Fans are holding their phones extra close, trying to figure out who the deep-voiced man is in Remy Ma’s video. Rem was on a livestream serving face while a man’s voice could be heard in the background. Now, folks want her to come to the front and spill the tea.

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The TL Wants Answers After Mystery Voice Pops Up In Remy Ma’s Livestream

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and Remy Ma is already setting the vibes. The ‘Conceited’ raptress popped out on a livestream dressed in red, clearly ready for love day. While fans were living for her beauty, others switched into detective mode, trying to figure out who the mystery man was in her videos. It’s hard to catch exactly what he was saying or if he was even in the room — but the way Remy kept looking off to the side had fans working overtime to crack the case!

The Internet Is Clockin’ The Background Noise

After LiveBitez dropped the clips of Rem, the comment section went crazy. Some folks couldn’t get over how good Remy was looking, while others swore the mystery voice belonged to Eazy The Block Captain, who has allegedly been dating following her split from Papoose in 2024.

Instagram user @realbigstacks wrote, “Rem really that girl 😍” 

Instagram user @mstelisha2u wrote, “Well it ain’t PAP.” 

While Instagram user @heyyy_jaiiiii wrote, “I mean does it matter?” 

Then Instagram user @el.papi.gordo_ wrote, “Thats Eazy the block captain voice…. i’m a battle rap watcher… his voice is very distinct… Case closed.” 

Another Instagram user @_cream_irish_ wrote, “Oh that’s easy 😂😂😂😂” 

Instagram user @jengermartin wrote, “She definitely can do better than that loud mouth Easy.” 

Then another Instagram user @_safizzle wrote, “no more Eazy Block?”

Lastly, Instagram user @icanb wrote, “It’s that dude with the braces 😂” 

Been That Girl, Still THAT Girl!

Remy Ma has been keeping her foot on necks lately. She sparked reactions in January after dropping some winter content on Instagram, posing in nothing but a fiery bikini and a fur coat. Bawdy snatched, face card lethal, poses on point! Fans immediately clocked Rem for serving a look even in freezing temps. Peep her photos below.

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President Donald Trump claims there are new “clues” in the ongoing search for Today cohost Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, Nancy.

“I’ll give you a little statement — I think we’re doing very well in that regard,” Trump, 79, said while speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, February 6. “You’d be surprised to hear that. I think we’re doing very well, meaning we have some clues I think that are very strong and I think we could have some answers coming up fairly soon.”

The president continued, “I’m not talking about a search, I’m talking about a solution. We have some things that will maybe come out reasonably soon from [the] DOJ or FBI or whoever that could be — could be definitive. A lot has taken place in the last couple of hours. A lot of things have happened in regard to that horrible situation in the last couple of hours.”

Nancy, 84, was first reported missing on Sunday, February 1, after she failed to appear at church service. She was last seen on Saturday, January 31, by her daughter and Savannah’s sister, Annie. She is described as 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. The case is being investigated as a crime.

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“Something unusual at that house occurred that made us go, ‘Wow, something’s wrong here. Something doesn’t fit,’” Pima Country Sheriff Chris Nanos exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Monday, February 2. “We’re gonna pull all the stops and go at all angles. We really do hope it’s a search-and-rescue mission and we find her and she’s safe and sound. But it would be unjust if we didn’t look at what’s in front of us and go, ‘We need to act.’”

Nanos added at the time, “This is an 84-year-old lady who is safe in her own home asleep, and she is taken. And that should never happen.”

The family has also acknowledged the existence of various ransom notes in connection with their mother’s missing person’s case, including a “new message” addressed by the FBI on Friday.

“The FBI and County Sheriff’s Department are aware of a new message regarding Nancy Guthrie,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in a statement via X. “Investigators are actively inspecting the information provided in the message for its authenticity.”

“We live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her,” Savannah said while flanked by her siblings, sister Annie and brother Camron, in a social media video, speaking to her mother’s would-be abductors directly.

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President Donald Trump is weighing in on the high-profile disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. “I think it’s terrible,” Trump, 79, told reporters inside the White House Oval Office on Tuesday, February 3. “I’m gonna call her later on,” the president added of Savannah, 54. “I think it’s a […]

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In the wake of Nancy’s terrifying disappearance, the president has promised Savannah and her family that the federal government is “deploying all resources” to assist the ongoing search.

“I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote via his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday, February 4. “We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely.”

The FBI is currently offering a $50,000 reward for any information that leads to Nancy’s recovery and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved.

Oop! Things got a little awkward after Paige Hurd appeared on The Crew Has It podcast and addressed her relationship with former Power Book II: Ghost co-stars Michael Rainey Jr. and Gianni Paolo.

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Paige Hurd Confronts ‘Power’ Co-stars Michael Rainey Jr. And Gianii Paolo

In a recent interview on The Crew Has It podcast, Michael Rainey Jr. and Gianni Paolo sat down with their former co-star Paige Hurd for a candid conversation. While discussing what she has been up to lately, Hurd shared that she is currently busy planning her wedding. Gianni asked if he and Michael were invited to the big day.

Hurd took that moment to confront the pair, responding, “I didn’t know you two would want to come.” She went on to explain that Gianni had removed her from his Close Friends list and that she learned from a fan that Michael had unfollowed her on social media.

She then asked both men, “When was the last time I spoke to you?”

Michael remained mostly quiet, while Gianni pulled out his phone to check their messages. Hurd also pointed out that the trio had plans to link up during Paris Fashion Week but never connected, despite being in the same building multiple times.

Social Media Users

Soon after the clip went viral, fans took to Instagram to share their thoughts.

One user, @93thug_life, wrote, “They both liked her and she thought they just wanted to be her friend. She was blindsided, that’s wild 😳🥺.”

Another user, @sashaleigh, commented, “I thought maybe he unfollowed her while he was with Hailee! It prolly was cause of her engagement now that I think about it 👀.”

User @4c.vay added, “Oh this intenseeeeeeee 😩😂.”

Meanwhile, @mattyplatty_ wrote, “Tbh, would y’all invite y’all coworkers to your wedding??? Acting is just another job.”

Another fan, @raysoflove_21, shared, “Based on only seeing this clip and feeling the energy, I’m not sure why sis even went to the interview.”

User @iamyanidadon added, “I feel like this conversation shoulda been had off camera 🥴.”

@royalaniek commented, “Men being men acting like they didn’t do anything wrong.”

While @micjones.13 wrote, “If she’s getting married, it’s really not that deep.”

And @driveciara added, “She don’t even realize that boy like her.”

Paige Hurd Prepares For Marriage To NBA Player Royce O’Neale

As the conversation continues online, Paige Hurd remains focused on her next chapter.

The actress is preparing to marry NBA player Royce O’Neale. The couple announced their engagement in People magazine in March 2025 after O’Neale proposed during a romantic dinner in Cabo in February.

According to People, the two met in early 2024 and made their relationship Instagram official in January 2025. The Phoenix Suns forward shared that he had admired Hurd for years, having grown up watching her in TV shows and movies.

Related: Aht Aht! Paige Hurd Addresses Pregnancy Speculation After Poppin’ Out In Holiday Photos With THIS NBA Player

Nick Jonas and Glen Powell share an unexpected brotherhood they never saw coming.

“I’m here at Jimmy Fallon, just performed ‘Gut Punch,’ but before the performance I was changing into my outfit,” Jonas, 33, said in a Thursday, February 5, Instagram video from backstage at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “A lot of times, a brand will lend you something for a big TV performance or something like that.”

According to Jonas, he slipped on a borrowed pair of jeans and found an expired plane ticket in the back pocket.

“I’m, like, ‘Who could this plane ticket belong to?’ I open it up, and of course it belongs to Glen Powell of all people,” the Jonas Brothers singer said. “Glen Powell, my friend. His plane ticket. He wore these pants before me. It’s the brotherhood of the traveling pants.”

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Powell, 37, subsequently had thoughts about sharing soiled jeans with Jonas.

“They didn’t wash these for you?!?” Powell wrote in the comments section. “I feel like the Brotherhood of the Traveling Pants should incorporate some sort of hygiene pact.”

Jonas and Powell’s friendship dates back to 2015, when they costarred in Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens.

“I love Ryan and Brad [Falchuk]. They’re just hilarious,” Powell recalled to Variety in March 2016 of playing Chad Radwell on the Fox cult hit. “The beauty of that character is he’s not really a character that fits into the plot necessarily. He’s just a guy who’s there to make you laugh so that’s why I kind of love him so much.”

The Chad Powers star added, “There’s no real plot pressure. There are very few plot scenes that you need to cloud your brain with. Chad was just there for fun and it just worked because it’s so well-written.”

As for Jonas, he played Boone Clemons on Scream Queens.

“The show’s full of surprises,” Jonas teased to Billboard ahead of season 1’s 2015 premiere. “It’s not what you expect. Maybe you expect it, but it’s not what you expect as a whole for the show. It’s one of those things where he tries to keep the audience on their toes and he does a very good job.”

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Band of brothers! Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas and Nick Jonas were lucky enough to have built in bandmates growing up — and fans can say thank you to their parents, Paul and Denise Jonas, for raising such beloved stars, too. After growing up in New Jersey (alongside younger brother Frankie Jonas, a.k.a. The Bonus Jonas), […]

While Jonas only appeared in season 1 of Scream Queens, Powell returned for the show’s second season. Powell has remained booked and busy since wrapping Scream Queens with a steady slate of film and TV roles, while Jonas has prioritized his music career.

“It was, kind of, just snapshots of life,” Jonas teased of his new album, Sunday Best, during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers earlier this week. “[I wanted] to give people a window into my world over the last two, three years and some experience that I’ve had. The title stems from a lyric about ‘dressing in your Sunday best, going to church as a kid.’”

He continued, “Our dad was a pastor, I grew up singing in church, and so there’s lot of gospel [and] soul influences in this music, which is something that I’ve always had in my music. I leaned in a bit further and got to work with some incredible collaborators to make an album that I’m really proud of.”

There are dozens and dozens of ’90s movie characters that have become icons. Fans will quote them daily, dress as them for Halloween, and have generally elevated them to pop culture royalty status. Think of characters like Cher from Clueless, The Dude from The Big Lebowski, or Vincent and Jules from Pulp Fiction. This list is not about those characters. Instead, it’s about those characters that are just as equally charming, quirky, scary, or otherwise indelible that have somehow become forgotten through the passage of time.

These also-rans are played by some of the greatest actors of the era in films by eclectic and talented directors. The pictures themselves range from underrated gems to massive blockbuster successes, and yet none of these characters are as celebrated as they should be. These are ten of the greatest forgotten movie characters of the ’90s, unique figures worthy of your acknowledgment and praise.

10

Dusty (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in ‘Twister’ (1996)

Image via Warner Bros.

Character actors were eating well in the ’90s. Almost every action blockbuster featured an expanded supporting cast that was filled out by rising stars and supporting actor mainstays. The 1996 disaster thriller Twister was no different, and none of that film’s supporting characters are more colorful than Dusty, the excitable storm chaser played by the singular Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Before Hoffman became the preeminent talent and Oscar winner he was known as, and long before he tragically passed away too young, he was burning up the screen in supporting roles that roasted most of his higher-profile co-stars. Movies like Scent of a Woman, Boogie Nights and Patch Adams all benefited from Hoffman’s presence, and his boisterous, boundless energy made Dusty a lovable sidekick.

9

The Collector (Billy Zane) in ‘Demon Knight’ (1995)

Image via Universal Pictures

The ’90s were a transitional period for horror, and while the decade had its fair share of hits, it was absolutely overflowing with cult classics. Demon Knight, the inaugural feature film to come out of the spectacularly spooky horror television series Tales From the Crypt, is a solid midnight movie that can be loads of fun. A great deal of that fun comes from Billy Zane‘s performance as the movie’s supernatural big bad.

As the demon-leading villain who sets off a siege against the unfortunate residents of a boarding house, Zane completely understands the assignment. The ever-underrated actor vacillates between over-the-top theatrics and genuine, sinister villainy, and has a ball with all of it. Zane was one of the ’90s slimiest movie villains, best known for playing the rich and callous cuck in Titanic, and the Collector in Demon Knight gave him the opportunity to play with every weapon in his arsenal.

8

Drexl Spivey in ‘True Romance’ (1993)

Image via Warner Bros.

Gary Oldman was one of Hollywood’s favorite Brits to cast as villains in the ’90s, and several of those roles have deservedly become icons. From the titular performance in Bram Stoker’s Dracula to the pill-popping corrupt cop in The Professional, his place in the villain hall of fame is assured. Counted among those iconic heavies should be the dreadlocked drug dealer Drexl Spivey in the cult action classic True Romance.

Though he only features in a couple of scenes in the film, Spivey leaves a lasting impression thanks to some very memorable lines courtesy of screenwriter Quentin Tarantino and Oldman’s typically committed performance. It’s the biggest scene-stealing character in a film filled with scene-stealing characters, and a testament to Oldman’s admirable ability to make the most out of any role, screen time be damned.

7

Lawrence Woolsey (John Goodman) in ‘Matinee’ (1993)

Image via Universal Pictures

Matinee is Joe Dante‘s most personal movie. A nostalgia-tinged love letter to monster B-movies set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was well-reviewed but failed to make much impact at the box office, which is unfortunate because it’s a sweet and heartfelt coming-of-age story. At the center of it is John Goodman’s energetic performance as the fictional filmmaker Lawrence Woolsey.

A showman at heart, heavily inspired by the real-life filmmaker William Castle, Woolsey enjoys shocking audiences and loves a good gimmick. Far from a heartless huckster, though, he’s played with genuine warmth and charm by Goodman, who should have gotten more award notice for the performance. Alas, he’s never been nominated for an Oscar, and that is one of the most egregious oversights in Academy Awards history.

6

Amy Archer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) in ‘The Hudsucker Proxy’ (1994)

Image via Warner Bros.

The Coen Brothers have created a cavalcade of memorable characters, and their output in the ’90s was, without exception, character-driven heaven. The Hudsucker Proxy was a major failure for the filmmaking duo at the time, and remains one of their most underrated features, which is unfortunate because it features hilarious character work from Tim Robbins, Paul Newman, and, especially, Jennifer Jason Leigh.

As fast-talking news gal Amy Archer, Leigh channels the spirit of screwball comedy mavens Rosalind Russell and Katharine Hepburn. She’s quick with a quip and delivers her dialogue at warp speed, only slowing down when she gets her heart broken in this delightful confection of a film that homages Preston Sturges and Frank Capra. While some critics derided the performance and character as a broad caricature at the time, in retrospect, it’s been proven to be a performance of comedic precision and perfection.

5

Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) in ‘Sleepy Hollow’ (1999)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Before his career devolved into personal drama and diminishing returns, Johnny Depp was a pretty reliable presence on screen, delivering some of the quirkiest leading man performances. His work with Tim Burton during the ’90s began with his iconic role as Edward Scissorhands, progressed through the Oscar-winning biopic Ed Wood, and culminated in the truly underrated Sleepy Hollow.

As Ichabod Crane, Depp is a one-man circus of idiosyncrasies. In the film’s version of the character, he’s a constable sent to investigate a series of murders in the titular town. He’s a character who values logic and reason over superstition, using a variety of forensic techniques to investigate. Ichabod is also prone to fainting and hysteria, with Depp eschewing any action hero characteristics, instead portraying Crane as if he were a frightened, fragile child.

4

Dolores Claiborne (Kathy Bates) in ‘Dolores Claiborne’ (1995)

When it comes to Kathy Bates and Stephen King, the character of Annie Wilkes, the obsessive fan in Misery, looms large. While that character rightly earned the actress an Academy Award, her titular role in another King adaptation, Dolores Claiborne, should be just as lauded. It’s a tense psychological drama about the bond between a mother and daughter and the trauma that tests it. Dolores may not be as colorful a character as Annie, and Bates’ performance may not be as showy, but it’s just as emotionally impactful, if not more so.

Set on a small Maine island, the film focuses on Dolores, whose involvement in the death of an elderly woman for whom she was the caretaker spurs a re-connection with her grown daughter, Vera, that reopens old wounds. Both mother and daughter were subject to abuse from Dolores’ husband, but while Dolores has lived with it and the repercussions of it, Vera has all but completely repressed her memories of it. Dolores Claiborne is one of King’s most heartfelt stories, and the lead character is one of the most fascinating and multidimensional in ’90s cinema. She’s brought to vivid life by Bates in a tour-de-force performance that has been overshadowed for far too long.

3

Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) in ‘Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai’ (1999)

Image via Artisan Entertainment

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One of the most idiosyncratic and underrated crime films of the ’90s, Jim Jarmusch‘s Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai focuses on a reclusive hit man who adheres to a strict warrior’s code while carrying out kills for the mob. While clearly indebted to crime films like Le Samouraï and Branded to Kill, it is distinctly a Jarmusch film in every way. Forest Whitaker‘s lead performance as the titular character is a brilliant depiction of the kind of quiet violence and strict morals often depicted in filmic assassins, but rarely ever as successfully as done here.

Whitaker has made a career out of playing characters who operate on both sides of the law, but are often colored in moral shades of grey as opposed to black and white. His quiet intensity and imposing figure have always served him well in these kinds of roles, but he wasn’t given proper award recognition until he fully inhabited Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. Arguably, he should’ve gotten far more notice before then, particularly for Ghost Dog, who speaks far more softly but is just as compelling and capable of violence.

2

David Jason (Jeff Goldblum) in ‘Deep Cover’ (1992)

Image via New Line Cinema

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Jeff Goldblum‘s career in the ’90s is mostly defined by his eccentric performances in blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Independence Day, but his best performance, by far, came in the completely forgotten Bill Duke-directed crime film Deep Cover. It stars Laurence Fishburne as an undercover cop in the Los Angeles drug trade, where he meets Goldblum’s corrupt attorney and drug trafficker. Even when the film covers some familiar territory, it’s never anything less than immediately compelling thanks to the two lead performances.

Goldblum is dynamic as hell, playing a milquetoast character whose taste for the underworld only causes him to become greedier and more violently unhinged. It’s an especially astounding performance for anyone who generally only associates Goldblum with his more recent comedic persona. He gives layers to his character that make him alternatively sympathetic and deplorable, and it’s always fun to watch Goldblum go full dark.

1

Edgar (Vincent D’Onofrio) in ‘Men in Black’ (1997)

Image via Columbia Pictures

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Maybe it’s because of the diminishing returns of the sequels, or that the original film seems much smaller now in comparison to the career of its most major star, but Men in Black never gets enough credit for being such a clever, funny and perfectly executed blockbuster. It’s visually dynamic, has a great mix of practical and digital effects and, most of all, a terrific cast. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are perfectly mismatched as odd couple partners, and the severely underutilized Linda Fiorentino gives tons of dimension in her supporting role. As for Vincent D’Onofrio, he should’ve won a damn Oscar for his brilliant villain performance.

As a giant alien bug wearing a local yokel’s skin as a suit, D’Onofrio’s work as Edgar is full-bodied. He walks and talks in a way that makes you fully believe there’s a 20-foot-tall cockroach inhabiting his body, and he’s scary, funny and weird in all the best ways. Edgar set a bar for future villains in the Men in Black franchise that none have come even close to touching, despite being played by some very talented actors. It’s a testament to how committed D’Onofrio is in the role, creating a blockbuster villain that has no real comparison, yet somehow is not continually listed among the greatest of all time.

Shaquille O’Neal
Spins At Epic Pre-Super Bowl Party
… Tiesto, T-Pain, Too!

Published
February 7, 2026
3:07 PM PST

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In a shocking twist that has left both parents and police stunned, 23-year-old Yizel Juarez, a daycare teacher at The Learning Experience in St. Charles, Illinois, is at the heart of an investigation that’s raising eyebrows for all the wrong reasons. Now Juarez is facing charges that could make every parent think twice about leaving their child in someone else’s care.

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Daycare Teacher Allegedly Tricks Toddlers With ‘Candy’

The disturbing incident first came to light this week when parents noticed troubling symptoms in their toddlers, who were as young as 17 months old, after attending the daycare. Parents scrambled to understand what happened after reports surfaced that Yizel Juarez had allegedly given several toddlers suspicious treats at the daycare. Authorities later confirmed she had passed off chewable laxatives as candy. The result? A full-blown investigation into the actions of a teacher who, according to police, was trying to manage the stress of her job in the most irresponsible way possible.

Toddlers ‘Sick Out’ Scheme Sparks Police Investigation

On Tuesday morning, multiple parents reached out to the St. Charles Police Department after their children, all under the age of 2, exhibited concerning symptoms, including diarrhea and stomach discomfort. Police quickly responded and confirmed that Juarez had given the toddlers laxatives, reportedly to make them appear sick so they would go home early and relieve her own stress. After consulting with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, authorities arrested Juarez and charged her with three counts of attempted aggravated battery causing bodily harm to a victim under 13, along with endangering a child’s health.

Parents Demand Answers After Daycare Shock

In an emotional interview with CBS affiliate WBBM, one parent recounted the experience of watching her 17-month-old suffer for weeks after taking the laxatives. “We thought it could have been a virus, and that was negative,” the mom shared. “We found out from the director that she had fired her employee because she allegedly was giving them these laxatives and saying that it was candy so that they could get sent home because she was overwhelmed,” the mother said. As police continue their investigation, parents wonder how someone entrusted with their children could betray that trust so shockingly.

Juarez turned herself in to police and was released while awaiting her court date. She also left the daycare reeling as parents demand answers and justice. The authorities are urging anyone with more information to come forward, as this case continues to unfold—leaving a dark shadow over the once-trusted daycare.

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 minute ago

When it comes to NuTrek, a common refrain from critics (myself included) is that Star Trek no longer feels like it did back in the golden days of shows like Deep Space Nine. However, a recent episode of Starfleet Academy, “Series Acclimation Mil,” proved that we cynics should be careful what we wish for. That’s because it recreated by accident the worst part of Deep Space Nine: combining an important, character-centric A Plot with one of the stupidest B Plots ever written.

First, a little context: back during the Golden Age of Star Trek, the writers generally included two main stories in any given episode. The most important story was designated the A Plot, while the less important story was designated the B Plot. This storytelling structure generally worked because it gave more of the ensemble cast something to do while giving viewers an additional story, one they might very well find more enjoyable than the main plot.

That Face When You See A Mistmatched B Plot

However, this storytelling method falls apart when the A Plot and the B Plot are completely mismatched, resulting in an episode that feels weirdly disjointed. Deep Space Nine had plenty of examples of this: in “Life Support,” the A Plot about Bashir’s attempt to revive one of Bajor’s most important spiritual leaders after his death is paired with a B Plot where Jake has to explain to Nog that he’s scaring the hoes with his constant Ferengi misogyny.

In “A Call To Arms,” the A Plot is the long-awaited invasion of the Dominion. The B Plot is about Rom and Leeta’s cringe-inducing, Casablanca-quoting wedding.

For me, the most mismatched Deep Space Nine episode of all time is “Doctor Bashir, I Presume?,” whose A Plot focuses on the revelation that Dr. Bashir is estranged from his parents because they “fixed” him with genetic engineering at a young age. It’s a powerfully moving episode about family trauma that completely changes our understanding of the main character. Unfortunately, it’s also an episode where the guy who created the Emergency Medical Hologram is desperate to get laid, and he’s set his sights on Leeta, who is written to be almost comically stupid.

Star Trek’s Most Ambitious New A Plot

So, what does all of this have to do with Starfleet Academy? The recent episode “Series Acclimation Mil” had an ambitious A plot about cadet SAM investigating Sisko’s final fate; her research helps her (and viewers) learn more about Sisko’s accomplishments, his personality, and the titanic legacy he left behind. Along the way, we get cameos from big names like Jake Sisko and the latest incarnation of Dax, all while SAM learns more about what it means to be an emissary from her holographic homeworld to the Federation.

Unfortunately (and somewhat inexplicably), it’s paired with a B plot about Chancellor Ake trying to help Commander Nelrec prepare to host a visiting dignitary. To do this, she throws a rehearsal dinner, which is mostly an excuse for everyone but Nelrec to crack bizarre jokes and engage in prop comedy (no, really). The climax to this scene is a fish suddenly deflating, and the three other officers (who have about 1500 years of combined wisdom between them all) start uncontrollably laughing about the fish making prolonged farting noises.

Shaka, When The Rest Of The Episode Is Silly

It’s wildly unfunny and almost distractingly weird, but the bonkers B Plot is of a piece with the rest of the episode. After all, in between hugely important lore drops about Sisko, we’ve got cadets vomiting glitter and the ship’s digital dean making jokes about morning wood. As a viewer who was more or less enjoying all of the Sisko-related fan service, I was a bit shocked that the episode kept dipping into humor that would be more in line with a show like Beavis and Butt-Head.

However, in a bit of almost certainly unintentional irony, “Series Acclimation Mill” managed to honor the worst part of Deep Space Nine, and that’s pairing a powerful A Plot with the stupidest B Plot the writers could come up with. This makes for frustrating storytelling, of course, but this practice was absolutely rampant during the Golden Age of Star Trek. Starfleet Academy has now proven it knows how to do what DS9 did so poorly; with any luck, these newer writers will eventually be able to channel what DS9 did so well, which was to tell great stories without the absolutely embarrassing crutch of d*ck and fart jokes.