What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas; sometimes it ends up on your TV screen. 

Vegas has never met drama it didn’t like, so naturally, reality TV and Sin City were bound to become a match made in entertainment heaven. From “Pawn Stars” and “The Real World” to “Love Island” and “The Ultimatum,” some of reality TV’s biggest moments have played out in Las Vegas. If you’ve ever visited Vegas, chances are you’ve walked past more than just a few of the spots featured in reality TV shows. 

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In 2025, Netflix’s hit reality show “The Ultimatum: Marry of Move On” made Ariva Luxury Residences in Southwest Las Vegas its temporary reality TV hub. From mid-March to mid-May, the luxury apartment complex was homebase for the cast and crew, with many moments in the show being filmed there. From custom cast residences to the various amenities on property, Ariva was heavily featured in the season 4 of the reality show. 

“Viewers will see many different areas throughout Ariva. Nearly all of our amenity spaces were utilized, including our pools, fitness areas, lounges, and outdoor gathering spaces,” Jessie Boskamp, Duty Manager of Ariva Luxury Residences told The Blast previously. “The cast also lived in our fully furnished, serviced residences, so those apartments became a major part of the filming as well.” 

In addition to Ariva, the show filmed in a variety of locations around the valley, including at Skyjump at The STRAT, Lake Las Vegas, various restaurants, South Point, and other spots. 

‘Pawn Stars’

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Back in the ’80s, a pawn shop called Gold & Silver Pawn Shop opened up on Las Vegas Blvd. by Richard “The Old Man” Harrison. Little did he know, but his business would become a hit reality show years later.

In July 2009, “Pawn Stars” debuted, highlighting the family business buying, selling, and pawning unique items. Alongside Richard, his son Rick Harrison, Rick’s son Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison, and Corey’s friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell, starred in the popular series. 

The pawn shop itself served as the show’s primary filming location, and because it’s still open for business, fans can step inside and experience the setting that made “Pawn Stars” a television phenomenon. If you’re lucky, you may even catch one of the guys in the store for a meet-and-greet event. In fact, Rick has a few coming up this month and next month. 

‘The Real World: Las Vegas’

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Back in 2002, the 28th floor of The Palms Casino Resort became the backdrop for a season of “The Real World Las Vegas.” The cast reportedly lived in a custom-built penthouse from February through June 2002. That season became one of the most popular seasons of the series.

MTV brought the cast back to Vegas five years later for “Reunited: The Real World Las Vegas” and filmed in the same Palms suite that was said to be nearly 3,000-square-feet. After the show, the suite was converted into a luxury accommodation.

Then in 2011, MTV decided to revisit Vegas for the 25th season of “The Real World.” This time, they filmed at the then Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with the cast living in a custom four-bedroom suite with a hot tub, bar, and bowling alley. 

The suite was Room 1168 in the Hard Rock’s Casino Tower and was more than 4,000-square-feet. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is no more, as the property was rebranded as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in 2021. 

‘Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas’

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While reality star Lisa Vanderpump has had ties in Las Vegas for many years, she’s now even more prominent with her brand new Vanderpump Hotel that opened a few months ago.

While renovating The Cromwell into the Vanderpump Hotel, Bravo filmed “Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas” to show the process of opening the new hotel. The reality show was announced around the time the hotel opened in May 2026. No air date has been given yet for the limited time series.

The official description reads, “Lisa Vanderpump has been ruling over the Las Vegas Strip for years now, with three hotspot restaurants serving up chic cocktails in her signature whimsical settings. Now, she is expanding her Vegas empire through the opening of her high-profile namesake hotel. In this limited series, we follow the behind-the-scenes dash to make the property worthy of the Vanderpump brand. LVP shares what inspired her newest enterprise and pulls back the curtain on the down-to-the-wire drama. The series will culminate at the Vanderpump Hotel’s lavish opening party, with fan favorite Bravolebrities celebrating the launch.” 

Other Reality Shows Filmed In Las Vegas

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This list was only the tip of the reality TV iceberg for Sin City. Many other shows have filmed either entire seasons or parts of a season in and around Vegas.

Other well-known reality shows that filmed in Vegas include “America Ninja Warrior” at South Point, “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” at the Rio, “Double Shot at Love” at Drai’s, “Storage Wars” at StorageOne Facilities, “Counting Cars” at Count’s Kustoms, “Love Island USA” at the rooftop of The Cromwell (now Vanderpump Hotel) and Drai’s, and many others. 

Be sure to check out The Blast’s social media pages to see a video of some spots in Vegas where reality shows have filmed. And be sure to follow along for more Vegas stories, including spots seen in “The Hangover,” “Casino,” and other hit movies, as well as celebrity owned businesses, rooftop bars with great views, and more.

With the release and massive financial success of The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan has managed to further enshrine himself as not only one of the most popular filmmakers currently working, but perhaps even the current king of the Hollywood blockbuster landscape. Infused with plenty of clear influences and plenty of Nolan’s distinct auteurial vision, this grand adaptation of Homer‘s epic poem can already be counted among the best films of the 2020s so far.

It should come as no surprise, considering just how unprecedentedly large a cast ensemble it contains, that The Odyssey features several of the strongest and most memorable acting performances ever seen in a Christopher Nolan film. Not everyone in the cast delivers top-tier work, but eight actors in particular brought their absolute A-game, their performances standing out as some of the best that the fantasy epic genre has seen in years.

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Himesh Patel as Eurylochus

Image via Universal Pictures

From his leading role in Danny Boyle‘s Yesterday to his brief turn in Nolan’s Tenet, Himesh Patel has had plenty of opportunities to show that he’s a highly talented and versatile actor. Thankfully, The Odyssey gives him plenty more of those kinds of opportunities. He plays Eurylochus, Odysseus’ second in command. In Homer’s original poem, he’s more of an unpleasant troublemaker, whereas in Nolan’s version, his challenges of Odysseus’ decisions feel like they come from a place of true care and loyalty.

Patel brings a tremendous amount of depth and range to a role that often demands an awful lot of him, allowing Eurylochus to feel like a three-dimensional friend to Odysseus. The Odyssey is one of the best adventure movies since 2000, in large part, precisely because it allows its actors to imbue their characters with emotional layers beyond the mythical archetypes they’re supposed to represent. Patel succeeds at that task wonderfully, even if some of the other performers he shares scenes with outshine him at times.

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Zendaya as Athena

Image via Universal Pictures

Zendaya is one of those gargantuan stars who currently rule Hollywood, an actress who has come a long way since her Disney Channel days and is currently a box office magnet. She further demonstrates why she’s gotten to this point in The Odyssey, where she plays the goddess Athena, who protects Odysseus throughout his journey. Nolan also throws a brilliant twist regarding her character toward the end of the film, which completely recontextualizes Zendaya’s performance and makes it get better on rewatch.

With her participation in the Dune films, Zendaya is able to claim that she’s been in some of the best sci-fi epics of recent times. Now, with The Odyssey, she can say that she also starred in one of the best fantasy epics of the last 50 years. The script doesn’t give her a lot of dialogue to work with, but Zendaya elevates Athena’s character through her deeply meaningful facial expressions and powerfully understated demeanor.

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Elliot Page as Sinon

Image via Universal Pictures

A whopping 16 years after having shared the screen with stars as huge as Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception, Elliot Page returns to Nolan’s filmography in The Odyssey. Contrary to what the army of transphobic trolls over on Twitter claimed, Page plays Sinon, a character who actually originated not in the original Homeric text, but rather in Virgil‘s Aeneid. Nolan’s decision to bring that character over to his version of The Odyssey ended up being brilliant, because Sinon stands out as one of the film’s most memorable characters—largely thanks to Page.

It had been years since Page’s last appearance in a major mainstream motion picture, and what a return to form this is. The actor is only present in a few key scenes of the story, but he absolutely steals every single last one. The sequence in the Underworld particularly stands out, giving Page a chance to show off his emotional range and tremendously potent facial expressions in a scene that serves as a major turning point in the narrative, largely thanks to him.

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Anne Hathaway as Penelope

Image via Universal Pictures

Anne Hathaway reunites with Nolan after The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar in The Odyssey, and this may very well be the meatiest and most emotionally complex role that the director has offered Hathaway thus far. Nolan has always struggled to craft three-dimensional, fully-rounded female characters, and even though Penelope (Queen of Ithaca and Odysseus’ patient wife) isn’t really his best work in that department, Hathaway brings a level of depth to the role that those who love the source material should find captivating.

It’s arguably no small reason why The Odyssey is one of Nolan’s highest-rated movies on Letterboxd. Penelope often acts as the film’s beating heart, her fortitude and fierce sense of agency anchoring the emotional core perfectly, and that’s all in Hathaway’s credit. There’s a balance between poignant vulnerability and unbreakable strength in the actress’ performance that can’t have been easy to find, and the whole movie is all the better because of it.

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John Leguizamo as Eumaeus

Image via Universal Pictures

From family comedies like the Ice Age movies to meaty dramas like Carlito’s Way, John Leguizamo has proven on several occasions just how hugely versatile he can be, but his praises have often gone tragically unsung. That is no longer the case. If Leguizamo’s has been one of the most talked-about performances from The Odyssey, it’s for good reason, because this really is the most admirable work of his whole career.

As Eumaeus, Odysseus’ swineherd and unwaveringly loyal friend, Leguizamo gets to prove the surprising length of his dramatic chops without ever feeling out of place. The actor’s strong yet tender performance is crucial to the story’s emotional effect, not to mention the seamlessness of Leguizamo’s acting as a blind old man. Gentle yet impossible to ignore, the actor’s take on Eumaeus will likely go down in history as one of the most beloved performances in Nolan’s filmography.

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Samantha Morton as Circe

Image via Universal Pictures

Only the greats are able to take a very limited amount of screen time and hijack every last second of it. That must mean that Samantha Morton is one of the greats, because her brief yet unforgettable turn as Circe, the fearsome witch of the island of Aeaea, is a scene-stealer unlike any other performance a Nolan movie has ever had to offer. She’s central to a terrifying sequence that proves why this is one of Nolan’s best R-rated movies to date.

The mystery and hugely effective body horror of the entire Circe-centric section of The Odyssey largely relies on the quality of Nolan’s direction, but Morton’s performance is just as much to thank. Scary without ever going overboard into cartoonish territory, Morton adds so many layers of emotion and interpretation to Circe. Indeed, she ends up sticking out as one of the movie’s most memorable characters, despite the fact that she’s in it for a strikingly short amount of time.

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Matt Damon as Odysseus

Reuniting with Nolan after their collaborations in Interstellar and Oppenheimer is Matt Damon. Taking on the gargantuan role of Odysseus, one of the most iconic heroes in the history of fiction, was a casting decision that drew deserved skepticism upon its announcement. Now that The Odyssey has been released into the world, however, even those who weren’t doubtful about Damon as Odysseus ended up having their expectations smashed.

Of course, it helps that the script gives Damon far more to work with than any other actor—but even in a vacuum, the star’s version of Odysseus is wonderfully compelling, nuanced, and multifaceted. Starring in one of his best movies about going home, Damon delivers what’s perhaps his best performance in decades. His Odysseus is a tortured, psychologically complicated man carrying the weight of guilt and trauma around for years, and Damon sells that just as well as he does the film’s moments of wonder and adventure.

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Robert Pattinson as Antinous

Image via Universal Pictures

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Long gone are the days of Robert Pattinson being looked down on as “the sparkly guy from Twilight.” Across fields like voice acting in movies like The Boy and the Heron, indie cinema in masterpieces of the stature of The Lighthouse, and blockbusters like The Batman and Nolan’s own Tenet, Pattinson has established himself as one of the most chameleonic actors of his generation. In The Odyssey, he offers yet another transformational performance, this time as Antinous, Penelope’s sleaziest and most persistent suitor.

Antinous is the closest thing that The Odyssey has to a main antagonist, and Pattinson sells the part like an Oscar-nomination-worthy pro. Sneaky, cunning, and deliciously cowardly, the actor’s take on Antinous makes him a presence to look forward to every time the film cuts away from Penelope and her suitors. It’s the sort of performance that has everything: presence, depth, entertainment value, and an actor at the very top of his already-phenomenal game.

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The Odyssey

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Release Date

July 15, 2026

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173 minutes

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2025 was a successful year for fans of Stephen King adaptations. The Life of Chuck, starring Tom Hiddleston, proved one of the year’s most underrated gems, as the adaptation of King’s 2020 novella of the same name struggled to find success at the box office. However, on streaming, The Life of Chuck finally earned its flowers, which is a similar story to the year’s best King adaptation, The Long Walk.

Based on King’s 1979 novel of the same name, starring Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, The Long Walk appeared in many people’s “best of 2025” lists, despite not exploding into triumph in theaters. Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence‘s adaptation has also since become a streaming sensation, even ranking as one of the most-watched movies on HBO Max in July. But the most high-profile King adaptation of last year is undeniably The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead and Baby Driver), and starring Glen Powell.

Also featuring Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, and more, this was the second adaptation of King’s 1982 novel, following a 1987 effort by director Paul Michael Glaser. Both movies received a mixed reception, but they differ on one vital factor. The 1987 version was famously disapproved of by King, who disliked its changes to the tone and message of his original work. However, 2025’s adaptation received, in Wright’s words, “a big thumbs up” from King, who “really liked the adaptation, and he liked what we’d kept in, and he liked what we changed.” Almost a year later, The Running Man is still a streaming hit, officially ranking as one of the ten most-streamed movies on Paramount+ in the world.

One of Stephen King’s Most Famous Stories Is Getting a New Adaptation

Next on the long production line of King adaptations is a fresh new interpretation of the author’s debut novel, Carrie, which has already received a big-screen classic adaptation (and a 2013 remake). Now it is getting the TV series treatment, with perhaps the safest pair of hands available, The Haunting of Hill House and Doctor Sleep craftsman Mike Flanagan, taking charge. Curse of Chucky alum Summer Howell is lined up to star, with the series slated to debut later in 2026 in time for the bestselling novel’s 50th anniversary.

The Running Man is currently available to stream on Paramount+. Stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.

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Release Date

November 11, 2025

Runtime

133 minutes

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Director

Edgar Wright

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Writers

Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright

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Nira Park, Simon Kinberg, Edgar Wright

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Gisele Bündchen had some help from her 1-year-old son during her latest workout session.

On Saturday, August 8, the supermodel, 46, shared an adorable photo of her and husband Joaquim Valente’s baby boy — whose name they have not publicly shared — mimicking her workout routine. In the photo, Bündchen balances her hands on two weights while using a resistance band around her legs, as her son strikes a similar pose.

“It’s so sweet to see how little they are when they start watching and emulating what we do,” she wrote in the Instagram caption on Saturday. “They’re learning from us even when we don’t realize it.”

She added, “Moments like this remind me that my actions matter more than what I say, because so much of who they’re becoming is shaped by the example they see every day. What a gift and a beautiful responsibility it is to be a mom.”

Bündchen and Valente, 38, welcomed their baby son in February 2025, making the model a mother of three. (She also shares two older children — Benjamin, 16, and Vivian, 13 — with ex-husband Tom Brady.)

In May 2025, Bündchen shared a carousel of adorable photos of her newborn, including one where he wore an “I ❤️Mom” sweatsuit while draped over her shoulder.

“I’ve been quiet over here but very busy living life. Sometimes, the most beautiful moments aren’t shared — they’re simply lived,” she wrote in the Mother’s Day post. “Lately, I’ve been embracing the slower rhythms, the real connections, the beauty in the lessons that come with being present. Today, on Mother’s Day, I [e]specially miss my mom, but my heart is full. Being a mother it’s been my greatest gift, a journey that humbles me, teaches me, and fills me with gratitude every single day. To all the mothers out there, your love shapes the world in ways words can’t describe. I see you, I honor you. Happy mother’s day! Sending so much love your way.”

Related: Gisele Bundchen Shares Rare Glimpse of Baby as She Celebrates Turning 45

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Gisele Bündchen is sharing a rare glimpse of her new baby. The Brazilian supermodel took to Instagram on Wednesday, July 23, to celebrate her 45th birthday and included some snaps of her newborn, whom she welcomed with boyfriend Joaquim Valente in February. The sweet pics include her little one hanging out with her family and […]

She opened up to Vogue France that same month about how her and Valente’s daily routines drastically changed after welcoming their little one.

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“Now that my little one is sleeping through the night, I’m back in control of my routine,” she said in May 2025. “As any new mom knows, it’s incredible how much sleep — or lack of it — can change everything! But once again, I feel truly grateful: being able to be home with my kids and enjoy every moment with them is priceless.”

Asked to describe what a day in her life looked like at the time, Bündchen shared, “[It’s] being with my family, especially when we can do outdoor activities together. Spending time with them is what makes me happiest.”

Bündchen and Valente ended 2025 with another major milestone, as Us confirmed that they obtained their marriage license in Miami on December 1 and tied the knot two days later. (The couple started dating in June 2023.)

At long last, the queen has risen. After three seasons with Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) as the respective titular figures of AMC’s Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat, Akasha (Sheila Atim), the mother of all immortals, is stepping into her rightful spotlight for Season 4. Like the previous seasons, the show now known as Queen of the Damned pulls its fresh title from the next book in Anne Rice‘s bestselling The Vampire Chronicles series, 1988’s The Queen of the Damned.

With series creator Rolin Jones stepping down from showrunner duties for Season 4, Queen of the Damned also has a new leader in Hannah Moscovitch, promoted from her previous role as executive producer and staff writer. Viewers can never quite predict how the remarkably intuitive and visionary team will adapt Rice’s material; The Vampire Lestat takes more structural and narrative liberties than its predecessor seasons, and those sensational remixes still strike gold. There’s some guesswork involved in looking ahead to Season 4, but here are the major events that AMC’s Queen of the Damned will likely weave into its story.

What Happens After Lestat’s Concert in ‘The Queen of the Damned’?

After surviving his near-death beheading and approaching something close to internal peace, Season 3’s final minutes skip into the future, where Lestat mournfully overlooks the apocalyptic results of Akasha’s reign. Viewers may have to wait several years before they can behold Lestat’s infamous concert, but the performance closes The Vampire Lestat novel. The songs themselves go off without a hitch; the aftermath, not so much. The first signs of trouble arrive when a group of vampires perishes from apparent spontaneous combustion in front of Lestat, Louis, and Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle). Not long after, a panicked Marius de Romanus (Christopher Heyerdahl) psychically contacts Lestat, but it’s too late: Lestat’s music has fully awakened Akasha from her slumber, and she abducts him.

The Queen of the Damned significantly expands Rice’s vampire lore and character ensemble. The novel’s five-part structure tracks familiar faces from the present as they scramble to flee from Akasha’s wrath, introduces new individuals from the past, and covers the entire history of vampiric existence. The initial chapters rewind to the hours before Lestat’s concert. Many characters, vampire and human, are circling the venue. Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) and Khayman, an amnesiac vampire, have been dreaming about the same red-haired twins. Armand (Assad Zaman) doesn’t share Daniel’s visions, but stays close by his love’s side.

As for Jesse Reeves, an adept human psychic and Talamasca agent, she suspects there’s more to her redheaded aunt Maharet than meets the eye. Indeed, Maharet is one half of the mysterious twins popping up in strangers’ minds. An ancient vampire, she’s been quietly guarding her countless human descendants for thousands of years, Jesse included. Once the concert wraps, chaos erupts — hundreds of vampires across the world suddenly die from immolation.

‘The Queen of the Damned’ Reveals How Akasha Became the Original Vampire

When Lestat finally wakes, he finds himself imprisoned by Akasha. She has slaughtered Enkil and selected Lestat as her new eternal consort, and she claims responsibility for the countless dead vampires. She intends to liberate women from their vicious oppressors. How? By killing 90% of the male population. If humanity starts anew, with Akasha installed as their goddess, the world can finally know peace. Yet for all her female rage, Akasha is the furthest thing from a benevolent savior.

Maharet shelters with the other vampires who escaped Akasha’s initial murders — Louis, Gabriella, Daniel, Armand, Khayman, Marius, and more — and reveals their vampire mother’s origins. Thousands of years ago, Maharet and her sister Mekare were gifted human witches with a unique connection to various spirits. Akasha and Enkil ruled Egypt, then called Kemet. The royal couple destroyed the twins’ home and insisted the young women command the spirits in their names. The worst entity of all, the nefarious Amel, favored the sisters and developed a taste for Akasha’s blood. Amel infiltrated Akasha’s dying body and created the original vampire. Enraged, Akasha repeatedly and reprehensibly tortured Maharet and Mekare. Her brutality caused Khayman to betray his queen; he helped the witches feel, and all three swore revenge.

By the book’s final part, Akasha hunts down the group and drags Lestat along. She demands their obeisance; refusal equals execution. Mekare, previously absent, chooses that dramatic moment to arrive and unleash the full force of her sorcery and her millennia of fury. She slices off Akasha’s head, eats her organs, and Amel accepts her as his new host — in Maharet’s words, as the Queen of the Damned.

Rice’s imaginative third installment loosely inspired the 2002 movie Queen of the Damned, starring the magnificent Aaliyah as Rice’s tyrannically compelling villainess. Aaliyah’s marvelous performance is universally beloved and irreplaceable, but the character is in perfect hands with the utterly riveting, majestic Atim; her Episode 5 debut strikes with enough staggering elemental force to rival an earthquake. Season 3’s cliffhanger conclusion hints at Akasha unleashing far more catastrophe than Rice depicts. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for whatever nightmares unfold.

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The Vampire Lestat

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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AMC

Writers

Jonathan Ceniceroz, Ryan Kattner, Anusree Roy, Hannah Moscovitch, Kevin Hanna, Rolin Jones

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Cast

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  Jacob Anderson

  Louis de Pointe du Lac

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Whenever people talk about prestige television shows, they usually focus on long-running, network landmarks like Grey’s Anatomy or cultural phenomena like Breaking Bad. What are generally overlooked are the shorter shows that are often better than the multi-season hits that dominate pop culture. Several miniseries of the 21st century have proven that sometimes less is more and redefined how we look at television shows.

In their limited runtime, well-made miniseries work like well-written short stories with tight pacing, assured conclusions (or intriguing cliffhangers), and no filler episodes. From TV classics like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to acclaimed modern gems like Ripley, these series are easily some of the greatest television shows of all time, and they’re all utterly satisfying despite being just a few episodes long. With that in mind, here’s our selection of some of the greatest series available to stream with eight episodes or fewer.

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‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

Image via HBO

Craig Mazin’s critically acclaimed television drama Chernobyl dramatizes the titular nuclear disaster in Ukraine in 1986, which destroyed the entire industrial town and has affected human and natural life in the area for generations. The HBO series focuses on the events leading up to the disaster, the people who were involved, and how the first responders dealt with the aftermath. Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, and Barry Keoghan portray various real-life personalities associated with the incident.

Released in 2019, Chernobyl was a very unique show at the time with its tightly paced five-episode narrative, standing out among multi-season hits. While the lines between facts and fiction often get blurred, the narrative successfully translates scientific realities and brutal tragedy into atmospheric horror and psychological dread. Through its powerful performances, architectural accuracy, and masterful cinematography, the historical miniseries masterpiece captures the intensity and graveness of the decades-old tragedy in its limited runtime like no other.

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‘Generation Kill’ (2008)

Image via HBO

A classic war TV series created by David Simon and Ed Burns, based on war journalist Evan Wright’s non-fiction book, Generation Kill dramatizes Wright’s experiences as a reporter during the 2003 U.S. Invasion of Iraq. The series sees Wright, portrayed by Lee Tergesen, becoming an embedded reporter in the United States Marine Corps 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, facing various challenges alongside the Marines on their way to Baghdad in the first phase of the war. Other real-life figures are played by Alexander Skarsgård, James Ransone, Jon Huertas, Marc Menchaca, and Stark Sands.

Gripping and tense, Generation Kill is a clever deconstruction of the chaotic reality that unfolded during the invasion and is considered to be one of the most accurate depictions of the war. At the time of its release, the series was one of those rare shows without any genre or TV clichés, lauded for its raw realism, which leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. Generation Kill has since become a genre landmark like Band of Brothers and ranks among the greatest war shows made in the 2000s.

3

‘Pluto’ (2023)

Image via Netflix

Directed by Toshio Kawaguchi, Pluto is an anime series adaptation of Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki’s manga, Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka, in turn inspired by the legendary manga series, Astro Boy. Set in a neo-futuristic world where humans and robots cohabit on a delicate balance of existence, the show follows a string of gruesome murders, with robot detective Gesicht of Europol investigating and finding himself entangled in a mind-boggling, sinister conspiracy that could forever destroy the world of humans and robots. The Japanese voice cast features Shinshū Fuji, Hiroki Yasumoto, Koichi Yamadera, Yoko Hikasa, and Minori Suzuki as main characters.

The original manga successfully expands the iconic universe of Astro Boy to greater heights, and Netflix’s series adaptation of Pluto breathes life into that masterful world-building. With its complex themes and remarkable character evolution, the anime series raises critical questions about human beings and the unique experience of being human. Exceptionally thoughtful and beautifully designed, Pluto thrills, intrigues, and delights with stunning art and haunting music that captivates you in every minute of its eight episodes.

4

‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ (1979)

Image via BBC

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Among all of John le Carré’s novels adapted for television, the BBC’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy remains one of the finest. Directed by John Irvin, the series follows MI6 spymaster George Smiley, played by Alec Guinness, who is brought back from retirement to run an internal investigation inside the British Secret Service to identify a Russian double agent among the high-ranking senior agents. The series also stars Michael Jayston, Anthony Bate, George Sewell, Ian Bannen, and Patrick Stewart.

While the 2011 film adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is more popular among modern-day fans, the 1979 miniseries is a masterpiece of spy television. The series has been praised for its utmost faithfulness to the original novel and Guinness’s perfect portrayal of the grizzled British spy. The seven-episode BBC show is also notable for reflecting its contemporary realities and authentic sentiments during the height of the Cold War, bringing more artistic depth and psychological weight to the narrative.

5

‘Devs’ (2020)

Image via FX

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In his first television project, Alex Garland brings his sci-fi storytelling mastery to Devs, a thriller miniseries centered on an experimental quantum computing company called Amaya, where Lily, a software engineer, investigates the sudden death of her boyfriend. As Lily dives into the inner workings of the company and its CEO, Forest, she discovers a game-changing technology that raises life-altering questions of morality, ethics, and existentialism. Sonoya Mizuno stars as Lily and Nick Offerman as Forest, with Allison Pill, Zach Greiner, Carl Glusman, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and more in supporting roles.

An intellectual, ambitious, and visually distinct show, Devs was a stand-out sci-fi show of its time. Though it ran alongside similar high-concept shows like Westworld and Dark, Devs became unique with its niche concept, which brilliantly merges themes of quantum physics, determinism, and tech cultism in a tight narrative without ever missing out on any element. Mind-bending and inventive, Devs moves like a dream, despite its deliberate pace, captivating the audience in its imaginative story and hypnotic visuals.

6

‘Ripley’ (2024)

Image via Netflix

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Steven Zaillian’s second-ever television show (after The Night Of), Netflix’s Ripley is a neo-noir psychological thriller miniseries adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s popular crime novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley. It tells the story of the titular conman, Tom Ripley, who travels from New York to Italy to convince wealthy heir Dickie Greenleaf to return home to America. But when Tom meets Dickie, he develops a dangerous psychosexual obsession with him, with deadly consequences. Andrew Scott leads the cast as Tom Ripley, with Johnny Flynn, Dakota Fanning, Eliot Sumner, Margherita Buy, and Maurizio Lombardi playing other main characters.

Presented through rich black-and-white cinematography, with Hitchcockian motifs and elements of Giallo cinema, Ripley is a visual feast that delights in every frame. Zaillian puts a very stylish spin on Highsmith’s popular antagonist and turns the vintage crime fiction into an opulent contemporary masterpiece. Driven by invested performances by its main cast, headlined by Andrew Scott’s chilling antagonist, Ripley is undoubtedly one of the most perfect shows Netflix has ever produced.

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‘Angels in America’ (2003)

Image via HBO

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Created by Mike Nichols and based on Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Angels in America revolves around various characters living in 1985 New York City, whose lives and stories intersect through common themes of mental health, emotional struggles, and AIDs. Featuring a mix of fictional and historical characters and powerful symbolism, the six-episode series centers on Prior Walter (Justin Kirk), a gay man suffering from AIDS who is visited by an angel. The series also stars Meryl Streep, Patrick Wilson, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson, Jeffrey Wright, and more, with Al Pacino in his first major TV role.

Originally released as a TV movie, Angels in America became the most-watched cable film of its time and has since remained an HBO landmark, every episode of which is masterfully made. Set against the backdrop of the radically changing American social and political landscape of the ’80s, the series explores grave themes in the most artistic and aesthetic way possible, delivered through remarkable A-list performances. The series has since been critically praised for its depiction of AIDS, and it became the first of only three programs in Emmy history to sweep every major eligible category and all four acting categories.

8

‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)

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Created and written by Russell T. Davies and based on John Preston’s non-fiction crime novel, A Very English Scandal is a three-part British historical drama series fictionalizing the infamous Thorpe Affair of 1976-1979, in which Member of Parliament and Leader of the Liberal Party Jeremy Thorpe was accused of conspiring to murder his alleged former lover, Norman Josiffe aka Norman Scott. The BBC series follows 18 years of events leading up to the affair becoming a public scandal. Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw star as Thorpe and Norman, respectively, with Alex Jennings, Patricia Hodge, Monica Dolan, Paul Hilton, and Jonathan Hyde in notable roles.

A Very English Scandal is a gripping political drama that gives a shocking look into British politics and society of the time and engrosses the audience with its clever writing and cruel humor. Hugh Grant delivers a refreshing performance as the deeply conflicted politician, as does Ben Whishaw as his unstable ex-lover. A sophisticated and stylish satire, the BBC series has earned critical acclaim for revisiting the dark real-life case with sharp writing and masterful acting.

Influencer Jen Hamilton celebrated her “Jendependence” by throwing some serious shade over her estranged husband Brian Hamilton’s alleged “double life” with an older woman.

“August 4 was going to be a really hard day for me. It was going to be my 14th wedding anniversary. The first one after finding out about my husband’s diabolical betrayal,” Jen, 35, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, August 8. “So I threw a party for all my work friends. So many people showed up! They loved on me so hard and I told them EVERYTHING.”

Jen announced her split from Brian after nearly 14 years of marriage in June and later accused him of living “a double life with a woman who was 56 years old.” (Brian has not responded to Jen’s accusations.)

On Saturday, the Birth Vibes: Stories and Strategies for an Empowered Birth author shared photos from a “Jendependence” party on what would have been her 14th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, August 4. In one photo, Jen flips the double middle finger to a blazing fire that is burning her former bedsheets.

Related: Jen Hamilton Seemingly Shares Text Exchange With Estranged Husband Brian

Influencer Jen Hamilton seemingly shared a glimpse of a text conversation with estranged husband Brian Hamilton following their split. “I truly hope you take advantage of every resource that has been given to you,” Jen, 35, appeared to write to Brian, as seen in a screenshot she shared in an Instagram video on Wednesday, July […]

“I burned the bedsheets which held years of my own personal repression and the lies he told. He cannot hurt me anymore,” she insisted. “Boooo to cheating on your loving and faithful wife with a grandma. No offense to grandmas. She just is one.”

Jen mentioned that she is discovering new ways of reframing what has been a very traumatic few months.

“I am getting to the point now that I’m grateful for what this has brought me,” she concluded Saturday’s post. “Because now I get to create my own future instead of living in the knowing that things would never get better for me. I’m so grateful for my friends. And for that night. Happy Jendependence to me.”

Late last month, Jen admitted that there may still be aspects of Brian’s alleged “double life” that she’s not aware of.

“Me, now? Me, big, strong girl. Okay? Me, independent girl. Me, ‘don’t need no man’ girl. Me, ‘get out of bad relationship’ girl. But I feel like I need to get out ahead of something,” Jen joked on July 29. “If anything comes out about other things this guy’s done in my marriage, just listen. Me, now? Me, big, strong girl. Me, independent girl. Me, back then? Me, insecure girl. Me, desperate girl.”

She added, “Yes, he had a double life with a woman who was 56 years old. Yes, I should have left him way earlier — giving myself grace. I am so fortunate to have the means and resources to leave a bad relationship. There are so many women who are unable to do so, whether from finances, resources, etc.”

Jen previously expressed hope that something positive would come out of such a difficult period in her life. She therefore launched the Sisterhood of Solidarity fashion line — featuring clothing and apparel with empowering slogans such as “We Rise Together,” “Keep Going,” and “G.Y.A.U. (Get Your Ass Up)” — to raise money to help women get out of troubled relationships.

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Related: Jen Hamilton Stuns in Sheer Revenge Top and Jeans for Night Out Amid Divorce

Influencer Jen Hamilton is in her carefree era amid her divorce from husband Brian Hamilton. Jen, 37, took to Instagram on Sunday, July 26, to share a mirror selfie in which she showed off her sexy ensemble for a night out: a certifiable black high-neck “revenge” top with sheer patterned sleeves, paired with high-waisted jeans, […]

“One thing that I love to do is take something terrible that is happening and turn it into something good for other people,” Jen explained to her followers on July 23. “What I recognized through this process is that I am so fortunate to be able to get out of a situation that I didn’t need to be in because I have the resources to do so. So many women do not have that.”

As she gets started on her second book, Jen has vowed not to give up Hamilton as her last name because it has become so synonymous with her brand.

“It’s my name now,” she pledged via Instagram on July 27. “I made this name special and I’m gonna keep it.”