Entertainment
Mariska Hargitay on 1st Woman Law & Order: SVU Showrunner
Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay is opening up about the palpable shift that occurred on the set of the hit crime procedural once the show secured its first woman to serve as showrunner.
“I had a secret fantasy of having a female showrunner for … a few years,” Hargitay, 62, told Variety in an interview published on Saturday, June 12, commenting on the hit NBC show hiring Michele Fazekas as the show’s season 27 showrunner. (Fazekas, 49, worked in the show’s writers’ room for seasons 3 through 7.)
“Michele and I always connected. She was so smart, and those years on SVU were some of my favorites,” the actress continued. “Her episodes during that time were the best ones.”
Fazekas had just finished working on Prime Video’s Gen V when she became the first woman to showrun the Dick Wolf series. While also speaking with Variety, Fazekas said there is a “great synchronicity with how we all think” on- and off-set, which only benefits the show’s overall culture.
“We were all rowing in the same direction,” Fazekas told the outlet. “There’s no toxicity. Having worked in really toxic environments, it’s like, oh my God, I don’t know what to do with myself! We all just want to make a good show and not make it harder than it needs to be.”
Hargitay added that with Fazekas now steering the ship, so to speak, things feel both “old and new” on the show.
Mariska Hargitay Getty Images
“It’s new and coming home at the same time,” she explained. “There are emotional beats and comedy beats that are so specific to me and to the origins of the character. Obviously, it was time. It’s what SVU needed more than anything, and it was the perfect fit. It’s all the elements coming together in a perfect way.”
She continued, “I want to highlight that word: Team. That is the difference now. There’s such a sense of lock arm, ladies. Let’s do this together — and, at the same time, push each other to be excellent, to be great, and we know that we can do it and we will figure it out.”
While the on-set collaboration and non-toxic work environment certainly aided everyone on- and off-set, Fazekas couldn’t help but point out how hard Hargitay continues to work since making her SVU debut back in 1999.
“She does not phone it in,” Fazekas told Variety of Hargitay’s work ethic. “She is not just collecting a paycheck. She makes everyone better.”
After wrapping season 27 — yes, Fazekas did write the season’s finale — Hargitay told Variety she couldn’t help but grow emotional when considering all she has accomplished on the show.
“Twenty-seven years in and I’m thinking, that’s one of my favorite episodes — that Michele could dig in and write this story that’s haunting me,” Hargitay said of the season’s finale. “Brenna is elevating details and tweaking constantly. We all play hard and play our best.”
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Entertainment
Agatha Christie Fans Need To Watch This 2016 Mystery Thriller That’s Impossible To Solve
Is there anything better than a gripping, spine-tingling mystery? Throw in a web of lies, deceit, and a race against time, and you’ve got something that truly keeps viewers on the edges of their seats. Modern whodunnits like the Knives Out movies and classic Agatha Christie tales might scratch that itch, but if you’re looking for something you might’ve overlooked, you need to watch The Invisible Guest.
What Is ‘The Invisible Guest’ About?
Directed by Oriol Paulo, the master of layered and intricate storytelling, the film promises to be a murder mystery. However, it doesn’t just stop there. It dives into puzzling realms and creates a narrative where every single piece counts. At the center of it all is Adrian Doria (Mario Casas), a businessman who’s found locked in a hotel room with the lifeless body of his lover, Laura Vidal (Bárbara Lennie). All fingers are pointed at him considering the damning evidence of a sealed room with no extra entry/exit points.
That’s where razor-sharp defense attorney, Virginia Goodman (Ana Wagener) comes in. Using her talent for dismantling lies, she chips away at Adrian’s version of the truth and in the process kicks off a high-stakes cat-and-mouse chase. Using an expertly patched-together set of flashbacks, shifting perspectives, and red herrings, The Invisible Guest proves that a good mystery isn’t just about finding out who did it, but figuring out who’s lying.
‘The Invisible Guest’ Capitalizes on a Web of Secrets and Expert Storytelling
Your run-of-the-mill murder mystery reveals the truth, but The Invisible Guest, on the other hand, makes you work for it. In Paulo’s usual fashion, right at the moment when viewers think they’ve cracked the case, the movie flips the script… again. The Invisible Guest wastes little to no time reeling you into its intricately spun web. From the very first moment, there’s the locked room set up, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg as Wagener’s Virginia Goodman claws away at Adrian’s story. The fascinating thing is how it’s not simply about what transpired but about how each revelation leads further into a maze of lies and unexpected plot twists.
A standout moment comes in the form of the fateful car accident that changes everything. While driving through a snow-covered area, Adrian and Laura end up hitting a young man’s car. Unfortunately, the entire ordeal ends in his death. Then, panic sets in and instead of reporting things to the authorities, they cover up the accident. Unexpectedly, another driver happens on the scene of the accident, leading Adrian and Laura to pretend to be exchanging insurance information. However, from this point on, the story spirals as Adrian hides the victim’s car and body in a lake. Later, a local automotive engineer, Tomas Garrido (José Coronado), offers to help Laura repair the damaged vehicle — Adrian’s car, but in a shocking twist, Tomas happens to be the actual victim’s father. The tension in these scenes is nothing short of electric and creates the perfect cocktail of guilt, revenge, and betrayal. In a nutshell, this is how the film delivers reveals within reveals that are everything but linear or one-note.
The Thin Moral Lines in ‘The Invisible Guest’ Make for an Unforgettable Narrative
One of the most fascinating things about The Invisible Guest is how quickly morality becomes a moving target. In this film, no character walks away unaffected by the myriad of choices they make as the story runs its course. It all begins with the central characters, Adrian Doria and Laura Vidal, whose situation kicks off a string of ethically questionable decisions. It’s made clear early on that the moral compass between the couple is weak, from their affair to their calculated self-preservation at the accident scene. But it’s not just the hit-and-run that muddies the waters. There’s Adrian’s penchant for lying and manipulating everyone around him in a bid to control all versions of the truth. The combination of their questionable judgment ripples outwards, which ends up pulling other characters, like Tomas Garrido and his grieving wife, into their web of lies.
Even the moral compass of the film, defense attorney Virginia Goodman, operates in gray areas, laying psychological traps to coax the truth out of Adrian. At the end of the day, The Invisible Guest proves it’s more of a mystery as it weaves a tale that challenges viewers to consider how far they’d go when their backs are against the wall.
‘The Invisible Guest’ Revives Classic Mysteries With a Modern Bite
If The Invisible Guest feels strangely familiar, it’s because Oriol Paulo knows his way around the mystery blueprint as a whole. The film boldly leans into its genre influences — from Agatha Christie’s tendency to misdirect to Alfred Hitchcock’s penchant for sleight-of-hand. But instead of taking the easy route and full-on mimicking these classics, The Invisible Guest updates them for a modern audience. To that effect, it’s faster, sharper, and less patient with predictable plotlines. Take the locked-room setup, for instance; it’s a well-worn trope that’s been used through the ages to make a murder seem impossible because the crime scene is inaccessible. Typically, in older murder mysteries, the trope is the entire puzzle, but in The Invisible Guest, it’s just the beginning of a whole lot of chaos. Sure, the sealed room is a conundrum, but the film does its best not to dwell on the logistics; instead, it turns it into some sort of narrative weapon. The impossibility pushes the lead character to come undone under the weight of his own lies.
What really sells the plot, ultimately giving the film its modern bite, is the way it handles the concepts of truth and time. Instead of giving viewers one reliable narrator — or, at the very least, a steady linear timeline — the story folds in on itself with conflicting accounts, flashbacks, and mental rewrites. The result isn’t just the spectacle of a mystery unfolding, but audiences are forced to actively try to piece together the rules of the game. This kind of narrative manipulation is more in line with the psychological thrillers of the 2000s than the neat resolutions of older whodunnits.
Then there’s the tone. It’s common for classic murder mysteries to play with elements like decorum and quiet deduction. However, Paulo’s approach is all tension and urgency. Unlike older stories where justice feels inevitable, The Invisible Guest is one of those films that makes you wonder whether anyone will ultimately pay the price for the crimes committed. In a nutshell, the movie clearly respects tradition, but it doesn’t wrap itself in it. Instead, it cleverly borrows just enough from the classics to feel familiar but sharpens the narrative to deliver something entirely new.
The Invisible Guest
- Release Date
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January 6, 2017
- Runtime
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106 Minutes
- Director
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Oriol Paulo
- Writers
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Oriol Paulo, Lara Sendim
When it comes to major media conglomerates, no company has more magic than the Walt Disney Company. The place where we learn to wish and dream as our imagination takes flight, Disney has been a major part of our lives in one way or another. The 21st century featured two major acquisitions for Disney to add to the roster: Star Wars and Marvel. Both media franchises had established themselves as major players in the pop culture lexicon, and now, with Disney at the helm, those opportunities and budgets increased exponentially!
Playing in the Star Wars or Marvel universe is a fun treat for an actor, but to get to do both? It’s like getting to go to Disney! We’re here to talk about the giant list of actors who have had the glory of playing in both worlds. For this list, we are sticking to those films and series that are canonically tied to both franchises. So yes, for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Netflix shows like Daredevil and Jessica Jones are included! The simple fact that this is a hefty list proves that both franchises can pull in mega stars.
1
Richard Armitage
This one might be a bit of a cheat, because Richard Armitage‘s presence in the Star Wars universe came in the form of a cameo. In 1999, Armitage made his film debut as an uncredited Naboo fighter pilot in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. As it turns out, he originally had a few lines, but they were cut. Though he’s visible in the background, we’ll count it! When it comes to the MCU, Armitage played Heinz Kruger, a top Hydra assassin in Captain America: The First Avenger. Kruger is the operative who infiltrates the facility where the super serum is created and later swallows a cyanide capsule to avoid interrogation.
2
Paul Bettany
Some names on this list have prominent roles in both worlds. One such actor is the incredible Paul Bettany. He began his tenure in the MCU as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S., the trusty artificial intelligence of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Iron Man through Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was in that film that J.A.R.V.I.S. was uploaded into a synthetic vibranium body, putting Bettany on screen as Vision. He brought the beloved role to the small screen in WandaVision. And yes, he will return in the upcoming VisionQuest. Bettany then stepped into a galaxy far, far away as the primary antagonist Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Vos is a high-ranking, merciless leader in the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate who acts as the primary employer for Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) during their smuggling days.
3
Emilia Clarke
Though her most iconic role came on Game of Thrones, this actress, known for playing Daenerys Targaryen, appeared in a Star Wars film and an MCU series. Clarke played Q’ira in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Q’ira was Han’s childhood best friend and first love from Corellia. She eventually rises in the ranks of the Crimson Dawn, only for her to defeat Dryden Vos in the end. Clarke spent more time on screen as a main character in Secret Invasion. She played adult G’iah, a hardened rebel fighting alongside the extremist faction led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir). Having the superhuman abilities from the “Harvest” machine, she eventually turned on Gravik and his followers. By the end of the series, G’iah ended up being one of the most powerful beings in the entire MCU. Clarke recently went on the record, saying that her time in both series, as well as in The Terminator franchise, was “disappointing” because they weren’t “liked.” (At least everything until the end of Game of Thrones was enjoyed by the audience!)
4
Rosario Dawson
Before taking on her most iconic pop culture role of the live-action iteration of Ahsoka Tano to life, Rosario Dawson had a recurring stint in the MCU Netflix series as Claire Temple. A dedicated medical professional, she first arrived on the scene as an ally to Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) in Daredevil. She continued the role in the subsequent connected series within The Defenders shows. Now to Star Wars, Dawson brought Ahsoka first to The Mandalorian and then reprised the role in The Book of Boba Fett. In 2023, she was granted the opportunity to lead her own series, Ahsoka. The iconic character is a Force-sensitive Togruta and formally Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan in The Clone Wars. Her grand journey on the small screen has solidified her as one of the most notorious and fan-favorite characters in franchise history.
5
Benicio del Toro
To say that Benicio del Toro is versatile is an understatement, but when it comes to space, del Toro loves to play it cool. Del Toro began his MCU journey as The Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy. The Collector is a prominent Elder of the Universe known for curating a vast gallery of rare artifacts from across the cosmos. The iconic character returned with cameos in Thor: The Dark World and Avengers: Infinity Wars, while also voicing the alternate timeline version of the character in the animated series What If…? In the Star Wars universe, he played enigmatic codebreaker DJ in Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi. The cynical mercenary’s motto is “Don’t Join,” believing both the Resistance and the First Order are equally corrupt. In the end, though he initially aided Finn (John Boyega) and Rey (Daisy Ridley), he betrayed them to the First Order to save himself. Del Toro may not have been a lead in either universe, but he brought two distinct, nuanced performances to the memorable parts.
6
Giancarlo Esposito
It’s not fair to call Giancarlo Esposito a character actor, but when you’re in the hunt for an exceptional actor to play a villain, look no further than him. The prolific actor’s more prominent part in the two worlds came as the ruthless Imperial warlord and leader of the Remnant Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian. Like many of us, he was obsessed with Grogu. Unlike the rest of us, he wanted to harness his powers for his own benefit. Moff Gideon has emerged as a notorious figure and one of the franchise’s greatest bad guys. Now, to the MCU. Let’s just say we were extremely short-shafted after his brief appearance in Captain America: Brave New World. Esposito played Seth Voelker, who is better known to Marvel Comics fans as Sidewinder. As the leader of the Serpent Society, Sidewinder went all combat mode with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), only to be defeated and taken into custody fairly early on in the film. Though no official projects have been announced, with Esposito’s high profile, his character is expected to return in the future.
7
Jon Favreau
Many, many years ago, one might have laughed at the thought that comedian Jon Favreau would become a prolific architect of the MCU and Star Wars franchises. But between his on-screen work and his roles as a creator, director, and producer, our current landscape has been shaped by his extraordinary work. Let’s begin in the MCU. The very first entry into the MCU was a tone-setter as Iron Man featured Favreau in the director’s chair. That is in addition to him playing the now long-running Happy Hogan, Tony Stark’s faithful bodyguard and chauffeur. Having been so successful, Favreau continued to direct Iron Man 2 before becoming a major producer on future MCU projects. And fret not, Happy was back quite often in featured and cameo moments. His proven skill then allowed him to help give Star Wars a prominent identity on the small screen, bringing The Mandalorian to life and producing many subsequent projects. Having his stamp on The Mandalorian, there was no better man than Favreau to direct the recent blockbuster The Mandalorian and Grogu. Now, it would only be fair to include Favreau on this list if he acted in the Star Wars universe, and guess what? He did! In addition to voice work on The Clone Wars, he portrayed Paz Vizsla on The Mandalorian and an Ardennian pilot in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
8
Cailey Fleming
Casting directors don’t always get the credit they deserve when they do slam dunk work by casting the spitting image of the adult in the young version of a character. Such was the case for Cailey Fleming, who portrayed Young Rey in The Force Awakens. The former The Walking Dead actress played the pivotal role, setting the stage for the adventure Ridley’s character would eventually go on. Fleming’s Young Rey did appear via archival footage in The Rise of Skywalker. Fleming once again got to take on a younger version of a major character in the Disney+ series Loki. This time, she took on Young Sylvie, the role played by Sophia Di Martino. It’s through Fleming’s appearance that we learn the critical backstory of Sylvie. All the youngster was doing was playing with the toys in Asgard before being taken into custody. But her detainment didn’t last long as she escaped, plotting her revenge under the original guise of Loki. Fleming was the perfect young star for these mammoth franchises.
9
Donald Glover
Very few actors have such a fascinating career as Donald Glover. After establishing himself on Community and as Childish Gambino, Glover continued his dominance in Hollywood. During that run, Glover made his MCU appearance as Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Though it wasn’t explicitly stated in the live-action film, Aaron is Miles Morales’s uncle, the protagonist of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Glover voiced Aaron, under his future role as Prowler in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. His big cinematic breakthrough came in Solo: A Star Wars Story as Lando Calrissian. His performance was so iconic that he was initially tapped to create a Lando project. Glover has stated that a film still lives, so we must wait for its fate.
10
Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant is one of the most enigmatic actors of our time. An almost chameleon of the screen, Grant’s appearances in both universes are quite wonderful. He took on a central antagonist role in Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker as the ruthless Allegiant General Pryde. The cold and ambitious high-ranking military officer in the First Order serves as a faithful ally to the Emperor (Ian McDiarmid) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). In the MCU, Grant’s cameo in Loki was met with great praise, taking on an older “Classic Loki” who survived Thanos (Josh Brolin) by casting a hyperrealistic illusion of himself, then going into a self-imposed exile. His variant of the God of Mischief made a major decision, sacrificing himself to distract the giant monster Alioth to allow the main Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to escape. Now, technically not in the MCU, though it might be canon soon, Grant played Dr. Zander Rice in the 2017 film Logan. Dr. Race was the ruthless chief of surgical operations who was responsible for creating X-23, also known as Laura Kinney (Dafne Keen). Put a pin in her!
A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump‘s name must come off the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — and members of the Kennedy family are celebrating the decision.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper handed down the 94-page ruling in May 2026, finding that only Congress has the power to rename the federally chartered Washington, D.C., institution. The decision also temporarily blocked the venue’s planned two-year closure for alleged renovations, throwing the building’s future into uncertainty.
Trump appointed himself the president of the Kennedy Center upon his second term as president, which began in January 2025. He also replaced the entire board of trustees, who subsequently voted to rename the theater “The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
Keep scrolling to learn more:
President Donald Trump has even more plans for the Kennedy Center after he worked to rename the landmark. “The Trump Kennedy Center will close on July 4th, 2026, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country, whereupon we will simultaneously begin Construction of the new and spectacular Entertainment Complex,” Trump, 79, wrote via Truth […]
Judge’s Ruling Explained
A judge ruled in May 2026 that Trump and the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees acted unlawfully when they added the president’s name onto the venue, which Congress previously dedicated to President John F. Kennedy in 1964 — a year after his assassination.
“The Kennedy Center’s organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board’s unilateral say-so,” Cooper wrote in his decision. “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”
The judge also halted Trump’s planned two-year shutdown of the venue, which was originally scheduled to begin in July 2026 to coincide with the country’s 250th anniversary. Cooper found that “none of the board members had sufficient information in advance of the March 16 meeting to make a well-considered decision to close the center,” according to The New York Times. He left the door open for the board to revisit the closure if it independently weighs “its multiple obligations to the Center in a prudent fashion.”
Kennedy Center Staff Told to Scrub Trump References
In a June 4, 2026, memo obtained by Politico, Kennedy Center employees were told to strip Trump’s name from internal and public-facing materials.
“You must immediately change email signatures, letterhead, and other documents to reflect the name as ‘The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,’ or ‘Kennedy Center,’” the memo read. “Other changes, such as to templates and forms, signage, brochures, and website pages, must be completed no later than Friday, June 12, 2026.”
Trump’s name had already been quietly removed from the center’s official website, voicemail and YouTube channel in the days leading up to the memo, according to the Associated Press.
A Kennedy Center spokesperson said in a statement, “We are complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump’s leadership.”
Construction workers were spotted removing Trump’s name from the building facade on June 13, 2026.
Maria Shriver and Jack Schlossberg Celebrate the Decision
JFK’s niece Shriver called the ruling a “birthday present” for her late uncle, who would have turned 109 the day Cooper issued his decision.
“An appropriate birthday present on my uncle’s birthday today. A federal judge ruled that President Trump and the Kennedy Center Board acted unlawfully in renaming the Kennedy Center after him,” Shriver wrote via Threads in May 2026. “The judge held that only Congress can change the Center’s name and blocked the planned two-year closure for now. I know they’ll probably appeal and the story isn’t over, but for today, let’s celebrate a great birthday gift.”
JFK’s grandson, Schlossberg, took an even sharper tone, writing via X: “Trump can take the Kennedy Center for himself. He can change the name, shut the doors, and demolish the building. He can try to kill JFK. But JFK is kept alive by us now rising up to remove Donald Trump, bring him to justice, and restore the freedoms generations fought for.”
Donald Trump Responds to Judge’s Ruling
The president slammed Cooper’s decision in a lengthy Truth Social post, accusing the judge — a President Barack Obama appointee — of bias and vowing to push Congress to take the building off his hands entirely.
“Shockingly, a Judge appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, Christopher Cooper, ruled that The Kennedy Center, which was going to close in early July for large-scale renovations and construction due to years of neglect, decay, and poor maintenance, and which was to be transformed by the Trump Administration into the Finest Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World, is not allowed to close for these renovations,” Trump wrote, claiming that he instructed the Department of Commerce to “make all necessary arrangements” to transfer control of the Kennedy Center back to Congress.
Kennedy Center Board of Trustees Files Appeal
The Board of Trustees voted to seek a stay of Cooper’s order in June 2026, arguing the name change reversal would be “both wasteful for the Center and confusing for the public.”
Roma Daravi, the Trump Kennedy Center vice president of public relations, said in a statement, “With $257 million secured by President Trump and approved by Congress, the resources are in place and we remain committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy.”
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
John Stamos is getting candid about the cosmetic surgery he’s received — and the procedures he says that he’d never consider.
“I’m always with younger people or younger girls and stuff, so I don’t want to look super old,” Stamos, 62, admitted on the Wednesday, June 10, episode of the “Really Good” podcast, revealing he has no plans to undergo an invasive facelift. “I won’t do that. I’ve gotten Botox in my forehead, but not for a long time.”
The Full House alum further revealed that he had a rhinoplasty “when he was a kid” acting on General Hospital.
“I broke it when I was a kid. I got hit by a golf club,” Stamos explained of his reasoning for getting a nose job. “I just didn’t like the way it looked, and so I got it done and it didn’t look great. Then, I went and then I actually had it fixed by Michael Jackson‘s guy. He didn’t make me look like Michael Jackson.”
General Hospital has had numerous different cast members during its 60-year run, including some familiar faces. John Stamos got his start on the soap opera with his role as Blackie Parish from 1982 to 1984. Even though he starred on the show for only two years, Stamos has discussed the tremendous impact General Hospital had […]
Jackson underwent multiple plastic cosmetic procedures years before his death in 2009. (The King of Pop died at age 50 after suffering cardiac arrest triggered by an acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication.)
“I have never had my cheekbones done, never had my eyes done, never had my lips done,” Jackson said in a 1993 interview, revealing the procedures he said that he had done. “I try not to look in the mirror. I’m never happy with what I see.”
The “Billie Jean” singer, who battled the skin condition vitiligo prior to his death, has asserted that he’s only had two nose jobs.
“Everybody in Hollywood gets plastic surgery,” Jackson said in his 2003 Living With Michael Jackson documentary. “Plastic surgery was not invented for Michael Jackson.”
As for Stamos, he’s long been candid about how he manages his aesthetics while aging.
While some prefer to fly under the radar when they get plastic surgery, celebrities including Denise Richards, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Jessi Ngatikaura and Heidi Montag keep it candid. After getting some of her enhancements reversed in 2013, Montag exclusively told Us Weekly that she struggled with the decision. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. […]
“I am getting old, although I don’t feel it. I take care of myself. I stopped drinking 10 years ago. That’s why I’m alive,” Stamos exclusively told Us Weekly in an August 2025, reflecting on his sobriety. “I never would have met my wife [Caitlin McHugh] if I was still drinking. I’m happy where I’m at in my career, but I think I would be a lot further along if I’d stopped sooner.”
He continued, “I got the job done, but I could have done it better, and I could have been more connected. Getting married and having a child, that’s kept me young and kept me alive. I think that’s helped with my longevity.”
Stamos credits must of his seemingly everlasting youthfulness to his wife and their 8-year-old son, Billy, over any skincare regimens.
“I don’t do a lot. I wash my face, depends on if there’s some scrub around,” the actor told Us. “I work out three or four times a week. I do this electric muscle-stimulant thing where you put a suit on, but you only wear it for 20 minutes. But good sleep now is important. Having a young son helps.”
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If your calendar is packed with upcoming events, Sutton Foster just wore a dress to inspire your next fancy getup. The performer recently stepped out in New York City wearing a long satin dress that’s equal parts timeless and flattering. It’s just the kind of style that women over 50 will especially appreciate.
Foster sported the Marina Moscone navy number while attending The Death of Robin Hood premiere with partner Hugh Jackman. With it being wedding season, we couldn’t help but think that Foster’s dress would be ideal for attending such events. So, we found a similar one, the Realtix Satin Mock-Neck Midi Dress, on Amazon.
Get the Realtix Satin Mock-Neck Midi Dress for $46 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The $46 lookalike is quite similar to Foster’s ensemble, featuring a dark blue hue, a draped mock neck and a side slit. That high neckline combined with a sleek skirt proves that simple doesn’t have to equal boring, and sometimes, something understated feels especially elegant for formal events.
The wedding invitations keep arriving, and the dress code keeps shifting. A garden ceremony in June, black tie reception in September and there’s a cocktail hour at a vineyard somewhere in between. After a certain point, raiding the back of your closet for that one reliable navy sheath dress starts to feel like a tired […]
One detail we like better about the Amazon dress compared to Foster’s pick is the back. The Broadway star’s is more basic, but the affordable version has a racerback-like detail that shows just enough to look sexy without being exposed. Still, it nails the drapey silhouette that makes the original feel so special.
Foster elegantly paired her dress with matching pumps, a matching clutch, silver earrings and a slicked-back bun. This exact formula would be the summer wedding guest look of our dreams, but it could be slightly dressed down for less fancy affairs. You can achieve that timeless feel with a range of style decisions, though.
To get the Foster look, snag the Realtix dress in navy. However, you can’t go wrong with the classic black hue, either. If you really want to be on-trend for the season, shop the butter yellow and sage options that show how elegant a splash of color can be.
Real-life reviewers agree that the satin-like fabric gives this midi dress an “elegant and polished look.” One person pointed out that, despite the drape up top, the dress’ silhouette is “not too tight or loose” and “creates a flattering silhouette without any pinch,” allowing it to work for a range of body types.
Even if you don’t think you have an event to wear this dress to (yet), it’s not a bad idea to make sure you have an option in your closet. Because it’s always impossible to find a dress when you actually need it, right?
Get the Realtix Satin Mock-Neck Midi Dress for $46 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more satin dresses here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
At the Alliance for Children’s Rights 34th Annual Champions for Children event, Meghan Markle did what she does best: turned every head in the room. The Duchess stepped out in a silky strapless dress in a deep navy hue, and the look was pure elegance from head to toe. Markle gravitates toward clean lines and […]
Tyra Banks participated in the February 2026 Netflix documentary, “Reality Checked: Inside America’s Next Top Model.” However, months later, the 52-year-old is suing the streaming giant, calling the widely talked about special defamatory.
This comes after a former “America’s Next Top Model” judge defended Banks over not having visited J. Alexander in the hospital amid his stroke.
According to PEOPLE, Banks and her legal team filed the lawsuit against Netflix on June 13. In it, she accuses those involved in the production of attempting to paint a false narrative by omitting much of what she said during her three-plus-hour interview. Banks wants a jury to determine the “appropriate” amount of damages she should receive.
The lawsuit starts, “Tyra Banks participated in the Netflix documentary series ‘America’s Next Top Model’ (‘ANTM’) because she believed viewers deserved a candid conversation about the show’s legacy—its successes and its shortcomings.”
Specifically, the lawsuit claims the comments left on the cutting room floor included her taking accountability for many of the more controversial moments from “Top Model.” Per the docs, “There are aspects of the show for which Ms. Banks takes accountability, and she wanted ‘ANTM’ viewers to hear that from her directly.”
Regarding Banks’ sitdown with producers, “Going into her interview, Ms. Banks did not limit the ‘ANTM’ topics the interviewer could ask.” She states that only 16 minutes of her more than three-hour conversation were featured.
Tyra Banks Is Firing Back Over Claims She Allowed A Contestant To Be Assaulted
One of the most troubling aspects of the document involves a former “America’s Next Top Model” contestant, Shandi Sullivan, who was allegedly sexually assaulted on camera during the show’s second cycle.
Per PEOPLE, Banks addressed the claims in the lawsuit.
It reads, “Worse, the false narrative the producers constructed—through selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation of continuous footage—included that Ms. Banks knowingly allowed a contestant to be sexually assaulted on her show, exploited that contestant’s trauma for ratings, and then could not even remember it when asked.”
The legal docs continue, “That narrative about Ms. Banks is a complete fabrication—one that Netflix streamed to a global audience of millions. The implication is devastating and deliberate: that Tyra Banks cannot even remember the story of the woman who was assaulted on her show.”
Banks and her legal team then described what the documentary’s producers removed from the final edit. They claim, “But that was false. The full footage of Ms. Banks’ interview reveals two things that the producers cut out and did not show viewers in Episode 1: before the upward glance, Ms. Banks nods—affirmatively, unmistakably—and immediately says, ‘I do remember her story.’ By carving the nod out of the middle of the sequence and cutting off Ms. Banks’ comment at the end, the producers ensured that viewers would see only the lie and not the truth.”
The Lawsuit Also Addresses The Miss J Situation
“Reality Checked: Inside America’s Next Top Model” also focuses on Banks’s relationship with the show’s former judges. Notably, Miss J revealed that Banks did not visit him while he was hospitalized in 2022 following a massive stroke. Specifically, she says she was never given the chance to give her side of the story.
The suit states, “Had the producers informed Ms. Banks that part of the Netflix Series narrative would include Miss J saying that Ms. Banks never visited him in the hospital, Ms. Banks would have explained that she had been living in Australia for 2 1/2 years.”
Additionally, Banks claims she was not allowed to show a text message she sent to the former ‘Top Model’ judge that went unanswered. It is also alleged in the filing that the two have spoken at length since his hospitalization, with the most recent conversation occurring in December 2025.
Per the suit, “They texted numerous times. As recently as Christmas Day 2025, Ms. Banks and Miss J exchanged holiday messages, and he updated Ms. Banks about his improved health. She replied, ‘Yesssssss. Can we speak this week?’ They never spoke. Just weeks later, the Netflix Series streamed to a worldwide audience.”
Former ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Judge Kelly Cutrone Defended Banks
Kelly Cutrone, who appeared on “Top Model” from cycles 18 to 22, defended Banks in June 2026 in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. She told the outlet that Banks, who was living in Australia, was concerned about Miss J after learning of his health struggles.
She said, “They [including producer Ken Mock] were worried.” After being contacted, Cutrone had a mutual friend, Arton, seek information about Miss J, which led them to learn that he had been admitted to the hospital under an alias, making it harder for Banks or anyone else to locate him.
The former judge continued, “Arton went to his apartment” at the behest of Tyra and Ken, who were worried.
The Netflix Documentary Was A Hit With Viewers
According to Deadline, “Reality Checked: Inside America’s Next Top Model” debuted with an astounding 14.2 million views within its first week, which tracked from February 16 to 22. Notably, this figure includes all three parts of each documentary.
The 2026 World Cup is officially here— and the stars are stepping out to root for their favorite teams.
The global soccer tournament will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the qualifying teams competing in matchups throughout the three countries this summer ahead of the championship game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
“I think it’s very cool, [and I’m] very much excited for it and what it can do, or what it means for the world and the country itself,” Team USA athlete Miles Robinson exclusively told Us Weekly before making the team in May 2026. “I think it’s a great opportunity for, you know, all humans to come together to celebrate a sport … and can really bridge some gaps between cultures, and can hopefully make people realize that we’re so much more alike than unalike,”
Robinson, in particular, gushed that making the USA roster was a “dream come true.”
“It [is] something [that is] super surreal to me,” he told Us. “For me, right now, I’m just trying to stay focused and on the present and recognizing that, you know, the moment is king, because I think that’s when I’m at my best when I’m not worried or thinking about the future, I’m really just very much dialed in on the present.”
Robinson and his teammates earned their first victory on June 12, 2026, thanks to midfielder Gio Reynas’ trivela goal in the final seconds of the qualifying match against Paraguay.
Keep scrolling to see which celebrities attended World Cup 2026 games:
The 2000s were an exceptional decade for science fiction television, a golden age for the genre much in the same vein as the 1990s. Packed with refreshingly creative ideas, cutting-edge special effects, groundbreaking serialized stories, and a shift toward more “prestige” television, the living room was the place to be for sci-fi fans during the 2000s.
The whole decade had exceptional sci-fi shows both for kids and for grown-ups; for animation fans and for those who prefer live-action sci-fi; for those who love “mystery box”-type shows and for those who love more straightforward space operas. But over the course of those 10 years, the 2000s only produced 10 sci-fi TV shows that can truly be considered masterpieces.
10
‘Phineas and Ferb’ (2007–Present)
Children deserve sci-fi masterpieces, too; and during the 2000s, they never got one better than Phineas and Ferb. It’s one of those Disney Channel shows that are perfect from start to finish, a modern classic that allowed 2000s kids to grow up with a cartoon of the same level of quality as the many sci-fi cartoons their parents had grown up watching.
It’s a show so good, in fact, that you’d be hard-pressed to find an adult sci-fi fan who wouldn’t have a blast with the series’ entire run. The show was recently revived on Disney+ after a decade-long hiatus, and it doesn’t seem to have lost one bit of its spark while it was away. But the two seasons of Phineas and Ferb that aired during the 2000s were where it all got started, and it’s one of the most vibrant, colorful, funny, and heartwarming children’s cartoons from its era you could find.
9
‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’ (2004)
Perfect for those who love when science fiction goes as meta as it can possibly get, Richard Ayoade and Matthew Holness‘ Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is nothing short of a must-see. It’s one of those classic sitcoms that are even better than most modern shows, a horror parody that has grown into more and more of a cult classic as the years have gone by.
The show is a masterclass in parodic and satirical television writing, poking fun at both low-budget sci-fi television and the pretentiousness of those shows’ creators. Brilliantly layered and irresistibly hilarious, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is a genius sci-fi comedy that all those who love the clunkier sci-fi shows of the 1980s should check out.
8
‘Samurai Jack’ (2001–2017)
Genndy Tartakovsky is one of the biggest legends and icons of the world of cartoons, a champion of the animated medium who has made some of the greatest shows it has ever seen. Case in point: Samurai Jack, which blends elements of feudal Japanese lore with bits of retrofuturistic science fiction in a way that has aged like fine wine.
Indeed, it’s one of the best sci-fi shows of the 2000s by a decent margin, the only proof any sci-fi fan should need that cartoons deserve to be placed alongside any live-action show when talking about the genre’s best television outings. Stylish, masterfully genre-bending, visually gorgeous, and with a bloody and more mature final season that feels like it grew up with its audience, it’s undeniably peak 2000s science fiction.
7
‘Fringe’ (2008–2013)
After leaving his showrunning duties relatively early in the run of a certain other masterful sci-fi show from the 2000s, J. J. Abrams co-created Fringe with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. What started as a more episodic spiritual successor to the likes of The X-Files and The Twilight Zone soon started to evolve into entirely its own thing, a more serialized story perfect for parallel universe fans and fringe science enthusiasts.
As it changed over the course of its five-season run, Fringe kept growing more and more into one of the most rewatchable sci-fi shows of all time. It’s perfect for science fiction fans who love both deeply emotional stories and elements of heavy speculative science. It’s easy to see how such a masterful show revolutionized “monster-of-the-week”-type genre shows.
6
‘Life on Mars’ (2006–2007)
Life on Mars is one of those mystery shows that are perfect from start to finish, yet not many fans of sci-fi remember it today. That’s an absolute travesty. This British police procedural is one of the best shows of its kind, as well as one of the most unique. Here, science fiction isn’t the focus. Rather, it’s cleverly used as both a powerful thematic device and a fuel for the show’s psychological mystery.
Those who prefer hard sci-fi that makes ample use of genre elements won’t likely love Life on Mars, but people who like to see the genre’s boundaries pushed to their limits ought to watch it at least once in their lives. Gritty, tense, mysterious, and potently character-driven, it’s proof of why no one does police procedurals quite like British television-makers.
5
‘Lost’ (2004–2010)
With Lost, J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber altogether revolutionized American broadcast television, at least as far as the sci-fi genre went. Along with The X-Files, this masterful (and often quite overhated) show is often credited as a pioneer of the “mystery box” genre, shows following complex storylines entirely based on mysteries, secrets, and jaw-dropping twists.
It’s one of those sci-fi shows that keep you hooked throughout, polarizing final season notwithstanding. With an exceptional ensemble cast, a narrative that brings up two fascinating questions for every answer that it provides, and some of the most exciting creativity of any 2000s sci-fi show, Lost is a vital piece of the pop culture zeitgeist of the decade.
4
‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (2008–2020)
After the disaster that was the 2008 film of the same name, fans probably didn’t expect much from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Little did they know, after a relatively slow start, the show would soon enough become one of the most widely beloved pieces of Star Wars media in history. Largely responsible for the sudden surge in popularity that George Lucas‘ prequel trilogy has seen since the 2010s, this exceptional anthology series is Star Wars at its best.
Indeed, it’s one of the best Star Wars shows ever, an exceptionally written space opera and military sci-fi series that can be enjoyed by any fan of the galaxy far, far away, regardless of their age. Its visuals have aged well, and Kevin Kiner‘s score is excellent, but what has really kept The Clone Wars timeless is how marvelously it expands on the beloved lore of the Star Wars prequel era.
The second-ever animated adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa‘s Fullmetal Alchemist manga series, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood also happens to be not just the best sci-fi anime series of the 2000s, but also the highest-rated sci-fi show of the decade on IMDb. If that’s not a sign that it’s one of the best anime series of all time, what could possibly be?
It’s hard to know where to even begin singing this masterful show’s praises. The visuals are phenomenal, and there’s virtually no filler here, which should satisfy any sci-fi television fan. But the real star of the show is the gripping narrative, an airtight and meticulously constructed tale full of powerful philosophical themes, emotionally satisfying moments, and fascinating bits of world-building.
2
‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)
Nowadays, Joss Whedon‘s Firefly is perhaps best-known as one of the most infamous examples of a hugely promising show that was canceled after only one season. It’s always worth looking back at how it developed that reputation, however: It’s one of the best single-season action TV shows in history, a riveting space Western that has aged like fine wine.
For one, the show’s brilliant blend of genres is a delight, creating some of the most entertaining stories that sci-fi television has told at any point during the 21st century. But what really makes Firefly work is not just the legendary ensemble cast, but primarily the endearing characters that they play. This is character-driven science fiction first and foremost, and the result is a deeply human narrative that never loses its spark, even after several rewatches.
1
‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)
There is perhaps no sci-fi television masterpiece from the 2000s more important, more iconic, or better-made than Battlestar Galactica. Not every sci-fi show needs a remake, but the outdated 1978 version of Battlestar definitely did, and the result couldn’t have possibly been better than this. 2004’s Battlestar Galactica is one of those sci-fi shows that hold up surprisingly well, a space opera unlike any other in the history of television.
An exceptional cast, masterful character writing, a thematically and politically complex plot, apocalyptic stakes—what’s not to love about the absolute masterpiece that is Battlestar Galactica? Unlike many of its space opera peers, Battlestar is all about gritty storylines and emotionally raw character moments, a show that was able to masterfully tap into the fears and anxieties of the post-9/11 21st century. It’s a product of its time, but it has gotten nothing but better with age.
Battlestar Galactica
- Release Date
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2004 – 2009-00-00
- Directors
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Wayne Rose, Michael Nankin, Rod Hardy, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Edward James Olmos, Robert M. Young, Jeff Woolnough, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jonas Pate, Allan Kroeker, Anthony Hemingway, Jean de Segonzac, Marita Grabiak, James Head, Paul A. Edwards, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Brad Turner, Ronald D. Moore, Bill Eagles
Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson’s breakup may have been far messier behind the scenes than fans initially realized. Months after the rapper publicly accused the NBA star of cheating, new insider claims are painting a complicated picture of what allegedly led to the pair’s split, from personality clashes and frustrations over fame to allegations of infidelity and private resentment. The former couple, who went public with their romance in July 2025, officially called it quits earlier this year.
The breakup first made headlines in April after Megan appeared to accuse Thompson of being unfaithful in a heated Instagram Stories. The “Savage” rapper did not hold back while addressing the split.
“Holding you down through all your HORRIBLE mood swings and treatment towards me during your basketball season,” Megan wrote at the time. “Now you don’t know if you can be ‘monogamous’???? b-tch I need a REAL break after this one .. bye y’all.”
While Thompson has yet to publicly respond to the cheating allegations, conflicting insider accounts are now surfacing about what may have happened behind closed doors.
Sources Dispute What Really Caused The Split
According to one insider close to Thompson, the NBA star had emotionally checked out of the relationship before it officially ended. “He was over her and didn’t want to be with her,” the insider told the Daily Mail. “I think he wanted to break up with her for a while but just didn’t know what to do.”
However, a second source strongly disputed the idea that Thompson was the one looking for an exit. “Klay never once tried to break up with her,” the second insider insisted.
Instead, the source alleged the relationship ended after Megan discovered Thompson had allegedly been unfaithful. “The reality is Megan ended the relationship after she discovered that Klay had been cheating on her,” the second source claimed.
A separate insider also alleged Thompson had attempted to reconnect with former flings prior to the breakup, though they said they could not confirm whether he actually cheated.
Insiders Say The Couple Struggled With Major Personality Differences
One recurring theme from insiders was just how different Megan and Thompson allegedly were behind closed doors. While Megan is known for her larger-than-life personality and public-facing career, Thompson has long built a reputation for being more reserved and private.
Fans first noticed the contrast when the pair debuted their romance, often questioning online whether the two were truly compatible. A viral moment from Megan’s inaugural Pete and Thomas Foundation gala only intensified the speculation, with social media users pointing out how animated the rapper appeared while Thompson remained noticeably more subdued beside her.
According to one source, Thompson allegedly expressed frustrations privately. “He was like, ‘She was just so ghetto. I was over the ghettoness,’” the insider alleged. “The way she speaks, the way she acts.”
The insider also described Thompson as introverted and occasionally awkward socially, adding that he allegedly struggled with the intensity of Megan’s public lifestyle. Despite those differences, the source claimed Thompson initially envisioned a future with the Grammy winner and wanted to make the relationship work. According to the insider, the Mavericks star even purchased a larger multimillion-dollar home where the pair allegedly planned to live together.
Fame, Privacy, And Megan Thee Stallion’s Busy Schedule Allegedly Created Tension
The relationship reportedly became strained as both stars juggled demanding careers. According to one insider, Thompson often felt lonely while Megan traveled for work and struggled with the reality of dating such a globally recognized celebrity.
“He kind of felt abandoned by her,” the source claimed. “He went to all of these places to support her, and then when he was off over summer, she was nowhere to be found. He felt like she never made an effort.”
The insider also claimed Thompson found Megan’s habit of documenting their relationship online frustrating, despite willingly appearing in videos shared with fans.
Throughout their romance, Megan frequently gave followers glimpses into their life together, posting everything from golf outings and workouts to romantic dinners. Behind closed doors, however, the insider alleged, “He tried to do it for her but it was annoying [to him]. He’s not a big poster, very to himself and private.”
The second source pushed back on criticism surrounding Megan’s demanding schedule. “It’s hypocritical for Klay to complain about her work ethic when they’re both public figures who travel frequently for their careers and each strive for excellence in their professions,” the source said. “He always knew she was never a stay at home partner.”
Klay Thompson Allegedly Struggled With Megan’s Security Concerns
Another point of alleged tension involved Megan’s heightened sense of security following the 2020 shooting involving Tory Lanez, who was later convicted and sentenced to prison. According to one insider, Thompson privately expressed frustration over what they described as Megan’s ongoing concerns for her safety.
The source claimed Thompson once said, “She would not shut the f-ck up about [Lanez].”
They also alleged that Thompson felt Megan constantly feared people were targeting her. “She always felt like people were out to get her,” the insider said. “She needs security everywhere, even in remote places.”
However, a second insider disputed that characterization. “If anything, she vented and leaned on her partner for support, as anyone would in a relationship,” the source said, adding that discussions surrounding Lanez “rarely” happened and typically occurred when Megan encountered “false narratives circulating about her on the internet.”
Megan Thee Stallion Later Broke Her Silence On The Split
Though Thompson has remained publicly quiet, Megan later confirmed that she had decided to walk away. “I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Klay,” she said in a statement previously obtained by the Daily Mail.
“Trust, fidelity and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship, and when those values are compromised, there’s no real path forward,” the statement continued. “I’m taking this time to prioritize myself and move ahead with peace and clarity.”
For now, Thompson has yet to publicly address the split or the growing list of bombshell claims surrounding it.
Television has always had a fascination with watching people get beaten up — and audiences seem to love it. Social norms tell us that aggression is unacceptable, but fictional television allows those boundaries to disappear. It creates worlds where people can settle their differences with their fists, swords, guns, or anything else at their disposal and somehow live to fight another day. That thrill is one of the reasons the action genre remains so popular.
Whether it’s paired with a sci-fi premise or rooted in traditional martial arts, action can take many forms. Yet not every great action series gets the recognition it deserves. Some were canceled before they could find a wider audience, while others premiered long before social media could make them relevant. Deserving of another second viewing, here are the near-perfect action shows that no one remembers today.
‘Deadly Class’ (2019)
If your day at high school isn’t tough enough, try King’s Dominion — the go-to institution for teen assassins. Based on the comics by Rick Remender and Wesley Craig, the short-lived Deadly Class is set in 1980s America, where some of the world’s most promising killers train under one roof. From yakuza prodigies to the children of CIA agents, new kid Marcus Lopez (Benjamin Wadsworth) is the black sheep of the flock.
Nobody is more volatile than a hormonal teenager with a weapon — now multiply that by dozens, and you have the entire Deadly Class student body. With classes ranging from poison to assassin psychology, getting an A can be a matter of life or death. Sometimes, it even requires these students to go for the kill. Because they come from such diverse criminal backgrounds, it’s especially fun to watch them clash, using their own unique fighting styles and weapons of choice against one another.
‘Dark Angel’ (2000–2002)
If Totally Spies! and Nikita were combined, the result would probably look a lot like Dark Angel. Television loves a butt-kicking femme fatale, especially one like super-soldier Max Guevara (Jessica Alba). Set in a future where the government has collapsed, the series follows Max, a genetically enhanced soldier who escapes from a secret military program and finds herself surviving on the streets of Seattle. While hiding from the agents determined to bring her back, Max teams up with a cyber-journalist to navigate a post-apocalyptic America.
Traditionally, femme fatales are broody and mysterious, but Max brings a lot more snark and sass to the role. The fact that she’s genetically enhanced means her stunt work often feels larger than life — she leaps onto moving cars, survives falls from buildings, and can take down opponents twice her size. Yet despite her superhuman abilities, her combat scenes have a sense of playfulness. It’s a refreshing twist that allows Max to break free from the typical stoic-super-soldier archetype.
‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)
Before Antony Starr shot lasers out of his eyes as Homelander, he played ex-con and master thief Lucas Hood. If The Boys leans into flashier, more stylized action choreography, Banshee goes back to basics. When Hood is released from prison, he takes on the identity of a murdered sheriff and rises in the Amish town of Banshee, only to realize that the town is anything but peaceful. Just as Hood thinks he can escape a life of crime, he finds that old ties still need to be tied up.
Banshee features good old-fashioned, bone-crunching fistfights. There’s hefty weight behind every punch and throw, and with all the damage inflicted, the fights can be almost exhausting to watch in the best way. These are the kinds of beatdowns that would realistically put someone in a wheelchair, but for the sake of fiction, Hood — and Banshee’s law enforcement — miraculously survive each encounter, though not without a few jarring bruises.
‘The Recruit’ (2022–2025)
The first day on the job can always be nerve-wracking. Unfortunately, newly-minted CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo) has bitten off more than he can chew. More accustomed to office work and bureaucratic procedures, Hendricks is assigned to investigate a threatening graymail letter from a former asset. When the asset threatens to expose CIA secrets to the public, he is immediately thrust into the field.
The Recruit is a classic case of theory versus practice. Hendricks quickly realizes that his law degree is the last thing he’s going to use in this line of work. What sets him apart from the other lawyers, however, is his primal appetite for adrenaline. It’s the reason he’s such a magnet for trouble. Despite having no formal combat training, Hendricks relies on a sloppy yet survivalist fighting style, combined with a desperate determination not to get killed. As a result, he’s constantly forced to improvise, using whatever is available to disarm those trying to hurt him.
‘Spartacus’ (2010–2013)
In 71 BC, Thracian warrior Spartacus (Andy Whitfield and Liam McIntyre) is betrayed by a Roman commander and condemned to slavery. Forced into the world of gladiatorial combat, he rises through the ranks at the House of Batiatus while secretly harboring a strong desire for vengeance. As his fame grows, so does his rebellious streak. Spartacus leads a massive slave uprising, threatening the Republic and those who obey the orders of Marcus Licinius Crassus (Simon Merrells).
Although it shares a similar premise with Ridley Scott‘s Gladiator, the multi-season format of Spartacus gives it the opportunity to fully flesh out its gladiatorial battles. Unlike the gritty realism of Gladiator, Spartacus embraces a more animated approach, carrying greater momentum and a distinct comic book-like pizzazz. The series is packed with slow-motion violence, warriors leaping through the air as they drive their blades into their enemies, and, of course, plenty of blood spraying across the arena.
‘Warrior’ (2019–2023)
If there’s a show that feels like a love letter to martial arts, it’s Warrior. And it makes sense — the original concept for the series was first developed by Bruce Lee in 1971, initially titled Ah Sahm. Although it took nearly half a century to finally materialize, Warrior does not disappoint. Following Chinese immigrant Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), he arrives in San Francisco seemingly looking for work in the late 1800s, only to find himself drawn into one of the most notorious gangs in Chinatown.
Warrior is a crash course in different styles of martial arts. On one hand, there’s Ah Sahm with his Wing Chun-inspired fights, defined by close-range combat and relentless punches. On the other hand, there’s Li Yong (Joe Taslim), whose Pencak Silat-inspired moves rely on low stances and brutally precise finishing strikes. Warrior is a true homage to fighting as an art form instead of some gimmick for shock value, showing how combat becomes a brutal universal language across cultures.
‘Arrow’ (2012–2020)
When it comes to the bow and arrow, nobody does it better than Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell). Arrow might have drawn a massive following during its early seasons, but somewhere along the way — like many comic book superhero adaptations — it lost the plot and its relevance, shifting into a more soap-opera-like tone after Season 2. Creative choices aside, Arrow taught the world that in a world where villains love using guns, the bow and arrow can be just as fast and deadly as a bullet.
The action in Arrow is swift and light (no pun intended), featuring tons of acrobatic stunts. A lot of the movement requires quick reflexes. It only takes a few seconds for an arrow to pierce through an enemy’s heart, which explains why much of the choreography is exhilaratingly fast-paced. But even without his weapon of choice, Arrow knows how to pummel his rivals to the ground with his strong physique. Robin Hood, eat your heart out.
Arrow
- Release Date
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2013 – 2020-00-00
- Network
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The CW
- Directors
-
James Bamford, John Behring, Glen Winter, Michael Schultz, Wendey Stanzler, Laura Belsey, Gregory Smith, Guy Norman Bee, Nick Copus, Jesse Warn, Gordon Verheul, Antonio Negret, Kristin Windell, Thor Freudenthal, Rob Hardy, Eagle Egilsson, Dermott Downs, Joel Novoa, Kevin Tancharoen, Tara Miele, Ben Hernandez Bray, Mairzee Almas, Alexandra La Roche, Andi Armaganian
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