By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 32 seconds ago

The two most popular sci-fi franchises in the world, Star Trek and Star Wars, tackle the genre from opposite directions; the former envisions a utopian future, while the latter is more of a fantasy, but both include clear distinctions between good and evil.

A third way emerged thanks to the influential British series, Blake’s 7, which made the heroes criminals and rough around the edges, showing a sci-fi universe in which the line between good and evil is blurred. With a focus on multi-episode storylines and a dark, gritty tone to its world, the BBC series also laid the groundwork for later shows like Babylon 5, Firefly, Farscape, and the Battlestar Galactica remake. 

Not Good Guys, Not Bad Guys

The Blake of Blake’s 7 is Roj Blake (Gareth Thomas), leader of the rebellion against the Federation, brainwashed, unbrainwashed, and then framed for crimes he didn’t commit and sent to a prison planet. A born leader, Blake helps other prisoners escape by commandeering The Liberator, a mysterious vessel run by an advanced A.I. computer named Zen. The thing is, though Blake is the Captain by default, he has his hands full keeping his rowdy compatriots in line as they try to take down the Federation.

Alongside Blake are Avon, the computer genius who lives by a code of logic and reason, which sounds Spock-like, except he’s also greedy and willing to sacrifice his shipmates to save his own skin, Vila, the cowardly thief with a fondness for booze, Jenna Stannis, a smuggler and skilled pilot, is the closest thing to a loyal crewmember, and even that takes a few episodes.

The other half includes Cally, a telepath with a death wish, Olag the giant bruiser with a device implanted in his brain to keep him calm and docile, and Zen, the sentient computer. The crew in Blake’s 7 would never be confused for the officers of the Enterprise, or even the Rebel Alliance, but they are, arguably, a precursor to the crew of the Moya in Farscape.

Laying The Groundwork For A New Way Forward

Blake’s 7 follows the usual format of British television, with four shortened seasons of 13 episodes each, but in an unusual twist for sci-fi, the entire first season was written by the show’s creator, Terry Nation, a feat that would not be topped until J. Michael Straczynski wrote Babylon 5. The first two seasons play out like the precursor to another modern classic, Battlestar Galactica, with the Federation constantly at the heels of The Liberator and the ragtag crew dealing with a foe that has them outnumbered and outgunned. This is why, even though the British series debuted in 1978 with a budget that would today be considered nonexistent, it’s still a beloved fan favorite hailed as decades ahead of its time. 

Watch 30 seconds of the show, and you can tell that it had no budget, but it did have a strong sense of its characters, putting the emphasis not on spectacular special effects, but on how all seven abrasive personalities bounce off one another in different combinations to the point where it seems every few episodes, someone threatens to leave the Liberator for good. 

Terry Nation wrote a space opera about horrible people, steeped in the same cynicism and anti-government attitude roiling England during the 70s, and yet it manages to retain a sense of fun throughout. No matter the decade of its release, Blake’s 7 would be hailed as a creative, bold new take on sci-fi.

The most impressive part of the show is how it pulls everything together for one of the most jaw-dropping finales of any series. In a world with shows that end on cliffhangers and others that are set up to launch spin-offs or revivals, it’s refreshing to know that Blake’s 7 finishes the story.

If you’re bored with Star Trek’s Federation and have seen too many Star Wars characters whoa re supposedly the worst of the galaxy turn out to be teddy bears, then it’s well worth your time to fire up Britbox (available on its own or as part of Amazon Prime Video), and enjoy a sci-fi series that broke the mold and proved to sci-fi fans there’s more than one way to explore a glaaxy far, far away.

Rising temps call for breezy fabrics, and linen is the one material we crave most once spring hits. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t all about luxe‑looking linen clothes — and while these pieces usually have sky‑high price tags, Walmart clearly didn’t get the memo.

It’s true: We’re shocked by how many expensive‑looking linen pieces are available at the go‑to retailer. There are spring-ready options like high‑waisted shorts, lightweight blouses, colorful linen dresses and relaxed button‑up shirts up for grabs — all under $30. In the name of breezy-beautiful fashion, we perused the brand’s linen and linen‑blend selection, and found 13 pieces that look expensive, stylish and ready to elevate your warm‑weather wardrobe. Shop our top picks below, and see just how luxe budget‑friendly linen can look.

13 Luxe‑Looking Linen Staples to Score at Walmart

1. Our Favorite: You might as well be hanging out at the country club in this linen‑blend button‑up shirt. Expensive‑looking, airy and incredibly affordable, this shirt is the kind of piece that earns its keep in your closet.

2. Getaway Vibes: Grab this sleeveless linen‑blend top for vacations or summer getaways on the calendar. With a slightly cropped but oversized fit, it’s an easy‑breezy piece that looks just as stellar with denim shorts as it does with tailored linen trousers.

3. Top Rated: Be prepared to fit in with the Hamptons crowd in these wide-leg linen-blend pants that are selling insanely fast. Reviewers say they’re cozy, breezy and the perfect pants for spring.

4. Confidence-Booster: We’re surprised how slimming these high‑waisted pants are, even on days when a waistband isn’t your friend. They’re soft, forgiving and shockingly flattering.

5. Take It Easy: Craving comfy pieces over rigid, tight silhouettes? This pleated linen‑blend dress lets you breathe easy without losing an ounce of polish.

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As a Florida native, you can say I thrive when wearing colorful clothing, breathable pieces and cute yet conservative finds. And that aesthetic rings true for all the rich moms living in West Palm Beach. My family recently moved from Miami to the coastal city, and upon visiting, I couldn’t help but notice the prevalent […]

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6. Investment Piece: Talk about a luxe-looking shirt worth stocking up on. This button V‑neck shirt comes in green, blue, navy and more — and stock is going fast.

7. Wear Everywhere: Forgive Us, but these cropped linen‑blend pants are about to become our spring and summer uniform. The wide‑leg pants are loved for their comfy fit, lightweight feel and endless styling options.

8. Unbelievable Find: The details sell Us on this breathtaking and expensive‑looking linen‑blend shift dress. The pintuck detailing, crochet trim and a ruffled hem make this find look far more luxe than its price tag.

9. Poised and Professional: Pleated, roomy pockets and breathable fabric? It doesn’t take much convincing to make Us want these high-waisted linen-blend shorts that are so stylish and poised, we’re tempted to rock them at the office.

10. Colorful Pick: Linen often gets a reputation for being monochrome, but this bright linen‑blend mini breaks the mold. The tropical‑floral pullover dress is just as ready for a weekend getaway as it is for adding a burst of color to your everyday rotation.

11. Budget-Friendly Buy: We’ve spotted similar iterations of this sleeveless button‑down dress at retailers like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, but they aren’t nearly as affordable, making this linen-blend one an easy ‘yes.’

12. Office-Approved: Looking for a way to rock easy-going linen at the office? These flattering tapered linen‑blend pants aren’t just a professional pick — they also elongate and balance your frame, while pairing effortlessly with sandals, loafers or flats.

13. Youthful Appeal: Add a playful vibe to your spring and summer attire with this scallop‑trim blouse. It’s the kind of standout piece that no one will believe you scored at Walmart.

Related: Psst! I Found Ralph Lauren-Inspired Spring Outfits — From $12

There’s something about that classic, polished, all-American style that never goes out of fashion — but the price tags can be a different story. If you love the crisp, preppy look of collared knits, striped dresses and tailored denim, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get it. I scoured Walmart’s spring fashion section […]

Bold and the Beautiful fans. So, it was just confirmed that Remy Pryce is back to stay because actor Christian Weissmann is now on contract at the CBS soap and he did a recent interview that revealed something stunning about what is ahead.

The actor said that Remy has a surprising connection to somebody on the B&B character canvas. We’re going to talk about who Deke Sharpe‘s (Harrison Cone) ex-boyfriend is connected to in Los Angeles.

Remy Price Returns To Win Back Deke on Bold and the Beautiful

All right, so we recently saw Remy pop up at Il Giardino talking about how much he misses Deke. And clearly Remy is still in love with him. But Deke is not sure that he’s ready to get back with Remy. You know, he did a lot of bad things, but he told Deke that he loves him and he misses their life together.

Remy wants to know how long it’ll take to earn another shot with him. And then Deke admitted to Remy that he just told his friend Dylan (Sydney Bullock) that love conquers all. Remy took Deke’s hand. And then Remy said he hopes Deke really believes that. So, Remy is back primarily to win back Deke. But that is not the only reason.

Since Christian Weissmann is on contract with Bold, they’ve invented a backstory to tie him to at least one other character on the canvas, maybe more. And in his recent interview about Remy’s return, Christian Weissmann said, “Remy’s return gets messy and there are adventures ahead and when his character is back for good, which it’s already started, it’s going to cause problems for other people.”

So, Christian Weissmann also said that Remy, in addition to being back for Deke, is back because this connection that exists between Remy and this other character, and he called it quote “very unexpected.”

Remy’s Mysterious Connection on Bold and the Beautiful

But when it’s revealed, he said it’ll make sense because Remy and the mystery person are cut from the same cloth. That’s another quote. And the relationship between the Remy and this other person is going to be complicated. Christian Weissmann said Remy is going to walk right in and start stirring things up. So, we’ve been thinking about what character Deke’s ex-boyfriend could be tied to. So, let’s dig into Remy’s big secret.

Could Remy Be Sheila’s Grandson on B&B?

And the first person we thought of makes sense because of the cut from the same cloth thing, but I don’t think that this person would be terribly unexpected as an option. So, we could find out that Remy is Sheila Carter‘s (Kimberlin Brown) grandson. I mean, Remy did a horrible thing to Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) with those deep fake photos.

And Sheila has certainly done tons of questionable and downright awful things over the years. Plus, when she first met Remy, we saw that Sheila took a liking to him and she kind of had a soft spot for Remy. Sheila wanted to help him and so she set Remy up to get that job with Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) as a handyman and even told him to use a fake name.

Bold and the Beautiful: Remy Connected to Sheila & Ridge?

So, there is a chance that Remy could be the son of one of Sheila’s children. Now, aside from Finn, we know Sheila has four other kids. There’s Mary Warwick. There’s Diana Carter, who was only ever seen as a baby. Over on Young and the Restless, there was twins Daisy Carter and Ryder Callahan.

It would be most interesting if Remy were the son of Diana Carter because her dad was Massimo Marone. So, if you’re doing the family tree on this, that makes Diana Ridge Forrester‘s (Thorsten Kaye) half sister, which would make Remy his nephew, and then RJ Forrester (Joshua Hoffman) would be Remy’s cousin if I’m tracing the family lines right. And that would be super messy, but also really kind of interesting and it would put poor Electra back into Remy’s orbit.

Could Remy Be Bill Spencer’s Secret Son on Bold?

Now, another thought is that Remy could be a secret son of Bill Spencer. You know, maybe with Quinn Fuller or some other fling from Bill’s past, because as we know, he got around. And like Remy, we know Bill is a schemer. And of course, if Quinn was involved, she is too. I don’t think they’re going to bring her back, but you never know. And it would all be very surprising on Bold and the Beautiful.

But at the same time, I don’t think Bill needs another adult kid showing up. However, they already thought he had another one with long lost daughter Luna when she and Poppy showed up scamming, and that turned out to not be true. And Bill already knows Remy because he did maintenance work at his mansion, just not that name. But at the same time, I really hope Bill is not his secret connection.

Other Possibilities on Bold and the Beautiful

Another possibility is Ridge that he is tied to. So maybe Remy is his nephew because he’s a secret kid of his half-brother Nick. And there could be some other, you know, mystery part of Massimo’s family. And there could be a kid or a grandkid we don’t know about. I do think Remy being connected to the Forrester family through the Marones would be kind of wild. Electra’s head would explode.

Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) would be appalled and certainly Ridge would be too after what Remy did to Electra. They all hate him. So that would be messy and I do think that would be very unexpected. However, it doesn’t really align to the cut from the same cloth thing.

Does Poppy Have another Kid on B&B?

Another possibility is that Remy could be Poppy’s son. Now, she definitely didn’t make the best choices and was always running off getting high and doing dodgy things and sleeping around. So, Poppy could have met some rando, had Remy, you know, fell off the radar for 9 months, gave him up for adoption, and then came back around and started fooling around with Finn. The cut from the same cloth thing does fit for Poppy because she is a creep who slept with her nephew Finn and got pregnant.

Then, she lied and kept his daughter Luna away from Finn, you know, her whole adult life. So Remy is somebody who struggles to do the right thing and that would make perfect sense as Poppy’s son. Plus he and Luna were friends and Remy cared about her. So it’d be pretty cool if they were siblings even though she’s dead. The question of course is is she really dead. They say she is. We’ll see.

Could Thomas Be Remy’s Father on Bold?

One last person to consider is Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson) as Remy’s father. And I know that sounds crazy and you’re doing the math, right? However, Thomas and Finn are pretty much the same age, and they gave Finn a kid about the same age because Luna and Remy were about the same age.

So, it is feasible in terms of soap aging and soap timekeeping. And the cut from the same cloth would fit Thomas because, he was a bad boy until pretty recently. All his scheming and plotting and obsession with Hope has a similar vibe to the Remy and Electra thing.

And remember Thomas and the Hope mannequin? Just ick. So, Thomas likely will be back at some point. Looks like Matt Atkinson is only on recurring now. So, that would tether Remy to a lot of other people on the canvas currently, would make him Ridge’s grandson and Steffy’s nephew. So, we’ll see who is the mystery tie that he has.

Back to Sheila Carter on Bold and the Beautiful

But another thing Christian Weissmann said was that Remy really thinks that he has legit turned over a new leaf, but there’s always a chance that Remy could slip back into old patterns. So based on all of this, I do kind of think Sheila Carter is a likelier candidate.

And also because she needs a new storyline now that she has lost Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) to Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) and she already has an existing relationship with Remy that is cordial. She doesn’t hate him, which everybody else pretty much does.

And him being Diana’s son, tying him to the Forresters would be super messy. And as for it being very unexpected, that could be Bold and the Beautiful underestimating the viewers who tend to figure things out faster than they give them credit for.

“American Pie” star Shannon Elizabeth has revealed that she is set to join OnlyFans in a shocking career move.

Reports claim that the announcement comes shortly after the actress quietly filed for divorce from her husband, Simon Borchert.

Shannon Elizabeth also recently recalled how she was “really scared” during the “difficult” audition for “American Pie,” recounting how the experience was nerve-racking.

Why Shannon Elizabeth Is Joining OnlyFans At 52

Shannon Elizabeth is starting a new chapter in her professional career as she announced on Wednesday that she’s starting her OnlyFans account at the age of 52.

In her announcement, the “Scary Movie” actress decried how she has been subjected to decisions made by others but now wants to take control of her life and show off a “more sexy side.”

“I’ve spent my entire career working in Hollywood, where other people controlled the narrative and the outcome of my career,” Elizabeth told People Magazine.

She continued, “This new chapter is about changing that, showing off a more sexy side no one has seen, and being closer to my fans.”

The Actress Quietly Split From Her Husband Shortly Before Launching Her OnlyFans Page

Meanwhile, reports suggest she’s making the move after quietly filing for divorce from her husband, Simon Borchert. The estranged couple met in 2015, although reports claim they didn’t start dating until about two years later.

They eventually tied the knot in 2021, but are reportedly now set to go their separate ways amid her latest venture into OnlyFans. However, it remains unclear if her venture into the platform is related to their divorce.

“The divorce is fresh. She is freshly single and launching her OnlyFans tomorrow morning,” a source told Page Six, revealing that she officially filed documents on Tuesday.

She’s yet to publicly acknowledge that her marriage has hit the rocks, but a Facebook post on Wednesday seems to be alluding to it.

“There’s something about the ocean that resets everything—slows the noise, softens the edges, and brings you right back to what matters. Grateful for these quiet moments, sandy paws, and unconditional love,” she wrote.

The ‘American Pie’ Actress Considered Her Fans Before Launching Her OnlyFans Account

In a statement shared with Page Six, the “Jack Frost” actress revealed that her fans were part of the major reasons she’s joining the X-rated platform, as she wants to get closer to them and connect better.

“Reconnecting with my fans through appearances has reminded me just how much their support has meant to me throughout my career–and how much I’ve missed that energy,” she said.

“OnlyFans gives me the opportunity to offer something more–a behind-the-scenes, unfiltered look at my life and a genuine connection that no other platform allows,” she continued.

The actress added, “This is also where I’ll be sharing exclusive content that you simply won’t find anywhere else. This isn’t just content to watch from a distance. This is for the people who have always shown up for me, and I want them to feel that.”

Elizabeth, who’s also an animal activist, shared that she’ll continue doing her charity work as it “remains incredibly close to my heart.” However, she considered the new path because she feels like it’s the “perfect moment to open up my world to the fans who have been with me throughout this journey.”

“I’m so excited for this,” she added.

Shannon Elizabeth Was ‘Really Scared’ Auditioning For ‘American Pie’

Elizabeth rose to fame after landing the role of the sexy foreign exchange student, Nadia, in “American Pie,” but recently revealed that bringing the character to life was a Herculean task.

In an April interview with Fox News, she recalled how starring in the film was very difficult, but then the audition was almost impossible, which left her “really scared.”

“The audition process for American Pie was difficult,” she told the news outlet in an interview published earlier this month. “I was scared. I was really scared.”

The teen comedy film follows a group of high school students who have all agreed amongst themselves to lose their virginity before graduation, which leads them to undertake several mischievous attempts to do so.

The Actress Reveals Being Part Of The Cult Classic Helped Push Her Out Of Her Comfort Zone

Elizabeth explained that playing Nadia literally forced her out of her comfort zone, as even though she had experience as a model,  she struggled to play the sultry scenes she was involved in.

“I’m not somebody [who’s] super comfortable in my own skin, to be honest,” she admitted. “But, you just overcome that.”

She added. “When you have to turn it on, you have to work, because I do love working. I do love acting. So you just let everything else go.”

At the risk of over-generalizing, epic movies used to be a slightly bigger deal than they are now. Or it feels that way, to some extent, looking back on movie history. The likes of Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur, and Lawrence of Arabia, to name just a few, were all massive movies that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and for a while, epics made some serious money, too. Gone with the Wind especially, which is the highest-grossing movie of all time, if you adjust for inflation (and you kind of should, as a side note, considering movie tickets only cost about 23 cents back in 1939). And, okay, Gone with the Wind pre-dating television as a form of entertainment does make the narrative a little more complex than “movies got big to compete with TV,” but the particularly grand epics of the 1950s and 1960s might’ve been that way, to some extent, because television was a financial threat.

Of course, nowadays, there are even more things people can do instead of going to the movies, so the idea of just making things bigger feels only so useful, but you do still have massive movies getting made, and sometimes doing well with critics and general audience members. See Oppenheimer, which is the most recent full-blown epic to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, even if 2025’s One Battle After Another almost feels like an epic. Oppenheimer did become more of a general success financially, if that counts for anything… might’ve spoken to it resonating with people, and also being a hugely significant movie that is also itself huge. It’s not the only big movie Christopher Nolan’s made, but it’s up there, and if you’re looking at general epics made in the 21st century, it’s also easily one of the best. That being said, these other movies exist, and they might well be even a little better. Also, Gladiator is not here. Maybe it should be. But it came out in 2000, and frustrating though it might sound, that was the final year of the 20th century, rather than the first year of the 21st. It is a mistake this author has made in the past. So, that’s why it’s not here. It’s a great movie, though, and like, just pretend it’s here, if you feel the year 2000 should be part of the 21st century or something.

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‘Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India’ (2001)

Image via SET Pictures

This is said with love, even if it might sound like a joke or kind of demeaning, but Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India is like Seven Samurai if they played cricket at the end instead of getting into a massive battle, and it rocks. You might find cricket boring, and find it hard to imagine how one could make it cinematic, but that’s what this movie does. It takes place near the end of the 19th century, and involves the people of a struggling village facing harsh taxes by the English ruling over India at the time. In desperation, they accept a wager that will result in taxes being excused if they can win a game of cricket, but being increased if they lose. They also have very little experience with playing cricket at all.

So, there’s a lot of training, in typical sports movie fashion, but since this is an epic, Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India also has ample room to be a full-on musical at times, and there’s quite a bit by way of romance in there. Some of it’s exciting, some of it’s inspiring, some of it’s funny, and some of it’s surprisingly tense. It’s really strong and dependable storytelling, feeling perfectly paced to the point where nearly four hours fly right by, and it’s also really well put-together technically. There are so many moving parts here, and they all move perfectly and in sync with each other. It’s wonderful to see it play out… and, again – it has to be stressed – it manages to make cricket thrilling, even to people who might otherwise consider it one of the least thrilling sports out there (and if you’ve got no idea how to play cricket, then you learn alongside the characters; it’s great).

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‘Babylon’ (2022)

Image via Paramount Pictures

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For a little while, Babylon feels like a party, albeit a pretty intense one. But it’s also very funny, for a while. The humor is broad, the references to a far-back era of Hollywood are plentiful, and the debauchery is near-constant. It’s a real rush of a movie until things come crashing down, because the industry is shown getting uprooted by the birth of the talkie (or, put another way, movies with dialogue). Singin’ in the Rain is about the same thing, but that movie’s very feel-good, and the people you like bounce back and endure. Some characters in Babylon are sympathetic, while some are flawed, but pretty much all of them face hardships as times change.

And so beyond being funny, Babylon is also pretty heavy-going. The runtime goes some way toward making this feel less chaotic in a manner that’s hard to keep up with, but you’re still supposed to feel whiplash, to some extent, but did you expect anything else from the guy who literally directed Whiplash? Babylon is daunting, owing to its length and how polarizing it was among the people who did actually watch it, but there is something magnetic and memorable about so much of it. The whole thing lingers, for reasons both good and bad. It finds a way to celebrate and condemn different aspects of the same industry within the one movie, and even if it’s a bit like going to an amazing restaurant where the waiter pressures you into eating too much, to the point where you feel more than a little nauseous afterward, you should still go to that restaurant, because it’s amazing, pushy waiter be damned.

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‘The Irishman’ (2019)

The Irishman was very far from Martin Scorsese’s first rodeo, within the gangster genre, to put it mildly. It feels like it could be his final one, truth be told, because it feels like an older and more mature filmmaker tying a bow on the kind of film he’s often associated with making, whether that’s fair or not. Like, The Wolf of Wall Street and Killers of the Flower Moon are also relatively recent (in the overall scheme of things) epic crime movies Scorsese directed, but they weren’t really gangster movies. The Irishman is about organized crime, and an extension of Goodfellas and Casino, which were themselves extensions of Mean Streets, and there’s a lot to be gained from watching and appreciating the bunch of them. With The Irishman, you can’t really get the most out of it unless you look at it in comparison to those other films.

Also, not comparing them to those in the sense that you get the same thing out of The Irishman, necessarily, because it’s a more somber and less exhilarating film, by design. Much of it is about a man who was tied up in organized crime somehow living until his old age (not a spoiler, since Robert De Niro is, you know, old, and also, you see him old as hell in literally the first shot of the movie), and looking back on his life and unlikely survival. Scorsese also feels like he’s looking back on his filmography, but not in a cheesy “Let’s play the hits even though we’re all in our 70s and the hits don’t sound as good anymore” way, like you might see with an aging rock band doing a purported farewell tour. He builds on what came before while reflecting on it, all across a massive runtime of nearly 3.5 hours. There’s a lot to reflect on, for both The Irishman’s central character and for Scorsese, as a filmmaker… and for all the actors who have major parts here, since many of them (De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci in particular) are well-known for playing wise guys.

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‘The Lord of the Rings’ (2001–2003)

Image via New Line Cinema

If you count all three The Lord of the Rings movies as one single epic, then yeah, it’s no question that it’s the biggest and best epic of the 21st century so far, and anyone who wants to top it in terms of scale is probably not going to succeed, but good luck to them anyway. That kind of spirit is undeniably ambitious. Also, if you don’t want to count all three as one movie, then just pretend The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is here instead, as the only one. That’s the grandest of the bunch, but only really gets to be that way because The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers (the latter probably the weakest of the three, but still immense) were also essential and paved the way so well. The trilogy ends, fittingly enough, with the most impressive battle sequences and the largest number of genuinely tearjerking scenes.

You get a bit of everything with these movies, and it’s amazing how the trilogy is all about destroying a tiny ring, but it gets so massive in scale, and is about as mind-blowing as it gets in terms of ambition. There’s so much to be invested in here, and the way it works J.R.R. Tolkien’s huge novel into something a little more streamlined and digestible (without dumbing things down too much) never stops being impressive to comprehend. You’ve also got special effects that largely still hold up, some of the best casting in any movie (maybe ever?), an all-time great score, and a real momentum throughout the whole thing that stays entertaining and engaging, even if you’re not usually great with very long movies. The Lord of the Rings is just where it’s at, no matter what you’re looking for. It is the definitive epic of the century so far, without a doubt.

General Hospital has Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) as a fugitive. He’s on the run. He’s hiding out in Carly Spencer‘s (Laura Wright) attic, and the WSB wants him dead or alive. And Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) is increasingly desperate to bring him in.

And it’s messy because Valentin is falling for Carly and vice versa. So, it seems like Valentin could be cornered soon, but his fugitive status may change.

Valentin’s Path to Redemption on General Hospital

All right. So, right now, a lot of people, a whole lot of people in Port Charles have a pretty dim view of Valentin Cassadine. And honestly, you know, he was not a great guy when he first came onto the General Hospital canvas. Remember, he was supposed to be the most feared and dangerous of all of the Cassadines.

And if you remember, he shot Nikolas Cassadine (then Tyler Christopher) and he shot Kevin Collins (Jon Lindstrom) when Valentin was actually aiming at Laura Spencer Collins (Genie Francis). And from there, we saw Valentin having one pretty big redemption already. He came back from all of that.

And then things turned bad again because he was involved with Jack Brennan and Pikeman and Valentin wound up on the run while Brennan somehow got to be a station chief. It doesn’t seem quite fair, right? So, this redemption is more about optics and personal perception and getting a pardon really than him changing.

I think Valentin already did a lot of changing. And there’s also the matter of the fact that these crimes aren’t just simple. So, it’s not just a redemption in the eyes of all of Port Charles. It’s a legal redemption. So, let’s talk about how his slate could be wiped clean so he can stay on GH.

Expose And Take Down Cullum on GH

The first thing Valentin could do is expose and take down Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes). I mean, he is a big old villain who kidnapped and tormented Anna Devane (Finola Hughes). And of course, Cullum killed Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo) and is forcing Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) to complete Cesar Faison‘s (Anders Hove) final project.

So, if Valentin is the one who takes Cullum down, that would be one giant step towards redemption. The WSB would have to drop charges against Valentin if he exposed Cullum as a traitor to the WSB and to the country and as somebody who was conspiring with master criminal Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota).

Plus, Valentin would earn Carly’s respect and probably Sonny Corinthos‘ (Maurice Benard) if he helped expose Cullum as the penthouse bomber that nearly killed Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) and the one who stabbed Marco, which Sonny’s being blamed for. And let’s be real, Valentin would be helping so many people by taking Cullum down.

Whether Valentin killed Cullum or if he just helped put him in Steinmauer. I mean, Britt would be incredibly relieved because she’s terrified of Cullum who likely plans to kill her once the Cold Fusion project is done. And of course, Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) will be grateful because Cullum is targeting him and Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) will be thrilled to get justice for Marco.

Save Anna Devane on General Hospital

Another way that Valentin could earn a redemption and get his charges dropped would be if he saved Anna, who has been set up by Cullum. And of course, Valentin cares deeply for Anna. However, I don’t think he’s going to get back with her.

I think Valentin and Carly are destined at this point. But Valentin cares enough about Anna to want her away from this dodgy off the books WSB scheme that Cullum has cooked up. And if Valentin saves Anna as part of exposing what Cullum’s up to, that could also help him get this redemption that he needs.

Save Jason From The WSB

And another thing that could get Valentin redeemed and pardoned is if he helped save Jason from the illegal WSB warrant and rendition that Cullum set up. That would absolutely put Valentin on the redemption path and influential people could then push for his pardon.

Now, Jason is important to powerful people, including the Quartermaines and Sonny and Mayor Laura and plenty of others. And if Valentin saves Jason and brings him home, Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn) would also be grateful. Plus, I think it could change Sonny’s opinion of Valentin, which is also a big deal.

And of course, Carly would be beyond grateful if Valentin saved Jason, her best friend. If Valentin did that, I think Carly would stop at nothing until she got Valentin’s name cleared, including applying extraordinary pressure to Jack to get the WSB off Valentin’s back.

Carly already has feelings for Valentin. And if he were to do something this heroic and save her bestie Jason, well, I think that would have Carly deciding that not only does he deserve a pardon. But Valentin is the man for her. And I think Brennan would lose his shot at Carly once and for all.

Stop The Cold Fusion Project on General Hospital

And next, of course, there’s this Cold Fusion project that is going to cause chaos. We don’t know exactly how Cesar Faison’s final project is going to work. But they’re not going to all this trouble having Britt finish it just to use it for benevolent reasons. You know, Cullum and Sidwell aren’t planning on using cold fusion to lower gas and energy prices in Port Charles.

I mean, Cullum is going to do something bad with it. I’m pretty sure it’s some sort of weapon. So, if Valentin can help shut down the Cold Fusion device and save all of Port Charles, I mean, come on, that’s instant redemption if you think about it.

You may remember it was a little over a decade ago, I think 2015. And Sonny was himself a fugitive at the time. He had escaped from Pentonville and he was hiding out. And then he found out that a bunch of lives were at risk. So, Sonny risked his own life to get a bomb off the Haunted Star that Helena Cassadine (Constance Towers) had planted.

And Sonny saved a whole bunch of lives. The very next day the governor commuted his sentence and he walked out free and clear. So, if Valentin saves all of Port Charles from this cold fusion thingamajig, I think he would probably also get a free pass.

Expose Cassius Faison on GH

And one more thing to consider if he’s cleaning up all the WSB mess is that he may expose Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey). I’m not sure if Valentin already knows that Faison had a fourth kid or if he’s going to figure it out along the way. But Valentin exposing that a minion of Sidwell’s stole Nathan’s life is huge.

Cassius is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, especially because Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins) is now dating Cassius and doesn’t know it. She thinks it’s Nathan. So, if Valentin exposed him so that Lulu and Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) and others could learn the truth that Nathan is really dead, I think that would be a game changer.

Plus, Valentin will, I think, be intent on exposing Cassius because he’s not going to want his co-parent, Lulu, to be dating that monster. And Valentin isn’t going to want creepy Cassius around their daughter, Charlotte Cassadine (Scarlett Fernandez).

General Hospital: Valentin Takes it All Down?

Now, you know, I don’t think he’s as evil as they want him to be. But he’s clearly a bad dude and he is a criminal henchman. And right now, Lulu’s attitude is that Nathan is a much better man than Valentin, but that’s not Nathan. And Cassius, honestly, seems worse than Valentin at this point. While I am not sure exposing Cassius is enough for redemption, it could go hand in hand with a bigger effort.

You know, if Valentin exposes and takes down all the corrupt parts of the WSB, including Cullum and his partnership with Sidwell and using Cassius as a henchman, plus stopping the cold fusion weapon altogether, that would be huge. And I do think that it could get him a redemption and a legal pardon. We’ll see how it plays out. But I think Valentin’s days of being a fugitive on the run could end before too much longer.

Meghan Trainor is pulling back the curtain on when she feels sexiest as a mom of three with husband Daryl Sabara.

“There’s not a lot of time for sexiness when you have [kids that are] 5, 2 and a newborn,” Trainor, 32, exclusively shared in Us Weekly’s latest cover story. “And I think anyone with a kid under 5 knows what I’m talking about in marriage. So it is rare.”

Trainor’s latest album, Toy With Me (out April 24), features a track called “Pink Cadillac,” which is an interpretation of Bruce Springsteen‘s 1984 song of the same name but is very sexy and cheeky.

“I write a lot of these hot songs,” she told Us. “I wish I felt this sexy all the time, but I know Daryl and I will have our time when the kids are older, you know? But it’s like a fantasy of mine. It’s like a dream of mine someday to feel … that hot again with my husband, and some nights I do. I don’t want to say once a month, but a couple times a month.”

Trainor and Sabara welcomed daughter Mikey via surrogate in January, joining sons Riley, 5, and Barry, 2. Ahead of adding their youngest child to their family, Trainor and Sabara, 33, decided to pursue couples therapy.

“We started [during surrogacy] because we realized we were living in different realities,” she explained to Us. “Even in our fights, it was like, ‘Hey, we’re not even fighting about the same thing …’ When you have little kids, every single thing is a decision. We almost got into a fight this morning because one of my kids has diarrhea, and [Daryl] wanted to feed him chocolate waffles. And I said, ‘Is that the best idea?’”

She continued, “With our counselor, there were so many deep-rooted things that we were too scared to tell each other. He told us, ‘When you break through, it’ll be the greatest love you’ve ever felt.’ I was like, ‘We’re so scrambled right now, I can’t picture that happening, but OK.’ He was 100 percent right. Now we can look at each other and read each other’s mind and be like, ‘We’re safe.’”

Related: Meghan Trainor’s Best Quotes About Motherhood, Parenting With Daryl Sabara

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Meghan Trainor has opened up about her and husband Daryl Sabara‘s journey to become parents — and she’s offered sweet glimpses at their special moments. The singer and Sabara, who tied the knot in 2018, welcomed son Riley in February 2021. After watching her son reach his many milestones, the Trainor was eager to give the little […]

Trainor gushed that Sabara, with whom she tied the knot in 2018, is constantly helping validate her.

“Anytime I’m near him, especially at night or even in his sleep, he will always want to touch me or tell me how beautiful I am,” she said. “Every night he passes out at, like, 9, and I get up multiple times to go because I’ve had babies. Every time I get back in bed, I wake him up a little bit, but not enough to be alive. And then he always rolls over and grabs me and is like, ‘You’re the only one I want forever and always. I need you now.’ And I’m like, ‘What? You’re snoring.’ So cute. It’s a nice relief to be confidently loved. I know I’m the one he’s obsessed with, and he’s the one I’m obsessed with.”

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For Trainor, being “obsessed” with each other also meant installing two toilets side-by-side in their bathroom at a previous house — which she said she misses “so much.”

“There was a place for a bidet, and I never used a bidet, so I had an extra toilet in my move, and I just popped it where the bidet was. It was when we had our babies,” she explained. “When you get up all night for your babies and you have to pee a million times, and so does your husband — I will not fight you over the toilet this time, and I’m gonna put two toilets in here. It was the best decision I ever made. Anyone who doesn’t understand doesn’t know what real love is.”

For more on Trainor, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.