As temperatures rise, I always start craving lighter, prettier pieces that feel more exciting than the same basics I’ve been rotating for months. That’s exactly why I scrolled through Amazon’s May new arrivals searching for stylish wardrobe upgrades that wouldn’t completely derail my budget. This month’s fashion finds feel especially good.

From easy sundresses for outdoor parties to breezy pants that make vacation packing simpler, Amazon’s newest arrivals are full of wearable spring and summer staples. I spotted polished styles for office days, relaxed pieces for weekend outings and versatile basics that work for everything in between. Starting at just $15, these pieces make seasonal dressing feel significantly easier.

13 Best Finds From Amazon’s New May Fashion Arrivals

1. Our Favorite: I hate when summer dresses cling in the heat, but this loose maxi dress skims right over everything. The flowy black and white print hides what I want hidden.

2. Supportive Sandals: Just $20 will get me these EVA comfort sandals with double buckles for a custom fit and real medium arch support. The khaki colorway will go with nearly everything in my closet.

3. Polished Pants: Stiff trousers in summer heat are a no for me, so the breezy fabric blend on these striped palazzo pants is a relief. The wide leg and breezy fabric actually feel cool on hot days.

4. Hamptons-Looking: For just $34, this striped midi shirt dress gives you a real button-down collar, side pockets and a brown and white stripe that looks coastal-expensive.

5. Expensive-Looking: I’d pack this V-neck mini sundress for a vineyard weekend and wear it twice because it photographs like something three times the price. Adding a pair of white sandals is all it needs.

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Related: 17 Breezy Spring Blouses That Are Everywhere in the Hamptons Right Now

There’s a reason breezy blouses are suddenly everywhere in the Hamptons this spring. As the forecast shifts between crisp mornings, sunny afternoons and breezy coastal evenings, lightweight tops that feel elegant, versatile and comfortable quickly become wardrobe essentials. Stylish women are leaning into polished pieces that look sophisticated without sacrificing ease. Think crisp cotton, relaxed […]

6. Boutique-Worthy: At just $20, the flutter sleeves and pleated skirt on this V-neck sundress look pulled from a small-town boutique. Plus, the pockets are a quiet bonus.

7. Stylish Skirt: Low-rise skirts dig into me all day, so the high waistband on this tiered maxi skirt is the reason it’s in my cart. It sits where it should and doesn’t roll down.

8. Pretty Puff Sleeve: Plain tees feel boring with my nicer pants, but this floral V-neck top elevates jeans without trying too hard. The puff sleeves cover the upper arm comfortably.

9. Must-Have Jeans: Heavy denim in spring is miserable, so the soft hand on these ecru wide-leg jeans makes them wearable when it’s warm. They don’t bag out at the knee either.

10. Sleek Sandals: I’d wear these ankle-strap flat sandals with a sundress for date nights and with linen pants for daytime errands. The gold hardware reads dressy without trying.

11. Classy Cardigan: I’d throw this pastel yellow cardigan over a white tee and jeans for a chic spring look. I’d also keep it in my bag for over-air-conditioned movie theaters.

12. Top Trend: I’d roll up these cuffed boyfriend jeans with white sneakers for weekend errands and swap in heeled sandals for dinner. The wash looks broken-in from day one — and they’re a top trend for spring.

13. Romantic Ruffles: Stiff formal dresses feel wrong for outdoor weddings, so the soft tiered shape on this ruffle maxi dress handles grass and breeze without losing its line.

Some action movies explain themselves. Others grab you by the collar, throw you into a car, and let the engine do most of the talking. This new revenge thriller looks very much like the second kind. Set in 1970s Detroit and built around brutal action, striking imagery, and a thunderous rock score, the film is being pitched less as a chatty crime drama and more as a full-body cinematic hit. Which, honestly, feels about right when your lead is Alan Ritchson (Reacher, Fast X) and the brief is apparently “say less, hit harder.”

The first teaser trailer for Motor City is out now, giving audiences their first look at Ritchson’s new action thriller. Directed by Potsy Ponciroli (Old Henry) from a script by Chad St. John, Motor City stars Ritchson as a man wronged by a group of criminals who framed him for a crime he didn’t commit. After losing the love of his life, he goes on a blood-soaked warpath for revenge. The twist? The film contains only five spoken lines of dialogue. Subtle? Absolutely not. Potentially very satisfying? Big yes.

The cast also includes Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies, The Fault in Our Stars), Pablo Schreiber (Halo, 13 Hours), Ben Foster (Hell or High Water, 3:10 to Yuma), and Ben McKenzie (Gotham, The O.C.). The other major piece is the music. Motor City features a score by Jack White, which feels almost too perfect for a Detroit-set revenge movie with operatic scale and a rock-and-roll pulse.

What Else Can We Expect From ‘Motor City’?

Last year, while speaking with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff at the Toronto International Film Festival, Foster shared some intriguing insights into working with Ritchson. “He’s very tall and very muscular and he’s very handsome,” Foster joked, before getting serious about Ritchson’s acting ambitions. “He’s terrific as a mover. I think he wants to do some deeper work or rather different kinds of work than he’s been doing, and that’s a joy.”

As for the film itself, Foster teased the experimental nature of the movie and namedropped a musical icon who had helped put it all together. “The film itself, Motor City — we just wrapped — is virtually a silent film. There are five lines of dialogue. Jack White is helping with the music, so it’s like a rock disco revenge film. It’s like a graphic novel, so it’ll be interesting to see how that shakes out.”

Independent Film Company will release Motor City in theaters on July 24. Stay tuned at Collider for more.

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Release Date

July 24, 2026

Runtime

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103 Minutes

Director

Potsy Ponciroli

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Writers

Chad St. John

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Producers

Greg Silverman, Jon Berg, Chad St. John, Cliff Roberts

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 second ago

If there’s one thing Star Trek has always been weird about, it’s sex. Sure, The Original Series liked to titillate audiences, but broadcast restrictions kept them from getting too spicy. The Next Generation was comparatively celibate, to the point that Patrick Stewart would beg new writers to get Captain Picard laid. Eventually, the pendulum swung the other way: Discovery gave us an explicit sex scene that traumatized an unwilling participant while traumatizing the audience with the sight of naked Klingon breasts.

Obviously, it’s hard for this franchise to get sex scenes just right. When they aren’t offensive, they’re just downright goofy, like the time Dr. Crusher boned down with the Scottish bad boy that lived in her mother’s sex toy candle. Understandably, Star Trek: The Next Generation showrunner Michael Piller was worried about how audiences would react to a sex scene with Deanna Troi in “The Price” because fans kept writing in complaints before the episode even aired. But he didn’t get a single complaint after the episode, proving that audiences secretly loved seeing everyone’s favorite Betazed getting shagged!

In “The Price,” the Enterprise is hosting a number of intergalactic dignitaries who are negotiating for the rights to a major prize: access to a seemingly stable wormhole from the Alpha Quadrant to the Gamma Quadrant. One of the negotiators is secretly empathic, so it’s no surprise when he hits it off with empathic Counselor Deanna Troi. The two form a hot and heavy sexual relationship, one that only comes to an end when Troi must reluctantly reveal how her new lover has been secretly using his own Betazed abilities to manipulate negotiations from the beginning.

When previews for “The Price” first aired, the fandom collectively decided they were going to hate the scene where Troi takes Ral (her new bad-boy boyfriend) to bed. There are many possible reasons for this. Some fans hated to see Troi hook up with anyone but Riker, her fellow officer and one true Imzadi. Meanwhile, some fans hated to see Troi hook up with anyone but themselves. Whatever their motivation, more than a few fans decided to write to the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew to complain about the impending onscreen erotica. 

“I’m Sensing Great Thickness, Captain”

This information comes to us courtesy of Michael Piller. As written in Captains’ Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, the TNG showrunner later lamented that “It was never meant to be outrageous television.” Despite this, “We got quite a few letters from outraged people before it aired.” Obviously, these fans thought Star Trek was about to get downright salacious. However, this story has an unexpected punchline: Piller noted that “nobody wrote after it aired.” The implication here is that nobody, even the fans who thought they would despise it, actually hated this sci-fi sex scene.

By today’s standards, the sex scene is relatively mild. There isn’t any nudity or simulated sex onscreen, and the whole thing was more sensual than anything else. Ral gives her a hot oil foot massage, she ends up straddling him, and the two spend plenty of time baring their souls while staring into each other’s eyes. Sure, it’s not as explicit as something you might find over on GornHub (what are you doing, step-reptile?!?), but by the standards of early ‘90s TV, this scene was downright smoking.

Judging from the complete and utter lack of complaints, it seems like the fandom really enjoyed this sensual scene. The franchise might have had trouble getting things just right over the years, but it seems like the TNG writers and producers finally found the right recipe for a successful Star Trek sex scene. Just take half a cup of foot stuff, eight ounces of diaphonous clothing, and three cloves of Marina Sirtis on top. Throw in a spandex-clad exercise scene as an appetizer and baby, you’ve got yourself one hell of a meal!

Taylor Frankie Paul is getting candid about her physical health amid the recent cancellation of The Bachelorette and her custody drama with ex Dakota Mortensen.

In a Tuesday, May 5 Instagram post, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star shared what appears to be an AI-generated image of herself staring into a mirror covered in band-aids and an Icy Hot patch and attached to an IV drip. In the image, Taylor, 31, is depicted with her hair in a bun and wearing a stained gray T-shirt, while in her reflection, the reality star appears more glamorous and red carpet ready.

“It’s mental health awareness month. I’ve had to be humbled to learn some experiences need to be lived through to understand,” Taylor captioned the image. “Which category should we start with?”

In a series of Instagram Stories, Taylor elaborated that she has been dealing with various ailments recently.

“I know my Icy Hot patch is comical and, yes, maybe it’s funny I added it,” she wrote over an image of an assortment of medicine and medical products. “However, I use them every day along with heat sacks and other relievers due to the amount of pain my body is in.”

While Taylor didn’t go into detail about what is causing her physical pain, in another Instagram Story, she shared that she uses the Icy Hot “patches for pain,” “heat relaxes the tension” and that the “IV [drip] helps hydrate and supplement when lacking nutrients due to no appetite.”

“Band-aids were deliberate — pain you cannot see,” she added.

In a subsequent slide, Taylor shared a screenshot of an Instagram DM in which a follower asked, “Why are you in so much physical pain, Taylor?”

“I’ll be sharing how you get to this point, just not today,” Taylor cryptically wrote over the screenshot.

The Mormon Wives star has faced personal and professional challenges over the last few months. In March, TMZ published footage of a 2023 domestic incident involving Taylor and ex Dakota in which she appeared to throw a bar stool at Dakota during a heated exchange. That same day, ABC pulled the new season of The Bachelorette starring Taylor from its schedule.

After the footage went public, Dakota, 33, was granted a temporary protective order against Taylor and temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever, in March. Taylor was granted her own protective order against Dakota in April. During an April 30 hearing, a judge approved protective orders for both Taylor and Dakota for a period of three years. No changes were made to the couple’s custody arrangements for Ever at the time. (Taylor is currently allowed up to eight hours of supervised visitation with her son.)

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“This has been a very toxic relationship. It’s beyond the pale in a lot of ways, the toxicity,” Utah Commissioner Russell Minas told the pair during the April 30 hearing. “What I’ve seen from the evidence even post [the] last hearing, there seems to be a continuing attraction that they have for each other. … You guys have to figure out a lot here. You have to figure out how to function as coparents.”

Related: How Long Were Mormon Wives’ Taylor and Dakota Together Between Breakups?

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul’s relationship timeline with Dakota Mortensen isn’t easy to pin down after numerous breakups — but how long were they actually together in between their public splits? Taylor and Dakota started dating before the show premiered on Hulu in September 2024. Dakota was Taylor’s first public […]

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“I’m hoping that you’re not people who just thrive on the drama and the conflict,” the judge added. “You’ve got to put your child first and shield the child from this conflict. I’m going to leave the current order in place. I need to think a little bit more about this lifting of supervision. I have mixed feelings about it.”

In April, Salt Lake City prosecutors declined to press charges against Taylor in connection with two more alleged domestic violence incidents involving her and Dakota that were reported to police as taking place in Utah in 2024 and February this year, respectively.

By Chris Sawin
| Published 11 seconds ago

The Last Viking has an opening and an ending that feels like a hand-painted fairy tale revolving around a Viking clan where everyone remains equal; young and old, fat and skinny, ugly or beautiful – everyone is treated the same. But one day, during a battle, a young Viking loses one of his arms.

In comparison to everyone else, he feels ugly and less than everyone else. His father, the chieftain, witnessed this and ordered every male in the clan, toddler, adult, or elderly, and everything in between, to chop off one of their arms. Part of it was to help his son feel better, but it was also to keep the clan equal among themselves.

In the present day, Anker (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) has just committed robbery and murdered someone in the process. He takes a duffel bag full of money and locks it in a locker. He instructs his brother, Manfred (Mads Mikkelsen), to swallow the key and retrieve the bag only once everything has died down. He then gives Manfred specific instructions to bury the bag in a designated place near their mother’s house.

Anker is sentenced to 15 years in prison. Once he gets out, Manfred refers to himself as John W. Lennon and has no memory of where he buried the loot. As Manfred is going through something irregular, Anker is forced to help him in some capacity so he can be well enough to remember where the money is.

Life After The Heist

Written and directed by Anders Thomas Jensen (Riders of Justice, Men and Chicken), The Last Viking is a crime drama with some dark comedy thrown in for good measure. Manfred flips out whenever someone still calls him Manfred. He’s been stealing the neighbor’s dogs and stabbing their sister, Freja (Bodil Jorgensen), in the thigh because she didn’t call him John. Manfred also likes to jump out of moving cars, and he threatens to kill himself by shoving a fondue fork in his head. Both he and Anker have terrible tempers, as well.

The film follows Anker as he tries to shake some sense into Manfred. He wants his money so he can get away from his brother forever. Manfred has experienced some sort of severe trauma that has resulted in him having dissociative identity disorder. While we all exist as one identity in one reality, Manfred has several personalities that exist in different realities. They find this out after Manfred is committed to a psych ward.

Manfred’s psychologist, Lothar (Lars Brygmann), who is obsessed with IKEA, believes that, since Manfred believes he is one of The Beatles, he needs to unite with others who share his condition and believe they are the other Beatles. Once united, they can play Beatles songs together and, hopefully, regain some sense of normalcy.

Lothar tracks down a mute who believes he’s Ringo and Anton (Peter During), who has more than 40 personalities, including Bjorn from ABBA, Heinrich Himmler, and Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Anker and Manfred’s mother’s house is now owned by a couple who rent it out as an Airbnb; a former hand model named Margrethe (Sofie Grabol) and her much older husband, Werner (Soren Malling). Werner has been trying to write and illustrate a children’s book for the past five years, but has never finished it.

Lastly, there’s Flemming (Nicolas Bro), the flat owner and maintenance man to the flat Anker, Manfred, and Freja live in. Flemming wants all of the money that Anker has been hiding. He was paid before Anker went to prison, but he spent it all and now wants whatever is left. He basically hunts Anker the entire film and has a nasty streak despite his calm demeanor.

Drama And Trauma With A Side Of Humor

Anders Thomas Jensen makes this eclectic cast of characters feel necessary in the grand scheme of things. The Last Viking may centrally be about Anker and Manfred, but the way the story incorporates everyone else is extraordinary. There is humor in the film, but the drama and trauma keep your interest. Why Manfred decided to change his name and why Anker can’t remember certain things about his past is explained, and it’s devastating.

There’s a broken mentality to every character in the film, but the concept of either feeling less broken or being a bit more whole as a group is explored in The Last Viking. Every question you might have, like how the film’s title factors into the story, is explored to meaningful satisfaction. The one issue is that I wish the humor hit harder. For a film that is so serious, the comedy is extremely subtle and lighthearted. Maybe devoting more of the film to humor would have taken away from the overall story, which is already so well-connected and has a solid conclusion.

The Last Viking is stupidly sentimental and surprisingly sweet. It’s a film about a bunch of individuals who are completely and totally dysfunctional on their own but somewhat functional together.

The Last Viking hits theaters and digital/on-demand on May 29.

Stacey Rusch is still riding the high of becoming one of the most popular cast members on Bravo’s “RHOP.” Recently, she was named one of the most powerful people in unscripted television by Vulture, and she called her position in pop culture history “a blessing.” Also, during that interview, the former QVC host opened up about her “Real Housewives of Potomac” castmates and shared her candid thoughts on her on-screen nemesis, Gizelle Bryant.

Rusch joined the cast of “RHOP” in 2024, starring alongside Karen Huger, Ashley Darby, Wendy Osefo, Mia Thornton, Keirna Stewart, and, of course, Bryant.

Speaking of Bryant, she feuded with Rusch during her rookie season and continued to bump heads in 2025.

Their tense interaction was not a surprise to “Potomac” viewers, given Bryant’s long history of feuding with newcomers.

Despite their beef, Rusch gave Bryant her flowers during her recent interview, calling the mother of three 100% authentic.

“Gizelle Bryant is exactly who she is on-camera,” Rusch said. “You get what you get, 24/7, lights on or lights off, cameras up or cameras down. Gizelle is just going to be Gizelle.”

Rusch Says This One Person Is ‘Completely Different’ When The ‘RHOP’ Cameras Are Rolling

Rusch couldn’t say the same for all of her “RHOP” co-stars, though. Continuing, Rusch said that Darby tends to blow with the wind depending on who is around.

“Someone who’s a little wishy-washy, depending on if the cameras are up, that would definitely be messy Ashley Darby,” Rusch shared boldly. “You never know what you’re going to get with her.”

Rusch’s comments are hardly a surprise, given that Darby attempted to air her dirty laundry out for the world to see during “RHOP” season 10.

According to Bravo’s Daily Dish, Darby sparked controversy when she asked Monique Samuels’ ex-husband, Chris Samuels, whether he had hooked up with Rusch.

While Chris Samuels never appeared on the show to tell his side of the story, Darby was adamant that the former NFL star had hinted that things were escalating between them.

“So, Stacey lyin’,” Darby said on camera; meanwhile, Bryant chimed in, accusing Rusch of “lyin’ through her teeth.”

“No means no. No answer means yes,” Bryant added. “If he didn’t [hook up with Stacey], he would’ve said no.”

Rusch Is Returning For A Third Year On ‘RHOP’

Rusch’s comments about her co-stars come amid the reality star’s third year filming “RHOP.”

According to a previous report from The Blast, the show’s 11th season will feature the returning vets and welcome back Karen Huger (who was imprisoned during season 10) and Robyn Dixon.

For those who may have been unfamiliar, Dixon departed the show after season 8, revealing that Bravo decided to move in a different direction.

“Yes, I will not be returning to season nine of The Real Housewives of Potomac,” she said. “It’s reality. The network did not invite me back. I was fired, for lack of better words. I will not sugarcoat the situation and say, ‘Oh, I am walking away and this is a brea’ or anything like this. This is a network decision.”

‘Real Housewives Of Potomac’ Should Touch On Huger’s Substance Abuse

While Huger has spoken briefly about her time in prison, a portion of “RHOP’s” 11th season will likely focus on her addiction struggles.

During a sit-down interview with Andy Cohen, Huger said she was grateful to the show for helping her realize she needed help.

“The show actually saved me,” she said. “It occupied me. I think I would have spiraled quicker without it. It gave me discipline. I had a routine. So, I can’t hate it. I don’t hate it. And I don’t need to blame it either. No, I was responsible for me. I was sick. I have the disease of alcoholism. I have the disease of, you know, taking prescription medicine and abusing it. That’s me.”

Osefo Is Facing Criminal Charges

Another major storyline of season 11 will undoubtedly be about Osefo’s ongoing legal woes.

The Blast reported about her and her husband’s October 2025 arrest, during which they were accused of reporting a fake burglary to secure massive payments from various insurance companies.

The pair are facing various fraud charges and could spend up to 15 years in prison.

At BravoCon, Osefo thanked the audience for their support with a vulnerable message.

“I read your messages. I can’t respond to everyone, but your love and support means the world to me,” she said. “You know, it’s an unfortunate situation, and right now I can’t say too much, but I will say when the time is right, I will share my story with everyone, and for now they’re just allegations, so we will continue to push forward.”

Victoria Monét is truly a jack-of-all-trades. We’ve gotten a glimpse into her life as a mother while she balances being a talented songwriter, singer, and dancer. It’s safe to say the three-time Grammy winner can accomplish anything she puts her mind to, and that remains true as she celebrates another big win in her culinary journey.

RELATED: What’s Tea? Victoria Monét’s Ex-Boyfriend John Gaines Speaks Out After Photo With Kristy Scott Sparks Dating Speculation

Victoria Monét Thanks Her Family And Team After Completing Her Culinary School Journey

On Monday, Victoria Monét took to Instagram to share photos from her graduation day. In the pictures, she rocked a black dress and graduation cap while popping bottles to celebrate completing culinary school. Alongside the post, the singer reflected on balancing school while creating her next album. She wrote:

“…I’m officially a Culinary School Graduate after I walk the stage tonight! Imma cry 🥺😌 @iceculinary

I’m sooo thankful to my family, my daughter, my trainers, my culinary teachers, my community, my assistant, my driver and my whole team for indulging in this absolutely crazy ambitious idea to go to school while I create my next album!!! One of my 50 side quests lol the 4am alarms to the late night moonlit studio endings and the 11 million things in between… we got it all done!!

It’s ‘Yes Chef’ now when u see me”

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Social Media Floods The Singer With Love As They Celebrate Her Accomplishments And Black Excellence

Many gathered under The Shade Room’s comments as they celebrated Victoria Monét’s big moment. Her peers and supporters sent her love while also getting ready for her next project.

Instagram user @lawanda_gelsey_wrote. “Okay Ms “I get it from my mama ” 🔥 🔥 🔥 congrats 🎉 

Instagram user @denilitess added, “She can cook dance and sing such a dangerous combination”

While Instagram user @beyou_tiffulll wrote, “Black women in caps and gowns are everything 😍”

Instagram user @dominiquechinn wrote, “Love when a person has there hands in multiple things 👏🏾 “

Instagram user @danijosie18 added, “ I love that her, Teyanna and Drea going to culinary school 👏🏾 😍It was my dream to do that”

While Instagram user  @tenthshadeofblue wrote, “I can see the @desmondscott collab in my head now👀😂

Instagram user @grantmcarthur25 wrote, “Congrats but enough side quests back to the music girl !!!!!”

Instagram user &callmemc  added, “now let’s get cooking in the studio, the people need more”

While Instagram user @sicilybriana wrote, “Hear me out, album listening party at a restaurant. You’re the chef. Album on a 403 vinyl played throughout the restaurant. Menu named after track list. Titled ‘Good for the Soul’ or ‘Food for Thought’”

What Can We Expect From Victoria Monét’s Next Album?

While Victoria has been cooking it up in the kitchen, she’s also been staying busy in the studio. The past few months have been exciting for the singer, from releasing her single ‘Let Me’ in February to kicking off the month of May with a birthday celebration. Last week, she shared new photos, writing, “new year new frequency chapter 37 tune in.”

In April, Victoria sat down with Hot 97 and opened up about the personal growth behind her upcoming album. During the interview, she shared that she had to ground herself mentally and physically before creating this next project. She also reflected on overcoming vocal issues and creating some of her most personal music yet.

Victoria additionally spoke about working with artists like Bryson Tiller, seeing her daughter develop a love for music, and why this next project could be a pivotal moment in her career.

RELATED: Yes Chef! Draya Michele Says “It’s Never Too Late To Change” While Revealing She’s In Culinary School (WATCH)

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

The showrunner for Battlestar Galactica was Ronald D. Moore, who got his start in television by writing for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Accordingly, there have been plenty of comparisons over the years between these two franchises. BSG fans point out that the show handles ongoing stories better than vintage Trek, and its vision of the future is much more realistic. There are no replicators, for example, so Commander Adama and his crew have to deal with scarcity in a way that Picard and Janeway never had to.

Obviously, there are pros and cons to each of these different kinds of sci-fi storytelling. But in making comparisons, fans of both franchises often overlook the best thing that Battlestar Galactica does better than Star Trek. Starting in the Season 1 episode “Litmus,” BSG went out of its way to give even the most minor characters their own compelling identities and backstories. In Star Trek, such characters are relegated to the role of “redshirts” who don’t get to do anything but die in agony, so our heroes can live to warp another day.

Birth Of A Pop Culture Phenomenon

In case this famous sci-fi trope needs an introduction, here goes: in Star Trek: The Original Series, security officers wore red shirts. This helped distinguish them from other divisions: a blue shirt indicated a focus in science or medicine (like with Spock and McCoy), and a gold shirt indicated command (like with Kirk). Whenever our major characters beamed down to a new Away Team mission, they brought along several red-shirted security officers. Unfortunately, these characters were usually doomed to die a grisly fate, leaving our intrepid main characters to figure out what killed their security detail.

Soon enough, “red shirt” entered into the pop culture vernacular as a name for an otherwise disposable character. While the shirt colors changed, this general trend continued into future Star Trek shows. Security officers were often dispatched by the villain of the week, including poor Tasha Yar, who was insta-killed by a villainous oil slick. Eventually, Discovery took the idea of disposable Star Trek characters to the next level by giving us a show where half the people on the bridge were relatively unknown, all the way to the very end. 

Make It “No”

How, then, did Ronald D. Moore’s Battlestar Galactica fix this annoyingly persistent Star Trek mistake? Arguably, it all started with “Litmus.” This is the episode where Commander Adama and his crew discover that Cylons can look like human beings. That revelation leads to a tribunal designed to suss out who might have helped the Cylon Doral pull off a recent suicide bombing. Inevitably, the tribunal becomes a witch hunt that accomplishes nothing more than punishing an innocent man so the public has a scapegoat to hate. 

A big part of the episode’s drama is that members of the deck crew try to protect Chief Tyrol, who has been secretly having an affair with Boomer. When his absence from his post is noted, these minor crew members come up with different cover stories to explain where he is. Unfortunately, this just makes their boss look more suspicious, and Tyrol calls off the affair after one of his subordinates lies to protect him. He also ends the episode wondering about Boomer’s loyalties, which is a good call. Eventually, she is revealed to be one of the Cylons who has secretly infiltrated humanity.

There Are No Red Shirts Anymore

“Litmus” prominently features some interesting deck hand characters, including Tarn and Socinus. It also prominently features Cally, a future love interest for the Chief. In a Star Trek episode, these deckhands would mostly be redshirts that we hardly ever see again. They would just suffer to protect our lead characters and then quietly shuffle off. This is particularly true of Socinus, who falls on his sword (he is stripped of rank and confined to the brig) to save Tyrol. However, Socinus and everyone else just keep showing up in later episodes, often playing surprisingly pivotal roles in various plots.

This is effectively a mission statement from former Star Trek writer Ronald D. Moore: there are no disposable characters in Battlestar Galactica. This isn’t a show about a handful of charismatic leads. Rather, everyone in this series is important, just as every remnant of humanity that survived the Cylon-led genocide is important. It’s a bold storytelling strategy that rewards careful viewing, all while building out this fantastic fictional world. Now, be honest: isn’t that a lot better than watching some rando in a red shirt get eaten by a salt monster? 

Justin Hartley‘s Tracker costars have often spoken about their experiences working with him as the hit CBS series lost several cast members.

After becoming a household name with roles in Passions, Smallville, The Young and the Restless and This Is Us, Hartley scored a major career success with Tracker. The show, which premiered in February 2024, was coined the most-watched broadcast premiere since NCIS‘ final episode with Mark Harmon in September 2021. Its average viewership was reported to be 18.2 million per episode.

Hartley, for his part, received praise for his work as the star of the show. Meanwhile, his role as an executive producer on the show allowed him to bring in some familiar faces for guest star roles, including Sofia Pernas, Jensen Ackles, Melissa Roxburgh, Jennifer Morrison and more.

Despite Tracker quickly becoming the show many wanted to join, it also made headlines when Robin Weigert, Abby McEnany and Eric Graise all exited the show before season 3. Executive producer Elwood Reid previously defended the onscreen reconfiguration during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly.

“I don’t want the show to be phone-a-friend every week. I think that gets old, and Justin is always challenging me on that. He’s like, ‘Do we need to do this? Do I need to call Bobby all the time? Can I do this?’” Reid shared in May 2025. “You don’t [always] see Reenie. He talks to Velma for two seconds. He may talk to Bobby for one phone call. The show works because you are over Justin’s shoulder.”

Luckily, Hartley has received nothing but praise and support from those who continue to appear on Tracker. Keep scrolling for everything various Tracker guest stars have said about working with Hartley before those cast exits:

Jensen Ackles

The Supernatural alum has returned to Tracker every season since being cast as Hartley’s onscreen brother.

“I’m playing the older brother of somebody that I know very well, and I get along with very well. I mean, Justin and I have known each other for over 20 years, and we’ve been buds and we’ve never gotten to work together,” Ackles told TV Insider in July 2025. “So it was really fun for us to get on set. But it was also very easy because it’s just hanging out with your buddy and we get to have fun and we get to mix it up.”

He continued: “And it’s nice that he’s an executive producer on it so he can be like, ‘Do you like that word? Do you like that line?’ Just change it, whatever you want.’ So it kind gives us a little freedom.”

Melissa Roxburgh

Speaking of fictional siblings, Roxburgh has rounded out the Shaw family as Hartley’s sister on the show.

“Justin is great. It’s such a lovely and warm set [because] Justin does such a good job of making it that way,” she told Us in February 2025. “So I’d love to go back. Justin is a friend and it’s nice to play with your friends and I love the show, so we’ll see.”

Fiona Rene

As the last remaining main cast member alongside Hartley, Rene has praised her costar for his hard work.

“He’s such a phenomenal No. 1 [on the call sheet]. He wears so many hats [on set]. Not only is he an actor, but [he is focused on] the numbers of the show,” Rene told Us in November 2024. “It’s important to him as well as a producer. When he comes on set, he’s all about business and we even call him the Terminator.”

Rene spoke highly of Hartley’s process on set.

“But then he takes off that hat, he puts on his actor hat and he genuinely plays. It’s such a dream for an actor to be able to come on set and work together to find what feels right between their characters,” she added. “Justin is always up for that. And for someone wearing so many hats, to be able to let all of that go and play in that moment is honestly the dream. I hope I can do the same.”

Jennifer Morrison

Morrison was thrilled to reunite with Hartley after their time on This Is Us, telling Closer in November 2024, “I think it was Justin’s idea. We had a great time working on This Is Us. We just got along so great. What I’m constantly looking for in this industry is to spend time on set with people I really care about, respect and admire. Justin is one of those people.”

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Justin Hartley‘s CBS series Tracker has won over its audience because of the intriguing cases — and the impressive guest stars. Tracker, which premiered in February 2024, is centered around a survivalist named Colter (Hartley) who travels the country helping people and law enforcement tackle a variety of mysteries. As the series unfolds, viewers learn […]

Jon Huertas

Huertas, who has only appeared behind the scenes as a director, had similar feelings about Hartley.

“Because Justin and I had this history together, it was like we just fell in lockstep again from when I directed him on This Is Us [and] when we worked together in scenes as stepfather and stepson,” Huertas shared with Us in April 2024. “We fell into that rhythm so naturally that it was easy. It made it really easy.”

Huertas was thrilled to be reunited with Hartley after This Is Us.

“That’s what I love about working with people that I’ve worked with before and working with friends. In fact, Diana [Maria Riva], who worked with Justin in this episode, she and I have known each other for a long time,” he noted. “So having a rapport with people really makes the process much easier and smoother. And because TV moves so fast, I like that. I like working with people that I know.”

Sofia Pernas

“We get asked all the time, like, ‘You guys don’t take a break from each other?’ I’m like, ‘I love him.’ Thankfully that’s reciprocated because how often do you get that?” Pernas, who has been married to Hartley since 2021, told People in March 2024 after joining Tracker as her husband’s onscreen love interest. “I’m just really thankful that we both feel that way about each other and that we’re able to take that to work and not need extended breaks from each other because we’re so absorbed.”

Lachlan Quarmby

During an exclusive interview with Us, Hallmark’s Lachlan Quarmby recalled his guest appearance in season 1, sharing in August 2025, “Justin is awesome. He’s straight in there. He’s a real captain of that ship. That was a great time.”

Quarmby walked away from the hit CBS series with a very positive experience.

“I got to do an Australian accent. I was told when I was at acting school in Australia that I’d never play a surfer since I just don’t have the look. And I got to play a surfer in Vancouver, who was Australian,” he noted. “That was so fun.”

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Michael Rady

Michael Rady, who plays Elliot, took to Instagram in February 2026 to share photos from set, writing, “Tracker season 3 is airing now on CBS. Elliott had a rough season 2. Michael had a great time.”

Chris Lee

“I really do believe he’s the best leader I’ve ever worked with. He just commands a great and professional set and a great low maintenance and fun set. I definitely learned work ethic from him,” Lee told Us. “The dude works so hard, he knows everything and he watches on the day. He’s so involved. It’s his show.”

He added: “I’ve just been a real student — and that’s been super, super fun. Then when we do scenes together — and episodes together — it’s like Rush Hour. Big bro and little bro. It’s really fun so I love working with Justin.”