By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 29 seconds ago

A decade before Iron Man launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wesley Snipes made superheroes cool again as Blade, the Daywalker. 1998’s Blade includes the coolest opening sequence of any vampire movie and it launched a trilogy, so it makes sense that Marvel would milk it for all its worth.

2006’s Blade: The Series tried to keep the good times rolling, and if you forgot it existed, that’s by design, as Disney probably doesn’t want a series with this much blood, guts, and nudity to be associated with modern Marvel. Well, that, and Snipes didn’t return as Blade, marking the only time anyone else has played the live-action Vampire hunter. 

Blade: The Series Picks Up Where Trinity Left Off

Replacing one of the coolest dudes on the planet is a tough job. Whoever stepped into the sunglasses of Blade would be constantly compared to Wesley Snipes. The rapper Sticky Fingaz answered the call, and while he looked the part of a muscular superhero, he couldn’t emulate the attitude. Blade: The Series picks up after the events of Blade: Trinity, and was written by the same man, David S. Goyer, though outside of the title character, there’s no real connections that mattered. 

Blade: The Series introduces Christa Starr (Jill Wagner of Wipeout), a U.S. Army soldier coming home from the Iraq War to solve the mystery of who killed her brother, Zach (David Kopp). It doesn’t take long for the series to reveal that Marcus (Neil Jackson), an upstart Vampire noble, was behind the murder and that Zach was secretly an ally of Blade’s, working to take down the Vampires of the House of Cthon. She’s also, judging by the reactions of every man who enters her vicinity, the most beautiful woman they have ever seen. 

Christa is the real main character of Blade: The Series, which eventually cuts the title character down to appearing in maybe 10 minutes an episode by the end of the first, and only, season. For most shows that would be a bad thing, but Wagner’s performance as Christa and her on-screen chemistry with Neil Jackson, the man behind Marcus, is so good, the show becomes better as it shifts the focus. 

Disney Wants Nothing To Do With Blade: The Series

What makes Blade: The Series stand out even today isn’t the fairly generic plotlines, like a vampire-killing virus, people from Blade’s past wanting revenge, or a vaguely Eurotrash vampire jockeying for position as the new ruler of the Undead, it’s what the series was able to get away with showing on screen. Blade aired on Spike TV, a cable channel but not a premium cable channel, and yet it was able to get away with showing copious amounts of blood and nudity. 

During its run, Blade: The Series was a hit, posting excellent numbers for the newly rebranded cable channel. Millions tuned in each week and you couldn’t get away from the commercials while trying to watch CSI marathons or 1000 Ways To Die. The show was canceled not because it wasn’t being watched, but because it was expensive, with a price tag close to a million dollars (or more) per episode. 

Before the cancelation, Blade: The Series had namedropped other Marvel characters affiliated with the 90s group, the Midnight Sons: Moon Knight and Dr. Strange. One can only imagine that any version of those characters appearing on Spike TV would be as dark and gritty as their 90s comics counterparts. Remember when Dr. Strange wore a mask, used elemental magic, and was known simply as Strange? 

Today, Blade: The Series is hard to find anywhere. Apple TV+ has the series available to purchase, but it’s not on Hulu, Disney+, or anywhere else you might find Marvel shows. It’s the last relic of how Marvel would license its characters out before the start of the MCU, and proof that no matter what Blade says in Deadpool & Wolverine, there were two Blades, and odds are, there will only ever be two Blades.

During the Paramount+ era of Star Trek shows, there have been hits and misses, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is definitely a hit. For the first time, Star Trek puts Christopher Pike in the driver’s seat as the captain of the Enterprise. The character was shown previously from time to time, notably by Bruce Greenwood in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot. Strange New Worlds is a return to form as it shows the tragic destiny Pike has in store, while also showcasing the campiness that Star Trek was initially known for. Portrayed by Anson Mount in the lead role, Pike and the crew of the Enterprise go on adventures to these aforementioned strange new worlds in a series that has delighted fans.

Strange New Worlds shows Pike as he has never been seen before, as well as another character who has often fallen by the wayside. Rebecca Romijn plays Pike’s Number One, Una Chin-Riley, who made her debut 59 years ago in the infamous scrapped pilot. Number One and Pike were thrown out, which led to the creation of Kirk and Spock, but the characters still deserved a second chance. Under Romijn’s watch, Number One has become a highlight of the series, though it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.

Una Chin-Riley Still Has Room to Grow in ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’

When Season 1 of Strange New Worlds first premiered, it was the epitome of a great ensemble cast that blended legacy characters and new ones. Ethan Peck returns as Spock from Star Trek: Discovery, while Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) is also on the Enterprise. Una Chin-Riley is not as well-known as her other crewmates, but Rebecca Romijn’s version of the character was full of intrigue from her first episodes.

In Strange New Worlds, Una is confirmed to be an Illyrian, a race of aliens who genetically augment themselves to adapt to specific planets. This, unfortunately, goes directly against the Federation, which forbids any genetic alterations because of Khan Noonien-Singh and his role in the Eugenics Wars. Una’s secret identity is a fascinating aspect of her character and a sad example of how she has to hide important parts of who she is. Juicy details like these were prominent in the first season, but became less so as the seasons went on.

The original iteration of the character only had 13 minutes of screen time, and fans began to get concerned that Romijn’s Number One would be getting the same treatment. According to trekmovie.com, the Strange New Worlds cast made an appearance at CCXP Mexico in Mexico City, where Romijn assuaged these fears.

“We get to see a much freer Una, who gets to lead missions starting in seasons 4 and 5… It’s so exciting, it’s so fun,” the Strange New Worlds’ actor said. “Una makes a request at the beginning of season 4 for more time on the planet. And now that she is living her authentic self, she gets to lead these incredible missions.”

It is a relief that Una will take on a more leading role in the final two seasons and can live a freer life than she did at the beginning of Strange New Worlds. Romijn has been admired for her portrayal of the complex character in a series that has a ticking clock. It was revealed that Strange New Worlds would only last for five seasons, which may coincide with the tragic accident foretold to take Pike’s life. It will be sad to see the series go, but Una Chin-Riley’s character arc is something to look forward to.

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Release Date

May 5, 2022

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Network

Paramount+

Showrunner

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Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman

Directors

Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman

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Writers

Onitra Johnson

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General Hospital early weekly spoilers for May 4th through the 8th reveal Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) gets caught and Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) being outed.

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

General Hospital Spoilers, April 29th

On Wednesday, April 29th, we’ve got Josslyn uncovering critical new information. So, Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) is talking to Josslyn and says she might be right to question her choices. So it’s got to be about Carly or Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud). I’m leaning towards Carly.

Plus, Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) is put on the spot by Elizabeth. Obviously, this is about Drew Cain‘s (Cameron Mathison) SOS, and Willow’s taken aback when Elizabeth tells her that Drew was asking for help. And Liz asks, “Why would your mother tell you that?” So, I wonder if Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) gave Willow misleading info or, you know, is she lying to Liz? We’ll see.

GH Spoilers: Brennan Shocks Nina

And Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) tells Nina it’s time for them to reset the tone of their relationship. So, that’s kind of interesting. Obviously, this is about Willow’s push back and threats. Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) tells Carly he’s finally figured out how to handle Willow.

And Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) is chatting with Laura, and Curtis may tell her that he suspects that Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) caused Jordan Ashford‘s (Tanisha Harper) crash. Jordan caused her crash anyway. But Laura does like Isaiah who is a very good friend to her son Lucky.

So, my question is, and this is important, when Isaiah told Lucas that he dinged his car in the parking garage, is that true? And did it happen like he told Lucas or had he dinged it on the guard rail and then dinged it in the garage on purpose to cover it up or you know it feels to me like either BLQ or Isaiah was the one that Jordan nearly killed when she drove into their lane and the other one might have encountered the bad teen drivers since we know at least four cars were on the road.

General Hospital Spoilers: Curtis is Gunning for Isaiah

I do wonder if there’s video footage from the garage, you know, because Isaiah may or may not have done it on purpose. And I’m sure Curtis will be happy to, you know, blame him for this when it’s him and Jordan. They’re to blame. I don’t even know what the General Hospital writers are thinking with this really irritating storyline.

Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins Bruening) is enraged on Wednesday. Could be with not-Nathan. Could be with Britt, or could be with Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) if Lulu’s son tells her, “Oh, by the way, I confessed to Britt and she chewed me out.”

Lulu’s not going to like it when and if she finds out Rocco was lurking near Ross Cullum‘s (Andrew Hawkes) room either. Not-Nathan tells Lulu that they need to send him away for his own good. And I think this is him talking about Rocco, but where are they going to send the kid? I mean…

General Hospital Spoilers, April 30th: Lucas Has Words for Carly

Thursday, April 30th, Carly gets confronted by her brother Lucas. And I do wonder if he might find out she’s hiding Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart). If so, Lucas may realize Valentin is the man Carly is cheating on Brennan with.

Also, Britt spills a secret. And I think that’s her telling Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) that Josslyn is a WSB agent because Britt tells somebody Joss isn’t just some ditzy sorority girl. She is a WSB agent. And this week, Cassius is over at Josslyn’s apartment, and she goes to basically show him the door, and Cassius grabs Josslyn’s arm. But of course, she thinks he’s Nathan.

Lucy is busy trying to provoke Ava Jerome (Maura West). And I’m sure this involves Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) since Lucy wants to take Sidwell down. And something has Ethan Lovett (Nathan Dean Parsons) suspicious. This could be about Josslyn, about not Nathan, Sidwell. Plus, Brennan is alarmed, and I wonder if something concerns him, and that’s why he rushes over to Carly’s place.

Friday, May 1st

Then, on Friday, May 1st, Jordan gets a visit from somebody, and it’s very uplifting. I wonder if it’s Trina, because she has been very concerned about her possible future stepmom. This week, Lucas asked Carly exactly what Brennan’s going to do if he finds out she’s cheating on him.

And then on Friday, a spoiler says that Carly’s time may be up. So, in this week’s promo, we had Brennan outside her bedroom door looking mad. Looks like he’s going to bust in on her. She is in bed in just a sheet looking stressed out, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he caught her with somebody. You know, Valentin could have slithered out the bed or out the balcony or she could be alone.

Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) is annoyed and I’m kind of hoping she finds out Chase took flowers over to his ex-wife Willow and has something to say about it because he shouldn’t be doing it. Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) pays Britt a visit. I suspect it is about Sidwell but could be about Jason Morgan (Steve Burton).

Week of May 4th-8th: Second Full Week of May Sweeps

Then the week of May 4th through the 8th is the second full week of May sweeps with a lot of storylines picking up the pace. Look for some new Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) scenes coming in the next couple of weeks. Cassius is trying to protect Rocco, but Lulu might not agree with all his methods and that could put a strain on their new relationship because of course Cassius has this agenda and he is trying to do what Sidwell and Cullum want.

But also trying to keep the people he cares about off of their radar. So, I do wonder if Cassius is going to expose Josslyn to his bosses or maybe he will stick to pretending he’s Nathan and work with her to protect Lulu and Rocco. Because unless Britt tells Joss, as far as she knows, that is Nathan.

General Hospital Spoilers: Michael Goes after Willow

Elizabeth is not going to give up getting to the bottom of Drew’s call for help. And Michael thinks he’s got a lead on how to take Willow down and he is amping up his plan. Jacinda Bracken (Paige Herschell) is there to help him at every step of the way. And Brennan may hit back if he finds out that Willow is looking for ways to defund the WSB through Congress. Basically, she’s trying to defang Jack and make it so he doesn’t have any resources to come after her. That seems like a pretty lofty goal.

We’ll also find out if Carly was caught red-handed with Valentin in her bed or if that was just clever promo editing like GH likes to do. Plus, Britt is working hard to finish the Cold Fusion project. And Cullum should be out of General Hospital soon. He’s getting around. He’s on the phone. They need to get him out of there. And once he’s loose, I think the pressure on Britt’s going to intensify and things are going to get a lot more dangerous. This Cold Fusion thing should be done in May sweeps, which goes on through the 20th of the month.

General Hospital Spoilers: Valentin Concerned about Anna & Isaiah in Trouble

Valentin wants to help Anna, but Jack may be more of a problem soon if he finds out where the fugitive has been harbored. And Isaiah is going to be in the hot seat soon with the PCPD. I do think he’s going to get interrogated about Jordan’s crash since Curtis pushed his name at Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor). But if Isaiah scraped his car in the garage, you know, it might cover up any of that. Plus, Brook Lynn continues to be tormented.

And if she finds out Isaiah has been questioned, she may defy her granny Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) and go confess. Plus, Britt refuses to let anything happen to Rocco, and she and Lulu may have to join forces to protect him. Plus, Ethan wants Sidwell dead, and teaming up with Sonny seems to be the fastest way for it to happen.

Kathy Griffin is once again stirring controversy, this time after unleashing a blistering rant about former “The View” co-hosts. Following a recent appearance on the talk show, Kathy Griffin took to YouTube to share her unfiltered thoughts, and she didn’t hold back.

While she said she “loves” the current panel, including Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Sonny Hostin, and Alyssa Farah Griffin, her tone shifted quickly when discussing former co-hosts. “When they had Hasselbeck, I had to put up with her stupidity… or, indignant stupidity, which is kind of the most amusing,” Griffin said of Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Griffin didn’t stop there. She went on to blast Meghan McCain, calling her an “annoying c-nt” and suggesting she enjoys provoking a reaction. “I just love to go for her, because she takes the bait every time,” Griffin said. “And now she’s gonna post about how I’m not a feminist.”

The comedian added, “That’s how this works, Meghan. One of these days you’ll pick it up.”

Griffin Revisits Elisabeth Hasselbeck Feud, Admits She Almost Targeted Alyssa Farah Griffin

Griffin’s comments about Hasselbeck appear to stem from a long-standing clash between the two, including a tense on-air exchange back in 2010. At the time, Hasselbeck, who appeared on the show from 2003 to 2013, pushed back on Griffin’s humor, saying her jokes were “untrue” and “not so funny.”

Interestingly, Griffin revealed she initially planned to go after her current co-host, Alyssa Farah Griffin, due to her past work with Donald Trump. “Just so you know, Alyssa, in my mind, I was going to go for you,” she admitted.

However, she ultimately backed off after learning Alyssa had recently welcomed a baby, saying she felt the commentator was “not fair game anymore.” “And, she turned out to be like the nicest one at the table,” Griffin added.

Kathy Griffin Says She’s No Longer Allowed On ‘The View’ Live Shows, Calls It A ‘Bummer’

Griffin also claimed her relationship with the show has changed over the years. Reflecting on her latest appearance, she said it had to be pre-taped because “they won’t let me do the live shows anymore,” adding that she also no longer gets asked to co-host, something she said she misses.

“And they won’t let me co-host anymore,” she said. “Which is a bummer because I used to love to co-host.”

Controversy Isn’t New For Griffin

Griffin’s latest remarks are just the latest in a long history of headline-making controversies. The comedian previously sparked outrage in May 2017 after sharing a photo in which she appeared holding a severed, bloodied head resembling Donald Trump. The image, shot by photographer Tyler Shields, was intended as political satire, but quickly ignited widespread criticism.

At the time, several hosts from “The View” condemned the image, with former co-host Jedediah Bila calling it “awful,” while Sonny Hostin said she was “offended,” describing it as “so vile and foul.” Whoopi Goldberg also agreed Griffin had gone too far.

Years later, Griffin is reflecting on the fallout and how deeply it impacted her career. “I think I’m uncanceled, which is a miracle to me because I didn’t think I would ever be uncanceled,” she said in an interview with WUSF.

The Emmy-winning comedian added that the backlash didn’t just hurt her public image, but it brought her work to a halt entirely, marking one of the most difficult chapters of her career.

Kathy Griffin Gets Candid About Third Facelift

Even after navigating one of the toughest periods of her career, Griffin isn’t shying away from the spotlight or from being completely honest about her personal choices. Kathy Griffin has kept it real when it comes to cosmetic work, proudly revealing she’s undergone her third facelift. The comedian made it clear she’s unbothered by critics, saying she’s long embraced her vanity and enjoys maintaining her appearance. She also shared that she’s had work done on her chin and eyelids, giving credit to her surgeon, Dr. Ben Talei, for the results she’s happy with.

Griffin emphasized that her career isn’t built on looks, noting that fans are drawn to her humor above all else. Still, she didn’t sugarcoat the process, opening up about the reality of recovery. “I’m gonna be honest, it’s painful. So these b-tches that are like, ‘It’s like getting a tooth filled! It’s nothing!’ No, it’s painful.”

When it comes to writing a story, any writer will attest to the fact that the ending is one of the hardest aspects to nail. It doesn’t even matter the form of media–books, movies, video games, even TV–writing an ending is a huge challenge, because one needs to do it in a way that not only satisfies audiences, but that will give them an idea to chew on, as well. It also needs to wrap everything up in a nice little bow, so as not to disgruntle any viewers with burning questions.

Regardless of genre, this universal truth is prevalent, even in the genre of war cinema. A lot of these movies have endings that don’t really say anything worthwhile, which is a real shame. Other times, though, they totally nail it, and deliver profound, heartfelt, or devastating endings that serve as perfect conclusions to harrowing stories. These are the war movies with the best endings.

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‘Narvik’ (2022)

Image via Netflix

Narvik is a highly underrated Norwegian film set during the Battles of Narvik during World War II. The primary focus is on Gunnar (Carl Martin Eggesbø), a Norwegian soldier, and his family. His wife, Ingrid (Kristine Hartgen), serves as a translator, and works as an impartial liaison between Nazi negotiators, Norwegian officials, and British military officers. However, as the battle rages on, Gunnar is captured by the Nazis, and their son falls gravely ill.

Ingrid is forced to make the terrible decision of aiding the Nazis in exchange for medicine, which allows her son to survive. Unfortunately, this also causes the rest of the town to shun her for collaborating with the enemy. Gunnar is found alive, but is deeply disappointed in his wife for her cooperation with the Germans. At the end of the film, Ingrid leaves Narvik on a boat with her son, the rest of the townsfolk glaring at her the whole while. She drops her belongings, and no one helps her pick them up. No one except Gunnar himself, that is, who decides that his family is more important to him than the war, and decides to spend his time with them instead of with the army. Even though their family will forever be social outcasts, they have each other, and that’s all that matters. It’s a touching, bittersweet reunion that places the importance of family above that of ideals or allegiance, which is a pretty important takeaway.

11

‘Hacksaw Ridge’ (2016)

Image via Lionsgate Films

Hacksaw Ridge is a biopic about Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), an American medic who served in World War II. Doss was a conscientious objector, meaning he chose to never touch a weapon or kill anybody. Despite this, he became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Okinawa, which the film is based on. During the Battle, Doss worked by himself through the night, saving the lives of 75 soldiers, both American and Japanese.

While Doss’ squad is initially disdainful of him since he refuses to shoot at the Japanese, they eventually come to appreciate him after he saves their lives. When Doss is wounded in battle, his comrades carefully remove him from the battlefield, with his Bible in hand, making sure he gets the hero’s treatment that he deserves. Following this final scene, interviews of the actual Desmond Doss are played, where he describes some of the exact events audiences just watched in the films. It’s a great way to honour Doss’ legacy, and shows how compassion will always triumph over violence.

10

‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)

Image via DreamWorks Pictures

Saving Private Ryan is set during the Battles of Normandy in World War II, following an American infantry unit that is given a very special assignment. Private James Ryan (Matt Damon), an American paratrooper, has landed somewhere in Normandy, and has a ticket home. This is because all three of his brothers have perished in the war, and military officials have decided to bring him home so that his mother doesn’t lose all of her children.

At the end, the mission is completed, and Ryan survives the final fight, eventually returning home. However, it comes at a great cost. All of the soldiers sent to rescue him except one or two meet their end in this final battle. Captain Miller (Tom Hanks), the man in charge of the unit, with his dying breath, begs Ryan to earn the privilege of living on. The movie then jumps forward to a much older Ryan in the present day, visiting the graves of the men who died for him. He turns to his family, pleading with them to tell him that he lied his life to the fullest, and that he is a good man, which they confirm. It’s a bittersweet ending that points out the sacrifice made by Allied forces in World War II, who fought for freedom and a better world against oppression.

9

‘300’ (2007)

Image via Warner Bros. 

300 takes place during the Greco-Persian Wars, which occurred approximately 2,500 years ago. The movie stars Gerard Butler as Leonidas, the King of Sparta, who brought a host of just 300 of his finest warriors to the pass of Thermopylae during the Persian Invasion of Greece. There, Leonidas and the Spartans held strong, but ultimately met the fate that they knew would be coming to them. All of them died, or at least, all but one, whom they sent home to relay their story.

The movie ends with Leonidas’ sacrifice, a diversionary and delaying tactic that allows the rest of Greece to rally and prepare for war. The movie ends with the lone survivor, and the narrator of the film, finishing Leonidas’ story to a new group of Spartans. Following the end of his speech, he leads this new group on the next charge against the Persian Empire. This ending is truly inspirational, bringing the spirit of the fight and the crusade against invaders straight into the audiences’ heart.

8

‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)

Image via The Weinstein Company

Inglourious Basterds is about a group of misfit Allied soldiers who are assembled into a special task force with the express purpose of assassinating Nazi officials, including Adolf Hitler himself. Chasing them down is Nazi officer Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), who is a truly superb villain. He is cunning and evil in all the right ways, but is also an opportunist, seeking only to benefit himself rather than the Third Reich.

The Americans make a deal with Hans to sell out his comrades in exchange for protection, which he agrees to. Later, after making Swiss cheese out of Hitler, the Americans return to Hans, confirming that he will be able to walk free, as part of the deal. But they don’t let him go so lightly. Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) holds Hans down and uses his knife to carve a swastika onto Hans’ forehead, permanently branding him as a Nazi. Aldo declares it his masterpiece, and lets the implication hang in the air. In the future, when the Third Reich crumbles, Hans’ scars will depict him as evil no matter where he goes. The American soldiers might protect him, but the rest of society is unlikely to be so kind. It’s a great ending that gives the villain a fate worse than death, a fate which he ultimately deserves.

7

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2022)

Image via Netflix

All Quiet on the Western Front follows a young German man named Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer), who is fooled by propaganda into joining the First World War with his friends from school. What awaits them is not the glory that has been promised, but an endless, nightmarish experience, which wears away at their identities, innocence, and sense of purpose. Slowly, but surely, they all die, one by one, until Paul is the only one left at the end.

On Armistice Day (November 11, 1918), the day the war ended, Paul is ordered to charge the French trenches one last time, just 15 minutes before 11:00 a.m., when the armistice would take effect. Literally seconds before the 11th hour, Paul is stabbed by a French bayonet, with the trumpets announcing peace as he lays in a filthy trench and bleeds to death. Worse still, the soldier who comes around collecting dog tags for casualty reports completely forgets Paul’s, meaning his family will never know what happened to him. While this isn’t how Paul died in the original novel, it still does a good job of emphasizing the anti-war message, and really driving home the futility of conflict, and the senseless slaughter that took the lives of millions.

6

‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ (2008)

Image via Miramax

The ending of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is absolutely heartbreaking, but that’s what makes it such a compelling story. The plot follows Bruno (Asa Butterfield), the son of a Nazi military official during World War II. During his time spent exploring in the woods, Bruno encounters Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a Jewish boy detained in a concentration camp. Gradually, the two form an unlikely friendship over the course of the film.

At the end, Shmuel states that his father has gone missing, with the obvious implication being that he has been put to death. Bruno offers to help Shmuel find him, crawling under the fence and disguising himself as an inmate. As Bruno’s parents frantically search for him, he and Shmuel are corralled into a gas chamber, where they, along with dozens of other Jewish prisoners, are systematically executed. By the time the parents realize what’s happened, it’s already too late. This is one of the most cruelly ironic endings in the history of cinema, sure to strike an emotional chord, and really letting the audience feel how Bruno’s father is punished by his own horrific actions. It’s brilliantly written, and deeply unsettling, letting the viewer truly grasp the horrors of the Holocaust.

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3

‘Casablanca’ (1942)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Casablanca is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, and for good reason. The dialogue is wicked smart and the symbolism and message of it is absolutely spot-on. The movie follows Rick (Humphrey Bogart), a nightclub owner who becomes trapped in Casablanca, Morocco, following the outbreak of World War II and the Nazi occupation of North Africa. However, when he reunites with an old flame, he decides to help smuggle her out of Morocco.

The end comes when Rick allows his old flame to escape, making the sacrifice to get her out despite his bitterness towards her for leaving. Once her plane flies away, Rick famously befriends the corrupt chief of police, implying they are going to do everything in their power to secretly undermine the Nazi occupation. What makes this ending great is the idealization of duty and sacrifice over past feelings and love. It’s basically saying “if you truly love someone, let them go.” It’s absolutely brilliant, and is just one of the things that make the movie an all-time classic.

Young and the Restless early weekly spoilers for May 4th through the 8th. Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) is thrilled and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) is snapping. He is so mad.

As we always do on early edition day, we start with what’s coming the rest of this week, then we dive into what is coming next week, including some big preemption news. So, let’s dive in.

Young and the Restless Spoilers Wednesday, April 29th: Turning Point fir Lily & Cane

On Wednesday, April 29th, we’ve got Lily, Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn), Holden Novak (NathanOwens), and Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox) all celebrating Cane being a donor match for Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore). Stephanie sees God’s hand in all of this, and she and Malcolm are going to New York to get started with his preparation for the transplant.

Holden exits with his mom after they thank Cane again and he tells Lily he’s doing this for her and the twins and because he lost his own dad Colin. She’s all smiles and Lily says she doesn’t even see Doma when she looks at Cane now. Lily apologizes for faking the kidnapping and they forgive each other. She gives Cane a kiss on the cheek as she leaves.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Chelsea Breathes Sigh of Relief

In Vegas, Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) shows up at the hotel and Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) is relieved. He says Victor Newman‘s (Eric Braeden) men showed up just in time and he and Noah Newman, Sharon Newman (Sharon Case), and Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) all got out before the gas station blew up. Adam says Nick is at the hospital because he took some bad drugs. And Adam feels bad that he encouraged Nick to take them. Adam says that Matt Clark (Sean Dominic) is not done because they all survived. And then Chelsea tells them Rizza Thomas and Sienna both took off, but Victor’s men are out looking for Sienna. They worry that Matt might have found her.

Noah and Sharon show up with Nick and he says the doctor basically told him to get treatment. Adam presses Nick to admit he needs help since he almost died today. Adam feels very much to blame. But Nick exonerates him and says honestly, even if he knew the pills were bad, he was so desperate and addicted, he’d have taken them anyway. And he thanks Adam and he hugs him.

It’s an awe brother moment. Adam tells Noah that Sienna was there and left. And Sharon presses Noah to just let Victor’s men find her. They debate leaving Las Vegas and Nick tells Adam he should go and just report back to Victor. So Chelsea and Adam leave and then Sienna’s at the door bloody and kind of roughed up looking and she claims she killed Matt Clark.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Billy Pops the Question

Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) is doing a whole romantic thing for Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) back in Genoa City. He’s got chilled cider, a rose, some nice, yummy food. And Billy says the baby is all he can think about. He loves this happy surprise. He thinks Sally will be a great mom.

But he does not want to influence her decision. And she tells Billy she wants him and wants this baby. It’s all kisses and love. And then Sally says she doesn’t want Billy to feel trapped, but she is all in. He and Sally talk about baby names. And then he pulls out a ring and proposes to Sally. I’m guessing the answer is going to be a resounding yes.

Y&R Spoilers Thursday, April 30th: Kyle Has a Run-in with Patty

Thursday, April 30th, we’ve got Kyle irritated by Patty when they run into each other at the GCAC. We know she thinks Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) is her destiny and she hates Diane Jenkins Abbott (Susan Walters). So, we’ll see how Patty handles being face to face with Jack and Diane’s offspring. I’m sure Kyle isn’t going to want to hear any of Patty’s brand of crazy.

Plus, Christine Williams is hurling threats at Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford). With Christine as the new DA in Genoa City, if there is any criminal evidence against Phyllis, I’m sure Christine will be eager to take her down. Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) promised that she had evidence on Phyllis for Christine, but we know it’s faked. So, Victoria could actually wind up in trouble for giving faked evidence to the district attorney.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Danny Romalotti Back On-screen

Also, Danny is back this week. He may try to talk Christine out of going after Phyllis, especially if Red tells Danny that the evidence Christine was given was faked using Victor’s dodgy AI. Victor is pressing Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc) this week, and I’m sure this is about Phyllis, and I wonder if Victor is trying to force Michael’s hand to have him make legal threats against Phyllis. And of course, that includes his own wife, Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman), as collateral damage.

Jack talked about his sneaky plan to try and repair his marriage. So, he and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) talked about faking that they’re in a romance to try and make Victor and Diane jealous and force them to come to the table to at least talk to Jack and Nikki. This is a terrible idea. I’ll just say it now. It will blow up in their faces.

Y&R Spoilers Friday, May 1st: Victoria’s Strategizes & Sharon Suspicious

Friday, May 1st, Victoria is mapping out her defense plan against Phyllis. So, I’m curious if Red has any evidence that she held on to from when she tapped into the AI to take all the Newman stuff because Victor used it on Arabesque and on Matt Clark. So, Phyllis might have snagged herself an insurance policy and held on to some evidence.

Sharon starts to doubt that they can trust Sienna and is questioning her loyalty. I don’t think that’s going to sit well with Noah. But yeah, I can see them wondering how Sienna got the better of Matt because I for sure don’t believe it. Plus, Roger Howarth said in a recent interview that things are far from done with Matt. So, obviously, Sienna is lying for one reason or another. Victor gets the truth from Nick. So, it looks like he’s going to come clean about his addiction.

Week of May 4th-8th: Young and the Restless Preemptions

Then the week of May 4th through the 8th, expect soccer preemptions on Tuesday, May 5th and Wednesday, May 6th for both of the CBS soaps in this time zone. So, that’s Bold and the Beautiful and Y&R. I think Beyond the Gates is also affected. So, it’s going to be a short week of just three episodes as we head deeper into May sweeps.

Plus, Lauren may pressure Michael to cut Victor out once and for all. As Lauren pointed out to Daniel, we’re seeing Phyllis judged by a harsher yardstick than Victor has been for doing the exact same thing. Nikki and Jack are ready to do something foolish, trying to fix their marriages, but I expect them to push Victor and Diane even farther away from them.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Cane Goes Under the Knife

We’ll see Cane preparing for his procedure to donate to Malcolm. Look for more thawing between Lily and Cane as we get closer to the donation. Devon Winters (Bryton James) faces more push back from Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway) and Lily, especially if he has some nasty things to say about Cane donating to Malcolm. Lily is not going to listen to that, and I don’t think Abby’s going to like it either.

I am wondering if Victor and Phyllis may cut a deal or if they’re going to keep trying to burn each other down. Chelsea, Adam, and the others wonder if Matt is really dead, but they’ve got no body, no proof other than Sienna’s word. So, I wonder if she somehow thinks she killed Matt but didn’t, or if Sienna is working some kind of dodgy deal with the bad guy. Now, I don’t think that she’s setting the Newmans up. I do think that Sienna legitimately is trying to help them on Young and the Restless.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Nikki Drowns in Guilt

Nikki is going to be sick when she finds out that Nick inherited her addiction gene and is hooked on pills. She may want Jack to talk to him since he’s been down that exact road. Of course, Victor would hate that. Plus, the family really wants Nick to get to rehab.

I mean, he’s hooked. He is doing coke. And he is doing fentanyl. He doesn’t even care if he is taking dangerous pills. You know, he had this overdose. But unless and until they know for sure that the threat of Matt has been eradicated, I doubt that Nick will pack his bags and go.

Look for more red flags that Sienna may be in way over her head. I kind of low-key don’t expect her to survive this Matt Clark final boss battle, but I do think Sienna will do anything to protect Noah at the cost of her own safety.

King Charles III’s state dinner menu has been revealed after the royal dined with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.

The first course served on Tuesday, April 28, featured a “delicate garden herb velouté, silken and aromatic, complemented by a refreshing hearts of palm salad,” according to details shared via the White House website. The hearts of palm salad was complete with crispy shallots and “a whisper of micro mint for brightness and contrast.”

The second course consisted of handcrafted spring herb ravioli, with ricotta, morel mushrooms and fresh herbs picked from the White House Kitchen Garden. The pasta featured “a light parmesan emulsion, which enhances the essence of the dish.”

For the third course, a “classic dover sole meunière” was prepared and “bathed in a nutty brown butter.” The dish was complete with spring ramps, snow peas, pavé potatoes, and “a vibrant parsley oil.”

Related: Buckingham Palace Issues Statement Regarding U.S. Visit After WHCD Shooting

King Charles III’s upcoming state visit to the United States is expected to go on as planned after the shooting at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. “His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the President, first lady and all guests have been unharmed,” a […]

Guests enjoyed dessert in the form of a beehive-shaped chocolate gâteau with a vanilla bean crémeux custard, which was set inside with an almond joconde and topped with a brown butter crumble. A crème fraîche ice cream and White House honey accompanied the cake.

Melania, 56, led preparations for the meal, which also featured wines that were chosen to honor “the shared heritage and enduring friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom, and [celebrate] the strength of American winemaking today.” The wines consisted of the Hopkins Riesling “Heritage” 2024 by Hopkins Vineyards, the Penner-Ash Pinot Noir “Willamette Valley” 2022 by Penner-Ash Wine Cellars and the Newton Chardonnay “Unfiltered” 2022 by Newton Vineyard.

The night also consisted of performances by the United States military musicians from the Marines, Army and Air Force, including “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, the United States Army Chorus, the United States Army Strings, the United States Army Herald Trumpets, the United States Air Force Singing Sergeants and the United States Air Force Strings.

Charles, 77, and Queen Camilla arrived in Washington, D.C. on Monday, April 27, for their first official state visit as the reigning monarchs. The pair are visiting from overseas to honor the American people as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence.

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Related: Everything to Know About the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are both safe following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington D.C.. The president, the first lady, pregnant White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and other officials were rushed out of the ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington D.C. when gunfire erupted […]

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One day after his arrival, Charles appeared before Congress and became the second member of the British royal family to address U.S. senators and representatives. In his speech, Charles addressed topics including the growing threat of climate change to the recent shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that left a Secret Service agent injured.

“We meet too in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your nation and to ferment wider fear and discord,” Charles said. “Let me say with unshakable resolve that such acts of violence will never succeed.”

Authorities arrested the suspected shooter after the incident on Saturday, April 25, and the 31-year-old was charged with “one count of attempt to assassinate the President of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence,” per the Justice Department. A plea has not yet been entered.

Rela Coleman, a woman who is alleging that she’s also pregnant by Blueface, has shown apparent test results and alleged text messages with the rapper.

RELATED: Whew, Chile! Blueface Shares Clips Of Daughter Journey Having Meltdown In Mall & Social Media Is Up In Arms (WATCH)

Woman Alleging She’s Also Pregnant By Blueface Shows Apparent Test Results & Alleged Text Messages With Rapper

On Tuesday, April 28, Instagram user @livebitez shared a carousel of recent posts shared by Coleman via Instagram. Furthermore, a few clips in the carousel showed her speaking about being another “baby mama” and having “raw sex.” Meanwhile, a photo included in the carousel showed the apparent results of a “positive pregnancy test.” To note, the document asserted that her expected delivery date is December 29, 2026.

Furthermore, the carousel also included an apparent text exchange between Coleman and Blueface in early April.

Social Media Reacts To The Apparent Test Results & Alleged Text Messages

Social media users slid into @livebitez’s comment section with reactions to Rela Coleman allegedly being pregnant by Blueface, and sharing her apparent test results and their alleged text messages.

More On The Woman Alleging She’s Also Pregnant By Blueface

As The Shade Room previously reported, over the weekend, footage surfaced from Blue’s recent Twitch stream. In it, Nevaeh Akira, who is currently pregnant with Blueface’s child, was seen yelling at him for having unprotected sex. Furthermore, another clip showed him playing a voicemail from a woman who said they had relations earlier this month, and she got pregnant.

Click here to watch the NSFW slides.

Subsequently, footage surfaced of Blueface sharing his thoughts on the allegations.

RELATED: Another One? Blueface Speaks Out After Clip Shows Him Being Told He Impregnated Another Woman (VIDEOS)

Days of Our Lives early weekly spoilers for May 4th through the 8th divulge Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) being exposed and Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) exiting under a cloud of shame.

As we always do on early edition day, we talk about what’s coming the rest of this week. Then we dive into what is ahead next week.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers Wednesday, April 29th: Jeremy Freaks Stephanie Out

So, on Wednesday, April 29th, we’ve got Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) asking Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) to do a rush job on the paternity test. This is a carryover from Tuesday when Alex told Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins), “Let’s knock out this test ASAP.”

Although honestly, I don’t think that Alex is doubting Joy or doubting that Kelsey is his baby. But Stephanie Johnson‘s (Abigail Klein) not handling it well at all. So, the proof is important.

We’re also going to pick back up from Tuesday with her and Jeremy when he hugged and comforted Stephanie after Alex broke the baby news. So, Stephanie is upset at a situation that Jeremy engineered, you know, not the pregnancy, but the whole thing with the reveal.

I mean, Joy isn’t buying what Jeremy’s selling, you know, but I do think he’s a little too optimistic. And he misreads a moment with Stephanie, and he kisses her. Now, she looks disturbed by Jeremy’s kiss. And I wonder if Stephanie’s going to have some freaky flashback since she was just envisioning shooting Owen, and she had to kiss him during the kidnapping. We’ll see if she pulls her gun on Jeremy.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Stephanie Rejects Jeremy

This is Michael Roark’s last day as Jeremy. And in addition to Michael Roark’s exit, we know that Rachel Boyd, who plays Sophia Choi, and Peter Porte, who plays Dimitri, both have been dropped from contract status to recurring.

But given that both of their storylines are clearly drawing to a close, that’s not terribly surprising. So, back to Jeremy. You know, hopefully Stephanie doesn’t shoot him, but I do think she’s going to shoot Jeremy down. Stephanie may actually figure out that Jeremy was behind Joy showing up with Alex’s baby in Salem since his dad dated Joy’s mom.

Also, Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) and EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) do some father-son bonding. And I wonder if Johnny’s going to tell his dad about Chanel Dupree DiMera‘s (Raven Bowens) mammogram. Lani Price (Sal Stowers) and Chanel have a heart-to-heart sister chat. And Kristen tells Sophia to do it, to take out Johnny. Kristen calls Sophia and says, “This gets done tomorrow. No emotion, no mess.”

DOOL Spoilers Thursday, April 30th: Johnny in Danger

Then on Thursday, April 30th, we’ve got Stephanie taking comfort from her mom, Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans). I’m sure this is about a lot of things, including the Jeremy incident, Joy showing up with Alex’s baby, the kidnap trauma, PTSD, all of that. Sarah gets Chanel ready for her mammogram.

And knowing that Raven Bowens was fired and Chanel is leaving late this year, I don’t think this bodes well at all. Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) gives Marlena Evans (Didre Hall) some very exciting news. Could be about him getting his PI license or fingerprint proof against Sophia or that Brady overrode Kristen’s ban on Marlena visiting Rachel Black (Lorelie Olivia Mote) at Bayview.

Johnny tries to reason with Sophia who’s at his door, sprayed him in the face. Looks like with mace, she gets the better of him. So, Sophia has Johnny prisoner and is following Kristen’s orders and she’s ready to hurt him. Jada enjoys a show from Shawn. And I’m hoping it’s a gun show.

Friday, May 1st on Days: The Search for Sophia Kicks Off

Friday, May 1st, we’ve got private investigator in training Brady and Salem top cop Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) teaming up to find Sophia. And I wonder if they’re searching for her to arrest her for the supplement swap the fingerprint evidence might be in. Amy Choi (Shi Ne Neilson) is answering questions from Brady when he comes looking for Sophia.

And Amy shows him a suicide note that she says Sophia left. Now, we know she was bickering with Arianna Horton (Vico Escorcia) and set up a fake account to bully herself online after lying to Tate Black (Leo Howard) about Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) bullying her. So, clearly Sophia is laying lots of groundwork.

The note blames Holly for saying she’s dead to her. And Sophia carries on about how she’s hurting, sick of the bullying, and tired of begging forgiveness. So Brady reads the note where Sophia says, “Everybody’s better off if she’s dead.” This all smells like an elaborate ruse to me. Tate is there to encourage Holly. I wonder if they’ve seen the anti-Sophia stuff she posted online or if Brady tells them about Sophia’s suicide note.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Javi at Risk

Hero Javi Hernandez (Al Calderon) realizes Johnny is in big trouble. But also by the end of this week, Javi collapses at the hospital unless this is a carryover into next week and Days has messed up their promo again. Sarah’s freaking out asking if Javi is all right. So, I wonder if he had a reaction to what Sophia was spraying on Johnny. We’ll see.

Sarah is supportive as Chanel goes through her mammogram. I wonder if Johnny’s going to miss the test as he’s been taken captive by Sophia or if Chanel planned to go by herself all along. And Kristen gets her revenge. She is smirking at the DiMera mansion waiting for EJ to get a call with bad news about Johnny.

Week of May 4th-8th: Second Full Week of May Sweeps on DOOL

The week of May 4th through the 8th, it is the second full week of May sweeps. And Holly may be blamed if Sophia manages to fake her death by suicide. The note she left for her mom Amy was most likely a frame job. I think Sophia is planning her ultimate revenge. I think like all her schemes, it’s not going to pan out, though. You know, she is planning to take a payoff from Kristen to start a new life after framing Holly and I guess killing Johnny, but I don’t think it’s going to work out for either Sophia or Kristen on Days of our Lives.

Leo Stark (Greg Rikkart) learns about Javi’s collapse and runs to be at his side. We’ve only got a couple more weeks of Al Calderon before he is out and recast Javi is introduced. We have Jacob Martinez stepping into the role. Marlena is not impressed at being named a beneficiary in Stefano’s will, but it looks like EJ has her convinced to show up, get it over with, and finally get some closure. Also, I’m looking forward to what Marlena digs out of EJ’s head about Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) in the hospital since even Cat doesn’t seem to remember everything that happened between her and EJ when they were both in Italy recovering.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Stefano DiMera Twist Coming

Tony DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) is back for the will reading and Cat is coordinating with executor Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) to make sure everything goes as intended. I am super excited to find out what shockers Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) put in his will because you know the Phoenix always surprises. Theo continues to visit his mom, Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford), hoping that she will wake soon and hopefully we finally see her eyes open during May sweeps. That seems most likely.

Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) continues to trash talk EJ and wonders if Abby Deveraux (AnnaLynne McCord) was in the person pod. Theo is sidestepping him because he knows his mom Lexie was the pod person, but I do suspect that EJ may have Abby in a pod somewhere. You know, EJ might have stolen her from Clyde Weston (James Read). Roman Brady (Josh Taylor) is increasingly suspicious of Kate Howard (Lauren Koslow), who’s been lying and denying.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Chad & EJ May Team Up

I’m curious to see if Chad has a hot take on what Kate did to Johnny because, you know, they’ve really changed up Chad’s character. I’m sure you guys have noticed when they changed over to Connor Floyd, we are seeing Chad back and kind of more aggressive and more confrontational, particularly with EJ.

And so that’s why I’m really interested to see if he comes at Kate or if they have that same pseudo, you know, mom and son vibe that they’ve always had because I think we’re going to see Chad pivoting in other interesting ways. Meanwhile, Kristen thinks she’s getting away with a whole lot of things.

But she doesn’t realize the walls are closing in. Brady’s ready to make a move against her, possibly to snatch custody away. And if there is proof she was working with Sophia to hurt Johnny, we could see Brady and EJ working together to keep Kristen away from both their kids and put her behind bars.