‘Heated Rivalry’ François Arnaud
Guess I’m Skating Pretty Close With Connor Storrie!!!

Published
February 6, 2026
3:12 PM PST

Alabama Barker had a little slip-up on livestream after accidentally referencing her ex-friend Bhad Bhabie instead of Latin artist Bad Bunny. Social media couldn’t get enough of the moment.

Related: Skin Out Is In? Alabama Barker Turns Heads After Flaunting Her Curves In Risqué All-Black Look (PHOTOS)

Alabama Barker Mixes Up Bad Bunny And Bhad Bhabie On Livestream

On Thursday evening (Feb. 5), Alabama Barker had a slip-up on livestream after praising her ex-friend Bhad Bhabie when she meant to shout out Bad Bunny. In a clip circulating online, Alabama chats with her fans while Latin artist Bad Bunny’s music plays in the background. She then says, “W Bhad Bhabie in the ch…” catching the mix-up before she could finish her sentence.

Alabama laughs before correcting herself, saying, “That was crazy, chat,” as she continues to chuckle. She adds, “Definitely not W Bhad Bhabie,” then follows with, “You know what, actually W her for not posting that man anymore,” seemingly referring to the father of Bhad Bhabie’s child, LeVaugn, whom Alabama and Bhad Bhabie previously had a falling out over.

Social Media Reacts

Fans quickly took to Instagram to comment:

Instagram user @lakaylaa.a wrote, “Aww she miss her friend 😂😂😂”

Another Instagram user @dylanfilss wrote, “You can tell it was an accident fr 😂”

While Instagram user @itsjadaarenee wrote, “Bhad Bhabie finna drop a diss now 😭😭😭😭”

Instagram user @itskelsiee wrote, “honest mistake lol”

Another Instagram user @bunny2cold wrote, “This is what happens when u talk about someone too much 😆 told on herself”

While Instagram user @big_lay__ wrote, “Obsessed”

Instagram user @nybangaaaa wrote, “She got condos in that girl head 😂”

Another Instagram user @girlyreallyhavin wrote, “She said W her for not posting that man… but you was also f*** that man 😂😂”

While Instagram user @kendricharnei wrote, “Idk my granny told me that mean the other person talking about me but hey 😂”

A Quick Timeline Of Alabama And Bhad Bhabie’s History

Once friends, Alabama Barker and Bhabie had a falling out in 2024 after she accused Alabama of stealing her boyfriend, Le Vaugn. At the time, Alabama denied those claims. However, the accusations sparked heated exchanges between the two online and even included diss tracks.

Following their feud, Bhabie shared videos discussing a miscarriage with her on-and-off ex-boyfriend LeVaugn and alleged abuse claims. Alabama responded in the comments: “Even though we had our differences, I don’t support the way he treats her & she doesn’t deserve it.”

By October 2025, Bhabie confirmed she was single and officially done with LeVaugn.

Related: Alabama Barker Reacts After Bhad Bhabie Shares Miscarriage Experience & Abuse Allegations Against Le Vaughn

Super Bowl Sunday is just days away, and what better way to get ready for the big event than by watching some of the greatest football movies of all time? Few genres capture the spirit of determination, teamwork, and heart quite like them. Whether set under the bright lights of professional stadiums or the muddy fields of small-town America, football movies remind us why the game holds such a special place in American culture.

The best football movies combine thrilling athletic action with deeply human drama, balancing the highs of victory with the heartbreak of loss. They reveal the sacrifices players make, the challenges coaches face, and the emotional toll of chasing glory under immense pressure. In doing so, these stories connect audiences to the passion, pride, and pain that define both the sport and life itself. At their core, football movies capture the essence of what it means to compete with courage and conviction. Here are the 10 greatest movies about the sport.

10

‘Varsity Blues’ (1999)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Varsity Blues is a coming-of-age dramedy set in a small Texas town where high school football is treated like a religion. When the star quarterback, Lance Harbor (Paul Walker), is injured, his academically minded backup, Jonathan “Mox” Moxon (James Van Der Beek), is thrust into the spotlight. As Mox leads the team, he clashes with the ruthless, win-at-all-costs Coach Kilmer (Jon Voight), who pushes his players beyond their limits.

Varsity Blues is often considered one of the greatest football movies because it goes beyond the sport itself to explore the deeper social and emotional pressures of high school football culture​​​​​. It captures the intensity, passion, and identity that the game represents for players, coaches, and communities. Ultimately, Varsity Blues is a commentary on how much high school football has become part of the American teen experience.

9

‘Heaven Can Wait’ (1978)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Heaven Can Wait is a romantic comedy-fantasy movie that introduces Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty), a talented quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams who is mistakenly taken to Heaven before his time by an overzealous guardian angel. To correct the error, the heavenly overseer, Mr. Jordan (James Mason), places Joe’s soul into the body of a recently murdered millionaire, Leo Farnsworth. While adjusting to his new identity, Joe uses Leo’s wealth to pursue his dream of returning to football.

Heaven Can Wait is often considered one of the best football movies of all time because it uses the sport not just as a backdrop, but as the emotional core of its story. Unlike many sports stories that focus on competition or victory, it ties football to deeper themes of passion, identity, and destiny. Joe Pendleton’s love for the game defines his character. His drive to play again, even after death, symbolizes his determination and optimism.

8

‘Any Given Sunday’ (1999)

Image via Warner Bros.

Any Given Sunday introduces Tony D’Amato (Al Pacino), a veteran coach of the fictional Miami Sharks, who struggles to hold his team together amid internal conflict, aging players, and a ruthless new team owner, Christina Pagniacci (Cameron Diaz). When star quarterback Jack “Cap” Rooney (Dennis Quaid) is injured, an untested rookie, Willie Beamen (Jamie Foxx), rises to stardom but clashes with the team and his coach.

Any Given Sunday stands out as one of the greatest football movies of all time because it captures the chaotic nature of the sport. The movie emphasizes the physicality that football demands, as well as how brutal it can be. More than this, Any Given Sunday also delves into the psychology and politics of football through locker room rivalries and the exploration of how challenging the limelight can be for athletes.

7

‘The Replacements’ (2000)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The Replacements takes place during a professional football players’ strike, when the Washington Sentinels hire a group of ragtag replacement players to finish the season. Led by Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves), a former college quarterback whose career fell apart after a humiliating championship loss, the team is coached by Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman), who believes in giving second chances. Despite their lack of polish and professional experience, the mismatched crew finds a way to work together.

The Replacements is one of the greatest football movies ever because it perfectly captures the heart and humor of an underdog story that football fans love. The movie balances laugh-out-loud moments with inspiring speeches and thrillingly authentic scenes directly from the field. At its core, The Replacements isn’t just about football. Instead, it’s about perseverance, teamwork, and finding dignity in redemption.

6

‘The Longest Yard’ (1974)

Image via Paramount Pictures

The Longest Yard follows Paul “Wrecking” Crewe (Burt Reynolds), a former professional football quarterback who is sent to prison after a run-in with the law. Inside, the warden coerces Crewe into assembling a football team of inmates to play an exhibition game against the prison’s semi-pro guard team. Initially motivated by self-interest, Crewe gradually earns the respect of his fellow inmates and transforms the ragtag “Mean Machine” into a united, determined squad.

The Longest Yard is one of the best football movies of all time because it perfectly balances gritty realism, dark humor, and rebellion, creating a timeless story about pride, justice, and the power of banding together behind a common goal. The movie uses football as a powerful metaphor for freedom and resistance against authority. The actual football seen throughout the movie is raw, hard-hitting, and realistic, reflecting the physical and psychological toll the sport takes.

5

‘Brian’s Song’ (1971)

Image via ABC

Brian’s Song is based on the true story of Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), two players for the Chicago Bears. The movie follows their unlikely friendship as they navigate the pressures of professional football in the late 1960s. Despite differences in background and personality, including the fact that Piccolo is outspoken and working-class, while Sayers is reserved and talented, the two develop a deep bond both on and off the field.

Brian’s Song is much more than a football movie, which is why it stands out in the genre. It proves that the game is about more than competition — it’s about loyalty, courage, and the human connections that endure through adversity. Its power comes from the real-life bond between Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, showing how camaraderie and personal integrity can inspire anyone. Brian’s Song handles complex issues with grace and nuance, which makes it accessible to all.

4

‘Jerry Maguire’ (1996)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Jerry Maguire follows its titular character (Tom Cruise), a successful sports agent who experiences a moral awakening after questioning the cutthroat practices of his industry. Following his controversial “mission statement” advocating for personal integrity and client care over profit, Jerry is fired and loses nearly all his clients, except for the talented but temperamental football player Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.).

Although Jerry Maguire focuses less on the mechanics of football and instead delves into the ethical and personal issues those involved in the sport face, it’s an essential commentary on what drives people to work in this world. It shows the pressures, compromises, and moral challenges of the sports industry through the eyes of an agent who wants to do things differently. Jerry Maguire doubles as a love story between two people and a tribute to what football can be at its best.

3

‘Rudy’ (1993)

Image via TriStar Pictures

Rudy is an inspirational sports drama that tells the true story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger (Sean Astin), a young man from a working-class family who dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite numerous obstacles. Lacking size, natural athletic ability, and financial means, Rudy faces repeated rejection but refuses to give up, fueled by sheer determination, hard work, and the encouragement of supportive friends and mentors.

Rudy stands out as one of the best football movies ever because it perfectly distills what makes this sport so inspiring for so many. Watching Rudy maintain his relentless optimism in the face of seemingly impossible odds never gets old. Beyond football, Rudy teaches lessons about resilience, faith, and the importance of never giving up on one’s dreams, which is why it resonates far beyond the sport. The movie celebrates effort, dedication, and passion, which makes it a universal story.

2

‘Friday Night Lights’ (2004)

Image Via Universal Pictures

Friday Night Lights is based on H.G. Bissinger’s non-fiction book about high school football in Odessa, Texas. The movie follows the Permian High Panthers, a talented but under-pressure high school football team, as they chase a state championship under the watchful eye of Coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton). Beyond the game, the movie explores the intense social, economic, and personal pressures put on the players.

Friday Night Lights is such a notable football movie because it highlights football’s potential to bring communities together. It emphasizes how football shapes identity and community in small-town America, specifically. Players are portrayed as full people, facing family issues, societal expectations, and personal challenges, making their victories and losses on and off the field meaningful. Friday Night Lights captures the thrill of the game while portraying the courage, dedication, and humanity of those who play it.

1

‘Remember the Titans’ (2000)

Image via Buena Vista Pictures

Remember the Titans is based on the true story of the 1971 T.C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria, Virginia. When the school is racially integrated, tensions run high as Black head coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) takes over the team, working alongside former head coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton). Through discipline, teamwork, and shared purpose, Boone unites his players despite the obstacles they face.

Remember the Titans is one of the greatest football movies of all time because it uses football as a metaphor for reconciliation, showing how a diverse team learns to trust, respect, and love one another during a time of deep division. The movie captures real struggles, including loss, bias, friendship, and triumph, without ever feeling forced or preachy.Its lessons about teamwork, character, and unity resonate far beyond sports, making it meaningful for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

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Remember the Titans

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Release Date

September 29, 2000

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Runtime

113 minutes

Director

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Boaz Yakin

Writers

Gregory Allen Howard

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By Robert Scucci
| Published 48 seconds ago

Road thrillers always make for a great time because there is nothing more unnerving than barreling down the highway when you are either in danger yourself or trying to help somebody else who might be. 1981’s Road Games, an Australian thriller that plays like a strange middle ground between Mad Max and a Hitchcock-style serial killer story, has no shortage of tense moments. It shows just how badly the road can mess with your head after a long day’s work as a commercial trucker who just wants to grab a few hours of sleep between jobs. Perspectives grow hazy, lines begin to blur, and you are almost certain you have seen that green van and its driver doing something suspicious on multiple occasions, even if you cannot quite prove what they are up to.

A tense, white knuckle experience from start to finish, Road Games is a lean thriller built around an exceedingly simple plot. That simplicity should not lull you into a false sense of security, though, because not everything is what it seems, especially once the horizon darkens, the road goes quiet, and a radio news broadcast suggests you may be sharing the highway with somebody who is very, very dangerous.

A Road Best Left Untraveled

Road Games introduces us to trucker Patrick Quid (Stacy Keach) and his pet dingo, Boswell. Patrick makes a point of telling anyone who will listen that there is a difference between a man who drives a truck and a trucker, implying that he views his current line of work as something beneath him, even if it pays the bills for now. He travels alone with Boswell, often taking back-to-back jobs against his better judgment. There is nothing to suggest Patrick is unstable, but his dispatcher encourages him to push through sleep deprivation with caffeine pills so he can take on more work.

While sleeping in his truck outside a motel one night, Patrick notices a man driving a suspicious looking green van who checks in with a female hitchhiker. The next morning, Patrick sees the man leave alone after stopping at the dumpster and climbing into the van before heading back out onto the road.

Once he is driving again, Patrick encounters a recurring group of colorful characters. There is an elderly man hauling a boat, a face-masked motorcyclist who keeps popping up, a nagging woman named Frita (Marion Edward) and her visibly annoyed husband, and another woman standing roadside looking for a ride. Against his better judgment and company regulations, Patrick picks up Frita after her husband abandons her on the side of the road. During this stretch, he spots the green van again, this time catching its driver burying suspicious looking bags in the desert and carrying around a small cooler.

Frita becomes uneasy with Patrick’s calm attitude about the encounter, especially after hearing a radio report about a possible serial killer operating in the area. She eventually parts ways with him, but not before Patrick picks up the hitchhiker he passed earlier, known only as Hitch (Jamie Lee Curtis). The two hit it off almost immediately, and Hitch reveals herself to be Pamela Rushworth, the heiress of a wealthy US diplomat who wanted to go on an adventure of her own, suggesting that she may have been reported missing from her high-profile life. As Patrick continues his route with Pamela, the green van keeps resurfacing, prompting them to investigate its driver under the assumption that he is the killer mentioned in the news.

A Series Of Escalating Events

As sleep deprivation takes hold, Pat and Pamela get separated, and Pat finds himself unsure of who he can trust. Everywhere he turns, the green van seems to be there. He starts pushing his truck at reckless RPMs to make his delivery on time, becoming increasingly unhinged along the way. Pat is convinced he needs to track down the green van to stop anyone else from getting hurt, but things spiral further when Frita reports him to the authorities. She suggests that Pat himself might be the killer, and that the story about the green van is nothing more than a distraction.

As Pat unravels while searching for Pamela and the van, all while evading police and trying to finish his route, his sanity is put into question. Every possible pressure point is hit, and Pat is fully aware that he is starting to lose his grip. With law enforcement closing in, his hitchhiker companion missing, and the green van’s driver still at large, Pat is forced to pull himself together and see his increasingly bizarre job through before the road swallows him whole.

Road Games toys with the familiar tropes you see in films like the grossly underrated Black Dog. Hallucinations feel inevitable, and the job itself takes a back seat to the strange, inexplicable encounters that keep piling up. Stacy Keach’s straight faced performance as an expatriate American trucker tearing through the Australian outback with a pet dingo is half the fun. His deadpan presence grounds the film even as everything around him starts to feel unreliable.

If you want to find out whether Pat finally snaps or if the world around him is the real problem in Road Games, you can fire it up on Tubi, where it is currently streaming for free.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 35 seconds ago

Steven Spielberg invented the Summer blockbuster with Jaws, and then did it again with E.T. and Jurassic Park, but in terms of sheer spectacle, Roland Emmerich invented the visual language used by today’s Summer blockbusters with 1996’s Independence Day. The shot of a massive alien ship hovering over the White House and then blowing it to smithereens was everywhere that year, from the Super Bowl to every primetime TV ad break.

Story became secondary, special effects on the biggest screens possible took over as the real reason to go to the theaters, and Hollywood was never the same. Now you can relive the experience on Netflix.

Welcome To Earth

Independence Day wastes no time starting off the massive alien motherships moving into position above the world’s largest cities. In the most realistic moment of the entire film, there’s a group of people who decide to gather directly under the ships to welcome the aliens. That’s when they open up and unleash a devastating blast that destroys Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. It’s hard to understand today what it was like to see this level of devastation on a scale never seen before, with this budget and looking this good. 

The other half of Independence Day, the plot, is supported by an all-time great cast, including Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox, Judd Hirsch, Mary McDonnell, Randy Quaid, Mae Whitman, Brent Spiner, Bill Pullman as one of the greatest fictional Presidents ever, and the breakthrough role of a sitcom star: Will Smith. No one cares that the plot is as thin as Flat Stanley. From top to bottom, every member of the cast understood the assignment. This is one of the most fun movies ever. 

You can pinpoint the exact moment when Will Smith became a movie star. After Captain Steven Hiller is shot down, he walks right over to the alien fighter he took with him, pops open the hatch, and drops a one-liner, “Welcome to Earth,” as he punches the alien in the face. He was no longer The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; he was King of the Summer Blockbuster. 

Independence Day Reshaped Movies Forever

According to Rotten Tomatoes, Independence Day has a critic rating of 69 percent and an audience rating of 75 percent, both of which seem irrelevant. Roland Emmerich’s follow-up to Stargate is a pure popcorn movie. For every bit of horrible dialogue, there’s Bill Pullman’s triumphant speech. For every contrived plot device, there’s an extended dogfight between alien saucers and F/A-18 Hornets. This is the ultimate “turn off your brain” and enjoy movie. 

At the time of its release, Independence Day became the second-highest-grossing film of all time with $817 million, making Jeff Goldblum, star of Jurassic Park, the then-highest-grossing film star of all time and one of the most successful box-office stars of the 90s. Decades later, every superhero movie, every Summer blockbuster, can trace its visual style back to Emmerich’s groundbreaking disaster film. 

For years, fans wanted more. Finally, in 2016, the sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence, which brought back Pullman, Goldblum, and Hirsch, hit theaters with Liam Hemsworth as the new hotshot pilot. After 20 years, no one cared. 

Don’t let the forgettable and pointless sequel deter you from going back and streaming Independence Day now that it’s on Netflix.  Some movies are hits, some become cult classics, and then there’s Independence Day, which managed to transcend Hollywood and reshape the world of entertainment in its image. Whether it’s the hundredth time or the first time, you will get hyped when Will Smith punches the alien, Bill Pullman announces today is our Independence Day, and when Randy Quaid gets his revenge. Just don’t think about it too hard. It’s not that type of movie.

Beyond the Gates exposes Dr. Ted Richardson (Maurice Johnson) sparking a new relationship. And while Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix) is fine with him dating Shanice Johnson (Ernestine Johnson), his insane former sidepiece Dana “Leslie” Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) is not okay with it.

His daughter Katherine “Kat” Richardson (Colby Muhammad) may have some issues if he and Shanice get really serious and settle down.

Dana “Leslie” Thomas Plants a Scandalous Trap for Shanice & Ted on Beyond the Gates

All right, so we have Shanice and Ted getting more serious by the day. They’re not just getting intimate. I think Shanice is more than a rebound for Ted. Right now, Shanice is in the smitten kitten phase, but I see Ted falling for her and Shanice falling for Ted.

This week, we saw Shanice a little annoyed when she found Leslie’s loose drawers in the sofa cushions of Ted’s hotel room. The timing for her finding Leslie’s underthings couldn’t be worse because it looks like Ted was getting all romantic and telling Shanice she’s the one he wants to move on with. This happened right after she got a bit irritated with Ted for paying too much attention to Nicole and her hot date, Kyle Rollins (Greg Vaughan), at Uptown.

Then they come back and Shanice finds what Ted’s sketchy ex Leslie left there, hoping that Shanice would find them. It’s a bit much. Good thing Shanice was smart enough to pick those panties up using a tissue and not her bare hands. She’s ranting at Ted this week that if she’s the one, who do these tacky panties belong to?

Ted Confronts Lunatic Leslie as Drama Escalates on BTG

I don’t think he recognizes them. It’s not like he’s been taking a tour of Leslie’s lingerie drawer. But Ted immediately is going to realize only one person would have left them there. The good news is I’m sure he’ll tell Shanice, “Look, this is another one of those schemes by psychotic Leslie.” I’m sure Shanice will immediately see that makes sense, and I don’t think she’s going to hold it against Ted.

But I think him living at the hotel under the same roof as Leslie is a problem. It’s a big building and a big roof, but Ted is too close to Leslie. It’s long overdue for Ted to move out of that hotel and get further away from lunatic Leslie. I’m hoping that this incident blows up in her sneaky face. I also hope that Leslie’s prank actually winds up moving Shanice and Ted’s relationship forward. That would be a little bit of karma.

By Friday of this week, he’s had enough and confronts Leslie in public about her sketchy behavior. I wonder if Ted is going to make a scene at Fairmont Crest or maybe up at the hospital because we know Leslie keeps showing up to harass and insult Shanice at work.

Class Conflicts and Insecurity in the Beyond the Gates Plot

Of course, we all know what was eating at Leslie. She was the other woman and was jealous of Nicole, who was from a good family, was educated, and sophisticated. Meanwhile, Leslie was a waitress. There is nothing wrong with that, but she felt like her being blue-collar made her less than. That was part of why she and Ted didn’t happen.

All of a sudden, Leslie is feeling fancy because of that big pile of money from Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) that she fell backwards into and didn’t earn. Somehow Leslie now feels better and like she’s been elevated. She’s clearly so insecure and the money’s not going to help that.

Then in comes Shanice, who’s gorgeous and smart, also educated, but not DMV royalty. Ted is not a snob. He really liked Shanice and having peach cobbler with her at Oree Jean’s. She also fits seamlessly into Ted’s country club scene. I loved seeing Shanice hand it back to gossipy Anastasia (Erica Hubbard) the other day, and Shanice consistently shuts down Leslie and doesn’t let her intimidate her at all.

Beyond the Gates Engagement Spoilers and Relationship Milestones

When Ted publicly lays into Leslie, I’m sure that’s going to reiterate to Shanice that she is his priority. We have another spoiler for Friday saying that two people get engaged. I’d be cheering if Ted went there, but I feel like it’s way too soon for them. It may be Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) that proposes to Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) or the other way around, but we’ll wait and see.

Despite them probably not being the couple that’s engaged, I do suspect we’re going to see Ted and Shanice continue to get more and more serious. I think Ted may get his own place and we could see him and Shanice moving in while they’re moving forward and evolving.

This week Ted sees Nicole playing tonsil hockey with Kial at Uptown. That’s hot on the heels of Ted seeing Nicole out with Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley). She’s made it crystal clear to Ted that he’s in her rearview mirror. Nicole is single and mingling with multiple hot men. Since they’re okay with it, it’s none of Ted’s business.

Will Ted Start a Third Family with Shanice on BTG?

Here’s the point that I’m really curious about: how will Ted’s kids handle it when he gets serious with somebody else? They know Leslie was a mistake from the past. This relationship with Shanice is very much the present and possibly the future.

Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) and Kat were both very upset when they found out Ted cheated on their mom. Meanwhile, Martin has been very welcoming of his new sister, Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle). Martin isn’t holding Leslie’s awful antics against Eva. Martin understands and he’s tried to explain to Kat that Eva was raised being told the worst things about all of them.

Eva came to the DMV with an agenda because she’d basically been gaslit her whole life. But once she saw that Leslie had lied and misled her, Eva did try and stop what her mom was doing. She tried to stop her from breaking up Nicole and Ted. But of course, Kat doesn’t want to show Eva any grace ever for any reason.

Kat’s Insecurity Over Ted’s New Relationship on Beyond the Gates

Kat was also offended when Ted said he loves all his children equally: her, Martin, and Eva. It’s incomprehensible to Kat that Ted would love all his children the same, no matter who their mom is. I say this just because I’m curious how Kat will feel if Ted starts a third family, this time with Shanice.

Ted never intended to start the second family; that was a mistake. But Shanice has no kids of her own. She’s at the right age for her biological clock to be ticking. It’s not like Ted is over the hill. If he wants to settle down with Shanice and she wants kids, I can see Ted saying, “Okay, let’s do it.”

The other day when Kat saw Ted and Shanice at Uptown, I thought it was very nice. Kat was making an effort to get to know Shanice since both Ted and Shanice were very clear that they started seeing each other after Ted and Nicole’s divorce was official. But will Kat change her mind if Ted decides he’s going to marry Shanice and make some more babies?

Kat Struggles with Insecurities on BTG

Kat seems to think love is finite and that there’s not enough to go around when more people come into the picture. She’s feeling very insecure and threatened while saying that Eva is the one who’s insecure. I know Beyond the Gates fans are deeply divided on Kat versus Eva. I’m not going to weigh into those waters, but I’m curious to see how Kat will handle it if Ted decides to expand his family beyond Martin, Kat, and Eva.

I think Martin and Eva would be very accepting. I don’t think they would even question that if Ted wants to do that. But Kat’s reaction when Ted gets really serious with Shanice is what interests me. Even if they don’t say they want to start a family, Kat can probably look down that road and see it’s a possibility, and she’s already feeling shortchanged. Is she going to freak out? We’ll see.

As Bridgerton fans continue to worry that a major character is dying in the second part of season 4, a cast member hinted at their departure.

The hit Netflix series returns on Thursday, February 26, by picking up where it left off with Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie’s romance (Yerin Ha). The sneak peek for part 2 caused concern when viewers noticed several characters dressed in black attire. It remains unclear whose funeral the others could potentially attend since there are several options.

Many fans of Julia Quinn‘s Bridgerton book series, however, had pointed out that John (Victor Alli) is the most reasonable conclusion based on Francesca’s (Hannah Dodd) story. Quinn’s When He Was Wicked is focused on Francesca’s marriage to now-husband John before his shocking death. Francesca would then go on to find love again with John’s cousin Michael. (The series swapped Michael out for Michaela, played by Masali Baduza, during the season 3 finale.)

While Alli, 30, wouldn’t confirm or deny his onscreen fate, he did spark rumors of an exit. The actor was asked about his experience on Bridgerton amid his rumored last scene with the show.

“Words can’t quite encapsulate what it’s meant to be on this wonderful show,” he told Numero Netherlands earlier this month. “I’ve met people who I’ll be friends with for a long time and I’m so thankful to have been a part of it. I’ll miss them all greatly.”

Alli talking about Bridgerton in the past tense quickly caused concern for viewers. He previously spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about the overwhelming concern for his character despite John still being alive — for now.

“It’s like, ‘Just let the scenes happen.’ I’m just like, ‘I don’t wanna start grieving John already,’” Alli joked to Us in 2024 about the fans hinting at John’s fate before it’s happened on screen. “Everyone’s like, ‘He’s dead already.’”

Alli noted that he understood that fans who know what is in store for John are prematurely mourning the character.

“It is nice that people are invested. It’s nice that people know the story and it’s nice that people care. That was part of what [showrunner] Jess [Brownell] wanted. She really wanted the fans to be invested in John and Francesca,” Alli explained to Us. “So that when [John] does eventually go, it will be so, so hard and really tough. It’ll be really sad actually because I know that I’m gonna obviously leave Bridgerton eventually.”

John’s tragic future is such a spoiler that Alli’s casting wasn’t even announced until the first batch of episodes dropped. Instead of basking in the success of his new role, Alli initially recalled having to go through great lengths to hide his association with the show.

“I had some friends who found out and asked me. I denied it. I denied it hard,” he recalled about set photos surfacing. “It was funny because when the pictures came out and it was obviously me, I had to say ‘No.’” People are like, ‘It just looks like you.’ I was like, ‘That’s crazy. I’ve got a doppelgänger. I’d love to meet him.’ I’ve never had to do that. I’ve never had to have that experience. It was quite surreal. But I just found it funny as well.”

Related: ‘Bridgerton‘ Stars Who Left the Netflix Show: Where Are They Now?

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Bridgerton quickly became a fan favorite after debuting on Netflix in 2020, but not all of the show’s cast members chose to stick around. The historical drama, which is based on the book series written by Julia Quinn, follows the members of the wealthy Bridgerton family as they search for love in 19th century London. […]

The story line for his character is such an open secret that even Alli’s costars poked fun at the book spoilers on set.

“Everyone knows what’s gonna happen and everyone knows my fate. There’ll be moments where I’ll be doing a scene and Luke might just be like, ‘Well, it’s fine. You’re gonna die anyway,’” Alli quipped. “So it was just really, really funny.”

Despite knowing where John’s story goes, Alli made an effort not to let it influence his work.

“I didn’t allow it to shape my performance. It’s part of the story and of course that happens in the future and what will be will be. But I guess you don’t anticipate it,” he noted. “Everything I did was just in the moment as opposed to, ‘Oh, gosh, I’m gonna die soon.’ It was more in the moment and living in the now.”

There is also the chance that Eloise’s (Claudia Jessie) turn is sooner — and Quinn’s To Sir Phillip, With Love hinges on Marina’s (Ruby Barker) death. Following Marina’s death, Eloise gets in touch with Phillip (Chris Fulton), which kickstarts their romance.

Other options include Queen Charlotte’s (Golda Rosheuvel) husband, King George (James Fleet), whom she mentioned earlier this season. Historically, the real Charlotte’s death would be coming up in the next few years, which could get moved up.

Season 4 of Bridgerton returns for part 2 on Thursday, February 26.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

Outside of the Klingons, the most legendary foe in Star Trek is arguably the Borg, whose nearly-unstoppable cybernetic warriors have come close to wiping out the Federation on a number of occasions. While these baddies were thought to be defeated in the series finale of Voyager, they popped up yet again to torment the titular hero of Picard across multiple seasons. However, what most fans don’t realize is that we would have possibly never heard from the Borg after The Next Generation if not for the late, great executive producer, Michael Piller.

Piller is, in a very real way, the man who saved TNG: he became showrunner in Season 3, ushering in an era of better uniforms, bigger sets, and infinitely improved writing. In Season 6, the writer of the two-part, Borg-centric episode “Descent” was unsure how to broach the fact that the Enterprise crew returned a freed Borg (Hugh) back to the Collective. This could theoretically change their entire race, and while “Descent” dealt with Borg who had been infected with individuality, the episode never specified just how many Borg were affected by Hugh’s return.

My Borg Friend’s Back (And There’s Gonna Be Trouble)

That was actually Michael Piller’s suggestion, and he thought the episode would be stronger if it left that matter as an open question for the fans. Understandably, these episodes led to intense online speculation and more than a few Star Trek convention arguments about whether the Borg were now completely different. Previously, they had been like robot zombies driven by the monolithic will of their Collective; however, the Borg in “Descent,” after reabsorbing Hugh (a Borg who developed an identity of his own), were basically just a bunch of independent-minded thugs being bossed around by Data’s evil brother.

While Star Trek fans generally liked “Descent,” the fandom was almost collective in its dislike of the new Borg. Having them team up with another villain made for some good temporary drama, and it led to a really great episode for Brent Spiner’s Data. But as villains, the Borg had arguably lost everything that made them cool or unique in the first place.

Resistance Was Futile

That’s why it was such a relief when these villains showed up as their old selves in Star Trek: First Contact. Sure, some things were new (mostly, the fact that they now had a creepy Queen), but these guys were mostly back to being the shambling, unstoppable robot zombies that terrified fans in the first place. This movie served as a kind of creative reset for these villains, and most future appearances of the Borg (from their many appearances in Voyager to their final appearance in Picard) focused on them as a Collective rather than a group of individuals.

None of that would have been possible, however, without Michael Piller. He was the one who suggested that “Descent” writer Ronald D. Moore should never specify how many Borg had transformed into individuals once Hugh’s freed personality had been absorbed into the Collective. At the time, many fans hoped that it would just be a small segment of the Borg that were affected, and the rest of the Collective had remained unchanged; those hopes were paid off in First Contact, a movie whose plot would have been impossible if Piller hadn’t saved the Borg from becoming generic villains.

Creatively speaking, this was both a blessing and a curse; the Borg eventually became wildly oversaturated in the franchise, with every new appearance making them feel a bit less special. Nonetheless, though, they remain the most legendary foes from the Golden Age of Star Trek, and they would have faded into obscurity if not for the intervention of Michael Piller. In this way, the man who saved Picard’s first show also saved the foes who would make the captain’s life a living hell for decades to come.

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