The realm of science fiction has given birth to so many great shows that have shaped the fabric of pop culture. Star Wars has moved from the big screen to the small, with mostly successful results. Star Trek has once again cemented its place on television with fare like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Even new series like The Expanse and Silo have managed to become the topic of water cooler conversation. But there is one science fiction show that definitely deserves to be discussed with the same fervor: Babylon 5. Created by J. Michael Straczynski, Babylon 5 wasn’t just a well-crafted science fiction series — it also provides an example of storytelling elements that have shaped modern television.

What Is ‘Babylon 5’ About?

Babylon 5 centers on the titular space station, which acts as a diplomatic hub for the Earth Alliance and various other alien species. It’s a place for people all over the universe to unite and bond… though the crew of Babylon 5 soon finds themselves embroiled in various conflicts. The station’s first commander, Jeffery Sinclair (Michael O’Hare), learned that he was actually Valen — a figure of great importance to the alien race known as the Minbari. Its second, John Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner), became the central figure in a series of prophecies concerning the mysterious beings known as the Shadows. Throughout the Shadow War, there are upheavals in governments, telepathic sabotage, and even a moment where Sheridan is forced to lead an insurrection against the Earth Alliance in order to save mankind.

Though Straczynski developed Babylon 5 early in his writing career, it took years for him to actually bring it to life. In his memoir Becoming Superman, he details the process of pitching the show to WB — and it was a rather torturous one. Before he actually pitched WB execs the show, Straczynski had cracked a tooth and attempted to numb the pain by drinking an entire pitcher of ice water. The process left him with a numb mouth, but he managed to somehow impress them into giving the series a green light. However, another obstacle appeared in the form of Star Trek — specifically, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Much like Babylon 5, the series featured a space station as its main base of operations with a commander who became the central figure in a prophesied war.

Even though Straczynski never felt that Paramount was directly ripping off Babylon 5, he expressed annoyance that Deep Space Nine would beat his series to the punch. “I know full well that even if the Warners PR machine got working 24 hours a day on this, half of all viewers will see this show, coming out after DS9, and think it’s just a last-minute knockoff or ripoff of DS9,” he wrote.

‘Babylon 5’ Gave Birth to Most of Prestige Television’s Recurring Trends

Image via Warner Bros.

Babylon 5 managed to last five seasons, racking up plenty of awards and acclaim along the way. Even more surprising was that this was Straczynski’s original intent; he planned for Babylon 5 to embody the five-act structure of a novel. What he didn’t anticipate was the large role he’d play in shaping the series. As the series’ showrunner, Straczynski had a major hand in writing for Babylon 5; however, circumstances led to him penning the entirety of Season 3 and Season 4 solo. In fact, the only person to provide a freelance script post-Season 2 was Neil Gaiman for the Season 5 episode “Day of the Dead.” Straczynski was still able to bring the majority of his vision to life, even with cast members departing.

Straczynski was also able to play the long game with Babylon 5, starting characters at one extreme and placing them at another by series’ end. A key example is Citizen G’Kar (Andreas Katsulas). At first, a wrathful terrorist hellbent on destruction, he transformed into a peaceful man who led his species into a golden age. Likewise, Sheridan, a decorated war hero, was forced to go against his own government in order to save it. While this would become the norm with series such as Lost and Breaking Bad, Babylon 5 beat them to the punch. Straczynski would also employ a similar method with Sense8, the Netflix series he created with Lily & Lana Wachowski.

The Legacy of ‘Babylon 5’ Continues

Image via Warner Bros.

Alongside the final season of Babylon 5, Straczynski would script four made-for-television movies. One of those movies, A Call to Arms, ended with the Shadows deploying a weapon that would kill all life on Earth within a few years. John Sheridan commissions a vessel called the Excalibur to search for a way to reverse Earth’s fate, leading to the spin-off series Crusade. However, Crusade ran into a major problem with its parent network, TNT: after receiving a study that showed that the audience for Crusade wasn’t really sticking around for other TNT programming. Therefore, the series was canceled after a conflict between the producers and TNT executives, with only 13 episodes being aired.

Straczynski would attempt to resurrect Babylon 5 over the years — and he finally seems to have succeeded. A reboot is currently in the works, with Straczynski reworking the story to focus on John Sheridan. Sheridan is also the focus of Babylon 5: The Road Home, an animated film that flings him through time and space as he attempts to save Babylon 5 from a horrific fate — and witnesses several alternate realities in the process.

When all is said and done, the impact of Babylon 5 can’t be denied. Its storytelling structure was years ahead of its time, leading to prestige television adopting rich character development as well as serialized story arcs. It gave a major boost to Straczynski’s writing career, leading to him writing several acclaimed comics, including Rising Stars for Top Cow and The Amazing Spider-Man for Marvel. It also proved that science fiction not named Star Wars or Star Trek can thrive in pop culture.

Babylon 5 is available to stream on Max.

Jennifer Aniston is counting her blessings when it comes to her relationship with Jim Curtis.

The pair have been dating for nearly a year, and the actress is said to feel lucky to have him in her life.

While they have largely kept their romance out of the public eye, sources say it is built on mutual respect, with Jennifer Aniston reportedly feeling more secure in this relationship than in any of her past ones.

The Actress Feels ‘Lucky’ Being With Jim Curtis

Nearly a year into their whirlwind romance, Jennifer Aniston and Jim Curtis are still going strong.

For the actress, being in the relationship has reportedly made her realize just “how lucky she is,” especially as he has completely shifted her perspective on life.

“In life and career, yeah, but also in crossing paths with Jim when she did and having the courage to pursue a partnership with him,” an insider told Star Magazine of the actress.

Even fans of the actress seem to have been won over by the hunky hypnotherapist, despite her previously being married to higher-profile figures like Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux, and having been in relationships with the likes of John Mayer and Vince Vaughn.

“No doubt Jen has fans who are skeptical of Jim or who wonder if he’s just after her money or impressive connections,” the source shared. “But Jen is a lot more secure with this man than she was with any of her previous lovers and husbands.”

The Couple’s Relationship Is Built On Mutual Respect

Aniston and Curtis have kept their relationship low-key, aside from occasionally sharing loved-up photos of themselves online.

Away from public view, the pair are reportedly making a conscious effort to ensure their relationship works by doing all the right things.

“Top to bottom, it’s a relationship built on mutual respect, and they truly prioritize spending a lot of distraction-free time together,” the source revealed about the couple. “She and Jim really are on a journey together and are figuring out their future.”

In the future, the couple is also hoping to explore more beyond their current base in Los Angeles once Aniston wraps up filming the fifth season of “The Morning Show.”

“Jen has the money to shake everything up in her life when that commitment wraps, and Jim has the vision and good judgment to help her do it,” added the insider. “The possibilities are limitless!”

Jennifer Aniston And Jim Curtis Spend A lot Of Time Together

Proof of the duo spending a lot of time together was given by Curtis himself during his recent appearance on the “Ced With Intention” podcast.

“I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend. We spend a lot of time in the house together,” he told his host.

Staying together has come with a number of benefits for the couple, including knowing how best to resolve the occasional issues they have.

“Sometimes, we can have little things flare up. We have the opportunity to be silent, angry, [we] could leave the house, think about it, and meditate on how to change it,” the hypnotherapist revealed at the time.

“Or we can say, ‘Hey, this is what happened, I’m sorry,’ and do the repair, and then go and work on making sure it happens less or doesn’t happen again. Because once you make a repair and it just happens five more times, no one trusts it,” he added.

The Couple Was Introduced By A Mutual Friend

Speculations began swirling in July that Aniston is in a relationship with Curtis when they were first spotted looking cozy on a yacht during a trip to Mallorca, Spain.

The relationship rumors were later confirmed that month, and it was also revealed that they had met through a mutual friend.

“They were introduced by a friend and started out as friends. Jen had read his book and was familiar with his work,” said a source, per People Magazine. “He’s very different from anyone she’s dated before.”

Jennifer Aniston And Jim Curtis Went Instagram Official On The Hypnotist’s Birthday

The couple finally went Instagram official on Curtis’ birthday in November, which officially confirmed to the world that they were an item.

At the time, Aniston took to the platform to share a photo of herself wrapping her arms around him from behind, with the caption, “Happy birthday, my love.”

Her post led to a flood of supportive comments from fans and some of her Hollywood colleagues.

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Actress Reese Witherspoon wrote, “Happy Birthday! LOVE this Lovestory,” while actor Cheyenne Jackson commented, “Love love love this and you.”

UPDATE — 4/19/26 at 7:10 p.m. ET: Authorities have identified the gunman as Shamar Elkins, the father of seven of the eight children who were shot and killed on Sunday, April 19, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The two adults who were injured by gunfire were women, including the mother of the seven slain kids. Both women are listed in critical condition.

Police further clarified the victims ranged in age from 1 to 12 years old. Additionally, a ninth child was wounded jumping from a roof to escape Elkins. That child is expected to make a full recovery.

Original story:
A mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, early on Sunday, April 19, has left eight children between the ages of 1 and 14 dead, according to officials.

Police said the suspected gunman is dead, and noted that, all told, 10 people were struck by gunfire in shootings that unfolded inside multiple homes.

Investigators are claiming it appears the shooter is somehow related to some — if not all — of the victims.

Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon described Sunday’s deadly incident as “domestic in nature” while speaking with reporters and said that the multiple crime scenes will take a while to process.

Police have yet to release names of any of the victims, though Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said some of the injured have been hospitalized for treatment.

Arceneaux did not provide any information on the conditions of the injured victims.

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Two of the homes that were targeted on Sunday are on the same street, while a third is in the same neighborhood, police said.

The shootings were first reported by someone who was inside the first home that was targeted by the gunman.

Police said that the suspect fled on foot before carjacking a nearby vehicle. Patrol officers chased after him for a while, but the shooter was eventually killed when officers fired on the vehicle.

The suspect has not yet been identified, but police said he would be named as soon as possible.

Louisiana State Police will be investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, because it involved a police officer.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said that he couldn’t “even begin to imagine how such an event could occur” when discussing the mass shooting and said that investigators will be analyzing all of the evidence collected from the different shooting scenes to try to understand what took place.

“My heart is just taken aback,” Smith admitted to reporters.

According to Arceneaux, a shooting like this “affects the entire community,” not just those involved.

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Related: Boys, 4 and 19, Gunned Down During Argument With South Carolina Man

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Two boys with 15 years between them were gunned down in South Carolina late Tuesday, February 17, and now, a 34-year-old man is behind bars facing murder and weapons charges. Police in Rock Hill allege in a statement an argument broke out between Cedric Akeen Creighton and a teen named Jamareon Kimble. According to police, […]

“This is a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had in Shreveport,” he said, adding, “We all mourn for these families.”

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a statement on Sunday saying he is aware of what happened, and he and his wife, Sharon LeBlanc, were devastated by the news. “We’re deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.

According to the Associated Press, the mass shooting was the deadliest in the U.S. since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024.

John Cena made his return to the ring at WWE’s WrestleMania 42 over the weekend, but his role looked a lot different.

Donning a suit and tie — quite a different look than his normal wrestling uniform — Cena made an appearance on Saturday, April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as the event’s host, garnering strong cheers from the crowd as he entered the ring once again.

“Wow I didn’t expect that. Thank you so much,” said the 17-time WWE world champion, who retired from the sport in December 2025. “Sorry, long-time fan, long-time performer, first-time host. How am I doing so far?”

He continued, “We’re all in here for the same reason because we know the time to talk is up, the time to deliver is now, and we are all here with one thing on our minds: ‘Who tonight will step up and deliver? … It is such a great honor. Ladies and gentlemen, and everyone watching around the world, welcome to WrestleMania!”

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Jelly Roll made quite the entrance at WWE WrestleMania 42. The country singer, 41, joined the main event between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and challenger Randy Orton on Saturday, April 18, where he helped Rhodes, 40, take out announcer Pat McAfee. McAfee, 38, was first thrown onto a table by Rhodes, at which point Jelly […]

The crowd loved it, and the marquee WWE event was underway.

Cena retired from WWE at the end of 2025, losing his final match to rising star Gunther. Before the match, Gunther said he was “proud” to be Cena’s last match, but added that his plan was always to “spoil” that final match.

“It means everything to me to have the opportunity to spoil John Cena’s last match,” Gunther told People on December 12.

He added, “It’s undeniable: [Cena is] the greatest of all time.”

After Cena lost that match, he stayed in the ring to take in the moment one final time. He acknowledged the crowd — which, of course, was cheering him on — bowing and saluting the fans.

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While John Cena received some praise from his final opponent this week, it wasn’t all smiles and rainbows. Before Cena’s final match — which will come on Saturday, December 13, at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C. — his opponent, Gunther, told People that “it’s undeniable” that Cena is […]

Cena spent 23 years as a wrestler, and has become one of the most iconic and recognizable WWE wrestlers of all time. He’s also built up a successful acting career, appearing in movies such as “The Suicide Squad” and “Fast X.”

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After his retirement, many celebrities took to social media to congratulate Cena on his career.

“Man, thank you for all these years,” said singer Jelly Roll — who also was featured in Wrestlemania 42 — at the time. “Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for being the role model that we all needed. You deserve this, brother. Congratulations, happy retirement.”

“Congratulations on an incredible career,” said former NFL quarterback Tom Brady. “You’ve impacted the lives of so many people inside the ring and outside the ring. Good luck in your last match. I hope you fare better in yours than I did in mine.”

In Lena Dunham’s memoir “Famesick,” she opens up about her working relationship with her “Girls” co-star, Adam Driver. In the tell-all book, she alleges that he screamed in her face when she forgot her lines, threw a chair, and even punched a hole in the wall of his trailer. While filming the HBO comedy series, he also rose to fame in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, where he starred alongside Daisy Ridley. In light of Dunham’s accusations, Ridley’s comments about working alongside Driver have resurfaced.

What Daisy Ridley Said About Working With Adam Driver

In an interview with V Magazine, Ridley joked that she became “besties” with Driver while filming the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy. For the first two films, Ridley played the scavenger Rey, who was only beginning to understand her Force powers. Driver, meanwhile, played the villainous Kylo Ren, who was the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia.

In 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” Kylo Ren was redeemed, resumed his identity as Ben Solo, and helped Rey defeat Emperor Palpatine. The two characters shared a kiss before he ultimately died and faded into the Force.

In the interview, Ridley said, “I mean, as we discovered, Adam, we became besties last year, but we had met some years before. It really takes me a while to relax with people. I don’t think I’m very good at meeting people: I feel awfully uncomfortable. So, I find meeting people very stressful.”

Driver responded, “Yeah, you always seemed very open, but I feel the same as you. When I meet people, I don’t know how to small-talk very well.”

Daisy Ridley Says Their Friendship Was ‘The Best Thing’ About Filming ‘Star Wars’

When Driver asked her what her “favorite part” of filming “Star Wars” was, Ridley revealed that she loved going into the makeup trailer and saying “good morning” to everyone before she joked, “Becoming besties with you was the best thing.”

Driver responded, “That’s a lie, but we will make sure that’s printed.” At the end of the interview, he said, “Alright, well, thanks, Daisy. I think you’re brilliant.”

In the comments, fans praised their “beautiful friendship,” while one user wrote, “They are adorable when they get interviewed together.”

How Adam Driver Supported Daisy Ridley On Set

In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, “The Last Jedi” director Rian Johnson revealed that Driver “went the distance” for Ridley by flying all the way out to Ireland just to be off-camera for their Force connection scenes.  

“Every single time we shot one of their sides, the other person was off camera,” he explained. “Even to the point where Adam flew to Ireland just to be off camera for Daisy’s stuff, which was essential because they’re such intimate conversations.”

“And that also meant we had to shoot each of those scenes twice, basically, which meant the rehearsal time was really important,” he continued. “And my editor Bob Ducsay did an amazing job then of making it feel kind of seamless after the fact.”

Daisy Ridley Said She Loved Working With Adam Driver

While promoting 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” the last “Star Wars” film released in theaters, Ridley said, “I love working with Adam,” and had nothing but positive things to say about working with him in an interview with AdoroCinema.

“He is a phenomenal actor and is always so immersed in the character that it is not difficult to act with him,” she said. “In that torture scene [in Episode VII], everything was very complex. We were repeating takes for a long time, and I remember thinking, ‘How will I get to that same point with each new attempt?’ And Adam was so into the scene, and gave me so much time… I don’t know if anyone else would have done that.”

Daisy Ridley Talks Filming Fight Scenes With Adam Driver

Ridley and Driver had choreographed fight scenes in all three movies, but Ridley said they always checked in with one another.

“We were filming a big fight scene, and we were like, ‘Are you okay? Everything is alright? Is the distance good?’ There has always been a concern for each other’s safety and well-being,” she said.

“I must have hit Adam a few times,” she recalled. “Once he hit my fingers, but we finished the scene anyway. And when we are done, my God [makes expression of pain]. I even asked for a minute. I thought I had broken my fingers.”

Her comments are in stark contrast to some of the allegations Dunham makes in her new memoir. In addition to allegations of violence while filming “Girls,” she also alleges that they almost crossed a boundary in their relationship, which led to him getting engaged to his now-wife, Joanne Tucker, a month after the alleged incident occurred.

Retired soccer star Carli Lloyd and her husband, Brian Hollins, are expanding their family.

“Our family is growing, and we couldn’t be more grateful!” Lloyd, 43, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, April 19. “We’re soaking in every bit of gratitude, love, and excitement as we prepare to welcome another little miracle into our lives.”

She continued, “Being blessed with another baby still feels hard to believe, and our hearts are so full.”

Lloyd further revealed that she is due in September 2026, adding “Family of Four,” “IVF Journey,” “Grateful” and “Blessed” hashtags to her post.

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Many stars are expanding their families in 2026. Riverdale alum Charles Melton’s girlfriend, director Camille Summers-Valli, rang in the new year by confirming her pregnancy with their first baby. Two days later, Paradise star Krys Marshall debuted her baby bump at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters […]

In maternity photos, Lloyd cradled her baby bump while Hollins, 41, held up a sonogram photo. Their eldest daughter, 18-month-old Harper stood ahead of them, wearing an adorable pink sweater that read, “Big Sister.”

Lloyd and Hollins have been married since 2016. Nearly eight years later, they announced that they were expecting their first child. Daughter Harper arrived in October 2024.

“So very grateful for this amazing blessing in our lives. By far the hardest thing I have ever endured but the best thing I’ve ever done,” the retired soccer star wrote via Instagram at the time, announcing Harper’s birth. “I am so thankful for the amazing team that surrounded us and helped Harper enter this world.”

She added at the time, “We just can’t get enough of this little peanut. We love love you so much and will do our best to give you the tools necessary in life to be a good human being!”

Lloyd also joked that then-baby Harper was a “mini Brian” in an accompanying Instagram hashtag.

Prior to welcoming Harper, Lloyd told Women’s Health that she faced an “indescribable roller coaster” of a fertility journey.

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“Being a mom was always something I wanted, but it wasn’t necessarily something that was always on my mind,” Lloyd told the outlet at the time. “As a professional soccer player, I was on the sole mission of becoming the best in the world. In order to get there, I knew soccer had to be my No. 1 priority. It would require a selfish mindset.”

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Lloyd retired from pro soccer in 2021, but wanted to enjoy her post-athletic career before expanding their family.

“In the summer of 2022, Brian and I thought it was time to try to get pregnant and see where it would lead us. My whole life revolved around defying odds and proving people wrong,” she recalled. “The casual ‘whatever happens, happens’ turned into disappointment month after month. I was starting to feel like this was a race against the clock — my 40-year-old biological clock.”

LeBron James continues to make history, this time with his son.

During the NBA playoff game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets on Saturday, April 19, James and his son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr, became the first father-son duo in NBA history to play together in a postseason game.

“There’s a lot of crazy things that’s been going on this year,” LeBron told reporters after the 107-98 win in Game 1 of the series. “I mean, I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game. That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career.”

LeBron went on to describe the significance of the moment for him and his entire family being in the arena for the game.

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Even NBA legends sometimes struggle to deal with their children leaving the nest. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James joked about his son and teammate Bronny moving out after the Lakers’ 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, November 18. “I think he’s enjoying the process,” LeBron, 40, told the media when asked about […]

“It was just so cool to be out there with [Bronny],” LeBron, 41, said. “With his brother (Bryce) and sister (Zhuri) and mom (Savannah James) in the building. And his grandma.”

He continued, “That’s just insane. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson during the playoffs. That’s crazy.”

The two shared some words on the court at the start of the second quarter, when Bronny, 21, was subbed into the game with LeBron already on the court.

The four-time NBA champion recorded a double-double in the playoff win with 19 points and 13 assists. Bronny played just four minutes during the game, but the two were on the court together for that time.

Playing with his son has been a big goal for LeBron over the last few years, before his 23-year career inevitably comes to an end.

“I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny,” LeBron told ESPN in 2023. “Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him. … But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal, for sure. … I’m here already, so I’m just waiting on him.”

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LeBron officially reached that goal in October 2024, when the two made history as the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game. Fair to say they leveled up on Saturday.

It’s yet to be seen how much Bronny plays for the remainder of the playoffs, but injuries to Lakers stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves could open up some opportunities for Bronny to see more minutes down the stretch.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 at 10 p.m. ET in Los Angeles.

The Western genre used to rule television, with shows like Rawhide, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke, the one-time record holder as the longest-running scripted show until The Simpsons claimed the throne in 2018. But too many entries, with little to distinguish between them, high production costs, and a cultural shift from the romanticized West to modern or futuristic settings more or less killed it. Since then, the Western has adapted to survive via an assortment of anti-heroes, violence, and Dutton family drama. One of the best of the new breed, which first premiered on April 1, 2016, is a brilliant mix of the supernatural and the classic Western: Wynonna Earp.

What Is ‘Wynonna Earp’ About?

Wynonna Earp (Melanie Scrofano) returns to Purgatory, her hometown in the Canadian Rockies, to attend her uncle’s funeral. She’s reunited with her younger sister, Waverly (Dominique Provost-Chalkley), who reminds her of the family curse, which dates back to their (or at least Wynonna’s… long story) great-great-grandfather, the legendary Wyatt Earp. Wyatt killed 77 outlaws with his gun during his time as a lawman; they refused to stay dead, returning as demonic Revenants seeking to hunt Wyatt’s descendants.

It falls to each successive heir in the Earp family line, upon their 27th birthday, to send the Revenants back to Hell using Wyatt’s magical gun, Peacemaker. But here’s the rub: if the heir falls short of killing all 77 Revenants, the curse passes down to the next in line, with all Revenants resurrected and starting the cycle anew. Wynonna was never meant to be the next, however. That was supposed to be her older sister, Willa (Natalie Krill), who had been trained since childhood in preparation, but after her kidnapping and subsequent disappearance, Wynonna inherits Wyatt’s abilities as well as Peacemaker.

Wynonna also reluctantly joins forces with the Black Badge Division, a secret government agency dedicated to stopping supernatural threats, after being recruited by Agent Xavier Dolls (Shamier Anderson). Black Badge needs her, and despite her rebellious attitude, she recognizes she needs them, too, as well as her sister Waverly, Purgatory deputy Nicole Haught (Katherine Barrell), and the immortal Doc Holliday (Tim Rozon). As the series progresses, the fight grows to include other supernatural creatures in the Ghost River Triangle, which includes Purgatory. Also progressing is Wynonna herself, who grows from a reluctant, bitter hero into a true protector of Purgatory and the leader of her found family.

‘Wynonna Earp’ Winningly Embraces Both the Classic Western and the Supernatural

What makes Wynonna Earp unique among its peers is its willingness to embrace the very things that made Westerns the dominant genre for so long, while imbuing it with supernatural elements and a modern perspective. As far as the former is concerned, “family” has always been a consistent theme, from the Cartwrights of Bonanza to the Duttons of Yellowstone. Although not related by blood, the “found family” of Wynonna Earp is built on the same values: a group of individuals who choose to support and protect one another, an emotional connection as strong as any bloodline. It also has the standard pleasures of the classic Western: gunfights, action, and a protector hero.

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It’s a must-watch.

That the protector hero is a tough, but flawed, female is just one of the many progressive elements that Wynonna Earp infuses into its take on the genre. It carefully balances funny, self-aware camp with moments of true drama and horror, perhaps none more impactful than this stomach-churning scene from Season 1’s “Two-Faced Jack.” The supernatural element gives it a very Buffy the Vampire Slayer dynamic, a comparison that works in more ways than one. Both unapologetically feature a strong female lead, and both have a prominent LGBTQ+ relationship, in this case between Waverly and Haught (nicknamed “WayHaught” by the fans), that feels authentic and earned, not exploitative.

It all came together thanks to a strong cast, famously as close off-screen as they are on, who fueled the fandom by constantly interacting with them online. That passionate fanbase, coined “Earpers,” couldn’t stop the series’ cancellation after four seasons, but their efforts did successfully culminate in a 90-minute special, Wynonna Earp: Vengeance, that reunited the main cast for another round. Just don’t call it a resurrection.

Clint Eastwood is one of the most influential actors, filmmakers, and artists in cinematic history, and has successfully endeared himself as an icon for multiple generations. While seeing accomplished actors become directors is by no means uncommon, Eastwood’s transition is completely incomparable. After becoming one of the biggest stars in the world in the 1960s, Eastwood decided to step behind the camera and became an even more accomplished filmmaker, winning two Best Director trophies at the Academy Awards for Million Dollar Baby and Unforgiven. While it was not his breakout film, nor his directorial debut, the 1973 Western High Plains Drifter was the film that changed everything for Eastwood.

Clint Eastwood Made His Directorial Debut With ‘Play Misty For Me’

While he had dabbled in low-budget monster movies during the early stages of his career in the 1950s, Eastwood would have to wait until he stepped outside of the American film industry to get his breakthrough role as an actor. After being cast as the enigmatic “The Man With No Name” in Sergio Leone’s 1964 Western A Fistful of Dollars, Eastwood’s popularity allowed him to star in the sequels For a Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. The success of Eastwood’s international projects gave him more clout when he returned to make American studio films. It was a somewhat ironic fate for an actor who had initially been fired by Universal Studios for not being a typical “movie star.”

Unfortunately, the Western films in the United States had not yet adopted the same stylistic qualities that had hallmarked the “Spaghetti Westerns” that Eastwood had built his reputation on. Compared to the energetic, subversive approach to action and suspense that Leone had epitomized in “The Man With No Name” trilogy, the American Westerns Eastwood starred in felt antiquated and generic in comparison. Both 1968’s Hang ‘Em High and 1972’s Joe Kidd, while being entirely watchable, reflected a more traditional style of Westerns reminiscent of the Golden Age of Hollywood. They simply did not take advantage of the unique talents that Eastwood had as a star.

However, Eastwood was able to experiment working behind the camera with his 1971 directorial debut Play Misty For Me. Essentially a slasher film that drew significant influence from the works of the great Alfred Hitchcock, Play Misty For Me starred Eastwood as the charismatic radio DJ Dave Garver, who is stalked by his obsessive fan Evelyn Draper (Jessica Walter). Appearing in a psychological thriller with overt sexual undertones was certainly a change of pace for Eastwood, as it wasn’t a genre that he was that familiar with. Nonetheless, Play Misty For Me indicated that Eastwood could direct a film with energy and vision, showing he had a strong grasp on the genre. It also indicated that he was talented at directing himself, as his performance in Play Misty For Me was far stronger than his work in Hang ‘Em High or Joe Kidd. The success of Play Misty For Me inspired Eastwood to return to the Western genre for a film that he would both direct and star in.

Clint Eastwood’s ‘High Plains Drifter’ Changed the Western Genre

Image via Universal Pictures

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Set in the isolated town of Lago during the height of the Wild West period, High Plains Drifter was a unique Western that reflected the international influence of Leone’s films. High Plains Drifter lacked the stylized approach to action that had made A Fistful of Dollars so notable, as it opted for overt graphic violence and narrative momentum. However, the meandering pace and focus on building suspense was clearly lifted from the work that Leone had done in the iconic final shootout of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. While this type of filmmaking style was common internationally, Eastwood perfectly synthesized it with the American approach to High Plains Drifter.

While he drew inspiration from his past collaborators, Eastwood developed a style of revisionist Westerns with High Plains Drifter. Compared to the “Golden Age of Hollywood” Westerns that tended to feature easily identifiable heroes and villains, High Plains Drifter had much more ethically ambiguous themes. Eastwood’s character, a mysterious gunslinger known only as “The Stranger,” is presented as a violent thug who is forced to help defend an innocent town from the impending attack of a gang of thugs. While he is forced into a position where he must act heroically, “The Stranger” is not motivated by any obligation to the law. The final action sequence is among the most gruesome that Eastwood has ever directed — it serves as a reminder that “The Stranger” is a character to be feared, regardless of where the characters’ loyalties lie.

‘High Plains Drifter’ Pays Homage to Leone, but Stands on Its Own

Image via Universal Pictures

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Leone’s influence on Eastwood is written all over High Plains Drifter, from the grizzly, mysterious protagonist with no name to the moral ambiguity inherent in the Spaghetti Western tradition. But while Eastwood’s Spaghetti Western roots certainly shaped elements of his second directorial feature, High Plains Drifter has its own distinct supernatural flair that turns what could be a straightforward revisionist Western into an unexpected ghost story. So while Eastwood could easily have fallen into the trap of crafting a Leone knockoff, another story about a mysterious “Stranger” with questionable loyalties, High Plains Drifter showed Eastwood’s potential to stand on his own as a director.

The film’s grim dismantling of the Western tradition complements the eerie mysticism that is necessary for what is essentially a spiritual ghost story. Eastwood’s directing is much more baroque here than what we typically see in his later films, with High Plains Drifter opting for a much bolder approach than the reserved minimalism of something like Eastwood’s The Bridges of Madison County. With a shadowy, almost gothic-like style paired with the bleakness of a revisionist Western, Eastwood showed with High Plains Drifter that while he certainly had creative influences, he also had his own vision and wasn’t afraid to reinvent himself.

Clint Eastwood’s Later Classics Were Inspired by ‘High Plains Drifter’

By playing such an unusual protagonist, Eastwood proved that he gave his best performances in films that he directed. “The Stranger” was evidently a character modeled after his inherent strengths as an actor, as he only briefly talks and does not engage in social niceties with the people under his protection. While even the films in Eastwood’s Dirty Harry franchise called for him to occasionally give comedic one-liners, High Plains Drifter refused to let Eastwood conform to the more standard qualities of a hero. It was a bold acting choice that Eastwood may not have been able to make had he not directed High Plains Drifter himself.

Earning praise for its novel reinvention of the genre, High Plains Drifter kicked off a new era of Eastwood’s career where he directed many Westerns. Films like Pale Rider and The Outlaw Josey Wales took a similarly grim approach to the genre, allowing Eastwood to play other violent anti-heroes. Eastwood’s 1992 masterpiece Unforgiven was seen as a self-reflective commentary on the revisionist genre he helped create, as it featured an older gunslinger having to return to the lifestyle he had abandoned. Unforgiven’s success wouldn’t have been possible if High Plains Drifter hadn’t laid the groundwork.

​​​​Eastwood Continues To Be an Innovator

Although he is well-known for being an iconic movie star, Eastwood deserves to be regarded as one of the greatest directors of all time, and should be in conversation with legends like Stanley Kubrick and Alfred Hitchcock. It may be easy to dismiss the types of projects that Eastwood tends to work on as “populist entertainment,” but he has an incredibly versatile filmography that incorporates all sorts of genres. This specificity can even be seen within the different types of westerns that he has made; High Plains Drifter is a very different film than Pale Rider, which is entirely unique compared to Unforgiven and The Outlaw Josey Wales. The fact that Eastwood’s films tend to be popular is just a byproduct of his wide-ranging appeal, as the choices that he made have never been intended to be completely commercial. In fact, High Plains Drifter was released during a transitional point within the history of westerns; the genre began to decline as the “New Hollywood” movement of the 1970s took over, and it wouldn’t be revived again until the 1990s.

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One of the more underrated aspects of his skill set is that Eastwood does a great job at directing himself. While it is not uncommon for actors to become filmmakers, few have been able to balance this quite as well as Eastwood has; directors like Robert Redford and Jon Favreau don’t always appear in the films they make, and some filmmakers like Kevin Costner and Mel Gibson have been called out for giving bland performances when they are directing themselves. It is quite easy for an actor to give themselves a starring role, but Eastwood shows a remarkable degree of self-awareness when casting himself. High Plains Drifter is a great example of this, as Eastwood is playing a dark character who is by no means a traditional hero. High Plains Drifter was quintessential within the changing expectations of what the western could be; during a period where Americans began to reckon with the fact that the “wild west” represented a fairly ugly moment in national history, Eastwood was able to show a toxic character who is forced to find redemption.

What is particularly admirable is that Eastwood has continued to be relevant in his later years by making interesting projects that speak to modern themes. Between the “ripped from the headlines” true stories of The Mule, American Sniper, Changeling, The 15:17 to Paris, and Richard Jewell, Eastwood has shown a keen interest in exploring the nature of real heroes, despite the industry being dominated by comic book franchises and multiverses. Although it barely received any sort of theatrical release, Eastwood’s latest (and presumably final) film, the legal drama Juror #2, might be the best thing he’s made since winning his second Best Director Oscar for Million Dollar Baby. By confronting the ethical gray area of the judiciary system and intertwining a compelling mystery storyline, Eastwood was able to confront his viewers with a serious debate that is bound to spark discourse for many years to come.

Matt Rogers is opening up about where he stands with Fraser Olender after the Below Deck star’s health scare.

“We were already really enjoying being together and then there was this health stuff that entered and so that accelerated things,” Rogers, 36, said on the Wednesday, April 15, episode of his and Bowen Yang’s “Las Culturistas” podcast. “Now where we are at is, he’s off. I can’t say where. … He’s creating the television program many people like. I’m going to see him soon but while he’s been gone and I’ve been sort of busy doing my own thing, we kind of did just take a little bit of space just because of how intense everything had gotten and personal things.”

Rogers and Olender, 33, went public with their romance in November 2025, at the same time that the Below Deck star experienced a health scare. Rogers explained on Wednesday that the pair had been dating for three months when they went to BravoCon.

“I wasn’t even going with the idea of, ‘And we are going to take a photo on the carpet.’ He wanted to take a picture together, I was like, ‘Let’s do it.’ I put it on my Instagram. Then all of a sudden, that very weekend, people are like, ‘Oh, Matt and Fraser are dating.’ As that was happening, and I know this is going to sound dramatic, he had a heart attack in front of me,” Rogers said, while guest Lena Dunham replied, “Doesn’t sound dramatic. It’s true. It’s traumatic, is what it is.”

Related: Below Deck’s Fraser Is ‘Grateful’ for Captain Sandy After Onscreen Issues

Fraser Olender‘s onscreen relationship with Captain Sandy Yawn on Below Deck was quite rocky, but they’ve since gotten to a better place. “I saw Captain Sandy in London about three weeks ago. Of course, we get along,” Fraser, 30, exclusively told Us Weekly at BravoCon on Friday, November 3, before waving off their past drama. […]

He continued, “I feel like what people don’t know — or if you know, you obviously know because it’s horrifying and it’s hard to explain but, you don’t know that a heart attack is happening every time. He had very intense chest pains and couldn’t get comfortable and was short of breath and had to bail on the whole night with us.”

Rogers remembered checking in with Olender later, describing the reality TV star’s symptoms as “ongoing.”

“I’m thinking, like, ‘Is this stress and anxiety [or] whatever?’ We find out much later, after tests come in, that essentially because of this poison that got in his lungs, he had what was the equivalent of a heart attack,” Rogers said. “And it was really bad. We were in the hospital until 5, 5:30 in the morning. We really had only been dating for about three months.”

One day after Rogers’ comments, Olender shared a series of photos via his Instagram — including a couple of the “Las Culturistas” host. “Here & there ft. 🫶🏼,” he captioned the post.

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Related: Below Deck’s Fraser Learned A Lot From Captain Sandy Despite Feeling ‘Hurt’

Below Deck‘s Fraser Olender was asked about the rocky aspects of his past working relationship with Captain Sandy Yawn. During the Monday, February 5, episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Fraser was asked to describe his former coworkers. When asked about with Sandy, 58, Fraser replied that he learned “a lot,” but […]

Olender got candid about his health scare in a December 2025 Instagram post, sharing photos from the hospital.

“This is not chic but very important for me to share ⚠️,” he wrote at the time. “A few weeks ago I was rushed to hospital due to severe chest pains and difficulties breathing. Following this, I spent a week in London hospitals seeing specialists to identify the cause and possible damage of the incident. To keep it simple — I had vape poisoning, (an E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)) and I have never experienced fear or pain like it.”

He continued, “Whatever was in my vape caused me to have a coronary artery vasospasm. Medically, that means the arteries supplying blood to my heart suddenly clamped down. That spasm reduced blood flow enough to cause an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), better known as a heart attack — not because of a blockage, but because my heart wasn’t getting enough oxygen during the spasm.”

Olender shared that he’s “grateful to still be recovering,” and he wanted to share his health scare with his followers because he “never realized something like this could happen.”

“If this experience can help even one person rethink vaping, it’s worth telling,” he wrote. “I haven’t touched a vape since this happened and never will. The pain I endured for 24 hours was inexplicable, 2 rounds of morphine didn’t touch the sides and eventually had to be given the strongest pain relief legal to administer in [the] ER — and that only brought my pain from a 10 to a 7.”

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He continued, “I could have died for the sake of something so ridiculously stupid, so please do yourselves a favour and give it up too – cold turkey. We do not know enough about these horrific things but I can tell you one thing; that was NOT cute, not even for the plot 👎🏼.”

Olender encouraged his followers to “be safe” and put their “health first.”

“P.s. it’s been nearly 3 weeks off the vape — my skin has never been better, brighter and clearer, there MUST be a correlation,” he wrote. “BEST skincare hack out there 👀.”