Every genre of television has a fascinating history and a long trajectory of some of the medium’s greatest masterpieces, but few genres have ever produced as many groundbreaking shows as science fiction. From classics like Doctor Who to modern gems like Lost, there are several small-screen sci-fi masterpieces which can be counted among the most important shows of their time.

These are all great shows, but they’re far more than just that: They’re also seminal works of science fiction that have helped to define the way the genre looks on television. Whether it’s thanks to their stories, their style, their technical qualities, or their structure, these eight shows are the most important in the history of televisual sci-fi, and all fans of the genre should consider them essential viewing.

‘Doctor Who’ (1963–Present)

Back in 1963, the world was introduced to Doctor Who, a family adventure show about an alien (played by William Hartnell) traveling through time and space with his companions. Originally devised as an educational show aimed at children, the series slowly started to transform into something far more universal. As soon as viewers across the United Kingdom and the rest of the world got to see Hartnell’s First Doctor transform into Patrick Troughton‘s incarnation of the character, the sci-fi game was changed forever.

No matter how one ranks its versions of the Time Lord, there’s no denying that Doctor Who has remained revolutionary throughout its whole run. Aside from its use of regeneration as a plot device perfect for keeping itself fresh, which has made it the longest-running sci-fi show in television history, the show has also constantly been ahead of the curve with its campy tone, imaginative stories, and progressive heart. Doctor Who has far transcended the British television screen and turned into a global pop culture phenomenon like no other.

‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995–1996)

Image via TV Tokyo

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No conversation about anime television or animated science fiction could be complete without at least a mention of Neon Genesis Evangelion. It’s one of the best ’90s anime show masterpieces, an auteur-driven masterwork created by the brilliant Hideaki Anno. The show’s favoring of a slow-paced, philosophically-charged deconstruction of the mecha genre over an action-packed narrative makes it a terrible gateway point for anime beginners, but those already on the medium’s typical wavelength ought to check out Eva at least once in their lives.

On top of helping to popularize anime television globally, Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most radically re-defining sci-fi shows in history. Blending sci-fi concepts with surrealism, philosophy, and a slow sense of rhythm, it showed that sci-fi could be the home of more thoughtful and methodically-told stories than audiences were used to. Three decades after its conclusion, watching still feels like you’re experiencing a crucial pillar of the genre.

‘Lost’ (2004–2010)

Image via ABC

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From Westworld to Stranger Things to Severance, mystery box shows have been all the rage since around the early 2010s. It was arguably a certain other show that really pioneered the mystery box category, which defines shows featuring large and hyper-complex narratives reliant on underlying mysteries tying it all together. But if there was any show that solidified the mystery box genre as a respectable and hugely popular branch of science fiction, it was Lost.

Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof‘s groundbreaking ensemble show immediately proved to be one of the most game-changing sci-fi shows that rewrote genre rules. Whether it did or did not jump the shark in its final season is beside the point here—Lost was a massive pop-cultural phenomenon across the globe during its run, introducing countless people to the potential magic of sci-fi. Virtually every mystery sci-fi show that has been made after 2004 owes something to Lost.

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

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There are some sci-fi shows that shouldn’t be remade, and then there are others which beg for a modernization of some kind. The fun-but-dated Battlestar Galactica from the ’70s belonged to the latter group. After an incredible 2003 miniseries, the 2004 revival of the same title didn’t just revitalize and revolutionize the Battlestar franchise—it re-defined modern science fiction as a whole. Here, Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) is to be believed: There’s no science fiction show like this one.

The entire realm of American television took a drastic turn following the tragic events of 9/11, and Battlestar Galactica came as a direct result of that tonal and thematic shift. Suddenly, televisual sci-fi became grittier, more mature, more sharply political, and more morally ambiguous than it had ever been before. By elevating sci-fi into the realm of true prestige television, the 2004 version of Battlestar instantly cemented itself as one of the most important genre shows of the 2000s.

‘The X-Files’ (1993–2018)

Image via FOX

In the history of sci-fi television, there’s before The X-Files and then there’s after The X-Files. With its unprecedentedly large cult following surging right as the worldwide web was starting to be democratized, this Fox gem pioneered the online fandom space. Over three decades after it first aired, it’s still every bit as enjoyable and engaging as it was back in its infancy. Who could have foretold that a sci-fi/supernatural mystery series following a skeptic and a believer could have provided material for over 200 phenomenal episodes that never lost momentum?

From Supernatural to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, virtually every “monster-of-the-week” type of genre show that came after The X-Files was in some way inspired by it. It’s one of those classic sci-fi shows that has aged like fine wine, the show that fully brought science fiction into the modern mainstream television era. Popularizing conspiracy shows (and even conspiracy theories as a whole) and establishing Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson), the most iconic duo in sci-fi television history, The X-Files left an indelible mark on the history of American television.

‘Star Trek: The Original Series’ (1966–1969)

Image via NBC

Nowadays, the Star Trek franchise doesn’t really need an introduction; but back in 1966, audiences had never seen anything quite like Star Trek: The Original Series. With an unprecedentedly diverse ensemble cast and the distinctly optimistic worldview that has come to characterize the entire franchise, Gene Roddenberry‘s original creation wasn’t huge while it was on their. But following its cancellation, its release into syndication turned it into the gargantuan cult classic that people know it as today.

The Original Series is, in virtually every sense imaginable, one of those sci-fi shows that were way ahead of their time. There’s its cast, its exceptionally progressive politics, its stunning production values, and the uniquely utopian way in which it looks at the future. This lends it infinite rewatchability value even today, as it remains one of fans’ favorite installments in a massive franchise that has no shortage of gems to offer.

‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)

Image via CBS

Back in the ’50s and ’60s, sci-fi television was in practically no way like what we know today, but Rod Serling was the first person to truly help sci-fi take a leap into modernity. The Twilight Zone is arguably the single most groundbreaking and influential sci-fi TV show in history, and it’s definitely the biggest sci-fi anthology series of all time. Like all anthology shows, it had its fair share of ups and downs; but there’s no way of denying that it completely re-defined televisual science fiction in virtually every sense imaginable.

It’s one of those anthology TV shows that have aged like fine wine, a classic full of iconic episodes that deal with themes that still feel relevant and timely over 60 years after the show’s conclusion. It played an instrumental role in bringing science fiction into the mainstream, proving just how intelligent and culturally relevant the genre could be when in the right creative hands. Sci-fi TV as we know it today could never have existed without The Twilight Zone.

‘Babylon 5’ (1994–1998)

Image via PTEN

Though perhaps not quite as influential, nor nearly as vastly acclaimed as The Twilight Zone, there’s a strong argument to be made that there has never been a science fiction TV show more important or genre-defining than Babylon 5. Almost unprecedentedly for American broadcast television at the time, this space opera was designed as a sort of novel for television, where each season of a pre-planned five-part arc would serve as a different chapter.

Babylon 5 brought not only television sci-fi, but American television as a whole, away from their episodic days and toward a more heavily serialized era. Campy though it may sometimes feel nowadays, it’s nevertheless one of those sci-fi shows that hold up surprisingly well, a game-changing classic without which sci-fi television—and perhaps even American television more generally—would have likely looked vastly different today.

When it comes to crime drama series, FX‘s Snowfall remains relevant for multiple reasons, the biggest of those being that its highly anticipated spin-off is set to arrive sometime this year. Co-created by the late, great John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood), along with Dave Andron and Eric Amadio, the hit series chronicles the early days of one of the largest drug epidemics of the 20th century.

The series digs deep into the interwoven stories of those who cultivate, bring to market, and distribute such an addictive, deadly product. It also does a top-notch job of combining gripping, methodical storytelling with phenomenal acting and stunning cinematography to explore the rise of a cocaine empire through diverse, emotionally complex characters full of heart and depth. Before its 2026 spin-off arrives, Snowfall deserves a dedicated rewatch — or an initial watch, if it’s your first time.

What Is ‘Snowfall’ About?

Snowfall isn’t just another crime drama; it’s a meticulously crafted slow burn on par with shows like Narcos, Breaking Bad, and Queen of the South. It showcases the desperate, dangerous, wildly illegal lengths minorities were forced to go to at that time in order to build and maintain any kind of wealth under President Ronald Reagan and the LAPD’s lethal, unwavering gaze. The narrative follows Franklin Saint (Damson Idris), a young, smart entrepreneur navigating the drug trade alongside friends, family, a CIA operative, and a Mexican cartel member.

While you don’t see much dealing, at least throughout the first season, you do see the plethora of ways that poverty, early ’80s West Coast hedonism, Mexican and Black communities, and government agents come together to create the perfect storm for a cheap, feel-good drug to seep through the cracks and latch on to unsuspecting consumers. Snowfall blatantly portrays the cost of being associated with the world of drugs and dealing while highlighting the effects that both have on the people involved, such as the long-term consequences brought about by money, power, and influence.

The main reason Snowfall is such a captivating crime series worthy of its near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores is its seamless blend of character-driven drama and historical context for a realistic portrayal of the era’s complexities. What’s most striking about the show, though, in addition to Idris’s standout performance, is its outright refusal to glamorize its subject matter. Whereas most shows of the genre glorify crime, Snowfall avoids that altogether by prioritizing a tragic rise-and-fall arc, its story more of a cautionary tale than an aspirational one. In refusing to whitewash the era, the crime drama presents a raw, unapologetic Black perspective by bringing in firsthand cultural knowledge of how South Central LA is portrayed, which is crucial to its impact.

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‘Snowfall’ Is Coming Back After 2 Years — With a Twist

Gail Bean and Isaiah John are set to return.

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‘Snowfall’s Spin-off Enters a New Era for the Series

Snowfall‘s currently untitled spin-off will serve as a direct continuation of the world built in the original series. The long-gestating project was created by Singleton, who passed away in 2019, and was first developed after Snowfall‘s 2023 finale, with the spin-off officially ordered to series in November 2025. Set in 1990s Los Angeles, the spin-off’s narrative will follow two key characters from the original series as they enter the booming West Coast rap scene while managing gang warfare and exploitation by new record labels.

Snowfall’s Wanda (Gail Bean) and Leon (Isaiah John) will take center stage as they navigate the post-crack era and work to build a new life in a rapidly changing environment. Wanda, a recovering crack addict, will serve as the connective tissue to the original series via her history, and Leon’s, for that matter, with area gangs. The spin-off’s focus will rest on the rise of gangster rap and hip-hop culture, as well as the expansion of rival gangs, while gang wars erupt and record labels exploit the rising culture for their own profit. Before its spin-off arrives, make it a priority to familiarize yourself with Snowfall‘s unflinching examination of history that delicately balances intense, character-driven storytelling with sociopolitical commentary by giving it the binge it deserves. You’ll want a taste of what you’re heading into next.

Snowfall is currently available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.

Megan Thee Stallion absolutely shocked fans when she revealed on social media that her relationship with NBA star Klay Thompson was over after less than a year of dating.

The rapper further shared that the split was due to Thompson’s alleged cheating, but just months before, she gushed about being “loved right” by the athlete.

In an exclusive January 2026 interview with PEOPLE, Megan Thee Stallion, who previously proclaimed that she was in her “Lover Girl era,” couldn’t stop singing Klay Thompson’s praises.

“Well, I don’t never want to tell [anybody] to just jump in a relationship just because everybody else got one, and I’m not going to tell you to just jump in a relationship because you have to,” she began. “I didn’t even know I was going to be in my relationship, to be honest.”

“I had been going to therapy, I had a bunch of activities that I started doing for myself. Maybe God just opened up that space for me to have somebody that loved me right,” the Grammy winner said.

“This is one of the first times that I’ve ever been just overly comfortable,” Megan said at the time: “I’m comfy, babe!”

She also previously referred to Thompson as the “nicest person I’ve ever met in my life,” after the former couple made their July 2025 red carpet debut.

Megan Thee Stallion Broke The Internet With Breakup From Klay Thompson

On Saturday, April 25, with a single Instagram post, Megan Thee Stallion became the number one trending topic across social media.

In an Instagram Story post, Megan revealed that she and Thompson had split. However, it was her allegations of cheating that caused fans to spiral.

“Cheating, had me around your whole family playing house… got ‘cold feet,’” the post began. “Holding you down through all your HORRIBLE mood swings and treatment towards me during your basketball season, now you don’t know if you can be ‘monogamous????’ ” she continued. “B-tch I need a REAL break after this one .. bye yall.”

Megan followed that up with a statement to TMZ.

“I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Klay,” her statement read. “Trust, fidelity and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship, and when those values are compromised, there’s no real path forward. I’m taking this time to prioritize myself and move ahead with peace and clarity.”

Megan’s 2025 Single ‘Lover Girl’ Was Seemingly Inspired By Relationship With Thompson

In the song, released on October 24, Megan Thee Stallion gushed about her man, sex, and being in love: 

“My man, my man, my man, my baby, my baby
 / D-ckin’ me down, spoilin’ me, drivin’ me crazy,” she raps over the track samples that 1996 song “Kissin’ You” by the R&B group Total.

Additionally, Megan raps about how different her man is from the rest:

“My n—a say, ‘My lady,’ he never say, ‘My b-tch’
 / Some n—as make excuses, he make that sh-t exist
/ Most n—as want attention, my n—a give me his /
He know he a star, but he my biggest fan,” she raps.

The Former Couple Went Public In Summer 2025

After photos of the two made the rounds on social media last summer as they embarked on a luxurious baecation, Megan shared a risqué video of herself and Thompson, sending fans into overdrive.

A few days later, the couple made their official red carpet debut at Megan’s inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in New York City.

Shortly after, she offered a bit of insight into the start of their relationship, describing it as “cute” and “like a f-cking movie.”

Megan also said that their relationship is the first time she’s “been with somebody who’s genuinely a nice person, and he makes me genuinely happy.”

Thompson Was Previously In An On Again/Off Again Relationship With Laura Harrier

The Dallas Mavericks Star previously dated “Spider-Man” and “BlacKkKlansman” actress Laura Harrier. The former couple dated off-and-on from 2018 until early 2020.

Shortly after their appearance together at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, allegations that Thompson was unfaithful emerged, and the pair ultimately decided to call it quits.

Throughout the back-and-forth relationship between the two, there were ongoing rumors of Thompson’s serial infidelity, but neither party publicly confirmed it.

Valerie Bertinelli spoke about how scared she was of posing nude for the cover of her memoir, “Getting Naked,” during a book festival.

The actress explained that the idea came from a conversation with her editor, who felt that the cover should match the book’s theme of honesty.

Although she found it intimidating, Valerie Bertinelli said she pushed herself to go through with it and ultimately viewed the experience as something she was glad to try once.

Valerie Bertinelli Reflects On ‘Terrifying’ Moment She Posed Nude For New Memoir Cover

Bertinelli shared how “terrifying” it was to pose nude for the cover of her memoir, “Getting Naked.”

Speaking during a live Q&A at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on April 18, the 66-year-old actress explained that the idea came up while she was talking to her editor.

She felt that if the book was called “Getting Naked,” the cover should reflect that honesty. Once she said it out loud, she felt committed to following through.

“It was terrifying,” Bertinelli began, per People Magazine. “But here’s the deal. It’s like when I was on the phone with my editor, and I was saying, ‘I think because I’m calling it ‘Getting Naked,’ I need to actually be naked on the cover. So I wanna try and explore that.’ And she’s like, ‘Great!’ And then once it was out of my mouth, I kinda had to do it.”

To prepare, Bertinelli shared that she worked with a trusted team she had collaborated with for years. The actress admitted she eased into the shoot slowly, arriving in a cozy sweater to stay comfortable before deciding to fully go for it.

Even though the moment felt intimidating, Bertinelli described it as a powerful experience. She shared that she tends to confront things that scare her, questioning what the real fear is and pushing herself to move past it. In the end, she saw the shoot as a one-time challenge that helped her grow.

The Actress Says The Nude Shoot Felt More Liberating Than Bikini Moment

Interestingly, in her conversation with People Magazine in March, Bertinelli shared that posing nude at this stage in her life felt more liberating than a bikini shoot she did back in 2009 after losing weight.

Despite being slimmer at the time, the “Hot in Cleveland” actress said this recent experience left her feeling more confident and at ease.

Still, she admitted that she’s “never going to do it again, but it was fun to try it once.”

She added, “I’ve got this weird quirk that if I’m afraid of something, I’m going to walk right through it. And I did.”

Valerie Bertinelli Speaks About Overcoming Her Body Image Issues

Bertinelli also reflected on her long struggle with body image, explaining that she spent “too many decades” being overly critical of herself.

The memoir cover, she said, became a moment of reclaiming confidence and appreciating her body as it is now.

As she put it, “I don’t know what I’m going to look like when I’m 80, but at 65 it looks pretty f-cking good. I think you’re allowed to feel good about yourself.”

She continued, “I have felt bad about myself for too many decades. I’m going to feel good about myself now.”

The Actress Says She’s Not Ready To Date, Calls Vulnerability A ‘Superpower’

Beyond body image, Bertinelli also shared that she isn’t ready to return to dating.

While speaking at the festival, she described vulnerability as a “superpower because it can connect you to people, and it can connect you and make a relationship much more powerful.”

She added, “But you do have to be careful with your superpower. You have to be careful of who you share your vulnerability with.”

Despite her openness, Bertinelli acknowledged that sharing so much publicly hasn’t been easy. She has faced criticism online but is learning to manage it by focusing on her own self-worth. As she explained, she had to change the beliefs she held about herself to stop internalizing negativity.

She explained that writing “Getting Naked” helped her process these emotions and regain a sense of control, allowing her to better understand and become comfortable with her feelings.

Despite being open about her journey, Bertinelli admitted that sharing so much of herself publicly hasn’t been easy. She acknowledged facing criticism online, but said she’s learning to manage it by focusing on her own self-worth.

According to her, “You can’t make me believe anything about myself that I don’t already believe.’ And that’s why I had to change my beliefs of what I believe about myself, that I’m not a bad person.”

Valerie Bertinelli Calls Divorce From Tom Vitale’ Second Best Day’ Of Her Life As She Reflects on Past Relationships

Looking back on her past relationships, Bertinelli spoke honestly about her marriages to Eddie Van Halen and Tom Vitale.

She described her marriage to Vitale as particularly difficult, alleging that he emotionally abused her, calling her “fat and lazy.”

When their decade-long marriage ended, she saw the divorce as a major turning point, even calling the finalization of it the “second best day of my life.”

She later found love again with writer Mike Goodnough in 2024, but the relationship eventually came to an end. The split played out publicly, with both sides sharing their perspectives.

Goodnough criticized Bertinelli after the breakup, accusing her of “playing a one-woman tennis match thinking there is someone on the other side of the net,” and misinterpreting his social media posts and directing frustration toward him.

“Valerie is in a war with her ghosts,” he said, per Fox News Digital. “I’m just the guy who catches the bullets. And that isn’t new.”

Despite the tension, Bertinelli later reflected on the relationship with a sense of growth, saying she had been “irreversibly changed by him for the better.”

She expressed gratitude for the experience, even acknowledging that she may have “fumbled the last true good man I met.”

Actress Gina Carano may be taking on Ronda Rousey on Netflix on May 16, but “Star Wars” fans are eager to see her reprise her role as Cara Dune in a galaxy far, far away. Although she appeared in the first two seasons of “The Mandalorian,” she was fired due to controversial social media posts made during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. After she settled her wrongful termination lawsuit, it seemed possible – albeit unlikely – that she would ever return to the franchise, especially since season 4 of the Disney+ series was reworked into a movie that’s set to hit theaters next month. Although she will not appear in the film, it is possible that she could return to the Lucasfilm franchise, as she recently revealed that she’s already spoken to the new Lucasfilm co-CEO, Dave Filoni, and showrunner Jon Favreau.

Although it’s not clear if she will ever return to a galaxy far, far away, it appears that she is at least on good terms with Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau, with whom she previously worked on the first two seasons of “The Mandalorian.”

“I’ve already had a conversation with Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau. We got onto a Zoom call. It was really nice,” she said during an interview with Ariel Helwani. “Dave is taking over as CEO of Star Wars. We didn’t miss a beat. Jon Favreau got on Zoom and was really funny. He was like so; where did we leave off?”

Although her “The Mandalorian” costar Carl Weathers has passed away, Carano has received support from another costar: comedian Bill Burr.

Bill Burr Shows Support For His ‘The Mandalorian’ Costar

Following her controversial firing, the comedian called Carano “an absolute sweetheart” and a “super nice f-cking person,” as previously reported by The Blast. “Unless she did some truly horrible sh-t or said overtly racist sh-t, I don’t know. I think there are just too many channels,” he said at the time.

“And then you gotta do sensational sh-t,” he continued. “I don’t know what the f-ck it is. I’m on that f-cking show. Now, I gotta watch what the f-ck I say.”

Bill Burr Called Gina Carano’s Firing ‘Bizarre’  

In an April 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Burr opened up about the politics that led to her firing and labeled it “bizarre.”

“I thought it was funny that the liberals proved her point,” he explained. “They just use outrage because they don’t like your politics. As someone who considers himself liberal, it’s disappointing to see the left become how the right used to be when they went after the Dixie Chicks after they criticized George W. Bush.”

“There’s not a lot of people like that — most are just trying not to get in trouble — but there’s this small collection of lunatics — either on the right or the left, at any given moment – that cause hysteria,” he continued. “And now there’s so many [media outlets] that want eyeballs, they make money off advertising, that they give attention to these crazy fringe people.”

“The whole thing with Gina: You can’t chime in when the sh-t’s happening, because then you cause static for other people on the [show]. That somebody’s opinion — or their political beliefs — makes people try to destroy their ability to make a living, it’s f-cking bizarre to me.”

Bill Burr Gets Candid About Cancel Culture

Burr went on to say that what happened to Carano could happen to anyone in the age of social media, pointing out how old tweets can be dug up in order to “cancel” someone who holds different perspectives.

“And I love the whole idea that somebody can go back eight years in somebody’s Twitter feed and be like, ‘What about this?’” he continued. “And nobody says, ‘You had to go back eight years to find something?! Sounds like this is a pretty good person if you had to go back eight f-cking years!’ Meanwhile, there are people who get paroled from prison every day who have done so much worse and they’re allowed to put their lives back together.”

“You can have 20-year wars, you can create synthetic heroin, you can f-cking poison the food supply. You can do all of that sh-t and it’s barely going to read,” he went on. “They did a study the other day that 85 percent of people have plastic in their body – horrifying. Who’s going to be held accountable for that? Nobody. But I could tell you five different topics that if I did jokes about, I would get more in trouble than the people who caused that.”

Just as HBO was gearing up with its original programming in the early aughts, it released one of the greatest miniseries of the modern age. Developed by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, Band of Brothers told the true story of the 101st Airborne Division of World War II. These soldiers were the first to implement dropping into combat and were led by the now-famous military tactician, Dick Winters.

Band of Brothers became the benchmark of how to do a decent military drama, but it was far from the first. For those in need of a gripping story, they can turn their attention to a series with similar stakes, China Beach. Premiering in 1988, the show ran until 1991 and, like Band of Brothers, depicted the harrowing subject matter of an American conflict on foreign soil.

‘China Beach’ Was a Precursor To ‘Band of Brothers’

Image via ABC

China Beach and Band of Brothers took on two very different American conflicts of the 20th century, but still focused on how war affects the mind and human spirit. Band of Brothers started around D-Day, charting Easy Company’s journey through the entirety of the war. China Beach had similar values, but took place during the most divisive war in history up until that point.

Named for the beach where there was an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War, China Beach was a drama that took on many issues of the era. The series discussed concepts such as PTSD and substance abuse and had the impressive inclination to tell many of these stories from the perspective of women. Airing on ABC for only a few seasons, it was one of the first instances of prestige television, which has only become more prominent as time has gone on. Band of Brothers would eventually pick up where China Beach left off with episodes that were perfect from start to finish. Focusing on the realities of war as well as the personal trials of the central characters was the formula that endeared these shows to audiences.

Both Series Showed the Talent of Its Young Stars

China Beach also starred actors who would go on to have lucrative careers, similar to the Band of Brothers cast. The HBO series starred Damian Lewis, Michael Cudlitz, Matthew Settle, and Ron Livingston, among many others. Because the series was shot in Europe, it also showcased many English actors who had small roles but would go on to be huge names in the industry.

Michael Fassbender played a lesser-known member of Easy Company, Christenson, but would go on to become a powerhouse in the independent film world. His X-Men: First Class co-star James McAvoy was also a main character in the episode “Replacements.” Tom Hardy played a particularly tragic character in the tail end of the series. The main cast of China Beach were also names that would be of particular note in the entertainment industry.

Most notable was Dana Delaney, known for her roles in Tombstone, Desperate Housewives, and Body of Proof. She starred as an Army nurse at the titular hospital. Marg Helgenberger was a civilian worker who most viewers will remember as a major component of the original line-up of CSI. Helgenberger played Catherine for almost the entire run of the series and got her start on the little-known war series. China Beach had not had streaming rights prior to this, but now fans can finally catch it for free on the Roku channel.

Lori Loughlin‘s estranged husband, Mossimo Giannulli, has reportedly been bombarding her phone with flirty text messages after seemingly seeing how much she has transformed since their split.

The pair, who allegedly went their separate ways after the actress found some suspicious texts on his phone, have been linked to other people, but nothing concrete has surfaced about their romantic lives.

Sources close to Lori Loughlin, however, say she will never go back to him but wants things to remain cordial for the sake of their daughters.

Loughlin’s post-split glow-up seems to have left her estranged husband Mossimo Giannulli scratching his head in regret.

According to Star Magazine, sources close to the “Full House” star revealed that Giannulli has been lighting up Loughlin’s phone with “flirty texts” after her recent post-split makeover.

“He’s been sending flirty texts and telling her she looks incredible,” the insider said. “Mossimo went so far as to suggest they go on a date together for old time’s sake.”

Loughlin and Giannulli separated in October last year after 28 years of marriage, with reports suggesting the split was caused by lingering strain from their 2019 college admissions scandal, where they paid money to get their daughters into the University of Southern California.

The actress also found “incriminating” text messages on his phone that damaged her trust in him.

The Actress Will Has No Plans To Get Back With Her Estranged Husband

Shortly after their separation made headlines, Giannulli sparked new romance speculations after he was seen with stylist Hannah Harrison on multiple occasions.

She has since dispelled the rumors, saying they are only platonic friends and their outing at the time of his split with Loughlin was a coincidence.

His current relationship status remains unclear, but if he’s hoping to get back with Loughlin, he might wait forever, as sources claim she’s not looking to go back to him.

“While his flattery is a big boost for Lori’s self-esteem, he’s wasting his time,” the insider said. “She has zero interest in turning back the clock.”

“Lori and Mossimo actually talk quite a lot,” they continued. “She’s forgiven him for the most part, which is pretty big of her, given the hell he put her through.”

In fact, Loughlin’s inner circle is reportedly urging her to stay the course and keep her distance from him.

“Her friends are encouraging Lori to enjoy the dating scene and continue to stay the heck away from Mossimo,” the source added. “They find the attention he’s paying her now insulting.”

Lori Loughlin ‘Never Fully Forgave’ Mossimo Giannulli After The College Admissions Scandal

After they were caught paying a fixer to get their daughters into USC, they both served prison time, with sources saying Loughlin had reservations about the whole thing as it was spearheaded by the fashion designer.

“The school scandal was a turning point, and they never really connected or recovered their relationship after that,” an insider told Page Six, adding that Loughlin felt he “got her involved” in the situation.

“She didn’t fully blame him, but he spearheaded it,” the source continued, noting that the actress “never fully forgave him and never fully got over it.”

If Giannulli is looking to win the actress back, he must also try to appease her friends, as reports previously claimed they were mad at him and felt like he “used” the actress for a long time.

“Mossimo had used Lori for years,” one of her friends told the news outlet. “She was hoping maybe he would change when he got out of prison, but he got worse.”

The Actress Sparked Plastic Sugery Rumors After Her Facial Transformation

Since their split, the “When Calls The Heart” actress has been spotted out with fellow actor James Tupper and was also seen with an unnamed TV executive.

She started making the buzz for her glow up last month after debuting a much younger visage at the Women’s Cancer Research Fund’s Unforgettable Evening 2026 gala.

Loughlin, who attended the event in the company of their daughters Olivia and Isabella, wore a plunging black and white dress, and left her hair to flow down freely while rocking a side part.

The look set tongues wagging online, with many demanding to know what makeup tricks she used, or if Loughlin had gone under the knife.

Lori Loughlin Is Ready To Date Again

Reports suggest Loughlin is ready to move on, and her friends have been encouraging her to get on the dating scene and enjoy it.

Earlier this month, sources told Us Weekly that “she has been putting herself back out there … and is dating again,” but isn’t quite in a rush as she’s “just having fun and keeping things light and casual.”

She seems to have done the work and is in a better place mentally, with the source saying that she “feels like she got her spark back” after her split from Giannulli.

“[She] is in such a good headspace lately,” the source said. “The dust has settled, and she’s really leaning into this season of life, enjoying her independence, spending a lot of time with her girls, and having fun.”

Megan Thee Stallion appeared extra emotional during her Saturday, April 25, Broadway performance of Moulin Rouge in the wake of her breakup from NBA star Klay Thompson.

Megan, 31, received a thunderous standing ovation during her curtain call, in which she was spotted wiping away tears and at one point turning away from the crowd via social media footage.

Megan, who currently stars as Zidler in the stage adaptation of the iconic film, announced her breakup hours before showtime.

“I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Klay,” Megan told Us Weekly in a statement. “Trust, fidelity and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship, and when those values are compromised, there’s no real path forward. “I’m taking this time to prioritize myself and move ahead with peace and clarity.”

Related: Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson Split Amid Cheating Claims

Megan Thee Stallion and her NBA star boyfriend, Klay Thompson, have broken up amid accusations of infidelity. “I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Klay,” Megan, 31, tells Us Weekly in a Saturday, April 25, statement. “Trust, fidelity and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship, and when those values are compromised, […]

Several hours before, Megan appeared to publicly accuse Klay, 36, of infidelity after nearly one year of dating.

“Cheating, had me around your whole family playing house … got ‘cold feet,’” Megan claimed via her Instagram Stories earlier on Saturday without mentioning Klay by name. “Holding you down through all your HORRIBLE mood swings and treatment towards me during your basketball season.”

She continued, “Now you don’t know if you can be ‘monogamous???’ Bitch, I need a real break after this one. Bye y’all.”

The NBA star has not publicly addressed the breakup or the cheating allegations. Us reached out to a rep for the pro athlete for comment.

While Klay has since remained mum about the split, several fans have questioned how the shooting guard could walk away from his relationship with the beloved rap star.

Related: Hasan Piker Questions How Klay Thompson Fumbled Megan Thee Stallion

Influencer Hasan Piker was in disbelief that Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson broke up after nearly one year of dating. “Oh my god, that is a generational fumble. Are you f***ing serious?” Piker, 34, said in a Saturday, April 25, Instagram video, reacting to Megan’s social media statement that announced the news. “Klay Thompson, […]

“That is a generational fumble. Are you f***ing serious?” influencer Hasan Piker said in a social media video shared on Saturday. “Klay Thompson, this was the best thing that has happened to you in your damn life, dude. How is that possible? That’s Megan Thee Stallion. This is more important. This is the one ring you should be paying attention to, not the motherf***ing NBA ring.”

Piker, 34, further proclaimed that Megan is a bona fide catch, whom Klay should have wanted to marry.

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“Megan Thee Stallion is into anime, has like all of the unique interests, she’s dope, she’s super successful. It just doesn’t make any sense,” Piker added in his upload, referring to the exes’ past social media posts together. “Bro had her cooking for his family, yeah. He named his boat after her? That is the fumble of the century, that’s how you know he doesn’t have ultra instinct. He can’t lock in.”

Klay and Megan were first romantically linked in July 2025, the same month they made their red carpet debut at her Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala. (Megan started the organization in 2022 to support women, children, seniors and underserved communities in Houston, Texas.)

“Megan is such a special person and she inspires so many around the world. I’ve seen it firsthand,” Klay exclusively told Us at the time. “This is just another incredible feat of hers to be able to give back, create [a] foundation and raise a ton of money for those in need. I’m honored to be here by her side.”

With its 1970s setting, Starve Acre is a modern folk horror that leans into its inevitable comparisons with films like The Wicker Man and Don’t Look Now. Even so, Starve Acre becomes more a litmus test of dread – for audiences and characters alike – than a formulaic folk horror. Where folk horror films like Midsommar invoke a kind of thrill in piecing together what tapestries and paintings will come to mean, Starve Acre forces viewers to see it coming and to sit in that unease. Director Daniel Kokotajlo supports his environment of disquietude with still shots of Yorkshire’s beautiful, but oppressive landscapes between the slow, deliberate camerawork that punctuates the story.

Richard (House of the Dragon’s Matt Smith) and Juliette (Morfydd Clark, Rings of Power and Saint Maud) move back to Richard’s childhood home in the countryside of Yorkshire to give their son, Owen, fresh country air to help with his severe asthma. But two years into their move, Owen still hasn’t adjusted to country life and his behavior takes a turn for the worse. This culminates with stabbing the eye out of a horse. In a visit with a child psychologist, Juliette reveals that lately, Jack has mentioned an imaginary friend named Jack Grey. This unsettles Richard, who is no stranger to Jack Grey. It’s a name from his childhood, featured in the opening poem that sets the course of the film, written by none other than Richard’s father, Neil. Soon, the family experiences death, and the film makes grief a central character and spins Richard’s archaeological position at a university as a vessel for exploring his own childhood abuse.

‘Starve Acre’ Makes Symbolism Unsettling

Where other modern folk horror presents symbols or the whole of folklore up front with a nod and a wink, Starve Acre jumps straight to tragedy, then spends the last hour of its runtime with a twisting ambiance that doesn’t shy away from the disturbing. Everything – from hidden bones to long-buried tree roots, and of folk horror’s favorite trope, an ominous animal, this time a menacing hare – becomes a tangible presentation of Richard’s childhood abuse and the resulting grief. Perhaps the greatest of these is a cut-down oak tree on the Starve Acre property. Owen is drawn to the remains of the tree, much to Richard’s dismay. What is a mystery to Owen is an immense trigger for Richard. To Richard, it represents the superstitions that his cruel father believed justified the ways he brutalized him from a young age. It was a popular meeting place for Neil and his friends, making it a painful reminder of the many ways his community failed to protect him from his father and, at times, even encouraged him.

The film twists Richard’s own work against him, forcing his comforting, mundane relationship to archaeological research to become a kind of liability that prevents him from walking away from these childhood emotional wounds and the beliefs that his father attached to them. As he finds himself drawn to the bones of a hare among his father’s things, Juliette takes a chance on a medium who uses meditation to navigate her dwindling mental health. Through this contrasting framework – a professional life and a spiritual need – both Richard and Juliette are moved closer to folk tragedy in ominous baby steps.

Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark Sell the Atmosphere of Fear

Richard’s revelations about his past are brought to life by Matt Smith with a quiet and stubborn resistance. When memories of his past finally break him, and he opens up about his father’s pagan ramblings and superstitious cruelty, it offers only enough breath to sustain the sinister atmosphere. His unfurling dismay works in harmonious contrast with Morfydd Clark’s transparent portrayal of his wife, Juliette. Similarly to Sissy Spacek in Carrie or Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby, Clark makes an unavoidable breakdown painfully watchable. The few moments of comfort they offer one another are well-calculated by director Daniel Kokotajlo. As their exploration of the mystery and tragedy of Starve Acre becomes more and more disjointed, it’s clear that togetherness might have been a way out. With revelations about the nature of parenthood and the ways any individual can justify cruelty in the past and the present, Starve Acre makes folk horror and pagan fears as human as emotion.

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Starve Acre

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Release Date

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July 26, 2024

Runtime

98 Minutes

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Director

Daniel Kokotajlo

Writers

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Daniel Kokotajlo, Andrew Michael Hurley

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Roommates, congratulations is in order for Chris Brown as he has welcomed his fourth child. After months of speculation that Breezy and his partner Jada Wallace were expecting a child together, they officially confirmed their baby’s arrival with a sweet post on social media on Sunday, April 26.

RELATED: From Friends To Lovers? 3 Times Fans Were Convinced Chris Brown & Jada Wallace Hard-Launched Their Romance (PHOTOS) 

Chris Brown Celebrates The Arrival Of His Fourth Child

Fans are flooding social media with reactions after Jada Wallace announced the arrival of her baby with Chris Brown. Jada confirmed the news in a carousel post on Instagram, sharing photos from her maternity shoot and then a picture of her newborn baby. She didn’t mention or tag Chris in the post, but he seemingly confirmed that he fathered the child as he slid in her comment section writing, “Taurus Gang” alongside two red heart emojis. Breezy’s mom also celebrated the birth of Chris and Jada’s baby, hopping into Jada’s comments, adding, “CONGRATULATIONS!!! HES JUST PERFECT! SENDING LOVE ALWAYS!!” As of right now, neither CB or Jada have confirmed the gender of name of their baby.

Fans React As Breezy & Jada Welcome Their Baby

After The Shade Room shared the photos, Breezy fans immediately ran to the comment section. Several folks congratulated the singer and dropped heart emojis, while others said they need a family tree for reference since the newborn makes his fourth child.

Instagram user @mermaidvibezz2 wrote, “Awww congratulations on a beautiful baby😍🥰” 

Instagram user @ohb_blackpyramid wrote, “Baby Brown 🤎🤎🤎🤎” 

While Instagram user @shxwntie wrote, “I love to see him defending her ❤️ congrats to them.” 

Then Instagram user @skorpion.queen wrote, “Diamond told us months ago. Y’all forgot?? 😂” 

Another Instagram user @mzzgermain wrote, “We need a family tree please. Thanks.” 

Instagram user @silesoy_ wrote, “She hid that pregnancy very well until Diamond exposed it.” 

While another Instagram user @beautiful_red27 wrote, “Shade room i really don’t need the negativity lol 🫨🤣” 

Then another Instagram user @brianaedmondsofficial wrote, “Baby came out saying f*** the world! Welcome to the world 💕” 

Finally, Instagram user @bryttain_ wrote, “Not the baby lowkey flicking us off already 😂😂😂 big congratulations though.” 

Social Media Previously Suspected That Jada Wallace Was Pregnant

The internet doesn’t play when it comes to clocking a pregnancy. Fans previously suspected that Jada Wallace was pregnant when she popped out with Chris Brown during Paris Fashion Week in January. At the time, video footage surfaced of Jada and Chris at a fashion show afterparty, and fans immediately started side-eyeing the moment because they thought they peeped a lil’ baby bump under Jada’s coat. On top of that they also noticed her turning down what looked like an alcoholic drink.

@gala.fr #chrisbrown #amiri #tiktokfashion #tiktokmusic #pfw ♬ Man I Need – Olivia Dean

A month later in February, Diamond Brown — the mother of Chris’ daughter Lovely added even more speculation when she dropped a post telling Chris to tall back and focus on the baby he has on the way. “LEAVE ME AND MINES ALONE! WORRY ABOUT YOUR NEW BABY ON THE WAY! @chrisbrownofficial” Diamond also spilled more tea when she responded to a fan in the comment section of her IG post that asked whether Chris and Jada were expecting a boy or girl. Diamond didn’t hesitate to say that they were allegedly preparing to welcome a baby boy.

More About Chris Brown’s Kids & Their Mother’s

RELATED: Chris Brown’s Mom Shows Jada Wallace Love As She Returns Social Media Following Back-And-Forth With Diamond Brown