Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster issued an apology after receiving backlash for publicly slamming a show critic.

“Hi guys, I was mean to Shealyn Scott last night and I profoundly regret it. Shame on me for insulting a human being for doing their job. I’m very sorry, Shealyn,” Brewster, 57, wrote via X on Sunday, June 21. “And I’m sorry to those who follow me that you saw me behave like that. Turns out, last night, I sucked.”

The actress initially shocked social media users when she took to X on Saturday, June 20, to call out an article Scott wrote for ScreenRant.

“Hello critic Shealynn Scott. You’re young. You don’t know that bad pics and bad reviews can lead to 350 people losing their jobs,” Brewster wrote in the since-deleted post. “Sell vintage. Work at a shelter. Do something better than what you do now. Because right now you suck.”

Fellow journalists and Criminal Minds fans came to Scott’s defense, with many pointing out that the article praised the show despite Brewster alleging it was a bad review.(The opinion piece also made the argument that there should be more than 10 episodes a season for the hit Paramount+ series.)

Scott, for her part, clarified on her own social media that she received a private apology from Brewster following the TV star’s public message.

Brewster currently leads Criminal Minds in the role of Emily Prentiss, which she has played since 2006.

Earlier this year, Brewster recalled her brief exit from the show. (Emily was initially killed off in season 7 before it was revealed to be a fake-out. Brewster, however, was not on the show for two seasons, returning as a guest star for two more before officially being main cast again in season 12.)

During an April episode of the “Are You a Charlotte” podcast, Brewster claimed a backdoor pilot for a potential spinoff show was filmed before former CBS president Les Moonves axed the idea. According to Brewster, she decided to leave the show after season 7 because she was “so mad” at CBS despite being offered to keep her full-time role.

Related: ‘Criminal Minds’ Cast: Then and Now

Criminal Minds is back with a revival on Paramount+ — but fans have watched the cast change on and off screen since the procedural first debuted. In 2005, viewers were introduced to a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit. The crime drama, which was created by […]

Advertisement

“I really did hold on to that anger for too long,” she shared on the podcast. “It was an unhealthy thing to hold onto. Because A.J. and I were like, ‘We were early, we knew our lines, we never got into fights.’ We were really angry. I held onto the anger for too long, and after four years, I finally thought, ‘Why am I not [on the show]? I love everyone there. I just don’t like Les Moonves, and I never have to see him because he doesn’t care about this show.’”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Brewster ended up returning for season 12 after Thomas Gibson‘s exit. She claimed she had to fight to get her “episodic fee close to what the men were making” because she and the other women “were always paid less.”

“I was like, ‘Well, I kind of have them over a barrel. They need me more than I need this show.’ So, I got my episode fee way up from what it was,” she continued. “Then, when the other female cast members, their contracts were up, so I said, ‘This is what I got. Go get more.’ So then, they went in and they got big raises.”

Criminal Minds: Evolution airs Thursdays on Paramount+.

Penn Badgley‘s wife, Domino Kirke, poked fun at the reality of marriage with a divorce joke in her Father’s Day tribute.

“When you grow up with a childlike father, you learn not to expect much. You brace yourself for disappointment over and over,” Kirke, 42, captioned an Instagram post on Sunday, June 21. “You make excuses for their behavior and convince yourself you don’t deserve much more.”

Kirke, who welcomed son Cassius, 16, in a previous relationship, recalled finding it “easier” to “parent alone” before she met Badgley, 39.

“Truth is, I felt like I had more ‘control’ as a single mum,” she wrote. “That’s all that was. I needed to run the show and keep everything where I could see it. I know now that control is an illusion. Even on the days I think I can do this better alone, even with all that muscle memory to back it up, I know now in my bones that I can’t.”

Related: Inside Penn Badgley and Domino Kirke’s Complete Relationship Timeline

Penn Badgley found his happily ever after with Domino Kirke. Badgley and Kirke initially sparked romance rumors in 2014. The couple tied the knot twice in 2017 and announced that they were expecting their first child together three years later. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a […]

While reflecting on their lives as a family of six, Kirke publicly praised Badgley as a dad. “Sure, twins. Sure, we’re finally outnumbered,” she added. “But it’s more than that. Time takes time, and 13 yrs later, I realize we’ve always had a child in tow. Always a child in our bed, even one that wasn’t your own.”

She continued: “‘Four kids! You wanna know what it’s like to have a fourth? Just imagine you’re drowning, and someone hands you a baby.’ ~ Jim Gaffigan. Thank you for riding every wave with me and for not agreeing to a divorce every time I ask for one. Happy Father’s Day, @pennbadgley; we’re the lucky ones.”

The couple, who got married in 2017, are also parents to son James, 4, and 9-month-old twin boys. Before expanding their family, Kirke gushed about how Badgley took over the role of stepdad to her eldest son.

“He’s a really good stepdad,” Kirke exclusively told Us Weekly in 2019 of Badgley. “He doesn’t have to be ‘dad,’ so he can have more fun with him. It’s really nice. The stepparent thing is definitely uncharted territory for me ’cause I didn’t grow up with one, but … he takes care of him really well.”

Kirke spoke to Us about watching Cassius grow into his own, saying, “Boys at 10 have the same amount of testosterone as they will have when they’re 18, so there’s a sass, but when I speak to him on the phone, he’ll be like, ‘Hey mom, you sound tired. You should go to bed.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, OK, thanks.’ Like, ‘Whoa, who am I talking to?’”

Related: Penn Badgley’s Most Candid Quotes About Fatherhood Through the Years

Penn Badgley and wife Domino Kirke are grateful for their family of six. The couple, who wed in 2017, announced in February 2020 that they were expecting their first child together after previous miscarriages. Their son was born the following September. While Badgley quickly adapted to new fatherhood after the baby’s birth, he previously got […]

Badgley has also discussed adjusting to being a stepfather.

“I was curious [how] my new fatherhood would influence my experience with Joe and acting with him,” he told Access Hollywood in 2021, referring to his role on the Netflix series You. “But sometimes, it was almost not helpful because I was having such a light and joyful experience [and] still am, and Joe was, like, so petrified and so scared. Of course, I can identify with the fear, but he’s just so morbid in his obsessive self-preservation and primal instinct that sometimes I almost found it harder.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

At the time, Badgley reflected on becoming a first-time “biological father” amid the COVID pandemic, telling InStyle, “It’s just been us, my wife and I, taking care of [our son]. And as a result, in some ways, we’re thrilled, there’s a beautiful joy and lightness to our connection with him. He seems to reflect that. And at the same time, it’s so hard.”

Badgley further explained how he found himself connecting to his character on You, who welcomed a son during season 3.

“I certainly had the great bounty of drawing on my own experience, becoming a new biological parent, and that was quite natural,” he told Elle in October 2021. “There are some definitely sweet moments where I was able to do that, but I think by and large, [Joe’s] paternal instinct is at best primal. I think to be a good father or a parent, you need to really rise several orders above primal, but he’s at least primal, I guess.”

Nearly 20 years after the last installment, Ice Cube and Nia Long are reuniting for a third film in the “Are We There Yet?” franchise. But not everyone is excited about the revival, with some fans taking to social media to voice their skepticism and accuse Ice Cube of trying to recapture past success.

According to Deadline, Ice Cube and Nia Long have partnered with Skydance Sports almost 20 years after the last “Are We There Yet?” film to create a third movie titled “Are They Gone Yet?”

Don’t forget, the first movie, which also starred Aleisha Allen, Philip Daniel Bolden, Tracy Morgan, and others, grossed nearly $100 million at the box office in 2005. Two years later, they teamed up for the sequel, “Are We Done Yet?,” which grossed nearly $60 million.

While the plot for the third film is still unclear, Deadline reports that in the new movie, Ice Cube and Long’s characters will face their “biggest challenge yet… grandkids.”

Ice Cube Opens Up About Filming A New ‘Are We There Yet?’ Movie With Long Two Decades Later

Speaking to Deadline about the new film, Ice Cube expressed his excitement to get back in front of the camera and bring his iconic Nicholas “Nick” J. Persons character back to life.

“We built something special with this franchise. Audiences grew up with Nick Persons, and now Nick’s got grandkids. Time flies,” he said. “Partnering with Skydance to bring this story to a new generation is exactly the kind of move CubeVision was built for, and I am excited for the new partnership.”

The success of the first two films spawned a TBS sitcom of the same name starring Terry Crews, Essence Atkins, Coy Stewart, and Teala Dunn. The series aired for 100 episodes between 2010 and 2013.

Fans Aren’t Here For The New ‘AWTY?’ Movie As They Slam Ice Cube For Apparently Living In The Past

The news of a third “AWTY?” really is no surprise, as streaming platforms and production companies have partnered together over the last several years to revive some of the world’s most beloved shows and movies.

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Full House,” and “Freaky Friday” are just a few examples. But unlike those revivals, Ice Cube’s latest project hasn’t exactly been met with widespread enthusiasm.

On Reddit, one user said the rapper “seems like he’s trying to relive his glory days,” pointing out that he’s also working on a third “Ride Along” film and sequels to “Friday” and “22 Jump Street.”

Another commenter joked, “We’re bringing literally anything back,” while a third user questioned the need for a third film, citing the sequel’s underwhelming plot. “Some things don’t need to be recreated two or three times,” they said.

Long Discussed Working With Cube In 2007

In 2007, Long spoke with Black Film about returning to work with Ice Cube for a second “Are We There Yet?” movie. She shared how grateful she was to be joining forces with the multi-hyphenate at the time, saying, “He has truly evolved into an entrepreneur. He’s an artist, but he’s also doing a fantastic job building an empire for himself and diversifying his portfolio as a actor and an artist.”

How Did Long Enjoy Playing Her Character, Suzanne Kingston-Persons, In The Second Film?

Elsewhere during the interview, the esteemed actress discussed what it was like to play Suzanne Kingston-Persons, a loving newlywed who would do anything for her children and her husband.

“It’s good! It’s good because it’s familiar. There’s a sense of safety and kind of knowingness in terms of what you are getting yourself into, which is always comforting. ‘Are We Done Yet?’ was so much fun to work on because I was just a happy mom,” she said at the time.

Long continued, “I was optimistic, very nurturing with no attitude. It’s interesting what that does to your attitude when you have to play that every day. I found myself very happy all the time.”

Another reason Long enjoyed playing Kingston-Persons is that she resonated closely with the fictional character. “I’m pretty easy going person. I can be intense, and I definitely like my ‘me’ time, but I’m pretty happy,” she said.

The first images from Klara and the Sun have finally arrived, giving audiences a glimpse at what could be one of the most emotional and unexpected science fiction films of 2026.

Directed by Taika Waititi, the adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s acclaimed novel stars Jenna Ortega as Klara, an Artificial Friend designed to ease loneliness in a futuristic society. The newly released images showcase Ortega in a role unlike anything fans have seen from her before, trading the dark and sarcastic energy of Wednesday for a character filled with warmth, curiosity, and innocence.

In an interview accompanying the first look, Waititi described Klara and the Sun as perhaps his “most dramatic film” to date. The filmmaker, known for balancing humor and heart in projects like Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok, admitted he initially thought adapting the novel would be simple.

“I thought this would be maybe the easiest film I’d ever make,” Waititi explained. “The more you read the book and delve into the relationships, the more complicated it gets.”

The story follows Klara, a solar-powered Artificial Friend who is purchased by a mother, played by Amy Adams, to become a companion for her daughter Josie, portrayed by Mia Tharia. As Klara becomes part of the family, she develops a deep understanding of love, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be human.

The film’s world is also unique. Waititi revealed that he imagined a future where humanity had grown tired of technology and intentionally moved backward in certain ways. The production design combines retro aesthetics with futuristic concepts, creating a world that feels familiar yet strangely unsettling.

Klara and the Sun [credit: Sony Pictures, Vanity Fair]

For Ortega, the role offered a chance to explore a very different kind of character. The actress said Klara’s kindness and optimistic outlook stand in stark contrast to many of the darker roles she has played in recent years. Rather than portraying an emotionless machine, Ortega and Waititi worked together to make Klara feel deeply relatable and emotionally authentic.

The themes explored in Klara and the Sun feel particularly timely. The story asks difficult questions about artificial intelligence, grief, loneliness, and whether love itself can be programmed. Waititi said he was fascinated by the idea that humans may someday form genuine emotional bonds with artificial beings, adding that the film does not offer easy answers.

With its emotional storytelling, stunning visuals, and a career-defining performance from Jenna Ortega, Klara and the Sunis shaping up to be one of the most intriguing science fiction films of the year.

Klara and the Sun is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 23, 2026.

Madonna is gearing up for the release of her milestone 15th album, “Confession II,” a sequel to her highly regarded 2005 LP, “Confessions on a Dance Floor.” Now, weeks before the new body of work is set to be released, the 67-year-old is opening up about her failed biopic, which was scrapped in 2023 despite Julia Garner being tapped to play the music legend.

Madonna opened up to Interview Magazine in June 2026 about the movie and why it failed to materialize. She discussed her involvement with the film, saying, “I was supposed to make a movie about my life. I worked on my script for two years and spent two years at Universal Studios with the line producers doing budgeting and casting.”

Regarding why the movie didn’t move forward, the “Express Yourself” singer said, “We had a falling out, me and Universal, regarding budget because I needed — I’ve had an extraordinary life. I’ve had a huge life, so I needed a big budget. You know what I mean?”

She then stated that the executives at the movie studio “couldn’t get their heads around” the budget she felt would be necessary to properly tell her story.

The ‘Confessions II’ Singer Wanted to Find Ways To Decrease The Budget

Madonna didn’t provide figures regarding the planned budget for her still-unfilmed biopic. However, she said she was willing to make changes to the production to reduce its cost. Namely, the icon stated she wanted to find “a way to make it for less money in Serbia.”

According to her, “Maybe they just didn’t believe in me. One of their first reactions was, ‘We don’t believe you’d stay in Serbia more than four days.’ And I said, ‘Did you read the script?’ My whole life has been survival. I’m not going there for a holiday. But anyway, I was in limbo when that fell apart, and then Netflix reached out to make a series.”

Regarding Netflix, she stated, “That was a whole other long process, because I couldn’t use the script I had with Universal unless I bought it from them for an extortionist’s price, even though I wrote it. Don’t ask.”

In reflecting on the situation, Madonna said, “That’s just the way it goes.”

Fans Still Want To See Madonna’s Story Told

Madonna is among the most influential pop stars of all time. Because of this, as well as the recent success of “Michael,” fans think the movie will still happen. However, others believe her life is so big that perhaps a multi-part mini series would be in order. Still, some wonder what she would have seen as a viable budget.

One person said, “Madonna certainly has a story that spans decades, genres, and cultural moments. It’s easy to see why she’d feel a traditional biopic would need a major budget to capture the full scale of her life and career.”

Someone else wrote, “That’s an unfortunate setback for fans who were eager to see her story on the big screen. Few artists have had an impact like Madonna, and telling that story properly would be an ambitious undertaking.”

A different Madonna fan chimed in, writing, “So huge she should know it needs to be a mini series with possibly 2 to 3 seasons. Not a film.”

Julia Garner Opened Up About The Madonna Biopic In 2025

Garner was offered the role of Madonna in 2022. After accepting, the actress underwent a rigorous preparation process, including a grueling boot camp. In July 2025, years after the movie was announced as scrapped, Garner told the “SmartLess” podcast that it was still set to be produced.

According to her, “That’s supposed to still happen.” Regarding going for the role, Garner revealed, “I kind of just wanted to see if I could do it, because I wasn’t a trained dancer and I had to learn how to dance and then dance in front of her and convince her that I can dance, basically, and sing. And sing with her!”

It’s worth noting that Garner may have been referring to the Netflix series Madonna mentioned, which is not currently in the works.

The Music Legend’s New Album Arrives In July

Madonna officially announced “Confession II” in April 2026 after signing a new contract with Warner Records in September 2025. From there, the first taste of the album arrived with the song “I Feel So Free,” released on April 18.

Since then, Madonna has released the singles “Bring Your Love,” a duet with Sabrina Carpenter, and the most recent offering, “Love Sensation.” The album will be released on July 3.

One day after a fan died at their Madison Square Garden concert, rock band Goose held a moment of silence during their Central Park show on Sunday, June 21.

“In moments like this, you realize life is so fragile, we’re so lucky to have an incredible community here around us,” band member Peter Anspach told the crowd at their Central Park SummerStage show in New York City on Sunday. “Everybody, if you’re struggling with something, please don’t be afraid to reach out to somebody in your life or send us a message.”

Anspach, 33, added, “We got to help each other out. That’s why we’re here. People are meant to talk and be with people, so thank you everybody for coming tonight, and we really appreciate you guys so much. We love you.”

The group — which consists of Anspach along with Rick Mitarotonda, Trevor Weeks and Cotter Ellis — held a moment of silence following the “tragic” death of 51-year-old Paul Kueker and sent their “deepest condolences” to his family and friends.

Related: Oasis Reacts After Fan Suffers Fatal Fall During Wembley Stadium Concert

Members of Oasis have spoken out after a fan suffered a fatal fall from an upper level at London’s Wembley Stadium during the group’s Saturday, August 2, reunion concert. “We are shocked and saddened [to learn about the individual’s death],” the band, led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, said in a Sunday, August 3, […]

The New York Police Department confirmed that Kueker died at the band’s MSG concert on Saturday, June 20, after falling from an “elevated position” inside the arena just before 10 p.m. local time. Police responded to a 911 call and found Kueker unconscious and unresponsive with injuries indicating a fall. He was seated in Section 300 of the arena, authorities confirmed.

Kueker was pronounced dead after being transported to Bellevue Hospital. While police do not suspect foul play, there is an ongoing investigation into his death.

“While we await the police report on the tragedy at last night’s Goose concert, we are deeply saddened by the loss of a fan’s life at Madison Square Garden,” the venue shared in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the concertgoer.”

Goose also took to social media on Sunday with a statement addressing Kueker’s death.

“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show,” they wrote. “We extend our deepest sympathy to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

In a separate Instagram post on Sunday, Goose told fans that they “considered” canceling their Central Park show. However, they decided that the “best thing” they could do was bring their fans together.

All proceeds from Sunday’s show went to the Western Sun Foundation’s fan support fund.

“We are all reeling following the events that occurred at last night’s show. Getting off stage to learn that news was devastating for us and our crew, and we cannot imagine how some of you left the show feeling last night,” they wrote on Sunday. “This week we are working to host community gatherings with licensed therapists and grief counselors present, offering support with guided breathwork, space to share, and smaller breakout circles.”

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Everything’s coming up Ice Cube when it comes to the rapper-turned-actor’s beloved comedy franchises. Earlier this month, news broke that he was in talks to reprise his role as Captain Dickson in a long-awaited third installment of the 21 Jump Street franchise, titled 24 Jump Street, alongside Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. This year also brought word that Cube was also discussing a reunion with Kevin Hart for another Ride Along film, after writer Daniel Gold delivered a script that finally got the team excited for another shift in the buddy cop series. Even the Friday franchise has been making steady progress towards its return following the reveal that Last Friday would finally conclude the ever-quotable smash hit after two decades and, hopefully, bring back as many familiar faces as possible.

Advertisement

According to a new report, yet another Ice Cube-centric comedy is now mounting a comeback. 19 years after the last installment arrived in theaters, Are We There Yet? is officially in development through Skydance Sports, with both him and Nia Long back in the fold as Nick and Suzanne. Chris Hazzard and Mike Fontana, the duo behind the live-action Teddy Ruxpin movie announced last year, are penning the screenplay for Are They Gone Yet?, which will follow the couple as they now welcome grandkids into the fold. It’ll be a new chapter and a much greater challenge for the couple that Cube is excited to navigate for a new audience, saying in a statement:

“We built something special with this franchise. Audiences grew up with Nick Persons, and now Nick’s got grandkids. Time flies. Partnering with Skydance to bring this story to a new generation is exactly the kind of move CubeVision was built for, and I am excited for the new partnership.”

Advertisement

Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz
Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most?
Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek

Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one.

🚀Star Wars

💍Lord of the Rings

Advertisement

🧙Harry Potter

👑Game of Thrones

🖖Star Trek

Advertisement

FIND YOUR UNIVERSE →

01

What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning?
Every universe is built around a different answer to this question.

ABeing part of something larger than myself — a cause, a rebellion, a fight for freedom that outlasts me.
BThe journey itself — the places I’ll go, the companions beside me, the world I’ll discover on the way.
CLearning — unlocking what I’m capable of, understanding the world’s hidden mechanics, growing into something more.
DLegacy — the name I leave behind, the power I build, the mark I make before the world moves on without me.
EUnderstanding — exploring what exists beyond the horizon and asking what it means to be alive in a universe this vast.

Advertisement

NEXT QUESTION →

02

Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit?
The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully.

AA galaxy of planets, each with its own culture — connected by conflict, trade, and the Force.
BAncient lands of breathtaking beauty, deep history, and a creeping darkness at the edges.
CA world hidden inside our own — full of wonder, community, and magic waiting to be learned.
DA brutal, beautiful continent where power is everything and every alliance is a calculation.
EA future where humanity has reached the stars — and must decide what kind of species it wants to be.

Advertisement

NEXT QUESTION →

03

How do you prefer your conflicts resolved?
The shape of a world’s conflicts tells you everything about its soul.

AThrough sacrifice and courage — someone has to make the impossible choice so others don’t have to.
BThrough fellowship — the impossible becomes possible when the right people walk the same road.
CThrough growth — confronting what you fear, understanding what you lack, and becoming equal to the challenge.
DThrough strategy — outthinking, outmaneuvering, positioning yourself so the outcome was never in doubt.
EThrough dialogue — finding the third option, the peaceful resolution, the answer that doesn’t require a body count.

Advertisement

NEXT QUESTION →

04

Who do you want beside you when things get difficult?
Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for.

AA small crew — a pilot, a rogue, a warrior — each broken in their own way, unbeatable together.
BA fellowship of different kinds of people, bound by purpose and deepened by the long road.
CFriends who grew up alongside me — who knew me before I knew myself, and stayed anyway.
DAllies whose loyalty I’ve earned — and tested — and whose ambitions align with mine, for now.
EA crew of brilliant, curious, principled people from every corner of known space.

Advertisement

NEXT QUESTION →

05

What is your relationship with power?
How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are.

AI want to use it to protect — and I’m terrified of what I might become if I’m not careful.
BI distrust it. The most important power in this story is the courage to give it up.
CI want to earn it — through knowledge, through effort, through becoming someone worthy of it.
DI want to wield it. Preferably before someone else decides to wield it against me.
EI want to understand it — its structures, its limits, its ethical dimensions. Power without accountability is the real threat.

Advertisement

NEXT QUESTION →

06

How does your universe treat good and evil?
A world’s moral architecture tells you more about it than any map.

AThere is a dark side and a light side — and the choice between them is always present, always personal.
BEvil is real and ancient and patient — and goodness, however small, is the only thing that can undo it.
CGood and evil are real, but they live inside people — and people are complicated, always capable of both.
DGood and evil are mostly a matter of perspective and proximity. Power is the only honest currency.
EEvil is usually the result of ignorance, fear, or broken systems — and understanding it is the first step to solving it.

Advertisement

NEXT QUESTION →

07

What role would you naturally fall into?
Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying?

AThe reluctant hero — ordinary origins, extraordinary moment, changed forever by the choice to act.
BThe unlikely carrier — the one nobody expected to matter most, quietly bearing the weight of everything.
CThe student — not yet who I’ll become, learning through every mistake, growing into something the world needs.
DThe player — sharp enough to see the game for what it is, ambitious enough to try to win it.
EThe explorer — drawn to the unknown, driven by curiosity, most alive when standing somewhere no one has stood before.

Advertisement

NEXT QUESTION →

08

What do you ultimately believe about the future?
The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you.

AThat hope is real — that even in the darkest galaxy, a new hope is always possible.
CThat even the smallest person can change the course of the future, if they have the courage to try.
CThat love and friendship and doing what’s right will matter in the end, even when everything says otherwise.
DThat the wheel keeps turning — that power shifts, winters end, and what endures is those willing to fight for it.
EThat humanity — or whatever we become — is capable of extraordinary things, if we choose to be.

Advertisement

REVEAL MY UNIVERSE →

Your Universe Has Been Chosen
You Belong In…

Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose.

Advertisement

A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars

Advertisement

You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast.

• You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance.
• You’d find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources.
• Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story.
• The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is.

Middle-earth

Lord of the Rings

Advertisement

You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world’s beauty is worth protecting even at great cost.

• Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate.
• You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival.
• Tolkien’s universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance.
• Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world.

The Wizarding World

Harry Potter

Advertisement

You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what’s right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise.

• The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle.
• You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete.
• Harry Potter’s universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying.
• That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely.

Westeros · The Known World

Game of Thrones

Advertisement

You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it.

• Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation.
• You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don’t confuse the world as it is with the world as you’d like it to be.
• Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer.
• Winter always comes. You are already prepared.

The United Federation of Planets

Star Trek

Advertisement

You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation.

• Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear.
• You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is.
• The Federation is the universe’s most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better?
• You don’t just hope that’s possible. You think it’s the only thing worth working toward.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

Advertisement

Where Did ‘Are We There Yet?’ Leave Off?

Exact plot details for the next adventure of Nick and Suzanne’s growing unit are unknown at this time, but it’s bound to bring a new level of familial chaos to the table like its predecessors. Kicking off in 2005, the original Are We There Yet? followed Nick as he attempted to win over recent divorcee Suzanne by agreeing to take her kids Lindsey (Aleisha Allen) and Kevin (Philip Bolden) to their grandmother’s house. Following a mishap at the airport, however, what should’ve been a simple flight quickly devolves into a nightmare road trip in Nick’s precious Lincoln Navigator. Against all odds, though, they end up bonding, and Nick and Suzanne get together, leading into Are We Done Yet? in 2007, which takes the happy family to the suburbs where their hopes of owning a dream home are complicated by an eccentric contractor (John C. McGinley).

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

January 21, 2005

Runtime

95 minutes

Advertisement

Director

Brian Levant

Advertisement

Advertisement

Cast

• 
• 
• 

  Aleisha Allen

  Lindsey Kingston

  Advertisement
• 

  Philip Bolden

  Kevin Kingston

Advertisement

Advertisement

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

It’s pretty hard to find anyone these days who hasn’t already watched and experienced the emotional rollercoaster ride that is the hit animated Netflix show, BoJack Horseman, with it receiving universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike and is now a proud representative of television excellence found on the streaming platform. Nearly a decade since the first episode of the legendary animated series graced the small screen, it has achieved legendary status and is widely recognized as being among the best from its genre.

Led by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, BoJack Horseman teeters on the fine line between surreal comedy and brutal tragedy and provides some of the most profound and heartbreaking portrayals of the human condition in recent television history, and it’s all about a talking horse. The highest-rated BoJack Horseman episodes on IMDb reflect the very best that the series has to offer, and are also excellent starting points for fans who want to rediscover the incredible show on Netflix. If you are in the mood to re-watch the iconic series, here are the best BoJack episodes for a reminder of just how great the show can be.

30

“The New Client” (Season 6, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

One of the great aspects of BoJack Horseman as a show is its ability to balance two equally exceptional plotlines, with the A and B plots both having important and powerful messages centered around completely different characters. “The New Client” is easily one of the show’s best when it comes to this striking dichotomy of plots, being able to tackle both the difficulties of balancing parenthood and work life with a story of repressed guilt.

In the primary story, Princess Carolyn faces a great deal of difficulties as she attempts to continue the overwhelming demands of her job while parenting at the same time after her nanny quit. In the side story, Mr. Peanutbutter has increasing shame and guilt from having cheated on his girlfriend with his ex-wife, Diane, finding some unexpected refuge when he decides to visit BoJack in rehab. Both of these stories add layers to these characters and focus on them in vulnerable spots outside their comfort zone and the consequences of such.

29

“The Telescope” (Season 1, Episode 8)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Image via Netflix

It’s widely accepted by fans of BoJack Horseman that the first season is the worst show, as so much of the season is reliant on setting up the dynamics of these characters, as well as the show simply having not found its comedic and narrative voice yet. However, easily considered by fans to be the first truly great episode of the show, “The Telescope” tackles a style of shocking, unexpected drama and emotional weight that would become the standard for great emotional hooks in the show going forward.

The episode revolves around BoJack deciding to visit his old friend and co-worker from Horsin’ Around, Herb (Stanley Tucci), because he is dying of cancer. However, the duo has a difficult past, as BoJack got Herb fired from the show, so BoJack feels as though he must apologize and try to get Herb’s forgiveness before it’s too late. However, in a moment of raw, painful realism that haunts BoJack for the rest of the show, Herb doesn’t forgive BoJack, forcing him to live with the pain of his decision, and dropping the first F bomb of the series.

28

“The Horny Unicorn” (Season 6, Episode 13)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

After several reveals of BoJack’s character and actions have been made public, “The Horny Unicorn” sees his world begin to crash all around him, and a scathing look at how Hollywood culture can incentivize and encourage the worst aspects of people’s characters. The episode’s main focus is BoJack becoming a social pariah and getting Vance Waggoner (Bobby Cannavale) as his new AA sponsor. At the same time, BoJack is clinging to a letter from Hollyhawk, refusing to read it out of fear that she never wants to talk to him again.

There are a lot of prominent moments that make this one of the defining highlights of the 6th season, from Vance’s disgusting viewpoint that parallels many gross, predatory, disgraced Hollywood figures to the painful ending of BoJack finally reading the letter and wallowing in despair. It’s a prominent turn for the character where things are finally catching up to BoJack for all of the bad things he’s done throughout the series.

27

“Sunk Cost and All That” (Season 6, Episode 11)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

After an entire show’s worth of chaotic moments in BoJack’s life and him doing shocking things and living with the pain, “Sunk Cost and All That” acts as a shocking release as he finally relays the truth of these painful events to those close to him. The episode sees him telling shocking stories from throughout the series, as the fear of toxic reporters bringing up events from his past could bring all the progress he’s made crashing down. This soon transforms into a mental and public preparation for when the story does drop, revealing to the world BoJack’s connection to Sarah Lynn’s death.

It’s a point of tragic irony that just as BoJack had been making positive changes in his life and found a steady job at a University, the actions of his past that have gone unpunished have bubbled their way back to the surface, fighting to take him down. While this struggle would be later explored in subsequent episodes, the brilliance of “Sunk Cost and All That” is the focus on BoJack’s lasting relationship with Princess Carolyn, even in spite of all that BoJack has done.

26

“INT. SUB” (Season 5, Episode 7)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

After so many episodes of following these memorable characters, the show going out of its way to paint a story in a new way can be wildly refreshing without having to take away from the core narrative at hand. “INT. SUB” uses the inherent fun of wild new designs in being told the stories of the episode from other characters, through two therapists and their incognito conversations about the characters in the show. This simple change adds so much flavor and intrigue into this episode as a piece of the larger picture of season 5, all on top of the effective narrative being told by itself.

The larger narrative strength of the episode comes from a continued exploration of the ever-complicated dynamic between BoJack and Diane, with Diane’s conversations with her therapist allowing Diane to come to the conclusion that more boundaries must be set for them to continue being acquainted. Even after the visual hook of the episode ends, the episode still has a major highlight in its shocking ending where Diane shows BoJack that she is fully aware of the disgusting things that he almost did in Season 2 with Penny.

25

“It’s You” (Season 3, Episode 10)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

Image via Netflix

One of the more chaotic episodes during the downward spiral and pain that BoJack goes through in Season 3, “It’s You” acts as a wake-up call for the character, most notably remembered for Todd’s painful monologue of BoJack’s cycle of harm. The episode primarily sees BoJack facing painful self-doubt after learning that he hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar for his role in the Secretariat biopic, opening up old wounds and pains of how he isn’t worthy of love or happiness.

The major standout that has made the episode such a fan-favorite is the ending rant by Todd, the often goofy and non-serious character having one of his few truly serious moments as he lays into BoJack’s toxic and destructive tendencies. It acts as a turning point for both Todd and BoJack as characters, serving as the start of their separation, with Todd branching out into his own life separate from BoJack’s toxicity while BoJack himself continues down his painful downward spiral.

24

“Let’s Find Out” (Season 2, Episode 8)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

Image via Netflix

Initially seeming to be nothing more than a goofy game show episode run by Mr. Peanutbutter, “Let’s Find Out” eventually shows its hand to be one of the first true emotional dives into the depths and pain of Mr. Peanutbutter as a character. The episode sees BoJack competing on Mr. Peanutbutter’s wild game show, something that BoJack already had no interest in being on. Yet, it soon takes a painful turn when the topic of conversation turns to BoJack’s past with Diane and his strained friendship with Mr. Peanutbutter.

The episode finds a great mix of satirical humor and jabs at the setup and clichés of daytime reality television while also providing a deeper examination into the flawed and toxic friendship of BoJack and Mr. Peanutbutter. Considering just how much of the character Mr. Peanutbutter is rooted in absurdist and non-serious gags, this early episode of the series shows one of the first real looks into his psyche and ability to have a serious conversation.

23

“Good Damage” (Season 6, Episode 10)

IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

Image via Netflix

Diane as a character has seen many changes and evolutions ever since her humble beginnings as the writer of BoJack’s memoir, with “Good Damage” acting as an effective sendoff and final chapter for the character. The episode sees Diane continuing her battle against depression from earlier in the season, taking medication and coming to terms with how her childhood trauma has helped shape who she is today, both positive and negative elements of herself.

Between a deeply creative animation style as Diane talks to herself about the difficulties of writer’s block and a mature and honest portrayal of her relationship with Guy, Diane has never been more relatable and likable than she is in this episode. The episode acts as the quintessential way to cap off the entire series’ worth of evolution and growth for the character, with her finally coming to terms with herself and coming out the other side able to be proud of who she’s become.

22

“Head in the Clouds” (Season 5, Episode 10)

IMDb Rating: 9.0/10

Image via Netflix

One of the last tension-building episodes during the latter half of Season 5, “Head in the Clouds” sees BoJack and the rest of the main cast dealing with their own consequences and misadventures at the premiere party for “Philbert.” Various building storylines see their apex and rising tension throughout the episode, from the relationship building between BoJack and Gina to Todd’s increasingly chaotic antics with Henry Fondle. However, the linchpin moment that has made the episode a fan favorite among fans is the confrontation between Diane and BoJack near the end of the episode.

Tired and annoyed with BoJack seemingly using “Philbert” as a way to justify actions from his past, Diane lays into him and demands an answer about the terrible things BoJack has done throughout the series and how he really hasn’t changed at all. It makes for a deeply painful yet reflective conversation about the destructive power dynamic that people like BoJack hold, and the ways that they justify their heinous actions and believe themselves to be the victim. It’s a turning point not just for BoJack, but the entire series as BoJack’s philosophy and past actions are now beginning to catch up to him.

21

“The Dog Days Are Over” (Season 5, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 9.0/10

Image via Netflix

One of the few episodes that dedicates nearly its entire runtime to a character that isn’t BoJack in their own story and journey of reflection, “The Dog Days Are Over” sees Diane going on a trip to Vietnam to get away from the stress of her divorce. The episode sees Diane finding guidance from her own writing while on the trip, making a “10 Reasons to go to Vietnam” article while on her trip that sets the flow and structure of the episode as she establishes these reasons.

Diane is one of the more intricate and emotionally complex characters in all of BoJack Horseman, with “The Dog Days Are Over” giving a deep and effective look into the character’s psyche during a moment of grief and necessary pain. The episode works wonders not just as an additional layer to Diane’s ever-evolving character, but as a stand-out standalone episode of culture shock and expectations not lining up with reality. The episode shows that, even when not focusing on BoJack’s struggles specifically, BoJack Horseman is able to excel at telling an emotional yet hilarious tale of self-discovery.

There are high-quality books that offer escapism, just as there are movies (usually blockbusters) that focus on entertainment over anything else. Not necessarily all, but a good many romance novels are intended to be digestible in this way, and the same can be said for many (though again, not all) works of fantasy, particularly so for fantasy books that are aimed at younger readers.

Then you’ve got books that go in the other direction, possibly intending to be compelling, but not really fun. That’s what the following novels more or less do, and there are also a couple of works of non-fiction thrown in here, just to keep things interesting, alongside some horror, drama-focused, and thriller books. These are some of the heaviest books of all time, and they’re all worth reading… just maybe not as the last thing you look at before falling asleep. The vibes aren’t good, but at least the quality of the writing is.

10

‘American Tabloid’ (1995)

Image via Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

The Black Dahlia and L.A. Confidential might well be James Ellroy’s best-known novels, and they’re plenty dark and cynical, yet American Tabloid is perhaps even more nihilistic. It takes place in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with various point of view characters all wrapped up in a complex series of events that lead to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, with the aftermath explored in two subsequent books by Ellroy, with all three forming the ominously titled Underworld USA Trilogy.

Of the trilogy, there’s an argument to be made that Blood’s a Rover is actually the darkest, but that third and final book is sort of incomprehensible, and almost a self-parody on Ellroy’s part. It’s hard to care when things are dialed up to the extent they are there, but a somewhat more grounded line is walked in American Tabloid, and that makes it more upsetting. Everyone involved in the narrative, be they fictional or based on real-life people, is morally shady at best and downright evil at worst, and all of them seem equally doomed, in one way or another. It feels like a novel about a president dying, and then the U.S. dying right along with him.

9

‘Lolita’ (1955)

Image via Olympia Press

There’s a lot to grapple with, while reading Lolita, including what the book itself is about, and who the narrator of it all is. He’s a man writing under the pseudonym of Humbert Humbert, and he’s someone who describes his infatuation with a 12-year-old girl he calls Lolita (who he’s technically the stepfather of), with much of the book dealing with how he targets and manipulates her.

A certain amount of dark humor does run throughout Lolita, but that serves to make the frequently horrible events of the book feel all the more intense and unsettling. It’s a fantastically written book that is also incredibly challenging and bold, even by the standards of postmodernism. For as good as the book is, and for as purposeful as the disturbing content might be, you really can’t blame anyone if they take a look at the thing, as a whole, and feel the complete opposite of compelled to read it.

8

‘Empire of Pain’ (2021)

Image via Doubleday

Empire of Pain deals with opioid addiction, and the events that led to the opioid epidemic in the U.S., done in a way that condenses a good many moving parts and history into one coherent narrative. It’s masterfully done, as a work of non-fiction, and does give you a comprehensive overview of the Sackler family, while making it feel like something of a tragedy, what certain members of the family ultimately did.

It’s more sympathetic to those who’ve been directly impacted by the opioid epidemic, of course, so maybe it’s more accurate to suggest that it humanizes the Sackler family, or, at the very least, logically lays out how and why they did so much harm. Empire of Pain is huge in its ambition, and also extremely confronting in so many ways, particularly when you consider how the events of the book don’t end all that long ago, in the overall scheme of things, and further consider that deaths from opioid overdoses have continued to happen on a large scale in the years since Empire of Pain was published.

7

‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ (1949)

Image via Simon & Schuster

The general despair that’s heavy throughout much of Nineteen Eighty-Four is a big reason why it’s considered so essential, as a piece of dystopian fiction, perhaps even being the definitive novel about a dystopia. Numerous terms and ideas from the novel have entered the English language, to the extent that Nineteen Eighty-Four is at least partly known about, even by those who haven’t read the whole thing (though everyone should read the whole thing, at some stage).

The novel’s about a bleak future torn apart by war and cultural chaos, and it’s led to mass surveillance by an all-powerful superstate, which the protagonist does rebel against, though in a rather futile manner. If any part of Nineteen Eighty-Four is hopeful or not entirely sad, it’s just so that the eventual heavy parts will feel even more crushing, in comparison. Still, it’s a big old downer for a purpose, and it’s really not too hard to see why the novel has endured to the extent it has.

6

‘Pet Sematary’ (1983)

Image via Doubleday

People dying in a book by Stephen King isn’t anything new, nor particularly novel, but the extent to which Pet Sematary focuses on death (while also exploring grief) is. The pet cemetery referred to in the title is one that seems capable of bringing dead pets back to life, so when tragedy strikes a family, the father of said family starts to grapple with the idea of seeing whether the cemetery might also bring humans back to life.

It digs a little deeper and gets quite a bit darker than your average Stephen King book, so it feels worth considering Pet Sematary as perhaps his heaviest overall. That being said, it is quite a compelling read, even with all the sadness and the horror, and so it’s a little “easier” to read than most of the other books mentioned here. Still not a fun book, by any means, but it’s unusually easy to churn through for something that, in so many ways, proves to be a massive downer.

5

‘Libra’ (1988)

Image via Viking Press

Advertisement

Sorry to go over one more book that’s about the John F. Kennedy assassination, but Libra is another heavy-going and compelling read that is stylistically very different from American Tabloid, even if both novels are paranoia-inducing and cynical about the direction America went in after the assassination. With Libra, though, the central character is Lee Harvey Oswald, and the novel works as historical fiction, unpacking what he might’ve been going through while having him get wrapped up in a massively complex conspiracy.

That focus on Oswald makes Libra something of an unexpected psychological drama/thriller book, while there’s also ample time spent on confusion and doubts surrounding the event that the novel inevitably has to build to. It’s impossible to come away from a book like this feeling very optimistic about much at all, since it so openly confronts the idea that there is so much we won’t – and maybe even can’t – ever know.

4

‘Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy’ (2018)

Image via Harper Collins

Advertisement

Even with the word “Tragedy” being in the title, Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy still finds ways to disarm and alarm you with the events it covers, and the manner in which it lays out the devastation caused by the Vietnam War. Well, technically, the scope of the book goes beyond the Vietnam War a little, since it begins covering things immediately post-World War II, detailing the First Indochina War, which then led to the Vietnam War.

There’s a lot of history to cover in 30 years, and Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy gets through it at a good pace, while never feeling like it skims over too much. It’s broad without being shallow, and is also admirable for how many different points of view it features. And that sense of showing things from multiple perspectives ultimately helps drive home the scale of the different conflicts in Vietnam between 1945 and 1975, and the alarming size of the overall destruction/devastation.

3

‘Blonde’ (2000)

Image via HarperCollins

Advertisement

Blonde is basically a work of horror, even though it’s not got any traditional (or more expected) supernatural elements. It’s instead more of a psychological drama that’s intense enough to also be a work of psychological horror, with the protagonist being Marilyn Monroe, and the whole book being about her short, tragic, and eventful life, albeit in an impressionistic way that does claim to be biographical.

Instead, Monroe’s life is used to represent how young women are sometimes used by Hollywood, or even just society more generally, since Blonde isn’t just about Marilyn Monroe’s experiences acting in movies. It’s a long, dense, and almost always emotionally harrowing novel that is a challenge to get through, by design, standing as something that’s easy to appreciate but very much hard to recommend, in the traditional/conventional sense.

Advertisement

Blonde

Advertisement

Release Date

September 28, 2022

Runtime

Advertisement

2h 46m

Director

Andrew Dominik

Advertisement

Writers

Andrew Dominik, Joyce Carol Oates

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

2

‘A Little Life’ (2015)

Image via Doubleday

An obligatory pick, if you’re talking about sad and/or heavy books, A Little Life tackles a range of difficult subject matter throughout what ends up being a lengthy duration. There’s a group of friends at the center of A Little Life, and all of them have personal demons that they’re battling, with traumatic pasts explored via flashbacks, and then scenes in the “present” dealing with how such events linger and continue to impact those who went through them.

It might sound like fairly normal territory for a drama-heavy story to follow, but it’s the uncompromising nature of digging deep into various things other stories might skim over, or not dwell on too much, that makes A Little Life stand out. It might be cathartic for some to have any novel at all deal with some of the things this one’s willing to, but that content is also what might make it too difficult to read, for others.

1

‘Blood Meridian’ (1985)

Image via Random House

There are some other Cormac McCarthy novels worthy of honorable mention here, like The Road and No Country for Old Men, but Blood Meridian is perhaps his most grueling and nightmarish. Unlike those other two novels, you can only (at least for now) experience Blood Meridian as a book, since it hasn’t been adapted into either a movie or TV show, with the level of brutality and persistent misery likely playing a role there.

Also, it’s quite loose narratively, and so there would be a need to condense things or recontextualize certain parts of the novel if you wanted to translate it to another medium, and that would be difficult, especially with so many people holding the source material in such high regard. And if you’ve not read Blood Meridian, you’re still likely aware of its reputation for being one of the darkest Westerns of all time, and one of the most violent books ever written. On both counts, such a reputation is more than deserved.