We’ve now seen a list of the alleged Google Pixel 6 colors.
Using official images from Google, we think we know which name matches which model.
For years now, Google’s color names have been very silly. Even recently, the Google Pixel 5 had a colorway called Sorta Sage (even though it was very clearly just mint green). It doesn’t look like Google is ready to abandon this tradition.
Today, via M. Brandon Lee on Twitter, we saw a list of what appears to be the names of the Google Pixel 6 colors. As usual, there’s a whole lot of “sorta” and “kinda” in there.
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When it comes to raw power within mobile processors, Apple takes the cake. Its proprietary AX Bionic chipset consistently trounces chips from other manufacturers that produce silicon for Android. With the launch of the new iPhone 13 series, we wondered what an iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra bout in our Speed Test G suite would look like.
To no one’s surprise, the iPhone’s A15 Bionic destroyed the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 in the Galaxy S21 Ultra. In every metric, the iPhone was faster by multiple seconds. In other words, it was not a close match.
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If xXx 4 wants to evolve the series, it should take a page out of The Fast And The Furious playbook and bring in some of Xander Cage's family. The original xXx was custom built for Vin Diesel as a star vehicle, following the surprise success of 2001's The Fast And The Furious. Plans to turn it into a James Bond-style series came to halt when the star passed on a sequel, with Ice Cube taking over for State Of The Union in 2005. This follow-up was a box-office dud, but Diesel was later lured back for 2017's The Return Of Xander Cage.
While that appeared to right the ship, xXx 4 has been delayed due to lawsuits. Despite being one of Diesel's most well-known franchises, he's only played Cage twice over a 20-year span. Compared to his run as Dom in the Fast & Furious movies - who throughout that series has evolved from street racer to saving the world multiple times - has barely scratched the surface of Cage as a character. Outside of his fondness for tattoos and extreme sports, there's not much depth to Xander.
xXx 4 doesn't have to go to Shakespearian depths to get under Cage's skin, but he could use some fleshing out. Given the popularity of the ongoing Fast And Furious saga, the next xXx could dig into his past and explore some of his family ties. Outside of briefly mentioning an aunt in the original movie, the xXx series hasn't revealed much about Cage's clan and a sequel that sees him connect with his family could bring some emotional heft to the movies.
Given that F9 focused on Dom going head to head - and eventually somewhat reconciling - with his estranged brother Jakob (John Cena), maybe that's too familiar a beat for xXx 4. That said, a younger brother or sister he barely knows, or even a son or daughter he's never met, could be one direction to explore. Given that Xander's taste for mayhem is one of his defining traits, a xXx4 where he has to connect with or somewhat keep a child of his own under control has potential.
xXx 4 will likely carry on from the events of The Return Of Xander Cage and see the title spy working with his fellow former agents like Cube's Darius Stone. The series is ultimately going for more over the top thrills than the more recent James Bond movies, but it wouldn't hurt to have a little bit of heart mixed in. The next sequel doesn't have to be a straight rip of the Fast And Furious formula, but a Xander Cage family member or two could give some more stakes to the saga.
It's not too often that astronomers are at a loss for words when making a space-related discovery, but the above image from NASA's Hubble telescope managed to do precisely that. Of all the tools at our disposal for exploring outer space, Hubble has repeatedly proven to be one of the best. The 31-year-old telescope has made countless discoveries over the years, whether it be answering questions about our own Solar System or investigating galaxies millions of light-years away.
In 2021 alone, Hubble has been up to a lot. It's captured a large 'eye' in the middle of a constellation, learned new information about Jupiter's Great Red Spot, and even identified a 'ghost' galaxy utterly devoid of dark matter. All of this has happened despite a scare earlier this year — one that caused Hubble to go offline for a month due to a nasty computer glitch.
NASA just shared one of Hubble's latest discoveries, and it may be one of the most head-scratching of the entire year. Looking at the photo above, all seems pretty normal at first. The picture shows a large cluster of galaxies deep in space, with Hubble focusing on two of them. The first one, labeled 'single image,' is a run-of-the-mill galaxy with a bright center and numerous stars surrounding it. Where things get interesting is with the galaxy labeled 'mirrored image.' Not only does it look like a galaxy mirroring itself, but it's also a copy of the 'single image' galaxy above it. In other words, there are three sightings of the same galaxy for no apparent reason. After first spotting the 'double' galaxy in 2013, astronomer Timothy Hamilton admitted he and his team "were really stumped."
If it sounds impossible for there to be three instances of the exact same galaxy, that's because it is. What's really happening here is something called 'gravitational lensing' — a visual trick that occurs when a large amount of matter distorts light from other galaxies. Gravitational lensing is a fairly well-known thing today, but in 2013 when Hamilton discovered these perplexing galaxies, that wasn't the case.
In this particular situation, NASA explains the lensing as follows: "A precise alignment between a background galaxy and a foreground galaxy cluster produces twin magnified copies of the same image of the remote galaxy. This rare phenomenon occurs because the background galaxy straddles a ripple in the fabric of space." Another way to think about it is like wavy reflections present in a swimming pool. When the afternoon sun is shining bright on an outdoor pool, the light from the sun appears on the bottom of it with swirling, wavy reflections. As Richard Griffiths from the University of Hawaii explains, "The ripples on the surface act as partial lenses and focus sunlight into bright squiggly patterns on the bottom."
This is essentially what's happening in the image at the top of this article, albeit on a much larger scale. A ripple in space is taking light from the single image galaxy, magnifying and distorting it, and that's what's seen with the mirrored image galaxy. That's a great oversimplification of all the science and research that went into getting to this answer, but that's ultimately how the photo is explained. If anything, it's a great reminder of how much we still have to learn about space. In just 8 years, astronomers went from not understanding this photo to having a logical explanation for it. In the next 8, 16, or 32 years, who knows what other mysteries we'll also have answers to.
The latest Dead by Daylight survivor in need of a strategy guide, Mikaela Reid, will be arriving in the game on October 19 along with the update for chapter 21.5. The next chapter in Dead by Daylight, Hour of the Witch, is predictably based around a Halloween theme.
Mikaela Reid looks like a character plucked straight out of a Halloween movie: black attire, long, red hair, funky glasses, and a hat fit for a witch. Mikaela’s backstory involves her father dying when she was 16, leading her down a path of witchcraft and the occult.
Mikaela has three perks unique to her character in Dead by Daylight. Like all the characters in the game, Mikaela’s survivor perks can be used to gain an advantage over the killer. Mikaela’s perks are all centered around totems, similar to the Killer The Hag's Hex Totems when she was released. Traditionally, only Killers could use Totems to make survival more difficult. Hex Totem effects remain until a Survivor cleanses the totem. Mikaela's abilities allow her to bless and use totems, including Hex Totems, turning them into Boon Totems that benefit the whole Survivor team.
Clairvoyance: This is an intrinsic energy in a Survivor that sees beyond their vision. Clairvoyance activates whenever a Survivor cleanses a Totem. When empty-handed, hold the Ability button to unlock full aura-reading potential. For up to 10 seconds, Survivors can see the auras of exit gate switches, generators, hooks, and chests within a 64-meter range. Teachable at Level 30.
Boon: Circle of Healing: A boon that offers comfort amidst the terror. Press and hold the Ability button near a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a 28-meter range. Any Survivors within the Boon Totem’s range gain a 100% healing speed bonus and can heal themselves without needing a Med-Kit or Perk. Survivors can only bless one Totem at a time. All equipped boon Perks are active on each Boon Totem. Teachable at Level 35.
Boon: Shadow Step: A boon that conceals the truth. Press and hold the Ability button near a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a 28-meter range. Any Survivors within the Boon Totem’s range will have their scratch marks and auras hidden to the Killer. This effect lingers for 4 seconds after leaving the Boon Totem’s range. Survivors can only bless one Totem at a time. All equipped boon Perks are active on each Boon Totem. Teachable at Level 40.
Boon: Circle of Healing and Boon: Shadow Step are immensely useful for group play. If players are near a Circle of Healing Boon Totem, they can all heal themselves at 200% healing speed without a Med-Kit. Using this ability after unhooking a teammate and losing the killer can make the getaway much smoother.
Using Boon: Shadow Step can also make a getaway smoother. Players’ scratch marks and auras become hidden near this totem, which conceals fleeing players’ movements. Lastly, Clairvoyance is a straightforward ability. Players should use Clairvoyance when they have an opportunity and keep moving afterward. Seeking out a totem for Clairvoyance is not particularly useful, so Survivors can instead simply activate it when the opportunity arises. Whether players are playing Dead By Daylight solo or with friends, Mikaela is a great addition to the Survivor team.
While Squid Game has become Netflix’s latest hit, it has sparked worry over kids potentially replicating the survival game.
A primary school in England issued a letter to parents expressing concern that children that have watched the brutal show are pretending to shoot other children in the playground as a way of re-enacting the show.
The letter states: "Dear Parents/Carers, It has come to our attention that a number of our children are watching Squid Game on Netflix.
"We have noticed an increased number of children starting to play their own versions of this game in the playground - which in turn is causing conflict within friendship groups.
"Children who are watching this are being exposed to graphic realistic scenes of violence and sadly children are acting out this behaviours in the playground which will not be TOLERATED.
"I would like to make you aware that this programme is rated a 15 for a reason.
"IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN. Any child who mimics or demonstrates these behaviours, parents will be called upon and sanctions applied. Please be aware of the dangers of this TV programme for your children and reinforce positive behaviours.
"Also please explicitly share that pretending to shoot one another is not appropriate - nor acceptable. Please support us in keeping your children safe," the letter concluded.
Instagram to introduce new features to nudge teams away from harmful content | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Instagram will introduce new measures to nudge teenagers away from harmful content and encourage them to “take a break,” from the platform, Facebook vice president of global affairs Nick Clegg said on Sunday. Clegg made the remarks on CNN’s State of the Union show less than a week after whistleblower Frances Haugen testified before Congress about internal research that showed Instagram can have a negative effect on the mental health of young people.
“We’re going to introduce something which I think will make a considerable difference, which is where our systems see that a teenagers is looking at the same content over and over again, and it’s content which may not be conducive to their well being, we will nudge them to look at other...
Cheryl Burke and Cody Rigsby have reunited inside the Dancing With The Stars rehearsal studio following their COVID-19 diagnosis. Within the last two weeks, both Cheryl and Cody tested positive for COVID-19, forcing them to rehearsal and perform virtually and individually. In doing so, they were allowed to remain in the competition despite not being physically present for the live shows.
Cheryl was the first to test positive between the dancing duo. Just days before the second live show of DWTS season 30, Cheryl tested positive for COVID-19. In place of their live performance for that week, the four judges based the couple's scores off of a prerecorded rehearsal from before Cheryl's diagnosis. Then just a few short days later, Cody tested positive as well. As the duo continued to rehearse via Zoom, their third performance took place virtually from inside their individual homes. This was the first time ever on the show a couple has performed in such a way.
Now as the dancing competition nears its fourth week, Cheryl and Cody are preparing to head back to the ballroom together. Over the weekend, Cheryl took to Instagram to share photos of herself and Cody back inside the rehearsal studio together after being apart for nearly two weeks. In preparation for the upcoming two-part Disney Night on DWTS, Cheryl and Cody posed in their best Disney attire. Cheryl wore a pair of Minnie Mouse ears while Cody rocked a Goofy hat as they prepared for not one but two brand-new dances. Cheryl captioned the post, "Reunited and it feels so good!" Take a look at the post below:
Fans were excited to hear that Cheryl and Cody will be rejoining the other remaining couples in the ballroom this week, especially in time for Disney Night. Some referred to them as the "dream team" while others admitted how happy this news made them. Fellow professional dancer Daniella Karagach shared her excitement for their return in the comments section as well, writing, "YAAASSSSSSSS." One user noted, "The judges better be fair for once!!!!" Following Cheryl and Cody's virtual dance last week, many felt the judges were too harsh with their scores. Even Cody admitted their low scores hurt.
Since Cheryl and Cody have been quarantined at home for nearly two weeks, this will only be their second live performance together inside the ballroom. In addition to that, they have not one but two dances to prepare for this week. Monday night's episode will feature a Disney-themed Heroes Night. Then on Tuesday night, the couples will take on performances based off of Disney villains. Here's hoping Cody and Cheryl can earn some higher scores now that they are back in the ballroom together.
The Spawn universe has a variety of hellspawn, created by the demon Malebolgia. There have been a few different iterations of the comics' main character and the hellspawn, including Medieval Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn, and Raven Spawn. Lately, Gunslinger Spawn - a fan favorite - has been garnering some extra attention, but who exactly is he and what do fans need to know about him?
Gunslinger Spawn first appeared in Spawn #119 in 2002, in a very brief cameo with no dialogue. In 2008, his backstory was revealed within Spawn #174 and #175. This hellspawn had the name of Jeremy Winston, but was known as "ol' Job". He was a former preacher in Bane, Colorado in 1881, before being framed for the murder of his own family. A rich man named Ed Kemper was after silver on Winston's land. He wanted it so bad, he tried to force a deal which quickly went south since Winston's wife wasn't the kind of person to back down to intimidation. As a result, Kemper and his men killed her, as well as Winston's children. Their power allowed them to place the former preacher into prison to be hanged.
At the same time, Henry Simmons (formerly Francis Parker) had stumbled across the murder scene and was also thrown into prison for a fight and murder in another town. Simmons is the ancestor of Al Simmons - the original and current Spawn. He was a Buffalo soldier whose regiment was harassed with one of their fellow soldiers being killed – forcing Simmons’ hand. Both Simmons and Winston were offered deals by Mammon, a fallen angel, to sell their souls to Malebolgia. Winston accepted the deal in exchange for taking his revenge on the town that killed his family. Simmons didn't take the deal, but he was spared since his lineage would eventually result in Al Simmons' birth - and he took on the name of Henry Simmons to partially start his life over.
Image Comics' Gunslinger Spawn is easily recognizable thanks to his appearance. While his face appears in the style of many of the other hellspawn with glowing green eyes, he is set apart by his Western attire. He wears a ten-gallon hat and a red duster. He also brandishes a gun on his bandoliers, aptly providing him his name. He is a hellspawn from a long past time, though he has also had a couple of minor cameo appearances throughout the Spawn series.
Gunslinger Spawn is not the most powerful of the hellspawn, but he is certainly one of the most interesting and recognizable. Despite that, he has had very few Spawn appearances over the years. That has been changing as of late. In Spawn #308 and 309, Gunslinger's journey to the future was revealed. His life and ability to return to his own time are now connected to Spawn himself as a result of a war Spawn is currently fighting. Gunslinger will soon star in his own ongoing comic series, which bears his name as the title. Most recently, he appeared in Spawn's Universe #1, a one-shotcomic kicking off a new era of Spawn stories, as well as King Spawn - a series still focused on Al Simmons' Spawn that began in August. King Spawn #1 revealed that he has also lost a sister who he wants to avenge, waking up from death in 1865, leaving a peculiar gap between this appearance and his prior origin story. Gunslinger's self-titled series will focus on his quest to return to his own time. Fans can follow Gunslinger Spawn's new independent adventures when Gunslinger Spawn #1releases October 20.
An Animal Crossing: New Horizons player has made an accurate in-game recreation of the main character's bedroom from Pokémon Sword and Shield. Sword and Shield are the 2019 releases in Game Freak's popular Pokémon franchise for the Nintendo Switch. In Sword and Shield, players travel across Galar to collect Pokémon, fight other trainers, and collaborate or compete with other players.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a versatile game that many players have used to recreate various scenes and maps from their favorite media. Most recently, a fan created a stunning replica of Breath of the Wild's Korok forest, complete with a shrine featuring the Master Sword. This feature is on top of the many activities that players can enjoy in-game, such as fishing, gardening, and interacting with the quirky inhabitants of New Horizons.
On Reddit, user LyrianTheWanderer posted an image of their character's bedroom in Animal Crossing: New Horizons decked out in the style of Pokémon Sword and Shield. The user managed to recreate it with aspects from the game, such as the green comforter on the bed, a plushie, posters on the walls depicting Poké Balls and various Pokémon, and a cleverly placed Nintendo Switch in the corner. Many other users congratulated LyrianTheWanderer for the replica, though one did note that the Pikachu poster was a bit on the creepy side. In a reply, the creator specified that the poster was meant to portray Eevee, despite being placed in the same spot as the Pikachu poster in the comparison shot.
The customizable nature of the game is nearly endless, and with the seasonal Halloween festivities in New Horizons, players can now spruce up their island with spooky decorations. Many players collaborate on their designs using the game's multiplayer, which was a major selling point for the title during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Animal Crossing allows such a breadth of options that players enjoy tending to their digital life in the game as a relaxing and comforting experience.
Aside from the holiday festivities, Nintendo has announced a new Direct focusing on Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which is dated for October 15. The Direct is expected to announce new content for AC:NH, so fans of the game are excited to see what new experiences are waiting for them in the near future. With new content, perhaps players will be able to make even more creative replicas that will go beyond expectations of what is achievable within the game. For the time being, fans have a lot to look forward to in Animal Crossing.
Revised versions of the core Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks are coming in 2024, which fans are already referring to as the 5.5 version of the game. This will give Wizards of the Coast the chance to alter the existing D&D rules, in order to improve them, following years of fan feedback and online discourse.
The new books were revealed during D&D Celebration 2021. The new D&D books will launch in 2024, to mark the 50th anniversary of the game. All that has been revealed is that the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual will receive new versions. The rules in these books will be backward compatible with those in the existing 5th edition, so fans won't need to trash their current library of tomes. The content in the D&D 5.5 books will be developed with the aid of fan feedback, which will be conducted via surveys over the next few years.
The fifth edition rules are solid and contain fewer exploits than previous editions of D&D. This is due to the developers having decades worth of playtesting information to work from, as well as a vocal fanbase that is more than willing to let its opinions be known about the game. The D&D 5.5 books have the chance to smooth out the remaining issues with 5th edition, in order to improve the game for all.
Even before it was confirmed that the fifth edition rules were being updated, there was talk of changing the Ranger class. This was discussed when Baldur's Gate 3 changed the Ranger, which came with confirmation that plans were in motion for the class to be changed in D&D. The Ranger has already received a minor overhaul, with the Beast Master archetype being changed in an Unearthed Arcana article, as it was considered to be the weakest subclass in the game.
The changes made to the Ranger in Baldur's Gate 3 were the result of many of its class features not gelling with the video game format, as many of them were tied to exploration, and were situational. The Ranger in D&D is overdue for a total rehaul and for it to be cemented in the Player's Handbook. This would likely mean strengthening Favored Enemy, in order to bring it in line with the older editions of the game; changing Natural Explorer, so that it applies to more terrain types; and giving them a better level eight ability than Land's Stride.
The history of multiclassing in D&Dis varied, with it being more viable in some editions than others. Multiclassing is notably weaker in 5e, barring a few powerful combinations. The primary spellcasters in the game especially suffer when they try to multiclass, as diluting their access to high-level magic is a major downside that is hard to overcome. The current edition of D&D is focused on campaigns that are shorter, as the developers and players alike realized that not everyone can pull off a lengthy campaign. As such, the 5.5 rules surrounding multiclassing shouldn't be so strict, or there should at least be an alternate option that is more forgiving. If storylines are going to be shorter, then why not make it easier for players to experiment and play the kinds of characters they want, without diminishing their effectiveness in combat.
Tasha's Cauldron of Everything introduced race rules that offered new options for players. This was the book that introduced lineages and origins. The origin rules allowed players to ignore the stat bonuses in the Player's Handbook and select ones of their choosing, as well as starting languages and certain skill and weapon proficiencies. The lineage rules allowed a player to create a race of their own creation, which came with +2 to a stat, a Feat, and a choice between darkvision or a skill proficiency.
It wouldn't be surprising to see the origin rules incorporated fully into the revised 5.5 Player's Handbook, with the original stat bonuses being offered as suggestions, rather than being set in stone. The D&D Adventurers League already uses these rules for organized play, so it would make sense to fully add them into the game when D&D 5.5 releases.
In 2020, Wizards of the Coast released a D&D book called Mythic Odysseys of Theros, which turned the Theros plane from Magic: The Gathering into a campaign setting. One of the most exciting new rule additions in Mythic Odysseys of Theros was Mythic traits, which made the strongest monsters in the game even more powerful. A monster with a Mythic trait essentially has two health bars.
Once the player kills a monster with a Mythic trait, it returns to full health and gains new powers. The Mythic trait has since been used in different campaigns, including Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden, but it was used with new monsters. If a revised version of the Monster Manual is released, then it's likely that the Mythic trait will be added to some of the existing monsters in the game. It's likely that the Tarrasque will become a Mythic monster, turning the most terrifying creature in the game into even more of a threat.
The revised rulebooks have a chance to fix a lot of the smaller issues that have plagued 5e over the years. This is the perfect opportunity to alter the falling damage rules, which have never made sense in D&D fifth edition. The reason for this is that there is a cap on falling damage. A creature takes 1d6 bludgeoning damage for every ten feet they fall, for a maximum of 20d6 damage. 20d6 is a surprisingly survivable amount of damage for a mid-level character to take, especially the melee fighters of the group. This means that a character can fall from orbit and walk it off. The damage cap exists to stop players from abusing the falling rules, by dropping enemies from a great height and trying to instakill them with gravity. A 5.5 revised version of the Player's Handbook is the best place to change the falling rules so that they make more sense.
Batwoman season 3 will include a major arc for Poison Ivy. Premiering in October 2019, the CW series is based on the DC Comics character of the same name and is part of the Arrowverse. In its second season, which concluded in January of this year, the show experienced a significant shift as Ryan Wilder (Javicia Leslie) took over as Batwoman. And, in the Batwoman season 2 finale, Ryan finally found herself in a good place. Having been released from parole, she moves out of her van and seems to be accepting the mantle of Batwoman that once belonged to Kate Kane. However, during a visit to Alice (Rachel Skarsten) in Arkham Asylum, Ryan learns the shocking news that her birth mother is still alive.
Batwoman season 3 will address the bombshell regarding Ryan’s mother. But it will also pick up on the major tease which closed out the previous installment of the series, as major DC villains were foreshadowed. Penguin’s umbrella and Mad Hatter’s signature look were glimpsed in the Gotham River. And, additionally, Poison Ivy’s trademark veins are seen taking root on the shore. Then, in August, it was reported that Bridget Regan would recur in the role of Poison Ivy.
Ahead of the debut of the new season, which premieres on October 13, Batwoman showrunner Caroline Dries spoke with TVLine about what viewers should expect when the Arrowverse drama returns. As it relates to Poison Ivy, specifically, Dries noted that there was an effort to stay true to the character’s canon history while also offering a fresh spin on the antagonist. She also noted that there was a huge aspect of the Poison Ivy story that she could not reveal just yet. But, she promised, it’s a major arc that will make things difficult for Ryan. You can read Dries’ quote below.
“I’m super excited about the Poison Ivy storyline. There’s a huge facet of it that we haven’t revealed to the press that will be really fun for the audience to participate in. We do a combination of staying true to the Poison Ivy canon and what we normally do, which is put our own spin on it. It’s a major story arc of the season, and we make it really really hard on Batwoman.”
Fans have been eagerly discussing why Poison Ivy makes her debut in Batwoman season 3. Considering the villain’s legacy, both in the pages of comics and on the screen, where she’s been most notably portrayed by Uma Thurman, there’s a lot of interest in how the Arrowverse version will stand out. Looking at a character like Alice, or Beth Kane as she was once known, the CW series has elevated an antagonist that’s a relatively recent addition to the DC canon. Thanks in part to Skarsten’s immensely watchable performance, Alice has gradually shown herself to be a tragic figure and one of the show’s highlights.
It remains to be seen whether the same is true of Poison Ivy, who comes with a significant amount of history. Regan won’t be the only one joining Batwoman, though. Other confirmed cast additions Amitai Marmorstein, who will be playing Mad Hatter. Robin Givens will appear as business tycoon Jada Jet, while Nick Creegan plays Jada’s son. Victoria Cartagena, meanwhile, portrays Renee Montoya. With the show just days away from returning, fans won’t have to wait long to see how it all unfolds.
Netflix's Defenders characters could be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe at last and may feature in a number of different shows and feature films. Back when the MCU was truly taking off after The Avengers, Marvel TV and Netflix joined forces to create multiple Marvel shows that would culminate with a crossover event, The Defenders. Shows for Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist entered development and were sold as taking place in the MCU. Now, these characters could be set to join forces with the wider franchise.
The original Marvel/Netflix shows launched with great success thanks to Daredevil and Jessica Jones, but the popularity of the universe continued to dwindle as time went on. One of the reasons viewers began to tune out may have been the lack of crossover between the shows and the MCU movies. This eventually led to Netflix slowly canceling all of its Marvel shows that existed within the Defenders universe. It began with Iron Fist's cancelation just a month after season 2 debuted, which was followed by Luke Cage being canceled a week later. While fans hoped this could be to set up a Heroes for Hire show, instead, Netflix eventually confirmed that Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and The Punisher were ending too. These cancelations left major storylines unresolved and seemed to indicate that their stories were over, along with any chance of a proper Defenders MCU crossover.
Several years have passed since any of the Defenders characters have been seen, but they might soon find a second life as part of official Marvel Studios productions. There are plenty of rumors about Kevin Feige figuring out a path for some, if not all, of TheDefenders' characters/actors to return in Phase 4. If they do, it is not clear whether or not the MCU will establish the Netflix shows as canon or reboot the characters while retaining great casting choices of the past. Either option could work, although a reboot is cleaner for the MCU's canon. In any case, Marvel has a big slate of movies and TV shows that each of the Defenders characters could appear in, but which ones are the best fit for the individual characters?
The bulk of the speculation surrounding the Defenders characters returning to the MCU stems from reports that Charlie Cox is in Spider-Man: No Way Home. He played Matt Murdock in three seasons of Daredevil and The Defenders. Fans theorized that Daredevil could appear in the movie shortly after Spider-Man: Far From Home ended with Peter Parker's secret identity being revealed. It is still not confirmed that Cox is in the third solo film, but it is easy to see how Matt Murdock could fit. If Peter goes to court due to Mysterio blaming Spider-Man for the London attacks, he'd need a great lawyer to defend him. This can be where Matt - and maybe even Foggy Nelson and Karen Page - come into play. It might mean Cox's MCU return doesn't see him actually suit up as the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, but that can happen later on.
Whether or not Daredevil is in Spider-Man: No Way Home, there are other opportunities for him to appear in Phase 4. The next best project that Daredevil could be involved in is She-Hulk. The Disney+ series starring Tatiana Maslany will explore Jennifer Walters' legal career when she isn't fighting bad guys as She-Hulk. It is possible that Matt Murdock may appear to help Walters with a current court case or even defend Walters if she is eventually put on trial. This would be a great connection for the MCU to make, as it puts Marvel's two most prominent super-powered lawyers in the same property. It also allows She-Hulk to link with Daredevil's story if his return in Spider-Man: No Way Home is minimal.
Marvel Studios could also look to bring Daredevil back for the upcoming Echo Disney+ show. Alaqua Cox is playing Maya Lopez in Hawkeye, and it has already been announced that a spinoff focusing on her character is in the works. Daredevil plays a huge role in Echo's story in the comics, as he is framed by Kingpin to be responsible for the death of Echo's father. This leads Echo to try and kill Daredevil out of revenge, only for him to reveal the truth about her father's death. Echo is a chance for the MCU to bring this story to life and give Daredevil a prominent role once again.
Krysten Ritter plays Jessica Jones in three seasons of Jessica Jones on Netflix, and her opportunity to return as the private investigator in the MCU could be tied to She-Hulk. Although Jessica takes a very different approach to the law, she is still repeatedly connected to legal cases in some manner. There is no word on where She-Hulk will be set in the MCU, but Walters' legal career has mostly taken place in New York after her start in Los Angeles. Jessica Jones founds Alias Investigations in New York as well, so there is an opportunity for the two to crossover in some fashion. There's even the opportunity for Jessica and Jennifer to become friends for the MCU, as she did at one time consider hiring She-Hulk to be the nanny for Jessica Jones and Luke Cage's baby.
Jessica Jones could even make a surprise appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home potentially. After some time as a private investigator, Jessica took a job with the Daily Bugle as a vigilante analyst. She worked under J. Jonah Jameson at this time and with Ben Urich to create The Pulse. It is possible that after Spider-Man: No Way Home reverses Jameson's public outing of Spider-Man's secret identity that Jones could become the latest member of the Daily Bugle team to try and make it friendly to superheroes.
Speaking of Luke Cage, Mike Colter could return as Power Man at some point in Phase 4 after two seasons leading Luke Cage and guest appearances in Jessica Jones and Iron Fist. One place that Luke Cage can make his MCU return in during Phase 4 is Captain America 4. The movie will star Sam Wilson's Captain America (Anthony Mackie) after the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This could be done if Captain America 4 continues to explore the idea of other super soldier programs. Luke Cage gets his powers in the comics from experiments based on the super-soldier creation process. The MCU can make this connection too. Luke Cage's return in Captain America 4 would also give Marvel Studios the chance to put one of its biggest Black superheroes in the first movie featuring Sam's Captain America. While Sam is a likely candidate to lead the MCU's next Avengers team, the return of Luke Cage in Captain America 4 can also set him on the path to lead the Avengers as he's done many times in the comics.
There's also the opportunity for the character to appear in She-Hulk. When Luke Cage isn't leading the Avengers in the comics, he is frequently in charge of Heroes for Hire. She-Hulk has been part of Heroes for Hire in the past, although her work for them was mostly legal and not fighting crime with her gamma strength. Still, Luke Cage and Heroes for Hire could make an appearance in She-Hulk to set up their MCU future. It could even give Marvel a chance to tease a romance between Luke and Jennifer, which was also short-lived in the comics.
Iron Fist's MCU future is even more uncertain than the rest of the Defenders cast. While Cox's Daredevil, Ritter's Jessica Jones, and Colter's Luke Cage are well-liked, most viewers disliked Finn Jones' portrayal of Danny Rand. His efforts did improve as he got more time with the character, but Iron Fist still seems like the most likely of the Defenders to be recast for the MCU. Regardless of whether or not Finn Jones plays him in the MCU, there isn't a great place for Iron Fist in the confirmed list of upcoming MCU projects. That said, Iron Fist could be a great possible fit for Shang-Chi 2 depending on its story. The martial arts and mystical franchise would be an excellent place to reboot The Living Weapon. Shang-Chi's depiction of Ta-Lo already mirrors K'un-Lun, so a visit to the magical city responsible for Iron Fist could be in store for the sequel.
Jon Bernthal's Punisher joined the Defenders universe in Daredevil season 2, and the response to the character resulted in a spinoff show that lasted two seasons. Bernthal is primed to play Punisher again in the MCU, and many want to see this happen in Moon Knight. The Disney+ series stars Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector, who becomes Moon Knight after gaining superpowers from the Egyptian moon god Khonshu - or at least that's what Marc thinks. Spector was a mercenary prior to his days as Moon Knight in the comics, so it is possible a similar origin in the MCU could be how Punisher appears. Frank could be an old friend of Marc's potentially or be tasked with hunting down the all-white costumed vigilante.
In addition to the main Defenders characters, the MCU would also be wise to utilize a few other major characters from the Netflix Marvel shows. Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin remains someone fans want to see more of, and there are rumors this could happen in Hawkeye. If that happens, Wilson Fisk could also come back for Echo and even battle Spider-Man one day potentially. Simone Missick's Misty Knight was also a highlight of the Netflix shows, and Marvel could bring Misty back in Captain America 4, which could bring her and Sam's romance to the big screen. It is also possible that Jessica Henwick's Colleen Wing and Elodie Yung's Elektra return, whether either comes in Shang-Chi 2 or Elektra returns for Echo.
The world of Vikings will continue expanding with the sequel series Vikings: Valhalla, but what does the title really mean? Historical drama has become one of the most popular genres on TV, and among the most successful projects in recent years is Vikings, created by Michael Hirst (The Tudors). Although it was originally planned to be a miniseries, the first episodes of Vikings were so well-received by both critics and viewers that it was quickly renewed for a second season, and it lived on for a total of six seasons, coming to an end in December 2020.
Vikings covered the first years of the Viking Age, from the Lindisfarne raid (as seen in season 1) onward, and the main focus of the first seasons was legendary Norse figure Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his travels and raids alongside his Viking brothers. However, as the series progressed, it changed its focus to Ragnar’s sons (Björn, Ubbe, Hvitserk, Sigurd, and Ivar), who ended up becoming the protagonists of the show, carrying the story after Ragnar’s death in season 4. The final season of Vikings brought the arcs of its main characters to an end, but the stories from the Viking Age don’t end there, and a spinoff series, titled Vikings: Valhalla, will be released on Netflix in 2022.
Vikings: Valhalla is set a century after the events of Vikings, so characters from the main series won’t appear (unless in flashbacks), yet there will be connections between the characters of both shows. Now, while Vikings covered the beginning of the Viking Age, Valhalla will explore the final years of it, focusing on different stories that will eventually converge. Following the death of King Edward the Confessor, three lords make claim to the English throne, and meanwhile, Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett) leads Greenlanders across the North Atlantic. His half-sister, Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), has become an anti-Christian following a traumatic event and becomes the leader of the Old Norse religion against rising Christianity in Scandinavia, and starts looking for a new home for her people. Now, “Valhalla” isn’t a new name for fans of Vikings, but it being the title of the spinoff series has surely raised some questions about what it really means for the show.
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic and enormous hall in Asgard ruled by Odin. Before the hall, there’s the golden tree Glasir and the hall’s ceiling is thatched with golden shields, but not everyone can have the privilege of seeing these and entering Valhalla. Only those who die in combat and are chosen by Odin can travel to Valhalla led by the valkyries, while the others go to Freyja’s field Fólkvangr. Once in Valhalla, the dead warriors join the rest as they prepare to aid Odin during the events of Ragnarök (the equivalent to the end of the world). With that in mind, and taking into account that Vikings: Valhalla will cover the final years of the Viking Age (and possibly the battle that ended it), the title is very fitting, as many warriors will make their way to the great hall and join Odin’s army. The topic of Christianity vs Paganism might also be reflected in the title, as their different ideas and concepts of the afterlife and more will surely clash at some point, even more than they did in Vikings.
With the final years of the Viking Age and thus the final battles being shown in Vikings: Valhalla, the series will see the last Viking warriors that will enter Valhalla, joining many others before them, including Lagertha, Björn, Ivar, and quite possibly Ragnar as well, so the title takes a lot more meaning. Vikings: Valhalla already has some connections to the main series, and there could be more through Valhalla and the characters who made their way to the great hall.
William Shatner is heading to space on October 13th | Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Jeff Bezos’ spaceflight company Blue Origin said Sunday it will postpone the flight that is slated to fly William Shatner to space due to forecasted high winds at its launch site. The flight of the company’s New Shepard spacecraft is now scheduled for 9:30AM ET on October 13th, a day later than originally planned. It’s targeted to lift off from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in Texas.
A statement on Blue Origin’s website said New Shepard NS-18 has met all mission requirements, and the astronauts have started their training. “Weather is the only gating factor for the launch window,” according to the statement, which is signed with the company motto “Gradatim Ferociter” (Latin for “step by step, ferociously”).
The company officially announced last week that Shatner, best known as Captain James T. Kirk from Star Trek, will join the crew of New Shepard for its second crewed flight. Shatner, 90, will be the oldest person to fly to space. New Shepard’s first crewed flight in July brought Bezos, his brother Mark, aviator Wally Funk, and teenager Oliver Daeman to space.
Shatner will be joined by Chris Boshuizen, a former NASA engineer and co-founder of satellite company Planet Labs, Glen de Vries, the co-founder of software company Medidata and vice chair of life sciences at a French software company, and Audrey Powers, Blue Origin’s vice president of mission and flight operations.
Former Daredevil showrunner and current Marvel Comics writer Steven S. DeKnight has revealed he won't continue to write for the publisher until current editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski steps down over his controversial past. In a series of tweets, DeKnight explained that he couldn't stand by and work under a man who "climbed to the top through cultural identity theft," referring to Cebulski's controversial past, as he previously used the pseudonym Akira Yoshida, despite being a white man.
After rumors that he previously used the pen name Akira Yoshida, Cebulski admitted he used the pseudonym after being promoted to editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics. There had long been rumors that Cebulski was using the name to write stories while still an editor at Marvel Comics. Cebulski confirmed that was the case in 2017 after a Bleeding Cool report exposed the entire situation. The ensuing conversation that followed the revelation understandably focused on the problem with a white man pretending to be Asian, with equal concern over how Cebulski walked away relatively unscathed, being given a slap on a wrist for a quite pathetic cover-up attempt. The criticism lobbed his way from the Asian community (and beyond) was fair, and despite calls to fire him, Cebulski managed to convince Marvel his past problematic actions were a mistake.
Steven S. DeKnight voiced his concern about Cebulski's past and position at Marvel Comics once alerted of his previous controversy. The former Daredevil showrunner and writer of two titles in the upcoming Wastelanders series questioned how Cebulski could still have a job while calling his actions "completely unacceptable." DeKnight noted that he loves working with Marvel Comics, but finding out about Cebulski's past changed the equation "drastically," adding, "There are so many great editors there. To allow a man who climbed to the top through cultural identity theft to remain in that position is unconscionable."
DeKnight said that despite working for Marvel being a "childhood dream come true," he couldn't in good conscious continue without the issue being resolved. He called on other creators to join him.
It's great to see DeKnight use his platform to push back against Cebulski. Despite Bleeding Cool's report the editor-in-chief of Marvel was reprimanded for his past and previous pen name, in almost any other situation after revealing the truth, he would have been canned. Cebulski didn't just use a pen name, he actively pretended to be an Asian man to get ahead and continued to deceive Marvel, his editors, and co-workers to do so. Sure, he's helped raise the platform of Asian creators and characters since he took on the role, but that doesn't cancel out his past while pretending to be Akira Yoshida. It will be fascinating to see if DeKnight's actions and words will encourage Marvel Comics to do anything. But, considering how they've handled the situation so far, it's doubtful any further discipline is coming to Cebulski, as Marvel probably considers it a closed issue.
The events of Seinfeld encompassed nine years of shenanigans for Jerry and his friends, including Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), but how old was Elaine at the start and end of the hit series? As it was with the other three main characters, Elaine’s Seinfeld story explored a long list of failed romantic relationships, mishaps at work, and day-to-day, trivial conversations with her friends in Jerry’s apartment.
Seinfeld rarely noted the ages of these four characters, but based on their activities, pop culture references, and interactions in New York City, it was widely assumed that this was a group of thirty-somethings. Occasionally, there were lines in the show that seemingly confirmed their exact ages. For example, Jerry claimed to be 37 years old in a season 3 episode. The issue, though, is that the series was sometimes inconsistent, thus creating a deal of uncertainty over their actual ages.
This problem extends to Elaine, who didn’t have a defined age in the series. Early on, she said that she was in her “early twenties”, but this doesn’t seem to be factual. Instead, it makes more sense that Elaine was closer to 28 years old in season 1. She was known to be the youngest of the group, but not too much younger than Jerry. Jerry, like the actor himself, is thought to have been 35 years old when the show started. It seems highly unlikely that he was more than a decade older than her. Plus, there are signs that the Seinfeld characters have occasionally lied about their ages. It was revealed at one point that Jerry and George Costanza (Jason Alexander) graduated high school together, which would mean that their stated ages should have lined up, but they never did.
In short, Elaine wouldn’t be the only character on the show to be disingenuous about this when she said she was in her “early twenties”. Julia Louis-Dreyfus was 28 years old at the start of the series, so many have come to the conclusion that this was also the character’s age. After all, character and actor ages usually did match up rather closely in Seinfeld, which was the case with Jerry and Kramer (the oldest of the bunch). In any case, Elaine was presumably close to 30. Since the series lasted for nine seasons, that would put her around 37 years old when the show ended, whereas Julia Louis-Dreyfus was 38 years old at the time.
While the rest of the main cast ended their Seinfeld journeys well into their 40s, Elaine’s wrapped up while she was still in her late 30s. As for why there’s such confusion over this aspect of characters like Elaine, many attribute the mystery – and rightly so – to Jerry, Elaine, and George’s well-earned reputation for lying, among many other morally questionable decisions that they made over the course of Seinfeld’s nine-season run.
Whitney Rose recently took to social media to call out The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City co-star Lisa Barlow. Whitney believes that Lisa's behavior towards her has been unkind and hypocritical. Whitney and Lisa's friendship has always seemed to be a rocky one, and the drama between the two has recently become explosive.
During The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season 1, Whitney and Lisa's relationship was a tense one. When Whitney brought up the fact that she had run out of the tequila Lisa provided for a party of Whitney's, Lisa quickly became defensive. More fuel was thrown into the fire when Whitney told co-star Jen Shah that Lisa had been speaking about Jen's marriage behind her back, and the season 1 drama between Whitney and Lisa finally came to a head during the reunion when Whitney expressed that Lisa's attitude toward her had been condescending. Their issues with one another carried over into RHOSLC season 2 and reached a critical point when Whitney discovered that she is distant cousins with Angie Harrington, an allegedly close friend of Lisa's. At one point, Lisa told Angie that she would "never control who people are friends with," but Lisa asked Angie not to acknowledge Whitney as her family over text and later went so far as to call the two “inbred polygamy cousins.”During a confrontation at a casino event, Angie began to suspect that the catering had been sabotaged by Lisa and claimed that other people suspected the same. Lisa denied the claims that she had anything to do with the catering mishap.
As The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season 2 episode 4 aired, Whitney began sharing videos of the confrontation involving her, Angie and Lisa. In a clip where Lisa expresses discomfort with the fact that Angie is related to Whitney, almost as though it were something Angie was capable of changing, Whitney tweeted, "Oh yes yes...I have heard it before...Anyone else sensing the hypocrisy???"Whitney continued to criticize Lisa's behavior by once again labeling it as hypocritical, tweeting, "Oh the hypocrisy,"along with a video of Lisa claiming that her friendships with Meredith and Jen was not Angie's business. In addition to calling Lisa hypocritical, Whitney shared a screenshot in which Lisa referred to Whitney as "trash" and addressed Lisa, saying, "Me telling you that I am hurt by the name calling, talking behind my back and trying to get me kicked out of the group is not a character assassination...THIS HOWEVER IS A CHARACTER ASSASSINATION." In another post, Whitney brought up Lisa's condescension towards her, saying, "Not only in her eyes am I not worthy of being in her circle but now I am not even worthy of being a human???" in reference to a clip in which Lisa referring to Whitney as "this" rather than using a personal pronoun.
Whitney's criticisms of Lisa regarding the confrontation between the three did not conclude there. Whitney tweeted several additional comments about Lisa and also quote-tweeted photos of herself and Angie, saying that she is "happy to claim" all of her family members. Whitney continued, calling the entire ordeal "exhausting" and expressing relief in the fact that Lisa admitted to sending the text messages about Whitney to Angie, saying, "OMG FINALLY...She admits it. It’s not to me but I think for now I’ll take it because this is exhausting." When one fan asked how Whitney felt about Lisa telling Angie not to acknowledge Whitney as being her cousin, she replied that while her feelings were hurt, "this is what I have been trying to say for 2 years, I am just satisfied that what has been done in the dark as come to the light."
Regardless of what Lisa may say about the situation, it seems to be obvious that she and Whitney will not be making up anytime soon. Angie coming to the defense of her distant cousin Whitney instead of siding with Lisa proves that bonds made by blood are thicker than bonds made over a mutual love of fast food. Much like Jen, Lisa's dishonesty and tendency to quickly become defensive rather than truly apologizing have been consistent throughout both RHOSLC season 1 as well as season 2. Denying accusations and causing a scene in an effort to avoid addressing any wrongdoing is a common theme with The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and while Lisa and Jen seem to excel at the activity, Lisa may have made a mistake in doing so with Whitney, who came prepared with a near excess of receipts and a big family.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs Sundays at 9pm on Bravo.
Jenny Slatten from 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way is not happy with Sumit Singh’s mom Sadhna’s latest sly strategy to disrupt their relationship. Ever since their first meeting in 2013, Indian man Sumit and Palm Springs resident Jenny have wanted to get married. The fact that Sumit’s parents Anil and Sadhna didn’t approve of Jenny being 63 didn’t affect the American woman who was blindly in love with the call center employee even after he catfished her and got a secret wife. However, despite Sumit’s divorce, he couldn’t call Jenny his wife due to his mother’s emotional blackmailing. And as Jenny’s future in India looks worrisome than ever, Sadhna has hatched a new plan to ruin the 90 Day Fiancé love story.
Delhi resident Sumit’s dishonesty has always been something that fans have called him out for and in a recent 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way episode, he revealed that the reason behind him always lying is his mom. As it turns out, Sumit and his household consider Sadhna “the boss” due to whom he learned to either lie or suffer. Having lost her daughter when she was 8 months old, Sadhna filled the hole in her heart with Sumit’s ex-wife who she grew close to. But it was due to Jenny that Sumit divorced the woman. Sumit now thinks that his mother is out to get revenge from him and Jenny for taking her “other daughter” away from her by not accepting their relationship or giving them permission to marry.
In the latest of Sadhna’s endeavors to sabotage Sumit and Jenny’s coupling, she will be moving into their house along with her husband Anil. According to a preview for 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way episode 7 posted by People
, Sumit, Jenny, Anil, and Sahna are seated at a counselor’s office and the matriarch announces that she wants to stay with Sumit and Jenny to teach the elderly American lady to become an ideal Indian bride. “I want for our entire family to live together,” adds Sadhna, and when Sumit translates her Hindi for Jenny and revealed she wants to “shift,” Jenny’s only reaction to it is “hell no!” Sadhna also tells the counselor that if she thinks Jenny “is capable of being like an Indian daughter-in-law, then I’ll think about it.”
When a producer asks Sadhna what her real motive was behind taking this drastic decision, the mom reveals that she “never got the idea from anywhere,” but that she’s made up her mind that she’ll “live in Sumit’s house.” Sadhna also adds, “I wanted to live with him because I have an attachment to him and Sumit is very attached to me,” but she confesses that she “cannot let go of Sumit, absolutely not.” According to Sumit, his parents are giving them a “chance to prove” that Jenny and he “deserve” each other. “It’s test, you can say that,” Sumit explains and also makes it clear that it’s what he wants as well.
Although Jenny scoffs at the idea, Sumit is happy to get a chance to show his parents how much he’s progressed in life, while at the same time he’s “shocked” and “very nervous” too. Sumit does feel that his mom possibly has a wrong intention to create trouble for him and Jenny. Still, mama’s boy Sumit is taking it as a positive sign without taking Jenny’s opinion into consideration, clearly. It appears that Jenny now has another hurdle to worry about on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way. And unless she manages to impress Sadhna with all her might, she might just have to come back to the U.S.A.
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Marvel's What If...? season 1 finale.
Marvel's What If...? season 1's missing Iron Man (Mike Wingert) and Gamora (Cynthia McWilliams) episode being bumped to season 2 creates a storytelling problem. Imagining what the Infinity Saga would look like if one element in it was changed, the MCU's first animated series wrapped up with the introduction of the Guardians of the Multiverse. Like Marvel Studios narrative format in the Sacred Timeline, What If...?'s finale was a culmination of everything that transpired in its first eight episodes.
That meant that what seemed to be standalone arcs all came together as the Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) was forced to intervene once it became clear that the Infinity Stone-wielding Ultron (Ross Marquand) needed to be stopped. After hatching a plan with Doctor Strange Supreme (Benedict Cumberbatch), the cosmic entity scoured the multiverse to assemble the Guardians of the Multiverse which included Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell), T'Challa's Star-Lord (Chadwick Boseman), King Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), Party Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a variant of Gamora (Cynthia McWilliams), and the evil sorcerer. Each featured hero was previously introduced earlier in the series — except for Gamora who was with Iron Man in Nidavellir when she was recruited for the team.
Understandably, there were questions regarding this partnership as it hasn't been tackled on the Disney+ project before. As it turns out, their episode was pushed to What If...? season 2 after the coronavirus pandemic hampered work on the show. That's a welcome development since many are interested in how exactly the pair came together in the first place. However, this also poses a storytelling problem for Marvel Studios. As seen in What If...? season 1, it seems like each year will end with a culminating event wherein all of its primary characters assemble for a bigger mission. With Gamora already factoring in the Guardians of the Galaxy's first outing as a team, her origins story with Space Iron Man could feel out of place in the bigger scheme of things in season 2.
The creators behind the animated series have been vocal about what fans can expect from What If...? season 2. While its debut year focused on revisiting the Infinity Saga, its subsequent narratives will be more inclusive of Phase 4 scenarios. That means that storylines focusing on Shang-Chi from Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings and Eternals from the upcoming Eternals film will more likely happen. As exciting as this, it would only further highlight how out of place Iron Man and Gamora's episode will be in the broader sense. That's assuming that at the end of season 2, various universes will once again come together for a culminating storyline. Otherwise, Marvel Studios can just leave their outing out entirely. After all, fans know the backstory about why it has been delayed to What If...? season 2 anyway.
In any case, it's clear that viewers are eager to learn about Iron Man and Gamora's universe, especially since What If...? has made a habit of killing the former in every episode that he was featured. The aforementioned missing outing sounds like it's the only story in the show thus far that won't see the death of Tony Stark. Given his survival, it's curious if there's any future for him past his upcoming Sakaar adventures with Thanos' adopted daughter.
Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso has been one of the biggest surprises in recent television history. The sports sitcom quickly became beloved by fans not for its depiction of Premier League football, but for its quirky characters, its wholesome humor, and its commitment to all things kindness in a television landscape filled with cynicism.
With season 2, however, Ted Lasso has consistently revealed that there is much more to the show than what viewers may have initially expected. Season 1 has been beloved by fans and critics alike since it was first released in 2020, but it just might be the case that the series' sophomore season is even better.
10 Characters Are More Fully Explored
Most shows spend a good deal of time establishing their universe, and their main characters, in their first seasons. It's only in a potential second season that supporting characters are really given their time to shine, and Ted Lasso is no exception to this trend.
Season 2 starts off right off the bat with incredible character development for characters like Dani Rojas, who is forced to reconsider his "football is life" attitude after a shocking accident, and Isaac McAdoo, who has just become the team's new captain in the wake of Roy Kent's retirement.
9 Jamie Tartt Grows Up
Even in the world of sitcoms, characters who function primarily as sources of conflict are common. In season 1, Jamie Tartt filled this role incredibly well. The show makes it clear that Jamie has always been used to being the best of the best, and only ever looks out for number one.
But season 2 gradually pulls the layers back on Jamie's character, revealing the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. Although he may still not be the most likable character in Ted Lasso, Jamie undergoes an incredibly emotional journey in season 2, learning how to put petty feuds aside and becoming a real team player.
8 The Pub Regulars Got Shine
The pub The Crown & Anchor features prominently in Ted Lasso from the beginning of the series. Not only do Ted and his friends and colleagues frequently dine there, but the pub has a real devoted social scene of AFC Richmond fans who watch every game there. Three patrons - Baz, Jeremy, and Paul - have emerged as real fan favorites.
The three men are incredibly vocal and loyal both in their Richmond fandom, but also in their friendship. Season 2 allows their characters to feature more prominently, particularly in the memorable episode "Beard After Hours," where they get to experience a dream come true by running around Nelson Road when the pitch is empty.
7 Roy And Keeley's Relationship
Ted Lasso the character isn't the only one who believes in "rom-communism." The development of the relationship between the surly Roy Kent and the bubbly Keeley Jones shows that Ted Lasso the series believes in "rom-communism," too. Opposites do tend to attract, especially in the world of the sitcom, but Roy and Keeley have never once been a conventional sitcom couple.
Time and again, these two have faced what seem to be stereotypical sitcom tropes - the threat of a looming love triangle, insecurities over work/life balance - and each time, they come away stronger than before. Ted Lasso has allowed Roy and Keeley to become one of the series' strongest storylines, all without taking focus away from any other integral part of the series.
6 The Christmas Episode
It may have taken viewers by surprise when Ted Lasso featured a Christmas episode in the middle of its summer-airing season. But Ted Lasso's Christmas episode, "Carol of the Bells," is not just one of season 2's best episodes, but one of the series' best episodes overall. The sweet, low-stress adventure episode highlights much of what makes Ted Lasso work so well.
No one is allowed to be alone or lonely on Christmas in the Ted Lasso universe. Everyone has a place and a purpose, whether coming together for a multicultural holiday feast at the Higgins home, or bringing toys to children in need. Sitcom Christmas episodes can be hit or miss, but "Carol of the Bells" goes far beyond the familiar holiday tropes.
5 Expectations Are Routinely Subverted
On multiple occasions, Season 2 sets up new storylines and teases reveals that would be expected of a lesser, more obvious sitcom. But almost every time, Ted Lasso finds new, refreshing ways to challenge the viewers' expectations, and redefine sitcom conventions in the process.
Rebecca connects online with an anonymous suitor. But is it Ted like viewers would believe, based on sitcom history? Of course not, as it's Sam, one of the team's star players. Likewise, when Jamie foolishly professes his love to Keeley during Rebecca's father's funeral, does it result in a messy reconnection and love triangle? Absolutely not. Instead, it leads to Jamie healing his fractured bond with Roy, and Roy and Keeley's relationship growing stronger.
4 Dr. Sharon's Presence
Introducing a therapy narrative into a series is something that has to be done carefully, for more than one reason. Mental health discussions are incredibly sensitive and vitally important, especially in the modern era of television and the increased focus on representation. But on the other hand, therapy sessions can get pretty talky, and lean heavily into the telling rather than showing.
By introducing the team psychiatrist Dr. Sharon, however, Ted Lasso finds a character who needs analysis just as much as she provides it. In fact, Dr. Sharon even has her own therapist. Through her conversations with Ted, in particular, Dr. Sharon imparts the kind of wisdom and profound emotional truths not often found in sitcoms, which often shy away from these sensitive, but true-to-life experiences.
3 Sam Obisanya's Rise
Few characters have as incredible a journey in season 2 of Ted Lasso as the beloved Sam Obisanya does. There is barely a moment of Sam's jam-packed narrative in the series that feels wasted. He takes on a protest against team sponsor Dubai Air when he learns of their destructive influences in his home of Nigeria, showing his moral character.
As the season progresses, Sam finds love in his unexpected romance with Rebecca, which also emboldens him to further prioritize his own needs and his journey. When he is sought after by a wealthy Ghanian businessman to serve as a key player in his new football team, Sam instead rejects this offer and further settles into his leadership role with AFC Richmond, even launching into a new business venture by planning to open a Nigerian restaurant.
2 Ted's Backstory Is Explored
Ted Lasso is a character who has so much more going on inside than anyone would ever imagine based on his sunny disposition. Although best known for his puns, his impossible enthusiasm for everything in life, and his genuine appreciation for everyone he comes across, Ted struggles with the long-lasting effects of a profound trauma he endured in his youth: his father's suicide.
Season 2 finds Ted further struggling with his own anxiety, having panic attacks and other anxious episodes, while also trying to reckon with his complicated feelings about his father's death, for which he blames both his father and himself. This devastating reveal adds new, profound levels of nuance to Ted's cheery demeanor, and to Jason Sudeikis's Emmy-winning performance.
1 It's Not Afraid To Get Deeper And Darker
Season 2 of Ted Lasso has frequently been compared to Star Wars' original sequel film, Empire Strikes Back. There is a new mentor character introduced (Dr. Sharon/Yoda), and there are shocking reveals about the main character's father (Ted's father's suicide/Darth Vader's identity). Overall, the tone is much darker and more serious.
Even the season's ending feels ominous, in the same way, that the ending of Empire Strikes Back does. There is a new threat looming in the form of Nate Shelley, a character the series has taken on an unexpected, completely believable journey from underdog to villain in just two seasons. Ted Lasso may not be the same happy, easy comfort show that it was for so many in season 1, but season 2 proves that the show can masterfully switch tones and genres.
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New Year New You
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Save 80% on select HOPEMATE H products
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\ \ Save 80% on select product(s) with promo cod...
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