HBO has been light-years ahead of its competitors in the prestige television landscape. Acclaimed HBO limited series like Band of Brothers and The Pacific proved the network could bring cinematic scope to television. The 2016 legal series The Night Of fulfills these requirements, creating an eight-episode master class in tension. With its thorough examination of the legal process, The Night Of also proved to be a groundbreaking deconstruction of the systematic racial and ethical biases within the American justice system.

‘The Night Of’ Is a Whodunit That Empathizes With the Suspect

The Night Of follows Pakistani-American college student Naz Khan (Riz Ahmed) during a romantic evening he shares with a woman named Andrea Cornish (Sofia Black-D’Elia) after they meet at a party. Naz’s night is filled with bad decisions; he steals his father’s (Payman Maadi) taxi cab in order to attend the party, abuses drugs that cloud his memories, and gets arrested shortly thereafter after failing to comply with traffic laws. Although none of Naz’s activities are depicted as being malicious, the series shows how easily actions can be misinterpreted. Naz wakes up to find that Andrea has been stabbed to death. In retrospect, he realizes that all of his actions on the night that she was killed make him look overly suspicious. It’s the rare murder mystery story that is told exclusively through the perspective of the major suspect.

The brilliance of the inciting incident in The Night Of is that showrunner Steven Zaillian doesn’t treat anything within Naz’s routine as abnormal. This creates more suspense, as the consequences of Naz’s irresponsible behavior are only evident to the audience. The intensity continues to escalate because Naz realizes too late that he has cast doubt upon his own innocence. This gives him a burden of guilt that he carries with him for the rest of the series, as Naz is forced to reflect upon how different things could have been if he had never met Andrea in the first place. As Naz, Ahmed balances these feelings of guilt and regret in one of his greatest performances.

Although there are hints of romance within their brief interactions, Naz knows very little about Andrea before she is killed. This was an important decision, as the impersonal nature of the crime makes it more shocking. Naz doesn’t have the capacity to mourn Andrea’s death because he barely knows her, and does not have any hints as to why she was killed. While Andrea’s shocking death is unquestionably a tragic one, it’s really just an inciting incident that sparks the show’s deconstruction of the legal process. The specificity with which Zallian examines the legal procedures that Naz experiences evokes comparisons to the great courtroom drama films of the 1990s.

‘The Night Of’ Features a Stellar Supporting Cast

While it’s Naz’s perspective that the series focuses on, The Night Of explores all aspects of the legal process through its supporting cast. Naz’s lawyer, John Stone (John Turturro), makes for a fascinating co-lead in the series because of his conflicted feelings about the justice system. While Stone has reason to believe in Naz’s innocence, he continuously reminds him to stop telling “the truth” in order to make their case as convincing as possible. Stone recognizes that Naz’s honesty could lead the jury to make assumptions that would color their opinion of him. Turturro’s magnetic performance captures the world-weary nature of a grizzled, experienced attorney who recognizes that justice and honesty aren’t always the same thing.

Bill Camp is also terrific in a supporting role as Detective Sergeant Dennis Box, the investigator in charge of investigating Andrea’s death. In this role, Camp proves that he’s the type of actor who can give a memorable performance with only a brief amount of screen time. While it would have been easy for the series to depict Box as a remorseless villain with no compassion, his motivations for pursuing Naz never feel personal. Box’s pursuit of Naz is merely a byproduct of a larger infrastructural issue, as the legal system does not allow for a conclusive truth to be drawn. Camp depicts Box as someone who genuinely wants to see justice served. This depiction of law enforcement strengthens the series’ sense of realism. It also serves as an interesting point of comparison with Stone, as the series explores the different practices taken by lawyers and cops.

‘The Night Of’ Exposes Flaws In the Prison System

Image via HBO

The Night Of examines the flaws within the prison system by showing how Naz’s personality is changed by his experience. The series brilliantly intertwines scenes of Stone interviewing people related to the case with Naz’s experiences in prison. As Naz attempts to survive abuse at the hands of both his fellow prisoners and the guards, he is forced to become a more violent person. After being treated like a criminal, Naz begins to act like one to survive. At a certain point, he realizes that his innocence will not protect him. It’s a disturbing concept, and the eight-episode run allows The Night Of to show more detail than most prison films would be capable of.

Although The Night Of tackles serious issues like over-policing and racial discrimination, it never loses sight of Naz’s perspective. While the story itself is fictional, Naz’s experiences are representative of larger systemic issues; the story becomes more powerful because the viewer is able to see how these issues affect an empathetic character. While by no means an easy watch, The Night Of is a master class in storytelling that refuses to abide by clichés commonly found in crime dramas. While its dour tone makes it difficult to cite as traditionally entertaining, The Night Of is a worthwhile examination of topics that couldn’t be more relevant.

The Night Of is available to stream on Max in the U.S.

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 5.The Game of Thrones franchise has never shied away from dark stories, and the spinoffs have followed that lead. After all, Westeros has plenty of different horrors to choose from. However, House of the Dragon doubles down on this reputation for highlighting the most twisted parts of Westeros by finally detailing Harrenhal’s history. Of all of the castles in Westeros, Harrenhal has the most troubled past from its origins to its multiple inhabitants. The many tragedies that occur throughout its history make Harrenhal infamous and begin rumors of a curse. Yet House of the Dragon shows that this is more than superstition.

Harrenhal has played a large role in House of the Dragon, and it continues to be prominent in the latest season. In fact, Season 3 Episode 5, “Unbowed and Unbent,” hints at Harrenhal’s origins, which is where the horrors began. This moment shows that the franchise always has a chance to get darker and perhaps finally explains why Harrenhal is so unique.

‘House of the Dragon’ Reveals Harrenhal’s Dark Origins

Harrenhal may not be the gathering sight for an army anymore, but in Season 3, it is still an important place. Now Aemond’s (Ewan Mitchell) hiding spot, the castle receives unwanted guests trying to kill him thanks to the orders of Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), but Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) and Harrenhal’s eerie history protect him. Early in the episode, Alys scares away armed men by leaning into the castle’s reputation, specifically citing its bloody origins. This may seem like an intimidation tactic, but it is a major part of the castle’s legend.

Built by Harren the Black as a vanity project, Harrenhal was meant to be a grand castle larger than any other, but it quickly took a dark turn. Over the forty-year construction, thousands of captives died due to harsh conditions, as Alys mentions. Worse, rumor has it that Harren mixed human blood into the mortar of his stone in an unnecessary form of cruelty. This terrible beginning earns Harrenhal the reputation of being built on the blood of men, which fits right in with its creepy aesthetic.

However, that isn’t the only element of Harrenhal’s construction that plays into its haunted nature, as the castle has sacred Weirwood trees built into it. According to legend, Harren the Black ordered an ancient grove of Weirwood trees cut down and used in construction, disregarding their status in the old religion. This desecration is often cited as the reason Harrenhal is cursed, as it angered the Old Gods. Yet, the rumors of ghosts and a curse are only a symptom of the problem because Harrenhal has been a dark and threatening place from its very beginning.

‘House of the Dragon’ Shows Harrenhal’s Curse Unlike ‘Game of Thrones’

Be it the ghosts of those killed or the displeasure of the Old Gods, Harrenhal’s history does support the idea of it being cursed. From its immediate destruction in dragonfire during Aegon’s Conquest to the brutal extension of most Houses that ever held it, Harrenhal does seem to be cursed. House of the Dragon leans into Harrenhal’s reputation for dark magic even further, proving that it isn’t just a superstition. The castle has played a significant part in the prequel, but none of it has been good. Not only did several members of the Strong family die there in Season 1, but Daemon’s (Matt Smith) journey in Season 2 shows him experiencing terrifying visions during his time there. Now, Aemond is facing the same torment, once again showing that Harrenhal is more than a creepy castle, especially now that it is under Alys’ control.

This eerie supernatural tone is a distinct change from how the castle comes across in Game of Thrones. Harrenhal appears in a few memorable storylines in the original series, such as Arya’s (Maisie Williams) time disguised as a cupbearer for Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) and Brienne’s (Gwendoline Christie) fight against a bear. However, these scenes do not highlight the dark magic that sets Harrenhal apart. In some ways, this makes sense as magic largely dies out before Game of Thrones, only to be slowly reawakened when Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) dragons hatch. In House of the Dragon, magic is still prevalent, and Harrenhal shows that, becoming a fitting way for the prequel to explore Westeros’ dark history. After seeing so much of the castle in House of the Dragon, it’s clear something supernatural is going on there, and Alys’ comments go a long way to explaining why Harrenhal is the way that it is.

House of the Dragon is streaming on HBO Max with new episodes on Sundays.

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Release Date

August 21, 2022

Network

HBO

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Showrunner

George R.R. Martin

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Directors

Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

Writers

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Gabe Fonseca

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• 
• 

  Fabien Frankel

  Ser Criston Cole

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HBO Max is expanding The Big Bang Theory universe with its Stuart Fails to Save the Universe spinoff — but who makes up the cast?

The Big Bang Theory, which aired on CBS from 2007 to 2019, starred Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch as a group of best friend scientists and their — sometimes polar opposite — significant others.

The Big Bang Theory won 10 Emmy Awards during its 12-season run and spawned the prequel series, Young Sheldon. The follow-up focused on Sheldon’s life (Iain Armitage) as a child prodigy growing up in Texas.

In addition to serving as an executive producer, Parsons acted as the narrator across all seven seasons — at one point even making an onscreen appearance as adult Sheldon in the 2024 finale.

Related: How Many Spinoff Shows Does ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Have?

The Big Bang Theory premiered nearly two decades ago — and the TV universe has only grown with three spinoffs (and counting)! The sitcom inspired a franchise when The Big Bang Theory aired from 2007 to 2019. It starred Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch as […]

Viewers met Sheldon’s brother, Georgie (Montana Jordan), which paved the way for his love story with Mandy (Emily Osment) to inspire another spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Next up is Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, headlined by Kevin Sussman, Brian Posehn and Lauren Lapkus.

According to the official synopsis, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe follows Stuart Bloom as he is faced with the daunting task of “restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.”

Stuart “is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke. Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well.”

Keep scrolling to meet the cast:

Kevin Sussman

Sussman is reprising his role as Stuart Bloom, who appeared in the OG show.

Brian Posehn

Joining Sussman is Posehn’s character Bert from The Big Bang Theory.

Lauren Lapkus

Lapkus a.k.a Stuart’s girlfriend, Denise, is front and center in season 1 of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.

John Ross Bowie

Bowie’s Barry Kripke is also part of the spinoff show.

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Ryan Cartwright

Cartwright has been cast in the role of Kyle.

Josh Brener

Brener, meanwhile, plays Trevor on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.

Tommy Walker

Walker is also on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe as Gary.

Jenny Slatten’s daughter Christina is giving fans an update on stepdad Sumit Singh’s visa application process amid the 90 Day Fiancé star’s public ALS battle.

“I wanted to let you guys know that we have started the visa process for Sumit to come to the U.S. [and] to bring my mom so she can come here and get more treatment using her insurance,” Christina said in an Instagram video uploaded on Wednesday, July 22. “Because the doctors have told her she cannot travel alone because it’s such a long flight.”

Earlier this year, Jenny revealed she was diagnosed with ALS after experiencing symptoms for more than a year. Since receiving her diagnosis in May, Sumit has become Jenny’s “full-time caregiver” on top of being her husband.

Christina added that they decided to have Sumit apply for an “emergency tourist spousal visa” rather than a green card given her mom’s health.

“We have applied for an emergency tourist spousal visa, not for a green card. Only for a tourist visa. It’s a lot longer of a process to try to get a green card, especially right now,” she said, referring to the United States’ current immigration process. “They’re not making it easy for anyone. So we’re going the tourist route.”

Christina explained that she spoke to her senator’s office who told her that the visa process could “take some time” if Sumit is allowed to proceed.

“So we’ve started it and we’re waiting for the Indian consulate to give Sumit his appointment,” she said. “As of right now we’re still waiting on the appointment and there has been no update when that will happen.”

Christina also shared that her mother’s doctor provided a note “stating her diagnosis and that she cannot travel alone from here on out to come back to the United States.”

“We are working on it and we’re gonna try our damndest to get Sumit here with my mom. So stay tuned,” she said.

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Related: ’90 Day Fiance’ Star Jenny Slatten Reveals ALS Diagnosis at 68

90 Day Fiancé star Jenny Slatten has been diagnosed with ALS after experiencing symptoms for more than a year. “With a heavy heart, we wanted to share news with all of you guys. There was a rumor that I had a stroke, but it turned out to be ALS,” Jenny, 68, wrote via Instagram on […]

As Sumit awaits to hear from the consulate, Christina asked fans for their “positive” thoughts as they await next steps.

“Please keep this process in your prayers. Put it out into the universe,” she shared. “Send good juju, there is absolutely no guarantees that he will get approved. But we’ve done everything asked.”

Fans were introduced to Jenny and Sumit when they first appeared on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way in 2019. The couple currently live in India and are starring in the new season of 90 Day: The Last Resort, which premiered on TLC back in June.

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Layla Taylor has a new love interest! Weeks after coming out as bisexual during a candid interview, the TV personality appeared to have confirmed who her new boo is in a new TikTok video.

Layla Taylor’s dating life has been a topic of conversation since the first season of “SLOMW” debuted on Hulu in 2024. Throughout the last four seasons, the mother of two has not only documented her divorce from Clayton Wessel, but she’s also dated Cameron Jolly and Mason McWhorter on camera.

@kelschesser Thankful she was 🙂‍↕️ #wlw #girlfriend ♬ original sound – Sonicallygifted

On July 21, TikTok creator Kelsie Chesser posted a video set to a trending Beyoncé sound, with overlaid text that read, “When I slid into my girlfriends DM’s just hoping she was into girls.” Of course, “SLOMW” fans rushed to the comments to see whether she was talking about Taylor. However, they didn’t have to speculate for too long, considering Taylor commented, “Folded.”

Taylor recently shared a video of herself holding the hand of a woman off-screen. That video also featured overlaid text that shed more light on her newfound identity. “‘You’re glowing recently’ thanks I’m dating a woman now,” the text read. She even captioned the video, “Chivalry isn’t dead it’s w the lesbians.”

Layla Taylor Recently Came Out As Bisexual

According to a previous report from The Blast, Taylor recently came out as bisexual during an interview with Jay Shetty. During the conversation, the Hulu reality star said that she’s now “gay and bi,” confirming that she has romantic feelings for men and women.

Taylor told Shetty that she’s known about her feelings for women since she was a child, but she wasn’t able to act on them because of her upbringing. Over the last few years, though, Taylor has become more comfortable with who she is and said that she’d no longer live inside of a box. “I’ll be d-mned if I’m not able to be fully who I am,” she said.

Layla Taylor’s Breakup Helped Her Realize She Was Into Women

As mentioned above, Taylor has showcased her romantic relationships on camera over the last several years. In season 4 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” viewers saw Taylor struggling in her relationship with McWhorter, who voiced his concerns about dating Taylor because of her two small children.

While speaking with Shetty, Taylor confirmed that she and McWhorter ended things and even revealed that their split helped her realize she was into women. “Honestly, I went through a breakup at the beginning of this year, and I feel like for just a long period of my life, I was constantly living my life for other people,” she said.

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“Whether that was being a mom or I was in a marriage at one point, I was married. And I just feel like I was always fulfilling other people around me. And it honestly just caused me to never really focus on myself and never be able to really just sit alone with who I am as a person… And I think honestly that breakup was like a blessing in disguise because I feel like now I’ve been fully able to just focus on Layla. And yeah, just focus on who I truly am.”

This Famous Rock Singer Recently Came Out As Gay

Te amamos, Caleb Shomo! 🖤

O vocalista do Beartooth declarou que é gay em um novo post publicado no seu Instagram! pic.twitter.com/UJFydkIJb7

— downstage (@downstagebra) May 23, 2026

Taylor isn’t the only public figure who has recently opened up about being part of the LGBTQ+ community. According to The Blast, rock singer Caleb Shomo also came out as a “proudly gay man” this summer, sharing that it’s something he’s struggled with “for quite some time now.”

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Caleb’s Wife, Fleur, Still Supports Him

Caleb’s wife of 14 years, Fleur Shomo, broke her silence on the news and said that while she was hurt by his revelation, she would still support him through thick and thin.

“Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do. And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people,” she said. “I already miss it & my husband more than anything. Our story was a good one. And now it’s done.”

Chris Brown shared a photograph of his baby boy, Arrow, whom he shares with Jada Wallace, and the internet is going crazy over the adorable picture. The father of four shared the pic on his Instagram Stories on Wednesday, July 22.

RELATED: Peak Dad Energy! 6 Times Chris Brown Had Fans In Their Feelings After He Spent Time With His Kids (VIDEO)

Brown Shares Picture Of Baby Boy With Fans

Brown and Wallace welcomed little Arrow in April, and he gave his fans a peek at his little bundle of joy via Instagram on Wednesday. The ‘Ayo’ singer shared the snap on his Instagram Stories, showing him holding Arrow as the baby sits in a car seat. He also added a heart emoji to the snapshot.

Both Arrow and Brown appear to be flashing wide grins in the picture, and it’s so cute that it quickly went viral as his fans reacted.

Fans React To Brown’s Baby Photograph

The post received more than 50,000 likes within hours of being shared on TSR’s Instagram page, and fans reacted to the “adorable” snap.

User @herealnayblanco wrote, “Whewww this baby is his twiniest twin 😂😍.”

@moe_murda added, “Only baby i’ve ever seen that happy to see his pappy 🥹🥹🥹😂❤️.”

@boy_momma412 replied, “Adorable 😍😍🔥.”

User @ayobreezy___ added, “Look at my man with his baby🥹 I love seeing him like this♥️.”

@lamarunlimited noted, “Should’ve named him Chris Jr that’s his lil twin fa sho 💯.”

@joy.faith16 wrote, “He just like Royalty when she was a baby😍.”

User @vintagejunkiie added, “Sweet boy Arrow 😍.”

@bringing_the_information_2u noted that parenthood is not for the weak. “He strong cause them car seats be heavy 😂😂😂.”

The Singer Has Four Children

In addition to his latest arrival, Brown has three more children. He welcomed his oldest daughter, 12-year-old Royalty, with model Nia Guzman, per PEOPLE. The artist dedicated his album ‘Royalty’ to his firstborn.

He also shares his son, 6-year-old Aeko, with Ammika Harris, whom the singer has accused of stealing his “whole face” on Instagram, per PEOPLE.

Brown also shares daughter Lovely, 4, with esthetician Diamond Brown.

RELATED: Big Sis On Duty! Royalty Brown Shares Sweet Family Flick With Chris Brown, Jada Wallace & Baby Arrow (PHOTO)

Over the weekend, a 23-year-old woman lost her life in Japan after a man fell from a building onto her. He survived the fall, which happened on Sunday (July 20) in a busy district.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Gloss Up Shares Details About Car Accident That Left Her Undergoing Dramatic Foot Surgery (VIDEO)

Details About Apartment Building Death In Japan

According to ABC News 4, the woman who died was named Houra Inaba. Media outlets such as Japan Today said the 23-year-old passed away in the hospital after a 29-year-old Shinsei Taguchi landed on her as she walked along a sidewalk with a friend. The friend called emergency services. Inaba died from hemorrhagic shock at around 5:30 a.m., per Japan Today. Reports say the incident occurred at around 1 a.m. in the Sakae district of Nagoya, a city about halfway between Tokyo and Osaka. The area is reportedly packed with shops, office buildings and apartment complexes.

How Did The Fall Happen?

Unlike the 23-year-old woman, Taguchi reportedly survived the drop. However, per ABC News 4, he is still unconscious and in critical condition. At this time, investigators are still trying to determine what happened that caused Shinsei Taguchi to fall from the 12-story apartment building. It’s unclear whether he accidentally fell or intentionally jump and from which level.

Woman’s “Rope Jumping” Death Also Recently Went Viral

This story out of Japan has made its way across social media platforms. Many are expressing condolences for the victim’s family, while others are calling out the survivor, even alleging he should be charged in the death. The investigation is still pending.

Last month, another bizarre death of a young woman went viral on social media. 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas passed away during rope jumping activity in Brazil. Video footage shows the moment two instructors let her go with no safety cord attached, only to realize their actions a few moments later.  Though she reportedly survived initial impact with the ground approximately 130 feet below, she later died from her injuries. Also, officials charged three individuals in connection.

New Details Surface In “Rope Jumping” Death Of 21-Year-Old Woman In Brazil As Three Instructors Are Charged (UPDATE)

RELATED: Prayers Up! Florida Mother Dies Saving 4-Year-Old Son From Drowning In St. Johns River

Over the years, celebrities have opened up about freezing their eggs — including medical and personal reasons for taking control of their fertility.

“Doing ovarian reserve is important for me, because I’m fortunate enough to have that as an option,” Halsey said during an April 2018 The Doctors appearance, noting she made her choice after suffering a miscarriage mid-concert. “And I need to be aggressive about protecting my fertility [and] about protecting myself.”

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Lainey Wilson, for her part, revealed in a 2026 trailer for her Keepin’ Country Cool documentary that she froze her eggs because “the Lord has other plans” with a family planning timeline.

Love Is Blind star Chelsea Griffin, meanwhile, opted to take control of her fertility following her divorce in May 2026, sharing her story two months later.

Scroll down to see which other stars have frozen their eggs — as well as embryos: