Spoilers for Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty are ahead! You can catch new episodes every Wednesday on Prime Video.
The third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty is now airing for those with an Amazon Prime subscription, and even though we’re just four episodes in, there has been a lot to talk about. One of the biggest points of conversation revolves around if Belly and Jeremiah were really on a break during his trip to Cabo, a la Friends. The love triangle between Conrad, Belly, and Jeremiah is always a hot topic, and Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah have been debating this situation specifically since the books came out. And now, Belly actress Lola Tung and the books’ author Jenny Han have shared their takes.
they were on a break.
This situation has caused a huge stir online, especially in recent weeks since the season premiered on the 2025 TV schedule, and fans aren’t the only ones putting in their two cents. Tung, who plays the aforementioned Belly Conklin, told The Spill Podcastwhat she thinks, and she’s siding with her character:
I don’t think they were on a break. I don’t think there was enough of a conversation. But again, what happened, whether or not they were on a break, it was still hurtful, and I think Jeremiah knows that.
I certainly agree that there wasn’t enough communication. The reason for the break or not break in the first place was that Belly got upset Jeremiah didn’t tell her that he was going to Cabo not just with the fraternities, but with the sororities. He then got upset that she was upset and, in the heat of the moment, broke things off.
It’s a case of miscommunication, and Han, who wrote The Summer I Turned Pretty books that the series is based on and serves as the showrunner on the series, shared a similar take:
I think that Jeremiah did think that they were broken up. I think she didn’t. But even if they were broken up, I think it would be very hurtful if your partner of several years and someone that you’ve known your whole life, then hooked up with somebody else like a few days after broke up, that’s still isn’t great.
Both Han and Tung make good points, and I am right there with them. While they were technically broken up, Jeremiah still went and hooked up with somebody else just days after their supposed breakup. Then, he returned home and gave Belly a gift like it never even happened. She had to hear it from someone else accidentally that he had hooked up with a girl in Cabo. At this point, Belly just needs a break from everything.
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In my own opinion, it wasn’t technically cheating since they were broken up, but again, Belly doesn’t think they were actually broken up, and Jeremiah thinks they were. Regardless, he still got with someone days after their fight, then kept it a secret, and that is a pretty awful thing to do. It just proves that communication is the biggest part of the relationship, and Season 3 has definitely been showing how important it is.
The scales have tipped on The Summer I Turned Pretty, and as a Team Conrad girl who has also read the books, I cannot be more excited for what’s to come. Even though I’m worried about how the final season will go, especially since Han has previously said the ending is different from the book, there will probably still be a whole lot more to look forward to…as long as there isn’t more miscommunication.
Sex and the City is one of HBO shows that got the world talking, and Michael Patrick King’s beloved comedy series is still a vital part of the pop culture landscape decades later. Its spinoff And Just Like That just wrapped its third season for those with a HBO Max subscription, but it was recently announced the show was ending. Luckily there is some good news to this situation.
I’ve been enjoying Season 3 of And Just Like That, which seemingly ended its narrative last night. But today HBO Max’s Instagram posted a message from King about the show’s future… or lack thereof. You can read it below:
cameo by Kim Cattrall? We can only hope.
The Sex and the City follow-up has had an interesting life on TV, going viral a number of times throughout its three-season run. Some fans hate watched And Just Like That, taking umbrage with newcomer Che Diaz, as well as the treatment of favorites like Steve and Harry. But the show was clearly popular regardless, which is why I’m surprised its run is ending after just three seasons.
Fans like myself love the characters of the Sex and the City universe, which is where that passion comes from. Case in point: I begged for Carrie and Aidan to break up… which I was finally given in Episode 9. Episode 10, which was seemingly the finale, saw her finally hook up with Duncan, and there were also some big cliffhangers such as Brady getting someone pregnant and Giuseppe moving in with Anthony.
(Image credit: HBO Max)
And Just Like That ending after Season 3 is disappointing news, but I’m thrilled that we’ll be getting two more episodes. The tenth ep of the season “Better Than Sex” moved a bunch of plot points forward, but it didn’t feel like a series finale. So we’ll have to wait and see how Sarah Jessica Parker and the gang end things when that two-part finale comes to our homes.
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And Just Like That‘s third season is streaming now as part of the 2025 TV release schedule, and Sex and the City can also be re-watched on HBO Max.
If you feel like you’ve seen everything the best streaming services have to offer, buckle up, because you haven’t. August is kicking off with a variety of new streaming releases on the 2025 TV schedule, which means you can spend the weekend exploring new worlds like 18th-century Hawaii, a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and even Oxford. In other words, you can watch the premieres of Anthony Mackie’s Twisted Metal Season 2, Jason Momoa’s Chief of War, and the new Netflix romance My Oxford Year.
So, as we try to figure out what to watch first, here’s what the critics are saying about these new projects.
(Image credit: Peacock)
2023 was seriously the best year for video game adaptations with hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Last of Us. But, we can’t leave out Peacock’s adaptation of Twisted Metal, which is about an amnesic milkman who’s sent to deliver a mysterious package across the post-apocalyptic Wasteland. It rocked back then, and now it’s back to rock harder with Season 2.
Roger Ebert noted that it felt like everything went up a notch, sure to provide greater satisfaction for longtime fans and new ones:
While the first season often seemed afraid to get weird, the writers embrace their insanity this time around, mixing playful humor into the carnage. Thinking about it after a dozen episodes, there’s not exactly a wealth of character details or narrative twists, but everyone simply seems to be having more fun this year, and that can be infectious. If the first season felt like an obligation to ride a wave of video game adaptations, the second feels like an honest effort to satisfy both fans of the games and those who never played them. The result is a season that finds its tone in ways that the first never did.
Based on Brian Tallerico’s claims of Season 2 having “more action, personality, character development, and effective humor,” these are the ingredients that make a perfect sequel worth watching.
You’re always hoping a show’s second take is willing to take risks and improve on everything that came before to keep audiences hooked. CBR’s Joshua M. Patton agrees that Season 2 brings new improvements to its characters, which helps add emotional stakes to this crazy story:
The series succeeds in allowing viewers to capture the feeling of playing the game, even those who never did. Still, it’s the characters who make the show work, because viewers understand why they make the choices they do. Without these deeply personal stakes, the fun, crazy action of the tournament itself would feel empty.
Indeed, you do need to feel for your characters to care about their fates. As the first season’s finale introduced the concept of the deadly tournament John Doe competes in, Season 2 looks to raise the stakes that the previous season presented.
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So, you better believe it’s worth tuning into it with your Peacock subscription.
(Image credit: Apple TV+)
Chief of War Is A Visual Spectacle With a Deep Dedication to Hawaiian Authenticity
Chief of War (which is streaming with an Apple TV+ subscription) takes streamers to the 18th century, where Jason Momoa plays warrior chief Ka’iana, who is rebelling against the unification of Hawaiʻi. As the Aquaman actor co-created the show and incorporated Pacific Islander representation in its cast, crew, and location, Kelly Lawler’s review for USA Today explained how much she loved the show’s use of grand storytelling scale as it shined a spotlight on key moments in Hawaiian history:
[Chief of War] brings the scale and power of Hollywood storytelling to Hawaiian history and politics, the way we’ve seen stories of American and European history for countless series and films before. And ‘War’ does this with a thrilling pace and superb performances. It’s the best kind of expensive, ambitious streaming TV: You’ll binge-watch it because you can’t look away from the spectacle.
It’s about time that Hawaiian history got a big-budget treatment in mainstream streaming. Clearly, Chief of War is a passion project for Jason Momoa, who made sure his ancestors were portrayed in a glowing light. Aramide Tinubu’s review for Variety praised the historical drama series for allowing audiences to learn about Hawaiian history they’ve never seen on screen before:
‘Chief of War’s’ nine-episode first season is vast and full of traditions hardly seen before on television. Staying true to history, the majority of the story’s dialogue is in Hawaiian, a now critically endangered Polynesian language. As a result, audiences may struggle to find their footing in the series’ initial episodes. However, those willing to truly immerse themselves in this narrative will get a bird’s-eye view of the inner conflicts and histories of the Hawaiian islands.
It’s amazing to know that Chief of War uses character-driven narratives and grand visuals to not only bring Hawaiian history to life but also deeply resonate with it. With slo-mo running scenes and a volcano erupting mid-shoot, we’re in for a remarkable ride with this show.
My Oxford Year May Be a Mixed Bag, But It Still Makes For An Entertaining Watch
The 2025 Netflix release of My Oxford Year stars Sofia Carson as Anna, who experiences a life-changing trip to Oxford after meeting a charming local there. Archi Sengupta’s review for LeisureByte explained that while she thought the rom-com film presented itself with a “generic” plot, it still had a positive takeaway that made the book adaptation worth watching:
Good performances and a beautifully shot Oxford make My Oxford Year a moving, warm watch. Although we have seen this story a few times, it’s still impactful and moving, and the romance is relatable, giving you goosebumps. All in all, a good watch.
Rom-coms do tend to follow familiar plots. But if each star can bring their A-game, you know you’re in for a good time.
Brandon Yu wrote a harsher review for The New York Times, calling the movie “joyless,” but he still liked its unpredictability thanks to its plot twist:
Adapted from the novel by Julia Whelan, ‘My Oxford Year’ may quickly fall prey to this trap, but it has the benefit of having a trick up its sleeve, switching from one genre trope to another halfway through. The halfhearted execution remains, though.
Listen, it’s normal for romance movies like this one to be a mixed bag review-wise. So, you can draw your own conclusions about My Oxford Year with a Netflix subscription.
Personally, I always find it refreshing when a rom-com flips the script. Audiences will be kept on their toes, and the emotional payoff will surely hit harder. So, I’ll for sure be checking this film out.
Based on the reviews of each new streaming release, it looks like I have a date with my couch this weekend. Season 2 of Twisted Metal is expected to take me on a wild ride. Chief of War will time-travel me to 18th-century Hawaii. Meanwhile, My Oxford Year should hit me with some romantic vibes. So, with all that considered, I think I’m going with Chief of War first since I love historical dramas and visual masterpieces.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, and fans are constantly treated to new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies is Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther 3, which is still in its earliest stages of development. A new rumor claims to know when it’ll hit theaters, and I really hope it’s true.
Those who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will know that some franchises stand out as fan favorites. Black Panther is definitely in that category, which is why fans are so eager to see what comes next after Wakanda Forever’s ending. In a new episode of The Hot Mic, scooper Jeff Sneider offered a timeline about that developing threequel. He offered:
Black Panther 3, that’s February 2028. That’s going to start production at the top of 2027. And that will be in theaters February 2028.
Denzel Washington revealed he’s expected to have a role in the blockbuster. Although exactly who he might play in Black Panther 3 is a total mystery.
Given how little progress has been made so far, a February 2028 release date seems reasonable for Coogler’s threequel. We’ll just have to wait and see if/when this schedule is confirmed by the studio.
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Narratively, there are plenty of threads to pull from with a third Black Panther movie. The first sequel ended with Shuri becoming the next Panther, but not taking the throne. It was heavily implied that M’Baku might become king, but Wakanda Forever’s credits scene revealed that T’Challa and Nakia had a secret son. As such, he might have his own claim to the throne.
We might have to wait a few years to see another BP movie, but connections to Wakanda continue to be part of the MCU. The animated series Eyes of Wakanda is on Disney+ now, and the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement confirmed Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, and Tenoch Huerta Mejía would be reprising their roles as Shuri, M’Baku, and Namor, respectively.
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All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th, 2026, as part of the 2026 movie release list. Let’s just hope that we get information about the future of the Black Panther franchise sooner rather than later.
It’s not every day that someone who’s known to have made their name on reality television draws the attention of who many would call one of our greatest living actors, but here we are. It was just a few days ago that The Kardashians star/multi-media mogul Kim Kardashian launched a product for her SKIMS brand, the $48.00 Seamless Sculpt Face Wrap, which outright baffled many of her most diehard fans. Now we’ve even got Sir Anthony Hopkins making Silence of the Lambs jokes about the odd new item.
What Did Anthony Hopkins Say About Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS Face Wrap?
You know, while I haven’t bought any SKIMS, I do actually like the look of a lot of the more comfy-looking products from Kim Kardashian’s body sculpting/fashion brand. I have to say, though, never in a million years would I have figured that she and her designers would come up with something like her face wrap, which those on the internet have already pointed out is basically what you get after jaw surgery or to help with TMJ symptoms, which are not exactly fashionable comparisons.
Anthony Hopkins. He posted a short clip on Instagram that took the ribbing that the All’s Fair (which hits the 2025 TV schedule in the fall) star is getting over the product to new, Hannibal Lecter heights. Take a look:
legal ace and mom of four is selling, so did Hopkins buy it because he desires some facial sculpting in his later years?
He thanks her in the caption. Did Kardashian (rather randomly) send it to him? Are they buddies?! Just as importantly, is he wearing a Swatch Watch? Guys? I would actually love it if he bought this just so that he could make a Silence of the Lambs joke about it for all to see. “Ten years younger” indeed!
If you don’t know why this is beyond cool, it’s pretty clear that you’ve been living off the grid in a cave somewhere for nearly 35 years. Welcome back to civilization (it might be best to gather some supplies and just head back to the cave, fyi)! Since you missed the 1991 release of the thrilling horror classic (one of the best Anthony Hopkins movies), he starred as an infamous imprisoned cannibal who begins assisting Jodie Foster’s FBI agent in finding another wild serial killer.
His Lecter was so dangerous (And hungry, I guess?) that he was forced to wear a mask that covered most of his face and mouth, in a look that is suspiciously similar to the one created by the billionaire bikini-lover. I mean, just look:
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(Image credit: Orion Pictures)
My goodness. I don’t know about you, but I would kinda love it if this starts a new wave of fame for Hopkins where he’s an Insta star who makes fun of fashion trends in his own perfectly deadpan way. You simply cannot beat this kind of publicity!
The repercussions from the firing of Stephen Colbert and the ending of The Late Show are still being felt. Fans are shocked. People are threatening to cancel their Paramount+ subscription in protest. The Late Night community is wondering what other shoes may be about to drop.
The fact that this happened as Paramount is on the verge of being purchased by Skydance has not been lost on people. Expectations are that there will be major shakeups at CBS, and now a source reportedly close to Skydance CEO David Ellison has revealed to The Financial Times (via The Daily Mail) how the incoming team might really feel about Colbert and others as they begin to take over CBS. He said…
The news lost its way – it became extreme, elitist, and performative. People like Colbert and others act like they’re the IP [intellectual property], the value, when it’s the brand and journalism that matter. We need to get back to fundamentals. That’s what David and his team believe.
played one on The Colbert Report. He is, in fact, a comedian, and there’s certainly an argument to be made that he is the IP when it comes to The Late Show. Who the host of a late-night talk show is will certainly be a major determining factor for people deciding whether or not to watch. Hosts frequently have the job for decades, so deciding who will be a late-night host is a major decision that has caused its share of controversy over the years.
That said, the news is certainly a big part of any late-night show, as it often informs the nightly monologue, which is exactly where the controversy in Colbert’s firing comes from. Just days before the announcement that The Late Show was ending, Colbert addressed Paramount’s lawsuit settlement with President Trump, calling it a “bribe.” It’s been suggested by Colbert and others that the settlement was part of an agreement to smooth the way for the Skydance purchase of Paramount.
