Entertainment
10 Scariest Stephen King Villains
You can write a good horror or thriller story without necessarily having an all-time great villain driving all the conflict, but it’s hard. Stephen King understands this well, and he has most certainly written his fair share of great horror and thriller stories, be they novels, novellas, or short stories. Even if you don’t read all that much, you’re still likely to know at least a few of the stories he’s written because of all the movie and TV adaptations of his.
Below, there’s a focus on the scariest villains Stephen King has ever written. This will be focusing on his books, so those characters who are more intimidating in adaptations might not appear here (like Warden Norton, who’s more monstrous in 1994’s The Shawshank Redemption than the 1982 novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption”). Also, the titular characters from Carrie and Cujo aren’t here, because while they’re frightening, it’s hard to call them villains, as they’re more tragic figures. There’s a focus below on nightmare-inducing Stephen King villains who are very much aware of the fact that they’re inducing nightmares (and, to be honest, would probably be happy to hear anyone in the real world has lost sleep because of them).
10
Greg Stillson
‘The Dead Zone’ (1979)
The Dead Zone is up there as one of Stephen King’s very best sci-fi-related stories, and it was also one of his earliest efforts within that genre. It’s got some unsettling parts, but it isn’t really full-on horror, as it’s instead more concerned with being a thriller/suspense kind of story about a man who can visualize things through touch, and this extends to him sometimes getting glimpses of the future.
He runs into a man named Greg Stillson, who has his sights set on becoming the president of the U.S. one day, and him doing so would potentially be world-ending, so much of The Dead Zone becomes about stopping Stillson from becoming president. Greg Stillson’s not a constant presence in the original novel, but he is a very brutal and compelling (eventual) antagonist, and it’s also worth mentioning that he’s done justice by Martin Sheen in the David Cronenberg-directed film adaptation (released in 1983).
9
Kurt Barlow
”Salem’s Lot’ (1975)
Stephen King was willing to acknowledge the influence of Dracula on ‘Salem’s Lot, which was his second published novel overall, and did indeed see him tackling the vampire sub-genre. Dracula was about a vampire (or arguably the vampire, in terms of pop culture influence) doing his thing in the late 1800s, while ‘Salem’s Lot is about a vampire threat within a small town in the 1970s, and those vampires are led by one named Kurt Barlow.
Barlow does what you’d expect in a vampire story like this, and is kept mysterious for a decent chunk of ‘Salem’s Lot. Well, more accurately, the vampires as a whole are operating sort of in the background for much of ‘Salem’s Lot, with the slow-burn approach working. And it does help that there is undeniable terror when Kurt Barlow does fully emerge and reveal his true intentions and all.
8
Leland Gaunt
‘Needful Things’ (1991)
It feels fitting to talk about Needful Things right after mentioning ‘Salem’s Lot, because they’re sort of similar, in terms of being about small towns that slowly get taken over and/or destroyed by a supernatural threat. In Needful Things, it’s Castle Rock that gets targeted, and Leland Gaunt is the mysterious being who brings about all sorts of hell to the town, largely through the opening of a store called Needful Things.
People get items they’ve always wanted there, but Leland has unusual ways of making people pay for those items, and he ultimately blackmails a bunch of them as a way to ensure they tear apart the town. Sometimes, Needful Things is darkly entertaining (like when unlikable characters are having their lives ruined), but then at other times, it’s more distressing. Leland Gaunt doesn’t discriminate, when he comes to his victims, and so the rather epic-length Needful Things definitely ends up feeling like the book equivalent of a roller-coaster.
7
Brady Hartsfield
The ‘Bill Hodges’ Trilogy (2014–2016)
The Bill Hodges trilogy is made up of Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch. Brady Hartsfield is the overarching villain of the trilogy, to some extent, though the ending of Mr. Mercedes does mean he’s not a huge presence in Finders Keepers, and then there is an unusual layer to his “return” in End of Watch, which is a bit messy, as the previously suspense/thrill-heavy story becomes much more supernatural there.
Brady is still a pretty good villain in that last book, and him still being around – or out there – to some extent in the second is effective. Yet Mr. Mercedes is the one where he manages to feel the most intimidating, as he’s the titular character: a man who committed a mass murder by ramming a crowd of people with a Mercedes. He taunts Hodges, who’s a retired detective still haunted by the fact that particular case was never closed. Cue a cat-and-mouse narrative (and a good one at that).
6
Norman Daniels
‘Rose Madder’ (1995)
One of the few Stephen King novels without any movie or TV adaptation (yet), Rose Madder is about a woman named Rose, and her flight from her abusive husband, Norman. And Norman could well be the most intense of all Stephen King’s technically “mundane” or “ordinary” villains, in the sense that he doesn’t have supernatural powers. Well, not for most of the novel. Rose Madder does get more unusual and fantastical toward the end.
There are a few more villains without fantastical powers who rank ahead of Norman here, just because Norman Daniels feels almost cartoonishly evil at times, and that does have the effect of making you remember you’re reading something fictional. The kind of evil he does is sometimes vile and violent in skin-crawling ways, but then there are other points where King maybe pushes things a bit far. Norman’s a heightened kind of evil, and he is still efficiently scary at times (possibly a weird comparison, but it’s a bit like how Requiem for a Dream fluctuates between being genuinely terrifying, as a film about addiction, and then almost a little cartoonish at times, just because of how over-the-top that sense of terror eventually gets).
5
Jack Torrance
‘The Shining’ (1977)
See, Jack Torrance doesn’t do quite as much by way of extreme violence in The Shining as Norman does in Rose Madder, but that helps Jack feel like a more believably real person, and so what happens to him – and what he does – ends up feeling scarier. Jack’s a struggling author who takes a caretaker job at a hotel that ends up being more than a little haunted, and his pre-existing personal demons become more overwhelming, and he becomes increasingly dangerous to his wife and son, too.
Jack Torrance is more monstrous in the movie version of The Shining, where he’s played by Jack Nicholson, or maybe it’s fairer to say he’s a different kind of scary in the film. In the novel, Jack (not Nicholson) is almost a tragic villain, but he is still a harmful person before all the stuff at the hotel, with the unleashing of his bad qualities being a big part of the book’s horror. He’s humanized to some extent, as a flawed protagonist who later shifts into the book’s main villain, and he’s grounded in a way that ensures he’s more frightening than most of King’s other antagonists, supernaturally gifted or otherwise.
4
James “Big Jim” Rennie
‘Under the Dome’ (2009)
Another villain without any wild or otherworldly powers, Big Jim is the main villain of Under the Dome, which does qualify as a sci-fi novel, albeit one where the sci-fi elements are downplayed for a good chunk of the story. Okay, an impenetrable dome covering the small town of Chester’s Mill is science fiction-y, and the cause is eventually explored, but much of Under the Dome before then is focused on people surviving, or dying.
Lots of people die because of Big Jim. He wants power over the town, and he sees the events of “Dome Day” as being of the kind that can accelerate his attempts to take over Chester’s Mill, and control all the people living there. Since Under the Dome is long, you have to spend a lot of time reading about all the terrible stuff Big Jim’s willing to do, making him easily rank among the easiest-to-hate characters King’s ever written about.
3
Randall Flagg
‘The Stand’ (1978), ‘The Eyes of the Dragon’ (1984), ‘The Dark Tower’ (1982–2004)
Things get complicated with Randall Flagg, because he’s the villain in multiple Stephen King stories, or some version of him shows up in a villainous role throughout a fair few Stephen King stories. The Stand is the one where he’s at his strongest, and probably most intimidating, since he thrives in a post-apocalyptic society, and ends up leading one of the two major factions (the evil one, specifically) that battle for the world’s future.
The fact that he keeps coming back as a central antagonistic force within the whole Stephen King multiverse scores him a few extra points.
Flagg is also significant throughout The Dark Tower series, albeit not the main antagonist, since the Crimson King fills that role… for the most part. Kind of. And then there’s The Eyes of the Dragon, which is a fantasy story, and a wizard named Flagg is the source of so much of the misery in the narrative. Sure, Randall Flagg has been defeated more than once, but many of the scariest parts of The Stand are scary because of him, and then the fact that he keeps coming back as a central antagonistic force within the whole Stephen King multiverse scores him a few extra points, too.
2
It (AKA Pennywise)
‘IT’ (1986)
Clowns are scary, and Pennywise is perhaps the quintessential scary clown. He’s more than just a scary clown, though, since Pennywise is one of many forms he takes on throughout IT, and so technically, he’s a creature known as It, rather than “Pennywise.” It’s whole thing is preying on people’s fears, and since different people find different things frightening, It transforms into different beings to most effectively rattle as many people as possible.
It does this every 27 years, with IT being about a group of kids confronting the mysterious entity, and then finding themselves having to regroup and defeat it again, as adults. It does a lot of damage in both timelines, and sure, fear is defeated at least once, by default (since you know the kids are going to become adults), but It doesn’t go down easily, and, as a villain, is designed to be as universally terrifying as possible.
1
Annie Wilkes
‘Misery’ (1987)
Admittedly, Annie Wilkes is not as powerful or overwhelming as Randall Flagg and It, so putting her ahead of them if you were ranking Stephen King villains who’ve done the most damage would be silly. But “fear” is a different thing, ranking-wise, and she is the scariest of Stephen King’s villains, considering – and for – the story she appears in: Misery.
This one’s a psychological thriller about an author being taken captive by an obsessed fan: Annie. She holds him hostage and makes him rewrite and continue a series he’d already ended and mentally moved on from. Annie acts in increasingly frightening ways, with psychological torment not giving way to physical torment, as it’s more that, at a point, she starts psychologically and physically harming her prisoner at the same time. That is Misery, and it’s riveting, rather than wholly miserable, as a reader. And, yes, Kathy Bates was incredible as Annie Wilkes in the movie version of Misery, but the book version of Annie alone is enough to make her take the #1 spot here.
Jennifer Lopez is facing another setback in her attempt to sell the Beverly Hills mansion she once shared with Ben Affleck.
After reports suggested the luxury estate was close to changing hands, a prospective buyer reportedly pulled out of the $50 million deal, putting the property back on the market.
The development marks the latest twist in the home’s lengthy sales journey, which has unfolded alongside Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s post-divorce separation.
Lopez’s efforts to sell her Beverly Hills estate for $50 million have reportedly hit another setback after a promising deal unexpectedly collapsed.
According to TMZ, a prospective buyer who had already placed a substantial deposit on the property backed out of the transaction for reasons that remain unclear. The collapse comes just days after reports suggested the estate was in escrow and on track to change hands following a lengthy and difficult sales process.
Real estate sources had previously indicated that an offer had been accepted and that the buyer was a prominent figure in the technology and finance industries. However, with the deal now off the table, the luxury property has reportedly returned to the market, leaving Lopez and her real estate team searching for a new buyer once again.
The singer and actress purchased the mansion with her ex-husband Ben Affleck in May 2023 for nearly $61 million. At the time, the sprawling estate was meant to be the couple’s dream home. But after their separation in 2024 and divorce in January 2025, the property became one of the last major ties connecting the former couple.
Inside Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck’s Marital Estate
Situated on more than five acres, the estate spans approximately 46,000 square feet and was designed with celebrity-level luxury in mind. The residence features 12 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, expansive entertaining areas, and a dramatic entrance complete with soaring ceilings and a floating staircase.
Among its standout features are a private theater with seating for up to 100 guests, formal dining and living spaces, and numerous high-end finishes throughout the home.
Lopez reportedly customized parts of the property to fit her lifestyle, adding a glam room, a dance rehearsal space, a recording studio, and extensive wardrobe storage. Affleck’s interests are reflected in the home’s enormous indoor sports complex, complete with basketball, pickleball, and boxing facilities.
Outside, the estate offers a resort-style infinity pool overlooking canyon views, guest accommodations, private cabanas, landscaped grounds, and parking facilities capable of accommodating dozens of vehicles.
The Singer Faces Millions In Fees As Mansion Sale Drags On
Selling the luxury home has proven far more difficult than expected. Since listing the property, Lopez and Affleck have struggled to secure a buyer.
The mansion first hit the market in July 2024 with a $68 million asking price before undergoing a series of reductions as luxury real estate sales slowed across Los Angeles.
Even if the mansion eventually finds a buyer, experts have noted that the sale may not generate a significant profit.
Between reduced asking prices, real estate commissions, and Los Angeles’ luxury property transfer tax, Lopez could face millions of dollars in transaction-related expenses.
More On The Singer’s Mansion Sale Woes
One of the biggest financial hurdles for Lopez is the city’s mansion tax, which applies to high-value property sales within Los Angeles city limits.
Had the estate been located within neighboring Beverly Hills, many of those costs would have been substantially lower. In addition, standard real estate commissions alone could total several million dollars.
One expense Lopez has reportedly already taken care of is the property’s annual tax bill. Public records indicate that the estate’s property taxes, estimated at roughly $378,000 per year, have been paid in full.
Reports have also suggested that Affleck later transferred his ownership interest in the home to Lopez, giving her full control over the property.
While that arrangement could allow the singer and actress to turn a profit if the home eventually sells, the latest failed deal means the search for the right buyer continues.
Jennifer Lopez Turns Heads At Wimbledon In Elegant Summer Ensemble
Meanwhile, Lopez has been carrying on as usual and recently made a stylish appearance at the Wimbledon men’s final in London.
The “Atlas” actress was among the celebrity guests in attendance as defending champion Jannik Sinner faced Alexander Zverev, and she quickly became one of the standout figures in the crowd, drawing attention from photographers and fashion enthusiasts alike.
For the occasion, Lopez opted for a sophisticated summer look in soft beige and cream tones. She wore a sleeveless midi dress with an elegant asymmetrical neckline, subtle draping, and delicate pleated details across the bodice.
The dress featured a modern asymmetrical crossover neckline with delicate draping and subtle pleated detailing across the bodice. A matching sash cinched her waist, while a cascading ruffle along one side added movement and a touch of drama to the otherwise streamlined silhouette.
The Lord of the Rings has the fantasy genre locked down when it comes to the big screen, but the franchise has also expanded into TV in recent years with shows like The Rings of Power. Amazon has aired two full seasons of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video, and it’s already been confirmed that the third is on the way later this year. The Rings of Power is far from the only fantasy show at Amazon with a devoted fan base, though. The Wheel of Time picked up millions of fans around the world through its first few seasons, many of whom were familiar with the books by Robert Jordan that inspired it, and others whose first experience with the franchise came through the Prime Video series.
The third season of The Wheel of Time aired early in 2025, and while most fans and creatives alike assumed that the show would be given the chance to continue into Season 4, it was sadly canceled after Season 3. The Wheel of Time fans do have a new release coming soon to look forward to, though, as a new board game titled War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time has been picking up steam as the first ever board game inspired by the hit fantasy franchise. The new release will put players directly in the middle of the epic conflict between Rand’al Thor (portrayed by Josha Stradowski in the show) and The Dark One. Over on Kickstarter, the crowdfunding campaign for the new Wheel of Time game has raised over $1.16 million from 6,156 donors at the time of writing, and it’s expected that the game will launch before the end of 2027. An official description for the game reads as follows:
“Robert Jordan’s fantasy masterpiece comes to your table with the first-ever board game based on The Wheel of Time series. War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time chronicles the epic conflict between the forces of light and darkness as players wage war across a land of magic, ancient prophecies, and powerful armies set to save the world … or destroy it. The game combines tableau building, action selection, and area control mechanics in a thrilling struggle of conquest and survival.”
Why Did Prime Video Cancel ‘The Wheel of Time’?
When the news came out that Prime Video had canceled The Wheel of Time, it was reported that the studio’s reason behind the cancellation was strictly financial. It was even reported that many creatives involved with the decision were fans of the show, though that didn’t take away any of the sting from long-time fans. Despite petitions to save the show receiving thousands of signatures, Prime Video doubled down on the cancellation, confirming that it wasn’t even shopping the show to other networks and streamers, effectively sealing its fate.
Check out all three seasons of The Wheel of Time on Prime Video and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time.
- Release Date
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2021 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Rafe Judkins
- Directors
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Sanaa Hamri, Ciaran Donnelly, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Thomas Napper, Maja Vrvilo, Wayne Che Yip
- Writers
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Amanda Kate Shuman, Dave Hill, Rohit Kumar, Justine Juel Gillmer, Celine Song, Rammy Park, The Clarksons Twins, Katherine B. McKenna
By TeeJay Small
| Published
Today, multi-cam half-hour comedy series have largely gone out of style, with the format looking aged and reminiscent of the 1990s. While many shows maintained this format throughout the golden years of cable television, one of the most defining shows of that era is The Nanny, which ran for six seasons from 1993 through 1999.
If you’re looking for a nostalgic series to instantly transport you back in time to a world of Nintendo 64, mood rings, and pogs, you need to take a moment to binge through a few seasons of this iconic CBS sitcom for yourself.
A 90s Icon
The Nanny was created by series star Fran Drescher and her then-husband Peter Marc Jacobson. It centers on a fictionalized version of Drescher as she takes on the role of a live-in nanny for a trio of adorable wealthy children. As the show’s iconic theme music will explain, Fran originally showed up at the door of the Sheffield family with the intention of selling makeup door to door before falling into the role of a nanny through her style, flair, and compelling presence.
Niles Is The Real Hero
Over the course of six seasons, The Nanny relies on a number of running gags, inside jokes, and catch-phrase humor, each punctuated with the riotous laughter of the live studio audience. The show is heavily dated, with references to decades-old television programs, fourth-wall breaks, and nods to the camera, but in today’s era of sardonic humor and eight-episode seasons, it might be exactly what audiences need.
Personally, I binged the entire series over the last few months with a friend, and we were shocked to see the 50/50 split on jokes that would hold up perfectly for today’s Gen Z audience and jokes that went way over our heads because we would have been babies when these pop culture references germinated.
Much of the humor in The Nanny also requires you to have at least a basic understanding of Fran Drescher’s actual life, as she based a ton of the characters, comedy, and wacky situations on her own personal experience.
A Prototypical Sitcom
Regardless, the barrier for entry on the show is remarkably low, even if you might be left scratching your head at a few jokes while the studio audience laughs themselves into an aneurysm.
Looking back with decades of hindsight, it’s easy to see why The Nanny was such a major hit in its day, as it contains everything that made that quintessentially 90s period of television so great. The show has tons of heart, a lot of sweet moments, and a main character who is equal parts freakishly attractive and unbearably annoying.
Relevant Today Thanks To Fran Drescher
In my opinion, The Nanny is as relevant as ever today, due to the real life exploits of Fran Drescher. For those of you who don’t know, the former sitcom legend stepped into the role of President of SAG-AFTRA back in 2021, and was instrumental in navigating the terms and conditions of the union’s new deal with the major studios during the lengthy 2023 strike.
Today, Fran Drescher is a Hollywood icon, partially for her role as a union leader, and partially due to her instantly recognizable series, which has become a comfort sitcom for millions of viewers around the world.
If you’d like to watch The Nanny today, the series is available to stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. The show arguably deserves to be on a 90s sitcom Mount Rushmore alongside Seinfeld, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Frasier.
This September will officially mark three years since Disney‘s ambitious Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hosted its last passengers at the Walt Disney World Orlando Resort. After opening in March 2022, this lavish hotel, designed like a luxury cruise liner among the stars, lasted only one and a half years before shutting down despite so much promise. Hopes were high for the two-night experience, which offered an immersive live role-playing experience for fans to step aboard the Halcyon, interact with beloved Star Wars characters, hone their skills with a lightsaber, and join the battle between the First Order and the Resistance. However, its execution, while dazzling and impactful for those fortunate enough to experience it, was marred by a sky-high price tag of nearly $5,000 for a couple and $6,000 for families that prevented most customers from ever enjoying it.
While the attraction was understandably grounded in controversy, filmmaker and Star Wars fanatic Carrie Coaplen wanted to capture the real impact for the people who got to go on their own adventure in a galaxy far, far away. She helmed the feature-length documentary Halycon Daze: The Final Voyages of Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, a partially Kickstarter-funded exploration into the experience with copious footage from inside the attraction and interviews with the people who made it possible, from designers, actors, and crew to industry experts and the fan community who fell in love with it. It’s meant both as a reflection on everything the Starcruiser was and aimed to be, and the work that elevated it into a brief, yet thrilling way to become immersed in the Star Wars universe. Now, the film, built on the dedicated efforts of fans and researchers, is coming to one of the pop culture events of the year.
Halcyon Daze is officially slated to screen on the first day of San Diego Comic-Con next Thursday, July 23. Not only that, but the feature is also bound for the tabletop-gaming staple Gen Con in Indianapolis the following weekend on Saturday, August 1. It’s a chance to see a fan-focused documentary that has been met with widespread acclaim so far and represents both a community-focused affair and the journey of one filmmaker from casual Star Wars fan to a true diehard. In an official statement, Coaplen expressed her excitement for being able to share the deeply personal passion project on such a big platform. “At its core, Halcyon Daze has always been about the people who made the experience possible and the community that found connection and meaning on the Starcruiser,” she said. “It’s a thrill to bring the film to events like Comic-Con that are really about connecting fans with things they love.”
‘Halcyon Daze’ Has Already Been Met With Widespread Praise
So far, Halcyon Daze has enjoyed screenings at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, Indy Film Fest, and the Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival, even earning Best Fan Documentary honors at the latter. The Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation, and Technology has also named it as an official selection and nominated it for Most Innovative Documentary. For lead researcher and producer Carly Kocurek, attending Gen Con next feels particularly fitting because of how Galactic Starcruiser was designed with interactivity in mind. “I first got interested in the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser because of the way it leveraged game design, turning its guests into active participants,” they added in a separate statement. “Bringing the documentary to a gaming celebration like Gen Con feels a little like going back to the beginning of the project.”
Halycon Daze: The Final Voyages of Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser screens at San Diego Comic-Con and Gen Con this year on Thursday, July 23, at 9:30 p.m. PT at Grand 6, Marriott Marquis San Diego, and on Saturday, August 1, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Capitol Ballroom III in The Westin Indianapolis, respectively. Additionally, the Flyover Film Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, will also host a screening at the Kentucky Science Center on August 1 at 5 p.m. Members of the team behind the documentary will be in attendance for all three events.
Check out the official trailer in the player above.
- First TV Show
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Star Wars The Clone Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
- Latest TV Show
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The Acolyte
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From pixels and polygons to prestige TV series and big-budget motion pictures.
Angela Simmons and Yo Gotti sparked online chatter after allegedly attending Jay-Z’s concert in New York City on Sunday, July 12. The Memphis rapper and Simmons broke up earlier this year. But footage from the final night of shows has fans wondering if they have rekindled.
RELATED: Spill The Tea, Sis! Angela Simmons Shares What She Believes Ended Her Romance With Yo Gotti (WATCH)
Were Angela Simmons And Yo Gotti Together At Jay-Z’s Concert?
The three-day Jay-Z concerts in New York City celebrated the 30th anniversary of ‘Reasonable Doubt.’ Simmons shared footage from the show on Instagram. The video features Simmons and a friend enjoying the music as they sing along. IG Model Tea Room caught a clip of the footage in slow-motion, and it appears as if a man resembling Yo Gotti is in the background just behind Simmons’ right shoulder. Also, an arrow was placed in the footage to point out the alleged ‘Pose’ artist, and the footage has folks wondering if the former duo had gotten back together.
Fans Have Questions After Seeing The Video
The video was shared on TSR‘s Instagram page, and several people left remarks in the comment section.
User @_msjaymarie_ joked that they couldn’t see anything. “I’m glad y’all added the arrow cause I ain’t see sh*t 😂.”
@sharonlatelle added, “I just spinned the block this week no judgement this way 😂😂😂.”
@glamarus noted, “I MEAN HE IS IN HER CITY Y’ALL GOTTA CHILL AFTER A BREAK UP LINKING UP IS STILL A THANG 😂.”
User @karesse_a replied, “😂😂😂😂 Listen mann… it be like that. Mind y’all business…. I AM SCREAMING.”
@teridixon_32 wrote, “The FBI need to hire the whole Shade Room staff.”
User @valleygirlfee35 joked, “The slow zoom in was diabolical af 😂😂😂😂😂.”
@officiallyroyaltayy added, “The slo mo , pause , rewind and arrow is crazy 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.”
@lala_leaks21 wrote, “Lmao Boy Y’all Don’t Miss!! 😂😂.”
Simmons Recently Spoke On The Couple’s Breakup
Simmons told Angie Martinez on her podcast ‘In Real Life‘ last June that the couple had broken up.
“I had to make a decision,” she said. “Some stuff is better left unsaid. Again, much love and respect to him, he’s doing his thing, I’m happy for him.”
Also, during an appearance on Cam Newton’s ‘Funk Fridays’ podcast last March, Simmons noted that she thought the rapper may not be ready for marriage.
RELATED: What’s Tea? Yo Gotti Sparks Breakup Rumors With Angela Simmons After Sharing “Lonely” Post On Social Media (PHOTOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Why Robert Pattinson was Tom Holland’s ‘safety blanket’ on “The Odyssey”: ‘You’re so good at being a dickhead’
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Holland explains how he could rely on Pattinson being “a dickhead” as Antinous for their scenes.
By Robert Scucci
| Published
For the sake of convenience and continuity, every single sitcom somehow has a soundproof kitchen that’s seemingly located in another dimension where guests can’t hear conversations across an open floor plan. On a technical level, this trope makes sense because erecting an entirely new set for secret conversations to take place would prove to be a cumbersome ordeal. But how much disbelief are we supposed to suspend when sitcom characters like Frasier Crane talk loudly about their guests who are clearly within earshot?
Magically Sound Proof Kitchens
The only sitcom in recent memory that actually acknowledged this trope during its run was How I Met Your Mother. In the episode “Okay Awesome,” Marshall and Lily are frustrated after inviting their new boring friends, Claire and Austin, over for a wine-tasting party. When Marshall steps into the kitchen to air his grievances about Claire and Austin, it’s revealed that Claire is standing right behind him, having heard every word. It’s a rare instance of a sitcom recognizing that an open-concept apartment doesn’t magically become a private confessional just because somebody crossed into the kitchen.
Even then, it’s implied that if Claire hadn’t breached the kitchen’s threshold, Marshall would have gotten away with his mean-spirited jabs about Claire and Austin’s 30-year fixed mortgage and ultrasound photos. Given how the episode concludes with Marshall and Lily literally climbing out of their bathroom window to meet up with the rest of the gang at the club, “Okay Awesome” didn’t need to lean into the soundproof sitcom kitchen trope because it’s not like they were trying to save face in the first place. If anything, having Claire overhear the entire conversation from the living room would have better sold the joke while poking even more fun at one of television’s oldest unwritten rules.
Pokes Fun At The Concept
From this point forward, we never see Claire or Austin in any significant capacity again, so who cares if their feelings get hurt over some critical commentary when their hosts rudely abandon their own party to meet up with the rest of the gang anyway? Their friendship was clearly doomed regardless, which makes the need for a magically private kitchen feel even more unnecessary.
I’m willing to forgive How I Met Your Mother because it at least acknowledges the absurdity of the trope instead of pretending it isn’t happening. Most sitcoms simply expect us to accept that crossing an invisible line into the kitchen somehow creates a cone of silence, but “Okay Awesome” briefly calls attention to how ridiculous that idea actually is before going right back to business as usual.
The Most Egregious Examples Can Be Found In Frasier
But I can’t say the same thing about Frasier, where Frasier Crane routinely has crucial conversations in his kitchen with his booming baritone voice while his guests sit less than 10 feet away in the living room. One of the most egregious examples of the soundproof sitcom kitchen trope comes in “Daphne Dates a Niles Doppelganger,” when Niles has a complete meltdown over hesitating to tell Daphne how he feels, only to watch her start dating a man who’s practically his exact double.
While the episode implies that conversations taking place in Frasier’s kitchen can’t be heard anywhere else in the apartment, it completely undermines that logic moments later. As Frasier mingles with his guests in the living room, he immediately hears Niles accidentally drop and shatter one of his antique coffee cups in the kitchen (Catherine of Aragon!), proving that sound can, in fact, travel freely between the two rooms. If Niles breaking a coffee cup carries across the apartment, there’s no reason an emotionally distraught Frasier ranting at full volume shouldn’t.
The Rare Exception
If sitcoms are going to use this trope, they should at least commit to it. The kitchen can’t only become a soundproof bunker when the plot demands a private conversation, only for noises to travel freely across the exact same distance moments later. Either sound carries through an open floor plan or it doesn’t.
That’s also why the trope feels less noticeable in sitcoms like Seinfeld and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Those shows thrive on characters openly scheming against one another, insulting each other to their faces, or making no effort to hide their selfish intentions in the first place. When everybody’s already saying the quiet part out loud, there’s far less need for a magically silent kitchen to keep the story moving.
By Charlene Badasie
| Published
The popular British spy thriller Killing Eve is streaming on Netflix. The show is based on Luke Jennings’ Villanelle novel series, with each season led by a different head writer. Phoebe Waller-Bridge handles Season 1, with Emerald Fennell working on Season 2, Suzanne Heathcote on Season 3, and Laura Neal lending her talents to Season 4.
Killing Eve revolves around British intelligence investigator Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) who is tasked with finding a psychopathic assassin named Villanelle (Jodie Comer). As Eve closes in on Villanelle, the pair unexpectedly become obsessed with each other, leading to a complex and dangerous game of cat and mouse filled with a strange kind of mutual admiration.
Season 1
In Season 1, viewers are introduced to a disillusioned Eve who is bored with her role in MI5. After handling an investigation poorly, she is fired. But her fascination with female assassins sees Eve find undercover work with MI6, who are searching for the ruthless international assassin Villanelle and the shadowy criminal organization known as The Twelve.
As Villanelle continues carrying out high-profile hits across Europe, Eve becomes increasingly consumed with catching her. At the same time, Villanelle develops a dangerous fascination with Eve, and their mutual obsession gradually leads them both astray from their original missions.
Season 2
Killing Eve Season 2 sees Eve and Villanelle continue their increasingly complicated relationship following the shocking events of the first season. Separately, Eve works to solve murders orchestrated by The Twelve, while Villanelle continues carrying out deadly assignments for the organization.
But when a new killer is thrown into the mix, both The Twelve and MI6 shift their focus, forcing Eve and Villanelle into an uneasy partnership that further blurs the line between hunter and prey.
Season 3
Season 3 begins six months after the events of the mission in Rome. Traumatized by almost dying at the hands of Villanelle, Eve resigns from MI6, opting for a quiet life instead. Meanwhile, Villanelle is forced to find new means of income after walking away from her role as an assassin for The Twelve while searching for a sense of purpose beyond killing.
Their new status quo is quickly shattered when Villanelle crosses paths with her former Twelve trainer, Dasha, and Eve suffers a devastating personal loss. As both women are pulled back into the orbit of The Twelve, their lives inevitably collide once again.
Season 4
Killing Eve Season 4 sees Eve seeking revenge against The Twelve, while Villanelle desperately tries to leave her violent past behind and become a better person. Despite making compromises, the duo continues to clash over their personal missions and vastly different outlooks on life.
However, their paths eventually converge as they pursue the same elusive target, setting the stage for a tense and emotional series finale that divided fans.
Everyone Loved It Until The End
Killing Eve debuted on BBC America in April 2018 and concluded with Season 4 in April 2022. The first three seasons of the show were praised by critics and currently hold impressive Rotten Tomato scores of 96, 92, and 79 percent, respectively. The fourth season received a negative response, with a dreary 52 percent on the review aggregator site.
Viewers were unhappy with the final episode of Killing Eve Season 4 and criticized the show for what some deemed to be queer baiting. Critics felt that the ending was rushed and lacked closure, while the series, in its entirety, failed to deliver a proper conclusion regarding the obsession between Eve and Villanelle that had been central to the story.
Despite the backlash, Killing Eve broke weekly rating records and earned multiple awards. Its list of accolades includes the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series. Sandra Oh won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series (Drama), and Jodie Comer took home a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Killing Eve is currently streaming on Netflix.
Entertainment
Liam Neeson’s New Action Thriller Looks Like a Brutal ‘The Fugitive’ Meets ‘Taken’ [Exclusive]
![Liam Neeson's New Action Thriller Looks Like a Brutal 'The Fugitive' Meets 'Taken' [Exclusive]](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_0751.jpg)
Over the past year and change, Liam Neeson has embraced his humorous side. Last year’s The Naked Gun reboot was hailed as one of the standout comedies of 2025, having him carry on the torch for the late Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin Jr. At the start of 2026, Samuel Goldwyn Films also featured him in the horror comedy creature feature Cold Storage with Joe Keery and Sosie Bacon, while, next month, he’ll be reeled in for one final job in the darkly funny crime film 4 Kids Rob a Bank. That doesn’t mean he’s done with the action thriller genre that he’s known and loved for, though.
Announced back in 2024, The Mongoose is set to release on October 30 and will place Neeson in the role of another relatable hero worth rooting for on the worst day of his life. He plays Ryan ”Fang” Flanagan, a decorated war veteran accused of murder, who decides to lead the authorities on a high-octane car chase across the country — think The Fugitive on steroids. As he speeds down the road in a Mustang Shelby Cobra GT 65, an enraptured public watches on, cheering for his escape while his brothers in arms do what they can to help him evade a relentless police pursuit. Ahead of its premiere, Collider can exclusively share the official trailer, showing how he wound up in this mess with nothing left to lose and the world watching his every move.
The footage begins with Flanagan on the road with his ex-wife pleading for him to turn himself in. Remembering his time at war, however, he refuses to be captured again, especially after how this all began. A quick flashback finds him in a hospital with his ex, who’s sporting a nasty bruise after an altercation with her current partner. When Flanagan goes to their home to get her stuff and confront her abuser, things quickly go south, and he gets shot, though his attacker is fatally injured by the fall. Knowing how bad it looks, he chooses the only option he believes he has: to steal one of the man’s cars and go on the run. It kicks off a battle of wits and speed between Flanagan and the police, led by a ruthless Michael Chiklis, who is sparing no expense, man, or arm to take him down, dead or alive. To even the odds, his fellow war veterans, whether they fought in the same conflict or not, run interference as he races towards The Mongoose, his only hope of getting out alive.
Who Else Joins Neeson’s Star-Studded Car Chase in ‘The Mongoose’?
At the helm of The Mongoose in his directorial debut is someone Neeson is intimately familiar with — his go-to stunt double, Mark Vanselow. The two have worked on countless projects together over the years, including some of the star’s best work, like the Taken films, The Ice Road, and The Naked Gun. For his first feature, he works with a script by Hit List writer Thompson Evans and a starry supporting group, including Marisa Tomei, Ving Rhames, Marcus Thomas, and Maurice Marvel Meredith. Rounding out the team are producers Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt, and Eugene Musso.
The Mongoose debuts in theaters on October 30. Check out the exclusive trailer in the player above.
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