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Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 18's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

One side of something many-sided.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1034 is...

FACET.

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

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

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for April 18's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Things you'd see in a suburb

• Green: Planning something

• Blue: Units of measurement

• Purple: Golden things

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Sidewalk Sights

• Green: Have in Mind

• Blue: Unit Abbreviations

• Purple: Golden___

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #312 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Sidewalk Sights: CURB, GRATE, GUTTER, MANHOLE

• Have in Mind: AIM, INTEND, MEAN, PLAN

• Unit Abbreviations: CAL, GAL, IN, OZ

• Golden___: FLEECE, GIRLS, PARACHUTE, RULE

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

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Around this time just one week ago, iPhone users in 92 counties received a bizarre notification on their device.

"Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID," read the notification. "This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it's never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning — please take it seriously."

Apple posted an announcement on its website giving basic details for why the company would generally send out a notification warning like this. However, the company has been relatively mum on the situation since. And it never quite disclosed the exact threat that spurred Apple to send out that notification to those users at that specific time.

Now, a new report appears to have solved the mystery.

China-linked LightSpy spyware

The Apple news outlet Apple Insider noticed a report by Blackberry — yes, the mobile phone company that was popular in the 2000s and has since pivoted into a cybersecurity firm — that appears to have gotten to the bottom of the spyware notification situation.

According to Blackberry, the spyware that iPhone users were warned about is called LightSpy, which is described in the report as a "sophisticated iOS implant." 

The report points out that this is a concerning development because LightSpy was last seen used in a campaign during the 2020 political protests in Hong Kong. So, this latest attack appears to be a reemergence of LightSpy.

LightSpy is "a fully-featured modular surveillance toolset," according to Blackberry. The spyware can pull targets' private information, which includes pinpoint-accurate location data as well as data from messaging applications, text messages, phone call history, and web browser history. It can even create sound recordings from the device, including recording during VOIP calls. 

LightSpy has been used by attackers to target individuals in Southeast Asia, including India, for the most part, which explains why those notifications were mostly received by iPhone users located in that general region. The messaging apps mentioned in Blackberry's report are among the most popular in that part of the world: QQ, WeChat, and Telegram. In addition, LightSpy can pull payment history from targets from the WeChat Pay service.

Blackberry believes this attack was once again perpetrated by China-based or native Chinese-speaking actors, as with previous LightSpy campaigns, and there's a potential for state-sponsored involvement as well.

The report recommends that users who have reason to be targeted, whether due to their employment or activism, utilize Apple's Lockdown Mode, which the iPhone-maker describes as a feature used to "protect devices against extremely rare and highly sophisticated cyber attacks."

There's a new app in town, according to Wired and Bloomberg, if you consider Silicon Valley a town. A by-invitation-only audio-based app called Airchat is reportedly being "hyped in tech circles," with invites making the rounds among the Valley's top brass.

The app combines elements of X (formerly Twitter) and voice notes, with a main feed populated by text transcripts of voice notes from other users, which you can play, heart, or repost.

SEE ALSO: BeReal has 10 months left before it runs out of money

The "hype" for AirChat has been magnified by reports from Business Insider and a contributor at Forbes, who declared that you'd have to have been "under a rock" to have avoided an invite to the app. And it's no coincidence that Airchat cofounders Naval Ravikant (co-creator of AngelList) and Brian Norgard (former chief product officer at Tinder) are tech insiders themselves, or that investors include the likes of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who "threw in a check, kind of blindly," according to Ravikant.

But the numbers may tell a different story. Both Bloomberg and Business Insider cite data from Sensor Tower that claims Airchat has been downloaded just over 45,000 times since launching in mid-2023, with 30,000 of those downloads occurring only after a relaunch this month. That lackluster showing could be chalked up to the app's current exclusivity, but Airchat is also losing steam fast. Bloomberg reported that the app was ranked no. 29 in the App Store's ranking of top social networking apps just yesterday. As of publishing today, the app has fallen to no. 42.

If the term "social audio app" rings a bell, you may be remembering Clubhouse, which shot to fame in 2020 and 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and was valued at $4 billion. But Clubhouse gained popularity at a lonely time, when most people were sheltering inside and desperate for human interaction, and last year, the app laid off half of its staff.

Perhaps Airchat can do what Clubhouse could not. For now, it seems like just another place tech execs can hear themselves talk.

When iOS 18 launches later this year, the Notes app could be useful for a lot more than just lazy celebrity apologies.

AppleInsider reported on Wednesday that iOS 18 could come with a revamped Notes app that includes two major new features: voice notes and math. If Apple sticks to its usual launch pattern, iOS 18 will be unveiled at WWDC 2024, so expect to hear about official updates from the mothership in June.

Which features are reportedly coming to iOS 18 'Notes'?

The two new features are pretty self-explanatory. Voice notes would allow users to record and store voice memos within the Notes app itself, complementing any text or images they wish to include alongside them. Folks could then put their voice notes in iCloud and access them from different Apple devices.

SEE ALSO: How to mirror your iPhone to your TV

As for what AppleInsider called "Math Notes," these would tie into the iOS Calculator app and would theoretically allow for users to perform complex math equations with proper notation within the Notes app.

Both features would probably be most useful for people in academia and business. As AppleInsider pointed out, similar features are already available in Microsoft's popular OneNote app, a competitor to the native Apple Notes app. It would make sense, then, for Apple to crib a couple of key components from OneNote for its own app.

It also wouldn't be the first time Apple has taken "inspiration" from other companies for big features or ideas. Such is the way of things.

Hate emptying the cat's box after your furry friend does its business? Check out these deals on self-scooping litter boxes at Amazon as of April 17:

Best self-scooping litter box deals Best overall deal PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Smart Self-Cleaning Litter Box $229.95 at Amazon (Save $40) Get Deal Best front-entry deal PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Plus Front-Entry Self-Cleaning Litter Box $184.95 at Amazon (Save $45) Get Deal Best odor control deal PetSafe ScoopFree Clumping Self-Cleaning Litter Box $99.95 at Amazon (Save $20) Get Deal

Cats are absolutely adorable. The entire internet agrees. What isn't adorable is having to clean up after your feline sidekick. While cats are arguably cleaner than most dogs since they relieve themselves in a litter box, you're still left with the responsibility of emptying it.

If you've had your fair share of scooping your cat's mess out of the litter box and want a better solution, there is one! We present the self-scooping litter box. It collects waste and empties it into a reservoir that you don't have to see or touch (mostly), which means a much more pleasant experience for you and a clean and happy cat. Automatic litter boxes are the cat's meow, so to speak.

Now's a great time to make the change because Amazon has select self-scooping litter boxes on sale for up to 20% off right now, with one available for just $99.95 — so, no, you don't have to spend upwards of $700 to get one. If you're ready to bring home a new litter box for your favorite fur baby, grab one of our picks of the best self-scooping litter boxes below.

Best overall deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Smart Self-Cleaning Litter Box $229.95 at Amazon
$269.95 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Smart Self-Cleaning Litter Box connects to its companion My PetSafe app to let you check on its status wherever you are. Its hands-free cleaning cycle is set to automatically rake any solid waste 20 minutes after detecting your cat has left the box. That means you only have to swap in a fresh tray once per month. With its leak-proof trays, you never have to touch anything unsightly, and pre-filled crystal litter helps keep those unpleasant smells as undetectable as possible. Plus, you'll get a notification when your cat uses the litter box, so you know exactly how your pet is doing, complete with an activity log to show the vet should you run into any health concerns.

Best front entry deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Plus Front-Entry Self-Cleaning Litter Box $184.95 at Amazon
$229.95 Save $45.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Plus Front-Entry Self-Cleaning Litter Box is a great front-entry option if that's what your cat prefers. It has a nice domed entry that your furry friend can feel secure in. You don't have to clean or refill your cat's litter box for weeks thanks to this box's automatic scheduling. It also has disposable trays with plastic lining that you simply throw away instead of replacing with additional litter. The crystal litter it uses can reduce most of the smell, and since you dispose of everything at once, that cuts down on odors as well. There's also an included health counter to help you keep track of how many visits your cat makes to the litter box in case you need to know.

Best odor control deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon PetSafe ScoopFree Clumping Self-Cleaning Litter Box $99.95 at Amazon
$119.95 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The PetSafe ScoopFree Clumping Self-Cleaning Litter Box is compatible with clumping litter if you prefer that over crystal, but it uses most types of litter without the need for trays. It will automatically rake through your cat's litter with an eye on keeping waste and odors at bay. You can empty its attached waste bin once a week and refresh the litter occasionally, and that's about all you really need to do for this setup. You can use it with one cat or let multiple felines do their business here. Whatever you choose, it cuts down significantly on the smells you might get from a regular litter box.

Android 15 is set to revolutionize how devices charge by potentially enabling NFC (near-field communication) technology.

Commonly used for contactless payments and to charge phones wirelessly, this addition was discovered in the latest Android 15 Beta release by Android Authority. Dubbed "NfcCharging," it could introduce wireless charging capabilities to a wider range of devices, particularly budget models that typically lack Qi charging (the current standard for wireless power).

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 9 is rumored to steal this iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 feature How would 'NFC charging' work?

Although NFC charging offers a slower charging rate, peaking at just 1W, it could still prove beneficial in emergencies. For instance, it would take around five hours to fully charge a 5,000mAh battery — making it a less efficient, yet convenient alternative. Primarily, NFC charging could be more useful for smaller devices like earbuds, styluses, and smartwatches due to their low-power requirements and smaller battery sizes.

This emerging technology promises to make wireless charging more accessible, especially for devices too small to support Qi's larger antennas. With NFC antennas being significantly more compact, they could easily fit into a greater variety of devices.

While the concept of NFC charging has been around for some years, its implementation has been limited. However, if integrated into Android natively, it could set a new trend for device charging, potentially paving the way for replacing Qi charging if the speed and efficiency of NFC can be enhanced. This would simplify the internal design by reducing the number of required antennas and allowing for larger batteries or additional features within devices.

Expected to debut between August and October 2024, more insights into NFC charging and other Android 15 updates are likely to be unveiled at the Google I/O 2024 event on May 14.

SAVE $124.98: The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (128GB) productivity bundle is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon, down from the normal bundle price of $404.97. That's a 30% discount. The bundle includes the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet, keyboard case, and stylus pen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (128GB) productivity bundle $279.99 at Amazon
$404.97 Save $124.98 Deal includes the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet, keyboard case, and stylus pen. Get Deal

Working from home or the local cafe can be a welcome break from the office — especially when you have the right equipment to make it easy. If you're looking to upgrade your work set-up for when you're away from the office, Amazon has the perfect deal.

As of April 17, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet productivity bundle is $279.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard bundle price of $404.97. That's a 30% discount or a savings of $124.98. The bundle includes the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (128GB), a magnetic keyboard case, and a stylus pen.

SEE ALSO: The best tablets: iPads are great, but have you tried literally anything else?

The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet earned a Mashable Choice award, with SaVanna Shoemaker giving the tablet a high rating of 4.6 out of 5 in her review. "The Amazon Fire Max 11 has a large, 11-inch display and is blazing fast, making it a good alternative to pricier tablets for streaming and games," writes Shoemaker.

Thanks to today's deal, you'll get the 11-inch tablet with 2.4 million pixels in addition to a setup that makes it ideal for working away from the office. The included keyboard case has a built-in trackpad that's capable of gestures like pinch to zoom and scrolling with two fingers. The integrated back cover not only serves as protection but also includes a stand. And the keyboard doesn't require charging, simply plugging into the Fire Max 11 tablet.

You'll also get an Amazon stylus pen with the productivity bundle. Take notes, draw, or mark up a PDF with ease thanks to the stylus. If you're nervous about losing the stylus pen, have no fear: it attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet.

If you prefer to work from home or you'd love to not lug a heavy laptop with you while traveling, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet productivity bundle could be ideal for streamlining the process. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you can grab the bundle for 30% off.

Carrie Bradshaw is a narcissist. She's a terrible friend. She's delusional. She's the problem. She's problematic. Gen Z can't handle her.

The internet has been throwing around these opinions since Sex and the City arrived on Netflix, ushering in a new wave of Carrie Bradshaw discourse nearly 26 years after the groundbreaking HBO series premiered. The show and its iconic heroine still strike a chord with viewers. Gen Z icon Olivia Rodrigo even weighed in during one of two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, wearing a bedazzled tank top that read "Carrie Bradshaw AF." (The second night, she donned another embellished tank; this one said "And just like that.")

SEE ALSO: Why the internet stans Ireland

Sex and the City has long been a source of inspiration for meme culture, something Sylvia Sierra, associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies at Syracuse University, attributes to the breadth of material fans have to play with. "People get really into referencing media where they can imagine themselves in that world," she told Mashable. Throughout its six seasons, viewers get immersed in Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte's lives as single women in New York City, and each episode includes memorable characters like Charlotte's friend who steals her baby name and oddball plots like Miranda crushing on a sandwich. 

There are longstanding Sex and the City memes, like refashioning the structure of Carrie's voiceovers to fit the current moment — starting with popular Carrie-isms like "I couldn't help but wonder" and "And just like that." Carrie's outsized reactions are also endlessly reposted to react to headlines, especially when that news concerns New York City.  

Recently, a new meme has emerged: Big is moving to Paris. It's mainly used to illustrate how consumed Carrie was by her own problems, specifically her relationship with Big. Twitter / X users write out a conversation in the voices of the three other protagonists of the show, ending with Carrie announcing, "Big is moving to Paris." For instance, after an earthquake shook New York City one user wrote: 

Charlotte: It was 4.8 on the Richter scale!

Miranda: The Richter scale is a totally outdated method for measuring magnitudes and everyone knows it.

Samantha: Let's just say it wasn't the only thing making my walls shake this morning.

Carrie: Big is moving to Paris

Similar posts circulated after the solar eclipse. Soon, Carrie announcing Big's move left the confines of Sex and the City's world making other popular characters, like Dune's Paul Atreides, say "Big is moving to Paris."

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Unlike other often-quoted moments, Carrie never actually says, "Big is moving to Paris." In the now infamous Season 2 episode that finds Samantha taking the girls to a S&M-themed restaurant, Charlotte getting involved with a shoe salesman with a foot fetish, and Miranda sleeping with an exhibitionist — that's real television — Carrie breaks down at brunch with the girls. Big casually told her he might move to Paris for seven months. At brunch, she says, "I wanted to kill him. And he's standing there giving me the 'what's the big problem' eyes."

She doesn't even say "Big is moving to Paris" in the next episode when the girls stage an intervention with Carrie for excessively talking about their breakup.

Despite its absence, the phrase gets at a central tension of the series.

Why we're still talking about Carrie Bradshaw

The meme "tickled" Sienna Axe, a 23-year-old in Seattle, so much that she changed her display name on X to "Big is moving to Paris." It just made sense, she said. "I saw 'Big moving in Paris' and I was like, yeah Big is moving to Paris. She's always saying that shit," Axe told Mashable. "The world could be ending, and Big would still be moving to Paris and that would still be the most important thing in the world to Carrie Bradshaw."

Axe first got hooked on the show after watching it with her mom, specifically the episode after Carrie and Big broke up and she has a brief fling with an overzealous jazz musician. "I thought it was just so crazy that I sat down and watched the rest of the show," she said. 

Katherine Morgan, a 30-year-old writer and Powell's Books employee in Portland, Oregon, recently wrote a thread defending Carrie against her critics but still laughed at the "Big is moving to Paris" meme. "She does that a lot when someone has news or is talking about current events and then she refocuses the conversation on Big," she said.

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In 2013, writer Emily Nussbaum examined how Sex and the City played with the romantic comedy form by pushing back against viewers' desire to identify with Carrie. For The New Yorker, she wrote, "It switched the romantic comedy’s primal scene, from 'Me, too!' to 'Am I like her?' A man practically woven out of red flags, Big wasn’t there to rescue Carrie; instead, his 'great love' was a slow poisoning. She spun out, becoming anxious, obsessive, and, despite her charm, wildly self-centered—in her own words, 'the frightening woman whose fear ate her sanity.'"

One could argue that Carrie's reaction to Big moving to Paris exemplifies Big's poison driving her to insanity. As one X user wrote, "This is the most down bad anyone's ever been btw."

Tweet may have been deleted

"​​People often look to the media for examples of how to behave and do things in their everyday life and what personalities to have or behavior to enact," said Sierra. Memes are a way for viewers to negotiate those examples. "People use memes to circumscribe the boundaries of what is acceptable and isn't acceptable." 

The "Big is moving to Paris" meme rejects Big's hold over Carrie. "They're distancing themselves [from Carrie] and communicating that this is not what we want to be by ridiculing and laughing about that character," said Sierra. 

"There's so many stereotypes, and ideologies embedded in the media that we consume. In this case, it's a stereotype about a certain woman who's very self-centered. When you recirculate it, you're bringing that stereotype to mind, but by making fun of it, you're rejecting that way of being, and presenting an ideology that's not acceptable," she continued.

By making fun of it, you're rejecting that way of being, and presenting an ideology that's not acceptable.

But even during Sex and the City's cultural heyday, Carrie and Big's relationship was a point of contention for fans. In 2002, Joke Hermes, a professor of media, culture, and citizenship at Inholland University, conducted a study of conversations about the show on Jump the Shark, an internet forum for discussing when a television show fell off. "People reacted strongly against the Carrie and Big storyline early on," Hermes told Mashable. 

Like Sierra, she sees the memes as reacting to something bigger than just the characters. "[Carrie and Big] explore women's condition. We have the jobs we want to do, we are our own women, and then there's this old dream of finding the right guy to be a complete person, which is — as we used to say in the 1980s — the complete myth of patriarchy," said Hermes. "It's an ongoing discussion about how we think about men and women today and whether we're still invested in thinking about femininity and masculinity as total opposites."

It's easy to reject Carrie, but there are those like Morgan who embrace her chaos. "It's freeing to have a model for being loud and wrong because sometimes you have to be a little bit loud and wrong and say what you think so your friends can correct you," Axe said. Being loud and wrong is an essential part of growing up, and in an era where so many women are growing up publicly — whether that be Rodrigo or your average TikTokker in NYC — Carrie Bradshaw is relatable. When Rodrigo calls herself "Carrie Bradshaw AF" she's embracing the messy side of love and womanhood.

While the internet continues to wrestle with issues we've failed to resolve in the past 26 years via Carrie and Big, every New York City transplant on TikTok will continue to battle it out to be "the next Carrie Bradshaw."

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular, 41mm) $433.30 at Amazon (save $265.70) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Samsung 75-Inch The Frame LS03B Series QLED 4K TV $1,895 at Amazon (save $1,102.99) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Amazon Echo Buds with wired charging case (2nd gen) $54.99 at Amazon (save $65) Get Deal BEST SECURITY CAMERA DEAL Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera $77.99 at Amazon (save $51.99) Get Deal BEST COMPUTER DEAL Mac Mini (M2 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $499 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal

In the highly oversaturated world of e-commerce, Amazon consistently comes out on top — not just because of its convenience, but largely due to its array of deals. If you're a sucker for a sweet discount, we've scoured the lengthy list of daily deals at the mega-retailer and handpicked some of the most impressive ones we could find. While it may not be a major shopping holiday, there are plenty of price drops on big-name products, including the Apple Watch, The Frame TV, and Echo Buds.

Here are the best Amazon deals of the day for April 17. And don't miss out on our picks from April 15 and April 16 — many of those deals are still live.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Amazon deal of the day: Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular, 41mm) $433.30
$699.00 Save $265.70 Get Deal

If you've had the Apple Watch Series 9 on your wishlist since its debut, your patience has been rewarded with an all-time low discount. Despite its rocky start to the year (Apple removed the blood oxygen sensor from its watches due to a patent dispute), the Series 9 is alive and thriving. It comes with a few fancy new features like Double Tap and a 2,000-nit display, which makes it more readable in sunlight (one of Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder's favorite features). The 41mm version with GPS and cellular connectivity is typically $699, but you can save 38% as of April 17 and snag it for just $433.30.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-Inch The Frame LS03B Series QLED 4K TV $1,895.00 at Amazon
$2,997.99 Save $1,102.99 Get Deal

Thanks to Samsung's The Frame TVs, gone are the days of staring at a boring black rectangle on your wall when your TV is switched off. These TVs feature a unique ambient "Art Mode" that displays paintings and photos when the QLED screen is not in use. Many images come pre-loaded onto the TV, but you can also upload your own or subscribe to Samsung's Art Store for more options. The 75-inch version is down to an all-time low price of $1,895 as of April 17 — that's 37% off its usual cost.

Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera $77.99 at Amazon
$129.98 Save $51.99 Get Deal

If you're looking to add a second set of eyes outside of your home, the Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera lets you see what's happening in crisp HD at any time of day. It features 700 lumens of motion-triggered illumination and two-way audio, plus advanced motion detection via the Blink subscription plan. At 40% off, it's back down to its all-time low price of $77.99 (reg. $129.98).

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Buds with ANC (wired charging case) $54.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal

Some of our favorite wireless earbuds, the second-generation Echo Buds, are on sale at Amazon for just $54.99 as of April 17. While that's not the lowest price we've seen — that honor goes to the $49.99 deal from March 2022 — it's still an incredible deal on a pair of noise-canceling earbuds. Compared to the first-generation duds, Amazon's second iteration "deliver good sound quality, effective ANC, and a slimmed down build." Mashable's Alex Perry was impressed with them upon testing, calling them "a steal for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of ANC without setting their wallet on fire."

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Mac Mini (M2 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $499.00 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you're looking to upgrade our work-from-home setup without breaking the bank, the M2-equipped Mac Mini is a solid place to start. The ultra-portable desktop computer offers a zippy performance, support for up to two displays, upgraded graphics from its predecessor, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports for advanced connectivity. Better yet, it's just $20 shy of its all-time low price as of April 17. Snag it on sale for just $499 at Amazon.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Snapchat users will now see a ghostly image hovering over their AI-generated images, as Snapchat joins other Big Tech companies using watermarking tech to battle AI misinformation and deepfakes.

Images made using Snapchat's AI tools, like the app's extend tool and its recently launched Dreams feature, will be stamped with a transparent watermark (Snapchat's ghost logo) once it's exported or downloaded off the app. Users receiving AI-generated images may also see the ghost logo and the app's "sparkle" AI icon.

SEE ALSO: Is AI good or bad? The answer is more complicated than 'yes' or 'no.'

Currently, Snapchat marks AI-generated content, included text conversations with its My AI chatbot, in various ways. Images created using Dreams are accompanied by a "context card" that explains the feature and generative AI. My AI conversations and the extend tool uses "contextual" icons, like the sparkle symbol, to

"We also take great care to vet all political ads through a rigorous human review process, including a thorough check for any misleading use of content, including AI to create deceptive images or content," the platform wrote. "The addition of these watermarks will help inform those viewing it that the image was made with AI on Snapchat."

Along with the new transparency tool, Snapchat also committed to ongoing AI literacy efforts. So far, that just entails a generative AI FAQ available on its Support Site.

"While all of our AI tools, both text-based and visual, are designed to avoid producing incorrect, harmful, or misleading material, mistakes may still occur," the company wrote. "Snapchatters are able to report content, and we appreciate this feedback."

AI watchdogs say watermarking technology isn't a sure fire solution, however, even as tech's big players hinge their user-side bets on it.

In February, OpenAI announced it would be adding metadata watermarks to images generated by DALL-E 3. Google launched its SynthID, a tool that adds similarly invisible watermarks to AI images, in August. Youtube, meanwhile, is enforcing penalties against users who don't use its labelling system for digitally altered content.

By now, everyone has likely seen Boston Dynamics' robots.

The company's videos, usually showcasing what its Atlas hydraulic robot model could do, pretty much always go viral. Yes, these videos show off the incredible technological accomplishments of a company that has created a humanoid robot that can do parkour. But, the videos were popular due to the quirky nature of the robot. Atlas would slip! Atlas would fall over. Sure, some of Atlas's movements could be a bit dystopian – a sneak peek into a world where robots rule over humans – but Atlas also kind of looked like a Disney/Pixar creation.

But, earlier this week, Boston Dynamics surprisingly bid farewell to Atlas, retiring the beloved humanoid robot model.

But I don't believe anyone was quite expecting what Boston Dynamics had in store for us next.

The all-new Atlas

On Wednesday, just one day after the retirement of Atlas, Boston Dynamics uploaded a video announcing the all-new version of Atlas, a fully electric robot.

The new Atlas clearly has a brand new design. It's now slimmer, looking more like an actual human body-type. And it has a round head, something missing from the old Atlas' structure. In an announcement, Boston Dynamics says it is teaming with Hyundai to roll out real-world commercial uses for Atlas.

But, the video that Boston Dynamics released to introduce the world to the new Atlas certainly was a choice. It's giving off T-1000 from Terminator 2 vibes as opposed to the quirky kids movie feel of the old Atlas.

The video starts with the new electric Atlas lying on a mat. Suddenly, his legs rise and invert, landing almost crab-style. The legs then lift the rest of the robot's body up like something straight out of a Japanese horror movie. Its head suddenly spins, like Regan from The Exorcist, to face the camera. With its torso and arms still facing the wrong direction, the robot starts walking towards the camera. Atlas' torso then flips around to face forwards and the robot stops in front of the camera. After a second, each section of the body begins to spin away from the camera and Atlas loudly marches off.

Boston Dynamics doesn't really show off too much in the video — in terms of real-world capability anyway — so we still have to wait to find out if the new Atlas will amaze audiences in the way that the old one did. The company usually does deliver though, with each of its robot models proving to be better than the previous iteration.

But, there's no denying that Boston Dynamics has chosen a pretty creepy way to introduce the world to the new fully electric Atlas. John Connor, please standby.

Need to backup your iPhone? As a rule of thumb, you should always backup your computer — and that same rule applies to your iPhone, too.

Trust us. We've lost data, files, and other digital media before by not regularly backing up our device. You never know when you'll lose your iPhone.

Backing up your iPhone is easier than ever. In the early days of the iPhone, it use to be annoying to pull out the wire, connect your iPhone to your computer, and go through the iTunes backup process. Now, you can simply use iCloud.

How to backup iPhone

All it takes is the tap of a button to backup your iPhone now. And you can set up your device to automatically make regular backups, too. Let's walk through this simple process.

1. Go to Settings and tap your Apple ID name at the top Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 2. On the Apple ID screen, tap on iCloud. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 3. Under the Device Backups section, tap on iCloud Backup Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 4. For automated backups, make sure the 'Back Up This iPhone option' is switched on. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 5. To backup your iPhone immediately, tap on the 'Back Up Now' option. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot

Note: iCloud does not include photos and videos in your iPhone backup. Those media files are stored separately in iCloud Photos.

Apple gives iPhone users free 5GB of iCloud storage. For some users, this will be enough. For others, they'll have to upgrade to an iCloud+ paid plan. Both your iPhone backup on iCloud and your iCloud Photos share the same storage space, so make sure you have an appropriately sized plan that has enough storage space for your photos and latest iPhone backup.

The old Alexa can't answer your questions about Taylor Swift's new album, but Swift can.

In promotion of The Tortured Poets Department, out April 19, the pop star will answer your burning questions about the album on Amazon Alexa. For example, when you ask, "When does Taylor Swift's new album come out?" Alexa passes the mic to Swift who says, "Hey it's Taylor Swift. My new album The Tortured Poets Department is out this Friday. All is fair in love and poetry."

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift's music returns to TikTok ahead of 'The Tortured Poets Department' release

Swift famously never shies away from any opportunity to promote her music, despite current critiques of her artistic integrity. She managed to be the only Universal Music Group artist to get her music back on TikTok ahead of her album's release. That's not to mention her recent collaboration with Spotify in Los Angeles: a "library installation" that reveals details about the album via poetry typed on faux old-timey parchment — a fun gimmick that the corporate partnership detracts from. (Each piece of paper features the Spotify logo.) And on Instagram, if you type "Taylor Swift" a writing emoji appears.

Tweet may have been deleted Credit: Instagram

For her last album, Midnights, she partnered with TikTok and Spotify as well as Amazon Prime's Thursday Night Football and Tumblr. She's also one of many artists utilizing the album variant approach to maximize sales and profits.

Swift recently became a billionaire and remains under fire for her private jet use. But Alexa can probably tell you that.

SAVE 18%: An Amazon Fire TV Cube streaming device is just $114.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $139.99. That's a savings of $25.

Amazon Fire TV Cube streaming device $114.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal

Does your TV take forever to boot up Netflix, taking precious time away from your evening shows? If you tend to wait for apps to load, investing in a high-end streaming device could make your viewing experience more enjoyable. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you can get lightning-fast streaming while saving some money.

As of April 17, the Amazon Fire TV Cube is $114.99, marked down from the normal price of $139.99. That's an 18% discount or a savings of $25. This deal includes the Fire TV Cube streaming device, an Alexa voice-enhanced remote, and a power adapter.

SEE ALSO: The best time to buy a TV: A guide to the times of year that you'll find the best TV deals

The Amazon Fire TV Cube is capable of streaming 4K media, fast. Amazon says the Fire TV Cube is two times as powerful as the popular Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The Fire TV Cube uses an octa-core 2.0 GHz processor for faster launching and navigating of your favorite apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu. The cube can also support WiFi 6E for the latest in speedy internet connection.

The Fire TV Cube also works with voice commands thanks to the included remote control, so you can ask Alexa to change the volume of the TV or open Disney+.

If your streaming device is no longer keeping up or can't support streaming in 4K, this is your sign that it's time to upgrade. Grab the Amazon Fire TV Cube for just $114.99 and get used to quick streaming and navigating.

Wade Allain-Marcus describes how he sees his Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead as more of a remix than a remake. Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead is now in theaters.

SAVE $30: The Shokz OpenFit wireless headphones are on sale for $149.95 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $179.95. That's a 17% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenFit headphones $149.95 at Amazon
$179.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Headphones have become part of our everyday tech needs. Whether you prefer over-the-ear or earbuds, finding a pair that feels comfortable can be tough. If you're searching for a pair that focuses on comfort and all-day wearability, today's deal at Amazon might grant your wish.

As of April 17, the Shokz OpenFit wireless headphones are just $149.95, down from the standard price of $179.95. That's a savings of $30 or a 17% discount.

The Shokz OpenFit focus on a comfortable and secure fit without sacrificing sound quality. They have an over-ear design that keeps the earbuds secured thanks to a flexible ear hook. This design can be especially beneficial if you like to go for neighborhood runs, workout with a jump rope, or otherwise tend to have issues with keeping earbuds in place.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best earbuds on Amazon start at just $9

With the included charging case, expect to get up to 28 hours of listening time. The Shokz OpenFit also use situational awareness, so while you're jamming out to your favorite playlist you can still hear what's happening around you. This trend is appearing more often, with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds also focusing on letting users stay in tune with their surroundings.

The Shokz OpenFit are also great for those who live in climates where rain is common. The OpenFit have a double layer of waterproof steel mesh and gauze so a bit of rain or sweat won't be an issue.

If you're tired of earbuds being painful after an hour of wear, the Shokz OpenFit aim to offer both comfort and function. Plus, they have pretty awesome battery life. Score today's deal to save $30 and listen in comfort.

SAVE $80: As of April 17, get the 32-inch 2-Series HD Amazon Fire TV for just $119.99. That's a discount of 40%.

32-inch 2-Series HD Amazon Fire TV $119.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal

If you're in the market for a new TV, there are tons of great options available — but some of the best smart TVs you'll find are part of Amazon's Fire TV series. These affordable displays offer big functionality at low prices, especially if you're looking to add a screen to your home setup or a starter TV that you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on. Now's a great time to lock in a purchase as you can get one of the lineup's budget models for even cheaper than usual.

As of April 17, the Amazon 32-inch 2-Series Fire TV is just $119.99 at Amazon. That's $80 off its normal price of $199.99, and a discount of 40%.

SEE ALSO: Turn your TV into a digital art gallery for $32

This is a basic smart TV that doesn't offer many of its higher-priced siblings' features, but it's still a great screen if you want smart capabilities. It uses the Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote for hands-free control with Alexa Voice Search, which means never typing in long show names at a snail's pace again. On top of that, it supports all the normal Alexa apps you'd be able to use within the Fire ecosystem.

This TV doesn't support 4K, as it only goes up to HD 720p resolution, so keep that in mind when purchasing. But at this price, you get a streaming-capable TV with voice control support, live TV streaming, and a connection to Fire TV's live TV options, plus gaming and music. It's a great buy for just over $100.

I'd just got in the bath when my phone buzzed on the window sill. It was, alas, out of reach. But I had a sneaking suspicion of who the message was from.

I got up and leaned across to my device, bath suds and water dripping all over the floor. With wet fingers, I swiped up to see the WhatsApp and instantly wished I'd stayed in the bath.

"Send pics," read the message from the guy I barely knew.

Until this moment, things had been going so well. So well, in fact, that I was deeply suspicious.

Sending nudes to a near-stranger in the early stages of dating is a boundary for me. That might not be the case for everyone, but in my case, it's not something I do unless I'm sleeping with the person. But at this point, I hadn't even gone on a first date with this guy yet. We'd simply kissed on a night out with friends and started texting each other.

I sat back in the bath and deliberated how to respond. My heart raced as I asked myself if it was easier to just comply with this request. My thoughts urged me not to be awkward, not to be a prude. But something stronger was overriding these — a fierce feeling that I just didn't want to do what was being asked of me. The anxiety I could physically feel told me I'd be crossing my own boundaries if I yielded.

I waited an hour, scrambling to find the right words to tell him 'no.' "Hey," I began. "So I have a rule that I don't send pics to someone unless I've slept with them." He replied almost instantly. "That is a very good rule," he said. The conversation went back to whatever we'd been talking about before. No awkwardness, no annoyance, nothing that I'd feared had happened.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that at age 30, I shouldn't be struggling to tell a man I'd met twice that I didn't want to do something. But here we are. My friends also tell me they feel highly nervous, overcome with anxiety when setting boundaries in the early stages of dating.

Why are boundaries important?

So, why are boundaries so important? "Boundaries set the basic guidelines for how a person wants to be treated," according to Neil Wilkie, founder of online couples therapy platform The Relationship Paradigm. "Clear boundaries are essential for our own mental health and self-esteem."

While this post deals primarily with boundaries in dating and romantic and sexual relationships, I'd note that boundaries are vital in ALL relationships — be that with family, friends, colleagues, and even your internet followers. For marginalised communities, in particular, respecting boundaries is deeply important in preventing re-traumatisation, and examples of boundary violations can include white people asking their Black friends to explain racism and people tagging sexual violence survivors in social media posts about sexual trauma. Everyone has the right to set boundaries and to have them respected.

SEE ALSO: How to set sexual boundaries Why does boundary setting feel difficult?

Boundaries are key, but in terms of dating, establishing them with someone you like and don't know very well can seem a little daunting at first. "When we’re nervous about holding onto someone else’s approval we can compromise on boundaries," Rachael Lloyd, relationship expert at eharmony, told me. "But once you start doing that, your own sense of self can erode and you can soon lose yourself in the relationship." If you're not 100 percent sure of your own boundaries, Lloyd said you might be clued in by your instincts. "You’ll know when a boundary is overstepped because you’re likely to suddenly feel triggered emotionally, within your body."

Getting in early with boundary setting also means heading off at the pass any potential future sources of resentment and friction that could arise. "In the early days of a relationship it is rare for a couple to discuss boundaries, which will mean that the ground rules are unclear and uncertain," explained Wilkie. Discussing your sexual boundaries with a new partner is particularly important in making sure you both feel comfortable and safe. "It is so much easier to talk about boundaries in the early days of a relationship as that will be coming from a place of growth and clarity rather than resentment and blame," Wilkie added.

How to talk about boundaries

What do you do if a discussion with someone you're newly dating veers into territory that you're not OK with? "If you enter into a topic of conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable or is delicate, such as political views, family life or salary, politely assert your boundary and explain that you’d rather not discuss that at this point, while changing the conversation to something that you have in common," explained Lloyd.  

SEE ALSO: How to set boundaries at work

But you don't have to wait until a line has been crossed before having a chat about boundaries. Why not have a conversation about both your boundaries? "Introduce the topic gently, maybe by asking them, 'What is important for you in a relationship?'. If they open up, great. If not, then try again in a different way," Wilkie suggested. "Notice what is important for you and what boundaries you feel are being transgressed. Bring these up in a way like: ‘When you do x, I feel y’ rather than ‘It’s horrible when you do x’ do."

If the person is reluctant to discuss boundaries, or if they react badly to you setting a boundary, this could be a red flag. "If they are breaking the boundaries and don’t want to engage in conversation about it, question if are they right for me?" said Wilkie.

When it comes to intimacy, it's advisable to bring up sexual boundaries before you've entered a sexual encounter with that person. In the moment, if you are having sex with someone and a boundary is being crossed, remember that consent can be withdrawn at any point, and each new sexual act that's introduced in an encounter needs to be consented to. Our boundaries change and evolve over time, so if you're in a long-term relationship with someone, check in with each other and see where you're at.

If you're in a long-term relationship with someone and you want to have a meaningful exchange about one another's boundaries, you could try drawing up a list. Wilkie suggested getting each partner to draw up a list of what their boundaries are, then sharing and discussing what those boundaries mean to them, before comparing any similarities and differences. Making sure you've been listened to and understood is really important. If you feel there's room for improvement in the way your partner interacts with and respects those boundaries, let them know. If you want to, schedule regular meetings to chat about these and whether sufficient progress has been made.

At the end of the day, we're all entitled to boundaries and we deserve to have them respected. Just because you're in the early stages of dating someone doesn't mean you have to compromise on something that keeps you feeling protected and safe. The person's response to a boundary being set will usually give you a good idea about whether this relationship is worth pursuing.

This article was first published in 2020 and republished in 2024.

Shōgun is a series full of wily political operators, unpredictable fight scenes, and the occasional devastating earthquake. Yet the biggest obstacle our characters have had to face is none other than a single gate leading out of Osaka Castle — a gate which becomes the focus of two of Shōgun's best scenes.

SEE ALSO: 'Shōgun' review: 2024's first great TV epic is here

In episode 3, "Tomorrow Is Tomorrow," Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) must leave Osaka in order to avoid death at the hands of Ishido Kazunari (Takehiro Hira) and the rest of the Council of Regents. His plan to make it out of the city plays like something out of a farce, complete with faked labor pains and Toranaga switching places with his wife Kiri No Kata (Yoriko Dōguchi). Ishido's men almost catch on to the ruse, but John Blackthorne's (Cosmo Jarvis) improvised outrage on behalf of Kiri's virtue manages to cause enough chaos to throw them off the scent. The entire sequence is a perfect balancing act of comedy and suspense, but the next time Shōgun returns to the gate leading out of Osaka Castle, we're in for a much more somber affair.

Anna Sawai in "Shōgun." Credit: Katie Yu / FX

Flash-forward to "Crimson Sky," Shōgun's ninth entry and its most heartbreaking to date. The whole episode focuses on Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai) as she enacts the next stages of Toranaga's plan for victory. She arrives in Osaka and requests that she leave the next day along with Kiri and Toranaga's consort, Shizu No Kata (Mako Fujimoto). But that request, like so many elements of Shōgun, is not as simple as it may seem. That's because Ishido won't let any of the nobles staying in Osaka leave. Don't call them hostages, though! He'd prefer you think of them as very secure guests.

Mariko's demand to leave places Ishido in a tight spot. If he doesn't allow her to go, he's fully confirming that everyone in Osaka Castle is a prisoner. But if he does let her go, that sets a precedent for everyone else in the castle to leave as well. He states that he and the Council will deliberate, to which Mariko retorts that if she is unable to leave the next morning, she'll have failed to do her duty to Toranaga, and will therefore have to commit seppuku.

That takes us to Shōgun's second iteration of the Osaka gate scene, a tense showdown during which a determined Mariko and her retinue advance through waves of guards and archers. Eventually, she is unable to continue and resigns herself to commit seppuku later that day.

SEE ALSO: 'Shōgun' is a master class in period costuming

With Mariko's seemingly inevitable death on the horizon, and with the gradual attrition of her forces grinding her to a halt, this Osaka gate scene couldn't feel more different than Toranaga's madcap escape in episode 3. And yet that first escape sequence is key to understanding Mariko's attempt to leave.

"Your job is to teach the audience how to watch the show," Shōgun showrunner, co-creator, and executive producer Justin Marks told Mashable. "Everything in episode 3 is a setup for what happens in episode 9." Episode 3 establishes not only the architecture of Osaka Castle — including the layout of that specific gate — but also the degree of difficulty it takes to escape.

Everything in episode 3 is a setup for what happens in episode 9. - Justin Marks

"The real focus of it is that it took the most powerful man in Japan an incredible amount of subterfuge to [leave Osaka]," Marks said. "How is one woman going to walk out? The point is, she's not. It's theater, it's performance art. That's the essential part of this, which is to demonstrate all that [Ishido] will do to keep her from going, but for her to keep going anyway."

Anna Sawai in "Shōgun." Credit: Katie Yu / FX

Shōgun has always prepared us for the possibility that Mariko might die, especially since she's asked for death so many times. Yet that possibility truly begins to feel like a reality during this gate sequence. Something as simple as a character trying to go from Point A to Point B becomes a deadly act, as episodes' worth of context — including the difficulties of Toranaga's episode 3 escape — bear down on Mariko's every footstep.

"The entire season funnels to this one moment where a character is walking, trying to pass through a gate," Shōgun co-creator and executive producer Rachel Kondo told Mashable. Kondo also wrote "Crimson Sky" along with Caillin Puente.

The entire season funnels to this one moment. - Rachel Kondo

"The impression I got reading the book [by James Clavell] was that the 50 feet to that gate is a journey that Mariko has been trying to make for her entire life," Marks added.

For Mariko, her attempt to leave Osaka and the subsequent declaration of seppuku are necessary services she must perform for Toranaga. But they're also a chance for her death to serve a greater purpose in a cruel world that sometimes treats people as if they're disposable.

"She's fighting for more than just her own sense of resolution," Kondo explained. "I think she was fighting for all the women who don't ever get the chance for their deaths to mean something."

Even though Mariko doesn't die in this moment, "Crimson Sky" sees her face down death time and time again: First at the gate, then at her near-seppuku, then finally in a brutal third-act attack that does take her life. The constant proximity to death prepares us for her eventual farewell, and even though it may be tragic for the audience and for the characters around her, Marks believes that survival past this point would have crushed Mariko further.

"She would hate victory over death," Marks said. "What she could no longer stand was to suppress her own wants in service of this world anymore. And she asserted that through an army trying to stop her."

He added, of the gate scene, that "it's the point where there's no going back for Mariko. You realize the whole show has been about her. And if you thought it was about anyone else, then you probably weren't watching closely enough."

Shōgun is now streaming on Hulu, with the finale premiering April 23.