Mashable

SAVE $90: On Dec. 16 only, the 15-inch touchscreen Skylight Calendar is on sale for $229.99 as the Best Buy drop of the day. That beats its $249.99 Black Friday price by $20 — get the rare deal in the Best Buy app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skylight Skylight Calendar 15-inch smart touchscreen calendar and chore chart $229.99
$319.99 Save $90 Find savings in the Best Buy app Get Deal

The best gift for a parent is ultimately the gift of less chaos. You could buy them AirTags, offer to watch their kids, or send them on a vacation. The ultra-helpful digital Skylight Calendar is one of Mashable's top gift ideas for moms and dads, and it's $90 off at Best Buy as the Dec. 16 drop of the day.

At $229.99 on Dec. 16 only, Best Buy's price beats the record-low $249.99 price tag we saw at Amazon during Black Friday. The 15-inch Skylight Calendar is currently full price ($319.99) at Amazon, so this near-$100 savings is rare.

You'll only see the sale price on the Best Buy mobile app (Best Buy drops don't show up in a web browser.) From there, you can add it to your cart and check out like usual. The catch is that all Best Buy drops have a limited inventory, with a live status bar keeping track of the percentage left. As of 12:15 p.m. ET, 75% inventory was left for the Skylight Calendar.

SEE ALSO: Last minute gift ideas: Save 15% on 15+ e-gift cards from Uber, Crumbl, Hulu, a ton more

Skylight can sync with Google, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo, and Cozi calendars to streamline schedules of multiple people to one communal device. Appointments, meetings, events, weekly chores, and even grocery lists can also be added right from the Skylight app, even if something pops up while you're not home. Everything can be labeled and color-coded for each member of the household.

But busy parents aren't the sole target audience for the Skylight Calendar — it's a life hack for literally anyone with a lot going on. Mashable contributor Jae Thomas, who is a journalist and editor, a dog trainer, and who works at a kennel one day per week, instantly felt more organized after bringing a Skylight Calendar into the weekly mix.

Thomas can confirm that yes, having a central hub like the Skylight is a worthwhile upgrade over merely sharing a Google Calendar with someone. "I find myself getting little hits of dopamine when I check things off my to-do lists, and it's easier for me and my partner to stay in sync on where we'll both be during the week. I truly wish I had this when we were sharing a car — it would have saved us many arguments and miscommunications about scheduling."

SAVE $100.01: As of Dec. 16, get the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo for $599.98, down from its usual price of $699.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 14%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $599.98 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $100.01   Get Deal

Here's one indelible truth: No one enjoys spending all their time cleaning their floors. It's a thankless task, and it's one that always needs to be done if you want to keep a tidy house. Thankfully these days we have robot vacuums that can handle it all for you. If you're ready to offload all your cleaning tasks, you'll want to recruit these gadgets to do so.

As of Dec. 16, get the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo for $599.98, down from its usual price of $699.99 at Amazon. That's $100.01 off and a discount of 14%.

SEE ALSO: 7 gadgets to help keep your home clean, from robot vacuums to electric scrubbers

This Shark combination robot vacuum and mop can handle just about anything you ask of it. It has powerful suction for vacuuming through dirt, debris, and hair, and it can also mop up tough stains. It uses NeverStuck technology to help lift it over obstacles and across thresholds, and keeps the mopping pad held above carpets to avoid issues with getting water everywhere, too.

When your robot's reservoir is full, it can handle itself there, too, emptying its debris into a 60-day capacity bin and refilling its own water tank for up o 30 days. It also washes and dries its mopping pad afer every time it runs. That means minimal interactions with you so all you have to do is set a schedule and let it go.

With LiDAR mapping, a 3D sensor, schedule-making, and targeted cleaning options, you don't even have to figure out how best for your vacuum and mop combo to tackle messes. Just sit back, relax, and watch it go. And be glad this is no longer something you have to worry about actually doing.

SAVE $1,150: The Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $849, down from the list price of $1,999. That's a 58% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix F2000 portable power station $849 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,150   Get Deal

Winter officially arrives in just a few days. But you've probably already been feeling cool temps and dealing with seasonal storms. If high winds, torrential rains, or ice storms threaten a power outage, there's a better way curtail the inconvenience — a portable power station. Amazon has a great model on sale today to put you in better shape during the next outage.

As of Dec. 16, the Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale for $849 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,999. That works out a massive savings of $1,150 from a 58% discount.

Anker consistently knocks it out of the park with designing portable power stations. In testing, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is my all-time favorite model for moderate power needs. But if you want more power to deal with a power outage, the Solix F2000 is a great option. It packs in 2,048 Wh of power while being able to power almost all of your home's appliances. Use it to keep the refrigerator cooling, the WiFi router online, and keep small devices charged.

SEE ALSO: Take a full $1,000 off this Bluetti portable power station and two solar panels

Anker says the Solix F2000 can keep a refrigerator cooling for 10 hours, a CPAP machine on for over 32 hours or a washing machine for 1.5 hours. Plus, you can keep some lights on at home so you won't have to fumble around in the dark.

Come camping season, you can take it along to power up an air fryer, mini fridge, portable freezer, and a projector. Its telescoping handle makes it easy to bring along to the campsite. It's also an excellent addition to the worksite, powering tools like a chainsaw, drill, or yard work tools.

While it's on sale for a shocking 58% off, equip your home and camping adventures with the Anker Solix F2000. Everyone in your party will thank you for the extra power.

SAVE $400: As of Dec. 16, the TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV is on sale for only $999.97 at Amazon. That's nearly 30% off its list price of $1,399.99 and matches its Black Friday cost.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV $999.97 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400.02   Get Deal

From holiday movies to the Olympics to the NFL playoffs, there's plenty of excuses to snag a new TV this season. Not to mention, it's one of the best times to score a big screen for a big discount.

As of Dec. 16, you can get the TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV on sale for only $999.97. That's nearly 30% off its list price of $1,399.99 and matches its Black Friday cost, which also happens to be its lowest price on record.

TCL just launched this monstrous screen last month as part of its new T7 Series — a lineup of budget-friendly QLED TVs packed with bells and whistles. So, just know that you're getting a brand-new 2025 model that's relatively future-proof. Despite its affordable price tag, it still features quantum dot technology, a native refresh rate of 144Hz, an AI processor that automatically optimizes color, contrast and clarity, Dolby Atmos audio, and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. It's powered by Google TV, so you can open apps, change the channel, or launch a movie right where you left off via hands-free voice control.

The TCL T7 is also a solid pick for gamers on a budget. Besides the 144Hz refresh rate, it also features Game Accelerator 288, an Auto Game Mode that automatically enables the lowest input lag and latency, and Motion Rate 480 with MEMC Frame Insertion for the ultimate clarity.

Don't endure any more dark and blurry viewing sessions. Upgrade your TV to the 85-inch TCL T7 while it's under $1,000. If that's too much TV for you, the smaller models (55, 65, and 75 inches) are also on sale for up to 33% off.

There is probably not a universe where The Housemaid was going to be a "good" movie in any traditional sense. It's based on the trashy Freida McFadden novel of the same name, with a twist suited to a Dateline episode. Still, the adaptation could have been a fun movie, or a good bad movie. But instead, it's another Sydney Sweeney-fronted dud following Madame Web, Eden, and Christy.

In adapting McFadden's book, director Paul Feig could have leaned hard into the erotic thriller aspect of the novel, evoking the gloriously trashy '90s films like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Cruel Intentions, or Basic Instinct. In these movies, sex, greed, and mind-fuckery all blend to a heady effect. Sure, some might decry it as low-brow, but these movies are undeniably satisfyingly thrilling entertainment.

Or, Feig could have gone the way of his Simple Favor movies, leaning into the campy, twisted fun of watching two cinematic divas face off. The Housemaid might have resembled such epicly sexy and sick movies as The Favourite, The Substance, Single White Female, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, or — my personal favorite — Death Becomes Her. 

Sadly, The Housemaid doesn't have enough style to hold a candle to any of these fierce films. And it certainly doesn't have substance. But it does have Sydney Sweeney, once more proving her lack of range. 

Sydney Sweeney is woefully miscast in The Housemaid.  Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway in "The Housemaid." Credit: Daniel McFadden / Lionsgate

After the flopped biopic Christy, Sweeney takes another swing at playing a working-class woman with unhoused twenty-something Millie Calloway, who is in desperate need of of a job and a home. So, the live-in housemaid gig at the Winchester mansion in Great Neck, Long Island, seems too good to be true. 

Tending to the needs of thirty-something stay-at-home mom Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried), her snotty daughter Cecilia (Indiana Elle), and dashing husband Andrew (Brandon Sklenar) should be easy enough. But no sooner does Millie move in that Nina begins to bully and gaslight her. The housemaid's only respite from Nina's cruelty is the kindness of Nina's dashing husband Andrew (Brandon Sklenar). But as the maid and the man grow closer, so does danger. 

It's a premise that flips the Hand That Rocks The Cradle conceit on its head, where it's the humble help that's being tormented by a vicious housewife. However, McFadden's book was told from the perspective of Millie and Nina, giving us an insight into their thought processes — especially when they don't dare say aloud what they're thinking. The movie brings over some of this through Millie's diary and a letter Nina writes to Cecilia. Mostly, however, The Housemaid relies on the actresses' dialogue delivery and reaction to build their characters. And Sweeney is giving us nothing. 

 Confoundingly, the adapted screenplay from Rebecca Sonnenshine offers little out the gate. The movie opens — not in media res like the book — but with a sullen Millie driving through Nina's posh neighborhood in her POS car. Sweeney's blank expression offers nothing about who Millie is or what she's feeling. And it's this same expression that pops up again and again whether Millie is being tormented, seduced, or pushed to a dramatic reaction. Far from establishing the scrappy survivor from McFadden's novel, Sweeney's take on the character is so blasé that it's just boring to watch her. She gave more emotion in that polarizing jeans ad. 

Amanda Seyfried goes for the gusto, but can't save The Housemaid.  Amanda Seyfried is Nina Winchester in "The Housemaid." Credit: Daniel McFadden / Lionsgate

Feig went against the book's description of Nina, who was called "fat" in a variety of ways in the novel, instead casting Seyfried, who looks a lot like Sweeney. There's a bit of a Single White Female intrigue to that, as these doppelgängers face off. But Seyfried, who turned in one of the best performances of 2025 with The Testament of Ann Lee, is left unsupported by her fellow cast members and her director. 

Nina Winchester is meant to be outrageously unhinged. Her behavior — in both the book and the movie — is viciously volatile, as she repeatedly sets Millie up to be scorned, embarrassed, and much worse. On the page, she reads like a Ryan Murphy diva, the kind who'd raise hell on All's Fair. Seyfried reaches for these dark places, caterwauling and glaring accusingly. But she is effectively in a vacuum of blah. 

Feig has not given her the eye-catching fashions of A Simple Favor or the fascinating set designs of The Substance. The cinematography from John Schwartzman doesn't embrace Seyfried's projected madness, but shrinks from it. For instance, in one scene where Nina has a meltdown in the kitchen, smashing plates and slinging accusations, the edit (from Brent White) bounds from one angle to another, never catching her face in frame. Instead, the focus is on Sweeney and Sklenar, who are giving the kind of wooden performances most often seen in forgettable Lifetime movies. (Not looking at you, A Deadly Adoption! You're sublime.)

The Housemaid's sex scenes aren't too hot for TV.  Brandon Sklenar as Andrew Winchester in "The Housemaid." Credit: Daniel McFadden / Lionsgate

As you might expect, Millie turns to Andrew for comfort from his cruel wife, then the two begin an affair. The sex scenes are numerous and involve nudity from both performers, which might titillate. Yet as torrid as their romance should feel, the scenes themselves lack heat. There's no real chemistry between Sweeney and Sklenar. And frankly, as at-home audiences are thrilled over the forbidden romance and hot sex in Heated Rivalry, it's almost funny how tame this rated R theatrical release feels. Almost. Another word for how The Housemaid feels is disappointing. 

McFadden's novel initially leaned heavily on black-and-white portraits of put-upon Millie and malevolent Nina to the point where it telegraphs the big twist. But that extreme portrayal in the novel could have been explored in the film with theatrical performances that urge the audience to enjoy the audaciousness of their conflict and its chaotic climax. Fieg and Sonnenshine could have radically shifted the film's aesthetic once the big secret of Nina's is unveiled, changing the way we see her with an engaging visual shift. But they chose not.

To Sonnenshine and Feig's credit, they strive to work in horror elements, like a mirror jump scare, a leering groundskeeper (Michael Morrone), and a revised finale that goes into slasher territory. But it all feels pretty shallow. None of these genre cliches elevate the material or even lives up to the novel's addictively trashy energy. 

Props to Elizabeth Perkins though, who appears as Andrew's icy mother. With high, meticulously coiffed white hair, a blood-red lipsticked scowl, and the fashion sense of a WASPY Cruella de Vil, Perkins delivered the kind of sharp performance that could have made this movie work — if the others followed her lead. When she cuts her eyes to her daughter-in-law in scorn, I almost expected Nina to bleed.  

Alas, this is a movie that contains Perkins' acerbic performance but doesn't deserve it. The trailers and source material of The Housemaid suggest it should be a good night out, relishing in lusty twists, deranged turns, and electrifying diva showdown energy. But in this battle of wild wills, Seyfried is left to shadowbox while Sweeney sleepwalks. Far from fun, The Housemaid is underwhelming as an erotic thriller, a dark comedy, and even a Sydney Sweeney movie. 

The Housemaid opens in theaters on Dec. 19. 

Stephanie Valentine, also known online as Glamzilla, is passionate about beauty. She loves finding a formula that works and discovering exactly why it does so. She loves hunting down new products, giving her audience her first impression, and diving into the details. 

The makeup artist and influencer has over one million subscribers on YouTube and Instagram, but it's on TikTok where her content truly shines. With 2.7 million followers on the app, it's no wonder that she was nominated for the Okay Slay award for fashion and beauty at the 2025 TikTok Awards alongside Katie Fang (@katiefanggg), Meredith Duxbury (@meredithduxbury), Darcei Giles (@missdarcei), and Wisdom Kaye (@wisdm8). 

SEE ALSO: How to vote for the TikTok Awards 2025 — plus date, nominees, and how to watch

We caught up with the creator ahead of the award ceremony to talk about where she finds inspiration, her first time going viral, and what she loves most about the beauty community online. 

Glamzilla is all about beauty. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable Composite / Daniele Venturelli / WireImage / twomeows / Moment / Getty Images How do you find inspiration and ideas for your videos and for your work?

I find inspiration in different ways. Is it watching a video? Is it being inspired by a print? Is it just wanting to find the latest and greatest in beauty? Looking at different product innovations, being inspired by what the future holds for beauty, and what the potential opportunities are? How can formulas be better? What am I looking for in formulas? What does my audience want to see? What would old me want to see? What would new me want to see?

It's ever-evolving. I'm inspired by many different things because, if you look at things from a beauty lens, and view everything as beautiful, that's all you can find, right? Beauty.

When you aren't feeling inspired or motivated, what drives you?

This is actually a struggle for me. I'm somebody who is really passionate about beauty. I'd like to test a new formula. I need to want to be excited about things. And that's why a lot of my videos go viral. Because when I find a beauty formula that's amazing and something I've never seen before, I post about it online. And sometimes that video just took 10 seconds to make, right? But I'm sitting here, and I'm trying hundreds of formulas. Testing all different types of liners, all different types of lipsticks [and] foundations. And when something makes me feel, "Wow," it's uncontrollable. However, if something doesn't evoke any feelings in me, my life becomes boring. And the only thing that picks me up is truly eating really good food, reading a book, [and] hanging out with my family.

Do you remember your first viral post? What was it? How did it change your approach to content creation?

My first viral post was in 2016. I saw MAC on the runway, and freckles were in. So I took my [Anastasia Beverly Hills] brow pencil, and I freckled on Instagram, and that surged.

At that point, I had only about 3,000 followers. That surged me to 25,000 followers overnight. That was a big moment for me. That was my first real viral moment. And then after that, everyone was using freckles. 

My first TikTok viral video was a lip swatch video because I fell in love with this NYX Shine Loud Liquid Lipstick. It was bringing back an old trend where the lipstick was transfer-proof, had long wear, and then you added a clear glaze on top, making it transfer-proof. And I showed that on camera, and TikTok went crazy. The product sold out. It was sold out worldwide. And that was my actual first TikTok video. But I was doing one-minute reviews for years on other platforms. TikTok was the perfect platform for me.

How did that one video going viral change the way you approached content creation?

I pioneered the one-minute review, and I'm doing it on other platforms. My content hasn't changed. If you check my oldest videos on other platforms, you will see that everything's exactly the same. I haven't changed the formula; just the lighting has improved, my hair has grown longer, and that's it. I've never changed the format of my videos, because that's what I love and that's what I'm passionate about.

It's always been the same.

What does TikTok do for you that these other platforms don't?

It allows me the freedom to be myself and form my own community, and it allows people to find me and my content without me trying to push it. At the end of the day, my content is just me trying to connect with other beauty lovers from across the world. If you love lipstick as much as I do, that this being transfer-proof is "wow" to you, you get it. You're my people. And that can be anyone from all over the world. And that's the beautiful thing about beauty. I have become best friends online with people I don't even know because we like lipstick. And that's what TikTok does.

Your comments on TikTok are filled with fans who feel deeply connected to you. How does it feel to be on this side of parasocial relationships?

This is how I felt when I watched beauty influencers [before I became an influencer myself]. And I connected with them because we liked the same thing. And when I was living my regular life, my day-to-day, the only thing that would make me happy was literally lipstick and foundation. And if someone else online loved it as much as I did, that was amazing. And what's so funny about it is that my best friends and the people who work with me all started as my followers. 

I answer every single DM. Every single comment that you see online is me. We really prioritize that. And it's important because that's how I started my career. Community is everything to me. And regardless of how big I become or how viral a video goes, the beauty community is everything because it's what saved my life and helped me grow.

Can you walk me through your workflow?

Every single day, I open up all the apps. I look up Sephora, Ulta, drugstore, Target, Walmart... I look at everything, and I see what's launched and what's new. If I need to drive over to the [U.S.-Canada] border and pick it up at Ulta, I will. I proudly do not accept PR, because I want to be able to actually purchase a product and understand its value, as well as what it means to a regular consumer. 

I film maybe 10 videos a day when I'm testing out formulas, and sometimes you won't see them at all because it's not good. And when I post a review, it's a first impression. It's really a first impression. 

And the videos go viral because I know how to manipulate the formula, and I know how to use it. 

Are you recording all of this on your iPhone? 

Yes. At least 10 videos a day.

How do you not run out of storage?

I have three iPhones, and then if I'm not passionate about it, they get deleted right away. And I film on the TikTok app. So, in every single video, it's just me going "beep, beep, beep, beep, beep." That's it. I film directly on TikTok. It's my favorite.

How many drafts do you have? 

A lot.

I bet. How long does testing take?

It depends on my mood. Am I really happy? Am I excited? Am I thrilled to do this? What am I looking for? It really depends on the vibe that day, because one day I might want to wear a teacher hat and teach like a makeup artist, or I want to find the next product, or I want to be silly. It really depends. And that's the power of social media. 

TikTok gives me the power to be myself and share all the different versions of me. If I want to do a cooking video, I will find cooking people. If I want to talk about my weight loss journey, I'll find people who relate to that. And if I want to talk about lipstick, I'm home.

Who were the creators who really inspired you before you made your way into the creator industry?

Patrick Starrr. Michelle Phan. Jackie Aina. NikkieTutorials. Makeup By Mario. I love everyone who contributed to our beauty space. That's who I'm inspired most by. 

And I've taken bits and pieces of them that I admired, and I've made it my own. And I wouldn't be here without any of them. And I've told all of them this. 

What advice would you give to someone who aspires to be a content creator in the beauty industry?

We are all creators. Even if your video doesn't perform, as long as you're sharing and being open, honest, and passionate about beauty or any other topic you want to discuss, you're a creator. You don't need numbers. And that's the beauty of social media. You will always find your community, and you'll always find a home because it's the magic is you.

How do you feel about the way the beauty community has changed?

I miss the old beauty community. I think we're at a stage right now where, over the last four years, everything is about going viral. And that's beautiful. And that really leveled up our beauty space. It created space for a bunch of new creators [and] a bunch of brands.

However, the truth of the matter is that we've lost the meaning of the beauty space because we've focused too much on products. Now it's time to really engage in our communities and be a part of them. And I think that's the most important thing, and that's why I'm slowly changing my content from being a viral content creator, from selling out so many different SKUs [and making] different viral videos. I've realized education and really honing in on community is number one. And that's forever. 

A quick look at the best last-minute gift card deals Uber $100 e-gift card $15.00 at Amazon (save $15) Get Deal PlayStation Store $100 e-gift card Free $15 Target gift card with purchase Get Deal Blackhawk OC Game & Grub $50 e-gift card (GrubHub, Xbox, Buffalo Wild Wings, more) $42.50 (save $7.50 at Staples) Get Deal Hulu $50 e-gift card $42.50 (save $7.50 at Staples) Get Deal

So you just made the connection that Christmas is less than 10 days away and you're scrambling for a good last-minute gift idea. Don't overcomplicate your search by filtering for short shipping times — just snag a gift card on sale. The practicality of a free $25 here or $100 there to spend on whatever they deem a priority is kind of priceless these days.

SEE ALSO: The 71 absolute best stocking stuffers for 2025

Buying a gift card on sale for yourself is also an underrated money-saving hack if you already know you'd spend the full amount at said gift card vendor anyway. If you already know you'll spend $100 on Uber or Uber Eats in the upcoming year, why not grab a $100 Uber gift card on sale for $85 and gift yourself $15 off a trip or food delivery?

Whatever their interest or favorite place to shop, there's probably a discounted gift card for that. Here are the best last-minute gift card deals on digital gift cards as of Dec. 16:

$25 to $50 gift cards

• Starbucks $25 e-gift card — free $5 Starbucks gift card with purchase

• DoorDash $25 e-gift card — $21.25 at Staples (save $3.75)

• Hulu $50 e-gift card — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Crumbl $50 e-gift card — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Fanatics $50 e-gift card — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Rent the Runway $50 e-gift card — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Total Wine & More $50 e-gift card — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Tractor Supply $50 e-gift card — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Darden $50 e-gift card (Olive Garden, Yard House, Longhorn Steakhouse, more) — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Game & Grub $50 e-gift card (GrubHub, Xbox, Buffalo Wild Wings, more) — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Self-care $50 e-gift card (Sephora, Spa Finder, Panera, more) — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Happy B-Day $50 e-gift card (Taco Bell, Barnes & Noble, Dave & Buster's, more) — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

• Weekend Vibes $50 e-gift card (Southwest, Lyft, TopGolf, more) — $42.50 at Staples (save $7.50)

$100+ gift cards

• Uber $100 e-gift card — $85 at Amazon (save $15)

• PlayStation Store $100 e-gift card — $85 at Target (save $15)

• One4All $100 gift cards (Ulta, Jersey Mike's, GrubHub, Nordstrom, Cheesecake Factory, more across various gift cards) — free $10 Target gift card with purchase

SAVE $50: As of Dec. 16, get the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 portable speaker for $89.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $139.99. That's a discount of 36%.

Whether you've got holiday parties to attend or you're throwing one of your own, music can add some much-needed ambiance to any get-together. This year, bring holiday music and other fun additions wherever you go with an affordable portable Bluetooth speaker that's perfect for spreading holiday cheer.

As of Dec. 16, get the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 portable speaker for $89.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $139.99. That's a discount of 36%.

SEE ALSO: The 12 best Bluetooth speakers of 2025

This speaker is all about great sound and portability, with a lengthy battery life and a lightweight body that puts reliability at the forefront. It offers a surprising 24 hours of playtime, so you can spend as much time as possible playing music at any event you head to this holiday season.

It's waterproof and can float if you're going to be around water and any potential mishaps, so it's a good sidekick to have around for those purposes. But it also has LED lighting and other bells and whistles in addition to being able to play the heck out of some music.

If you're ready for an affordable and easy way to listen to your favorite tunes at holiday parties this year or just want a good, reliable gift to give this year, this is a good option.

GET A FREE $5 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD: Buy a $25 Starbucks gift card and receive a free $5 Starbucks e-gift card while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Starbucks Starbucks gift card buy $25 worth of Starbucks gift cards and receive a free $5 Starbucks e-gift card Get Deal

Last week, we were all buzzing with news that Starbucks was releasing more viral Bearista Cups via the app. Fast-forward to today and we're all virtually running around Milan collecting red Starbucks cup in an attempt to win big. If you're not having much luck with the Starbucks Merrython, there's another way to feel like you're winning with the coffee giant.

From now until Dec. 19, purchase a $25 Starbucks gift card and receive a free $5 Starbucks eGift card. You can qualify for this deal by buying one $25 gift card or five $5 gift cards. Supplies are limited to the first 400,000 customers, so it's possible this offer will sell out before the Dec. 19 deadline. The promo is limited to one free $5 gift card per person.

SEE ALSO: Ben & Jerry's is launching Ice Cream Bars — how to get free Cookie Dough bars

Getting something for nothing in 2025 feels like a huge win. Since many of us are already stopping by Starbucks for a pick-me-up, this is a great deal to jump on. Buy one $25 gift card for a friend of five $5 gift cards, and you'll get a free $5 e-gift card for yourself. In either case, you'll be snagging a stocking stuffer almost anyone will love.

If your daily morning routine involves stopping by Starbucks and you're done with holiday shopping, grab this deal for yourself since a free $5 is a free $5. It might not buy you an entire 16-ounce drink, but it'll make a nice dent in the price.

While Starbucks is giving us a few days to snag this free gift card deal, the fine print mentions it's limited to the first 400,000 people who take advantage of the deal. Given how popular the coffee chain is, this deal could sell out before Dec. 19, so snatch it up quickly.

Oh, you don't want an AI chatbot on your TV? That's too bad, buddy, because you're getting one. Well, if you have an LG smart TV, at least.

Tech site Tom's Hardware spotted that users began complaining that a recent software update to LG TVs included the addition of Microsoft Copilot and it could not be deleted. The complaints first surfaced on Reddit's r/mildlyinfuriating, which feels right. The post has racked up some 36,000 upvotes and thousands of comments, most of which expressed annoyance.

Reddit

Tech site Endadget wrote that two staffers with LG TVs confirmed that, yes, Copilot had been installed and was not removable. At best, you could hide it from the home screen.

SEE ALSO: Merriam-Webster names "slop" the word of the year, and boy was 2025 sloppy

Why would you want an AI assistant app on your TV? Good question. I don't necessarily have the answer. But guess what? If you own an LG smart TV, it looks like you have it, whether you want it or not.

Food delivery can get tricky in the wee hours of the night.

That was the case in McCracken County, Kentucky earlier in December for one couple, anyway. According to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office, a local husband and wife ordered delivery via DoorDash "shortly after midnight," but when they started eating the food, they experienced burning sensations in their noses and mouths. A glance at security doorbell footage revealed that the Dasher had sprayed a substance on the food before handing it off to the customers.

SEE ALSO: DoorDash unveils new delivery robots that yawn, wink, and travel 20 mph

The accused Dasher in question, Kourtney N. Stevenson, told investigators that she was attempting to pepper spray a spider due to her fear of arachnids. As the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office pointed out in its press release, it would be extremely unlikely to see a spider outdoors in the 35-degree weather the area was experiencing that night. Stevenson was arrested on felony charges of battery and consumer product tampering.

Whatever the case may be, the lesson here is to always make sure your food looks, smells, and seems OK to eat before chowing down.

The first-ever U.S. TikTok Awards are officially taking over Hollywood on Dec. 18, 2025 — and Mashable will be on the red carpet and inside the venue, covering the night as it unfolds in real time.

Designed to honor the creators, trends, and cultural moments that defined TikTok this year, the show marks the platform’s biggest attempt yet to turn internet virality into a full-scale awards spectacle. Think: the For You Page, but live, loud, and happening all at once at the Hollywood Palladium.

SEE ALSO: How to vote for the TikTok Awards 2025 — plus date, nominees, and how to watch

And now, we know who’s headlining.

Ciara will headline the first U.S. TikTok Awards

GRAMMY-winning global superstar Ciara will headline the inaugural U.S. TikTok Awards, bringing her signature choreography and stage presence to the Palladium. The multi-platinum artist, whose music and dance moves have long thrived on TikTok, is set to perform a mix of her biggest hits during the live show.

"There’s nothing like performing for a community that loves movement, music, and expression as much as I do," Ciara said in a statement, per TikTok. "The TikTok Awards are all about celebrating that spirit, and I’m honored to hit the stage for the first-ever show in the US."

What to expect from the TikTok Awards

If you’re wondering what this show will actually feel like, imagine the chaos and creativity of TikTok brought to life in physical space. Hosted by La La Anthony, the U.S. TikTok Awards promises creator-led segments, live performances, and moments designed to be experienced and immediately shared, clipped, and stitched.

The theme for the night — "New Era, New Icons" — celebrates creators across beauty, fashion, music, sports, education, and entertainment whose influence extends far beyond the app itself.

In other words: Expect meme-by-morning moments and at least one reaction GIF that lives online forever.

Presenters revealed

TikTok has also announced a new slate of presenters spanning creators, cultural icons, and community favorites:

• Breakthrough Artist of the Year — Presented by KPop Demon Hunters star REI AMI (@rei.ami)

• Okay Slay Award (Beauty) — Presented by Tan France (@tanfrance)

• Video of the Year — Presented by Tefi Pessoa (@hellotefi)

• I Was Today Years Old Award (Education) — Presented by Justin Danger (@justin_danger_nunley)

• Immediately Added to Cart Award (TikTok Shop) — Presented by Patrick Starrr (@patrickstarrr)

• CapCut Creator of the Year — Presented by Carter Gregory (@thecarterb)

• Live Creator of the Year — Presented by Ashby Florence (@ashbyflorence)

Additionally, e.l.f. Cosmetics joins as a title sponsor, presenting the Rising Star of the Year Award.

Mashable’s live TikTok Awards coverage

Mashable will be covering the TikTok Awards live from Los Angeles, with our team on the red carpet capturing arrivals, GRWM-to-carpet transformations, and creator interviews — plus inside-the-room coverage of performances, wins, and the moments you'll be seeing all over your feed the next morning.

The red carpet livestream kicks off at 5 p.m. PT, followed by the main ceremony at 6 p.m. PT, streaming live on @TikTok and Tubi, the official streaming partner of the TikTok Awards 2025. The show will also be available on demand on Tubi the next day.

Red carpet hosts and correspondents for the livestream include:

• Dylan Kevitch (@dylan.kevitch)

• Hannah Kosh (@hannahkosh)

• Taylor King (@tksjuicypolls)

When and where to watch the TikTok Awards

• Red carpet: 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET on TikTok LIVE

• Main ceremony: 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET on TikTok and Tubi

• Location: Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles

Whether you’re tuning in for the performances, rooting for your favorite creator, or just waiting to see what breaks the internet next, Mashable will be there tracking it all, from red carpet chaos to the final award.

And yes: If something wild happens backstage, it'll probably hit your For You Page within minutes.

SAVE $50: As of Dec. 16, the Sonos Era 100 is on sale for $169 at Amazon and other retailers. That's about 22% off the full list price of $219 and matches its Black Friday price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Era 100 $169 at Amazon
$219 Save $50   Get Deal

With the exception of Black Friday, Sonos doesn't offer many big discounts on its products throughout the year. So when you see a good price, you should snag it. For instance, now's the time to grab the Sonos Era 100, as it's on sale for about 22% off.

As of Dec. 16, you can get the Sonos Era 100 for just $169 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Sonos.com. While that's about $20 shy of its best price ever, it matches its recent Black Friday deal. And although Amazon has deflated the list price, it's a full $50 off its usual $219 tag.

Released in 2023 as a direct replacement for the Sonos One (which we loved), the Sonos Era 100 is "the best smart speaker for the money," as our sister site CNET noted in their review. It's slim and sleek and can seamlessly fit on a bookshelf, kitchen counter, desktop, or nightstand, but its sound is as powerful as a speaker twice its size. It packs two tweeters and can produce a stereo sound on its own, unlike its predecessor. It also has refreshed controls on top with a capacitive volume control and a new button to turn off the voice assistant.

Connect to WiFi, Bluetooth, or hardwire it for your preferred sound and use the Sonos app to optimize it to your space. It features both Amazon Alexa and Sonos' own voice assistant, so you can ask your speaker to manage your calendar, set alarms, control the lights and other smart home devices, and so much more. Or you can toggle it off if you want some privacy.

Unfortunately, it doesn't offer spatial audio (you'll need the Era 300 for that, which is $200 more). But as our friends at CNET wrote, "If you want a smart speaker that's compact and sounds great, the Sonos Era 100 is an excellent choice and an easy recommendation." And at $169, it's a pretty great deal.

Pornhub suffered a hack of information related to its Premium members and is reportedly being extorted with sensitive member data, according to the tech site BleepingComputer.

The porn company confirmed the hack with a statement on the support section of its website. Wrote the company:

"A recent cybersecurity incident involving Mixpanel, a third-party data analytics provider, has impacted some Pornhub Premium users. Specifically, this situation affects only select Premium users. It is important to note this was not a breach of Pornhub Premium’s systems. Passwords, payment details, and financial information remain secure and were not exposed."

Mixpanel has denied that the information came from a recent November hack, however, that involved other major companies like OpenAI. Regardless, any hack would naturally prove concerning for Pornhub Premium users, considering the sensitive nature of the site. And while financial information does not appear to be part of the hack, some concerning data was reportedly stolen.

SEE ALSO: Conduent data breach exposed data of 10.5 million people, including Social Security numbers What information was stolen in the Pornhub hack?

Tech-focused site BleepingComputer reported that it had received confirmation from the group ShinyHunters that it was behind the hack, which it claims included "201,211,943 records of historical search, watch, and download activity for the platform's Premium members." BleepingComputer reported that the hacker group sent extortion emails to Pornhub and that it claims the info includes a "PornHub Premium member's email address, activity type, location, video URL, video name, keywords associated with the video, and the time the event occurred."

So, basically, the hacker group could try to extort Pornhub with the claims that it can release detailed information about what compromised Premium member accounts watched and when. That would obviously be sensitive info for someone using Pornhub that they may not want to be released.

SAVE $50: As of Dec. 16, get the Oral-B iO Electric Toothbrush for $59.99, down from its usual price of $109.99, at Amazon. That's a discount of 45%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Oral-B iO Electric Toothbrush $59.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal

If a whiter smile and cleaner teeth are important to you, you're not alone. Lots of folks would love to improve their oral hygiene, and that's something simple you can do by swapping out your toothbrush. Our recommendation? Toss the manual brush for an electric option that can give you a gorgeous set of chompers by helping you to polish what you have.

As of Dec. 16, get the Oral-B iO Electric Toothbrush for $59.99, down from its usual price of $109.99, at Amazon. That's $50 off and a discount of 45%.

SEE ALSO: The best electric toothbrushes for upping your oral hygiene game

This electric brush comes with three cleaning modes to help you achieve a brighter smile with cleaner teeth: Daily Clean, Sensitive, and Whitening. Oral-B claims it can also help you have healthier gums in just a week while removing more plaque than a manual brush.

It can help you figure out whether you're pressing too hard while brushing with a pressure sensor as well, and a lightning timer that helps you make sure you're brushing for the recommended amount of time: twominutes. It also has a lengthy battery and a special refill change alert to let you know when you change your brush head. Paired with two brush heads and a travel case, this brush will last for quite a while to come.

If it's time to trade up for a better quality brush, this is a great and affordable option you'll want to snag before it goes off sale.

SAVE $600: The Roborock Saros 10R is on sale at Amazon for $999.99, down from the list price of $1,599.99. That's a 38% discount that matches the record low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Saros 10R $999.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $600   Get Deal

Tis the season to get behind on household chores. It's hard enough to stay on top of cleaning during non-holiday periods, but now it seems quite nearly impossible. There's glitter on the living room floor, flour on the kitchen floor, and leaves in the entryway. Instead of worrying about vacuuming that yourself, enlist the help of a capable robot vacuum that's on a major discount.

As of Dec. 16, the Roborock Saros 10R is on sale for $999.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $1,599.99. That works out a savings of $600 from a 38% discount. Today's sale price matches the record low we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Mashable's vacuum expert Leah Stodart has tested over 30 models. Some have a grabby arm to collect your socks while others are excellent at mopping. When testing the Roborock Saros 10R, Stodart wrote, "It doesn't do everything perfectly, but it's still probably the most reliable robot vacuum I've ever tested."

Understandably, dishing out about $1,600 for a vacuum feels intense. But now that it's under $1,000, things feel a bit better. The Saros 10R comes with an impressive 22,000Pa suction power, and Stodart found other qualities that set it apart from other premium models.

SEE ALSO: Our favorite vacuum under $500 is now even cheaper

For starters, it's barely over three inches tall. This slim and low-profile means it'll have no issue getting under the couch, the bed, and the side tables, cleaning up areas that can be a struggle to reach with a stick vacuum. Stodart also mentioned it has the quietest self-empty system that she's ever heard, and it never gets lost.

Adding to the standout features on the Saros 10R is its ability to clean corners really well. It also has a livestream pet camera which allows you to see what the robot vacuum is seeing through the app. There's also an option to "search for pet." In Stodart's review, she wrote, "A ton of people have standalone security cameras to keep tabs on their pets when they're not home, so adding that pet sitter-like feature to an appliance that's already roving your house is actually pretty practical."

If you could use some help with chores, the Roborock Saros 10R is a reliable robot vacuum and mop. Its normal price of $1,600 feels scary but today it's down to $999.99 at Amazon. Considering how much time and hassle it could save you over several years, it might be well worth the investment.

If you don't play Roblox, your introduction to the online virtual world might be through less-than-stellar stories in news outlets about the company's legal woes due to child safety issues.

Roblox is quickly making moves to address that and looking at the company's 2025 user data, it's easy to see why that's the case: Roblox is extremely popular among young people.

As Roblox previously boasted, half of the U.S. population under the age of 16 were on the platform. A whopping 151 million users login to Roblox every day and the average user spends around 2.8 hours a day on the platform. User avatar updates happen 274 million times daily. One Saturday morning this past August saw 45 million users concurrently playing games on the platform.

And what Roblox games were they playing?  According to Roblox, "Grow a Garden" hit a record with 21.6 million users playing at the same time in July. In September, "Steal a Brainrot" broke that record with over 25 million users playing simultaneously. These feats are even more incredible when you consider both games were released in March and May, respectively, this year.

SEE ALSO: Roblox: A parent's guide to keeping your kids safe

Even so, "Grow a Garden" and "Steal a Brainrot" only take the second and third place when it comes to popular Roblox games searches. The top search is still for the classic "Brookehaven," released in 2020. The platform's users take part in an average of 21 Roblox games or experiences per month.

Another interesting data point in the Roblox 2025 Replay: the correlation between device and type of Roblox experience. Mobile phone gamers preferred horror or escape games. Tablet users were more creative types, choosing games like "Build a Plane." Console gamers, on platforms like Xbox or Playstation, were more likely to search out licensed action titles like Sonic, and play sports-based games.

Roblox users with VR headsets, unsurprisingly, would seek out virtual reality worlds and immerse experiences. And PC gamers are most likely to search out complex RPG-like titles on the Roblox platform.

The Roblox 2025 Replay also notes how the "67" trend and KPop Demon Hunters often spiked in popularity on the platform; there's a survey of Roblox's Gen Z users which can be found here.

The dating app Coffee Meets Bagel found a few contradictions in its first Dating Realness Report — which seems to sum up dating in 2025.

Over nine in 10 daters are looking for something serious, according to a survey of over 1,000 21-35 year-olds in the U.S. (who are working professionals either actively looking for a relationship or aren't actively searching but are open to one).

Specifically, 61 percent are seeking a spouse, and 31 percent are looking for a long-term partner. But 93 percent think dating is challenging, and nearly half (45 percent) think a relationship is harder to commit to than a job.

SEE ALSO: Tinder's predictions for dating in 2026

Some of the biggest pain points when dating are endless swiping without meaningful matches (54 percent), getting ghosted or unmatched (47 percent), and figuring out what to say or how to start a conversation (43 percent).

Now, take AI. Eighty percent of survey respondents are comfortable with AI assisting with dating tasks. However, if they found out they used AI to write their profile or message, around 65 percent would be less likely to engage with them, have a negative impression of them, or wouldn't be sure what to think.

Coffee Meets Bagel also found that while Gen Z was more comfortable with AI than millennials, they're also less likely to engage with a profile that used AI compared to their older counterparts.

This is similar to what Hinge found in its latest report as well: while Gen Z wants deeper connections, some are using AI to date.

And CMB's survey found that emotional connection and chemistry are a must-have for a majority of daters (73 percent), even higher than physical attraction (63 percent).

Shared values and beliefs (59 percent) rounded out the top three must-have qualities, followed by ambition/drive (57 percent) and shared interests (53 percent).

Interestingly, when broken down, more millennials (76 percent) chose emotional connection as a must-have than Gen Z (68 percent). Yet, more Gen Z chose ambition/drive than millennials (61 percent versus 52 percent).

And in this time of economic uncertainty, the highest life priority ranked was financial stability (54 percent), followed by health and wellness (49 percent), then love and relationships, which tied with family (47 percent each).

Coffee Meets Bagel also asked about the top challenges after matching. Gen Z and millennials differed only slightly in their answers: mixed signals (42 percent Gen Z, 44 percent millennial), starting or keeping conversations going (40 percent Gen Z, 38 percent millennial), and getting ghosted (38 percent Gen Z, 40 percent millennial).

Post-apocalyptic shows give me a sense of both anxiety and calm.

Anxiety because, obviously, the world has ended. When I think of anxiety-inducing things to put on screen, societal collapse and environmental destruction are tough to beat. The calm, on the other hand, comes from knowing that as bad as things get in the show, at least it's just that: a show. There is no zombie fungus out to get me like in The Last of Us, no alien virus hive mind like in Pluribus, no Arctic volcano-mega tsunami-nuclear war combo like in Paradise. (At least, my anxiety would tell me, not yet there isn't.)

SEE ALSO: 'Fallout' Season 2 is premiering early. Here's when.

But lately, as the state of our world grows more and more dystopian, even that calmness has evaporated. Between a U.S. government that seems hell-bent on rolling back human rights and massacres playing out across the globe in real-time on social media, the bleakness can feel overwhelming, to the point that I'd rather face down a Clicker than exist under the current administration. With that feeling in mind, apocalyptic media can serve as a road map for navigating a continually awful moment. Who steps up and fights for a new, better way of living, and who accepts this awful reality?

These questions are on full display in Fallout Season 2, which stages an ideological showdown against the backdrop of an increasingly bizarro — and immaculately realized — nuclear apocalypse.

What's Fallout Season 2 about? Johnny Pemberton and Aaron Moten in "Fallout." Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime

Picking up right on the heels of Season 1, Season 2 sees Fallout's core three scattered across the wasteland. Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) are tracking Lucy's father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), to New Vegas. Meanwhile, Maximus (Aaron Moten) has returned to the Brotherhood of Steel, now with more status — and more disillusionment about the way the Brotherhood operates. Hovering over it all is the game-changing technology of cold fusion, a limitless power source that could improve life across the wasteland, if it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

Season 1 already did an admirable job of building out the world of Fallout, from its retro-futuristic vaults to the ruins of Shady Sands. In Season 2, though, it goes for broke, with stellar results. New Brotherhood of Steel factions offer up a more comprehensive look at the chaos that reigns across the U.S., while tensions between Vaults 32 and 33 gift us further Vault-Tec intrigue, all wrapped up in a chipper Vault Dweller smile. But it's New Vegas that's undeniably the star of the show.

SEE ALSO: Amazon pulls error-filled 'Fallout' AI video recaps from Prime Video

As someone who's less familiar with the Fallout games, I've had New Vegas, both the setting and the game itself, hyped up to me by Fallout fans. Thankfully, the show delivers on the hype with a bold, bonkers new post-apocalyptic playground, all neon lights and sleazy storefronts.

New Vegas and the surrounding environs pop with colorful new factions, some of which have been altered from their game appearances. Members of the Kings gang are now ghouls, shambling around in their Elvis getups. Unsurprisingly, zombies rocking leather jackets and pompadours is a sight gag that pays off in spades. Elsewhere, the Roman-inspired Caesar's Legion's fanaticism is equal parts frightening and funny. (Bonus points for how they so confidently butcher the word "Caesar.")

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

These groups, along with others Lucy and the Ghoul cross paths with on their journey to New Vegas, all have their own unique approaches to existing in the wasteland. And as Lucy explores more of the madcap world she's spent most of her life living beneath, she must repeatedly choose between succumbing to the unspoken laws of the wasteland, or sticking by her all-important Golden Rule of treating others the way she'd like to be treated.

Fallout Season 2 stages an ideological battle that feels all too real. Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins in "Fallout." Credit: Prime Video

Lucy's tug-of-war between wild wastelander and goody two-shoes Vault Dweller was a key component of Fallout Season 1, but Season 2 throws it into sharper relief thanks to her alliance with the Ghoul. 

On one side of this partnership, you have the optimistic, if naive, Lucy, who wants to bring wrongdoers like her father to justice. On the other side, you have the grizzled Ghoul, a nihilist who's seen all the evils the wasteland and Vault-Tec have to offer and who's accepted the chilling fact that war changes. The two spend much of the first six episodes sent to critics locked in an ideological battle, with Lucy's hopes for peaceful resolution often getting ground down by the Ghoul's knowledge of the brutal truths of the wasteland.

If Lucy and the Ghoul are polar opposites, then Maximus serves as a midpoint between their worldview. He's still enamored with Lucy, deeming her the one truly good person he's met. By contrast, the overly masculine posturing of the Brotherhood of Steel seems even more ridiculous now, prompting some golden, totally over-it reaction shots from Moten. Yet Maximus still has much to unlearn from his time in the Brotherhood, and he, like Lucy, finds himself caught between surrendering to the way things are and striving to make something better.

That internal battle feels all too real right now, especially since the show's fictional antagonists, like RobCo Industries' CEO Robert House (Justin Theroux), bear striking similarities to very real tech companies that put profit over people in increasingly dystopian ways. Watching his and Vault-Tec's plans play out is enough to send a creeping sense of all-too familiar dread running up your spine.

So, Fallout asks, what will you do with that dread? Accept and feed into it? Or try to push for something hopeful? I won't lie, I've been feeling pretty Ghoul-ish lately. But watching Fallout Season 2, with its own guidebook to the apocalypse, has made me hope I can make my outlook a tad more like Lucy's.

Fallout Season 2 premieres Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Prime Video, with a new episode every week.

With the first two films in the Avatar franchise, Cameron delivered a glorious new sci-fi world I adored getting lost in. I went gaga for every new piece of Pandoran flora and fauna the films introduced. Bioluminescent trees? Stunning. Floating mountains? Sign me up. Benevolent space whales? I think I'm in love.

These wondrous creations came to life through groundbreaking technology, much of it, like Avatar: The Way of Water's underwater motion capture, completely new as well. That's a lot of "new" to go around.

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' trailer: James Cameron sets Pandora ablaze in stunning first look

So why is Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third film in the series, such a retread of what came before?

Detractors of the franchise might find that question funny. After all, a common complaint about Avatar is that it's just FernGully or Pocahontas or Dances with Wolves, but in space. (While there are several solid criticisms of Avatar, these comparisons by themselves do not strong critiques make, but I digress.) However, Fire and Ash cannibalizes prior Avatar films' best set pieces and story beats, resulting in a film that, while undeniably spectacular, relies too heavily on its prior installments, as opposed to the new Pandoran elements that could make it truly special.

What's Avatar: Fire and Ash about? Zoe Saldaña in "Avatar: Fire and Ash." Credit: 20th Century Studios

Fire and Ash gets off to a promising start. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) are still mourning their son Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), who passed away in Avatar: The Way of Water's climactic battle. His younger brother Lo'ak (Britain Dalton) takes the loss especially hard, believing it to be his fault.

While strong characterization is frankly the last thing I come to Avatar for, this sense of familial grief proves a grounding moment to open the film. Cameron lets the characters sit in their loss, exploring the varying degrees of rage and anguish that come with Neteyam's death. Neytiri skews more towards the former, while Jake and Lo'ak skew towards the latter. The dynamic between them is tense as can be, as they hope to rebuild their life with the ocean-dwelling Metkayina clan without one of their core pieces.

SEE ALSO: 7 magic school series to buy young readers that aren't 'Harry Potter'

But it's not long before danger comes for the Sullys. This time, it's not just in the form of humans, including Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), still in his resurrected Na'vi body. Instead, it's also in the form of the Mangkwan, or Ash People, a Na'vi clan that has forsaken Pandoran goddess Eywa and conducts hostile raids on other clans.

The Ash People are the most exciting part of Avatar: Fire and Ash. Oona Chaplin in "Avatar: Fire and Ash." Credit: 20th Century Studios

The Mangkwan clan offers Cameron a way to further expand on the peoples of Pandora, in the way the Metkayina clan did in The Way of Water. But while the Metkayina at least bore some resemblances to Avatar's forest-dwelling Omatikaya clan in terms of how they lived in harmony with Pandora, the Mangkwan are a shock to the system.

Following a disastrous volcanic eruption that wiped out their home, the Ash People turned their back on Eywa. Now, they only worship the destructive power of fire. With their ash-gray skin, striking red body paint, and warring ways, they're a sharp contrast to the other Na'vi we've met.

Leading them is Varang (Oona Chaplin), a scene-stealing sorceress who immediately takes Fire and Ash to a new level. At times slinky and seductive, at others downright terrifying, Chaplin's performance creates a sci-fi villainess for the ages.

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' trailer: Get your best look yet at Pandora's Ash People

She only gets better when she and the Mangkwan join forces with Quaritch. Lang reliably turns in the most fun performances in the Avatar films (nothing but respect for my Papa Dragon), and the trend continues here. He chews the scenery and spits out Southern-tinged one-liners like nobody's business, and Chaplin more than matches his energy. As the two become more than just allies, they also morph into an intoxicating — and much more fun — foil to Jake and Neytiri's own relationship.

Disappointingly, though, the Mangkwan get far less development than the Omatikaya or Metkayina clans. We don't get to know a single member of the tribe in depth beyond Varang. Nor do we spend much time in their village, an impressively desolate wasteland broken up by barren trees and the jagged ruins of their volcano. For a film called Avatar: Fire and Ash, there's far less fire and ash than I would have liked.

Avatar: Fire and Ash recycles the best parts of Avatar: The Way of Water. I think I've seen this film before... Credit: 20th Century Studios

As the Ash People fade into the background, Cameron resurfaces storylines from The Way of Water that perhaps would have been better left in the depths. Why do we need a replay of Payakan the tulkun's undersea rescue of a trapped Lo'ak? Or of the RDA's tulkun brain-harvesting plot? How, for that matter, did cartoonishly evil poacher Mike Scoresby (Brendan Cowell) survive getting mauled by Payakan?

These storylines worked wonders in The Way of Water. New villains in the poachers and new creatures in the tulkun set the stage for a show-stopping naval battle that still gets my heart pounding and lungs aching just thinking about it. Here, though, Cameron tries to do all that again, but bigger. Yet all I could think about for the entirety of the third act was how much it felt like The Way of Water's stellar conclusion — right down to the appearance of certain sets — and how much better The Way of Water pulled it off.

That final sequence, which also bears shades of Avatar's climactic showdown, begins to show the limits of the Avatar series. There's only so many times we can watch Jake and Quaritch square off, or witness Pandora's wildlife pull off a deus ex machina. Three movies in, and the stakes need to change.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is still a jaw-dropping spectacle. Tell me that's not the coolest thing you've seen. Credit: 20th Century Studios

Here's the thing: If I had seen Fire and Ash without having seen The Way of Water, I would have been in nonstop awe. The entire final battle is tremendous in a void — it just pales in comparison to the strangely similar set piece from its predecessor.

Thankfully, Fire and Ash gifts us with some exquisite new developments on Pandora. The Mangkwan stand out, as do the Windtraders, a nomadic people who roam around with the help of airborne medusae and windrays. When combined, these opalescent stunners form organic airships that are glorious to behold. I freaked out seeing them in the film's first trailer, and I freaked out even more seeing them onscreen. Their skin rippling in the wind, their veins shining just underneath... Like everything else on Pandora, they're astounding technical achievements, and I wish we got more time with them.

On the other end of the beauty scale, we have the human city on Pandora, a bustling industrial nightmare. Its hulking buildings and factories, as well as its hordes of colonizing forces, speak to an increasingly dark dystopia. A daring mission to the city gives us a deeper look at this dystopia and sparks a grittier action sequence than anything else we've seen in the Avatar films. Like the Ash People's village, it's a compelling aesthetic break from the lushness of Pandora, and a reminder of the natural beauty and ecosystems the Na'vi are fighting to preserve. It's also a high point because it's so different, and it's tempting to imagine a world where this is Fire and Ash's finale as opposed to The Way of Water remix that we get.

Instead, Cameron returns to familiar ground, relegating all of Fire and Ash's most exciting newcomers except Varang (who, I can't stress enough, still rules) to the background.

In the end, it feels greedy to ask for more from the Avatar series, with its maximalist world-building and take-no-prisoners action sequences. But after watching Fire and Ash, and with the knowledge that fourth and fifth films may be on the way, I don't want to settle for further derivatives of the preceding films. I want the greatness I know that Avatar is capable of, so asking for more is exactly what I'm going to do.

Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters Dec. 19.