Entertainment
Prime Video’s $50 Million Royal Family Drama Is ‘The Crown’s Darker Replacement
After creating a juggernaut series like Mad Men, Matthew Weiner was likely given carte blanche by any studio or network to realize his most ambitious project to date. As a part of the Sopranos writing staff, Weiner pushed the envelope for dramatic cable television to transcendent heights during the medium’s heyday in 2007 with his award-winning AMC show about the inner world of advertising executives in New York in the 1960s.
After Mad Men‘s conclusion in 2015, Weiner returned three years later on Prime Video with another lavish period drama featuring a star-studded cast, including Mad Men alum Christina Hendricks and John Slattery, and a reported $50 budget across eight episodes. The Romanoffs left viewers and critics underwhelmed when it aired in 2018, but in an era where shows about royal families like The Crown grow in popularity every year, Weiner’s misfired one-season anthology drama about delusional heirs to royalty is ready for a reappraisal.
What Is ‘The Romanoffs’ About?
Across eight episodes of its lone season, The Romanoffs chronicles separate stories about people who believe they are descendants of the titular Russian royal family and its leader, Nicholas II, the nation’s last monarch until the Russian Revolution in 1917. The dense, all-star cast features the likes of Aaron Eckhart, Corey Stoll, Isabelle Huppert, Amanda Peet, Diane Lane, Kathryn Hahn, Noah Wyle (surprisingly not playing a medical professional), and many more recognizable character actors. Each episode is a standalone narrative, roughly the length of a short feature film, with the lone connective tissue being the shared sense of pride and royalty from these families across all walks of life in the present day. The show portrays a variety of people and environments, including hotel owners, suburban middle-class workers with pent-up rage and alienation, Mexican gossip columnists uncovering a malpractice scandal, and, in its most meta episode, an actor starring in a miniseries about the Romanov family.
Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “sleeping with the fishes.”
The sheer ambition and scope of Mad Men pales in comparison to The Romanoffs, a show that took advantage of Amazon’s foray into the movie and television industry. As a commercial titan, Amazon offered seemingly endless budgets to visionary creatives to fulfill the aspirations deemed uncommercial by the studios. Weiner’s series, which remains his last screenwriting credit as of 2026, evokes a sense of unbridled freedom that is both admirable and troublesome. Across each story about people who become empowered and obsessed with their false notion of royal heritage, grandeur runs through the entire anthology, during both its lighthearted and sobering moments. More than the spiritual presence of the Russian family, episodes of The Romanoffs are connected by a sense of eternal longing and deep-seated frustration about being trapped in gilded cages, making it a proper companion piece to Mad Men.
‘The Romanoffs’ Is Worthy of a Second Look
Despite its illustrious cast and an immensely revered showrunner, most people have probably forgotten about The Romanoffs due to its short-lived run. In fairness, the series falling out of favor and fading from our collective subconscious isn’t surprising, as this eight-part anthology about dense themes told through a heavy-handed lens can become tiring. “Self-indulgence” was a term that found its way into many reviews at the time, and the series’ aggressive confrontation of privilege, heritage, and insatiable human desires only validates these critiques. Where Mad Men was always focused, Weiner bit off more than he could chew with The Romanoffs. As is often the case with many anthology shows or movies, after some time, you wish you were just honing in on one of these stories. Here, Weiner tries to interconnect episodes, but any grand thesis ultimately comes up flat.
Having said that, The Romanoffs is exquisitely crafted, putting all big-budget blockbusters to shame. Weiner and his production team stretched their $50 million budget to its maximum; every set and costume is bursting with rich texture, a remarkable feat for a contemporary series. At the very least, Weiner has an impeccable eye for visual detail, as each setting, from New York City to Mexico City to Austria, is used as a perfect backdrop. There is an inherent sadness permeating this epic treatise on the disillusionment of life in modern America, and its heartbroken characters cling to their flimsy royal lineage for validation. Commentary on the empty void of life that is crucial to Mad Men is played for operatic effect. However, the key ingredient of The Romanoffs is that its characters wish to belong inside a great Russian novel, only to experience the true mundane, unceremonious perils of life.
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“Wuthering Heights” director, Emerald Fennell, made a surprising confession about a certain Margot Robbie scene that was cut from the film.
The scene in question featured the actress’s armpits and was meant to portray a historically accurate element of the period it was set in.
While “Wuthering Heights” was hit with negative reviews upon its release, the Margot Robbie-led movie was a commercial success, grossing over $242 million.
Fennell, during her appearance at the Hay Festival, admitted that it was “unfortunate” that a scene showing Robbie’s “extremely” hairy armpit was cut from the scene.
The director noted that she tried to take a stand on the matter of body hair after growing tired of seeing women in costume dramas with clean-shaven bodies.
Being the professional that she is, Robbie is said to have grown out her hair for this purpose, deciding to stop shaving for her role as Catherine “Cathy” Earnshaw. However, audiences did not get to see the result of her commitment to the part.
“Cathy does have extremely hairy armpits in this version. Unfortunately, the scene where we see them didn’t make it in,” Fennell shared at the festival in Wales on Friday, per The Telegraph.
She continued, “But it was so important to me, because where are the razors these women were using whenever I watch Jane Austen? They’re all hairless, like eels. What’s going on?”
Fennell’s desire for a historical depiction of body hair on women is likely rooted in the fact that certain grooming practices were not a thing during England’s Regency era.
The 2026 ‘Wuthering Heights’ Film Had Surprisingly Modern Elements
Despite her desire for historical accuracy when it came to body hair, Fennell didn’t seem to mind taking a more modern route when for certain aspects of the movie.
Robbie’s character, Cathy, notably donned clothes made from cellophane and plastic, like her see-through wedding gown, which contrasts with traditional 19-century wardrobe.
Then there was the inclusion of raunchy scenes in the movie, which weren’t in the original book. These scenes have been heavily debated on by fans and critics, with some branding them as “exhuasting.” Also, the movie’s soundtrack was recorded by pop star, Charli XCX.
Regarding these choices, Fennell noted, “I don’t mind having Charli xcx because I understand emotionally why she’s there and I understand what she’s saying. There’s that really wonderful suspension of disbelief between you and somebody watching.”
The Margot Robbie-Led Movie Was Shredded By Critics, But Became A Box Office Hit
Following its release, “Wuthering Heights” was met with harsh reviews, with many taking aim at Fennell and the movie’s stars, Robbie and Elordi.
The Times‘ Kevin Maher called out Robbie’s role as Cathy, labeling the actress “Brontë Barbie,” seemingly referencing her performance in the 2023 movie, “Barbie.”
Meanwhile, the Independent‘s Clarisse Loughrey, slammed Robbie and Elordi’s performances, claiming that it was “almost pushed to the border of pantomime.”
As for the sex scenes between the co-stars, Collider labeled them “exhausting,” adding that they sometimes “overstay their welcome.”
Fennell certainly faced the bulk of the backlash, with The Guardian‘s: Peter Bradshaw branding her take on Emily Brontë’s book as “an emotionally hollow, bodice-ripping misfire that misuses Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.”
“For Fennell, it looks like a luxurious pose of unserious abandon. It’s quasi-erotic, pseudo-romantic, and then ersatz-sad, a club night of mock emotion,” Bradshaw added in his scathing review.
The Movie Was A Commercial Success
Despite the negative reviews, “Wuthering Heights” still did well commercially, grossing $242 million worldwide on an $8O million budget.
It now sits as one of the highest grossing films of 2026 so far. The film is also doing well on streaming, debuting on HBO Max at number one worldwide, and topping the streaming charts in over 32 countries just under 24 hours.
Meanwhile, some critics had a more positive stance on the 2026 “Wuthering Heights” adaptation, with the BBC‘s Caryn James praising Fennell’s directing especially.
James wrote in her review: “Fennell’s approach is an extravagant swirl: sexy, dramatic, melodramatic, occasionally comic and often swoonily romantic.”
The Telegraph‘s Robbie Collin also praised the film, calling it “resplendently lurid, oozy and wild” in a five star review.
Margot Robbie Was Excited About The Movie’s Raunchier Spin On The Book
Prior to the film’s release, Robbie seemed excited about fans watching the movie, saying in interviews that they should prepare for more steamy scenes unlike what was written in the book.
“They never really kissed in the book, but we kiss a lot. We kiss everywhere,” the actress admitted, per the Daily Mail. “And there’s so many times where he just picks me up and puts me in a tree, or picks me up with one hand.”
She then talked about how much she enjoyed being lifted by Elordi in certain scenes, noting that it was “really nice, it makes you feel, ‘Oh I’m light as a feather, I’m a tiny little thing.’”
Robbie also shared that she enjoyed Cathy due how emotionally intense the role was. “I loved playing a character who kind of swings from one wild emotion to the other in an instant,” she said.
President Donald Trump is using the recent, deadly shooting outside the White House to justify the construction of the former reality TV star’s controversial ballroom.
“Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure,” the commander-in-chief, 79, wrote via his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday, May 23.
“The gunman is dead after an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service Agents near the White House gates,” Trump continued. “This event is one month removed from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, and goes to show how important it is, for all future Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C. The national Security of our Country demands it!”
On Saturday, a Secret Service agent confirmed to Us Weekly that a shooter was shot and killed and a bystander was injured during the violent incident outside the White House. The suspected shooter — who has yet to be publicly named at the time of publication — allegedly opened fire at a Secret Service checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington D.C., though no agents were injured.
President Donald Trump has said he is “honored” to be a target following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. “When you look at our great presidents, [this] doesn’t happen to people who don’t do anything,” Trump, 79, told reporters at the White House on Saturday, April 25. Multiple media outlets reported that a 30-year-old man […]
“Shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday, an individual in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi told Us at the time. “Secret Service Police returned fire, striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the shooting, one bystander was also struck by gunfire.”
Donald Trump Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
It is unclear if the innocent bystander was struck by Secret Service Agents or the alleged shooter at the time of publication.
Earlier this month, Trump repeated the same claim while stating that the 90,000-square-foot, $400 million project — double what he originally said the ballroom would cost — will be “the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world” and “very safe.”
President Donald Trump praised first lady Melania Trump’s reaction to a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “I want to thank the first lady, that was a rather traumatic experience for her,” Trump, 79, told reporters from the White House on Saturday, April 25. “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society, […]
“You’ll never see anything like it. And it’ll also be very safe. It’s going to be a very safe ballroom,” he said during an address at his second Rose Garden Club dinner. “You look through it, and you can see as perfectly as though it weren’t there. Now how’d they do that? I don’t know, but it’s at the highest level of safety, and you won’t have a situation as you had two weeks ago on Saturday night.”
While the president and his Republican allies have long claimed that the controversial ballroom would not cost U.S. tax payers a cent, Trump and senate Republicans have since proposed that $1 billion of U.S. taxpayer funds pay for the president’s vanity project.
Everyone likes to think they’re a film critic, but what the self-proclaimed film aficionados and cinephiles tragically miss out on is the pure bliss found in unabashedly indulging in a guilty pleasure. Prime Video’s newest romantic dramedy, Off Campus, based on Elle Kennedy’s beloved book series, is shaping up to be the next low-brow binge-watch obsession. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the series, starring Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli, has soared to the number one spot in just a week after its premiere.
It’s safe to say, this show is not for those on the hunt for the next avant-garde art house breakout series. But it is most certainly for those with an acquired palate. It’s for viewers who can look past the arguably tangled plot and painfully Gen Z dialogue to unearth the beating heart lying just beneath the surface. Or maybe it’s just for romance fanatics who enjoy watching hot people be hot! In any case, the series has exploded in popularity, and, after tuning in, it’s abundantly clear why.
The Premise of Elle Kennedy’s ‘Off Campus’ is Quintessential Fan-Fic Perfection
The eight-episode drama, directed by Silver Tree, follows two Brair University students: music major Hannah Wells (Bright) and star hockey captain Garrette Graham (Cameli). Desperate to make her crush, Justin Kohl (Josh Heuston), jealous, Hannah agrees to a mutually beneficial arrangement with Garett. She tutors him, and in return, they engage in a faux relationship. In a perfectly trash-romance fashion, Wells and Graham are forced to navigate the muddy waters that inevitably flood in as their phony pairing results in painfully real feelings.
Hannah is studious, awkward, and earnest. Garett is jaded, avoidant, and hot-headed. He’s the kind of guy who “doesn’t do girlfriends,” and she is a hopeless romantic. This age-old combination alone is practically a guaranteed formula for audience mania. However, it only scratches the surface of their connection.
Forget Slow Burn, Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli Go All in Right Off The Bat
Both our leading characters and the occasionally laughable plot can be summarized most accurately by looking into the opening scenes of Episode 1: “The Deal.” Hannah Wells is mopping the floor, refilling refreshment fridges, and cleaning up an almost empty hockey arena, while Garrett trains on the ice. Yes, coming in right off the heels of the sensation that was Heated Rivalry, yet another hockey-centric love story arrives right on time.
They cross paths as Wells stumbles upon a completely naked Graham as he showers in a locker room. She swallows sharply, and her jaw tightens, before stumbling over her words and then literally stumbling over a laundry cart. Garett turns to her, again fully naked and smirking, and she rushes out the door. The scene ends just as she pauses, as anyone in a rush would do, and laughs to herself. Evidently, show runner Louisa Levy spared no details in attempting to capture all the classic, quirky-romance-novel lead stereotypes with Hannah Wells.
As fate would have it, out of pure coincidence, Garrette is later seated behind her in class. Hannah aced an essay that the rest of her class failed, and after they’re dismissed, Garett asks her to help him with their next oral exam. He goes as far as to say, “You kinda owe me because of that sneak peek.” And thus, their paths irreparably intertwine. As romance tropes go, a morally grey jock paired with a bookish wallflower isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel. However, the charming sincerity of their growing connection feels exciting, though not necessarily original.
The Real Heart Underscoring the Cliché Absurdity of ‘Off Campus’
In defense of the series, Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus is not just a sexy Wattpad-esque marathon watch — or at least it isn’t only that. Both Garett Graham and Hannah Wells have immensely deep vulnerabilities that are slowly and carefully uncovered through Kennedy’s poignant storytelling and Tree’s directing.
Hannah Wells, on the surface of her character, is an immensely talented music major who is initially stunted by a terrible case of writer’s block. However, the core and center point of the show’s emotional grounding is found as it’s revealed in Episode 4, “The Breakup,” that Hannah is a sexual assault survivor. In an expert choice to depict the implications of this event realistically and respectfully, the trauma is not explicitly displayed on screen. Rather, the audience is let in through the current presence of grief, and avoidance toward the intimate relationships Hannah encounters and, over time, heals from.
‘Off Campus’ Stars Reveal the Ending That We Never Saw Coming for Allie and Dean
Mika Abdalla and Josh Heuston break down their characters’ journeys in ‘Off Campus’.
A passing glance at Garrete Graham would reveal he isn’t exactly a nice guy. However, his morality and at times questionable actions are illuminated through examining his past. It’s revealed that Graham’s father was an abuser, driven by an insatiable desire to control his son’s life and unrelenting anger. Because of this, Graham has a paralyzing fear of becoming exactly like his father. This is revealed in Episode 7, “The Face Off,” when Garrett blacks out on the ice in a fit of violence against his rival, who it was revealed was Hannah’s assaulter.
With all of that in mind, it can be said with great finality and full confidence that Off Campus isn’t gunning for a spot in the next award season. But it is, however, a smashing success and a more grounded and mature take on an age-old story. According to Variety, after just one week of its release, the series has been greenlit for yet another season. Things like that don’t happen by accident. This show combines messy romance perfection with very real character struggles and evolution. The electricity between the leads is complemented and even further deepened through the very rich inner worlds the audience is let into. Seemingly with ease, Off Campus has surpassed the expectations of being just another binge series.
- Release Date
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May 13, 2026
- Network
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Prime Video
- Directors
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Dawn Wilkinson, Erica Dunton, Silver Tree, Sam Bailey
- Writers
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Emmy St. Pierre
Donnie Wahlberg‘s Boston Blue is returning for a second season — so who is and isn’t returning after a major recasting?
Before Boston Blue, Blue Bloods followed the lives of the Reagan family, many of whom work for the NYPD under the leadership of NYC police commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck). Frank’s father, Henry Reagan (Len Cariou), was also central to the show, alongside Frank’s children: daughter Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) and sons Danny (Wahlberg) and Jamie Reagan (Will Estes).
The show aired from 2010 to 2024 before CBS announced a spinoff. Wahlberg’s character is at the center of the spinoff, which picks up as the former NYPD officer takes on a position with the Boston P.D. He is then paired with detective Lena (Sonequa Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.
Despite keeping a lot of details the same, Boston Blue went through changes when Mika Amonsen was added to the cast as Sean, which was originated by Andrew Terraciano. Boston Blue found success and was renewed after breaking records for CBS.
Keep scrolling to see which cast members are — and aren’t — coming back when the show returns for season 2:
Donnie Wahlberg
Sonequa Martin Green and Donnie Wahlberg Michele Crowe/CBS
After making the move from New York to Boston, Donnie Wahlberg’s character Danny introduced Us to the world of Boston Blue.
Sonequa Martin-Green
Boston Blue wouldn’t be what it is without Sonequa Martin-Green’s Lena being partnered on cases with Danny.
Ernie Hudson
Ernie Hudson’s character Reverend Edwin Peters has made consistent appearances in season 1 — with the same expected moving forward.
Maggie Lawson
As the Superintendent of Detectives with Boston PD, season 2 will continue to follow Sarah (Maggie Lawson) trying to balance work and her personal life.
Gloria Reuben
The Silver family is central to Boston Blue with Gloria Reuben playing the Boston District Attorney.
Marcus Scribner
The first half of season 1 ended on a shocking note when Jonah (Marcus Scribner) appeared to have killed his father’s murderer. Showrunners Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis promised Us that Jonah would be the focus of the rest of the season.
Mika Amonsen
After Mika Amonsen was recast in the role of Sean, the character became a major part of the Blue Bloods spinoff.
Xochitl Gomez
Mika Amonsen hinted that Sean’s romance with Penny (Xochitl Gomez) will continue to be explored — but it is unclear for how long.
Bridget Moynahan
Bridget Moynahan’s Erin a.k.a Danny’s sister was the first to cross over to Boston Blue from Blue Bloods. Moynahan has since directed an episode but a possible return on screen remains unclear.
Marisa Ramirez
Danny’s girlfriend Maria (Marisa Ramirez) has found the time to make the drive to Boston several times, which is expected to continue as their romance is explored on the show.
Andrew Terraciano
Donnie Wahlberg and Andrew Terraciano CBS
While Andrew Terraciano is no longer playing Sean, the actor expressed interest in returning to the franchise in some capacity, which the show’s executive producers haven’t ruled out.
Tony Terraciano
Tony Terraciano, Will Estes, and Vanessa Ray John Paul Filo/CBS
Andrew Terraciano’s brother, Tony Terraciano, played his sibling in Blue Bloods. Tony hasn’t returned for Boston Blue but his character Jack was mentioned, which opened the door for an appearance.
Calling something a masterpiece is a big deal. A lot of the time, a so-called masterpiece is a flawless piece of work that doesn’t falter in any shape or form. In many other cases, a masterpiece, especially on film and TV, is a matter of subjective thought and sentiment, meaning it can be flawed but still loved as a perfect result all around.
These underrated sci-fi shows can be called masterpieces and have often been called that by their fans. Moreover, critics also agree on most of them being great, making them prominent in the vast world of science fiction. You may not have known about all of them, but they’re worth your time.
’12 Monkeys’ (2015–2018)
Terry Gilliam‘s 1995 movie 12 Monkeys is often deemed an untouchable piece of sci-fi, so when the TV series adaptation came out, people expected a messy time-travel TV show. In reality, the series turned out coherent and thrilling, full of moments that the movie may not have had the freedom to include. The show ended after four seasons and 47 episodes with a pretty airtight ending; while initial reactions were mixed, the show experienced a rise in popular opinion, getting praise for its storytelling and making the time-travel narrative a lot more cohesive, even compared to the movie.
12 Monkeys follows a time traveler, James Cole (Aaron Stanford), who travels from 2043 back into 2015 to help a group of scientists prevent the organization known as the “Army of the 12 Monkeys” from releasing a deadly virus. In Cole’s timeline, the virus annihilated humanity in 2017 and caused irreparable damage to the world; another key player is virologist Cassie Railly (Amanda Schull), whom Cole must find and ask for help. 12 Monkeys was dismissed because of a relatively unknown cast, potentially a lacking marketing effort, and, moreover, because it was just another sci-fi adaptation, but this series comes really close to perfection.
‘Fortitude’ (2015–2018)
Calling Fortitude “sci-fi” might surprise people, but don’t worry, it’s not too much of a spoiler. Primarily advertised as a psychological horror/thriller, Fortitude is a brilliant little show that got sidelined by other shows at the time but can be considered a masterpiece from start to finish for many reasons. It has the power to immerse viewers in its fictional icy town so well that you’ll need a blanket while watching it, even if it’s warm outside. The show expertly blends psychological thriller, sci-fi, mystery, and even body horror.
Fortitude is the name of the small, remote Arctic town where the show is set. Armed with the fact that they’re the safest community on Earth, Fortitude begins experiencing something unprecedented—murder. The rise in deaths of the locals is alarming, and Sheriff Dan Anderssen (Richard Dormer) tries to get to the bottom of it all, which is where more sci-fi elements come into play. Fortitude has such a surreal, chilling atmosphere, and we must acknowledge it for that; beyond that, the cast is colorful and highly talented and includes names like Stanley Tucci, Christopher Eccleston, and Michael Gambon.
‘Travelers’ (2016–2018)
Travelers is so underrated, you’ve probably not even heard of it. This sleeper hit went under the radar, and it’s a rewatchable Netflix series that has intricate time-traveling rules, tight writing, and great pacing; its biggest strength, though, must be that it’s character-driven and, more than anything, human. Critically, Travelers was well-received throughout its three-season run, praised for the performances and storytelling, and labeled as a fun and enjoyable series. It stars Eric McCormack, MacKenzie Porter, and Nesta Cooper, among others.
Travelers is set in the present time and follows four individuals who were about to die, suddenly undergoing significant personality changes. It turns out these people’s bodies were inhabited by travelers from a distant future, who entered their bodies to prevent catastrophic events from happening. The travelers are special operatives, and viewers are shown how the team of five works together and within their tasks to make the future better without taking massive risks to damage the timeline. It’s a pretty intricate and fun premise, and it works well throughout the three seasons the show had.
‘Orphan Black’ (2013–2017)
Can we consider Orphan Black underrated? Absolutely. Despite its underrated status remaining and firmly defining the series, it was still popular among its most loyal fans online, who called themselves the Clone Club. It’s an “if you know, you know” thing, and if you know what’s good, you’ll sit and watch this five-season series. Orphan Black has clones, corporate espionage, and bioethics as its main themes, wonderfully blending sci-fi with a conspiracy thriller. The show is firmly guided by the steady and expert performance of Tatiana Maslany, who portrays multiple distinct characters very successfully.
Orphan Black is about Sarah (Maslany), a con artist living in Toronto, who one day witnesses the death of a woman named Beth. Upon closer look, Sarah realizes she and Beth are identical. She takes the opportunity to steal Beth’s identity and life, but then realizes she and Beth are part of a bigger scheme. Maslany portrays five known characters in the series, transforming into each in detail. The series, like any good sci-fi, explores the moral and ethical implications of human cloning, as well as its impact on the human psyche and identity.
‘Counterpart’ (2017–2019)
Counterpart is one of the best espionage thrillers of the past decade, but it’s also a show with a brilliant sci-fi twist. It deals with themes of identity, parallel universes, and conspiracies, and it’s something like Severance, if Severance had parallel universes and lots of spy action in a Cold War setting. I know the comparison isn’t all that great, but you’ll see why it was made. Counterpart stars J. K. Simmons in a dual role, delivering a powerhouse performance; it’s truly one of his best and proof of why he’s one of the best, too.
Counterpart follows the employee of a UN-adjacent agency in Berlin, Howard Silk (Simmons), who doesn’t know what his company really does or what his purpose is in it. His only job is to communicate through nonsensical messages with others—kind of like Severance, right? Things get crazier when Silk finally finds out his workplace is actually a portal to another dimension and that he has a counterpart who is much cooler and more involved in stuff than he is. Counterpart has only two seasons and 20 episodes, but it’s worth taking a longer weekend off to binge-watch it and make it less of a hidden gem.
‘Utopia’ (2013–2014)
Visually stunning, narratively bold, scored by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, and performed to perfection, Utopia is the conspiracy-laced sci-fi thriller you’ve always wanted to watch. Of course, because it’s a British TV series, it’s full of dark comedy, too, but it blends sci-fi, thriller, mystery, and action seamlessly besides that. There was a U.S. remake with John Cusack in it, but, for the love of God, skip it (not because of Cusack, just in general). Utopia is incredible not only for being a near-perfect product, but also because it predicted much of our current digital anxiety, narratives around humanity, and conspiracy theories that tend to rule the world.
Utopia follows a group of four people who meet in person after talking about the comic book called The Utopia Experiments online. They meet because they believe the comic predicted plenty of current world events, and one of them acquires a manuscript for the comic’s unpublished sequel that could possibly predict more disasters. However, the four aren’t alone; they’re being watched by an organization called “The Network.” Neil Maskell, who is quite famous in the UK, delivers his best performance as the emotionally unstable and disconnected killer, Arby.
‘The OA’ (2016–2019)
The OA may not be considered underrated by some people, but it’s still heavily underseen, and its premise might be the reason why. It’s really difficult to explain this show, but hopefully, it’d be enough to call it experimental, metaphysical, and absolutely mesmerizing. If you’re open to weird sci-fi series with philosophical undertones, The OA is beautiful and haunting. Hardcore fans of the show still mourn its premature cancellation but return to it once in a while for enjoyment and additional analysis. Creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij have already dabbled with sci-fi in the past, and it seems they’re willing to continue The OA with whatever it takes.
The OA is about Prairie Johnson (Marling), a young woman who returns home to her small town after being missing for seven long years. She returns with the ability to see, which she didn’t have before, and with scars on her back. Coinciding with that, Prairie claims she’s the “OA”—original angel—and refuses to speak about her disappearance. A lot happens that connects Prairie to the local crowd, and we get to see a lot more about her time away from home. Many people haven’t seen this wonderful show, but it’s one of the most unique premises in sci-fi.
‘Babylon 5’ (1993–1998)
Fans of The Expanse will love Babylon 5, which feels like an even more underrated space opera. Though The Expanse was considered underrated before, it’s fair to say that it’s been hyped up to bits and given a new lease on life; it’s time we do the same with Babylon 5, which had a pre-planned five-season arc before that was even a thing. The show draws so much from social and political events that were relevant at the time of its filming; it did something many sci-fi shows didn’t until then, like delving into the socio-political implications of humanity inhabiting other planets and turning them into colonies.
Babylon 5 is, very simply put, about the eponymous space station where humans and aliens work together to keep peace in the galaxy. However, secret wars, ancient evils, and political drama threaten to tear everything apart, and the show often focuses on the individual impact of these events rather than taking an overall look at them. The character-focused story is intricate and beautifully written, and a definite must-watch for any fan of science fiction and space operas. This cult classic is often cited among the greatest sci-fi series of all time.
Babylon 5
- Release Date
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1994 – 1998-00-00
- Network
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Syndication, TNT
- Directors
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Michael Vejar, David J. Eagle, Janet Greek, Jim Johnston, John C. Flinn III, Jesús Salvador Treviño, Kevin G. Cremin, Richard Compton, Tony Dow, Bruce Seth Green, John Copeland, John Lafia, Mario DiLeo, Stephen Furst, Adam Nimoy, Kevin Dobson, Menachem Binitsky, Doug Lefler, Goran Gajić, John McPherson, Kim Friedman, Lorraine Senna, Stephen L. Posey
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Bruce Boxleitner
John Sheridan
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The Indy 500 recognized late NASCAR driver Kyle Busch days after his death.
“As the drivers exit turn four … on lap 18, we remember Kyle Busch,” an announcer said during the Sunday, May 24, race, while being honored on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s scoring pylon.
The moment was shared via INDYCAR on FOX’s official X account, with a caption that read, “A tribute to Kyle Busch on Lap 18 of the Indy 500.”
Driver Romain Grosjean also honored Busch on Sunday while driving a No. 18 car on behalf of Dale Coyne Racing. The vehicle featured the same font that Busch used while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in NASCAR.
The racing world continues to pay tribute to NASCAR legend Kyle Busch after his shocking and untimely death. “A silent garage pays its respect as the No. 33 @RCRracing Chevrolet unloads at @CLTMotorSpdway,” the official NASCAR social media account wrote via X on Saturday, May 23, alongside a video showing the late driver’s team unloading […]
On Wednesday, May 20, Busch reportedly “became unresponsive” while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, according to the Associated Press. News broke the following day that Busch had been hospitalized.
“Kyle has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization,” the Busch family said in a statement shared on Thursday, May 21. “He is currently undergoing treatment and will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We ask for understanding and privacy as our family navigates this situation.”
Hours before his death, a 911 call obtained by TMZ revealed that Busch was at a training facility in North Carolina when he suffered a medical emergency.
“I’ve got an individual that’s shortness of breath, very hot. [He] thinks he’s going to pass out, and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood,” the caller said, noting that Busch was still “awake” and conscious. “He’s on the bathroom floor right now.”
The NASCAR world is reeling following the death of the two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, known to fans as “Rowdy.” The athlete died on May 21, 2026, at the age of 41 after being hospitalized with what his family described as a “severe illness.” The fierce competitor leaves behind his wife, Samantha Busch, and […]
NASCAR confirmed on Thursday that the athlete died at age 41. He is survived by his wife, Samantha Busch, and their two children.
“We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport’s greatest and fiercest drivers,” NASCAR said in a statement via X. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community.”
On Saturday, May 23, a rep for the family confirmed to NBC News that Kyle died of pneumonia that progressed “into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications.”
Kyle’s final race was the NASCAR All-Star Race on May 17 at Dover International Speedway. He finished in 17th place. “You never know when the last one is,” he told reporters after the race.
He was set to race at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, but pulled out due to his hospitalization.
It’s getting to that time of the year, and we can all feel it. The nights are getting longer, and the temperatures are getting lower. All you want to do when you get in after a long day’s work is curl up in a blanket and chuck on an easy-to-watch show that fills you with a warmth that the outside world is lacking. If you don’t want to binge Gilmore Girls, Community, or Gavin & Stacey for the billionth time, there’s no need to waste time scrolling through multiple streaming services, only to give up and go back to your usual shows. Instead, check out this comforting sci-fi series that has over 70 episodes to keep you company throughout these warmer months: Eureka.
The 2006 series slowly became a streaming hit for SyFy, averaging 3.2 million viewers during its second season and being nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series in 2007, and it’s easy to see why. With its fascinating premise and small-town vibe, Eureka is a show that never feels ordinary or boring. Its case-of-the-week narrative structure also makes it perfect for binge-watching.
Like all great shows, Eureka offers more than wacky jokes and impressive set designs. It explores themes of family and the dangers of over-ambitious science, yet never drags down or overwhelms its viewers.
‘Eureka’ is Set in the Strangest Town You’ve Ever Seen
One of the best things about comfort shows is that they typically work on a case-of-the-week basis, and that means the viewer can enjoy each episode in a microcosm, feeling as if they are not committing to any complex narrative that requires attention to all details for later, while secretly becoming more and more connected with the characters until they are obsessed. Shows like Doctor Who have also had success with this in the sci-fi realm, yet Eureka takes a slightly different direction. Rather than taking the protagonist to different worlds each episode, it keeps them grounded in one town, bringing the chaos to them.
The central premise of Eureka is that, while driving his runaway daughter, Zoe (Jordan Hinson), back home, US Marshal Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) winds up in a town named Eureka and learns this is a top-secret town where the country’s best scientists work on outlandish and society-defining experiments. After the sheriff of this town is injured, Jack is hired to replace him after helping with a case for the pilot episode, throwing him into a world of quantum physics and wacky scientists.
Because the show takes place in this small town, there is a relaxed tone surrounding the show, as all the characters know each other very well, and Jack gets to learn about this town along with the audience as an outsider, which means that as Jack becomes more comfortable, so does the viewer. While everyone is welcoming, with Jack even striking up a few love interests along the way, including Allison (Salli Richardson-Whitfield), an agent of the Department of Defense, there are still nefarious forces at work in the town that seek to expose their deepest secrets, acting as the overarching plot that unfurls throughout each season.
‘Eureka’ Is Full of Colorful Characters
When it comes to any show that can run for over 70 episodes, the characters are just as important to the premise. Viewers don’t want to spend hours and hours with boring people, and Eureka makes sure to imbue every character with a unique and intriguing nature that reflects the town’s eccentricity. While the characters might seem like they have small-town jobs, everyone’s backstory feels like it could be a show in its own right. With the sheriff’s deputy, Jo (Erica Cerra), actually being a badass former U.S. Army Ranger with an affinity for guns, Henry (Joe Morton), being the town mechanic as well as a space shuttle engineer, and Jim (Matt Frewer) being a seemingly crazy hunter who is really one of the greatest biological containment specialists in the world, there is no limit to the creativity Eureka displays in crafting its characters. This creates a sense of acceptance within the town, as those who might be considered oddballs in the outside world, like Allison’s son Kevin (Trevor Jackson), who is mostly non-verbal and has autism, find their differences embraced and encouraged in Eureka.
While the supporting characters fill out this world and make it so special, it is Ferguson’s Jack Carter who truly feels like the comforting factor in Eureka. Playing the role of the straight-man archetype, Jack Carter is perhaps the most “normal” character in the show by society’s standards. He isn’t a genius, and many of his jokes don’t land with other characters. Yet, he has a kind nature, and his true skill is his ability to empathize. When a boy goes missing in the pilot episode, and everyone else scrambles to look for him, Jack figures out the boy isn’t missing but hiding after being scared by his father’s experiment-gone-wrong.
Ferguson plays the character with a sense of realism because he, too, finds the town a wonderful yet mind-boggling place, poking fun at the show’s premise in a way that allows the audience to engage with it, rather than dismiss it as too silly. In a similar way that fans feel safe when around The Doctor, whether it is David Tennant or Ncuti Gatwa‘s version, because of his moral compass and competency, viewers feel at ease in Jack’s presence.
‘Eureka’ Explores Poignant Themes With Emotional Nuance
That isn’t to say that everything is perfect about Jack, or in his life, and this is where Eureka shines as not just another show to throw on while you doom-scroll, but a comforting watch that invites the audience to think about important aspects of life. The show has a strong focus on family and the love it creates. Jack’s main problem at the start of the show is his relationship with his daughter, as she is rightfully angry at him for leaving her mother and not being more present in her life, even if his job is important.
Eureka doesn’t want the viewer to condemn Jack, since it tries hard to make him so likable, but it points out how, just because someone thinks they’re doing the right thing, it doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting someone. As Jack and Zoe’s father-daughter relationship develops, the audience sees Jack challenged in what he values more, his family or his job, and whether his job can also involve his family.
46 Years Later, ‘Star Wars’ Greatest Quote Was Rewritten in This Sci-Fi Spin-Off
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At the heart of Eureka is also the exploration of how science can go too far, with both pure-hearted and sinister intentions, since almost all the conflict in the show is generated from failed and even successful experiments. The audience can delve into the deeper themes and how they comment on our own lives, or they can furiously study the characters and their dynamics throughout the show. And because the show makes sure it isn’t overly complex or intellectual, it also invites the viewer to simply enjoy the quirky mysteries that Jack investigates.
Actress Francesca Scorsese, the youngest daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese, is pushing back against online criticism after receiving cruel comments from trolls on social media. The content creator directly addressed the backlash, responding to negative remarks and defending herself.
Francesca followed in her father’s footsteps, making a career for herself in entertainment. While she has worked behind the scenes and directed some projects, she has recently nabbed an acting role in the upcoming season of Prime Video’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”
On May 23, Francesca Scorsese took to TikTok to express her frustration over some cruel comments she received on a recent post. According to the 26-year-old filmmaker, she got hateful remarks on the comments section of a video she reposted announcing her recent addition to the Amazon Prime series “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”
“It has some of the worst comments I have ever seen about me,” Francesca said. While she said she has gotten some flak over the years for being a “nepo baby,” the level of hate she has gotten recently was “something else.”
As for the nepo baby comments, she noted she’s aware of the opportunities she’s been presented because of her father, Martin Scorsese, but Francesca is still “going hard and being passionate and creating and doing the work.”
The Actress Calls Out Trolls Who ‘Seek Out Negativity’
Francesca continued, “If you go on people’s videos and you seek out negativity, you are a very, very sad person.” She then enumerated some of the harsh comments, saying that she was compared to a fridge and Ms. Piggy, while others said she was “incredibly ugly and fat.”
“I get it. I’m not the most beautiful girl in the world. I’m not the skinniest girl in the world. I’m chubby, I know it. But like, what the f-ck does it matter?” she said, telling her haters to go out on the streets and look around. “I don’t understand how hard it is to be a kind human being,” she added.
Francesca said she’s also speaking on behalf of other women who have received awful comments on their videos, urging users who have written hateful comments to look at themselves in the mirror. The actress has deactivated her X account due to the hateful comments, and she’s realizing that TikTok is becoming just as toxic.
Francesca Scorsese Talks About Living In Her Father’s Shadow
Francesca said that the amount of trolls online is astounding, and she doesn’t understand how they make it their mission to make people “feel like sh-t.” “This is the kind of thing that causes people to lose their lives, like, your words have power behind them,” she said.
The filmmaker said she’s “fine” and has been dealing with harsh comments for many years, partly because of who her father is. “I know I have a huge, you know, figure, my father to live up to, and like, that always overshadows me as a person,” Francesca said, adding that she only wants TikTok to be a “better place.”
Francesca’s post was met with support from her followers, with many praising her beauty, talent, and kindness.
Martin Scorsese Is Francesca’s Biggest Supporter
Martin was 56 years old when Francesca was born in 1999, and in a 2012 interview, he shared how his daughter inspired his 2011 adventure film “Hugo.” The renowned director said his young daughter’s imagination sparked the creation of “crazier stories,” which helped his filmmaking. “She’s a lifesaver,” he exclaimed.
In 2014, Martin penned an open letter to Francesca, sharing his reflections on filmmaking and the importance of artistic integrity.
Francesca studied filmmaking at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2023. Her thesis, “Fish Out of Water,” was screened at film festivals and received positive remarks from critics.
Francesca said that Martin has been her mentor, best friend, and biggest supporter. Their close relationship is highlighted on TikTok videos, wherein the actress has her father participate in viral trends, such as quizzes and lip-sync challenges.
Francesca Scorsese’s Latest Project
Francesca has directed a few projects, her latest being an episode of “Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints.” She has also had a few acting roles, appearing in cameos in her father’s films “The Aviator” and “The Departed.” In 2020, Francesca appeared in the series “We Are Who We Are,” followed by a role in the 2024 indie film “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point.”
In early May, Deadline announced that Francesca was added to the cast of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” Season 2, the spy drama series from Prime Video co-created by Donald Glover. Not much is known about the upcoming season’s storyline, but filming is underway.
Influencer Jeff Nippard is opening up about his mental health struggles after the death of his fiancée, Stephanie Buttermore.
“I’ve been staying in my friend’s basement for the past few weeks and he has a barbell and a dumbbell down there, so I’ve been getting back to my roots with some basic strength training again. A part of me likes having a minimal set up like this because the constraints force me to get creative,” Nippard wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 24, alongside videos of him exercising. “Working out during grief has been one of those things that I really don’t want to do but I’m glad I did once it’s done.”
He continued, “My depression has been bad, so my strength is down a lot and for the first time I can remember, I have no real desire to workout. That said, I do find that if I just say to myself, ‘Go in and lift the empty bar up and down 10 times, that’s better than nothing’ … at least I get moving. After that, if I still want to stop, I will. If it feels fine, I’ll keep going. I usually end up finishing the workout anyway because it usually does feel better once it’s started.”
Nippard shared that he’s also “taken some time away from social media and YouTube.”
Stephanie Buttermore’s fiancé, bodybuilder Jeff Nippard, was all smiles with the influencer weeks before her death. In an Instagram post shared on February 14, Nippard placed his arm around Buttermore as the pair sat on a couch and posed for the camera. In another image, Nippard showed a close-up of their colorful food. “Relationshipmaxxing with […]
“It’s a break that I felt I needed, so thank you for understanding,” he wrote. “I really appreciate all the support during this time and I hope you guys are doing well 🙏🏻.”
News broke in March that Buttermore died.
“It is with profound sorrow that we share the sudden passing of Jeff’s fiancée and partner of 10 years, Stephanie,” an Instagram statement from Nippard’s team read at the time. “As many of you know, Stephanie meant the world to Jeff.”
The statement continued, “She will be remembered for her warmth and compassion, her love for her family and her Ph.D research on ovarian cancer. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this tragic loss. Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time.”
One month later, Nippard broke his silence on Buttermore’s death by sharing that he had spent time with his late fiancée’s “family and closest friends to celebrate her life and share memories with each other.”
“When I think about Stephanie, I keep coming back to how loving and kind she was. She really made the world a better place,” he wrote via Instagram in April. “I’m not sure if many of you know this, but during her PhD, she studied a protein called RHAMM, and found out that it could help detect ovarian cancer early. There’s a copy of her PhD dissertation in my bio if you’d like to read it. It’s one of the first things that made me fall in love with her.”
He continued, “On her YouTube channel, she helped people feel less alone, especially when it comes to struggling with food and body image. Her journey helped so many people be more accepting of themselves, and I love her so much for doing that. She always put her family first and she had an especially loving bond with her mom. We built this backyard garden in her honour (purple was her favourite colour) and it means so, so much to me.”
Nippard shared that he had read “many” messages in the past weeks, noting that the “support has helped us all.”
“Stephanie’s mom loves hearing stories about the difference her daughter made. We talk almost every day and it’s been incredibly difficult but we’re making it together,” he concluded. “If you were a fan of Stephanie, then I’m a fan of you. I hope she made your life better in some way. She made my life amazing and I’m so grateful for the time we had ❤️.”
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