By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 20 seconds ago

Star Trek: The Next Generation brought back some of the most famous bad guys from The Original Series, including the Klingons and the Romulans. This beloved spinoff also introduced some memorable new villains, including the Cardassians, the Nausicaans, and the Borg. While all of those new baddies resonated with fans, none struck a chord with the fandom quite as much as Q, the godlike being played by John de Lancie. He appeared in both the very first and very last episode of The Next Generation and several episodes in between, and he was always the perfect chaos agent to get under Captain Picard’s skin.

Over time, Q became less of a villain and more of an antagonistic ally: by the end of TNG, he was helping Picard to literally save all of humanity. Originally, though, he was written to be a recurring Big Bad, a kind of ultimate foe who can’t be overcome by advanced Starfleet technology. When did he begin his transformation from evil villain to the unexpected savior of mankind? It all started with “Deja Q,” an episode where Q was written to be a manipulator who merely lied about losing his powers. But Gene Roddenberry insisted he actually lose his powers, causing the former villain to discover humanity he didn’t even know he had.

Naked And Afraid

“Deja Q” is the memorable Next Generation episode in which Q shows up on the Enterprise, completely naked. He reveals that the Q Continuum decided to punish him for because he frequently torments lesser beings; subsequently, they stripped all of his powers, effectively leaving him at the mercy of previous alien victims such as the Calamarain. They attack Q when he is adjusting to life as a human, and he freaks out when he sees how the aliens hurt his new buddy, Data. Q tries to sacrifice himself to the Calamarain so the Enterprise crew would be safe, and his altruistic behavior is rewarded when the Q Continuum give him his powers back.

It’s a very heartwarming episode that quite literally humanizes Q, who was, up to this point, the scariest villain in Star Trek: The Next Generation. As recorded in Captains’ Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, “Deja Q” was originally written as an episode where Q was lying about losing his powers. Showrunner Michael Piller said that Q spun “a whole story about how we were about to come into a war with the Klingons,” with the big reveal being that the godlike being “was just playing with us and pulling our strings just so that he could make himself a hero, become an officer and prove his value.”

Til Death Do Them Part

Such an elaborate ruse would be perfectly in line with the mustache-twirling villain that we saw in earlier episodes like “Encounter at Farpoint” and “Hide and Q.” So, why did the plot for “Deja Q” change so dramatically? This was because Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry decided to effectively redeem TNG’s most iconic villain. According to Piller, Roddenberry “threw cold water” on him and the other producers with a very straightforward storytelling note: “If you’re going to do a story–Godlike and brought to Earth–then do it. Do a story about what it’s like to lose everything that you are and having to discover your own Humanity.”

It turned out to be great advice, and “Deja Q” became one of the best episodes of the entire series. This humanization of Q set up some important later arcs for the character, including him helping Picard save humanity in the TNG finale “All Good Things.” The godlike being also returned in Picard Season 2 to help give his oldest frenemy some closure. Sadly, Roddenberry didn’t live to see any of this; he died in October 1991, one year after the original broadcast of “Deja Q.” Fortunately, he had time before his death to help redeem his favorite villain, one named for a passionate Star Trek fan.

Obviously, Gene Roddenberry wasn’t a perfect storyteller, and some of the Season 1 TNT episodes under his tenure were pretty bad (“Code of Honor,” anyone?). But he always had good instincts when it came to his characters. He knew how to write Q as one of the greatest and most menacing villains in television history, but he also knew exactly when and how to transform that bad guy into one of Star Trek’s most unexpected heroes. He also gets the coolest hero-to-villain glow-up, ever. After all, how many do-gooders have you seen that have their own mariachi band?

Meghan Markle has been compared to one of the most controversial figures in royal history, Anne Boleyn, amid ongoing debate about her departure from royal life alongside Prince Harry.

The comparison was made by author Catherine Mayer, who argued that both women were viewed as outsiders and faced intense hostility after entering the royal fold. The remarks come as reports suggest Harry and Meghan are considering spending more time in Australia following their warmly received visit to the country earlier this year.

Meghan Markle has been linked to controversial royal predecessor Anne Boleyn, who served as Queen Consort during her marriage to King Henry VIII.

On the surface, the two women appear to have little in common. Meghan lives in Montecito with Prince Harry and their two children, while Anne met a notorious end in 1536 after being accused of treason.

However, while promoting her new book, “Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles,” author Catherine Mayer suggested that Meghan’s “brutal” departure from royal life mirrors Anne’s experience in several ways, particularly as both women were viewed as cultural outsiders.

“Critics hold [Anne] solely responsible for her own downfall. If you assume this to be a description of Meghan, you’re right – but here’s the thing: the same details apply, word for word, to Anne Boleyn,” Mayer wrote in the book, per Sky News.

Meghan’s Reputation Was ‘Damned,’ Author Claims

Mayer went on to describe Meghan as the least popular royal “except for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor,” who lost his royal patronages and military affiliations following scrutiny over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

According to Mayer, Meghan’s reputation may have been “damned” by a palace culture she characterized as hostile toward outspoken women.

“To those who clamour for Meghan to be expunged from public life like a latter-day Anne Boleyn, I’d ask one question: what exactly has she done to earn such hostility?” Mayer added.

Meghan Markle Continues To Face Online Criticism

Meghan has frequently found herself at the center of online criticism, so much so that she once claimed she was the “most trolled person in the world” during the past decade.

Whether through products released under her As Ever lifestyle brand, her Netflix series “With Love, Meghan,” or her social media activity, critics have regularly questioned the Duchess’s decisions.

Most recently, Meghan marked Princess Lilibet’s birthday by sharing photos of herself and Harry with their daughter. Days earlier, she posted images from a family outing that included Archie and Lilibet.

The posts sparked criticism from some social media users, who argued that sharing images of her children conflicted with her advocacy for child safety and online privacy.

Duchess Defends Sharing Family Photos

The criticism eventually prompted a response from Meghan’s camp, which argued that sharing family moments while protecting children’s identities is entirely consistent with her message on online safety.

“The Duchess has always been clear that there is a distinction between sharing moments from her life and exposing her children to public scrutiny,” a representative told Newsweek.

They continued, “By obscuring their faces, she is demonstrating the very principle she advocates for: giving children privacy, agency, and protection in an increasingly digital world.”

“Far from being contradictory, by concealing their faces she is actually reflecting the message she delivered in Geneva: that parents can choose to share family experiences while still taking deliberate steps to protect identities, privacy, and digital footprint,” the spokesperson added.

Harry Reportedly Wants Meghan Markle Back In Australia

After a challenging few years in the United States, reports suggest Harry and Meghan may be exploring Australia as a potential fresh start.

The couple spent four days in the country in April on what many described as a quasi-royal tour, receiving a warm welcome while participating in charity engagements and private events.

According to reports, Harry has become particularly fond of the country and is eager to return with Meghan and their children.

“He can’t wait to get back with Meghan and the kids,” an insider claimed. “Harry would love to spend an extended amount of time there. It’s no secret they’re looking to make a fresh start somewhere, and Harry seems to think Australia can offer that.”

The Sussexes previously toured Australia in 2018 during an official royal visit while Meghan was pregnant with Prince Archie. They have not undertaken a similar royal tour since stepping back from official duties in 2020.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 15 seconds ago

From the very beginning, Star Trek has been a franchise about exploring strange new worlds. Often, that’s literal, with our intrepid crews learning about new life and new civilizations on one planet after another. More often than you might think, however, the most interesting explorations were more metaphorical, as our characters discovered new facets of their own humanity. However, there was one final frontier this franchise never explored for decades: nudity!

Until its more recent pivot to streaming, Star Trek had always premiered on network television. That meant that it had to abide by certain broadcast standards and practices. As you might imagine, there are plenty of restrictions regarding nudity, most of which focus on how much skin can be shown. That’s why, when Q showed up naked in The Next Generation episode “Deja Q,” we only see so much: one cheek, no crack, and (perhaps most importantly) no genitals. No matter how much they wanted it otherwise, fans could only see so much of Q actor John de Lancie’s body. The actors, however, saw everything because de Lancie stripped completely naked on set!

The Naked Now

“Deja Q” is the Next Generation episode where Q loses all of his godlike powers and is rendered human. He is being punished by the Q continuum for abusing those powers to torment various alien beings who can’t fight back. Aboard the Enterprise-D, Q is attacked by an alien race that he had preyed on before (the Calamarain), and they end up damaging Data. Realizing that he is putting the entire crew at risk, Q steals a shuttle and tries to sacrifice himself to the aliens to keep everyone else safe. Impressed by altruism, the Q Continuum ultimately restores all of Q’s powers.

In previous appearances, Q had always made himself look imposing by dressing like a judge, a soldier, and even a Starfleet captain. To visually underscore that his powers had been stripped, the Star Trek: The Next Generation producers stripped him, and Q showed up completely nude on the bridge. To make that happen, John de Lancie was given a g-string to protect his modesty. According to visual effects supervisor Dan Curry, de Lancie decided to forego the g-string, and nobody else knew until the actor showed up on set.

Star Trek Icon Bares It All

As recorded in Star Trek: The Next Generation 365, Curry said, “The script said ‘Q appears nude.’ We planned to have John de Lancie lay on a wooden board that couldn’t be seen due to Patrick Stewart’s position in the shot.” However, things soon went off-kilter in the most hilarious way. “As we were prepping the shot, John showed up on the set with his bathrobe on. When we were ready to go, he dropped his bathrobe, and he was stark naked. That caused… ummmm… a bit of a stir.”

Curry didn’t elaborate further, so we can only imagine what costars like Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner felt about seeing the full de Lancie. However, the visual supervisor did note that despite (or perhaps because of) the actor’s unexpected antics, the scene went exactly as planned. “It’s one of the few shots we’ve done that came out looking exactly like the storyboard. I’d picked the spot for the camera in advance, and the scene played out just as I drew it.”

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Q is a chaotic trickster god, and you never know exactly what he’s going to do next. Now, you know that John de Lancie has the same temperament as his omnipotent onscreen alter ego. While the actor doesn’t, sadly, have his character’s fantastic cosmic powers, he did demonstrate one astonishing ability on the set that day: just like that, he transformed “Deja Q” into a special after-hours rerun: “The Naked Now.”

Zac Efron is in the process of building a sustainable $2 million home in the Australian rainforest.

The High School Musical actor, 38, has partnered with eco-friendly designer Joost Bakker and architect Frank Burridge on a residence he calls “Futurecave”, which is located an hour outside of Australia’s famed Byron Bay, per the Daily Mail.

Efron’s design team is using environmentally responsible building materials — largely made from hemp blocks, recycled oyster shells and agricultural waste — and more than 200 sustainable particle boards to construct the six-bedroom, two-story property as well as its internal bricks, mattresses and even bedsheets. All of the bedroom pods will be connected by an outdoor walkway and each has their own rooftop garden.

In December 2025, Efron confirmed to the Australian Financial Review that he purchased a 128-hectare plot in New South Wales in 2020 and is just now starting to develop it.

“I live a pretty fast-paced life and work quite a bit, so in between movies and press tours, my number one goal is always to take time for myself and rest and recharge and to be in nature as much as possible, and as close to the earth as I can, and this land just feels like it’s perfect for that,” Efron explained.

He expressed hopes that the “Futurecave” could become “the coolest house ever built” once the project is complete.

Eforn spent the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and later returned to the country to film his Netflix travelogue Down to Earth, during which he met Bakker, 51.

Bakker confirmed last November that he had started developing the concept of “Futurecave.”

Related: Zac Efron Through the Years: From ‘HSM’ Heartthrob to Leading Man

Zac Efron has transitioned from dreamy teen heartthrob to leading man. The actor first won over audiences as Troy Bolton in Disney Channel’s High School Musical, which premiered in 2006. Efron became a household name overnight and reprised his role in 2007’s High School Musical 2 and 2008’s High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Thank […]

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“It’s not every day of the week that @zacefron asks you to design his home, I am beyond excited! Especially as it will be the first home he has ever owned,” he revealed via Instagram at the time. “Zac fell in love with @futurefoodsystem and then our family home in Monbulk and now wants a home of his own + best of all he wants me to push my ideas as far as they can go!”

The designer described Efron’s sustainable home as a “dream come true” that was “pushing my team creatively.”

“For the past year we’ve experimented with making hemp blocks, replacing concrete with two materials that restore the environment hemp, possibly the best plant on earth at repairing and restoring soil health and of course oysters, natures ultimate ocean restorer,” he shared.

Bakker went on, “We are using the most cutting edge technology (invented by the Romans 2000+ years ago) I want to create a building material that I hope will become mainstream one day — a material that naturally breathes, is anti mould, naturally fire resistant and improves the indoor air Zac will ultimately breathe.”

More recently, he confirmed on May 8 that his team was “excited to get started on Zac’s house” after more than six months of lining up the concepts.

“Although @zacefron kitchen and bathroom joinery will only use only 200 hundred boards (less than 1000 square metres of crop) if we embrace this product we have the potential to help farmers restore soil health in a natural way,” he revealed via Instagram on May 22.

Us Weekly has reached out to Efron’s representatives for comment.

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Efron told Variety in December 20243 that he was actively trying to shift focus from work to his personal life.

“I’m thinking about where I want to build a home base and cultivate my life,” he said. “It’s shocking — sometimes you wake up after doing three movies a year, and you’re like, I’ve neglected thinking about my own personal life for this long.”

He continued, “The goal is always the next mission, the next movie, making sure everyone else is very happy. It can be very lonely at times. But the process of taking your emotions head-on, sort of working with them, was a profound moment in my life. And it’s definitely taken me down a different road.”

We are back at the Love Island USA villa — but when (and how often) do new episodes drop?

Season 8 of the Peacock hit debuts Tuesday, June 2, following a group of singles who have to pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa in Fiji. The contestants — who are referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in the villa and are under constant video surveillance.

Hosted by Ariana Madix, Love Island USA requires the group to be coupled up in order to have a chance at receiving the $100,000 prize. While the Islanders are filming nonstop for weeks, viewers are watching daily episodes — and even get to cast votes that affect couples and the fate of the contestants.

Love Island USA releases episodes every day (except for Wednesdays!) at 9 p.m. ET. There is also a new Aftersun special every Saturday to recap what took place in the villa that week.

Before season 8 even premiered on Peacock, the official Love Island USA account released a statement regarding the cast.

“The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community,” read a post shared via Instagram. “We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.”

The statement continued: “This is a space for fun, not negativity — so keep it kind, keep it positive, and remember: this is LOVE Island!”

Love Island USA made headlines again when contestant Vasana Montgomery was removed ahead of the season 8 premiere after resurfaced social media posts showed her using a slur. Both clips were leaked from her private social media, which meant producers weren’t privy to the posts while casting the show.

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Related: ‘Love Island USA’ Status Check: Which Couples Are Still Together?

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They got a text — and found love in the Love Island USA villa. The beloved British dating show made its way across the pond in 2019, following a crop of American bombshells searching for The One in a luxury tropical villa. In season 1, eventual winners Elizabeth Weber and Zac Mirabelli had a connection […]

The shakeup came one year after season 7 faced offscreen issues with Yulissa Escobar, who left days into the experience after clips of her using racial slurs on a podcast circulated online.

Cierra Ortega also faced backlash when a resurfaced social media post showed her using a slur. She was pulled from the villa and later issued an apology for her posts.

Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!