By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 4 seconds ago

The rise and fall of Marvel is something that scholars and fans alike will be debating for years. The success of Iron Man in 2008 kicked off the most ambitious cinematic universe Hollywood had ever known. The interconnected nature of these films encouraged fans to watch each film, all of which built anticipation for big team-ups like The Avengers. For a while, it seemed like every major Marvel movie was destined to earn at least a billion dollars at the box office. After Avengers: Endgame, though, everything fell apart: box office dwindled, some projects lost money, and the former hype dissolved into effervescent malaise, all due to so-called superhero fatigue.

All of this is well known. What is less known is where it all started. What movie was actually the beginning of the end for Marvel’s nonstop success? It’s easy to place the blame on high-profile failures like Eternals and The Marvels, but the decline secretly began with one of the most beloved MCU movies ever made. The 2016 movie Captain America: Civil War (currently streaming on Hulu) is a comic nerd’s wet dream because it pits all our favorite action figures against each other in one cool action setpiece after another. Unfortunately, this film’s success convinced the studio that audiences mostly want fun cameos and CGI fights, and this soon transformed Marvel into a multiversal mess.

Hero On Hero Violence

The premise of Captain America: Civil War is that after the Scarlet Witch accidentally kills some bystanders while stopping a bad guy, the UN prepares the Sokovia Accords, which will effectively transform superheroes into government agents. Iron Man supports this idea, feeling that great power should come with great oversight and accountability. Captain America opposes the plan because he is wary of letting the government draft superheroes into being the World Police. Meanwhile, a new villain has figured out how to turn Bucky back into the Winter Soldier, and the secrets he exposes threaten to tear the Avengers apart, putting the entire world at risk.

Honestly, there’s a lot to love about Captain America: Civil War, which is why it’s currently sitting pretty on Rotten Tomatoes with a 90 percent critical score. It’s a movie that introduces some fan-favorite characters to the MCU, including Spider-Man and Black Panther. It’s also a fairly solid adaptation of one of the better Marvel comics storylines. The film is also filled with plenty of action, from the early fight against Crossbones to the jaw-dropping battle between different superheroes at the airport. All of this culminates in an awesome fight between Captain America and Iron Man, serving as an emotional climax to the movie’s complicated themes of superhero accountability vs. superhero autonomy.

A Sticky Situation

The performances in Captain America: Civil War are solid across the board. Newcomers Chadwick Boseman and Tom Holland are captivating and charismatic from the jump, giving their cameos some much-needed weight. Daniel Brühl effortlessly turns Helmut Zemo into the most sympathetic villain in Marvel movie history. William Hurt is all confidence and bluster, playing the kind of good guy that feels more like a villain. Elizabeth Olsen, meanwhile, is particularly good at playing a character haunted by her own mistakes, and these early traumas help to set the stage for her eventual mental break that we see in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

However, nobody brings Captain America: Civil War to life like the holy trinity of Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, and Robert Downey Jr. Evans is perfect at giving us a different side of Captain America’s patriotism, as he believes individual freedom is sacrosanct. Downey, meanwhile, gives Tony Stark a kind of haunted vulnerability that we haven’t seen since Iron Man 3, and we see how deeply personal the subject of superhero accountability has become to him. Stan plays Bucky as a wild card. He’s a character who can’t help being transformed into a weapon and isn’t technically responsible for his brainwashed crimes as the Winter Soldier, but Tony can’t forgive the blood on this hero’s hands.

The Beginning Of The End

With so much to love about Captain America: Civil War, why do I believe it’s effectively the beginning of the end for Marvel? For one thing, it ushered in the era of almost every MCU film feeling like Avengers lite. We stopped getting cool, solo character studies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and started getting endless distracting cameos. The first Spider-Man movie had to also be an Iron Man film, and the third Thor movie had to also be a Hulk movie. Later films like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness eventually buried what might have been interesting plots beneath one distracting cameo after another.

Those last two films were all about the Multiverse, and fans eventually found Marvel’s mania for this concept downright exhausting. Why did the studio go all-in on this idea, though? Simple: they thought they were simply giving fans what they wanted. Audiences loved seeing multiple superheroes in the same film, so Marvel embraced the Multiverse, allowing them to give us endless different versions of fan-favorite characters like Loki. What the studio didn’t realize was that simply having cameos for the sake of having cameos gets in the way of telling a good story. This was an inevitable turn-off for anyone wanting to see something more than action figures getting smashed together for two hours.

Everything Falls Apart

All of this, of course, began with Captain America: Civil War. If we hadn’t clapped so loudly for that airport fight, Multiverse of Madness wouldn’t have bogged down its plot with cameos from characters like Professor X and Mr. Fantastic. If we hadn’t all cheered to see different Spider-Men show up in No Way Home, then Loki wouldn’t have had a first season whose plot was “stop hitting yourself.” Now, Marvel is gambling everything on Avengers: Doomsday, a movie that assumes we’ll care about this brand-new villain simply because he’s wearing Tony Stark’s face. Why bother doing anything original anymore if your audience just wants more loss-effort, fan service slop?

Unfortunately, Marvel has been finding out the hard way that audiences really do want more than dumb cameos and CGI fights. We need, quite frankly, more than Captain America: Civil War has to offer. It’s a film that replaced the subversive brilliance of Captain America: The Winter Soldier with a story that has almost nothing more to offer than tights, flights, and fights. Is it fun to watch? Absolutely, and when you stream it on Hulu, this movie still goes down as smoothly as your favorite candy. But what if you’re in the mood for something other than an empty sugar bomb? 

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR SCORE

Sorry, kid: because of Captain America: Civil War, saccharine slop is the best thing Marvel has to offer.

Superhero movies may dominate the box office, but some of the most exciting storytelling in the genre is happening right on television. Let’s be real. Long-form formats give characters more room to breathe, relationships time to develop, and storylines the space to build towards satisfying payoffs. We’ve seen this time and time again. Just look at the recent release of Spider-Noir and Invincible. None of that development could have happened in a 2-hour window.

Luckily for us, several superhero shows are returning after critically acclaimed seasons, while others are finally bringing beloved characters and storylines to the screen after years of anticipation. Some promise universe-altering stakes, others are focused on deeply personal character arcs. Regardless, all of these superhero shows have given fans plenty of reasons to start counting down the days til they appear on our screens.

8

‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’ (2025–Present)

Season 2 Expected Release: Late 2026

Image via Disney+

As one of the best surprises in recent Marvel animation, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man avoids the trap of simply retelling familiar stories beat-for-beat. The first season established a completely new version of Peter Parker’s (Hudson Thames) origins, with his powers not seemingly coming from a lab-created radioactive spider, but a random spider infected by a monster in battle. However, the finale expands this lore, revealing how the spider was actually connected to a larger time-loop paradox involving Doctor Strange (Robin Atkin Downes) and Norman Osborn (Colman Domingo).

That’s why anticipation for season 2 keeps building—the show has already established that literally anything can happen. Between the Venom-like creature, the continued set up of Lonnie Lincoln’s (Eugene Byrd) transformation, the expansion of Nico Minoru’s (Grace Song) magical origins, and Oscorp’s mysterious experiments, there are so many questions left to answer. The time-loop twist alone suggests the writers are thinking much bigger than audiences initially expected.

7

‘Invincible’ (2021–Present)

Season 5 Expected Release: TBC

Image via Prime Video

At this point, Invincible has evolved far beyond its original coming-of-age superhero premise. Recent seasons have pushed Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) deeper into the Viltrumite conflict, forcing him to confront impossible choices about family, loyalty, and what kind of person he wants to become. Every season somehow leaves him more powerful and more emotionally damaged than before, which is honestly becoming one of the show’s defining traits.

The anticipation surrounding Season 5 comes largely from comic readers knowing just how much chaos still lies ahead. Some of the biggest wars, character transformations, and emotional payoffs still haven’t happened yet. Just look at how Season 4 ended: Mark is keeping the Viltrumites’ Earthly presence a secret and an impending viral wipe out may just loom ahead. This is easily one of Prime Video’s best shows—and one that will continue to be, so long as they keep to the trajectory they’re on.

6

‘VisionQuest’

Expected Release: October 2026

Image via Marvel Studios

When White Vision flew away at the end of WandaVision after recovering the memories of the original, the MCU essentially left a major dangling storyline unresolved for years. Thankfully, after a long limbo phase, VisionQuest is finally expected to pick up that thread later this year, following a version of Vision (Paul Bettany) who remembers an entire life he never actually lived. It’s a wonderfully intriguing arc for a character we all grew to love (at least the original version).

What makes the project exciting is that it has the potential to continue the most thoughtful and poignant elements of WandaVision. As a character, Vision has always been one of the MCU’s most philosophical, and this premise naturally raises questions about memory, identity, and whether someone can truly become the person they are meant to be. Plus, fans are eager to see how this will connect to the emotional fallout of Wanda’s (Elizabeth Olsen) story, especially given the lingering uncertainty surrounding her future. VisionQuest could become something the MCU arguably needs more of: a character-focused story with genuine emotional weight.

5

‘Wonder Man’ (2026–Present)

Season 2 Expected Release: TBC

Image via Disney+

Breaking through the post-Endgame fatigue, Wonder Man managed to win audiences over precisely because it wasn’t trying to be another massive MCU event. It was a simple tale of Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor navigating Hollywood while secretly grappling with unstable powers and an increasingly complicated friendship with Trevor Slattery (Sir Ben Kingsley). By the finale, not only did Simon embrace his powers, but Trevor himself took steps to write the wrongs of his past—even if this resulted in them both becoming wanted fugitives.

This is what makes the second season so exciting. For the first time, the show doesn’t need to hold back. Critics and audiences responded strongly to the smaller-scale approach, particularly the chemistry between Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley. Now, the show can expand on that while also showcasing the true magnitude of Simon’s ionic abilities, all while they run from the Department of Damage Control. The first season proved Wonder Man wasn’t interested in following the typical MCU formula. It was artsy, creative, and extremely character-driven, leaving fans wondering just how much stranger (and better) it might get now that it has the confidence to fully be itself.

4

‘Vought Rising’

Expected Release: 2027

Image via Prime Video

While The Boys may have spent the last five seasons exposing Vought International as a corporate nightmare, Vought Rising intends to go back to the very beginning. The prequel is set to focus on Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) and Clara Vought (Aya Cash)—more famously known as Stormfront—during Vaught’s early years in the 1950s. Here, the show will explore how the corporation built its influence and how its most dangerous figures helped shape the world audiences now know.

Sure, reactions to The Boys’ final season may be a little mixed at the moment, but there’s no doubt this new spin-off has raised some eyebrows. For one, the show isn’t centered on the “heroes” at all. Viewers already know Stormfront to be one of the franchise’s most horrifying villains (with an extremely horrific past) and Soldier Boy is far from the patriotic icon Vought markets him to be. As such, this show has the potential to reveal just how deep the corruptions and atrocities run, continuing the creation of stellar satires.

3

‘Lanterns’

Expected Release: August 2026

Image via HBO

After years of failed attempts to crack Green Lantern in live action, Lanterns is finally taking a different approach. Rather than immediately focusing on galaxy-spinning battles, the series will follow intergalactic cop Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as they investigate a mystery on Earth, using a more grounded detective-story structure to introduce audiences to DC’s cosmic mythology.

This approach is a huge part of why anticipation remains so high. Green Lantern lore can be vast and overwhelming. Choosing to anchor it through John and Hal’s partnership at least gives the show a stronger level of intrigue than another generic origin story. Better still, if Lanterns successfully balances noir-style mystery with the larger universe in the background, this could become one of the most important building blocks in DC’s new era.

2

‘X-Men ’97’ (2024–Present)

Season 2 Expected Release: July 2026

Image via Disney+

The first season of X-Men ’97 somehow managed to exceed nearly impossible expectations. What began as a nostalgia revival quickly became one of Marvel’s most emotionally ambitious projects, ending with the team fractured, key characters separated across time, and the future of mutant-kind hanging in the balance. Several storylines—including the Summers’ family arc, Apocalypse-related teases, and the fallout from Genosha—remain unresolved heading into Season 2.

And that’s exactly why fans are so invested in what’s to come. Season 1 wasn’t afraid to make painful decisions that fundamentally altered character dynamics. Season 2 is likely to follow suit—which is great given that this is what the show does best: highlight how the X-Men shine when the emotional stakes are just as important as the action. Season 2 now carries the rare advantage of having completely earned audiences trust, which makes every new development of this great modern animation feel even more exciting.

1

‘Daredevil: Born Again’ (2025–Present)

Season 3 Expected Release: March 2027

Image via Disney+

Having spent its first two seasons rebuilding Matt Murdock’s (Charlie Cox) world and escalating Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) grip over New York, Daredevil: Born Again appears to be approaching a major turning point. After all, Matt is now imprisoned after publicly revealing himself as Daredevil, while Fisk ultimately accepted an exile from his own city. Come season 3, the power dynamics would have completely flipped.

To make matters more exciting for fans, the new season appears to be diving directly into one of the most beloved Daredevil comic arcs of all time: The Devil in Cell Block D. Set photos, leaks, and official teasers have already revealed the reunion of The Defenders, with a larger street-level story looming in development—including the rise of new villains. There are also constant rumors connecting the show’s prison storyline to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, especially given Frank Castle’s (Jon Bernthal) involvement. More importantly though, Season 3 is likely to be where Born Again fully becomes its own saga. Matt is no longer protecting Hell’s Kitchen from the shadows. And that’s an incredibly dangerous ordeal.

Advertisement

Daredevil: Born Again

Advertisement

Release Date

Advertisement

March 4, 2025

Network

Disney+

Advertisement

Showrunner

Dario Scardapane

Directors

Advertisement

Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Next: 10 Superhero Shows That Are True Masterpieces

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 28 seconds ago

The 1980s were the golden era for Saturday Morning Cartoons. Half-hour animated spectacles that were commercials in disguise, carefully constructed to get kids to beg their parents to buy them a new action figure every week, were gold mines for toy companies. 

It all started in 1983 with He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, a syndicated series so prolific that it aired 130 episodes in only two years, on the way to becoming one of the most popular franchises of the 80s. Along the way, Mattel had the idea to make it a live-action movie, and in 1987, they unleashed it on the unsuspecting public, creating one of the biggest flops of the entire decade.

Their He-Man movie failed so hard; it destroyed the franchise, damaged careers, and took down an entire movie studio. This is why Masters of the Universe failed.

Turning He-Man Toys Into Tom Paris And Monica Gellar

He-Man was always going to be a tough cartoon to bring to live-action. The character designs are over-the-top and designed for animation. Who would even play the role of He-Man since Arnold Schwarzenegger was already Conan? The answer was Dolph Lundgren, fresh off a career-making role as Russia’s greatest boxer, Ivan Drago, in Rocky IV. 

The Swedish strongman certainly looked the part, but who could play his arch-enemy, Skeletor, the muscular skeleton sorcerer? Why, Frank Langella, of course? The Tony-winning actor was as odd a choice for Skeletor as Raul Julia was years later for the Street Fighter movie. The results were the same. 

Langella took the role because his son loved He-Man, and he treated his role as the skeletal sorcerer with all the seriousness of Shakespeare. Years later, Langella would refer to Masters of the Universe as one of his favorite performances, and to be fair, he rocks in this movie. 

Rounding out the cast are the two most popular characters from the Masters of the Universe cartoon, Thomas Paris and Monica Geller. That’s right, the live-action He-Man takes place on Earth with the future Star Trek: Voyager star Robert Duncan McNeil as the musician Kevin, and Courteney Cox as Julie. No one knew these two would go on to bigger and better things. In 1987, they worked cheap. 

He-Man Goes Shopping In The Real World

Masters of the Universe didn’t fail because of its cast. It failed because of money. Or rather, the complete lack of money.  The production company Cannon Films had picked up the rights to He-Man on the cheap. Who wanted to make a movie about a cartoon and a toy line? Nobody. 

Trying to adapt the over-the-top character designs of He-Man to live action proved difficult. Orko was so hard to bring to life that he was scrapped completely and replaced with Gwildor, an inventor who later appeared in the cartoon reboot. 

Worse, Battle Cat was cut from the film. A giant green cat may have been a little too much for audiences to handle, but again, this is the same franchise that also includes Beast Man. 

The comparatively small budget, ranging from $15 million to $22 million depending on who you ask, also impacted the story. He-Man’s battles on the planet Eternia? Gone. Instead, he gets to fight on the streets. Castle Greyskull gets maybe 15 minutes of screen time. 

A large part of He-Man’s appeal is Eternia’s mixing of high-fantasy with sci-fi. Putting Dolph Lundgren in a store doesn’t have the same appeal. It would be like watching Conan the Barbarian wait in line at the DMV. 

Cannon’s budget ended up running out and almost added one more casualty: Master of the Universe’s climactic fight between He-Man and Skeletor. With no money, the movie shoot ended a few days early, forcing director Gary Goddard and the team from Mattel to scramble to get the money at the very last minute. 

They were able to get two more nights of shooting out of Cannon, enough to get the final battle, significantly stripped down from what the original script had called for, but good enough for the dire straits they were in. What would a He-Man movie be without a final knockdown, drag-out fight with Skeletor? 

Cannon Films Goes Bankrupt, Masters Of The Universe Goes Flop

Masters of the Universe overcame the bankruptcy of Cannon Films and finally saw the light of day on August 7th, 1987. That first weekend, it made $5 million dollars. 

That isn’t nothing, but it’sfar below what Cannon Films expected. Masters of the Universe ended its theatrical run with a total haul of only $17 million, failing to earn back its production budget and becoming one of the most notorious flops of the 80s. 

One of the biggest reasons Masters of the Universe failed was right there in the release date: August, 1987. 5 years after the debut of the toy line doesn’t sound like a lot, but it meant that the kids who were into He-Man were also 5 years older, and He-Man wasn’t cool compared to Transformers or G.I. Joe. Next to Optimus Prime and Snake Eyes, a shirtless guy shouting I HAVE THE POWER isn’t fun; he’s weird. 

The cartoon wasn’t even airing when the movie was released. New episodes stopped airing in 1984. Action figures were staying on the shelves, and there was another, subtle sign that He-Man was losing popularity: the 1985 animated movie He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword. The debut of She-Ra also flopped, earning back only half of its $12 million budget. 

That’s the saddest part of the 1987 Masters of the Universe movie: every reason it failed had nothing to do with the work of the cast and crew. The movie itself is incredible. It’s ridiculously campy; Dolph Lundgren’s overacting fits perfectly, and even with a small budget, you can tell they tried to cram in as much of the cartoon as possible. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s a lot of fun, and today it’s a cult classic. 

History Repeats Itself

That could change with Masters of the Universe 2026. The new film, starring Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Alison Brie as Evil Lyn,, Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms, Camilia Mendes as Teela, and everyone’s favorite companion, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress. 

History could repeat itself again: the rebooted cartoons, both She-Ra and The Princesses of Power, Kevin Smith’s Masters of the Universe series, and the He-Man CGI cartoon, have all come to an end. At least this time, the budget’s not a concern, but then again, Jared Leto is box office poison. 

If nothing else, the best part of the new Masters of the Universe movie release has been fans acknowledging that the 1987 film is a lot of fun. Dolph Lundgren has been given the red carpet treatment by fans, even handing off the sword to Nicholas. Nearly 30 years after he was laughed out of theaters, Lundgren is finally being appreciated. 

He-Man paved the way for a generation of cartoons and live-action adaptations, never quite reaching the height of those who came after, but it set the standard and blazed a trail so others could follow. 1987’s Masters of the Universe is one of the best-worst movies you’ll ever see. It deserved better, and never should have failed. 

Miles Teller and Keleigh Teller may be absent from the high-profile list of attendees expected at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s upcoming nuptials.

The quartet once shared a close bond which appears to have deteriorated in recent months, and were last spotted together in February 2024.

Now, insiders are sharing the reason behind the couple’s rift with Taylor Swift ahead of her nuptials with Travis Kelce.

According to TMZ, Swift’s alleged rift with Miles and Keleigh Teller has reportedly made the couple persona non grata at the singer’s upcoming wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce.

Swift and Kelce are said to be set to tie the knot early next month, more than two years after the singer was last seen with the Tellers in a VIP Super Bowl suite, where they watched Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers.

Despite the reported tension, mutual friends on both sides are said to be hopeful that a reconciliation can take place before the wedding, with a source branding it a “sad time” in the quartet’s relationship with each other.

As for the reason for the rift, another source told the news outlet that it stems from “differences” in lifestyle, particularly between Swift and Keleigh, although there has been no clarification on what that entails.

Neither side has publicly acknowledged or commented on any feud for now.

Another High Profile Star May Miss Out On Taylor Swift’s Wedding

Another major question surrounding the wedding guest list since Kelce proposed to Swift is whether her former close friend, Blake Lively, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, will receive an invitation.

Initially, sources suggested it was unlikely, as Swift reportedly did not want any negative attention surrounding her big day amid Lively’s legal dispute with “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni.

However, with the case now settled last month, their chances of being invited are said to have improved. Still, it is believed to ultimately depend on whether Swift is willing to move past her disapproval of being linked to Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni.

“I think there’s a far greater chance of it now that the case is settled,” a source said, per Page Six.

“As evidenced by [her appearance at] the Met Gala, Blake is ready to be back out there … she will be there with bells on if she is invited. But that’s a huge if,” the insider added.

Karlie Kloss Is Also Reportedly Not Getting An Invite To Her Former Pal’s Wedding

A recent report alleged that model Karlie Kloss will also be absent from Swift’s upcoming wedding after the singer discovered that she was not being “genuine” about her intentions.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the source noted that some of Swift’s friendships have become “strained” over time for various reasons, explaining that, like Lively and Reynolds, Kloss will also not be welcomed at the highly anticipated nuptials.

“When it comes to Karlie, Taylor ultimately felt that the trust in the friendship had been broken,” the source said.

While it’s unclear what exactly led to the broken trust, one source claimed it was due to Kloss’ close association with music mogul, Scooter Braun, who purchased Swift’s original record label in 2019.

However, another source shared that it had more to do with politics and Kloss’s ties to the Trumps.

Who Has Received An Invite To Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Wedding?

While Swift and Kelce have not publicly shared any official wedding guest list, several names have already surfaced online, with a few confirmed by the invitees themselves.

In a May 28 interview with Variety, Suki Waterhouse revealed she received an invite to Swift’s wedding and will be attending.

Gigi Hadid and Selena Gomez have also reportedly been invited. This comes as no surprise, as both share a close friendship with Swift and are said to be among those helping plan the singer’s bachelorette party ahead of the nuptials. Both may also serve as bridesmaids for the pop star.

Zoë Kravitz and Cara Delevingne are two other high-profile females also expected to attend the ceremony.

On the male side, Ed Sheeran, veteran coach Andy Reid, and several of Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs teammates are in line to make an appearance on the big day.

Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Potential Prenup Details Revealed

Due to Swift and Kelce’s massive combined wealth, speculation about whether they will sign a prenuptial agreement has been swirling for months.

Attention has also turned to what such a prenup might include, with lawyer Sarah Luetto, a partner in Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law Group, weighing in on the matter in an interview with Page Six.

“Swift and Kelce may wish to include terms fostering confidentiality and privacy,” Luetto suggested to the outlet. “This may include non-disparagement or non-disclosure terms related to their relationship.”

“In Taylor’s case, she would likely not want to include provisions limiting her from singing about her relationship in songs, particularly since there is always so much speculation about the subjects of her songwriting,” she remarked.

Swift and Kelce have not publicly confirmed whether a prenuptial agreement is on the table. However, there have been calls for Swift to have one in place, given that she significantly out-earns her footballer fiancé.

The Boys went out the way that it lived: loud, bloody, and utterly uncompromising. The pretty much perfect series finale delivered us a dead Homelander, a broken (and dead) Butcher, and a team scattered to the wind — a bleak but necessary conclusion to a series that never truly believed in happy endings. Despite its gut-punching audacity, the show’s finale left many viewers feeling hollow, as endings tend to.

Throughout television history, it seems that merely a handful of action-packed dramas have mastered the elusive art of perfect endings, delivering devastating, cathartic, or just plain satisfying finales. Regardless of how perfect the ending to The Boys is, there are other shows that seemingly delivered even better conclusions. Only six action shows have better endings than The Boys, their conclusions poetic, impressive, and intense.

6

‘Person of Interest’ (2011–2016)

Image via CBS

Person of Interest begins as a slick CBS procedural about a secretive billionaire, Finch (Michael Emerson), and an ex-CIA operative, Reese (Jim Caviezel), who work together to prevent crime using superintelligent AI. From there, it gradually evolves into a prophetic action drama; it spends the first two seasons in the shadows, playing cop-and-vigilante games, before escalating into a full-fledged war between two godlike artificial intelligences, the Machine and Samaritan. The action ramps up accordingly: urban warfare, sniper duels, and desperate last stands become the new normal, but the show’s core remains human.

The series finale, Season 5, Episode 13, “Return 0,” is a masterpiece by any standard. Despite being aired after a brutally shortened fifth season, it delivers a flawlessly structured finale. It shows Reese selflessly delaying everything and everyone, getting shot at and wounded, just to buy Finch time to upload a life-saving virus; it’s a moment of pure heroism that defies most modern, cynical action endings. In The Boys, Butcher (Karl Urban), the show’s unrelenting protagonist, also dies, not because he was willing to sacrifice himself, but because he needed to be stopped no matter what. Person of Interest demonstrates that sacrifice can be meaningful, that systems can learn goodness, and that people can choose to be decent.

5

‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)

Image via Cinemax

Banshee is a show based on a brilliantly absurd premise: an ex-con, fresh out of prison, assumes the identity of a murdered sheriff in the small, crime-ridden town of Banshee, Pennsylvania. Over four seasons, Lucas Hood — played brilliantly by Antony Starr, a decade before he’d terrify us as Homelander — squared off against neo-Nazis, Amish gangsters, Ukrainian mobsters, and a dark past that didn’t allow him to move on. Banshee is pure pulp, with fight scenes so exciting that they make you grip the pillow, but also a surprisingly tender found family core, with “Hood” joining forces with the sardonic hacker Job (Hoon Lee), the gentle giant Sugar (Frankie Faison), and the complicated love of his life, Carrie (Ivana Milićević).

Season 4, Episode 8, “Requiem,” is a one-of-a-kind finale that blends the show’s signature bloodshed with poetic grace. Hood faces several enemies alongside Carrie, Job, and Sugar, but this is their final mission together. Hood has an emotional goodbye with Carrie and then sits with Job and Sugar for a final round before departing. The final image of Hood driving away, despite having said goodbye to everything he had known for the past few years, represents the hope that we were also able to see in the finale of The Boys. Banshee tells us that even the most battered warriors can find a glimmer of hope, just like The Boys finds its good soldiers living happily ever after, after all. And while The Boys‘ ending feels bittersweet, Banshee‘s rewards the audience’s emotional investment, showing this brutal show still has lots of soul.

4

‘Black Sails’ (2014–2017)

Image via Starz

Black Sails was created as a raunchy, blood-soaked prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson‘s classic Treasure Island, following Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his battle against the British Empire from the pirate haven of Nassau. Over four increasingly ambitious seasons, this show evolved into something far richer: a Shakespearean tragedy about storytelling itself, in which history is written by the winners, and the distinction between monster and revolutionary becomes irrelevant. The action was always fantastic, with naval battles, beach invasions, and brutal sword fights, but the show’s true weapon was its dialogue, a dense, poetic exchange of philosophy and emotion that made each plot twist feel like a Greek drama.

The series finale, Season 4, Episode 10, “XXXVIII,” performs a breathtaking magic trick, revealing that Silver’s trump card against Flint is not a weapon but a secret. The final confrontation on Skeleton Island is more of a psychological demolition than a sword fight, as Silver uses his words to break Flint’s rage. Flint abandons the war and reunites with his long-lost lover in exile, finding peace despite being considered a monster in the eyes of many. It’s a conclusion that recognizes the power of myth, transforming a bloody pirate epic into a reflection on love and redemption. While The Boys possesses a blunt finality, Black Sails leaves us with possibilities, showing its prequel nature. This ending reframes four years of storytelling and encourages viewers to believe in the legend.

3

‘Spartacus’ (2010–2013)

Image via Starz

Spartacus is an action series told through a hyper-stylized, blood-splattered visual language influenced by graphic novels. This Starz drama chronicles the legendary gladiator Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) and his journey from enslaved Thracian to rebel commander threatening the Roman Republic. The show is filled with sex, violence, and operatic melodrama, but beneath the surface is a classical tragedy about freedom, brotherhood, and defiance of the system. The death of original star Andy Whitfield could have been a fatal blow to the show’s success, but the recasting of Liam McIntyre in Seasons 2 and 3 built toward an ending that history had already written: Spartacus’ death. Spartacus remains one of the nearly perfect action shows of our time.

The series finale, Season 3, Episode 10, “Victory,” is a stunning achievement, a massive and emotionally punishing battle sequence that feels encapsulating in every sense. The action is monumental, with thousands of soldiers clashing, but the true power comes from all the farewells. Gannicus dies smiling, and Spartacus finally finds peace in death — it’s a clear and historically accurate ending. The Boys leaves its world safer but without epic, historical heroes, and spiritually wounded; Spartacus ends by insisting that a life of resistance, no matter how futile, is a life worth remembering. It shows that a legend can often outlast even the most powerful empires, particularly when it represents a fight for freedom and peace.

2

‘Justified’ (2010–2015)

Image via FX

Justified is a modern-day Western dressed up as a cop show, with Timothy Olyphant‘s Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens and Walton Goggins‘ eloquent outlaw Boyd Crowder driving the plot. Set in the coal-dusted hills of Harlan County, Kentucky, the show spends six seasons tracing the fateful connection between these two men who grew up together and then found themselves on opposing sides of the law. The action is always entertaining, with quick gunfights, tense standoffs, and the occasional rocket launched with “Fire in the hole!” shouted out. However, the show’s soul lies in its dialogue, which often feels like a symphony of Southern wit and Shakespearean menace.

The finale of Justified, Season 6, Episode 13, “The Promise,” is an excellent example of delayed gratification. For years, the show teased a final, fatal confrontation between Raylan and Boyd, but the ending defies all expectations. Instead of a blazing duel, we get two quiet conversations: one in a prison cell and the other in a dusty field, where Raylan finally admits the bond he’s spent his entire life denying, though he and Boyd both understand that that bond is neither friendship nor a grudge but a simmering in-between. Every character receives a fitting ending, with Ava escaping, Boyd ending up in prison, and Raylan being transferred to Miami. Unlike The Boys‘ slew of violent, bloody deaths, Justified concludes somewhat peacefully, with the simple truth that some connections cannot be severed. It feels like Butcher and Homelander, although distorted in many ways.

1

‘The Shield’ (2002–2008)

The Shield is the FX drama that changed the rules of cable television by introducing us to Michael Chiklis‘ Vic Mackey, a corrupt LAPD detective whose strike team terrorized criminals and civilians alike in the name of a twisted, self-serving version of justice. Over the course of seven seasons, Mackey committed atrocities that would make Homelander proud, including murder, robbery, and betrayal of everyone who ever trusted him, all while claiming to be protecting his family. The show is a harrowing, morally chaotic ride, shot in a jittery documentary style that makes all the violence happening in it feel sickeningly real.

The finale, Season 7, Episode 13, “Family Meeting,” is without a doubt the best ending in action television history. There is no climactic shootout or last-minute redemption; rather, it is a brilliantly orchestrated finale against the show’s most violent transgressor — its protagonist. Vic discovers that his wife, Corinne, has been working with the feds against him, requesting witness protection for herself and their children. Vic is chained to his desk by a supervisor who cannot wait to make his life miserable, and the dramatic irony of a predator who thrived on the hunt now chained to a desk feels like the best version of justice. The Boys kills its monster and call it a day, but The Shield forces him to live, suffocating in his own cage, fully aware of everything he has done and lost. It is the purest, most merciless expression of consequences ever depicted on screen — a finale so well-crafted that it elevates every previous episode. That’s not just a better ending than The Boys; it’s the standard by which all endings are judged.

Advertisement

The Shield

Release Date

2002 – 2008

Advertisement

Directors

Guy Ferland, Scott Brazil, Clark Johnson, Dean White, Stephen Kay, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, D. J. Caruso, Nick Gomez, Paris Barclay, Peter Horton, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Philip G. Atwell, Terrence O’Hara, Billy Gierhart, Brad Anderson, Craig Brewer, David Mamet, Davis Guggenheim, Frank Darabont, Gary Fleder, John Badham, Leslie Libman, Michael Fields, Scott Winant

Advertisement

Writers

Shawn Ryan, Glen Mazzara, Charles H. Eglee, Kim Clements, Kevin Arkadie, Gary Lennon, John Hlavin, Lisa Randolph, Reed Steiner, Angela Russo-Otstot, Diego Gutierrez, Ted Griffin, Elizabeth Craft, Emily Lewis, Jameal Turner, Renee Palyo

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Widow’s Bay premiered on Apple TV back in April and has already quickly become one of the streamer’s most talked-about shows. The incredibly unique series is a blend of both horror and comedy, so you’ll find yourself covering your eyes in between hysterically laughing. Created by Katie Dippold, the show follows the story of a New England town called Widow’s Bay that just so happens to be cursed. Each episode dives further into an aspect of the curse, offering new terrifying horror elements. Matthew Rhys plays Tom Loftis, the mayor of Widow’s Bay, who is desperately trying to make the island a tourist destination — that is, before he starts becoming a target of the curse himself. Critics and viewers alike have been lauding Widow’s Bay as a must-watch, but now one horror legend has deemed the show worthy of a shout-out.

Iconic Director Guillermo del Toro Has Piled on Praise for ‘Widow’s Bay’

The king of horror, Guillermo del Toro, knows a thing or two about the genre. So, when he tweets some applause for a current television show, you better believe it’s worth watching. On May 30, he said: “If I may — in my estimation— #WidowsBay may very well be the best streaming series in a long time…and hands down one of the most mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in Horror.” Del Toro has landed eight Oscar nominations and three wins (Best Picture and Best Director for 2018’s The Shape of Water and Best Animated Film for 2023’s Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio), so one can assume that he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to high-quality projects. Del Toro’s works are always entirely original and stem from his quirky, altogether special creativity, so it makes sense that he would be drawn to a show like Widow’s Bay that can’t really be compared directly to any show we’ve seen before.

‘Widow’s Bay’ Dovetails Perfectly With Guillermo del Toro’s Own Body of Work

There is definitely some common ground found between del Toro’s legacy of work and Widow’s Bay‘s episodes. In the series, there are a plethora of frightening elements, such as a mysterious, deadly fog; creepy ghosts; and a nearly lethal witch’s spell that grabs hold of the townspeople. All of these aspects would fit right at home in del Toro’s oeuvre, which includes his 2007 fantastical film, Pan’s Labyrinth. Just like in that movie, there are subtle twists on scary forces so that the story unfolds in a wholly original way. Del Toro has always been able to utilize masterful cinematography in his work, and Widow’s Bay also leans on sweeping ocean views and changes in the color schemes of particular scenes to help the narrative feel even more suspenseful and captivating.

Despite the inclusion of terrifying monsters and villains, both del Toro and Dippold manage to dive further into character development than what’s typically seen in more traditional horror fare. We care about what happens to these characters because we’re able to explore more of what’s underneath. The more we get to know Tom, the more we appreciate that his straight-laced manner is because of grief that he has yet to properly deal with. This is also akin to del Toro’s 2025 version of Frankenstein, which allowed us to fully understand these familiar characters and their inner workings. Episode 6 of Widow’s Bay also aligns with Frankenstein‘s Gothic vibes with the series’ flashback episode, set in colonial America, where the birth of the island’s curse actually occurs. Connections to the horror maestro can be found throughout Widow’s Bay‘s episodes so far, including the masterful blend of light and dark forces at play in the world. Del Toro also had his hand in one of the best horror television shows in FX’s The Strain in 2014, so he knows what it takes to master this type of storytelling format.

By saying he’s impressed with the “narrative prestidigitation,” the director points out that Widow’s Bay is nailing the sleight of hand that makes you forget you’re not watching these events unfold in real life. The true magic is making the town of Widow’s Bay feel like an actual place, just like del Toro does with his brilliant projects. It’s always exciting to see what our favorite filmmakers are watching and recommending, and this shout-out from del Toro just solidifies what we already knew — Widow’s Bay is one of the cleverest horror shows on television right now.

Advertisement

Widow’s Bay

Advertisement

Release Date

April 28, 2026

Network

Advertisement

Apple TV

Showrunner

Katie Dippold

Advertisement

Directors

Sam Donovan, Andrew DeYoung, Hiro Murai, Ti West

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Summer dressing should feel easy, but somehow it’s always the season that inspires a wardrobe refresh. Between vacations, weddings, weekend brunches and everyday outings, there’s a good chance your closet could use a few new pieces right about now. The good news? Nordstrom’s sale section is currently packed with warm-weather staples that make getting dressed feel a whole lot more exciting.

From breezy dresses and versatile tops to comfortable sandals and polished pants, these discounted finds check all the boxes for a chic summer wardrobe update. Many of them have the elevated look of designer pieces, but the sale prices make them much easier to justify. Whether you’re looking to fill a gap in your closet or simply treat yourself to something new, these 17 Nordstrom deals are worth adding to cart before they sell out.

17 Summer Must-Haves in Nordstrom’s Sale Section

1. Coastal Classic: A pair of crisp white linen pants instantly makes every summer outfit look more expensive. This breezy wide-leg pair features a relaxed drawstring waist and lightweight 100% linen construction that feels cool even on the hottest days. Style them with a striped sweater, a tank or a button-down — these are the kind of pants you’ll reach for on repeat.

2. Matching Moment: There’s something undeniably satisfying about a matching set. Crafted from a softly textured knit, this T-shirt-and-shorts duo looks polished enough for coffee runs and casual lunches but feels every bit as comfortable as your favorite loungewear. Bonus: The pieces work just as well styled separately.

3. One-and-Done Wonder: This mixed-media midi dress solves the “what should I wear?” dilemma in seconds. The stretchy ribbed bodice creates a flattering shape, while the crisp cotton skirt adds volume and movement. Add sandals, grab a tote and you’re ready for brunch, errands or vacation sightseeing.

4. Everyday Elegance: These wide-leg cotton-blend pants capture that effortless vacation-dressing aesthetic everyone wants during summer. The fluid drape and relaxed silhouette feel elevated without sacrificing comfort, and the easy drawstring waist makes them perfect for long travel days or warm-weather weekends.

5. Quiet Luxury: Contrast trim gives this airy cotton maxi dress a subtle designer-inspired feel. The square neckline, slim straps and flowing silhouette create a timeless look that feels equally at home at a beachside dinner or an outdoor wedding. The creamy neutral palette only adds to the expensive-looking effect.

Related: Linen Dresses, Tops and More Are on Rare Sale at Nordstrom

As much as it pains Us to pack away our wool, fleece and corduroy pieces, it’s time to make way for spring-approved materials, like linen. Nordstrom is making sure everyone can get in on the lightweight feel with a major sale on linen dresses, tops, shorts and more. Complete your warm-weather wardrobe knowing you’ll be […]

Advertisement

6. Eyelet Charm: Eyelet details never go out of style, especially during summer. This linen-blend blouse features intricate cutwork and breezy elbow-length sleeves that feel feminine without being fussy. Pair it with denim shorts, white jeans or linen trousers for an easy seasonal refresh.

7. Confidence Booster: Finding a swimsuit that feels supportive and flattering can be a challenge, which is why this pleated one-piece deserves a spot in your cart. The crisscross detailing creates a smoothing effect, while adjustable straps and built-in support help you feel secure whether you’re lounging poolside or heading into the water.

8. Nautical Knit: Even summer wardrobes need a lightweight sweater. This striped crochet knit brings plenty of texture thanks to the openwork construction, while the subtly flared bell sleeves give it a playful finish. Toss it over shorts on cool evenings or wear it with white denim for a coastal-inspired look.

9. Borrowed-From-the-Boys: Every great summer wardrobe needs a crisp, oversized button-down. This linen-blend version drapes beautifully, creating that effortlessly chic silhouette fashion insiders seem to master so well. Wear it tucked, untucked, open over a swimsuit or tied at the waist — the styling options are endless.

10. Walking on Clouds: Comfort and style don’t always go hand in hand, but these crossover slide sandals manage both. The sleek leather straps look elevated enough for dresses and linen sets, while the podiatrist-designed footbed provides the kind of support your feet will appreciate after hours of walking.

11. Minimalist Chic: These square-toe slide sandals prove that simple can be incredibly sophisticated. The sleek silhouette feels modern and versatile, and the adjustable strap helps create a customized fit. They’re exactly the sort of understated sandals that work with nearly everything in your closet.

12. Pop of Personality: Summer neutrals are lovely, but sometimes an outfit needs a little color. These vibrant magenta sandals instantly brighten dresses, denim and linen alike. The cushioned footbed and supportive design also make them a practical choice for busy days spent on your feet.

13. Denim Darling: A denim dress is one of those timeless pieces that never really leaves style. This sleeveless shirtdress feels especially flattering thanks to the waist-defining tie belt and structured collar. Add sandals and a woven bag, and you’ve got an outfit that looks effortlessly put-together.

14. Desk-to-Dinner: This polished shirtdress earns major points for versatility. The adjustable waist ties allow you to customize the fit, and the breathable cotton blend keeps things comfortable throughout the day. It’s equally suited for office hours, dinner reservations and weekend plans.

15. Seaside Stripes: Nautical-inspired stripes always feel right this time of year. This soft organic cotton knit dress combines a flattering fit-and-flare silhouette with a built-in waist tie that helps create shape without any effort. Expect compliments every time you wear it.

16. Effortless Layer: A lightweight sweater is one of summer’s most underrated essentials. This airy V-neck features an open-knit pattern, relaxed dolman sleeves and chic metal button accents that give it a slightly elevated feel. It’s perfect for cool restaurants, breezy beach nights and unpredictable travel weather.

17. Little Luxury: A good robe can make ordinary mornings feel surprisingly special. This soft cotton waffle robe delivers spa-like comfort thanks to its breathable texture and relaxed fit. Consider it a simple upgrade that makes slow mornings and evening wind-down routines feel a bit more indulgent.