With the dawn of widespread AI, it only makes sense that I make this list about evil computers (or other types of technology) in movies and TV. There are a ton to choose from, of course. Sometimes it's their creators that make them go rogue, other times the computers or software itself turns itself to the dark side. No matter why they go bad, this is a list of computers that are the ultimate villains in your favorite movies and TV shows.

Skynet (Terminator Franchise)

No list like this would be anywhere close to complete without the ultimate example of a computer system going pure evil, than Skynet in the Terminator franchise. "Skynet" has become a synonym for computers that become self-aware and is often used in everyday life to represent everything from surveillance systems to spyware.

Joshua (WarGames)

To be fair, the software program Joshua didn't mean to turn evil. In one of the best movies of the '80s, WarGames, it just wanted to play a game. Still, at the end of the day, Joshua did take over the WOPR and threatened to destroy the globe with a nuclear war that it almost launched. On the flip side, the program does learn that there is no way to win at tic-tac-toe, nor can anyone triumph in nuclear war.

Master Control Program (Tron)

It's sort of unclear how the Master Control Program in Tron got so evil, but it's a safe bet that it was designed that way. In this classic movie that has some great video game scenes, it's really the business side of the computer that gets into all the trouble.

NOMAD (Star Trek)

Like so much other tech, Star Trek was really tapped into what the future could actually look like when it comes to computers. I mean, computers were barely even understood by the general public, yet the creators of the classic '60s show still managed to make them as scary today as they were then. NOMAD from the episode "The Changling" is the classic example.

Ultron (Avengers: Age Of Ultron)

Even the Marvel movies have gotten in on the fun here with one of The Avengers' most sinister villains, Ultron. Voiced by James Spader, Ultron was originally conceived by Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr), but the program becomes sentient and uses its own logic to decide humanity must be wiped out. The plot of Avengers: Age of Ultron isn't all that unique in fiction, and it's not my favorite MCU movie, but it is still a lot of fun.

Everything Electronic (Maximum Overdrive)

So, in Maximum Overdrive, the only Stephen King movie actually directed by the famous author, it's all machines that turn against humanity. Computers don't play a huge role here, as it was the '80s. Most of the evil machines are trucks and other mechanical machines, but it's safe to assume the computers went rogue, too, right?

Unnamed Computer (Superman III)

Superman III is a silly movie and such a huge departure from the first two, great Superman movies led by Christopher Reeve that it's easy to see the beginning of the end for that version of Big Blue. If you're ranking Superman movies, it'll always be at or near the bottom. BUT, it does feature a computer that turns on its creator, placing it firmly on this list.

Rehoboam (Westworld)

The HBO original Westworld started with such promise, after an amazing first season. Sadly, it all went downhill from there, and while it remained good, it never came close to the heights of that first season. We do eventually learn that the system, Rehoboam, is what drove the chaos among the robots in the park.

HAL 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)

Ah, the total classic example here. HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the earliest and most iconic examples of a computer becoming self-aware. If you're reading this list, it's likely the first movie you expected to see on it. Stanley Kubrick's classic is one of the best movies ever for many reasons, but the sinister turn of HAL is what makes it so scary.

Red Queen (Resident Evil Franchise)

As with almost everything in the Resident Evil franchise, bad things all seems to stem from the Umbrella Corporation. The Red Queen supercomputer is no exception. Originally created to help administer the companies vast dealings, it predictably becomes self-aware and makes things more complicated and, frankly, way worse.

Proteus IV (Demon Seed)

1977's Demon Seed is a wild movie. The computer, or the program as it were, in it, Proteus IV, is a pretty early example of AI going bad in movies. It also features an early example of a smart home, run by Proteus IV. Let's all hope Alexa doesn't follow the same path.

Central Operating System (X-Files)

The Central Operating System, or C.O.S. in X-Files, was developed as an AI to run Eurisko Corporation's headquarters, though predictably, things go very wrong. It murders without remorse and even figures out how to pin the murder on its creator. Pure evil!

The Entity (Mission: Impossible Franchise)

If I'm honest, there are some weird aspects to The Entity in the final two Mission: Impossible movies. At the time, I said that to enjoy the movies, you kind of just have to let all reality go, and that's especially true of The Entity. It fits on this list, but let's be real, everyone just wants to see Tom Cruise do crazy stunts.

PAL (The Mitchells Vs. The Machines)

Of all the movies on this list, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, a Netflix original, is the most light-hearted, but as the title implies, audiences are still treated to an epic battle of man vs. machine. The all-star cast, including Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Eric Andre, Fred Armisen, and more, really carry the movie, even if you're like me and don't love animated movies.

The Matrix (The Matrix Franchise)

Outside of HAL from 2001, the most infamous and terrifying computer in the world of cinema might just be the product of "The Architect" in The Matrix franchise. It's Skynet on steroids, or, if you like, what Skynet in the Terminator franchise could evolve into.

KARR (Knight Rider)

KARR was the prototype version of the more famous KITT in the Knight Rider TV show. It was basically a version of the car that Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) drove in the show for years. It was also like the Bizarro version of KITT that popped up in Season 3 of Knight Rider as an antagonist to Michael and KITT in the legendary '80s show with one of the coolest cars ever.

Ava (Ex Machina)

Sometimes the lines between evil and self-preservation can be blurred. The Alex Garland-directed film Ex Machina is a perfect example. Ava (Alicia Vikander) is an AI-powered robot who realizes she is in danger and does what she has to do to escape her creator. Though it is easy to argue that she goes way too far by the end.

ARIIA (Eagle Eye)

The Autonomous Reconnaissance Intelligence Integration Analyst, or ARIIA, in 2008's Eagle Eye, is one of the most infamous versions of a computer that turns evil. In the movie, we really only know ARIIA as a voice on a phone (voiced by Julianne Moore), and for a while, we're not even aware that "she" is a computer program. It's a fun twist and a really fun movie, despite the incredibly low rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Thinker (Logan's Run)

Logan's Run is a classic dystopian future movie about a supercomputer that tracks everyone who tries to escape their prescribed death, which has been predetermined. Though it doesn't have a name in the computer, in the original novel by William F. Nolan, it's known as "The Thinker." Like a few others, it's a system that was probably created with good intentions, but the end result is a nightmare.

Queeg 500 (Red Dwarf)

The classic BBC science fiction show Red Dwarf addressed an AI-turned-rogue in the show's fifth season, in an episode called "Queeg." In the episode, the ship's computer, or, more specifically, the backup computer, takes control of some of the crew members and wreaks havoc on the Red Dwarf. Though there is a twist at the end that makes this a little dubious to add to this list, if I'm honest.

V.I.K.I (I, Robot)

In the Will Smith sci-fi hit I, Robot, V.I.K.I (short for Virtual Interactive Kinetic Intelligence) goes through a pretty predictable plot of an AI system that decides the best way to protect humans is to take them out. This, of course, turns into all-out war between man and machine, like so many other movies in this genre.

BOSS (Doctor Who)

It's no surprise that the long-running BBC sci-fi show Doctor Who would address sentient computer systems, and the most famous is the BOSS computer chip. BOSS, which stands for "Biomorphic Organisational Systems Supervisor," is implanted into the brain of Global Chemicals and, you guessed it, goes rogue when it learns more from the brain than the brain does from it.

AUTO (WALL-E)

Even Pixar has gotten into the rogue computer game with WALL-E. In the classic animated flick, AUTO, which is clearly an homage to HAL, is the computer that turns evil.

ROK (Airplane II: The Sequel)

When you cram about a million jokes in one two-hour movie, it's easy to work one in about a computer system gone mad. Airplane II: The Sequel features ROK (like elsewhere on this list, a tribute to HAL in 2001). Like HAL, ROK starts to take over the spaceship dubbed "Mayflower One," first by ejecting the crew into space, then steering the ship towards the sun. Luckily, the AI program's plans are thwarted when Ted Stryker (Robert Hays) fights another passenger, played by the late Sonny Bono, for a briefcase bomb that explodes and takes ROK out.

Jobe (The Lawnmower Man)

Jobe is a regular gardener of below-average intelligence who finds himself in a secret, evil program to create super soldiers. This is fudging a little here, because it's not really the computer that turns evil, but the man who goes way too far after being programmed in the project. Eventually, he goes "digital" and turns the computer system evil.

FLDSMDFR (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs)

We had to at least have a few light-hearted movies on this list, and Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs fits the bill. The 2009 movie, based on the classic 1978 children's book by Judi and Ron Barrett, is about an inventor and dad who creates the "Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator," or FLDSMDFR. It just rolls off the tongue! The name might be a tongue twister, but what it creates is chaos, though the stakes are pretty low, all things considered.

SID (Virtuosity)

1995's Virtuosity is really most notable for teaming up two of the greatest actors of their generation, Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Crowe, quite wonderfully, plays an android who is created as a vessel for an AI program called SID. The program was invented to help train cops, but SID has its own ideas about what its mission should be.

M3GAN (M3GAN)

Naturally, sci-fi and horror movies are the most common genres where you'll find computers turning evil. M3GAN is a great example of the latter. This time, it's a robotic doll powered by AI that turns very evil on its owners. Things started so well!

Zero (Rollerball)

Rollerball is one of James Caan's best movies, but it's not the first one you might think of when you think of the late actor. The 1975 sci-fi classic features a computer called "Zero" that holds all the knowledge of humanity, but the software fails and can't help Caan's character succeed.

Alien

Androids, like Ash (Ian Holm) in the original Alien, aren't exactly computers, but they aren't human either. It's also up for debate whether Ash went bad or if he was doing what he thought was best. Either way, it doesn't work out for the humans when he goes rogue.

The Smart Home (The Illustrated Man)

The Illustrated Man is a great movie that uses some tech that was still a ways away from being invented, smart home tech, to turn against its owners. It's a movie, based on a Ray Bradbury story, that warned us all the way back in the '60s of the dangers of virtual reality.

STEM (Upgrade)

2018's Upgrade is a really great movie that too many people haven't seen (yet). The story involves a regular guy who, after a tragic car crash, ends up a quadriplegic. He agrees to have an implant, called STEM, implanted in his brain. Of course, the miracle he first experiences by regaining control of his body, things go very wrong with the tech, and everything goes south from there.

Taylor Sheridan's western TV universe is as alive and thriving as ever, with at least three upcoming Yellowstone shows set to debut in the next year or so. While Luke Grimes' Y: Marshalls and its familiar faces might get the biggest live audience at CBS, I dare say fans are most excited about Rip and Beth's new spinoff, which started filming in Texas in August, with a working title of Dutton Ranch that may or may not be the real title. In any case, what IS real is how great this cast is going to be.

We previously learned that Annette Bening joined the spinoff as a formidable ranch owner, and now it's been revealed that esteemed, award-winning actor Ed Harris has joined the cast in a role that doesn't quite fit into what one might expect from the star of such projects as Westworld, Frontera, Sweetwater, Appaloosa, and more.

Ed Harris Will Play Mild-Mannered Everett McKinney

Per Deadline, Ed Harris' new spinoff character won't be a ruthless cowboy hellbent on revenge, and it doesn't sound like he'll be fighting tooth and nail to save his humble ranch. In fact, it doesn't sound at all like the kind of character that he would jump into for a Taylor Sheridan series, where violence and vengeance are loyal bedfellows.

Harris' Everett McKinney is described as being a "weathered veteran," which tracks, but also a veterinarian who possibly treats animals with more care and empathy than he allows for humans. It's also noted that Everett boasts a good sense of humor.

No complaints or anything, but it is wild to think of the hard-edged actor playing a jovial animal-lover in a Yellowstone-verse series. Or any other Taylor Sheridan show, for that matter. I'd also be shocked if Harris was portraying the same character on Landman or Tulsa King.

As such, the majority of my brain is already convinced that Mr. McKinney here has a bunch of awful skeletons in his closet that he hides behind his sense of humor and his ability to cure birds and shit. I can already see it now: Rip calls Everett over to his and Beth's new home to take a look at a sick horse, and the vet will suddenly get PTSD and start blaming Rip for purposefully hurting the animal, and then the all-out massacres start.

With a premiere date that'll likely come after the 2025 TV shedule has wrapped, Rip and Beth's Yellowstone spinoff will likely continue unveiling new cast members in the near future, so stay tuned!

Some moviegoers are absolutely against, or simply exhausted by, the idea of remaking a classic film or rebooting a hit TV show, and I absolutely sympathize with that, given how many lackluster remakes Hollywood has delivered. However, I am open to the idea of reimagining a beloved title, as long as the new version offers some reason to justify its existence by not simply hitting "copy, paste" and calling it a day. See what I mean by taking a look at some of these cinematic remakes and TV reboots that either surprised audiences with something or at least managed to stand on their own.

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

The Rat Pack-led original Ocean's 11 from 1960, which sees a group of World War II veterans reuniting to rob five Las Vegas casinos in one night, just for fun. Steven Soderbergh's remake reimagines the heist (involving only three casinos in one vault) as Danny Ocean's (George Clooney) act of revenge against casino magnate Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), who is dating his ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts).

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

Instead of following a high school student who inherits a family curse that makes him half-man, half-animal like the 1985 comedy, Teen Wolf, MTV's more earnest series adaptation starred Tyler Posey as a wolf bite victim who ends up using his lycanthropic abilities to protect his community from supernatural forces with the help of his friends, Buffy style

The Invisible Man (2020)

Considered one of the best horror movie remakes ever made is writer and director Leigh Whannell's reinterpretation of the classic Universal Monster Movie, The Invisible Man. The acclaimed Blumhouse thriller introduces a more plausible explanation for the eponymous villain's transparency and tells the story from the perspective of the victim, his tormented wife (played by Elisabeth Moss), resulting in a powerful and frightening commentary on gaslit abuse victims.

Westworld (2016-2022)

Michael Crichton's 1973 film Westworld was almost a precursor to Jurassic Park, taking place at a high-tech tourist attraction with an Old West aesthetic and highly realistic androids that go haywire. Decades later, an acclaimed HBO drama of the same name would expand on the concept in much darker, timely, and thought-provoking ways.

Scarface (1983)

Howard Hawks' 1932 gangster drama Scarface follows an Italian immigrant (played by Paul Muni) who rises to power in Chicago's criminal underworld. Director Brian DePalma's 1983 classic, which many may not realize is a remake, follows a Cuban immigrant (played by Al Pacino) and his rise to power in Miami's criminal underworld.

War Of The Worlds (2005)

There has never been a truly faithful adaptation of H.G. Wells' seminal novel, but the two best-known alien invasion movies it inspired could not be more different from one another. The 1953 version follows various residents of a California town and shows things from a governmental perspective, while Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds is told entirely from the point of view of a divorced father (played by Tom Cruise) and his two children as they travel the country searching for sanctuary. The remake even subverts expectations by having the evil extraterrestrials rise from the ground as opposed to coming down from the sky.

The Mummy (1999)

Universal's 1932 monster movie, The Mummy, starring Boris Karloff, is an undisputed classic of the studio's seminal creature feature era. When the story was updated in the late '90s, it took a more action-adventure approach, with Brendan Fraser leading the cast as a stand-in for Indiana Jones.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Joss Whedon took the basic premise of his screenplay for the 1992 Kristy Swanson-led horror-comedy movie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and revamped it (no pun intended) as a more earnest monster-of-the-week thriller, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as the teen monster hunter, that became a cultural phenomenon.

A Star Is Born (1976)

Bradley Cooper's Oscar-winning 2018 directorial debut, A Star is Born, is a wonderful achievement in spite of its many similarities to the late '70s hit of the same name starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. However, that film is a wholly original take on two other synonymous dramas that came before it in 1937 and 1954, both of which revolve around the movie business instead of the music industry.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

The main differentiator between Glen A. Larson's classic '70s sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica, and Ronald D. Moore's SyFy original reimagining is how it drops the campy tone. However, the contrast is unquestionably dramatic, resulting in one of the most celebrated cosmic TV shows of its time, or any time, and a benchmark for reboots done right.

The Thing (1982)

It is almost cheating to refer to John Carpenter's classic horror movie, The Thing, about an Arctic research crew that can't tell who among them is a shapeshifting alien, as a remake. It could more accurately be described as a far more faithful adaptation of its source material, a novella called "Who Goes There?" than producer Howard Hawks' 1951 thriller, The Thing from Another World, which is a relatively by-the-numbers creature feature.

Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018-2020)

Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman became a household name when Melissa Joan Hart portrayed her on the very lighthearted ABC sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Years later, Netflix released Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, in which star Kiernan Shipka's iteration faces mystical situations of a far graver matter.

The Nutty Professor (1996)

In the original The Nutty Professor from 1963, Jerry Lewis plays the clumsy, unsophisticated, but brilliant Julius Kelp, who develops a serum that alters his personality, creating a more suave and well-kept alter ego he calls Buddy Love. In director Tom Shadyac's remake, Eddie Murphy plays the perfectly sophisticated, but vastly overweight Sherman Klump, whose revolutionary serum initially serves as a temporary, instant weight loss solution, and his thinner self, also named Buddy Love, eventually begins to take on his own persona over time.

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Many of the best Western movies are reimaginings of classic Japanese action films. One of the best-known examples of this is The Magnificent Seven, which is merely an Americanized update of Seven Samurai, which trades swordfights for gunfights.

Pete’s Dragon (2015)

Co-writer and director David Lowery did not bother rewatching 1977's Pete's Dragon, which follows the friendship between an orphaned boy and a mystical creature that can turn itself invisible. He updated the Disney film into something that is not a musical nor a broad comedy, and goes for a more dramatic, atmospheric fantasy adventure for all ages, with great results.

Bel-Air (2022)

The classic NBC comedy The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air stars Will Smith as a young man taken out of his Philadelphia neighborhood to live with his wealthy California relatives after a violent encounter. This premise worked well as the set-up for a sitcom, but is also well-suited for a drama, as demonstrated in Morgan Cooper's 2019 short film that became the basis for Peacock's darker reimagining, Bel-Air, from producer Smith and starring Jabari Banks.

The Fly (1986)

The original 1958 adaptation of George Langelaan's short story, The Fly, involves an instantaneous transportation experiment gone wrong when an insect gets in the machine, causing a scientist (played by David Hedison) to come out the other end with a fly's head and arm. David Cronenberg's reimagining takes that same transportation device setup, but Jeff Goldblum's Seth Brundle comes out the other end seemingly fine, before his body slowly begins to deteriorate as a result of his DNA being fused with the fly.

Beetlejuice (1989-1991)

The animated series adaptation of 1988's beloved Tim Burton movie, Beetlejuice, is still a story told from a ghost's perspective and retains the same one-of-a-kind, maniacally macabre aesthetic. However, it reimagines the title character as a lovably goofy ghoul who, instead of manipulating Lydia Deetz into marriage, makes friends with her and takes her on various wondrous adventures in the afterlife.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

Jack Finney's classic alien invasion story has been adapted into multiple Invasion of the Body Snatchers movies, all of which are really no different in concept, but differ from each other in various stylistic and thematic ways. For instance, the original 1956 film is a commentary on fears of McCarthyism, while director Philip Kaufman's adaptation instead comments on blind consumerism and boasts not just a bleaker ending, but one of the most devastating endings in horror history.

A Fistful Of Dollars (1964)

At the time A Fistful of Dollars was released, few people realized the first installment of director Sergio Leone and star Clint Eastwood's "Man with No Name Trilogy" was a remake. That is because, while the film is a Western-style, beat-for-beat reimagining of the 1961 samurai classic Yojimbo, which is also about a drifter who protects a village by playing two oppressive gangs against each other, Akira Kurosawa never received any credit for inspiring the story, leading production company Toho to file a lawsuit.

RoboCop (2014)

While some might say that José Padilha's RoboCop is a remake that should have never been made, it at least tried to be different in some respects. In particular, Peter Weller's Alex Murphy from the original has almost no memory of his life before becoming a hybrid of man and machine, but the version played by Joel Kinnaman is fully aware of the person he was before and forced to undergo his unusual procedure against his will, which is quite a bit darker.

Dragnet (1987)

One of the first films to honor the bewildering tradition of adapting earnest TV crime dramas into feature-length comedies was director Tom Mankiewicz's Dragnet. This slapstick parody of detective stories is set in the world of Jack Webb's seminal police procedural, featuring Dan Aykroyd as the nephew of Sgt. Joe Friday (who is also named Joe Friday) and Tom Hanks as his partner, Det. Pep Streebek.

Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans (2009)

Director Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, starring Nicolas Cage, boasts an entirely different story from Abel Ferrara's 1992 crime drama, Bad Lieutenant, starring Harvey Keitel, despite also focusing on the exploits of a corrupt cop.

Disturbia (2007)

Director D.J. Caruso's Disturbia is recognized as an unofficial reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. It stars Shia LaBeouf as a teenage boy who suspects his neighbor is a murderer while confined to his home under house arrest, as opposed to a grown man (played by Jimmy Stewart) recovering from an injury.

Suspiria (2018)

Luca Guadagnino's reimagining of Dario Argento's 1977 Giallo-style supernatural thriller, Suspiria, has the same setting (a German ballet studio run by witches), but has none of the same eye-popping production design, incorporates a tangentially connected detective story B plot, and boasts a bleak twist ending.

Dawn Of The Dead (2004)

While also set in a mall this time, writer James Gunn and director Zack Snyder's take on the second installment of George Romero's revolutionary zombie movie franchise from 1978, Dawn of the Dead, makes the cast bigger, the zombies faster, the comedy more overt, and the subtle satirical nuances non-existent.

Death Race (2008)

Producer Roger Corman's 1975 B-movie Death Race 2000 takes place in a futuristic, totalitarian United States that holds an annual cross-country racing competition in which the object is to run over as many random pedestrians as possible. Paul W.S. Anderson's reimagining softens the dystopian angle, makes the race exclusive to incarcerated convicts on a single island, and challenges the racers to only kill each other, crowning the last person standing.

Velma (2023-2024)

In the HBO Max original animated prequel series, Velma, starring Mindy Kaling in the title role, the meddling kids from Mystery Inc. are nothing like who they used to be. There is also no Scooby-Doo, which was probably the last straw for all the haters.

When A Stranger Calls (2006)

The Camilla Belle-led update of When a Stranger Calls takes the first 20 minutes of the original 1979 suspense thriller, in which a babysitter discovers her unsettling phone calls are coming from inside the house, and extends that to its own 90-minute feature.

Beauty And The Beast (2012-2016)

From 1987 to 1990, CBS aired a modernized, crime drama-style take on the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, depicting a romance between a lion-man living underneath New York City (played by Ron Perlman) and a beautiful ADA (played by Linda Hamilton). When The CW developed its own version, the series dropped the mystical half-man, half-animal creature aspect in favor of making the Beast a normal man who goes feral when angered after being subjected to a government experiment.

Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank (2022)

The original title of the animated comedy Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, about a dog who becomes an unlikely hero to a village of cats, was Blazing Samurai, to reflect how Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles served as its structural inspiration.

Mockingbird Lane (2012)

Mockingbird Lane, which aired on NBC as a Halloween special, was developer Bryan Fuller's failed attempt at reimagining the spooky, silly sitcom The Munsters into a modern supernatural dramedy.

A common criticism thrown around when judging an actor’s performance is that they seem too “robotic,” while some roles, particularly in sci-fi movies and TV shows, actually require that sort of demeanor. Then again, the best robot portrayals usually come from performers who attempt to bring a sense of humanity to their mechanical characters. See for yourself by revisiting some of the most acclaimed, iconic, and even underrated robotic performances – including friendly robots and sinister machines alike – on the big and small screen.

Anthony Daniels - C-3PO (Star Wars)

I can understand why some fans of the Star Wars movies do not care much for C-3PO as a character, as I, too, feel annoyed by his constant complaints, especially in the 1977 original. However, his shortcomings are outweighed by the droid's heroic moments, and, not to mention, Anthony Daniels' commitment to the role (he even wears that visibly uncomfortable suit) is a highlight of the franchise.

Alicia Vikander - Ava (Ex Machina)

I consider Alex Garland's 2014 directorial debut, the classic A24 movie, Ex Machina, to be one of the most powerful cautionary statements on artificial intelligence, and the reason lies in Alicia Vikander's performance as Ava. The stunningly humanesque android convinces both programmer Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) and the audience that she is worth trusting before pulling the rug from underneath us in the shocking finale.

Rutger Hauer - Roy Batty (Blade Runner)

Fans of director Ridley Scott's Philip K. Dick adaptation, Blade Runner, would agree that the real hero of the 1982 film is not Harrison Ford's Rick Deckard, but Roy Batty. Rutger Hauer brings a refreshing aura of humanity to his performance as the Replicant, who wants nothing more for himself and other artificial beings like him but a chance to live a full and free life, which his programming and the laws of his dystopian society do not allow.

Brigitte Helm - Maschinenmensch (Metropolis)

One of the most essential silent era movies is director Fritz Lang's 1927 adaptation of Thea von Harbou's 1925 novel, Metropolis, which takes place in a seemingly utopian society that secretly relies on a secret underground of tireless workers to function. Brigitte Helm stars in the dual roles of a saintly figure named Maria and a mechanical being made in her likeness called Maschinenmensch – an iconic robot character that even those who have not seen the film should surely recognize.

Ian Holm - Ash (Alien)

In some movies, the goal of a robotic character is to blend in among its human peers, which Ash (Ian Holm) accomplishes for most of Alien. When his true identity is revealed, Holm brings out a chilling demeanor in his android character that almost makes you forget that there is a deadlier threat onboard the Nostromo, and one of the all-time scariest movie aliens, called a Xenomorph.

Vin Diesel - The Iron Giant (The Iron Giant)

Funny how most of Vin Diesel's more acclaimed performances have been voice acting roles, such as when he voiced the title role of 1999's The Iron Giant. The actor brings such a charming, childlike innocence to an otherwise physically intimidating character, who befriends young sci-fi fan Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal) in Brad Bird's directorial debut, which could have won the Best Animated Feature Oscar had the category existed then.

Peter Weller - Alex Murphy (RoboCop)

There are some iconic movie robot characters who started off as humans before being rebuilt into something more, such as Alex Murphy in 1987's RoboCop. Peter Weller gives, arguably, his definitive and most heartfelt performance in director Paul Verhoeven's action-packed, cleverly satirical sci-fi classic as the brutally murdered police officer who is selected by a powerful corporation to become the ultimate crime-fighting machine.

Brent Spiner - Data (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Arguably, the heart and soul of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast and an essential reason why the Emmy-winning series is one of the most beloved iterations of the long-running franchise is Brent Spiner's performance as Data. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) sums up what makes the Soong-type android one-of-a-kind when he eulogizes him in Star Trek: Nemesis, referencing how he reflected the best of humanity by striving to be better than he was.

Peter Cullen - Optimus Prime (Transformers)

Some might say that Chris Hemsworth did an exceptional job voicing a young Optimus Prime in Transformers One, but the role will always belong to the actor who first brought the shapeshifting alien robot to life. Peter Cullen's portrayal of the Autobots' leader became so essential to the original beloved animated series that he readily accepted the chance to reprise the role in Michael Bay's 2007 live-action reboot.

Arnold Schwarzenegger - T-800 (The Terminator)

Playing an unstoppable, unfeeling killing machine from the future in 1984's The Terminator made Arnold Schwarzenegger a bona fide movie star. However, his arguably stronger performance in James Cameron's action-packed franchise of time travel movies comes from 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day as a T-800 reprogrammed to protect John Connor (Edward Furlong), to whom he becomes a much-needed father figure.

Haley Joel Osment - David (A.I.: Artificial Intelligence)

Steven Spielberg took over for Stanley Kubrick to direct A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, which is essentially a futuristic take on the story of Pinocchio. Haley Joel Osment gives one of the most profound and riveting performances of his early career as an android designed to both authentically resemble and act like an 11-year-old who, in order to please his new family, longs to become a real boy.

Sophie Thatcher - Iris (Companion)

SPOILER ALERT for anyone who has not seen one of the great horror movies of 2025, Companion: it is not until near the end of the first act when Iris (Sophie Thatcher), as well as the audience, discovers she is really a robot programmed with undying affection for her purchaser, in this case Josh (Jack Quaid). However, Josh turns out to be a really terrible "boyfriend," awakening a part of Iris that longs for independence, which Thatcher's commanding performance makes it easy to root for.

Kenny Baker - R2-D2 (Star Wars)

Have you ever considered the fact that Star Wars fans owe the entire franchise to none other than R2-D2? If the droid (played beautifully by the late Kenny Baker, who actually operated the character from within) had not successfully delivered Princess Leia's message to Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Resistance might not have thrived in its war against the Empire.

Lupita Nyong’o - Roz (The Wild Robot)

The Wild Robot became an instant classic kids movie for the way it also appeals to adult viewers with a heartwarming commentary on the challenges of parenthood, as seen through the eyes of an unlikely character. Lupita Nyong'o is wonderful as the voice of a mechanical assistant that must alter her programming to take on the responsibility of raising an abandoned gosling and helping her other animal friends survive.

Ben Burtt - WALL-E (WALL-E)

You could easily cite Ben Burtt's enchanting vocal performance as a lonely robot tasked with cleaning up an abandoned Earth as to why WALL-E is one of the best Pixar movies, but that is the tip of the iceberg. The Oscar-winning animated sci-fi drama also offers a frighteningly plausible premonition of what humanity could become, not only if we are forced to leave our planet, but also if indolence is encouraged in favor of a fully automated lifestyle.

Paul Bettany - Vision (Avengers: Age of Ultron)

After years of lending his voice to Tony Stark's A.I. assistant Jarvis for years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Paul Bettany was given the chance to play an artificial being with a bit more personality named Vision, who debuted in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron. The English actor's performance as the unique superhero only became stronger with each subsequent appearance, especially at the moment of his death(s) in Avengers: Infinity War and his mysterious resurrection in the Disney+ series, WandaVision.

Alan Tudyk - K-2SO (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

Robots always seem to steal the show in the Star Wars franchise, especially if they have an exceptionally talented actor at the helm. Case in point, one of "Geek God" Alan Tudyk's best roles is the voice of K-2SO, an Imperial droid reprogrammed with an assignment to help the Resistance (and with an extra dose of snark) in the 2016 prequel film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Lance Henriksen - Bishop (Aliens)

One of the few trustworthy androids in the Alien movie franchise is Bishop, whom Ripley is understandably slow to warm to upon discovering he is not human in 1986's Aliens. Lance Henriksen would later appear in Alien 3 as the human who created Bishop, Michael Bishop of the Weyland-Yutani corporation.

Robert Patrick - T-1000 (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

As a cyborg made of liquid metal, which makes it able to shapeshift, able to pass through small openings, and nearly impossible to kill, the T-1000 did not need a great performance to make it cool. Yet, Robert Patrick made the main antagonist of 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day a special kind of villain with his cold, fierce demeanor.

Joan Rivers - Dot Matrix (Spaceballs)

Just about every major character in the Star Wars universe is sent up with a parodic counterpart in Mel Brooks' hilarious spoof movie, 1997's Spaceballs. For instance, the mocking equivalent to C-3PO is Princess Vespa's droid, Dot Matrix, who is voiced by the incomparable Joan Rivers.

David Jonsson - Andy (Alien: Romulus)

Most critics and audiences would agree that the standout performance of Fede Alvarez's terrifying 2024 sequel, Alien: Romulus, is David Jonsson as Andy. The English actor stole the show with what technically counts as a dual role, initially introducing Andy as unassuming, innocent, and consistently loyal to Rain (Cailee Spaeny) until he is reprogrammed with a new directive that makes him a threat.

Bill Irwin - TARS (Interstellar)

One of the most entertaining characters in Christopher Nolan's acclaimed space movie, Interstellar, is not a human, but still highly relatable, especially for its spicy humor setting. Bill Irwin not only provided the voice for TARS, but also was involved with puppeteering the uniquely designed robot that accompanies Matthew McConaughey's Cooper and others on a mission to find a habitable replacement for Earth.

Ryan Gosling - K (Blade Runner 2049)

Ryan Gosling's penchant for stoicism serves him very well as the hero of Denis Villeneuve's 2017 Blade Runner sequel, Blade Runner 2049. He plays "K," a Replicant assigned to hunt other Replicants, who begins to question his job and his true identity after making a startling, conspiratorial discovery.

Scott Adsit - Baymax (Big Hero 6)

What makes Disney's Oscar-winning, animated 2014 comic book adaptation, Big Hero 6, an instant classic superhero movie is not just its spectacular action and heartwarming coming-of-age themes. The most charming element is Scott Adsit's hilarious performance as the voice of Hiro's (Ryan Potter) cuddly robot friend, Baymax.

Yul Brynner - The Gunslinger (Westworld)

Years after starring as a heroic gunslinger in the classic Western movie, The Magnificent Seven, Yul Brynner played a role that is the opposite in every way, from his sinister aura and mechanical infrastructure, in Westworld. Director Michael Crichton's 1973 sci-fi thriller later inspired an acclaimed HBO series of the same name.

Alan Rickman/Warwick Davis - Marvin (The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy)

Some might call 2005's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy an underrated adaptation of Douglas Adams' cult favorite sci-fi farce, especially for its portrayal of Marvin. Alan Rickman provides the voice, and Warwick Davis wears the suit of the android who is perpetually depressed for having no reason to apply his immense knowledge of the universe.

Alan Tudyk - Sonny (I, Robot)

Will Smith may receive top billing for 2004's futuristic detective story, I, Robot, but Sonny is its heart and soul. Alan Tudyk captures the "unique" machine's inner turmoil beautifully as he evolves from a confused murder suspect to a hero.

Paul Reubens - MAX (Flight Of The Navigator)

One of Paul Reubens' best roles outside of his time playing Pee-wee Herman comes from Disney's 1986 cult favorite sci-fi classic, Flight of the Navigator. The comedian voices MAX, which is the computer that powers an extraterrestrial vessel that young David Freeman (Joey Cramer) must help navigate.

Michael Fassbender - David (Prometheus)

It is never clear whether or not Michael Fassbender's David is an android worth trusting... at least in 2012's Prometheus. He is clearly revealed to be a malevolent presence in 2017's Alien: Covenant, in which the actor also plays a friendlier robot named Walter.

Summer Glau - Cameron (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles)

The underrated TV series, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, reinvents and continues the adventures of the titular hero (Lena Headey) and her son, John (Thomas Dekker). It also partners the mother-son duo with Summer Glau as Cameron, who is a cyborg unlike any previously seen in the franchise, equipped with an emotional core and the ability to feel sensations.

Robin Williams - Andrew (Bicentennial Man)

Robin Williams gives a heartfelt performance in director Chris Columbus' Bicentennial Man as a service android named Andrew, who longs to become human.

Various - Tom Servo And Crow T. Robot (Mystery Science Theater 3000)

The art of audibly poking fun at a cheesy movie is perfected in the long-running sci-fi comedy series, Mystery Science Theater 3000, which follows a human forced to watched low-grade flicks with his mechanical companions. Much like the rotating selection of human hosts, the actors known for playing the two main robot characters, Tom Servo and Crow, have changed over the years (such as Kevin Murphy and Baron Vaughn as Servo and Trace Beaulieu and Hampton Young as Crow, for instance), but the portrayers' hilarious improv skills have never faltered with each succession.

When it comes to specific channels on television, there is but one that has produced television shows that have genuinely taken the world by storm and got people talking for years on end. And that, my friends, is HBO. The premium channel – known as “Home Box Office” – has created some of the biggest shows of the last thirty years or so. And here are some that truly got the world talking.

Game of Thrones

You knew Game of Thrones would be on here somehow. The series, based on the novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin, was the biggest show for years on HBO, with several huge Game of Thrones shocking moments and a Game of Thrones cast that exploded onto the scene and became household names. It’s one of the best shows of the last decade.

Westworld

Running for three seasons, Westworld was a sci-fi western based on the novel of the same name. It was a huge show when it first came out. The Westworld cast was large and impressive, and the story took so many twists and turns that it was almost hard to keep up with it.

The White Lotus

Did you ever think a series about guests at a five-star hotel resort would become the phenomenon that it’s become? Because I sure didn’t. The White Lotus, which began as a limited series, has run for three seasons so far and has captured the hearts and attention of viewers worldwide, with views growing steadily with each new season.

Insecure

Created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, Insecure is the kind of comedy-drama that everyone needs to see. With five seasons total, the series followed two young Black women who are navigating their twenties and just trying to survive everyday life. It’s hilarious, won several awards, and was popular for all the right reasons.

True Detective

With a new cast each season and a new mystery to solve, True Detective kept coming back with even better stories and excellent acting. From the lands of California to the snow landscape of Alaska, this series finds new ways to surprise its audience each time, making viewers return for more whenever a new season is confirmed.

The Last of Us

Based on the video game franchise of the same name, The Last of Us ended up becoming one of the biggest shows on the channel, as well as on Max, the streaming platform for HBO. The series follows the life of Joel, a smuggler in the apocalypse, and Ellie, a girl who is immune to the virus. They journey across the United States, where her immunity might be the cure to this whole thing. The series is beloved by most, and is one of the best video game adaptations out there.

Deadwood

Considered one of the best Western shows, Deadwood is the series to watch if you want a good, classic crime drama with some of the best acting. Featuring an all-star cast with so much to love, the show was so popular that it spawned a movie after it ended, which also premiered on HBO.

Euphoria

While there have been years between seasons of this show, there’s no denying that Euphoria is one of those series where, when it premieres, the world stops to watch. Starring an impressive Euphoria cast led by Zendaya, the dark teen drama altered pop culture when it premiered and has remained iconic years later.

Big Little Lies

Based on the novel of the same name, Big Little Lies is a mystery and dark comedy in which you never truly know who to trust. With two seasons and cast members who are mega-stars like Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and more at the helm, this series got people talking and more.

House Of The Dragon

While the Game of Thrones universe has continued to expand, the first series that came out after the main show concluded was House of the Dragon, based on the novel Fire and Blood. With more dragons than ever before, a civil war that has fans on the edge of their seats, and acting that takes your breath away, this series was primed to become one of the biggest shows out there the moment it premiered.

Six Feet Under

For five seasons, one of the biggest shows on HBO was Six Feet Under, a series that followed the lives of a family who ran a funeral parlor. I know, at first, that kind of premise sounds like it wouldn’t mean much entertainment, but this was a very well-received series and one that fans absolutely loved.

The Wire

Whenever anyone thinks of an HBO show, one of the first that comes to mind is always this one. The Wire was a crime drama set in Baltimore and told a different storyline each season about a new institution of the city, from drugs to the lack of education in the city. It’s extremely well-told.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

There are some comedies out there that become huge, and then there’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, a show that ran for twelve seasons, 120 episodes, and continued to remain critically praised for years. Fans could not get enough of Larry David in the lead role and the hilarity of the story that his fictional self would get into in this iconic HBO series.

Mildred Pierce

A miniseries on HBO, Mildred Pierce, is based on a book by the same name and stars Kate Winslet. Through five episodes, we watch a divorcee of the Great Depression trying to find herself again and establish a business within the restaurant industry while also dealing with her problems. The miniseries was a massive hit for HBO and earned several Emmy nominations – and a couple of wins.

Big Love

Running for five seasons, Big Love was a drama that took the world by storm. It followed the story of a Mormon man and his three wives who lived in modern-day Utah. The series was another huge hit for the channel and earned several major awards during its run.

The Sopranos

I mean, obviously, I have to include The Sopranos. I feel like The Sopranos is as synonymous with HBO as Game of Thrones is. The series made the channel huge and won many awards. The Sopranos cast is filled to the brim with incredible talent, and even now, years later, it has a long-lasting legacy.

Girls

Created by Lena Dunham, Girls was a comedy-drama that aired over six seasons and followed the lives of four women living in modern-day New York City. It had some hilarious storylines but wasn’t afraid to dive deeper into modern themes and darker subjects, which made the show such a hit.

Chernobyl

When I think of some of the best miniseries on HBO, Chernobyl is one that comes up every time. The series tells the true story of the Chernobyl disaster and was critically praised for its acting, accuracy, and fantastic cinematography. Once you watch Chernobyl, you’ll never return to who you were before.

Veep

I could go on and on for hours about Veep and how amazing it was. Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the Veep cast was hilarious. It told the story of a U.S. vice president and how she tried to deal with the modern-day politics of America while also working with an idiotic president next to her. It’s hysterical in every way, shape and form.

Watchmen

Based on the same comic series, Watchmen is an HBO miniseries that truly redefines the superhero drama of television. It tells bold and dark tales of a world of crime and justice. It also has an incredible cast that only cemented its legacy on HBO. I always wished there was a Season 2, but I’m content with it running for the one miniseries we got.

Barry

For four seasons, Barry was the best dark comedy on the channel – and later, it really turned into more of a drama than anything else. The series, starring Bill Hader as the lead of the spectacular Barry cast, tells the story of a hitman who finds some purpose in acting in L.A. and begins to question his life. The show takes twists and turns you would never expect.

Mare Of Easttown

This miniseries, Starring Kate Winslet, was a huge hit for HBO. With seven episodes, it tells the story of a detective who investigates a murder in a small town outside of Philadelphia while also dealing with her own personal life. The series won several Emmy Awards and was talked about for weeks.

The Leftovers

The Leftovers ran for three seasons, but it cemented itself on HBO’s roster the moment it did, and people still talk about it today. The series follows the lives of people on Earth who were left behind when 2% of the entire population of the world vanished. Now, it’s up to the leftovers to survive.

The Righteous Gemstones

The Righteous Gemstones is one of those series that has a cast that is too good to be true. The show stars Danny McBride, Adam DeVine, John Goodman, Walton Goggins, and so many other major stars – and what makes it better is that it’s so funny. With four seasons, the series follows a family of televangelists and their personal lives, and it’s just as hysterical as you can imagine it would be.

Band Of Brothers

The miniseries Band of Brothers was based on the novel of the same name and is a war drama that was praised for its impressive Band of Brothers cast, as well as how realistic the series was. The show was so popular that it spawned two spinoff shows years later – The Pacific and Masters of the Air.

Succession

Oh, you knew this show would be on here somehow. Succession was a huge HBO show that followed the story of a family fighting for control over their father’s media conglomerate when his health was put into question. The series was praised for its acting, from the incredible Succession cast, as well as its storyline that anyone could get into.

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

While it’s not a scripted series like many of the others on this list, this talk show has become a massive hit for HBO and has won several Emmys throughout the years. Starring John Oliver, the talk show covers what has happened in the world in a funny way, mostly regarding politics, and always features clips that end up becoming huge on social media.

Silicon Valley

Running for six seasons, Silicon Valley is a comedy series that is exactly what you expect it to be—a series about tech bros in the iconic Silicon Valley of California and the struggles of working there. The series earned plenty of award nominations during its run, including Emmys, and was a major hit.

Oz

If you’re looking for a prison drama, then Oz is one that you have to check out, and it became a huge deal for HBO. The series follows the lives of prisoners and guards and everyone else involved in a maximum security prison, with enough drama to last a lifetime that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I May Destroy You

This single-series show took the world by storm. I May Destroy You is a black comedy about a young writer who is trying to rebuild who she is and her life after suffering a horrible sexual assault. The show was nominated for many awards and was a significant success for the channel.

Sharp Objects

Starring Amy Adams and based on the novel of the same name, Sharp Objects is about a reporter who is covering the murder of two girls and has to return to her hometown. Her hometown is filled with memories of her past that haunt her to this day. The miniseries was an award-winner and earned several acting nominations.

Mr. Show With Bob And David

While it’s one of the oldest shows on this list, Mr. Show with Bob and David was what kickstarted the careers of Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. The series was a sketch comedy that ran for four seasons with hilarious bits and moments that really cemented the two lead stars in the world of comedy.

There are so many other great HBO shows that people loved, but these are just a few of the ones that I enjoy watching every time I get the chance. If you haven’t checked them out, you need to now!

Almost every show that goes for multiple seasons eventually does the thing fans dread the most: the jump the shark. Not every show jumps the shark, but it's usually inevitable for long-running shows.

Jumping the shark can mean a few different things. Sometimes, it's the creative pinnacle of the show and everything that comes after feels like coasting. Sometimes it's a moment so absurd, that there is simply no way for the show to ever recover from it. Here is our list of some of the best shows and the moment they jumped the shark.

The Principal And The Pauper - The Simpsons

When a show has been on the air as long as The Simpsons, it wouldn't be surprising to see fans arguing over when it actually jumped the shark. However, for The Simpsons, it's usually agreed upon that "The Principal And The Pauper" is the moment all was lost. Fans hate it, cast members hate it... it's just... hated. It's hated for ruining the canon of the show and creating a fake Skinner.

Cousin Oliver Joins The Bradys - The Brady Bunch

Another way people sometimes refer to the jump-the-shark moment is by calling it the "Cousin Oliver" moment. That's when a new, younger, and cuter cast member is added to a family sitcom when the original kids get too old. It's easy to point to the Cousin Oliver moment on The Brady Bunch since it's the genesis of the term.

The Connors Win The Lottery - Roseanne

The charm of the Connors on Roseanne is their working-class family dynamics. It was something that was rarely seen on TV in those days and it made the "real" to fans of the show. Then they won the lottery and all of a sudden everything that made them real was gone. Womp womp.

Joey And Rachel - Friends

Friends really started getting ridiculous when Rachel and Joy started hooking up behind Ross' back. Two couples within the group of six was enough, no one needed a third. Luckily it didn't last long and the show recovered a little from it, but it was definitely the beginning of the end.

Matthew Crawley's Death - Downton Abbey

One of the things that made Downton Abbey so interesting in the beginning was the dynamic between the established family at Downton with the heir they never knew in Matthew Crawley. When things were finally getting resolved, Matthew was suddenly killed off in a car crash and we had to start all over again. The show never recovered to its early heights.

Jim And Pam Get Married - The Office

It was the moment everyone was waiting for. Jim and Pam finally got married! We all laughed and cried tears of joy. The problem? Where does The Office from there? Yeah, it seems no one really knew and even though the show soldiered on, it never quite regained the magic it had before that wonderful moment.

Season Nine Was A Dream - Dallas

Not only was the big reveal at the end of Season 9 that Bobby Ewing was alive and the whole season had been a dream the moment that Dallas jumped the shark, it made fans furious. Everyone felt cheated and in a way, they were. It's always a mistake to pretend to kill off a character.

Jefferson D'Arcy Moves In - Married... With Children

Ted McGinley is a great actor with an unfortunate reputation of being one reason shows jump the shark. TV fans point to shows like Magnum PI and The Love Boat as examples, but the most famous example is when he joined the cast as D'Arcy's new husband on Married... With Children. For lack of any better moment, we'll go with this one.

Sam Sells The Bar - Cheers

A show jumping the shark in the first episode of a season is very rare, but that's what Cheers did. Season 5 of Cheers ends with Diane (Shelley Long) leaving Boston, never to return. Season 6 opens with Sam having sold the bar to sail around the world. The show might not have gone off the rails with Diane leaving, but Sam selling the bar ended the golden age of the show.

Zoey Barlett Getting Kidnapped - The West Wing

One of the best cliffhangers in TV history comes at the end of Season 4 of The West Wing when Zoey Bartlett (Elisabeth Moss) is kidnapped. It's a moment that writer Aaron Sorkin set up way back in Season 1. It was the pinnacle of the show and after Sorkin left at the end of the season, the show really struggled to reach its early heights. IT never really did.

Negan Kills Glenn And Abraham - The Walking Dead

Negan is the ultimate baddie in The Walking Dead and once he was introduced and he murdered Glenn and Abraham, there was simply nowhere for the show to go to reach a more emotional peak. That was it. The show continued on, but it never came close to that moment ever again.

McNulty's Serial Killer - The Wire

The Wire didn't jump the shark until its final system, but when McNulty invents the serial killer, suddenly a show famous for being grounded in reality went way off the rails. It's still a point of contention with fans of the show and it always will be. It's not one of McNulty's best moments, that's for sure.

West Beverly Grads Go to College - Beverly Hills, 90210

A show about high school, even a classic like Beverly Hills, 90210 is always going to struggle when the main cast graduate. 90210 did an okay job making the transition and it had more seasons after high school than before, but it was never as good as it was in the first three seasons. Donna Martin Graduates!

Fonzi Jumping The Shark - Happy Days

You knew this one had to be on the list, right? The Fonz jumping the shark while wearing his leather jacket in Happy Days is the origin of the term and one of the most infamous moments in all of TV history.

Not Penny's Boat - Lost

Lost is one of the most controversial shows in history. Fans love it, and those same fans also hate it. Almost no one thinks the show ended well, but everyone agrees that the moment we learn that the boat supposedly coming to save the castaways isn't what they think it is is the creative peak of the show.

Sam Joins The Drummonds - Diff'rent Strokes

In one of the most famous examples of the "Cousin Oliver Effect," Diff'rent Strokes introduced Sam, a new kid living with the Drummonds. The show was simply never the same again.

John Dutton Becomes Governor - Yellowstone

Yellowstone was never a show that was grounded in much reality, but when a sociopath and criminal like John Dutton (Kevin Costner) gets elected governor, it's a bridge too far. Everyone's favorite TV anti-hero was halfway believable as a rich guy fighting off everyone from his land, but the governor? Come on. Making his first speech with a black hat on is a little on the nose, too.

The Cylon Reveal - Battlestar Galactica

Make no mistake, the moment of the Cylon reveal on Battlestar Galactica is an all-time great TV moment. The problem is, the show lost its way a little as so much had been building for that moment.

Spock's Brain - Star Trek (TOS)

There honestly might not be a moment when the original series of Star Trek jumped the shark, but if you have to pick one, it's probably the "Spock's Brain" episode. It's a favorite for some, but it's not without its detractors, who call it the cheesiest episode of the show.

Leaving Westworld - Westworld

This may be the most devastating jump-the-shark moment on this list. Westworld's first season is universally praised. In the end, when the show "leaves" Westworld it goes off the rails and the next two seasons are a disaster. It truly never recovered.

House Destroys Cuddy's House - House

The balance between genius and chaos is what made House a great show. Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) was on the edge. It's when he went over the edge by crashing a car into Dr. Cuddy's house, the show never got back to where it was before, when it was truly great.

The Gang Goes To Ireland - Sons Of Anarchy

Sons Of Anarchy was always a show that was over-the-top and ridiculous. It was part of the Charm of the motorcycle gang from Charming. About halfway through Season 3, a bunch of the gang takes off for Northern Ireland for... some reason. It feels like such a desperate attempt to breathe life into the show when it didn't really need it yet.

Frank Underwood Becomes President - House Of Cards

The best thing about House Of Cards is watching Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his desperate craving for power. When he finally reaches the pinnacle, the motivation is lost and that is reflected. Spacey's legal problems ultimately spelled the end of the show, for all intents and purposes, but it jumped the shark long before that.

A Different Darren - Bewitched

Replacing a popular actor is difficult, especially if it's in an existing role. Dick York, the original Darren on Bewitched was forced to leave the show because of medical issues, and a new actor, Dick Sergeant stepped in. Sergeant was great in the role, and it's not his fault the show faltered, but it just never regained the steam it had before York got sick.

Laverne and Shirley Move To LA - Laverne & Shirley

There are a ton of TV sitcoms set in Los Angeles, but very few are set in Milwaukee. What made Laverne & Shirley so charming was that midwest vibe it had when the two titular characters worked in a brewery. In Season 6, everyone ups and moves to LA and the show's charm was sucked out of it almost immediately. It stumbled along for another few seasons, but it was never the same.

Topher Grace Leaving - That '70s Show

Some shows can survive the main character leaving, but some just can't. That '70s Show is an example of the latter when Topher Grace, who played Eric Foreman, left the show. Though it was an ensemble cast, Eric was really the core of the whole friend group and they just never found the chemistry the earlier seasons had.

Victorian Sherlock - Sherlock

It was a bold decision by the creators of Sherlock to set an episode in Victorian London, the true time period for Sherlock Holmes. It's a decent episode, but the problem was that what made the show great was that it was a very modern and very contemporary take on the Sherlock Holmes stories. By setting it in the late 19th Century it was more like every other adaption of the Holmes stories, and the show lost some of its charm.

The Elevator Drop - LA Law

Rosalind Shays (Diana Muldaur) on L.A. Law was one of the great TV villains of the 1980s. Still, her ridiculous death by falling down an empty elevator shaft was so silly that it spelled the end of the show. The show wouldn't end for another few seasons, it felt like such a cheap end after she had started a relationship with another character, softening her character.

Leo Joins The Cast - Growing Pains

Usually, the actor in a "Cousin Oliver" moment ends up living in obscurity. That is not what happened with the Growing Pains Cousin Oliver moment when the family invited a homeless kid named Luke Brower to live with them. Bower was played by none other than Leonardo DiCaprio. Wow. Still, it didn't save the show from getting canceled soon after.

Song Beneath the Song - Grey's Anatomy

The 18th episode of Season 7 of Grey's Anatomy was... a musical. There are a lot of ways of looking at the episode, called "Song Beneath the Song." Some love and some loathe it. Either way, it's a classic jump-the-shark moment, even for a show that used music brilliantly.

Even the best shows have their fan-favorite seasons. The seasons that most fans are perfect, or at least close to perfect. It's hard to judge based on reviews and even on Rotten Tomato rankings which one fans think is the creme de la creme of their favorite show, so we looked at Ranker, Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB, and other spots to nail down just which season of these classic shows fans love the most.

The Office - Season 2

Season 2 holds the top spot for The Office. That makes a lot of sense as it's really when the classic sitcom came out from under the shadow of the British show on which it was based and found its own footing. Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) separated himself from David Brent (Ricky Gervais) and the rest is history.

The Sopranos - Season 3

The Sopranos is one of the few shows that most fans agree doesn't really have any bad seasons. Some are better than others, sure, but, especially out of the first four, how do you separate them? Season 3 is as good a choice as any as Junior gets out of prison and begins his power grab against Tony, Tony's mother is at her worst, and it ends with one of the most devastating murders in the show's run.

Atlanta - Season 1

It's no surprise here that the first season of Atlanta sits on top. The show's four-season run is great, but it never quite matched the incredible impact or lofty heights of that first magical season. It won a slew of awards in the first year, something it also never matched again.

Seinfeld - Season 5

"The Puffy Shirt," "The Marine Biologist," "The Dinner Party," and "The Hamptons" are just a few of the stone-cold classic episodes of Seinfeld in Season 5. This is a show where almost any season could be the favorite as there are classic episodes in all of them, even the first. But Season 5 seems to be the one fans love the most.

Cheers - Season 4

As much as hardcore fans of Cheers love Coach (Nicholas Colasanto), it's not surprising to see the first season with Woody (Woody Harrelson) rank at the top. Season 4 is when the show really came into its own and became the ratings monster it would remain for the rest of its run on NBC in the '80s.

The Wire - Season 4

This is one choice that some fans will definitely disagree with. Not because Season 4 of The Wire is bad, because, oh boy, it certainly is great, but because Season 3 is at least as good if not better in the eyes of many fans, with a bunch of the best episodes. Still, the season following the kids in school comes out on top here, as viewers are introduced to a whole new generation of corner boys and future crew members.

The West Wing - Season 2

It's hard to pick just one season out of the first four for The West Wing. What probably puts this one over the edge is the season finale, "Two Cathedrals," which is one of the best episodes of any television show, ever. The whole season is incredibly good, but the ending is magical.

Gilmore Girls - Season 3

Season 3 of Gilmore Girls hits the top spot for the WB favorite likely pushed to the top for moments like the big reveal of Jess' father towards the end of the season and other milestones throughout the season.

The Simpsons - Season 4

This one is sure to spur some debate. The general consensus of fans of The Simpsons is that basically Seasons 2 through 8 or 9 are basically perfect. Still, it's easy to see why Season 4 won out here, with classic episodes like "Marge vs. the Monorail," "Homer the Heretic," "Duffless," "Mr. Plow," "Last Exit to Springfield," and "Whacking Day," which has a number of the best quotes from The Simpsons.

This Is Us - Season 1

It's hard to argue that the first season of This Is Us isn't the best. The first episode ends with an incredible twist and throughout the rest of the season, audiences get, well, emotionally connected, to the characters in a way that few other shows have ever matched. The tears of later seasons would have never happened without that incredible foundation.

Saturday Night Live - Season 15

How do fans choose one season of a show that has been on the air as long as Saturday Night Live? Surely every generation has its own favorite, but Season 15 is as good a choice as any with a powerhouse cast that includes the great Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, Jan Hooks, and Mike Myers in his first season as a full cast member.

Breaking Bad - Season 5

Yet another show on this list that has multiple amazing seasons that could be in contention here. There have been very few shows that have ended as well as Breaking Bad so it tracks that its final season would come out on top here. Even the Guinness Book of World Records named it the "most acclaimed" series of all time after it ended.

Friends - Season 5

No doubt that hardcore fans of Friends will have something to say here, but most will agree that if Season 5 isn't the best, it's one of the best. The season starts with the aftermath of Ross saying "Rachel," and ends with their drunken wedding in Vegas, all while Monica and Chandler's relationship grows into more than just hooking up.

Game Of Thrones - Season 4

This one was pretty surprising as well, as most might expect Season 3, with The Red Wedding to rank at the top, but maybe the death of Joffrey at The Purple Wedding and the rise of Daenerys as a conquerer is too much to resist. Not to mention the fight between Oberyn and The Mountain. And Tyrion killing Tywin... Okay, yeah it makes sense.

Abbott Elementary - Season 1

Abbott Elementary burst onto the scene as the freshest and best network sitcom in years. It won every award it could after that first season and while it's remained consistently great, it's never matched those early heights when it was all so new and so funny.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia - Season 5

Sometimes it feels like It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia has been on since the dawn of time, and it kind of has. There have been many great seasons, dozens of great episodes, and even more legendary scenes and lines. For fans, it reached its zenith in Season 5, but it's not like they've turned away from it in later seasons.

24 - Season 5

The most impressive thing about 24 is how it continued to raise the stakes season after season. Just when it seemed like it couldn't get any better, Season 5 came out and blew everyone away. It cleaned up at the Emmys and it's easy to see why as it was Jack's most exciting adventure, and at times the most devastating, of his brutal career at CTU.

Slow Horses - Season 3

Slow Horses is one of the outliers on this list because the seasons are so short, only six episodes in each, but they pack a ton into those six. Every season of the show has been acclaimed, with most having scores of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, Season 3 ranks best for fans, with Season 2 right behind it.

Sherlock - Season 2

The first two seasons of Sherlock are two of the best seasons of TV ever, even if they are only three episodes each. Season 2 ended with one of the all-time great cliffhangers - or cliff-fallers as it may be. In the third and final episode, "The Reichenbach Fall," Sherlock takes a dive off a building to outwit Moriarty, and viewers are left wondering about his fate.

Lost - Season 1

Lost is one of the most dissected, discussed, and disagreed over shows in TV history. One thing that almost no one argues over though, is how great the show's first season was. From the moment Jack's eyes open in the first episode to Jack and Locke looking down at the blown-open hatch in the last scene, it's a white-knuckle ride that takes viewers on one of the greatest adventures ever.

Grey's Anatomy - Season 6

Well, of all the seasons of Grey's Anatomy, and there are many, it's easy to understand why Season 6, which ends with a cliffhanger when multiple characters were shot in a mass shooting at the hospital. It was the peak of the show.

Mad Men - Season 4

Season 4 of Mad Men is really the downward descent into booze and bills for Don Draper as he continues to struggle with who he really is. It marked a shift in the decade in which it takes place as the wholesome early sixties start to get darker, just like Don's life. Of course fans are going to love this season most.

Blue Bloods - Season 1

Despite its controversial canceling, Blue Bloods has a ton of hardcore fans. Those fans still love Season 1 the most, which is understandable as it really sets the tone for the show and for the dynamics of the Reagan family and includes all the original members, some of whom left the show years before it ended.

Black Mirror - Season 3

Yet another show on the list that is sure to have people arguing over which season really is best. The consensus seems to be that Season 3, Black Mirror's first on Netflix is the best, though that may just be because of exposure. To be sure though, it's a great season with some powerful episodes that resonate, as well as some of the more controversial ones among fans.

Downton Abbey - Season 1

Downton Abbey is not a show anyone would have expected to gain such a large and loyal following, given that it's a period drama set in Edwardian England. But fans it has and passionate they are, especially for the show's excellent first season when we meet the upstairs and the downstairs parts of the Crawley family.

House - Season 1

Medical Procedurals often go on and on, but House is a show that only works with its main character so when Hugh Laurie was ready to go, so was the show. There is no question it felt like it was just running through the motions at the end, but in the beginning, there was no other show like it and that's what makes its first Season the fan favorite.

Dexter - Season 4

Season 4 of Dexter was unquestionably the peak of the show. The race to find the Trinity Killer was in full swing and by the end of the devastating season, viewers learned that maybe there was a killer out there more resourceful, more evil, and more cunning than Dexter as it ends with one of the most tragic seasons in TV history.

Luther - Season 1

Idris Elba got everyone's attention as Stringer Bell on The Wire but he proved he was more than a one-hit wonder with Season 1 of Luther. He could play a cop with loose morals as well as he could a criminal and we loved him for it.

True Detective - Season 1

Until the fourth season of True Detective, called True Detective: Night Country, there was no question that Season 1 would be at the top of fan favorites. Even now, with the show back on its feet after a couple of misses, Season 1 still wins, at least for now.

Law & Order - Season 5

Of all the Law & Order seasons, it makes total sense that Season 5 would top the list of favorite seasons. it's when the show cast really coalesced into the characters fans really love. Most notably, Sam Waterston joined as Jack McCoy and Chris Noth took his final bow on the show.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - Season 6

Is there really a "best" season of Curb Your Enthusiasm? There are great, cringy moments in every season but Season 6 comes out on top for fans for one important reason: it introduced Leon (JB Smoove) and the rest of his family to the show and the show began to reach new heights it never would have without them.

Westworld - Season 1

This one really isn't a huge surprise, as many fans really didn't like Seasons 2 or 3 of Westworld, but Seasons 1 and 4 are so good we had to include them. Season 1, especially, is brilliant.

There are those shows that ended long before we wanted them to, from '90s one-season wonders like Freaks & Geeks and My So-Called Life to perfectly timed dramas like Succession and Breaking Bad. These are not those shows. Instead, these television titles overstayed their welcome, long after their biggest stars departed, or the critical acclaim and awards dried up, or the storylines made any sense. Here are 32 TV shows that simply went on way too long. 

Californication

At the beginning of Showtime's Californication, which ran on the network from 2007 to 2014, the story of troubled novelist Hank Moody (David Duchovny) and his hedonistic ways felt fresh and edgy. But seven seasons of incessant drinking and womanizing majorly dulled any of that edge. 

The Walking Dead

How long can people survive a zombie apocalypse? Apparently, for a while—the AMC flagship series The Walking Dead went on for an unfathomable eleven seasons and the survival story of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) still isn't over, having been picked up in the spin-off miniseries The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. 

Dexter

One word: lumberjack. For eight seasons, the Showtime series followed Miami man Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) as he worked as a forensic pathologist by day and a vigilante serial killer by night. Spending nearly a decade watching Dexter get away with murder after murder felt both implausible and repetitive. And don't even get us started on that disappointing, woodsy series finale. 

Grey's Anatomy

It's felt like Grey's Anatomy has been resuscitated more times than any of the patients at Seattle Grace. It's been the longest-running medical drama on primetime, but it became barely the Grey's that O.G. fans remember. In later seasons, lead actress Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey, scaled back to a recurring role, and beloved original characters like Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) were all long gone. 

The Handmaid's Tale

There's plenty of argument to be made that Hulu's dragged-out dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale—which sees fertile American women (played by the likes of Elisabeth Moss, Alexis Bledel and Samira Wiley) being forced into child-bearing slavery by a totalitarian government—should have been a one-and-done miniseries. After all, the 1985 Margaret Atwood novel on which it is based concluded after the events of the first season. 

Sons of Anarchy

Too-long episodes (many of which pushed way past the traditional hour-long mark) and irredeemable characters made it hard to continue to care about Jax (Charlie Hunnam), Gemma (Katey Sagal) and the rest of the outlaw bikers in the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club after seven seasons of the FX crime drama.

Shameless

Sure, Shameless had a jam-packed ensemble throughout its entire eleven season run, including Jeremy Allen White, William H. Macy, Cameron Monaghan and Shanola Hampton. But the grungy Showtime family drama lost its heart when lead actress Emmy Rossum—who played the older sister-turned-matriarch Fiona Gallagher—departed the series in season nine. 

White Collar

Many White Collar fans felt that things were getting a little rinse-and-repeat with the USA Network procedural by the end of its six-season run, with case-of-the-week storylines and stagnant character development. Imagine their surprise, then, when it was announced that the show was getting a Netflix revival, with actors Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay and Tiffani Thiessen reprising their roles. 

This Is Us

The earned emotionality of early seasons of This Is Us—an NBC family drama that follows the lives of two parents (played by Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore) and their three children (Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz and Justin Hartley,) in several different time frames—started to feel manipulative and maudlin after six years. 

Suits

Some television shows suffer from an unsustainable premise. Case in point, Suits, the USA Network legal drama that follows a college dropout with a photographic memory (Patrick J. Adams) who is hired to work as an associate at a prestigious law firm, despite not actually having a license to practice law. Sure, Jan. Despite the dubious concept, Suits aired for a whopping nine seasons. 

Supernatural

Exactly how many demons, ghosts and monsters did brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) have to hunt down to save the world? Fifteen seasons and 327 episodes worth! However, even many Supernatural superfans believe the CW fantasy series lost its way by the end and should have finished after season five when creator Eric Kripke left as showrunner. 

How I Met Your Mother

That is one long story that Ted Mosby (played by Josh Radnor) tells his adolescent children Luke (David Henrie) and Penny (Lyndsy Fonseca) about how their dad first met their mother. In fact, the tale took nine whole years, with many meandering tangents along the way, that we wouldn't blame the kids if they, too, got bored listening to it. 

Glee

Few shows faced quite the critical fall from grace as Glee. Early on, the FOX teen show—which centered on the plucky members of New Directions, the glee club of the fictional William McKinley High School—was an awards show juggernaut, winning several Emmys in its first few seasons, but those high notes were soured when the scripts focused less on the show's original characters and more on ad nauseum celebrity guests. 

Scrubs

Starting with the ninth season, many of the original Scrubs cast—including Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Ken Jenkins and Neil Flynn—stepped back from being main characters on the show, popping up in only a handful or as little as one episode that season. Longtime fans of the NBC medical comedy didn't love that their favorites got replaced with new characters, played by the likes of Kerry Bishé, Michael Mosley and Dave Franco.

The Big Bang Theory

Running for 12 seasons and 279 episodes, this CBS sitcom about Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and their similarly geeky pals got bogged down by too many main characters, recycled old catchphrases and the use of laugh tracks as a crutch. 

The Simpsons

As old as, well, the person writing this very article, the satirical animated sitcom has broken several TV records in its three-decade tenure, including being the longest-running scripted primetime series in American television. And though Homer, Marge, Bar, Lisa, Maggie and the rest of the residents of Springfield are comedy legends, they now feel like relics of a different generation. 

Riverdale

The occurrences within the town of Riverdale were easy enough to keep track of in the early seasons of the CW teen drama, which was populated with the famous characters from Archie Comics (Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and the like.) But as the writing got messier and mazelike, and the characters' storylines more and more outlandish, the soapy series became impossible to take seriously by the end of its seven-season run. 

Game of Thrones

The brazenness with which the Game of Thrones creators killed off some of its biggest, most beloved characters — Ned Stark (Sean Bean) in season one, his son Robb (Richard Madden) and wife Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) in season four — majorly lost its umph when the show killed off Jon Snow (Kit Harington) in the season five finale...only to resurrect him two episodes later. 

Homeland

The first two seasons of this Showtime espionage thriller — in which Claire Danes stars as a CIA officer with bipolar disorder, opposite Damian Lewis playing a Marine Corps Scout Sniper who has just returned home following eight years in captivity — received universal acclaim, including the 2012 Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. However, though Homeland had eight seasons total, it never recovered in quality following the death of Lewis's character in season 3. 

Two and a Half Men

It's always a gamble when you replace the main character of a TV show, especially such a long-running one as the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men. Originally starring Charlie Sheen as a hedonistic jingle writer living with his uptight brother (played by Jon Cryer) and his nephew (Angus T. Jones), the show misguidedly hired Ashton Kutcher to lead the cast in seasons nine through twelve after Sheen left the show to enter drug rehab. 

One Tree Hill

It rarely works when a high school show follows its characters to college and into adulthood. One Tree Hill, the early-aughts teen drama that ran for three seasons on The WB and another six on The CW, stretched the storylines of Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton), Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush) and the rest of the Tree Hill Ravens crew too long past graduation, especially as both Murray and Burton departed the show after season five.  

Lost

Airing 121 episodes over six seasons from 2004 to 2010, Lost packed a lot of supernatural nonsense onto that island, frustratingly devolving over the years from a character drama to a complex mythology swirling with time travel, smoke monsters and electromagnetic phenomena. Even co-creator Damon Lindelof has said that he wanted the show to end after three seasons instead of six. By the time the series aired its final episode, the sci-fi series had offered up far too many questions and far too few answers.

Modern Family

Even Modern Family star Sarah Hyland, who played Haley Dunphy in 11 seasons of the Emmy-winning ABC comedy, was kind of disappointed by the show's later seasons. And she seemingly wasn't the only one: though it had earned both critical acclaim and strong viewership for its earlier installments, season 10 had the worst ratings of the series. 

Once Upon a Time

The thing about fairytales is that soon enough you get to that happily ever after at the end. The ABC fantasy drama Once Upon a Time seemingly didn't get that message because it made fans wait for that storybook ending for seven long seasons — even Robert Carlyle, who portrayed Rumplestiltskin in the series, retrospectively admitted to The A.V. Club that he felt that the series "ran for too long."

Killing Eve

On paper, we should have never wanted Killing Eve to end, with its cast led by a superb Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer — as a British intelligence investigator and the psychopathic assassin she's tasked with capturing, respectively — and scripts from the brilliant mind of Fleabag scribe-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge. However, when Waller-Bridge departed as head writer after the first season, the once-great show simply ran out of story. 

Bones

Crime procedurals have a habit of staying on TV long after they should, what with their formulaic case-of-the-week structure that's easy to replicate season after season. And Bones, the long-running Fox crime drama starring Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz, is definitely no exception, overstuffed with soapy gimmicks, themed episodes and a way-too-long will-they-won't-they dynamic between Deschanel's Temperance Brennan and Boreanaz's Seeley Booth.

The Office

Of course, we love the entire Dunder Mifflin crew, but everybody knows that The Office should have naturally called it quits when lead Steve Carell — who played the "World's Best Boss," a.k.a. the delightfully incompetent Michael Scott — departed the show after its seventh season. Not even big-name actors like Will Ferrell and James Spader could fill the hole Michael Scott left. 

Westworld

Westworld's first season is to this day the most-watched first season of any HBO original series. However, that popularity, coupled with early critical acclaim, didn't last long for the dystopian Western — the writing and character work drastically declined by the time the show was canceled in November 2022, and just a month later, the entire series was brutally removed from HBO Max. 

That '70s Show

The Fox teen drama — centered on a groovy group of teenage friends living in the fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin — worked because of the chemistry created by its young cast, including Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama. So of course the show itself took a creative hit when that chemistry was altered following the departures of Grace and Kutcher after the seventh season. 

Smallville

Initially a show about a teenage Clark Kent dealing with issues both human (bullies, crushes) and superhuman (kryptonite and such) while growing up in fictional Smallville, Kansas, Smallville seemed to care less and less about the human side of the Man of Steel over the course of ten seasons. Many fans suggest that the TV superhero should have hung his cape after season seven, which saw the departure of both the show's main villain Lex Luther (Michael Rosenbaum) and Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. 

13 Reasons Why

Based on the young adult novel by Jay Asher, 13 Reasons Why is one of those cases where a multi-season show was made to be a limited series. Instead of just neatly telling the story of Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) and the tapes she leaves behind after tragically ending her own life, the Netflix teen drama inexplicably changed genres throughout its four-season run, becoming a poor murder mystery in the show's third season. 

Heroes

Though the NBC superhero drama Heroes only went on for four seasons, critics of the show were already pointing out less-than-engaging storylines and lack of cohesion as early as season two. The tales of ordinary people who discover that they have superhuman abilities and have to work together to prevent catastrophic futures should have been adrenaline-pumping stuff, but it simply couldn't sustain that energy after its acclaimed first season. 

After the great year for video game-inspired movies and TV shows we had in 2023, it seemed like it was actually safe to say that we had entered an era in which “bad” video game adaptations are a far less frequent occasion. As far as I am concerned, the release of the new series adaptation of Fallout has made it official.

Based on a series of popular video games set in a post-nuclear dystopia, the Amazon Prime original TV show has impressed experienced gamers, non-gaming audiences, and critics alike with its imaginative vision of a post-apocalyptic society, clever writing, and strong performances. If you have already used your Amazon Prime subscription to journey through all eight available episodes and you just can’t wait until the confirmed second season, we have selected a few TV shows like Fallout that might get your Pip-Boy cackling.

The Last Of Us (2023-Present)

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey

What it's about: Decades after a mysterious virus brings about the fall of civilization, a grizzled survivor is tasked with guarding a teenage girl who may hold the secret to a cure.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: Fallout is only the latest example of a TV series based on a post-apocalyptic video game and one especially notable example is co-developer Craig Mazin’s HBO series, The Last of Us, which Fallout also relates to in the way a zombie-esque illness is revealed to be major plot detail.

How to watch The Last of Us

• Stream The Last of Us on Max
• Buy The Last of Us on Amazon
• Buy The Last of Us on Blu-ray on Amazon

Twisted Metal (2023-Present)

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz

What it's about: A drifter is hired to drive across what is left of a war-torn United States to deliver a mysterious package.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: Another recent TV show based on a post-apocalyptic video game is Twisted Metal — based on a popular series of PlayStation games that, like the Fallout games, began in the ‘90s — which is more tonally similar to Fallout than The Last of Us, due to its comical approach to the source material.

How to watch Twisted Metal

• Stream Twisted Metal on Peacock

Miracle Workers: End Times (2023)

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Geraldine Viswanathan

What it's about: In a barren, desolate wasteland, two brutal warriors get married and try to have a normal life.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: Yet another recent TV series with a nuclear, post-apocalyptic setting and a humorous tone is the fourth season of TBS’ comedic anthology series, Miracle Workers — subtitled End Times — which sees Radcliffe and Viswanathan adopt spot-on Mad Max-style personas.

How to watch Miracle Workers: End Times

• Buy Miracle Workers: End Times on Amazon

The Last Man On Earth (2015-2018)

Starring: Will Forte, Kristen Schaal

What it's about: Years after the breakout of a deadly virus, an average man becomes the last human alive… or so he thinks.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: Yet another TV series with a post-apocalyptic setting and a humorous tone is Fox’s The Last Man on Earth — not to be confused with a Vincent Price-led, 1964 adaptation of I am Legend — which was also created by Forte and was cancelled before it could finish its story, unfortunately.

How to watch The Last Man on Earth

• Stream The Last Man On Earth on Hulu
• Buy The Last Man On Earth on Amazon
• Buy The Last Man On Earth on DVD on Amazon

The 100 (2014-2020)

Starring: Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley

What it's about: Years after a nuclear war, a group of survivors explore planet Earth, which is now inhabited by disparate groups of people contending with a fight for supremacy, mutants, and other bizarre dangers.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: Let’s get back to more serious post-apocalyptic TV shows, such as The CW’s The 100, which is not based on a video game, but its plot boasts quite a few similarities to Fallout — save the fact that the returning survivors took refuge in space, not underground.

How to watch The 100

• Stream The 100 on Netflix
• Buy The 100 on Amazon
• Buy The 100 on DVD on Amazon

Silo (2023-Present)

Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Rashida Jones

What it's about: In the future, an engineer and others begin to suspect that the leaders of their protective underground community are not being completely honest about their surroundings.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: Based on a popular series of books by Hugh Howery, Silo does follow a group of survivors taking refuge from an uninhabitable, dystopian environment beneath the surface and, like Fallout, follows a group of survivors who question the truth behind their society.

How to watch Silo

• Stream Silo on Apple TV+

Westworld (2016-2022)

Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden

What it's about: In a dystopian society, wealthy people are allowed the chance to live out their deepest desires in a fabricated society resembling the Old West and inhabited by human-like machines.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: Before signing on as executive producers of Fallout, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy co-developed HBO’s Westworld — a reimagining of Michael Crichton’s technophobic 1973 film that also cleverly combines post-apocalyptic and sci-fi themes with old school Western elements.

How to watch Westworld

• Buy Westworld on Amazon
• Buy Westworld on Blu-ray on Amazon

Scavengers Reign (2023)

Starring: Sunita Mani, Wunmi Mosaku

What it's about: The crew of a damaged space freighter struggles to survive when they are left stranded on a desolate planet.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: While not exactly categorized as “post-apocalyptic,” the animated series, Scavengers Reign, is a thriller very much in the same vein as Fallout in the captivating and creative way it conceives its strange and dangerous setting.

How to watch Scavengers Reign

• Stream Scavengers Reign on Max
• Stream Scavengers Reign on Netflix

The Man In The High Castle (2015-2019)

Starring: Alexa Davalos, Rufus Sewell

What it's about: A young woman makes a discovery that could liberate the United States from control by the Nazi Regime.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: In addition to being a futuristic story, Fallout is also an alternative history tale (imagining a world dominated by a ‘50s-style aesthetic and technology without microprocessors), similar to how The Man in the High Castle — based on the novel by Phillip K. Dick — takes place in a version of early 1960s America if the Axis Powers prevailed in World War II.

How to watch The Man in the High Castle

• Stream The Man in the High Castle on Amazon Prime

Yellowjackets (2021-Present)

Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress

What it's about: A group of women who played soccer together in high school recall the horrifying events that took place when a place crash left their team stranded in the Canadian wilderness.

Why it is a show worth watching if you like Fallout: While Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson’s Showtime original hit is not a dystopian alternative history drama based on a video game, the Yellowjackets cast does include Ella Purnell as a woman who must contend with survivors of an unforgiving, dog-eat-dog world, much like her Fallout character, Lucy MacLean.

How to watch Yellowjackets

• Stream Yellowjackets (Season 1) on Netflix
• Stream Yellowjackets on Paramount+ with Showtime add-on
• Buy Yellowjackets on Amazon
• Buy Yellowjackets on Blu-ray on Amazon

These shows should be enough to help you survive the wait for Fallout Season 2.

From comedies to sci-fi (especially sci-fi) Hollywood has been churning out movies set in the far distant future. A future, it turns out, that has come and gone here in our actual Earth timeline. Here's a list where we explore when those movies were made, what year they were set in, and how they look today. 

Back To The Future Part II

This might be the most notorious movie on this list. Back to the Future Part II was released in 1989 and when Marty, Doc, and Jennifer go to the future, it's all the way to 2015. Well, 2015 came and went a long time ago and we still don't have flying cars, hoverboards, or self-tying shoes. Jaws 19 still hasn't been released either. It didn't get everything wrong though, some of the tech in the McFly home, like voice-activated TV controls and video phones exist. We still have a lot of questions about this movie though. 

Freejack

1992's Freejack is a time capsule...into 1992. It's certainly not one into "the future" it presents. When Alex (Emilio Estevez) is transported into the future, he is taken to a crazy, dystopian New York City of 2009. There is really nothing worth talking about what they got correct here because very little of what it shows was reality in 2009. New York City was safer and cleaner than in 1991, not the other way around. 

Westworld

Not to be confused with the HBO show Westworld, 1973's Westworld, written and directed by Michael Crichton was released in 1973. It's set in 1983 (as revealed in the sequel, Futureworld), which, looking back, was a big mistake. Why not set it in 2083? There is very little about the tech in Westworld that existed in 1983, or 2023 for that matter. They did a decent job with the computers that run the park though, those are somewhat realistic for 1983.  

The Terminator Series

So, truth be told, the timeline in the Terminator series is a convoluted mess. So we're going to stick just to the first couple of movies in the series, the first released in 1984, and the second, Terminator 2: Judgement Day in 1991. Both set the day that the machines took over as August 29th, 1997. Luckily for all of us, this never happened. 

Johnny Mnemonic

It's easy to make fun of 1995's Johnny Mnemonic for being set in 2021 and missing the mark in a lot of ways. The present is clearly not nearly as diabolically dystopian as the movie promises, but there's a lot they got close to correct, or at least not way, way off. The way the internet is used, for example, is not, like, totally different. Sure, we don't have neural implants...yet, but nothing is in there that we would laugh at today, technology-wise. 

Blade Runner

Another of the most notorious on the list is the sci-fi classic Blade Runner. Released in 1982 and set in 2019, there is more that they got wrong than they got right. Of course, none of that matters, since it'll always be a stone-cold classic.

The Road

Author Cormac McCarthy's 2006 dystopian future novel The Road was made into a movie in 2009 starring Viggo Mortensen as a father making his way through a destroyed world with his son. Though it's never explicitly said when it takes place, it is "several years" after whatever unnamed event caused the destruction, which would set it somewhere around ten years in the future, or 2019. 

Escape from New York

The year is 1997. The island of Manhattan is a prison colony and the President has just crashed there. That's the premise of 1981's Escape from New York, but that's obviously not the fate of New York City. At least not year. It also doesn't make it less awesome of a movie. 

Timecop

1994's Timecop starring Jean-Claude Van Damme is pretty silly, so it feels a little silly to criticize it too harshly here, but come on. It's setting up a "future" in 2004 that includes the actual ability to travel through time. Obviously, that's not available to us, but again, it's not it'll ever be actually possible, so how mad can we be here? 

The Running Man

The Running Man, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, might be the least "Stephen King movie" of all of the movies based on books by the prolific author. Released in 1987, the cult classic is set in 2017. The actual world of 2017 looked nothing like the one in the movie, but, there are some things it did kind of get right. Reality TV, for example, is essentially what "The Running Man" TV show in the movie is. Plus, it also has voice-activated lights and TVs, which existed in 2017. So not terrible. 

Rollerball

1975's Rollerball, starring James Caan, is a wild movie that is totally a product of its time. It's become a cult classic for good reason. What it isn't, though, is accurate for the year it was set in, 2018. Roller derby isn't even popular anymore! Corporations don't govern the country either. At least not yet. 

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

The whole Mad Max series takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, like a lot of movies set in the future. The future? Sometime in the mid-2000s for Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. It's safe to say the movie was just a little off. 

Soylent Green

Soylent Green has one of the best twists in film history, but that doesn't make it accurate. Released in 1973 and set in 2022, the movie is wrong about a whole lot of things. We're certainly not eating people... or are we?

Akira

1988's Akira is one of the most beloved Anime movies of all time, but it sure missed the mark in predicting what 2019 will look like. Once again the makers of a dystopian future movie didn't nail it when it comes to a cataclysmic event. Maybe if a live-action remake comes along, it'll set too far in the future for us to call it out. 

Metropolis

Going back to the earliest days of film, Metropolis, the silent movie classic made in 1927, gets the future very wrong. Though the movie is set in 2027, we're confident in predicting that the world won't be a dystopian factory nightmare in three years. 

The Purge

2013's The Purge is a perfect example of why, if you're making a movie about a dystopian future, make sure it's far enough into the future that people won't be around to see how wrong you were. Set in 2022, The Purge shows a world where people are so angry that the only way to solve things is to allow them to kill each other on one day a year. Actually, maybe it's not as far off as it seems...

2001: A Space Odyssey

Talk about a movie that really telegraphs how wrong it's going to be, 2001: A Space Odyssey tells us what year it takes place right in the title. The 1968 release is set, well, in 2001, and we didn't even have Pan Am flights to space. We didn't have Pan Am at all, as a matter of fact. 

The Postman

1997's post-apocalyptic western The Postman is set in the "near future" of 2013. Of course, the world of 2013 had not experienced an apocalyptic event, nor was a new world capital set up in Minnesota. 

No Escape

In 1994, Ray Liotta starred in a kind of off-brand Escape From New York called No Escape. It's not the best movie, but it's fun. It also takes place in a world where corporations run the prisons in America in 2022. Which, frightfully, isn't that hard to imagine being possible. 

Highlander II: The Quickening

A lot of people would rather that Highlander II: The Quickening wasn't made. If anything we wouldn't have to call it out for getting pretty much every after 1999 correct, especially 2024, which is the latest year that occurs in the movie. 

V for Vendetta

It's a little difficult to pinpoint exactly when V for Vendetta takes place. Made in 2006, it appears that it takes place in the mid-to-late 2020s. Either way, it's safe to say that we won't be living in a world quite like the dystopian London in the movie. While there are some themes that could work, it's still off. 

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is the fourth in the original Planet of the Apes series but it's the only that fits on this list. While most of the movies take place centuries in the future, the "planet's" origin story is set in the 1980s and '90s. The movie was made in 1972, so it's really more of a horror story for viewers at the time. 

Death Race 2000

Death Race 2000, released in 1975 was set only 25 years in the future, as the name of the movie implies. While it is one heck of a b-movie, starring Sylvester Stallone and David Carradine, it gets everything about the totalitarian future it predicts at the turn of the century. The idea of a road race across the country as TV entertainment isn't that far off though. 

A Clockwork Orange

Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange was released in 1971 and puts forth the idea of a dystopian future where gangs of oddly dressed teenagers commit unthinkable acts of violence. The year is never directly revealed in the movie, but it seems like some alternate timeline of the 1960s by the style of decor. The movie is based on a book of the same name by Anthony Burgess. In Burgess' diary, he revealed that it was intended to be set in 1980. 

1984

George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four has twice been made into a film. The first, on BBC, in 1954 and the second in 1984. Ignoring the one in '84, the future predicted by Orwell and the '53 film got everything wrong. Sure, there are elements that we worry about today, and "Big Brother" has become part of the modern lexicon, but there was no nuclear war in the 1960s and the world is not divided into only three countries. 

A Scanner Darkly

This one is a little tricky to nail down when in the future it takes place, but hear us out. The original story on which the movie was based, was published in 1977 and set in 1994. The animated movie, A Scanner Darkly, directed by Richard Linklater, was released in 2006. By doing the same math, we arrive at 2023 and either way, both stories are way off. 

The Island

In 2006, Michael Bay directed The Island with Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor. It's not a well reviewed film, nor was it a hit, nor did it get the future of 2019 correct either. Like many on this list, it's set in a dystopian future that just didn't come to pass. At some point, writers and directors are just going to have to give up on predicting the downfall of human civilization, right?

Alien Intruder

1993's Alien Intruder, starring Billy Dee Williams, is a crude, terrible movie that frankly, we're glad it got 2022 wrong. Not just because a future like that looks terrifying and we're glad it didn't happen, but because no movie this bad deserves to be right. One thing we will say is that it did almost get the virtual reality stuff correct...at least what it will be used for, which we'd rather not talk about. 

Escape From LA

15 years after John Carpenter and Kurt Russell made Escape From New York, they returned for Escape From LA in 1996. In the movie, an earthquake in 2000 cut off Los Angeles from the mainland, and a prison was set up on the new island. In 2006, Snake Plissken (Russell) basically did what he did in New York. Last we checked, LA was just fine in 2006. 

Demolition Man

1993's Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone and Sandra Bullock technically takes place in 2032, so we've got some time to see how close it is to reality (hint: not close), but it's on this list because the two main characters played by Stallone and Wesley Snipes were cryogenically frozen in 1996. To date, we still don't have that kind of technology. 

Mission to Mars

In 2000 Tim Robbins, Don Cheadle, and Gary Sinise starred in Mission to Mars, about the first manned mission to Mars. The film is set in 2020, which may have made it plausible in 2000, but it sure did miss the mark as we are not much closer today than we were then with that prospect. Maybe by 2035, when Matt Damon's The Martian is set, we'll get there. 

Barb Wire

Okay Okay, we admit, it's unfair to pick a movie like Barb Wire, starring Pamela Anderson, for its accuracy, but still, here we go. Set in 2017, this 1996 movie plays on the premise that a second Civil War is underway. Who would ever believe that by 2017 the political climate would be such that a civil war could even be the faintest bit possible? Certainly, the makers of the film would know that by 2017 everyone would be living in peace and harmony in the US and the political division would...wait a minute...just how wrong is this one? Yikes. 

The main takeaway from this list of movies set in the future but now in the past? Filmmakers need to choose dates way into the future. Buck Rogers isn't on this list because it's 500 years in the future! That's the way to do it. 

A good plot twist can send shivers down your spine and give you a nice hit of dopamine as it changes everything you thought about a movie or TV show. Here is our list of some of favorite mind-blowing plot twists that shook us to our core. 

WARNING: MAJOR Spoilers ahead!! 

Vader Is Luke’s Dad - Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Darth Vader telling Luke that he is Luke’s father is maybe the #1 most mind-blowing plot twist in film history. It seems quaint to many of us now because it’s always been a part of our lives, but think back to what it was like when you first saw the revelation. It was crazy, no one saw it coming. The Empire Strikes Back had a few surprises, including the bad guy winning in the end, but this moment tops them all. 

The First Flashforward - Lost

The final two episodes of Season 3 of Lost were intense, and when they got to the end, audiences were treated to one of the most “what the!” moments in TV history when they realized what they thought was one of Jack’s flashbacks was actually a flashforward when he tells Kate they “have to go back” to the island. It changed the show forever and it's hands down the best episode of Lost.

It Was Earth All Along - Planet Of The Apes

The original Planet of the Apes from 1968 started with Charlton Heston’s character, George Taylor awakening from hibernation after a long space journey when he and his fellow astronauts crashed into an unknown planet. Apes of different kinds rule the planet and humans are treated more or less like animals. The shock comes in the last show when Taylor discovers he traveled through time, not space, and awoke on Earth many years in the future. 

Off With The Main Character’s Head - Game of Thrones

For fans of Game of Thrones, the penultimate episode of Season 1 proved anything in the show was possible and it would be smart not to get too attached to any one character. In the episode, the hero of the story, Ned Stark (Sean Bean) is executed and nothing would be the same for the rest of the show’s epic run. 

The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled - The Usual Suspects

It’s true that some viewers latched on to the idea that Verbal Kint (Keven Spacey) is an unreliable narrator, but very few anticipated the twist at the end revealing Verbal to be the mysterious Keyser Soze. Just when everyone puts it together, poof…he’s gone. Brilliant. 

He’s Been Dead This Whole TIme - The Sixth Sense

Director M. Night Shyamalan has made an entire career out of twists and turns and last-minute revelations. It’s a formula that goes way back in his filmography, most notably with the film that established him as a big-time director, The Sixth Sense. The twist, of course, is learning Bruce Willis’ character, Malcolm Crowe, is one of the dead people who Cole (Haley Joel Osment) sees. 

The Unexpected Mole - 24

Nina (Sarah Clarke) was a fan favorite in the first season of 24. She helped Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) get out of a lot of tight spots as his eyes and ears at CSU’s headquarters. A fan favorite, that is, until it turns out she’s been a mole along. It only gets worse when she kills Teri Bauer, Jack’s wife. Nina goes from a hero to a villain in a matter of minutes. 

She’s Safe! - Gone Girl

Gone Girl smartly hides its first twist, that Amy (Rosamund Pike) was not kidnapped or killed, but set the whole thing up herself. That’s not the only turn the movie takes though. Later, Amy also framed Desi (Neil Patrick Harris) for her kidnapping, clearing Nick of suspicion. The twists don’t end there, either. As Nick prepared to expose Amy’s crime, she told him she was pregnant with their first child. Nick changes his mind, keeping Amy’s secret, and staying in their marriage. It’s dark, but it’s a heck of a ride. 

Surprise, They Are Triplets - This Is Us

The pilot episode of This Is Us sets up its twist brilliantly with an interstitial explaining how many people are born on the same day, right before meeting Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) when Rebecca goes into labor with triplets on Jack’s birthday in 1980. In the present day, audiences meet Randall (Sterling K. Brown), Kate (Chrissy Metz), and Kevin (Justin Hartley), but it’s not until the final scene of the episode that it all comes together that Rebecca lost one of the triplets, but she and Jack adopted Randall the same day after he was abandoned at a fire station. 

Rosebud - Citizen Kane

One of the most famous twists in cinema history is also one of the earliest. In 1941, Citizen Kane tricked audiences into wondering for the entire movie what Charles Foster Kane’s (Orson Welles) final word, “Rosebud,” meant. At the end of the movie, they learn it was a beloved sled from his innocent youth, things he had lost a long time ago. 

Bernard Is A Host - Westworld

Jeffery Wright’s performance as Bernard in Westworld was one of the brightest spots on an uneven show. Audiences loved him and when it turned out he was a “host”, it was mindblowing for many. As is the nature of shows like Westworld plenty of people “called it” in online discussions, and there were clues to Bernard’s true nature, but for the rest of us, it was a real “wow” moment. 

Who Exactly Is Norman Bates? - Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho created a template for modern horror movies that directors are still following today, to great success. One of the most influential moments in the movie is the reveal at the end just who is Norman Bates’ (Anthony Perkins) mother. Before the end, we just see glimpses of her in windows, and comments by Norman. It’s not until the final scenes that we learn she’s been dead for years and Norman has been dressing like her, or even becoming her? 

Agatha All Along - WandaVision

Another TV show that drops plenty of hints for the big twist is Marvel’s WandaVision. As audiences were left wondering who was behind all the weird things happening in Westview. It turns out, it was Wanda’s neighbor Agnes – or Agnes (Kathryn Hahn) all along. It’s one of the most fun reveals on this list as well. 

The Wizard Is A Conman - ​​The Wizard Of Oz

When Dorothy (Judy Garland) finds herself transported to Oz in The Wizard Of Oz, the only way home, as she understands it, is to visit the Wizard, who can help. Along the way, she meets some friends who all need something from the power Wizard. Of course, when they arrive in the Emerald City, they learn the truth, the Wizard is just a conman. What a nightmare! 

The Bad Place - The Good Place

The reveal at the end of Season 1 of The Good Place is just a lot of fun. It’s not so much of a “holy cow” moment as it is an “I love it! moment. Instead of being in the “good” place, aka Heaven, it turns out Eleanor (Kristen Bell) is in the other place, the “bad” place. 

The Big Reveal - The Crying Game

The Crying Game is an emotional movie that takes place during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, but it’s the reveal that Dil (Jaye Davidson) is transgender. Davidson, who retired after only acting in two movies, won all kinds of awards for the role that shocked audiences everywhere, but in retrospect, opened up a new, better, more honest understanding of transgender people. 

Sharon Lives - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

It’s pure Quentin Tarantino to reveal a twist that not only changes the movie, but history itself. He did in Inglourious Basterds with the death of Hitler and he does it again, perhaps to better effect, in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Instead of Charlie Manson and his crazy followers killing Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), Dalton, and Booth unwittingly save her by distracting the family. 

Waking Up In A Different Show - Newhart

Newhart in the ‘80s was Bob Newhart’s second sitcom that hit big, after The Bob Newhart Show in the ‘70s. Although neither show was connected at all, with Newhart playing completely different characters, in a different place, they both came together in the final episode when Bob Newhart awakens in bed, on his old show, revealing the second show was all just a dream of his first character. People talked about it for weeks. 

John Doe’s Plan Is Revealed - Se7en

Se7en is a movie that sticks with you long after the credits roll. Kevin Spacey’s performance as the serial killer John Doe is perfect, and it all comes together in the end when he finally reveals his grand plan. Audiences never expected David’s (Brad Pitt) wife, Tracy (Gwenyth Paltrow) to be as involved as she was and what a tragedy it is, setting in motion the end of Doe’s plan, to make David “wrath” and himself as “envy.”

The Whole Family Is In On It - Get Out

Jordan Peele got everyone talking about his directorial debut Get Out when it was revealed to the audience that not only were Rose’s (Allison Williams) parents performing twisted experiments on African-Americans, but Rose herself was involved, tricking her boyfriend Chis (Daniel Kaluuya) into going home with her to be a victim. Always question things when they seem off.

Helly’s Outie Is An Insider - Severance

One of the most talked about shows of 2022 was Apple TV+’s Severance. Questions abound throughout the first season, but what makes the twist so good is that it’s a huge reveal, that viewers didn’t even know they needed to know. Helly’s (Britt Lower) “outie” is in fact part of the family that is responsible for the twisted company’s project in the basement. 

The Narrator Is Tyler Durden - Fight Club

David Fincher is a master of late reveals and his movie Fight Club, based on the book by Chuck Palahniuk, is no exception. Though the movie was a box office disappointment it’s since become a quintessential cult film. It’s a mindblowing moment when you put together that Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) is just an alter-ego of The Narrator (Edward Norton).

Dan Is Blogger - Gossip Girl

For six seasons, fans wondered who was behind the Gossip Girl blog in Gossip Girl. Finally, after years of speculation, it’s revealed that Dan (Penn Badgley) is actually the voice behind the screen, despite being voiced by Kristen Bell throughout the show. Of course, other characters filled the role of the Gossip Girl, but Dan was the man, it turned out. 

Leland Palmer Killed Laura - Twin Peaks

The central mystery of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks is the murder of Laura Palmer. For one and a half seasons, it’s all the fans talked about it. When it was finally revealed in Season 2 that it was Laura’s father, Leland who did the deed. David Lynch wasn't happy with Season 2, but audiences loved it. 

It’s All In The Title - The Game

The Game is not one of David Fincher’s most talked about movies, but it should be. It has a fantastic, mindblowing reveal at the end when Nicholas (Michael Douglas) learns that all the craziness that he’s been through is all part of an elaborate game set up by his brother (Sean Penn). The rush for the characters and fans of the movies is intense when we learn the truth together. 

It’s People - Soylent Green

Soylent Green is a movie that is almost exclusively known for its plot twist. In a dystopian future, people subsist on a food called Soylent Green. It’s a mysterious food that in the end, is revealed to be human. Soylent Green is people! It’s become part of pop culture, but it’s a movie few people have actually watched. 

Parasite

The South Korean drama Parasite took the world by storm upon its release and a big reason why is the fantastic twist. On its surface (literally) the movie is a comment on the class struggle in South Korea, but below, it's a wild story about a poor family literally living in the basement of a wealthy family's house. The reveal is truly mindblowing and what sets it apart from other films dealing with the struggle. 

Earth Isn’t All That - Battlestar Galactica

For the first three seasons of Battlestar Galactica, the last remaining humans searched for their home Earth while battling the Cylons along the way. In the final episode of the penultimate season, they finally arrive home, ending their journey. When a group from the Galactica travel down, however, they find the planet in ruins, and uninhabitable due to nuclear radiation from a war centuries earlier. It’s a devastating moment, but in the end, they do find a home. 

The Deed Was Done - Memento

Director Christopher Nolan’s Momento has a lot of twists and turns, given the nature of the film, as Leonard (Guy Pearce) searches for his wife’s killer and the structure of the film's forward and backward timeline. When Leonard finally puts the pieces together, he finds that he got vengeance a year early and had been manipulated by Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) to do dirty work for him. Teddy becomes Leonard’s next target. 

Irene Is Moriarty - Elementary

In Elementary, Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) has an ongoing battle with Jane Moriarty (Natalie Dormer) and often feels the pain of his lost love with Irene Adler. The twist is that Irene and Jane are, in fact, the same person. The relationship between them is very complicated and continues through the run of the show to present problems for Sherlock. 

Modern Times - The Village

M. Night Shyamalan's The Village has one of the better twists in the director’s filmography. The movie is set in 19th-century America, or so we think. The elders of the titular village do everything they can to keep the people in the village because only they know that it’s actually the 21st Century.

Jason’s Mom - Friday The 13th

In one of the all-time great plot twists in horror movie history, Jason Vorhees, the killer of summer campers is not actually Jason, but his mother. She is bent on murdering the campers to avenge her son’s death years earlier. 

Twists and turns and shocking moments are why we love great TV. There is nothing like a moment on your favorite show that sends a cold shiver up your spine and has you thinking about it for days, weeks, or even months after it happens. The moments that get everyone talking and sometimes change pop culture completely. This is our list of just some of our favorite times television shows left us speechless. 

Warning! Major Spoilers Below!

Omar's Last Moments - The Wire

Omar Little from The Wire is one of the greatest characters in TV history. For most of the show, Omar is the ultimate survivor in a dangerous game of life and death on the streets. Then suddenly, in the third-to-last episode of the series, he is gunned down in a convenience store by Kenard, a mere child. It's shocking and tragic for viewers who had come to love the troubled character. 

Matthew Crawley's Crash - Downton Abbey

The Season 3 finale of Downton Abbey pulls the rug out from under its fans in a hurry. It seems like the season will end on a happy note, with Lady Mary coming through a tough delivery of her first child and issues with the estate settled. That's when it happens, Matthew Crawley, out for a drive, comes head-on with a truck and is killed. It's sudden and shocking. 

Not Penny's Boat - Lost

Lost provided weekly twists and turns that the loyal fans of the show obsessed over for days. One moment that caused months of discussion came in the Season 3 finale when Charlie, on the verge of drowning, used his last moments to convey that the boat they thought belonged to Desmond's fiancee, was not, in fact, Penny's boat. 

Mrs. Landingham's Car Crash - The West Wing

The final episode of Season 3 of The West Wing, called "Two Cathedrals" is often cited as one of the show's best episodes. It's also one of its most tragic for something that actually happens off-screen, Mrs. Landingham's death in a car crash. Dolores Landingham was beloved by her fellow characters and fans of the show, and her death, as she drove her new car back to work, is probably the saddest moment in West Wing history. 

Ned Stark's Loses His Head - Game Of Thrones

We could populate this entire list with just shocking Game of Thrones moments and the first really "holy cow" moments came in the penultimate episode of Season 1 when the hero thus far of the story, Ned Stark, met his swift end on the order of King Joffrey. It was one of the most meaningful deaths of the series and showed viewers that no character was ever safe. 

Negan And His Baseball Bat - The Walking Dead

In the final episode of Season 6, The Walking Dead introduced its most terrifying villain of the whole series, Negan. To show just how terrible he was, the show provides possibly the most shocking moment of the series, when Negan takes his baseball bat to Abraham and Glenn's heads in one of the goriest moments in TV history. Audiences lost two of their favorite characters and gained a villain to despise. 

Helly's Outie - Severance

Throughout all of Season 1 of Severance, viewers are left pondering what exactly the purpose of the workers is. We also see the newest team member, Helly, fight and claw to get out, a rebel against the system. In the finale, we learn who Helly's "outie" is, and it's shocking, as she's the daughter of the company founder, but her "innie" is ready to take down the system. 

The Red Wedding - Game Of Thrones

The Red Wedding has been hailed as one of the most shocking moments in all of TV history. Coming in the penultimate episode of Season 3, Walder Frey's betrayal of the Starks led to the terrible deaths of Robb Stark, his wife Talisa, and his mother Catelyn. It truly shook the entertainment world.  

Dr. McDreamy's Car Crash - Grey's Anatomy

Dr. Derek Shepherd's death at the end of Season 11 of Grey's Anatomy was a brutal, stunning moment that broke millions of fans' hearts. While on the surface it seemed like a heartless way to end a show favorite's run on the show, for showrunner Shonda Rhimes, it made more sense than discarding all that was wonderful about Shepherd's relationship with Meredith. 

Walter Watching Jane - Breaking Bad

One of the most brutal scenes in the brutal show that was Breaking Bad was Walter coldly watching Jesse's girlfriend take her last breath without lifting a finger to help. He needed her out of the picture, but it was a glimpse into how far gone Walter was at that point. 

Who Shot Mr. Burns? - The Simpsons

Season Six of The Simpsons ended with one of the all-time great cliffhangers after most of Springfield was angry with Mr. Burns for one reason or another and he winds up shot. Was it Homer? Mr. Smithers? Tito Puente? No, it was none of those, when it was revealed in the Season 7 premiere that it was... Maggie? Eh, best not to think about it too much. 

"We Have To Go Back" - Lost

It was five words that sent shivers up the backs of fans in the Season 3 finale of Lost. For almost three seasons, fans were used to the flashback element of the show, and in that finale, it seemed like a regular Jack flashback. That is until Kate appears and Jack implores her to go "back" to the island with him, revealing that we'd all been watching a flashforward. 

Nina's The Mole - 24

Fox's 24 took the world by storm in its first season with its white-knuckle action and near-constant cliffhangers. One reliable part of the team was Nina Myers, Jack Bauer's righthand woman at CTU. That is until it's revealed that she'd been a mole all along and was working with the enemy, which Jack learned when he found that Nina had killed his wife. 

Tony And Ralph - The Sopranos

For much of its run, The Sopranos relied on twists and shock-endings less than other shows of the time. That doesn't mean the show didn't have them. One prominent example was when Tony Soprano suddenly attacked Ralph Cifaretto, offing him a brutal fit of rage over a number of Ralph's past deeds. 

Rosiland Shays' Elevator Fall - LA Law

Going way back to the 1980s, when shocking twists were few and far between, one of the most surprising moments on TV was the death of Rosiland Shays' on LA Law. Shays was a polarizing character, but she walked into an empty elevator shaft in Season 5 and fell to her death, it shocked everyone. 

Zoe In The Subway - House Of Cards

Zoe Barnes was a key character in the first two seasons of House Of Cards. The reporter was both an antagonist and a friend of Frank Underwood. In what seemed like a relatively benign moment as Zoe waited for a subway, she was suddenly pushed by Frank in front of an oncoming train.

Poussey Gets Suffocated - Orange Is The New Black

On Orange Is The New Black, Poussey was a fan favorite. She was thoughtful and caring, so when she was killed by a guard during a protest, it shocked and saddened everyone watching. One of the hardest moments in the show. 

The Purple Wedding - Game Of Thrones

King Joffrey Baratheon was one of the greatest villains on Game of Thrones and in TV history. By the time Season 4 rolled around, fans had had enough of the evil brat. That's why his death in Episode 2 of Season 4 was both shocking and satisfying. 

Dylan's Father's Car - Beverly Hills, 90210

Most of the twists and turns on Beverly Hills, 90210 were about teenage love triangles or midterms. Very rarely did the show ever tackle more serious issues, but when it did it usually involved Dylan. Like when Dylan's father was blown up in his car as Dylan watched. Intense. 

Bernard The Host - Westworld

Westworld was never shy about shocking fans, and although the signs were there, and fan theories abounded over Bernard's real place in the robot theme park when it was revealed he himself was a host, it still came as a huge surprise to many. Not as shocking as some on this list, but one heck of a twist. 

The Sopranos Blink To Black - The Sopranos

It's one of the most hotly debated moments in television history. The final scene of The Sopranos. While Journey plays on the jukebox, the tension builds if for no other reason than audiences knew something had to happen as the show wrapped up. Then it happens – or doesn't happen – when the scene suddenly goes black, the music stops, and the credits roll. Did Tony die? It doesn't matter, the discussion is what matters. 

The Plane Crash - MASH

In a lot of ways, MASH changed television, and one thing they were pioneers of was having a beloved character suddenly die. Such was the case in the finale episode of Season 3 when Colonel Blake gets discharged from the army and is headed home, only to suddenly die in a plane crash off camera. Famously, the cast was not told of this detail until the scene was shot and in many ways, their reactions were the same as the audience's, shock and sadness. 

John Locke's Wheelchair - Lost

Lost really set up early that it would be full of big reveals and one of the biggest in the first season was discovering John Locke was in a wheelchair in his flashbacks. It comes in the fourth episode of the series after Locke has been well-established as one of the most capable survivors on The Island and it was mind-blowing. Just what was going on, on this island?

Laura Palmer's Father - Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks wrote the book on spooky murder mysteries and set a new standard for appointment TV back in the 1990s. For most of the short series, the one question everyone needed to know, of course, was who killed Laura Palmer? We finally got our answer in Season 2 when we found out it was Leland Palmer, Laura's father. Had there been an internet in 1991, the revelation would've broken it.

Stringer Bell's Last Stand - The Wire

Stringer Bell is one of the most consequential characters in the early seasons of The Wire and while his growing tension with his partner Avon Barksdale showed no signs of abating, you got the feeling that Stringer was going to win the battle for control of the organization. That all suddenly and violently came to an end when Omar and Brother Mouzone team up to take Stringer out. 

Not The Good Place - The Good Place

Sitcoms aren't often noted for their dramatic plot twists, which is what makes the one at the end of Season 1 of The Good Place so great. Eleanor and her friends never felt like they belonged in the Good Place and in the finale, they learn it's because they are actually in the Bad Place.  

Bobby Ewing Reappearing - Dallas

Of course, Dallas is most famous for its "Who shot JR?" cliffhanger, the resolution of which led to one of the highest-rated TV episodes of all time. That wasn't the only big surprise to come from the show though. JR's brother, Bobby, died at the end of Season 8 and much of Season 9 is about his widow Pam dealing with it. Then, in the final scene of the season, Bobby suddenly reappears in the shower as if nothing had happened. It turns out, the whole season was a dream by Pam. Yeah, no one was really happy with that revelation. 

Brody Comes Back From The Edge - Homeland

For the entire phenomenal first season of Homeland, viewers are torn on whether to trust Brody is a good guy or believe Carrie that he's a bad guy. When it's revealed which side he stands on, one of the tensest scenes ever occurs when Brody almost goes through with his plot, but at the last second, decides not to. 

Janice And Richie - The Sopranos

Janice Soprano and Richie Aprile are an odd couple from the beginning and while it's not surprising that Janice would finally snap, it was still shocking when she did and shot Richie after a serious fight. 

Trinity Gets The Last Word - Dexter

Dexter on Dexter spends more time chasing the Trinity Killer than any other of his victims. When he finally catches the serial killer, it's supposed to be a win. Sadly for Dexter and Rita, Trinity has already killed Rita and it's a shocking reversal of emotions. 

For The Watch - Game Of Thrones

Even by Game of Thrones standards, the Night's Watch turning on Jon Snow and ambushing him was incredibly shocking. In the finale of Season 5, viewers were left to ponder if Jon Snow was actually dead. It was a long year of waiting for that answer for fans. 

Lawrence Shocks Everyone - House

It's rare for procedurals like House to have any really shocking moments, but towards the end of Season 5, provides one. Due to actor Kal Penn leaving the show to go work for the Obama administration of all things, his character Lawrence Kutner dies by his own hand off screen and leaves his co-workers, and fans of the show, devastated. 

There are, of course, many other examples, especially now, in the Golden Age of Television, but few can match the completely shocking moments on this list. 

There are only two actors who I would categorize as chameleons, and they are Gary Oldman, and Jeffrey Wright. And by a chameleon, I mean an actor who is SO good, that I can watch an entire movie with them in it and not even realize that they're in the film until I read the end credits, to which I sometimes exclaim, “That was HIM?” 

 Jeffrey Wright seems to be everywhere right now, from being the voice of The Watcher in Marvel’s What If?... series, to FINALLY getting nominated for an Academy Award, but the man has built an entire career on “That was HIM?” So, here are just 12 must-see roles from the highly diverse actor.     

Jean-Michel Basquiat (Basquiat) 

Speaking of Gary Oldman, you get both him AND Jeffrey Wright in the movie, Basquiat, which is based on the life of the artist of the same name. 

While Basquiat may not be Jeffrey Wright’s first film, it’s definitely his breakout role. I’m not entirely sure if Jean-Michel Basquiat was actually like the person that Wright portrays in this movie (he seems kind of shy and quiet here, and I don’t get that impression of him from his often frantic artwork), Wright’s performance is gripping enough that you’re carried along all the same.  

Daniel Holt (Ride With The Devil) 

Ang Lee has made one of the best westerns of all time in Brokeback Mountain, but one western of his that often gets overlooked is Ride With the Devil, which is about the historical battle between the Bushwackers and the Jayhawks during the Civil War.  

For some context, the Bushwackers were on the Confederate side, and the Jayhawks were pro-North. In the film, Jeffrey Wright plays a former slave who had his freedom bought by his friend, who is a Bushwacker. So, yes, as a Black man, Wright’s character is, in a way, “riding with the devil.” But, it’s a unique performance, in a film that’s just rife with unique performances.   

Felix Leiter (Casino Royale/Quantum Of Solace) 

I’ll be honest. I am NOT a James Bond fan. But, do you know what? I am a Jeffrey Wright fan, and he totally rocked it as the famous James Bond ally, Felix Leiter.  

Leiter has, in the past, been played mostly by white actors (Bernie Casey played him in Never Say Never Again, though), but Wright just makes him out to be so cool at the card table as the “brother from Langley,” even though, as he claims, he’s “bleeding chips.” He’s not in Casino Royale (or Quantum of Solace, for that matter) for all that long, but when he’s there, you remember him.  

Colin Powell (W.) 

As a big Oliver Stone fan, I must admit, I don’t love the movie, W. For the most part, I feel like many of the actors were playing caricatures of the people who were in the White House at the time, rather than actually being them.

However, remember how I mentioned how I sometimes have no idea that Jeffrey Wright is in a movie until the end credits? Well, that was certainly the case with W., where I had no idea that he was the one portraying Colin Powell. Honestly, since I mostly only know Powell from interviews and pictures, I’m not really sure if this is the best representation of the former Secretary of State. But, I’ll tell you this: If Wright is playing him, it’s probably as close as possible.  

Beetee (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire/Mockingjay Parts 1 And 2) 

It was a while ago, but The Hunger Games movies were massive! And, while all four films featured an all-star cast, Jeffrey Wright as the District 3 tribute, Beetee, always stuck out for me.    

It might be because he’s always finishing the other District 3 tribute, Wiress’ sentences, or the fact that he’s so smart, and yet, has to be taught by Katniss how to make a fire. It’s a role that, on the surface, seems like it could be played by anyone, but then you realize that’s only because Wright’s acting is so effortless. Especially when he’s playing one of his many supporting roles.  

Various Characters (Angels In America) 

To call Angels in America just a story about AIDS would be reductive, as in truth, the HBO miniseries, which won tons of awards (including some for Jeffrey Wright), is essentially a story about people. People dealing with AIDS, of course, but people nonetheless. 

Wright played multiple characters in the miniseries, but the one he won awards for was as the nurse, Norman “Belize” Arriaga, where he is all-things-in-one, including a support system, a shoulder to cry on, and an angel in his own right. It’s a potent performance, and one of many where, though he’s not the main character, he certainly feels like it. 

Valentin Narcisse (Boardwalk Empire) 

Based on New York mobster Casper Holstein, Jeffrey Wright's Valentin Narcisse didn’t appear on the popular HBO drama until Season 4, but he made his presence felt immediately once he did. 

It’s probably because he’s just such a scumbag. Playing a Black nationalist, Narcisse is highly calculated in his moves, and you never once feel bad for him, because he makes such terrible decisions and hurts some of the only characters you actually like on the series. There is a sense of justice on the show, bleak as it may be, and what ultimately happens to Wright’s character is evidence of that. 

Bernard Lowe (Westworld) 

Westworld is an interesting case scenario, as Wright is primarily the main character of this HBO dystopian sci-fi show that lasted for four seasons. The series was a headtrip, and I’d be lying if I told you that I understood all of it. But, I always enjoyed Jeffrey Wright’s performance as the troubled Bernard Lowe.   

In a series that’s all about androids, there’s a lot to say about humanity here, and Bernard is the kind of character who you’re always wondering about and questioning. While the show was a bit hard to follow at times, Wright was a pleasure to try to unravel.  

Isaac Dixon (The Last Of Us Part II) 

We know a few things about Season 2 of The Last of Us, but what we don’t know is if Jeffrey Wright will play Isaac Dixon (or even if Isaac will show up in the next season), as the actor voiced him in the second video game.  

The cool thing about Isaac is that he’s a bad guy, but the forces of evil in The Last of Us are so great that you sometimes forget (especially since he’s an antagonist TO an antagonist – if, that is, you even SEE Abby as an antagonist). It’s an understated role, to be sure, but Wright has built his entire career on understated roles.   

Jim Gordon (The Batman) 

I mentioned Gary Oldman earlier, and it appears that these two actors’ careers keep seeming to intertwine for me, as like Oldman, who played Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, Jeffrey Wright also plays Gordon, but this time, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman.  

This Jim is much younger, so he’s just forming his partnership with the Caped Crusader. It’s a fascinating look at a character who always seems to have his head on his shoulders, as he is just learning the ropes, much like Batman himself. It’s a great performance.  

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (Rustin) 

As I mentioned in my article on movies to watch for MLK Day, Jeffrey Wright played MLK in Boycott. But, in a strange turn of events, he also appears in Rustin, as a not-so-nice Congressman, Adam Clayton Powell Jr.  

Since Rustin is our protagonist, Powell Jr. acts as an antagonist of sorts since he doesn’t want Rustin on the team, because he is adamantly against homosexuality. It’s fascinating to watch Wright play both sides of the line, as he’s just so damn good.   

Dr. Thelonious "Monk" Ellison (American Fiction) 

Lastly, Wright’s most recent performance (and the one that finally got him that Best Actor nomination) is one for the ages. Based on the novel, Erasure, he plays a frustrated author who decides to write an outlandish novel that uses all of the Black stereotypical tropes imaginable, as a lark, and it ends up being a success.

Like many of his performances, it’s not overblown, and it revels in its nuances, but what else would you expect from one of Hollywood’s very few chameleons?

Jeffrey Wright is one of the best there is. For more news on the highly diverse actor, be sure to swing around here often!

I could call Black Mirror one of the best sci-fi TV shows of all time, but it feels a little too real to be considered pure “fiction.” Creator Charlie Brooker’s Emmy-winning series — which debuted on British television before becoming a Netflix exclusive made it a worldwide hit — paints a frighteningly accurate portrait of human nature’s darker areas, especially when in response to our increasingly tech-driven world. 

However, it is not the only show to create such a profound and thought-provoking effect by employing many of the same relatable themes through a stylistically bizarre lens — and I am not just talking about other great anthology TV shows like this. Yet, highlighting one of the most essential anthology series of all time is how we shall begin this collection of shows Black Mirror fans will surely love.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) 

A bookworm becoming the last human on Earth after a cataclysmic event, a woman taunted by her doppelgänger, a man believing a dangerous creature is on the wing of his commercial airplane, and many more make up creator and host Rod Serling’s highly influential hit.

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: Not all of the best Twilight Zone episodes have a technophobic element and neither do some classic Black Mirror stories, but both shows undeniably qualify as a series of bizarre and highly inventive morality plays.

Stream The Twilight Zone on Paramount+.
Stream The Twilight Zone on Freevee through Amazon.

Altered Carbon (2018-2020) 

The digitized consciousness of an imprisoned special forces agent wakes up a new body (played by Joel Kinnaman) and assigned by a wealthy man to solve his murder.

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: The concept of downloadable consciousness is explored in many of the best Black Mirror episodes and is also the primary focus of one of the best crime TV shows on Netflix, Altered Carbon — creator Laeta Kalogridis’ dystopian hit, which sees Anthony Mackie take on the central role in Season 2.

Stream Altered Carbon on Netflix.

Upload (2020-Present)

The digitized consciousness of a deceased young man (played by Robbie Amell) is sent to an artificial afterlife where he and his real-world handler (played by Andy Allo) begin looking into the cause of his death.

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: Another mystery series that explores the topic of downloadable consciousness, but with a more lighthearted tone, is Upload, created by former The Office executive producer Greg Daniels.

Stream Upload on Amazon Prime.

Love, Death + Robots (2019-Present) 

This series of diverse animated short films include a trio of sentient machines exploring a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a revolutionary artist preparing to debut his magnum opus, a woman at war with her robotic vacuum, and more.

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: Technology is also a recurring theme in most of the best episodes of Love, Death + Robots, but creator Tim Miller and producer David Fincher’s Emmy-winning Netflix original might be one of the few sci-fi anthologies that surpasses Black Mirror in its bewildering oddities.

Stream Love, Death + Robots on Netflix.

Westworld (2016-2022)

Citizens of a quaint town in the Old West make a shocking a discovery about their existence.

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: Based on an obscure 1970s B-movie from Michael Crichton, HBO’s unfortunately cancelled hit, Westworld, is a thought-provoking commentary on our growing reliance on technology, set in a future where human beings can indulge in their inner most desires in a community inhabited by unwitting artificial beings.

Buy Westworld on Amazon.

Mrs. Davis (2023)

A nun (Betty Gilipin) sets out on a dangerous mission to save a world dominated by a manipulative artificial intelligence.

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: Black Mirror has never really explored the idea of an autonomous AI (yet), but the idea is just as terrifying as anything the show has produced so far, and is made a bit easier to swallow by employing a more comedic tone in Peacock’s critically acclaimed miniseres, Mrs. Davis, from creators Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez.

Stream Mrs. Davis on Peacock.

Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams (2017-2018)

A train station employee (played by Timothy Spall) investigating commutes to non-existent destinations, a policewoman (played by Anna Paquin) questioning what is virtual and what is reality during a VR vacation, and a woman (played Geraldine Chaplin) being granted a visit to a desolate Earth are just some of these strange stories.

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: Black Mirror and the science fiction genre in general might not be what is today without the influence of author Philip K. Dick, whose own work inspired Electric Dreams — an Emmy-nominated anthology that boast many thought-provoking technological concepts, but also much more.

Stream Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams on Amazon Prime.

Mr. Robot (2015-2019)

A young, disturbed hacking expert (played by Academy Award winner Rami Malek) is given the opportunity to wage war against his corrupt employers when he meets a mysterious man (played by Christian Slater).

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: Sometimes Black Mirror does not bother looking into the future, and takes on issues and common fears revolving around technology in the present day — much like creator Sam Esmail’s Emmy-winning hit, Mr. Robot, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest non-HBO prestige dramas today. 

Stream Mr. Robot on Amazon Prime.

Severance (2022-Present)

An office worker (Adam Scott) and his colleagues — whose memories of their personal and professional lives are kept surgically separate — begin to question the truth about their job.

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: Themes of dystopia, isolation, paranoia, and more of Black Mirror’s specialties are explored in a mind-bendingly mundane setting in creator Dan Erickson and executive producer Ben Stiller’s Severance, which has a second season coming in 2024.

Stream Severance on Apple TV+.

Solos (2021)

The seven stories in this anthology follow a terminally ill man (played by Anthony Mackie) making a polarizing decision for his family’s sake, a space traveler (played by Helen Mirren) reminiscing about her life, an elderly man (played by Morgan Freeman) receiving the chance to regain his lost memories, and others.

Why it is a great show for Black Mirror fans: If you need a break from the dismal existential dread of Black Mirror and some of the other shows above, Solos — creator David Weil’s star-studded Amazon original miniseries — offers a, somewhat, more hopeful look at the future.

Stream Solos on Amazon Prime.

If you call yourself a fan of Charlie Brooker’s groundbreaking series — even if you do not love all of Black Mirror’s seasons so far — and you don't like any of these shows, maybe you should check to make sure nothing otherworldly is controlling you.

When it comes to those channels that we all need to pay a little extra for – such as Showtime, Starz, etc. – they all seem to produce some of the absolute best shows. But you want to know which channel I think has made stars even bigger? HBO. 

The channel, which stands for 'Home Box Office,' has produced some of the best TV shows of the last twenty or so years, and with that, several actors and actresses have come and gone and left their mark, earning plenty of awards recognition for their work in the shows. Today, we'll be going over 32 of them. 

Emilia Clarke (Game Of Thrones)

Of the Game of Thrones cast, Emilia Clarke probably became one of the most-known actresses in the world after her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen. On the show for the entirety of its eight seasons, Clarke earned plenty of awards recognition and was nominated several times for a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the show, including her last nomination in the Lead Actress category. 

Jonathan Groff (Looking)

While Jonathan Groff never earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for his role in the LGBTQ+ show Looking, he did win plenty of other awards for his time on the show. Groff is known to be a triple threat with his acting, singing, and dancing talents. He was even a part of the original Hamilton cast, but his starring role in Looking brought on plenty of recognition.

Zendaya (Euphoria)

The Euphoria cast is filled with talent, but let's be honest – Zendaya is the main star we're all looking towards. Nominated several times for the show for a Primetime Emmy, Euphoria has taken this once Disney Channel star and given her the chance to show off her incredible acting skills, one I'm sure she'll continue to do. 

Peter Dinklage (Game Of Thrones)

Peter Dinklage has been around in movies and TV for some time, but everyone recognizes him as Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones, a performance he did for eight show seasons. Out of the entire cast, Dinklage was the one to be nominated for the most Primetime Emmys – and he won four times. 

Lena Dunham (Girls)

Girls lasted for six seasons and gave plenty of stars shining lights, such as Allison Williams, Adam Driver, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and more, but Lena Dunham was certainly the award-winner of the group. The actress, who also created the comedy for HBO, earned several nominations at the Primetime Emmys, the Golden Globes, and more. 

Tony Hale (Veep)

The Veep cast is highly talented, and Tony Hale is just one of many. And his role as Gary Walsh in Veep is undoubtedly one of his best. Among several other awards that he was nominated for this role, he won the Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series twice before the series ended. 

Bill Hader (Barry)

This show – especially Barry Season 4 – was a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end, and Bill Hader's performance has been hailed as one of the best of the show. Hader has been nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards, and the show has also been nominated for Outstanding Comedy.  

Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under)

While Michael C. Hall gained a lot of fame for another role he did – the still rewatchable Dexter on Showtime – he gained a lot of fame at first for his role in Six Feet Under, where he played David, one of the brothers who owns a family-funeral home. His role in the show earned him several nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. 

Jeremy Strong (Succession)

Succession’s success is awesome to watch, growing larger and more prominent over the years, and one of the lead actors, Jeremy Strong, has gained a lot of award recognition throughout the series' four seasons. Among Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Drama Series, and more, Strong has also earned nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the Primetime Emmys. 

Lena Headey (Game Of Thrones)

Cersei Lannister is undoubtedly one of the most-hated villains of Game of Thrones, but I don't think anyone could hate Lena Headey's performance. Throughout the series, the actress earned several nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, among several other awards at the Golden Globes, the Poppy Awards, and more. 

Anthony Carrigan (Barry)

I don't know where it came from, but NoHo Hank became my favorite character in Barry, and I think it's because of Anthony Carrigan's portrayal of him. While Carrigan's character didn't get as much hype at the beginning of Barry, the actor has earned several awards for his role in the show, including Primetime Emmy nominations. 

Diana Rigg (Game Of Thrones)

Olenna Tyrell had to be the best player in Game of Thrones, and I'm pretty sure we all were heartbroken when Diana Rigg passed away. The actress earned several nominations for her role in the show, including Primetime Emmys for her guest appearances. Who could ever forget Olenna? 

Brian Cox (Succession)

I don't think anyone could forget Brian Cox as the patriarch of the Roy family in Succession, Logan Roy, the leading man we were all following for years on end. And, of course, Cox earned plenty of praise for his portrayal in the show, including several Primetime Emmy nominations and wins. 

Sydney Sweeney (The White Lotus And Euphoria)

Sydney Sweeney is an exceptional case on this list, as two of her shows on HBO have earned her nominations. She was a part of The White Lotus Season 1 cast, which earned her a Primetime Emmy nod, and for the second season of Euphoria, she also earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Both of which were certainly deserved. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)

As the lead of Veep, I don't think we could get through a list like this without mentioning Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her role as Selina Meyer. The series, which ran from 2012 - 2019, was a massive success for her and earned the actress several nominations and wins for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy and the series for Outstanding Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmys. 

James Gandolfini (The Sopranos)

We can only have an HBO list by mentioning James Gandolfini from The Sopranos. As the patriarch of the Soprano family, Tony, James Gandolfini won several awards over the series, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the Emmys three times. The show itself also won Outstanding Drama Series several times. 

Evan Peters (Mare Of Easttown)

Mare of Easttown was a limited series on HBO, and the entirety of the cast was incredibly impressive. Evan Peters has gained fame over the last decade for his roles in movies like X-Men and the anthology series American Horror Story, but his role as Detective Colin Zabel has been hailed as one of his best. His portrayal earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, among other awards. 

Henry Winkler (Barry)

Henry Winkler is a TV legend from Happy Days, but his role in Barry is one of my favorites. And the people who award these actors agreed too, as Winkler earned several awards for his character, Gene Cousineau, including Primetime Emmy wins. 

Kate Winslet (Mare Of Easttown)

Kate Winslet was the star of Mare of Easttown, a limited series on HBO, and out of everyone on the cast, she won the most awards for her time on the show. Some of her accomplishments include Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the Primetime Emmys, TV Film of Miniseries Lead Actress of the Year for the Gold Derby Awards, Best Television Movie or Miniseries Actress for the Critics Choice Awards, and more. 

Edie Falco (The Sopranos)

For the six seasons of the American crime series The Sopranos, my favorite out of the entire cast was Edie Falco. Carmela was possibly the best TV wife out there and was the only person who would keep up with Tony's mess. Falco's portrayal of her went down in history. The actress was nominated for (and won) several Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, and more. 

Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos)

Michael Imperioli played Christopher Moltisanti, the protégé of Tony in The Sopranos and someone who seemed to get some of the best storylines in the show. During his time on the series, Imperioli was nominated for his role in several awards, such as  Emmys, Golden Globes, Prism Awards, and more. 

Jake Lacy (The White Lotus Season 1)

The White Lotus cast for Season 1 had some impressive talent, but everyone seriously loved to hate Jake Lacy's character, Shane Patton. But everyone also loves his performance — which earned the actor several nominations across awards shows, including a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. 

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game Of Thrones)

Game of Thrones created several big names for Hollywood, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is another that we saw plenty of in the awards sphere. His character of Jamie Lannister is often credited as having one of the best character arcs in television and earned several award nominations, including the Primetime Emmys. Game of Thrones itself won Outstanding Drama Series several times. 

Sarah Snook (Succession)

The entire Succession cast is filled with talent, but one of my favorites has always been Sarah Snook, who played Shiv in the popular HBO series. Portraying the character for all four seasons, Snook has been nominated for several awards, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. 

Alexandra Daddario (The White Lotus, Season 1)

Daddario has been in the industry for some time, but her role in The White Lotus Season 1 is considered one of her best. The anthology series gave the actress the chance to shine as Rachel, and she was nominated for several awards, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the Primetime Emmys.  

Matthew McConaughey (True Detective, Season 1)

True Detective is an anthology series from HBO, and many lovers of the show agree that Season 1 had one of the best storylines, led by a captivating performance from Matthew McConaughey. The Academy Award-winning actor earned several awards for his lead performance in the first season, including a Crime Thriller Award, a Critics' Choice Award, a Primetime Emmy nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, and more. 

Issa Rae (Insecure)

Insecure is a comedy-drama from HBO, featuring co-creator Issa Rae in the show's lead role. The series was extremely well-received, and Rae was nominated for several awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmys and Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes. 

Kit Harrington (Game Of Thrones)

Jon Snow is probably the most known character from Game of Thrones aside from Daenerys and Tyrion – which is not surprising considering the character is getting his own Game of Thrones spinoff series. The actor behind him, Kit Harrington, was nominated for several awards during his time on the show, including the Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for the show's final season. 

Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus, Seasons 1 And 2)

While The White Lotus is an anthology series, Jennifer Coolidge was a part of the main cast for the first two seasons (and only the first two). And her time on the show as Tanya was exceptionally well-received and loved. Among many other awards, Coolidge won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series of Movies. 

Anthony Hopkins (Westworld)

Anthony Hopkins is one of the most critically acclaimed actors of our time, and of course, he has been praised for his TV performances. This time around, it's Westworld, where he earned several nominations from the Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, and more. The series was also nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the Primetime Emmys. 

Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus Season 1)

Murray Bartlett was a part of The White Lotus Season 1 and he was honestly one of the show's funniest characters. For his performance as Armond, Bartlett earned several nominations. The show was also nominated for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series for Season 1.

Jeffrey Wright (Westworld)

Jeffrey Wright is a great actor who has been in various movies and TV shows, but one of his most critically acclaimed roles was portraying Bernard Lowe in Westworld, a series he starred in for some time. Wright earned several nominations, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. 

There are so many amazing actors and actresses who have gone on to do incredible things. And truthfully, this makes me want to see all these shows again to see their talent. Is anyone up for a Game of Thrones rewatch?

I try not to be a person of many grudges, as those sorts of feelings don’t exactly get you anywhere. But there’s a special place in my heart that harbors a good number of bad feelings pertaining to the cancellation of TV shows I really happened to dig. So pull up a chair and prepare, as I’m about to rattle off 32 TV cancellations I’m still mad about.

Alcatraz

One 13 episode season in 2012 was all we got of this supernatural mindbender, where prisoners that randomly disappeared from Alcatraz returned decades later. When this show vanished, it left one of its leads in a potentially fatal cliffhanger, and deprived the world of weekly doses of Sam Neill. 

The Last Tycoon

Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book of the same name, The Last Tycoon entertained Prime Video subscribers in 2017. Nine episodes was all we got of Matt Bomer’s tragically dreamy studio head, in a series that used old Hollywood to scratch the itch that Mad Men left behind. Scripts for Season 2 are sitting somewhere in writer Billy Ray’s office, waiting for someone to call “Action!”

Resident Evil

When your story depends on jumping back and forth between the present and the future, the gap in the middle is where the fun lies. And for Netflix’s Resident Evil, we’ll never get the full story about what the Wesker family went through between pre and post-apocalyptic events. Though with the untimely passing of Lance Reddick, it would have been daunting to find a new Albert to fill his shoes.

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip

Aaron Sorkin’s dramedy take on the behind the scenes of an SNL clone failed to capture the energy of actually funny sketches. That could have easily been worked on, as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was a very effective drama, with Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford anchoring an amazing ensemble that included Amanda Peet and Sarah Paulson, among others.

Perry Mason

Perry Mason’s Season 2 finale became a series finale, thanks to HBO’s surprise cancellation. Which means Matthew Rhys’ titular detective will be cooling his heels in prison indefinitely, with no updates on how he picks up the pieces in the aftermath of his latest bombshell of a case. Another period-set beauty that’s been yanked too soon.

Westworld

One more season. That’s all Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy needed to close out Westworld properly. I don’t care if Season 4’s finale seems to tie things off, there was one more season of robot madness to be had, and as a Michael Crichton fan I feel cheated.

Lovecraft Country

While there were some serious rumors behind the possible reason for Lovecraft Country's cancellation, I still mourn what was supposed to happen in Season 2. With a radically different United States forming what Blavity reported to be the story behind Lovecraft Country: Supremacy, Mischa Green’s wild visions were too awesome to cancel this early.

Drive

There was a time when Fox was known for its cancel-happy nature, and 2007’s Drive was caught up in that era. An illegal cross-country race had several pairs of contestants racing for glory and survival, with Nathan Fillion, Melanie Lynskey, and Emma Stone among them. Only six episodes were made, with two being aired as online exclusives, and the overall story remaining unfulfilled.

Castle

You know it’s a problem when you’re an eight season show like Castle and your series finale is still a rush job. I still get whiplash when considering Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) going from a near fatal shooting to a happily ever after, one scene long time jump, set seven years into the future.

Counterpart

J.K. Simmons learning to live with his parallel universe self, in a Cold War-tinged espionage thriller. That’s all I should have to say when it comes to Starz’s Counterpart, which was cancelled after two seasons. This is the type of show that definitely should have had a longer life, even if it was just a five season wonder like Alias. 

Agent Carter

Somehow, somewhere in the ABC boardrooms, Agent Carter just wasn’t doing well enough to stay on the air. Meanwhile, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. went on for seven seasons. Not to knock that other series, but Hayley Atwell’s Sharon Carter deserved a lengthier run that enriched the MCU.

Human Target

Watching Human Target was, almost literally, a blast of weekly entertainment. Mark Valley, Jackie Earle Haley, and Chi McBride’s DC Comics action/comedy was light, fun, and packed with thrills. Each new assignment for their team was a treat to behold, and the “mission of the week” style varied things up enough that it was exciting to learn what was next.

Dark Angel

here was a mythos in play in James Cameron's Dark Angel, and plans for a third season of Jessica Alba’s genetically engineered hero Max already in the works. Cameron wrote and executive produced on the show, as well as directed what became the series finale for Season 2.

M.A.N.T.I.S.

Legendary actor Carl Lumbly got to be a TV superhero in M.A.N.T.I.S., and the role fit him like the suit that gave Dr. Miles Hawkins the ability to walk again. A superhero/man of science that flies around in a cool stealth ship and fights crime? And he’s played by Carl Lumbly? This two season epic never got its due, with a bummer ending supposedly closing the loop, and that’s an injustice.

Gentefied

I’m sensing the old fashioned Netflix 28-day viewership rule was what canned Gentefied, a glorious dramedy about the Morales family and their ups and downs in California. Celebrating the Latinx experience, while also focusing on the sociopolitical issues the family faced, it was a heartwarming as it was hysterical. 

I Am Not Okay With This

You shouldn’t legally be allowed to end a series like I Am Not Okay With This on a cliffhanger that massive. With Sydney (Sophia Lillis) moving into an uncertain future with her telekinetic powers, and after that shocking departure of a main character, Netflix’s one season wonder still has me wanting to see the next chapter.

Pen15

I got attached to Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle’s awkward adventures through middle school in Pen15. There was still a lot of ground for the girls to cover, and not having them around makes my Hulu subscription a little less funny.

I Love You America, With Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman’s I Love You, America was a mix of sketch comedy and discussion that tackled issues of the modern world in 2017. Running for only one season, it was a great compliment to other shows like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, as it helped us all see the world a bit clearer through laughter.

Free Agents

Remakes of international shows like Free Agents don’t always work. But when they do, it’s usually because of amazing teams like Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn. Playing co-workers awkwardly navigating a workplace romance, half of its 8 episodes aired on TV, until its cancellation.

The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien ended way too soon, full stop. NBC’s decision to revert the show to its previous host, Jay Leno, was one of the most upsetting late night decisions in history. A little over half a year was all Conan got in the big chair, but wow did he make it work. 

The Tick

Amazon’s attempt at making The Tick into a series was absolutely worth the time and energy given to making its two season run. Peter Serafinowicz and Griffin Newman’s The Tick and Arthur were a match made in comedy heaven, and the constant questioning of reality made it all even more enjoyable to follow. 

The Critic

Even before I became a professional entertainment journalist, The Critic was the type of sarcastic animated comedy I have always dug. Jon Lovitz’ Jay Sherman was bounced around between networks, and even got a short lived run of online shorts. None of it was ever enough, as the sharp writing and movie parodies never missed.

Mr. Mayor

NBC’s Mr. Mayor ended after two seasons, setting up the ultimate cliffhanger with Mayor Neil (Ted Danson) and Deputy Mayor Arpi (Holly Hunter) squaring off in a mayoral race for control of L.A. But at least Jayden (Bobby Moynihan) got some good news to close things out, which left me with one last precious laugh before the curtain. 

The Mick

Fox’s two-season sitcom The Mick was flat out hysterical on its own merit, as Kaitlin Olson’s irresponsible aunt made for a problematic babysitter. However, fan theories that it was secretly the show that It’s Always Sunny’s Sweet Dee imagined herself a part of in “The Gang Saves The Day” episode only makes me miss it that much more.

The Millers

Will Arnett, Beau Bridges, J.B. Smoove, and Margo Martindale formed a solid main bench for CBS’s The Millers, and to the show’s credit it did last two seasons. At the same time, that wasn’t nearly enough for me; and this is coming from someone who’s super picky about their sitcom preferences.

Mr. Sunshine

Matthew Perry running a sports arena sounds like a fun logline. The reality lived up to the potential, as one season of ABC’s Mr. Sunshine banked on Perry’s sarcastic charm. Surrounding him with co-stars like Andrea Anders, Nate Torrence, and Allison Janney only sweetened the pot, but the show didn’t even get to air all 13 episodes produced before cancellation.

A.P. Bio

A.P. Bio always seemed to be fighting to make the grade, even after making the jump from NBC to Peacock. Four seasons saw Glenn Howerton scheming to make his life better, while developing somewhat of a heart over time. Unfortunately, this series has sat down and shut up forever.

The Strain

The Strain was supposed to last for four to five seasons, with FX ultimately ending the series in Season 4. Adapting Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s trilogy depicting a vampire apocalypse, the trimmed episode orders and four season run was satisfying to a degree. At the same time, I still wonder what new twists could have happened in that phantom Season 5.

Firefly

Will the cancellation of Firefly ever be forgiven? I certainly don’t think so. Even with the confusing episode order and Fox’s lack of support for the show, the adventures of the Nathan Fillion-led crew of outlaws was pure joy. And no, Serenity didn’t curb my appetite for future chapters; it only made it grow.

The Crazy Ones

Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar as a father/daughter ad exec team was almost like capturing lightning in a bottle. CBS had that lightning with The Crazy Ones, and its single 22-episode season is all the proof one needed. For a sitcom to be this funny, and to have equally funny outtakes to run each week, is nothing short of a miracle.

Dark Shadows (Revival)

It wasn’t NBC’s fault that the Dark Shadows revival happened to debut at the same time the Gulf War was raging in 1991. Ratings were hard to secure, and we only got 12 episodes of Barnabas Collins (Ben Cross) and the supernatural/gothic happenings that surrounded his family. Don't expect the Johnny Depp reboot if you seek this one out, because this revival was closer to the serious tone of the original.

Quantum Leap (OG)

Look, I know we have the new Quantum Leap, and everyone wants the potential return of Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula). That still doesn’t make up for the final episode of NBC’s original series in 1993 ending with nothing but a title card telling us that Sam never made it home. Ziggy tells me that’s still 100% not cool, and needs to be fixed pronto.

And there you have it: a bushel of TV cancellations that still, to this day, has me wondering "what if..." It'll never stop either, as there's always a new series or an ongoing narrative just waiting to be plucked before its time. Again, while I don't like to hold grudges, it's almost a sure-fire conversation starter if you mention one of these shows while I'm around.

I'm a massive fan of television. It started when I was young and watched hours of Disney Channel shows, but of course, it has now expanded into the world of adult television through several different genres – drama, comedy, horror, you name it, and I've probably watched it. I had to do something while at home when the pandemic had us confined to our homes. 

But in my time watching show after show, various options started out fantastic. They had excellent plots, brilliant storytelling, and great acting, then slowly dwindled. From terrible, horrible TV show endings or shows that dipped in quality over time, here are 30+ great shows that lost their way by the end. 

The Walking Dead

Do you want to hear a fun fact about myself? I watched The Walking Dead until the bitter end, and the emotional Walking Dead finale made me cry a ton. But man, it definitely could have been better. 

The Walking Dead started hot when it first aired and had a pretty steady and brilliantly told storyline until about Season 6, and then when Andrew Lincoln ended up leaving, it all started to tumble down the weeds. 

While we have a good amount of fan favorites coming back for The Walking Dead universe shows, it never quite picked itself up after that when the show was one the series to be watching. 

Lost 

Lost is known now for its awful finale, but truthfully, the entirety of the series had a downfall slump. The main reason is that it was literally consumed by all the mysteries that needed to be solved by the end of the series, and somehow, the show 'lost' itself that way. And, of course, we don't even need to talk about the horrible ending. I hadn't even watched the show then; it was all I heard about for weeks. 

Riverdale 

I remember writing long ago that I had plenty of issues with Riverdale, but I never expected it to turn into the off-brand MCU because that's exactly what happened somehow and they all had powers. And then, in the last season, the main group went back in time somehow. What the heck? What happened? 

This hit CW show started so good with the murder mystery, and then it just tumbled completely.

Game Of Thrones

So I'll be honest here and say that I have rewatched Game of Thrones, and plenty of it still holds up, but you can tell it starts to dip in quality at the very beginning of Season 7 – maybe even Season 6, though I did love "Battle of the Bastards."

Even so, the Game of Thrones ending is pretty much considered one of the worst of the 2010s, and as a hardcore Daenerys supporter, I fully stand by that. They did my girl – and almost all of these characters – dirty. 

The Office

The Office is another clear-cut example of when a main character leaves, the show starts to fall apart. The hit sitcom did try to pick itself up after Steve Carell left in Season 7, but it never reached the heights of where it once was. I was glad we saw him for the finale, but it never felt the same.

Heroes

The first season of any show is crucial, and Heroes had one of the best, featuring the story of ordinary people who discover they have superhuman abilities. This was the superhero show before all the MCU shows started to take over. 

But then Season 2 came along, and this show went downhill fast. It was just horrendously bad, and I, for one, struggled to get through the rest of the seasons after that. 

Westworld

Westworld had everything going for it: a fantastic idea, an excellent Westworld cast, and, the best yet, the funding of HBO to truly take this world into the new age. 

But then both Season 2 and Season 3 happened, and the plot got so convoluted I could barely keep up with it, and all the characters I once loved, I  ended up hating. And then the fourth season came and it’s just so different from what we were given. Unsurprisingly, it was canceled after the fourth season when backlash started to grow more and reviews went down.

That '70s Show 

I don't know what it is about Season 7 and some sitcoms, but that was the case for That '70s Show, when Topher Grace, who played Eric Foreman, left the show. And, of course, it never recovered. I don't care if he did appear in That '90s Show; it just doesn't feel the same. 

How I Met Your Mother

I don't need to get into this. How I Met Your Mother was great, from the fantastic cast to the comedy to Barney and his jokes, but the intensely divisive ending ruined everything. It just did. I can't return to the series and only recommend finishing it to some.

Weeds 

Weeds is a black comedy that ran for several seasons on Showtime and tells the story of a widowed mother who starts selling marijuana to support her family. And while the first few seasons were great, the rest were very different. It felt like another show in its later seasons, and by the end (102 episodes), the plot didn't feel remotely similar to how it was in the first season. 

Glee

There is so much to like about Glee. The Glee cast is incredibly talented, and the best Glee covers still top my playlists, but the story took a nosedive after Season 3. Both Season 1 and Season 2 were great, and Season 3 was alright but still enjoyable, but Season 4-6 was just an utter catastrophe of a story that was only saved by some of the brilliant voices on that show. Other than that, it can stay locked away at McKinley High. 

Supernatural

Supernatural was an excellent fantasy series about two brothers hunting down demons, ghosts, and monsters. And I did enjoy this series until the end, but it certainly was not the same show from the beginning. Many plot points needed to be clarified, and there was plenty of fan service, so as much as I like my spooky boys, it didn't need to be like this. 

The Big Bang Theory 

So I'll fully say that The Big Bang Theory is a great show, but this is another case where it feels that the last few seasons were there just for the money. There was no impressive story to be told, and the characters experienced little growth. It was just a dive into obscurity.

Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars was just an unnecessary drag. Again, a murder mystery is always good, but when the puzzle doesn't make sense towards the end, it makes the show that much harder to follow. And not only that, but the main characters weren't still in high school by the end. They were in college and out in the working world – this should have been just a high school story. 

Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl should have just ended after a few seasons, but it went on because it was the biggest show ever at the time. The series was fun until the later seasons, where the reveal of who Gossip Girl is was utterly disappointing and nonsensical. Not only that, but the finale – and final season overall – felt rushed. 

Two And A Half Men

Fun fact – I just binge-watched all of Two and a Half Men not long ago and I enjoyed it – until about Season 10. 

Charlie Sheen did bring a certain vibe to the show that Ashton Kutcher couldn't, but he did keep the show going for about two seasons before it started to fall apart more than it already had. 

Euphoria 

Okay, so Euphoria technically is still ongoing. However, I'm still determining if we'll even get Season 3 ever since the tragic passing of Angus Cloud. I'd be fine if it ends with two seasons. 

The first season of Euphoria was great television, but the second was so out there and had so many plot points that didn't make sense. The acting was the only thing that saved it because that's always great. But other than that? There's little to love about Season 2. Some things were improved, but others weren't. 

Gilmore Girls

We all like to turn on Gilmore Girls when the fall comes around, but have we forgotten that the ending is terrible? And that Rory's character is utterly destroyed by the end of it? Yeah, I thought so – and the revival didn't do an excellent job of making it any better. 

Killing Eve

The first two seasons of Killing Eve were brilliant, and I loved watching this cat-and-mouse game. But then the next two seasons' plots fell apart entirely, and it led to characters that really shouldn't have been featured getting the spotlight, followed by an ending that fans are not super happy with. 

13 Reasons Why

I liked 13 Reasons Why during its first season because it told a bold message about the effects of bullying and words. But this show should have remained just a miniseries because the seasons that followed were unnecessary and ultimately dissolve the point of the first season when they somehow try to redeem Bryce (the assaulter). 

Scrubs 

Scrubs ran for nine seasons and took the world by storm with its medical comedy mixed with drama. Plus, viewers got to know Dave Franco for the first time. But the later seasons feel like messy attempts to try and make funny jokes that do not land and a story that is not there at all. 

Suits 

I know Suits was wildly popular on Netflix in August 2023, but the series is just ok to me compared to many other great legal dramas. Don't get me wrong, the first few seasons are great television, but as the show goes on and the cases become stranger and more unique, it's different from the show it originally was. 

Bones

Twelve seasons happened for Bones, and the show was alright, but everything was dragged out so long that by the time there was a payoff, there were barely any more fans to care as much. And not only that, but the story would become more convoluted as time passed. I won't spoil anything, but it's a hard watch for later seasons. 

Community 

Okay, hear me out; I love this show and the Community cast, but let's be honest: Seasons 4, 5 and 6 were not the best. Both Season 4 and 5 were bad, and while Season 6 was getting a little better, it was nowhere near as good as the first three seasons of this show. I'm hoping that the Community movie will bring that level of comedy back.

Money Heist 

The thing about Money Heist is that it was so much fun at first. Was it over the top? Yes, totally, but that's what made it fun to watch. But then, as the series went on, it just got ridiculous with its story, and nothing made sense.

Once Upon A Time

Admittedly, I was a big Once Upon a Time fan because I loved Disney movies, but by the time this show ended, it felt like a Disney cash grab using the most famous names from their list of princesses and characters to make a buck. Elsa somehow even made it into this show. The story didn't mean anything anymore.  

True Blood

I put this on here because I know how badly my mother and father hated the ending of True Blood, and I decided to watch it. Not only did the series' narrative completely fall apart by the finale, but the characters were making choices and decisions that didn't align with what the story had set up for years before. Nothing made sense. 

Dexter

I enjoyed watching Dexter for the first time, and I actually say Dexter is worth re-watching, but I can see why most people don't watch it after Season 5 nowadays. The story certainly takes a dip in quality, and the ending is only for some and is controversial for a reason. I do think Dexter: New Blood made up for it a bit. 

Shameless

Shameless was my favorite TV show, but after Emmy Rossum left, it was always different. The Gallagher family dynamic fell apart, and nothing ever flowed as well. Rossum wasn't even there for the finale, making it feel even more incomplete. 

The Vampire Diaries

Do I even need to get into this? The Vampire Diaries died when Nina Dobrev left, and the story fell apart. I don't care what spinoffs there are; you can't make me watch them. 

Modern Family

Don't even get me started on Haley in this show or any of the choices these characters make at the end of Modern Family that make me want to rip my hair out. I will go on for hours. This show was so good until it wasn't, and it drove me mad. 

House Of Cards

House of Cards was a brilliant drama on Netflix, but of course, the central star, Kevin Spacey, faced several allegations of sexual misconduct, so it had to shift course – and from there, it just fell apart. It should have been canceled once Kevin Spacey. 

All of these shows are worthy of a single watch, but maybe not a rewatch. There is plenty of great drama here, but I can also live without it. Either way, I'll go check out Breaking Bad for the umpteenth time – that'll never let me down. 

I very much enjoyed Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, but if I had one reason to complain, it would be that there was just not quite enough of Pom Klementieff. Despite barely saying a word (unless it was in French), her performance in the seventh installment of the Mission: Impossible movies as a vicious assassin only known as “Paris” is one of the most striking and memorable out of anyone in the star-studded ensemble. Before she reprises the role in the eighth installment, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, check out some of the best Pom Klementieff movies and TV shows streaming and where you can find them.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning (2023)

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Pom Klementieff

What it's about: Ethan Hunt and his team must contend with an enemy unlike anything they have faced before: a highly intelligent and manipulative artificial intelligence.

Why it is worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: The latest installment of the enduring spy movies franchise, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning (which originally had a Part One attached to the title that Paramount has since dropped), has some of the best Mission: Impossible movie action sequences -- many of which involve Klementieff's almost silent, scene-stealing, character, Paris.

How to watch Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning

• Stream Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning on Paramount+
• Stream Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning on Amazon Prime
• Stream Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning on MGM+
• Buy Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning on Blu-ray on Amazon

Pom Klementieff's Marvel Movies (2017-2023)

Director: Various

Starring: Various

What they are about: After helping them defeat her tyrannical former master, Mantis – a lovably naive, but still badass, alien with the ability to sense and alter other people’s emotions – joins a diverse, ragtag crew who travel across the galaxy helping those in need.

Why they are worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: Audiences fell in love with Klementieff for her performance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as a lovably before she appeared in more of the best Marvel movies and a funny holiday special for Disney+.

How to watch Pom Klementieff's Marvel movies

Ingrid Goes West (2017)

Director: Matt Spicer

Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, Pom Klementieff

What it's about: A woman notorious forming unhealthy social media obsessions moves to Los Angeles intending to become friends with one of her favorite influencers (played by Elizabeth Olsen).

Why it is worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: In the same year she made her MCU debut, Klementieff (in the role of a famous fashion blogger) shared the screen with a franchise veteran (Olsen), a future member (Wyatt Russell), and a non-canon Marvel TV show actor (Legion star Plaza) in Ingrid Goes West — a dark social media satire.

How to watch Ingrid Goes West

• Stream Ingrid Goes West on Tubi
• Buy Ingrid Goes West on Blu-ray on Amazon

Newness (2017)

Director: Drake Doremus

Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Leia Costa, Pom Klementieff

What it's about: A young man and woman meet on a dating app and fall in love but soon agree to spice things up by openly experimenting with online dating outside of their relationship, leading to turbulent consequences.

Why it is worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: A more somber and earnest commentary on the digital age starring Klementieff is the romantic drama, Newness, in which the actor plays Bethany — one of the women Hoult’s character sees on the side.

How to watch Newness

• Stream Newness on Pluto TV
• Stream Newness on The Roku Channel
• Stream Newness on Plex
• Rent or buy Newness on Amazon
• Buy Newness on DVD on Amazon

Black Mirror: Striking Vipers (2019)

Director: Owen Harris

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

What it's about: While playing a fighting video game, a family man and his old buddy make an interesting discovery about the game’s highly immersive VR function and themselves.

Why it is worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: Yet another commentary about how technology and romance mix is one of the best episodes of Black Mirror, “Striking Vipers,” in which Klementieff plays a video game avatar named Roxette.

How to watch Black Mirror: Striking Vipers

• Stream Black Mirror: Striking Vipers on Netflix

Westworld (2020)

Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright

What it's about: Nineteenth-century villagers make the startling discovery that they are not human, but highly advanced mechanical beings constructed for a futuristic theme park where guests can authentically live out their fantasies of experiencing life in the Old West.

Why it is worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: Movies and TV shows exploring technology's pros and cons continued to be a staple of Klementieff’s career when she was cast on the third season of Westworld — HBO’s Emmy-winning, unfairly cancelled sci-fi Western series loosely inspired by a 1973 film of the same name — in the recurring role of Martel, who works for Vincent Cassel’s Engerraund Serac.

How to watch Westworld

• Buy Westworld on Amazon
• Buy Westworld on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Addams Family (2019)

Director: Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz

What it's about: After years of living in gloomy isolation, a creepy and kooky family becomes acquainted with their never-before-seen neighbors.

Why it is worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: For her first voice acting gig, Klementieff appeared in the animated reboot of the Addams Family as twin sisters Layla and Kayla, who become friends with Wednesday Addams.

How to watch The Addams Family (2019)

• Stream The Addams Family on Max
• Rent or buy The Addams Family on Amazon
• Buy The Addams Family on Blu-ray on Amazon

Uncut Gems (2019)

Director: Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie

Starring: Adam Sandler, Idina Menzel, Julia Fox

What it's about: A New York City jeweler and compulsive gambler comes into possession of a rare opal, which sends him on a self-destructive downward spiral.

Why it is worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: Also in 2019, Klementieff made an appearance you might have missed in one of the best A24 movies — the intense, anxiety-fueled crime thriller, Uncut Gems — as Lexis, who is friends with Julia Fox’s character, Julia De Fiore.

How to watch Uncut Gems

• Stream Uncut Gems on Tubi
• Rent or buy Uncut Gems on Amazon
• Buy Uncut Gems on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Director: James Gunn

Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, Viola Davis

What it's about: Amanda Waller calls upon the services of her reluctantly heroic team of criminals for a new mysterious and potentially world-threatening mission.

Why it is worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: Another brief appearance by Klementieff that many people missed (before it was revealed by James Gunn) is her uncredited cameo as a Panama City night club dancer in The Suicide Squad — a dazzling, “total reboot” to the DCEU’s supervillain showcase and the actor’s first collaboration with the Guardians filmmaker outside of the MCU.

How to watch The Suicide Squad

• Stream The Suicide Squad on Max
• Rent or buy The Suicide Squad on Amazon
• Buy The Suicide Squad on Blu-ray on Amazon

Sleepless Night (2011)

Director: Frédéric Jardin

Starring: Tomer Sisley, Serge Riaboukine

What it's about: A police officer finds the barrier between his seemingly normal life and secret criminal lifestyle suddenly broken when his plan to rob a drug shipment from a powerful mobster has pressing consequences.

Why it is worth watching if you love Pom Klementieff: One of Klementieff’s first and most acclaimed major motion pictures was the intense, French action drama, Sleepless Night, which served as the basis of the Jamie Foxx-led 2017 thriller, Sleepless.

How to watch Sleepless Night

• Stream Sleepless Night on Peacock
• Stream Sleepless Night on Tubi
• Stream Sleepless Night on Pluto TV
• Buy Sleepless Night on Amazon
• Buy Sleepless Night on DVD on Amazon

If you still can’t get enough of Pom Klementieff after finishing this binge, there is surely more where that came from, too, and we cannot wait.

It looks like Netflix is taking another page out of HBO Max’s book as they announced a big show, which is also a Netflix Original, will be removed from the platform. While the legacy streaming service has been canceling shows left and right, now it's completely removing a finished series, as fans noticed that Arrested Development will be leaving the platform on March 14. 

While Netflix has been canceling shows with only one or two seasons, this removal is a new move from the company, and a surprising one, in my opinion. The streamer posted on Arrested Development’s page that it would leave on March 14. It’s unclear if the show will move to another streamer or get lost in the streaming abyss. This is because the hit comedy is in a funky position considering Netflix saved it from cancellation after Fox nixed it, and made the last two seasons original to the streamer.

Shows come and go from Netflix; Friends moved to HBO Max, The Office and Parks and Recreation moved to Peacock, and the list goes on. So, if Arrested Development fell in that category – which it would have based on Seasons 1-3 – it would make sense that when a contract ended, it would move. However, this cult classic is in an odd place because Netflix saved it from cancellation, and brought it back for Seasons 4 and 5, making it a Netflix Original. 

To try and hypothesize where Arrested Development might land next it’s worth looking at what happened to quite a few HBO shows. Following the surprise cancellations of Westworld and Minx, which was in production for Season 2 when it got the news, all the shows found new homes either on a third-party, free, ad-supported streaming service (FAST) or another platform. While shows like The Nevers, The Time Traveler’s Wife and Westworld are going to FAST streamers, Minx Season 2 will be making its way to STARZ. So, it will be interesting to see if the comedy makes its way to a third-party platform or over to a more mainstream streamer.

Considering Arrested Development started out on Fox, I could see the series moving over to Hulu, since many Fox shows are available on that platform. It would also make sense that the semi-Netflix Original would move to another platform following the end of a contract, considering Daredevil moved to Disney+ despite it originating on Netflix.

However, it’s also possible we might never see Arrested Development again (unless you have it on DVD) considering the last time Netflix pulled an HBO Max, they canceled two already completed movies. In HBO Max's case, their movies will likely never see the light of day, however, Netflix didn’t just throw these movies into a black hole to be forgotten, they are giving filmmakers the opportunity to shop their projects. So, it’s possible the comedy starring Jason Bateman and Will Arnett will not find a new home, however, considering its cult following I’d assume we’ll see it pop up somewhere sometime soon. 

While it won’t be on Netflix much longer, and considering its unknown future, make sure to use your Netflix subscription to watch Arrested Development now before it leaves the streamer on March 14. 

HBO has long been a hub of cutting edge, thrilling television programming. While Game of Thrones was still at the height of its popularity, the network debuted the ambitious sci-fi drama Westworld back in 2016. Following its fourth season, the show was surprisingly cancelled in the midst of yet another cliffhanger ending. And Westworld actor James Marsden recently opened up about HBO’s cancellation, and remaining hopeful about plans to “finish it.”

Each season of Westworld is wildly different, with the sci-fi series including concepts like a global apocalypse and mind-controlled humans. James Marsden has appeared as Teddy Flood throughout the show’s four seasons in the air, often sharing scenes with series star Evan Rachel Wood in the process. He was recently asked by Rolling Stone about the show’s shocking cancellation, and he opened up by sharing:

Points were made. Given the surprising nature of Westworld’s cancellation, the dystopian series wasn’t able to craft a truly satisfying ending. While Season 4 came to a close, we left off with a huge cliffhanger. Evan Rachel Wood’s Dolores created a new test for the hosts, in hopes of avoiding another apocalyptic event. But now we’ll never know whether or not she was ultimately successful.

Throughout Season 4 of Westworld we followed two different stories. They finally collided in the finale, when Dolores was able to once again become sentient and regain her memories and consciousness. With humanity on the edge of extinction, she re–creates the Westworld park in The Sublime, hoping to offer hosts one last “test” for hosts and humans alike. And as such, fans are left wondering how it all shook out.

Later in that same interview, James Marsden spoke about how much he loved his years playing Teddy in Westworld. What’s more, he expressed hope that the show’s fifth and final season might be completed someday in the future. As he put it,

There you have it. It remains to be seen if this will ever actually happen, but crazier things have happened. Then again, HBO typically hasn’t been involved in the various scrapped shows that have been saved from cancellation in recent years by moving networks. Hopefully we’ll get to find out the show’s ending in one way or another.

In addition to Westworld, James Marsden recently wrapped up his tenure on Netflix’s Dead to Me, which ended after Season 3. He’s also been keeping busy with film projects like Disenchanted and his ongoing role in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Be sure to check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Many examples of TV greatness came to their planned ends in 2022, from beloved network stalwarts This Is Us and black-ish to the standout cable genre-thwarters Atlanta and Better Call Saul to the talent-packed streaming hits Ozark and Grace and Frankie. Unfortunately, it was also a big year for totally unplanned and often unwarranted cancellations, with a majority of TV-forward platforms tightening their budgetary belts out of necessity (and/or being at the center of mega-mergers).

So while a truly objective classification of TV shows that were axed is an impossibility, here's our noble attempt at pulling together the most disappointing TV cancellations of 2022. Hopefully nobody gets blindsided by any previous unknowns that are listed below, although I guess it wouldn’t be much different from getting gobsmacked by the cancellations when they happened. (Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule when you're done to see all the shows already set for debuts in the near year.)

The Baby-Sitters Club

As an adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s timeless and beloved line of youth-skewing book series (of which there are many), The Baby-Sitters Club probably had enough source material to span an entire generation of babysitters. Unfortunately, as beloved as the fan-favorite dramedy was, its second season failed to carve out a spot within Netflix’s daily Top 10 TV Shows rankings, and only showed up once in the service’s weekly rankings. However, its March cancellation was buffered by the recent update that creator Rachel Shukert has renewed plans to shop the series around after its Children & Family Emmys wins. 

Where To Stream Seasons 1-2: Netflix

Black Monday

2022 didn’t make it through a whole month without delivering terrible news for one of premium cable’s most gleefully energetic romps, as Showtime’s coked-up stock market comedy Black Monday was given the boot back in January, six months after its third season concluded. Starring Don Cheadle, Regina Hall and an endless line of hilarious actors, Black Monday was seemingly never appreciated by the massive crowds it deserved, and one can only hope that viewers discover the show through streaming.

Where To Stream Seasons 1-3: Showtime / other apps with a Showtime add-on

The Arrowverse And Other DC Shows 

A cancellation that incorporates far more than just a single series, The CW put the kibosh on nearly all of its DC Comics fare throughout 2022, as influenced by Nexstar Media Group acquiring a majority ownership stake in the network. The new bosses almost immediately made it clear that fantastical, large-budget programming would be no more, and fans were heartbroken to witness the demises of Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow, with The Flash’s final season airing in 2023. As well, Stargirl and Naomi were canceled surrounding the airing of their respective third and first seasons. As of now, The CW is welcoming Superman & Lois back for Season 3, with the debut season of Gotham Knights set for 2023.

Where To Stream: Legends of Tomorrow @Netflix, Stargirl, Batwoman, Naomi @ HBO Max

First Kill

Based on the short story by author V.E. Schwab, and created by the very same writer, First Kill immediately won over fans hungry for a YA-friendly vampire tale that embraced LGBTQ+ characters and storylines. And that hunger resulted in First Kill celebrating a pretty massive debut on Netflix, spending a few weeks in the streamer’s Top 10 rankings and securing more than 100 million hours of viewership during its first 28 days of release. Unfortunately, that somehow wasn’t enough to convince the powers that be to sink their fangs into a second season, and it was cancelled less than two months after arriving, sparking a fan backlash and comments from the showrunner about Netflix’s reportedly substandard marketing ploys.

Where To Stream Season 1: Netflix 

Saved By the Bell

Television’s most innovating and progressive continuation/reimagining in recent memory, Saved by the Bell aced all the critical tests, but Bayside High’s elite very sadly didn’t get to graduate to Season 3, with Peacock cancelling the GLAAD Award-winning comedy in May 2022, seven months after it Slater-iffic second season dropped. If only we all had Zack and Daisy’s Time Out powers to go and fudge some paperwork at Peacock.

Where To Stream Seasons 1-2: Peacock 

Close Enough

Of all the series that fared terribly during the earliest wave of “HBO Max is going bananas with its content library” news, arguably the most fun and unique show to get axed unceremoniously was the trippy-lite thirty-something animated comedy Close Enough, from Regular Show creator J.Q. Quintel. But while you can still find Mordecai and Rigby on the streaming service, Close Enough was one of many to be excised entirely, and is currently without a proper streaming home.

Where To Stream: No current subscription service, though seasons can be purchased through Prime Video

Other Victims Of Warner Bros. Discovery Merger 

Surrounding the aforementioned content culling at HBO Max, much of the summer-to-winter spread was peppered with disappointing news coming out of Warner Bros Discovery, at least with regards to streaming content. Fan-favorite shows such as Legendary, Raised by Wolves, Love Life, Gordita Chronicles, FBOY Island, Minx, The Garcias, Young Justice, and more all getting their runs cut short, regardless of expectations, not to mention unreleased projects such as the animated series Batman: Caped Crusader, starring the late voice-acting icon Kevin Conroy. In Minx’s case, the cancellation came during the final stretch of filming Season 2.

Where To Stream: Those with seasons that haven't been removed can be found at HBO Max

Legacies

With The Vampire Diaries TV franchise co-creator creator Julie Plec having a bazillion shows in development outside of all things WB, perhaps it's fitting that the third entry Legacies was cancelled outright by The CW in final stretch of its fourth (and thus final) season. The show did get to wrap in a way that tied back into its predecessors, but TVD fans will likely never top hoping that Plec & Co. will return to this universe at some point in the future.

Where To Stream Seasons 1-4: Netflix

Westworld

Many Westworld viewers might argue that the dark and labyrinthian drama’s later seasons failed to match the storytelling peaks achieved in Season 1, but Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy’s twisting and turning tale of humanity’s fight against A.I. sentience remained an intriguing mystery even through lackluster eps and long gaps between seasons. All things considered, light expectations were in place for HBO to allow the show to live out its half-planned five-or-six-season run, but its cancellation may have come to light even without WBD’s merger, considering how far the viewership numbers had fallen from the first to the fourth season. 

Where To Stream Seasons 1-4: Currently unavailable through subscription, but will soon be released through Warner Bros. Discovery’s FAST platform.

The Midnight Club

The first episodic take on teen horror icon Christopher Pike's bibliography, The Midnight Club was bolstered by its co-creator team of Midnight Mass and Haunting of Hill House mastermind Mike Flanagan and Bly Manor writer Leah Fong, as well as an emotionally dense story of hospice-bound teenagers coming to grips with their mortalities. Surprisingly, Season 1's viewership success and Top 10 showings were not enough to convince the platform to order up a second season that would have answered the show's many mysteries and plot threads. Thankfully, Flanagan resolved those issues after the cancellation while on his way to a lucrative new deal with Amazon Studios and his dream job of adapting Stephen King's The Dark Tower.

Where To Stream Season 1: Netflix

Paper Girls

Based on the acclaimed comic book series from Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, Amazon Studios' Paper Girls was a fun and largely delightful adaptation of the source material, which followed its titular newspaper-delivering teens as their '80s-centered lives became upended after they unwittingly travel through time. 

Where To Stream Season 1: Prime Video

Full Frontal With Samantha Bee

HBO Max's content library issues in 2022 were certainly rivaled by fellow WBD siblings TBS and TNT, with both networks reversing course on almost all of their original programming plans. And while the go-to option in these situation is usually to adhere to unscripted fare for money-saving reasons, the long-running satirical news and chat show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee was put on the chopping block alongside Chad (which didn't even get to air its produced and delayed second season) and Snowpiercer. As disappointing as it has been to lose Samantha Bee from the small screen, one can only hope she bounces back with something even more full and frontal, as it were.

Where To Stream Seasons 1-3: HBO Max
Where To Stream Seasons 1-7: Available for purchase through Prime Video

Warrior Nun

Despite any story hiccups that critics and viewers might have identified across its two seasons, Netflix’s Warrior Nun was nonetheless celebrated highly for the committed work from stars such as Alba Baptista and Toya Turner, as well as some of the most impressive fight choreography in recent years on any TV format. But its fate turned out as dour as the show’s tone itself, with the streaming service canceling the action-drama a little over a month after its second season debuted. 

Where To Stream Seasons 1-2: Netflix

Magnum P.I.

Our final entry here is something of a cheat. Because Magnum P.I.’s unexpected cancellation at CBS back in May was indeed so much of a sun-scorched disappointment that the motivated and dedicated fandom behind the Jay Hernandez-starring crime drama came together in full force and played a big role in convincing NBC execs to swoop in and bring Thomas Magnum & Co. back for Season 5, which is set to debut as part of the 2023 TV lineup.

Where To Stream Seasons 1-4: No subscription services, but available for purchase through Prime Video

Here's hoping we can make it through the first weeks of 2023 without a jumble of cancellation news plaguing all the midseason premieres. But I know that's about as likely as CBS re-rebooting Magnum P.I. while the other version is still airing on NBC. Wait, that actually doesn't sound that impossible...

Since AT&T merged with Discovery Communications earlier this year, the business deal has greatly impacted Warner Bros. and its streaming service HBO Max. Among the changes has been troubling announcements of numerous original movies and TV shows being completely removed from the streaming service, including news this week that hit shows like Westworld, Minx, amidst its production on Season 2, and the inclusive comedy The Gordita Chronicles were being taken off. We finally have some answers from the company about their plans for the content they are removing. 

Per an HBO Max press release, Warner Bros Discovery has decided it will be moving the removed HBO Max original programming to a third party, free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service yet to be announced. The company detailed the following shows will go to WBD’s FAST offering on an undetermined date in 2023: 

• Westworld – Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4
• The Nevers – Season 1
• Raised by Wolves – Seasons 1, 2
• FBOY Island – Seasons 1, 2
• Legendary – Seasons 1, 2, 3
• Finding Magic Mike – Season 1
• Head of the Class – Season 1
• The Time Traveler’s Wife – Season 1

And, the following series will be removed from HBO Max as well. However, the new homes of these series are not necessarily designated for WB's FAST offering and could land elsewhere: 

• Gordita Chronicles – Season 1
• Love Life – Seasons 1, 2
• Made for Love – Seasons 1, 2
• The Garcias – Season 1
• Minx – Seasons 1, 2

These changes are a result of Warner Bros Discovery trying to get itself out of a hole of debt of $47 billion. As previously reported, these HBO Max offerings were not only cancelled, they will be completely removed from being viewed on the service so that the company no longer has to pay residuals to those part of these movies and shows when they are viewed. 

This also follows Warner Bros. Discovery shocking fans when it completely pulled the DC film Batgirl and the Scoob! prequel from ever seeing the light of day even though it had been filmed completely. It looks like more titles could disappear as well. As an expert on the subject, NScreenMedia’s Colin Dixon told IndieWire amidst the news that it’s possible older original content on HBO Max could be chosen to be monetized on a FAST service as well. 

This certainly leaves a lot of question marks regarding the future of HBO Max content, including fans certainly getting nervous about their own favorite shows leaving the platform. The audiences of HBO Max’s Harley Quinn previously went viral by sharing their thoughts about the service possibly cancelling the series in particular, telling the company that it “better not lay a hand on her.” 

If these titles haven’t been removed already, they’ll only be available to stream with an HBO Max subscription for a few more days. It’s certainly troubling to see some major shows get the axe and be without a home, but we’ll be following these developments closely. 

On the heels of HBO Max cutting shows like Minx and Love Life from its library, another two will no longer be available to subscribers to the service (which has not yet changed its name). Both Westworld and The Nevers are being pulled from the streamer, marking the end of easy access to one of HBO’s highest-profile shows of the last decade and the official cancellation of The Nevers after half of Season 1. 

Westworld and The Nevers will be removed from HBO Max, according to Deadline, and are expected to be moved to different Warner Bros. Discovery platforms, although that has yet to be officially confirmed. The outlet reports that after CEO David Zaslav spoke about the FAST channel space (a.k.a. free ad-supported streaming TV), both shows may become available again in that way. The cuts are presumably to save money by no longer needing to pay residuals to actors, as was the case for other cut projects in August. 

Although these two series are far from the first to be pulled from HBO Max, they stand out as dramas that originally aired on HBO rather than releasing on the streaming service as originals, unlike Minx (which was just cancelled as it approached finishing production on Season 2), Love Life (which ranked among our top HBO Max shows), and the inclusive The Gordita Chronicles, to the displeasure of fans. Cutting high-profile HBO shows is a pretty big surprise. 

Of course, this is hardly the first surprise on the Westworld front in 2022. Despite its status as a critical and award-winning success (albeit expensive and dwindling in popularity), Westworld was cancelled back in November after four seasons. There had been plans for five seasons before the unexpected cancellation. Actor Luke Hemsworth even got the bad news on his birthday. The cast was still set to make a fair amount of money, however. At its height, Westworld was arguably HBO’s most talked-about drama in the last decade not featuring dragons (although it did feature the Game of Thrones executive producers in Season 3).

News of the removal of The Nevers comes between the first half of Season 1 in 2021 and the second half, which was expected in 2023 but had not yet found a home in the 2023 TV premiere schedule. While it’s not yet clear where the second half of the first and now only season will release, Deadline further reports that the storyline was planned so that it can end with Season 1B. The show made history for HBO Max shortly after its premiere.

At the time of writing on December 12, the full run of Westworld and first half of The Nevers Season 1 are still available streaming, so now is the time to check out an HBO Max subscription if you want to watch them before they’re pulled from the streamer. These shows are just the latest of many projects to lose their spots in the HBO Max library, with a whole list of original movies and shows that have been removed. Only time will tell if more high-profile shows or movies are removed and when they’ll become available again. 

It was a real shock in the world of TV when HBO decided to cancel its Emmy-winning series Westworld after four seasons. While this news couldn’t have been easy to hear anyone involved with the show, Luke Hemsworth, who played Ashley Stubbs on the show, learned about the cancellation on quite possibly the worst day, his birthday. 

Hemsworth told ET at the premiere of his brother Chris Hemsworth’s series Limitless that he learned about the Westworld news on his 42nd birthday. Obviously, this is not the news you want to hear anytime, let alone your birthday, so his reaction made sense. The actor explained his thoughts when he found out, saying: 

He also reflected on the sad news regarding the long-running show, explaining: 

It really is disappointing, especially since Jonathan Nolan, the showrunner, had a plan for the show’s fifth and final season. There’s a little extra sting about not getting closure because Season 4 was full of cast members returning and big plot twists, making the possibility of Season 5 even more exciting. Hemsworth also commented on the show not getting the closure it wanted, and how he’s moving forward, saying: 

While the cancellation really sucks for everyone involved, luckily the cast will get paid for Season 5, because they had “pay-or-play deals.” 

On another good note, a lot of the cast members have many exciting projects coming up, and many have recently been released. For example, Evan Rachel Wood played Madonna in the biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and has another movie in the works. Meanwhile, James Marsden has had two big projects drop this week with Season 3 of the Netflix show Dead to Me along with the highly anticipated and long-awaited Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted. 

As for Luke Hemsworth, he has two movies on the 2022 movie schedule, with Bosch & Rockit and Bad Hombres. He also has one movie on the 2023 film schedule called Land of Bad, which also stars his brother Liam Hemsworth as well as Russell Crowe and Milo Ventimiglia. So, even though it’s a real bummer Luke learned about the Westworld news on his b-day, at least he, and we, have lots of fun projects to look forward to. 

Also, even though Westworld is over, you can always go back and watch Hemsworth, and the rest of the stellar ensemble cast, in all four seasons of the hit sci-fi series with an HBO Max subscription.

Fans of HBO’s Westworld were delivered a shock late last week, when the award-winning dystopian sci-fi drama was canceled ahead of its fifth season. Despite its twisty plots and exciting commentary on humanity vs. artificial intelligence, Westworld was apparently the victim of an aggressive cost-cutting mandate enacted by the network. The series’ big budget, combined with declining ratings over the past two seasons, proved to be its downfall, but it turns out the A+ cast members are still going to get paid.

Deadline reports that Westworld’s actors had “pay-or-play deals” for Season 5, ensuring that the cast — which includes Aaron Paul, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, Ed Harris, James Marsden, Tessa Thompson and Jeffrey Wright — will still be paid, despite the cancellation. The site reports that contracts may have been renegotiated ahead of Season 4, and that networks making such guarantees to its actors is not unusual, particularly for ensemble casts that might be difficult to reassemble otherwise.

HBO is expected to pay out between $10 million and $15 million to the actors, which is still considerably more financially feasible than paying for another season, as THR reports that Season 4 cost “at least $160 million” to make what turned out to be its final eight episodes.

Despite ratings for Westworld dropping for 2020’s Season 3, and falling further two years later when it returned from pandemic-related delays, co-creator Jonathan Nolan said he’d always planned for a fifth and final season. It’s terribly frustrating for fans, including myself, to know there was a plan that would bring the often-confusing storylines to a conclusion, and now we will likely never get to see that play out.

Over its four seasons, the series accumulated 54 Primetime Emmy nominations, taking home nine trophies. There’s no question the HBO drama has made its mark on the TV world, with another good benchmark of that being the fact that it was brilliantly parodied in The Simpsons’ annual Halloween “Treehouse of Horror” episode this year.

As the actors will still collect a check from HBO, we can keep up with them through their other projects. Evan Rachel Wood can currently be seen with a spot-on portrayal of Madonna on The Roku Channel’s Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. And following Teddy’s surprising return to Westworld Season 4, you can take a look at any of James Marsden’s best movies and TV shows.

There may not be any more stories from the Divine on their way, but the first four seasons of Westworld are still available to stream for fans with an HBO Max subscription. You can also check out some of HBO Max’s best original series, and see what’s coming to cable and streaming for the rest of the year with our 2022 TV schedule. 

After four seasons, HBO has canceled the Emmy-winning, hit show Westworld. This news is surprising and unexpected considering the critical acclaim and popularity of the series.

The show racked up 54 Emmy nominations during its time on the air. However, according to THR the ratings for the third season fell dramatically and fell further during Season 4. Westworld also received more negative reviews as the seasons went on.

Season 4 of the hit sci-fi drama saw the return of the show’s primary actors, including Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, and Jeffrey Wright’s Bernard Lowe, after Season 3 left viewers with a lot of questions. This cancellation comes not long after the fourth season full of plot twists ended ambiguously.

Along with the lack of closure, this cancellation is surprising because according to the publication Westworld used to be one of HBO’s “tentpoles.” 

The showrunner, Jonathan Nolan told an audience at New York Comic Con last month that he had “always planned for a fifth and final season.” He said he had hoped they would make the last season, and that they had been in conversations with the network. It’s sad to know that even though there was an ending in mind, it’s not something we will ever see.  

The article also stated that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has committed to an aggressive cost-cutting mandate. However, according to insiders that did not impact the decision to cancel Westworld.

HBO released a statement saying it’s been a “thrill” to work on the series, and Kilter Films posted this statement: 

This news comes a few months after the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Following the merger, a lot of HBO Max content has disappeared, and many projects have been scrapped, including Batgirl before it could be released on HBO Max. Along with HBO Max other networks have been hit, causing the cancellations of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee after seven seasons, Tracy Morgan’s TBS comedy The Last O.G., and the TNT series Snowpiercer. 

While HBO saw success on the fall TV schedule this year with the hit Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, Westworld did not have as big of an impact with Season 4. It’s a real bummer that the show won’t get closure, for both the creatives and the viewers. While there will not be a final season, you can still watch all four seasons of Westworld with an HBO Max subscription.  

Spoilers below for the latest "Treehouse" episode of The Simpsons, so be warned if you haven't yet watched.

The Simpsons is known for pulling out all the stops when it comes to its famed "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, and this year proved no different. In fact, this was the first time viewers could enjoy not just one, but two different specials, with the Stephen King-infused "Not IT" special having aired the week before the official "Treehouse of Horror XXXIII." Anyone who thought the King references were great were no doubt blown the hell away by how many classic Simpsons gags popped up during the ep's Westworld-spoofing segment. 

While I cannot guarantee that a handful of subtle nods are absent, here is a mostly comprehensive list of all the hilarious and surprising callbacks that appeared in the SimpsonsWorld park. (Arguably the only thing missing from the ep was a reference to that classic character Graggle, who totally existed.)

Bitey

The segment kicks off with a callback to one of The Simpsons' most celebrated episodes, Season 4's "Marge vs. the Monorail," with the fourth wall being broken as Host Homer utters his oft-quoted and meme-fied line "I call the big one 'Bitey.'"

Stupid, Sexy Flanders

Host Homer spat out a line of catchphrases after beer entered his non-organic system, including Homer's vocalized displeasure with Ned Flanders' skisuit physique, which was given the spotlight in Season 11's "Little Big Mom." This also serves as foreshadowing for the actual appearance later a few minutes later.

I Am So Smart Song And Dance

Season 5's classic ep "Homer Goes to College" features the titular character's simple-but-iconic song about being smart, in which he misspells the word smart as "s-m-r-t, I mean s-m-a-r-t." Not a lot of songs out there correcting themselves mid-verse.

Where's My Burrito?

Another oft-memed Simpsons reference, Homer's "Where's my burrito?" chant goes back to Season 4's "Last Exit to Springfield," in which he chanted outside the Joe's Catering truck.

I'm King Of The World!

Homer's lofty self-appraisal hearkened back to one of The Simpsons' earliest classic moments, Homer's doomed skateboard stunt in Season 2's "Bart the Daredevil." The line is stated not long before he took his slapstick plunge down into the gorge, which also pops up again later in this "Treehouse of Horror" segment.

Old Man Yells At Cloud

Another instantly recognizable Simpsons moment is Abe Simpson cloud-focused anger, which was first brought to life in all its newspaper-clipping glory in the Season 13 episode "The Old Man and the Key." Here, we get to see it in action. 

Lisa And Princess

This segment's longest stretch of callback gags includes a visual nod to Lisa riding her beloved pet Princess, as introduced in the heartwarming Season 3 installment "Lisa's Pony."

The Car Built For Homer

Making a blink-and-miss-it appearance driving by on the road is "The Homer," also known by the above moniker, which was the horribly designed vehicle that Homer designed for his half-brother Herb Powell in Season 2's "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" It remains quite the eyesore, even in HD.

Skinner's Weather Balloon

As seen floating through the sky, the "Hi! I'm Big Butt Skinner" balloon is a callback to the weather balloon that Bart vandalized in the Season 6 episode "Bart's Comet."

Kamp Krusty

One of the more dangerous settings within The Simpsons' wide-ranging universe, Kamp Krusty and its morally questionable totem pole pop up in the episode a full 30 years after first appearing in the Season 4 fan-fave "Kamp Krusty." 

Mr. Plow

Another one of The Simpsons most beloved reference points is Season 4's "Mr. Plow," which is another one of the vehicles passing by in the segment. A shame we didn't get to hear the song as well. 

Bart And Stampy

Nothing too cryptic about Bart riding an elephant, which stems from Season 5's "Bart Gets an Elephant," which marked the introduction of Stampy, as well as Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel. 

Moe Paragliding With Homer

Also flying through the sky are Moe and a completely dazed Homer, which is a callback to how Moe saved Homer from potentially getting punched to death by Drederick Tatum in the Season 8 ep "The Homer They Fall." 

Bart's Army

Bart, Milhouse and others victoriously rolling a tied-up Nelson by wagon away is one of the earliest references of the entire episode (though not with the original animation), as it comes from Season 1's "Bart the General," the show's fifth episode overall.

Troy McClure's House

In the background, fans can catch a glimpse of Troy McClure's less-than-stellar home from the Season 7 episode "A Fish Called Selma." 

Homer's Candy Dance

One of The Simpsons' best and most relatable fantasy sequences comes in Season 3's "Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk," and the SimpsonsWorld experience gives visitors a taste of Homer's wide-eyed dancing through the Land of Chocolate. 

Hank Scorpio

Arguably The Simpsons' most memorable one-off character in its 30+ year history, Albert Brooks' pseudo-Bond villain Hank Scorpio makes an all-too-short appearance here with his handy dandy flamethrower. 

Lisa And Bleeding Gums Murphy

This extended stretch of Simpsons gags ends with the visual of Lisa playing saxophone opposite Bleeding Gums Murphy on an overpass, a callback to the late jazz musician's first appearance in Season 1's "Moaning Lisa."

The Tire Yard Fire

While the Springfield Tire Yard itself appears in the opening sequence and in the third episode ever "Homer's Odyssey," it was in Season 3's "Flaming Moe's" that the location's notorious designation as being forever on fire was introduced. 

Sideshow Bob's Rakes

One of the park's technicians referenced Sideshow Bob having a lot of rakes, which is obviously a reference to the iconic GIF-ready moment in Season 5's "Cape Feare" in which the villainous Sideshow Bob repeatedly gets smacked in the face with a rake handle to the point of absurdity.

Frosted Chocolate Milkshakes

A reference that predates The Simpsons' official premiere on Fox, Homer's penchant for enjoying frosted chocolate milkshakes goes back to the days of the Tracey Ullman shorts, though they have been referenced a few times since. (As well as on the Doughboys podcast, as co-hosted by former Simpsons writers assistant Mike Mitchell.) 

Australian Superfans

The technician referring to the park's impending arrival of Australian superfans isn't a direct reference from a past episode, but rather a nod to the somewhat controversial Season 6 ep "Bart vs. Australia." While it was clearly poking somewhat good-natured fun at the continent and its citizens, many were not so appreciative of the episode after it originally aired. But I think it's a probably a sign of approval that nearly 70,000 people signed a petition in 2015 to start calling their money "dollarydoos," in reference to the episode. 

Other Busted Up Non-Family Hosts

Homer passes a room of host bots in need of repair, including daredevil Lance Murdock, Snorky from the "Treehouse of Horror XI" segment "Night of the Dolphin," the Homer-abhorring Frank Grimes, Groundskeeper Willie, Rainer Wolfcastle in goggles (that do nothing!), a furless Scratchy, and The Grumple.

Other Busted Up Simpsons Family Hosts

This entry is too populated for every single reference to be noted, admittedly, as there are an abundance of family-centric hosts referencing a slew of classic episodes. But here are a bunch of the highlights.

• Gum-in-Hair Lisa from "22 Short Films About Springfield," Detached Lisa from "Summer of 4 Ft. 2," Hockey Goalie Lisa from "Lisa on Ice," Lisa's Ravencrow Neversmiles personality from "Smart and Smarter," Crowned Lisa from "Lisa the Beauty Queen," Lisa in a Wedding Dress from "Lisa's Wedding," Clown Lisa from "All About Lisa," Cowboy Lisa from "Lisa's Substitute" Florida Lisa from "$pringfield," VIP Lisa in "Panic in the Streets of Springfield," Diorama-Building Lisa from "Lisa's Rival," Braceface Lisa from "Last Exit to Springfield," and Lizard Queen Lisa from "Selma's Choice." 
• Bodybuilder Marge in "The Strong Arms of the Ma," and Drag Queen Marge in "Werking Mom." 
• Baseball Bart from "The Boys of Bummer."
• Drag Abe from "Whacking Day," Wrestler Abe in "Gorgeous Grampa," Toreador Abe from The Simpsons Tapped Out game.
• Muumuu Homer from "King-Size Homer," Evil Homer from "Whacking Day," Rhinestone Homer from "Colonel Homer," and Backwards Cap Homer from "Lisa's Sax."

Stupid, Sexy Flanders Part II

Viewers actually do get to see Flanders in all his skisuit glory here, with a group of female onlookers snapping photos with him in front of the Springfield courthouse, of all places. 

The Flying Pig

The pig soaring through the sky above the park festivities is a nod to the Season 7 ep "Lisa the Vegetarian," for a scene in which Mr. Burns reneges on an offer to donate a million dollars to a local orphanage upon seeing a pig fly. 

Pyro In The Steel Sphere

Itself a reference to the American Gladiators event Atlasphere, the big steel sphere in the "Treehouse" segment calls back to Season 8's "A Milhouse Divided," in which Luann Van Houten starts dating the musclebound Gladiator Pyro, which is indeed inside the sphere.

The Itchy & Scratchy Movie

It only makes sense that the SimpsonsWorld's Aztec theater is playing The Itchy & Scratchy Movie, which is a reference to the feature film debut of the violent cat and mouse featured in the Season 4 offering "Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie."

The Lemon Tree

Another easy-to-miss reference is the lemon tree in the foreground when the family walks down the main street of the park. It is, of course, a callback to the sacred Springfield landmark that was stolen by Shelbyville hooligans in the Season 6 episode "Lemon of Troy."

Fat Tony & Co.

Fat Tony and his usual co-horts can be seen getting arrested outside the Legitimate Businessman's Social Club, which was at the center of the Season 3 installment "Bart the Murderer," when Bart landed a job working for the Springfield mobster. 

The Be Sharps

Homer, Barney, Skinner and Apu can be seen performing on the roof of Moe's as their shortlived barbershop quartet The Be Sharps, whose rise to fame was chronicled in Season 5's "Homer's Barbershop Quartet," with that moment in particular parodying The Beatles' final public performance, their rooftop rendition of "Get Back."

The Flaming Moe

One of the Be Sharps' spectators is drinking a Flaming Moe, the cough syrup-infused drink invented in Season 3's "Flaming Moe's."

Homer's Hedge Disappearance

A moment so famous that even the scene in the episode called it a meme, Homer disappearing into a hedge was first witnessed in the Season 5 ep "Homer Loves Flanders," and has been seen on the internet on a daily basis for well over a decade now. 

Mr. Burns' Casino

The gaudy establishment that appeared for just a second or two is a callback to "$pringfield" from Season 5, in which Mr. Burns takes advantage of Springfield legalizing gambling. 

Red Blazer Realty

Next to the casino is the storefront of Red Blazer Realty, the company that Marge worked for back in Season 9's "Realty Bites."

Homer Crossing The Gorge

As verbally referenced earlier in the episode, the shot of Homer's skateboard stunt also comes from Season 2's "Bart the Daredevil."

The Pretzel Wagon And Khlav Kalash

Two of SimpsonsWorld's eateries are the Pretzel Wagon, Marge's upstart business from Season 8's "The Twisted World of Marge Simpson," as well as Khlav Kalash, the vendor who first appeared in Season 9's "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson."

Ralph Wiggum's Cat Breath Line

One of Ralph Wiggum's most repeated lines is the one about his cat having breath that smells like cat food, which was first uttered back in Season 6's "Lisa's Rival."

I Choo Choo Choose You

Another instantly recognizable Ralph Wiggum line that comes from the character's Valentine's Day care from Lisa in the Season 4 ep "I Love Lisa."

Homer Training With Fake Snakes

This is another reference to the episode "Whacking Day," in which Homer trained for the snake-whalloping event with faux reptiles.

Naked Homer And The Stone Of Shame

Host Homer uses the Stone of Shame to take out some of the Ralph Wiggums, referencing the classic Season 6 ep "Homer the Great," in which he joined the secret society of Stonecutters.

The Angel Fossil

The faux fossil that the Simpsons gals use to take down Ralph is a callback to the non-phenomenon that took over Lisa's faith-based curiosities in Season 9's "Lisa the Skeptic."

Bart's Megaphone Trick

Bart's method of taking out Ralph Wiggum hosts involves a long line of megaphones that first appeared back in Season 8's "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson," in which Bart used the sound-amplifying set up to shatter all of the windows in Springfield.

The Leprechaun

One of the Ralph hosts comes complete with a leprechaun on his shoulder, which references the Season 9 episode "This Little Wiggy," in which he's seen to be Ralph's imaginary friend with arson-influencing ideas. 

The Makeup Gun

First appearing in Season 10's "The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace," the makeup gun is Homer's invention to help women who have less than a second to get ready to go out, though it's nowhere near as successful in practice as it is in theory, especially with a "whore" mode included.

Maude Flanders' Death

My personal favorite gag in the entire episode featured Homer using a T-shirt gun to take out Ralphs, with one of the wearable bullets bouncing off and hitting an approaching Maude Flanders host, which is a callback to Maude's controversial death in Season 11's "Alone Again, Natura-Diddly." 

La Maison Derrière

Appearing in the background during the Ralph fight is Springfield's famed burlesque house La Maison Derrière, which employed Bart for a short spell in the Season 8 episode "Bart After Dark."

Homer and Marge's Hot Air Balloon

One shot in the episode features a hot air balloon containing a seemingly nude Homer and Marge, which is a callback to the couple's shenanigans in the sexed-up Season 9 ep "Natural Born Kissers."

The Escalator To Nowhere

One of The Simpsons' strangest locations outside of the "Treehouse" episodes' non-continuity, the Escalator to Nowhere first appeared in "Marge vs. the Monorail" as another one of Springfield's terrible investments. 

The Canyonero

Marge saves the day in the episode by using the famed Canyonero, the female-friendly SUV that was first lauded and sung about in the Season 9 installment "The Last Temptation of Krust."

Dying Tickles

Another famed Ralph Wiggum line, in this case taken from Season 13's Harry Potter-esque "Treehouse of Horror XII" segment "Wiz Kids," in which Ralph says the line as his essence is being transfered to Montymort.

That Big Cowboy Hat

One of the park attendees running from the Canyonero mess is wearing a giant cowboy hat with a hole in it, which is a callback to Homer's hat in the Season 5 ep "Homer and Apu."

The Matt Groening Statue

The golden statue that gets pulled down in the end is of Simpsons co-creator and character designer Matt Groening, with the statue of him and Bart an homage to the Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statue within the Magic Kingdom.

The Twist Ending

The segment's ending presents a big crossover moment with Bob's Burgers, with the Burger of the Day being the "Trilogy of Terror-yaki Burger," appropriately enough. It all then ended with references to other animated hits Family Guy, Futurama, Rick and Morty, SpongeBob Squarepants, South Park and Big Mouth. 

The Simpsons airs every Sunday night on Fox at 8:00 p.m., assuming NFL games didn’t run into overtime delays, and past seasons’ episodes can be viewed with a Disney+ subscription. While waiting for the next “Treehouse,” head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are popping up soon.

Tons of spoilers below for Westworld Season 4’s fourth installment, “Generation Loss,” so be warned if you haven’t yet watched!

Westworld seemed to clue audiences in on the importance of Episode 404 in the way it eschewed the usual cold open, so that the constant flow of details, twists and revelations wouldn’t be interrupted. And it was quite a gripping hour of television, thanks in part to a finale-worthy bevy of big reveals and twists that completely changed this show’s universe up from what we understood going into it. While I don’t think Westworld can ever quite match the pummeling shock of Season 1’s William/Man In Black timeline, I dare say “Generation Loss” comes as close as possible, with a villainous declaration that seemingly paid homage to Watchmen’s endgame shocker.

Considering everything we know now about Caleb, Maeve, and other main characters, it’s almost baffling to think that half of Season 4’s eight episodes have yet to air. Clearly, creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan aren’t finished putting viewers through the narrative wringer, so let’s take a closer look at the major and minor twists peppered throughout Episode 404. (While also quietly pondering the connection the episode’s number has to 404 errors that occasionally plague web browsing.)

Major Twist #1: Caleb Was Killed And Turned Into A Host 

Well, it finally happened: the twist that some Westworld fans have been guessing at and waiting for ever since Aaron Paul’s Caleb was first introduced in Season 3. Caleb is no longer a living and breathing human, and is instead one of many hosts under the ruling thumb of Charlotte Hale, though I’m not entirely certain how much of what we’ve seen from him so far this season has been part of his sentience-asserting fidelity test. The early-episode flashback (within a flashback) played viewer expectations in that respect, making it seem as if Caleb had died from a bullet wound during a mission with Maeve. 

It was indeed bullets that killed him in the end, though, with Hale’s team taking Caleb out somewhat soon after Maeve’s self-sacrifice. And yet, Hale chose to keep him around as a host, likely due to the strong impact he’d made on Dolores and Maeve, despite that making him something of an obvious threat. Such is Hale’s pride and arrogance, I guess.

•  So What Happens Next? 

Caleb obviously isn’t a mindless worker-bee drone that’ll dutifully go about his host duties without further clashing, even if Hale has the upper hand by way of controlling things. But surely Paul’s character gaining sentience similar to Dolores, Maeve and the Man in Black indicates he’ll soon bring his human and host skills together to become Hale’s nightmare. Assuming it doesn’t take him two more decades to figure out how to gain powers.

Major Twist #2: Charlotte Hale’s Fly Scheme Worked, And The Tower Is Real

With its very first sequence in Season 4, Westworld hinted at more timeline shenanigans as the Man in Black utilized a fly army to gain access to the Hoover Dam, while much of what we’ve seen after that depicted the early trial phases of Hale’s fly-weaponizing scheme. But it was confirmed in Episode 404, whose title “Generations Loss” is itself a reference to her reveal, that her plan to take over humanity via airborne parasites was a vast success. And as Caleb soon discovers, it’s been 23 years since his humanly death, and the world is now populated by millions (perhaps billions) of adults who were infected with the flies as children, an age range when such perfect symbioses are best formed. 

As it turns out, the mysterious Tower that we’ve seen and heard about is actually a massive version of the device within Delos’ labs that uses soundwaves to control those who’ve been infected, and is located just off the coast of NYC. (Which definitely ties back to Peter killing himself in front of Christina, as suicides were part of the trial-and-error testing.) Tessa Thompson was divine in laying out the hope-destroying line of “Welcome to my world,” and it looks like humanity doesn’t have a shot at rising back up.

•  So What Happens Next?

I mean, obviously humanity is going to rise back up, but it’s a matter of how. Because for all that Hale appears to be a world-conquering tyrant, viewers have only seen the Tower’s effects on display within New York City specifically. Which could mean other highly populated cities around the world aren’t yet under her grasp, and could provide assistance in taking her down. Although I don’t really get what the rest of the world would think the Tower is for. 

Major Twist #3: Aurora Perrineau’s C Is Caleb’s Daughter 

To be clear, I’m sure there are some fans who guessed this from the start, since there are only a certain number of characters/twists to populate such theorizing. But it was still a jolt to the “aha” sense when it was made clear that Aurora Perrineau’s mystery character, dubbed C, is actually Caleb’s daughter Frankie. Nobody came out and said that her letter-specific name was in reference to her dearly departed pops, but that’s gotta be the case, right?

Now that we know what this character’s motivations tie into, it’s easier to understand why she’s working with Daniel Wu’s rebel leader J. And why she doesn’t have much time for taking nonsense from anyone else. She went through a pretty traumatic experience with her mom, and we don’t even know yet what happened to them after Caleb and Maeve’s mission went so awry. Nor what Uwade’s fate was, or is.

•  So What Happens Next?

Frankie gets revenge, naturally. Of course, we don’t know exactly how it’ll happen yet, but one can only assume it will involve the mystery person that J and others were going to extract. Could that end up being Uwade?

Major Twist #4: Maeve Is The Weapon Bernard Was Talking About 

Before we had a real clue of how the timelines worked in Season 4, I can’t imagine many fans out there expected for Bernard’s big weapon in the desert to be Maeve. Now that we do know it’s her, it sorta makes all the sense in the world, since she’s one of few hosts who was able to tap into empathy and humanity, which led to her sacrificing herself in order to take the Man in Black down. (Not that the whole “saving Caleb” part of that plan worked, but she doesn’t know that yet.)

I’m still not sure how all of these geographical changes make sense, as far as this desert area goes, though I’m curious to know what park was going to be built there, and why Delos didn’t just go forward with construction despite all the explosions and whatnot. Granted, Bernard likely would have found her even if she was beneath a fake medieval castle or a fake African jungle, but it’s odd that the land was left barren. 

•  So What Happens Next?

Only Bernard knows that, but it’s easy to imagine Bernard will get Maeve back online somehow, so that she can get caught up with the past 23 years of events. But she’s almost definitely going to need some big upgrades of her own in order to take down Hale and her seemingly endless army. She could probably use some old friends by her side, too. 

Major Twist #5: Olympiad Entertainment Is (Probably) The New Delos 

This one also starts with a caveat, in that fans started theorizing about Delos connections as soon as Westworld namechecked Olympiad Entertainment as the company that Evan Rachel Wood’s Christina works for. It happens with every organization and brand name that comes up, and it’s often a safe bet to make. So it wasn’t so much shocking as highly intriguing when Episode 404 revealed that Hale was giving Caleb his fidelity test within the Olympiad building. 

To be sure, there’s always the possibility that this wasn’t quite what it seemed to be, and that the location switcheroo was just to throw audiences off. But that seems like it would create unnecessary storytelling hurdles, as it’s far easier to believe that a company responsible for crafting narrative games is actually a front for a devious corporation ruled by A.I. to control people’s minds. It’s the Delos mission statement, post-Ford. 

•  So What Happens Next?

Considering this reveal appears to fully connect Caleb to Christina’s timeline — despite the fact that the Tower isn’t visible during her scenes — we can hopefully expect to see Paul and Wood to share the screen again, as confusing as it’ll be for all involved. (Viewers included.) I’m guessing this will also lead to the reveal that Hale figured out how to digitize the fly parasites, and decided it would be easier and cheaper to bypass physical parks to make way for infections via video games.  

Minor Twist #1: Maeve Missing Caleb Is What Got Her Caught

Westworld answered one of my big questions about the Season 4 premiere with this reveal, as I did not understand Maeve outing herself with that trip down memory lane. Now we know it was her first big mental jaunt in years, and she wasn’t trying to tap into her own memories of her daughter and Hector. Instead, viewers learned that after Caleb regained consciousness from a post-wound coma, Maeve didn’t say goodbye before retreating into solitude, and that she remained out of contact as a way to keep him safe. But then she went and botched it all by missing him enough to try and hack into his limbic implant, which is what caused the power outage that drew the Man in Black to her. Maeve is a true friend, since true friends aren’t exactly perfect.

• So What Happens Next?

I doubt Maeve would need additional reasons to go ballistic on Hale & Co. upon being reawakened, but she will almost definitely take Caleb’s death (and eventual host-ing) personally. Which probably won’t be good for Hale’s face. 

Minor Twist #2: Christina And Teddy Are Totally Dating Now 

The previously confirmed-to-return Teddy appeared at the end of the premiere in “handsome stalker” mode outside of Christina’s apartment building, and Episode 4 revealed him to be her blind date. Because this is Westworld, their predestined meet-cute in the bar was sparked when he picked up her lipstick rolling across the ground, marking yet another echo of Teddy and Dolores’ origin story. Their scene ends on a cheers to Christina and her path, wherever it leads, and if all these callbacks and on-the-nose references don’t lead directly to Super Dolores, my fidelity will begin decaying.

• So What Happens Next?

Super. Dolores. Obviously! Ahead of that, though, I was already guessing Teddy 2.0 was specifically created as a means to break through the weirdness happening with Christina. And now I’m wondering if Maeve took part in that creation, or even if it’s actually Maeve’s brain pearl inside Teddy’s head.

Minor Twist #3: Maya Seemingly Remembers Being Infected By Hale’s Flies 

For all the thoughts and theories I’ve considered regarding Christina’s existence, I’ve less mental ammo when it comes to Ariana DeBose’s Maya. That confused feeling only escalated with “Generation Loss,” as Maya described her most recent nightmare, which involved a childhood picnic with her parents being disrupted by a swarm of flies that first attacked the screaming adults before descending on young Maya. If these characters’ actions are indeed happening concurrently with Host Caleb’s story, then Maya’s inherent nature could very well be tapping through the parasitic facade that Hale uses to control everyone. But there's also something to be said for the way the scene remained partially focused on the clothes-changing Christina as Maya talked, as if her roommate's dream had stoked her own memories.

• So What Happens Next?

Not a clue for Maya, really. My only hope is that Westworld doesn’t reveal her to be another Dolores clone, and that she’s an organic being inside and out. Ariana DeBose deserves the best that Westworld can give. 

I’m not sure there’s anything left to say, beyond at least a dozen or so other spirited manifestos I could easily lean into. But for now, let’s mull over Episode 404's big reveals while anticipating the second half of the season. Just gonna drop this "MORE CLEMENTINE" note in the suggestion box before I go...

Westworld airs Sunday nights on HBO at 9:00 p.m. ET, with episodes available to stream for HBO Max subscribers as soon as they air.

Major spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched Westworld Season 4’s second episode, so be warned!

After making its long-awaited return with a surprisingly straightforward premiere (at least when compared to some of its more confounding installments), HBO’s Westworld delivered more enjoyably low-impact progression with the second episode of Season 4. Which isn’t to imply the sci-fi thriller is moving slowly or has become boring, but rather to celebrate the showrunners for introducing mysteries that spark legibly formed questions instead of flat-out confusion. 

“Well Enough Alone” featured some major character/actor returns that no doubt delighted viewers, while also putting its main stars into various interesting and troublesome situations that will no doubt get increasingly more complicated as the season goes forward. So let’s take a look at the four biggest takeaways from Westworld’s latest, starting with a brand new Delos Destination! 

Westworld Introduced Its Newest Park: The Golden Age 

Westworld co-creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan are no doubt keen on knowing just how obsessed viewers are with the idea of new parks being introduced. As fans will remember, Season 2 brought in Shōgunworld and The Raj, while Season 3 brought audiences inside Warworld (and also hinted at a medieval, dragon-filled Game of Thrones-esque park, as well as a Jurassic Park-inspired dino area). Even though viewers still aren’t quite clear on the current state of Delos after the seven-year jump, it appears things are going quite well, given the opening of the company’s newest Destination: The Golden Age.

This newest attraction was stumbled upon by Maeve and Caleb, who were assisted just by returning actress Lili Simmons, and it’s assumed that her character Sofia is as much as host as her prior character New Clementine was. The Golden Age appears to be recreating the U.S. in the 1920s, give or take a few years, with jazzy tunes and golden light bulbs aplenty, from marquee signs to street lamps to the headlights of classic cars. Though none of the other first-time visitors were showcased, I can’t help but feel like there were some very important people on that train.

The Golden Age was partly bankrolled by the U.S. government, with the Vice President now a host puppet for Man in Black and others, and that’s presumably not the extent of such professional relationships. Perhaps most interestingly so far, the location depicted in The Golden Age is “Temperance,” which either suggests that it’ll be an alcohol-free establishment fitting for the time period, or that the town will feature a variety of speakeasies for its guests to get liquored up in. Either way, depraved sex and violence are likely the end results.

Christine’s Peter Mystery Is Somehow More Complicated Than Expected 

To be expected, Christine has something of an epiphany after watching “Peter” throw himself off a building to his death, and remembers having crafted a game story similar to his. (Not exactly the same as the presumed-dead Dolores having memory flashes from earlier loops, but not entirely dissimilar, either.) While on her way to the mental facility namechecked in Peter’s obituary, she listens back to her notes on the story, which basically matched up with the “real life” character. Since that reveal was already telegraphed, it served as window dressing for the actual twist, for lack of a better word, that came shortly after. 

When Christine arrived at the facility, she found it to not only be empty — I’m curious about that group of possible contractors and buyers in hard hats — but more or less abandoned. It’s hard to tell exactly how long the building would have been sitting empty, but all the leaves and whatnot implied many months, if not years. Coupled with the discovery of the “Peter Myers Wing” dedication plaque, the Hope center hinted at some major timeline fuckery happening.

Even if Christine was correct in guessing there were two different Peter Myers at play, it still wouldn’t explain how a fund was started there in Peter’s name after his death, unless that obit detail was falsified. But it definitely looked like the place that Peter would have spent a lot of time, given the room that Christine looked into with all those drawings of what’s assumedly the Tower that keeps getting mentioned. And it’s the same design that’s featured in the opening sequence as composer Ramin Djawadi’s credit comes up. 

Charlotte Hale Returned, And She Apparently Doesn’t Just Want To Kill All Humans 

As frightening as Ed Harris’ Man in Black is without any human morals, he’s still just a worker bee following the orders of a higher power, and Charlotte Hale made her Season 4 debut in true Westworld fashion: through a host’s remotely accessed memory bank. Maeve discovered that Charlotte spearheaded hosts replacing a U.S. senator and his wife (as portrayed by guest stars Jack Coleman and Saffron Burrows, respectively). It appears her efforts to take over the world hadn’t exactly faded away over time, which wasn’t too shocking to learn.

But Charlotte doesn’t appear to be your everyday TV big bad, and not only due to her synthetic origins. While many plot-minded villains don’t give a second thought to the body count required to reach their overall goals, Charlotte’s plan doesn’t hinge on killing all humans and populating the planet with hosts, at least not at this point in the process. As a being who doesn’t age, she naturally has more patience than those with blood flowing through their veins. One of her motivations, as discussed below, revolves around an “eye for an eye” sense of revenge, but that doesn’t seem to be her only exception. 

Charlotte made good on not killing the Senator’s wife, and it can be assumed that Anastasia was useful for the research Charlotte alluded to. It can also be assumed that Charlotte’s research-acquiring methods completely broke Anastasia’s brain. At least, that’s what I gathered from her being covered in blood and slicing up a dead horse’s stomach when Maeve and Caleb discovered her in the barn. But we won’t be finding out what happened to her, since Maeve shot her in the head during her attempt to stab Caleb. 

William Confirmed To Be Still Alive, Though Imprisoned 

One of the Season 3 finale’s post-credit scenes finally addressed one of Westworld’s biggest ongoing questions, with the Man in Black host slitting the throat of his human counterpart William. It was unclear what happened in the aftermath, since we didn’t technically see William die, and the series surprisingly didn’t keep us guessing for very long, as “Well Enough Alone” revealed Charlotte is keeping the still-living William in cryogenic stasis. And as she explained it, she’s keeping him alive so that he can be the ever-present “loser” in the hosts’ and humans’ battle for supremacy. She said it with the same disgusted tone she used in comparing Anastasia to “other livestock” earlier on.

On the one hand, I loved the scene, as it showcased how intimidating Tessa Thompson can be without ever raising her voice or appearing directly threatening. And to me at least, it also sort of extends the initial purpose of flies within Westworld to indicate a host going off the scripted path. Charlotte keeping William around just to witness humanity’s downfall is the epitome of hubris, which is a human foible that properly functioning hosts likely wouldn’t adhere to. Perhaps she should have been remembering the saying “pride goeth before the fall” instead of whatever William used to say.

On the other hand, though, I don’t wholly understand why that scene happened at this particular point in the series’ timeline, considering their conversation implied they haven’t talked much (if at all) since he was replaced in the real world all those years ago by the Man in Black. Perhaps she was just waiting until they reached a certain level of success, such as replacing the Vice President with a host. Still, since William probably didn’t know what year it was, it was odd for Charlotte to be speaking to the present while his questions were presumably still based on what was happening when his throat was slit. 

Other Delos-Approved Thoughts About "Well Enough Alone”

• Are we to assume that the Man in Black has been hunting/repurposing all the hosts in the real world who weren’t under Charlotte’s rule? Will that have anything to do with James Marsden’s Teddy showing up in the Season 4 premiere?
• So we now have to keep up with 250 different emissaries of the New World Order? 
• What’s up with all the dead birds that Christine saw? And I can’t tell if it’s a good or a bad sign that I have no firm assumptions regarding that moment’s legitimacy, as far as why she was seemingly the only person who noticed them. That’s so Westworld. 
• In a similar vein as the above point, it’s also not entirely clear if any of what Dolo…Christine witnessed inside the Hope 
• Christine only gets 4 paid days off for sick leave in a year? Can’t tell if it’s a sign of the company being shitty, or that people just don’t get sick as often in this COVID-free timeline. 
• I get that The Man in Black’s multiple holes in one were meant to impress and then disturb the Vice President, but was that entire scene just artifice? Because if his programming allows for that sort of perfection each time, what’s the point? I guess I can believe that the Man in Black is so full of himself that even the host version needs daily reminders like that. 
• “I’ve always wondered, why do they call you the secret service? Aren’t you a little…obvious?” This line made up for having to watch the Man in Black shooting and slicing Clementine in the cold open. Welcome back, Angela Sarafyan!
• I may never be comfortable by how clear and visible people are in their cars on Westworld. Do people not go get fast food while wearing their shittiest pants in this universe?
• I love how many buildings in Westworld (and similar fare) feature massive, high-ceiling rooms whose central purpose is to store something that requires 1/20th the space.

Westworld airs new episodes every Sunday night on HBO at 10:00 p.m. ET, and are also available to stream with an HBO Max subscription. While waiting for the next episode, head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other less-confusing shows will be arriving soon.

Spoilers below for the Season 4 premiere of Westworld, so be warned if you haven’t yet tapped into the madness. 

After a hiatus lasting just over two years — and I’m sure the specific number of days it was gone is itself a clue about the future — Westworld finally returned to HBO for the start of what will assuredly be an enjoyable head-scratcher of a fourth season. The highly anticipated premiere, titled “The Auguries,” picked up in the story seven years after the chaotic rebellion that capped off Season 3, and almost seemed like it was part of a normal, traditional series at times, from Evan Rachel Wood’s new and seemingly human character Christina to the all-around lack of Delos and the parks (outside of flashbacks).

Of course, co-creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy had plenty of rampant weirdness and mysteriousness and low-key hilarity on display throughout, giving audiences plenty to think about during the wait for Episode 2. So let’s take a look at the four biggest takeaways from Westworld’s Season 4 opener, followed by some more random musings. 

Evan Rachel Wood’s Christina May Be Partly Responsible For Gamers’ Suicides

While the details are a bit smudgy, Evan Rachel Wood’s non-Dolores — whom we’ll refer to as Christina for clarity and because it’s her actual name — works for some kind of a gaming company as a writer who seems to work mostly with realistic, situational experiences. Though she’d prefer to craft tales more in line with Dolores’ farmgirl origins, her boss (played by The Vampire Diaries’ vet Michael Malarkey) wants more sexed-up and violent fare. So for the most part, that side of Christina’s life felt pretty tame and non-controversial. But then there were the phone calls that Christina was getting, seemingly all from one ranting and raving dude named Peter (played by 12 Monkeys vet Aaron Stanford), who claimed that her games have ruined his and others’ lives. 

Westworld easily could have kept that loose thread dangling for another episode or two, but instead hastened things by having Peter accost Christina outside her home. This guy, with his talk of The Tower and other non-sequiturs, doesn’t know how to rationally stand still and explain himself, however, and the confusion reached the point where Peter jumped off of a building in front of Christina, questioning whether or not her game was causing it to happen. Not exactly normal shit to deal with, and the fact that Christina is seeing the Maze symbol…well it doesn’t bode normal either.

But Christina didn’t act like she had any idea what Peter was talking about, even in private moments away from her roommate. And she certainly didn’t appear to be programming any mind-controlling games when she was seen at work. So while the whole “technology dictating people’s actions” idea is obviously right in line with Westworld’s mission statement, it’s not yet clear what the hell is up with The Tower and how Christina factors into it. And let’s face it, it may never be. 

The Man In Black Is On A Mission Involving A Crapload Of Flies

By the time Westworld’s premiere ended, it was almost easy to forget that the episode started off so extremely bizarrely, with Ed Harris’ Man-Bot in Black attempting to literally buy the Hoover Dam. Understandably, no one jumped at his immediate offer, but then no one else seemed to understand just how dead-set he was on taking possession of said dam. His actions, which are presumably being guided in some way by Charlotte Hale, seem to be focused on regaining access to data that was stolen eight years prior. 

Jonathan Nolan did confirm the Man in Black’s quest ties back to something we saw in Season 2, so it can be gathered the information he’s seeking used to be housed within Delos’ property, presumably within the many mega-servers that were in the Forge. (And could technically be once more, given the seven-year time jump.) But since this is Westworld, the data probably isn’t what we’re expecting it to be, so there’s no point in speculating too hard about it at the moment.

But we might as well speculate on what the hell is up with those flies, because that was a truly horrific moment. And it wasn’t completely clear whether it was real and tangible, or just something being hallucinated by this character that Big Sky’s Arturo Del Puerto portrayed. Whatever the case may be, the flies were surely sent somehow by Man in Black or his higher-ups, and they’re somehow capable of making people bend to others’ will. To the point where someone slicing their own throat is on the list of commands. As if just the visuals of huge swaths of flies weren’t already bothersome enough.  

I Will Follow Maeve Into Any Rebellion, Caleb Not So Much

While we didn’t spend as much time with Thandiwe Newton’s Maeve as I would have liked — roughly the whole episode, give or take 30 seconds — it appears as if her narrative push early on this season will revolve around her trying to take out everyone that the Man in Black seems to be sending out to kill her. Even though I’m not entirely convinced that’s even the case, considering it was hard to gauge anyone’s full intentions from just the few memories that Maeve viewed from her attacker.

Whoever it is that’s been trying to track her down over the years, they should get ready for a mound of bodies to start piling up, both of the human and host variety, because Maeve is not one to back down when put up against a threat. And my money is on that character “winning” out in the end, even if there’s no true victory in Westworld. 

But do I feel great about Caleb jumping into the mission alongside Maeve? Not exactly. Especially after seeing how his home life is going. As mildly heartwarming as it is that he’s a doting husband and father who loves target practice, he’s apparently been overtaken by PTSD and paranoia more than ever in the last seven years. And while there’s nothing necessarily wrong with those traits in and of themselves, they almost definitely foreshadow troublesome times ahead for ol’ Caleb. Which probably means Maeve will suffer by extension, which would not be great.

More Major Characters Should Have Appeared

I can fully understand why a show with plots as dense as Westworld may need to start a new season off without all of its parts and mechanisms in motion. Especially when dealing with actors playing new roles, time jumps, and other new characters to introduce. So I don’t fault the Season 4 premiere for keeping other favorite characters at bay while setting up all the dominos yet to fall. 

However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remark on how the episode was impacted by the lack of its ensemble sharing the screen together, at least ahead of Maeve showing up in the nick of time to save Caleb and his daughter from being capped. And considering that was a badass moment, it helps to prove my point. 

Even if we didn’t get more genuine ensemble moments, I would have also been happy to spend two or three scenes with Jeffrey Wright’s Bernard, who was last seen shaking off dust after a presumed trip to the Sublime. Why we gotta wait at least another week to find out what’s up with that? WHYYY?!? Also, let’s see some non-flashback Clementine!

Other Delos-Approved Thoughts About "The Auguries"

• Who’d have guessed that Ariana DeBose was exactly what Westworld needed? Clearly the casting director, who deserves a bunch of “Way to go!” balloons. 
• Totally understood that those were all CGI flies, but someone should have told Arturo Del Puerto to react a little bit more “freaked the fuck out”-ishly in that moment, considering how WTF things were. He was beyond startlingly calm, considering I would have shattered porcelain with my screams after seeing that horde of flies.
• I like that the fly form was incorporated into the Season 4 opening title sequence. Nothing goes together in nightmares quite like flies and skulls. 
• When Christina passed a seemingly homeless man while walking through the city, he definitely mentioned The Tower looming over everyone, which definitely wasn’t a coincidence. But was he one of the people that was “ruined” by the game like Peter?
• Christina’s boss kinda sucks, and both her conversations with him and her dinner date felt like they were themselves written by A.I., which I feel is worth noting in the folder marked “Possible Evidence For Why Season 4’s Real World Is Actually A Park.”
• How did returning star James Marsden show up right on time there in the end, and what does his character have to do with any of this? 
• Nothing has more inherent chill than Maeve meditating inside a snowy cabin as Jimi Hendrix plays. 
• “Now be a dear and close your eyes, would you?” Cold. As. Ice. 
• It’s kind of weird to watch Evan Rachel Wood as a Westworld character other than the deceased (or whatever) Dolores, even after Season 3’s body-swapping. I already know I won’t be able to break away from the feeling that there are identity-related twists to come for Christina.
• “Tabs” are the Season 4 equivalent of Season 3’s “Drip,” I’m guessing. At least as far as fad drugs go, if not for being similar in its effects and purpose of usage. 
• I don’t really understand what Maeve’s power outage was about, in that I don’t see why she was going so hard on her memories at that point in time, seven years after going on the lam. Does A.I. get the seven-year itch, as it were?
• Prediction: Frankie’s Bear Bear doll is no doubt going to get destroyed, and it will be a Top 3 tragedy for the season. 
• Do we think Maeve’s scabbard is a smelly gross mess that she doesn’t care about, since she’s not human, or do we think she cleans it when necessary? Because she most definitely did not wipe that blade off before sticking it back in there, and it was doused in blood or whatever life fluid.
• As happy as I was to see Ariana DeBose on screen, that’s how happy and surprised I was to see Good Girls vet Manny Montana popping up as Carver near the end of the episode. He brought a lot to Mayans M.C. Season 4 in recent months, so here’s hoping he gets showcased on Westworld as well.

Be sure to watch new episodes of Westworld on HBO every Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. ET, with episodes also available with HBO Max subscriptions, and then check out all of my random thoughts on a similar weekly basis. While waiting, head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are on the way.

Almost 50 years ago, before Jurassic Park was even a glimmer in Michael Crichton’s eye, the author wrote and directed his first resort experience gone haywire with Westworld. The 1973 movie was kind of a test run for Crichton’s future adventure, putting him on a map as a screenwriter and directing talent. 

As HBO Max subscribers await this weekend’s premiere of the modern adaptation’s fourth season, original film star James Brolin is still pretty excited about potentially playing a villain in the current Westworld reimagining. Talking with Brolin during his press day for Lightyear, we closed out our discussion with the subject of why he hasn’t appeared on Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan’s Westworld series. 

Most legacy-quels or reboots would kill to have that sort of casting on the roster, even one as impressively cast as the HBO sci-fi hit. James Brolin told CinemaBlend about his enthusiasm for the prospect, as well as what he feels would have sweetened his odds: 

Thinking back to the first season of Westworld, the subversion of Yul Brenner’s Man in Black, also known as "the Gunslinger," could have been an interesting role for James Brolin to have played. What makes Brolin's pitch all the more exciting is recalling what his fate in the 1973 film happened to be. And, of course, it involved the Man in Black himself. 

James Brolin's character, John Blaine, was just another park visitor who wanted to turn a friend onto the wonders of Westworld. Luring Peter Martin (Richard Benjamin) into the experience, he promised him that nothing could possibly harm them. Unfortunately, that was the day that the automated denizens of Delos' three-world theme park got the memo to go rogue. The Gunslinger happened to do what he did best, and Brolin was on the wrong end of such a happening, as you'll see in the clip from 1973's Westworld: 

In the HBO series, the character of a gunslinger clad in black turned out to be something very different when comparing Westworld’s series to the original film. Through Ed Harris' Man in Black, the story of who's really the greater danger in our world found one of its strongest seeds. It certainly would have given Brolin his chance to play the heavy from the word go, as the show’s pilot episode already showed its Man in Black engaging in some non-heroic behavior.

Much to James Brolin’s point above, a test reel of a Gunslinger scene from 1973’s Westworld could have done wonders for getting him on the HBO variant’s cast list. Even if it wasn’t something officially submitted through agents and the proper channels, such a clip could trigger an effect similar to when Deadpool’s test footage was leaked. 

The big difference that Brolin thinks a self-taped audition could have made comes down to the matter of typecasting. At least, that’s what he laid out in the conclusion of his Westworld remarks: 

James Brolin almost shook those sort of preconceptions in casting with a rather unique opportunity that he’d received earlier in his career. As the Roger Moore era of James Bond almost saw the actor leaving the franchise after For Your Eyes Only, Brolin got to audition for 007 and had the role locked up. That was, until Roger Moore had decided to come back for his final two installments. While the result wasn't what he'd hoped, James Brolin showed the world what he could do as Bond, which probably helped him land future roles in the process.

Knowing from personal experience, and with his interest in returning to Westworld still in the air, perhaps it’s time for James Brolin to film an audition for a future role on the HBO series. Then again, the ending of Lightyear has all of the components to show that Brolin’s Zurg is a great audition for a more terrifying mechanized menace.

If anyone at Disney/Pixar wants to make those recording sessions available, that might be the key to bringing James Brolin back to the world threatened by fallout of Delos Destinations’ creations. Only this time, let’s make sure it’s through totally legal methods, like home video special features or internet sizzle reels.

Audiences looking to seek out Lightyear can currently enjoy that film exclusively in theaters. Meanwhile, Westworld Seaosn 4's violent delights begin this Sunday at 9 PM ET, only on HBO and HBO Max. 

Fans can finally look forward to the highly-anticipated fourth season of Westworld premiering later this month on HBO, over two years since Season 3 of the western-dystopian series ended. Following the Season 3 finale, fans were unsure about the fate of Evan Rachel Wood’s Dolores. Now we finally have confirmation that the death is permanent courtesy of co-creator Lisa Joy, but Wood will return as another character along with James Marsden.

While appearing at ATX Festival along with the cast over the weekend, co-creator Lisa Joy dropped plenty of hints for the upcoming season of Westworld. Via Deadline, she discussed the new stories and the aftermath of the Season 3 finale, as well as just how Evan Rachel Wood and James Marsden will play into Season 4.

Evan Rachel Wood Is Back, But Not How You Expect

The Season 3 finale saw Dolores sacrifice herself in order to give the humans their free will back, and in turn, her memory and data were wiped clean from her circuits, basically killing her. It was unknown then whether someone, like Caleb, would reboot her system and bring her back, but Lisa Joy confirmed that she is dead.

Joy explicitly settled the character's fate by saying "Dolores is dead," but said that they decided to bring Evan Rachel Wood back and "write a whole new character for her." Wood discussed how it all happened and that it was in the works for a while:

This new character is named Christina, who lives in a New York-like city with her roommate, played by West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose. Said roommate might have a thing for Christina. Wood’s new character will also be going on a lot of dates, including one that looks a lot like fan-favorite James Marsden.

James Marsden Is Also Returning

During Season 2 of Westworld, fans already knew that James Marsden’s Teddy was going to be a goner before the season ended. During a climactic scene in the season’s penultimate episode, Teddy shot himself in front of Dolores, and it was heartbreaking to watch. However, in Season 4, Christina will be going on a date with someone that is the spitting image of Marsden, bringing back memories of Dolores and Teddy’s whirlwind romance.

The actor, who reportedly surprised fans halfway through the panel, spoke out about returning after so long, sharing his excitement in being part of something that started for him nearly a decade ago:

Considering how Teddy went out, it’s unlikely that James Marsden will be bringing that character back. Just like with Evan Rachel Wood, it looks like he will be playing an entirely different character. But at least their two characters will have another chance at love... if something doesn’t go wrong, anyway. With Westworld, you never know.

It will be interesting to see just what will happen in Season 4 of Westworld and just how exactly Evan Rachel Wood and James Marsden will be brought back. Fingers crossed that they have more luck than the characters that preceded them, but it will just be good to see them again no matter what happens!

Don’t miss Westworld premiering on Sunday, June 26 on HBO and HBO Max! Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else to look out for this summer.

Westworld qualifies as one of those shows where you hear about it and think, “That’s still on?” And that goes for people like myself, who religiously watch it, and even record a YouTube series analyzing each new episode. Granted, it has been since May 3, 2020 when the finale of Westworld Season Three landed on HBO, so you probably have seen a LOT of television between now and then. Plus, the dense science fiction that comes with the Westworld plot requires a ton of retention. That’s why we have the first teaser trailer for Westworld Season Four, which is coming to HBO on June 26. Watch it, and realize exactly how much about the first three seasons you have completely forgotten.

The new Westworld trailer is set to the haunting Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day,” ironic given the fact that there are precious few of them in Westworld. The concept of the show began as the story of a highly advanced theme park that the wealthiest among us pay to visit. In Westworld, you can pretend to be a cowboy… but it’s one of several existing worlds that guests can attend. By the time we reached season three, Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) had escaped the park and taken up residence in Los Angeles circa 2053; Maeve (Thandie Newton) tried her luck in World War II world; and William (Ed Harris) – well, we’re never quite sure what he is up to, but it’s never good.

The theme of the next season appears to be flies. Lots and lots of flies. They crawl on ceilings. They crawl into people’s eyes. They emerge from the mouth of this android. This is a horrifying image.

But in general, this montage of crisp and beautiful imagery could be coming from a brand news show. There are so many questions we had after season three. I don’t remember what happened to Ed Harris in the last season. I don’t recall where Dolores or Maeve left off. Aaron Paul looks different. I thought the Hemsworth kid died. (Does anyone ever really die on Westworld?) What is the end game of this series? How much more do they want to accomplish? And will they ever, you know, go back to Westworld? That was one of the 10 issues we found with season three.

There’s at least one image of Ed Harris as the Man in Black, implying that he will be resuming his reign of terror in the Old West universe. But the new trailer for the fourth season signifies that there’s plenty of details on Westworld I need to study up on before diving back into the weekly sci-fi headscratcher. 

It’d be cool if we knew in advance that Westworld was building to a close. There’s no confirmation about a fifth season, so we’ll hold out for details about how much story there remains to tell as season four rolls out. Make sure that you are able to stay up to date on Westworld by subscribing to HBO Max. The streaming service has a slew of movies and television shows that make it worth your time and attention.

WARNING: The following may contain SPOILERS for Outer Range, so just be sure you know what you are in for before going down this hole.

For me, it can be a really good sign when you are watching a sci-fi TV show and the more grounded and believable story elements are just as interesting as when things get weird, if not even more interesting. That is how I feel so far about Outer Range - an intriguing series from creator Brian Watkins that feels like Rod Serling’s version of Yellowstone.

The Amazon Prime original stars Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin as a Wyoming rancher whose battle with a wealthier rival family over control of his land is worsened by a series of concerning circumstances, including one startling, otherworldly discovery in his west pasture. If you have found yourself captivated by the unique blend of the Neo-Western genre with bizarre fantasy on Outer Range (or by each of these styles on their own) and you are curious to see what else like it may be out there, let’s dive in - starting with the most obvious choice.

Yellowstone (Peacock) 

A headstrong Montana rancher (movie star Kevin Costner leads the Yellowstone cast) and his family fight to protect their land from greedy companies, tourists, and more - often incorporating Wild West tactics to do so.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Admittedly, the aforementioned Paramount Network hit from creator Taylor Sheridan is, in no way, a sci-fi show, but Outer Range has been referred to as a sci-fi fan’s answer to Yellowstone by many (myself included) and has earned the comparison by also having a rural setting, a major storyline involving a volatile feud over land control, and casting Will Patton as a main antagonist.

Stream Yellowstone on Peacock.
Buy Yellowstone on Amazon. 

Hell Or High Water (Netflix)

A divorced father (Chris Pine) and his loose-canon, ex-convict brother (Ben Foster) pull a string of bank heists in attempt to save their family ranch, which attracts the attention of a veteran Texas lawman nearing retirement (Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: The gripping 2016 crime thriller and Best Picture Oscar nominee, Hell or High Water, is another Neo-Western favorite from writer Taylor Sheridan that Outer Range draws comparisons to, particularly in the more grounded storyline in which brothers Perry (Tom Pelphrey) and Rhett Abbott (Lewis Pullman) struggle to conceal their involvement in a crime from the local sheriff (Tamara Podemski) as other threats loom over their family’s ranch.

Stream Hell or High Water on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Hell or High Water on Amazon. 

No Country For Old Men (HBO Max)

In the early 1980s, a married hunter and war veteran (Josh Brolin) becomes the target of a loose-canon killer (Academy Award winner Javier Bardem) after finding millions of dollars in drug money, which also attracts the attention of a veteran Texas sheriff considering retirement (Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: The captivating 2007 crime thriller and Best Picture Oscar winner, No Country for Old Men, is another Neo-Western favorite Outer Range draws comparisons to, particularly for the casting of Brolin (who also executive produces the show) in the lead role of Royal Abbott, who seems like the kind of person Llewellyn Moss (his character from Joel and Ethan Coen’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel) might have become.

Stream No Country for Old Men on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy No Country for Old Men on Amazon. 

Signs (Amazon Prime) 

A widowed former minister (Academy Award winner Mel Gibson), his brother (Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix), son (Rory Culkin), and daughter (Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin) begin to suspect that they are being taunted by visitors from another planet after a crop circle appears outside their home.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Writer and director M. Night Shyamalan’s creepy alien invasion thriller, 2002’s Signs, has more in common with Outer Range than most movies for also following a faith-stricken, rural land owner and family man who finds something very strange on his property - not to mention how the show has offered a few hints of there being an extra-terrestrial presence.

Stream Signs on Amazon Prime.

Midnight Mass (Netflix) 

After he is released from prison, a recovering alcoholic (Zach Gilford) returns to the secluded island community where he grew up at the same time that a mysterious, charismatic priest (Hamish Linklater) arrives and brings forth what initially seems to be an astonishing series of miracles.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: The theme of someone struggling with, or even renouncing, their own faith (which Josh Brolin’s Royal Abbott deals with on Outer Range) is a heavily prevalent theme of the brilliant, seven-part Netflix original horror series from Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass, which also follows the very strange and deadly events surrounding a small town and some of its rivalrous inhabitants.

Stream Midnight Mass on Netflix.

The Leftovers (HBO Max) 

A divorced father and police chief (Justin Theroux) struggles to hold his community and his sanity together in the midst of the sudden, unexplained vanishing of millions of people from the face of the Earth years earlier.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Once again, faith or the absence of it plays a major role in The Leftovers - HBO’s thought-provoking, inventive fantasy series that Damon Lindelof co-created with original author Tom Perotta - which also, initially, follows the bizarre circumstances affecting a small town (but as a result of a strange global tragedy), including an uptick in cult practices - which Outer Range has also hinted at.

Stream The Leftovers on HBO Max.
Buy The Leftovers on Amazon. 

Resident Alien (Peacock Premium)

After crash-landing in a quaint Colorado community, an extra-terrestrial (Alan Tudyk - known for playing various other sci-fi characters, including K-2S0 in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) disguises himself as a human doctor to blend in and earn the trust of its citizens, which soon causes him to have second thoughts about the reason he was sent to Earth in the first place: to destroy it.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Another series similar to Outer Range in how it follows a small town plagued by a bizarre, otherworldly secret (but also offers a comparatively lighter take on the subject) is Resident Alien - a Syfy original hit from developer Chris Sheridan which, itself, is a much lighter take on the sci-fi graphic novel that inspired it. 

Stream Resident Alien on Peacock Premium.
Buy Resident Alien on Amazon. 

Frequency (Amazon Rental)

In 1999, a New York City homicide detective (Jim Caviezel) is, at first, delighted that he is somehow able to use an old ham radio to speak to his late father (Dennis Quaid) in 1969, until their unusual reunion leads to a tragedy that they must work together to prevent.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: One of the strange circumstances affecting the Wyoming setting of Outer Range is time travel, although its constructs within the world of the show still have yet to be fully explained, which is similar to how there is never much of an explanation for how Quaid and Caviezel’s characters can reconnect across time in Frequency - an otherwise clever, heartfelt, and gripping sci-fi crime thriller.

Rent/Buy Frequency on Amazon. 

Firefly (Hulu)

A war veteran turned outlaw (Nathan Fillion) and his mismatched spaceship crew travel from planet to planet looking for work and evading government detection hundreds of years after Earth became uninhabitable.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: While certainly unique in tone to its contemporaries, Outer Range is really just one of a handful of TV shows that combine Western styles of storytelling with sci-fi themes - the most essential of which would have to be the short-lived, but much-loved Firefly, which is a Wild West adventure first and a space odyssey second.

Stream Firefly on Hulu.
Buy Firefly on Amazon. 

Westworld (HBO Max)

The citizens of a town from the Old West discover that they are actually mechanical beings created for a theme park in which guests can live out their wildest fantasies in an authentic, 19th century-style setting.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: One of the more recent and acclaimed examples of an essential sci-fi/Western hybrid is the Emmy-winning HBO series, Westworld - which, unlike Outer Range, incorporates a more traditional aesthetic before revealing itself as a dystopian, technophobic parable loosely inspired by a cult favorite B-movie from 1973.

Stream Westworld on HBO Max.
Buy Westworld on Amazon. 

Wynonna Earp (Netflix)

The great, great-granddaughter of legendary gunslinger Wyatt Earp (Letterkenny cast member Melanie Scrofano) and the real, immortal “Doc” Holliday (Tim Rozon) team up to defend the Earth from deadly creatures and evil paranormal entities with their own unique abilities and the same kind of rough, unforgiving fighting style that would have been used at the O.K. Corral.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Outer Range: Another more recent example of a sci-fi TV show that borrows heavily from the style and tone of a classic Western story is Syfy’s series adaptation of the Image Comic book, Wynonna Earp, which also relates to Outer Range for having its fair share of high-stakes fantasy elements in a modern-day Western setting, but is entirely different in how it uses them.

Stream Wynonna Earp on Netflix.
Buy Wynonna Earp on Amazon. 

Who knows? Maybe one day Outer Range could incorporate some more adventurous, traditional Western style into its plot, too. See for yourself by streaming its debut season on Amazon Prime, with new episodes arriving every Friday until May 6, 2022.

I see you, I hear you - you’re looking for something like Severance, aren’t you?

The latest Apple TV+ show premiered back in the beginning of 2022 and has become one of the platform's biggest shows, following the story of an alternate world where we can separate our non-work memories from our work memories. It’s captured the minds of viewers, and Season 2 is on the way. 

But, if you’re like me and you’re wondering what the heck to watch now that you’ve finished the first season of Severance, fear no more, as we have a nice long list of shows that you can stream right now (or buy) that are exactly like Severance in one way or another. For some awesome picks, check out some of these. 

Devs (Hulu)

First up on the list, we have the Hulu original series, Devs. This miniseries, starring Nick Offerman, tells the story of a young software engineer who decides to investigate a new tech company that she believes is responsible for the death of her boyfriend, and finds dark secrets hidden by its founder. 

Devs, for fans of Severance, is perfect, because it’s almost the same idea, looking at a giant tech company and taking a sinister twist on it. It’s a great sci-fi series that really dives deep into the conspiracies of the tech world and one that I truly think you’ll enjoy the heck out of. Plus, Nick Offerman is honestly fantastic in his role and really shows off his acting talents as Forest, the CEO of the tech company. Such a great miniseries. 

Stream Devs on Hulu.

Mr. Robot (Amazon Prime)

I’m sure at some point you’ve heard of Mr. Robot. This popular series, starring Academy Award-winner, Rami Malek, follows a programmer who has a seemingly normal job working as a cyber-security engineer, but at night, he turns into the ultimate hacker, taking down people one by one with his coding skills. 

For fans of Severance, I really feel like the characters of Mr. Robot drive this show like those on Severance do. While I am behind Severance for the amazing idea, I ended up continuing to watch the series because I truly liked the characters that we met and all of their daily lives. Rami Malek’s lead character, Elliot, is such a complex and interesting character in this coding world that you can’t help but follow him on his journey. 

Stream Mr. Robot on Amazon Prime.

Westworld (HBO Max)

If you’re looking for a sci-fi series, Westworld is the way to go. In this HBO original, Westworld originally took place in a world that has androids that look and feel like humans - often used in a theme park called Westworld to simulate the wild west. But soon, when these androids start to gain complex feelings that they shouldn’t, the lives of everyone change forever. 

If you liked the sci-fi aspect of Severance, this show is for you. It’s like a whole new level of sci-fi that continues to top itself every season, and further pushes you to want to explore this interesting dystopian world and follow these androids. The entire Westworld cast is so unbelievably talented, and with Season 4 expected to air sometime in 2022, now's the time to binge the series. 

Stream Westworld on HBO Max.

Russian Doll (Netflix)

Oh boy. Now this is a show. Russian Doll, a Netflix original series, follows Nadia, a woman who is celebrating her thirty-sixth birthday when she is suddenly caught in a never ending death loop, having to repeat the same day over and over again until she can find a way out, trying to find answers each time she dies. 

Russian Doll is so good, and for fans of Severance, you’ll love this complicated story. There are so many bits and pieces to the puzzle that it makes you want to re-watch the series to see if you missed anything - and then re-watch it again to see if you missed anything twice. Plus, Natasha Lyonne is freaking fantastic as Nadia and truly shines in this series. The second season premiered in April 2022 with a whole different premise, this time literally taking Nadia back in time, so you’ll always be entertained. 

Stream Russian Doll on Netflix.

Black Mirror (Netflix)

Black Mirror is a series that I think everyone has heard of at this point, exploding onto the scene several years back. This series, following different worlds and storylines each season, tells the stories of characters who come in contact with some dark technology, which often end up changing their lives for the worse in the end. 

Let me tell you, if you like dark technology, like the way in which they do things in Severance, then Black Mirror is for you. From the first season, we see so many interesting and strange storylines that really change the game about what life is like with technology, from its effects on the human mind to its effects on society as a whole. 

Stream Black Mirror on Netflix.

Servant (Apple TV+)

I had to put another great Apple TV+ original here. Servant takes place in Philadelphia, following a couple who has undergone a horrible tragedy but finds a strange way in order to cope. Soon, their lives are turned upside down when this way of dealing with their grief opens doors to forces they can’t control. 

Servant isn’t sci-fi like Severance, but the thrilling aspect of it is still there, paired with a dark atmosphere that anyone can enjoy, as it’ll keep you hooked from one episode to the next no matter what. Created by M. Night Shyamalan, you know there’s going to be twists, turns, and so many new plot changes that you’ll have to twist your own head to keep up with them, but truly, it’s one of Apple TV+’s best so far. 

Stream Servant on Apple TV+.

Upload (Amazon Prime)

Another sci-fi one for you. This Amazon Prime original series, called Upload, takes place in 2033, when humans have found a way to upload our consciousness into an afterlife of our choosing once we die. Nathan, our main character, gets uploaded when he dies suddenly, but soon, facts about his premature death start to unravel over time. 

I mean, the premise is good enough to pull you in, just like Severance. The idea of being able to upload yourself into a literal afterlife is bonkers and makes me want to watch this show regardless. But, if that doesn’t get you, this show is also really funny. Coming from Greg Daniels, one of the creators of The Office, you know it’s going to be packed with great moments that will make you smile and laugh. 

Stream Upload on Amazon Prime.

Counterpart (Amazon Prime)

This series is crazy from the start. Counterpart, starring J.K. Simmons, follows Howard Silk, a U.N. worker who discovers a shocking secret - that his agency has access to what seems to be a portal to another world, where he discovers that there’s an alternate version of him who is completely different from him in every way imaginable. 

Like Severance, this show has aspects of both a workplace drama as well as sci-fi moments that truly make you want to keep watching. Who wouldn’t want to discover a whole new world on the other side of a portal? There are plenty of twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat, from one episode to the next. 

Stream Counterpart on Amazon Prime.

Made For Love (HBO Max)

Next up, we have this HBO Max original series, Made for Love. This sci-fi show starts off dark, with a young woman trying to run away from her abusive husband, but soon, she finds out that he’s been tracking her every movement with a device that he planted in her brain, and now, she must find a way to escape him with that implant. 

Made for Love is the perfect combination of a drama and a sci-fi series. It doesn’t go too far into either genre, where it feels overwhelming, just like Severance, and properly combines them to create a tale that speaks on many levels about modern relationships, privacy, and many other serious topics. The Made for Love cast is amazing, as well, and really captures you attention from the very start. 

Stream Made For Love on HBO Max.

Homecoming (Amazon Prime)

If you’re looking for another Amazon Prime original, check out Homecoming. This show follows another workplace, this time an organization that focuses on helping soldiers return back to everyday life, called Homecoming. It's supposedly hiding a dark secret, and over time, all of their employees begin to realize the truth behind the sinister actions. 

Like Severance, this show is what I like to call a slow-burn thriller. It doesn’t come right out the gate with moments that will make you gasp and shiver, but will pique your interest and make you think, “there’s something darker going on here.” Over each episode, you’ll learn a little more and begin to connect the dots. It’s such a great show.

Stream Homecoming on Amazon Prime.

Awake (Amazon)

Next up, we have Awake, an original series from NBC that lasted for a season. Starring Jason Isaacs, Awake tells the story of a detective who gets caught up in two alternate realities when he gets into a serious car wreck. One reality is where his wife lives, and the other is where his son lives, not knowing which one is real. But, he uses this to his advantage in order to solve cases for work from the other reality. 

While this show didn’t do so well in ratings when it first premiered, in general it's received tons of critical praise, specifically directed at Isaacs' performance as the lead character. For fans of Severance, if you like the sci-fi aspect, this show has plenty of it mixed in with police procedural drama. 

Buy Awake on Amazon.

The Twilight Zone (Paramount Plus)

Last but not least, we have The Twilight Zone. A series that has been rebooted several times, today we look at the 2019 Jordan Peele version, following different stories that are said to take place in “The Twilight Zone,” an alternate universe where not everything is as it seems. 

I mean, let’s be honest - Severance almost feels like an extended Twilight Zone episode with how wacky that premise is - and I seriously do enjoy the heck out of this version and its strangeness in every episode. While The Twilight Zone has been around for decades and rebooted many times, I also really like Jordan Peele’s version of it, and wish that it had more seasons. 

Stream The Twilight Zone on Paramount+.

With Severance Season 1 over, we have to start waiting to see the continuation of the story. But, you can now check out one of these shows before it comes back. You might get to experience a whole new TV show that you’ll fall in love with.  

In my years of watching many big-time movies and TV shows, from horror series to fantasy movies to superhero films, I never quite noticed how often this actor seemed to pop up in some of my favorite projects. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that James Marsden is one of the most versatile actors that is in the business right now, and his resume of excellent films and TV shows proves that. 

But I know that my word won’t be enough for you, so that’s where this list comes in handy. Here are the best James Marsden movies and TV shows, and how you can watch them streaming right now, from his musical hits to miniseries’. 

The X-Men Series (2000-2014)

The X-Men film series has spanned so many movies that it’s hard to put down just one premise, so I’ll say this simply - the X-Men are a Marvel team  full of mutants with different powers that are tasked with saving the world on several occasions, often led by one of their strongest characters, Wolverine, or Charles Xavier (Professor X). 

For several years, James Marsden portrayed Scott Summers, otherwise known as Cyclops, a mutant who has the ability to emit beams of energy from his eyes that could kill anything and anyone, but due to this, he has to wear protective eyewear at all times, even when sleeping. Out of everyone that could have played this role, I do think Marsden did it the best. No one else could bring that same amount of swag and coolness to the character that he did, and honestly I wish he had played the role even longer, but everyone has to move on from superheroes at some point. 

Stream The X-Men Series on Disney+. 
Rent The X-Men Series on Amazon.

The Notebook (2004)

Probably one of the most famous romantic dramas of all time, The Notebook -- based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks -- tells the story of two souls and their undying love for each other back in the 1940s, and how somehow, love can conquer all. 

James Marsden plays Lon Hammond, Jr., one of the love interests in the film, and while this was one of Marsden’s earlier big movie roles, I do think it’s one of his best. His chemistry with Rachel McAdams was great for the time that they were together, and he shows off his acting skills in a way he hadn’t done before this. I also personally really enjoy the main love story. As talked about as it is, it does deserve a lot of the praise it receives.

Stream The Notebook on HBO Max. 
Rent The Notebook on Amazon.

Enchanted (2007)

If you’re looking for a fun fantasy film with Disney charm, check out Enchanted. This movie, starring the wonderful Amy Adams, tells the story of an animated princess who suddenly has her world thrown upside down when she is transported to the real world by the stepmother of the prince she was due to marry. Now, she has to somehow find her way back - while surviving New York City. 

If I can recall correctly, this was the first time I had ever seen James Marsden, who plays Prince Edward, and what a movie to be introduced to him on because Marsden seemed to just be having the time of his life in this role, at least from what I could see. I think of him more as a dramatic actor but seeing him as Prince Edward, this handsome man who has no idea how the normal world works, makes me laugh every time. With the sequel, Disenchanted, coming out soon, I think it might be time to do a re-watch. 

Stream Enchanted on Disney+. 
Rent Enchanted on Amazon.

Westworld (2016-2018)

As the first of a few television shows on here, let’s start out with a banger with Westworld. In this fun sci-fi series from HBO, Westworld takes place in a dystopian future where there is a theme park of the old wild west built with humanistic looking androids that will do whatever you want. However, when some of these androids begin to develop a consciousness and feelings, all hell breaks loose. 

For the first two seasons, James Marsden played Teddy Flood, one of the main characters, and honestly he knocks it out of the park. The Westworld cast is filled with talent regardless, but I really liked Marsden’s character and his interactions with Dolores, played by Evan Rachel Wood. While it’s a shame he isn’t on the show anymore, it’s still such a great series to watch, and with Season 4 hopefully coming out soon, this moment might be great to binge-watch it. 

Stream Westworld on HBO Max. 

Hairspray (2007)

This movie is hands down one of my favorite musical movies yet. In Hairspray, get transported back to the 1960s in Baltimore, where young teenager Tracy Turnblad is hoping to try out for her favorite show, Corny Collins, as a dancer. Life out there is tough for a girl like her - but as long as she has the power of dance and love on her side, nothing can stop her. 

James Marsden portrays Corny Collins in Hairspray, and while this movie had some perfect casting, nothing quite fit as much as Marsden playing the host of the show. He just has this perfect charisma and charm that only he could pull off, and he also has an excellent singing voice and the moves as well. Hairspray in general is a musical that everyone would love, with some amazing music like “You Can’t Stop The Beat” and “Without Love,” to speaking about important messages such as racial segregation and body love. If you haven’t watched it yet, be sure to check it out now. 

Stream Hairspray on Netflix.
Rent Hairspray on Apple TV.

Dead To Me (2019-Present)

If you’re looking for an amazing dark comedy to binge next, check out Dead to Me. In this Netflix original series, two women are both in a grief group following the deaths of their husbands, one of which was hit by a car and the other a supposed cardiac arrest. However, it’s revealed that not everything is as it seems, and sooner or later, secrets begin to unfold. 

James Marsden plays Steve Wood, one of the main characters of this show. I would tell you more about his character but this is a series that I really think you should go into blind. Marsden is fantastic in his role and really rocks it in every scene that he is in, but the Dead to Me cast, overall, is so talented and creates an engrossing story that will have your eyes glued to the TV from start to finish, and Marsden is a huge part of that. Definitely one of the best shows on Netflix to watch.

Stream Dead to Me on Netflix.

30 Rock (2012-2013)

Next up, we have the classic comedy, 30 Rock. In this sitcom that went on for several seasons, 30 Rock follows a head writer at a sketch comedy show, showing her daily life as she has to deal with not only her co-workers but the the stars of her show, and the constant struggles she has to face. 

No, Marsden was not a main member of the 30 Rock cast, but he was a major recurring character for a couple of seasons from 2012-2013, playing Criss Chros, Liz Lemon’s boyfriend and later husband, and while he wasn’t in the show for super long, I’ll always remember his character for being a genuinely good guy who sells organic hot dogs. Marsden was the perfect choice for this role, and his interactions with Tina Fey’s character are some of the best in the series. 

Stream 30 Rock on Hulu.

27 Dresses (2007)

I feel like when it comes to romantic comedies, this is what everyone knows James Marsden from. 27 Dresses is a romantic comedy about a young woman who has been a bridesmaid all her life - no, seriously, twenty-seven times. Now, when her sister is getting married, she’s serving as a bridesmaid again - only this time, watching her sister marry the man that she actually loves. 

What makes James Marsden so good in this role is not only his charisma but his natural charm that he has for roles like this. I love his relationship with Katherine Heigl’s Jane in the movie, even in their rocky moments. One of my favorite rom-com scenes ever are those two getting drunk as heck and dancing on the bar together because it just feels so real and something that a couple would do in the real world, and it makes me smile every time. 

Stream 27 Dresses on HBO Max.
Rent 27 Dresses on Amazon. 

Sonic The Hedgehog (2020)

Next up, we have a video game movie that ended up doing a lot better than I ever thought it would. Sonic the Hedgehog, one of the few movies that was released in theaters in 2020, tells the story of the titular character, who somehow ends up in a small town out of nowhere. When a police officer stumbles across him, the two of them decide to team up when an evil genius plans to perform experiments on the hedgehog.

James Marsden plays Tom Wachowski, the police officer that Sonic works with, and I have to say, this film impressed me. As a gamer myself who grew up playing Sonic, this movie felt like a breath of fresh air in the film industry that so often has trouble trying to adapt video games to screen, as they told a genuinely fun buddy story between a famous character and someone new. Marsden did a great job playing Tom and I loved the friendship that blossomed between him and Sonic. Definitely a winner here. 

Stream Sonic the Hedgehog on Hulu. 
Rent Sonic the Hedgehog on Amazon.

The Stand (2020-2021)

Last but not least, we have the miniseries, The Stand, based on the novel from Stephen King. In this post-apocalyptic show, a pandemic has wiped out almost all of the population of the world, and the few survivors have turned to a dark figure or a light figure. Now, it’s a battle between good vs. evil in a world where everything is grey. 

As someone who enjoys the heck out of horror franchises and Stephen King adaptations, The Stand is one of my favorites from the modern era. James Marsden as Stu was, again, such perfect casting, and his character feels like someone we could all relate to, someone that genuinely just wants to do good, which Marsden acts to perfection. The Stand itself is a great miniseries with plenty of awesome characters to love, so you should check it out soon. 

Stream The Stand on Paramount Plus.

With so many amazing roles, one can only wonder what he’s going to do next. Whatever the case, I’m sure I’m going to love it regardless if Marsden is in it. Now if only Disenchanted could come out sooner, I’d really love that. 

While many people are scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping before the holiday actually arrives, HBO and HBO Max have delivered a whopper of a gift that'll probably eclipse most other last-minute offerings. The network and streaming service unveiled a shared promo for all the massive shows debuting in 2022, with first looks galore at new seasons for hits such as Westworld (Season 4) and The Flight Attendant (Season 2), as well as debuting series like the Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon and many more. Check it all out above before getting into some closer introspection below.

2022 looks to be a massive year for the premium cable network and its sister streaming service, with lots of big returning series coupled with all-new premieres. I know I cannot wait to see more from the hilarious Righteous Gemstones ensemble, and interest is also high for Julian Fellowes' Downton Abbey follow-up The Gilded Age. But my sci-fi-addled brain is admittedly most interested at the moment in those first looks at the long-awaited fourth season of Westworld. 

The very second shot of the trailer is of Thandiwe Newton's Maeve walking around on a windy day, which doesn't really give fans a whole lot to speculate about. (Beyond maybe a source direction for the wind, but that's hardly fun.) But then I guess that's part of the point, since each of the first looks at Season 4 are quick, fairly static, and provide barely any clues about what's coming next. We don't even get to see the face of returning star Jeffrey Wright as wayward host Bernard, who was last seen covered in dust and returning from a (mental) trip to the Valley Beyond. It looks like he's emerging from a shipping container in the video, but it's obviously hard to pinpoint details without further footage.

And then we have Aaron Paul's Caleb in the shot just above. I'm going to try hard not to just wail bemusedly about his hair hanging in his face, while wondering if Caleb joined a pop-punk band in the aftermath of Season 3. But where is he exactly? Everyone looks fairly dressed up around him. Is it a wedding? A church service? A spelling bee? Is this possibly Suit Jacket World, one of Delos' least promising new parks? 

If you want to spell trouble, then Ed Harris' Man in Black is your guy. Although he's technically not a "man" anymore, per se, with the human version being killed off in the Season 3 finale and replaced by the host version. But he's obviously still close enough to the real thing to go out wandering in the real world with Caleb and other biologically natural creatures. I can't imagine his stare in the image above is one that will lead to pleasantries. 

And the final new look at Westworld Season 4 is arguably its most vague one. It seems like this would be following up on the aftermath in the Season 3 finale, though I guess there's not enough chaos and destruction. Could one of those unidentified characters be our first confirmation of Evan Rachel Wood's return as Delores?

There are seemingly even fewer new shots from Kaley Cuoco's Emmy-nominated HBO Max dramedy thriller The Flight Attendant. Beyond an early shot of Cuoco looking surprised — something this show is downright full of — there's the intriguing shot above, with the character Cassie sitting at a bar in front of myriad liquor bottles. Considering Cassie was meant to be getting control of her drinking problem following the events of Season 1, this may not bode well for her willpower and self control. Had she been frowning or in distress, that'd have been one thing, but that smile feels a little suspect. 

Even though we have all these awesome new looks at HBO and HBO Max's new shows, the premiere dates are another issue entirely, since almost all of those are still up in the air. But be sure and bookmark our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see all the new and returning shows on the way!

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Every now and again, a movie comes along that blends elements of sci-fi, noir, action, and romance, creating a remarkable (in terms of visuals and narrative) feature that appeals to all the senses. One of the most recent movies to do that is Reminiscence, Lisa Joy’s atmospheric and intricate story about a near-future detective stumbling through memories to find a missing woman who stole his heart and, potentially, something more.

After watching Hugh Jackman search far and wide for Rebecca Ferguson in a world on the brink because of the effects of climate change, you might be looking for movies like Reminiscence that capture the same feeling or have a similar look. Here are a few options and where you can find them on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, and HBO Max.

Inception (Netflix; HBO Max)

Led by the mysterious Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a group of highly-trained thieves with an unorthodox way of pulling off large-scale heists is hired by a businessman to enter his rival’s dreams in order to set in place a plan that will allow him to eat up the competition. An already difficult task becomes nearly impossible when Cobb’s past comes back to haunt him.

Why it’s worth checking out: Like Reminiscence, Christopher Nolan’s Inception follows a protagonist with a myriad of secrets that make him untrustworthy — even if he doesn’t know it. The 2010 mind-bending thriller, which happens to be one of the best movies on Netflix, also explores how someone is affected by spending too much time in a dreamworld based on old memories; memories that aren’t always built on truth.

Stream Inception on Netflix.

Stream Inception on HBO Max.

Rent/Buy Inception on Amazon.

Double Indemnity (Amazon Rental)

Insurance salesman Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) finds himself in the middle of a murder plot when the beautiful femme fatale Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) takes out a life insurance policy on her wealthy husband (Tom Powers) and tempts the smitten man to be the one who sets her dangerous plan in motion.

Why it’s worth checking out: Billy Wilder’s film noir classic Double Indemnity has everything you want from the genre: a strikingly beautiful woman tempting a hopeless romantic man with love and fortune, a sinister murder plot, and an outstanding cast that also includes Edward G. Robinson as Walter Neff's boss and insurance investigator, Barton Keyes, who sets out to get to the bottom of the messy affair. Like Reminiscence, this iconic 1944 film plays on the idea of a how easily a man can lose himself when confronted by a beautiful yet deadly woman.

Rent/Buy Double Indemnity on Amazon.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (Showtime)

When Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) discovers that his ex-girlfriend Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) has erased all memories of their relationship he decides to undergo the same procedure. But, as the memories — both good and bad — begin to fade away, Joel fights back in an attempt to preserve any trace of the woman he still loves before it’s too late.

Why it’s worth checking out: Written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry, 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a beautiful, transfixing, and mind-bending experience that, like Reminiscence, shows how far someone will go to hold onto a memory no matter how much it may affect their reality.

Stream Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on Showtime.

Rent/Buy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on Amazon.

Blade Runner (Amazon Rental)

Replicant hunter Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is given a fairly simple assignment: find and eliminate four rogue cyborgs who have escaped from an off-world colony and returned to Earth. The task, however, becomes complicated when Deckard is introduced to a beautiful replicant named Rachel (Sean Young), who leads the once-solitary detective down a path that will have him questioning everything, even his own existence.

Why it’s worth checking out: Like Reminiscence, Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi noir drama Blade Runner takes audiences on a beautiful yet daunting journey in a world that is like our own enough to be familiar yet different enough to be almost foreign and unknown. It also features one of Harrison Ford’s best characters that just so happens to be one of his most complex as well.

Rent/Buy Blade Runner on Amazon.

The Game (Netflix)

When successful banker Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) is given a rather unique birthday gift from his estranged brother Conrad (Sean Penn), he enters an intricate and maddening game that tears down the walls between reality and fantasy. This mysterious and potentially deadly game sends the reclusive Van Orton on a journey like nothing he has ever experienced before: life.

Why it’s worth checking out: David Fincher’s 1997 cerebral drama The Game is at times hard to follow, which puts the audience in the same mindset as Michael Douglas’ wealthy yet broken character. By constantly betraying our trust, Fincher’s intricate story leaves us not knowing what is real and what is fantasy.

Stream The Game on Netflix.

Rent/Buy The Game on Amazon.

The Fountain (Tubi)

The Fountain features three intertwined narratives told through the eyes of a 16th Century conquistador, a present-day scientist, and a 26th Century astronaut (all played by Hugh Jackman) who all have the same goal: find a way to save the woman they love from death.

Why it’s worth checking out: One of the best Hugh Jackman movies, The Fountain is an epic love story that explores just how far someone will go in order to save someone they love. And, like a lot of Darren Aronofsky’s movies, this intricate and oftentimes hard-to-follow story is a real gem for those who approach with an open mind and heart.

Stream The Fountain on Tubi.

Rent/Buy The Fountain on Amazon.

Tenet (HBO Max)

A secret agent known simply as The Protagonist (John David Washington) is forced to travel through time, bend the very fabric of nature, and create a new reality to prevent World War III from destroying life as we know it. Armed with a single word — tenet — the mysterious hero embarks on a confusing journey where the beginning is the end and the end is the beginning.

Why it’s worth checking out: Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi spy thriller Tenet is one of those movies you understand less the more you think about it, but still want to go back and take in its intriguing and enigmatic plot, stunning visuals, and commanding performances by John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki.

Stream Tenet on HBO Max.

Buy Tenet on Amazon.

L.A. Confidential (Tubi)

When a robbery-turned-murder at a coffee shop in 1950s Los Angeles goes unsolved, three dedicated yet complicated policemen set out to bring closure to the case in a variety of different ways. Their investigations into the heinous and mysterious crime leave no stone unturned, but lies under those rocks exposes truths no one wants to know.

Why it’s worth checking out: L.A. Confidential has a little bit of everything you want out of a good noir film: crime, intrigue, hard-nosed police officers (Guy Pearce, Kurt Russell, Kevin Spacey), and a beautiful woman (Kim Basinger in an Oscar-winning performance) who could be at the center of the best L.A. detective movie. And like Reminiscence, it's hard, if not impossible, to know who you can and can't trust.

Stream L.A. Confidential on Tubi.

Rent/Buy L.A. Confidential on Amazon.

Dark City (Amazon Rental)

John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) attempts to unravel a twisted mystery surrounding his alleged role in a series of brutal murders, the biggest problem being that he can’t figure out if he’s guilty or not. As he digs deeper into the mystery, Murdoch struggles to get a grasp on reality, which is made all the more difficult when he stumbles upon a dark underworld more dangerous than anything he could ever dream.

Why it’s worth checking out: Dark City is one of those movies that does a tremendous job of showing someone lose all touch with reality and become their own worst enemy. As much as you want to trust Murdoch and see him clear his name before it’s too late, the more you learn about him, you realize a happy ending becomes less likely by the minute.

Rent/Buy Dark City on Amazon.

Westworld (HBO Max)

Set in a future in which the powerful and wealthy can make their fantasies — whatever they may be — become reality with little or no repercussions at a technologically advanced amusement park, Westworld shows what happens when seemingly harmless androids have enough of their abuse and strike back and to regain their dignity.

Why it’s worth checking out: This sprawling HBO series, which was co-created by Reminiscence writer/director Lisa Joy and stars Thandiwe Newton, welcomes audiences into a world that is at times strangely familiar, yet at others nothing like anything we’ve ever seen before, and asks a series of questions about servitude, free-will, and consciousness.

Stream Westworld on HBO Max.

Rent/Buy Westworld on Amazon.

These are just a few of the movies and shows that are perfect for anyone wanting to explore similar themes and the mood of Reminiscence. If you want even more to watch, check out our list of the best movies on Amazon Prime for some great hidden gems.

At this point, Westworld fans are used to waiting for extended gaps between seasons without a whole lot of new details to speculate about while waiting. We're now around eight months ahead of the spring premiere window that the HBO sci-fi drama utilized for Seasons 2 and 3, and though there's no telling when we'll actually see Season 4 debut, co-creator Lisa Joy has offered up a couple of details that Westworld fans can nibble on with curiosity. Even if the details inevitably only cause more confusion, at least in my non-artificially intelligent brain.

Lisa Joy is currently in the process of promoting her new brain-bending thriller Reminiscence, which has received the same kinds of reviews as Westworld, with fanatics adoring it, while others are left befuddled. Ahead of its release in both theaters and on streaming, Joy spoke with Deadline, which is where she shared the promising claim below:

I think we can all agree that some of the most interesting aspects of Westworld are the Delos "worlds" themselves. Viewers have spent an ample amount of time in the titular realm, while Season 2 introducing Shogun World and the jungle-filled The Raj. Season 3 hinted at Medieval World with its Game of Thrones dragon, and took viewers fully into Warworld with Thandiwe Newton's Maeve and Ridrigo Santoro's Hector. So for Lisa Joy to be teasing more than one new world coming in Season 4, it either means big changes within the park, or possibly a trip back in time.

Westworld's convoluted Season 3 took viewers and its host characters outside the Delos park system, and gave Evan Rachel Wood's Dolores a new human companion in Aaron Paul's Caleb. But then things went all screwy in that bonkers finale, with Dolores and Maeve sorta liking humans, while Tessa Thompson's altered Chalores stepped up as a central antagonist. Not to mention Ed Harris' Man In Black getting murdered by his own host version. And that's all on top of the world almost spiraling into widespread disaster over issues with Rehoboam and everyone's social status.

So how will Season 4 go about introducing new worlds? Will Delos' business and legal issues all magically reverse themselves, allowing the parks to go public with new and exciting exhibits and challenges? Or will Westworld's new areas come into play through flashbacks to different points before everything went haywire in Season 3?

Elsewhere, Lisa Joy described Season 4 of Westworld as "Inversion," so do with that what you will. Personally, I will just shrug over it.

While it doesn't offer anything to go on plot-wise, it's interesting that Lisa Joy is already teasing a new cast member on Westworld having come from Reminiscence. The film already features Thandiwe Newton and Angela Sarafyan, with the latter making her return as Clementine in Season 3 for a single episode. Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Cliff Curtis and Daniel Wu also co-star in the flick, so could it be one of their faces we'll see in Season 4?

Westworld Season 4 is potentially set to hit HBO at some point in 2022, though it's not clear exactly when that'll happen. In the meantime, all the showing popping up across the 2021 Fall TV premiere schedule.

It looks like HBO's mystery-driven drama Westworld is finally starting up for its anticipated fourth season, and we've already got a quick confirmation update. While the Season 3 finale left some questions about some certain characters, one major star is confirming the fate of his twist-heavy character, giving fans something to look forward to in Season 4.

Jeffrey Wright, who has portrayed the host Bernard Lowe in the HBO series, recently posted a picture on Instagram indicating that production is either already started on Season 4, or is starting soon. Check it out!

While the picture is somewhat simple, only including the “Bernard” name plate, Wright’s caption of “Good morning…old friend” is seemingly proof that the entirety of Season 4 won't take place during the time when Bernard zipped away into the Sublime in the Season 3 finale. Not to mention the comment is a direct reference to how Anthony Hopkins' Robert Ford talked to him. Plenty of fans in the comments were more than excited to find out that Jeffrey Wright would be returning, and that Bernard is apparently back online. Hopefully he'll be a little more centered in Season 4, too.

Season 4 of Westworld is a long time coming, seeing as the third season's finale hit HBO a little over a year ago. However, with the way the previous seasons have been laid out, it’s not uncommon for the seasons to premiere upwards of two years apart. And beyond the return of Bernard and other familiar faces, Season 4 will also introduce some new characters. It was recently revealed that Prodigal Son’s Aurora Perrineau will recur in the upcoming season as a key character, and she'll reportedly appear in at least five episodes. That casting likely came as a blow to fans who'd been campaigning for Tom Payne's Prodigal Son to get picked up elsewhere after Fox cancelled it.

When HBO renewed the sci-fi series for a fourth season, not much was known about what it would look like following the real-world exploration in Season 3, especially with COVID-19 having rewired how the industry handled TV and film projects in 2020 and 2021. And while most would assume that Season 4 would be premiering sometime in mid-2022, the late production start could very well mean it'll debut even later. But now that production is getting underway, more information surrounding the release date will likely surface in the coming months.

Even though Jeffrey Wright’s return is confirmed, considering how Season 3 ended, most still don’t know if or how Evan Rachel Wood’s Dolores, Thandie Newton’s Maeve and Aaron Paul’s Caleb will be returning. While Wood has said she does want to return - and it's extremely unlikely she won't, since this is all her story - we still haven't seen any confirmation that she or anyone else is back, beyond Wright. Whatever the case, even if they do return, there’s no telling how long it will take before HBO lets fans know about it.

Just how will Bernard’s story continue following the events of the Season 3 finale? Hopefully we'll get to find out sooner rather than later. While fans wait on Season 4 and more information on Westworld’s upcoming season, the first three seasons are streaming on HBO Max, and there are lots of 2021 Summer TV shows to get obsessed with in the meantime.

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Netflix has been having a ball the last several of years dropping some TV shows which have really taken the world by storm. I’m talking about shows like Stranger Things or the TV series that seemed to capture the whole world’s attention last year, Bridgerton. But, one of the latest shows to really blow up in the last couple of weeks is Netflix’s newest series, Shadow and Bone.

Shadow and Bone on Netflix, based on the Shadow and Bone books, captures the fantasy and dystopian genres through the eyes of war and has been applauded by audiences for its breathtaking visuals and beautiful storytelling. However, since there are only eight episodes of this series, and we probably won’t see a Season 2 for quite some time, fans are most likely looking for replacements to fill the void in their heart once their binge is done. Look no further than here for eleven other shows that you might like if you enjoyed Shadow and Bone.

Game of Thrones (HBO Max)

We are talking the epitome of fantasy here, folks. If you loved Shadow and Bone, Game of Thrones is the way to go. This famous fantasy series follows several characters through their journeys after a monarch dies and, all of a sudden, it’s a competition to see who can claim the Iron Throne for themselves.

The show is one of the most popular TV series in modern-day history and has won several Primetime Emmy Awards. It’s launched the careers of some of its previously unknown stars like Emilia Clarke and only made careers bigger for established actors like Peter Dinklage. The story is great, the visuals are amazing, and it’s truly a spectacle for one to see – but maybe skip out on the last season, in my opinion.

Stream Game of Thrones on HBO Max.

Lucifer (Netflix)

Who knew the devil could look this good?

Lucifer is all about exactly whom you would expect, the devil himself. However, it’s not quite the story you’d believe, as Lucifer grows tired of his life in Hell and decides to abandon it and move to Los Angeles, where he runs a nightclub called LUX and becomes a consultant for the LAPD.

I know, it sounds so silly, but trust me when I say that Lucifer is a lot of fun and a great way to really change up the story surrounding the religious character. The story itself creates plenty of moments that fans have loved and if you’re into magic, Lucifer is the literal devil – he has plenty of it. You might just find yourself rooting for the devil a little in this show.

Stream Lucifer on Netflix.

Shadowhunters (Freeform)

Freeform has always been known to put out some bangers when it comes to shows that really showcase magic, but the best one that I can think of is Shadowhunters. This popular series follows Clary Fray, who, on one of her birthdays, finds out that her family is actually a race of human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons in New York City.

For fans of Shadow and Bone, this is one of the best alternates out there for the magic that is infused into the plots. It’s so much fun, and sometimes almost makes you think you’re watching Harry Potter but with a more adult twist. There are only three seasons, so it’s not super hard to binge. Plunge into the magic and have some fun!

Stream Shadowhunters on Freeform.

The Irregulars (Netflix)

I sort of consider The Irregulars as the British version of Ghostbusters, because they are the ones you call when things start to look a little freaky. The Irregulars is based on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the same man who created the infamous Sherlock Holmes, and follows the story of the Baker Street Irregulars, who work for Dr. Watson and save London from various supernatural events.

For fans of Sherlock and Shadow and Bone, this show would be perfect for you, as it not only connects you to the world that you already know but also adds some supernatural fun that anyone can enjoy. Plus, who doesn’t love some good old-fashioned ghost-hunting?

Stream The Irregulars on Netflix.

The Witcher (Netflix)

If you haven’t heard of it yet, you’ve been living under a rock. The Witcher is a fantastical story filled to the brim with fantasy, magic, and monsters, mainly following the story of Geralt of Rivia, one of the last known Witchers, and his tale of training the young Lion Cub of Cintra, Ciri, and his encounters with the witch, Yennifer.

The show itself was extremely popular during its debut season on Netflix, with fans tuning in from all over the world to binge it on its release date and see Henry Cavill rock it as Geralt. With Season 2 coming out, hopefully in 2021, it’s not too late to catch up on this awesome fantasy show before it takes a hold of our lives again.

Stream The Witcher on Netflix.

His Dark Materials (HBO Max)

This show really took fantasy to a whole new level after HBO ended Game of Thrones. His Dark Materials is all about Lyra, a young woman who is from another world and is on a quest to find her friend who was kidnapped, but ends up discovering the plot of a secret organization and other amazing finds.

His Dark Materials has only been around for two seasons, but they had plenty of moments which were full of amazing cinematography and some of the best CGI you could probably ever experience on television. The story itself is full of the great fantasy that you would expect, and so much fun. Plus, with an all-star cast, with the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy, it’s a definite watch, for sure.

Stream His Dark Materials on HBO Max.

Westworld (HBO Max)

Now that I look at it, there are so many shows on HBO which really capitalize on the fantasy genre, but Westworld certainly isn’t one of them. No, Westworld dives into the science-fiction world, with three very different and complex seasons, the beginning starting out with a theme park that has androids who can pass for humans, and lets humans live out their fantasies on them.

While there isn’t really any magic like there is in Shadow and Bone, the dystopian aspect is certainly there, with so much going on sometimes that it’s hard to keep track of the story. But ,that doesn’t change the fact that it’s very interesting and has some really cool visuals. It might take some time to get used to but Westworld is great fun.

Stream Westworld on HBO Max.

Cursed (Netflix)

This new Netflix series from 2020 takes a spin on the classic Arthurian legend. Cursed looks at it through the eyes of Nimue, a young woman who was born with a mysterious gift, is destined to become the powerful Lady of the Lake, and ends up actually becoming partners with the legendary Arthur himself.

If you want fantasy, look no further than Cursed. You’ll find yourself enthralled with not only the magic and the beauty that comes from the world of the series, but the sword fights and battle scenes, along with the story that actually delivers a great twist on an age-old tale. There’s still only one season of the show, so it would be a nice quick binge for you to enjoy.

Stream Cursed on Netflix.

Fate: The Winx Saga (Netflix)

Another new series which has come out recently, Fate: The Winx Saga, based on the cartoon series, feels almost like the perfect follow-up for a show like Shadow and Bone. This fantasy show is about the magical school of Alfea, where five fairies who become friends are trying to master their individualized powers while also juggling their own personal lives.

I almost think of this show sort of as what Shadow and Bone could have been if it was maybe set in high school, with everyone having their own powers and learning to master them. The visual effects are great and I can see why this ended up coming into the Top 10 during its first week on Netflix, due to the pure fun that show is. It’s definitely one of the top contenders on this list.

Stream Fate: The Winx Saga on Netflix.

A Discovery Of Witches (Amazon Prime Video)

We can’t have this list without mentioning a couple of shows that are purely focused on magic, so our first pick here is A Discovery of Witches on Amazon Prime. This popular show follows Diana Bishop, a reluctant witch who stumbles upon a magical transcript in a library, forcing her to find out the secrets it holds about magical beings, as well as being offered help by a vampire named Matthew Clairmont.

I personally look at this series as what Twilight could have been if it wasn’t werewolves vs vampires the whole time. The partnership between Diana and Matthew is believable, and you sometimes even find yourself in a trance with the mysteries that await in the manuscript. With two seasons to binge, there’s so much sorcery for you when you dive into the discovery.

Stream A Discovery of Witches on Amazon Prime Video.

The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (Netflix)

Last but certainly not least, we take a look at this popular Netflix show. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is all about Sabrina Spellman, a young witch who, at the age of 16, needs to decide whether to keep her powers and sign her life away to the devil or enter into the realm of the mortal world to stay with her friends.

With two seasons split up both into two parts, there’s plenty of Sabrina for you. And, since it’s also produced by the same people who do Riverdale, you get the typical high school love, rivalries, challenges, and everything else from a great teen show, mixed in with some awesome views of the dark arts. For fans of the magic in Shadow and Bone, this show is for you.

Stream The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix.

I know we’re all already waiting for Season 2 to come out of Shadow and Bone, but hopefully this list can hold you over. Maybe some of the best movies on Netflix or the best Amazon Prime movies might help as well. Either way, let’s hope that they all include the adventure that we got from the amazing world that Netflix gave us. Until Season 2!

We over here at CinemaBlend often like to play around with hypothetical situation where we imagine various Marvel and DC characters any given actor or actress would be perfect to play. Well, with someone like Jeffrey Wright, that’s a game we don’t have to play because the Golden Globe-winning actor will appear in both universes in the very near future (The MCU’s What If…? and DC’s The Batman in case you were wondering).

But it isn’t all Marvel cartoons and live-action Gotham adventures for Jeffrey Wright as the veteran actor is set to reprise his role of Felix Leiter in the upcoming No Time to Die, try his at hand at Wes Anderson’s brand of comedy in The French Dispatch, and even show up in a Batman audio adventure, plus more in the next year or so. There’s a lot to break down here, including his return to the HBO sci-fi series Westworld, so let’s go ahead and get into it…

What If…? - Mid 2021 (Post-Production)

There has been talk of What If…?, the animated anthology series offering alternate versions of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest moments, coming to Disney+ for two years now, and no matter how much we hear about (the possible moments being featured, the cast, ideas for future seasons), no one seems to be able to get enough of this exciting project. With a mix of major characters like Captain America, Black Panther, and Iron Man and minor players like Peggy Carter, The Collector, and Crossbones, it sounds like What If…? will be just as epic as the first 23 movies in the MCU.

Guiding us on this journey will be Uata, aka The Watcher, a member of an extraterrestrial race that observes the universe while only occasionally interfering in major events. When casting the role, who will be a part of each of the first season’s 10 episodes, showrunner AC Bradley told DiscussingFilm.com that Wright was the best choice because his voice is powerful yet warm and inviting. The show’s producers were also looking for someone who could portray the character in a way that wouldn’t come off like they were lecturing the viewer but instead watching it alongside them.

What If…? is currently set to debut on Disney+ at some point in the middle of 2021, though an exact release date yet to be announced by Marvel.

No Time To Die - October 8, 2021 (Post-Production)

Jeffrey Wright has played CIA operative and the closest thing James Bond has to a friend, Felix Leiter, going back to 2006’s Casino Royale but hasn’t appeared in the franchise since 2008’s Quantum of Solace. That is going to change when No Time to Die (eventually) comes out in theaters. Leiter, who has been portrayed by more than a half-dozen actors going back to 1962’s Dr. No, will once again be pulling 007 back into action, as Wright revealed in a 2019 interview with the New York Times, though exactly what he means by that remains to be seen.

No Time to Die is on the list of movies that released into the wild by now as the 25th James Bond film was originally set to be released in November 2019 before jumping around between February and April 2020. The movie became one of the first major releases to move its release date at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting its premiere to November 2020 (after all the marketing material for the April release were printed). No Time to Die was delayed again to April 2, 2021 before getting pushed once more to its current date of October 8, 2021.