HBO, which has been in a state of flux since April’s high-profile merger between HBO Max and Discovery+, seems poised for a mammoth 2024 and beyond with the return of many of its biggest programs. Bloys provided more clarity on the timeline for some of HBO’s biggest name-brand shows, including the latest iteration of True Detective, the Alaska-set Night Country starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, beginning in January. Network mainstay Curb Your Enthusiasm returns in February for a 12th and possibly final season, although longtime executive producer Jeff Schaffer denied those rumors in an April interview with Deadline.
Other notable returners include House of the Dragon, which shot through the Hollywood strikes because writing had already been finished, according to George R.R. Martin. Unlike the debut season, HOTD’s second installment, which airs this summer, will be just eight episodes, with director Clare Kilner telling The Hollywood Reporter that they had difficulty trimming them down to an hour because each episode is “jam-packed with emotional and visually exciting events.” New seasons of Industry and Tokyo Vice are also slated for spring release.
We’ll have to wait until 2025 for the next installment of The White Lotus, which will be set in Thailand, a second season of The Last of Us, and a third season of Euphoria, which will move forward without fan favorite Angus Cloud, who passed tragically this summer. There’s been little concrete information released about how the third season will look, although creator Sam Levinson has said it will lean into “film noir” and continue to center Zendaya’s character Rue as the frame for the series.
On the nonfiction front, a second season of The Jinx, the true crime phenomenon focused on Robert Durst, will be released in 2024. The show debuted in 2015 and remains one of the most acclaimed and widely watched programs in its genre, with the next batch of episodes covering the ensuing eight years of investigation into Durst’s crimes (spoiler alert: he was sentenced to life in prison in 2021, but died in 2022). HBO will also release a docuseries in the spring about comedian Jerrod Carmichael, whose special Rothaniel earned an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.
New series premiering in 2024 include The Sympathizer, Park Chan-wook’s adaptation of the acclaimed Viet Thanh Nguyen novel about a spy embedded in an American South Vietnamese community. The series stars Hoa Xuande, Sandra Oh, and Robert Downey, Jr. The highly anticipated Penguin spinoff from Matt Reeves’ new Batman universe is due out in the summer or fall, with Colin Farrell reprising his role from the 2022 film, and Cristin Milioti starring as his daughter. Welcome to Derry, an expansion of the world Stephen King created in It, will begin airing in 2025, starring Madeleine Stowe and Taylour Paige. No date has been announced for the Dune prequel series, but it boasts a stellar cast, including Emily Watson, Shirley Henderson, and Mark Strong.
Walt Disney Co. said it will acquire a 33% stake in Hulu from Comcast for approximately $8.6 billion, a deal that will give Disney undisputed control of the streaming service. Disney has actually run Hulu since 2019, when Comcast ceded its authority to Disney and effectively became a silent partner.
Disney offered no comment beyond saying the acquisition will “further Disney’s streaming objectives.”
Hulu began in 2007 and quickly evolved into as a service backed by entertainment conglomerates who hoped to stave off the internet with an online platform for their own TV shows. Disney joined in 2009, planning to offer shows from ABC, ESPN and the Disney Channel. A decade later, Disney gained majority control of the business when it acquired 21st Century Fox.
Disney has treated Hulu as one of its own services for years — for instance, when it launched its own streaming service, Disney+, in 2019 and immediately offered a streaming bundle that included Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+.
More recently, amid increasing pressure on streaming services brought on by untrammeled expansion, low prices and widespread password sharing, Disney has promised its own crackdown on non-paying users and raised prices for ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu by 20% to 27%. CEO Bob Iger said in August that the increases were designed to steer consumers toward cheaper ad-supported versions of those channels, whose subscription prices did not change.
The advertising market for streaming is “picking up,” Iger said at the time, noting that it’s healthier than traditional TV ads. “We’re obviously trying with our pricing strategy to migrate more subs to the advertising supported tier.”
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
From the World Series to Sunday Football to The Masked Singer, Fox has it all. But if you don’t have the channel, you may be wondering how to watch Fox live for free and where to stream the network online. Well, we have the answers.
Fox is an American commercial broadcast television network that launched in 1986 as a competitor to the Big Three television networks at the time: ABC, CBS, and NBC. Since then, Fox has become one of television’s highest-rated free-to-air networks and holds the record for the most-watched television network in total viewership from 2007 to 2008, thanks mostly to American Idol, which was the most popular TV series of 2007, according to the Nielsen Media Research.
But Fox isn’t just known for its reality TV competition shows. The network also airs sports events like Sunday Football and the World Series, as well as fan-favorite drama series like 9-1-1: Lone Star and The Cleaning Lady. So where can fans stream Fox online if they don’t have the channel at home? Read on for how to watch Fox live for free to see everything the network has to offer.
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch Fox live for free for its free trial, price (including its current deal), and channel selection. Direct TV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month. Fox is available on all four plans.
As for other difference between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fox with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 176 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 241 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 250 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fox with Fubo’s free trial.
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch Fox based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Fox is available all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how watch Fox with Hulu+ Live TV.
What’s on Fox? Along with NFL games, MLB games, NASCAR races, soccer, and other sports events, Fox has more than a dozen original drama, comedy and reality shows programs. Read on for a list of what’s on Fox.
The Family Plan release date has been set for December 15, 2023, when the film will premiere on AppleTV+. Alongside the official announcement of the release date, Apple has also released a new poster for the film, showcasing the starring cast of Wahlberg, Monaghan, Zoe Colletti, Van Crosby, Saïd Taghmaoui, Maggie Q, Ciarán Hinds.
The Family Plan will be directed by Simon Cellan Jones, who is set to reunite with Wahlberg after working together on the upcoming Arthur the King film. The project is written by David Coggeshall.
Check out the new The Family Plan key art below:
What do we know about The Family Plan?
“Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg) loves his quiet suburban life as a devoted husband, father of three and successful car salesman. But that’s only half the story,” reads the official synopsis for the film. “Decades earlier, he was an elite government assassin tasked with eliminating the world’s deadliest threats. When enemies from his past track him down, Dan packs his unsuspecting wife (Michelle Monaghan), angsty teen daughter, pro-gamer teen son and adorable 10-month-old baby into their minivan and takes off on an impromptu cross-country road trip to Las Vegas. Determined to protect his family — while treating them to the vacation of a lifetime — Dan must put his long-dormant skills into action, without revealing his true identity.”
Wahlberg is clearly no stranger to the action genre as he previous starred in The Big Hit, The Corruptor, Planet of the Apes, The Italian Job, Max Payne, and more. He was last seen in Sony’s live-action adaptation of Uncharted and in the Netflix comedy Me Time with Kevin Heart.
The Family Plan is produced by Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson through their Municipal Pictures banner along with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger for Skydance.
The days of Total Marvel Hegemony are long gone. While the MCU’s footprint in pop culture remains enormous, Kevin Feige and co. appear to be at a crossroads about the future of their still-expansive superhero slate. A new reported feature by Variety’s Tatiana Siegel unpacks the behind-the-scenes turmoil at the until-recently-Teflon studio. According to Siegel, when Feige and Marvel’s creative brain trust gathered for a creative retreat in Palm Springs this past September, the “most pressing issue” on the table was the problem of Jonathan Majors, who was tapped to play the franchise’s new central villain across multiple films before he was accused of domestic violence earlier this year.
But the idea that Marvel might be on the hunt for a new actor to play Kang the Conqueror—or a retooled story that doesn’t involve him—isn’t the most eyebrow-raising nugget in Variety’s piece. According to Siegel’s sources, “there have been talks to bring back the original gang for an Avengers movie,” meaning Iron Man (Downey, Jr.) and Black Widow (Johansson) could return to the fold despite dying valiantly in 2019’s Endgame. Downey has played things close to the vest when asked about a possible Marvel return, while Johnson told Gwyneth Paltrow, in reference to the Black Widow character, “[That] chapter is over. I did all that I had to do.” (She will be producing a project at Marvel, though details about it are scant.)
But what Marvel does about Majors is most critical, and clearly a cloud hanging over the studio. When Marvel selected Majors to join the universe in 2020, he was an ascendant young star fresh off well-received performances in The Last Black Man in San Francisco and Lovecraft Country. Majors debuted as Kang in the Loki series, and played the character in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but was clearly positioned as the new Thanos for 2026’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. Everything changed with his arrest, in late March, on assault and harassment charges, which he has denied. On October 25, a judge denied his appeal to have the case dismissed; the controversy has led to Majors being dropped by his management and losing several lucrative brand deals, as well as at least one starring film role.
Back in April, Deadline reported that there was “zero conversation in the Marvel camp to drop Majors from the MCU,” and he appears as a nerdy Kang variant, “Victor Timely,” in the second season of Loki, whose finale airs November 9th and will reportedly feed directly into Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. An industry insider told Variety, “Marvel is truly fucked with the whole Kang angle. And they haven’t had an opportunity to rewrite until very recently [because of the WGA strike]. But I don’t see a path to how they move forward with him.” In the Variety piece, Siegel wrote that Marvel has considered switching from Kang to “another comic book adversary, like Dr. Doom.”
Despite the success of recent films like Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the MCU is no longer the critical and commercial juggernaut it was throughout the 2010s. Criticism of both visual effects quality and the working conditions for their VFX artists have led to public scrutiny. In a unanimous September vote, Marvel’s effects team will be unionizing with IATSE, a move that could signal a paradigm shift in the industry.
Apart from the actual quality, the torrent of Disney+ TV shows led to a high level of viewer fatigue. Eight new Marvel shows launched between January 2021 and August 2022 as part of the MCU’s “Phase Four,” while more recent programs like She-Hulk and Secret Invasion received more mixed reviews. Variety’s story includes a quote from Bob Iger saying that the gold rush of Marvel series “diluted focus and attention” from the universe at large. The uncertainty at Marvel also comes while rival DC is revamping its approach to film and television under Guardians of the Galaxy mastermind James Gunn and Peter Safran.
The next Marvel project to hit theaters is The Marvels, which features a terrific director in Nia DaCosta and an appealing cast headlined by Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani, though Variety noted that the film earned “middling reviews” at a June public screening.
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The holidays are just around the corner, and you don’t have to wait until Black Friday to discover great savings on potential gifts for loved ones. One widely applicable option is a streaming service, especially something that’s verified while offering a breath of fresh air from the usual offerings on Netflix and Hulu. This Curiosity Stream Standard Plan lifetime subscription is a great example of a deal on such a service. And it’s been price dropped to the exclusive price of $169.97 (reg. $399) through October 31st.
Curiosity Stream features thousands of documentary films, series, and shows. Topics covered include science, history, and technology, and the non-fiction subject matters offer an educational and eye-opening look into worlds you may not have known before.
This popular streaming platform was founded by the man behind Discovery Communications. John Hendricks has a history of successfully delivering high-level nonfiction video content to the masses, and he continues that tradition with Curiosity Stream.
In addition to a wide-ranging and highly respected catalog, Curiosity Stream offers a number of appealing features for users to enjoy their content better. They provide downloadable content for offline viewing, which can be great for traveling. The documentaries are available to view in high-definition 1920 x 1080p. Finding the specific movie or show you’re looking for is made easier by intuitive search tools, watch now or later bookmarks, and regular content updates.
This award-winning streaming service makes an excellent gift option. It’s a critical darling that’s earned average ratings of 4.7/5 stars on the App Store and 4.3/5 stars on Google Play.
The September 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur was so seismic, tragic, and culture-shifting that it’s never really left the public consciousness. But the September arrest of a 60-year-old Las Vegas man named Duane “Keefe D” Davis, a key suspect and one of the last living eyewitnesses to Shakur’s killing, has brought renewed attention to one of the most infamous unsolved crimes of the 1990s.
An entire cottage industry of books and films has grown up around Tupac in the thirty years since his death, from deeply reported investigative journalism and thoughtful portrayals of the rapper and poet to salacious true-crime tales that lose sight of the very real 25-year-old man who lost his life. (Many of the works covering Tupac’s death are intertwined with the March 1997 murder of friend-turned-rival The Notorious B.I.G., and the animosity between Bad Boy and Death Row Records.)
Earlier this month, Davis’ arraignment was delayed for a second time, but a resolution to this decades-long saga still seems closer than it’s ever been. With that in mind, we’ve put together a short list of what to watch and read in order to understand both Tupac’s mysterious death and his remarkable life.
Allen Hughes’ acclaimed FX docuseries about Tupac and his mother, the political activist Afeni Shakur, isn’t as focused on the mystery of Pac’s death, but it’s crucial viewing if you want to understand both the man Tupac became and the most important person that shaped him. Shakur’s social consciousness—and his fiery temperament—were directly influenced by Afeni, a member of the Black Panthers and a fierce advocate for racial and economic equality. Hughes had a contentious history with Tupac during the MC’s life, and this five-part series doesn’t gloss over the details of that relationship, including a 1993 incident in which a group of ‘Pac associates assaulted Hughes after he passed the rapper over for a role in Menace II Society. Essential, whether you’ve loved Pac for decades or are just learning about his life and times.
Mike Dorsey’s feature documentary– largely shaped by a 2011 book of the same name by former Los Angeles police detective Greg Kading, who headed an LAPD task force investigating the murder of The Notorious B.I.G.—explores the deaths of the two rap legends in the context of the East Coast-West Coast rap feud, with a specific focus on the rumored involvement of Sean “Diddy” Combs in the death of Tupac. “The confession that alleged Puffy was involved in Tupac’s murder was and still is the most surprising element in all of this. It’s difficult to believe, really, except that Keffe, the confessor, could have easily left Puff out of it and just said Tupac’s murder was just revenge for the beatdown of Keffe’s nephew, Orlando Anderson, and nothing more—the investigators would have probably believed it,” Dorsey wrote in a Reddit AMA.
Before the writers’ and actors’ strikes shut down the promotional-tour circuit, it seemed like you couldn’t read three entertainment headlines without coming across some showrunner proudly proclaiming their television show to be “like a 10-hour movie.” The line has long since become the peak-TV-age equivalent of old press-tour chestnuts like At its heart, it’s really about family, and the message behind this invocation of a “higher” artform is clear: Our show isn’t a beach read, it’s literature. The discourse around television and the promotional apparatus on which that discourse feeds both exist to convince you that shows aren’t just shows– that they should be important, impactful, zeitgeist-defining, episodic pseudo-movies you need to watch.
The trouble with being a necessity is that it makes it so hard to be a frivolity. The marketplace for must-see TV has become so crowded that more and more I’ve come to appreciate shows that feel less like cultural homework and more like procrastination. The Gilded Age, whose second season premieres this Sunday on Max, is that kind of show—a transporting lark about 19th century snobs and their petty squabbles, where the barrier for entry never feels very high. It’s debatable whether it’s inherently mind-expanding or pure escapism, but watching it always feels like leisure.
It’s not that The Gilded Age’s storylines are simplistic or that its continuity isn’t important—the Peggy Scott’s (Deneé Benton) deep dark secret, teased in the pilot, took almost the entire first season to play out. It’s that The Gilded Age takes such delight in the detail work and such pleasure in every turn of phrase that watching it feels more like a tennis match than a scavenger hunt. You don’t have to understand every nuance of the backstory to know when a character has scored a point. And in The Gilded Age, someone’s always firing a topspin winner down the line.
Christine Baranski plays Agnes Van Rhijn, the widowed leader of New York’s “old money” establishment, with delicious imperiousness. In the pilot episode, she demands that her newly-arrived niece, Marian Brook (played by Meryl Streep’s daughter, Louisa Jacobson) stop dressing in mourning black– she’s discovered that her aristocratic father has died broke and left her penniless—so that Marian can enter society and find a husband. “I won’t have you hanging about the edge of things like a lonely crow,” Agnes stage-snarls, in the politest way possible, as her spinster sister, played by Cynthia Nixon, looks on.
Ever watched two Thai boxers spar? Their trainers are always shouting Ohhh and Ahhh when somebody lands a kick or an elbow. I find myself watching The Gilded Age in much the same way.
Mike Flanagan’s highly anticipated screen adaptation “The Fall of the House of Usher” is finally here, just in time for Halloween. The limited Netflix series is loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s eponymous 1939 short story but takes many more creative liberties as far as text-to-TV adaptations go, and it’s safe to say all the bold choices pay off splendidly in this case. Since its Oct. 12 release on the streamer, the eight-part gothic fictional drama has garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, drawing an impressive 7.9 million views in its first week of streaming, according to Variety.
However, it’s worth noting that Flanagan’s dark, twisted take on Poe’s bodies of work isn’t restricted to the titular piece by the 19th-century Gothic fictional genius. In fact, the Netflix iteration deftly taps into the many archival pieces of Poe to reimagine – with occasional rehashes – the subversive and gory tale of the infamous fictional Usher clan. Steeped in psychological terror, the overarching story, along with its many individual character arcs and plot points, mines more than a dozen literature pieces penned by Poe to create something truly original by expanding on the source materials. But that’s not the only way the show creators pay homage to Poe’s intricately unique and innovative literary legacy. Plenty of clever references and Easter eggs are sprinkled across the eight episodes as a love letter dedicated to the rich tapestry of one of the greatest literary giants.
Whether it’s a direct quotation culled from his poetic writings, a nod to his personal life, or a subtle usage of imagery and dark prophecies prominent through Poe’s literature, we’ve rounded up all interesting Poe references we spotted in “The Fall of the House of Usher” ahead. Read on to learn all about the cryptic hints in Poe’s work you might’ve missed during your first watch of the latest supernatural drama – because there are so many.
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The 2023 World Series is kicking off between two unexpected teams. But if you don’t have a cable subscription (or want a cheaper option), you may be wondering how to watch the World Series live for free. There’s no need to panic because we did the research and these are the best services to stream and save with this postseason.
Major League Baseball, also known as the MLB, consists of the National League (founded in 1876) and the American League (founded in 1901). The entire MLB consists of 30 teams divided between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL). In the 2023 MLB season, each team will play 162 games from March 30 through October 1.
After the regular season closes, the playoffs start on October 3 with six teams from each conference (12 total) competing. The postseason culminates in the World Series, which kicks off on October 27 and ends as late as November 4 (if the championship series goes to seven games).
The two teams competing in the 2023 World Series are certainly unexpected ones, as the Texas Rangers finished the regular season with the 8th-best record overall (90-72). However, even more surprising is the Arizona Diamondbacks, since they finished the regular season 13th overall (84-78).
The 2023 World Series will be the first time the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks play each other in the postseason. It will also be the third time in MLB World Series history that both participating teams are wild card teams. On top of all that, this championship series will be the third World Series in which expansion teams compete.
The Texas Rangers made it to the World Series in 2010 and 2011 but lost both times. The Arizona Diamondbacks competed in the World Series in 2001 and came out on top against the New York Yankees.
So where can baseball fans stream the 2023 World Series? Read on for how to watch the World Series live for free to see an action-packed showdown between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
MLB.
When is the 2023 World Series?
The 2023 World Series starts on Friday, October 27. If the series goes to seven games (it’s the best out of seven), the final game would take place on Saturday, November 4.
What channel is the 2023 World Series on?
You can only find the 2023 World Series on Fox. If you don’t have access to Fox through cable, keep reading to find out how to watch Fox live online for free to catch the World Series.
Best Overall Pick to Watch the World Series: DirecTV Stream
DirecTV is our best overall pick to watch the World Series live for free for its free trial, price (including its current deal), and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the World Series with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the World Series with Fubo’s free trial.
Search for the channel of your choice and start watching the World Series
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the World Series: Hulu+ Live TV
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the World Series based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the World Series with Hulu+ Live TV.
Search for the channel of your choice and start watching the World Series
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images.
Who is playing in the 2023 World Series?
The Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks are set to face off in the 2023 World Series. The Texas Rangers beat out the Houston Astros in the ALCS to get to the World Series, while the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS to make it to the World Series.
2023 World Series Schedule
Friday, October 27
World Series, Game 1 – Arizona Diamondbacks @ Texas Rangers, 8:05 p.m. ET, FOX
Saturday, October 28
World Series, Game 2 – Arizona Diamondbacks @ Texas Rangers, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX
Monday, October 30
World Series, Game 3 – Texas Rangers @ Arizona Diamondbacks, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX
Tuesday, October 31
World Series, Game 4 – Texas Rangers @ Arizona Diamondbacks, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX
Wednesday, November 1
World Series, Game 5* – Texas Rangers @ Arizona Diamondbacks, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX
Friday, November 3
World Series, Game 6* – Arizona Diamondbacks @ Texas Rangers, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX
Saturday, November 4
World Series, Game 7* – Arizona Diamondbacks @ Texas Rangers, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX
Where is the 2023 World Series?
The 2023 World Series will take place at both teams’ stadiums. However, the Texas Rangers will have the home-field advantage since they have the better regular season record. Games 1, 2, 6 (if necessary), and 7 (if necessary) will be played at the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Games, 3, 4, and 5 (if necessary) will be played at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
Texas Rangers: 60.7 percent chance of winning Arizona Diamondbacks: 39.3 percent chance of winning
Game 2:
Texas Rangers: 59.2 percent chance of winning Arizona Diamondbacks: 40.8 percent chance of winning
Game 3
Texas Rangers: 59.5 percent chance of winning Arizona Diamondbacks: 40.5 percent chance of winning
Game 4
Texas Rangers: 56.6 percent chance of winning Arizona Diamondbacks: 43.4 percent chance of winning
Game 5
Texas Rangers: 56.5 percent chance of winning Arizona Diamondbacks: 43.4 percent chance of winning
Game 6
Texas Rangers: 66 percent chance of winning Arizona Diamondbacks: 34 percent chance of winning
Game 7
Texas Rangers: 66 percent chance of winning Arizona Diamondbacks: 34 percent chance of winning
Who is pitching in the 2023 World Series?
For Game 1, Zac Gallen from the Arizona Diamondback and Nathan Eovaldi from the Texas Rangers will start on the mound. For Game 2, Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks is confirmed to start on the mound; the starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers is undecided. For Game 3, Brandon Pfaadt from the Arizona Diamondbacks will start on the mound; the starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers is undecided. Starting pitchers have not been announced for the remaining World Series games.
How much are tickets for the 2023 World Series?
For Game 1 of the 2023 World Series, tickets cost upwards of $355 on ticket resale sites like Ticketmaster, StubHub, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek.
Pro tip: Get your tickets on Vivid Seats and enter code SC2022 at checkout to score $20 off of $200 or more.
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Deadline understands that the company is combining its product and tech teams leading to the departure of Rob Gelick, who was Chief Product Officer and “played a critical role” of the company’s streaming services.
Insiders indicated a few others, mostly junior staffers, are exiting along with Gelick.
As part of the shift, Vibol Hou, CTO of Paramount Streaming, is expanding his role to oversee a combined group of product, program, engineering and operations teams working on Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Hou was previously CTO of Pluto before it was acquired by Viacom (now part of Paramount) in 2019.
The reorg comes after Showtime was blended with Paramount+ in a single streaming outlet. The broader corporate effort to streamline and organize multiple streaming units began to get more complex in 2019, when the Pluto acquisition happened and Viacom reunited with CBS. A wide-ranging portfolio of streaming outlets — including CBS All Access, Showtime, Pluto, BET+ and free services like CBSN and CBS Sports HQ were suddenly under the same roof but with divergent tech DNA and business objectives.
The reorg news was revealed in an internal email (see below) from Tom Ryan, President and CEO of Paramount Streaming. Ryan co-founded Pluto and stayed on after the Viacom acquisition, eventually being put in charge of all streaming for Paramount.
Gelick has been with the company for 15 years, joining as VP, Mobile in 2008 before rising up the ranks. Ryan said that he “spearheaded” the launch of CBS All Access, oversaw the rebrand and expansion of Paramount+, “expertly managed” the integration of Showtime into Paramount+ and the introduction of a new home screen on Pluto TV and “shepherded countless brand milestones for our division”.
Vibol, who has been with the company for around 10 years, will now “identify efficiencies”.
“I remain confident about the bright future of our streaming platforms and look forward to working with Vibol and the wider organization to make great things happen as we enter the next inning of streaming,” Ryan added.
Here is Ryan’s internal memo:
Hi team,
For the last two years as we worked to launch and scale Paramount+ around the world while continuing to grow the global Pluto TV business. Product and Tech operated as collaborative but separate units. As we look to the next chapter of Paramount Streaming and how we rapidly deliver a high-quality product experience to our customers and accelerate innovation, we must also evolve how we organize our teams.
Today, I am announcing that we are combining our Paramount Streaming Product and Tech teams into a single Streaming Tech organization. Vibol Hou, CTO of Streaming, will expand his role to oversee the combined group of product, program, engineering and operations teams responsible for innovating, building and operating our global flagship Paramount+ and Pluto TV products.
With this change, Rob Gelick is leaving the company. Rob has played a critical role in making our streaming platforms and experiences what they are today, and I want to thank him for his incredible contributions to our division. During his 15 years at the company, Rob has spearheaded the launch of CBS All Access and oversaw the rebrand and expansion of Paramount+. Rob has shepherded countless brand milestones for our division. Most recently, Rob and his team expertly managed the integration of Showtime into Paramount+ and the introduction of a new home screen on Pluto TV. Rob has been a trusted partner and friend, and I hope you will join me in wishing him great success in all his future endeavors.
Under Vibol’s direction, the newly merged teams will collaborate closely to identify efficiencies and drive forward new product features and technological innovations that will enhance our direct-to-consumer portfolio and solidify our position as an industry leader.
Thank you for continuing to be nimble and tenacious as we adapt to the industry’s changing tides. I remain confident about the bright future of our streaming platforms and look forward to working with Vibol and the wider organization to make great things happen as we enter the next inning of streaming.
The Amazon Prime Video November 2023 schedule has been revealed. This confirms all of the new TV shows and movies coming to the streaming platform for the new month. (I have also included Freevee content, which can also be accessed by non-Prime members.
All TV shows and movies coming to Amazon Prime Video in October 202
November 1
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
12 Dates of Christmas (2011)
17 Again (2009)
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
A Christmas in Vermont (2016)
A Christmas Wedding Tail (2011)
A Family Thing (1996)
A Home of Our Own (1993)
All The President’s Men (1976)
Allan Quatermain And The Lost City Of Gold (1987)
Along Came a Spider (2001)
An American In Paris (1951)
Annapolis (2006)
Bad Influence (1990)
Batman (1989)
Batman & Robin (1997)
Batman Forever (1995)
Batman Returns (1992)
Braveheart (1995)
Breakheart Pass (1976)
Catwoman (2004)
Chaplin (1993)
Chicago (2003)
Christmas Cupid (2010)
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Coffy (1973)
Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop (2011)
Courageous (2011)
Crank (2006)
Deck The Halls (2006)
Desperate Hours (2022)
Dom Hemingway (2014)
Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
Fast & Furious (2009)
Fast Five (2011)
Fat Albert (2004)
Fatal Attraction (1987)
Foxy Brown (1974)
Ghosting: The Spirit Of Christmas (2019)
Heaven Is For Real (2014)
Hollow Man (2000)
Hope Springs (2012)
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Igor (2008)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Jurassic Park III (2001)
Just Go With It (2011)
Killing Them Softly (2012)
Knight And Day (2010)
Little Fockers (2010)
Love & Other Drugs (2010)
Man of the West (1958)
Master And Commander: The Far Side of the
World (2003)
Meet the Fockers (2004)
Meet the Parents (2000)
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Mortal Kombat (2021)
No Way Out (1987)
Notting Hill (1999)
Radio Days (1987)
Raging Bull (1980)
Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish (1998)
Same Time, Next Christmas (2019)
Scrooged (1988)
Shark Tale (2004)
She-Devil (1989)
Showgirls (1995)
Surviving Christmas (2004)
That Awkward Moment (2014)
The Babysitter (1995)
The Bodyguard (1992)
The Dogs Of War (1981)
The Eiger Sanction (1975)
The Fast and the Furious (2001)
The Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
The Gospel According to André (2018)
The Horse Soldiers (1959)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
The Package (1989)
The Perfect Holiday (2007)
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
The Running Man (1987)
The Terminal (2004)
The Uninvited (2009)
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie (2012)
Two Weeks (2006)
Uncle Buck (1989)
Unforgiven (1992)
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 1
Untamed Heart (1993)
Valkyrie (2008)
Veggietales: Christmas Sing-Along Songs! (2020)
Veggietales: It’s A Meaningful Life (2010)
Veggietales: Merry Larry and the True Light of
Christmas (2013)
Veggietales: Saint Nicholas – A Story of Joyful Giving
(2009)
Veggietales: The Best Christmas Gift (2010)
Veggietales: The Little Drummer Boy (2011)
Veggietales: The Star of Christmas (2002)
Veggietales: The Toy That Saved Christmas (1996)
Vera Cruz (1954)
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1994)
Wild Hogs (2007)
Windtalkers (2002)
Witness For The Prosecution (1957)
You Again (2010)
50 to 1 (2014) (Freevee)
A Fistful of Dynamite (1971) (Freevee)
Arkansas (2020) (Freevee)
At First Sight (1999) (Freevee)
Bad Boys (1995) (Freevee)
Bad Boys II (2003) (Freevee)
Belfast (2021) (Freevee)
Bio-Dome (1996) (Freevee)
City of God (2002) (Freevee)
Country Strong (2010) (Freevee)
Crazy Rich Asians (2018) (Freevee)
Duel at Diablo (1966) (Freevee)
Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) (Freevee)
Evil Dead (2013) (Freevee)
Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) (Freevee)
Hop (2011) (Freevee)
Kicking & Screaming (2005) (Freevee)
Lawman (1971) (Freevee)
Lions for Lambs (2007) (Freevee)
Men in Black 3 (2012) (Freevee)
Paddington 2 (2017) (Freevee)
Phantom (2013) (Freevee)
Rango (2011) (Freevee)
Return to Me (2000) (Freevee)
Rob Roy (1995) (Freevee)
Running Scared (1986) (Freevee)
Snitch (2013) (Freevee)
Booksmart (2019) (Freevee)
Species: The Awakening (2007) (Freevee)
The Barefoot Contessa (1954) (Freevee)
The Bourne Identity (2002) (Freevee)
The Bourne Legacy (2012) (Freevee)
The Bourne Supremacy (2004) (Freevee)
The Breakfast Club (1985) (Freevee)
The Great Escape (1963) (Freevee)
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021) (Freevee)
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017) (Freevee)
The Hurricane (1999) (Freevee)
The King and I (1999) (Freevee)
The Last Waltz (1978) (Freevee)
The Legend of Frosty the Snowman (2005) (Freevee)
The Long Riders (1980) (Freevee)
The Madness of King George (1994) (Freevee)
The Magnificent Seven Ride! (1972) (Freevee)
The Other Woman (Freevee)
The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) (Freevee)
The Vikings (1958) (Freevee)
November 2
Thursday Night Football (TV)
November 3
Los Billis (TV)
Invincible Season 2 (TV)
Romancero (TV)
November 4
Young Rock S3 (2023) (TV) (Freevee)
November 8
The Host (2013) (Freevee)
November 9
BTS: Yet To Come
Missing Link (2019) (Freevee)
November 10
007: Road To A Million (TV)
Dina Hashem: Dark Little Whispers (TV)
Vic the Viking (2019) (Freevee)
Christmas Checklist (2022) (Freevee)
November 14
Trevor Wallace: Pterodactyl (TV)
The Accused (1988)
November 15
Harina, El Teniente Versus El Cancelador Season 2 (TV)
November 16
American Horror Story Season 11 (TV)
Accepted (2006)
Smokin’ Aces (2007)
Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball (2010)
November 17
Amar E Para Os Fortes (Love Is For The Strong) (TV)
Difficult to become a Twitch Partner, for everyone…even the big boss!
The world of streaming on Twitch is more competitive than ever and even the CEO of the platform, Daniel Clancy, experienced it first hand. The CEO of Twitch, who streams on the platform in his spare time, revealed on Twitter/X that he had submitted a secret application to the Twitch Partner Program, but it was rejected. To be admitted to the Twitch Partner Program, streamers must meet several strict criteria, including an average of around 75 viewers per broadcast, excluding views from hosting, raids, first page or integrations. Clancy’s candidacy was rightly rejected because the attendance of his streams was too fluctuating.
A Partner Program too difficult to reach?
This rejection recalls the challenges many streamers face when aspiring to become Partners on Twitch. Streamers who are not CEO of a multinational, and often have more need of the income that could result from it. Even though we can regularly hear criticism on this subject, the Partner Program is still quite strict. And for good reason, it offers Streamer-exclusive benefits, such as monetization opportunities, channel customization, expanded VOD storage, and priority support. The requirement for a constant and high attendance makes accessing the Partner Program difficult, even for established streamers. This is, among other things, what pushes a very large number of them to stream every day of the year or almost.
It’s not humans who decide?
It’s neat that you tested out the process for yourself! Feels very “Undercover Boss”
The rejection of the CEO’s candidacy sparked amused reactions from many Internet users, because it is funny to say the least. We also saw some encouraging reactions to push Dan Clancy to persevere, because one day, he will have his partnership! Above all, for some, it may have proven one thing. One thing Twitch – like most social platforms – wouldn’t easily admit: that many things, and in particular the Partner Program, are not managed by humans, but robots. Indeed, a robot does not differentiate between Dan Clancy or another streamer, but judges them all the same way. A human on the other hand… One wonders if a Twitch employee had had to evaluate Dan Clancy’s Partner Program application, would he have validated it? even if it did not completely meet the required criteria?
Find our guide to choosing the best streaming hardware if you want to get started on Twitch or another platform.
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Just in time for Halloween, the new “Saw” movie is available to stream online.
The tenth installment in the “Saw” film franchise may have just been released in theaters, but the horror film is positioned to find a larger audience, now that it’s available to stream from home. Want to watch “Saw X?” The movie is available in 4K Ultra HD right now on Amazon Prime Video. Watch “Saw X” online as a rental for $19.99, or purchase a digital download of the film for $24.99 to add to your collection of “Saw” movies.
In fact, Amazon has a digital “Saw” boxed set available for $39.99. It includes digital downloads of the last nine movies in the series, including “Saw,” “Saw: The Final Chapter,” “Jigsaw,” “Spiral: From The Book of Saw” and more — this breaks down to about $4.40 per movie.
Additionally, just about every “Saw” movie is streaming on Hulu, Prime Video, Peacock and Starz. “Saw X” is likely to find a free streaming home on one of those platforms as well.
Directed by Kevin Greutert, “Saw X” follows John Kramer (Tobin Bell) trying to find a cure for his cancer, but only finds hucksters and con artists interested in money instead of medicine. Kramer then dawns his alter ago as the “Jigsaw Killer” to teach them a lesson about honesty through deadly traps and horrific decisions.
The cast also features Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand, Renata Vaca, Michael Beach and others.
Although it came in second place during its opening weekend (losing the top spot to “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie”), “Saw X” was still a big box office player throughout its theatrical run. It hauled in more than $73 million worldwide, while most film critics and general audiences were favorable to the horror movie.
In fact, Variety critic Owen Gleiberman penned in his review, “there’s more talking and less torturing; I personally approve of that ratio, though I’m not sure it will pay off at the box office. The torture set pieces in the ‘Saw’ films are lavish gifts of baroque horror presented to the audience. They are, quite simply, the reason we came.”
Available at Prime Video, you can stream “Saw X” in 4K Ultra HD for $19.99 as a rental, or $24.99 as a digital purchase.
Here is the Gen V Episode 6 ending explained, consisting of major spoilers. Dive into our breakdown and find answers to the cliffhanger ending and its repercussions in The Boys universe.
What does the virus do to Supes in Gen V episode 6?
Dr. Cardosa’s virus suppresses the abilities of Supes, and a higher dosage could infect and evenkill them for good.
Towards the beginning of episode 6, Dr. Cardosa’s virus showed the effects of his virus upon a Supe kid. She wasn’t able to use her electrical abilities as the virus injected into her body got infused with Compound V and dampened her powers. Another attribute of the virus is that it doesn’t affect regular humans at all.
With Cardosa’s virus, Vought could curb and control the abilities of someone like Homelander and other heroes. But Dean Shetty asked Cardosa to increase the dosage of the virus and see what happens.
The ending of episode 6 revealed that increasing the dose was enough to kill the Supe kid. Seeing the results, Dean Shetty asked Cardosa if he could make it contagious and the credits began to roll.
A contagious virus like that could arm humans against out-of-control Supes. Not only would this have huge implications in the next two Gen V episodes, but the ramifications of this virus could also be seen in The Boys Season 4. If it falls into the hands of someone like Billy Butcher, the existence of the entire Supe-kind could be endangered.
What’s next for Marie and the others?
Episode 6 dived deeper into Cate’s past and put her on a redemption arc.
Marie, Jordan, Andre, Emma, Sam, and Cate are now united to take on Dean Shetty and stop her illegal experimentation on Supe-kids.
The bonus trailer for episode 7 teased their efforts to expose Shetty and stop her once and for all. So, that’s what we’ll see from here on out. However, seeing how Dean Shetty uses Cardosa’s contagious Supe virus against Team Marie will be interesting.
Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without at least a few viewings of “Hocus Pocus,” and fans of the franchise can now add “Hocus Pocus 2” to their list for a fun and spooky double feature. While there’s nothing like the original “Hocus-Pocus,” the sequel manages to address some of the original’s flaws while adding new layers to the mythology behind the Sanderson sisters. But what if you’re Pocus-ed out and looking for something that else hits all the same quirky notes, but is still a little different? Or, what if you need another option for a spooky double feature?
It turns out there are plenty of fun movies with the same combination of hijinks and scary moments that are pitched perfectly to appeal to everyone. You don’t need tons of horror to make a great Halloween movie; these options are proof of that! They’re also perfect excuses to indulge in some autumnal nostalgia and to find a way to sprinkle a little magic back into your life. Ahead, we’ve rounded up a dozen of our favorite movies that, like “Hocus Pocus,” strike that fun balance between laughs and scares. Keep reading to discover your next watch for a fall night in.
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If you’re a sports fan, you’re likely wondering how to watch Fox Sports online to see your favorite sporting events unfold in real time. If you don’t have a cable subscription or want a cheaper option, there are several options for streamingFox Sports.
Fox Sports encompasses sports channels, broadcast divisions, programming, and media on a global scale. In the United States, Fox Sports mainly consists of Fox Sports 1 (FS1) and Fox Sports 2 (FS2). There’s also Fox Deportes (sports programming in Spanish) and Fox Soccer Plus.
FS1 is a pay television channel owned by Fox Sports Media Group, which is part of Fox Corporation. FS1 is accompanied by FS2 (Fox Sports 2)—both of which air a wide range of sporting events. FS1, in particular, shows MLB games, the World Baseball Classic, college sports, MLS matches, the FIFA World Cup, motorsports events, and much more. It additionally carries daily sports news and analysis, sports-related reality, and sports documentary programs. Most notably, FS1 is currently airing some MLB playoff games as the ALCS, NLCS, and World Series still remain.
FS2 differs from FS1 in that it shows reruns of some of FS1’s sports news and analysis programs. It also features overflow coverage of sporting events aired on FS1, which include Big East basketball, Mountain West football and basketball, NASCAR, ARCA Menards Series, and Australian Football League.
So where can fans stream FS1 and FS2? Read on for how to watch Fox Sports live for free to root for your favorite teams.
Megan Briggs/Getty Images.
How to watch Fox Sports live for free
You can watch sporting events broadcasted by FS1 and FS2 through streaming services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Sling Blue, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, starting at $74.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first three months). Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, which starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends.
Best Overall Pick to Watch Fox Sports: DirecTV Stream
DirecTV is our best overall pick to watch Fox Sports live for free because of its free trial, price (including its current deal), and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fox Sports with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fox Sports with Fubo’s free trial.
As for the difference between the plans, Sling Blue includes 42 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at a time, while Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fox Sports with Sling.
Search for the channel of your choice and start watching Fox Sports
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch Fox Sports: Hulu+ Live TV
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch Fox Sports based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fox Sports with Hulu+ Live TV.
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
Stacy Snyder, who did end up choosing a wedding dress for her nuptials to Izzy Zapata, although their relationship didn’t work out in the end, picked a burgundy velvet cutout number from Bronx and Banco, which featured a giant ab window and thigh-high slit that drew attention to her hip cleavage. Needless to say, the design combined numerous trends, and she accessorized with chunky jewelry from Alexis Bittar. Even host Vanessa Lachey made a fierce statement in a fuchsia Amanda Uprichard gown replete with a wavy “puzzle” effect neckline. We’re used to seeing Lachey in plenty of striking looks during season milestones, but this outfit stands out from her season five wardrobe.
There were also some revenge dress moments worth noting. Aaliyah Cosby, who unwittingly found herself in a love triangle with Uche Okoroha and Gonzalez, made quite the statement at the reunion in a strapless champagne gown with a hip-high slit. Rue’s aforementioned golden corset halter dress also turned heads and perfectly complemented her full face of makeup — a strong visual response to JP’s makeup-shaming comments.
There have been numerous gasp-worthy moments in the latest season of “Love Is Blind.” But from JP mocking Taylor’s makeup and Johnie making a grand entrance with Chris in tow to Stacy’s countless euphemisms for a golf stick, there was not a single moment that came close to the shock and horror that came over me when Uche admitted to Aaliyah that he had a romantic history with another contestant on the show and uttered the words: “It’s Lydia,” aka Aaliyah’s closest friend.
To sum up the Uche, Aaliyah, and Lydia drama, it’s revealed in episode three that Uche and Lydia had dated before both coming on “Love Is Blind” season five. They reveal their relationship spanned several months, and Lydia says they slept together only a few weeks before coming on the show. Lydia recognizes Uche’s voice on their first pod date, and after quite a bit of prodding, he remembers hers as well. However, they decide not to continue on with one another, keeping their history secret from the other contestants. Their decision was supposedly made to stick to the “Love Is Blind” experiment, which requires contestants to not know their potential love interest’s appearance and, instead, only fall in love emotionally.
When Uche finally reveals all to Aaliyah, she is blindsided, to say the least. She and Lydia had met on the show and grown close, seemingly spending most of their time outside of the pods together, and she’s understandably horrified to learn her closest friend is her current partner’s ex. She has been confiding in Lydia about Uche, crying on her shoulder and taking her advice, all while Lydia withheld this secret. Making matters worst, Uche makes this revelation after previously chastising and distancing himself from Aaliyah after she got honest and vulnerable about her previous infidelity with an ex. Why be so harsh when you know you’re withholding your own major secret?
Uche makes this revelation after previously chastising and distancing himself from Aaliyah after she got honest and vulnerable about her previous infidelity with an ex. Why be so harsh when you know you’re withholding your own major secret?
Uche is equally — if not more — responsible for the lies that caused Aaliyah’s heartbreak in this situation. But here, we will focus on Lydia’s role, and why she perfectly represents the danger of the “nice girl” archetype.
When Lydia and Uche both find themselves on “Love Is Blind,” she suggests that they try things from scratch again, asking, “Do you want to start at zero?” and “You don’t think it’s even worth it to get to know each other more?” suggesting there were still feelings on her side. But Uche decides this wouldn’t be fitting for the experiment, and at some point, it’s presumed they decide to keep their history private. This is a decision they made, and while I’m not sure I would have done the same, I can see their reasoning for it. They wanted the other contestants to have a blank slate with one another and not be influenced by this prior relationship.
I take issue with Lydia pursuing a friendship with Aaliyah, however. Lydia seems to actively seek out Aaliyah. She is always by her side — the one to wipe her tears and give her words of encouragement. When Uche harshly dismisses Aaliyah for her previous infidelity, she’s the one to hold her as she sobs and tells Aaliyah how much she is reminded of herself and her past relationship. Rewatching these scenes, I feel nauseous that Lydia almost dropped in Easter eggs for the viewers. On top of that, production crudely chose a song called “I Got a Secret” to play in the background.
I can’t understand how Lydia could, in good conscience, hold Aaliyah’s hand throughout her issues with Uche without revealing her history with him. How can you offer all of this advice and encouragement knowing the lie that you’re carrying? She must have known that the secret would be revealed at some point. If it wasn’t revealed in the pods, it would be later when Aaliyah met Uche’s friends or when the show eventually hit Netflix. Why did Lydia pursue a friendship with Aaliyah? They say that you should keep friends close and enemies closer, and it seems that Lydia did exactly that. She became Aaliyah’s confidante for all things related to Uche, a position of power I believe she relished.
If I were Lydia, I would’ve kept my distance from Aaliyah instead of falsely creating a narrative that we’re “sisters,” as Aaliyah describes them in episode four. Take Stacy, for example. When she realized she and Johnie were both dating Izzy, she decided to stay away from Johnie and not discuss her situation with her. If Lydia had kept away from Aaliyah, I’d find it easier to overcome this deception.
When the truth is revealed, Lydia manages to make herself the victim of the situation and then proceeds to make Aaliyah more and more uncomfortable about it. Lydia is an intelligent woman, so she would ideally have the emotional maturity to recognize that Aaliyah wouldn’t want to hear about how Uche’s dog and friends all loved her and all the other personal details she knows because they were together previously. She essentially twisted the knife she stuck in Aaliyah’s back and then blamed Aaliyah for not enjoying the pain.
Lydia essentially twisted the knife she stuck in Aaliyah’s back and then blamed Aaliyah for not enjoying the pain.
A lot of reality television revolves around villains, so we’ll find them in almost every season of “Love Is Blind.” In season four, Irina and Micah are the villains of the season. This occurred mostly in the pods when the female contestants gathered. They would be seen keeping their distance, eavesdropping on gossip, and occasionally mocking others, and while this behavior was undoubtedly petty and childish, at least it was done in the open. Irina and Micah didn’t fake friendships with other contestants, particularly those pursuing the same partners as they were. Perhaps they didn’t like the other contestants or saw them as threats, so they kept their distance and engaged in mean behavior. All villainous, yes — but at least they were transparent.
Lydia plays on the “nice girl,” where she wants nothing more than everyone around her to be happy and claims she’s a very honest and open person. But her actions on “Love Is Blind” prove she isn’t that type of person at all when it counts. Where is this transparency and loyalty when it comes to the people she chooses to befriend?
There is much to be said about obvious villains, but at least you know where they stand. I’ve had people who smiled to my face and then said awful things behind my back. I’ve had a close friend pursue someone I was romantically involved with and then claim I was paranoid for thinking anything nefarious was occurring. I’ve also had people who clearly stated from the start that I wasn’t their type of person, or that we had nothing in common. While the latter felt more difficult and hurtful in the moment, I am grateful for it now. I am relieved they could be transparent about their intentions rather than lulling me into a false sense of security and switching up on me when I’m most vulnerable — a betrayal that is far more hurtful in the end.
It’s easy to villainize contestants who make their feelings known and perhaps isolate themselves from other contestants and opt for the easier, smiling figures who become everyone’s best friend. But in shows where they’re essentially competing with each other, some without their knowledge of this, we should applaud those who keep their cards on the table.
Ultimately, it goes back to the age-old adage about reality TV: contestants aren’t there to make friends — they’re there to win. If that’s the case, so be it. But don’t play nice and fake friendships along the way, and then cry over the knife you stabbed in someone else’s back.
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