, sword, or hand.

One Last Job? Yeah, Right!

Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a highly skilled assassin who was raised and trained to be a ruthless killing machine by her handler, Varrick (Woody Harrelson). Despite the nature of her work, Kate has a strict moral code, meaning she refuses to carry out hits when children are present. After one job forces her to violate her own ethics, Kate tells Varrick she’s ready to hang it up after one last assignment.

While lying low at a hotel, Kate has a one-night stand with a man named Stephen (Michiel Huisman), which proves to be a fatal mistake. As luck would have it, the wine Kate shared with Stephen was dosed with Polonium-204, giving her a rare form of radiation poisoning that leaves her with 24 hours to live. Borrowing from the Crank (2006) playbook, Kate gets hopped up on an alarming amount of injectable stimulants, vowing to track down whoever put Stephen up to poisoning her.

From this point forward, Kate doesn’t mess around. She has reason to believe the yakuza syndicate she’s previously targeted is behind her incurable countdown, but she has yet to figure out how deep it all goes. Along the way, she befriends Ani (Miku Martineau), who just so happens to be the niece of Kijima (Jun Kunimura), the yakuza boss who has a personal vendetta against Kate.

As you’d expect in this kind of John Wick-style movie, calculating the body count is nearly impossible. There’s so much collateral damage you’d need to watch at half speed to properly clock the carnage. The blood splatter leans into Kill Bill territory, but it’s more grounded than full-on comic book excess. Wounds don’t spray like geysers, but any fight scene set in an all-white room delivers more than enough splatter to satisfy your craving for cinematic violence. The neon-drenched city backdrop makes any chase sequence stand out and jump off the screen during those moments where there’s no combat, but the night is still dangerous. 

By Now Standard Fare, But Executed To Perfection

If you’ve seen any John Wick movie, Atomic Blonde, Kill Bill, Monkey Man, or the Nobody films, you already know what you’re getting with Kate. That’s not a knock. These movies don’t offer much nuance on the plot front, but they’re a blast to watch. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is an absolute beast here, and even though she wasn’t previously on my radar, she is now. She knows exactly how to handle a revenge arc with the right amount of attitude.

Kate starts with a moral code, but all of that goes out the window once her countdown begins. From that point on, it’s game over, and Winstead sells it every step of the way.

Kate doesn’t reinvent the ultra-violent action thriller wheel, but it’s a damn good wheel. It’s one you can take for a spin on Netflix the next time you want to watch a dangerous babe throw down, kick ass, and take names.