Savannah Guthrie
Missing Mom’s Pastor Prays for Hearts of Those Responsible

Published
February 8, 2026
12:31 PM PST

Lindsey Vonn
Has Surgery for Broken Leg After Olympic Crash

Published
February 8, 2026
11:54 AM PST

Leonardo DiCaprio & Tobey Maguire
Kick It Before Kickoff at Wild Super Bowl Party

Published
February 8, 2026
12:18 PM PST

The very first villain that the crew of the USS Enterprise ever faced, in “The Man Trap,” the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, didn’t even appear to be one, but, at least to Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), looked like his old flame Nancy Crater (Jeanne Bal), where Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Crewman Darnell (Michael Zaslow) see a slightly older Nancy and a completely different woman altogether, respectively. Only it turns out ol’ Nancy is actually a shapeshifting, vampiric creature, one who feeds off of the salt in living beings (and officially kicks off the disposable red-shirt trope).

Ever since, the Star Trek franchise has had more than its share of memorable villains: the Gorn, the Borg, and, of course, the legendary Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban). Q (John de Lancie), who plagued the crew of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, is another, although he is more scoundrel than outright villain. But the franchise’s best, and most sinister, villain is from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo). And it’s not even close.

‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Dukat Checks All the Boxes

Dukat is the primary antagonist of the series, appearing in both the first and last episodes, and in 35 out of 176 episodes in total. You simply don’t get mileage out of a villain like that, without falling into parody, unless the villain is imposing, charismatic, and, most importantly, unpredictable. And Dukat checks all the boxes, and more. He’s a large, imposing figure, devoid of color and free of any softness in his visage to speak of, commanding attention from those in the series and from the audience, through disarming charm and chilling terror alike.

Prior to the events of “Emissary,” the series’ first episode, Dukat, a Cardassian, held the title of Legate, akin to Admiral, and stood as the head of the tyrannical government that oversaw their occupation of the planet Bajor and commander of Terok Nor, a Cardassian space station hovering above Bajor. However, after the Bajorans forced the evacuation of Cardassian forces from Bajor, he is not only demoted to Gul (Captain), but cedes Tarok Nor to the Federation, who dub the station Deep Space Nine. Dukat takes the evacuation personally, not the first time challenges to his narcissism dictate his reactions — his obsessive need to change Sisko’s (Avery Brooks) disdain of him into respect is a perfect example.

Related

‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ Used Its Most Iconic Episode To Say Something Much Darker

This is one of the many reasons why it’s considered the best Trek spinoff.

Advertisement

He’s blackmailed the crew of Deep Space Nine, attempting to use the impending self-destruction of the station to gain approval for a Cardassian garrison to be placed on board, a means of reestablishing a Cardassian military presence on the station, eventually allowing for him to regain control. While it didn’t work then, his alignment with the Dominion, and subsequent leadership of it, allowed Dukat to recapture Deep Space Nine, effectively starting the Dominion War, in “Call to Arms.” And, while possessed by a Pah-wraith, he kills beloved character Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) in “Tears of the Prophets,” and aims to kill his own daughter, Tora Ziyal (Cyia Batten) in “Indescretion.” Those acts alone earn Dukat the dubious honor of one of Star Trek‘s great villains.

‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Dukat Is Complex

It’s what sends him to the top of the list that cements Dukat’s status. While entirely self-serving, Dukat has often done “good” things, showing a depth of character that goes beyond the black hat, making him unpredictable and deeply nuanced. He allied himself with Sisko, going behind the back of the Cardassian Central Command to assist in finding the truth behind the bombing of a Cardassian transport, uncovering a conspiracy involving the Maquis and their leader, a rogue Federation officer, in “The Maquis.” He teams up with Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) to take out a Klingon ship that destroyed a Cardassian outpost, before going on a one-man attack against the Klingons. And, instead of killing his daughter, he spares her life, being overcome with affection, and takes her home despite her being a disgraced half-Cardassian/half-Bajoran, standing by his decision, despite it ultimately costing him everything he has.

Yet his most sinister and villainous trait is in believing himself to be a hero. This is revealed in Season 6’s “Waltz,” when Sisko and Dukat find themselves stranded together on a deserted planet. As they talk, he explains that, as leader of the occupying Cardassians on Bajor, he was benevolent and had nothing but goodwill for his people. Yes, Bajorans died under his tyranny, but not as many as under his predecessors, somehow justifying in his own twisted mind that it counts as kindness. He wants Sisko — again — to respect him, but Sisko calls him out for his hypocrisy. Dukat loses it, admitting that he was wrong and should have killed all the Bajorans, who lacked the respect to know how good they had it under him, not even erecting any statues in his honor to recognize his actions. A villain who can’t, or won’t, recognize he’s a villain is the mark of the truly chilling and sinister. As far as true villainy goes, there’s no keeping up with this Cardassian.

At this point, Ashanti and Nelly hold two titles: one of the internet’s favorite couples and the best spin-the-block duo in history. Fans flooded comment sections after videos surfaced of them performing at the Fanatics Super Bowl Party in San Francisco, California on Feb. 7. Love filled the air, the vibes were on a 1000, and their throwback hits were the icing on the cake.

RELATED: Hawt Mom Life! Ashanti Shares Glimpse Of Her & Nelly’s Baby Boy In 45th Birthday Recap Footage (VIDEO)

Love Was In The Air As Ashanti & Nelly Took Over The Fanatics Super Bowl Party

Ashanti and Nelly took it all the way back to 2008 when they hit the stage at the Fanatics Super Bowl Party. The husband and wife had the crowd lit as soon as they popped out to perform their hit ‘Body On Me.’ The parents were feeling the vibes too — dancing onstage and putting on a full show. Ashanti was fully in her element, even backing it up on her hubby at one point while he cheesed extra hard. Fans kept their eyes glued on their love fest, but other social media users couldn’t help but peep Travis Scott turning up behind the DJ booth — and honestly, we see why. Peep the video below.

Throwback Hits & Real Love Had Fans In Their Feelings

The Shade Room’s comment section was flooded with heart-eyes and fire emojis as fans crowned Ashanti and Nelly the ultimate spin-the-block champions. See some of the reactions below.

Instagram user @glammedbyree wrote, “My heart is literally smiling 😍” 

Instagram user @summysum wrote, “Greatest comeback love story 😍” 

While Instagram user @7lissanj2 wrote, “Ashanti and Nelly they so freaking cute 😍 their love growing stronger every single day just look at their chemistry.”

Then Instagram user @glamqueentalishakaye wrote, “Travis Scott is so me in the background 😂 this is STILL my song! Ashanti looks bomb AF per usual!! 🔥” 

Another Instagram user @dejaahbrielle wrote, “My inner child is so happy for Ashanti 🥰” 

Instagram user @imjustbeinghonest4 wrote, “These people haven’t stopped smiling since Nelly walked across that stage at the Versuz😂❤️🙏🏽” 

Then another Instagram user @danielle_nicolewinn wrote, “I’m cheesing so hard for them❤️❤️LOVE THIS!” 

Lastly, Instagram user @dammnrobert wrote, “The best spin the block in US history.” 

Nelly Set The Bar High With An Anniversary Surprise For Ashanti

The Haynes always have fans gushing over their love and romantic vibes, and that energy never lets up. Back in December 2025, Nelly had Ashanti — and the internet — living after he showed out for their second wedding anniversary. Ashanti posted a video on Instagram revealing that Nelly did his big one, decking out a room with roses, tall candles, and rose petals covering the floors. The rapper also came through wit ha huge bouquet topped with a “Happy Anniversary” sign. Ashanti looked shook, covering her mouth before pulling her hubby in for the biggest hug as she walked down the hallway. “Living in the moment all day yesterday (and night) 12/27/25 I love you babe!! @nelly.” To make it even cuter, their son Kareem popped up holding his mom’s hand right in the middle of the rose petals.

RELATED: Aww! AShanti Melts In Nelly’s Arms After His Romantic Wedding Anniversary Surprise (VIDEO) 

A collective wonder and intrigue with the universe and galaxy beyond our own has long been an obsession for humankind. Even before we began sending astronauts into space all those decades ago, our fascination with the stars has captivated even the earliest versions of our species. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that the mysticism and fixation of space has become such a source of inspiration for authors, filmmakers, and composers. In the late 1800s, H.G. Wells released one of the greatest pieces of science fiction when he penned the novel The War of the Worlds. The story behind the book was a simple but brilliant one as it followed the invasion of Earth by Martians who were not only smarter than humans, but also much more developed.

In the years that would follow, Wells’ work of fiction became a must-read for anyone remotely interested in the sci-fi genre. It also became a catalyst for chaos when, in 1938, Orson Welles read the book as an installment for CBS Radio Network’s The Mercury Theatre on the Air. The Citizen Kane director’s depiction of the terrifying tale was enough to send folks over the edge as many flew into a panic believing the events were happening in real time. Just a little over a decade later, Byron Haskin would unleash the first on-screen adaptation with the Gene Barry and Ann Robinson-led The War of the Worlds, which became the first of many feature-length productions based on Wells’ novel.

While so many of these adaptations are worth checking out, one of them will soon leave our world behind when it bows off Pluto TV at the beginning of next month. Over the next few weeks, we’d urge you to set some time aside and stream Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, which features Tom Cruise in a leading role. Putting a different spin on the original book, Spielberg’s take centers on Ray Ferrier (Cruise), a dockworker living in New York City, who is hoping to rebuild the strained relationship with his two kids after their mother drops them off for the weekend. Instead, an alien invasion rocks the planet to its core, with Ray immediately snapping into protection mode to ensure he and his children find their way to safety.

Who Else Starred in ‘War of the Worlds’?

With Cruise leading the charge in the nail-biting action flick, numerous other familiar faces gather to take on the extraterrestrial threat in War of the Worlds, including a very young Dakota Fanning in one of her earliest roles. Additionally, the ensemble includes Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins, Lisa Ann Walter, Rick Gonzales, and more.

Head over to Pluto TV before March 1 to stream War of the Worlds completely free of charge.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

June 29, 2005

Runtime

Advertisement

116 Minutes

Writers

Josh Friedman, David Koepp, H.G. Wells

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The first look at season 4 of Sullivan’s Crossing hints at issues between Maggie and Cal after the arrival of her secret husband.

In a trailer released on Friday, February 6, Maggie (Morgan Kohan) says she was “finally in a good place” with Cal (Chad Michael Murray) before Liam (Marcus Rosner) arrived to Sullivan’s Crossing.

Maggie asks why Liam is there, to which he replies, “Can’t a husband pop in to check on his wife?”

Cal, meanwhile, questions why he didn’t know about Liam.

Related: Who Is Liam on ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’? Maggie’s Husband Reveal Explained

Sullivan’s Crossing took a surprising turn when Cal met Maggie’s secret husband — but who exactly is Liam? Season 3 of the hit series, which started streaming on Netflix in August 2025, initially hinted at Maggie’s (Morgan Kohan) ex when she mentioned Liam (Marcus Rosner) to Lola (Amalia Williamson) as a summer fling she had […]

“I would have thought you would have mentioned being married before,” he mentions before another scene has Maggie discussing how she’s “happy now” with Cal.

Based on the book series by Robyn Carr, Sullivan’s Crossing follows neurosurgeon Maggie after she moves back home to rural Nova Scotia to reconnect with her estranged father, Sully (Scott Patterson). The brief getaway turns into Maggie making plans for a future in Sullivan’s Crossing with love interest Cal.

Season 3 of the hit series, which started streaming on Netflix in August 2025, threw a wrench in Maggie and Cal’s relationship just as they were getting to a good place. After arguing about whether Maggie was taking things too slow, they made plans to move in together — just as a new guest named Liam checked into Sullivan’s Crossing.

Liam then approached Maggie and revealed he was her husband, which came as a surprise to both Cal and Us. Showrunner Roma Roth later teased what viewers could expect from the show moving forward after the shocking reveal.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that Sullivan’s Crossing is returning for a fourth season,” Roth said in a statement after the finale aired. “Seeing it resonate with a global audience and watching the ratings climb have been a dream come true. Season 4 will explore themes of change and transformation so you can expect a whole new set of exciting and emotional challenges for Maggie and Cal.”

Kohan also shared her reaction to the twist.

Related: Meet the Season 4 Cast of ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ After Secret Husband Reveal

Season 4 of Sullivan’s Crossing will be picking up the pieces after Cal met Maggie’s secret husband — but who else is expected to appear? Based on the book series by Robyn Carr, Sullivan’s Crossing centers around neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan) after she moves back home to rural Nova Scotia to reconnect with her estranged […]

“I remember hearing a little bit [about Liam early in season 3]. I didn’t know they were married,” Kohan told Swooon in July 2025. “There started to be talk when we filmed the scene with Lola and having summer flings. I knew that he was going to be coming into it, but I didn’t really know when or in what capacity. That cliffhanger was so much fun for me to read as well.”

Kohan acknowledged that Maggie’s trepidation about getting serious with Cal could have come from her past with Liam, adding, “I feel like it came up so last minute that I didn’t really have time to think about it, but I think it definitely would. It makes a lot more sense, for sure, for her to be more hesitant.”

The actress noted that she was just as in the dark about Liam’s role in season 4 as the audience.

“At the same time, I still don’t know the history, so who knows when we get to find out a bit more of that information, what he really means that he’s her husband and all that kind of stuff,” she continued. “I mean, there’s gonna have to be a few conversations had [between Maggie and Cal]. It’s going to be a trust thing to have to build up again because that is a pretty big thing to leave out.”

Sullivan’s Crossing is currently streaming on Netflix. Season 4 premieres on CTV and Crave Canada in spring 2026.

Chris Pratt Reveals He Went To Couples Counseling Before Getting Married

Chris Pratt Describes Premarital Counseling As ‘Really Great’

Chris Pratt Was Previously Married To Anna Faris

Chris Pratt Feels ‘Shaken’ As New Movie Flops