There’s a scene in the very first episode of Derry Girls where Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), sixteen years old and melodramatically self-involved, is furious. Not about the British Army checkpoint that rerouted her bus. Not about the bomb scare that made her late for her first day back at her all-girls Catholic school. She’s furious because her cousin has read her diary…and now she’s cracking it open in class for her upcoming book report.

That joke – one of modern Europe’s longest-running civil conflicts as an inconvenience, the diary as a full-blown crisis – is creator Lisa McGee’s Netflix comedy in a nutshell. For people like her, who lived through the Troubles, war was the backdrop, not the whole story. That was everything else: the teenage humiliations, obsessions, and laughable mishaps that an absolutely unhinged group of friends living in a small town with nothing to do too often got into. Prestige TV, up until this point, never really got that, but Derry Girls – which ran for three seasons between 2018 and 2022 – definitely did. It is, by a considerable margin, the funniest show about an active ethno-nationalist conflict ever made. Actually, no. This is simply one of the funniest shows ever made, full stop.

‘Derry Girls’ Makes the Troubles Funny (Without Ever Making Light of Them)

Set in Derry in the early 1990s, Derry Girls follows Erin (Jackson), her cousin Orla (Louisa Harland), their friends Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), and Michelle’s English cousin James (Dylan Llewellyn), who attends their Catholic girls’ school because, as is repeatedly explained, it just isn’t safe for him to go to the boys’ school. He is, in the show’s most reliable running gag, treated as one of the girls by everyone around him. (It’s the hair…and maybe the cheekbones, too.)

The five of them stumble through adolescence with a specific but timeless incompetence: they scheme, fail, embarrass themselves publicly, rinse and repeat. The Troubles exist at the edges of every episode via newscasts, blown bridges, terrorists stowed away in the trunk of the family car, and errant suitcases that spark bomb squad calls. They are part of the setup, but never the punchline of the joke. The teenagers are. Or, more specifically, how deeply, cosmically unequipped they are for the adulthood they so desperately crave.

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That’s a choice that could have gone badly. Comedy about a real, ongoing, traumatic war is a minefield (metaphorically, and in this case, literally), but what keeps Derry Girls from tipping into bad taste is the specificity. McGee grew up in Derry. Her characters are people she knew, her settings are places she visited daily. If the show is irreverent or dismissive about grander political problems, it’s because it’s earned the right to be. In an interview with The New Yorker, McGee admitted she never wanted to write about the Troubles because every story she saw was entirely too bleak. “There were never any jokes,” she said. “I don’t know any Northern Irish person that isn’t funny. They’re so joyful.” Maybe that’s why Derry Girls always seemed to understand the difference between laughing at and laughing with, because it channeled joy instead of judgment.

Take That, Escaped Zoo Bears, and the Radical Normality of ‘Derry Girls’

Image via Netflix

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To really appreciate what Derry Girls got right about the era, it helps to think about what came before it. The Troubles have generated some serious drama, on-screen that is. Works of genuine craft and moral meaning that want you to understand the politics, the violence, the historical reckoning of it all. Those films and shows and documentaries matter, but they have a tendency to flatten every experience into tragedy. War becomes the thing, and everyone exists in relation to it. But for anyone who’s actually lived that experience, that just doesn’t ring true. Life doesn’t work like that, and it shouldn’t be portrayed like that, at least not all the time.

In 1993 Derry, teenagers were still obsessed with Take That – enough so that those like Erin and her friends would absolutely concoct a ruse to escape to the city while the adults fretted over the polar bear who had just escaped the local zoo. And parents? They were still mortifying, confusing pop culture references to Macaulay Culkin with Protestant rebels met at a summer camp. Checkpoints and ceasefires and peace negotiations were happening, yes, but so was homework and heartbreak and the specific social catastrophe of being accidentally outed in the latest edition of your school’s newspaper. Derry Girls holds all of this at once, that’s what makes it so authentic and undeniably funny.

Why ‘Derry Girls’ on Netflix Is Still Essential Viewing

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Derry Girls ended at three seasons, which was the right call – even if we did all lose our shite at the time. The story it wanted to tell had a shape, outlining childhood in the shadow of conflict, ending with the arrival of peace, and McGee told it expertly. Its legacy, though, is a bit harder to pin down. It’s proof that comedy can carry historical weight without being crushed by it. It’s a view of a place that has been defined for decades almost entirely by violence, one that insists on the fullness of life there.

There’s absurdity, warmth, and a deeply Irish chaos to it all despite, or maybe because of, what its characters are living through. And it’s all available on Netflix, which means, if you haven’t checked it out yet, you should. The first episode is just 24 minutes long, but you’ll know if it’s your thing within the first four. Spoiler: It will almost certainly be your thing.

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Derry Girls

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Release Date

January 4, 2018

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BBC

Showrunner

Lisa McGee

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Directors

Lisa McGee

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It turns out that a lot happened in Ohio after the Love Is Blind cameras left.

“We’re about to get all your burning questions answered,” cohost Vanessa Lachey began, after revealing that 150 former contestants were in attendance to celebrate the show’s milestone 10th anniversary.

Love Is Blind season 10 ended with two marriages between Victor St. John and Christine Hamilton, as well as Jordan Faeth and Amber Morrison. While five other couples got engaged sight unseen in the pods, they all called it quits before saying “I do.”

Keep scrolling for the biggest reunion bombshells from the season 10 cast — and where the couples stand now:

Vic and Christine Join the Ranks of ‘Love Is Blind’ Success Stories

Victor St. John and Christine Hamilton confirmed at the reunion that they are still living in married bliss after she moved to her beau’s home city of Columbus from Cleveland.

“We’re now just putting a home together, so that’s where we’re at now,” Vic said. “I think the best part of living with Christine is that the home is a home. I’m talking about notes around the house, saying, ‘Have a great semester with the students,’ notes encouraging me on a new publication, psalms and scriptures and notes on my computer.”

Christine, meanwhile, held back tears as she said it “makes [her] day” to see Vic when she comes home from work. The Netflix wife further revealed that her husband met her spouse nearly one month after the wedding.

“I’ve forgiven him,” she said, adding that the couple has “broken bread” with Christine’s dad.

Jordan and Amber Went Their Separate Ways

Jordan Faeth and Amber Morrison’s marriage, however, only lasted four months.

“We’re not together anymore,” Jordan revealed to cohost Nick Lachey. “We were certainly disappointed too. I feel like a lot changed in that period of time.”

For Jordan, he acknowledged that Amber had “trust issues” from past relationships that were apparently difficult to overcome.

“I was constantly trying to repair a trust that I didn’t break, for me, that took a toll,” he said, adding that they never even moved in together. “There were some ups, for sure, but for me, the negatives outweigh the positives.”

Amber, meanwhile, questioned whether Jordan was ever ready to get married.

“It’s really difficult to trust someone when they are only coming up [to see me] on the weekends or I’m going down there,” she acknowledged. “You wonder, why wouldn’t you want to be at home with your wife? Why do you want to be out on a Tuesday, Thursday with the boys? When I pictured marriage, I pictured somebody to come home [to] after work.”

Jordan claimed that he tried to visit Amber but she didn’t “appreciate” his efforts, subsequently going back and forth about who was in the right. Amber ended up storming off the stage after Jordan alleged that she was disrespectful and crossed boundaries in their allegedly unhealthy relationship.

“Don’t f**ing come into someone’s life if you’re going to do that,” Amber shouted at Jordan, stating that she also had to navigate her 7-year-old daughter Emma’s feelings about the breakup. “I told you!”

Jordan, who never said goodbye to Emma before leaving Amber, wasn’t sure he could still have a relationship with her if his marriage to her mom didn’t last. When Amber returned to set, she revealed that she’s in an “amazing place” thanks to her loyal support system, including costars Jessica Barrett and Emma Betsinger.

The ‘Love Is Blind’ Cast Comes for Chris

Chris Fusco made waves when he dumped fiancée Jessica Barrett over a lack of attraction and her gym habits, shortly before he tried to pursue Bri McNees despite her own engagement. Chris’ behavior sparked ire from the rest of the pod squad.

“I do still hate you,” Amber Morrison quipped, claiming he was the reason that she hated men. “[Jordan] is not a Chris. [He’s] not a douchebag.”

Connor Spies, meanwhile, added that Chris hasn’t “crossed [his] mind” since he tried to flirt with Bri. As for Bri, she felt that Chris “flipped a switch” in his behavior but never thought twice about switching sides.

Jessica, for her part, noted that Chris has some “deep insecurities” that led to their breakup.

“Finances, not feeling stable,” she listed her then-partner’s apparent insecurities. “While this was this huge bravo and dominance and alpha s***, when he had a different audience, that was never shown to me. I was never spoken to like that, I think, because that person knew that I wouldn’t really tolerate it or buy into it.”

Nick Lachey Goes for the Jugular

Host Nick Lachey also got in a jab at Chris Fusco.

“According to Chris, for things to work out, sometimes you need to work out,” Nick said. “Chris, I gotta tell you, man, I need to applaud you because you managed to do something this season that had never been done previously in nine seasons of Love Is Blind. You managed to piss off all the ladies and all the men. You literally alienated and pissed off every person on this stage.”

According to Nick, it was “absolutely brutal” for he and wife Vanessa Lachey to watch Chris’ onscreen antics.

“I have to ask you, as a man, watching that back, what was going through your mind?” Nick asked. “I’m not sure what that says about you, that’s for you and a therapist to figure out, but it’s not good.”

Chris did get a chance to defend himself, stating that it was difficult to watch the show.

“You know, watching it back was tough, I’m not gonna lie,” he said. “I’m not proud of a lot of those moments.”

Nick also encouraged Chris to reconcile with fellow “Ohio boy” Connor Spies, who succinctly apologized for disrespecting his onetime friend.

“I want to be accountable for what I did and what I said, and putting Bri in that position, as well,” Chris added. “I feel like I put her in that situation and was just way too, maybe, aggressive in that moment, and I’m sorry. I’m not asking for forgiveness.”

Moments later, Nick asked Chris whether he was checked out of his relationship with Jessica Barrett.

“Were you in Devonta’s [Anderson] ‘nothing box?’” he quipped, referring to Devonta’s comments over indecision about marrying Brittany Wicker.

Bri and Connor Are Still Together

Bri McNees and Connor Spies revealed that they decided to continue dating despite calling off their wedding.

“We are still together actually, ” Connor said during the reunion. “It just kind of lived life as, like, it was almost like a new chapter of, ‘OK, we did one of the craziest things. Let’s see how life looks just on a normal day-to-day basis.’”

According to Connor, he ended up moving next door to Bri in Columbus after filming.

“[I see us making it] to the altar,” Bri added. “I’m, like, ‘We will be in it till death do us part.’ I love this man.”

Jessica Found Love With a Pod Castoff

After Chris Fusco dumped Jessica Barrett, she moved on with another Love Is Blind alum.

“I’m really grateful for the experience,” she noted, before it was revealed that she was now dating Haramol Gill. “Well, Haramol and I had a very deep connection in the pods. After kind of everything blew up, Haramol was there for me as a friend, or at least I thought.”

Haramol subsequently shouted from the crowd that he was “shooting shots,” while Jessica thought he was still so kind, thoughtful and sweet.

“It took a long time for us to actually just sit down, just the two of us,” she said. “I came in sweatpants, like, ‘Hey, what’s up? Let’s hang out, have some drinks, whatever.’ [We] talked for hours and then … he’s a man. He’s, like, ‘Look, I know who I am and I know what I want, and it’s you.’”

As Haramol proclaimed that he was in love with Jessica, who was “so hot,” he felt grateful to have a second chance at pursuing her after letting her go in the pods.

Mike and Emma Had a Plan to Break Up Before Their Wedding

Mike Gibney revealed that he and Emma Betsinger spoke about both saying no at the altar days before their wedding.

“I just felt blindsided,” Mike claimed of Emma’s switch-up in the moment. “In the moment, I could not wholeheartedly say yes because that question [about kids] was still unanswered for us.”

While Mike “almost wanted” to agree with Emma, he went with a logical response and said no as planned.

Emma, for her part, noted that she and Mike had so much fun and built such a connection that it led her to change her mind.

“This was an act of love. I went the emotional route,” she said. “I loved [Mike] so much that I wanted to confess that, like, I know kids were going to be at the end of our journey. If I said yes, we would have had kids eventually. I thought that saying yes in front of your family and my family was a declaration of kids.”

Mike now has a new girlfriend of seven months named Tara.

Nick Lachey Has Questions for Alex

After Ashley Carpenter was thrown by fiancé Alex Henderson’s change of feelings and questions about his job, she dumped him at the altar. During the reunion, host Nick Lachey questioned Alex over why his story “kept changing.”

“I just think it was a lot of gaps, especially as it related to Austin and timelines with Austin,” Nick said after Alex asked the host to clarify his point. “Why do you think she felt that way?”

Alex, meanwhile, didn’t believe there were any “gaps” in his work, living or dating history.

“I do think we went through, ‘Hey, this is the timeline,’” he stated. “I do also think the only real time those questions were asked was when the cameras were rolling.”

Alex stressed that he did not cheat nor have any relationship overlap “at all,” and never lied to Ashley, who had the opposite perspective and questioned why her ex went on the show in the first place.

“To find a wife, I just didn’t see [one],” Alex said, prompting Nick to joke, “You’re not supposed to see them. That’s why it’s Love Is Blind.”

Brittany and Devonta’s Broken Engagement Was Just the Tipping Point

When Brittany Wicker and Devonta Anderson canceled their wedding, she still wanted to date her then-partner. Devonta, however, was conflicted and unsure whether they were meant to be.

During the reunion, Brittany was shocked by his comments and felt gaslit by Devonta.

“He said that I was a ‘shadow,’ which I found very offensive because I gave him so much space, so much so, that I felt my love language was not being fulfilled,” she stated. “[His comments were] highly confusing to me.”

Brittany added, “I feel like as soon as he walked out of my door, he was done with the relationship and he just didn’t want to say that to me. He still dragged it out for weeks.”

Brittany’s dad was also present, noting that he “wants [Devonta] to be OK” and make “the best choices” he can.

“Bro, you got to get some help with that,” he said. “You got to face that stuff because if you don’t face it, it’s gonna come get you. It bothers me that people are destroying you. … I hope you learn from this.”

Brittany’s dad then asked Devonta whether he lied about being ready to marry Brittany.

“At the time, I truly thought I was, but I’m not,” Devonta admitted. “I did take a moment away. I took two or three days where I needed to go sit with me before making that decision. … I guess, I don’t like to quit.”

Devonta Has a Baby on the Way

In the months since breaking up with Brittany Wicker, Devonta Anderson met a new partner and they got engaged.

“I wanted to go into this to be a husband and a father, those were two of the most important things for me, and I got some exciting news that I am gonna be a father this year,” he said, while Brittany’s dad hung his head in shock.

While Brittany was also surprised by the news, she told hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey that she wasn’t “fazed by” Devonta’s family update.

Former ‘Love Is Blind’ Stars Share Their Own Updates

In between the season 10 cast’s discussion, alums AD Smith and Giannina Gibelli conducted “man on the street” interviews with fellow pod veterans. They revealed that season 8’s Joey Leveille and Sara Carton from Minnesota were still going strong after eight months, and season 1 OG Cameron Hamilton cried over wife Lauren Speed-Hamilton giving birth to their first baby after fertility challenges. Plus, season 4 couple Bliss Poureetezadi-Goytowski and Zack Goytowski announced that they are expecting a baby boy. (Bliss and Zack already share daughter Galileo.)

Kris Jenner has gone through a bit of a transformation in recent years — and I’m not talking about her facelift. The mogul also experienced significant hair growth thanks to some “delicious” gummies.

Jenner shared her results from taking Omi Hair Growth Peptides Gummies on Instagram, and the difference is staggering.

“Tracy Cunningham, who is my colorist, noticed my hair was thinning a little bit and she recommended Omi,” she explained in the clip. “I started taking two a day, and they pretty much changed my life. Everything started feeling fuller — no extensions necessary. It really is just fabulous.”

Get the Omi Hair Growth Peptides Gummies for $79 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

I’ve always been a skeptic about hair growth supplements — especially when a celebrity promotes them — but these ones from Omi are the real deal. I noticed a major difference in my hair density after taking them for a few months. The secret lies in a patented peptide derived from keratin (a building block of hair) that supports hair at the follicle to reduce thinning and strengthen each strand from the inside out.

Jenner’s results were especially noteworthy. Using an AI scalp analysis tool, she could see how much her hair improved from the beginning. Her follicle density increased by a whopping 18 points while hair thickness improved by seven points.

“[My hair] just feels shiny and thick. It’s so amazing,” she exclaimed.

Everyday shoppers have also experienced incredible results just from adding Omi to their routines.

“I have been taking them for five months, and my hair shedding has gone from handfuls in the shower to minimal — 80 percent less shedding — and so much new growth,” one Amazon customer wrote. “This works wonders for Peri-menopausal hair loss. I have tried the other well-known brand, but this one works so much better.”

I’d say Kris Jenner’s hair is doing amazing (sweetie!) thanks to Omi Hair Growth Peptides Gummies. Yours could be, too, by adding this supplement to your routine.

Get the Omi Hair Growth Peptides Gummies for $79 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more from Omi here and more hair growth gummies here! Don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Rebecca Gayheart has revealed that her family is in a “state of shock” following her husband Eric Dane’s death at age 53 following a battle with ALS.

“I just want to thank everybody for being so kind to us during the last couple of years,” Gayheart, 54, told Variety in an interview published on Wednesday, March 11. “It’s been challenging and meaningful, and people are kind.”

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actress and Dane shared two daughters, Billie, 16, and Georgia, 14. The couple split in 2018 but later called off their divorce. (Dane was dating Janell Shirtcliff at the time of his death while Gayheart has been linked to billionaire Peter Morton in recent years.)

“I’m having trouble receiving all of the support and love coming at me from every which way because of Eric and the [entertainment] community that’s so generous with their time,” she said. “They’ve been holding me and the girls up the last two weeks, and I don’t think they’re going anywhere. I think they’re in it for the long haul. Hollywood gets a bad rap. That kind of makes me mad, because we have a lovely community of people, and I’m so grateful for them.”

Related: Rebecca Gayheart Addresses ‘Difficult Time’ After Eric Dane’s Death at 53

Rebecca Gayheart has spoken out after Eric Dane’s tragic death at 53. “I am so blown away by the outpouring of love and support from our community,” Gayheart, 54, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Sunday, February 22. “There aren’t words to express our gratitude.” She concluded, “You are truly holding us up during this […]

Gayheart spoke out because of her late husband’s partnership with ElevenLabs in the final months of his life. The tech company has promised to offer its AI voice restoration software to 1 million people — including Dane — who lose their ability to speak due to a terminal diagnosis.

Per Gayheart, Dane’s partnership with ElevenLabs became “sort of urgent” because he started to lose speech ability as his ALS progressed. The model and actress confirmed that Dane and their daughters were able to hear his digitized voice before his death in February.

“[Our daughters] were like, ‘That’s not a recording. That’s your voice. That’s you,’” Gayheart recalled. “So it was spot on. He just had this way of speaking, and they captured it so beautifully.”

She went on, “[Our daughters] signed off on it, and we were thrilled to have it because we knew what was coming down the pike. We were all really struggling with the voice loss that he was already experiencing. Knowing we had that in our back pocket, just felt really good. I’m sad, and I know Eric is too, that we didn’t ever get to really use it. But what I do know is that he would want as many people as possible to have access.”

Dane’s family announced on February 19, 2026, that the former Grey’s Anatomy star had died just shy of one year after he went public with his ALS diagnosis.

“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” his family confirmed to Us Weekly. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight.”

Their statement concluded, “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”

Gayheart broke her silence following Dane’s death by sharing multiple throwback photos via Instagram and endorsing a GoFundMe campaign meant to support their kids.

General Hospital star Kate Mansi has revealed how her stepfather stepped in to save her life when an 11-centimeter mass was discovered in her abdomen.

“He did a surgery that ended up saving my life,” Mansi, 38, told People in an interview published on Wednesday, March 11.

Mansi — who plays Kristina Davis on the ABC soap — went through a harrowing experience in 2015 that ultimately led to her being diagnosed with endometriosis. (Per the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis develops when the “inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.” It can cause excessive bleeding, infertility and pain during sex, among other symptoms.)

The Daytime Emmy Award winner explained that she was either on the phone or visiting her doctors for four days straight at the height of her discomfort in 2015.

Related: Kirsten Storms’ History as Maxie on ‘General Hospital’ Explained

Kirsten Storms rose to fame as Disney Channel’s Zenon in the ‘90s, but her time on General Hospital has cemented her as a soap star. Storms began playing Maxie Jones on the beloved soap opera in May 2005. Her casting followed a series of child actors and Robyn Richards, who portrayed the character from 1993 […]

“I think as a society we are so ingrained to just listen to what the doctors say and abandon what we feel,” she said. “I went into these appointments and they said, ‘Oh, maybe the pain is because your IUD is turning.’ And then I would do an ultrasound. No, it’s not my IUD. ‘Okay, well maybe it’s just a bad period.’ I was getting really nauseous and I had been throwing up for days and they said maybe I had the flu. Maybe it’s this, maybe it’s that.”

Mansi tried to push through the pain by continuing to work until an onset makeup artist observed that she looked “green and pale.” The soap star recalled that her stomach was so distended by the time that she finally went to the ER that she “couldn’t even zip up [her] pants.”

Her mother and stepfather — who works as an OB-GYN — met her at the hospital where it was discovered that she had an 11-centimeter mass in her abdomen. Doctors originally wanted to wait to bring in an oncologist before taking any action.

“My stepdad was so frustrated — and because he’s my stepfather, so it’s not a blood relation — he scrubbed in himself and was like, ‘I’m not waiting for an oncologist. I’m gonna do the surgery or she’s not gonna make it,’” she remembered. “And he did a surgery that ended up saving my life. I was in the worst pain of my life and it turns out, I had an ovarian cyst rupturing, and I was working through it for days.”

Mansi went on, “The ovarian cyst coincidentally was sitting on top of a blood vessel. So when it burst, it hit the blood vessel and then it leaked a liter and a half of blood into my abdomen. All the blood had coagulated together into this 11-centimeter mass, cutting off blood and oxygen. He obviously took it out, but then he found all this endometriotic tissue.”

Her stepfather informed Mansi that she had endometriosis once she came out of surgery. She has since actively managed her endometriosis flareups and told People that she is “much more stable now.”

General Hospital recently enlisted Mansi to direct a March 16 episode where her character Kristina’s sister Molly discusses an endometriosis flareup with her boyfriend. She is also promoting Endometriosis Awareness Month with social media content throughout March.

Mansi has played Kristina Davis on General Hospital since 2023. She previously had two lengthy stints portraying Abigail Deveraux on Days of Our Lives before leaving the Peacock soap in 2020.

She married producer Matt McInnis in May 2025 after getting engaged in July 2024.

Netflix’s War Machine, which feels like a spiritual successor to the Transformers franchise, is a reminder of how strong this kind of story can be when it’s done right. That’s part of what made 2024’s Transformers One feel like such a welcome return to form for the franchise, pairing stunning animation with a much stronger focus on the central relationship between Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Bryan Tyree Henry). However, as fans are reminded of the depth and complexity that the Transformers franchise is capable of having, it’s the perfect time for a retrospective look at one of the most underrated series to come from the franchise — Transformers: Prime.

Among the many animated series, Transformers: Prime stands out as one of the most character-driven and mature installments in the series, willing to explore the tragic history between the Autobots and the Decepticons without holding back on the devastation that is wrought by their eons-long war.

‘Transformers: Prime’ Is the Grittiest Animated Series in the Franchise

Transformers: Prime first premiered in 2010, immediately establishing itself as a series wholly distinct from its predecessor, the fan-favorite Transformers: Animated. Though both series are ultimately still children’s shows, there is a distinct tonal shift between the lighthearted atmosphere of Transformers: Animated and the grittier tone of Transformers: Prime. Featuring some of the most recognizable Autobots in the biz, the series follows Team Prime — comprised of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Arcee, and Bulkhead — as they fight against the Decepticons on Earth, while simultaneously hiding their existence from the rest of humanity. In this continuity, the war between the two feuding factions led to the utter devastation of their home world of Cybertron, rendering it inhospitable because of the complete exhaustion of its Energon reserves. Centuries after their war began, the Autobots now find themselves based out of a former military base in rural Nevada, using Ground Bridges to travel across the globe in order to combat the Decepticon threat.

Though at its core, the series is still quintessentially Transformers, the series also takes several innovative swings that expand upon franchise lore. The show introduced Dark Energon, an unstable form of the substance that powers all Transformers, which has the ability to bring the dead back to life as zombified versions of themselves. Transformers: Prime also has a noticeably smaller cast of Transformers than other installments, but this actually serves as one of the series’ strengths, as it allows the spotlight to be shed on some more underrated characters in the franchise.

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The 20 Most Powerful Robots in Transformers, Ranked

Autobots, transform and roll out!

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Bulkhead, for example, was first introduced in Transformers: Animated, but established himself as a series staple in this iteration. The show gives plenty of time and attention to the interpersonal relationships and history between the different members of the team, bringing depth, complexity, and humanity to the otherwise otherworldly beings. Additionally, though there are human characters in Transformers: Prime, they don’t serve as a proxy for the audience; the focus is still centrally on the Transformers themselves.

The Action in ‘Transformers: Prime’ Carries Real Weight and Tension

What truly separates Transformers: Prime from some of the other contemporary adaptations in the franchise is the genuine stakes and tension that permeate the show. The grimmer tone of the series is established within the first minutes of the show when Cliffjumper, a main member of Team Prime, is brutally killed by Starscream, a death that carries lasting effects for the remaining characters. While the series is ultimately a children’s show, this daring narrative choice is honestly quite jarring for its younger audience (this author’s 11-year-old self still recalls his unspeakable frustration at seeing his favorite Autobot killed off so soon). If this death weren’t startling enough, the Decepticons use Dark Energon to revive Cliffjumper into a mindless zombie, who they immediately let loose against his former allies. Arcee, Cliffjumper’s partner, is forced to deal with his death and resurrection, fighting through her grief in addition to being forced to fight her former friend.

Death in the Transformers universe isn’t new — in fact, the original Transformers: The Movie boldly killed off many beloved characters in one fell swoop — but Cliffjumper’s execution and resurrection storyline is one of the most viscerally gut-wrenching plot beats that the franchise has explored in its animated series. A recurring criticism of some of the newest animated Transformers series has been their tendency to be too childish. That’s certainly not the case here, as Transformers: Prime pushes the boundaries of maturity within its genre, making it an easier watch for returning and older audiences. The graveness with which the characters speak about the war on Cybertron, the genuine stakes in each fight; at one point, Starscream even captures and chains up a human character. Transformers: Prime has, without a doubt, some of the most grit of any adaptation in the franchise.

‘Transformers: Prime’ Explored the Complicated History Between Optimus Prime and Megatron

Much like Transformers One, one of the defining features of Transformers: Prime is its focus on the tragic relationship between Optimus Prime and Megatron. The two leaders are the quintessential figures in the Transformers franchise and have been locked in a seemingly endless war, but some adaptations neglect to address the foundational friendship that the two shared. Transformers: Prime explores this connection more earnestly, constantly depicting Prime’s hesitation at fighting his old friend.

The rivalry between the two imposing bots feels palpably personal; there is familiarity with how they speak to one another, adding emotional weight to the already heavy impact of their colossal fights. In later seasons, the series even introduces narrative beats that play with the dynamics of the two. At one point, Optimus loses his memory, reverting to his earlier identity as Orion Pax, which allows him to be manipulated by the deceitful Megatron. While every adaptation addresses this complicated relationship in its own way, there is a distinct tone that separates Transformers: Prime’s adaptation from all the rest.

Part of the lasting appeal of the Transformers franchise is the versatility of its different adaptations. If you want speaker-shaking action, look to the Bayverse; if you want a classic cartoon aesthetic, look to Transformers: Animated. But for a more personal story, one grounded in the interpersonal dynamics of the different characters, Transformers: Prime is deserving of a second look.

Transformers: Prime is streaming now on Netflix in the U.S.

Pop star Britney Spears was arrested in early March on suspicion of a DUI. Her friend and former assistant, Sean Phillip, has spoken up about her arrest, expressing concern that the “Oops!… I Did It Again” singer is not as free as she seems to be. Although Britney was released from her court-ordered conservatorship in November 2021, many fans are still concerned about the pop star’s well-being.

Britney Spears’ Former Assistant Breaks Silence On Her DUI Arrest

The “Toxic” singer’s former assistant, Sean Phillip, seemed to fuel the fires of fan concern on Wednesday, March 11, when he told Extra, “I think there are some people out to get her.”

“The timing is so off that she gets financial independence and then she’s arrested,” he said, referring to the recent sale of her music catalog for $200 million. “We all think it’s a push to put her back in a conservatorship, because guess what happened when the conservatorship stopped? People stopped getting money.”

“I don’t think she’s free. There’s still a care plan in place,” he added. “I personally don’t think she has access to all of her finances, but a lot of other people do. I don’t think it’s fair.”

Britney’s Former Assistant Says He Talked To Her After Her Arrest

Phillip, who has been friends with Britney since 2023, says that he spoke to her after she was arrested and released.

“She said, ‘I’m OK, I’m OK,’” in a text message, he claimed. He also addressed their long friendship, saying they had lost touch for several years after their conservatorship but had recently reconnected.

“It’s been 20 years since we were seriously hanging out, and it’s just been, like, nice. Just send each other funny stuff and just, you know, just, ‘I miss you, I miss you, I miss you,’” he explained. He described their interactions as “funny conversations and joy.”

Britney Spears’ Former Assistant Used To Spend Time With Her Children

Phillip also explained how he used to hang out with Britney and her two sons, Sean Preston, now 20, and Jayden James, now 19.

“We used to go out together, just us and the kids,” he said. “Nobody else. We would go to the zoo, we do things, we just go do things, and there was never a problem.”

In reference to her court hearing on May 4, Phillip added, “I encourage her to speak for herself because she can squash everything in a second.”

Inside Britney Spears’ DUI Arrest

On March 4, the 44-year-old “Criminal” singer was arrested near her home in Ventura County, California, “on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs,” according to a press release from the California Highway Patrol. She was taken into custody and booked but released on Thursday morning.

The day after her arrest, her rep released a statement, calling her arrest “an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable.” The statement went on to say:

Britney’s Loved Ones Want Her To Make Amends With Her Father

In the week following her DUI arrest, a Los Angeles associate who has regular contact with her friend group and her family exclusively told Page Six that Britney is “antagonized” by the thought of reconnecting with her father, Jamie Spears, even though her family is encouraging her to do so.

“Even the boys have gotten back into their grandad’s life after some tough times,” an insider shared. “They would welcome a united family despite all the years of drama.”

However, another source noted that Britney feels “long-term hatred” towards her father and has no plans to reconnect. The insider went on to say, “Sadly, she will always view her father as a villain because of how she felt trapped and controlled within the conservatorship.”

In related news, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office recently revealed that it will not release her mugshot.

Published Mar 12, 2026, 7:01 AM EDT

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The Shield premiered on this date in 2002. Even if you never watched it, you might do better on this quiz than you think. The show changed television.

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Veteran actor Mickey Rourke has released a statement following his eviction from a rental property. The Hollywood star addressed the situation after a judge ruled in favor of his landlord, offering his side of the situation and justifying not paying rent.

Mickey Rourke Shared His Reasons For Not Paying Rent

On March 11, Rourke released a statement that addressed his eviction from his LA rental, explaining his reasons for withholding the rent he owed his landlord.

According to the actor, per TMZ, the home, located on Drexel Avenue in Los Angeles, was in a state of disrepair and not fit to live in. He claimed he attempted to have the issues fixed multiple times, but the problems remained.

“There were ongoing rodent issues that required multiple visits but were never fully resolved, and the bathroom and plumbing frequently did not work,” Rourke claimed, adding that “basic maintenance” wasn’t done in the home.

A Judge Ruled In His Landlord’s Favor

In December 2025, Rourke’s landlord, Eric T. Goldie, filed an eviction complaint against the actor for failing to pay $59,100 in back rent.

As previously reported by The Blast, a California judge ruled in favor of Rourke’s landlord, Eric T. Goldie, on March 9. It was a default judgment, which likely means Rourke didn’t appear in court to defend himself or respond to the case in a timely manner.

The judge terminated Rourke’s rental agreement, and Goldie was granted possession of the property. In accordance with the ruling, Rourke no longer had a right to stay on the property. However, the order was only for possession of the home and did not include financial damages.

The Actor Moved Out Of His Rental Before The Ruling

After Goldie’s court filing in December, Rourke was given the option to pay the rent he owed or vacate the premises within three days.

In January, a U-Haul truck was spotted outside his home as he was getting ready to move out. According to reports, Rourke, along with his dog, have since been living in a West Hollywood Hotel while looking for a new residence.

As the 73-year-old actor said in his statement, “Withholding rent was not a decision I made lightly. I simply could not continue paying for an apartment that was in such poor condition after so many attempts to have these issues corrected.”

As of writing, Goldie has not responded to Rourke’s claims about the “poor condition” of the property.

Mickey Rourke Rejected GoFundMe Money

In January, a GoFundMe was launched with a goal of $100,000 for Rourke. The page, which has since been taken down, noted it was for the actor’s “urgent situation: the threat of eviction from his home.”

As noted by NBC News, it was created by Liya-Joelle Jones, who is the assistant of Kimberly Hines, Rourke’s manager. The blurb noted that they had the actor’s “full permission” for the fundraiser.

However, Rourke denied the claim on Instagram, saying he was confused about the GoFundMe. “I’d rather, if I needed money, I wouldn’t ask for no f-cking charity. I’d rather stick a gun up my a-s and pull the trigger,” he exclaimed.

Rourke added that he wouldn’t use “outside sources” and said the GoFundMe campaign was embarrassing and something he wouldn’t do. He then urged his followers not to donate.

Mickey Rourke’s Manager Clarifies GoFundMe Issue

In January, Hines did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter to clarify Rourke’s reaction to the GoFundMe account.

As she told the outlet, they presented the idea to the actor, saying some people wanted to help him, to which he responded, “OK, great.” However, Hines believes Rourke misunderstood how he would be helped. “I don’t think he understood, and now it’s taken on this media frenzy, and he flipped out,” Hines said.

Hines also offered her insight into the rental property, saying that it was “uninhabitable.” Rourke had been living there for more than a decade, and Goldie had only bought the property less than two years ago. Rourke’s manager also said the landlord raised the rent to $7,000 from $5,200.

As for why Rourke is financially strained, Hines explained that the actor doesn’t live in moderation. “He either has a lot or has nothing,” she said, adding that Rourke was a generous person who has “given a lot of his money away to people, to friends.”