By Robert Scucci
| Published 30 seconds ago

I’m having trouble assessing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie because I’m not the primary audience for a movie like this. It’s not that I’m allergic to fun (I am) or only like psychological thrillers (also true). While it’s true that I don’t actively seek out kids’ movies, I do have kids, and they loved 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. We saw the first one on opening night at the drive-in, and we did the same for this new one.

I never had a Nintendo in the house growing up, so I appreciate how the franchise has drip-fed its lore in a way that casual viewers can follow, using characters that are universally recognizable. We all know who Mario is, and I don’t know a single person who hasn’t played Super Smash Bros. at a friend’s house at some point in their life. That’s the extent of my expertise. 

What really bugged me about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, though, is how much effort went into the visuals while the plot and dialogue took a back seat to the spectacle. The 2023 movie struck a nice balance. It looked great, and it had plenty of zingers. This one gives off Avatar vibes, or at least it feels like I’m supposed to be so entranced by the worldbuilding that the storytelling doesn’t really matter. If there’s no real story to tell, then I don’t want to be there.

I felt like a kid being brainwashed into submission for 98 minutes, and for that reason I felt robbed. Then I remembered that this is exactly why we took the kids to see it, so I got what I paid for and probably shouldn’t be complaining. Growing up isn’t easy anywhere, I guess.

Bigger, Bolder, And Sneaking In Another IP

I don’t want to bog you down with exposition for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie because there isn’t a whole lot going on to begin with. Rosalina (Brie Larson) gets kidnapped by Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie). Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) recruit help from Yoshi (Donald Glover), and of course Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and his gang of anthropomorphic mushroom pals run interference when things get dicey.

Bowser Jr. kidnapped Rosalina for revenge because his father, Bowser (Jack Black), was imprisoned and shrunk by Mario, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), and the rest of the crew. That’s the long and short of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. There is, however, one surprise I didn’t see coming, which is the appearance of Fox McCloud from the Star Fox video game series. Fittingly, Glen Powell shows up in the role, continuing his streak as Hollywood’s unofficial sequel MVP. He sells it, too, thanks to all that convincing fake flying he logged in the 2022 Top Gun reboot.

Plenty Of Reasons To Watch This Movie

There are plenty of explosions, Koopas running amok, and all sorts of majestic establishing shots in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and it’s enough to make you want to throw down your hard-earned cash and see it in theaters. I say “see” because this is a very visual movie. Every frame of computer-generated animation feels deliberate, down to the smallest detail. I caught myself drooling from both sides of my mouth more than once, and it wasn’t because the straw for my Diet Coke was broken. I was definitely enthralled by what I was seeing. But without a story that pulls you in, the whole thing starts to feel a little flat.

If I had to compare The Super Mario Galaxy Movie to anything, it would be the first Avatar. I’d absolutely take my kids again, who were jumping and yelling so enthusiastically from start to finish that I’m surprised we weren’t told to tone it down. They were raucous by drive-in standards, which is saying a lot, but so was every other kid. I can’t blame them either. This movie is a blast to look at, and no expense was spared in making every single sequence as dense as possible. I’d be lying, however, if I said I was excited to watch this one at home. This is a big screen movie, preferably in a setting where your kids can throw popcorn and cheer for their favorite characters without anyone giving you the side-eye.

Like Avatar, which I saw multiple times in theaters back in 2009, I tapped out halfway through my first home viewing because most living room setups just can’t replicate the experience.

I also used the sprawling worldbuilding moments to my advantage while watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at the drive-in. We always treat the kids to ice cream pops midway through, and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything during the 20 minutes I stood in line. The dialogue is sparse, and I could still see the massive screen while people-watching and stretching my legs. Overall, it was a four-star experience for what I’d call a two-star movie, which averages out to my final score.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie SCORE

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently playing in theaters and drive-ins. Your kids will love it. You’ll enjoy looking at it. You’ll enjoy that your kids enjoyed it, which is the most important part. But you’ll probably still walk away feeling like something is missing, especially compared to its predecessor.

By Brian Myers
| Published 29 seconds ago

The families that make up both the big and small screen form a lengthy and fascinating list. Some, like the Carradines, Barrymores, and Hustons, have spanned generations. Others, notably the Arquettes and Baldwins, feature multiple siblings who have left their mark on television and film since the 1980s. The Jacoby/Jayne family is yet another group of brothers who, while lesser known, built screen careers that made all of them recognizable faces.

Three brothers—Bobby (Robert Jayne), Billy (William Jayne), and Scott Jacoby—built impressive résumés in the 1970s and ’80s, with notable horror and sci-fi credits. Though their careers began to wane in the 1990s, their contributions to those genres should not go unnoticed and deserve recognition as a family with solid acting chops.

From Broadway To The Silver Screen

The eldest Jacoby brother, Scott, was born in Skokie, Illinois, in 1956. In 1966, his family moved to Brooklyn, where he began his acting career. Starting on stage, he earned a Tony Award nomination for his role in the 1968 Broadway production of Golden Rainbow. His film career began a year later with the 1969 drama Children’s Games. As he entered his teens, television appearances followed, along with several feature film roles. His performance in the 1973 network movie That Certain Summer earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor.

Scott’s contributions to horror began in 1974 with the made-for-TV film Bad Ronald, where his unsettling performance stood out alongside veteran actors Dabney Coleman and Pippa Scott. He followed this with a memorable role opposite Jodie Foster in the 1976 film The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane.

His career continued through the late 1970s with supporting roles in film and television. In the 1980s, he appeared in several horror titles, including Return to Horror High and To Die For (and its sequel), helping to round out his later career before stepping away from acting in the early 1990s.

The Tremors Connection

The youngest brother, Bobby, began working in television movies in 1979 at just six years old. As the 1980s progressed, he became a familiar face on primetime TV, including a recurring role on Diff’rent Strokes as Arnold Drummond’s friend Ricky. He also appeared on the nighttime soap Knots Landing from 1980 to 1985. Throughout the decade, he earned more than half a dozen Young Artist Award nominations, winning twice in 1988 for roles in Perfect Strangers and the TV drama A Different Affair.

In 1989, Bobby transitioned into roles that appealed to sci-fi and horror fans, starring in the sword-and-sorcery film Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II. This role allowed him to work with B-movie legends Charles B. Griffith and Roger Corman, alongside genre favorites Sid Haig and John Carradine.

His most memorable role came in 1990, when he played Melvin Plug in the cult hit Tremors. He later reprised the role in Tremors III: Back to Perfection and in the Tremors television series. Bobby also appeared in Night of the Demons II (1994) and Beyond the Wall of Sleep (2006), before transitioning into work behind the camera as a producer and screenwriter.

Billy The Beastmaster

Middle sibling Billy is perhaps the most recognizable to fans of sci-fi and horror. After numerous minor television and film roles, he landed the part of young Dar in The Beastmaster (1982). That same year, he appeared in the horror film Superstition, featuring one of the film’s most gruesome death scenes.

Billy’s genre work continued with appearances in Cujo, Bloody Birthday, Nightmares, and an episode of Tales from the Darkside. His performances earned him five Young Artist Award nominations, with three wins for his work in Just One of the Guys, The Golden Girls, and 21 Jump Street. He remains active in the industry today, having directed multiple music videos for the band Buckcherry.

Sisters Just As Prolific As The Misters

The family’s screen presence extended beyond the three brothers. Their sister Susan appeared in 1970s television series such as Eight Is Enough, The Rockford Files, and Columbo, while also working behind the scenes as a production assistant on shows like Diff’rent Strokes and Good Times.

The youngest sibling, Laura, built an impressive résumé with more than 30 screen credits over a 12-year span beginning in 1979. She appeared in popular 1980s series, including T.J. Hooker, Night Court, and Punky Brewster, and won three Young Artist Awards for her work in Rad, Valerie, and The Night They Saved Christmas. Fittingly, her final acting credit came in Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, starring her brother Billy—bringing the family’s on-screen legacy full circle.

Catherine O’Hara‘s brother, Michael P. O’Hara, is sharing a meaningful dream encounter with the late actress that occurred shortly before her death. He also opened up about her sudden passing, reflecting on Catherine’s final days.

Catherine died on January 30, 2026, at 71 years old, leaving behind her husband, Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.

Catherine O’Hara Visited Michael In A Dream

In his podcast “Tip O The Iceberg,” Michael O’Hara opened up about the recent passing of his sister, Catherine. The podcast explores the “value of dreams,” and in season 3, episode 1, titled “Dreams of Our Loved Ones,” the writer and producer shared some dream encounters she had with her sister.

Michael shared that he recently had an unexpected and “very, very sad” death in his family, adding that he dreamed about Catherine a few days before her death. “I always cherish the times I can meet with a loved one in the dream state.”

In his dream, Michael was hugging her sister. Looking back, he said it was as if Catherine was bidding farewell. “I was hugging her, which was really beautiful. And I guess it was sort of a goodbye,” Michael noted.

The Actress ‘Wasn’t Talking Much’ Before Her Death

Michael also shared that Catherine “wasn’t talking much” before she passed, explaining that he didn’t live close to the actress, who resided in Los Angeles. It seemed the two kept in touch via phone calls, but shortly before her death, Michael said Catherine “didn’t really want to talk on the phone.”

On the morning of January 30, emergency responders received a call from Catherine’s home for a medical emergency. The actress was in “serious condition” when she was transported to the hospital, where she later died.

Her agency confirmed her passing, revealing that Catherine battled a “brief illness” before her death. Her cause of death was later reported as pulmonary embolism, with the underlying cause listed as rectal cancer, as reported by The Blast.

Michael O’Hara Also Had A Dream About His Sister After Her Death

Michael shared that he had another dream visit from Catherine after her death. In it, he was visiting her in a new house in the middle of renovations, as the actress was choosing furnishings. “She said, ‘You can sleep here anytime, Michael. You can come over and stay anytime,” Michael recalled his sister saying.

The dream was reminiscent of something that happened in real life. Back when the actress was on the sketch comedy show “Second City Television,” Michael, who was apprenticing near his sister’s place, would spend some nights in Catherine’s spare bedroom. “Yeah, pretty cool. But yeah, it was beautiful. She was just so happy and very busy in the other world that she’s now in, but yeah, it’s beautiful,” Michael said of his dream.

At the end of the episode, Michael talked about how dream visits from loved ones are ways to connect to them. “We’re all interconnected… And the love, you know, continues no matter what. They’re always with us,” he concluded.

Catherine O’Hara Had A Rare Heart Condition

In an interview in 2021, the comedian talked about a rare heart condition that she was born with, called dextrocardia with situs inversus. Per Johns Hopkins Medicine, it’s a congenital condition in which the heart or other organs are positioned on the opposite side.

Catherine wasn’t diagnosed with it until she was in her 40s while undergoing a routine tuberculosis test. “When the doctor told us that my heart was on the right side and my organs were flipped, my husband immediately said, ‘No, her head’s on backwards’,” she said, recalling the moment when she learned about her condition.

Dextrocardia affects 1 in 12,000 people. In most cases, it doesn’t require treatment unless complications occur. In Catherine’s case, her condition wasn’t identified as a factor in her death.

The Actress Received A Posthumous Award For Her Role In ‘The Studio’

Prior to her death, Catherine appeared in the comedy series “The Studio,” where she played Patty Leigh, the eccentric former head of the fictitious company Continental Studios. At the Actor Awards held in March, the actress won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series.

Catherine made history as the first woman in the Screen Actors Guild to win an individual award posthumously. Seth Rogen, the creator of the series and her co-star, accepted the award on her behalf, delivering an emotional speech.

Rogen praised the actress’s professionalism and talent while also acknowledging her impeccable personality. He said, “She really showed that you can be a genius and be kind, and one of those things does not have to come at the expense of the other in any way, shape, or form.”

By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 hour ago

Imagine that Skynet was waging war against humans, but those humans also wore VR sets that allowed them to have all the sexy time they wanted, diminishing their willingness to carry out their resistance. That’s the most succinct way I can describe 1992’s Prototype X29A, but there’s a lot more going on beneath that setup. It tells a familiar story about the last breath of humanity fighting back against an evil robot uprising, and you can expect many of these beats to play out as you’ve seen them countless times before.

Prototype X29A uses its bleak, dystopian Los Angeles setting as a springboard for its ideas about where humanity is headed in the mid-21st century, and at its core, it’s about the unwavering human spirit in the face of a mechanical uprising. What sets this film apart from its contemporaries is that humanity isn’t exactly what it seems, as there are cybernetically infused humans on the right side of history, but we never get the full story on how they came to be. The result is a tense, low-budget sci-fi thriller about the hubris of man in the face of change, and how technology has the potential to be responsible for both humanity’s undoing and its salvation.

The Omegas Versus The World

Prototype X29A centers on our unfortunately named protagonist Hawkins Coselow (Robert Tossbert). Confined to a wheelchair, Hawkins is a shell of his former self after losing his ability to walk during the war. He spends most of his time tinkering with his computer and complaining to his ex-lover and kind-of roommate, Chandra Kerkorian (Lane Lenhart). While their relationship has been on the rocks for some time, they still have sexual fantasies about each other, because it allows them to imagine a world where Hawkins’ legs still work.

Everything changes when Hawkins is approached by Dr. Alexis Zalazny (Brenda Swanson), who informs him that she’s working on new technology that will allow him to regain the use of his legs. The catch is that if he agrees to undergo the experimental procedure she’s proposing, there’s no turning back. Wanting to walk again more than anything, he agrees, which turns out to be a fatal mistake, because the prototype suit he becomes attached to turns him into a ruthless killing machine with one primary objective: wipe out the Omegas.

Unbeknownst to Hawkins, the Omegas are a breed of cybernetically infused humans who have fought tirelessly to resist technology like Zalazny’s, and they’re on the verge of extinction. Only one Omega remains, and they have the power to keep the resistance intact. The problem is that Chandra’s involvement with the resistance is far more complicated than she ever could have imagined.

With our two lovers at odds, and the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, it’s only a matter of time before society as they know it comes crashing down and a new world order is established.

Retro-Futuristic Vibes You Can Get Behind

Though filmed for approximately $1 million and released direct-to-video, Prototype X29A is quite the accomplishment for writer-director Phillip J. Roth. It leans hard into its cyberpunk aesthetic, and for 1992, its CGI is surprisingly ambitious when you consider what else was coming out around the same time. Compared to 1993’s Arcade, for example, you’d think the movies were made decades apart, with Prototype X29A clearly having the upper hand thanks to its VFX.

What really sells it for me, though, is the actual Prototype suit that Hawkins walks around in. It looks futuristic enough to sell the premise, but not so egregious that it pulls you out of the movie. It looks like a guy in a suit because it is a guy in a suit. The computer readouts from his point of view reveal just enough information to move things along without sounding like total junk science. And, most importantly, the sexual tension between him and Chandra, who is unwillingly and unwittingly on her way to becoming the savior of the wasteland, is palpable because at the end of the day, they both want the same things. The unfortunate reality they have to deal with is that Hawkins is no longer in control of his destiny.

By today’s standards, Prototype X29A is one of many dystopian, cyberpunk stories about humanity’s extinction in the face of technological innovation used for warfare. For a 1992 film with a minimal budget, it’s stylish, fun, and dangerous enough to stand out on its own. It’s a perfect late-night watch if you want something in the same wheelhouse as the original Terminator, but prefer a story that takes place after the collapse instead of before it.

As of this writing, you can stream Prototype X29A for free on Tubi.

Monster movies often get dismissed as simple spectacle: creatures, chaos, and little else. But beneath the surface, the best of them get creative, playing with the old new tropes in new ways, using them to touch on deeper themes, or simply wowing us with phenomenal effects and creature design.

With that in mind, this list looks at some creature features that deserve a little more attention. While not that obscure, they’re the kind of movies that even some genre superfans might not have gotten around to watching yet. They’re by turns strange, stylish, or simply ahead of their time.

10

‘Grabbers’ (2012)

Image via IFC Films

“Whatever you do… don’t sober up.” In Grabbers, a small Irish island is besieged by tentacled alien creatures that drain human blood… with one unexpected weakness: alcohol. The locals realize intoxication is their best defense, and the story turns into a bizarre and hilarious fight for survival. The premise is inherently ridiculous, but it’s executed with such charm and confidence that it works. This is a horror-comedy, populated by quirky, likable characters, and a strong sense of place in the tight-knit coastal setting where everybody knows everybody.

The creatures themselves are effectively designed, blending practical effects with a sense of tangible threat. They’re just menacing enough to be more than purely comedic. Ultimately, Grabbers succeeds because it understands something a lot of creature features forget: the monster is only half the entertainment. The other half is how people respond to it. And in this case, the response is as inventive and as fun as the threat itself.

9

‘Leviathan’ (1989)

Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

“Something down there is alive… and it’s hungry.” Leviathan was a part of a wave of underwater monster movies in the late ’80s, arriving alongside the likes of DeepStar Six and The Abyss. In it, a deep-sea mining crew discovers a sunken Soviet vessel containing a mysterious substance. After bringing it aboard, they begin to suffer grotesque mutations, revealing that they’ve unleashed something far more dangerous than they anticipated.

While the flick doesn’t reinvent the genre, it does pull off the classic tropes with style and commitment. Leviathan clearly draws on sources like Alien and The Thing, but it doesn’t feel like a cheap imitation. It’s very atmospheric, for instance, using its environment brilliantly to amp up the claustrophobia. Darkness and shadow obscure the creature, and sound design expertly builds the unease. Finally, when we do see the monster, it’s suitably freaky, thanks to work by legendary special effects artist Stan Winston.

8

‘Daughters of Darkness’ (1971)

Image via Ciné Vog Films

“There are many kinds of love… and many kinds of death.” Daughters of Darkness focuses on a newly married couple (John Karlen and Danielle Ouimet) traveling through Europe who encounter a mysterious countess (Delphine Seyrig) who claims to be the infamous Elizabeth Báthory, a noblewoman and serial killer from the 1500s. As she insinuates herself into their lives, an atmosphere of seduction and menace begins to take hold.

From here, the movie bucks several genre conventions by embracing a more psychological angle. It’s a gothic sensibility, modernized. The vampire figure is less a source of overt horror and more a symbol of desire, power, and manipulation. The film’s pacing is deliberate, too, allowing tension to build through suggestion rather than action. That said, the highlight is undeniably Seyrig. She’s incredibly elegant and alluring here in a way that few stars could pull off.

7

‘Colossal’ (2016)

Image via Neon

“You’re not controlling it… It’s controlling you.” This black comedy was a huge box-office bomb, but it’s worth checking out for monster movie fans. Colossal features Anne Hathaway as Gloria, a struggling woman who discovers that her movements are somehow connected to a giant monster rampaging through Seoul. She tries to understand this connection, gradually realizing the darker implications of her influence. Meanwhile, her childhood friend Oscar (Jason Sudeikis) begins manifesting a giant robot.

Colossal stands out because it uses its monster as a metaphor. What initially seems like a quirky premise gradually becomes something more unsettling, exploring themes of control, abuse, and responsibility. The jokes soon fade away, replaced by rising emotional stakes and disturbing power dynamics. The performances are central, grounding the movie’s more fantastical elements in emotional reality. All in all, this is a unique movie that nicely blends indie drama and kaiju spectacle.

6

‘Vampires’ (1998)

“Forget what you’ve heard about vampires… this is different.” Vampires is one of the lesser-known, late-career movies from John Carpenter. It’s about a team of professional vampire hunters led by a hardened veteran (James Woods) that tracks down a powerful ancient vampire (Thomas Ian Griffith) in the American Southwest. But as they close in on their target, they discover that this enemy is far more formidable than anything they’ve faced before.

With this one, Carpenter melds western elements with horror, dressing the usual vampire story beats in a tone that feels rugged and grounded. The vampires themselves are presented as brutal, physical threats rather than romantic figures. In fact, the whole movie is pretty lean and mean: the action sequences are direct and impactful, while the dialogue carries a rough, cynical edge that suits the characters. There’s a sense of world-building beneath the surface, suggesting a larger mythology without over-explaining it.

5

‘The Faculty’ (1998)

Image via Miramax

“I always wanted to be one of the beautiful people.” This was the project Robert Rodriguez made between From Dusk Til Dawn and Spy Kids. The Faculty tells the story of a group of high school students who begin to suspect that their teachers have been taken over by parasitic aliens. The infection spreads rapidly through the school, forcing the students to figure out who is still human and how to stop the invasion.

The movie cleverly reworks classic invasion narratives into a high school setting. In particular, it draws clear inspiration from Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but filters it through a late-’90s teen horror sensibility. For example, the characters at first seem like archetypes (the jock, the nerd, the popular girl, etc), but as the story progresses, those labels break down. The whole thing has a self-aware edge, peppering in sharp one-liners and moments of humor.

4

‘The Void’ (2016)

Image via D Films

“There’s something beyond this world… and it’s coming.” A police officer (Aaron Poole) brings an injured man (Evan Stern) to a nearly empty hospital, only for the building to be surrounded by robed figures. Strange events unfold inside, and the survivors soon realize they are caught in the middle of something far more cosmic and incomprehensible. The movie builds this setup into an effective Lovecraftian tale that pays homage to low-budget ’80s horror.

The Void cranks up the tension through atmosphere and mystery, gradually revealing glimpses of something vast and unknowable. Cosmic horror meets body horror as human bodies start breaking down and identities dissolve. The film then hits us with fantastic practical creature effects that feel tangible and unsettling, sure to please genre purists. They’re all flesh, tentacles, and distortion, with more physicality than your stock CGI monster.

3

‘Mimic’ (1997)

Image via Lionsgate

“They were designed to imitate… and now they’re evolving.” This gem was the sophomore feature from Guillermo del Toro. Mira Sorvino leads the cast as Dr. Susan Tyler, a scientist who creates a genetically engineered insect to combat a disease spread by cockroaches. Years later, the creatures have evolved, taking on new forms and posing a threat to the city above. The premise is decidedly pulpy, though del Toro elevates it with his boundless creativity and visual style.

Here, he confidently merges sci-fi and urban, embracing gothic lighting, underground locations, and a pervasive sense of decay and dampness. As its title suggests, the movie’s most disturbing element is the mimicry: creatures folding their bodies to resemble humans, jerky, almost-correct movements, shadows and silhouettes that look human… until they don’t. It’s all very uncanny. The creatures are intelligent too, strategizing and adapting, making them fearsome antagonists.

2

‘The Relic’ (1997)

Image via Paramount Pictures

“It’s not just killing… It’s hunting.” In The Relic, a shipment from South America arrives at a Chicago museum, bringing with it a mysterious creature that begins to stalk the building’s corridors. As a gala approaches, the threat escalates, trapping guests inside with the monster. The museum becomes a labyrinth of dark hallways and exhibits, a space where danger can emerge from anywhere.

This movie is straightforward and crowd-pleasing, admittedly very goofy but also very entertaining in its own way, anchored by winning performances from Tom Sizemore and Penelope Ann Miller. In terms of the visuals, the creature design is imposing, combining elements of different animals into something distinctly unnatural. All in all, while The Relic might not innovate or break new ground, it is a fun riff on classic creature feature story structure, including a juicy mystery, well-handled suspense, and a whole lot of gory monster mayhem.

1

‘The Abyss’ (1989)

Image via 20th Century Studios

“There’s something down there… something not like us.” The Abyss underperformed on release, with most finding it inferior to James Cameron‘s previous work, but it’s actually pretty solid. The setup is classic monster movie stuff: a civilian diving team is recruited to assist in the recovery of a sunken nuclear submarine. They descend deeper into the ocean, eventually encountering a mysterious and intelligent presence that challenges their understanding.

The plot pivots in a lot of unexpected ways, definitely digging a lot deeper than your average creature feature. It gets surprisingly rich with its themes, implicating human behavior as the real source of horror. The characters are also layered, and their relationships keep the sci-fi plot grounded. Finally, there are the effects, which were groundbreaking for the time (this was James Cameron, after all), and they still hold up all these decades later.

High Potential’s season 2 finale ended on a shocking note after a main character was presumably killed off, Roman’s identity was addressed and fans witnessed a surprise split.

During the Tuesday, April 7, episode of the hit ABC series, Wagner (Steve Howey) and Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) worked together to uncover the ins and outs of her ex Roman’s disappearance. The further they dug into how Wagner’s dad was involved, and Willa’s (Jennifer Jason Leigh) role in the apparent crime, the more the danger escalated.

The finale ultimately showed Wagner preparing to meet someone his father claimed had the answers he needed. By the time Morgan arrived, Wagner was bleeding out and first responders were called to help — but it wasn’t clear whether he survived. (Howey, 48, for his part, has been cast in upcoming seasons of Off Campus and Ransom Canyon, so he could potentially be written off the show.)

Elsewhere in the episode, Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) and Morgan were assigned to a case at Lucia’s (Susan Kelechi Watson) workplace. When a reality TV star was found murdered, Morgan started to question Lucia’s involvement in the case. She realized Lucia helped cover up the crime — and was involved in other criminal behavior before returning to Los Angeles — and Karadec was forced to arrest his girlfriend and break off their relationship.

The finale touched on Roman’s identity by having Willa reveal to Morgan that the FBI agent he was working with was allegedly conspiring against the government. Roman allegedly was also a double agent who seemingly killed the FBI agent when she wanted to come clean.

While Roman wasn’t unmasked, there was a presence at Ava’s (Amirah J) that appeared to be her missing father. The finale left a lot of unanswered questions, which will be addressed when the series returns in season 3.

Before season 2 came to an end, news broke in March that showrunner Todd Harthan exited the show to focus on the upcoming live-action adaptation of Christopher Paolini’s YA book series The Inheritance Cycle. The adaptation — titled Eragon — is cocreated with Paolini and Harthan will serve as coshowrunner alongside Todd Helbing.

High Potential, which premiered in September 2024, was created by Drew Goddard. The pilot was written by Goddard, who was expected to executive produce alongside Sarah Esberg, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge, Pierre Laugier, Anthony Lancret, Jean Nainchrik and Alethea Jones.

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George Kraychyk / ©Hulu / Courtesy: Everett Collection Chances are if your favorite show felt different over the years, a showrunner shift occurred at some point behind the scenes. Law & Order: Organized Crime attempted to solidify itself as a successful spinoff of Law & Order: SVU but instead it has continued to make headlines […]

Thomas, meanwhile, was expected to serve as the showrunner before exiting in June 2024 — months before the series premiere. Harthan was ultimately announced as the new showrunner, who also served as an executive producer.

Harthan teased the vision for the series while speaking to Us Weekly in January.

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“It’s a pretty bumpy ride. We’re going to start unpacking some pretty intense things with Morgan, as it relates to all things Roman,” he said at the time.“There are all kinds of trials and tribulations that are going to happen with the kids at home. It’s just going to get messy and complicated — hopefully in all the best ways so that the audience stays on the edge of their seats.”

He concluded, “Our job now as we get to the back half of the second season is to fill in some of the big blanks and progress some of the relationships. You’re going to see some intense things happen between Steve Howey’s character and Captain Wagner really starts to bloom in the back half. That causes some good soapy messes on multiple fronts. It’s just our normal MO of just trying to mix things up and keep the audience engaged and keep them guessing.”

High Potential is now streaming on Hulu.

Taylor Frankie Paul’s ongoing legal battle with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen has taken another dramatic turn, with new claims surfacing in court filings that paint a troubling picture of their relationship. 

As tensions escalated ahead of her planned reality TV spotlight, Paul alleges Mortensen’s behavior became increasingly intense and unsettling. 

Now, with custody disputes, past incidents, and a shocking tattoo revelation in the mix, the situation between the former couple continues to unfold in a very public way.

Taylor Frankie Paul Claims Dakota Mortensen Became ‘Possessive’ Before Premiere

As tensions between Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen continue to escalate, new details about their relationship have begun to emerge through court documents.

Recently, Paul alleged that Mortensen’s behavior changed as her season of “The Bachelorette” approached its planned premiere. 

In a filing submitted on April 7 and obtained by PEOPLE, the 31-year-old claimed he showed a “pattern of abusive conduct and coercive control” during their relationship.

According to the filing, Mortensen sent multiple messages expressing his feelings after filming had wrapped but before the show aired. 

Paul said he texted things like “I want you forever” and “I still love and want you,” while also asking her to “give me a chance,” on February 16 and 17. These alleged messages were included as screenshots in the filing.

Paul described this period as a turning point, claiming his actions became more intense as her public exposure grew.

Paul Shocked By Mortensen’s Tattoo Move

One of the most startling claims in Taylor Frankie Paul’s filing was that Mortensen allegedly got a tattoo in her honor. 

She said she was shown an image of his lips with her initials tattooed inside, which he later confirmed to her over text.

“Considering his increasingly possessive and erratic behavior, and considering the fact that we were not in a relationship, this was extremely alarming,” Paul wrote. 

The reality TV star further stated, “My initials are now permanently tattooed on the body of a man who has been abusive toward and possessive of me.”

An insider claimed the tattoo was done on February 14, shortly after Paul shared a Valentine’s Day promotional post for “The Bachelorette.” 

The following day, Mortensen allegedly showed the tattoo to cast members while cameras were rolling.

The filing included images of the tattoo, which reads “TFP,” though no exact date for the photos was specified.

Taylor Frankie Paul Accuses Mortensen Of Leaking Video

Paul also accused Dakota Mortensen of playing a role in the release of a video that ultimately derailed her reality TV opportunity. 

Just days before the show’s premiere, ABC canceled her season after footage surfaced showing a 2023 altercation between the pair.

In the filing, Paul claimed Mortensen “released” the video to TMZ in an effort to “humiliate” her. 

However, she also acknowledged uncertainty about how the footage was obtained, noting it was “presumably Dakota.”

Mortensen denied the allegation, telling PEOPLE at the time, “I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny.”

The resurfaced video aligned with a prior incident that led to Paul’s 2023 arrest, where she was accused of throwing metal chairs during an argument. 

One of the chairs reportedly struck her daughter during the altercation.

Paul Files For Protective Order Against Mortensen Amid Abuse Claims

Taylor Frankie Paul also filed a protective order against Mortensen, alleging a pattern of abuse and escalating conflict in their relationship. 

As reported by The Blast, Paul claimed Mortensen engaged in “a high number of instances of abuse and domestic violence (assault, harassment, and stalking)” and said his actions left her fearing for her safety.  

She also accused him of “slamming her head against the dashboard of his truck” during a February incident, which is now part of an ongoing investigation. 

In her filing, Paul said their breakup in early 2026 led to behavior that “scared me and made me fear for my safety,” while also claiming his earlier protective order was an attempt to “sabotage” her career.  

The request includes protection for both her and their young son, as the legal battle between the former couple continues in court.

Taylor Frankie Paul Loses Show Opportunity Amid Custody Battle With Dakota Mortensen

As the legal drama unfolded, Paul’s professional life was also impacted. Her season of “The Bachelorette,” scheduled to premiere in March, was canceled after the release of the 2023 video.

On the same day as her filing, Mortensen was granted custody of their two-year-old son, Ever, while Paul was given limited supervised visitation until a later hearing.

The fallout has extended into her reality TV career as well. Production on season five of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was paused after several cast members reportedly refused to film with her amid the controversy.

With court proceedings ongoing and another hearing scheduled, both Paul and Mortensen remain entangled in a situation that continues to affect their personal lives and public careers.

Aubrey Plaza is reportedly expecting her first child with partner Chris Abbott, marking a joyful milestone for the actress. The news comes a little over a year after the passing of her husband, Jeff Baena, highlighting a new chapter in her personal life. Plaza and Abbott have remained private about their relationship, keeping their romance largely out of the public eye.

Inside Aubrey Plaza’s ‘Beautiful Surprise’

On April 7, an insider confirmed to PEOPLE magazine that Aubrey Plaza is expecting her first child with her partner, actor Chris Abbott. “It was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year,” the source revealed, adding that the couple feels “very blessed.”

The source didn’t reveal how far along Plaza is in her pregnancy, but said the baby is due in the fall.

Plaza and Abbott have maintained a private relationship, and it’s unclear when they began dating. However, they’ve been spotted together on several occasions. In February, they attended New York Fashion Week and sat in the front row together at one of the shows. A month later, Plaza attended Paris Fashion Week shows donning an oversized top that concealed her midsection.

The Couple Worked Together In The Past

Plaza and Abbott have worked together before, first collaborating on the 2020 psychological thriller “Black Bear,” directed by Lawrence Michael Levine and co-produced by the actress.

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In it, Plaza played Allison, a filmmaker struggling with personal conflicts, and Abbott portrayed Gabriel, a troubled man who pushes Allison’s boundaries. In an interview with Variety in 2020, Plaza said she wanted Abbott to be in the movie. She had never met the actor before, but had seen him in the 2015 drama film “James White.” She wrote him a letter, and he agreed to be in “Black Bear.”

The two also worked together in the theater production “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea” from 2023 to 2024, where Plaza, making her stage debut, portrayed the role of Roberta opposite Abbott’s Danny.

Back then, the “Parks and Recreation” actress said she was “nervous” to star in her first professional theater performance, but agreed to do it for the love of the story and the character. It was also another opportunity to work with Abbott, whom she described as “one of the best actors around.”

Aubrey Plaza’s Husband Died In 2025

On January 3, 2025, Plaza’s husband, Jeff Baena, was discovered deceased in his Los Angeles home. It was later determined that the 47-year-old filmmaker died by suicide, as previously reported by The Blast.

Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011 but kept their romance largely out of the public eye. The couple collaborated on several projects during their relationship, including “Life After Beth,” “Joshy,” and “Spin Me Round.” In 2021, Plaza casually referred to Baena as her “darling husband” in an Instagram post, sparking marriage rumors.

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In an interview on “The Ellen Show” in 2021, Plaza shared the story of her “spontaneous” wedding, telling the host that she and Baena married in their backyard on a whim, hiring an officiant online. “It was our 10-year anniversary, we were in the lockdown,” she said, adding that it was a “crazy” time.

The actress created a “love altar” in the yard while Baena picked up food from a restaurant, and they were married by a man in a Hawaiian shirt.

The Couple Was Separated When Jeff Baena Died

Following Baena’s death, it was revealed that the couple had been separated for months, explaining Plaza’s absence from their home. According to reports, the couple split in September 2024, with Plaza moving to New York.

Several months later, the actress opened up about the tragic incident on former co-star Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast. At that time, Plaza said she was happy in that specific moment, but admitted to still struggling with her grief.

“Overall, I’m here and functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I’m okay, but it’s like a daily struggle, obviously,” Plaza explained, comparing her feelings to a gorge. “At all times there’s like this giant ocean of awfulness,” she added.

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Aubrey Plaza’s Upcoming Projects

Plaza has been busy with a slew of projects, with the adult animated series “Kevin” she co-created with Joe Wengert premiering on Prime Video on April 20.

The actress is also producing and starring in “The Heidi Fleiss Story,” a film focusing on the life of Heidi Fleiss, also known as the Hollywood Madam, who ran an upscale and exclusive prostitution ring in Los Angeles in the ’90s.