Fantasy is such an expansive, storied, and prolific genre that there exists a myriad of subgenres under its umbrella, but it can all be broadly categorized into two boxes. Low fantasy is set in the real world, or a highly realistic historical setting, and magic in it tends to intrude upon an otherwise quite normal world. High fantasy, on the other hand, is all about vast fictional worlds where magic is a regular part of everyday living. Both low and high fantasies can have exceptionally written magic systems (the set of rules that dictates how magic works in a story), but it’s more common to find these sorts of legendary systems in high fantasy.

For proof, one needn’t look any further than classics like A Wizard of Earthsea and modern gems like Shadow and Bone, groundbreaking books that display some of the most fascinating worldbuilding the fantasy genre has ever seen on the printed page. Many elements define whether a book’s worldbuilding is widely considered great, including a good magic system. As long as it makes sense, is well-integrated into the fictional world’s culture, and serves the tone and characters of the story well, a high fantasy book’s magic system can be counted among the best.

‘Shadow and Bone’ (2012)

Image via Henry Holt and Company

Young adult fantasy has given bookworms several of the most compelling magic systems in the genre’s history, and Leigh Bardugo‘s magic system for Shadow and Bone is right up there as one of the best. The first installment in the trilogy of the same name, this YA gem was Bardugo’s debut novel, and what an introduction it was. Wonderfully plotted and elevated by some exceptional worldbuilding, it may not be particularly juicy or substantial fantasy, but it’s more than entertaining enough for those who tend to enjoy the genre’s YA variety.

For all its minor flaws, however, Shadow and Bone is one of the modern fantasy books with the best magic systems. Known as the Small Science, this magic is practiced by users called Grisha, who are able to manipulate matter on a molecular level. It’s a hard and logical system whose tangible limitations make it drive the plot and character development forward in all sorts of meaningful ways.

‘Blood of Elves’ (1994)

Image via superNOWA/Andrzej Sapkowski

Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski was the mind behind the Witcher series of books. They were well-known in Poland from the start, but it wouldn’t be until CD Projekt Red’s video game adaptations saw the light of day that the series was launched into proper international prominence. Though Blood of Elves (which was first translated into English in 2008, 14 years after its original publication) was predated by the short story books Sword of Destiny and The Last Wish, this is the first novel in the series—and what an introduction it is, considering that it’s among the best dark fantasy books of all time.

Sword of Destiny and The Last Wish were technically the introduction to the magic system of the Witcher universe, but it’s Blood of Elves that turns it into a far more structured, logical, and rigorous system. Ideal for those who love hard magic systems (those that have much stricter mechanics), Blood of Elves shows magic as both an art and a science that requires immense discipline, sacrifice, and rigorous study. It’s a fascinatingly complex and layered approach to high fantasy.

‘The Way of Kings’ (2010)

Image via Tor Books

There are few fantasy authors working today who are more prolific than Brandon Sanderson. But far from just being immensely productive, Sanderson is also an exceptional master of speculative fiction, particularly skilled at crafting some of the coolest and most memorable magic systems in the history of fantasy. There is, for instance, The Stormlight Archive, one of the most essential fantasy book series of the 21st century. The series contains several distinct but interconnected magic systems which lovers of hard magic should immediately fall in love with.

There’s the Surgebinding that allows users to manipulate ten fundamental forces of nature; there’s the magitech of Fabrials; and your darker and more unpredictable alternatives, Voidbinding and the Old Magic. Sanderson crafts this tapestry of magic systems with admirable rigor and perfectly logical rules, making the sky-high stakes clear and tying magic to character growth. The Way of Kings is a phenomenal introduction to The Stormlight Archive and one of those rare books with better worldbuilding than Harry Potter, largely thanks to how its different magic systems shape the entire world of the series.

‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ (1968)

Image via Parnassus Press

Throughout the 20th-century history of speculative fiction, rarely have there ever been any authors more important or revolutionary than Ursula K. Le Guin. Anyone interested in getting started on her work may as well jump right into her best-known book series: the high fantasy masterpieces of The Earthsea Cycle, starting with A Wizard of Earthsea. Regarded as one of the most influential children’s fantasy classics in history, it’s one of those classic fantasy books that are still a must-read in 2026.

It’s a book that works on several levels: as a coming-of-age story, as a traditional fantasy epic, and as a phenomenal way to introduce younger readers to high fantasy. It’s one of the most prominent examples of soft magic, where at no point does Le Guin treat the magic system of A Wizard of Earthsea like a scientific textbook. Rather, magic is largely psychological and heavily influenced by Taoist philosophy, where wizards’ task is to maintain the fundamental balance of the universe. Names in Earthsea carry literal magic power, a system tied deeply to the protagonist’s coming-of-age journey.

‘The Name of the Wind’ (2007)

Image via DAW Books

Though Patrick Rothfuss has kept fans waiting 15 years (and counting) for the third and final chapter in his Kingkiller Chronicles, one fact remains unchanged: The Name of the Wind is one of the most foundational works of literary high fantasy of the 2000s, one of those fantasy books better than most movies out there. It’s a phenomenal introduction to the story of Kvothe, elevated by some of the most beautiful and rhythmic prose that the fantasy genre has seen in years. Epic in scale yet deeply intimate in its character-driven scope, it’s a masterpiece whose fame is well-earned.

A big source of The Name of the Wind‘s charm is its magic system, a brilliant blend of hard and soft elements that boasts some of the most enrapturing worldbuilding that fantasy fans can find in a 21st-century novel. Sympathy is a hyper-logical hard magic that’s as fascinating to learn about as it is fun to watch in action, while Naming (clearly inspired by Le Guin’s Earthsea) is a wonderfully poetic soft magic. This perfectly-balanced blend adds volumes to the sheer depth of The Name of the Wind‘s lore and philosophy, making it one of the most layered works of high fantasy in recent memory.

‘The Eye of the World’ (1990)

Image via Tor Books/ Orbit

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Robert Jordan‘s The Wheel of Time series was originally planned as a trilogy, but ended up spanning a whopping 14 volumes in the end. The result? Some of the most legendary works of high fantasy since J. R. R. Tolkien, including the series’ masterful opening chapter, The Eye of the World. Every Wheel of Time novel could technically be counted among the fantasy books with the best worldbuilding, but Eye of the World is particularly worthy of praise for how masterfully it introduces the reader to this world, these characters, and this groundbreaking magic system.

Before The Eye of the World, fantasy books’ magic systems were largely governed by a kind of Tolkienesque mysticism. The One Power introduced here was the genre’s first significant shift toward more rule-based magic systems, and for that alone, it’s one of the most revolutionary magic systems in the history of high fantasy. In fact, it was Jordan and The Eye of the World that really pioneered the idea of magic being a system, and not just a vague element inherent to the fantasy genre. It’s historic, and it’s still incredibly entertaining to read.

‘Gardens of the Moon’ (1999)

Image via Tor Fantasy

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You can never go wrong with the classics, and it doesn’t get much more classic than Canadian author Steven Erikson‘s massive epic fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen. Several of the most perfectly written fantasy books of all time are contained within Malazan, and though Gardens of the Moon may or may not be one of the best in the series (depending on which fan you ask), it sure was a phenomenal introduction to it. And as a phenomenal introduction to Malazan, it fittingly serves as an impressive introduction to the world’s magic system.

In the world of Malazan, magic flows from Warrens, self-contained parallel universes each tied to a certain element or concept. A series of 10 epic books consisting of well over 3 million words naturally requires a fittingly complex magic system, and the Warrens system present in Gardens of the Moon is nothing if not complex. There is tremendous tension, mystery, and even cosmic horror in the magic of Gardens of the Moon, helping establish the riveting world that fuels Malazan.

‘Mistborn: The Final Empire’ (2006)

Image via Tor Books

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As if any more proof were needed that there’s no fantasy author working today quite like Brandon Sanderson, there’s also the Mistborn series, an essential part of Sanderson’s overarching Cosmere shared universe. Mistborn: The Final Empire is the beginning of the first trilogy of the series, known as Era One, and it’s easily one of the best fantasy novels of the last two decades. The book’s character writing is relatively shallow, but the true star of the show here is the worldbuilding, which may very well be the best of Sanderson’s whole bibliography.

It was actually Sanderson himself who coined the distinction between hard and soft magic systems, and the magic system found in The Final Empire may well be the best hard magic system ever printed on a page, whether it’s high or low fantasy we’re talking about. If Era One of Mistborn is one of the best book trilogies of all time, it’s largely because The Final Empire‘s Allomancy is such a fascinating concept through and through. Tightly constructed, mathematically symmetrical, and largely dictated by the socioeconomic class divide, it’s one of the most complex and engrossing magic systems fantasy has ever seen.

‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 stars KC Chandler, and Tierra Davis have had a rollercoaster journey since entering the villa. From heated recouplings to making their relationship official, the pair quickly became one of the season’s most talked-about couples. KC and Tierra were dumped just before the Season 8 finale alongside Kenzie and Dylan. Now, the couple is breaking their silence by creating a space where they can share their story in their own words.

RELATED: Too Far? Social Media Reacts After Disney Channel References ‘Love Island USA’ Star KC Chandler In ‘K.C. Undercover’ Post (VIDEO)

KC Chandler & Tierra Davis Break The Internet With New Photos

Without saying a word, KC Chandler and Tierra Davis broke the internet after popping out with a new boo’d-up photoshoot since leaving the villa. Tierra stunned in a white dress while KC wore a white shirt as they posed in front of a vintage blue classic car, giving off timeless Los Angeles love story vibes beneath the palm trees. The couple captioned the post, “Still We Rise.” The caption also appeared to reference KC’s “Still I Rise” tattoo, which sparked plenty of reactions and jokes from both fans and fellow Islanders during their time in the villa. The two even shared behind-the-scenes footage on TikTok as they enjoyed the photoshoot together.

KC And Tierra  Reflect On Life After ‘Love Island USA’

After reaching over 20,000 subscribers, KC Chandler and Tierra Davis launched their couples podcast, KC & Titi. The couple discussed their relationship outside the villa, life after the show, and what they envision for their future. Since leaving Fiji, KC and Tierra said they’ve been nearly inseparable. All while adjusting to newfound fame and reconnecting with loved ones. The pair also shared they’re still processing everything that came with their ‘Love Island USA’  experience. Before entering the villa, Tierra worked multiple jobs, including as a nanny caring for children with autism. KC previously worked as a CNA while hosting a local run club and giving back to his community.

After nearly a month in Fiji, the couple admitted their lives have changed in ways they never expected. With their growing platform also came criticism, online hate, and intense public scrutiny. They launched their podcast to create a safe space where they can share their story without being taken out of context. During the conversation, KC and Tierra discussed villa tension, depression, and racist and hateful comments from critics online.

Reflecting on the heated Casa Amor recoupling, KC discussed choosing Tierra instead of rekindling his previous connection with Aniya Harvey. He admitted the aftermath took a toll on his mental health. Several villa girls confronted him after the emotional fire pit ceremony.

“After the whole fire pit stuff and everything, it was very hostile in there. I’m not going to lie. I kind of got down on myself, and my mental health was really bad. Titi literally helped me through all of that. It got to the point where I didn’t want to get out of bed,” KC recalled.

Following the fire pit spice ceremony, KC and Tierra received a wave of hate online. Tierra became emotional while discussing the racist and hateful comments they received after leaving the villa. She admitted it hurt seeing fellow Black people share edited memes comparing her to a gorilla and KC in a dress. Tierra also said it was disappointing seeing brands seemingly join the online bullying. The couple believes many genuine moments between them never aired on television. They feel viewers never fully saw how their connection naturally developed throughout the experience. When describing their relationship in three words, KC said, “funny, passionate, and stable.” Tierra described their relationship as “healthy, genuine, and goofy.” Despite the negativity, they said they’re grateful for the overwhelming love and support from viewers. They said seeing positive videos helped them keep going through difficult moments.

Social Media Reacts 

Folks gathered across social media as they reacted to KC and Tierra’s podcast in The Shade Room Teens comment section. Some supported the couple and said they’re rooting for them. Others said KC and Tierra still need to take accountability for their actions in the villa. Meanwhile, others felt the hate comments only proved the couple’s point.

Instagram user @playgirlkaddy wrote, “Look at all the black women in here hating on a real black beautiful relationship 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥& btw still I rise is to empower black ppl originally said my Maya Angelo👏🏾 my season 8 winners”

Instagram user @tip_tippy added, “Hate it or love it, they look greattt together!!” 

While Instagram user @golden1k wrote, “nobody gaf what y’all don’t respect, STILL THEY RISE ❤️ “

Instagram user @katriceee_  wrote. “They about to play into the narrative like they’re just victims from everything !! ÷ literally everybody is getting hate which is not warranted but to sit here and act like y’all were perfect when it’s in 4k is ridiculous!”

Instagram user @narissa.0 added, “I’m sorry but everyone of those cast members were getting hated on and still is i don’t agree with racism but let’s be honest here kc was a fan favorite until he made those disrespectful comments titi came in hot”

While Instagram user @yasssmin wrote, ““No y’all prove everyday why they right!”

Instagram user @iam.naay wrote, “KC wasn’t wrong! And it was nothing he said that the core 4 didn’t say!! People are mad he didn’t choose who they wanted him to choose and that’s that!”

Instagram user @oceanstbq added. It’s a tv show… no need to be hating on them like that. Theres bigger problems in the world.”

While Instagram user @prettyass_si added,”The fact that they said Love Island producers chose not to air their deepest conversations again just shows they knew how strong they were as a couple. Instead, they shifted the narrative to make them seem less likable and easier for viewers to turn against”

RELATED: Ciara Miller, Tefi Pessoa & Marsai Martin React After ‘Love Island USA’ Viewers Disagree With Their Takes On KC & Aniya’s Connection

Being on a reality show can change your life in many ways. Blake Robertson, who starred in season 4 of the hit Netflix dating reality show, “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On,” said his time on the show completely changed the course of his life.

During an exclusive interview with The Blast, Blake opened up about why the intense dating experiment helped him realize he was in the wrong relationship, the surprising bond he formed with Ashley Wilson, his partner in the trial marriage, and why he believes the experience ultimately saved him from spending more time with the wrong partner, his then-girlfriend Hayley Hendrich. He also shared some behind the scenes information that didn’t make it to the TV screen, how the experience changed his view on his relationship, and if we would ever do another reality show if the opportunity popped up. 

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While Blake signed up for “The Ultimatum” hoping to strengthen his relationship with his girlfriend Hayley, he said the Netflix experiment had the opposite effect. Instead, an unexpected connection and the show’s intense environment helped him to come to a major realization that shifted his life.

When asked what surprised him the most about the experience, Blake said it was “just how deep you get as fast as you get going.” 

“I kind of said it when we were at the cabin with Ashley’s family. It was almost like summer camp in a weird way where Ashley and I were able to get extremely close, extremely fast,” Blake told The Blast exclusively. “I was very much shocked by that. And it really is like a pressure cooker where you get to figure out the most about your relationship in a short amount of time.” 

That’s something he said he was “grateful” for because the experience “saved me ultimately a lot of time.” 

“My relationship with Hayley could have went on for several more years,” he added. 

While viewers saw everything from laughter to screaming on the show, there were a lot of things viewers didn’t get to see, including one of the hardest parts of filming. 

“I think for me, the hardest part about the experience was dealing with the insecurity from the partner you showed up there with,” he said. “I think seeing Hayley and Killian both kind of go crazy on Ashley and I, and just really having to cater to their experience on the show.”

The Connection Blake & Ashley Formed During The Trial Marriage Was ‘Different’ Than The One He Had With Hayley

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Partnering up with Ashley for the trial marriage was an eye opener for Blake. The two bonded and formed a connection that was different than the one he had with Hayley. 

“That to me was definitely a game changer in a weird way. I was like, okay, this is totally different,” he said.

“And when I got back with Hayley and we just continued to argue and argue and argue, I was like I love Hayley because there are so many amazing qualities about her that obviously I enjoy, but Ashley was different, so I think that was kind of the main thing between the two of them that had me like what is going on here.” 

Many People Felt Blake Was ‘Non-Emotional’ On ‘The Ultimatum’

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Blame it on the Dysport or the editing, but Blake said he’s heard from a lot of people that he just wasn’t emotional enough on the show. He wants to clear that up once and for all (and no, we weren’t kidding about the Dysport.) 

“I definitely don’t appreciate watching it back with Hayley saying, ‘Oh hey, Blake, I created you. You are my creation. I would pay money to see you get emotional.’ You can see me laughing and having the time of my life,” he said. “Stabbed full of Dysport at that point, so I can’t make any facial expressions. My head was frozen.” 

Blake said he is “an emotional person” and the way people assumed he wasn’t was a bit shocking to him. 

“I love people. I love people’s stories,” he said. “I love to laugh and have fun, so hearing Hayley say that, I mean, we’ve had some of the deepest conversations that I’ve had with anyone.”

This One Thing Really Killed The Vibe Of The Experience For Four People

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When asked what he would change if he could go back and start the experience again but with the knowledge he has now, Blake said he would absolutely change the “phone situation.” (For those who haven’t watched, participants on the show were allowed to have their phones and early on in the experience, the original couples were texting each other often, which started some tense situations.)

“The phone situation killed everything. Who knows what would have happened. I mean, Ashley and I definitely had a lot of fun behind the scenes, but the phone situation just completely stalled everything,” Blake told The Blast. “I think who knows what would have happened with Ashley and I. We might have left together if the whole phone thing didn’t happen.”

Blake shared that he was up in the middle of the night on calls with Hayley and other times, Hayley was “blowing up” his phone. 

“I gotta take accountability for when Ashley asked me, ‘Hey Blake, did you go to the movies alone?’ I lied. I did not go to the movies alone. Hayley was blowing up my phone and trying to get me to meet up with her,” he said. “With some of these podcasts coming out, Hayley is trying to act like she was the therapist in Killian and Ashley’s relationship when that was not the case at all. She was blowing up my phone left and right.”

One Misconception About Blake On ‘The Ultimatum’ Has To Do With ChatGPT

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While being on a reality show can lead to many misconceptions, there’s one humorous one that Blake wants to clear up – his use of ChatGPT. He said the “unemotional ChatGPT thing was hilarious.” 

“That was a creation of Hayley. Hayley had me prefacing everything. I was walking on absolute eggshells trying to keep her happy at all times,” he said. “So I think for me just being able to not feel that way anymore, you can even see it in the reunion. Everyone that commented was like, ‘Blake, we’ve never seen you laugh so hard, smile and enjoy life.’ That’s truly who I am as a human being.” 

Blake said that getting out of a relationship where he had to “compete for somebody’s love” and being able to meet someone who he “just naturally” clicked with, was a better experience for him. 

When asked if he would ever consider doing another reality show after his experience on “The Ultimatum,” he shared he would “definitely be open” to another experience.

Stay tuned for a follow up story with more information about “The Ultimatum” season 4 from Blake Robertson.

By Jason Collins
| Published 25 seconds ago

Streaming platforms have become the perfect place for forgotten box office disappointments to find a second chance, introducing overlooked films to audiences who may have missed them the first time around. More than two decades after its theatrical failure, Charlize Theron‘s 2002 thriller Trapped remains a prime example of how an underperforming release can still generate renewed interest years later.

Charlize Theron In Trapped

For the uninitiated, Trapped is a 2002 crime thriller based on Greg Iles’ bestselling novel 24 Hours. The film follows a wealthy couple whose young daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless criminal and his wife as part of an elaborate ransom scheme, forcing them into a desperate fight to save her.

Directed by Luis Mandoki, the film stars Charlize Theron, Courtney Love, Stuart Townsend, Kevin Bacon, Dakota Fanning, and Pruitt Taylor Vince.

A Critical And Commercial Failure Upon Release

It’s hard to pinpoint what sparked renewed interest in Trapped, especially considering the film was anything but a success when it hit theaters in 2002.

Despite an ensemble cast led by Charlize Theron and Kevin Bacon, Trapped was a box office disappointment, earning just $13 million worldwide against an estimated $30 million production budget.

The critical response wasn’t much better. Trapped currently holds a 17% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes alongside a 48% audience score. Many critics dismissed Trapped as a manipulative thriller, arguing that its constant attempts to raise the stakes felt manufactured rather than genuinely suspenseful.

Despite its disappointing box office returns and critical reception, Trapped received multiple home video releases over the years, largely due to the enduring popularity of its cast.

One Of Many Overlooked Thrillers

It’s somewhat surprising that Trapped managed to resurface at all.

The early 2000s were overflowing with mid-budget thrillers, back when studios routinely greenlit standalone crime dramas instead of pouring resources into blockbuster franchises. With so many similar releases competing for attention, it would have been easy for Trapped to disappear into obscurity.

Instead, it proved that forgotten movies sometimes have a way of washing back ashore, where they’re promptly poked with sticks by curious children.

Didn’t Impact Charlize Theron’s Career

For years, Trapped was overshadowed by more successful crime thrillers from the era, including Along Came a Spider and Enough. Yet, like many overlooked studio releases from the early 2000s, it has gradually found a new audience willing to revisit and reevaluate it.

Fortunately, the film’s disappointing performance had little impact on the careers of Charlize Theron and Kevin Bacon. Both went on to star in numerous high-profile projects, proving that one box office flop was hardly enough to slow either actor’s momentum.

Though Trapped was largely forgotten after its disappointing theatrical run, it remains an interesting snapshot of the wave of mid-budget crime thrillers that defined the early 2000s. For fans of the genre, it’s a worthwhile curiosity that’s easier to appreciate today than it was upon release.

As of this writing, Trapped is streaming for free on Pluto TV, and available to rent or purchase on-demand through YouTube, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Fandango.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 14 seconds ago

Blade Runner 2049 was a beautiful, crowd-pleasing return to the bleakly beautiful world created by Ridley Scott in the first film. With solid performances, dazzling visuals, and a mind-bending story, that sequel felt like the end of a very long, very good story. Personally, I felt that the franchise was over and that it went out on a high note. Imagine my surprise, then, to learn that the film was getting a follow-up TV show on Prime Video, complete with Scott executive producing. What will this show be about, I wondered, and will it be a worthy successor to what came before? 

Well, good news, bad news, as a new trailer answers one of those questions.

Somehow, Blade Runner Returned

Blade Runner 2099 is a TV show that revolves around two characters. One is Cora (played by Hunter Schafer), a fugitive who hopes she can stop running by impersonating a blade runner. The other is a dying replicant (played by Michelle Yeoh). In this brave new world, humanity lost a war against replicants; those replicants now rule society, forcing humans to become second-class citizens. Now, our two main characters must reluctantly team up to track down a runaway whose secret knowledge could completely unravel a society that has only recently put itself back together.

Don’t expect all of that information in this trailer…at least, not directly. For our first real look at Blade Runner 2099, Prime Video has taken the term “teaser” quite literally, and this trailer is more about dramatic vibes than exposition. As for the vibes, they are decidedly mixed. There are some cool exterior shots of flying cars and giant buildings that look quite beautiful, and a bright, red-drenched sequence where unknown characters are watching a ship launch into the air. That brief, colorful glimpse is momentarily breathtaking. Unfortunately, we are then plunged back into a grim, grimy world that looks oh-so-forgettably generic.

It’s Michelle, Yo!

While the Blade Runner 2099 teaser trailer shows us a hodgepodge medley of action scenes and brooding character scenes (far more of the latter), we get narration from Schafer’s character. She discusses humans losing a war to the replicants and replicants reducing humanity to “nothing.” This is followed by ominous narration from Yeoh’s character about how the “old world” is trying to come back and how “humans want what was taken from them.” Unfortunately, those pesky meatbags haven’t learned what the replicants have been trying to teach them: “It’s our time now.”

Conceptually, the story behind Blade Runner 2099 is interesting. I find myself naturally intrigued about how this world works; like, how does everyone see blade runners now that replicants are running the show? What is the truth that the runaway knows, and how does that truth threaten all of society? Also, why is our human protagonist interested in preserving a status quo where powerful robots treat her like sh*t? Good job, trailer: this teaser filled me with questions that will almost certainly get me to watch the show. 

Time To Die, Blade Runner

Aside from my need to answer those questions, though, most of this Blade Runner 2099 teaser trailer is just off-putting. Not telling us anything about the main characters is a mistake; it’s hard for viewers to tell why these characters would ever work together, especially with no mention of teaming up to find the runaway. On a deeper level, the fact that we know nothing about these characters makes it hard to care about what happens to them. Honestly, everything that’s good or interesting about this trailer is swallowed by a gritty aesthetic, one just as dark and boring as Blade Runner 2049 was colorful and compelling.

Everything that’s good is swallowed…or, should I say, lost? Like tears, in the rain? Watching this Blade Runner 2099 trailer, I couldn’t help but think of Roy Batty’s haunting final words. That replicant was worried that his existence wouldn’t matter because everything he did would eventually be forgotten. That’s not really true, of course: others remember him and, in that way, keep him alive. Blade Runner could learn from its own history and realize that it’s enough to live on in the minds of countless fans. Now, the potential failure of this new series may forcibly teach the franchise the same lesson Batty learned the hard way:

When it’s time to die, it’s time to die. 

Former “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson has completely redone her image, including becoming a Golden Globe nominee thanks to her role in 2024’s “The Last Showgirl.” Most recently, the 59-year-old actress has a new movie arriving in theaters, “Rosebush Pruning.” Now, she’s opening up about why the passion project won’t be for everyone.

In addition to Anderson, the movie stars Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Elle Fanning, Jamie Bell, Tracy Letts, and Lukas Gage.

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MUBI released the Karim Aïnouz-directed “Rosebush Pruning” to US movie theaters on July 24, following its debut in both Germany and the United Kingdom. In discussing the film with PEOPLE, the actress said it’s “shocking in a good way. But not shock for shock value, to tell a story.”

In the movie, Anderson plays the wealthy head of a family that relocates to Spain several years before the events of the film pick up. She said of the family depicted in “Rosebush Pruning,” “I do believe there’s this kind of emptiness that comes from wealth for no good reason.”

Regarding how she thinks audiences will react, the “Baywatch” alum suspected, “It’s not going to be for everybody. People are going to have feelings about it. It’s not an easy ride. But that’s what the movie’s for.” It’s worth noting that the movie depicts themes such as abuse and sex.

The Former ‘Baywatch’ Star Explained Why She Took On The Role

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Following her success with “The Last Showgirl,” many suspected Anderson would continue with a string of mainstream-friendly movies. To a degree, she has done that, including with 2025’s “The Naked Gun.” Regarding why she took on the role in “Rosebush Pruning,” Anderson stated that she wants to take risks in her career.

According to her, “I want to work with risk-takers. I want to challenge myself and even my mindset when it comes to storytelling. I want to play all sorts of different roles.”

She then shared another small detail regarding what she loved about the role. Anderson said, “And it was also fun to have gray hair. Why not?”

Regarding the director, Aïnouz, the beloved actress called him a “visionary artist.”

The Reaction To The Film Has Been Divided

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“Rosebush Pruning” was first released in April 2026 in Germany. The movie already has an official Rotten Tomatoes score, currently sitting at a “rotten” 21% on the platform. This is based on 43 reviews for the 95-minute-long movie.

In reviewing the movie, Natalia Winkelman wrote for The New York Times, “A petty provocation that, like a spent blossom in time-lapse, shrivels and disintegrates as soon as it’s over.”

Robert Kojder from Flickering Myth wrote, “Rosebush Pruning is what happens when screenwriter Efthimis Filippou doesn’t have Yorgos Lanthimos adding layers to the deranged and perverted, but it is so knowingly and originally tasteless it’s almost worth recommending.”

In a positive review, Cara O’Doherty said, “Visually striking and driven by strong performances, Rosebush Pruning is peculiar and distinctive, but also deeply distasteful.”

Lastly, Dulcie Pearce from The Sun UK stated, “The talented cast make the film watchable, but sadly the script never keeps up with how kooky and intriguing the film longs to be.”

Pam Anderson’s Son Recently Tied The Knot

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Anderson’s 28-year-old son, whom she shares with Tommy Lee, walked down the aisle in June 2026. Previously, the actress shared that he’d asked her to return to her iconic blonde hair color for the wedding, which she obliged.

During her recent PEOPLE interview, she dished on the wedding and became vulnerable, revealing that she realized that her son no longer belonged to her amid the special occasion. She called the wedding “wonderful,” before saying, “I couldn’t have been happier.”

Anderson continued, “It’s so emotional. It kind of catches you off guard even because we’ve all been living such independent lives. My boys are very independent, and they’ve all lived on their own for many years, and [he and Paula have] been together for nine years, but it really did feel like, oh, ‘Dylan is not mine anymore. He and Paula belong together.’”

The Hollywood Icon Has Another Movie Coming Out

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Anderson has a number of film projects in various stages of development. This includes her next film, “Place to Be,” which is set to premiere in September 2026 at the Venice Film Festival. The drama film also stars Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi.

Additionally, she is one of the stars of Michael Cera‘s upcoming “Love is Not the Answer.”

Colman Domingo has wasted no time in reacting to Elon Musk’s statements about “The Odyssey.” 

The actor recently used the late-night television platform to launch a comedic attack against the tech mogul, slamming his intentions to make the AI version of the film more “historically accurate.”

Domingo’s statements came after Whoopi Goldberg pushed back against critics of the new film, urging them not to watch it if they are not interested in it. 

Stepping into the late-night spotlight while filling in for Jimmy Kimmel, Domingo dedicated a significant portion of his monologue to roasting Musk.

The actor took aim at the businessman following his recent announcement to create an artificial intelligence remake of “The Odyssey” using his Grok platform.

While addressing the studio audience, Domingo pointed out that Musk claims his upcoming version will be “historically accurate,” before quipping, “By ‘historically accurate’, he means whiter than Christmas at Cracker Barrel.” 

The guest host explained that the backlash stems from Musk and his followers being upset over the inclusive casting choices in the film.

Domingo also highlighted the absurdity of the argument by pointing out that it is impossible to make a historically faithful adaptation of a literary work that was completely made up from the start.

As the crowd erupted in applause and laughter, the performer continued to hammer home his point, comparing the legendary epic poem to “The Hunger Games.”

“The Odyssey is fiction. You know, like The Hunger Games, or the president’s cognitive exams,” he said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!“

Landing another direct hit on Musk, Domingo questioned if the businessman had anything useful to occupy his time with, noting that he was supposed to be living on Mars by now. 

He concluded the jab with mock sympathy, telling the audience that it must be a difficult week for the tech giant seeing Helen of Troy played by a pretty Black woman, while Kimmel’s stage was currently hosted by a “beautiful black man.”

Elon Musk Was Heavily Criticized For His Statements By Scott Derrickson

Domingo wasn’t the only one who had something to say about Musk’s statements. “Doctor Strange” director Scott Derrickson took to social media to criticize Musk over his negative stance. 

Addressing the billionaire’s complaints about accuracy, Derrickson argued that the businessman completely lacks an understanding of filmmaking and creative artistry. In a now-deleted post on X, he asserted that Musk’s opinions on art are “worthless,” per The Blast.

Numerous internet commentators echoed Derrickson’s sentiments, dismissing the executive’s artistic judgment as meaningless. 

What Elon Musk Said About Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

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The backlash Musk received from social media users stemmed from a tweet he shared on X and his general sentiment towards the film so far. 

The dispute originally began months before the premiere of Nolan’s cinematic adaptation, back when rumors surfaced concerning the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy. At that time, the businessman posted on X that the acclaimed filmmaker “has lost his integrity”.

Building upon those long-standing grievances, the billionaire made a major statement on July 22, promising to produce a full feature film of the Greek epic using the Grok AI.

“Before this year ends, Grok Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer,” Musk wrote, as reported by The Blast.

Whoopi Goldberg Defends Film’s Casting Choices

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While the tech mogul pushes forward with his computer-generated alternative, daytime host Goldberg is offering a direct solution to those upset by Nolan’s blockbuster. According to The Blast, the television personality addressed the wave of political pushback surrounding the film’s inclusive cast.

Furthermore, questioning why unhappy viewers would buy tickets in the first place, she stated, “If you don’t wanna see it, then don’t go see it. Why do you care who’s cast in it? I don’t understand this idea that if we hate it, everybody must hate it.” 

Offering a final piece of advice, Goldberg urged dissatisfied audiences not to watch anything they don’t want to watch because “movies are not real.” 

Inside The Unconventional Set Rules Behind The Scenes Of ‘The Odyssey’

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While public debate continues over the film’s casting choices, focus has also shifted to the strict rules governing the set of Nolan’s production. 

During an appearance on Brittany Broski’s “Royal Court,” Anne Hathaway shed light on the filmmaker’s unusual working environment by sharing that one of his strict expectations is not seeing people on set wearing Uggs.

Her co-star Matt Damon chimed in with another observation, stating, “Thou shalt not sit down. There are no chairs on set,” as reported by The Blast.

He also expanded on the director’s dislike for Uggs, stating that he “hates” them likely because they symbolize leisure. 

Editors Note: The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, and A Song of Ice and FireHouse of the Dragon walks a fine line when it comes to tie-ins and references to Game of Thrones. The prequel series is built on the foundation of Thrones’ unparalleled domination of the TV industry in the 2010s, yet it also lives in the shadow of Thrones‘ infamously disappointing ending. House of the Dragon needs to stay canonically consistent with its predecessor, so it can’t simply retcon things or stick with the story of George R.R. Martin‘s novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Any reference to Game of Thrones is controversial to say the least, but so far, House of the Dragon Season 3 has walked this tightrope with perfect balance.

Of course, House of the Dragon‘s biggest connections to Game of Thrones is its revelation of House Targaryen’s prophecy of the White Walkers. This was the key to Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) story in Season 1, and it went even further in Season 2 by putting the elven ice warriors on screen in Daemon’s (Matt Smith) vision. This is the most controversial connection among fans and critics, and its efficacy won’t be clear until the story is over. In the meantime, this article is about the more subtle references — the ones that make the world of Westeros feel authentic and lived-in.

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The Cats of the Red Keep

Image via HBO

House of the Dragon‘s best change from the book Fire & Blood came in Season 3, Episode 4, “Tumbleton.” In it, Corlys Velaryon (Steven Toussaint) leaves King’s Landing, furious that Rhaenyra won’t legitimize his sons at this time. He orders his elder son Alyn (Abubakar Salim) to go to Rhaenyra in his place — a move that could have easily blown up in his face. Instead, these two characters find heartwarming common ground between them, and Alyn gives his first bit of counsel to Rhaenyra. She complains that rats are overrunning the castle because Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) had all the rat-catchers executed. Alyn points out that on ships, a pet cat hunts the rats for them.

No more is said about the cats, yet they have begun appearing in the show already. Nearly 200 years later, they will be a common sight in the time of Game of Thrones. In Season 1, Arya Stark (Maisy Williams) chased and caught cats as part of her training to be a “water dancer.” Tommon Baratheon (Dean-Charles Chapman) loved cats and kept several as pets, which was an important sign of his gentle nature. We can even feel the cats’ presence in the franchise’s other spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, where Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) mentions keeping a pet cat.

Martin’s book Fire & Blood also indicated that cats became the rat-catchers of the Red Keep at this time, but it happened differently. There, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) ordered 100 cats be brought into the castle after Aegon’s stunt with the human rat-catchers. The show’s choice to change this even was brilliant — it allowed the rats to build up as a literal and symbolic nuisance, culminating in Rhaenyra’s return to the castle. It also gave Alyn an early victory as an advisor, and illustrated why he and Rhaenyra would get along.

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The Butterflies of Naath

Image via HBO Max

HBO’s version of Westeros has managed to bring up the butterflies of Naath surprisingly often considering how irrelevant they are to the main plots. Naath is a small island far from Westeros, and is the home of Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) from Game of Thrones. It has never been successfully conquered by outsiders because it is full of venomous butterflies, and only the native inhabitants are immune. However, the Naathi people are sometimes captured by slavers, as Missandei was. At the end of Game of Thrones, Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) leads the Unsullied sailing towards Naath to protect its inhabitants, apparently unaware that he and his men will succumb to the butterflies venom.

House of the Dragon Season 3 made a curious reference to these butterflies in Episode 2, “Queen’s Landing.” In it, Helaena (Phia Saban) was in the Godswood studying bugs with a book open at her side. The camera lingered on the book, showing a large illustration of a butterfly with a description underneath. The text clearly describes Naath’s “butterfly fever,” while Helaena is studying a native Westerosi caterpillar.

This is a fun bit of worldbuilding to keep bringing up, though it may have its own hidden layers of venom. After House of the Dragon Season 2 aired, Martin made an infamous blog post about his disappointment in it, which was titled “Beware the Butterflies.” In it, Martin wrote that small changes to the story now could have massive “butterfly effects” on the story later on. He even used the phrase “toxic butterflies,” which is easy to connect to Naath. However, if the show intended some kind of jab here, it’s incredibly subtle.

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The Game of Cyvasse

Image via HBO

Game of Thrones missed every opportunity to introduce viewers to the game Cyvasse, but House of the Dragon has not only filled in that gap — it did so with an incredible homage to the books. In Episode 5, “Unbowed and Unbent,” Ormund Hightower (James Norton) and Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evans Ainsworth) play the board game together with the air of two people who have played it quite a bit.

This might be interpreted as a change from the books — Cyvasse is described as a relatively new game in Westeros when it is first introduced in A Feast for Crows, so it’s doubtful that Ormund would have it nearly 200 years earlier. That’s an easy change to forgive, especially since it gave us this scene. Cyvasse is similar to chess, and in the books, Tyrion Lannister has many scheming conversations over the board, layered in double-meanings. Ormund and Daeron’s scene is a perfect parallel to Tyrion’s best Cyvasse scene, where he plays against “Young Griff,” a.k.a. Aegon VI Targaryen.

Aegon is one of the most consequential characters left out of HBO‘s Game of Thrones. He claims to be the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell, smuggled out of Westeros by Varys when King’s Landing fell and raised in secret to be the perfect king. Tyrion teases and manipulates the young man over Cyvasse until he loses his temper and sweeps all the pieces off the board. House of the Dragon inverted this scene with Ormund scattering the pieces. The finishing move was even the same — Daeron defeated Ormund with his dragon piece while Ormund was lecturing him about the limits of dragons’ power, just as Tyrion used the dragon to take down Young Griff.

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Helaena and Tommen’s Window

Image via HBO

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House of the Dragon has trained fans to keep a close eye on Helaena now that we know she has the gift of prophecy. The young queen has showed us or told us what’s going to happen on several occasions now, but prophecy is hard to interpret in Westeros, and it always leads seers astray somehow. Helaena may have misread the signs in Season 3, Episode 3, “Rhaenyra Triumphant.”

Rhaenyra ordered Helaena and Alicent (Olivia Cooke) confined to a chamber together as high-born prisoners. When she explained their imprisonment to them, Helaena said: “I don’t want to stay in this room,” gesturing with both hands to the floor. Her inflection and posture made it seem like she wasn’t protesting her imprisonment — she was saying that she specifically didn’t want to stay in this room. She was also standing by the window, which made the parallel to Tommen more clear.

Looking at this scene side-by-side with the scene of Tommen’s death in Game of Thrones Season 7, it’s very plausible that Helaena and Alicent are being held in the same chamber where Tommen will eventually jump from the window to his death. It may be that Helaena is seeing a vision of that future event, and she’s disturbed by it. In Martin’s work, seers often misunderstand who their visions are about, and Helaena may feel this urge to leap applies to someone she loves, or even herself.

5

The Braavosi Climate

Image via HBO

Finally, This week House of the Dragon once again brought up one of the biggest debates in the Game of Thrones fandom — the climate of Braavos. In Episode 5, “Unbowed and Unbent,” Aegon and Larys (Matthew Needham) were reunited with Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall), who survived the Battle of the Gullet. Larys explained his plan to smuggle Aegon overseas to Braavos, where they could hide from the war and live off of gold he had invested in the Iron Bank there. Tyland protested, saying that even Aegon wasn’t fit for war, “Neither would he tolerate the Braavosi heat! The monkeys alone…”

Tyland seems to be a little confused here. He traveled to Essos to negotiate with The Triarchy, which was an alliance of three of the Free Cities — Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh. The hot climate and monkey infestations he experienced might be common where they met in Tyrosh, but Game of Thrones fans already know that Braavos is much colder and further north. Tyland seems to be assuming that the conditions in all the Free Cities are similar, but that is far from the truth.

This is not the first time House of the Dragon has referenced the worldwide misinterpretations of Braavos, and the fan theories that surround it. Braavos was founded by escaped slaves from Valyria, and kept hidden in the northern fog for many years. It’s at roughly the same latitude as The Twins, slightly north of The Eyrie. By all accounts, this, combined with its marshy setting, should make it cold and inhospitable to agriculture.

This brings us to one of the most infamous theories in the fandom — “Lemongate.” Fans noted that in the books, Daenerys remembers spending much of her childhood in Braavos, in a house with a lemon tree outside her window. However, lemon trees would be unlikely to survive in Braavos, and fans speculate that Dany must have been lied to about where she actually was. While there could be practical explanations for this, Martin has repeatedly teased the mystery in blog posts, Q&As, and even in preview chapters from The Winds of Winter, telling fans that there is a mystery to Daenerys’ childhood memories which will be revealed later.

House of the Dragon already referenced Lemongate in Season 1, Episode 5, “We Light the Way.” There, Larys spoke to Alicent in the garden in double-meanings, remarkingthat a certain flower shouldn’t be able to grow in the King’s Landing climate, yet it is thriving. He was clearly speaking about Alicent being alone at court with no allies, but at the same time, there was a mural behind him with a lemon tree conspicously in frame. It’s nothing more than an Easter egg, but it proves that the writers and set designers are serious fans of these books.

Hopefully, House of the Dragon can remain this creative with its call-backs and references as the show approaches its grand climax. House of the Dragon Season 3 continues for three more weeks on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max. Martin’s books are available now in print, digital, and audiobook formats.

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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

Writers

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Gabe Fonseca

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• 
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  Fabien Frankel

  Ser Criston Cole

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