Entertainment
10 Greatest R-Rated Westerns of the 21st Century, Ranked
While Western cinema has always been defined by themes of violence, justice, and morality as much as it has been by its sweeping visuals and cowboy characters, the mid-20th century heyday of the genre wasn’t exactly renowned for its hard-hitting or confronting realism. As the decades have rolled on, however, that sense of visceral authenticity has become more enticing to viewers who want to see the genre’s air of fabled American values dismantled in taxing and truthful illustrations of what life was like in the Old West.
The Western movies of the 21st century have appealed to this demographic, and the genre has become synonymous with gruelling intensity and shocking violence over the last 25 years. While some modern classics like True Grit and First Cow prove that lower-rated depictions of the genre can still thrive, the vast majority of Western cinema in recent decades has been R-rated. The best of the century so far has consisted of everything from spaghetti Western callbacks to biographical dramas, revenge epics, and even modern-set neo-Western spins on the genre’s rusted-on tropes and ideas.
10
‘Bone Tomahawk’ (2015)
One of the most viscerally violent and disturbing pictures of the century so far, Bone Tomahawk is a confronting, savage, and mentally scarring illustration of the genre. Accentuated with flourishes of extreme horror and brutality, it follows several men from the small town of Bright Hope as they embark on a trek to rescue three people abducted by a cannibalistic, cave-dwelling tribe.
A directorial debut of astonishing conviction and impact from S. Craig Zahler, Bone Tomahawk presents Western cinema at its most unflinching and raw. It takes a somewhat traditional captivity narrative of heroism and rescue, and imbues it with moments of ferocious violence capable of making even the most hardened viewers squirm in their seats. Bolstered by a litany of strong performances, a dread-inducing slow-burn tempo, and the incredible yet harrowing practical and technical execution of its most violent scenes, Bone Tomahawk soars as a bold and daring Western horror.
9
‘The Hateful Eight’ (2015)
From one Kurt Russell-starring Western thriller to another, The Hateful Eight tells a winding story of distrust, violence, and close confines intensity that stands as perhaps Quentin Tarantino’s most underrated movie. It unfolds in a haberdashery amid a snowstorm in Wyoming, with eight strangers taking refuge in the small lodge. With bounty hunter John “The Hangman” Ruth (Russell) escorting fugitive Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to be executed, every new face presents as a potential threat waiting to strike and free the criminal from captivity.
With its palpable, chamber-play atmospheric tension absorbing viewers in every sudden twist and violent revelation, The Hateful Eight thrives as an immersive pressure-cooker of rich and volatile characters simmering towards an inevitable eruption of violence. Tarantino’s mastery of gripping dialogue and suspense combines beautifully with Robert Richardson’s enrapturing cinematography and Ennio Morricone’s score to make for a masterful modern epic and a dazzling spectacle of Western cinema.
8
‘Hell or High Water’ (2016)
Hell or High Water is a raging neo-Western masterpiece that questions traditional genre notions of heroism and villainy. With their ranch in debt following the death of their mother and the bank looking to foreclose on the property, brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner Howard (Ben Foster) start robbing different branches of the Texas Midlands Bank to come up with the money. As their crime spree spreads, two aging Texas Rangers are assigned to the case. The film explores themes of generational poverty, the death of the American dream, the moral ambiguity of crime, and the cataclysmic failing of the nation’s economic structure.
With Taylor Sheridan’s brilliant and piercing screenplay, David Mackenzie’s absorbing direction, and a litany of exceptional performances, Hell or High Water thrives as one of the most engaging Westerns of the past decade. It recreates the atmosphere of the Old West in a contemporary setting, while subverting themes and character archetypes. It aims to illuminate how much America has changed, or at least how far detached it is from the idealized, often celebrated vision of the Old West. Effective, efficient, and exhilarating, it’s one of the essential movies of the 2010s as well as an instant classic of Western cinema.
7
‘The Proposition’ (2005)
Given that the genre is called the “Western” because it explores life on the expanding frontier of the American West, it stands to reason that most Western stories transpire in America, but that isn’t always the case. A powerfully ferocious and philosophical spin on the genre from Australia, The Proposition sees the genre’s essential themes of colonization and civilization, justice, crime, and even morality reapplied to an outback setting. It follows captured fugitive Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) as he is given an ultimatum: find and kill his sadistic older brother in nine days, or his naive younger brother will be hanged.
Bereft of glory or heroics, The Proposition soars as an uncompromising immersion in the brutality of the time. This relentless illustration of desperation, depravity, and violence is emboldened by a litany of exceptional performances and the majestic yet merciless landscape of the Australian wilderness. Written by Nick Cave (who also provided the film with its intense and haunting score, alongside Warren Ellis), The Proposition isn’t just a tale of Western brutality, but an immersion in the callousness of Australia’s expanding frontier.
6
‘The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’ (2007)
A criminally underrated gem that serves as a poetic and piercing Western drama as well as a thematically rich biopic about violence, celebrity, and obsession, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a highlight of revisionist Western cinema. Using its story to challenge genre norms and deconstruct the myth of heroism, gallantry, and honor in the Old West, it unfolds as a methodical and measured slow-burn. This wafting meditation on one of America’s most polarizing figures is also a gorgeous realization of 1880s America, courtesy of Roger Deakins’ brilliance.
With a 160-minute runtime, the Western biopic follows Robert Ford’s (Casey Affleck) initiation into the gang of his idol, Jesse James (Brad Pitt). Over time, Ford’s adoration of James turns to embittered resentment, leading him to hatch a scheme to kill the outlaw. Even in its striking eruptions of violence, the film maintains an air of composure. Director Andrew Dominik imbues the story with gravitas through his restrained pacing, evocative use of silence and narration, and the lingering sense of the wealth, freedom, and infamy deteriorating into something rotten and corrosive.
5
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (2023)
Blending Western ideas with a fiercely important documentation of historical events, Killers of the Flower Moon is one of the greatest movies of the 2020s so far, and an essential Martin Scorsese masterpiece. Set in 1920s Oklahoma, on the land of the Osage Nation, it unfolds as greed, violence, and cut-throat opportunism engulf the community following the discovery of an oil deposit under the land. Amid the murder and carnage, Molly Burkhart (Lily Gladstone) pleads to the U.S. government to investigate, unaware that her husband, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), and his family are the driving force behind the deaths.
Epic in scope, runtime, and thematic gravitas, Killers of the Flower Moon is a confronting immersion in a heinous chapter of American history, one that boldly showcases evil not as an enigmatic force of twisted genius or terrible power, but as simple greed combined with opportunity and self-justification. The decision to focus on Molly and Ernest’s marriage, founded on true love and mutual respect, adds another compelling element to the story. The result is an enthralling, albeit disturbing, Western drama that stands among the most commanding pictures the genre has ever seen.
4
‘Django Unchained’ (2012)
Recreating the slashing style and violent vehemence of spaghetti Western cinema with the technical advancements of modern-day filmmaking, Django Unchained is an enjoyable indulgence, a cathartic revenge flick loaded with panache and punch. Jamie Foxx stars as Django, a recently freed slave working with bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) to track down outlaws. In exchange for his help, Schultz agrees to help Django reunite with his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), who has been sold to the plantation of the notoriously cruel Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).
Django Unchained successfully blends together the adventure and amorality of the spaghetti Westerns of old while incorporating periods of sustained suspense and outbursts of hilarious black comedy into the fold. The result is 165 minutes of outrageous, unadulterated fun. It displays the genre at its most exuberant and excessive, making for one of the most relentlessly entertaining movies of the century so far, and a soaring highlight in Quentin Tarantino’s filmography.
3
‘Brokeback Mountain’ (2005)
Stoic masculinity blanketing any notion of emotional vulnerability has long been a defining characteristic of Western drama. It is an idea that is brilliantly used in 2005’s Brokeback Mountain, an ingenious marriage of neo-Western and queer romance storytelling based on Annie Proulx’s short story of the same name. It follows the forbidden love that blossoms between sheep herders Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) over a summer together in 1963. While both men return to their homes and marry their girlfriends, the passion they shared on Brokeback Mountain never leaves them, complicating their lives as their sporadic romance carries on for years.
It may be an unconventional Western, especially as it secures its R-rating through sexual content and coarse language more so than violence, but Brokeback Mountain embodies the defining characteristics of the genre. It presents a picture of sweeping, naturalistic majesty while tackling themes of masculinity, repressed emotions, and isolation. Anchored by two outstanding lead performances and Ang Lee’s deft direction, Brokeback Mountain endures as a piercing romantic drama, and one of the most ambitious, tender, and culturally timeless Westerns of all time.
2
‘There Will Be Blood’ (2007)
Despite there being some great Westerns from abroad, the genre is innately American, with the original Western movies from the ’30s through to the ’60s presenting a mythic version of the nation’s history. There Will Be Blood takes this air of myth and might and turns the genre into a breathtaking dismantling of capitalist greed. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it follows oil magnate Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he treks to California to investigate claims of an oil deposit and forms a vicious rivalry with the duplicitous local preacher, Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), in the process.
Through the story of Plainview’s posturing and ambition, There Will Be Blood presents American capitalism at its unfiltered, unfeeling worst, bolstered by Daniel Day-Lewis’s astonishing, transformative performance. The thematic wrath of its message of power and wealth and the technical mastery of its execution are among its greatest strengths. There Will Be Blood must be considered not only a triumphant Western masterpiece of the modern day but a defining highlight of 21st-century cinema at large.
1
‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)
Marking a striking departure from the typical black comedy of the Coen Brothers, No Country for Old Men is an unfiltered embracement of pure neo-Western suspense. Based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name, it follows Texan hunter Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) as he is pursued by sadistic cartel hitman, Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), after stealing a case of $2 million from the aftermath of a desert shootout. As Moss relies on his wits to keep the money and his life, Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) tries to piece it all together, even as he reflects on the many ways the world has changed since he was young.
No Country for Old Men isn’t just the best Western of the 21st century; it is one of the greatest revisionist Westerns in cinematic history. It’s a masterpiece of modernization that takes integral genre themes like morality, justice, and law and order vs. crime, and applies them to the more recognizable world of 1980s Texas. Defined by atmospheric intensity and absorbing, heart-stopping, suspenseful sequences, the 2007 Best Picture Winner is one of the greatest R-rated movies ever made of any genre.
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Dawson’s Creek star Mary-Margaret Humes is continuing to honor a tradition with her onscreen son, James Van Der Beek, one month after his death.
James’ wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, took to her Instagram Story on Sunday, March 8, to honor memories with the late actor on what would have been his 49th birthday — and also share new moments with the couple’s six kids. In the clip, the kids gathered around an outdoor table as they looked at a gift given to them by Humes.
“Who do you think sent this?” Kimberly asked, to which the kids replied in unison, “Mary Margaret.” After Kimberly inquired about what was inside the box, the children exclaimed, “Cookies!”
“And we always get them on Daddy’s birthday,” Kimberly explained, while one of the kids said, “Don’t stop sending these.”
Before unpacking the box, the kids read a note written by Humes, which said, “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. For those who love with their heart and soul, there is no such thing as separation. Happy birthday kiddo. I love you.”
Humes, for her part, reposted the video and added two hearts, alongside the text, “Forever family.” Humes also paid tribute to James via Instagram on Sunday, sharing a collage of throwback photos with her onscreen son and his family.
“You are never more than a thought away,” Humes wrote. “Happy Birthday James … #familyfirst #foreverfriends @vanderkimberly ❤️.”
News broke in February that James died after a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He was 48.
Katie Holmes is mourning the loss of her beloved friend and former Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek. “James, thank you. To share space with your imagination is sacred — breathing the same air in the land of make-believe and trusting that each other’s hearts are safe in their expression,” wrote Holmes, 47, in […]
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” a statement shared via the actor’s Instagram read at the time. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
Humes, for her part, honored James by sharing a selfie of the twosome and a throwback photo.
“Rarely am I at a loss for words … today would be the exception. James, my gracious warrior, you fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity,” Humes wrote via Instagram at the time. “I will always love and admire you for that. Our last conversations … merely a few days ago … are forever sitting softly in my heart for safe keeping. To our extended Dawson’s Creek family of friends, please be respectful of our silences at the moment as Beautiful Kimberly and family have asked for peaceful privacy for now.”
Jessica Alba and Joe Burrow are not dating despite social media rumors linking the two after they were spotted in Las Vegas … TMZ has learned.
Posts circulating on X claim the actress and Bengals QB are a new couple after being seen together at 2 AM in Vegas. The chatter quickly picked up steam, especially alongside a photo of them sitting at a gaming table.
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But sources with direct knowledge tell us the rumors couldn’t be less true. We’re told Alba is still romantically involved with actor Danny Ramirez.
Multiple people who attended the Zero Bond Vegas opening, which is where the photo was taken, tell us Alba and Burrow were simply part of a larger group of friends hanging out. They weren’t there alone and there was no PDA or behavior suggesting anything beyond friendship.
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At the start of the weekend, Alba even posted an Instagram photo dump from their recent trip to Mexico that included a picture of the two together.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Starfleet Academy has been incorporating nods to earlier Star Trek shows, with varying degrees of subtlety. Sometimes, we just get, say, passing references to a Talaxian furfly. Other times, we get an entire episode dedicated to characters like Benjamin Sisko, complete with cameos from those who are closest to him.
So far, most of the show’s most overt references have been nods to shows like Deep Space Nine and Voyager. However, the most recent episode, “300th Night,” referenced The Next Generation in a powerful way by portraying an alien ritual we haven’t seen onscreen for decades. That ritual was the R’uustai, which allows Klingons to induct new members into their house.
Worf Bonds With A Child
We first saw the R’uustai in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Bonding.” In this tale, Worf led an away team mission that went sideways, resulting in the death of a woman under his command. She died a typical Redshirt-style death, but unlike the Redshirts of yesteryear, her death left her son, Jeremy Aster, without a mother or father to raise him.
Jeremy goes through plenty of trauma afterward, especially after sympathetic aliens try to replicate his mother in an attempt to soothe his pain. Eventually, the crew gets the young boy to accept that his mother is dead, and Worf (whom the kid originally blamed for his mother’s death) performs the act of R’uustai, an ancient Klingon ritual that allowed him to make Jeremy a brother who would forever be part of Worf’s family, House Mogh.
Interestingly, R’uustai didn’t come up again in Star Trek for decades. Jeremy Aster was never mentioned again, and we never saw this ritual onscreen or even heard it mentioned. This is doubly interesting because on Deep Space Nine, Martok made Worf part of his family, meaning that young Jeremy Aster (wherever he is) is technically the last surviving member of House Mogh. However, it’s doubtful that he’ll be picking up a bat’leth and battling for the disgraced family’s honor anytime soon.
An Old Ritual From A New Klingon
After decades of its absence from Star Trek, however, R’uustai just made a quiet comeback. In the penultimate episode of Starfleet Academy Season 1 (“300th Night”), the unconventional Klingon Jay-Den conducts the R’uustai ritual for his fellow cadets, inviting them to join his family, House Kraag. All but Caleb drink during the ceremony, making them brothers and sisters of Jay-Den. Despite Caleb not wanting to join House Kraag because he is still obsessed with finding his mother (the last of his biological family), Jay-Den considers him a chosen brother and helps Caleb with his reckless mission to reunite with his mom.
In a weird way, this forgotten ritual from Star Trek: The Next Generation was perfect for Starfleet Academy. The show is all about found family and the strength you gain from letting close friends into your heart. In “300th Night,” the R’uustai ritual makes the “family” part official for these cadets while calling back to a TNG ritual that proved how easy it was for humans and other outsiders to officially join Klingon houses.
Today Is A Good Day To Bond
As a longtime Star Trek nerd, I just wish we knew a little more about how R’uustai works in this fictional universe. In the TNG episode “The Bonding,” this ritual was used to induct Jeremy Aster into Worf’s family, but an entirely different ritual (one involving less drinking and more bloodletting) was used in the DS9 episode “Sons and Daughters” to induct Alexander into House Martok. Therefore, it’s unclear whether the R’uustai temporarily fell out of fashion as a way to induct new House members before Jay-Den embraced it or if the rituals are race-specific, with one being reserved for Klingons and the other being used for everyone else.
At any rate, if you’re a Star Trek fan who loves Klingon lore, it’s particularly rewarding to see the return of R’uustai, something last seen in the excellent TNG episode “The Bonding.” The ritual emphasizes Starfleet Academy’s themes of found family, all while steeping itself in decades-old franchise lore. Hopefully, everything works out for Jay-Den, whose induction of Darem into House Kraag means he now officially has a family member who wants to have sex with him.
Let’s just hope this doesn’t lead to any particularly weird holodeck misadventures. If a simulated Darem gets stuck in a Jeffries Tube and starts saying things like, “What are you doing, chosen brother?” that will be our cue to turn the TV off quicker than you can say “qapla’!”
“Real Housewives” executive producer Andy Cohen is finally breaking his silence on Carole Radziwill‘s sudden return to the “Real Housewives of New York City.” The father of two spent a portion of his radio show, “Andy Cohen Live,” speaking with co-host John Hill about the network’s casting choices before expressing his excitement about the upcoming season.
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Andy Cohen Opens Up About Carole Radziwill Returning To ‘Real Housewives Of New York City’ After Leaving The Series In 2018
According to The Blast, Radziwill will join the season 16 cast of “RHONY” as an official “friend of” the group.
On his radio show, Cohen said he was “so excited” about the upcoming batch of episodes, saying the network had been “working on this for a while.”
Radiziwill’s return comes after the author-turned-reality star departed the series in 2018 after 5 seasons.
“I think I took her out for coffee in, was it December or January, and proposed that she be a friend,” Cohen said on his show, revealing the former full-time Housewife was “very Radzi about it … very analytical.”
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Cohen Teases Carole Radziwill’s Connection To The Current Cast Of ‘The Real Housewives Of New York City’
Radziwill’s return to “RHONY” comes at an interesting time, considering the network replaced all of the show’s OG women with a new cast for season 14. Despite that, Cohen said Radziwill’s appearance on the show shouldn’t feel out of place.
“You know, she’s gotten to be pals with Erin and Abe, like they are actually legitimate friends,” the “Watch What Happens Live” host said, referencing current “RHONY” stars Erin and Abe Lichy. “It’ll be good.”
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Carole Radziwill Finally Broke Her Silence After It Was Revealed She Was Returning To Bravo After Eight Years Away
Radziwill’s time on “RHONY” wasn’t all peaches and cream. Throughout her five seasons, she feuded with the show’s heavy hitters, including Bethenny Frankel and even Cohen himself.
Radziwill opened up about her return on Instagram, shouting out Bravo viewers for manifesting it. “I hope to live up to your expectations! I’m happy to join this amazing group of women to have some fun and make great TV. Stay tuned. And as always, thank you for your loyalty and support. Xx,” she wrote.
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Why Did Radziwill Leave The Show In The First Place?
Radziwill departed “RHONY” in 2018 after the conclusion of season 10. In a lengthy post shared on Instagram, the TV personality explained that she would spend her free time getting back to the things that made her happy.
“After six seasons on Bravo’s RHONYC, I have decided to return to what I do best — journalism and producing,” she wrote online. “I am sure this does not come as a surprise to any of the viewers, all of whom have been supportive, encouraging, and kind.”
Radziwill continued, “My original curiosity about reality television has waned over the years, and I am focusing on TV and writing projects that better suit my more steady temperament.”
The New York Times Best-Selling author went on to say that she made amazing friends and worked with outstanding industry leaders.
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“… I’m thrilled to leave frenemies behind,” she said before adding, “I will remember this entire experience with delight, humor, and a veracious accuracy. Next.”
Cohen And Radziwill Reconciled After Not Speaking For Years
Another reason Radiziwill’s return is so surprising is because of the reality star’s past feud with Cohen.
During an episode of “Andy Cohen Live,” Cohen explained that he and Radziwill stopped speaking for years following her exit; however, they reconciled in August 2025.
“She and I, as you know, had a big kind of falling out. She asked me to never speak to her again, and then we kind of went at each other, publicly, for years,” Cohen said.
Radziwill confirmed Cohen’s version of events, writing, “True story…we hadn’t spoken or even bumped into each other in nearly 7 years,” on her Instagram Story. “After another public argument, we quietly settled our differences over text messages. Then, one week later, we bumped into each other at The Polo Bar! The universe had said, enough.”
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Radziwill isn’t the only familiar face returning to Bravo for “RHONY” season 16.
Sai De Silva, Jessel Taank, and Lichy have all signed on for the upcoming collection of episodes.
Additionally, newcomers Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond, and Daisy Toye are joining the fold.
“We’ll be there in a New York minute,” the Instagram post’s caption read. “Meet the official cast of #RHONY Season 16! Start spreading the news…cameras begin rolling THIS WEEK!”
Entertainment
After a 6-Year Time Jump, Apple TV’s Greatest Sitcom of the Last Decade Is Completely Different
Despite being one of the most underrated shows on Apple TV, Trying seemed to have a limited run. When the show begins, a couple named Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall) embark on an adoption journey, as they hope to become parents despite the obstacles in their way. This is not an easy process, and they face several ups and downs in their effort to adopt young siblings Princess (Eden Togwell) and Tyler (Mickey McAnulty).
In Season 3, Nikki and Jason finalize their adoption, but Trying continues the story, moving on from the original plot and jumping ahead six years in Season 4 to a daunting period when Princess (Scarlett Rayner) and Tyler (Cooper Turner) are entering their teenage years. The time jump reframes the show’s title to be less about Nikki and Jason’s attempt to grow their family and more about the fact that they are simply doing their best. Ultimately, Trying‘s time jump completely changed the show for the better, providing new opportunities that have kept the story alive, especially with a fifth season on the way.
‘Trying’s Time Jump Provides New Opportunities for the Show
A six-year time jump seems like a big move, but it allows Trying to enter a new era of its characters’ lives and explore how they have grown, both in and outside the family unit. The Apple TV sitcom embraces chaos as the messy characters make questionable choices, and jumping forward in their lives introduces the potential for new drama. This is most prevalent in Princess’s story, as she emerges with a focus on finding answers from her birth mother, Kat (Charlotte Riley). Now 16, Princess is mature enough to be asking questions she could never have understood at 10, giving her new storyline an emotional undercurrent that Trying handles so well.
Princess’s age is only one way the show benefits from the time jump, as her time with Nikki makes the search less jarring. Throughout Season 4, mother and daughter struggle to see eye to eye, but the fact that they have an established bond prevents Princess’s desire to find her birth mother from undercutting her relationship with Nikki. While this major change for Trying is most obviously reflected in Princess’s plot, all the characters grow as a consequence, and these developments are only going to become more noticeable going forward.
This ‘Trying’ Character Deserves So Much Better
It’s time everyone acknowledge that this character deserves better.
‘Trying’s Future Is Promising Because of the Show’s Time Jump
The story of Princess and Tyler’s adoption had run its course, but thanks to the time jump, Trying is still going strong, with Season 5 expected later this year. Picking up shortly after Season 4, the next installment will continue to benefit from this revamp as it explores the fallout from Kat turning up on the family’s doorstep. Like Princess, Tyler’s age will help this storyline. Not only will a 12-year-old be better able to understand the drama, but the older actor will be better equipped to portray the complex emotions needed.
Although little is known about Trying Season 5, in addition to Kat’s arrival, it is set to explore Nikki and Jason’s professional lives, with several new cast members joining to add complications just as things at home appear to spiral. Celia Imrie and Gbemisola Ikumelo will be involved in Jason’s story as he starts a new career as a social worker. Meanwhile, Colin Morgan will play a new coworker of Nikki’s, promising that something will be going on at the Vista Car Rental she manages. All of these new storylines are made possible by the six years that have passed between Season 3 and 4, which successfully reinvents Trying for the better.
The internet is living for this one. Megan Thee Stallion was spotted on a livestream laughing her butt off at a diss track aimed at BIA. It looks like Bia ended up peeping Meg’s lil’ chuckle and now she’s stepped in with some words.
RELATED: Claressa Shields & Papoose Set Timelines Off After Megan Thee Stallion Drops SPICY Lyrics About Them On ‘B.B.B.’ Remix (VIDEO)
Megan The Stallion Laughs, Bia Strikes Back
On Saturday, Megan Thee Stallion was on a TikTok livestream vibing to a rap song referencing BIA. The track also threw shade at Bia’s songs, claiming no one could name them. And Megan couldn’t contain her laughter, cackling, “Why would she say that?!” all while getting her glam done. See the video here.
However, just a few hours later, Bia seemingly responded, clapped back with a record. On her IG Story, she posted a screenshot from Meg’s interview with Gayle King captioned, “when I know someone lying but I let them keep going anyway…” Shade? Delivered. And, she didn’t stop there. Bia also shared a selfie with the background track—Nicki Minaj’s ‘Big Foot’—carefully choosing the exact part of the song where lies get called out. If you’re keeping score, that’s a thinly veiled reminder of history these rap streets don’t forget.
You Already Know That Fans Picked Sides
Fans and critics flooded both LiveBitez’s comment section, picking sides in the Megan vs. Bia drama. Some argued that Megan started it, while others pointed out she’s laughed at City Girls verses before, so it’s not exactly new. A few kept it real, saying they couldn’t name five Bia verses. Chile, this tea was groundbreaking.
One Instagram user @livelaughlove_20041 said, “LOL. I remember when she was laughing the same way when Caresha rhymed buenas noches with roaches lol“
This Instagram user @yeahbullet_ joked, “I can’t name 5 Megan songs either though 😂”
And, Instagram user @hillypecanrican added, “Nah seriously I like bia .. I think she’s a beautiful girl when I heard that verse .. I yelled the same way 🤣🤣🤣🤣”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @everybodyhatekrissy commented, “I love Meg down!!!! But my sis kinda started it….“
While Instagram user @lamaronbain shared, “See how she had to use a Nicki song, even she can’t name 5 of her own songs“
Finally, Instagram user @joan45656htj wrote, “Bia standing on business 😂”
Are Meg & Bia Really Beefin’?
For those just tuning in: Bia and the rapper shading her in the song have beef going back to livestream moments in 2023, subliminal posts, and even messy on-wax allegations. Things flared up again during this year’s Super Bowl with more subliminals and a diss track targeting personal life rumors. Megan’s ties to other major players in this ongoing saga make her popping up here no surprise. Will she trade bars with Bia next? Or is this just another playful side-eye? Either way, the tea is piping hot, the receipts are ready, and fans are here for every second.
RELATED: BIA Fires Back At Online Comment Amid Ongoing Social Media Debate About Her Age Gap With Boyfriend Cam Whitmore
What Do You Think Roomies?
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Bad hair days don’t stand a chance when you have the right styling tool. And for a lot of shoppers, the Wavytalk Thermal Brush is quickly becoming a go-to for achieving a smooth, salon-style finish at home.
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If you’re on the fashion or beauty side of Pinterest at all, it’s a near impossibility that you haven’t come across the gorgeous hair Matilda Djerf has. Her images have been re-pinned millions of times due to not only her fashion sense but also her truly iconic hair. She’s rarely pictured without perfectly blown-out, effortless, […]
Unlike a traditional blow-dryer brush, this thermal brush works best on already-dry hair, helping smooth strands and add shape without excessive heat exposure. The 1½-inch barrel is ideal for creating soft curls, face-framing waves or a lifted blowout effect, while the nylon bristles help grip hair gently as you style.
Another bonus is its two adjustable heat settings, which give you more control depending on your hair type or styling goal. The ionic technology helps tame frizz and enhance shine, so your finished look feels sleek and polished rather than stiff or over-styled.
Shoppers say it’s surprisingly effective, especially for frizz control and shine. One reviewer shared, “I have very curly frizzy hair! This has worked wonders! Been getting a lot of compliments and just enjoying my hair again!” Another wrote, “So easy to use. My hair really looks shiny and soft.”
A third reviewer explained why it’s become part of their routine: “This thermal brush is great! Two heat settings so it’s not TOO hot… Once my hair was dry, this thermal brush smoothed and shined my hair perfectly. The brush was much easier than a curling iron to get some volume and even better than a flat iron for obtaining a smooth frizz-free look.”
If you’ve been looking for an easier way to get that smooth, bouncy blowout look at home, this styling tool could quickly become your new favorite beauty shortcut.
Get the right styling tool for $46 (was $70) at Walmart! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
If humidity has ever sabotaged your hair plans, you’re not alone — and neither are the Nader sisters! The model siblings are famous for their glossy blowouts on Love Thy Nader, where nonstop travel and filming demand serious staying power. Their secret weapon? A surprisingly affordable $9 blowout spray. Mary Holland Nader and Brooks Nader revealed their secret […]
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New characters shed light on the widening mystery.
Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu is coming to the defense of her fellow medalist, Eileen Gu, after some controversy during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
“I’ve known Eileen since I was 13 or something. We’re from the Bay Area. She’s super nice, and her mom is from China,” Liu, 20, told the New York Times on Thursday, March 6. “I think people are hypocritical for shaming her for representing China. So, in my head, it’s a bit hypocritical, because her mom is an immigrant. Y’all would have told her to go back to China. Now that they’re back in China, you’re mad.”
She continued, “And it’s sport, it doesn’t matter what country we represent. Sport is sport, and she has a love for competition, she has love for the game. I think that’s all that matters. There’s no shame in going to where opportunity is.”
Gu, 22, was at the center of some discourse after she decided to represent China at the Games, despite being born in San Francisco.
Both her and Liu were born in California to Chinese and American parents.
Gu opted to represent China — where her mother, Yan Gu, is from — prior to competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Eileen Gu Getty Images
The chatter reached a pinnacle when United States Vice President JD Vance decided to criticize the Olympic skier.
Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu is having a moment following her two gold medal wins at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy. The skater has become a pop culture phenomenon as one-third of Team USA Figure Skating’s “Blade Angels” alongside Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito. Alysa’s trademark striped hair and […]
“I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United Sates of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance, 41, told Fox News on February 17. “So, I’m going to root for American athletes, and I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for this Olympics.”
“I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet,” Gu responded to USA Today on February 19. “So many athletes compete for a different country… people only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.”
Gu added, “And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me.”
Gu — who became the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history with her three medals at the 2026 Games — speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and spent many of her summers in Beijing.
Now, this is heavy! Michael J. Fox posted a pic with his beloved “Back to the Future” costar, Christopher Lloyd, sharing a reunion more than 40 years in the making.
That’s right … it’s been more than 40 years since Doc Brown sent Marty McFly back in time at 88 mph, and the two are still great friends.
Fox wrote, “Dining with my bestie at the beach. Next year BTTF is 41. Great Scott. Chris will be 8️⃣8️⃣. That’s some serious s**t.”
The dinner comes before the film’s 41-year anniversary and after the publishing of Fox’s memoir, “Future Boy,” in which he recounts making the classic sci-fi.
Needless to say, the meeting was electric … probably measured 1.21 gigawatts!
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