Ted Lasso encouraged everyone to believe, and against all odds, it worked. Co-creator and star Jason Sudeikis claimed that the series would conclude after three seasons, but lo and behold, the Apple TV series is coming back better than ever. To be fair, he stuck to his guns that Ted Lasso would conclude a Season 3 arc. It is the end of the road for the lads of AFC Richmond, and now the Greyhounds are coming back with the newly minted women’s team.

Ted, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), and Roy (Brett Goldstein) are returning in a managerial capacity for the Lady Greyhounds, the new football team that has odds stacked even more against them. Just as in life, women’s sports aren’t as supported, especially financially. In the new Ted Lasso season, these women will reportedly have less money, poorer facilities, and not as much media coverage. This is rich new depths for Ted Lasso to plumb, and it is all thanks to the new cast of women leading this Richmond squad. Roll call!

1

Tanya Reynolds as Alice Chilton

Image via Apple TV

Every team needs a coach, and the newest addition to the Richmond family is Alice Chilton, played by Tanya Reynolds. Ted is returning as a football manager, but the new addition, Alice Chilton, will represent the female interests of the new team. Just as Ted vows to turn Roy into the man he was always meant to be, the same may apply to Alice. She has the same reserved nature, though perhaps not the same vocabulary.

Reynolds states that Alice has a hard outer shell that, over the course of the season, may reveal a soft underbelly. The humorless character has her work cut out for her when the Midwestern coach hits the field this August.

2

Abbie Hern as Gemma

Image via Apple TV

AFC Richmond’s new striker is Gemma, played by Abbie Hern. Another powerful personality ready to take on the field, Gemma is reportedly ambitious, which fans of Ted Lasso are familiar with. (Jamie Tartt, anyone?) The joy of the series is the clash of different personalities on and off the field, and Gemma seems to be one of those striking characters.

Hern has made the rounds in several English projects, including Enola Holmes 2 and the sadly underappreciated Prime Video series, My Lady Jane. The actor is likely to score in the highly anticipated new season of Ted Lasso.

3

Jude Mack as Boots

Image via Apple TV

With a name like Boots, it’s no wonder that this new character is the goalie of the squad. The new goalkeeper will be played by Jude Mack and may have a bigger role than the comedic relief of Zoreaux (Moe Jeudy-Lamour) did during his tenure in the position. Mack is credited in the main cast and teases that she stands apart from the rest of her teammates. An individualist at heart, this may cause issues for her when trying to make connections in her life.

Mack also states that she is excited that Ted Lasso will be addressing the sexism that is inherent in the field of sports. Women’s sports are largely disrespected and the Apple TV series has a platform to acknowledge these concepts head-on.

4

Faye Marsay as Lizzie

Image via Apple TV

Be it historical or sci-fi fare, Faye Marsay is arguably the most recognizable actor in this new casting shake-up. Her many credits include The White Queen, Game of Thrones, and Andor, and now she’s throwing her hat onto the football pitch. The new centerback may be Roy Kent come again, as she has his penchant for swearing down.

Marsay praises Lizzie’s tenacity as she is the type of person to continue to strive for greatness, even when she encounters failure. The actor brings real passion for the sport to the series and lobbied hard for a role on the show when she heard Ted Lasso was bringing on an all-female team. Television fans will be excited to see the fan-favorite character actor making waves again.

5

Aisling Sharkey as Niamh and Rex Hayes as Siobhan

Image via Apple TV

The new Ted Lasso cast list is rounded out with newcomers Aisling Sharkey and Rex Hayes. The two play twins, Niamh and Siobhan respectively. These Irish sisters bring another level of competitiveness to the Lady Greyhound team. They both play defender positions and have a lot of passion between the two. Siobhan is the aggressive older sister while Niamh feels, as younger sisters often do, that she needs to live up to a certain perception.

The actors confirm that there is some animosity that manifests itself on the pitch, but that is typical as far as sisterly dynamics are concerned. These are the focal-point characters in Ted Lasso, who will make their debut on August 5.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

August 14, 2020

Network

Advertisement

Apple TV

Directors

Declan Lowney, MJ Delaney, Erica Dunton, Matt Lipsey

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Bold and the Beautiful fans know Miss Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock) and Will Spencer (Crew Morrow) didn’t do the deed even though Dylan spent the night with Will at his house. But I’m sure Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) will assume the worst anyway.

But also Dylan might lie or lie by omission about what happened with her and Will. We are going to talk about whether Dylan will make sure that Electra and Will never get back together by spilling some tea.

Bold and the Beautiful: Dylan’s Not Giving Up on Will

Now, I just don’t think Dylan’s going to pass up the chance to make Will her man. So, at the end of last week, Dylan ran over to Will’s trying to get him to move on from Electra, and it looked like Will and Dylan were about to get it on. They were making out. It was hot and heavy.

But then she mentioned this week about how great it was staying up all night just talking to Will. But she made it clear that she wanted more to happen. So, Dylan and Will kissed, they talked, and then they fell asleep together on the couch in each other’s arms. So, a little snuggling and some kissing was all that happened between Dylan and Will.

But later this week, when Dylan gets to work at Forrester Creations after running late, she and Electra are going to wind up in a confrontation. And of course, it’s about Will. We know that Electra thinks she has some sort of control over who Will dates. It’s that Forrester entitlement thing we see all the time.

I’m sure Dylan and Electra are going to talk about Will. He’s the hot topic of conversation around Forrester Creations after he punched Eric Forrester (John McCook). And I am expecting that Dylan is going to defend Will. And we know that R.J. Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) has been non-stop trashing him again to Electra.

Dylan’s Confession and Electra’s Fury on B&B

And now we’ve got Dylan sliding into work late because she was asleep with Will on his couch. I expect that Dylan will mention she went to Will’s to check on him. And I expect Dylan lets Electra know that she and Will are getting close. And Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for this week have Electra drawing a line with Dylan where Will is concerned. But who is Electra to even do that? She told Will they were done forever and would never be with him. So it’s no longer any concern of Electra’s what Will does or who Will does.

But I’m sure she’s going to tell Dylan you can’t see Will. You can’t be with Will or else. And then the next episode after that, we have Electra raging after Dylan makes a confession. Now, Electra might just hear from Dylan that she’s supportive of Will and won’t turn her back on him. But what I think is more likely is that Dylan says she went over to check on Will and wound up spending the night there because Electra is really ticked and she tells Dylan this week, “Tell me that you didn’t.”

Bold and Beautiful: Dylan Plays Electra

So, it sounds like Electra assumes that Dylan slept with Will. Technically, that is what happened. It just wasn’t sexual. And Electra wants Dylan to tell her she’s wrong. But I don’t think Dylan will. And in fact, she may let Electra assume the worst. Or Dylan might lie by omission and lean into it.

I don’t think she would outright lie and tell Electra that she and Will had sex. But there’s other ways to amp it up and imply it. Dylan could say it was nice waking up in Will’s arms. Between that and saying she spent the night there, Electra will absolutely think that Dylan was there and that Will rebounded with her after he hit Eric in the jaw.

It’s all enough to infuriate Electra, who’s pretty much infuriated all the time. She’s got resting pouty face. And in the end, I’m sure Dylan wants to make sure Will and Electra don’t reconcile. That way Dylan can keep Will for herself.

Electra’s Still Territorial on B&B

And Dylan already knows how high-strung Electra is about everything. So, you know, we’ve seen her whiny and pouty and dramatic and she plays the victim card constantly. And over and above that, Electra thinks that she owns Will. I mean, Electra used to own Will, but then she tossed him aside.

But just like how Electra used to try and make rules about Will’s house, now Electra is making rules about what Will gets to do after she dumped him. But I don’t think Dylan’s going to put up with Electra making any demands on her. And when Dylan’s having this conversation with Electra, she’s got this whole new sexy smoky eye look going on. It’s like Dylan’s turning into a naughty girl right before our very eyes.

And she’s giving Electra some real attitude this week. And I’m here for it. I think Dylan should push back hard on her. And getting close to Will has given Dylan a whole confidence boost. And even though she didn’t get intimate with Will, they are still getting closer. And Dylan’s determined to get him to move on from Electra and move on with her.

Will’s Futile Attempts and Forrester Judgment on B&B

And by the end of this week, Will and Electra are face to face. Bold and the Beautiful spoilers say Will tries to make amends with Electra. That is exhausting. He does not owe her any amends. And of course, Will’s probably going to whine and beg. And honestly, if Electra did take him back, she would be treating him like she’s the one who runs his whole life.

However, if Will’s coming around to try and win back Electra, I’m sure that she’s going to throw it in Will’s face that she heard that Dylan spent the night at his house. And Will’s not a liar. He may not be happy that Dylan told Electra that, but Will won’t deny it.

I can see Electra confronting Will, asking if he slept with Dylan. And I think Will would again be honest and say Dylan stopped by to check on him. They stayed up late talking. No sex. But I doubt Electra will believe that they stopped and didn’t go all the way.

Remember when Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer) was creeping around Will’s house and saw Dylan dancing and then she fell and Will helped her and she started the whole “it’s just not proper” thing. She told Electra and they both assumed the worst and they wouldn’t believe anything Will said they would barely even let him speak.

Bold and Beautiful: Electra’s Going to Flip Out

So now, knowing that Dylan was there and spent the night is a big deal. When Electra hears that Will and Dylan spent the night on the sofa, she’s going to lose it. And you know R.J. will go off saying that Will is a typical Spencer cheater who can’t keep it in his pants as if the Forresters stay zipped up, right? And I think R.J. will say that Will’s trying to hurt Electra because she dumped him and Will got revenge by sleeping with Dylan, you know, her best friend to hurt Electra.

From there, I assume the other Forresters find out probably from R.J. And of course, they’ll be disgusted. Tell Electra that it shows what kind of person Will is. First, he assaulted R.J., then assaulted Eric, and then Will goes and cheats on Electra with her best friend Dylan, which of course isn’t accurate. But the Forresters like to spin these false narratives, you know, about the Spencers. They’re doing it all the time.

Bold and the Beautiful: Dylan Gets Booted from FC

I was so happy that Katie Logan (Heather Tom) called out Eric and asked him to tell the truth, and I was disgusted when he ran off like a coward. But I fully expect Electra to say she can’t work with Dylan anymore. And I bet R.J. runs to Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) and says, “You have to fire Dylan. She’s team Spencer and she just hurt Electra.”

Not only does Dylan love Will, but also Dylan truly thinks that Electra is not good for Will. Not once has Electra ever prioritized Will. Electra always puts other people in front of Will, but thought that he should put all his family after her. The hypocrisy is out of control. I have only seen Electra prioritize R.J. and all of the Forresters over Will.

So, I expect Electra to reiterate to Will that they are over and done. But I also worry he’ll be upset with Dylan for oversharing with Electra. Hopefully Dylan confessing to Electra about spending the night with Will isn’t going to mess up any potential for Dylan and Will to be together as a couple, because Electra deserves R.J., not a nice guy like Will.

Marvel Studios has managed to pull off something that feels almost impossible in today’s internet age: keeping one of the biggest casting secrets completely under wraps.

As Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters this week, fans are still asking the same question they’ve been debating for more than a year:

Who is Sadie Sink actually playing?

The speculation reached another level after Sony released a new promotional clip featuring Sink, where her answer about her character is intentionally bleeped out, instantly sending social media into detective mode once again. While the clip offers no definitive answers, it is the latest example of Marvel leaning into one of the film’s biggest mysteries.

Marvel Isn’t Hiding It by Accident

Director Destin Daniel Cretton recently explained that the secrecy is completely intentional and for good reason.

“There is a very real reason” the role hasn’t been revealed, Cretton said, adding that audiences will understand why once they have seen the movie. He also noted that while some fans enjoy knowing every detail ahead of release, preserving surprises is part of the experience.

That comment alone has convinced many fans that Sink’s character is not simply another supporting role, but someone whose identity could reshape the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Biggest Fan Theories

Gwen Stacy

Perhaps the safest prediction is Gwen Stacy.

Peter Parker is beginning a brand new chapter following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, making this an ideal opportunity to introduce one of Spider Man’s most iconic comic book characters.

With MJ and Ned moving on with their lives and no longer remembering Peter, a new relationship could naturally fit into this next phase of the franchise.

Jean Grey

For months, the internet was convinced Sink would make her MCU debut as Jean Grey, finally bringing one of Marvel’s most powerful mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The theory made sense on paper. Sink has the look, the acting range, and Marvel is steadily building toward introducing the X Men.

However, Tom Holland recently appeared to pour cold water on that idea, saying, “Well, she’s not in this movie, but it would be pretty cool.” Whether fans believe Holland, or think he is simply protecting another Marvel secret, is another story entirely.

Jean Grey [Marvel Comics]

Mayday Parker

Another increasingly popular theory suggests Sink could be playing Mayday Parker, Peter Parker’s daughter from an alternate universe.

Given Marvel’s continued use of multiverse storytelling, introducing Mayday now could open the door for future Spider Man stories while expanding the Parker family legacy beyond Peter himself.

Rachel Summers

Some fans have gone even deeper into Marvel lore by predicting Rachel Summers, the daughter of Jean Grey and Cyclops from an alternate timeline.

If Marvel plans to merge Spider Man’s street level adventures with the arrival of mutants, Rachel could serve as an unexpected bridge between those worlds.

Rachel Summers [Marvel Comics]

Advertisement

Why the Secret Matters

Marvel has spent years trying to preserve genuine surprises in an era dominated by leaks and spoilers.

The studio has kept Sadie Sink largely absent from trailers, TV spots, and promotional materials, making her one of the few major MCU characters whose identity has remained completely unknown leading up to release.

With Brand New Day positioned as a fresh beginning for Peter Parker after the world forgot his identity, introducing a significant new character makes perfect narrative sense.

Whether that character is Gwen Stacy, an X Men icon, or someone fans have not even considered yet, Marvel clearly believes the reveal is worth protecting.

The Wait Is Almost Over

Fortunately, fans will not have to speculate much longer.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in theaters July 31, meaning the internet’s biggest MCU mystery is only days away from being solved. Until then, every new promotional clip, including the latest bleeped out interview with Sadie Sink, is only fueling the excitement.

One thing is certain: if Marvel has gone to these lengths to keep her character secret, the reveal is likely to be one of the film’s biggest moments.

It’s time for your Big Brother veto meeting results including who’s off the block, who’s the renom in Kamuela “Kamu” Kirk’s Week 3 HOH. Plus, more on the tea party tirade that targeted Jason de Puy.

We already saw that Kamu was careful. He told Jason: I won’t nominate you today. But of course, Jason noticed the careful wording. So, Kamu’s looking for a way to justify nominating Jason and decided to call him out in front of the house.

Meanwhile, Mallory Aurichio was planning a fun house event – a tea party. They put food together on the pool table, even made slop muffins for the Have Nots. And then Kamu committed a party foul and laid into Jason.

Big Brother 28: Tea Party Tantrum and Strategic Gameplay

Kamu told everyone Jason promised all the nominees he’d use the power of veto on them if he won it. Kamu was actually ticked that LaTrice “Lala” Verrett chose Jason to play the veto comp when Lala knew Jason was her target.

Lala chimed in that Jason didn’t make her any promises. Essentially, Kamu called Jason out for doing what every houseguest does – making alliances & promises, not intending to stick to all of them. He yelled at Kamu, this is Big Brother right?

Kamu talked about playing an honest and transparent game he could be proud of. Then, he launched into an attack on Jason, clearly implying he shouldn’t be proud of his game. I mean, yes he’s messy, but there have been far worse players in Big Brother.

Angela Murray is just as messy. Jason clapped back at Kamu to go ahead and nominate him. Then, Kamu calls out Lala for her nagging about housekeeping and she says she was trying to be helpful.

Big Brother: Not so Silent Strategy

I liked that Lala then called out Kamu for saying he was going to air out things, but wasn’t naming names on who came to him saying Jason made them a deal. Lala said if you call a meeting, everybody’s business should be thrown on the table.

Jason said Kamu did this strategically, targeting him to make sure everyone will vote to evict him. He told Jason he wanted to just clear the air, but Jason said you  did this to make me look worse.

Rick Devens tries to stop the mess by saying the tea party’s adjourned. But it didn’t stop there. One highlight of the party was Jason outed Drew Campbell and Barrett Pfeiffer as middlemen playing both sides of the house.

Jason also called out Haley Thogmartin, Chuk Anyanwu and Kamu as the strongest players in the house and said what Kamu’s doing to him is like when they locked Rome Seymour outside of the HOH room.

And Jason accused Kamu of targeting him and Lala because they were close to Rome. Jason also named off the Tool Shed alliance members as being part of a larger alliance, he just didn’t know what they’re calling themselves. Lala was in tears by the end.

Kamu ruined the party that Mallory planned. I mean, Jason was already under fire. So, to me, it felt like shooting fish in a barrel. It did not need to happen. Then again, if it creates chaos, I’m watching the train wreck.

Big Brother 28: Chaos and Comic Relief

I love that Barrett and Drew channeled the South Park guys on the Oscars red carpet in dresses – they borrowed dresses and it was cute. Then they strutted showing off their runway walks.

Also Jason blew up condoms to use as balloons. I guess with Rome gone, they don’t need them for their intended use. Angela called it a Red Wedding, if you didn’t watch Game of Thrones, that’s a bloody murderous mess.

This tea party was pretty divisive. Angela liked how Kamu handled it. Taylor Brown thought Jason was getting picked on. And Taylor even got up and walked away from all of the nonsense Kamu started.

Taylor said, I don’t have to sit here for this – b*tch just wanted to drink some tea and eat a damned sandwich – and off she went. I love her.

Big Brother 28: A Bang-Up Tantrum

Everyone left until it was just Jason sitting alone in the backyard. Devens went and comforted Jason and said he knows how it feels because he was on the bottom of a bunch of people on Survivor. That is true. Rome said he hated that Jason was left sitting alone like that.

Jason later got out the tea kettle and a spoon and clanged it saying he was going to spill the tea. Jason banged the tea kettle with a spoon whenever he saw people talking. Then he stood outside the DR while Kamu was in there.

He banged on the kettle saying I’ve got some tea for you when you’re done in there. Said I got your back. He reported to Kamu about Angela making eyes at Chuk. Jason said Dee Valladares was in the bathroom multiple times with Lyric.

To his credit, Kamu played along and said Dee, what the hell? Kamu called him soldier and saluted him and Jason called him Queen Kamu of the house, saying that’s my girl. Jason then called him Miss Kamu.

Jason had done some camera talking saying he was going to start calling Kamu queen to annoy him. If it bothers him, Kamu’s holding it in pretty well. Also, Jason tried to ask Lyric to not use the veto to force Kamu to stick with the original nominations.

Jason wants to cheat Kamu out of the joy of renomming him. Devens and Dee don’t think Kamu’s tea party tantrum went very well. Jason wanted to know if he’s gonna be targeted week after week and Kamu said if he survives this week, it’s water under the bridge. Sure…

Big Brother 28: Veto Results and Jason’s Tea Fairy

And then, at the veto meeting on Monday, Lyric of course used the golden POV on herself and Kamu renommed Jason. That leaves Mallory, Jason and Lala on the block. And Mallory’s smart at comps, so is Jason.

I think Lala only stands a chance if the BB Blockbuster is a cleaning challenge or something where you have to wear a bikini and totter in high heels. But don’t count Jason out, he might beat Lala at that too.

Marvel fans have spent the last 48 hours dissecting every frame from the Avengers: Doomsday Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, and one of the biggest mysteries wasn’t in the trailer at all. It was stitched directly into Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom-inspired jacket.

Now, the hidden Latverian runes embroidered across the costume have been translated, revealing several ominous messages that appear to hint at Victor Von Doom’s mindset heading into Avengers: Doomsday.

A Secret Language Hidden in Plain Sight

The mysterious symbols first caught fans’ attention during Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel. At first glance, they appeared to be decorative runes inspired by Doctor Doom’s homeland of Latveria.

However, eagle-eyed fans quickly realized they matched the same fictional alphabet previously used on the “Dom Latveria” coffee promotion released earlier this year. By comparing those symbols to English lettering, fans were able to decode nearly every phrase embroidered onto Downey’s jacket.

What the Jacket Says

The translated messages include several chilling phrases:

“THERE IS NO PROMISE OF TOMORRO”

The final “W” is intentionally absent, likely reflecting the stylized Latverian alphabet rather than a typo.

Other translated phrases include:

• JUSTICE
• REVENGE
• TO THE VICTOR
• GO THE SPOILS

The last two combine to form the classic saying:

“To the victor go the spoils.”

It’s an especially fitting reference considering Doctor Doom’s real name is Victor Von Doom, making the phrase both literal and symbolic.

SDCC [credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images]

What It Could Mean for Doctor Doom

Marvel hasn’t confirmed whether the embroidered messages carry story significance, but they certainly fit Doom’s comic book history.

Justice and revenge have long defined Victor Von Doom’s motivations. While Doom often sees himself as humanity’s rightful savior, he justifies nearly any action if it leads to what he believes is a better world. The phrase “There is no promise of tomorrow” also aligns with the multiversal stakes already teased in Avengers: Doomsday, where reality itself appears to be on the brink of collapse.

Marvel’s Attention to Detail

Marvel Studios has become known for hiding Easter eggs in costumes, props, and production design, but this may be one of its most elaborate yet. Rather than random decorative symbols, the runes form complete messages that reinforce Doctor Doom’s philosophy before audiences have even seen the film.

It’s another example of the studio rewarding fans willing to examine every detail frame by frame.

With Avengers: Doomsday releasing later this year, don’t be surprised if this isn’t the last hidden message Marvel has tucked away for fans to discover.

Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko is on the mend after a terrifying injury last month left him without feeling in his legs.

“I’m currently feeling much better,” Lasko wrote via his Instagram story on Monday, July 27. “I have sensation from my feet up to my knees, along with a lot of involuntary leg movements. I also have been getting some sensation in the side of my thighs, hamstrings and back. I currently have about 75 percent usage of my left hand and about 50 percent in my right.”

Lasko fractured his C6 and C7 vertebrae when he collided with a teammate while going for a catch during a game for his Double-A Midland Rockhounds. The outfielder laid motionless on the field for several minutes before he was stretchered off and transported to a local hospital.

He later underwent spinal decompression and stabilization surgery with the hope that as the swelling decreased, he would begin to regain feeling in his legs. It is still unclear if and when the athlete will be able to return to baseball.

Related: Injured MLB Fan Breaks Silence After 21-Foot Fall From Outfield Wall

Baseball fan Kavan Markwood is speaking out one week after his terrifying fall from the outfield wall at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. While recovering at Pittsburgh’s Allegheny General Hospital, the 20-year-old revealed in an interview with a local news outlet that he hasn’t seen the footage of the now-viral incident. Markwood was celebrating a big […]

“I’m very happy with my progress and once again, so very thankful for all the love and support,” he added. “It has continued to help me get up everyday and work my hardest.”

Lasko is ranked as the A’s’ No. 18 prospect, per MLB.com, after the franchise took him in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Rutgers University.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“I’ve been in touch with Ryan’s mom, Patti, to pass along the organization’s support and to let her know that all of us, throughout our system, have them in our thoughts and prayers,” A’s general manager David Forst said in a statement after the injury. “We are incredibly grateful to Noah Huff and Audy Merrick, our athletic trainers in Midland, for their on-field actions last night, as well as to the Frisco RoughRiders and the paramedics on the scene. We are encouraged by the reports and updates from Dr. Jonathan Poggi, and we will continue to put all of the resources of our medical staff towards supporting Ryan and his recovery.”

Related: Ex MLB Employee Had Arm Ripped Apart by Grizzly Bear During Montana Hike

A former Detroit Tigers player development coordinator is recovering after a grizzly bear attack nearly cost him his right arm. “I don’t post much but I’ve been granted a second chance at life and I’m feeling extremely grateful to be able to tell this story,” Daniel Crago wrote via LinkedIn on Saturday, June 6. “Last […]

A’s manager Mark Kotsay got to know Lasko in Spring Training, where the young outfielder made a positive impression.

“He’s a competitor,” Kotsay, 50, said at the time of Lasko’s injury. “He’s emotional. Both of those things, I can vividly recall just being around him. And then just his passion for baseball. … The biggest thing we can all do is hope and pray that he recovers the feeling in his lower half and always be there to support him.”

Young and the Restless revealed that Dr. Laurence Markham (Jere Burns) said he let Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) out of the psych hospital because she did the work. She was rehabilitated and was as sane as he is at the time. That made me doubt Markham’s sanity when he said that.

And I was sure that he was lying about Patty because it never made sense for a reputable doctor like Markham to let her go when Patty is clearly still crazy. However, it makes perfect sense if Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) was behind it and was paying the guy off. So, we’re going to talk about why Markham really released Patty.

Young and the Restless: Patty Still Looney

So, from the minute Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) woke up on the yacht to find Patty Williams was his captor, it was quite clear that she was nowhere near sane. Everybody expected Paul Williams’ (Doug Davidson) sister to spend the rest of her days in a mental ward because she was not only unhinged, but she was dangerous. But Patty kept saying she was reformed and she was a changed woman. Of course, Jack didn’t believe it for a moment. Why would he?

Patty is clearly still deeply obsessed with Jack and has an unhealthy fixation on him. And don’t forget, Patty tried to kill Jack before. There is no shred of sanity in that woman. But when Markham met with Jack and Patty at the mansion to discuss Diane Jenkins’ (Susan Walters) alleged breakdown, Jack asked Markham why he released Patty since they know that he was treating her at the mental hospital.

Young and Restless: Markham’s Suspicious Release and Victor’s Manipulation

And Markham blathered about Patty showing genuine remorse for her actions. And Markham said Patty was ready to be a member of society again. Of course we know that’s a whole load of bull because she kidnapped Jack and then Patty molested him and then she had Diane kidnapped.

So, there’s a few options here. One is that Markham is not who he says. Maybe he’s not the real deal. Or Markham is who he says, but the guy is crazy as heck. Or Patty paid off Markham to release her and become her partner in crime. The thing is Patty doesn’t have the money to do that. But there’s somebody in Genoa City who wanted to ruin Jack’s life and marriage and who didn’t care if Patty tried to kill Jack. And as we saw, Patty did try to kill both Jack and Diane. So, there’s no way that Patty could fool a noted psychiatrist into thinking that she’s sane.

And even if she did fool Markham, that doesn’t explain why he was helping her after she was out. And we know that Patty was paying him. That’s something else she couldn’t afford. The money trail is the big clue here. Victor gave Patty a bag of cash for kidnapping and sexually assaulting Jack and ruining his marriage. But I don’t think that’s the only time that Victor put his gazillions of dollars to work to do bad things to wreck Jack.

Victor Behind it From the Start on Y&R

I suspect Victor might have approached Markham personally. It would be very easy for Victor to find out who was Patty’s doctor at the psych ward and then Victor might have offered Markham a huge bribe to let her loose because I don’t think Markham let Patty out for legit mental health reasons because she is not remorseful. She is not reformed and she’s always been dangerously obsessed with Jack. She’s done insane things to be with him.

If you recall, Patty had plastic surgery to look like her psychiatrist and then later she came back to Genoa City under the name Mary Jane Benson and she seduced Jack. We all know Patty’s been crazy for decades. Back then, if you remember, it was actually Victor also working with Patty at the time. So, this is a repeat offender thing. He helped her infiltrate the business so that she could get close to Jack back in the day.

Young and the Restless: Victor’s Pattern of Manipulation

And it’s already been confirmed that Victor’s working with her again this time, but we’ve only seen that in the context of the yacht kidnapping. We did see Victor pay Patty for that. The subsequent stuff with Diane, Jack, and Markham. We haven’t seen Patty and Victor having a conversation about. We haven’t seen where Patty explicitly confirmed that Victor asked Patty to do these things, but Victor asked her to do the kidnapping specifically, you know.

And he might have also encouraged Patty to continue to create chaos in Jack’s life. Since we know Markham is lying about Patty being reformed, there has to be some reason the psychiatrist would let a homicidal lunatic out of the psych ward. And what motive would get Markham to do a bad thing like that? Greed. Money greases the wheels of the world.

Victor’s the Only One Who Wants Patty Free on Y&R

And literally nobody else on the face of the planet would pay to have Patty released aside from Victor. This is Occam’s razor. You know what that means? The simplest explanation that fits the facts is the best one. And yeah, I know on soaps motives are usually convoluted and unexpected, but in this case, I don’t think so.

I think it’s a straight line from Victor to Markham to Patty to Jack on Young and the Restless. And Eric Braeden said in an interview not that long ago why Victor is still furious about the night of debauchery. He really thinks Jack and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) had sex that night.

Young and the Restless: Victor Wants Revenge

So, of course, Victor’s furious. They didn’t do that, but you can’t change his mind. And since he thinks Jack took his wife to bed, Victor thinks all bets are off and he can destroy Jack any way he wants. Letting Patty out of the mental hospital is like loading a gun with Jack’s name on all the bullets. And I’m betting that Victor lied and said he was on a business trip.

Then he went to the mental hospital to visit Patty and to talk to Dr. Markham. I suspect Victor offered Patty the chance to get her heart’s desire, which is Jack. And all Patty has to do was to kidnap him and ruin his marriage to Diane. Then Patty could have her way with him.

And of course, all Markham had to do was accept a big old bribe to look the other way. But if he did this, then Patty would have leverage on Markham, knowing he took a big payoff. So that could be a way that Patty could have forced Markham to become her partner in crime. Or Victor might have just kept directly bribing the guy to get him to do whatever Patty told him to. And we know that Markham’s affection for Diane was unplanned. Then Markham was telling Patty that he wanted to change the plan.

Young and Restless: Exposure and Consequences

So, I suspect that Markham was supposed to kill Diane or shove her in some dark corner of a mental ward as a Jane Doe and keep her there. But then Markham decided he wanted Diane for himself. And I also suspect that Victor’s role in all this is going to come out. Markham is clearly dodgy and he’s hiding out. He’s off the grid. But Diane and Jack are hunting for him, and I think they’re going to find Markham before too long.

I expect that Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland) is going to get the info from Martin Laurent (Christopher Cousins) to help them find Markham. And once they hand the guy over to the cops, I bet he’s going to sing like a bird. Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) is already talking to Patty about getting her a plea deal with the DA if she rolls over and blames Victor. But Patty might be a harder nut to crack because she is a nut.

Young and the Restless: Markham Throws Victor Under the Bus

Markham, though, I suspect he’d tell everybody if Victor was paying him so that he could avoid prison. And since Markham’s crazy about Diane, she might even be able to get a confession out of him that Patty and Victor are both involved in this plot against her and Jack. Patty planning it and Victor financing it makes a whole lot of sense.

And if it plays out this way, and Victor did bribe Markham to bring Patty back to Genoa City, I think it’ll ruin Victor and Nikki’s reunion, which is really amping up this week. But if Nikki finds out Victor paid Markham to discharge Patty to target Jack, I think that could be a marriage-ending deal breaker.

One really can’t deny that HBO has always been the standard that every other television network and streaming service has tried to live up to. Most platforms chase trends and rely on predictable formulas for viewership numbers, but HBO has practically built its reputation on taking creative risks and telling ambitious stories.

The network is home to shows that have completely redefined what television is capable of achieving, and it is still producing some of the most acclaimed series on the air today. To prove that, here is a list of HBO shows that are genuinely 10/10, no notes.

10

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Image via HBO

The Leftovers embraces ambiguity in a way that no other show ever has. The HBO drama takes place three years after the Sudden Departure, a mysterious event that caused 2% of the world’s population to vanish without explanation. However, instead of treating this premise like a mystery to be solved, the show is more interested in exploring what happens to the people left behind. The story centers on police chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), who is desperate to maintain some sense of normalcy as his family and everyone in his town struggle to understand the reality they are faced with. The Leftovers is ambitious with its premise, and it refuses to take the easy route.

The narrative treats this big mystery as the starting point, while actually focusing on the different ways people respond to grief. Kevin finds himself surrounded by cults, religious movements, and conspiracy theories simply because people need something to hold on to. Aside from all that, though, Nora Durst (Carrie Coon) truly emerges as the show’s emotional anchor. Her relationship with Kevin gradually becomes one of the most important parts of the narrative and gives the story its sense of humanity alongside its larger philosophical questions. The Leftovers is heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and funny at the same time. Every season expands the scope of the story while remaining grounded in its compelling characters. The way this series balances substance and spectacle is unlike anything else on TV.

9

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

Image via HBO

HBO’s Chernobyl proves that a story can be gripping even when the audience already knows exactly how it ends. The miniseries dramatizes the events surrounding the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and begins in the immediate aftermath of the reactor explosion. The show then follows scientists, government officials, engineers, and ordinary citizens as they confront a catastrophe like no other. The story centers on Soviet nuclear physicist Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), who is tasked with uncovering what caused the disaster and preventing an even greater catastrophe from unfolding. However, that isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Legasoc gradually pieces together the chain of failures that led to the explosion, but it also shines a spotlight on the firefighters who unknowingly walked into lethal conditions, the miners who were under pressure to prevent a second disaster, and the countless workers who risked their lives during the cleanup effort. The show constantly shifts between these perspectives and makes this historical event feel incredibly personal. Every decision carries consequences, and the audience sees them coming way before many of the characters do. Chernobyl is as educational as it is emotionally devastating, and it remains one of the most brilliant miniseries HBO has ever produced.

8

‘I May Destroy You’ (2020)

Image via HBO

I May Destroy You is best defined as a fearless show. The series follows Arabella Essiedu (Michaela Coel), a successful young writer whose life is turned upside down after she is sexually assaulted during a night out in London. When Arabella begins piecing together fragmented memories of what happened, she sets out to understand the incident and reclaim control over her life. This journey that she embarks on doesn’t play out like a conventional mystery, but an extremely personal journey that explores trauma, consent, and the complicated ways people process life-altering experiences. The series is unpredictable, and that becomes its greatest strength.

Arabella’s healing isn’t linear. In fact, the aftermath of her assault is messy and uncomfortable, but that’s the entire point. Along the way, the narrative expands to explore the lives of her closest friends, Terry (Weruche Opia) and Kwame (Paapa Essiedu), each of whom faces their own struggles involving identity, intimacy, and personal boundaries. These interconnected storylines give the series heart and turn it into a multidimensional, complex story about grief. I May Destroy You tackles difficult subject matter without ever reducing its characters to their trauma. It can be devastating, funny, insightful, and surprisingly hopeful at the same time, just like real life.

7

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

Image via HBO

Succession is essentially Shakespeare‘s King Lear reimagined as a corporate drama that one just can’t look away from. The series follows the Roy family, owners of the global media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo, as they battle for control of the company when aging patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox) begins contemplating the future of his empire. The corporate power struggle quickly evolves into an all-out war between Logan and his children, Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Connor (Alan Ruck), all of whom believe they are the rightful heirs to the throne. Succession makes board meetings, business acquisitions, shareholder votes, and media scandals feel genuinely thrilling.

The drama lands largely because it’s shaped by the deeply dysfunctional relationships that the central characters share. Every major decision has years of resentment and insecurity driving it, and the line between personal and professional conflict is always blurred. The writing in Succession is its greatest strength, though. The dialogue is razor sharp and the humor is relentless, even in the bleakest of situations. Despite following some of the wealthiest people on the planet, the series remains grounded in universal themes of family, where the audience can’t help but empathize with all these emotionally broken characters. The show that genuinely earns its reputation as one of HBO’s all-time greats, especially with its banger of a final season that brings everything to a fitting close.

6

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

Image via HBO

The Wire is widely considered one of the best TV shows ever made, but what makes it truly stand out is how different it is from almost every other crime drama. The series begins with a police investigation into Baltimore’s drug trade and follows detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) along with a special unit tasked with targeting the powerful Barksdale organization. The series begins as a traditional cops-versus-criminals story but quickly abandons that premise to explore something much larger. Each season of The Wire expands its focus to different institutions within Baltimore, including the docks, city politics, the education system, and the media.

Instead of treating these as standalone storylines, the series gradually reveals how all of them are connected. The show uncovers how drug dealers, police officers, politicians, journalists, teachers, and ordinary citizens are all part of the same bureaucratic ecosystem where change is nearly impossible. The show features an impressive ensemble that includes Stringer Bell (Idris Elba), Omar Little (Michael K. Williams), Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris), and Lester Freamon (Clarke Peters), all of whom are presented as grey characters navigating an imperfect world. The Wire has to be one of the most ambitious shows of all time, yet despite its massive scope, it never loses sight of the human stories at the center of the narrative. No other show has managed to match this depth even over two decades later.

5

‘The Pitt’ (2025–Present)

Image via HBO Max

Advertisement

The Pitt is singlehandedly reinventing the medical drama and expanding it beyond shock value and complex love triangles. The HBO series begins with senior attending physician Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle), who oversees a chaotic shift in a Pittsburgh emergency room. Each episode in the show covers roughly one hour of a single fifteen-hour shift and follows Robby and his team as they are forced to make life-or-death decisions while dealing with overcrowding, staff shortages, personal struggles, and the emotional toll that comes with all of this. The story unfolds in real time, which means that every decision is immediate, and every mistake has irreversible consequences.

The audience practically experiences the exhaustion, pressure, and unpredictability of an underfunded emergency room alongside the characters. The show does a great job of portraying the challenges of the job and the personal sacrifices that come with it. Wyle is the heart of the series and delivers a nuanced performance that captures both his character’s competence and vulnerability. This kind of layered and engaging storytelling is the reason why The Pitt already feels like an HBO classic in the making.

4

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

Image via HBO

Advertisement

There’s no denying that The Sopranos completely changed the way TV shows were made. The series follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), who begins experiencing panic attacks and reluctantly starts seeing psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). From there, the show balances two very different sides of Tony’s life. On one hand, he is a powerful crime boss managing rival families, internal power struggles, and constant threats to his authority. On the other hand, he is a husband, father, and son trying to navigate the everyday pressures of family life.

The brilliance of the premise is that neither world ever truly stays separate from the other, and that is Tony’s greatest weakness. The Sopranos is committed to exploring Tony as a morally complex character. He is charismatic, funny, terrifying, and flawed all at once, and the same goes for the rest of the people around him. The Sopranos is way more than just a mob drama. The show practically functions as a family saga, a dark comedy, and a psychological character study that examines the American. That’s why even more than two decades after its debut, countless series still draw inspiration from it.

3

‘Generation Kill’ (2008)

Image via HBO

Advertisement

Generation Kill is one of the most realistic war dramas ever made. The HBO miniseries is based on the experiences of journalist Evan Wright during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and follows the U.S. Marines of First Recon Battalion as they push deep into enemy territory during the opening weeks of the war. However, instead of focusing on a single heroic mission or larger-than-life battlefield moments, the series places viewers directly alongside the soldiers as they navigate the confusion and constant unpredictability of combat. Now, Generation Kill doesn’t romanticize war or portray it from the lens of pure action.

The show actually attempts to capture the strange reality of modern warfare, where boredom, frustration, and miscommunication often coexist with genuine danger. The show explores how different soldiers respond to the pressures of combat through characters including Sergeant Brad “Iceman” Colbert (Alexander Skarsgård), Corporal Josh Ray Person (James Ransone), and Lieutenant Nate Fick (Stark Sands). The show’s commitment to authenticity is what makes it a war drama that feels immersive and intelligent yet deeply personal at the same time.

2

‘Angels in America’ (2003)

Image via HBO

Advertisement

Angels in America is one of the most ambitious TV projects of all time. The miniseries is based on Tony Kushner‘s acclaimed play and takes place during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. The story follows several interconnected characters whose lives become entangled as they struggle with illness, identity, politics, religion, and mortality. The narrative centers on Prior Walter (Justin Kirk), a young man diagnosed with AIDS who begins experiencing increasingly strange visions that include encounters with an angel who claims he has been chosen for a greater purpose.

At the same time, the audience also follows influential lawyer Roy Cohn (Al Pacino), closeted Mormon Joe Pitt (Patrick Wilson), his wife Harper (Mary-Louise Parker), and Louis Ironson (Ben Shenkman), all of whom are struggling with personal crises of their own. Angels in America is truly extraordinary in how effortlessly it balances these deeply personal experiences with philosophical themes. Despite dealing with heavy subject matter, the show refuses to define its characters by their struggles alone. The writing is sharp, the performances are exceptional, and the series constantly finds new ways to blend realism with fantasy without losing its emotional grounding. Angels in America feels intimate and epic at the same time in a way that no other show has managed to accomplish to this day.

1

‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)

Image via HBO

Advertisement

Band of Brothers is the gold standard, not just for war dramas, but for TV in general. The brilliant miniseries is based on the true story of Easy Company, part of the 101st Airborne Division. The show follows a group of American paratroopers from their training at Camp Toccoa all the way through some of the most significant events of World War II, including D-Day, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and the eventual capture of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. Band of Brothers wants viewers to witness the horrors of combat, but more importantly, it focuses on the bonds that develop between the soldiers fighting alongside one another.

The series introduces a large ensemble cast that includes Major Richard Winters (Damian Lewis), Lewis Nixon (Ron Livingston), Carwood Lipton (Donnie Wahlberg), and many others, but somehow gives each of them a distinct identity and purpose within the narrative. As the war progresses, the audience experiences every little emotion that these men go through because the show does such a great job of reminding one of the human cost of war. The brilliance of Band of Brothers lies in its balance between scale and intimacy. The battle sequences are immersive and technically impressive, but the show’s most powerful moments are often quieter and follow the emotional burden these soldiers carry every day. The fact that the show features interviews of real people only makes the experience even more powerful.

Advertisement

Band of Brothers

Advertisement

Release Date

2001 – 2001

Advertisement

Network

HBO

Directors

Advertisement

David Frankel, David Nutter, Mikael Salomon, Phil Alden Robinson, Richard Loncraine, Tom Hanks

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Jumanji might be one of the unlikely mega-hit film franchises out there. The quirky book by Chris Van Allsburg about a board game that brings in all manner of creatures from a magical jungle was first adapted for the big screen with the original Robin Williams-led film, which is widely considered to be a definitive ’90s cult classic. Then, after over 20 years (not counting the spiritual sci-fi spin-off Zathura: A Space Adventure), the franchise made a bold and ambitious comeback thanks to Dwayne Johnson.

2017 brought forth the next chapter in the Jumanji saga, titled Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which, along with Johnson, also stars Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black. The quartet quickly found a fanbase as a group of high schoolers who are transported into the world of Jumanji and transformed into heroes straight out of Uncharted after the archaic board game magically transforms itself into a video game console. The story then continued again in Jumanji: The Next Level, which ups the ante by having the main heroes switch up their already switched-up bodies to save one of their closest friends. Now, Johnson, Hart, Gillan, and Black are reuniting one last time for a final adventure.

After a whopping seven-year wait, the first trailer for Jumanji: Open World (the fourth and reportedly final chapter of the franchise as we know it) is finally here. For the first time since the 1995 original, instead of going to Jumanji, the four lead heroes of Spencer (Alex Wolff), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), Martha (Morgan Turner), and Bethany (Madison Iseman) will have to contend with the horrors of the magical jungle in the real world.

Who Stars in ‘Jumanji: Open World’?

Once again, leading the cast is Dwayne Johnson, who is in desperate need of a box-office win after his Oscar vehicle The Smashing Machine and his live-action Disney remake of Moana underperformed. Also returning as Bravestone’s cohorts are 72 Hours star Kevin Hart, The Super Mario Movie franchise favorite Jack Black, and the upcoming star of Henry Cavill‘s Highlander remake, Karen Gillan. Also returning for the final chapter are the core quartet of Alex Wolff (A Quiet Place: Day One), Morgan Turner (Remember Me), Ser’Darius Blain (The Rookie), and Madison Iseman (Annabelle Comes Home), as well as other familiar franchise faces like Danny DeVito (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Rhys Darby (Our Flag Means Death), and Nick Jonas (Camp Rock). Also joining the franchise for the very first time are Pacific Rim star Burn Gorman and New Girl icon Lamorne Morris.

Jumanji: Open World arrives in theaters on Christmas Day, December 25, 2026.

Advertisement

Release Date

Advertisement

December 25, 2026

Director

Jake Kasdan

Advertisement

Writers

Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, Chris Van Allsburg

Franchise(s)

Advertisement

Jumanji

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement