Entertainment
Netflix’s Most Addictive 2-Part Sci-Fi Series Got an Incredible Cyberpunk Anime Prequel
Netflix has plenty of science fiction shows that will grab your attention, but Altered Carbon is definitely at the top of the list. Based on the nove by Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon paints the picture of a future where humanity can transfer its consciousness into other bodies thanks to disk-shaped devices called “stacks”; mercenary Takeshi Kovacs is given a new synthetic body, or “sleeve”, to help solve the murder of a wealthy man. While it only lasted two seasons, Altered Carbon featured top-tier talent, including Joel Kinnaman and
Taking place over 250 years before the events of Altered Carbon Season 1, Resleeved follows Kovacs (voiced by Ray Chase) as he’s given a new sleeve and a new mission to protect tattoo artist Holly (Brittney Cox) from being killed, while also investigating the death of a high-ranking Yakuza member. Reception was mixed, as Altered Carbon: Resleeved currently sits at 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some critics enjoyed its standalone nature, while most weren’t fans of the animation style used in the movie. Regardless, Altered Carbon: Resleeved would pave the way for Netflix to expand upon some of its original projects.
‘Altered Carbon: Resleeved’ Is Light on Philosophy, Heavy on Action
Altered Carbon: Resleeved doesn’t waste any time, as it immediately opens with Holly seemingly being chased by members of the Yakuza. Those men turn out to be her bodyguards…and then they’re utterly slaughtered by ninjas, paving the way for Kovacs to step in and rescue Holly. This opening sets the stage for Resleeved, which is more action-based than the Altered Carbon series. Part of that’s due to the movie format, which has far less time to explore the philosophical elements that were a major part of the television series, but director Takeru Nakajima makes up for it by delivering some blood-soaked, action-packed sequences that make great use of the cyberpunk setting.
Surprisingly, Altered Carbon: Resleeved does offfer a deeper dive into one character. During his mission, Kovacs is joined by Gena (Elizabeth Maxwell), an agent for the Colonial Tactical Assault Corps, who is also tasked with protecting Holly. Gena is actually Reileen Kawahara, Kovacs’ sister, who extends her life by constantly inserting her consciousness into different sleeves. While Reileen eventually grows mad with power in Altered Carbon, Altered Carbon: Resleeved shows that she had glimmers of humanity where she provides Holly with an escape despite being tasked to kill her. For fans of the series, this is a new look at a villain they’d grown to hate, while newcomers will be left with a relatively happy ending.
Solve the Whodunnit in TV’s Best Mystery Show Today With Collider’s TV Quiz
Do you know Only Murders like the back of your Arconia? We’re about to find out, as you piece together the facts of this quizzical case.
Netflix Continues To Craft Animated Spinoffs for its Originals
Following Altered Carbon: Resleeved, Netflix has used animation as a way to build on its original films and television shows. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 will feature a new story set in between Seasons 2 and 3 of the hit supernatural series, and is set to debut later this month. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf not only feels like the epic dark fantasy that The Witcher should have been, but also boasts some seriously stunning animation courtesy of Studio Mir. Even Bright got its own spin off with Bright: Samurai Soul, which reinterprets David Ayer‘s gritty fantasy procedural as taking place in feudal-era Japan. Netflix’s Director of Content in Japan, John Deideran, talked about how Netflix was using these projects as a springboard to delve more into anime:
“Netflix aims to be the most compelling and attractive home for anime fans, creators and production studios. We are creating an environment where production houses can do their best work, and deliver their shows on a service where we connect anime fans from over 190 countries to content they love.”
The gamble worked, as Netflix is now considered one of the biggest hubs for anime. While it might remain as little known as the series that inspired it, Altered Carbon: Resleeved is worth a watch if you’re a fan of anime, the cyberpunk genre, or searching for a show to fill the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners-shaped hole in your heart. It’s a story that offers a glimpse into the world of Altered Carbon, yet manages to stand on its own two feet.
- Release Date
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March 19, 2020
- Runtime
-
75 minutes
- Director
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Takeru Nakajima, Yoshiyuki Okada
- Writers
-
Laeta Kalogridis, Richard K. Morgan, Tsukasa Kondo, Dai Sato
Cast
-
Tatsuhisa Suzuki
Ken (Takeshi Kovacs) (voice)
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Rina Sato
Gina (Leilin Kawahara) (voice)
-
Ayaka Asai
Holly Togram (voice)
-
Kenji Yamauchi
Hideki Tanaseda (voice)
Entertainment
Ashlee Simpson is ready to return to “SNL” after lip-sync scandal: 'It's something I can laugh about' (exclusive)
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The new “Masked Singer” winner tells EW the 2004 TV incident “shaped me as the person I am now,” but didn’t define her as an artist.
Entertainment
7 Sci-Fi TV Shows That Are 10/10 but Nobody Remembers Today
Sci-fi is a super popular genre, and has remained popular for decades and decades. This is because speculative fiction, especially when it comes to imagining the future of humanity, is a very entertaining prospect for many viewers. But with all the sci-fi TV shows that have come out over the years, not every single one is going to get their chance in the spotlight.
Indeed, many science fiction TV shows have been completely lost in the sands of time, even with on-demand viewing and streaming services making these shows more accessible. This is honestly kind of a tragedy, because many of these shows are absolutely excellent, and deserve more attention. These sci-fi TV shows are nearly perfect, but they have been completely or almost forgotten.
‘Rocket Robin Hood’ (1966–1969)
Rocket Robin Hood is a series that you probably missed out on if you weren’t living in Canada, as that was where it was primarily broadcast. It was animated in a style similar to a Hanna-Barbera cartoon, and was later broadcast on the Teletoon Retro block in the 2000s. This series took a classic and timeless tale and reinvented it, which made it so much more exciting.
Basically, this series is about Robin Hood (Len Birman) and the mythos surrounding him, only this time, it takes place on Earth in the year 3000. Sherwood Forest is not a forest at all, but actually, an asteroid, with many creatures and locations from the myth appearing as planets or aliens. It was a really imaginative and inventive series, not to mention one that was pretty popular for its time. Unfortunately, its name is seldom spoken anymore. Even though it was geared towards kids, its creative premise provides an exciting experience for adults, too.
‘Voyagers!’ (1982–1983)
Voyagers! was a really fun action-adventure series with a promising premise. The story revolved around a society of time travelers called the Voyagers. The society is dedicated to traveling back in time whenever something in history unfolds incorrectly, with the Voyagers aiming to ensure everything works out the way it is supposed to, preventing the modern world from being altered too drastically.
Because the show is about time travel, almost every episode featured a brand new historical period or event, ranging from ancient civilizations in Egypt and Greece to major wars like the American Revolution. In just 20 episodes, Voyagers! takes the viewers right along with the time travelers, depicting some of the most amazing eras in history in vivid detail. It even covers some more obscure parts of history, like the Spanish-American war of 1898. It’s absolutely awesome, perfect for both sci-fi freaks and history geeks with its boundless adventure.
‘Earth 2’ (1994–1995)
Earth 2 was way ahead of its time, centering on post-apocalyptic themes long before the late 2000s and 2010s made the genre super popular. Earth 2 is set in the year 2192, a bleak time when Earth is entirely uninhabitable. The remnants of humanity have long since fled to space stations orbiting their home planet, with the planet’s surface only having a few scattered groups of human survivors. The series opens with a man whose son comes down with a rare condition that is becoming prevalent among the youth on the space station. Doctors believe it to be caused by the lack of an Earth-like environment. Unfortunately, the disease is always fatal, with those afflicted never living to the age of 10.
Desperate to save his son, the father leads a group of other parents in a similar predicament to an Earth-like planet 22 lightyears away, in an effort to colonize it. However, the current Earth government does not approve of this, and intends to stop them. With only one season and 21 episodes, this show managed to really pack a punch with its storytelling. It’s unique, interesting, and heartbreaking all at once. Unfortunately, it suffered poor ratings despite an Emmy nomination, and was abruptly cancelled. Despite this, it is an underrated gem that is desperate to be rediscovered.
‘Quartermass and the Pit’ (1958–1959)
Quartermass and the Pit is the third miniseries in the Quartermass collection, a trilogy of TV shows made by the BBC. Though, this third one outdoes the other two by a mile. The series once again features Professor Quartermass, this time played by André Morell. Previously, the actors had changed for every series, meaning this was Morell’s first time in the role. The six-part TV serial follows the Professor as he finds a peculiar device in an archaeological dig site. Weirder still, it’s found at a dig site with the remains of primitive humans from millions of years ago. Intrigued, Quartermass begins to search for the origin of the device.
This series was actually rebooted less than 10 years later, in the form of a 1967 movie. The movie had the same title in the UK, but was called Five Million Years to Earth in the US. In any event, the original TV series reigns supreme, and immediately hooks the viewer’s interest with its plotline and memorable characters. Yet, it’s been almost 70 years, and it would seem that this show would not make the history books, as very few people remember its existence today.
‘The Outer Limits’ (1963–1965)
The Outer Limits is a series that might have been doomed from the start. It’s an anthology series, which meant it was constantly living in the shadow of The Twilight Zone, one of the most popular TV shows at the time. While the latter is widely remembered today, The Outer Limits is rarely spoken about anymore. The series had a much narrower scope than The Twilight Zone. Whereas The Twilight Zone covered a wide variety of concepts and genres, The Outer Limits was almost exclusively about aliens and science fiction.
Today, while The Outer Limits is considered a cult classic, it never outgrew its comparisons to other popular series of the time, and it eventually passed into obscurity. There was even an attempted reboot in the ’90s, but this didn’t go over very well. Ultimately, this is an absolute masterpiece about aliens, and it was way ahead of TV trends. It even used the “monster of the week” format that became super popular in the late ’90s and 2000s. The problem is, it came out at a bad time, and wasn’t ever able to cement itself in the history books as well as it could’ve.
‘Thunderbirds’ (1965–1966)
Thunderbirds is another all-time classic that was well-renowned for years. Unfortunately, it’s rarely, if ever talked about anymore. The British television series focused on a group of international pilots, who flew specialized aircraft to stop villains and rescue those in need. The aircraft ranged from unique hovering planes to attack and rescue helicopters, and even to spacecraft. It was action-packed and adventurous, as well as fun for the whole family. Thunderbirds also bolstered a unique cast of characters in the form of its team of heroes.
Unfortunately, a 2000s live-action movie likely contributed to its downfall. This movie was truly abysmal with some of the worst CGI ever created by a major studio, and is barely remembered by anybody who saw it. By association, the same thing happened to the show. To be fair, the show does feel a bit dated. The stop-motion animation combined with the marionettes and puppets give a kind of uncanny valley feel to the series, which is off-putting to a lot of people. This is understandable. However, it doesn’t change the fact that this once-great television series is only whispered about now, and is unlikely to see a comeback anytime soon.
‘Farscape’ (1999–2003)
Farscape really had something special going on, yet it’s another one of those forgotten cult classics that barely anybody remembers. The show had a massive ensemble cast, and told the story of a human astronaut who accidentally gets caught in a wormhole which spits him out in the far corners of the universe, far from home. There, he joins up with the Peacekeepers, a group of convicts and government escapees from diverse alien planets aboard a living biomechanical spaceship.
Puppetry and production was handled by none other than the Jim Henson Company, who used the series as one of their odd, but creative passion projects. Sadly, these projects rarely get the attention they deserve. Farscape lasted four seasons and 88 episodes, and was very well-received. Yet, just two and a half decades later, most people haven’t seen it, don’t remember it, or don’t talk about it at all. This is a shabby treatment that the series definitely did not deserve.
Farscape
- Release Date
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1999 – 2003-00-00
- Writers
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Rockne S. O’Bannon, David Kemper, Justin Monjo, Richard Manning
Entertainment
Catherine O'Hara's death will be acknowledged in “The Studio” season 2, Seth Rogen says: 'We are not ignoring it'
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“The shock waves permeate throughout the entire new season,” co-creator Evan Goldberg added.
Entertainment
Flau’jae Gets Key To The City As Baton Rouge Names Her Day
LSU basketball star and rapper Flau’jae Johnson is being recognized in a major way by the city she’s helped represent on and off the court.
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Flau’jae Johnson Receives Key To The City Of Baton Rouge
On Saturday, April 4, LSU basketball star and rapper Flau’jae Johnson received the Key to the City from East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards. The honor recognizes her impact both on and off the court, celebrating her contributions to the university and the local community, according to WBRZ. The city also officially proclaimed April 4 as “Flau’jae ‘Big 4’ Johnson Day.” The day reflects Johnson’s nickname and jersey number while playing for the LSU Tigers women’s basketball.
Social Media Reacts
Social media users quickly shared mixed reactions following the announcement.
Instagram user @dezexual wrote “Love this for her”
Another Instagram user @_d3sir33._ wrote, “I know her daddy proud fr 💜”
While Instagram user @jaleahkeon wrote, “A key?! wtf they got bigger ppl that’s actually from here 😂😂😂”
Instagram user @niyaa_marie wrote, “They just handing out keys fr”
Another Instagram user @kimbowle wrote, “Congratulations 🎈🎉🍾❤️”
While Instagram user @justmoe2.0_ wrote, “Y’all so mad in these comments lord bless yall why does someone success bother y’all this much no shes not from Louisiana but she damn sure made a name for herself there and put on for LSU she deserves stop taking people’s accomplishments and hard work away from them yall so mad yall should work on that.”
Instagram user @es1nam wrote, “As she deserves”
Another Instagram user @thaarealplayyaaa.k wrote, “ATP I want a key”
While Instagram user @yaagirllky._ wrote, “I wanna know what shawt did fa my city ???”
Another Rapper Finds A Home At LSU
Johnson isn’t the only artist-athlete making headlines at LSU. Recently, Baton Rouge officials, including Mayor-President Sid Edwards, welcomed rapper Toosii to the city after he enrolled at Louisiana State University. He is now listed as a freshman wide receiver for the school’s football team. In an Instagram post, Edwards wrote, “We’re thrilled to welcome nationally acclaimed artist Toosii to Baton Rouge as he begins an exciting new chapter playing football at Louisiana State University.”
Most recently, fans noted that Toosii was not featured on the school’s football roster.
Related: Congrats! Toosii Joins LSU Football Team As Freshman Wide Receiver After Stepping Away From Syracuse University (PHOTOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
‘Peaky Blinders’ New Hero Shines in the 15-Year-Old War Epic Dominating Streaming
There are a lot of movies that get buried in an actor’s career once bigger hits start piling up. The Eagle is definitely one of those for Channing Tatum. It came out early enough that a lot of people either missed it or forgot it even existed, but streaming has a funny way of dragging these half-lost titles back into the light. That’s exactly what’s happening here.
The historical adventure has been charting high on HBO Max globally, giving the 2011 film a very sudden and very unexpected comeback. It’s a strong example of how quickly an older movie can catch on once it lands in front of the right audience.
The cast includes Tatum as Marcus Aquila and Jamie Bell — who recently made headlines with his new Peaky Blinders spin-off series — as Esca. Set in Roman Britain, the movie follows a dangerous mission beyond Hadrian’s Wall in search of a lost legion’s honor. It’s serious, physical, and much moodier than a lot of viewers may expect from a forgotten Tatum title. HBO Max has clearly helped it find new life.
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Is ‘The Eagle’ Worth Watching?
Roger Ebert’s review stated that The Eagle feels like the kind of adventure movie Hollywood does not make much anymore. It is a sword-and-sandals story built around a clear mission, rugged locations, and two leads who carry the film without needing huge spectacle. The movie keeps things grounded, and that helps it stand out. What works here is the scale. The fights feel physical and human instead of bloated with effects, and the movie shows real interest in its setting and time period. It is less about flashy action and more about survival, loyalty, and pride. Donald Sutherland also adds some welcome presence in a smaller supporting role.
“The Eagle is rated PG-13, and that’s about right. The blood and gore is kept to a reasonable level, and the battle scenes are about heroism and strategy, not special effects. The Eagle attempts to create characters with some dimension and complexity. During Donald Sutherland’s interlude as the wise uncle, it provides some notion of the function of empire, then and later. And Tatum and Bell do a good job of sculpting the heroes to a fairly human scale and not indulging in foolish poses against the horizon. The movie goes a little over the top in finally showing us the Eagle, but what can you expect?”
The Eagle is streaming now.
- Release Date
-
February 8, 2011
- Runtime
-
114 Minutes
- Writers
-
Rosemary Sutcliff, Jeremy Brock
Entertainment
Michael Blackson Shares Video Of His Infants Born 2 Months Apart
It looks like Michael Blackson is fully in his soft dad era, and we’re here for it. The comedian recently gave fans a glimpse into a special moment that had folks cheesing. And let’s just say, it’s giving pure joy and family vibes.
RELATED: Congrats! Michael Blackson & His Fiancée Rada Darling Welcome Their First Child Together (VIDEO)
Michael Blackson Shares Sweet Video With His Baby Boys
Blackson took to Instagram to share a heartwarming compilation video of himself spending quality time with his infant baby boys. In the clip, he’s seen watching them play together for the first time, clearly soaking in the moment. He captioned the post, “What a beautiful day, for the first time I got to see my boys play together… I have no idea how this happened but it’s the best feeling in the world and I won’t trade it for anything. Thank you God for two new healthy boys.” Keeping things on brand, Michael also added a little humor, joking, “I did not kidnap them, according to Maury this Tiger Woods and this confused looking Drake are mine…” And, the internet couldn’t get enough of the mix of love and laughs.
Folks Are SPLIT In Them Comments
Folks ran straight to TSR’s Instagram comment section and had a whole field day with this one. Some couldn’t get over the fact that his baby boys aren’t actually twins. While a few were side-eyeing his caption like, “What you mean you don’t know how this happened… sir?!” Meanwhile, plenty of others were just here for the love, saying it’s beautiful to see his baby boys being cared for and celebrated.
One Instagram user @jaedubayou added, “I’m glad the mothers are letting the boys bond! ❤️❤️❤️❤️”
This Instagram user @therealdominiqueyoung commented, “May this love AND babies never find me 😂🙏🏾”
And, Instagram user @itsquooo shared, “Having hood twins at his big age is insane 😂😂😂”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @marianlouiseeee joked, “‘i have no idea how this happened’ 😂 now mr.blackson you know exactly how that happened“
While Instagram user @i_am_mizpurrfect said, “I haven’t took him seriously since i found out his accent was fake.“
Lastly, Instagram user @flygigi0807 claimed, “A man will really do you so dirty while you pregnant then turn around and thank God for it 😂😂😂”
Why Are Folks So Pressed Over Blackson’s Video?
Y’all… why are folks so pressed over a proud dad moment? Michael Blackson first shared footage of his newborn son “Lil Mikey” in the delivery room—calling him his “king” and celebrating alongside Rada. But things took a turn after Michael later revealed he actually welcomed two baby boys by two different women. And, of course, it sparked a whole lot of opinions online. Now, instead of just soaking in the sweet moments he’s sharing with his sons, some critics are side-eyeing the situation, while others are defending him and saying at the end of the day, he’s just embracing fatherhood and showing love to his kids.
RELATED: Not Done Yet! Michael Blackson Goes OFF On Katt Williams Over “Fake African Accent” Remark
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Prime Video’s Most Underrated 5-Part Fantasy Series Is Perfect From Start to Finish
It’s been a tough decade for fans of fantasy television. Despite the early, world-shattering success of Game of Thrones and the prestige fantasy boom that followed, the last few years have seen a severe drop-off in quality for many promising projects. After the abrupt cancellation of The Wheel of Time, the disappointment of Season 2 of both The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon, fantasy television hasn’t hit another peak yet. Thankfully, fantasy fans don’t need to look too far for a more reliable television experience, as there’s one series that has never released a single bad season: The Magicians.
Based on the book trilogy of the same name written by Lev Grossman and created for television by Sera Gamble and John McNamara, The Magicians is often described as Harry Potter, but in college. It’s a subversive take on high fantasy that infuses the awe of learning magic on Earth with all the hilarious misadventures of maturity. The series follows Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph), an awkward fantasy fan himself, whose dreams come true when he learns that magic is real and is invited to attend Brakebills, a college for the magically gifted, as a graduate student. Over the course of five seasons, Quentin subsequently realizes his favorite fantasy series is real, becomes schooled in the true meaning of magic, and goes on all sorts of hilarious adventures alongside an equally unhinged supporting cast.
‘The Magicians’ Is a Masterclass in the Art of Television Adaptation
We’d be here all day if we were to list everything there is to love about The Magicians. Not only does the series feature a talented cast of performers who consistently nail their roles, impressive special effects, and a unique message about the origins of magic, but by and large, The Magicians is an excellent example of how to adapt rich source material for the screen. Grossman’s novels are already engrossing and filled with relatable characters, lore, and tragic backstories, but Gamble and McNamara take advantage of their long-form format to flesh out the trilogy’s supporting players and make the world their own in a way that still honors the wayward spirit of the original. The result is a strong foundation for a series that only finds new ways to entertain, devastate, and enthrall you over time.
Which Hogwarts House Are You?
Some of The Magicians‘ best changes involve its main cast. Not only does the series greatly expand on characters like Margo (Summer Bishil) and Kady (Jade Tailor) — both of whom are based on characters who go by different names in the novels — but it also upgrades Fen (Brittany Curran) from a sidenote in the books to one of the show’s most hilariously chaotic mainstays. Furthermore, the series honors the queerness of characters like Eliot (Hale Appleman) and Quentin with heartbreaking storylines that go beyond the teases and more ambiguous circumstances of the original trilogy. This earnest focus is what allowed The Magicians to release its most beloved and iconic episode, Season 3’s “A Day in the Life,” and also consistently deliver some of the show’s most beautiful moments between the two in later seasons.
‘The Magicians’ Makes the Source Material Its Own
Aside from expanding Grossman’s world and honoring his characters, these additions are also what allow The Magicians to sustain its level of high quality across all five seasons. Although the series stretches its source material to more or less encompass its full run, the reality is that the show could have wrapped things up in at least three seasons if its creators had opted for a more straightforward adaptation. The reason The Magicians never experiences a sudden shift in quality or narrative drop-off is because the show’s storytelling never becomes dependent on the books. Unlike Game of Thrones, which found itself in serious trouble once the show caught up to George R.R. Martin‘s series, The Magicians developed so many fresh takes on Quentin and his friends that it had plenty of additional material to explore, allowing The Magicians show to come into its own over time rather than stray from the conventions of someone else’s world.
Between the show’s exploration of the underworld, multidimensional antics, and depiction of morally disturbed gods, The Magicians partially maintains its narrative momentum through largely original storylines, but it also keeps things refreshing for fans of the show and books alike. With constant pop culture references dropped by one of television’s most underrated duos, it’s no exaggeration to say Margo and Eliot’s mere presence makes every one of their scenes better, and The Magicians‘ spontaneous musical numbers are another great example of how the series takes full advantage of its talented cast while also honoring the irreverent tone of the novels. Featuring creative episode formats involving split perspectives, alternate universes, and time loops, The Magicians also takes a page out of the narrative playbook of less fantastical shows like Community, allowing innovative approaches to the show’s unique medium to complement the self-sustaining power of its adaptation.
‘The Magicians’ Success Should Serve as a Lesson for the Future of Fantasy on Television
As with any fantasy series, there are some changes The Magicians makes that don’t quite land. Despite the power of Julia’s (Stella Maeve) journey and some welcome tweaks the showrunners introduce to her character, her short-lived ending in the series is conflicting, to say the least. Nevertheless, the heights The Magicians hit are far more memorable than its misses, and it is through the show’s strengths that it manages to remain compelling throughout all five of its seasons. A decision to kill one of the main characters, for instance, exemplifies how Gamble and McNamara were willing to deviate dramatically from their source material to move their story forward in a refreshing way. This absence allowed The Magicians to double down on its changes without relying on the novels’ original protagonist, opening the door for new heroes and villains to literally steal the show.
It’s not for nothing that The Magicians still feels like it has even more story to tell after its Season 6 cancellation, and it’s this level of success that makes the series the perfect roadmap for the future of fantasy television. At a time when series are either buckling under the weight of their source material or making changes that undermine the underlying narrative, The Magicians‘ ability to both respect and surpass its inspiration should be studied by streamers and other creatives in the industry. By keeping what works, expanding ideas that deserve more screentime, and being willing to kill someone else’s darlings to do what’s best for the story, The Magicians delivers five seasons of phenomenal television that never misses a beat.
Entertainment
Harry Potter Icon Officially Takes Over HBO Max With New Movie
A broad spoof of British period dramas was never going to be for everyone. But Fackham Hall clearly found the exact audience it needed once it hit streaming. The film arrived on HBO Max earlier this month, and from there it started doing the kind of numbers that make a fake-stuffy comedy suddenly look like a very smart bet.
After its streaming debut, the movie shot up HBO Max’s chart in the U.S., and it’s amazing how quickly it caught on. That’s a pretty great result for a title that looked niche on paper but now seems to be benefiting from the fact that viewers are always in the mood for something unserious. The cast includes Damian Lewis and Tom Felton, and the film plays like a deliberately silly cousin to Downton Abbey with murder-mystery energy thrown in. It’s exactly the kind of comedy that can get overlooked in theaters and then absolutely take off once people can watch it at home. HBO Max has turned it into a genuine surprise story.
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We pay tribute to the talents who helped define Hollywood.
Is ‘Fackham Hall’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review by Maggie Lovitt stated that Fackham Hall is a very mixed comedy, but it still has enough charm to work more often than not. The film takes clear aim at Downton Abbey and other old-fashioned period dramas, mocking their stiff manners, family traditions, and upstairs-downstairs romance stories. Some of the jokes are smart and some are painfully silly, so whether it works for you will depend a lot on your tolerance for very British, very goofy humor.
“Fackham Hall holds its own as the first of its kind — and carves out a brand-new niche in the satire landscape. No one has been brave enough to take on Downton Abbey (outside of SNL), and Fackham Hall sets a high standard for subsequent period drama satires. With the volume off, Fackham Hall looks like a brand-new historical drama to swoon over, with no expense spared on the production, but with the volume on, it’s a period drama that frat boys might actually be interested in.”
Fackham Hall is streaming now.
- Release Date
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December 5, 2025
- Runtime
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97 minutes
- Director
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Jim O’Hanlon
- Writers
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Steve Dawson, Andrew Dawson, Jimmy Carr, Patrick Carr, Tim Inman
- Producers
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Kris Thykier, Danny Perkins, Mila Cottray
Entertainment
Influencers Katherine Smith and Benjamin Finlan Split
Influencer couple Katherine Smith and Benjamin Finlan have called it quits.
“After 11.5 years of loving, enduring, surviving, and growing side by side, Ben and I made the mutual decision earlier this year to end our romantic relationship,” Smith and Finlan wrote in a joint Instagram statement on Saturday, April 4. “We know this may come as a shock to many. For us, it isn’t. It’s something we’ve quietly grieved for quite some time.”
They added, “There is no scandal. No fracture. Just two people who have shared more in a decade than many do in a lifetime, quietly acknowledging that love can change shape.”
According to Finlan, he was unsure how to “walk away from the girl [he believed] saved” his life after he suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2018.
“You don’t. You carry it with you: the history, the resilience, the versions of yourselves that only existed because the other was there,” the statement added. “[We] are forever bonded by hospitals and hope, by youth and understanding, by battles fought and won. That doesn’t disappear just because the romance does.”
Finlan was allegedly attacked in London in 2018, resulting in a TBI — a “disruption in brain function caused by a blow, jolt or piercing injury to the head, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders. The Canadian influencer comatose for one week and underwent multiple surgeries to remove parts of his skull. After flying home to Canada nearly two months later, Finlan was hospitalized again.
“I developed something called ‘syndrome of the trephined’ followed by an infection in my brain and things went downhill fast,” he recalled to Patient Voice in 2023. “I lost everything I’d previously regained. I had a seizure at one point that was so bad, I broke my hip. I ended up needing over 65 surgeries across four years. It was surreal.”

Katherine Smith in the hospital with Ben Finlan after his 2018 injury. Courtesy of Katherine Smith/ Instagram
Smith, then 25, became Finlan’s caretaker as he recovered from his severe injury. (Smith and Finlan were four years into their relationship at the time.)
“It’s so hard being a caregiver for your partner,” she told the outlet. “You don’t want to infantilize them, but there’s also this pressure to get everything right. It took some trial and error but we’ve found our routine and Ben has become incredibly independent.”
Smith and Finlan plan to remain friends after their breakup.
“We are still in each other’s corner. Still committed to each other’s happiness, health, and success. Just in a different way,” they concluded on Saturday. “Now, we can proudly say we are the best of friends, and always will be. We are forever grateful to the people who carried us through every season, who have supported us in every decision (including this one), and who have loved every version of us along the way.”
Entertainment
The Sylvester Stallone Slasher That’s So Bad It Needs To Be Studied For Science
By Robert Scucci
| Updated

Did you know that Sylvester Stallone was in a slasher in 2002 called D-Tox? Or maybe you remember it by its other, infinitely more punny title, Eye See You. It’s a slasher, whodunit, “we’re all locked up at a rehab center for troubled cops and somebody’s trying to kill us all” plot that had the potential to be unique, but instead burns through every single slasher trope faster than the box of oily rags and blasting caps next to the furnace in Homer Simpson’s basement.
The rehab compound is located in the remote Wyoming wilderness during a blizzard. Every single character, at some point, looks shifty-eyed and suspicious. The phones don’t work and the body count rises. Stallone marbles-mouths his way through the grieving process, which you think is because of his character’s alcoholism, but once he cleans up you realize that’s just how he talks. Kris Kristofferson sits menacingly by a fire.

Writer Howard Swindle really thought he had something here, but all he accomplished was swindling me out of 96 minutes of my time. Eye See You tries to be shifty and clever, but it’s so boilerplate that there are no surprises. Even worse, people are dropping like flies, and it’s just so boring.
D-Tox… Like Detox. Get it? Please Get It!
D-Tox, or Eye See You, centers on FBI agent Jake Malloy. A serial killer is on the loose, and he’s targeting police officers. The killer gouges the eyes out of his victims (get it? please get it), then hangs them up in a ritualistic fashion. Jake learns of this MO when he’s called to his former partner’s house to examine his remains. While surveying the crime scene, Jake receives a call from the killer, who’s now at his girlfriend’s home. Turns out the old “murder his former partner as a decoy so I can kill his significant other” move worked exactly as planned.

Jake goes on a three-month mega bender. His supervisor, Chuck (Charles S. Dutton), sends him to an experimental, remote rehab center in Wyoming run by former cop turned recovery counselor Dr. John Mitchell (Kris Kristofferson). At this fortified compound, devoted entirely to getting cops back on the wagon, we’re introduced to a bunch of hardened men, all of whom are so intensely gripped by their vices that they’re deeply unpleasant to be around.
Included in this lineup of guys, who may or may not be a serial killer hiding in a rehab center as a way to antagonize Jake, are ex-SWAT officer Peter Noah (Robert Patrick), British Bobby Frank Slater (Christopher Fulford), hardened homicide detective turned Bible thumper Willie Jones (Courtney B. Vance), LAPD’s finest mental case Lopez (Angela Alvarado Rosa), and geriatric RCMP officer McKenzie (Robert Prosky).

In addition to this group of boozers in blue are the staffers, like Dr. John’s assistant Hank and the resident nurse on duty, Jenny (Polly Walker), who becomes Jake’s romantic interest. Certainly a man who’s grieving the very recent, brutal murder of his girlfriend, and who also has a severe substance abuse problem, will benefit from becoming attached to somebody right before the killer continues his rampage in such a stark, bleak setting.
As you would expect, everybody starts dying, but their deaths are staged to look like suicides. Knowing the killer’s MO, Jake suspects foul play, and everybody starts to turn on each other. Conveniently, Agent Chuck stays in town because he figures they’ll need him to save the day by the third act, so he goes ice fishing and waits for his cue from the director. To add just a little more drama, the killer writes notes on the back of his victims’ eyelids, which is honestly the most impressive thing about this movie when you consider the texture.
$6.4 Million In, $55 Million Out

Receiving a very limited release, almost as if they didn’t want anybody seeing it, Eye See You currently carries an 18 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. It earned just $6.4 million at the box office against its reported $55 million budget. If I had to guess why this film flopped so hard, it’s because it doesn’t even know what kind of movie it is.
It’s a slasher that plays out like one of those mystery parties the desperate sitcom friend throws because they think it’ll make everyone like them more. A majority of the kills are off screen, which makes no sense because the bodies are still pretty gnarly when they’re discovered, and the gore is halfway decent.

The setting makes no sense. It’s a giant bunker in the middle of the wilderness, but everybody is still allowed to freely roam around as they please, weather permitting. You could have just sent them to a rehab in the city with better security. It would be just as isolated and more conducive to the kind of therapy sessions they’re trying to have. Nothing here makes sense, and it’s not even fun to watch because there’s not even any unintentional humor to celebrate.

Eye See You, also known as D-Tox, can be streamed for free on Prime Video, because I’m pretty sure the only way it’s going to make its money back is through the two-minute ads every 15 minutes.
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