There is a time and a place for intense movies, and maybe that time is not right now. Other things are intense, and so if you get the chance to sit down and actually watch a movie, maybe intensity is best avoided. It’s understandable if you feel that way, and so if you’re after comfort, good vibes, and whatever the cinematic equivalent of a nice hug is, then the following movies have got your back.

Many of these aim to be crowd-pleasing, while others are a little more obscure and out-there, and maybe not conventionally entertaining, though undeniably easy to appreciate if you’re in the mood for something a little different. They’re not ranked in any particular order, either, since having to decide between which movie, say, is #6 and which is #7 can be stressful in itself, and stress is not what we’re here for right now.

10

‘Amélie’ (2001)

Image via UGC Fox Distribution

Essentially, Amélie is a movie about being nice. The titular character is withdrawn and has admittedly unconventional ways of being a good Samaritan to strangers, but that’s what she does anyway, and that’s what most of the movie shows her doing. She also has her own arc that involves falling in love and becoming less withdrawn in the process.

It’s all done without too much concern for story, or at least less concern for telling an intricate/unpredictable story than most movies out there. The approach works, and it’s helped by how stylish Amélie is, too. It’s a movie about niceness that also looks incredibly nice, with a bold use of color throughout and an overall energy that makes it feel quite fantastical at times, on top of being romantic and gently comedic.

9

‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (1988)

Image via Studio Ghibli

My Neighbor Totoro is another movie that’s not about too much narratively, and that’s okay. It’s potentially the gentlest and most comforting of all the movies Hayao Miyazaki has directed, which is saying quite a lot, and it’s mostly about two sisters having to deal with a move to the countryside because their mother’s sick. And, while there, they discover fantastical creatures living in a nearby forest.

The animation here is as great as you’d expect, given the director and the fact that it’s a Studio Ghibli production, and My Neighbor Totoro is also great to just sink into, or let wash over you, if you can let a movie do that. The likes of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke might be better films, but My Neighbor Totoro could well be the most worth checking out if you’re after a comfort watch.

8

‘Hot Rod’ (2007)

Image via Paramoutn Pictures

Advertisement

Thoroughly committed to being as silly as possible for pretty much its whole runtime, Hot Rod is incredibly funny, and even the jokes that sort of miss the mark are endearing in their own ways. It’s a movie that just wants you to have a good time for a while, pretty much encouraging the turning off of one’s brain in the process, and something so purely and wholeheartedly comedic in tone is sometimes just what you need.

It’s an entertaining and chaotic movie about someone who’s obsessed with being a stuntman, but he’s not very good at actually doing stunts without getting hurt or causing destruction. There’s also something to be said about a movie that looked like it was fun to make, since that can rub off on the people watching it, proving sort of infectious, and Hot Rod is that kind of fun-looking (and feeling) film.

7

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)

Image via Liberty Films

Advertisement

Doing everything you could ask for, from a Christmas movie, and maybe even a little more on top of that, somehow, It’s a Wonderful Life is naturally going to be one of the first things that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “life-affirming movie.” And, no, not just because it was the word “Life” in the title, and also not because it’s nothing but good vibes for a couple of hours or so.

The vibes are eventually good, but It’s a Wonderful Life puts you through some turbulent stuff before then, and does the same for its main character, who slowly learns that he has more worth than he initially thought, largely thanks to some fantastical influences. There’s a tremendously rewarding and well-earned ending here, and even 80 years later, it’s still about as uplifting and cathartic as movies have ever gotten.

6

‘Paterson’ (2016)

Image via Bleecker Street

Advertisement

In Paterson, there’s a man named Paterson, and he goes about what seems to be a pretty relaxed life, and it’s one he finds satisfaction in, even if it might look a little boring on the surface. And Paterson, the movie, might also sound a bit boring, if you lay it out in that way, even with that way being accurate to what it is and what it’s going for.

There’s plenty to like and appreciate here, though, once you get on the film’s wavelength. Paterson feels meditative and peaceful, and just being those things ends up being enough to make it genuinely compelling for a couple of minutes shy of two hours. Even watching a person go about a strict routine over the course of a week turns out to be compelling, if you’re a sufficiently good filmmaker (Jim Jarmusch) and equipped with a perfectly utilized Adam Driver.

5

‘Perfect Days’ (2023)

Image via Bitters End

Advertisement

Another movie about a simple lifestyle and a routine being followed, Perfect Days is easy to compare to Paterson, but it’s about a man in a different profession living in a very different environment, too. While Paterson in Paterson was a bus driver, the protagonist of Perfect Days is a toilet cleaner, and his work – plus the other things in his life – take him around Tokyo.

It might sound cheesy, but Perfect Days is a movie about just enjoying and trying to appreciate small or seemingly insignificant things, and also being in touch with one’s emotional state. It manages to be very touching at times, even with the seemingly low stakes, and calling it, ironically enough, one of the most perfect movies in recent memory doesn’t feel hyperbolic.

Image via Universal Pictures

Advertisement

With E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, there was both a noble and successful attempt to make a science fiction movie that could appeal to anyone, all centered on the unlikely friendship between a boy and an alien. The latter gets stranded on Earth, and the former endeavors to help him reconnect with his own kind and get him home, even if that’ll ultimately mean they have to part ways.

In that sense, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is bittersweet, and certainly feels quite sad at times for something that’s ultimately life-affirming, yet the emotional balance is pulled off perfectly here, and it’s the right kind of touching for such a film; emotional without being devastating and all that. If you want to see Steven Spielberg’s sentimental streak at its most effective, that’s exactly what you get here.

3

‘Cinema Paradiso’ (1988)

Since you’re reading (or maybe skimming over) an article about movies right now, there’s a pretty good chance you like movies, right? If you do indeed like movies enough to also enjoy movies that are about movies, then Cinema Paradiso is about as essential a watch as a film could be, since it might well be the ultimate movie about cinema that’s not a biographical/historical movie about the making of a specific film.

It’s more of a coming-of-age movie about a young boy who finds that cinema is a great escape from the hardships of the real world, and a way to connect with people, too. Also, even when finding a connection with others gets hard, later in life, the movies are always there for him, and the love for cinema keeps enduring in one way or another. Cinema Paradiso is also a good deal less cheesy than all those words might make it sound, but it’s hard to break down and analyze such a film; one you’re much better off just feeling instead.

2

‘Toy Story’ (1995)

Image via Pixar Animation Studios

Since the sequels are a good deal more devastating (though not without some sweet to go along with the bitter), Toy Story, as in the original, is the one being singled out here. It’s also got a bit of sadness with the whole arc Buzz Lightyear goes through, which is somewhat heavy-going for an animated family movie, but it doesn’t overwhelm or prove suffocating when the rest of the movie is breezy and comforting.

Toy Story is a fun, colorful movie when you’re young, and to some extent, it’s still that if you watch it as an adult, but then you also appreciate what it’s going for beyond just entertainment once you’re of a sufficient age. Not that it’s deep by the standards of, like, arthouse cinema, though there is still a fair bit here to think about, which is cool considering it’s, at first glance, a kind of goofy kids’ movie about toys that come alive and talk.

1

‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (1952)

Image via MGM

Singin’ in the Rain is, out of all the classic Hollywood musicals, maybe the easiest to get into and appreciate. It’s got a breezy story about the film industry transitioning from silent movies to talkies, done in a way that’s a good deal more lightweight than, say, Babylon (which does reference Singin’ in the Rain, both the movie and the song of the same name, more than once throughout).

If you don’t usually like broad and cheery old-school musicals, it’s still worth watching Singin’ in the Rain, since it could well be the one to convert you. There’s a focus on comedy here, above all else, and then a bit of romance thrown in for good measure (not an overwhelming amount, though). It’s a film that wants you to have a good time, and one where it’s hard to imagine too many people watching it and not having that sort of experience throughout. It’s inherently (or maybe even intensely, for what it’s worth) likable, as a film.

Advertisement

Singin’ in the Rain

Release Date

Advertisement

April 11, 1952

Runtime

103 Minutes

Advertisement

Director

Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly

Writers

Advertisement

Adolph Green, Betty Comden

Advertisement

• 
• 

Advertisement

Advertisement

Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for April 06-10, 2026 have Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) terrified, Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) big mad, and also big baby news.

As we always do on early edition day, we start with what’s coming this week and then dive into what is ahead next week.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers Wednesday, April 1st: Hope and Deke Confront Deacon

So, on Wednesday, April 1st, we’ve got Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) and heading over to Il Giardino and going upstairs to have a sit down with Deacon at his place. Looks like Hope and Deke are worried. So, I think that Deacon is going to come completely clean about nearly everything that went down at Steffy’s place with Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) because a very concerned Deke repeats it back to his dad.

So, Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) showed up in Taylor’s bedroom doorway holding a freaking knife. And Deke tells Deacon, “Hello, is that not a huge wakeup call? And Deacon is definitely looking worried for good reason. Hope also tells Deacon that she and Deke know how much Taylor means to him. But after this, Hope asked her dad how can he think that Sheila is not on to him.

Steffy meanwhile worries about Taylor’s safety and Steffy is telling Taylor that Deacon married a lunatic and that’s on him, not on Taylor. But an irate Steffy is pushing on that ultimatum again because she is genuinely scared for her mom’s safety. But Taylor is in love and acting like a starry-eyed teenager and is not as afraid as she should be.

B&B Spoilers: Sheila’s Putting the Pieces Together

It’s all starting to make sense to Sheila. So, on Wednesday, she asked their delivery person at Il Giardino if he made a delivery out to Steffy and Finn’s (Tanner Novlan) place. And the guy says he has delivered to Finn a bunch of times, but not last night. Sheila thinks that that pizza box is a smoking gun, but this is a rewrite of history. If you watch Bold and the Beautiful regularly, you’ll know Finn gets carry out from Il Giardino all the time.

I do not recall him and Steffy ever getting or mentioning Il Giardino delivery. They have to be way outside their delivery zone because they’re all the way out in Malibu versus Il Giardino downtown LA. They also mentioned before that Finn drives all that way to pick up his favorite pizza and we’ve seen him there avoiding Sheila whenever Finn picks up the order. So, this is a rewrite.

Anyway, so I do wonder if Sheila’s going to see Hope when she’s there with Deke to talk to Deacon because Sheila may corner Hope and, you know, if she starts asking questions and if Hope and Deacon didn’t get their story straight beforehand about what went on the night they were supposedly having dinner, you know, where they went, what they ate, that’s trouble. Now, Deacon told Sheila he went home early, but still they had plans and they should be able to answer questions about them.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers Thursday, April 2nd: Steffy Tears Into Deacon

Thursday, April 2nd, we have Deacon feeling Steffy’s wrath. She is face to face with Taylor’s boyfriend. And Steffy is tearing into Deacon for coming to her house and putting Taylor at risk and about his psycho wife Sheila waving a knife around.

And Steffy may rant that if Sheila had caught Deacon there, Sheila could have killed Taylor and possibly him. Bottom line is Steffy’s at her limit and she wants Taylor to stay away from Deacon for good. And now Steffy wants to make sure Deacon sees the danger and prioritizes Taylor’s safety over wanting to hook up with her.

This week, also, Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) is going to chat with her son RJ Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) in the showroom at Forrester Creations and she is fishing for information on his love life. And looks like that Brooke has changed her tune a little.

If you recall, when RJ first came back to LA, Brooke had warned RJ he needed to stay away from Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) because she was with Will Spencer (Crew Morrow). But now she knows Electra and Will have split. And Brooke’s basically telling RJ to go for it. Brooke tells RJ that Electra is the woman that he deserves.

That’s factual, but I don’t think in the way that Brooke meant it. And Electra finds out something about Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer). I’m wondering if Daphne Rose (Murielle Hilaire) going to hint to Electra that maybe Ivy is not as trustworthy as Electra thinks. I don’t think she’d listen if Dylan (Sydney Bullock) tried to tell Electra the truth.

Bold Spoilers Friday, April 3rd: Sheila Back to Old Habits

Then on Friday, April 3rd, we’re going to wrap up this week with Ivy telling Electra it’s time to move on with her life, move on with someone wonderful like RJ. And Ivy is doubling down on matchmaking RJ and Electra. And it looks like it is working because RJ and Electra kiss again.

This time in the design office. And they look pretty smitten and cuddly. I wonder if Will is going to see them or Dylan. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ivy is creeping and peeping on them like usual.

Sheila is back to her old habits on Friday. She may confront one or both of Taylor and Deacon now that she’s pretty sure that Taylor’s been doing bad things with Deacon. And I wonder if Sheila will get all dark and murdery.

Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) and Brooke see something that they should not. Lots of options. Could be Ivy creeping on RJ with Electra. Could be their son kissing his new girl. They may walk in on Daphne and Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) doing some baby making at the office.

Week of April 6th-10th Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers

Then the week of April 6th through the 10th, we’re going to find out more soon about Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) and Katie Logan‘s (Heather Tom) scheduled Logan launch and what plans Brooke and Ridge are making to sabotage it so Eric Forrester (John McCook) is not further embarrassed.

I expect Deke to touch base with Katie about her offer to work at Logan and see if it still stands. He’s got all those sketches that Hope was raving about that she would like to have for Hope for the Future, but she can’t because she is stuck with Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson) and Zende Forrester Dominguez (Delon De Metz). Plus, Dylan and Will get a whole lot closer, as do RJ and Electra, but there’s a ticking clock on both of those new relationships.

Bold and Beautiful Spoilers: Deacon Protects Taylor

Deacon tries to protect Taylor. That is true, but Sheila may come after her anyway. You know, Deacon may try and sacrifice himself. This is getting really messy. I actually hope that Sheila truly has changed and doesn’t go all insane. But of course, everybody’s scared of it and expecting it. So, it’d be a nice twist if it didn’t happen. But next week, Steffy fears the worst.

And Daphne can’t keep sitting on the truth and keeping it from Electra for much longer. Also, in the next couple of weeks, looks like Daphne and Carter get the results of a pregnancy test. They have been very busy getting busy since they got married because they both want a baby. You know, there’s been some rumors they might have some infertility issues and you know, maybe because that’s the soapy outcome, but I want to see Daphne and a cute little Carter baby.

Taylor may be sacrificing too much for love and puts herself in danger by refusing to ditch Deacon. And Taylor and Deacon are outed as cheaters soon and lots of people have opinions about it. Very strong opinions. We know Ridge already does and I’m sure he’s going to lose his mind again.

Bold and Beautiful April Spoilers: A Couple Splits for Good

Also, we’ve got one couple calling things off soon and this is a pair that were thought to be an excellent match. So, could be about Sheila and Deacon, although I think the common opinion was that they were a match made in hell, not a perfect pair.

Maybe it’s Will and Electra calling it officially and forever off. I mean, with B&B spoilers, they can be very bait and switch. So, we’ll see what couple that applies to soon.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 1 hour ago

There’s been a lack of sci-fi action movies hitting theaters in the last few years, at least those that don’t involve superheroes or established franchises, which is why the Netflix original, War Machine, is a breath of fresh air. It’s predictable, and it can be boiled down to a modern retelling of Predator, but that’s not a bad thing. Starring Alan Ritchson, it’s an old-school sci-fi action story that does all the little things right, and it’s perfect for anyone who wants 80s action movies to make a comeback. 

A Modern Day Predator

Ritchson plays 81, known only by the number designation he receives when he applies for the Army Rangers following the death of his brother (Jai Courtney, making the most of his 4 minutes of screentime) years earlier in Afghanistan. War Machine doesn’t give the recruits any names, everyone has a number, but you’ll recognize some familiar faces, including Keiyan Lonsdale (Wally West from The Flash) as 60, and Daniel Webber (Lee Harvey Oswald from 11.22.63) as 57, along with the senior officers played by Esai Morales and Dennis Quaid. Don’t worry, it’s the type of movie where the moment a character seems important and we get some backstory, they’re the next ones to die. 

Doing the killing is a large, alien war machine that the Ranger recruits accidentally stumble upon during their final test. Slow but relentless, the war machine chases them through the wilderness, picking off soldiers by identifying them with a blue light, and then the red light is the sign that the guns are about to go hot. It’s a simple visual language that adds tension without the need for any explanation. No one points out how the war machine is “seeing” them, it just happens. 

War Machine embraces that “show, don’t tell” mentality throughout. It’s not only with the story, it’s the various horrible ways the soldiers die, including a brutal tumble down a cliff, and later, while attempting to escape in an armored transport that’s bouncing around and reacting to the explosive ordnance in a way most action movies would simply ignore. Rappelling, crossing a river, not wearing seat belts while the alien killing machine is chasing them, all of it makes the action brutal to watch in the best ways possible. 

The Birth Of A New Sci-Fi Franchise

Alan Ritchson’s 81 is a man of few words, but the Reacher star’s physical charisma carries him from the word go. The man was born to be an 80s action star. He has the television franchise locked up, and Fast X hasn’t led anywhere, but the early success of War Machine means we probably haven’t seen the last of 81. Richson and director Patrick Hughes have mentioned the name War Machines on social media. 

The odds are good that Netflix will greenlight the sequel, given how War Machine has been in the top ten movies for the entire month of March. These days, original sci-fi stories don’t have to do much to clear the bar, and War Machine isn’t for everyone. There’s no deeper meaning, no extensive lore, and not a whole lot to the plot, but with an under two-hour runtime and enough of the little things fans expect of action movies, there’s also no better way to kill an evening at home then relaxing, turning off your brain, and watching Alan Ritchson battle an alien invader. 

War Machine is currently streaming on Netflix.

You’re not imagining it: Basque-waist dresses are everywhere right now. Everyone from New York City ‘It’ girls to movie stars is donning the romantic dress trend that has no signs of stopping in 2026. While we saw inklings of the drop-waist style last year, the flattering design took off into overdrive due to the Wuthering Heights craze — and we’re not mad about it.

Basque-waist dresses first became popular during the Victorian era, and then stepped back into the fashion world, thanks to designers who put a new ‘cinched’ spin on the fairytale-esque style (See: Dior’s 1950’s New Look collection). And now? The look is back in a big way with A-listers slipping into the elongating design, including stars like Margot Robbie, who wore several basque-waist dresses during the 2026 Wuthering Heights press tour.

The vintage-looking dress has a V-like bodice cut that extends beyond the waist, giving you a slimming, lengthening appearance. The silhouette also accentuates curves and helps with proportions due to the round shape, making it ideal for petites and pear-shaped gals. It’s no wonder the style is so sought after. If you want to try it out for yourself, we found dresses from Lulus, Abercrombie & Fitch, Astr the Label and more that deliver the look without having to step back in time.

Romantic Basque-Waist Dresses for Spring

1. Our Favorite: Classic and gorgeous are just two ways to describe this Basque-waist dress. The fitted bodice and outlined cups give it a corset appearance without the wiring. We also like that the dress has a modern high slit to show off a bit of leg — a definite ‘no-no’ in the 1800s!

2. Runner-Up: The seersucker pattern on this midi tank dress makes Us think about the lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer, so naturally, we’re adding it to our cart. The high neckline and pleated design around the V-cut bodice give off a flattering effect that works in tandem with the vertical stripes, which are known for lengthening the body.

3. Mini Me: Basque-waist dresses don’t only come in midi and maxi lengths! This cute mini dress is proof. It has bow-tie straps, a U-shaped waist and a short skirt, which is ideal for warm spring and summer days. Plus, doesn’t the short top portion give off major Bridgerton vibes?

4. Transitional Staple: If it’s still too chilly to go sleeveless where you’re located, opt for this long-sleeved number, which gives you the same vintage style with a little more coverage.

5. Top-Seller: This milkmaid-style dress is what fairytale dreams are made of. The vibrant colors, floral patterns and form-fitted bodice are chef’s kiss. It’s no wonder the dress has over 1,200 five-star ratings to date.

Related: Abercrombie Dropped New Spring Getaway Finds, and Prices Start at $19

Advertisement

If you’re anything like me, you and your closet thrive during the warm-weather months. The sun’s out, you’re wearing the cutest clothes and your mood is at its peak. I get it, because that’s literally my reality. Now, if your wardrobe is lacking a few spring essentials, Abercrombie & Fitch is coming in hot with […]

6. Everyday Essential: We’ll admit that the romantic dress style skews closer toward the elevated side, but this cap-sleeved pick makes it appropriate for everyday wear. You can thank the tee-like top for that.

7. Rich Mom: There’s no arguing about it: This halter midi dress looks far more expensive than its price suggests. We can totally see rich moms everywhere donning this dress for baby showers, church services and even weddings (just in a different color).

8. Anything But Basic: This simple yet stylish dress feels like it’s from another era, thanks to the puffed quarter-sleeved, gathered bodice and bow accent in the middle. Plus, the houndstooth pattern embodies that ‘mod’ swing look.

9. Low-Key Genius: The biggest flex about this basque-waist maxi is the bra-free design. Unlike other options on this list, the Abercrombie dress has hidden built-in coverage, so you can forgo the pasties before heading out the door.

10. Pop of Color: Another trend for spring is butter yellow everything. Celebrities like Martha Stewart wear the sunny color, which makes Us want to get this smocked sundress ASAP.

11. Quite the Charmer: Everyone will turn their heads when they see you wear this lace-up maxi dress. The Lulus wedding guest dress is perfect for every spring ceremony . . . and the overlay bodice will make you feel comfy while sitting, standing and dancing the night away.

12. Out of Office: Seeing a basque-waist dress in this fun, vacation-esque print wasn’t on our bingo card, but we’re totally here for it. It modernizes the Victorian style with a short ruffle hem, exposed U-neckline and bright color palette.

13. Date Night: Your little black dress just got a revamp with this drop-waist number that gives you an hourglass shape . . . without strapping into a painful corset. Oh, and the short bubble-like hem makes legs look so long, your date will think you’re a model. Win-win!

14. Spring Must-Have: We’re kind of in love with this flutter-sleeve dress from Lulus. The deep V-neckline, lightweight chiffon fabric and corset appearance feel very ethereal. You’re bound to get princess treatment while wearing this baby.

15. Expensive-Looking: Throw on this vintage-style halter dress, book a trip to Italy and cruise around town on a Vespa. Yes, in that order. Designed with a fold-over neckline, fit-to-loose silhouette and polka dot pattern, this stylish dress is one you’ll wear over and over — especially if you want that Emily in Paris look.

Young and the Restless spoilers for April 06-10, 2026 reveal Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) is in danger and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) is increasingly frustrated.

As we always do on early edition day, we start with what’s coming the rest of this week and then dive into what is ahead next week.

Young and the Restless Spoilers Wednesday, April 1st: Adam Plays Poker as Spyder

So, on Wednesday, April 1st, we’ve got Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) twitching like a junkie while Adam mentally prepares to be Spyder at Riza Thompson’s (Tina Casciani) big game. Adam is showing Nick his card shark skills where he can read body language and tells. And Adam knows something is off with Nick and offers his help, but he says that it’s just hard to wait to find Matt Clark (Roger Howarth).

The drug dealer shows up after Adam leaves for the game and Nick orders enough drugs for a party of six or seven people, but we know it is all for just Nick. The drug dealer hands over what he asked for, plus a bonus baggie with a different drug in it. Nick also asks if the guy knows Mitch Bacall, but either the drug dealer doesn’t know or he is playing dumb.

Also, Matt Clark is back on screen on Wednesday. He’s with Riza in her room in the casino and they’re making out. And Matt wants to hang around for the big poker game, but Riza says no. Matt then asked if he can play in the poker game and she refuses that as well. And he asked Riza about Spyder. So, Matt clearly doesn’t know that that is Adam’s secret identity. And then Matt insists he wants to meet Spyder, Riza’s partner.

Y&R Spoilers: Riza Kisses Adam

Matt gets antsy and bails and Riza is happy when Adam shows up and of course he wins big at the game for her. After the other players leave, Riza kisses Adam and tells him to slow down when he’s trying to get deeper into her business.

Riza tells him that she had to take on another partner after Spyder left, but she does want him to meet the guy, but doesn’t use Matt’s name. Also, you know, he’s asking to meet Spyder. So, there’s a big thing coming where I think Adam suspects this, but Matt is going to be blindsided.

Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) updates Faith Newman (Reylynn Caster) on a call that Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) can’t have visitors or Zoom chats yet. Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) shows up asking why Sharon’s upset. She nags Phyllis about the Newman takeover, brings up Summer Newman (Allison Lanier), but of course, Phyllis doesn’t want to hear it.

She says Victor Newman‘s (Eric Braeden) done all this bad stuff, so why is Sharon judging her? But she warns Phyllis that Victor won’t stop until he gets everything back. Phyllis is in her I can do it alone, I deserve this, I’m fabulous phase, and Sharon wonders if this is about what Martin Laurent (Christopher Cousins) did to them.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Phyllis Hurt by Sharon

Phyllis is actually annoyed that on the anniversary of their shared Martin trauma, Sharon didn’t reach out to her. Phyllis says Sharon has another maniac after her, Matt Clark. And Phyllis says her kids are hating on her again, so neither of them have come out of the whole thing unscathed.

Sharon says at least they’re free. And Martin is in a prison cell all alone. But Phyllis makes it clear she won’t back down and that the Newmans have each other and a mountain of money, so they’re fine. And Phyllis says she’s okay doing this alone.

Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks) and Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei) catch up at Crimson Lights. Mariah has gone to the psychiatric hospital and Daniel’s ranting about Phyllis and how Summer cut her out. Daniel says he’s also done with his mom. And Tessa’s frustrated that Mariah wouldn’t let her support her and go along to the psych hospital just to be close by.

Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) then shows up and sees Daniel and Tessa playing guitar together. And Danny wants them to cut an album and he even offers to produce it. And then he invites Tessa and Daniel to Spain to perform in a club. Tessa jumps at the offer. Daniel’s not sure about performing, but agrees to go to Barcelona. And Tessa and Daniel both agree they’re in the friend zone now.

Y&R Thursday, April 2nd: Nick Targeted by Matt

Then on Thursday, April 2nd, Nick is targeted by Matt, who I’m sure sent the dealer to sell to Nick and specifically to give him that bonus baggie, which I suspect contains something really, really scary that could push Nick off the edge.

Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) gets blasted by Phyllis for conspiring with Victor, for faking her and the twins’ kidnapping, and for hurting Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) so badly. Meanwhile, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) continues to defend Victor. I don’t think Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) is going to like this.

If you remember, Victor is the sole and only reason that Nate and Victoria split before. So, to be fair, Nate saw Victoria when she was being a megalomaniac who was so power-hungry she was screwing over her own family. And Nate still stuck around. But Victor is a big issue for him. Even though Victor and Nate have kind of said bygones about things, I think this is going to bring up a lot for Nate.

Young and the Restless Spoilers Friday, April 3rd: Diane and Kyle Confront Victoria

Then on Friday, April 3rd, we’re going to wrap up the week on Young and the Restless with Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) confronting Victoria. And if she repeats what she told Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) that it’s Jack’s own fault for what Victor did to him, I think they are going to go off on Victoria.

And of course, Kyle’s very angry with Claire Grace Newman (Hayley Erin) about this as well. The Victor backlash is tearing relationships apart all over Genoa City. Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun) walks up on Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) and Noah Newman (Lucas Adams), reflecting and talking about their past.

So, Sienna may question Noah, and I wonder if he’s going to bring up Audra’s miscarriage, and it may prompt a talk about babies since Sienna is a little too old to have any biological kids with Noah. Plus, on Friday, Victor makes good on a threat, likely against Cane.

But there’s a chance it’s against Jack or Phyllis, especially Jack since we know Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) remains in town and she is another partner in crime of Victor’s. Plus, Nikki talks Jack into something on Friday.

Y&R Spoilers Week of April 6th-10th Spoilers

Then, the week of April 6th through the 10th, we’ve got more on trouble in Vegas. Roger Howarth said in a recent interview that Matt’s been busy while the actor was offscreen. He’s plotting and up to no good. And Roger Howarth said Matt is still destructive as he ever was. He also mentioned being in scenes with new people. One of course is Riza, who we see this week and next week.

I expect to see Matt in scenes with Adam. Of course, Riza knows who Spyder is, knows he’s a Newman, but Matt has no idea that Riza was partnering up with Adam Newman. So, that’s going to be a really interesting conversation with Riza and Matt when it comes out. And Nick obviously is already on his radar and in trouble, but Adam is increasingly in danger as well.

Nate does not like this side of Victoria. Looks like she’s doubling down on defending Victor and Nate may take a step back because Nate laid into Lily about conspiring with Victor. I just doubt he’s going to appreciate Victoria continuing to enable her dad’s awfulness.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Crazy Patty Wreaks Havoc

Expect more chaos from Crazy Patty as she continues to cause problems for Jack and Diane. Lily drowns in regret. And despite Cane vowing that he’s done with Lily forever, soon Cane is going to make an effort and prove himself to Lily. Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) is determined to get Claire away from Kyle.

And Victor’s antics may actually help Holden’s cause because Claire is sticking with team Victor and Kyle has taken a step back with her. He’s not happy. Phyllis and Cane may reconnect over the Victor hate and her laying into Lily about him.

And also look for a couple of weeks when Victor’s not around because actor Eric Braeden was out sick for a couple of weeks. He’s all better now. Noah reassures Sienna not to worry about Audra, but Sienna is more focused on shutting down Matt before he hurts the Newmans. And Sienna may engage in some self-sacrifice.

Nick, Nikki and Jack strategize on how to fix their fractured marriages. Victor still off-put about Nikki defending Jack. Don’t forget Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore) is back in April. And after Billy Abbott‘s (Jason Thompson) back from London, he and Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) are going to make some significant plans.

Days of Our Lives spoilers for April 06-10, 2026 find EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) shocking somebody and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) scoring with a lady.

As we always do on early edition day, we start with what’s coming the rest of this week, then dive into what is ahead for next week.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers Wednesday, April 1st: Holly and Tate Feel Vindicated

So, on Wednesday, April 1st, Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) and Tate Black (Leo Howard) feel vindicated. They already suspected that Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) swapped Holly’s drug bottle at Bayview.

And this week, Brady confirms it and tells Holly and Tate that Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote) said Sophia gave her the supplements and asks her to give them to Holly without bringing up Sophia’s name. Bottle number two. Bottle number one. They have now realized that, you know, Holly got tricked by Sophia.

Xander Kiriakis Cook (Paul Telfer) finds it difficult to be in the same room with Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey). And of course, it’s because Xander just is having a hard time letting go and accepting that she’s with Brady.

And at this point, Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) is definitely a consolation prize. Sophia gets an earful from Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk). She is livid that psycho Sophia used Rachel.

And I do wonder if Sophia will have any sort of remorse that Rachel is back to Bayview. I hope Sophia doesn’t try to go visit her. And I hope Kristen and Brady put Sophia on the ban list.

DOOL Spoilers: Gwen Breaks News to EJ

Gwen has some news about Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) that she gives to EJ. And of course, we know that Dimitri is now the main suspect in Vivian Alamain’s (Louise Sorel) mysterious death. But EJ may know even more about Dimitri’s situation since EJ is the one who had a bad bad thing done to Vivian.

But again, I’m with Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow). I don’t think Madame Vivian is dead. Also, we’ll see. But I wonder if we’re going to get any April’s April Fool’s Day pranks. I suspect not. The new headwriters seem to have dropped that nonsense that Ron Carlivati always did. They didn’t do it in 2025. So we’ll see if it happens this Wednesday.

Thursday, April 2nd on Days: Johnny Needs Another Favor from EJ

Thursday, April 2nd, Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) approaches EJ needing another favor. Now that Kate wants a pile of cash to settle the copyright claim against Bonnie Kiriakis’s (Judi Evans) book. We know that Johnny is reeling and he’s told Kate that he would fight it in court.

So, I bet EJ will show up for his son because he wants Johnny to stay at DiMera and this Titan suit that Kate threatened probably means that Johnny can’t go back to Titan, which is great news for EJ.

Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) are talking business. And I just wonder if Gabi is going to offer Gabi Chic back to DiMera to get a cash infusion so she can help Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) save the family business and the Kiriakis mansion.

Bonnie gets an earful from Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth). He doesn’t see how Bonnie doesn’t understand that her book and Stephanie Johnson‘s (Abigail Klein) are way too much alike, as in copyright infringement alike. It’s not fanfiction and it’s beyond plagiarism.

Even Arianna Horton (Marissa Reyes) noticed the striking similarities when she was reading the manuscript. Bonnie asked Justin what he thinks about her book, and he tells his darling wife, Bonnie, that One Rainy Afternoon reminds him a whole lot of Stephanie’s book, One Stormy Night.

This could rip the Kiriakis family apart because of the chicanery around this. You know, it’s one thing for Bonnie to write something, but a whole another thing to publish it. And it never should have gotten this far.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Philip Turns to Maggie

Philip needs a favor from Maggie Kiriakis (Suzanne Rogers). So, I wonder if Philip wants Maggie to help him pursue this lawsuit or just not to intervene and try and shut him down. You know, obviously she knows it’s going to be problematic.

Bonnie and Justin live at the mansion and Justin’s going to be really upset if he figures out that Bonnie was essentially set up by Kate and Philip. However, I do think Justin can see that the legacy and the Kiriakis mansion and everything is at stake, but he’s not going to want to see Bonnie roasted in public.

So, Philip is going to tell Maggie that Bonnie screwed up and her mistake could save Titan. And then Philip also tells Maggie they cannot afford the next loan payment. They could lose Titan. They could lose the mansion. But damages paid from DiMera for the copyright suit could bail them out.

Also, Chanel Dupree DiMera (Raven Bowens) questions Mama Paulina Price (Jackée Harry), and I wonder if it’s her asking why her mom has been so off-kilter lately. And we know that’s all about Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford).

Also, this week, speaking of her, EJ shows Theo that his mom, Lexie, is indeed alive. She’s not yet awake, though. And of course, Theo’s stunned, and I’m sure he’s going to be thrilled. He may have some questions, but overall, I think he’s just going to be happy.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers Friday, April 3rd: Stephanie Faces Off with Owen

Friday, April 3rd, Leo Stark’s (Greg Rikaart) writing reflects his achy, breaky heart, and Belle Brady (Martha Madison) is hurt a little that Shawn-Douglas Brady (Brandon Beemer) wants to stay with Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) instead of her or letting her come stay with him while she caretakes him.

And in case you have not heard, Elia Cantu has reportedly been pushed back to recurring as Jada, which mirrors Brandon Beemer’s status as Shawn. So, they may be coupling up mostly offscreen from Days of our Lives while he recuperates.

Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) gets an apology from Steve Johnson. They both want Stephanie to be happy and safe, but Alex Kiriakis seems to want Jeremy to step back and leave Salem, but he’s not going just yet. It’s going to be a whole another month before Jeremy goes.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Stephanie Faces Owen

Stephanie faces off with Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey). I mean, good for her for facing her kidnapper. And hopefully Stephanie can get some peace of mind. She closes the blinds, blocking Steve and Alex’s view so she can confront Owen in private after Jada brings him in and handcuffs him to the chair.

And I’m sure he’s going to be creepy as usual with Stephanie. JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) gets some advice from Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) to keep at the therapy for PTSD for the Shawn shooting event and him feeling like he had to resign. And hopefully JJ will follow through on all of that.

Week of April 6th-10th Spoilers for DOOL

The week of April 6th through the 10th. Just by the way, side note, in addition to Elia Cantu going on recurring status, Galen Gering has also gone recurring as Rafe Hernandez. That’s why we were seeing Gabi on a phone call with Rafe this week because he is not in town.

They’re just going to say he’s off doing FBI stuff, I guess. I have heard a rumor that he was going to wind up back with Jada eventually, but we’ll see if that manifests. And again, it may mostly be offscreen. Rachel wants out of Bayview so desperately, and I wonder if she’s going to tell Dr. Gregory what Sophia did and that she, you know, was saving up her psych meds and all that kind of stuff.

And the bottom line is because Rachel is involved in this, Holly is feeling a little trapped in terms of, you know, not being able to go to the police. But then again, they can’t really prove whose psych meds were whose because it looks like Rachel and Sophia were taking the same thing.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Brady & Sarah Heat Up

Gwen continues to enjoy her friends with benefits and cheeky fun relationship with Xander, but of course, his heart remains with Sarah. Meanwhile, Brady and Sarah are going to take their relationship to the next level and sleep together. Here’s my question.

With Rachel in Bayview and Kristen blowing up at the hearing and acting inappropriately, seems like Brady may need to boot Kristen out of his house if he is going to be getting intimate with Sarah. Now, of course, Brady can go over to the Kiriakis mansion. He was staying there before, but let’s face it, Kristen needs to go.

Gabi and Philip are looking to get a place together, a little love shack all their own. Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) and EJ keep getting closer, but with recast Chad, played by Connor Floyd, debuting in April, things are going to get even more twisted.

Leo chooses Javi over hot as heck suspected murderer Dimitri, but it turns out Javi already has a new man. So, was one of his exes still in Texas and they rekindled? Plus, Stephanie may continue to bond with Jeremy and we know Alex won’t like it.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 1 hour ago

Recently, Paramount made the surprisingly sudden decision to cancel Starfleet Academy shortly after the end of its first season. Starfleet Academy was designed to attract younger audiences, and it failed to do so. Its characters and storytelling drove away older fans while failing to capture that coveted youth demographic.

With any luck, Paramount will learn from this show’s failure and learn the truth behind the biggest lie in Star Trek. Namely, that the franchise must court younger viewers to survive. That’s never been true. In reality, simply following the blueprint for The Original Series is enough for new shows to attract both younger and older audiences, a formula that has worked for nearly four decades.

Fandom: The Next Generation

The most obvious example that the Original Series formula works is, of course, the success of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show featured a new crew and new adventures, but at its heart, it was about the starship Enterprise and its mission to explore strange new worlds. We also got some entertaining new characters, but more of them are throwbacks to Kirk’s era than you might think. 

The android Data was clearly meant as a stand-in for Spock, and like the legendary Vulcan before him, his attempts to understand what makes humans tick served as a reflection of our own humanity. Riker was (as confirmed by the Season 2 Writer’s Guide) modeled after Captain Kirk. Worf was an ongoing reminder of Kirk’s old nemesis, the Klingons. Dr. Pulaski channeled much of Dr. McCoy’s famous crankiness, and even wunderkind Wesley Crusher was an echo of Chekov, whom Gene Roddenberry created to appeal to younger audiences.

Simply put, Star Trek: The Next Generation very explicitly modeled itself after The Original Series. Its success was so (ahem) out of this world that it launched the franchise’s Golden Age. An era that ended only when Paramount finally began deviating from its winning formula.

Playing The Hits

It’s not hard to see how Star Trek: Voyager similarly built off the formula of The Original Series. As with TNG, producers once again focused on an intrepid crew constantly making contact with new and exciting alien life. The premise that our titular starship was stranded on the other side of the galaxy helped this show channel TOS even more explicitly by bringing back the vibe of going where (in a quite literal sense) no man had gone before.

There were, of course, parallels with TOS characters: Tuvok is Spock 3.0 (no, I’m not counting Xon, and you can’t make me!), and the grumpy Doctor is Dr. McCoy 3.0 (albeit a holographic one). Harry Kim was, like Wesley and Chekov before him, an attempt to appeal to younger audiences. Interestingly, Voyager shared significant DNA with the highly successful Next Generation: B’Elanna Torres was a new iteration of K’helyr, TNG’s popular half-human, half-Klingon. Seven of Nine was an ongoing reminder of Captain Picard’s assimilation. Finally, Tom Paris was very explicitly based on TNG’s Nick Locarno character, who was also played by Robert Duncan McNeil. 

Even The Exception Followed The Rules

On paper, Deep Space Nine is the anomaly: as a show set on a space station, it is seemingly the antithesis of the Original Series formula. However, the early show still echoed the TOS focus of life on the frontier, and it echoed TNG more than you might think. The entire relationship between Cardassians and Bajorans was set up in TNG. It featured Miles O’Brien from the beginning, and it later added the fan-favorite TNG character, Worf. 

Finally, by Season 3, Sisko had his very own starship with which to engage in adventures on either side of the wormhole. The addition of Worf and the Defiant made DS9 more like The Next Generation (itself an iteration of The Original Series) than ever before. Uncoincidentally, these changes also made the show popular enough to earn a dubious honor: it was the last Star Trek show to get seven seasons.

The Pattern Is Clear

Star Trek: Enterprise was infamously canceled after four seasons. Its first two seasons tried to follow The Original Series formula, though audiences didn’t cotton to changes like Vulcans (save for the hottie in the catsuit) being complete jerks. Season 3 tried to modernize the series’ formula by focusing on an ongoing story clearly inspired by 9/11. Season 4 righted the ship with some stellar episodes, but the damage was done, and the show ended with one of the worst finales in TV history.

The same thing happened to Star Trek: Discovery. While that show’s early days had its detractors, most fans agree that the first two seasons were the best. The show channeled TOS in some provocative ways, including illustrating the brutality of Starfleet’s earlier war with the Klingons and the horrors of the Mirror Universe. Audiences also loved the introduction of a young Captain Pike and Spock so much that they headlined Strange New Worlds, the beloved spinoff that is popular explicitly because it’s modeled so heavily after The Original Series.

Conversely, Star Trek: Picard didn’t get good until its final season, and that’s because it finally became one big cast reunion for The Next Generation. This season reunited our favorite TNG characters and even focused on familiar bad guys like the Borg. Fans loved this season so much that they practically begged Paramount to give us a Star Trek: Legacy spinoff series. Meanwhile, Starfleet Academy deviated from the formula entirely, focusing on different characters (young, vulgar cadets) and a different setting (the titular academy). Nobody begged for more; in fact, the show was canceled after one season due to low viewership.

The Blueprint Is There, Will Paramount Actually Use It?

There you have it, folks. While each new Star Trek series gives the franchise a new coat of paint, it’s clear that the most successful shows are the ones that draw heavily from The Original Series or its successor show, The Next Generation. Some worry that sticking to a 60-year-old blueprint means that things will get repetitive and boring, but that’s the brilliance of Gene Roddenberry’s amazing creation: it allows for endless different stories, technologies, alien races, and so on. Fans just want the characters encountering all of this to be in the vein of Kirk and Picard’s iconic Trek through the stars.

Now, Paramount is on the cusp of reinventing this franchise yet again. Doubtlessly, there will be plenty of internal debates about the direction new shows and movies should take. Sadly, NuTrek, with its astonishing failure rate, is a startlingly expensive example of what not to do. From the most hardcore fans to the most casual viewers, nobody wants another slick sci-fi show that is Star Trek in name only. 

By sticking to Roddenberry’s successful blueprint, Paramount can reinstate a new golden age for the franchise. Otherwise, they risk destroying their most vital IP and fully driving away the fans they will so desperately need when the dust finally settles on these endless mergers and acquisitions. If that happens, though, the Star Trek fandom has a handy catchphrase they should go ahead and start practicing: “Kurtzman, when the Trek fell!”