Entertainment
‘Bosch’s Titus Welliver Is the Clear Standout of MGM+’s New Crime Drama ‘The Westies’
MGM+ is the latest streamer trying to carve out a space for itself in the hyper-competitive world of 2020s television. Its newest offering is the crime drama The Westies, co-created by modern master of the genre Chris Brancato — the man behind hits like Narcos —and Michael Panes, who worked alongside Brancato on Godfather of Harlem. Led by Oscar winner J.K. Simmons and Bosch himself, Titus Welliver, and set in Hell’s Kitchen in the 1980s, the show delivers a classic tale of crime, deceit, and violence centered on the Westies, a criminal gang made up of Irishmen, and their contentious relationship with the Italian mafia.
The Westies might outwardly seem like the heir apparent to Boardwalk Empire, but it plays it too safe to reach the heights of Terence Winter‘s Emmy-winning triumph. It’s not a bad show by any means — in fact, it’s a solid eight-episode saga with strong performances, decent production value, and a killer soundtrack. Yet, one can’t help but ponder what the show could’ve been if it had a bit more ambition and a tad more meat on its bones.
What Is ‘The Westies’ About?
Set in 1980s Hell’s Kitchen, The Westies focuses on the titular gang, led by Eamon Sweeney (Simmons), a businessman who negotiates a sizable stake in the construction of the high-profile Javits Center. One of his most loyal men is Jimmy Rourke (Tom Brittney), whose troubled friend, war veteran Mickey Flanagan (Stanley Morgan), has recently been released from a mental institution following a tour in Vietnam. The Westies have a combative relationship with the Italians, particularly mob boss John Gotti (Hamish Allan-Headley), and the gangs’ animosity towards each other seemingly increases by the day.
One of Sweeney’s police informants is Glenn Keenan (Welliver), whose estranged son is becoming involved with the Westies, much to his chagrin. Over the course of the plot, Keenan also enters into a complicated partnership with Birdie Polk (Jessica Frances Dukes), a detective looking to bring down Sweeney. Meanwhile, Jimmy’s girlfriend, Bridget (Sarah Bolger), finds herself dragged back into the cause of Irish independence after a mysterious man from her past, Brendan Cahill (Allen Leech), reenters her life.
‘The Westies’ Features an All-Too-Familiar Story
The Westies is a story-driven show to a T — which is to say, the characters exist to serve the narrative. The actors here are not playing characters but rather archetypes: the ruthless crime boss, the moral criminal, the amoral revolutionary… you get the gist. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a story-driven approach — some of television’s all-time greats can be classified as story-driven — but The Westies takes that approach a bit too literally. The key players receive little to no development, simply going from Point A to Point B because the story demands it. As for the narrative, it’s fine, but nothing you haven’t seen before: lies, betrayals, ruthless killings, cocaine, whiskey, and some muscular fight scenes.
Luckily, the cast of The Westies is engaging enough to make up for their characters’ lack of progression. Brittney is a personable lead, playing Jimmy as someone who might not have a heart of gold, but at least has a moral compass. Similarly, Stanley’s work as the loose cannon Mickey is good, mainly because he’s never actually unlikable despite the fact that he’s a hothead. As for Simmons, he’s playing a role he could do in his sleep, but it is fun to see him and Allan-Headley trying to outsmirk each other. If anyone has it toughest, it’s Bolger, and Bridget’s revolutionary plot seems out of place in a narrative about ruthless criminals.
Welliver, best known for playing the titular protagonist of Bosch, is given far more to work with than anyone else, as Glenn deals with a troubled son, an inferiority complex, and a shifting sense of loyalty, finding himself between the police and the Westies. Welliver does a fine job in the role, embodying Glenn’s stiffness and indifference and slowly dropping both with each new episode. His personal storyline converges nicely with the Westies’ overarching narrative, and it’s hard not to wish that Simmons, Brittney, and Bolger received the same treatment.
‘The Westies’ Does a Decent Job Bringing ’80s New York to Life
Visually, The Westies is not particularly strong, with the same subdued, grayish look that so many streaming shows today bear, and very few instances of anything close to memorable or inspired. Behind the camera, the series’ directors adopt a more straightforward approach; there’s little panache but tons of dynamism, particularly in Episode 3, where director Chris Grismer brings real flair to one of the show’s most elaborate hours. The editing is rather good, most notably in the fight scenes. The stunts aren’t fast-paced and hectic like so many of today’s best action movies; rather, they’re precise, rough, almost messy, immersing the viewer in the Westies’ style of reactive street fighting.
The production design is decent, but the wigs are truly awful, and the costumes and overall staging occasionally make it hard to determine whether The Westies is set in the early ’80s or the early ’90s, with some late ’70s thrown in for good measure. The sets are few but lived-in: an Irish pub, a small office, a rundown apartment, a lavish mansion. They’re used several times — the show has a rather limited approach to Hell’s Kitchen — but, in all fairness, it really doesn’t need more to tell its story.
Overall, The Westies isn’t reinventing the formula, it’s not particularly ambitious, and it’s not concerned with offering more than what’s on the screen. If you like your crime stories with a bit more bite, this one will probably leave you unsatisfied. However, if you’re a fan of tough men doing bad things and traditional tales of underworld crime, then you’ll likely have a good time. Moreover, there are already plans for Season 2, so perhaps The Westies only has room to grow with its potential return, finding more confidence and a better grasp of its identity.
The Westies premieres July 12 on MGM+.
Entertainment
9 Must-Watch Streaming Shows Coming in Fall 2026
Fall TV used to mean broadcast premieres and little else, but streaming has completely taken over the season at this point, and this year’s crop is an unusually strong mix: a Marvel trilogy finale, a slasher icon’s origin story, a Stephen King adaptation from the genre’s most trusted current voice, and two Hollywood A-listers playing exaggerated versions of themselves. These are all new series, not returning seasons, with confirmed premiere dates.
A fun fact here is that it’s a genuinely franchise-heavy lineup, which speaks to where streaming has landed in 2026: almost nothing on this list is an original concept created from scratch, and yet, all of them are original in their creation process. Each entry is either expanding a universe, adapting a book, or trading on a real person’s life story, a reminder that even in a fall full of wild swings, the safest bet studios can make right now is attaching a project to something audiences know. Here are the seven new streaming shows that debut in fall 2026.
‘Neagley’ (2026)
Maria Sten steps out of Reacher‘s shadow in the spin-off Neagley, where she plays the titular character Frances Neagley. Neagley is Reacher’s former Army protégé who has since established a career as a Chicago private investigator. When a friend from her past dies in suspicious circumstances, Neagley applies everything she learned to investigate the case. Unlike Reacher‘s rotating cast and town-to-town structure, Neagley stays rooted in one city with a recurring ensemble, which is a departure from the formula but will allow for deeper relationships and longer-simmering plots compared to Reacher’s episodic wandering. Alan Ritchson appears as a guest star, reprising Reacher, presumably to ease the transition for fans who have only seen Neagley as a supporting character.
Though not a prominent figure in Lee Child‘s original novels, Neagley has genuinely been one of the most well-received characters in the Reacher ensemble since the show’s first season, making this spin-off as much a bet on Sten’s performance as on the source material itself. Neagley will have eight episodes, and they’re set to premiere on the same day as the Reacher Season 4 finale, allowing fans to jump from one to the next without missing a beat. It seems Amazon wants this to feel like an extension of the binge rather than a separate event; it’s a significant structural gamble for the streamer, as it essentially splits a hit series into two concurrent shows rather than one larger season.
‘Brothers’ (2026)
In the eight-episode comedy Brothers, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson play fictionalized versions of themselves, long-time friends whose bond is disrupted when a family secret reveals they may be brothers. After Harrelson’s daughter’s wedding fails, he and his family travel to McConaughey’s Texas ranch for what is supposed to be a healing retreat, only for the secret to come out and make both men spiral, with McConaughey’s potential run for Texas governor complicating matters even more. It’s a reunion of the True Detective co-stars in a much lighter register, created by the pair alongside Schitt’s Creek writer David West Read, and it draws directly on years of genuine speculation about the two actors’ resemblance to one another.
The series has had an unusually long road to air: Apple ordered it in March 2023, shot it in late 2024 and mid-2025, and only set a 2026 release date, meaning fans have been waiting well over three years to see it. Even by prestige TV standards, such a gap is unusual, but as conflict happens on set sometimes, the show did go through its ups and downs; the release was also influenced by the switch in production companies and showrunners. The first two episodes will premiere on September 23, with new episodes released weekly, leaning on a classic Apple TV schedule and giving the show a full seven-week run rather than a single binge dump.
‘Carrie’ (2026)
Mike Flanagan directs the first television adaptation of Stephen King’s 1974 debut novel Carrie, and this comes after his signing with Prime Video in 2022 and a delayed attempt at adapting The Dark Tower (Flanagan called this project “one of the most complicated to adapt”). Summer H. Howell stars as Carrie White, a sheltered teenager who lives with an overbearing Catholic mother (Samantha Sloyan) and attends public high school for the first time. As she becomes the target of a bullying campaign around school, her telekinetic abilities begin to emerge.
King serves as an executive producer on the series, while Flanagan continues his now well-established track record of faithfully adapting his work while finding new angles. Flanagan has thus far adapted Gerald’s Game, The Life of Chuck, and Doctor Sleep and shows no signs of slowing down. All eight episodes will air at the same time, building to the same prom-night climax that audiences have come to expect for decades, but Flanagan spends far more time than previous adaptations establishing who Carrie is before that night arrives. Every screen adaptation since Brian De Palma’s 1976 original has essentially been chasing that film’s legacy, and this series is the first attempt to tell the story over eight hours rather than two.
‘VisionQuest’ (2026)
VisionQuest, the third and final installment in the trilogy that began with WandaVision and moved on through Agatha All Along, reintroduces Paul Bettany as the reconstructed “White Vision”, now working to reclaim the memories and humanity that were taken away from him. James Spader returns as Ultron for the first time since 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron in this reimagined story about fathers, sons, and inherited trauma, with Ultron serving as both antagonist and, in his own twisted way, family. Terry Matalas, the showrunner behind Star Trek: Picard, is the showrunner, while other recurring roles include Ruaridh Mollica as an older version of Tommy Maximoff, one of Wanda and Vision’s twin sons, Orla Brady, T’Nia Miller, and James D’Arcy.
The series has undergone multiple title changes and years of development since it was first reported in 2022, demonstrating how much Marvel has restructured its television plans since the initial post-Endgame streaming push. It’s being billed as the true conclusion to a story that began with grief and domestic fantasy in WandaVision and has gradually progressed to Vision confronting his own creator ever since. It’s an eight-episode series and, according to Marvel, their final live-action show of the year, capping off Marvel’s noticeably slower release schedule compared to the flood of shows released in 2021 and 2022. It’s also part of Phase Six of the MCU, which began with The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
‘Crystal Lake’ (2026)
Linda Cardellini stars as Pamela Voorhees in the A24-produced prequel to the Friday the 13th franchise, Crystal Lake, which marks the series’ first meaningful new entry in years. The show, set mostly in 1970 and 1971, follows Pam a year after her young son Jason drowns at Camp Crystal Lake, a grief she can’t get over, which is made more difficult when two strangers arrive in town and begin digging into her past. It’s more of a character-driven approach than the slasher film series, focusing on the woman who becomes the franchise’s original killer before Jason ever picks up a machete, and the series will feature multiple versions of Jason throughout its run, played in part by Callum Vinson as a child.
Crystal Lake arrives amid a genuinely tangled rights history: a long legal battle between showrunners and writers ensued, with even Bryan Fuller and Kevin Williamson having been attached to the project at some point, which explains why fans have gone so long without any new Friday the 13th material, despite the franchise’s enduring popularity. The current and official showrunner is Brad Caleb Kane, fresh off It: Welcome to Derry, and he produced all eight episodes. Crystal Lake will premiere all of its episodes on the same day, mid-October, just before Halloween arrives. Fun fact, there are three Friday the 13ths in 2026, which is the maximum possible number of them in a single year.
‘Yaga’ (2026)
Created by playwright Kat Sandler and adapted from her own stage play, Yaga reimagines the Slavic folklore figure of Baba Yaga as a contemporary mystery thriller set in a small coastal town. Noah Reid plays Rapp, a private investigator called in when Henry Park (Hudson Williams), heir to the town’s powerful fishery, vanishes without explanation, pulling Rapp into conflict with a wary local detective, Carson (Clark Backo), and a magnetic university professor Katherine (Carrie-Anne Moss), all while the case delves further into folklore and long-buried town secrets.
The eight-episode series will premiere all at once, and each episode has a runtime of about half an hour, similar to some recent genre-bending hits like Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. Yaga debuted its first teaser at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026, and with Williams on board, it’s set to be a hit, considering his skyrocketed fame after Heated Rivalry (reportedly, the tickets for the play sold out after Williams was announced as a cast member). Yaga is set to stream on AMC+ in the U.S., but an exact October date is still to be confirmed as of now; from what can be seen in the trailer, it leans just as much on atmosphere as it does on its central mystery. Furthermore, it looks like some of the shows we enjoyed watching in the 2010s, and a nostalgic moment is always welcome.
‘The Greatest’ (2026)
The Greatest, executive produced by Muhammad Ali‘s widow, Lonnie Ali, and Michael B. Jordan, is the first authorized scripted series about Ali’s life, chronicling his rise from Cassius Clay to the world’s most recognizable athlete in eight episodes. Jaalen Best stars as Ali throughout his life, with Omari Hardwick as his father, Cassius Clay Sr., and Michael Ealy as Malcolm X, rounding out a cast designed to carry the series through both his athletic triumphs and the political and personal battles that accompanied them, from his opposition to the Vietnam draft to his involvement in the civil rights movement.
Showrunner Ben Watkins created the series with the direct involvement of Ali’s family, aiming for an intimate portrait rather than a highlight reel, focusing as much on what Ali sacrificed as what he achieved. The project and premiere date were revealed at this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans, which sees Prime Video attempting to position the show within Black cultural institutions rather than treating it as a standard sports biopic release. Filming took place across Ontario, Toronto, and Hamilton to represent the various American cities that defined the different stages of Ali’s career.
‘The Good Daughter’ (2026)
Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy play sisters Samantha and Charlotte Quinn in the six-episode limited series The Good Daughter, adapted by Karin Slaughter from her own novel with the same title. Nearly thirty years after Samantha and Charlotte’s family suffered a violent event, Charlotte, now a lawyer like their father, becomes the first witness to a new attack that reveals a small town’s long-buried history. Slaughter, best known for her novels Will Trent and Pieces of Her (both turned into hit series subsequently), wrote every episode and serves as showrunner. Besides Fahy and Byrne, Brendan Gleeson and Olivia Williams round out the cast in a story that focuses on the long, complicated aftermath of trauma.
Jessica Biel was originally cast in the lead role in 2024, but she left the production months later, with Fahy and Byrne taking over. Steph Green, who previously directed on HBO’s Duster, directs all six episodes, giving the series a consistent directorial voice rather than the rotating-director approach that many limited series employ. With a female showrunner, writer, and director, as well as two compelling female leads, The Good Daughter looks to be a great addition to a growing trend of women in television. All six episodes of the show will premiere on the same day, making it one of the year’s final major scripted premieres before the holiday programming rush dominates most platforms’ release calendars.
‘Blade Runner 2099’ (2026)
Fifty years after the events of Blade Runner 2049, we revisit a futuristic Los Angeles yet again in the limited series Blade Runner 2099, which closes out the fall calendar as one of Prime Video’s biggest swings; as much as fans are excited, they’re also skeptical. Michelle Yeoh plays Olwen, a veteran Replicant Blade Runner on the verge of retirement who is forced to collaborate with Cora (Hunter Schafer), a fugitive human posing as a replicant, as the two are dragged into a conspiracy that dates back to the city’s foundational moments.
Silka Luisa, who previously created Apple TV’s Shining Girls, is the series’ showrunner, with Ridley Scott serving as an executive producer, five years after the show was first announced by Scott himself in 2021; production was repeatedly delayed by the 2023 Hollywood strikes and a lengthy post-production process. The eight episodes will be released simultaneously in all countries covered by Prime Video, a fittingly massive rollout for a franchise that has been relevant and sustained for decades; the first teaser, unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con, leaned heavily on the established legacy by showing a grim, replicant-dominated vision of the city’s future, showing why Blade Runner 2099 is one of the year’s most anticipated premieres
Blade Runner 2099
- Release Date
-
2026 – 2027-00-00
- Network
-
Prime Video
- Showrunner
-
Silka Luisa
- Directors
-
Jonathan van Tulleken
Entertainment
'Oppenheimer' Set To Rival 'The Odyssey' This Month

Called an “unrivaled cinematic spectacle” in Joe Schmidt‘s review for Collider, and earning near-perfect scores from both critics and audiences on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Christopher Nolan‘s historical epic The Odysseyhas risen to the huge expectations set by the master of the 21st century blockbuster. After a successful third weekend at the box office, The Odyssey has now hit an enormous $911 million worldwide, and is set to become the third billion-dollar film in Nolan’s catalog, after The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.
Entertainment
Shop Quay x Nader Sisters Sunglasses Starting at $49
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
Sunglasses have a way of completing an outfit, and the Nader sisters know a thing or two about pulling out a look. So, we’re not surprised that Brooks, Mary Holland, Grace Ann, and Sarah Jane partnered with Quay to release a sunglasses collection that reflects each of them individually and as a family. You can shop the many styles now starting at $49.
This Made to Be Seen collection offers a range of colors and silhouettes — some new to Quay — so even if you’re a fan of the brand, you’ll find sunglasses you don’t already own. We love that there are familiar neutral colors, like black, tortoise and tonal finishes. But you’ll also find pops of pink and green for when your outfit needs a fun boost.
Get the Quay x Nader Sisters Eyewear Collection starting at $49 at Quay!
When it comes to silhouettes, there are oversized options like Nightfall Remix, No Comment, and Clock It. For more narrow picks, there are smaller styles like Nevermind, Hit Single and Aura Points. We know that it can be tricky to select sunglasses online, but Quay offers a “Try on Virtually” feature, so you can see what you’d look like in a particular pair.
“This collection is really a reflection of who we are individually and together,” said the Nader sisters in Quay materials.
“Each of us has such a different personal style, but sisterhood has always been at the center of everything we do. We wanted these frames to feel fun, confident, versatile and like the perfect finishing touch no matter your vibe.”
Whether you prefer square sunglasses or oval ones, these picks are all about being seen and feeling confident. The new styles are already getting a thumbs up for just how good they look.
“They’re so fashionable, comfortable and durable. They also don’t leave the imprint on your nose when you take them off. They’re so cute, I think I may purchase the brown-colored ones,” one five-star reviewer wrote about the No Comment style.
Quay is an Australian sunglasses brand known for its high-quality yet reasonably priced sunglasses, so you won’t find a single pair above $125 is the Nader sisters’ set.
Get the Quay x Nader Sisters Eyewear Collection starting at $49 at Quay!
Entertainment
‘Battlestar Galactica’ Officially Sets New Release for August 11
Few sci-fi franchises have successfully reinvented themselves as dramatically as this acclaimed military space opera did back in the early 2000s. Reimagining a cult classic that had long divided fans and whose production company was sued by Star Wars‘ 20th Century Fox over alleged similarities, the reboot abandoned the original’s light-hearted space adventure in favor of a darker, post-apocalyptic drama. The result was a groundbreaking series that reshaped audiences’ expectations of sci-fi television through its exploration of religion, artificial intelligence, politics, and humanity’s fight for survival.
From Star Trek veteran Ronald D. Moore, the 95%-rated Battlestar Galactica premiered as a three-hour miniseries on the Sci Fi Channel in December 2003 before expanding into a four-season series that concluded on March 20, 2009. In the years following its dramatic 2009 finale, the genre-defining political drama has bounced between streaming services, making it difficult for new viewers to watch the complete saga in one place. However, now, fans have another opportunity to own the entire series.
According to MovieWeb, Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series returns on Blu-ray from Universal on August 11, 2026. The 21-disc collection includes the complete four-season series along with the original miniseries, totaling 4,171 minutes of content. While this is not a new 4K restoration, the set presents the series in 1080p high definition with its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles.
How Does ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Hold Up?
Starring Edward James Olmos as Commander (later Admiral) William Adama and Mary McDonnell as President Laura Roslin, Battlestar Galactica follows the last survivors of humanity after the robotic Cylons launch a devastating genocidal attack on the Twelve Colonies. Forced into exile aboard a ragtag fleet led by the older titular ship, apparently the only military capital ship that survived the Cylons’ attack, the survivors set out in search of the mythical Thirteenth Colony: Earth.
Unlike most space operas, Battlestar Galactica features no alien civilizations. Instead, its central conflict revolves around humanity’s war against the Cylons, human-made sentient machines. The series also distinguishes itself with a grounded approach to combat, favoring ballistic weapons, rail guns, and missiles over the energy weapons commonly associated with the genre, like lasers. Beyond its military action, the space opera examines the moral choices survivors must make as they deal with the decline of the human race and their war with the Cylons.
Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series arrives on August 11. Preorder yours here.
- Release Date
-
2004 – 2009-00-00
- Directors
-
Wayne Rose, Michael Nankin, Rod Hardy, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Edward James Olmos, Robert M. Young, Jeff Woolnough, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jonas Pate, Allan Kroeker, Anthony Hemingway, Jean de Segonzac, Marita Grabiak, James Head, Paul A. Edwards, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Brad Turner, Ronald D. Moore, Bill Eagles
- Writers
-
Carla Robinson, Michael Taylor, Bradley Thompson, David Weddle, Jane Espenson, Mark Verheiden, Michael Angeli, Anne Cofell Saunders, Jeff Vlaming, Michael Rymer, Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin, Seamus Kevin Fahey
Entertainment
10 famous couples with unconventional sleeping arrangements
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/beds-tout-9fc750c9e5404d2cb4c0954da1228521.jpg)
Whoopi Goldberg said it best: “I don’t want somebody in my house.”
Entertainment
Wonder Man Showrunner Reveals Why Marvel Suddenly Canceled Season 2
Following one of the strongest debut seasons in Marvel Animation history, X-Men ’97 faced enormous expectations entering Season 2. Fortunately, the first three episodes prove the series hasn’t lost any momentum, delivering another thrilling blend of superhero action, emotional storytelling, and deep comic book lore.
Rather than easing viewers back into the world of the X-Men, Season 2 immediately picks up after the explosive finale of Season 1. With the team scattered across three different time periods, the opening episodes follow multiple storylines simultaneously while laying the groundwork for Apocalypse‘s rise.
It’s an ambitious approach, but one that largely succeeds.
Episode 1 centers on Cyclops, Jean Grey, and the future timeline, adapting elements from The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix. Their reunion with Nathan, better known as Cable, provides some of the strongest emotional moments of the season so far. The episode reminds viewers that beneath all of the time travel and mutant battles, X-Men ’97 continues to thrive because of its characters.
X-Men 97′ Season 2 [credit: Marvel Animation]
Episode 2 shifts gears with a fun, action-packed adventure featuring Cable, Jubilee, Sunspot, and the formation of a new X-Force. While the episode embraces the over-the-top style of the classic ’90s comics, it also explores the moral differences between Cable’s hardened worldview and Jubilee’s optimism. Their dynamic creates one of the season’s most entertaining character pairings.
The third episode may be the strongest of the bunch, taking audiences thousands of years into the past as Magnetoencounters a young En Sabah Nur, the mutant destined to become Apocalypse. Rather than presenting the iconic villain as a one-dimensional conqueror, the episode explores his origins in a surprisingly thoughtful way. The conversations between Magneto and En Sabah Nur are among the most compelling scenes in the series, adding emotional complexity to a character fans thought they already knew.
Visually, X-Men ’97 remains one of Marvel’s most impressive productions. The animation captures the spirit of the original 1990s series while elevating every action sequence with fluid movement, vibrant colors, and cinematic direction. Whether it’s mutant powers colliding on the battlefield or quieter emotional moments between teammates, every frame feels carefully crafted.
The voice cast also continues to shine, bringing authenticity and heart to these beloved characters. Even with multiple storylines unfolding simultaneously, each episode finds time for meaningful character moments that remind viewers why the X-Men have endured for generations.
The biggest criticism of these opening episodes is pacing. Episode 1 in particular moves through a significant amount of story in a short amount of time, and several of the timelines could have benefited from an extra episode to further develop their characters and emotional beats. It’s less a flaw in storytelling than a reminder that there’s simply so much happening at once.
X-Men 97′ Season 2 [credit: Marvel Animation]
Even so, those concerns do little to diminish what has been an outstanding start to Season 2. Marvel Animation has once again found the perfect balance between nostalgia and fresh storytelling, honoring classic comic arcs while keeping longtime fans guessing about what’s coming next.
Three episodes in, X-Men ’97 is already shaping up to be one of the year’s best animated series. If the remaining episodes maintain this level of quality, Season 2 has every chance of surpassing its already exceptional predecessor.
Verdict
X-Men ’97 wastes no time reminding fans why it became one of Marvel’s biggest success stories. While the opening episodes occasionally move too quickly through their ambitious storylines, the outstanding animation, emotional character work, and faithful adaptation of beloved comic arcs make for an exceptional return. After three episodes, Season 2 is firing on all cylinders.
Entertainment
Where is “The Princess Diaries” cast now? See the stars 25 years later
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Julie-Andrews-Anne-Hathaway-THE-PRINCESS-DIARIES-080326-834135cd3cee4494b74e7ad65597fe59.jpg)
Since Mia Thermopolis became a princess 25 years ago, Anne Hathaway has gone on to become the queen of Ithaca.
Entertainment
These 17 Summer-to-Fall Amazon Pieces Look Like Zara
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
You’d think after staring at chic summer clothes all day — and successfully restraining ourselves — we’d be strong enough to resist Zara’s magnetic pull. Well, we’re not. But this time is different; after discovering Amazon’s late-summer selection, we’re ditching our Zara carts (well, for now at least). These summer-to-fall staples are just as polished, and start at only $6!
If you ask Us, you can’t tell the difference between the two elevated styles. These dresses, blouses, pants and more have all the signature signs of the cool-girl label. We’re talking about crisp fabrics, clean lines and billowy silhouettes. Boho and sophisticated, our favorites whisper ‘old money’ from across the room. Scroll on to see the 17 lookalike pieces that’ll make you do a double take!
17 Zara-Style Amazon Pieces — From $6
Zara-Style Dresses
1. Our Favorite: Nothing says ‘put together’ like a striped shirtdress. This midi number is a complete outfit with simple white sneakers and a tote.
2. Runner-Up: Polka dots are everywhere this season, and this mock-neck maxi dress nails the aesthetic.
3. Flattering Find: By balancing loose and structured elements, this button-front midi creates the illusion of an hourglass figure. No shapewear required!
4. Cottagecore Cute: Let this be your sign to snag a trendy gingham-print sundress. This Amazon Essentials find pairs equally well with summer flip-flops and fall booties.
5. Everyday Outfit: Calling comfort connoisseurs! This tank-style midi dress is made with stretchy fabric that truly feels like loungewear.
Zara-Style Tops
7. Our Favorite: Ruffles, pleats, crochet! This flowy babydoll top looks much more expensive than it is.
8. Runner-Up: This sleeveless sweater, otherwise known as a knit tank top, bridges the gap between warm and brisk weather like a champ.
6. Mock-Neck Maven: Sassy, stunning and secretly airy, this dressy mock-neck blouse checks every box and more.
9. Elevated Tee: Ribbed-knit material takes this comfy tee from casual to polished, so you can wear it with jeans, skirts and dress pants alike.
Zara-Style Pants and Skirts
10. Our Favorite: Silky satin fabric and polka dots come together in one epic skirt. This classy pick is a number one bestseller for a reason.
11. Runner-Up: Wide-leg pants has its merits, but rich moms reach for these straight-leg jeans for a more tailored look. We love that they come in petite sizes, too.
12. Secretly Stretchy: An elasticized back waistband makes these wide-leg dress pants as comfortable as they are professional.
13. Corporate Queen: Something between a skirt and trousers, this office-friendly pick belongs in any workwear rotation. It just dropped and is destined to sell out!
14. Trendy Trousers: When buttons feel like too much, opt for these breezy palazzo pants that deliver all of the style and none of the squeeze.
Zara-Style Cardigans and Layers
15. Our Favorite: Cool nights and chilly mornings call for this cropped utility jacket. It keeps you temperate without adding bulk.
16. Runner-Up: Swap your go-to cardigan for this classy blazer and feel like a CEO without even trying. According to shoppers, the fabric is exceptionally silky.
17. Nearly Half Off: This refined, ultra-lightweight cardigan is essential for grocery runs and in-office days. At only $20, we’re grabbing two colors.
Entertainment
Samantha Morton Talks Being ‘Homeless’ As A Teen
Samantha Morton‘s journey to the top was not smooth sailing!
The actress recently recalled the rough paths she went through from her younger days, with experiences that shaped the strong woman she is today. Her journey, leading up to landing the hit role on “The Odyssey,” has been an experience of a lifetime.
Samantha Morton was not born with a silver spoon, but through hard work, dedication, and experience, she has made a name for herself despite her background.

Morton revealed that her childhood was far from a bed of roses. The actress got candid about her parents’ struggles with different vices, which in turn affected her life as a child. The entertainer’s mother, Pamela, who died in 2017 from lung cancer, struggled with mental health issues.
Her father, Peter, who, on the other hand, passed away last year, battled with alcoholism. The combined effect of her parents’ issues landed Morton in the system. “I went pillar to post with foster families, homeless hostels, sleeping by the bins at the back of the Co-op,” she disclosed.
The state of affairs also had a personal effect on the English actress, shaping how she viewed life. “I have made choices that have always been about survival, because I watched my mum trying to survive and I watched my dad trying to survive,” Morton told The Sunday Times.
The 49-year-old movie star shared that she was described as “resilient” when she was younger, an attribute she gained from her life. To Morton, it was a no-brainer: you had to be resilient “because if you are not, you’re dead.”
The Actress Spent Her Teenage Years Being The Life Of The Party

Over a decade ago, the actress who plays the sorceress Circe in “The Odyssey” got candid about her upbringing, sharing that she lived between her parents’ separate homes until the age of eight, when she was placed as a “ward of court.” Her mom was a factory worker while her dad was a coal miner.
Being a ward of court means that a person is placed under the legal guardianship of the U.K. Court of Protection. Morton shared that she was abused as a child “by various people,” which made her form the view that “violence is irrational.”
The TV personality told The Guardian at the time that she moved between several foster parents and care homes before leaving school at the age of 13 to lead a different lifestyle.
The actress disclosed that she spent most of her early teenage years “raving, taking ecstasy and hallucinogenics with older children and young adults, lawless and lost.”
Morton revealed that she was homeless for almost a year as a young teen. She got by spending nights in bus shelters or at friends’ houses.
Samantha Morton Said Landing Circe In ‘The Odyssey’ Was A ‘Dream Job’

Morton is no newbie to screens and acting, but she has rarely been offered projects on the scale of the 2026 action-fantasy hit. She previously disclosed the surge of emotions she experienced when Christopher Nolan reached out to her about the part. “I got a phone call saying that Sir Christopher Nolan wanted to meet and I actually wept,” she shared.
After landing the role, the English actress decided not to research what Homer scholars have written about Circe over the years, but rather to get into character by living in the moment on set. Morton drew inspiration from the filming location and her Scottish roots.
Another key aspect of her personal life that seeped into the role was her experience with magic. Raised in the English foster-care system, Morton joined a drama group for working-class teens and even spent a summer as a magician’s assistant.
According to the Central Oregon Daily News, she was excited when she learned that Nolan would use practical effects such as puppetry and prosthetics during Circe’s spellbinding sequence. “It’s proper movie magic. It’s all in camera; what you see is real. So this was a dream job for me; I got to do all the things that I love,” Morton explained.
The TV Personality Continues To Work On Her Craft

Morton, in a recent interview with PEOPLE, shared that the opportunity to work with one of Hollywood’s giants changed her life. She praised Nolan for being a master of his craft, adding that even at her age, she feels privileged to learn from him and improve at her job.
“It was incredible, and for Christopher to give me that opportunity; I’m 49, and you don’t know that those roles are ever going to come your way again,” she said, expressing gratitude to the director for giving her the part. The iconic actress also added that the whole experience has become one stamped in her mind, which she would hold on to for the rest of her life.
For Nolan, Morton was not a choice but the choice. It was a classic case of opportunity meeting talent. The Oscar-winning filmmaker previously disclosed that he wanted Morton because of her talents and limitless performance. To ensure she was part of the project, he even built a filming schedule around her availability.
Inside Samantha Morton’s Trail To ‘The Odyssey’

The mom of three joined the Central Junior Television Workshop at 13 and made her first TV appearance in the 1991 series “Soldier Soldier”. She continued acting in a number of television series, such as “Band of Gold,” in which she starred as Tracy Richards from 1995 to 1996, and the miniseries “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling.”
Morton voiced Ruby on the series “Max and Ruby” for over a decade, from 2002 to 2013, and has starred in several movies. She played the leading role, Iris, in the independent drama “Under the Skin,” which was on the list of British Best Films from 1984 to 2009.
The actress made her directorial debut in 2009 with “The Unloved” and won a BAFTA TV Award. She won a Golden Globe Award in 2008 and has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. Having started as a young homeless teenager, Morton has risen to success and now has a net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Entertainment
Jason Momoa Calls Blanka His “Dream Role” in New Street Fighter Featurette
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially cemented its place in the history books.
After a record-breaking opening day, the latest Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures collaboration has delivered an astonishing $355 million domestic opening weekend, making it the second biggest opening weekend of all time, trailing only Avengers: Endgame‘s $357 million debut. Worldwide, the film has already soared to an incredible $927 million, instantly becoming the biggest launch of 2026.
The film’s massive debut is another milestone for Tom Holland, whose fourth solo Spider-Man outing has exceeded even the phenomenal opening of Spider-Man: No Way Home. It also reinforces Spider-Man’s status as one of Hollywood’s most reliable box office franchises during a time when many recent superhero films have struggled to attract audiences.
Credit : Brianna Bryson/WireImage
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Brand New Day picks up after the events of No Way Home, following Peter Parker as he embraces life as a truly anonymous, street-level Spider-Man. The film also stars Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Mando, and Tramell Tillman.
Internationally, the film has proven just as dominant. It earned $572 million overseas, including an impressive $121 million in China, where it posted the country’s biggest superhero opening in years.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day [credit: Marvel Studios]
The historic opening is especially significant given recent questions surrounding the superhero genre’s staying power. While several comic book films have underperformed over the past few years, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has demonstrated that audiences will still turn out in massive numbers when excitement, strong word of mouth, and a beloved character come together.
With overwhelmingly positive audience reactions and one of the strongest starts in cinematic history, the film is now positioned to become one of the highest-grossing movies of all time if it maintains momentum over the coming weeks.
-
Business5 days agoWhy Trees Belong on the Risk Register
-
Fashion3 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Wit & Wisdom
-
Politics3 days agoMeta enters AI-training agreement with far-right ‘propaganda rag’ Newsmax
-
Entertainment6 days ago‘Stargate’ Creator’s New Sci-Fi Series Returns for Season 3 Tomorrow
-
Crypto World2 days agoMicroStrategy Post-Earnings CLARITY Act Push Could Add New Catalyst for Its Stock
-
Politics6 days agoThe Part of the Electric Transition Nobody Wants to Discuss
-
Business6 days agoMajor shareholder moves on Canyon
-
Crypto World3 days agoXRP Ledger v3.3.0 brings five institutional features
-
News Videos4 days agoBitcoin Enters the 3rd Stage of the Bear Market
-
Crypto World6 days agoKraken Enables Retail Access to Jersey Mike’s IPO via Tokenized Shares
-
Tech7 days agoNew macOS Sequoia & Sonoma security updates for older Macs
-
News Videos6 days agoClaude: Build Financial Dashboards in Minutes (2026)
-
Politics4 days agoLuke Littler’s dominance sparks GOAT debate
-
Sports4 days agoSeema Kaliramna Wins Discus Throw Bronze, Takes India’s CWG Medals Tally To 17
-
Business6 days agoJohnson & Johnson agrees to $5.5B settlement over talc cancer claims
-
Crypto World1 day agoCrypto PAC spending tops $2M in Michigan House race
-
Business3 days agoTrump Announces Hamas Disarmament Agreement as Iran Strikes Kuwait Air Base and US Attacks Pause Overnight
-
Crypto World3 days agoNew York sues Kalshi over prediction market gambling
-
Tech5 days agoGemini can now summarize the messiest comment threads in Google Docs
-
Tech2 days agoESET tracks rise in malicious AI skills and adaptable malware



You must be logged in to post a comment Login