Minority Mindset

Before we learn what brings these acclaimed actors to our screens, the scene flashes back to them getting ready for an interview with Mayor Tillman. This shift to an interview podcast format is due to the terms of their contract with Wondify, which places certain restrictions on what they can discuss. These restrictions are so strict that when the mayor attempts to discuss the murder case, they’re forced to stop him and explain they can no longer cover it because the suspects purchased Wondify to silence them. Mayor Tillman is initially surprised to hear Bash is a suspect, but after asking his assistant to leave, he confidently tells them, “Bash Steed is your murderer.”

I was really fascinated by Yuan’s experience on the show. It was so interesting to watch her connect with Patrick, a construction manager who shared her background – they didn’t anticipate a spark, but she really opened up to him, even sharing details about her complicated family and playfully questioning her growing feelings. At the same time, she had a fun, easy connection with Blake, and they clearly had a great time together. But then, out of the blue, she decided to leave! It caused so much drama in the pods. Patrick quickly moved on and got engaged to Kacie, and Blake leaving soon after left Megan, or ‘Sparkle Meg’ as everyone calls her, questioning her own relationships. Yuan has said the show made her decision seem sudden, but she insists it wasn’t. She said there were hours of footage of her wrestling with her feelings and knowing she was ready to go, but of course, that didn’t make the final cut.

The new film, *Tron: Ares*, centers on a conflict between two tech company CEOs vying for control of the future. One CEO is pushing forward with artificial intelligence, hoping it will be a force for good – a cautiously optimistic outlook, to say the least. The film essentially accepts that AI is inevitable, but suggests we can only hope it will be friendly, and that it will take the form of Jared Leto. Leto plays Ares, a highly advanced program created by Julian Dillinger (played by Evan Peters), a cynical character who has taken over his family’s company. His mother, Elisabeth (Gillian Anderson, who seems to be enjoying her role), is a strong and determined leader. The film, directed by Joachim Rønning, depicts a fierce competition between Dillinger Systems and Flynn’s ENCOM to lead the AI revolution. It’s a somewhat unsettling thought that the fate of humanity might rest with either a defense contractor or a gaming company.

It’s remarkable how relevant the original *Tron* has become with time. Beneath its somewhat dated, fantastical story of a programmer trapped inside a video game, the film really explores the idea of artificial intelligence becoming so powerful that it poses a danger to us. That concept felt far-fetched back in the early 1980s, but today it feels surprisingly accurate.

As a huge fan, I’m thrilled to hear that *Ben 10* is making a comeback in 2026! What’s even cooler is that Joe Casey, one of the original writers, is working on a brand-new comic story. Apparently, they’re planning to give the *Ben 10* universe a similar feel to Spider-Man – which, honestly, sounds amazing. I can’t wait to see what they do with it!