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This season on House of the Dragon, we endured the horrors of Blood and Cheese, witnessed the pivotal battle of Rook's Rest, and welcomed new dragonriders following the fiery Red Sowing. Now, we come to the finale, and the results are... a tad underwhelming.

Don't get me wrong, the Season 2 finale is by no means a bad episode of House of the Dragon. That emotional reunion between Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent (Olivia Cooke) alone is worth heaps and heaps of praise. Plus, there are plenty of juicy lore tidbits that hint at big things ahead for the show.

SEE ALSO: How 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is different from George R.R. Martin's 'Fire and Blood'

Unfortunately, in terms of ending Season 2 with a bang, this finale fails to deliver. It plays more like a mid-season episode or a "next-on" trailer for Season 3 than a satisfying conclusion to Season 2.

It doesn't help that the most exciting footage from the finale's trailer, including marching armies, naval action, and our first glimpse at Prince Daeron's dragon Tessarion, have very little bearing on the finale itself. They're the definition of trailer fodder, and while they may have set expectations for an action-filled finale, the reality — like much of House of the Dragon Season 2 — is a much slower, more dialogue-driven affair. Quite a bit of it lands, while other parts drag the momentum of what should have been a more propulsive episode of TV.

Still, it's clear from this finale that House of the Dragon is maneuvering itself into place for several key battles in the future. (But would any of them have worked better as closers to Season 2? Absolutely.) From new political alliances to mysterious visions, let's break down what happens in House of the Dragon's Season 2 finale — and what it could mean for the future.

Tyland Lannister has the worst time of his life in Essos.

Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) is no stranger to bullying. Remember his short-lived beef with baby Jaehaerys in Season 2's first episode, when the two dueled over his precious Small Council ball? But House of the Dragon's Season 2 finale takes Tyland's tough times up a notch with a visit to Essos, where he hopes to secure an alliance with the Triarchy on Aemond's (Ewan Mitchell) orders.

Members of the Triarchy — representing the Free Cities of Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr — dog walk Tyland during their negotiations. They get him to cede the Stepstones to them in exchange for their naval support. It's certainly not the tradeoff Tyland would have wanted, but at least the Triarchy's fleet can go break up the Velaryon blockade in the Gullet now, right? Right?

SEE ALSO: The new 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 intro shows the history of House Targaryen

Not so fast! First, Tyland has to prove himself to Lysene commander Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn). His trials — or really, Lysene hazing — include mud wrestling and singing for Lohar's entertainment. Don't worry, though: Lohar takes a real liking to Tyland, enough to ask him to impregnate his own wives and pledge his navy to King's Landing.

"To the Gullet on the morrow!" Lohar crows to his men. Unfortunately, the "morrow" for these characters is looking more like 2026 (or whenever Season 3 comes out) for us, as we don't see any naval clashing this episode.

Tensions rise on Dragonstone and Driftmark. Clinton Liberty, Harry Collett, Emma D’Arcy, Bethany Antonia, Kieran Bew, and Tom Bennett in "House of the Dragons." Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

Speaking of the Gullet, let's pop over to Dragonstone and Driftmark, where war is in the air. (But when is it not?)

On Driftmark, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) is ready to join the blockade on his mended warship the Sea Snake, which he's renamed the Queen Who Never Was in honor of Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best). Joining him is his first mate and bastard son Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim). Yet Alyn remains unenthused about his promotion.

In one of the finale's best scenes, he breaks his characteristically stoic countenance to give Corlys a heartbreaking dressing-down. He details the struggles he and his brother Addam (Clinton Liberty) faced in their youth, especially when compared to the cushy life of Corlys's trueborn son Laenor. The fact that Corlys only turned to Alyn once his legitimate heirs were dead is also not lost on Alyn, who spurns any further help or favor from his father as they head off to war.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon's Abubakar Salim on Alyn's relationship with Corlys: 'He's haunted by him'

Bastard tensions linger in Dragonstone as well. Freshly minted dragonrider Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) is a little too comfortable in his new role. He's putting his feet up on Dragonstone's famed Painted Table, ordering servants around, poking at Jacaerys' (Harry Collett) illegitimacy — in short, he's acting like he's king of the castle. Last I checked, that was still Rhaenyra, Ulf! His fellow new dragonriders Addam and Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) are far more respectful of Rhaenyra, but Ulf's attitude already spells trouble for the next stages of Rhaenyra's plan.

What is that plan, exactly? Well, now that Rhaenyra has far more dragons at her disposal than Aemond, she plans to face him head-on and take the Iron Throne. However, an attack on King's Landing would kill thousands of innocents, sowing discord and fear across Westeros instead of uniting the realm. This tension between striking for victory and risking needless murder is the dilemma Rhaenyra has been facing all season. It's why she didn't retaliate further after Jaehaerys's death, and why she waited so long to unleash a dragon in combat.

Now she has all the firepower needed to end the war — but does she have the cruel streak to do it?

Aemond has a temper tantrum, and Alicent and Helaena want no part of it. Ewan Mitchell and Phia Saban in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

As Team Black rejoices in their three new dragonriders, Aemond is in shambles. He takes Vhagar on a joyride, with a little side helping of death and destruction along the way. The victims of Aemond's rage? The entire town of Sharp Point, burned to a crisp, with no thought for the people who live within. (Or how the realm will react when they find out of this slaughter.)

Aemond's next step to rally his dragonriders does not go according to plan. He turns to Helaena (Phia Saban), ordering her to fly Dreamfyre into battle. But as Rhaenyra said earlier in the episode, Helaena has no taste for dragonriding. She refuses to burn people, and Alicent doesn't want the best and most gentle member of her family to face any more pain.

Not even threats from Aemond can change Helaena's mind. Instead, she hits him with a one-two punch courtesy of her prescient dreaming ability. First, she tells him that she knows he burned Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) at Rook's Rest. Then, she delivers a knockout in the form of a prophecy: Aegon will be king again in the future, while Aemond will die. "You are swallowed up in the Gods Eye," she tells him, referring to the large lake besides Harrenhal.

Helaena's words are consistent with Aegon and Aemond's fates in George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, so unless House of the Dragon makes some surprising moves, Helaena just told us exactly what will happen in the show's next seasons. If Aemond wants to survive, maybe he should heed his sister's spoiler warning — although as she says when he threatens to kill her, it wouldn't change anything.

Daemon has one last Harrenhal vision — of Daenerys Targaryen herself. Matt Smith in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

Helaena's dreaming powers are working overtime in this finale, as she also appears in a weirwood vision Daemon (Matt Smith) has at Harrenhal. But unlike Daemon's other visions, which he experienced involuntarily, this is a vision he chooses.

Witch Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) guides him to Harrenhal's weirwood tree in the middle of the night, telling him how being at Harrenhal has opened him up, and how he's realized he can't simply bend the world to his will. Now, she offers him the choice to see the omens the world wishes to give him. He accepts, and launches into the last — and trippiest — of his Season 2 visions.

Here, he sees visions of war and doom, including the White Walkers leading an army of death. He also sees a pale-haired man (Joshua Ben-Tovim) sitting in a weirwood tree. A birthmark on his face morphs into a three-eyed raven, implying that this man is Brynden Rivers, aka Bloodraven. A Targaryen bastard and former Commander of the Night's Watch, Brynden is most known to Game of Thrones fans as the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran's greenseer mentor.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, episode 3 has a literal Daenerys Easter egg

But by far the buzziest Game of Thrones reference in Daemon's vision is the appearance of none other than Daenerys Targaryen herself, just after the birth of her three dragons. Her presence here proves that House Targaryen will persevere and stand against the threat of the Long Night, even if Daemon is unaware of the decades of tragedy that will befall his House between now and her birth.

One last vision of Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne and a helpful nudge from Helaena push Daemon to do what he should have done from the beginning of the war: bend the knee to Rhaenyra. The choice is a product of all the ghostly visits that came before this, in which young Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), and Viserys (Paddy Considine) forced him to question his desire for the crown. Now, knowing that Westeros needs someone to unite the realm in the face of death and destruction, Daemon is more than ready to stand behind Rhaenyra. I'm sure Willem Blackwood (Jack Parry-Jones) and the members of House Bracken who suffered at his hands would have loved for this decision to come sooner, but better late than never!

Alicent comes to Rhaenyra with a game-changing proposal. Olivia Cooke in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

There are no big battles in House of the Dragon's Season 2 finale, but this final confrontation between Rhaenyra and Alicent cuts deeper than any knife.

After a season of being belittled and pushed to the side, Alicent has finally realized the folly in the order that she fought so hard to uphold for all of her life. She never knew anything but the duty Otto (Rhys Ifans) and the realm forced upon her — what would she have chosen to do had she been able to live her life any differently? She attempts to make a bold new choice now, meeting Rhaenyra on Dragonstone to propose a deal that could end the war.

At first, Rhaenyra doesn't want to hear it, rightfully pointing out Alicent's hypocrisy. Alicent slandered Rhaenyra's virtue, then later chose to take a lover when it suited her. Alicent kickstarted the war by crowning Aegon and turned down Rhaenyra's attempt to sue for peace. Now she wants to do the same?

However, Alicent's proposal is too good for Rhaenyra to turn down outright. When Aemond flies to Harrenhal, Alicent says, she will surrender King's Landing to Rhaenyra. All she asks is that she and Helaena are able to go free. Rhaenyra accepts, on one condition: Alicent must surrender Aegon to Rhaenyra. Only his death will truly secure her claim to the throne.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, episode 7: What's the deal with that Alicent lake scene?

What follows is a heartbreaking silence as Alicent weighs her own life, Helaena's life, and the future of the realm against the life of her eldest son. She tearfully nods, unable to even voice the agreement. The choice comes as somewhat of a surprise to Rhaenyra. "History will paint you a villain," she tells Alicent. Yet Alicent doesn't care, hoping to truly live as herself for the first time since her youth.

The entire scene is a full circle moment for Rhaenyra and Alicent, who may have agreed on a course of action but who may also never be farther apart in terms of their relationship to power and their places in this war. Alicent is at peace with giving up any of the power she thought she once held: Gone are her signature dark green wardrobe and any symbols of the Faith of the Seven. Instead, she wears a new, lighter shade of blue, consistent with the idea of rebirth we saw when she swam in a lake in episode 7. In a nice detail, we also see her nervously biting her nails, just as young Alicent (Emily Carey) did in the first few episodes of House of the Dragon, suggesting that Alicent has reverted in some ways to her younger self.

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra remains squarely focused on taking the Iron Throne, with her insistence that Alicent choose Aegon's fate acting as the ultimate power play. It also calls to mind Jaehaerys's murder, especially with the brutal return of the line, "a son for a son." And while Alicent gladly relinquishes her spot in the history books, even asking Rhaenyra to come with her, Rhaenyra remains firmly on the warpath. "Whether I will it or no," she tells Alicent. The line suggests a reversal between the two: Now it's Rhaenyra who's given up choice, while Alicent is choosing to walk away.

Still, despite all their differences, there's a warmth between the two as they part ways, proof of the love they've always had for one another. Unfortunately, given the other many moving pieces at play here, it's quite likely this duo's plan towards peace will fall apart right at the start of Season 3.

The board is set. The pieces are moving. We just have to wait until Season 3. Tom Glynn-Carney and Matthew Needham in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Liam Daniel/HBO

The first problem with Alicent's plan? Aegon is no longer in King's Landing. Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) is smuggling him to Braavos, so there's no way she can give him up to Rhaenyra. There's no way Rhaenyra sees Aegon's departure as anything but a betrayal from Alicent, so consider that alliance toastier than one of Vermithor's Red Sowing victims come Season 3.

Aegon and Larys's road trip reveal is just one of many that comes in the montage that closes out House of the Dragon Season 2. We also see various armies marching towards the Riverlands for battle: the Hightower host rides with Daeron and his dragon Tessarion from Oldtown, the Winter Wolves cross the Twins on their way south, and the Lannisters are now within eyeshot of Harrenhal. On the naval side of things, Tyland and Lohar sail towards the Gullet — presumably to break the blockade "on the morrow" — while Corlys and Alyn ride out to join the fight. Oh, and Otto's in jail! And Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) has found the wild dragon in the Vale! And the new dragonriders are suiting up for the first time!

It's a jam-packed montage that certainly teases big things to come in Season 3, but as an ending, it feels overstuffed and underdeveloped. Why couldn't Rhaena have gone on her dragon camping trip in episode 7, right after she left on her quest? Why aren't we getting any action concerning the blockade, especially since that's a confrontation that's been teased since the very first episode of Season 2? Why do none of these arcs feel fully completed?

Only Daemon's return to Rhaenyra and Rhaenyra's relationship with Alicent feel like they've reached their natural conclusion this season, and the finale chooses to focus on the latter as its final image. Just as it's been doing since the very start of Season 2, House of the Dragon places Rhaenyra and Alicent in parallel. We see similar shots of them both from behind. Rhaenyra is framed by the shelves holding the many historical scrolls and family records of House Targaryen, while Alicent stands on a cliff edge at Dragonstone, watching the sun rise. One is now forever held within the framework of her House and its great history, while the other hopes for freedom.

Of course, that could all change on the morrow. (Or in Season 3.)

House of the Dragon Season 2 is now streaming on Max.

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 5's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 2 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Happen or occur afterward or as a result.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

ENSUE.

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

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 5's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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's The Mini crossword answers for August 5 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Making ends meet

• Green: Something you get on a special occasion

• Blue: Without ambiguity

• Purple: Words involving "eye"

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

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

• Yellow: Survive

• Green: Kinds of Greeting Cards

• Blue: Are We Clear?

• Purple: Words After "Eye"

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #421 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Survive: GET BY, HACK IT, MAKE DO, MANAGE

• Kinds of Greeting Cards: BIRTHDAY, CONGRATULATIONS, GET WELL, THANK YOU

• Are We Clear?: CAPISCE, GET IT, SEE, UNDERSTAND

• Words After "Eye": CANDY, CONTACT, SHADOW, WITNESS

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

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

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

Tony West, the top lawyer for Uber, is weighing in on polling and running mates. His presence has made some liberals anxious.

Apple is finally paying out a $50 million settlement over its defective MacBook butterfly keyboards.

Keyboard owners with approved claims will receive checks of up to $395 depending on the extent of the repairs necessary. 9to5Mac’s Michael Burkhardt reported that he already received two payout checks.

SEE ALSO: Bought a MacBook between 2015 and 2019? You may soon get a settlement payout up to $395

As soon as the keyboard debuted in 2015, customers reported that the keyboards often got stuck or completely broke, becoming unresponsive. Additionally, users complained that small pieces of dust or debris would become caught in the keys and that they were unable to remove the pieces, rendering keys unusable. In 2019, Apple moved from the butterfly keyboard design to a "scissor-switch" design.

To deal with the issue, Apple launched a repair program, but it only replaced butterfly keyboards with other butterfly keyboards, which didn't solve the issue.

The class action lawsuit was filed in 2018 and claimed Apple knew that the keyboard design was defective and concealed it from customers. Apple agreed to settle the class action lawsuit in 2022, but as part of the settlement, Apple denied the lawsuit's claims.

According to the settlement's website, people who received two or more topcase replacements within four years of purchasing an affected MacBook will get between $300 and $395. If an owner only got one replacement, they could receive up to $125. If only a keycap replacement was needed, owners will get a maximum of $50. Only Apple customers in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Washington who needed repairs were eligible for payouts.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 4

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, August 4, 2024:

AcrossThe first blank in this phrase: From ___ to ___

• The answer is Head.

"The Hobbit" hobbit

• The answer is Bilbo.

A 16 seed beating a 1 seed, e.g.

• The answer is Upset.

Feeling of ill will

• The answer is Spite.

The second blank in this phrase: From ___ to ___

• The answer is Toe.

DownCreature able to hold its breath underwater for up to 30 minutes

• The answer is Hippo.

Name that sounds like the twelfth and third letters of the alphabet

• The answer is Elsie.

Help with a crime

• The answer is Abet.

Pour love (on)

• The answer is Dote.

Opposite of boom, on Wall Street

• The answer is Bust.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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Parents typically prepare their children to encounter a variety of risks and dangers in life. Now online safety experts say caregivers need to urgently add another threat to that list: sextortion.

The problem isn't new. Bad actors have long pressured teens into sending them sexually explicit imagery, then blackmailed them with it. But online safety experts say evolving tactics and tools, like deepfake software, have made it easier to ruthlessly go after teens for sextortion.

A number of victims have died by suicide after being targeted for financial sextortion by perpetrators in organized criminal groups originating from Nigeria or Cote d'Ivoire. Victims who thought they were talking to another teen were relentlessly pressured to pay the scammer money, or else they'd make the explicit picture public.

Melissa Stroebel, vice president of research and insights at Thorn, a nonprofit organization that builds technology to defend children from sexual abuse, urges parents to talk candidly and frequently to their children about how to stay safe as soon as they get online. This should include discussing sextortion in age-appropriate ways.

SEE ALSO: Explicit deepfakes are traumatic. How to deal with the pain.

Unfortunately, Stroebel and other online safety experts say parents can't rely alone on platforms to keep their children safe from sextortion. In fact, there are no guaranteed strategies to avoid becoming a target of sextortion.

Even if a teen encounters a predator or scammer but declines to send an explicit image of themselves, the perpetrator can steal a photo from their social media account and create an explicit deepfake of the victim, then threaten to send it to everyone they know. But Stroebel says there are ways to reduce the risk of sextortion and defend yourself if it happens.

"These are hard conversations to start…they feel a little bit uncomfortable, for a lot of different reasons," Stroebel says. "The reality is, we have to have those conversations way before the moment arises."

Discussions should be judgment-free and focus on red flags rather than unrealistic expectations of a child's online behavior, Stroebel says. Additionally, they should help a young person know how to respond if they're extorted, and feel confident they can tell their parent or another trusted adult.

How to talk to kids about sextortion

It's not easy for parents to imagine their child taking an explicit picture of themselves, then giving it to a stranger online. But Stroebel wants parents to understand that while it's important to honestly discuss the risks of sharing nudes, many tweens and teens do so, even if they've been warned more than once about it.

Young people online also aren't as skeptical of unknown users, particularly if they can see an account is connected to a friend or peer, according to Thorn's research. In their minds, a so-called stranger could quickly become a friend if they share the same interests and online contacts. In other words, lecturing them about "stranger danger" may likely feel out of touch or irrelevant.

Stroebel says that bad actors and predators may use fake accounts featuring a teen user to help gain a victim's trust. They take advantage of young people's openness and curiosity through flirtatious comments and direct messaging. It's not long before the bad actor sends their own alleged explicit photo or video and asks for one in exchange, or just requests one.

Parents shouldn't use shame to discourage their child from engaging in online conversations or image-sharing. Instead, they should suspend judgment while explaining the risks of trusting anyone online.

Stroebel adds that ongoing discussions about sextortion should let children know that "even if they did something that maybe we told them not to do, they feel confident that their best option is to come to us, rather than trying to handle these events on their own."

How common is sextortion?

In an effort to stop sextortion scams, Meta recently announced that it had removed 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria that attempted to financially extort victims. The scams were highly coordinated and relied partly on thousands of since-removed Facebook assets, like accounts, pages, and groups, that sold scripts and guides for how to scam people using collections of photos to populate fake accounts.

But international criminal groups aren't alone in their efforts to manipulate and trick young people online. Sex offenders and predators, who are primarily interested in collecting and distributing child sexual abuse material, extort youth as well. Sextortion threats can also come from someone the victim knows in person, including acquaintances, romantic partners, and exes.

A 2018 survey of middle and high school students estimated that 5 percent of respondents experienced sextortion prior to adulthood. That figure may be higher today. In 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received nearly 27,000 reports of financial sextortion, more than double the number in 2022.

While sextortion has historically affected girls and young women, boys and young men are increasingly targets of financial sextortion, according a recent Thorn report.

How to respond to sextortion

Parents should help their child develop a plan to anticipate and respond to a sextortion attempt, Stroebel says.

First, if they've been talking to an online contact they've never met in person, they shouldn't trust they're authentically a "friend of a friend" just because they they seem to be connected online. Instead, they should talk to the person they know in real life to learn more about how the new contact is connected and how long their friend has known them. If the trusted contact hasn't actually met the individual, it's very possible the account is fraudulent or has malicious intentions.

Stroebel notes that asking to speak directly to the individual, on a phone or video call, isn't a surefire way to verify their identity, either. She says that bad actors increasingly use a variety of technical tools to conceal their true identity.

Jared Barnhart, customer experience team lead for the digital investigative firm Cellebrite, recommends young users take a "zero trust" approach to encounters that feel off, or make a young person feel uncomfortable. Don't engage further with the individual in those circumstances.

Parents should help children understand that if they're extorted, the perpetrator may have a script designed to terrify them. This can include threatening to make the imagery go viral, appear on the news, and simply ruin the child's life.

These interactions are designed to be high-pressure, never giving the child a moment to stop, ask for help, or think of alternative solutions, Stroebel says.

That's why they need a list of exit strategies in advance, she adds. In addition to telling a trusted adult immediately if anything like this happens, this can include reporting sextortion to the platform on which it's occurring; blocking and/or reporting the individual; and contacting a hotline like 1-800-THELOST for help with sextortion. Thorn has a list of these and other critical steps on its website.

As much as a teen might want to delete the conversation and imagery, Barnhart says it's important to keep everything for a law enforcement investigation. The digital files can contain information that may identify the perpetrator, or details about them.

Barnhart recommends reporting sextortion to NCMEC's CyberTipline and to local law enforcement. While the authorities' response depends on their resources and training, Barnhart says that some local agencies are prepared to investigate sextortion cases.

While some parents might perceive the threat of sextortion as minimal compared to everyday risks like getting into a car, they should still prepare their child for the possibility.

"[Bad actors] can spend their entire workday essentially trolling the internet looking for your kid," Barnhart says. "It only takes them choosing your kid... and now your child is the victim. There's not an easy way to avoid it."

If you are a child being sexually exploited online, or you know a child who is being sexually exploited online, or you witnessed exploitation of a child occur online, you can report it to the CyberTipline, which is operated by the National Center for Missing Exploited & Children. Or ask for help directly at contactgethelp@ncmec.org or 1-800-THE-LOST. For those located outside of the U.S., use the InHope hotline directory to find your local hotline.

You might have playlists loaded up with your favourite artists on Spotify or Apple, but how much do you know about how the song was made, and why it was made? And what was happening in the world for the artist to need to create that particular track, or that concert that became a cultural moment? 

Whether you’re joining recording sessions with Taylor Swift, WHAM!, Lady Gaga, BLACKPINK, or Keith Richards, or sitting in on rehearsals for Beyoncé’s iconic Coachella performance, getting to know the process and context of an artist whose work has valiantly soundtracked your own life is an act that takes the music itself even further, giving you a greater appreciation for the tracks in your pocket. That's where documentaries come in. At the very least, you’ll have something smug to tell your friends about next time you’re listening to a song.

SEE ALSO: The 30 best documentaries on Netflix

Netflix has a bunch of strong music documentaries, with some particularly standout films ready to stream, from Martin Scorsese's spin on the shape-shifting of Bob Dylan to the much-talked-about Miss Americana. Each comes practically brimming with music, along with behind-the-scenes interviews and footage of some of the most prolific artists of our time.

Without leaving your house, here’s your ticket to the best documentary films about music that you can find on Netflix, in no particular order…

1. WHAM!  Making the sun shine brighter than Doris Day. Credit: Netflix

Despite the fact that you'll probably have that infernal holiday earworm "Last Christmas" stuck in your head for a month after watching this doc on the '80s British pop super two-some consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, it's still worth the risk! The latter name being the best reason why — we've all heard Michael's story by now, but Sr. director Chris Smith finally gives "the other one" Ridgeley the focus he deserves as the co-songwriter on all the duo's hits.

With the '80s feeling further away with every passing year (not to mention every passing superstar of the time), this doc will send you right back to those heady days of pegged jeans and puffy stickers. That "Careless Whisper" sax solo for the win. — Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: WHAM! is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Homecoming Bow down. Credit: Netflix

When you think of landmark concert films of the last ten years, Homecoming immediately springs to mind. Directed, written, and executive produced by Beyoncé, the electrifying two-hour film captures the creation and performance of the superstar’s unforgettable 2018 Coachella set, putting you both behind the scenes and centre stage of this historic cultural moment.

Set on a now-iconic bespoke pyramid stage, Beyoncé’s set pays tribute to the creative spirit of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and features special guest appearances by Destiny's Child, Jay-Z, and Solange. Bow down, indeed.

How to watch: Homecoming is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Hate To Love: Nickelback

Canadians have a reputation for being incredibly nice people. So, how did the Canadian rock group Nickelback go from being chart-topping hitmakers selling 50 million records to a much-loathed punchline in basically the span of a decade? Hate To Love, the 2023 doc from filmmaker Leigh Brooks, takes a look at the band's career and tries to answer that question. Ultimately, it really seems beyond the group's control; sure, they make generic music, but so do 90 percent of the mainstream artists out there. Nickelback's problem is they became a meme, and there's really no coming back from that. But hey, it could be worse. They're rich as hell, and at least they're not Creed! — J.A.

How to watch: Hate To Love: Nickelback is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Miss Americana "Miss Americana" is not just for fans. Credit: Netflix

Whether you're a fan of Taylor Swift or just curious about her meteoric rise to fame, Miss Americana allows you a rare peek into the pop superstar's life. Director Lana Wilson crafts an intimate portrait of Swift, through plenty of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, taking you into the songwriting sessions of her album Lover, backstage on the spectacular Reputation tour, through her relatively short journey from teen country singer to global superstar, through the sexual assault lawsuit she won against radio host David Mueller, and the breaking of her political silence.

But more than anything, the film makes plain that our loud opinion is the last thing that matters to Swift. As Mashable's Angie Han writes, "Maybe it's not the movie everyone wanted. Maybe this latest reinvention of Taylor Swift, this time as a woman who's comfortable enough in her power to wield it fully, isn't for everyone, either. But maybe, also, that's the idea: Swift, Miss Americana tells us, is done worrying about what everyone else thinks."

When you're done, watch the Reputation tour film on Netflix, knowing the story behind the scenes.* — S.C.

How to watch: Miss Americana is now streaming on Netflix.

5. ReMastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black

Co-directed by Sara Dosa and legendary documentarian Barbara Kopple (Harlan County, USA), this is a look back at the 1970 White House performance by country music firebrand Johnny Cash. The president at the time was none other than Richard M. Nixon, making this meeting the equivalent of spraying gasoline on a freshly lit fire. It's not hard to see in retrospect that these two gentlemen would never in a million years get along, so how the heck did this happen?

This was all Nixon's brilliant idea; he saw similarities in their poor childhoods and, more importantly, a possible political goldmine in associating himself with the God-fearing, down-home crowd that Cash represented. Cash is, of course, a far more complicated figure, and his sympathy for the underdogs and the downtrodden mixed with the horrors of the Vietnam War were at that moment in history reaching a boiling point. What happened when Cash walked into the White House that day makes for some truly combustible historical entertainment. – J.A.

How to watch: ReMastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Rolling Thunder Revue  Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg visit Jack Kerouac's grave. Credit: Netflix

Half-real and half-phony just like the musician that inspired it, Martin Scorsese’s 2019 pseudo-documentary Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (which is its full title) puts actual footage of Bob Dylan’s 1975 tour through the Northwest and Canada alongside faked interviews and footage, and leaves it up to the viewer to discern which is what. Did Dylan really put on white face after seeing KISS perform? Was Sharon Stone really a groupie turned costumer in her teenage years?

Add to this the fact that most of the real footage from the tour was filmed by Dylan himself for a semi-fictional and unreleased film called Renaldo and Clara, which complicates the original confusion further. Like the best Dylan song, this Revue contains meta multitudes. — J.A.

How to watch: Rolling Thunder Revue is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Quincy "Quincy" moves through the decades of music alongside Jones' own life story. Credit: Arnold Turner / Getty Images for Netflix

Over 2,900 songs and over 300 albums recorded. 51 film and TV scores. Over 1,000 original compositions. 79 Grammy nominations and 27 wins. You get it, yet? Quincy Jones has been busy for the last 70 years. Created by his daughter Rashida Jones with Alan Hicks, Quincy examines the immense impact the record producer, arranger, and musician has had on music over the last seven decades. It’s mostly narrated by Quincy himself, with archival audio from famous friends like Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra, alongside a treasure trove of home footage and new material.

It’s fascinating to watch just how much of the history of modern music Jones has been a part of, and how many "firsts" he achieved as a Black musician and producer in America. Quincy moves through the decades of music alongside Jones' own life story — he discovered music amongst a hard childhood on the South Side of Chicago during the Great Depression in the '30s, before diving into the be-bop scene in New York in the ‘50s. Then, he moved through pop, funk, jazz, and disco in the ‘70s and ‘80s in Los Angeles, and through the hip hip explosion in the ‘90s. Keep an eye out for the short but powerful heart-to-heart between Quincy and Kendrick Lamar.— S.C.

How to watch: Quincy is now streaming on Netflix.

8. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Party after party, scene after scene, cake after cake. Credit: Caesar Sebastian / Netflix

Superstar EDM artist Steve Aoki once played 300 shows in a single year, and that’s the breathless spirit this 2016 doc from filmmaker Justin Krook aims to capture.

The son of the Japanese wrestler turned Benihana restaurant entrepreneur Rocky Aoki, Steve gives more than a hint that his entire propulsive career has been a rebuke to his father’s lackluster parenting skills. But the lulls between the chaos come few and far between — much like Aoki's life and much like he seems to prefer it. Like the documentary's title suggests, this is party after party, scene after scene, and cake after cake after cake smashed in his fans' eager faces, with sleep rendered an extreme afterthought. — J.A.

How to watch: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell Biggie with 50 Grand. Credit: George DuBose

A compelling, personal portrait of one of the greatest rappers of all time, Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell is an intimate look at the life of Christopher Wallace, AKA The Notorious B.I.G., whose death at 24 years old has also become the stuff of legend. But although the film starts at a tragic end, it actually concentrates more on Wallace's life through those who really knew him.

Directed by Emmett Malloy and made in collaboration with Biggie's estate, the documentary features a huge amount of backstage, onstage, and on-the-road footage filmed by his best friend Damion "D-Roc" Butler, alongside interviews with family, including his wife Faith Evans, mother Violetta Wallace, grandmother Gwendolyn Wallace, uncle Dave Wallace, and friends from both childhood and later years. It was co-executive produced by Sean "Diddy" Combs, who also appears. Especially unique to this documentary is the short time spent on Wallace's visits to family in Jamaica, and unexpected musical influences — interviews with his neighbour, saxophonist Donald Harrison, about the impact of bebop and jazz on his rap techniques are a treat. — S.C.

How to watch: Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl It's your perogative to watch this. Credit: Jim Bennett / Getty Images

She’s still the one we run to! Taking a page from the book of Tina Turner is never a bad idea, and country/pop superstar Shania Twain seems to've lifted the best page of all, having moved to a gorgeous house set against the majestic scenery of Lake Geneva, Switzerland. That’s where she’s mainly interviewed for this 2022 doc on her career, and where she talks about many of such influences — the earliest being Dolly Parton, because of course. Still holding the title of the best-selling studio album by a solo female artist ever for Come On Over in 1997 (it’s the ninth best-selling album of all time), Shania, smart, grounded, and funny, still impresses us much. — J.A.

How to watch: Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl is now streaming on Netflix.

11. What Happened, Miss Simone? Nina Simone's life was not an easy one. Credit: Netflix

What do you know about Nina Simone? You’re about to learn a lot in this exceptional documentary about the singer, classical pianist, and Black Power activist, whose life was no easy path.

Directed by Liz Garbus and tightly woven with Simone's music, What Happened, Miss Simone? examines the star’s public career and private life, her childhood in segregated North Carolina, her survival of domestic abuse, her struggle with addiction, the experience of living with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, revelations of abuse against her daughter, and her role in the civil rights movement and its impact on her career. This Best Documentary nominee will leave you with a complex picture of Miss Simone, and a thorough understanding of the impact of a song like "Mississippi Goddamn" on the music industry, on society, and on the artist herself. — S.C.

How to watch: What Happened Miss Simone? is now streaming on Netflix.

12. The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir Credit: Netflix

"You have to see it to see it," says Bob Weir, famed guitarist for legendary jam-band The Grateful Dead. And he’s not wrong — this 2014 doc from director Mike Fleiss (God Bless Ozzy Osbourne) trains its lens on the less famous member of the famous outfit in order to chart a lesser known voyage through rock history, and unearths all sorts of hidden gems from the road that was.

Running in at just 85 minutes, the film might be shorter than some of the Dead’s guitar solos, but it manages to capture that certain something that kept people coming back, and back, and back to the band for decades. Memories that are probably otherwise lost to many of the people who experienced it! — J.A.

How to watch: The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir is now streaming on Netflix.

13. BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky How much do you actually know about BLACKPINK? Credit: Netflix

You might have watched their videos, seen them live, or just watched this superstar K-pop group smash records all over the joint, but how much do you actually know about BLACKPINK? Directed by Caroline Suh, Light Up the Sky is a fascinating, fun, and sincere portrait of one of the biggest groups in the world right now.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best K-pop songs of 2023 (so far)

Amid behind-the-scenes footage of early auditions, childhood home movies, recording sessions, and touring, including that historic Coachella performance, the documentary sits you down with Lisa, Jisoo, Jennie, and Rosé, the four members of YG Entertainment's wildly popular South Korean girl group. These frank solo interviews, along with their heartfelt reflections on each other's roles in the group, give insight into these talented, determined young women who worked incredibly hard for years in YG's rigorous training program, debuting with chart-smashing single "Whistle," and building their meteoric rise to fame (with all the perfectionist pressure that comes with it). — S.C.

How to watch: BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know

Dubbed "Birmingham’s peacocks" by none other than Boy George himself, the members of Duran Duran strutted their way to enormous stadium-filling fame in the 1980s. Led by their sneeringly sexy frontman Simon Le Bon, this fab foursome from England — who took their name from the movie Barbarella, of all places — blew up the New Romantic scene thanks to their unforgettable made-for-MTV videos. Hits like "Girls on Film," "Rio," and "Hungry Like the Wolf" ended up defining the era. This 2018 doc from director Zoe Dobson watches as the boys, here in their sixties, look back on their career album by album, still peacocking as much as ever. — J.A. 

How to watch: Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Halftime J-Lo fans, assemble. Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez has been entertaining us for decades, so you should take a second for Halftime. The documentary is focused on Lopez's SuperBowl halftime show with Shakira (and her daughter Emme) in 2020 that made a public statement about the border crisis, but also takes in the artist's career over the decades, from her beginnings in the '90s as a Fly Girl on In Living Colour to her incredible performance as pop star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in the lauded biopic, to her Grammy-winning music career and its eras, to her critically acclaimed and Golden Globe nominated role in Hustlers.

Directed by Amanda Micheli and edited by Carol Martori, Lopez maintains full control in this documentary, having not always felt this way across her career and speaking at length about being underestimated and not taken seriously. Halftime brings the receipts too, showing the unbridled racism and sexism she's endured from the press and entertainment industry. Despite it all, Lopez continues to kick every goal.

How to watch: Halftime is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of our Lives An idealized portrait but fascinating nonetheless. Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

A hagiography can be just what the doctor ordered sometimes, when the subject demands such respect. And when it comes to the music industry, the legendary producer Clive Davis – the man behind Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Alicia Keys, and his right-hand lady Whitney Houston, just to get us started — warrants a good old fashioned love-fest.

By all accounts a decent man (at least by all the accounts that they put on the screen here) blessed with a "golden ear", Davis knew how to find and nurture talent and take them to the top of the charts time and time and time again. And his story will make you long for the simplicity of his old-fashioned, personal, one-on-one approach, when everything wasn’t quite so soullessly corporate. — J.A.

How to watch: Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now A powerful portrait. Credit: Netflix

Scotland's celebrated and Grammy-nominated purveyor of fine sad songs, Lewis Capaldi's natural charm, candour, and signature cheeky humour make this documentary both an absolute treat and a deeply moving portrait. Directed by Joe Pearlman, How I'm Feeling Now checks in with Capaldi in Whitburn, Scotland, with 15 billion streams and sold out shows in 36 countries under his belt. He's writing his second album in his parents' shed, the follow-up to his incredibly successful debut Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, amid varying lockdowns around the world. Between reflections on fame, writing, and performing, the documentary paints a wonderful picture of Capaldi in his hometown; you'll meet Capaldi's parents, family, and friends, paired with plenty of sweet home movies and studio session recordings brimming with pure talent.

Notably, having filmed with Capaldi during his experience with anxiety, ticks, and being diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome, Pearlman's documentary is an emotional, vulnerable, and powerful journey through some of the most challenging times in the artist's past few years. It's something Capaldi commented on after the film was released. "I didn’t realise how much my anxiety and Tourette's was taking over my life until I watched [the footage] back," he told The Independent. "When I saw the first draft, it was so depressing, I was surprised I didn’t die at the end! I mean, there’s always the sequel."

How to watch: Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Barbra: The Music The Mem'ries The Magic Barbra! Credit: Steve Jennings / WireImage for BSB

It's Barbra doing what Barbra does best: belting out big music while running a single fingernail through her hair. This concert film from Streisand’s 2015 string of nine shows was filmed in Miami and the Golden Girls vibes are strong with her shimmery black pantsuit and string of special guest stars. We see a little backstage footage — hey there’s James Brolin, hey there’s her pampered pup — but mostly it’s just Barbra hitting the stage, beginning right off the bat with “The Way We Were” and not stopping the hit parade for nearly two straight hours. She tells some stories, she disco-dances, she says she’s on a diet but she wants the ice cream anyway. It’s all the hits! — J.A.

How to watch: Barbra: The Music The Mem’ries The Magic is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Gaga: Five Foot Two Essential viewing for Gaga fans. Credit: Netflix

Head into the studio with Lady Gaga amid the making of her fifth album, Joanne, in this characteristically raw, compelling documentary released in 2017 — before the "Shallow" madness, though there’s a lovely fleeting moment when she gets the part in A Star Is Born in there, too. ahs

Directed by Chris Moukarbel, Gaga: Five Foot Two follows the superstar during the recording of her album with Mark Ronson (and for one excellent minute, "Hey Girl" collaborator Florence Welsh), and ahead of her Super Bowl halftime performance, all peppered with a stream of reflections on love, work, and self-confidence — all while living with chronic pain. But as Joanne is an album inspired by the death of her aunt Joanne, it also fittingly offers some moving glimpses into her family life.

How to watch: Gaga: Five Foot Two is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Keith Richards: Under the Influence Keith Richards: a happier bullshitter you will never see. Credit: Jane Rose / Netflix

In Metric’s song "Gimme Sympathy," the band asks the question: "Who would you rather be / The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?" Would you rather burn big and bright and fast, or long and steady, perhaps past your moment? This 2015 doc on Stones guitarist Keith Richards makes a good case for the latter.

Watching Richards in the process of making his first solo record in several decades, Under the Influence (directed by 20 Feet From Stardom director Morgan Neville) is mainly just for Stones fans — thankfully, that’s a not small percentage of the population. Richards more than lives up to his status as the hard-living rock star with a parade of well-worn tales entertainingly re-told — five decades into his career and a happier bullshitter you will never see. Did Richards ever tell you about the time Chuck Berry famously popped him one? "I was one of Chuck’s greatest hits," he laughs. — J.A.

How to watch: Keith Richards: Under the Influence is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You Ariana Grande's "Sweetener World Tour" at The O2 Arena on Aug. 17, 2019 in London. Credit: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for AG

Released during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, this one was a shining light for live music fans missing concerts at the time — and it remains a gorgeous example of how to film a live show. Shot at London's O2 Arena for Netflix during Ariana Grande's 2019 Sweetener World Tour, Excuse Me, I Love You is the concert film that'll remind you of those large-scale collective scream sessions many of us used to indulge in. As Mashable's Rachel Thompson writes, the film is "a love letter to the Time Before. A time when singers pointed their mics to packed arenas, giggling as ecstatic crowds chanted back their lyrics word for word. A time when we'd throw our arms in the air and yell "encore" before pouring our weary bodies onto the last train home."

Featuring pitch-perfect performances of tracks from Grande's hit-heavy albums including thank u, next, Dangerous Woman, and of course, Sweetener, the film also throws in some fun footage of Grande with her crew on the road.

How to watch: Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You is now streaming on Netflix.

22. The Greatest Night in Pop

Following the creation of the gargantuan 1985 charity single "We Are the World" from conception to total chart dominance, this 2024 doc from director Bao Nguyen takes us behind that inescapable music. Along the way, we get also get a peek at the massive musician egos that had to get in sync to make it happen. It's sweaty, riveting, and funny stuff. (So sweaty!)

The film mainly focuses on footage of the epic recording session that happened on the night of January 28th, 1985. Quincy Jones and co-writers Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie pounded out their ear-worm tune, then used their influence to strong-arm the singing roster — which included Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan, and many, many more — into spending their night making the world a better place. Promo and merch for the song, which was unavoidable that year, has ultimately raised over 80 million dollars for African famine relief. — J.A.

How to watch: The Greatest Night in Pop is now streaming on Netflix.

23. It's Only Life After All

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, better known as the Indigo Girls, began making music together as teens in Decatur, Georgia. Since releasing their first full-length album in 1987, they've been working together steadily and successfully for over forty years. Their songwriting prowess is second only to their frank political passion and acoustic guitar skills.

Director Alexandria Bombach somehow managed to whittle 1,000 hours of footage (!!!!) down into two fleeting hours — including home movies and present-day interviews — illustrating how (and perhaps more importantly, why) these mavericks gathered a profoundly loyal following that rivals that of the Grateful Dead. This doc will have you feeling much, much closer to fine. — J.A.

How to watch: It's Only Life After All is now streaming on Netflix.

24. The Black Godfather Credit: Netflix

"Life is about numbers. Nothing else." That was one of the catchphrases of Clarence Avant, the music executive who ultimately proved his catchphrase's truth through the sheer number of legends that director Reginald Hudlin was able to corral for this 2019 doc.

And it's not just iconic musicians like Bill Withers, Quincy Jones, Clive Davis, and Lionel Richie who speak glowingly about Avant's influence on their lives; it's politicians like Barack Obama and Kamala Harris too, since Avant was also a massive Democratic fundraiser. The footprint that Avant left on culture — he passed away in 2023 at the ripe young age of 92 — is immeasurable. This doc proves to be a vital portrait of a person who worked behind the scenes to actualize real and lasting change in the world. — J.A. 

How to watch: The Black Godfather is now streaming on Netflix.

25. Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel

Sure, maybe it's weird to have various sound effects that come to mind when people hear your name, but Hans Zimmer doesn't give a "BRAAAM!" In case you're curious, that's the infamous sound from his score for Christopher Nolan's Inception, and it's become something of an aural meme. The German composer has been Nolan's go-to guy since The Dark Knight; he's also composed scores for everything from Twister and Cool Runnings to Rain Man (which won him his first Oscar nomination) and Dune: Part One (which got him his second Oscar). His career stretches all the way back to Stephen Frears' classic 1985 gay romance My Beautiful Laundrette, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, for goodness' sake. He was even in the first music video MTV ever aired!

Zimmer is very nearly as celebrated and iconic a cinematic sound-man as John Williams himself, and this hour-long doc does a grand job peering into his colorful and atypical process. And that's no "BRAAAM." — J.A.

How to watch: Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel is now streaming on Netflix.

UPDATE: Aug. 1, 2024, 6:02 p.m. UTC This list was originally published on Sept. 4, 2020. It has been updated to reflect the current streaming options.

Opens in a new window Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Netflix Watch Now

The Times found an active trade in Nvidia chips in China despite U.S. national security restrictions, as well as unreported incidents of how the technology had been used to further defense research.

The U.S. is trying to stop China from getting Nvidia microchips to advance its military. The private sector is fighting back.

TL;DR: Get The 2024 Guitar Lessons Training Bundle for only £11.69 — a 96% discount only available through Aug. 4.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dan Dresnok The 2024 Guitar Lessons Training Bundle £11.69 at the Mashable Shop
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Enjoy 77 hours of guitar training available for life 

This guitar bundle starts at the beginning, so don’t worry if you’re still learning the basics. There are courses for everything from finger placement to ear training, but if you’re still brand-new, you may want to hop into Guitar Lessons for the Curious Guitarist. This 30-hour intro shows you how to name notes, find chords, play solos, and strum to different patterns. It even has 10 guided guitar play-along videos to practice with.

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Don’t put off learning to play guitar because you can’t find a good teacher. These online guitar lessons give you everything you need to master this instrument — except the guitar itself, of course.

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TL;DR: Live stream the men's 400m final at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're expecting Paris 2024 to deliver some great athletics, with superhumans from all around the world competing for the chance of a gold medal. The finals are fast approaching, including the Men's 400m. It's set to be an incredibly entertaining race, and definitely one you'll want to watch.

If you want to watch the men's 400m final at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, keep on reading because we have all the information you need.

When is the 400m final at Paris 2024?

The men's 400m final at Paris 2024 takes place at 3:20 p.m. ET on Aug. 7. The event is hosted by the Stade de France.

How to watch the 400m final at Paris 2024 for free

The men's 400m final at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

While BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, anyone can access this streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream the men's 400m final at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream men's 400m final at Paris 2024 (plus all the events that follow) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the men's 400m final at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 4's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 2 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Beneath.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

LOWER.

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

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 4

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: In glove

The hint for the theme is that the words are a handful.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are related to parts of the hand.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is OnHand.

NYT Strands word list for August 4

• Cuticle

• Nail

• Middle

• Pointer

• Palm

• Ring

• Thumb

• OnHand

• Pinky

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 4's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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's The Mini crossword answers for August 4 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Nicknames for kids

• Green: Wanna go out

• Blue: Doubled-up letters

• Purple: The sea

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

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

• Yellow: Kiddo

• Green: Up for It

• Blue: Beginning with Double Letters

• Purple: Nicknames for the Sea, with "The"

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #420 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kiddo: BUDDY, CHAMP, SPORT, TIGER

• Up for It: AMENABLE, DOWN, GAME, WILLING

• Beginning with Double Letters: AARDVARK, EERIE, LLAMA, OOZE

• Nicknames for the Sea, with "The": BLUE, BRINY, DEEP, DRINK

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

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

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

The head of Samsung apparently agrees with the online criticisms regarding the company's "Apple clones."

According to a new report from Korean news outlet Ajunews, Samsung's executive chairman Lee Jae-yong was unhappy with Samsung's mobile division, Samsung MX (Mobile eXperience), due to reactions on social media and in tech news outlets regarding the designs of Samsung's newest products.

Samsung's chairman reportedly demanded the division "reeexamine its plans" following online criticism that the designs of the company's newest devices look like Apple copies.

“The chairman (Lee) himself stepped in after the controversy over Apple's design plagiarism and quality issues surrounding the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month," an insider reportedly told the outlet. "The internal atmosphere is currently very bad.”

The report goes on to say that unspecific actions were taken against the head of Samsung MX as well as other employees in the company's mobile division.

SEE ALSO: I wore the Samsung Galaxy Ring for 7 days — and it upstaged my Apple Watch Series 9 Samsung's 'Apple clones'

Samsung was hit with a wave of criticism last month following its big annual Galaxy Unpacked event. Alongside its newest smartphones, the consumer electronics giant also announced two new products: the Galaxy Watch Ultra smartwatch and its new line of earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 series.

However, the celebratory Galaxy Unpacked event quickly turned negative online as smartphone reviewers, tech commentators, and even Samsung fans noted the uninspired Apple-like designs of the smartwatch and earbuds.

"Today was a huge L for Samsung," said Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs, a popular tech review channel on YouTube. "Watch Ultra is the most shameless copy of an Apple product in ages — and it’s hideous."

Tweet may have been deleted

"To see Samsung just release a bunch of Apple clones is disheartening," Apple Insider's Andrew O'Hara said following the event. "It’s boring and a massive fail compared to where Samsung used to be."

According to the Ajunews report, these criticisms were even heard among reporters who attended a media briefing held at the company's flagship Samsung Store in Seoul. Reporters that attended "constantly talked about Samsung's new devices looking exactly the same as Apple's" according to the report.

Recently published reviews of Samsung's newest products also can't help but mention the Apple-like design.

"Samsung built an Apple Watch Ultra of its own" reads the headline of Bloomberg's review. 

The Verge went with "If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em" for its own Galaxy Watch Ultra review, while noting how "disappointing" it was to see Samsung copy Apple in this way.

It's very likely that the next iteration of Samsung's Galaxy Ultra  smartwatch and wireless earbuds will look very different from the Apple clones that are out now. But, until then, Samsung is stuck with hearing the accusations that they copied one of their biggest competitors.