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This review contains minor spoilers for 'Tron: Ares.' Tron: Ares © Disney Since the release of Joseph Kosinski's Tron: Legacy , which was acclaimed for its visuals and futuristic score by Daft Punk, Disney has been trying to find a way to return to the world of Tron . It's a franchise that Disney has a lot of faith in, with the animated series Tron: Uprising releasing two years after Legacy and serving as the bridge between Tron (1982) and Tron: Legacy . The sequel wasn't received well by critics, bringing in mixed reviews, but it was still a small commercial success for them, which was enough to bank hard on the franchise, and since then, Tron: Legacy has sort of gained a cult following, with the film receiving high praise since. Tron: Legacy was one of the first big Hollywood blockbusters to utilise de-ageing technology, and while it's still haunting, Disney continued to use it again and again years after. During the development of Tron: Ares , there was consideration for an AI-generated character to be included in the movie but it was decided against after considering the controversy that would arise from it. This would lead you to believe that Disney holds some morals when it comes to the use of AI, but the marketing surrounding Tron: Ares and the film itself proves that they're supportive and welcoming of the use of AI, and instead of providing a meaningful message on its danger, it stays on the side of pro-AI, promoting its usage and overall being tone deaf on its topic. Tron: Ares takes place years after Tron: Legacy and follows Dillinger Systems and ENCOM in the race for the Permanence code, in hopes of being the first company to bring their artificial programming to the real world without the risk of it self-destructing after a small amount of time. With time having passed since the last film, there's a lot of catching up that has to take place for both new and familiar audiences just so that everyone is on the same page about the whereabouts of the previous characters while also introducing the new characters for this film and its simplistic plot. This is all done in the process of a five-minute exposition dump, which is visually seen through the grid as TV clips, newspaper headlines and interviews quickly fly by on the screen, which is revealed to be Dillinger's Master Program, Ares (Jared Leto), coming online and learning everything he needs to so that he may proceed with his mission directive: to find the Permanence code. In short, actors didn't want to return, and Joachim Rønning had to make up for it somehow. Greta Lee as Eve, Jared Leto as Ares, Arturo Castro as Seth in Tron: Ares © Disney Eve Kim (Greta Lee) has become the head of ENCOM after Sam Flynn stepped down and vanished, alongside her sister, who unfortunately passed away from cancer. She's finishing what her sister began, which was the hunt for the Permanence code, and thankfully, she quickly comes upon it, but Julian Dillenger (Evan Peters), head of Dillenger Systems and grandson to Edward Dillenger, is right behind her and planning to use Ares as a means of stealing it from her. While Eve has moral reasons for wanting the Permanence code to help people, Julian wants it for more selfish reasons: to weaponise it and sell soldiers and weapons to the military. This all blows up in Julian's face when Ares begins to feel, leading him to question his entire existence and if he's on the right side of history. From this point onwards, Tron: Ares becomes not only a generic movie but also quite a predictable one. With Ares now having gone rogue and on the side of Eve in hopes of staying in reality permanently, we get Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith) on their tail, which results in the programs taking their fight to the real world. Tron: Ares offers the best VFX you'll see in the cinema from this year (so far) and is a movie that demands you watch it on an IMAX screen, but with the bulk of the set pieces taking place outside of the Grid, you're left with an uninteresting backdrop that takes away from what should be jaw-dropping scenery that feels lived in. Kosinsky upgraded the Grid from the original Tron and created a whole universe that could be breathed in and explored, and instead of further developing that, Rønning strips the identity of Tron for 80% of the film. The scenes we do get in the Grid fail to even compare to its predecessor, as not much screentime is spent on them and we only ever really get to see the headquarters. The concept of artificial programming experiencing the real world should come as interesting, but its execution here is poor, as Ares' journey follows a traditional Pinocchio "I want to be a real boy" story thread. Jared Leto is perfectly cast as the artificial intelligence, Ares, as he provides a performance that lacks any emotion and feels stiff throughout, even when he begins to grasp an understanding of the real world. Leto has been reported to be the lead since the concept of this film began in 2017, but why they were so certain on having him lead a Tron film after Garrett Hedlund gave us such an iconic performance will be a baffling decision that has partly cost them a decent film. Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena in Tron: Ares © Disney Greta Lee feels slightly miscast in her role in Tron: Ares , which unfortunately the bland script takes all the blame for, as it leaves her with questionable dialogue and a character whose only purpose is to serve Ares’ story. While the writing for Eve might be just as lacklustre as the movie itself, Lee’s talent allows for the opportunity to elevate her character as little as she's able to no matter how flat her character may be. The same can also be applied to Jodie Turner-Smith, who is yet another standout in the movie. She plays a role similar to Jared Leto but still manages to express her emotion, the anger that drives her to complete her mission directive no matter the circumstance. She’s your standard villain and isn’t layered, but Turner-Smith makes her threat feel real.  The women of Tron: Ares are easily shining stars of this movie that give it their all in making our time worthwhile, but Gillian Anderson is dealt a bad hand as she’s left in the role of Elisabeth Dillinger, Julian’s mother and Edward’s daughter. A role that leaves her only as the disapproving parent and not much else, and it should be a crime to get a talent such as Anderson only to do so little with her.  When it comes to Evan Peters, it’s one of his most bare minimum roles yet, as he plays the spoilt crybaby who yells and must get his way. Peters never sells the role of Julian, and even when the stakes do get real, Peter’s performance, similar to Leto’s, lacks any emotion, but the only difference is that he’s not an artificial programme and is actually a human who is familiar with emotions.  A movie being straightforward isn’t a negative and is only dependent on how such a film tackles its angle, but outside of the race for the Permanence code and Ares’ eventual turn to good, all Tron: Ares has to offer is a reflection on the intricacies of AI becoming more prominent in our world, but it also gets that wrong. Tron is the perfect franchise to talk about where and when AI can be used for good and when its usage can be harmful, but all Tron: Ares is capable of is painting AI under a good light, and with their promotion with the Twitter/X-owned AI, Grok, it’s clear that it was never part of the script to dive deep into the issues of AI. “Why bother when it’s a kid movie at the end of the day?” Is the likely question they asked themselves while developing Tron: Ares .  Nine Inch Nails take over the score from Daft Punk, which is a tall task, but they provide a mind-melting experience that transports you to the Grid, but weirdly enough, it’s not enough to elevate the experience and instead works well during a standalone experience. That doesn’t stop the score of Tron: Ares from being arguably the second-best score of the year.  Tron: Ares feels like a test from Disney to discover whether this is a franchise that still garners any interest from its audience. The answer is that Tron: Ares doesn’t feel necessary, and although it tries to set up for a future, they should take their time and reevaluate what they want to do next with this franchise. This is proof right here that pretty lights and an addictive score are not enough to make a good movie, and you actually need a story that says something worth the price of admittance.  Rating: ★★ ☆☆☆ Tron: Ares . © Disney About Tron: Ares Premiere Date:  October 10, 2025 Writer: Jesse Wigutow Dire ctor: Joachim Rønning Production: Walt Disney Pictures Distribution:  Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Cast:  Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Gillian Anderson, Jeff Bridges Synopsis:  Ares, an advanced program, is sent from the digital realm into the physical world on a perilous mission, marking humanity’s first contact with artificial intelligence beings.

Seth Worley’s new film Sketch is a creative and heartfelt exploration of grief. The story follows Taylor (Tony Hale) and his children, Amber (Bianca Belle) and Jack (Kue Lawrence), as each deals with loss in their own way after the death of the family’s mother. Amber channels her pain through anger and by drawing monsters, Jack suppresses his emotions, and Taylor copes by pretending his wife never existed. When Jack discovers a mysterious lake that seems to “fix” broken things, he attempts to use it to bring his mother back by placing her ashes in the water. But when Amber, secretly following him, accidentally drops her violent sketches into the lake, the creatures she’s drawn come to life, with startling consequences. Tony Hale, who also serves as an executive producer, describes Sketch as “ Inside Out meets Jurassic Park .” I spoke with Hale about the film’s development, working with young actors, processing grief through storytelling, and creating projects that resonate with children. Demet: You are starring in Sketch , but you're also an executive producer. How did this project come together for you? Tony Hale: So the director Seth Worley - he wrote it too - had this idea about this family that's dealing with grief. The daughter is the only one who's expressing it through her art, and my character is compartmentalizing the grief and not dealing with it. I'm a dad, and I relate to not wanting my daughter to have to go through stuff, and I want to move on. I loved the honesty of it. Seth has a history of special effects so I knew what he was going to do with those monsters, you could see the textures in the monsters, you could see that it was made with crayon, or, chalk, or sharpie and glitter. That was just exciting. We describe it as Inside Out meets Jurassic Park . It's been an amazing journey. Demet: The effects are great. I really like the grief aspect, and how we see it from three different perspectives. Your character, Amber, and Jack, all experience it differently and express it differently. Was that the thing that caught your attention? Tony Hale: Yeah, as a parent, that definitely caught my attention. Even my son, who kind of felt the need to control what was going on and fix it - I loved that angle of it because my character was trying to move on, he was trying to fix it, and Amber was the only one who was really dealing with it. I said, "Oh man, this is such a great story to tell." Thankfully we got a chance to make it. It took a long time, but we finally got it out there. Tony Hale as Taylor in Sketch . © Kova & Angel Studios Demet: What is it about its direction that you believe will be healing or educational for the younger audience? Tony Hale: That's a great question. My hope is that kids feel seen. When I was a kid, I had pretty big emotions, big feelings, and I felt like I was the only one who was dealing with this. So [it is] for kids to see it and say, "Oh, I got some big feelings too." Amber was expressing it in a really healthy way, and that's the key: kids can see it and say, "Oh, there's healthy ways to express these emotions." That would be amazing if that's the takeaway. Demet: This was also Bianca Belle's first feature film, and she gave an excellent performance. What was it like working with her, as well as Kue Lawrence? Tony Hale: Not only were they really talented actors, but they're really good kids, really nice kids. When you're doing an independent film, your budget is small. You don't have much time, and everybody brought their A game. Everybody came with a good attitude, and that was such a gift. Demet: Was there anything from your personal life regarding grief or creative outputs that drew you to this project? Tony Hale: I think, mainly, I really related to the dad. I related to the dad that he thought he was making the best choice. When my daughter was young, I really thought, "Oh well, this is the right choice." when in actuality I was trying to control, I was trying to fix. I related to his mistake, and that parents need to give themselves a break. Parenting is hard. He was really honest with his son and he apologized; I just love the honesty with that. Demet: You're in a lot of animated projects aimed at children. What draws you to all these projects? Tony Hale: I'm always thankful for a job, but there's something with children's program[s] - it's simple truths. It's not complicated. I think as an adult, simple truths are the most powerful. Sometimes we get too intelligent, we get too heady, and the power tends to be in saying, "Hey, let's love one another, let's listen to one another." That tends to have the most power. Demet: With Toy Story 5 around the corner exploring the usage of technology, which some would say is taking away from creative minds like Amber, I thought I would ask what we could expect from that film with its themes and perhaps your character. Tony Hale: Your guess is as good as mine. When I recorded it, they give you pages, so you don't see the whole script. And I'm saying, "What's going on?" The whole concept of toy versus tech is so needed right now, especially with where the world is. Pixar is a master of putting out amazing movies that are very deep, so I'm really interested to see how they deal with that. When I did the first Toy Story , I didn't really believe I was going to be in it until I heard my voice in the trailer. I thought they were going to replace me. I'm just as excited to see this one as anybody else. Demet: Is this a challenge for you with animated projects? It takes a lot of time and you record it and then it comes out years later. How does that feel for you? Tony Hale: It's exciting cause when you're in the voiceover booth, you're recording, having a good time, and the sketches are kind of raw. And then when you see it come to life, it's like, "Whoa, this is nuts." It's the same with Sketch : we're shooting this and the monsters aren't there. You're talking to nothing, and then when you see it all come together. It's so exciting and at the same time feels like magic. You're saying, "How does this even happen?" That's the brilliance of people bringing their gifts to the table. Sketch will release in theaters October 24. This interview has been edited for clarity.

Noah Hawley is back with another standout project for FX, following his acclaimed work on Legion and Fargo . Alien: Earth marks both the latest addition to Hawley’s résumé and a bold new chapter in the Alien franchise. And where there’s Hawley, longtime collaborator Jeff Russo is never far behind. Russo, a masterful composer and one of the most consistently memorable elements of Hawley’s projects, once again delivers. For Alien: Earth , Russo crafted an eerie, unnerving score that heightens the tension and atmosphere of every scene. His music seeps into the story, ampflifying its dread and mystery. I had the pleasure of speaking with Russo about scoring Alien: Earth , his take on the Alien legacy, and his creative partnership with Noah Hawley. Demet: So, Alien Earth ... You and Noah are frequent collaborators, so I won't ask the how of you getting involved in this project, but I want to know your reaction and how it evolved from there. Jeff Russo:  Well, he hired me. It's an interesting story: about 15 years ago, he was doing his very first show as the showrunner that he created, and he was looking for a composer. I had a friend who was in his show as an actor, and he basically introduced the two of us. It's a very short way of telling that long story. But he introduced us and we hit it off. We sort of really connected on a lot of different things, music... What we figured out was we have a love for a similar type of music, and so we really hit it off, talking about music and ideas behind music and the kind of music that we liked. He hired me to do that very first show, and that was great. That show was canceled, and he hired me to do his next show, which only lasted a couple of episodes, and then he called me and said, "I'm adapting Fargo  for television," and we did that. And I would say the rest is history. Then, we did another season of  Fargo , and then another season of Fargo, and then we did this show called Legion , which was a lot of fun. We got together and did cover songs together. It's like we're the kind of musical and film collaborators that composers dream of - directors dream of. It's like having that person that really understands what it is you want them to see both ways, music to film and film to music. And it just sort of has kept building on itself, and every year that we do another Fargo , every year that we do another something like we just did - season one of Alien: Earth , but I've been working on Alien: Earth  for 5 years. He sent me the first script back in 2020, and I started writing the first pieces of music that I wrote for Alien . So, it's just been this big sort of collaborative growth for me, and I think for him as well. Demet: Yeah, I have also been a huge Legion  fan. I was like basically in love with the score. I am listening to it all the time, especially "Cornflake Girl" and "Peace, Love and Understanding." Jeff Russo: We did all those covers, and it was one of those things where Noah had this idea. We had done it in the first season of Fargo ; we did "Ain't Nothing but the Baby." He sang it, and I sang harmonies. It was the first time we had ever collaborated on music together, doing something musically together, and I've been writing music for him - for his shows and his films. We hadn't really done anything like that together, and then we did another thing, then we did another cover. We did a World Party song in season 3 of Fargo , and then when we went to do Legion , in that first season there was a cover. When we went into the 2nd season, we did a whole bunch of covers. We did a cover for almost every episode, and then that became an album. We made an album, and at that point, we really realized that that was just a lot of fun. It was a way for us to do that thing while still making these shows, still making these films. That ended up handing off to season 3. We did a couple in season 3, and then we've done one now for Alien . Jeff Russo and Noah Hawley making the cover of "Strange Brew" for Alien: Earth . © 26 Keys Productions We did this big cover of "Strange Brew," which is going to come out at the end of the month. I wrote the opening titles. I wrote the opening title part with the idea that we would always use that lyrical content, the "Strange Brew" lyric - "Strange Brew kill what's inside of you" - and it didn't quite all come together until afterwards. I had written a piece of music that was the opening titles, and then I added the lyric part at the very end, with the melody of it. Once that all sort of came together, I said, "Shouldn't we do a full version of the song?" [Noah said] "Yeah, I guess we should." I produced the track and then had him come into the studio, and we recorded the vocals and did a whole bunch of stuff, and then we said, "Well, we should put it out," because the whole song doesn't appear in the show. It's just that one little snippet at the beginning, the title. Demet: I actually had a question about that because when I was watching it, during the title card I said, "That's Noah and Jeff." Which one of you is singing? Is it Noah? I told my friend it was Noah and he was like, "Is there anything Noah Hawley can't do?" Jeff Russo: Yeah, apparently there's nothing that he can't do. Demet: Have you two considered covering more songs for Alien: Earth ? Jeff Russo: Not for this season, because we're done with this season. What's going to happen in season two, I don't know. Maybe. Here's the thing: Noah will just off the cuff call me up and say, "hey, we should do this cover," and I'll say, "Okay, let's do it." It's very off the cuff like that; it's usually very stream of consciousness. He says it, I do it, kind of thing. Demet: When I first heard about this show, I was said, "I hope Jeff is scoring this," because this is the duo I am a fan of. It feels like it's a different level when it comes to scoring when you two come together, and there is tons of creativity flowing around, and I am a big fan of that. Jeff Russo: It's interesting when there is a very easy collaborative effort. When there's something where ideas flow back and forth without any obstacle, I think that kind of collaboration makes anything that you make better, no matter what. I am at my best when I'm collaborating under those circumstances. That's how I do my best work. I think that goes for any artist. Anyone who is making art is always going to make the best art that they can when it's all with the path of least resistance. That's not to say that notes shouldn't come in—or changes or ideas — but that is an exchange of ideas, not a micromanagement style. Noah is not a micromanager. When it comes to the creation of the art, he's not a micromanager in that way; he's very collaborative. It's all about being open to ideas. That goes in both directions. The composer has to be open to the idea of the filmmaker, and the filmmaker has to be open to the idea of what the composer is saying. When there's a sweet spot for that, and when that sweet spot is gotten, you're always going to get the best work from everybody. Demet: It definitely shows in the final product. So, Alien is an established franchise with iconic soundtracks. How did it affect your creative process to bring something new to a long-standing franchise? Jeff Russo: One of the ideas, for me, is always to look at the underlying material—look at the original material—and I take a lead from this. I take note of how Noah does it. Look at the underlying franchise, look at the underlying material. Figure out what it is that is making the viewer feel and then figure out how to make the viewer feel the same thing with a new story, and a new theme, and a new musical moment, or a new musical idea. I do little things like tipping my hat to Goldsmith's score and tipping my hat to Horner's score, because they both did something very different for the franchise, and what I wanted to do was I wanted to take feelings from the first movie—one of the greatest horror movies of all time—and feelings from the 2nd movie—one of the greatest action movies of all time—and merge them together and see if I could figure out a way to have that weird, eerie, underlying weirdness that Jerry Goldsmith created with the orchestra and that militaristic, more pulsating action style that Horner did in that second movie, and figure out how to combine that. I don't mean that in a musical way. I mean that in a feeling way, because there had to be a way to combine those things where you create that feeling of unease, that feeling of terror, and bring it together with music. It's difficult. I tip my hat for little things like the echo on the trumpets and the French horns, which appeared in that first movie with an Echoplex. I did the same kind of thing as a tip of my hat to that. I use a military snare drum as a tip of the hat to Horner's militaristic-style score. It's all finding little Easter eggs. The one thing that I think doesn't appear in those movies is this emotional connection. The emotional connection between characters in that first movie—you feel it, but you feel it in a very dreadful way. There's so much dread in that first movie. In the second movie, there's a bit more fun than there is in the first movie. There are one-liners that are kind of funny, and there's, "Game over, dude." That kind of stuff, which lent itself to making it only slightly lighter than the first movie. Not light by any stretch of the imagination but just having a little bit more of a sense of humor about the horror. We have a little bit of all of the above in this. I wanted to be able to connect the characters with some emotional music as well. It was the first time that we are exploring the idea of humanity, alien, and then what's in between that. We have this hybrid, which is a synthetic being with an analog consciousness. That's the thing that I hadn't really explored before in any kind of narrative. That created an interesting sort of way of thinking. How do I cross this bridge between humanity, synthesis, and alien? How do I cross this bridge? I started writing melodic content that I thought was meaningful for that. There's a theme called "Siblings," which is for Wendy and Hermit, that you don't hear until the second episode, when they hug for the first time, when he finally comes to the realization that it is actually his sister. There's that moment, and that's where that theme plays for the first time. There's Wendy's theme, which has echoes of her transition from human to synthetic. Those moments needed to be demarked by some melody, some feeling of emotion, and that to me is something that was really important in the creation of this score that might have been different than the scores that have come before it. Demet: Wendy's theme is definitely beautiful, and it gives the sense of humanity in between. I personally believe the music in horror projects is the most important part. It's what gets you to think, "oh, something is wrong," or you feel creeped out, or you just feel the tension, and it scares you—it affects you so deeply—and in the Alien: Earth soundtrack, I hear a lot of strings. What else have you used to create this unnerving tension? Jeff Russo: We had a full orchestra. There were strings and winds and brass and percussion and celesta, harp. It was a big band, and on top of it there's glue in between—the non-orchestral instruments. I found a company that makes these instruments in Europe called Lunason Audio. They made something for me called a Bassdesmophon. They had these instruments that I found on the internet, and I thought that they were really cool-sounding, and I said "Oh, I have to have one." I called them, and I explained what I was looking for. They said, "Well, we can make it like this," or "We can do it like that." It's really interesting. That ends up in almost every piece of the score. It is kind of the glue. I can use it in so many different ways. I can use it with a bow, I can use it with a super ball rubbing on it, I can use it with a stick hitting it—which makes a very, very jarring percussion sound, and that is everywhere in the score. That, and something called an Aztec death whistle, which I used in a couple of the pieces on the score. We ended up dropping it in almost everywhere for the xenomorph and it ended up becoming kind of like the xenomorph theme, that sound. There's this table of synthesizers that I have behind me that I end up using for varying effect, on the synthetic level, in the balance between humanity and synthesis. There had to be some synthetic part of the score as well. It was almost like, just bring it all to bear and see what worked. Demet: It sounds fun and passionate and kind of all over the place like you wanted. You also have a very impressive resume. What were your favorite projects to work on? Jeff Russo: Alien: Earth is up there. That's at the top of the list. So much in the creation of this score was so much fun. I can't really say which was my favorite. I find that every time I work on something, it becomes my favorite. I feel like it has to be that way for me to pour everything into a score. When you're making anything, it has to be the love of your life in that moment for it to become what it's going to be. Demet: You also have a Star Trek project coming up. What can you say about that one? Jeff Russo: I'm working on Star Trek : Starfleet Academy . It's the story of where all of our Starfleet people come from. It's a pretty incredible way of telling the story. It's a whole different-feeling Star Trek , which was really interesting to me. Alex [Kurtzman] and I were talking about how to go about making a score for something that is definitively Star Trek and yet also not, because it's definitely a different way of telling a story. It's not typical Star Trek fare, and I'm not really able to talk about anything specific about it, but I definitely looked at treating the music with as much care as I have before. Demet: I am excited to see that one. You also have been all over the industry and franchises, but you haven't done any Star Wars or DC yet—I don't count Lucifer , because it's completely different. Is there a specific character or project you would like to be involved in? Jeff Russo: That's a question that people tend to answer, and I don't really know how to answer that question. Things that I'm interested in being involved in are things that are just well-told stories from filmmakers who are interested in making something great. I understand that everybody wants to make something great, but what I mean by that is interesting characters, interesting story with the idea that collaboration is how you make things great. I'm not saying make something by a committee. Someone has to have a vision, and that vision has to be adhered to. What I'm saying is having a filmmaker with a vision and being able to be collaborative about how to get from point A to point B is so important. That, to me, is a project that I want to be a part of. If you're asking if I want to do a Marvel movie, or if I want to do something with Star Wars , I want to do anything that is a well-told story. I apparently work on a lot of science fiction, but to me, science fiction is just drama told against the backdrop of space or time travel or fantasy. That, to me, is what I like. I like drama, and I think that's the most interesting thing to me in terms of writing music. Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus. This interview has been edited for clarity.

Limitless: Live Better Now   © National Geographic Jane Root is an incredibly accomplished woman. From her previous role as president of the Discovery Networks to her current work as founder and CEO of Nutopia, the production company behind the critically acclaimed documentary mini-series Limitless: Live Better Now , Root knows how to tell a compelling true story. In addition to getting to review Limitless: Live Better Now , the second season of Chris Hemsworth’s mini-series that sees the actor undergo physical and mental challenges in the interest of learning how to live a longer and better life, I also got the opportunity to sit down with Jane Root to talk about the experience of making Limitless . From logistical considerations to whether there were any stunts that didn’t make the cut, she detailed the experience of making a breathtaking piece of media that makes the man behind Thor seem both accessibly human and more of a superhero than ever, while managing not to kill him in the process. SARAH: Whose idea was it to do a second season? The first season ended with some finality to it. What was the process of coming up with the idea of doing it again? JANE ROOT:  One person was very, very passionate about doing a second series, and his name is Chris Hemsworth. That's wonderful. Chris was blown away by the impact of the first series. He said that more people came up to him at his kid's school and asked him about the show than ever about any of his movies. He hadn’t expected that, and none of us had. After all, this is Thor, right? And he said, “Oh my God, this is incredible. This is what I want to do more of.” That’s really it. The moment he said that, we all jumped into action, talking to scientists and academics across the world about the most cutting-edge science, then started making shows out of them, you know - stunts and figuring out what we could do. It was Chris, overwhelmingly. SARAH: You talked about picking the experts. How did you go about doing that? Did you have criteria or specific topics you wanted to cover? JANE ROOT: The essential recipe of Limitless  is really cutting-edge science - something that feels like it’s on the edge and people haven’t seen before. New ideas, new research = and then an incredible physical stunt. It’s got to be thought-provoking and also really enjoyable and entertaining. We’ve got to push that man to the absolute limit, and he seems willing to do it too. He really goes there emotionally and physically in ways that are astonishing. He also always has moments where he says, “Why on earth am I doing this? Why did I say yes?” Chris Hemsworth in Limitless: Live Better Now   © National Geographic SARAH: Was there any time where you thought, 'Maybe this isn’t going to work for him, or it’s too much'? JANE ROOT:  In the episode about pain, he talks about having back pain since he was a kid, which none of us knew. It was a surprise. You don’t expect Thor to have a bad back, but he really does, and he struggles with it. It was powerful to see him make that the core of a show. SARAH: Seeing him talk about it so openly, someone who’s so physical and dedicated to wellness - it was meaningful to me and I think it will be for others too. JANE ROOT:  Exactly - even Thor. That’s a big thing. In that episode, when he’s wired up with electric shocks and then playing Jenga with his oldest friends, the pain goes away because they’re laughing. It’s a beautiful result. I hope that clip goes viral - it could help a lot of people. I actually went to the dentist the other day and listened to a funny podcast thinking, “It helps.” SARAH: The stunts are extraordinary. What sort of safety considerations did you have to make? JANE ROOT:  Oh, so many. Every stunt involves massive planning and safety. The ice climb in Switzerland, for example, was extremely challenging. We had teams at the top and bottom. We work with a company that specializes in this. We trust them completely. SARAH: I could only imagine the kind of insurance involved! JANE ROOT:  A lot! Someone once said, “If you kill Chris Hemsworth, that’s a big headline!” So, we’re incredibly careful. In Korea, when he swam in that icy river, that was truly tough. SARAH: I remember the cold plunges from the first season. I wondered if it was easier this time. JANE ROOT:  It’s always tough. Cold-water swimming is becoming more popular. It boosts your immune system and challenges you. I do it myself. But yes, it still looked freezing - and he stayed in his wet clothes afterward! Chris Hemsworth in Limitless: Live Better Now   © National Geographic SARAH: There are so many people involved - Chris, experts, performers. How did you manage scheduling? JANE ROOT:  Scheduling is one of the hardest parts. Chris is making movies, he’s a family man, lives in Australia - it’s complex. We plan around filming windows. For example, the ice climb could only happen during a specific time of year. Even the Ed Sheeran concert in Bucharest had to be at that one event. He was genuinely terrified there - just as you see on camera. SARAH: Watching him perform live was fascinating. JANE ROOT:  He’s never really performed like that before. He’s a movie star, not a stage performer. His friends told him, “If the drummer messes up, the song goes south,” and Ed Sheeran joked that in the worst case, 75,000 people get a TikTok of him failing. But he did great. SARAH: It was so fun to watch him challenge himself. JANE ROOT:  Exactly. That’s what it’s about: pushing yourself, taking risks. He approaches it like a participant journalist, not a celebrity. He studies, works with experts, and commits fully. Limitless: Live Better Now is available for streaming on Disney+. This interview was edited for clarity.

October is shaping up to be another exciting month for TV, with beloved comedies making their return, spooky new series setting the mood for Halloween, and streaming platforms rolling out buzzy premieres across every genre. Abbott Elementary is back for its fifth season of classroom chaos, Maya Rudolph returns in a new season of Loot to deliver her signature comedic brilliance, and HBO Max gets chilling with IT: Welcome to Derry , a prequel to Stephen King’s iconic horror tale. Meanwhile, Prime Video debuts Lazarus , the latest twisty adaptation from Harlan Coben, and Apple TV+ brings its own heartfelt dramas and high-stakes thrillers. Check out everything coming to your favorite streaming services this October. October 1 Play Dirty - PRIME VIDEO About: An expert thief rolls out the biggest heist of his life in Play Dirty, an action-packed thriller from director Shane Black. Parker (Mark Wahlberg), along with Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), Zen (Rosa Salazar) and a skilled crew, stumble onto a score that pits them against the New York mob in this gritty, clever caper. Love Is Blind , Season 9 - NETFLIX About: Singles who want to be loved for who they are have signed up for a less conventional approach to modern dating, and will choose someone to marry without ever meeting them. Over several weeks, the newly engaged couples will move in together, plan their wedding, and find out if their physical connection matches their strong emotional bond developed in the pods. When their wedding day arrives, will real-world realities and external factors push them apart, or will they marry the person they fell blindly in love with? Hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, this addictive 12-episode series will uncover whether looks, race, or age do matter — or if love really is blind. October 2 Abbott Elementary © ABC Abbott Elementary , Season 5 - HULU About: In this workplace comedy, a group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible educators may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children. Shifting Gears , Season 2 - HULU Charlotte’s Web , Season 1 - HBO MAX About: In this latest animated adaptation, Charlotte’s Web tells the heartwarming story of friendship, hope, and the power of simple acts of kindness through the bond between Wilbur, a gentle pig, and Charlotte, a wise and selfless spider who vows to save him. October 3 Monster: The Ed Gein Story - NETFLIX About: Serial killer. Grave robber. Psycho. In the frozen fields of 1950s rural Wisconsin, a friendly, mild-mannered recluse named Eddie Gein lived quietly on a decaying farm – hiding a house of horrors so gruesome it would redefine the American nightmare. Driven by isolation, psychosis, and an all-consuming obsession with his mother, Gein’s perverse crimes birthed a new kind of monster that would haunt Hollywood for decades. From Psycho to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to The Silence of the Lambs , Gein’s macabre legacy gave birth to fictional monsters born in his image and ignited a cultural obsession with the criminally deviant. Ed Gein didn’t just influence a genre -- he became the blueprint for modern horror. The Lost Bus - APPLE TV+ About: From director Paul Greengrass and inspired by real events, The Lost Bus is a white-knuckle ride through one of America’s deadliest wildfires as a wayward school bus driver (Matthew McConaughey) and a dedicated school teacher (America Ferrera) battle to save 22 children from the terrifying inferno. Genie, Make a Wish , Season 1 - NETFLIX About: Genie — a magic spirit in a lamp who has come back to the human world after a millennium of his career being put on hold — encounters Ka-young, an impassive woman who goes through the motions of life by her grandmother’s rules and her own routines. The Sisters Grimm , Season 1 - APPLE TV+ About: Two orphaned sisters navigate a town full of people torn straight from fantasy and fairy tales, confronting heroes and villains alike, while investigating the mystery of their missing parents. “The Sisters Grimm” blends discovery, fantasy and adventure to deliver important lessons for all ages. Steve - NETFLIX About: Set in the mid-90s, Steve is a reimagining of Max Porter's Sunday Times bestseller Shy. The film follows a pivotal day in the life of headteacher Steve and his students at a last-chance reform school amidst a world that has forsaken them. As Steve fights to protect the school’s integrity and impending closure, we witness him grappling with his own mental health. In parallel to Steve’s struggles, we meet Shy, a troubled teen caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence. October 4 My Hero Academia , Season 8 - CRUNCHYROLL October 5 Smiling Friends , Season 3 - ADULT SWIM About: Season Three of Smiling Friends finds Pim, Charlie, Flint and the whole gang going absolutely bonkers once again, diving headfirst into their ultimate quest to spread joy upon the land. We’ll see a bunch of unexpected stuff here such as Mr. Frog running full speed at the camera, the team finally collecting all the spirit gems they need, and a totally epic showdown spectacle with an Ancient Witch of some sort. House of David , Season 2 - PRIME VIDEO About: Season Two of the biblical drama series House of David from Wonder Project and Amazon MGM Studios follows the aftermath of the battle between David and Goliath and David's rise to the throne. As he navigates palace politics, his family’s jealousy, and a growing romance, David steps deeper into his destiny and learns what it means to become a great leader. October 6 Dr. Seuss’s Horton! , Season 1 - NETFLIX About: Horton follows the exciting and whimsical adventures of a young Horton and his best bud Samson as they go on adventures to help the citizens of the Jungle of Nool. October 7 True Haunting , Season 1 - NETFLIX About: Acclaimed master of horror James Wan brings his chilling cinematic vision to real supernatural stories. October 8 Caramelo - NETFLIX About: After a life-changing diagnosis, a promising chef finds hope and humor with the help of a fur-midable dog friend in this heartwarming dramedy. Is It Cake? Halloween - NETFLIX About: Is It Cake? returns for a special Halloween season with Mikey Day and nine of the best hyper-realistic cake artists around! These talented new bakers try to trick celebrity judges with their spooktacular realistic cakes as they compete in a do-or-die competition to take home their share of the prize pot and the title of Is It Cake? Halloween champion! With tricks and treats at every turn, these frighteningly realistic cakes will leave you asking the ultimate question…Is It Cake? Maintenance Required - PRIME VIDEO About: Charlie, the fiercely independent owner of an all-female mechanic shop, is forced to reevaluate her future when a flashy corporate competitor moves in across the street. Seeking comfort, she turns to an anonymous online confidant - unaware she’s confiding in Beau, the very rival threatening her business. As sparks fly both online and off, the truth threatens to blow everything apart. October 9 Boots , Season 1 - NETFLIX About: Boots is a one-hour comedic drama that delivers an irreverent, off-beat take on the coming-of-age story. Set in the tough, unpredictable world of the 1990s US Marine Corps—when being gay in the military was still illegal—the series follows directionless, closeted Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer) and his best friend Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), the son of a decorated Marine, as they join a diverse group of recruits. Together, this ensemble navigates the literal and metaphorical landmines of boot camp, forging unlikely bonds and discovering their true selves in an environment designed to push them to their limits. With sharp wit and plenty of heart, Boots is about friendship, resilience, and finding your place in the world—even when that world seems determined to keep you in line or leave you behind. Victoria Beckham , Season 1 - NETFLIX October 10 The Last Frontier , Season 1 - APPLE TV+ About: The Last Frontier follows Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke), the lone U.S. marshal in charge of the quiet, rugged barrens of Alaska. Remnick’s jurisdiction is turned upside down when a prison transport plane crashes in the remote wilderness, setting free dozens of violent inmates. Tasked with protecting the town he’s vowed to keep safe, he begins to suspect the crash wasn’t an accident, but the first step of a well-crafted plan with far-reaching and devastating implications. John Candy: I Like Me - PRIME VIDEO About: From director Colin Hanks and producer Ryan Reynolds comes John Candy: I Like Me . Those who knew John best share his story, in their own words, through never-before-seen archival footage, imagery, and interviews. It’s a documentary of the life, career, and loss of one of the most beloved actors of all time. Swim to Me - NETFLIX About: Inspired by Alia Trabucco's best-selling novel, Swim To Me is a haunting family drama that tells the story of the intense relationship between Estela, a domestic worker, and the six-year-old girl she cares for day and night. As their bond grows closer, they build a secret, dependent world that leads them to an inevitable outcome. Vicious - PARAMOUNT+ About: When Polly (Dakota Fanning) receives a mysterious box from an unexpected late-night visitor, it comes with one rule: place inside something you need, something you hate, and something you love. When she opens it, she’s pulled into a surreal and shifting nightmare where every choice she makes leads to terrifying consequences. The Woman in Cabin 10 - NETFLIX About: While on board a luxury yacht for a travel assignment, a journalist witnesses a passenger thrown overboard late at night, only to be told that it didn't happen, as all passengers and crew are accounted for. Despite no one believing her, she continues to look for answers, putting her own life in danger. Based on the bestselling novel The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. October 12 The Chair Company © HBO The Chair Company , Season 1 - HBO MAX About: After an embarrassing incident at work, a man (Robinson) finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy. In addition to Tim Robinson as William Ronald Trosper, series regulars include Lake Bell as Barb Trosper, Sophia Lillis as Natalie Trosper, Will Price as Seth Trosper, and Joseph Tudisco as Mike Santini. Lou Diamond Phillips recurs as Jeff Levjman. October 13 Solar Opposites , Season 6 - HULU October 14 Splinter Cell: Deathwatch , Season 1 - NETFLIX About: In this first-ever adaptation of the acclaimed stealth video game Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell , legendary agent Sam Fisher is drawn back into the field when a wounded young operative seeks out his help. Produced by Ubisoft, in partnership with Derek Kolstad (John Wick), Sun Creature and Fost. Everybody Loves Me When I'm Dead - NETFLIX October 15 Loot , Season 3 - APPLE TV+ About: The upcoming season will also continue to follow the antics of the beloved group of misfits at the Wells Foundation as they work together so Molly can live up to her promise of giving away all of her vast fortune. Alongside Rudolph, the returning ensemble cast includes Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Nat Faxon, Ron Funches and Joel Kim Booster. October 16 The Diplomat , Season 3 - NETFLIX About: In Season Three of The Diplomat , Ambassador Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) lives the particular nightmare that is getting what you want. She just accused Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney) of hatching a terrorist plot and admitted she’s after the VP’s job. But now the President is dead, Kate’s husband Hal (Rufus Sewell) may have inadvertently killed him, and Grace Penn is leader of the free world. None of this slows Hal’s campaign to land Kate the vice presidency. Kate steps into a role she never wanted, with a freedom she never expected, an increasingly complicated friendship with Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), and an unnerving bond with First Gentleman Todd Penn (Bradley Whitford). Our Fault - PRIME VIDEO About: Jenna and Lion's wedding sets the stage for the long-awaited reunion between Noah and Nick, some time after their breakup. Nick's inability to forgive Noah creates an seemingly insurmountable barrier between them. He, now heir to his grandfather's business empire, and she, just starting her career, resist reigniting a flame that still smolders within them. But now that their paths have crossed again, will love prove stronger than resentment? Romantics Anonymous , Season 1 - NETFLIX About: This romantic comedy features an Asian ensemble cast, with Shun Oguri as Sosuke, a man unable to have physical contact with others, and Han Hyo-joo as Hana, a woman who fears eye contact. Their mutual love for chocolate brings them together. Joining them are Jin Akanishi as bar owner and love interest Hiro, and Yuri Nakamura as Irene, a therapist Irene. Starting 5 , Season 2 - NETFLIX About: Get ready for the return of Starting 5 , as season 2 brings an exciting new lineup of NBA stars: Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, and James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers. Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy , Season 1 - PEACOCK About: From 1972-1978, thirty-three young men were kidnapped, murdered, and buried in a crawl space beneath their killer's house. And no one was the wiser. Not for all those years. Why? He was charming and funny. Had a good, All-American job. Was a community leader. He even volunteered to entertain sick kids... while dressed as a clown. Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy peels back the twisted layers of Gacy’s life while weaving in heartrending stories of his victims; exploring the grief, guilt, and trauma of their families and friends; and exposing the systemic failures, missed opportunities, and societal prejudices that fueled his reign of terror. October 17 Martin Scorsese in Mr. Scorsese © Apple TV+ Mr. Scorsese - APPLE TV+ About: Mr. Scorsese is a film portrait of a man through the lens of his work, exploring the many facets of a visionary who redefined filmmaking, including his extraordinary career and unique personal history. With exclusive, unrestricted access to Martin Scorsese’s private archives, the documentary series is anchored by extensive conversations with the filmmaker himself and never-before-seen interviews with friends, family and creative collaborators including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Robbie Robertson, Thelma Schoonmaker, Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Jay Cocks and Rodrigo Prieto, along with his children, wife Helen Morris and close childhood friends. From acclaimed director Rebecca Miller, Mr. Scorsese examines how his own colorful life experiences informed his artistic vision as each film he made stunned the world with originality. Starting with his New York University student films and continuing to the present day, this documentary explores the themes that have fascinated Scorsese and informed his work, including the place of good and evil in the fundamental nature of humankind. The Chosen Adventures , Season 1 - PRIME VIDEO About: The Chosen Adventures follows nine-year-old Abby and her best friend Joshua as they navigate life in the ancient city of Capernaum. When the children encounter a wise craftsman and teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, he helps them change the way they see the world, and they help spread his influence far and wide (among the 7 to 12-year-old set). And did we mention that she has a talking sheep? Good News - NETFLIX About: Set in the 1970s, a group of people gather to land a hijacked airplane at all costs. Determined to make the mission a success, they devise a covert plan. The Perfect Neighbor - NETFLIX About: Using bodycam footage from dozens of police visits, The Perfect Neighbor bears witness to a tight-knit community navigating one neighbor’s relentless harassment. But her hostility takes a sinister turn when it escalates into a fatal crime. Turn of the Tide , Season 2 - NETFLIX About: Nothing happens in the small Azorean village of Rabo de Peixe, until one ton of cocaine arrives on the coast, completely changing the lives of its residents. Eduardo, a young fisherman, and his best friends improvise a business with what arrives from the Atlantic Ocean. But, a ton of cocaine does not go unnoticed and our protagonists will face the owners of this drug, the police and a series of unpredictable characters in a dangerous adventure with no return. She Walks in Darkness - NETFLIX About: She Walks in Darkness is inspired by the most significant undercover operation against ETA, a mission that became a turning point in Spain’s fight against terrorism. Set during the 1990s and 2000s, the film tells the story of Amaia (played by Susana Abaitua), a young Civil Guard officer who spends more than a decade undercover within the terrorist organization, aiming to locate secret weapons caches (“zulos”) hidden in southern France. October 19 Haha, You Clowns , Season 1 - ADULT SWIM About: Haha, You Clowns is an unexpected new series from Adult Swim that celebrates wholesome family programming. Join the Campbell boys, three doting teenagers and their tenderhearted dad, as they live, laugh, love their way into your living rooms. They’re big dudes with big feelings who are learning to navigate life in the wake of their mother’s death, sensing her presence in everyday adventures. October 22 Harlan Coben’s Lazarus , Season 1 - PRIME VIDEO About: Based on an original story idea and written by the New York Times best-selling author Harlan Coben and BAFTA-winner Danny Brocklehurst. Lazarus follows a man (Sam Claflin) who returns home after his father's (Bill Nighy) suicide and begins to have disturbing experiences that can't be explained. He quickly becomes entangled in a series of cold-case murders as he grapples with the mystery of his father's death and his sister's murder 25 years ago. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle - HULU About: In the psychological thriller from director Michelle Garza Cervera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as an upscale suburban mom who brings a new nanny (Maika Monroe) into her home, only to discover she is not the person she claims to be. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle , which also stars Raúl Castillo, Martin Starr, Mileiah Vega, Riki Lindhome, and Shannon Cochran, is written by Micah Bloomberg based on a screenplay by Amanda Silver. The producers are Michael Schaefer, Mike LaRocca, and Ted Field, and the executive producers are Michael Napoliello, Maria Frisk, and Seth William Meier. October 23 Nobody Wants This , Season 2 - NETFLIX About: First comes love, then comes life. The last time we saw agnostic podcast host Joanne (Kristen Bell) and unconventional (hot) rabbi Noah (Adam Brody), their unmatched chemistry surprised everyone in their lives, including her sister Morgan (Justine Lupe), his brother Sasha (Timothy Simons) and sister-in-law Esther (Jackie Tohn), and even themselves. Their spark proved stronger than all of the obstacles trying to keep them apart. Now, they’re back and fully committed to merging their lives – and loved ones — together. But their differences still exist and can’t be ignored. The challenge now is not just falling in love against all odds, but staying together in spite of them. October 24 Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost - APPLE TV+ A House of Dynamite - NETFLIX October 26 Talamasca: The Secret Order , Season 1 - AMC+ IT: Welcome to Derry , Season 1 - HBO MAX About: Set in the world of Stephen King’s IT universe, IT: WELCOME TO DERRY is based on King’s IT novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films IT and IT Chapter Two . The Mayor of Kingstown , Season 4 - PARAMOUNT+ About: In season four, Mike’s control over Kingstown is threatened as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake, compelling him to confront the resulting gang war and stop them from swallowing the town. Meanwhile, with those he loves in more danger than ever before, Mike must contend with a headstrong new Warden to protect his own while grappling with demons from his past. October 29 Ballad of a Small Player © Netflix Hazbin Hotel , Season 2 - PRIME VIDEO About: Hazbin Hotel follows Charlie, the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. After a yearly extermination imposed by angels, she opens a hotel in the hopes that patrons will be "checking out" into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie, and their first test subject, adult-film star Angel Dust, stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the "Radio Demon" reaches out to assist Charlie in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become a reality. Hedda - PRIME VIDEO About: From writer/director Nia DaCosta comes a provocative, modern reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play. HEDDA (Tessa Thompson) finds herself torn between the lingering ache of a past love and the quiet suffocation of her present life. Over the course of one charged night, long-repressed desires and hidden tensions erupt—pulling her and everyone around her into a spiral of manipulation, passion, and betrayal. Ballad of a Small Player - NETFLIX About: Colin Farrell leads Ballad of a Small Player as Lord Doyle, a high-stakes gambler lying low in Macau, China. When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, Doyle encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation. Selling Sunset , Season 9 - NETFLIX About: The O Group agents are back for an explosive season. New faces bring new feuds and as the pressure turns up in their personal and professional lives, some might not have what it takes to keep their seat at the brokerage. As the landscape in Los Angeles quickly changes, everyone will have to adapt to a new reality. Star Wars: Visions , Volume 3 - DISNEY+ About: The awardwinning anthology of animated short films celebrates the mythology of Star Wars through unique cultural lenses. Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 features nine shorts from nine different anime studios—david production, Kamikaze Douga + ANIMA, Kinema citrus Co., Polygon Pictures, Production I.G, Project Studio Q, TRIGGER, WIT Studio—to further demonstrate the diversity and creativity of Japanese animation. Down Cemetery Road , Season 1 - APPLE TV+ About: When a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbor Sarah Tucker (Ruth Wilson) becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Emma Thompson). Zoë and Sarah suddenly find themselves in a complex conspiracy that reveals that people long believed dead are still among the living, while the living are fast joining the dead. October 31 Breathless , Season 2 - NETFLIX About: The Joaquín Sorolla is now a privately run hospital, challenging the values and principles of its medical staff. Having got her way, Patricia (Najwa Nimri) continues her fight against cancer while growing increasingly close to Néstor (Borja Luna). Jésica (Blanca Suárez) is trying to regain her usual self confidence, but she’s torn between Lluís (Alfonso Bassave) and Biel (Manu Ríos). Pilar (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón) is still grappling with her son’s addictions, but Quique (Xóan Fórneas) may find an unexpected ally in her when the hospital’s new management pushes him to make a questionable decision. On top of it all, the arrival of a renowned oncologist, Sophie (Rachel Lascar), threatens to turn the entire place upside down.

Borderlands 4  © Gearbox Software The Borderlands franchise has always been a staple within the video game industry. It redefined and popularised the looter-shooter genre and took countless hours of our time. In today’s age of gaming, there are countless video games that derive from the functions that Borderlands excelled in but have since lost all sense of that magic which made grinding for hours to have the most powerful build so fun. What’s the point in a looter-shooter game if there’s nothing fresh or redefining being brought to the table? This has been the cost and failure of many games since, such as Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League and free-to-play games like The First Descendant , which not only want your time but more of your money through their microtransactions (battle passes, currency, skins).  Borderlands itself also lost that magic with the release of Borderlands 3 . What made Borderlands unique for its time was the grand world filled with rich story to explore and wild characters to interact with. On top of all of that, it had humour that varied from pop cultural references to just outright slapstick, raunchy humour. Borderlands 4 , after coming back from a few hard years, could’ve doubled down on the recent additions of looter shooters and even opted for the live service route, but thankfully, Gearbox took some time to reevaluate the franchise, and with that, we get a game that not only serves as a soft reboot but is a refreshing addition to the genre and franchise. After Lilith’s sacrifice in Borderlands 3 caused the protective barrier of the planet Kairos to shatter while protecting the Pandora moon, Elpis, four new Vault Hunters found themselves searching for vaults before they’re captured by the all-powerful and mighty Timekeeper who rules over the people of Kairos.  With a new planet to explore, Borderlands 4 offers a new gameplay loop that surprisingly hasn’t been a staple of the franchise before, and that is a fully exploitable open world, which made the lack of loading screens such a blissful experience. There are some quality of life changes that come with the grander experience of exploring an open-world map, such as your vehicle being available just from the press of a button instead of having to find yourself a Catch-A-Ride station (R.I.P. Scooter).  Although there’s some ease in that department and they’ve added the inclusion of safehouses you can capture for fast travel points, it eventually becomes redundant when you decide to finally play a new vault hunter and all the map progress you’ve uncovered is wiped. These are simple issues that could be changed with an update, but the sudden switch in characters during my co-op session led to recapturing previous safehouses before we could proceed on with actually playing the game. Levaine (Erica Luttrell) in Borderlands 4 © Gearbox Software A personal highlight for Borderlands 4 was its story. With the people of Kairos wanting to be free from the grasp of the Timekeeper, it allowed for an improved storyline from the last game that was darker in tone, had actual stakes and had brand new characters that are written well and overall feel impactful to the overall story being told. The humour is greatly toned down during the main story, which was a correction needed after the excessive toilet humour from Borderlands 3 , and while sometimes the humour can be missed, it does come in small doses that are more tolerable and allow for each joke during the main story to land. The major downside in the main story is that by the time you reach that final cutscene, you’re left empty-handed, expecting more. There’s a lot they had to pack into a story where there’s a new planet involved, which includes catching up on the whereabouts of previously introduced characters while also setting up the next story arc that we’re likely to follow either through the DLC or just the next ten years of this franchise. It’s slightly underwhelming that the ending doesn’t allow for the story to come together, but it’s clear that Gearbox just wants to play it safely, which has proven to be their best bet. If you’re missing that humour, then you can find it all within the side missions of the game. Out of the few that I played alongside my friends, there were some which were outright ridiculous. There are two side missions that will come up in this review, the first being “Crack This Guy’s Back”. It’s in the name; you come across a guy having horrible back pain and simply just have to melee him to fix his back, which all leads to setting the mood with candles and finally, jumping from high above and giving him the best crack of his life. This is a mission that’s short, has barely any action (you have to walk through an area with enemies but can skip), and is genuinely just some great humour and an honest break from all the action. The second side mission is “No Place Like Home” which features Claptrap and is somehow one of the best-written missions in the whole game. He’s not a major part of the game and doesn’t make a last-minute entrance (physically), but this side mission makes up for the lack of Claptrap in the game. The poor little robot misses home, and this side mission is about helping him move on from the past and accept the future. For a character so comical, it was a beautiful moment to finally get the character building that he’s deserved for many years and is just proof of Borderlands 4’s improvement over its predecessor. It’s with side missions like these two where you’re able to get the perfect balance between the humour and tone of the overall game without one or the other feeling saturated. Borderlands 4 © Gearbox Software The four vault hunters offer such a unique and varied playstyle, with some being the perfect fit and others feeling too slow. The two that were attempted on this playthrough were Amon the Forgeknight, who appealed design-wise, but unfortunately his play style wasn't what was advertised, and I lacked the patience to build him to be at his full potential. The star of my playthrough was Vex the Siren, who has the ability to summon beasts and clones of herself to fight in the battlefield. There's been a Siren in almost every game (excluding Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel ) and yet Vex feels the most creative with what her skill tree allows her to do and just how powerful you can actually feel as you level up. The strength of a Siren has never felt more real than with Vex in Borderlands 4 . What makes Borderlands is the looting mechanic, and there's a ton of loot to come across, and it never once feels like you've seen it all. Borderlands 4 is the first time where you could find a weapon that combines the traits of two weapons, which allows for maximum destruction. With the specific build that my Vex was working with, she was at her strongest with status ailment switches, which just provided so much chaos in the battle against the Timekeeper. Unfortunately, there felt like there was a lack of pistols and snipers that felt different from one another compared to the shotguns and SMGs, which always felt like they offered a unique experience with each variation found, although moments do arrive when the look hunt gets stalled. The entirety of the game was played through co-op with two other players, one being on PC and another on the PlayStation 5 just like myself, and it seems like Gearbox hasn't mastered not having server issues on launch. There were countless times when my teammates would be disconnected from the group, and all it ever did was bring a pause to the playthrough. The PlayStation 5 also suffered frame rate issues which mainly occurred in areas with a large spawn rate of enemies or loot drops; it never took from the experience, but it happened enough times to notice that Borderlands 4 wasn't optimised as best as it could've been. Alongside this were some missions failing to continue their objectives, with NPC characters freezing, stopping progress and forcing you to restart your lobby and invite your friends again just to continue the mission, which removes from the overall immersiveness of the game. Borderlands 4 is the best game in the franchise to release since Borderlands 2 and at times can rival the game. Gearbox returns with a game that plays it safe to its success with a storyline that's darker in tone with the humour dialed down and saved for its side missions, which manage to have a great blend of the two. The four vault hunters all feel unique and captivating as characters, with a few of them feeling as powerful in the gameplay as they are in the story. There are a few bugs and performance issues that will attempt to hinder the overall experience of the game, but with how big of an improvement this game is over its predecessor, the positives begin to outweigh the negatives. Borderlands 4 is the return to form that Gearbox Software needed after the failure of Borderlands 3 , and while the ending felt lacklustre in the grand scheme of everything, the future is looking bright for the franchise while bleak for our characters. Rating: ★★★★☆ Borderlands 4 . © Gearbox Software About Borderlands 4 Release Date:  September 12, 2025 Played On:  PlayStation 5 Director: Graeme Timmins Writer: Sam Winkler Developer:  Gearbox Software Publisher:  2K Platforms:  PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X/S Synopsis: Set six years after the events of the last game, the story follows a new group of Vault Hunters in the ancient planet Kairos, who join its local resistance to find the planet's Vault and overthrow the despotic Timekeeper.

This review contains minor spoilers for the first episode of 'My Hero Academia's' final season. My Hero Academia © Crunchyroll After nine years of My Hero Academia , it is finally coming to an end with one final season. It’s to be expected that with the return of a My Hero Academia season, we’re likely to get a recap of what previously occurred, but for a final season with everything on the line and only 12 episodes long, a recap is exactly what this premiere episode didn’t need.  The first episode of the final season opens up with a recap of the fight that began in the previous season with a quirkless All Might donning the armoured suit to take on All For One with his Rewind ability. The recap takes away from precious screen time that allows for more to take place in the episode, and additionally, the episode falls into the trap of taking away from a moment at the height of its suspense, and instead of building on that, it struggles to return to the same pace.  The episode is titled “Toshinori Yagi: Rising Origin”, and yet, it doesn’t feel like All Might himself was the focus of the episode. As All Might prepares for a powerful attack against All For One, we cut away to the battle against Kuneida, with Team Troy restrained in defeat. While this builds up to a scene that has some great animation, which Jason Yao does yet another fantastic job in animating, it unfortunately overall slows down the pacing of the episode. The combination of Aoyama and Hagakure working together to take down Kuneida ends up being the highlight of the episode, and instead of feeling like an episode focused on All Might, it ends up feeling like an episode focused solely on Aoyama. A shining moment, but at what cost? All Might (Kenta Miyake) in My Hero Academia Final Season © Crunchyroll Aside from that, I can’t help but have a grin on my face witnessing All Might be the hero that he always was, using the armoured suit which utilises the quirks of Class 1-A. We see a child from another country witnessing the battle, and while his guardian tells him that the outcome of the fight won’t be their concern, the glow and intensity in his eyes once again show that he believes in All Might, similar to how Deku did as a kid. All Might has always been a hero for the people, ensuring that there’s a smile on his face at all times and metaphorically bringing the light in all of this darkness around them.  The final moments of this premiere episode save it as Stain jumps in, paralysing All For One and urging All Might to finish the battle. A moment filled with momentum that’s once again taken away from the scene that plays after the credits with Aoyama discovering Hagakure's quirk is on the fritz due to his quirk affecting hers. It isn’t My Hero Academia if there isn’t some fan service, but at least the scene might play into an interesting dynamic between the two.  It’s not all negativity when it comes to Hagakure’s scene at the end, as the anime manages to improve on how she’s depicted when her identity is revealed compared to the manga. This simply could’ve been for the fact that a minor would’ve been too explicitly nude, but the combination of her quirk with Aoyama’s providing this light refraction and prism look isn’t only genius but also, outside of what is a fan service moment, provides her with a more unique identity. My Hero Academia Final Season Episode 1 isn't exactly the start that was expected after such an anticipated wait, but it provides a lot of promise for what's to be expected with a season that's bound to be action-packed and filled with emotion. If the direction and animation continue to stay as consistently impressive as they are right now, then this final season might have the chance to elevate the manga's ending, but only time can tell. Rating: ★★★1/2 My Hero Academia Final Season . © Crunchyroll About My Hero Academia Premiere Date:  October 4, 2025 Episode Count:  12 Executive Producer/Showrunner: Kenji Nagasaki Writer: Yōsuke Kuroda Director: Naomi Nakayama Production:  Bones Distribution:  Crunchyroll Cast:  Daiki Yamashita, Yūki Kaji, Kenta Miyake, Kosuke Kuwano, Kaori Nazuka, Akio Ōtsuka Synopsis: The fate of the world hangs in the balance. With both sides pushing themselves to the limits, Izuku is determined to save the world and become the greatest hero while depicting the future of hero society and characters' lives.

This article contains spoilers for 'Peacemaker' Season 2 Episode 7. Peacemaker  Season 2 © HBO Max The finale for Peacemaker Season 2 is almost among us, possibly teasing the future of storytelling for the DCU. First, though, let’s talk about the penultimate episode, which leaves conflicting thoughts as it was a great episode but is ultimately brought down by its short runtime, fast pacing, and scene choices.  When we last left off, Christopher Smith (John Cena), alongside the 11th Street Kids, discovered that this alternate earth was indeed Earth-X, a world where the Nazis won World War 2. Chris and Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) trapped in A.R.G.U.S., Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) with his Earth-X counterpart, Economos (Steve Agee), being discovered by Auggie Smith (Robert Patrick), and finally Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) being chased down the street by Keith Smith (David Denman) and a gang of hate-filled racists. For a twist that we saw a mile away, it was handled extremely well and left room for discussion, but does this episode live up to the expectations? It’s quite unbelievable just how ignorant Chris actually is, as it’s revealed to us that every desk has a copy of Mein Kampf on it with a huge mural of Adolf Hitler himself on the wall behind him. It’s hard to get into his head and understand how lost in this world he was to miss out on the clear cues that this Earth wasn’t of any good, but the episode throws us straight into the action as Chris and Harcourt fight their way out, once again delivering some badass action with Harcourt.  Freddie Stroma as Vigilante & Vigilante 2, and Nhut Le as Judomaster in Peacemaker Season 2 © HBO Max This is an episode that’s only just 33 minutes long, less than that if we don’t include the credits, and while James Gunn is known for his humour, there’s a time and a place where that is welcomed. We’re met with some sweet moments as Judomaster (Nhut Le) comes to Adebayo’s rescue, and we get a small bonding moment between the two. Not only do we get to finally learn more about the type of person Judomaster is, but we also finally return to Adebayo’s problems that she first mentioned at the start of the season.  Instead of getting more between the two or even more with the repercussions of Auggie and Keith trying to figure out the truth, we’re cutting back to Eagly (Dee Bradley Baker) misbehaving and failing to free Economos. We dealt with our Eagly storyline for this season, and Economos already provides humour to this episode with his constant failure to try to be oblivious to the serious situation at hand, but yet, we find ourselves stuck in this predicament that takes away from the already short episode.  A.R.G.U.S. continues to seem like a rather incompetent organisation in the grand scheme of everything. Last week, Lex Luthor gave Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) some information on where he could find the information he desired, and to no one’s surprise (thanks to the trailers), we get the return of Sydney Happersen (Stephen Blackehart). He’s Lex’s expert when it comes to dimensional rights and technology, but it’s rather underwhelming and criminally unfunny how quickly he finds out where the open portal is. This easily seems like a job that A.R.G.U.S. could’ve done themselves with access to the same technology. From a cameo last week which served the story to a quite tasteless cameo this week which held no purpose except for a creepy and unnecessary post-credit scene joke.  That’s not the only cameo this week, though; Larry Fitzgibbon makes his return, unfortunately without his trusty partner Sophie Song due to Earth-X’s unfortunate rules. He arrives at Auggie’s house trying to find Chris after the incident at A.R.G.U.S. but is refused entry. The last 15 minutes of the episode are its best, as we get the reveal that Auggie doesn’t agree with the Nazis and, unlike his son who hasn’t learnt from him, isn’t actually a racist, as we originally thought. While it may be doing more harm to stay complicit and allow for the world to continue in such a hateful way when he could possibly step in and do some good, it warms Chris’s heart nonetheless knowing that his father might actually be the father of his dreams.  Unfortunately, the Vigilante duo arrive and slaughter Auggie, which sets off a brawl in the house. If every episode could include two Vigilantes fighting alongside each other like they’re a Ghostface duo from Scream , Peacemaker would easily be 10x better than it already is. It’s an emotional rollercoaster till the end, with Chris witnessing the death of his father again and almost witnessing the death of his brother as the 11th Street Kids and Judomaster hold him back, ready to kill him in defence of Chris.  Last week gave us an outstanding performance from Jennifer Holland, and now John Cena brings out all the stops in a chilling and emotional scene as he screams at them to stop killing his brother, bringing out that childlike innocence from all those years ago. It’s easily going to go down as one of his best performances as the character and probably of his career. We return back to Prime Earth with Chris surrendering the Quantum Unfolding Chamber and taking all the blame for his team, with Keith barely hanging on back in Earth-X.  It’s likely we’re going to see one final return in the finale next week with A.R.G.U.S. poking their heads around where they don’t belong. Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 7 delivers some of its best writing and performances in the last 15 minutes, but unfortunately the rest of the episode before that fails to reach that same level. The previous episode gave us the perfect cliffhanger, but it’s hard not to think that this episode wouldn’t have been better off combined with Episode 6. With it feeling extremely fast-paced, which leads to some moments not lasting long enough as they should, James Gunn manages to still pack a lot into a tight 33 minutes. Rating: ★★★1/2 Peacemaker Season 2 . © HBO Max x DC Studios About Peacemaker Season 2 Premiere Date : August 21, 2025 Episode Count : 8 Executive Producer/Showrunner : James Gunn Writer : James Gunn Director : James Gunn, Greg Mottola, Peter Sollett, Althea Jones Production : DC Studios, Troll Court Entertainment, The Safran Company Distribution : HBO Max Cast : John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, Robert Patrick, Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, Tim Meadows Synopsis : In season 2, Peacemaker discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be. But this discovery also forces him to face his traumatic past and take the future into his own hands.

As announced in June, Tom King ( Lanterns ) will be showrunning an upcoming adult animated Mister Miracle series for DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. The series will consist of eight episodes and is set to feature Scott Free/Mister Miracle, and his wife and partner Big Barda as the leads. DC Studios heads, James Gunn and Peter Safran will serve as executive producers alongside King. It is currently unknown if the series will be set in the DC Universe or if it will be an Elseworlds project.  Sources tell Nexus Point News that casting is currently underway and character descriptions have revealed the supporting cast. The series is set to feature Darkseid as the series’ antagonist, Highfather, Lightray, Orion, and Funky Flashman. The series will adapt King’s 12-issue Eisner award winning Mister Miracle . Confirmed plot points include Scott being infected by the Anti-Life Equation and most importantly, his suicide attempt. Darkseid is described as the physical manifestation of all evil in the universe. He speaks in a silly, over-the-top manner which is balanced with his calm, but confident demeanor. Funky Flashman serves as a narrator in certain scenes and his Stan Lee inspiration is very prevalent in this adaptation of the character. Described as a “snake oil salesman,” he’s very articulate with his words and knows how to sell a product. Lightray was raised alongside Orion and is very loyal to Highfather and Orion. He considers himself superior to Scott and Barda and sees himself as too good for the missions assigned to him by Highfather. Highfather is the all-knowing leader of New Genesis who has trouble connecting with the other New Gods due to his status and power, especially Scott who has resented him childhood for his decision to give him up to Darkseid. Orion, the son of Darkseid, carries his father’s anger, sins, and ambition, but has repressed it since childhood since being raised by Highfather. Orion will serve as a mentor to Scott in the series.  King, a former CIA officer, made his writing debut with A Once Crowded Sky . He went on to write The Sheriff of Babylon , Grayson , Batman , Vision , and several DC Black Label series such as Jenny Sparks , Human Target , and Strange Adventures , which is also in development at DC Studios. King’s Eisner award winning series  Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow  is being adapted into DC Studios’ next feature film, Supergirl  starring Milly Alcock. King co-created and co-wrote the pilot to DC Studios’ Lanterns  which is set to premiere next year on HBO. King also serves as one of the architects to Gunn and Safran’s DCU. King is currently penning the script to Universal’s Archie comics film, which is set to be produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Mister Miracle  is currently in development by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation and although a streamer or network has not been set, it’ll likely premiere on HBO Max.

Sources tell Nexus Point News that Universal’s upcoming Miami Vice remake is gaining traction by potentially finding its two leads. Glen Powell and Michael B. Jordan are in talks to star as James “Sonny” Crockett and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, respectively in the upcoming film. Joseph Kosinski ( Top Gun: Maverick ) is set to direct with Dan Gilroy ( Nightcrawler , Andor ) penning the script based from an earlier draft by Eric Warren Singer ( Top Gun: Maverick ). Dylan Clark ( The Batman ) will produce with Kosinski.  Miami Vice  began as a series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann ( Heat ) for NBC in 1984 and ran for 5 seasons. Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas starred as Sonny and Rico in the original series. The series was later adapted into a film in 2006 starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx with Michael Mann writing, directing, and producing. Glen Powell is best known for his roles in Top Gun: Maverick , Anyone But You , and Twisters . He’ll next be seen starring in Edgar Wright’s Running Man  remake. Powell is repped by CAA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Michael B. Jordan is best known for his roles in Fruitvale Station , Black Panther , and the Creed trilogy. He’ll next be seen starring in the upcoming remake of The Thomas Crown Affair  which he’s set to direct as well. Jordan is repped by WME, M88 and Johnson Shapiro. Miami Vice is set to release on August 6, 2027 for Universal.

© Hulu Chad Powers  has been one of the most highly anticipated debuts of the year due to the makers behind it and its subject. The series marks Glen Powell’s first television outing as an out-and-out lead, and he goes all in — not just in front of the camera but behind it as well. Powell co-wrote, co-created, and executive-produced the show alongside Michael Waldron, whose impressive television track record includes Rick & Morty , Loki , and Heels . The result is a series that isn’t a laugh-a-minute comedy, but rather something more heartwarming, charming, and surprisingly layered. Powell is the heart of the series, fully immersing himself in the character. Hidden beneath heavy prosthetics and speaking with a distinct, exaggerated voice, he disappears into Chad Powers so convincingly that it’s easy to forget you’re watching Powell at all. His performance is playful, committed, and surprisingly vulnerable, making Chad an instantly likable and layered figure. Steve Zahn brings his trademark charm to the mix, while Frankie Rodriguez is delightful as the team mascot and Chad’s mischievous partner in crime. © Hulu The characters overall are fun and engaging, though not all of them get the depth or arcs they deserve, which is a shortcoming that mostly stems from the limited six-episode run. At only half an hour per episode, the season feels a little too brief, leaving viewers wanting more time to settle into the dynamics and story. Despite the brevity, the show remains engaging thanks to its sharp pacing and the strong chemistry between its cast. The humor blends naturally with heartfelt moments, and the tone never wavers, making it both accessible and rewarding. Tony Yacenda’s direction is confident and stylish, capturing both the humor and the quieter emotional beats with ease. The football sequences themselves are shot with care and energy, which keeps the sport’s intensity while keeping the focus on character. The makeup work is top-notch, truly selling Chad as a fully realized character, while the score does an excellent job of amplifying the impact of both comedic and heartfelt moments. Beyond the laughs and antics, Chad Powers  also explores surprisingly weighty themes such as identity crisis, self-exploration, loneliness, and even touches on mental health. By the time the season finale arrives, the story takes a darker and more unexpected turn, setting the stage for a season two that feels ripe with possibilities. With so much left to unpack — both in Chad’s personal journey and the dynamics around him — the future of the show looks incredibly promising. Of course, Chad Powers  will inevitably draw comparisons to Ted Lasso , another sports-centric series with heart at its core. While it doesn’t quite reach the same emotional highs or universal appeal as Ted Lasso , Powell’s show has plenty to stand on its own. It offers a more offbeat, character-driven approach and isn’t afraid to explore darker territory. In its mix of humor, sincerity, and commentary, Chad Powers  feels like its own distinct creation. Chad Powers  is a charming and thoroughly enjoyable sports dramedy that works as further testament to Glen Powell’s range and creativity. He proves not only his strength as a performer but also his growing talent as a storyteller behind the scenes. The series may be short and leave viewers wanting more, but it’s the kind of show you can binge quickly, yet find yourself talking about long after. It is likable, heartfelt, and very well made. It is an easy recommendation, and with its foundations set, season two could take things to an even higher level. Rating: ★★★★☆ © Hulu About Chad Powers Premiere Date:  September 30, 2025 Episode Count:  6 Showrunner: Michael Waldron, Glen Powell Director: Tony Yacenda Production:  ESPN, Omaha Productions, 20th Television, Anomaly Pictures Distribution:  Hulu Cast:   Glen Powell, Perry Matfield, Steve Zahn, Frankie Rodriguez, Toby Huss, Wynn Everett, Clyane Crawford

This review contains spoilers for 'Peacemaker' Season 2 Episode 6. Peacemaker  Season 2 © HBO Max For the last five weeks, we've been providing weekly reviews on Peacemaker Season 2 and also provided a review based on the first five episodes. James Gunn had stated that he was keeping the last three episodes close to his chest and not allowing any press to view them before release. Not even his personal assistant has been allowed to watch these episodes and has been made to wait like everybody else to see what else James Gunn has in store for us. James Gunn returns to direct after previously directing Episode 1, and the opening sequence just oozes Gunn's style. Instead of opening with a flashback like the previous episodes, we catch up with the Top Trio after they have defeated the Kaiju, eating food at a cafe and taking pictures with kids who look up to them, but as the picture is snapped, their faces begin to eerily melt, further raising suspicions about this "perfect world" that Chris (John Cena) loves so much. A big complaint that I had from Peacemaker Season 2 is that it felt like the 11th Street Kids were left in the dust while the story focused on Chris, Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo). This episode takes some of the focus off of these characters and allows us to spend more time with Adrian (Freddie Stroma), Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) and Economos (Steve Agee). Adrian has always been a loveable character, and with Gunn finally allowing us to take a look at his home, we see how lovely and welcoming his mother is (despite Adrian's warnings) and also see the shitload of cocaine and money that he keeps in his secret room from all the busts so that corrupt police don't sell or use it (he's literally the best character). Freddie Stroma as Vigilante, Steve Agee as Economos, Danielle Brooks as Adebayo, and Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt in Peacemaker Season 2. © HBO Max This scene, as they prepare to use the Quantum Unfolding Chamber, really allows the audience to learn a lot more about Adrian as a character, and while he's not the sole focus of this episode, it's the most screentime we get with the character who's now finally suited up as Vigilante. Now in the alternate dimension (while covered in cocaine residue), they all get a first peek at the life their Chris is currently living, weirded out but possibly understanding why he may have made this decision. Despite that, it's still their job to bring Chris back, and this all begins to spiral into events that they couldn't have prepared themselves for. Chris and Harcourt finally come across each other at A.R.G.U.S. while she's being detained for the residue of cocaine left on her that the dog smelt. This is quite easily the most progression we've gotten between the characters as they sit down and finally try to talk about each other's feelings. Harcourt reveals that she's come to like Chris despite him killing Rick Flag Jr., and she understands that Chris loves her, but she struggles to get out how she feels towards him, beating around the bush and dodging the question at any chance. All she wants is for him to return home, and her feelings for him shouldn't be the deciding factor. While Chris has been going through a lot, he learns that he hasn't been keeping everyone else's feelings in consideration. The comparison can also be made with how James Gunn has been writing this season, having the majority of the focus on Chris while not really considering what the rest of the 11th Street Kids may be feeling, and with Chris finally beginning to realise that, it feels like the writing is also starting to make a change, evolving alongside Chris. John Cena delivers such a nuanced performance during this scene, but it's Jennifer Holland who completely steals the scene from him. She delivers such a phenomenal performance throughout the episode, between playing both versions of Emilia Harcourt. It all begins to come together as Harcourt begins to realise that she hasn't come across a single person of colour in this world, Vigilante finds his alternate self and discovers they have everything in common with each other except that Peacemaker is his archenemy in this world, revealing that Vigilante 2 works for the Sons of Liberty, Chris discovering the Nazi swastika on the American flag replacing the stars, and the cherry on top, Adebayo being chased by an entire neighbourhood. We all expected early on that there was something odd with this dimension and it was likely to do with the fact that there wasn't a single person of colour to be found but James Gunn's writing allows for this reveal to remain shocking with how it plays out. Freddie Stroma as Vigilante 2 in Peacemaker Season 2. © HBO Max Will this dimension be officially known as Earth-X, or will James Gunn be going for his own original version of the Nazi-run universe? It's too soon to find out, but the little information we do get is from Keith, who says, "One got out! A Black!" hinting that the people of colour of this world are likely being held in a prison or a camp. Outside of this alternate dimension, Rick Flag Sr. is still trying to find out where Peacemaker has gone, and there's only one person who could possibly help him. Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) arrives in Peacemaker S2 following the events of Superman, and he's hating it in a prison full of metas but is willing to help Rick Flag Sr. as long as he's moved to Van Kull, a prison that was very prominent in the Arrowverse. Lex wanted freedom, which Rick Flag Sr won't give, but he tells him that he can offer him a chance of redemption, which might be a little more than a prison change. It seems like Gunn is already planting the seeds of Man of Tomorrow and making his DCU feel like a connected universe without it feeling like there's too much to swallow. Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 6 is an improvement from the last episode as we finally enter the final phase of the second season. Jennifer Holland continues to prove that she's a phenomenal actress and puts on display her range, varying from a sweet romantic woman to a woman who's scared to show her true emotions. Chris is finally put on the backburner as we focus a little bit more on the 11th Street Kids and get to learn more about Adrian as a character and that he truly may be a perfect guy in every universe (we even got the Spider-Man pointing meme confirming his existence in the DCU). Most importantly, as of now, James Gunn keeps his promise on how he handles cameos. Nicholas Hoult returned as Lex Luthor, and instead of feeling like a moment that was for pure excitement, he served a purpose in the overall story, possibly leading to further setup with his next appearance. The only downside to this episode is that they continue to be rather short, and it feels like some moments could've been fleshed out more, but overall, this episode served its purpose and has set up what might be an action-packed and emotional seventh episode. Rating: ★★★★☆ Peacemaker Season 2 . © HBO Max x DC Studios About Peacemaker Season 2 Premiere Date : August 21, 2025 Episode Count : 8 Executive Producer/Showrunner : James Gunn Writer : James Gunn Director : James Gunn, Greg Mottola, Peter Sollett, Althea Jones Production : DC Studios, Troll Court Entertainment, The Safran Company Distribution : HBO Max Cast : John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, Robert Patrick, Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, Tim Meadows Synopsis : In season 2, Peacemaker discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be. But this discovery also forces him to face his traumatic past and take the future into his own hands.