Of all the exciting returning shows in 2026, few were as hotly anticipated as The Boys. Prime Video’s gory superhero satire has been stunning audiences since it first arrived in 2019, and has picked up a total of four Primetime Emmys, alongside many other awards and nominations. A blood-soaked disassembly of modern American attitudes to celebrity worship, the series finally returned for its final season this past Wednesday, hoping to bounce back from a divisive fourth season.

And bounce back it has, with Season 5’s opening episode earning a huge 9.1/10 on IMDb. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Season 5 has already earned a near-perfect 98% score, although that is subject to change as more opinions are submitted. The consensus on the site reads, “The Boys stays true to its form and completes its mission with ample panache, narrative pay-off, and an excess of blood and guts to deviously glorious effect.”

Perhaps the most unsurprising of all The Boys Season 5’s early success comes on the streaming charts, where it has already flown straight to #2 in the global and U.S. Prime Video ranks. However, another superhero series stands between The Boys and the top spot, with Robert Kirkman‘s violent animated series Invincible continuing its impressive run at the summit. A synopsis for Season 5 reads:

“In the fifth and final season, it’s Homelander’s world, completely subject to his erratic, egomaniacal whims. Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie are imprisoned in a “Freedom Camp.” Annie struggles to mount a resistance against the overwhelming Supe force. Kimiko is nowhere to be found. But when Butcher reappears, ready and willing to use a virus that will wipe all Supes off the map, he sets in motion a chain of events that will forever change the world and everyone in it. It’s the climax, people. Big stuff’s gonna happen.”

What Did Collider Say About ‘The Boys’ Season 5?

In Nate Richard‘s review of The Boys Season 5 for Collider, he agreed with most that the show has returned to form for its final outing. “Prime Video has been holding the series finale back for now, which makes perfect sense, but if the last episode can maintain the quality of the previous seven, The Boys Season 5 may just be one of the show’s best,” Richard wrote, adding, “It has all the gore, dark comedy, action, and vulgarity that you would expect, while also never veering too far out of control ahead of the final hour. In the words of Billy Butcher, Season 5 is bloody diabolical.”

The Boys is available to stream on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

2019 – 2026-00-00

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Showrunner

Eric Kripke

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Eric Kripke

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The Boys

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Taylor Swift is preparing for one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of the year, but despite efforts to keep everything tightly controlled, key details have already slipped out. 

The global superstar and her fiancé, Travis Kelce, are reportedly planning a lavish summer ceremony, complete with strict privacy rules and a carefully curated guest list. 

Still, insiders say even the most airtight plans couldn’t stop information from leaking, offering fans a rare glimpse into what Swift has in store.

Taylor Swift Sets Strict Privacy Rules As Wedding Plans Move Forward

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are said to be tying the knot on July 3, marking a major milestone in their high-profile relationship. 

According to a report from the Daily Mail, the couple went to great lengths to ensure their big day remained private, requiring guests to RSVP with a signed NDA when save-the-date invitations were sent out.

Despite those precautions, details still found their way into the public domain. 

Sources say the couple is “disappointed” by the leak but has no intention of taking legal action. 

Instead, they are pressing ahead with preparations, focusing on making the day as special and controlled as possible.

Swift Chooses New York Over Expected Rhode Island Venue

While many fans assumed Taylor Swift would host her wedding at her well-known Rhode Island mansion, insiders say the ceremony will instead take place somewhere in New York. 

The exact venue remains under wraps, though it has been described as an arena or museum-like space, suggesting a grand and unconventional setting.

The decision aligns with the singer’s deep connection to New York City. Over the years, she has built an impressive real estate footprint in Tribeca, combining multiple properties into one expansive living space. 

She has also owned a nearby townhouse and a large loft in the same neighborhood. 

Beyond property, the city has played a central role in her creative life. From her hit “Welcome to New York” to the fan-favorite “Cornelia Street,” Swift has repeatedly drawn inspiration from the city she now calls home.

Taylor Swift Plans Indoor Ceremony To Maintain Control And Privacy

One of Swift’s biggest priorities appears to be maintaining full control over the wedding environment. 

Insiders say she has specifically chosen an indoor venue to avoid the unpredictability that comes with outdoor ceremonies.

“It will take place someplace indoors,” one source shared, noting that the 36-year-old wants to avoid the challenges faced at other celebrity weddings. 

The insider added that “Taylor doesn’t want it to be like Selena’s wedding,” referencing Selena Gomez’s outdoor ceremony in California.

According to sources, the concern is that outdoor settings make it harder to guarantee privacy. By opting for an enclosed space, the Grammy Award winner is ensuring tighter security and a more controlled atmosphere. 

The event is also expected to be fully documented, with insiders revealing that the “whole thing will be recorded,” possibly allowing the couple to revisit the day or even share moments with fans in the future.

Swift Reveals Wedding Size And Star-Studded Guest List

Taylor Swift has already hinted that her wedding will be anything but small. During an appearance on “The Graham Norton Show” last October, she described the celebration as “huge” and admitted she was “so excited about it.”

She also offered a candid take on guest lists, explaining that smaller weddings could create unnecessary tension. 

According to Swift, having fewer attendees often forces couples to “have to evaluate or assess your relationship” with people. 

The star made it clear she intended to avoid that dilemma, joking, “Anyone I’ve ever talked to [is getting an invitation].” 

The guest list is expected to reflect her wide circle of friends and connections. Among those likely to attend are Travis Kelce’s teammate Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany, as well as Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco. 

However, sources say Blake Lively may not receive an invitation, as her relationship with Swift is no longer as close as it once was following recent court drama.

Taylor Swift’s Romance With Travis Kelce Leads To This Moment

Swift’s upcoming wedding follows a whirlwind romance with Kelce that has captivated fans. 

The NFL star proposed last summer after two years together, in an intimate backyard setting at his Kansas home.

Swift shared the news in her signature playful style on Instagram, writing, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” 

The announcement marked a new chapter for the singer, who has had several high-profile relationships in the past, including Joe Alwyn, Taylor Lautner, Harry Styles, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Tom Hiddleston. Kelce, for his part, was previously in a long-term relationship with YouTuber Kayla Nicole. 

Now, as the couple prepares for their wedding, their relationship continues to draw global attention, especially as carefully guarded details continue to emerge despite their best efforts to keep things private.

Tom Sandoval is weighing in on whether West Wilson should be the next Bravo star to join House of Villains amid his ongoing scandal.

Tom, 42, admitted to Us Weekly that he hasn’t “been following” the controversy surrounding West’s romance with Summer House costar Amanda Batula. However, when it comes to which reality stars would be a good fit for the show, Tom could see the vision for West, 31, to join in a potential season 4.

“It’s like any other show. If somebody on a reality show is going to be able to hold their own — just like on Traitors — they seem to do better,” he told Us during a joint exit interview with Tyson Apostol. “You would have as good a shot as anybody else.”

Hosted by Joel McHale, House of Villains features a cast of reality television’s most memorable and notorious villains. The contestants live in a house while competing in challenges for power and safety, voting to banish each other until the last villain remaining wins a $200,000 cash prize.

Related: How Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s Romance Compares to Scandoval

Bravo’s biggest reality shows sure know how to bring shock and awe to the small screen. Vanderpump Rules fans will forever remember where they were in March 2023 when news broke that Tom Sandoval was having an affair with Rachel “Raquel” Leviss while in a relationship with Ariana Madix. The scandal, which earned the nickname […]

Tom joined the show in season 3 after his infamous cheating scandal with Rachel “Raquel” Leviss while dating then-girlfriend Ariana Madix. Tom has since moved on from the drama — and he hopes reality fans have as well.

“I have mentally moved on with my life and I’m focusing on all the positive things. I have some stuff coming up that I’m really excited about — that I can’t talk about — but I can’t help what people think,” he noted. “All I can do is just live my life and move forward.”

Being on House of Villains allowed Tom to take on “fun” opportunities, which helped him form friendships with people such as fellow contestant Tyson, 46. While speaking to Us, the Survivor alum had a different take on where he was in his villain era.

“I was never a villain. I’ve always been a hero,” he quipped. “I’ve always been a hero to my fan base.”

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Related: Messiest Bravo Breakups of All Time: Kyle Cooke, Amanda Batula and More

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Tyson also spoke about the preconceived notions he had about Tom after watching his run on The Traitors, adding, “I just love that he was willing to just try and put himself out there and not really care. He was the only one that dared to try to sing backwards. So I was like, ‘Oh, I think that I will like this guy.’ Whenever I go on these shows, one of my goals is always to have fun and enjoy yourself a little bit.”

He continued: “With some of these personalities, it made it a little challenging to do that all the time. Tom was my rock of fun. I always know with Tom that we’ll have a good time, so all we have to do is get to our room and not let anybody else in.”

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Tom, meanwhile, called the experience “really surprising.”

“It was better than I expected. It was so much fun. It was awesome meeting Tyson, and being around a great group of people was just cool. I had my reservations about going on House of Villains — just mainly because of the name — but I feel like we’re different,” he added. “I’m stoked. I felt like we made a great show, and it was so much fun.”

New episodes of House of Villains drop on Peacock Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. The Official House of Villains Podcast airs immediately after new episodes on Peacock.

Dax Shepard opened up about an emotional moment involving his wife, Kristen Bell, and a touching gesture she made during a difficult period before his father died in 2012. The actor reflected on how the moment came at a time of deep emotional strain, highlighting the quiet support that helped him cope with the experience.

Kristen Bell Surprised Dax Shepard During A Trying Time

In a live conversation with broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper at the New Orleans Book Festival, Dax Shepard discussed grieving the loss of his late father, Dave Shepard. Dave died of small-cell carcinoma, an aggressive type of lung cancer, in December 2012.

Shepard then shared how Kristen Bell, then his fiancée, showed her support during that emotional time. Wiping tears from his eyes, the actor and podcast host recalled how he was having a hard time dealing with his emotions. His father’s friends were in and out of the hospital in Detroit, doing their final goodbyes, and while he knew they had good intentions, Shepard grew resentful about not having a moment alone with his dying father.

The actor then called Bell, who was in L.A., to tell her about the situation and say how overwhelmed he felt. “I was complaining, and she said, ‘It’s okay. I’m here. Look to the left.’ Mind you we lived in California and I’m Detroit. And I look to my left and she’s standing there seven months pregnant,” Shepard shared.

Dax Shepard Will Forever Be ‘In Debt’ To His Wife

Bell was in the third trimester of her pregnancy with the couple’s first child at that time, but they knew Dave would no longer be around for the birth. Bell, who Shepard said was very intuitive, knew how much he struggled and figured out which hospital to go to in Detroit. Cooper then read a passage from the Shepard’s blog dated 2013, months after Dave’s death.

Bell’s surprise visit allowed Dave to meet the newest member of his family, and Shepard said his father placed his hand on the actress’ stomach and left it there for about an hour while “smiling from ear to ear, sitting contently.”

“He wasn’t going to make it to the birth, but that didn’t get in the way of meeting the new baby. It was an emotional and triumphant moment. One I will never forget. If I live to be a thousand, I will still be in debt to my wife for giving him that one last thrill,” Shepard wrote.

The Actor Had A Complicated Relationship With His Father

While Dax Shepard didn’t have a close relationship with his father for most of his life, they formed a deep bond after Dave was diagnosed with cancer in August 2012. He wrote in his blog that most of their problems stemmed from issues when he was 3 to 15 years old. “He was a selfish as-hole, and I lived to hold a grudge, so it was a thoroughly symbiotic pairing,” Shepard noted.

The actor, who was busy with multiple projects and preparing to welcome a baby, flew back and forth from L.A. to Detroit to be with his father. “Whoever was writing my life couldn’t figure out which storyline they wanted to tell, and decided to tell them all at once,” he wrote in his blog.

Shepard said his father was largely absent during his childhood because of his addictions, but he boasted about Dave’s more than 25 years as a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. The father and son grew close in the last four months of Dave’s life, taking long car rides, reminiscing, watching movies, and eating, which Shepard said was his father’s number one addiction. “He was like a perpetually stoned, pregnant woman,” he noted.

Dax Shepard Reconciled With Dave

Shepard noted that he and Dave “had fun” in the months before his death, adding that the car rides they took were therapeutic. “One of the hidden benefits of cancer is that it can erode grudges the way WD-40 dissolves rust,” he wrote, adding that they exchanged tearful apologies and let go of the past.

The actor was not present when his father passed away at 62 years old. He noted that they never built a tree house or a derby car together, adding that dealing with cancer was the first and only project they “teamed up on.” Shepard said the only regret he had was not taking on more projects with Dave.

Shepard’s Admiration For His Wife

Shepard and Bell started dating in 2007 and have been married since 2013. They share two daughters, Lincoln and Delta. Throughout the years, Shepard has been vocal about his admiration for his wife, highlighting her kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness.

The actor has often said that Bell was “out of my league,” even agreeing with Cher that her wife is the “better half” in their relationship. As The Blast previously reported, the legendary singer was on Shepard’s podcast when she said that comment, adding that he’s “lucky.” When asked who she thinks Bell’s partner should be, Cher said, “The truth is I trust her. So, you might have something that I don’t see.”

Nothing beats a little downtime with Prime Video. Whether it’s a heart-pounding drama, a crime-fighting action, or an upbeat comedy, the platform’s shows know how to avoid sticking to familiar tropes.

Even when the stories feel recognizable, they keep viewers hooked by subverting expectations and reshaping well-worn plotlines into something sharper and more engaging. Without further ado, here are the Prime Video shows where every episode stands out.

‘Fleabag’ (2016–2019)

Image via Prime Video

Over the years, audiences have seen multiple versions of the frazzled English woman trope. One woman who fully embraces that label is the titular character of Fleabag. For lack of a better word, Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is a walking disaster: she runs a failing guinea pig café, clashes constantly with her uptight sister Claire (Sian Clifford), and gets deep into complicated relationships drenched with dishonesty and guilt. Each episode feels like a time bomb waiting for another one of her inevitable screw-ups.

And yet, as insufferable and self-sabotaging as she can be, the series leaves just enough room for change. Fleabag often breaks the fourth wall, turning to the audience as if performing, when in reality she is deflecting from grief and accountability — particularly over her best friend’s death. Her encounters, including her relationship with the “Hot Priest” (Andrew Scott), force her to confront that facade. Each episode presents her missteps, but also marks small, uneven steps toward maturity.

‘The Boys’ (2019–Present)

Image via Prime Video

The Boys pushes the limits of the age-old conundrum: “What’s the worst that could happen?” — and answers it with, essentially, everything. Set in a world where superheroes are corporate assets managed by Vought International, each episode makes it clear that nobody is truly safe. Characters like Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid) are constantly pushed to their breaking points, often forced into impossible choices that compromise their own beliefs.

And then there’s the moral ambiguity running through it all. Switching alliances is the norm, and the show rarely hesitates to drop brutal twists without warning. Homelander (Antony Starr) embodies that unpredictability: he may handpick someone to join the Seven, only to kill them moments later if they fall out of line. Power in The Boys is unstable, loyalty is conditional, and survival depends less on heroism than on knowing when to bend, or break, the rules.

‘Jury Duty’ (2023–Present)

Image via Freevee

With a premise built on fabricated scenarios unfolding in real time, Jury Duty is surprisingly far from a typical prank show. An unsuspecting participant, Ronald Gladden, is placed inside what he believes is a real trial, while everyone around him — from fellow jurors to the judge — is an actor, including James Marsden playing an exaggerated version of himself. In Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, the concept expands by leaving the courtroom, following a temp worker at a chaotic outdoor retreat, where the open setting raises the stakes and leaves more room for things to go off-script.

Audiences aren’t prepared for what’s going to happen next in each episode. And yet, despite its prank-based setup, Jury Duty has no interest in humiliating its subject. Instead, it relies on the participant’s genuine reactions, showing how they navigate confusion, pressure, and social dynamics amongst a kooky group of individuals. The show deliberately casts individuals with empathy and patience, allowing their choices to reveal an underlying kindness. Rather than exposing flaws, it ends up becoming a show about human decency.

‘Invincible’ (2012–Present)

Invincible is the ultimate feel-good superhero show — until it’s not. In the beginning, viewers are introduced to the suburban-ish life of Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), who grows up wanting to be his dad, the formidable superhero Omni-Man (J. K. Simmons). Living between high school and superhero training, Mark struggles to balance normal teenage life with the pressure of inheriting his father’s legacy as Earth’s strongest protector.

Throughout the series, viewers watch Mark come into full bloom with his powers, from awkward first flights to brutal, high-stakes battles. Childish, Kick Ass-like naivety aside, he does have what it takes to fight alongside heroes like the Guardians of the Globe. But even the biggest superheroes have their own secrets. Once Omni-Man’s true mission is unraveled, the series shifts sharply — forcing Mark to confront betrayal, mass destruction, and the reality of Viltrumite power. Invincible becomes a brutally honest coming-of-age story about a young hero navigating loyalty, violence, and an identity crisis, marked by some of the most devastating fight sequences in modern animation.

‘Reacher’ (2022–Present)

Image via Prime Video

Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) is the ultimate all-American hero, and every episode of Reacher leans into that idea. In a world shaped by crime, corruption, and uncertainty, the series presents a figure who moves from town to town, uncovering conspiracies and confronting those in power. A former military police investigator, Reacher combines sharp deductive skills with brute strength, making it clear from the start that he’s not someone to be underestimated — though the twists along the way prove he’s not invincible either.

With his smarts, skills, and physical dominance, Reacher has every reason to be arrogant. Instead, the show grounds him in a strict moral code shaped by his past and his sense of justice. He steps in to protect strangers, exposes systemic wrongdoing, and refuses to look the other way, even when it puts him at risk. That sense of purpose becomes the show’s core, as Reacher navigates violence and deception while holding on to a belief that doing the right thing still matters.

‘Good Omens’ (2019–Present)

Image via Prime Video

It’s considered taboo to discuss religion at the dinner table — so Good Omens turns it into the entire premise. Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, the series reimagines heaven, hell, and everything in between with grounded, witty detail. It’s not every day the Antichrist, Adam Young (Sam Taylor Buck), is accidentally misplaced and grows up as a regular kid in rural England, unaware of the role he is meant to play in the end of the world.

The show’s momentum comes from one major complication: the impending Apocalypse. Angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tennant) are supposed to serve their respective sides, but neither is willing to give up the comforts of Earth. With centuries of cheeky partnership behind the Almighty’s back, the two attempt to delay or prevent Armageddon altogether. But first, they’ll have to overcome the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

‘Bosch’ (2014–2021)

Image via Prime Video

Where there’s a murder, there’s Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver). Not every great cop story centers on a “good” cop, and that’s exactly where Bosch stands out. As an LAPD homicide detective, Bosch works long, methodical cases that stretch across episodes, often tied to larger conspiracies involving police politics, corruption, and the justice system. Unlike procedural shows that wrap things up neatly, Bosch makes audiences sit in the process — and sometimes, the outcome doesn’t match the effort he puts in.

Which is to say, it’s not that Bosch is a bad detective of his caliber — far from it. He’s relentless, skilled, and deeply committed to solving cases, especially those others overlook. But as a person, he’s far more complicated. His fixation on justice often blurs into obsession, making it hard to tell whether he’s driven by principle or by the only sense of purpose he knows. His traumatic past, including his childhood and time in the military, continues to surface, with each episode peeling further into his psyche and how it shapes his work.

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Bosch

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Release Date

2015 – 2021-00-00

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Prime Video

Showrunner

Eric Ellis Overmyer

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Directors

Alex Zakrzewski, Ernest R. Dickerson, Patrick Cady, Aaron Lipstadt, Adam Davidson, Daisy von Scherler Mayer, Kevin Dowling, Neema Barnette, Tim Hunter, Zetna Fuentes, Christine Moore, Jim McKay, Laura Belsey, Matt Earl Beesley, Phil Abraham, Roxann Dawson, Sarah Pia Anderson, Stephen Gyllenhaal, Tara Nicole Weyr, Thomas Carter, Hagar Ben-Asher

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Although a selection of new movies will debut in theaters this weekend, it’s likely to be much of the same when it comes to the top of the box office charts. For the second week running, it is expected that the Ryan Gosling-led sci-fi flick Project Hail Mary will take second place, and the long-awaited video game adaptation The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will top the charts. However, with many millions having already indulged in the space exploration of both these movies, that leaves room in the calendar to fill with more films. To help you decide what to watch from the comfort of your own home, here’s a look at three movies you should stream this weekend on Netflix.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

1

‘Scream’ (1996)

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | IMDb: 7.4/10

The recent theatrical arrival of the seventh movie in the Scream franchise left a lot to be desired. Falling to poor reviews from most, the film is one of the least memorable in an often thrilling slasher series. However, the poor performance of the seventh installment has left many yearning for the days of old when the story felt fresh and intelligent. With that in mind, you’ll want to watch 1996’s Scream this weekend.

Directed by Wes Craven in a satirization of the very genre he helped popularize, Scream follows the local teenagers of a quiet Californian town as they are terrorized by a masked killer known as Ghostface. By using their expert knowledge of horror movies, the teens work together to try to outwit and unmask the killer. Exciting, hilarious, and genuinely scary, Scream is at the top of its class for a reason.

2

‘Thrash’ (2026)

An exciting new arrival to the Netflix catalog this weekend comes starring Bridgerton‘s Phoebe Dynevor as you’ve never seen her before. In the survival thriller Thrash, Dynevor’s Lisa Fields and the rest of her coastal South Carolina community are ravaged by a Category 5 hurricane. However, it is what lurks beneath the rising waters that poses the biggest threat to their lives.

For those who love Steven Spielberg‘s iconic Jaws, Jason Statham‘s surprise hit blockbuster The Meg, or Jai Courtney‘s recent, underrated flick Dangerous Animals, this next installment in the sharksploitation genre is perfect for you. Thrilling, bloody, and thoroughly entertaining, expect a chaotic viewing experience that will keep you up at night, pumped with adrenaline.

3

‘Madagascar’ (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes: 55% | IMDb: 6.9/10

For a much more family-friendly experience with animals this weekend, you’ll want to watch Madagascar on Netflix, one of the best in April’s batch of arrivals. From the genius minds of those at DreamWorks, Madagascar follows the animals of a New York Zoo, led by an overconfident lion named Alex (Ben Stiller), as they find themselves in the depths of the titular island, struggling to find their place.

Bursting with talented performers from the aforementioned Stiller to Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer​​​​, and more, Madagascar is the perfect way to entertain the whole family this weekend. So successful it spawned a lucrative franchise, this laugh-a-minute adventure has something for everyone, whether it’s vibrant animation for the youngest in the room to quietly adult-friendly comedy for the oldest.

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Release Date

May 15, 2005

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Runtime

86 minutes

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Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for For All Mankind Season 5, Episode 3.

As For All Mankind progresses, the one question on everyone’s mind is: just how old can the show make Joel Kinnaman this season? Since the beginning, Kinnaman’s Ed Baldwin has been a major protagonist for the alternate history series, even as the cast expanded, and the series spotlighted a larger ensemble. Many characters have come and gone in humanity’s journey to the Moon and beyond, but Ed’s always been around, usually ending up at the center of every season’s conflict. Now, however, For All Mankind has finally reached the end of Ed’s journey.

In Episode 3, “Home,” Ed’s health has taken a sharp decline after helping Lee Jung-Gil (C.S. Lee) escape Happy Valley to avoid being sent back to North Korea for a crime he didn’t commit. At the beginning of the season, Dima (Goran Ivanovski) reveals Ed’s cancer diagnosis and advises him not to pilot any aircraft — but, without other options to save Lee, Ed pilots the hopper and gets Lee to safety, only to end up unconscious by the time that Peacekeeper Celia Boyd (Mireille Enos) arrives to arrest him. “Home” follows Ed’s final days as he reconnects with his grandson, Alex (Sean Kaufman), after their argument in “The Hard Six.” Kinnaman’s final episode is also packed to the brim with emotion as Ed lies on his deathbed, flashing back to a younger version of the character fighting in the Korean War, bringing back Michael Dorman and Shantel VanSanten for his final scene, and delivering a heartfelt goodbye for the Baldwin family via a drink at Ilya’s (Dimiter Marinov) bar.

Before Kinnaman’s final episode aired, Collider spoke with the actor about his emotional journey on the Apple TV series. “As his values somewhat evolved, it actually put [Ed] on a collision course with the establishment, so he started getting more and more like ‘fuck you’ to the man,” he says happily, throwing up two middle fingers for emphasis. Season 5 also offered the actor a brief reunion with his The Killing co-star Mireille Enos, and Kinnaman reveals which hilarious Easter egg ended up on the cutting room floor. In terms of answering the question that’s most prominently on fans’ minds after “Home,” he also discusses whether or not he would ever return in some form or another by the sixth and final season.

Joel Kinnaman Reflects on ‘For All Mankind’s Farewell to Ed Baldwin

“They were able to create this grand vision, but still be so close to the characters and have such respect for these characters.”

Image via Apple TV

COLLIDER: I just rewatched Episode 3, your last episode, last night. It was such a fantastic piece, and I want to congratulate you on doing such a great job in the show.

JOEL KINNAMAN: Thank you so much. This has been the most emotional experience of my career, like confusingly emotional for me. When we were shooting this last episode, I was a total mess. I was crying every day. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what was going on inside of me, because as actors, we do this all the time. We create these little short-term families where we fall in love, and then we say goodbye. Sometimes you’ve been doing it for several years, and it’s a little bit harder to say goodbye, but nothing came even close to this. I’ve been trying to unpack, like, why did I get so emotional about this?

There’s this sort of existential aspect of playing a character in all these different ages and spending months contemplating what life will be like in these different ages, and putting my own mortality at the forefront of it. Also, playing 82, that’s the same age that my dad is, and then having the scene on his deathbed and saying goodbye to my child and grandchild, it just puts the inevitability of life right in front of your eyes.

But then I also think that there’s something else, too, and it’s just the story. I love getting to be part of telling this story. I really love getting to tell this story. There’s an ethos behind this show of this optimism that it’s carrying, and I just felt so honored to be part of it. It just resonated so much with me. They were able to create this grand vision, but still be so close to the characters and have such respect for these characters. It just really, really meant a lot to me.

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‘For All Mankind’ Season 5 Finale Will Leave Fans Screaming — or Silent [Exclusive]

The creators talk “bloodthirsty” character deaths, the upcoming and final season, and what fans can expect from the spin-off.

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And then they just wrecked me with the flashback scenes with Michael Dorman and Shantel [VanSanten]. Seeing Michael… because me and him playing Gordo, we played best friends on the show, but then we became really close friends. I love Michael. Michael’s an amazing guy. He’s got the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. He’s got this big, bleeding heart that just gets him in a lot of trouble. Just seeing him standing there with the wry smile, laughing, I just started crying again. It was like a cry fest. The whole thing was just a fucking cry fest.

I was crying, too, to be fair. It was an emotionally shared experience.

KINNAMAN: It’s very rare to get to play and to see a character so detailed over the course of a whole life, because it’s just such a unique concept in that way. Usually, that aging process happens in the epilogue scene at the end of a movie, but you don’t really attach yourself to all the different ages. I’m sure for people who are watching the show, too, they get to go on that journey, as well.

For me, it’s like I’m going to watch this show as a fan now, and I’ve never had that. None of the shows that I’ve been in that have carried on without me, I’ve actually never watched an episode past the point of my own death. I just haven’t really been interested. But this one is different. I asked them not to send me any scripts past Episode 3, and I didn’t want any links to the episodes. I’m just watching this show as a fan.

So I know more than you do at this point!

KINNAMAN: Yeah, I haven’t seen Episode 3.

Oh my god! Well, it’s going to wreck you.

Joel Kinnaman Discusses How Ed’s Character Has Changed on ‘For All Mankind’

“It’s basically me entertaining myself, but then that becomes character traits that they pick up on, and it’s been really fun.”

Image via Apple TV+

Ed’s character, I love him, and I hate him. Sometimes he’s so aggravating, I just want to be like, “You are such an old man!” But it’s really interesting to see how you’ve played him throughout each decade in every season. What are some key traits that you wanted to hold on to even as Ed aged with each season passing by?

KINNAMAN: Ed’s sense of humor has evolved. He became funnier and funnier the crankier he got. Also, Ed’s moral center over the course of his life put him more and more against the establishment. In the beginning, he was sort of a rebel, but within the establishment. Then, as his values somewhat evolved, it actually put him on a collision course with the establishment, so he started getting more and more like “fuck you” to the man.

I did love it in the first episode when he puts his little ankle monitor right over just to set the alarm off. That was such an old man move, and then to just walk away.

KINNAMAN: [Laughs] I love that, too. My sense of humor, when I fall in love with a character, and especially with this kind of character, like Ed, where I feel like there are so many possibilities, I find myself messing around and teasing my co-stars, a little bit in character, a little bit just me, and so my sense of humor starts to seep into it.

Then the collaboration with the writers on the show has been really, really beautiful, so they’ve been really quick at picking up my little quirks and improvisations, and then incorporating them into the character. I haven’t been, like, coming to them and saying, “Hey, I think Ed should be more and more like this.” Things happen, and improvisations that make me have a good time on set. It’s basically me entertaining myself, but then that becomes character traits that they pick up on, and it’s been really fun.

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Joel Kinnaman Discusses His Brief Reunion With ‘The Killing’s Mireille Enos

“She’s literally one of the best in the world.”

Image via Apple TV

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One thing that I really love this season is that they brought in Mireille Enos. First of all, I love The Killing. That’s one of my favorite shows of all time, and I love that you guys were both in Hanna. What was it like working with her again and having a little bit of a reunion?

KINNAMAN: We just have that one moment, but I’m sort of unconscious. But I did mutter out, I don’t know if it was caught on camera, but I was like, in Ed’s voice, “What’s up, Linden?” I had to get it out there. For us, Matt [Wolpert] and Ben [Nedivi] were like, “We’re thinking of going to Mireille. Do you think there’s any chance that she would do it?” I was like, “Well, we are shooting in LA, so that’s a big plus.” So, I was just so thrilled for the show’s sake that we got her.

Her character goes on a wild journey. You’re going to enjoy it.

KINNAMAN: I can already feel it. She’s so good. She’s literally one of the best in the world. She’s one of the best actors in the world.

Joel Kinnaman Reveals Why ‘For All Mankind’ Decided To Kill Ed So Early in Season 5

“People didn’t even believe it was a sci-fi show after Season 1.”

Image via Apple TV

How early on did you know that Ed was going to die in this season? Have you known for seasons, or was it like this season they were like, “Hey, by the way, only three episodes for you?”

KINNAMAN: When I met Matt, Ben, and Ron [Moore] in 2018, they sort of laid out the five-season vision for the show, and it’s remarkable how much of that actually is intact in the actual show. It was so frustrating when I was promoting and talking about the show after Season 1, and even after Season 2. I’m like, “It’s not just Mad Men at NASA.” People didn’t even believe it was a sci-fi show after Season 1. That’s how grounded and patient this show is. It wasn’t until Season 3 that you really feel like, “Okay, this is sci-fi.” For me, it was always a five-season vision. I knew with this show we would never try to, like, “Oh, and then they found some youth elixir on Helios, on Titan 5, so now Ed’s 60 again!” It’s not that show.

Then they brought me into the conversation that they were having in the room about how they didn’t want to start a new season without Ed, so that’s why they didn’t want Ed to die in the finale. They wanted to surprise the audience, but then also give it a little more runway to pass the baton. Because even though it’s always been an ensemble show, Ed has a sort of central part of the show, and of course, that will leave a bit of a vacuum and an empty space that you want to fill. I think they wanted to fill it in the same season. So, I thought it was a really cool way to do it, and I was so happy with the three episodes that I got to play.

Joel Kinnaman Talks Passing the Baton to His Onscreen Grandson Sean Kaufman on ‘For All Mankind’

“He put his own stink on the character and on what he was doing…”

I think Ed’s presence is very much felt in the rest of the season. I know you haven’t seen the episodes, but his legacy lives on in his daughter and his grandson. They kind of adopt Ed’s cavalier, cowboy-esque approach to life.

KINNAMAN: Awesome! I can’t wait to see it. I can’t wait.

What was it like working with Sean Kaufman and having him play this older version of Ed’s grandson and having him be an adult now instead of working with a child?

KINNAMAN: I love the kid. He just came in with the perfect attitude, in my opinion. He came in and created enough space for himself to his own thing. He put his own stink on the character and on what he was doing, but he was also really warm and respectful, and I just thought he was really talented and very present. He was really there.

Now, I saw the first two episodes he was in, and I thought, “Oh, this kid is fucking excellent!” He’s really a great young actor. But I really liked him as a person, so that makes it extra fun to see when someone is really delivering. He’s going to be able to carry it. It’s always an ensemble show, so it’s great in that way. It’s not about one person carrying it all the way. It’s spread across many characters, but he’s going to be great.

‘For All Mankind’s Korean War Flashback Has Been Four Years in the Making, Kinnaman Reveals

“The Korea episode has been a theme for about four years between me and the writers.”

Image via Apple TV+

In this episode, you also have flashback scenes to when Ed was when he was in Korea. How was it playing out those scenes, knowing it was a dream sequence and also a flashback?

KINNAMAN: The Korea episode has been a theme for about four years between me and the writers. They started teasing this Korea episode, this flashback episode. It was always going to be where there was this standalone flashback episode, and they tried to get it in Season 3, they tried to get it in Season 4, and it was in and then out, and then in and out. Ultimately, it just became this darling that they kept having to kill, so it was always a little bit of a bummer. Especially when we got more and more into prosthetics, I was like, “Let’s get the Korea episode where I don’t have to put makeup on!” [Laughs]

But I was so happy when they found the spot for it to tell that story. Of course, we get a hint of Ed, and there are things that he wasn’t quite honest with himself about, and the guilt and shame that he felt. Of course, that continues on.

‘For All Mankind’ Has Perfected the Aging Process for Ed Baldwin

“The fourth season, I was in the chair for between five and six hours.”

Image via Apple TV

You just mentioned the prosthetics. I want to know how much longer the process has taken over every season because the prosthetics are fantastic in this, to the point where I forget that you’re not an 80-year-old man sometimes. But I can imagine that process is a lot because it’s all the way down to your neck. How long are you spending in a chair?

KINNAMAN: Well, it’s funny, the fifth season I felt like we finally really stuck the landing with it. Interestingly enough, it was half of the time of the fourth season. The fourth season, I was in the chair for between five and six hours. I had a call time at, like, 1:00 a.m. for a 7:00 a.m. call time, and then I would shoot a 12 to 13-hour day on top of it, and then an hour to take it off. It was hectic. And then, it’s constant adjustments, so you have someone poking you in the face for 17 hours a day. It was really difficult, mentally, to deal with.

I can see why those Korea episodes are something that you look forward to.

KINNAMAN: Well, Season 5 was a lot easier. I found it easier to portray 80 than 70. It was easier to really lean into the aging. Because you can see a lot of 70-year-old guys who are kind of fluid, and they still have their full mobility. If you just look at their actual body movement, you can’t tell if they’re 40 or 70. But at the same time, when you’re aging 10 years on a show, there’s always an expectation of being older than the previous season. It was a harder calculation to do for 70 than 80, for some reason.

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Hi, Bob!

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Also, in the final season, it became this whole character in a way that maybe I didn’t quite achieve in Season 4. In the fifth season, I stayed in it, and I was creating this inner and outer temple where Ed was still sharp, even though sometimes he stumbled, but he’s still sharp. He had a very fast inner tempo, but then a much slower outer exterior, physical tempo. I stayed in that slower physical tempo for the entirety when I was on set. I was moving pretty slow. Also, thinking of someone that’s been on a space base for such a long time, I think the vocal cords will dry out a lot quicker, so I shifted more focus on the voice, and all of it. It felt like a different character in the fifth season compared to the fourth season.

I think what you kept is the inhuman level of Parmesan that he eats with his spaghetti, which is impressive even to me as a cheese lover.

KINNAMAN: Ed loves cheese.

Joel Kinnaman Reveals Whether or Not He’ll Be Back for ‘For All Mankind’ Season 6

“…I think that’s why the integrity of the show would forbid those kinds of leaps.”

Image via Apple TV

Wrapping things up, is there any possibility or talks about you potentially returning for Season 6 in some sort of way? My coworkers and I have a joke that you’re going to come back as a robot with Ed’s consciousness implanted into it, so you don’t have to be an old man anymore, but any potential for that? Is the door left open, or are you out?

KINNAMAN: No. I think that’s the integrity of this show, that it doesn’t do those kinds of leaps, even though I’ve been on them. I’m like, “Where are the fucking aliens, guys? Come on!” I keep showing them videos. I was like, “They’re fucking here!” And they’re just so methodical and patient, and I think that’s why the integrity of the show would forbid those kinds of leaps. It makes the goodbye mean more, too, when it actually is a goodbye.

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Release Date

November 1, 2019

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Network

Apple TV

Directors

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Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Andrew Stanton, Meera Menon, Dan Liu, Allen Coulter, Craig Zisk, Dennie Gordon, John Dahl, Lukas Ettlin, Wendey Stanzler, Seth Gordon, Sylvain White, Michael Morris, Maja Vrvilo, Sarah Boyd

Writers

Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, Ben Nedivi, Bradley Thompson, David Weddle, Nichole Beattie, Joe Menosky

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