By Robert Scucci
| Published 32 seconds ago

If you’ve ever taken a creative writing class, you know how hard it is to use simple language to get your point across. Written, published words are forever, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of overcomplicating things. Mark Twain famously said, “Don’t use a five-dollar word when a fifty-cent word will do.” As much as I wanted to enjoy 2020’s The Mimic, written and directed by Thomas F. Mazziotti, I mostly felt like I was back in college workshopping an overzealous undergrad’s short story that was clearly written with the help of a well-worn thesaurus.

It’s not that the movie isn’t funny at times, or that the characters aren’t great. It is, and they are. The problem is that nobody talks like this, and dialogue meant to sound witty often makes the whole thing play like a prolonged episode of Gilmore Girls. The Mimic certainly tries to be a smart and witty comedy, but I’d enjoy it more if it didn’t feel like it was constantly reminding me how smart and funny it was.

The Kid Is A Sociopath

The plot for The Mimic would make for a great sketch or even a sitcom episode, but its 81-minute runtime becomes tiresome once you get to know the principal characters. Our protagonist, simply billed as The Narrator (Thomas Sadoski), is a widower and a writer (it’s all starting to make sense now). When The Kid (Jake Robinson) becomes a presence in his life, The Narrator immediately suspects he might be a sociopath. His reasoning is simple: The Kid copies everything he does and seems to have no personality of his own. The Kid never breaks eye contact while conversing, suggesting he’s constantly sizing up whoever he’s interacting with.

The Kid also has a number of odd hobbies, including ducks (in general), wild mushrooms, and talking about a wife who is never seen on screen. Fascinated by The Kid, and eager to prove his theory, The Narrator consults a woman known only as The Librarian (Jessica Keenan Wynn) so he can learn more about sociopathy. His ultimate goal is to write a story about The Kid and impress the women who work at the local paper, who constantly “bicker over semicolons.” As the two men get to know each other better, it slowly dawns on The Narrator that he and The Kid aren’t so different after all, raising the very real possibility that The Narrator himself may also be a sociopath.

All of the above scenarios make for a solid comedy if done right, but the standout moments that truly made me cackle, like The Kid’s awkward, impromptu bathroom escapades with Gina Gershon’s “Woman at the Bar” character, are few and far between.

That’s It. That’s The Whole Thing

Being married to a woman who was a teenager when Gilmore Girls was the talk of the town, the only thought I had while watching The Mimic is that The Narrator and The Kid are basically male versions of Rory and Lorelai Gilmore. Every single conversation becomes a rapid-fire deluge of pop culture references, psychological ramblings, and gotcha-style exchanges that force the viewer to keep up with them, despite the fact that most of these exchanges don’t drive the story at all.

What’s unfortunate is that there are some tremendous zingers here, but you’ll probably miss them while trying to unpack every single line of dialogue in real time.

Circling back to that Creative Writing 101 vibe, The Mimic falls into all the familiar traps. Mazziotti is too precious with his jokes and doesn’t always know when to trim things down. Given the film’s 81-minute runtime, it often feels like there simply wasn’t enough story to stretch the premise into a feature-length film. It makes you wonder how much better this might have worked if the whole thing had been trimmed to a sharp 20 or 30 minutes.

Things get even more convoluted when the perspective zooms out and we learn that two characters known as The Director (M. Emmet Walsh) and The Writer (Doug Plaut) are actively writing the script for The Mimic, arguing about motivation and how much of each character’s backstory should be revealed to the audience. The whole thing smells like an undergrad’s notebook. The kind of smell you get when the PB&J they packed a week ago and forgot about breaches the Ziploc bag and leaks all over the first draft right before peer review.

The Mimic, as a concept, has a lot of promise. As a feature-length film, though, it ends up feeling like all flash and no smash. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with these characters because they’re genuinely fun and riff well off each other, but I wish we got a more distilled, cohesive version of what Mazziotti was trying to accomplish.

As of this writing, The Mimic is streaming for free on Tubi.

Taylor Frankie Paul’s domestic dispute has reportedly caused The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to press pause on production — but will it affect The Bachelorette season 22 premiere?

While Taylor, 31, was allegedly involved in a domestic violence dispute with on-again, off-again boyfriend Dakota Mortensen this month, Variety reported on Monday, March 16, that the investigation “will not impact” The Bachelorette’s release schedule or press plan.

Taylor, who is the newest lead of the ABC dating franchise, is currently promoting the series in New York City. She is also set to attend a premiere event in Los Angeles this weekend ahead of the network premiere on Sunday, March 22.

Us Weekly has reached out to ABC for comment.

News broke on Monday that producers halted filming Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives after an alleged domestic dispute took place between Taylor and Dakota, 33, shooting season 5.

A Draper City Police Department spokesperson in Utah later confirmed to Us that a “domestic assault investigation” involving the former couple is ongoing.

“Allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on [February] 24th and 25th,” the police told Us.

Taylor, who is an original member of the SLOMW cast, has since felt the repercussions of the scandal within the group.

“The Mormon Wives cast [is] honestly terrified to film with Taylor right now,” a source exclusively told Us one day after the news made headlines, noting that production is “shut down” at the moment and “the women have made it clear they don’t want to be around her because they see her as a major liability.”

Prior to the ordeal, Taylor’s SLOMW costar Mayci Neeley revealed that the mom of three appeared to be “in a better mindset” while away from Utah and filming season 22 of The Bachelorette.

“That was an opportunity for her to be forced to be away from the toxic cycle that she was in with Dakota, at least for a period of time, to hopefully figure out what she wants and what she needs,” Mikayla Matthews exclusively told Us on March 2 of Taylor’s change. “I’m excited to watch The Bachelorette back, because I don’t know [what happened].”

While Taylor was seemingly in a good place while shooting the ABC dating show — which was filmed prior to her return to SLOMW — now, her suitors are in a bind as her and Dakota’s drama unfolds publicly.

Related: Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Taylor Frankie Paul Is the Next Bachelorette

Advertisement

Taylor Frankie Paul is set to hand out roses on season 22 of The Bachelorette — yes, really. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 31, was announced as the new ABC lead on Wednesday, September 10, via an appearance on Alex Cooper‘s “Call Her Daddy.” (The podcast previously teased a Bachelor Nation-related announcement this […]

“The men on The Bachelorette have all been rallying around each other in solidarity and feel extremely upset and let down by Taylor and the situation,” a source told Us on Tuesday.

Prior to her reality TV debut, Taylor made headlines for being part of a Mormon swinging scandal while married to Tate Paul. The exes, who share daughter Indy May, 8, and son Ocean, 5, got divorced in 2022.

Taylor has since been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Dakota, which has been tumultuous at times. The former couple share one son, Ever, 23 months.

The Bachelorette premieres on ABC Sunday, March 22, at 8 p.m. ET.

Westerns are celebrated as a timeless genre, but they’re too often rooted in nostalgia. When looking at the most popular contemporary Western shows of the 21st century, many are built on a yearning for a more old-fashioned tradition of stark moral boundaries, and they don’t acknowledge how much more complicated the world has become. Justified was a truly modern Western that doubled as one of the most engaging, exciting thrillers of its era. Although the short story “Fire in the Hole” provided the basic inspiration for the story of the no-nonsense U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), Justified went far beyond its source material to become a sprawling epic filled with memorable characters.

Even though it debuted on a prestige network like FX, Justified could have been a fairly straightforward procedural if it hadn’t been for a critical decision made during the pilot’s production. Walton Goggins made such a memorable impression as the smooth-talking gangster Boyd Crowder that it became impossible to go by the original plan and kill him off. The cat-and-mouse dynamic that grew between Raylan and Boyd evolved into mutual begrudging respect, as the two men on opposite sides of the law occasionally saw themselves on the same side. Justified was never predictable because it was never just one thing; it was an exciting adventure, a compelling mystery, a nail-biting thriller, a moving family drama, and a searing commentary about the state of America’s heartland all at once.

‘Justified’ Expanded Far Beyond Its Original Premise

Most crime shows are either procedurals or interconnected epics, which are two modes of storytelling that have their attributes and drawbacks; procedural shows offer variety without sticking to an evolving premise, and epics may be more consistent, but don’t have the opportunity for spontaneity. While the story’s threats were too complex to narrow down to just one episode, Justified never became repetitive because each season went in an entirely different direction. There was a variety that resulted from its revolving door of excellent guest stars; while Margo Martindale offered a sobering, dramatic performance that made Season 2 the show’s most emotional, Neal McDonough’s terrifying performance as a remorseless killer turned Season 3 into a high-octane thrill ride.

Related

Timothy Olyphant’s 97% RT Western That Inspired ‘Reacher’ Is Hitting New Global Streaming Heights

Walton Goggins also stars in the tense crime drama.

Advertisement

What differentiated Justified from other modern Westerns is that the show had top-notch writing and some of the strongest dialogue of the decade, thanks to the brilliant work of showrunner Graham Yost. Justified is responsible for dozens of memorable one-liners, but the show was never so obsessed with being clever that it forgot that its characters were real people; Raylan may be a charismatic figure with luck on his side, but he’s also a fallible person capable of making mistakes, which is something that is explored particularly well in the final season when his career becomes threatened. The show was also remarkable in how it examined complex issues without painting in black-and-white; Raylan was able to be a hero without the show lionizing law enforcement, and the depiction of a post-recession America was lived-in without caving to obvious messaging.

‘Justified’ Is the Most Consistent Thriller of the 2010s

It’s rare that a show perfectly sustains its run, but Justified ended at just the right point without getting derivative. Although it’s such a bingeable series that it may feel like no time had passed, Raylan transforms from a hawk-like loner to a valuable member of a community by the time that the series ended. Olyphant sadly missed the chance to fulfill his potential on a different Western show when Deadwood was cancelled prematurely by HBO, but he became so synonymous with his role as Raylan that he was called upon to play similarly terse law enforcement officers in Fargo and The Mandalorian. As for Goggins, Justified turned him from a bit player on The Shield to a slick, whip-smart villain whom audiences loved to hate, and then appreciated unconditionally; it seems unlikely that he would’ve landed roles on Fallout, The White Lotus, and The Righteous Gemstones without his versatile role on Justified. It also proved to be a testing ground for Yost, who would find great success on Apple TV with the sci-fi epic Silo.

Justified was a lightning-in-a-bottle success that proved difficult to replicate. While the revival series Justified: City Primeval dug deeper into Leonard’s influences and examined Raylan’s maturation as a father, it lacked Goggins’ greater presence, even if Boyd Holbrook did an admirable job as the new antagonist. The increased stakes led to an even more dramatic season, but Justified: City Primeval didn’t have the same eclectic pacing as the original, which remembered that all Westerns were based on tall tales that were intended to be fun. As a mystery that respected the audience’s intelligence, a workplace drama about the everyday responsibilities of the law, and a rare show that celebrated an unabashed hero in an era where antiheroes had become the norm, Justified is a true gem that continues to age well.

There are very few TV shows more 90s than “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which starred Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular Slayer. Even though there were a few different Slayers that were awakened during her tenure, Buffy Summers is considered the Slayer, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon. Despite various attempts to reboot the series over the years, “Buffy” has one big problem: finding its audience.

 Why The ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Reboot Was Seemingly Cancelled

At this point in time, it’s unclear why the reboot, which would have starred “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” alum Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the new Slayer, was scrapped. Although financial concerns most certainly played a role, Sarah Michelle Gellar seemed to point the finger at one person during a strongly worded interview with PEOPLE magazine.

“We had an executive on our show who was not only not a fan of the original, but was proud to constantly remind us that he had never seen the entirety of the series and how it wasn’t for him,” she said.

“That’s very hard when you’re taking a property that is as beloved as Buffy, not just to the world, but to me and Chloé,” she added. “So that tells you the uphill battle that we had been fighting since day one, when your executive is literally proud to tell you that he didn’t watch it.”

So Who Was The ‘Buffy’ Reboot Really For?

Although Deadline sources seem to point to that executive being Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich, who oversees Hulu original series, it does raise the question of who the show was supposed to be for. Was Armstrong supposed to be a new Slayer for a new legion of teenage fans? Or was Gellar supposed to be nostalgia bait for an older audience?

“I loved the duality that we had with this new, younger slayer who was where Buffy was when the show started, and then we would pick up with where Buffy was now,” Gellar told the publication about the plot, hinting that it would have had something for everyone, which means that there was a substantial risk of alienating some viewers who might not have been satisfied with that kind of passive approach.

Advertisement

The reboot appears to have been caught between positioning Armstrong as the face of a new group of fans while still leaning on Gellar as a tether to the past. This risks satisfying neither audience, leaving the series stuck in a limbo that might end up letting everyone down. Either the reboot is a nostalgia-grab powered by Gellar’s iconic status or a bold reimagining aimed at a newer audience, but it can’t be both.

Concerns About The Reboot Being Too ‘Small’

Sources told Deadline that there were various concerns about the production, including that the scope of the project might have been too “small” to achieve what they hoped to accomplish. However, those goals remain unclear, as audiences haven’t been given a concrete reason as to why the production was suddenly shut down.

There were also, apparently, some concerns about Armstrong’s age. She was only 15 when she was cast. Compare that to Gellar, who was 18 when “Buffy” first started production. However, Armstrong is hardly a new actor and has already amassed extensive experience in film and television, so it is unlikely that her age played a major role in the show’s cancellation.

While some insiders said that the pilot was “not perfect” and “not great,” a new rewrite addressing the feedback was apparently “more adult” and featured a lot more of the OG Slayer. Unfortunately, it seems that it was not enough to convince the one executive that Gellar singled out.  

There Are Plans To Make Another ‘Buffy’ Down The Line

Deadline reported that there is hope that another show will emerge in the “Buffy” universe somewhere in “the next couple of years,” but for Armstrong, it looks like her chance at a career-defining role has come and gone.

Advertisement

Many fans have taken to social media in order to voice their frustration. A large part of fan ire stems from the original “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” itself. The show’s pilot episode and first season weren’t particularly well-received, but the show improved over time as it found its footing. Cancelling the reboot after only one episode may have robbed it of the same opportunity.

‘Buffy’ Fans Are Expressing Their Frustration

Many fans have taken to social media in order to express their frustration over the reboot’s cancellation. One fan compared it to Netflix’s “Cobra Kai,” writing, “I think Hulu dropped the ball here. Reboots/Remakes draw a lot of attention to streaming services. Look at what Cobra Kai did. It became one of the biggest shows on Netflix. It brought in old fans and new fans. Wasn’t a perfect show, but fans of Karate Kid and new fans loved it.”

“This is an absolutely bonkers call to alienate an Oscar winner AND the one name the show absolutely can’t go on without as a first move under a restructuring Disney empire. It’s not too late to fire Erwich for incredibly bad judgment,” another fan wrote, adding, “This deserved a shot even if it needed more work.”

A third user pointed out how hard it was to get Sarah Michelle Gellar on board with even this version of a reboot, and noted that she was unlikely to come back in the future. “Well, whatever they do with the IP now, they’ll never get Gellar involved again,” they wrote. “That’s one seriously burnt bridge.”

Overall, any reboot is unlikely to happen for two main reasons. For one, it’s unlikely that Gellar is going to get her hopes up with another “Buffy” project, only to watch it get axed again. Secondly, it appears that execs still haven’t decided who exactly the reboot is supposed to be for. Either it’s nostalgia bait or a bold reimagining, but it can’t be both. And, until they decide what audience they want to appeal to, it looks like “Buffy” is going to stay stuck in purgatory.

Advertisement

In the 2025 groundbreaking one-shot series Adolescence, Netflix subscribers understood just how talented Stepen Graham is. Playing a dad whose teenage son is accused of murder, Graham gave one of the most powerful and raw performances the streaming giant has ever seen. For the role, Graham went on to win his first Golden Globe, Critics Choice and three Emmy Awards. But while his acting in the series is one for the books, there’s another series of his on Netflix worth watching too.

On October 19, 2023, Netflix released Bodies, a sci-fi murder-mystery thriller packed with time-travel that is as riveting as it is rich and complex. In each timeline the series explores, Graham emerges as a mysterious and all-knowing character, one that soon becomes the prime suspect in multiple timeframes. Graham’s wicked performance, coupled with incredible writing and a talented cast, make the series not only a must-watch, but one of Netflix’s best shows to date.

What Is ‘Bodies’ About?

Based on the DC Vertigo graphic novel, Bodies follows four detectives in separate eras as they investigate the same man’s body after they’re all found in the same spot in London. Alfred Hillinghead (Andor’s Kyle Soller) investigates in the late Victorian era of 1890, Charles Whiteman (The Queen’s Gambit’s Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) works to solve the mystery during World War II in 1941, Shahara Hasan (Amaka Okafor) works the case in the 2023 present, and Iris Maplewood (Shira Haas) is assigned to the case in a dystopian future in 2053. Shahara is the first detective to find the otherworldly connection between the cases, and quickly realizes that the secret to getting the mystery solved is to find ways to communicate across time.

The series then jumps across four time periods and sees each of the detectives attempting to solve the same murder to varying degrees of success. So, in addition to exploring the sci-fi element of time-travel and defying the laws of space and time, the series is also a heavy and addictive whodunit, with hundreds of rabbit holes and shady suspects. Speaking of, Graham plays the formidable villain Elias Mannix in each of the timelines. In the Victorian era, Elias goes by Jullian Harker, a wealthy man whose mother holds seances. In the dystopian future, he leads the group ruling Britain. In 2023, he’s a troubled teen played by Gabriel Howell. With all that said, Bodies reaches a rare feat by perfectly balancing multiple genres as a murder mystery, period piece, and family drama all rolled into one.

Related

The 40 Best Thriller Series of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb

Nail-biting masterpieces.

Advertisement

‘Bodies’ Uses Separate Timeframes to Explore Prejudice and Oppression

While the synopsis alone might have viewers eager to press play, Bodies‘ relevance only increases when looking at the detective’s personal lives too. Like any good detective show, the series is about much more than the case at hand, and explores the detective behind it too. And, this time around, there are four detectives to dive into.

With each of the characters, Bodies highlights an oppressed minority of the time. Hillinghead is a closeted gay man fearful of the prejudice around him, Whiteman is a Jewish man hiding his true background during World War II, Hasan is a Muslim woman dealing with the xenophobia of current-day England, and Maplewood lives in a tyrannical future. Despite having such different backgrounds, the show uses a sci-fi premise to portray oppression in multiple ways, showing not only how harmful hate can be in its many forms, but how different people can respond and retaliate at the center of it.

With a sci-fi time-travel element, and a mysterious and mind-bending whodunit driving the story, Bodies is one of Netflix’s most interesting and experimental shows. By blending so many genres into one, while still exploring the heartfelt and emotional personal lives of the four detectives, the eight-episode miniseries sets itself apart and becomes one of Netflix’s most underappreciated titles. At its heart, the series is all about using empathy and connection to get to the bottom of the truth, and viewers are at the edge of their seats throughout the journey to find it.

Related

The Truth Is In Here — The Collider TV Quiz!

This week, X marks the spot. Eight conspiratorial questions to see if you’re a real X-Files fan… or if you’re an alien posing as an agent.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

2023 – 2023-00-00

Advertisement

Showrunner

Paul Tomalin

Advertisement

Directors

Marco Kreuzpainter, Haolu Wang

Writers

Advertisement

Paul Tomalin, Danusia Samal

Advertisement

• 
• 

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Mikayla Matthews appears to be addressing the drama surrounding one of MomTok’s biggest members.

After news broke that production on season 5 of the hit Hulu reality show has been paused following a domestic assault investigation into costar Taylor Frankie Paul, Mikayla seemingly acknowledged the headlines in a social media post.

It all began when Mikayla joined Mayci Neeley to address recent online rumors that the pair are dating.

“Honestly one of the better rumors I’ve heard about myself the last couple days lol😚🥰😏,” Mikayla wrote via Instagram on Monday, May 16. Mayci added, “Who said it was a rumor👀.”

Related: Mormon Wives‘ Jessi Reacts to Filming Pause, Taylor Frankie Paul Drama

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Jessi Ngatikaura is weighing in on the news that production has paused on season 5 amid Taylor Frankie Paul’s legal drama with ex Dakota Mortensen. TMZ and People reported on Monday, March 16, that producers behind the hit Hulu reality show stopped filming earlier this month following an alleged […]

Mayci’s own husband, Jacob Neeley, decided to join in on the chatter by commenting, “I don’t think MomTok would survive this type of scandal.”

Mikayla, however, had a different point of view.

“@jacob.neeley I think it’s the only redemption for MomTok right now,” she replied.

The comments come after news broke of an alleged domestic dispute between Taylor and her on-again, off-again partner, Dakota Mortensen. A Draper City Police Department spokesperson confirmed to Us Weekly on Monday that a “domestic assault investigation” involving the former couple is ongoing.

A source also exclusively shared with Us that the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast is “honestly terrified to film with Taylor right now” and revealed that the women “have made it clear they don’t want to be around her because they see her as a major liability.”

Although the insider noted that prior to the incident, the cast “believed Taylor was in a better place” after she filmed her season of The Bachelorette, the reality star’s latest incident has raised some concern in the MomTok circle.

“Now, many of them feel they’ve moved past the point of dealing with this kind of behavior and simply don’t want to be put in that position again,” the source claimed.

Related: Taylor Frankie Paul Was in ‘Better Mindset’ Before Dispute, Costars Said

Taylor Frankie Paul seemed ready to start a new chapter without Dakota Mortensen while filming The Bachelorette, according to some of her costars from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Days before news broke that production on Mormon Wives season 5 was allegedly halted because of a domestic dispute between Taylor and Dakota, Mayci Neeley […]

Advertisement

Despite Taylor and Dakota’s drama, much of the cast is trying to move forward and continue to document the realities of their lives.

In her latest video, Mikayla asked Mayci to join in and mouth along to a sound from an episode of South Park that sees character Kyle Broflovski asking Eric Cartman, “What the hell are you doing going around telling people that we are a gay couple?”

After seeing the clip, costar Chase McWhorter commented, “MomTok Heated Rivalry would break the internet.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger are taking parenting a notch higher, shedding light on a unique rule in their home.

The couple’s parenting style may not come as a surprise, as they gave insight into shared principles they actively put in place to keep their family life grounded.

While the Pratt household appears to be thriving beautifully, his career, however, does not seem to be faring as well. 

Chris Pratt Reveals The Movie Rule That Exists In Their Home

Movies are widely accessible to many, but that is not the case for Pratt and Schwarzenegger’s children, as they shared per E! Online.

The “Parks and Recreation” alum revealed that not only have he and his wife’s children, Lyla, 5, Eloise, 3, and Ford, 16 months, never watched his movies, but they have never watched any films at all.

“My 5-year-old, my 3-year-old, and my 1-year-old have never seen movies,” he detailed, describing his wife as old-school. “Katherine is very old-school when it comes to screens and technology and all of that stuff. So, we’re waiting.”

However, the actor, also a father to 13-year-old son Jack with ex-wife Anna Faris, is looking forward to the day his younger children finally watch his films. 

“There’s gonna be a season, they’re gonna realize their dad is really cool,” he teased. “They haven’t realized it yet, but one day.”

He added that his teenage son already sees him that way. “My 13-year-old, I took him to a screening of the first movie,” he said of his animated film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” “He thinks it’s pretty cool.”

Chris Pratt Attributes Faith Journey To His Son

Although Pratt grew up with a strong understanding of faith due to his Catholic background, his beliefs wavered over time.

As reported by The Blast, after rediscovering his faith, Pratt admitted he struggled internally, caught in cycles of sin and forgiveness. This continued until the birth of his son, who was reportedly born nine weeks prematurely in 2012 and spent a month in intensive care.

“Then, when my son Jack was fighting for his life, I found myself back on my knees, pleading to God for a miracle. I promised that if Jack survived, I would devote my life to sharing God’s message. This time I meant it.”

The actor noted that since his family made it through that difficult period, each day has given him a renewed opportunity to thank God for his family and children.

Katherine Schwarzenegger Turns To Therapy To Embrace Parenting Role

Schwarzenegger did not simply step into parenting; she took intentional steps to ensure she approached the role with care and awareness.

As reported by The Blast, she prepared for her new responsibilities, not only as Pratt’s wife but also as a stepmother, by consulting a step-parenting therapist shortly after their engagement, fully aware of the role she was stepping into.

“And it’s been incredibly helpful for me and also just understanding my role as a step-parent,” the author shared, reflecting on her co-parenting dynamic with her husband’s ex.

She admitted that while her ego occasionally surfaces, she has learned to manage it, recognizing that the focus should remain on the child rather than herself.

Chris Pratt And Katherine Schwarzenegger Speak About Marriage Counseling

The couple’s intentional approach to parenting comes as no surprise, as they have previously spoken about the foundational steps they took before marriage.

Per The Blast, the “Jurassic World” star revealed that premarital counseling played a significant role in strengthening their relationship before it began.

“We did like six sessions with this guy who was, by the way, the best thing in the world.” She noted
“If you’re somebody who’s thinking of getting married, you should definitely follow this,” he continued, giving insights into the questions counseling forces one to sit with. 

Chris Pratt Panics Over Career Update

While his family life continues to flourish, the same cannot be said for his career at the moment. His recent movie, “Mercy,” has received negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office since its release this month.

Per The Blast, an insider revealed, “Chris is panicking. Full stop.” Elaborating further, they added, “This is the first time he’s really feeling his age in Hollywood, and it’s shaken him.”

They also noted that prior to “Mercy,” Pratt had starred in several blockbuster franchises that were expected to succeed. Without that strong backing, he is now reportedly confronting the possibility that he may not be as untouchable as he once believed.

Cruz Beckham, the third child of David and Victoria Beckham, is drawing attention for his new song, as listeners focus on its emotional lyrics. Many believe the singer wrote “Loneliest Boy” with his eldest brother, Brooklyn, in mind, seemingly hinting at his estrangement from the family.

This comes months after Brooklyn distanced himself from the rest of the Beckhams, blocking any communication with them after a lengthy post on Instagram alleging his parents had been controlling his life.

Is ‘Loneliest Boy’ About Brooklyn Beckham?

Cruz is on tour in the UK, and he has been performing an unreleased song titled “Loneliest Boy,” which seems to be about Brooklyn. The singer posted a short clip on social media on March 16, showing him singing the somber song and playing the guitar.

“Loneliest boy, mama don’t talk too much / It’s breaking her heart / It shows in the small things that you don’t do,” Cruz sang. In another part of the song, the lyrics talk about the loneliest boy always finding “something bad in somebody good.”

“Loneliest boy, I hope that you’re listening / Don’t push all your friends away, when we’re tryna show you love,” Cruz crooned.

Advertisement

Many fans loved the song, while others simply reacted with a crying face emoji, moved by the emotion behind the lyrics. One commented, “Awww, those words cut deep, it’s a beautiful song,” while one wrote, “Tell who hes addressing song to [sic].”

Cruz Beckham Defended His Parents

In December 2025, several outlets reported that David and Victoria unfollowed Brooklyn on Instagram amid their ongoing family feud. Cruz cleared the air and defended his parents by posting a screenshot of Daily Mail’s headline writing, “NOT TRUE. My mum and dad would never unfollow their son.. Let’s get the facts right. They woke up blocked… as did I.

In mid-January, Brooklyn released a lengthy statement on Instagram Stories, airing out his grievances toward his parents and claiming they “controlled” his life. He also alleged that his family “consistently disrespected” his wife, Nikola Peltz. “I do not want to reconcile with my family,” he said toward the end of the post.

Cruz Beckham’s Cooking Video

@cruzbeckham

wanna see the best cooking video ever ?👌 don’t watch this then

♬ Dolce Nonna – Wayne Jones & Amy Hayashi-Jones

In March, Cruz uploaded a cooking video on TikTok, where he made potato soup with cheese and bacon bits. “wanna see the best cooking video ever? don’t watch this then,” he captioned the post.

Advertisement

It was an innocent post, but fans were quick to point out that it may have been a dig at Brooklyn, who is passionate about cooking and often posts cooking videos on his social media. Cruz also posted the video on Instagram, tagging the Beckhams’ long-time family friend and celebrated chef, Gordon Ramsay, telling him to “watch out!”

As previously reported by The Blast, Ramsay shared his opinions on the rift between the Beckhams and offered Brooklyn some advice. At that time, the chef was still in contact with Brooklyn. Days later, however, Brooklyn also blocked Ramsay and his kids on social media.

Brooklyn Beckham Has Been Ignoring His Parents

David and Victoria seemingly want to bury the hatchet and reconcile with their eldest son. On March 4, Brooklyn celebrated his 27th birthday, and his parents greeted him on social media, posting Instagram Stories with sweet photos of Brooklyn during happier times with them. The couple expressed their love for Brooklyn and greeted him a happy birthday. Brooklyn didn’t respond to the post.

On March 15, it was Mother’s Day in the UK, and again, Brooklyn failed to greet Victoria. He did, however, greet his mother-in-law the day before, which also happened to be her birthday. “Happy birthday to the best mother in law x love u so much and hope u had the most amazing day,” he wrote.

Cruz Beckahm Hopes For A Reconciliation With Brooklyn

In an article with a video published on March 17, HELLO! caught up with Cruz as he was walking down the street and asked him whether he had spoken to Brooklyn amid the ongoing tensions in their family. Cruz kept his head down while walking, seemingly ignoring the question.

He was then asked whether he was hoping to repair their relationship. After a few strides, he looked up and said, “Hope to.”

Advertisement

Cruz is in the middle of his “mini tour” and will be heading to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, and London for the rest of March.