Mock battles serve a very specific function within The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War. Just like in real life, armies can engage in mock battles as practice for the real thing. It makes them more effective. Specifically, it makes the commanders in The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War gain XP. Knowing when to start a mock battle will help players be more effective when real battles come.
Commanders majorly define armies in The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War. As commanders gain levels, they can command larger armies, and they gain special abilities. Some will be more effective in battle, but some commanders can buff certain types of units. Mock battles serve as a great way to level up a commander without losing any troops.
It costs grain to fight mock battles in The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War, and players will need a lot of it. It also costs Ability Points. These regenerate over time but cannot exceed their maximum value. Lastly, it takes up the commander’s stamina, which regenerates over time as well.
Engaging in mock battles is useful for a player who has already leveled up several commanders and now has obtained a new one. The new commander starts at Level 1, so they can’t command many troops to conquer more territory. Instead, they can fight mock battles to get up to a higher level. Mock battles are also useful for high-level commanders to get that little more XP to be able to field an army large enough to conquer higher tier tiles.
The location of mock battles in The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War also matters. Commanders gain more XP based on where they fight. Players should choose a tile they own that generates a high amount of Ring Power per hour. They can set how long they want the mock battle to last, and longer times give the commander more XP.
Oddly enough, the thing that doesn’t matter is army size. Commanders will still need to have some sort of army, but neither the size of the army nor the quality of the troops affects their XP gain. This means that low-level commanders can gain XP quickly in The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War, so they will be on par with a player’s other commanders.
WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Amazing Spider-Man #74
As one of the greatest sources of evil in the Marvel Comics universe, the demon Mephisto has access to all sorts of secrets the likes of which would bring other characters to their knees – including the truth about the Marvel Universe’s real Sacred Timeline and what it means for his fascination with Spider-Man. Alternate futures are ever-present in comics, but the Marvel Universe’s one true future has always remained nebulous. Now, readers may have finally gotten some confirmation on which fan-favorite timeline is canon.
This revelation comes from the pages of TheAmazing Spider-Man #74 by Nick Spencer, Mark Bagley, and more as Spencer wraps up his three-year saga with the world-famous Webslinger. But just because Spencer is done with the Spider-Man doesn’t mean Mephisto is. And the devil’s interest is never a good thing.
The Amazing Spider-Man #74 brings “the Kindred Saga” to a close with a healthy dose of reveals and surprises, with none quite a shocking as the motivation for Mephisto’s involvement in Peter Parker’s life dating all the way back to “One More Day.” While the threat of the Kindred is ended, Doctor Strange still isn’t finished with the demon. And when Strange questions Mephisto about his fascination with Peter Parker, the villain reveals a vision he’s had since before Peter was even born – a vision of Peter Parker and Mary Jane’s adult daughter bringing about an end to his reign – that he’s spent years trying to prevent.
While Mephisto’s vision explains why he’s meddled in Peter’s life for years, it also gives fans a glimpse into the Marvel Universe’s prime future timeline. Spider-Man’s daughter is far from the only hero fans see, as the wreckage of Mephisto’s future is littered with the broken bodies of Brian Michael Bendis’ future X-Men from the timeline introduced in “The Battle of the Atom.” Eagle-eyed fans can also catch a glimpse of the future son of Captain America, James Rogers, which also implies the existence of the fan-favorite Next Avengers.
Especially in comics, the future is always in flux, but the fact that Mephisto has spent years trying and failing to prevent this specific timeline could very well signify how inevitable it really is. Mephisto’s manipulative efforts should make avoiding a future an easy task. But if this timeline is the set path for the Marvel Universe, or at the very least the path protected by the Time Variance Authority recently made popular by Loki on Disney+, then that would mean even an entity like Mephisto is powerless to stop it.
It’s highly unlikely that the comics will ever catch up to this point in the timeline, but it does add an interesting layer to the present-day Marvel Universe as well as to the limits of Mephisto’s abilities. For all his vaunted power as King of Hell, even he can’t stand against the inevitable flow of time. And for a being like Mephisto, there’s no feeling worse than powerlessness.
Although Spider-Man fans probably won’t see this future come to pass anytime soon, it’s very existence changes what they thought they knew about the Marvel Comics timeline. The future is always changing, but it’s rare to see one so seemingly inevitable. After all, if even Mephisto is unable to stop it, things may be a bit more set in stone than anyone ever realized.
The Hellraiser series introduced a new type of monster to the horror movie genre, but they were far from stereotypical. These creatures embodied the most twisted elements of pleasure and pain. Behind-the-scenes Hellraiser facts reveal a nightmarish collage of sadomasochism, artistic expression, and even a code of honor that reflected on their reputation.
The Cenobites are among the most interesting movie monsters ever created, with detailed mythology and complex motivations, as opposed to being mindless slasher villains. Not all Cenobites are alike, however. Some are brilliantly designed, while others attempted to capitalize on the franchise's growing popularity in the worst ways.
10 Worst: Dreamer (Hellraiser III)
Terri was an extremely confused, sad, and lonely girl who was manipulated by many people during her life, including the arrogant J.P. Monroe, owner of a nightclub called the Boiler Room. She was incapable of dreaming - a fact which made her mentally unstable, and ultimately susceptible to Pinhead's influence.
After killing J.P. and releasing Pinhead, Terri was turned into the Cenobite known as Dreamer. It was one of the worst Cenobite designs, particularly because Dreamer had no real powers in comparison to her brethren. She was also far more human in appearance than the rest, which didn't add much to her own malevolence.
Philip Channard was a human surgeon obsessed with unlocking damaged minds, but this ultimately proved to be denial on his own part. Channard was secretly obsessed with the occult, particularly the puzzle boxes that opened the doorway to Hell. From a very early age, he showed signs of psychopathy which would manifest into him becoming a cruel and unrepentant villain.
Upon entering Hell, Channard was turned into a powerful Cenobite with grand ambitions for the unfortunate souls that would cross his path. He is one of Hellraiser's most effective and convincing Cenobites, with a fearsome presence and character design that is positively macabre in nature.
8 Worst: The Siamese Twins (Hellraiser: Bloodline)
This Cenobite is actually an amalgamation of two identical twin brothers named Mark and Michael Bradley, who were considered inseparable by friends and family. They were employed as guards at a museum that housed a Lament Configuration created by John Merchant, which interested both Pinhead and Angelique, the princess of Hell.
Pinhead picked up on their secret fear of being separated, and decided to bond them together, quite literally. Unfortunately, a mix of bad CGI and a rather underwhelming final design made the Siamese Twins look far sillier than was probably intended. It just didn't work, especially when compared to the most popular Cenobite designs in the series.
7 Best: Angelique (Hellraiser: Bloodline)
Angelique started out as a separate entity from Pinhead and his Gash of Cenobites. She was a princess of Leviathan's realm who entered the mortal world to put an end to the LeMarchand bloodline. In the end, her actions would be their undoing when LeMarchand's descendent managed to destroy them all.
Angelique eventually joined Pinhead as a Cenobite, and is the only known demon who was turned by Pinhead. Fearsome in her human form alone, she was equally as terrifying after being turned into a Cenobite, making her one of the most understated in the criminally underrated Hellraiser franchise.
6 Worst: CD (Hellraiser III)
Hellraiser III introduced another Cenobite that was cobbled together by the twisted mind of the pure-evil Pinhead. Jim Hammerstein was a local club DJ who suffered the unfortunate fate of having played a gig that was crashed by Pinhead. The Cenobite set forth massacring everyone in the club, including the DJ, in one of the Hellraiser franchise's most unintentionally funny scenes.
His death was not the end, however. He became CD, so named because of the fact that he had CDs lodged in his skull to act as a sort of twisted-looking halo. He could also throw CDs as lethal projectiles to slay his victims, which was an extremely silly and campy premise that didn't quite pay off.
5 Best: The Auditor (Hellraiser: Judgment)
Hellraiser: Judgement is often criticized for being a low-budget sequel with too much focus on non-Cenobite-related storylines. It did, however, add interesting new dimensions to the Hellraiser lore, such as the Stygian Inquisition, a separate branch of Cenobites who pass judgment on doomed souls.
Chief among them is The Auditor, an authority figure in Hell, similar to Pinhead. This Cenobite behaves far more like a human than a demon, speaking like a common person, and even cracking jokes at regular intervals. It's this passive and unassuming personality type that hides a much more sinister agenda, making the Auditor one of the most interesting additions to the series in some time.
4 Worst: Camerahead (Hellraiser III)
Later Hellraiser sequels decided to get increasingly more creative with Cenobite designs, and the results were mixed, to say the least. Hellraiser III introduced Camerahead, a friend of lead protagonist Joey Summerskill who was transformed into a Cenobite by the raw power of the evil Pinhead persona.
Camerahead's right eye was fused with a camera lens which could blow up objects, or stab his prey up close. This particular Cenobite triggered a new direction for the series - one more interested in capitalizing on the notoriety of Hellraiser, as opposed to making something more artistic in design.
3 Best: Chatterer (Hellraiser)
Possibly the second most iconic Cenobite of all time after Pinhead, Chatterer had a particularly tragic backstory. He was, in fact, a young 16 year old boy plagued by a life of constant abuse, and a desire to be loved for who he was. Unfortunately, this would take him down a horrible life path that led straight to him solving the Lament Configuration.
He emerged from the experience as the Chatterer, a voiceless Cenobite so named because of the incessant chattering sound produced by his teeth. Nothing was known of him in the first film aside from his creepy design, but the second Hellraiser film finally gave some emotional weight to the character.
2 Worst: Clown (Hellraiser - The Devil's Brigade Comics)
Clown was a Cenobite tasked with entertaining the children who are brought into Hell, but are too innocent to be judged. To that effect, he put on a show where he demonstrated a series of gruesome acts in order to frighten them. He was punished severely by Leviathan when he deviated from this formula, and pulled a rabbit out of a hat to entertain the kids.
After being transformed fully into a Cenobite, there was little to differentiate Clown from his brethren. The character design was part Joker, and part Pinhead, fused into a body resembling the latter. He was neither the most interesting Cenobite of the bunch, nor the most effective.
1 Best: Pinhead (Hellraiser)
Pinhead is the leader of the Cenobites, and the chief agent of Leviathan, known to many as the Hell Priest. Contrary to popular belief, Pinhead is not, in fact, a villain. In fact, it could be argued that he's not malevolent at all, but rather a sadist in charge of enforcing the rules of Hell, and the puzzle box that leads so many humans astray.
Pinhead can be reasoned with, and has a strong sense of right and wrong. He has outwardly refused to take innocent lives, doing so only when his darkest id was separated from his consciousness to form a purely evil being.
Online roleplaying has surged in popularity over the past year and a half, with some tabletop gamers using virtual tabletop sites like Roll20 to play classic RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons. However, others have started participating in narrative "Play By Post" RPGs on forums and chat clients like Discord. The RPG systems below are particularly good choices for players who want to participate in a roleplaying game session through written text messages and narrative vignettes.
The big advantage of text-based adventure games and RPG campaigns is that players don't have to worry about scheduling game sessions and instead post irregular updates inside the game's chat room or on its forum page. On the downside, "Play By Post" RPG campaigns are frequently slow-paced, and can even grind to a halt if one or more players forgets to post or fails to see an update. To keep the plot dynamic and interesting, both players and GMs need to make sure the "entries" they type are concise, grammatically legible, and give other players chances to respond and embellish.
Generally speaking, narrative RPG systems with "Theater Of The Mind" style rule-sets work better for roleplaying sessions in a textual medium, with "Powered By The Apocalypse" and "Forged In The Dark" games being popular picks recently. The RPGs below, besides fitting this narrative mold, also have rules and digital aids designed to complement the act of text-based correspondence; some even go the epistolatory route and have story scenarios where both players and their game characters are talking to each other through smartphones and computers.
Alice Is Missing is an immersive RPG made by Hunters Entertainment, designed to be played and completed in 90 minutes. This game, similar to tone to video games such as Life is Strange or Oxenfree, takes place in the small town of Silent Falls, where a high-school student named Alice Briarwood has recently vanished. In both remote and in-person sessions, players take on the role of Alice's friends, relatives, and classmates, communicating silently through typed messages on group chat clients or phone text chains as they try to find out where Alice is.
Our Time On Earth, available on itch.io, is a two-person tabletop RPG about a pair of aliens visiting and trying to understand a small blue planet called Earth. In default of a narrative premise for this freeform roleplaying system, each alien player character, separated by distance or duty, reports their findings and thoughts about the strange, harsh beauty of Earth through out-of-character text messages and a more advanced mode of alien communication in-character.
The tabletop RPG Beyond The Rift, designed for 1 to 3 players, takes place in a fantasy world literally split apart by a magical war. The survivors of this war seek solace by ritualistically telling stories about friends, family, loved ones, and comrades trapped on the other side of the Rift. In a session of Beyond The Rift, each player takes on a specific role of storytelling - one describing the world beyond the rift, another describing the perils and dangers there, and a third describing the actions the story's heroes take. Narrative prompts are generated and resolved by rolling dice and drawing cards from a poker deck, while HTML applications on the itch.io page help gamers play online via Discord or other group chat services.
Fireball, currently in beta form, is a specialized group chat client and phone app designed to streamline the process of playing text-based fantasy campaigns using the Dungeons & Dragons 5e ruleset. The detailed rules of D&D 5e are made more accessible using a computer RPG-style interface, while a prototype matchmaking service lets Game Masters promote their games and recruit players to fill their open slots. Game Masters using Fireball also have access to various tools for rendering the places and perils of a classic fantasy world, while players can narrate character actions through text posts and a digital dice-rolling feature.
Though the DC Extended Universe tends to be full of characters secluded and depressed vigilantes, there are actually a surprising amount who do have a fun streak. When it comes to living with any one of them, there'd be some surprising outcomes.
Between psychotic but entertaining anti-heroes, sarcastic sidekicks, and heroes who have fun with their superpowers, there are loads of DC characters who would be fun to live with. But there are just as many who would be total doom and gloom, and living in Wayne Manor might not be worth dealing with Bruce's constant brooding.
10 Great: Aquaman
Even though he was the laughing stock of DC and was made fun of to no end in movies and TV, Warner Bros. completely subverted expectations by making Arthur Curry a surfer-like, tattoo-covered, bearded titan. Aquaman is the coolest superhero not just in the DC Extended Universe, but he's even cooler than some heroes in the MCU too.
As long as he trusts them, the king of Atlantis can be relaxed and friendly around people, and he'd be great to have a beer with. It'd also be a breath of fresh air living in Djupavik, the small fishing village where Curry resides, as it's worlds away from the undoubtedly polluted metropolitan cities of Gotham and Metropolis.
9 Worst: Batman
It might seem great to live with Bruce Wayne without thinking too much about it, as the character lives in a mansion, is waited on hand and foot, and has access to so many fun toys. His roommate could never be bored, and though Robin was one of the reasons why Batman Forever was negatively received, it was certainly an accurate portrayal of how fans would act if they lived in Wayne Manor.
However, no amount of gadgets could ever possibly make up for the fact that Bruce Wayne is morbid and miserable. It seems like the character is perpetually grieving, and his roomie is the one who would have to be the shoulder for him to cry on. And unfortunately, he's the one billionaire philanthropist playboy who doesn't through wild parties all the time.
8 Great: Alfred
Living with Batman would be terrible, but living with Alfred would give the roommate all the perks of living with Batman without having to deal with Bruce Wayne's mood swings. The Batcave and Wayne Manor would be accessible, along with all the nifty toys and gadgets that come with it.
What's even better is that Alfred isn't the overly emotional butler that he was in the Dark Knight trilogy and the anthology movies. He's more of the sarcastic type, meaning he'd be more fun to be around. Alfred is more hands-on with Batman's tech too, which is part of the reason why Alfred should get his own HBO Max show, but it's also why he'd make a great roommate.
7 Worst: Amanda Waller
In a world where Darkseid, the villain who waged war on Earth, and Joker, a mass-murdering psychopath, both exist, Amanda Waller is possibly still the most frightening. Based on Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad, Waller's roommate would constantly be on edge due to the ceaseless underlying threat of murder.
Roommates would surely suffer her wrath and have to endure her terrifying tirades for simply not immediately washing the dishes or spending too long in the bathroom. The only pro her roommate would get out of the relationship would be finding out the many secrets she has, as Waller is the subject of several unanswered mysteries about the first Suicide Squad movie. But even then, that comes at the risk of knowing too much and being shot in the back of the head.
6 Great: Shazam
It seems a bit strange being roomies with Shazam considering he's essentially a teenager who is still in school. However, Billy Batson's superhero alter ego is so entertaining and he's one of the few superheroes who doesn't take his abilities so seriously. Shazam is one of the most rewatchable movies in the DCEU, and that's partly because of how fun the character is.
However, Shazam is a package deal and potential roommates wouldn't just be living with him, but a whole group of foster children with loads of baggage. But the thing is, Billy's best friend and foster brother Freddy might even be more fun to live with for DC fans. Freddy is the biggest DC enthusiast, as he collects superhero memorabilia and has an almost unhealthy obsession with Superman.
5 Worst: Cyborg
Being what is a strange coincidence in Justice League, many of the heroes have major daddy issues. Bruce Wayne is still traumatized from his father's death, and Barry Allen's father is in jail. But more than any of them, Victor stone has the most strained relationship with his dad, and any potential flatmate would have to deal with the baggage that comes with that.
Before his accident, Victor would have made a great roommate, as he was charismatic, an overachiever, and enthusiastic about sports. He was possibly the most interesting DCEU character, but though he is still part human, he lacks any kind of emotion or personality.
4 Great: Harley Quinn
There are plenty of reasons why Harley Quinn would make a terrible roommate. Between being trigger-happy and looting stores, the character is psychopathic, not to mention that anyone living with her would also have to live with her pet hyena hilariously named Bruce. But there are just as many reasons why Harley would make a great roomie.
The character is a complete pleasure seeker, whether it's clubbing or blowing up chemical labs with fireworks. Sometimes she simply wants to watch TV too. Harley Quinn might seem dangerous and like somebody people shouldn't mingle with, but she's the best anti-hero in the DCEU. As long as her roommate stays on her good side, she's totally harmless and if anything, she'd have their back. On top of that, her roommate would have access to a ton of outrageous and fun outfits.
3 Worst: King Shark
Surprisingly enough, there are many reasons why King Shark could be a wild card and quite exciting to live with. In The Suicide Squad, King Shark showed that he isn't just a vicious, blood-thirsty fish who tears people's limbs apart, but there's actually a humane side to the character too.
It's almost as if the naive shark just wants somebody to play with, as he mistook the Clyrax fish in the tank at Jotenheim as friends. But at the end of the day, he is still a meat eater who could turn on his flatmate at any second.
2 Great: Wonder Woman
2017's Wonder Woman and 2020's Wonder Woman 1984 could be considered the best and worst movies in the DCEU, but if there's one thing they have in common, it's the amazing costume designs. More so than Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman's roommate would be doubling their wardrobe with decades-spanning outfits.
As the character is centuries old, she has pencil skirts and fur-lined coats of the 1910s and velvet tracksuits and shoulder-padded jackets of the 1980s, just waiting for them to come back into fashion. Outside of a bigger closet, her roommate could learn a lot of life lessons too. Though she can be overly competitive at times, Princess Diana could teach her roommate a thing or two about compassion, and she'd give some of the most fascinating history lessons.
1 Worst: Superman
Ironically, many members of the Justice League would be terrible to live with despite being heroes. Along with Cyborg and Batman, Superman would be the worst to live with. Though he does have a lot of compassion like Princess Diana and people could learn a great deal from him, he's simply a wet blanket.
Where Diana still has a fun streak and is outgoing, Clark doesn't seem to understand the concept of fun, at least not the DCEU version of the character. Though he is kind-hearted and would certainly pay the rent on time, Superman would be an absolute bore to live with.
When creating an iconic horror villain who always seems to cheat death, one of the biggest things to consider is how they will look. A classic horror villain needs the right look to be intimidating and strike fear into the hearts of their victims. A mask and a sharp knife are good, but sometimes the situation calls for something more.
Horror characters have made several freaky fashion statements over the decades, making fans rip these looks right off the silver screen every Halloween. From the striped sweaters and finger blades to full-on leather ensembles, these costumes are some seriously killer couture.
10 Norman Bates - Psycho (1960 & 1998)
"A boy's best friend is his mother," but wearing her clothes is another story. A gray wig and a housecoat might not seem like too much in terms of a slasher movie costume, but because of their integral part in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Norman's demented disguise is certainly worth a mention.
The film is the cornerstone on which the slasher movie craze was founded, but it also came with a shocking fashion statement once "Mother's" identity was revealed. Of course, shocking twists were Alfred Hitchcock's MO, and Psycho is still a scary movie that holds up today.
9 The Phantom - The Phantom Of The Opera (1925 - 1998)
From Lon Chaney to Norm Lewis, many fabulous actors have donned the mask of the Phantom of the Opera. But no matter if it's Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version, Robert Englund's gory adaptation, or the original silent film, there's no mistaking the man in the mask as anyone other than the infamous Opera Ghost.
All proper interpretations of the character feature two things: an ornate mask to conceal his disfigurement and identity and an elegant black cape to wave in a dramatic fashion. For the most part, it's a look that has remained as traditional and classic as the Phantom himself. If it's not broken, don't fix it.
8 Candyman - Candyman (1992 & 2021)
Clive Barker's Candyman could be considered a modern gothic horror film, and there's no denying that Tony Todd didn't at least take a few notes from the previous character. From his calm and cold demeanor to the way he wears that magnificent coat and bloody hook, there's only one character it could possibly be.
Even though the recent remake gives the character a more modern adaptation, Nia DeCosta couldn't separate the legend from the reimagining. In no uncertain terms, Tony Todd owns this role, through and through.
7 Pinhead - Hellraiser (1987, 1988 & 2022)
Hellraiseris probably Clive Barker's best-known creation, and its sadomasochistic demons from the Lament Configuration are definitely some of the most recognizable of their species. But the number one character that stands out amongst the leather-clad horrors is their insidious leader, Pinhead.
The leather garments may change on occasion, but there's only one horror character with a head full of nails and a nasty set of hooks and chains. It's visceral, it's gruesome, it's gory, and it's a look that's outright unforgettable.
6 Pennywise - It (1990 & 2017)
There's nothing funny about a clown after midnight, and that's more than likely true. Especially if it's this sewer-dwelling, kid-eating, cosmic horror from one of Stephen King. Both Bill Skarsgard and Tim Curry each gave their own unique twists, but it's the 1990 version that remains iconic.
The remake version was great, absolutely horrifying, but there's just something so innately sinister and unsettling about a character that isn't "scary" until it's too late. The original Pennywise was approachable, funny, and charming until it was time to show some teeth. Plus, the brighter colors and zanier attire make him stand out as the better It clown.
5 Leatherface - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974 - 2021)
When it comes to dressing up, Leatherface doesn't just have one look to choose from. In fact, he has a whole basement full of faces for every occasion. He's one of those characters that has had a very long career, occasionally changing his looks completely for new sequels.
One thing that does remain constant, however, is his frequently growing collection of human skin masks and affinity for power tools. With each different installment, Leatherface seems to get a fresh face for a new audience. Whether for better or worse, he's certainly fashionably versatile.
4 Freddy Krueger - A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984 - 2010)
The hat, the sweater, and the bladed glove are all the elements that made Freddy iconic, and he never had to change to suit fan cravings or scripts. He might have altered his physical form in the dream world, but the stripes might as well have been part of his skin.
3 Michael Myers - Halloween (1978 - 2022)
Sometimes, the simplest approach is always the best. What people tend to forget about the original Halloweenmovie is that it was an independent film made on a shoestring budget. But even with that in mind, a set of coveralls and a painted white mask still ended up becoming one of the most frightening faces on the silver screen.
Even with the series's popularity over the years, Michael never changed his form. He could have found different masks with each film, came back as a zombie, are completely changed altogether, but the filmmakers knew what the fans wanted. They wanted the Shape in all his glory, and he's been the same ever since.
Comparisons aside, there's only one true blue slasher to this day that can make that hockey mask work. Often imitated but never duplicated, Jason's iconic look has been homaged, parodied, and repeated in and out of the horror genre. While it might have suffered some wear and tear over the years, it remains the guy's classic look.
1 Ghostface - Scream (1996 - 2022)
While it might seem strange to rank Ghostface over Jason, consider the following. Think about how many times the Ghostface persona has been taken on by other characters, how very little it's been altered, and how it manages to continuously show up in Halloween decor, year after year.
The costume and mask were designed with purpose, personality, and practicality, which is why it's remained almost entirely constant since 1996. Whether it's being scary in Scream or silly in the Scary Movie franchise, it's a look that has stood the test of time.
Fans ofStrictly Come Dancing have taken to social media to praise the show for featuring its very first deaf contestant, Rose Ayling-Ellis. A few weeks ago, the show premiered the long-awaited season 19 and revealed all 15 celebrities and their dancing partners. Like last year, there are still some restrictions in place for the contestants to ensure that the show can continue on during the aftermath of COVID-19. This essentially means that all the celebrities were assigned their partners before the show even premiered.
In the opening group number to Donna Summer’s "I Feel Love," the Strictly professionals gave fans insight into just what they can look forward to in the upcoming season, as well as reintroducing well-known presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Shirley Ballas. The new Strictly Come Dancing season also welcomed a brand new judge, a former professional dancer on the show, Anton Du Beke, replacing Dancing With The Stars judge Bruno Tonioli. While all of this is exciting for fans of the show, seeing new contestant Rose perform on the stage is something everyone is looking forward to.
Rose, Strictly Come Dancing's very first deaf contestant, has already won over the British public, with many fans of the show taking to social media to praise her. Twitter user @TweetingCosplay stated, "Watching #StrictlyComeDancing. Rose Ayling-Ellis is very much succeeding at being the most amazing person on the planet! Everyone else is alright too I suppose." @ellajaytomlin showed her praise, saying, "Seeing everyone sign is making me so happy i’m actually tearing up! You’ve got this Gi and Rose ??? #Strictly."
Rose stated that she wanted to use the show to demonstrate that the deaf community can still listen and dance to music despite their hearing impairment. Tess also explained to the audience that Rose will always have an interpreter present so that she can understand the judges' feedback, as well as the dancing instructions given to the contestants on the show. While the fellow competitors, professionals, and audience applauded Rose for her inspiring words, professional dancer Gorka Marquez went one step further to show his support by gesturing his arms with the applause sign in sign language, which was great for fans to see.
It is wonderful to see that the show Strictly Come Dancing is making an effort to provide representation across the show. As stated before, this season features Rose, who is making history as the first deaf contestant, and this season also features its very first joint male pair, John Whaite and Johannes Radebe. It will be interesting for fans to watch this new season unfold and see how all of these contestants do in the competition.
Netflix has released an update on the status of Squid Game season 2, commenting on the chances and timeline for the smash-hit Korean series getting a second chapter. While Netflix has had significant international success in the past with non-English shows like Lupin and Money Heist, nothing has compared to Squid Game, which is set to become the streamer’s biggest series ever. That level of success would seem to demand a Squid Game season 2, but will it happen?
The end of Squid Game season 1 certainly leaves enough loose ends hanging to generate more story in a potential Squid Game season 2. Much of the lore and history surrounding the deadly competition is left shrouded in mystery, leaving some major storylines open for continuation in the future. However, Squid Game’s unprecedented popularity on Netflix couldn’t possibly have been anticipated, so the plan for the franchise’s future surely looks quite different now than it did when Squid Game first aired.
In a recent interview with Vulture, Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s head of Global TV, discussed the likelihood and potential timeline of Squid Game season 2 and when it could arrive. Because Squid Game’s popularity has so drastically exceeded Netflix’s expectations, the main question seems to be the availability of creator Hwang Dong-hyuk. “He has a film and other things he’s working on,” Bajaria said, emphasizing that Netflix is “trying to figure out the right structure for him.” It’s good that Netflix is deferring to Hwang and prioritizing his availability, but that also means that Squid Game season 2 may not be coming for a while.
Still, it’s encouraging to hear that plans for Squid Game season 2 are in motion at Netflix. From the dystopic storyline and rich, taught atmosphere to the striking visual style and Squid Game’s cast of talented stars, there are a lot of reasons to love Hwang’s series, and it’s great to see it catching on all over the world. Given how many characters die throughout the series, of course, Squid Game season 2 could be a good deal different than season 1, but that only means more opportunities for new and exciting storylines.
Hwang has said that he wants to take some time away from Squid Game before jumping back in for season 2. There’s a chance that he could decide not to return to the franchise at all, which would lead to either a shift in creative oversight for future installments or Squid Game season 1 simply being all there is. For the story, the ending of Squid Gameseason 1 could easily serve as the end of the series as a whole, but it’s unlikely that Netflix would leave such a massively popular property undeveloped.
Every winner of Big Brother has had to make big moves in order to come out on top. Indeed, most, if not all of the winners had to accomplish some type of feat to be in the final two, even if it was just winning the last competitions that helped get them there.
When it comes to the 10 best winners of Big Brother, they have had some memorable moments in the game. Some of these moves actually helped them become the winner while others were memorable for other reasons. In every case, though, they have become iconic.
10 Ian Terry (Season 14) – Orchestrating Mike's Eviction
Not only did Ian win against Dan Gheesling, one of the best to ever play the game, but he also orchestrated the eviction of Mike "Boogie" Malin, one of Big Brother's most prominent players to date. Ian was part of Boogie's alliance and seemingly the least threatening of the bunch — until he proved that he wasn't.
Right after Boogie's eviction, which was an iconic scene that led right back to Ian, Ian stepped on the gas and won a total of four HoH competitions as well as two critical Vetos, ensuring his spot in the finale. Ian was the ultimate underdog who proved that underdogs can be serious threats.
9 Nicole Franzel (Season 18) – Being Announced As Winner
Not only was she the first woman to win against a male competitor, but Nicole also bested the cocky and arrogant Paul Abrahamian, who believed he ran the game the entire time and was a shoo-in to win. Little did he know that many on the jury held a grudge and decided to award the win to Nicole.
Both Nicole and Paul looked equally shocked when she was declared winner, and Nicole running through confetti to accept her prize was an iconic moment for the three-time player. Paul remains one of the Big Brother players who had the greatest downfalls, and while Nicole can't be credited with making any big moves herself, her win in and of itself was iconic.
8 Cody Calafiore (Season 22) – Evicting Nicole
While it seemed likely right from the beginning that Cody was going to win given his physical prowess, leadership position in a dominant alliance, and general likability, his most memorable moment was when he evicted Nicole in the final minutes of the game, choosing to sit beside Enzo in the final two instead.
Nicole was not only heartbroken as she believed he was going to honor their final two alliance, but she was also visibly angered and bitter. While Cody seemed like he truly felt bad about the decision, it remains his most memorable move in the game.
7 Dan Gheesling (Season 10) – Dan's Funeral In Season 14
Dan's Funeral has become a thing of legend in the Big Brother game; a strategy that not only saved him from eviction but also helped get him to the final two. Indeed, while this was Dan's most iconic move, he did not make it in the season he won (season 10); this happened in season 14, in which he placed second to Ian Terry.
Dan had many iconic moves throughout his two times playing the game, but the funeral, where he called out his ally and pretended she had betrayed him (failing to fill her in on the ruse first to ensure an authentic reaction) was a genius move and a scene fans love to watch over and over again.
6 Will Kirby (Season 2) – Manipulating Janelle In Season 7
Will remains one of the best to ever play Big Brother. And while his diary room sessions with Mike "Boogie" Malin where they mocked and laughed at the people they had backstabbed have become the most iconic scenes from his season, Dr. Will, as he is known, had some other memorable scenes that involved only himself.
Fans of the first All-Stars might not have viewed it as an iconic scene. However, now that there's a new legion of fans of the show who have gotten to know and love Janelle, watching how he manipulated her to vote out her best friend Marcellas has become a heart-wrenching and cringe-worthy scene. It was one of the worst things Will Kirby ever did in Big Brother.
5 Steve Moses (Season 17) – Voting Out Vanessa
Throughout the entire season, Vanessa Rousso was the expected winner. It seemed even the houseguests relented to the fact that she was obviously running the show and was the one to beat. The fact that she was so well-liked meant that even though people knew she had a good chance at making it to the finals, they still didn't go against her.
Indeed, Vanessa made it right up to the end. That is, until Steve Moses, who had been seemingly quiet and in the background for much of the season, pulled out a win when it mattered most and did the unthinkable: voted out the woman everyone thought would win. It turned out to be the right move as not only did Steve win himself, but an informal poll afterward confirmed that if Steve had taken Vanessa to the finals with him, he would have lost.
4 Andy Herren (Season 15) – The Rogue Vote
Andy might be one of the more controversial winners, a "floater" who some felt didn't deserve to win the top prize. However, Andy did make some quiet but critical moves in the game. He flipped back and forth from one alliance to the next, which made people believe him to be disloyal.
But his biggest move was convincing McCrae to vote out someone he was aligned with and who would never go against him. He lied about a rogue vote being attributed to Elissa, causing friction within their friendship. McCrae listened and ended up going out the door next while Andy won four competitions in a row to secure the win in the end.
3 Hayden Moss (Season 12) – Big Reveal To Britney
It wasn't just Hayden's most iconic moment, but the most iconic moment for his entire alliance, which ran the game for its entire duration. Called the Brigade, comprised of Hayden, Enzo, and Lane, and Matt (until he got backstabbed), they were one of the most entertaining alliances on Big Brother.
When Hayden, the obvious leader, finally made it to the end with his two buds, they decided to break the news together to Britney about the alliance. She was the last woman standing and they did not want to give her false hope that she had a shot to stay. It was both heartbreaking for her and the final confirmation for the trio that they had made it to the end.
2 Rachel Reilly (Season 13) – Yelling "Floaters, You Better Grab A Life Vest!" In Season 12
It remains one of the most memorable quotes on Big Brother: when Rachel, angered by the houseguests who were seemingly coasting through the game, yelled "Floaters, you better grab a life vest!" in season 12. Rachel, of course, won many competitions and appreciated the integrity of the game, which meant playing hard and trying her best.
While Rachel had many memorable moments throughout the two seasons she played, including in season 13 when she didn't make it to the end, this remains one for which she is often noted.
1 Xavier (Season 23) – Lucious
The latest winner of the series, Xavier made history for a number of reasons. Most notably, he became the first Black winner in the show's U.S. history (with the exception of Tamar Braxton's win of the first edition of Celebrity Big Brother). He also joins the ranks of a select few who have won by unanimous vote, including Big Brother legends like Dan Gheesling and Cody Calafiore. He is also the first winner to receive the enhanced prize of $750,000 over the usual $500,000.
With all of these accolades, along with that intense eviction scene with Kyland, Xavier's most iconic scene involves his return from 24 hours of solitary dressed as his alter-ego Lucious. A supposed character created out of his intense boredom, he emerged walking down the stairs with an unbuttoned top, afro wig, sunglasses, and an exaggeratedly smooth gait. It was a moment of laughter that was needed among the houseguests.
Brenda Sparks (Melissa Peterman) may be intentionally seducing George (Lance Barber) to seek revenge against Mary (Zoe Perry) in Young Sheldon. Ever since the CBS comedy floated the idea of the Cooper patriarch potentially starting an affair with his newly single neighbor, fans have been wondering if this effectively sets up Sheldon's cheating story in The Big Bang Theory.Admittedly, it's far too early to confirm since it's supposedly a few more years before this heartbreaking incident happens. Nevertheless, Young Sheldon seems to be setting up George's affair so that the shift from a loving father to a cheating husband doesn't feel unbelievably abrupt.
CBS has dropped clues here and there about the future collapse of George and Mary's marriage, but it wasn't until the Young Sheldon season 4 finale that it straightforwardly addressed the looming tragedy. The episode titled "The Wild and Woolly World of Nonlinear Dynamics" started off with Missy (Raegan Revord) dealing with boy troubles, but, by the end of the outing, the issue became so much larger than that. The commotion at home led to her dad confessing for the first time that he is miserable and deeply unhappy. Not wanting to make things worse, the Young Sheldon season 4 finale ended with George abruptly leaving home and going to a pub where he coincidentally met Brenda. They decided to hang out, heavily implying that this could be the start of a potential affair.
CBS has already released a few teasers in light of Young Sheldon season 5's nearing release. Several of those official sneak peeks support the notion that George begins an extramarital relationship. What's interesting, however, is that Brenda seems to be the one initiating contact, which is odd, considering that Mary has been nothing but supportive to her ever since her own marriage broke down. It's possible that this could be the very reason why: she's intentionally pursuing George to hurt the Cooper matriarch.
Brenda and Mary have had a contentious relationship in Young Sheldon. They have clashed about a lot of things; Brenda didn't particularly like Mary's self-righteousness, and she felt as if her neighbor was too judgmental of her and everyone else in general. To be fair, Mary could really be overbearing (something that was more amplified in her appearances on The Big Bang Theory). Brenda may feel inadequate or even resentful compared to her, especially given Sheldon's academic achievements in relation to Billy's (Wyatt McClure). After a while, however, the pair seemingly bonded over their shared issues, specifically with regard to their kids and their futures. The hostility has largely resolved, and Mary even stepped up to be a source of strength for Brenda when her husband left. Still, it's likely the original issues Brenda had with Mary are still simmering under the surface.
While Mary and Brenda are fundamentally different, their relationships with their respective husbands are similar. Both tend to yell at and nag their spouses; George and Herschel Sparks (Billy Gardell) realized this, so they developed an unlikely friendship. Granted that it wasn't fully explored in Young Sheldon, it's clear that the show wanted to draw a parallel between the men. Moving forward, however, the sitcom won't be able to properly revisit this burgeoning relationship. As revealed in season 4, Herschel left Brenda after going through some marital problems. It's unclear what specifically caused the separation, but the breakup doesn't seem mutual, with Brenda still reeling from the loss. Meanwhile, the Coopers remain together. Granted that they go through their own difficulties, but neither one of them has given up on their marriage — at least thus far. Despite Mary's ways, George continues to be a devoted husband to her and a good father to his kids.
Given the state of her marriage compared to her neighbor's, it's not outside the realm of possibility that Brenda has developed some kind of resentment towards Mary. As a proud woman, she doesn't want pity — especially when it's from Mary who could be annoyingly sanctimonious. Initially, no one knew about Herschel moving out, but Brenda eventually told Mary after the Cooper matriarch checked on her neighbor when she heard about Billy struggling at school. Young Sheldon didn't show how their subsequent conversation went down, but Mary seemed really concerned about Brenda — so much so that she even arranged a girls' night out with her and Meemaw (Annie Potts) afterward.
While Brenda seems appreciative of Mary's efforts, it's still possible that she is ticked off by the fact that at the end of the day, the Cooper matriarch is a reminder of what she has lost. Not only that, but Brenda may feel jealous of Mary's marriage. While she understands that Mary has nothing but good intentions, spending time together can be secretly harrowing for Brenda. And since she's too prideful to admit this to Mary, she has been going along with it, causing her to grow bitter.
There are many ways to mess with Mary. For starters, Brenda can target her insecurities on being excluded and start getting more one-on-one time with Pastor Jeff (Matt Hobby). This is sure to drive Mary Cooper insane as she was filled with jealousy when she found out that the pair went on a walk without inviting her back in Young Sheldon season 4. If Pastor Jeff isn't a viable option, perhaps Brenda can target Meemaw instead. She and Mary's mother seem to have a lot of similarities, and after spending some time together during their girls' night out, it won't be that awkward to hang out again. That being said, arguably the most effective way to bring down Mary is to destroy her marriage — something the season 4 finale set up.
Knowing full well that the Cooper matriarch is too uptight to do something foolish that will result in her separation from her husband, Brenda can go after George instead. As seen in theYoung Sheldon season 5 trailers, she is very forthcoming in luring George into making the catastrophic mistake of cheating on his wife. If she successfully splits up Mary and George, Brenda can then find solace in the idea that she's not the only one who has a broken family. It could also be an ego boost to know that a committed family man like George would be willing to have an affair with her.
