Entertainment
‘Zombies’ Actress Passes Away At Age 33
Fans are mourning the loss of beloved Disney star Carla Jeffrey. According of her management team, Carla reportedly passed away at the age of 33.
RELATED: Prayers Up! ‘Menace II Society’ & ‘The Players Club’ Actor Samuel Monroe Jr. Passes Away
Details On The Passing Of Disney Actress Carla Jeffrey
On Wednesday, September 2, Alexander’s Talent Management shared an official statement on Carla Jeffrey’s Instagram page announcing that she died on Tuesday, September 1. The agency also reflected on Carla’s career, noting that she joined Alexander’s Talent Management at just 12 years old and went on to share her vibrant spirit with audiences throughout the ‘Zombies’ franchise and even during appearances on shows like Nickelodeon’s ‘iCarly.’ Additionally, Carla’s team noted that their hearts are with her family and asked that fans give them space and time to grieve her death. At this time details about Carla’s passing and her cause of death are unknown.
Carla’s Twin Brother Reacts To Her Passing
As tributes poured in for Carla Jeffrey, her twin brother, Carlon Jeffrey, also shared a heartfelt message honoring his sister. Carlon posted a sweet photo of Carla on his Instagram Story and then shared another post where he called her the “best sister” and said he hopes they continue growing closer in this lifetime and the next. Carlon also pursued acting, appearing in ‘A.N.T. Farm’ and ‘The Strange Thing About the Johnsons’ “You are the best sister a brother could ask for. I pray we continue to grow closer to one another along this journey. I got your back in this life and the next,” Carlon wrote.
Fans Mourn The Loss Of Carla Jeffrey
Once The Shade Room Teens shared the news of Carla’s passing, heartbroken fans flooded the comment section with reactions. Some said the news left them hurt and in disbelief, while others reflected on Carla’s memorable television roles.
Instagram user @thareallbratt.m wrote, “THIS CANT BE REAL💔💔💔💔”
Instagram user @luvv.roro wrote, “Awe I remember that iCarly episode 😭 our childhood. May her soul rest in peace 🥹🙏🏾”
While Instagram user @_ohthatsnyny wrote, “Is this how we’re starting September off 😢😭”
Then Instagram user @xo.tayviaa wrote, “What is going on? Too many people are dying.”
Another Instagram user @iam.jadaaa wrote, “awwww i remember her character on iCarly.”
Instagram user @damarionlollflex wrote, “bro no your lying 😢😢😢😢”
Then another Instagram user @faithhdatt wrote, “OMM IM HURTTT 💔💔💔”
While another Instagram user @wityourmomduh wrote, “IK YOU FREAKING LYINGGGHHHH IM NOT IN THE MOOOD TELLL THEM TO BRING HER BACK NOEWWWWWWW.”
Finally, Instagram user @pr3ttyface._sydney wrote, “ARE U SERIOUSSSS!! ☹️☹️☹️☹️”
More About Carla’s Career
Carla was reportedly born in Houston, Texas, and kicked off her acting career with a role in the 2006 film ‘Phat Girlz.’ She later appeared on Nickelodeon’s ‘iCarly’ in 2008 and played Keysha Black on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’ In 2011, Carla popped up on Disney Channel’s ‘Good Luck Charlie’ before appearing on ‘Shake It Up’ the following year. Fans later came to know Carla for her roles in ‘Zombies 2’ and ‘Zombies 3’. She continued making her mark on the franchise by voicing Bree in several ‘Zombies’ re-animated shorts.
RELATED: Prayers Up! ‘Home Alone 2’ & ‘It’ Actor Tim Curry Passes Away At Age 80
What Do You Think Roomies?
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Jennifer Aniston and her boyfriend, Jim Curtis, gave fans a sweet glimpse of their romance during a rare event together in New York City.
The pair appeared at The 92nd Street Y in New York City on Wednesday, September 2, to celebrate Curtis’ new book, The Book of Possibility, with Aniston, 57, interviewing her beau, 50, on stage. In one powerful moment, Curtis reflected on his health struggles in his 20s when doctors found lesions on his spinal cord that caused partial paralysis and chronic nerve damage.
Curtis remembered that his whole body froze up in fear when he initially Googled his condition after being diagnosed.
“I’m not saying here that if the doctor tells you to do something, you should get up and leave,” he clarified. “What I’m saying is you don’t have to live as the victim. You don’t have to live in your suffering. It can become your power. As soon as you accept it and love it [you can move beyond it].”
Jennifer Aniston’s boyfriend Jim Curtis has shared a heartfelt tribute to the actress to celebrate her birthday. Curtis uploaded a carousel of rare photos via Instagram to mark Aniston’s 57th birthday on Wednesday, February 11. One photo showed the couple mid-laughter with Aniston arm softly resting on Curtis’ back. Another image featured Aniston and Curtis […]
Curtis spoke about often facing questions from friends and even “people on the street” about why he walks with a limp.
“I would say I got into a motorcycle accident. Why would I say that?” he said. “I was so shameful that I had a medical condition. [I thought] I was broken in some way. I thought the motorcycle accident was at least a little macho. It was this identity of the ‘macho, strong man’ … it didn’t come with the connotation and shame of, ‘This can get worse.’”
Curtis stressed that he was only able to “overcome” those insecurities when he learned the value of “self-acceptance and self-love.”
“It was a long journey in which I realized I could have done it quicker … There are people who are just suffering because they don’t know what the next step is or they need a little bit of inspiration,” he said. “That was an easy choice for me.”
Aniston asked her beau what his advice would be if he were speaking to someone who was “stuck” in the “rat race of life.”
“I’m not a proponent for ‘drop everything and leave,’” he responded. “That [acceptance] was 25 years in the making for me. There’s a reality of life too. I always say we’re a spirit having a human experience. We have to live the human experience.”
He continued, “You have rent to pay and medical bills to pay and kids to feed, all of your stuff. But I will say this: you don’t have to let fear stop you from living your dream. You can manifest at any time by placing your focus on the outcomes that you want.”
Days earlier, Curtis shed light on their relationship while appearing on the Monday, August 31, episode of “The Jamie Kern Lima Show” and shared that the couple “do a lot of meditation” and talking.
Curtis explained that there are “different tools” that are “really beneficial” at “different stages in your relationship,” adding, “Jen and I have been together a year and a half, so this tool isn’t the first tool that we go to.”
When host Jamie Kern Lima asked whether the “first tool” they utilize is meditation, he replied,
“Yeah, meditation. Acceptance, understanding. Those kind of things. In a honeymoon phase, your tools don’t have to be big sledgehammers.”
Curtis and Aniston have been together since mid-2025, making their romance Instagram official later that year.
“If this is a dream I don’t want to wake up ❤️,” he wrote alongside a series of photos.
Months later, Curtis shared that the couple’s “origin story” began when they had mutual friends and started talking.
Jennifer Aniston’s boyfriend, Jim Curtis, was front and center to show his support for the actress at her recent event. Aniston, 56, promoted her haircare brand, LolaVie, in Los Angeles on Wednesday, August 20, and Curtis, 50, was spotted at the venue in a video shared via Instagram by Entertainment Tonight later that day. The […]
“We found out that we had mutual friends, and we started to just chat,” he said on a January episode of the Today show. “And it took a long time. We chatted for a long time, and we became close.”
Aniston has similarly gushed over her romance with Curtis. In her November 2025 interview with Elle, she explained that the pair formed a bond over their wellness interests and described Curtis as “quite extraordinary.”
“Hypnotism is one of the many things that he does,” she said at the time, adding that Curtis is “very special, very normal and very kind.”
Aniston and Curtis have since been spotted dining with several of her famous pals. Last month, the couple enjoyed an evening in Los Angeles with her former Friends costars Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow and longtime pal Jason Bateman.
Aniston was previously married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005 and Justin Theroux from 2015 to 2018.
The unstoppable force of Spider-Man: Brand New Day continued last weekend, finishing at the top of the domestic box office charts for a fifth weekend in a row. The return of Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker has powered past numerous box office records, beginning with the biggest opening weekend in domestic history and most recently becoming the second-highest-grossing film of all time in the U.S. Critically, the film is also a massive hit, earning a near-perfect audience rating of 98% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and being called “the best Spidey adventure in 20 years” by Collider’s Charlie Ridgley.
But following this enormous success, what does the future look like for Holland as our friendly neighborhood Spidey? The man who followed in the modern footsteps of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield has undoubtedly defined the role for a whole new generation, but he can’t portray Peter Parker forever. Marvel Studios Producer and President Kevin Feige has admitted that “there are always plans” for more Holland Spider-Man, but that they won’t be anytime soon, adding, “Right now, he’s going to rest after that global tour. He and Zendaya are going to take a good and restful victory lap, which they very much deserve.”
So with the future of Spider-Man still unknown, former star Garfield has been asked to revisit his viral 2013 comments in which he wondered if Spider-Man could be gay. Reflecting on his interview 13 years later, Garfield has told EW, “It was an exercise in rebellion that I felt passionate about. I just still believe that anyone can be in that suit.” He continued:
“That’s the point of why it’s such a kind of universally beloved character, one of the greatly beloved characters in the history of fiction is because you don’t see skin color, you don’t see gender, you don’t see sexuality. Anyone can project themselves into that suit. I like the idea of a place where everyone is being honored and everyone is being included, and it was just a kind of act of saying, ‘Well, why not?’ And you’ll be telling on yourself if you have a strong opinion either way.”
The Plan for ‘Spider-Man’s Future Has Long Been in the Works
Whether or not Holland remains in the role is yet to be confirmed, although Brand New Day is seemingly setting up a new era for the actor in his Spidey suit. But the man himself has previously admitted that discussion over who will replace him in the role has been ongoing for some time. “There’s a whole plan that we have been working on for, I would say, since we finished Spider-Man: No Way Home,” Holland admitted in an appearance on a podcast, adding, “It’s laid out. It’s gonna change for sure, but I have a really clear vision to the passing on of the baton, and I think it’s really exciting.”
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters now. Stay tuned to Collider for more box office updates.
- Release Date
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July 29, 2026
- Runtime
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145 minutes
- Director
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Destin Daniel Cretton
- Writers
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Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
- Producers
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Avi Arad, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Amy Pascal, David Cain
Over a month after its release, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender became a massive hit. What was supposed to be a theatrical release ended up a streaming exclusive on Paramount+, and it didn’t take long for the feature to dominate the streaming charts. And while the movie was leaked, fans continued to show support. Now they’re given another opportunity to show their love for the film.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender takes place 13 years after the end of the Hundred-Year War, as Republic City is being established. The movie brings back Avatar Aang, now voiced by Eric Nam, who learns about an ancient Avatar relic that could potentially be used to restore the Air Nomads. Aang is once again joined by Team Avatar, with Jessica Matten voicing Katara, Roman Zaragoza as Sokka, Dionne Quan as Toph Beifong, and Steven Yeun as Fire Lord Zuko. The film also brings several notable names into the Avatar universe, including Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), who voices Tagah, an ancient Airbender Aang encounters during his search for the relic, and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok), who plays a spirit named Gorillavark. The supporting cast also includes Ronny Chieng (M3GAN) as a Fire Nation messenger, Ken Jeong (KPop Demon Hunters) as the Cabbage Merchant, and Ke Huy Quan (Loki) as Avatar Xian, an Earthbending Avatar.
As discussion of physical ownership becomes more prevalent following what’s going on with Sony, fans no longer have to worry about Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender becoming lost media, as a physical release has been announced. Listed for $45.99 on Amazon, the physical release of Avatar: The Last Airbender is a 4K UHD steelbook. The product is available for pre-order and is scheduled for release on February 9, 2027.
Is ‘Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender’ Worth Watching?
Since its release, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender received high praise, earning a 90% Certified Fresh Critics’ Score and a 99% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.7-star rating on Letterboxd. Both audiences and critics said this feature should have entered theaters, was well animated, and did a good job serving its devoted fanbase. Collider’s Aidan Kelly gave Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender a 7/10 in his review, citing great animation and details fans would recognize, but criticized the fact that the supporting cast was not given much to do and that it was more made for fans than newcomers to the franchise.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is available to stream on Paramount+.
- Release Date
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July 25, 2026
- Runtime
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99 minutes
- Director
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Lauren Montgomery, Steve Ahn, William Mata
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Jessica Matten
Katara (voice)
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Román Zaragoza
Sokka (voice)
Sarah Jane Nader is following in her sister Brooks Nader’s footsteps by competing on Dancing With the Stars — but she’s not planning to copy her every move.
In fact, Sarah Jane, 23, exclusively told Us on Wednesday, September 2, that Brooks, 29, gave her one warning ahead of stepping into the ballroom and it seemingly had to do with her ex-boyfriend DWTS pro Gleb Savchenko.
“She told me not to do anything she did, which is fine,” Sarah Jane said with a smile while attending the Dancing with the Stars post-cast reveal event in New York City.
Sarah Jane Nader. Disney/Andrew Eccles
The Love Thy Nader star noted that Brooks — who struck up a showmance with her season 33 partner Savchenko — also gave her some more positive advice.
“She really just said to enjoy every moment and, like, soak it up and embrace the challenging [side] of it all,” Sarah Jane recalled. “[She said] don’t be scared to embarrass yourself. And so I’m really just leaning in.”
While Sarah Jane experienced her sister’s highs and lows with Savchenko before he and Brooks split for good in April 2025, she isn’t letting their messy breakup plague her own time on the show. (Us exclusively confirmed in September 2024 that Brooks was “hooking up” with Savchenko amid their partnership. Brooks and Savchenko later split in October 2024 following their DWTS elimination before rekindling the romance that December.)
“I think this is my own journey, and I’m not really thinking about Gleb during it,” Sarah Jane told Us on Wednesday. “I mean, I think we’re really locked in on the dance of it all, and like, it’s a lot to think about already.”
She cracked a smile, adding, “So I’m not thinking about a sister’s ex, honestly.”
Brooks Nader. Disney/Heidi Gutman
Luckily for Sarah Jane, Savchenko isn’t returning as a pro for season 35 — but he could always make a cameo or show up in the crowd to support his friends.
He broke his silence about not being a part of the cast this time around via Instagram, telling fans, “Guys, I promise… I’m good 😂❤️.”
Savchenko, 42, noted on Wednesday that he has “nothing but love and gratitude for all the years in that ballroom. Excited for this next chapter — and wishing everyone an amazing season 🪩.”
Brooks Nader’s sisters don’t shy away from weighing in on her dating life. Appearing on the Thursday, August 13, episode of YouTube series Bumble’s Bee Line, Brooks, 29, answered a caller’s question about her siblings. “Hi, Brooks. I’m wondering if your sisters have ever given you any dating advice that maybe you didn’t want to […]
Sarah Jane, meanwhile, is focused on making history after being paired with female pro Hailey Bills, marking the show’s first time two women have competed as partners.
“I’ve never ballroom danced, so I’m learning everything for the first time. All I’m going to know is female on female dancing,” Sarah Jane told Us of her approach to working with Bills, 20, who is a first-time professional herself. (Bills was previously a troupe dancer and is the niece of longtime pro Jenna Johnson.)
Bills exclusively told Us on Wednesday that she has “never danced with a female before” so it will be “an adjustment for sure.”
Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills. Disney/Andrew Eccles
She explained, “Working with a girl, seeing who can be the lead, who can be the follow” is different than she’s used to.
“But I’m honestly having fun figuring it out. It’s like we can switch it up and be unique with it. So I think this is an awesome opportunity,” Bills added.
Dancing With the Stars premieres on ABC and Disney+ with a two-night event beginning Tuesday, September 15, at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes will stream the next day on Hulu.
Disney Channel star Carla Jeffery has died at the age of 33.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Carla Jeffrey, who passed away on September 1, 2026, at just 33 years old,” read a statement from Jeffrey’s management company, Alexanders Talent, shared via Instagram on Wednesday, September 2. “Carla joined Alexanders Talent Management family at the age of 12.”
The statement continued, “For more than 20 years we had the privilege of watching her grow into a beautiful, vibrant and incredibly talented woman whose radiant smile could light up any room.”
The post added that Jeffrey was known for her “joy, humor and bright spirit.”
There are so many stars that have appeared in Disney Channel Original Movies over the years — but what happened to some of the network’s biggest leading ladies? From Halloweentown’s Kimberly J. Brown and Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century’s Kirsten Storms to Brink!’s Christina Vidal and Cadet Kelly’s Hilary Duff, the Disney Channel has […]
“Carla was more than a client; she was family,” the statement read. “Our hearts are with Carla’s family and loved ones during this devastating time. We respectfully ask that their privacy be honored as they grieve this unimaginable loss. Rest beautifully, Carla. Your light will never be forgotten.”
A cause of death and additional details were not revealed at this time.
Jeffrey was best known for starring in the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise Zombies. She played the cheerleader Bree in the first three movies.
Several of Jeffrey’s Zombies costars, including Milo Manheim and Chandler Kinney, paid tribute to her in the comments section.
“Carla. The sweetest person I have ever met. I love you,” Manheim, 25, wrote while Kinney, 26, replied, “The brightest shining light in any room she walked into. The kindest person you’d ever meet.The most beautiful soul. This doesn’t feel real….. 💔.”
Trevor Tordjman, who played Bucky in the supernatural musical, responded, “At a loss for words right now.. I’ll never forget your energy and spirit Carla ❤️❤️❤️.”
Fellow Disney Channel alum Roshon Fegan also paid his respects.
“Noooo 😞 rip Carla 🖤,” the Camp Rock star, 34, wrote.
Jeffrey’s final post before her death was celebrating Zombies costar Meg Donnelly’s birthday in July.
“What A Night ! 😋 .. Hope You Had An Amazing Birthday @megdonnelly , Cuz iHad An Amazing Night Girl ! 🔥👏🏾 lol,” she wrote via Instagram alongside several snaps from the festivities. “You Always Know How To Bring The Looks &The Party, Queen ! Love Youu MegBoo !! 😍🥳🎂🎉🔥❤️❤️.”
In addition to Zombies, Jeffrey appeared in multiple shows and films. She made her acting debut in 2006’s Phat Girlz. The actress also had small roles in several children’s shows including iCarly, Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up and more. Jeffrey also had a guest role on Curb Your Enthusiasm from 2007 to 2009 and American Vandal in 2017.
Ohhweee, Roomies! Joseline Hernandez is NOT letting up on Stevie J. The Puerto Rican Princess spun the block AGAIN after Stevie called her and her husband, Balistic Beats, out while responding to her claims that he doesn’t financially support their daughter, Bonnie Bella. Now, Joseline is taking things a step further, claiming Stevie allegedly previously denied Bonnie and warned him that their baby girl will eventually know the “real” truth.
RELATED: Whew! Stevie J Fires Back After Joseline Hernandez Claims He Doesn’t Financially Support Bonnie Bella (VIDEOS)
Joseline Hernandez Claps Back At Stevie J & Accuses Him Of Lying
Whew, chile! Joseline Hernandez is doubling down on her claims about Stevie J’s lack of financial support for their daughter, Bonnie Bella. After Stevie responded to her accusations, Joseline slid into The Shade Room’s comment section with some words. She straight-up accused him of lying and told him that Bonnie will eventually see that he’s been denying her for years. Joseline’s latest comments come after Stevie accused her of pushing a fake narrative and spreading lies about him.
“You better be glad you have no money so I don’t take you to court for your lying thru your dirty mouth get a job and get a life. Bonnie’Bella will see this just like she will see that you denied her for years you looser.” Joseline wrote.
Stevie Enters The Chat & Says “Find Somebody Else To Play With”
Stevie didn’t say quiet AT ALL! He hopped on Instagram with a video of his own, accusing Joseline of pushing a “fake narrative” while making it clear that he loves and takes care of all his children.” Stevie then reminded Joseline about their alleged court order and claimed that neither of them pays child support. From there, he suggested that her reality TV run must be drying up since she’s suddenly looking to him for coins. He even pointed out that Joseline never mentioned him while she was taking over the Zeus network.
But Stevie wasn’t done. He continued firing back, saying wouldn’t tolerate the disrespect or let Joseline have Bonnie Bella “bad mouthing” him. And chile, he didn’t stop at Joseline either! Stevie also called out her hubby Balistic Beats, and brought up an alleged past conversation where she claims Balistic reached out to complain about Joseline’s parenting. Stevie eventually wrapped up with two words: “Free Bonnie.”
Bonnie Bella Speaks On Her Relationship With Stevie
Things between Joseline and Stevie appeared to pop OFF after Joseline gave viewers a peek into one of her mother-daughter talks with Bonnie during their reality series, ‘The Grandma Is The Baby.’ Joseline asked Bonnie how she feels about Stevie, and Bonnie said she doesn’t feel the need the need to tell her dad about himself because she thinks he already knows where he falls short. She also said she’s sure people tell him “A LOT!”
Bonnie went on to say that she considers Stevie a good in some ways because he does try to see her sometimes. However, she also feels he isn’t a great father because she thinks he lies about his availability. That’s when Joseline chimed in and told Bonnie that Stevie doesn’t step up as much as he should, especially when it comes to providing for financially. Bonnie agreed with her mom, adding that Stevie doesn’t give them “a dollar.”
“Well, my papi he lives with me, so you know its different. He’s been watching me since I was three months, six months or whatever and the difference with my dad is because he doesn’t really come more than he’s suppose to, but he kinda sees me. I just want him to see me more,” Bonnie said in the clip.
RELATED: Joseline Hernandez DRAGS Benzino After He Calls Her Out For Telling Bonnie Bella That Stevie J Doesn’t Contribute Financially (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
The conveyor belt that is the K-drama world is packed with shows that just keep on coming. With Netflix Korea getting more traction and a higher budget, as well as other streamers investing their money into great original Korean programming, there will soon be a time where everywhere we look, we will have an array of K-dramas to watch (in a good way).
However, that type of constant influx of new titles can become overwhelming, as some good shows can then stay buried unless we pay attention to them. There are many great shows hiding under piles of brand-new titles with big names, waiting to be discovered. Here are K-dramas that everyone forgot about that are worth your time.
‘Prison Playbook’ (2017–2018)
Prison Playbook has recently re-entered the mainstream conversation, but it’s been largely forgotten over the past few years. Created by the writer behind Reply 1988, the show has a meditative and warm energy nurtured by the ensemble in their best form. Less interested in prison-drama darkness than in the small, absurd, genuinely funny rhythms of people making do in an impossible situation, Prison Playbook is a comedy as often as it’s a drama, and it shifts between genres without ever losing its footing. Park Hae-soo, years before Squid Game made him a global name, leads the ensemble as the protagonist while Jung Kyung-ho anchors the supporting cast as Park’s childhood friend and long-term prisoner. The two leads have a kind of effortless chemistry that can’t really be manufactured, and their rapport makes the show all the more compelling.
Prison Playbook follows Kim Je-hyeok (Park), a professional baseball pitcher who is days away from his Major League signing, when he’s arrested for assault after defending his sister from an assailant and sentenced to serve a one-year prison sentence. Prison Playbook follows Je-hyeok’s adjustment to life inside, the weird and wonderful array of inmates and guards who become his unlikely community, and the slow, patient understanding of prison life, survival, and that all of it is less about toughness and more about figuring out who to trust. The show aired in 2017, and it predates the global K-drama boom by several years, which is why it lacks more international recognition; this show’s been waiting for new audiences to find it ever since it aired, and now’s the perfect time to rediscover it.
‘Through the Darkness’ (2022)
It’s safe to say that the raging success of Mindhunter reached all corners of the world, including South Korea. However, a show about special agents, profilers, and chasing serial killers isn’t a novelty in the K-drama world; Korean filmmakers and showrunners love their killer hunts, maybe even more than Hollywood does. Through the Darkness was based on the memoirs of a prolific South Korean profiler, Kwon Il-yong, the first to carry the title in the country and who wrote about his chases for serial killers across Korea during the 1990s. The comparison to Mindhunter here can and probably will come immediately, but that’s flattering. Both shows are far more interested in the psychological toll of crawling inside a killer’s head than in procedural mechanics.
Set in 1990s Seoul, Through the Darkness follows Song Ha-young (Kim Nam-gil), a perceptive detective recruited to join Korea’s very first Criminal Behavioral Analysis team, formed specifically to track a serial killer dubbed “Red Cap” who has been terrorizing the city. Criminal profiling doesn’t yet exist as a recognized discipline in Korean law enforcement, which means Ha-young has to build the entire playbook from scratch while simultaneously convincing a skeptical police hierarchy that the whole enterprise is worth funding. Kim delivers an outstanding performance, as he portrays a man who sacrifices his own psychological state in order to interrogate criminals. Through the Darkness is absolutely a forgotten gem, and if you like serial killer chases, intriguing real-life drama, and some thrilling pursuits, this show should be your priority viewing.
‘Navillera’ (2021)
Navillera is the kind of “it’s never too late” story that will make you laugh, cry, and question your own opinions and prejudices. This twelve-episode story has no filler and no wasted scenes, with Park In-hwan, who was around 76 years old when he made the show, delivering one of the most compelling and compassion-inducing roles of his career. Active since the 1960s, Park is one of Korea’s most prolific actors, and a role like the one in Navillera is nothing new for him—but it might have been novel for his physical prowess. Park stars alongside Song Kang, who apparently trained seriously for his role and is one of the biggest K-drama names of the 2020s. Navillera was released under the radar and is only being rediscovered now.
Navillera follows Shim Deok-chul (Park), a 70-year-old retired postman with one dream he’s spent a lifetime putting off: learning ballet. His family is horrified by this resolution, while his body absolutely has its own opinions on the matter. However, he signs up anyway and meets Lee Chae-rok (Song), a 23-year-old dancer with real talent, struggling financially and on the verge of quitting the thing he loves most. The two form an unlikely mentorship that ends up going both ways; the old man finds his dream, and the young one rediscovers his reason to fight for his. The show also has a dementia subplot, which arrives mid-series and is handled with a care and honesty that most dramas couldn’t pull off without tipping into melodrama. With bigger names and titles, Navillera wasn’t the most popular show of its time, but it aged really well and is one of the most emotional and beautiful shows you’ll ever get to see.
‘Black Dog: Being a Teacher’ (2019–2020)
Another highly beloved K-drama trope is high school drama, though that’s not purely reserved for Korean shows and audiences. The entire world is obsessed with the drama between a bunch of 16-year-olds and their teachers, classmates, and parents, and there’s no sign that shows with this theme are about to die out. Black Dog: Being a Teacher is from 2019, and it’s a fairly forgotten series with a high school theme. If you have most recently watched Teach You a Lesson, Netflix’s most popular K-drama of the summer, Black Dog is its distant, forgotten cousin that tackles similar themes and packs just as a powerful punch as its successor. Seo Hyun-jin and Ra Mi-ran star as a newcomer teacher and a veteran who takes him in and mentors him, and their relationship is filled with (platonic) chemistry that works well on-screen.
Black Dog follows Go Ha-neul (Seo), who arrives at Eungyo High School as a new temporary teacher. Ha-neul is naive about how deeply the politics of the Korean education system run and immediately starts learning that surviving in a private high school staffroom requires as much strategy as anything happening in the classrooms. The show, written by a former teacher, is a sharp, unsentimental look at Korea’s hyper-competitive academic culture told entirely from the staff’s perspective rather than the students’. What separates Black Dog from the dozen other school-set K-dramas is how little interest it has in glamorizing teaching or the institutions around it. The staffroom is political, exhausting, and often unjust, and Ha-neul’s idealism gets ground down and rebuilt across the entire show, showing the true strength of perseverance. Black Dog aired in 2019 and garnered moderate ratings without much buzz despite being one of that year’s best dramas.
‘Song of the Bandits’ (2023)
The Good, the Bad, the Weird isn’t the only South Korean Western—Netflix’s own Song of the Bandits is another Western told from the Korean perspective, and just like the Song Kang-ho-led film, the show is set during the Japanese colonial occupation of Korea. Song of the Bandits is another series on this list that stars Kim Nam-gil, who transforms into a gun-slinging revolutionary effortlessly and with great style. This show came out in 2023, but it’s been largely ignored at launch despite being one of Netflix Korea’s more ambitious originals that year; a Korean period Western was probably much harder to sell than the platform’s algorithms were prepared for, but it’s still not too late to rediscover this gem and make it a part of your K-drama watchlist.
Set in 1920s Manchuria during the Japanese colonial occupation of Korea, Song of the Bandits follows a group of former soldiers and displaced Korean exiles. Some of them are idealists, some are criminals, but most of them land somewhere in between; this group of Korean freedom fighters band together to fight back against the forces occupying their homeland. One of them, Lee Yoon (Kim), is a stoic, morally gray ex-soldier and gunslinger trying to survive while the world he knows collapses around him, reluctantly becoming a leader for people with nowhere else to turn to. The action sequences are genuinely impressive, the ensemble is stacked with character actors doing strong work, and the show possesses a compelling political depth about the colonial period Korea lived in that gives even its most genre-conventional moments real-life weight.
Song of the Bandits
- Release Date
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2023 – 2023-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Hwang Jun-hyeok
- Writers
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Han Jung-hoon
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Yoo Jae-myung
Choi Choong-su
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Lee Hyun-wook
Lee Kwang-il
House Velaryon is one of the key players in House of the Dragon. They are one of the wealthiest houses and have the greatest armada in Westeros. They have the legendary Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) as their lord, though the situation might get a bit dodgy when it comes to who might be his heir. Still, they are an illustrious Valyrian house during the era of the Dance of the Dragons. But by the time of Game of Thrones, the Velaryons are but a shadow of what they once were. The house’s name is barely spoken in the series, and some members briefly show up in the A Song of Ice and Fire books, but in subordinate positions — not nearly as influential and important as they once were. What happened to “the old, the true, and the brave?”
The Dance of the Dragons Starts the Decline of House Velaryon
The Dance of the Dragons is actually the starting point of House Velaryon’s decline. For more than a century, House Velaryon held control of the Narrow Sea even in the face of foreign threats such as the Triarchy, but the civil war forces them to direct most of their efforts to the blockade on the Gullet. The Battle of the Gullet causes great damage to the Velaryon fleet, as well as the plundering of Driftmark. This is the beginning of House Velaryon’s decline, although it would take some decades for it to fully be realized.
In Fire & Blood, after Corlys dies, it’s Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim), legitimized as Alyn Velaryon, who inherits Driftmark and becomes the head of House Velaryon. Alyn proves to be a great commander and manages to continue House Velaryon’s supremacy in the waters, but he was never a sharp political player. With the Velaryon fleet based mostly on Driftmark and the Gullet, other houses started building their own naval power until eventually the Velaryon fleet was no longer the biggest proverbial fish in the sea. Couple that with the lost riches after the sacking of Driftmark, and the house was in clear decline.
House Velaryon Lost Their Naval Dominance After the Dance
Eventually, other naval powers emerged on the other side of Westeros. House Greyjoy has always been powerful but never reliable; they attacked and led invasions into the Westerlands and the Reach. Consequently, House Lannister developed their own way of protecting themselves by building an armada based in Lannisport. For example, after the War of the Five Kings , they are the most powerful navy in Westeros. For the same reasons, but further to the south, House Redwyne also begin to build their naval forces. Located on the island of the Arbor, they have always been prone to seafaring and grew to the point of surpassing House Hightower’s naval prowess.
Even so, House Velaryon still held some influence, with many Velaryons holding the position of Master of Ships in the Small Council. By the time of King Aerys II(David Rintoul), for example, Lord Lucerys Velaryon plays this role in his council but is also one of the Mad King’s advisors who preys on his decline for his own benefit. Robert’s Rebellion drastically shifts the power balance, with House Baratheon now becoming the major naval power in Westeros.
Because House Velaryon are also a Valyrian house, they have always been allied to House Targaryen. The house itself is sworn to the Prince of Dragonstone, and when Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) becomes king, he appoints his brother, Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane), as the new prince. Stannis then starts his own branch, House Baratheon of Dragonstone, to whom House Velaryon is currently sworn.
By the Time of ‘Game of Thrones,’ House Velaryon Is Only a Minor Player
In the Game of Thrones books, House Velaryon continues to be sworn to Dragonstone, so they join Stannis Baratheon’s forces in the War of the Five Kings. Lord Monford Velaryon is even present at the Battle of Blackwater Bay, but dies as his ship sinks. His six-year-old son, Monterys, then succeeds him as Lord of Driftmark. When Stannis calls his banners to go to the Wall, House Velaryon sends a host, and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) even notices Velaryon banners among the ones of House Baratheon when Stannis defeats Mace Rayder’s (Ciarán Hinds) wildlings beyond the Wall.
In the Battle of Blackwater Bay, Lord Monford’s bastard half-brother, Aurane Waters, is captured and forced to bend the knee to King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson). He later becomes Master of Ships and even starts working on expanding the Lannister armada in King’s Landing. He even briefly antagonizes Lord Mace Tyrell (Roger Ashton-Griffiths). Still, when Aurane hears of Cersei Lannister’s (Lena Headey) imprisonment by the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) and the Faith of the Seven, he flees his post, his whereabouts currently unknown.
Given how much Tom Cruise has been embracing his ’80s hits with sequels like Top Gun: Maverick and the recently announced Days of Thunder follow-up with Anne Hathaway, one defining movie from earlier in his career has yet to receive that honor: 1986’s pool hustler classic The Color of Money. Much like the original Top Gun and Days of Thunder, The Color of Money captured Cruise at his most rebellious, angsty and purely charismatic. Unlike the other two films, which were directed by Tony Scott, Color of Money had to merely settle for being directed by Martin Scorsese, who was tasked with making an edgier kind of 1980s sports movie in an arena he knew well: smoky urban pool halls, where complex relationships between father and son figures could be hashed out.
The movie itself was already something of a legacy sequel to 1961’s The Hustler, with Paul Newman reprising his role as “Fast Eddie” Felson as an older and theoretically wiser man. In 1986, there wasn’t much precedent for a sequel produced several decades removed from the original, giving audiences a new view on the old character. Much like how Top Gun: Maverick gave the Tom Cruise seal of approval to its cast of younger stars, Cruise was practically anointed by Classic Hollywood with his casting. As if to seriously distance himself from the “Brat Pack” band of ‘80s of upstarts, Cruise jumped into the role and got the chance to act alongside one of the greats, starring in a movie by another one of the greats.
‘The Color of Money’ Was a Legacy Sequel to ‘The Hustler’
Far from the colorful pop-song montage style of ‘80s sports movies, the original Hustler was a quiet and sprawling character study of addiction and tortured masculinity, as exciting as it is tough to watch. It fit nicely into producer and director Robert Rossen’s collection of morally grey working-class tales, and became one of Paul Newman’s most beloved roles. While the Walter Tevis novel on which it was based had a sequel called The Color of Money, the general narrative wasn’t exactly what Newman had in mind for a new “Fast Eddie” Felson story. That led to him, director Martin Scorsese, and writer Richard Price radically restructuring the narrative, eventually crafting something wholly new under the same title. The biggest thing borrowed from the book was incorporating 9-ball, the pool variation that became thematically tied to the core of the movie.
Legacy sequels weren’t exactly a thing in the ‘80s. Sequels tended to be seen as junky and cheap in general, with rare exceptions like The Empire Strikes Back or The Godfather Part II demonstrating that massive hits deserved to be revisited with sequels that could be even better than the original. By giving Eddie an electric sparring partner like Vince, The Color of Money immediately justified itself, turning its tale of an old man looking back at his life into a hard-hitting character study, just like The Hustler was. Not content to make the movie a Tom Cruise vehicle, Price and Scorsese turn the focus on his and Newman’s chemistry and toxic surrogate father-son relationship, with Eddie trying and failing to turn Vince into the young man he can no longer be.
Tom Cruise Made ‘The Color of Money’ What It Was
Much like Scorsese’s later films Goodfellas or The Departed, The Color of Money deals with the theme of a young man effectively being groomed by a charismatic older figure influencing him to throw his life away. Vince’s girlfriend Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) fits into Eddie’s plans, too: Teaching them both the ways of hustling, with ‘80s soft rock by Phil Collins and Eric Clapton filling out the soundtrack, Eddie is also reliving his youth in a way that’s slightly pathetic. Although the movie doesn’t plumb the depths of masculine psychology like its predecessor The Hustler (or Scorsese’s Raging Bull), it’s comfortable with complexity and three-dimensional characters. For a commercial success, it was a far cry from the mainstream ‘80s cinema.
The best part of the movie is its ending. After two hours of hustling, cheating, and intimidation, the two men are ready to face off in an honest match. Who wins is less important than Eddie feeling blood pumping in his veins again. With the movie being such a sterling example of the legacy sequel, it definitely warrants a revisit. Vince and Carmen are both such interesting and striking characters, and it’s easy to wonder where they are now. While Newman’s passing means “Fast Eddie” could not be a part of the film, his absence could structure a sequel too. And most importantly, the door is open for a baton to be passed to the next Vince.
Taylor Hanson confessed his brothers were surprised to hear he would be competing on Dancing With the Stars season 35.
“My brothers were pretty shocked that I would consider honestly putting myself on the dance floor,” Hanson, 43, exclusively told Us on Wednesday, September 2, following the official DWTS cast announcement. “But everybody’s supportive. Everybody’s excited.”
Taylor added that while his family is happy for him, he is also “excited” to be part of the DWTS family.
Taylor formed the music group Hanson alongside brothers Isaac Hanson and Zac Hanson in 1992. The boy band is best known for their 1997 hit “MMMBop” which is nearly three decades old.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Conner Leavitt is following in his wife Whitney Leavitt’s footsteps by lacing up his ballroom shoes on Dancing With the Stars. “There aren’t words in the English language to describe how proud I am of my wife,” Conner, 32, exclusively told Us on Wednesday, September 2, gushing over […]
“It’s a song I’m proud of. It’s a song I wrote that was nominated for [the] Grammys. I mean, I have never been shied away from embracing where I’ve been,” he said of the iconic tune. “And honestly, that song talks about things that matter, things that stand the test of time. That’s all I’ve ever done is try and do things. I hope I actually look back and go, ‘I’m so proud of that.’”
While Taylor is best known for being on stage with a microphone, he’s ready to start a “new season of doing different things.”
“We are here to have a great time. I have a great teacher,” Taylor said, referring to his partner, Britt Stewart. “There’s really no loss in this for me. Every day we’re doing [this] it’s a win.”
Taylor shared that he “absolutely” wants to go “all the way” to win the Len Goodman mirrorball trophy. However, he thinks that “learning to dance” will be his “biggest competition.”
“I’m here to leave it all on the dance floor,” he said. “So my only competition is the challenge of being excellent.”
Taylor shared that he and Stewart have yet to pick their official team name. The musician told Us that he would “love to involve the fans” in the creative process for brainstorming their team name.
“They always come up with some amazing, creative team name. So it’s still forming,” he teased to Us. “It’s still in the works.”
In addition to trying something new in the ballroom, Taylor teased to Us he’s working on something special.
“This is kind of the beginning of a new journey. I’m working on stuff that I’ve never, never done before: solo music,” he said.
Dancing With the Stars premieres on ABC and Disney+ with a two-night event beginning Tuesday, September 15, at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes will stream the next day on Hulu.
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