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Kane Brown and Wife Katelyn Jae’s Relationship Timeline

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10 Fantasy Anime Better Than ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’

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Rudeus and Sylphie holding hands in front of a winter house in Mushoku Tensei.

The 2020s have been a treasure trove of new anime, with some of the most popular shows of all time coming out in the past decade. Because of increased popularity, the medium is getting better, with more series, greater animation, quality, and storytelling. However, one of the best and most famous anime series from the 2020s is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which highlights the fantasy genre.

However, the fantasy genre has a deep catalog of anime, and this list will highlight ten fantasy anime series that are better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Based on aspects such as writing, animation, originality, popularity, worldbuilding, lore, action, critical acclaim, fan opinion, and overall quality, these ten anime shows are must-watch masterpieces that are better than even a modern masterpiece like Frieren.

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‘Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation’ (2021-present)

Rudeus and Sylphie holding hands in front of a winter house in Mushoku Tensei.
Rudeus and Sylphie holding hands in front of a winter house in Mushoku Tensei.
Image via Studio Bind

The Isekai genre, for better or worse, is the most popular in anime, and it is also tied to the fantasy genre, occasionally delivering stand-outs such as Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. After living a regretful, sad, and lonely life, the protagonist is born into a fantasy world. Now named Rudeus, he uses his previous memories to build the life he always wanted, but danger still lies in wait.

This one may be a polarizing anime, but its worldbuilding is arguably better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End for the thoughtful way it explores the culture and unique regions. The protagonist can be a bit much, but he shows signs of character development that make him more intriguing than others. Not to mention the action in Mushoku Tensei elevates it above most fantasy shows.

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‘Witch Hat Atelier’ (2026-present)

Coco looking at a Pegasus carriage from the roof in Witch Hat Atelier.
Coco looking at a Pegasus carriage from the roof in Witch Hat Atelier.
Image via Crunchyroll

2026 has already been a fantastic year for fantasy anime, with a couple of sequel seasons and some new works, such as Witch Hat Atelier. Coco is a young girl who always aspired to be a witch even if it was impossible. However, after discovering the secret of magic, she accidentally petrifies her mother. Now, Coco must learn the ways of magic to try and save her mother, but a mysterious evil faction has its eyes on her.

Witch Hat Atelier is already one of the best anime series of 2026, and it has only had one season. Maybe it is a bit early to say it is better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, but the sheer creativity is so compelling. The power system is among the best in anime, and the blend of mystery, animation, worldbuilding, and fascinating characters means it will likely only get better.

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‘Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic’ (2012-2014)

Magi The Labyrinth of Magic poster with cast
Magi The Labyrinth of Magic poster with cast
Image via A-1 Pictures

Fantasy can be inspired by many things, and Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic takes inspiration from Arabian Nights. Magi are magic users with great power who choose a king candidate, helping them conquer the world. When Alibaba overcomes a dungeon, he is granted a sword of fire and a magi, who, together, go on an adventure to bring a peaceful world.

High fantasy is so common in anime nowadays that fans want something different, and that is exactly what Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic offers. This show has much more of a structured plot than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, especially with its political intrigue and powerscaling, which makes it a double-edged sword that cuts with sharp dialogue, action, and adventure.













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Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz
Which Lord of the Rings
Character Are You?

One Quiz · Ten Questions · Your Fate Revealed
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The road goes ever on. From the green hills of the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom, every soul in Middle-earth carries a destiny. Ten questions stand between you and the truth of who you are. Answer honestly — the One Ring has a way of revealing what we most want to hide.

💍Frodo

🌿Samwise

👑Aragorn

🔥Gandalf

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🏹Legolas

⚒️Gimli

👁️Sauron

🪨Gollum

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01

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You are handed a responsibility that could destroy you. What do you do?
The weight of the world falls on unlikely shoulders.




02

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Your closest companion is heading into terrible danger. You:
True loyalty is revealed not in comfort, but in crisis.




03

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Enormous power is within your reach. Your instinct is:
Power corrupts — but only those who reach for it.




04

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What does “home” mean to you?
Where we long to return reveals who we truly are.




05

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When a battle is upon you, your approach is:
War reveals what we are made of — whether we like it or not.




06

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Someone comes to you for advice in their darkest hour. You:
Wisdom is not knowing all the answers — it’s knowing which questions to ask.




07

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How do you see yourself, honestly?
Self-knowledge is the most dangerous kind.




08

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Which of these best describes your relationship with the natural world?
Middle-earth speaks to those who know how to listen.




09

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You encounter a wretched, pitiable creature who has done terrible things. You:
How we treat the fallen reveals the height of our character.




10

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When the quest is over and the songs are sung, what do you hope they say about you?
In the end, we are all just stories.




The Fellowship Has Spoken
Your Place in Middle-earth
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The scores below reveal your true character. Your highest number is your match. Even a tie tells a story — the Fellowship was never made of simple people.

💍
Frodo

🌿
Samwise

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👑
Aragorn

🔥
Gandalf

🏹
Legolas

⚒️
Gimli

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👁️
Sauron

🪨
Gollum

You carry something heavy — and you carry it alone, even when you don’t have to. You were not born for greatness, and that is precisely why greatness chose you. Your courage is not the roaring, sword-swinging kind; it is quiet, stubborn, and terrifying in its refusal to quit. The Ring weighs on you more than anyone can see, and still you walk toward the fire. That is not weakness. That is the rarest kind of strength there is.

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You are, without question, the best of them. Not the most powerful, not the most celebrated — but the most essential. Your loyalty is not a trait; it is a force of nature. You would carry the person you love up the slopes of Mount Doom if it came to that, and we both know you’d do it without being asked. The world needs more people like you, and the world is lucky it has even one.

You were born to lead, and you have spent years running from it. The crown is yours by right, but you know better than anyone that right means nothing without the will and the worthiness to back it up. You are tempered by loss, shaped by long roads, and defined by a code of honour you hold to even when no one is watching. When you finally step forward, the world shifts. Because it was always waiting for you.

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You have seen more than you let on, and you say less than you know — which is exactly as it should be. You are a catalyst: you do not fight the battles yourself, you ignite the people who can. Your wisdom comes not from books but from an age of watching what happens when it is ignored. You arrive precisely when you mean to, and your presence alone changes what is possible. A wizard is never late.

Graceful, perceptive, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure — you see things others miss and act before others react. You do not need to make a scene to be remarkable; your presence speaks for itself. You are loyal to those you choose to stand beside, and that choice is not made lightly. You have lived long enough to know that the most beautiful things in this world are also the most fragile, and that is why you fight to protect them.

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You are loud, proud, and absolutely formidable — and beneath all of that is one of the most fiercely loyal hearts in Middle-earth. You don’t do anything by half measures. Your friendships are forged like iron, your grudges run as deep as mines, and your courage in battle is the kind that makes legends. You came into this fellowship suspicious of everyone and ended it willing to die for an elf. That is not a small thing. That is everything.

You think in centuries and act in absolutes. Order, dominion, control — not because you are cruel by nature, but because you have decided that the world left to itself always falls apart, and you are the only one with the vision and the will to hold it together. You were not always this. Something was lost, or taken, or betrayed, and the version of you that stands now is the answer to that wound. The tragedy is that you’re not entirely wrong — just entirely too far gone to course-correct.

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You are a study in contradiction — pitiable and dangerous, cunning and broken, capable of both cruelty and something that once resembled love. You are defined by loss: of innocence, of self, of the one thing that gave your existence meaning. Two voices war inside you constantly, and the tragedy is that the better one sometimes wins, just not often enough, and never at the right moment. You are a warning, yes — but also a mirror. We are all a little Gollum, given the right ring and enough time.

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‘Ranking of Kings’ (2021-present)

Bojji cutting a large man with a tiny sword in Ranking of Kings
Bojji cutting a large man with a tiny sword in Ranking of Kings
Image via WIT Studio
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One of the most underrated fantasy anime that came out of nowhere was Ranking of Kings, which was overlooked based on its art style. Bojji is the young and fragile prince of the kingdom, always underestimated because of his size. Wanting to prove his strength, he sets out on an adventure to train alongside his shadowy friend, but much mystery is soon to reveal itself.

Fans underestimated Ranking of Kings just like the characters in the show, but this anime is one of the biggest shocks. Bojji is an endearing protagonist who fans can’t help but cheer for, also having a wholesome dynamic with Kage. As one of the best anime of recent years, Ranking of Kings can deliver some of the best fights and has character development and an expanding political plot with mystery and plot twists.

‘Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-‘ (2016-present)

A young man and woman with an upside-down city in the background in Re:Zero
Image from anime series ‘Re:Zero — Starting Life in Another World’
Image via Crunchyroll
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As mentioned earlier, the isekai and fantasy genres are pretty much synonymous, and the best of the former is arguably Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-. Suddenly awakened in a new fantasy world, Subaru is instantly met with a gruesome death by a friendly passerby. However, he soon wakes up from that, realizing he is in a death loop in a fantasy world.

Isekai anime aren’t for everyone, but even haters of the genre might enjoy Re:Zero simply because the writing is so good. This tragic anime is far more complex and dark than fans give it credit for, with each season building on the world and its characters. Especially after the most recent season, Re:Zero has proved itself to be among the greatest fantasy series ever.

‘Berserk’ (1997-1998)

A figure stands in front of an eclipse with blood dripping down the arm in the anime Berserk, 1997.
A figure stands in front of an eclipse with blood dripping down the arm in the anime Berserk, 1997.
Image via Nippon TV
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Kentaro Miura is a manga and anime legend, and while the manga is the definitive way to enjoy Berserk, the anime is also spectacular. Born from a hanging corpse, Guts’ life is a living hell, tossed between mercenary groups in a time of constant war. However, after finding a place he can call home, a brutal betrayal takes everything away from him, sending him on a blood-fueled quest for revenge.

The CGI movies are atrocious, but the 1990s anime is surprisingly gorgeous, especially with its classic animation. But at its heart, Berserk still holds the main story, and with it, all the tragedy, trauma, and flawless writing. Boasting some of the best character development in anime, Berserk has a flawless dynamic between Guts and Griffith, which reveals itself through every moment.

‘Dungeon Meshi’ (2024-present)

Senshi cooking a basilisk over a spit like a chicken while Marcille and Chilchuck look on in horror in 'Delicious in Dungeon'
Senshi cooking a basilisk over a spit like a chicken while Marcille and Chilchuck look on in horror in ‘Delicious in Dungeon’
Image via Studio Trigger
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After Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End came out in 2023, fans wanted the next best fantasy anime, and that is exactly what Dungeon Meshi is. After one of their party members is eaten by a dragon, the rest of the gang prepares to go back down and save her. But with no money, supplies, or food, they decide to eat the monsters they kill inside the dungeon.

Dungeon Meshi and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End reached the same audience, and while it is close, a lot of fans prefer the former. They are hard series to compare, but Dungeon Meshi is far more unique and has a better cast with more relevance and interesting personalities. The monster biology and ecology of the dungeon works its way into the worldbuilding, mystery, character development, and plot, proving it achieves an impossibly creative feat.

‘One Piece’ (1999-present)

Young Luffy standing in front of Gol. D Roger in One Piece.
Young Luffy standing in front of Gol. D Roger in One Piece.
Image via Toei Animation
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Fantasy comes in many shapes and sizes, with most typical battle shounen falling under the genre, including One Piece. Monkey D. Luffy wants to become King of the Pirates, but to do so, he must build a crew and a reputation, which he does by picking fights with other pirates, the Marines, and the World Government. Danger is just another word for adventure for Luffy, as he and the Straw Hats explore the high seas.

There isn’t a lot of anime better than One Piece, even with its bad pacing. The worldbuilding is one-of-a-kind and on its own tier of impressive, connecting thousands of episodes of islands, political discourse, lore, mystery, and plot twists. Not only that, but One Piece evokes more emotion than any other show, and with it still hitting its stride, it is clear this anime is better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011-2014)

As previously mentioned, some of the greatest fantasy anime don’t offer a typical high fantasy narrative, but something completely new, an example being Hunter x Hunter. Gon had always wanted to meet his dad, who left him at a young age, prompting the young boy to set out on an adventure. First needing to become a hunter, Gon wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, no matter what danger comes his way.

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Hunter x Hunter and One Piece are similar in many ways, and not just because they are better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. A lot of characters get arcs, and with so much growth and change, it is no wonder why it has the best character development in anime. With a unique and intricate power system that adds tense moments to an emotional story of characters, this anime is a true fantasy masterpiece.

Ed leaning over Al's broken body in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Ed leaning over Al’s broken body in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Image via Bones Inc.

On the surface, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood may not feel like a fantasy anime, but it technically qualifies as one. After brothers Ed and Al lose parts or all of their bodies in a taboo alchemical experiment, they set out on a quest to find the philosopher’s stone. However, all they uncover is a government conspiracy that threatens to swallow the world unless they do something to stop it.

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has a little bit of everything, from action to comedy, drama, good animation, worldbuilding, mystery, well-written characters, plot twists, and character development. It is no stretch to say it is an anime with no flaws, which shouldn’t be taken lightly, because even Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End isn’t perfect. In the end, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a historic anime that is perfect from the riveting introduction to the satisfying conclusion.

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SVU,’ This 3-Part Police Series Is Officially “One of the Best Shows” on Streaming

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Bryan Cranston as Walter White and Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad.

Since 1999, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has become the blueprint when it comes to crime procedurals on TV. With Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni as the leads, the series tackles episodic cases of crimes of a sexual nature, not shying away from the gravity of the crimes, or the foul motivations of the culprits. But while the series has been praised now for 27 seasons, a new BBC series has been giving the series a run for its money.

First released March 27, 2023, Blue Lights is a crime procedural that depicts the realities of being a police officer so vividly and realistically, that it’s even been compared to HBO’s The Pitt, but for cops instead of ER doctors. The series, which released its third season in the fall of 2025, is already renewed for a fourth installment, and has been getting better season after season.

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What Is ‘Blue Lights’ About?

Created by Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson and Stephen Wright, Blue Lights is an action-packed series set in the fictional Blackthorn police station in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The show focuses on three very different new recruits of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Grace (Sian Brooke), Annie (Katherine Devlin), and Tommy (Nathan Braniff), as they try to survive the final weeks of their probation period while working the city’s most difficult frontline calls. From the jump, the inexperienced rookies become involved in intense drama involving drug gangs, loyalist and republican paramilitary networks, undercover operations, and community tensions.

In the third season of the show, which takes off two years into the trio’s work as officers, it has them as more seasoned officers, facing their biggest challenges to date. “Their work will take them into a sinister world hidden behind the veneer of middle-class life, the world of the accountants and lawyers who facilitate organized crime,” the synopsis reads. “The old political and criminal order has gone and a new global gang rule Belfast, bringing danger closer to home for our officers than ever before.” In addition to the main trio, Blue Lights also stars Martin McCann, Andi Osho, Joanne Crawford, Frankie McCafferty and Abigail McGibbon.

‘Blue Lights’ Is Much More Than a Classic Procedural

While the premise of Blue Lights alone might suggest a straightforward procedural, the series is anything but. While the individual cases still matter, the series earns its charm by focusing on the rookie officers and the way in which the job and its in-built danger and stress can affect and shape them each day. Therefore, while initially built like a procedural, the series itself feels more like prestige TV, building itself around complicated character arcs, real consequences, and moral pressure instead of case-of-the-week comfort. That’s especially the case with the inexperienced cops who, just like the viewer, are learning in real-time how dangerous and morally messy the job is. To do so, the series takes viewers into the high-paced life of an officer, delivering a pressure-cooker appeal like The Pitt or The Bear but, this time around, focusing on police officers.

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Since its release, Blue Lights has been adored by fans and critics alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has only gone up in critical ratings, reaching an impressive 91% in Season 1 and soaring to a flawless 100% in Season 3. In a review from The Guardian, the British outlet highlighted the series’ ambitious and unflinching view of the police force, all while delivering compelling, morally complex female characters. “Female characters steal the show, lending it depth and emotional potency – an impressive feat from an all-male writing team,” the review states. Overall, the outlet confidently named the series “one of the best shows on TV.”

Therefore, while Blue Lights has yet to receive worldwide attention, the series is proving to be a major force to be reckoned with. Delivering an unrelenting view of officers on duty, especially given turbulent, gritty Belfast as the setting, the series builds a tense, emotionally grounded portrait of what it costs to serve a community where every call carries history. The series is a resounding hidden gem, and an already-renewed fourth season makes it the perfect show to binge.

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Travis Kelce CTrash Talk Taylor Wedding Snub In Chats

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce share a kiss at XS Nightclub as Kansas City Chiefs celebrate Super Bowl win

Travis Kelce‘s wedding to Taylor Swift has finally come and gone, but drama seems to be brewing over the NFL star’s guest list.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end is said to be at the center of a heated debate in group chats for his teammates over his thought process when it came to who he chose to invite to his nuptials.

This comes after it was revealed that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have no plans to turn their wedding footage into a film or documentary, with a source noting that the couple wants to keep it “private.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce share a kiss at XS Nightclub as Kansas City Chiefs celebrate Super Bowl win
Mike Kirschbaum/Wynn Las Vegas/MEGA

Some of Kelce’s teammates and football colleagues are said to be upset over not getting invited to his intimate dinner event on Thursday, with some being shut out from the entire wedding with a complete snub.

On Monday, after the nuptials, ex-NFL players Taylor Lewan and Will Compton expressed their dissatisfaction at the lack of an invite, with Lewan wondering if it was a “personal shot” fired by Kelce, and Compton admitting it left him “flabbergasted.”

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Addressing the brewing drama, an anonymous Chiefs player told the Daily Mail that it has sparked heated locker room discourse, especially the decision to exclude kicker Harrison Butker, which has led to tense exchanges in team group chats.

Butker’s controversial history has long put him at odds with Kelce and his wife, Swift. During a 2024 commencement address, the devout Catholic kicker drew intense criticism for calling Pride Month a “deadly sin” and suggesting women should focus on being homemakers rather than pursuing careers.

Kelce, at the time, publicly disagreed with his teammate’s stance, and Swift supports the Democratic Party and has publicly opposed President Donald Trump.

Chiefs Upcoming Training Camp Is Expected To Be Awkward As There’s ‘A Lot Of Gossip Going On’ About The Wedding Snub

Travis Kelce on the NFL field
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Regarding Butker’s absence, the insider from the team acknowledged that Swift and Kelce ultimately decide who attends their special day, making the omission of the kicker understandable.

However, the move has seemingly divided the team, sparking a flurry of text messages from teammates who view it as a deliberate slight.

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“The general idea was that there was a blanket invite for the team, but [every other player] received something individually,” the insider said, adding that “if Harrison had really wanted to come, he probably could have. But they’re not close, so… he wasn’t going to go, even if he had been invited.”

The source continued, “There’s now a lot of gossip going on. Training camp [for the new NFL season] starts in three weeks, and it’s going to be a whole thing. A lot of guys want it to be drama [between Butker and Kelce]. They just like that sh-t… a couple of the guys are being messy and texting Harrison to see what he thinks. We’re like a high school team sometimes.”

‘A Lot Of People’ In The Team ‘RSVP’d No,’ Chiefs Source Claims

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate Chiefs win
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Another anonymous Chiefs player shared with the Daily Mail that there are a lot of Team group chats, and that players were careful not to send messages about Kelce’s wedding to groups he is a part of.

“I have chains that have Travis on them, and chains that don’t,” the alleged player said. “You always have to check to make sure you’re sending to the right chain. There have been times where you’ll talk sh-t about someone and then realize they are in the group, and have to laugh it off.”

He continued, “I think most of the texts about the wedding are probably being sent in the groups without Travis. I have one that has about eight of us, and before the wedding, it was like, ‘Who’s going?’ And everyone was saying where they were staying, or why they weren’t going.”

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The source further noted that “probably less” than half of the team attended Kelce’s wedding, as a “lot of people RSVP’d no, not because of anything bad, but because of a conflict.”

According to the Chiefs player, he personally chose not to attend the wedding as he didn’t want to spend July 4th in New York and couldn’t bring his children along for the trip.

Travis Kelce’s Teammates Are Not Taking The Wedding Invite Drama Seriously, Source Claims: ‘It’s Nothing Disrespectful’

Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce engagement
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Speaking again about the Butker snub, the first Chiefs player who spoke with the Daily Mail admitted that people on group chats were stunned by the move, with someone writing, “WTF?!,” after a news story was shared about the kicker not being invited.

The source, however, stressed that it’s mostly locker room banter, and no one is genuinely mad at Kelce about his wedding guest list.

“I don’t think anyone on the team wishes [Kelce] anything but good things,” the Chiefs players noted. “Everyone likes him. He’s a good teammate and a good friend. There’s locker room sh-t, but it’s nothing disrespectful.”

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Despite the awkward invite drama, several of Kelce and Swift’s guests have spoken out, praising the duo’s wedding and wishing the couple nothing but love.

Grammy-winning producer Smittybeatz told Page Six of the event: “All I can say is that it was a beautiful ceremony and a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple. I’m extremely happy for the both of them.”

“They turned the Garden into a garden of love and wonderment. It was timeless. Again, very happy for them both. They are soulmates for sure,” he added.

Jermski, a childhood friend of Kelce’s and former college football teammate, expressed similar sentiment, saying, “It was the most beautiful event I’ve ever been to in my life.”

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Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Have Their Sights Set On Somewhere With ‘So Much History’ For Their Honeymoon

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Depart Or'esh Restaurant in NYC
MEGA

Meanwhile, with their nuptials over, Kelce and Swift are reportedly looking to enjoy some private time alone, and may already be eyeing a place with a lot of history.

A Star Magazine source shared that the couple wants to get far away, to somewhere they can lay low without any disturbance from the public, or even family and friends.

“They just don’t want anything getting leaked,” the source said. “They want to be able to enjoy this special time with total privacy.”

According to the insider, there are already “whispers” that Swift and Kelce will kick off their Honeymoon at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, an “ultra-private” luxury resort, with “so much history.”

John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy reportedly honeymooned at the resort back in 1953, and if Swift and Kelce end up choosing to stay there, the source noted that they can “rent out the entire property,” which can cost around “$500K for a week.”

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‘House of the Dragon’ Is Finally Doing Justice to Its Two Best Characters

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Rhaenyra Targaryen on the Iron Throne in 'House of the Dragon' Season 3.

Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 3.For two seasons, House of the Dragon has positioned Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) as the series’ main romantic dynamic. Within the taboo context of their House, they’re made for each other: cut from the same elemental cloth, and just contradictory enough to be complementary. Yet twin flames destined to burn together can either fuse into a strengthened inferno or overpower and extinguish their closest ally. After hungrily circling each other during Season 1’s first half, when Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) was young, D’Arcy and Smith’s intense chemistry suggests their characters enjoyed a happy marriage offscreen after getting married.

However, the combined pressures of war, traumatic grief, and unresolved animosities swiftly fracture that harmony, until Daemon and Rhaenyra spend Season 2 separated by an emotional chasm as vast as their physical distance. Now, in Season 3, House of the Dragon gives us the payoff the Black Queen and her King Consort deserve as two halves of a unified whole.

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Daemon’s Actions Back Up His Vow in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3

Rhaenyra grapples with her lingering insecurities throughout Season 2, but it’s Daemon who must be forced into a corner and psychologically shattered before he can reconcile with the vicious consequences of his impulsivity, let alone his major Achilles’ heel — how deeply he both resents his family’s judgment and craves their respect. Armed with stakes far bigger than a wounded ego or a guilty conscience, Season 3’s opening three episodes see Daemon putting his vow to serve Rhaenyra into practice.



















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Collider Exclusive · Game of Thrones Personality Quiz
Which Game of Thrones House Do You Belong To?
Stark · Lannister · Targaryen · Baratheon · Tyrell

Five great houses. Five completely different answers to the same question: how do you hold power in a world that will take it from you the moment you stop paying attention? Eight questions will determine where your loyalties — and your nature — truly lie.

🐺Stark

🦁Lannister

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🐉Targaryen

🦌Baratheon

🌹Tyrell

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01

Someone powerful is acting dishonourably and everyone knows it. What do you do?
In Westeros, the answer to this question has ended more than one great house.





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02

What is the source of your power?
Every house endures because of something. What is it for yours?





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03

Who do you truly fight for?
Strip away the banners and the words. The honest answer tells you everything.





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04

How do you deal with your enemies?
A house’s method reveals its character as clearly as its words ever could.





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05

What kind of ruler do you believe in?
Westeros is full of answers to this question. Most of them end badly.





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06

You suffer a devastating loss. How does your house respond?
How a house handles defeat tells you more about it than how it handles victory.





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07

Which of these truths about Westeros do you most believe?
Every house has a philosophy. This is yours.





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08

The Iron Throne is within reach. What do you do?
The answer reveals not just your ambition — but your character.





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The Maester Has Spoken
Your House Is…

Your answers point to the great house whose words, values, and way of surviving in Westeros match your own. Bend the knee — or don’t. That’s very much up to you.

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Winterfell · The North

🐺 House Stark
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Winter is Coming — and you have always known it. You prepare not out of fear but out of duty, because the people who depend on you deserve someone who takes the long view.

  • You lead with honour even when it costs you, because you understand that a reputation built on integrity is the only one worth having.
  • Your loyalty to family and people runs deep — not as sentiment but as a code that doesn’t bend when things get difficult.
  • The North endures because Starks endure — not by being the cleverest players in the game, but by being the kind of people others are willing to follow into the cold.
  • You are that kind of person. The pack survives. The lone wolf dies. You already know which one you are.


Casterly Rock · The Westerlands

🦁 House Lannister
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You understand the game — its rules, its exceptions, and exactly when the rules become the exception. You play it without illusions and without apology.

  • You are sharper than most people realise, and you have learned to use that gap to your advantage.
  • A Lannister always pays their debts — and you always keep your word, because your word is an instrument of power, and instruments must be kept in working order.
  • You love your family with a ferocity that sometimes blinds you, and you know it, and you do it anyway.
  • The lion doesn’t concern itself with the opinion of sheep. Neither, in the end, do you.


Dragonstone · The Iron Throne

🐉 House Targaryen
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You carry a sense of destiny that is difficult to explain and impossible to ignore — the feeling that you are not simply participating in the world but meant to reshape it.

  • You are capable of extraordinary things, and you know it, and that knowledge is both your greatest strength and your most dangerous quality.
  • Fire and blood are not just words to you — they are a philosophy about what change requires and what it costs.
  • The Targaryens at their best were transformative rulers who broke chains and defied the limits of what anyone thought possible.
  • At your best, so are you. The dragon has three heads. You are one of them.


Storm’s End · The Stormlands

🦌 House Baratheon
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You are a force — direct, powerful, and difficult to ignore when you enter a room or a conflict. You do not negotiate with challenges. You meet them.

  • Ours is the fury — and yours is a kind of intensity that commands attention, respect, and occasionally fear from those who underestimate what’s behind it.
  • You value strength and straight dealing. You’d rather know where you stand in a fight than navigate a web of courtly whispers.
  • The Baratheons built their house on the back of one of the greatest military victories in Westerosi history — and then struggled with what came after.
  • The lesson of your house is that winning is not the end of the story. Governing is. You are learning that too.


Highgarden · The Reach

🌹 House Tyrell
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You understand that power does not always announce itself — that sometimes it arrives with flowers, good wine, and a smile that doesn’t quite reach the eyes.

  • Growing strong is your house’s motto, and you live it: patiently, strategically, always investing in the relationships and resources that will matter most when it counts.
  • You are charming by choice and calculating by nature — a combination that makes you one of the most effective players in any room you enter.
  • The Tyrells fed King’s Landing and shaped its politics without ever sitting on the Iron Throne — and they were arguably more powerful for it.
  • You know that the person who controls the food controls the kingdom. And you always know where the food is.

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No longer does he undermine her claim by accident or intent. With unquestionable commitment and absolute focus, he wholly supports Rhaenyra as her right hand, her loyal defender, and her obedient subject. He provides her with everything she requires — a sworn-sword, a brief laugh, a warm embrace when grief keeps her from sleeping in her father’s bedchambers — for no desire of his own, save ensuring her birthright. Daemon willingly walks in the length of her shadow, spurs her from staggering grief into decisive action, and is amply prepared to protect her until his death. And while an unconventional diplomat at best, he comprehends the political optics and hands over Otto Hightower’s (Rhys Ifans) execution — a kill the earlier Daemon would’ve seized with relish. In a rigged misogynistic game that no powerful woman can easily (if ever) win, Daemon becomes his wife’s Queenmaker.

Now, they’ll certainly continue to disagree on tactics. Their debate in Episode 3, with Rhaenyra advocating for securing King’s Landing while Daemon’s underlying predisposition for Targaryen supremacy gives him conquest eyeballs bigger than their dragons’ stomachs, proves as much. Nevertheless, they literally and figuratively move as a synchronized unit. They confer and confide, rely on and admire, make fair concessions and stand their ground with ferocious conviction. Daemon provides a stabilizing anchor and a warrior’s ruthless, countering perspective to Rhaenyra’s kinder ideals. The latter can’t survive in Westeros, no matter how much Rhaenyra resists the assertion that ruling means rescinding some of her fundamental values.

Rhaenyra and Daemon Are Their Most Unified in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3

Of course, it’s unlikely the reunited Targaryen power couple and their ascension into their healthiest, strongest, and most towering moment in the sun will last for long. Even if they avoid collapsing into direct conflict, House of the Dragon remains an inevitable tragedy. Too many forces conspire against them: Rhaenyra’s cumulative anguish, Ormund Hightower’s (James Norton) deception, tossing accelerant onto her volcanic wrath, the truth about Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) and Sheepstealer awaiting Daemon in the Vale. If Rhaenyra develops a degree of paranoia, justified or not, then Daemon may realize that protecting his daughter runs counter to carrying out his queen’s cries for vengeance. For now, at least, they’re aligned and blazing — stronger partners than ever before.

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House of the Dragon

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Release Date

August 21, 2022

Network

HBO

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Showrunner

George R.R. Martin

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Directors

Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

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The Exact Penny Loafers Olivia Wilde Loves Are at Nordstrom

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Olivia Wilde’s street style has always been unparalleled, and it’s evolved with her through every era of her life. No matter what trend she’s embodying, though — whether it be boho, quiet luxury or casual model-off-duty vibes — she always seems to be sporting one specific pair of penny loafers.

Most recently, Wilde was spotted running errands in New York wearing the comfortable and stylish Reformation Ani Ruched Penny Loafers. The shoes complemented her oversized white trousers and plain black tee — and the overall look is extremely replicable, especially since the exact shoes are available at Nordstrom.

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Get the Reformation Ani Ruched Penny Loafers for $278 at Nordstrom! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Penny loafers first became popular in the 1950s for their casual yet polished appearance, and they’ve remained a classic wardrobe staple ever since. Beyond their timelessness, the right pair can last you literal decades. This style from Reformation certainly has potential, and they’re totally worth the splurge.

Olivia Wilde is seen outside


Related: Olivia Wilde’s Relaxed White Pants Are Summer’s Coolest Jean Swap

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Jeans will always have their place, but Olivia Wilde just reminded Us there’s a much cooler option for summer. Her latest street style look proves that relaxed white pants can feel just as versatile while keeping you far more comfortable on hot, sticky days. Equal parts effortless and elevated, they’re the kind of staple you’ll […]

The leather construction is as classic as it gets, while the addition of ruched front seaming modernizes the overall shoe. That detail, paired with the soft, supple leather exterior, makes this a no-brainer add to your closet. But it takes more than looks for a shoe to become something you continuously wear. Luckily, shoppers say these are incredibly comfortable too.

“I have been looking for some classic loafers and tried them all, but they’re always stiff and require too much breaking in for my taste,” one Nordstrom shopper writes. “These were perfect right out of the box, and I’ve since worn them nonstop.” Loafers are notoriously difficult to break in, so these seem to be a total unicorn in the footwear world.

The Reformation Ani Ruched Penny Loafers have everything going for them — the effortless, lasting style; soft broken-in leather; ready-to-wear comfort; modern flair. It’s no wonder they’re Wilde’s favorite. They could be yours too. Shop at Nordstrom today!

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Get the Reformation Ani Ruched Penny Loafers for $278 at Nordstrom! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more from Reformation here and more penny loafers here

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Olivia Wilde is seen on June 15, 2026 in New York City.


Related: Olivia Wilde Styled Her Oversized Suit With These Sporty Sneakers

Olivia Wilde just made a strong case for skipping heels altogether. While oversized suiting is often paired with pumps or strappy sandals, the actress recently took a more practical route, styling her relaxed black suit with sporty retro sneakers instead. The best part? You can recreate the look with this $27 version on Amazon. On […]

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TikTok Influencer Shot Dead While Asleep With Boyfriend

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TikTok lifestyle influencer Gabriela de los Ángeles Sanarrusia Chavarría has reportedly died.

According to Argentina-based news outlet La Nación, who cited Costa Rican authorities, Chavarría was shot dead on Saturday, July 4, while sleeping beside her boyfriend inside their La Cruz, Costa Rica, home. She was 28 years old.

The outlet reported that the boyfriend of the social media star, who amassed more than 100,000 fans across Instagram and TikTok, was also killed, with multiple intruders allegedly breaking into the couple’s home before firing bullets at both Chavarría and Jose Isaac Agüero, 30.

Per a report by People, published on Monday, July 6, local authorities told La Nación that “after the killing, suspects fled the home and allegedly burned a white vehicle.” The shootings were believed to be “motivated by retribution,” with local police stating that they are currently “continuing to investigate to determine an official motive,” per People’s coverage.

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Related: Influencer Dead in Drive-By Shooting Years After Partner Was Fatally Shot

Brazilian influencer Francisca Roberta has reportedly died. She was 21. Brazilian outlets G1 and CNN Brasil reported on Monday, May 18, that Roberta was shot outside her home by two suspects on a motorcycle earlier this month. The two suspects fled after the incident, according to a police statement. G1 stated that one of the […]

La Nación also noted that an “ex-partner” of Chavarría’s was tragically “murdered two years earlier” within the suburb.

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Chavarría was best known for sharing content captured during her travels and would also post about her daughter, 9. The influencer’s final TikTok captured her cuddling up to her child while the youngster spoke to the camera. “When did you grow up so much, my baby,” Chavarría captioned the clip.

Her daughter was also featured in Chavarría’s final Instagram post, as was Agüero. The trio had posed for a professional photo shoot against a decadent floral backdrop with both mother and daughter wearing shimmering tiaras.

One final image in the Instagram carousel, posted on June 29, showed the influencer dressed in lingerie while seated on a throne as her boyfriend held one of her bare legs and gazed into her eyes.

Colombian Influencer Shot Dead Days After Mexican Influencer’s Death During Livestream


Related: Colombian Influencer Maria Jose Estupinan, 22, Shot Dead

Colombian influencer María José Estupiñán has reportedly died after being shot. She was 22. President of the National Gender Commission of the Colombian Judiciary, Magda Victoria Acosta, claimed Estupiñán was killed on Thursday, May 15, per CNN. The outlet reported that Acosta claimed the suspect who appeared at Estupiñán’s residence was dressed as a delivery man. […]

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Chavarría’s death comes amid a second shock influencer shooting in recent days. NBC Miami reported on Tuesday, July 7, that South Florida-based TikToker Brianna Johnson, better known as “ItGirlBri” died during a drive-by shooting in Miramar, Florida two days prior.

The social media personality had been “leaving an Airbnb party” in a “lime green Lamborghini” that was reportedly shot at by a white BMW. The outlet reported that the 21-year-old was taken to hospital by fire rescue crews but “did not survive,” while two other victims in the shooting remained in the hospital.

Johnson, who was also known as “dreamdoll_bri” on Instagram, boasted more than 380,000 TikTok followers. She rose to fame thanks to her engaging lifestyle content.

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Adam Sandler Had One Rule For Taylor Swift’s Wedding

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Adam Sandler's Daughters Getting $65K To Star In Dad's New Movie

Adam Sandler had the privilege of marrying Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in their lavish wedding on July 3. And while some people might’ve been nervous about taking on the role, given that megawatt A-listers had married in front of 1,000+ guests, Sandler was reportedly thrilled to have been asked. In fact, a source close to the actor said that the 59-year-old was so excited, he wasted no time saying yes.

Adam Sandler's Daughters Getting $65K To Star In Dad's New Movie
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The Blast previously reported that Sandler landed the unexpected role at Swift and Kelce’s wedding, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. A new source told PEOPLE how it all went down and said the “Happy Gilmore” actor “said yes right away” when asked to officiate the couple’s ceremony.

The insider went on to say that Sandler was “incredibly honored” to have been asked to be part of the pair’s special day, adding that he was the “perfect person” for the job. The source also noted Sandler’s 23-year marriage to his wife, Jackie, as another reason the newlyweds chose him.

Adam Sandler Was Focused On One Thing When He Married Swift And Kelce

Adam Sandler at Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2024
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Sandler is used to putting on a show for his fans. However, the insider claimed that, for this role, the actor’s only goal was to be genuine and to speak from the heart. “He wasn’t trying to find the perfect words or make it this big production,” the source said. “He just wanted to speak from the heart and pass along a little wisdom that he’s gained from his own happy marriage.”

Although the choice to have Sandler officiate may seem random to some, the actor’s relationship with Swift dates back further than many realize. In a previous interview, Sandler gushed about their friendship, calling the “Lover” singer “incredible” and “so d-mn nice to my family.”

Over the years, Swift has developed a close relationship with the actor’s family, specifically his children Sadie and Sunny. Sandler even joked on Conan O’Brien’s podcast that, despite his years in Hollywood, he still gets nervous whenever he’s in the superstar’s presence.

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“Just cause I don’t wanna blow it for my kids… I don’t stay as cool as I can,” he said.

Adam Sandler Developed A Great Relationship With Kelce On The Set Of This Movie

As for Sandler’s relationship with Kelce, the pair developed a great friendship on the set of “Happy Gilmore 2,” in which Kelce has a small role. In January 2025, the Kansas City Chiefs star spoke with Pat McAfee about his experience on set, calling it “off the chain.”

When it came to speaking about Sandler, Kelce said the beloved actor is “every bit as cool off the screen as he is on the screen,” later calling the experience a “dream come true.”

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Sandler, meanwhile, echoed those sentiments during his press run, praising the Super Bowl champion and Ohio native as “a gentle, nice guy, and funny as h-ll.”

Sandler Called The Police 48 Hours After He Married Kelce And Swift

Adam Sandler at the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards - Santa Monica
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A previous report from The Blast details Sandler’s unexpected phone call to the police 48 hours after he wed Kelce and Swift. Public safety dispatcher Chris Reynolds shared that Sandler called the Nantucket Police Department’s non-emergency line after arriving on the island, asking for directions to the nearest local basketball court.

After arriving at the Backus Lane basketball courts, the comedian and actor found a group of guys playing and asked them whether he could jump in. One of the local residents, Andrew Kesler, spoke about the unexpected encounter and praised the 59-year-old for his skills. “He has elite passing. He didn’t miss a pass,” he said. “They were all dimes. His layup game was good. I didn’t really see him shoot the ball.”

Sandler Is Known For His Skills On The Hardwood

@wnba We’ve got some superstars in San Francisco 🫣 Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler, and E-40 are in the house to catch the action between the @Valkyries and @Las Vegas Aces! #wnba #wnbaseason30 #celebrityrow #basketball #courtside ♬ original sound – WNBA

For those who don’t know, Sandler is an avid basketball fan and player, known for playing with locals and even some NBA players. He’s been spotted courtside at NBA and WNBA games, including the New York Knicks and the Golden State Valkyries.

In 2023, Sandler joined another pickup basketball game with a Los Angeles-based photographer named Xavier Luggage. Speaking with ESPN, the artist said that playing with Sandler was unbelievable before describing one of his passes as “the best pass that I’ve ever received in my life.”

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Zoe Kazan’s Theory on Blake Lively and Taylor Swift Wedding

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Zoe Kazan has seemingly speculated over why Blake Lively did not receive an invitation to former pal Taylor Swift’s wedding.

“I think she [Swift] didn’t invite *her* [Lively] because she has come to the end of her marriage plot, thus cutting off access to her first great subject,” the Big Sick star, 42, wrote via X on Tuesday, July 7. “Rather than root for her own divorce, she is generating the next chapter of interpersonal drama for herself via female friendship.”

Us Weekly confirmed via multiple sources in the lead-up to Swift’s Friday, July 3, Madison Square Garden wedding to Travis Kelce, that Lively, 38, did not receive an invitation to the New York City nuptials.

Kazan’s post attracted backlash from disagreeing fans of Swift, 36, leading to the actress defending her stance in a subsequent X post shared three hours after the original. “Hilarious to me that this is being read as critical! She’s explicitly made her love life the subject of her work, yielding many good songs. Now, as a storyteller, she needs a new subject,” Kazan wrote.

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She then concluded, “What a touchy fandom.”

Kazan’s theory made further waves on Reddit with one fan questioning her motive. “Do they have beef? Because this is a stone cold take down,” wrote one Swifty, while another amused social media user commented, “Zoe Kazan being involved in this was unexpected but it’s interesting lol.”

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Zoe Kazan
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An insider told Us on June 23 that Lively, whose close bond with Swift dissipated after the Gossip Girl alum’s legal battle with her It Ends With Us director and costar Justin Baldoni, “understands” why she wouldn’t have received an invitation to Swift’s wedding.

“It would be a media frenzy,” the source told Us at the time. “She also understands that she and Taylor don’t have the same level of friendship they once had. She isn’t upset about not being invited, but of course, she would love to be there to support her and Travis.”

Blake Lively's Lawyer Reveals How She Feels About Personal Texts With Taylor Swift Going Public


Related: How Blake Lively Feels About Taylor Swift Being ‘Drawn Into’ Legal Drama

Blake Lively‘s lawyer is shedding insight on her mindset as her personal texts with Taylor Swift become public. When asked whether Lively, 38, is “upset” about friends like Swift, 36, being “drawn into” her legal drama with Justin Baldoni, lawyer Sigrid McCawley said that she has “done everything she can to protect her friends from […]

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As to where the former friends currently stand, the insider said, “They haven’t been in touch in several months, and their last correspondence was only a few casual texts back and forth. That is the extent of their friendship.”

Swift and Lively severed close ties after the pop star’s name was dragged into Lively’s contentious battle with Baldoni, 42. Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement in May after an 18-month legal saga that began in December 2024 when Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni.

As part of Lively’s ongoing case, personal texts sent between Swift and Lively were made public, which allegedly made Swift feel “exposed and kind of violated,” according to a source who spoke to Us in January.

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Gillian Flynn’s Psychological Thriller Books, Ranked

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Camille with wet hair in Sharp Objects.

There was a void of deranged female protagonists portrayed in all their messy glory. Gillian Flynn was ready to answer the call, writing three immaculate books in this style. It has been some time since Flynn released a book, but that doesn’t diminish the perfection with which her written works are remembered.

Each book artfully harnesses themes such as misogyny, self-harm, and abuse in unique stories unlike any other psychological thrillers on the scene. Female characters are rarely written with such specificity and ruthlessness as they are in Flynn’s best-selling novels. All her books are a credit to her as an artist, making ranking them a difficult endeavor, indeed.

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Sharp Objects Was an Impressive Start to Gillian Flynn’s Career

Camille with wet hair in Sharp Objects.
Camille with wet hair in Sharp Objects.
Image via Anne Marie Fox / ©HBO / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Gillian Flynn’s first book was a harrowing debut, and one that should not be taken lightly. The shortest of her novels, Sharp Objects, is an excruciating exploration of parental trauma that bleeds off the page. Flynn’s first protagonist is Camille Preaker, a Chicago journalist who must return home to Wind Gap, Missouri, to cover the slew of child murders. The writer’s prose is as prickly and unsettling as Camille, whose childhood trauma is so severe that she resorts to self-harm.

Sharp Objects isn’t the typical Gothic thriller that lives and dies by its plot turns. Though there are many twists, the most interesting part of the book is the deep-seated wounds the characters carry that push them into the final climactic resolution. This book started the Flynn tradition of a completely unpredictable ending and was a surprising first entry into a world of psychological terror.

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Dark Places Increased the Stakes Tenfold

Libby looking out a car window in Dark Places.
Libby looking out a car window in Dark Places.
Image via Doane Gregory/©A24/Courtesy Everett Collection

Dark Places is perhaps the least known of Gillian Flynn’s works, likely because of the lackluster screen adaptation. Luckily, Dark Places is getting adapted for the screen again, a relief considering it is a highly ambitious work that sticks the landing. The mystery is a multi-perspective thriller that follows a woman who, in her youth, was the sole survivor of the massacre of her family. Libby is another of Flynn’s complicated protagonists who takes readers on a disturbing deep dive into the case that ruined her life and her family.

Closed off because of her trauma, Libby is convinced that her brother, Ben, killed her family in a Satanic ritual. Dark Places escalates the stakes of Sharp Objects while also delivering compelling twists that fans would have to read to believe. A commentary on the Satanic Panic of the ’80s and capitalism as a whole, Flynn’s book takes on the ills of America in a genuinely heartbreaking fashion.

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Gone Girl Is Gillian Flynn’s Magnum Opus

Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne taking a bath in 'Gone Girl'
Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne taking a bath in ‘Gone Girl’
Image via 20th Century Studios

Gillian Flynn’s books just get better and better, and Gone Girl is the crowning achievement of her work. While the David Fincher adaptation gave the subject a certain caché, the book is even better — as hard as it is to believe. The Flynn-penned film hit all the significant points of the novel, most importantly, the criticism of misogyny in relationships. Amy Elliott-Dunne’s (Rosamund Pike) “Cool Girl” speech will go down in history as one of the best character-defining monologues in recent history.

This is present in the source material, but the book goes even harder in many respects. Amy’s character is far more complex, as is her hapless husband, Nick, who is just as reprehensible as she is. The book clarifies Nick’s misogyny, which makes him an equal participant in what happens to him. The ending is much more satisfying and is all wrapped up in an unreliable narrative that is a joy to read. Gone Girl is the undisputed crown jewel of Flynn’s work.

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10 Fantasy Video Games That Are Perfect From Start to Finish

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A still from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

When playing a video game, there will always be some area, section, or general flaw in the title that just restricts it from becoming perfect. Such as the turret-shooting asteroid segment in Dead Space that took players out of the loop, or the infamous water temple in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that was needlessly frustrating, or pretty much any tutorial for most Pokémon video games.

However, some video games don’t have these issues, instead delivering a full experience with no downs, only ups. This list will feature ten fantasy video games that are perfect from start to finish based on gameplay, narrative, design, pacing, consistency, originality, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality. Perfection is, of course, subjective, but these few precious games might actually achieve it.

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‘Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door’ (2004)

A still from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
A still from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Image via Nintendo

Fantasy comes in all shapes and sizes, but fans probably weren’t expecting anything from Mario on this list. Yet, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is technically a fantasy video game. Mario travels to a port town in order to help Princess Peach open the titular door. However, once he arrives, he discovers that the princess has been kidnapped by an alien race known as the X-nauts.

Taking Mario outside his comfort zone in terms of setting and gameplay created a compelling RPG that is acclaimed for its sharp writing. The town is a unique setting and full of endearing characters with whom the player can interact. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door also uses a distinct stage play style, further making it a charming and witty gaming experience that more fans should try out.

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‘Dragon Age: Inquisition’ (2014)

The Iron Bull in Dragon Age: Inquisition Image via BioWare

It’s unfortunate that the Dragon Age franchise didn’t land on its feet, but fans at least have a couple of amazing video games, including the first Game of the Year winner at the Game Awards, Dragon Age: Inquisition. As demons pour out of the magical tears across the continent of Thedas, the protagonist, labeled the Herald of Andraste, is tasked with rebuilding an ancient political and military force to stop the crisis.

There are many fantastic Dragon Age video games, but this one in particular has an incredible pace that makes it perfect from start to finish. The political storytelling is spectacular, building a complex and fascinating narrative that boosts the gameplay. Indeed, the action is solid, but the political machinations and nuances might be the best aspect here. The lore, worldbuilding, companion writing, and tension are maintained throughout, proving the game’s excellence.

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‘Final Fantasy VI’ (1994)

Three people riding on giant chickens outside of a castle in Final Fantasy VI
Three people riding on giant chickens outside of a castle in Final Fantasy VI
Image via Square

The Final Fantasy franchise is home to some of the most beloved video games of all time, and while there are others that are more acclaimed than Final Fantasy VI, it is the most perfect. Players and their group of adventurers set out on an adventure to stop the evil empire of Gestahlian and its unhinged general, Kafka, from draining the planet of its life source.

As the last Final Fantasy game in 2D before it shifted to 3D, this game perfected the top-down formula in terms of art and gameplay. The massive ensemble cast adds personal stories that slowly weave together through trauma and tragedy, featuring some of the franchise’s most popular figures, like Terra Branford. The first half was good, but the mid-game twist turns Final Fantasy VI on its head, altering the gameplay and narrative flawlessly.

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‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

FromSoftware is a prolific video game studio, and its magnum opus, Elden Ring, is also its most perfect title. After the titular object shatters, the children of Queen Marika claim the pieces. Players awaken as the Tarnished One, who must travel through the Lands Between and defeat the demigod children in order to retrieve the pieces, reform the ring, and become the Elden Lord.

Elden Ring does have some flaws, including its narrative, which many fans said was convoluted. However, this title is the best dark fantasy video game for good reason. The combat may be challenging, but ultimately rewarding when players finally defeat the boss they were stuck on. The collective lore and worldbuilding that fans learn through exploration is a satisfying experience that highlights Elden Ring‘s flawlessness.

‘Journey’ (2012)

A gifure standing in a desert in the video game Journey
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Image via Sony Computer Entertainment
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The indie genre offers some of the greatest, most ambitious, and personal stories and experiences in gaming history, and one such title is Journey. The player controls an anonymous and mysterious traveller in an expansive desert. On a pilgrimage to its central and grand mountain, the player will encounter many mysteries, wonders, and unexpected events.

As a walking simulator-type game, Journey may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who enjoy it, they may just find their new favorite game. The stakes may be low at the beginning, but the methodical pace enhances the sense of beauty and relaxation. However, the tone shifts into a dark underground world, and the ancient dangers evoke a sense of dread. By the end, Journey has a euphoric final climb up the mountain that concludes its two-hour, short but sweet experience with different vibes at each step.

‘Hollow Knight’ (2017)

A bug wearing a robe in a forest in Hollow Knight
A bug wearing a robe in a forest in Hollow Knight
Image via Team Cherry
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Yet another flawless indie game that makes this list is a cult classic that recently received its long-awaited sequel, Hollow Knight. A small bug goes on a big mission in the infected kingdom of Hallownest, needing to uncover its dark mystery and defeat whatever is infecting the kingdom.

While its sequel has higher highs, it also has lower lows. Hollow Knight, on the other hand, is a flawlessly paced and consistent masterpiece that keeps delivering. Players slowly unlock mechanics, new traversal methods, and forms of combat, making exploration even more compelling. As new areas unlock, gamers can get lost in this melancholic world and all of its perfection. It’s the best kind of experience that, while not exactly open-world, can still allow players autonomy. Hollow Knight is one of the best indie games ever, and the proof is in the pudding.

‘Chrono Trigger’ (1995)

Cast of Chrono Trigger
Cast of Chrono Trigger
Image via Square Enix
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The 3D format opens itself up to many flaws and mistakes, which is why many 2D video games are perfect, including Chrono Trigger. When a group of adventurers accidentally discover time travel at a fair, they see a future of death and destruction. Now, those same heroes must travel through the past, present, and future to stop this nightmare from becoming reality.

Chrono Trigger is the pinnacle of 16-bit gaming, not only being a technological masterpiece, but also boasting fun gameplay and profound storytelling. This game has phenomenal pacing, having engaging sections in the past, present, and future that all affect each other. Every choice alters the future in Chrono Trigger, which makes every step a perfect gaming experience, whether it is at the beginning or end.

‘Hades’ (2020)

Zagreus in the underworld in Hades
Zagreus in the underworld in Hades
Image via Supergiant Games
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The last, but best indie video game on this list is Hades, whose sequel was good, but doesn’t hold up compared to the original. Zagreus is the rebellious prince of the underworld, wanting to escape Hell and his father, Hades. Thinking his mother is trapped on Olympus, he spends countless times attempting to escape the underworld.

As a rogue-like, the gameplay can get repetitive, but its novel approach to death pretty much revolutionized the formula, making this experience great from start to finish. The rogue-like elements are enhanced through the unlockable weapons and narrative, creating a relevant and engaging story. The more players die, the further the story progresses, which is seen through the character interactions and hub world, proving Hades is a remarkable indie game.































































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Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz
Which Action Hero Would Be
Your Perfect Partner?

Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt

Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.

🎖️Rambo

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🍸James Bond

🏺Indiana Jones

🔧John McClane

🎭Ethan Hunt

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01

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You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner?
The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.





02

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You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel?
How you get there is half the mission.





03

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You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do?
This is when you find out what someone is really made of.





04

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The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest?
Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.





05

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How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission?
Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.





06

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Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them?
The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.





07

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Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do?
Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.





08

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What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace?
A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.





09

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Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with?
No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.





10

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It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now?
The last question is the most honest one.





Your Partner Has Been Assigned
Your Perfect Partner Is…
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Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.

Rambo

Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.

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James Bond

Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.

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Indiana Jones

Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.

John McClane

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Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.

Ethan Hunt

Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.

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Gameplay of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Gameplay of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Image via Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda franchise has some incredible video games, but their most perfect is arguably The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It follows the typical plot, with Link needing to rescue Princess Zelda and the descendants of the sages after Ganondorf kidnaps them by traversing through the normal world and a mirrored dimension.

While The Legend of Zelda is mostly a 3D franchise, they have some fantastic 2D games, including The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The dual-world mechanic adds incredible opportunities for puzzle design, and these aspects combine to create a well-paced experience. A Link to the Past slowly expands the player’s toolkit, and through dungeons, gameplay, and bosses, fans find more to love.

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‘God of War’ (2018)

Kratos and Atreus standing together in God of War 2018
Kratos and Atreus standing together in God of War 2018
Image via Sony Interactive Entertainment

2018 was one of the best years of gaming in a long time, but its greatest masterpiece, which was perfect from start to finish, was God of War. Putting aside his trauma and rage from Greece, Kratos now lives in a Norse region. However, after his wife dies, he respects her wishes, travelling across the region with his son, Atreus, to scatter her ashes at the top of the highest peak, but the gods want his son for strange reasons.

As soon as the game begins and players get into the tutorial, God of War hooks gamers immediately with one of the best introductions in gaming history, ending in a phenomenal boss battle that sets the pace. With one of the most gorgeous, personal, and profound stories as well as its masterful narrative design, God of War is a fantasy masterpiece. Not to mention, this game features cathartic gameplay and a satisfying sense of progression, which mixes nicely with its renowned combat, proving it is perfect from start to finish. God of War reinvents Kratos, one of the best video game characters, to deliver one of the best experiences of the century.

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