DC Studios’ Supergirl plays like a wild hybrid mix of John Wick, Mad Max: Furiosa, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
While the identifiable influences prevent Supergirl from entering the upper echelon of DC movies, director Craig Gillespie’s epic take is still an undeniably fun, wickedly entertaining ride.
Most of the success belongs to Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon), who delivers a subversively brilliant turn as Kara Zor-El. Alcock might not have been on anyone’s radar to play Kara Zor-El, but the choice was perfect. Her Supergirl is a volatile, drunken mess with a good heart and raw skills that match her cousin Superman’s – though not as controlled.
When her story picks up, she’s powerless due to spending time on a red planet. Fully embracing a hedonistic lifestyle, Kara isn’t in a hurry to return to Metropolis, ghosting her squeaky-clean cousin when he calls to check up on her. She’s turning 23 and doesn’t have any goals other than to find another bottle to fall into. Since she can’t get drunk near a yellow sun, she’s making up for lost time by drowning her pain in alien dive bars.
Watching a drunk Kara hang with her BFF Krypto would grow old fairly fast, so Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) pops into the narrative. Ruthye’s on a revenge quest and needs help, zeroing in on Kara after she takes out a massive creature who stole her sword. Kara wants nothing to do with going after Ruthye’s target, Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts, The Old Guard), a ruthless brigand who looks like the offspring of Hellraiser’s Pinhead and gives off a Darth Maul vibe.
But when Krem incapacitates Kara’s beloved four-legged partner-in-chaos, the stakes become deeply personal. There’s no length Kara won’t go to to save her superpowered bestie. Which, of course, leads to teaming up with Ruthye to hunt Krem down.
Alcock delivers a stellar performance, tracing Kara’s evolution from cynical and detached into a hero who fully embraces her Supergirl mantle. Adding to the film’s fun vibe is Jason Momoa, a cool addition as bounty hunter Lobo. Playing an immortal with a god complex, Momoa is entirely in his element as the cigar-chomping anti-hero – a mass of muscles with an unpredictable edge who’s so volatile that Kara warns Ruthye not to make eye contact with him. Momoa provides comic relief while injecting a sense of unpredictable danger that actually overshadows Krem, the film’s main villain.
Gillespie (Cruella, Lars and the Real Girl) anchors the narrative with multiple poignant flashbacks detailing Kara’s traumatic childhood watching the last remaining Kryptonians die slow, painful deaths. Flashbacks also reveal Kara’s meeting with puppy Krypto and her first encounter with Superman on Earth. These emotional beats help ground the massive, relentlessly paced action set pieces that show off Supergirl’s extraordinary skills.
Visually, Supergirl thankfully avoids falling into the muted lighting trap so often found in comic book adaptations. The CGI blends seamlessly into action scenes’ choreography, and for once it’s easy to tell who’s fighting who in most of the set pieces.
More Momoa and Krypto would have helped make Supergirl super special. When you’ve got Momoa as Lobo, it’s a shame not to use him to blast through narrative speed bumps. And sidelining Krypto also means less time spent on Kara’s most entertaining relationship, trading it for a Kara and Ruthye team-up that just doesn’t have the same emotional weight. But those are minor gripes.
Overall, DC Studios’ latest offering takes a bold, refreshing approach to the character, embracing her flaws and taking audiences on a booze-fueled journey of self-discovery. Milly Alcock is the absolute heart and soul of the film, delivering a ferocious performance unlike any we’ve seen in past iterations of the character.
2026’s Supergirl is a flawed but fiercely entertaining ride that carves out the character’s own niche in the DC film universe.
GRADE: B
Rating: PG-13 for strong violence, action, language, and smoking
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Release Date: June 26, 2026
Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz in ‘The Invite’ (Photo Credit: A24)
When actress Olivia Wilde became director Olivia Wilde in 2019, she had her doubters. Those doubters were quickly silenced when her first feature, Booksmart, ended up being one of the funniest movies of the year. She followed it up with Don’t Worry Darling, which showed her ability to do unsettling drama. And now, she continues to build her directorial resume with The Invite.
The Invite is about a couple named Angela and Joe (Wilde and The Studio’sSeth Rogen) who seem to be stuck in a tense and troubled marriage. One day, unbeknownst to Joe, Angela invites their upstairs neighbors, Piña and Hawk (Penélope Cruz from Parallel Mothers and Edward Norton from Fight Club), over for an evening of wine, food, and conversation. Once the wine (and other substances) start flowing, Angela and Joe learn more about Piña and Hawk than they expected they would…and more than they probably wanted to know.
The screenplay for The Invite was based on the movie The People Upstairs by Spanish filmmaker/playwright Cesc Gay, which was itself adapted from Gay’s play of the same name. Co-writers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (who also wrote Toy Story 4 and Celeste & Jesse Forever) make their version stand out by injecting very natural, almost effortless dialogue into the uncomfortable scenario. The resulting film is both relaxed and tense, serious and funny. The audience is a fly on the wall, and what’s happening onscreen is something that they shouldn’t be seeing. And it feels like a car wreck. There’s emotional carnage unfolding, but the viewer doesn’t dare look away out of fear that they might miss something good.
The Invite plays out almost like a stage production, but for a movie that is set completely within the confines of a single apartment, the technical aspects are surprisingly inventive. The photography is impeccable, with cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra (Euphoria) using both set pieces like mirrors and camera tricks like rack focus to both open up and tighten down the location. British musician Devonté Hynes (Queen & Slim), aka Lightspeed Champion/Blood Orange, contributes a minimalistic, melodic score that fits in perfectly with the economic narrative. And editors Anthony Boys (Veep) and Yorgos Mavropsaridis (who has edited all of Yorgos Lanthimos’ movies) shape the on-screen chaos into a coherent and compelling story.
But what really makes The Invite exciting is the acting. There are basically only four characters, but each individual actor brings their A-game, making those different characters pop and crack. There are two dynamics at work – Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen are the unhappy, at-each-other’s-throats couple, while Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton are the lovey-dovey, eternally-blissfully-in-love couple. Not only does each actor nail that dynamic, but each also is able to help that dynamic shift as the movie goes on. There’s an improvisational chemistry to the ensemble. This doesn’t feel like four actors playing characters, this feels like four characters.
And this leads to The Invite taking the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions. It’s heartbreaking in that it’s a portrait of a troubled and unhappy marriage. It’s uplifting in that it also features a free-spirited and openly honest couple. It’s funny, not in a rolling-on-the-floor-laughing kind of way, but in an “I see myself in this character” kind of way. At times, it’s full of sarcastic wit and sexual tension, but mostly, it’s just a very genuine movie. It’s very comfortable with its uncomfortable situations.
The Invite is as different from Booksmart as it is from Don’t Worry Darling. This just goes to show that Olivia Wilde is the real deal as both an actress and a director. Olivia Wilde is this generation’s Ida Lupino.
GRADE: A
Rating: R for sexual material, language throughout, and drug use
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Release Date: June 26, 2026 (limited)
The second season of Apple TV’s genre-blending sci-fi neo-noir detective series, Sugar, finds the titular character (played by Colin Farrell) on his own, without his fellow space travelers, and taking on a new case of a missing boxer. Apple TV’s clip from episode two also confirms that John’s still interested in discovering exactly how Senator Pavich is involved in the blackmail scheme that forced his friends to leave Earth.
Episode 2 “Downer Town” Plot: The search for Ji sends Sugar into dangerous territory. Danny resorts to desperate measures.
In addition to Colin Farrell, season two stars Jin Ha, Raymond Lee, Tony Dalton, Laura Donnelly, and Sasha Calle. Shea Whigham guest stars.
During a recent press conference hosted by Apple TV, Farrell was asked if there’s anything he’d like to explore about the character that wasn’t touched on in the first season.
“You know, I knew the script to a beat. The trick was just to honor the kinda tone of the piece that was established in the first season, I suppose, and whatever the truth of him as a character is,” replied Farrell. “But also allow for a change in situation and also whatever changes psychologically and emotionally are taking place in him as a result of things being different. The main thing, of course, being that he’s now, for the first time, a man very much alone. Everyone else, all his friends, all his companions have gone back to their home planet. So he is, for the first time, alone on earth, and he’s struggling with that kinda sense of isolation very much, and how would that inform, certainly at the beginning of the first episode, how would that inform how he is and how he moves through the world? And continue to inform that. And how he is open to people.
Farrell continued, “So yeah, that was the biggest difference. But it’s also a very different world the second season than the first one. First one took place in more affluent parts. You know, Bel Air and Palisades and the studios and all the higher-ups. And this one takes place in K-Town, a lot of, and various other parts of East L.A., so it’s gonna be tonally quite different as well. And he was gonna have new challenges, which he does, and contend with human experiences that he didn’t have to contend with in the first season.”
Shea Whigham and Colin Farrell in ‘Sugar’ season 2 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Sugar Synopsis, Courtesy of Apple TV:
Sugar is a contemporary, unique take on one of the most popular and significant genres in literary, motion picture, and television history: the private detective story. Season two ushers in the return of Los Angeles’s iconic private detective and film connoisseur John Sugar, played by Colin Farrell, who stayed on earth in hopes to find his sister as he takes on a new missing persons case—searching for the older brother of an up-and-coming local boxer.
As the investigation expands into a sinister, city-wide conspiracy, Sugar must reckon with himself to answer the question—how far will he go to do what’s right?
Sam Catlin is the showrunner and serves as an executive producer along with Colin Farrell, Audrey Chon, Simon Kinberg, Scott Greenberg, and Chip Vucelich.
Apple TV serves up a pickleball comedy with The Dink starring Jake Johnson (Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed) and Mary Steenburgen (A Man on the Inside). The official trailer shows that Johnson reluctantly takes up the sport as the fastest path back to a tennis career. The results are pretty much what you’d expect. Also, Andy Roddick pops in to represent an actual star of the tennis world.
Joining Johnson and Steenburgen are Ed Harris, Ben Stiller, Patton Oswalt, Chloe Fineman, Chris Parnell, and Aaron Chen. Workaholics‘ Sean Clements wrote the script and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar‘s Josh Greenbaum directs.
Apple TV offers this lengthy synopsis: “Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck’s (Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father’s approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck’s vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab.
He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick. Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father’s affection and his very identity.”
The Dink premieres on Apple TV on July 24, 2026.
Ben Stiller, Jake Johnson, John Lesher, Rob Paris, and Mike Witherill serve as producers. Executive producers include Josh Greenbaum, Sean Clements, Rick Steele, Joe Hardesty, Jonathan McCoy, and Daniel Crosser.
Season four of Oxygen’s true crime series The Real Murders of Atlanta premieres on July 11, 2026, with new episodes airing on Saturdays at 8pm ET/PT. The upcoming 10-episode season features episodes focusing on the murders of an up-and-coming rapper, a homecoming queen, and a military veteran.
Oxygen offers this description of the new season:
“As the rising music, film, and tech industries cultivate a sense of glam, hustle, and grit that marks the city’s signature style, each episode uncovers crimes that reveal the dark side of wealth, status, and power. Through firsthand accounts from detectives, journalists, and victims’ loved ones, the series examines the deadly tragedies that have shaken one of America’s most influential cultural and economic hubs.
Following tireless homicide investigations while giving voice to lives cut tragically short, The Real Murders of Atlanta offers an unflinching look at the perils of power, passion, ambition, and greed in the Empire of the New South, where money and danger often go hand in hand, and the same ruthlessness that pushes people to make bold moves can also lead them to kill.”
Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch, David Hale, and Dan Messina serve as executive producers. The true crime series is produced by 44 Blue Productions.
Poster for ‘The Real Murders of Atlanta’ Season 4 (Photo Credit: Oxygen)
Episodes include:
• An aspiring rapper is killed in a violent shootout at an Atlanta recording studio, prompting detectives to uncover a chain of lies that reveal a shocking betrayal behind the murder.
• When a veteran is found dead in the back of a pickup truck, investigators unravel a trail of deception that leads straight to a suspect with close ties to the victim.
• After a young woman finds a human foot on her porch the night before Halloween, detectives race to identify the scattered remains and catch a killer determined to keep the truth buried.
• When a 17-year-old homecoming queen and military recruit is gunned down outside her home, detectives piece together a complex relationship web in the hunt for who did it.
• After a young father’s night out with his best friend turns into a fight for survival, detectives expose a crime ring led by someone that nobody ever suspected.
• A mother vanishes on the 10th anniversary of her cousin’s disappearance, setting off a race against time to connect clues and launch an undercover operation to find her.
Discovery’s 2026 edition of Shark Week features Josh Gates on the hunt for the first recorded shark attack and cliff diver Molly Carlson attempting to set a record for diving into shark-infested waters. This year’s shark-centric programming also includes the return of Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach as well as Ken Jeong and K-pop artist REI AMI teaming up for K-Pop Shark Heroes.
“As the original and longest-running programming event, Shark Week is an unmatched legacy built on bold storytelling, pioneering science, and must-see cultural moments,” stated Joseph Boyle, Head of Content, Discovery Channel. “This year, we continue to raise the bar with a lineup that delivers glowing sharks, Jurassic giants, record-setting stunts…and even K-Pop.”
The 2026 lineup includes 20 new premieres and runs Sunday, July 26 through Saturday, August 1.
Discovery’s 2026 Shark Week Lineup
SUNDAY, JULY 26 K-Pop Shark Heroes premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
After a recent series of shark encounters off the Korean Peninsula, actor and comedian Ken Jeong joins forces with GRAMMY®-nominated singer and lifetime shark lover REI AMI on a mission to reshape the perception of sharks across East Asia and around the globe, fueled by the power of K-POP.
Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
Across the U.S. coastline, a new phenomenon is emerging as great white sharks are captured on film breaching in California like never before. Filmmaker Jeff Kurr, marine biologist Alison Towner, and cinematographer Andy Casagrande set out to capture this unprecedented behavior and uncover the secrets behind the Great American Breach.
Invasion of the Mega Sharks premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery
Shark researcher Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, joined by Shark Week expert Paul de Gelder, leads a team on a high-risk mission to track down “Big Rose,” a record-breaking great white believed to be one of largest predators in the North Atlantic. Using innovative tagging technology and daring field operations, they venture to a newly discovered shark hotspot off Nova Scotia aiming to transform our understanding of these ocean giants.
MONDAY, JULY 27 Bull Shark Dinner Bell premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
Shark attack survivor and advocate Paul De Gelder teams up with apex predator specialist Rosie Moore in Jupiter, Florida to investigate what triggers giant bull sharks to confront humans, testing human behavior in the ocean, extreme weather events and prey preferences to determine what factors ring the loudest dinner bell.
House of Sharks premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
Off the coast of New Zealand lies a hidden shark battleground, where three distinct groups of great whites organize into competing “houses” and may be competing with one another to gain control of a major seal feeding ground. Marine biologist Dr. Tristan Guttridge and underwater cinematographer Kina Scollay venture into the middle of the action on an epic expedition, using brand new builds and massive blood bombs to document this new competitive behavior. As they investigate, they uncover the possibility that these clans of great whites recognize kin and return season after season to their ancestral territories, raising the theory that these predators aren’t solitary hunters but rival dynasties at war.
Biggest Mako on Earth premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery
For decades, rumors have swirled about massive, 15- to 20-foot mako sharks patrolling the deep waters off Southern California. Long dismissed as fishermen’s tales, new footage, along with a recently published photo capturing a mako that appears to push 15 feet, is now forcing scientists to rethink everything they know about these oceanic apex predators. Marine biologist Tristan Guttridge, alongside conservationist Kendyl Berna and shark tagger Keith Poe, leads an investigation to determine whether the world’s biggest mako is real—and hunting in the coastal waters of Santa Catalina.
TUESDAY, JULY 28 Jurassic Sharks premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
In a Shark Week first, revolutionary CGI resurrects the ocean’s most bizarre Jurassic sharks, bringing them to life like never before. Guided by the rare living sharks that once shared their seas, real-world expeditions seamlessly merge with cutting-edge visual effects to uncover stories from the deep and prehistoric seas in ways never before possible.
Jaws vs Orca premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
For millennia, the great white shark has reigned as the ocean’s ultimate apex predator. But now, a new challenger is emerging: the killer whale. Around the world, sharks are washing ashore with their livers removed with chilling precision, while in the Strait of Gibraltar, orcas are targeting sailboats—ramming hulls, crippling rudders, and sinking vessels. To investigate this alarming shift in behavior, Dr. Tristan Guttridge places himself directly in the path of an orca encounter, using their attacks on boats to reveal how these predators hunt and ultimately, how they may be taking down great white sharks.
Chum Island: Catching a Killer premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery
In this Shark Week whodunnit, a rare surge of highly aggressive shark attacks hit a tight-knit community off Australia’s southern coast, prompting marine biologist Dr. Riley Elliott to find and tag the oceanic suspects. But when he discovers this could be a new, elusive population of sharks, he builds the world’s first “chum island” to lure them in and uncover if they are the ones responsible for the attacks.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 Expedition X: Atomic Sharks premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
Phil Torres and Heather Amaro travel 5,000 miles west of the U.S. to the remote Marshall Islands, home to the world’s largest shark sanctuary, where apex predators are exhibiting highly aggressive behaviors and erratic swimming patterns. Between 1946 and 1958, the United States military detonated 67 nuclear bombs around the island, raising questions about their lasting impact on marine life. Now, the team dives into these dangerous waters to investigate reports of “mutant” sharks and uncover whether atomic blasts could be to blame.
Expedition Unknown: Shark Secrets premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
Global explorer Josh Gates travels back in time and dives into the history behind some of the world’s most infamous shark encounters, from the earliest known shark attack to the mystery surrounding the shark feeding frenzy faced by sailors following the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in remote waters. He also investigates the legendary “Stronsay Beast,” a mysterious creature that washed ashore in Scotland in 1808, long thought to be a sea monster. But could it in fact be the remains of a massive shark?
Alien Sharks: Untamed America premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, wildlife biologist Forrest Galante embarks on a nationwide quest to find the nation’s most bizarre and dangerous alien sharks—from glowing swell sharks to elusive sawfish—proving the ultimate shark adventure is right here at home.
THURSDAY, JULY 30 What Shark Attacked? premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
Shark attacks are extremely rare, but when they happen, the first question is always the same: what kind of shark was it? Leading shark scientists Tom “Blowfish” Hird and Rosie Moore, alongside conservationist Kinga Phillips, investigate mysterious attacks from around the world using cutting-edge forensic analysis—including bite pattern comparison, geographic profiling, video evidence, and eyewitness testimony—to identify the species responsible and uncover why these life-threatening encounters occur.
How to Train a Great White premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
Marine biologist Dr. Tristan Guttridge ventures into the shark-infested waters of New Zealand to answer a provocative question: can sharks be trained? Using techniques pioneered by the U.S. Navy to train dolphins in complex cognitive tasks, the team applies similar methods to great white sharks, testing whether these apex predators can learn, solve problems, and respond to cues. If successful, the experiment can potentially redefine shark intelligence and transform our understanding of one of the ocean’s most misunderstood predators.
Ultimate Shark Dive premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery
World-class Red Bull high diver Molly Carlson leaps from a helicopter hovering above the open ocean in a bid to complete the highest freefall dive in Shark Week history, targeting a narrow plexiglass cage surrounded by circling reef sharks, or risking a direct plunge into a chum-filled feeding frenzy where seconds mean survival. From concept to execution, this fearless athlete will push herself to the limit with a record-setting stunt that no high diver has ever attempted.
FRIDAY, JULY 31 Secrets of the Great White Kill premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
For centuries, great whites were believed to simply stalk their prey. Now, groundbreaking science believes that these alpha sharks are highly intelligent predators that adapt their hunting techniques in real time. For the first time on Shark Week, the full range of great white hunting tactics will be revealed, reinforcing their status as one of the ocean’s top predator.
Sharkzilla Takes New York premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
After a wave of mauled marine life washes ashore in New York, conservation biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell launches an investigation to find the culprit. When it leads to an old nuclear dumping ground teaming with great whites and makos, he is left with the chilling theory that the predator may be radioactive. A deeper dive reveals an unexpected hotspot for massive makos off the coast of the Hamptons, suggesting that these waters may be hiding something even bigger beneath the surface.
My Strange Shark Addiction premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery
How far will people go to fuel their fascination with sharks? For four devoted shark “fin-atics,” their obsession shapes every aspect of their lives. From a dentist who spends every spare moment searching for life-size shark replicas that overwhelm his home to a woman who insists she has a special connection with her shark “boyfriend,” and a world-record holder covered in shark tattoos, this special explores how their daily routines, relationships, and finances revolve entirely around the apex predators they can’t live without.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Great White Highway premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
Great white sharks are pushing farther up the East coast than ever before and in far greater numbers leading to close encounters, forcing beach closures, and leaving locals wondering where the next attack could happen. Now, a daring team of shark scientists race to install high-tech receivers and tag as many great whites as possible before another harrowing incident rocks the country.
Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
The physics behind the thresher shark’s devastating tail strike has long remained a mystery…until now. For the first time ever, the discovery of a shallow-water feeding ground has made observing this behavior possible. Now, shark scientist Dr. Craig O’Connell and marine biologist Aliah Banchik dive into the direct line of fire as they attempt to reveal exactly how these predators use their tails to stun and kill.
Harry Collett and Emma D’Arcy in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 episode 1 (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
The season three premiere of HBO’s House of the Dragon confirms that whatever you thought of season two, this season is going to top it. Season three, episode one is better than any single episode of season two and sets a high bar for the episodes that follow.
(The following is a recap of season three, episode one and there are spoilers.)
The new season kicks off in the Vale, with Lady Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) approaching the wild dragon Sheepstealer as it feeds. She asks it to be calm and places her hand on its side. Rhaena climbs as fast as possible and Sheepstealer initially tries to shake her off, but she holds tight. She screams as it flies off with her on board.
At the Red Keep, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) drags Grand Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) out of bed, believing he helped Aegon escape. The maester’s spared at the last minute when Aemond’s informed Lord Larys is also missing.
This leads directly into a scene with Larys (Matthew Needham) and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) on the road, with Aegon complaining about his circumstances. He’s in great pain as soldiers force him out of the carriage. Larys claims that they’re simple men transporting ravens. Aegon chuckles when the soldiers force them to their knees and make them renounce the usurper and swear their fealty to Queen Rhaenyra. Aegon refuses, and as they’re about to be killed, Larys reveals Aegon is the king.
The leader of the soldiers still wants to take their heads and deliver them to the queen. Instead, Larys suggests that they should be delivered alive to Queen Rhaenyra.
Jace (Harry Collett) insists that Alicent’s offer was a ruse, but Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) thinks she wouldn’t have risked coming there if she weren’t truthful. Rhaenyra’s certain that, since Alicent confirmed Aegon is bedridden, she’ll be able to take the throne and seize Aegon in a single stroke. Rhaenyra insists to her small council that Alicent will open the gates after Aemond leaves with Ser Criston Cole. Rhaenyra will take the city and Aegon’s head.
Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is escorted by the Kingsguard to the throne room to see the “king” and is shocked when she’s delivered to Aemond. He announces that Aegon has fled and abdicated the throne. She’s absolutely stunned to learn that Aegon and Larys have escaped. Aemond demands to know where she has been for the last few days, and she lies, saying she was in the Kingswood.
Aemond announces he’s not flying out with Criston Cole, making Alicent’s plan impossible. He’s got plans in place to take on the Sea Snake and break the blockade. There are 15,000 men marching toward the fleet of Lord Corlys Velaryon right now.
Matt Smith in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3, episode 1 (Photograph by Theo Whiteman/HBO)
Meanwhile, Daemon (Matt Smith) and his men slaughter an army, with Daemon returning to his brutal form after spending season two sulking. The Lannister army has been decimated, and Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes) demands that they be buried, not burned.
The Winter Wolves, led by Lord Roderick “Roddy the Ruin” Dustin (Tommy Flanagan), arrive at the end of the battle. Lord Roderick tosses the severed head of Lord Jason Lannister at Daemon’s feet, declaring they’ve come to pledge themselves to the dragon queen.
Alicent’s brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), is in camp with Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and it appears they’re waiting for word from Prince Aemond. Gwayne’s upset that Aemond hasn’t shown up yet and they don’t have any dragon support. He also reports that one of their men has raped a village girl, and Criston doesn’t seem to care. Criston believes they’ll all become beasts before this is over.
Ulf (Tom Bennett) talks about his childhood, which was rough, as three dragons rest nearby in Harrenhal. He tells Hugh (Kieran Bew) and Addam (Clinton Liberty) that he was raped by a priest as a child and hates admitting that the priest who told him he had dragon’s blood was right. Ulf’s bored and thought they were there to kill Aemond, who hasn’t shown up. Ulf believes they’re all getting castles when this is over, and Addam corrects him. They will be knights, which means they get horses, not castles. Ulf doesn’t need a horse; he wants a castle!
Alicent tells her daughter, Queen Helaena (Phia Saban), she’s frightened for Ser Gwayne and Criston. Helaena believes Aemond is scared and doesn’t want to face all of Rhaenyra’s dragons. Alicent sends a note meant to be handed to Lord Ormund Hightower, who’s currently on the march with his men.
Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) asks his son Alyn (Abubakar Salim) to drink with him, and Alyn reluctantly agrees. He informs Alyn that they’re going to send five ships to seize King’s Landing. Alyn’s confused as to why Aemond would ever abandon the throne, and Lord Corlys doesn’t reveal the entire plan. He apologizes for the breach between them and admits he was fond of Alyn’s mother and tried to provide for him and his brother. Alyn replies, “A life, perhaps, but never a name.”
An alarm sounds outside as the weather turns rough and they’re about to face Ser Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) and Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn), commander of the Triarchy’s fleet. She has a plan to sack Lord Corlys’ castle, High Tide, because that will draw his attention away from the blockade.
Back at the Vale, Sheepstealer tosses Rhaena off. She orders it to obey, pleading that they need to return to Dragonstone, their home. Sheepstealer responds by flying off.
Rhaena waits for the dragon to return in the freezing cold, and it finally does with an offering of food that it tosses to her. After presenting her with food, he settles down to eat, too.
Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) receives the letter Alicent wrote, pretending to be Aemond, ordering him to stay there and wait for further word.
Alicent continues her plan to help Rhaenyra, speaking with Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and admitting Aegon wasn’t meant for the throne. She believes he should have been king, if only he’d been born first. Alicent insists that he needs to stick to the plan and go to Harrenhal since he’s no longer safe in King’s Landing. Aemond claims he’s not afraid and doesn’t need to seek safety. But she reminds him he is the king now, and Rhaenyra will send her dragons for him soon.
Alicent believes that if he flies to the Riverlands, he can draw Daemon out and kill him. If he stays here, he’ll be killed. She holds his head and tells him he’s courageous, but she can’t lose him. Alicent pleads with her son to leave, to keep him safe.
Aemond bends down to kiss her on the lips and Alicent tries not to react or pull away. She needs to continue with this charade. He agrees to go and declares he’ll host a feast for her there once he has Daemon’s head.
Ulf’s taking a sh*t when something growls at him. Hugh believes that maybe they shouldn’t stay there, and Ulf is adamant that they leave. Suddenly, the witch Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) arrives and tells them they’re missing the battle and needed at Dragonstone.
Baela (Bethany Antonia) races through the castle to inform Rhaenyra that an army of ships is sailing toward Lord Corlys in the gullet. Rhaenyra decides she’ll go and take care of it, refusing to change her mind when Jace tells her she must stay safe since she’s queen. Jace orders Ser Lorent Marbrand (Max Wrottesley) to lock Rhaenyra in her room and not release her.
Baela pleads with Jace to change his mind, reminding him this is treason. He swears he won’t let them kill his mother like they killed his brother. Jace asks Baela to come with him to help him win the victory.
Rhaenyra is stunned when she realizes her door is locked and orders Ser Lorent to open it. He won’t, admitting that Jace made him do it.
Abubakar Salim and Steve Toussaint in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 episode 1 (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
The Battle of the Gullet rages on and the Sea Snake’s ships are getting the worst of it. Lord Corlys watches his men slaughtered by Lohar on another ship. She orders her men to pursue Lord Coryls’ ship, The Queen Who Never Was, and Lannister reminds Admiral Lohar they are the flagship and can’t be drawn into the war. She insists she neither cares about keeping her promise to him nor about fighting for his king. This is personal.
Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) suggests to Rhaenyra that Jace just wanted to protect her. Rhaenyra didn’t expect her Queensguard or Jace to do this to her. She stabs her armor, ripping it to pieces in frustration and anger. Rhaenyra knows she possesses the heart and spirit of a king, even though she has the body of a woman.
The Sea Snake’s fleet is surrounded when Jace and Baela arrive on their dragons, lighting the Triarchy’s ships on fire. Lord Corlys wants to take his ship to High Tide, even though the tide’s out. He thinks he can lure Lohar there.
Lohar orders her men to prepare to shoot the dragons. She takes aim and fires, catching Jace’s dragon, Vermax, by surprise. It plunges into the sea but rises again. More scorpion bolts fly and Vermax is attached by a rope to Lohar’s ship. Fortunately, Baela’s Moondancer frees him.
Lord Corlys’ ship makes it to the tunnels by High Tide, aware that’s where Lohar is heading. Lord Corlys knows the exact method of navigating the narrow pass, and the captain follows his instructions.
Lohar’s crew insists that they don’t know how to make it through this passage. She believes they’ll simply follow Sea Snake’s lead. It’s very touchy going through a particularly shallow patch, and Lord Corlys takes over the helm. His men cheer when they’re clear and haven’t been grounded. Now they must return to the gullet and rejoin the fight.
Rhaena’s happy to see her home and tells Sheepstealer that they’ve made it. But then she sees High Tide on fire and the Battle in the Gullet raging on and flies toward it instead.
Lohar gives orders as they throw everything that has weight overboard, including Lannister’s men. Lord Corlys realizes she’s hot on his tail because she’s sleeker and more lightweight. He has his men prepare for battle as Lohar gives the orders to prepare a boarding party.
Lord Corlys is stunned to see his castle on fire, something Lohar ordered done to distract him from the battle in the gullet. As Lohar approaches, it’s Alyn who orders his men to begin shooting. The smaller ship rams into Corlys’ ship, punching a hole in its hull. Triarchy fighters board Lord Corlys’ ship and begin killing his men.
Rhaena weaves her dragon through the ships, setting them on fire indiscriminately, even killing her father’s men.
The Sea Snake is knocked down but rises and returns to battle, a fierce fighter. His ship’s on fire and men fall into the water when it starts falling apart. Alyn falls into the sea and continues fighting.
Rhaena searches for her father’s ship while Sheepstealer keeps setting everyone on fire. (She can’t control her new dragon.) Jace and Vermax see another dragon, but Jace doesn’t realize it’s Rhaena.
Lord Corlys, Alyn, and Lohar are the best fighters, but not many remain when Lohar and Lord Corlys face off. The ships are barely afloat as blood flows over the decks. While they’re fighting, The Queen Who Never Was finally breaks in two. Lord Corlys falls into the sea.
Jace finally figures out it’s Rhaena and calls Vermax off, but Sheepstealer keeps pursuing him. Vermax is hit by another scorpion and roars in pain.
Alyn picks up the fight with Lohar and finally manages to slash her throat. She sinks underwater, but he’s also injured.
Baela calls out for Jace and Vermax as they plunge into the sea. Vermax can’t get loose and Jace finally manages to free himself as his dragon sinks into the sea. He grabs a floating piece of wood but is killed by three arrows fired by Myrish bowmen.
The battle’s over and very few ships remain.
The season three premiere ends with Baela and Moondancer circling overhead.
Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler and Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton in ‘Dutton Ranch’ (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
Paramount+’s Dutton Ranch episode seven kicks off with a flashback to Fort Worth in August 1981. Mariano (Bobby Soto) drops off Beulah (Rebeca Robles) and her friends at a country bar and then sticks around, watching over her and the women as they dance and enjoy themselves.
Beulah flirts with Luke, a mechanic at Six Flags, and as they dance, Mariano fills the bartender in on his job. He’s the top hand at 10-Petal, but tonight he’s babysitting his boss’ daughter, Beulah. He also reveals he’s married and has a son named Joaquin.
(The following is a recap of episode seven, “Den of Sin,” and there are spoilers.)
The bartender admits a man paid her to keep him occupied, and suddenly Mariano realizes he can’t spot Beulah in the crowd. Frantic, he heads outside and screams her name. He drives down the road, scanning the area until he comes to a store. Beulah’s standing outside at a payphone, with just one boot in her hand. Her face is bloody and she insists that he tell her dad that she was thrown off a mechanical bull.
Mariano agrees to keep it a secret.
Back to current events, Beulah (Annette Bening) informs the ranch hands that they’ve got the night off. They don’t need to stick around and be on their best behavior for the ranch’s anniversary. Instead, she’s set up an open tab at a local bar. They seem relieved.
Over at Dutton Ranch, Beth (Kelly Reilly) watches Rip (Cole Hauser) get ready for the anniversary party. Rip thinks they’re going to be late since Beth has “that look” and he’s shocked when she pulls a new suit from the closet. There’s no saying no to Beth, so it looks like Rip’s going to be looking incredibly handsome at the get-together.
Beulah supervises every aspect of the party, including where flower arrangements go and which China to use. She pauses briefly to compliment Oreana’s dress, telling her she looks stunning. Oreana understands the importance of the party and is ready to pitch in.
Rip and Carter (Finn Little) grab a beer before heading to the party, and Rip offers Carter work at the 10-Petal on weekends. He asks about school and Carter doesn’t tell him he’s stopped going. Carter thanks him for everything he and Beth have done for him.
Beth joins them and suggests they ride to the party instead of driving. They only need to stay for two hours and then they can head home. Rip and Carter are fine with that.
Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba) offers to read Beulah’s speech since it’s her last one in charge of running the ranch. Beulah’s turning it over to him, and Joaquin assures her that he’s incredibly grateful. They head outside to greet the guests as they arrive, and Beulah’s impressed when Rip, Beth, and Carter arrive on horseback.
Finn Little and Natalie Alyn Lind in ‘Dutton Ranch’ episode 7 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
Carter spots Oreana outside with Harrison, but she blows him off and keeps flirting with Harrison. Sheriff Wade joins Carter as he continues watching Oreana and lets him know that in the pecking order tonight, Carter’s strictly a downstairs guy while Harrison and Oreana are upstairs people.
Meanwhile, Azul (J.R. Villarreal) and Zach (Marc Menchaca) relax with the cowboys at the bar. Another patron tries to start something but quickly realizes he’s outnumbered and thinks better of it.
Night falls and Beulah, Beth, and Everett (Ed Harris) stand at the bar and discuss Beulah and Beth’s recent successful meeting. Joaquin finds Rip alone and thanks him for taking care of his hand. When he brings up Chet, Rip shuts him down. There’s no need for that conversation.
Everett speaks with Carter and assures him it’s okay to stand alone at a party with a drink in your hand. He advises Carter that it’s also okay to realize he’s had enough of a party and walk away to a quiet place.
Excellent advice dispensed, Everett spots Beulah and joins her for a quiet moment.
The cowboy who was outnumbered earlier returns to the bar with backup. A fight breaks out and Azul cheers it on. After it’s over, the 10-Petal cowboys help straighten the place up. During a toast to the fight, Austin (Sterlin English) gets serious and admits the other cowboys weren’t wrong. “10-Petal’s dirty, corrupt. We’re all f**ked,” says Austin. He doesn’t understand why they never do anything about it. One of the men advises him to let it go, even though Chet’s gone missing too.
Beth introduces Rip to Zane Nash (Marlon Young) and Zane’s happy to be in business with him. Rip assures him that Beth’s the businessperson, not him. Beth gifts Zane a pair of spurs and Beulah offers to help him break them in the following day during a ride around the ranch.
Oreana interrupts and takes Beulah back to her office. Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) is there, feet kicked up on his mom’s desk. Oreana apparently knew her dad was back but didn’t tell Beulah earlier. Rob-Will reads Beulah’s speech, which is the public announcement that she’s turning the ranch over to Joaquin. Rob-Will reminds her this ranch is his legacy, but Beulah won’t change her mind. So, he threatens to kill Joaquin, since being a killer is what Beulah’s always wanted him to be. He’s ready to be ruthless.
Rob-Will insists that she change her speech to announce him as the new person in charge, not Joaquin.
Rob-Will corners Rip and apologizes for his previous behavior. He’s very unconvincing when he says he’s going to work to make amends.
Beulah takes the stage and thanks everyone for coming. She unrolls her speech but decides not to deliver it. Instead, she speaks from her heart. She talks about the ranch’s history and how she’s been in charge longer than most people expected her to be. “In five years, Robert William Jackson III will be giving this speech as head of 10-Petal, our beef business, and our upcoming line of ranch-to-table steaks.”
Oreana hugs her dad while everyone else in the audience looks shocked, including Beth, Rip, Everett, and Zane. Joaquin is stunned and leaves, and Rob-Will confronts him in the parking lot. Joaquin’s sure Beulah will turn to him to fix Rob-Will’s screw-ups. He warns his brother that he should have killed him when he had the chance—a chance he’ll never have again.
Zane’s angry that Beulah’s retiring after they just made a deal. She insists Beth and Rip are the brains, but Zane points out she sold him on telling her story. Zane knows that her son’s a drug addict.
Carter emerges from Beulah’s office carrying a stuffed bull head and disrupts the party. He breaks one of the horns and Rip grabs him and pulls him away. Beulah suffers a heart attack or stroke and collapses, and Everett immediately rushes to her side and calls for a medevac. He tries to assure her she’ll be fine and that help’s on the way.
A flashback to the younger Beulah from the episode’s opening finds her furious and scared. She doesn’t want to listen to her father’s speech, and Mariano notices the positive pregnancy test in front of her. She asks Mariano to drive her to Luke’s place so she can tell him he’s going to be a father. Mariano waits outside as Beulah goes in and shoots Luke multiple times, killing him.
She emerges from Luke’s place and announces, “I found my other boot.”
Colin Farrell in ‘Sugar’ season 2 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Cinephile, detective, and alien John Sugar (Colin Farrell) has spent the months since we last saw him in Apple TV’s Sugar season one finale searching for Henry. As season two begins, he finally locates him but doesn’t get the answers he wants before Henry (Jason Butler Harner) passes away. As he’s dying, Henry apologizes for making Sugar stay behind but doesn’t tell him what happened to his sister.
Henry committed suicide, something that doesn’t happen on their planet. As Sugar looks around Henry’s home, he finds a board with photos and the message: “Beware of assimilation.”
(The following is a recap of season two, episode one, “Home Away From Home,” and there are spoilers.)
Sugar realizes Djen’s gone. The only thing left to do is burn Henry’s body and his house so that no humans can discover it. Burning it drives home the fact that he’s all alone on Earth. He can never return to his planet.
Ruby left him a letter, just on the off chance he remained on Earth. In it, she admits Earth was the most difficult planet to leave. “This place, for better or worse, takes ahold of you,” she concedes. She loves him and hopes he stays safe.
Since he’s alone without a mission, Sugar decides returning to LA is his best option. He picks up his old life at the Hotel Del Corazon and even gets back into his beloved ‘66 Corvette Stingray.
He was hoping his detective business would pick up, but without Ruby it’s difficult to find jobs. So, instead, he spends his days hanging out at the dog park. His love of dogs hasn’t faded, and he has six mesmerized at the dog park when he makes a tennis ball float in the air before their owner calls them away.
Fortunately, an old friend calls with a request for help. Limo driver Munzer Amin asks him to meet with up-and-coming boxer Danny Moon. Danny’s an immigrant, born in Korea, and Munzer describes him as a good kid. His brother, Ji Moon, has been missing for three days. Ji’s been getting high a lot recently, and Danny thinks he’s just being stupid and not coming home to scare him.
Danny plays Sugar a disturbing voice mail from Ji that sounds like he’s running from someone dangerous. He’s out of breath and says he got away but is sure the guy will come after him because he saw something he shouldn’t have.
The voice mail ends with Ji telling his brother to keep training and not to call the cops. Sugar believes there’s real fear in his voice. He takes the case.
That night Sugar visits Ji’s normal hangouts in Koreatown. One of the stops is a pool hall and some of the patrons admire his car from the window. He notices one woman seemed interested when he mentioned Ji Moon’s name. After beating her in a game, he’s just about to ask what she knows when someone yells at him that his car’s just been stolen.
A young woman outside claims the guy who stole it is a friend. She offers to get it back for him for $300. They briefly chat and he explains he’s a private investigator. When she leaves to make a call, the woman he beat in pool steps outside and says Ji was seeing Hannah McDaniels. Sugar realizes she’s worried and she admits a lot of people are looking for Ji. She hopes he finds Ji before the others do.
While waiting for his car, Sugar confesses he misses his dog and his friends.
Thankfully, the woman he paid drives up in his car.
Colin Farrell in ‘Sugar’ season 2 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Back at his hotel, Sugar uses a communication device to see if anyone else stayed behind. “Second group, third wave, California. John Sugar. I’m still here if anyone else is,” he says into the transmitter.
He sends his message and waits. Because he’s been alone for so long, he decides to eat in the hotel restaurant instead of in his room. A woman at an adjacent table stares at him as he continues eating.
After dinner he returns to his laptop (the screensaver is his dog) and searches for “Moon brothers boxers.” Sugar isn’t very knowledgeable about boxing but learns quickly. He picks up on the fact that Danny’s on the rise, while Ji’s career is fading.
Sugar tracks down Hannah McDaniels, a nurse at St. Anthony’s. Hannah immediately denies knowing Ji, and Sugar notices she’s nervous. She thinks he’s there to fire her and is relieved to learn he’s not with HR. Hannah doesn’t want to talk to him if he’s not a cop, but Sugar works his magic and gets her to open up a little. He was there four days ago and asked her to sneak him a hospital key card so he could steal drugs. She hasn’t seen him since.
Hannah describes him as a wild man, and Sugar traces his route down the stairs, wondering if that’s where he recorded the panicked phone call. Ji left the hospital with a thermos full of drugs, which could have led to trouble.
He continues to search for Ji, including in homeless encampments and where druggies hang out.
Back at the hotel, he spends a little time at the bar (even though he can’t get drunk) and meets Charlotte (Laura Donnelly), the woman who was staring at him earlier. They introduce themselves, but he has to leave when he gets a text notifying him that something was delivered.
It turns out he bought a house in the Hollywood Hills that used to belong to Bogart. It’s a three-bedroom with a pool, and the view of the city is unbelievable. The text referred to his belongings being delivered to his new house.
Sugar’s still trying to figure out why his people were betrayed, hunted, and forced to flee Earth. He uses binoculars to look down on the home of one of the men responsible, Senator Tyson Pavich. Tyson’s son, Ryan, was involved in the season one storyline, and Sugar’s certain that Tyson has his own secrets. He’s determined to continue looking for answers.
Season two, episode one ends with a scene of Ji fleeing the hospital, clutching the thermos, and nearly getting run into, while Sugar reminds himself that he must be careful now that he’s all on his own. He also reminds himself to stay busy so that he doesn’t lose his mind, like Henry did.
Neon has set a theatrical release date for It Ends, which is not a sequel to It Follows. (That sequel’s titled They Follow.) Neon acquired the horror film following its world premiere at 2025’s South by Southwest and will release it in LA and NY on August 21, 2026. An expanded opening is set for August 28.
Alex Ullom’s feature film debut currently sits at 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. AWFJ’s Alexandra Heller-Nicholas says, “It Ends is the kind of bold, original movie that low-budget horror cinema at its best provides a perfect home for.” And Dread Central’s Rendy Jones calls it a “smart and inventive genre-bending experience.”
The horror thriller, starring Phinehas Yoon, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth, and Mitchell Cole, offers this synopsis: “A group of recent grads head out on a late-night drive for grub, hoping to enjoy one final hangout before their paths diverge. Instead, they accidentally turn on to a never-ending, two-lane hellscape surrounded by untold horrors and cosmic forces beyond their understanding. Cramped together inside a Jeep Cherokee and with the miles stretching infinitely ahead, they face a choice: embrace their new existence or fight to escape it.”
Carrie Carusone and Evan Barber serve as producers. Executive producers include Jess Wu Calder, Keith Calder, Carson Tappan, Roshni “Rush” Bhatia, Andrew Mayne, Ryan Keely, Elle León Nostas, Ben Mekler, and Chris Amick.
