From the moment Tracker premiered, Colter Shaw’s (Justin Hartley) biggest unsolved case was his father. For years, Colter lived with questions that fractured his family, poisoned his relationship with his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles), and left him wondering whether the man who raised him had simply lost his grip on reality.

What began as a seemingly straightforward mystery surrounding Ashton Shaw’s (Lee Tergesen) death slowly evolved into something far more complicated, with each new revelation forcing Colter to reconsider everything he thought he knew. Season 3 finally delivered many of the answers fans had been waiting for, but that’s precisely why the story still hits like a punch to the gut. The truth proved that some wounds never fully disappear and merely become easier to understand.

The Shaw Family Mystery Was Never Really About Who Killed Ashton

Image via Sergei Bachlakov / ©CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

When Tracker began, Colter carried a burden that had defined much of his life. He believed his older brother Russell had killed their father during a confrontation in the woods. His mother, Mary (Wendy Crewson), did little to challenge that belief, and the siblings’ fractured relationship only deepened over time. However, as the series progressed, that simple explanation began to crumble as Russell insisted he was innocent, new evidence emerged, hidden journals surfaced, and long-buried secrets involving Ashton’s research and mysterious figures from his past slowly transformed what appeared to be a tragic family story into something much stranger.

What made the mystery so compelling was the damage those unanswered questions inflicted on the Shaw family. Mary kept secrets, Dory (Melissa Roxburgh) withheld information, Russell carried years of guilt and resentment, and Colter spent decades convinced he understood what had happened when, in reality, almost everyone around him had been protecting pieces of the truth. By the time Season 3 arrived, Tracker had made one thing clear: the biggest victim of all those secrets was the family Ashton left behind.

Season 3 Changed Everything Colter Believed About His Father

Image via CBS

Season 3 finally pulled back the curtain on Ashton’s work and the paranoia that defined his final years. What Colter had once dismissed as the unraveling of a troubled man turned out to be rooted in something tangible. Ashton wasn’t imagining enemies; rather, he had become entangled in dangerous government-backed research and spent his final years trying to stop experiments he believed had crossed an unforgivable line.

For years, Ashton existed in Colter’s memories as a contradiction, for he was the man who taught him to survive, but also the man whose behavior terrified his family. The deeper Colter dug, the more difficult it became to separate the loving father from the obsessive, paranoid figure his mother remembered. Season 3 refused to simplify that contradiction. Ashton wasn’t transformed into a saint, nor was he reduced to a madman; instead, Tracker embraced something far more complicated. Ashton was flawed, made mistakes, and hurt people he loved, but he was also trying to stop something he believed was wrong.

The Truth Brought Colter Peace, But Not Closure

Image via CBS

Perhaps the most powerful moment in the entire storyline comes near the end of Season 3, when Colter admits that he may not have found every answer, but he finally knows his father was trying to do the right thing, though it’s clear he didn’t exactly get the closure he sought. It goes to show that sometimes peace comes not from learning enough to understand motivations, at the very least.

There are still unanswered questions, however. Season 3 leaves the door wide open for more revelations, and Russell’s final scenes suggest the Shaw family secrets are far from finished. Yet something fundamental has changed, as Colter no longer seems trapped by the past as he once was. The mystery still hits like a punch to the gut two years later because, beneath the government conspiracies and secret programs, Tracker told a deeply human story about grief. Colter was searching for his father, at the end of it all, and after years of doubt, anger, and heartbreak, the answer he found was understanding, which was probably more than he expected.

Bold and the Beautiful delivers financial concerns cropping up over at Forrester Creations. Remember Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) was just mentioning when talking to Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) about how much the new couture line cost and justifying it. Meanwhile, over at Logan, Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) is focusing on quality materials, but not at the risk of the bottom line.

We’re going to talk about how this new couture collection may cause financial problems at Forrester Creations. And if so, I suspect Bill is going to be absolutely gleeful to see Ridge suffer.

Bold and the Beautiful: The Cost of Eric’s Couture Line

Let’s dive in. So, this week it was actually Carter Walton who warned both Ridge and Eric Forrester (John McCook) that this upcoming couture line they’re about to launch is going to be the most expensive collection in Forrester Creations history. And Ridge said you can’t put a price on showcasing Eric’s genius. Except yeah, you can put a price on it. Literally, they have been dropping hints about this on Bold for a while. If you remember when Eric was over working with Katie and Bill, they had a debate with Eric over materials. Bill wanted to source high-quality materials that were luxurious but were not needlessly and insanely expensive.

But Eric pushed back and he was complaining about not being able to use the same suppliers that Forrester Creations had because they were keeping his line at Katie’s new fashion house under wraps. And as it turned out, the designs were well-received. They sold through the roof and Bill and Katie made bank. And now, of course, we’ve got Ridge heavily investing in Eric maybe overinvesting. I said this the other day, and it bears repeating. Logan is living rent-free in Ridge, Steffy Forrester’s (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), and Brooke Logan’s (Katherine Kelly Lang) heads. Eric’s head, too. I don’t know why they’re all so threatened by Logan when Forrester is legendary. And now they are burning through cash trying to teach them a lesson.

Bold and Beautiful fans Not Impressed

And honestly, a lot of Bold and the Beautiful fans that I’ve seen comments from on soap social media think the designs Eric did for Logan were better. I agree. And I think this is storyline intentional. The gowns he designed for Forrester seemed kind of meh. You know, classy, but not particularly impressive or unique or inspired, and that seems very intentional. Ridge raved about the design. So did RJ Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) and Zende Forrester (Delon de Metz). But that doesn’t mean the public is going to agree.

Eric’s Lost Passion and Financial Risk on B&B

So, Carter was warning about the cost and if Eric’s line doesn’t sell out, this could be an epic financial fail for the Foresters. Ridge spending so much could put the bottom line in jeopardy. And if I had to come up with a word for what I’ve seen of Eric’s new line or what you know we’ve seen so far, I’m going to call it uninspired, maybe forced. If you remember after Ridge fired him, Eric was down in the dumps because he had all these fantastic designs on paper and in his head, but nowhere to produce them. And then when Katie Logan (Heather Tom) accepted Eric’s very insistent offer that he be her lead designer, we saw him passionate and he was really enthusiastic working at Logan.

Eric was so excited that in the end he worked himself to the bone and collapsed. I don’t think that was Katie and Bill’s fault. They didn’t want Eric exhausted, but he was just so excited. He even said the designs he made for Katie at the time were the best of his career. And Eric had something to prove. He said he wanted to rub it in Brooke and Ridge’s faces to respect your elders. So, Eric had both anger and passion driving his work at Logan.

Eric’s Passion Fizzling Out on Bold and the Beautiful

Then, coming back over to Forrester Creations, there’s this whole other vibe. Ridge had kicked Eric out of his own company and then Ridge backtracked, but Eric’s feelings were hurt. Plus, he felt guilty about going to Logan, even though honestly it was Ridge’s fault 100% that he ever went there. So, this collection Eric’s done for Forrester I feel like was driven by guilt.

And carried out under a lot of pressure and expectations because Ridge made it clear they had to outdo and overshadow the work Eric did at Logan, the work he said was his best. So, that’s a lot. Ridge, of course, is happy to have his dad back, but I haven’t seen Eric quite as inspired. I’ve seen him more tense. And there’s a lot of motive behind this line that’s not strictly driven by creativity, which should be the whole driving force behind fashion design.

Bold and the Beautiful: Logan’s Bottom Line Advantage

Eric hasn’t mentioned Ridge forcibly retiring him, but that has to still bother Eric. Meanwhile, over at Logan, it feels like there’s more of a balance between creativity and cost-consciousness. Bill’s not aiming to make cheap stuff by any means. This is not, you know, discount fashion. He just doesn’t want Katie, you know, embarrassed. But also, Bill’s savvy enough to know that a company’s got to make a profit. So, like this week when we saw Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) come in with the new design while Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) was gone, and Bill and Katie looked at it, they liked it, but then Bill asked, “Is it going to be cost-effective to produce?” And Deacon assured Bill that it would be that all the designs are.

So, it feels like there’s a more bottom-line focus at Logan than Forrester Creations. And we know that it seems like Hope is waffling on putting out her new line over at Logan because of her guilt over how Brooke’s going to react. But in the end, I just don’t think Hope is going to walk away from Logan because when Brooke storms over to rant at Katie soon, looks like early next week. Hope is still there. It’s a different day, different outfit. She’s hiding from her mom. And I do think the new Hope Logan line that she made with Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) is going to be a big hit for Logan. And unfortunately, the new Eric couture line at Forrester may not be a smash hit.

Bold and the Beautiful: Financial Troubles Ahead for Forrester

They may barely cover the cost of production or Carter may have to tell them they lost money on the line. There’s just so much smug talk from Steffy and Ridge about Logan circling the drain and Katie being a failure who’s going to eventually skulk back over to Forrester Creations. I guess they want to see her begging for her old PR job back. So, I feel like it’s foreshadowing that the opposite may happen. I think Logan could have another hit. And I don’t think Eric’s line is going to flop, but maybe it just won’t do as well as they need.

And while Bill may be able to report record earnings, we could see Carter having to tell Ridge, “Oh, whoops. We’re in money trouble.” Then I guess we’ll see how smug Ridge and Steffy are. And I’m sure they would blame Katie if it happens. Blame her and accuse her of stealing Eric, which she didn’t, and blame her for stealing Hope, which she kind of did.

Hope Unhappy at Forrester on Bold and the Beautiful

But Katie couldn’t have recruited Hope if she hadn’t been kicked around so much by Steffy. It’s like that thing about how you can’t steal somebody when they cheat if the marriage wasn’t broken. You know, maybe kind of the same sort of vibe. But once again, this is back to how people are treated by Ridge and Steffy. Maybe Forrester can sue Logan for damages since Hope is very much still their employee. And she was lying about a leave of absence so that she could sneak over to work secretly at Katie’s company.

And of course, if they sued for damages, that might help refill Ridge’s coffers over at Forrester. However, I will say Bold doesn’t usually do litigious storylines. So that may not happen even though technically it would be legally possible. But with Carter over at Forrester and Bill over at Logan this week both talking about the bottom line, I smell trouble in the wind. I don’t think it’s for nothing. I think it’s a huge red flag that Ridge is about to see Forrester in deep financial trouble. And of course, you know, that would make Bill totally giddy.

Days of Our Lives fans saw Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) already tried to have EJ DiMera’s (Dan Feuerriegel) son killed. And then after failing to off Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), we saw Kristen swap strategies to estrangement.

And then she just made what seems like a random call to her niece Sydney DiMera and she’s clearly up to no good. So, let’s get into exactly what Kristen is trying to do targeting EJ’s son and now his daughter.

Days of Our Lives: Kristen’s New Target

And now, let’s get into what is going on because clearly Kristen has a death wish and I think her brother is just about ready to grant it. We know that DiMera siblings have no problem going to war with each other if Days of Our Lives history is any indicator. And EJ and Kristen have been at odds and they’ve been battling each other ever since he snatched her mom, Rachel Blake (Roslyn Gentle), and hid her out of town.

He didn’t hurt her. He just hid her. But that way, the cops couldn’t force Kristen’s mom to testify against EJ. And this all started because horrible Arnold Feniger (Galen Gering), Rafe Hernandez’s doppelganger, showed up after years of being presumed dead. So, EJ decided to use Arnold, as he couldn’t get rid of him. And then they had to lock Rafe away. And then EJ ended up stashing him at a remote location where Rachel Blake was.

Kristen’s Mistake on DOOL

So, honestly, if Kristen had been smart, she would have just hidden her own mom away from the cops and then EJ wouldn’t have to have hidden her away. But instead, Kristen was basically encouraging her mom to testify against EJ because I mean, I guess just Kristen’s bat crap crazy that way. And that’s what led EJ’s niece Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote) to shoot him. And so Kristen’s blaming EJ for her evil twin daughter Rachel being in a psychiatric facility. Meanwhile, EJ knows what’s wrong is that her mom is toxic. Little Rachel’s mom. Honestly, you know, Kristen’s mom is, too. But Kristen can’t acknowledge her own parental failings.

Days of Our Lives: Kristen’s Twisted Manipulation

And even worse, little Rachel is soon distraught, balling her eyes out when Kristen and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) comfort their daughter, who finds out her wicked little friend Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) is dead from an apparent suicide. What’s even more twisted is Kristen is comforting Rachel after she killed her best friend. Because Days of Our Lives viewers all know Kristen enticed Sophia to kill Johnny in exchange for a fresh start out of town. Kristen knew what buttons to push becuz Sophia hates Johnny. But it was always about Kristen trying to blame EJ for Rachel’s spiral and stint in the psych ward and punish him.

But after Kristen thought Johnny was dead, she double crossed Sophia, bludgeoned her in the head with a rock. The fake suicide with the note that framed Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) for social media bullying was just one more twisted thing. Clearly, Kristen doesn’t mind killing other people’s children because she then had her henchman toss Sophia’s lifeless body into the murky water. When Kristen found out Johnny survived, of course, she was furious.

And now Kristen is faking sympathy for Johnny’s wife Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) having cancer. Kristen advised Johnny not to let Chanel’s medical crisis pull him back into EJ’s orbit. And then when Johnny said that EJ’s been great, I think that’s when Kristen decided to switch gears and focus on manipulating EJ’s other kids.

Sydney DiMera – EJ’s Troubled Daughter on Days

Sydney DiMera, his daughter, was Sami Brady‘s (Alison Sweeney) child. Kristen’s call to Sydney was completely out of the blue. If you recall, there’s been non-stop drama for EJ and his daughter from the very beginning. Back in 2009, Sami hid her pregnancy from EJ after they’d had a one night stand. And then Sami witnessed an assassination and she was put into witness protection. That was where she fell in love with FBI agent Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering).

Meanwhile, Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker) was also pregnant with EJ’s child, but Nicole miscarried and then she switched Sami’s baby with some other woman’s baby. So, Nicole ran off with Sydney becuz she wanted EJ’s kid. So, for the first part of her little life, Sami and EJ’s daughter, Sydney, was actually raised by Nicole. And after Rafe figured out the baby switcheroo, Nicole ran off with Sydney.

Days of our Lives: EJ’s Awful Revenge on Sami

And then there was this whole thing where EJ and Anna set up a staged kidnapping with bloody clothes and a fake rescue to look heroic. And this was all done by EJ to get revenge on Sami. So during her childhood, Sydney lived with Sami and then periodically with EJ amid custody battles and reconciliations and breakups.

And then Sydney’s dad, EJ, was killed off and was later resurrected with Kristen and Xander Cook Kiriakis’ (Paul Telfer) help, no less. EJ was in Kristen’s warehouse in Nashville where they kept all of Dr. Wilhelm Rolf’s (Richard Wharton) science projects with Xander doing all the caretaking.

So, poor Sydney is the epitome of a poor little rich girl. She’s been through so much and we’re expecting to see a recast teen Sydney DiMera soon. Recent episodes have had EJ in phone conversations with Sydney about coming home to Salem after school lets out in Italy. Her last appearance in Salem was on the 2021 Peacock series Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas. That time, Sydney had been recast and aged up a bit, with young tween actress Evelyn Stevenson.

Kristen’s Nefarious Plan Against EJ on DOOL

And since 2014, Sami has had Sydney living in Europe with her and it’s been offscreen aside from that holiday special. But that may be about to change. So maybe her awful auntie Kristen calling her niece behind EJ’s back is, you know, going to simply be to encourage her not to come to Salem. It’s not like Sydney and Kristen have been close as far as we know. No doubt.

I think Sami wouldn’t encourage them to be close and wouldn’t like Kristen calling Sydney out of the blue like this. Kristen definitely has something nefarious up her sleeve. She may have set her sights on Sydney as her next target to torment EJ. I wouldn’t put it past Kristen to hurt Sydney. So, Kristen is clearly plotting to harm EJ and may use Sami or Sydney to make it happen.

Days of our Lives: Kristen & EJ at Each Other’s Throats

And this heated sibling feud between Kristen and EJ has been exacerbated by events like the DiMera kidnapping and the aftermath. Also by Rachel turning from bratty kid to tormented tween and of course by Kristen trying to kill Johnny. So EJ’s going to find out what Kristen did very soon. It should be by the end of this week or early next week when EJ figures out that Kristen used Sophia to try and kill Johnny. And of course, Sophia almost succeeded. I mean, heck, if she’d used the gun Kristen gave her, Sophia would have killed Johnny and EJ would be grieving right now.

So, once he figures out what Kristen did, EJ is going to threaten Kristen. It’s going to be more like a promise, I think. And it looks like at the very least EJ has her snatched, but maybe worse because remember, he threatened Kristen this week that she might need Dr. Rolf’s resurrection serum soon. But if Kristen knows her time is about to run out, we could see her amping up her schemes to wreck EJ’s relationships with both Johnny and Sydney before EJ can come for Kristen.

And we know EJ is going to lose it once he finds out Kristen was in contact with Sydney, especially after what she’s done with Johnny. Because I think EJ would rightly assume the worst that Kristen might have tried to kill Sydney, too. Let’s be real. While Kristen is obviously not afraid to use children, including her own daughter Rachel, to do her dirty work, I mean, Kristen has used Rachel as a pawn in her games with Brady for years. And once EJ finds this out, Kristen’s going to be toast.

Young and the Restless spoilers for next week thrill when July sweeps kicks off, including Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) taking a big risk and Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) is terrified after her mom gets an absolutely horrifying medical diagnosis that could actually be fatal.

We’ve got the latest Y&R spoilers for the week of June 22nd, including Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) taking a big step that we honestly expected was coming and Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) warns somebody.

Young and the Restless: Matt Clark’s Clumsy Scheme

And now, let’s get right to it. First, let’s talk about Matt Clark. So, at the end of this week, Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) overhears Matt talking to Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn), and he’s asking Matt why he is fanboying all over him. And of course, we know it is because Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) ordered Matt to get really close to Cane. And that way, he can feed Victor info that he can use to destroy Cane. But so far, honestly, Matt’s not doing a great job because he’s not being subtle at all. And Cane already guesses that Victor is somehow involved. And Cane is demanding to know what is his agenda.

But Matt persists. He keeps working on Cane. And then Matt lies and says he worked on Adam Newman’s (Mark Grossman) mom’s farm in Kansas. Cane doesn’t buy that Matt’s a horse guy. Obviously, Victor has fed Matt a bunch of info and backstory because then he tells Cane that his dad got sick and he took care of him until he died, which is super sneaky because Victor knows Cane went through the same thing with his dad, Colin Atkinson (Tristan Rogers). And then Matt claims that he somehow heard how Cane was with his dad, Colin, near the end of his life. And Matt’s talking about how that moved him. This is all just Victor being so horrible.

Cane Blasts Matt on Y&R

But then Cane calls BS on everything that Matt is saying to him. He’s not a fool and he tries claiming that he just wanted to talk to him because he needs advice from Cane. So, while this was going on, Phyllis Summers is eavesdropping. And then she butts into Matt and Cane’s conversation and Phyllis asks what they’re doing together. Matt says that Adam introduced him to Cane. And Cane thinks that’s awfully convenient. Then Matt tells Cane he met Phyllis at the GCAC. That’s the point Cane decides this is all way too suspicious and he walks out.

Young and the Restless: Phyllis Warns Matt and a Potential Romance

After he goes, Phyllis asks Matt what is he doing? And she tells him that Victor asks her not to rat him out. She’s not going to. But Phyllis is warning Matt that Cane is already suspicious and Phyllis is afraid this is all going to come back to bite Matt. We know Phyllis feels protective of Matt because he saved Nick Newman’s (Joshua Morrow) life and Phyllis thinks Matt is a hero and she tells him.

And he tells Phyllis that he just wants to make up for all the bad things he’s done. But Phyllis warns him that Victor’s taking advantage of him and will stab him in the back. But Matt reminds Phyllis that she was also manipulating him. And she circles back around and tells Matt, “Look, I know that you’re not a psycho anymore.” And Phyllis again is warning Matt to watch his back with Victor.

Young and the Restless: Matt & Phyllis May Heat Up

We recently did a video about some couple swaps and new couples forming. And it looks like one of the new pairs that we predicted could actually be kicking off next week because Phyllis is with Matt over at the GCAC. Then things get a little bizarre as he tells Phyllis, “Once upon a time there was a man who had no memory.” And then Matt says, “And he met a woman and he asked her out on a date.” So yeah, Matt’s being weird, but he is asking Phyllis out on a date. That is definite. So, we’ll see.

You know, Phyllis hesitates, but even if she says no the first time that Matt asks, I think that Phyllis will cave and will go out with Matt soon. But on the other hand, Phyllis might just go ahead and say yes the very first time that Matt asks. This romance, of course, is going to shock Genoa City. And honestly, it’s just ick to think about Phyllis dating Sharon Newman’s (Sharon Case) rapist. Just so much ick.

Young and the Restless: Jack’s Plan to Find Diane

Also, this past week, we had Jack Abbott worried sick because Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) has done something bad to Diane Jenkins Abbott (Susan Walters) and she’s stuck in Dr. Markham’s (Jere Burns) house. So, this is our next topic. Jack keeps asking Patty to put him in contact with Diane’s psychiatrist, but Patty keeps putting him off. And now it looks like Jack doubts that Patty’s being honest about another doctor being involved. And Jack may suspect that her shrink Dr. Markham is the one who is holding Diane, which is accurate. So hopefully since this is moving along, they’re not going to drag this messiness out too long. I expect Jack to find Diane during July sweeps that kicks off on Thursday, June 25th.

So, next week, Jack is telling Billy about this, catching him up and saying what he needs to do is lure the doctor away from his house. But Billy’s worried and claps back at Jack. What happens when the doctor gets suspicious? So, it sounds almost like Jack wants to get Billy to lure the doctor away so that Jack can go in there. Or maybe he’s going to lure him and Billy goes in there to see if Diane’s there. So, it’s interesting.

Young and Restless: Nikki’s Terrifying Diagnosis

And last but not least, we’re going to talk about Nikki Newman’s (Melody Thomas Scott) terrifying diagnosis. So, at the end of this week, Victoria is really worried about Nikki. She told her the headaches were getting worse and that she had a vision issue. And then Victoria turns around and tells Claire Grace Newman (Hayley Erin) that she’s really worried. And Victoria says she is particularly worried about this stress that Nikki’s under. Her mom also doesn’t have her best friend Jack to lean on because of all the stuff he’s dealing with in his life.

And when Claire asks if they maybe should try to push Nikki and Victor to reconcile, Victoria says, “No, we just can’t interfere.” And says that Nikki and Victor have been through rough times before. They’ve split before, but this breakup is hitting Nikki very hard. Claire asks if there’s more to it. And finally, Victoria opens up and tells Claire about Nikki’s headaches.

And Victoria thinks it’s maybe more than just stress that’s affecting her mom. She brings up Nikki’s alcoholism, which is ironic since Claire pushed her grandma off the wagon. Victoria is also worried about her mom’s multiple sclerosis. And she says that all these health concerns of Nikki are always playing in the back of Victoria’s mind.

Young and the Restless: Victoria Struggling with Her Trauma & Grief

And Claire’s worried that Victoria is being all doom and gloom about Nikki because Cole Howard (J. Eddie Peck) came up and died unexpectedly. And Victoria admits Claire’s probably right. She’s worried that she might lose Nikki as well. So that brings us to what happens next week with Victoria and her mom. We’re not going to have to wait long because on Monday, Nikki gets her diagnosis.

And it sounds extremely dangerous, potentially fatal, if it’s not treated promptly. Once she finds out, she confides in Victoria, who’s going to tell Nikki that we’re going to do everything we can to fix it. And Victoria’s mom is crying, saying this can’t be happening. We know it’s very serious and Nikki is debating not telling Victor about her diagnosis at all, but Victoria might actually spill to her dad.

We’ll see. Be sure to come back tomorrow for our complete weekly spoilers video for the week of June 22nd, including lots more good stuff for sweeps, plus our weekly predictions, two spoilers, casting news, and so much more.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 7 seconds ago

The best part of the early days of the internet was logging in, and finding people like you with the same interests. America Online, Prodigy, Compuserve, all had incredibly active forums devoted to everything from roleplaying a Moogle from Final Fantasy, to talking about Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was on a fan message board where J. Michael Straczynski went for help during the production of Babylon 5’s first season when he needed some names. In return, he snuck in a subtle tribute to the fan who helped him out. 

Asking The Fans For Help

JMS was a part of the Science Fiction Round Table on GEnie, the online service that predates the rollout of “www,” long before he brought Babylon 5 to life. Accessing the GEnie service required a specific modem setting, dialing into the service, and then entering a specific prompt once connected. We used to have to jump through hoops to talk to complete strangers about how annoying Wesley Crusher was. 

After Warner Bros. legal team denied some names during the production of the first season, JMS took to GEnie for new names. One user, who would go on to tell the story on Reddit multiple times over the years, said he looked down at his desk and saw a disc for Quantum Link sitting there, and played around with Quantum as the element that powered jumpgates. Season 1 Episode 6, “Mind War,” is the first time that the element  “Quantum-40” is mentioned by name. 

JMS Said Thanks In The Best Way

In “Parliament of Dreams,” Sinclair (Michael O’Hare) takes his on-again off-again love interest Catherine to Fresh Air, where the Maitre’d takes them to their table, and says that “David will be your waiter tonight.” That’s the real name of the user who named Quantum-40, and when he asked JMS if it was a coincidence, the coy answer he received from the Babylon 5 creator was: “Freud says there’s no coincidences.” 

Babylon 5 isn’t the first show to pay tribute to a fan, and it won’t be the last. It was one of the first where the creator would directly talk to fans. Trek: The Next Generation, The X-Files, and Babylon 5 were among the first shows that reached new levels of success thanks to their online popularity. The “virtual town square,” as most print media referred to online forums at the time, was a new frontier allowing sci-fi fans thousands of miles apart to connect over shared interests. 

Babylon 5 Fandom Is Over 30 Years Old And Still Going Strong

Today it’s easy to talk to actors on social media, Wil Wheaton is especially active, as is Stargate Universe’s David Blue, Battlestar Galactica’s Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer, and countless others. It’s both a good thing, as it’s fun to see what your favorite stars are up to, and they often will post behind the scenes from their projects, but also a bad thing because what if, well, your favorite star is a jerk? 

The Babylon 5 fandom has had its up and downs over the years. It’s grown and evolved alongside the internet, enduring disappointments (Crusade) and a comeback (Babylon 5: The Road Home), while keeping the flame lit for any news of a revival or a legacy series. 

Kai Cenat‘s Streamer University auditions have delivered plenty of viral moments, but one wholesome family interaction has social media talking for all the right reasons.

Related: Try Again?! Zoe Spencer Announces Plans To Apply For Streamer University 2 After Missing Out The First Time (WATCH)

Queen & Clarence’s Son Impresses Kai Cenat With His Math Skills

Kai Cenat’s Streamer University auditions have been keeping timelines entertained, with everyone from major creators to hopeful streamers shooting their shot for a spot in the program. However, during the Atlanta auditions, it was Queen Naija and ClarenceNYC’s 7-year-old son, Legend, who stole the show.

While auditioning, Queen and Clarence called Legend after Clarence confidently told Kai that his son could solve any math problem. Kai put him to the test, firing off several questions over the phone while Clarence double-checked the answers with a calculator.

Legend got every question right, leaving Kai visibly impressed. Queen and Clarence shared a proud hug, hoping their son’s skills would help secure their spot in Streamer University. But in a hilarious plot twist, Kai jokingly declined both of their applications and announced that Legend was the one being accepted instead.

Social Media Reacts

The viral clip sparked thousands of reactions online.

Instagram user @danishaa___ wrote, “I think they was talking bout Cj… seems like Kai is a huge fan of Legend 😂😂😂 that baby is literally a genius ❤️ bless his heart”

Another Instagram user @_ybskiii wrote, “He do taxes??? 😭😭😭😭

While Instagram user @wylizzle wrote, “The way they hugged each other proud of him I nearly cried 🥹😂❤️”

Instagram user @0na.mae wrote, The little sound he makes when he’s thinking 😭 lol he is too cute!”

Another Instagram user @djtwoee wrote, “Not dad up there pulling out the calculator 😂”

While Instagram user @qpharoah wrote, “Mind you some people be stuck on 7×4”

Instagram user @eternalnessss201392 wrote, “That’s an autistic super hero right there. He broke that down, something I didn’t even do.”

Another Instagram user @yamiilenaa wrote, They named him legend not knowing he was about to be a math legend fr ✨👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🔥”

While Instagram user @gumby_licious wrote, “Decline both of y’all I’ll take Legend 😂😂”

Streamer University Auditions Draw Massive Crowds

The viral family moment came during Kai Cenat’s Atlanta Streamer University auditions on Wednesday. The event followed previous audition stops in New York and Los Angeles.

However, Atlanta’s turnout proved to be the largest yet.

Thousands of aspiring creators packed the area surrounding State Farm Arena in hopes of earning a spot in the program. Due to the overwhelming crowd, arena officials were eventually forced to shut down the auditions early and stop additional attendees from entering the venue. Those still waiting outside were instructed to leave the area as no more participants would be admitted.

Related: Soulja Boy Announces ‘Rapper University’ After Calling Out Kai Cenat Over ‘Streamer University 2’ & His Ties To DDG (VIDEO)

By Steven Nelson
| Published 34 seconds ago

Step into a world where action meets drama as you queue up 2017’s The Foreigner, featuring none other than the martial arts maestro, Jackie Chan. In this intense thriller, Chan sheds his typically cheerful on-screen persona to deliver a performance that’s riddled with depth, showcasing a grieving father’s relentless pursuit of justice.

Directed by Martin Campbell, the man behind iconic James Bond films, The Foreigner is a gripping tale that unfolds against a backdrop of political intrigue and explosive action sequences. If you’re ready for a side of Jackie Chan you’ve rarely seen, this film promises an exhilarating ride.

A Chilling Revenge Arc

The Foreigner, starring the legendary Jackie Chan, is a riveting action thriller that revolves around the character of Ngoc Minh Quan, a humble London-based businessman with a haunting past. Quan’s world is turned upside down when his teenage daughter, Fan, is killed in a politically-motivated terrorist bombing. Devastated by his loss, Quan embarks on a relentless pursuit of justice, vowing to bring those responsible to account.

As Quan digs deeper, he discovers that the bombing is linked to a group of rogue Irish terrorists. He targets Liam Hennessy (played by Pierce Brosnan), a government official with former ties to the terrorists, believing him to hold the key to the identities of the bombers. Quan’s quest for vengeance takes him into a shadowy world of political conspiracy, power struggles, and hidden agendas.

Quan employs his skills, honed during his time as a special forces operative in the Vietnam War, to uncover the truth. He faces numerous obstacles and challenges as he unravels a complex web of intrigue involving British and Northern Irish politics, all while Hennessy struggles to manage political tensions and maintain his own grip on power.

The film’s narrative is imbued with themes of revenge, redemption, and the moral complexities of justice. Jackie Chan delivers a poignant and compelling performance, portraying a man driven by grief, grappling with loss, and seeking closure, while Pierce Brosnan excellently embodies the role of a conflicted and morally ambiguous politician.

A Hard-Hitting Blend Of Action And Drama

The Foreigner succeeds because it balances explosive action with a surprisingly emotional story. The film keeps the tension high throughout, blending political intrigue, revenge, and suspense while giving its lead character far more depth than audiences might expect from a traditional action thriller.

Critics gave the film a mixed-to-positive reception, and it currently holds a 66 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Much of the praise centered on the lead performance, which traded familiar action-comedy beats for a more restrained and dramatic approach. While some reviewers felt the political plotlines occasionally became overly complicated, many appreciated the film’s willingness to pair hard-hitting action with genuine emotional weight.

Fans were even more receptive, embracing the combination of intense set pieces, gripping drama, and a darker, more mature tone than viewers were expecting. The result is an underrated thriller that delivers both as an action movie and as a story about grief, vengeance, and the personal cost of pursuing justice.

For anybody looking for a tense, well-crafted thriller with strong performances and plenty of action, The Foreigner remains an easy recommendation.

As of this writing, The Foreigner is streaming for free on Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and The CW.

Right off the bat, I want to say, that Mufasa: The Lion King is superior to its 2019 predecessor. But the unfortunate truth is, that bar is very low. Like many people, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Jon Favreau’s The Lion King adaptation which felt soulless even though it was a massive box office success, it left people with a bitter taste in their mouth. So it was likely that we wouldn’t get a continuation of Simmba’s story, so that doesn’t leave many ways to tell another story in this universe. A prequel with a largely original story sounded like a decent direction to go in after The Lion King.

Barry Jenkins was certainly an unexpected but exciting choice for a blockbuster like this. He tries his best to breathe new life into the iconic Pride Lands by exploring the origins of Mufasa and Taka (who eventually goes on to become Scar). Jenkins, known for Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, brings surprising emotional depth to what could have easily been a soulless cash grab. The facial emotions are significantly better this time and we actually get an idea of what the characters are going through. This also takes the weight off voice actors who had to do all the heavy lifting in the last one.

Technically, the movie is as stunning as expected. The breathtaking photorealistic visuals are back, with meticulous attention to every leaf, ripple of water, and blade of grass. The Pride Lands come alive in all their splendor, creating a visual experience that demands to be seen on the big screen. The character animations are fluid and much more expressive enough to evoke connection without sacrificing realism. Jenkins really tries to present a more profound emotional tone, exploring themes of family, loss, and legacy with more nuance than one might expect from a Disney blockbuster.

(L-R): Sarabi (voiced by Tiffany Boone), Taka (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre), and Rafiki (voiced by Kagiso Lediga) in Disney’s live-action MUFASA: THE LION KING. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

At its heart, the film focuses on the journey that shaped Mufasa into the king we know, and how two brothers turned into enemies. His journey takes very formulaic routes and hardly offers anything new. The brothers turned enemies story is also done multiple times and doesn’t surprise or impress at any point. The story has moments of beauty but struggles to get you invested or emotionally attached to it. The script is weak and definitely needed help from the visuals to bring the entertainment value. Thankfully the lack of novelty in the writing is partly compensated by the breath-taking visuals. There are some really impressive sequences that leave you impressed and engaged solely due to the cinematography.

But where Mufasa truly disappoints is in its music. Lin-Manuel Miranda is nowhere near his best and the sings are decent at best. Not a single song stayed with me once I left the screening. The middle portions of the film are particularly strong, offering intriguing subplots and emotional beats that elevate the narrative. Miranda is master at his work, but here he really struggles to get the beats right. The voice cast is solid across the board. Aaron Pierre captures Mufasa’s spirit, while Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner are as charming as ever. Kelvin Harrison Jr., struggles with his British accent.

(L-R): Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) and Taka (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) in Disney’s live-action MUFASA: THE LION KING. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Another aspect that the script gets wrong is the structure and character usage. It shouldn’t have taken the flashback storytelling route as it doesn’t work at all and only takes you out of Mufasa‘s story. It also never justifies the inclusions or Pumba and Timon, and they feel forced into the story. The final act feels emotionally satisfying but it really messes up Taka’s arc. His origin story is surprisingly underwhelming and frankly lazy. The story of his rivalry with Mufasa will remind you a lot of Transformers: One that came out earlier this year, and they did it way better. It’s also as if the writers hesitated to take bold narrative risks, instead settling for a resolution that feels too safe and familiar.

Mufasa: The Lion King is a visually stunning prequel that adds compelling world-building and heartfelt moments but struggles to justify its existence. The rushed narrative underdevelops key characters, and while Barry Jenkins’ thoughtful direction adds gravitas, it can’t overcome the contrived screenplay. The voicework is solid, but the music by Lin-Manuel Miranda is surprisingly underwhelming. It is superior to its 2019 predecessor, but the film still lacks the soul needed to truly roar with life.

Mufasa: The Lion King hits cinemas on December 20.

Over the last two decades, the concept of watching titles has switched from high-capacity optical storage formats like Blu-ray discs to streaming. Within that sphere, there are several options to choose from, with several major players within the streaming ecosystem. Apple TV, Peacock, and Prime Video are some of the major players on the scene. However, the biggest one is arguably Netflix, with one of the largest collection of television shows and movies globally. The streamer boasts a broad genre coverage of thrillers, horror, crime, romance, and so much more.

Year after year, Netflix has developed a reputation for delivering captivating titles that draw in large audiences. In this year alone, the streamer has overseen the arrival of several hits like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s cop thriller, The Rip, Alan Ritchson‘s all-action mechanical nightmare, War Machine, and Cillian Murphy‘s final soirée as the revered Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Despite its vast array of titles, Netflix is always on the lookout for even more films and shows to add to its collection. Upcoming titles for this month, for instance, include the Harlan Coben thriller I Will Find You starring Sam Worthington, and the feel-good, buddy comedy Little Brother featuring John Cena and Eric Andre.

Now, Netflix is looking to add a war thriller, Play Dead. According to a new report, the streamer has acquired the rights to the WWII thriller from director Jaume Collet-Serra. Collet-Serra has a standing relationship with Netflix, with the director’s 2024 thriller, Carry On, starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, being a memorable hit for all involved. The hope is that Play Dead will follow in the successful footsteps of Carry On, as Collet-Serra swaps a TSA checkpoint for the theater of war. Play Dead stars Noah Jupe (Hamnet) and Matthias Schweighöfer, who previously starred in another World War II mega masterpiece in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The upcoming war thriller is produced by legendary horror filmmaker Sam Raimi.

What Is ‘Play Dead’ About?

World War II is one of the most adapted periods in human history with a vast catalog of movies and shows based on that time period. Classics include titles like Steven Spielberg‘s Saving Private Ryan, and perhaps, Play Dead might force its way into such a conversation when it arrives on Netflix. The film follows a shell-shocked soldier who, after seeing a deadly ambush wipe out his unit in the final days of World War II, must survive the night by pretending to be dead while surrounded by an enemy battalion of Nazi soldiers. Collet-Serra directs from a script by Natalie Conway and Peter Stanley-Ward, with the project receiving high praise as it’s previously been billed as Don’t Breathe meets 1917.

Play Dead does not have a release date yet, but will debut on Netflix. Stay tuned to Collider for updates.

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Release Date

July 24, 1998

Runtime

169 minutes

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Writers

Robert Rodat

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Producers

Gary Levinsohn, Ian Bryce

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