Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Tracker Season 3, Episode 14.We’re back this week with another Tracker episode that pushes the limit of what action hero Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) can handle, especially since he’s going up against several stuntmen who know their craft well. “Breakaway” is exciting for fans for a few reasons. For starters, it gives us an on-screen reunion between Justin Hartley and Erica Durance over a decade after Smallville went off the air. Secondly, there’s more action in this episode than there has been in a while, so strap in.

‘Tracker’ Season 3, Episode 14 Begins With a Missing Stuntman

This week’s episode begins on the film set of an indie production titled, well, Breakaway. After a killer opening action sequence, it pivots to stuntman Hale “Rip” Ripley (David Ramsey), who angrily walks off set after being hit too hard one too many times. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Colter is called in soon after. Although, when we first catch up with the rewardist in his Airstream, he’s reminiscing over an old photo of him and his dad, Ashton Shaw (Lee Tergesen), which he’d hidden in a copy of The Old Man and the Sea. Tracker continues to remind us that the mystery behind his father’s murder has not been fully solved, but it also proves a careful touch that speaks subtly to the father-son themes woven throughout the episode.

It’s then that Randy (Chris Lee) calls with a clever Lee Majors-style Fall Guy reference (to the old TV show, not the Ryan Gosling movie) before sending him to Detroit to track down the missing Ripley, who never went back home after the debacle on the film set. Arriving in town, Colter meets with Ripley’s girlfriend, Laura (Durance, who proves that she’s still got it), who offers $12K if Colter can track him down. Little does she know, this show is called Tracker, and that’s exactly what he’ll do. Laura gives “Colt” the rundown on Ripley, who has been struggling with pain pills for years. “Something happened to Ripley after he walked off set, these people are hiding something, I can feel it,” Laura tells him.

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Naturally, Colter’s first step is to try to get onto the set itself, but a security guard stops him. It’s a closed set, after all, but something like that would never in a million years stop Colter Shaw. As usual, he dodges and weaves his way onto the premises anyway without any trouble. By the time he gets to the stunt trailer, Colter runs into a derelict stuntman doing a line of cocaine beside a definitely-too-young girl in his trailer. Colter stops things from going any further, and stunt coordinator Jake Harris (Jacob Turner) shows up and sees that the girl is looked after — and that the stuntman in question is fired. When asked about Ripley’s behavior as of late, Jake tells Colter that he had been distracted long before he walked on set. He isn’t surprised that he never made it home, though, and notes that the producers of the production, namely one Bennett Cranston (Carlo Rota), are not the types of people you’d want to tick off.

With this information locked and loaded, Colter calls his handy personal investigator/technical genius, and it isn’t long before Randy discovers that Cranston is involved with racketeering and other criminal enterprises. As if by magic, he gives Colter the location of the rental suite that the production has put Cranston up in, and the rewardist heads in that direction. After hanging up on our resident tracker, Randy shares a quick moment with Reenie Greene (Fiona Rene) and Mel Day (Cassady McClincy Zhang), as the two prepare for an upcoming dinner meeting with Maxine (Kathleen Robertson).

“Breakaway” Dives Into Strange Territory as Colter Uncovers a Stuntman Conspiracy

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Colter makes his way to Cranston’s high-rise and, obviously, breaks in. Despite the fact that he’s clearly caught on camera, it makes no difference to him whatsoever. Inside, Colter finds signs of a struggle, and the security footage likewise reveals that Ripley had been there, only to be forcibly removed and kidnapped by Cranston and his goons. Calling Randy, Colter tries to get a phone trace on Cranston’s phone, but that’s a dead end. Instead, the hacking wizard pulls a positive ID off one of the goons in the video and uses that to trace his cellphone. It seems like this shouldn’t be this easy, but considering the Jeffrey Deaver-penned Colter Shaw novels have more time to tell these sorts of stories than Tracker‘s 40-something minutes, I guess we’ll let it slide. Randy tracks the phone to an industrial zone — and it isn’t long before Colter makes his way there.

Arriving at the scene, Colter finds a phone outside and the producer tied up with his men indoors. Ripley is nowhere to be found, having gained the upper hand against Cranston’s men when he tried to scare the stuntman. Apparently, Ripley was looking for his customized Dodge Charger, which Cranston bought off him two years ago when the stunt performer’s funds had gotten tight. Randy tracks his location via the car, sending Colter on a continued goose chase.

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Shows Like ‘Tracker’ and ‘High Potential’ Are Great, but Network TV Needs To Revive the Fantasy Genre in 2026

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Meanwhile, in Denver, Maxine arrives late for dinner with Reenie and orders drinks. However, the late attorney doesn’t want to talk about work. Apparently, she got a call that her cheating husband (and his Pilates instructor) had used her credit card, thus confirming the affair. “Sometimes it’s easier to ignore it than admit that there’s a problem,” Maxine says at first, before the pair schemes ways to get back at him. Yeah, it’s a weird interlude, and we’re still not sure why we should give Maxine the time of day, but it’s leading to something as Maxine turns the tables on Reenie to ask about how she’s doing. They speak about how the former broke up with Elliott Rusch (Michael Rady) — remember Elliott? — after her abduction at the end of Season 2. Although Reenie claims she’s doing fine with the trauma, Maxine clearly sees through the false bravado.

Back in Detroit, Colter speaks with Laura over the phone and learns that Ripley is the type of “old-fashioned” guy who likes to pretend that he can fix everything. It may be that he’s in trouble that he believes only he can resolve, which might explain why he went off the grid. It becomes even clearer when Colter arrives at the scene of a drag race where the Charger is front-and-center. Without a care in the world, our hero drives his truck right through the middle of the festivities, hoping to derail the whole thing — and somehow he manages to hold his own against these other racers. After stopping the Charger, he finds that Ripley isn’t the one driving. It turns out that Ripley had sold the car to another racer after earning some cash from them. He also learns that Ripley’s son, Dalton (Lovell Adams-Gray), is really the one with the money issues, issues that he and Randy believe the stuntman has been trying to pay off. It turns out, Dalton is working closely with a crew of stuntmen who have active criminal records.

‘Tracker’s Latest Episode Ends With a Shootout in Detroit

Image via CBS

“Breakway” pivots back to Ripley, who confronts one of these stunt goons named Virgil Dean (Chris Jericho), the apparent ringleader of an outlaw band of stunt performers. When he tries to pay off Virgil to keep Dalton out of their world, the angry-looking goon tells Ripley that it’s not enough. The only way to get Dalton clear of his debts is for Ripley to take his place as a driver in ae heist. Meanwhile, Colter visits Laura to follow up on the types that Ripley might be involved in. After narrowing their location down to an abandoned warehouse (thank you, social media), Colter is joined by Laura as they break in to search for Ripley. Instead, they knock out one of the guys held up there and discover that the rogue stuntmen plan to rob an armored car. But upon hearing a struggle, they find that Dalton has been kidnapped. The boy begs Colter to let him help find his dad, and the rewardist agrees, so long as they do it his way.

Elsewhere, Ripley and the rest of the stunt crew-turned-gunslingers ready themselves for the armored car robbery. He tries to convince them to back out of the job, but they won’t listen. Thankfully, Colter and his new allies aren’t far behind. Colter and Dalton watch carefully as the robbery begins, and the rewardist leaves the younger man to intervene from a different direction. But Dalton doesn’t listen to Colter’s warnings and soon finds himself under heavy fire from the criminal element. In an action spectacular that likely utilized a lot of stunt performers, Laura arrives and helps take out some guys, but is injured in the process. With the rest of his men taken out, Virgil uses the opportunity to hold Ripley at gunpoint to try and get away, but Colter sneaks up behind him and fires, rescuing the stuntman and his family. A job well done.

Meanwhile, Reenie boxes out her frustrations and anxieties, and it’s clear that she’s not okay. Despite her claims that she’s completely fine, the bravado retreats to the shadows when she’s alone, and nothing seems to help. It’s clear that Reenie needs someone in her life who she can talk to about this, and after last week’s episode, we’re still hoping that Colter can fit the bill. But right now, the rewardist is on the other side of the country, bidding farewell to Ripley and Laura. Although Ripley apologizes for getting Colter involved, our hero is just happy that everything turned out well in the end. “Stay safe,” he tells the two of them — and that’s not the first time he utters those exact words in this episode.

Tracker airs Sundays on CBS and is available on streaming the next day on Paramount+.

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Release Date

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February 11, 2024

Showrunner

Elwood Reid

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Writers

Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham

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  Justin Hartley

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  Colter Shaw

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Pros & Cons

• Seeing Justin Hartley and Erica Durance back together on-screen makes us wish for a true-blue Smallville reunion.
• The action in this episode was great ? more of this, please!

• Weird that the thread with the young girl wasn’t revisited later on. Seemed to foreshadow something regarding the criminal acts of the stuntmen but then wasn’t fully paid off.

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The following article contains spoilers.Over the course of the past decade, modern times’ greatest sci-fi shows have gifted us some of the best series finales that the genre has ever seen. When a sci-fi show comes to an end, no matter how long it ran for, it’s a big event, and fans expect it to come to a fittingly satisfying close. Whether that close is exciting, mind-bending, emotionally devastating, or all of those things—and more—at once, it has to be something that’ll make fans happy with how their favorite series ended.

Thankfully, the best sci-fi series finales of the last 10 years are precisely that: Entirely satisfying while still packing enough surprises to bring a smile to any fan’s face. From cult classics like 12 Monkeys to beloved sci-fi anime gems like My Hero Academia, these shows’ conclusions provided more than just closure: They gave fans a reason not just to look back on their favorite shows fondly, but also a reason to go back and re-watch them over and over again.

10

“Babylon’s Ashes” (Season 6, Episode 6)

‘The Expanse’ (2015–2022)

Image via Prime Video

Widely regarded by most who have seen it as one of the most scientifically accurate sci-fi shows of all time, The Expanse is based on the series of novels by James S. A. Corey. After being canceled following three seasons on Syfy, it was picked back up by Amazon, which produced another three exceptional seasons. With that, this easily became one of the greatest sci-fi shows of the last few years.

It’s also one of the most rewatchable sci-fi shows out there, and that’s in no small measure thanks to how great its finale is. Since the series still had plenty of gas left in the tank, not every plot point comes to an entirely satisfying conclusion, but what is present is phenomenal. Exciting and full of emotional character moments, “Babylon’s Ashes” was an amazing way of bringing one of Prime Video’s best shows to a close.

9

“The Beginning Part 2” (Season 4, Episode 11)

’12 Monkeys’ (2015–2018)

Image via Syfy

Back in 1995, Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame made one of the best sci-fi movies of the decade, Twelve Monkeys. A Syfy adaptation of a beloved, incredibly mind-bending sci-fi cult classic? The show 12 Monkeys may not have seemed impressive at first, but it ended up turning out to be one of those underrated sci-fi shows that are much better than they look.

The series came to a close with a two-parter that ended with “The Beginning Part 2,” an episode so vast and complex that it’s a surprise that it turned out as well as it did. Many shows leave mysteries unsolved and questions unanswered by the time they come to an end, but not 12 Monkeys. “The Beginning Part 2” ties up all loose ends and leaves no possible stone left unturned, resulting in a finale that feels tailor-made for satisfying fans.

8

“A New Napkin” (Season 3, Episode 13)

‘Daredevil’ (2015–2018)

Image via Netflix

Before Disney+ started adding mainline chapters to the MCU in the form of TV shows, there was Netflix’s street-level side of the franchise. That all began with Daredevil, which is still not only the best Marvel TV show produced thus far, but perhaps even the best piece of MCU content ever. It’s one of those superhero shows where every episode is a masterpiece, and that’s particularly true about its finale.

“A New Napkin” is what the entirety of Daredevil had been building up to. Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk’s climactic final showdown is emotionally stirring and thematically riveting, and every other plot point around that whole sequence is absolute perfection. Fans of the series couldn’t have asked for a better finale.

7

“Jedha, Kyber, Erso” (Season 2, Episode 12)

‘Andor’ (2022–2025)

Image via Disney+

A spin-off/prequel series based on a random character from a Star Wars spin-off movie? Not exactly an idea that screams “masterpiece potential.” Leave it to Tony Gilroy, however, to make what would end up being widely regarded as the best piece of Star Wars content since the Original Trilogy. Andor is far more than just a spin-off: It’s a thesis of everything that this franchise has come to mean and represent throughout its history.

It’s one of the 2020s’ best TV show masterpieces, and “Jedha, Kyber, Erso” was the perfect way to bring that masterpiece to an end. Bringing every character and story arc that the show had set up to a satisfying close while also tying into Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in a believable way was always going to be a huge task, but Gilroy and company did a magnificent job. Exciting, poignant, and thematically sharp, “Jedha, Kyber, Erso” is one of the best-ever episodes of Star Wars television.

6

“My Hero Academia” (Season 8, Episode 11)

‘My Hero Academia’ (2016–2025)

Image via Crunchyroll

My Hero Academia is far and away one of the most acclaimed and beloved anime shows of the 2010s and 2020s, based on the equally well-liked manga series by Kōhei Horikoshi. Praised for its eye-popping animation, memorable music, and exceptional voice acting (in both the original Japanese and the English dub), it also happens to be one of the best sci-fi shows of the last decade.

Now that the series has come to an end, there are plenty of other good animated superhero shows out there for fans to check out, but nothing could ever match My Hero Academia and its eponymous series finale. It’s a beautifully emotional episode perfectly designed to keep fans satisfied, and though it’s hard to say goodbye to these characters, there couldn’t have been a more fitting way to do so.

5

“Das Paradies” (Season 3, Episode 8)

‘Dark’ (2017–2020)

Image via Netflix

Dark was Netflix’s first-ever German-language show, and it’s also easily one of the streaming giant’s best genre series. Though it’s the kind of show that necessitates keeping a notebook by one’s side in order to keep track of everything going on, the mental effort is oh so worth it. This may be one of the heaviest sci-fi shows ever, but it’s also one of the best.

Quite fittingly, the show’s series finale is a mind-bender. “Das Paradies” does not let up with all the plot twists, expectation subversions, and complex mental gymnastics that it demands from its audience. However, it’s also sure to reward that effort with a conclusion that’s immensely satisfying both emotionally and intellectually, which is nothing less than what fans deserved.

4

“Come Along With Me” (Season 10, Episode 13)

‘Adventure Time’ (2010–2018)

Image via Cartoon Network

Sure, Adventure Time is a fantasy animated show first and foremost, but its clever sci-fi elements are not to be ignored. It’s one of those action shows that are fast-paced from start to finish, and that dynamism carries over to its quirky sense of humor and colorful, vibrant animation. Of course, it also carries over to the series finale, “Come Along With Me.”

It’s an episode as imaginative, as original, and as emotionally investing as any fan that had been following the series for a whopping 10 seasons would have come to expect. Everything is wrapped up neatly, giving every type of fan—both those who grew up watching the show and those who discovered and binge-watched it right before it ended—everything they could have wanted from a finale.

3

“A Regular Epic Final Battle” (Season 8, Episode 27)

‘Regular Show’ (2010–2017)

Image via Cartoon Network

Yet another legendary animated sci-fi show, Regular Show is one of the funniest and most original animated sitcoms of all time. Witty, colorful, and often off-the-wall amusing, it’s a delightful show that’s up there among the highest-rated shows of all time on IMDb. Not coincidentally, its finale is also one of the highest-rated TV episodes ever on the platform.

“A Regular Epic Final Battle” is the three-part series finale that sees the characters’ final battle against Pops’ evil twin, and it’s an episode every bit as exciting, high-energy, and hilarious as the rest of the show. It can also be surprisingly sad, but isn’t saying goodbye to a show you’ve been following for over seven years always sad? The creative decision to end with a reset of the show’s timeline was as brilliant as it was emotionally satisfying.

2

“Return 0” (Season 5, Episode 13)

‘Person of Interest’ (2011–2016)

Image via CBS

Person of Interest remained one of the best genre shows on broadcast television throughout the entirety of its run, but its final season in particular (one of the highest-rated seasons of television on IMDb) was absolutely stellar. That incredible season came to a close with “Return 0,” widely regarded as one of the greatest series finales of all time.

It’s the kind of ending that leaves you speechless, an exquisitely satisfying end to the story with the balance between action and deep emotion that any fan would have come to expect by this point. Character arcs come to explosive climaxes, storylines are brought to surprising yet satisfying conclusions, and fans are craving an immediate rewatch.

1

“Victory and Death” (Season 7, Episode 12)

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (2008–2020)

Image via Disney+

Star Wars: The Clone Wars isn’t just top-tier Star Wars, it’s also one of the greatest anthology series ever created. It was, of course, never without its fair share of flaws. In fact, not even its final season is beyond reproach. But its final story arc? Beyond a shadow of a doubt, “The Siege of Mandalore” is one of the greatest stories ever told from the galaxy far, far away.

Said arc comes to a close in what’s probably the best—and saddest—episode of animated Star Wars ever: “Victory and Death.” It brings the arcs of Ahsoka, Rex (two of the best Star Wars TV show characters ever), and Maul to a perfectly satisfying close; and it also ties into the events of Episode III — Revenge of the Sith in a way that’s as depressing as it is exciting. It is, no doubt, the best sci-fi series finale of the last decade.

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars

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Release Date

2008 – 2020-00-00

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Cartoon Network, Netflix, Disney+

Directors

Brian Kalin O’Connell, Steward Lee, Giancarlo Volpe, Bosco Ng, Danny Keller, Rob Coleman, Justin Ridge, Nathaniel Villanueva, Saul Ruiz, Jesse Yeh, Duwayne Dunham, Atsushi Takeuchi, Robert Dalva, Walter Murch

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  Tom Kane

  Narrator / Yoda / Medical Droid / Yularen / Kraken (voice)

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  Matt Lanter

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  Anakin Skywalker (voice)

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Famed actor Kurt Russell is sharing why he and longtime partner Goldie Hawn prefer living in Colorado over Los Angeles.

“What I enjoy most is that [Hawn] really likes it in Colorado,” Russell, 75, told Fox News Digital in an interview published on Sunday, March 22. “Wyatt [Russell] and [his wife] Meredith [Hagner] and their two boys, they live in Colorado now. So we like to spend as much time there as we can.”

The Big Trouble in Little China star continued of the Centennial State, “I’d like to be there more. And there’s a different kind of life there. “That’s primarily it. I’d like to be able to spend as much time there as possible.”

Russell and Hawn, 80 — who have been together since 1983 when they reconnected on the set of Swing Shift — own multiple properties across the United States. Currently, the pair split their time between their homes in Los Angeles, Palm Desert, California, Old Snowmass, Colorado and New York.

Related: Kurt Russell Makes ‘No Apologies’ for His Love of Hunting Animals

Kurt Russell has no qualms about his love of hunting animals. Russell, 74, opened up about his views during a Wednesday, March 11, episode of the “Table Manners” podcast. When asked about his opinion on hunting animals, especially elk, he responded, “Well, I thank them for their service.” “By the way, there’s no pleasure in […]

(Hawn shares daughter Kate Hudson and son Oliver Hudson with ex-husband Bill Hudson, while Russel shares son Boston Russell with his ex-wife Season Hubley. Hawn and Russell later completed their blended family when they welcomed Wyatt in 1986.)

“We love real estate,” Russell told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published on Tuesday, March 17. “Our Old Snowmass home is my favorite. It’s a large, beautiful log-cabin lodge on a ranch that we moved into a little over 40 years ago.

He continued at the time, “Goldie and I share a passion for log homes. I never got that out of my system, starting with the one in Maine.”

Now that Russell primarily travels between his properties in Los Angeles and Colorado — much like his character in his new TV show The Madison — he told Men’s Health in a recent interview that he finds a certain level of peacefulness in the Colorado mountains.

“I moved to Colorado when I was 26 years old,” the actor told the publication on March 14. “At a certain point, you find yourself asking whether you’re going to live the life you want to live, or if you’re just going to talk about it. And I decided to make the move and live the life I wanted to live.”

Season 1 of Taylor Sheridan’s hit series The Madison concluded on Saturday, March 21. The show follows the Clyburn family after they leave New York City and “relocate to the Madison River valley of southwest Montana for emotional recovery following a tragedy that shattered the family.”

Russell stars alongside fellow cast members Michelle Pfeiffer, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Matthew Fox, Beau Gerret, Alaina Pollack, Amiah Miller, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence and Danielle Vasinova.

While we often rely on celebrities for outfit inspiration, those of Us of shorter stature have to keep one thing in mind whenever we love a look: most of our favorite fashion icons are actually kind of tall. Nicole Kidman is 5’11”, Katie Holmes is 5’9″ and even Meghan Markle is a perfectly average 5’6″.

So, naturally, when we spot someone like Kate Mara rocking something stylish, we’re thrilled. At 5’2″, the actress wears clothes that really do flatter petites — and that includes the white mini dress she stepped out in while in New York City.

Mara has been busy promoting her Apple TV+ thriller, Imperfect Women, and all those promo appearances called for an outfit that was sleek, stylish and seasonal. Switching things up from the multicolored floral dress she wore to the show’s premiere, she recently opted for a white A-line number, pairing it with a contrasting black blazer, beige heels and a large leaf necklace. The look was clean and simple, and the structured dress would no doubt work for a number of spring occasions. With no knowledge of the exact brand, we set off to find a similar design — and our search led us to an Amazon option that’s just $46.

Get the LuFeng’s Mock Neck Mini Dress for $46 on Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

LuFeng’s Mock Neck Mini Dress is the perfect, budget-friendly alternative to what Mara wore. The sleeveless style is slightly stretchy, thanks to the inclusion of spandex, and, along with a high neck, has a slight fit-and-flare silhouette that hugs the body without constricting. Just like Mara’s version, this pick is modest in the front, but the Amazon find secretly shines from the back. The scoop design shows just enough skin to qualify as sexy without feeling risqué.

Of course, photos of the dress are one thing — we needed to check reviews to see what other shorties were saying about this mini. As it turns out, petites really do love it, calling the piece “cute and flattering.”

“Fits well!” one customer wrote. “Flattering. I’m short (4’11), and it falls right above my knees. I love the scoop back. I ordered a size small.”

Another short shopper agreed, noting that the “dress fit perfectly.”

“I’m a bit short, so most dresses look too long on me. But this one fit like a glove,” they promised.

Now that it’s finally spring, we’re about to enter white dress season, and this Mara-approved style works for a variety of events on your calendar. Whether you pair it with heels for the office, ballet flats for a family function, dress it down with sneakers for a warm-weather date night or add sandals for a holiday gathering, it’s likely to become the staple you reach for again and again. Throw in the fact that it’s made to complement your body type, and it should be a done deal. Grab one now!

Get the LuFeng’s Mock Neck Mini Dress for $46 on Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more white mini dresses here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Related: Ali Larter‘s Strapless Mini Dress Is a Warm-Weather Must-Have

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Ali Larter is 50, fabulous and fashionable as ever. The actress recently celebrated her milestone birthday in the Bahamas with loved ones and shared snaps of the tropical getaway on Instagram. Naturally, a series of bikini pics had us gawking at Larter’s impressive abs (courtesy of Brooke Wyndham’s exercise program, perhaps?), but it was the […]

No show has taken the world by storm quite like Heated Rivalry. Premiering at the tail end of 2025, the Crave original series (airing on HBO in the U.S.), adapted from the bestselling Game Changers series by romance author Rachel Reid, rapidly became an obsession for television audiences. There’s no onscreen couple that viewers have become invested in quite like Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). Despite a relatively short first season, each episode of Heated Rivalry is perfect from start to finish.

Series creator Jacob Tierney lets each episode of Heated Rivalry stand on its own, allowing the story to evolve naturally while serving the overall narrative. The pacing is right, the character development is smart, and the show itself is a strong example of proper queer storytelling and visibility. Ultimately, Heated Rivalry‘s first six episodes serve as a blueprint for the show to extend its success into an already confirmed second season.

What Is ‘Heated Rivalry’ About?

For those needing a refresher, Heated Rivalry tells the story of two young hockey stars — Canada’s Shane Hollander (Williams) and Russia’s Ilya Rozanov (Storrie) — whose competition on the ice evolves alongside their secret romance behind closed doors. The two evolve from casual hook-ups into a much more emotional relationship, depicted through a storyline taking place over several years. With the difficult task of depicting Shane and Ilya’s relationship over such a broad span of time, the series dedicates itself to slow-burn storytelling, which allows for deeper, more nuanced character development.

In order to craft a strong story, Heated Rivalry also takes bold risks that initially seem confusing. It’s rare for any show to pivot an entire episode away from the central duo to introduce a separate relationship between other characters, and yet that’s exactly what the series does. Later, it becomes clear that the complicated romance between Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.) is essential for Shane and Ilya to take the next step in their own relationship. There aren’t necessarily any massive cliffhangers that lead fans to question whether Shane and Ilya will end up together; instead, the slow build to a happily ever after is what successfully keeps people tuning in week after week.

‘Heated Rivalry’s Best Moments Are About Building Both Romance and Drama

Image via Crave

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In adapting Heated Rivalry, Tierney took Reid’s original novel and successfully translated it into a TV series by treating the source material with care. When the show happened to stray from the book, each moment still existed in service to the story. Some of that success was only possible thanks to some excellent performances, chief among them Storrie and Williams, whose depiction of Ilya and Shane’s lust-to-love evolution allowed viewers to fall in love with the journey unfolding onscreen.

Outside of thoughtfulness in the adaptation process, Heated Rivalry‘s initial airing led to a lot of viral moments that you’ve likely seen while scrolling on your phone. These scenes weren’t just intended to get viewers talking; they have a much deeper meaning for the show’s central romance. In Episode 4, Ilya making Shane a tuna sandwich is a sign that he is listening to his on-again, off-again fling. In Episode 5, Shane’s suggestion that Ilya vent over the phone to him in Russian gives him the freedom to share his true feelings. When the two rendezvous at Shane’s cottage in the finale, which you can now rent on Airbnb, a surprise interruption leads to an even more important scene with Shane’s parents, Yuna and David (Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh).

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‘Heated Rivalry’ Just Took a Major Narrative Risk in the Finale — and It Paid Off

Take us back to the cottage!

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‘Heated Rivalry’ Has a Strong Road Map for More Seasons, Thanks to Rachel Reid’s Books

Heated Rivalry‘s overall charm lies in how it successfully resonates with every viewer. For the queer community, the show is positive onscreen representation, celebrating the queer experience without reinforcing tired stereotypes. For others who may not strictly identify with every character onscreen, the promise of a happy ending for Shane and Ilya is more than enough reason to binge. Tierney’s remarkable ability to pack integral character development for Shane and Ilya into only six episodes helps to create fully rounded characters with depth.

Heated Rivalry also has a strong foundation for replicating its initial success. With Season 2 set to go into production this summer ahead of a 2027 release, Tierney also has a guide for where the television adaptation could go. Earlier this year, Reid revealed that she is writing a Game Changers sequel featuring Shane and Ilya, providing even more material for future seasons to adapt. With Reid’s book series offering even more couples to introduce as well as a sense of where Shane and Ilya are going, Heated Rivalry has a bright future ahead, but for now, as Tierney told CBS Mornings, we’ll have to “enjoy the yearn” by binging the show’s six perfect episodes over and over again.

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Release Date

November 28, 2025

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Network

Crave

Directors

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Jacob Tierney

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Cast

• 

  Connor Storrie

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  Ilya Rozanov

• 

  Hudson Williams

  Shane Hollander

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Jen Affleck is sending a message to fans after the premiere of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 4 amid the show’s recent pause after star Taylor Frankie Paul was again accused of domestic abuse.

“When I joined The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, I didn’t know what would come from it but I knew I wanted to share my story,” Jen, 26, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, March 22. “I hoped it could inspire someone or feel relatable. I wanted to be honest about what it’s like being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints, the beauty and the struggles.”

Jen noted that she wanted to “highlight marriage, being married at a very young age, the real pressures many couples face with culture and expectations,” referring to her 2019 wedding to husband Zac Affleck.

“I wanted to share what it felt like stepping into a world so different from the one I came from, and navigating the contrast between the two,” she wrote. “When I went on DWTS postpartum, my purpose was to represent moms to show our strength, our resilience, and what we’re capable of. To remind us that our dreams still matter, while honoring the incredible role it is to be a mother.”

Related: Mormon Wives’ Jen Affleck Cries Over ‘Hardest Year’ Amid Split Rumors

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck admitted to struggling throughout 2024 amid speculation about her marriage to Zac Affleck. Jen, 25, took to TikTok on Tuesday, December 31, to share a video of her crying, which she captioned, “The hardest year of my life. But one that will forever change me and […]

Alongside the message, Jen shared a series of clips and photos through the years with Zac and their three children — daughters Nora, 4, and Penelope, 8 months, and son Luca, 2 — as well as her time on Dancing With the Stars season 34.

“I understand drama is what people expect from reality TV, but I wish more of the other real moments were shown too,” Jen continued. “The empowerment, the birth stories, the beauty of motherhood. Since I was dancing on my countertops as a young mom all I’ve ever wanted is to be a light and to help moms and others feel seen, hopeful, and inspired 🤍.”

She concluded, “My current TikTok search is literally ‘who is Jen Affleck’… and honestly, same. I’m still figuring out who I am, what I believe, what I want, and where I fit. Thank you to everyone who’s supported me along the way. I’m far from perfect, still learning, but I hope my vulnerability can be a source of good.”

In the comments section, Zac shared his support, writing, “I love you ❤️.” Costar Mikayla Matthews also added, “😍😍.”

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Related: ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Stars Talk Where They Stand With Zac Affleck 

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars have Jen Affleck’s back after her near-divorce from husband Zac Affleck. During a group appearance on the Wednesday, September 11, episode of “The Viall Files” podcast, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Demi Engemenn, Jessi Ngatikaura and Layla Taylor revealed that they haven’t totally forgiven Zac, 27, for how he […]

Since the season dropped on Hulu, news broke that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” into an alleged dispute between Taylor and ex Dakota Mortensen, who is also featured on the show.

According to an NBC News report on Thursday, March 19, the cast met virtually with Hulu and Disney executives on March 7 to discuss how to proceed with production amid the ongoing investigation. The group ultimately agreed to pause filming.

“It’s a dangerous situation, it’s a sad situation, and we don’t know how to navigate it because Taylor is our friend,” one cast member said during the 30-minute call, per NBC News, which said it had obtained audio of the meeting.

The outlet reported that the cast member said they did not feel comfortable filming while Taylor was being investigated. Us Weekly reached out to Hulu for comment.

Related: Where Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Jen, Zac Affleck Stand After Near-Split

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Jennifer Affleck‘s marriage to Zac Affleck caused a lot of concern for her costars on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — but are they still together? During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Jennifer, 25, expressed her gratitude for the show because it allowed the couple to work on their issues. “I definitely […]

Mikayla, for her part, appeared to confirm that she and her costars cosigned the decision to pause filming.

“It was a decision that all of us girls came up with and agreed on. We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening,” Mikayla wrote via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, March 18.

Taylor’s upcoming season 22 of The Bachelorette has since been cancelled by ABC.

“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” a Disney Entertainment spokesperson told Us on Thursday.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

Quite amazingly, five years have elapsed since Game of Thrones concluded its eight-season run in 2019, and although fans remain divided with the final season, the series’ relevance has never waned. While the prequel series House of the Dragon has been partially responsible, a significant reason for its enduring quality is its sheer brilliance, not only for its mesmerizing fantasy spectacle but for its political intrigue, scintillating suspense, and its arresting and often confronting intensity as well.

As such, fans don’t have to stay within the realm of fantasy to recapture the heart-stopping thrill that Game of Thrones so famously provided. While several fantasy titles are simply must-watch movies for all Game of Thrones fans, everything from modern political satires to grueling war films, classic mobster pictures, and even dystopian sci-fi may prove to be just the tonic for those still missing the hit HBO series. These movies are perfect for every Game of Thrones fan, acting as inspired and, sometimes, perfect companions.

15

‘The Green Knight’ (2021)

Image via A24

One of the most overlooked films of the 2020s thus far, The Green Knight presents exactly what one would expect from an epic fantasy adventure handled by the bold creativity of A24. A commanding spin on the Arthurian legend, it follows young Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) as he embarks on a quest to prove his honor and bravery by defeating the Green Knight (Ralph Ineson). On his quest, he encounters ghosts, giants, and thieves while wrestling with his courage and resolve.

The comparisons to Game of Thrones are plain to see, with The Green Knight excelling as a dark and gritty fantasy with its sights firmly set on human nature. Its intriguing reworking of myth and legend to create a unique and spellbinding adventure gives it an alluring and enigmatic quality that is utterly transfixing. Bolstered by breathtaking visuals and Patel’s outstanding lead performance, The Green Knight is a modern masterpiece of fantasy cinema.

14

‘The 13th Warrior’ (1999)

Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Far better than its poor reviews and abysmal box office figures would suggest, The 13th Warrior is a gritty yet wondrous marriage of historical fantasy and swords-and-sandals action that all lovers of the genre should see. For Game of Thrones fans, it is particularly good for those who enjoyed the story of The Wall and its themes of duty, honor, and standing strong against a formidable and unnatural enemy.

It follows an exiled Arab ambassador as he joins forces with a group of Viking warriors to defend a remote village from an evil and mystifying force descending upon them from the nearby woods. Granted, The 13th Warrior isn’t without its flaws, but it does triumph as a compelling tale of dark fantasy eeriness and the valor of a warrior. Complemented by John McTiernan’s nous for action direction and practical production elements that feel especially immersive and intricate when the film is revisited today, The 13th Warrior stands as a forgotten gem of fantasy action that is perfect for Game of Thrones fans.

13

‘Dragonslayer’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Despite being released as a box office flop, Dragonslayer has become an enduring fantasy adventure, one that has steadily amassed a cult following over the decades. Another brilliant dose of pure fantasy for Game of Thrones fans, it follows a young apprentice wizard who must kill a terrible dragon that terrorizes the kingdom of Urland, only sparing its people so long as they provide him with human sacrifices to feed on. The situation takes an urgent turn when the deceptive king’s daughter is to be the dragon’s next sacrifice.

Rich with dark fantasy adventure, exciting action, a wonderfully unconventional love story, and a lovable, bumbling hero worth cheering for, Dragonslayer is an underrated highlight of Disney’s forays into action-fantasy storytelling. In a piece written for The Daily Beast, George R. R. Martin himself heralded Dragonslayer as the fifth-best fantasy picture of all time and labeled its villainous dragon, Vermithrax, “the best dragon ever put on film.”

12

‘Dragonheart’ (1996)

Image via Universal Pictures

Another forgotten fantasy gem to appeal to those who loved the dragons of Game of Thrones, Dragonheart substitutes the terrifying might that the magical beasts are sometimes presented with in favor of humanity, heart, and gentle wisdom. The 1996 fantasy adventure follows the unlikely partnership between Draco (Sean Connery), the last dragon, and Bowen (Dennis Quaid), a disillusioned dragon-slaying knight, as they work together in defiance of an evil king’s tyrannical reign.

It’s cheesy, childish, and its CGI effects haven’t aged all that gracefully over the years, and yet Dragonheart holds an enduring charm that is difficult to resist, particularly for those who love medieval fantasy indulgence and the air of majesty that surrounds dragons. Complemented by the efforts of its impressive ensemble cast and Randy Edelman’s genuinely exceptional score, Dragonheart stands as a commendable guilty pleasure that plenty of Game of Thrones fans would embrace for its fantasy allure and its surprisingly poignant tale.

11

‘Come and See’ (1985)

Image via Sovexportfilm

Taking a significant stride away from fantasy entertainment, Come and See is a grueling and deeply disturbing war film that may appeal to Game of Thrones fans who were left contemplating some of the brutal horrors the series depicted, particularly in war. Episodes like “Battle of the Bastards” and Season 5’s “Hardhome” are among the highest-rated Game of Thrones episodes on IMDb for their commitment to exhibiting the terror of war and showing humanity at its destructive and savage worst.

Very few films in history have managed to excel in this regard quite like Come and See, a Soviet-Belarussian WWII drama from 1985 that tracks a young boy as he joins a Resistance movement and experiences the atrocities committed in the war. It is a punishing picture, but an important and necessary one that is perfect for fans who enjoy grappling with the more challenging and confronting aspects of Game of Thrones’ morally ambiguous characters.

10

‘Children of Men’ (2006)

Image via Universal Pictures

Science fiction and fantasy are often lumped together, largely due to both genres taking audiences to vastly different realities and featuring stories with great scope and thematic poignancy. Another aspect that makes them easy to link is their necessity to efficiently and masterfully build a new story world that audiences can understand quickly. While Game of Thrones did this brilliantly, there has perhaps been no greater cinematic achievement in this regard than the criminally underrated 2006 sci-fi drama Children of Men.

Set in a dystopian future where humanity has lost the ability to procreate, it follows a reluctant former activist as he safeguards the first pregnant woman in 18 years through to a mysterious safe harbor at sea. Children of Men is a masterpiece in immersive storytelling, one that thrives as a gripping, action-packed thriller, a contemplative sci-fi spectacle, and a deeply affecting human drama.

9

‘Gladiator’ (2000)

Image via Universal Pictures

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The lack of fantasy allure aside, Gladiator is a perfect movie for Game of Thrones fans on account of its astonishing scope, rich historical setting, and its ability to weave together a story of stirring, vengeful passion with overtones of political corruption and the elusive nature of power. Russell Crowe stars as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general who is betrayed by the emperor’s son when he kills his father to seize power and orders Maximus and his family to be murdered. Surviving the assassination attempt, Maximus becomes a gladiator with a mission to return to Rome to instill the vision Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) had for the senate while avenging his slain wife and child.

Ridley Scott’s ability to realize such a vast sense of scale while still delivering a rousing revenge story is brilliant, as is the brutal realization of the combat sequences, the gripping intensity of the performances, and the captivating atmosphere of power, corruption, and Roman glory. With even John Mathieson’s cinematography and Hans Zimmer’s gorgeous score worthy of singling out for praise, Gladiator soars across all disciplines of filmmaking as a defining triumph of epic cinema.

8

‘The Death of Stalin’ (2017)

Image via Entertainment One Films

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Beneath all the fantasy glamour and the confronting violence, Game of Thrones is ultimately a political thriller, with each character a ruthless and cunning figure hoping to secure power and prestige. While this basic, oversimplified concept makes for pulsating drama, it can also conjure riotous satire, as is the case in Armando Iannucci’s underrated, darkly comic masterpiece The Death of Stalin.

Featuring an exceptional cast, it focuses on several advisors and followers of Joseph Stalin as they scramble to outwit each other in the wake of the Soviet Union leader’s sudden and unexpected demise. Running with a razor-sharp wit and a deliciously cynical perspective on humanity, The Death of Stalin mercilessly skewers politics to be a hilarious historical film that draws clear parallels to the modern day. Replacing the Red Wedding with the Red Scare and bloodshed with belly-laughs, The Death of Stalin is a great comedy for those who enjoy Game of Thrones’ scheming politics.

7

‘The Lives of Others’ (2006)

Image via Buena Vista International

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Another foray into political cinema, The Lives of Others is an Academy Award-winning German spy movie set in East Germany in 1984. It follows Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe), an espionage agent for the Stasi who is assigned to observe the conversations between a playwright and his lover. As he grows interested in their lives, Gerd begins to doubt the purpose of his task.

While the film may not closely replicate the political scheming that made Game of Thrones so intoxicating, The Lives of Others does maintain the same sense of moral ambiguity, using its bleak tone and historical setting to present an intriguing story about human connection. Additionally, spycraft played a significant though largely invisible role throughout Game of Thrones, and fans who were interested in that underlying deceit would do well to seek out The Lives of Others as a rewarding and surprisingly sincere movie about invading someone’s privacy while living behind the Iron Curtain.

6

‘The Last Duel’ (2021)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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With its gritty, high-stakes medieval atmosphere, compelling focus on political intrigue and codes of honor, and its penchant for graphic and brutal violence, The Last Duel is able to match the intensity, aesthetic, and general themes of Game of Thrones, even with the stark differences between the stories. The biggest difference resides in The Last Duel’s basis, with the movie depicting true events that transpired in 14th-century France when the friendship of two knights is stained by an accusation of sexual assault and a looming fight to the death.

Like Game of Thrones, The Last Duel excels at conjuring a tone of imposing tension. It delivers a promise of violence and death that isn’t exciting or thrilling so much as it is stomach-churning. Also armed with a realistic understanding of human nature in all its egotistical and selfish complexity and an intriguing true story of a woman’s charge for justice in the Middle Ages, The Last Duel holds a certain gravitas that will resonate with many Game of Thrones fans.

Joe Amabile is predicting that the cancellation of Taylor Frankie Paul’s season 22 of The Bachelorette will not be the end of the franchise.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen to the franchise. I don’t know if this is it. If they come back, are they going to come back with The Bachelorette or are they going to come back with The Bachelor?” Joe, 39, questioned on the Sunday, March 22, episode of the “Not Married to This” podcast with wife Serena Pitt.

He continued, “What do I think is going to happen next? I think, since I went on the show – the first time I went on the show was 2018 — people were saying, ‘This is it. This is going to be the last season.’ People say that all the time. I think this is really bad, but I also think it’s still publicity. If anything, more people are talking about the Bachelor franchise now than maybe ever.”

Joe pointed out that the famed Bachelor mansion has been recently renovated thanks to the HGTV series Bachelor Mansion Takeover, which stars several alums helping to redo the home.

Related: Will ‘Bachelorette’ Still Air After Taylor Frankie Paul’s Domestic Dispute?

Taylor Frankie Paul’s domestic dispute has reportedly caused The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to press pause on production — but will it affect The Bachelorette season 22 premiere? Taylor, 31, was allegedly involved in a domestic violence dispute with on-again, off-again boyfriend Dakota Mortensen earlier this month. After a 2023 video of Taylor throwing […]

“They have a brand new mansion,” Joe said. “I, personally, if you’re still a fan of the franchise and you want to watch, I would bet a lot of money that they come back. Like, I don’t think it’s over. I think they come back and I think they go to their bread and butter, which is The Bachelor.”

News broke last week that Taylor and ex Dakota Mortensen were involved in an alleged domestic violence incident leading to season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives halting production. A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department in Utah confirmed to Us Weekly at the time that there was an open “domestic assault investigation” concerning the pair, noting that allegations were “made in both directions.”

“There’s more to the context to everything and it’s unfortunate,” Taylor exclusively told Us at a New York City press dinner on Tuesday, March 17. “It’s been hard. And it sucks to be in this position. And the mother that I am, that is something I will always stand my ground on. I believe that I am a good mother and I have always treated my kids very well. So the headlines that are out right now are very hard to see because that’s not the truth of it. I have always treated my children with respect and I’ve never touched them. So it’s been really hard.”

Days later, TMZ released footage of Taylor physically assaulting and throwing multiple chairs at Mortensen in an 2023 altercation while in the presence of her daughter. The incident led to her arrest at the time, where 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.

Hours after the footage was released, ABC announced the cancellation of The Bachelorette season 22 — which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22.

“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson told Us in a statement.

A rep for Taylor later told Us in a statement that she “is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”

“After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,” the rep said.

The statement continued, “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”

Dakota, for his part, broke his silence on the footage in a separate statement.

“As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation,” Dakota said at the time. “I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”

Dakota has since been granted a temporary protective order against Taylor and given temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever, per documents obtained by Us. (Taylor is also mom to daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, whom she shares with ex-husband Tate Paul.)

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo has issued an apology over his controversial comments downplaying the seriousness of two well-documented medical conditions, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and asthma.

“I recently did an interview and had a lapse in judgment, which resulted in me making a tasteless joke about CTE and asthma,” Skattebo, 24, wrote via X on Saturday, March 21. “It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries or asthma.”

He continued, “I sincerely apologize to anyone that was offended by my remarks, and I assure you that I’ll be more mindful and respectful going forward. Much love!!!”

Earlier this month, Skattebo was asked whether he believed that CTE was “a real thing.” (CTE is a degenerative brain disease likely caused by repeated head injuries, according to the Mayo Clinic.)

Related: Why NY Giants Star Cam Skattebo Was Fined Before Suffering Gruesome Injury

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo took a hit to his bank account before suffering a gnarly season-ending injury. Skattebo, 23, was fined $15,000 by the National Football League on Friday, October 24, two days before the rookie star dislocated his ankle in dramatic fashion against the Philadelphia Eagles.  The fine was handed down […]

“No, it’s an excuse,” Skattebo said on a March episode of the “Bring the Juice” podcast, also agreeing with host Frank Delana’s own opinion that asthma is similarly an excuse. The football stay continued, “That’s valid. Yes, asthma’s fake.”

Asthma, per Mayo Clinic, is a condition where the airways narrow and swell that can make breathing extremely difficult, causing wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. There is no known cure.

Delana, for his part, subsequently made a joke about individuals who have asthma.

“Is there anything worse than and someone’s huffing and puffing,” he quipped. “You’re just soft.”

Skattebo concurred, adding, “Yeah, just literally breathe air.”

Related: New York Giants RB Cam Skattebo’s Girlfriend Reacts to His Horrifying Injury

The girlfriend of New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo showed her support after his gruesome season-ending injury. Chloe Rodriguez broke her silence via social media on Monday, October 27, one day after Skattebo, 23, underwent surgery to repair the dislocated ankle he suffered during the Giants game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, October […]

Skattebo was drafted by the Giants in April 2025, playing his rookie season with the team until he sustained a gruesome ankle injury the following October.

“[I] feel absolutely terrible for the young man,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll told reporters at the time. “Obviously I saw it. It looked bad. You feel for anybody on your team that goes down and has a really bad injury. And I feel, and I know the players feel the same way about Skat.”

The pro athlete underwent surgery to repair his dislocated ankle and has since been recuperating to prepare for the 2026-2027 NFL season.

“[My recovery is] on schedule,” Skattebo said during a January press conference about his progress. “I got another week until I start moving around, upping my speed a little bit. Time’s gonna tell, but take it easy. [I] got plenty of time to get back to it.”

He further stressed that making it to the team’s training camp in the summer “was obviously the goal.”

“Hopefully, [I’ll] get back by OTAs,” Skattebo said, referring to the NFL’s voluntary preseason practices. “If not, there’s no rush to it.”

[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Episode 4 of DTF St. Louis.]

From creator Steven Conrad, the seven-episode HBO limited series DTF St. Louis follows what happens when local weatherman Clark Forrest (Jason Bateman) starts an affair with Carol Smernitch (Linda Cardellini) and her husband Floyd (David Harbour), Clark’s on-air ASL interpreter and friend, ends up dead. As Clark and Floyd start to spend time together, Clark finds himself drawn to Carol and wants to spend more time with her, even if it’s right under Floyd’s nose. So, when Floyd ends up dead, and either one of them could be a suspect, detectives are brought in to unravel the clues, put together all the strange pieces, and solve the mystery.

During this interview with Collider, co-stars Bateman, Harbour and Cardellini discussed Floyd’s Playgirl past and the role it still plays in his life, Bateman and Harbour’s Beastie Boys inspired episode four rap, the love triangle that makes you keep guessing about who could have committed murder, how the meeting between Floyd and Modern Love ended up in a kiss, and what Harbour loved about working with Peter Sarsgaard.

Floyd’s Playgirl Past Plays a Big Role in What He Thinks of Himself Now in ‘DTF St. Louis’

“It’s core to what he struggles with.”

Image via HBO

Collider: I’m so intrigued by the character study of these three people. David, much is made of the fact that Floyd was in Playgirl. It’s certainly an unexpected detail about the character, and it seems very specific to him. What was your reaction to that aspect of his story? How do you think he feels about that detail from his past?

DAVID HARBOUR: I think it’s core to what he struggles with nowadays. He, at one point and very physically, thought himself quite something. Now, he’s in decline and feels like he doesn’t have the same sort of potency that he used to have as a young man. I think that’s part of the reason why he carries that thing around, and he has it in the closet, and it’s so integral. You’ll see, as we get to the final episodes, it plays a big part, before his death, in what he wants and what he thinks of himself and what’s important to him. It’s an incredible detail, right from the weird, wonderful brain of Steve Conrad. This poor overweight guy with heart problems and Peyronies disease used to be a Playgirl model when he was 23 or 24. I love it.

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‘DTF St. Louis’ Review: David Harbour and Jason Bateman’s HBO Mystery Wobbles, but Its Dark Comedy Still Hooks You

In the heart of suburbia, three lives intertwine through a dating app, but one death throws the town into chaos.

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I loved it because it was so unexpected. Jason and David, I never imagined that I would hear the two of you rapping a song about acing a life insurance physical. How did that rap come about? Were you intentionally referencing the Beastie Boys because it so sounded very Beastie Boys to me?

JASON BATEMAN: We just followed our leader. Steve Conrad wrote those lyrics and came up with the beat and the style of shooting it. That’s a great example of what this show is, which is that these real spicy meatballs can exist in this world, and it doesn’t bump you out of the show. There’s some great counterbalance in these other scenes that have all this raw vulnerability and emotion that allow for these big swings on this side, and somehow it ends up balancing. It’s such a fun watch, this show.

Jason Bateman and David Harbour Shared a Beastie Boys Moment in ‘DTF St. Louis’

“We were talking about the life insurance policy, but it was also kind of written like a rap.”

Did you guys immediately lock in on getting that timing right with the two of you doing it, or did that take some time?

HARBOUR: We had versions of it. We were three weeks into shooting, and in the script, there was this thing where it was written that we were talking about the life insurance policy, but it was also kind of written like a rap. I was like, “Do you want us to sing this at all?” You can’t say things like that to Steve because his mind will go, “Yeah, maybe you should. Let’s do that.” And then, he wrote the whole thing and recorded a version of it. And you’re right, it’s very Beastie Boys. As opposed to professional, amateur means doing it for the love of it, and I do think there’s a wonderful amateur quality of Steve, in some ways, where he’ll just go, “Yeah, I don’t know, in the middle of this episode, I just want to see these guys rap,” or “I want to see Floyd on a pommel horse.”

I find, as a viewer, when I sit around watching Game of Thrones or whatever, I do wish I could have these little breakout moments where you can just be like, “Okay, now you guys are doing something else,” and just allows the audience that pleasurable moment of, “You’re watching TV, so here’s this little bit of strangeness and a bit of weirdness for you.” It’s calibrated with a very dark, contemplative show about relationships and marriage and normalcy, and all these things. But they are these little bonbons that are just lovely. But yes, it’s very Beastie Boys inspired, for sure.

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The series also stars David Harbour and Linda Cardellini.

There’s something that feels awful and sad about Clark and Carol taking advantage of the fact that Floyd got them concert tickets and they’re continuing their affair in front of him. How did all of that work? How did you guys feel about that? And David, what was it like to put your whole body into that moment?

BATEMAN: That was the very last shot I had. That was another balance of being with his wife and sweetly offering to get us water, and I’m like, “Yeah, sure, go get us some water,” and I immediately grab her hand. There’s just something so untoward about the whole thing. Carol is having this moment of recognition with Floyd about how incredible he is. It brings on tears. That’s also a moment for Clark to maybe flash being threatened by him, that maybe she’s falling back in love with him. Now, you’ve got another moment for the audience to go, “Oh, maybe she didn’t kill him. Maybe Clark killed him.” There’s all this stuff that’s going on.

It’s just another great example of a scene that’s got a bunch of different stuff going on. Linda [Cardellini] did such a great job performing that scene. She had to speak up and pretend the music was going on and that the crowd was cheering, and yet the crowd, when we were shooting it, was completely silent to protect the dialogue, and she had to get into this emotion. I just remember being so impressed that she was able to make herself cry and be very lovely while screaming, and saying these very sweet, soft things that you would whisper. I don’t know how she did that, but it was very impressive.

LINDA CARDELLINI: Thank you. That scene, watching him up there and that music was so infectious. We did it a couple of times with just the music, and he didn’t have to go full-on. It was so much fun to be there. When you come back to that moment after knowing more things that will come about, there’s more in there than we all realize at that moment. I love those moments.

Floyd Just Wants To Make a Connection With Modern Love in ‘DTF St. Louis’

“He wants to protect him and take care of him.”

Image via HBO

David, the relationship between Floyd and Modern Love is an interesting one. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a dynamic where somebody just agrees to kiss someone to be polite and not upset them. What was it like to find that relationship, figure that dynamic out, and figure that kiss out? It feels like we couldn’t have had that moment without the things that we learned about Floyd before then.

HARBOUR: Yeah, for sure. You’ll see things, further on, about sign language. You’ve started to see the beginning of how his Peyronies disease got started, but you haven’t gotten to the end of that story, which is another big moment in Floyd’s life that relates to this as well. I think it is a show about true love. Floyd really does love people, and I think he really tries, really hard. He fails, and he doesn’t communicate well, and he’s got a lot of problems. It’s a weird thing that you just have to give over to it. There’s a version of that scene with Modern Love where he comes back, and he’s like, “Sorry, man, I thought you were a girl. This is a mistake.” But he doesn’t. He really wants to make this guy comfortable. He sees the guy’s vulnerability around the Solid Gold dancers and how he felt alone, and he wants to protect him and take care of him.

I think that he’s caught off guard, certainly, by the kiss idea. I don’t think it’s his first impulse, but he’s like, “Why not?” And then, he gets confused about it and has a nice little scene with Jason [Bateman], trying to figure out what he is doing. One of the fun things about the arc of this character, and you’ll see as we go into [episodes] five, six and seven, what it is that Floyd is looking for in DTF, and it’s not really sex, it’s something else. He even changes the word, at one point. The DTF doesn’t have to mean fuck? It can mean “feels good together.” He has a new phrase for that. He’s looking for a certain connection and a certain potency in life, and he’s making attempts. That scene is one of my favorites. We’re so lucky to have gotten Peter Sarsgaard to do that for us. He’s so extraordinary in the whole thing, with the eyeliner and the roller skates. He’s just the best. It was so fun.

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The 10 Best David Harbour Movies, Ranked

Which movies are the best from the ‘Stranger Things’ star?

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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Network

HBO

Showrunner

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Steve Conrad

Directors

Steven Conrad

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Writers

Steven Conrad

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DTF St. Louis airs on HBO and is available to stream on HBO Max.