Martha Stewart may have changed the game of lifestyle branding, but plenty of female trailblazers came after her. For instance, Gwyneth Paltrow took to Netflix to share all about her lifestyle and wellness company, Goop. But as Meghan Markle created her own lifestyle Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, Stewart was asked how she felt about the Duchess of Sussex shifting into lifestyle, and she didn’t hold back.
Meghan Markle’s first steps into lifestyle started with her blog The Tig, which ran from 2014 to 2017. After creating her cooking brand As Ever, the Suits alum headlined her 2025 Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, where she shared her personal tips and how-tos on cooking, gardening, and hosting.
Meghan Markle allegedly copying her. With Yahoo! Lifestyle, on the other hand, the American businesswoman decided not to hold back her answer when asked the same question:
cooking pasta on her Netflix show that had mixed reactions. While some were scratching their heads seeing the former actress pour boiling water over dried pasta, others felt the one-pot pasta recipe was really good. So, I guess Markle does know her stuff, even if not everybody agrees with her approach.
As Martha Stewart has been in the lifestyle business since 1976, it’s safe to say she definitely knows her stuff. She continued to tell Yahoo! Lifestyle that she hopes Meghan Markle will be “authentic” in her line of work:
Authenticity, to me, is everything, and to be authentic and knowledgeable about your subject matter is extremely important.
Unfortunately, Meghan Markle has received her share of criticism from those who watched With Love, Meghan. Widespread complaints about the Netflix series had one critic saying it was “out of touch” using cookware that was too fancy for the average cook, and celeb chef Jameston Stocks said the show was “painful to watch.” Despite the criticism, the Duchess refused to let any negativity bother her and felt she was being her authentic self.
While Martha Stewart doesn’t know Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand too well, that doesn’t mean she’s not aware of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop. The Martha Stewart Living publisher made sure to sing her praises to the Oscar winner:
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Gwyneth has been very successful; she created quite an interesting body of businesses. She’s admired. She won an Oscar for heaven’s sake as an actress! She’s pretty powerful.
There’s no doubt that Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop brand is a growing success. Initially starting as a newsletter, the lifestyle brand has transformed throughout the years into an e-commerce site, a Netflix series, a podcast, and retail stores. Sure, there are unconventional products like questionable vaginal eggs or explosive vagina candles. But you can’t deny that its publicity has drawn in curious customers.
With Love, Meghan was initially not going to return for season 2 after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s deal with Netflix was reportedly scrapped. But despite the rumors, Markle is allegedly returning to the streamer, knowing Netflix will benefit from promoting the lifestyle guru’s As Ever brand through her series. Martha Stewart had a quick response to the Los Angeles native as her work goes forward:
The highly anticipated Spider-Man: Brand New Day is still quite a ways off, but fans have already received some sweet teases as of late. On Friday, as part of Spidey Day, Sony Pictures released a brief clip that provided a look at the new costume that Holland will be sporting in the film. Now, fans have been graced with an official behind-the-scenes video that actually shows Holland wearing the outfit while on set and asking a question. On that note, I’m really starting to get hyped up for the fourth film in Holland’s superhero saga.
Early Saturday morning, the official Spider–Man movie account shared the aforementioned video to Instagram. It shows Tom Holland apparently getting himself psyched up before getting to work on the upcoming Marvel movie. While the actor is initially seen from a distance, he eventually runs closer to the camera to reveal himself wearing his costume. He then asks his collaborators a query that could also be asked of the fans. The British actor simply says, “We ready?” Check out the clip below:
Production on Brand New Day is only just kicking off, but this short video is a great way to get fans hyped as work begins to commence overseas. The sight of the leading man in his new superhero duds is just too cool not to geek out over. It was long hoped that he’d keep the comic book-accurate costume his character sported during the final moments of No Way Home. Seeing him in that suit makes the notion of the film starting production feel all the more real – as does the quick question he asks.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026. In the meantime, stream the first time films in the “Home” trilogy on Disney+, and check out No Way Home with a Starz subscription.
I have a confession to make – I haven’t been as much into anime this year. I know, I know – I’m the kind of girl who literally a year ago I would be recommending the best anime to start on or the best dark anime to watch, or ranking all the Pokémon anime. However, this year, it just hasn’t been in the cards.
It wasn’t because I didn’t want to watch it. It’s mainly because life has been so busy, and with so much new content coming out, things often get lost in the mix. I’ve only been able to check out a few good anime this year because I really felt inclined to, such as like Solo Leveling Season 2. Other than that, it’s been a little tricky.
However, Dan Da Dan Season 2 has begun releasing on Netflix, and I have to say, I’ve been enjoying it thoroughly. In fact, it might just be what reignites the flame for me to check out more anime.
began with the Evil Eye arc.
I watched a lot of anime in 2024, and the first season of Dan Da Dan was the one I considered the best of the year. I was waiting ages for Season 2 to drop, even if I wasn’t as into anime as I have been in the past. But this year, they throw you right into the action, giving barely a second to breathe, and you’re just wondering how the heck these characters are going to make it out of this alive. It’s the epitome of peak.
(Image credit: Science Saru)
The Animation And Story Have Been Off The Walls
Something else that Dan Da Dan has going for it is the story. Is it as emotionally gripping and intense as the epic anime Attack on Titan? Not by a long shot. However, Dan Da Dan gets dark very quickly in Season 2 with, and as someone who hasn’t had the chance to read the manga it’s based on, I wasn’texpecting the backstory of one of the new characters.
That, paired with the phenomenal animation, made this second season that much more intriguing and exciting to watch. It was like I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, just waiting for the ball to drop. I, for one, need to see so much more.
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(Image credit: Netflix)
Anime’s Been Hit Or Miss For Me This Year, But This Makes Me Want To Dive Back Into It
When I say anime really has been hit or miss for me, I mean it. However, that’s also because I haven’t taken the time to check out the best new releases. Heck, I probably missed some on the 2025 TV schedule because I haven’t been paying attention to it.
But Dan Da Dan really makes me want to return to the world of anime. We’re entering an age of anime where numerous creative ideas are emerging, and the world is eagerly awaiting their unveiling. Dan Da Dan is an excellent example of how something so ridiculous can become epically awesome.
Even so, it’s not the only great anime out there right now. Now, I am inspired to head out and check on Crunchyroll to see what is new, because the anime bug has been reignited. Don’t be surprised if that’s all you see me talking about in the next few weeks.
Tom Holland is undoubtedly one of the most sought out young Hollywood actors these days. And yet, it’s actually been two years since we’ve seen him in anything because the actor decided to take a break from acting after having a busy decade. Holland has been very much back to work as of late making two of the most anticipated upcoming 2026 movies, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey movie and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and apparently he’s already considering more time off.
The Spider-Man actor took a break from acting after his last role in Apple’s The Crowded Room following being in new projects every year since 2012’s The Impossible came out when he was 16 years old. Here’s what he recently said about why he’ll be due for another acting break in the distant future:
I feel really blessed to be at a point in my career where I can take time off, reset, and come back ready to go. You can’t be in every movie, and you can’t do your best work when you’re burnt out. What I’ve learnt is that it’s important to set boundaries – to be mindful about overworking. I’ve got a slightly busy year next year, and then I’ll probably take a bit more time off in 2027. We’ll see.
GQ, it was helpful for him to take some time away from the Hollywood machine recently and “reset” after apparently dealing with some weariness over work.
Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, his real-life partner Zendaya, and more. Fans think that Holland is set to play Odysseus’ son Telemachus in the adaptation of Homer’s epic. The new Nolan movie is set to come out on July 17, 2026.
In the same month, his latest Spider-Man movie will also arrive on July 31. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently filming, and we just got to see a first look at his new suit with raised webbing and learn the news about Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner being in the movie. Holland has previously gushed about being excited to film the Marvel movie in real locations after doing a lot of his production work on sound stages in the age of COVID-19.
So as you can expect, Tom Holland will be doing a lot of press touring in the summer of next year. With those plans taking shape, Holland is already planning to take a rest sometime in 2027. While other actors might not allow themselves to shut off and stop working for a time period like Holland is doing, the way he approaches his schedule shows a lot of kindness to his mental health and must help bring balance to his life.
Good on Holland! Obviously I’m so excited to see him back acting for the next couple of projects he’ll be in next year, but I also love that he’s prioritizing his own peace.
It has often been said that a story, typically of the thriller variety, can live or die by the strength of its villain. However, there are many films and TV shows that like to keep the suspense high by keeping the antagonist a secret until later.
Unfortunately, this does not always result in the most satisfying or logical outcome, as the following examples will show. Also, keep in mind that there will be SPOILERS.
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Aldrich Killian (Iron Man 3)
why many fans do not like Iron Man 3 is that the apparent main antagonist, The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), is revealed to be a scapegoat imposter named Trevor Slattery. However, there are also many people, myself included, who feel the disappointing twist pales in comparison to the pitifully petty motivations of the true villain, Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), who invents a terrorist persona to get back at Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) for ignoring him at a New Year’s Eve party once. I mean, is that not the plot of The Incredibles?
Ronald D. Moore’s SyFy original version of Battlestar Galactica is considered one of the most refreshing TV reboots of all time, in spite of its lackluster finale. The sci-fi drama’s long-awaited reveal that the Final Five Cylons are Saul (Michael Hogan) and Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon), Galen Tyrol (Aaron Douglas), Samuel Anders (Michael Trucco), and Tory Foster (Rekha Sharma), who also had no recollection of their origins, left many fans disheartened.
007 adventure, 2015’s Spectre, was already slightly tainted by the reveal that the events of the previous Daniel Craig-led James Bond movies were quietly orchestrated by the character’s historical archenemy, Blofeld (Christoph Waltz). The absurdity only grew when the villain unveils a twist right out of the spy movie spoof, Austin Powers in Goldmember: he and Bond are half-brothers.
behind the Ghostface mask this time, Roman Bridger (Scott Foley). Not only does the director of Stab 3 turn out to be the unknown half-brother of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), but he claims to have been orchestrating the kills in the first two installments out of revenge against their mother, who rejected him years earlier.
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Tobey Maguire) uncle, Ben (Cliff Robertson). However, Spider-Man 3 lazily retcons the incident as the fault of the otherwise sympathetic superhero movie villain, Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), who also happens to get thrown in a particle accelerator that turns him into Sandman.
dumb movie twist is that, early on in the film, John’s biological parents, Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney), irreversibly transport themselves from 1984 to 2017, meaning that, based on the Terminator movies’ rules of time travel, John should have never been born.
Benedict Cumberbatch) is really Khan (the iconic villain originated by Ricardo Montalban) is not exactly nonsensical. However, fans of the franchise saw it coming from a mile away, so it wound up being deeply unsatisfying.
Jim Carrey) becomes obsessed with a disturbing book about a killer that turns out to be his own memoir, which he wrote and forgot all about after a stint in a mental institution. That is already a little far-fetched, but the most flabbergasting aspect of the twist is that his wife, Agatha (Virginia Madsen), who is fully aware of his past, is the one who buys him the book in the first place. Why would she want to conjure up those kinds of memories?
Mark Ruffalo as FBI agent Dylan Rhodes, who obsessively pursues a group of illusionist thieves who call themselves The Four Horsemen. By the end, it is revealed that he is actually part of their group and orchestrated the entire ordeal to avenge the death of his father, a magician named Lionel Shrike.
M. Night Shyamalan movie twists is the reveal that the mysterious, deadly event at the center of 2008’s The Happening is being caused by a hypnotic pheromone vengefully released by the Earth’s vegetation. Then again, the ridiculous plot point is among the key reasons the thriller is considered a classic of so-bad-it’s-good cinema.
Tom Felton was cast as Dr. Julian Albert on The Flash at the same time the mysterious Alchemy was introduced on the Arrow-verse series. Considering the actor’s reputation for villainous roles, especially Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter movies, it quickly became apparent to viewers that the historian and the masked villain (an avatar for the evil Speedster, Savitar) were one in the same.
enjoy the absurd 1998 slasher sequel.
fans don’t care for the fourth Indiana Jones film.
Malignant ending –Gabriel is Madison’s (Annabelle Wallis) parasitic twin and has been possessing her body to commit vengeful murders – is actually pretty awesome. However, one thing I have never understood about James Wan’s 2021 Giallo tribute is how Gabriel can control electricity or make telepathic phone calls.
Apple TV+ original series, Ted Lasso, reporter Trent Crimm (James Lance) tells the titular character (played by Jason Sudeikis) that it was Nate Shelley (Nick Mohammed) who shared confidential information about his panic attack with him. Apparently, Nate sells Ted out and goes on to coach the rival team because he felt like Richmond’s head coach abandoned him, for reasons that still feel vague and inexplicable to me.
Wonder Woman suffers from a lackluster ending, in which it is revealed that Sir Patrick (David Thewlis) is Ares in disguise. Let alone the underwhelming execution of the twist, the emergence of the true God of War deprives the comic book film of a more potent message about humanity’s flaws and contradicts the motivations of Gal Gadot’s Amazonian warrior in other films.
ending rips off Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
(Image credit: Sony)
Aliens (The Forgotten)
In the 2004 thriller, The Forgotten, Julianne Moore’s character, Telly, just kind of randomly assumes that the mysteriously lost memory of her deceased son, among other children, could be the work of extraterrestrials. She just so happens to be right.
(Image credit: Sony)
Ray Bronson And Stevie Ward (I Know What You Did Last Summer)
In the 2025 legacyquel, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Stevie (Sara Pidgeon) decides to kill her friends, believing they are responsible for the accidental death of her boyfriend, even though they tried to save his life. However, her murder streak also includes people who had nothing to do with the incident. Even more absurd is that original survivor Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr) helps with the scheme, believing the world forgot about what happened to him and his friends in 1997. However, this begs the question of why he decided to kill a popular true crime podcast host who was preparing to do an episode on that very ordeal.
