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We love a good standalone episode.

From The Last of Us to BoJack Horseman there's a rich tradition among prestige TV shows of episodes that can pretty much be enjoyed by themselves, even if you aren't that familiar with the show itself.

With Season 2, episode 5, "Love and Be Loved", Dark Matter joins the ranks. So what happens, why does it work so well, and what does the episode mean in the show's larger context?

SEE ALSO: 'Dark Matter' Season 2, episode 4: Why does Daniela leave? What happens in Dark Matter Season 2, episode 5?

At the end of Season 1, it was revealed that the world-hopping antics of Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) had inadvertently spawned hundreds of other Jasons. All of these Jasons were similarly displaced and trying to get back to their original world and family — but only one Jason could claim their old life. In a surreal sequence at the series' end, Jason, Daniela (Jennifer Connelly) and Charlie (Oakes Fegley) walk through a sea of these other Jasons to the box (Dark Matter's multiverse portal), all of whom have come to say goodbye.

Season 2, episode 5 follows one of these "other" Jasons. We watch as this Jason uses his last remaining multiverse capsule to travel to a world in which his mother is still alive, but the version of himself in that reality died as a child. Jason moves back in with his mother and starts making chairs, slowly recovering from his grief at losing his former family and life. He reads a lot of books, and helps two other Jasons who have stumbled into the same world. Finally, he meets a book store owner called Maria (Angela Sarafyan) and strikes up a relationship.

Credit: Apple TV

Following the death of his mother, Jason moves in with Maria. While going out to get supplies he bumps into this world's version of Daniela, who gives him advice on his choice of flowers. Rather than following her, though, Jason seems content to return to his new life. We get the sense he's finally moved on.

Back at the house, Maria finds his notebook in a moving box — the same one he wrote in before using his last capsule to travel to this world.

"I have lost everything," the last page reads. "The love of my life. My son. My home. Please just let me find a world where I can love and be loved."

What does the ending mean?

It's a bitter-sweet ending, but ultimately a hopeful one. All the other versions of Jason are completely lost and grief-stricken at the end of Dark Matter Season 1. The Jason we follow in Season 2, episode 5 is even suicidal at the beginning. But the episode shows that a fresh start is possible for him, and therefore for all of them.

The episode's final moments are the real key, as we watch Jason removing the hair tie he keeps wrapped around his wedding ring finger. We know from Season 1 that this was something Jason did to remind himself of his marriage to Daniela. But in this world, this Jason has found a way to move on from a life he can't return to. Even seeing another version of Daniela doesn't shake his newfound love for Maria — it just gives him a form of closure. Finally, he's able to put away a core remnant of his old life and look at what's in front of him.

Dark Matter Season 2 is streaming on Apple TV, with new episodes dropping every Friday.

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Meta’s C.E.O. talks for the first time about his style evolution.

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On your marks, get set, go — Amazon's October Prime Day is set to kick off on Oct. 6. This year, the sale spans two days, but you don't necessarily need to wait to get a great deal. If you're like me and prefer to camp in the moderate fall temps instead of sweating it out in the summer, you're in need of some fresh outdoor gear.

I've compiled the best early Prime Day outdoor deals if you're searching for upgrades or replacements to your current gear. These deals will get you outside to enjoy fall colors and cooler temps. Be sure to keep an eye on Mashable's October Prime Day coverage.

Best portable power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix C1000 $449.98 at Amazon
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I've tested dozens of portable power stations while camping over the last few years, and the original Anker Solix C1000 remains a top-tier choice. Now that it's on sale for under $450, it's a great time to make the move to camping with power. Keep phones charged, pack the air fryer, or take your laptop workstation into the great outdoors.

The Anker Solix C1000 packs in 1,056Wh of battery capacity and a peak output of 2,400W. Anker included a massive six AC ports, dual USB-A ports, and dual USB-C ports. I also love the onboard lightbar, and it recharges back to 100% in under an hour.

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With a giant 50-quart capacity, the Igloo Trailmate cooler is on sale for under $100 ahead of October Prime Day. Without ice, that size can fit up to 81 cans. The foam-insulated walls and lid measure 1.5 inches thick for better ice retention, and the rubberized latches provide added reassurance that the cooler is properly sealed to keep things cold. Igloo also added a built-in bottle opener for those of us who always forget to pack one.

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On Mashable's ranking of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 earns the top spot as the model that's ready for both outdoor adventures and the shower. Alex Bracetti's review says, "The rugged mesh exterior prevents moisture and other hazards from damaging both the inside and outside of the speaker. A 14-hour charge is enough for a month of daily shower use."

Since it's already on sale for nearly 50% off, you're in great shape for scoring an excellent deal on the outdoor speaker.

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Primetime feels like a fever dream before you even see it. 

Lance Oppenheimer, who's teamed with Nathan Fielder for the upcoming documentary on Elizabeth Holmes, You Can See Everything, directs a drama based on the events surrounding the reality TV series To Catch a Predator. Chris Hansen, the American journalist who became known for his practiced poise as he confronted alleged pedophiles before hidden cameras, was once revered as a hero for his entrepreneurial journalism. But the tide has turned on Hansen. Last year saw the release of the documentary Predators, which rigorously re-evaluated To Catch a Predator's practices and how it inspired more reckless imitators. Now comes Primetime, where The Batman's Robert Pattinson reimagines Hansen as a fame-hungry monster. 

As attorney-turned-foe Two-Face said in The Dark Knight, "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Now is Hansen's time. 

Primetime is a horror movie about blind ambition.   Credit: A24

Based on the 2007 Esquire article "Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die," Primetime pitches audiences into the heyday of To Catch a Predator, when the recurring Dateline special report got promoted to (you guessed it) primetime. Hansen is the face of the series. But he is aided by a team that includes nerves-of-steel producer Andie Bender (Merritt Wever), internet researcher Xavier Von Erck (Matthew Maher), and two young actors (Phoebe Bridgers and Skyler Gisondo), who serve as decoys for the kids the men think they've been chatting with online. In reality, these men have been talking with Perverted Justice, a vigilante group that teamed up with Hansen for these on-camera stings.

With the move to a more demanding time slot, Chris and his crew are challenged to make their catches even more dramatic. So, when Xavier insists he's hooked a "big fish" in Texas who he believes works for the government, Chris pushes forward, despite the warnings from Andie about such hastiness. They've already got a setup in Jersey, good to go! But Chris has his eyes on besting Dateline co-host Stone Phillips (Bill Heck), whose steely masculinity makes the To Catch A Predator host seethe with jealousy.

To make his TV show stand out, Chris will stop at nothing. He'll brush off calls from his wife (Anna Farris), placate his mistress, and manipulate Dan Plumb (Gisondo), an earnest young actor who's desperate to get his SAG card through his work on the show. But when reality comes crashing into this scenario, there will be blood. And the show will go on.

Robert Pattinson is wickedly hilarious as Chris Hansen.  Credit: A24

Primetime is more a psychological thriller than a comedy, but there's no arguing that Pattinson is hysterical in this role. His daffy swagger seen in off-the-wall interviews is eradicated. He's expertly swapped his English accent for a stern American anchor tone that is eerily in line with the real Hansen's. When he tells a fretful stranger (Tony Revolori) to "take a seat," this To Catch a Predator viewer experienced a chilling thrill of recognition. Pattinson's voice alone could transport the audience back to 2004, when Americans tuned in to watch some perverted form of justice play out on TV as armed officers would tackle one suspect after another for our entertainment.

SEE ALSO: 'The Swan: Behind The Mirror' trailer: The controversial reality TV show is ripe for its reckoning

Primetime begins with Chris practicing this persona, reciting his questions and quoting the inappropriate chat messages sent by the vexed visitor. But this performance lives outside of the show's sting house. In one outrageous moment, Chris answers his cell phone in this voice, saying intensely, "This is Chris Hansen." On the other end, his wife is flustered in a way that suggests this is not a one-off. She's lost her husband to his show, and she knows it.

In this role, Pattinson taps into the dark side of the American Dream, like Jake Gyllenhaal did in Nightcrawler, or (another Batman) Christian Bale did in American Psycho. But Pattinson's take is less manic than if-it-bleeds-it-leads cameraman Lou Bloom or pop-music-fixated Patrick Bateman. While tied to the real Hansen's speech patterns and physicality, Pattinson's performance is heightened sharply in anchorman intensity, as if it's a funhouse mirror version, or a TEMU Halloween mask of Hansen. It's scarily accurate and exaggerated just enough to be haunting. This theatrical interpretation of the newsman urges audiences to question who Hansen is behind his mask of journalistic respectability. It's little wonder the real Hansen, who hasn't seen the film, isn't pleased about it. Even the trailer for Primetime hints at this depiction.

Primetime could — and should — go harder.  Credit: A24

Surrounding Pattinson is a terrifically talented cast. Three-time Emmy winner Wever is sharp as a tack as the producer, who's constantly compromising her own morals for her work. The role, as written in Ajon Singh's stodgy screenplay, could have felt like a tedious archetype of the motherly figure trying to rein in the bad boys of news. But Wever injects a surliness and flushes of doubt that complicate Andie. She's the voice of reason and an enabler, which makes Wever's onscreen dynamic with Pattinson electrifying. With each scene, it's uncertain who'll win their battle of wills.

Maher, beloved for Our Flag Means Death, revels in being a self-righteous dirtbag here. Meanwhile, Bridgers, who makes her acting debut here, has a compelling screen presence that translates from her music videos. But here, she's gruffer and more opaque, displaying not vulnerability or resilience but the armor demanded by this decoy role. When her Del instructs new-to-the-team Dan about how to best cope with the uncomfortable scenarios he'll be a part of, she takes on the tone of a been-there-done-that older sister. And in response, Gisondo, playing a thinly veiled version of Dan Schrack, the To Catch a Predator decoy interviewed in Predators, is the film's thumping heart.

Tapping into the same boyish nervousness he channeled in Santa Clarita Diet and Haunted Hotel, Gisondo translates the discomfort and terror of being bait. Early on, an awkward encounter with a lured subject is played for dark laughs. But to Oppenheimer's credit, he leans into the discomfort by sticking with Dan. Unfortunately, in its final act, Primetime loses its nerve.

If you saw Predators, read the Esquire article, or just remember the scandal that arose out of Murphy, Texas, after Hansen's shoot, you'll know how Primetime ends. Maybe that's why it falls flat? It's not that the real-life results weren't shocking and horrific. It's that Primetime's depiction of them feels oddly restrained.

Leaning into some arguably xenophobic supernatural iconography, Primetime tries to add some surreal spookiness to the final act. But this abrupt plunge into ghostly flair feels disconnected from how beguiling and unnerving Pattinson is in this role. It's his movie, but Oppenheimer retreats from him in the end in favor of a final scene that feels dully cynical.

I was left wishing Primetime had the guts to follow the dark path this heightened Hansen charted to somewhere deranged, perhaps providing a more satisfying ending than real life (and reality TV) has. Chase those midnight movie vibes that Pattinson has coursing through his final act into something damning and daring! Or, don't, I guess.

While Primetime is exhilarating and disturbing thanks to its sensational cast, a flimsy conclusion has this film end with a whimper instead of a bang. 

Primetime is now in theaters. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Eduonix Learning Solutions Claude AI Professional E-Degree $14.97
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Opens in a new window Credit: UmanWrite UmanWrite All-in-One AI Writing Platform: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan/Unlimited Words) $79
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Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $16.97
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The New York Film Festival kicks off this week, continuing what's already been a jam-packed fall festival season. Whether you're attending the festival in person or just planning out your fall moviegoing calendar, Mashable has you covered on the buzziest titles you'll want to check out.

SEE ALSO: TIFF 2026 preview: 18 films (and shows) you'll want to see (and how)

This year, NYFF's slate includes films from acclaimed directors like Werner Herzog, Pedro Almodóvar, and James Gray, as well as highly-anticipated films like Godzilla Minus One sequel Godzilla Minus Zero and Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything. Plus, keep an eye out for Oscar hopeful turns from stars like Julianne Moore, Pedro Pascal, John Turturro, and more.

From searing documentaries to poignant dramas, here are 14 films to keep an eye out for at NYFF.

1. Godzilla Minus Zero

One of the most thrilling surprises of 2023 cinema was just how epic Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla Minus One was. While American filmmakers had made a flurry of flashy monster movies, it was this period piece set in World War II that had audiences and critics roaring with renewed vigor for the iconic kaiju.

That its sequel is playing the New York Film Festival speaks to the enthusiasm of cinephiles for more. Yamazaki returns with a story that picks up two years after the events of the first film. The monster is sure to rise again. And we cannot wait! —Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, and Yuki Yamada

How to watch: Godzilla Minus Zero will open in theaters and IMAX on Nov. 6.

2. Behemoth!

Tony Gilroy, writer/director of The Bourne Legacy, Duplicity, and Michael Clayton, returns with a tantalizing drama headlined by Pedro Pascal.

The Last of Us star plays a musician — from a family of musicians — who makes a living playing for movie scores. Beyond that, it's unclear what exactly will go down in Bohemoth! But considering Gilroy's past films, we expect plenty of seduction and tension. And honestly, the cast alone would have us seated. — K.P.

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Olivia Wilde, and Will Arnett

How to watch: Behemoth! will open in theaters on Dec. 4.

3. Paper Tiger

Writer/director James Gray has previously offered audiences New York-set dramas like Two Lovers, The Immigrant, and Armageddon Time. His latest returns to the city that never sleeps, focusing on a pair of brothers who want to be kings of Queens.

Adam Driver stars as Gary Pearl, a cop-turned-security consultant, who's living a luxury life and is eager to cut his young brother Irwin, an earnest engineer played by Miles Teller, in on a big opportunity. But when they accidentally cross the Russian mob, Irwin's family — including two young sons and a loving wife (Scarlett Johansson) — are threatened. A thriller that explores how an average man might fare against Goodfellas makes for a tense watch you won't want to miss. — K.P.

Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller

How to watch: Paper Tiger will open in theaters on Nov. 13.

4. A Long Winter Credit: TIFF

From Andrew Haigh, the writer/director of All of Us Strangers, comes another brilliant adaptation rooted in queer love. Based on Colm Tóibín's novella of the same name, A Long Winter stars Fred Hechinger as a young man living in the Colorado Mountains with his parents whose life is forever changed when his mother goes missing.

SEE ALSO: 'A Long Winter' review: Fred Hechinger fronts a beautiful, unmissable queer drama

A tale patient, passionate, poignant, and a bit spooky, A Long Winter is a stirring drama about growing up. Plus, it offers a phenomenal lead performance from Fred Hechinger. Don't overlook it. — K.P.

Starring: Fred Hechinger, Caitríona Balfe, Martin Freeman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Kit Connor, and D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai

How to watch: A Long Winter has not yet announced a theatrical release date.

5. Clarissa

Directors Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri (This Is My Desire) re-team for a curious adaptation of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway. Chuko began by transporting the novel's setting from 1920's London, England, to contemporary Lagos, Nigeria.

There, a wealthy, watchful wife named Clarissa (Sophie Okonedo) plans a party, which she hopes her submissive husband (Jude Akuwudike) won't mar. Invited are some old friends, including a former beau (David Oyelowo), and an estranged gal pal (Nikki Amuka-Bird). But their pasts come alive as the story leaps back to their youth, where passion, status, and intellect intersect with young love.

With a crackling cast, Clarissa is a promising new spin on Woolf's beloved novel. — K.P.

Starring: Sophie Okonedo, David Oyelowo, India Amarteifio, Toheeb Jimoh, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Ayo Edebiri

How to watch: Clarissa will open in limited release on Dec. 11.

6. NAZA Credit: NYFF

Israeli documentarians Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who co-directed 2024's Academy Award-winning No Other Land alongside Palestinian filmmakers Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal, return to NYFF with their new documentary NAZA. Made up of interviews with 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence officers, NAZA takes an unflinching look at how Israeli forces use AI and high-tech surveillance systems to target and kill Palestinians. The film draws its title from the term for the number of estimated civilian deaths in strikes. Instead of saying 15 people will die, Israeli forces say 15 NAZA.

The term NAZA is one of the many ways Abraham and Szor's striking film illustrates how the Israeli government and military dehumanize Palestinians and try to justify their killings. Often, interviewees will claim they're just cogs in a machine. Abraham and Szor refrain from showing any actual atrocities, instead forcing viewers to sit in the descriptions of killings and strikes. The result is a calmly brutal portrait of the banality of evil that should be required viewing. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: NAZA opens in limited theaters Sept. 30.

7. Misty Green

Chris Rock writes and directs a drama about a once-revered Black actress who is struggling to make ends meet in Hollywood. Rosalind Eleazar stars as the eponymous has-been, who's trying to keep her cool while remounting a second act and being confronted with a dehumanizing establishment that's obsessed with everything new, hot, and white. In this journey, she'll encounter lots of familiar faces, and with fire.

Rock knows comedy. Can he helm drama? We're ready to find out. — K.P.

Starring: Rosalind Eleazar, Daniel Kaluuya, Adam Driver, and Anna Kendrick

How to watch: Misty Green will open in select theaters on Oct. 9.

8. The Only Living Pickpocket in New York

You might recognize Noah Segan from his appearances in Rian Johnson movies like Knives Out, Brick, and Looper. Now, he's writer/director of The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, which stars John Turturro as an aging thief who targets the wrong mark. On a ticking clock to set things right, this thriller is being celebrated as a "love letter to New York" with another terrific turn by Turturro. — K.P.

Starring: John Turturro, Giancarlo Esposito, Will Price, and Tatiana Maslany

How to watch: The Only Living Pickpocket in New York opens in NYC and L.A. Oct. 23, before going nationwide on Oct. 30.

9. Tender Loving Care

If Widow's Bay has you craving more Kate O'Flynn, you won't want to miss Mike Leigh's latest. Tender Loving Care stars the actress as a social worker who's coping with a breakup and the realization that her beloved father is sliding into dementia. But far from a ruthless tearjerker, this is a drama alight with joy, love, and a bit of song and dance. And O'Flynn is brilliant in every bit.

SEE ALSO: 'Widow's Bay' fans, here's where to see more of Emmy winner Kate O'Flynn

Starring: Kate O'Flynn, Amanda Lawrence, Marion Bailey, and Paul Jesson

How to watch: Tender Loving Care will open in theaters on Dec. 4.

10. You Can See Everything

Comedian Nathan Fielder and filmmaker Lance Oppenheim (Primetime) team up for a documentary about infamous Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Following its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, critics have been awed and the internet has been obsessed with You Can See Everything.

Considering Fielder is known for blurring the lines of reality and performance, what will his doc about living in the same house as Holmes ahead of her incarceration offer? We're as curious as everyone else. — K.P.

Starring: Nathan Fielder, Elizabeth Holmes

How to watch: You Can See Everything will open in theaters on Oct. 16.

11. Club Kid

You might know Jordan Firstman as the self-sabotaging stylist on I Love L.A. Now, get to know him as a filmmaker.

Written and directed by and starring Firstman, Club Kid centers on a New York City club promoter whose life dramatically changes when a kid comes into his life. Club Kid has been gathering praise on the festival circuit, and seems certain to thrill audiences that are already in love with the Big Apple. Ready to party? — K.P.

Starring: Jordan Firstman, Reggie Absolom, Cara Delevingne, and Diego Calva

How to watch: Club Kid will open in theaters on Nov. 6.

12. Bucking Fastard

Werner Herzog hasn't shown a film at NYFF since 1982’s Fitzcarraldo. So fans of the offbeat auteur are practically giddy over the New York premiere of Bucking Fastard.

In this drama, written and directed by Herzog, real-life sisters Rooney Mara and Kate Mara plays sisters who speak in unison, share the same dreams, and fall in love with the same man (Orlando Bloom). Early buzz has it that this setup makes for some surreal moments and unsettling threesome scenes. — K.P.

Starring: Rooney Mara, Kate Mara, and Orlando Bloom

How to watch: Bucking Fastard's theatrical release is currently TBD.

13. Bitter Christmas

It's Pedro Almodóvar, back with a semi-autobiographical drama about a filmmaker whose search for source material proves a problem for his closest friend.

Rich with color and melodrama, Bitter Christmas weaves not one story of an artist who irks their loved ones by pulling from their lives for his work, but two! In 2004, Elsa is looking to overcome grief over her mother with a new project. In 2025, Raúl faces a similar struggle, looking to a suffering friend for inspiration. But these two have more in common than you might expect.

SEE ALSO: 'Bitter Christmas' review: Pedro Almodóvar returns with a cerebral, semi-autobiographical drama

After scoring praise out of the Cannes International Film Festival, Bitter Christmas comes to NYFF to stir emotions and discourse. — K.P.

Starring: Bárbara Lennie, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Victoria Luengo, Patrick Criado, Milena Smit, and Quim Gutiérrez

How to watch: Bitter Christmas opens in limited release on Nov. 13, expanding Nov. 25.

14. The Debut

Oh, we do love a film about making theatre. Director, writer, and producer Jesse Eisenberg's A24 comedy looks to capture the sheer grit and dedication of community theatre productions and the lifeline they can be for the people who make them.

SEE ALSO: 'The Debut' review: Julianne Moore becomes an Oscar contender with Jesse Eisenberg's outrageous theater farce

In The Debut, Julianne Moore plays Mona Friedman, a wife and mother who decides to audition for a community musical in her local New Jersey theatre. What begins as a flight of fancy becomes a serious means for Mona to channel her inner rage and joy, as local legend and demanding director Jerry (Paul Giamatti) pushes her to unlock a part of herself she's long suppressed.* — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Jesse Eisenberg, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov, and Bernadette Peters

How to watch: The Debut opens in theaters Dec. 11.

The love stories of Jane Austen might be set in England's Regency era of stiff gender norms and even stiffer social hierarchies, but their appeal is timeless. Austen's novels have been adapted over and over for film and television. Sometimes they are set within their traditional setting, like Ang Lee's rapturous Sense and Sensibility, Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice, and Autumn de Wilde's Emma. Other times, they get a modern overhaul, like Bridget Jones's Diary, Fire Island, or Clueless. Still other adapters might shift the focus to a character or a fan insert, leading to inventive reimaginings like Lost in Austen and The Other Bennet Sister. 

Each incarnation allows audiences a chance to see Austen's work in a new way — but only if the filmmaker embraces such an opportunity. And so, I am at a loss when regarding director Georgia Oakley's Sense and Sensibility. 

It dedicatedly captures the plot points of Austen's 1811 novel about the penniless Dashwood sisters' search for happiness in a society obsessed with status. But the film lacks a distinct identity, leaving me to wonder why Oakley wanted to bring Elinor and Marianne back to the big screen to begin with. Her passion for the project feels as thunderous as Colonel Brandon's (Herbert Nordrum) in the film's first act. But unlike him, Oakley's passion never ignites. 

What's Sense and Sensibility about? 

Austen's novel follows the misadventures of the Dashwood family, which includes mother Mrs. Dashwood (Caitríona Balfe), and her three daughters, Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones), Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles), and the youngest, Margaret (Bodhi Rae Breathnach). The death of the girls' father has thrown their lives into spin, as he left his house and wealth to a half-brother they hardly know. 

With aggressive speed, this Mr. Dashwood (a dryly funny Tom Brooke) appears on their doorstep with his greedy wife Fanny (a hilarious vicious Stacy Martin), ready to seize all that is legally theirs. 

Poverty is an obvious obstacle for the Dashwood girls in finding a good match. But good fortune seems to fall on Elinor as she falls — in her quiet way — for Fanny's brother Edward Ferrars (George MacKay). Meanwhile, Marianne is being pursued by an elder gentleman of means, the aforementioned Colonel Brandon, but she only has eyes for the galavanting John Willoughby (Frank Dillane). 

Over the course of Sense and Sensibility, the Dashwoods will move to a new — and much humbler — home, find curious new acquaintances, and travel to London in search of love, or at the very least truth. But can they find happiness?

Sense and Sensibility (2026) is charming, but not enchanting.  Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features

Arguably, Sense and Sensibility is a trickier movie adaptation than Austen's other most-revisited works, because its heroine Elinor Dashwood is less spirited and impetuous than Emma's eponymous protagonist and Pride and Prejudice's Lizzie Bennet. More than the other Austen adaptations, this one requires a balancing of the double act that is Elinor and Marianne. 

Dedicated to be proper and good above even her own happiness, Elinor is a sharp foil to her impulsive younger sister Marianne. Where Elinor meticulously strives to say the civil thing, Marianne rarely has a thought that goes unspoken. To put it simply, where the former is ruled by her head, the latter is ruled by her heart. 

Through their intertwined tales of love and heartache, Austen exposes how in the pursuit of happiness both reason and feeling — or sense and sensibility — are essential. And so, the sisters must learn from each other, however reluctantly. 

In Lee's adaptation, a young Kate Winslet brought girlish verve to Marianne, while Emma Thompson, who also penned the adapted screenplay, brought a trembling vulnerability to Elinor. In Oakley's version, the performance style overall is more restrained, rejecting the romance of Lee's interpretation. But it's hard to say what she chooses to put in place of the romance. 

Edgar-Jones delivers a performance that is so restrained that it can feel vexingly wooden. Opposite her, MacKay becomes her mirror, his eyes shining but vacant as the two could-be lovers struggle to confess their true feelings. 

Meanwhile, Creed-Miles is engaging as Marianne. But Oakley's presentation of this Austen character is less playful and more proto-goth girl. Creed-Miles excitedly chatters about passion and a wish for a lover with a "dark past," while greasy locks of hair tumble across her face and shoulders, a constant reminder of Marianne's love of nature and untamed temperament. 

It is an interesting take on the character, but it becomes one-note as Marianne's pleas for the attentions of Willoughby get angsty. Making matters worse, despite so much talk of passion, neither of Marianne's would-be suitors are beguiling. Across the board, the chemistry of these leads is inert. No dashing gentleman will rise from a pond, his white shirt clinging to his broad shoulders. There's no flexing hand to make audiences swoon. And even Sense and Sensibility's ballroom dance scenes, which are traditionally a terrific place to exude sexual tension within the socially restrained setting, are lacking in allure. 

Fiona Shaw is the MVP of Sense and Sensibility.  Credit: Alex Bailey / Courtesy of Focus Features

I was overall underwhelmed by the leads of Oakley's adaptation. But her supporting players are terrifically alive, bringing a spark that was a reprieve to such sternness. Screenwriter Diana Reid makes the most out of dinner scenes, and that's where many characters get to shine. 

As mentioned, Martin is deliciously wicked as the Dashwood's scheming, gold-digging sister-in-law. Breathnach, to her credit, is impishly amusing as the youngest sister. Playing boisterous cousin Sir John Middleton, Turlough Convery is warmly amusing, while Chloe Pirrie is cringe-inducingly funny as his socially awkward wife, who treats the weather like a hobby. Plus, Eliot Sumner is bitingly funny as Mr. Palmer, a quiet gentleman who is ever-irked by his relentlessly chatty wife. 

But make no mistake, Fiona Shaw steals scenes she's not even in as Mrs. Jennings. A widow with wealth and way too much time on her hands, Jennings is treated within the plot as a busybody who unintentionally pokes at the emotional bruises of Elinor and Marianne's flailing romances. But Shaw plays more than the silliness or obliviousness of this merry widow. She also radiates with gaudy joy. Her snuffling laughter introduces her character as it echoes through the halls of the Dashwood house, even before she shows up onscreen. 

It's brilliant casting, but beyond that, little elements like how Mrs. Jennings holds her placid pug puppy or offers a heartbroken girl a fortified wine, paint a possibility of womanhood neither Dashwood can currently imagine. Youth is such a volatile element in Austen's stories, because to be deemed an old maid could ruthlessly limit a lady's options. But being old and rich, with unquestionable status, Mrs. Jennings is offered the most freedom in Sense and Sensibility to truly do as she likes. She flaunts etiquette when it doesn't suit her, takes penniless girls on as pets for her travels, and shares her opinions loudly and fearlessly. 

To the girls, she's a reckless and nosy bother. To me, she's a Golden Girl long before her time. Whenever the Dashwoods and their wooden suitors bored me, I waited (not so patiently) for Mrs. Jennings and her quirky family members to return and make me laugh again. 

In the end, Sense and Sensibility is not a bad adaptation of Austen's work as much as it is a boring one. Oakley looks to ground her version in costuming and make-up that feels natural and true to the Regency era. She shies away from theatrical performances in her leads, perhaps seeking to create a timelessness out of a naturalistic approach. But such a tone doesn't fit the poetry of Austen's prose or dialogue. And so, the central romances feel lifeless over lived-in. 

Thus, this Sense and Sensibility is sincere and at times amusing, but shrinks in comparison to other Austen adaptations. 

Sense and Sensibility opens in the UK on Sept. 25 and in the U.S. on Oct. 16.

There's something sublime about a really good ghost story, and I'm pleased to say Never After Dark is a really good ghost story. 

From House of Ninjas' writer/director Dave Boyle comes a horror thriller that has the slow burn of '70s classics like The Shining and The Exorcist. Like those searing horror legends, Never After Dark also centers its story of supernatural infestation in one location. The forest-bound bed-and-breakfast of Never After Dark might seem an unremarkable space, much like the Overlook Hotel or the MacNeil home at first glance. But as the chilling story develops, its many-windowed exterior grows foreboding, and its wood-paneled interiors slyly sinister, suggesting the presence of something inhuman and dangerous. 

SEE ALSO: Best movies of 2026, and where to watch them now

Within this familiar setting of a remote hotel rotten with dark secrets, Boyle sets loose a strange specter whose ragged breath can be heard on the phone when he's not stalking the halls, his face hanging with gore, its bottom half nothing but a bloody absence. However, in his protagonist, Boyle offers a curious twist, blending the haunted-house archetype of the eccentric medium (Poltergeist, Insidious) with the hard-nosed detective of film noir. 

Shōgun's Moeka Hoshi stars as Airi, a nomadic clairvoyant who travels Japan making a living by communing with the dead. Each new haunted home is a mystery to be solved. Once Airi knows what the ghost wants, she performs a special ritual involving a candle to pierce the veil between the living and dead, then leads the ghost to their great beyond. But from the start, something is off about this job. A shrewdly paced mystery with mounting horror and gore, Never After Dark is sensationally spooky and devilishly entertaining. 

Never After Dark is more than what it seems. 

Deep in the woods sits a long-abandoned hotel that's haunted by an unnerving specter. When Airi pulls up in her beater of a car, she's got with her everything she possesses, meaning baggage physical, emotional, and supernatural. As she is greeted by the hotel's chipper owner Teiko (Tae Kimura) and her openly skeptical son Gunji (House of Ninjas' Kento Kaku, who is also a producer on Never After Dark), neither addresses Airi's teen sister Miku (Kurumi Inagak), who sits in the backseat of Airi's car, her head swaddled in a yellow knitted cap. That's because this girl is a ghost, seen only by Airi and only in reflections. 

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Working as a ghostbusting duo, their bond brings a levity to Never After Dark. Sure, in front of clients, Airi is professional, listening patiently to the story of a jawless ghoul creeping down the halls at midnight and noon. But when it's just Airi and her sister, there's the breezy energy of a slumber party. Theirs is an easy intimacy, spiked with playfulness as the teen pulls a poltergeist prank or Airi dances to a pop song through the haunted hotel. This subplot energizes the thriller, threading a liveliness in a tale of death, making it fun while frightening.

SEE ALSO: The best horror movies on HBO Max that'll give you nightmares

However, even with such joyful moments, Airi's suffering from mounting ennui. Her life has steadily become all about the dead. She has no home. Her best friend is her ghost sister, and it's hard to meet a potential beau when you're always off to your next seance. Even her hair reveals how this vocation is eating away at her. At a glance, she's a mild-mannered young woman in denim and sneakers who stands out only because of her asymmetrical haircut. Her black hair is long and lank on the left side, a choppy bob on the right. It is nearly chic, but noticeably a bit haphazard. Once we see the ritual, we understand. Communing with the other side demands a sacrifice of hair. So with each session, Airi surrenders a chunk of herself. In this visual clue of a messy haircut, Never After Dark asks what will happen when she's got nothing left? Perhaps no one is so aware as Airi that her time may be running out. 

Never After Dark is like an enchanting nightmare. 

Boyle rejects the temptation for jump scares, even when the opportunity for them is obvious. The antagonist ghost may appear abruptly, but never in a frantic attempt to frighten. He silently strides into rooms, or stands quiet in a corner staring hard, or clawing at a wall panel as if scratching for a secret door. These scenes of shrewd practical effects are all chilling because Boyle often frames them in wide shots, creating the sense that this is the ghost in its organic habitat. Dread blooms in this deceptively simple staging, because of how matter-of-fact the ghoul is placed in these spaces. It's Airi who is the outsider, not him. There's the sense that there's no escape from his menace. 

Bolstering the suspense, Boyle brews a soundtrack of plunking piano keys, whistling flutes, and a shuffling percussion that sounds like footsteps on stairs. A cool color palette leans into the eeriness, a constant reminder of flesh paled by decay.

Boyle fills his film with eerie elements that create an electric atmosphere, rich with paranormal possibilities. In this setting, Airi is the eye of the storm, surrounded by the big energies of the cheerful hotelier, a moody teen ghost, and a malicious spirit. She is our conduit to understanding them all, exuding patience, persistence, and pain. Yet as this mystery gets gnarlier, Hoshi capably plays frightened without losing Airi's edge. She is like the gumshoe, rattled but relentless in her mission to uncover the truth and do whatever good she can from there. 

This quest leads to a winding climax full of twists and violence, because this medium is no fragile flower. She'll fight with the same passion she brings to dancing, and the result is suffocatingly tense and satisfying. 

In the end, Never After Dark is a beguiling haunted house tale with tantalizing twists, skin-crawling scares, and a tender tale of sisterhood at its core. Horror lovers should be on the lookout for this one.

Never After Dark is now playing in theaters.

UPDATE: Sep. 21, 2026, 4:51 p.m. Never After Dark was reviewed out the 2026 SXSW Film Festival. The review has been republished for its theatrical release.

The new iPhone Duo has me thinking about what I would want to see in a new Kindle e-reader. It took years, but we finally got a foldable iPhone. So what's the ultimate feature I'd want to see in a Kindle? There are quite a few. While Apple drops new iPhones every year, Amazon takes its time — we don't know when Amazon will drop a new batch of Kindles.

The last time we got a fully revamped lineup of Kindles was 2024, so we're two years into this batch of devices. Since then, Amazon has launched a color e-reader and a redesigned Scribe. I'd say it's about time the basic Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite got a revamp.

Whether it's adding new features to a Kindle e-reader or bringing back an older model, these are the features I'd like to see in a new Kindle.

Page-turning buttons Will Amazon bring back page-turning buttons to its e-readers? We hope so. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

I feel confident that BookTok and I would want to see one feature brought back to Kindles: page-turning buttons. The last Kindle e-reader to have buttons was the Kindle Oasis, which was unfortunately discontinued in 2024. When the Oasis was discontinued, Amazon told The Verge that it has no plans to make devices with buttons moving forward. But that doesn't mean the public isn't still hungry for page-turning buttons.

I've spent plenty of time in Reddit threads of users lamenting the loss of old Kindle models with buttons. Plus, the Kobo Libra Colour, one of the few e-readers with buttons, is extremely popular. BookTok also has the Boox Go 7 on the come-up with its open Android system and page-turning buttons.

Although it's unlikely, Amazon would make a lot of people happy by bringing back the Oasis or adding page-turning buttons to the Paperwhite.

Kindle remote Kobo already has a remote for its e-readers; will Amazon join them? Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Last year, Kobo got a leg up on Kindle by launching a remote. The Kobo Remote connects to Kobo e-readers via Bluetooth and turns pages forward and back. While Amazon has yet to launch its own remote for Kindle e-readers (the Kobo remote is not compatible with Kindles), there are plenty of page-turning remotes being sold on Amazon. But the downside is that they require a clip-on piece that taps the screen for you. If Amazon finally launches a Bluetooth remote for its Kindle e-readers, I personally will be first in line to buy one.

Moving the power button

I think Kindles are nearly perfect e-readers, but I have one major pet peeve: the placement of the power button. The power button is on the bottom of the device, which makes it too easy to accidentally press, especially if you read it propped up. When I bring my Kindle to the gym to read on a treadmill or elliptical, the power button can easily get bumped and turned off.

If I could make one small request to Amazon, please move the power button to the top or the side of the Kindle.

A smaller model with handwriting capabilities

Amazon has the Kindle Scribe, its largest e-reader, which also has handwriting capabilities. It's great, but more notebook-sized than book-sized. Lots of competitors like Kobo and Boox have 7-inch e-readers with handwriting capabilities, and I'm curious to see if Amazon would launch one of its own, whether that's a smaller Kindle Scribe or handwriting support to the Kindle Paperwhite.

Tiny Kindle Xteink X4 e-readers are all the rage so could Amazon make its own tiny e-reader? Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

People are going wild for tiny e-readers, and I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon jumped on the trend and made a small e-reader of its own. It's not a crowded market as Xteink is really the only brand making tiny e-readers, although the Boox Picco is reportedly coming soon. However, Xteink e-readers can't access your Kindle library, so Amazon could meet demand by delivering a mini e-reader with access to Kindle books.

Open Android Kindle Boox e-readers have access to the Google Play Store, but we're not sure if Amazon would offer the same on its Kindle e-readers. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

While I don't think it will happen, Kindle could go out on a major limb and create an e-reader with an open Android system. This would be like Boox's e-readers, which run on Android and have access to the Google Play Store. That would mean a Kindle that allows you to download any reading (or non-reading) app you want. However, this is the least likely possibility as Amazon's Fire tablets don't even have access to the Google Play Store.

Do you feel that chill in the air? Fall is here, which means so is the holiday shopping season. To kick things off, Amazon is bringing back Prime Big Deal Days.

Running Oct. 6 and 7, the event is essentially Amazon's way of kicking off holiday shopping before Black Friday. We're gearing up for the event and hunting deals on all the top brands, including Apple.

We're on the hunt for Apple Watch deals and have been admittedly a little disappointed. We've found one great deal on an Apple Watch, but otherwise, there's not much to shop. So if you're eager to buy an Apple Watch, here's the best early Prime Day deal. But otherwise, we recommend holding out until more Prime Big Deal Days savings go live.

Best Apple Watch Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 44mm) $249 at Amazon
$279 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for an Apple Watch, the only early Prime Day deal we found is on the Apple Watch SE 3. Usually $279, the smartwatch is now $249, saving you $30 off. That's just $20 off its lowest-ever price.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is the most affordable smartwatch from the tech giant, but it still has all the essential features. It's an advanced health tracker on your wrist that provides real-time metrics. Plus, it has safety in mind as it can detect hard falls and even car crashes, and then alert emergency services.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is the best Apple Watch deal to shop right now, but if you're curious about other smartwatch savings, we rounded up deals from other brands.

More smartwatch deals

• CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro — $69 $79 (save $10)

• Google Fitbit Versa 4 — $159.95 $199.95 (save $40)

• Garmin Vivoactive 5, 42mm — $181.97 $299.99 (save $118.02)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, 40mm — $185 $249.99 (save $64.99)

• Garmin Forerunner 165, 43mm — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar, 45mm — $259.95 $449.99 (save $190.04)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, 40mm — $259.99 $299.99 (save $40)

• Garmin Venu 3, 45mm — $367.81 $449.99 (save $82.18)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, 46mm — $419 $499.99 (save $80.99)

• Garmin Quatix 7X Solar Edition Marine — $549.95 $629.95 (save $60)

TL;DR: Watch Italy vs. Belgium in the Nations League for free on RaiPlay. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is back, and for Italy, that means a chance at rebuilding its status after missing out on a string of tournaments. Belgium did qualify for this summer's World Cup, only exiting in the quarter-final stage at the hands of eventual winners Spain. They'll fancy their chances against a struggling Italy.

If you're interested in watching Italy vs. Belgium in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. Belgium?

Italy vs. Belgium in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 25. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Olimpico.

How to watch Italy vs. Belgium for free

Italy vs. Belgium in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RaiPlay.

RaiPlay is geo-restricted to Italy, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Italy, meaning you can live stream Italy vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Italy vs. Belgium for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

4. Visit RaiPlay

5. Watch Italy vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Italy vs. Belgium without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RaiPlay?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RaiPlay, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Italy

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Italy vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Turkey vs. France in the Nations League for free on TF1. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is back with a stacked schedule of high-profile matchups, including Turkey vs. France. The hosts had a hugely disappointing 2026 World Cup, dropping out in the group stage. At one stage, it looked like France were going to dominate the competition, but they eventually fell to Spain at the semi-final stage.

Zinedine Zidane is now in charge of the national team. It's going to be fascinating to see how France's team of stars responds to his leadership.

If you're interested in watching Turkey vs. France in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Turkey vs. France?

Turkey vs. France in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 25. This fixture takes place at the Kocaeli Stadium.

How to watch Turkey vs. France for free

Turkey vs. France in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1.

TF1 is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can live stream Turkey vs. France for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Turkey vs. France for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in France

4. Visit TF1

5. Watch Turkey vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Turkey vs. France without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for TF1?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including France

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Turkey vs. France for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A long, hooded winter coat.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

PARKA

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Put into practice.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 25, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ENACT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Courageous.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 25, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Sept. 25, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BRAVE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Livid.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ANGRY

Final Hurdle hint

Golden.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

HONEY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 25, 2026 Bougie meaning

Describes someone with expensive or luxurious taste.

Fancy meaning

Elaborate, decorative or expensive.

Posh meaning

Elegant, luxurious or expensive.

Swank meaning

Stylish, expensive and showy.

Aykroyd meaning

An Old-English last name.

Levy meaning

The legal imposition or collection of a tax, fee, fine or property seizure by a government or authority.

Rather meaning

An adverb meaning somewhat, to a certain degree or instead.

Savage meaning

Fierce, wild or uncivilized.

Escapement meaning

A mechanical device that regulates movement in steps.

Pendulum meaning

A weight suspended from a fixed point so that it can swing freely back and forth.

Ratchet meaning

A mechanical mechanism with a toothed wheel and catching piece that allows movement or rotation in one direction only.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Spring meaning

A bent or spiraled piece of metal that returns to its original shape after being stretched out.

Border meaning

An outer edge, dividing line or a narrow strip of plants along a path.

Classy meaning

Stylish, elegant and having high standards.

Foamily meaning

In a foamy manner, or in a way that relates to foam.

Genius meaning

A rare, high level of skill or brilliance in fields like art, music, or science.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like the finer things in life.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games 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 today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 25, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: "Ooo la la!"

• Green: Tick tock

• Blue: Same names

• Purple: Classification

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Luxe

• Green: Parts of a mechanical clock

• Blue: Famous Dans

• Purple: Taxonomic ranks plus a letter

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 today's Connections #1201 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Luxe: BOUGIE, FANCY, POSH, SWANK

• Parts of a mechanical clock: ESCAPEMENT, PENDULUM, RATCHET, SPRING

• Famous Dans: AYKROYD, LEVY, RATHER, SAVAGE

• Taxonomic ranks plus a letter: BORDER, CLASSY, FOAMILY, GENIUS

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're good at math.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 25, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: 1X1, etc...

The words are related to math.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe numbers.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Square Numbers.

NYT Strands word list for September 25

• Four

• Nine

• Twenty five

• Square Numbers

• Thirty six

• Eighty one

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Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love greenery.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 25, 2026 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.

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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 25, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A small group of trees.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No, there are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

The Wordle answer today is...

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 today's Wordle is...

COPSE

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Federal officials asked to intervene in a case that accused the social media platform of allowing deceptive behavior on its site and resulted in a $140 million penalty.