An 83-year-old Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty to scamming more than $10 million from at least 200 victims in a Ponzi scheme. The elderly woman admitted guilt on Thursday, September 3, in a federal court in Boston.

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Elderly Woman, Barbara A. Hirshfield, Pleads Guilty To $10 Million Ponzi Scheme

An elderly Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty to a Ponzi scheme that scammed hundreds of people out of millions of dollars. Barbara A. Hirshfield of Lexington pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud in a federal court in Boston, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts.

The elderly woman admitted to operating the Ponzi scheme through her motor vehicle and small-loan businesses in Springfield — Ideal Financial Services, Inc., and Ideal Financial Holdings. Hirshfield allegedly raised money from investors by selling promissory notes that guaranteed high-rate returns.

According to the DOJ, investors were told their fund would be used for loans. Not only that, but they were told their investment returns would come from borrowers’ loan payments.

Hirshfield Used New Investments To Pay Investors

Hirshfield reportedly lost investors $10,930,940. According to the DOJ, the Massachusetts Division of Banks became “concerned” about the companies’ finances back in 2012. MDB ordered the company to stop Ideal from soliciting and issuing outside investments.

Afterward, Hirshfield failed to disclose MDB’s order to investors. Not only that, but Hirshfield continued to raise outside money through promissory note sales.

The money ran up by June of 2025, per WWLP, and 204 victims lost nearly $11 million in the Ponzi scheme.

One Victim Said Her Inheritance Was Invested In The Company

She later learned that Ideal had lost its license.

Hirshfield is facing up to 20 years in prison, plus three years of supervised release. In addition, she also faces a $250,000 fine.

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So many thriller books, so little time. When the weekend is all you have, a fast-paced thriller can be the perfect solution. Although some books may look intimidatingly thick, don’t be fooled by the sheer number of pages. While slow-burn thrillers leave plenty of room for contemplation, there’s another section of the genre that keeps the pace moving without sacrificing quality.

These books are packed with characters, storylines, twists, and turns that will keep you hooked long enough to finish the entire thing in 48 hours or less. From an underrated Gillian Flynn favorite to an Agatha Christie-inspired modern take, here are thriller books you can finish in a weekend.

‘The Housemaid’ (2022)

Image via Bookouture

It’s tough making money these days, but nobody has it harder than Millie Calloway from The Housemaid. After losing her job and struggling to find work because of her criminal record, Millie accepts a live-in housemaid position with the wealthy Winchester family on Long Island. Although the estate is the definition of luxurious, her employers hoard sinister secrets.

The Housemaid is relentless with its characters. As a rich family, the Winchesters are experts at keeping up appearances, but the cracks soon start to show. From matriarch Nina’s unpredictable behavior to the Italian gardener warning Millie of danger, readers are swept up in the family secrets that slowly spill onto Millie herself. The deeper Millie gets into the Winchester family’s affairs, the more unsettling her new job becomes. What initially seems like a quick-and-easy, menial labor job quickly turns into a domestic nightmare, making The Housemaid a sickeningly twisted tale of what happens behind closed doors.

‘My Sister, the Serial Killer’ (2018)

Image via Doubleday

Set in Lagos, My Sister, the Serial Killer follows Korede—nurse by day, corpse cleaner by night. The latter is an honest coincidence. Her younger sister Ayoola has a habit of killing her boyfriends, though her third killing was supposedly done in self-defense. Things shake up when Korede discovers that Ayoola’s new crush is the handsome doctor Tade, whom Korede is secretly in love with.

Despite its gory, crude premise, it’s difficult not to chuckle while reading My Sister, the Serial Killer. There’s a certain detachment in the way Ayoola treats the severity of her sociopathic behavior, remaining almost completely unserious about the whole thing. Meanwhile, Korede treats each murder as more of an inconvenience than a crime she needs to process fully. This bizarre dynamic between the sisters makes the story darkly funny, even as the situation becomes increasingly difficult for Korede to contain. It’s a twisted sisterly bond where murder becomes another family obligation.

‘Yellowface’ (2023)

Image via William Morrow

One author’s unfinished draft is another author’s chance at literary superstardom—at the cost of being haunted. Yellowface introduces struggling white author June Hayward, who witnesses the death of her Chinese-American former classmate, Athena Liu. Instead of sending condolences, June steals Athena’s unpublished novel about Chinese laborers in World War I. June then publishes the book under her name, Juniper Song.

What June doesn’t expect is Athena’s “ghost” haunting her through an anonymous account, threatening her success with accusations of plagiarism and cultural appropriation. Yellowface becomes a cat-and-mouse chase as June tries to locate her accuser, spiraling into paranoia as the weight of her guilt swallows her. It’s one of those thrillers where readers are no longer rooting for the protagonist. Readers already know June is a bad person, and Yellowface forces them to reckon with the lengths someone like June would go to not only claim a work that’s not hers, but also steal the identity and experiences of a person of color.

‘The Guest List’ (2020)

Image via William Morrow

A wedding on an isolated Irish island should be romantic, but The Guest List quickly turns the celebration into a nightmare. Jules Keegan, a successful magazine publisher, has gathered friends and family for her marriage to Will Slater, a famous television personality. Unfortunately, a violent storm traps everyone on the island, leaving the guests with no way to escape. Then Will turns up dead.

A homage to the claustrophobic murder mysteries of Christie, particularly And Then There Were None, while borrowing the snarky sense of entitlement from Knives Out, The Guest List takes “something old, something new” literally. With a murderer hiding among them, the wedding party becomes a pressure cooker. Almost everyone has a reason to despise the groom, and those grudges trace back to something that could destroy Will’s reputation. Yet the deeper the investigation goes, the clearer it becomes that the victim’s demise feels like a tad bit of karma.

‘Sharp Objects’ (2006)

Image via Crown

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Sharp Objects begins with journalist Camille Preaker, a troubled reporter sent back to her Missouri hometown to investigate the murder of a young girl and the disappearance of another. Forced to stay with her estranged mother, controlling stepfather, and rebellious half-sister Amma, Camille finds herself confronting painful memories of her sister Marian’s death. When the missing girl is found strangled with her teeth removed, Camille realizes the case may hit dangerously close to home.

The grotesque murders are only one of the many disturbing elements of Sharp Objects. As Camille races to uncover the killer, she is forced to reckon with the reasons she left Missouri in the first place. The novel is a scathing portrayal of generational abuse and the damage it leaves behind. When trauma is allowed to fester for too long, it cannot remain contained within the household. Instead, it seeps outward, infecting relationships, perpetuating cycles of violence, and leaving destruction in its wake.

‘The Silent Patient’ (2019)

Image via Celadon Books

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The Silent Patient became a BookTok phenomenon for good reason. Alicia Berenson appears to have the perfect life as a successful painter married to Gabriel, but that illusion shatters when she shoots him five times. Afterward, Alicia refuses to utter a single word and is committed to a psychiatric facility, where years of failed attempts leave the motive behind her silence a mystery. Six years later, psychotherapist Theo Faber becomes convinced he can reach her.

The best thrillers are the ones that require reading between the lines. It’s even more addictive when readers have absolutely no idea whose version to trust. The Silent Patient is clearly Alicia’s story, but it’s been six years, and she can barely speak about the incident. A newcomer like Theo comes along, thinking he’s got her records straight, but not all strangers are to be trusted so easily. Using short chapters, conflicting accounts, and timed revelations, one can’t help but sift through the pages quickly to get to the truth.

‘Make Me’ (2015)

Image via Bantam Press

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The hit Prime Video sensation Reacher has its origins in Lee Child‘s novels, which are just as thrilling, if not more so, than the television adaptation. Slated to serve as the source material for Season 5, Make Me is arguably one of the darkest books in the Reacher series. When Reacher arrives in the strange Midwestern town of Mother’s Rest, he meets Michelle Chang, an ex-FBI agent searching for her missing private-investigator colleague.

Reacher has dealt with illegal arms dealers, ex-military personnel, corrupt security directors, and countless other dangerous criminals, but few villains are as heinous as those in Make Me. The crimes Reacher uncovers are not only larger in scale than what he typically encounters, but the victims are subjected to something particularly deplorable. Still, like any Reacher story, the former military policeman wastes little time getting involved. Once Reacher discovers what is happening in Mother’s Rest, he sets out to dismantle the operation and save its victims.

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Reacher

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Release Date

February 3, 2022

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Network

Prime Video

Showrunner

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Nick Santora

Directors

Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent

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Gisele Bündchen opened up about welcoming a baby boy with husband Joaquim Valente when she was 44.

“Having a baby at this moment of my life is such a gift, because I’m in a different place,” Bündchen, 46, said in an interview with iD for their “Mother Issue” published on Thursday, September 10. “I don’t have anything to prove. I don’t feel like I really, quite frankly, care.”

Bündchen and Valente, 38, welcomed a son, whose name has not been publicly revealed, in December 2025. The model is also mother to son Benjamin, 16, and daughter Vivian, 13, whom she welcomed with ex-husband Tom Brady.

Earlier this year, she wore a necklace with “J, B, V and A” charms, leading many fans to speculate her bundle of joy has a moniker starting with the letter A.

Related: Gisele Bundchen Shares Rare Photo of 1-Year-Old Son as They Exercise

Gisele Bündchen had some help from her 1-year-old son during her latest workout session. On Saturday, August 8, the supermodel, 46, shared an adorable photo of her and husband Joaquim Valente’s baby boy — whose name they have not publicly shared — mimicking her workout routine. In the photo, Bündchen balances her hands on two […]

“I’m not defined by other people’s opinions,” she continued about her motherhood journey. “I feel like I get to choose how I want to live my life.”

Bündchen gushed about how her youngest child is “so funny” and recalled a silly moment when the mother-son duo enjoyed an outing at a nearby park.

“I mean, he’s 16 months and he saw that I was cleaning the park — because Miami, it’s so damp all the time! — and he wanted to participate and he felt really good about it,” she recalled.

While Bündchen knows a thing or two about being a mom, she still treats every moment with her little ones as a learning experience.

“Kids give us this opportunity to live again, to be more present and to experience life again. To do it maybe differently than we’ve done it before.” she reflected. “I don’t know. I find every little thing so amazing.”

Bündchen admitted that she has turned down multiple opportunities because her family is her No. 1 priority.

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Related: Gisele Bundchen Shares Rare Insight Into Life With Newborn Son

Three months after giving birth, Gisele Bündchen is opening up about life with her and boyfriend Joaquim Valente’s baby boy. “Now that my little one is sleeping through the night, I’m back in control of my routine,” Bündchen, 44, shared in a profile for Vogue France published on Monday, May 26. “As any new mom […]

“I say no to 99 percent of the jobs I’m offered because, when I put it on the scale, I’m like, ‘Am I going to miss my daughter’s volleyball game? Am I going to miss going to the park with my son? Am I going to miss my son DJing?’” the Victoria’s Secret angel shared.

At the end of the day, Bündchen knows that being with her family is what makes her feel fulfilled.

“This is your temple, this is your life, this is your journey. How do you want it to look? What do you want it to be? Who defines success? What is success?” she reflected. “Some people say success is power, money, fame, more. Some people say success is being able to spend time with your kids, to have food on your table, to have a home to live in, to have great relationships and actually enjoy every day. I find that, quite frankly, much more successful than … It’s up to each person to define, because when I was in my 20s, success was different than what I feel today.”

General Hospital suggests that Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) and Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) are about to join forces to destroy Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) once and for all.

And they may set a goal to go ahead and destroy Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton)’s marriage along with destroying Willow for reasons I will explain in just a minute.

We’re going to dive into what exactly is Tracy and Michael’s plan and why they end up agreeing to work together when they’ve recently been at odds on the subject of Willow, Brook Lynn, and Chase.

General Hospital: Brook Lynn’s Secret Finally Out

All right, so we just saw Brook Lynn’s huge secret finally blow up and word is traveling pretty fast that she was the other driver in Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) and Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner)’s accident. And of course, lots of people are now furious with Brook Lynn. Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali), Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza), and Jordan. But most of all – Chase. He is outraged.

He seems pretty much done with Brook Lynn at this point. We just saw Chase walk out on his wife and he marched straight over to the gate house to vent to Willow and Chase told her everything. Whatever loyalty he had to Brook Lynn seems to be gone. Chase told Willow that Brook Lynn was the other driver in the crash.

And then Chase also revealed that Brook Lynn is the one who framed Willow. And if that’s not enough, Chase is going to go down to the PCPD this week. Looks like he throws Brook Lynn under the bus. Because Chase is going to tell Detective Joe Fitzpatrick (Jonathan Bennett) that he can close the book on Jordan’s accident.

Chase Turns BLQ in on GH

So, it seems to me that Chase is going to tell Joe everything. And also this week, Chase is going to turn around and confide in Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) as well. So, it looks like Chase is also going to tell Dante what Brook Lynn did. For Chase to burn Brook Lynn to everybody, he’s done. Plus, he told Willow he needed a place to stay the night and all the nights ahead.

So, between Brook Lynn secret blowing up and official Fall spoilers saying Michael and Tracy work together, it looks like they may take advantage of Brook Lynn secret coming out to just clean the slate. Michael and Tracy both hate Willow and neither of them are any fan of Chase’s at this point. Because remember, Michael’s annoyed that Chase was trying to blame him for shooting Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) when Michael knows for certain that Willow is the one who shot her husband in the back.

So, now that Tracy and Michael have two enemies in common, Chase and Willow, we are going to watch and see them get really devious and sneaky. Typical Quartermaines. We know Tracy has been threatening Willow, trying to keep her away from Chase because Tracy was trying to protect Brook Lynn’s marriage. But Chase’s actions are going to send Tracy through the roof. Because Chase already went and confessed to Willow after the blow up with Brook Lynn at the main house.

General Hospital: Hudson Catches Chase

Just the very fact that Chase ran to Willow is a red flag and she was very supportive of Chase and she was there for him. But then he left Willow’s house and obviously wasn’t going to stay the night at her place. Even though I bet if Chase asked if he could stay, then Willow probably would have said yes. Of course. You know, guest room, sofa, my bed. When we heard the spoiler about Hudson Tucker (Troy Lennon Appel) getting an eyeful, I already suspected it was going to be him seeing something to do with the Brook Lynn mess.

Hudson Goes after Pheobe on GH

And sure enough, Hudson saw Chase leaving the gate house and it didn’t look good. And then there’s the other problem because of Phoebe. I get why Chase is ratting Brooklyn out to the PCPD. Because Chase may worry if he doesn’t come clean about what Brooklyn did, then Chase could wind up in even more trouble at work because so many people know about Brook Lynn.

Obviously, the truth is going to reach the PCPD anyway. And I do think Chase is smart to get out in front of it. So, it looks like he reports when he is up at the PCPD, you know, obviously Chase has just found out Brooklyn’s the second driver. So, he may tell Joe that.

Also, Chase may say Brook Lynn’s car was scraped and secretly repaired. And Chase may even tell the cops that his wife sent Lucy Coe in to make a false statement. And Chase may tell them Brook Lynn framed Willow. He may just lay it all out. So, Brook Lynn may face charges of evidence tampering, of witness tampering, and who even knows what else? Some kind of proxy perjury.

Tracy Fights for BLQ on General Hospital

But we know from false spoilers, Tracy does some legal negotiations for Brook Lynn. So, maybe Tracy’s trying to get the charges dropped or minimized to where Brook Lynn just gets probation. Obviously, Tracy’s going to feel like Chase betrayed Brook Lynn and he needs to pay. So Tracy knows Brook Lynn loves Chase. But I think Tracy may decide that the best thing for Brook Lynn in the long run is if she and Chase break up.

Since Tracy wants Willow to pay for everything she’s done, well, that’s two targets. And Michael wants to destroy Willow. And remember, he and his associate were plotting to get Willow and Chase to cheat or look like they did so they could get a photo that would destroy Willow’s career. Michael also doesn’t think Chase is good enough for Brook Lynn because he is constantly defending Willow. And we know from false spoilers that Michael doubles down against Willow.

Spoilers say things escalate between the two of them and that Michael won’t stop until Willow’s completely destroyed and the kids are away from her. So, this is why Michael and Tracy team up. Right now, Willow’s feeling kind of bulletproof where she absolutely should not. And that’s why I think she’s on the cusp of some kind of nervous breakdown because she’s in denial, getting aggressive. She’s spiraling. And because of all that, Michael wants her out of the kids’ lives permanently.

General Hospital: Michael & Tracy Conspire

And that’s when I think he and Tracy start talking because she’s probably griping to Michael about Willow still being on the Quartermaine property and griping about Chase and that he went down to her. So, I think that Michael and Tracy are going to pick up the plan where Michael already started it with his associate, even though she’s gone and it didn’t pan out. So, I suspect they plot to get Chase and Willow to have an affair or again look like they are because even if Chase is separated from Brook Lynn, they’re still married and we could see Chase move into a guest room. But he stays on the property to be close to baby Phoebe. And from the outside, it would look like they’re still together.

So Tracy and Michael may trap Chase alone with Willow, you know, lock him in the wine cellar or the boat house or the crypt and hope they will cheat. And then that way Tracy can use it to convince Brook Lynn to give up on Chase and Michael can use it to publicly expose Willow as a home wrecker.

 Willow Loses Everything on GH

Because if it came out that she was with Chase, obviously Willow would look bad in custody court. Michael’s no longer dating a hooker, which helps his case. And Willow would definitely lose her congressional seat, which is important because she has power that she’s wielding and she’ll be powerless again and then Michael will have all the power, so it’ll be easier to deal with it.

On top of that, there’s even more General Hospital spoilers that say the Quartermaine family is going to be left vulnerable when someone comes to claim Phoebe. And of course, we know that person is Hudson, and we know Tracy’s not going to stand for that, and neither is Brook Lynn. But this messy thing with Chase and Brook Lynn could absolutely factor into that adoption getting undone.

And obviously Tracy is going to help Brook Lynn fight Hudson for baby Phoebe. So Tracy may urge Brook Lynn to cut Chase loose and fight for Phoebe as a single parent of a powerful family. Hudson’s a pretty shady dude and the Quartermaines are powerful, so he’ll obviously have a fight on his hands. But no matter how this plays out, looks like Willow is finally going down and Tracy and Michael are the ones to architect her downfall.

Cassie Ventura has been keeping things pretty low-key lately. But she was recently spotted stepping back into the scene for a night out in London — and she wasn’t alone! The singer popped out alongside her hubby, Alex Fine, looking all kinds of chic as the couple attended a premiere. The appearance marks a rare public outing for Cassie following a life-changing few years.

RELATED: Cassie Reportedly Reveals She’s Moved Out Of United States As She Responds To Lawsuit Filed Against Her By Male Escort

Cassie & Alex Fine Step Out In Style

These days, it looks like Cassie is simply focused on her family and enjoying life away from the spotlight. She recently stepped out for the London premiere of ‘MobLand’ ahead of the highly anticipated second season. In photos taken on Thursday, Cassie served looks in a low-cut gray spaghetti-strap dress with a built-in silhouette, white nails, and dark hair parted down the middle and styled in soft, light-peachy waves. Alex kept things sleek in an all-black fit, accessorizing with a watch and an earring in his left ear. The couple posed arm-in-arm for the cameras and kept the vibes understated. Alex also had an extra reason to be there, as he appeared in three episodes of the show’s first season.

The Last We Heard From Cassie

One of the last times we heard from Cassie, she was making headlines for a major change in her personal life. In June 2026, it was reported that Cassie had filed a court declaration stating that she now lives “outside of the United States” and does not intend to move back. While she confirmed that she remains a U.S. citizen, Cassie reportedly clarified that she is not a California resident and said she could still appear for court proceedings in New York, where her attorneys are based. She did not reveal where abroad she and her family are currently living.

Before that update, Cassie and Alex Fine had welcomed their third child, making Cassie officially a boy mom. The couple’s newest addition arrived in May 2025, just weeks after Cassie testified during Diddy’s federal trial. Cassie had previously shared a glimpse of her pregnancy through a stunning black-and-white maternity shoot. But she has continued to keep details about her family, including her son’s name, largely private.

Cassie Previously Took The Stand During Diddy’s Trial

If you remember, Cassie took the stand during Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial. Around that same time, Cassie reportedly received a combined $30 million settlement connected to the abuse she said she experienced during her relationship with Diddy — $20 million from Diddy and another $10 million from the InterContinental Los Angeles Century, where surveillance footage captured Diddy assaulting her in a hotel hallway. Cassie later received another legal win in July when a judge dismissed the claims brought against her in a lawsuit filed by male escort Clayton Howard, although part of the case was left open for a possible refiling.

RELATED: Cassie Reportedly Schedules Court Hearing Amid Alleged Harassment From Former Male Escort Who Is Suing Her (VIDEO)

The year 2020 was tumultuous. As the world came to terms with a global pandemic, the entertainment industry felt the impact. With people quarantined at home, the need for captivating content to watch on television hit an all-time high. Luckily, that demand created an abundant supply, and a surplus of brilliant TV shows has been released post-COVID.

Fantasy has always been a great escape. Viewers get to vicariously live in a fantasy world as they are transported to far-away places and magical realms via their favorite TV shows. Mythical stories, fantastic creatures, and entire universes of wonder are available at the push of a button. Fantasy has held a special place in TV history, and the future looks all the brighter as breakout hits draw viewers back to the genre once more. Here are the best fantasy shows released since 2020.

10

‘Moon Knight’ (2022)

Image via Disney+

Releasing Marvel TV shows on Disney+ has been like a dartboard at a pub: throw things at it and see what sticks. While some series have been awesome and done due diligence to their source material, others are abysmal and have received their fair share of dissension. One series that struck out to find excellence on its own without the safety cushion of previous prompting in the MCU is Moon Knight.

Moon Knight stars Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant, a timid, socially awkward museum employee whose whole life is blown apart by forces without and within. Steven and the audience learn together that he has multiple personalities, and one of them, Marc Spector, is not only a mercenary but an emissary for the Egyptian moon god Konshu (F. Murray Abraham/Karim El Hakim). Moon Knight is perfect from beginning to end. It is filled with rich iconography, solid character development, and terrific acting. Isaac is irreplaceable in the roles he plays, and the rest of the cast, including Ethan Hawke and May Calamawy, are equally exemplary. Moon Knight is a unique triumph, proving that there is space in the genre for capsule narratives that are excellent within themselves, and they don’t need to spawn from a broader storyline to be great.

9

‘Locke & Key’ (2020–2022)

Locke & Key is a kaleidoscopic experience of dark fantasy. There are many pieces that can be turned and manipulated into different configurations, and each one is interesting and deserves to be viewed from several angles. The series centers around the Locke family. After the patriarch Rendell (Bill Heck) is murdered, his wife and children move into the family home where he grew up, a mysterious and foreboding mansion known as Keyhouse.

After the family moves in, the children begin to find keys hidden all over the property. What makes the keys unique is that they are imbued with special, extraordinary powers. There is the Music Box Key that gives its user the ability to control another person’s movements, the Anywhere Key that allows someone to travel anywhere they wish as long as they’ve seen the destination before, and many more keys with equally impressive values. Locke & Key has dynamic characters, interesting plots, and fantastic villains. It blends elements of fantasy and horror together seamlessly and is an ideal choice for fans of either genre.

8

‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ (2023–Present)

Image via Disney+

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Based on a beloved YA novel series and quietly dominating on streaming this year, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is simply excellent. Two seasons in, the Disney+ original continues to gain momentum and has been a huge hit with both critics and fans alike. Ahead of the much-anticipated third season, the show is surging up streaming charts, and it is clear that fans can hardly wait for more episodes.

The storyline follows the titular protagonist, played by Walker Scobell, after he learns that he is the son of the Greek god Poseidon (Toby Stephens). As Percy learns more about his role as a demigod, he gains friends and foes as he completes epic quests in this thrilling series. Unlike the feature films based on the books that were released in the 2010s, the TV series is a much more faithful adaptation of the books, which has largely pleased avid devotees. With solid special effects, exciting action, and a pantheon of fascinating characters to explore, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is easily one of the best fantasy shows to debut since 2020, and it isn’t finished yet.

7

‘Lockwood & Co.’ (2023)

Image via Netflix

A hidden gem of supernatural fantasy that you will wish you had watched sooner is Netflix’s Lockwood & Co. Based on the award-winning book series by Jonathan Stroud, Lockwood & Co. takes place in a version of London that is plagued by malicious ghosts. Known as “The Problem,” the city has been seeking a way to deal with its surplus of specters, and it turns out that children are the solution. Only young people can detect the ghosts’ presence, leading to a high demand for those with the ability to sense them.

Lockwood & Co. is gripping, with a rich universe full of lore and interesting characters. The special effects in Lockwood & Co. are well done and enhance the storytelling rather than detract from it. Cameron Chapman, Ruby Stokes, and Ali Hadji-Heshmati are stellar in their performances as the motley trio that comprises the independent ghost-catching agency. Although the series received very little marketing or promotion from Netflix, it has grown to be a massive sleeper hit with over 36 million hours viewed. It is one of the best fantasy series released in the past three years and has a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Although Lockwood & Co.’s tenure deserved to be longer, it is still a fantasy masterpiece in its current form.

6

‘Ghosts’ (US) (2021–Present)

Image via Bertrand Calmeau/CBS

Ghosts follows a married couple named Samantha (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) as they move into a family estate. When Samantha inherits her family’s legacy mansion, her dreams of opening a quaint B&B become slightly more complicated when a freak accident allows her to see and hear ghosts. After her accident, Samantha becomes aware that the Woodstone manor has a plethora of paranormal personalities who remain tied to the property because the location is where they met their demise. As Sam, Jay, and the ghosts learn to live together, it makes for a riot of comical and meaningful moments.

Ghosts is a clever and cute comedy that has been a hit with critics and audiences alike. Five seasons strong, it continues to deliver cliffhangers, conundrums, and will-they/won’t-they romance plots. The cast of characters is diverse and interesting, and there is something for everyone, as each ghost is from a different time period. Hitting nostalgia on multiple levels, Ghosts remains a feel-good sitcom that blends living your best life with the afterlife. The highly anticipated Season 6 will debut on October 29, 2026, and it promises to be one of the best yet.

5

‘My Lady Jane’ (2024)

Image via Prime Video

My Lady Jane is a saucy, rompy anachronistic comedy that broke fans’ hearts when it was canceled after a single season. The series stars Emily Bader as the historical figure Lady Jane Grey, the famous Nine Days Queen. Lady Grey was the Queen of England for only nine days before she was deposed and beheaded. It is a real-life story that seems closer to a plot in Game of Thrones than anything else, but it did actually happen.

My Lady Jane takes this foundation and adds layers of comedy and whimsy to create something altogether unique. With such a tempestuous and remarkable turn of events, the story lent itself to a depiction that colored outside the lines a bit. Fans were passionate about the series and devastated when it was terminated. Luckily, the writing does not end on an earth-shattering cliffhanger, so the series can be appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed as-is.

4

‘One Piece’ (2023–Present)

Image via Netflix

You don’t get to be one of the longest-running anime in history for nothing. However, anime is a very distinct visual presentation, and it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. So Netflix took the awesome premise behind the enduring series One Piece and adapted it into a format that many audiences could appreciate: live-action.

Keeping the essence of the original and incorporating fantastic costume design and makeup, One Piece brings the eccentric characters of the anime to life like never before. The writing is superb in that newcomers to the fandom can join right in, and you don’t have to know anything about the anime to get started. Blending humor with action and adrenaline-dosed adventure, One Piece is everything old and new fans didn’t know they needed. It is a fun, frantic, and absurdist fantasy that never stops delivering on iconic characters and thrilling episodes. One Piece is a blazing comet of creativity, letting everyone know that the fantasy genre still has major creative opportunities to take hold of, and viewers are ready and willing to go along for the ride.

3

‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)

Image via Netflix

Historically, TV shows based on video games have been subpar. Arcane, however, is pure transcendence. The animated series is based on the popular League of Legends game and incorporates elements of sci-fi, fantasy, and steampunk. Having game developers from League of Legends involved with the making of the show ensured the result would be phenomenal. Not only is the animation stunning and visually rich, but the storyline is dedicated and focused. The series is only two seasons long because it wanted to be, and it avoided the pitfall of writing itself into mediocrity.

Arcane has won several Primetime Emmy Awards and boasts a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. It has proven once and for all that a TV show based on a video game can not only be good, but quintessential. Arcane is a ridiculously gorgeous spectacle of animation that you have to see to appreciate, and the compelling story and committed performances will keep you invested from the very start.

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‘House of the Dragon’ (2022–Present)

Image via HBO

Game of Thrones was a force to be reckoned with when it came to fantasy fandom. The hit series made household names out of its cast and catapulted many actors to stardom. When the series wrapped in 2019, there was a hole left in viewers’ hearts to revisit the lore once more. Enter: House of the Dragon. A prequel set 127 years prior to the events in GoT, House of the Dragon focuses on one of the most popular houses, the Targaryens, and feeds into the same narratives of dragons, deadly conquest, and a desire for power.

House of the Dragon has not disappointed, and it has been a solid hit for HBO Max and the series’ creators. Three seasons in, House of the Dragon remains a must-watch series and is consistently ranking in HBO Max’s Top 10 TV shows worldwide. The series has been greenlit for a fourth and final season, and fans can hardly wait to return to Westeros again.

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‘Wednesday’ (2022–Present)

Image via Netflix

Reviving an established IP is nothing new, but Wednesday is a complete reinvigoration of a beloved character that became something greater than the sum of its parts. Wednesday Addams had only been seen in TV shows and movies as a younger girl. The choice to age her into a teen was inspired, and Jenna Ortega’s performance is spot-on, paying due homage to Christina Ricci’s brilliant depictions in the ‘90s movies. Ricci has a role in the series, and there are plenty of fan service winks to keep aficionados happy.

Wednesday includes the brooding, gothic lore that is expected, and then expands upon it by incorporating fantasy creatures like werewolves, sirens, and gorgons. Add in a school for outcasts with a house system akin to Harry Potter, and it was a recipe for success. Wednesday has become Netflix’s most accomplished title, and it is the predominant English-language series on the platform. Combining mystery with the macabre, Wednesday continues to inspire everything from fashion to cosmetics to hairstyles and more, and this absolute masterpiece of a fantasy series shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

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Wednesday

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Release Date

November 23, 2022

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Netflix

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Carly Rae Jepsen might be the biggest fan of “Heated Rivalry,” as she revealed how she is excitedly blending her love for the show with her personal life.

The “Call Me Maybe” singer shared in a recent interview that she was not only approached to write a song for the series, but may also have named her newborn son after one of its characters.

Jepsen also expressed her desire to contribute a song to the upcoming second season, calling the opportunity a “dream.”

Carly Rae Jepsen dropped a major hint about the inspiration behind her son, Ilya, whom she welcomed earlier this year with her husband, Cole M.G.N., whose real name is Cole Marsden Greif-Neill.

Speaking in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the release of her upcoming double album, “Day and Night,” the Canadian singer-songwriter teased that her son was named after the character Connor Storrie plays in “Heated Rivalry.”

“Ilya is the name of my son. Maybe, not maybe because of that show,” Jepsen said.

“It was an incredible show,” she added of the series.

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Jepsen Calls Writing A ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Song A ‘Dream’

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Jepsen also expressed her eagerness to join the show’s musical universe after missing out on the chance to record a song for its first season.

She explained that someone once approached her to pen a song for the hockey romance series, but the collaboration did not move forward because the production lacked the necessary budget.

However, she voiced a clear desire to contribute an original track to the upcoming second season, saying it would be a “dream.” Still, she has not heard from creator Jacob Tierney about the possibility.

Tierney previously revealed that he had the Cut to the Feeling singer on his playlist while writing Season 1, but financial constraints prevented the collaboration from coming to fruition.

“She was on my playlist for when I wrote, and I will definitely be asking next time. I was even gonna ask her to write a new song,” he said during an appearance on the “What Chaos! Podcast.”

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Jepsen Reveals The Inspiration Behind ‘Day And Night’

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Elsewhere in the wide-ranging interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jepsen discussed her upcoming double album, its inspiration, and other aspects of her life, including her upbringing.

The album, set for release on September 18, is divided thematically between contrasting genres. Day leans more toward psychedelic pop anthems, while Night maintains a strong electropop core.

According to the outlet, Jepsen originally set out to create two separate projects. However, her longtime friend and collaborator Tavish Crowe suggested viewing them as contrasting parts of a single project.

The Singer Opens Up About Her Modern Family Dynamic

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Jepsen also discussed her upbringing, noting that her upcoming album somewhat mirrors the way she grew up.

“I grew up in two different houses because my parents divorced when I was quite young and remarried to incredible stepparents,” she explained.

“The Good Time” singer described the arrangement as a “very modern idea of co-parenting,” with all four parents getting along well. She and her brother switched homes every two days, with the houses located within 10 minutes of each other in Mission, British Columbia.

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“My mom’s a little bit more free spirit, hippie-ish, and my dad’s a little bit more the opposite of that,” she said. “I feel like musically there was a connection. They all love James Taylor, they all love Joni Mitchell, but they also had different flavors in terms of what my stepparents brought to the table with their musical tastes.”

Carly Rae Jepsen Explains Why She Left Scooter Braun

Jepsen’s rise to fame cannot be discussed without mentioning her former manager, Scooter Braun, whom she first signed with in 2011 after his then-client Justin Bieber took notice of her.

She has since parted ways with the music executive, but explained that there is no bad blood between them. Jepsen felt they needed to go their separate ways because they had different visions for her career.

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“I knew that I was on a different journey than he understood,” she told THR. “I wanted to do something a little bit less mainstream, and I liked what he had offered, but I didn’t necessarily think it was what I wanted anymore.”

She continued, “I felt like it was just going to be a little bit easier to shake hands, walk away, and go let my freak flag fly, so to speak.”

Dolly Parton’s sister Stella is opening up about one of their final conversations and the simple but emotional request the singer made before her death.

The country music legend died on August 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy that extended far beyond her music.

While reflecting on their close relationship, Stella revealed that Dolly Parton remained hopeful even as her health declined.

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Stella and Dolly shared a close bond that continued until the final weeks of the singer’s life. One of their traditions was a Tuesday morning phone call, when the sisters would have coffee together and catch up before beginning their day.

Following Dolly’s death, Stella reflected on those conversations during an interview with Gayle King on “CBS Mornings.” When asked about the final things her sister said to her, Stella revealed that Dolly turned to her faith during that difficult period.

“The last thing Dolly asked me for was prayer,” she recalled, per Entertainment Weekly.

Stella said one of the qualities she would miss most was her sister’s unwavering positivity. Even while dealing with health problems, Dolly continued looking toward the future rather than allowing her circumstances to completely overshadow her outlook.

“Her optimism is what I’m gonna miss the most,” Stella said, remembering Dolly as someone whose imagination and creativity seemed limitless.

The Country Singer’s Sister Dismisses Claims She Died Of A ‘Broken Heart’

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Dolly experienced a devastating personal loss before her own death when Carl Dean, her husband of nearly six decades, died in March 2025. His passing naturally raised questions about how deeply the loss affected the singer during the final period of her life.

Stella acknowledged that watching Dean’s health deteriorate was painful for her sister. She recalled that Dolly was deeply saddened by his condition and eventual death, but rejected the idea that grief caused the illness that later claimed her life.

“I think she was very sad, but I don’t think that’s why she got sick,” Stella explained.

According to Stella, the emotional impact of losing Dean should not be confused with the cause of Dolly’s health problems.

“I think it broke her heart to see him in the shape” he was in before his death, Stella said, adding, “I don’t think that’s what made her sick. I think my sister worked so hard for so long.”

Dolly Parton’s Relentless Work Ethic May Have Taken A Toll On Her Health

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Instead of attributing Dolly’s illness to heartbreak, Stella believes her sister may simply have pushed herself too hard for too long.

“I think she worked too hard and didn’t take as good care of herself as she should,” Stella said, later emphasizing that Dolly had maintained an intense work ethic for decades.

Even as her health became more challenging, slowing down did not come naturally to the country icon. Dolly had canceled appearances and her Las Vegas residency, but she remained focused on projects she still hoped to complete.

Shortly before her death, Dolly acknowledged that caring for Dean had also caused her to overlook some of her own medical concerns. She explained that she was dealing with issues she “just didn’t pay attention to” while looking after her husband.

Still, her desire to create impact remained intact. Dolly said she had “so many things” she still hoped to accomplish and intended to continue working for as long as her health allowed.

The Country Music Legend Hid Her Cancer Battle From Her Loved Ones

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Dolly kept the seriousness of her illness very private, with even some relatives unaware that she had cancer.

According to Stella, her sister did not want her diagnosis becoming a source of sadness for the people around her.

“She didn’t want a lot of the family worried about it,” Stella explained, revealing that only some of those closest to Dolly knew what she was facing.

The decision also extended to her fans. She said Dolly “would not have wanted her fans worried about it,” choosing instead to keep the details of her cancer battle largely out of public view until her death.

Dolly Parton’s Generosity Lasted Until The Very End

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Even while privately battling cancer, Dolly was thinking about how her experience might benefit someone else. Stella revealed that her sister was willing to let doctors experiment with new treatments if conventional options could no longer help her.

Stella recalled Dolly saying that if there were “no hope for her, she would still allow her medical team to try experimental drugs in the hope of helping others in the future.” Stella also described her sister as “one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people” she has ever known.

She encouraged fans hoping to honor Dolly to continue that example by showing kindness and helping others with their time and resources.

The spirit of generosity also shaped the family’s plans following her death, with mourners encouraged to support Dolly’s Imagination Library instead of sending flowers.

Trim has the internet talking once again after making a bold claim about her place in Atlanta’s rap scene.

Related: Oop! Bunna B Responds After Trim Claims She Ran Into A Female Rapper At Atlanta Airport And Left “Untouched”

Trim Crowns Herself The ‘Queen Of Atlanta’

Trim, the 19-year-old rapper from Charleston, South Carolina, recently found herself at the center of online conversation following her trip to Atlanta and speculation surrounding an alleged encounter with another female rapper. Now, Trim is giving social media another reason to debate after crowning herself the “Queen of Atlanta” during a recent live.

On Wednesday evening, September 9, Trim went live to promote her upcoming show in Atlanta before confidently declaring herself the city’s queen.

“Who run Atlanta? Trim,” she said.

Earlier this year, she similarly sparked debate after declaring herself the “Princess of Rap” during a performance.

Her Comments Come Amid Recent Atlanta Rap Drama

Trim’s latest Atlanta declaration arrives just days after she sparked speculation involving another female rapper.

During a previous livestream, Trim claimed she had crossed paths with a female rapper at an Atlanta airport and said she was left “untouched.” She did not identify the woman by name, but social media users began speculating that she was referring to Bunna B.

Bunna B later addressed the speculation on X, making it clear that she was not the woman Trim allegedly encountered at the airport.

Social Media Reacts

As expected, social media users quickly jumped into the conversation, with some questioning Trim’s claim while others praised her confidence.

Instagram @thahprettygirllay wrote, “Latto already got that title babes”

Another Instagram user @genyiahhh wrote, “Bye she know Shamar the queen of at!”

While Instagram user @naaamour_ wrote, “She’s not even from atlanta to be considered queen of atlanta. Home girl from south carolina”

Instagram user @nkierr wrote, “I’m sorry I’m not getting in my car and playing Trimm”

Another Instagram user @itsmfleah wrote, “Idk I like her (not as an artist) but she just rage baiting yal! so bad lol”

While Instagram user @thatgirljmarie wrote, “Akbar about to start dissing her in 3 2 1…”

Instagram user @roxxy__313 wrote, “I love her and her attitude and energy! ”

Another Instagram user @cee_gudda wrote, “Damn I liked trim before all this. She starting to rub me the wrong wayyy”

While Instagram user @tallbrittnje wrote, “Itching for a rap beef”

Related: Trim Addresses Nicki Minaj Comparisons After Critics Claim She Copied Her Flow (VIDEOS)

Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues to rewrite the box office record books.

The latest Marvel and Sony blockbuster starring Tom Holland has now climbed to approximately $2.33 billion worldwide, pushing past Avatar: The Way of Water to become the third highest-grossing movie of all time at the global box office.

The film now trails only Avengers: Endgame and James Cameron’s original Avatar on the worldwide charts.

It is another staggering milestone for Brand New Day, which has been breaking records since arriving in theaters on July 31.

The film opened to more than $360 million domestically, the biggest domestic opening weekend ever, and quickly became the second-fastest movie in history to cross $1 billion worldwide. It later became just the eighth movie ever to reach $2 billion globally.

Its success hasn’t slowed much either. Brand New Day remained No. 1 at the domestic box office for a fifth consecutive weekend, adding another $22 million and bringing its North American total to roughly $892 million.

Sadie Sink, Spider-Man: Brand New Day [marvel studios]

That puts another historic record within reach.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens currently holds the record as the highest-grossing movie in domestic box office history with approximately $936.7 million. Brand New Day is now less than $50 million away from potentially taking the crown.

Worldwide, the mountain is considerably larger.

Tom Holland and Zendaya, Spider-Man: Brand New Day [marvel studios]

Avengers: Endgame sits at roughly $2.8 billion, while Avatar remains the worldwide box office champion with approximately $2.9 billion.

Whether Brand New Day has enough momentum left to challenge those films remains to be seen, but reaching the No. 3 position already puts the latest Spider-Man adventure in exceptionally rare territory.

With nearly $900 million domestically and more than $2.3 billion worldwide, Tom Holland’s fourth solo Spider-Man movie has officially become one of the biggest theatrical releases in movie history.