Entertainment
This 9-Part 96% RT Sitcom Somehow Made TV’s Most Uncomfortable Episode Ever
While Peep Show is arguably one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, it is not for the faint of heart. It’s a show that puts viewers directly in the minds and perspectives of two dysfunctional, sometimes delusional, and always self-centered men: Mark Corrigan (David Mitchell) and Jeremy “Jez” Usbourne (Robert Webb). Peep Show has a novel way of presenting things, with every camera angle being from the perspective of a person, usually Mark and Jez, but also including supporting characters and sometimes even background characters or extras. But it goes further, given that their often offensive or alarming inner thoughts are heard regarding whatever they’re going through in any given episode. And, what they’re going through tends to be some level of unsettling, disgusting, or mortifying, too, given Peep Show revels in cringe comedy and super dark humor.
On top of putting viewers in some unsettling headspaces, Peep Show also fearlessly tackles all sorts of taboo subjects throughout its nine seasons (an uncharacteristically long time for a British sitcom to stay on the air). This naturally means that for anyone who likes sitcoms with a dark sense of humor, Peep Show delivers the goods, sometimes, arguably, too effectively. Enter the episode “Holiday,” which is the penultimate episode of Peep Show’s fourth season and perhaps the one that goes the furthest into the uncomfortable and macabre territory of any episode in the show’s run, which is truly saying something.
Occurring within an already uneasy – in a good way – season, highlighting the main characters’ negative attributes more than ever before, and showcasing the pair reaching new lows in an unfortunately unforgettable final scene, “Holiday” is just about as dark as this extremely dark sitcom gets. In fact, it could well be a contender for the darkest, funniest sitcom episode in TV history.
What’s ‘Peep Show’ About, and What Makes It So Awkward?
Essentially, Peep Show is a slice-of-life kind of show, only the slice of life viewers are watching play out is a borderline hellish one, with one of the show’s creators/writers, Sam Bain, describing the show as being about the “stubborn persistence of human suffering”; borderline existential horror, really. Another creator and lead writer on Peep Show was Jesse Armstrong, who’s probably best known nowadays for being the creator of the also very funny – and often cringe-inducing – Succession. That show was more of a dramedy, while Peep Show is more identifiable as a sitcom, with relatively few moments being played for anything approaching drama and episodes that all hovered around the half-hour mark. Some seasons had their own storylines, and there was a sense of character development (or devolution) throughout the show’s nine seasons, but the “narrative” of the show as a whole never seemed to be the most important thing. Again, it is a slice of (hellish) life.
Beyond the aforementioned presentation, Peep Show’s willingness to have its main characters constantly think horrible things and do horrible things only slightly less often is a big reason why so much of the show is so confronting. Jez is a bit of a mess of a person, being slack in a way that a teenager or possibly someone in their early 20s might get away with, but becomes far less appealing when because he’s in his late 20s at the earliest during season 1, and ends the show at 40. Mark might be a tiny bit older (his actor, David Mitchell, is compared to Jez’s actor, Robert Webb, in real life).
Still, he acts like he’s significantly older, and therein enters an easy source of comedy: two main characters, one immature, and the other trying too hard to be mature. Jez hardly works, and Mark overworks himself. The former thinks he’s more charming to ladies than he really is, and the latter would win a gold medal if the Olympics had an event for Competitive Social Awkwardness. Disaster follows everywhere the two go, including an impromptu stag weekend in “Holiday.”
The Narrative of ‘Peep Show’s Fourth Season and “Holiday.”
So, in Peep Show’s fourth season, there’s a rapidly approaching wedding that the ever-doubtful Mark is having second thoughts about. His anxiety and tendency to overthink have been well-established by this point in the show, and it’s fitting, then, that the idea of marrying Sophie Chapman (Olivia Colman) is one he’s less sure about the closer the wedding gets, even though he was initially attracted to her. The stag party could be a nice distraction or at least a way for Mark and Jez to bond. Yet, Mark ends up using the boating weekend as a way to desperately look for a way out of his looming marriage, planning it by thinking about getting involved with Lucy (Katy Brand), whom he meets during the weekend. He’s even less attracted to her than he is to Sophie, but her father drunkenly offers him a job that would involve traveling to India, away from Sophie. This is all pretty dark, but kind of par for the course when it comes to Peep Show.
Jez’s side of “Holiday” is where things get even more uncomfortable. Lucy has a sister named Aurora (Cara Horgan), whom Jez instantly wants to hook up with. He spends more time pursuing her over the weekend than he spends with Mark. He manages to charm her at least a little, but then things come crashing down when he accidentally runs over her family’s pet dog, Mummy, without her or the other family members initially realizing. Jez doesn’t let it ruin his ultimate goal but sees disposing of Mummy’s body as necessary to get Aurora focused on him again and ensure she doesn’t find out the truth, of course. And that’s where “Holiday” begins earning its reputation as one of Peep Show’s more infamous half-hours.
The Final Scene of “Holiday” Takes Things to a New Level
Jez initially tries to hide the corpse of the dog he ran over by stuffing it inside the bin of the boat he and Mark are on, but Mark understandably objects. The pair tries burning and burying as methods of disposal, but neither works. So, the partially burned remains of the dog end up stuffed into a trash bag, and Jez later has the bag in hand when he and Jez end up on the boat Aurora’s family has. Lucy and the sisters’ father, Malcolm (Tom Knight), are there, too. The conversation eventually turns to what’s in Jez’s suspicious bag, and he insists it’s turkey from a barbecue that Mark and he had earlier. The others are unconvinced, so Jez ends up demonstrating the edibility of what’s in the bag by eating meat off one of the limbs within. The deception is all rendered entirely unsuccessful when Aurora finds Mummy’s collar within Jez’s “bag of turkey,” at which point Mark and Jez are told to get off the boat, and the whole chaotic episode comes to an end.
It’s all cringe comedy at its absolute cringies and makes the also somewhat disturbing bachelor party in Succession’s “Prague” episode look like a walk in the park in comparison (Tom ate something he really shouldn’t have in that one, too – if you know, you know). It’s also hard to imagine humor getting much darker without ceasing to be humor altogether. Eating the remains of a family’s beloved pet in front of said family, all for not ruining one’s chances of having sex…it’s wild, even for Peep Show, plain and simple. “Holiday” is fantastically executed as far as dark comedy goes and, for better or worse, a memorable episode, but any fan of the show who’s tempted to skip over it upon rewatching the series couldn’t exactly be blamed.
Did ‘Peep Show’ Ever Come Close to Getting This Dark Again?
-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=500&dpr=2)
“Holiday” might well be as dark as Peep Show gets, but at no point do the remaining five seasons let viewers off the hook. Getting through the fifth episode of the fourth season might mean the absolute worst is over, but things stay mortifying into the fourth season finale, which sees the wedding go through in the most disastrous way possible in “Wedding.” Both Mark and Sophie are horrified by the idea of the wedding actually happening. Mark reacts with glee at the news that Jez once drunkenly hooked up with Sophie (viewing it as cheating and a reason to justifiably call things off). Mark and Jez hide in the church when the ceremony is supposed to be happening and are only found out when Jez desperately has to urinate, which leaks through the roof onto the people waiting for the ceremony to start on the bottom floor. Hey, smartly written dark comedy can work with more crass toilet humor; Peep Show proves it so.
Season 5 contains the episode “Jeremy’s Mummy,” which also tackles some taboo subjects, and the dysfunctional, toxic relationship between Mark and Sophie also darkens and gets worse as the series goes on. Peep Show hardly ends well for the two main characters, either, but a good deal of their misery (perhaps not all, though) they ultimately bring upon themselves. This naturally helps keep the bleak humor funny in a similar way to other classic/somewhat misanthropic sitcoms like Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. For the most concentrated burst of dark comedy in Peep Show’s history, though, one doesn’t need to look any further than “Holiday.” It’s horrifying, hilarious, and hard to forget, and represents peak bleakness, as far as sitcoms are concerned.
Peep Show can be streamed on Tubi and Plex in the U.S.
Continue Reading
blue bloods usweekly‘s Marcus Scribner explained why he wasn’t necessarily satisfied with the season 1 finale.
“I don’t want to say if it’s satisfying or a cliffhanger — but I was not satisfied because I want more,” Scribner, 26, quipped while speaking exclusively to Us Weekly. “I won’t say why, but it was a very interesting ending.”
Scribner noted the audience will learn “more about” his character, Jonah, before the season comes to an end, adding, “We get some cool pairings, which is really dope. We switch things up a little bit and [have] some fun guest stars as well, which I know a lot of people are excited for.”
Despite the need for more, Scribner called the upcoming finale a “great” ending. “It just left me wanting more,” he concluded.
Donnie Wahlberg‘s Boston Blue is returning for a second season — so who is and isn’t returning after a major recasting? Before Boston Blue, Blue Bloods followed the lives of the Reagan family, many of whom work for the NYPD under the leadership of NYC police commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck). Frank’s father, Henry Reagan […]
Before Boston Blue, Blue Bloods followed the lives of the Reagan family, many of whom work for the NYPD under the leadership of NYC police commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck). Frank’s father, Henry Reagan (Len Cariou), was also central to the show, alongside Frank’s children: daughter Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) and sons Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Jamie Reagan (Will Estes).
The show aired from 2010 to 2024 before CBS announced a spinoff. Wahlberg’s character is at the center of the spinoff, which picks up as the former NYPD officer takes on a position with the Boston Police Department. He is then paired with detective Lena (Sonequa Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.
“I hadn’t watched Blue Bloods prior to joining Boston Blue, but I heard a ton about it from my relatives. It’s been a cultural phenomenon for years and years. I — of course — had heard of the show, and then I started to dive into it,” Scribner told Us. “Then getting to know Donnie even further — and seeing how different he is from Danny Reagan — is crazy.”
He continued: “Taking some of those characteristics from Danny Reagan, I was trying to infuse them into my character, Jonah Silver, who is a bit of a hothead like Danny. He goes against the grain to do what he thinks is morally right, which has been very exciting.”
Joining the Blue Bloods universe — and introducing the Silver family — has allowed Scribner to push himself as an actor.
“It’s been very, very interesting. I recently rediscovered myself as an actor. I feel like for a while I was trying to push myself to the side and do something different,” he told Us. “But it’s been very fun to ground myself in this universe.”
Scribner praised his Boston Blue costars for inspiring him, sharing, “Acting is so weird because it really is so much receiving. So being on the show and being around these amazing actors is so nice because you barely have to do any work. I’m just listening to them, and it really builds this feeling in you and you just get to respond.”
He concluded: “It’s a lot of fun. It’s definitely been challenging and cool getting to do a lot of physical stunts and all those things. I was involved in a car chase recently — an explosion — and all this crazy stuff. So it’s been really cool.”
Boston Blue airs on CBS Fridays at 10 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.
Latto’s pregnancy announcement has taken over the internet, and while fans are staying busy hunting for clues, they peeped something that many didn’t see coming. It looks like Keyanna Joseph — the alleged mother of 21 Savage’s oldest kids has seemingly reacted to the rapper’s baby news, and now fans are wondering what that simple heart really means.
RELATED: Congrats! Latto Seemingly Confirms Pregnancy With Baby Bump Reveal In ‘Business & Personal’ Music Video (WATCH)
Fans Clock Alleged Mother Of 21 Savage’s Kids Reacting To Latto’s Baby News
Roommates, if y’all have been keeping up, then you already know the internet was working overtime trying to prove Latto stepped into her Big Mama status with one kid! Folks went just as hard on that rumor as they do trying to keep their credit scores up. At first, the Atlanta raptress made a quick return to social media after being off the grid for a minute. On Thursday, March 19, she dropped a short visual showing just her shoes and feeding a baby cheetah. While folks tried to figure out if she teased new music or a baby announcement, it turned out to be BOTH!
Now, hours after Latto’s bombshell reveal, fans peeped something else. They spotted Keyanna Joseph, the mother of 21 Savage’s two eldest kids, liking Latto’s teaser clip. Now everybody is wondering… was that a cosign, or was she just confirming Latto and 21’s relationship?
A Closer Look At Keyanna Joseph & More About 21 Savage’s Three Children
Latto hasn’t officially confirmed that 21 Savage is the father of her child, but fans think she dropped clues all through her ‘Business & Personal’ video. A mystery man with tattoos similar to Savage’s pops up in the visuals, and folks swear they spotted his baby pics in the scrapbook Latto was putting together. The ‘Georgia Peach’ femcee might be stepping into her Big Mama era, but 21 already holds it down as a dad of three. According to PEOPLE, he reportedly shares two kids with Keyanna Joseph — his firstborn, Kamari, and his second child, Ashaad. He also has a daughter named Rhian. The ‘Bank Account’ rapper keeps his life with his kids private, but he’s made it clear he “always wanted to be a father” and “feels like that’s where your legacy really counts.”
Big Mama Drops Sweet Thank You Message After Breaking The Internet
Hours after the raptress broke the internet with her pregnancy reveal, she dropped a heartfelt message on Instagram, sharing more photos of her baby bump and thanking her family and loved ones for their support as she navigates her journey to motherhood.
Before that, fans got a closer look at her baby bump when she hopped on a livestream just minutes after her ‘Business & Personal’ single dropped. She told fans she already shed tears and made it clear she’s a cool, hustling mom, because she’s gearing up to drop her album on May 29.
“Thank y’all! I already cried. She continued, “I ain’t doing no more crying, I’m a gangster. I’m a mother first and I’m a gangster right after.”
RELATED: That’s Dada? 5 Reasons Why Fans Think Latto Is Expecting Her First Baby With 21 Savage (PICS + VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Kendra Duggar arrested as she and husband Joseph Duggar face new child endangerment charges
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Joseph-Kendra-Duggar-mugshot-032026-36941713866c4aad83f7629e60dc5c32.jpg)
Joseph Duggar was arrested Wednesday after a teenage girl accused him of molesting her when she was 9 years old.
Footage of Justin Timberlake during his highly publicized 2024 DWI arrest in The Hamptons has been released.
TMZ published an 18-minute video of the “What Goes Around” singer’s arrest on Friday, March 20, which shows Timberlake, 45, engaged in roadside sobriety tests after being pulled over in Sag Harbor, New York in 2024.
“These are, like, hard tests,” Timberlake said at one point while attempting to follow instructions from police conducting the sobriety tests.
In another part of the footage, Timberlake commented, “My heart’s racing,” after police shined a flashlight in his eyes and asked him to walk in a straight line.
Justin Timberlake made a virtual appearance at his arraignment on Friday, August 2, more than one month after his arrest for DWI, Us Weekly can confirm. While unable to attend in person as he is currently in Europe for his Forget Tomorrow World Tour (he will next take the stage in Belgium on Saturday, August […]
Timberlake was eventually put into handcuffs and arrested and a female friend was enlisted to drive his car home from the scene.
“You’re arresting Justin Timberlake right now?” the friend asked police when she realized the seriousness of the situation.
She added, “Can you guys please just do me a favor ’cause you loved ‘Bye Bye Bye’ or ‘Sexyback?’ Do me one favor!”
Timberlake attempted to prevent the release of the bodycam footage by filing a lawsuit against the Sag Harbor Police Department, Us Weekly previously confirmed.
Justin Timberlake. (Photo by Sag Harbor Police Department via Getty Images)
Court documents filed by Timberlake on March 2 stated that the singer wanted an order from a Suffolk County Supreme Court judge to prevent the public dissemination of footage from his traffic stop on June 18, 2024, arguing that it “constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
Timberlake took legal action after a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by members of the media in an effort to obtain the recording.
In the court docs obtained by Us, Timberlake argued that he is shown “in an acutely vulnerable state during a roadside encounter with law enforcement.”
In June 2024, Us Weekly confirmed Timberlake was taken into custody after being charged with driving while intoxicated.
The Sag Harbor Police Department later issued a statement regarding Timberlake’s arrest. “On June 18, 2024, at 12:37 AM, Justin R. Timberlake, age 43, of Tennessee, was observed operating a 2025 BMW southbound on Madison Street, failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign and failing to maintain his lane of travel. A traffic stop was initiated by a Police Officer from the Sag Harbor Village Police Department and upon investigation it was determined that Mr. Timberlake was operating his vehicle in an intoxicated condition.”
The statement continued, “Mr. Timberlake was placed under arrest, processed, and held overnight for morning arraignment. Mr. Timberlake was arraigned at the Sag Harbor Village Justice Court on June 18, 2024, at 9:30 AM where he was released on his own recognizance.”
Timberlake, who was in the midst of his Forget Tomorrow tour at the time of his arrest, sparked memes when he reportedly said, “This is going to ruin the tour,” during the altercation.
The singer later addressed his arrest during a court appearance in September 2024.
“I try to hold myself to a very high standard for myself — and this was not that,” he told reporters at the time, according to ABC News. “I found myself in a position where I could’ve made a different decision. But I’ve had some time to reflect on that.”
He continued, “What I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening: Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend, take an Uber, there’s many travel apps [or] take a taxi. This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake.”
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published
Survivor is in its 50th season, which is subtitled In the Hands of the Fans. 24 of the show’s most explosive returning players were cast, and so far, the game has been pretty good this season, including incredible blindsides. However, the season’s fourth episode, “Knife to the Heart,” aired on March 18, 2026, and included a long segment that fans didn’t ask for or want.
One thing about this season being in the hands of the fans is that some fans are celebrities. Director Tyler Perry famously came up with a mega-immunity idol that was used in Survivor: Cagayan by winner Tony Vlachos, and the “Sia Award” has been given to players like Tai Trang and Rick Devens by the iconic singer-songwriter simply because they were her favorite show contestants that season. Celebrities have even played the game: athletes like Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Kent, TV and film actors like Lisa Whelchel and Jonathan Penner, and pro wrestlers like this season’s Jonathan Young or “Mayor of Slamtown” John “Morrison” Hennigan.
Country singer Zac Brown has apparently watched every episode, as he told the castaways when he appeared as part of a combined reward-immunity challenge on episode 4. The beefy star would be spearfishing for the winning team, then serenading them after eating the catch. This sounded like a great reward to a few of the contestants, including Dee Valladares of the Cila tribe. Unfortunately, she didn’t win: the Kalo tribe, in teal, got to experience the relaxing evening, with players like Coach Wade, Colby Donaldson, and Tiffany Ervin in attendance.
Interfering With Gameplay
The problem is, the segment went on far too long, while at the Vatu tribe, there were shenanigans going on that led to the ouster of The White Lotus creator Mike White, a formidable player. We didn’t get to see much about how that transpired, or anything about what went on at the third beach where the Cila tribe, with fan favorites Devens and Cirie Fields, is encamped. Instead of getting to watch the contestants that are the reason we watch the show, fans got to watch Zac Brown fish, Zac Brown cook, Zac Brown eat, and Zac Brown sing. This lasted more than half an hour of a 90-minute run time. We even got Zac Brown confessionals, and we got so many that he’s gotten more than some of this season’s cast.
Fans took to social media to complain. X and the Survivor Reddit subs are filled with fans who were wondering who voted for this. We’ve already been tormented with other celebrity name drops on the season, like the Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol, but no one tuned in to Survivor to see a concert. They tuned in for the game, and we were deprived of some of the best game play as Christian Hubicki maneuvered a historic blindside.
Some of the biggest journalists to cover the show also complained in their articles about it. Dalton Ross, one of the top commentators of the show, titled his recap, “How Much Zac Brown Is Too Much?” Mike Bloom was more forgiving, with “That Zac Brown Cameo Explained” as the title of his review, but he had harsher words on social media:
More Unwanted Cameos To Come
Former players like Victoria Baaramonde and Jonathan Penner seemed confused as to why we were seeing so much Zac Brown there, and Rob Cesternino, founder of reality contest powerhouse Rob Has a Podcast, admitted he had just found out who Zac Brown is. When even former contestants are questioning the segment, it should be a red alert to the producers of the show about what fans want.
Zac Brown isn’t the only celebrity slated to appear this season. Fans are already skeptical about the upcoming guest appearance of Mr. Beast, and as one fan expressed, this “segment is giving me MAJOR concerns about what we’re gonna get when Mr. Beast shows up.”
As Mr. Beast almost certainly comes from the Uncanny Valley, no one is looking forward to seeing him, and the length of the Zac Brown segment does set a worrying trend for this season. There is a much lower threshold for “too much” Mr. Beast than there is for Zac Brown.
It’s awesome that Survivor brings so many people together and includes celebrity fans. A season called In the Hands of the Fans is also a great time for these celebrities to express their fandom in their own ways. The problem is that the audience doesn’t need to see quite so much of it. We’re here to watch the people who brought us all together as fans, not watch other fans who are fortunate enough to have celebrity status. We don’t need one third of our precious time with the castaways gobbled up by a guy who isn’t even playing the game.
Nicholas Brendon, the actor best known for playing Xander Harris on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 54. He was a familiar face to TV fans thanks to his long run on the hit supernatural drama, where he played one of Buffy’s closest friends, and was a key member of the “Scooby Gang”. His family released a statement, via The Hollywood Reporter, in which they confirmed his passing and paid tribute to the actor.
“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes. Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was. While it’s no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing. Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.”
Casting (Re)Directors — The Collider TV Quiz!
When a new actor takes over an existing role, audiences can be wary. On this first day of spring, let’s look at some characters who got fresh starts.
What Did Nicholas Brendon Appear In?
Brendon starred as Xander Harris across all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series followed Buffy Summers, a teenager chosen to fight vampires and other supernatural threats, with Xander as one of the ordinary friends who stayed by her side. The main cast included Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy, Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg, Anthony Head as Rupert Giles, Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, David Boreanaz as Angel, James Marsters as Spike, and Brendon as Xander.
Outside of Buffy, Brendon also appeared in Criminal Minds and on the short-lived series Kitchen Confidential with Bradley Cooper. He also starred in the cult film Psycho Beach Party alongside Lauren Ambrose and Amy Adams. In recent years, he dealt with several health issues, including a heart attack, a congenital heart defect, and cauda equina syndrome, which led to multiple spinal surgeries.
The thoughts of everyone at Collider are with the family of Nicholas Brendon.
- Release Date
-
1997 – 2003
- Network
-
The WB
- Showrunner
-
Joss Whedon
- Directors
-
Joss Whedon
- Writers
-
Joss Whedon
Entertainment
‘Outlander’ Star Caitriona Balfe Reacts to What Episode 3’s Shocking Magic Reveal Could Mean for Claire
[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Outlander Season 8, Episode 3.]
Summary
In episode three of Season 8 of the Starz series Outlander, Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe) had to step in to help a young Black girl whose mother was on the verge of giving birth to twins, as the result of a very high-risk pregnancy. While delivering the babies, it seemed as though one was not going to make it, until something inexplicable and possibly magical happened at the hands of Claire. Something that neither Claire nor Jamie fully understand, but that Claire will likely have to come to terms with before the final season is over.
During this one-on-one interview with Collider, Balfe discussed the experience of saying goodbye to a TV series that was such a huge part of her life for so many years, shooting different endings for the finale, how lovely it was to have a happy family reunion so early in the season, the presence of Frank Randall hanging over Jamie’s possible fate, shooting the bear mauling and the birth of Ian and Rachel’s child in the same episode, the fun of watching Claire and Jamie (Sam Heughan) bicker over what happened with John Grey (David Berry), the bond with Fanny, and what really happened when Claire saved that twin. She also talked about being unsure whether she’ll be doing any comedy or a musical in the future but mentioned her excitement over her next role in the period drama The Housekeeper.
Collider: Does it feel like you’ve wrapped this series ages ago now, or does it still feel very recent?
CAITRIONA BALFE: No. We wrapped almost a year and a half ago. These first few episodes we filmed two years ago, so that feels like quite a while ago. It’s weird, there was that first phase of saying goodbye to it all, and now this feels like the next phase.
Caitriona Balfe Is Grateful for the Privilege of Playing Claire Over 8 Seasons of ‘Outlander’
“It’s just been such an amazing, wild ride.”
If the you on day one of all this knew what the full journey would be and what the last day would be like and how it would all end, would you have even believed any of that?
BALFE: No. When I think back to 2013, when we started, it’s just so mad. I had no idea. And thank God, because I think I would have just been so overwhelmed with the idea that it was going to be the next 10 or 11 years of my life. But what a privilege. It’s just been such an amazing, wild ride. I just feel so grateful for it all.
It’s such an unusual experience because you do get to play this character so thoroughly and through so many years and parts of her life. Even if you do a series for a long period of time, you don’t typically get that kind of time span.
BALFE: Yeah. I think it’s 30 years of her life, and then within those 30 years, she crosses so many different decades. It was such an amazing privilege and an amazing opportunity. Shows don’t happen very often where you get to live with the characters for this long. It’s been an amazing journey.
‘Outlander’ Season 8 premieres March 6 on Starz.
You’ve also done very different types of projects between seasons and since the series has finished. Those projects have not only been very different from Outlander, but very different from each other. Do you know what you’re going to shoot next? Is there a genre that you’d love to work in that you haven’t gotten the opportunity to play in yet?
BALFE: I’ve never done comedy, but I don’t know if that’s in my wheelhouse. I’m probably not going to do a musical anytime soon. I’m so grateful that, in the last six months, I’ve gotten to do three different projects which were this amazing variety. And I’m about to start filming something in a couple of weeks. That, to me, is the real excitement, that I get to do these very different things. After being in such a long-running series, I’m quite cautious about signing up to something that’s a long time again, without knowing that I’m going to love it as much as I loved Outlander. To go back season after season to something, you’ve got to know that you are so invested and so in love with the character. I don’t know. It’s been a nice year since we finished.
Can you say what it is you’re shooting next or what kind of projects it is?
BALFE: It’s a period drama. It’s 1930s. It’s a film called The Housekeeper, and I’m excited about it.
We know that different endings were filmed for the show, and you didn’t know which would end up being used. How many different endings did you actually shoot? Were they very different? Do they all have the same feel to them?
BALFE: I don’t know the answer to that because there are some things that were filmed that I wasn’t a part of. For Matt, it was important that he got to choose what he wanted without the peanut gallery of all of us going, “We want this” or “We want that.” I think ultimately, we all just want the fans to be happy, and if we can achieve that, then that’s going to be the greatest thing. I do not envy the job that Matt had in trying to shepherd this to the end. Heavy is the load who wears the crown, right?
This is a series that has always gotten some happy moments before things get dark. This season, one of those moments is the reunion with Brianna and her family. What was it like to have that reunion and to have those moments happen so early on, with them all getting to spend time together again?
BALFE: It was so lovely. We hadn’t worked with Sophie [Skelton] and Richard [Rankin] in quite a while. We’d all been on these various different storylines, so it was like a real reunion. It was really exciting for all of us to be together. Maybe we were all messing quite a bit and being quite naughty. I think it was really important, in the last season, that the family comes together. It’s a very important thing for Jamie and Claire’s to feel the love of their extended family.
Frank Randall Will Continue To Play a Role in the Final Season of ‘Outlander’
“Is this a way of torturing Claire?”
We see how hard it is for Jamie to see how much Frank Randall looked like Black Jack. He also learns that Frank has written about his death. Is it hard to escape something like that? Is that going to continue to hold a bit of a black cloud over the season?
BALFE: I think so. It’s really interesting, the kind of psychological terror that that brings to Jamie. Jamie’s reaction is one way, and then Claire has this other reaction to it. For her, she made this contract with Frank to put Jamie aside, to not go looking for him, and to forget about him, even though she couldn’t in her heart, and that they would raise Brianna as their own. And then, to find out that all that time, Frank had gone looking for him, potentially found him, and knew that he was alive and didn’t tell her. So, there’s this question mark over its validity. Is this a way of torturing Claire? Is it a way of keeping her in her other time? I think it’s very complex. This niggle of what could be is a very destructive element that goes into play.
In episode two, Amy gets attacked and mauled by a bear and Claire can’t do anything to help. It’s such a tragically sad moment because it’s so quick and so random. What was it like to shoot all of that? Is a moment like that particularly painful for Claire when she can’t change or stop what’s happening?
BALFE: Yeah. Any time she is unable to save somebody, it’s a heartbreak for her. What I thought was interesting about that is that you have this lovely moment between all the women, and it feels like a very pastoral, bucolic moment where they’re all just picking berries, and then you’re faced with the fact that, at any moment, life can be snatched away. The foreboding of that scene is that we have these very sweet, wholesome moments, and then the rug gets ripped from under you. That’s the Outlander way, in some ways, isn’t it?
‘Outlander’ Season 8 Stars React to Episode 2’s Major Arrival After That Brutal Death
John Bell and Izzy Meikle-Small also talk about what it was like to say goodbye when shooting for the series officially ended.
It was also such a very Outlander thing to balance out that death with delivering Ian’s son. Was it nice to share that moment together, and to have the happiness that comes with a family that wants their child and experiences that joy of life to offset this tragic death?
BALFE: Yeah. The circle of life never stops rolling. For Ian especially, who had lost children before, this moment between himself and Rachel is so beautiful. That they are now starting their family and that it’s within this larger family in this community is a really beautiful thing. And for Claire to be there and be a part of that and to be able to help in that way and be successful in helping, whereas she wasn’t with Amy, that’s all an important thing.
Claire Is Having a Bit of Fun Bantering With Jamie Over His Jealousy in ‘Outlander’ Season 8
“Those scenes are very funny.”
Claire, having been with Lord John Grey is something that comes up again this season in a very big way for Jamie and Claire. I always find it particularly interesting to see the moments when Claire’s more modern sensibilities still clash with how Jamie views things. What do you love most about where they’re at together in this final season?
BALFE: I think those scenes are very funny, and Jamie is very funny in them. And who can blame him, really. Claire is very like, “God, are you not over this yet? Come on!” Give him some slack. It’s not the easiest thing to get over. There are the funny moments when Brianna finds out. You see that Claire enjoys the humor of the situation slightly too. I think Jamie should be given more credit for how understanding he’s been, or is trying to be, because it’s not an easy thing for anyone to get past.
I love the moment went Brianna says, “I don’t have to call him da now, do I?” I just thought that was the best.
BALFE: It’s very funny, yeah.
This season, we also get to see Claire form a relationship and bond with Fanny. It’s so interesting to see where that’s going because you can see Fanny’s interest and curiosity in things, and she clearly likes Claire and Jamie and wants to be part of this family, but she’s also seen more than someone her age should ever have to. What was it like to find that relationship? What did you enjoy about finding that between them and working with that young actress who just has the most expressive face?
BALFE: Isn’t she incredible? Florrie May Wilkinson is just brilliant. When she joined the show last season, we were all like, “Holy shit! This girl has got chops.” It was great. It was great that the writers knew that they could give her this weightier material and that she would be more than capable of handling it all. The storyline, in some ways, with having Fanny and the family and Claire and Jamie building a relationship with her, is helping heal their wounds from Faith. And then, for Fanny, or for Frances, she has seen so much. She has been so traumatized. It’s hard for her to trust, and it’s hard for her to let our guard down. There’s this very tentative building of confidence and trust between them. I think they just want to provide her with this loving family. They’re tiptoeing around how much they can pry and how much they can tell her. It’s lovely. She’s interested in what Claire’s doing, and she’s very bright. She’s just a beautiful addition to the show, I think.
There’s something so magical about just watching her reactions to things without even having to say anything.
BALFE: She’s a very, very talented young actress. She’s really incredible.
‘Outlander’ Season 8 Trailer Teases a Tragic Fate for Jamie and Claire’s Time-Travel Adventure
Season 8 will be the flagship romance series’ last.
In episode three, Claire gets approached by the young Black girl whose mother needs help because she’s pregnant with twins. What was all that like to figure out? Claire delivers these children and she’s able to save this little girl that she thought was dead, but she doesn’t really quite understand why or how. What does all of that mean to Claire and for Claire?
BALFE: Good questions. There’s always been these special energy moments within Claire’s life. We’ve seen them peppered throughout the show. She’s a time traveler. She’s had these connections to things and these understandings of things. We never knew why she was able to [do] these things or not. With the babies, it’s quite a shocking moment, but I don’t think it’s necessarily out of the blue. For Claire, how does she come to terms with the understanding of what has happened? It’s a further evolution of other things that have happened in her life. I’m not sure that she fully understands it yet, at this point.
No One Can Hide From What’s Coming to the Ridge in ‘Outlander’ Season 8
“Sometimes the inevitable just has to happen.”
What would you say than to tease what fans can expect from the remainder of the season? The first three episodes set up a lot of things that will continue to come up. How do you think fans will feel throughout the rest of this season?
BALFE: To tease some of the stuff, I think they returned to the Ridge because they wanted to protect themselves and their family from the world events that were going on around them. But you can only hide from things happening like that for so long. Sometimes the inevitable just has to happen. As we know, the war can come to their door. Eventually, they’re going to have to face a lot of things and not just try and hide from it.
- Release Date
-
2014 – 2026-00-00
- Showrunner
-
Matthew B. Roberts
- Directors
-
John Dahl, Metin Hüseyin, Jamie Payne, Stephen Woolfenden, Anna Foerster, Brendan Maher, Brian Kelly, David Moore, Jennifer Getzinger, Mike Barker, Philip John, Joss Agnew, Lisa Clarke, Jan Matthys, Ben Bolt, Charlotte Brändström, Christiana Ebohon-Green, Denise Di Novi, Douglas Mackinnon, Julian Holmes, Norma Bailey, Richard Clark, Justin Molotnikov, Stewart Svaasand
- Writers
-
Toni Graphia, Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Luke Schelhaas, Anne Kenney, Karen Campbell, Shannon Goss, Joy Blake, Richard Kahan, Jennifer Yale, Megan Ferrell Burke, Ira Steven Behr, Diana Gabaldon
-
Jack Tarlton
Kenny Lindsay
-
John Sessions
Arthur Duncan
Outlander airs on Starz.
Roommates, things got wild online after a clip surfaced showing Tokyo Toni going off in an explosive moment with her daughter, Angela White. The video quickly went viral, and fans couldn’t believe the words coming from Toni. Lets just say…it’s sparking major chatter across social media timelines.
RELATED: Family Matters! Tokyo Toni Weighs In On Angela White & Rob Kardashian Reconnecting (VIDEO)
Tokyo Toni’s Apparent Feud With Angela White Feud Sparks Reactions
In the clip circulating this week, Tokyo Toni can be heard calling Anegla a “demon” and a “witch,” even saying she wished she had aborted her. Though Angela didn’t appear to be in the same vicinity, viewers were left shocked and disturbed, while others reminded the internet that the pair have a long history of public family conflict. Additionally, it’s unclear what led to Toni’s retaliation, but the reactions online were intense, with some condemning Toni’s words outright and others debating the complicated mother-daughter dynamic that has played out in the spotlight for years.
Tokyo Toni Gets Called Out By Fans
Fans flooded Psychological’s Instagram comment section, and they did not hold back. Some expressed sympathy for Angela, pointing out that this is sadly a pattern in her relationship with her mom. Others claimed Toni acted out of money, while plenty of users labeled her straight-up “nuts.”
One Instagram user @stephbizzy3 said, “Who even has time for enemies when your mum is like this?“
This Instagram user @keesha_trending_lee said, “Thank GOD He didn’t got ME a mother like THIS🙏😭 Lets Pray For Angela….“
And, Instagram user @bojackzon84 wrote, “You not supposed to talk about your own child like that smh this is really sad. Makes me appreciate my mother even more“
Meanwhile, Instagram user @lyf30fty commented, “Is the call coming from inside the house??“
While Instagram user @zay._.2xx added, “Probably ain’t give her a funky 20$ to illicit this reaction btw“
Lastly, Instagram user @jenny_marie_333 said, “Let me guess money!“
Angela Keeps It Sweet While Honoring Rob Kardashian
What has Angela been up to these days? Well, White aka Blac Chyna has kept it classy and sweet on Instagram as she celebrated Rob Kardashian’s 39th birthday. She shared a throwback pic of herself, Rob, and their daughter, Dream Kardashian, when Dream was just a baby. And yes, the smiles say it all.
In the photo, Rob is holding little Dream on his lap, one hand around Chyna’s waist, capturing a rare moment of parenting harmony. Chyna captioned it, “Happy Birthday @robkardashianofficial. You’re the best dad to our baby girl, and I appreciate you more than words can say,” proving that even with their past drama, she’s keeping the vibes respectful and focused on their daughter, now nine years old.
RELATED: Whew! Tokyo Toni Goes OFF On Angela White Following Her Reunion With Treasure (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Kendra Duggar’s mugshot was revealed shortly after she was arrested on criminal charges.
A press release from the Tontitown Police Department on Friday, March 20, stated that both Kendra, 27, and her husband, Joseph Duggar, are facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree, and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree.
In the mugshot of Kendra obtained by Us Weekly on Friday, she is staring blankly into the camera. Her hair is down, tucked behind her ears and a bit disheveled. She wore a brown shirt.
Us confirmed that Kendra was taken into custody in Arkansas’ Washington County Detention Center after police issued a warrant for her arrest. She was booked at 4:56 p.m. and released at 6:19 p.m.
Kendra Duggar. Courtesy of Washington County Detention Center
Her bond was set at $1,470, which was paid before her release on Friday. Kendra is due in court on Monday, March 23, Us can confirm.
Kendra was arrested two days after her husband, Joseph, was accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl in 2020 and taken into custody.
Us confirmed that Joseph, 31, was arrested on Wednesday, March 18, at approximately 3 p.m. by the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas.
According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, there are two charges against Joseph. The first, lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old. The second is lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.
Joseph was accused by a 14-year-old of allegedly sexually abusing her during a family vacation in 2020 to Panama City Beach. The alleged victim was 9 years old when she said the assault took place.
“The victim reported Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap,” Bay County police shared in a statement at the time. “As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs.”
Joseph appeared in court on Friday via Zoom to address his extradition to Florida. The former 19 Kids and Counting star did not enter a plea and waived his right to an extradition hearing, which means that he agreed to be transferred to Florida to face charges.
Former Counting On star Joseph Duggar celebrated his family in a series of Instagram messages posted four years before his arrest for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old Joseph, 31, and his wife, Kendra Duggar, started an Instagram account for their family in February 2019 but stopped updating it in November 2021. Their final post was published […]
Years before Joseph’s arrest, his older brother Josh Duggar was convicted of child pornography. He was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison in December 2021.
Joseph and Kendra have lived a somewhat quiet life since tying the knot in September 2017.
After 19 Kids and Counting’s spinoff Counting On ended in 2020, the couple focused on raising their four children. Joseph and Kendra share Garrett David, Addison Renee, Brooklyn Praise and Justus Joseph, born in 2018, 2019, 2021 2022, respectively.
Neither Joseph nor Kendra have released a public statement.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
The Sony Spider-Man Universe, or SSU, is effectively dead. It went out, not with a bang, but with a bomb. Or rather, a whimpering dud of a bomb with the release of Kraven the Hunter. Despite the financial success of the Venom trilogy, the SSU could not survive the multiple failures of Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter in such quick succession. And apparently, that was not enough because Sony Pictures Chairman Tom Rothman recently revealed on The Town Podcast that Sony Pictures is planning a “fresh reboot” of its cinematic Spider-Man Universe with “new people.” All of this just mere weeks before the MCU revealed their first trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, boosting excitement for the world of Peter Parker once more. If Sony Pictures is serious about making a new Spider-Man Universe, they cannot commit the same grievous mistakes again, and they need a completely different approach.
Why the Sony Spider-Man Universe Failed
The SSU was a byproduct of the overwhelming success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sony Pictures clearly wanted to mimic Marvel Studios’ success, and they already had the rights to Spider-Man and his supporting cast. Spider-Man is undoubtedly one of Marvel’s most popular characters, but the executives at Sony believed they could simply make badly conceived and plotted spin-offs of Spider-Man that were only loosely connected, if at all, to the new MCU version of Spider-Man, starring Tom Holland. Not to mention, it seemed fairly obvious that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige wanted nothing to do with the SSU. Case in point, that tease at the end of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and it’s an utterly disappointing payoff.
The lack of interconnectivity was a big problem, as that is a major selling point of the MCU — that it’s all intertwined as a singular cohesive motion picture franchise across movies and television. The other major problem consisted of the spin-offs of obscure characters or key villains in Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, resulting in awful movies like Morbius and Kraven the Hunter. Kraven is one of Spider-Man’s greatest villains, and he does not warrant his own movie. He should appear in a Spider-Man movie where he targets Spider-Man, adapting a seminal comic book storyline like Kraven’s Last Hunt. Forcing the character into such a half-baked plot where Kraven is transformed into an anti-poacher vigilante who tangles with The Rhino, another iconic Spider-Man rogue, was utterly disappointing.
Madame Web was an utter disaster with its attempt to slot a square peg into a round hole, showcasing a contrived, convoluted storyline that attempts to connect Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) to other Spider-Heroes, who are marginalized in the movie, and an unnamed infant Peter Parker. Additionally, Madame Web is another character who is not strong enough to warrant her own spin-off. She’s literally like a soothsayer and a Spider Oracle in the comics and certainly not a superhero who deserves her own cinematic origin story.
The New SSU Needs To Bring in Actual Spider-Heroes
If Sony Pictures is serious about pushing forward with the SSU, they have to take a completely new and fresh approach, avoiding the past failed attempts, meaning villain spin-off movies are off the table for now. Instead, it’s time to make some movies about the other Spider-Heroes. The next natural step is staring Sony right in the face: Spider-Man 2099. The Spider-Verse animated movies have already proven that Spider-Man 2099, aka Miguel O’Hara (voiced by Oscar Isaac in the Spider-Verse movies), can work on the big screen. The easy answer: make a live-action Spider-Man 2099 movie that is set in the far future, so the character is far removed from the present timeline. That eliminates any worries about connectivity and continuity, so the creatives can instead focus on Miguel O’Hara’s story.
Elsewhere, a strong multitude of Spider-Heroes can lead their own movies and beyond. Consider Scarlet Spider, aka Ben Reilly, Ghost Spider/Spider-Woman (popularly known as Spider-Gwen, aka Gwen Stacy), and of course, Peter Parker’s successor, Miles Morales. Sony Pictures should focus on these heroes instead of trying to turn Spidey’s villains into lame antiheroes. Have them fight villains like Morbius, Kraven, and The Rhino rather than crafting obscure minor characters in their own cinematic entries, where they likely won’t even meet or interact with Spider-Man. The new SSU needs to start with the big guns before moving on to obscure characters, attempting and failing to make Hypno Hustler, Rocket Racer, Silver Sable, Cardiac, and The Prowler into their own movies. See the failed attempt at making El Muerto, starring Bad Bunny, for reference.
The Way Forward for the New Spider-Man Universe
Let’s remember how the MCU took off. In Phase 1, Marvel Studios took the time to build out its universe. It focused on the heavy hitters first, the legendary Big 3 with Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor, who eventually coalesced into The Avengers in 2012. That succeeded because Marvel Studios laid the foundation for the MCU and built equity and audience trust, allowing the studio to eventually attempt Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014—a big risk that paid off. Sony Pictures failed to build out its universe at first, especially considering that it is extremely limited in its corner of the Marvel Universe.
Additionally, if the new SSU moves forward, Sony might want to consider making the movies completely standalone rather than an interconnected shared cinematic universe. The interconnectivity of the old SSU was not well executed anyway, so it would be easier to jettison that aspect completely. Sony Pictures cannot simply view the new SSU as IP that they can will into success because of a loose association with Spider-Man. If the Sony executives repeat past mistakes, except this time with different characters like The Grizzly, The Kangaroo, and Boomerang, the new SSU is destined for another embarrassing failure.
Venom is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
- Release Date
-
September 28, 2018
- Runtime
-
112 minutes
- Director
-
Ruben Fleischer
- Writers
-
Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, Kelly Marcel, David Michelinie, Todd McFarlane
- Producers
-
Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal
NewsBeat57 seconds ago
Iran missile strike on UK-US base raises fears over reach towards Europe
Business2 minutes ago
Is Lebron James Still the Lakers True Leader? Austin Reaves Praises LeBron James as Lakers’ True Leader
Crypto World4 minutes ago
CLARITY Act May Move as Stablecoin Yield Deal Emerges
-
Tech5 days agoYour Legally Registered ‘Motorcycle’ Might Not Count Under Proposed US Law
-
Politics14 hours agoJenni Murray, Long-Serving Woman’s Hour Presenter, Dies Aged 75
-
Tech4 days agoAre Split Spacebars the Next Big Gaming Keyboard Trend?
-
Sports7 days ago
Why Duke and Michigan Are Dead Even Entering Selection Sunday
-
Fashion14 hours agoWeekend Open Thread: Adidas – Corporette.com
-
Business6 days agoSearch for Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Enters Seventh Week with No Arrests
-
Business7 days agoUS Airports Launch Donation Drives for Unpaid TSA Workers as Partial Government Shutdown Enters Fifth Week
-
Crypto World7 days agoCoinbase and Bybit in Investment Talks: Could Bybit Finally Enter the US Crypto Market?
-
Crypto World9 hours agoNIO (NIO) Stock Plunges 6.5% as Shelf Registration Sparks Dilution Worries
-
Business5 days agoAustralian shares drop as Iran war enters third week
-
Business7 days agoCountry star Brantley Gilbert enters growing non-alcoholic beer market
-
Politics3 days agoThe House | The new register to protect children from their abusers shows Parliament at its best
-
Crypto World5 days agoCrypto Lender BlockFills Enters Chapter 11 with Up to $500M in Liabilities
-
News Videos3 days agoRBA board divided on rate cut, unusually buoyant share market | Finance Report | ABC NEWS
-
Fashion5 days ago25 Celebrities with Curly Hair That Are Naturally Beautiful
-
Tech1 day agoinKONBINI Lets You Spend Summer Days Behind the Register
-
Crypto World3 days agoCanada’s FINTRAC revokes registrations of 23 crypto MSBs in AML crackdown
-
Politics4 days agoReal-time pollution monitoring calls after boy nearly dies
-
Crypto World7 days agoCrypto Losses Drop 87% in February, But Hackers Are Now Targeting People, Not Code
-
NewsBeat2 days agoResidents in North Lanarkshire reminded to register to vote in Scottish Parliament Election
You must be logged in to post a comment Login