Larry David's petty, puerile perspective on modern life kept us laughing and cringing through 12 seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and now everyone's favourite grump has turned his neurotic lens towards American history, for seven-episode sketch show Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.

You can watch Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness online from anywhere with a VPN.

Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness follows a clever format – an alternative history of America told through Larry David gripes and faux pas – albeit one that borrows heavily from Mel Brooks vehicle History of the World.

Each episode comprises four separate sketches, a few of which have been teased in the trailer (embedded below). Larry David hijacking V-J Day celebrations for his own lustful ends looks especially promising.

Not everyone was a fan of the catchphrasing, perma-yelling Larry David of latter-day Curb, and the show didn't always benefit from its surfeit of guest cameos from the spheres of Hollywood and politics, but that seems to be the approach that Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness is taking, with Barack Obama, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Hamm, Isla Fischer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Hader, Kathryn Hahn and Vince Vaughn amongst those getting in on the action.

On the plus side, so will Curb regulars Susie Essman, Jeff Garlin and JB Smoove. Don't hold your breath for a Cheryl Hines appearance.

Read on as we explain how to watch Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness from anywhere.

Use a VPN to watch Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness from anywhere

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How to watch Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness in the US

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness premieres on HBO at 9pm ET/PT on Friday, June 26. Further episodes will go out one at a time in the same slot weekly.

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

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

Have one of these subscriptions but away when Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness is on? You can still access your usual streaming services from anywhere by using a VPN.

How to watch Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness in the UK

In the UK, Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness is exclusive to HBO Max. Episodes land each Saturday, starting June 27.

HBO Max comes free with Sky TV plans, or you can get a standalone subscription from just £5.99/month.

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

How to watch Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness in Canada

In Canada, Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness will air on Crave, going out at 9pm ET/PT on Fridays, starting June 26.

Crave plans start from $11.99 per month, with pricier tiers available if you want to ditch ads or bundle in further services like Disney+ or TSN.

Away from Canada now? Use NordVPN to watch your usual streaming service when overseas.

How to watch Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness in Australia

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness goes out on HBO Max in Australia from Saturday, June 27.

Prices start from $11.99/month and new episodes land weekly.

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

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness – Need to Know

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness trailer

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness episode guide

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness comprises seven episodes, which will air in North America on the following schedule:

• Episode 1 – Friday, June 26
• Episode 2 – Friday, July 3
• Episode 3 – Friday, July 10
• Episode 4 – Friday, July 17
• Episode 5 – Friday, July 24
• Episode 6 – Friday, July 31
• Episode 7 – Friday, August 7

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness cast

• Larry David
• Barack Obama
• Bill Hader
• Kathryn Hahn
• Jon Hamm
• Sean Hayes
• Jerry Seinfeld
• Chris Parnell
• Susie Essman
• Jane Krakowski
• Isla Fisher
• Vince Vaughn
• Rita Wilson
• Essence Atkins
• Toby Huss
• Greg Kinnear
• Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Joe Manganiello
• Alan Tudyk
• Fred Melamed
• Jeff Garlin
• JB Smoove

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

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

House of the Dragon season 3 is — if you'll forgive the pun — off to a flier. Indeed, with season 3 episode 1 getting things off to a physically and emotionally brutal start, episode 2 will examine the fallout from its forebear's events in typically melodramatic fashion.

So, when will House of the Dragon's next chapter air? And which of the world's streamers will it be released on? Warm up your scrolling finger, and read on for more details.

What time can I watch House of the Dragon season 3 episode 2?

Season 3 episode 2 will come out in North and South America on Sunday, June 28 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

"But, what about those of us who don't live on those continents?", I hear you cry. Don't worry, I've got you covered. Read the list below to learn when the Game of Thrones prequel's next installment will make its debut where you live:

• US — Sunday, June 28 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, June 28 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, June 29 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, June 29 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, June 29 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, June 29 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, June 29 at 1pm NZST

Where can I stream House of the Dragon season 3?

If you live in a country in which HBO Max has already launched, that platform will be your go-to destination for all things House of the Dragon season 3.

Fear not if one of the world's best streaming services isn't out in your neck of the woods, though, because the high fantasy show has somewhere to live where you, well, live:

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

When do new episodes of House of the Dragon season 3 come out?

Every Sunday in the Americas and every Monday in other parts of the world. That'll remain the case until this season's final episode drops in early August.

Need to know the exact dates that new chapters will be released? Check out the list below:

• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1 — out now
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 2 — June 28/29
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3 — July 5/6
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 4— July 12/13
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5 — July 19/20
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 6 — July 26/27
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 7 — August 2/3
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 8 — August 9/10

Supergirl has finally taken flight in theaters — and, if you're weighing up whether to see it, read my Supergirl review first to find out if it's worth doing so.

If you've already made up your mind about not seeing the DC Universe (DCU) movie on the big screen, though, you might be wondering when it'll be available to watch at home.

So, when might the Milly Alcock-fronted superhero film make its streaming debut? Below, I've offered my thoughts on its possible HBO Max release date, so read on to see when it might come to one of the world's best streaming services.

Does Supergirl have an HBO Max release date?

No. One of this year's many new movies only landed in theaters globally on June 26, so it'll be a while before it airs on Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) streaming platform.

That said, we can use some recent examples of WBD movies releasing on HBO Max to take an educated guess at when it may join the service's library.

For starters, Superman, the first DCU Chapter One flick, dropped on HBO Max on September 19, 2025. That means it came to the platform exactly 70 days after its initial theatrical release on July 11, 2025.

If Supergirl follows in Superman's footsteps, it would make its HBO Max bow on September 4, 2026 — but, how likely is that to happen?

Well, Warner Bros. movies that have come out this year and are now on HBO Max include Wuthering Heights, The Bride!, and They Will Kill You. Curiously, this trio all launched on the service 77 days their original theatrical release dates.

Should other films yet to launch on HBO Max, such as Mortal Kombat II and Lee Cronin's The Mummy, also arrive 77 days after their theatrical debuts, Supergirl may similarly follow this release pattern, and be available to stream at home on September 11. (NB: Lee Cronin's The Mummy is now confirmed to make its HBO Max debut on July 3, aka 77 days after its original release date).

However, considering the aforementioned date is when the 9/11 attacks, aka one of the most tragic events in US history, occurred, I'd be very surprised if the movie formerly known as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comes out on that date. My best guess, then, is that Supergirl will make its streaming bow on September 4 or 18.

What is the runtime for Supergirl?

Supergirl is one of the shortest superhero films of all time. Indeed, at just one hour and 47 minutes, Kara Zor-El's second-ever standalone film, which includes its end-credits crawl, is certainly on the punchier side.

For those of you with small bladders, though, that means you might only need to take one bathroom break during your screening, if you need to take any at all!

Does Supergirl have any end-credits scenes?

You'll need to read my Supergirl ending explained piece to find out. It goes without saying, but that article is full of spoilers, so only read it once you've seen the DCU flick.

Haven't done so yet, but want to find out more before you do? First, read up on everything you need to know about Supergirl. Then, check out my Supergirl cast and character guide to learn who's joins Alcock in DC Studios' latest film.

• The Sopranos: The Complete Series is a limited edition 4K Blu-ray release
• 86 episodes over 28 discs including 2 bonus Blu-rays
• December 2026 (US), $149.99

One of the greatest TV dramas of all time is coming to 4K Blu-ray. The Sopranos: The Complete Series box set is available for pre-order in the US and Canada, and will be released at the end of 2026.

This far from the first Sopranos box set: in addition to the DVD box set I've got on the shelf, there was a Blu-ray box in 2014, plus a 25th anniversary Blu-ray box set in 2024, which included The Many Saints of Newark as well. So this is the first time it's all available in 4K.

This edition delivers a brand new and currently untitled featurette with Sopranos creator and writer David Chase. That featurette is on one of the two bonus discs that also include hours of extra material including a two-part documentary, seven behind-the-scenes featurettes, and all of the bonus content previously released on The Sopranos: Complete Series Blu-ray release. And it's all delivered in hardcover lay-flat book packaging.

For fans of the show, this looks like the ultimate release: the best-looking, most pristine way to see one of the most influential TV shows ever.

Why The Sopranos in 4K is a must-have mafia drama

The Sopranos tells the story of depressed mob boss Tony Soprano, who's going to therapy in secret because he knows that if word gets out about his "weakness", he's a dead man walking. It's as much about family as it is about mafia families, and it features stellar performances throughout.

During its run the show amassed multiple well-deserved awards including 111 Primetime Emmy nominations and 21 wins, 5 Golden Globe awards, and Emmys for cast members James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Drea de Matteo, and Joe Pantoliano.

I'm not being hyperbolic when I tell you that The Sopranos began a golden age of TV drama. Without The Sopranos, there would be no Breaking Bad, Mad Men or any of the other premium shows we love so much.

It was pivotal in shifting the view that TV was inferior to cinema, and that our relatable protagonists couldn't be awful people. And it was really, really, really good: the writing, the performances and the cinematography were all superb.

While much of the praise for The Sopranos centers on the cast, and rightly so, the work of cinematographer Alik Sakharov was crucial too. The cinematography was groundbreaking in how it contributed to the story, and there's a fascinating article about it on No Film School. And if that's the kind of thing you find interesting, then this new 4K box set was made for you.

The Sopranos 4K Blu-ray box set has a release date of 8 December 2026 in the US and a recommended price of $149.99.

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Fans have been asking for a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory for years... but I don't think they were expecting Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.

Created by Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Prady, Kevin Sussman reprises the role of Stuart, the awkward and angsty comic book shop owner who often plays host to many classic TBBT scenes, not to mention its ever-spiralling scientific lore.

While the main season ran until 2019, Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage have taken over the reins when it comes to keeping the 'Sheldonverse' alive. Seven years later, and we're returning to the original story — only it's nothing like it, really.

In all honesty, it looks like a hilarious spoof of The Walking Dead with a comic book twist. But what do we actually know about the new HBO Max show?

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe release date

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe consists of 10 episodes, which will debut on HBO on July 23 at 9pm ET.

It will also be available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes will debut on subsequent Thursdays.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe trailer

The full trailer was released on June 23, which you can watch above. There's a bunch of direct references to classic movies, from Mad Max to Alien.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe cast

We're expecting the following main cast members to appear in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe:

• Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom / Alternate Stuart Bloom
• Brian Posehn as Bert Kibbler
• Lauren Lapkus as Denise
• John Ross Bowie as Barry Kripke / Supreme Ruler Barry Kripke
• Ryan Cartwright as Kyle
• Josh Brener as Trevor
• Tommy Walker as Gary

However, according to the synopsis (which you can read in full below), we can also expect to see some cameo appearances of alternate TBBT characters.

Annoyingly, we don't know exactly who yet. This will likely be kept under wraps until episodes air, so keep your eyes peeled.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe plot

Here's the official synopsis: "Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki), accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.

"Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert, and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke. Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well."

See what I mean about those potential cameos? A lot of TBBT lore is set to be featured here, and fan theories are already spreading across the internet like wildfire.

None of these is confirmed, however, so don't believe everything you read.

The Big Bang Theory timeline — will it cross over?

Out of the four shows that currently make up the Sheldonverse, this is the correct chronological order for them (according to time, not when they were released):

• Young Sheldon
• Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage
• The Big Bang Theory
• Stuart Fails to Save the Universe

There's currently no confirmation that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe and The Big Bang Theory will directly cross over, outside of the tipped cameos.

However, as a show with alternate realities, it is logically feasible that some of these realities just happen to be the set of TBBT, or Sheldon's childhood home in Medford, Texas. Even more so for the latter, as the set is currently being used to film Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage season 3.

We'll have to wait until the show starts airing to see if any of this is true.

• The Drama is coming to HBO Max on July 31
• The movie's streaming release follows a successful theatrical run
• The Drama received mostly positive reviews from critics

The Drama is finally coming to HBO Max, with confirmation that it will arrive on one of the best streaming services on July 31.

A24's black comedy The Drama caused quite a stir with its dramatic marketing, teasing engagement photos of Robert Pattinson and Zendaya's characters. Even before I knew what it was about, I knew it would be a must-watch.

The Drama follows Emma and Charlie, whose relationship is tested by an unexpected revelation during the week before their wedding. What follows ensures that the movie definitely lives up to its name — that's all I'll say.

What did critics say about The Drama?

The Drama received mostly positive reviews, earning a 71% Rotten Tomatoes score, and there was plenty of praise for the two leads.

According to the critics' consensus: "Flirting with complex themes, The Drama walks a tonal tightrope with impressive poise thanks to career-highlight performances by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya."

The audience score is just as favorable, with the verdict being: "Elevated by remarkable performances, The Drama wrestles with questions of trust and forgiveness, drawing out profoundly uncomfortable emotions that linger long after the credits roll."

The movie is joining an impressive line-up of A24 movies from recent releases to the studio's earlier work. If you're a fan of black comedy and drama movies, you won't want to miss The Drama.

Unfortunately, there's still a little while to wait until it arrives. But we've got you covered, as you can check out our best HBO Max movies round-up to get more recommendations for what to watch.

With Videodrome, Mulholland Drive, and Wild at Heart among my favorite movies of all time, I can't help but be tickled by the David Lynch-themed title of this week's Rick and Morty season 9 episode: Erickerhead.

A clever play on Eraserhead, we could expect the Smith family to turn their typical extraterrestrial adventures into something even more surreal. As the synopsis cryptically hints, "Rick's stomach is mad, broh. But it's all-you-can-eat-and-drink here, broh."

Truthfully, that could mean anything. But when does Rick and Morty season 9 episode 6 arrive on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

What time can I watch Rick and Morty season 9 episode 6 on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

In the US, Rick and Morty season 9 episode 6 will debut on Adult Swim on Sunday, June 28 at 8pm PT / 11pm ET.

Viewers elsewhere, as well as in the US, have two streaming options: Hulu and HBO Max. Episodes should appear on these platforms 24 hours after they've aired on Adult Swim, meaning you can expect episode 6 on Monday, June 29.

These are the timings you need to take note of:

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

When do new episodes of Rick and Morty season 9 come out?

Rick and Morty season 9 is set to have 10 episodes. As long as there are no unexpected delays, we can expect it to have the following release schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: out now
• Episode 5: out now
• Episode 6: June 28
• Episode 7: July 5
• Episode 8: July 12
• Episode 9: July 19
• Episode 10: July 26

House of the Dragon season 3 has premiered on HBO Max — and the high fantasy show's latest entry has already highlighted that nobody will be safe from this point on.

Titled 'Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood', this season's opener winds up being a blood-soaked and deadly chapter by virtue of one of the show's most brutal conflicts to date. That being the naval clash famously known as The Battle of the Gullet.

So, who perishes during House of the Dragon season 3's first major bout? And are any major characters counted among the dead? I'll answer those questions below — so, even though it goes without saying, be advised: full spoilers immediately follow for House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1.

Does Jace die in House of the Dragon's season 3 premiere?

Yes. Jace — or, to give him his full name, Jacaerys Targaryen — is the most notable casualty of this season's first installment.

Save for a couple of substantial changes from how his death plays out in Fire and Blood, aka the George R.R. Martin-penned book that House of the Dragon is based on, Jace's demise is a direct adaptation of events that occur in said novel, too.

Indeed, in the aforementioned book and TV reimagining, Jace is killed after he's shot multiple times by crossbowmen aboard one of the Triarchy's ships. That happens after his dragon Vermax crashes into the sea and drowns, and Jace — who frees himself from Vermax before it sinks beneath the waves — finds some driftwood to cling to.

The changes made to Martin's texts come in how the build-up to Jace's death is portrayed.

For starters, Fire and Blood doesn't explicitly state how or why Vermax tumbles into the sea. It states that Vermax is seen flying too close to the waves, and that it might have careened into the waters below after being injured by a ballista bolt or pulled down by a grapnel. In the HBO Max version of The Battle of the Gullet, a combination of the two — a giant crossbow bolt with a heavy stone weight attached to it by a chain — is ultimately what drags Vermax into the sea.

Events leading up to that moment are the root cause of Jace and Vermax's deaths, too, because the arrival of Rhaena Targaryen and Sheepstealer, aka the wide dragon she's been trying to tame.

In Fire and Blood, Sheepstealer is part of The Battle of the Gullet, but it's ridden by a mysterious individual known as Nettles. Incidentally, it seems showrunner Ryan Condal has combined Rhaena and Nettles into a single person for the purpose of House of the Dragon's narrative.

But I digress. After Rhaena appears to finally tame Sheepstealer earlier in the HBO Max series' season 3 premiere, the pair stumble upon The Battle of the Gullet. Seeing this as a chance to prove herself, Rhaena instructs Sheepstealer to join the fray. Unfortunately, the actually still-untamed Sheepstealer takes a bilateral approach to proceedings, and starts raining fire on the Triarchy — aka the enemy — and Velaryon ships, which is who they're supposed to protect.

Mistaking Rhaena and Sheepstealer as foes, Jace/Vermax, along with Baela Targaryen and her dragon Moondancer, move to intercept and take them out. Long story short: Jace/Vermax get so caught up in the sky-based skirmish that follows, they're oblivious to the forthcoming weighted bolt attack that'll soon take their lives.

Is the Triarchy commander Sharako Lohar dead in House of the Dragon?

Yes — and this represents another departure from Fire and Blood's depiction of The Battle of the Gullet.

'Sea and Salt, Fire and Blood' sees Lohar lose her life following a duel with Alyn of Hull, who seeks her out after what Lohar does to his estranged father and commander of the Velaryon fleet, Corlys Velaryon (more on him later). After a frantic scuffle aboard a sinking ship, Alyn eventually wins the day by fatally stabbing Lohar, and letting her body sink into the depths.

However, in Fire and Blood, Lohar not only survives The Battle of the Gullet, but is said to have won it. In the literature, Lohar is eventually murdered by a rival some years later following The Daughters' War, aka a civil war between the Triarchy's factions. With House of the Dragon not expected to cover this event as part of its overarching story, though, it makes sense for the Game of Thrones prequel to kill off Lohar during The Battle of the Gullet.

Is Corlys Velaryon, aka the Sea Snake, dead in House of the Dragon?

We don't know yet, because Corlys' fate is left unknown by the time that season 3 episode 1 ends. Indeed, after he's thrown overboard during his own clash with Lohar, we never see him again.

So, is Corlys alive or dead? I'd prefer not to ruin that surprise, dear reader. All I'll refer you to is the age-old entertainment business phrase "no body, no death" — that being, if we don't physically see someone's corpse on the screen, the chances are their time has not come yet...

What happens to Tyland Lannister and Jason Lannister in House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1?

The same principle applies to one of the Lannister twins in Tyland.

Indeed, after Lohar's flagship — aka the Bitchfist — pursues Corlys' vessel through a perilous, extremely narrow rocky passage during low tide, the former comes close to being dashed on the rocks. In a bid to reduce the Bitchfist's weight and help it float better to avoid the jagged rocks below, Lohar pushes a heavily-armored Tyland overboard. Like Corlys, then, Tyland's fate is unclear.

We can't say the same about his brother Jason, though. At the end of a Riverlands-based battle that sees Daemon Targaryen's forces triumph over Jason's, we learn the latter has been slain and beheaded by Roderick Dustin. He's the leader of the Winter Wolves, who swear their allegiance to Team Black, aka those who have sided with Rhaenyra Targaryen amid the Targaryen Civil War, otherwise known as the Dance of the Dragons.

Did you enjoy House of the Dragon season 3's opening episode? And do you think Corlys and/or Tyland are still alive or not? Let me know in the comments.

House of the Dragon has been tough going for fans of Fire & Blood, George R. R. Martin included, but two years later than expected – some would argue four – season 3 has already unleashed the spectacular Battle of the Gullet that defines the Game of Thrones prequel.

You can watch House of the Dragon season 3 online from anywhere with a VPN.

After S1, understandably, focused largely on exposition, there was uproar when, following a protracted two-year wait, fans got more of the same from S2. The strength of feeling, fortunately, wasn't lost on showrunner Ryan Condal and the cast, who have promised that course-correction is HOTD S3's primary mission.

The Battle of the Gullet, one of the bloodiest in the entire A Song of Ice and Fire series, anchors this eight-episode run, which will likely serve as the penultimate season of House of the Dragon. The sea battle, which takes place on the narrow stretch of water separating Dragonstone, Driftmark and Massey's Hook, is so wholly damaging that the best any faction can claim is a Pyrrhic victory.

Joining key players Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy), Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Daemon (Matt Smith) for S3 are the grizzled Northman Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan), leader of the Winterwolves, and Ormund Hightower (James Norton), Lord of Oldtown and the head of a vast army.

Read on as we explain how to watch House of the Dragon season 3 from anywhere.

Use a VPN to watch House of the Dragon season 3 from anywhere

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

How to watch House of the Dragon season 3 in the US

House of the Dragon season 3 premieres on HBO at 9pm ET/PT on Sunday, June 21. Further episodes will go out one at a time in the same slot weekly.

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

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

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

How to watch House of the Dragon season 3 in the UK

House of the Dragon season 3 will go out on Sky Atlantic in the UK. Note that episodes in the UK will air a day after their US release, with a first showing at 2am and then again later at 9pm on Mondays, from June 22.

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

A further way to watch House of the Dragon S3 in the UK is with a NOW Entertainment Membership from £6.99 a month.

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

How to watch House of the Dragon season 3 in Canada

In Canada, House of the Dragon season 3 will air on Crave, going out at 9pm ET/PT on Sundays, starting June 21.

Crave plans start from $11.99 per month, with pricier tiers available if you want to ditch ads or bundle in further services like Disney+ or TSN.

Away from Canada now? Use NordVPN to watch your usual streaming service when overseas.

How to watch House of the Dragon season 3 in Australia

If you're used to House of the Dragon episodes going out on Binge in Australia, it's all change for season 3. Folks Down Under now need HBO Max to tune in, with prices starting from $11.99 a month and episodes landing weekly from Monday, June 22.

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

House of the Dragon season 3 – Need to Know

House of the Dragon season 3 trailer

House of the Dragon S3 episode guide

Season 3 of House of the Dragon comprises eight episodes, which will air in North America on the following schedule:

• Episode 1: "Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood" – Sunday, June 21
• Episode 2 – Sunday, June 28
• Episode 3 – Sunday, July 5
• Episode 4 – Sunday, July 12
• Episode 5 – Sunday, July 19
• Episode 6 – Sunday, July 26
• Episode 7 – Sunday, August 2
• Episode 8 – Sunday, August 9

House of the Dragon season 3 cast

• Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
• Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
• Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
• Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole
• Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
• Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
• Jefferson Hall as Jason & Tyland Lannister
• Harry Collett as Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon
• Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
• Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
• Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
• Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
• Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
• Kurt Egyiawan as Orwyle
• Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
• Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
• Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
• Tom Bennett as Ulf White
• Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower
• Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
• Phil Daniels as Gerardys
• Max Wrottesley as Lorent Marbrand
• Nicholas Jones as Bartimos Celtigar
• Vincent Regan as Rickard Thorne
• James Norton as Ormund Hightower
• Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin
• Dan Fogler as Torrhen Manderly
• Tom Cullen as Luthor Largent
• Joplin Sibtain as Jon Roxton
• Barry Sloane as Adrian Redfort
• Annie Shapero as Alysanne Blackwood

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

The latest edition of TechRadar's streaming recommendations round-up has arrived — and it's another of those rare weeks where we've opted for eight new movies and shows instead of the usual seven.

Indeed, with so many great-looking films and TV series recently arriving (or shortly set to land) on the world's best streaming services , we really struggled to whittle down this list. Rather than us dropping a project that deserves your attention, then, we thought 'why don't we just include them all?'. In short: we did, so read on to see what's worth watching at home this weekend. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Project Hail Mary (MGM+)

Project Hail Mary, aka Amazon's hit sci-fi movie starring Ryan Gosling, has finally made its streaming debut. Curiously, though, it's not come to the company's primary streamer in Prime Video, but to its lesser cousin MGM+. No, I'm not sure why, either.

Regardless, if you missed the epic flick when it was in theaters, now's your chance to see what all of the fuss is about. Before you catch it, read my Project Hail Mary review to get the lowdown on its plot and see what I thought of it. Then, once you've streamed it, check out my Project Hail Mary ending explained piece to get answers to your biggest burning questions. — TP

• Watch Project Hail Mary on MGM+

House of the Dragon season 3 (HBO Max)

Just four months after our last visit to the Game of Thrones universe with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it's time to return to Westeros once more for House of the Dragon's third season.

There's a lot (dragon)riding on House of the Dragon season 3, too. With some fans suggesting its forebear wasn't as good as it could've been, and behind-the-scenes drama between showrunner Ryan Condal and Thrones overlord George R.R. Martin that wouldn't look out of place in the latter's high fantasy book franchise, the HBO Max TV Original's latest chapter really needs to deliver.

So, does it? Read my House of the Dragon season 3 review to find out for yourself. Once you're done, see when and where House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1 will be released where you live. — TP

• Watch House of the Dragon season 3 on HBO Max

Voicemails for Isabelle (Netflix)

Another helping of Netflix rom-coms this year? Yes please. Amazingly, this one isn't based on an existing novel, meaning Voicemails for Isabelle has already set itself apart from others already released this year.

Here's the premise: when Jill (Zoey Deutch) leaves voice messages to her deceased sister telling her about her chaotic life in San Francisco, an Austin-based real estate agent Wes (Nick Robinson) begins to receive their confessions. Lo, an unexpected romance is born.

In additional amazing news for fans of Parks and Recreation, Nick Offerman is also here randomly playing a chef. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Voicemails for Isabelle on Netflix

How to Make a Killing (HBO Max)

Black comedy movie How to Make a Killing is streaming on HBO Max this weekend. It was ultimately a flop and received a lot of criticism upon its initial theatrical release, including in my How to Make a Killing review, which is where I described it as a "rare misfire" for A24.

If you plan on watching it, though, How to Make a Killing centers around Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell), a man disowned by his wealthy family. Here, we watch as he fights back to claim his inheritance by picking them off one by one. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch How to Make a Killing on HBO Max

The Agency season 2 (Paramount+)

Paramount+'s addictive spy thriller is back and reportedly better than ever. For the uninitiated: Michael Fassbender play Brandon Colby, a spy going by the pseudonym 'Martian'.

There are plenty of tense interrogations and nail-biting scenes this time around. Season 2 picks up soon after the first's dramatic finale, and sees 'Martian' feeling the pressure after becoming a double agent for MI6. Amid all that, he's trying to manage his volatile relationship with Samia (Jodie Turner-Smith), who has been imprisoned in Sudan.

So, Martian has a lot on his plate, which is good news for us at home, because it means we're all guaranteed to be on the edge of our seats. — LB

• Watch The Agency season 2 on Paramount+

I Will Find You (Netflix)

Another Harlan Coben series landing on Netflix means that we'll be sat and locked in for the foreseeable. After Run Away melted our minds in January, I Will Find You takes the chaos and raises it with a mind-boggling child murder case.

We follow David Burroughs (Sam Worthington), who is serving a life sentence for the murder of his son, Matthew. When his ex-sister-in-law and disgraced journalist Rachel (Britt Lower) finds evidence that Matthew might still be alive, the race is on to prove David's innocence and find his son.

Expect crazy confessions and twists and turns that will leave you with whiplash... and that's just in the first episode. — JV

• Watch I Will Find You on Netflix

Your Fault: London (Prime Video)

As the latest in Prime Video's hit Your Fault movie series, the London contingent has a lot to live up to. In fact, we're picking up after the events of the previous film, with Noah (Asha Banks) and Nick (Matthew Broome) now in a full-blown relationship.

This doesn't sound too out of the ordinary... until you learn that the pair are step-siblings. Now they pursue different paths, with Nick in business and Noah at Oxford. As always, they are dealing with new relationships and secrets. Let's just hope that they're ones we can cope with. — JV

• Watch Your Fault: London on Prime Video

Sugar season 2 (Apple TV)

The effortlessly cool Sugar returns for season 2 of this Apple Original and I've certainly enjoyed my latest trip to this sunny LA location. It's stunning as ever with its signature retro vibe and our protagonist John Sugar (Colin Farrell) has brought more of his own personal demons along for the ride, too.

The life of a private investigator comes with a lot of stress, and Sugar is feeling it when the trail to track down his missing sister goes cold. So, he takes on another case to keep himself occupied, agreeing to help a boxer whose brother and trainer has also gone missing.

There are a lot more film noir references here and enough mystery to keep you interested. It's another win for Apple TV and an enjoyable love letter to Old Hollywood. If you've already seen Sugar season 1, check out my Sugar season 2 review for my full thoughts. — LB

• Watch Sugar season 2 on Apple TV

House of the Dragon is almost back for its third season. Widely expected to be the show's penultimate chapter, it'll aim to rectify the mistakes of its forebear on the action spectacle front and continue to deliver high-stakes drama aplenty as the Targaryen Civil War enters its next phase.

So, when will the Game of Thrones prequel return to our screens? Below, I've outlined when this season's premiere will air and reveal where you'll be able to catch it. Without further ado, then, here's when episode 1 of House of the Dragon season 3 will be released.

What time can I watch House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1?

House of the Dragon's season 3 will make its debut in North America at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Sunday, June 21.

Armed with the above launch times, we can also work out when this season's first episode will come out in other countries. So, read on to learn when it'll be available where you live:

• US — Sunday, June 21 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, June 21 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, June 22 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, June 22 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, June 22 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, June 22 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, June 22 at 1pm NZST

Where can I watch House of the Dragon season 3?

The high-fantasy series' next season will drop on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, where the platform is available. That includes the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand, which HBO Max recently launched in.

Don't fret if you live somewhere that this streamer isn't available, because House of the Dragon 3 is set to make its bow on numerous other services, too. Read the list below to see which platforms you'll need to tune into to watch it:

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

House of the Dragon season 3 full release schedule

After its one-episode premiere, new chapters of House of the Dragon season 3 will come out every Sunday in the Americas and every Monday in other territories. That'll be the case until this season's finale launches on August 9/10, too.

For a full rundown of the all-important release dates you need to know about, read on:

• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1 — June 21/22
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 2 — June 28/29
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3 — July 5/6
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 4— July 12/13
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5 — July 19/20
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 6 — July 26/27
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 7 — August 2/3
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 8 — August 9/10

For more coverage on the show, check out my House of the Dragon season 3 review for my thoughts on its first four episodes. Then, get the full lowdown on the show's return by reading up on everything we know so far about House of the Dragon season 3.

Light spoilers follow for House of the Dragon season 3 episodes 1 to 4.

House of the Dragon has a reputation to rebuild after its somewhat divisive second season. At watching its first four episodes, I suggested that House of the Dragon season 2 was the popular show at its "volatile, merciless, and masterful best". However, its latter chapters drew fierce fan criticism for spinning the show's narrative wheels, and a distinct lack of high-stakes, fiery action.

The high-fantasy series' latest installment, then, has the chance to set things right; and, after sitting through House of the Dragon season 3's first four entries, it goes a long way to making amends for its sluggish forebear, even if this season itself isn't beyond reproach.

Fire and ash

Just as its predecessor did after season 1's bombshell ending, House of the Dragon 3 seamlessly transitions from House of the Dragon's season 2 finale by immediately picking up where that episode left off.

Amid multiple plot threads left dangling by season 2 episode 8, this season opens with the one that saw Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) secretly make a deal that would allow Rhaenyra to fly to King's Landing, and finally claim the Iron Throne with little to no resistance. In return, Rhaenyra would grant Alicent and her daughter Halaena (Phia Saban) safe passage out of Westeros' capital city.

As the saying goes, though, the best-laid plans often go awry — and this one certainly does, in dramatic, action-packed, and ultimately fatal fashion.

Indeed, with season 2 seeing Rhaenyra instruct Ser Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) to form a blockade of King's Landing's ports to starve out the Hightowers, one of the latter's allies in House Lannister convinces the Triarchy — an Essosi naval military alliance — to align themselves with Team Green to destroy said blockade. Thus, the much-anticipated Battle of the Gullet begins.

Considering how much this sea-based conflict has been hyped up by the cast and crew pre-release, I was expecting a devastating, multi-stage set-piece to rival those of Game of Thrones' best action-heavy standalone episodes, such as 'The Watchers on the Wall' or 'The Battle of the Bastards'.

Color me disappointed, then, that this titanic clash only flaunted across the final 25 minutes of House of the Dragon 3's premiere.

That's not to say it's terrible. The Battle of the Gullet is a brutal and nerve-fraying showdown between Corlys and Triarchy commander Sharako Lohar's (Abigail Thorn) forces, and the ruinous events that occur create irreversible shockwaves that ripple out and impact every subplot and major story strand.

Nevertheless, it's not as hard-hitting as conflicts that occur in the aforementioned Thrones episodes, nor does it fully capture the unrelenting pace or futile struggle of the White Walkers' attack section of the main show's fan-favorite 'Hardhome' installment. That's partly down to this season's first major action sequence being intercut with other scenes, which disrupt its flow and dampen its explosive impact.

The Battle of the Gullet was supposed to bookend last season, but was withheld for this season's opener due to budget and time constraints. However, despite having a longer runway, and more money to do justice to this hugely significant conflict, it's not worthy of a spot in Thrones' best battles pantheon.

It's not the only action-based criticism that season 3 arguably deserves. Like the HBO Max TV series' sophomore outing, this season's first half disappointingly opts to only show us the final moments of Daemon Targaryen's (Matt Smith) ongoing crusade in the Riverlands, rather than a full battle. If House of the Dragon wants to overcome accusations of being an action-light show, it seriously needs to step things up in season 3's latter half.

Seize the throne

Thankfully, House of the Dragon 3 succeeds in other areas, including its depiction of Rhaenyra's emotional and psychological unraveling.

Given the sheer number of traumatic events she's tolerated, few viewers will be surprised by this development. Unfortunately for Rhaenyra, more heartache awaits, and one such moment early in season 3 episode 2 left me in little doubt, if any remained, that few other actors could deliver the kind of powerhouse performance and emotional gravitas that D'Arcy does in this show.

That opinion has only been further strengthened by how D'Arcy handles a grief-stricken and rage-filled Rhaenyra's not-so-subtle evolution into something of a mad queen, too. This season's third episode, an action-free, one-woman character study that might be my favorite House of the Dragon episode in a long time (which, given my earlier-outlined criticism, is something of an irony), tangibly cranks up the pressure on Rhaenyra in ways I won't spoil here, and lays the foundations for what I expect will be a full-blown breakdown in the near future.

In that regard, Rhaenyra's descent into madness will be less abrupt and abrasive than of Daenarys' similar heel-turn in the final season of House of the Dragon's parent show. Nonetheless, as much as I like her as a character, I can't wait to see how her volatile decision-making and handling of those loyal to her will come back to haunt Westeros' would-be monarch.

Enemy at the gates

This isn't simply the Rhaenyra show, though. Many other individuals — new and old alike — help to season House of the Dragon 3 with the prerequisite amount of melodramatic spice, and ensure there's plenty more delicious political scheming, and familial backstabbing and betrayals, to gorge yourself on. Suffice to say, then, there are more than enough twists and turns to keep you engaged amid the perpetual cycle of one-upmanship, and inter- and intra-familial machinations.

Of the myriad character arcs and storylines that comprise season 3, many fans may be most satisfied to hear that more tasty scenes between leading ladies Alicent and Rhaenyra await. Elsewhere, the screen-commanding Smith continues to deliver a devilishly delightful display as the unpredictable and power-hunger Daemon, whose cruelty, arrogance, and self-serving actions are, like Rhaenyra, sure to come back to bite him.

It's events surrounding Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), though, that — Rhaenyra's impending crash out notwithstanding — I've found to be this season's most intriguing subplot.

With last season's finale seeing the latter convince Westeros' physically and emotionally scarred monarch to abdicate the throne and flee King's Landing, the pair's meandering and dangerous journey isn't novel in its approach and execution. After all, we've seen similar storylines involving characters like Tyrion and Arya in the main show.

Nonetheless, by virtue of the deeply humbling quest it forces the egocentric Aegon to go on, it's yet another example of the Thrones-Verse doing what it does best; that being, making you feel sorry for characters you've actively or subconsciously detested.

Speaking of unlikeable individuals, the debut of the nefarious Ormond Hightower (James Norton) is the most noteworthy of this season's new additions.

A calculating, cunning, and smarmy tactician, Norton, who commands the most screentime of this season's newcomers, imbues Alicent's cousin with an striking obnoxiousness that'll immediately — and continue to — bother you throughout this season, especially once he lays out his daring masterplan in full. I for one can't wait to see if he spectacularly fails or somehow succeeds.

With so many characters vying for time in front of the camera, it's inevitable that some will be relegated to the sidelines.

As of season 3's midpoint, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) are the biggest casualties of the show's ever-expanding ensemble. Sure, the pair are handed moments to shine, but viewers hoping to see plenty of them in this season's first half should temper their expectations accordingly. Here's hoping they have more to do in the chapters ahead, especially if House of the Dragon 3 belatedly dials things up on the action front.

My verdict

After the fan outcry to last season's anticlimactic ending, plus the critical and commercial success that fellow Thrones offshoot A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms enjoyed earlier this year, House of the Dragon season 3 needed to step up big time — and, in some ways, it does.

As an overall package, it's certainly improved across the board but, maddeningly, still has its limitations. If this season's second half addresses its biggest issues — for starters, giving us plenty more tentpole action — then I foresee many viewers re-evaluating their overall opinion of this show. Season 2 promised plenty but largely failed to deliver on the destructive Targaryen civil war, otherwise known as the Dance of the Dragons, and I really hope that we're not sat here in a few months' time saying the same things about its follow-up.

House of the Dragon season 3 launches on Sunday, June 20 (North and South America) and Monday, June 21 (UK and everywhere else).

Any episode of Rick and Morty that involves the entire Smith family travelling through space and annoying Rick are some of the best, in my humble opinion — and this week, Rick and Morty season 9 has us covered.

According to Adult Swim, Rick, Space Beth, and normal Beth are set to team up to cure Jerry of a bizarre parasitic worm infection. We're also set to be introduced to new entity Sweet Marie, described as a "mob boss" launching the attack on the Smiths for an undisclosed reason.

If (or perhaps, when) Beth and Space Beth start arguing, this episode could be perfect in my eyes. But when does Rick and Morty season 9 episode 5 arrive on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

What time can I watch Rick and Morty season 9 episode 5 on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

In the US, Rick and Morty season 9 episode 5 will debut on Adult Swim on Sunday, June 21 at 8pm PT / 11pm ET.

Viewers elsewhere, as well as in the US, have two streaming options: Hulu and HBO Max. Episodes should appear on these platforms 24 hours after they've aired on Adult Swim, meaning you can expect episode 4 on Monday, June 22.

These are the timings you need to take note of:

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

When do new episodes of Rick and Morty season 9 come out?

Rick and Morty season 9 is set to have 10 episodes. As long as there are no unexpected delays, we can expect it to have the following release schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: out now
• Episode 5: June 21
• Episode 6: June 28
• Episode 7: July 5
• Episode 8: July 12
• Episode 9: July 19
• Episode 10: July 26

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

A Ricker Runs Through It, aka the title of the next episode of Rick and Morty season 9, is surely a play on the classic Robert Redford movie A River Runs Through It.

Right? Well, there's no official synopsis from Adult Swim as of writing, but we can expect the episode to interrogate Rick's need for extreme defense, and explore how his actions and paranoia affect the rest of the family.

Frankly, that sounds like at least one episode in every series so far (Pickle Rick, anyone?) But it's anybody's guess. So when does Rick and Morty season 9 episode 4 arrive on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

What time can I watch Rick and Morty season 9 episode 4 on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

In the US, Rick and Morty season 9 episode 4 will debut on Adult Swim on Sunday, June 14 at 8pm PT / 11pm ET.

Viewers elsewhere, as well as in the US, have two streaming options: Hulu and HBO Max. Episodes should appear on these platforms 24 hours after they've aired on Adult Swim, meaning you can expect episode 4 on Monday, June 15.

These are the timings you need to take note of:

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

When do new episodes of Rick and Morty season 9 come out?

Rick and Morty season 9 is set to have 10 episodes. As long as there are no unexpected delays, we can expect it to have the following release schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: June 14
• Episode 5: June 21
• Episode 6: June 28
• Episode 7: July 5
• Episode 8: July 12
• Episode 9: July 19
• Episode 10: July 26

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

You'd think last week's vacation would possibly put Rick in a better mood but, with Rick and Morty season 9 episode 3 just around the corner, don't hold your breath for a spot of calm.

In episode 2, we were introduced to Rick's alternate persona on yet another planet, called Ted. He's got no memories of Rick's life, so seems like the perfect vessel for Rick to try and switch off for once. Does this go according to plan? No — but even I couldn't have guessed that his next adventure would be to a Trader Joe's (I'm not joking).

Regardless, when does Rick and Morty season 9 episode 3 arrive on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

What time can I watch Rick and Morty season 9 episode 3 on Adult Swim, Hulu, and HBO Max?

Rick and Morty season 9 episode 3 will debut on Adult Swim on Sunday, June 7 at 8pm PT/11pm ET.

As for streamers, you've got two choices: Hulu and HBO Max. Episodes should appear on these platforms 24 hours after they've aired on Adult Swim, meaning you can expect episode 3 on Monday, June 8. Additionally, you'll need to look out for these timings:

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

When do new episodes of Rick and Morty season 9 come out?

Rick and Morty season 9 is set to have 10 episodes. As long as there are no unexpected delays, we can expect it to have the following release schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: June 7
• Episode 4: June 14
• Episode 5: June 21
• Episode 6: June 28
• Episode 7: July 5
• Episode 8: July 12
• Episode 9: July 19
• Episode 10: July 26

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

• HBO Max's new "coming soon" trailer has revealed the first look at The Gilded Age season 4
• George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha (Carrie Coon) are seen happy together despite huge season 3 blowout
• Peggy (Denée Benton) and William (Jordan Donica), and Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry (Harry Richardson) are also seen

HBO Max has released its 2026 "coming soon" trailer, teasing releases for late 2026, including the Harry Potter TV series, Lanterns, and The Gilded Age season 4. You can catch up with the full thing below.

While we've already seen previews of the first two titles, this is the first time we've had a first look at new episodes of The Gilded Age, and there's something immediately intriguing.

Across just a few seconds of footage, we see newly separated couple George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha (Carrie Coon) dancing at a ball, joined by younger couples Peggy (Denée Benton) and William (Jordan Donica), and Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry (Harry Richardson).

The pair's marriage broke down at the end of season 3, suggesting that Bertha was about to re-enter society as a single lady. The official season 4 synopsis also suggests this, reading, "Bertha Russell changed Society at a cost. Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn seizes an opportunity to regain her position.

"Meanwhile, Marian forges a new path for herself, and Peggy works to be accepted by her future in-laws. In this new era, you must be careful what you wish for.”

The Gilded Age season 4's so-called "consequences" align with her singlehood — and together with what we learned in season 3, I think that HBO Max's first look could be a case of fake news.

Opinion: George and Bertha's reunion in The Gilded Age season 4 first look could easily be a flashback

There's a lot of talk about George and Bertha's split-second reunion, but why is nobody considering that it could be a flashback? It would be far too easy — and nonsensical — for the pair to play happily families as soon as season 4 kicks off, so perhaps Bertha is remembering happier times as she faces new challenges on the social circuit.

Let's revisit what happened between them at the end of season 3. Once George is well enough to function after surviving an attempted assassination in the penultimate episode, he promptly tells his wife Bertha that he’s not sure if he loves her or trusts her. He leaves for New York without so much as an amicable word between them.

The big twist is that Bertha is potentially left as a single spinster while achieving her big mission of having Royalty in her bloodline thanks to Gladys (Taissa Farmiga). Having Bertha's singledom as the show's biggest hook leading into season 4 means it's not going to be abandoned in the foreseeable future.

With The Gilded Age season 4 now confirmed to have a release date window of late 2026, we'll hopefully get a full season trailer, which could confirm George and Bertha's fate, in the next few months.

What will you miss most about Hacks? Ava (Hannah Einbinder) is furthering the queer agenda? Deborah's (Jean Smart) sharp tongue? Or the fact that Meg Stalter won't be as ever-present in our minds unless you're chronically on Instagram?

Regardless, Hacks season 5 is going down in a blaze of glory. Last week, we saw Deborah on a 'non-press tour press tour' — and by that I mean that she appeared everywhere she could without explicitly promoting her Madison Square Gardens show.

My personal favorite was appearing on a social media mukbang with Trisha Paytas after they made friends in episode 5's version of The Amazing Race.

Now, we're getting ready to tune in for one last time. But when is Hacks season 5 episode 10 dropping on HBO Max?

What time can I watch Hacks season 5 episode 10 on HBO Max?

For US viewers, Hacks season 5 episode 10 will drop on Thursday, May 28, at 9 pm ET.

Internationally, you're looking out for these timings:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 29 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 29 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 29 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 29 at 12pm NZDT

In the UK, Hacks season 5 is running a week behind elsewhere on Sky and NOW TV, having started on April 17. There's currently no confirmation on when it will come to HBO Max UK.

When do new episodes of Hacks season 5 come out?

Hacks season 5 is back to its weekly scheduling following double-episode drops on April 30 and May 7.

This gives 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: out now
• Episode 7: out now
• Episode 8: out now
• Episode 9: out now
• Episode 10: May 28

When it comes to viral true crime documentaries, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace — which followed Ukrainian adoptee Natalia being falsely accused of pretending to be a child by multiple families — is the sub-genre's Mount Everest.

Now, the same production team behind it is bringing you a new binge: The Many Lives of Benjaman Kyle, coming to ID across a two-night event, and HBO Max shortly after.

Yes, I promise you that I've spelled Benjaman correctly in this case. Back in 2004, a man was found naked in a dumpster behind a Burger King in Georgia, and when assistance arrived, it seemed as though he had total amnesia, meaning he couldn't remember his past. Without a name or any form of identification, he named himself Benjaman Kyle.

Husband and wife production team Shannon and Eric Evangelista got wind of the story and quickly became "obsessed" with it, as Shannon reveals in the opening scenes. They began to work directly with Benjaman, and FBI agent Ken Maxwell, in 2014, trying to rediscover his past. Only nothing was as it seemed.

The more that Benjaman's amnesia didn't seem legitimate, the more our trio felt as though he actually had complete mental faculties but was instead trying to run from his past. No spoilers here, but "Benjaman" is actually William Burgess Powell... and boy, does he have a past worth running away from.

There are so many twists and turns that you'll binge the docuseries' four episodes without even blinking. With Shannon, Eric, and Ken regularly on camera, things turn ugly, but Shannon still has no regrets about being left "in tears."

'I wondered if I was going to live out my life in fear, pretending everything was okay'

"Fitting 11 years into four hours is next to impossible," Shannon begins. "So during that timeline, that threat was probably around 2021 at the time."

What threat, you ask? The Many Lives of Benjaman Kyle opens with Shannon in tears, claiming that somebody who has been trying to shut down production of the documentary — thanks to what she has learned about Powell's past — has found out about her two children and their nanny, making veiled threats about them.

By the end of the series, it's implied that Powell himself could have been behind the threatening call we hear play out during episode 4. This remains unconfirmed.

"There were moments I deeply regretted this, and I just felt like I was never going to feel normal again. That I was going to live out my life in fear, looking out of the window, and having no peace of mind. Now, I just have to believe that there's a reason this all happened. I think I'm a firm believer in that."

Watching the episodes, the amount of detective work that Shannon, Eric, and Ken each put in is nothing short of remarkable, fashioning an entire life out of nothing (literally). They're even applauded for their efforts by the local sheriff's office.

By the time The Many Lives of Benjaman Kyle ends, it's 2021, meaning that five years have passed since we last heard anything about William Powell. So what's the best-case scenario from here?

"More episodes and answers," Shannon responds. "Going into a new season with people that recognize him and them giving us information."

Maxwell adds, "We're hoping so, because the mystery is still there. Where was this man between January of 1983 and August of 2004 when he was found lying naked behind a Burger King in Georgia? There's a big gap of time there.

"We're really hoping that these four episodes open the eyes of many people in a number of ways, not the least of which is to generate new leads for us that we may be able to fill in the other missing pieces to the puzzle about Benjaman Kyle/William Powell's life."

There are very few TV shows that have made me so uncomfortable that I could never bear to watch them again, but Richard Gadd's Half Man is easily one of them.

What's more, we've known from the moment episode 1 began that 30 years of heartbreak, grief and abhorrent behavior would lead to a showdown between adult Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Gadd). The standoff at Niall's wedding has been teased for five weeks now, and it's time to see exactly what went down.

I know I won't be able to watch properly when it happens, but when will Half Man episode 6 be released on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

What time can I watch Half Man episode 6 on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

Let's take the HBO Max schedule first. Half Man episode 6 hits HBO Max on May 28.

We can assume the following times from shows such as Hacks and The Pitt:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 29 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 29 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 29 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 29 at 12pm NZDT

For the UK, Half Man episode 6 will be premiering on BBC iPlayer on May 29 at 6am BST.

When can I watch new episodes of Half Man?

Regardless of which streamer you're tuning in on, Half Man's six episodes will be released 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: out now
• Episode 6: May 28/29

• Watch Rick & Morty S9 for free via YouTube TV free trial (US only)
• Abroad? Watch YouTube TV anywhere with NordVPN
• Episode 6 premiere: Sunday, June 28 at 11pm ET/PT (US & Canada)

Portal-jump back into the Morty-verse for Rick and Morty season 9, which continues this weekend with episode 6, titled "Erickerhead". Per the synopsis: "Rick's stomach is mad, bro; but it's all-you-can-eat-and-drink here, bro!"

The madcap irreverence that earned Rick and Morty such a huge and loyal following in the first place is still very much the backbone of the show, although there's been far more emphasis on lore in season 9, as such that the relatively self-contained Rick Fu Hustle felt like an aberration rather than a reversion to the mean.

Fans hoping to see more of an overarching storyline may be disappointed, although there are signs that poor Morty's deeply held sadness and exasperation are building towards something. There are introspective elements to some of this season's sci-fi adventures too, which feel like an attempt to humanise Rick.

If you've never watch the series before, now's as good a time as any to get into it, with a feature film and a spinoff series, titled President Curtis, each on the way.

Read on as we explain how to watch Rick and Morty season 9 from anywhere and potentially for free.

Use a VPN to watch Rick and Morty season 9 from anywhere

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

How to watch Rick and Morty season 9 in the US

Rick and Morty season 9 premiered on Adult Swim at 11pm ET/PT on Sunday, May 24. Further episodes will go out one at a time in the same slot weekly.

If you don't have the channel on cable, it's available through YouTube TV, which normally costs $82.99/month but comes with a 21-day FREE trial and $15 off each of your first five months.

Hulu+Live TV and the DirecTV Stream MyEntertainment Genre Pack will let you tune in too.

Have one of these subscriptions but away when Rick and Morty S9 is on? You can still access your usual streaming services from anywhere by using a VPN.

How to watch Rick and Morty season 9 in the UK

If you're used to Rick and Morty episodes going out on free-to-air E4 in the UK, it's all change for season 9, which – at least initially – is exclusive to HBO Max.

New episodes become available every Monday, starting May 25.

HBO Max prices starts at £5.99/month, though it comes bundled with all Sky TV plans.

At the time of writing it isn't clear if Rick and Morty season 9 will also air on E4. S8 landed a week after its US premiere.

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

How to watch Rick and Morty season 9 in Canada

In Canada, Rick and Morty season 9 airs on Adult Swim, going out at 11pm ET/PT on Sundays, starting May 24.

Cord cutters can tune in via Stack TV, which carries a number of channels, including Adult Swim, Global TV and National Geographic, and is available via Prime Video, Fubo and more. It’s free to Prime Video subscribers for the first seven days and CA$14.99/month thereafter.

Away from Canada now? Use NordVPN to watch your usual streaming service when overseas.

How to watch Rick and Morty season 9 in Australia

Rick and Morty season 9 premiered on Monday, May 25 on HBO Max in Australia.

A subscription starts at AU$11.99/month.

Outside Australia? Aussies away from home can use a VPN to unblock HBO Max and watch Rick and Morty S9 as they would at home.

Rick and Morty season 9 – Need to Know

Rick and Morty season 9 trailer

Rick and Morty S9 episode guide

Season 9 of Rick and Morty comprises 10 episodes, which will air in North America on the following schedule:

• Episode 1: "There's Something About Morty" – Sunday, June 24
• Episode 2: "Ricks Days, Seven Nights" – Sunday, June 31
• Episode 3: "Rick Fu Hustle" – Sunday, July 7
• Episode 4: "A Ricker Runs Through It" – Sunday, July 14
• Episode 5: "Jer Bud" – Sunday, June 21
• Episode 6: "Erickerhead" – Sunday, June 28
• Episode 7: "MortGully: The Last Rickforest" – Sunday, July 5
• Episode 8: "Rickuiem Mort a Dream" – Sunday, July 12
• Episode 9: "Salute Your Morts" – Sunday, July 19
• Episode 10: "Field of Dreams" – Sunday, July 26

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

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

If you're a fan of all things gothic like me, you'll want to head to HBO Max to check out Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride! as it makes its streaming debut on May 22.

At first glance, The Bride! does seem like a disappointment. It didn't perform well at the box office, making $24 million against its $80–90 million budget. But honestly, I'd argue that's why you should give it a chance. In my eyes, it's criminally underrated, and a streaming home might give it an extra boost.

As someone who also loved Netflix's Frankenstein, I'm always keen to see fresh interpretations of the classic story. Here, it's set against a 1930s backdrop in Chicago, nothing like the European setting of the original source material. But somehow it really works.

In defense of The Bride!

When a movie gets mixed reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, there are plenty of polar opposite takes about whether or not it's any good. At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide your own opinion, but perhaps I can convince you to spend an evening watching The Bride!

First off, it's got two incredible leads. Jessie Buckley plays a dual role of The Bride and Mary Shelley's ghost, while Christian Bale is Frank (yes, that's short for Frankenstein's monster). They really give their all to this movie, supported by an equally star-studded cast like Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penelope Cruz.

If you like an ensemble, you'll find it here, and these weird and wonderful gothic characters are all set against a stunning 30s backdrop with enviable costume design. It's a visual treat, that much is sure. It's also very unique, mirroring the just as divisive Wuthering Heights, which got a poor review from us for being too bland.

Thankfully, The Bride! doesn't suffer from this problem and makes great use of its 2-hour runtime. There's plenty of spectacle and drama to enjoy here, and when you've got an atmospheric, retro Hildur Guðnadóttir soundtrack running through it, those scenes become even better. There are even a few featuring Jake Gyllenhaal singing, if that sweetens the deal.

I do worry that The Bride! had been unfairly judged, and all of the above just proves how much love went into the Shelley-inspired project. Indeed, if you view it as being "inspired by" rather than expecting a straight adaptation, you might be surprised how much you actually enjoy it.

Deborah (Jean Smart) is only one week away from disappearing from the public eye forever, and she needs to sell out Madison Square Gardens in order to fulfill her final career goal.

I'm still not over the kiss scene in season 5 episode 7, but sadly, we've got to move on from that. I mean, how do you even promote a comedy show without explicitly saying anything about it, anyway?

With two episodes left to go, the lawsuit against Deborah is more of a nightmare than ever. But when is Hacks season 5 episode 9 dropping on HBO Max?

What time can I watch Hacks season 5 episode 9 on HBO Max?

For US viewers, Hacks season 5 episode 9 will drop on Thursday, May 21, at 9 pm ET.

Internationally, you're looking out for these timings:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 22 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 22 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 22 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 22 at 12pm NZDT

In the UK, Hacks season 5 is running a week behind elsewhere on Sky and NOW TV, starting on April 17. There's currently no confirmation on when it will come to HBO Max UK.

When do new episodes of Hacks season 5 come out?

Hacks season 5 is back to its weekly scheduling following double-episode drops on April 30 and May 7.

This gives 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: out now
• Episode 7: out now
• Episode 8: out now
• Episode 9: May 21
• Episode 10: May 28

It's only a matter of time before things turn fatal for tortured brothers Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Richard Gadd) — and with two episodes of Half Man left, we're a whisker away from finding out.

So far, Ruben has tried to play the legal system to get off of beating Alby (Bilal Hasna) to near death during Niall's university days, Ruben is now out of prison as an adult, claiming to have changed for the better.

But as we well know, appearances can be deceiving. But when will Half Man episode 5 be released on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

What time can I watch Half Man episode 5 on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

Let's take the HBO Max schedule first. Half Man episode 5 hits HBO Max on May 21.

We can assume the following times from shows such as Hacks and The Pitt:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 22 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 22 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 22 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 22 at 12pm NZDT

For the UK, Half Man episode 5 will be premiering on BBC iPlayer on May 22 at 6am BST.

When can I watch new episodes of Half Man?

Regardless of which streamer you're tuning in on, Half Man's six episodes will be released 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 21/22
• Episode 6: May 28/29

• HBO has released a fresh trailer for Lanterns
• The new teaser is more vibrant and action-packed than its forebear
• DC Studios' latest TV show will premiere in mid-August

HBO has unveiled a new trailer for Lanterns — and it seems DC Studios has taken on board the concerns that fans expressed following its inaugural teaser.

After the release of Lanterns' first trailer, some viewers reacted negatively to its sterile color palette, confusion over its story, and other hype-killing qualities. The HBO Max TV Original's latest round of footage, then, appears to be a direct response to those criticisms, with its bright and comic book-style visuals, narrative thrust, and thrilling action-heavy sequences aiming to restore fans' faith in the forthcoming DC Universe (DCU) project.

Lanterns' latest teaser comes just over two weeks after HBO confirmed the next DCU TV show would launch on August 16/17. Days before its premiere date was announced, an ominous new poster and tagline for Lanterns also teased a potentially dark fate for one of its main characters — a theory that this Green Lantern production's latest teaser doesn't exactly pour cold water on.

We won't know whether that fan theory was correct until the Aaron Pierre- and Kyle Chandler-led HBO Max TV series is out in full. Nonetheless, there are things we already know about the DC comic book show's plot, including some intriguing fresh details about how its story will pan out.

What do we know so far about Lanterns' story?

For starters, here's the official logline for the DCU Chapter One project: "Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart (Pierre) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland."

Not much to go on there. However, thanks to a recent interview that co-showrunner Chris Mundy conducted with Entertainment Weekly (EW), we've also learned that, among other things, Lanterns will span two timelines that dovetail and intersect through its eight-episode run.

The first, which is set in 2016, will revolve around a shooting in the town of Rushville, Nebraska. Meanwhile, the other takes place in 2026, aka the DCU's present, and sees Jordan continue to mentor Stewart as they attempt to solve the crime outlined in the story synopsis, which may — or may not — tie back to events a decade earlier. As Mundy teases: "Eventually, two different mysteries get worked out over the course of the show."

As for other plot-based information, Mundy has previously described Lanterns as being "as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show" and goes into more detail in the aforementioned EW article, which includes mild spoilers surrounding its possible villain and other character appearances.

I won't discuss those here in case you don't want anything ruined in advance. If you're not bothered about spoilers and/or curious about learning more about the series, though, my guide on everything we know so far about Lanterns should be your next port of call.

It only took two weeks, before things are finally starting to look up for May 2026 on the world's best streaming services.

Indeed, after the recent dearth of new movies and TV shows, we've been treated to something of a deluge over the last few days. By my count, there have been 21 (!) new releases — and, while it would be fun to include them all in our latest streaming round-up, we've stuck to the usual format and compiled a list of the seven biggest ones of the week.

So, read on to find out what's made it into yet another TV series-heavy edition of our 'what to watch' list — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

The Punisher: One Last Kill (Disney+)

"One batch, two batch, penny and dime...". It's about time that The Punisher was the star of his own Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project — and that time is now.

The latest MCU character to get the Disney+ TV special treatment, The Punisher: One Last Kill reunites us with the titular anti-hero following his prison break in Daredevil: Born Again's season 1 finale. Judging by One Last Kill's trailer — and its subtitle — we'll see Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle embark on another personal crusade to deal with another individual who wants him dead, too.

Already watched this Marvel Phase 6 Special Presentation and want to know how it impacts the MCU's immediate future? My The Punisher: One Last Kill ending explained article should be your next port of call. — TP

• Watch The Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+

Devil May Cry season 2 (Netflix)

Devil May Cry's animated adaptation was a huge hit for Netflix, and now it's back and bigger than ever with its sequel season.

Devil May Cry season 2 doesn't waste any time throwing us straight into the action. Here, we see Dante and Vergil’s anticipated reunion, with their conflict making up much of the story. Dante's already got his hands full trying to prevent Hell on Earth from literally occurring without all the family drama but, hey, it's exciting for us to watch.

Those hoping for more 2000s nostalgia will be pleased, too, as there's an all-new soundtrack featuring rock legends like Papa Roach and Amy Lee from Evanescence. It's undoubtedly one of the coolest shows streaming right now. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Devil May Cry season 2 on Netflix

Off Campus (Prime Video)

The minute that critics said that Off Campus was less like Heated Rivalry and more like "frat bro Bridgerton," I was all in. Based on the hit books by Elle Kennedy, this Amazon TV Original follows an elite ice hockey team and the women in their lives, as they grapple with love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.

It's the perfect balance of horny and wholesome that Prime Video keeps nailing in its young adult dramas, which means it's perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and Maxton Hall.

What's more, Off Campus has already been renewed for season 2, so it's well worth your investment in this hot and heavy eight-episode binge. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Off Campus on Prime Video

Dutton Ranch (Paramount+)

Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler are back, baby! Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch follows the pair's relocation to Texas, taking over a small ranch that directly competes with 10 Petal, aka the local town's cattle empire run by Beulah Jackson, who's a woman Beth aptly describes as a "grizzly in Gucci." Not only do the pair go head to head, but the more that Beth and Rip settle into Texan life, the more problems they unearth.

A cross between Landman and The Madison in tone, Dutton Ranch doesn't completely neglect its Yellowstone roots — watch out for some obvious John Dutton mentions in episode 1 onwards. Before you dive in, read my Dutton Ranch review, too. -— JV

• Watch Dutton Ranch on Paramount+

The Testament of Ann Lee (Disney+)

Following its Hulu release earlier this year, this Amanda Seyfried-led historical musical drama is now available internationally on Disney+.

In it, Seyfried plays the titular character, who was the founding leader of the Shakers religious sect in the 18th century. Lee's religious movement focused on communal living, celibacy, gender equality, and functional, simple furniture. Song and dance were a huge part of their meetings, meaning this flick is the perfect way to depict Lee's life and the religious beliefs she shared with others.

Based on its 86% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, it seems viewers have been charmed by Ann Lee's story. Maybe you will be, too? — LB

• Watch The Testament of Ann Lee on Disney+

On the Roam season 2 (HBO Max)

Ever wanted to go road tripping with Jason Momoa? Now you can. After a two year hiatus, the star is back traveling once again via his HBO Max docuseries On the Roam.

Like last time, Momoa is taking a break from making movies to meet a new line up of artists and creatives, where he gets an in-depth look at their process and asks plenty of questions.

This season, we'll see Momoa meeting with Julian Schnabel, director of Basquiat, punk rock band The Bobby Lees, and Metallica legend Kirk Hammett. Episodes are released every Thursday, making it something you can look forward to each week. — LB

• Watch On the Roam season 2 on HBO Max

Rivals season 2 (Hulu/Disney+)

You know what we're missing from this lineup? An old school bonkbuster. Luckily, Rivals season 2 is on hand to fill the gap. Picking up shortly after its predecessor, though, our Rutshire ensemble's collective horniness has turned somewhat sour.

Cameron is lying low after being convinced she's killed her boss Tony after she battered him with a TV award in self-defense. Meanwhile, Lizzie and Freddie are desperately trying to hide their feelings for one another, and Sarah is trying to climb the ranks at Tony's Corinium TV station.

It's all a bit less steamy, but the stakes continue to be raised. We've only got the first three episodes (read my Rivals season 2 review on them while you're here) to stream at this stage, so keep your eyes peeled for the rest later this year. — JV

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

If you've been on social media this week, you might have seen the controversy surrounding Demi Moore's comments about AI in the entertainment industry, which she made at the Cannes Film Festival.

The actress, who's part of this year's festival jury, said during a press conference that, "Against-ness breeds against-ness. AI is here. So to fight it is to fight a battle that we will lose. So to find ways that we can work with it is a valuable path that we can take."

The above clip quickly went viral, dividing fan opinion over whether actors should or shouldn't endorse something that could change the face of the industry as we know it.

One X/Twitter user replied, "I’m so done with the 'it’s here' argument. 'It’s here' is utterly meaningless. You don’t aid and abet widely destructive tech just by virtue of it BEING HERE."

Another agreed, "AI is not inevitable. Anyone who says it is has a financial stake in its success and is trying to see a return on their investment."

In truth, no matter how Moore might have responded to the question, it probably would have got a significant amount of backlash.

But for those who are watching AI's increasing inclusion in TV and film with trepidation, last week's episode of Hacks season 5 offered up the perfect response before Moore even touched down on French soil.

Hacks season 5 episode 6 addressed the AI vs. film industry debate head-on with this exceptional monologue

In the above scene, Deborah (Jean Smart) is trying to complete the random side quest of investing in a hotel on the Vegas strip. But when she finally finds funding for it, there's a massive trade-off.

Potential investor Graham Sweeney (Alex Moffat) wants Deborah to incorporate QuikScribbl, an "LLM generative AI model that will help people present the most optimized, funniest, smartest versions of themselves."

For Ava (Hannah Einbinder) who is listening to the proposal, Graham's request goes completely against her moral ethics. Luckily for us, that translates into a breathtaking monologue that deftly sums up 2020s problems.

Graham feeds Ava a version of the same line we heard Moore say at the press conference, telling her "AI is here to stay, so you either get on board or get left in the past."

"See, that is a big part of why I hate it," Ava responds. "This forced inevitability. People are always saying it's happening whether you like it or not. But you're the ones making it happen and you could easily stop it if people could say that they didn't want it.

"But you don't want to give anybody a choice, so you say 'oh, the train is already on the tracks.' And you don't let people decide for themselves."

It's powerful stuff, and is propped up by Deborah's take on AI in comedy later on in the episode. "Every time that joke didn't work, not only did I make it better, but I became a comedian — because to become one, you have to do it and fail over and over again," she explains to Graham later about her past material.

When he responds that he's just "trying to make her life easier" with QuikScribbl, she responds "but it shouldn't be. Why are you trying to optimize the creative process? That's one of the things we've actually figured out, we're good there."

As one of the only TV shows on a main streaming service that is taking an actively loud stance against AI, Hacks season 5 episode 6 gives us a lot of food for thought. One thing's for sure: when the show ends for good in a few weeks time, we're going to miss challenging storylines like these.

• The Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe drops first teaser trailer, confirming release date on HBO Max as July 23
• Stars Kevin Sussman (Stuart), Lauren Lapkus (Denise), Brian Posehn (Bert) and John Ross Bowie (Barry)
• Synopsis hints that "alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory" will appear

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe isn't The Big Bang Theory spinoff that anybody expected, but now that HBO Max has revealed its first teaser trailer, it's safe to say that fans are impressed.

Debuting on July 23, Kevin Sussman reprises his role as Stuart, the local comic book store owner that Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and the gang loved to visit.

This time around, we see him with girlfriend Denise (Lauren Lapkus), and friends Bert ( Brian Posehn) and Barry (John Ross Bowie).

As the title suggests, Stuart is thrown head-first into a mission to save the universe, which includes alternative timelines that look a little like something from The Walking Dead.

But alongside threading through Sheldon's existing wormhole lore from TBBT, there's something in the Stuart Fails to Save the Universe synopsis that hints we could be seeing more familiar faces than just those I've already listed.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe synopsis hints 'alternate universe' Big Bang Theory characters are coming

Here's the full HBO Max synopsis: "Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon. Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert, and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke.

"Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well."

It's this last line that's a clever hook. The new TV show hints that any number of classic TBBT characters could have a cameo appearance throughout the series, including Sheldon and Leonard. But HBO Max is shrewdly being non-committal to just who might turn up by keeping its wording intentionally vague.

"Are you telling me Sheldon's wormhole prank on Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) came true?!!!!" one YouTube comment reads.

A second weighs in "I think it’s a mix from the episode with the fake wormhole and the one when Leonard opens meteorite and Stuart goes crazy about it. Either way it’s very cool!"

"That would be a hilarious plot twist. I really hope the writers had that in mind," a third agrees, with another adding "This has got to be the most genius way to do a spinoff ever!"

The proof will be in the alternate universe pudding come July 23, but I'd put good money on Sheldon and Leonard cameos being high priority.

Have you come down from the high that was last week's episode of Hacks season 5? I surely haven't.

Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) fulfilled our wildest fan-fiction dreams by making out for a full 10 seconds, even if it was just for show.

However, the silly romance plot might have revealed a worrying Chekhov's Gun (i.e., something introduced that has its significance revealed at a later date) in Deborah's health, something she's been hiding from Ava.

But let's not worry about that just yet. With three episodes left to go, when is Hacks season 5 episode 8 dropping on HBO Max?

What time can I watch Hacks season 5 episode 8 on HBO Max?

For US viewers, Hacks season 5 episode 8 will drop on Thursday, May 14, at 9 pm ET.

Internationally, you're looking out for these timings:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 15 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 15 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 15 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 15 at 12pm NZDT

In the UK, Hacks season 5 is running a week behind elsewhere on Sky and NOW TV, starting on April 17. There's currently no confirmation on when it will come to HBO Max UK.

When do new episodes of Hacks season 5 come out?

Hacks season 5 is back to its weekly scheduling following double-episode drops on April 30 and May 7.

This gives 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: out now
• Episode 7: out now
• Episode 8: May 14
• Episode 9: May 21
• Episode 10: May 28

Who else is feeling physically sick every time they tune into Half Man? That's testament to Richard Gadd's incredible character creation, but my word is Ruben absolutely vile.

As we're finding out, the show follows brothers Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Gadd) through 30 years of their lives, exploring the highs and lows of their turbulent relationship. Frankly, "lows" is putting things politely.

Things will probably get worse than what we've already seen. But when will Half Man episode 4 be released on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

What time can I watch Half Man episode 4 on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

Let's take the HBO Max schedule first. Half Man episode 4 hits HBO Max on May 14.

We can assume the following times from shows such as Hacks and The Pitt:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 15 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 15 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 15 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 15 at 12pm NZDT

For the UK, Half Man episode 4 will be premiering on BBC iPlayer on May 15 at 6am BST.

When can I watch new episodes of Half Man?

Regardless of which streamer you're tuning in on, Half Man's six episodes will be released 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 14/15
• Episode 5: May 21/22
• Episode 6: May 28/29

• Rooster season 2 could arrive within a year
• The show's creator Bill Lawrence revealed all during an IGN interview
• The first four episodes are already "broken", according to Lawrence

Rooster season 2 could arrive sooner than I'd anticipated, according to a new interview with the show's creators Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses. Considering I gave Rooster season 1 a positive review, I'm very excited about new episodes. This news comes after the season 1 finale, which dropped yesterday (May 10).

We've seen some big gaps between seasons across many of the best streaming services, but apparently HBO Max is keen to get more episodes out as soon as possible.

Speaking exclusively to IGN, Lawrence told the site: "We’ve broken the first four episodes. We’re doing 10, and HBO wants it on within a year or less. They’ve got us grinding, so we’ve been at it for a while.”

It seems like Lawrence and Tarses have got this covered, though; because they were anticipating a renewal, they intentionally left the season finale in a place where they could expand on things for season 2 — which has now been confirmed.

“We were feeling pretty confident because the show premiered really well,” Lawrence explained. “[There were three] things that we kept [in the finale] that we knew we wanted to do at the start."

What else do we know about Rooster season 2?

Right now it seems like plenty of fan favorites are set to return for Rooster season 2, so we haven't seen the last of the main cast including Steve Carell and Charly Clive.

In particular, John C. McGinley, who plays Ludlow College president Walter Mann, is set to return. Considering he delivered a standout performance in my opinion, I am certainly relieved.

Tarses reassured fans, saying: "He’s a regular. Next semester is a transition semester... so [Walt] talks about his swan song with Greg. He’s going to be dealing with this new situation and Greg's going to help him through it as we go forward. It would be mean of us to just send him away.”

Elsewhere, the creators teased there's lots more drama to come and we also might see even more characters added for season 2, given the scale of the college.

“It was an embarrassment of riches,” Tarses explained. “With all these [college] kids [and everyone else]. “So I want all those people [back for Season 2]. The regular characters too.”

It definitely feels like Rooster is ripe for season 2, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Already finished Beef season 2? Me too. But, fear not, if you're left wishing you hadn't binge-watched the iconic Netflix show's latest tumultuous season quickly, there are plenty more shows I'm happy to recommend watching next.

Beef season 2 picked up on an entirely new storyline to season 1, prompted by fresh 'beef' between country club couple Josh (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), who have some... issues. Yes, I'm putting that lightly.

As an anthology series, it's possible you haven't even watched season 1 yet, starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, but you don't need to jump in there first.

There's no official word on a Beef season 3 yet, though the show's creator, Lee Sung Jin, told Esquire, "Never say never".

So, for now, if you're on the hunt for more shows that give off that high-stakes, stressful, and toxic (with a little fun) aura, I'd recommend these six absorbing shows to watch next.

The White Lotus

Like Beef season 2, The White Lotus also follows the twisted lives of rich (and not-so-rich) individuals. Only in the hit HBO Max show are they on vacation.

That certainly doesn’t stop the drama from following them, though, and it also doesn’t prevent an eerily dark vein from lacing its way through everything that unfolds.

The two are weirdly similar in tone, keeping you on the edge of your seat, unsettled and waiting to see what happens next. Which, in every episode, is pretty unpredictable. If you feel like bad things might unravel in The White Lotus, you’re probably right.

Similarly to Beef, it's an alternative take on an anthology series, as a different resort providing the luxurious backdrop for the show's three seasons and counting (here's everything we know so far about The White Lotus season 4).

The critical eyes among us will spot a couple of recurring characters, like the critically acclaimed Tanya McQuoid, played by Jennifer Coolidge, who they just couldn't leave behind.

Where to watch: HBO Max (US/UK)

Friends from College

Friends from College follows a group of friends who, you guessed it, have been acquainted since college. Now, they’re navigating life in their 40s, which comes with a torrent of big life decisions, complicated relationships and navigating waves of change.

Fortunately, there's also a wonderful balance of comedy thrown in. And it’s those dynamics that make it a great option if you loved Beef.

At first glance, Beef season 2 seems focused entirely on Josh and Lindsay’s relationship. A few episodes in, and it’s clearly far more complex than that, with the ensemble cast all exploring their own problems.

Friends from College certainly has more light comedy than Beef, but it still explores multiple personalities and will leave you thinking about how flawed they are for a while afterwards. It was cancelled after two seasons, but there’s still plenty of episodes to enjoy.

Where to watch: Netflix (US/UK)

Barry

Bear with me here, because this choice is a little darker. Barry (Bill Hader) is an assassin. He's pretty depressed, he doesn't really like his life, and he has to kill people to earn money. But when Barry gets hired to head to Los Angeles on his latest hit job, he finds himself integrated into an acting class while on the job... and realizes that he loves it.

But while Barry wants to leave his life of crime behind and pursue his passion for the arts, it's simply, well, not that simple. And that's the premise behind this twisted, dark comedy that resembles Beef in its shadowy nature.

There's unexpected turns and an overwhelming urge to back someone that hasn't got the best morals. With Barry, you'll find you can't help yourself and that's what makes it a really excellent watch.

Where to watch: HBO Max (US/UK)

Dead to Me

In Dead To Me, Jen (Christina Applegate) is grieving the loss of her husband, murdered with no killer to be found. Attending a support group, she makes a new friend, Judy (Linda Cardellini), whose cheery disposition, if a little grating, is one that Jen can't resist.

There's a darkness to their newfound friendship that unravels majestically over three funny and devastating seasons.

Sounds a little like Beef? You're not wrong. Strange relationships and an acute look at human nature make Dead To Me a gripping watch, much like it did with Beef. There are humorous moments intertwined that make some of the stressful parts a little bit easier to stomach.

Where to watch: Netflix (US/UK)

The Bear

On the surface, The Bear sounds like it has a fairly simple premise. Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) is a young chef trying to turn his family's struggling sandwich shop around in Chicago. But really, it is anything but.

In fact, it's a psychological drama that dives into the ins and outs of familial relationships, friendships, taking ownership, and navigating strong personalities. What we're left with, like Beef, is a pretty stressful ride.

The crew Carmy has working for him is a mixed bag, but our chef isn't exactly a shining example of humanity either.

But what they're passionate about is food, and through their shared love, they form their own kind of family. It's certainly not an elite country club like Beef season 2, but the grind never stops.

Where to watch: Disney+ (US/UK)

Killing Eve

Killing Eve follows Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), who is assigned by the British intelligence agency she’s working for to catch an assassin named Villanelle (Jodie Comer). And while the case has been made perfectly clear to her — bring Villanelle in — the waters between the pair become increasingly murky.

Over four seasons, they establish a strange cat-and-mouse dynamic that's scintillating to watch and incredibly dark in nature. She's an assassin, after all. Created by Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the concept is incredibly unique, and it also demonstrates, like Beef, that a person’s psyche may not be as straightforward as you once thought.

Where to watch: Netflix (US), BBC iPlayer (UK)

Ready for another round of new movies and TV shows to watch at home this weekend? I bet you are.

Like last week's streaming list, there isn't a lot to choose from. Nevertheless, there's some great-looking new content to catch on the world's best streaming services, so I'm certain you'll find one or more of the seven entries below,, which cover myriad genres, to your liking. Happy watching! — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Send Help (Hulu/Disney+)

Despite fan-favorite filmmaker Sam Raimi's involvement, I don't think many people predicted this castaway-style survival horror thriller to be one of 2026's best-rated new films so far. With 93% critical and 87% audiences ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, though, that's exactly what Send Help , which is out now on Hulu and Disney+, is.

Starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, it follows a meek corporate strategist and her nepo-baby frat-boy boss who are stranded on a desert island after a plane crash. Cue a take not unlike The Lord of the Flies — coincidentally, its latest adaptation also features in this week's round up — that up-ends the balance of power between them in an incredibly remote part of the world.

One to seek out if you're a fan of two-handers, gore, and reams of dark humor and nail-biting suspense. — TP

• Watch Send Help on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Lord of the Flies (Netflix)

As Tom mentioned, a new Lord of the Flies remake landed on Netflix this week, marking the first time the iconic William Goldman story has been adapted for television.

The four-part miniseries has been written by Jack Thorne, the Emmy-winning mastermind behind Adolescence. It marks the on-screen debut for many of the young cast, too, who find themselves stranded on an uninhabited island after a plane crash. Attempts to survive soon descend into brutal anarchy and, whilst it's a familiar story, I'm excited to see how this adaptation plays out. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Lord of the Flies on Netflix

Greenland 2: Migration (HBO Max)

Gerard Butler disaster movies are back, baby! In the sequel to 2020 release Greenland, which is out now on HBO Max, the action picks up in the aftermath of a comet strike that decimated most of the planet. Happy weekend to you.

This time, Garrity family must leave the safety of their Greenland bunker to traverse a shattered world in search of a new home. Obviously, this is about as easy as homework in a foreign language. Butler and Morena Baccarin reprise their roles from the first movie, but keep your eye out for the sneaky child recast, because Roger Dale Floyd has been swapped out for Roman Griffin Davis. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Greenland 2: Migration on HBO Max

Citadel season 2 (Prime Video)

Three years after its incredibly middling debut season arrived, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Stanley Tucci, and Richard Madden are back in Citadel season 2.

By the sounds of its plot, it's back and bigger (but not necessarily better) than ever. In the Amazon TV Original's latest outing, we find Mason, Nadia, and Bernard in hiding across Europe after last season's finale. But, when a terrifying new threat emerges, the three are pulled back into action once again. After all, it wouldn't be very interesting if we followed them on a sabbatical, would it? All six episodes of season 2 are available to stream on Prime Video now. — LB

• Watch Citadel season 2 on Prime Video

Legends (Netflix)

Legends is based on the real-life story of UK customs officials in the 1990s who went undercover to infiltrate criminal organizations. Across six episodes, we'll follow this group of amateurs as they put their lives on the line to bring these gangs to justice.

The Netflix show's ensemble includes Steve Coogan, Tom Burke, Hayley Squires, Aml Ameen, and Charlotte Ritchie, who step into the shoes of ordinary people taking on a terrifying task. The very thought of it has already got me on the edge of my seat. — LB

• Watch Legends on Netflix

Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)

What do you get when you cross Hollywood legend Sally Field with a captive octopus, voiced by Alfred Molina? An incredibly faithful movie adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt's Remarkably Bright Creatures, that's what.

Tova (Field), an elderly widow, works night shifts as a cleaner at the local aquarium, but her life changes for good when stranger Callum (Lewis Pullman) arrives in town looking to solve an old family mystery.

Am I claiming that a marine mollusc is the new Hercule Poirot of Netflix? Possibly. But, where there are some serious questions to answer, streaming Remarkably Bright Creatures is far from hard work. — JV

• Watch Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix

M.I.A (Peacock/Paramount+)

We're rounding off our streaming picks list with something that is giving the best telenovela energy possible.

M.I.A follows Etta Tiger Jonze (Shannon Gisela), who wants to avenge her family's murder and become the most powerful crime queenpin in South Florida. Sounds fairly procedural... until you factor in the erratic vibes oozing out of every episode.

Between epic violence and harrowing scandal, there's a lot happening at any given time here. Luckily for us, it doesn't give us a moment to think, and keeps us on the edge of our seats in the process. You can catch it now on Peacock in the US, and Paramount+ internationally. — JV

• Watch M.I.A on Peacock (US) and Paramount+ (internationally)

Spoilers for Hacks season 5 episode 7 ahead.

Look lively, Ava (Hannah Einbinder) and Deborah (Jean Smart) stans of the internet: Hacks season 5 episode 7 has finally delivered what you've been waiting for.

Let me catch you up. Since season 1 aired on HBO Max in 2021, the internet has made a mission out of getting wayward comic Deborah and long-suffering writer Ava together romantically. At times, there has been a brooding tension between the two that could easily be mistaken for sexual interest... if Deborah were ever to join the LGBTQIA+ community.

In fact, fans' pleas for a sapphic storyline have become so synonymous with the show that Einbinder addressed their wishes live on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in 2025:

A quick search of Reddit and Wattpad reveals just how much the non-existent love story has been manifested — and Hacks season 5 hasn't missed out on its chance to be in on the joke before it ends for good.

Episode 7 is the perfect fever dream for heaps of stress and lust that has nowhere else to go but a make out sessions between our leading duo. But it's not actually a win for Hacks fans... because none of it is real.

Ava and Deborah's sham romance in Hacks season 5 episode 7 is simultaneously shrewd and frustrating

Let's set the scene. Deborah is inching ever closer to her goal of resurrecting her career by staging a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. Now, she's fixated on the outfit and wants to wear Carol Burnett's white, bedazzled outfit seen in her final-ever appearance on The Carol Burnett Show.

Should be an easy win, right? Wrong. The outfit now has a private owner, played by Cherry Jones, and her younger girlfriend, played by Leslie Bibb.

In order to try and "steal" the outfit, Deborah heads to the couple's house to try and talk them over — but for her true intentions to stay undetected, she visits under the guise of introducing them to her new girlfriend... Ava.

From the moment the four meet, there's clear sexual tension as Ava lusts after Bibb's effortlessly hot love interest... but there's bubbling pressure between Ava and Deborah too. Of course, this is for a completely different reason, as Ava realizes Deborah is hiding something from her.

To get back at whatever she's concealing (which we later find out is health-related), Ava goads Deborah into making out with her in front of the others, which she reluctantly does. It's a masterclass of power play and deceit, and is also the closest we'll ever come to realizing our fan-fiction dreams.

If we're being completely honest, what we see in episode 7 is probably the better choice to have made. The kiss taps into Ava and Deborah's playful side, but more importantly, highlights their messy and destructive best friend bond that definitely still has its issues.

The saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind here. The pair's friendship might be off-the-wall, ridiculous, and often self-sabotaging, but why change something that (mostly) works?

• HBO Max now requires Fire OS 6 or later on Fire TV devices
• Some Fire OS 5 devices were sold as recently as 2020
• Fire OS has been superseded by Vega OS on newer devices

If you have a Fire TV device from 2020 or earlier you may lose access to the HBO Max app — it only affects you if your device is running Fire OS 5, but that's still estimated to be "millions" of people, potentially.

The news comes via AFTVnews, which spotted that the HBO Max app support page has been updated and details Fire OS 6 as the oldest supported version of Amazon's TV OS.

That's bad news if you have the older OS, because while Amazon does deliver software updates to existing hardware, it almost never upgrades the version of the operating system.

AFTVnews notes that "this likely leaves millions of Fire TV devices still in use with no way to access one of the most popular streaming services."

That means if you've got one of the affected devices and you're looking forward to whichever Game of Thrones spin-off is coming next, it's time to buy a newer model.

What does HBO Max say about Fire TVs?

HBO isn't the only streamer to stop supporting older Fire TV devices. Netflix ended support for first-gen Fire TV devices in 2025 because the streamer now relies on video formats those devices don't support.

You can see the list of HBO Max supported devices here, and under Amazon Fire TV it says "Amazon Fire TV devices with Fire OS 6 or later [or] Vega OS 1 or later. This includes Fire TV Stick devices, Fire TV Cube, Echo Show devices, and Smart TVs with Fire TV built in."

Fire OS 5 is on Fire TV products sold between 2015 and 2020, including the second generation Fire TV stick. That was a massive seller, so HBO dropping support is going to affect a lot of people's devices.

From Amazon's perspective, upgrading the OS on older devices isn't always the best policy: newer OSes are built for newer hardware, and that can mean problems bringing new versions to devices they weren't built for.

And having people buy new models doesn't just enable Amazon to sell you a new Fire Stick running its new and preffered Vega OS: it also means moving people to a version of the product that can't be used for sideloading or dodgy free streaming.

At the time of publishing, deals on newer Fire TV devices (or Roku devices, if you're feeling a little burned by Fire TV) aren't widespread, but they're common, so keep your eyes open if you need an upgrade.

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.

I'm not going to make a "6 7" joke on the internet because I'm far too old (and frankly, I don't understand why it's funny), but we're getting another double helping of Hacks season 5 this week.

Last week, we had an epic crossover with hit reality TV show The Amazing Race, with Deborah (Jean Smart) and daughter DJ (Kaitlin Olson) competing in the latest series, hoping for a last-minute burst of notoriety to aid in Deborah's quest for a sell-out show at Madison Square Gardens.

Obviously, it all goes horribly wrong, the with pair eliminated first after failing to perform a comedy clown dance routine completely in sync with one another (go figure).

We've now got five episodes left until the hit comedy series ends for good. So when are Hacks season 5 episodes 6 and 7 dropping on HBO Max?

What time can I watch Hacks season 5 episodes 6 and 7 on HBO Max?

For US viewers, Hacks season 5 episodes 6 and 7 will drop together on Thursday, May 7, at 9 pm ET.

Internationally, you're looking out for these timings:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 8 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 8 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 8 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 8 at 12pm NZDT

In the UK, Hacks season 5 started running on Sky and NOW TV from April 17, and is a week behind.

There's currently no confirmation on when it will come to HBO Max UK.

When do new episodes of Hacks season 5 come out?

According to HBO Max, Hacks season 5 will consist of 10 episodes, with new episodes every week (except April 30 and May 7, when two episodes will drop).

That gives 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: May 7
• Episode 7: May 7
• Episode 8: May 14
• Episode 9: May 21
• Episode 10: May 28

We're two episodes of Half Man down, and the brothers' introduction to university life has been as horrific as humanly possible.

We're following brothers Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Gadd) through 30 years of their lives, exploring the highs and lows of their turbulent relationship. Frankly, "lows" is putting things politely.

Expect another time jump to take place this week, but when will Half Man episode 3 be released on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

What time can I watch Half Man episode 3 on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

Let's take the HBO Max schedule first. Half Man episode 3 hits HBO Max on May 7, 2026.

While exact timings haven't been specified, we can assume the following from shows such as Hacks and The Pitt:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 8 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 8 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 8 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 8 at 12pm NZDT

For the UK, Half Man episode 3 will be premiering on BBC iPlayer on May 8, 2026, at 6am BST.

When can I watch new episodes of Half Man?

Regardless of which streamer you're tuning in on, Half Man's six episodes will be released on a weekly basis.

This gives us the following schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: May 7/8
• Episode 4: May 14/15
• Episode 5: May 21/22
• Episode 6: May 28/29

May 2026 has arrived, but the fifth month of the year hasn't exploded out of the gate when it comes to new streaming releases.

Indeed, new movies and shows are at a real premium on the world's best streaming services this weekend. In fact, we're scraping the barrel so much, we've had to include an MGM+ TV series that originally debuted on a lesser known streamer called Network. You would think they'd space out their latest film and TV offerings to give us more to choose from...

Nonetheless, there is some new content worth watching over the next few days, so read on to see what's available to stream on demand right now. — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Wuthering Heights (HBO Max)

Heathcliff? It's me, Cathy, I've come home... to HBO Max. After causing a storm at the global box office earlier this year, Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights has now available at home — and you can see what I thought of it by reading my Wuthering Heights review.

Staying true to the Emily Brontë novel, we follow the toxic love affair between well-to-do Catherine Earnshaw (Margot Robbie) and and rugged outsider Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi), becoming more intense, destructive, and obsessive as the two grow up.

The Yorkshire Moors has never looked more seductive, with Fennell adapting her signature style seen in Promising Young Woman and Saltburn for a tale of old. The most breathtaking part? Charli XCX's ethereal soundtrack. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Wuthering Heights on HBO Max

Widow's Bay (Apple TV)

Apple TV sure loves its genre mash-up projects, and this new dark comedy horror show is no exception.

Widow's Bay follows Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), the recently elected mayor of the titular island town who has big ambitions on turning Widow's Bay into the next big US tourist attraction. The only things standing in his way are its eccentric locals, outdated infrastructure... oh, and myriad supernatural entities that inhabit this supposedly cursed settlement.

Curious to learn more before you catch it on Apple's streaming platform? Read my Widow's Bay review for a spoiler-free glimpse at its first six episodes, the first two of which are out now. — TP

• Watch Widow's Bay on Apple TV

Man on Fire (Netflix)

Wonder Man's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars in this new Netflix action show, which is based on its book namesake. In it, he plays John Creasy, a former a Special Forces mercenary with PTSD now trying to live a simpler life.

It's not quite that simple, though, as his attempts at a fresh start are rudely interrupted by a need for revenge. You know how it goes with shows like this! If you want to root for this lone wolf while he takes on some bad guys, Man on Fire might be the perfect watch for you this weekend. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Man on Fire on Netflix

The House of the Spirits (Prime Video)

Prime Video is priding itself of Spanish language drama The House of the Spirits, which is based on Isabel Allende’s International best-selling novel.

The eight-episode family saga spans half a century, centring on three generations of women — Clara (Dolores Fonzi), Blanca (Fernanda Urrejola), and Alba (Rochi Hernández) — in a conservative South American country shaped by class struggle, political upheaval, and magic.

For Desperate Housewives fans, Eva Longoria serves as an executive producer, quietly reminding us just how much of a creative force she is behind the scenes. — JV

• Watch The House of the Spirits on Prime Video

Swapped (Netflix)

Netflix tends to play down its animation releases, but when they appear, they're almost always an underrated banger.

Swapped is no exception, following a small woodland creature and a majestic bird who magically trade places and set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Think Freaky Friday, but for two natural sworn enemies of their wildlife Valley.

There's no human or tech element here, so don't worry about it being a direct Hoppers rip off.

Fresh from his Best Actor Oscar win for Sinners, Michael B. Jordan leads its cast. Is there anything this man can't do? — JV

• Watch Swapped on Netflix

My Killer Father: The Green Hollow Murders (Paramount+)

This hard-hitting Paramount+ docuseries follows Lucy Studey McKiddy as she opens up about her father Donald Studey, known as 'the Monster of Green Hollow'. Horrifyingly, she claims she knows where dozens of bodies are buried from decades of his alleged murders.

Across the three episodes, she claims her father killed dozens of women, including three of his wives, and forced her and her siblings to help dispose of the bodies in an old well on their remote property. Expect it to send shivers down your spine this weekend. — LB

• Watch My Killer Father: The Green Hollow Murders on Paramount+

The Artist (MGM+)

I love a murder mystery, don't you? They're even better when there's a stacked cast and you'll certainly find that with The Artist.

Indeed, Patti LuPone, Hank Azaria, Mandy Patinkin, Danny Huston, Chris Jehnert, Zachary Quinto, Anni Krueger, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Regina Ohashi, Katherine O’Sullivan, and Gemma Mcllhenny all star in this intriguing new series as suspects.

Here, an eccentric tycoon and his wife host a gathering of the era’s biggest celebrities including Thomas Edison, Edgar Degas, and Evelyn Nesbit. Naturally, said gathering soon turns deadly. Get your detective hats ready for this one. — LB

• Watch The Artist on MGM+

• Lanterns' release date has been revealed
• Until now, HBO had only officially announced that it would arrive in August
• The DC Universe TV show will drop once House of the Dragon season 3 has ended

Update: And, here we are: Lanterns is officially confirmed to be launching in the Americas on Sunday, August 16, and everywhere else on Monday, August 17.

Original story follows.

The release date for Lanterns, the next DC Universe (DCU) TV show, has reportedly been revealed.

Per Collider, the DCU Chapter One project, which will air on US cable network HBO and various streaming platforms, including HBO Max, across the globe, is apparently coming out in North and South America on Sunday, August 16. Lanterns is also expected to drop in other territories on Monday, August 17.

Collider doesn't reveal where it learned this information. However, ResetEra forum user DinkyDev noticed that an updated version of Lanterns' first trailer, which was recently uploaded to YouTube, now includes the mid-August launch date reveal.

Unfortunately, the re-uploaded teaser has since been made private, so I can't verify if this is true or not. Nonetheless, I've reached out to HBO Max and parent company Warner Bros. Discovery for an official comment on the release date rumor and updated teaser. At the time of publication, I haven't received a response, but I'll update this article if I hear back.

Why Lanterns' mid-August launch would make perfect sense

Until now, we only knew that the DCU's next TV series would make its bow sometime in August. However, with HBO seemingly confirming it'll drop on August 16/17, that date would be an ideal fit for not only its Green Lantern production, but also from a scheduling perspective.

Why? Because House of the Dragon season 3, whose own release date was recently revealed to be June 25/26 alongside its official trailer, will end on August 9/10.

Unsurprisingly, that means HBO will have a vacant primetime slot to fill with another tentpole TV series. What better option is there to take over from House of the Dragon's latest eight-part installment than a highly anticipated comic book show that's already set to arrive in August?

While we wait for an official announcement on its launch date, find out everything we know so far about Lanterns. Once you're done, get the full scoop on House of the Dragon season 3.

• IT: Welcome to Derry's creator is keen to explore the 1930s in season 2
• This would have a particular focus on The Bradley Gang, as seen in Stephen King's original novel
• However, HBO Max has not officially renewed the horror series

IT: Welcome to Derry was one of my favorite HBO Max shows of last year, and in my four-star review, I called it a "must watch". So you can imagine my excitement about upcoming plot details, even if we don't have official confirmation that season 2 is going ahead.

The IT prequel series was developed by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who worked on the two movie adaptations starring Bill Skarsgård. Through the show, they were able to explore even more of Stephen King's massive novel, and it doesn't sound like they want to stop any time soon.

Speaking to Deadline, series creator Andy Muschietti has revealed that season 2 would explore a subplot Stephen King added in the original 1986 IT novel. We'll be going back in time again, this time to 1935, should the series be greenlit.

He told the site, “It’s 1935 — we’re now working on it, and it’s so much fun. For the ones of you who read the books, probably the Bradley Gang sounds familiar. The Bradley Gang was a gang of bank robbers that — not accidentally, but they were on their way somewhere, and they stopped in Derry to buy some ammo and something horrible happens.”

As Muschietti notes, fans of the novel will know this gang well, with brothers George and Al Bradley heading up the group of bandits who tried to rob Derry store owners, until something terrible happened to them.

Despite them being minor characters in the novel, Muschietti was interested in the real-life inspiration and hopes to give them more airtime in IT: Welcome to Derry.

He added: "The Bradley Gang is based on the Brady Gang, which is a real-life gang of robbers that were executed in the streets of Bangor, Maine."

“It’s fascinating because the thing that is so much fun in this stage of development is that we’re facing an era, which is the Depression Era, that changes dramatically the setup of things. There’s no suburban comfort — the trope of the kids that live in suburbia and they ride their bikes, and suddenly one of them disappears, is nothing like this.

Muschietti concluded: "This is in 1935. It’s a very dire situation. People are very poor. They’re struggling to survive, so the setup will be very different.”

Right now, we're still waiting for HBO Max to officially announce the renewal. But given the huge success of season 1, I wouldn't be surprised if one comes along very soon. Until then, you can binge-watch all of season 1 on the streaming service.

• Watch Hacks on Sky (UK) | HBO Max (US) | JioHotstar (India)
• Abroad? Use NordVPN to watch from anywhere (75% off)
• Hacks episodes: Thursdays (US from April 9) & Fridays (RoW from April 17)

We all need a little playful comedy in our lives, and Hacks has provided just that for the past five years. With Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder's superb chemistry and hilarious jokes every episode, it'll be sad to see this show wrap up, but all good things must come to an end.

With Deborah Vance (Smart) needing to get her comedy act together or risk losing it all, she teams up with the abrasive, but very funny Ava Daniels (Einbinder). This leads to varied levels of success, lots of emotional growth, and plenty of laughs.

Now, we're facing the final curtain as Hacks season 5 hits our screens. Whether you've been following the sitcom from the very start, or you're just catching up, we've got you covered with all the ways you can watch Hacks online through streaming services.

Use a VPN to watch Hacks from anywhere

A VPN is a handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, thereby letting you unlock your usual streaming services (terms allowing). The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a 75% discount.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple:

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the US and want to view your usual service, you'd select a UK server from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the show. Head to HBO Max or your usual domestic streaming service and watch Hacks as if you were at home.

How to watch Hacks online in the US

If you are in the US you're slightly ahead of the curve when it comes to watching new episodes of Hacks. The fifth season started airing in the States from April 9 and you can watch along on HBO Max if you have an active subscription to the service.

HBO Max plans start from $10.99 per month – you can also sign up via Amazon Prime, which costs the same but could be more convenient if you're a Prime member.

Away when Hacks is on? You can still access your usual streaming services from anywhere by using a VPN.

How to watch Hacks online in the UK

For those of you in the UK there is a slight delay. Hacks season 5 premiered on April 17 and is releasing weekly through Sky.

You'll need to be a Sky TV customer. Packages with Sky start at £24 per month, but that can also give you access to services like HBO Max, Netflix, and Hayu.

While Hacks season 5 is airing on HBO Max in the U.S., it's exclusive to Sky Atlantic in the UK.

How to watch Hacks online in Canada

In Canada, Hacks is streamed by Crave. Episodes have been playing every Thursday from April 9, following the same release pattern as the US.

Crave plans start from $11.99 per month, with pricier tiers available if you want to ditch ads or bundle in other platforms like Disney+ or TSN.

Away from Canada now? Use NordVPN to watch your usual streaming service when overseas.

How to watch Hacks online in Australia

Hacks will go out on the Stan streaming platform in Australia. Episodes there started on Friday April 10, just a few hours behind the release in the US and Canada. New episodes drop every Friday.

Stan subscriptions cost from $12 a month for a Basic plan, with incremental increases if you want to add HD/4K quality and additional devices.

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

What you need to know about Hacks

Hacks season 5 trailer

Hacks episode guide

Hacks season 5 is set to consist of ten episodes.

They'll generally release weekly, although Hacks season 5 episode 4 and 5 drop as a pair on April 30, and episode 6 and 7 will be released together on May 7.

New episodes will premiere in North America on the following schedule:

• Episode 1 – Thursday, April 9
• Episode 2 – Thursday, April 16
• Episode 3 – Thursday, April 23
• Episode 4 – Thursday, April 30
• Episode 5 – Thursday, April 30
• Episode 6 – Thursday, May 7
• Episode 7 – Thursday, May 7
• Episode 8 – Thursday, May 14
• Episode 9 – Thursday, May 21
• Episode 10 – Thursday, May 28

Hacks cast

• Jean Smart as Deborah Vance
• Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels
• Megan Stalter as Kayla Schaeffer
• Robby Hoffman as Randi
• Christina Hendricks as Megan
• Kaitlin Olson as Vance Jr.
• Jane Adams as Nina Daniels
• Paul W. Downs as Jimmy LuSaque Jr.
• Helen Hunt as Winnie Landell
• Ming-Na Wen as Janet Stone

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The build-up to Deborah's (Jean Smart) solo Madison Square Gardens show is in full swing... and this week, we're getting a double helping of Hacks.

After foiling her own original plan to complete the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) awards clean-sweep in the premiere of Hacks season 5, Deborah has decided to make her big comeback by selling out a show at Madison Square Garden.

There's just one hitch: legally, she's not allowed to perform at all under the terms of the injunction against her — something Ava (Hannah Einbinder) is scrupulously trying to sidestep.

So what's Deborah's next step? And when when are Hacks season 5 episodes 4 and 5 dropping on HBO Max?

What time can I watch Hacks season 5 episodes 4 and 5 on HBO Max?

For US viewers, Hacks season 5 episodes 4 and 5 will drop together on Thursday, April 30, at 9 pm ET.

Internationally, you're looking out for these timings:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 1 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 1 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 1 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 1 at 12pm NZDT

In the UK, Hacks season 5 started running on Sky and NOW TV from April 17, and is a week behind.

There's currently no confirmation on when it will come to HBO Max UK.

When do new episodes of Hacks season 5 come out?

According to HBO Max, Hacks season 5 will consist of 10 episodes, with new episodes every week (except April 30 and May 7, when two episodes will drop).

That gives us the following schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: out now
• Episode 4: April 30
• Episode 5: April 30
• Episode 6: May 7
• Episode 7: May 7
• Episode 8: May 14
• Episode 9: May 21
• Episode 10: May 28

Anyone who watched last week's episode of Half Man will likely understand why I can hardly bring myself to watch again this week.

Created by Baby Reindeer's Richard Gadd, the show follows brothers Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Gadd) through 30 years of their lives, exploring the highs and lows of their turbulent relationship.

We can expect our first real-time jump this week, but when will Half Man episode 2 be released on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

What time can I watch Half Man episode 2 on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?

Let's take the HBO Max schedule first. Half Man episode 2 hits HBO Max on April 30, 2026.

While exact timings haven't been specified, we can assume the following from shows such as Hacks and The Pitt:

• US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• India – Friday, May 1 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, May 1 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, May 1 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, May 1 at 12pm NZDT

For the UK, Half Man will be premiering on BBC iPlayer on April 24, 2026, at 6am BST.

When can I watch new episodes of Half Man?

Regardless of which streamer you're tuning in on, Half Man's six episodes will be released on a weekly basis.

This gives us the following schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: April 30/May 1
• Episode 3: May 7/8
• Episode 4: May 14/15
• Episode 5: May 21/22
• Episode 6: May 28/29

• James Gunn has shared an update on three DCU Chapter One projects
• One movie announced in January 2023 is no longer in active development
• Two long-dormant shows are still being worked on

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has provided fans with an update on three beleaguered DC Universe (DCU) projects — and it's bad news for one of them. Responding to a fan on Threads, Gunn confirmed that The Authority, a movie that was part of Gunn's initial DCU Chapter One line-up announcement in January 2023, has been canceled.

As part of a longer response to someone who theorized that Gunn was planning to write and/or direct the film, he said: "The script wasn't quite there, but more importantly it didn't work in terms of the larger DCU, both in terms of the story and practical concerns. Maybe [we'll revisit it] some day [but] Not soon."

Unveiled alongside new solo adventures for DC icons Superman and Batman as part of Gunn and co-chief Peter Safran's new-look cinematic franchise, The Authority was set to be influenced the eponymous anti-hero team's comic book series that was published under DC's Wildstorm sister company.

With the DCU Chapter One slate undergoing some changes since its early 2023 reveal, though, The Authority's movie adaptation has become the first major casualty of Gunn and Safran's reign.

As for two other productions — Booster Gold and Paradise Lost — that have been trapped in development limbo for over three years, Gunn shared a more positive, albeit short, update.

Replying to another query about two shows that are still expected to hit HBO Max at some point, Gunn wrote: "Booster Gold is in development. Paradise Lost is in extreme development."

Of course, that doesn't indicate when we might see either one of them. Nevertheless, it confirms that both TV series are still being worked on, which is welcome news when we've heard very little about them since they were confirmed as part of DCU Chapter One.

Where Booster Gold is concerned, the DCU's most unlikely TV show was said to have found its showrunner last July. However, in March, DC fans began to debate Booster Gold's fate amid reports its showrunner had left. Gunn's latest comments, then, will have some fans breathing a sigh of relief.

Things have been even quieter on the Paradise Lost front. Indeed, with last June's announcement that a Wonder Woman movie was in the works, fans had been wondering if the Wonder Woman-adjacent TV show would ever see the light of day. Long story short: it will.

Are you sad that The Authority is no more? And which of Booster Gold and Paradise Lost are you most keen to see? Let me know in the comments.

• A new trailer for House of the Dragon season 3 has been unveiled
• The Game of Thrones prequel is also confirmed to return to HBO and HBO Max in late June
• Its next chapter will revolve around of the Targaryen Civil War's bloodiest battles

House of the Dragon season 3 has received a dramatic and fiery new trailer — and an official launch date ahead of its mid-2026 premiere.

Just over two months after House of the Dragon 3's first teaser was released online, HBO has given us a fresh look at the life-threatening events to come in the Game of Thrones prequel's next chapter.

At the end of the trailer, it's also confirmed that the high-fantasy drama's third season will make its long-awaited debut on June 21, 2026 in North and South America, and June 22, 2026 everywhere else.

Prior to its official release date being publicly announced, we only knew that House of the Dragon season 3 would air sometime in June.

With few other big-name TV series set to arrive in the sixth month of the year — currently, Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2, which comes out on Netflix on June 25, is the only other major program set to arrive around that time — it seems that House of the Dragon's next installment will have little in the way of competition, too.

Like its predecessors, the high-fantasy show's third season will air on HBO and HBO Max in the US. The rest of the world will also be able to tune into HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, to stream it where said platform is available.

Curiously, HBO didn't release an official plot brief for this season alongside its latest trailer and launch-date announcement. Nonetheless, given where its forebear left off, we know that the Dance of the Dragons, aka the collective name for the battles waged as part of the Targaryen Civil War, will finally take center stage in season 3.

Need a reminder of where last season left off? Check out my House of the Dragon season 2 ending explained article. And, for more ahead of it follow-up's release, find out everything we know so far about House of the Dragon season 3.

Hello, hello, hello! Or perhaps I should say goodbye, goodbye, goodbye — as of writing, The Comeback season 3 only has three episodes left to air on HBO Max before the comedy series ends for good.

Even without Lisa Kudrow's genius character of overbearing sitcom actress Valerie Cherish, the show's own history is fascinating. Launching on HBO in 2006, it was originally canceled after one season before being revived in 2014. Now, in 2026, Kudrow is adamant that season 3 is the last.

Cherish has gone from starring in raucous sitcom Room and Bored, to appearing in an HBO series created by arch-nemesis Paulie G (Young Sheldon's Lance Barber) about her, to another sitcom written by AI.

In a nutshell, Cherish has been trying to climb back up the ranks of the entertainment industry. Her career went into freefall after landing a leading role in a successful 90s comedy... hence, The Comeback.

But while many fans liken the HBO series to The Real Housewives and classic 2000s reality TV, there's one forgotten series that follows a woman who could have been the real-life version of Cherish.

Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D List is the real-life The Comeback

I binged all three seasons of The Comeback in two days, and all I could think about was how much Cherish resembles Kathy Griffin during her Bravo reality show, My Life on the D List.

The premise is scarily similar. Griffin is a Hollywood nobody when the series starts out, with My Life on the D List centering on her chaotic attempts to break into the industry's A-List ranks.

She's got agent problems (check), frequently films unhinged VTs to camera (check), and will use every gimmick in the playbook to try and make sure she stays relevant (check). And she has red hair... remind you of anyone?

If it were up to me, My Life on the D List would have much bigger status in reality TV history. Griffin was arguably at her comedy peak while filming, her late mom Maggie was an absolute joy with a box of wine in hand (even coining her own phrase "tip it"), and the guest cameos were unreal.

Where else could you get Kathy and Maggie visiting a psychic one minute, having dinner with Bette Midler, who calls up Stevie Nicks to sing Rhiannon on the phone, the next? It was the best fever dream possible, and I get to relive that spirit through The Comeback.

Valerie Cherish might be disappearing from screens, and I think that's the right decision. But there's some good news: episodes of My Life on the D List are globally available on YouTube TV and Hayu.