A former school counselor from North Carolina broke down in tears as she learned her fate after she pleaded guilty to having sex with a minor student.

Jessica Finley, who previously worked as a counselor and volleyball coach at McDowell High School in Marion, was sentenced to serve a maximum of 40 years in prison with a minimum of 28 years for having sex with an underage girl during a hearing on April 16.

Finley reportedly cried as she learned her sentence and apologized for putting the girl, who was just 14 years old when she started grooming her, through the upsetting experience.

“I would just like to say I am so sorry for my actions and the things I have caused, for pain I have caused, for the [victim’s] family, my family and my own children,” she told the court, per McDowell News.

Related: Kentucky Teacher Sexually Assaulted Student, Sent Them Partially Nude Photos

Kentucky authorities have arrested a high school teacher for allegedly sexually assaulting one of her students. Mary “Hanna” Mattingly was arrested in Nelson County on Monday, March 30. The Bardstown Police Department said in a social media post the 31-year-old teacher was charged with first-degree sexual abuse and procuring or promoting the use of a […]

The victim’s sister called Finley “a predator,” accusing her of “lurking behind the walls of the counseling office, waiting for a victim.”

“We would have beat the door hinges off that building to save her from that monster,” the victim’s mom also said in a victim impact statement, according to McDowell News.

The grooming began when the victim initially turned to Finley for help with anxiety during her freshman year of high school from 2023-2024.

Their relationship eventually turned sexual and they reportedly started sending text messages that “discussed details of their sexual encounters, as well as acts they wanted to perform on each other in the future,” according to court documents viewed by WLOS.

Prosecutors claimed that the sex acts between Finley and the victim mostly took place when the girl turned 15.

Finley allegedly told the girl she was “leaving her husband and children to be with Minor Child 1,” according to court documents.

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The girl’s parents found the texts that the victim exchanged with Finley and forwarded them to authorities, and the counselor resigned from her position in February 2024.

The girl revealed that Finley performed sex acts on her in her office, as well as kissed her on the lips. She also said that she tried to stop seeing Finley, though she said she felt trapped after the counselor allegedly threatened to take her own life.

After she was arrested, Finley rejected a plea deal in April 2025. However, she later pleaded guilty to 16 sex crime charges that included carrying out a sex act with a student, as well as offenses involving a child under the age of 15.
If you know of a young person who is being exploited or are the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at tips.fbi.gov

Cher’s son Elijah Blue Allman has experienced several ups and downs in the public eye.

The singer welcomed Elijah in 1976 with late ex-husband Gregg Allman, whom she was married to from 1975 to 1979. (Gregg died at age 69 in 2017 following a throat cancer battle.)

“He and I have such a bizarre relationship. We’ve had so many strange moments,” Cher said of her son during a September 2024 episode of Dr. Phil. “I don’t really understand him. Somehow, Elijah and I kind of talk through osmosis.”

Elijah has been honest about his drug addiction over the years, revealing in 2014 that he had been abusing substances since he was 11. Despite getting sober in 2008, Elijah’s has continued to struggle. In 2023, Cher filed for a conservatorship of her son amid his addiction battle.

Keep scrolling to look back at Elijah’s ups and downs over the years:

A Successful Music Career With Deadsy

Elijah is known in the music industry as the singer and lead guitar player for the band Deadsy, which was formed in 1995. Through the years, Elijah has released five records with the band. There is a sixth on the way.

Getting Sober

Following a years-long battle with substance abuse, Elijah got sober in 2008.

Finding Love With Marieangela King

Elijah met King in 2013 and the pair were married by December of that year.

“I wasn’t going to wait for anyone’s approval and congratulations, just like I’ve never waited for any of that my whole life,” he told the Daily Mail in 2014 of their decision to marry. “The way I eloped with my wife is the same way I’ve done everything I’ve ever done. I don’t know any other way and we knew it was the right time.”

By November 2021, Elijah filed for divorce from King, revealing that they had been separated since April 2020. Despite their split, Elijah and King apparently stayed together. They filed to dismiss their divorce in January 2024. The dismissal was denied and King eventually filed for divorce from Elijah in April 2025.

Revealing His Drug Addiction

During a 2014 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Elijah revealed that he started doing drugs at age 11. He experimented with weed and ecstasy at the time.

“I mean, it’s just what you did, it’s just what everybody did,” he said, noting that he eventually graduated to other substances — like heroin and opiates

“[Heroin] kind of saved me,” he said. “If I didn’t have that at that point, I don’t know what I would have done.”

The Alleged Kidnapping

King alleged in October 2023 that Cher attempted to kidnap Elijah in late 2022. A legal declaration obtained by Us claimed that King and Elijah were reconciling their relationship when four men allegedly came into their hotel room and “removed” him. While Cher was not named in the filing, there was an allusion to Elijah’s mother in the documents. Cher has denied these allegations.

Cher’s Conservatorship

Cher initially filed for a conservatorship over Elijah in December 2023. Court documents obtained by Us at the time stated that Elijah was “substantially unable to manage his own financial resources due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues.”

The legendary singer claimed in the documents that Cher was concerned Elijah would spend money he was given from his late father’s trust “on drugs,” putting his “life at risk.”

Elijah retaliated with paperwork filed in January 2024, claiming that he was “sober” and “paying his bills.” Cher’s request for a temporary emergency conservatorship was denied that same month.

A Reported Drug Overdose

News broke in June 2025 that Elijah was reportedly hospitalized following an overdose that took place in Joshua Tree, California. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department told Us at the time that deputies “responded to a residence in Landers for a male subject acting erratically.” They confirmed Elijah’s identity upon arrival.

“Deputies located drugs inside the home, and Allman was transported to the hospital,” the statement continued. “The investigation is ongoing.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Multiple Arrests

Elijah was arrested for assault and criminal trespassing on February 27, 2026, after causing an apparent disturbance at a New Hampshire prep school. The Concord Police Department confirmed to TMZ at the time that there was an unwanted guest at the school, claiming they were “causing a disturbance and acting belligerently.”

It’s been reported that Elijah was charged with two counts of assault and one count each of criminal trespass, criminal threatening and disorderly conduct following the alleged incident.

Elijah was arrested again just 48 hours later on Sunday, March 1, this time after an alleged break-in at a house in Windham, New Hampshire. He was charged with burglary, two counts of criminal mischief and breach of bail, the Windham Police Department confirmed to Us Weekly.

In April 2026, Elijah waived his arraignment on the charges related to the prep school incident, local outlet WMUR reported. His trial is set for June 16, 2026.

Cher Files 2nd Conservatorship Petition

In April 2026, Cher filed for Elijah Blue Allman to be placed under a temporary conservatorship and requested that fiduciary Jason Rubin take charge of her son’s finances, according to court docs obtained by Page Six. She alleged that Elijah’s life “has significantly deteriorated” since her last conservatorship petition in 2023, which was denied the following year.

Cher also claimed that Elijah spends money “immediately” and “almost exclusively on drugs, expensive hotels and limousine transportation.” She alleged that he is being held at a psychiatric hospital in New Hampshire “in an attempt to restore him to competency to face criminal charges.”

Cher Discovers Secret Grandchild

Days after Cher’s second conservatorship petition, Elijah’s ex Kayti Edwards — the step-granddaughter of actress Julie Andrews — told The Sun that she welcomed a daughter named Ever during her brief relationship with Elijah in 2010.

Edwards told the outlet that Elijah was not involved with raising Ever because he “never wanted to be a parent.” However, Elijah allegedly told his now-estranged wife, Marieangela King, about his child with Edwards in 2021, which started “rumors” within the family. The chatter allegedly reached Cher, who contacted Edwards.

“Cher got in touch with me last June and asked if it was true, so I had to confess,” Edwards claimed. “She said she had heard something about it from Elijah back in 2021 but didn’t know if it was just crazy talk. When she heard the news, she was speechless.”

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Edwards claimed Cher is “still processing the news” but has started to form a relationship with Ever. The singer allegedly invited Edwards and Ever to spend the night at her home in Malibu and has sent Ever Christmas and birthday gifts.

“Cher really is trying. It’s an adjustment, and I’m not pushing any relationship. It has to come naturally,” Edwards continued. “Elijah and his wife always said Cher didn’t want to be a grandma and to keep Ever away, so I was nervous to introduce her, but it’s been nothing but a good experience.”

Us Weekly reached out to Cher’s rep at the time.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 31 seconds ago

Every once in a while, I find myself trolling Hulu for weird, obscure movies that might scratch my niche interests. This is how I’ve come across such underrated hits as Self Reliance, The Death of Stalin, and an obscure little indie film called Shrek 2. Last week, I was surprised to stumble upon The Luckiest Man In America, which released in 2024 with a stacked cast, an exciting premise, and a top-tier trailer.

A Game Show With A Stacked Cast

Somehow, this film must have completely missed my radar upon release, but The Luckiest Man in America has all the makings of a movie I’d love to watch. Paul Walter Hauser appears in the main role, as real-life game show contestant and down-on-his-luck ice cream vendor Michael Larson.

After essentially scamming his way into a slot on the show Press Your Luck, Larson attempts to take home the biggest game show payday anyone has ever seen. Along the way, the cast and crew of Press Your Luck panic at the idea of losing tens of thousands on a single episode, prompting them to sabotage Larson’s game.

The Luckiest Man in America feels like a game of cat and mouse, a fever dream, and a little piece of Americana all rolled into one. The tension rises throughout the narrative perfectly, all while rarely leaving the set of the game show.

Larson’s shady behavior keeps you on your toes the entire time, and PWH’s performance is one of his best. The supporting cast of The Luckiest Man in America includes a suite of character actors who all knock it out of the park as well, including Walton Goggins, Shamier Anderson, Johnny Knoxville, and Game of Thrones‘ Maisie Williams.

Decades In The Making

The Luckiest Man in America was written and directed by a relatively unknown filmmaker named Samir Oliveros. Apparently, a draft of the script had been floating around since the late 1990s, with Bill Murray originally attached to take on the leading role. While that sounds like it might have been a really fun take on the material, I’m actually glad this project spent a quarter of a century in development hell. Personally, I don’t think anyone else could have brought this story to life quite like this team, and I definitely think the varnish of 80s nostalgia plays better today than it would have in the year 2000.

My only gripe with the movie is that it ends pretty abruptly. I was along for the ride on this one, and I would have fully enjoyed it if the film had gone on for hours. Still, like a prolific game show performance, all great things must come to an end. If you’re interested in checking out this oddball thriller, be sure to stream The Luckiest Man in America on Hulu today.

The Luckiest Man in America SCORE

Days of Our Lives has Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) building up a big pile of false hope where Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) is concerned. And this babysitting gig that Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) surprisingly took on revealed the Achilles heel in his and Stephanie’s marriage.

And it is something Jeremy is about to exploit to his advantage. Turns out he may not be psycho anymore, but he is still fixated on Stephanie and we’re gonna talk about Jeremy taking a wrecking ball to Stephanie’s marriage.

Days of our Lives: Stephanie Calls Jeremy Over

So, after Alex and Stephanie argued again about several things, including him showing up without checking with Stephanie before he brought Chanel Dupree DiMera‘s (Raven Bowens) baby home with him. You know, things were tense. They were tense before that and tense after that.

Alex left to take little Trey for a walk and Stephanie immediately called Jeremy over to hang out with her and comfort her. I mean, Stephanie shouldn’t be having her ex-boyfriend over while Alex is gone. Let’s be real. Plus, her husband remains suspicious of Jeremy, as he should be.

While Stephanie was venting to Jeremy, she told him she lost it on Alex. And of course, that has to thrill Jeremy, right? And he reassured Stephanie that he’s also a mess after the ordeal. That seems maybe untrue. Jeremy seems pretty calm and he’s thinking clearly and strategically.

So, Stephanie was telling Jeremy about Alex wanting kids. She’s not sure and Jeremy’s all, oh, Alex doesn’t understand what you’re going through. You know, Jeremy is all sympathy and understanding about what Stephanie’s dealing with. And then she brought up the fact that Alex had a pregnancy scare with Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins) last year.

Jeremy Calls His Dad on DOOL

And from there, Jeremy trotted home to Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth) for a quick catchup before he did something devious. So, he heard about Lani Price (Sal Stowers) and the twins arriving in Salem. You know, small talk, small talk. Then Jeremy hustles off to call his dad, Mike Horton (Roark Critchlow), to ask him for a phone number.

Now, I bet I know whose phone number it is. Consider this. Joy’s mom, Nancy Wesley, dated Jeremy’s dad, Mike, about four years ago. So, I guess that he still has Nancy’s contact info. And Joy was heading back to New York to be with her mom after lying and saying she’s not pregnant. If you recall, Joy took a pregnancy test and then lied right to Stephanie and Alex’s face.

And Joy said she wasn’t pregnant when she most definitely was. So, we don’t know right now exactly how much Jeremy knows for certain. Clearly, their parents were close and they may have remained close. So, Jeremy may know that Joy had a baby, but Jeremy might not have known who the dad was.

Or maybe he didn’t know that Joy had a baby. But Jeremy may call just to check in to poke around, nose around and see if it’s Alex’s baby. So, I feel whether he knows nothing or a little, you know, I don’t know if Jeremy knows the whole story about Joy.

But Jeremy may in fact be calling to get more info, like a fact-finding mission..And he just told Stephanie he’s staying in Salem. Jeremy told Alex before he even left the hospital that he was staying and Alex told Jeremy, “Leave Salem now.” He refused. I’m sure Stephanie’s glad that Jeremy stayed around.

Days of our Lives: Jeremy May Tell Joy To Come To Salem

And we know by the end of this week, Joy Wesley is at Alex and Stephanie’s door. And it looks like Jeremy has smelled blood in the water and he’s going to tell Joy this is her big chance to get Alex back. That’s where I expect this is going. I expect Jeremy may tell Joy, “Oh, guess what I just found out? Alex wants kids and Stephanie doesn’t.”

And their relationship is at a really weak point because of this kidnapping and all this. Jeremy may tell Joy, “This is it now or never. If you want to be with Alex and raise your child together, you need to get to Salem right now.” So, this is all based on the assumption that Joy had a healthy pregnancy that went to term and her and Alex’s baby is healthy and fine.

If so, the kid should have been born in like October or November if they stuck with an actual, you know, 40-week timeline. So, Joy could show up with an adorable little six-month-old. That kid would be just a few months younger than baby Trey, as a matter of fact.

So, when Joy shows up at Alex’s door later this week, it’s not out of nowhere. It’s not a random return. It looks like Joy is either conspiring with Jeremy or that he has fed Joy enough info to trigger her to show up. And I’m sure Jeremy’s hoping it’ll break up Stephanie and Alex’s marriage once and for all.

Jeremy’s Plan May Not Work Out on Days

What’s interesting is just based on timelines, doesn’t look like it’s going to work out well for Jeremy because Michael Roark’s last air date is April 29th. So that has Jeremy leaving just a few episodes after Joy arrives at Alex’s door. Now, as far as we know, there’s no recast of Jeremy coming unless they kept it a huge secret. Otherwise, it could be that his plan to use Joy to rip Stephanie and Alex apart may not work out in his favor on Days of our Lives.

You know, like if Jeremy is exposed for being the one who told Joy to come to Salem to look for Alex and bring the baby, I think that would kill any interest Stephanie has in Jeremy because she would see him as the same old manipulator he was before. But they could throw a big curve and Stephanie leaves town with Jeremy. But I don’t think so. That’s not on my bingo card.

So, it seems like no matter what he and Joy pull, they’re not going to both get what they want. But we could see Alex being thrilled to find out he and Joy have a baby. And of course, Stephanie likely won’t be thrilled because Joy lied to them at the time, right to their faces. But in the end, Jeremy’s part in whatever’s going on could be exposed and he could walk out of town.

So, it could be that his final action before his character exits is for him to push a wedge between Stephanie and Alex, even if Jeremy’s not going to be there to take advantage of it, because Joy and Alex’s baby being in Salem, that’s enough to cause plenty of problems for his marriage.

Days of our Lives: Will Stephanie Walk Away?

Now, of course, we’ll wait to see whether Joy can get anywhere with Alex. Now, I’m sure he would love their baby, assuming there is a baby, but that doesn’t mean he’ll have any affection for Joy other than being the mother of his child. He does love Stephanie, but then again, I could see her letting Alex go.

If Stephanie knows how badly Alex wants a child, I think Stephanie might walk away. And really, Alex himself may not know how badly he wants a child until he holds his own child in his arms. Stephanie might see in that moment that Alex will never be happy without children of his own. And if he could make do with just one, well, he has one and he can co-parent with Joy.

But if this whole thing has Alex deciding he doesn’t want just one, he wants more kids, and Stephanie hasn’t changed her mind and still doesn’t want any, this could be the end of them. Even though Alex and Stephanie really love each other. So, while Jeremy may not get to take advantage of it, he could be the thing that breaks their marriage.

B.J. Novak is sharing rare insight into his role as godfather to Mindy Kaling’s three kids.

During his appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Monday, April 20, Novak, 46, was asked about the “best gift” he ever gave his godchildren.

“Kit nicknamed me Fofo, which is based on [the education app] Duolingo for kids character — the bear, Fofo,” the Office alum explained. “So, I got her a Fofo stuffed animal for her collection and that hit the spot.”

Related: Mindy Kaling’s Rare Family Photos With Her Children

Mindy Kaling doesn’t show her children’s faces via social media, but she has given glimpses of the little ones over the years. The Office alum welcomed daughter Katherine in December 2017, waiting until November of the following year to show her Instagram followers a photo of her baby girl. Kaling, who has kept the paternity […]

Novak is the godfather to Kaling’s three kids, daughters Katherine “Kit,” 8, and Anne, 2, and son Spencer, 5.

WWHL host Andy Cohen praised Novak for how “present” he is with his godchildren.

“He gets on their level. He talks to them,” Cohen, 57, added.

Kaling, 46, has never publicly revealed the identity of her children’s father, leading some fans to speculate that it may be Novak. However, the actress shut down the rumors in a 2022 interview with Marie Claire, emphasizing that she and Novak are close friends.

“He’s the godparent to both my kids — and they have such a great relationship — and so far [the speculation hasn’t] affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or B.J.,” she said. “It doesn’t bother me. If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.”

Kaling — who has been candid about being a single mother by choice — previously called Novak an “integral part” of her family while accepting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2025. Novak also spoke on Kaling’s behalf at the ceremony, calling her an “incredible mother of three.”

“Mindy respects and understands [fame] in a very intuitive way, because in addition to being a brilliant and wildly successful showrunner, [she is] an incredible mother of three, a deep and caring daughter and friend and mentor to so many,” the Vengeance star said.

Novak continued, “You’d be on the walk of talent if they had one. You’d be on the walk of friendship. You’d be on the walk of compassionate parenthood, but let’s face it all of these would be terrible field trips, so here you are instead, very deservedly, a person who means so much to so many on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

Kaling first announced she was pregnant in 2017, giving birth to Kit later that year. She later welcomed Spencer in September 2020 and Anne in February 2024.

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In February 2024, Kaling opened up about how motherhood has changed her life.

“It’s really rewarding, being a mom and spending time with these two people who look like me,” she told WSJ Magazine at the time. “I love them, and they’re so funny. In terms of my career, I’m a single mom, I’m the breadwinner in the house.”

The Never Have I Ever creator continued, “So there’s a lot of panic that comes with that, the buck stops with me, I have to earn money for them. Having kids is everything — wanting to be a good role model and wanting to produce content that doesn’t embarrass them and makes them proud is another layer to my life and a complication that I welcome.”

By Robert Scucci
| Published 28 seconds ago

Some of my favorite movies lean heavily on vibe, color, and a musical score that evokes a pure sense of dread. Panos Cosmatos’ Mandy (2018) rips through your consciousness like shattered glass through wet tissue paper with its hallucinogenic, magenta-tinted Nicolas Cage rampage, and it’s such a cathartic film because the visuals and sound design come together in such an enthralling way. Cosmatos’ first film, 2010’s Beyond the Black Rainbow, has all the elements I love about Mandy, but its journey is an inward one that sinks deep into the subconscious.

If I had to compare the film’s aesthetic and setting to other well-known properties for context, it would be the first season of Stranger Things crossed with 1980’s Altered States. Ironically, the Duffer Brothers, who through interviews have made it increasingly apparent that they somehow became wildly successful in spite of their own creative instincts, deny any connection between their hit Netflix series and Beyond the Black Rainbow. For what it’s worth, I made this connection going in blind, before even checking the Wikipedia page.

That same Wikipedia page cites an article from The Hollywood Reporter in which Matt Duffer was outraged over allegations of taking inspiration from Beyond the Black Rainbow, while Ross admitted to seeing “a little bit” of it. So maybe it’s just a coincidence that half of the duo behind Hawkins Lab is at least aware of the film’s aesthetic. If only Lucas Sinclair didn’t believe in coincidences anymore, but I digress. 

Let’s Not Get Into The Nitty Gritty Details Here

I love a good plot rundown. I don’t care about spoilers. You could tell me every twist ending ahead of time and it wouldn’t bother me. That just means I can look for clues on my first viewing and try connecting the dots. For some reason, and I know I’m in the minority here, spoilers can make movies better because you’re free to just watch and appreciate what’s happening.

That said, you really don’t have to know much about Beyond the Black Rainbow to enjoy it. There’s a definitive plot, protagonist, antagonist, and existential dilemma, but watching this movie is more of a cathartic, audiovisual experience than a narrative one.

We’re introduced to the head of research at the Arboria Institute, Barry Nyle (Michael Rogers). The institute, like I said, bears a striking resemblance to the Hawkins National Laboratory depicted in Stranger Things, where mind-control experiments are conducted on children. That could be coincidence, as both seem heavily influenced by the Montauk Project conspiracy theory. Living in captivity at the institute is Eleven… er, sorry, Elena (Eva Bourne), who has psychic powers kept in check by a powerful glowing prism.

The facility itself was founded by Mercurio Arboria (Scott Hylands), a drug-addicted recluse who Barry occasionally reports to, despite their strained relationship. Through hypnotic, drug-addled sequences, we learn that Barry is sexually obsessed with Elena and is also connected to her mother through his work, though he never fully discloses how right off the rip. Elena, when she’s not subdued by a cocktail of drugs or the prism dulling her powers, has a lethal mind that requires constant monitoring from staff like Nurse Margo (Rondel Reynoldson), along with guards known as Sentionauts, who can subdue her with injections if she gets too feisty after being mentally tortured all day.

Watch It With Headphones

Beyond the Black Rainbow is all about mind control, hallucinations, and sinking deep into your subconscious while experiencing a spiritual awakening under hostile, controlled conditions. The best way to watch this film is with your full attention. Not to catch Easter eggs or subtle clues, though there are plenty, but because of how immersive it is. If there’s a single movie you could describe as a fever dream, it’s this one. Lights and sounds throb in lockstep as your entire being gets assaulted by neon flickers that make you feel like you’re being pulled into a trance against your will.

If you lock into Beyond the Black Rainbow just right, it barely feels like a movie. It establishes a vibe that pulls you in, and you just exist with these characters for 109 minutes straight. Voices distort, scenes and faces melt from one frame to the next, and the whole experience is dizzying and disorienting from start to finish. If I had to sum it up in two words, they’d be “viscerally upsetting,” and I mean that as a compliment of the highest order.

Panos Cosmatos set out to make viewers uncomfortable with his debut, and he succeeds in every conceivable way. There are layers of meaning and consciousness throughout, but it’s best to go in and let them reveal themselves. I can’t say I’ll be throwing this into regular rotation, but once every couple of years, when I’m feeling a disproportionate amount of existential dread and want to sink into an audiovisual representation of that feeling, Beyond the Black Rainbow is the kind of soul ripper that pushes you straight through your own ego death as the inhabitants of the Arboria Institute pry open their third eyes and bleed into the ether.

Beyond the Black Rainbow SCORE

As of this writing, Beyond the Black Rainbow is streaming for free on Tubi.

Beef is back on Netflix, but its return is looking a lot less explosive than the first time around. The Emmy-winning series made a big impression in 2023 by turning a road-rage setup into one of Netflix’s most talked-about original hits, and that kind of breakout success always makes a follow-up harder. Season 2 has arrived with a fresh cast, a new feud, and a much glossier setting, but the early numbers suggest it hasn’t landed with the same force out of the gate. It’s still on the chart, which matters, but the size of the drop is hard to ignore.

According to Variety, Beef Season 2 debuted at No. 10 on Netflix’s English-language TV Top 10 for April 13 through April 19 with 2.4 million views after premiering on April 16. That is a steep fall from Season 1’s launch, which drew 34.1 million hours viewed in its first week in 2023, or about 5.8 million views when adjusted for runtime. In other words, the new season’s opening is down by roughly 58%. The first season also peaked in week two with the equivalent of 12 million views, so Season 2 still has room to grow, but this is a much softer start.

Who Stars in ‘Beef’?

​​​​​​​

This second season swaps out Steven Yeun and Ali Wong for a new cast led by Oscar Isaac​​​​​​​ and Carey Mulligan, reuniting the two stars after Drive and Inside Llewyn Davis. They’re joined by Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Youn Yuh-jung, Seoyeon Jang, and William Fichtner in a new story set around a wealthy California country club, where a fight between a boss and his wife pulls two younger outsiders into a spiraling mess of blackmail, favors, and violence. It’s still recognizably Beef, just with a cleaner, richer, and more socially corrosive setup than the first season’s suburban pressure cooker.

Collider’s review stated that Beef Season 2 is ambitious, well-acted, and often compelling, but it never feels as sharp or complete as the first season. Instead of centering on one tightly wound conflict, this new story spreads itself across two couples, class issues, race, beauty standards, healthcare, and more. That gives the season a lot to say, but not enough time to say it well. The review felt that the “show is trying to do too much with too little. With double the protagonists, the season would have had more room to breathe with even just ten episodes, allowing for the final arc — which takes our protagonists out of California and over to Korea — to feel a bit more natural in the transition.”

Beef is streaming now on Netflix.

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Release Date

April 6, 2023

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Network

Netflix

Showrunner

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Lee Sung Jin

Directors

Hikari, Jake Schreier, Kitao Sakurai, Lee Sung Jin

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Writers

Alice Ju

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By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 30 seconds ago

When it comes to science, moviegoers are willing to forgive some fudging of, say, the laws of thermodynamics or sound in space, but we know it’s all Hollywood magic. Yet there’s one myth that has persisted for decades, and Lucy, the Scarlett Johansson sci-fi action movie, puts it front and center: that humans use only 10 percent of their brain.

While the Luc Besson film pushed the myth to its breaking point, it managed to take root in pop culture because, like a spaceship going at the speed of light, or gigantic sea monsters able to exist without collapsing on themselves, this is a myth that, deep down, we want to be true. 

The Myth Of The True Potential Of The Human Brain

The origin of the 10 percent of the brain myth is unknown, though it may date back to the late 19th century, when neurology was emerging. Unable to get a clear picture of the human brain with the technology of the time, early researchers could have viewed only a fraction of the cells that make up the organ, leading to the belief that we use only 10 percent of it. What Lucy and the similar drug-fueled superpower movie Limitless put forth is similar to the early self-help gurus of the roaring 20s, who talked about the unlimited potential inside every human. 

Thinking of the time was that average humans only used a percentage of their brain, which means, by reading their books and listening to their talks, you weren’t average, you were special, and you used more of your mental power than those other peasants. If that sounds a lot like social media influencers today, that’s because everything’s already happened before. Though the basis comes from a myth designed to promote grifters, Lucy is still an original sci-fi action film worth watching today. 

Lucy Was A Massive Success

Lucy starts as a fairly normal movie, with Johansson’s Lucy forced to smuggle drugs that, when accidentally released in her stomach, start unlocking her brain’s latent power. In real life, accessing 100 percent of your brain at once is called a seizure, but here it grants a normal woman psychokinetic powers, enhanced speed and strength, and, of course, she knows Kung-Fu. Johansson gets to go full action-star and take down a crime syndicate before the film decides to get really strange in its last act. 

Grounding the action and increasing sci-fi elements are Johansson’s effortlessly cool performance and the dulcet tones of Morgan Freeman, the one man Hollywood studios trust to explain absurd sci-fi plots. Unlike Transcendence, the forgotten Johnny Depp AI film in which he has the same role, Lucy was a hit movie. Bringing in $463 million at the box office, the film was a massive success that easily eclipsed its $40 million budget.

The Lasting Appeal Of Lucy

The appeal of Lucy is simple: it’s a sci-fi action movie starring Scarlett Johansson, who, in the middle of her run as Marvel’s Black Widow, was approaching the peak of her popularity and power in Hollywood. It’s also from Besson, the director of The Fifth Element and The Professional, who could make reading from the phone book look amazing.

Who doesn’t want to think that with some hard work and dedication, you could unlock your true potential and become John Wick? Lucy is currently streaming on Netflix.