- Help
- Google+
From March 25 for a whole week, Amazon will be discounting a wide range of products as part of its Big Spring Sale.
Robot vacuums, drones, TVs, and a whole lot more will be discounted, so it's a great excuse to upgrade your tech for less. The same goes for mobile phones. If you're been hoping to get a great price on a phone you can buy outright, Amazon already has some great deals live on unlocked phones. From Samsung, Google, and Motorola, here are some of the best early deals we've spotted.
Best Google unlocked phone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 Pro XL $1,299 at AmazonThis is a seriously powerful phone with a 6.8-inch Super Actua display, next-gen Tensor G5 chip, and built-in Gemini AI. It has a pro camera system that gives you sharp 50MP photos and 8K video as well as a 100x zoom. And if you're a regular phone dropper, this one should withstand most bumps and drops thanks to its durable aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 build.
Best Samsung unlocked phone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE Cell Phone $666.89 at AmazonThe Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE brings back the era of flip phones in the best way. It's a compact, foldable phone with a 50MP camera and FlexMode functions that let you shoot hands-free without needing a tripod. And despite its size, it’s incredibly powerful, thanks to its strong processor and long-lasting battery.
More unlocked phone dealsMotorola Moto G Play — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40)
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G — $179.99 $199.99 (save $20)
Google Pixel 9a — $439.99 $499 (save $59.01)
Google Pixel 10 — $549 $799 (save $250)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 — $1,809.99 $1,999.99 (save $190)
TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is available to preorder at Amazon for under $60. That's close to market value ahead of the March 20 release date.
Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 $59.25 at AmazonThe challenge in the trading card game is finding new products for anything close to market value, and that goes double for Pokémon. It's tough out there, so we'll take what we can get right now.
The good news for collectors is that the Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is available to preorder at Amazon for under $60. No that's not market value, but it's close and you're getting that sweet convenience of buying from Amazon. For a lot of buyers, that makes all the difference.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!This preorder celebrates the bond between Trainer and Pokémon with a booster pack containing three of nine illustration rare-style promo cards. This consists of first partner Pokémon from the Kanto, Sinnoh, or Alola region. Buyers will also get two more Pokémon TCG booster packs and a fun sticker sheet featuring first partner Pokémon friends. You're getting a lot for around $60.
Score the best Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 preorder deal at Amazon. For more Pokémon deals ahead of Amazon's Spring Sale, we've lined up everything on offer in a helpful hub page.
Stephen Colbert may spend the majority of his time unpacking serious stories about politicians' deleted tweets and gratuitous defense department spending, but that doesn't mean he has no time for some occasional monkey news too.
The Late Show host has already embraced Punch, the viral monkey from Japan's Ichikawa City Zoo, purchasing the same IKEA orangutan Punch famously uses for emotional support — and in the clip above, he discusses an intriguing new simian development.
"Rumors are swirling that Punch the monkey has a girlfriend," says Colbert. "Which means this update isn't merely ooh-ooh ahh-ahh, it's ooh-ooh la-la."
"News of the monkey romance started spreading when folks caught Punch and Momo-chan sharing a smooch," continues Colbert. "Boy, I hope somebody taught him how to put a condom on a banana."
Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.
Tommy Shelby's legacy will never die, and neither will fans' love for Peaky Blinders.
Steven Knight's beloved series about the 20th-century Birmingham gangster (played by Cillian Murphy) came to an end in 2022 after six seasons of intricate schemes, cold-blooded murder, and outsmarting enemies. However, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man brings the series to an even more satisfying end, honouring its iconic characters with one last round bathed in the sounds of Fontaines D.C., mclusky, and of course, Nick Cave.
Watching Murphy ride through town on a black horse one last time, just as he did in the first ever episode of Peaky Blinders, the film draws the series to a close in an explosive, moving, and reverent manner befitting one of the most dastardly criminal minds on television.
Featured Video For You 'Peaky Blinders: An Immortal Man' is the ending Cillian Murphy and Steven Knight always wanted What is Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man about? Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, one last time. Credit: Robert Viglasky / NetflixThe final episode of Peaky Blinders takes place in 1934, and The Immortal Man jumps forward a few years into World War II, drawing us in with the Luftwaffe's shocking real-life bombing of the Birmingham Small Arms factory in 1940. (Knight told Mashable's Mark Stetson he "always wanted to finish this part of the Peaky story with a film in the Second World War.") Knight and director Tom Harper pour every last element of their production team's skills into this explosive opening sequence, with stunning tracking shots, blaring rock music, and touching moments of human connection before everything's reduced to rubble — and it really sets the high-stakes tone for this finale.
The Nazis, assisted by British ally John Beckett (a chillingly gallant Tim Roth), have plans to win the war by flooding the British economy with counterfeit currency, with the offer of war profiteering on the table for, say, local Birmingham gang leaders. Who would take up such a poisoned chalice? Only the son of the legendary Tommy Shelby, Erasmus "Duke" Shelby (a perfectly cast Barry Keoghan), whose chip on his shoulder runs deep.
Far from the front lines, Tommy now lives in solitude, haunted by grief, shame, and the memory of his lost loved ones. His quiet, domestic life runs in contrast to the underworld shenanigans he once ran, though Harper makes sure to include shots of dead birds and bloody dripping to keep Tommy's violent past close at hand. "Some king I was," he laments in self-exile. Withdrawn from society, Tommy wanders his land and visits overgrown graves, speaking of cowardice and regret. How long can he remain a recluse, especially as his son's actions move toward a darker place than he ever ventured?
Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan make for a perfectly tense father/son duo *extreme Vin Diesel voice* family Credit: Robert Viglasky / NetflixWatching Murphy revisit his iconic role is an absolute treat, as Tommy wrestles with taking up his legendary mantle once more. While Tommy's moments of classic Peaky Blinders jaw-dropping diabolical chaos are limited in the film, the scenes we do get are momentous — watching a young idiot disrespect Tommy in his own Garrison pub without knowing who the hell he's talking to does not go well. The Immortal Man really gives Murphy his "cool guys don't look at explosions" last hurrah as Tommy, with an hour and a half of the actor looking extremely impressive walking through Birmingham and the Midlands to various needle drops.
Of course, Tommy is writing his memoirs — and notably at every possible moment, including on a boat en route to a mission, which cracked me up — and Murphy seems to farewell his own character with his performance, one of mourning, reflection, and reluctant pride. Cinematographers George Steel and Ben Wilson frame the series' hero in all his chiaroscuro glory, with Murphy evoking pure torment through his stoic protagonist.
SEE ALSO: '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple': How does Cillian Murphy return as Jim?Props to the casting team for Keoghan's run as Duke, with the Saltburn actor mirroring Murphy's cold unpredictability (and flat cap) as his son. Attempting to surpass his father's legacy, Duke turns to extreme measures, evil plans, and brutality, despite the disappointment of his aunt, Ada Thorne (an excellent return from Sophie Rundle). Watching Murphy and Keoghan as father and son at loggerheads with each other, even brawling in mud surrounded by pigs, feels as raw, brutal, and steeped in family as Peaky Blinders has ever been.
Can I watch The Immortal Son if I don't watch Peaky Blinders? It's Stagg (Stephen Graham)! Credit: Robert Viglasky / NetflixIf you don't watch Peaky Blinders, I must warn you that the film comes with some major spoilers as to what happens to several main characters, so if you're planning to start the series, don't start here.
However, if you're not intending to watch Peaky Blinders in its entirety, there's enough context provided in the film's dialogue to avoid any necessary quickfire recaps. The film also makes several reveals of beloved characters like Hayden Stagg (Stephen Graham) extremely obvious in their importance, so you'll keep up on old friends, lovers, and the like — even if one of them (Rebecca Ferguson) plays the surprise twin sister card to bring back a character.
Whether you're a longtime fan or not, the legacy of Tommy Shelby and Peaky Blinders seems to transcend the episodes themselves, with The Immortal Man a worthy ending. As Shelby himself said, "I will remember everything and forget nothing."
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is streaming on Netflix March 20.
Have you ever heard that ol’ country song “Who gets the family bible when two grownups lose heart?”
Well, we may need a new version for the Gen Z era, because according to a litigation strategist I met at SXSW 2026, it’s actually the family TikTok account creators should be worried about.
That's right, TIL that creators should consider adding TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram accounts to their prenups.
Attorney Michelle May O’Neil said exactly that during a SXSW panel she hosted, “Who Owns Me? Legal War Over Identity in the Creator Economy.” O’Neil is a nationally recognized lawyer and expert on NIL (name, image, likeness) topics, and she warned creators to take proactive steps to protect their identities, including prenuptial agreements.
SEE ALSO: How creators can protect their identity in an age of AI clonesThis isn’t a hypothetical situation, either.
O’Neil highlighted the case of Kat and Mike Stickler, married influencers who ended up in a bitter custody feud, not over their children, but over their followers — all 4 million of them. In covering the case, the Wall Street Journal asked, “Who Gets the TikTok in the Divorce?” (FWIW, Kat ultimately retained ownership of the original TikTok account and has gone on to amass an even larger following as @katstickler.)
And if your TikTok or Instagram accounts do become the subjects of a contentious divorce like the Sticklers, don’t expect family court to provide a solution, O’Neil said during her SXSW panel.
“We don't have case law authority. There's no legal doctrine for this. So their individual identity became joint property, and nobody thought about what it looked like to divide it.”
Here’s another worrying scenario: What if you’re romantically involved with a creator and appear occasionally in their content? Eventually, you break up or get divorced. Does your ex then retain the right to keep using your likeness however they see fit?
“I think it's a really good idea to have a clause in prenups that says that each spouse maintains the exclusive right to their name, image, likeness, and does not, by virtue of marriage, transfer their rights over to the other spouse because of marriage. And the reason for that is my experience representing high-profile people."
So, what else can creators and public figures do to protect their digital likeness?
In addition to creating a prenup, O’Neil advised creators to create an LLC or other legal entity to protect their core asset — their identity.
“This is another reason to have an entity structure before marriage, but if you're making money on your image, name, likeness, voice, whatever, before you get into a marriage, it's a pretty good idea to put that in the prenup…And I don't really know of a lot of lawyers that actually do this in prenups,” O’Neil said at SXSW.
Prenups are the kind of safeguard you hope you never have to use. But if you and an ex ever get into a legal battle over social media assets or NIL issues, you might be glad you have it, O'Neil said.
"That one clause in a prenup that says I have license, I have the rights, I own my name, image, likeness, my voice, my writings, everything that comes from me. I still own it, it's my property, and just because I marry you, I'm not giving you license to use it."
This article and the quotes in it are not legal advice. Talk to your own legal representative before making any decisions.
Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2026 kicks off next week (March 25). This shopping event will see hundreds (if not thousands) of products drop in price, with everything from robot vacuums to Apple products getting heavy discounts.
Drones will also get the same treatment, so if you've been eyeing up a particular model for some time, keep a close eye on this sale. And some standout models have already dropped in price, so if you're eager to buy before the sale gets underway, we've lined up our favorite live deals.
Best overall drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Fly More Combo $309 at AmazonDespite the recent ban on DJI imports, there's still a chance to buy existing stock in the U.S. And this DJI bundle is a great option for everyone. It's a lightweight drone that shoots sharp 4K video with a 3-axis gimbal. It’s beginner friendly and can cope with strong wind resistance. This bundle includes the drone, three batteries (up to 93 minutes total flight time), a two-way charging hub, a shoulder bag.
Best budget drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Holy Stone Holy Stone HS110D FPV RC Drone $39.99 at AmazonThis is a great, beginner friendly option that won't break the bank. It has a 1080p HD camera with a 120° wide-angle lens and is designed for easy flying. It has altitude hold and headless mode to help it remain stable, and app controls add extra features like gesture shooting, voice control, and trajectory flight. And on top of the $50 discount, there's also an extra 10% off coupon that can be applied at the basket.
More drone dealsDJI Mini 4K — $209 $299 (save $90)
DJI Mini 4K Camera Drone Combo — $269 $389 (save $120)
DJI Mini 3 — $379 $549 (save $170)
Skyrover S1 Mini Drone Combo — $399 $499 (save $100)
DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo — $499 $719 (save $120)
DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo — $1,099 $1,599 (save $500)
SAVE $200: As of March 19, the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air M4 is on sale for $999 at Amazon. That's a 17% discount off the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 15-inch MacBook Air M4 $999 at AmazonAmazon's Big Spring Sale officially gets underway next week (March 25-31), but if you're already in the market for a bargain, early discounts have started to drop. From big ticket items like portable power stations, to everyday essentials that can save you a few dollars, there's something for everyone. And Apple products are very much in the mix, like this latest deal on the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air M4.
As of March 19, this MacBook (voted our best MacBook for most people in 2026) is down to just $999 from $1,199. That's a 17% discount and $200 off the list price. This price is for all colorways, so you can choose from midnight, sky blue, silver, and starlight.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!This laptop is seriously fast and capable of slick multitasking thanks to the powerful M4 chip. It also gives you up to 18 hours of battery life, so even if you have a heavy workload, this MacBook will cope all day long.
The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display is incredibly sharp and supports up to one billion colors. You'll also get a 12MP Center Stage camera, three microphones, and a six-speaker system so all your video calls are high quality. Connection-wise you'll get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe charging, a headphone jack, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and support for up to two external displays, ideal if you prefer an extended work setup.
Get this great MacBook Air deal at Amazon now.
If you're single in your 40s, you're probably aware that dating isn't what it used to be. On one hand, there's a lot of beauty to dating at this age: You have wisdom, you generally know who you are, and you don't sweat the small stuff as much. You know what your dealbreakers are — whether you're looking for someone who matches your active lifestyle, respects your career, or understands the beautiful chaos of co-parenting.
Even so, dating at this age can be exhausting. A quick scroll through the r/datingoverforty subreddit is enough to scare anyone off the apps for good. Plus, by the time we reach our 40s, everyone comes with a little baggage, from past marriages to kids, and managing those dynamics requires real emotional maturity. (Remember that show where people aired their literal Baggage on television? And, of course, Jerry Springer was the host.)
It makes perfect sense if you find yourself deleting and redownloading your profiles. According to a 2026 report by SSRS, while 53 percent of adults ages 30 to 49 have used a dating app at some point, only 8 percent are currently active on them. Taking a break is standard practice. However, when you're ready to jump back in, the data offers a major silver lining: The vast majority of people using these platforms (58 percent) say their main goal is to find an exclusive romantic partner.
SEE ALSO: A controversial dating app uses credit scores to create matchesBut meeting those people means picking the right platform. That's where my expertise comes in. As a dating and relationships writer who's spent the last several years extensively testing dating apps for Mashable, I know exactly which apps are actually built for mature connections. I've personally evaluated the current market to find the platforms that offer smart filters and prioritize safety. Whether you're looking for a serious second act or a fun weekend date, here are the best apps for dating in your 40s.
TL;DR: Explore educational games that keep kids curious and calm with a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for just $44.97 with coupon code PLAY until March 22 (reg. $250).
Opens in a new window Credit: Pok Pok Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription $44.97Screen time doesn’t have to come with guilt or frustration. Pok Pok is a Montessori-inspired app that turns your child’s device into a safe, engaging, and stress-free playground for ages 2 to 8. Designed with low-stimulation, ad-free experiences, Pok Pok helps kids explore, learn, and develop foundational skills in STEM, language, problem-solving, and numbers — all while having fun.
With this lifetime subscription available for $44.97 using promo code PLAY until March 22 (reg. $250), you can give your child an educational playtime upgrade that keeps them entertained on the go.
Pok Pok offers a diverse range of activities for every curiosity:
Space adventures and interactive exploration
Counting games and Number Journey challenges
Shapes and tinker-friendly abstract worlds
Dress-up fun with endless outfit possibilities
Dinosaur explorations in the Late Cretaceous Era
World Puzzle games that create new landscapes
Interactive Radio for music and rhythm play
Island adventures and much more
Every experience is open-ended with no rules or levels, encouraging children to experiment, problem-solve, and discover at their own pace. Crafted in collaboration with early childhood experts, Pok Pok supports social, emotional, and cognitive development while fostering creativity and independence. The app is designed to be simple enough for kids to navigate on their own, yet offers optional caregiver participation for shared learning moments.
Don’t miss this chance to invest in guilt-free screen time. A lifetime subscription to Pok Pok can provide your child with opportunities to learn, explore, and grow — all for $44.97 with code PLAY through March 22.
Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT gameHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, March 19, 2026:
AcrossGhost's wordThe answer is Boo.
The answer is Poof.
The answer is Night.
The answer is Ones.
The answer is Sky.
The answer is Bogey.
The answer is Oohs.
The answer is Oft.
The answer is Pink.
The answer is Nos.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
iPads are not the end-all be-all of tablets. There's a wide world beyond iOS, and Android tablets are just as suitable for all your streaming and work needs. OnePlus, purveyor of Android smartphones and smartwatches, also makes tablets.
The brand's latest, the OnePlus Pad Go 2, is a tablet under $500. On the surface, it looks a lot like Apple's iPads, but how do they compare under the hood? Well, that's where the differences come to light.
I tested the OnePlus Pad Go 2, a tablet for students and creatives alike, to see how it stacks up.
OnePlus Pad Go 2 specs and price While it doesn't have the best computing power for creatives, you can still draw and doodle away on the OnePlus Pad Go 2. Credit: Samantha Mangino / MashableThe OnePlus Pad Go 2 is the brand's approachable tablet. It doesn't quite have the computing power and memory we'd expect in a laptop, but it still has more than you'll get in a phone.
Price: $399.99
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra
Memory: 8GB RAM
Storage: 128GB ROM
Display: 2.8k resolution, 900 nits brightness, and 120Hz refresh rate
Ports: 1 USB-C port
Camera: 8MP front and rear camera
Audio: 4 speakers
After testing a variety of Android tablets, I declare the OnePlus Pad Go 2 the most iPhone-user-friendly. Upon turning on the OnePlus Pad Go 2, I was pleased to see how familiar the home screen looked, with its widgets and sleek display. The biggest difference is that Apple uses square app icons, while OnePlus tablets use round ones. The gestures are essentially the same, too, pulling down to access menus or swiping up to close apps.
Compared to other Android tablets I tested, it felt far more intuitive. It's not quite fair to credit it only for being similar to iOS, since the OnePlus Pad Go 2 has plenty of features that iPads don't. On the bottom app bar on the Pad Go 2, there's a directory so you can quickly browse your apps alphabetically rather than swipe through all your display pages.
Split screen feature is lacking The Pad Go 2's split screen feature isn't nearly as functional as other tablet's multi-window functions. Credit: Samantha Mangino / MashableThe hot feature on tablets is multi-window displays — now available on iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tabs. Rather than true adjustable windows, on the OnePlus, you can use split-screen displays that split the screen in half, though you can slide the divider to adjust the split. What you can't do is move organic windows around to create a fully customizable workspace.
You can also use OnePlus's floating window feature; however, the windows still lock to one side of the screen, so you don't have total freedom to move them around. The OnePlus Pad Go 2's split-screen function is good in a pinch, but not quite as usable as other tablets' multi-window functions.
High-quality streaming with just OK speakers The tiny speakers on the OnePlus Pad Go 2 deliver disappointing audio. Credit: Samantha Mangino / MashableI spent a lot of time streaming on the OnePlus Pad Go 2; it became my companion while I was working or cooking in the kitchen. I was never once disappointed by the streaming quality. It's a quick processor that never buffers, leaving me on an unintended cliffhanger. Its 2.8k resolution and 900 nits of brightness result in clear, bright picture quality.
What I was less impressed with on the OnePlus Pad Go 2 was its speakers. The tablet has four speakers, but I found the audio wasn't very flattering. It sounded similar to a smartphone speaker, mostly clear but a little fuzzy and tinny.
Disappointing computing powerFor daily use, I found the OnePlus Pad Go 2 to be a speedy, well-equipped device. It loads pages easily and requires very little buffering. I expected it to be on par with the Apple iPad with the A16 chip, but I was surprisingly disappointed.
On the Geekbench 6 test, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 scored 3,030 in the multi-core test. That's less than half of the iPad's score of 6,233. That score isn't weighing the Pad Go 2 down; for light activities like streaming, reading, mobile games, and internet browsing, it has plenty of power. But I wouldn't use this tablet for photo or video editing or any other high-demand tasks.
Extensive battery lifeOne of the most impressive features of the Pad Go 2 is its battery life. Performing a battery rundown test, it lasted 13 hours and 57 minutes. That's an impressive amount of time, meaning you won't have to charge it every day, and it can keep you company on long-haul flights.
The cameras aren't flattering anyone — human or animal Front-facing camera Feeling a little washed out with the front-facing camera. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable Rear camera The OnePlus Pad Go 2 Camera made my dog Milly look a little oversaturated. Credit: Samantha Mangino / MashableI'm only side-eyeing you a little if you're taking photos with your tablet. But hey, there's a time in the place. The front and rear cameras on the OnePlus Pad Go 2 leave a lot to be desired. I know it's winter, but when I took a selfie, I felt pale and washed out. The rear camera isn't any better. I went to take a picture of my pup, Milly, and I found it didn't do her much justice — the photo still came out washed out and grainy.
Should you buy the OnePlus Pad Go 2? The OnePlus Pad Go 2 is good enough Credit: Samantha Mangino / MashableThe OnePlus Pad Go 2 is a pretty good tablet. For basic tasks, it performs well. I had no trouble while using it for streaming and browsing. For a budget Android tablet, it definitely gets the job done. That said, there's still room for improvement with its camera, computing power, and speaker.
I do recommend the basic iPad over the Pad Go 2. It's nearly identical in shape and interface; however, it has a higher Geekbench 6 score and is $50 cheaper (and often on sale for even less).
But if you're not down with iOS, the Pad Go 2 is a comparable, although less powerful, Android option.
OnePlus Pad Go 2 $399.99 at AmazonFor practically as long as NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has circled Earth, astronomers have wanted to use it to see a comet as it's breaking apart.
Many researchers have proposed such observations in the past, but because comet breakups are hard to anticipate, no one had achieved it — until now. By a stroke of luck, a team of scientists has, at long last, caught one in the act.
The researchers looked at the comet, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), only because there were some technical issues preventing them from observing their first choice. When John Noonan, the co-investigator on the study, saw the images Hubble had taken, he was in for the ultimate surprise. Instead of one space snowball, he saw four.
"We knew this was something really, really special," said Noonan, a research professor at Auburn University, in a statement.
Astronomers have sought a fragmenting comet for years because it's one of the few opportunities they have to see what's hidden inside these ancient icy objects. Such observations could be compared to a geologist taking a core sample of the early solar system.
SEE ALSO: Space-traveling microbes? An unusual experiment shocked skeptics.Comets formed about 4.6 billion years ago, when planets were still developing around the sun. Scientists think of these relics as time capsules because their interiors can still hold relatively unchanged ice, dust, and chemicals from that era.
Scientists are tracking over 4,000 known comets, but countless others are likely flying in orbits beyond Neptune in a disk known as the Kuiper Belt or from an even more distant realm about 50 times farther, referred to as the Oort Cloud. The region remains a theory because the comets there have been too faint to be directly observed.
Astronomers normally only observe the outside of a comet, which has seen the abuse of heat and radiation. That makes it difficult for them to know whether they're looking at primitive properties from the solar system's birth or properties changed by time and environment.
"By cracking open a comet, you can see the ancient material that has not been processed," said Dennis Bodewits, also a professor at Auburn and the lead investigator.
In the new Hubble images, each of the fragments of the comet, called K1 for short, had its own glowing halo of gas and dust — a coma — that forms when sunlight heats the icy surface and instantly turns the material into gas.
The telescope observed K1 over the course of three consecutive days in November. That was about one month after the comet swung closest to the sun — even closer than Mercury. The team's findings were published in the journal Icarus.
Before K1 shattered, it was probably a bit larger than an average comet, perhaps the size of Key West, Florida, or the Los Angeles International Airport.
The inner edge of the main part of the Oort Cloud, a theorized region surrounding the solar system, could be as close as 1,000 astronomical units from the sun, with one astronomical unit equal to the distance between Earth and the sun. The outer edge is estimated to end about 100,000 AU away from the sun. Credit: NASA Goddard infographicThe team believes the breakup began roughly eight days before Hubble's first image, then caught another chunk splitting as it happened.
Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.
The timing revealed a new mystery. Telescopes on Earth saw the comet brighten later than predicted. The delay may happen because a comet's brightness is more closely linked to sunlight reflecting off dust rather than on newly revealed ice. Scientists think fresh ice may need time to warm up, build pressure below the surface, or accumulate a dusty cover that eventually blows away in space.
Early measurements also suggest K1 contains unusually low amounts of carbon compared with other comets. Further studies of its gases could help explain why.
"Sometimes the best science happens by accident," Noonan said.
Now reduced to scattered bits about 250 million miles from Earth, K1 is heading out of the solar system and will probably never return.
TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships for free on SBS On Demand, CBC Gem, or BBC iPlayer. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The best athletes from around the world are heading to Poland to compete in the World Athletics Indoor Championships. Some of the biggest names in track and field will compete, including Mondo Duplantis, Keely Hodgkinson, Cole Hocker, and Julien Alfred. It's going to be a special display of athletic prowess, and you can follow all the action without spending anything.
If you want to watch the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What are the World Athletics Indoor Championships?The World Athletics Indoor Championships are a biennial indoor track and field competition that serves as the global championship for this version of the sport.
When are the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships?The 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships will take place from March 20-22. This event will take place at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń in Poland.
How to watch the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships for freeThe 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:
Australia — SBS On Demand
Canada — CBC Gem
UK — BBC iPlayer
These streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites from anywhere in the world.
Access free World Athletics Indoor Championships live streams by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
Visit SBS On Demand, CBC Gem, or BBC iPlayer
Live stream the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for live sport?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
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. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: There’s no need to buy a new computer — just refresh an old PC with this Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license and Windows 11 Pro Bundle, now only $42.47 with code MARCH15 through March 29.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $42.48If you’re in the market for a new PC, there may be a much more affordable option. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license and the Windows 11 Pro Bundle give your computer a fresh operating system and new tools, offering a complete upgrade without replacing it.
Right now, you can secure all of this newness for just $42.47 with code MARCH15 through March 29.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!A totally refreshed computer for under $50? It’s possible with the Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license and Windows 11 Pro Bundle. This Microsoft combo can make an old PC feel like new, with eight apps and a new operating system to boot.
First up? This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 lifetime license, which equips your PC with eight powerful apps. This suite includes classics like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, while also featuring newer favorites like OneNote, Publisher, Access, and Teams. Instead of paying monthly subscription costs, this Microsoft Office license gives you permanent access to these tools for a low one-time price.
Once you download the apps you can upgrade your OS, too. The Windows 11 Pro license gives your computer a fresh operating system that was built with the modern professional in mind. You’ll enjoy a seamless interface, snap layouts, improved voice typing, a more powerful search experience, and more. There’s also an emphasis on cybersecurity, so you can rest easy knowing your data is safe.
Get this Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license and Windows 11 Pro Bundle for $42.47 with code MARCH15 now through March 29.
Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get websites up and running with this three-year subscription to the IONOS Web Hosting Plus Plan, now for only $49.97 (reg. $288).
Opens in a new window Credit: IONOS IONOS Web Hosting Plus Plan: 3-Year Subscription $49.97If you’ve got a website you need to get off the ground, you know all too well how much work is required to get it up and running. Luckily, IONOS Web Hosting is in the business of making it a whole lot easier. This service makes building and running your website simple and cost-effective, and right now you can secure a three-year subscription for $49.97 (reg. $288).
Whether you’re getting your side hustle up and running or trying to take a well-established business online, IONOS Web Hosting is here to help. They’re currently Europe’s hosting leader, and now they’re available stateside to help US businesses get online as well.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!With a 99.9% uptime guarantee, your site will stay online around the clock thanks to geo-redundant infrastructure. You’ll also enjoy lightning-fast load times thanks to IONOS Web Hosting’s hybrid technology and HTTP/2, ensuring a smooth experience for your users.
IONOS Web Hosting offers ultra-secure hosting, daily backups, and continuous malware scanning to keep you safe. A free Wildcard SSL certificate is included with this three-year subscription, so your site will be protected, and you’ll improve visitor trust. Worried about customers and data? DDoS protection also helps secure your site from attacks.
Your subscription to the Plus Plan includes unlimited websites, unlimited redundant storage, unlimited databases, professional email, and unmetered bandwidth — all for less than $17 a year. And if you run into any issues, there’s 24/7 support available.
Get this three-year subscription to the IONOS Web Hosting Plus Plan for just $49.97 (reg. $288).
Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!
Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.
12. 1000 Women in Horror"There's this crazy idea that horror is not for women, or that women are not fans of horror." So says actor Kate Siegel (Hush, The Haunting of Hill House) in the trailer for Shudder's 1000 Women of Horror, a documentary exploring the role women have had in shaping the horror genre. Taking Alexandra Heller-Nicholas' book 1000 Women in Horror 1895 – 2018 as a starting point, the film sees director Donna Davies speaking to a variety of women working in front of and behind the camera who have helped shape the horror genre into what it is today. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
Starring: Roxanne Benjamin, Akela Cooper, Mattie Do, Brea Grant, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Mary Harron, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Cerise Howard, Kier-La Janisse, Natasha Kermani, Roseanne Liang, Annalise Lockhart, Toby Poser, Sara Risher, Lin Shaye, Kate Siegel, Chelsea Stardust, and April Wolfe
How to watch: 1000 Women in Horror debuts March 20 on Shudder.
11. The LadyMia McKenna-Bruce (How to Have Sex) leads this true crime miniseries as Jane Andrews, who spent the late '80s/early '90s as the royal dresser for Sarah Ferguson (Game of Thrones' Natalie Dormer), the former Duchess of York and then-wife of former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
In 2001, Andrews was convicted of the murder of her boyfriend Tommy Cressman (Outlander's Ed Speleers), a case that has seen more than a few documentaries made about it. Written by Debbie O’Malley (Harlots), The Lady is a four-part dramatisation of Andrews' life before and during her relationship with Cressman and through to her murder conviction, though as the Centre for Women’s Justice notes, Andrews was not involved in the series at all. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
Starring: Mia McKenna-Bruce, Natalie Dormer, and Ed Speleers
How to watch: The Lady is now streaming on BritBox.
10. STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre AdventureJoJo's Bizarre Adventure continues with STEEL BALL RUN, the anime adaptation of the seventh arc of Hirohiko Araki's manga series. The year? 1890. The place? The United States. The member of the Joestar family we'll be following? Johnny Joestar, a former jockey who's been paralyzed from the waist down. When he allies himself with outlaw Gyro Zeppeli, the pair will set off on the titular horse race across the U.S., all in the hopes of winning $50 million. Nail-biting races and unforgettable Stands are sure to follow. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Starring: Daman Mills, Kaiji Tang, Damien Haas, Frankie Kevich, Jamieson Price, Alejandro Antonio Ruiz, and Cedric L. Williams
How to watch: STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is now streaming on Netflix.
9. The Nanny, Seasons 1-6The flashy girl from Flushing, a queen in Moschino minis, the lady in red while everybody else is wearing tan, Fran Drescher's Fran Fine is a '90s icon like no other. And this week on Hulu, you can start or revisit all six sublime seasons of The Nanny.
You know the story: Fran was working in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens, 'til her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes. Over the bridge from Flushing to Broadway producer and widower Maxwell Sheffield's (Charles Shaughnessy) door, Fran was there to sell make-up but he saw more: a carer for his three kids Maggie (Nicholle Tom), Brighton (Benjamin Salisbury), and Gracie (Madeline Zima). She had style, she had flair, she was there, that's how she became The Nanny. If you haven't lived through the fashion and comedic excellence of Fran Fine — and her exquisite mother, Sylvia (Renée Taylor) — you'd better cancel those plans. — S.C.
Starring: Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy, Daniel Davis, Lauren Lane, Nicholle Tom, Benjamin Salisbury, and Madeline Zima
How to watch: All six seasons of The Nanny are now streaming on Hulu.
8. Imperfect WomenElisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, and Kate Mara star in Imperfect Women, based on the novel by Araminta Hall. The three play decades-long friends Mary, Eleanor, and Nancy, whose lives are shattered when Nancy is murdered. As the investigation into her death plays out, dark secrets and betrayals come to life, testing the bonds of Mary and Eleanor's friendship and other relationships. If you love Big Little Lies, this should be up your alley.* — B.E.
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, Kate Mara, Joel Kinnaman, Corey Stoll, Leslie Odom Jr., Audrey Zahn, Jill Wagner, Rome Flynn, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Violette Linnz, Indiana Elle, Jackson Kelly, Keith Carradine, Ana Ortiz, and Wilson Bethel
How to watch: The first two episodes of Imperfect Women are now streaming on Apple TV, with new episodes every Wednesday.
7. Wicked: For GoodWicked fans, rejoicify! Wicked: For Good hits Peacock this week, along with a sing-along version and director Jon M. Chu's commentary version. The second half of this musical adaptation sees Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) on separate sides of the fight for Oz. While Elphaba rebels against the tyrannical Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), Glinda stands firm by his side. Get ready for a witchy showdown between these two best friends, complete with forever bangers like "No Good Deed" and "For Good." (Let's be honest, we've already forgotten those two new originals, right?)
While Wicked: For Good didn't match the box office success or Oscars acclaim of the first film, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko still found a lot to love in the movie. As she wrote in her review, "Wicked: For Good is sure to enthrall fans of the Broadway show, the first movie, and just about anyone who loves a splashy movie musical. Despite its faults, it's still good." — B.E.
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Marissa Bode, and Ethan Slater
How to watch: Wicked: For Good launches March 20 on Peacock.
6. Last One Laughing UK, Season 2There are many good comedies out there, but shows that actually make you laugh out loud are difficult to find. Last One Laughing UK is one of the rare few that manages this, a feat made all the more impressive because it's actually a show about not laughing. Season 1 saw Jimmy Carr assemble a team of UK comedians and place them all in a room together for six hours. The rules? While they could try as hard as possible to make each other laugh, they weren't allowed to laugh themselves. Anyone who laughed twice was eliminated until there was only one person left. Season 2 promises more of the same, with Philomena Cunk/Diane Morgan, Peep Show co-creator David Mitchell, and Celebrity Traitors UK winner Alan Carr all joining the cast. — S.H.
Starring: Jimmy Carr, David Mitchell, Mel Giedroyc, Alan Carr, Romesh Ranganathan, Amy Gledhill, Maisie Adam, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Sam Campbell, Diane Morgan, and Bob Mortimer
How to watch: Last One Laughing UK Season 2 begins streaming on Prime Video March 18.
5. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal ManGrab your flat caps and throw on your best attempt at a Brummie accent, because Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is back.
He returns in new film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, written by series creator Steven Knight and directed by Tom Harper. The Immortal Man picks up years after Peaky Blinders' series finale, in which Tommy faked his own death and exiled himself. However, when his estranged son Duke (Barry Keoghan) gets involved in a Nazi plot, he'll return to Birmingham for more destruction, more contemplation of his legacy, and yes, more fookin' fighting. Critical buzz around the film is solid, and Knight and Murphy say it's the ending they've always wanted for the story, so it's sure to be a treat for Peaky Blinders fans. — B.E.
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Barry Keoghan, Stephen Graham, Sophie Rundle, Packy Lee, Jay Lycurgo, Ned Dennehy, and Ian Peck
How to watch: Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man hits Netflix March 20.
4. Deadloch, Season 2Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan's outstanding crime-comedy Deadloch earned every last skerrick of high praise for its debut season. Described by Caitlin Welsh for Mashable as "the feminist Australian buddy-comedy-murder-noir you didn't know you needed" and "Broadchurch crossed with Letterkenny, but with way more lesbians," Deadloch carved out its own glorious TV niche in 2023.
In Season 2, directed by Beck Cole and Gracie Otto, polar opposite detective duo Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami), trade in Lutruwita (Tasmania) for the crocodile-populated waters of Australia's Top End, with a second season that’s just as consistently hilarious, sharply constructed, and deeply Australian as its first. With more twists and turns than a Viennetta, McCartney and McLennan's series spins overused murder-mystery tropes into something new: a breath of fresh, hot, thick, mid-summer air, if you will.
Deadloch once again proves it's one of the best crime-comedies on TV, with new overlapping cases, suspicious locals, and impeccable insults you’ll scramble to write down. Ultimately, thank fuck for this show.* — S.C.
Starring: Kate Box, Madeleine Sami, Nina Oyama, and Alicia Gardiner
How to watch: The first two episodes of Deadloch Season 2 premiere March 19 on Prime Video, with new episodes every Friday.
3. Jury Duty Presents: Company RetreatHow can you recapture the lightning in a bottle that was Season 1 of Jury Duty? By going even bigger.
Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat follows a hot sauce company about to go on their annual retreat. They've hired temp worker Anthony Norman to help them out, but there's one big catch: Neither the company nor the retreat are real. Everyone but Anthony is an actor. So begins a warm-hearted prank show that feels like what would happen if you threw a random bystander into an episode of The Office. The actors are pitch-perfect as Company Retreat's new cast of heightened characters, and Anthony is charismatic as can be as the show's unwitting hero. Props to Jury Duty's team for proving you can pull off the same magic trick twice. — B.E.
Starring: Anthony Norman, Alex Bonifer, Blair Beeken, Emily Pendergast, Erica Hernandez, Jerry Hauck, Jim A. Woods, LaNisa Renee Frederick, Marc-Sully Saint-Fleur, Rachel Kaly, Rob Lathan, Ryan Perez, Stephanie Hodge, Warren Burke, and Wendy Braun
2. Invincible, Season 4Prime Video's critically acclaimed superhero show Invincible returns for its fourth season this week, which promises to get even darker than its predecessors. This time around, the fight comes to Viltrum, introducing the show's terrifying new antagonist Thragg (voiced by Lee Pace). Brace yourself for killer action with a side of emotional devastation. — B.E.
Starring: Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons, Gillian Jacobs, Seth Rogen, Walton Goggins, Lee Pace, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, Grey DeLisle, Zachary Quinto, Chris Diamantopoulos, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Andrew Rannells, Kevin Michael Richardson, Ben Schwartz, Clancy Brown, Jay Pharoah, Mark Hamill, Matthew Rhys, Danai Gurira, and Melise
How to watch: The first three episodes of Invincible are now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes every Wednesday.
Best of Streaming this week: The Comeback, Season 3Well, she's still got it! Lisa Kudrow returns as sitcom star Valerie Cherish in the third and final season of The Comeback, which remains as sharp and prescient as ever about the state of Hollywood. (Seasons 1 and 2 aired in 2005 and 2014, respectively.) This time around, The Comeback is confronting one of the hottest topics in the entertainment industry: AI.
In Season 3, Valerie lands the lead role in a promising new sitcom, only to learn that it's being written entirely with generative AI. What follows is a biting examination of how AI would be an "extinction event" for human artists all over Hollywood. As I wrote in my review, "That AI focus lends The Comeback Season 3 an urgency that sets it apart from its prior two outings. Yes, it's still hilarious, cynical, and a remarkable showcase for Kudrow in her best role. But on top of all that, it's also something else: a warning." — B.E.
Starring: Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, Damian Young, Tim Bagley, Matt Cook, Jack O’Brien, Ella Stiller, John Early, Barry Shabaka Henley, Abbi Jacobson, Tony Macht, Brittany O’Grady, Zane Phillips, Julian Stern, and Andrew Scott
How to watch: The Comeback Season 3 premieres March 22 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.
No question: Ready or Not was a sensational movie. Full of outrageous action sequences and a twisted sense of humor, the 2019 horror comedy from filmmaking collective Radio Silence hit audiences like the gloppy, full-bodied explosions in its climax.
Now, directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are reteaming with screenwriters Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy and leading lady Samara Weaving for Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, a sequel that's bigger, bloodier, and even more star-stuffed. This time around, Weaving's playing opposite Kathryn Newton, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood, Kevin Durand, Shawn Hatosy, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. And the result is a gnarly winner-takes-all battle that will have audiences howling with shock and laughter.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a direct sequel to Ready or Not. Nestor Carbonell, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, and Nadeem Umar-Khitab in "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come." Credit: Searchlight Pictures / Pief WeymanAs in, this movie begins exactly where the last one ended, on the steps of the burning Le Domas mansion. Grace Le Domas (née MacCaullay) has survived a deadly game of hide-and-seek against her in-laws, a Satan-worshipping empire of board game scions. She's won her life, while they all got exploded to gruesome bits by a demon known as Mr. Le Bail. However, game time isn't over.
Barely stitched up in a hospital bed, Grace must not only face her estranged younger sister Faith (Newton) and a smirking detective who is investigating the Le Domas deaths, but also a new batch of affluent cultists, ready to play for power.
An unnamed lawyer (Wood in a bemused Dungeon Master role), explains that because "the bride" survived, the whole of Mr. Le Bail's High Council families are able to vie for the top seat. A new game of hide-and-seek will commence. If Grace survives the night again, she'll be the ruler of the cult — and, by extension, much of the world in an evil Illuminati way. But one member from each of the five remaining families can steal that seat by hunting her down and killing her. Naturally, Grace doesn't want to play. But forcing her sister onto the field assures she'll do her best to at least get Faith through the night alive. So, let the games begin.
Double the hunted heroines, double the family drama. Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton in "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come." Credit: Searchlight Pictures / Pief WeymanIn Ready or Not, Grace's backstory was vague, beyond she was drawn to the Le Domas clan because they seemed like the kind of close-knit family she wished she had. A surly introduction of Faith unearths more backstory, but none of it beyond the bounds of cliche. This makes their various squabbles about Grace being a bad sister feel pretty toothless, and even frustrating as they frequently slow down the cat-and-mouse chase of the premise.
Newton, who made her mark with wacky horror comedies like the slasher body-swap movie Freaky and the campy teen love story Lisa Frankenstein, flails through the first act, shackled by a sulking little sister part. But once Faith get acclimated to this wild Most Dangerous Game world, where the rich hunt humans as a depraved form of fun, Newton is more able to shine. Where Weaving digs into a Sigourney Weaver "Get away from her, you bitch" intensity, Newton snarls with the intensity of an irate Yorkie — peppy, great hair, surprisingly pugnacious. This makes the two a solid double act, whether they're battling armed heirs and heiresses or scouring an evacuated resort for tools of survival.
Shawn Hatosy and Sarah Michelle Gellar are devilish fun together in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. Daniel Beirne, David Cronenberg (portrait) Shawn Hatosy, and Sarah Michelle Gellar in "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come." Credit: Searchlight Pictures / Pief WeymanWhile Newton brings frenzied attitude, and Weaving goes gnarlier in this sequel, it's vintage hotties Shawn Hatosy and Sarah Michelle Gellar who make Ready or Not 2: Here I Come work, playing the Biggest Bads on the golf resort. Cast as twins Ursula (Gellar) and Titus (Hatosy), they must live up to the expectations of their Machiavellian patriarch (Cronenberg). Other ultra-rich baddies and buffoons will enter the fray as well, like the night-club-loving, London-based Rajans (Nadeem Umar-Khitab, Varun Saranga, and Masa Lizdek); the spoiled rotten, Milan-based El Caidos (Néstor Carbonell, Maia Jae, and Juan Pablo Romero); the lawyered-up, Shanghai-based Wan Chens (Olivia Cheng and Antony Hall); and the cocaine-fueled Atlantic City family run by Bill Wilkinson (Kevin Durand).
Each of these supporting players brings new energy that creates a thrilling chaotic atmosphere. But no matter what weapons or killer fashion flourishes the others wield, Titus and Ursula are the scariest. Part of that is the dissonant breeziness with which they commit to the disruptive and even devilish business at hand to ready for the games. Watching the twins be so cavalier in moments of murder and mayhem is thrillingly chilling. But more than that, Gellar and Hatosy carry added weight for Gen Xers and elder millennials, who remember them from such beloved horror offerings as the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series and The Faculty.
There's an undeniable exhilaration in seeing Gellar bring back that toxic rich-girl energy from Cruel Intentions, curdled here into a devilish, poised opportunist. By contrast, Hatosy has had fans of The Pitt swooning over his Dr. Abbot, who altruistically bends the rules to do the best for his patients and casually flashes his pecs for some welcome eye-candy in the stressful ER setting. In Ready or Not 2, he begins as a cocky oaf who serves as a sort of attack dog for his brainy twin. But as the MacCaullay sisters scurry through the night, narrowly avoiding death again and again, Hatosy's beefy arms become more than a sexy spectacle as they're flexed as weapons in one truly shocking sequence after another. At its SXSW premiere, these scenes earned gasps and gulps from a jolted audience.
Ready or Not 2 goes harder than the original. Elijah Wood in "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come." Credit: Searchlight Pictures / Pief WeymanWith the first film, Radio Silence delivered brutal blows onto Grace, which were all the more shocking because she was running around in a lace wedding dress and yellow Converse sneakers. Focusing on the infliction of specific injuries made the audience squeal and wince to sensational effect. But for the sequel, violence will come in forms more inventive and visually repulsive than the plentiful gunshot wounds of the original. Plus, with new rules in play that can get a family disqualified, there'll be fatal, fleshy explosions throughout the film, not just in the climax.
Like in the first film, some of this violence is grisly fun, utilizing accidental slayings, unexpected means of violence, and a dueling bride fight for a bit of ghoulish levity amid the murders. But Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin seem to channel their Scream/Scream VI energy in two particular sequences, where the violence goes from joking to genuinely shocking. This makes the stakes of the climax hit differently. The playfulness of the game, the thrill of the chase is mercilessly cut down for a big swing of an ending that's proved polarizing out of the film's SXSW world premiere.
Without spoilers, I'll admit to being conflicted. Part of me admires Radio Silence going so far afield from the first film for a third act that delivers much more darkness than macabre laughs. And the other part of me pined for a final act that kept up the energy, rather than suffocating it for a bleaker tone. This shift puts the twins in the driver seat, rather than Grace. And while that is exciting, it means the ending feels a bit out of place, even as it delivers exactly what fans of the first film might crave most.
Still, I don't think many fans will find this sequel better than the first. However, the first one had the advantage of being so original that fans had no expectations going in. That's the curse and the inherent paradox of the sequel, which is expected to do more than the first film did, but still satisfy in the same ways.
To the credit of Radio Silence, they do deliver on star power, dizzying gore, a higher body count, and big swigs in terms of plot and major tonal shifts. Not all of these gambles pay off. Yet Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a winner when it comes to being a totally batshit good time.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come was reviewed out of SXSW. The film opens in theaters March 20.
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...
Boston's most important responders: Bostonians The people of Boston are to be congratulated for being...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
Digital Privacy: A Catch 22 Mobility, convenience, accessibility and real-...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...