Days of Our Lives puts Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) unable to stay away from Javi Hernandez (Al Calderon), no matter how often he tells Leo to please back off and no, we cannot be friends after what you did. And now that Javi’s hunky boyfriend is in town, Leo is going to get even worse.

And we just saw him getting a whole eyeful of Javi and Gus (Michael Ocampo) engaging in some happy PDA right there in Horton Town Square. But once Leo finds out Gus is planning to move to Salem, the big question is, will he sabotage Javi’s boyfriend?

Leo’s Obsession With Javi on Days of Our Lives

So, given how eaten up with jealousy that Leo is, plus that, you know, the last time I looked, unless something’s changed, he’s still wearing the wedding ring Javi put on his finger. So, I just don’t think this is going to go well. And it could be that scheming Leo takes matters into his own hands and ruins Gus’s shot at a job as a first responder in Salem.

Now, as you know, Leo and Javi have been broken up for months now. We know Leo still cares about Javi, but honestly, that ship has long since sailed. The question is, will Leo pull a shocking move to make sure that Gus is sent packing back to Texas because he can’t get a job, so he can’t stay in town and be at Javi’s side?

Michael Ocampo Makes His DOOL Debut

Soap newbie Michael Ocampo just made his debut on Days as Javi’s new boyfriend, Gustavo, or Gus for short. And Javi reconnected with Gus while he was down in Texas taking care of his father while he was recovering from open heart surgery. And apparently Javi and Gus knew each other as firefighters. But back then, Javi had not come out of the closet yet.

If you remember, that was back when he was with a woman and they had a baby and then there was that terrible thing and their baby died. So, Gus and Javi never dated back then and after losing his child then Javi wound up in Salem with Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) and Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and that is when he met Leo Stark.

Leo And Javi’s Relationship

So, you know, from the start, he and Javi had a really sweet love story that, of course, culminated in that romantic wedding that Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) ruined when she brought her horrible husband, Dimitri Von Leuschner (Peter Porte), to town, specifically to mess up Javi and Leo’s big day. And then Dimitri lured Leo back into his web of deceit. And that sent Javi back to Texas to nurse his dad back to health and also nurse his own broken heart after he told Leo he needed to go get closure with Dimitri.

But instead Leo took off to Alamania with Dimitri to help prove his innocence in the DiMera kidnappings, which seems like a nice thing, but that cost Leo his chance with Javi because Leo didn’t tell him he was going. He just took off and Rafe and the others were kind of not saying anything. But of course, Javi did eventually learn that Leo was over in Europe. Worse yet, sharing a hotel room with his hottie ex Dimitri. And to his credit, Leo figured out that Dimitri was all flash and no substance. That he really wanted to be with Javi, but by then it was too late. And Javi had told Leo he moved on with Gus.

Days of our Lives: Leo Won’t Give Up

Of course, Leo hasn’t given up. He takes every opportunity to try and get close to Javi. He wouldn’t stay away. For instance, Leo kept showing up when Javi was hospitalized after the Johnny near death incident when Javi played hero. But unlike Leo, while Gus wasn’t around, Javi wasn’t letting his ex get close. Not like Leo did with Dimitri. We’ve seen Javi being very standoffish and insisting no, Leo can’t even be his friend. Javi has told him they are over and he is in love with Gus, who is quite the tall, handsome hunk, by the way.

Leo’s Therapy And Obsession on Days

Meanwhile, Leo has been venting to Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) in therapy about how much he misses Javi and regrets what happened with them. But recently, Marlena pointed out that it seems like Leo is just low-key stalking Javi. Poor Leo just cannot seem to get over the man that he married and lost last New Year’s Eve. Clearly Javi is a good influence on him and he made Leo a better person, but that’s not his job, you know.

And at the same time, Dimitri wants Leo basically at his worst. And I will say that Leo has come a long way in his therapy with Marlena since he and Javi broke up. But don’t forget, it was Javi who refused to sign the marriage license and left for Texas on Days of our Lives . So, if you think it’s a little fast for him to head back down there and reconnect with Gus and start dating him, maybe.

But then again, Leo didn’t wait too long before he got way too close to Dimitri, even though Leo kept refusing to do the deed and they didn’t cheat physically. I feel like that he cheated emotionally by getting so close to Dimitri. And then this week, Leo found out that Javi’s boyfriend, Gus, was in town and he reacted badly. First of all, Leo was making fun of his name and then was trying to stall Javi while he was trying to go meet Gus. And we know that Leo hates the idea of Javi being with this other man. But what’s he going to do?

Will Leo Sabotage Gus on DOOL?

Well, maybe something. Considering how hurt and jealous Leo was when he saw Gus and Javi kissing, I’m honestly expecting Leo might reach into his old bag of tricks and pull one of his sketchy moves. You know, he was quite the plotter and schemer back in the day. So, you can’t put anything past him, even though he’s been working with Marlena to try and be a better man.

If you remember, Leo kept asking how long Gus was going to be in town. And then he basically told Javi that Gus was being non-committal by only coming for a visit. But then after Javi told Gus about how Leo was acting and what he was saying, Gus assured Javi that he had lots of vacation days and was going to stay in Salem as long as he can. And then Javi offered up a long-term solution and he told Gus that there is a job opening at the fire station.

And after some more smooching and flirting, Gus agreed to apply for the job so he can stay in Salem with Javi for good. I’m assuming it’s a firefighter job because they were firefighters together in Texas and we’ve been hearing Gus referred to as firefighter Gus. And of course, Leo was lurking and stalking and listening to all this. So, you know, he was already counting the days till Javi’s boyfriend went back to Texas so that then he could try and get with Javi again. But now this is something Leo may not be able to stand by and watch happen.

Days of our Lives: Leo Sabotages Gus’ Job Application?

So we also know that JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) is wanting to stay in Salem and he wants to go back to being an EMT. Meanwhile, Gus is a firefighter. So we heard that this job opening mentioned by JJ and also by Javi. So I’m not sure if JJ and Gus would be vying for the same open position. If they are, I would expect that Leo might find out about JJ wanting the job from his boss, Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd), since Chad and JJ live under the same roof.

And Leo might find out and then do all he can to make sure that JJ gets the job and Gus does not. Then again, if JJ and Gus aren’t going after the same job, I would still expect Leo to find some way to sabotage Javi’s boyfriend. You know, Leo might go into the office, sneak around behind the desk, and just delete his application off the system or somehow tamper with it to make him look bad, call in a bad reference.

You know, there’s no telling what he would do. Since Leo’s certain that Javi is his soulmate, I am fully expecting that Leo has the potential to engage in some sort of shocking sabotage because as they say, all is fair in love and war and he wants Javi to be his guy again. Also in a month, don’t forget Jacob Martinez steps in as recast Javi right in the middle of this front burner storyline because Al Calderon has left Days of Our Lives.

Bruce Willis‘ reputation definitely precedes him, and it is for all the right reasons!

The actor’s co-star, Laurie Metcalf, revisited a touching memory from their past, speaking greatly about his kindness, patience, and regard for everyone, despite their age and status.

Bruce Willis continues to battle his frontotemporal dementia since the illness forced him to step away from acting in 2022 and subsequently led to his being moved to an intensive care home.

The actor’s Broadway co-star, Laurie Metcalf, confirmed that the actor will be remembered for more than his Hollywood stardom. Metcalf’s account encompassed his lifestyle of generosity, which characterized their time on “Misery.”

During her appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Metcalf recalled working alongside Willis in the 2015 stage adaptation of Stephen King’s thriller. She described the actor as someone who constantly went out of his way to make others feel appreciated.

According to Metcalf, the actor made a habit of surprising cast and crew members with thoughtful gifts throughout the production, but one significant gesture left a lasting impression on her heart. 

The actress recalled that she had mentioned her son would be paying them a visit on set backstage and had asked Willia for restaurant ideas. 

The actor reportedly did well to suggest Nobu, tagging it as one of his favorite spots. To her shock, after they were done experiencing a lavish meal, they discovered that Willis had cleared their tab. 

Laurie Metcalf Raved About The Actor’s Star Power

The prolific actress continued to pour in the admirable words about her pal and contemporary. She digressed to the topic of his amazing work ethic on the set of their production, where he spent hours in makeup and prosthetics to portray novelist Paul Sheldon.

Despite the fact that his character spent most of his time bedridden in the play, Metcalf stressed that Willis gave it so much life due to his sheer dedication. Despite the demanding role, the actor reportedly kept his warm, approachable composure, which earned him great respect from everyone around him.

Metcalf also referenced the role Willis’ star power played in making sure every night got sold out when people came to watch the Broadway production, with audiences often erupting in cheers whenever he appeared onstage.

The Emmy-winning actress affirmed that everyone was so happy to have him around, adding, “It was a weird hybrid between being a book and then a movie, and now a play. So it had some of the best and worst of everything – all jammed together.”

How The Family Is Adapting To Bruce Willis’ Dementia Diagnosis

Despite the effect of the actor’s diagnosis on his career, his family continues to embrace life with gratitude and optimism each day.

The actor’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, has since used her husband’s illness as a contact point to advocate for caregivers and also raise awareness about the realities of dementia. 

As noted by The Blast, Emma revealed that the family’s focus remains on finding joy in everyday moments and cherishing the time they spend together. However, managing Willis’ condition also comes with adjusting to a new reality and avoiding painting a negative picture around the illness. 

“You have to learn and adapt. Life goes on. Dementia is hard, but there is still joy in it. I think it’s important that we don’t paint such a negative picture around dementia,” Emma stated.

Willis has enjoyed tremendous support from his immediate family, consisting of his wife, daughters Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah, whom he shares with Demi Moore, and Mabel and Evelyn, whom she shares with Emma. 

The Actor’s Daughter Finds Unexpected Grace In His Dementia Battle

This May, The Blast noted that Rumer opened up about the emotional realities of watching her father fight through his illness while uncovering interesting layers to his personality every day. 

During her recent appearance on “The Inside Edit” podcast with her close friend and stylist Maeve Reilly, the actress revealed how much life has changed since the actor’s first diagnosis in 2022.

While acknowledging that their family dynamic will never be the same, Rumer said she remains deeply grateful for the time they continue to share with the Hollywood icon. She’s also grateful for the opportunity to witness her three-year-old daughter, Louetta, spend time with Willis, knowing fully well that her siblings’ kids may never get to experience that.

Rumer also revealed that the disease has brought out a side of her father she had not fully seen before. Known for portraying tough, larger-than-life action heroes throughout his career, Willis has reportedly shown a new level of tenderness that is so sweet and moving.

Despite the heartbreak that comes with the realization that their lives have changed forever, Rumer admitted that the condition has uncovered a gentler version of the actor.

Bruce Willis’ Wife Turned His Diagnosis Into Hope With Fundraiser

During The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration’s Hope Rising Benefit in New York City, Emma accepted the Susan Newhouse and Si Newhouse Award of Hope on behalf of herself and Willis. 

As she stepped up to receive the award, Emma made it public that she was spearheading a major initiative aimed at funding ongoing research efforts towards dementia.

The fund, according to Emma, will advance awareness and understanding of FTD and also provide support to caregivers helping patients navigate the complexities of the disease.

Emma added that caring for a loved one living with FTD has given her a first-hand understanding of the emotional and practical realities their families experience every day.

Conveying her husband’s certain interest in the cause if things were different, Emma stated, “Bruce has always led with generosity and heart, and I know he would be proud to see this effort helping families facing this disease.”

Bruce Willis has built a good name for himself!

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 35 seconds ago

Mork and Mindy is secretly hiding one of the 70s sexiest episodes of sci-fi television. The Happy Days spin-off that turned Robin Williams into a star and “Nanu Nanu” into a hit catchphrase went into Fall Sweeps with a two-parter episode, “Mork vs. The Necrotons,” unlike anything the series had, or ever would do. Casting icon Raquel Welch as an alien invader will do that. “Mork vs. The Necrotons” turned Welch’s appeal into the focus of the episode by literally weaponizing it. 

Invasion Of The Super Models

The Necrotons are evil alien conquerors out to use Mork’s knowledge of Earth to add it to their empire. For the first half of “Mork vs. The Necrotons,” Mork is trying to hide from the evil aliens even though he has no idea what they look like. Mork explains to Mindy, “they only know three emotions: Hate, Lust, and Greed,” going on and on about how evil they are. It’s all to set up the gag when Raquel Welch walks in as Captain Nirvana with her two henchwomen, Karma (Debra Jo Fondren, Playboy’s 1978 Playmate of the Year) and Sutra (Vicki Frederick, a Broadway dancer who appeared on Dream On 11 years later), all clad in skintight spandex. 

Mork and Mindy was filmed in front of a live studio audience that loses their minds at the reveal, but that was just the start. Nirvana abducts Mork to their spaceship, an art-deco sci-fi set complete with a hot tub in the middle. Torturing Mork to get him to reveal what he knows about Earth involves him spending time in a hot tub with Kama and Sutra, before Nirvana takes matters into her own hands. The wolf whistles from the audience are enough to blow out your speakers. 

Robin Williams Vs. Jigglevision

Airing in November, 1979, “Mork vs. The Necrotons” is winking to the audience, and Robin Williams would say later that “a lot of little kids went through puberty watching that episode.” At the time, ABC was gaining a reputation for “jigglevision,” a catchy term for its penchant to stack shows with as much sex appeal as possible. Which Williams wasn’t a fan of, saying “we lost a lot of the audience.” 

Adding to the cast’s mixed feelings about the very different episode was Raquel Welch herself, who, the episode’s director Howard Storm described as “every director’s worst nightmare.” Allegedly, Welch was concerned over being upstaged by her two henchwomen, amping up her own performance to be as sexy as possible on broadcast television and asking that Kama and Sutra wear masks. Given the audience reaction to the moment when the two henchwomen drop their robes and wear the smallest bikinis then seen on ABC. 

Robin Williams and Pam Dawber (Mindy, and future wife of NCIS’ Mark Harmon) may have hated what Mork and Mindy became with “Mork vs. The Necrotons,” but the audience obviously loved it. Television was going through an awkward growth spurt during the late 70s before it would be changed forever in the 80s with the rise of prime-time soaps Dallas and Dynasty, and the decade-defining Miami Vice. Mork and Mindy isn’t often thought of as being on the cutting edge of television, but Williams’ manic energy, comedic timing, and episodes that broke sitcom conventions turned the series into an all-time classic. 

Latto already had the internet going up with reactions to her new ‘Big Mama’ album. Now, she has fans flooding social media with heart eyes after giving them a first look at her baby girl — and the photos are too precious!

RELATED: Latto Speaks On Moment She Found Out She Was Pregnant, Viral Retirement Tweet & More In First Interview Since Giving Birth (VIDEO) 

Cue The Heart Eyes — Latto’s Baby is Too Cute

Latto has fans in full auntie and uncle mode after dropping the first photos of her daughter on Instagram. Just hours after releasing her ‘Big Mama’ album, she gave fans a peek at her lil’ mama in a carousel post she shared Friday, May 29, and the pics are way too cute. One photo shows Latto cuddling her daughter while posing in a backyard with a pink carriage sitting right beside them. Other snaps show Big Mama pushing her mini-me in the carriage, while a few more give fans a closer look at her fit. Latto looked stunning in an all-white sheer dress styled with gold jewelry and pointed-toe Louboutin heels.

The Internet Can’t Stop Gushing Over Big Mama & Lil Mama

Minutes after Latto dropped the photos of her daughter, fans ran straight to the comment section with reactions. Plenty of folks said they got emotional seeing her step into motherhood, while others filled the post with congratulations and pink bows. Meanwhile, a bunch of fans said they always knew she was meant to be a girl mom because she’s always given girl mom energy!

Instagram user @deejah_q wrote, “Big mama you making me emotional 🥹🥹🥹❤️❤️” 

Instagram user @ilovemissmulatto wrote, “IT WAS MEANT FOR YOU TO BE A GIRL MOM 🥹😍💗 I love the album so much 10/10″ 

While Instagram user @destinitrujillo wrote, “Da biggest mama🩷🧘🏽‍♀️” 

Then Instagram user @lifeofmulatto wrote, “Motherhood looks soo good on you 😍! Congratulations on your baby girl 🎀💕” 

Another Instagram user @peacheslatto wrote, “The mother era is so beautiful on you 🥹😍” 

Instagram user @itsjusttt.lara wrote, “😍😍😍😍😍😍 love dis for u ❤️😍” 

Then another Instagram user @tanasinn.yen wrote, “Awhhh I wonder Wuh her daughter name is we love u Latto n bbg 🥺💕💕” 

Instagram user @korinneliana wrote, “I’m so happy for someone I don’t even know 😍 I knew you’d be a girl mom 💕” 

While another Instagram user @clubrockermusic wrote, “Congratulations on a healthy baby girl. Your maternal instinct is already shining through in the most beautiful and nurturing way. ❤️” 

Finally, Instagram @dnablk wrote, “You had a baby and looking like a baby too😍😍. God Bless and welcome to the Big Mama 1 kid Motherhood 🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎” 

RELATED: Social Media Pops OFF After Alleged Mother Of 21 Savage’s Two Sons Appears To Post Photo With Latto 

Young and the Restless spoilers for next week, include Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) shocking health crisis and Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) mind is blown by a request out of left field.

Plus, a big hint that Dr. Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox) is going to stick around for a good long time in Genoa City. We’ve got the latest Y&R spoilers for the week of June 1st through the 5th with big action for Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) and Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow), for Matt Clark (Sean Dominic), Diane Jenkins, and lots more.

Nikki Newman’s Health Crisis on Young and the Restless

All right, first of all, let’s talk about Mrs. Nikki Newman. So, at the end of this week, she had a terrible nightmare when she fell asleep in her room at the GCAC. She dreamt that Nick was dead of an overdose. And honestly, he was clinically dead for a minute or two there. But then Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) and Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) dragged Nick back from the brink of death.

But all of this stress is definitely not doing Nikki any favors, and she hustled over to Victor Newman‘s (Eric Braeden) house to check in on Nick after his latest overdose. Nikki thinks Nick should still be in the hospital. Adam thinks his brother should be in rehab.

And Victor agrees. But Nick is on fire about Matt and wanting him punished. So, Nikki’s there and sees Nick’s irate reaction when he finds out that he would be dead as a doornail if not for Matt and Phyllis saving his life.

And of course, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle), Victor, and the others still hate Matt and Phyllis for other things they’ve done. But in the end, they are all very thankful that Nick is still with them because of these two rogues. And Nikki’s happy that Nick is alive no matter who did the saving. But for his part, he’s disgusted and still ranting about Matt.

Nikki thinks that Nick needs to prioritize getting clean. And Victor finally says he’s only going to let Nick see Matt if he agrees to go to rehab after confronting him. And Nick agrees after griping about the amnesia basically blocking them getting closure.

Nick’s Struggles With His Addiction on Y&R

Speaking of Nick almost dying again, writer Josh Griffith recently said, “Surprisingly, this is not rock bottom for Nick. You’d think it is. But no. His struggles with addiction are far from over.” Josh Griffith said Nick’s not having some epiphany where he’s just going to miraculously turn his life around. And Josh Griffith also said even if Nick is facing his addiction, that doesn’t mean that he is going to beat it, which is kind of interesting because in the real world it’s not a simple thing.

So, the writer said that Joshua Morrow’s character will get treatment for his addiction. But there are going to be stumbles ahead. However, he said that Nick is hard hit by this latest overdose and it reminds him that life is fragile and the Newmans are also impacted by watching him overdose, die. And then come right back.

Even worse, again, it’s all thanks to Matt and Phyllis that he’s alive. The writer said some of the family is going to be actually angry at Nick for letting things get this far. But a silver lining is that Adam and Nick will get lots closer and they are going to be true meaningful brothers at long last.

The guys take Nick to rehab while Nikki’s headache comes back. This is at the end of the week and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) is suggesting that it’s a migraine headache and Phyllis shows up and Nikki thanks her for saving Nick despite all the despicable things Phyllis has done to them lately.

Young and the Restless: Nikki Heaeded for a Health Crisis

And then in Young and the Restless spoilers for next week, we’re going to see that Nikki is still having these really terrible headaches. She tells Victoria that she’s gotten migraines like this before and that her doctor’s probably going to say they’re just a symptom of her MS. Nikki says to her daughter that she’s already taking medication for her MS. But Victoria is wondering if it might be something more serious. And it may be.

I think something major is going to happen to Nikki to change the dynamic with her and Victor and force him to realize he’s got to stop acting like this. I think Nick almost dying again is already starting to shake Victor into maybe having a little more sense where his family’s concerned.

Adam Acting Out Over Sally’s News on Y&R

Meanwhile, this week we saw that Adam didn’t take it well when Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) told him that he and Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) are engaged, building a life together, all that. But what really ticked off Adam was when Billy dropped the baby bomb, that Sally’s pregnant. And how thrilled they are. Adam is certain that Billy’s gonna screw things up and hurt Sally and will be a terrible dad. And when Adam told Chelsea that Billy said they were engaged and pregnant, Chelsea understood Adam being triggered because of him and Sally losing their daughter, Ava.

But Adam starts acting out next week, as the headwriter warned in a recent interview, when he said that Adam would have inappropriate reactions to this Sally news and Adam basically feels the need to protect Sally and her unborn child even though very clearly that is not Adam’s responsibility.

So, the weirdness begins the week of June 1st when he talks to Chelsea and is saying what a great job that they have done raising Connor. And then Adam asked Chelsea if she ever considered having another baby. And that coming out of Adam’s mouth is going to drop Chelsea’s jaw. Obviously, Adam’s sudden interest in having another child with Chelsea is about finding out that Sally’s pregnant with Billy’s baby. I don’t think Chelsea is going to have a very positive reaction to Adam’s question. And knowing Chelsea, she will confront Adam about him being jealous of Billy and basically trying to recreate what they’ve got going in that other relationship.

Dr. Stephanie Simmons Staying In Genoa City

Also, we have some big news about Holden Novak’s (Nathan Owens) mama, Dr. Stephanie Simmons. Next week, she tells Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) that the board of directors of Genoa City Memorial Hospital called her about their search for a new chief of staff. And Stephanie says somebody put her name into the hat. And Nate says that he’s the one who did it.

Now, we know that Vivica Fox was going to be sticking around, so this twist makes perfect sense. It’s too bad we also can’t keep Shemar Moore around as Malcolm Winters long term. But we can expect to see lots more of Stephanie and her with Holden and his girlfriend Claire Grace Newman (Hayley Erin).

Lily And Cane Working Together on Young and Restless

Also, there are some new spoilers about what’s coming for Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) and Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn). Brand new Young and the Restless info says that Billy gets a critical piece of information and from there Cane and Lily work together trying to stop Billy from going after something he really wants.

So, the two things that we know he wants that he should leave alone are getting revenge on Victor and getting his hands on Chancellor. These spoilers are for June at large. We don’t have specific dates. But we do know that Jill Abbott is in Genoa City later in June. But she’ll be played by recast actress Lauren Koslow). So, I’m wondering if Billy finds out that Victor promised Chancellor to Lily and then didn’t deliver because Jill might come back to make sure that Victor keeps his word and hands it over to Lily.

Young and the Restless: Lily Fights Billy for Chancellor

And of course, she wants it to wind up in Devon Hamilton (Bryton James) hands instead of Billy finding some way to finagle it into his own hands. Chancellor is to Billy like fentanyl is to Nick, something that they are both deeply addicted to. Check back for our detailed Young and the Restless weekly spoilers for June 1st through the 5th coming tomorrow, plus our weekly predictions, two week spoilers. And lots more for your favorite CBS soap.

Keanu Reeves penned a moving letter to a federal judge pleading for leniency for his director friend, who was convicted of swindling Netflix to the tune of $11 million.

However, fans have voiced their deep disappointment with him for supporting the “crook” by requesting for leniency.

Keanu Reeves has a reputation in Hollywood for being one of the “nicest guys” and has carried out several charitable endeavors, including donating a huge chunk of his salary to cancer research.

Keanu Reeves’ Director Pal Was Convicted Of Fraud

Reeves has garnered the ire of fans after he wrote a letter to a federal Judge pleading for justice to be tempered with mercy in the case of Carl Rinsch, who was convicted of swindling Netflix out of $11 million.

According to Variety, Rinsch was convicted in December on federal charges, including wire fraud and money laundering.

This happened after prosecutors proved that he embezzled funds meant for a series called “White Horse” to fund a lavish lifestyle.

He’s alleged to have lost several million in reckless crypto investment before spending the rest on a lavish shopping spree, including several luxury cars, high-end artwork, and a very costly mattress.

The Movie Star Showed Support For His Convicted Pal In A Letter To The Judge

In a character reference letter submitted to U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff ahead of Rinsch’s sentencing, Reeves asked that any criminal punishment be “tempered with measures of leniency and mercy,” even though justice must prevail.

According to TMZ, he claimed to have known Rinsch for about 15 years now, revealing that he even directed him in the 2011 film “47 Ronin.”

It appears they grew very close after then, as the “John Wick” star stated that he went to Rinsch’s 2014 wedding in Uruguay and often stops by in his L.A. home to “catch up and discuss art.”

It was during one of those meetings that the director showed Reeves the unfinished version of “White Horse,” adding that he thought the project was “a superb and visionary work of art,” although it was unfinished.

Reeves then described Rinsch as an “exceptional artist,” who he has seen bring “creative inspiration” to others through his creativity and vision. He admitted that he wasn’t writing in the capacity of a therapist or psychologist, but as an “artistic peer” of Rinsch.

“In my opinion, Carl can self-sabotage by amplifying the scale, scope, and landscape of what had been negotiated, accordingly placing himself and his counterparties at odds,” Reeves wrote. “I do not intend to share this as an excuse or diminishment of what he has been found to have done, but offer this solely as perhaps an insight into why.”

Fans Slam Keanu Reeves Over The Letter

Despite Reeves’ good intentions, many fans slammed him for the move, with some even suggesting that his “nice guy” Hollywood image was all a PR front.

“Bad look from a great actor. Fraud and embezzlement are real crimes,” an X user wrote, while another said, “Why is he asking leniency for a crook?”

“Try to spell the word ETHICS, Reeves!” one critic wrote. “This showing how much he doesn’t care about ethics, integrity, and professionalism. This guy is a total fraud! 40 years of a good crafted image based a PR narrative! Think about retirement, Reeves.”

Someone else added, “Keanu asking for leniency for Rinsch while Netflix licks its wounds over the $11m hole feels like asking the fox to guard the henhouse.”

The Actor Was Defended By Some Fans After His Controversial Move

Despite the controversy online, others defended Reeves for his “loyalty” to his friend.

One X user said, “He didn’t get the money, he was just asking for the judge to not give the dude 20 years in jail. 5 to 8 years is better based on a letter of recommendation.”

They added, “You may one day need a similar favor for bad decisions you’ve made. No one [is] perfect. He didn’t ask for NO punishment for him.”

“Everything Keanu Reeves does seems to give me greater cause to admire him,” another person noted,

Keanu Reeves’ Pal’s Lawyers Are Asking For Less Punishment

Rinsch is due to be sentenced on June 29, with federal prosecutors expected to release their sentencing recommendation by June 16, per Variety.

He could be slapped with a sentence of 8-10 years in prison for the crime based on defense calculations, but his lawyers are insisting on a sentence well below that because he’s a first-time offender and has already suffered “the likely end of his career.”

According to the news outlet, Rakoff is expected to order Rinsch to pay $11 million in restitution to Netflix, but the streaming giant is playing hardball, demanding full restitution alongside $4.4 million in attorneys’ fees, which it incurred throughout the case.

However, Rinsch’s lawyer argues that the attorney’s fee demand is way too much, as the director has been deemed “indigent” and was represented by counsel appointed by the court.

Bold and the Beautiful brings Wyatt Spencer (Darin Brooks) and Shauna Fulton (Denise Richards) both back on the scene at Spencer Tower this week and we just found out that Wyatt and Flo Falton (Katrina Bowden) are no longer a thing. However, something seems hanky to me about Wyatt and Shauna showing up together.

So, we’re going to talk about whether Wyatt and Shauna are keeping a shocking secret from everybody and might be in a scandalous secret romance. Now, let’s talk about the red flags about Wyatt and Shauna.

Wyatt And Shauna’s Suspicious Arrival on Bold and the Beautiful

So, Dollar Bill Spencer just brought his son Wyatt back to town because Bill wants Wyatt to help expand the Logan Empire. I’m still expecting to hear more about a jewelry line.

But for now, Bill wants one specific piece of jewelry from his son, Wyatt, and that of course is the Hope for the Future Diamond. And if you remember, Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) was floored when Shauna strolled right into his CEO office and started asking for a place at Logan talking about getting in on the ground floor because it looked like Shauna just got tired of waiting in the car.

Since Wyatt went in without her and left her like a poodle, you know, waiting outside in the car. But Shauna came up and then she made that whole appeal talking about how she had worked at boutiques and how she has such an eye for fashion. But at the same time, I also noticed there was this kind of vibe between her and Wyatt. And he sure seemed eager to hustle Shauna out of the office and shut her up.

More Clues on B&B

Plus, Wyatt and Shauna were headed out to dinner together. And the biggest red flag was Wyatt’s whole nonsense story about his car. He told Dollar Bill that Shauna was with him because Wyatt’s living in Vegas right now and his car is in the shop. So, he claimed he needed Shauna to drive him to LA.

I mean, seriously, as if Wyatt doesn’t have the means to rent a car or hop on a flight and take an Uber to Spencer Tower or to ask Bill to send a private jet. So, I definitely suspect something is up with that more than Shauna and Wyatt sharing a simple ride to LA.

Wyatt’s History with Older Women

And I will say if he is dating Shauna, that wouldn’t actually be out of character for Wyatt. In the past, he has shown a liking for a more mature woman, a little bit of an older lady. In fact, he was into his ex-stepmom. Do you guys remember that? It was like eight or nine years ago when Katie Logan (Heather Tom) and Wyatt were together.

Now, initially, Katie and Wyatt started as this kind of no strings attached fun thing and kept their romance a secret from everybody. And then things got more serious. They fell in love and Wyatt even proposed to Katie and she said yes. She was thrilled. But when they told Bill, he was enraged. If you remember, he threatened to fight Katie for custody of Will, who was a little kid back then.

Bold and the Beautiful: Bill Blows His Top

And Bill said he would drag her into custody court and make her look bad for dating her stepson Wyatt. So, in the end, Katie caved and then she later moved on with Thorne Forrester when they had recast him with Ingo Rademacher. So now Katie’s finally remarried to Bill, but Katie and Wyatt had something very deep and meaningful. And if not for Bill’s tantrum, I mean, he and Katie might still be married to Wyatt. So clearly, if he was willing to date, sleep with, and propose to his dad’s ex-wife, Katie, then yeah, Wyatt would certainly date his ex-girlfriend Flo’s mother.

Plus, Wyatt and Shauna have both messy romantic histories of their own. Neither she nor Wyatt are exactly known for playing it safe when it comes to romance. What’s also interesting since Wyatt doesn’t mind getting with a woman his dad has been with, you know, Katie being case in point.

But don’t forget Shauna had a one-nighter with Bill, but that was several decades ago because there was a question for just a minute of whether he might be Flo’s dad. But it turns out she also slept with Storm Logan (William deVry) around the same time and he was Flo’s bio dad. And then if you remember, Shauna was scheming with Quinn Fuller (Rena Sofer) and she took Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) to Vegas. She got him drunk and married him. That wound up a huge sore spot for Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge both. So yeah, I absolutely think Shauna would have no qualms starting a romance with her daughter Flo’s ex-fiancé.

Wyatt’s Romantic Pattern on Bold

And then for Wyatt, he had that back and forth thing with Hope Logan (Annika Noelle). If you remember, he dated her exclusively at times, but also Wyatt and Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) were triangling over Hope. And Wyatt also triangled with Liam over Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood). And in both instances, he pulled some shady stuff to try and get those ladies all to himself and away from his brother Liam.

However, I do not think Wyatt is back to romance Hope or steal her from Liam. Instead, I think Bold and the Beautiful is going to want Wyatt to have a romantic interest of his own. I think with Hope and Liam, they’re focusing on the Logan drama and the fashion rivalry. I don’t think they’re diving back into that old tired Wyatt, Hope, and Liam thing. At least I hope not. So, aside from Flo and Katie, we know Wyatt also dated Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope). That was messy. Ivy Forrester, (Ashleigh Brewer) that was messy at times. And Nicole Avant (Reign Edwards) that was super messy because he was deceiving her.

Bold and the Beautiful: Wyatt & Shauna Seem Likely

So, Wyatt’s romantic past is all over the place. So, yeah, I think it’s totally plausible that Wyatt and Shauna are in a totally secret romance. And I think that would be a really interesting twist for Wyatt because Bill would freak out. So would Katie. A lot of other people would. And I think it’s going to be a red flag of them having a secret fling.

If Wyatt starts advocating for Shauna, like if Wyatt tries to convince Bill to hire Shauna at Logan or tries to convince Katie, or even messier, if they said no, and Wyatt turns around and tells Bill that the condition for him to hand over the Hope for the Future Diamond is that Shauna gets her dream job at Logan.

Now, we know Bill’s desperate to have that diamond as part of the debut of Hope’s new line at Logan, and I think he would do absolutely anything to get it, even if it means giving Wyatt’s hot cougar lover a job at Logan. If the writers are indeed going there with Shauna and Wyatt, by the way, last we saw the Hope for the Future Diamond, it had been left to Wyatt.

Bold and the Beautiful: Wyatt Posses the Hope Diamond

The old guy who had it left it in his will to Wyatt. That was back in like 2014. We know that Darin Brooks, by the way, is on contract, so Wyatt is definitely sticking around. And Denise Richards is on recurring status as Shauna, but we also know she is still filming even right now. So, she’s around for a while.

So, there’s definitely space for Bold and the Beautiful to reveal that Wyatt and Shauna are having either a purely physical fling or maybe like Wyatt did with Katie, they started out having a hot affair and then he and Shauna caught feelings for each other.

Because I did notice also that Wyatt was getting a little physical, a little handsy when he was hauling Shauna out of Dollar Bill’s office. And of course, Denise Richards is gorgeous, and I think it would be a shame to not have her doing something sexy while she is on Bold and the Beautiful. So, I’d be totally into it if it turns out that she and Wyatt are involved in some sort of romance that is going to shock absolutely everybody.

Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi are currently exploring a blossoming relationship while keeping their connection strictly low-key. 

The high-profile pair has started spending a significant amount of time together behind the scenes as their romance continues to grow. 

Despite their surging connection, the duo is reportedly focused on keeping things completely natural without placing any pressure on their status.

Things are continuing to heat up between Kendall and Elordi as they quietly integrate into each other’s personal lives.

The “KUWTK” alum has recently started bringing the 28-year-old Oscar nominee around her immediate friends on a much more frequent basis, introducing him to the individuals she spends the most time with, including her younger sister, Kylie Jenner. 

Fortunately, the integration has been entirely seamless, as everyone in her friend group likes him, as reported by Page Six. 

According to a source close to the situation, the “Frankenstein” actor is incredibly down-to-earth, remarkably easygoing, and possesses a relaxed attitude that allows him to get along effortlessly with nearly everyone. 

Advertisement

The source noted that they are “not rushing to label anything or call each other boyfriend/girlfriend yet, but neither of them is seeing anybody else.” 

While the two are not rushing to formally label their relationship, insiders note that the exclusive relationship is steadily heading toward becoming official.

The Budding Couple Showed Off Their Close Connection In Montecito

The exclusive relationship, which is steadily heading toward becoming official, was put on full display during a recent weekend getaway in California.

The Blast previously reported that the 30-year-old runway star and the 28-year-old Oscar-nominated actor enjoyed a late-night meal together in Montecito.

Advertisement

The pair stood close to one another inside the restaurant while sharing the evening with another couple. According to an eyewitness report, the supermodel was “very affectionate” with her new partner, wrapping her arm around him and playfully touching his hair as they dined late into the night.

Notably, this cozy public display arrived amid rumors regarding the actor’s professional motivations for his alleged romance with Kendall. Sources claim he is highly driven by fame and wants to become a top leading man. 

Kendall Jenner And Jacob Elordi Were Also Spotted On A Tropical Getaway 

The rumors surrounding the actor’s professional motivations have done nothing to slow down the rapid progression of his romance with the supermodel.

Besides enjoying an affectionate dinner date in Montecito, the high-profile couple experienced a major milestone during an intimate tropical vacation to Hawaii. 

Advertisement

According to a source, the romantic getaway completely accelerated their bond, turning their connection into something far more serious than the runway star had initially anticipated.

The vacation completely changed the dynamic for the couple, allowing them to get incredibly close in a private setting. The insider noted that the television personality did not expect to develop such deep feelings so quickly, but she is currently really happy and loves how easy things feel between them, per The Blast. 

Public Skepticism Surrounded The Actor’s Sidelined Festival Absence

While Elordi and Kendall seem to be thoroughly enjoying their time together, the actor’s recent romantic trips and social outings with the model have suddenly cast doubt on his professional obligations overseas. 

Earlier this month, the “Euphoria” actor surprised fans by completely pulling out of the Cannes Film Festival, with initial reports claiming he was recovering from a broken foot.

Many initially assumed the performer was sidelined by a legitimate injury that prevented him from traveling to France for the prestigious event, per The Blast. However, public reaction shifted dramatically after photos emerged of his tropical getaway to Hawaii with the supermodel. 

Advertisement

Critics online quickly pointed out that he appeared completely carefree while lounging on the beach and driving around, with absolutely no visible sign of an orthopedic boot or cast. The skepticism intensified after he was spotted looking perfectly healthy while driving during their recent Los Angeles double date.

What The Reality Television Star Said About Her Romantic History

While her current rumored partner deals with intense scrutiny over his mysterious travel choices, the supermodel is no stranger to the narratives about her romantic life. 

Earlier this year, Kendall made headlines by leaning into public perception during her appearance in a 2026 Fanatics Sportsbook Super Bowl commercial. The widely discussed advertisement directly addressed a long-running online narrative regarding her history with popular athletes.

The clever marketing campaign playfully embraced the viral internet joke that the runway icon brings bad luck to her professional athlete partners. 

In the humorous commercial, she openly said, “Haven’t you heard? The internet says I’m cursed. Any basketball player who dates me kind of hits a rough patch,” per People Magazine.

Advertisement

She further joked that she has strategically used the public gossip to line her pockets by placing successful wagers on her former boyfriends’ professional misfortunes.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 14 seconds ago

When The Mandalorian and Grogu came out, it offered several surprises for Star Wars fans. This included Mando getting a new Razorcrest (a big upgrade over that old Naboo starfighter) and finding a new purpose: hunting down sleazy Imperial warlords on behalf of the New Republic. Plus, it was undeniably cool to see Sigourney Weaver suit up and hop in an X-Wing (in space, no one can hear her enemies scream!). However, the biggest surprise is that Rotta the Hutt didn’t speak in his native language. Instead, he spent pretty much the entire film speaking English (or Galactic Basic, if you want to be technical), which was jarring whenever he was onscreen.

Many fans thought the sight of a Hutt speaking their own language was more than a bit surreal. Still, it made a kind of sense. Rotta was voiced by The Bear star Jeremy Allen White, and it would have been pretty stupid to hire him just to have the acclaimed actor make Hutt noises. However, what really weirded out the Star Wars fandom is that White didn’t really sound like himself throughout The Mandalorian and Grogu. According to fans all over the internet, he sounded more like another very famous actor: everyone’s favorite carefree stoner, Seth Rogen!

Smoke’em If You Got’em

Who is Rotta the Hutt, exactly? In this famous galaxy far, far away, he’s the son of infamous crime lord Jabba the Hutt, and someone Din Djarin ends up helping out in The Mandalorian and Grogu. In our own galaxy, it’s more accurate to say that this Hutt is Dave Filoni’s baby. He included Rotta as a nasty, farting Huttling in the 2008 Clone Wars movie and brought him back for this latest Star Wars movie. Rotta is all grown up now and can speak for himself (which is a big step up from being a burbling monster). Unfortunately, every single thing that comes out of his slimy mouth is insanely distracting. 

Why is that? Rotta the Hutt is voiced by Jeremy Allen White, which seemed like an insane bit of stunt casting. Nonetheless, the actor has a fairly distinctive voice in The Bear, so Star Wars fans kept an open mind about his performance. However, even superfans of the actor ended up being disappointed because White sounds nothing like himself in The Mandalorian and Grogu, presumably because Disney put some kind of filter over his voice. That would have been bad enough, but according to countless fans on social media, White’s voice sounds distractingly like Seth Rogen!

All Too Human

The problems with White’s voice acting are compounded by the fact that Rotta the Hutt sounds so weirdly human. He doesn’t sound like Seth Rogen doing an alien voice or anything, which would make more sense for someone voicing one of the most fearsome creatures in the galaxy. No, The Bear star sounds almost exactly like Rogen in his various stoner comedies like Knocked Up and Pineapple Express. Because of this, fans have transformed already-bad lines like Rotta’s “I’m my own man” into hilarious memes, underscoring the fact that The Mandalorian and Grogu is one big joke.

So far, it’s not entirely clear why Disney wanted their stunt-cast actor to sound like the world’s biggest stoner. Was this meant to make him more relatable compared to his frog-eating slaver of a father, or were they counting on his lines being turned into funny TikToks and Reels? Whatever the reasoning (if there was any real reason at all), this decision was fairly insane. It could be worse, though. In The Clone Wars, we meet Ziro the Hutt, Rotta’s great-uncle, who sounds exactly like Truman Capote. That was even more distracting than Jeremy Allen White’s performance, turning what could have been an interesting new Star Wars character into a weirdly offensive gay stereotype.

More Like “No, Chef”

Chances are, we’ll never know why Disney hired Jeremy Allen White to voice Rotta the Hutt and then made the actor sound like the most famous stoner in the world. It’s a decision that makes the film memorable in all the worst ways, and one of the biggest criticisms of The Mandalorian and Grogu is that Rotta’s voice is so distractingly weird and human. Honestly, I just kept expecting him to ditch Mando and go buy a Hutt-load of spice from an alien voiced by James Franco.

At the very least, we’re already getting funny memes out of this. If the rehabilitation of The Phantom Menace shows us anything, it’s that Star Wars fans can meme themselves into thinking that anything is good. In the meantime, you’ve got a ready-made punchline whenever you watch The Mandalorian and Grogu with your friends. Just wait for Rotta to open his mouth for the first time, make eye contact with your closest buddy, and drop this banger on them: “somehow, Seth Rogen returned.”

The crime genre has always been far and away one of television’s most prolific, popular, and acclaimed. After all, it’s not just any genre that could be able to produce revolutionary classics of the stature of The Sopranos, The Wire, and Breaking Bad. But even with the genre’s outstanding track record, the last five years in particular have represented a bit of a golden age for crime television, with the release of several gems bound to go down in history as some of the genre’s best.

Whether it’s a miniseries like Mare of Easttown, a new chapter in a big franchise, like Dexter: Resurrection, or a new show that promises to provide some of the best televisual content in the coming years, like MobLand, the crime genre is one that has flourished beautifully in the 2020s. Five years have been enough to prove that there’s no time like the present to be a fan of crime television.

10

‘Mayor of Kingstown’ (2021–Present)

Image via Paramount+

Ever since the creation of Yellowstone back in 2018, Taylor Sheridan has become one of the most prolific voices in modern television. The writer and producer, who began his career as the screenwriter of films like Sicario and Hell or High Water, has created a whopping nine TV shows since Yellowstone. His third was Mayor of Kingstown, and fans are lucky that it’s still on the air.

It’s one of Sheridan’s highest-rated shows on IMDb, and for good reason. Though critics disliked the first two seasons, viewers have been there all along, singing the praises of this enthralling crime melodrama that’s bolstered by one of Jeremy Renner‘s strongest performances to date. It’s also a show that definitely gets better as it goes on, making it so that there’s even more of a reason to check it out today.

9

‘MobLand’ (2025–Present)

Image via Paramount+

Anchored by a jaw-dropping cast that features the likes of Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren, MobLand is only one season in, yet it already shows the potential to become one of the most beloved crime shows of modern times. It’s executive-produced by filmmaker Guy Ritchie, and all those who enjoy the director’s unique energy and sophistication are guaranteed to love MobLand.

The series doesn’t really reinvent the mobster genre in any significant way, but it never needs to. It executes all of the genre’s tropes with such panache that it’s difficult to resist, and its sense of suspense makes it one of the most intense crime shows in recent memory. Gritty, violent, darkly humorous, and delectably character-driven, it’s a must-see for anyone who loves Guy Ritchie.

8

‘Bosch: Legacy’ (2022–2025)

Image via Amazon MGM

Having aired its pilot in 2014, Bosch is one of the best police procedurals that the small screen has seen at any point during the 21st century. After fans thought that the show had come to its natural conclusion following its seventh season, Bosch: Legacy—described by Titus Welliver himself, the show’s star, as a bona fide eighth season of Bosch—came into the picture.

It’s an incredible return to form, one of those Prime Video thrillers that are totally unpredictable. Though rising production costs and platform changes led Prime to cancel the series after its third season, fans’ love for it will never die. Intense, impeccably plotted, and tweaking the original series’ formula in all the right ways, it’s easily one of the greatest American crime shows of the 2020s so far.

7

‘Mouse’ (2021)

Image via tvN

It’s not just the United States. Korea, too, has offered some of the best crime series of the last five years, but it’s easy to pick the best of the bunch: It has to be Mouse. One of the best K-dramas with the most plot twists, Mouse follows a detective and a rookie officer who work together to hunt down a serial killer. It’s a familiar enough concept, but the things that this K-drama does with it are constantly surprising.

This cat-and-mouse game should prove to be a gripping watch for all those who enjoy dark murder mysteries, even a tiny little bit. Popular thanks to its intense twists, its morally grey characters, and its mind-bending and psychologically-charged mind puzzles, it’s a grim and intricately plotted televisual crime masterpiece.

6

‘Dexter: Resurrection’ (2025–Present)

Image via Paramount+

Dexter started out as one of the most beloved serial killer crime shows ever made, but things led all the way to a finale that’s universally hated by fans. Dexter: New Blood was created as a way to explicitly course-correct the original’s controversial ending, but it ended up having just as widely-disliked a conclusion itself. Dexter: Resurrection is the second course-correction that the franchise has put out, and so far, it seems like things will finally turn out well this time.

It’s one of those thrillers whose every episode is a masterpiece, at least so far. One season in, this rediscovery of everything that made the original magical in the first place is obviously a must-see for fans, but also so great that it should motivate anyone who hasn’t seen Dexter to jump aboard the train ASAP. With Michael C. Hall at his best and a healthy dose of campy absurdism, Resurrection is everything that fans had been waiting for years.

5

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022–Present)

Image via Netflix

At launch, CD Projekt Red’s action RPG Cyberpunk 2077 was nothing short of a disaster; but with time, the various improvements and updates delivered by the developer turned the game into something that can only be called a masterpiece. Along with this reappraisal came Netflix’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, a prequel to the video game that didn’t need any live service in order to get great.

Right off the bat, this miniseries proves to be one of the best cyberpunk anime of all time. With a level of visual flair and of stylish action that you don’t often see in many cartoons these days, Edgerunners is a relentlessly wild ride that never lets up. Perfectly paced and perfectly written, it’s perfect for all those who love not just the game that inspired it, but the cyberpunk genre in general.

4

‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)

Image via HBO

HBO has put out some of the greatest miniseries of the 2020s as a whole, and Mare of Easttown is right up there as one of the studio’s best. It’s one of those detective shows that are perfect from start to finish, bolstered by one of the greatest performances of Kate Winslet‘s career. It’s ambitious, mysterious, impeccably written, and absolutely mesmerizing.

It’s not just a twisty, irresistibly suspenseful murder mystery, but also a gripping character study with a raw emotional heart. The way it explores themes of grief and trauma is anchored in some surprisingly solid world-building, making for a drama that’s impossible to take one’s eyes off of at any point. It’s grounded, perfectly paced, and psychologically complex in ways that all fans of the crime genre should be able to appreciate.

3

‘Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord’ (2026–Present)

Image via Lucasfilm/Disney+

Who would have expected Star Wars, of all franchises, to produce one of the best crime series of the 2020s? That is, indeed, what Maul — Shadow Lord is: a crime show through and through, following the Sith Lord’s attempt to escape an Empire-occupied planet following the Clone Wars. It has only been one season, and yet this is already one of the best Star Wars shows thus far.

Maul has been one of the franchise’s most fascinating characters since Dave Filoni brought him back in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and all Shadow Lord does is further expand the complexity and emotional resonance of the villain with the help of Sam Witwer‘s visceral performance. Action-packed to the core, this Clone Wars sequel runs at a breakneck pace that all fans of the genre are pretty much guaranteed to enjoy.

2

‘Adolescence’ (2025)

Image via Netflix

Netflix’s Adolescence is far more than just one of the best miniseries of the 2020s so far. It’s a gripping four-episode dissection of incel culture and how modern society is failing its young boys by allowing them to fall victim to it. Boosted by Stephen Graham‘s masterful performance and especially Owen Cooper‘s star-making work, it may be a relatively short drama, but it’s one with a ton of staying power.

Each episode of Adolescence is done in a single shot, and that’s far more than just a simple gimmick: It’s a stylistic foundation that allows the series to tell its engrossing story visually as often as it does verbally. It’s true televisual perfection, a thematically sharp miniseries where every element works in perfect conjunction with the others to deliver a harrowing story that feels awfully timely.

1

‘The Penguin’ (2024)

Image via HBO

Matt Reeves‘ The Batman became one of the most beloved depictions of the Caped Crusader in history as soon as it came out in 2022, and fans immediately started to clamor for more content set in this particularly fascinating version of Gotham City. That’s where The Penguin came in, and somehow, it managed to not just live up to expectations, but significantly surpass them.

It’s one of the most perfect HBO shows of the last 10 years, because instead of sticking by the same kinds of tropes that have made superhero shows and movies feel stale during the 2020s, it’s a gritty crime drama first and foremost. With Colin Farrell and Cristin Milloti‘s powerhouse performances and the writing team’s incredible work, it’s a crime saga with as much pathos and gravitas as it has heart.

Advertisement

The Penguin

Advertisement

Release Date

2024 – 2024-00-00

Advertisement

Showrunner

Lauren LeFranc

Writers

Advertisement

Lauren LeFranc

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement