I’ve spent years staring at dresses on the rack, loving them on the hanger, then watching my fitting room dreams crumble the second I zip up. If you carry your curves below the waist as I do, you know the frustration of slipping into a cute dress that hugs in all the wrong places. It’s enough to make you swear off dresses entirely.

But here’s the thing: the right cut changes everything. A-lines, wrap silhouettes and strategic ruching can highlight a narrow waist while giving your hips room to breathe. I pulled together 13 dresses that actually flatter pear-shaped bodies, with styles polished enough for a dinner party and relaxed for a Saturday market run. Let’s find your new favorite!

Flattering Dresses for Pear-Shapes on Amazon

1. My Favorite: Shirt dresses can look boxy on pear shapes, but this tie-waist maxi cinches at your natural waist and flows to the floor. The blue and white stripe keeps it crisp and polished. Everyone will think you found it at a Hamptons boutique!

2. Strapless Stunner: I’d throw this strapless maxi on for a farmer’s market morning or a casual brunch without thinking twice. The ruched fabric keeps it interesting, and those pockets actually hold stuff.

3. Wedding-Ready: I’d wear this hunter green mini to a garden wedding with nude heels and feel completely put-together. The lace detail and V-neck are elegant, and the A-line skirt is genuinely forgiving.

4. Casual Sundress: Want to balance wider hips? This square-neck sundress draws attention upward with a structured neckline, while the flowy knit skirt glides right over your lower half.

5. Quite the Charmer: The smocked elastic waist on this tiered midi dress creates definition right where pear shapes want it most. Those flutter sleeves in rust add a playful, feminine touch I love.

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Free People has a hold on Us, and our wallets know it. Those effortlessly cool tunics, romantic blouses and lived-in layers come with price tags that sting, especially when you want more than one piece per season. Good news: these new arrivals from Amazon look like Free People bestsellers, and they cost a fraction of […]

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6. Cocktail Attire: If you want to lean into your curves instead of hiding them, this ruched cocktail dress is your move. The bodycon fit cinches everything in, while the ruffle hem gives gorgeous flow.

7. Wallet-Friendly: At just $15, this floral maxi sundress with a milkmaid neckline is a low-risk way to try a bold yellow print. The boho silhouette skims the hips and keeps everything relaxed.

8. Something Blue: The A-line pleated skirt on this sleeveless midi dress flares from the waist, which is exactly what pear shapes need. The sky blue color works for both office days and cocktail hours.

9. Casual-Chic: Pear shapes need structure on top and flow on the bottom, and this knit-top maxi delivers exactly that. The ribbed bodice and loose skirt create a balanced silhouette with zero fuss.

10. Polka Dots, Please: I’d throw on this ruffled polka dot dress for a summer cocktail party with strappy sandals. The black and white print is classic, and the high-low hem shows just enough leg.

11. Easy Wrap Dress: Pear shapes know the struggle of finding a mini that fits the waist without strangling the hips. This tiered wrap dress solves it with a smocked waist and a ruffle hem that flows freely.

12. Under $30: The V-neck and ruffle sleeves on this tiered midi dress pull focus to your face and shoulders. At $27, the flowy tiered skirt skims past hips and thighs without looking cheap.

13. Hourglass Silhouette: Shirt dresses can go frumpy fast, but this button-down mini keeps things sharp with a structured collar and clean lines. The vertical button placket naturally elongates your torso.

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We get it: You love everything about Zara’s boho-luxe aesthetic, but the price tags make your wallets shudder. Luckily, you don’t need a six-figure shopping budget to get the look. Amazon is quietly stacked with chic spring pieces that capture Zara’s stylish vibe, and our top elevated options will make you do a double take […]

Alfred Hitchcock knew what you feared and how to play with those fears to deliver some of Hollywood’s most iconic films. He even created new fears, like the banality of taking a shower, instantly becoming a horrifying prospect for thousands after Psycho in 1960. But even the “Master of Suspense” had his own fears, some of which he based films around. For example, after his father arranged for a London bobby to lock him in a cell at 11, Hitchcock developed a fear of police officers, driving films like North by Northwest and The 39 Steps, where innocent men are wrongfully accused and chased by authorities.

So it would be safe to assume that we can make an educated guess about the one thing that scared Hitchcock above all others, based on the films he made. Vertigo would suggest that Hitchcock had a paralyzing fear of heights, which he did, but that’s not it. A fear of showers? No, but it sure as all hell made Janet Leigh fear them the rest of her life. And he didn’t have ornithophobia, which presumably would have sparked The Birds, but that’s much closer to the truth. See, the one thing that frightened Hitchcock the most is available at your local grocery store, in a package with eleven others like it: the lowly egg.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Unexpected Phobia: A Deep Fear of Eggs

That’s right, eggs. The man who brought you Rear Window couldn’t walk past the dairy aisle. In 1963, Hitchcock explained his ovophobia to Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci (per The Telegraph). “I’m frightened of eggs. Worse than frightened — they revolt me. That white round thing without any holes, and when you break it, inside there’s that yellow thing, round, without any holes… Brr!” To Hitchcock, an egg was all surface, or all innards. Easily cracked, yet strangely impenetrable. “Have you ever seen anything more revolting than an egg yolk breaking and spilling its yellow liquid?” he asked Fallaci.

Related

10 Essential Alfred Hitchcock Movies, Ranked

These films flaunt the Master of Suspense’s versatility.

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Then he adds a little more detail, detail that is pure Hitchcock-ian: “Blood is jolly, red. But egg yolk is yellow, revolting. I’ve never tasted it.” No one in the history of ever has referred to blood as being “jolly,” and fewer still would prefer to see blood instead of an egg yolk. What does that mean for Hitchcock? Using Psycho as an example, Hitchcock would have been fine seeing Norman as Mrs. Bates with blood dripping from his knife, delighted even. But if Norman is making a cake? He’s out of there.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Other Fear Had a Strange Irony

Ironically, despite his fear of eggs, he had no fear of the feathered beasts that came from them. “I can look at a corpse chopped to bits without batting an eyelid, but I can’t bear the sight of a dead bird,” he tells Fallaci, adding, “Too heartrending. I can’t even bear to see them suffer, birds, or get tired.” The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is fine, Dumb and Dumber, not so much. Furthermore, not only did he have the highest consideration for birds, Hitchcock believed that the birds of The Birds were justified, saying, “For hundreds of centuries, birds have been persecuted by men, killed, put in the pot, in the oven, on the spit, used for writing pens, feathers for hats, turned into bloodcurdling stuffed ornaments… Such infamy deserves exemplary punishment.”

But Hitchcock did have another fear that seems almost karmic: his own films. Per The Telegraph, he told Fallaci, “I never go to see them. I don’t know how people can bear to watch my movies.” As he listed his many other terrors, Fallaci retorted, “That’s rather illogical, Mr Hitchcock. Come to that, your movies are illogical, too. From the logical point of view, not one of them can stand inspection.” Having built his career on irrational fear, one can imagine the smirk Hitchcock must have had, as he said, “Agreed, but what is logic? There’s nothing more stupid than logic.” Except maybe fearing an omelet.

Prince Harry has reportedly tried to reconnect with his brother, Prince William, but has been met with silence, as tensions between the two persist.

Royal experts say the future king is “ruthless,” noting that his firm stance reflects lingering mistrust following years of public fallout, including the duke’s memoir, “Spare.”

Despite King Charles III’s reported hopes for reconciliation, insiders suggest the divide has grown wider between Prince Harry and Prince William.

Prince William’s Hard Line Exposed As He Views Brother Prince Harry As ‘Untrustworthy’

Harry has reportedly made attempts to get through to his brother, William, but those efforts have been met with a “wall of silence.”

According to royal commentators, William has adopted a strict, no-nonsense stance, shaped by a sharp memory when it comes to both loyalty and betrayal.

Several experts speaking to Fox News Digital claim that communication between the brothers has effectively broken down, with the divide remaining since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. The barrier between them, one source suggested, remains firmly in place.

British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard described William as deliberately “ignoring the circus.”

In her view, the future king has chosen to step away from ongoing tensions, using his silence not for avoidance but as a “permanent royal reset.” She characterized the situation as a lasting shift within the royal family dynamic.

Another royal expert, Richard Fitzwilliams, echoed this sentiment, claiming William “regards his brother as totally untrustworthy.”

Reports also suggest that the Prince of Wales has a tougher edge, particularly toward those he feels have opposed him or aligned themselves with Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle.

Prince William Is ‘Fearless And Has A Strong Moral Character’

Roya Nikkhah, royal editor at The Sunday Times, has also noted that William tends to remember where people stand, especially in moments of division. According to her, “If someone picks the other side, he remembers that.”

Observers say this approach reflects William’s focus on duty and the preservation of the monarchy. As Helen Chard put it, “Loyalty cuts both ways, and as they say, ‘Betrayal has a long shelf life.’”

She added that William is often willing to take a harder line, describing his approach as less about ruthlessness and more about accountability.

“He’s fearless and has a strong moral character,” she said, emphasizing that he is shaping his vision for the monarchy’s future.

The Brothers’ Fallout Deepened After Prince Harry’s Exit From Royal Life

The rift between the brothers dates back several years, intensifying after Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties in 2020.

They cited relentless media scrutiny and insufficient support from the institution as key reasons for their departure.

After relocating to California, the couple publicly shared their experiences through interviews, documentaries, and Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” which included personal revelations about royal life and his relationship with William.

This further created a wider rift between William and Harry, with the future king reportedly now opting to ignore his estranged brother’s calls for reconciliation.

Expert Explains How Kate Middleton Tried To Save Prince William And Prince Harry’s Relationship

Royal editor Russell Myers explained that tensions may have deeper roots, tied to the different roles the brothers were born into.

“There’s the issue of the heir and the spare,” he explained, referring to William’s clear path as future king, compared to Harry’s less defined position, which may have contributed to long-standing friction.

Their relationship reportedly began to cool further during Harry’s early relationship with Meghan. William is said to have advised caution, encouraging his brother to take time before making major commitments.

However, Harry allegedly interpreted this as doubt or disapproval, which added strain to their bond.

Despite efforts by Kate Middleton to mediate and maintain harmony, the situation continued to deteriorate. Following the couple’s widely viewed 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the palace issued its now-famous response, “recollections may vary,” a message insiders say Kate helped shape.

“Catherine did not want the brothers to finish their relationship,” Myers said. “She was always trying to bring them together, always trying to be that mediator for William when they’re very hot, two hotheaded young men, falling out. Catherine was always saying to William and Harry at certain junctures, ‘Think about what you want for the future.’”

While there was reportedly significant sadness within the royal family over Harry and Meghan’s departure, some experts believe reconciliation may still be a distant possibility. Others argue that William’s current stance reflects “strong, admirable leadership” rather than hostility.

Prince William Reportedly Blocks Reunion Plans As King Charles III Pushes To Reunite With Prince Harry And His Children

Tensions may rise again this summer, with reports suggesting William is unwilling to support any plans for Harry and Meghan to spend time in the U.K., potentially leading to a clash at Sandringham.

Meanwhile, King Charles III is said to be eager to repair the fractured relationship and reunite with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, at the royal estate in Norfolk, whom he has reportedly not seen in years.

Insiders suggest the king is “at the point where he wants to forgive Harry and find a path forward, but William simply won’t hear of it, no matter what his father says.”

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According to a report, the Prince of Wales “carries enormous influence behind the scenes. And the truth is, many within the Firm still believe Harry and Meghan are toxic — so Charles doesn’t have much support when it comes to welcoming them back.”

Although Harry and Charles are said to have reestablished communication, the same cannot be said for William. Reports indicate he continues to hold onto past grievances, particularly in response to public interviews, media appearances, and the claims made about him and Kate in Harry’s memoir, “Spare.”

Madonna is once again proving she knows how to steal the spotlight, even in the crowd. The 67-year-old pop icon went viral after being spotted dancing at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, letting loose among festivalgoers in a moment that quickly took over social media. In the now-circulating clip, Madonna can be seen energetically moving to the music, dressed in a cozy oversized jacket paired with black boots, fully immersed in the high-energy atmosphere of the desert event.

Madonna’s Coachella Dance Sparks Brutal Fan Debate

As expected, the moment sparked a wave of reactions online, and not all of them were kind. One viral post questioned, “Why is 67-year-old Madonna acting like a 17-year-old?” while others piled on with mixed takes about the singer’s carefree moves.

“I know for what she has achieved in the industry there’s just no need for the childish shenanigans, but hey each to their own and live and let live,” one user wrote. Another added, “She a lil too aggressive with the 6 7 dance,” while someone else joked, “she is in competition with Britney!!! crazy dance…who’s gonna win?”

Fans Go Off The Rails

The comment section quickly turned into a battleground, with some critics taking things even further. “She always has to be the center of attention,” one user wrote, while another quipped, “Can you imagine how much Geritol it takes to make something like that possible?”

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Still, not everyone was piling on. Some fans defended Madonna’s carefree energy, with one writing, “I know for what she has achieved… live and let live,” while others leaned into humor, with comments like, “The robot from ‘Lost in Space’?”

Someone else wrote, “It looks absolutely ridiculous, and judging by her face, she doesn’t even seem to have fun.”

Madonna’s Surprise Coachella Cameo Sparks Lip-Sync Backlash

The 67-year-old pop icon didn’t just go viral in the crowd; she also found herself at the center of controversy on stage. The pop icon made a surprise appearance during Sabrina Carpenter’s second weekend set at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, but instead of universal praise, the moment quickly drew criticism online.

Fans took to social media, accusing Madonna of lip-syncing, with some labeling the performance “cringeworthy” as the backlash began to build.

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Sabrina Carpenter Calls Collab A ‘Dream’

Sabrina Carpenter is making it clear she had a very different reaction to sharing the stage with Madonna, calling the moment nothing short of surreal.

After their surprise collaboration at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Carpenter took to Instagram to reflect on the experience, thanking the pop icon for what she described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “Madonna… I’ve got something I wanna talk about,” Carpenter wrote, calling the performance a “privilege” and a “dream.”

She also shouted out Geena Davis, Terry Crews, and Corey Fogelmanis, all of whom also made surprise appearances, “for sharing your infinite talent with us!!!” The former Disney Channel star concluded, “This show and everyone involved is so beyond special to me. Sabrinawood forever!”

Madonna Brings ‘Vogue’ And ‘Like A Prayer’ To Coachella

During the set, the duo performed a mix of Madonna’s iconic hits, including “Vogue” and “Like A Prayer,” along with a new track believed to be from her upcoming album “Confessions II.”

Madonna also took a moment to reflect on her own Coachella history, telling the crowd, “Twenty years ago today, I performed at Coachella – I was in the dance tent and it was the first time I performed ‘Confessions On A Dance Floor: Part I in America,’ and that was such a thrill for me. So you can imagine what a thrill it is for me to be back 20 years later, so it’s a like a full circle moment, you know, very meaningful for me.”

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As anticipation continues to build, Madonna’s next chapter is already on the horizon. Her highly anticipated album “Confessions II” is set to drop on July 3 via Warner Records, serving as a follow-up to her iconic “Confessions on a Dance Floor” era.

The release will be available across multiple formats, including vinyl, CD, and cassette, giving fans plenty of ways to experience the pop legend’s latest evolution.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but Martin Scorsese doesn’t usually seem too concerned with making traditionally entertaining films, or at least that’s not often the priority. Movies like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull are essential and masterful, not to mention compelling as dramas, but crowd-pleasers they’re not. You probably wouldn’t stick them on at any point, or recommend them to absolutely everyone, and the same goes for later (and also excellent) films Scorsese directed, like The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon.

These movies are dark and oftentimes emotionally/psychologically intense, but still, Scorsese has made some genuinely entertaining movies. A few of those entertaining movies have also been dark, to some extent, yet they have qualities that make them a bit easier to recommend, since they’re not exclusively downbeat and/or harrowing affairs. If you’ve somehow never seen a Martin Scorsese film, then these generally entertaining and approachable ones would make for good places to start.

8

‘The Color of Money’ (1986)

Image via Touchstone Pictures

The Color of Money sometimes gets looked down upon a little unfairly, being reduced to “that movie that let the Oscars give Paul Newman his sympathy Academy Award.” Sure, he probably should’ve won earlier than 1986, but Newman is still great here, and The Color of Money works surprisingly well as a sequel to The Hustler, even if that film might not have seemed like one that really needed a follow-up.

Tom Cruise also gives one of his best early-career performances here, and his dynamic with Newman’s character makes The Color of Money work well as a sports-centered buddy movie of sorts. There are beats hit that you’d expect to be hit, so it’s not really unpredictable or all that surprising, but Scorsese going through the motions is still incredibly engaging to watch (the same can be said about Francis Ford Coppola doing something like The Outsiders, which has maybe come to this writer’s mind because a young Tom Cruise was also in that one).

7

‘Cape Fear’ (1990)

Image via Universal Pictures

Cape Fear is the closest Scorsese has come to making a horror movie, though it’s more definable as a thriller, and an overall approachable one, at least by Scorsese’s standards. There is an intensity here alongside sometimes grisly violence, but it’s also broad and not that complicated, really. There’s a recently freed criminal who blames his lawyer for the time he spent in prison, and said criminal sets about making life hell for his old lawyer.

That’s all there is, and things escalate in ways that become increasingly intense and, eventually, horrific. Cape Fear works well in large part thanks to Robert De Niro hamming it up as the villain, Max Cady, but Scorsese’s direction also goes a long way to making Cape Fear feel lively and overall worthwhile as a remake of the 1962 film of the same name (which, it should be added, still holds up pretty well).

6

‘Gangs of New York’ (2002)

Image via Miramax Films

While it isn’t Martin Scorsese’s longest gangster film, Gangs of New York is perhaps his most ambitious, since it’s a film done on a massive scale as far as the technical and production side of things is concerned. It takes place largely in the 1860s, and brings to life a very different-looking New York City than the one Scorsese has more often depicted in his movies (it is his favorite city, after all, and few filmmakers seem to like it as much as he does).

So, there’s more than just a revenge story to Gangs of New York, but that’s what drives it for the most part, with various other threads going on at the same time, sometimes in the background. It’s huge, and almost too big, but the core of it’s more compelling than some give it credit for, and since it’s maximalist, you never really run out of things to look at or be impressed by, so all that goes a long way toward keeping Gangs of New York very entertaining throughout.

5

‘The King of Comedy’ (1982)

Image via 20th Century Studios

If you count The King of Comedy as a comedy, then it’s one of the more uncomfortable ones out there, alongside another ‘80s film by Scorsese that’ll be mentioned about 120 words from now. It is about stand-up comedy, in a sense, or, more accurately, someone who isn’t very funny at all, yet being recognized as a comedian is what he wants more than anything else.

He’s also dangerously obsessed with a late-night talk-show host, and there’s a huge amount of discomfort that comes about from his attempts to get close to this established entertainer. Or, if you don’t mind dark humor, then this escalating awkwardness in The King of Comedy might be funny to you, when it’s not working surprisingly well as a psychological drama/thriller; one that’s really not a whole lot easier to watch, at times, than Taxi Driver. The two would make for an interesting double feature, that’s for sure.

4

‘After Hours’ (1985)

Image via The Geffen Company

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Martin Scorsese didn’t get the discomfort and dark comedy itch out of his system with The King of Comedy, so he made After Hours not long after. It leans into borderline-horror territory at points, owing to the dreamlike logic throughout, with the narrative centering on a man having a terrible night that sees him getting lost in New York City after an attempt at having what was supposed to be a simple first date.

That might make it sound like an anxious sort of romance film, but romance is not really on this movie’s mind once you get past the set-up. Still, After Hours is weirdly fun, even with it being kind of nightmarish and confounding at times. Somehow, the broadly comedic tone and all the messed-up things that are shown to happen to this unfortunate central character sit peacefully, side-by-side, with the chaos also, though it might sound contradictory, feeling well-controlled (could be chalked up to typically great direction, with this being a Scorsese film and all).

3

‘The Departed’ (2006)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Alongside Cape Fear, The Departed shows Martin Scorsese generally knows what he’s doing when he helms a remake, since The Departed is just as good as Infernal Affairs (2002). It expands and maybe simplifies a few things, yet it retains the tension and undeniable entertainment value that Infernal Affairs had… well, entertaining as thrillers. Perhaps they’re fun to watch if you don’t mind feeling a bit on edge the whole time.

Unease and tension are unavoidable when the two main characters are trying to deceive pretty much everyone around them, all the while trying to uncover the other, since they’ve both gone undercover on different sides of the law. So, The Departed is a cat-and-mouse thriller, but about as good as such movies come, and it’s impressive how entertaining it stays across a fairly long runtime (here, 151 minutes feels more like 100, if that).

2

‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (2013)

Some people misinterpret The Wolf of Wall Street, but even if you’re not among those people, there’s still a lot here that’s entertaining, and by design. Part of this film wants you to feel swept up in the lavish lifestyle that Jordan Belfort and many of his associates live, since you have to understand the appeal, and The Wolf of Wall Street has fun for quite a lot of the time when its characters are also having fun.

It’s far from exclusively a party film, though, because there is something of a downfall, but not as directly as typical rise-and-fall crime movies. The Wolf of Wall Street very much wants you, right near the film’s end, as a viewer, to reflect on how you felt throughout the movie, even if doing so feels kind of troubling and uncomfortable. Scorsese has it both ways, making something that’s equal parts fun and thought-provoking, and doing so without those two things contradicting each other.

1

‘Goodfellas’ (1990)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Of course it’s going to be Goodfellas here, in the #1 spot, since this is about as iconic as gangster movies get, and it’s also one of the most thrilling films of its time, or maybe even all time. It’s about Henry Hill, who’s a low-level associate of the mob, and he goes through a bit of a rise and then something of a fall, much like many movie gangsters before him, but it’s all done in a manner that feels a bit more realistic than usual.

Okay, it’s based on a real-life person and story, so that makes sense, but even then, it’s admirable how Goodfellas sugarcoats and romanticizes basically nothing. Yet it’s not realistic in a purely soul-crushing way, since Goodfellas is also a blast and very much stylish, so it’s an honestly perfect marriage. In other words, it’s pretty much everything you could want out of a crime drama.

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Goodfellas

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Release Date

September 19, 1990

Runtime

145 minutes

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The Way Home started out as a simple story of three generations of women connecting and reconnecting with one another decades after the two tragedies that ruptured their family. It became one of the most interesting time travel shows on television, slowly unraveling a complex and detailed story over the course of its first three seasons. Each one of these seasons balanced between a focus on the present-day timeline and one of the past timelines, whether that be 1999, 1814, or 1974.

As the final season of The Way Home, Season 4 has the difficult task of solving the show’s remaining mysteries and tying up all of the loose ends throughout the show’s various timelines. After watching the two episodes provided for review, it’s clear that The Way Home knows where it’s going with its final season, and the show is on track to stick the landing with what is shaping up to be a strong conclusion.

What Is ‘The Way Home’ Season 4 About?

Last season of The Way Home ended with the shocking reveal that when he was a baby, Elliot’s (Evan Williams) mother, Tessa (Hannah Storey), left him in a basket by the pond and then jumped in with a Landry. This season is centered on the mystery of Tessa, including who she was, why she left, and with which Landry she jumped through the pond. The season starts with a brief scene that picks up immediately after the end of Season 3, in which Kat (Chyler Leigh), Elliot, and Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow) all jump through the pond and travel back to the moment when Tessa left baby Elliot by the pond. Witnessing this day gives Elliot answers that he didn’t want, and he shuts down the investigation into his mother’s past for the next seven months.

Seven months later, Jacob (Spencer MacPherson) is gone (this time in the present day), and he is living in Toronto. He says that he’s there to get a fresh start away from home, but the letters clearly scared him, and he isn’t staying in contact with his family. Meanwhile, back in Port Haven, Alice is graduating from high school and getting ready to enjoy one last summer at home before leaving for college in New York. She and Noah (Alexander Eling) are back together and going strong, but there are still clearly unresolved feelings between Alice and Max (Dale Whibley). Del (Andie MacDowell) is missing Jacob and scared of losing her family, with Alice about to leave for college and Kat about to get engaged to Elliot. Things are solid with her and Sam (Rob Stewart), but he still hasn’t told her that he knows about the pond.

Kat is not ready to say goodbye to Alice, but otherwise, she’s finally at a good place in her life. She and Elliot have gotten to a steady place in their relationship, and now she’s just waiting for him to propose, which he’s planning to do at the end of the summer. She has been secretly trying to time travel again since the ice on the pond melted, but the pond won’t take her back in time. Kat believes that all the answers about Tessa are in 1925, where she knows that she will eventually go back in time and meet a young Fern (Biancha Melchior). The main events of the season kick off when Kat and Alice finally start time traveling again, with Kat going to 1925 to meet Fern and search for Tessa, and Alice winding up in 1976 with a newly-married Evelyn Goodwin (Devin Cecchetto).

‘The Way Home’ Season 4 Expertly Juggles Multiple Major Mysteries

Image via Hallmark Channel

Like every season of The Way Home, Season 4 starts off a little slow, focusing on the emotional conflict of the present. Elliot still hasn’t learned his lesson, and he’s too focused on getting the perfect moment for his proposal, even as Kat grows impatient and insecure from the waiting. Jacob is barely in the season so far, and it’s a loss that takes a toll on both the characters and the show. Where The Way Home Season 4 really hits its stride, though, is when Kat and Alice start time-traveling again. The heart of this show has always been the three Landry / Dhawan women at its center, and the season really gets exciting once it starts to follow their journeys as connected to the pond. In the present day, Del struggles with keeping major secrets from Kat, Alice, and Elliot that might help their search. In 1925, Kat searches for Tessa and meets a young Fern, in the days leading up to an explosion in the Lingermore tunnels where one person died.

So far, Season 4’s most compelling storyline is the one that sees Alice traveling back to the ’70s. Laflamme-Snow, Cecchetto, and Jordan Doww are magnetic together, and it’s very exciting and touching to see their little friend group reunite after two years. At the same time, it’s also unsettling, as The Way Home has always made it clear that Evelyn’s marriage to Lewis’ (Philip Riccio) father was not a good one. Alice doesn’t yet understand why the pond wants her to be in this point in time, especially while Del (Julia Tomasone) is away visiting her parents, but it seems that the answer lies in both Evelyn and Colton. There’s also an excellent dynamic between Leigh and Melchior, and after seeing Kat get a bit lost in her relationship with Elliot, it’s fun to watch her gain her confidence and boldness back while searching for answers in the past. MacDowell also excels as Del this season, as she struggles with keeping secrets that will inevitably become explosive when they get out, bringing a nuance to Del’s choices.

‘The Way Home’ Season 4 Is at Its Strongest When It Focuses on Its Leading Ladies

Image via Hallmark Channel

It’s still early in the season, so there’s no telling which characters (and from which periods in time) will make a return. Still, it’s hard not to feel the loss of some of the show’s best characters, including Jacob. Elliot may be at the center of this season’s central mystery, but the season is at its weakest when it focuses on him instead of on the Landry / Dhawan women. Kat and Elliot are in it for the long-haul now, and The Way Home Season 4 does suffer a bit from their now-solid relationship. Since their breakup, Kat has been putting her own interests and wants aside to focus on Elliot’s, while Elliot continues to go in circles in a way that makes it frustrating whenever his screentime takes focus away from Kat, Del, and Alice.

Each of the Landry women has a really compelling arc this season — that is, when Kat is given the chance to have her own storylines outside of Elliot. Del is scared of losing both Kat and Alice when Alice goes off to college, and in her fear of all these upcoming changes, she debates whether to open up about long-held family secrets. Alice is struggling with self-doubt and indecision, and through going back to her friends in the ’70s, she starts to become sure of herself again. Kat, meanwhile, has a much less interesting arc so far this season in the present day. Whereas the past two seasons saw Kat fighting to protect her loved ones in the 1800s, now, she’s mostly focused on Elliot and learning about his past. Where her storyline gets interesting is when the show separates her from him and allows her to build a friendship with her great-grandmother in 1925. The first two episodes of The Way Home Season 4 are a little clunky, but they’re very entertaining, and they instill faith that the show will be able to stick the landing with its biggest mysteries.

The Way Home airs Sundays at 9:00 P.M. EST.

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Release Date

2023 – 2026-00-00

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Network

Hallmark Channel

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Directors

Grant Harvey, Shamim Sarif, Norma Bailey, John Fawcett, Michelle Latimer

Writers

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Heather Conkie, Alexandra Clarke, Marly Reed, Michael Hanley, Masooma Hussain

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Pros & Cons

• This season gives compelling storylines to Kat, Del, and Alice that see the three of them revisiting the past while preparing for major changes.
• This season continues to unravel the show’s central mysteries with intention, setting up some massive reveals.

• The season feels a bit disjointed at times, as it struggles to find its focus when it strays from the Landry family.

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Summer House alum Lexi Wood thinks both Amanda Batula and Ciara Miller are out of West Wilson’s league.

Approached by TMZ in Los Angeles on Friday, April 17, Lexi, 28, was asked to weigh in on Amanda and West’s controversial relationship.

“Look, my unsolicited advice would be dating outside that Summer House —  [it’s] much better!” she told the outlet, emphasizing it was just “my opinion.”

Lexi added that she thought West, 31, was punching above his weight by striking up a romance with Amanda, 34, — and that Ciara has better dating prospects now that she’s left him behind.

“I think the girls are better than the guys in that house, I think we all know that,” she said, before doubling down on her advice to the women to start “dating not in the house.”

Amid all the drama caused by Amanda and West’s blossoming romance, Lexi said that she hoped their relationship goes the distance to make all the pain for the people around them worth it.

“Honestly, one part of me hopes that they do last if they’re going to cause all of this chaos in the friendship and ruin friendships and longstanding relationships,” she told TMZ. 

Lexi continued, “A part of me kind of does hope that they take it the long haul, but look I think Amanda should find a really great guy, not another party boy and I think Ciara knows she’s going to be better off anyway.”

In March, Amanda and West addressed speculation surrounding their relationship after Amanda’s split from Kyle Cooke.

“We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity,” they wrote via a joint Instagram statement posted on March 31. “It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”

Related: Amanda Batula Said West Wasn’t ‘Marriage Material’ for Ciara Before Romance

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Amanda Batula appeared to be adhering to “girl code” after Ciara Miller split from West Wilson — just months before Amanda confirmed she was dating West. Amanda, 34, exclusively told Us Weekly in January that she didn’t think West, 31, was “marriage material” — at least not for Ciara, 30. When asked whether West or […]

The statement continued: “We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected. Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”

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Ciara, who was friends with Amanda and dated West in 2023, broke her silence on the relationship via an interview with Glamour.

“It’s one thing to experience hurt behind closed doors,” Ciara, 30, told the outlet on Friday. “To experience it so publicly is like another layer, and then to have to see what you thought was your life still play out in season 10. It’s a major mindf***.”

Meanwhile, Amanda and West were spotted packing on the PDA on a Kiss Cam at a Yankees game in New York on the same day.

After the death of John Wayne in the late ’70s, the Western genre was never the same. Clint Eastwood was moving away from the horse opera himself, only making Pale Rider in the ’80s, and with its popularity having waned after the failure of Heaven’s Gate, the Western was no longer in the saddle as Hollywood’s biggest moneymaker. Nevertheless, the genre persevered throughout the 1980s, and although they’ve been largely forgotten, there are several Western movies worth revisiting.

From biopics and adventure movies to Western tales from down under, these ’80s Westerns may not be Silverado or Young Guns, but they’re certainly worth their salt. If you’re looking for a night in as you travel back to the Old West, give these Westerns a try. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your next favorite?

5

‘Barbarosa’ (1982)

Image via Universal Pictures

Willie Nelson and Gary Busey are probably not a duo that you would come to expect to see on the screen together, but when you toss them into the Western genre, it somehow just makes sense. Barbarosa follows a young farm boy (Busey) as he finds himself paired with the title outlaw (Nelson) in an adventure that puts them both on the run. If you’ve never seen this picture before, here’s your sign to give it a shot. With a quick 90-minute runtime, Barbarosa makes for a great evening watch for those looking for some solid Western fare.

From Australian director Fred Schepisi, Barbarosa is a buddy comedy with great characters played by an unlikely pair with phenomenal on-screen chemistry. If not for the fact that it’s a bit unconventional at times, it’s the Nelson and Busey team-up that makes this horse opera special. As far as revenge Westerns go, it’s among the most entertaining, even if it is a bit outlandish at times.

4

‘Tom Horn’ (1980)

Image via Warner Bros.

You’ve seen him as Josh Randall on Wanted: Dead or Alive and as part of an ensemble in The Magnificent Seven, but Steve McQueen once again reminds us he can command a Western all on his own with Tom Horn. Playing the famed mountain man of the same name, McQueen wrestles with his own mortality in high fashion as he wanders the American West. An older McQueen offers a more nuanced performance than we’re used to from the “King of Cool,” and as his penultimate film appearance it stands out as among his best.

As the sun was fading on McQueen’s own life and career, so too is the case of Tom Horn, and the parallels between them are staggering. Directed by William Wiard in his only feature film production, Tom Horn is an intimate portrayal of how the hardened career of a longtime cowboy ultimately plays out — and considering it was based on the real-life Horn’s own firsthand accounts, there’s a lot of great material to chew on. As McQueen’s swan song to the Western genre, Tom Horn is not a film to be forgotten or ignored.

3

‘The Man From Snowy River’ (1982)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Moving from the Old West to a land Down Under, The Man From Snowy River is a familiar Western tale that trades the typical Rocky Mountains in America for the “Snowies” of Australia. Directed by George T. Miller (who is not to be confused with Mad Max director George Miller), the picture follows young Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) as he fights to make a name for himself while coming of age in the wilderness. As one of the most underrated Western movies out there, don’t let the international setting fool you — this picture feels about as traditional as it gets.

Even better, Western legend Kirk Douglas plays dual roles as estranged brothers, Harrison and Spur, each of whom plays a direct part in Jim’s story. Based on the popular Australian poem of the same name, The Man From Snowy River is a brilliant coming-of-age style and the immaculate scenery on display in Australia’s High Country. It’s also full of fine romance and expert horsemanship that one cannot help but get swept away in as the drama unfolds. It’s a great story, one made even greater by Douglas’ fine performances.

2

‘Billy the Kid’ (1989)

Image via TNT

Okay, Billy the Kid is technically a made-for-TV movie that some may consider more on the B-picture side of things, but considering it was Val Kilmer‘s first foray into the Western genre, it deserves a spot here. Several years before he would decide to tackle the story of Doc Holliday in Tombstone, Kilmer played the wide-eyed outlaw who took Lincoln County by storm. Covering the famed conflict between the Tunstall and Murphy-Dolan factions of the “Lincoln County War,” William H. Bonney (Kilmer) finds himself caught right in the middle.

Written by Gore Vidal and directed by William Graham, Billy the Kid had the unfortunate happenstance of airing on TNT only a year after Young Guns solidified Emilo Estevez as the care-free gunslinger. But even if Billy the Kid doesn’t quite live up to those high standards, Kilmer nails the role by perfectly embodying the youthful charm that “The Kid” was most famous for. If not simply to see Kilmer in another Western production, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t give Billy the Kid a go — it’s only 96 minutes.

1

‘Walker’ (1987)

Image via Universal

Not to be confused with the Chuck Norris series Walker, Texas Ranger, this 1987 Western featured a young Ed Harris as the real-life William Walker, a man who in the 1850s fought to make himself the leader of Nicaragua. Harris is enrapturing as Walker, and the film’s interesting (if not somewhat unsettling) satirical take on the true story — not to mention American imperialism at large — is what sets Walker apart as quite unique compared to most Westerns at the time. But that’s not even the strangest part.

Walker could technically be considered a “Weird Western” for the surreal way that the picture ends. Director Alex Cox pushed every single boundary that one might construct for a typical historical biopic to turn Walker into a strange social commentary on United States foreign policy. Although Roger Ebert hated the final product, many consider Walker to be a fascinating feature that defies expectation and forces the audience to consider the past in light of our present. Whether you agree with those results, Harris is great.

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Walker

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Release Date

December 4, 1987

Runtime

94 Minutes

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Director

Alex Cox

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