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Elon Musk has often touted that X is a place for news since acquiring the company then known as Twitter. Regardless of studies and reports showing misinformation on his social media platform are running rampant, Musk has repeatedly claimed that X is the best online destination for truth.
On Thursday, Musk seemingly fell for a photoshopped fake news headline from a far-right user on X — and shared it with his more than 293 million followers.
Tweet may have been deleted Musk's tweet-and-delete post"Detainment camps…" Musk posted alongside a quoted post from X user Ashlea Simon, who posted a fake image that was created to look like a headline from The Daily Telegraph's website. The fake headline read "Keir Starmer considering building 'emergency detainment camps' on the Falkland Islands."
Simon is one of the leaders of the far-right UK party known as Britain First. The fake headline was referencing the far-right's anti-immigration riots that have been unfolding throughout the UK and appeared to claim that the UK Prime Minister and Labor Party leader was building "detainment camps" to hold the arrested rioters.
Musk appeared to have deleted his post roughly 30 minutes after publishing it. It received more than two million impressions on the platform before Musk removed it. Musk has yet to acknowledge its deletion or issue a correction for his followers who were deceived by the fake news.
As previously mentioned, Musk has pushed hard for X to be seen as a news media application — not just a social media platform. However, Musk and X have repeatedly posted fake news. In fact, at times, the platform itself has created fake news.
Earlier this year, the platform's own AI chatbot Grok created a fake news story falsely claiming that Iran was striking Tel Aviv with missiles. X then promoted Grok's story to users via the Explore feature on the website.
Just a few weeks ago, Musk shared a manipulated political campaign video featuring a deepfake, AI-generated voice impersonating U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. While the original poster of the video labeled the clip as a parody, Musk removed any reference to the video being a parody and shared it without any context to his hundreds of millions of followers.
Goodbye photo dumps, hello Facebook albums. Instagram is no longer restricting carousels to 10 photos or videos. Now, you can post up to 20.
SEE ALSO: Instagram now lets you create an AI version of yourselfThe art of an Instagram post has gone through many phases. What began as heavily filtered low-stakes shots morphed into pristine "aesthetic" photos and finally into the highly curated photo dump that started out fun and turned into a series of seemingly mandatory life updates — Mashable's Christianna Silva even called them cringe back in March. Now, with 20-slide posts, photo dumps might go the way of the Facebook album, which is extinct. Social media is nothing if not cyclical.
Instagram feeds are overwhelmed with sponsored posts and creators, making them practically un-scrollable. Instead of fixing the fact that you don't see the people you know's posts anymore and making the platform more usable, it's still chasing after TikTok's success.
SEE ALSO: Is posting a photo dump on Instagram cringe now?The update makes carousel posts on Instagram even more closely resemble TikTok's photo mode, which allows users to post up to 35 photos in a slideshow set to music. Last year, Instagram added the option for users to soundtrack their dumps, and now the length of dumps is more in line with photo mode.
What will Instagram's next nail in the coffin be?
We already know that the more advanced Apple Intelligence features might come with a price. Now Apple analysts are predicting what that price might be.
Neil Shah, a partner at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC that premium AI features could cost between $10 and $20 for a monthly subscription. "Software and services makes it more lucrative for Apple to pass it on with the Apple One subscription model," Shah told the outlet.
SEE ALSO: Apple Intelligence: A ‘pep talk’ is given to the AI to prevent hallucination, according to secret codeSo certain Apple Intelligence access could be bundled into the Apple One subscription as a higher subscription tier. Apple One starts at $19.95 a month and includes Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and Apple Fitness+, which are premium versions of free Apple services. From this standpoint, a paid Apple Intelligence subscription would fit the freemium model it uses with others. "Apple is one of the few connected devices companies that has successfully monetized the value-added services it offers," told CCS Insight chief researcher Ben Wood to CNBC.
According to previous reports, Apple is exploring Apple Intelligence+ in order to get a cut of subscription revenue with its AI partners like OpenAI. It would also be a way to offset the costs of AI investment, which isn't cheap.
The timing of this is uncertain. Even some of the Apple Intelligence features announced at this year's WWDC won't be available until next year. That includes features related to Siri's AI revamp like understanding personal context and on-screen awareness.
However, there are some Apple Intelligence features you can try now through the iOS 18.1 developer beta. Writing Tools, Call Recording, and some new AI-powered Siri features are available to test out. And they're free — for now.
SAVE 33%: The Philips Sonicare for Kids (pet design) is on sale for just $19.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $29.99. That's a $10 discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips Sonicare for Kids (pet design) $19.99 at AmazonThe start of a fresh school year is already here. As kids pack up their backpacks, meet a new teacher, and reunite with friends, the beginning of the school year is also a great time to start new with healthy habits. Help kids get into a good oral-hygiene routine with today's deal at Amazon on a fun electric toothbrush.
As of Aug. 8, the Philips Sonicare for Kids (pet design) is just $19.99, marked down from the usual price of $29.99. That's a 33% discount or a savings of $10.
An electric toothbrush can be the best way to get thoroughly cleaned teeth and the Philips Sonicare for Kids adds some fun to the task. The pet edition comes with reusable stickers so kids can make their own individual design. This can also be great for siblings as a way to distinguish which toothbrush belongs to whom.
Kids can choose between one of two settings — gentle or extra gentle — to find what works best for their comfort. The Philips Sonicare for Kids also takes the guesswork out of brushing for two minutes, with 30-second timers. The included brush head is designed for kids ages 3 and up.
Philips says the Sonicare for Kids can get up to 14 days of use before it needs to recharge, so it can be great for taking on weekend get-aways, knowing it'll stay charged up. There's an included USB-A charging stand for when it's time to recharge the toothbrush.
Start the school year off with healthy habits, including dental care, with the Philips Sonicare for Kids. Thanks to today's deal, the electric toothbrush is 33% off, which is a heck of a lot cheaper than extra trips to the dentist.
SAVE 19%: Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones live up to their name and for a limited time, they're back to their Prime Day price of $349. Shop now for $80 off and 19% savings.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $349.00 at AmazonWe've tested a lot of headphones. Like a lot. So when we declare a pair of headphones to be the most comfortable, we mean it. When I tested the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, I wasn't thrilled about the price, but I was enthralled with the all-day comfort. Now the headphones are back down to their Prime Day price, providing a sweet $80 discount.
Bose makes exceptional headphones — we're big fans of their QuietComfort Ultra and Ultra Open earbuds, too. However, that quality means steep price tags. Normally, priced at $429, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones aren't cheap by any means.
Having tested them myself, the price is worth it in some ways. The headphones deliver rich audio and active noise cancellation to block out the world around you. Three different listening modes — quiet, aware, and immersive — let you listen exactly how you want. But above all, these headphones are comfortable. Having worn them for 8 hours with glasses and earrings on, I was perfectly comfortable with no sore ears at the end of the day.
While I do think their comfort earns the price tag, spending over $400 on headphones hurts the wallet. Luckily, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are back down to their Prime Day price of $349 on Amazon. This is just $10 short of their lowest price ever, but still delivers 19% off for $80 in savings.
SAVE $20: As of August 8, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is $39.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount and the lowest price we've tracked.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $39.99 at AmazonYou've got plenty of options when it comes to streaming devices. But if you want one of the best that's also flexible and easy to use, you'd do well to opt for something from Amazon. A Fire TV Stick is an affordable pick that works with multiple platforms and a variety of apps. And right now, you can get one of the best Amazon has to offer for a great discount, just in time for the kids to go back to school – and for you to finish watching A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.
As of August 8, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale for $39.99. That's $20 off its normal price of $59.99, and a 33% discount. It's also the lowest price we've seen.
SEE ALSO: The best deals under $50 on Amazon this week: Score a Ninja blender, Roku Streaming Stick, Soundcore headphones, and moreThe Fire TV Stick 4K Max is rife with features, improving on its predecessor in several ways. First, as its name implies, it offers 4K Ultra HD streaming with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10+ compatibility. It also supports WiFi 6E for smoother, faster streaming and includes a new Ambient mode that lets you use your TV to display artwork and photos when not in use. The unit comes with 16GB of storage to keep all your photos and artwork handy.
You can also use this Fire TV Stick to play your favorite Xbox games without a console. Just connect with the Xbox app and play games via your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. There's a lot to choose from, and plenty of other streaming apps beyond that, too. Now's the time to lock in one of these devices so you can kick back and relax while fall sidles on in. You'll definitely have plenty to entertain yourself with.
We love our TVs, we need our TVs. But for the aesthetically-minded among us, incorporating a TV into our home décor can be...a challenge. Samsung answered this dilemma with The Frame TV. The brand's line seamlessly turns TVs into works of art when turned off, plus, this spring, Samsung launched a Frame speaker that looks just another picture frame on your gallery wall.
Until this year, Samsung didn't have much competition since it launched The Frame in 2017. Back in 2022, Amazon embraced aesthetic multitasking with its line of Omni Fire TVs. Now, TV leaders Hisense and TCL are entering the field with new lifestyle TVs.
Credit: Hisense Meet the HiSense CanvasTVLaunched in July 2024, the Hisense CanvasTV offers an immersive Art Mode. Right on par with The Frame, Art Mode on the CanvasTV shows a collection of pre-loaded artwork as well as personalized photographs when not in use. So rather than the boring black screen you're used to, the CanvasTV shows beautiful images of your choosing.
While the immersive Art Mode is the big draw of The Frame-style TVs, they're also really good at their main function. The CanvasTV is 4K QLED and features Hisense's Hi-Matte tech for anti-glare viewing. Plus, it's loaded with surround sound — no extra sound system needed. It's a Google TV as well, providing access to your favorite streaming apps.
It's available in both 55- and 65-inch models. The CanvasTV comes with a teak frame, with additional frames available for purchase. The best part of the Hisense CanvasTV is that it is significantly cheaper than Samsung's The Frame. The 65-inch Hisense CanvasTV costs just $1,299.99, while Samsung's same-sized model is $1,999.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch CanvasTV QLED 4K TV $1,299.99 at AmazonAnd just this week, TCL announced its NXTFRAME TV. Like The Frame and the CanvasTV, it's all about merging décor with the functionality of a TV. The NXTFRAME TV boasts an exceptionally thin design (apparently the thinnest TV ever), just 1.1-inch deep (1.2-inches on the 85-inch model). It mounts flush to the wall to blend into your gallery and comes with a curated Art Library. It also features a personal photo gallery mode and has AI Art capabilities, an interesting choice considering how controversial AI art has been.
TCL has also entered a licensing partnership with Bang & Olufsen, giving NXTFRAME TV Pro models audio by Bang & Olufsen. Like the other art TVs available, it's 4K QLED with a matte anti-glare screen. It comes in four sizes: 55-, 65-, 75-, and 85-inches. Like Samsung and Hisense's TVs, it comes with a swappable wooden frame.
The 55-inch and 65-inch NXTFRAME TVs are supposed to be available now but still listed as coming soon on TCL's website. The 75- and 85-inch models are coming in September. Models start at $1,499.99 for the 55-inch model, the exact same price as Samsung's 55-inch The Frame. However, TCL's NXTFRAME TVs are cheaper than Samsung's as the models increase in size, saving you several hundred dollars.
Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 55-inch NXTFRAME QLED 4K TV $1,499.99 at TCLSAVE 20%: As of August 8, save up to 20% off select Owala tumblers during the Owala Back to School Sale.
Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala Back to School Sale Save up to 20% off select Owala tumblers Get DealIf you're trying to drink more water, a nice tumbler can definitely help you reach that goal. But believe it or not, there's a world beyond Stanley cups. In fact, there are tons of great options to choose from out there. One in particular is Owala, which makes a variety of colorful cups and tumblers that come with versatile form factors, lids, and other useful features. Like Stanley cups, however, they can be a bit pricey. But that's where Owala's latest discount comes in.
As of August 8, save up to 20% on select Owala tumblers as part of the Owala Back to School Sale. Visit the sale page to choose from discounted tumblers, though you won't see discounts applied until you add them to your cart.
You can choose from classics like the Owala 40oz Tumbler (which comes in several different colors), which is normally $37.99. It's discounted to just $30.40 as part of the sale. There's also the stainless steel 24oz version if you need something a little smaller. It's discounted to $22.40 from $27.99.
It's a great time to make sure you're staying hydrated, or if you need to get the kids something fun to encourage them to drink more water, too. And if bright colors help do that, well, more power to you. There are some pretty interesting color combinations still available now, too. The sale is on for a limited time, so snatch up your Owala tumblers while you still can.
The Umbrella Academy is over, friends. And in the very last moments of Season 4, we got to briefly reunite with some of the series' characters beyond the core Hargreeves.
In the final scene of the series forever, we find ourselves in a utopian park, listening to the sounds of Tommy James and the Shondells' original 1967 version of "I Think We're Alone Now" — a perfect final song for The Umbrella Academy. We see a family blowing bubbles, a group of blonde men playing frisbee, and two people playing backgammon while being sketched. It's all very lovely and meant to show the results of the Hargreeves' final act.
SEE ALSO: 'The Umbrella Academy' Season 4 ending, explained"We wanted to make the final moment really special and say that in this final timeline, things have all come back to normal. All the other timelines don’t exist and it’s just a normal life," series creator Steve Blackman told Netflix's Tudum blog. "So we brought back in as many of the returning cast as we could."
But who was that guy? And why do I remember that face? We're here to help identify every familiar face in the final scene, and there's some spoilers in here so beware.
The family on the lawnBlowing bubbles and having tea parties on the lawn, Lila (Ritu Arya) and Diego's (David Castañeda) family have made it, including Lila's parents (Geet Arora and Shiva Safari), Uncle Inny (Sylvan Valladares), Aunt Banu (Gurbir Bal), Cousin Ronnie (Devanshu Narang), and their daughter Grace (Ciara Rose Feeney). They're joined by Allison's daughter Claire (Millie Davis). They were all put on a time-travelling subway train by Lila to ensure their safety before the Hargreeves made their final sacrifice — so, it worked.
The three guys playing frisbeeRemember the Swedes? The assassins from Season 2? They're not dead, nor will they be as they don't foolishly try to kill the Hargreeves siblings in the future! Triplets Otto (Jason Bryden), Axel (Kris Holden-Ried), and Oscar (Tom Sinclair) were assigned to kill the Umbrella Academy members by the Handler of the Temps Commission, and they all died instead.
The two people walking their bikesThat's Griddy's Doughnuts owner Agnes Rofa (Sheila McCarthy) and time-travelling assassin Hazel (Cameron Britton) who fell in love in Season 1.
The lady pushing the pramNo longer a Kugelblitz worshipping android, the Hargreeves' robot mother Grace (Jordan Claire Robbins) pushes a pram holding a baby presumably without powers.
The joggerStopping to stretch, that jogger is The Handler (Kate Walsh), Lila's adoptive mother and a big cheese at the Temps Commission in Season 2. She's the main villain in that season, so it's nice to see her more centred.
The sketcherThat's none other that The Umbrella Academy's comic book co-creator, illustrator by Gabriel Bá. "I hope people scream a little if they catch me there because it was fun for me," Bá told Tudum.
The backgammon playersBeing sketched by Bá is Herb (Ken Hall) and Dot (Patrice Goodman) from the Temps Commission. Hall also did the motion capture for chimpanzee caretaker Pogo in earlier seasons.
Can you see more characters in the scene? Blackman told Tudum that Five's beloved mannequin, Dolores, from Season 1 is somewhere in there, but I can't see her. Maybe you'll have more luck.
SAVE $2,300: For August 8 only, the 2022 85-inch Samsung The Frame QLED TV is on sale for $1,499.99 as the Best Buy Drop of the day. That's more than 50% in savings and can only be accessed through the Best Buy mobile app.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 85-inch The Frame QLED 4K TV $1,499.99 at Best BuyHigh profile items are the name of the game with Best Buy Drops, and there's no higher profile TV than Samsung's The Frame. The gigantic 85-inch version of The Frame is the Best Buy Drop of the day for August 8, where you can snag it for $1,499.99 — a jaw-dropping $2,300 price cut that's way more intense than what we expected.
The fine print is that you'll only get access to that price if you click on it through the Drops tab in the Best Buy mobile app, which is the only version of Best Buy where Drops exists. Once you find the TV in Drops, be sure to peek at the status bar showing how many items are left — Drops items are released in limited quantities, so when they're gone, they're gone.
SEE ALSO: The best time to buy a TV: A guide to the times of year that you'll find the best TV dealsTo be clear, the model featured as the Drop is the 2022 version of The Frame. Several sizes of the 2024 version are also on sale at Best Buy, but obviously, aren't nearly as heavily discounted. For reference, you could almost buy three 2022 85-inch Frames at this price before hitting the $4,299.99 price tag of the 2024 85-inch Frame.
Of the good TV deals popping up in early August, The Frame is definitely one of our favorites. If you clicked on this story, you probably already know why The Frame has such name recognition. If not, let's quickly unpack the overarching question asked by Google users when "the frame" is searched: What does Samsung's The Frame actually do?
When it's on and being watched, The Frame is just a solid QLED TV: It has stellar peak brightness and punchy quantum dot-fueled colors that make it great for watching sports in bright rooms. (This Drop happens to be right before football season gets into full swing. Coincidence? Doubt it.) The matte screen does quite well with reflection handling as well, though the whole "matte" thing comes way more into play when the TV's not being watched.
SEE ALSO: The 20 best action movies on Netflix right nowWhen it's off and just chilling on your wall, The Frame uses ambient light sensors to dim itself and sort of melt into the wall. The non-shiny screen can display the fine art of your choice, photos of loved ones you've uploaded, or photos you've uploaded of the wall around the TV to mimic the design and fully blend in. The concept is seriously cool for folks who aren't psyched on the idea of this giant hunk of technology cramping the style of their carefully-curated accent wall.
Check out the best deal at Amazon this week that cost under $50.
Our top picks: Best tech deal under $50 Roku Streaming Stick 4K $34 at Amazon (save $15.99) Get Deal Best headphones and earbuds deal under $50 Soundcore Anker Life Q20 $39.90 at Amazon (save $20.09) Get Deal Best kitchen deal under $50 Ninja Blast Portable Blender $49.99 at Amazon (save $10) Get Deal Best travel deal under $50 Tile Mate (3-pack) $49.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get DealSince it can feel like everything is too expensive these days, we love shopping for great deals that work well for those on a strict budget. Whether you're saving for a down payment, a winter vacation, or are simply trying to spend less, we've gathered some of the best deals at Amazon during the week of Aug. 8 that cost less than $50. You can snag a new blender, some solid noise-cancelling headphones, or a new streaming stick at an affordable price this week.
Below are some of our favorites:
Best tech deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Our pick: Roku Streaming Stick 4K $34.00 at AmazonStreaming shows and movies has become a way of life for most of us. Instead of waiting for Saturday night to tune into whatever movie the local TV channels play, we use streaming sticks to watch the selection at Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more.
Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is just $34, down from the usual price of $49.99, which means you're getting a 32% discount. The Roku stick comes with a remote with quick access to your favorite streaming platforms, and you can use voice control.
Mashable reporter Samantha Mangino found out that not all streaming sticks are created equal. In her review of the Roku Streaming Stick vs. the Amazon Fire TV Stick, she found the Roku to be an all-around winner, with snappier performance and a user-friendly design, so today's sale price makes this a great deal on one of the best models around.
More tech deals under $50 at Amazon:Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)
Samsung 15W Wireless Charger — $34.96 $59.99 (save $25.03)
Anker Nano II USB C Charger (65W) — $39.99 $55.99 (save $16)
TP-Link Deco Whole Home Mesh WiFi System — $49.49 $59.99 (save $10.50)
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Sengled Smart Color Bulb — $49.99 $69.98 (save $19.99)
Everyone deserves serenity in their lives. If you're feeling like the outside world is salting your vibe, it might be time to use some noise-cancelling headphones. As of Aug. 8, the Soundcore Anker Life Q20 hybrid noise-cancelling headphones are on sale for just $39.90 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $59.99. Thanks to this sale price, you'll be saving 33%.
The Soundcore Anker Life Q20 headphones earned Mashable's choice as the best budget-friendly noise-cancelling headphones for flying. With 60 hours of playtime, it's no surprise they work great for travel days. The memory foam ear cups also mean they're comfortable for all-day wear, whether you're sitting on a plane or at your desk.
More headphones and earbuds deals under $50 at Amazon:Soundcore P30i earbuds — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)
Soundcore V20i earbuds — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
Soundcore Life P3i earbuds — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)
Kitchen appliances have come a long way in the last decade. Some people have even ditched the traditional oven for a countertop air fryer. But one thing is certain — there's no more kitchen space for another appliance. However, the Ninja Blast Portable Blender is compact without sacrificing function, so we still think it's worthy of kitchen space. It's currently on sale for just $49.99, a $10 discount off its typical price of $59.99.
One of the coolest aspects of the Ninja Blast is its portability with a rechargeable power base, meaning you can take it with you anywhere. The 18-ounce vessel is dishwasher safe, and so is the leak-proof lid, so cleaning is a breeze.
More kitchen deals under $50 at Amazon:Chefman XL Electric Griddle (10 x 20 inch) — $34.99 $39.99 (save $5)
Dash Tasti-Crisp Electric Air Fryer Oven (2.6-quart) — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker — $38.33 $45.09 (save $6.67)
KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender — $49.99 $59.09 (save $10)
If you're hoping to have a stress-free vacation, you'll want to utilize the reassurance that comes from Bluetooth trackers. These small devices slip into your luggage and allow you to keep tabs on their location 24/7. That means if you fly from Chicago to Amsterdam and notice your suitcase is in Paris, you'll be able to let the airline know ASAP. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, a 3-pack of the reliable Tile Mate Bluetooth trackers are on sale for just $49.99. That's a 29% discount off the usual price of $69.99.
The 3-pack means you can stash one in your checked luggage and keep one in your carry-on, or slip one into your travel tote bag for when you're out exploring a new destination. The Tile Mate trackers are iOS and Android compatible, so you can use them regardless of which smartphone operating system you prefer.
More travel deals under $50 at Amazon:Anker European Travel Plug — $9.99 $19.99 (save $10)
Anker Nano Power Bank — $17.99 $25.99 (save $8)
Tile Sticker Bluetooth Tracker — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)
UP TO 40% OFF: As of August 8, save up to 40% when you book select flight and hotel packages with the Priceline Solo Explorer Sale.
Opens in a new window Credit: Priceline Priceline Solo Explorer Sale Save up to 40% off flight and hotel packages to select destinations Get DealLooking to travel the world on your own for a bit? There's nothing wrong with hopping into a plane and flying solo. In fact, companies like Priceline are encouraging you to get out there and take that trip you've been thinking about with deals like the Solo Explorer Sale, which discounts a variety of flights to destinations as well as hotels to exotic locales around the world. It's time to rip off that solo travel Band-Aid and do the thing with the savings you can take advantage of.
As of August 8, you can save up to 40% off when you book select flight and hotel packages during the Priceline Solo Explorer Sale. Choose from locations like Kyoto, Sedona, Kauai, and other locales, and you'll be given a sample itinerary of your visit. Then book your flight with one of the package deals offered through the Solo Explorer Sale landing page and you'll receive your booking discount. You must book before August 11 to take advantage of the sale.
This is a great option if you've been bitten by the travel bug, but aren't quite sure where to go. Or if you've been wanting to go globetrotting, but haven't yet found anyone who wants to go with you. You can take care of two birds here and snatch a more affordable trip with hotel included, plus you get to do things on your own terms. And the best part is, you can have your entire vacation planned out for you. Just be sure and book soon, because you only have a few days left to make a decision. No pressure, it's just the trip of a lifetime, right?
The Umbrella Academy has finished forever, and to end it all, the Netflix series blasts a musical throwback to the very first episode.
In the final moments of Season 4, we find ourselves in a utopian park filled with characters we've met across the series (some are missing for spoilery reasons). But as we're careening through this verdant picnic ground, the sounds of Tommy James and the Shondells' original 1967 version of "I Think We're Alone Now" will be an instant delight for longtime fans.
SEE ALSO: 'The Umbrella Academy' finale: A guide to everyone in that last sceneIt's a perfect nod to the 1987 synthpop cover by Tiffany that won hearts in Season 1. If you'll cast your memory back to 2019, when we first met the Hargreeves in the series, there's a moment in the first episode when the siblings need a timeout.
Luther (Tom Hopper), the leader of the bunch, decides to play the song in his room loud enough for the rest of the Hargreeves manor to hear, and Diego (David Castañeda), Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman), Klaus (Robert Sheehan), and Viktor (Elliot Page) all can't resist the temptation to dance. The scene cuts between the siblings, eventually panning out to reveal the whole house throwing down a move, unbeknownst to each other.
It's the dance scene that would ensure an Umbrella Academy dance scene every season, including Season 4. Viktor, Klaus, and Alison muck around to Sam Cooke's "Twistin' The Night Away" in Season 2, and the season-opening "Footloose" dance-off from Season 3 is a series highlight.
The Season 1 "I Think We're Alone Now" moment proved such a hit with fans the cast recreated the scene during lockdown — including Number Five (Aidan Gallagher) and Ben (Justin H. Min), who weren't in the original. The video was used to promote Season 2's date announcement, and it's brilliant:
So, to finish the entire series with the song that started it all? 11/10. Yes, there's a different song for Season 4's end credits (Talking Heads' "This Must Be The Place"), but this is the real finisher. Crank it up.
The very promise of real life lovers Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally starring as a dastardly dream team of conspiracy theorists and cult leaders in The Umbrella Academy's fourth and final season is exquisite enough.
And then they hit you with a choreographed dance to Cher.
In one of the very best scenes of Season 4, in episode 3, the Fargo-like villains and kidnappers throw down some folk-rock boot-scootin' stylings to the icon's 1971 classic "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves," wearing matching aviator spectacles, western shirts, bolo ties, and their hair in braids. Honestly, I can't tell you whether Offerman and Mullally had this routine ready to go, show or not, but it absolutely slaps.
SEE ALSO: 'The Umbrella Academy' Season 4 review: A bonkers victory lapThe Umbrella Academy has long championed the dance scene, whether the Hargreeves are blissing out privately to Tiffany's cover of "I Think We're Alone Now" in Season 1, Viktor, Klaus, and Alison "Twistin' The Night Away" in Season 2, or the season-opening "Footloose" dance-off from Season 3, brilliant work from stage choreographer John Heginbotham.
But in the final season, the Hargreeves are benched from the dancefloor for the series' villains, Gene and Jean Thibedeau.
Gene and Jean, you beautiful, problematic weirdos. Credit: NetflixIn a sequence that involves a daring rescue, the show needs a legitimate reason why Gene and Jean aren't surveilling their kidnapping victim for three minutes or so. And because we've spent the last few episodes watching this dynamic duo team up for everything from Euchre tournaments to casual carpark murder, it's not out of character to have them practicing a little somethin' somethin' for their own amusement: a dance routine.
During the rescue sequence, the camera alternates between henchmen getting brutally owned and Gene and Jean absolutely tearing up their home's floorboards with sweet moves. Their chosen tune, Cher's "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves," could only be an old favourite of this conspiracy theory loving pair, who perhaps listen less to the lyrics about teen pregnancy and sex work, and concentrate more on that sick beat.
It's not the first time Offerman and Mullally have appeared on screen together by any means: Offerman appeared in Mullally's realm Will and Grace back in the day; Mullally played the only weakness of Offerman's Ron Swanson, his ex-wife Tammy, in Parks and Recreation; they've voiced animated characters in Bob's Burgers, Axe Cop, Hotel Transylvania 2, and the English dub of Ernest and Celestine together; and co-starred in You, Me and the Apocalypse, Speaking of Sex, Smashed, and The Kings of Summer. So we can add this glorious dance scene, and their run on The Umbrella Academy, to the pile.
Luckily for us, The Umbrella Academy saves its last dance for Mullally and Offerman, and it's one of the highlights of the season. Get it, Gene and Jean.
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