Mercury In Retrograde
SURVIVAL KIT

Published
February 26, 2026
12:05 AM PST

Dearest gentle readers, it’s no surprise that in the roughly month-long hiatus between Parts 1 and 2 of Bridgerton Season 4, anticipation has only continued to grow. Netflix’s hit Regency romance series may have said goodbye to a few faces since its initial premiere almost six years ago(!), but as the show’s newly released episodes confirm, even actors who have since gone on to star in increasingly big projects (looking at you, Jonathan Bailey) are still willing to come back right when the show’s titular family is in their greatest hour of need. There’s not much that can be said about Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 without venturing into serious spoiler territory, but plenty of eagle-eyed fans have already pieced together some clues from the steady trickle of trailers and images released in the gap between episodes. Suffice it to say, Bridgerton‘s return this week brings with it one of the series’ darkest turns yet, but it’s accompanied by the show embracing one of its worst narrative habits — effectively sidelining the main romance in favor of laying the foundation of what’s to come.

What Is ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 Part 2 About?

In the aftermath of Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) proposal — to be his mistress, not his wife — Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) finds herself wrestling with what accepting the gentleman’s offer would mean for her future, not just as a maid, but within society at large. Meanwhile, she’s still working for the family under Violet’s (Ruth Gemmill) roof, and the Bridgerton matriarch is starting to pick up on the vibes between her second son and her newest employee. Despite the two doing their best to embrace propriety, they still find themselves hopelessly drawn to each other, stealing forbidden touches behind closed doors. Although Sophie’s potential future as a mistress might be the best she could hope for, given her own station, the possibility of setting society’s tongues wagging isn’t the only thing she might have to worry about; her stepmother, Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung), has gotten word of where she’s been working, and won’t rest until she’s forced Sophie to face the consequences for absconding with those (admittedly paste) shoe clips of hers.

As for the rest of the Bridgerton family, Violet’s liaison with Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) continues to develop, although she, too, remains torn about whether she’s actually ready to become more than just a mother. With the support of her husband, Colin (Luke Newton), Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) considers whether it might be time for her to move on from writing her Lady Whistledown column for good. Eloise (Claudia Jessie) continues to clash with Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) over her little sister’s obsession with entering society, just as the last character anyone would ever expect steps back onto the scene with a new title and a desire to restore her disgraced reputation among the ton. Francesca (Hannah Dodd) is struggling to properly host the newest guest in her and John’s (Victor Alli) home: his vivacious, outgoing cousin Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza). Oh, and Anthony (Bailey), Viscount Bridgerton, has a lot more on his plate to address than he planned upon his return home — like why his desk is littered with drawings of a mysterious woman in silver, and why Benedict is willing to put the family name at risk by taking a maid as his mistress. And that’s not even getting into the ongoing drama between the Queen (Golda Rosheuvel) and Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) as the two longtime friends are forced to reckon with Agatha’s upcoming leave of absence.

‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 Part 2 Deepens the Romance Between Sophie and Benedict

Image via Netflix

Whenever Bridgerton does deign to check in on Sophie and Benedict’s ongoing romance, the moments viewers are treated to are definitely worthwhile. Their more intimate scenes in the back half of Season 4 simmer with a different kind of tension; ever since their steamy stairwell rendezvous, it’s not a question of if they’ll find the perfect opportunity to sneak off together, but when. The somewhat forbidden nature of their relationship, courtesy of Sophie’s current position in Benedict’s family home, constantly hovers over their interactions, making even the smallest shared glance between Ha and Thompson feel loaded with meaning. On a more intimate level, their love scenes in Part 2 skillfully walk a fine line between unapologetically steamy and deeply romantic. One only wishes there were more of them (but more on that later)!

What proves most compelling about Sophie and Benedict’s narrative in Season 4’s latter four episodes is that their push-and-pull isn’t rooted in whether their love exists — because it’s very clear how deeply these two have come to care about each other, despite Benedict not knowing that Sophie is his Lady in Silver — but rather in what the right decision for their future is. If Sophie agrees to become Benedict’s mistress, is she consigning herself to a future that’s lesser than what she’s truly worth? If Benedict actually makes Sophie his wife, will they be shunned and forced to live outside of society, risking his family’s name and the success of Hyacinth’s upcoming debut in the process?

Of course, any viewer familiar with Julia Quinn‘s An Offer From a Gentleman, the book that Bridgerton Season 4 adapts, already knows that the perfect legal solution will present itself, thereby paving the way for Sophie and Benedict to have their happily ever after. Before that happens, though, it’s lovely to see the Bridgertons defending Sophie against anyone who would threaten her livelihood or her reputation, ultimately serving as the family she never truly had. Along those same lines, the return of characters like Bailey’s Anthony Bridgerton (now sporting some handsomely rakish facial hair) allows for welcome reunion scenes that double as a reminder of the show’s strongest themes — and the fact that this family will always show up to support each other, no matter what.

‘Bridgerton’ Devotes Too Much Time to Setting Up Season 5’s Romance at the Cost of Season 4’s Love Story

While Sophie and Benedict’s romance in the last four episodes of Bridgerton Season 4 earns a handful of swoonworthy moments, it’s not the primary focus, and it points to a larger problem with the show’s overall narrative structure. In my review for Part 1, I mentioned that the show’s ever-expanding ensemble was threatening to push Bridgerton into overstuffed territory, with some characters earning little to no development compared to others, but what remained to be seen was whether the series would repeat Season 2’s biggest misstep — spending so much time establishing future romances that the present season’s love story pulls the short straw.

Unfortunately, Season 4 does fall into the very same trap. To a degree, some of this preparation is necessary, given that one of Bridgerton‘s upcoming romances begins in a very emotionally fraught place, and the show needs to afford that storyline the time and sensitivity it deserves. The issue arises when one episode is almost completely devoted to putting certain characters in place for a fifth season that may not even air for two more years, given Bridgerton‘s current release schedule. Perhaps if Season 4 had premiered in one batch of eight episodes, this choice wouldn’t have felt so flagrant, but combined with Netflix’s recent split-season release strategy, it’s hard not to weigh how much screentime is being subtracted from Sophie and Benedict’s romance. The story itself is handled as gently as one would hope, and it does result in a stunningly brilliant performance from Hannah Dodd, as Francesca is forced to navigate an unimaginable future for herself. Still, even a 10-episode order for Season 4, rather than eight, might have helped Bridgerton strike a balance between sowing enough seeds for future seasons and properly devoting attention to one of its boldest romances in the present.

Related

Every Major ‘Bridgerton’ Couple, Ranked

How does Benophie compare to the other iconic ‘Bridgerton’ pairings?

There’s also a sense that, as much as Bridgerton aims to push new boundaries and redefine what romance can look like within the strict rules of Regency-era society, it still frustratingly insists on maintaining the status quo for certain characters. In Season 4 Part 1, Violet’s arc as a widow and mother rediscovering her sexuality leads to an irresistible love-after-loss romance, but Part 2 results in a disappointing about-face for that storyline, especially when so much time was spent building up to it — and over multiple shows, to boot. The drama between the Queen and Lady Danbury is stretched to the thinnest and most repetitive version of itself right up to the finale, and others like Eloise or, frankly, either of the Mondriches (Martins Imhangbe and Emma Naomi) have very little to do within the overall scope of Season 4, given the show’s already overloaded cast.

There’s no question that the future of Bridgerton is assured; it’s already been confirmed to return for a fifth and sixth season, and any Bridgerton romances beyond that are likely still being plotted out. Season 4 also drops plenty of intriguing breadcrumbs that could breathe new energy into the series’ ongoing drama, including a late-stage twist for Lady Whistledown that has even Penelope reeling in shock and the surprise reemergence of a society pariah that genuinely prompted a gasp from this reviewer. Four seasons in, however, Bridgerton still hasn’t really figured out how to solve its worst habit, which the biggest constraints of streaming television render even more glaring. Sophie and Benedict’s romance is sprinkled with just enough steam and swoon to satisfy, but it should’ve been given ample room to utterly sparkle.

Advertisement

Release Date

Advertisement

December 22, 2020

Network

Netflix

Advertisement

Directors

Tom Verica, Tricia Brock, Alex Pillai, Alrick Riley, Bille Woodruff, Cheryl Dunye, Sheree Folkson, Julie Anne Robinson

Writers

Advertisement

Abby McDonald, Sarah L. Thompson, Daniel Robinson, Oliver Goldstick, Leila Cohan-Miccio, Azia Squire, Sarah Dollard, Eli Wilson Pelton, Janet Lin

Advertisement

• 

  Luke Thompson

  Lady Violet Bridgerton

  Advertisement
• 

  Ruth Gemmell

  Benedict Bridgerton

  Advertisement

Advertisement

Pros & Cons

Advertisement

• Yerin Ha remains an absolute gift to this series as Sophie’s Cinderella story reaches a satisfying ending.
• Familiar faces return, both to add stability and potentially shake up the narrative.
• Hannah Dodd delivers her best performance yet as Francesca navigates an unimaginable tragedy.
• An interesting twist surrounding Lady Whistledown infuses new energy into Penelope’s storyline.

• The last four episodes devote so much time to setting up Season 5’s love story at the cost of Season 4’s romance.
• Violet’s most promising storyline comes to a disappointing conclusion.

Alongside the steady rise of streaming, fantasy television has also beautifully evolved, allowing countless stories to go beyond the restrictions of even network television. With this new freedom, fantasy TV has been able to deliver richer character development, deeper world-building, and much more cohesive storytelling. There exists quite a stunning list of fantasy epics that, whether through tightly constructed limited-series arcs or sprawling narratives, feel specifically designed for this thriving era of streaming.

Amazing fantasy watches, such as the character-focused show Merlin, with its enthralling slow-burning arcs of wizardry and friendship, and the creature-driven series Grimm, which is thrillingly ideal for one sitting, are two perfect streaming viewing experiences. Compiled on this list of fantasy shows that embody this recent era of masterful television—series that not only see success on streaming platforms, but feel as though they were built for them from the very beginning.

​

1

‘Lucifer’ (2016–2021)

Image via Netflix

This once network television show, and now a streaming success, gradually became a true bingeworthy character study. Lucifer follows the Devil, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), who is bored with his position in hell, and goes to Los Angeles to run a nightclub, only to unexpectedly become a police consultant.

Lucifer may have begun as a beloved network television series, but once cancelled and picked up by Netflix, the show instantly thrived on the streaming platform. The series was able to transfer its underrated TV success and expand it, which quickly proved that its character arcs and overall story were best experienced through continuous watches. Streaming allowed the show’s deeper storylines to truly shine, working so much better for on-demand watching. Lucifer also received a higher budget, fully embracing its streaming-era revival on Netflix, making it feel so much more like a cinematic experience that proved to be better suited for binge-watching.

2

‘Lost Girl’ (2010–2016)

Image via Showcase

Lost Girl is an underrated good time that deserves a lot more attention and credit for its very bingeworthy storytelling that matches this vast streaming era quite nicely. The Canadian series centers on the butt-kicking succubus Bo (Anna Silk) as she navigates life as a creature who feeds on human sexual energy while trying to discover her origins.

Lost Girl isn’t the best hit fantasy series there is, but truthfully, it is one of the most addictive watches to ever exist. It’s perfect for a binge bender, as its serialized narrative with season arcs featuring missing artifacts, and ending Fae wars makes it ideal for continuous viewing. Lost Girl is the perfect mesh of long-term mysteries and standalone monster installments that is capable of keeping audiences thoroughly invested even when watching multiple episodes back-to-back, cementing its place among the rest of the series that feel practically built for streaming.

3

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)

Image via Nickelodeon

Though originally aired weekly, Avatar: The Last Airbender proves to be much more suited for the streaming shelf. The fantasy animated series is set in a world where most of the Earth’s population wields one of the four elements and follows Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen)—the last Airbender—and his friends’ journey to save the world from the tyrannical force known as the Fire Nation.

Avatar: The Last Airbender may have been an amazing weekly experience back when it was on air, but with it now sitting on streaming platforms, the series is thriving like never before. While streaming may not have been as prominent during its release, Avatar: The Last Airbender, so iconicly ahead of its time, feels like it was specifically built for modern-day streaming platforms. The show is much better taken in with its new bingable form. Not only does the story seem more cohesive, but it also showcases the growth of its characters and overarching narrative, making it an overall more satisfying viewing experience. Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s success on streaming platforms only proves that it was always meant for binge-watching during this addictive streaming era, despite its network TV origins.

4

‘Merlin’ (2008–2012)

Image via BBC

Merlin is a medieval fantasy reimagining of the Arthurian legend that hosts amazing character development that makes it feel perfectly suited for this era of streaming. The series focuses on a young Merlin’s (Colin Morgan) arrival in Camelot and his sometimes awkward but always touching friendship with Prince Arthur (Bradley James). At the same time, Merlin must make sure he hides an important part of himself from Arthur, all the while discovering an enchanting destiny that demands he protect the dashing prince.

Merlin is a truly magical watch. Despite its 2008 debut, the series’ exploration of friendship and destiny through a complex bond between a forbidden sorcerer and a prince makes for addictive TV no matter the year. The show has quite a few streaming-friendly aspects to it that inspire viewers to watch continuously. With intensely building episodes and high-stakes cliffhangers, Merlin is a steady encouragement for binge-watching. The show’s consistent tone of adventure and humor makes it easy to watch multiple episodes back-to-back, making Merlin the perfect fantasy great for this list of series built for streaming.

5

‘Once Upon a Time’ (2011–2018)

This modern twist on fairytales is often hailed as a fantasy gem that sparked an entire new era for network television. Once Upon a Time centers on bail bondswoman Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), who finds herself in the town of Storybrooke, where fairy tale characters unknowingly live as simple, ordinary citizens of modern time without knowing their true identities due to a powerful curse.

Once Upon a Time‘s serialized nature, featuring family heritage reveals and ongoing curse mysteries, makes it the ideal binge-watch. Its interconnected stories and layered timelines make it downright perfect for back-to-back viewing. The story itself was designed as an ongoing epic, with each season introducing new worlds and more dastardly villains. Each episode frequently ends on an extremely dramatic note, prompting viewers to addictively search for more. While the series debuted on network television, Once Upon a Time‘s complex story threads that pick up in subsequent episodes without requiring any breaks make it perfect for streaming consumption.

6

‘Grimm’ (2011–2017)

Image via NBC

Grimm is a dark crime drama with a fantasy twist that explores folklore and fairytales in an extremely captivating way. The show follows Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli), who discovers that he is a “Grimm,” an individual destined to keep the balance between humanity and the mythological creatures known as Wesen.

With a blend of ongoing mythology and case-of-the-week TV good times, Grimm delivers a watch that truly thrives in a binge format. The show’s deeper lore and character arcs are free to fully unfold in a way that perfectly aligns with what is often seen in modern streaming storytelling. Grimm‘s hybrid approach to its storytelling allows for both casual viewership of individual episodes and also rewards marathon fans following the big picture, solidifying the series as a consistently dark and serialized fantasy gem that is perfect for consecutive episode viewing on demand platforms.

7

‘Charmed’ (1998–2006)

Image via The WB

This defining witchy series fantastically blends growing supernatural mythology with captivating episodic storytelling. The ’90s fantasy series icon, Charmed, focuses on three sisters—Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) Halliwell—as they make the discovery that they’re powerful good witches who are destined to fight the forces of evil as “The Charmed Ones.”

The supernatural hit series, Charmed, is a classic that is a seamless fit for modern streaming platforms. The series’ balance of overarching plots and standalone episodes makes for some pretty bingeworthy TV. Continuous viewing of the iconic drama is only rewarded, as viewers are able to fully experience the story’s evolving power-ups and interesting lore that aligns quite well with today’s streaming-friendly format. Charmed may have had network beginnings, but it stands as a fantasy series that truly feels as if it were built perfectly for on-demand success.

8

‘Sleepy Hollow’ (2013–2017)

Image via FOX

Sleepy Hollow is the reimagining of a classic legend that mixes mythology and history, delivering to viewers a truly captivating supernatural thriller. The time-bending fantasy follows Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison), a Revolutionary War soldier, who awakens in present-day Sleepy Hollow, NY, after mysteriously surviving execution centuries ago.

With evolving mythologies and serialized mysteries, Sleepy Hollow feels so much more than its network roots; in fact, it feels quite ideal for streaming platforms. Even with a network-level budget, the show’s gothic style and action sequences of magic fights and creature effects were still realized quite nicely. During its time on air on Fox, Sleepy Hollow would sometimes use mid-season breaks, which in the streaming era translates into a continuous flow that makes it easy to invest in watching multiple episodes, marking it as a fantasy watch ideal for streaming audiences.

Advertisement

Sleepy Hollow

Advertisement

Release Date

2013 – 2017-00-00

Advertisement

Network

FOX

Showrunner

Advertisement

Mark Goffman, Clifton Campbell

Writers

Phillip Iscove, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Len Wiseman

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 54 seconds ago

As a franchise, Star Trek has always faced an interesting creative paradox: it must balance the human storytelling of the present day with the science of the far future. Some writers prefer stories that are driven by hard science, and some prefer those driven by emotion. In The Original Series, these extremes were represented by Spock (who had to explain the cold logic of what was going on) and Dr. McCoy (who constantly espoused the values of passion and emotion).

In the Golden Age of Star Trek, the technical side of storytelling was represented by “technobabble,” the catch-all term for the confusing blather of scientific and technological terms often blurted out by characters like Data. Many fans (even those who prefer stories more in the vein of traditional science fiction) came to hate technobabble because it felt forced and out of place, often disrupting otherwise excellent stories. One of the best examples of this is the Next Generation episode “Pen Pals,” which one iconic Trek director thought was ruined by technobabble.

Reach Out And Touch Someone

In case you’ve forgotten, “Pen Pals” is the episode where Data makes contact with an alien child on an underdeveloped world. He discovers that her world is in danger and implores Captain Picard to violate the Prime Directive in order to save her people. Picard reluctantly does so, and Dr. Pulaski mind-wipes the alien kiddo to prevent her from remembering that time her entire planet was saved by aliens with what she would consider godlike abilities.

The episode was directed by Winrich Kolbe, a Star Trek icon (he dated Kate Mulgrew, for God’s sake!) who directed some of the best episodes of the franchise. For TNG, this includes such bangers as “Darmok” and “All Good Things…”, the series finale. On DS9, he directed some personal favorites, including “Through the Looking Glass” and “The Siege of AR-558.” For Voyager, he directed the premiere episode “Caretaker” and the ambitious two-parter, “Basics.”

They Blinded Us With Science

As his resume indicates, few people understand Trek like Kolbe, someone who quickly developed an instinct for what can make or break a potentially excellent episode. In an interview with The Official Star Trek Magazine, he described “Pen Pals” as “one of those cases where I felt the original script… the first draft, was very, very nice. It was a very personal story.”

He said it was a personal story, so what changed? Winrich Kolbe claims that someone very high up (he couldn’t remember if it was Rick Berman or Gene Roddenberry) “felt we needed more of a technical surrounding story.” The storytelling change was swift: “Suddenly, out went more and more of the character issue, and in came more and more tech talk.”

Putting Star Trek Under The Microscope

Kolbe wasn’t a fan of adding so much technobabble to a very personal story, and he didn’t mince words when discussing what went wrong with “Pen Pals.” He called the infusion of the distracting space lingo “a problem” and said that he disagreed with the prevailing staff assessment “that more technical jargon enhances the stories.” The director believes “these stories should be left alone” and summarized his thoughts on this particular episode quite bluntly: “I think ‘Pen Pals’ could have been a better show than it was.”

Most fans would agree with this assessment; after all, “Pen Pals” is a good episode that falls far short of its potential. Even controversial showrunner Maurice Hurley agrees. According to Captains’ Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, he said the script “kind of got muddled around, mucked up and lost its purity.” He ultimately decided that the finished episode “worked okay,” but he generally echoes Kolbe’s argument that the jargon-ridden additions to this script made the episode far worse than it should have been.

Technobabble Never Left The Franchise

Sadly, the rest of the writing staff didn’t see it that way: “technobabble” became an ever-present feature in the franchise, one that was often used as a writing crutch to explain how our heroes suddenly turn the tables on their enemy. It could often be grating for fans whenever an episode of The Next Generation or Voyager ground to a halt so someone could explain the plot in the most confusing way.

Still, the scientifically accurate (more or less) technobabble of Old Trek will always be preferable to the breezy stupidity of NuTrek, where a single supernova can threaten the entire galaxy! 

Whew, Roomies! Folks online are scratching their heads after rapper Diamond spilled tea on Benzino’s status after rumors circulated online claiming that she allegedly hit him with her car. Diamond set the record straight and mentioned that Benzino and Althea Heart had been clashing over their son’s safety. Diamond claimed the tension between them is what led Benzino to pop off while he was next to car.

RELATED: Yikes! Benzino Seemingly Closes Comment Section After Social Media Roasts His D’Angelo Tribute (VIDEO)

Diamond Addresses Rumors About Alleged Car Incident With Benzino

Recently, Diamond spoke exclusively with The Shade Room after rumors accused her of allegedly hitting Benzino with her car. She shut down the claims and explained that she was present while Benzino and Althea Heart got into a heated disagreement. Diamond said Althea had been stressed out over a friend she trusted to handle her property, who allegedly sold a million-dollar home behind her back, wiping out Althea financially. The situation reportedly led Althea to get a mental health evaluation, so she left her son, whom she shares with Benzino, in his care even though she has primary custody. Althea then tried to reach Benzino to see their son, since she allegedly hasn’t seen in him in two months, but Benzino was allegedly dodging her calls. Eventually, Althea found out what school their son was attending and showed up with Diamond. Authorities allowed her to speak to her and spend time with him near Diamond’s car.

After seeing her son, things escalated between Althea Heart and Benzino. Diamond said he started cursing at Althea and started banging on her car door, which led her to drive off immediately since she had her 1-year-old son with her, but she claims she did not hit him. Rumors about Diamond hitting the former ‘LLHATL’ start started circulating online after photos showed Benzino in what looked like the hospital with a neck cast on.

“My car was still in drive. I drove off, because you’re not about to be hitting and screaming and hitting my baby.” She continued, “I was actually shocked he acted that way, because the police were there. If I did him I would be in jail right now.”

Social Media Weighs In After Diamond Clears The Air About Benzino

The internet didn’t waste any time weighing in on Diamond’s claims in The Shade Room’s comment section. Some folks said they were shocked to see Althea and Benzino still going at it, while others were side-eyeing why Diamond was spilling the tea instead of the former couple.

Instagram user @latyraa wrote, “Althea and Benzino been going at it for YEARS. They should be TIRED!” 

Instagram user @_nowucme wrote, “So he jumped in front of the car during her attempted escape? That’s what I hear 😆 😂” 

While Instagram user @toyiaaa.__ wrote, “I believe Diamond💯”

Then Instagram user  @jxoxo716 wrote, “All I heard was 2 months! If she has primary custody then I’m all confused on how she could find out where he was with her son. 🥴” 

Another Instagram user @brieyajanelle wrote, “They been beefing since I’ve been in middle school, this is crazy. 😭” 

Instagram user @neeshnickk__ wrote, “Ok why is this being told lol and by her at that.” 

Then another Instagram user @akeiraivy wrote, “If this happened in the past why does this news matter like fr 😂” 

Finally, Instagram user @zay.thekingbee wrote, “So basically Diamond needed another story line to get green screen. Got it 😂” 

Apparent Photos Of Benzino In Neck Brace Has The Internet Buzzing With Questions

Right now, Benzino hasn’t responded to Diamond’s claim, and Althea hasn’t share her side of the story either. Still, photos started circulating online, leaving fans to ask questions especially after rumors suggested that he was rocking a cast and lying down after getting medical attention because Diamond allegedly hit him with her car.

RELATED: Grandpa Duties? Benzino Addresses Whether Coi Leray Will Allow Him In Her Unborn Child’s Life (VIDEO)

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 11 seconds ago

An article about Starfleet Academy has faced backlash from fans who were misled by its headline. The drama caused by the headline is almost worthy of its own Star Trek show, especially with Alex Kurtzman at the helm. The piece was a response to recent statements made by a Star Trek insider about the state of the show and its fandom.

Last week, franchise veteran Christopher Cushman made a post on X in which he implied that negative reviews of Starfleet Academy were made by a coordinated effort to sabotage the show. He also threatened that “negative review bombing of Academy likely to end the possibility of shows like Legacy as well put Star Trek into 10-15 years hiatus [sic].” By thus indicating that criticisms of the show are being made in bad faith, his claim is that all fans will be punished with no Star Trek at all.

In a That Park Place article by Marvin Montanaro, titled “Star Trek Artist Warns Fans That ‘Review Bombing’ Starfleet Academy Could End the Franchise,” the site called Cushman’s bluff, making the counterclaim that maybe a hiatus wouldn’t be so bad. He pointed to the long break between the original series and The Next Generation as evidence that a hiatus can give a franchise time to refresh while avoiding the fatigue of too much content from a single universe. He also highlighted that the show’s viewership reflects these negative reviews, despite its acclaim from critics.

The backlash stemmed from the use of the term “review bombing” in the title. Although it is in “scare quotes,” suggesting that the article is skeptical of this claim, many Star Trek fans dissatisfied with Alex Kurtzman’s guidance of the franchise and this show in particular thought the article agreed that the show was being review-bombed.

Creators Declare War On Their Own Viewers, Fans Revolt

This couldn’t be further from the truth, but the reaction is understandable. Starfleet Academy is not the only property to have accused dissatisfied fans of artificially inflating a show’s bad reviews, rather than acknowledging that maybe viewers don’t like the show.

After taunting Star Wars fans that The Acolyte would “make them cry,” show creator Leslye Headland blamed sexism and homophobia for the show failing to draw audiences. This ignored criticisms of significant changes to franchise lore that diminished the struggles of established characters. The show was also criticized for what viewers felt was forced inclusivity and overpowered female characters.

Legitimate Examples Of Review Bombing

In 2019, a review-bombing war broke out between fans of Battle Angel: Alita and Captain Marvel. Fans who liked the anime movie better were accused of sexism and attempting to artificially deflate the Marvel movie.

There is even a current review bombing war taking place between fans of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Breaking Bad. When Breaking Bad fans left bad reviews of an episode of the Game of Thrones spinoff, so many Westeros fans review-bombed the older show that its IMDB rating for its pinnacle episode, “Ozymandias,” was reduced from a perfect 10 to a 9.5. The episode had held that rating for over a decade.

Review Bombing Accusations Are Used To Shield Creators From The Consequences Of Their Actions

It’s not that fans can’t be petty and leave bad reviews, but the idea that modern shows that perform badly are not being watched because of bad-faith reviews is a way of dismissing criticism rather than admitting a property isn’t connecting with fans. It’s a lazy way of handwaving what fans want, becoming increasingly common as more shows become about “the message” and “representation” than about story or characters. Many video games, books, and even music albums have also used the tactic of blaming negative reviews on bigotry rather than on fan dissatisfaction.

Cushman himself stated that he’d rather ignore dissatisfied fans. He finished his two-post tweet on X with, “…if you don’t like it, don’t watch!” Apparently, fans are supposed to simply stay silent about what they don’t like about a show rather than offer feedback about franchises and properties they love.

Fans Misunderstood That Park Place

However, the knee-jerk reaction of long-abused fans got it wrong when it comes to That Park Place. The site was not supporting Cushman’s notions about review bombing and listed several other reasons the show hasn’t succeeded. The backlash they received was from people who believed otherwise and criticized the site’s X account for allegedly claiming that the negative reviews were made in bad faith. It was clear these naysayers hadn’t read the article and only judged it by its title.

This reaction is an example of how sensitive viewers have become since their criticisms of unpopular properties are dismissed by producers and showrunners. Slop eaters will always enthusiastically promote their favorite bad shows, and plenty of entertainment is being served to them by creators who want their easy money. But viewers who are tired of slop are being decried, so studios can continue developing the content they want, not what audiences want.

It’s no wonder people reacted badly to a headline that sounded like it supports this callous view. Most fans are not reviewing these shows in bad faith, as their viewing numbers demonstrate. It’s condescending to be told that if we don’t like something, it’s because of our moral character and not a lack of quality in the product.

The Survivor 50 cast know a thing or two about what it takes to play the game — so no one was taking their comeback preparations lightly.

Many contestants relied on the usual training methods prior to returning to the show, like going to the gym, practicing their fire-making techniques and time spent swimming in a pool. Others, however, opted for some, shall we say, out-of-the-box techniques. Survivor 46 alum Quintavius “Q” Burdette, for example, exclusively tells Us Weekly that he “stood on nails” to “train” his body “to deal with pain.”

“The pain tolerance version of it, it speaks to your brain so you can teach your brain to deal with pain. Like a bed of nails — you walk across the bed of nails. I just stood on [them for] 26 minutes,” Q explains. “It doesn’t pierce your foot, but it hurts. I mean, it hurts like crap.”

Genevieve Mushaluk, for her part, prepared for her time on Survivor island by eating all her favorite foods, bulking up in the process. The Survivor 47 alum tells Us that her go-to treat was “pierogies.”

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans premieres with a three-hour episode on Wednesday, February 25, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. The series will then go to its normal 90-minute format beginning March 4.

Keep scrolling to see how the Survivor 50 stars prepared for milestone season:

Rick Devens

Rick Devens exclusively tells Us that he did “lots of swimming training” before traveling to Fiji for season 50. The Edge of Extinction alum adds that making sure his family, which includes wife Becca and their two kids, were “squared away.”

Charlie Davis

Charlie Davis, surprisingly, took the opposite approach for Survivor 50 by preparing “a lot less” compared to season 46.

“I was just out there, and I think with that experience, I learned what was helpful and what wasn’t helpful or just something maybe I don’t need to do again,” the Survivor 46 runner up tells Us. “I think, before 46, I memorized, like, 10 different puzzles and that was useless.”

While Charlie jokes that it would be “hilarious if some of those puzzles” ended up making an appearance on season 50, he wanted to spend his time focusing on the bigger tasks at hand.

“My basics for getting ready for Survivor are: make sure you’re in decent enough shape, make sure you’re comfortable with being uncomfortable and just watch some Survivor seasons,” he says. “Listen to a few podcasts, get yourself in the right headspace, and that’s all you can really do.”

Angelina Keeley

Angelina Keely tells Us that becoming a mother to her two daughters was a “transformative” experience that helped her prepare for Survivor 50.

“I’m more patient, I’m more aware, I’m more just everything. I’m even more confident,” the David Vs. Goliath alum explains. “I just feel like everything in my life right now is aligned.”

Aubry Bracco

Aubry Bracco is no stranger to returning to Survivor, but the multi-time player tells Us she’s been putting in the work since her last appearance on 2019’s the Edge of Extinction.

“I’d say I’ve been preparing since the Edge of Extinction ended. I’ve done a lot of work on myself,” she says. “I’ve had a baby. My perspective on life … I’m a lot more grounded. I’ve done a lot of self reflection.”

On top of the mental preparation, Aubry has also hit the gym and did her research on the competition.

“I’ve been working out, meditating, listening to a hell of a lot of podcasts about all these characters,” she explains. “I’ve been studying. I’ve been [doing] my survivor homework. It took a little break, but I caught up and I’m ready to go.”

Christian Hubicki

Christian Hubicki did a “fair bit” of physical preparation for Survivor 50 in case any grueling tasks from the New Era were thrown his way.

“I did a lot of running. I hate running normally, but I did it for this damn show,” the David Vs. Golliath alum tells Us. “My concern was that they were gonna do some kind of Sweat or Savvy thing they’ve been doing the past few seasons and we have to run around and get endurance.”

The robotics professor jokes that Survivor’s New Era can get “strange” and “very complicated.”

Cirie Fields

While getting ready for Survivor 50, Cirie Fields knew what would be the best use of her time.

“What’s the only thing I could do differently? I really don’t know that it would affect my game as much, or it might make me a little more threatening. Is to be more physically fit, right? I can’t. I’m never going to be an Olympic swimmer. I do know how to make fire better than I ever had before,” she exclusively tells Us. “So outside of that, I don’t really know how to prepare.”

Benjamin ‘Coach’ Wade

After Benjamin “Coach” Wade ended his Survivor retirement to return for season 50, his first move was to watch some of the eshow’s previous seasons. Coach shares that he started with Borneo during the pandemic and after completing Winners at War he “stopped.” Once he got the call for Survivor 50, he started “cramming” the New Era, which kicked off with season 41.

“So I really started cramming, and then I was just overwhelmed. And I was, like, just let me look at the Cliff Notes on these players so I can understand them,” he tells Us. “I did watch season 46 because a friend of mine, Ben Katzman, was on that season. I started watching 48, didn’t watch the home stretch, [I] tried to catch up on the other players. So, yeah, I had to do a little bit of homework.”

Dee Valladares

Dee Valladares’ preparation for Survivor looked a little different compared to her last time around. Instead of studying “the game,” the Survivor 45 winner wanted to prioritize “mentally prepping” and putting on some weight.

“I gained 10 pounds, but because of life, not because of one month [that] I had to prep,” she tells Us, adding that she was also “working out a lot” because she was “about to be in the most uncomfortable position in [her] life.”

Colby Donaldson

Before Colby Donaldson got confirmation he made it on Survivor 50, he knew he “needed to prep” by studying the seasons he “missed.”

“I’m still just as big a fan as I was when I sent in my first [Survivor] application, but there were some years that I missed, and I need to go back and study tape on that,” he tells Us. “But in preparation, if you’re gonna scout a team and prepare yourself for battle, you need to know your opponent, but you also have to go back and watch tape on yourself and look at some of the mistakes you’ve made.”

Colby adds that he knows what went wrong during his last appearance in Heroes Vs. Villains, which aired in 2010. Just like Survivor, Colby is in a new era himself.

“That’s what’s exciting about getting a chance to come back and play again. Not only has the game evolved, but I’ve also evolved,” he explains. “I’m not gonna play the same game that I did the last time.”

Genevieve Mushaluk

One thing that Genevieve Mushaluk focused on before returning to Survivor 50 was “bulk up.”

“I did a lot of eating, all the things I love,” the Survivor 47 alum tells Us, adding that she wasn’t focusing on the vanity elements that she did in her previous season. “The first time I came out, I was so, like, worried about the cellulite on my thighs and my unibrow growing in. And this time, I’m like, ‘What the hell? I’m just here to play and I’ll look how [I look.]’ But you know, a million dollars [is] gonna look great on me, so I’m not gonna worry.”

In addition to eating, Genevieve worked on her puzzle skills.

“One of the challenges, I got zero pieces on a puzzle. It’s like, I think a new record of horrible. So I have practiced puzzle making,” she says. “But I think the real kicker is gonna be, can my brain still work when I’m stressed, over-tired, starving? … And I’ve been working out, obviously, not as much as, like, Joe [Hunter] and Jonathan [Young] have been.”

Jenna Lewis-Dougherty

Jenna Lewis-Dougherty tells Us that she typically stays “in shape” but added more Survivor elements to her workout routine.

“I have some balance beams now built in my backyard,” she says. “I practiced my fire making.”

Joe Hunter

Joe Hunter’s biggest priority for season 50 was working on his “weaknesses.”

“I think a lot of people come into this game focusing on what they can do well and certain strategies. I try to break down my weaknesses, emotionally and mentally,” he tells Us. “Focus on that and don’t hide behind it, but try to improve those weaknesses. So I really just spent a lot of time in my own growth of what I need to improve on as a person.”

Jonathan Young

Jonathan Young tells Us that he didn’t need to do much “physically” to prepare for his return, because he works out “almost every day.” He did, however, study his fellow competitors.

“I’ve studied the players. I know what they’ve done, why they’ve done it, at least as much as I can,” he says, adding that listening to host Jeff Probst’s “On Fire” podcast was part of his study material. “I’ve been listening to ‘On Fire with Jeff Probst’ and three of [the previous cohosts] are here. There’s Rick Devens, Charlie [Davis] and Dee [Valladares,] all three of them are here, and all three of them are big targets.”

Kamilla Karthigesu

Kamilla Karthigesu hasn’t stopped preparing for her comeback since she wrapped season 48.

“I did not stop going to the gym since coming back from 48,” she tells Us. “That was mostly because I found out that I enjoyed lifting things and putting them down.”

Kamilla adds that while she decided to forgo running prior to the show, she used that time to focus on fire making.

“I even made fire [at], like, 11 p.m. the night before I flew out,” she quips.

Mike White

Mike White shares that working on his fitness was his top priority before starting Survivor 50.

“I think I’m in better shape than I was last time. I feel like I had to get in good shape because [Survivor is] just so physically draining,” the White Lotus creator tells Us. “I was like, ‘I gotta figure this out. I gotta prepare like an athlete prepares for an athletic event.”

Ozzy Lusth

While Ozzy Lusth has spent most of the time “opening a restaurant in Mexico,” he knew he needed to cut back on his vices — like “drinking and smoking” — and take his training seriously before his Survivor return.

“Once I heard from Jeff [Probst,] I got back on the program and started running up mountains, doing push ups and mentally preparing for the games ahead,” he tells Us.

Quintavius ‘Q’ Burdette

Quintavius “Q” Burdette took extreme measures to get ready for Survivor 50 after not putting in any preparation prior to his debut on the show.

“The first time I played, I didn’t work out, believe it or not … I didn’t do anything, puzzles, anything Survivor related. I just kind of lived my life until the day we left, and I left, and I came out here and I was in for a treat. So this time around, I started to work out,” he tells Us. “I worked out every day. I ran, I jogged, I [lifted] weights, I did puzzles. I stood on nails.”

Not only did Q stand on nails, he also “sat in 35 degree water for eight minutes every single day” and had daily sauna time.

“It does nothing for the challenge, right? It’s just all the mental — tapping into my mental, knowing when things will start to go away up here,” he explains. “And how do I control that? How do I just sit through it? How do I fight? How long can I go feeling pain? How long before pain stops? Because a lot of folks don’t understand when something hurts, when you’re standing on nails, yeah, eventually it gets to a point where it just doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Rizo ‘Rizgod’ Velovic

Unlike the other competitors, Rizo “Rizgod” Velovic had less than two weeks to get ready for Survivor 50. However, the Survivor 49 alum tells Us that being a “super fan” helped him get in the right mindset.

“I live, breathe Survivor and all that. So when it comes to, like, mentally preparing and emotionally preparing,I’m 100% ready to go,” he said, adding that the physical effects of playing Survivor 49 wouldn’t stop him. “I lost a lot of weight, and I was already a pretty skinny guy, so I didn’t gain my weight back in nine days, but I feel physically fine. I just weigh a lot less than I did when I started 49.”