Former child star Kirsten Storms spent more than two decades portraying Maxie Jones on General Hospital — and navigated  a slew of ups and downs offscreen along the way.

Storms rose to fame on Disney Channel in the early 2000s, starring as the titular role in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century that spawned two futuristic follow-up films. Amid the height of her intergalactic fame, Storms landed the role as Maxie Jones on General Hospital.

Storms left the long-running soap for good in July 2026 following a series of health battles and custody issues regarding her daughter’s care. Keep scrolling to revisit Storms’ ups and downs in the spotlight: 

Kirsten Storms Starred as Maxie Jones on ‘General Hospital’ for 2 Decades

Storms debuted as Maxie — the daughter of Frisco Jones (Jack Wagner) and Felicia Cummings (Kristina Wagner) — in May 2005, taking over the role from Robyn Richards, who played the character from 1993 to 2004. Storms became a series regular in January 2006, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination and cementing herself as a fan-favorite for a generation of soap viewers.

Kirsten Storms’ Health-Related  ‘General Hospital’ Hiatuses

Storms’ run on General Hospital has been marked by repeated absences tied to her health, all of which she’s spoken candidly about with fans via social media. Storms first left the soap in 2011 while battling endometriosis. Following her return, Storms left again on maternity leave in 2014 when she welcomed daughter Harper with then-husband Brandon Barash.

After her four-month break, Storms reprised her beloved role once more. She, however, stepped back again in 2016 for skin issues, later revealing via Instagram that she suffered from “severe depression.”

Storms took her next hiatus in 2021 when she underwent brain surgery to remove a large cyst that had split into two.

“I had a very large cyst that had split into two, and the doctor said it was, like, so full the pressure was very noticeable when they opened up my skull,” she said via Instagram at the time. “[It] sounds so weird.”

Storms underwent a second neurological procedure in 2025 after doctors found a brain aneurysm.

Kirsten Storms Moves to Nashville

In July 2025, Storms told fans via social media she was relocating from Los Angeles to Nashville with then-11-year-old Harper. She had informed GH executive producer Frank Valentini in March 2025 and was granted time off.

“I’m still under contract and have every intention of returning when the break (I was fortunate enough to be granted) is over,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.

Storms returned to the fan-favorite soap in February 2026, in which Maxie woke up from a coma. She left GH for good in July 2026 with Maxie and her family moving away from Port Charles to Australia.

Kirsten Storms’ Custody Battle with Brandon Barash

Storms and Barash — who met on General Hospital, where he played Johnny Zacchara — had gotten married in 2013, one year before welcoming daughter Harper in 2014. The pair ultimately divorced in 2016, almost 10 years before Barash filed for custody of Harper in December 2025. He also obtained an emergency restraining order against Storms.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“Moving to Tennessee, as a single mom who lives alone 50 [percent] of the time, with a newly discovered brain aneurysm … well, I don’t think I need to explain how upsetting this entire situation has been for me,” she recalled of the custody drama in a July 2026 statement. “Given what’s been going on, I can’t say I will feel comfortable heading back to Los Angeles and returning to work [on General Hospital]. This has been an eye-opening experience about the downside of my profession.”

She added, “My daughter is my entire life, she is (and always will be) my first priority.”

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

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for the book Fire & Blood with spoilers for House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Ah, the Targaryens… They sure love their family. Almost as much as they love white wigs. This familial love, however, comes with a very serious problem: between all the incest, the backstabbing, and the multiple Aegons, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fans can sometimes get lost in the specifics of the most important family in the Seven Kingdoms.

Game of Thrones alone already has about six Targaryens featured as proper characters, not to mention the ones that are brought up as relevant figures in the history of the Iron Throne. When we throw House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms into the mix, things get even more complicated. After all, this is a franchise in which basically all the characters are Targaryens, and they’re all related to one another by either blood or marriage — sometimes, both! Still, if you find yourself at a loss about who’s who in this neverending dance of dragons, fear not: here’s a guide to all the most important Targaryens in Westeros.

Aegon I Targaryen

Image via HBO

The founder of the Targaryen dynasty, Aegon the Conqueror flew from Valyria to Westeros and unified the Seven Kingdoms before the events of both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. He had two children, one with each of his sister-wives: Aenys was Rhaenys son, while Maegor was his son with Visenya. His story will be depicted in the Aegon’s Conquest prequel movie. He rides the massive dragon, Balerion, and House of the Dragon confirms him to be a Dreamer.

Visenya Targaryen

Image via HBO

The older of Aegon’s two sisterwives, Visenya was known to be stern and passionate. She wields Dark Sister (the sword later passed down to Daemon Targaryen) and rides Vhagar (who is later ridden by Aemond Targaryen). The eldest of all three Valyrians, rumor is that while Aegon married Visenya in Valyrian fashion, he also took their younger sister Rhaenys as a wife as well — Visenya for duty and Rhaenys for love.

Rhaenys Targaryen

Image via HBO

Advertisement

The youngest of the three siblings, Rhaenys was gentler than her older sister and brother. She’s said to prefer dancing and music and flew more on the back of her dragon Meraxes than either of the other two. It is through Rhaenys that the Targaryen line is continued after her son Aenys takes the throne.

Rhaena Targaryen

In Fire & Blood, Rhaena is the daughter of King Aenys I, son of Aegon I and Rhaenys. She claims the blue dragon Dreamfyre, later ridden by Helaena Targaryen. She was married to her uncle/second cousin Maegor I, Visenya’s son and one of Westeros’ most tyrannical kings. Later in her life, as explained by Alys Waters (Gayle Rankin), she would move to live in Harrenhal, where she was also later buried. It’s there that her dragon Dreamfyre apparently laid a clutch of eggs that we see in House of the Dragon Season 3.

Jaehaerys Targaryen

Image via HBO

Advertisement

King Jaehaerys I (Michael Carter) is the grandson of King Aegon I by way of his son, Aenys, and Alyssa Velaryon. He had thirteen children, all of whom that were able to inherit the throne died before the end of his reign. Without a proper heir, he held a Great Council so that the lords of Westeros could choose to be ruled by either Rhaenys (Eve Best), the daughter of his eldest son, or Viserys (Paddy Considine), his eldest living grandson. Because the realm prefers a male heir, Viserys is the one chosen in the very first episode of House of the Dragon. Jaehaerys rode the dragon Vermithor, who is later claimed by Jaehaerys’ bastard grandson, Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew).

Alysanne Targaryen

Image via HBO

Advertisement

The wife as well as the sister of King Jaehaerys, Alysanne was known as the Good Queen and is remembered fondly by the smallfolk of Westeros. Set to marry Ser Orryn Baratheon, Alysanne eloped with her brother to Dragonstone, but the secret union was nearly voided as Jaehaerys refused to consummate the wedding due to his sister’s young age. Their marriage remained hidden from the people of Westeros for many years until Jaehaerys came of age and became king. The two then married in a small public ceremony and had thirteen children together. Alysanne passed away a few years before her husband. Near the end, she’d lost the ability to ride her dragon, Silverwing, and she suffered hearing loss and memory loss. But what was the final straw for her was the suicide of her favorite daughter, Gael, after already having lost 9 other children. Silverwing would later be claimed by Ulf (Tom Bennett).

Rhaenys Targaryen

Image via HBO

The Queen Who Never Was earned her moniker after losing the throne to her cousin, Viserys, in the Great Council held by her heirless grandfather, King Jaeherys I. Due to her desire to see a woman on the Iron Throne, Rhaenys eventually comes to support Rhaenyra in the Dance of the Dragons. She is married to Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), with whom she has two children, Laenor (John Macmillan) and Laena (Nanna Blondell). She rides the dragon Meleys, the Red Queen, until her tragic death in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 4.

Viserys Targaryen

Image via HBO

Unable to provide a male heir with his first wife, Aemma (Siân Brooke), Viserys names his only daughter, Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock/Emma D’Arcy), as his successor to the throne. This proves to be a mistake for King Viserys eventually remarries Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey/Olivia Cooke), with whom he has three sons: Aegon II (Tom Glynne-Carney), Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), and Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth). The two also have a daughter named Helaena (Phia Saban). Viserys also rode Balerion, though only for a year before his death.

Daemon Targaryen

Image via HBO

Before marrying his niece, Daemon (Matt Smith) was her opponent in the fight for the Iron Throne, but his claim eventually went down the drain with the birth of Aegon II. Daemon initially marries Laena Velaryon, with whom he has two daughters, Baela (Bethany Antonia) and Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell). After Laena kills herself via dragon in order not to die in childbirth, he marries Rhaenyra, with whom he has three children, including the stillborn Visenya. Although he and Rhaenyra initially fight over power at the beginning of her reign, a vision he receives at Harrenhal leads him to pledge himself to her service, ending the tension. He rides the uniquely long-necked Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm.

Rhaenyra Targaryen

Image via HBO

Advertisement

The only living child of King Viserys and Aemma Arryn, Rhaenyra is the match that lights the fire of the Dance of the Dragons. It is her father naming her heir in lieu of his brother Daemon that leads the noble houses of Westeros to split up and fight in the bloody war that we have just seen the beginning of in House of the Dragon. Rhaenyra gets married twice over the course of her life and has three children both with Laenor Velaryon (at least publicly) and her uncle-husband Daemon. She rides the yellow-gold dragon Syrax. During the Targaryen civil war over the Iron Throne, she loses both her sons, Jacaerys (Harry Collett) and Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), a loss that devastates her and casts a shadow over her rule.

Baela Targaryen

Image via HBO

Baela is the older of Daemon’s two daughters by Laena Velaryon. Baela, whose dragon is Moondancer, is clearly her father’s favorite child. She was betrothed to Jacaerys, but, now, after his death, she is starting a new romance with Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim), her bastard uncle.

Rhaena Targaryen

Image via HBO

Rhaena is the younger of Daemon’s two daughters. In Fire & Blood, Rhaena’s dragon dies during infancy, while in the show it seems like her dragon egg never hatched. Later in Fire & Blood, she bonds with a dragon named Morning which makes her the last dragonrider of House Targaryen, but the series has changed the trajectory of her story. Season 3 of House of the Dragon sees her claiming the wild dragon, Sheepstealer, and going rogue after her dragon’s actions lead to Jace’s death.

Jacaerys Velaryon

Image via HBO

The eldest son of Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon, Jacaerys (or Jace, as he is known by his family) is actually the bastard son of Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr). During his mother’s rule, he secured her an alliance of the Starks, and patrolled Westeros on his dragon, Vermax. Although he was a talented negotiator, striking a deal with the North, the Vale, and even the Freys, Jace’s life came to an untimely end at the Battle of the Gullet when Rhaena and Sheepstealer came into the battle and attacked both sides indiscriminately.

Lucerys Velaryon

Image via HBO

Advertisement

The middle child of Rhaenyra and Laenor/Harwin, Lucerys is killed in the last episode of Season 1 of House of the Dragon by his uncle, Aemond Targaryen. He’s riding on his dragon, Arrax, near Storm’s End when Aemond attacks him with his own mount, Vhagar. Although Aemond doesn’t mean to kill his nephew, the result is disastrous either way: with one bite, Vhagar splits Arrax in the middle and swallows poor Luke whole.

Joffrey Velaryon

Image via HBO

The youngest son of Rhaenyra and Laenor/Harwin, Jofrrey’s true parentage is in the color of his hair. He is named after Laenor’s former lover who died at the hands of Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). His baby dragon is named Tyraxes. Joffrey is sent to the Vale to honor the agreement Jace struck with Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin), serving as their dragonrider protector in name only. By Season 3, Joffrey has returned from the Vale to Rhaenyra’s side in King’s Landing.

Aegon Targaryen

Image via HBO Max

The firstborn son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent is Aegon II. His birth is what eventually leads to the beginning of the Dance of the Dragons, as the presence of a direct male heir weakened Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne. When his father dies, Aegon is crowned king by his mother and grandfather, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), despite Rhaenyra still being Viserys’ heir. As a king, he suffered through the brutal assassination of his son, Jaehaerys, and then was attacked by his own brother, Aemond, during the Battle of Rook’s Rest. This not only left him horribly injured and burned, but also led to the death of his dragon, Sunfyre. After the attack, Aegon escapes King’s Landing with Larys (Matthew Needham), and the two travel together disguised, attempting to sail to Essos. They are now also accompanied by Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall).

Helaena Targaryen

Image via HBO

Helaena Targaryen is the second child of King Viserys and Queen Alicent. She’s a dragon dreamer, giving her visions of the future. She’s married to her brother Aegon II, with whom she has two children, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. However, Jaehaerys was assassinated early in Season 2, and now Helaena is confirmed to be pregnant with her third child while held captive by Rhaenyra in King’s Landing. In Fire & Blood, her third child is a boy named Maelor. Her dragon is the blue dragon Dreamfyre, though, in the show, she made it clear she has no interest in fighting the war on dragonback.

Aemond Targaryen

Image via HBO

Advertisement

Aemond “One-Eye” gained his unfortunate nickname after losing his left eye in a childhood fight with his nephew Lucerys. He eventually gets back at Luke in the worst way possible by accidentally killing him with his dragon, Vhagar, effectively making him a kinslayer. He doubles down on this when he attacks his brother Aegon at Rook’s Rest, nearly killing him, before becoming the regent in his stead. Season 3 sees him going to Harrenhal to take control of the keep. There, he meets Alys Waters, who rescues him after he is fatally wounded. Vhagar has disappeared, but Alys has revealed a clutch of dragon eggs to Aemond that were hidden in Harrenhal that is sure to pique his interest.

Daeron Targaryen

Image via HBO

Daeron Targaryen is the youngest son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent Hightower. Up until Season 3, Daeron was only briefly mentioned by name, and his blue dragon, Tessarion, was briefly seen flying over the Hightower troops. In Season 3, we see that he’s the ward of his cousin, Ormund Hightower (James Norton), who is positioning Daeron as the next king of Westeros since Aegon has been reported to be dead and Aemond is missing. Although Daeron takes Ormund’s advice, he is also scared of him and seeks Gwayne’s (Freddie Fox) support when his uncle finally arrives at Tumbleton.

Jaehaera Targaryen

Image via HBO

Jaehaera is one of the firstborn twin children of King Aegon II and his sister-wife, Helaena. She is saved by her mother after a pair of hired killers put a knife to Helaena’s throat and force her to point out King Aegon’s heir. After her aunt, Rhaenyra, takes over King’s Landing, Jaehaera is kept in the Red Keep along with her mother and grandmother.

Jaehaerys Targaryen

Image via HBO

The other twin born to Aegon and Helaena, Jaehaerys, was favored by his father, who liked to take him to small council meetings. However, the small boy dies horribly when two men invade his room, originally looking for Prince Aemond. With a knife at her throat, Helaena is forced to choose between her children and singles out Jaehaerys as the heir to the throne. The two men then proceed to murder him and cut off his head.

Aegon III, Viserys II, and Visenya Targaryen

Image via HBO

Advertisement

Though so far none of them has had an important role in the show, Aegon III, Viserys II, and Visenya are the three children of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and her uncle/husband Daemon. Out of the three kids, only Aegon and Viserys live long enough to become kings in their own right when they get older. Visenya does not survive past her birth, which occurred in the Season 1 finale. Viserys II becomes the great-great-grandfather of Egg aka Aegon V (Dexter Sol Ansell).

Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen

Image via HBO

Skipping a few generations, the next Targaryen down the line is Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel), from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Baelor is the son of King Daeron II Targaryen and Queen Myriah Martell, making him Rhaenyra’s great-great-grandson through her younger son, Viserys II. In the series, he served as the heir to the Iron Throne and the Hand of the King to his father. Baelor is one of the few dark-haired Targaryens, taking after his Dornish mother. He earned the name “Breakspear” after winning a tourney against his bastard uncle, Daemon Blackfyre, at the age of 17. He attends the Tourney at Ashford Meadows with his family, where Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) competes, and later joins Duncan’s side in the Trial of Seven. While his participation helped Duncan win the trial, it ultimately also led to him dying of a fatal head wound.

Maekar Targaryen

Image via HBO

Maekar is the fourth son of King Daeron II and Queen Myriah, and he is the younger brother of Baelor. Maekar proved himself in the Blackfyre Rebellion alongside his older brother. Maekar has six children with Dyanna Dayne: Daeron (Henry Ashton), Aerion (Finn Bennett), Aemon, Aegon aka “Egg,” Daella, and Rhae. At the Tourney at Ashford Hall, his second son Aerion challenged Ser Duncan to the Trial of Seven, leading to both his eldest son Daeron and Maekar to side with Aerion in the trial. After losing his brother, some believe Maekar had an intentional hand in killing Baelor, a fact that troubles him. Later, Maekar takes the throne after his brother Aerys I dies.

Valarr Targaryen

Image via HBO

Valarr (Oscar Morgan) is the eldest son of Baelor, which makes him the new Crown Prince after the Tourney at Ashford Meadows. Like his father, he also has dark hair but with one silver streak that denotes his Targaryen heritage. After Baelor’s death, when Duncan goes to speak with him, he is rebuffed by the mourning prince.

Daeron Targaryen

Image via HBO

Advertisement

The oldest of Maekar’s sons has the familiar name, Daeron (Henry Ashton), but unlike King Daeron II or the Daeron of House of the Dragon, he receives the moniker Daeron the Drunken. In the series, it is Daeron whom Dunk comes across at an inn when he is drunk. He is revealed to be a Dreamer like several Targaryens before him. Despite being the oldest son to Maekar, Daeron never becomes king, dying before his father and contributing to the succession crisis following Maekar’s reign.

Aerion “Brightflame” Targaryen

Image via Steffan Hill/HBO

Aerion (Finn Bennett), Maekar’s second son, gave himself the name Brightflame. Considered a monster by his own brothers, he was known to be arrogant and cruel. We see this both in how he treats the puppeteer Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford), Dunk, and his younger brother Aegon. He challenges Dunk to the Trial of Seven, which he not only loses but leads to the death of his uncle, Baelor. Later in life, he showed the clearest example of Targaryen madness. Believing himself to be a dragon trapped in human form, he consumed wildfire, which killed him. Though he had one son, Maegor, his line was passed over as heir due to concerns that his madness would be passed on.

Aemon Targaryen

Image via HBO

Aemon (Peter Vaughan) was the third son of Maekar. Although we have yet to see him in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, audiences will best know him as a maester and a member of the Night’s Watch in Game of Thrones. He was sent to become a maester when there seemed to be too many Targaryen heirs and, later, joined the Night’s Watch to strengthen Egg’s claim to the throne. Apart from Viserys (Harry Lloyd) and Daenerys, he’s one of the only known Targaryens living at the beginning of Game of Thrones. He’s also one of the few characters in both the HBO show and the A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels to die of natural causes.

Aegon V “Egg” Targaryen

Image via HBO

Aegon, also known as Egg, is the fourth son of Maekar (who is a fourth son as well). As a child, he shaves his head to hide his heritage and runs away from home, becoming the squire to the hedge knight Ser Duncan. Although he has an unconventional childhood, this pays off when (much later) he takes the throne as king. Nicknamed Aegon the Unlikely, Egg was especially beloved by the smallfolk and was the first king to oppose the Targaryen practice of incest (though his children, Jaehaerys II and Shaera, defied him). He married Bertha Blackwood and had five children. Aegon is Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) great-grandfather.

Aerys II Targaryen

Image via HBO

Aerys II (David Rintoul) is the only son of King Jaehaerys II and his sister-wife, Shaera, making him the grandson of Aegon V. Perhaps best known as the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen is the king during Robert’s Rebellion. He was killed by a member of his own Kingsguard, Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), after ordering his men to burn down the town of King’s Landing alongside its people. He is the last Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne before Game of Thrones.

Rhaella Targaryen

Rhaella is the only daughter of Shaera and Jaehaerys II. She was wedded to her own brother, Aerys II, the Mad King. She had three children: Rhaegar (Wilf Scolding), Viserys, and Daenerys. Although they had children, the marriage was a disastrous pairing.

Rhaegar Targaryen

Image via HBO

The firstborn son of King Aerys II and Rhaella, Rhaegar was killed during Robert’s Rebellion, considered guilty of kidnapping Lyanna Stark (Aisling Franciosi). Before secretly marrying Lyanna, Rhaegar was married to Elia Martell, a Dornish princess with whom he had two children, Rhaenys and Aegon. In Game of Thrones, he is confirmed as Jon Snow’s (Kit Haringon) biological father, giving him a claim to the throne.

Viserys Targaryen

Image via HBO

The horrid brother of Daenerys and Rhaegar is the middle child of Aerys II and Rhaella. Forced into exile at a young age, following the victory of Robert Baratheon’s (Mark Addy) forces, he married his sister to the Dothraki khal named Drogo (Jason Momoa) in the hopes of getting an army that would help him storm Westeros and put him on the Iron Throne. All he got, however, was a pan of liquid, boiling gold thrown onto his head after screaming bloody murder that he needed a golden crown.

Daenerys Targaryen

The Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains, etc. Daenerys is the youngest daughter of the Mad King. She is the sole survivor of the Targaryen lineage until the truth about Jon Snow’s parentage hits the Westeros fan. She was briefly married to Khal Drogo, with whom she had only a stillborn child. Childless, she gives her motherly love to her three dragons, Drogon, Rhaegon, and Viserion, who were the first of their kind born after they were deemed extinct not long after the Dance of the Dragons during the reign of Aegon III (Rhaenyra’s oldest son by Daemon).

Rhaenys and Aegon Targaryen

Young Rhaenys and Aegon were the children of Rhaegar Targaryen and his first wife, Elia Martell. They were killed horrifically alongside their mother by the Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) during Robert’s Rebellion.

Jon Snow

Image via HBO

Advertisement

Raised as the bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark (Sean Bean), Jon Snow is the product of the relationship that gave rise to Robert’s Rebellion, which eventually put an end to the Targaryen dynasty and led King Robert Baratheon to the Iron Throne. Obviously, we know the rest of the story, but for most of the show, Jon Snow is more a Stark than a Targaryen. Regardless, his biological parents and his bloodline give him a right to the Iron Throne before his aunt, Daenerys.

Jen Affleck has revealed that she has experienced prenatal depression during her fourth pregnancy.

The reality star, who announced she was expecting again last month, said this time brought a much heavier form of depression than she had experienced in her previous pregnancies.

Fortunately, she received support from both loved ones and strangers, for which she says she is deeply grateful.

3

In a lengthy Instagram post, Jen revealed that she experienced prenatal depression during her fourth pregnancy, which she and her husband, Zac Affleck, announced just last month.

She said this episode felt much “heavier” than what she had experienced during her previous pregnancies, explaining that it took her to “really dark” places, particularly during her first trimester.

According to Jen, the experience was made even more difficult by her recent move to a new state while caring for her three other children. She went on to reveal that she was able to get through those difficult moments thanks to the support of her friends, family, and even strangers.

“They reminded me that even when I couldn’t see the light, I wasn’t walking through the darkness alone,” the reality star said.

Affleck Shares The Lessons Depression Has Taught Her

Elsewhere in her post, Jen detailed how experiencing prenatal depression affected her emotionally and mentally.

“I don’t believe depression is beautiful. It’s painful, confusing, and exhausting,” she said of her experience.

Still, amid the challenges, Jen said she is choosing to focus on the positive lessons she has learned while continuing to count her blessings, even on the more difficult days.

“It has made me ask deeper questions. It has made me slow down,” she revealed. “It has reminded me what really matters. It has taught me that strength sometimes looks like asking for help instead of pretending you’re okay.”

Jen Affleck Hopes Her Story Helps Others

3

Moving forward, Jen said she does not have all the answers when it comes to managing her depression, but she is choosing to focus on what she does know.

“I’m here to love deeply. To raise my babies. To tell the truth about the hard parts,” she revealed.

The expectant mother also shared her hope that telling her story will help others who may be going through similar struggles.

“If sharing my story helps even one person feel less alone, then every vulnerable conversation has been worth it,” added the “Dancing With The Stars” alum. “If you’re quietly fighting a battle no one else can see, I’m so glad you’re still here.”

Fans Urge Affleck To Stop Having More Children

Reacting to Jen’s post, some social media users urged her to stop having more children, citing how she appears to struggle during pregnancy.

“Stop having kids.. I mean this in the most gentle way. Show up for yourself and the babies you have. If your husband can’t understand that you’re drowning in motherhood, then you need to reevaluate,” one person wrote.

“As a mom and child who had a mom who was emotionally unavailable for medical reasons. Please do not get pregnant again. Your kids will remember these times of you. Depressed, overwhelmed, unavailable,” another concerned fan commented.

“Birth control??? In the nicest way possible. We are grown women. We know what we are doing. You were very sad about the LAST pregnancy. Cmon,” a third user wrote.

Jen Affleck Has Always Wanted A Big Family

3

Jen’s fourth pregnancy comes as no surprise, as she has long spoken about her desire to have a big family.

The reality star shared that dream in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE while announcing her third pregnancy last year.

“Having been raised with numerous foster kids, I’ve always dreamed of a big family, and seeing that dream come true is both exciting and fulfilling,” she told the outlet.

At the time, she acknowledged that balancing motherhood with her career could be “daunting,” but hoped successfully managing both would inspire other women to pursue their own ambitions.

“I want to show women and mothers that they can achieve anything they set their minds to, no matter how unrealistic it may seem,” she said.

Television drama has established itself as the pinnacle of long-form storytelling in the 21st century, but a series doesn’t necessarily need to be that long to be great. While many shows have used upwards of five seasons to present epic, sprawling stories that have enthralled the masses year-after-year, there have also been an abundance of outstanding titles that only graced the screen for half a decade, if that long.

Given that HBO has been the defining brand in small-screen excellence throughout what has come to be known as television’s golden era, it is little surprise that the premium network has produced a number of hit series that were succinct, ceaselessly brilliant, and smart enough to not outstay their welcome. Even with miniseries not being considered, HBO’s catalog of shows that ran for five seasons or fewer flaunts not only the dedication to excellence that has long defined the network, but the incredible variety and boldness it has long exhibited as well.

10

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

Image via HBO

One of HBO’s biggest hits in the past decade, Succession captivated millions the world over with its meticulous marriage of high-octane corporate-world scheming and acidic black comedy that brilliantly lampoons the rich and powerful. Inspired by William Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” its four-season run unfolds as three siblings find themselves in a squabble for power, favor, and opportunity when their aging father signals he may soon be stepping down as the CEO of his multimedia conglomerate empire, Waystar RoyCo.

Combining boardroom politics, confronting family drama, and absurd yet precisely targeted comedy all while running at frenetic breakneck speed, Succession is a skewering and ceaselessly entertaining insight into the unbridled chaos that lurks behind the veneer of company professionalism and wealth. Written, performed, and directed with absolute perfection, the series doesn’t present a single bad episode as it marries razor-sharp satire with energized tension and cutting character drama.

9

‘Six Feet Under’ (2001–2006)

Image via HBO

A sadly overlooked gem of the impeccable catalog of series HBO was producing in the 2000s, Six Feet Under is a masterclass in dark comedy and poignant drama that boldly bolsters its focus on family dysfunction with inflections of surrealism and spirituality. It revolves around the Fishers, a family in Los Angeles that begins managing their late father’s funeral home only to constantly run into issues regarding the logistics of running a business, the continuous clashing of their personalities, and each family member’s own personal dilemmas.

With all the subplots and tangents unfolding in proximity to the series’ central focus on mortality, Six Feet Under excels at combining concise and concentrated drama with an air of grandeur through its thematic exploration of existentialism and death. Its reputation is only bolstered by the HBO series’ exceptional series finale, which brings the five-season run of the show to a rewarding resolution that complements its meticulous attentiveness to character development perfectly.

8

‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)

Image via HBO

HBO has always had a penchant for extraordinary crime drama, be it in the form of gangster shows like The Sopranos or riveting cop dramas like the first season of True Detective. With its confronting intensity, captivating characters, and awe-inspiring period production, Boardwalk Empire is entrenched among the network’s finest forays into the genre, even if it doesn’t always get the respect it deserves. Set in Prohibition-era America, it follows Enoch Thompson (Steve Buscemi), the treasurer of Atlantic City, in his political dealings and criminal endeavors as his prominence attracts the attention of federal agents.

While the series can be cyclical at times, it ultimately overcomes its pitfalls with its stunning and immersive realization of 1920s New Jersey and its litany of sublime performances, particularly from Buscemi in the lead role. Blending its historical intrigue with challenging character studies, Boardwalk Empire is a dazzling triumph of HBO and one of the more impressive television series of its decade.

7

‘Treme’ (2010–2013)

Image via HBO

Impressive in its ability to blend cultural celebration, character-driven drama, and scathing critiques of natural disaster relief, Treme presents a vibrant immersion into New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Brought to the screen by David Simon and Eric Overmyer—two of the architects of The Wire—the criminally underrated series begins three months after the devastating disaster, operating with a palpable sense of realism and striking depth as it follows residents trying to rebuild their lives, a community re-capturing its cultural identity, and the systemic, bureaucratic struggles of urban reconstruction.

Methodically paced, Treme subverts the television standard of rapid-fire storytelling to instead deliver a slow-burning and often appropriately frustrating approach that brings visceral depth to the incremental steps of recovery and growth in the wake of the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. Also finding brilliance in its ensemble cast, grounded writing style, and the way it invests in the music and culinary scenes of the city, Treme shines as a powerful and underappreciated deep-dive into the heart of New Orleans and the unpleasant crux of real issues in modern America.

6

‘Carnivále’ (2003–2005)

Image via HBO

Sadly, not all of HBO’s shorter series were intended to be so short. Carnivále was created by Daniel Knauf with a vision of a six-season run, but due to dwindling viewership numbers and the mounting production costs of its period-set production, it was axed after its second season. Still, it offers 24 episodes of rich mythological intrigue as it combines the grimy aesthetic of the Depression-era Dust Bowl with biblical concepts of good and evil and elements of Masonic lore.

Following the converging paths of a young man with healing powers who joins a traveling carnival and a Methodist preacher capable of bending others to his will, Carnivále soars off the back of its strong performances and creative writing to be a forgotten gem of small-screen fantasy entertainment. Even with its premature cancellation, the series still manages to deliver a rewarding conclusion to its major arc, ensuring it endures as a cult gem of the medium that can still be enjoyed when revisited today.

5

‘Rome’ (2005–2007)

Image via HBO

Advertisement

Another HBO series that was axed after just two seasons due to production expenses despite intentions of a much longer run, Rome presents one of the most stunning period productions television has ever seen. Exploring historical events from the perspective of everyone from key political figures to ordinary soldiers and their families, it depicts the shifting nature of Ancient Rome as the republic collapses and the grandeur of the Roman Empire is born.

Straying away from mythic and romanticized notions of Ancient Rome, the series revels in its gritty authenticity, with the production embracing a dirty and grimy aesthetic that complements its strong historical basis and gripping human drama quite perfectly. By focusing not only on the bloodthirsty and treacherous nature of Ancient Rome’s political machinations, but on the impact the turmoil had on its citizens, Rome wields a ceaselessly compelling dramatic fervor that endures even as its second season is forced to compact its story significantly.

4

‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)

Image via HBO

Advertisement

Westworld is one of the more interesting series HBO has produced, especially in the past decade. A re-iteration of the 1973 movie of the same name, it initially revolves around a Western-themed amusement park in the future that is populated by life-like robots and where wealthy visitors can live out any desire or fantasy they have with impunity. However, when the android “hosts” begin malfunctioning, the balance of power begins to shift.

The first season received rave reviews for its thematic repurposing of the ‘70s movie premise, allowing for it to emphasize such ideas as autonomy, morality, and the nature of humanity. While the ensuing seasons—which pivot away from ‘Westworld’ following a robot uprising that sees the hosts enter the real-world—did garner a more mixed response, Westworld remained a masterclass in thematic pointedness, production value, and philosophical depth. Enhanced by its ceaselessly exceptional performances and narrative dare, the four-season series marks an impressive mixture of sci-fi spectacle and themes, Western allure, and bleak dystopian drama from start to finish.

3

‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)

Image via HBO

Advertisement

While its abrupt ending at the closing of Season 3 may have blemished its legacy somewhat, there is no denying that Deadwood was one of HBO’s flagship series in the 2000s. The gripping Western drama has aged flawlessly too, with its intense tone meshing with its profanity-laden yet Shakespearean dialogue, gritty and morally ambiguous characters, and its immersive period production design to conjure one of the greatest and most enthralling visions of the Old West to have ever graced the small screen.

Set in the titular South Dakotan gold mining town in the 1870s, it unfolds as the lawless encampment evolves into a crime-riddled society as the population booms with masses of people hoping to find a fortune. Adept at capturing the muddy and confined candle-lit grime of the era while presenting a host of characters—both historical and fictional—who embark on intriguing arcs, Deadwood is one of HBO’s finest ever series.

2

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Image via HBO

Advertisement

By emphasizing a meditative and emotionally charged exploration of grief and trauma rather than running with traditional, high-stakes post-apocalyptic thrills, The Leftovers delivers one of the greatest and most thought-provoking series HBO has ever produced. It begins three years after the “Sudden Departure,” an inexplicable event in which two percent of the world’s population vanished. In the aftermath, extremist cults have arisen, the masses continue to mourn their loved ones, and many walk a treacherous line between maintaining a sense of normality and dealing with their own unresolved issues.

Written with astonishing depth, and powered by a litany of faultless performances and Max Richter’s richly evocative score, The Leftovers avoids simply wallowing in a world of sorrow by prying into the complex psychology of its characters with nuance, conviction, and remarkable clarity. Across an incredible three-season run that spans from Mapleton, New York to Melbourne, Australia, The Leftovers presents an utterly perfect and poignant exploration of heavy thematic ideas that is always anchored by a potency and realism that makes the series entirely captivating.

1

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

Image via HBO Max

Advertisement

The greatest HBO series with five seasons or fewer, and perhaps the finest show the network has ever produced, The Wire thrives as an all-encompassing and palpably realistic descent into the drug trade of Baltimore, the inner workings of the city’s police department, and the bureaucratic issues that befall everything from the public school system to the efficiency of city hall. With each of its five seasons shifting focus to a new aspect of crime and law enforcement, the series brilliantly examines the interconnected landscape from street-level drug dealers to the mayor’s office.

Also buoyed by its invigorating moral ambiguity that refuses to treat any character as an outright hero or villain, The Wire embraces a scope that is more epic and novelistic than many other shows on television even today. It remains one of the greatest and most important series the medium has ever seen, not only as a compelling plunge into the grit of modern-day organized crime, but as a skewering exposé on the deeply flawed nature of America’s most important social institutions.

Advertisement

The Wire

Advertisement

Release Date

2002 – 2008-00-00

Advertisement

Network

HBO

Directors

Advertisement

Ernest R. Dickerson, Ed Bianchi, Steve Shill, Clark Johnson, Daniel Attias, Agnieszka Holland, Tim Van Patten, Alex Zakrzewski, Anthony Hemingway, Brad Anderson, Clement Virgo, Elodie Keene, Peter Medak, Rob Bailey, Seith Mann, Christine Moore, David Platt, Dominic West, Gloria Muzio, Jim McKay, Leslie Libman, Milcho Manchevski, Robert F. Colesberry, Thomas J. Wright

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Mayci Neeley made a conscientious decision to stop featuring her children on social media.

“I had slowly been taking them offline a year prior to the show coming out,” Mayci, 31, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Sunday, July 26, referring to Mormon Wives’ season 1 premiere. “I was just seeing the negative side effect of having kids online that I just didn’t understand before. Kids aren’t content, and I guess I didn’t grasp that when I was first doing social media.”

Mayci, who worked as a social media influencer before landing a spot on Hulu’s hit reality TV series about young Mormon moms, is a mother of three. The MomTok star shares daughters Harlow, 5, and Charli, 12 months, with husband Jacob Neeley, in addition to son Hudson, 10, with late ex Arik Mack, who was killed in a car accident during her pregnancy at age 19.

Before marrying Jacob, 30, Mayci worked as an analyst with Goldman Sachs. She eventually pursued her passion for content creation full-time, well before Mormon Wives was greenlit. Hudson and Harlow would occasionally be featured in Mayci’s early uploads.

“I never forced my kids to do anything, but kids should not be the focal point of the content in my opinion,” Mayci stated on Sunday. “I just thought it was fun and silly, and I loved making videos until I started seeing that there were predators online.”

She continued, “I guess, being naive, I didn’t realize that there were creeps online probably watching the content.”

Mayci further realized that an onslaught of “haters came” in the wake of Mormon Wives’ highly-anticipated 2024 series premiere.

“I got some really nasty DMs about my kids and some weirdos were making fun of the way that they looked, which was absolutely vile and disgusting,” the Told You So author claimed. “In that moment, I was, like, ‘I’m done done.’ I also started seeing more about AI and [pedophiles] using kids’ faces specifically for explicit material, and that freaked me out.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Overall, Mayci stressed that she opted to keep her kids offline out of “safety and privacy” concerns.

“I don’t want people coming up to my kids or recognizing them,” she said, acknowledging that she “still [needs] to go through” her old Instagram posts and delete the family photos. “I’ll be working on that [in] the next month or so, it just sucks because I LOVE sharing my kids and I kinda wish I could because they bring me the most joy.”

Mayci concluded, “They are my greatest accomplishment, and I just want to share some of the amazing moments. That’s why I still share them in a muted capacity. They are my world and the biggest part of my life, so it would also feel weird not sharing anything about them or sharing photos that they are in that I love.”

Roommates, Usher has performed some of the most memorable moments in R&B history, but one recent concert moment had fans talking for a completely different reason. During a steamy part of his set, the singer noticed something wasn’t quite right with a fan who joined him on stage — and his reaction quickly caught the crowd’s attention.

RELATED: Caught In 4K! Usher And Dave Chappelle’s Unexpected Mid-Concert Moment Leaves Fans In Tears (VIDEO)

Usher Reacts After Fan Gives “Not Interested” Energy

Now, Usher, known for his signature onstage performances during his more sensual records, found himself in an unexpected moment while performing during the ‘R&B’ tour at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. During the show, a fan was brought onstage to participate in one of his iconic concert segments — but the interaction didn’t unfold the way fans may have expected.

While Usher performed shirtless with the fan seated on a bed as part of the segment, she appeared uncomfortable and less engaged than previous audience members during similar performances. The singer seemingly picked up on her reaction and slowly pulled away before telling the crowd, “I don’t think she wants to be on stage.” Usher then waved her off and appeared to signal for security to assist her away from the segment. It remains unclear whether another fan was chosen afterward or if the performance moved on to another song.

The Comments Section Was Ready For Usher

Fans quickly flooded The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section with their reactions to the viral moment, and opinions were all over the place. Some people felt the fan shouldn’t have went on stage if she wasn’t going to match the energy. While others joked that’s exactly how they would want their woman acting if Usher ever pulled them on stage. Meanwhile, a few fans gave the singer credit for handling the awkward moment smoothly and keeping the performance moving.

One Instagram user @thecarlosking_ said, “Usher is such a Libra 😂cause we never beg if you don’t wanna be there nie 🤸🏾‍♂️”

This Instagram user @_droop_ added, “He played it perfectly at the end.”

And, Instagram user @faithdonna.z wrote, “Sis looked like she accidentally accepted the Terms & Conditions. 💀”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @dielit4e joked, “That’s how I need my shi to act at them damn concerts 😒😂😂😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @nessacary claimed, “She couldhv just declined the offer and not took her a** up there lol 🤦🏽‍♀️”

Lastly, Instagram user @big.don.vito commented, “This is a great example of LIKE WHO LIKES YOU!”

Breezy Didn’t Have To Question The Energy Though

Meanwhile, Breezy is showing fans exactly what they came to see — and unlike some recent viral concert moments, nobody seems to be looking uninterested. Chris Brown previously gave fans a preview of what they can expect from his joint ‘R&B’ tour with Usher, sharing a steamy clip of himself bringing a fan on stage for a performance of ‘Take You Down.’ The singer danced closely with the woman while giving her the full VIP treatment, and she appeared fully locked into the moment as Breezy showed off his signature moves and took his shirt off. Chris captioned the spicy preview, “This what yall wanted?” and fans are making it clear that when it comes to Breezy’s onstage chemistry, they’re not seeing any complaints.

RELATED: Caught Up? Fans Are Popping OFF With Reactions To Chris Brown & Usher’s Opening Tour Night (VIDEOS)

Tom Holland has recalled a failed attempt by Jon Bernthal to get him to embrace method acting.

The story dates back to the duo’s time filming “Pilgrimage,” where Bernthal’s character was mute, and Holland tried to help him stay in character while they were off-set.

The pair have since reunited on two major projects, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey.”

Appearing on “Hot Ones,” Holland recalled his time filming “Pilgrimage” with Bernthal, who fully committed to method acting by refusing to speak off camera because his character was mute.

Before production began, the “Punisher” star told Holland, “I’m going to go full method… I’m going to need your help.” Holland agreed, but the experiment soon became awkward, especially whenever they went out to eat.

“For like two weeks, not a peep out of him,” Holland recalled. “And we all know Jon Bernthal. We all love Jon Bernthal. My man loves to talk. So, we’re sat at restaurants, and he’s writing down his food, and these are regular restaurants in Ireland.”

According to Holland, the awkwardness of the situation forced him to explain Bernthal’s unusual behavior to confused staff, joking, “I’m sorry about my friend. He’s just a pretentious actor.”

A Salmon Order Ended Bernthal’s Method Acting Streak

3

Bernthal’s commitment to method acting came to an abrupt end during one of their restaurant visits in Ireland.

After weeks of communicating only through written notes, he asked Holland to request some lemon for his salmon. However, the waitress misunderstood and dropped the lemon into Bernthal’s glass of water instead.

The mix-up proved too much for the actor to endure in silence. Recalling the moment, Holland said Bernthal immediately blurted out, “All right, f-ck it. I’m talking again,” bringing his self-imposed vow of silence to an end.

Tom Holland And Jon Bernthal Reunited For Two Major Projects

After starring together in “Pilgrimage” in 2017, Holland and Bernthal did not share the screen again until recently, when they reunited on two back-to-back projects.

In “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” the duo plays superheroes, with Holland reprising his role as Spider-Man while the film marks Bernthal’s big-screen MCU debut as the Punisher after years of portraying the character on television.

The two also appear together in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” which debuted in cinemas on July 17. Holland plays the more prominent role of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, portrayed by Matt Damon. Meanwhile, Bernthal stars as Menelaus, the King of Sparta, who appears in only a few key scenes.

Tom Holland Is ‘Absolutely Loving’ His Latest Press Tour

3

Holland’s appearance alongside Bernthal is just one of several promotional stops he has made while supporting the release of his latest films.

Although balancing both projects has kept his schedule packed, the actor said he is relishing the busy period because he is immensely proud of both productions.

“I’m absolutely loving it. When you’re doing press for movies you’re really proud of, it’s really easy,” the actor said during an appearance on the “Dish” podcast.

He added, “Because when they ask you questions about why people should go and watch this movie, you’re not lying to anyone. You really think people should go see it. I’ve had experiences before when people say, ‘Why should you see this movie?’ And in the back of your mind, you’re like, ‘You shouldn’t, because it’s sh-t.’”

‘The Odyssey’ And ‘Spider-Man’ Chase Major Box Office Milestones

3

Despite facing early criticism before its release, “The Odyssey” has enjoyed a strong start at the box office.

The film grossed more than $264 million during its opening weekend, with ticket sales split almost evenly between domestic and international markets. Now in its second week, “The Odyssey” is on course to surpass the $500 million mark worldwide, putting it on track to become one of the highest-grossing films of the year.

Meanwhile, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is set to arrive in cinemas on July 31 and is already predicted to post record-breaking box office numbers, given the success of Holland’s previous Spider-Man films. Two of the earlier installments surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, while the third still earned an impressive $880 million worldwide.