The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania was one proud mother-of-the groom at her son Frankie Catania’s wedding to his now-wife, Nicole Perricho.

Frankie, 27, and Nicole, 31, said “I do” on Saturday, August 1, in a dreamy destination wedding in Portugal, per social media footage shared by guests.

For the happy occasion, Nicole was the picture of a blushing bride in her long-sleeved lace ball gown with a matching veil. She later changed into a fitted, strapless sheath for the reception. Frankie, for his part, looked dapped in a khaki-colored suit.

Frankie, the son of Dolores, 55, and ex-husband Frank Catania Sr., popped the question to his girlfriend of three years in February 2025.

“An absolutely amazing day celebrating such a special engagement,” Frankie wrote via Instagram at the time, announcing their engagement. “Thank you so much to everyone for the congratulations and warm wishes!”

In the months leading up to the big day, Dolores offered glimpses of Frankie and Nicole’s planning process.

“They want a destination wedding in Portugal,” the Bravolebrity teased during a March 2025 episode of Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast. “So, we’ll do that and then he’ll have to have something here because my family doesn’t leave Paterson [New Jersey]. … I got them to New York [City for Frankie’s proposal], that was far enough, so it’s gonna be probably two weddings.”

When Frankie proposed to Nicole at NYC’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dolores actually hid outside.

“Me incognito waiting for the proposal,” the Traitors alum wrote via Instagram Stories, sharing a glimpse of her oversized sunglasses and face mask to go incognito.

Dolores has showcased her family’s life publicly after she joined RHONJ for 2016’s season 17. (In addition to Frankie, Dolores and her ex-husband also share daughter Gabrielle.)

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Dolores and Frank Sr., 61, are now engaged to Paulie Connell and Brittany Mattessich, respectively, and remain cordial.

“It wasn’t hard. It came easy after all the fighting,” Dolores exclusively told Us in May 2024 of maintaining a friendly dynamic with her former spouse. “I tell everybody, ‘You’re not going to remember the things you fought about. So, stop fighting [about it]; they’re not important. It’s just not, let things go and just move on with life.’”

She added at the time, “I remember all the good memories we’ve had, the trips we’ve taken together [and] the holidays we’ve shared together. Those are my memories of me, Frank and the family after my divorce.”

Meghan Markle isn’t one to step out in loungewear, but she did find an equally comfy, infinitely chicer alternative. Some call them ‘paper bag shorts,’ while others label them ‘Bermuda trousers.’ All we know, though, is that we need them — and at only $38, Markle’s classy look is already in our cart.

This week, Markle made a surprise visit to an Ojai, California Girl Scout camp for a special screening of Cookie Queens, her new documentary. She rocked the perfect summer-to-fall getup, comprised of a short-sleeve sweater, paper bag shorts and loafers.

Markle’s shorts were oddly elegant, entirely wearable and easily the most-searched silhouette of the moment, which is why we’re copying her look from now until well past Labor Day.

Get the Iwh Dressy Trouser Shorts for $38 (was $40) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

These Iwh Dressy Trouser Shorts channel everything great about Markle’s $345 version. They feature lengthening front pleats and belt loops for a polished, borrowed-from-menswear feel, and the 7-inch inseam hits at a length most people can actually pull off.

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Related: Jessica Alba‘s L.A. Rich Mom Jeans Are So Polished — 43% Off!

If you’re curious how Beverly Hills rich moms dress, take a peek at Jessica Alba at any given time. Her pieces are equally laid-back yet luxe, so dark-wash jeans fit right in. Thankfully, they fit into our budgets, too. Alba’s denim look is 43% off right now! Spotted in 90210, Alba paired a silky black cami […]

Still, it gets even better. These lookalike shorts have an elasticized waistband that provides comfort where it counts and the perfect fit. So, we can safely assume they’re even easier to wear than Markle’s designer option.

The spandex blend material also means these babies move with you, and if you don’t believe Us, just check the reviews.

“Feels like a skirt and flows like one, too,” one person wrote. “I like the material because it is cool in the summer and does not feel snug once buttoned at the waist. Just the right amount of stretch in the fabric, but doesn’t sag after sitting.”

Another five-star shopper shared, “These are some of my favorite shorts. They look elegant but are very comfortable as well. I always get compliments on them.”

Anchored by this sophisticated shorts style, Markle’s Ojai outfit works across seasons. Copy the Duchess’ sweater and shorts moment once the weather turns, or rock them with a tank and cardigan this weekend. They’re the upgrade your wardrobe begs for at this time of year — and ours, too!

Get the Iwh Dressy Trouser Shorts for $38 (was $40) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more chic shorts, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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The Odyssey‘s Samantha Morton has opened up about being homeless amid her mother’s mental health issues and father’s battle with alcoholism.

“I went pillar to post with foster families, homeless hostels, sleeping by the bins at the back of the Co-op,” Morton, 49, told The Sunday Times in an article published on Saturday, August 1. “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.”

The English actress, who portrays the sorceress Circe in The Odyssey, is the daughter of her late mom, factory worker Pamela, and late dad, coal miner Peter. Peter died last year while Pamela died in 2017 from lung cancer.

“Someone told me I was resilient when I was younger,” she told the outlet. “But sometimes you’ve got no choice other than to be resilient because if you are not you’re dead.”

Morton spoke about her upbringing during an interview with The Guardian in 2009, detailing that she lived between her separated parents’ houses up until the age of eight when she was placed as a “ward of court,” which sees a person placed under the legal guardianship of the U.K. Court of Protection.

She revealed during the interview that her father hit her. “I think anybody who has been abused as a kid – and I was abused as a kid, by various people – will say it’s irrational because violence is irrational,” she said at the time.

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The outlet detailed that as a ward of court, Morton moved between foster parents and care homes before leaving school at the age of 13 and “spending most of her early teens raving, taking ecstasy and hallucinogenics with older children and young adults, lawless and lost.”

Morton noted that between the ages of 13 and 14, she was homeless for “almost a year” and would sleep at friends’ houses or “in bus shelters.” Despite her childhood experiences, she added that she never blamed either of her parents. “Never, never my parents. Always authority. Always the establishment. That’s because I grew up in Nottinghamshire in the 80s with Margaret Thatcher destroying everything,” she said at the time. “Just because somebody doesn’t bring up their children or can’t look after their children doesn’t make them a bad person. There are all sorts of reasons … illness. There are so many reasons you can end up in care.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. https://988lifeline.org/

The first Dancing With the Stars season 35 troupe member has been revealed!

News broke at DWTS Con on Sunday, August 2, that Kamri Peterson will perform in the troupe for the upcoming season of the hit ballroom competition. The rest of the cast lineup is set to be announced at a later date.

DWTS fans will remember Kamri, now 18, as one of the “junior pros” on the short-lived youth version of the competition. DWTS: Juniors only ran for one season in 2018, where Kamri cha-cha’d with former Scripps National Spelling Bee champ Akash Vukoti under the tutelage of mentor Witney Carson. (Skateboarder Sky Brown and JT Church ultimately won the show as members of Team Alan Bersten.)

After leaving DWTS: Juniors, Kamri has continued her ballroom training and even worked alongside fellow pros Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa, in addition to longtime choreographer Mandy Moore. She also attended multiple season 34 tapings last year, in which Witney, 32, took home the mirrorball with celebrity partner Robert Irwin.

Related: What to Know About Season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ So Far: Cast and More

The Dancing With the Stars ballroom is filling up fast for season 35. While simultaneously confirming the reality competition’s renewal, Hulu shared during the Get Real House event in April that Summer House’s Ciara Miller and Love Island star Maura Higgins would be lacing up their dancing shoes. The following month, Savannah Bananas second baseman Jackson […]

As for her professional accolades, Kamri has won the World ProAm champions, is a three-time Latin National Vice Champion and a 12-time Latin finalist. She also once represented the United States at the Open World Championships in Paris.

Kamri is far from the first DWTS: Juniors star to make the leap to the main show. Rylee, 21, was named a pro on DWTS for 2023’s season 32, while Hailey Bills made her troupe debut in season 34.

The rest of the DWTS pro roster has not been revealed, with the dancers often learning the news just weeks (or days) before the public.

“Typically, once we have a list of the pros that are gonna be on, we then, at some point, we’ll get the opportunity to hear who’s gonna be [on the show],” show host Alfonso Ribeiro exclusively told Us in September 2025. “But it’s never final, right? It’s ever-changing, and there were some pairings that were different three weeks ago [this year].”

Ribeiro, 54, further explained that dance partnerships can continue “to evolve” as casting changes up until the premiere date.

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Related: A Guide to the ‘DWTS’ Pros Who Started in Troupe — And What That Entails

Several Dancing With the Stars pro dancers began their journey in the ballroom in the troupe. The hit dance competition first introduced its troupe during 2011’s season 12, featuring a selection of performers who didn’t have a celebrity partner but still appeared in group numbers and their own “bumpers” between competitive routines. “When I first […]

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“You realize, ‘Oh, actually, this is a better pairing than that pairing.’ And they work on it right up until the final day until [the stars and pros] meet each other,” Ribeiro told Us, adding that show executives Deena Katz, Conrad Green and Rob Mills “always get it right” with teams. “They figure it out. I don’t know how they do it, but they always figure out how to put the right people together. They’re magical.”

The celebrity contestants of season 35 will include Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson and Guillermo Rodriguez, with even more yet-to-be-announced famous faces also set to tango across the dance floor.

Dancing With the Stars season 35 premieres concurrently on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET and streams the next day on Hulu.

Rihanna and ASAP Rocky are celebrating their son’s third birthday with a timely theme.

The couple honored Riot’s third birthday on Saturday, August 1, with a Spider Man-themed bash, featuring balloons, banners and treats. Rihanna’s sister-in-law Nadia King gave fans a glimpse of the bash via Instagram on Sunday, August 2, sharing a video with decor that read “Riot 3” with fitting colors: blue, black and red.

At the end of the clip, the guests all sang “Happy Birthday” to Riot. Rocky, 37, could be seen wearing a white T-shirt with a baseball hat and scarf tied around his head, while Rihanna, 38, opted for a dress.

“Thanks for the invite Riot Rose,” King captioned the video.

Related: ASAP Rocky Shares Rare Family Photos in Honor of Son Riot’s 1st Birthday

ASAP Rocky is a proud papa while celebrating his and girlfriend Rihanna’s youngest son Riot’s first year around the sun. “HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO MY 2ND BORN SON RIOT ROSE MAYERS ❤️,” the rapper, 35, captioned a series of Instagram photos with the birthday boy on Thursday, August 1. Rocky, who also shares 2-year-old son […]

Rihanna and Rocky, who confirmed their relationship in 2021, became parents when they welcomed son RZA in 2022. The pair then added to their family with son Riot and daughter Rocki in 2023 and 2025, respectively.

“I’ll have kids — three or four of ’em,” Rihanna told British Vogue in March 2020 of her desire to be a mother even if she hadn’t found the right partner yet. “They diminish you as a mother if there’s not a dad in your kids’ lives. But the only thing that matters is happiness, that’s the only healthy relationship between a parent and a child. That’s the only thing that can raise a child truly, is love.”

Since welcoming her and Rocky’s third child, Rihanna hinted that she’s already thinking about adding a fourth to their brood.

“Deciding whether to get hot and sexy or get pregnant in 2026,” Love Island alum Montana Rose Brown wrote over an Instagram video in January, to which Rihanna commented, “Wait! So I’m not crazy then? Bet!”

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Rocky, for his part, has been open about how fatherhood — and finding his person in Rihanna after years of friendship — has altered his life.

“A woman will change your whole life, especially if it’s a companion. Before I had my children, being with my girl took my blindfold off,” Rocky said during a January episode of The New York Times’ “Popcast” podcast. “I got with a very special woman.”

He continued, “We’re on the same page. Born the same year. My dad is from her country. When I go back, I get to see both sides of my family. It’s so many similarities. We laugh about it a lot. She was always my boo.”

The West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George production is reacting to Ariana Grande’s announcement that the singer will step back from the public eye after she completes her Eternal Sunshine Tour amid public scrutiny and concern over her body and health.

“Following this evening’s announcement from Ariana Grande’s team, we can confirm that she has decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George,” the production’s official X account shared via a written statement on Sunday, August 2. “We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support.”

The production added, “We wish her nothing but the best. The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course.”

Grande was previously scheduled to appear in the production opposite her Wicked costar, Jonathan Bailey.

Related: Ariana Grande Doesn’t Invite Criticism of Her Appearance Anymore

Ariana Grande has heard it all about her body, and she’s had enough. The Wicked star recently appeared on the web series Oui Oui Baguette where she vented about the body shaming she has faced since first entering the public eye as a teenager. “I’ve been doing this in front of the public, and kind […]

Hours earlier on Sunday, Grande, 33, announced via her rep in a statement to People that she would be “taking a step back from visibility.”

“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” a rep told the publication. “She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily.”

The rep also confirmed to the outlet that Grande’s decision serves as a “much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances,” adding that the singer’s prior engagements have caused “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”

The singer’s announcement comes on the heels of the Friday, July 3, release of her “Petal” music video, which left numerous fans and social media users concerned about the singer’s thin frame, leaving some to allege she is privately battling an eating disorder.

A source close to the singer also told the outlet that Grande “performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night,” pointing to the singer’s continued tour performances as a sign she is not unwell.

Grande has not personally responded to the announcement or criticism and concern. Us reached out to her team at the time for comment.

Related: Ariana Grande Cries on Stage After ‘Overwhelming’ Performance

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“This tour has been a beautiful experience for her,” the singer’s rep concluded in the same statement to People. “She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”

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While the singer has yet to publicly comment on the growing online discourse over her body, she has previously discussed how those online conversations have impacted her mentally and emotionally.

“I don’t do this often. I don’t like it. I’m not good at it,” Grande said in a TikTok video shared back in April 2023. “I just want to address your concerns about my body. There are ways to compliment someone or to ignore something that you don’t like that I think we should help each other work towards.”

If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders website or call their hotline at (866) 662-1235. Text “ALLIANCE” to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.

Several Dancing With the Stars pro dancers began their journey in the ballroom in the troupe.

The hit dance competition first introduced its troupe during 2011’s season 12, featuring a selection of performers who didn’t have a celebrity partner but still appeared in group numbers and their own “bumpers” between competitive routines.

“When I first started [in the] troupe, I never had professional ballroom training before,” Britt Stewart said on “The Squeeze” podcast in October 2025. “I was trained in ballet and jazz and contemporary and tap.I was not expecting to get a call from Dancing With the Stars for that one reason.”

Stewart, however, had worked with choreographer Mandy Moore on one of Derek Hough’s outside dance gigs that piqued Moore’s attention. (Moore often crafts pro numbers, while former pro dancer Hough is now a judge.)

“Last minute, Mandy was like, ‘Britt, go dance with Derek,’” she recalled. “That [rehearsal] video, Mandy sent to all the Dancing With the Stars producers, ABC, Disney and I got my audition for troupe from that video. … They knew I wasn’t trained, but they knew I could do it.”

Stewart performed in the troupe for five seasons before she was promoted to a pro in 2020.

Other stars, including Rylee Arnold and Jan Ravnik, were cast as pros without appearing in the troupe first. Ravnik, who gained global recognition as one of Taylor Swift’s backup dancers on her Eras Tour, was cast on DWTS for 2025’s season 34. His inexperience in the ballroom led to some criticism about his dance résumé.

“I mean, look, I am new so I’m gonna take every note that they’re giving to me,” Ravnik exclusively told Us Weekly in October 2025 of the judges’ feedback. “I don’t think it’s in a bad way that they’re always saying.”

Keep scrolling to see which DWTS pros got their big break in the troupe — and who went right to competing with a celebrity partner:

Who Were the First Members of the ‘DWTS’ Troupe?

The group was first formed during season 12 and featured Oksana Dmyrenko, Peta Murgatroyd, Nicole Volynets, Tristan MacMahon, Kiki Nyemchek and Ted Volynets. Out of this squad, Murgatroyd was the sole star to eventually be bumped up to a pro — and later won two mirrorball trophies.

Which ‘DWTS’ Pros Got Their Start in the Troupe?

Many of the most recent pros got their start in the troupe, including Stewart, Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Sharna Burgess, Witney Carson, Artem Chigvintsev, Sasha Farber, Jenna Johnson, Daniella Karagach, Tristan MacManus, Keo Motsepe, Emma Slater and Ezra Sosa.

The troupe also notably featured dancers including Hayley Erbert, Brittany Cherry, Alexis Warr, Marcquet Hill, Roman Nevinchanyi, Kailyn Rogers and Stephani Sosa, none of whom were ever promoted. Warr, meanwhile, is now a pro on the U.K. precursor of the franchise, Strictly Come Dancing. The season 34 class stars Hailey Bills, Onye Stevenson, Carter Williams and Jaxon Willard.

Just like Hailey previously appeared on DWTS Juniors, costar Kamri Peterson joined the troupe for season 5.

Are There Any ‘DWTS’ Pros Who Did Not Join the Troupe First?

Aside from the OG pros cast before season 12 — including Derek and Julianne Hough, Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy, Mark Ballas, Louis Van Amstel, Cheryl Burke and more — there have been instances of dancers bypassing the troupe. In addition to Ravnik, stars Pasha Pashkov and sisters Lindsay and Rylee Arnold got star partners when they were first hired. Lindsay, however, later claimed she was “demoted” to the troupe after season 16.

“I was given the boot down to troupe for four or five seasons, and then brought [back] up to pro,” Lindsay said on a 2022 episode of the “Trading Secrets” podcast. “I just was not ready. Honestly, that was probably one of the hardest parts of my career even though it’s such an incredible job; it’s an amazing job.”

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She added, “You put in more hours on troupe sometimes than you do as a professional because you are basically on call 24/7. You’re on the show’s schedule, always on call, ready to go. As a backup dancer, back when I did it, yes [the salary was livable], because there were two seasons a year.”

What Are the Troupe Duties?

As a member of the DWTS troupe, dancers will perform in short routines in between competitive numbers and as backups to the celebrities.

“They had a time limit in the recent seasons I was on,” Peta Murgatroyd recalled on her “Penthouse With Peta” podcast in November 2025. “It’s like, ‘They can come on for the first two eight [counts] and then end with you guys if you want.’ You can’t have them for the whole time. … [They’re] like little pops in and out.”

Nikki Bella offered an update on her sister Brie Bella’s condition after she sustained a shoulder injury during WWE’s 2026 SummerSlam.

“She’s doing OK. She is in a lot of pain,” Nikki, 42, said during a Sunday, August 2, appearance on Busted Open Radio, commenting on her identical twin’s health. “[Doctors] are still determining what is going on. Brie will share that whenever. I’ve been told to ‘zip it.’”

Nikki and Brie, also 42, stepped into the ring on Saturday, August 1, for a Six-Woman Tag Team Match. The Bella twins joined forces with fellow wrestling phenom Paige to take on Fatal Influence before eventually turning on Paige, 33.

As the twins walked away victorious, Brie could be seen holding her shoulder in pain.

Related: Brie Bella ‘Taken to the Hospital’ After SummerSlam Shoulder Injury

Brie Bella is receiving treatment after sustaining a shoulder injury during WWE SummerSlam. “Yeah, no, she’s injured,” WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said during a press conference after SummerSlam on Saturday, August 1. “I don’t have an update yet. She was here, got some treatment here [and] has been taken to the […]

“She’s injured. I don’t have an update yet,” WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said during a press conference later that night, referring to Brie’s condition. “She was here, got some treatment here [and] has been taken to the hospital to get some scans done.”

At the time, Levesque, 57, stated that he didn’t “have a clean answer” about Brie’s health or a recovery timeline.

“I know [she] hurt her shoulder,” he added. “Seems pretty bad, but I don’t have that answer yet. Hopefully, we will soon and hopefully it won’t be as bad as we thought it was, but that’s the nature of the game.”

Brie, who has not publicly addressed her injury, previously told Us that she was looking forward to stepping into the SummerSlam ring.

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“This run has been unlike any run we’ve both have ever done,” Brie exclusively revealed of training on Friday, July 31. “I feel so comfortable, and … when you’re so comfortable, and I’m looking at this as, ‘I’m not gonna lie to myself. I’m not in denial. This is my last run.’”

She continued, “It’s, like, you’re gonna go out there and you’re gonna have fun. I’m gonna make sure I take more moments having fun with the audience and looking at them because I don’t know if it’s the last time I’ll be wrestling in the city.”

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Despite her readiness, Brie also acknowledged that it would be a “tough match” against Fatal Influence.

“These women are driven, they’re strong, they’re capable of so many things,” Brie told Us. “Then, you put their personalities on top. It’s why they’re moving fast and they’re making names for themselves, and it’s going to be a tough match at SummerSlam because we are looking at our younger selves. We’re seeing these girls, and they’re not going to give up and they’re going to make a name. We love it.”

WWE SummerSlam continues Sunday, August 2, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, streaming live on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.

In Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lemony Snicket (Patrick Warburton) tells the dreadful tale of the Baudelaire orphans, Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes), and Sunny (Presley Smith), who recently lost their parents in a terrible fire and are being pursued by a treacherous villain named Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris), who is dying to get his greedy hands on their fortune. Visually stunning, delightfully whimsical, and perfectly cast, the series is an adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s (an alias for author Daniel Handler) 13-book children’s series — a much more successful adaptation than the failed 2004 film (sorry, Jim Carrey).

For the average viewer, especially an older viewer, A Series of Unfortunate Events is a fun, if repetitive, ride that roughly follows the same formula: The highly intelligent Baudelaires are placed in the care of a completely incapable guardian, Count Olaf finds them and fools the completely incapable guardian with a terrible disguise, chaos ensues, and then the Baudelaires are shipped off to another incapable guardian. It is, quite literally, a series of unfortunate events. But underneath the theatricality, satire, and brilliant original songs, A Series of Unfortunate Events offers something a little deeper than that.

‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ Adapts the Tone and Feeling of the Original Series

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a children’s story, but if you look closer, it is also a surprisingly sophisticated musing on the nature of morality. As a child reading the book series, I saw a trio of kids outsmarting the adults time and time again — the classic “adults are clueless, kids are smart” trope that is so common in children’s literature. I laughed at the complete incompetence of Mr. Poe (K. Todd Freeman) and all the other foolish adults who were, without fail, astounded when it was revealed that (gasp!): it was Count Olaf in a disguise all along!

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a faithful adaptation of the book series. It’s tremendously gloomy. It’s hilariously absurd. It’s wildly theatrical. It’s a faithful portrait of everything I envisioned in my head when I was a child. As an adult watching the series come to life on screen, I still laugh just as heartily as I did then because there’s no question that A Series of Unfortunate Events is rich with an absurd, sardonic wit. But unlike when I was just a child with my nose stuck in a book, cracking up over Count Olaf’s latest disguise, I now also find myself struck by how surprisingly, beautifully introspective the series is as the narrative unfolds.

‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ Doesn’t Shy Away From Confronting Moral Dilemmas

Image via Netflix

The final season of A Series of Unfortunate Events in particular explores difficult, complex questions about morality. In “Grim Grotto,” the Baudelaire orphans meet Fiona (Kassius Nelson), the daughter of the missing Captain Widdershins and interim captain of his submarine, the Queequeg. They are horrified to learn that Fiona’s mysterious brother is none other than Fernald (Usman Ally), Count Olaf’s hook-handed henchman. While the Baudelaires have started to question the nature of nobleness and treachery after they were forced to make some questionable decisions of their own, their confrontation with Fernald is perhaps their greatest moral conflict yet.

Up until this point, the Baudelaires have based all their decisions and their beliefs on the black and white ideology that there are noble people (their parents, the Snickets), and there are villainous people (Count Olaf, Esme). But Fernald forces them to face the reality that there is always more than one side to the story. Fernald, a former V.F.D. apprentice of Anwhistle Aquatics, burnt down the Anwhistle Aquatics headquarters when he learned that Gregor Anwhistle was doing dangerous research on Medusoid Mycelium, a poisonous mushroom he planned to use on their enemies.

The Baudelaires have trouble reconciling the fact that Fernald did a wicked thing, even if it was for a noble reason. Fernald then says what captures the heart of what A Series of Unfortunate Events is really about: Can a person be both noble and villainous? And if so, then where do you draw the line? When does doing something wicked for a noble reason just not cut it? He says, in a classic Snicket fashion, “People aren’t either wicked or noble. They’re like chef’s salads, with good things and bad things chopped up and mixed together in a vinaigrette of confusion and conflict.”

‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ Made the Baudelaires Question Themselves

The Baudelaires have also done wicked things for noble reasons, which is something they have to confront during the trial in “Penultimate Peril.” It seems like perhaps the Baudelaires have finally found a safe place where they can tell their side of the story after being unfairly persecuted at every turn by foolish adults who fall for Count Olaf’s schemes. But as Lemony Snicket tells us, there is no happiness in this story. When the Baudelaires call Count Olaf to the stand, he flippantly admits to all of his crimes. (Of course, we know later that he’s not worried because the man with a beard but no hair and the woman with hair but no beard are the two mysterious members of the court.) But unlike the Baudelaires, he says, he doesn’t pretend to be noble.

Suddenly, the tables are turned when Olaf reminds them of the wicked things they’ve done, like burning down Caligari Carnival or stealing Hal’s (David Alan Grier) key and breaking into the hospital’s Library of Records. Any viewer with a conscience knows the Baudelaires are victims, and they were forced to make difficult decisions in order to survive. But the Baudelaires are suddenly not so sure. They plead innocent “enough.” Now they have to face the very thing they accused Fernald of: When is it okay to do a wicked thing for a noble reason?

At the end of “Penultimate Peril,” the Baudelaires choose to set fire to the Hotel Dénouement so that the occupants (who are, again, completely useless) evacuate before Count Olaf can release the Medusoid Mycelium. Setting a fire in A Series of Unfortunate Events is the most unforgivable offense, but the Baudelaires are doing it for the noblest of reasons: to save innocents. Of course, every adult they try to warn about the fire acts like a complete fool, as expected. We can safely assume that everyone in that hotel perished in that fire that the Baudelaires themselves set in motion. Now that is dark for a kids’ series. As the Baudelaires escape with Count Olaf, they are plagued by guilt, wondering if it was right to fight fire with fire, literally and figuratively. Their moral compass says what they’ve done is wicked; but is it really that simple?

‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ Makes Us Question Our Prejudice Against Count Olaf

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Count Olaf is one of the most wicked villains in any children’s series. He tries to marry Violet, a 14-year-old girl, so he can obtain her fortune; he threw Aunt Josephine (Alfre Woodard) to the leeches; he threw a very brave and noble librarian into a pit of lions. But even Count Olaf has brief moments of moral clarity. In “Penultimate Peril,” the Baudelaires step in front of Dewey Denouement (Max Greenfield) before Count Olaf can shoot him with his harpoon gun. As Olaf tentatively gives them to the count of ten to get out of his way, he wavers. The Baudelaires slowly walk toward him and remind him that he doesn’t have to do this. And then, in perhaps the first time in the whole series, Count Olaf appears conflicted, and maybe even a little defeated. He lowers his harpoon gun and, with a regretful slump of his shoulders, says, “It’s all I know how to do.”

Later, we learn that it isn’t in fact all he knows how to do since Olaf was originally on the “good” side of the schism — but after Beatrice (Morena Baccarin) accidentally kills his father with a poison dart, making him an orphan, he does what any person facing a tragic loss would do and decides to turn his back on the people who inflicted that loss. Having lost someone obviously doesn’t excuse any of Olaf’s treacherous deeds, but it does bring the concept of good and evil into focus in a way that many kids’ shows do not.

‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ Gave Its Most Dastardly Villain Depth in a Brand New Way

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In the final episode of the series, appropriately titled “The End,” Count Olaf performs one act of kindness before his demise and carries a pregnant Kit (Allison Williams), his lost love, to shore so that her baby will live. Before he dies, he does something shocking. Count Olaf, a proud anti-intellectual, starts to recite a poem to Kit, “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes.” They recite the poem together, and it’s a bittersweet reminder of the life Olaf used to have before the schism, a man who lived in a world that valued literature and art, who then felt betrayed by that world.

His final words — an excerpt from “This Be the Verse” by poet Philip Larkin — are, “Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can, And don’t have any kids yourself.” It seems like strange parting words, but it makes perfect sense for Olaf, who was yet another person caught up in the cycle of violence, heartbreak, and death that comes with V.F.D. In the end, the Baudelaires are the ones who have the chance to finally break that cycle with Kit’s child, Beatrice II.

Lemony Snicket told us that this story has no happy endings, and it does seem that way in some respects. In the end, the Baudelaires are essentially alone, no guardian and no adults because they’ve all let them down. But the Baudelaires do get a happy ending with Beatrice. They will be her guardians, and they will break the cycle by teaching her that the world is not as simple as heroes and villains, nobility and treachery. The truth is somewhere in between.

Teen Mom’s Jenelle Evans is honoring her eldest son, Jace, on his 17th birthday amid her family’s public struggles.

“I HAVE A 17 YEAR OLD! 🎉🫶🏼😭,” Evans, 34, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, August 2, while sharing a series of photos of the pair through the years. “Being a teenager can be hard, but you seem to handle it well.”

She continued, “You’re so smart, curious about life, and handsome. Hope today is everything you’ve wanted and more! I love you @jace_vahn ♥️.”

Evans welcomed her son in 2009 with ex Andrew Lewis. After the pair split, Evans welcomed son Kaiser in 2014 with ex-boyfriend Nathan Griffith. She has since added to her family with the arrival of daughter Ensley in 2017, whom she welcomed with David Eason.

Earlier this year, news broke that Jenelle’s mother, Barbara Evans, filed for emergency custody of Jace. (Barbara’s motion for custody was ultimately denied.)

TMZ reported at the time that Jace had been placed in a mental health facility after allegedly pulling a gun on Barbara in late February, claiming that the incident occurred while he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. (Jace was living with Barbara in North Carolina at the time.)

Months later, Jenelle shared that Jace was in a good place.

“I’ll let you know something that I haven’t told anyone,” Jenelle said during an episode of the “La Femme Talk” podcast in April. “You know I’ve been very quiet online, and behind the scenes, I’ve been actually getting help for my son as needed, and he’s in a safe place [in a] holistic approach.”

Related: Teen Mom’s Jenelle Evans Shares Behind-the-Scenes Update on Son Jace

Teen Mom alum Jenelle Evans is assuring fans that her 16-year-old son Jace is in good hands. “I’ll let you know something that I haven’t told anyone,” Evans, 34, shared on the Monday, April 13, episode of the “La Femme Talk” podcast. “You know I’ve been very quiet online, and behind the scenes, I’ve been […]

Jace was “very happy right now” and “very focused on himself,” according to Jenelle.

“I think that’s the most important thing,” she explained. “A lot of people, they think since I’m being so quiet that I might not be doing anything and not taking action. But just know that if I’m quiet, I’m up to something.”

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Jenelle shared a subsequent update on Jace in July, while posting several images of her son. In one photo, Jace smiled as he strummed a guitar.

“And here’s a real update about Jace. From what I choose to share, he’s working on himself and focusing on his emotions. He’s obviously had ups and downs but I’m hoping for the best in his future. Here’s some awesome pictures of his progress,” Jenelle wrote via Instagram at the time.

She continued, “I’ve had countless night of crying over the past 6 months because i want him to be happy and will do whatever it takes to help him mentally and physically. As his mother I WILL NOT give up. 🥹❤️‍🩹 #TeamJace.”