Savannah Guthrie is thinking of her mom, Nancy Guthrie, on Mother’s Day 2026.

“Mother, daughter, sister, Nonie, we miss you with every breath,” Savannah, 54, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 10, sharing throwback footage of the mother-daughter pair. “We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you.”

She continued, “We need help. Someone knows something that can make the difference. Call 1800CALLFBI. You can be anonymous and the reward remains available. Please keep praying. Bring her home.”

Nancy, 84, was reported missing from her home in Arizona in February. The case remains open and there are no significant leads at the time of publication.

Related: Savannah Guthrie Cries in 1st Interview Since Mom Nancy Went Missing

Savannah Guthrie will share more insight into the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, in a new interview more than 50 days after the 84-year-old went missing. During the Wednesday, March 25, episode of the Today show, host Craig Melvin introduced a clip from Savannah’s upcoming sit-down with Hoda Kotb, marking her first interview about […]

“[My sister, Annie, called], she said, ‘She’s gone,’” Savannah said on the Today show in March, recalling how she was alerted of their mom’s disappearance. “She was in a panic. I was in a panic. I’m like, ‘Call 911.’ She’s like. ‘I did. We called them. They’re here.’”

She continued, “It was just chaos and disbelief. From the very early moments, Annie and [her husband] were saying [to authorities], ‘This isn’t a case that you are used to where someone wanders off. She can’t wander off.’”

As Nancy’s case has remained open for nearly 100 days, Savannah has remained cautious about giving her own two kids all the details.

“It’s so hard with kids. You want to protect them,” the Today cohost, who shares Vale and Charley with husband Michael Feldman, said at the time. “They’ll write me all the time, ‘Mama, any leads? You hear anything? Any hope?’ I think that we try to talk to them and try to get them a little more certainty than we have, to let them grieve.”

Savannah briefly took a step back from Today to be with her family. She returned to the morning show last month.

“She feels deep, searing pain, and she shows up,” former cohost Hoda Kotb exclusively told Us Weekly in April of Savannah’s broadcast return. “She’s showing that both things can be true. ome pain you carry, you’re not going to explain it away. You just have to go through life with it right in your pocket, and that’s what she’s doing. She’s doing it in a way that I’ve never seen anyone do it before.”

Kotb, 61, further recalled the first moment she saw Savannah back in the Today studio.

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Related: Savannah Guthrie Recalls ‘Chaos’ of Finding Out Mom Nancy Was Missing

Savannah Guthrie is breaking down the moment she learned her mom, Nancy Guthrie, had disappeared. The news anchor, 54, opened up about the harrowing day during an interview with Hoda Kotb that aired on the Thursday, March 26, episode of the Today show. She noted that her husband, Michael Feldman, had been away with friends, […]

“When Savannah first walked on the set on Monday of this week, when I was there, she looked at me and she goes, ‘What is this, April of 2025?’” Kotb joked, referring to her signoff from the morning show. “Then she held me and didn’t let go. I’ve literally been marveling at how she navigates [this].”

Feldman, 57, shared his own Mother’s Day tribute to Savannah on Sunday, praising her strength during such a difficult time.

“To the strongest person I know,” Feldman wrote via Instagram alongside a blurry photo of Savannah embracing their two children. “Surrounding you with love on Mother’s Day.”

Eva Mendes is getting political on Mother’s Day 2026, urging parents to focus on protecting their kids from the reported dangers of social media use.

“Mothers are losing their children to social media harms, and instead of breaking, they’re turning their grief into action. For your kids and for mine,” Mendes, 52 wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 10, alongside a black and white photo of the actress wearing a “mother” tank.

“Out of the universal unconditional love a mother feels for her child-may we please stand in solidarity with them and sign their Mother’s Day card asking bipartisan lawmakers to [do] just that: Protect our children,” the caption continued. “Please pass comprehensive legislation this year that will protect them from online harms.”

Mendes was advocating for the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bipartisan bill introduced by Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn that would mandate strict default privacy settings for all social media platforms in the hopes of mitigating bullying, online exploitation and access to harmful content.

Related: Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes’ Sweetest Quotes About Love and Family

Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes might keep their family life on the down-low, but one thing remains certain— the A-listers are parenting pros! The La La Land star and the Ghost Rider actress share daughters Esmeralda and Amada, whom they welcomed in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Although the family of four lead private lives, Gosling and […]

Several studies have shown that prolonged social media usage leads to an increase in depression and anxiety. Those who oppose the bill argue that it will lead to increased civilian surveillance and censorship.

Those in favor of the bill are planning to hold a rally on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, May 12, to “implore” the U.S. senate to, “skip the flowers, skip the chocolates, and give bereaved Mother’s the gift of passing the Kids Online Safety Act (SOSA) this year,” per a Sunday press release.

Mendes shares two children — daughters Esmeralda and Amanda — with actor Ryan Gosling. The pair first met in 2011 on the set of their movie The Place Beyond the Pines, and after a decade secretly got married in 2022.

Known for her relatively private life after stepping out of the spotlight to raise her two children, Mendes is not particularly politically active. In January, the actress took to her Instagram Stories to shut down rumors that she had relocated to London, England, in the wake of President Donald Trump winning a second presidential term.

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“Wrong again @dailymail,” she wrote at the time. “Although I love my time in London, I can’t wait to get back home and celebrate the @dodgers World Series championship! Go Dodgers!!!”

Related: Jenna Bush Hager, Pink and More Stars Who Have Strict Screen Rules for Kids

Nicole Kidman, Pink and more celebrity parents are figuring out how to limit their kids’ screen time. “They don’t have a phone and I don’t allow them to have an Instagram,” Kidman told Vanity Fair in an April 2019 interview of her and ex Keith Urban’s daughters, Sunday and Faith. (Sunday joined Instagram in October 2024 […]

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Of course, Mendes is not the first celebrity to throw the weight of their significant platform behind a worthwhile political cause. Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle have been consistent advocates for social media safety and increased guardrails.

“We are at a crossroads where the urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident,” the Duke of Sussex said while appearing virtually at the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia in November 2024. “While the necessity has always been apparent, it is now time to translate that awareness into meaningful action. So, we thank you all for your attention to this critical issue.”

Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson is opening up about a terrifying few months for her family after her 8-month-old daughter, Kit, suffered two separate choking incidents that ultimately led doctors to discover and diagnose an “underlying” health condition.

Robertson shared the update on Instagram on May 8, 2026, revealing that what she initially believed was a one-time emergency turned out to be a sign of something more serious. While she did not disclose Kit’s specific diagnosis, she described the issue as “a relatively small fix” — and confirmed that her youngest daughter is now on the road to healing.

Robertson and her husband, Christian Huff, also share daughters Honey, 4, and Haven, 2.

Keep scrolling to learn more:

Related: ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Sadie Robertson’s Honest Quotes About Motherhood

Sadie Robertson has been open and honest about her experience with motherhood. The Duck Dynasty star, who shares three children with husband Christian Huff, has not shied away from discussing intimate details about her births and postpartum struggles over the years. (She welcomed daughters Honey James, Haven Belle and Kit Carroway in May 2021, May […]

Kit’s 1st Choking Incident

Robertson first revealed her family’s health scare on April 11, 2026, sharing on social media that Kit briefly stopped breathing earlier that month while eating a snack.

“Within seconds, you could tell the severity of the situation. My mom pulled her from the high chair and placed my girl into my arms just as she stopped breathing,” Robertson recalled in a social media post. “Everyone went into action and into prayer. Mom called 911, I started CPR, and everyone began to pray out loud and move the other kids downstairs.”

After Robertson’s CPR attempts, Kit “miraculously coughed and began to breathe.”

“I’m currently walking through the waves of anxiety from the trauma of the situation, and the immense gratitude for the miracle of Kit’s full recovery and God’s undeniable hand on this situation,” Robertson wrote at the time. “I’ve been off social media and having my family and amazing team help me on here for some time while I work on having a sound mind.”

The 2nd Incident

A month later, Robertson revealed that Kit experienced another choking episode before doctors began searching for a deeper cause.

“A month since Kit choked, and what we thought was a one-time event, [it] happened again shortly after,” Robertson wrote on May 8. “That was the beginning of discovering something underlying.”

Robertson did not specify Kit’s diagnosis but expressed gratitude that the underlying issue was treatable.

“Praise the Lord that for such a scary and life-threatening event we had, it was a relatively small fix [and] because of the incredible doctors, and she is healing now,” she wrote. “God really does establish STRENGTH in the mouth of infants 😭🙌🥲.”

The reality star also reflected on the spiritual and emotional weight of the experience.

“This past month has marked us in a way that will take a while to unpack. It has tested faith, and strengthened it. We’ve seen things that brought a lot of trauma, and also seen miracles on miracles that I’ll tell stories about forever!” Robertson wrote. “God is faithful, He is good, He is an ever-present help in times of trouble. He is a provider and protector. And the church is a wonderful place that displays His love in times like this.”

Robertson also asked followers to respect her family’s privacy on medical matters, writing, “We kindly ask for no further medical advice on this platform.”

Huff responded to the post with a sweet message: “You’re the best mom ❤️.”

Sadie Robertson’s Mom Korie Robertson Lends a Hand

Two days later, on May 10, Sadie dedicated a Mother’s Day tribute to her mom, Korie Robertson, thanking her for being a steady presence during the family’s ordeal.

“Happy Mother’s Day to this treasure on earth 💎!!!” Sadie wrote. “She did not leave our side the past two weeks as we walked through this scary time, and I could not be more thankful for her steadiness!”

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She also joked about taking up so much of Korie’s attention amid the sprawling Duck Dynasty family’s schedule.

“I apologize to the rest of the family for stealing the MVP for two weeks,” Sadie continued. “But hey, we needed her, and I did gain a whole new respect for her part-time job of talking on the phone with every family member throughout the day, and somehow still rocking the world in her other job too!”

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. 

If you’re eyeing designer bow-tie sandals, wait! The trendy look doesn’t necessarily have to be on display at a high-end store, not when we found stylish options that start at just $9. Sure, they may fool everyone into thinking they’re the real deal from brands like Coach, but our affordable favorites deliver a similar elevated aesthetic for less. They give off rich mom vibes without going past the $50 mark!

These expensive-looking sandals are equally luxe and delicate, making them perfect for casual and fancy occasions alike. Whether you’re searching for everyday slip-ons, classy kitten heels or beachy flip-flops, you’ll find them below. Seriously, they should cost triple digits (but we’re happy they don’t).

11 Designer-Looking Bow-Tie Sandals — From $9

1. Our Favorite: If you’re tired of fussy laces and straps, these easy-on sandals are on your feet in seconds. They pair with everything from sundresses to jeans.

2. Low Heel: These 1.5-inch heeled sandals hit the sweet spot between style and comfort, elongating your legs without the wobble of stilettos. The vegan leather finish keeps them sleek.

3. Cute Kitten: Two straps, two bows. These dainty kitten heels have a double-bow detail that adds twice the charm.

4. Rich Mom: Made with a plush footbed and a rich brown hue, these comfortable leather sandals read pure Hamptons. They look like they cost five times the price.

5. Wedding Guest: A sturdy block heel makes these sky blue sandals wearable on grass and cobblestone pathways. The soft color feels romantic without competing with the bride.

Related: Cool Girls Are Retiring Chunky Sneakers for These Sleek Styles, From $10

Chunky sneakers had their moment, but cool girls are ditching statement soles for sleek, understated alternatives. These 13 flat sneakers are just as comfy, but are much more polished. They’re everywhere in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and beyond! These classy kicks come from brands like Adidas, Nike, Sam Edelman and Guess. And while they […]

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6. Classic Cork: Skip the break-in period! These classic cork sandals soften to your foot shape, making every wear feel better than the last.

7. Pool-Friendly: Gone are the days of ruining your cute sandals at the pool. These waterproof jelly flip-flops handle chlorine, sand and salt water.

8. Go for Gold: The polished gold color takes these kitten heel sandals from pretty to glamorous. With only a mini lift, they’re still comfortable for long evenings out.

9. Memory Foam: Memory foam changes everything. These plush flip-flops feel like walking on clouds and don’t rub, thanks to the buttery-smooth straps.

10. Everyday Staple: Style these hot pink sandals with cuffed jeans and a white tee for an effortlessly put-together look. The color does all the talking for you.

11. Total Steal: At just $9, these espadrille-style sandals have no business looking so good. They mimic the woven texture of espadrilles while delivering actual underfoot cushioning.

Related: Black Flats Are Everywhere! Nail the Celeb-Approved Look, From $7

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If you think you’re seeing black ballet flats wherever you go, that’s because you are! Rich moms wear them nonstop, as do A-listers like Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lawrence and Kendall Jenner. The right black flats are the classy, just-as-comfy alternative to sneakers, and we found 13 pairs that fit the description. These black flats feature […]

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul is sending a pointed message on Mother’s Day.

“It’s Mother’s Day so I’ll say whatever I want,” Paul, 31, began in a lengthy Instagram post on Sunday, May 10. “As if it’s not already the worst time. I have [sic] STILL have ‘friends’ kicking me while I’m already down and calling it ‘setting a boundary’ and then BLAMES ME for being upset and responding. That’s called shaming and attack while I had a moment to breathe and she knew that.”

Alongside the message, Taylor shared a series of photos with her kids through the years. (Taylor shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul and is also mom to son Ever, 2, with ex Dakota Mortensen. Taylor temporarily lost custody of Ever after an alleged domestic violence incident between the pair, but was awarded a 12-hour Mother’s Day visit. Local police declined to press charges.)

“Not once have [I] called myself a ‘victim’ but I’m HUMAN and have breaking points,” Taylor wrote on Sunday. “What a snake friend just did to me in the public eye after everything she just witnessed … the lack of empathy and silence was loud enough.”

Related: Taylor Frankie Paul Breaks Silence on Domestic Dispute: I Am a ‘Good Mother’

Taylor Frankie Paul is speaking out for the first time since her alleged altercation with Dakota Mortensen made headlines. Taylor, 31, addressed the alleged domestic violence dispute with Dakota, 33, that caused a production shutdown on their reality show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. “There’s more to the context to everything and it’s unfortunate,” […]

The statement comes one day after Mormon Wives costar Mikayla Matthews shared that she “tried to stay as removed as possible” from Taylor amid legal drama. Taylor, for her part, responded in the comments section of a fan’s recap of Matthew’s message and claimed her friend was “waiting for my downfall.” Matthews denied this in a separate comment.

Taylor did not name Matthews in the statement on Sunday, where she referenced her 2023 arrest when she was charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief after the incident. (Taylor ultimately pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, while the other four charges were dismissed with prejudice. She later reached a plea deal.)

“Did you see the hearing? Did you see the bruises?” Taylor continued on Sunday. “Yet she’s bringing up ‘picking sides?’ Yes usually you do for friends you know go through that. Have you been hurt while pregnant? Have you been beaten right after giving birth? Have you lost two babies due to who knows what? Have you gone to jail for finally breaking and taking the only blame for years? Have you been in trouble for getting ready to feel pretty two months postpartum that you cry off your make up and return to an ugly tee shirt? Can you even understand what I’m saying just from just a psychological point?”

Related: Taylor Frankie Paul Shows ‘Hell on Earth’ Reality After DV Allegations

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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul is getting real about the last month of her life amid new domestic violence allegations and a custody dispute. “The last 40 days felt like hell on earth,” the reality TV star, 31, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, April 5, alongside a video montage featuring […]

She continued, “No clearly not .. if it’s being used as an analogy to rash cream.. You heard one side and never called me after, in fact ignored me twice. That is what an enemy is. Your trauma doesn’t give you a pass to kick me while [I’m] down and cover it with ‘a boundary’ months later after the fact… she is right to state her ‘boundary’ sure … but go ahead tell them the truth.”

Without naming Matthews, Taylor then questioned who her “last convo” was with “regarding the situation” and noted that it was “not me.” Taylor also seemingly referenced “concerns” arising with her filming Mormon Wives season 5, which halted production amid her alleged altercation with Mortensen. Us Weekly confirmed last month that filming resumed, but Taylor has yet to appear on camera.

“What other questions did you have in the concerns while filming with me… ’Does she get paid more than us? Save the ‘concern for children act,’” Taylor wrote. “They all know I’m good to my children. I’ve missed more events, girls nights and opportunities to stay home with my kids more than some could ever say.”

She concluded, “Happy mother to all the moms out there💕 Of course I’m spiraling… people calling me out yet I can’t respond? Exactly what I will NOT be tolerating ever again. Thank you GOD for the people you sent to help me through this with my enemies so close.”

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In the comments section, Mormon Wives costar Jessi Draper shared a message of support.

“You know how much I love you,” she wrote. “Not many have seen the behind the scenes but I have and I understand it first hand. I’m so sorry and you’ll be back stronger and happier than ever ❤️.”

In a separate statement on Sunday, Taylor wrote via her Instagram Story, “I will not be sitting down, staying silent or logging off … I did that for years on this. Trust me I can take a beating whether it’s physical, emotional, or public scrutiny. Anyone else want to speak up? Please do …”

Peacock’s newest crime drama M.I.A pulls off a shocking finale twist — but what does that reveal mean for the show’s future?

After Etta Tiger Jonze (Shannon Gisela) spent the whole season plotting — and succeeding — to avenge her family’s murder, she met boyfriend Matt’s (Tyler Tomás Perez) mother, Caroline (Marta Milans). Only the audience, however, knew that Caroline’s brothers were the ones who murdered Etta’s loved ones.

“I can’t even speculate — because all of this is from the wonderful writing team — about what comes next. I have no idea how this is going to go but I do know that the hope is that we get a second season to continue telling the story,” Gisela exclusively told Us Weekly. “They do such a wonderful job of making things complex and difficult to navigate. So I have no doubt that — should we get to keep telling the story — that we’ll just get deeper into the well.”

Gisela was excited to see a showdown between Etta and Caroline.

“It’ll be just as action packed — especially because Marta is such a force. It feels like two female Gladiators who are meeting and not knowing how the other is gonna react. So it’s just all of this juicy stuff,” she teased. “She brought it to life so beautifully. She has such a precision about her too. Like every scene that she’s in, she’s accurate and laser focused. So I’m excited to see what explosion comes from that meeting of these two gravitational characters.”

Gisela continued: “I wonder is Caroline going to want to get out of the business and she’s going to join Etta and be like, ‘Wait, this is crazy.’ Or is Matt gonna get thrown in the middle? Or does Matt end up knowing? Then does he have to pick? I have no idea but it’s such a juicy ending.”

Created by Ozark‘s Bill Dubuque, M.I.A is a crime drama focused on Etta, who seeks to avenge her family’s murder and rise to power in the Miami underworld.

“It’s a situation where it is so beautifully written in that Etta doesn’t have a one-track mind. There’s a real heart to her and an eagerness to connect with the people around her still. It takes her time, obviously.” She told Us. “The fact that she even lets Matt in is a sign that she wants to also just be a young woman and experience life.”

Gisela loved how the show found a balance, adding, “That eagerness to connect is the thing that keeps her coming back. It might be something where they are just going to keep learning more about each other.”

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While the audience was shocked by the ending — so was the cast.

“We didn’t really know much about what was happening in the next episode until a little bit before we had to shoot it. It was one of these things that kind of kept me on my toes in a really great way,” Gisela gushed. “It kept it surprising. I had no idea where this was going to go. I knew what happened in the first episode and I knew that that was going to be the inciting thing that then we go on this journey. It was making discoveries along the way, which was really fun.”

M.I.A is currently streaming on Peacock.

Blake Lively is paying tribute to her own mother, Elaine Lively, after she reached a surprise settlement in her legal battle against her It Ends With Us costar and director, Justin Baldoni.

“Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who chooses joy, every day, no matter what,” Lively, 38, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Sunday, May 10, over a photo of her mother. “The strength and defiance in that is something I’ll always appreciate, especially the older I get. She makes every day special for everyone around her. Especially her babies and grandbabies”

The Gossip Girl star continued, “She isn’t just beautiful, she creates beauty, with her hands, her stories, her playfulness, her creativity, her incredible ingenuity and her love. I’m so grateful, now and forever to have been shaped by your heart full of love, optimism and magic. You make the ordinary extraordinary. I love you. Thank you mama.”

Lively’s heartfelt post comes nearly one week after Lively reached a surprise settlement with Baldoni, 42, before trial was set to begin.

Related: Blake Lively Pays Tribute to Her Mom Amid Justin Baldoni Battle

As her legal battle against Justin Baldoni continues, Blake Lively is stopping to smell the roses. The actress shared a tribute to her mother, Elaine Lively, via her Instagram Story on Thursday, June 5, as she revealed she had been trying her hand at flower arranging. Blake, 37, shared a photo of herself holding a […]

Lively had alleged that her It Ends With Us costar sexually harassed her, fostered a hostile work environment and orchestrated a smear campaign against her. Baldoni denied her claims, but his countersuit was dismissed in June 2025.

On Monday, May 4, the pair reached an out-of-court settlement in the case, avoiding trial altogether.

“The end product — the movie It Ends With Us — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind,” Lively and Baldoni said in a joint statement to Us via their attorneys at the time. “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard.”

The statement continued, “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”

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Rachael Bennett, a certified family law specialist and senior attorney at Sullivan Law & Associates, exclusively told Us Weekly that similar cases tend to settle so close to trial because “the risk of putting the outcome in a jury’s hands becomes too dangerous for at least one, and here, probably both sides.”

“I think the timing here matters,” she continued. “The settlement came right after the judge dismissed the majority of Blake Lively’s claims, including that headline-grabbing sexual harassment allegation. By the end, the case had been narrowed primarily to just her retaliation claims and those contract related claims.”

She adds, “That changes the leverage dramatically once those bigger emotional claims are gone. I think both sides may have decided that continuing into a highly public trial with massive legal fees and some potential reputational risk simply just wasn’t worth a gamble anymore.”

On June 6th, 1944, 160,000 Allied soldiers landed on occupied France via parachute, glider, and watercraft, in order to liberate Western Europe from the Nazis. It is an event that is almost legendary in its scale and consequences, so it is little wonder that filmmakers have visited the subject time and again. From The Longest Day in 1962 to Steven Spielberg’s brilliant opening scene in Saving Private Ryan, directors have used the beach landings to show heroism and bravery against harrowing odds.

While there certainly were heroes on that terrible day, those stories were not what interested British director Stuart Cooper when he set out to make his own D-Day film, 1975’s Overlord. Instead, Cooper delivers a more intimate, grittier, and tragically accurate historical fiction, one that will stay with audiences long after the credits roll. The name Overlord actually comes from the Allied codename for the invasion of Normandy during World War II. The film sets this expectation for the big day from the start, with the name blatantly informing the audience about what the movie is leading up to.

‘Overlord’ Examines World War II Through an Intimate Lens

In stark contrast to the gravity and size of Operation Overlord, audiences are introduced to an “everyman” recruit named Thomas Beddows (Bryan Stirner). Beddows is an Englishman who joins up with the British Army, undergoes basic training, and anxiously awaits his assignment in the war. The length and breadth of the film is spent, not with Beddows taking cover from German guns, but rather, taking scoldings from drill sergeants. Beddows does all the things viewers expect during the first quarter of a typical war film; he trains, he talks about life after the war with his mates, and he even dances with a woman and plans to take her out on a date. Only in Overlord, this period of pre-combat makes up the bulk of the film.

Instead of intricately shot combat scenes with hundreds of extras, Cooper relies heavily on archival footage of actual soldiers and implements of war. Intercut with the “live action” shots are real scenes of bombings, Nazi rallies, and troops and tanks on the march — adding to the realistic nature of the movie. In order to avoid visual whiplash, Cooper actually tracked down period-correct camera lenses from the 1930s and 1940s, so the look of his new footage would match the stock films. All of these scenes are woven seamlessly throughout the narrative, with Beddow’s troubled dreams being particularly wrought with grizzly visions of war. This gives Overlord an authentic look that also feels quite dreamy and nostalgic, making the events portrayed all the more sad to watch.

‘Overlord’ Subverts Expectations for a Devastatingly Impactful Conclusion

It is impossible to talk about Overlord without discussing its infamous ending, so anyone who would like to watch the film first should be aware of spoilers coming up. As mentioned above, most movies about D-Day give audiences a sort of hero to follow up the beach. Hundreds of soldiers die around our hero, but he always makes it, giving viewers a sort of proxy through the battle. But in Overlord, after spending more than an hour and a half with Private Beddows, the young man is shot in the head before he even steps off the landing craft. This scene is an absolute gut punch, leaving the viewer feeling completely devastated, if not a bit numb. Much in the same way that The Deer Hunter shows the deep friendship of the four leads before throwing them into The Vietnam War, Cooper gives us a portrait of a decent young man with a whole life ahead of him before unceremoniously cutting him down in the final minutes of the movie. As deeply depressing as it is, this is just what Overlord is trying to accomplish. Thomas Beddows is just one of the literal millions of young men across the world who lost their lives similarly during that terrible war.

Stuart Cooper’s Overlord is an epic of a very different sort than other war films. It does not dazzle with its effects, and it does not show the hell of battle through the eyes of a hero. Instead, Overlord chooses to represent the ordinary, almost forgotten soldier that falls without a word. Every extra in a war movie that dies in the background represents another Thomas Beddows, and Overlord was made for those lost lives. Everybody ought to see this film at least once, and remember that war is not fought by mythological heroes, but by ordinary people.

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Overlord

Release Date

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July 1, 1975

Runtime

83 minutes

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Director

Julius Avery

Writers

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Christopher Hudson

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Supriya Ganesh is getting candid about leaving The Pitt — and the online reaction that followed.

“I tried to take a step away, because it’s just been so surreal,” Ganesh, 28, told Variety in an interview published on Sunday, May 10, of the reaction. “The day that news broke, I saw my name was trending on Twitter, and I was like, ‘Gotta put the phone down and go outside.’ So, I haven’t really been keeping track of it, to be honest, but I’ve been getting such sweet, lovely messages from people, and I’ve honestly just been surprised at how much people love the character and saw so much of themselves in her, and that’s what I’m going to miss.”

Ganesh, who couldn’t confirm any future projects yet, shared that there are a “couple of things in the pipeline.”

News broke in April that Ganesh’s character, Dr. Samira Mohan, would be written off after the emotional season 2 finale. At the time, it was reported that Ganesh’s exit was a “story-driven” choice, since the show is set in a teaching hospital.

While speaking with JoySauce later that month, Ganesh was asked where Mohan might end up in the future.

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“I hope [Samira] goes somewhere where she has an attending that thinks she’s fit to be in the ER,” Ganesh said at the time, suggesting that Mohan be paired up with Sepideh Moafi’s character. “Maybe if Dr. Al-Hashimi takes over. It’s been really interesting thinking about how different her experience of the ER might have been if she had a different attending.”

That same month, Ganesh spoke out about experiencing “discrimination” as an actor and opened up about gender dysphoria in an essay with Vulture. Now, Ganesh shared that the piece led to people reaching out and has resulted in a “validating” experience.

“It’s definitely a scary thing to put out there, because it’s such a complex experience and something that’s so personal that I remember when I was writing it, I like, ‘I don’t know if anyone’s going to get this. But that’s OK, because even if one person gets it, like, I’m writing for that person,’” Ganesh told Variety on Sunday. “I get DMs from people being like, ‘I’m taking your essay to my queer theory class and discussing it in class tomorrow.’ That’s just so surreal to me, because I remember being in women’s and gender studies classes, and discussing and debating ideas. It’s just great that it’s part of the conversation.”

Netflix offers many options, but one that’s hard to turn off is The Umbrella Academy, adapted from the comic book series of the same name by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. With superhero titles becoming increasingly popular on streaming, there’s no shortage of shows to choose from, but there aren’t any like The Umbrella Academy, which combines zany humor, complex family dynamics, and exaggerated action. In addition to focusing on a group of superpowered siblings, the series explores sci-fi topics such as time travel and alternate timelines, building a complex and fascinating story.

What Is ‘The Umbrella Academy’ About?

There’s never a dull moment on The Umbrella Academy. From the very first sequence that explores the mysterious and simultaneous birth of 43 children to mothers who weren’t pregnant, the story takes some unexpected turns. After the event, seven of those children are adopted by the eccentric billionaire, Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), who trains them to become superheroes. Luther (Tom Hopper), Diego (David Castañeda), Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman), Ben (Justin H. Min), Five (Aidan Gallagher), and Klaus (Robert Sheehan) all have unique abilities thanks to their nontraditional origins; however, the seventh child, Viktor (Elliot Page), is isolated from the rest. Though flashbacks are common, The Umbrella Academy follows these estranged siblings as adults when Hargreeves’ death forces them all back together, dredging up their resentments and lingering trauma.

The surviving Hargreeves children’s lives are complicated by Five returning after being missing for 17 years, despite being no older than the day he left. Claiming to have time-traveled to the future and insisting that an apocalypse is looming, Five asks for his siblings’ help in saving the world. With brutal time-traveling assassins from the secret organization known as the Commission after him, no knowledge of what happens to end the world, and a firm deadline, Five’s mission is near impossible. However, it also forces the siblings to uncover the truth about their past and come together despite their differences. Each season brings the characters a new challenge as they travel through time and even alternate timelines to try to stop the apocalypse before it happens.

Wild Sci-Fi Adventure and Humor Set ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Apart

In a world full of superhero shows, The Umbrella Academy stands out for its unapologetically wild humor. Between a 13-year-old boy who has the memories of an old man, a man whose body is part gorilla, and a lovestruck time-traveling assassin, nothing is too out there for this show. Though the series has incredibly violent moments, it never loses sight of the comedy. With its high stakes, The Umbrella Academy isn’t light-hearted by any means, but it is hilarious.

The Umbrella Academy also never slows down. Between the looming apocalypse, the Hargreeves family’s never-ending drama, and their powerful enemies at the Commission, the series is full of intriguing storylines. However, the siblings’ unexpected reunion provides an emotional center that’s equally significant to the story, especially as each member of the Umbrella Academy evolves and develops their powers over time. All of these events are enhanced by highly amusing needle-drops thrown into the mix, with songs ranging from “I Think We’re Alone Now” to “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” to catch the audience’s attention. Thanks to its excellent combination of superhero tropes and sci-fi elements, The Umbrella Academy is a show that was practically made to be binged over its four seasons.

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Release Date

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2019 – 2024-00-00

Directors

Jeremy Webb

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Franchise(s)

The Umbrella Academy

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