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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
Updated: 7 min 35 sec ago

Sam Reid on how The Vampire Lestat episode 5 changes everything for the Brat Prince

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:15

There's more to Sam Reid's Say More interview than even we knew at the time.

When the star of The Vampire Lestat sat down with Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, she'd only seen the first three episodes of Interview With the Vampire's lusty third season. So, she and Reid dug into its details, talking his Taylor Swift-like song about his traumatizing maker Magnus and the dark truth of what he has in common with his fledgling Claudia.

Now, with episode 5 "New York" live, we're looking back at what Reid teased at the time. Chiefly, he talked about how Lestat begins the season by putting up a façade through his rock star persona. Yep, Louis and Armand aren't the only unreliable narrators in this fanged franchise.

In his interview with Mashable, Reid spoke to the Lestat's season-long arc, saying, "It's really a sort of, like, a portrait of an artist, which was Rolin [Jones]' point of direction and a constant point of reference. Lestat is a creative being, and how he kind of discovers himself, works himself out, really nuts through his issues, is through his art. And that is of one of the main arcs of the season, is that he's starting the music as a point of deflection from how he's been portrayed in [Daniel's] book."

Reid went on to explain that Lestat begins by projecting a vampire "schtick" to the public, adding, "But I think deep down, he actually wants to be taken seriously as a musician, as an artist. And progressively throughout the show, the music changes. He's still looking for his sound, and particularly by the time you get to episode five, everything changes, and the music becomes much more adult."

How Lestat's music changes in episode 5

Lestat's songs, written by Daniel Hart, have ranged in influences from T. Rex and David Bowie to Taylor Swift and The Police. "Long Face" (and possibly "Black Licorice") are about his tumultuous romance with Louis. "Your Biggest Fan" is about the stalker Magnus, while "Why Do I Have to Feel?" recounts the loss of his beloved Nicky. In episode 4, he offers a diss track called "Big Boss" for Armand. But in episode 5, Lestat peels back the theatrics, swagger, and sex appeal for a song about Claudia called "Stained Glass Eyes."

At the end of the episode, he plays a song for her on piano. He's stripped away the two guitars, the bass, the violin, the drums, and the Brat Prince façade. What remains is his grief and regret.

He sings:

The day you were born, I was shaking like a leaf on an old oak tree.

Then you stayed like a thorn. Red roses raining down 'til they flooded me.

Even when we parted ways, you never turned

Never turned your gaze

And I can still, I can still hear you say,

"Don't break that stare. I'm burning in your mirror tonight.

No, don't you dare call it yearning. It's the fear that I'm right.

Don't you try to forget all the things you regret."

In those stained glass, stained glass eyes."

As he sings, he sees Claudia staring back at him, as he has seen his slain brothers, Nicky, Magnus, and others. As he sings about how "you never turned... your gaze," the episode crossfades to Claudia's death. Her sun-scorched flesh flutters to ash as she stares down Lestat, her father, uncle, maker, and mirror. This moment crosses over into the present as the ash from her execution falls into his hair as he sings in the recording studio.

As the band comments when they play the finished track back, "Stained Glass Eyes" doesn't fit with the sexy and scathing songs they've been playing on tour. Lestat knows. He says they're killing the other tracks and starting over. This leads to Larry's fateful and fatal departure (RIP, Larry), and the rest of the band begging to be made vampires so they can stay on this musical odyssey with their front man.

Lestat drops the act in episode 5.

This shift from sexy to sincere reflects something Reid said in our Say More interview, about how Lestat has been trained to behave by the two biggest influences in his life and death.

"He's got two makers, you know," Reid mused. "He's got his mother, and he's got Magnus. Both of those figures are very, very influential in what forms him as a character, and [both] are abusive. He's a highly sexualized character, because he's been sexualized from the beginning. Whether it's his mother wanting to love him to the point of being with him, because she wants to live vicariously through him, or whether it's his maker wanting what he sees on stage, that kind of performer, that spark, and eroticizing him and making him this kind of perfect, immortal being. It's the only way he knows how to express himself, is by thrusting around on stage and writhing around. And so we do ask the audience to come with him on the journey. Maybe don't understand it at first, but it's a slow unraveling that he begins to unravel too."

How to watch: The Vampire Lestat debuted on AMC and AMC+ June 7, with new episodes weekly.

NYT Pips hints, answers for July 6, 2026

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 6, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

  • Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

  • Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

  • Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

  • Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

  • Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 6, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 6 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 6 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 2-6 placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 6 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3: Who is the little blue dragon?

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

We're well acquainted with most of the winged stars of House of the Dragon, past and present: the colossal Vhagar, the fierce Caraxes, the mighty Vermithor, the misunderstood Sheepstealer. But there's one dragon in Season 3 who keeps showing up and is yet to receive a full introduction.

In the military ranks of Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton), there's a smaller blue dragon who appears constantly grounded. Who is she, and will we get to see more of this little cobalt gem?

Meet Tessarion, known as the Blue Queen, a dragon ridden by Prince Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), Ormund's ward and the youngest son of Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and King Viserys (Paddy Considine) — meaning he's a direct threat to Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) throne.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' just united three generations of House Velaryon in one shot

We first spy Tessarion in Season 3, episode 1, when we're introduced to Ormund at his army camp. Tessarion's not fully grown, standing only two humans high and wearing a small saddle. And she's so cute. But she's fenced in with spears, in a move that likely keeps the troops calm and horses uneaten more than anything (and keeps out thieves). At this point, we don't know House of the Dragon is hiding Daeron in plain sight, ready for the Hightower lord to pull the switcheroo in episode 3.

In the latter episode, we get a better look at Tessarion when she's in the front line of Ormund's troops, during his confrontation with Daeron Targaryen (Matt Smith). In this scene, Ormund is forced to surrender and hand over Dearon as a prisoner of war. Importantly, Ormund had the foresight to know Daemon would demand such a captive, so has his decoy ready — not mounted on Tessarion (she would not allow this) but beside her.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments

Just watch her little face when the decoy walks over to Daemon. Utter confusion that plays as concern. If dragons could furrow their brow, Tessarion would do it. Daemon doesn't even try to take her along as hostage, as this relatively peaceful transfer would inevitably turn hostile.

Without spoiling anything from George R. R. Martin's Fire and Blood, Tessarion's plight is not to remain a grounded dragon. She'll have a part to play in the Dance of the Dragons yet.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 6, 2026

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an online dater.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 6, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Mind-blowing

  • Green: Experiment

  • Blue: Iconic animated character

  • Purple: Find your match

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Stunning news

  • Green: Science fair model subjects

  • Blue: Acme products used by Wile E. Coyote

  • Purple: Starting with dating apps

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1121 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Stunning news: BOMBSHELL, REVELATION, SHOCKER, THUNDERBOLT

  • Science fair model subjects: ATOM, DNA, SOLAR SYSTEM, VOLCANO

  • Acme products used by Wile E. Coyote: EARTHQUAKE PILLS, IRON BIRD SEED, ROCKET SKATES, TNT

  • Starting with dating apps: BUMBLEBEE, GRIND RAIL, MATCHA, TINDERBOX

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 6, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

NYT Strands hints, answers for July 6, 2026

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you can take the heat.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 6, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The growing season

The words are related to this time of year.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a hot season.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Summertime.

NYT Strands word list for July 6
  • Burgeon

  • Thrive

  • Bloom

  • Summertime

  • Expand

  • Spread

  • Flourish

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 6, 2026

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 6, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 6, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An alcoholic drink.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter D appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

TODDY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3: Whos on Rhaenyras Small Council?

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) is Queen of the Seven Kingdoms at last in House of the Dragon, but a good ruler is nothing without their Small Council.

We've seen numerous iterations of this micro court in the Game of Thrones universe. Essentially the Small Council acts as kind of government cabinet, with each member taking charge of a different aspect of the court.

So what are the roles, and who has Rhaenyra recruited so far? Let's break it down.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' just united three generations of House Velaryon in one shot What roles are there typically on the Small Council?

Small Councils have varied over the years in Westeros, but generally there are seven roles:

Hand of the King/Queen — When Viserys (Paddy Considine) was ruler, snakey Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) became his Hand. This is the role in the Small Council that wields the most power, as whoever has the Hand's pin is essentially second-in-command.

Grand Maester — Basically the head of all maesters in the realm, advising the ruler on medical and scholarly matters.

Master of Whisperers — The most famous Master of Whisperers was probably Varys (Conleth Hill) from the early seasons of Game of Thrones. This person is charged with gathering information on enemies and allies alike.

Master of Coin — The crown's treasurer.

Master of Laws — The go-to on all legal matters in the realm.

Master of Ships — Unsurprisingly, this person is the leader of the crown's fleet. Lord Corlys (Steve Touissant) held this role under Viserys before it passed to the unfortunate Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall). RIP.

Lord Commander of the King's/Queen's Guard — The leader of the White Cloaks. Moody Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) previously held this role under Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney).

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast on Season 3's colossal Battle of the Gullet Who is on Rhaenyra's Small Council?

Rhaenyra's Small Council, at least in Season 3, episode 3, is looking pretty bare bones. There are some "early startup" vibes as she strides into the room where Aegon and Viserys took their meetings, only to find that the crown's gold is missing and she has very few trusted advisors around her for support.

She does have some advisors, though, so who are they and what are their roles?

Lady Mysaria, Mistress of Whispers — Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) has been on a long journey since Season 1, but she's been Rhaenyra's trusted advisor throughout her time on Dragonstone. She's also long peddled in information. It's no big surprise that Rhaenyra gives her this role, no matter how irritated it makes Daemon (Matt Smith).

Lord Corlys, Hand of the QueenBack from the dead and looking somewhat less comfortable on dry land, Lord Corlys reluctantly takes on his duties as the Queen's Hand in episode three — he was promoted a while back after the death of his wife Rhaenys (Eve Best).

Grand Maester Orwlye — The one member of Aegon's Small Council that survives the regime change, Orwlye (Kurt Egyiawan) spends much of episode 3 trying to convince the others that he wasn't aware of any Team Green plots.

King Consort, Daemon Targaryen — Daemon doesn't have a traditional Small Council title in episode 3, but as the King Consort it feels like he's almost like the Hand of the Queen+ (he certainly has more to say for himself than Corlys does, anyway).

And as for the other roles? Master of Coin, Master of Ships, and Master of Laws? Well, as we mentioned before, Rhaenyra's Small Council is still looking a little small. But we're guessing there will be some new additions once she gets her feet under that Iron Throne.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

For all things House of the Dragon, Mashable has you covered.

House of the Dragon draws a key musical parallel between Rhaenyra and Daenerys

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

Between Widow's Bay and House of the Dragon, foreboding bells on TV are so hot right now.

Bells are a constant presence in House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3, which chronicles Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) first days on the Iron Throne. The early phase of her rule is not marked by celebration, but by a string of crises. The treasury is depleted. The High Septon refuses to bless her ascendancy. Daemon (Matt Smith) wants her to kill her half-brother Daeron. Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) turns on her after she refuses to legitimize his bastard sons. Each setback is punctuated by the ring of a lone bell.

SEE ALSO: The nastiest moment from 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 3 isn't even in the book

By themselves, the bell's mournful clangs suggest Rhaenyra's frustration with her situation. No part of her rule so far — from the brutal executions to her lackluster coronation — has met her expectations. Worse, none of it seems worth the loss of her two sons. Her reality is literally out of tune with her dreams for her queendom.

However, the bell is also a musical callback to a key sequence in Game of Thrones history: Daenerys Targaryen's infamous burning of King's Landing in Season 8, episode 5, fittingly titled "The Bells." The episode hinges on the moment when King's Landing surrenders to Daenerys by ringing the city's bells. By this point, Daenerys' time in Westeros has pushed her to the brink. She has lost two of her dragons and her closest friend, Missandei. She has weathered skepticism, scorn, and even betrayal from her close allies. Hearing the bells pushes her to the edge, and she chooses not to accept the city's submission. Instead, she continues on her warpath and torches the city, its civilians, and eventually the Red Keep. It's the defining moment in her descent into tyranny, marking her as a Mad Queen.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Where is Tumbleton, and why is it so important?

"The Bells" is a controversial turning point in Game of Thrones' already controversial final season. Daenerys' fall from grace feels unearned, especially since the two seasons she actually spends in Westeros are truncated to seven and six episodes. Still, the tie between Daenerys' madness and the bells of King's Landing is now seared in my brain, and it's that association that House of the Dragon plays with in Season 3, episode 3.

By using bells, House of the Dragon draws a link between Rhaenyra's strained mental state and Daenerys' final snap, although the show is by no means equating the two just yet. In George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, Rhaenyra doesn't go fully "mad" in the way that the Mad King Aerys II or his daughter Daenerys do in Game of Thrones. However, she does grow more punitive and paranoid once she takes the Iron Throne. The bells in House of the Dragon help foreshadow this transformation, and they also hint that the show will be tackling Rhaenyra's descent with more care than Game of Thrones took with Daenerys'. For starters, the lone, repeated bell sounds suggest a more gradual decline when compared to the overwhelming barrage of bells in Game of Thrones. Plus, House of the Dragon's bells aren't diegetic like Game of Thrones' are. They're part of the score, acting more like an internal monologue for Rhaenyra's frustrations.

Two of the biggest complaints with Game of Thrones' treatment of Daenerys' downfall are that it happened too fast and we didn't get to truly see her internal transformation until it was too late. And even then, it didn't make much sense! ("The Bells" director Miguel Sapochnik said that Daenerys razing King's Landing was triggered by dissatisfaction with her victory, but you wouldn't know it from the episode.) House of the Dragon counters that too-sudden shift with the promise of a more prolonged change in Rhaenyra, one rooted firmly in her perspective.

Episode 3's deliberate use of bells is just the start of how House of the Dragon stylistically heralds Rhaenyra's tragic arc. The entire episode effectively traps her in a haunted house. In her first scene, she proclaims "the air is thick with ghosts" in the Red Keep. Later, she's haunted by visions of the late Jacaerys (Harry Collett), as well as Baela (Bethany Antonia) coming to tell her of Jace's death. Episode 3 also plays with other haunted house tropes, from scurrying rats to darkened, claustrophobic hallways. It's no wonder that the time when Rhaenyra feels most powerful in this episode comes outside the walls of the Red Keep, when she's distributing food to King's Landing's poor.

Running through it all is Ramin Djawadi's score, an anxiety-inducing flutter of discordant strings that would be right at home in a horror movie. They're complemented perfectly by the bells, which sound the alarm that while Rhaenyra may now sit on the Iron Throne, her time there may well be running out.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

The nastiest moment from House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3 isnt even in the book

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

While I would bend the knee to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), I would not want to attend any of her dinner parties.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' pulls a Daeron Targaryen switcheroo that isn't in 'Fire and Blood'

In House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3, Rhaenyra throws a banquet for the nobles of King's Landing. The main course? Cooked rat, served atop an unappetizing black sludge. Not since Arya Stark served Walder Frey his own sons has a Westerosi meal disconcerted me so much. It's pure Game of Thrones-style nastiness, yet this scene doesn't even take place in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood.

Initial horror aside, the nobles do deserve it. (And you know what? So did Walder.) Rhaenyra cooked up the rat stunt as retaliation for their treatment of King's Landing's poor. While the city starved as a result of Corlys Velaryon's (Steve Toussaint) blockade, the nobles feasted off the food they had saved up in their store houses. Rhaenyra's rat dinner gives them a taste of the scarcity the smallfolk faced, albeit with some surprisingly stylish plating.

The rat feast, it turns out, is also a distraction. While the nobles are in the Red Keep, the Gold Cloaks are seizing their provisions and redistributing them to the city's poor. Later in the episode, Rhaenyra will distribute some of this food herself.

It's a bold move to prove Rhaenyra's allegiance to the smallfolk, and by the episode's end, it seems to have paid off. The commoners of King's Landing embrace her generosity. (Even if Rhaenyra was also responsible for Corlys Velaryon's blockade in the first place.)

However, Rhaenyra is playing with fire when it comes to her relationship with the Seven Kingdoms' nobility. While she proclaimed she had invited everyone to dinner as a "conciliator," she quickly revealed her true goal to be more punitive. Now, she's certainly struck fear into the hearts of her dinner guests, but could that cause resentment that leads them to mobilize against her?

While Rhaenyra's intentions here are good, her plan's disgusting execution signals a turn towards cruelty that may very well not stop with these nobles. In Fire and Blood, Rhaenyra develops a reputation as a vindictive ruler, earning her the nickname "Maegor with teats," a reference to former Targaryen king Maegor the Cruel. Much of Season 3, episode 3 is devoted to showing how Rhaenyra's mental state — strained to the breaking point by the death of Jacaerys (Harry Collett) and the unceasing demands of ruling — is slipping towards that cruelty. The episode even draws a musical parallel between Rhaenyra and Daenerys Targaryen's mental snap in Game of Thrones Season 8, suggesting Rhaenyra is headed down a similar tragic path.

So, while Martin never actually wrote out Rhaenyra's rat feast, it is absolutely in keeping with Rhaenyra's arc in the books, all while adhering to show Rhaenyra's more sympathetic attitude towards the smallfolk. Plus, it continues that great Game of Thrones tradition of truly upsetting meals. Remind me never to make a reservation at the Red Keep.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

House of the Dragon pulls a Daeron Targaryen switcheroo that isnt in Fire and Blood

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

House of the Dragon Season 3 has finally introduced Prince Daeron Targaryen, the youngest son of Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine). Or has it?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Where is Tumbleton, and why is it so important?

Episode 3 opens with Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) meeting with Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and pledging his fealty to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy). One of the conditions of his pledge is that he gives up his ward, Daeron. He presents Daemon with a young boy (Charlie Gordon) dressed in Hightower green and rocking the Targaryens' signature silver hair.

However, by the end of the episode, House of the Dragon reveals that this is not Daeron Targaryen at all. Instead, he's a child whom Ormund compelled to pose as the young prince. Ormund changed his hair and demanded him not to give up the ruse, otherwise he'd have the boy's mother hanged.

Where is the real Daeron Targaryen?

Now that Ormund's trick has been unmasked, where is the actual Daeron Targaryen? We know that he has to be traveling with the Hightower army, as his dragon Tessarion is situated at their camp. (In the episode's opening sequence, Tessarion is notably rider-less.)

Perhaps the show has already introduced Daeron. In Season 3's first episode, Ormund is accompanied by an unnamed boy (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), also dressed in Hightower green. Due to his closeness to Ormund and the fact that he takes Ormund's orders, it seems like this boy is Ormund's squire, which is the role we've heard Daeron has taken on. Ainsworth's character was missing from the meeting with Daemon, so if he is the real Daeron, perhaps Ormund was keeping out of sight to ensure his switcheroo went off without a hitch.

Is the fake Daeron plot in Fire and Blood?

Ormund does not try to pull a fast one on Rhaenyra in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, so his fake Daeron trick is a show-only creation.

By this point in Fire and Blood, Daeron is out in the field, fighting alongside the Hightower host. During the book's Battle of the Honeywine, a fight which House of the Dragon appears to have cut, Daeron and Tessarion turn the tide for Team Green and vanquish the combined forces of House Beesbury, House Tarly, House Rowan, and more. In the celebrations that followed, Ormund knighted Daeron and dubbed him Ser Daeron the Daring.

In keeping Daeron close — or perhaps even hiding in plain sight — Ormund might have other plans for his young ward. After all, the smaller Tessarion is no match for Rhaenyra's dragon army, so it's best not to unleash him just yet and let him lay low. Still, we're expecting the real Daeron face reveal any episode now.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

House of the Dragon: Where is Tumbleton, and why is it so important?

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

The name on everybody's lips in House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3 is Tumbleton.

By the end of the episode, Ormund Hightower (James Norton) and his army have taken over the small town, proving that he never had any intention of surrendering to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy). (His "fake Daeron" plot doesn't do him any favors in that regard either.) Now, the Hightowers have effectively taken Tumbleton hostage. The army mingles among the civilians, so that if Rhaenyra tries to retaliate with dragon fire, she will be burning her own people along with her enemies.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' pulls a Daeron Targaryen switcheroo that isn't in 'Fire and Blood'

Team Black also has a connection to Tumbleton. Ser Hugh Hammer's (Kieran Bew) wife Kat (Ellora Torchia) has gone to live in Tumbleton with her brother, as there was nothing left for her in King's Landing. Hopefully, now that Hugh and the other dragonseeds are officially knighted, Rhaenyra can hook them up with better housing accommodations. That is, once she's finished dealing with the myriad other concerns that plague her as a new queen.

Multiple mentions of Tumbleton in one episode suggest that the town is going to get really important, really fast. Here's what you need to know about Tumbleton, and how it figures into House of the Dragon's source material, George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood.

Where is Tumbleton in Westeros?

Let's start with the basics. According to Fire and Blood, Tumbleton is a "thriving market town" situated at the start of the Mander River, "some 50 leagues southwest of King's Landing." (So around 150 miles away.) It's the seat of House Footly, and for military purposes, it's the last town standing between the Hightowers and King's Landing. Since Fire and Blood claims the town's castle is only manned by 40 soldiers, no wonder Ormund was able to take it so easily.

What happens to Tumbleton in Fire and Blood?

In Fire and Blood, Tumbleton is the site of not one but two pivotal battles. No major spoilers, but they involve heavy dragon action and act as important turning points in the Dance of the Dragons.

House of the Dragon could make its fair share of changes to these battles, just as it did for the Battle of the Gullet. However, given that the show is already making a big deal out of Tumbleton so early on, it's clear we're going to be getting some form of conflict there in the end, so get ready to do a bit of Tumbleton tourism in the future.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 3 has 1 line that feels key to the whole show

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 22:00

Every now and then someone in House of the Dragon will say something that feels like it unlocks one of the show's key themes.

It's already happened with those recurring references to the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy that are currently driving the decision-making of Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith). And in episode 3, we get a similar moment with Alicent (Olivia Cooke).

SEE ALSO: Dear 'House of the Dragon': Enough with the threats of sexual violence What does Alicent say in episode 3?

Alicent is in a tricky spot at this point. She's sort of kept up her side of the bargain she struck with Rhaenyra back in Season 2, but she's essentially under house arrest in the Red Keep until Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) is found. She's also an easy outlet for Rhaenyra's growing list of problems — during one scene early on in the episode, the new queen confronts Alicent about the crown's treasury having gone missing.

Alicent, being truthful, says she doesn't know anything about it. But Rhaenyra doesn't believe her.

"They hated me from the start!" protests Alicent, referring to the other members of the small council. "Resented my influence, my mere presence. My own father kept their plot from me."

The conversation escalates from there.

"Where is Vhagar?" spits Rhaenyra at one point. "Who rides Sheepstealer?"

"I do not know!" responds Alicent. "Is Aemond not flown away as I promised? Did the guards on the parapets not suffer you to pass? I have done all I could. Will you blame me only for what men have done?"

The argument goes on a little while longer, but that feels like the pivotal moment. The line that really gets through to Rhaenyra, because it's something they both have in common.

Will you blame me only for what men have done?

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments Why is that line so significant?

It's a long way back now, but let's not forget that Rhaenyra and Alicent started off the show as friends. Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) then pressured his daughter into a romantic relationship (ick) with Rhaenyra's father, Viserys (Paddy Considine), then their sons started fighting and eventually killing each other, and it pretty much went downhill from there.

The common thread? Men embroiling the women in their lives in violence because they either want more power (Otto) or they're bitter and vengeful (Aemond).

This theme has continued so far in Season 3, but Rhaenyra and Alicent's latest argument finally puts a name to it. At the time, it feels like Alicent's words do land with Rhaenyra, too.

The big question: Will they be able to get past their own bitterness toward each other and find a way to work together again?

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

For all things House of the Dragon, Mashable has you covered.

This $35 ChatGPT-powered app makes writing a non-fiction book easier than ever

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 18:00

TL;DR: If you have a book idea, Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator can make it a reality with this lifetime subscription, on sale now for just $34.97 (reg. $540).

Opens in a new window Credit: Youbooks Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription $49
$540 Save $491   Get Deal

Want to add published author to your resume? If you have an idea for a non-fiction book, Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator can make it happen in a matter of hours. You can even continue to write books forever with this lifetime subscription, on sale now for only $34.97 through.

It’s 2026, and while we don’t yet have flying cars, at least the book-writing process is a whole lot easier. Gone are the days of researching, writing, and drafting. Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator makes the process painless and turns it from a months-long effort into a completed manuscript in hours.

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With Youbooks, you provide a detailed description of your book’s subject, and it gets to work. You can set the tone and style, upload your own writing samples so it can emulate your tone, and upload your own supporting documents so it can be based on your own research.

Youbooks is powered by AI models ChatGPT, Gemini, Llama, Claude, and more. This means your final product includes the most up-to-date facts, statistics, and news, as it can do real-time web searches as it writes your book.

When your manuscript is finished, you can choose between DOCX, EPUB, or Markdown and make the publishing process even easier.

Your lifetime subscription to Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator provides you with 250,000 credits each month. Each credit is equivalent to one written word or uploaded source word. You’ll also have full commercial rights, so you have no publishing restrictions, and you keep all the profits.

Lock in a lifetime subscription to Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator for only $34.97 now.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

White House purges thousands of web pages about energy saving during heatwave

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 13:31

If you want information about saving energy during a massively unpleasant heatwave, the United States Department of Energy doesn't seem willing to help.

The Verge and others reported that the Department of Energy conducted a broad, sweeping purge of roughly 6,000 pages on its website related to energy conservation this week. While no one in the federal government has provided definitive confirmation of why this happened, the deletions came shortly after New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani shared an advisory on social media urging New Yorkers to set their indoor air conditioners to 78 degrees in the middle of a heatwave.

SEE ALSO: Despite the backlash, Donald Trump is using AI again This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Conservative accounts immediately pounced on Mamdani's post, accusing the mayor of spreading the horrors of communism by asking people to keep their homes at a moderate temperature during a weekend in which New York City reached triple-digit temperatures. However, many quickly pointed out that the Department of Energy's official stance mirrored Mamdani's guidance. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, had also shared identical guidance in the past during heatwaves.

Within 24 hours or so of Mamdani's announcement, eagle-eyed internet users noticed that the Department of Energy had deleted its own web pages espousing the same advice.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Again, no one knows for certain why these web pages were deleted at the precise time they were. But the timing is suspect, and given the Trump administration's previous actions, it's not unreasonable to assume it was done out of pettiness.

Teslas Robotaxi service is now active in part of Miami

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 10:56

A new fleet of autonomous taxis has arrived in one of America's worst traffic cities.

Specifically, Tesla's Robotaxi service is now active in Miami, according to a post from the company on X. The same post included a map of a relatively small portion of West Miami, where you can currently hail a Robotaxi. Presumably, more of the city will be included in the service at some point, but for now, the robot cars are limited to those areas.

SEE ALSO: Autopiloted Tesla reportedly involved in Texas crash that killed a woman This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This follows a limited rollout in Houston and Dallas back in April. Tesla's Robotaxi service has been slowly expanding across the United States, and if precedent holds, the cabs will be available in a larger portion of Miami in the near-ish future, as Austin went from limited to full availability last month. Other cities that could get Robotaxi service this year include Orlando, Tampa, and Phoenix, though, as Electrek pointed out back in April, the company has not been especially good about meeting plans on time.

It should also be noted that these Robotaxis do not come with safety monitors. This is certainly one way to get around in Miami without worrying as much about the city's notoriously awful traffic problems, but keep in mind the risks involved.

Midjourney pushes to expose studios own AI practices in copyright fight

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 09:58

Midjourney is attempting to turn the tables on the Hollywood studios suing it for copyright infringement, asking a federal judge to compel Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery to disclose their internal use of artificial intelligence, according to a Variety report published this week.

SEE ALSO: Jury tosses Musk OpenAI lawsuit, saves Sam Altman

The discovery dispute is the latest chapter in a copyright battle that began in June 2025, when Disney and Comcast's Universal filed suit, accusing Midjourney of enabling large-scale infringement of copyrighted characters. That original complaint described Midjourney as a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" that generated unauthorized recreations of characters, including Darth Vader and Elsa, as previously reported by this outlet.

Warner Bros. Discovery joined the fight three months later, in September 2025, accusing Midjourney of "brazen theft" involving characters such as Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny, and seeking $150,000 per infringed work.

More than a year into the litigation, Midjourney has countered with a "fair use" defense, arguing the studios engage in comparable AI practices internally. Per Variety, the company's attorney, Bobby Ghajar, wrote that if the studios are "doing the very thing they seek to punish," that evidence is central to Midjourney's fair-use and "unclean hands" arguments. The company is seeking access to the studios' AI business plans, training datasets, model weights, and board presentations on AI.

A magistrate judge ruled against Midjourney's broader discovery request in mid-June 2026, limiting the studios' disclosure obligations to consumer-facing AI tools rather than internal systems. Midjourney has since asked Judge John Kronstadt to overturn that ruling.

The studios' attorney, David Singer, has dismissed the effort as a "fishing expedition" meant to deflect from Midjourney's own conduct, according to Variety's reporting.

Meet the dental robot for tooth drilling

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 08:00

A new dental robot is being developed to allow dentists to create crowns in fewer visits.

How to watch Brazil vs. Norway online for free

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 05:00

TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is really heating up. Places in the quarter-final stage are now up for grabs, and Brazil vs. Norway will do everything they can to secure a spot. This is one of the most unpredictable matchups of the round. Brazil look shaky, and Norway have a certain Haaland leading the line.

If you want to watch Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brazil vs. Norway?

Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

How to watch Brazil vs. Norway for free

Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Brazil vs. Norway for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Watch Brazil vs. Norway for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Brazil vs. Norway (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

How to watch Mexico vs. England online for free

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 05:00

TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is slowly creeping towards it's dramatic conclusion, with some huge matchups in the Last 16.

Mexico vs. England is a standout fixture. The hosts will be confident of moving into the quarter finals after dominating their group and comfortably beating Ecuador in the last round. England have stuttered, but they have a number of top stars who can win any game. They'll be relying on the likes of Harry Kane and June Bellingham to power them through.

If you want to watch Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Mexico vs. England?

Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at the Mexico City Stadium.

How to watch Mexico vs. England for free

Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Mexico vs. England for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch Mexico vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Mexico vs. England (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

This $35 AI-powered Mac app transcribes your voice three times faster than typing — last chance to save

Sun, 07/05/2026 - 05:00

TL;DR: Type faster and save valuable time with a lifetime subscription to Voibe, on sale now for just $34.99 (reg. $199) with code JULY30 through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Essence AI Voibe Lifetime Subscription $34.99
$199 Save $164.01   Get Deal

We could all use a little more time in the day. Fortunately, there’s now an app for Apple lovers that can help you turn your voice into text that’s three times faster than typing — Voibe.

If you act fast, you can save time forever with a lifetime subscription to Voibe for just $34.99 with code JULY30 if you buy it before tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Give your fingers a rest and let Voibe get to work. This AI voice dictation tool makes it easier to get things done on your Mac, turning your voice into text and transcribing three times faster than typing.

Voibe runs in the background on your Mac and works with nearly any app where you can place a cursor, so you can have AI-powered assistance anytime you need it. It uses OpenAI’s latest Whisper model, too, so you know you’re in good hands.

There’s no waiting around with Voibe; it offers zero-latency performance, so words show up in real-time. Just hold a key, talk naturally, then release, and your words will appear on your screen. It can even handle accents and technical jargon.

Traditional dictation tools need cloud processing, but Voibe doesn’t require any connection. It works directly on your Mac, and audio is never sent to the cloud, so you can work offline and enjoy better security and privacy.

This tool makes drafting emails, notes, content, and feedback a lot easier. It also streamlines your workflow, as you can capture your thoughts instantly without losing focus.

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