Though Netflix has been churning out hit-or-miss thrillers over recent years, it delivered a particularly deadly cat-and-mouse chase in 2022. Except here, there are three different rugrat tabbies and a suit-donned mouse with secrets hidden in its basement. Director Babak Anvari follows up his raw Under the Shadows and jarring Wounds with a tense and unpredictable piece that keeps us gripping the edge of our seats. I Came By succeeds in its measured portrayal of a serial killer, cruising in the wake of Hugh Bonneville‘s stately grandeur and ominous twists as a well-respected judge, Hector Blake. While the film begins as a typical scurry into the theme of “not knowing what happens behind closed doors,” it quickly turns its heel into a more interesting and thrilling social commentary on how powerful people can get away with anything.

‘I Came By’ Quickly Becomes Unpredictable

I Came By opens up in Toby’s (George MacKay, known for his role in 1917) POV, a socially conscious graffiti artist who leaves his tag of “I Came By” in the houses of the elite. We can deduce that the reason for doing so is to make the residents feel like they are still vulnerable to the socioeconomic environment outside, and thus, the private location of these tags becomes ironically notorious in the newspapers. We spend some time watching Toby try to convince his partner, Jay (Percelle Ascott), to do one last mission together, with the target being Hector Blake, a judge renowned for his charitable work with immigrants but condemned by Toby for owning illegal ivory antiques. However, as a soon-to-be father, Jay is trying to clean up his act and refuses (he also believes owning ivory isn’t a despicable enough of an act for him to potentially endanger his life), leaving Toby to creep into Hector’s mansion alone, only to discover a terrible secret in the basement.

At this point in the film, we are lulled into a familiar rhythm, probably recognizing the hints that led us to the outrageous plot twist of Don’t Breathe. As such, we immediately recognize Hector as someone we wouldn’t want to mess with, but we aren’t prepared for the first act twist. With Toby squarely placed in the forefront as the main character, we gradually empathize with his crusade for (sometimes petty) social injustice and identify with his contentious relationship with his mother, Lizzie (Kelly MacDonald). So, when he finds a bound and bruised prisoner in Blake’s basement and returns to the house on another night to free him, we wonder how we are not even halfway through the film. I Came By quickly upends any expectations we had for the film, immediately ending Toby’s life with a solid blow to the back of his head. The story continues to twist and turn, diving into unanticipated places and being merciless about who survives and who doesn’t, leaving Hector looming over it all with a murderous gleam in his charitable eyes.

The Realism in ‘I Came By’ Creates a Tense Atmosphere

Image via Netflix

Though the plot itself is not necessarily believable, there are undercurrents of chilling realism that become striking and effective. Between the pockets of calculating and succinct violence are slower-paced and almost mundane sequences of the reactions of loved ones. As soon as Toby disappears, Lizzie contacts Jay in hopes of discovering his whereabouts, only to resort to visiting the police station. The underrated MacDonald delivers a heartfelt and desperate performance here; her frustration about not being taken seriously and her concern for her son resonate with us. Though she and Toby have a typical teenage-mother relationship, there is still something troubling about watching Lizzie find secret compartments in her son’s drawers, wondering if she ever knew him at all.

Once she does reach the police station, though the acts themselves aren’t particularly realistic, we are met with a timeless story of the public feeling failed by the law. There is a well-worn display of initial police indifference, as Lizzie’s complaints are dutifully filed, but she is immediately dismissed with placating remarks rather than any real concern. Though detective Ella (Franc Ashman) does connect the missing person report to the strange 911 call from Hector’s house, it is the office’s treatment of Lizzie that becomes realistically sullen, offering limited compassion or hope. It is what leads Lizzie to conduct her own investigation, as her resolve deepens and her concern for her son wins over any logical stream of thought. This depicts how a history of social injustice mixed with such callous treatment leads to people operating out of the bounds of legality, and thus resulting in devastating consequences in this particular case.

When Ella does meticulously scour over Hector’s mansion, she incredulously finds no evidence of abduction or murder in Hector’s basement, despite stumbling upon the secret rooms. When she tries to arrest him for having these hidden compartments and accusations, a mere phone call to his dear friend in high places hastily releases him. From having the foresight to sanitize and incinerate all evidence of his crime to being able to use his privilege as a get out of jail for free card, Hector becomes a slimy and unnerving possibility of how wealth can be used. The film becomes a hyperbole about how people in positions of power are able to skirt around the law, even with the public eye trained on them. The fact that his charities revolve around immigration, and his victims of choice are immigrants, is yet another exaggeration of hypocrisy frequently seen in elite circles. Alongside the unbearable tension of watching a realistic police investigation take place is the dramatic reiteration of political and social power that is seen in real life.

Hugh Bonneville Is a Chilling Serial Killer in ‘I Came By’

Of course, none of this could be conveyed if it weren’t for the stellar performance by Bonneville, who steals the show with his daring charisma that fluidly shifts into something more sinister. Bonneville would feel particularly at home in this high-class role after his major role in the Downton Abbey period drama as Robert Crawley. As Robert, he is protective of his family and adheres to tradition, which translates to his role in I Came By, albeit in a twisted way. Hector is naturally fiercely protective of his secrets and his reputation, which allows him to work freely, and on top of this, he embodies the traditional picture of the elite exploiting his resources and the masses for the worse. Beneath his stately grandeur, which Bonneville inherently borrows from his previous character, he also has the opportunity to imbue malevolence into his performance.

Every time he interacts with someone, Hector seems so painfully normal; it is jarring to reconcile him with the depravity he engages with. From news broadcasts where his charming smile and charitable words capture everyone’s attention to his disarming conversations with the police officers, where he manages to placate their suspicions with an innocent eye, there is something markedly winning about Hector. His split in demeanor is particularly highlighted in his monologue when he tries to entrap another asylum seeker. He talks about how his father abandoned him and his mother to pursue a relationship with someone who was an immigrant, starting the story in a charming and wistful way that gradually devolved into an unsettling spite. Undertones of bitter rage and sadism sweep beneath his words, booming throughout the room in a wicked symphony of pomp and psychopathy.

Though it could be said that Bonneville’s acting prowess overshadows the rest of the cast, his dominant presence actually adds to the social exploration of I Came By. Compared to Hector, Toby is reduced to a naive and one-dimensional character, touting the tired personality trait of enacting social justice in order to stifle his own insecurities. However, this adds to the effect of his simplistic and wide-eyed world view, suggesting that though he dealt in kneading out the vulnerabilities of the privileged, he himself didn’t necessarily comprehend just how powerful the world he antagonized was. His tags are suddenly rendered fleeting and obsolete, simply hollow gestures that cannot stand up against the deep roots the elite has in society. As such, with Hector’s shadow domineering over the film, it offers a bleak portrayal of meaningless attempts to alleviate social inequalities.

‘I Came By’ Uses Realism to Highlight Social Injustice

Image via Netflix

Apart from Bonnevile, the most memorable and distinct aspect of I Came By is its shifting POVs, as each character is out-manoeuvered and expelled by Hector, forcing another character to take the former’s place. The film strips us of the comfort of a “hero” or a “chosen one,” and instead reflects the pitiless reality of how many serial killers manage to evade detection for so long. Characters become disposable in I Came By, though each gets us closer to Hector’s retribution before becoming his next victim. It adds to the chess-like feel of the movie, as strategies and valiant impulses pick away at the impenetrable barrier surrounding Hector, but sacrifices are necessary in the larger raging war against him. So the next protagonist takes up the mantle and uses their own methods to face-off against the culpable judge, accomplishing as much as they can until their inevitable doom (which they don’t expect, since no one really anticipates their own death).

With the protagonist of the film becoming so flexible, it becomes even more damning that Hector remains standing for so long, simply because he has the resources to back his activities and the willingness and capacity to cross lines without facing dire consequences. Realism pours into this aspect of the story as it doesn’t use the narrative devices of “punishing” and “rewarding” certain behaviors and ethics. Instead, it is a bleak outlook on how unfair advantages that are generally out of people’s control chalk up the wins and losses of a battle. Hector has the home advantage, the cash backing him, a vice-like grip on the law and an overarching disdain for human life that allows him to essentially operate with impunity — picking off his trifling enemies one-by-one almost contemptuously. Once again, the film exhibits a dramatic re-enactment of the exploitation of the masses, as they become a replaceable part of an overarching system, with elite figures like Hector pulling the strings.

Social injustice pervades every corner of this deliberately paced film, from the violent outbursts to the tantalizing pressure that continually builds. Even when the three cats try and hunt down the mouse, the tension and stress caves-in around them, unable to infiltrate the suave stronghold of wealth surrounding the mouse. Building in intensity, Anvari finally rewards our patience when the cathartic final act rolls around. Yet however gratifying the ending is, with all the lives lost, we are left with the haunting question of who the real winner here is. Which matters more: taking down the enemy or the losses along the way? As such, I Came By uses distinctive strokes of realism and unpredictability to create a captivating mural of social injustice, further criticizing how privilege becomes the perfect cover.

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I Came By

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Release Date

August 31, 2022

Runtime

110 minutes

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Director

Babak Anvari

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Writers

Babak Anvari, Namsi Khan

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Actor Alec Baldwin is about to be a grandfather to two! His eldest daughter, Ireland Baldwin, the only child he shares with his ex-wife, Kim Basinger, is ready to welcome her second child with her boyfriend, RAC. The couple previously welcomed their daughter, Holland, in May 2023.

On May 23, only a few days after her first daughter turned 3, Ireland took to Instagram to reveal her pregnancy with a playful video. The video showed her replacing a bottle of wine with sleeping pills, pulling out baby pajamas, and holding up a strip of sonogram images.

She dropped a red heart emoji in the caption as fans and famous friends offered their congratulations. “Congratulations to the whole family!! Another little one to love,” one fan commented. “Congratulations, Ireland! That is awesome news. Love how you made the announcement,” another follower wrote. “Congratulations! I’m due Thanksgiving and the Unisom tablets speak to me,” a third fan chimed in.

Ireland’s First Child Holland Turns 3

Only one week ago, Ireland shared an adorable carousel of images featuring her first child, Holland, who was about to celebrate her third birthday. One picture featured Ireland about to cut into a giant pink cake decorated with colorful sprinkles. Another featured a large stack of pizza boxes from the Costco food court placed in a shopping cart.

Other photos featured a pony ride, coloring sheets, and two cakes placed side by side on a table that was covered with a charcuterie board. “Tomorrow my little baby turns 3. Today we celebrated her,” Ireland wrote in the caption next to a pink heart emoji. Many fans and friends wished her a happy birthday. One follower wrote, “Lovely! PS Costco pizza for a party really is clutch. Good job, mama.”

Ireland Baldwin Gives Insight Into Her Relationship With Hilaria Baldwin

Alec Baldwin was married to Kim Basinger from 1993 to 2002. In 2012, he married Hilaria Baldwin. Together, they share seven children, often referred to as the “Baldwinitos.” They welcomed their eldest daughter, Carmen, in 2013. Two years later, they welcomed Rafael. Their son Leonardo was born the following year, and their son Romeo was born in 2018. Their son Eduardo was born in 2020, but their daughter, Maria Lucia, was born via surrogate around the same time. Their youngest daughter, Ilaria, was born in 2022.

Since becoming a grandfather, Alec has worked to improve his relationship with Ireland. As a result, she has formed a stronger bond with Hilaria since becoming a mom herself. In September 2025, she shared a lengthy Instagram post, in which she explained that people would be quite “surprised” if they knew Hilaria the way that she did.

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Ireland Baldwin Reveals How She ‘Bonded’ With Hilaria Baldwin

In the Instagram post, Ireland shared a photo of her holding up a dog, while Hilaria held up her newborn baby. In the caption, she warned that the post may “come out of left field since I don’t post about her or any family members much.” However, she admitted that she wanted to address the comments that she saw on social media.

One rumor was that she was “only playing nice” with her father’s family in order to get an inheritance. “I’m not getting an inheritance. I have 7 siblings,” Ireland joked. Things took a serious turn when Ireland admitted that Hilaria had “a far more complex and chaotic upbringing than she lets on and I think that’s why we’ve maybe bonded in some ways?”

“She didn’t always feel safe and seen. Sometimes, she is too loyal to a fault. She is eccentric and totally bat sh-t crazy (in a fun way) but she saved my dad’s life,” she continued, likely referring to the 2021 “Rust” shooting incident. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot and director Joel Souza was injured when a live round was discharged from a firearm that Alec was using as a prop on the set of the Western film.

Ireland Says That Hilaria Is The Reason For Her ‘Close Relationship’ With Her Father

Ireland praised Hilaria for turning “his health around” and for showing him “the forgiveness and kindness that he needed.” She went on to say that she “also recognizes and nourishes the parts of my father that are the most compassionate and wonderful. She’s taught him that he doesn’t need to suffer inside of his own head and stay stuck in his own past.”

“Hilaria is the reason I am able to have the close relationship with my father that I do,” she continued. “She is the reason I get to have siblings/a big family that I’ve always wanted. She has always respected me, accepted my flaws, embraced me, and has always shown me kindness. I met her as a teenager and I needed her as an example.”

“I still very much look up to her now,” Ireland wrote, calling her a “gem” and saying that she “deserves all the love.”

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Summer House star Ciara Miller is ready to turn the page amid her drama with ex West Wilson and ex-BFF Amanda Batula.

“Make it to the waiting and make it to the end of all of this. I’m excited to put it all behind me,” Miller, 30, said while speaking with People on the amFAR red carpet on Saturday, May 23. “The reunion was quite the day, but we are on to bigger and better and, you know, we can say goodbye to certain things.”

She continued, “I think it will definitely get some clarity. I think it was very cathartic. It’s one of those situations that’s unfortunate but you know, I’m so excited to move on from this. You can’t take everyone with you. It’s nice to be able to go into this next chapter of my life and have clarity on who is supposed to be there and who is not.”

When the reporter asked if she and Batula, 34, are “dunzo,” Miller replied, “Yeah, for sure. Yeah. I wouldn’t do this to my worst enemy.”

After speculation swirled online, Batula and Wilson, 31, confirmed their romance in March. Batula, for her part, had announced her separation from husband Kyle Cooke in January, while Wilson previously dated Miller.

The group is set to address the drama at the season 10 reunion, with the first of three parts airing on Tuesday, May 26. In the official trailer of the reunion, Miller can be seen speaking directly to Batula about their friendship.

“Over the past six years, I have been your f***ing champion. I couldn’t fathom that I’d be sitting here pissed that you’re f***ing my ex!” Miller said. “[West] wants to embarrass me. He wants to get his last little word in and I hope it works. He’s with you to spite me!”

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Related: Where Ciara Miller Stands With Amanda Batula After West Wilson Scandal

Ciara Miller is still sorting through her feelings after longtime friend Amanda Batula started seeing her ex-boyfriend, and their Summer House costar, West Wilson, earlier this spring. “Ciara has told friends that if they really are in love, she will accept it,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly, noting that if West, 31, and Amanda, […]

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The timeline of Batula and West’s romance will also presumably be addressed at the reunion. In an episode of his and Sophie Cunningham’s “Show Me Something” podcast in April, Wilson admitted that he and Amanda “realized things were maybe a little bit serious” in February. Wilson went on to deny there being any “overlap” with Batula and Cooke’s marriage or his romance with Miller.

“There was no overlap,” he explained. “I know there’s a thousand different theories on the internet right now, but that is one thing that for sure did not happen. Everyone was single.”

The Summer House season 10 three-part reunion kicks off on Bravo Tuesday, May 26, at 8 p.m. ET.

What makes us human? According to Stanley Kubrick‘s 2001: A Space Odyssey, it’s our ability to use tools that separate us from our simian ancestors. In his sci-fi epic, Kubrick boils down the entire story of humankind from its inception as apes, discovering how to utilize tools to overpower their natural enemies, all the way to humanity’s inevitable rebirth, deep into the space age. However, scientists have long since decided that this theory about the cornerstone of human civilization is false. In fact, many animals use tools, not just humans. Then what makes us humans unique? Perhaps surprisingly, the sci-fi film series that succeeds in getting the answer right is Planet of the Apes.

Since the original 1968 film, and the novel that inspired it, Planet of the Apes has been a powerful allegory for the human race’s treatment of “the other,” and our tendency to blow up the paradise we inhabit as a result. Therefore, what makes us human, when compared to our ancestral apes, is not our use of tools and weapons of mass destruction, but rather, our ability to develop such plans in the first place. In short, language is the cornerstone of our species. It’s notable that in the original film, Taylor (Charlton Heston) finds himself in a world where apes are well-spoken, but more importantly, humans are portrayed as mute and therefore primitive. Language is often how we take pride in our national and regional identities, but it’s also resulted in incessant conflict, as the recent reboot trilogy explores.

‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ Gives Apes the Gift of Language

Image via 20th Century Studios

2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes serves as both a prequel and a reboot to the original series of films. It changes certain details within the canon, but ultimately tells the story of how Earth became the ape-governed world discovered in the 1968 movie. The film focuses on Caesar (Andy Serkis), a chimpanzee born with an experimental cure for Alzheimer’s passed down from his test-subject mother. Caesar embarks on a startling evolution, becoming fluent in sign language thanks to his human guardian, Will (James Franco). The science-fiction premise that this film poses is essentially just Caesar’s linguistic journey.

Gifted with exceptional intelligence, Caesar is depicted as being just as conscious as humans. It’s not long before the cruelty of man, particularly against apes, leads Caesar to inspire a revolution, and it’s through language that Caesar not only forms his small army of apes, but it’s also how he declares to the humans that they refuse to be oppressed any longer. Caesar’s “No” in the face of cruelty from Dodge Landon (Tom Felton) remains one of the most bone-chilling moments of the franchise, and that is precisely why.

Image via 20th Century Studios

Set ten years after the events of the previous film, 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes establishes a world in turmoil. Caesar’s tribe of liberated apes continues to inhabit the Muir Woods near San Francisco, while the experimental Alzheimer’s cure has resulted in a virus that has eliminated countless humans. A small group of surviving humans led by Dreyfus (Gary Oldman) live in the city, and the film establishes an uneasy peace between them and the apes. It’s clear that both species have resorted to hunting and gathering to survive, and with fluent communication within both camps, apes and humans are on equal footing at last. The trouble begins when the humans wish to work on a dam within the apes’ territory, and it’s clear that neither side wishes for this to result in conflict.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is where the series gets to explore the true implications of language, and the burden of intelligence that comes with it. Among both camps are those willing to trust the other (Caesar and Jason Clarke‘s Malcolm) and those whose pride and pessimism risk peace in favor of victory (Dreyfus and Toby Kebbell‘s ape Koba). This film displays that, with complex language comes philosophy, and individual ideologies inevitably branch off. Caesar soon comes to the sobering realization that anyone equipped with the tools of language has the potential to make the same mistakes as humans. Going into the trilogy’s final installment, Caesar becomes a bitter ape, uncertain whether his species is any more worthy of that power than its predecessors.

‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ Takes Language Away from the Humans

More years have passed by the time we are reintroduced to this world in 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes. When Caesar’s family is murdered by a rogue human army, we’re introduced to a version of Caesar far more cynical than we’ve ever known before. As per 1968’s Planet of the Apes, It’s revealed that the simian virus has evolved to deprive infected humans of their ability to speak, leaving them a primitive shell of their former selves. Disgusted by the idea of humans as the next generation’s speechless animals, an army Colonel (Woody Harrelson) urges his men to euthanize their infected loved ones and wage war on the apes.

Like Caesar, the Colonel’s greatest power is his ability to influence people through speech. The Colonel’s manipulation tactics even result in getting specific apes to work for him. Caesar’s mission this time is much darker than in previous stories, with hate in his heart for the Colonel. Caesar eventually realizes that killing the Colonel would only succeed in fulfilling the destiny that he fears so much. When the Colonel is infected by the virus, he recognizes just how much power he has lost by losing his speech. The Colonel decides to kill himself, rather than become a voiceless primate. This marks the official hand-off between humans and apes, with the planet of humans finally becoming the planet of the apes; not by apes killing humans, but rather, by the apes gaining language and humans losing their greatest tool as a species.

The Planet of the Apes Franchise Represents the Cyclical Nature of Life

Image via 20th Century Studios

With Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes attempting to further fill in the gaps between the original films and the prequel trilogy, the overall symbolism of the franchise begins to become clearer. Language represents power and intelligence; the ability to communicate effectively, whether through spoken language — or even gestures — is closely linked to characters’ social status throughout the entirety of the franchise. The films explore themes of oppression, hierarchy, and prejudice through the lens of language, highlighting how these linguistic differences can shape power dynamics.

Planet of the Apes fully succeeds in its symbolism because of its ability to tell this story naturally throughout several decades in-universe. Whereas a franchise like Star Wars has a tendency to box itself in — telling stories where audiences already know the beginning and ending points and often the fates of the characters themselves — Apes has a more ambiguous middle period to play with, and audiences get to watch the story unfold organically.

One of the most harrowing, but also familiar aspects of the franchise is the cyclical nature of its story. History tends to repeat itself, a lesson humans begrudgingly continue to learn. Through Planet of the Apes, audiences can watch humanity’s failures in real-time, equating them to the evolutionary cycle that has known Homo sapiens as the top of the food chain since their existence. From the 1968 original to the recent release of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, this franchise relies entirely on exploring language and how this difference between the apes and humans is integral to the new world they both find themselves in.

One wardrobe essential we’ll never get sick of? A loose T-shirt that looks good with absolutely everything, whether you’re dressing it down with jeans or up with a silky skirt. This summer, we’re prioritizing organic cotton tees over everything else. They’re comfortable, breathable and lightweight enough for even the hottest days, and our favorites have a soft and relaxed fit.

While organic items have a reputation for being more expensive, our top picks are an exception. The organic cotton T-shirts below cost as little as $12 and don’t skimp on quality. However, even if they do cost a little more, honestly, we think they’re worth it — this is one go-to clothing item you’ll wear again and again. Shop our favorite picks below.

13 Loose, Organic Cotton T-Shirts to Wear With Jeans

1. Our Favorite: A relaxed, boxy fit and drop shoulder look make this the perfect loose T-shirt to wear with your favorite pair of denim. Bonus: it’s under $15, making it a budget-friendly option, too.

2. Runner-Up: Jockey’s organic cotton tee is slightly fitted, so it’s ideal for the days you want something less loose. A little bit of spandex adds the perfect amount of comfy stretch, too.

3. Sale Alert: Snag Eileen Fisher’s bright cotton T-shirt while you can — it’s currently on sale and sizes won’t last long. This pick features a V-neck with a loose, drapey fit that makes it a casual favorite.

4. Rich Mom Look: This organic cotton crewneck has a semi-fitted feel and a boxier shape that makes it appear more polished and elevated. The best part? It costs less than $20.

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5. Sporty Chic: If you love the look of casual athleisure, grab this color block T-shirt while you can. It has a loose but durable feel, and features varsity stripes on the arms as well as a V-neck.

6. Under $15: An organic cotton t-shirt for less than $15? That’s a deal you definitely don’t want to miss. This one comes in several colors and has a simple, classic fit.

7. Casual Chic: Made of 100% organic pima cotton, this V-neck tee is an essential for a more casual wardrobe. It’s super soft and lightweight, with an easy breezy feel that’s just right for warm weather.

8. Daily Go-To: You can wear Pact’s organic crewneck in so many different ways. It’s casual enough to be paired with jeans or shorts, but it can also be dressed up with the right accessories.

9. Elevated Tee: This button-up tee gives a more sophisticated and polished vibe to any pair of jeans you own. We love the ribbed texture and effortlessly cool feel.

10. Worth the Splurge: If you’re going to spend more, do it on an organic T-shirt you’ll have for years — like this one, made of Peruvian pima cotton. It has the perfect relaxed fit, feels buttery soft and is pre-washed to hold its shape even after washing.

11. So Comfy: With a more heavyweight feel and ribbed neckline, Vuori’s organic cotton crewneck can be worn for workouts, long walks and shopping trips. It’s super soft and comfy, with a relaxed fit you’ll love.

12. Tried and True: This organic crewneck has a vintage-inspired fit that feels just loose enough without looking too baggy. It’s a classic you’ll wear over and over again.

13. Oversized Vibe: Opt for a more boho-inspired look with an oversized cotton T-shirt. It has a much looser, boxier fit, with a super lightweight feel that is surprisingly cooling.

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For fashion lovers, there’s one sale that’s worth waiting for season after season: Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale. From May 21 through June 1, 2026, the stylist-loved retailer is rolling out major markdowns across fashion, shoes, beauty and more. Think Coach, Adidas, Free People and more. To save you from endlessly scrolling through the seemingly infinite deals, […]

Miniseries have really gained traction over the last few years, but the truth is, they have existed for a long time as one of the most exciting spaces in television. There’s no denying that long-running shows often drag their stories out for multiple seasons, but miniseries thrive on precision. They tell complete, emotionally satisfying stories in just a few episodes, which practically forces storytellers to take creative risks. That’s exactly why miniseries generally feel sharper, more experimental, and more impactful than traditional television.

Not to mention that there’s something incredibly satisfying about starting a show and knowing that the story has a clear ending. The format gives audiences instant immersion while still delivering the emotional payoff of a fully developed narrative. With that said, here are such near-perfect miniseries that are worth every second.

7

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

Image via HBO

HBO has practically perfected the art of the modern miniseries, and The Night Of is one of the strongest examples of that. The series follows Pakistani-American college student Nasir “Naz” Khan (Riz Ahmed), whose entire life changes after he spends the night with a young woman and wakes up to find her brutally murdered beside him. This leads to a chaotic series of events where Naz makes several terrible decisions before eventually being arrested and thrown into a justice system that transforms him into a completely different person. The murder mystery is obviously gripping, but the real focus of the show is the broken justice system that Naz has to navigate.

The story explores how fear, prejudice, and bureaucracy can completely reshape a person’s identity, and how damaging that can be. Ahmed delivers a career-defining performance as he portrays Naz’s confusion, vulnerability, and eventual emotional numbness. John Turturro is equally phenomenal as John Stone, the eccentric defense attorney who initially seems awkward and detached but is the only person genuinely trying to help Naz. The show doesn’t feature any flashy twists or exaggerated courtroom theatrics. Instead, The Night Of builds tension through silence, uncertainty, and the uncomfortable feeling that the system often cares more about closing a case than the truth.

6

‘Behind Her Eyes’ (2021)

Image via Netflix

Behind Her Eyes begins like a fairly straightforward psychological thriller, but it slowly takes a stranger and more ambitious turn. The story, based on Sarah Pinborough’s novel, follows single mother Louise (Simona Brown), who begins an affair with her boss, psychiatrist David Ferguson (Tom Bateman). However, things get messy when she unexpectedly forms a friendship with his mysterious wife, Adele (Eve Hewson). At first, the series feels like a slow-burning relationship drama filled with a typical love triangle, but that’s far from the truth. Behind Her Eyes stands out from other thrillers in how it gradually introduces supernatural and sci-fi elements into the narrative without cheapening the overall emotional stakes.

As Louise grows closer to Adele, she begins learning about lucid dreaming and astral projection, and that’s when the tone of the show changes completely. The miniseries constantly plays with perspective, which makes it difficult for the audience to trust any character. The deeper Louise gets pulled into David and Adele’s toxic relationship, the more disturbing the truth becomes. Behind Her Eyes maintains this sense of unpredictability till the very end, so when the twist finally comes, it lands with an impact that is almost impossible to shake off.

5

‘I May Destroy You’ (2020)

Image via HBO

HBO’s I May Destroy You is easily the most emotionally rich and fearless miniseries of the last decade. The show, created by and starring Michaela Coel, follows Arabella Essiedu, a successful young writer whose life completely changes after she is assaulted during a night out in London. A premise like this could have easily resulted in an overwhelmingly bleak narrative, but that isn’t the case. I May Destroy You never ignores the damage caused by Arabella’s trauma, but it also refuses to define her entirely by that. Now, the assault itself happens early in the story, which means that the series actually explores everything that comes after it. Instead of building toward one big mystery or dramatic courtroom climax, I May Destroy You focuses on the messy, raw, and personal process of healing.

Arabella spends much of the show trying to piece together what happened to her that night while also trying to keep up with her friendships, work obligations, and maintain some sense of normalcy. The show’s greatest strength is how naturally it blends some of its most devastating moments with humor and even warmth. Arabella herself isn’t presented as the perfect victim, which is exactly why her journey feels so authentic. Michaela Coel’s writing constantly refuses easy answers, and often jumps between timelines to present multiple versions of what closure can look like. I May Destroy You is difficult, uncomfortable, funny, and heartbreaking at the same time. Most importantly, it’s the kind of show that trusts its audience to let the ambiguity of the situation sink in instead of trying to make it feel palatable.

4

‘Godless’ (2017)

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Godless is the perfect Western for a modern audience. The miniseries, created by Scott Frank, is set in 1884 and follows outlaw Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell), who is on the run after betraying his former mentor and terrifying gang leader Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels). Things take an interesting turn when Roy finds refuge in La Belle, New Mexico, a town populated almost entirely by women, after a devastating mining accident killed most of the men. Godless stands out from other Westerns because it doesn’t center on shootouts and revenge alone. The premise, of course, is the most unique part of the show, as Roy witnesses the women in La Belle rebuilding their entire community.

That alone gives the show a perspective that most Westerns rarely explore. Michelle Dockery’s Alice Fletcher is one of the most compelling characters in the show, who lives isolated on a ranch outside town while raising her son and dealing with prejudice from the people around her. Godless is easily one of the most character-driven Western series of all time, and that’s what makes its world feel truly alive. Even Roy and Frank’s conflict feels much more complex than a simple betrayal after the show slowly reveals their father-son dynamic through flashbacks. Godless also deserves major credit for its stunning cinematography and meticulous action sequences. That, combined with its slow-burning narrative, proves that the Western genre still has room for intimate and emotionally intense stories.

3

‘Baby Reindeer’ (2024)

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Baby Reindeer is intense, uncomfortable, and a black comedy that constantly shifts between psychological thriller and personal drama. The series, created by and starring Richard Gadd, is based on his own experiences and follows struggling comedian Donny Dunn, whose life spirals after he shows a small act of kindness to a lonely woman named Martha (Jessica Gunning). What begins as an awkward encounter takes a dangerous turn when Martha develops an obsessive attachment to Donny and begins stalking him both online and in real life. What makes Baby Reindeer so different from most thrillers is that it refuses to present Donny or Martha as one-dimensional characters.

In fact, Martha comes across as oddly sympathetic despite her strange behavior, and Donny seems to be enjoying the validation he gets from her. However, as the stalking escalates, the show reveals Donny’s past experiences with manipulation that completely reframe everything the audience thought they knew. Baby Reindeer is emotionally messy, but brutally honest at the same time. The show never makes light of trauma, but balances its uncomfortable moments with dark humor, which somehow makes everything all the more unsettling. This isn’t an easy watch by any means, but an unforgettable one thanks to its hard-hitting premise.

2

‘Station Eleven’ (2021)

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Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic series that begins with a devastating flu pandemic wiping out most of humanity. However, this isn’t just a simple survival story built around violence and the collapse of society. Instead, Station Eleven follows multiple characters across different timelines to explore what people really hold on to after the world they know is gone. Kirsten Raymonde (Mackenzie Davis and Matilda Lawler), a former child actress who grew up traveling with a group of performers known as the Traveling Symphony, is the heart of the story.

Twenty years after civilization collapses, the Symphony moves from settlement to settlement performing Shakespeare plays for survivors to ignite hope within them. Station Eleven also jumps between timelines to slowly reveal how all of its characters are connected through actor Arthur Leander (Gael García Bernal) and the pandemic itself. Despite its setting, the series never feels cynical. Sure, it is heartbreaking at times, but above everything else, the show constantly emphasizes how important storytelling, music, theater, and shared memories are for the preservation of humanity. That emotional complexity sets it apart from every other dystopian show out there.

1

‘Firefly’ (2002)

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Firefly is the ultimate cult-classic sci-fi show, despite only lasting a single season before being prematurely canceled. The series, created by Joss Whedon, is set in the year 2517, where humanity has inhabited an entirely new star system controlled by a powerful central government known as the Alliance. Instead of focusing on grand wars or massive intergalactic politics, though, Firefly follows the crew of Serenity, a small transport spaceship led by former soldier Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds (Nathan Fillion). After losing a brutal civil war against the Alliance, Mal survives by taking whatever jobs he and his crew can find across the outer planets, like smuggling, theft, transport work, and even dangerous mercenary missions.

The crew itself is what makes the show so memorable. Serenity is essentially a dysfunctional family made up of people constantly navigating the emotional baggage from their pasts. Firefly also stands out from other shows in the genre thanks to its experimental genre-bending. The series combines space opera with classic Western storytelling, which was pretty unique for its time. The world feels dirty, lived-in, and grounded, which gives Firefly a very different tone compared to the sleek sci-fi shows that viewers were used to in the early 2000s. Very few canceled shows have left behind a legacy this strong, and Firefly remains one of the clearest examples of a series ending long before it could reach its full potential.

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Firefly

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Release Date

2002 – 2002-00-00

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Network

FOX

Showrunner

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Joss Whedon

Directors

Allan Kroeker, David Solomon, James A. Contner, Marita Grabiak, Michael Grossman, Tim Minear, Vern Gillum

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Caleb Shomo has been the lead singer of Beartooth for more than a decade.

In May 2026, Shomo made headlines when he came out as gay after relentless online speculation about his sexuality.

“There has been a lot of speculation surrounding my personal life as of late and I feel compelled to set the record straight before it affects those I love any further. I am a proudly gay man,” he wrote via Instagram at the time. “This is something I’ve been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now. It’s been difficult to navigate the feelings surrounding the subject and figure out what to do with this fact.”

He continued, “When it comes to my art/Beartsooth, I have always strived to chase who I am in the deepest part of my soul from album to album. As you could gather if you’ve followed the band at all in the earlier years, there are 4 very self deprecating albums about exploring my religious upbringing, depression, self hatred, and hopelessness. I am grateful for all these albums, yet feel embarrassed at times that I wouldn’t allow myself to really dig up the roots for so long.”

Scroll down to learn more about Shomo:

Caleb Shomo Was a Member of Attack Attack!

Shomo was a part of the metalcore band Attack Attack!, which he left in 2012. He shared at the time that he was leaving the band on “good terms” and that he would continue making music.

Caleb Shomo Has Been Candid About Mental Health Struggles

While leaving Attack Attack! In 2012, Shomo opened up about facing mental health struggles.

“I have horrible clinical depression and have for years. as you may have heard from my speeches i gave during about the last 6 months or so of my touring career with AA i have been suicidal since middle school,” he said at the time, in part. “I’ve struggled on and off with eating disorders, self image problems since i was announced as the frontman a few years ago, and various substance abuse and addictions for about the past year. Having thousands of people tell you your a ‘fat piece of s***’ isn’t exactly the easiest thing to deal with at 17, and i could imagine ever. I am very scatter brained and just kinda am ranting so deal with me for this being so all over the place.”

He continued, “I love all of the guys that have ever been involved in AA. Great dudes, very supportive as well. Starting about a year ago i started to really go into a downward spiral mentally. Having panic attacks, mental breakdowns, cutting myself off from the world for weeks at a time, writing insanely depressing songs, not too fun. I had a lot of stress in my life/demons haunting me and in no way wanted to face it head on and deal with it. As you may have guessed this doesn’t help problems in the least.”

Caleb Shomo Is Lead Singer of Beartooth

Shomo has been the lead singer of the band Beartooth since 2012, notoriously writing songs for the band while he was still a member of Attack Attack!. Beartooth has released five studio albums during their tenure, with the most recent — “The Surface” — dropping in 2023.

Caleb Shomo Deleted Instagram After Facing Homophobic Remark

In March 2026, Shomo deleted his Instagram account after the band released their new single “Free.” At the time, Shomo debuted a new appearance that led Atilla frontman Chris Fronzak to make a homophobic remark. Fronzak, for his part, apologized.

Caleb Shomo Was Married to Fleur Shomo

Caleb tied the knot with his wife, Fleur Shomo, in 2012. Fleur shared her support for Caleb after he publicly came out as gay in 2026.

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“Our nearly 14yrs of marriage was wonderful and full of so much fun, adventure & love. Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do. And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people,” she wrote, in part, via Instagram at the time. “I already miss it & my husband more than anything. Our story was a good one. And now it’s done.”

She added, “I hope anyone in the world going through this finds hope & courage & I hope the fans can continue to support Caleb. For now I’m going to keep focusing on what I can control & continue living my life trying to achieve what I want to achieve. And if I keep saying hi to as many dogs as possible along the way, then I’m sure things will slowly get better, day by day, piece by small piece, bird by bird.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.