Ciara Miller is ready to move on from the drama surrounding the “Summer House” cast. In a new interview, the veteran reality star gave an update on her relationship with her former friend, Amanda Batula, and shed light on the upcoming three-part reunion.

Speaking with PEOPLE on the red carpet, Miller said she’s been in “survival” mode since the news that her former friend, Batula, was dating her ex-boyfriend, West Wilson.

She also spoke about the “Summer House” three-part reunion, which will air next week, starting May 26. “I’m excited to put it all behind me,” she said. “The reunion was quite a day, but we’re on to bigger and better.”

She continued, “You know, we can say goodbye to certain things.”

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Ciara Miller Confronts Batula Over Her New Relationship With Wilson In The ‘Summer House’ Reunion Trailer

According to a previous report from The Blast, Miller comes face-to-face with Batula and Wilson for the first time since they announced they were dating at the reunion.

In the teaser, Miller doesn’t hold back when talking to Batula, saying she’s been her “champion” for six years as she’s struggled in her marriage with Kyle Cooke.

“I couldn’t fathom that I would be sitting here p-ssed that you’re f–king my ex,” she said. “He wants to embarrass me. He wants to get his last little words in. And I hope it works, because he’s with you to spite me.”

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Elsewhere during her conversation with PEOPLE, Miller said that the reunion will give viewers “some clarity” regarding Wilson and Batula. “I think it was very cathartic. It was one of those situations that was very unfortunate, but I’m so excited to move on from this, and you can’t take everyone with you.”

Ciara Miller Is Excited About Starting A New Chapter

Continuing, Miller said that she was looking forward to heading into the “next chapter of my life [with] clarity on who’s supposed to be there and who’s not.”

Regarding her relationship with Batula, Miller confirmed that the former besties were completely done. “Yeah, for sure. For sure. I wouldn’t do this to my worst enemy.”

Speaking about her next chapter, PEOPLE reported that Miller landed a new job as the host of “Love Island’s Aftersun.”

For those who may be unfamiliar, “Aftersun” is the “companion talk show” to “Love Island USA,” where the hosts discuss what happened in the villa and speak with eliminated contestants.

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Batula And Wilson Confirm Their Romance In Joint Instagram Post

In late March 2026, Batula and Wilson confirmed their romance after weeks of speculation, per The Blast.

The two reality stars opened up about their unsuspected connection with a joint Instagram post, saying, “We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity.”

“It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we need a little space to process things privately before speaking on it,” the pair added.

Continuing, Batula and Wilson said their new relationship was a surprise to even them. “Our connection grew out of a genuine, long-standing friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care,” they wrote.

This ‘Summer House’ Cast Member Has No Time For Wilson

“Summer House” cast member Carl Radke spoke with the media about his friendship with Wilson, admitting that he hasn’t spoken to the 31-year-old since filming the reunion in April 2026.

“I’m not ready to respond,” Radke said after revealing Wilson texted him. “From what I know, what’s gone on and how he’s kinda handling it and how I handle things… part of me worries he doesn’t fully understand still the impact of this.”

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Radke explained that Wilson has displayed questionable behavior for years, adding, “We’ve been over this many times with him with Ciara and everything, many dinner tables on camera, many seasons.”

He added, “And here we are again. So, I don’t have a lot of grace for some of it.”

Kai Trump is giving some insight into how often her grandfather, President Donald Trump, calls her on the phone.

“My grandpa’s calling me,” Kai, 19, told her 1.49 million subscribers in a YouTube video shared on Friday, May 22, in celebration of her high school graduation.

The newly-minted graduate then picked up the phone while she was getting her hair done.

“Alright, I love you,” Kai told the president, 79. “Bye.”

Related: Donald Trump Jr’s Daughter Kai Celebrates College Plans With Lavish Party

President Donald Trump’s 18-year-old granddaughter Kai Trump shared her school spirit in a lavish way. Kai — whose parents are Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa Trump — celebrated her impending enrollment at the University of Miami by filling her bedroom full of merch from the school for a series of Instagram photos on […]

Kai then dished on how often her grandfather reaches out despite his busy schedule as commander-in-chief.

“So cute. Isn’t it so cute that he just calls me whenever?” she told her stylist. “He’s literally just, like, a grandpa, I swear. He literally is on the way back from China and he’s calling me. I know, very very cute.”

Kai is the eldest child of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex, Vanessa Pergolizzi. (The pair also share a son, Donald Trump III.)

Kai’s comments regarding her grandfather come after the president seemed uninterested in attending — and later confirmed he would not attend — Donald Jr.’s wedding to Bettina Anderson.

“He’d like me to go,” the president told reporters on Thursday, May 21, when asked if he was planning to be present for his son’s nuptials. “It’s gonna be just a small, little private affair and I’m gonna try and make it. I said, ‘You know, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things.”

The president added, “That’s one I can’t win on. If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed by the fake news, of course, I’m talking about.”

Donald Jr. and Anderson secretly tied the knot ahead of their scheduled Bahamas wedding, Us Weekly confirmed earlier this week. According to court documents obtained by Us, the pair obtained a marriage license in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday. The legal document was signed off by a deputy clerk, with real estate attorney Brad McPherson officiating the private ceremony.

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The license indicated that Anderson, a socialite and model, does not intend to take the “Trump” moniker as her legal last name.

According to TMZ, the pair plan to have a second ceremony in the Bahamas over the Memorial Day Weekend – a ceremony the president ultimately will not attend in person.

“While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so,” the president announced via social media. “I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time. Congratulations to Don and Bettina!”

2026 has been an exciting time for Hulu subscribers. In late February, the hit sci-fi series Paradise, starring Sterling K. Brown, returned to great acclaim, with the finale scoring 4.3 million global views in its first three days on Hulu and Disney+. More recently, the eye-catching trio of Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eiza González delivered a crime thriller with a time travel twist in Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, which earned “certified fresh” status on Rotten Tomatoes. However, no Hulu release in 2026 has been more tantalizingly awaited than the return of Rivals.

The steamiest show on streaming made a name for itself after debuting in late 2024, with strong word-of-mouth helping to carry the show’s popularity as millions across the world couldn’t get enough of the filthy-rich debauchery against the backdrop of the 1980s British countryside. Earlier this month, the battle between Corinium and Venturer returned in all its NSFW glory, as David Tennant‘s Tony Baddingham recovers from his run-in with Nafessa Williams‘ Cameron Cook, vowing to take revenge by any means necessary.

Tennant and Williams are joined in Season 2 by the likes of Aidan Turner‘s Declan O’Hara, Alex Hassell’s Rupert Campbell-Black, Bella Maclean’s Taggie O’Hara, Danny Dyer‘s Freddie, Katherine Parkinson‘s Lizzie, and more, with Rupert Everett and Hayley Atwell joining the cast. Following Season 2’s three-episode premiere on May 15, the love for this indulgent drama has returned without missing a beat, helping Rivals rank as one of the most-watched shows on Hulu in the U.S., at the time of writing. Unsurprisingly, in the UK, the show ranks #1 on the Disney+ charts and places seventh on the global ranking.

‘Rivals’ Has Returned to Critical Acclaim

Following the loss of the late great Jilly Cooper in October last year, the team behind Rivals were intent on making Season 2 the perfect way to celebrate her legacy. According to both critics and audiences, they have successfully hit this target, with Rivals Season 2 earning a 100% score on thereview aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have been quick to praise the show’s subtle move into more emotionally grounded territory without losing the raunchy chaos of the first installment. In Therese Lacson‘s review for Collider, she declared that “Rivals Season 2 surpasses Season 1 on nearly every front​​​​​​,” which seems to be an opinion shared by many.

Rivals is a streaming hit on Hulu and Disney+. For more updates on the latest shows, stay tuned to Collider.

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Release Date

October 18, 2024

Network

Disney+

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Directors

Dee Koppang O’Leary, Alexandra Brodski, Elliot Hegarty

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Writers

Clare Naylor, Mimi Hare, Kefi Chadwick, Dare Aiyegbayo, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Laura Wade, Marek Horn, Sophie Goodhart

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If we’re being honest, as much as we like Kayce Dutton and his team of Marshals on CBS, the series has always felt like Luke Grimes was dropped into a procedural and just happened to be a guy who’s previously existed on another TV series. We yearned for the open fields and the lingering shots of Yellowstone, from where he had been transplanted. And then, last week, Dutton Ranch arrived and with it, we got what we wanted once more.

Following its debut last week, Dutton Ranch has immediately become the most watched series on Paramount+, as audiences flock to watch the return of Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, along with their ward (and not some boy they just randomly stole from outside a hospital), Carter. The first season will run for nine episodes, with new episodes rolling out every Friday after the two-part premiere. The official synopsis reads:

“As Beth and Rip fight to build a future together — far from the ghosts of Yellowstone — they collide with brutal new realities and a ruthless rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire. In South Texas, blood runs deeper, forgiveness is fleeting, and the cost of survival might just be your soul.”

Who’s Involved in ‘Dutton Ranch’?

Dutton Ranch stars Kelly Reilly (Flight, Pride & Prejudice) as Beth Dutton, Cole Hauser (Good Will Hunting, 2 Fast 2 Furious) as Rip Wheeler, Finn Little (Those Who Wish Me Dead, Storm Boy) as Carter, Ed Harris (Top Gun: Maverick, Apollo 13) as Everett McKinney, Annette Bening (American Beauty, Nyad) as Beulah Jackson, Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad, Terminator Genisys) as Rob-Will McKinney, Juan Pablo Raba (Peppermint, Narcos) as Silas Vela, Marc Menchaca (Ozark, The Creator) as Zachariah, Natalie Alyn Lind (The Goldbergs, Big Sky) as Tess McKinney, and J.R. Villarreal (Akeelah and the Bee, Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion) as Luis.

The series is created by Chad Feehan, based on characters created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Feehan also serves as showrunner, while Christina Alexandra Voros directs multiple episodes, including the premiere and finale. Voros is a veteran of Sheridan’s shows, having directed all six episodes of The Madison, which was initially announced as another Yellowstone spin-off before it was later revealed as a standalone project ahead of its next two seasons. Voros also served as a director on Yellowstone.

Dutton Ranch airs on Friday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Paramount Network and streams on Paramount+.

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Release Date

May 15, 2026

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Paramount Network, Paramount+

Showrunner

Chad Feehan

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Directors

Christina Alexandra Voros

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Writers

Jacob Forman, Hilary Bettis, Chad Feehan, Hayley Tibbenham, J. Todd Scott, K.C. Scott

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Katy Perry came through with a message for Chief Keef, and now folks online are mentioning Sexyy Red. Katy dropped a funny video on social media trying to get Sosa’s attention, and the clip has fans sharing mixed reactions.

RELATED: That’s Bestie? Fans Question Sexyy Red & Chief Keef’s Status After She Drops Cozy Flicks 

Katy Perry Has Fans Talking After Dropping Message For Chief Keef

Roomies, Katy Perry has the internet popping off with reactions after she tried to get Chief Keef’s attention. The singer posted a video after a mashup of her song ‘Legendary Lovers’ mixed with some of Sosa’s lyrics started making rounds online. After fans peeped the track, they immediately started pushing for a real collab. Katy didn’t hesitate to make it happen and dropped a video saying she’s trying to reach him. She captioned her clip, “attempting to summon Mr. Keef.” 

The Internet Wants Sexyy Red To Come To The Front

Once Katy’s video started circulating online, fans quickly started mentioning Sexyy Red in The Shade Room’s comment section. Some joked that Red would show up instead of Chief Keef, while others doubled down on the fact that a Katy Perry and Sosa collab would go crazy.

Instagram user @simoneshontell_ wrote, “Not today Katy I already gotta fight Sexy Red over my BD 😩😂” 

Instagram user @eyinjuoluwaa001 wrote, “I thought he’d appear 🤔 😂” 

While Instagram user @liteskin_kesh wrote, “Plsssssssssss pretty plsssssssss🔥”

Instagram user @love.ciaah wrote, “This would be so lit if they link !!!!🔥🔥” 

Then, Instagram user @lorealmthomas wrote, “Say ‘bang bang’ in the mirror 3 times.” 

Instagram user @monetizedbygod wrote, “Yeah ok sexy red coming for u 😂😂😂😂😂” 

Another Instagram user @uniquely_humble wrote, “@sexyyred Sis , you may have to get in the field. You seen this? Lmaooo😂❤️” 

Instagram user @princedre._ wrote, “Sexy Red Will Fight You 😂” 

Then another Instagram user @iamtiaratifani wrote, “I know that’s right girl 😏😏” 

Instagram user @papichulo_300 wrote, “I thought he was about to appear out of thin air 🤣🤣🤞🏽” 

Lastly, Instagram user @notorious_vickie wrote, “Ok Sexy go pop up😂” 

Here’s Why Folks Online After Mentioning Sexyy Red

Fans probably started mentioning Sexyy Red because they know she doesn’t play about her “bestie.” Even though folks online keep speculating that they’re more than friends, neither of them has confirmed where they really stand. Still, they continue to pop out together online. In February, Red dropped videos and photos of them out together. One video shows them cruising in a whip together, with her legs on his lap. In another photo she shared, Chief Keef stands behind her and keeps a cozy grip on her chest.

See Sexyy Red’s posts here.

RELATED: Oop! Chief Keef Reacts After Sexyy Red Posts Cozy Flicks With Chris Brown (PHOTOS)

By TeeJay Small
| Published 3 seconds ago

Over the course of the last thirty years or so, video games have become so good-looking, so impactful, and so well-written that the best of them are effectively 15-hour-long movies. You’d think this would make them easy to adapt to the big screen, but apparently you’d be woefully mistaken.

Since the 1990s, audiences have been inundated with lackluster video game movies, bizarre studio notes, and downright disrespectful adaptations such as Borderlands, Rampage, and 1993’s Super Mario Bros. While we do get the occasional hit, nothing exemplifies the failure of film studios to grasp game adaptations quite like 2022’s Uncharted.

Uncharted is an adaptation of the PlayStation classic of the same name, which first released back in 2007. Over the course of four mainline games and a handful of spinoffs, the franchise follows the adventures of treasure hunter Nathan Drake. Drake is a borderline super-powered Indiana Jones type who spends his time uncovering lost pirate cities, locating buried treasure, and murdering thousands of enemy mercenaries without a moment’s hesitation. Ever since the first game released as a PlayStation 3 launch title, fans have been clamoring for a film adaptation, especially one that involves Nathan Fillion, who seems to be a dead ringer for the digital discoverer.

Released During Peak Tom Holland Fatigue

Unfortunately, the Uncharted movie we received might have been a monkey’s paw situation, as it completely failed to deliver on its premise. The casting is the most glaring issue of the film. For starters, Uncharted hit theaters right at the height of Tom Holland fatigue, so casting the Spider-Man actor in the main role seems like a giant mistake.

This could be easily forgiven if the film had procured the right actor for Sully, Drake’s mentor and right-hand man, but Sony fumbled that in spectacular fashion as well. Rather than giving us a grizzled, mustachioed, cigar-chomping elder such as JK Simmons, Bruce Campbell, or Bryan Cranston, Sony placed Mark Wahlberg in the passenger seat.

Mark Wahlberg Was Supposed To Be Nathan Drake

Wahlberg is so absurdly out of place in the film that watching Uncharted today feels like a fever dream. Still, a brief look at the behind-the-scenes history of the production helps to answer a few major questions. Apparently, Wahlberg signed on to portray Nathan Drake himself way back in 2010, when Academy Award-nominated filmmaker David O’Russell was still attached to direct.

At that time, O’Russell had cooked up some kind of off-the-walls pitch which included Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci joining the cast as Drake’s father and uncle, respectively. It sounds like something that wouldn’t gel with the game’s narrative at all, but at least it would be an interesting way to bring the character to the big screen.

A Ship Of Theseus Situation

Over the course of a decade, everything about the production changed, except for Wahlberg’s involvement. By the time the movie was ready to shoot, it had become a Ship of Theseus situation, resulting in the bland, poorly-realized adaptation we received.

So, Wahlberg aged out of the Drake role, became Sully instead, and made space for Tom Holland to do his confused little boy schtick. The writing is bland and forgettable, the stunts are half-baked recreations of the game franchise’s finest moments, and the direction is passable, but makes no lasting impact at all.

Fans Get It Right Where Hollywood Gets It Wrong

It’s a shame that the Uncharted movie couldn’t live up to the hype, especially since there are numerous unauthorized fan films on the internet that knock it out of the park. One viral fan film even features Nathan Fillion in the lead role, further exemplifying his willingness to bring the character to life. As it stands, we’ll probably never get another Uncharted film, and we don’t even have another Indiana Jones outing on the horizon to fill the treasure-hunting desire in our hearts.

If, for some reason, you’d like to see this train wreck for yourself, Uncharted is currently streaming on Hulu. If you have the means and the spare time, though, you’d really be better off playing any of the games instead.

A Virgin River actor has been found dead in British Columbia, and Canadian authorities now believe he was the victim of a homicide.

Stewart “Stew” McLean’s body was discovered in the Lions Bay area on May 22, 2026, marking the end of a weeklong search that began when he was reported missing from his home. He was 45. The late actor most recently appeared in season 7 of Virgin River, which premiered in March 2026.

As of publication, no suspects have been named and authorities have not disclosed a possible motive.

Keep scrolling for everything to know so far:

Stewart McLean’s Disappearance

McLean was last seen on May 15, 2026 at his home in Lions Bay, a small village along the Sea-to-Sky Highway north of Vancouver. Three days later, on May 18, the Squamish Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received a missing persons report and launched an investigation.

On May 19, 2026, the RCMP issued a public appeal for assistance, and Lions Bay Search and Rescue led the initial ground search. The case took a darker turn just one day later, when Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) deployed and assumed control of the case.

“Squamish RCMP initiated an investigation and, through investigative efforts, uncovered evidence that led investigators to believe Mr. McLean was a victim of homicide,” the team said in a press release.

A Homicide Investigation

Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) confirmed on May 22, 2026, that remains belonging to McLean had been found in the Lions Bay area.

The IHIT is a specialized unit that handles homicide cases across several jurisdictions in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. Squamish RCMP is continuing to work alongside IHIT and the Integrated Forensic Identification Service (IFIS) to advance the case.

“On May 20, IHIT deployed and assumed conduct of the investigation,” the team wrote in a statement. “Squamish RCMP continues to work closely with IHIT and the Integrated Forensic Identification Service (IFIS) to advance the investigation.”

No cause of death has been publicly released, and authorities have not shared any theories about what may have happened to the actor. Us Weekly reached out to IHIT for additional comment.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about McLean’s disappearance or the circumstances surrounding his death to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or via email at ihitinfo@rcmp–grc.gc.ca.

Stewart McLean’s Agency Pays Tribute

Jodi Caplan, McLean’s longtime agent at Lucas Talent Inc., shared a heartfelt tribute to the late actor.

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“It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved client, Stew McLean. I was fortunate to have worked with Stew for more than 10 years,” Caplan wrote. “He was always such a pleasure to deal with — dedicated, professional, eager, and endlessly funny. Many casting directors have reached out to share their condolences with Stew’s family and with our agency, and every message says the same thing: what a truly great guy he was, and how deeply he will be missed. Rest in peace, Stew. xo”

Before McLean was found, the agency had posted a plea on Facebook: “We’re concerned about our dear client Stew McLean – Please see below and share.”

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. 

Bethenny Frankel is offering rare insight into her coparenting dynamic with her ex-husband Jason Hoppy.

“I want to be in a successful relationship for myself and my daughter because we’re rolling very light and it comes up during holidays,” Frankel, 55, claimed on the Tuesday, May 19, episode of the “Aspire” podcast. “It comes up just in different ways with our unit.”

She continued, “There are a lot of personal things going on within her family dynamic, let’s just say, that have made it that I want her to be more part of a community.”

Frankel and Hoppy, 54, were married from 2010 to 2012, during which period they welcomed their now-16-year-old daughter Bryn. Amid their contentious divorce, Frankel and Hoppy battled in court over custody of Bryn.

Related: Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy: Where They Stand After Custody Battle

Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy haven’t been on the best of terms since their lengthy divorce and custody battle. Frankel and Hoppy, both 54, tied the knot in 2010 and welcomed daughter Bryn that same year. Two years later, Frankel and Hoppy separated. The Real Housewives of New York City alum filed for divorce in […]

A judge ultimately ruled in 2021 that Frankel was no longer required to pay Hoppy child support since Bryn primarily resides with her.

“I’m removing myself of this fight for Bryn and my physical, emotional and mental health,” Hoppy said in a court hearing at the time. “I will not spend the remainder of Bryn’s childhood fighting as we share joint physical custody. Bryn knows I love her, I want her and I will always be available for our time together.”

Frankel and Bryn eventually relocated to Florida in 2025.

“We were down in Florida and something very personal transpired,” Frankel said on her “Just B” podcast in May 2025, sharing the reason for the mother-daughter pair’s move to the Sunshine State. “I don’t want to get into all the details of this now, but something happened, and my daughter, who had said years ago, ‘I want to move to Florida,’ she cried to me.”

While Frankel initially dismissed Bryn’s request, the Skinnygirl founder soon realized how desperate her daughter seemed to be for a fresh start.

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“She meant it, and she begged me,” Frankel recalled. “She didn’t have to beg me, like, she was like, ‘I really want this.’ I know my kid and I knew that once this was presented … that she’d want to move. I was just like, ‘F***ing f*** it, OK.’”

Now, Frankel is hopeful to give her daughter a sense of community.

“I want a unit, I want a family,” she stated on Emma Grede’s podcast earlier this week. “I want to be part of a team, and I want to work for sure because I believe in the power of purpose and I believe in being connected to something. I just want enough of the vehicle that I can still connect with an audience in the way that I do now and laugh.”

The science fiction genre is one that lends itself perfectly to producing highly binge-worthy television. After all, what is it that makes a show bingeable? Serialized stories full of gripping mysteries and engaging plot lines, character arcs that are irresistibly compelling, and creativity so enrapturing that it makes clicking on the “next episode” button a necessity more so than a simple temptation.

Binge-watching television is a modern phenomenon of the streaming era, so it’s mostly newer sci-fi shows that are highly bingeable. But there are also plenty of classic sci-fi shows that seem prophetic in how they seemed to understand how audiences would consume television in the future, ticking every box that makes a show binge-worthy in the modern day. If we define “classic” as any series from the 20th century, that leaves us with 10 series that should all be considered essential viewing for fans of the genre.

10

‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)

Image via CBS

It’s true that an element of serialization is almost a necessity for a show to be binge-worthy, but the keyword here happens to be “almost.” The proof? The Twilight Zone, far and away one of the best American sci-fi shows of all time—and most definitely the most influential one. The thing about this classic is that it’s perhaps the most perfect use of the anthology format in television history.

As such, though there are definitely a few underwhelming episodes here, The Twilight Zone mostly delivers across the board. Its many distinct stories are so creative, so freshly original, and so delectably nostalgic that, even if there’s no serialization to keep viewers clicking on “next episode,” the episodes themselves are so strong in their own right that it’s impossible to stop moving on to the next one.

9

‘Batman: The Animated Series’ (1992–1995)

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

Whether superhero shows like Batman: The Animated Series should or shouldn’t be considered science fiction is a topic for debate, but what’s undeniable is that this is one of the best cartoons of the ’90s. It’s the definitive small-screen portrayal of the Caped Crusader (voiced by the legendary Kevin Conroy), a show that should prove irresistible even for those who hold no nostalgic feelings toward it.

This is another instance of a heavily episodic series that’s nevertheless borderline impossible to stop watching, particularly for those who already find the Dark Knight to be one of the most interesting superheroes in history. Everything about Batman: The Animated Series is so well-realized; its adaptations of and additions to the Batman lore are all so gripping; and its animation has aged so well that it’s abundantly easy to consume the whole thing in less than a month.

8

‘Stargate SG-1’ (1997–2007)

Image via MGM

The Stargate franchise was born from Roland Emmerich‘s 1994 blockbuster classic, and from there, we got one of the best military sci-fi franchises in the genre’s history. There’s really not much of a question regarding what the best or most popular installment in the whole franchise is: That honor would have to go to Stargate SG-1, which started out as more of a low-key niche product in the ’90s, but transformed into a pop-cultural sensation after it moved from Showtime to The Sci Fi Channel in 2002.

The ’90s were perhaps the best-ever decade for sci-fi television, and few shows demonstrate that better than Stargate SG-1. With an exceptional ensemble cast that oozes chemistry and a fascinating world that never got dull throughout the show’s run, the show is a brilliant blend of episodic “world-of-the-week” elements and an overarching serialized narrative that grows in importance as the show goes on. With over 200 episodes, it’s definitely not a show one can binge-watch in a single week, but that doesn’t make it any less addictive.

7

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)

Image via Sunrise

Cowboy Bebop is perhaps the most iconic and acclaimed sci-fi anime series in history, one of the shows that helped popularize anime among Western audiences in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Twenty-seven years after its conclusion, it’s still one of the best TV show masterpieces of the last 30 years, a neo-noir space Western that works wonderfully in virtually every way that matters.

Genre-bending, visually delectable, and flawlessly paced, it’s a show that pretends to be episodic, but it also features a strong, slow-burning serialized story and a sense of aesthetic continuity that you can’t get in any other show. The story’s paced like a good tune (paired with some phenomenal music), and the character-driven story is a blast from start to finish, making Cowboy Bebop‘s 26 episodes abundantly easy to get through.

6

‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ (1993–1999)

Image via Paramount Television

You’d be hard-pressed to find a Star Trek fan who thinks that Deep Space Nine is the franchise’s best show ever, but is it the most bingeable of the bunch? It most definitely is. By this point in the life of Gene Roddenberry‘s franchise, some kind of refreshing was needed, and a refreshing is precisely what Deep Space Nine provided by introducing complete serialization to the Star Trek television universe.

Complete with a fantastic cast, top-tier production values, and the best villain that Star Trek has ever shown on the small screen, Deep Space Nine is the kind of binge-worthy sci-fi show that gets better every season. It’s not perfect, particularly since there are some elements of filler that definitely haven’t aged the best, but for the most part, this is a criminally underappreciated chapter of Star Trek‘s history.

5

‘Farscape’ (1999–2003)

Image via Sci-Fi Channel

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The worst thing about Farscape is the fact that it ends. Produced by The Jim Henson Company, this is one of the most groundbreaking sci-fi shows in history, a perfectly written and visually delightful cult classic that has aged like fine wine in virtually every way. If only for its revolutionary work with make-up, prosthetics, and animatronic puppets, it makes it impossible to watch only one episode at a time.

But its visuals aren’t the only thing that Farscape has going for it, which only makes it more addictive. Blending quirky goofiness and camp with seriously dramatic character-driven drama and high-stakes stories, this is one of the most perfect space operas that the small screen has ever seen. Its breaking of genre molds and clever mixture of serialization and episodic elements make it a must-see for people who love sci-fi television.

4

‘Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ (1988–1997)

Image via K-Factory

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Legend of the Galactic Heroes is one of the most iconic anime series of the 20th century, one of those sci-fi anime shows that can be considered masterpieces. It’s the second and longest-running animated adaptation of Yoshiki Tanaka‘s series of epic sci-fi novels, and watching the show itself feels like watching a fascinating science fiction book come to life.

Politically and philosophically complex in its thematic work, sprawling in its world-building, and absolutely gorgeous in its cutting-edge animation—which has aged perfectly—, it’s a phenomenal show that even those who don’t typically love anime should consider checking out. It’s television at its most episodic, an airtight story where every moment of every episode starts building up a sense of momentum that leads all the way to an enthralling conclusion.

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‘Future Boy Conan’ (1978)

Image via Nippon Animation

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Future Boy Conan is one of the best animated shows you’ve probably never heard of—and it’s a borderline crime that so few people have ever heard of it, because it was actually the first time that Hayao Miyazaki oversaw an entire TV series as director. As such, many people consider it the legendary Studio Ghibli filmmaker’s directorial debut.

You can see every signature here that would turn Miyazaki into a legend soon enough: ahead-of-its-time animation, a delightful sense of humor, a thrilling plot full of memorable characters, exceptional music, and surprisingly mature themes. With there only being 26 episodes, there’s no excuse for fans of Miyazaki and anime in general not to watch what’s easily one of the greatest animated shows of the 20th century.

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‘Babylon 5’ (1994–1998)

Image via TNT

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Babylon 5 revolutionized American science fiction television. In fact, it was a landmark in the history of American television in general. Very unusually for American broadcast television at the time, this cult classic was devised as a sort of novel for television, where each season would serve as a different chapter of a pre-planned five-season story arc. For such an ambitious premise, it’s surprising that Babylon 5 turned out as well as it did.

It’s one of the most exciting sci-fi shows to binge-watch, if only because it’s a delight to watch how this group of creatives in the mid- and late ’90s set a new gold standard for sci-fi television going forward. Babylon 5‘s serialization still works flawlessly all these many years later, and though some elements of the show do feel pretty dated by modern standards, those elements only add to its nostalgic charm.

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‘The Prisoner’ (1967–1968)

Image via Channel 3

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The British show The Prisoner is one of the best forgotten shows of the 1960s, a surreal gem with elements of spy fiction and psychological drama. It’s a mind-bending trip that was far ahead of its time, and is even more engrossing to watch today than it was back in the late ’60s. Complex, Kafkaesque, and thematically powerful, it’s a powerful reflection of the mentality generated by the countercultural movements of its era.

The Prisoner is definitely not for those who prefer their sci-fi to be straightforward, since its escalating sense of weirdness and mystery only keeps getting less and less apologetic about its surrealism as its 17-episode single season progresses. But for people who tend to be pulled into sci-fi shows by their philosophical hooks, The Prisoner should prove to be an absolute blast.

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The Prisoner

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Release Date

1967 – 1968-00-00

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Network

ITV1

Directors

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Don Chaffey, Pat Jackson, Peter Graham Scott

Writers

George Markstein, Anthony Skene, Terence Feely, Vincent Tilsley, Ian Rakoff

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  Arthur Gross

  Control Room Operator

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  Barbara Yu Ling

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  Taxi driver

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  Bartlett Mullins

  Committee Chairman

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