Entertainment
Starfleet Academy’s Best Relationship Was Stolen From Star Trek’s Worst Movie
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Starfleet Academy proved to be a very controversial Star Trek show when it first launched, but the show has won fans over with several healthy doses of nostalgia bait. This includes an entire episode dedicated to Captain Sisko and multiple episodes that follow up on Voyager storylines like the Doctor’s daughter and the Omega molecule. Arguably, though, the most popular bit of nostalgia bait is the relationship between Caleb and Tarima, one which echoes the most famous Star Trek relationship of them all.
Caleb is a tall, hunky human and future captain, while Tarima is a powerful Betazed mind reader and the daughter of a powerful family. To many fans of The Next Generation, this is a clear echo of the relationship between William Riker (the first captain of the Federation flagship Enterprise) and Deanna Troi (the Betazed ship’s counselor who dated him many years ago). However, what you may not realize is that Starfleet Academy’s best relationship echoes a pairing created for the franchise’s worst movie: Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
It’s Not Just A Phase
Despite multiple fan campaigns saving the show from earlier cancellation, Star Trek: The Original Series ended after only three seasons. However, the show proved popular with college students during syndication, leading to Trek getting its own animated series. With the franchise in the popular zeitgeist once more, Paramount and Trek creator Gene Roddenberry teamed up in 1977 to work on Star Trek: Phase II, a live-action spinoff of The Original Series.
Various deals fell through, and the immense success of Star Wars meant that Phase II got scrapped, and its creative DNA was cannibalized for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. That movie brought in two characters originally created for the canceled show: Will Decker, the ambitious human first officer, and Ilia, the exotic alien who can read minds (sort of). While the film offered an abbreviated version of their relationship, the Phase II writers had created an elaborate backstory about how they fell in love when they were younger, but Decker called things off to pursue his career; tension rises years later when they are stationed on the Enterprise.
Imzadi: Star Trek’s Cutest Couple
If that sounds familiar, it should: Decker and Ilia were the template that would become Riker and Troi. Riker, like Decker, was a handsome and confident human Starfleet officer who put his career first. Troi, like Ilia, had special mental abilities and came from a race of sexually liberated aliens. Riker and Troi also had a shared romantic history, one they had to navigate throughout the entirety of The Next Generation before getting married in Star Trek: Nemesis.
In Starfleet Academy, Caleb and Tarima are the latest iteration of this idea: he’s the gifted human cadet with no shortage of confidence, and she’s the Betazoid princess who falls in love with him. From the beginning of their relationship, fans have clocked that this was clearly an homage to Riker and Troi. It certainly didn’t escape the notice of Riker actor Jonathan Frakes, who (as reported by ScreenRant) told Caleb actor Sandro Rosta, “You’re dating a Betazoid princess…You’re a lucky man. I know what it’s like.”
Young, Dumb, And Full Of Numb
Obviously, this fan-favorite Starfleet Academy relationship wouldn’t exist without Riker and Troi from The Next Generation, and those characters wouldn’t have existed without Decker and Ilia, who made their onscreen debut in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Many hated this movie, calling it “the motionless picture” and declaring it the worst in the franchise. There’s some galaxy-sized irony for you, though: the worst Star Trek movie just inspired the best thing about the latest Star Trek spinoff!
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On modern television, there’s no shortage of spy thrillers. Over the years, the genre has delivered plenty of standout series filled with strong performances and the kind of tension that makes them easy to revisit. Arguably one of the best spy thrillers ever made, FX’s The Americans has all the elements of a show that holds up just as powerfully on a rewatch as it does the first time through.
Originally airing on FX and now streaming on Hulu, the Cold War drama rewards not just first-time viewers but anyone willing to revisit its layered storytelling and deeply character-driven approach. Across six tightly constructed seasons that just get better and better, The Americans reveals new emotional beats and thematic connections with each viewing, proving that its brilliance extends far beyond the spy genre.
What Is ‘The Americans’ About?
Set during the height of the Cold War, The Americans follows Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys), two Soviet KGB officers living undercover as a married American couple in suburban Washington, D.C. To their neighbors, they’re just another family raising two kids. In reality, they’re deeply embedded spies carrying out dangerous missions on behalf of the Soviet Union.
Each episode weaves together their covert operations with the pressures of maintaining their cover, creating a constant tension between duty and identity. As they try to live as good neighbors, travel agents and parents to their two very American children, Elizabeth and Philip are always operating under the threat of exposure, not just from the FBI, but from the very lives they’ve built. That tension is heightened by their neighbor, Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich), an FBI counterintelligence agent who is unknowingly hunting people just like them while living right across the street.
As the series progresses, the stakes become increasingly personal. Their children begin to question their parents’ lives while Elizabeth and Philip themselves grow divided in their beliefs, creating an emotional rift that adds even more tension to their already dangerous reality. What begins as a gripping espionage thriller gradually evolves into a deeply layered family drama. The show balances those two elements seamlessly, which is exactly what makes it so compelling to revisit again and again.
Every Season of ‘The Americans,’ Ranked
The Americans was one of the most popular drama series on TV and this is each season ranked from worst to best.
‘The Americans’ Rewards Every Rewatch
What truly makes The Americans worth revisiting is how much it gains from a second — or even third — viewing. On the surface, it delivers all the hallmarks of a gripping spy thriller: disguises, covert missions, and high-stakes tension. Beneath that lies one of the most powerful family dramas ever put on television. While the espionage elements are undeniably entertaining, it’s the deeply emotional moments that stay with you, elevated by some of the most compelling performances of the modern TV era.
Russell and Rhys deliver career-defining work as Elizabeth and Philip, portraying them as fully realized, deeply conflicted individuals. Their relationship is the emotional core of the series, and it becomes even more fascinating on a rewatch when the trajectory of their story is already clear. Russell brings a steely intensity to Elizabeth, while Rhys gives Philip a vulnerability that grows more central with each season. Just as important is the writing, led by creators Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, which consistently prioritizes character over spectacle and builds naturally on what makes the show work.
Even years after its finale, The Americans remains one of the most complete and satisfying dramas of its era. What makes it such a great rewatch isn’t just its slow-burn pacing or meticulous storytelling, but how much more intentional everything feels the second time around. With standout performances and a narrative that rewards close attention, it’s the kind of series that doesn’t just hold up on a rewatch — it genuinely improves with one, making each return feel just as gripping as the first.
- Release Date
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2013 – 2018
- Showrunner
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Joe Weisberg
- Directors
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Daniel Sackheim, Thomas Schlamme, Daniel Attias, Kevin Dowling, Stefan Schwartz, Adam Arkin, Matthew Rhys, Nicole Kassell, Noah Emmerich, Andrew Bernstein, John Dahl, Kevin Bray, Roxann Dawson, Steph Green, Sylvain White, Alex Chapple, Alik Sakharov, Bill Johnson, Charlotte Sieling, Christopher Misiano, Constantine Makris, Gavin O’Connor, Gregory Hoblit, Gwyneth Horder-Payton
- Writers
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Melissa James Gibson, Stuart Zicherman, Hilary Bettis, Bradford Winters, Angelina Burnett, Sneha Koorse
Entertainment
Gerard Butler’s 117-Minute Adventure Is Scratching the ‘Indiana Jones’ Itch on Free Streaming
After the $650 million blockbuster success of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, Hollywood favorite Gerard Butler is set to reprise his role as Stoick the Vast in the June 2027 sequel. Alongside several returning favorites, Butler will be joined by Cate Blanchett in Universal Pictures’ sequel, as she reprises her role as Valka Haddock from the animated movies. Butler’s place in this beloved franchise is cemented, and it isn’t the only famous series he’s been an active part of.
In 2003, Butler starred alongside Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, a sequel to the 2001 movie that adapted the beloved video game series. Directing duties were passed from the first film’s Simon West to Jan de Bont for the sequel, which is de Bont’s last directorial effort to date. Alas, the film proved a disappointment to fans and critics alike, earning just 44% from the former and 24% from the latter on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus on the site reads, “Though the sequel is an improvement over the first movie, it’s still lacking in thrills.”
At the box office, the film proved just as underwhelming, scoring just $157 million in global revenue against a reported $90 million budget. This is especially disappointing considering the $273 million earned by the first installment, which itself boasted a similar production budget. Nevertheless, almost 23 years later, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life is proving a surprise hit on a free streaming platform. At the time of writing, the film is one of the ten most-streamed on Tubi in the U.S.
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These television artists were posthumously recognized for their work, and the awards they received were testaments to their lasting legacies.
Lara Croft Is Coming Back
Starring Game of Thrones favorite Sophie Turner as Lara Croft, Amazon currently has the wheels in motion on their own series reboot of the beloved video game franchise. Joined by Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, Martin Bobb-Semple, Jack Bannon, and more in a star-studded cast, Turner’s Lara Croft will be crafted under the talented guidance of creator and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who serves as co-showrunner alongside Chad Hodge. Sadly, production recently hit a slight delay when it was confirmed that Turner sustained a minor injury during filming.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life is streaming on Tubi. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
- Release Date
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July 21, 2003
- Runtime
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117 minutes
- Director
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Jan de Bont
- Writers
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Dean Georgaris
- Producers
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Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin
New The Real Housewives of Rhode Island star Kelsey Swanson is addressing the claim she was once a sex worker.
“Had to comment on this one — never have been an escort,” Swanson wrote in the comments section of a Saturday, April 4, Instagram post claiming the upcoming reality TV star charged $2,900 for “dinner and dessert.”
“Pages were completely made up 10 years ago,” she added. “State police were involved. Thanks for sharing tho.”
The now-debunked post, shared by Housewives fan page @mrhousewives, featured alleged “screenshots” of Swanson “promoting herself as an escort.”
Bravo The Real Housewives of Rhode Island is officially here — but who makes up the cast? News broke at BravoCon in November 2025 when Andy Cohen confirmed that the premiere season will follow Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiberi as they navigate the highs and […]
“The screenshots are dated 2016 — so exactly 10 years ago — and Kelsey was going by the name Alexia Lins,” the caption reads. “In the posts, she describes herself as ‘sexy, classy, and elegant,’ offering to fulfill fantasies and even mentioning she was open to try new things.”
The post continued, “Now let’s talk about the pricing… the maximum listed was $2,900 for five hours (plus ‘dessert’), and the minimum was $500 for a one-hour ‘introduction.’ So yes.. She was making MONEY. Allegedly. The website has since been taken down — but screenshots? They live forever.”
While the post appeared to be intended to shame Swanson, many fans praised her in the comments section — regardless of the validity of the allegations.
“Honestly good for her!!! She’s hot and she better get [t]hose coins!” one fan wrote. “Haters gonna hate while she’s busy staying fabulous. Absolutely love her.”
“In this economy, $20 is $20,” another commented.
“S** work is real work,” another wrote, “it’s only illegal because they can’t tax it.”
During last year’s November BravoCon, Andy Cohen confirmed that the premiere season of the upcoming Bravo reality TV series will follow Swanson — alongside Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti, Liz McGraw, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli and Jo-Ellen Tiberi — as she navigates the highs and lows of Rhode Island’s close-knit social scene.
“They may live in the smallest state in the country, but their drama? Extra large,” read a press release from the network. “As The Real Housewives hits its milestone 20th anniversary next year, Bravo is expanding the distinguished franchise with The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, spotlighting a fresh, charismatic group of women whose lives intertwine across the storied coastline of New England luxury.”
Swanson, for her part, is a former Miss Rhode Island who “keeps a full plate as one of the state’s top makeup artists,” according to a press release.
“Kelsey has been in a 10-year relationship with one of Rhode Island’s most notable figures,” the release read, “enjoying the lap of luxury while keeping her social calendar full.”
While season 1 of the show will feature nearly all brand-new faces, The Real Housewives of New Jersey‘s Dolores Catania will be joining the cast as a friend.
Prince Harry took a star-studded selfie with Olympian Eileen Gu and Justin Trudeau while enjoying a recent trip to the ski slopes.
Gu, 22, was all smiles as she posed with the British royal, 41, and the former Canadian Prime Minister, 54, on a ski lift in an epic selfie that she shared as part of an Instagram carousel on Saturday, April 4.
Another photo showcased the freestyle skier with Trudeau and his girlfriend Katy Perry in front of a cozy cabin. It is not clear where these photos were taken, but Gu captioned her photo dump, “this week.”
Harry has been spending some time on the ski slopes with his family this week. On Thursday, April 4, his wife, Meghan Markle, posted a glimpse of Harry skiing with their son, Prince Archie, 6. (Harry and Markle also share a daughter Princess Lilibet, 4.)
Katy Perry, Eileen Gu and Justin Trudeau. Courtesy Instagram/Eileen Gu
The clip featured Harry leading the way down the slopes, with Archie effortlessly following along at an impressive pace.
“My boys,” Markle, 44, captioned the video. “Quick learner, Archie! So proud ❤️.”
Harry is a lifelong skier, having frequently gone on trips to icy locales with his late mother, Princess Diana, as a child.
Meanwhile, three-time Olympic gold medalist Gu recently returned from the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy, where she took home gold once again in the halfpipe event.
(Gu also won two silver medals for the big air and slopestyle competitions in Milan and Cortina. She was born and raised in the U.S. but chooses to compete for China in international competitions to honor her heritage.)
Freestyle skier Eileen Gu is a five-time Olympic medalist, making her the most decorated athlete at her sport in the history of the games. That means she doesn’t have time for reporters to belittle her accomplishments. After earning a silver medal in the women’s freeski slopestyle on Monday, February 16, she met with the media, […]
Following her huge success at the 2026 Winter Games, Gu celebrated becoming the most accomplished freestyle skier in Olympics history.
“I’m the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female,” she told reporters on February 22. “I have the most gold medals ever, male or female. That’s a testament to competitive strength, it’s mental strength. It’s being able to perform under pressure, it has nothing to [do with] if you’re a boy or a girl.”
This year’s Winter Games came at a tumultuous time for the skier. Gu announced at an Olympics press conference in Milan and Cortina that her grandmother, Feng Guozhen, died shortly after the freestyle event.
“She was a really big part of my life growing up, and someone I looked up to immensely. She was a fighter,” Gu explained. “And I think what’s so interesting is that a lot of people just cruise through life, but she was a steamship. This woman commanded life, and she grabbed it by the reins, and she made it into what she wanted it to be. And she inspired me so much.”
Gu revealed that she’d made her grandmother a special promise the last time they saw each other.
China’s Eileen Gu is sharing an update on her personal life after winning her second straight freeski halfpipe gold medal at the 2026 Olympics. “The reason I was late is that I just found out that my grandma passed away,” Gu, 22, said during a press conference on Sunday, February 22, while becoming emotional. “She […]
“The last time I saw her before I came to the Olympics, she was very sick, so I knew that this was a possibility,” she said. “I didn’t promise her that I was going to win, but I did promise her that I was going to be brave, like she has been brave, and that’s why I keep referring to this theme of betting on myself and being brave and taking risks. It actually goes back to that promise that I made my grandma.”
Gu added, “I’m really happy that I was able to uphold that and hopefully do her proud, but it’s also a really difficult time for me now.”
The Olympian subsequently shared a carousel of photos of herself with her late grandmother via Instagram, writing, “Because I promised her I would be brave like her. I love you grandma.”
Some movies never really leave the culture. They just wait for the right moment to come back around. That’s what’s happening with The Devil Wears Prada, which is once again pulling in streaming viewers as the long-awaited sequel gets closer. Nearly 20 years later, the movie still feels sharp, funny, and endlessly quotable, which makes this comeback feel less like a surprise and more like a reminder.
The original film has been doing strong business on Disney’s streaming ecosystem just as The Devil Wears Prada 2 ramps up its own publicity ahead of its theatrical release. That overlap is pretty much perfect. The sequel buzz is doing part of the work, but the original movie is also earning its own fresh attention because people still genuinely love it.
The cast includes Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton, and Stanley Tucci as Nigel. It’s still one of the cleanest examples of a movie growing bigger with time. Ahead of the sequel, streaming viewers are returning to The Devil Wears Prada for exactly the same reasons they fell for it in the first place.
Remembering the Icons of Film — Collider Movie Quiz
We pay tribute to the talents who helped define Hollywood.
Is ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Worth Watching?
Roger Ebert‘s review stated that The Devil Wears Prada works best as a fun, glossy career story with two very strong leads. The movie follows Andy, a recent graduate who lands a job at a major fashion magazine and quickly gets pulled into a world that is demanding, exhausting, and impossible to ignore. It is not especially deep, but it is entertaining and easy to get caught up in. The film is stylish, sharp, and full of small moments that make the fashion world feel both ridiculous and exciting. The biggest weakness is that some of the supporting relationships are less convincing, especially Andy’s love life, which does not feel as strong as the rest of the story.
“Meryl Streep is indeed poised and imperious as Miranda, and Anne Hathaway is a great beauty (Ella Enchanted, Brokeback Mountain) who makes a convincing career girl. I liked Stanley Tucci, too, as Nigel, the magazine’s fashion director, who is kind and observant despite being a careerist slave. But I thought the movie should have reversed the roles played by [Adrian] Grenier and [Simon] Baker. Grenier comes across not like the old boyfriend but like the slick New York writer, and Baker seems the embodiment of Midwestern sincerity, which makes sense, because he is from Australia, the Midwest of the southern hemisphere.”
The Devil Wears Prada is streaming now.
- Release Date
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June 29, 2006
- Runtime
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109 minutes
- Director
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David Frankel
- Writers
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Aline Brosh McKenna, Lauren Weisberger
- Producers
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Wendy Finerman
The Real Housewives of New York City star Sai De Silva is breaking her silence after her estranged husband, David Craig, filed for divorce.
“Thank you for the kindness, grace, and support so many of you have shown me,” De Silva, 45, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, April 4. “I’m overwhelmed by all your messages and it truly means more than you know. My heart is with my children, and my focus is on giving them as much stability and love as possible.”
She continued, “Living life publicly isn’t always easy, but it’s a reminder that we should all lead with compassion. You never really know what someone is navigating behind the scenes.”
Us Weekly confirmed Craig filed for divorce in New York on Thursday, April 2, after almost a decade of marriage. The pair met in 2009 during a trip to Costa Rica, eventually saying “I do” eight years later in 2017.
The pair share daughter London, born in 2011, and son Rio, born in 2017.
While appearing on the “Sofia With an F” podcast in 2024, De Silva spoke about the pressures appearing on reality TV can put on a romantic relationship.
“I feel like when you put your relationship out there, when people come with, ‘This is what you signed up for,’ to scrutinize and to judge you,” she said at the time. “My relationship is not open for judgment.”
While Craig occasionally made cameos on RHONY, De Silva decided to cover Craig’s face in social media uploads, saying that her accounts and posts were her “platform.”
“My husband is very much involved in my life,” she added. “He is my life. He is my family, so he is going to be shown. Anything that I can control, like my social media platforms, what is he there for? He doesn’t get campaigns, he doesn’t shoot with me, he’s not my photographer.”
The relationship may be over, but the living arrangements stay the same. That’s been the case for a number of celebrity exes — including Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval, Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson and more. For Sandoval and Madix — who split in March 2023 after Madix discovered Sandoval had been cheating behind her […]
She continued, “This is not his world and also I don’t think people realize he’s not on social media at all — not even a Facebook [page],” she said at the time. “He has nothing, so he really is uninterested in what I do for a living. He sees the benefit of it, and he thinks it’s amazing. He supports me 100 percent, like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe you’ve made a living off doing this stuff. It’s amazing, but I don’t want to be seen [and] I don’t want to be in your photos.”
Craig, for his part, has yet to publicly address the pair’s split and his subsequent divorce filing.
The internet hasn’t let up on Gucci Mane ever since news broke about Pooh Shiesty’s alleged connection to his January kidnapping and robbery. Now, Asian Doll — a former artist on his 1017 label is stepping in with her own words as the speculation around his business moving keeps popping off.
RELATED: UPDATE: Criminal Complaint Against Pooh Shiesty & His Conspirators Surfaces With Alleged Gucci Mane Kidnapping Details (SEE HERE)
Asian Doll Speaks Out As Gucci Mane Rumors Heat Up
Recently, Asian Doll hopped on X (formerly Twitter) to check folks questioning Gucci Mane’s business moves. She straight-up told anyone looking at him sideways to stay out of it. Right now, no one knows what made Asian step in, but folks online are trying to read between the lines, thinking she might know more than she’s letting on.
“If you never been signed to a label or been sign to 1017 STFU
Asian message didn’t stop X users from weighing in. When one person wrote, “It’s ok, Gucci not about to sign you.” She immediately responded back, saying, “Clearly he will never sign nobody again & nobody will ever sign to him.”
Fans React After Asian Doll Checks Haters
Once The Shade Room shared Asian’s message, fans flooded the comment section with reactions. Some said they rather see her focus on being a mom instead of getting in the mix. Meanwhile others said they think she spoke nothing but facts.
Instagram user @therealprettynadiaa wrote, “She was doing so good , being a mom and chilling . Please go back to that.”
Instagram user @tha_comment_police wrote, “If you don’t remember when Asian Doll was signed to 1017 you’re too young!”
Then Instagram user @idontgetpaidenoughforthis wrote, “She was signed to him and they released her hassle free but there’s probably a reason behind that too.”
Another Instagram user @emerald_chaos9 wrote, “She has a point 💯”
Instagram user @bigvirgovibess wrote, “Girl you was signed for 10 minutes. Chill 😂😂😂”
While another instagram user @projectpaige86 wrote, “Asian doll asked Gucci to release her and he did . Why yall keep saying she got dropped. Wtf.”
Finally, Instagram user @shameace92 wrote, “Baby y’all don’t kno what goes on behind closed doors.. so hush up… she probably know some.”
Inside Asian & Gucci’s Past History
Speculation about Gucci Mane’s business moves popped off after news hit that Pooh Shiesty, his dad Lontrell Williams Sr., and seven others were involved in a January robbery and kidnapping of Gucci. Gucci had reportedly flown to Dallas to “discuss a recording contract” with Pooh, and after that meeting, Pooh and his crew allegedly pulled a coordinated arm takeover and forced Gucci to sign a music release form.
In the middle of the chaos, Asian reposted a message from a fan that read, “Seem like the only person that survived Gucci Mane label is Asian Doll.” From there, online chatter intensified as fans remembered when Asian used to be signed to Gucci’s 1017 label. He introduced her as the first woman signed back in June 2018. However, things reportedly shifted in 2020 when she announced she was leaving the label.
Asian Doll reshares post about surviving Gucci Mane’s label.
(📸: @GettyImages) ✍🏾: #TSRStaffLG pic.twitter.com/QSIRwQaFUM
— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) April 3, 2026
RELATED: Pooh Shiesty, His Dad, Gucci Mane & Keyshia Ka’oir Were All Active On Social Media Around Time Of Alleged Robbery — Here’s What They Posted
What Do You Think Roomies?
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This club has everyone: Jack Black, Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Wiig, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, and more.
Entertainment
PBS’s 6-Part ‘Gilded Age’ Replacement Is So Good, It’s Already Been Renewed for Two More Seasons
As we wait for the anticipated return of The Gilded Age, a new PBS series is guaranteed to fill the void. The Forsytes first premiered in the UK on Channel 5 to a successful turn-out, with it being renewed for not one, but two more seasons. The second was already filmed before the period drama made its North American debut at the end of last month. With episodes releasing on a weekly basis, this is the ideal time to hit play and catch up on what is one of the juiciest Victorian-era book adaptations out there.
A reimagined prequel to The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, this dramatization seeks to show what could have happened to the notorious titular family before the events that take place in the source material. With cousins Jolyon (Danny Griffin) and Soames (Joshua Orpin) competing over the leadership post of their family business, their professional ambitions are put to the test when love gets in the way. As Jolyon reconnects with an old flame and Soames falls for a ballerina with a drastically different upbringing from his, the question that remains is, does true love withstand social status?
‘The Forsytes’ Is All About Duty and Desire
The theme of duty and desire is a prevalent one in The Forsytes, with the cousins being a foil to each other. Jolyon is an artist at heart, finding fulfillment in painting a scenic view onto a canvas. During his youth, he did some traveling of his own, meeting his first love, Louisa Byrne (Eleanor Tomlinson), during his stint in Vienna. But when duty called, he had to set his passion aside, get married to a suitable match (Frances, played by Tuppence Middleton), and prepare to one day follow in his father’s footsteps. That is easier said than done. When he and Louisa cross paths years later, his old feelings come back into full swing, leaving him uncertain of whether he truly wants to take on his family’s brokerage. Soames, on the other hand, has a wealth-oriented mindset. He believes that all the great things in life need to be acquired until he meets Irene (Millie Gibson), a free-spirited ballerina who is grieving the loss of her father. Irene is passionate about dance and has plans to move to Paris to pursue her professional career there. Although he isn’t fazed by her aspirations, their relationship takes a turn when Soames’ true colors start to show.
The Forsytes is different from other adaptations of Galsworthy’s books because it allows for some of the supporting characters to have more screen time. The women in this particular version are more three-dimensional, with Frances and Irene getting just as much development as the men in their lives. During an era where women were struggling to have roles beyond being their spouses’ support system, this necessary book change brought on by series creator Debbie Horsfield (known for her work in Poldark) gives the period drama further depth. Frances knows how to behave and approach British high society as expected of a Forsyte, sometimes having to remind Jolyon of his part in maintaining the family name. Being his second hand and ensuring a fitting marriage for her daughter, June (Justine Moore), are Frances’ priorities, so having her efforts be threatened by Louisa’s resurgence affects her head on.
As for Irene, her life slowly converges to that of a caged bird, with her urge for artistic expression and free will getting hindered by joining the Forsyte family. In the same way that Jolyon had to approach painting as a hobby, Irene’s days as a ballet dancer are essential behind her. With these two women living in a men’s world, they undergo several challenges, but never lose sight of who they are.
‘The Forsytes’ Is a Worthwhile Period Drama
What makes The Forsytes a worthwhile watch is that it embraces the drama. From love triangles to family secrets, a lot happens behind closed doors. The rivalry between Soames and Jolyon mirrors the animosity between their fathers, two brothers who once fell for the same woman and were never able to make amends. Given their affluent reputation, the family has a certain image to uphold, keeping the messy parts of their lives to themselves (and to the viewers, of course). It’s interesting to see how the love between Irene and Soames is idealized at first, only to have their relationship put to the test after they utter their vows. Everything seems perfect during their honeymoon phase, but when the Forsyte name gets in the way, the family’s social standing becomes a burden as opposed to a blessing.
If you are looking for a new period drama to tune into after Bridgerton Season 4 and before The Gilded Age comes back, The Forsytes features romance, intrigue, and lots of family drama to indulge in. It is a retelling of a British classic that expands on the universe many may have previously been introduced to through the Damien Lewis-led ITV series or the 1967 BBC adaptation. Despite it being set in the 1880s, the PBS series will surely captivate modern audiences and likely spark interest in revisiting Galsworthy’s acclaimed novels.
The Forsytes
- Release Date
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September 1, 2025
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Francesca Annis
Ann Forsyte
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Danny Griffin
Jo Forsyte Jr.
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Tuppence Middleton
Frances Forsyte
Invincible is one of the few superhero adaptations that not only hews fairly close to its source material, but also updates it in surprising ways. This week’s episode, “Give Us A Moment“, is a key example of this: not only does it feature the bloody rematch between Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) and Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), but it also changes the reunion between his parents, Debbie (Sandra Oh) and Nolan (J.K. Simmons). While Debbie comes to an understanding with Nolan in the comics, she rightfully lays into him in the show, delivering a truly emotional moment. One of the biggest changes actually involves another character, Tech Jacket.
Created by Invincible co-creator Robert Kirkman and artist E.J. Su, Tech Jacket is the alter ego of Zach Thompson, a young boy whose life changes forever when he bonds with the Tech Jacket armor. The Tech Jacket transforms Zach into a living weapon, allowing him to protect the Earth from supervillains and cosmic threats. Invincible fans got their first glimpse at Tech Jacket in the Season 3 episode “This Is All My Fault,” but “Give Us A Moment” threw them for a loop with the reveal that Tech Jacket is now Zoe Thompson, and voiced by Zoey Deutch. As it turns out, there was a reason
The Tech Jacket Change in ‘Invincible’ Makes Zoe Feel More Distinct
While speaking to Den of Geek about “Give Us A Moment,” Robert Kirkman and Invincible showrunner Simon Racioppa discussed why they decided to gender-swap Tech Jacket. Kirkman said that the realization came when he looked at the comics and realized that Tech Jacket and Invincible share similar origins:
“When it came time to introduce Tech Jacket, I realized that if we had brought him straight to comics, he’d be very similar to Mark… We decided early on that it would be interesting to gender swap this character. We started thinking about who Zoe would be instead of Zach. There are some exciting things that come up when you change that character.”
Kirkman makes a great point, as Invincible and Tech Jacket both share the same concept of a teenage boy learning to be a superhero while wielding powers of alien origin. Tech Jacket would even come a full year before Invincible, arguably shaping the concepts that Kirkman would later refine in the latter book. The change also works, as Zoe is instantly a scene stealer. Zoey Deutch’s performance is full of hyperactive energy, which shows in Zoe’s battle against Walking Dread and her conversations with her father Dan (Bobby Moynihan). It’s also not the first time Invincible has made a major change to its supporting cast; superhero Shrinking Rae (Grey Griffin) is yet another example of the series gender-flipping a character and getting more out of them as a result.
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Tech Jacket Could Be A Breath of Fresh Air for ‘Invincible’, Especially In the Viltrumite War
Invincible has entered into what’s arguably its darkest storyline yet with the Viltrumite War. Mark, Zoe, Nolan and the rest of their allies have to battle against the remnants of the Viltrumite Empire, led by the tyrannical Grand Regent Thragg (Lee Pace). “Give Us A Moment” highlights how brutal this battle will be, especially with the carnage that Mark and Conquest inflict on each other, but Zoe’s presence could help lighten the mood. During the fight, she sticks close to Allen the Alien (Seth Rogen) and even lifts a trick from Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back to evade the Viltrumites. This leads to a hilarious argument about video games, but also provides a breather from the mayhem fans just witnessed.
Zoe also seems to form a connection with Mark’s brother Oliver (Christian Convery), as the two hang out while playing video games. Given that Oliver struggles to fit into human society, having him befriend Zoe can provide a connection outside of his family and give him a peer in the superhero community. It’s also a chance to lean more into Invincible‘s bittersweet nature, since Oliver’s rapid aging means that he could be older than Zoe in just a few years. Invincible excels at bringing moments from the comics that inspired it to life, but the change it makes with Tech Jacket is one of the best decisions the series has made to date.
- Release Date
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March 26, 2021
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Franchise(s)
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Invincible
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