On the January 17th episode of Saturday Night Live, a sketch poked fun at the popular Netflix series Stranger Things, particularly its controversial ending. Hosted by Finn Wolfhard, the sketch imagined Netflix making countless sequels, spin-offs, and prequels simply because the show was so popular.
The new series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, returns the famous school to its original location in San Francisco, Earth. This is the first class of cadets to train on Earth in over a century, following the devastating event known as The Burn, which changed the United Federation of Planets. San Francisco holds a special place in Star Trek lore, famously being linked to the story of the humpback whales.
Writer Jason Aaron, known for his work on Superman, recently discussed his approach to the “Absolute Superman” series on the Heroes Journey podcast. He explained how he became involved in the “Absolute” line thanks to Scott Snyder, and why he specifically wanted to tackle the Superman story. Aaron detailed his initial plans, which included a … Read more
According to cinematographer Adriano Coelho, the opening scene of Season 2 – available on HBO Max – was memorable for its violence, but even more so for the overwhelming number of people involved. He explained that the crowded scene created a truly chaotic atmosphere.
Mark Ruffalo is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a major role, landing a part in the 2026 film Spider-Man: Brand New Day with Tom Holland, Jon Bernthal, and Sadie Sink. While other past Avengers like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Robert Downey Jr. will be in Avengers: Doomsday, it hasn’t been confirmed whether Ruffalo will join them.
According to data from FlixPatrol, a TV show on Paramount+ was popular in the United States on January 16th, ranking among the top 10. However, its popularity quickly declined – it fell to number 6 by January 17th and remained there on the 18th. This trend was also seen in other countries, like the United Kingdom, where the show went from 3rd to 5th, and eventually to 10th place.
Despite being made quickly, during Zelda’s summer break, and on a very tight budget, the film is surprisingly well-made. The family’s struggles with a life-threatening illness feel very real, particularly in scenes between Zelda and her father, Jake, where they openly share their fears about the diagnosis. While the film effectively builds tension and delivers emotional moments, it unfortunately becomes repetitive and lacks energy at times. This is odd, given the personal connection the family has to the story, but a strange sense of detachment often hangs over the scenes.
Let me tell you, finding a genuinely happy moment in the world of Game of Thrones is tough. You think back – Sansa building a snow Winterfell felt sweet, until Littlefinger showed up. Or Alicent and Rhaenyra’s quiet time under the weirwood tree, before everything went south with Viserys. It’s like any flicker of joy in Westeros is immediately extinguished. That’s what makes the dance-off between Lyonel Baratheon and Dunk in the premiere of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms so refreshing. Two guys just… having fun, showing off, and not ending up dead? Seriously, who knew that was even possible in the Seven Kingdoms! It’s a surprisingly lovely little moment, and a welcome break from all the doom and gloom.
I recently read an interview with Claffey in People Magazine about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and he was so relatable! He shared that he was a huge Game of Thrones fan, right from the beginning – he really got how much the show means to people. He admitted he’s a little nervous about whether longtime fans will love this new spin-off, and honestly, I feel the same way! It’s great to know someone involved understands what we’re all hoping for.
As a critic, I’m thrilled to hear this project is happening! I really enjoyed Don’t Look Up, and the filmmakers had a fantastic collaboration with Netflix on that one. They’re teaming up again, and it sounds like they’re aiming for a big, splashy release in 2026 – something truly event-worthy. I’m definitely marking my calendar!