With only three more episodes to go, X-Men 97 season 2 is fast approaching the finish line — and there are a few big story threads that the Marvel TV show needs to wrap before it takes another extended break from our screens.

How will Professor X establishing X-Corp affect the current world order? What impact will Gambit's resurrection as one of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen have on this season's plot? And where is the Disney+ TV series setting up things to come for season 3? I can't say for sure — but, what I do know is when season 2 episode 7 will air on Disney+, one of the best streaming services. So, scroll on for more details!

What time can I watch X-Men 97 season 2 episode 7?

Episode 7 of X-Men 97's sophomore season will make its Disney+ debut on Wednesday, July 29. That's its global launch date, too, so viewers in North and South America won't be able to watch it on the evening of July 28.

Unless the Marvel Phase 6 project's release time is suddenly changed, the entry titled 'Strange Land, Savage Heart' will drop at the same time that its six forebears have:

• US — 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada — 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK — 8am BST
• India — 12:30pm IST
• Singapore — 3pm SGT
• Australia — 5pm AEST
• New Zealand — 7pm NZST

X-Men 97 season 2 full release schedule

As I mentioned earlier, there aren't many installments left of the X-Men animated show's current season. Indeed, there are only two more to enjoy after this week's episode before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) adjacent program goes off-air once more.

Like the launch time section above, as long as Marvel doesn't make a last-minute adjustment to this season's release schedule, we already know when its final pair of chapters will come out:

• Season 2 episode 1 — out now
• Season 2 episode 2 — out now
• Season 2 episode 3 — out now
• Season 2 episode 4 — out now
• Season 2 episode 5 — out now
• Season 2 episode 6 — out now
• Season 2 episode 7 — July 29
• Season 2 episode 8 — August 5
• Season 2 episode 9 — August 12

The guest cast list for Only Murders in the Building season 6 is now so stacked that I'm surprised creators know where to fit everyone.

As Oliver (Martin Short), Charles (Steve Martin) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) head to London, UK to solve the death of a global podcaster, the below Brits will be joining the action:

• Jennifer Saunders
• Sean Teale
• Simone Ashley 
• Amar Chadha-Patel
• Rhea Norwood
• Matthew Beard
• Sharon Horgan 
• Geri Halliwell Horner
• Martin Freeman
• Jamie Demetriou
• Anjana Vasan
• Jane Horrocks
• Derek Jacobi
• Lesley Nicol
• David Tennant
• Nicola Coughlan
• Jodie Whitaker
• Jim Broadbent
• Adrian Lukis
• Richard Ayoade
• Kathryn Hunter

This is all before the Disney+ and Hulu show slyly revealed its most recent casting through an Instagram carousel: England's Oscar-winning hero, Olivia Colman.

She's seen filming scenes solo while sat on a sofa, but the post shows that Mabel and Loretta (Meryl Streep) have also been at the same location. Put two and two together and there's a very high chance that Streep and Colman could be sharing the screen... and this is exciting to me.

Why? This will be the first time that the pair are reunited on screen since the 2010 British political biopic that I was unusually feral for as a 17-year-old girl. It's also the performance that won Streep her most recent Best Actress Oscar... and frankly, it all has to be seen to be believed.

Only Murders in the Building season 6 will be Olivia Colman and Meryl Streep's first onscreen appearance since The Iron Lady

Only Streep could take a figure as politically and culturally divisive as former UK Conversative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and turn her into an Academy Award winner.

The 2011 biopic The Iron Lady explores her life and career as the UK's longest-serving Prime Minister, with an older Thatcher looking back over her life after the death of her beloved husband, Denis (Jim Broadbent).

So, where does Colman fit in? She plays Carol Thatcher, Margaret's daughter, sharing intimate scenes with Streep during Margaret's older years. Watching them together is like watching destiny... of course these two were always going to unite and give audiences something special.

While Streep rightly received a great deal of notoriety for her performance, it's surprising how many people forget that Colman was ever in it. In fact, if you've never realized before now, you've likely seen the below anecdote on The Graham Norton Show, with Colman revealing that Streep thought her real teeth were fake.

Oddly, The Iron Lady is one of the few films I can probably recite word for word without needing to watch it again first. Around the same time that it was released, a college friend of mine and I set up a (very) unofficial Meryl Streep fan club: The Mezralites.

We got t-shirts made — for all two members who were in the club — and spent every lunch break possible learning Streep's ways: understanding how she embodied the famous Prime Minister before our time, how she turned her hand to the slightest of details that could make or break a single moment.

I would always argue that any film featuring Streep is worth seeing, but The Iron Lady is the perfect binge before Only Murders in the Building season 6 arrives.

We're getting two divas for the price of one, and the underlying biting tension between them onscreen could so easily be replicated under Oliver, Charles and Mabel's watch.

Huzzah, another weekend is upon us — and, amid the lack of new movies landing in theaters today (July 24), you might be inclined to stay at home and check one of the following seven must-see films and TV shows instead.

There are a couple of new releases we couldn't squeeze into this week's streaming round-up — sorry, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 and The Dink. Nevertheless, I'm sure you'll find something to your liking from those we've listed below. So, take a look, load up one of the best streaming services, and sit back and enjoy one or more of them. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe (HBO Max)

And what if I said that The Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe was better than the original series? Nobody was expecting awkward comic book store owner Stuart's story to continue from the main show, but in hindsight, it's a glorious move.

Our titular heroic lead, on-off girlfriend Denise, and friends Kripke and Bert are brought back together when Stuart triggers a multiverse armageddon by accidentally breaking a device built by Sheldon and Leonard.

Has 'King of Sitcoms' Chuck Lorre done it again? You'll need to read my Stuart Fails to Save the Universe review to find out if it's th TV triumph that I never expected. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Stuart Fails to Save the Universe on HBO Max

Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (Paramount+)

It's been 13 years since the gang defeated Lord Ozai and the Fire Nation, and attentions have turned to a new airbender called Tagah. Together, Aang and Tagah embark on a global quest to find the relic before a group called The Denied.

Aang is all grown up in Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, but that doesn't mean the original magic has gone anywhere. The movie's understanding of perspective, movement, and detail is absolutely astonishing, moving through the Four Nations with such awe-inspired wonder that you'll want to live in each frame.

Time may have changed how they look, but their goofy and fun-loving personalities definitely haven't... and the animation captures exactly what has been missing from Netflix's live-action adaptation. — JV

• Watch Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender on Paramount+

72 Hours (Netflix)

In this new Netflix movie, Kevin Hart stars as a 40-year-old who ends up at a three-day bachelor party with strangers, resulting in yet another silly Hart-led venture that's perfect if you need of a laugh this weekend.

How did he end up there, you might ask? Well, he was mistakenly added to a group chat and went along for the ride, traveling from New York to Miami to join in the celebrations. Any excuse to party by the beach, I suppose.

It's not so idyllic though, as the trailer teases trouble with the law and other mishaps, including getting horribly stung by a jellyfish. Rather him than me. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch 72 Hours on Netflix

Mortal Kombat II (HBO Max)

Flawless victory! Mortal Kombat II is now available to stream on HBO Max, so you can relive the action-packed video game adaptation whenever you'd like.

As far as weekend watches go, you really can't beat an over-the-top, violent thrill ride like this one. If you're a fan of The Boys, Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage has been widely praised, with some noting it's worth watching just for him. — LB

• Watch Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max

Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston (Hulu/Disney+)

Think you know the complete story of Pompeii? Hold that thought, because Marvel star Tom Hiddleston sheds new light on this cataclysmic event in one of the more poignant docudramas I've seen in a while.

A three-part National Geographic series, Pompeii: Out of Time follows Hiddleston as he retraces the steps of a trio of individuals caught up in the natural disaster. Armed with fresh archaeological evidence and backed up by a team of experts, Hiddleston explores how these people not only navigated one of the worst humanitarian crises of the ancient world, but who might also have even survived the deadly events of 79 A.D.

Part educational, part moving drama, Pompeii: Out of Time is out now in full on Disney+ and Hulu. — TP

• Watch Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston on National Geographic via Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Ransom Canyon season 2 (Netflix)

I don't need all of my television to be profound, life-changing, or even that meaningful. Sometimes, I just want to switch my brain off and pretend I live in a picturesque, rural town like Ransom Canyon on the other side of the world where everyone has unrelenting drama except me.

In season 2, the land feud between the Double K and Fuller ranches has become more ferocious, local bar owner Quinn has left for New York despite her on-off relationship with rancher Staten, and mysterious newcomer Yancy has revealed to new love interest Ellie that he has a secret wife.

Season 1 was already a strong outing, but now that the show knows itself a little more, season 2 is easily on par with the strongest seasons of Virgin River, the streamer's most iconic "cozy drama" IP. — JV

• Watch Ransom Canyon season 2 on Netflix

Masters of the Universe (Prime Video)

One of numerous mid-2026 film releases that have bombed at the box office, Amazon has hoisted the proverbial white flag on its live-action Masters of the Universe movie's theatrical run. In short: that means you can now watch it on Prime Video.

Based on the Mattel-owned media franchise of the same name, the action fantasy flick tells the tale of Adam, the crown prince of Eternia and owner of an mystical weapon called the Power Sword that, when wielded, turns him into the superhuman known as He-Man. Together with his allies, the previously exiled Adam must realize his potential and overthrow the nefarious Skeletor, who seized control of Adam's home city of Eternos — and its throne — 15 years earlier.

Not sure if you'll like this flick? Read my Masters of the Universe review to see what I thought before you stream it. — TP

• Watch Masters of the Universe on Prime Video

My favorite interviews over the course of my career have involve people I'd never normally get the chance to speak to in everyday life.

So far this year that's involved two former FBI agents, but Dr. Sarita Robinson — who you can see in Pompeii: Out of Time, out now on Disney+ and Hulu — might just take the cake. Known as "Dr. Survival," her work specialises in figuring out why some people are more likely to survive disasters than others.

This makes her a compelling expert for the three-part docuseries, which explores the events leading up to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, which destroyed the nearby Roman city of Pompeii, and features Tom Hiddleston as presenter.

But it's not her take on the past that I'm actually as interested in... it's her take on the disasters of the future. As a TechRadar writer, I can't pass up an opportunity to talk to Robinson about the dangers of the rise of AI usage across the globe.

While some of us happily wile away the hours asking ChatGPT to generate images of us as hot dogs, others are getting concerned about increasingly awry security reports, such as Open AI models breaching rival company, Hugging Face.

Add in potential climate change risk, and I think that AI is more than a viable candidate for the sort of survival emergencies that Robinson researches. But surprisingly, AI isn't what she's most worried about.

'We theoretically have a risk from AI'

First, I begin by asking Robinson exactly how she defines a survival emergency. Does it have to be a natural occurrence, like the Mount Vesuvius eruption near Pompeii?

"Absolutely not," she replies. "For me, when I'm looking at emergencies, it's anything where your life is at risk. That can be as simple as you walking across a road and a car coming, small scale emergencies that are just enough that you have to respond, or it can be huge emergencies. The last one that I did quite a lot of research on, as you might expect, is the pandemic. The next one will be climate change, the era of global boiling."

"Medium scale would be an earthquake in a region, a terror attack — so they can be human made disasters... they don't have to be just natural disasters."

So far, so good. When it comes to categorizing AI within Robinson's research boundaries, is this kind of technological disaster something she's ever considered?

"I think I've watched enough science fiction movies to know that we theoretically have a risk from AI," she tells me. "Exactly what that risk would be or how it would look is very difficult to predict at this moment. But yes, absolutely, I would definitely add it onto my list of things that can go wrong... my list is quite extensive."

'I would be far more worried about a solar pulse'

"To be fair, I think the thing I worry about more on the tech front is something like a solar pulse that then knocks out a whole load of technology," Robinson adds. "I can't imagine my life without a mobile phone, a computer... it would be very odd to go into an age of no internet."

It's at this point of the interview where I stop feeling bad for adding a disaster scenario to Robinson's list, as she's certainly just added one to mine. Before this point, I'd never even heard of a solar pulse, which can best be described as a sudden burst of energy from the sun. According to the University of Minnesota, they can trigger "explosive releases of radiation and magnetized plasma ripple through space, occasionally triggering geomagnetic storms on Earth and producing auroras."

Fantastic, another reason to have anxiety in 2026. But what is Robinson's advice for not feeling so anxious about... well, general impending doom?

"Be prepared: active coping, doing something about it, keeping it in perspective, but making sure that you have the resources if something goes wrong," she responds. "I don't mean building a nuclear bunker in your back garden. For example, when the pandemic hit back in 2020, I had a 'pandemic kit' under my sink. I felt like I had a little bit more control in that moment."

"I did some research on the pandemic and what it did show was that those people who'd made some preparations prior to the lockdown were doing much better in terms of mental health, stress, anxiety and depression."

Can we make a solar pulse or anti-AI kit for under our sinks? Most likely not. But that doesn't mean that Robinson's advice should be discarded — control also means vigilance, so keeping a mix of online and offline resources in day-to-day life could be a great way of achieving this.

The 2026 edition of San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) is almost upon us, and you know what that means: all manner of rumors and speculation about the surprises Marvel might have in store for us at its now-customary Hall H panel.

To a certain extent, the biggest reveal has already happened. Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) diehards had expected the first official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday to be the focal point of the comic book titan's next presentation. With Avengers: Doomsday's main trailer released on Monday (July 20), though, Marvel must have something just as significant around which to center its forthcoming panel on July 25 at 5:30pm PT.

As attentions turn towards the Disney subsidiary's hour-long address at SDCC 2026, chief among fans' immediate thoughts is: what big reveal could Marvel make that a) would rival Avengers: Doomsday's first proper trailer as a major talking point, and b) is so noteworthy that Marvel felt confident enough to unveil Doomsday's trailer earlier than expected?

One project that fits the bill is Marvel's new X-Men movie. The only post-Multiverse Saga film in active development, myriad rumors are circulating online about who could star in the mutant-led flick. You can learn more about which actors Marvel is reportedly talking to via my Marvel's X-Men movie guide.

For what it's worth, industry insiders, albeit ones with sketchy track records, have claimed there'll be no such cast reveals at SDCC 2026. My reading of the situation is that'll be the case, too, especially as Marvel will want to focus to stay on the rest of its 2026 line-up — I'll discuss this in more detail shortly — and the projects it'll release in 2027, such as Daredevil: Born Again season 3 and Avengers: Secret Wars. We're not expecting the new X-Men movie to arrive until the following year.

That said, I'd be surprised if Marvel doesn't say something about the MCU's first X-Men film. Speculation abounds that the comic titan might tentatively discuss other Marvel Phase 7 movies, such as Thunderbolts 2, The Fantastic Four: First Steps sequel, Black Panther 3, Nova, and Midnight Sons — the last of which might repurpose Marvel's long-gestating plans to introduce Mahershala Ali's Blade to the MCU. It would be bizarre, then, if that quintet is covered, but not the first film of what'll be version 2.0 of the MCU.

But, onto more pressing matters — namely, the rest of Marvel's 2026 movie and TV slate.

On the film side of things, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which swings into theaters between July 29 and 31 (depending on where you live), is expected to have a big presence at SDCC 2026. I'm willing to bet that attendees will be treated to some exclusive first-look footage, but any spoiler-based content, such as the identity of Sadie Sink's much-discussed mystery character in Spider-Man 4, won't be part of proceedings. Could we also get an early Spider-Man 5 announcement? As a huge Spidey fan, I'd be overjoyed if we did.

As for Avengers: Doomsday, I believe Marvel will show off some new clips from one of this year's most anticipated new movies, with the most likely candidates being extended looks at shots from its first main trailer. Where its sequel in Secret Wars is concerned, I think we'll get a name-drop and the briefest, spoiler-free hints about its story, but that's all.

Pre-SDCC 2026 chatter about Marvel's forthcoming Disney+ shows is much harder to read. After all, the studio has regularly reserved its biggest TV announcements for D23 Expo (Disney's flagship fan event, which takes place annually in Anaheim, California), so it stands to reason that there won't be a change in strategy this year.

Nevertheless, I predict we'll get some details about its final two TV series of the year — VisionQuest and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (YFNSM) season 2 — at SDCC.

With VisionQuest, I foresee confirmation of its main cast and a behind-closed-doors look at the Paul Bettany-led live-action program. Whether that'll be a full first trailer or a more general sneak peek remains to be seen, but I wouldn't be surprised if, as long as it's the former, VisionQuest's first trailer isn't publicly released following its possible unveiling at SDCC.

The same is true of YFNSM season 2. I'm of the opinion that Marvel's animated Spider-Man show will be highlighted in greater detail at D23 Expo 2026. That said, I'm fairly confident that Marvel will also deliver some news about it. Is it too much to ask for an official launch date? Not in my book.

Meanwhile, Marvel has already confirmed that it's full steam ahead on season 3 of its critically-acclaimed animated series X-Men 97. Will we hear more about it shortly? Not in my view. We've still got three more episodes of X-Men 97 season 2 to enjoy before it goes off the air, so any conversations about its follow-up season — especially those of a spoiler-based persuasion — will have to wait until D23 Expo 2026 or this year's New York Comic-Con.

Finally, will we hear anything substantial about Wonder Man season 2? That's similarly unlikely. Co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton has been incredibly busy with directing Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Although Cretton recently said that the cameras could roll on Wonder Man's next chapter as early as next year, this year's D23 Expo feels like a better fit for any major announcements for this series, as well as Marvel Zombies season 2, the company's first R-rated animated program.

What Marvel movies and TV shows do you think we'll see and hear more about at SDCC 2026? And which one(s) are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comment section below and the above poll you probably scrolled past.

Once you're done, find out everything we know about Avengers: Doomsday, get the first details about Avengers: Secret Wars, learn all there is to know about VisionQuest, and what's what with Daredevil: Born Again season 3.

• Avengers: Doomsday will be released in cinemas worldwide on December 18
• Tom Hiddleston's Loki is part of the movie's huge ensemble
• The popular actor has revealed if fans need to watch Loki on Disney+ before Doomsday comes out

Tom Hiddleston has revealed if you need to watch Loki on Disney+ to understand his character's role in Avengers: Doomsday.

Speaking exclusively to TechRadar, the fan-favorite actor, who has played Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since 2010, said he "will always say that people need to watch" his character's standalone series. However, Hiddleston wouldn't be drawn specifically on whether it was essential to stream the show prior to Doomsday's release on December 18.

Marvel fans who've seen the Hiddleston-fronted program will already know how its second and final season ends. On the off-chance that you haven't watched it yet, I'll refrain from spelling out exactly what happened in this article. For those who need their memory jogged, my spoiler-filled Loki season 2 ending explained piece holds the answers you seek.

One thing that every MCU fanatic will know by now, though, is that Loki will return in Avengers: Doomsday. Indeed, not only was Hiddleston part of the initial 27-strong Doomsday cast announcement in March 2025, but he also made the briefest of appearances in Avengers: Doomsday's first official trailer, which surprisingly made its public debut yesterday (July 20).

Naturally, fans have myriad questions after the release of said trailer, including a couple concerning Loki. How big of a role will he play in the Marvel Phase 6 movie? Will he be reunited with Thor? And, perhaps most important of all, does Loki's Disney+ show have any bearing on the story that Doomsday will tell?

As part of a wider chat I had with Hiddleston for his new National Geographic docudrama Pompeii: Out of Time, which airs on Disney+ and Hulu on July 23, I put those exact questions to him. Predictably, Hiddleston, who has plenty of experience dodging spoiler-based Marvel questions, wasn't forthcoming with definitive answers.

Nonetheless, he did appear to drop a tiny hint that anyone who wants to comprehend Loki's role in Avengers 5 should seek out the character's solo show on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.

"I always say that people need to watch Loki," he told me with a wry smile. "I'm really proud of that show — I poured my whole soul into it and I love playing Loki. It's been 16 years now and, you know, I got to the end of Avengers: Infinity War, and that seemed to be the end of the Odinson saga.

"But, then Loki, as a series, was about placing Loki in the new context [by] taking him out of time and his reality," Hiddleston continued. "He's confronted with his compulsive, self-destructive, repetitive patterns of behavior, and gives him this capacity to be an agent of his own destiny. It was such an enjoyable experience because the whole show is about identity, purpose, and belonging, and also about time and how we perceive it and how best to use it.

"So, yeah, I would always say, if you haven't watched it, go and do so," he added. "And, if you haven't watched it before Doomsday, go and watch it again."

For more on one of 2026's most anticipated new movies, find out everything we know so far about Avengers: Doomsday.

X-Men 97 season 2 took us on something of a narrative detour with last week's episode, so some viewers will be pleased to know that its next chapter gets things back on track. And by that, I mean this season's sixth entry will address the fallout from X-Men 97 season 2 episode 4's emotionally devastating ending.

Want to know when the Marvel TV show's next installment will make its bow on Disney+? Of course you do, otherwise you wouldn't be here. I'll stop beating around the bush, then, and tell you to scroll on for more details…

What is the launch time for X-Men 97 season 2 episode 6?

Titled 'Danger.exe', the next episode of X-Men 97's sophomore season will premiere at 12am PT / 3am ET on Wednesday, July 22 in the US and Canada.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)-adjacent TV series' forthcoming chapter will also come out in other nations on July 22, albeit at a different time depending on where you live. Check out the list below to see when it'll be released in your country:

• US — 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada — 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK — 8am BST
• India — 12:30pm IST
• Singapore — 3pm SGT
• Australia — 5pm AEST
• New Zealand — 7pm NZST

What is the full launch schedule for X-Men 97 season 2?

After this week's episode of the X-Men's animated show has dropped on Disney+, aka one of the best streaming services, there will only be three more to enjoy before season 2 comes to an end.

Unless Marvel suddenly changes the series' current release schedule, those final three chapters will air on successive Wednesdays until the Marvel Phase 6 project's latest finale arrives in mid-August. Read on to see what dates they'll launch on:

• Season 2 episode 1 — out now
• Season 2 episode 2 — out now
• Season 2 episode 3 — out now
• Season 2 episode 4 — out now
• Season 2 episode 5 — out now
• Season 2 episode 6 — July 22
• Season 2 episode 7 — July 29
• Season 2 episode 8 — August 5
• Season 2 episode 9 — August 12

It's officially summer holiday season in the northern hemisphere (sorry, readers in Australia and New Zealand), and that means it's time to put the TV on for the kids before you go on family vacation.

You won't want to stick any of the following new movies or TV shows on for them, though. None of them are family friendly, so I'd advise you to load up something else on one of the world's best streaming services instead.

However, once they're tucked up in bed, I implore you to throw on one or more of these seven great-looking films and TV series. That said, maybe don't start this week's number one choice before you head off for a good night's rest yourself, because it is terrifying in the best way possible. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Obsession (Peacock)

I'm not joking when I say Obsession, the breakout movie hit of 2026 so far that's finally landed on Peacock, is frighteningly fun. I spent weeks thinking about this supernatural horror after seeing it, and I'll readily admit that I felt uncomfortable for the first few nights post-watch, too.

For those who don't know: Obsession follows Bear (Michael Johnston), a lovesick loser who has a crushe on one of his besties Nikki (Inde Navarrette). When Bear stumbles upon an item called the One Wish Willow, he buys one and uses it to make Nikki fall in love with him. It's a spur-of-the-moment action that ends up having horrifying and deadly consequences, and will have you constantly repeating Nikki's "No, no, no, no, don't do thaaaaat!" line in your head as the plot progresses.

Before you stream it, check out our review of Obsession to see why everyone's, well, become obsessed with a film that, on a reported budget of just $750,000, has made $400m globally, broken horror film box office records, and turned Navarrette into a serial awards contender. And hey, if Peacock isn't available in your region yet, see where you can rent or but the Curry Barker-directed phenomenon instead. — TP

• Watch Obsession on Peacock

Heartstopper Forever (Netflix)

Guys... the end we've been dreading is here. Nick and Charlie's wholesome relationship has been an IP central to Netflix original content, but now it all ends with Heartstopper Forever.

If you're bummed out because we're not getting a full fourth season, don't be. As Nick, Charlie, and the gang all brace before going their separate ways to university, a feature film actually reflects their growing maturity and crises of confidence much more fittingly.

Heartstopper Forever really is forever... at least, it is in my house, where I'll be replaying it so much that Netflix might issue a warning. Its spirit and generation-defining impact will live on, and that might be the most special achievement the streamer has ever been responsible for. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Heartstopper Forever on Netflix

Ride or Die (Prime Video)

Whoever thought to cast Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham together in an Amazon action comedy show needs a raise immediately. Ride or Die gives us the entertainment duo that we didn't know that we needed and plenty of laughs along the way.

The pair play best friends Debbie Claybourne and Judith Burton, who thought they knew everything about each other. But, when Judith (Waddingham) turns out to be an international assassin when a mysterious figure emerges, their worlds are turned upside down.

Tackling everything from menopause to, well, the complexities of life, this Prime Video Original is an incredible amount of fun. And, surely that's the most important thing in life, right? — JV

• Watch Ride or Die on Prime Video

Lucky (Apple TV)

Is there anything Anya Taylor-Joy can't do? Ever since she made her debut in Robert Eggers' The Witch, I've been impressed by just how varied each of her roles are.

In Apple TV's Lucky, she plays a con artist forced to go on the run after a heist goes wrong. Across seven episodes, we follow Luciana 'Lucky' Armstrong as she tries to evade the FBI and a ruthless crime boss, hoping that she'll live up to her nickname and make it out alive. It seems that breaking the law runs in her family, too, as Timothy Olyphant stars as her father who's in prison when the story begins.

The first two episodes are out now, and something tells me this will be another Apple Original for me to get hooked on. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Lucky on Apple TV

The Hawk (Netflix)

If you ask me, Will Ferrell and golf feels like a natural TV marriage. The Hawk on Netflix is proving me right, with Ferrell playing Lonnie Hawkins, a top golfer in 2004. Two decades on and he's trying to recapture his magic late in his career. However, he refuses to believe he's anything other than one stroke away from golf's greatest comeback.

If you've ever watched Happy Gilmore or The Phantom of the Open, this is for you... even if you're pretending that you actually know the first thing about the sport, which is easily done. — JV

• Watch The Hawk on Netflix

Descendants: Wicked Wonderland (Disney+)

The Descendants franchise continues over on Disney+ with Wicked Wonderland, which marks the fifth installment in the series (even I didn't think that there had been so many).

Picking up shortly after Descendants: The Rise of Red, Red and Chloe return from their time-travelling adventures to find that the Queen of Hearts is trapped. The once notorious villain now has a nice streak, but that gives way to a new evil: Maddox Hatter.

Personally, I still can't believe that a UK 2010s popstar is playing one of the most iconic fictional queens of all time. If you're British, it has to be seen for that reason alone. — JV

• Watch Descendants: Wicked Wonderland on Disney+

Murder 101 (Prime Video)

Prime Video's new three-part docuseries is a fascinating one. Murder 101 is about a high school sociology class based in rural Tennessee who help revive a decades-old case into a shocking present-day hunt for a killer.

It's the sort of thing you'd expect to find in a work of fiction, Netflix's How to Get Away with Murder springs to mind, but this is 100% real. You can also check out the podcast of the same name if you'd like to dive in deeper.

Ultimately, this program showcases the power of a local community as we follow a group of students turned amateur sleuths. I'm already locked in. — LB

• Watch Murder 101 on Prime Video

• The Mandalorian and Grogu's digital release date has been announced
• It'll be available to rent or buy in late July
• The new Star Wars movie won't come to Disney+ anytime soon

The Mandalorian and Grogu is heading to a TV screen near you very soon — but not via Disney+.

Yesterday (July 15), Lucasfilm and parent company Disney announced the latest Star Wars movie will be available to watch at home from Tuesday, July 21 onwards. If you didn't catch it in theaters or have been waiting to re-watch it from the comfort of your couch, then you'll be able to do so via numerous premium video on demand (PVOD) platforms in less than a week.

As for the services it'll land on, the usual suspects, such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango, should be your first ports of call. Right now, there's no indication that The Mandalorian and Grogu will be available to rent and/or buy, but I'd be shocked if viewers were only given the option to temporarily or permanently add one of 2026's many new movies to their digital film collection.

Want to know if the first Star Wars flick in over six years is worth seeing? Read my review of The Mandalorian and Grogu for more details.

Why han't The Mandalorian and Grogu arrived on Disney+ yet?

If you're wondering why The Mandalorian and Grogu isn't coming to Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, yet, you're not alone. After all, it's been over two months since the Pedro Pascal-fronted sci-fi adventure not only landed in theaters, but subsequently failed to meet expectations from critical and commercial standpoints.

Wouldn't it make sense to just drop the movie on Disney's primary streamer, then? Simply put: no.

For one, releasing it on digital platforms first is a sure-fire way for Lucasfilm and Disney to continue making money from The Mandalorian's big-screen sequel.

Sure, adding it to Disney+'s movie library might persuade some to sign up for the streamer to watch it. However, Disney is far more likely to bring in extra cash through rentals or permanent purchases than new Disney+ subscriptions, especially if the cost of renting or buying The Mandalorian and Grogu is greater than the most expensive tier on Disney+ in your world region. For instance, US fans have to pay $18.99 every 30 days for an ad-free experience, so if Disney sets The Mandalorian and Grogu's digital price at $20, it's obviously going to earn more from the latter.

Regardless, the Jon Favreau-directed film will eventually come to Disney+, so you'll just have to be patient if you're waiting for it to its official streaming debut. While you wait, see if you agree with my Disney+ release date prediction for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

• Marvel is reportedly making a Nova movie with the aid of Loki's showrunner
• The cosmic hero was originally going to star in a Disney+ TV show
• If true, the film will need to address three big questions about the MCU

Marvel is turning its attentions to the stars again as it begins work on a movie starring fan-favorite character Nova.

Per Deadline, the comic-book titan has pivoted away from telling a story about the cosmic hero on Disney+ to give him the full big-screen treatment. Furthermore, Michael Waldron, who was Loki's showrunner and rewrote parts of the Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness script, is leading development on the untitled Nova project.

According to Deadline's sources, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) flick is still in the early planning stages. Nonetheless, I've already got four big questions that Marvel and Waldron need to shed light on regarding their next sci-fi project…

1. Who will play Nova?

Chief among the answers I seek is which actor will portray the eponymous character.

With Waldron also the creator-in-chief on acclaimed sports comedy Chad Powers, a Hulu TV Original that starred Glen Powell, it's little surprise to see that the aforementioned actor has been linked with the titular role. Add in the fact that Marvel has prioritized casting A-listers in its movie and TV productions recently, and the charismatic Powell would fit the bill as a big name who could draw a crowd, too.

That said, Powell is far from the only star that Waldron has worked with before. Additionally, Marvel President Kevin Feige has occasionally stated his belief that the comic giant needs to reduce the costs of its films and TV series, which includes the salaries of those who appear in said screen projects. Powell's hiring, then, is certainly not a foregone conclusion.

2. Which version of the superhero will we see — Richard Rider, Sam Alexander, or Frankie Raye?

Like the Green Lantern Corps that exist in DC Comics, there are hundreds of individuals who have held the rank of 'Nova' in Marvel Comics.

There are three particular human characters who are part of the insterstellar cop agency known as the Nova Corps, though — those being the aforementioned Rider, Alexander, and Raye.

Of that trio, Rider is the most famous, so it would make sense if Marvel decided to center Nova around this well-known individual. However, should Marvel want to go down the route of introducing a younger Nova to audiences, Alexander would be the way to go. Furthermore, if Marvel isn't worried about the fan backlash that could come from casting a female lead in this film and/or taking creative liberties with Raye's comic-book origins, it could turn heads by selecting the least likely member of this group to star in it.

For what it's worth, I think Marvel will play it safe and go for Rider — but that's just my view. Vote in the poll below to let me know which character you'd like to see!

3. Will Nova show us the off-screen destruction of Xandar at Thanos' hands?

Think you've heard the word 'Nova' before in the MCU? You'd be right. We were actually introduced to the Nova Corps in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, which saw the titular ragtag group travel to — and then save — Xandar, aka the capital city of the Nova Empire and, by proxy, the space cop agency's headquarters.

At the end of that film, the Nova Corps was entrusted with the Power Stone, aka one of the Infinity Stones. Unfortunately, as part of his genocidal plan to destroy half of all life in the universe, the Mad Titan known as Thanos soon came calling for said cosmic gem. Long story short: he acquired the Power Stone and, as punishment for Xandar's role in trying to stop him obtaining it, decimated the planet.

So, will we witness Xandar's destruction in a flashback sequence as part of Nova's story? If it had been developed and released by now, I believe we already would have. However, Nova won't arrive before the Marvel Multiverse Saga comes to an end with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. And, with that Marvel Phase 6 duology set to reboot the MCU, I think it's incredibly unlikely that Xandar's annihilation at Thanos' hands will be depicted in Nova.

4. Can Waldron win over the MCU sceptics?

There's no denying that Waldron's apparent involvement in Nova has caused something of a ruckus online. Indeed, following the publication of Deadline's article, fans have taken to various Reddits, the ResetEra forums, and other social platforms to criticize or defend Waldron's hiring.

There are valid arguments on both sides of the debate, too. As Loki's head writer, Waldron proved he had the necessary writing chops to tell a sci-fi story that was focused on a beloved Marvel character. In sharp contrast to the praise he received for his work on that show, though, Waldron is often 'credited' with not only turning Doctor Strange 2 into a narrative mess, but also with undoing all of the growth that Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch underwent in WandaVision and positioning her as a one-dimensional villain in Multiverse of Madness.

Of course, Loki and Doctor Strange 2 aren't the only screenwriting credits on Waldron's resume, but they're the ones that MCU diehards will know him from. In that sense, he's one for two in the 'great MCU project' department. The jury is still out, then, on whether it'll be one or two for three before Nova's arrival.

Hoo boy, is anybody else still coming to terms with X-Men 97 season 2 episode 4's ending? I know I am but, with a new chapter of the Marvel TV show set to drop very soon, it's time to re-compose and emotionally steel ourselves for whatever comes next.

So, when will this season's fifth entry — titled 'Weapon X, Lies, and DVDs' — make its debut on Disney+? Read on and you'll find out!

What is the launch time for X-Men 97 season 2 episode 5?

X-Men 97 season 2's next installment will air on Wednesday, July 15 at 12am PT / 3am ET in North and South America.

Viewers living elsewhere will also be able to catch it on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on the same date. Depending on where you're based, though, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) adjacent TV series' next episode will come out at a different time. Check out the list below for more details:

• US — 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada — 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK — 8am BST
• India — 12:30pm IST
• Singapore — 3pm SGT
• Australia — 5pm AEST
• New Zealand — 7pm NZST

How many more episodes are there in X-Men 97 season 2?

After this week's episode, there'll be four more episodes of X-Men 97's second season to enjoy.

Want to know the exact dates that the Marvel Phase 6 show's remaining entries will appear? Run your eyes over the below list for more on the schedule for the X-Men animated show's sophomore season:

• Season 2 episode 1 — out now
• Season 2 episode 2 — out now
• Season 2 episode 3 — out now
• Season 2 episode 4 — out now
• Season 2 episode 5 — July 15
• Season 2 episode 6 — July 22
• Season 2 episode 7 — July 29
• Season 2 episode 8 — August 5
• Season 2 episode 9 — August 12

• Disney+ is reportedly mulling over a completely free tier with ads
• The cheapest tier already includes some adverts
• We're seeing streaming platforms become more like traditional TV

The line between streaming platforms and traditional TV continues to blur: there's a fresh report that Disney+ is considering adding a free tier to its platform, completely supported by ads, so some shows and movies could be watched without paying anything.

This comes from Business Insider, which says that "people familiar with the matter" have revealed that Disney+ product and tech chief Adam Smith mentioned the possibility of a free tier during a town hall meeting inside the company on Thursday (July 9).

Those are all the details we have, for now — so it's just a possibility. Smith didn't give any indication of when the free tier might be offered to consumers, or how much of the Disney+ library might be available without paying anything.

There is some indication from Business Insider that Disney+ is worried about YouTube and its continued growth. While you can opt to pay for YouTube Premium, all of the content on the platform is available for free, with opts.

Free vs paid-for

Disney is exploring adding a free tier to Disney+ as YouTube draws TV viewers | The tier would enable accessibility to some movies and TV shows without a paywall from r/television

While streaming platforms like Netflix and Apple TV don't have a completely free tier, there are of course services such as Pluto TV and Tubi that are built entirely around free, ad-supported streaming television (known as FAST).

Statistics from Nielsen, quoted by Business Insider, say that the three largest free streamers accounted for 18.7% of watch time in the US in April 2026, up from 16.8% a year earlier, and 12.7% the year before that — figures Disney+ will have noticed.

Reactions to the rumors on Reddit have been mixed, with the observation that "we're so close to the streamers inventing television" and a quip that "we're just getting TV again huh" summing up the general sentiment among users.

One poster suggests the new tier would be "unwatchable" given how many ads already appear on the cheapest Disney+ tier, while another airs concerns that a completely free tier would eventually come with a monthly cost as time goes on.

• Filming on Alien: Earth season 2 is reportedly underway
• The sci-fi horror show has also added three more actors to its ensemble
• One cast addition means a fan-favorite Game of Thrones reunion is on the cards

It's xenomorphin' time, Alien: Earth fans, because filming is reportedly underway on the sci-fi horror show's second season.

Per Variety, the cameras have begun to roll on the next installment of the Alien franchise's TV show. There's no word on how long its sophomore season will take to shoot, but the common consensus among fans being that Alien: Earth season 2 could arrive in late 2027. With principal photography beginning in earnest, that release window remains a possibility.

We might not know when it'll return, but we do know who's joined the cast for the Hulu and Disney+ program's next chapter.

Indeed, Variety says comedy icon-cum-actor Tracey Ullman (The Tracey Ullman Show, Small Time Crooks), Sam Spruell (Fargo, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), and Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones, 1923) have all boarded the FX TV Original. The trio join Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, Roofman) on the newcomers front — the latter having signed on in April.

Tyrion and Bronn ride again

Ullman and Spruell's additions to the Alien: Earth season 2 cast are certainly eye-catching.

To me, the former's involvement suggests we'll get more of the human-based eccentricity and dark humor that was occasionally on full display in the series' debut season. As for Spruell, his inclusion means he's re-teaming with Alien: Earth's creator and showrunner Noah Hawley — the pair having worked together on season 5 of Fargo, another Hawley-developed FX TV show, which came out in 2024.

It's Flynn's casting, though, that's got me hyped for this show's next outing.

The partnership between Flynn's Bronn and Dinklage's Tyrion in Game of Thrones was — and still is — an indisputable highlight of the legendary fantasy show. The prospect of seeing these actors revive their on-screen chemistry in Alien: Earth, then, is an incredibly tantalizing one. And, while I'm sure Hawley has got better things to do than read this article — hey, the guy's really busy right now! — I'd implore him to put Dinklage and Flynn in a room together as much as possible so we can all enjoy seeing these actors collectively chew the scenery.

Need a recap of what happened before the show's debut chapter ended? Read my Alien: Earth season 1 ending explained piece. Then, get the lowdown on everything we know so far about Alien: Earth season 2.

X-Men 97 season 2 episode 4 has landed on Disney+ — and, once you've picked up your jaw off the floor, I suspect you'll have two major questions about where things go from here.

So, if you're searching for answers after the Marvel TV show's latest chapter, titled 'Rise of Apocalypse: Part II', I'm here to provide them. Or, at least, give my take on what'll happen next following the episode's emotionally devastating finale and end-credits scene.

It goes without saying, but full spoilers immediately follow for X-Men 97 season 2's latest entry. Turn back now if you haven't watched it yet.

Does Magneto die in X-Men 97 season 2 episode 4?

In a nutshell, yes. You don't take a extremely powerful arm-cannon blast to the chest — one that completely obliterates you, no less — from the immortal, super-mutant called Apocalypse and live to tell the tale.

That said, comic book character deaths are never permanent. Whether it's on the page, or in a movie or TV adaptation, superpowered beings are regularly brought back to life via time travel or multiverse shenanigans.

While Magneto certainly perished at the hands of Apocalypse in X-Men 97's latest installment, then, it's incredibly unlikely that he'll be gone for good. He's too popular and important a character to kill off, especially in this Disney+ animated series, so I'll be shocked if the metal-manipulating mutant who goes by the name Erik Magnus Lehnsherr never returns.

Now, who's going to tell Rogue that she's a second love interest in as many seasons...

Does X-Men 97 season 2 episode 4 have an end-credits scene?

Yes — and it sets up the storyline that'll see James 'Logan' Howlett, aka Wolverine, get his adamantium skeleton back.

Remember, in season 1 episode 8 of this Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) adjacent project, Wolverine had the indestructible metal ripped from his body by Magneto. And, while Logan survived that ordeal thanks to his self-healing ability, he's since had to make do with using his brittle bone claws to attack his foes.

Logan won't have to do that for much longer, though. In a mid-credits scene, we see Wolverine meet Captain America and Black Widow on a rooftop. After some brief small-talk, Cap hands a top secret file to Logan that bears the name 'Weapon X'.

Long-time fans and/or those who've seen certain live-action X-Men films — by the way, find out how to watch the X-Men movies in order once you're done here — will understand the significance of this.

However, for those unfamiliar with Weapon X: essentially, it's the name of a clandestine US Government research facility and military program that turned unwilling individuals into living weapons with the view to conducting covert missions, such as assassinations. Wolverine, Deadpool, Sabretooth, and X-23 are counted among its rare success stories.

So, will Wolverine reacquire his adamantium skeleton in this Marvel Phase 6 TV series' next chapter? It's possible, especially as next week's entry is titled 'Weapon X, Lies, and DVDs'. But — spoilers for the comics notwithstanding — if X-Men 97 continues to follow and authentically adapt this specific storyline from its source material, this subplot might not be resolved until later in the season.

Do you think we'll see Magneto again? And when will Wolverine get his adamantium skeleton back? Let me know in the comments!

X-Men 97 season 2 is in full swing following last week's three-episode premiere. And, while you'll only be able to stream one new chapter this week, it's such a great episode — one equipped with a bombshell ending — that you'll need plenty of time to recover after watching it. On this occasion, then, a new two-episode drop isn't necessary.

But, I digress — you want to know when the Marvel TV show's forthcoming entry will come out on Disney+, so let's stop beating around the bush and get on with it, shall we?

What time can I watch X-Men 97 season 2 episode 4?

The next installment of X-Men 97 will make its debut on Wednesday, July 8 at 12am PT / 3am ET in North and South America.

Based in another world region and can't work out when this season's fourth episode will air on one of the world's best streaming services? No sweat. Check out the list below to see what time you should tune in to catch it:

• US — 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada — 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK — 8am BST
• India — 12:30pm IST
• Singapore — 3pm SGT
• Australia — 5pm AEST
• New Zealand — 7pm NZST

When do new episodes of X-Men 97 season 2 come out?

New entries of this Marvel Phase 6 TV series will arrive on Disney+ every Wednesday for the foreseeable future. With five more episodes left of the X-Men's animated show before it departs our screens — until its third season is released, that is — there'll plenty more mutant mayhem to consume in the weeks ahead.

Want to know the official launch dates that new episodes of this Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project will make their bow on? See below:

• Season 2 episode 1 — out now
• Season 2 episode 2 — out now
• Season 2 episode 3 — out now
• Season 2 episode 4 — July 8
• Season 2 episode 5 — July 15
• Season 2 episode 6 — July 22
• Season 2 episode 7 — July 29
• Season 2 episode 8 — August 5
• Season 2 episode 9 — August 12

The return of Marvel's best-rated TV show is almost upon us, and with critical and commercial darling X-Men 97 set to return for its second season later this week, you'll want to know when it'll premiere on Disney+.

To spare you the trouble of searching for the release date and launch times for this season's first three chapters, I've rounded up the necessary information below. So, to paraphrase Cyclops: to me, my fellow Marvel fans!

What time can I watch the first three episodes of X-Men 97 season 2?

X-Men 97 season 2 will make its Disney+ debut on Wednesday, July 1. That's its global launch date, too, so North and South American viewers won't be able to watch this Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project earlier than fans on other continents.

As for the exact time that its first three entries will arrive, they're expected to drop on July 1 at 12am PT / 3am ET. Based on those likely release times, we can work out when viewers in other nations should tune into one of the world's best streaming services to catch them, too:

• US — 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada — 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK — 8am BST
• India — 12:30pm IST
• Singapore — 3pm SGT
• Australia — 5pm AEST
• New Zealand — 7pm NZST

X-Men 97 season 2 full release schedule

Following this X-Men animated show's latest premiere, new episodes of the Marvel Phase 6 production will come out every Wednesday. That'll be the case until the season 2 finale airs on August 12, too.

For a quick rundown of the dates you need to know about, read on:

• Season 2 episode 1 — July 1
• Season 2 episode 2 — July 1
• Season 2 episode 3 — July 1
• Season 2 episode 4 — July 8
• Season 2 episode 5 — July 15
• Season 2 episode 6 — July 22
• Season 2 episode 7 — July 29
• Season 2 episode 8 — August 5
• Season 2 episode 9 — August 12

For more on the highly-rated TV series ahead of its return, remind yourself what happened in last season's finale via my X-Men 97 season 1 ending explained piece. Then, find out everything we know so far about X-Men 97 season 2.

Once you're done, read up on how to watch the X-Men movies in order and/or how to stream the Marvel movies in order.

Full spoilers follow for The Bear season 5, including its finale.

I love The Bear. It's one of my favorite TV shows of the past decade. And, while I understand the criticism leveled at its third and, to a greater extent, fourth season, I don't necessarily agree with all of it.

Nevertheless, when it was announced that The Bear season 5 would be the FX TV Original's last hurrah, I'll readily admit that I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach. The reason? Other shows I've enjoyed that ended recently, including Stranger Things and The Boys — coincidentally, they also stopped after five seasons — failed to stick the landing with their finales.

I feared that The Bear would go the same way. You can probably sense my relief through the screen, then, that its series finale not only delivered a fittingly bittersweet conclusion to its overarching narrative, but avoided the pitfalls that its TV peers blindly stumbled into.

One of the biggest issues — among many other problems that I don't have the time nor space to cover here — that befell the hit Netflix and Prime Video shows' finales was that they didn't utilize their time well.

Where The Boys season 5 was concerned, the Amazon TV series' rushed ending gave the impression that it simply couldn't wait for its end credits to roll. In sharp contrast, Stranger Things season 5's finale was dragged out to the point where I was begging for its final credits sequence to begin.

Admittedly, The Bear season 5's pacing isn't perfect, but it uses its time more efficiently and wisely. Indeed, part of its success comes from how this season's plot is structured.

Unlike past seasons, The Bear's fifth installment is 24-esque in its storytelling approach. Vis-à-vis its eighth and final chapter notwithstanding, it takes place over the course of a single day.

In episodes 1 to 7, we follow the titular restaurant's ragtag but lovable crew as they navigate what could be their final-ever service, due to the eatery's lack of funds.

That possible scenario ends up being the least of their problems. A massive, unrelenting thunderstorm not only floods the restaurant but also results in the next food delivery being canceled, meaning the staff can only serve what little stock they have left. Throw an overbooked guest list and storm-related traffic issues in for good measure, meaning their table turnover has to be on point, and it's no surprise that tensions and tempers are soon running at an all-time high.

However, rather than do what past entries have done by slowly but purposefully building the pressure until things boil over, The Bear 5 deliberately shows how its eccentric — and, depending on who we're talking about, emotionally damaged — cast of characters have evolved over the five seasons.

A great example of this happens midway through the penultimate episode, titled 'Caramel'. Here, the storm's impact on the restaurant's power supply makes the lights flicker and leads to Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto dropping a lamb rib-based dish for one of the evening's most important diners.

Previous seasons would've seen Carmy completely spiral and take his anger out on his colleagues, which would've likely resulted in a verbal and/or physical altercation with occasionally confrontational associate — oh, and long-time family friend — Richard 'Richie' Jerimovich.

This time, though, Richie and Carmy's former protégé, Sydney 'Syd' Adamu, calmly prevents him from overreacting, keeping what's already been a nightmarish day on track.

That's just one of myriad instances this season I could point to that show how far these individuals, and the collective as a whole, have grown since the series first premiered on Hulu and Disney+. Compare that to Stranger Things and The Boys, whose approach to individual character development wasn't always on point, and, from a character study perspective, The Bear is — if you pardon the pun — a different beast altogether.

Speaking of character progression, each member of The Bear's primary ensemble gets their moment in the spotlight, as well as a fitting conclusion to their personal arcs.

And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. With Carmy's blessing and Uncle Jimmy's backing, Ebraheim finally starts to turn The Original Beef of Chicagoland into a franchise. Meanwhile, Sydney reaffirms her trust in Tina by appointing her as the restaurant's new chef de cuisine.

Furthermore, Marcus starts to make peace with his estranged father and proves that his recent award win wasn't a flash in the pan. Natalie, aka 'Sugar', and the Berzatto family matriarch Donna's previously strained relationship continues on an upward trajectory. Heck, even Gary, aka 'Sweeps', gets a genuinely crowd-pleasing moment; after the storm ruins the 1997 and 1999 year labels on two bottles of red wine, he correctly guesses the right one – using his wine-based powers of deduction – to serve to a diner who happens to be a wine connoisseur.

The biggest wins are reserved for Carmy, Syd, and Richie, though.

Richie is offered the chance to attend an international hospitality summit in Japan. He's not only accompanied by Jessica on the trip, but showrunner Christopher Storer also gives fans what they've been wanting for this pair by ending the 'will they, won't they' subplot and establishing their romantic feelings for each other.

As for Syd and Carmy, Syd fully establishes herself as The Bear's new head chef, while Carmy quits the food business entirely and, putting his love and skill for drawing to good use, becomes an architectural intern.

However, the biggest cause for celebration is that, almost four seasons after they first set their sights on earning a Michelin star, they don't get one, but two.

Like so many other moments in season 5 – and after watching this duo endure hardship after hardship throughout the series – the emotional release I felt once they processed their achievements and shared a joyful hug was euphoric. It's the sign of great writing when you genuinely care about a bunch of fictional characters, and I certainly lost count of how many times I fought back tears, clapped, and fist-pumped the air in The Bear's final two episodes as its crew individually and collectively triumphed against the odds.

Stranger Things 5 and The Boys 5 occasionally struck an emotional chord, and there's no denying that they have their fair share of impactful moments. Held up to the light against another tale centered on a group of underdogs fighting the impossible, though, and it's clear The Bear just does everything better in a concluding chapter whose every bite is delightfully delicious.

Though it ends in magical albeit bittersweet fashion, The Bear doesn't wrap up every storyline in a neat little bow, nor give every character the perfect send-off, but I suppose that's the point.

As a fixture of the Chicago food scene, the eponymous eatery doesn't end simply because Carmy is no longer a part of it — its story, and the lives of those past and present who were involved in it, continue whether we have a seat at the table to see what happens next or not. As Lucca reminds Marcus towards the end of its finale: "The Bear has something that no other place has... family" — and he's right. If I had to choose a fictional found family to be a part of out of the previously mentioned shows, I'd choose The Bear every time.

All five seasons of The Bear are out now on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (everywhere else), aka two of the world's best streaming services.

Congratulations, you've made it to the end of another week. Your reward — especially for those of you in the UK who've spent the last few days dealing with that incredibly uncomfortable heatwave — is to sit back, relax, and watch something on one of the world's best streaming services.

If you're not planning on seeing Supergirl at your local cinema, then, what new movies and shows have arrived this week? You'll have to read on to find out. But, with five of this streaming round-up's biggest releases landing on Netflix and Disney+, those platforms will be your first port of call. Happy streaming! — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Avatar: Fire and Ash (Disney+)

It doesn't often feel like a lifetime between a theatrical blockbuster breaking box office records to finally hitting a streaming service, but it does in the case of Avatar: Fire and Ash.

The third installment in the epic James Cameron fantasy franchise hit the big screen in December 2025, introducing the fire Na'avi, led by Varang. Think The Way of Water, only with more flames.

Expect more jaw-dropping visuals, perilous fighting and an even bigger divided between the Na'avi and humans. Amazingly, Sigourney Weaver once again gets to be both in this film that's out now on Disney+. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Avatar: Fire and Ash on Disney+

In the Hand of Dante (Netflix)

Netflix's In the Hand of Dante simultaneously follows author Nick Tosches in the 21st century as he takes a violent journey on behalf of a mafia don to steal Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, and Dante himself in the 14th century seeking inspiration to write his most important work.

Here, Oscar Isaac tackles dual roles as Alighieri and Tosches, with the screenplay based on the latter's book of the same name. Other big names starring include Martin Scorsese and Gerard Butler.

Despite the ensemble cast, the movie has been widely panned with many considering it to be too confusing. Perhaps you'll feel differently? — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch In the Hand of Dante on Netflix

The Bear season 5 (Hulu/Disney+)

The Bear has served its last course. Indeed, with the award-winning comedy-drama's fifth and final season landing on Hulu in the US, and Disney+ everywhere else, it's time to say goodbye to Carmy, Sydney, Richie, and the rest of the gang.

I won't spoil how The Bear season 5, which, like the first season, comprises eight episodes instead of 10, ends. Instead, let's just say the eatery's tight-knit group of employees find themselves metaphorically drowning as they struggle to keep the titular restaurant afloat amid myriad problems that stack up across a single day. Prepare to laugh and cry, feel second-hand stress, and shout "Yes, chef!" for the last time. — TP

• Watch The Bear season 5 on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 (Netflix)

Blink and you've missed Aang grow from an exceptionally cute little boy into a fledgling young man... and that only gives Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 more grounding.

The gang's fight to stop the Fire Nation Lord Ozai taking control of the Four Nations persists, with the Earth Kingdom's hidden city of Ba Sing Se now a key target for takeover.

Thankfully, this season has massively improved from its sketchy debut, and we're finally introduced to Toph (Miya Cech), who is an exceptional addition to the team. Bonus points for baby Appa, too. — JV

• Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 on Netflix

The Sheep Detectives (Prime Video)

One of the biggest surprises of the year, The Sheep Detectives follows a flock of sheep who try to solve the murder of their shepherd George (Hugh Jackman). What follows is an admittedly brilliant Prime Video whodunnit for the whole family, and it's hard not to be charmed by the animals who are desperately trying to seek justice for their poor human companion.

Not to mention, the cast is exceptionally good and features voice acting talents from people like Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, and Bella Ramsey. I'm confident you'll quickly fall in love with this Amazon Original. — LB

• Watch The Sheep Detectives on Prime Video

Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness (HBO Max)

Sure, it's got an unnecessarily long title, but Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness might actually be the HBO Max sketch comedy series we've been waiting for.

Created by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer, and produced by the Obama's production company, it comedically improvise events in American history in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. So, perhaps like Hamilton, just with no singing. Although I'm sure if you asked Lin Manuel Miranda, he'd be more than up for changing that in a potential season 2. — JV

• Watch Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness on HBO Max

Little Brother (Netflix)

John Cena plays famous real estate agent Rudd in Little Brother, and his life is going great until his 'little brother' Marcus (Eric André) shows up and disrupts all that.

Rudd gets a phone call alerting him that Marcus was badly injured in a car crash, which causes him to reconnect with a man he was buddied up with during a high school charity event. Rudd is frustrated that he's back in his life and depending on him, despite them not actually being related.

As you can see in the trailer, Marcus is complete chaos, resulting in a laugh out loud comedy movie that's perfect for your weekend. — LB

• Watch Little Brother on Netflix

It's nearly time to sit down and enjoy The Bear's last course. Indeed, with its fifth season set to bring down the curtain on the multi-award-winning FX TV Original, you'll want to savor every mouthful before its final end credits roll.

More importantly, though, you'll need to know when and where The Bear season 5 will be released. So, make a reservation, take your seat, and peruse the below menu — no, I'm not taking this analogy too far, why do you ask? — for more on its official launch date and times.

What time can I watch The Bear season 5?

In North and South America, The Bear's final season will make its bow on Thursday, June 25 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

Armed with that information, we can work out when Carmy, Sydney, Richie, and the rest of the gang will be back on our screens in other nations, too.

• US — Thursday, June 25 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Thursday, June 25 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Friday, June 26 at 2am BST
• India — Friday, June 26 at 6:30am BST
• Singapore — Friday, June 26 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Friday, June 26 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Friday, June 26 at 1pm NZST

Where can I watch The Bear season 5?

The comedy-drama TV series will be available to watch on Hulu in the US and Disney+ everywhere else. No matter where you live, then, you'll soon have access to the show's final hurrah on one of the world's best streaming services.

Not signed up to the above platforms, but want to stream The Bear 5 once it arrives? Read our Hulu price and Disney+ price guides to see how much it currently costs to create an account. Or just refer to the price widget below for a quick rundown of each service's various tiers and price points.

How many episodes does The Bear season 5 have?

Unlike the last three seasons, The Bear season 5 won't comprise 10 episodes. Instead, it follows in its debut season's footsteps with just eight chapters.

As for each entry's runtime: at the time of this article's initial publication on Tuesday, June 23, I've seen the first seven episodes, and I can confirm that they last anywhere between 22 minutes and 52 minutes. That's including each installment's end-credits crawl, too.

Lastly, here are the confirmed titles for the episodes I've watched:

• Episode 1 — Soda
• Episode 2 — Lamb
• Episode 3 — Mint
• Episode 4 — Ribs
• Episode 5 — Raspberries
• Episode 6 — Focaccia
• Episode 7 — Caramel

After that shocker of an ending in Rivals season 2 episode 6, we could probably all do with a bit of a break from the hit Hulu and Disney+ series.

Annoyingly, we have to wait even longer than first thought for the remaining six episodes to be released. Rivals season 2 has a release window of November 2026, which could potentially take us into early 2027 depending on the schedule structure.

"Twelve episodes is a lot for people to enjoy," writer Laura Wade told me earlier in the season. "I think that we partly wanted to drag out that enjoyment a little bit. But also from a practical point of view, it takes a long time to deliver twelve very complicated period pieces of drama.

"Do we just release the first six and crack on with finishing the second six, which is what we're doing right now? Or do we wait, an extra six months of release for 12? We didn't want to wait. Also, we've got the FIFA World Cup coming up, so we're releasing the first half before the football. Get that out of the way, and then release the second half."

But now we know (and in my case, begrudgingly accept) the season 2 release schedule, what can we expect from what's to come next? According to one star, episodes 7-12 can best be summed up in one word: "madness."

'You definitely won't be disappointed'

"There is a lot of stuff going on in these second six episodes... I was involved in some pretty fun, full-on scenes towards the end," Rich Keeble, who plays Brian Hetherington in the hit series, tells me.

"In episodes 10, 11 and 12, there's some high drama. I won't say anything, but we were filming in one location all week. Monday to Friday, had Saturday off, then back in there on Sunday. Every day, I remember thinking, 'Oh, my God, what are we doing today?'

It's likely that the above trailer has only referenced scenes in the earlier episodes in the next batch of six (e.g. episodes 7 and 8), so anything Keeble is referencing here is a complete surprise.

"There'll be something else in these scenes. We had like 50 cast in, 50 set assistants on top... and it was just madness for a week for a few scenes in one episode.

"If you've enjoyed these first six, then you definitely won't be disappointed. I think that the second half has a lot more going on. We've really hit the stride... everyone's on their A-game."

All I hope is that Monica's (Claire Rushbrook) legacy is handled appropriately — and perhaps if the rest of season 2 is dazzling, I can forgive the creators for killing her off.

Spoilers for Rivals season 2 episode 6 ahead.

I don't know about you, but I'm still furious with the events of Rivals season 2 episode 6... especially the unexpected death of Monica Baddingham (Claire Rushbrook).

Considering that this never happens in the original book — and that Monica was just about to come to terms with her unacknowledged feelings for Enid (Selina Griffiths) — it came as something of a nasty shock.

I've already gone into detail about why the move wasn't only disappointing, but also proves that Hulu and Disney+ are doing so badly by their LGBTQIA+ characters... and during Pride month, no less.

Perhaps not everybody is as outraged as I am, but it still feels like a gut-punch to the overall Rutshire dynamics that we've come to know and love.

But according to one star, there's a good reason why Monica's death had to happen — and it's all to do with what will happen in the second half of season 2.

'It was a very emotional thing, and very shocking'

"The events of episode 6 are quite a shock, aren't they? Monica's death is a real curveball," Rich Keeble, who plays Brian Hetherington on the hit series, tells me.

"I do know what happens in the rest of the series, and it does feed into some quite dramatic and exciting stuff that's happening in the second half."

So far, we can only get a glimpse of what's to come in new episodes that will be released in November from the above teaser trailer. Monica's funeral will be one of the first things addressed, but it's as yet unclear how this will affect our characters, including widower Tony (David Tennant).

"It was a real shock and the way we found out... most of us found out at the table read," Keeble continues. "We had two table reads for this series of Rivals. We already had episodes 1-5. So when we got to episode six, they said it was going to be a redacted version that only a few people would be given.

"When we were leading up to when Monica's in the car during the storm, I could see like a few people who were crowding around a script and starting to get upset. It was this very emotional thing. Claire was tearful, and everyone was hugging her... There was a big round of applause afterwards to congratulate her on her work, and people said a few words.

Keeble continues, "I think the only people that maybe knew before the read-through were maybe David and Claire. But of course, we then had another read-through with the second half of it and then obviously filmed it. It was something that hung over, the whole second half of the series."

If Monica had to die, then I'm glad she didn't die in vain — I just hope that the creators have done a good enough job of keeping her memory alive.

• No Dolby Vision on Disney+ in the EU (again)
• UK and US viewers aren't affected
• It's due to patent issues, and other streamers have settled out of court

Back in February we reported that Disney+ had dropped Dolby Vision HDR from its service in parts of Europe; Disney said at the time that was due to "technical challenges" but later conceded that "as a result of a lawsuit at a German patent court, we were forced to make changes to the availability of certain advanced video formats" once the format returned to the platform.

And now it looks like Disney+ has had to drop Dolby Vision again, in 11 countries this time.

The culprit once again appears to be a court case, this time in the Unified Patent Court (UPC). And the claimant is once again InterDigital, who claimed that Disney infringes one of its video patents. Because the UPC has a wider jurisdiction than the German court, it affects Disney+ in more countries.

InterDigital published a press release about the latest verdict earlier this week. The court "ruled that InterDigital is entitled to an injunction over Disney’s infringement of an InterDigital patent covering certain video encoding techniques related to HEVC and confirmed the validity of this patent," InterDigital says.

"The UPC is a pan-European patent court which issues decisions that apply across multiple countries in the European Union (EU); here, the injunction against Disney spans 11 EU countries. Disney can appeal the decision."

The affected countries are all in the EU, so the UK isn't affected, and nor is the US, naturally: if you go to the support page for Disney+ in the UK, it'll happily sing the praises of its Dolby Vision content. That's been removed from the support pages in Europe, however.

Why Disney's not doing Dolby in Europe

The court verdict isn't the only challenge for Disney. InterDigital has sued over other patents covering HDR technology, "the dynamic overlaying of multiple video streams", and compression technologies connected to the HEVC and AVC codecs.

Although the verdict was about Dolby Vision, it also affects 3D movies on Disney+ available on Vision Pro, because those all use Dolby Vision too.

Disney isn't the only company that InterDigital says is infringing its patents, but other firms, such as Amazon, have apparently come to a settlement in order to continue offering Dolby Vision.

Disney isn't blaming technical challenges this time. In a statement to FlatpanelsHD, Disney Nordic said:

"As a result of litigation before a European patent court, we have been required to make changes to the availability of Dolby Vision and 3D in Denmark and several neighboring countries. We are disappointed that we have had to do this, and we share our customers' frustration. Disney+ continues to support the highest-quality formats, including up to 4K UHD and HDR, and we are actively exploring options to address the recent changes to ensure that we deliver the best possible viewing experience tailored to customers' devices and subscription plans."

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

• Rivals has been renewed for season 3 by Hulu and Disney+
• 12 new episodes are confirmed some time after the second half of season 2 airs in November 2026
• Will be the first series without author Dame Jilly Cooper's involvement following her death in 2025

We'll pretend to be surprised, but it's official that Rivals season 3 is happening following renewal confirmation from Hulu and Disney+.

While no release date or window has been confirmed, we know that 12 new episodes have been commissioned to air at some point after the second half of season 2 drops in November 2026.

Lee Mason, Vice-President, Scripted, Disney+ EMEA, said in a statement: “The phenomenal response to Rivals is a credit to the bold, irreverent and endlessly entertaining world created by Dame Jilly Cooper, our cast, creative team and production partners at Happy Prince.

"We’re delighted to be bringing audiences a third season on Disney+ and Hulu. Expect more ambition, more romance, more rivalries and, of course, more scandal as we return to Rutshire for another irresistible chapter.”

No further details have been announced, but we can expect the core cast to return (unless season 2 plans to kill anyone else off).

However, there's something we haven't considered — even though Mason has directly mentioned it in the above remark.

Opinion: Rivals season 3 will be the first without Jilly Cooper's input — and that's worrying

It's possibly stating the obvious, but Rivals season 3 will mark the first installment of the hit TV show after the passing of its creator, Dame Jilly Cooper. Prior to her death in November 2025, the author had signed off on all 12 episode scripts in season 2, and continued to give notes until just a few days beforehand.

"Jilly signed off every script of the 12 and was on set for quite a lot of production as well," executive producer Alexander Lamb told TechRadar prior to season 2's launch. "So it feels that this series totally has Jilly's seal of approval. She's an exec producer, which she's credited for, and was giving me notes on the Thursday before she died on episode 12.

"Her fingerprints are all over this series, and we'd also sat with her and talked about season 3 and the future, about how to mould the other books around Rivals. We've got her blessing on things. We've got her notes written down. She's always with us."

Even so, it could be argued that Rivals as a TV series has already strayed too far away from Cooper's core concept, with the death of Monica Baddingham (Claire Rushbrook) in season 2 episode 6 dividing fan opinion.

Until we know what season 2 part 2 will hold, there's no telling exactly what Rivals season 3 will adapt.

However, it's likely that any new episodes will include even more references to Cooper's wider work, with characters from Polo and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous already being featured.

If you like your movies — or TV shows, animations, theme parks, video games (the list goes on!) — then you're no doubt at least partially aware of the massive company that is Disney.

One of the biggest media conglomerates in the world, Disney has fingers in many pies, including on screens and in the real world. And it's beloved by fans, who queue up to visit its parks and watch new Disney+ movies at midnight on the day they release.

If you're one of those fans, you'll no doubt want to test just how much you really know about Disney. And luckily, you're about to get that opportunity, with this 30-question quiz.

We'll start with 10 easy questions, and then move into 10 medium ones, and finish with 10 difficult ones for the Disney experts. So let's find out just how much you know:

If you need to brush up on your Disney, perhaps a Disney+ subscription could help:

• Only Murders in the Building season 6 confirms guest stars for upcoming season
• New episodes are currently filming in the UK as show heads from New York to London
• Two guest stars, Jennifer Saunders and Jane Horrocks, are linked by 1990s sitcom Absolutely Fabulous

Only Murders in the Building season 6 has just announced the following guest stars joining the series in new episodes:

• Jennifer Saunders
• Sean Teale
• Simone Ashley 
• Amar Chadha-Patel
• Rhea Norwood
• Matthew Beard
• Sharon Horgan 
• Geri Halliwell Horner
• Martin Freeman
• Jamie Demetriou
• Anjana Vasan
• Jane Horrocks
• Derek Jacobi
• Lesley Nicol

We don't know what their roles will be as of writing, but we do know that the next series of the hit Hulu and Disney+ show will be set in London.

Filming is currently underway in the UK, though a confirmed release date or window has yet to be announced.

Based on the season 5 finale, we know that fellow crime podcaster Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) was attacked after returning to the US to hide a woman accused of a royal murder.

How this links to season 6 we're yet to know, but an iconic comedy connection is already sitting right under our noses… and the series would be silly not to utilize it.

Opinion: Absolutely Fabulous stars joining Only Murders in the Building season 6 is exactly the comedy-camp the show needs

As soon as I heard that Jennifer Saunders was joining the Only Murders in the Building cast, I knew that the creative team had made their best decision yet. If you've seen her in comedy shows like Amandaland and French & Saunders, you'll know how much of a legendary character actress she is.

Nowhere was this more apparent than in her unhinged sitcom creation Absolutely Fabulous, where she plays deluded fashionista Eddie. Her assistant Bubble (played by Jane Horrocks) was equally oblivious to everything in the entirely opposite way, making the pair a chaotically beautiful chalk and cheese double act.

Luckily for us, Horrocks also joins the cast of Only Murders in the Building season 6, meaning we could have a seriously ingenious comedy reunion on our hands. It's currently unclear if the two guest stars will be at all connected, but not doing so would be a huge missed opportunity.

Even if it doesn't happen, we won't be short of comedy gold. Bad Sisters' Sharon Horgan is easily one of the best comedic talents to come out of Ireland or the UK in recent years, while thespian actor Sir Derek Jacobi can deliver big laughs with a completely straight face.

To top it all, we've got a literal Spice Girl in the mix… and I've only ever seen Geri act once. What more could we possibly ask for?

June is shaping up to be a fantastic month for the best streaming services, with plenty to keep us entertained across all genres.

Whatever you're in the mood for, we're sure you'll find it here. Some of our highlights this week include a Jemaine Clement and Nicola Walker-led comedy drama about a strained friendship, a scorching slow-burn summer romance, and Netflix's World Cup coverage led by the biggest names in the world of football.

We're spoiled for choice here. Without further delay, let's take a look at our streaming recommendations this weekend (June 12 - 14). — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

Alice and Steve (Hulu, Disney+)

Alice and Steve examines what happens when a long-term friendship rapidly falls apart. As far as catalysts go, this one is especially shocking, as Alice (Nicola Walker) learns that Steve (Jemaine Clement) has started dating her 26-year-old daughter.

If you winced reading that, you're not alone. Alice and Steve certainly lures us in with a controversial plot line, even if it doesn't always nail the execution. In my review, I noted that the lack of chemistry might leave you frustrated, but you'll have to be the judge of that.

All episodes are streaming now, and it's one worth binging on Disney+ as the shocks just keep on coming. As do the laughs, to be fair. — LB

• Watch Alice and Steve on Disney+

Every Year After (Prime Video)

Loved Off Campus and can't get enough of Prime Video's banging young adult drama streak? Well, Every Year After is the binge for you.

The show is based on the novel Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. We'll follow Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett) as they fall in love, and then join them one weekend, years later, as they come back together to confront a "heartbreaking mistake," according to Amazon.

It's a gorgeous slow-burn romance in an even more gorgeous setting. Frankly, it's exactly how I want to spend my weekend while the weather is absolutely abysmal. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Every Year After on Prime Video

Sweet Magnolias season 5 (Netflix)

We've waited for over a year, but now Sweet Magnolias season 5 is finally making its return to Netflix.

The big news is Maddie's (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) new publishing career in New York City, testing her relationship with Cal (Justin Bruening). But Helen's (Heather Headley) engagement has also set the stage for a potential big wedding this season, with Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott) also trying to balance her growing kitchen business.

But surely the girls have to get back to Serenity at some point, don't they? Regardless, I'm completely here for their feel-good vibes (and routine drinking schedule). — JV

• Watch Sweet Magnolias season 5 on Netflix

It Ends with Us (Hulu)

If you haven't heard of It Ends With Us, I'm going to assume that you don't have access to any form of 21st-century technology (which means, how are you reading this?).

Based on the popular Colleen Hoover novel of the same name, the movie follows florist Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) as she builds a new life in Boston, where she falls for charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni).

When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), appears out of thin air, she's forced to confront the cycle of abuse in her life and make a difficult choice for her future as well as her daughter's safety.

It's not exactly a light-hearted watch, and frankly, neither is the real-life drama surrounding it. But as far as I'm concerned, it's a 2020s cultural staple. — JV

Proud (HBO Max)

We've gone incredibly European for this week's HBO Max pick, courtesy of Polish-language original drama, Proud.

In perfect time for Pride Month, the series tells the story of a young, carefree, drug-loving gay man who is suddenly forced to take care of his niece after a family tragedy.

It's been tipped as a "perfect story about imperfect people," and potential viral comparisons to Heated Rivalry are already being thrown about online. In short... if you don't want to, you'll likely get FOMO. — JV

• Watch Proud on HBO Max

They Will Kill You (HBO Max)

They Will Kill You seems to have fallen under the radar, which can be forgiven due to the myriad new horror movies that arrived in May alone.

You need to get one this one ASAP, though (and now you have no excuse not to). We follow a woman who answers a cryptic ad for a housekeeping job at a luxurious New York City apartment, only to discover that residents there have vanished without a trace for decades.

Add in some satanic cult behavior and high-stakes violent action, and you're in for a rip-roaring time. Just never answer a cleaning advert again. — JV

• Watch They Will Kill You on HBO Max

The Rest is Football (Netflix)

Football's coming home thanks to Netflix, which has a brand new talk show that's set to become your World Cup companion. Every day during the tournament, there'll be "witty debates and unfiltered takes" from legendary names like Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards.

The talk show will be available globally and features game analysis, special guests, interviews, and insights into the on- and off-field action. Although it broadcasts live at 6 a.m. BST / 1 a.m. ET / 10 p.m. PT, you can watch episodes on demand too, so you're not going to miss out.

Wherever you are in the world and whoever you're supporting, these guys have got you covered. — LB

• Watch The Rest is Football on Netflix

Whenever a season of Only Murders in the Building ends on a cliffhanger — which is every season — we can expect another to follow it. But season 6 of the hit Hulu and Disney+ show is coming to us with a huge change.

Instead of taking place at the iconic Arconia building in New York City, Oliver (Martin Short), Charles (Steve Martin) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) will be taking a trip across the pond to London, UK.

Exact details of what to expect are TBC, but if you've ever seen the episode of Murder, She Wrote where Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) went over to see her Vaudevillian cousin Emma (also Lansbury), I'm expecting similar levels of camp chaos.

There are some things we know for definite however, including a stacked roster of guest stars. As filming continues in the UK, here's everything we know about Only Murders in the Building season 6 so far.

Only Murders in the Building season 6 release window predictions

Announced on October 28, 2025, we can keep our fingers crossed for a late 2026 release window if season 6's production track stays on schedule.

Since the show began in 2021, it's aired one season per year, and has been regularly praised for its pacey release schedule. As of writing, there's nothing to suggest a new season can't air this year.

Only Murders in the Building season 6 trailer: is there one?

Don't be silly... expect the first full trailer to arrive around four weeks before the sixth season does.

Only Murders in the Building season 6 cast and guest stars

We're expecting the following main cast members to return for Only Murders in the Building season 6:

• Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage
• Martin Short as Oliver Putnam
• Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora
• Michael Cyril Creighton as Howard Morris

We also have the following new guest stars confirmed for season 6, though we don't know what their roles are yet:

• Jennifer Saunders
• Sean Teale
• Simone Ashley 
• Amar Chadha-Patel
• Rhea Norwood
• Matthew Beard
• Sharon Horgan 
• Geri Halliwell Horner
• Martin Freeman
• Jamie Demetriou
• Anjana Vasan
• Jane Horrocks
• Derek Jacobi
• Lesley Nicol
• David Tennant
• Nicola Coughlan
• Jodie Whitaker
• Jim Broadbent
• Adrian Lukis
• Richard Ayoade
• Kathryn Hunter
• Olivia Colman

Given the move from the US to the UK, there's a huge question mark surrounding the following guest stars seen in season 5:

• Renée Zellweger as Camila White
• Christoph Waltz as Bash Steed
• Bobby Cannavale as Nicky Caccimelio
• Téa Leoni as Sofia Caccimelio
• Dianne Wiest as Lorraine Coluca
• Beanie Feldstein as Althea
• Logan Lerman as Jay Pflug
• Keegan-Michael Key as Mayor Tillman
• Richard Kind as Vince Fish
• Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin-Putnam
• Jane Lynch as Sazz Pataki

One person who we can expect to see (at least in flashback form) is Tina Fey, as her character, podcaster Cinda Canning, is found bleeding and crawling to the gates of the Arconia in the final scene of season 5.

Only Murders in the Building season 6 plot predictions

Of course, the plot for season 6 will largely center around the group's trip to London and Cinda's potential death. But other than this, we don't know a whole lot about what's to come.

Based on the season 5 finale, we know that Cinda was attacked after returning to the US to hide a woman accused of a royal murder. Who is this woman? We don't know. Is she really guilty? Well, perhaps that's what our trio will be getting stuck into.

Given that this is the first time that Only Murders in the Building has ventured into international territory, anything can happen. Any matter of guest stars we've seen between seasons 1-5 could be picked up or abandoned, and it's likely that even more new cast members could be announced between now and season 6's release.

• Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has left the series alongside production company Bad Wolf
• This means there will be no Doctor Who Christmas Special in 2026
• Davies teased a "big new future for the show" in an Instagram post

Doctor Who fans are used to big changes, whether it's regenerating Time Lords or rotating companions, and the same can be said for its showrunners. Russell T Davies has just confirmed that he has left Doctor Who, meaning the show's future is currently unknown.

This may come as a surprise to fans who were excited to welcome Davies back, but others have been critical of his recent take on the iconic sci-fi series, especially after it moved to Disney+.

Whichever side of the fence you're on, it's safe to say he won't be making more Doctor Who episodes going forward, and we should expect a fresh new take on the series.

The news was confirmed via Davies' Instagram account, where he revealed that there'll be no Christmas Special this year, whilst clearing up rumors about a potential script. It was never written, and no new Doctor has been cast yet, per his long update.

Davies' update comes after the devastating finale of the Channel 4 series Tip Toe, in which the cast recently admitted they needed a week off after filming the intense scenes.

What does the future hold for Doctor Who?

Your guess is as good as mine, and unfortunately, I don't have a TARDIS to go and figure that one out. In the immediate term, though, we do know that Doctor Who is "out to tender", where the BBC is inviting production companies to put themselves forward to co-produce the next series.

According to reports, the BBC said it had collectively decided, along with Davies and Bad Wolf, not to go ahead with the planned Christmas episode.

A statement from the BBC added: "This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans.

"But in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that, rather than bridge the gap with a one off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the Tardis lands once more, it does so in all its glory."

For now, Doctor Who remains in limbo, but considering it's such a beloved show and a huge name for the BBC, I'm hopeful it will be given the future it deserves.

• Hulu and Disney+ have confirmed that episodes 7-12 of Rivals season 2 will be released from November 2026
• Internet rumors initially suggested episodes would resume in October 2026
• Creators have claimed season split is happening for various reasons, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Spoilers for Rivals season 2 episode 6 ahead.

Annoying news just in: Hulu and Disney+ have confirmed that the second set of six episodes in Rivals season 2 won't be on screens until November 2026. Episodes were originally rumored to be dropping a month earlier in October.

Alongside the teaser trailer for season 2 part 2 (which you can catch up with below), a press statement confirmed: "Following a shocking turn of events in the sixth episode, the residents of Rutshire are rocked by tragedy, scandal and betrayal as the battle between Venturer and Corinium reaches breaking point.

"The Hulu Original series returns with six more drama-filled episodes this November on Disney+ in the UK and internationally, and Hulu in the US."

On top of this, episodes will also feature some fresh faces, with Rachael Stirling joining the cast as Araminta Pemberton, Monica's (Claire Rushbrook) "vampish" younger sister. Rupert Evans joins as headmaster David Hawkley and Santiago Cabrera as Argentinian Polo legend Alejandro Mendoza.

This confirms that both Polo and fellow Jilly Cooper novel The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous are actively being folded into the Rivals storyline, but does any of this matter when we've left season 2 episode 6 on such an unnecessarily sour note?

Opinion: Rivals season 2 part 2 has a lot of work to do after killing Monica off for no good reason

To tell you the truth, I fully believed that Monica would turn up in season 2 episode 7 after a "misunderstanding," but the trailer above proves that the worst has happened with its opening funeral scene.

I've already waxed lyrical about why killing Monica off was such poor decision-making from the creative team, so I really should be pleased that I've got another month of distance between me and the Rivals story continuing.

But with on-off couples Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson) and Freddie (Danny Dyer), and Taggie (Bella Maclean) and Rupert (Alex Hassell) seemingly finding their way back to each other, I'm afraid that I want to have my metaphorical cake and eat it.

As one YouTube comment perfectly puts it, "Making us wait until November is so vile and criminal." But with the TV adaption making such vast deviations from the original novel, are we really prepared for what's coming next?

"Twelve episodes is a lot for people to enjoy," writer Laura Wade told me earlier in the season. "I think that we partly wanted to drag out that enjoyment a little bit. But also from a practical point of view, it takes a long time to deliver twelve very complicated period pieces of drama.

"Do we just release the first six and crack on with finishing the second six, which is what we're doing right now? Or do we wait, an extra six months of release for 12? We didn't want to wait. Also, we've got the FIFA World Cup coming up, so we're releasing the first half before the football. Get that out of the way, and then release the second half."

Both Hulu and Disney+ will be streaming matches thanks to ESPN+ getting the rights, so be prepared for a smorgasbord of sports content overtaking your accounts across the summer months.

"There's something lovely about the first half of the series having spring-like stuff, then the second half having autumnal vibes," Wade continues. "On screen, it runs into Christmas, which allows us to sort of parcel it out for everybody to savour the story.

"We've got some really huge story moments coming up later in the series and it'd be lovely for those bits of story to just have a moment to sink in with viewers, building up some anticipation. There's a massive plot twist at the end of episode six. I think that's when we break off for four or five months. But I think that will keep people thinking, talking, and arguing about what's going to happen next... in a very good way."

Now we know what that is, I'm most certainly heading up the biggest argument possible between me and the writer's room.

There are clearly raucous parties still to come, but I don't even think that Christmas can smooth over the damage that the first half of season 2 has caused.

Spoilers for Rivals season 2 episode 6 ahead.

Readers, I'll level with you: after watching Rivals season 2 more doggedly than Rupert's (Alex Hassell) fixation on a new woman, I feel like an absolute mug.

If you've been reading my weekly coverage of the new Hulu and Disney+ series up until now, you'll know how much I've been championing Monica's (Claire Rushbrook) personal development.

In season 1, she was downtrodden, meek and sidelined at every opportunity, while Tony's (David Tennant) repugnant behavior meant her pet dogs were in her bed more often than her own husband.

By season 2 episode 5, she's a changed woman. She has stood up to Tony to try and regain control in their marriage, leveraging his adultery in an attempt to gain the upper hand. She's hellbent on Tony remaining successful against Declan (Aiden Turner) and Rupert's rival TV company Venturer, and is prepared to go rogue to make this into a reality.

In season 2 episode 6, this has changed yet again. Finding out about Tony's affair with Maud (Victoria Smurfitt), she not only threatens to tell Declan the truth, but she claims she wants a divorce. Driving off in a storm to get her revenge, she's killed by a falling tree before she gets to the O'Hara house.

It's a tragedy, and one that Tony is clearly bereft about. But while you might think that Monica is a lost cause who has to pass in order for the storyline to move forward, I'm seething at the decision for a very different reason.

Rivals season 2 episode 6 killing Monica before she could explore her feelings for Enid is shameful

As episode 4 explored, a romantic tension has been simmering under the surface between Monica and Enid (Selina Griffiths). Enid has been laying the groundwork for her attraction carefully, subtly flirting with memories of Monica's school performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream and getting a signed photograph of her favorite German athlete.

The sense of longing between the two was stronger, and over the last three episodes of Rivals season 2, Monica was growing more confidently into her feelings. The divorce only proves this further, meaning she would have had the agency to explore what was there, and whether that felt right for her.

But of course two women who are attracted to one another can never be together in TV world! It's a tale as old as time, seen in The 100 to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Killing Eve. This is known as "Bury your gays," in which a TV show will kill off an LGBTQIA+ character and prohibits their love story from fully being explored.

When it comes to queer women in particular, death or a man usually prevents a romantic connection from happening, which makes shows such as Gentleman Jack or Feel Good, where this doesn't happen, so rare. Rivals has fallen straight into an incredibly dated trap, and for such a sex-positive show, it's beyond disappointing.

When I think of Jilly Cooper, I think of a "bonking for everybody" policy. She didn't discriminate when it came to who felt the full force of physical passion in her books (obviously, that's why there are so many affairs), and she also never killed off Monica either.

Cooper apparently gave her approval on all 12 Rivals season 2 episode scripts, but I'm yet to understand the benefits of episode 6's shock ending. Nobody will care if Enid, hidden in the ensemble, will pursue another woman in time, closing the doors to fleshed-out representation.

But hey, at least we got to enjoy some stolen looks while everybody else is falling in love and having lots of sex, right?

Welcome to June 2026, everyone — and what a fantastic start to the month it is for the best streaming services.

Indeed, with 13 great-looking new movies and TV shows hitting many of the world's leading streamers over the past few days, there really is something for everyone to enjoy this weekend (June 5-7). As always, we've handpicked seven new releases that, in our view, are must-see viewing, so read on to find out what we recommend watching at home before you head back to work on Monday. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Hoppers (Disney+)

Hoppers is the latest Pixar movie to land on Disney+, and I bet you have seen plenty of memes about it already. Tom Lizard has been all over my Instagram feed, making a lasting impression before it was even released in theaters in early March.

All the hype has been accurate, too, as this is the kind of fun that the whole family can enjoy. So, settle down and enjoy a story about an animal-loving student who transfers her mind into a robotic beaver to communicate with animals, inadvertently sparking an uprising among them. It really is brilliant. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Hoppers on Disney+

Cape Fear (Apple TV)

Javier Bardem steps into the shoes of the villainous Max Cady in Apple TV's Cape Fear. I love seeing him being sinister as ever, and it's clear he's having the time of his life in this role. If its title sounds familiar, that's because it's a TV retelling of the 1962 and 1991 films, which were based on John D. McDonald's classic novel The Executioners.

Anyway, the 10-part Apple TV Original, which kicked off with a double-episode premiere as we center on Tom and Anna Bowden (Patrick Wilson and Amy Adams), the husband and wife attorneys who put Cady behind bars years prior. Their idyllic life soon turns into a living nightmare as Cady seeks revenge for what they did.

It's the ultimate weekend thriller which doesn't hold back, guaranteed to deliver plenty of frights after a long week. To quote the eerie trailer: "you deserve this". — LB

• Watch Cape Fear on Apple TV

Office Romance (Netflix)

J-Lo back in a rom-com? Is it 2004? No, it's 2026 and we've got a new Jennifer Lopez-starring romantic flick in the form of Office Romance on Netflix.

As the title suggests, we're looking at a scandalous workplace relationship here. Lopez plays Jackie, President and CEO of Air Cruz, runs a tight ship in her business which included a rigid anti-fraternization policy for all her employees.

However, that goes out the window with her newest company lawyer (Brett Goldstein) when they risk their careers by pursuing a forbidden affair. What makes this even better is the fact that Lopez and Goldstein now have romance rumors in reality, meaning art would completely imitate life. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Office Romance on Netflix

Not Suitable for Work (Hulu/Disney+)

After absolutely bombing comfort TV viewing earlier this year with Running Point season 2 (sorry not sorry), Mindy Kaling is back with brand-new series Not Suitable for Work, which is out now on Hulu and Disney+.

Taking the Gen Z working experience and injecting a shot of comedy into the natural misery, Kaling explores the first steps of employment when kids are fresh out of college. It's fun, bawdy, and somewhat unbelievable, but there's enough Friends-style undertones through to make it very satisfying viewing. — JV

• Watch Not Suitable for Work on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

The Legend of Vox Machina season 4 (Prime Video)

The Legend of Vox Machina, aka Amazon's animated retelling of popular role-playing tabletop group Critical Role's first Dungeons and Dragons campaign, has returned to Prime Video for its fourth and penultimate season.

Set a year after last season's finale, which saw the eponymous ragtag team of warriors, mages, elves, and bards go their separate ways, season 4 sees them drawn back together when a new otherworldly evil awakens and threatens their world.

Episodes one to three are out now, with three more batches — comprising three episodes apiece — rolling out every Wednesday until the end of June. Enjoy them while you can, too, because the R-rated show's fifth season, which is currently in development, will be its last. — TP

• Watch The Legend of Vox Machina season 4 on Prime Video

Pillion (HBO Max)

This should just be common sense, but before I wax lyrical about how brilliant Pillion is, please don't watch it with your family this weekend on HBO Max.

Colin (Harry Melling) is a bland, mousey young man who catches the eye of biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), and the two begin exploring a dominant-submissive relationship. Without clear definition, their relationship is challenging and beyond unconventional, with Colin growing in character before our very eyes. It's strangely romantic with a strong sense of yearning, even if anything that's actually in eyesight is anything but.

There's more sex, nudity, and embarrassing conversations than one person can bear, but Pillion is also one of the most profound movies I've seen in years. Extra shoutout goes to debut director Harry Lighton, who includes an unexpected mention of my hometown, Great Dunmow. — JV

• Watch Pillion on HBO Max

Michael Jackson: The Verdict (Netflix)

Michael Jackson: The Verdict revisits the eponymous, controversial, and late music superstar's high profile case, giving viewers a deeper glimpse into what happened through jurors, eyewitnesses, accusers, and defenders.

Across three episodes, the docuseries shows first-hand accounts from people closest to the case. Tudum describes it as being a "complete historical record of a trial the public never truly got to see", featuring contributors such as family attorney Brian Oxman and journalist Martin Bashir.

Expect archival footage, trial notes, and media coverage, much of which is still causing debates to this very day. — LB

• Watch Michael Jackson: The Verdict on Netflix

Seven years after its last installment, Toy Story 5 is almost ours. This time, the toys take on the world of tech, asking whether the two can co-exist in the lives of little kids, or whether tech automatically wins out.

Our new "villain" comes in the form of Lilypad (Greta Lee), a kid-friendly tablet convinced that she's doing the best by the gang's new kid, Bonnie.

We do have a release date for it, with Jessie (Joan Cusack), Buzz (Tim Allen) and Woody (Tom Hanks) heading to cinemas worldwide on June 19. But what about the new movie hitting one of the best streaming services around, Disney+?

Does Toy Story 5 have a Disney+ release date yet?

As I've said, the theatrical release date of Toy Story 5 is June 16, so it'll be a while before it's released on Disney+.

When might that be? I have no insider information, but my best guess is it'll drop in early October.

But why then? Typically, Disney releases its first-party films on its primary streamer around three months after they launch in theaters.

Some have come to the service earlier or later than anticipated, but that's usually the result of them underperforming at the global box office (which could lead to an earlier streaming release), or if they are still making money via ticket sales (so they're left in theaters for longer).

It's very likely for Toy Story 5 to do well in cinemas, so a longer theatrical release window feels likely — so I'm going with four months, and therefore early-mid October.

How long is Toy Story 5?

Toy Story 5 has an official runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. This makes it the second-longest movie in the entire franchise, sitting just one minute behind Toy Story 3 (1 hour and 43 minutes).

It's not yet clear if the new movie will have a post-credits scene included in this, but given that it's a Disney movie, my advice is to keep your eyes peeled.

Alice and Steve is the newest comedy series on Hulu (Disney+ internationally), and the premise might immediately suck you in due to how shocking it is.

Alice (Nicola Walker) is a woman whose decades-long friendship with Steve (Jemaine Clement) becomes strained when she learns he is dating her daughter, Izzy (Yali Topol Margalith). Yikes.

There's a lot to unpack here. Steve has been in Alice's life for many years, even going on holiday with her and her family and spending Christmas with them all. So learning that he is dating her 26-year-old daughter makes her lose her mind, understandably so, as it seems so out of the blue.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Alice and Steve definitely leans more into the comedy and absurd elements to lighten things up. As an audience, we get to laugh at the mess they've all found themselves in, like flies on the wall. Rather them than me.

One of my biggest frustrations is that the chemistry between Steve and Izzy is lacking, and their relationship doesn't seem to make any sense. It moves very fast, what appears to be a rebound after Izzy's breakup escalates at lightning speed, and by the second episode, the two are in a relationship, labels and all. Hey, you do you, I guess, but it does feel like they've just been mashed together as the catalyst for some drama.

If you are willing to suspend your disbelief, there's plenty of fun to be had here. Nicola Walker never disappoints, and she does a great job here as a scorned mother and friend, absolutely horrified by the situation. Alice is a very well-rounded character who makes some childish decisions throughout the series, but given everything that's happening, it's easy to still feel sorry for her.

Alice tries to sabotage the relationship and get life back to normal, meddling and scheming in ways that cause division between her and everyone around her. It is a desperate attempt to put things right, even though she can't reasonably control the actions of anyone but herself.

Alice and Steve is funny and did make me laugh out loud on several occasions. Marcia Warren is a great addition to the cast as Alice's mother, Val, who delivers some sharp takedowns when needed, and Joel Fry adds tension as Alice's husband, who has a strained relationship with her at the best of times.

We also have Alice and Daniel's son, Dom (Tyrese Eaton-Dyce), and his girlfriend, Rome (Eilidh Fisher), whose sweet dynamic provides a break from the constant drama at the center of the show.

Across six episodes, we get to witness the various family dynamics and how chaotic they are. It feels well-paced, and there's plenty of screen time for supporting cast members, too.

The relationship between Steve and Izzy is the sort of scandal that can rapidly spiral out of control, with plenty of characters weighing in even when it's really none of their business. That element of it is wildly entertaining to watch as you form your own opinions, too. Nobody in Steve and Izzy's lives is particularly enthused by their relationship, making it impossible for them to be a normal couple.

Whilst many of the decisions and narrative beats in Alice and Steve are deliberately shocking, some frustrated me more than others. This is definitely the kind of show that will have people engaged in debates around what's happening and whether or not we think it was the right thing to do. You'll know what I mean when you watch it unfold.

There's a cliffhanger to the series, too, leaving the door open for a season 2, which might never arrive. In a world of streaming, where our favorite shows sometimes get canceled, I always worry that a story will be half-told.

Even though I didn't like Alice and Steve as much as others, and would go as far as to say it was "fine", I do hope that fans get a satisfying ending. Leaving everyone in limbo after so much character-driven drama feels very cruel indeed.

As is always the case when it comes to a Jilly Cooper story, Rivals season 2 has been throwing everything and the kitchen sink into new episodes.

That's a long-winded way of confirming that it's all been kicking off. Maud is still making incredibly bad decisions by choosing to have an affair with Corinium TV executive Tony, while wholesome lovebirds Lizzie and Freddie have never felt more distant from each other.

Rupert, who's the most well-behaved, is determined to climb back on his reputational horse after Tony's takedown on live TV in episode 3. Then there's Declan, who appears to have eyes for Cameron... despite the fact that she's been dating Rupert.

As always, it's Monica and Enid that I'm keeping my eye on. Nevertheless, when does Rivals season 2 episode 6 drop on Hulu and Disney+?

What time can I watch Rivals season 2 episode 6 on Hulu and Disney+?

Rivals season 2 episode 6 arrives on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (international) on Friday, June 5.

We can expect this to follow these standard Hulu/Disney+ time drops:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 7am BST
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 6pm AEST
• New Zealand – 8pm NZDT

When do new episodes of Rivals season 2 come out?

After its three-episode premiere, the three chapters that have followed have dropped on a weekly basis. That's given us the following schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: out now
• Episode 5: out now
• Episode 6: June 5, 2026

However, Rivals season 2 will have 12 episodes in total, with the remaining six episodes dropping "later in the year," according to Disney+.

As a best guess, we can expect episodes to return in October.

Thanks to the legends at Disney inviting me to the Toy Story 5 UK launch event, I've now seen the first 45 minutes of the most anticipated animated movie of the year.

But before we go any further, let's make one thing clear: this piece will only be discussing the parts of Toy Story 5 that are shown in the trailer, so rest assured this is a spoiler-free zone. I'm not in the habit of upsetting children... unnecessarily, anyway.

Even without giving the game away, there's a lot to discuss. As we know, Toy Story 5 is set to play off the toys against tech, as new "villain" Lilypad (Greta Lee) threatens to take Jessie (Joan Cusack), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the gang away from playtime with their child.

And Woody (Tom Hanks)? After the (atrocity, frankly) that was Toy Story 5, he's living a rogue lifestyle on the fringes of toy-led society. But that doesn't mean that he isn't on hand to help out when he's needed.

I was expecting to watch footage from Toy Story 5 and feel angry — angry that the world is so tech-reliant, angry that we've collectively abandoned whimsy and imagination when it comes to engaging young minds, and angry that millions will likely see the new movie and immediately abandon its messaging.

Instead, I was left feeling guilty and incredibly sad during those first 45 minutes... and worryingly, it reminded me of exactly how I felt while watching the ending of Toy Story 3.

If Toy Story 5 is anything like Toy Story 3, my tear ducts will not survive watching it

Picture it: the year is 2010, and I'm a 15-year-old who has been growing up with Toy Story since I was born (quite literally, as the first movie arrived on Earth only a few months after I did).

My best friend from school and I have decided to see Toy Story 3 in 3D at our local cinema, and we're howling with laughter when Buzz accidentally gets stuck in Spanish mode. But then the tone changes and Andy (John Morris) goes off to college, leaving all of his toys packed up in brown boxes at another house, ready to be donated.

I was only a few years away from doing the same thing, but seeing Andy drive away and leave his toys all on their own brought me to tears in a way no other movie has done before or since. I was so desperate to dry my eyes that I forgot I had 3D glasses on, and couldn't see the credits because of smeared popcorn grease on the lenses.

The sense of abandonment and the fearing in growing up and moving on has always been so expertly explored by the Toy Story movies. By this point, we'd have 15 years of rooting for Woody and Buzz, and each had our favorites among their gang of lovable toys (obviously, the best is Bullseye). Even so, being confronted with the fact that all good things must come to an end felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

As the lights came up at the Toy Story 5 launch, my head started to go to the same place. What if my Barbies were sad when I gave them to Goodwill 20-odd years ago?

What if my Bratz dolls' feelings were hurt the first time I got a Tamagotchi, and felt like they were beginning to be replaced by a social shift they had no control over?

What if the Nintendo Switch I bought in 2020 lockdown just to play Animal Crossing: New Horizons a total of four times had issues with the fact I've never picked it up since?

These confused feelings are exactly what Toy Story 5 has so beautifully picked up on. With tech so enmeshed in our day-to-day lives, there are blurred lines when it comes to the balance between old and new. This also means that there are no clear answers or solutions, so we have to trust our gut and do what feels right in the moment.

Will Toy Story 5 have a clear-cut ending? I doubt it, but it will be an incredibly emotional one. I just hope it's taken to heart even more than Andy growing up was.

What if I said that I preferred The Testaments to The Handmaid's Tale? What then? Frankly, there's no better time to have that opinion, as season 2 has already been renewed by Hulu and Disney+.

The news came a week before the explosive season 1 finale, which saw Becka (Mattea Conforti) get married to Garth (Brad Alexander) in order to save her reputation, Agnes' (Chase Infiniti) engagement being broken off for being too close to Dr. Grove's (Randal Edwards) murder, and Daisy (Lucy Halliday) breaking back into Gilead to help save Becka's life.

In a heartbreaking scene, we saw Becka emotionally getting married while her mother took the rap for murdering her father, with episode 9 having revealed that Becka was actually the one behind it. We've also got romantic tension brewing between Becka and Agnes, with the two sharing a kiss before the ceremony.

If you've read Margaret Atwood's original novel, you'll know that we're only part of the way through adapting it. So what can we expect from The Testaments season 2?

The Testaments season 2 release date window predictions

As of right now, release date predictions for season 2 are sketchy. Production hasn't even started yet, and we've got no idea when this might change.

Based on this, we can assume that the earliest we'd see new episodes is mid 2027, but my hunch tells me that we might be waiting until 2028.

The Testaments season 2 trailer: is there one?

Not yet, and that won't change for a while. It took us until the beginning of March 2026 to get one for season 1, so expect the first full trailer to arrive around four weeks before the second season does.

The Testaments season 2 potential cast

We're expecting the following main cast members to return for The Testaments season 2:

• Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia Clements
• Chase Infiniti as Agnes Mackenzie
• Lucy Halliday as Daisy
• Mabel Li as Aunt Vidala
• Rowan Blanchard as Shunammite
• Mattea Conforti as Becka
• Amy Seimetz as Paula
• Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
• Nate Corddry as Commander Mackenzie
• Brad Alexander as Garth
• Zarrin Darnell-Martin as Aunt Gabbana
• Birva Pandya as Miriam

We can expect more new faces to be announced closer to release, so keep your eyes peeled.

The Testaments season 2 plot predictions

Potential spoilers for The Testaments season 2 ahead.

If you've read the original novel, you'll know that Aunt Lydia's eventual betrayal of Gilead will likely be explored further in The Testaments season 2. We've already seen the chips starting to fall into place while she helps to save Becka and aligns herself with Daisy and Agnes.

June's youngest daughter is originally Daisy in the novel, but in the TV show, Daisy is a completely separate character. It remains to be seen if this will be addressed or if June's other daughter will be revealed as someone else.

While the plot is likely to differ from what's in the book, we can expect the Aunts to leak incriminating information about Gilead's elite into Canada, with more Mayday operatives to be revealed as the season continues.

Will there be more seasons of The Testaments?

As of writing, it's difficult to say — but depending on what season 2 includes, there could still be more scope for adaptation in season 3 and beyond. The Handmaid's Tale used Atwood's novel as a launchpad to develop over six seasons, so creative license is likely.

"I always have to think in forever terms that because you never know whether you're going to be renewed," creator Bruce Miller told TechRadar. "In the old days, they would pull your card in the middle of the day where you'd be on episode 4 of season 2, and then you wouldn't have anything left. We've been very, very generously given lots of space and time to think about our endings.

"I tried very hard to think about the characters and their stories in a much more general way. What are they doing day to day? How are they living? How are they figuring things out? So season 1 is really about Agnes awakening, and by the end, it's just the beginning.

"Every ending in Margaret's world is always a very good beginning," Miller continues. "So I think I don't think of in terms of number of seasons. But if you think of the awakening of a 14/15 year-old girl, her coming to and taking action, those things can go on for quite a quite a while.

"There's plenty of stories to tell that are based in Agnes, Daisy and Aunt Lydia's world and what challenges they are facing."

Executive producer Warren Littlefield adds, "If you're a student of Margaret's novels, and if you were a fan of The Handmaid's Tale, and then you come into Testaments, Agnes catches up by the end of the season to what you may know as a reader and a follower of our show.

"Agnes becomes aware of her roots and origin. I think that leads us to a wonderful opening of what comes next for her."

The final weekend of May 2026 is upon us, and the fifth month of the year is going out with a bang.

Indeed, with 14 new movies and TV shows landing on the world's best streaming services over the last few days, you've got plenty to wrap your eyeballs around before June arrives. As always, we've handpicked the cream of the crop from this week's new releases, so don't delay: scroll on to see what's worth watching between now and Sunday evening. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Spider-Noir (Prime Video)

Nic Cage fans, listen up! The hardworking, talented, and eccentric A-lister is not only back on your screens, but also getting his Spider-Man on again in this Prime Video live-action show, which is already out in full.

Stepping back into the shoes of this series' eponymous hero Spider-Noir (NB: this isn't the same iteration that Cage voiced in Sony's Spider-Verse films), the Amazon TV Original introduces us to superpowered private investigator Ben Reilly. Set during the prohibition era, the aging and down on his luck detective must un-retire as his superhuman alter-ego to crack a case that threatens New York's residents and the city itself.

A noir crime thriller masquerading as a superhero project, Spider-Noir is available to stream in color, as well as black and white. Personally, I'll be opting for the latter option this weekend to fully immerse myself in Spider-Noir's grimy, morally ambiguous world. — TP

• Watch Spider-Noir on Prime Video

Scream 7 (Paramount+)

Ghostface is back — again. That's right, the iconic masked killer returned for yet another round of slasher fare in Scream 7, which has finally dropped on Paramount Plus following its theatrical debut earlier this year.

This time, Neve Campbell's Sidney comes face-to-face with a new Ghostface when the latter targets Sidney's daughter Tatum (Isabel May). Campbell isn't the only individual reprising their role from a previous Scream movie, either, as she's joined by the likes of David Arquette and Courteney Cox for more horror-based action and drama.

A film shrouded in controversy following the firing of Melissa Barrera, plus the departures of fellow new and popular additions to the franchise including Jenna Ortega, Scream 7 doesn't seem to live up to past installments in the series. Still, I'm sure diehard Scream fans will get a kick out of what's on offer. — TP

• Watch Scream 7 on Paramount+

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder season 2 (Netflix)

Don't you just love when a viral book series gets adapted into an equally viral TV show? That's what happened with A Good Girl's Guide to Murder , whose first season debut in 2024 and is now back for its sophomore season on Netflix.

This time, ever-inquisitive Pip (Emma Myers) is dealing with the ramifications of discovering who really killed Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies), including releasing a popular true-crime podcast about the investigation. Think Only Murders in the Building, only without the comedy. Swap it for some serious armchair detective work and we're in business. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch A Good Girl's Guide to Murder season 2 on Netflix

Star City (Apple TV)

For All Mankind has come to an end, but new Apple TV sci-fi show Star City is about to take its place. Created by the same team, it's not a companion series, but instead follows the Soviet Union space race from a spy thriller perspective.

Taking us back to the key moment in the "alt-history retelling" of the space race, the Apple TV Original will explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain. We'll be following the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers, and the intelligence officers embedded among them... and, of course, a slice of espionage along the way. — JV

• Watch Star City on Apple TV

The Moment (HBO Max)

I thought this film was f*****g big in Germany? If you went absolutely feral during Brat summer like me, Charli XCX's mockumentary The Moment , which is out now on HBO Max, is the ideal way to keep reliving it.

Here, we follow a fictional popstar (played by Charli XCX) before her arena tour kicks off, exploring the cost of what it truly takes to stay on top. Expect cameos from Rachel Sennott, Alexander Skarsgård, and a quite brilliantly cast Rosanna Arquette to name just three. Can Brat summer truly be a forever thing? Probably... it's just not going to look anything like this. — JV

• Watch The Moment on HBO Max

Deli Boys season 2 (Hulu/Disney+)

Want a comedy series you can binge in under a day? Deli Boys season 2 has you covered. In season 1, brothers Raj (Saagar Shaikh) and Mir Dar (Asif Ali) found out that their late dad's local convenience store was actually a front for an international drug ring, which the pair have inherited.

In its follow-up, they're making so much money that local casino owner-turned-money launderer Max Sugar (Fred Armisen) is enlisted to help "clean" the boys' money, though Max falls in love with no-nonsense Aunt Lucky (Poorna Jagannathan) instead.

With Andrew Rannells also joining the cast as unhinged politician Andrew Chadwater, season 2 is an even bigger, bolder and more absurd version of its debut. Check it out now on Hulu and Disney+. — JV

• Watch Deli Boys season 2 on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Propeller One-Way Night Coach (Apple TV)

A family film that's only just over an hour long? Count me in. Propeller One-Way Night Coach is the Apple movie you've probably never heard of, but need to stream.

Following young aviation enthusiast Jeff (Clark Shotwell) and his mother, we embark with them on a cross-country flight to Hollywood that transforms into a life-changing journey filled with unexpected moments.

In the most unexpected twist, the movie is the directorial debut of one John Travolta. Don't be too shocked: this is all based on a children's book he released back in 1997. Still, I can see a lot of Grease fans getting their kids to tune in. — JV

• Watch Propeller One-Way Night Coach on Apple TV

Mild spoilers for Rivals season 2 episode 5 ahead

Rivals season 2 episode 5 is now streaming on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (international), and I fear that I'm the only fan who found it underwhelming.

Still, the "quiet before the storm" effect is exactly what I should expect from a penultimate episode, with the hit series going on a temporary hiatus after next week's episode 6. But for most of episode 5, things felt like more of the same.

Maud (Victoria Smurfitt) is still making incredibly bad decisions by choosing to have an affair with Corinium TV executive Tony (David Tennant), while wholesome lovebirds Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson) and Freddie (Danny Dyer) have never felt more distant from each other.

Surprisingly, it's Rupert (Alex Hassell) who's the most well-behaved, determined to climb back on his reputational horse after Tony's takedown on live TV in episode 3. Then there's Declan (Aiden Turner), who appears to have eyes for Cameron (Nafessa Williams)... despite the fact that she's been dating Rupert.

But none of these characters I've mentioned are the one I think has had the strongest character journey so far. And if I had to put money on it, I think said individual will be the polar opposite of who they are now when season 2 part 2 finishes airing.

Rivals season 2 episode 5 proves that Monica is the strongest character in the entire series

Frankly, Claire Rushbrook's back must be hurting from carrying the entirety of Rivals season 2 in her role as Tony's long-suffering wife, Monica. In season 1, she was downtrodden, meek and sidelined at every opportunity, while Tony's repugnant behavior meant her pet dogs were in her bed more often than her own husband.

Five episodes into season 2, however, and she's a changed woman. She has stood up to Tony to try and regain control in their marriage, leveraging his adultery in an attempt to gain the upper hand. She's hellbent on Tony remaining successful against Declan and Rupert's rival TV company Venturer, and is prepared to go rogue to make this into a reality.

This doesn't mean that her fears and insecurities have gone away, though. Episode 5 sees Tony drag Monica onto a Corinium daytime TV show to prove to the public that their marriage is a picture of health, insisting that she is given a makeover that makes her look incredibly uncomfortable. But this only allows for Enid (Selina Griffiths) to once again swoop in and save the day.

If you were paying close attention, episode 4 suggested that Monica and Enid could eventually have a romantic connection, and episode 5 only solidified this theory. After the interview, Enid comforts Monica with a signed photo of her favorite German athlete. When Monica's daughters suggests Enid is a "funny fish," Monica responds, "That's incredibly unkind. People might say that I'm a funny fish, too."

If that isn't thinly-veiled subtext for "we both find women attractive but that isn't public knowledge," I don't know what is. My hope for episode 6 and beyond is that Enid's interest allows Monica to re-find the self-confidence she had in the series 2 premiere, and eventually dump Tony to live authentically. A girl can dream, right?

• Marvel has announced the release date for X-Men 97 season 2
• A trailer for the popular Disney+ show's next chapter has also been unveiled
• A fourth season is already in development, too

Marvel has finally confirmed when X-Men 97 season 2 will come out: Wednesday, July 1.

Announced in a press release and on the comic giant's social channels yesterday (May 27), the highly-rated animated show will return on Disney+ in just over a month's time. And, to whet fans' appetite for X-Men 97's next chapter, Marvel also released an absolute banger of a trailer for the forthcoming season, which you can watch below:

It's been over two years since the X-Men's latest TV project — a sequel to fan-favorite '90s cartoon X-Men: The Animated Series, no less — hit our screens. I wouldn't be surprised, then, if you're struggling to remember what happened in X-Men 97's debut season, and how its finale sets up the storylines teased in the above trailer.

Fear not, dear reader, because Marvel, Disney, and I are here to help you out. First, check out my X-Men 97 season 1 ending explained article to remind yourself where things ended last time out. Once you're done, read season 2's brief story synopsis below, which comes courtesy of Marvel and its parent company.

"X-Men 97 season 2 continues with the heroic mutant team of X-Men, divided and thrown across different eras in time as they struggle to navigate their return home," the plot brief reads. "Meanwhile, back in the 1990s, suspicious foes and new strains of mutant intolerance are on the rise in the wake of the X-Men’s absence."

New season, new release schedule

X-Men 97 season 2's official launch date and first teaser aren't the only things we recently learned about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) adjacent TV series.

In an Entertainment Weekly article published ahead of the aforementioned reveals, executive producer Larry Houston confirmed that the Marvel Phase 6 program will run for at least four seasons. We already knew that the show has been renewed for a third season, but this is the first time that anyone has acknowledged that a fourth is in active development.

Furthermore, Houston announced that, beginning with the series' next installment, new seasons will drop on Disney+, aka one of the best streaming services, every year. "They [Marvel] want everyone to know it's only gonna be a year now between seasons, not two-and-a-quarter years," he said. "It's gonna be a year until the next one and a year until the next one [after that]."

That's good news, right? On the surface, yes. Releasing seasons annually is the way things used to work before the advent of streaming, so it's pleasing to hear that the wait for a new installment of X-Men 97 won't be a significant one.

That said, I hope it doesn't fall foul of the same criticism that's been leveled at another animated show in Invincible.

After a near-three-year wait between its first and second seasons, Amazon now releases new seasons of the R-rated Prime Video TV Original every year. Great though that is, sections of the show's fanbase have been left unimpressed by what they believe to be a fall-off in the quality of its animation, with some theorizing that the annual turnaround of new installments is actively harming the final product.

With X-Men 97 set to follow in Invincible's footsteps, will it fall foul of the same issue? For a show beloved by millions, and one that holds a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes critical score, it would a massive shame if one of the best Marvel TV shows goes the same way as its Amazon counterpart. Here's hoping it can avoid such negativity as it moves towards a yearly release schedule.

Anyway, before X-Men 97's next chapter arrives, be sure to read up on everything we know so far about X-Men 97 season 2.

Spoilers for Deli Boys season 2 ahead.

Deli Boys season 2 is now streaming on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (international), and if you haven't tried this bonkers, Gen Z-coded comedy, you haven't lived.

As we saw in season 1, brothers Raj (Saagar Shaikh) and Mir (Asif Ali) Dar found out that their late dad's local convenience store was actually a front for an international drug ring, which the pair have inherited.

In season 2, they're making so much money that local casino owner-turned-money launderer Max Sugar (Fred Armisen) is enlisted to help "clean" the boys' money, though Max falls in love with no-nonsense Aunt Lucky (Poorna Jagannathan) instead.

It's lucky — pun intended — that he did, because it's what stops him from betraying the Dars in favor of earning more money, and he is instead busted during a raid by insufferable politician Andrew Chadwater (Andrew Rannells).

But it ain't over 'til it's over, and Deli Boys season 2 ends with yet another mystery that needs solving. It means that Deli Boys season 3 is absolutely feasible... and according to executive producer Michelle Nader, a framework is already in place.

'I want people to watch all six episodes and be left burning for more'

"It's always a fingers-crossed situation," Nader says when I ask if she's keeping her fingers crossed for a Deli Boys season 3 renewal.

"I'm hoping it actually gets one. I never know what is going to happen. But we have plans, and we left season 2 on a very big cliffhanger. That hopefully makes people watch the whole six episodes and be burning for more, so that we can get to do more."

And the big cliffhanger in question? The Dar brothers and Lucky return to Max's office while he's nowhere to be seen, hoovering up the money and any other goodies that have been exposed by the raid.

But convenience store worker and friend Matthew (Jake Prizant) has accidentally eaten a poisoned pie delivered by "the eldest Dar," leaving him for dead when he arrives at Max's office to help.

"The theme of season 2 was 'more money, more problems,'" Nader explains. "There are a lot of real crises that happen in this season, and at only six episodes, it's at a really hyper pace. It's like what we did in season 1, but nuclear levels of fast... if that's even a thing."

Fingers crossed that a season 3 renewal is equally delivered at these astounding speeds.

Do you know how locked in I have to be to polish off an entire season of a TV show in less than a day — even if the episodes are short? That's exactly what happened with Deli Boys season 2, now streaming on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (international).

Given that the new comedy is such a wild ride from start to finish, my binge isn't too surprising. In season 1, brothers Raj (Saagar Shaikh) and Mir (Asif Ali) Dar found out that their late dad's local convenience store was actually a front for an international drug ring, which the pair have inherited.

In season 2, they're making so much money that local casino owner-turned-money launderer Max Sugar (Fred Armisen) is enlisted to help "clean" the boys' money, though Max falls in love with no-nonsense Aunt Lucky (Poorna Jagannathan) instead.

As you can imagine, this all goes horribly wrong by the end of episode 6, though no spoilers here. Now that things are over quickly after they've begun, what do we watch next?

Thankfully, I've got some fantastic recommendations from people who know a thing or two about how to make us laugh: the Deli Boys season 2 cast themselves.

Cunk On... — Tan France

"This is slightly random, because it's simply one of my favorite shows," France tells me. "I find Deli Boys to be quite a dark comedy, so I think start with that and then move onto the Cunk On... specials to lighten the mood. Diane Morgan is an absolute genius."

He's not wrong. The comic actress plays fictional investigative reporter Philomena Cunk, who is best known for asking genuine industry experts absurd questions with a deadpan expression. Highlights include "Was Jesus the first victim of cancel culture?" and "Which was more culturally relevant: The Renaissance or Single Ladies by Beyoncé?"

Created by Black Mirror's Charlie Brooker, specials include Cunk on Earth, Cunk on Life, and Cunk on Britain, most of which you can stream for free on YouTube. We've got Cunk on Cinema currently in production, which feels like peak television for me personally.

• Watch Cunk on... on Netflix in the US
• Watch Cunk on... on BBC iPlayer in the UK
• Watch Cunk on... on Netflix in Australia

Broad City — Lily Singh

"I feel like it has to be Broad City," Singh says. "It's another two-hander with messy characters, and I feel like that's a good viewing experience."

It's another fantastic choice. Airing from 2014 to 2019, the series follows two women throughout their daily lives in New York City. That should be as dull as dishwater, but they both manage to make the smallest and most mundane events hysterical and disturbing to watch.

Broad City propelled Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson (both playing fictional versions of themselves) to global success and has been widely regarded as a "genius" comedy series that speaks to the lived experiences of millennial women. In fact, it's that good, you could probably binge the entire thing five times over and not get bored.

• Watch Broad City on Hulu in the US
• Watch Broad City on Disney+ in the UK
• Watch Broad City on Stan in Australia

Girls - Andrew Rannells

"I'm trying to give myself a plug at some point..." Rannells jokes. "So maybe Deli Boys and Girls?"

This one is a no-brainer, and not just given the obvious connection. Rannells played Elijah Krantz in the HBO Max series, who is described as "an exuberant gay man who is always in search of a good time."

That's hilariously true, and he easily steals the spotlight in Deli Boys as unhinged politician Andrew Chadwater. But Girls is also the reference point for a generation when it comes to living in the Big Apple.

There's another reason Girls makes a great double bill too: the release of Lena Dunham's new memoir Famesick. Read it as an audiobook on Spotify, and you've essentially got a triple bill.

• Watch Girls on HBO Max in the US
• Watch Girls on HBO Max in the UK
• Watch Girls on Apple TV in Australia

Spoilers for The Testaments season finale ahead.

Well, wasn't that a lot of information to take in? Luckily, we already have the knowledge that The Testaments season 2 has been greenlit, but don't think the season 1 finale has gone easy on us in the meantime.

In episode 9 of the hit Hulu and Disney+ show, we learned that Daisy (Lucy Halliday) has falsely accused Dr Grove (Randal Edwards) of sexual assault to draw attention to his legitimate abuse of a number of girls, including Agnes (Chase Infiniti). Dr Grove's daughter, Becka (Mattea Conforti), is also Agnes' best friend, breaking down in tears when Agnes tearfully tells her the truth about the assault.

The episode ends with Becka killing Dr Grove before he was about to go on trial for his crimes, with guardian Garth (Brad Alexander) reporting her to The Eyes, who take her away in a police-style van. Agnes is distraught over Garth's actions, having claimed to be helping Becka by getting her to a doctor.

The biggest question hanging over The Testaments season finale is whether Becka will live or die — but as I'll explain, the ending gave us a lot more than we bargained for.

Becka's future looks bleak — but Aunt Lydia's prison visit reveals a remarkable Handmaid's Tale cameo

The episode opens with Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) heading into the women's holding facility (which is basically prison) to see if she can save Becka somehow from her situation.

You need eagle eyes here, as the woman leading her into Becka's cell is none other than The Handmaid's Tale author, Margaret Atwood. Annoyingly, she only gets to say three words before she's gone: "Don't agitate her."

Aunt Lydia is shocked by what she sees, demanding that Becka's restraints be taken off. Commander Judd (Charlie Carrick) asks to speak to her, claiming that the "fallout" now needs to be managed, suggesting that Becka will be sent to the red center to become a handmaid.

As is rightly pointed out multiple times in the episode, Aunt Lydia says that while Becka "broke God's law," her father did so first. Judd is the first man in Gilead to say that this is now "irrelevant," but he won't be the last.

The news of Dr Grove's death spreads at Aunt Lydia's School for Girls, with Agnes telling Daisy, Shu (Rowan Blanchard), and Huldah (Isolde Ardies) the truth about what's happened to Becka.

The plan to save Becka is now in motion, but will it work?

Agnes starts her rescue plan by appealing to Aunt Vidala (Mabel Li), revealing that she knows the truth about Becka being taken by The Eyes.

While Vidala claims all that can be done is to "send God's will," Agnes turns the school's teachings back on her. She reminds Vidala that the Aunts are supposed to be "God's instruments," and following justice is in their teachings. "If anyone led Becka astray, it's you," Agnes ends with.

Elsewhere, Daisy starts her own mission to save Becka and the rest of Gilead's teen girls. In frustration, she asks Garth to do something proactive to save Becka, and when he declines, she quits Mayday on the spot.

Later that day, Garth listens to the Mayday radio station, with June (Elisabeth Moss) sending a message to him that Daisy will be taken care of that evening.

Commander Weston (Reed Diamond) visits Agnes ahead of their wedding to offer his time and sympathy to her after Dr. Grove's death. He claims that their problems are now shared, prompting Agnes to reveal the truth about being assaulted.

She asks Weston to somehow help Becka, and while initially skeptical, he covertly reunites her with Mrs Grove (Kate Hewlett).

Daisy prepares to die for the cause and Mrs. Grove takes the rap for Dr. Grove's death

While Becka and Mrs Grove reunite, Daisy left a message asking to wait at a meeting point. From there, she's smuggled out of Gilead in a barrel in the back of a lorry, only to emerge to find June and other Mayday members preparing a boat to leave the area.

Daisy refuses to go with them, claiming to be able to save the girls and their futures. June sees Becka as "collateral damage," claiming that they won't win the war by trying to save everyone.

Daisy doubles down on her conviction, claiming to be ready to die for the cause if it means saving her new friends. She tells June about them and mentions Agnes — and suddenly, it clicks for them both that Agnes is actually June's daughter, Hannah.

Reluctantly, June lets Daisy return to Gilead to continue her plan, unaware that Agnes' speech on Vidala has worked: she wants to work collaboratively with Lydia to save Becka and the school's reputation.

Daisy returns to Gilead late, prompting Garth to pretend to catch her smoking so she'd have a legitimate excuse for being out early. Lydia scolds Daisy in her office, with Daisy claiming it was because of the responsibility she felt after calling out Dr Grove's abuse.

Carefully, Daisy goads Lydia into doing more to actively save Becka, claiming "some mothers would kill, or die, for their children" when Lydia expresses her desire to be a mother to Gilead's "lost children."

We then cut to a secret meeting between Lydia, Vidala, Becka, and Mrs Grove. Lydia suggests that the "truth" going forward will be that Becka found Mrs Grove standing over the bathtub after killing Dr Grove, which Mrs Grove agrees to without hesitation.

Agnes' engagement is called off as Garth marries Becka to save her future — but not before Agnes and Becka kiss

Later that day, Weston calls off his engagement to Agnes, claiming that her "close ties" to the Grove scandal are something that he can't be associated with. Really, we know it's because Agnes revealed her assault, and is now seen by Weston as "sullied."

Paula (Amy Seimetz) clearly sees through Weston's vague reason, waking Agnes up that night and claiming that she "scared him off." In drunken anger, Paula reveals that Gilead originally wanted to kill Agnes as a child and send her to the resistance "piece by piece" as a warning, adding that Agnes has never been grateful for Paula's guidance and her ruined her life.

Agnes flees the house and tracks down Garth, tearfully asking him to make good on his earlier proposal and marry Becka to save her from being fallen. After some persuasion, he relents and is made a Commander beforehand.

Becka tearfully gets ready for her wedding day, with Agnes on hand to help. When the two are left alone, Agnes tells Becka that everything is going to be okay. "I know it will, because you're here," Becka responds. The two share a romantic kiss before Becka leaves.

At the same time as Becka and Garth are married with Agnes and friends watching on, Mrs Grove is sentenced to her death, and is immediately hanged.

Daisy tells Agnes that she's June Osborne's daughter and begins the next phase of her revenge

After Becka's marriage, Agnes confides in Daisy that she feels like she's ruined her life, despite the sacrifice being "worth it." Daisy tells Agnes that she's exactly like her mother, dropping the bombshell that she believes Agnes to be June's daughter, Hannah.

While Agnes immediately fails to believe this and brands June as "a terrorist," Daisy reveals that she met her mother "once," without giving away the fact that she's actively involved with Mayday. However, later that night, she finds a childhood drawing in her bedroom with the name "Hannah" written in pencil at the bottom.

The next day, Agnes is called into Lydia's office, who says that the school is dealing with an "unknown" by having a Green return to being a Plum. Lydia says that this will be a mark against her, with Agnes responding that it actually must be her second — she's June Osborne's daughter. There's an unspoken understanding between the two, with Lydia adding that June "never gave up."

Daisy smuggles a letter out to June through the school's honey supply, confirming that Becka is successfully safe. She hints at hitting Gilead "where it will hurt them the most" by building an "army" of teenage girls to take the establishment down. "Because nothing is more powerful than a teenage girl," Daisy says as the episode ends.

Season 2 predictions

If you've read the original novel, you'll know that Aunt Lydia's eventual betrayal of Gilead will likely be explored further in The Testaments season 2. We've already seen the chips starting to fall into place while she helps to save Becka, and aligning herself with Daisy and Agnes.

June's youngest daughter is originally Daisy in the novel, but in the TV show, Daisy is a completely separate character. It remains to be seen if this will be addressed or if June's other daughter will be revealed as someone else.

While the plot is likely to differ from what's in the book, we can expect the Aunts to leak incriminating information about Gilead's elite into Canada, with more Mayday operatives to be revealed as the season continues.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I cannot stop thinking about the fact that I've seen a close-up of Danny Dyer's bare backside in Rivals season 2.

Last week's episode was revealing in more ways than one, and not just the nude kind.

Freddie (Dyer) has been dumped by his ideal other woman, Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson), or that Declan's (Aiden) actress wife, Maud (Victoria Smuriff), is set to have an affair with rival TV exec Tony Baddingham (David Tennant).

On top of that, Rivals has just hinted at a potential lesbian romance between Tony's wife Monica (Claire Rushbrook) and Corinium board member Enid (Selina Griffiths).

But where on Earth are things heading this week, and when does Rivals season 2 episode 5 drop on Hulu and Disney+?

What time can I watch Rivals season 2 episode 5 on Hulu and Disney+?

Rivals season 2 episode 5 arrives on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (international) on May 29.

We can expect this to follow these standard Hulu/Disney+ time drops:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 7am BST
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 6pm AEST
• New Zealand – 8pm NZDT

When do new episodes of Rivals season 2 come out?

After its three-episode premiere, the next three episodes of Rivals season 2 will drop on a weekly basis.

This gives us the following schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: out now
• Episode 5: May 29, 2026
• Episode 6: June 5, 2026

However, Rivals season 2 will have 12 episodes in total, with the remaining six episodes dropping "later in the year," according to Disney+.

As a best guess, we can expect episodes to return in October.

If you're expecting Gilead to have a full-blown revolution by the end of The Testaments, I'd guess that you're out of luck.

Following the original book by Margaret Atwood, we're not even part way through adapting the source material, so we can keep our fingers crossed for a second season to be green lit sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, there's a season finale to watch. But when does The Testaments episode 10 arrive on Hulu and Disney+?

What time can I watch The Testaments episode 10 on Hulu and Disney+?

The Testaments episode 10 drops on May 27 on Hulu (for US viewers) and Disney+ (for international viewers).

We can expect the following timed releases:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 7am BST
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 6pm AEST
• New Zealand – 8pm NZDT

When do new episodes of The Testaments come out?

After The Testaments' three-episode premiere, the following seven episodes will air on a weekly basis.

This gives us the following timeline:

• 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: May 27

Spoilers for Rivals season 2 episode 4 ahead.

Now that I've binged Rivals season 2 episode 4, I cannot stop thinking about the fact that I've seen a close-up of Danny Dyer's bare backside.

Nor can I believe that Freddie (Dyer) has been dumped by ideal other woman Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson), or that Declan's (Aiden) actress wife Maud (Victoria Smuriff) is set to have an affair with rival TV exec Tony Baddingham (David Tennant).

However, none of this is what I want to explore further... because I think the most important moment in the episode will be entirely missed.

While all of the above is happening in this week's outing of the hit Hulu and Disney+ show, Tony poached Maud to star in a televised production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Most of our ensemble cast was in the audience, including Tony's diligent yet neglected wife Monica (Claire Rushbrook).

After catching Lizzie at the show's afterparty with sopping wet hair following her swimming pool tryst with Freddie, Monica is approached by Dame Enid Spink (Selina Griffiths), who is on Corinium's executive board.

What happens next hints at the show's first lesbian romance forming before our eyes — but if I'm honest, it's not good enough for me.

'It's beautifully written and really subtle... the hints are there'

"Between you and me, I thought your Titania at school was far more exciting," Enid is seen telling Monica. "That was a long time ago," Monica responds, to which Enid says, "I remember." The two lock eyes with each other as the cameras linger on them, and the sapphic tension is ridiculously palpable.

According to writer Laura Wade, this is all on purpose. "We've got Dame Enid and Monica this series, where there's a beautiful twinkle going on between them," she tells me.

"Monica was straight in the book, Monica, but it's hinted in later books that later in life she was gay, or that she was fulfilling herself later on. So we've used that here.

She continues, "I think it's been really beautifully written, and it's really subtle. There are hints there. They never explicitly talk about the love they have for each other, but it was something they had at school. It's all sort of looks and the odd cloaked bit of dialogue in language.

"It's very tender, really beautiful. They've got each other's backs in the story, which is really nice."

But here's my issue: Rivals is a Jilly Cooper bonkbuster where everybody's at it. All the straight couple have funny, explicit and frequent sex scenes, while the show's only openly gay couple — Charles Fairburn (Gary Lamont) and Gerald Middleton (Hubert Burton) — get the same treatment.

Yet the women have to settle for "stolen looks," and that doesn't sit right with me. Sure, introducing Monica and Enid as a fully-blown lesbian romance isn't canon to Cooper's original books, but we can have a bit of creative licence here. The beloved author certainly wasn't a prude or exclusionary, put it that way.

If you're a fellow LGBTQIA+ woman left feeling dissatisfied with this, don't worry. During our interview, I asked Wade point-blank for more outright sapphic representation onscreen. Her response? "We'll find you some more lesbians in the future, though."

Happy long weekend, everyone! Well, those of you in the US and UK who'll be enjoying a three-day break from work due to Memorial Day and the late May bank holiday, anyway.

Regardless of where you live and/or how long your weekend will be, plenty of new movies and TV shows have recently landed on the world's best streaming services for you to check out. Like last week's streaming round-up, we couldn't fit the sheer volume of new releases in this article. No matter what genre you enjoy, though, I'm sure you'll find something worth watching from the below selection. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

The Bride! (HBO Max)

The Bride!, Maggie Gyllenhaal's divisive Frankenstein-inspired movie that I attempted to defend in my impassioned piece, is out now on HBO Max.

Those wanting a loyal adaptation of Mary Shelley's work won't find it here, but you will find an intriguing gothic romance set against a 1930s Chicago backdrop. You'll also find stellar performances from Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. No surprises there.

That all said, critics and many viewers weren't enamored with this one when it landed in theaters earlier this year Will you join the naysayers or actually enjoy it? Watch it this weekend and see which side of the divide you fall on. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch The Bride! on HBO Max

The Boroughs (Netflix)

You've seen Stranger Things, now get ready for The Boroughs.

The Duffer Brothers are the executive producers of this new Netflix show and, this time, we follow the residents of a retirement community rather than local kids. Although the subjects are at the opposite end of the age spectrum, the vibes are similar, with a group of unlikely heroes banding together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing time. At their age, it's a precious commodity indeed.

With a great cast comprising Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Denis O'Hare, and Jena Malone, this could be the perfect show to binge. — LB

• Watch The Boroughs on Netflix

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War (Prime Video)

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, one of Prime Video's most underrated shows, has finally made its way from the small screen to the big screen, in the form of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War. John Krasinski resumes the titular role... but this time, he's heading across the pond.

Indeed, we see Jack reunite with CIA operatives to navigate betrayal from an enemy who "knows their moves and faces a past once thought settled," as Amazon explains. In short, expect big action on an international scale.

What I particularly like here is that Ghost War is very subtly bringing back the 'Cool Britannia' aesthetic by casting Sienna Miller as its leading lady. Why did we have to stop doing that in the 2010s? — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War on Prime Video

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (Apple TV)

Apple has been on a TV show-based tear recently. Indeed, from Margo's Got Money Troubles to Widow's Bay, the tech giant's streaming platform has been my go-to for small-screen offerings over the last few months.

Its latest TV Original — Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed — looks like it'll keep me glued to Apple TV, too. Billed as a dark comedy crime-thriller, it stars Tatiana Maslany as Paula, a divorced fact checker and mom of one who gets caught up in a web of lies and murder after she's blackmailed by a camboy.

Truthfully, I'll watch anything that the supremely talented Maslany is in. But, with Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed launching to near-universally positive reviews, I'll be even more locked in to a Maslany-led project than usual. — TP

• Watch Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed on Apple TV

Is This Thing On? (Disney+)

I first saw Is This Thing On? last October, and I'm still laughing at the fact that it's inspired by the life of UK comedian John Bishop.

Will Arnett plays fictional comic Alex, whose marriage to Tess (Laura Dern) is unravelling by the minute. After they separate, Alex seeks a purpose on the New York comedy scene, and discovers that he's actually pretty darn good at it. But, can he repair his broken marriage at the same time?

It's wholesome, touching, and makes you believe in the power of love all over again. And I'd like this stated on the record — Bradley Cooper is a brilliant director, no matter what you think of him. Regardless, it's out now on Disney+ internationally following its debut on Hulu stateside earlier this year. — JV

• Watch Is This Thing On? on Disney+

The Chi final season (Paramount+)

It's been eight years since The Chi first arrived on our screens via Paramount+, but now it's sadly time to say goodbye. This coming-of-age drama follows a diverse ensemble of characters who are trauma-bonded by the murder of a young boy in season 1.

Fast forward to season 8, and we can expect to face "their coldest winter ever, with life or death choices that must be made," according to Paramount. With season 7 ending with every storyline having some sort of dramatic fallout, we can expect the stakes to be raised even higher for its final outing. — JV

• Watch The Chi final season on Paramount+

Arco (Hulu)

Neon's latest animated movie Arco follows a 10-year-old boy in the year 2932, an idyllic future where humans live in the clouds and travel through time using rainbow flight suits. Sounds pretty cool, not going to lie.

Sadly for Arco, he's too young to fly, so he does what any mischievous child would do: steals his sister's suit so he can go back in time and see dinosaurs. But, when he discovers a world in peril instead, he bands together with a young girl and her robot caretaker as he sets out on a quest to return home.

Widely praised for its lovable characters and themes, this adventure movie is a great choice for the whole family to watch on Hulu. — LB

• Watch Arco on Hulu

Star Wars is back on the big screen. Indeed, with The Mandalorian and Grogu finally ending the iconic sci-fi franchise's theatrical hiatus, I suspect many of you will be heading to your local cinema to see what it's all about.

However, if you've been put off by its middling critical reception — read my review of The Mandalorian and Grogu to see what I thought — you might decide to save your money and wait for it to come out on Disney+. So, when could one of 2026's new movies make its streaming debut?

Does The Mandalorian and Grogu have a Disney+ release date yet?

No. The movie sequel to The Mandalorian TV series only arrived in theaters on May 22, so it'll be a while before it's released on Disney+.

When might that be? I have no insider information, but my best guess is it'll drop on one of the best streaming services in early September, with September 2 being the most likely scenario.

Why then? Typically, Disney releases its first-party films on its primary streamer around three months after they launch in theaters. Some have come to the service earlier or later than anticipated, but that's usually the result of them underperforming at the global box office, or are still making money via ticket sales, so they're left in theaters for longer.

For The Mandalorian and Grogu, let's assume that it'll land on Disney+ three months after its theatrical release. That would mean it should be available to watch at home on August 22, right?

Not exactly. You see, new Disney+ movies tend to come out on a Wednesday. This year, August 22 falls on a Saturday, so there's absolutely no chance that the first of many new Star Wars movies and TV shows will launch on that date.

Now, it's possible that The Mandalorian and Grogu could drop on the Wednesday either side of August 22 — those dates being August 19 and 26. However, I believe Disney will withhold its streaming launch until the previously mentioned September 2 date. The reason? Labor Day, one of many holidays observed in the US, is set to take place on Monday, September 7 this year.

With many Americans due to enjoy a three-day weekend around that date, releasing The Mandalorian and Grogu on the Wednesday before Labor Day weekend makes perfect sense. Those who live stateside will likely have a couple of hours to spare at some point over the extended weekend, so loading up Disney+ to check out the latest Star Wars movie is something that millions of them are sure to do.

And, hey, if you don't live in the US, I'm sure you'll have some downtime over the first weekend of September. If you do and you're a Star Wars fan, you're just as likely to sign into Disney+ to see what all of the fuss is about with The Mandalorian and Grogu, too.

How long is The Mandalorian and Grogu?

As you'll have noted by now — if you haven't skipped ahead to this section, anyway — I've said that you'll need to set aside a couple of hours to watch The Mandalorian and Grogu.

That's due to the fact that its runtime is two hours and 12 minutes, including its end credits crawl. That makes its the fourth shortest Star Wars movie of all-time, with only the original film trilogy having smaller runtimes.

Does The Mandalorian and Grogu have an end credits scene?

No. Once Din Djarin and Baby Yoda's latest galactic adventure has come to a close, there isn't a mid- and/or post-credits scene to stick around for.

By all means sit through the end credits sequence to appreciate the sheer number of people who worked on The Mandalorian and Grogu. But, if you stay seated with the hope that you'll get a hint at what's next for that legendary galaxy far, far away, you'll be sorely disappointed.

An explosive The Testaments season finale on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (international) will be ours in a week's time, but The Testaments season 2 has already been renewed.

It feels wrong to jump for joy at the prospect of spending more time in Gilead, but to me, it's always felt as though we're only at the beginning of telling The Testaments' story.

While initially devout Agnes (Chase Infiniti) still feels at a moral crossroads, her growth throughout the season so far has been remarkable. The same can be said for pearl girl Daisy (Lucy Halliday), who is having the opposite journey thanks to her covert ties to the Mayday operation.

This may feel even more true if you've read the original novel by Margaret Atwood — it's no spoiler to say that by episode 9, we're only part way through the tale.

Speaking to creator Bruce Miller, It's clear that he couldn't agree more — and even though season 2 was renewed yesterday (May 20), the framework has been in place for a long time.

'We've generously been given a lot of time and space to think about our endings'

"I always have to think in forever terms that because you never know whether you're going to be renewed," Miller tells me. "In the old days, they would pull your card in the middle of the day where you'd be on episode 4 of season 2, and then you wouldn't have anything left. We've been very, very generously given lots of space and time to think about our endings.

"I tried very hard to think about the characters and their stories in a much more general way. What are they doing day to day? How are they living? How are they figuring things out? So season 1 is really about Agnes awakening, and by the end, it's just the beginning.

I love being right. To me, watching The Testaments so far has almost like been watching a TV pilot, with the previous eight episodes merely acting as worldbuilding context. We're not even close to the meat of the story yet, and it shows.

"Every ending in Margaret's world is always a very good beginning," Miller continues. "So I think I don't think of in terms of number of seasons. But if you think of the awakening of a 14/15 year-old girl, her coming to and taking action, those things can go on for quite a quite a while.

"There's plenty of stories to tell that are based in Agnes, Daisy and Aunt Lydia's world and what challenges they are facing."

Executive producer Warren Littlefield adds, "If you're a student of Margaret's novels, and if you were a fan of The Handmaid's Tale, and then you come into Testaments, Agnes catches up by the end of the season to what you may know as a reader and a follower of our show.

"Agnes becomes aware of her roots and origin. I think that leads us to a wonderful opening of what comes next for her."

Fingers crossed we can expect The Testaments season 2 at some point in 2027, but a release date has yet to be confirmed.

Full spoilers follow for The Mandalorian. Light spoilers also follow for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Seven years is a long time for a franchise like Star Wars to spend away from the big screen. Sure, the wait for new movie-based entries in Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away has been significantly larger in the past. In an age where entertainment titans are mining everything they can from their money-spinning signature brands, though, it's surreal to think that a whole generation of fans haven't seen a Star Wars movie at their local theater.

Well, now they can. The Mandalorian and Grogu, a film sequel to The Mandalorian, aka the hugely popular Disney+ TV series that stars the aforementioned pair, aims to replicate the success of its parent show and recapture the magic of seeing the legendary sci-fi franchise on the silver screen for the first time. Unfortunately, it achieves neither of its objectives.

Wherever I go, he goes

Picking up sometime after The Mandalorian's season 3 finale, The Mandalorian and Grogu reunites us with the titular duo as they continue to carry out their contractual work for The New Republic. That being, hunting down Imperial warlords still devoted to the Galactic Empire to stop them from reviving the autocratic regime.

To that end, the Mandalorian known as Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his Force-wielding pal are given a specific mission by Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver): rescue Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White) for his crime lord relatives known as the Twins. In exchange, the latter will provide information on the whereabouts of Lord Janu (Jonny Coyne), The New Republic's next target.

Sounds simple, right? I think you already know the answer to that. Long story short: Mando and Grogu get more than they bargained for on a quest that proves to be their most dangerous yet.

Truth be told, they should be used to life-threatening situations as they've embarked on numerous perilous missions before in The Mandalorian.

And this is my first major gripe with The Mandalorian and Grogu, because it has the air of being two hour-long episodes of its parent show that have been smashed together.

It's difficult to explain without getting into major spoiler territory but, despite The Mandalorian and Grogu possessing a narrative throughline, there's a clear disconnect between its two parts that occurs exactly at its midpoint.

Indeed, with Mando and Grogu seemingly completing their Rotta-based search and rescue mission quicker than expected, I fully expected the end credits of this 'episode' to roll before its follow-up chapter began. You can imagine my surprise, then, when I not only realized this wouldn't happen, but also that there was an hour's worth of story left to tell when 95% of the plot's loose ends had seemingly been tied up.

Director Jon Favreau might claim that, rather than repurpose The Mandalorian season 4's scripts for this movie, he had to "start from scratch with The Mandalorian and Grogu's screenplay.

Nevertheless, given the notable split midway through this film's story, I'm of the opinion that some of that unmade season's plot threads have been reused and, whether by design or not, give it the structure of a multi-episode arc that's been stitched together. Think of how The Clone Wars animated series' first few episodes were similarly sewn together to unnecessarily turn it into a big-screen offering, and you'll get the idea.

The light and the dark

The Mandalorian and Grogu does win points for its action sequences, though. They're not wholly original in their makeup but, whether it's large- or small-scale battles, chase sequences, or vehicular- or duel-based combat, each one is as entertaining and well-executed as they need to be.

Speaking of being entertaining, Grogu is — if it even needs saying — the highlight of the show.

Multiple scenes involving Mando's apprentice are played for laughs (and rightly so, because he's an adorable little tyke), but he also gets enough character development that indicates he's not only coming into his own as a protagonist, but also being firmly positioned as Star Wars' next big, well, star. Suffice it to say, newcomers will fall head over heels for the individual affectionately known as Baby Yoda, while established fans will re-fall in love with him all over again.

Of equal appeal is The Mandalorian and Grogu following in the footsteps of its parent show and introducing us to fascinating new corners of the galaxy.

With growing fan criticism that Star Wars was reluctant to move away from exploring desert planets, The Mandalorian has given us new worlds — and the odd old fan favorite, such as Mandalore — to explore since its initial release on Disney+, aka one of the best streaming services.

It's a baton that The Mandalorian and Grogu is only too happy to pick up, too. Indeed, in flying us to new locales like Nal Hutta and Shakari, one of the many forthcoming new Star Wars movies and shows builds on its TV forebear's desire to visit unexplored regions of the galaxy, especially in the lawless Outer Rim. I'll take more of the same with other projects you've got in the pipeline, please, Lucasfilm.

While I'm making requests, it's also time for Star Wars to move past its overreliance on nostalgia bait, of which The Mandalorian and Grogu is as guilty of as its franchise contemporaries are.

Spoilers notwithstanding, it's a film dripping in Easter eggs and callbacks to other Star Wars projects, especially in its back half. That won't be an issue for diehards looking to mimic Captain America's "I understood that reference" line from The Avengers or Leonardo DiCaprio's finger pointing meme from One Upon a Time in Hollywood. Still, to me at least, the sheer number of nods to The Mandalorian and wider Star Wars universe felt more and more self-indulgent with each one I picked up on.

My verdict

The Mandalorian and Grogu is fine. It's an inoffensive and narratively safe addition to Lucasfilm's back catalog that'll still perform admirably at the global box office by virtue of it being a Star Wars movie, and the inclusion of Baby Yoda that's sure to lure in first-time viewers and diehard fans of the adorable green imp alike.

For those who grew up on the original films and/or want Lucasfilm and Disney to take more big creative swings in the vein of Andor, though, The Mandalorian and Grogu will feel like a missed opportunity. After all, this is the franchise's first big-screen outing since incredibly divisive 2019 flick The Rise of Skywalker, and I suspect some will have hoped that Mando and Baby Yoda's latest adventure would help to wash away the aforementioned film's lingering bad aftertaste.

Occasionally enjoyable though it is, The Mandalorian and Grogu fails to do just that and, as much as it pains me to say it, this isn't the way that Star Wars should've returned to the big screen.

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in theaters worldwide on Friday, May 22.

If Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) thought he was in trouble during season 1 of Rivals, he didn't know what was coming. Rivals season 2 has launched its three-episode premiere on Hulu and Disney+... and boy was it messy.

At the end of episode 3, TV executive Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) revealed his surprise Rupert takedown live on air, with presenter Beattie (Annabel Scholey) poised to spill his deepest darkest secrets to everyone watching.

He's waiting on the sofa at home with baited breath, with only pregnant Sarah (Emily Atack) there to keep him company. But when does Rivals season 2 episodes 4 drop on Hulu and Disney+?

What time can I watch Rivals season 2 episode 4 on Hulu and Disney+?

Rivals season 2 episode 4 arrives on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (international) on May 22.

We can expect this to follow these standard Hulu/Disney+ time drops:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 7am BST
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 6pm AEST
• New Zealand – 8pm NZDT

When do new episodes of Rivals season 2 come out?

After its three-episode premiere, the next three episodes of Rivals season 2 will drop on a weekly basis.

This gives us the following schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: May 22, 2026
• Episode 5: May 29, 2026
• Episode 6: June 5, 2026

However, Rivals season 2 will have 12 episodes in total, with the remaining six episodes dropping "later in the year," according to Disney+.