October 2026 is going a bit too fast for my liking. Indeed, it only feels like yesterday that I was writing this month's first streaming round-up, let alone its third and latest edition.

But, hey, the weekend is here now, and that means you can settle in front of your TV and watch myriad new movies and shows on the world's best streaming services. Personally, I'll be tuning into the final Marvel TV show of the year on Disney+, but there are plenty of other things to enjoy if you've fallen off the superhero band wagon. So, scroll on to see what's worth catching before Monday comes calling again. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

VisionQuest (Disney+)

VisionQuest is the third and final chapter of the Wanda/Vision TV trilogy — and, as I noted in my VisionQuest review, it might just cement this small-screen saga as one of the MCU's very best three-part stories.

Picking up some time after WandaVision ended, the latest Marvel Phase 6 TV series reunites us with Vision who, after regaining his memories in the aforementioned show's finale, has gone into hiding and is suffering an identity crisis. However, he's soon forced to go on the run with Thomas Shepard, a young thief claiming to be one of his twin sons, when nefarious forces come calling to secure Vision's highly advanced tech for themselves.

Episodes 1 and 2 are out now. Want to know when the others will air? Check out my VisionQuest full release schedule piece. — TP

• Watch VisionQuest on Disney+

Sacrifice (Netflix)

It's not often that a star-studded Netflix movie receives a very limited release on the streaming giant. But, that's the case with this dark comedy action flick, which only dropped in the US and France on launch day, aka October 16.

In it, Marvel icon Chris Evans plays Mike, a movie star experiencing an existential crisis when he's suddenly kidnapped by a group of radicals led by Joan (Anya Taylor-Joy) at a charity gala. Along with two other abductees, Mike soon learns Joan's followers plan to, well, sacrifice the trio in order to prevent the world from ending.

Sacrifice was panned by critics prior to release, so temper your expectations for this one accordingly. If it's as bad as it sounds, though, it might be one of those "so bad, it's good" must-see films. — TP

• Watch Sacrifice on Netflix

Love of Your Life (Prime Video)

Margaret Qualley leads the cast of this new Prime Video romance movie, where she plays a nurse named Maya who is estranged from her mother.

Maya's life changes when she meets Charlie (played by The Night Agent's Gabriel Basso), and begins to fall in love with him. But the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to ruin everything as Maya becomes overworked, and the virus is quickly spreading.

This raw, emotional movie is a character-driven one as we follow Maya and Charlie as they navigate their lives and romance amid a life-threatening pandemic, something that many of us can sadly relate to. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Love of Your Life on Prime Video

The Diplomat season 4 (Netflix)

All eight episodes of The Diplomat season 4 are available on Netflix this weekend, making it the perfect binge watch for fans of political thrillers.

In season 4, the plot centers around a dangerous conspiracy and crumbling relationships among those in power. Things have never been more tense as US President Grace Penn (Allison Janney) and newly appointed Vice President Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) enter a secret alliance to steal a Russian nuclear weapon off the coast of England.

US Ambassador Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) is back, of course, and she's got plenty of work to do. — LB

• Watch The Diplomat season 4 on Netflix

Tenzing (Apple TV)

After last week's terrible movie offering in Matchbox: The Movie, Apple seems to have re-found its footing with its next original film in Tenzing.

Featuring a cast of heavy-hitters including Willem Dafoe and Tom Hiddleston, it tells the tale of Tenzing Norgay (played by Genden Phuntsok). A gifted Himalayan climber, Tenzing led the expedition that resulted in the first successful summiting of Mount Everest, for which Edmund Hillary (played by Hiddleston) went down in the history books for.

Hopefully, Apple TV's dramatization of this historic moment will make us reassess the story behind this perilous yet triumphant achievement, and the forgotten man who helped to make it possible. — TP

• Watch Tenzing on Apple TV

The Death of Robin Hood (HBO Max)

A24's dark adaptation of the ballad Robin Hood's Death is coming to HBO Max, with Hugh Jackman in the titular role.

The plot of the new movie follows an aged Robin, who is tormented by his past killings as an outlaw whilst living in a self-imposed exile. After he's wounded, he takes refuge in a priory where he befriends an orphaned girl Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer).

Reviews of The Death of Robin Hood were mixed, and it has been described as slow-paced and grim, rather than the action packed Robin Hood tale we've come to expect. But it might just surprise you this weekend. — LB

• Watch The Death of Robin Hood on HBO Max

Crystal Lake (Peacock)

Friday the 13th prequel series Crystal Lake arrives on Peacock this weekend. With all eight episodes dropping at once, horror fans will want to clear their schedules.

The series follows Pamela Voorhees (Linda Cardellini), and is set eight years before the original movie. After her son Jason drowns at Camp Crystal Lake, we follow the depths of her grief and her growing paranoia, as she becomes the serial killer fans of the franchise are very familiar with.

Welcome to Derry writer Brad Caleb Kane serves as showrunner, too, so this horror prequel looks like it's in very good hands. — LB

• Watch Crystal Lake on Peacock

Lanterns season 2 is in very early development at DC Studios. Admittedly, it hasn't received the green light to officially move forward yet, but there are positive signs that it'll see the light of day.

Indeed, Lanterns' impressive season 1 viewership and the assembly of a season 2 writers room have given fans hope that it's a matter of when, not if, the hit HBO TV Original will get another installment.

While we wait for news regarding an official renewal, there's plenty we can speculate on about the sci-fi crime drama's return. Below, I've rounded up everything I can find on season 2 of Lanterns, including what's been teased by its cast and crew. Here, then, is what we know so far about the series' potential return.

Lanterns season 2 release date: what we know so far

Predictably, Lanterns season 2 doesn't have a confirmed launch date. The HBO Max program hasn't even officially announced, so we'll be waiting a long time for its actual release.

Even with its writers room already bandying around ideas for next season, it's going to be a while before its scripts are completed and the cameras start rolling on the DC Universe (DCU) TV show's next chapter, too.

Like you, I want to see Lanterns back on our screens as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I can't see it coming out before late 2028 — and that's being optimistic.

It took over three and half years for season 1 to arrive following its official announcement as part of DC Studios co-head James Gunn's initial DCU Chapter One lineup reveal. And, while I don't expect we'll have to wait until 2030 for a second season, there are many things — cast and crew schedules, filming start dates, post-production, release calendars, and more besides — that can impact a film or show's production.

In short: don't expect to see Lanterns season 2 for a couple of years.

Lanterns season 2 trailer: is there one?

Obviously not. Lanterns season 2 hasn't even been announced yet, let alone started filming, so it'll be a long time before we see any official footage. Once a teaser is unveiled, I'll add it to this section.

Lanterns season 2 cast: has anyone been announced yet?

Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns season 1.

Nobody has been announced as part of next season's cast yet, but there's a strong case to be made for Aaron Pierre's return as John Stewart. After all, Pierre was not only the protagonist of last season's tale, but is now the face of the show following the death of Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan.

That's not to say that Chandler couldn't return. As co-creator Damon Lindelof pointed out during an interview with Collider, Jordan has been killed off — and then brought back to life — multiple times in DC comic book history. And, with Ulrich Thomsen's Sinestro — who's also a potential candidate to return in Lanterns season 2 — suggesting he knows how to permanently revive Jordan in last season's finale, Chandler's return isn't out of the question.

Elsewhere, Laura Linney could reprise her role as the Guardian of the Universe called Lianna. Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, aka Earth's one and only official Green Lantern, seems like another solid bet on the returning cast member front.

He might not be the only Guardians-approved member of the Lantern Corps. who could show up, either.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly (EW), Lanterns showrunner and co-creator Chris Mundy revealed that the writing team discussed showing other Green Lanterns in season 1 episode 5, but decided against it. More recently, Mundy told the Ringer-Verse podcast that writer Vanessa Baden Kelly is championing the inclusion of fan-favorite Lantern Kilowog in season 2. A team-up between Stewart and the aforementioned Bolavaxian next time around? Sign me up.

Lanterns season 2 story speculation

Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns' debut season.

Once again, there are very few details about Lanterns season 2's plot. Nonetheless, last season's finale set up some interesting story threads that could be ripe for exploration. You can read more about those via my Lanterns season 1 ending explained piece.

There's also the small matter of Pierre's Stewart making his big-screen debut in Man of Tomorrow, aka the sequel to 2025's Superman movie.

Stewart's arc in the forthcoming flick will surely have a bearing on the direction of his DCU journey, so expect Man of Tomorrow's plot to not only continue setting up the DCU's wider narrative, but have a potentially direct impact on Lanterns 2.

That said, next season wouldn't see Stewart traverse the cosmos as, in his own words, an "independent contractor". As Stewart told Gardner in the season 1 finale, he plans on staying planetside and protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats.

As part of his chat with the Ringer-Verse podcast, Mundy therefore indicated that a second season would, like its predecessor, be an Earth-based story, albeit one set in a new location.

"We won't be back in Rushville... unless something crazy happens in Rushville, you know, every 10 years," he teased. "But... it's going to be an Earth-based story that we continue, most likely."

There's plenty of inspiration that the DCU Chapter One TV show's next chapter can draw upon from its source material, too.

Some of the most notable storytelling elements that could be adapted were tentatively teased in last season's finale, such as Sinestro's founding of the Yellow Lanterns and Hal's resurrection as, or being possessed by, the fear-embodying entity known as Parallax. But, with so many different comic-book runs to pull from, countless other Lanterns — Green or otherwise — that could be introduced, and a seemingly infinite amount of lore to further educate audiences about, there are myriad directions that Lanterns season 2's story could go in.

While we wait for more on this series' return, find out everything we know so far about Man of Tomorrow. Then, get the full lowdown on The People v Gorilla Grodd, aka the only DCU TV show that's in active development and expected to premiere once Man of Tomorrow has flown into theaters next July.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns' season 1 finale.

Lanterns episode 8 is out now on HBO Max. And, after weeks of engrossing storytelling and a surprising amount of meme-able content, it's brought the increasingly popular show's debut season to an end.

As the dust settles on Lanterns' season 1 finale, I suspect you want answers to your most burning questions. It's a good job, then, that I'm here to provide them. Just make sure you've watched this week's chapter, titled 'Dirt and Stars', before you proceed, for the purposes of spoiler avoidance!

Who murdered Hal Jordan in Lanterns?

It's only been eight weeks since Lanterns episode 1 dropped the bombshell that someone had killed Hal Jordan in its 2026 storyline, but the wait to find out the identity of his murderer has felt longer.

Well, we finally have an answer — and, after correctly guessing the individual in question in my Lanterns pre-season 1 finale predictions piece, I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself right now.

But, enough posturing: the person responsible for Hal's demise is none other than Sheriff Kerry Kane.

Truth be hold, Hal's death was more akin to manslaughter than pre-meditated murder. After all, the only reason Kerry shot the former Green Lantern — and man she was in a romantic relationship with, no less — was to protect her son Noah after Hal learns a game-changing secret about him. I'll get into the weeds of that later in this article.

So, yes, after weeks of speculation, it turns out the most unlikely candidate of all was behind Hal's death.

Does John Stewart become a Green Lantern?

Strictly speaking, yes. Prior to the release of 'Dirt and Stars', some viewers were convinced that John would become the DCU's first Yellow Lantern, but the sci-fi crime drama's latest entry dispelled that fan theory.

That said, John isn't a legitimate member of the Green Lantern Corps., aka the space cop organization set up by the Guardians of the Universe whose agents patrol the wider cosmos.

Guy Gardner, who watches over Sector-2814, is Earth's one and only official Green Lantern because our world falls under his jurisidiction. However, after John charges Hal's old ring with the Lantern Battery made by Sinestro (more on this in a moment) and comes up with his own Lantern Corps. oath, he's technically a Green Lantern, albeit an independently contracted one.

Ironically, the only way that the DC Universe's (DCU) John Stewart becomes a Lantern is because of Hal's villainous former mentor Sinestro. Want more information on him? Read my Sinestro in Lanterns explained article.

But, I digress. As we learn in 'Dirt and Stars', Sinestro was broken out of his space prison cell by none other than Noah (I'm getting to him, don't worry), marooned on the dead world of a major alien genocide, and tasked with making a Lantern Battery for Noah. Long story short: Sinestro successfully crafts said Lantern, which is charged with Fear and Will energy owing to the toxic fear gas and planet's remaining water supply.

Sinestro tries to individually manipulate and tempt John and the Hal-O-Gram (the latter being a digital back-up of Hal's consciousness) with respective promises to help them become a Lantern and be brought back to life. However, the pair reject his offers and head back to Earth, leaving a chained-up and furious Sinestro to presumably live out his days on this barren world.

Fast-forward to the end of the HBO Max show's eighth episode, and John uses Hal's ring, the Lantern Battery, and reciting of his self-made oath to become a Green Lantern.

Unsurprisingly, Guy, who's summoned by John before the latter does that, isn't exactly pleased to hear John's plan — one which John says will allow Guy to continue patrolling Sector-2814 while John only watches over and protects planet Earth. Guy is also convinced the Guardians will be angry at this rebellious development, so it'll be interesting to see if a second season of Lanterns picks up and runs with this story beat.

Anyway, John's plan means the Hal-O-Gram will be permanently erased from Hal's ring once he recites his oath. Incredibly sad though I am to see Kyle Chandler's portrayal of Hal for what could be the final time, at least there's an incredibly touching goodbye between he and Aaron Pierre's John.

Unfortunately, while we get to finally see John fly, we don't get to see him in his full Lantern super-suit. I guess we'll have to wait for his next DCU appearance for that...

Is Noah Macon a Manhunter?

Yes. Another fan theory to emerge in recent weeks, Lanterns episode 8's arrival on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, revealed that Noah is a Manhunter.

As Kerry tells Hal prior to the latter's death, she mysteriously fell pregnant after Zoe, who appeared to be the sole remaining Manhunter, used her advanced medical technology to grow Kerry a new pinky finger. Remember, in episode 5's flashback to 2007, we learn that, at Zoe's suggestion, Kerry removed that digit on her right hand to give to the criminals chasing her to 'prove' to their mob boss that they'd caught and killed her.

Clearly, during the process of growing Kerry's new pinky finger, Zoe used her alien android tech and Manhunter blood to also make Kerry pregnant. That way, in the even that Zoe died, the Manhunters wouldn't become extinct. And, prior to Zoe's death at John's hands in episode 5 during the 2016 storyline, she tells Noah not to forget everything she's previously told him, which must mean she informed him of his true nature.

Fast-forward to the present, and Noah ambushes John when the latter returns from the dead world that Sinestro is marooned on.

Taking Hal's old ring and the Lantern Battery, Noah says he can use them alongside his Manhunter abilities to enact revenge on the Guardians for what they did to his race.

However, as evidenced by him saving Hal from that near-fatal house fire, Noah's humanity is constantly at odds with his Manhunter conditioning. And, after finding out that John mercy-killed Zoe because she was tired of her immortality and never-ending guilt over what she did to Antaan's people, Noah asks John to do the same for him.

Long story short, John decides not to mercy-kill Noah. However, the possibility of Noah's Manhunter conditioning winning out some day and threatening humanity as a whole is what pushes John to fulfil his destiny and become a Green Lantern in the DCU Chapter One TV series.

Does Lanterns have an end credits scene?

No. So, if you were hoping that Lanterns had a mid-credits or post-credits scene to stick around for, you'll be severely disappointed.

Has Lanterns season 2 been announced?

Not yet, but it's only a matter of time before Lanterns season 2 is officially given the *ahem* green light.

Indeed, Lanterns' glowing viewing figures and the assembly of a writers room have given fans hope that it'll be renewed for another season. Add in comments made by DC Studios co-head James Gunn that 'Dirt and Stars' was only the season 1 finale, not the full series finale, and things look even *double ahem* brighter for one of the most popular DCU projects so far.

How does Lanterns episode 8 set up James Gunn's Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow?

It doesn't. Okay, while we already knew that Aaron Pierre will return as John Stewart in Man of Tomorrow, there's a point to be made about the fact that he'll be a Green Lantern in the follow-up to 2025's Superman movie.

Even so, Lanterns' season 1 finale doesn't tell us anything about Stewart's role in Man of Tomorrow, nor that film's wider plot. We'll just have to wait until the Gunn-directed comic book flick's first trailer to get a sense of how Stewart fits into its narrative, and/or how Lanterns sets up its story.

For now, find out everything we know so far about Man of Tomorrow, including its current release date and confirmed cast.

Lanterns have almost reached the finish line. Only one episode remains of the HBO TV original's debut season, so it's nearly time to say goodbye to Aaron Pierre's John Stewart and Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan.

Before we do, the Green Lantern TV show's season 1 finale has got a lot of storylines to wrap up, so how successful will it be in concluding them all? I don't know, but what I can tell you is when and where Lanterns episode 8 will premiere. So, depending on where you live, here's the release date and launch time you need to know about for the hit sci-fi crime drama's eighth chapter.

When does episode 8 of Lanterns come out?

Titled 'Dirt and Stars', the comic book-inspired TV series' eighth installment will air in the US and Canada on Sunday, October 4 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

Just like the previous seven episodes, it'll make its bow a day later in other countries, so the vast majority of you will have to wait until Monday, October 5 for it. Here's a quick rundown of the dates and times for the DCU Chapter One show's season 1 finale:

• US — Sunday, October 4 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, October 4 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, October 5 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, October 5 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, October 5 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, October 5 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, October 5 at 1pm NZST

Where can I watch Lanterns episode 8?

So far, every episode of Lanterns has dropped on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services. Its eighth and final entry will do the same in nations that the platform has launched in.

Unfortunately, HBO Max isn't available worldwide, so some of you will have to find another TV network or streamer to watch the final episode of DC Studios' latest small-screen venture. Luckily for you, I've rounded up every place you can stream it, so read on for more details:

• US — HBO and HBO Max
• Canada — Crave
• UK — HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and Now TV
• India — JioHotstar
• Singapore — HBO Max
• Australia — HBO Max
• New Zealand — HBO Max

Has Lanterns season 2 been announced?

Not yet. However, fan hopes are growing over Lanterns season 2 due to the show's impressive viewership and a report that four new individuals to come up with ideas for Lanterns season 2.

That said, there's no guarantee that Lanterns will get a second season. Indeed, earlier in September, HBO boss Casey Bloys made me fear the worst for Lanterns season 2 when he indicated that only one DCU TV show — Superman spin-off The People v Gorilla Grodd — was the only one in active development.

Hope springs eternal in the form of comments made by showrunner Chris Mundy and DC Studios co-head James Gunn, though.

Indeed, speaking to Vanity Fair in February 2025, Mundy said he hoped that he hoped "more seasons" would be made. Meanwhile, Gunn recently confirmed (via Threads) that 'Dirt and Stars' is this season's finale, rather than the show's final-ever episode. With Lanterns also amassing an average 19 million viewers per episode during its season 1 run (per Variety), it's a case of when, not if, the DCU program is renewed for another outing.

For now, we know that John Stewart will make his next DCU appearance in Man of Tomorrow, aka Gunn's Superman sequel. While you're here, find out more on what we know so far about Man of Tomorrow and then get the full lowdown on The People v Gorilla Grodd.

We've officially entered the final three months of 2026. And, while it feels like we've collectively blinked and missed half of the year, we can console ourselves by watching one or more of the new movies and TV series that have debuted on the world's best streaming services.

Just like our September 18 streaming round-up, this week's recommendations list is predominantly populated by new shows. Top of my watch-list are a new period drama starring Florence Pugh, and a joint HBO-Sky drama with Sienna Miller and Dominic West that seems like it'll be the talk of the town for the next few weeks.

Want to know what our other top five picks are? You'll need to read on to learn more, so hop to it! — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

East of Eden (Netflix)

I'll watch anything that Florence Pugh is in — and, if that means I have to sit through Netflix's new period drama (they're not usually my kind of thing) to see her latest powerhouse performance, I'll do just that.

To be fair, East of Eden might actually be worth streaming. For one, it's based on John Steinbeck's best-selling 1952 novel of the same name — and, while there's no guarantee that this TV adaptation will do justice to this utterly absorbing story, its star-studded cast and experienced crew suggest it'll be, at the very least, a very good watch.

All seven episodes are out now on Netflix, so Pugh fans like myself have got their weekend binge watch sorted. — TP

• Watch East of Eden on Netflix

War (HBO Max)

I did a double take when I saw how many times War's trailer had been viewed on YouTube. Sure, it looks like another must-see HBO TV Original that's brimming with star power. As I said about East of Eden, though, that doesn't mean this HBO Max program will be any good.

And yet, based on the 117 million (!) views its official trailer has accrued just two weeks before War premiered, it's clear that many of us will be seated for this explosive legal drama. Story-wise, it'll pit two prestigious law firms against each other as part of a messy divorce case involving a wealthy tech entrepreneur (Dominic West) and his film star wife (Sienna Miller).

Also available to watch on Sky/Now TV in the UK, new episodes of War will come out every week until November 19. If it's half as good as other prestige TV shows on HBO, such as Succession, we're in for a whale of a time. — TP

• Watch War on HBO Max

Scrubs season 2 (Hulu/Disney+)

Need some prescribed laughs after the long work week? I'd advise you to check back into Sacred Heart and catch up with its lovable and goofy crew for the Scrubs revival's second season.

Out now on Hulu and Disney+, this season's two-episode premiere picks up numerous threads from last season's finale, including — spoiler warning — J.D. continuing to treat Doctor Cox's recently discovered autoimmune disease.

If I've learned anything from watching this medical comedy-drama since it first aired in September 2001, it's that we can expect plenty of tears to go alongside the laughs. In short: have a box of tissues handy because you never know when Scrubs will emotionally sucker punch you. — TP

• Watch Scrubs season 2 on Hulu and Disney+

Evil Dead Burn (HBO Max)

One of many new horror movies to arrive in time for spooky season, Evil Dead Burn is all you'll need to watch if you're in the mood for lots of blood and gore.

Evil Dead Burn follows a grieving widow who fights for survival when her late husband's family turns into Deadites, aka the franchise's iconic demonic creatures, which seriously disrupts her plans to grieve in a peaceful setting.

It's a relentless, blood-soaked entry but, in my Evil Dead Burn review, I noted that it seems to prioritize jump scares over a good story. The grizzly set-pieces are highly entertaining, though, if you can look past its basic narrative. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Evil Dead Burn on HBO Max

Kill Jackie (Prime Video)

Catherine Zeta-Jones stars as wealthy art dealer Jackie Price in Prime Video's new TV Original, which is adapted from the Nick Harkaway novel The Price You Pay.

In it, Jackie's seemingly normal life is turned upside down when she realizes she's the target of a lethal squad of hitmen. Across eight episodes, this Amazon project follows the titular character as she refuses to run, instead relying on her dark web connections and her own ingenuity to hunt down the killers one by one in a revenge plot where she hopes to make it out alive.

Now that Reacher season 4 is over, this could be your next action-packed binge watch. — LB

• Watch Kill Jackie on Prime Video

The Widower: 'Til Death Do Us Part (Netflix)

Netflix's latest true crime docufilm focuses on Thomas Randolph, a Las Vegas man whose wives kept dying under mysterious circumstances. Although one death might not be suspicious, four is certainly cause for concern.

Of Randolph's six wives, only two of them survived, resulting in him eventually being convicted of murder. But, the journey to that point was complicated, prompting Dateline's Dan Slepian to make a documentary exploring this shocking case, as he works alongside filmmaker Chris Smith and local detectives to create The Widower: 'Til Death Do Us Part. True crime lovers won't want to miss this. — LB

• Watch The Widower: 'Til Death Do Us Part on Netflix

Africa: Earth's Wild Home (National Geographic/Disney+)

Africa: Earth's Wild Home follows conservationists, scientists, and local communities as they fight to save the future of the animals living in the continent.

Shocking stats show that over the last 50 years, Africa’s wildlife population has dwindled by nearly 80%, which has been a call to action for those passionate about saving the natural world.

Animals such as the armored pangolin, frequently hunted for its scales, appear in this documentary where scientists have found ways to help save the species. It's a glimmer of hope amid a world where many animals are endangered, and you'll learn a lot about ongoing conservation efforts, too. — LB

• Watch Africa: Earth's Wild Home on National Geographic and Disney+

• Lanterns' weekly viewing figures have been revealed
• On average, 19 million people have tuned in to each episode on HBO and HBO Max worldwide
• A rumored writers' room update also suggests a season 2 renewal could be imminent

Lanterns is truly shining on the world stage.

According to audience measurement experts Nielsen (via Variety), HBO's Green Lantern TV show has been a huge hit with viewers across the globe. Indeed, per Nielsen's internal data, each episode of the sci-fi crime drama's first season has been watched by an average of 19 million people across HBO and its streaming sibling HBO Max. Of that figure, 12 million are in the US alone.

Impressive numbers though they are, Lanterns' global viewership is arguably even bigger than what Nielsen has reported. Indeed, because HBO and HBO Max aren't available in some world regions, Lanterns is also available on other streaming platforms. The chances are, then, that its audience share is even greater than we realize.

To put an even bigger spotlight on its stunning performance, Lanterns' debut season has, on average, drawn in more viewers per episode than The Pitt season 2. Considering how popular the aforementioned multi-award-winning medical drama is, it's to Lanterns' credit that it's outperforming The Pitt's most recent outing.

Given its success, it's more likely than ever that Lanterns will get a second season on HBO and some of the world's best streaming services, right? As a huge fan of the Aaron Pierre- and Kyle Chandler-fronted program, I certainly hope so.

I'll readily admit I feared the worst for Lanterns season 2 after comments made by HBO boss Casey Bloys in mid-September. However, with Lanterns posting nearly 20 million average views per chapter, and DC Studios co-head James Gunn confirming (via Threads) that its eighth episode is only its debut season's finale, rather than a series finale, I'm starting to convince myself that it's a matter of when, not if, the DC Universe (DCU) TV show will get another run.

That growing confidence is helped by recent speculation that a full writers' room has been assembled to thrash out a potential plot for the DCU Chapter One show's sophomore season.

As reported by Nexus Point News, five writers have joined showrunner and co-creator Chris Mundy to come up with a compelling storyline for another season.

Vanessa Baden Kelly, who penned two of this season's eight entries, has returned, while new faces in Chris Cantwell, Nakkiah Lui, Zack Whedon, and Selwyn Seyfu Hinds have also come on board.

I should point out that the assembly of a writers' room doesn't guarantee that Lanterns season 2 has been greenlit internally. It's still possible, then, that Gunn, Mundy, and company won't move ahead with what I'd expect to be another eight-part installment.

Still, there's clearly an appetite from Lanterns' cast and crew, as well as its growing audience, for another season. Let's collectively hope that this season's finale, which airs Sunday (October 4) in the Americas and Monday (October 5) everywhere else, ends with confirmation that season 2 is officially in development.

In the meantime, check out my six big predictions for Lanterns' season 1 finale. Once you're done, see if you're brave enough to tackle my tricky Lanterns season 1 quiz.

Full spoilers follow for Lanterns episodes 1 through 7.

Lanterns is about to wrap its first season on numerous TV platforms — and what a ride it's been.

From premiere shocks and weekly fan discussions, to comic book call-backs and memes aplenty, HBO's Green Lantern TV show has delivered in more ways than one. And, with this season's eighth and final episode, titled 'Dirt and Stars', set to air shortly, viewers are hoping it sticks the landing.

Ahead of the sci-fi crime drama's season 1 finale airing worldwide, I've got thoughts on what'll happen, too. Here, then, are my 6 predictions for 'Dirt and Stars', and how it'll conclude Lanterns' debut run on some of the world's best streaming services.

1. Sinestro will create the first Yellow Lantern ring...

Given what we learned in Lanterns episode 7, and what this season's finale trailer teased, this seems inevitable — and there's plenty of evidence to back it up.

The factory/manufacturing plant that Sinestro is holed up in, his comments about fear being the most powerful force in the universe, the terror-inducing gas that was inflicted on this alien world's populace that forced them to kill each other... it all points towards the creation of the inaugural Yellow Lantern ring.

For the uninitiated: in the comics, the Yellow Lanterns — also known as the Sinestro Corps. — are powered by the emotion fear, which is represented by the color yellow on the DC Comics' emotional color spectrum.

If further proof was needed that Sinestro — potentially with the help of John Stewart and Hal Jordan's digital back-up — will use this forge, Hal's decommissioned ring, and the lingering fear gas to create a new ring, then, Lanterns' source material provides it in spades.

2... And John Stewart will use it to become a Green Lantern

Following the release of Lanterns' seventh chapter, a new fan theory concerning the fate of John Stewart spread across the internet. And no, it's got nothing to do with him dying, because we already know that Aaron Pierre will return as John Stewart in Man of Tomorrow, aka the follow-up to James Gunn's Superman sequel.

Instead, a section of the DC Universe (DCU) fanbase hypothesized that Sinestro will gift his newly-manufactured ring to Stewart. Furthermore, they think Sinestro will also convince Stewart to become the first-ever Yellow Lantern.

I'll admit I was initially convinced by this possible story beat. However, the more I've sat with it, the more I believe Stewart will take the Yellow Lantern ring, and actually use it to fulfil his destiny and become a Green Lantern.

Okay, there's previous form for Stewart being a Yellow Lantern in the comics as part of the Green Lantern: Earth One series. So, while it would be a massive narrative swing if he did likewise in this live-action show, it wouldn't a complete shock.

That said, there's also the possibility that this won't happen.

For starters, in Lanterns' 'weeks ahead' teaser, we see Sinestro furiously shouting at — or after — the Hal-O-Gram, aka Hal's digital consciousness. This scene is definitely taken from Lanterns' season 1 finale so, if Stewart and the Hal-O-Gram had shockingly decided to join forces with Sinestro, why would the latter be angrily calling out to Hal's digital back-up?

Then there's the episode 8 teaser showing Stewart wearing Hal's old ring and the Hal-O-Gram telling him "you're taking a very big risk". What if that "big risk" is Stewart deciding to not only become a Green Lantern without the Guardians of the Universe's consent, but also doing so with Hal's decommissioned ring that could now be fueled by fear?

Will Stewart be able to override its new function with the sheer force of his will alone — and, by proxy, confirm another fan theory that he's a living Lantern Battery? The latter would explain how he kept that bird construct alive in episode 2 without a ring, and why he can summon the Hal-O-Gram at any time.

The first part of this question would also tie into Guy Gardner's warning that a mysterious "he" is set to "send an army to hunt" down Stewart and/or the Hal-O-Gram. Could that "he" be Sinestro? If he's been wronged by Stewart and Jordan's digital back-up, yes. As far as we know, though, Sinestro has no allies yet, so this individual could be anyone.

Regardless, expect Stewart to finally assume the superhero mantle he's been training for since he was five years old before Lanterns season 1 ends.

3. It'll confirm that Hal Jordan is officially dead in the DCU...

A lot has been written about Hal Jordan's death since it was revealed during the 10-year time jump in Lanterns episode 1.

Indeed, from fans believing he's actually gone and those hoping he'll be brought back to life via some Manhunter cloning technology, to speculation about who actually murdered him (more on this shortly), and more, Hal's demise has been one of Lanterns' biggest talking points.

Like the Stewart Yellow Lantern fan theory, I originally believed that Hal would be brought back to life. Now, I don't think he will.

Indeed, my reading of the 'Dirt' part of episode 8's title refers to the fact that Hal Jordan will be re-buried, after Stewart exhumed his resting place in episode 6's final scene. Sure, dirt can have many connotations but, given the circumstances, this feels like the best fit to me.

Additionally, I think it's far more likely that Hal will have already cheated death prior to shuffling off his mortal coil.

Again, the episode 8 trailer shows Jordan's Rushville home being set ablaze by an unknown assailant. Then, we see him lying on the floor with the same mark on his arm that Stewart had after he was fully healed by Zoe's Manhunter technology in episode 5.

Is Jordan severely injured in the aforementioned arson attack before his life is saved by a mysterious individual who happens to know their way around the Manhunter tech? I believe so. As such, I can't see Jordan surviving two assassination attempts, so the HBO Max show's eighth episode might mark Kyle Chandler's final appearance as Earth's first Green Lantern.

4. ...and Sheriff Kerry Kane was the one who killed him

It would be a soul-crushing reveal if the person charged with protecting Rushville's population, and the only person Jordan was romantically involved with, was responsible for his murder. Right now, though, all signs point towards Kelly Macdonald's Kerry Kane being the one who pulled the trigger.

Yes, there are other candidates. Jordan could have committed suicide like his dad and grandfather, but I'd like to think his demise isn't that simple. Kerry's son Noah (more on him shortly) is another option, but he seems to be the person standing over Jordan after the latter's encounter with the Manhunter healing tech, so I think we can rule him out.

Then there's Maggie, aka the diner employee who's blackmailing Stewart. Outside of this subplot, her role in the 2026 storyline feels a bit superfluous, so she could have sought revenge on Jordan for the death of her father a decade earlier. If that was the case, though, surely Maggie would also want to kill, rather than extort, Stewart.

As we've seen throughout season 1, Kane is a complicated character who has no issues keeping secrets. The fact that she's apparently one of only three people who knows Jordan is dead, and indicated that nobody witnessed the crime, are other red flags. I hope I'm wrong, but I can't see who else to point the finger at.

5. Noah Macon will be revealed as a Manhunter

A fan theory that's run for weeks now, it feels inevitable that Lanterns will reveal that Noah is actually a Manhunter.

Think about it. In episode 5, Kane told Jordan that Zoe gave her a "miracle" — the implication being that Kane and her ex-husband Billy couldn't have kids, so Zoe made one. Alternatively, Zoe could be Noah's real mom, but Kerry and Billy secretly raised him as their own.

In the same episode, Zoe also tells Noah not to forget everything she's taught him. At the time, it seemed like an innocuous throwaway line; but what if she'd informed him of his true heritage and, in the event that Zoe dies, how to use the alien android's advanced tech? That would explain how Jordan's life is saved if he's severely injured in the previously mentioned house fire, because who else would know how to not only operate the Manhunter medical equipment, but use their synthetic blood — like Zoe did with Stewart — to heal Jordan's wounds?

Furthermore, in the 2026 storyline, Noah has displayed traits characteristic of Zoe and other Manhunters. His natural charisma is not only disarming, but draws people to him (look at how many were excited to learn which college he'd chosen to attend). Throw in his mom calling him a "natural born leader", plus his apparent aspirations to become a US Senator and, potentially, President, and Noah is displaying all the ambitious hallmarks of how Manhunters infiltrate communities and eventually install themselves as a populace's power broker.

6. Lanterns episode 8 will set up something significant for Man of Tomorrow

Stewart's role in Man of Tomorrow notwithstanding, we have no idea how Lanterns will impact the sequel to last year's Superman movie.

Nevertheless, speaking about the DCU's initial lineup reveal in January 2023, DC Studios co-chief James Gunn, who's also directed Man of Tomorrow and its predecessor, hinted that Lanterns' story would be a "terrifying mystery that ties into our larger story of the DCU".

Unless those wider narrative plans for DCU Chapter One, also known as Gods and Monsters, have changed over the last three-and-a-half years, then, Lanterns' season 1 finale could have big implications for Man of Tomorrow and this cinematic franchise as a whole. 'Dirt and Stars' has got a lot of ground to cover, but let's pray it gives us some idea of what Gunn and studio co-head Peter Safran's overall plan is. In the meantime, find out everything we know so far about Man of Tomorrow.

• Watch War on HBO (US) or Sky Atlantic (UK)
• Unlock your stream with NordVPN (save up to 75%)
• First episode premieres Thursday, October 1 at 9pm ET / PT in the US and a day later in the UK

Set in London and starring BAFTA and Golden Globe nominees Sienna Miller and Dominic West, War is a scintillating legal drama featuring some of the biggest, most revered names in British acting. It premieres in the US a day before its UK debut.

It's a show all about two rival law firms, Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne, on opposite sides take of a high-profile divorce case between a tech entrepreneur (West) and his A-list film star wife (Miller). There are eight episodes to thrash it out over, and we already know a second season (with a new case and cast but the same two law firms) is in the pipeline, too).

With other fantastic British actors like Celia Imrie, Nick Mohammed, Archie Renaux, and James McArdle, viewers in the UK are sure to be in for a treat, while US viewers will relish the tantalizing legal journey.

Here's how you can watchWar online from anywhere with a VPN.

Use a VPN to watch War from anywhere

A VPN is a handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country and unlock your usual streaming services. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with up to 75% off.

How to watch War in the US

War premieres on HBO at 9pm ET/PT on Thursday, October 1. Further episodes will go out one at a time in the same slot weekly.

If you don't already have access to HBO, you can still watch War and all of its programming online thanks to the HBO Max streaming platform. Plans start from $10.99 per month, or you can pay more to add live sports and bundle in other streaming services like Disney Plus and Hulu.

HBO is also available with different OTT cord cutting services, often as an added extra. YouTube TV, for example, lets you add HBO Max and is available to try before you buy thanks to its free trial.

Have one of these subscriptions but away when War is on? You can still access your usual streaming services from anywhere by using a VPN.

How to watch War in the UK

War will go out on Sky Atlantic in the UK. Note that episodes in the UK will air a day after their US release, at 9pm on Fridays, from October 2.

Episodes will also be available on catchup on Sky, as well as on the recently launched HBO Max service. It comes free with Sky TV plans, or you can get a standalone subscription from just £5.99 a month.

A further way to watch War in the UK is with a NOW Entertainment Membership from £6.99 a month.

Away from home? You can still connect to your usual streaming services by downloading a VPN and pointing your location back to the UK.

How to watch War in Canada

Crave is home to War in Canada, and follows the same weekly schedule as the US, with new episodes released every Thursday from October 1.

Prices start at CA$11.99/month and CA$119.99/year.

Away from home? You can access your subscriptions by downloading a VPN and pointing your location back to the UK.

How to watch War in Australia

If you're living Down Under, you will need HBO Max to tune in to episodes of War, with prices starting from $11.99 a month and episodes landing weekly from Friday, October 2.

Outside Australia? Aussies away from home can use a VPN to unblock HBO Max and watch War as they would at home.

War – Need to Know

War official trailer

War cast

• Dominic West as Morgan Henderson
• Sienna Miller as Carla Duval
• Phoebe Fox as Serena Byrne
• James McArdle as Nicholas Taylor
• Pip Torrens as St. John Smallwood
• Nina Sosanya as Beatrice "Queen Bea" Ubosi
• Archie Renaux as Jonathan "Johnny" Warren
• Nick Mohammed as Michael Stefano
• Celia Imrie as Budgie
• Shaheen Jafargholi as Saeed Masood
• Akiya Henry as Nora Okafo
• Honor Swinton Byrne as Bella Croft
• Miles Jupp as David Schill
• Kartanya Maynard as Suzie Levitniik
• Alexandra Mardell as Cleo
• Mark Quartley as Fred Templeman
• Steve Furst as Bernard
• Emma Laird as Molly Giordano

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

It's almost time to wave goodbye to Lanterns. Over seven weeks after its premiere, the hit show's season 1 finale is ready to wrap up the stories of John Stewart and Hal Jordan.

Before the final episode of HBO's Green Lantern TV series, titled 'Dirt and Stars', lands on some of the world's best streaming services, I want to know who among you is the ultimate Lanterns fan.

Think it's you? If that's the case, you'll want to test your knowledge of the sci-fi crime drama's debut season by taking on my challenging quiz about the DC Universe's (DCU) latest TV series.

Below, you'll find 36 questions about the show's first seven episodes that'll put your memory to the test.

So, if you think you know your John Stewart from your Hal Jordan, your Guardians of the Universe from your Sinestro, and more besides, I dare you to see if you can achieve 100% by tackling my definitive Lanterns exam.

Lanterns season 1's eighth and final chapter will be released on HBO Max this Sunday (October 4) in North and South America, and next Monday (October 5) everywhere else.

In short, then, you don't have long to see if you've been paying enough attention to be crowned the DCU Chapter One TV series' number one fan. So, hop to it!

Once you're done, post your final score in the comments. That way, I can see who deserves to be crowned the biggest Lanterns fan.

Be sure to check back in with me once this season's final chapter has aired, too, because I'll have plenty more Lanterns coverage to bring you as the dust settles on what's likely to be a shock-filled finale.

If you're under the age of 30 and think of the name Celia Imrie, you likely think of the woman who farted in a log cabin during an episode of The Celebrity Traitors season 1.

Obviously you'd be factually correct, but this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of just how iconic Imrie actually is. From Acorn Antiques and Dinnerladies to Calendar Girls and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, if there's been a worthwhile British drama, she's been there to improve it.

Now, the same can be said for War on HBO Max (international) and Sky TV (UK). Following two legal firms as they represent a spouse in a high-profile divorce trial, Imrie plays Budgie, a freelance barrister working for the newly established Taylor & Byrne.

From watching the trailer below, you might have assumed, like me, that Imrie was to play the High Court Judge overseeing the trial. According to Taylor and Byrne themselves, James McArdle and Phoebe Fox, Imrie had those onset so fooled by her power, that their opening scene in episode 1 had to be entirely reshot.

'She has such inherent power'

"She is such an incredibly charismatic woman and has such an inherent power," Fox tells me. "Originally, she just turns up and is in the office with us having a scene — but they actually had to reshoot her entering the office because everyone who watched it thought that she ran the company.

"We're the bosses, but that wasn't clear, apparently. She's a dream woman to work with."

And water is wet. This news doesn't surprise me in the slightest... but what I didn't realise is that Celebrity Traitors was airing at the same time as War was being filmed, which must have been like striking gold for any other cast members with a penchant for reality TV.

"While we were filming, Traitors was on," McArdle adds. "It was really hard for the director to get me to concentrate because I just kept trying to get spoilers out of Celia and Nick (Mohammed). Celia and I knew each other from way before, so I thought she would tell me... but she never did."

Oh, didn't I mention that there's also a Celebrity Traitors reunion within the cast too? More on that later this week. For now, set your clocks ready to watch War this Friday (October 2).

• The teaser for Lanterns' eighth and final episode has been posted online
• It's sparked a major new fan theory about John Stewart and Sinestro
• It appears to have ties to the show's name and title card

Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns episode 7. Potentially huge spoilers are also discussed for Lanterns episode 8.

The trailer for Lanterns' season 1 finale has sparked a major new theory among fans — and it's got nothing to do with the central mystery surrounding Hal Jordan.

HBO's Green Lantern TV show has been a hot topic of conversation since it premiered in mid-August. Indeed, ever since Lanterns episode 1 dropped the bombshell that Hal Jordan had been murdered in its 2026 storyline, fans have, among other things, been trying to solve events surrounding this shocking moment.

With just one chapter, titled 'Dirt and Stars' remaining, many are hoping that Lanterns will explain all before its end credits roll for the final time. However, viewers are also now wondering about John Stewart's fate in the HBO Max show following the release of the forthcoming finale's teaser — and I'm starting to believe that what they're predicting might come to pass.

Is John Stewart going to become the DC Universe's first Yellow Lantern?

I'll preface what follows by saying I haven't seen 'Dirt and Stars'. I watched the first seven episodes for my spoiler-free Lanterns review, but HBO and DC Studios don't want anything from this week's chapter to leak online ahead of time. As such, members of the press won't see it prior to its debut on October 4/5, which means I have no insider information on how the season 1 story will be wrapped up.

But, I digress. With Stewart and the Hal-O-Gram — the latter being a digital back-up of Jordan's consciousness, which lives inside Jordan's Green Lantern ring — traveling off-world and crossing paths with Sinestro in episode 7, the stage is set for a dramatic season finale.

The debuting of Lanterns episode 8 teaser has only further raised our collective excitement levels. More than that, though, it's sparked a new fan theory that, as this article's sub-header acknowledges, Stewart might be getting set up to be the DC Universe's (DCU) first Yellow Lantern.

I covered the creation of the Yellow Lanterns, otherwise known as the Sinestro Corps., in my Sinestro in Lanterns explained article. Essentially, though, this antagonistic faction wield Lantern rings fueled by fear, rather than willpower, which powers Green Lantern rings.

With Yellow Lanterns being required to understand and control fear, it's not a leap to suggest that the DCU's Stewart is a prime candidate for this role.

After all, he's been trained to be fearless since the age of five, so he'd make for a perfect Yellow Lantern if the manipulative Sinestro can persuade Stewart to join his cause — something Sinestro is clearly trying to do by telling Stewart: "The Guardians [of the Universe] think fear makes you weak. They couldn't be more wrong. Fear can be the most powerful force in the universe."

Some fans are convinced that, while Stewart might not fully help to form the Sinestro Corps. in the DCU Chapter One project, he's set to become a Yellow Lantern instead of a Green one, too.

"Is it just me, or are they setting up John as a Yellow Lantern?" Reddit user MrMojoRising422 mused. "John's gonna be a Lantern.. but Green? not 100% sure," FlashyClaim also pondered, before fmalk wrote: "Maybe he's only meant to be a Lantern in [James Gunn's Superman sequel] Man of Tomorrow? After this episode 7, I wouldn't bet 100% on him been Green."

"Yeah, the finale is gonna be about Sinestro tempting John with becoming a Yellow Lantern," Maleficent-Choice254 suggested, while ArcadianBlueRogue asked: "Are....are they gonna have the balls to have John have to pick between the Green and Yellow rings?"

There's evidence to suggest this fan theory might not be so wild, either.

For one, Lanterns' title card seems to have been foreshadowing this since the show began, with its green hues subtly being replaced by a brighter yellow as the weeks have gone on. If that's not a big clue that Stewart's allegiance might switch from the Greens to the Yellows, I don't know what it is.

Additionally, Lanterns' tagline of "only one can wear the ring" implies that there can only be one Green Lantern on planet Earth. Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner is the current holder of that title so, unless Stewart finds a loophole that allows Earth to have two Green Lanterns, becoming a Yellow Lantern might be the only option available to him.

Then there's Redditors Elegant_Positive5768 and M00reC, plus X/Twitter user OlinOnBull, who've reminded us that DC Studios co-head James Gunn shared a very specific image of John Stewart when Lanterns was announced as part of the original DCU Chapter One line-up in January 2023. The picture in question? Stewart wielding a Yellow Lantern ring.

Another sign that gives legs to this hypothesis is the Hal-O-Gram telling Stewart "you're taking a very big risk" in the episode 8 teaser.

Is he warning Stewart that he's taking a major gamble by trusting Sinestro and/or becoming a Yellow Lantern, which would infuriate the Guardians? If so, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Guardians send Guy Gardner, aka Earth's current Green Lantern, to forewarn Stewart about the potential pitfalls of doing this.

The season finale's teaser confirms Gardner will show up. Furthermore, at the 1:31 mark of Lanterns' official trailer, we see Gardner telling someone that an army is going to be sent to "put you down". That trailer was edited in a way to make it seem like he was talking to Jordan, but what if it's actually Stewart who he's speaking to?

As the above X/Twitter user points out, we already know Aaron Pierre will return as John Stewart in Man of Tomorrow, but there's no word on whether he'll be a Green Lantern in one of next year's most exciting new movies.

I'll readily admit it'll be a massive — and likely controversial — swing from Lanterns' creators and wider writing team if it ends with Stewart being a Yellow Lantern rather than a Green Lantern. But hey, I'm all for narrative surprises if it's not to the detriment of a character's overarching journey. So, if all roads have been leading Stewart to become a Yellow Lantern (even if it's temporary), I'm all for it.

But, what do you think: will Stewart end season 1 as a Green or Yellow Lantern? Let me know in the comments.

There's meta, and then there's Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.

We've been following awkward comic book owner Stuart (Kevin Sussman), who accidentally triggered a multiverse Armageddon after breaking a device supposedly built by Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki).

Did we see the latter two appear in any of season 1's 10 episodes? No. Does the fact that many of The Big Bang Theory cameos and a season 2 renewal mean we should hold out hope for the future? Absolutely.

However, absolutely nothing is guaranteed in this HBO Max show. Given that the core concept shifts between universes, creators Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Prady could come up with literally anything they wanted, and it makes canonical sense.

This leaves us with the biggest TV guessing game of all, so let's try and work out what Stuart Fails to Save the Universe season 2 will look like together.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe season 2 release window predictions

We've currently got no idea when season 2 could start production or be released, but we do know that episodes are pretty quick to film. If you think of production in sitcom format, episodes could be turned around as soon as six months' time.

However, my best guess would be that we'll likely see new episodes in summer 2027. Chuck Lorre is a busy man with a lot of plates spinning, after all.

“We’re delighted with how this hilarious, genre-bending show from Chuck, Zak, and Bill has connected with the audience, both devotees of The Big Bang Theory and new fans alike,” Amy Gravitt, Head of HBO & HBO Max Comedy Series, said when the renewal was announced in August.

“Along with everyone else, we can’t wait to see the worlds they conjure for these beloved characters next season.”

Writing has begun for new episodes, though, so stay tuned.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe season 2 trailer: is there one?

Don't be silly. It took us until the end of June 2026 to get one for season 1, so expect the first full trailer to arrive around two weeks before the second season does.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe season 2 cast

We can expect the below awesome foursome to return for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe season 2:

• Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom
• Lauren Lapkus as Denise
• Brian Posehn as Bert Kibbler
• John Ross Bowie as Barry Kripke

Obviously, season 1 had a lot of surprise cameos, meaning any of the below could also be eligible to return in an unspecified alternate form:

• Kunal Nayyar as Alternate Raj
• Wil Wheaton as Alternate Wil Wheaton
• Mayim Bialik as Alternate Amy Farrah Fowler
• Kaley Cuoco as Alternate Penny
• Melissa Rauch as Alternate Bernadette
• Christine Baranski as Herself
• Riki Lindhome as Ramona Nowitzki

We can also expect new cast members to be announced, though we likely won't find out who until closer to the show's release... and given how many surprises there were in season 1, possibly not even until episodes air.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe season 2 plot predictions

For once in my life, I've got no idea what to put here. Obviously, the core concept of Stuart, Denise, Kripke, and Bert landing in a different universe in each episode will stay firm, but what that will look like is anybody's guess at this stage.

While writing for new episodes is underway, there's still no big master plan for the future. "It would be great if I had the big picture," Lorre told TechRadar shortly before season 1 was released. "Wouldn't that be swell? I don't. There's no big picture. This is just chasing what seems to be fun to do... the big picture would require a bigger person."

Penn added, "We purposefully wrote ourselves into corners. We like doing that and then saying, 'How are we going to get out of this?' That was definitely part of the design of how the team writes and how they wanted to approach it. It makes it more fun not really knowing where we were going to be and how we were going to get there.

"Eventually, we figured some stuff out and came up with an ending. But [the show] was never designed to be 'Oh, we know where all of this is going.'"

For now, I'm continuing on with the perhaps-delusional belief that I could find myself in the season 2 writers' room within a matter of months. So, I pitched the team two ideas for future storylines.

The first is addressing the really big picture: use Stuart Fails to Save the Universe to address the existing problem of George Cooper being dead, and bring him back to life through an alternate universe. That way, Young Sheldon fans get the ending they really wanted.

"We'll definitely keep your ideas in mind," Penn says. "There are an infinite number of universes within this universe, so the universe that you're looking for is going to exist by definition. Whether it makes it to TV is another question."

So far, so good. But I hammer this home with another idea: explore the episode 2 universe that reveals film and TV's Christine Baranski is an AI overlord.

Bill Prady responds, "We'll have to see how the rebellion goes and what happens afterwards. What do they do to her afterwards?"

"She'd be tried," Lorre agrees. "Well, there we go — there's something we can do if we get a second season."

It's that time of year again — and the world's best streaming services are up to their usual tricks.

Indeed, with fall (or spring, if you live south of the equator) upon us once more, the entertainment giants of the world are ready to demand more of your hard-earned money by jacking up the prices of their various streaming-platform plans.

So far, four of the world's leading streamers have passed increased costs onto consumers, with three doing so in the US — and they're only getting more brazen with when they announce these price hikes and how much they're now charging.

Just look at Apple TV raising its monthly and annual fees by $2 and $20 respectively in late August. Then there's the 2026 Disney+ and Hulu price rise, which came into effect a whole month earlier (September 23) than in 2025 (October 21), and now asks new and returning users to pay an extra $0.50 to $3 per month for the plan they want to sign up for. And don't get me started on Netflix's recent UK price hike, which saw its cheap, ads-based plan rise by an eye-watering 34%...

Admittedly, Disney has frozen the price on three of its streaming bundles, including its cheapest ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle. While that's worth applauding, especially for those on a budget, it's scant consolation for anyone subscribed to one of the House of Mouse's more expensive, ad-free, standalone plans or bundles.

Those higher fees will be an even more bitter pill to swallow amid Disney's claims that they're necessary to improve the user experience on their streaming platforms. Try telling that to Disney+'s worldwide user base, which was left fuming over reports — ones that have since been proved false — that Disney+ would soon show ads on its ad-free plans, and UK and European users after they temporarily lost 4K and HDR support on Disney+ in late July.

Netflix, Disney, and Apple are far from the only culprits, mind you.

Rival streamers including Prime Video and HBO Max have also bumped up the price of their plans in recent years. At the time of this article's publication, there's no word on when they or other subscription video on demand (SVOD) platforms will announce their latest — and inevitable — annual price increases. Mark my words, though: it's coming.

Predictably, all of this begs an obvious question: how long will we continue to put up with these now-yearly price hikes?

If you listen to some users on myriad social media platforms, the straw has already broken the camel's back. Dive into any Reddit thread, or search for terms like 'Netflix price hike' on X/Twitter or the ResetEra forums, and you'll find numerous examples of people who have already voted with their bank cards and canceled their subscriptions.

Unfortunately, the number of users who have closed their accounts is a mere drop in the ocean for the globe's entertainment titans. With a reported 260 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix simply doesn't care if a handful of paying patrons walk away because it doesn't even dent their bottom line.

That said, the tide may be turning. Per Yahoo Finance, Netflix's stock has recently taken an almighty beating. The reason? A change in viewing habits that's seen people flock to YouTube and TikTok to watch more short-form video content. Add to the mix the constant cancellation of fan-favorite shows, less unmissable content worth streaming, and certain features being locked behind expensive tiers, and why would people pay for Netflix, Disney+, and company when they can get visual content for free elsewhere?

Is that enough to make the world's leading streamers sit up and take notice? Probably not. In my view, the only way Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock, or any other SVOD service will listen is if tens of millions of users suddenly and collectively ended their subscriptions — and, frankly, that's almost never going to happen.

However, if people really want a sea change in the industry from a subscription cost standpoint, a major user revolution is required. Until we collectively say "enough is enough" and hit these companies where it hurts (i.e., their income streams), the streaming service spending scam will continue — and the price hike bubble will never, ever burst.

We're only a few days from Lanterns' second-to-last episode. Indeed, with the hit sci-fi crime drama's next chapter due out shortly, we don't have much longer to see John Stewart team up with the Hal-O-Gram — aka the digital back-up of Hal Jordan's consciousness — to continue investigating the real Hal's apparent murder.

So, will John get on better with this version of Hal than the real thing? What lies in store for them in the DC Universe (DCU) show's seventh entry? And, most importantly, when will it premiere?

I'm not at liberty to answer the first two, but I can tell you more about episode 7's release date and launch time. So, read on to learn more.

When does episode 7 of Lanterns come out?

HBO's Green Lantern TV show will return for its next installment, titled 'The Jordan Boys Legacy', in the US and Canada on Sunday, September 27 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

Just like every episode before it, this week's chapter will come out a day later outside of North and South America. Viewers in other territories, then, will need to wait until Monday, September 28, to see the DCU Chapter One TV series' penultimate entry. Check out the list below to see what time it'll drop where you live:

• US — Sunday, September 27 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, September 27 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, September 28 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, September 28 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, September 28 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, September 28 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, September 28 at 1pm NZST

Where can I watch Lanterns episode 7?

All episodes of Lanterns — including this week's entry — air on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, in nations that the platform is available.

For some reason, HBO Max hasn't launched in every world region, so some of you will need to go elsewhere to stream the DC comic book TV series. Alternatively, you could just make things easier for yourself and read the below list:

• US — HBO and HBO Max
• Canada — Crave
• UK — HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and Now TV
• India — JioHotstar
• Singapore — HBO Max
• Australia — HBO Max
• New Zealand — HBO Max

Lanterns full release schedule: when do new episodes come out?

Unfortunately, only two more episodes of the Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler-led show remain.

As long as HBO doesn't suddenly change the launch date for the final two chapters, they'll continue to air on Sundays in the Americas and Mondays on other continents. There's no reason to suspect that an unexpected release schedule alteration will happen for the forthcoming finale, either, so I'm confident it'll be released at the same time that its forebears were.

Anyway, here's a quick breakdown of when the remaining entries will come out:

• Lanterns episode 1 — out now
• Lanterns episode 2 — out now
• Lanterns episode 3 — out now
• Lanterns episode 4 — out now
• Lanterns episode 5 — out now
• Lanterns episode 6 — out now
• Lanterns episode 7 — September 27/28
• Lanterns episode 8 — October 4/5

For more on the hit series ahead of its next episode, check out what Lanterns' midseason trailer tells us about its final two chapters. Then, read up on why I'm fearing the worst for Lanterns season 2.

Fall — or spring, if you live in the southern hemisphere — has arrived. And, while that means the nights are about to get longer or shorter for you, some things will stay the same — including the release of new movies and TV shows on the world's best streaming services.

After last week's top-heavy TV series round-up, its follow-up has done a complete 180 and delivered a bonanza of new films to enjoy, including two of the biggest hits of 2026 on Disney+ and HBO Max. So, what are you waiting for? Scroll on to find out more. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Toy Story 5 (Disney+)

I'm going to be frank: Toy Story 5 doesn't have a friend in mine. Indeed, as I said in my Toy Story 5 review, it's not terrible, but it's certainly a "a few Lightyears away from the Disney film series' best entries".

Still, if you're a sucker for a new Toy Story project, or any Pixar film for the matter, you can check out the multi-billion dollar-spinning movie franchise's latest outing on Disney's primary streamer. This time around, Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and company have to contend with the prospect of being replaced by high-tech toys and devices, so it's a timely albeit predictable fifth outing for the fan-favorite toys. — TP

• Watch Toy Story 5 on Disney+

Backrooms (HBO Max)

Did you know Backrooms filmmaker Kane Parsons was only 20 years old when he made his feature film directorial debut? It's all that most outlets could talk about before his much-anticipated adaptation of the viral internet phenomenon hit theaters.

Well, nobody's talking about his age now, because Backrooms, which has arrived on HBO Max, was a major hit for A24 earlier this year. I enjoyed it up to its final act (I don't think it stuck the landing), but my colleague Lucy Buglass ended her Backrooms review by giving it five out of five stars, so it comes highly recommended from one of us!

I could tell you about its plot, but the less you know about this one, the better, believe me. — TP

• Watch Backrooms on HBO Max

Unabomber (Netflix)

What happened to that tiny little boy from Room? Well, he grew up to play domestic terrorist Ted Kaczynski for a Netflix movie, that's what.

Jacob Tremblay stars as the self-titled Unabomber, who was behind a series of mail bombs that killed its recipients in 1994. However, instead of following the man as each fatal moment unfolds, Unabomber takes us back to his Harvard days in 1958 and examines what led him to becoming the infamous domestic terrorist.

It's really answering the question that we're endlessly dying to know: what makes someone kill another? In this case, it's a mix of bullying and becoming the subject of severe psychological experiments. Oof. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Unabomber on Netflix

Brothers (Apple TV)

What would you do if you took a long-standing rumor and decided to run with it? If you're Apple, you fully lean into the fact that Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are related, and create a TV show titled Brothers.

The famously close friends, who some observers believe are half-brothers, play fictionalized versions of themselves in this new Apple TV comedy series that — yep, you guessed it — plays along with the fact that they may be blood relatives.

Obviously, the whole thing is played for laughs, but I suspect Brothers will do little to dispel the gossip that the A-listers might be closer than everyone, including themselves, initially thought. Will we ever find out for sure? If an incredibly reluctant McConaughey ever takes a DNA test, sure, but don't gets your hopes up... — TP

• Watch Brothers on Apple TV

The Love Hypothesis (Prime Video)

Prime Video isn't loosening its grip on young adult romantic drama just yet. The Love Hypothesis , which is based on Ali Hazelwood's book namesake, is the latest in line of its banging 2026 genre content.

In a nutshell, Olive (Lili Reinhart) is a third-year biology PhD candidate at Stanford researching early pancreatic cancer detection. In order to convince her best friend Anh (Rachel Marsh) that she has completely moved on from a crush, Olive impulsively grabs and kisses Adam (Tom Bateman) in the lab hallway.

The two make a mutually beneficial agreement to fake date each other... though that fakeness doesn't last for long. Personally, I think the strongest love story here is between the two besties, but the new movie ticks all of the rom-com boxes that it needs to. — JV

• Watch The Love Hypothesis on Prime Video

Jackass: Best and Last (Paramount+)

How many times can you put explosives in your butt, dangle on a wire over a pool of alligators, or get slapped to the ground by a giant mechanical hand? 11, if you count all the movies, which sign off with Jackass: Best and Last.

Expect more of the same idiotic vibes with a touch more sentimentality. Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and the rest of the gang return for more outrageous and hilarious stunts, and my jaw is still on the floor after all of these years.

What you really won't expect is how strangely moving the whole thing is. Do I really believe this is the end? No. Surely these guys will be the Cher of final farewell tours, but what do I know? Well, apart from the fact it's out on Paramount+... — JV

• Watch Jackass: Best and Last on Paramount+

A Different World (Netflix)

This 10-episode series feels worth watching purely because one of its main characters is called Dwayne Wayne. Hilarious names aside, A Different World is Netflix's revival of the hits 1990s sitcom of the same name, and follows a freshman and her ride-or-die crew juggling school, romantic drama, and family legacy at a historically Black college.

Can the 2026 version live up to the huge shoes it has to fill? Time will tell. But, with multiple original cast members returning to the new show, I'm more than willing to give it a shot. — JV

• Watch A Different World on Netflix

I probably shouldn't have told Dominic West that he plays punchable characters incredibly well when I interviewed him a few weeks ago, but it's painfully true. From The Affair to his Nationwide adverts (sorry, but that guy needs a slap), West has the sub-genre ingeniously sewn up.

As of October 2, we can add War to the list. Streaming on Sky TV (UK) and HBO Max (internationally), we follow the high-profile divorce of British celebrities Morgan (West) and Carla (Sienna Miller) after Carla sets up a honeytrap to expose Morgan's infidelity throughout their marriage.

They're not the only two who have beef, though. Morgan's law firm, Cathcarts, is a stalwart of the legal world, with Carla's firm, Taylor & Byrne, co-founded by an old Cathcarts employee who was refused partnership. Think old money meets nouveau riche, if this was a reality TV show.

What we're left with is the kind of delicious legal drama that only the unique complexities of British culture could pull off this well. The legal system, our consumption of popular celebrity culture and our continued fascination with people's private lives are eviscerated at every turn, and I frankly love being reminded that collectively, we're getting so much wrong.

But nobody is real here, so we can happily get stuck into berating them — and by God, do they give us a lot of ammunition. From Carla and Morgan's sneaky manoeuvres behind closed doors to new legal assistant Johnny (Archie Renaux), who thinks he's outwitting everyone around him when he's really ten steps behind, there's something for every armchair gossip.

War is the ultimate game of celebrity tennis — with no winners

Not only is the above trailer possibly one of the strongest of the year, but it aptly sets the scene for our modern Shakespeare tragedy without giving too much away. Unsurprisingly, Miller and West are our focal points, and as punchable as West makes Morgan, I'm actually floored by how much the pair is able to give these roles.

When you take a step back, the level of public scrutiny both Carla and Morgan receive is incredibly true to life. Both are mercilessly hounded by the press through relentless front-page tabloid articles, uncomfortable questions at events, and even lawyer-up red carpet premieres. It's a situation that I can vividly remember both actors being in before, and I applaud their remarkable level of personal and professional separation.

If it were me, I'd have had a major chip on my shoulder having to fictionally revisit the things that made me the most miserable over the last few decades of my life. But that's the beauty of good actors — being willing to put themselves on the line to allow viewers to engage as critically as possible. Trust me... I think you'll learn a lot from its premise.

The structure, overall, has one fatal flaw. From War's opening seconds, we're booted into the trenches of doomed marriage with such severity that we could collectively get a headache. But fast-forward seven episodes and the stakes are exactly the same. Think of the eight-episode season as a flatlining heart monitor... It's not a good result for a patient on The Pitt, and not entirely successful for us, either.

Celia Imrie and Nina Sosanya, take a bow

But when things are good, they're golden (with the exception of the very underwhelming theme song). Biting, cutting, and scheming at every turn, War is a British legal drama at its best. None of this is possible without a cracking ensemble cast, of course, and there are two standouts in particular.

The first, which shouldn't be surprising, is Celia Imrie. From the trailer, you'd have guessed that she plays the High Court Judge overseeing the trial, but she's actually "freelance lawyer" Budgie working under Taylor & Byrne. I'm wording that generously, seeing as the minute she enters the room, all decisions pay deference to her presence. That's exactly how it should be, and if anyone was going to represent me in court, I'd want it to be Imrie.

After her epically infamous fart on The Celebrity Traitors season 1, I'm glad that Imrie's back on the international stage, proving that she's always been a world-class esteemed performer, don't you know. Seth Rogen's reference to her at the 2026 TV BAFTAs annoyed me endlessly... Calendar Girls was my favorite film at eight years old for good reason, man.

Then there's Nina Sosanya, a woman I have been parasocially in love with for decades. I can guarantee that you'll recognise her immediately thanks to her quiet commitment to making TV shows and movies infinitely better just by turning up in them. As head Cathcart's lawyer Bea, she's the Miranda Priestly of the British legal world, and her razor-sharp tongue provides lashings of delectable dialogue. Let's get her on Celebrity Traitors season 3, BBC.

With shortcomings so small, you'd be a fool to miss out on War next month. Even better: it's an anthology series, so expect a gripping defamation case to hit our screens in the future.

Spoilers for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 10 ahead.

We've finally arrived at the end of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe (SFtStU) and episode 10 certainly didn't let us down. In fact, it's the closest to The Big Bang Theory (TBBT) that we've been since 2019.

Although Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) don't appear in the finale — remember, they built the multiversal machine that Stuart (Kevin Sussman) has been responsible for breaking, this season's finale takes us back to where it all began in a different way.

Indeed, as Kevin, Denise (Lauren Lapkus), Kripke (John Ross Bowie), and Bert (Brian Posehn) arrive in yet another alternate universe, they're confronted with others versions of themselves filming the HBO Max show in front of a live studio audience.

Aside from Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, creators haven't used a sitcom studio multicam format since TBBT itself.... but the Easter eggs don't stop there.

For Posehn and Bowie, the entire thing was "surreal," but could it indicate more of what we can expect to see in the future, including the already greenlit SFtStU season 2?

'It felt like the old show but wildly different'

"Episode 10 definitely felt the most surreal for me," Posehn told me.

"It was interesting because it was the only time during the entire run of this show that we had a studio audience there," Bowie added. "It felt like a real mix of being like the old show, but also feeling wildly different."

"We were back on that same stage, weren't we? Stage 25," Posehn continuds. "That's our old stage, so that was really weird."

You heard correctly. As the gang point out, while leaving the live studio audience behind, they've been plopped onto Stage 25 on the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, California. The stage was named lot is officially named "The Big Bang Theory Stage" in honor of the aforementioned sitcom's 10-season run.

Fun fact: Stage 25 is one of only five stages on the entire lot to be named after a show, with the other four being The Ellen DeGeneres Show, E.R., Friends, and Two and Half Men. Stage 25 is part of the public lot tour, but that's the closest we've been to reviving its TBBT spirit, until now.

"The whole thing was just extremely trippy and fun," Bowie agreed.

I hope more of these incredibly obvious tributes to the original series are made in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe season 2, purely for the fun and whimsy of it. I don't massively mind if Sheldon and Leonard never turn up, but I do want Chuck Lorre to bring George Cooper back to life... but that's another story.

For Stuart Fails to Save the Universe viewers who have been waiting for things to feel exactly like The Big Bang Theory... your moment has arrived.

Sure, we've had a whole host of cameos from the original show (though three notable faces have yet to turn up), but zipping from unhinged universe to unhinged universe has been a world away from the science sitcom we know and love.

But what if I said that there's a key reason why this week's episode could be straight out of 2007? And when does Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 9 arrive on HBO Max?

What time can I watch Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 10 on HBO Max?

For US viewers, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 10 will drop on Thursday, September 24 at 6pm PT/9pm ET.

Internationally, you're looking out for these times:

• US – Thursday, September 24 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – Thursday, September 24 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK – Friday, September 25 at 2am BST
• India – Friday, September 25 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, September 25 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, September 25 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, September 25 at 1pm NZST

When do new episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe come out?

New episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will make landfall every Thursday in the US and on Fridays everywhere else. Here are the all-important dates you need to know about:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: out now
• Episode 5: out now
• Episode 6: out now
• Episode 7: out now
• Episode 8: out now
• Episode 9: out now
• Episode 10: September 24

Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns episode 6.

Lanterns episode 6 has made its debut on HBO Max — and while it didn't answer every big question I had heading into Lanterns' sixth chapter, it does include a cameo from someone who's an incredibly important part of the Green Lantern mythos.

Titled 'Bad Optics', this week's chapter sees John Stewart return to Rushville 10 years after the town's near-destruction to investigate the apparent death of Hal Jordan. Before his mentor's funeral, Stewart meets and interacts with a character who has strong ties to Jordan in DC Comics, and whose presence in this DC Universe (DCU) TV show further cements the wider worldbuilding — or should that be universe-building — of this nascent cinematic franchise.

So, who is this mystery individual? What's their relationship to Hal Jordan? And could we see their superhuman alter ego at some point in the DCU? Let's take a look at the latest comic book character to be referenced in the hit HBO Max show.

Who is Carol Ferris in Lanterns? Hal Jordan's love interest in DC Comics, explained

Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, Carol Ferris is not only Hal Jordan's long-time love interest but was also one of his most noteworthy foes for many years.

Making her debut in Showcase #22 in late 1959, Carol was introduced to readers as the only child of aerospace mogul Carl Ferris and the vice president of her father's company, Ferris Aircraft. After hiring Hal Jordan as a test pilot for said corporation, Carol quickly falls in love with the soon-to-be Green Lantern, but their romantic relationship doesn't last.

The reason? Carol is abducted, brainwashed, and turned into one of Jordan's arch-nemeses in the form of Star Sapphire by the Zamarons. Formerly part of an alien race called the Maltusians, the female members of this species became the Zamarons after parting ways with the male Maltusians, who then rebranded themselves as the Oans — or, to call them by their more common name, the Guardians of the Universe.

With the immortal Guardians no longer requiring their female counterparts to procreate, the Zamarons left them to their devices, developed a warrior-like cult, and — to cut a long story short — soon became fierce rivals to the Guardians.

But back to Carol. Following her kidnapping, she's infused with an incredibly powerful space stone known as a Star Sapphire, which turns her into a superhuman capable of going toe-to-toe with a Green Lantern.

Abilities-wise, Star Sapphire's powerset includes — but isn't limited to — the ability to fly, create energy blasts, constructs, and force fields, survive in space, alter people's minds, and even heal individuals with the power of... well, love.

Anyway, ever since Star Sapphire's first appearance in October 1962's Green Lantern vol. 2 #16, Carol and Hal have battled each other on a regular basis as their superpowered aliases. Whenever Carol isn't possessed by the space gem she's synonymous with, the pair get on pretty well (for the most part) and have been romantically entangled on an on-off basis through the decades.

More recently, Star Sapphire has taken on the role of a superhero rather than a supervillain. In fact, as of 2007's Green Lantern vol. 4 #20, Carol is the leader of the Star Sapphire Corps, otherwise known as the Violet Lantern Corps. This group has purple power rings, which are charged/powered by the emotion of love, and are now viewed as allies of the Green Lantern Corps.

Who plays Carol Ferris in Lanterns?

That'll be Amie MacKenzie. Viewers might recognize her from Better Call Saul and The Madison on Netflix, Dexter: Original Sin and Yellowstone spin-off 1923 on Paramount+, Mountainhead on HBO Max, and MacGruber on Peacock.

Lanterns' latest chapter doesn't indicate whether we'll see Carol again. While her appearance at Hal's poorly attended funeral suggests they were together at some point prior in the DCU, it seems her inclusion is simply to make diehard DC comic book fans imitate that famous Leonardo DiCaprio meme from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Don't expect to see MacKenzie as Carol's superpowered alter-ego at any point in the DCU, then.

Anyway, this isn't the first time Carol has appeared in a live-action project. She was portrayed by Blake Lively in 2011's Green Lantern movie, which starred Ryan Reynolds as the titular hero and was slammed by fans and critics alike upon release. But, hey, Reynolds and Lively fell in love, got married, and had kids after meeting on that film, so something good came out of it for them!

How Carol Ferris' cameo might be hinting at the creation of more Lantern Corps

In spite of what I've just written, though, it's possible Carol's appearance could point to the formation of other Lantern Corps in the DCU.

Okay, that already appears to be a given. Sinestro's brief appearances in the DCU Chapter One show and Lanterns' title card slowly changing from green to yellow imply that it won't be long before Sinestro creates the Yellow Lantern Corps, if he hasn't secretly done so already.

Regardless, with Carol showing up in the sci-fi crime drama, we've now met individuals with ties to three of the seven Lantern Corps that exist in DC Comics, all of which harness a specific feeling on the emotional spectrum: Green (willpower), Yellow (fear), and Violet (love). The others are Red (rage), Blue (hope), Indigo (compassion), and Orange (greed).

Will we see any and/or all of these interstellar organizations in the DCU? It's possible, although recent comments made by the head of HBO have me fearing the worst about Lanterns season 2. If another season of this successful TV series isn't greenlit, we'd have to hope that they're part of a Green Lantern movie — maybe an adaptation of the acclaimed 'Sinestro Corps War' comic storyline, perhaps? — on the big screen instead.

Lanterns' endgame is fast approaching. Indeed, only three episodes remain of the increasingly popular sci-fi crime show's debut season, so it won't be long until it no longer lights up our screens.

Right now, though, you just want to know when the DC Universe (DCU) TV series' next chapter, which will pick up the story 10 years after the devastating Rushville-based events we saw in last week's entry, will air. So, read on to find out when HBO's Green Lantern TV show will return for its sixth episode.

When does episode 6 of Lanterns come out?

Titled 'Bad Optics', Lanterns episode 6 will arrive in the US and Canada on Sunday, September 20 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

Don't live in those nations? You'll have to wait until Monday, September 21 to catch the DCU Chapter One TV series' sixth chapter. I can point you in the right direction of its launch time where you're based, too, so check out the list below for more details:

• US — Sunday, September 20 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, September 20 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, September 21 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, September 21 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, September 21 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, September 21 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, September 21 at 1pm NZST

Where can I watch Lanterns episode 6?

I sound like a broken record at this point, but every episode of Lanterns — including this week's entry — will drop on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, in countries that it's launched in.

Live somewhere that the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned platform hasn't come to yet? There are other TV networks and streamers that the DC comic book show is available on. Read on to see where you can see it in your neck of the woods:

• US — HBO and HBO Max
• Canada — Crave
• UK — HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and Now TV
• India — JioHotstar
• Singapore — HBO Max
• Australia — HBO Max
• New Zealand — HBO Max

Lanterns full release schedule: when do new episodes come out?

As I mentioned above, there are only three more episodes of the Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler-fronted TV program to enjoy before it'll go off air.

So, when will that final trio arrive? If you've been watching from the start, you'll already be aware that new installments premiere every Sunday in North America, and on Mondays in other territories.

Even so, regardless of whether you're a long-time reader or new around these parts, you'll want to know the exact date that every remaining chapter will come out on. For more details, scroll on:

• Lanterns episode 1 — out now
• Lanterns episode 2 — out now
• Lanterns episode 3 — out now
• Lanterns episode 4 — out now
• Lanterns episode 5 — out now
• Lanterns episode 6 — September 20/21
• Lanterns episode 7 — September 27/28
• Lanterns episode 8 — October 4/5

For more on the hit series' ahead of its next episode, read about the five big questions I need Lanterns episode 6 to answer. Then, see what Lanterns' midseason trailer tells us about its final three chapters. Lastly, find out why I'm fearing the worst for Lanterns season 2.

We've officially passed the midway point of September 2026 — and your reward for doing so is a weekend full of thrilling television.

Indeed, our latest streaming round-up features a bumper crop of new and returning shows on the world's best streaming services. That's a good thing, too, because new movies released at home are at a premium this week.

Still, with the eagerly anticipated new seasons of Apple TV and Paramount+ Originals — among others — to enjoy, you're spoiled for choice over what you should watch first this weekend. So, scroll on to see what'll be top of your watchlist. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

MobLand season 2 (Paramount+)

Look lively, gang — the Harrigans are back in town. MobLand season 2 is even more chaotic than before, and that makes for absolutely exceptional TV.

Conrad's feud with Kevin ramps up a notch, embroiling new 'fixer' Frankie in their mess as family arch-rival Kat tries to take control of London from a distance. This leaves Harry having to clean up even more mess than before, particularly considering his and Jan's impending divorce.

If you think you understand, you don't — between the Harrigans and us, it's the blind leading the blind. But, that makes tuning into Paramount+ this week all the more enriching, because everyone is prepared to take a risk. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch MobLand season 2 on Paramount+

Slow Horses season 6 (Apple TV)

The latest season of Slow Horses didn't trot, but rather galloped back onto Apple's streaming platform earlier this week — and with good reason. The hit thriller's sixth installment sees past and present agents of Slough House targeted by mysterious adversaries, which forces the likes of Gary Oldman's Jackson Lamb, Jack Lowden's River Cartwright, and — spoiler — the returning Olivia Cooke's Sid Baker to go on the run.

With two more seasons already in development, there'll be even more spy- and crime-based drama to enjoy sometime in 2027. Whether we'll see all of our favorite oddballs and damaged individuals return for that chapter, though, remains to be seen. — TP

• Watch Slow Horses season 6 on Apple TV

Neagley (Prime Video)

If you've loved watching Reacher season 4 but absolutely hated that loyal sidekick Neagley wasn't in it, I've got the perfect solution for you. Self-titled Neagley is the spinoff you'll have been waiting for, and it's a seamless continuation of the popular Amazon TV Original.

Taking on the lead role, she's working as a private investigator in Chicago, learning that a beloved friend from her past has been killed in a suspicious accident. Obviously, Neagley is hell-bent on getting revenge and bringing the killer to justice, and puts herself on a dangerous path to uncover a menacing evil.

Who does that remind you of? It's clear to see why Neagley has become the fan-favorite that she now is... but don't think that Reacher himself is too far away from this Prime Video off-shoot. — JV

• Watch Neagley on Prime Video

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story (Netflix)

Another installment of Ryan Murphy's controversial Netflix anthology series... consider me sat. This time around, he's taking on the infamous story of Lizzie Borden, who was tried and acquitted of murdering of her father and stepmother in 1982.

The above trailer quickly shows how the dark nursery rhyme "Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks" took hold, or why Martin Prince plays her in the Cape Feare episode of The Simpsons (couldn't not mention him). But, trapped in a cruel Victorian-era household, there's more psychological damage here than meets the eye.

Led by Ella Beatty in the titular role, this is the first time that Monster is fully female-focused. In even better news, American Horror Story stalwart Sarah Paulson also makes an appearance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Go figure. — JV

• Watch Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix

Youth (HBO Max)

Sharon Horgan has made the jump to HBO Max with her latest comedy vehicle Youth, whose first two episodes drop this Sunday (September 20).

In it, the Irish writer/actor/producer plays Alex, a 50-something divorcee struggling to navigate her newfound post-marriage world. Throw having to juggle her career, family, and quest to find love again into the mix, and Alex has certainly got her hands full.

Horgan's most recent live-action TV projects have all landed well with critics and general audiences alike, so Warner Bros. will be hoping she weaves her magic with this latest venture. — TP

• Watch Youth on HBO Max

Best of the Best (Netflix)

The coming-of-age school dance storyline has been in dire need of a revamp for years, but Best of the Best is coming to save the day.

In it, we follow two childhood besties who join UCLA's competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team, only to find the road to the US championships is fiercer than they imagined.

Leading lady Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is truly the entertainment it-girl of the moment, meaning anything she's in is well worth streaming. Frankly, I'm just happy for an excuse to dance while I watch something. — JV

• Watch Best of the Best on Netflix

Golden Axe (Paramount+)

The first of many SEGA franchises that are getting turned into movies or TV shows over the next few years, Golden Axe is billed as a "hilarious homage to SEGA's iconic 1989 video game", and boasts a strong voice cast that includes recent Emmy double winner Matthew Rhys.

An animated offering, it sees three legendary warriors in Ax, Tyris, and Gilius reunite and embark on a quest to defeat the evil giant known as Death Adder. Unfortunately for the trio, their mission is hampered by Hampton Squid, an inexperienced adventurer who invites himself along for the ride.

All 10 episodes are out now on Paramount+, so those who like to binge watch shows and/or want to get nostalgic over the classic arcade game can do so now. — TP

• Watch Golden Axe on Paramount+

• A midseason trailer for Lanterns has been released
• It teases the appearance of Guy Gardner, more Sinestro, and Hal Jordan's possible killer
• The HBO TV show might also be adapting one of the best Green Lanterns stories of all time

HBO and DC Studios have debuted a midseason trailer for their hit show Lanterns — and its 2026 storyline appears to be inspired by a fan-favorite Green Lantern comic-book series.

Released yesterday (September 17), the teaser, well, teases what's to come in the popular HBO Max TV series' final three episodes. Be aware that the following trailer is full of potentially big spoilers for Lanterns episode 6 through 8. If you don't want any plot points ruined ahead of time, click away now.

I'm really not joking when I say the 90-second, hype-generating trailer for the DC Universe (DCU) TV show's final three entries contains myriad spoilers.

For starters, Guy Gardner, aka Earth's new Green Lantern, is finally going to show up, although he has no interest in helping John Stewart investigate Hal Jordan's death (more on this shortly). Other takeaways are that we'll see Hal's backstory at some point, and John and what seems to be the Hal-O-Gram — aka the digital backup of Hal's consciousness that lives inside Hal's power ring — travel to some alien worlds.

Additionally, we'll be treated to more of Jordan's villainous former mentor Sinestro. Considering the latter isn't imprisoned in the space jail that we saw in episodes 2 and 4, he's obviously been broken out by someone. Place your bets on who did the deed.

Furthermore, there's also a surprising albeit expectedly cold reunion between John and at-the-time alive Hal in 2026. They haven't seen each other since the devastating events of Lanterns episode 5, which occurred 10 years prior. Clearly, there's no love lost between John and Hal after their brutal showdown in that chapter's final act, too.

That said, there must be an ounce of underlying respect left, because Stewart sticks around Rushville to investigate Hal's apparent murder. We've known that Hal Jordan is supposedly dead since Lanterns episode 1, but it's only now that the DCU Chapter One program will shine a light on events before, during, and after Hal's presumed demise.

And I keep saying that Hal's death is only implied, because it looks like Lanterns' midseason trailer is teasing an adaptation of one of the most beloved Green Lantern tales of all-time...

Lanterns' midseason trailer could be teasing a live-action take on DC's 'Blackest Night' comic-book story

For the uninitiated, 'Blackest Night' is a DC Comics miniseries that ran from June 2009 to May 2010.

Written by acclaimed comic-book scribe Geoff Johns and penciled by Ivan Reis, it's a crossover story that involved Earth's four Green Lanterns in Stewart, Jordan, Gardner, and Kyle Rayner, other prominent Green Lantern figures like Sinestro, and characters from other DC properties.

Anyway, in the event that Lanterns' 2026 storyline is indeed inspired by 'Blackest Night', I won't spoil everything that happens as part of its story. However, what I will say is that, if 'Blackest Night' has influenced Lanterns' next three episodes, it might explain how Hal Jordan could come back from the dead. Minor spoilers immediately follow for 'Blackest Night', so proceed at your own risk.

'Blackest Night' includes a DC comic-book character called Nekron, who can reanimate dead superheroes. I won't say how they bring people back to life, but the fact that they can implies there might be a way for the DCU's Hal Jordan to be resurrected.

Lanterns' midseason teaser doesn't hide that this could be possible, either. At the 1:22 mark, we hear Sinestro tell John "Hal didn't have to die in vain. I know a way..." before his sentence is seemingly cut short. Are DC and HBO hiding the fact that this line of dialog is supposed to end with Sinestro saying "I know a way to bring him back"?

That's not the only clue that indicates Hal could be revived. As the aforementioned Sinestro voiceover plays, we see Hal lying on the floor as someone menacingly approaches him. Hal asks "what are you?" before the teaser moves on to the next excitement-building clip.

As multiple fans have pointed out online, Hal can be seen with a mark on his arm that's identical to the one that John had after he was healed by Zoe, aka the mysterious Manhunter hunted by John and Hal in Lanterns' 2016 storyline. Remember, that mark was left because the Manhunters' technology takes a tissue sample before it can heal/cure someone of their injuries or ailments.

If — and it's a big if — Zoe (or another Manhunter we don't know about!) took a tissue sample from Hal, it's not only possible that his body could be cloned from said sample, but the Halo-O-Gram could be embedded into that clone. Hey presto, Hal Jordan lives once more.

Of course, that would negate the need for Nekron to be part of proceedings. Regardless, if Nekron doesn't show up before Lanterns ends, it could still retroactively be inspired by the 'Blackest Night' comic series. All it needs to do is replace Nekron with a Manhunter cloning facility that, say, Sinestro located after his jailbreak, then lay the breadcrumbs for John and the Hal-O-Gram to follow to find him, and persuade them to bring Hal back from the dead. Sure, Sinestro will have a nefarious reason for wanting to do so, but I'm sure John and the Hal-O-Gram can find a way to outwit him.

What did you think of Lanterns' midseason trailer? Do you like the above theory, or have an even more impressive one of your own? Let me know in the comments. Once you're done, check out the five biggest questions I have heading into Lanterns episode 6.

Lanterns' endgame is fast approaching. Only three more episodes remain of the increasingly popular DC Universe (DCU) TV show's debut season, so it won't be long before it departs our screens.

Right now, though, all eyes are on episode 6, which will reunite us with John Stewart, Hal Jordan, Kerry Kane, and other characters 10 years after last week's explosive episode.

Heading into this week's chapter, titled 'Bad Optics', there are five specific questions that need to be addressed, including one that's cast a large shadow over the HBO TV Original since its premiere. Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns up to and including episode 5.

1. What are John Stewart and Hal Jordan up to in 2026?

We already know what happened to the Rushville residents who survived the devastating events of last week's episode.

Indeed, as Lanterns episode 1's time jump revealed, Sheriff Kerry Kane stuck around as the town's primary law enforcer. Meanwhile, her son Noah is sure to have remained, while a teaser for Lanterns episode 6 confirmed that Bill Macon stayed put despite his father's death, and the decimation of his and his family's community. But, what happened to the sci-fi crime show's lead duo in John Stewart and Hal Jordan?

Where Jordan is concerned, the episode 6 teaser heavily implies that he and Kane got together. After all, Kane wouldn't say "he came back for me" if they hadn't become romantically entangled in the years since the Battle of Rushville. That would also mean that, at some point, Kane and Macon's marriage ended, so it'll be interesting to see when that occurred, and how long it took for Jordan and Kane to become an item.

Furthermore, I'm intrigued to see what kind of life Jordan has made for himself in Rushville. Given his involvement in episode 5's destructive events, he won't be on any of the townsfolks' Christmas card lists. Stripped of his ring and identity, though, I'm fascinated to learn if he's mellowed out since we last saw him and if he's learned to appreciate the smaller things in life.

As for Stewart, he seemingly departed for pastures new after walking away from becoming Earth's next Green Lantern. So, where is he now? And what's he been doing for the last decade?

If the DCU Chapter One TV show takes cues from his comic book history, I suspect he'll not only return to his artistry-based roots, but he'll have also turned his number one passion into a career and become a successful architect. Additionally, I'm willing to be bet he's settled down in one of DC's famous fictional cities, such as Metropolis, rather than back at home where he'll likely have incurred the wrath of his pushy parents. Hey, they won't be happy that he turned his back on his (read: their) Green Lantern dream!

Of course, we know Stewart will be pulled back to Rushville not after Jordan is mysteriously killed (more on this later) but, as Lanterns' midseason trailer confirms, prior to his death. I imagine that his architectural career will last as long as his military one did, then, once he starts to investigate Jordan's death.

2. Why is there a Green Lantern beacon in the center of Rushville?

Another thing teased in Lanterns' episode 6 preview was the unexpected appearance of a Green Lantern beacon in the center of Rushville.

Considering the disdain that its residents have for Stewart and Jordan, why would they erect something like this in their town? Or, more likely, did Guy Gardner — aka the DCU's current human Green Lantern — install it, and why was he allowed to (if at all) by Rushville's community? Furthermore, is its design supposed to poke fun at a certain Gotham City vigilante's own light-based signal?

Gardner is finally set to appear in the HBO Max TV show in this week's episode, so I'm sure we'll get answers from him — or someone else — shortly.

3. Who killed Hal Jordan...

One of the biggest unresolved mysteries at the heart of this season's 2026 storyline, we need answers — or, at the very least, clues — about who apparently murdered Hal Jordan.

Frankly, I don't think we'll find out who did the deed in this week's episode. Lanterns' final three chapters will largely revolve around this whodunit, so I highly doubt we'll learn the culprit's identity until the season finale.

Nonetheless, there are myriad potential candidates. In my view, Bill Macon is an obvious choice. There's also an increasingly popular theory circulating online that Noah was responsible. Then there's the possibility that Jordan was killed by someone we haven't met yet.

Hopefully, 'Bad Optics' will start to thin out the crowd of would-be murderers. That is, unless Jordan isn't actually as dead as we've been led to believe...

4. ...and is he really dead?

Ever since Jordan's death was revealed in Lanterns episode 1, some viewers have refused to accept that he's actually shuffled off this mortal coil. After last week's episode, they might have a point, too.

Indeed, the above screenshot, which quickly made the rounds online following episode 5's release, appears to indicate that the Jordan we've followed through Lanterns' 2016 storyline is a clone. That much appears to be clear by the subtitles in the aforementioned screengrab.

Now, it's entirely possible that, during the post-production process, someone made a mistake with these subtitles and the error wasn't picked up before episode 5 was completed. If that's the case, this isn't a Jordan clone, which would mean he's dead and gone.

On the other hand, if this is a clone, it would imply that the Hal-O-Gram — ie the digital backup of Jordan's consciousness, which lives inside his ring — is the real Jordan, and would mean he's technically still alive. That would be a huge twist that very, very few people would have seen coming.

Again, it's likely this won't be revealed until Lanterns episode 8, so I don't anticipate a definitive answer will be given when 'Bad Optics' premieres on some of the world's best streaming services. At any rate, I hope we'll get a hint or two that Jordan might yet be alive. If nothing else, it'll keep fans guessing for a couple more weeks.

What happened to Hal Jordan's Green Lantern ring?

With Jordan no longer being in possession of his ring, and Stewart giving it back to the Guardian of the Universe known as Lianna in episode 5, where is it now?

The logical answer is it was gifted to Gardner when he became Earth's latest Green Lantern. However, some fans have pointed out that there slight differences between Jordan and Gardner's rings, which suggests that the latter has a different one to his predecessor.

If Gardner's ring is a different one, it begs the question: who's got Jordan's ring now? Jordan doesn't have it, because Stewart checks his former mentor's right hand for the cosmic weapon and quickly realizes that Jordan isn't wearing it.

So, was it stolen by whoever apparently killed Jordan? Has Jordan locked it away somewhere safe, such as the pocket universe-based vault that Jordan kept his Lantern battery in back in Coast City? Or did the Guardians keep it once Stewart gave it back to them? All could be revealed very soon.

For now, find out why recent comments made by the head of HBO have got me fearing the worst about Lanterns season 2.

• The People v Gorilla Grodd is the only DCU TV show in active development
• HBO's boss recently confirmed as much at the 2026 Emmys
• His comments have got me fearing for Lanterns' future

The boss of HBO has revealed that only one DC Universe (DCU) TV show is officially in the works — and now I'm afraid for the future of Lanterns.

Speaking to Deadline, Casey Bloys confirmed that The People v Gorilla Grodd (TPvGG), aka the recently announced Superman TV spin-off, is the only TV series in active development at DC Studios.

Asked for a status update on DC's myriad television productions, Bloys replied: "People read about development, and they assume that those are greenlit shows and they're [already in] development. And everybody knows that development is just that — you're trying things, you take big swings, [and] not everything comes through.

"I would say our track record in DC, from Watchmen to Peacemaker to Penguin and now Lanterns, is pretty good. We're very selective. We're careful about what we do, nothing has changed. You'll read about development, but focus on what we're greenlighting."

Pressed on whether any other show was in active development, Bloys added: "No, not right now, obviously you've got [The People v] Gorilla Grodd, which I'm very happy about, [they're] doing something different, and I think it's a really fun idea. They just started shooting."

Why I'm fearing the worst for the fate of HBO's Green Lantern TV show

For fans who've immersed themselves in the DCU since day one, Bloys' comments will be of concern.

Indeed, when DC Studios co-head James Gunn revealed the official lineup for DCU Chapter One in January 2023, six small-screen projects were unveiled as part of the rebooted cinematic franchise's initial slate.

Since then, four more series have been added to the list of potential TV candidates, but only one — The People v Gorilla Grodd — has been greenlit. Meanwhile, some shows that were named as part of Gunn's initial announcement, including Waller and Paradise Lost, have reportedly been shelved. Others, such as Booster Gold, have been trapped in development hell.

With Bloys outright confirming TPvGG is all that DC Studios' TV division is actively working on, it's not surprising that fans — myself included — are fearing for Lanterns' future.

The Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler-led sci-fi crime drama, which has seen its audience share seemingly grow week-on-week amid positive word of mouth, is one of the most popular shows on television right now. With three more episodes of its debut season yet to air (at the time of publication, anyway), I'm convinced that its viewership will increase in the weeks to come, too.

Considering that HBO's Green Lantern TV show has been such a hit, it's inevitable that a second season will be made, right? Not if we believe Bloys. After all, there are numerous examples of hugely successful shows — on HBO, HBO Max, and otherwise — that haven't returned for another round. There's no guarantee, then, that Lanterns season 2 will be a thing.

That said, DC Studios has assembled a writers room for Lanterns season 2 to kick around potential story ideas. That doesn't mean DC and HBO have pledged to make another season of the DCU Chapter One program, but it does offer hope that, if the right story angle can be found, another eight-part installment might be *ahem* constructed.

As I said at the start of this article, though, I am worried for Lanterns' fate. Bloys is likely playing it coy, but I'm of the opinion that he would've had something positive to say about Lanterns' future if a sophomore season was more likely to happen than not. Right now, then, I'm reluctantly confident that it'll be a one and done scenario.

Mind you, that doesn't mean we won't see Pierre's John Stewart — and, potentially, Chandler's Hal Jordan — again in the DCU. Pierre's Stewart is already set to play a role in Man of Tomorrow, aka next July's follow-up to Gunn's Superman sequel. Meanwhile, there are unsubstantiated rumors floating around that a DCU Green Lantern movie might be fast-tracked because of how popular Lanterns has proven to be.

If, and it's a big if, we get a big-screen Lanterns follow-up to the hit comic book-inspired show, you certainly won't hear me complaining about the decision not to make a second season.

For now, find out everything we know so far about Man of Tomorrow, get the full lowdown on The People v Gorilla Grodd, and learn all there is to know about Clayface.

As if Stuart Fails to Save the Universe couldn't be more unhinged, this week the gang is trapped in a legitimate comic book... as illustrated versions of themselves.

It feels like a chaotic move, but actually, we probably should have been expecting it. As HBO itself puts it, "Finally a world that Stuart can (hopefully) thrive in."

But will he? My vote is no. Still, when does Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 9 arrive on HBO Max?

What time can I watch Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 9 on HBO Max?

For US viewers, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 9 will drop on Thursday, September 17 at 6pm PT/9pm ET.

Internationally, you're looking out for these timings:

• US – Thursday, September 17 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – Thursday, September 17 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK – Friday, September 18 at 2am BST
• India – Friday, September 18 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, September 18 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, September 18 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, September 18 at 1pm NZST

When do new episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe come out?

New episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will make landfall every Thursday in the US, and on Fridays everywhere else. Here are the all-important dates you need to know about:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: out now
• Episode 5: out now
• Episode 6: out now
• Episode 7: out now
• Episode 8: out now
• Episode 9: September 17
• Episode 10: September 24

Lanterns episode 5 has landed on HBO Max — and it's not only the DC Universe (DCU) TV show's most devastating chapter so far for myriad reasons, but it also wraps up its 2016 storyline. From here on out, then, we'll be back in 2026, aka the DCU's current timeline.

Its present-day plot will have to wait another week, though, because we need to dissect all the hugely significant events that happened in Lanterns' fifth episode. Consider this your one and only warning: full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns chapter 5, titled 'Lights Out'. If you haven't seen it yet, bookmark this page for later and return once you're caught up.

Who dies in Lanterns episode 5?

Frankly, lots and lots of people die. Innocent Rushville civilians caught in the crossfire and foot soldiers in Will Macon's militia and Antaan's extraterrestrial forces all bite the dust in the HBO Max show's latest installment.

Three notable individuals also lose their lives — the first two being the aforementioned Macon and Antaan. Macon is actually killed by Antaan, the latter believing the former is the Manhunter that Antaan's forces have been pursuing for some time.

However, after Antaan murders Macon and cuts out his heart to confirm Macon is the Manhunter — remember, a Manhunter's heart crystallizes once they die — he realizes Macon isn't the Manhunter. Cue Antaan going after Hal Jordan because the latter lied about the Manhunter's identity when the pair crossed paths earlier in episode 5.

Unfortunately for Antaan, he doesn't last much longer. In an attempt to kill Hal, he activates the explosive device woven into his skeleton. But before he goes out with a bang, trying to take Earth's first Green Lantern with him, Hal uses his ring to make a whirlwind construct that flings Antaan into the air before he detonates.

Of this episode's three big deaths, though, Zoe's is arguably the most significant.

Lanterns episode 4 finally revealed Zoe was the Manhunter, but she also appeared to meet her end in that chapter after her truck was destroyed by a lethal laser satellite attack. As it turns out, she survived that ordeal — one she instigated herself to try to trick Hal (with a little help from John Stewart) into thinking she was no longer a threat to him, the Green Lantern Corps, or the Guardians, which would finally make Hal leave Rushville.

It's ironic, then, that Stewart is the one who puts her down. The pair slept together twice in the DCU Chapter One show's first four episodes. Meanwhile, Zoe saved Stewart's life after he was critically injured when his rental car — you know, the one that Hal purposefully crashed in last week's entry — exploded. So, it stands to reason that Stewart wouldn't be the one who takes Zoe out.

Not so. Stewart shoots Zoe in the head and cuts out her heart, which crystallizes in his hands, so he can not only prove to the Guardians that the Manhunter has been destroyed, but also that he's worthy of being Hal's replacement. Speaking of which...

Why does John Stewart give up the Green Lantern ring?

Plainly, Stewart doesn't actually believe he's worthy of the Green Lantern mantle. That much is clear in his decision to give Hal's ring and lantern, which he wrestled off his mentor in a climactic duel, back to the Guardians of the Universe.

There are other reasons why Stewart makes this choice, though. Ultimately, he doesn't believe in working for a manipulative group of individuals like the Guardians, nor does he feel that, despite training to become a Green Lantern for as long as he can remember, it's his dream to join the space cop agency. Remember, he was pushed into this by his parents and, after plenty of measured introspection, it's evident Stewart doesn't want his parents to live vicariously through him anymore. As such, he takes ownership of his life and walks away from the lofty goal they've projected onto him since day one.

What will happen in Lanterns episode 6?

With 'Lights Out' officially bringing Lanterns' 2016 storyline to a close, all eyes will now turn to the sci-fi crime series' present-day plot.

First and foremost, the DC comic book show's sixth episode will need to pick things up around Hal Jordan's death. It feels like an age since Lanterns shockingly revealed Jordan's demise at the end of its first chapter, so it'll be interesting to see if next week's episode begins where the show's premiere left off, or if it'll go back prior to this pivotal event.

If the 2026 storyline starts before Jordan is murdered, we'll likely find out what he and Stewart have gotten up to in the decade since we last saw them. I wouldn't be amazed if we also learn what happened to the likes of Bill Macon, why Sheriff Kerry Kane stuck around Rushville after the town's near-decimation in 2016, and the wider impact that those explosive events had on those who had to pick up the pieces.

Last but by no means least, I wager we'll discover when and why Guy Gardner became Earth's new Green Lantern. It's clear he was chosen by the Guardians after Stewart refused to answer the call. However, we don't know how long he's been operating as a Green Lantern or, based on a clip shown on a recent episode of The Jimmy Kimmel Show, how Gardner and Stewart know each other. Over to you, Lanterns.

Lanterns is about to dial things up to 11. Indeed, after last week's episode not only ended on a major cliff hanger, but also set up myriad showdowns to come, the DC Universe (DCU) TV show's next chapter is primed to be its most explosive one yet.

So, when will episode 5 — titled 'Lights Out' — be released on a streaming platform near you? And what'll happen in it? I'm not at liberty to answer the latter, but I can give you some firm details on the former. Let me grab my Green Lantern ring, then, to shed some light on when this week's entry will premiere.

When does episode 5 of Lanterns come out?

Lanterns episode 5 will make its bow in the US and Canada on Sunday, September 13 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

Meanwhile, those of you who live outside of North America will need to tune in on Monday, September 14 to watch the DCU Chapter One TV series' next installment. Here are the all-important launch times you need to be aware of:

• US — Sunday, September 13 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, September 13 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, September 14 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, September 14 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, September 14 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, September 14 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, September 14 at 1pm NZST

Where can I watch Lanterns episode 5?

Just like the four episodes that preceded it, 'Lights Out' will come out on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, where this platform is available.

Unfortunately, the Warner Bros Discovered-owned streamer hasn't landed in every world region yet, so some of you will need to look elsewhere to catch episode 5. Luckily for you, I've tracked down where every chapter of Lanterns will air in your neck of the woods. Read on for more details:

• US — HBO and HBO Max
• Canada — Crave
• UK — HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and Now TV
• India — JioHotstar
• Singapore — HBO Max
• Australia — HBO Max
• New Zealand — HBO Max

Lanterns full release schedule: when do new episodes come out?

New episodes of this DC comic book program will arrive every Sunday in North and South America, and on Mondays in other territories. That'll be the case until the season 1 finale drops on October 4 and 5 — depending on where you're based — too. Need a reminder of those episodic release dates? Check out the list below:

• Lanterns episode 1 — out now
• Lanterns episode 2 — out now
• Lanterns episode 3 — out now
• Lanterns episode 4 — out now
• Lanterns episode 5 — September 13/14
• Lanterns episode 6 — September 20/21
• Lanterns episode 7 — September 27/28
• Lanterns episode 8 — October 4/5

Who's ready to park themselves in front of their TV this weekend? I know I am. And, if you feel the same way, you'll be pleased to hear that a decent amount of new movies and shows have dropped on the world's best streaming services over the past few days.

It's HBO Max and — unexpectedly — Peacock that lead the way with this week's biggest new releases, too. I'm not sure what that says about Netflix and Prime Video's latest offerings but, hey, everyone's allowed an off-day (or, in this case, off-week). Anyway, scroll on to see what's worth checking out at home this weekend. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Supergirl (HBO Max)

James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe (DCU) suffered its first major hiccup with its most recent big-screen offering.

Indeed, many people — myself included — expected Supergirl to fly high in theaters earlier this year. Despite lead star Milly Alcock's best efforts, though, the DCU Chapter One film crashed and burned at the box office, and there are myriad reasons why. Read my Supergirl review for more on my biggest bugbears.

Still, with the DC comic book movie out now on HBO Max, those of you who didn't catch it at your local cinema can now pass your own verdict on it. Once you're seen it, check out my Supergirl ending explained piece to find out how it lays the foundations for Man of Tomorrow, aka Gunn's Superman sequel that'll arrive next July. — TP

• Watch Supergirl on HBO Max

The Paper season 2 (Peacock)

Ready to crack open some more award-winning stories at the Toledo Truth Teller? Well, don't be — we're running seriously short of them in The Paper season 2.

After the team's success at the end of season 1, editor-in-chief Ned is still desperately searching for the stories that'll take his team to the next level.

Esmeralda rarely thinks about anybody's reputation but her own. Meanwhile, Nicole is still giving Kelly Kapoor vibes in a majorly inferior way, and Mare... well, she's just trying her best. More of the same stupidity, in a nutshell. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch The Paper season 2 on Peacock

Call My Agent! The Movie (Netflix)

Call My Agent! has a feature film on Netflix that reunites the cast of the hugely popular French comedy-drama series.

Here, Camille Cottin reprises her role as Andréa, but things aren't going very well for her. As she attempts to direct her first movie five years after the ASK agency closed, she loses her lead actor just days before production starts. In attempt to salvage her movie, she must get the old team back together, rekindling all the old friendships and rivalries that we know and love. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Call My Agent! The Movie on Netflix

Drawn Together (Prime Video)

Who's up for some Spanish language romance? Prime Video doesn't just deliver the dramatic goods in its English projects, as Drawn Together easily proves.

Based on the novel Marfil by Mercedes Ron, we follow the rich daughter of a Spanish businessman living in New York who survives a kidnapping attempt. Her father then hires a bodyguard to protect her... and you can connect the dots from there.

Think a slow-burn, sexy, mutual attraction forming over something potentially fatal. There really is nothing like a tragedy to spark a romance, and I lap it up every single time. — JV

• Watch Drawn Together on Prime Video

Last Seen (Apple TV)

Apple TV's new thriller show Last Seen follows a police dispatcher who believes he's received a call from his long-lost daughter. Desperate to reunite with her, he tries and track her down without thinking about the consequences.

Colin from Accounts' star Patrick Brammall leads the cast, with Shameless' Maxine Peake in a supporting role, as they become caught up in a mystery that's sure to leave you on the edge of your seat.

The first two episodes are available now, with subsequent episodes of this acclaimed Apple Original airing weekly until October 7. — LB

• Watch Last Seen on Apple TV

Colin From Accounts season 3 (Paramount+)

Patrick Brammall is everywhere this week, as Colin from Accounts season 3 arrives on Paramount+ (NB: it originally launched on Binge in Australia earlier this year).

It's the final outing for the beloved Australian romantic comedy, too, so its arrival is bittersweet. I don't want to say goodbye, but I'm also excited to watch all eight episodes this weekend.

Season 3 picks up after the humiliating aftermath of Gordon’s failed proposal to Ashley (at someone else's wedding, if rejection wasn't awkward enough). How on earth do you bounce back from that? You'll have to watch and find out. — LB

• Watch Colin From Accounts season 3 on Paramount+

Band of Brothers: Legacy (HBO Max)

How many ways can the Band of Brothers' legacy truly be eked out over time? As it turns out, a documentary about its timeless appeal with exactly that title is one option.

25 years after release, we retrace its steps through the making and lasting cultural impact of the landmark HBO miniseries. This is less of a reunion, and more rare and previously unseen footage and photographs from HBO’s archives. Don't be too disheartened, though, as there are new interviews with original cast members. — JV

• Watch Band of Brothers: Legacy on HBO Max

• DC fans have received their first look at The People v Gorilla Grodd
• Multiple images and videos of the Superman spin-off have appeared online
• They show The Flash villain attending university and as part of an A Cappella group

The first images and videos for The People v Gorilla Grodd (TPvGG) have appeared online — and they've sparked something of a fierce fan debate over the titular, hyperintelligent ape.

Billed as a mockumentary show, the forthcoming Superman spin-off will see Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) re-examine a case against Grodd (voiced by Jimmy Tatro) to determine whether the latter was wrongly convicted of his father's murder. And, based on the set leaks we've seen thus far, it seems some fans are already convinced that Grodd is innocent.

Their evidence? The numerous behind-the-scenes pictures and footage of the HBO Max TV series shared online yesterday (September 9) that indicate Grodd is nothing more than a popular, intellectual, and fun-loving ladies' man.

For one, in videos shared on X/Twitter, Grodd is seen as part of an A Cappella group at Metropolis University. Further footage shows Grodd trying to woo a fellow student with his singing abilities and — I kid you not — singing LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem' on campus with the rest of his A Cappella group.

But wait, there's more. In images uploaded to the same social media platform, Grodd is also seen graduating from university. A separate shot shows the DC comic book character is pictured wearing a shirt, waist jacket, and trousers (see below), too. It's unclear if this is Grodd wearing his college uniform or if he's dressed smartly for his murder trial.

Regardless, it appears that most DC Universe (DCU) fans are happy with what they've seen of Grodd. Various threads on r/DC_Cinematic, r/DCULeaks, and the ResetEra forums are full of comments from people saying they're coming around to the prospect that The People v Gorilla Grodd will actually be good. In fact, some even want the Grodd stand-in to be kept for the final product, rather than see him replaced by a CGI version.

That said, there are those who aren't enamored with how the supervillain looks. Others don't like that he isn't being used in a movie starring his archnemesis in Barry Allen/The Flash, and/or that he's being disrespectfully reduced to a caricature of his comic book counterpart. We'll see how the DCU's portrayal shakes out when TPvGG is finally ready to go.

Confirmation that filming has begun comes just two weeks after The People v Gorilla Grodd's official title, cast, and plot were revealed and almost 10 months after reports first emerged that a Superman off-shoot was in development at DC Studios. There's no word on when TPvGG will be released but, with the cameras now rolling, it's possible we could see the DCU Chapter One program before the end of 2027.

For more ahead of its eventual debut on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, find out everything else we know so far about The People v Gorilla Grodd.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe feels as though it's been on my screen for 500 years, but somehow, each episode feels just as fresh as the next.

We're returning to the militant apocalyptic feel of episode 1 this week, but think more comedy than tragedy. Nobody is losing a leg while somber music plays over the top, put it that way.

With three episodes left to go, we're no closer to finding any kind of resolve. Even so, when does Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 7 arrive on HBO Max?

What time can I watch Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 8 on HBO Max?

For US viewers, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 8 will drop on Thursday, September 10 at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET.

Internationally, you're looking out for these timings:

• US – Thursday, September 10 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – Thursday, September 10 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK – Friday, September 11 at 2am BST
• India – Friday, September 11 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, September 11 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, September 11 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, September 11 at 1pm NZST

When do new episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe come out?

New episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will make landfall every Thursday in the US, and on Fridays everywhere else. Here are the all-important dates you need to know about:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: out now
• Episode 5: out now
• Episode 6: out now
• Episode 7: out now
• Episode 8: September 10
• Episode 9: September 17
• Episode 10: September 24

Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns, up to and including episode 4.

Lanterns episode 4 has premiered on HBO Max — and we finally know who among Rushville's population is the Manhunter.

After weeks of speculation, the DC Universe (DCU) TV show has lifted the lid on one of its two biggest secrets to date. Of course, the other is who killed Hal Jordan in Lanterns episode 1, but that's a conversation for another day.

So, who has the Manhunter been disguised as? Why has Rushville's townsfolk being keeping them safe from prying eyes? And what will Jordan and his Green Lantern protégé John Stewart do next? Activate your power ring, and let's dive in together…

Lanterns episode 4 confirms Zoe is the Manhunter

That's right, Zoe Macon, the wife and enigmatic benefactor of Rushville ranch owner William Macon, and John Stewart's love interest, is revealed to be the Manhunter.

Zoe was one of three characters I predicted to be the extraterrestrial android in my Manhunters in Lanterns explained article, so I'm absolutely counting that a correct guess on my part.

Wait, hang on: wasn't Zoe killed when her pick-up truck was obliterated by a giant red lazer after she slept with Stewart again? It certainly appeared that way, but there was always something off about Stewart's incredibly muted reaction to her death. That's something Jordan picks up on before the end of the HBO Max show's latest entry, too, so Zoe clearly walked away from that attack unscathed.

There are other telling signs in episode 4, titled 'The Weenie', that indicated that Zoe was the Manhunter.

For one, after Stewart and Jordan are captured following their botched infiltration of Macon Ranch, William tells them that Zoe not only nursed him back to health after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, but also cured him of said disease.

Sure, the high-tech, alien equipment that Stewart and Jordan find in one of the ranch's compounds will have helped to treat Macon. Nonetheless, someone would need to operate said equipment — and, frankly, Macon wouldn't be able to use it if he was as sick as he implies. Alongside her clear medical expertise that far outweighs the scientific knowledge that humanity possesses, Zoe would be the only one capable of using this technology to save Macon's life, and subsequently earn his trust and unwavering devotion to keep her secret safe.

That's not to say that Lanterns doesn't try and distract us about Zoe being the Manhunter. Indeed, the DCU Chapter One TV series' fourth installment attempts to further pull the wool over our eyes when Jordan and Stewart investigate Zoe's apparent demise.

With Sheriff Kerry Kane's help, they learn the lazer satellite manufacturer is Atlas Inc. Primarily a slaughterhouse firm, Atlas is owned by someone named Hector Hammond, who partnered with William Macon 30 years earlier to develop innovative technology to refine and improve the meat processing industry. Hey, Macon is a cattle herder, so it makes sense that he'd go into business with someone like Hammond.

Anyway, when Jordan and Stewart pay Hammond a visit, the latter seems to confirm that Macon is the Manhunter. Of course, this is a massive fake out designed to throw us, Stewart, and Jordan off the scent over the Manhunter's real identity. Luckily, Jordan sees through the façade and, after an incredibly tense stand-off that almost sees Hammond activate another of his weaponized satellites to annihilate Stewart's parents, Jordan forces Hammond to reveal the truth about the Manhunter's true identity.

What'll happen in Lanterns episode 5?

Very few people know the answer to that question — and, predictably, those that do aren't going to spoil anything ahead of time. Even so, Zoe being outed as the Manhunter raises plenty of questions heading into the sci-fi crime drama's next episode.

Considering Will Macon has been the main beneficiary of Zoe's help, why is Rushville's entire population steadfast in its desire to maintain her secret? Have they all been aided or manipulated by Zoe, too?

Furthermore, what's up with Stewart agreeing to help Zoe fake her own death? And, now that Jordan knows Stewart lied to him about Zoe and left him trapped in a crashed car, will Jordan take matters into his own hands and take on the entire Nebraskan town alone?

Alternatively, if Jordan and Stewart somehow make peace with each other, and if they take the fight to Zoe and the people of Rushville, how much are the latter willing to risk to sacrifice to defend their home? Lastly, how will Antaan and his alien brethren, who want revenge on Zoe after she committed mass genocide on their home world, factor into all of this?

I'm certain we'll get answers to the above when Lanterns' fifth episode debuts on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on September 13/14.

Right now, one thing is clear: if Jordan and/or Stewart plan on killing Zoe, they'll have to do so while she's in human form. Remember, in episode 2, Antaan told Stewart that Manhunters are easier to execute as humans. Slaying her before she takes her true form, or builds herself a new body if she's critically injured in the fight to come, then, is the only way to end the threat for good.

What do you think will happen in episode 5? Let me know in the comments. And check back in with me when Lanterns' next chapter has been released for a breakdown of its biggest talking points.

Lanterns is about to hit its midpoint. Indeed, once the increasingly popular DC Universe (DCU) show's fourth episode arrives, we'll be halfway through its first season.

So, when will the Green Lantern TV series' next chapter be released? And what fresh evidence will Hal Jordan and John Stewart uncover as part of their alien murder-mystery investigation?

I can't answer the latter because, well, spoilers — but I can tell you when episode 4 will come out, so scroll on to learn more.

When does episode 4 of Lanterns come out?

Titled 'The Weenie' — yes, that's its actual name — Lanterns episode 4 will launch in the US and Canada on Sunday, September 6 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

Obviously, many of you don't live in North or South America, so when will the DCU Chapter One show's next installment be available in your world region? The answer is Monday, September 7 — and you can find out when it'll be released where you are below:

• US — Sunday, September 6 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, September 6 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, September 7 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, September 7 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, September 7 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, September 7 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, September 7 at 1pm NZST

Where can I watch Lanterns episode 4?

If you've read previous articles like this, you'll already know where Lanterns' fourth episode will be available. If you're new around these parts, though, I can tell you that it'll make its debut on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, in countries that this platform has launched in.

Because HBO Max isn't available globally, some of you might be wondering where you can check out the sci-fi crime-drama's forthcoming chapter. Fear not, because the below list highlights where else it'll be available to stream:

• US — HBO and HBO Max
• Canada — Crave
• UK — HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and Now TV
• India — JioHotstar
• Singapore — HBO Max
• Australia — HBO Max
• New Zealand — HBO Max

How many more episodes of Lanterns will there be?

In season 1, there are a total of eight episodes to enjoy. Once this week's entry is out, there'll only be another four to look forward to before Lanterns' debut season draws to a close on October 4 in North and South America, and October 5 everywhere else.

With new episodes releasing every Sunday in the Americas and every Monday on other continents, here's the full release schedule for the rest of the series' first season:

• Lanterns episode 1 — out now
• Lanterns episode 2 — out now
• Lanterns episode 3 — out now
• Lanterns episode 4 — September 6/7
• Lanterns episode 5 — September 13/14
• Lanterns episode 6 — September 20/21
• Lanterns episode 7 — September 27/28
• Lanterns episode 8 — October 4/5

September 2026 has arrived — and, after last week's meet weekly streaming round-up, the ninth month of the year has begun with a bang.

Indeed, there are plenty of great looking new movies and TV shows to catch on the world's best streaming services this weekend, including the official streaming debut of the latest Star Wars movie. No matter if you're after another trip to Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away, or looking for something that isn't sci-fi, we've got you covered. So, read on to see what's just landed on your favorite streamer. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

The Mandalorian and Grogu (Disney+)

I'll be honest: I wasn't a fan of The Mandalorian and Grogu. Indeed, I stated as much in my review of The Mandalorian and Grogu ahead of its theatrical debut in late May. But, hey, now that it's out on Disney+, you can decide for yourself whether it's any good or not.

Set some time after The Mandalorian's third season, the Star Wars film sees Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his diminutive protégé enlisted by The New Republic to help the Twins, aka the Huttese heads of Shakari's crime syndicate, rescue the latter's nephew Jotta (voiced by Jeremy Allen White). Of course, things aren't as simple as that and the pair soon find themselves embroiled in a criminal conspiracy. — TP

• Watch The Mandalorian and Grogu on Disney+

The Gentlemen season 2 (Netflix)

We've got a double hit of Theo James in the list this week, but The Gentlemen season 2 is far and away my favorite. With the Glass family business back and booming the groundwork is set for a Shakespearean level of drama that's tinged with signature Guy Ritchie-style brutality to unfold. But whatever you think that looks like, times it by 100, and add in a chainsaw.

Through shrewd editing, handwritten effects, sound and narrative structure, new episodes feel playful and unserious despite its often sombre and hard-hitting undertones, with Ritchie's tonal balance across it all being nothing short of impressive.

Clearly, the best way to deal with the bad things in life is to sprinkle in as much absurdity and humor as possible, and Ritchie never lets us forget that. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch The Gentlemen season 2 on Netflix

Mayday (Apple TV)

The above thumbnail almost makes it look as though Ryan Reynolds has decided to dramatize his Welcome to Wrexham journey, but I can confirm that new Apple TV movie Mayday is anything but.

As the name suggests, there are heavy military tones surrounding this one. In essence, a U.S. Navy pilot (Reynolds) on a top-secret mission during the Cold War gets trapped behind enemy lines, his only chance at survival is to form an alliance with an eccentric ex-KGB agent (Kenneth Branagh).

Honestly, it's just nice to see Branagh in front of the camera for a change, and I don't mean that as a sly diss to his Agatha Christie movies. His natural chemistry with Reynolds is exactly the mood-booster we need this week, and it's safe to say that you'll never look at the Cold War the same way again. — JV

• Watch Mayday on Apple TV

Chad Powers season 2 (Hulu/Disney+)

Chad Powers is back! Glen Powell returns as the titular quarterback in disguise, but he's in a difficult situation when we pick up with him in season 2 of the Hulu series.

In the season 1 finale, coach Ricky (Perry Mattfeld) discovered that Chad is actually disgraced former quarterback Russ Holliday, and his disguise has finally been rumbled. With Ricky threatening to expose Chad aka Russ, his future with the South Georgia Catfish is uncertain.

It's great drama to enter the new season with. In a recent TechRadar interview with the Chad Powers cast, they revealed why their characters are so special to them. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Chad Powers season 2 on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

The Runner (Prime Video)

You Gal Gadon't want to miss this week's new Prime Video movie, The Runner (sorry, I had to). In a nutshell, the actress plays a high-powered attorney who must race through London to save her abducted son while following cryptic commands from a mysterious caller.

Is this an original premise? No. Is it going to be the best action movie you've ever seen? Also no. But sometimes things have to be so bad that they're great, and there's genuinely something really enjoyable about that.

I've had enough of overly polished, slick and serious action dramas... give me something a little rougher around the edges any day of the week (and I guarantee you'll have a smile on your face by the end too). — JV

• Watch The Runner on Prime Video

Scary Movie 6 (Paramount+)

Horror movies are known for having plenty of sequels, and it turns out that their parodies are no exception. Indeed, Scary Movie 6 is the latest installment in the comedy movie series, with the franchise returning after a 13 year break.

As always, the biggest horrors are parodied here such as Weapons, The Substance and Smile, as well as a recurring parody of Wes Craven's Scream series.

Unfortunately, it performed poorly and received a 24% Rotten Tomatoes rating, though the audience's verdict was more favorable at 64%. So you'll have to watch to decide which side of the debate you fall on. — LB

• Watch Scary Movie 6 on Paramount+

Fuze (HBO Max)

HBO Max's new movie is a great weekend watch for anyone wanting a fast paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

In Fuze, a high-stakes London heist uses the chaos of a mass city evacuation as its cover, so we're following two events at once. A heist is taking place whilst the city is spooked by an unexploded World War II bomb, with the criminals hoping that local law enforcement will be too distracted to apprehend them.

The movie stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Sam Worthington, but in my Fuze review I noted that it does seem to waste its all-star cast. Still, it's highly entertaining. — LB

• Watch Fuze on HBO Max

If eating like cows wasn't entertaining enough in last week's episode of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, now our gang are all instantly telepathic in their latest universe.

Is any of this getting anyone close to solving the bigger issues at play? Absolutely not. But with season 2 now officially renewed, that was unlikely to happen anyway.

With four episodes left to go, let's get back to what's important. When does Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 7 arrive on HBO Max?

What time can I watch Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 7 on HBO Max?

For US viewers, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 7 will drop on Thursday, September 3 at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET.

Internationally, you're looking out for these timings:

• US – Thursday, September 3 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – Thursday, September 3 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK – Friday, September 4 at 2am BST
• India – Friday, September 4 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, September 4 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, September 4 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, September 4 at 1pm NZST

When do new episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe come out?

New episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will make landfall every Thursday in the US, and on Fridays everywhere else. Here are the all-important dates you need to know about:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: out now
• Episode 5: out now
• Episode 6: out now
• Episode 7: September 3
• Episode 8: September 10
• Episode 9: September 17
• Episode 10: September 24

Lanterns episode 3 has been released on HBO Max — and, after two weeks of teasing, it finally pulls back the veil on the mysterious extraterrestrials known as the Guardians of the Universe.

Until now, the Guardians have been something of an enigma in the HBO TV Original. However, its latest chapter, titled 'OutKast', gives us a much clearer picture of these beings and why they want John Stewart to succeed Hal Jordan as Earth's Green Lantern.

So, who are they? Where did they come from? Do they have powers? What's their connection to the Green Lantern Corps? And why are they obsessed with Stewart replacing Jordan? Let's take a closer look at the Guardians' comic book history and role in this HBO Max sci-fi crime drama.

Who are the Guardians of the Universe in DC Comics?

Created by DC icons Gil Kane and Jeff Broome during the Silver Age of Comic Books, the Guardians of the Universe are an immortal alien race depicted as blue-skinned humanoids originally from the planet Maltus. However, after a time-bending experiment — one that leads to the birth of the DC Multiverse and the anti-matter universe — goes awry, the Maltusians relocated to a new world named Oa and rebranded themselves as the Guardians of the Universe.

The Guardians gave themselves a new objective following the aforementioned and ill-fated time-based test: combat evil and create an orderly universe.

With this goal in mind, they created sentient androids known as the Manhunters to patrol the universe and combat any threats they encounter. However, the Manhunters soon came to resent their creators, committed mass genocide in a harrowing event known as the Massacre of Sector-666, and later attempted a coup, which the Guardians quelled. For more on the Manhunters and their role in this show, read my Manhunters in Lanterns explained piece.

In the wake of the Manhunters' uprising, the Guardians started afresh and created the Green Lantern Corps. A new interstellar police agency, its members carry out the Manhunters' former duties of watching over the universe and tackling anyone who threatens the peace. Two Green Lanterns guard each of the 3,600 sectors that make up the known universe, meaning there are 7,200 space cops in total.

Abilities-wise, the Guardians are some of the most powerful beings in DC Comics. Their powerset includes — but isn't limited to — the ability to fly, time travel, and phase through objects; telepathy; astral projection; invulnerability to conventional weapons; energy manipulation; reality warping; size manipulation; omniscience; and force field projection.

When and why did the Guardians choose John Stewart to be Earth's next Green Lantern?

Now that we've learned about the Guardians' comic book history, let's see how they factor into the DC Universe (DCU) TV show's story.

For starters, when Stewart is interviewed by a Guardian named Lianna (played by Laura Linney) for the chance to become Jordan's successor, we quickly learn that there are only 11 Guardians left. There were 12, but as episode 2 revealed, the former Green Lantern known as Sinestro killed one of them. You can learn more about him via my Sinestro in Lanterns explained article.

Anyway, by way of Lanterns' flashback-heavy third episode, the Guardians had originally tried to recruit Stewart's father — aka John Stewart Sr — as Earth's first Green Lantern when Stewart Jr was a baby. However, Stewart Sr failed the Guardians' 'Are you afraid?' test, so he wasn't chosen.

Traumatized by that cosmic event, Stewart Sr becomes a danger to his loved ones, so he's kicked out of the family home by his wife Bernadette. She doesn't believe her husband's claims surrounding the aforementioned event, either — until Lianna unexpectedly shows up to apologize for the trouble that the Guardians caused the Stewart family.

To keep things brief, Lianna indicates — over a late-night cup of coffee — that Stewart Jr has the makings of being a future Green Lantern. The reason? His parents are formidable individuals, so it stands to reason that, based on his genetic make-up alone, Stewart Jr would be cut from the same cloth.

After Bernadette tells all of this to Stewart Sr, they decide to raise Stewart Jr to not only be fearless, but also groom him so he will become a Green Lantern when he's older. So begins a years-long mission that sees them treat their youngest son differently from his older siblings. They train him to be undaunted and brainwash him into thinking it's his destiny to be a Green Lantern.

A couple of decades later, Stewart Jr is — the emotional detachment issues born from his unique upbringing notwithstanding — well on his way to becoming the so-called 'chosen one', too.

As the saying goes, though, the best-laid plans often go awry. Now a decorated US Marine sniper, Stewart Jr is sent on a months-long mission to assassinate a prominent money launderer known as 'Gray Wolf' in the Kamchatka Peninsula. Long story short, he fails said assignment when Hal Jordan, who was eventually chosen as Earth's first Green Lantern, surprisingly arrives and arrests the highly sought-after criminal. Forced to take the blame as part of a government cover-up, Stewart Jr is dishonorably discharged by the military.

Dejected after seeing his chances of becoming a Green Lantern ruined, Stewart Jr receives an unlikely pep talk from his mom, who also tells him that he's going to art school. Remember, his real passion has always been drawing, so to somewhat make up for her terrible parenting, Bernadette applied to a nearby university on his behalf. After being accepted by said university, Stewart Jr moves on from his Green Lantern dream.

Or so he thinks. Again, to keep things short, Stewart Jr is selected for what appears to be a special university project. However, the man he's trying to impress with his art skills is actually a male Guardian who, after Stewart Jr demonstrates his ability to construct his father's watch using a Green Lantern ring, is sent to be interviewed by Lianna.

Why do the Guardians want John Stewart to replace Hal Jordan?

For myriad reasons; but two specific reasons stand out among all others.

First — and perhaps most importantly — the Guardians are concerned about Jordan's relationship with Sinestro. Sure, Jordan was the one who defeated Sinestro after the latter killed one of the Guardians, but they know Jordan still harbors affection for his former mentor.

I wouldn't be shocked if they knew Jordan had visited Sinestro for information about the Manhunters in Lanterns episode 2, either. If they do, they'll be even more worried because there's no telling what Sinestro could do or say to Jordan to win him over to Sinestro's cause.

The other reason is Jordan's reckless nature. During their chat, Lianna tells Stewart that, despite regularly being told not to interfere in terrestrial matters, Jordan continues to do so. Replacing Jordan with Stewart would mean that these impulsive interventions would stop because Stewart wouldn't defy his bosses' wishes.

After successfully passing his Green Lantern interview, all eyes are now on how and when Stewart will succeed Jordan as Earth's primary Green Lantern in the DCU Chapter One TV series. Based on what Jordan tells Stewart at the end of this episode, though, he won't go quietly into that good night. Well, until Lanterns' 2026 storyline, when Jordan is murdered by someone, anyway...

The People v Gorilla Grodd is officially in the works at DC Studios.

Initially positioned as a Superman spin-off show tentatively titled DC Crime, the forthcoming crime mockumentary series will star Jimmy Olsen and many other familiar faces from Metropolis-based news outlet The Daily Planet. It'll also feature the live-action debut of Gorilla Grodd, aka one of The Flash's most famous adversaries, in a DC comic book project.

With development on the HBO Max program underway, I suspect you're *ahem* going ape over this announcement and want to know more about it. You've come to the right place, then, because you'll find more information on the DC Universe (DCU) TV show below, including its confirmed cast and plot brief. So, here's what we know so far about The People v Gorilla Grodd (TPvGG).

The People v Gorilla Grodd release window prediction