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Hong Kong stockpiled food, Virgin America grounded flights, and the U.S. Federal Reserve printed $50 billion in extra money, all in preparation for a date change. This was no simple turning of the calendar page though — it was Y2K and the entire globe was on edge as Jan. 1, 2000 drew near, anxious the world's computers would not recognize the new century and catastrophically glitch. Fears of train crashes, disappearing bank data, power outages, and even nuclear meltdowns permeated many minds.

The panic was overblown, of course, and the Earth kept turning on Jan. 1. There was indeed cause for concern but by the time New Year's Eve 1999 approached, threat levels were relatively low, recalls Chris Taylor, Mashable's senior editor and, a quarter-century ago, one of TIME magazine's journalists on the Y2K beat. Taylor chronicled the code conundrum that began in the mid-20th century when programmers wrote two-digit numbers to indicate years, mostly to save space on the punch cards used in COBOL, an early computer programming language.

"It was the middle of the century, and nobody cared much about what would happen at the click of the cosmic odometer," Taylor wrote in a Jan. 1999 issue of TIME. "But today the world runs on computers, and older machines run on jury-rigged versions of COBOL that may well crash or go senile when they hit a double-zero date."

The news story of the millennium

In his reporting from 25 years ago, Taylor tamped down Y2K panic and noted how programmers had been working to upgrade the code for many years leading up to the date change. Mostly forgotten now is that there was a minor dry run for Y2K a few months prior to the real thing.

"We didn’t fear the new year so much because there was a big test and that was 9/9/99, a number that often meant 'end of program' on many computers; people would just create 9999 codes to file [programs] away," Taylor says. Sept. 9 (and Sept. 10) went off without a hitch.

Taylor admits that some in the media took liberties with the perceived threat.

"The White House was already acting, Congress was already acting, [Y2K] was already a known thing but I think we elevated it to a level of mainstream panic," Taylor says of some journalists at the time. "[On TIME's Jan. 1999 cover] there's a picture with a guy with a sandwich board, he kind of looks like Jesus, and he’s holding a cross. And the sandwich board reads, 'End of the world!?! Apocalypse Now, will computers melt down? Will society? A guide to MILLENNIUM MADNESS.'”

TIME's Jan. 18, 1999 cover Credit: Courtesy TIME

TIME's cover story did recommend restraint, eventually. Author Richard Lacayo admitted "to the extent there is some consensus among sensible experts is that the dire predictions of major social disruptions are way overblown. The most likely problems involve temporary glitches, especially overseas, and billing and invoice systems that can cause some disruptions in business and government." That passage is five pages into the story, though.

Editors looking to sell magazines weren't the only ones hyping up the millennium bug. Hollywood got into it too in '99, releasing two disaster films — a TV movie and a straight-to-video production — that were both called Y2K.

Diagnosing the panic

The TIME cover with the doomsday prepper and his sandwich board was fitting, Taylor says, since much of the Y2K hysteria was wrapped up in religious paranoia, with the date ostensibly coming 2,000 years after Jesus' birth.

"If you want to have a computer bug that would spread widespread panic, have it coincide with a change from 1999 to 2000 where people were already freaking out about in an apocalyptic sense," Taylor says. "I was actually in Times Square on New Year’s Eve 1999; I was part of the crew dropping confetti on the crowd and I wrote [in my diary], 'There was a sense that something might happen; that [New Year's Eve 1999 was] ground zero for nuts.'"

While worries over disruptions and human responses to them were at the heart of Y2K jitters, there also was a creepy realization that technology had fully infiltrated modern life, Taylor says. "That techno fear," he says. "The fear that computers would do what the computer did in War Games and launch a nuclear war. Another thing we forget in our miraculous world of tablets and smartphones and things that just work is that they just didn’t work then, so often. And we were right to regard [tech] with suspicion."

Then and now

Though governments, the banking industry, and transportation systems knew about the Y2K threat for decades, they finally took it seriously in the '90s. Still, late as it was, the Herculean preparation was impressive, Taylor recalls.

"People jumped into action," he says. "There was a report in the Senate [from the United States Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem]. There was this bipartisan effort to throw money at the problem to clean it up."

That urgency is missing 25 years later, as the AI revolution changes how we learn, work, and communicate.

SEE ALSO: What OpenAI's Sora means for the future of truth

"With Y2K, the problem was easy, we totally understood it. We didn’t put enough digits in the date field when we were programming computers," Taylor says. "With AI, it seems like we don’t even understand what we’re talking about. No one’s even on the same page. Some of us say AI is the greatest threat to mankind and others point out it’s barely got the complexities of an insect brain. It seems very appropriate for our time that we can't even agree on the basic structure of reality any more."

Taylor says "we're not approaching AI with the same collective action" as with Y2K, but he also doesn't view our modern concerns in apocalyptic terms: "The world is always ending, the end is always near." 

When I say that 2025 will be a veritable avalanche of TV, know that I'm not exaggerating in the slightest.

SEE ALSO: The 21 best TV shows of 2024, and where to stream them

That's because 2025 is chock-full of major returning shows, with everything from Severance, Stranger Things, Squid Game, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us kicking off new seasons. Not to mention The Bear, You, Yellowjackets... the list goes on and on.

But 2025 also shepherds in some new shows, like Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, several brand-new Marvel shows, and the Tim Robinson comedy The Chair Company. And that's just scratching the surface!

To help you sort through the barrage of TV that's coming our way, we've put together a guide of 62 titles to keep an eye out for, be they drama or comedy, fantasy or sci-fi. We've also sorted everything by streaming service, so you can figure out which shows you'll have access to, or which streamer you'll need to get in order to catch an upcoming series that strikes your fancy. So without further ado, here are the TV shows you should keep an eye out for in 2025.

SEE ALSO: 2025 movie preview: All the films you'll want to know about What's coming to Apple TV+ in 2025?

AppleTV+'s 2025 offerings include the return of some favorites, like the highly anticipated Severance Season 2, Mythic Quest Season 4, and its spinoff series Side Quest. Satires like The Studio and thrillers like Prime Target round out this promising slate. Here, in alphabetical order, are the Apple TV+ series to keep an eye out for.

Dope Thief Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura in "Dope Thief." Credit: Apple TV+

Peter Craig and Ridley Scott bring a brand new crime drama to Apple TV+ with Atlanta's Brian Tyree Henry in the lead. Based on Dennis Tafoya’s book, Dope Thief hinges around two friends from Philadelphia who pose as DEA agents to commit a robbery. But what they actually uncover during their heist is way more serious than a mere snatch-and-grab job. The series is promising eight episodes of nail-biting thrills, with a kickass cast supporting Henry. Plus, Scott might be executive producer but he directs one episode too. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Brian Tyree Henry, Wagner Moura, Marin Ireland, Kate Mulgrew, Nesta Cooper, Amir Arison, and Ving Rhames

How to watch: Dope Thief premieres March 14 on Apple TV+.

Government Cheese David Oyelowo in "Government Cheese." Credit: Apple TV+

David Oyelowo stars in Paul Hunter and Aeysha Carr's upcoming comedy Government Cheese, which will transport you to San Fernando Valley in 1969 and introduce you to the Chambers family. The Silo star plays Hampton Chambers, the patriarch of the family, who is reunited his wife Astoria (Simone Missick) and sons (Evan Ellison and Di’Allo Winston) after a stint in prison. But it's not an easy landing by any means. — S.C.

Starring: David Oyelowo, Simone Missick, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Evan Ellison, Bokeem Woodbine, Jeremy Bobb, Louis Cancelmi, Julien Heron, Thomas Beaudoin, Kyle Mac, and Adam Beach

How to watch: Government Cheese premieres April 16 on Apple TV+.

Mythic Quest, Season 4 Charlotte Nicdao and Rob McElhenney in "Mythic Quest." Credit: Apple TV+

A fourth season of Apple TV+'s beloved game industry workplace comedy Mythic Quest is coming, with creators Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Megan Ganz back with more shenanigans from the office floor. After the declarations of love, company rivalry, valiant launch attempts, and general GrimPop Studios chaos last season, Season 4 sees the team reunited and faced with a full set of new challenges. But fans have more than Season 4 to look forward to, with anthology spinoff series Side Quest (formerly known as Mere Mortals) set to debut in March. — S.C.

Starring: Rob McElhenney, Charlotte Nicdao, David Hornsby, Danny Pudi, Ashly Burch, Imani Hakim, Jessie Ennis, and Naomi Ekperigin

How to watch: Mythic Quest Season 4 premieres Jan. 29 on Apple TV+.

Prime Target Quintessa Swindell and Leo Woodall in "Prime Target." Credit: Apple TV+

A world-changing mathematical breakthrough? A sprawling conspiracy? One Day's Leo Woodall? You're going to need to sign us up, and pronto. Steve Thompson's eight-episode series follows a postgraduate student (Woodall) whose prime number discovery (yes, hence the show's title) could have massive cybersecurity ramifications for the whole globe. Obviously, this means it draws the attention of some shadowy saboteurs, and a cat-and-mouse game ensues. Quintessa Swindell and David Morrissey also star. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

Starring: Leo Woodall, Quintessa Swindell, Stephen Rea, David Morrissey, Martha Plimpton, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jason Flemyng, Harry Lloyd, Ali Suliman, Fra Fee, and Joseph Mydell

How to watch: Prime Target premieres Jan. 22 on Apple TV+.

Severance, Season 2

It's been almost three years since we first became obsessed with Dan Erickson's surreal workplace series Severance, which means it's been almost three years since we saw Severance's Innies break free of Lumon's severed floor. Now, we finally get to see what happens next. Praise Kier!

Based on the trailer, Severance Season 2 picks up right after the Innies' rebellion, which has apparently made Mark S. (Adam Scott), Helly R. (Britt Lower), Irving B. (John Turturro), and Dylan G. (Zach Cherry) the faces of "severance reform" in the outside world. (We've got our doubts.) Reunited, our core four continues to try to uncover Lumon's secrets, with Mark in particular trying to free his Outie's late wife Gemma, whom Lumon somehow revived as wellness counselor Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman). Outside of Lumon, Mark tries to find out what his Innie meant by "she's alive!" Plus, we're in for more facetime with Helly, Irving, and Dylan's Outies as well, not to mention some new Lumon employees joining the picture. So as Severance's world gets bigger, brace yourselves for more strange office politics, more questions to be answered, and more goats. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, and Sarah Bock

How to watch: Severance Season 2 premieres Jan. 17 on Apple TV+.

Side Quest Shalita Grant in "Side Quest." Credit: Apple TV+

For those not content to play in the sandbox of Mythic Quest and keen for an expansion pack, spinoff anthology series Side Quest is coming in March. Coinciding with the finale of Season 4 of Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Megan Ganz's Apple TV+ series, the aptly titled Side Quest (formerly known as Mere Mortals) will be four episodes exploring the lives of people impacted by the game Mythic Quest — whether that's former workers or players at home. — S.C.

Starring: Rob McElhenney, Anna Konkle, Derek Waters, William Stanford Davis, Bria Henderson, Rome Flynn, Leonard Robinson, Gary Kraus, Annamarie Kasper, Esai Morales, and Shalita Grant

How to watch: Side Quest premieres March 26 on Apple TV+.

The Studio

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (The Boys) satirize the movie studio system in The Studio, about a new studio head (Rogen) who must deal with narcissistic actors, greedy corporate overlords, and his own insecurities as he tries to get great movies made. As if a star-studded cast including Catherine O’Hara and Kathryn Hahn wasn't enough, The Studio's first teaser shows Rogen taking a beating from Ron Howard and a verbal slamming from none other than Martin Scorsese. — B.E.

Starring: Seth Rogen, Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Bryan Cranston

How to watch: The Studio premieres March 26 on Apple TV+.

Your Friends and Neighbors Jon Hamm in "Your Friends and Neighbors." Credit: Apple TV+

Jon Hamm stars in and executive produces the upcoming drama Your Friends and Neighbors, which Apple has already renewed for a second season. Hamm plays Andrew "Coop" Cooper, a disgraced hedge fund manager who's struggling following his firing and his divorce. He resorts to stealing from his neighbors' homes in his extra-affluent neighborhood, but uncovers some shocking — and potentially dangerous — secrets along the way. — B.E.

Starring: Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Lena Hall, Aimee Carrero, Eunice Bae, Isabel Marie Gravitt, and Donovan Colan

How to watch: Your Friends and Neighbors premieres April 11 on Apple TV+.

What's coming to Disney+ in 2025?

It's all franchises, all the time for Disney+ in 2025. Star Wars series Andor makes a triumphant return (and exit). Over on the Marvel side of things, we're looking several live-action and animated series, including the return of Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) in Daredevil: Born Again. Here, in alphabetical order, are the Disney+ series to keep an eye out for.

SEE ALSO: 'The Bear' Season 4, 'Daredevil: Born Again,' and more revealed in Disney+ 2025 preview Andor, Season 2  Diego Luna in "Andor." Credit: Des Willie / Lucasfilm

The best Star Wars series returns for its second and final season in 2025. And while we know where Cassian Andor's (Diego Luna) story ends, his journey up to the events of Rogue One remains a mystery — one we can't wait to unpack.

In Season 2, Andor is fully committed to the Rebellion against the Empire. Elsewhere, Mon Mothma (​​Genevieve O'Reilly) will continue her political machinations on Coruscant. But while we know these two characters survive up until Rogue One, there are several other characters' fates on the line, from Rebel Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) to Ferrix mechanic Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) and fascist Empire lackey Dedra Meero (Denise Gough). What lies in store for them? When will droid K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk) enter the fray? And just how many banger monologues will showrunner Tony Gilroy give us in Season 2? — B.E.

Starring: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, Elizabeth Dulau, Ben Mendelsohn, and Forest Whitaker

How to watch: Andor Season 2 premieres April 22 on Disney+.

Daredevil: Born Again Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio in "Daredevil: Born Again." Credit: Giovanni Rufino / Marvel

Since the end of Netflix's Daredevil, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) has been no stranger to the MCU. He made a quick cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home and romanced Jen Walters (Tatiana Maslany) in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Now, he's back for his highly anticipated solo series Daredevil: Born Again, which sees Matt continuing to fight for justice in the courtroom and on the streets of New York City. Once again, he'll face off against mob boss-turned-politician Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) — but Wilson's not the only familiar face returning from Netflix's Daredevil. We'll also see Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson), Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer), and Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal). — B.E.

Starring: Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki M. James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, Ayelet Zurer, and Jon Bernthal

How to watch: Daredevil: Born Again premieres March 4 on Disney+.

Eyes of Wakanda The Lion in "Eyes of Wakanda." Credit: Marvel

The four-episode long animated miniseries Eyes of Wakanda takes us back into the history of Wakanda and the MCU. Directed by Todd Harris and executive produced by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, the series follows the Wakandan warriors known as the Hatut Zeraze as they retrieve dangerous vibranium artifacts from across the globe. Maybe we'll even see the Black Panthers who preceded Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa, or older iterations of the Dora Milaje warriors. — B.E.

Starring: Winnie Harlow, Cress Williams, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Gary Anthony Williams, Zeke Alton, Steve Toussaint, and Anika Noni Rose

How to watch: Eyes of Wakanda premieres Aug. 6 on Disney+.

Ironheart Dominique Thorne in "Ironheart." Credit: Jalen Marlowe / Marvel

Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) steps into the spotlight in Ironheart, created by Chinaka Hodge. First introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri is a genius inventor who's hoping to make a mark on the world. Honestly, she already has! As an MIT student, she built a suit of armor on par with Tony Stark's — and she's just getting started. In Ironheart, she returns to her hometown of Chicago, where she'll cross paths with the mysterious Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), aka The Hood. What comes next is a collision between magic and technology that will lead Riri down a dangerous path. — B.E.

Starring: Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam, and Anji White

How to watch: Ironheart premieres June 24 on Disney+.

Marvel Zombies Zombie Thanos in "Marvel Zombies." Credit: Marvel Television

In 2021, What If…? asked the question, "What if heroes and villains from the MCU were infected with a zombie virus?" That premise initially spanned one episode, but now it's spawned a four-episode animated series aptly titled Marvel Zombies. The show follows a group of surviving heroes fighting zombified MCU staples, with Simu Liu, Iman Vellani, Florence Pugh, and more reprising their film and TV roles in voiceover.  — B.E.

Starring: Awkwafina, David Harbour, Simu Liu, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park, Florence Pugh, Hailee Steinfeld, Dominique Thorne, Iman Vellani, and Todd Williams

How to watch: Marvel Zombies premieres Oct. 3 on Disney+.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Season 2

Get excited, demigods! We're headed back to Camp Half-Blood for Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, which adapts Rick Riordan's The Sea of Monsters. Book readers know that there will be no rest for Percy (Walker Scobell) after he successfully returned Zeus's Master Bolt in Season 1. Now, he faces another dangerous quest: Find the Golden Fleece in the Bermuda Triangle — and hopefully save his missing bestie, Grover (Aryan Simhadri), on the way.

SEE ALSO: The 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' cast reveal their dream fancast

Luckily, he won't be alone: Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) is along for the ride, as well as Percy's half-brother Tyson (Daniel Diemer). Expect larger roles for Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn) and Luke (Charlie Bushnell) too, and the arrival of more monsters straight out of Greek myth. Scylla and Charybdis, here we come. — B.E.

Starring: Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Charlie Bushnell, Dior Goodjohn, Glynn Turman, Jason Mantzoukas, Toby Stephens, Virginia Kull, Daniel Diemer, Tamara Smart, Andra Day, Timothy Simons, Sandra Bernhard, Kristen Schaal, and Margaret Cho

How to watch: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 premieres in 2025 on Disney+. The release date has yet to be announced.

Win or Lose

After 2024's Dream Productions, Pixar continues its foray into the TV game with original series Win or Lose, all about the highs and lows of youth softball. Over the course of the show, you'll get to know the Pickles softball team — and everyone in their orbit — as they gear up for a championship game. From insecure players to their helicopter parents to a lovesick umpire, Win or Lose looks to paint a charming portrait of a team that's hungry for victory. However, Win or Lose also became a source of controversy in December of 2024 over Disney's decision to pull a storyline about a transgender character. * — B.E.

Starring: Will Forte

How to watch: Win or Lose premieres Feb. 19 on Disney+.

Wonder Man Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in "Wonder Man." Credit: Marvel Television

The MCU gets meta with Wonder Man, a miniseries about struggling actor Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) auditioning for the role of a superhero, only to become a superhero himself. Created by Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton and 30 Rock and Community writer Andrew Guest, Wonder Man is a show under the "Marvel Spotlight" banner, meaning you won't need to watch other MCU shows to understand what's going on. Still, that doesn't mean you won't be seeing any familiar faces from the MCU. Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), of Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi fame, will be popping up, presumably as another actor in Simon's circle. — B.E.

Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Ben Kingsley, Demetrius Grosse, Ed Harris, Lauren Glazier, Josh Gad, Byron Bowers, and Manny McCord

How to watch: Wonder Man premieres in December on Disney+. The release date has yet to be announced.

What's coming to Hulu/FX in 2025?

Hulu (and FX on Hulu) has a lot of range going for it in 2025, boasting new comedies like Chad Powers and Adults, Season 4 of The Bear, and an intriguing Alien prequel series. Here, in alphabetical order, are the Hulu series to keep an eye out for.

Adults Lucy Freyer, Owen Thiele, Malik Elassal, Jack Innanen, and Amita Rao in "Adults." Credit: FX

Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), Adults is an ensemble comedy about five twentysomethings in New York trying to become good people, even if they're barely fully fledged "people" yet. Samir (Malik Elassal), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), Issa (Amita Rao), and Anton (Owen Thiele) all crash together in Samir's childhood home, where they experience the highs and lows of early adulthood together. From dating drama to work woes, Adults looks to paint a heightened picture of a pivotal moment in everyone's lives — and the groups of friends who are able to see us through. — B.E.

Starring: Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao, and Owen Thiele

How to watch: Adults premieres this spring on Hulu. The release date has yet to be announced.

Alien: Earth

The Alien franchise comes to TV with Alien: Earth, a prequel series from Fargo's Noah Hawley. Set two years before the events of the original Alien, the show kicks off when a mysterious spaceship crash lands on Earth. As a group of ragtag tactical soldiers investigates, they'll come face to face with Earth's greatest threat. We're guessing face-hugging, chest-bursting, and more delicious sci-fi horror is in store. We’re also guessing the Weyland-Yutani corporation is going to be totally normal about this! — B.E.

Starring: Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, Essie Davis, Adarsh Gourav, Kit Young, David Rysdahl, Babou Ceesay, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diêm Camille, Adrian Edmondson, Moe Bar-El, and Sandra Yi Sencindiver

How to watch: Alien: Earth premieres on Hulu in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

The Bear, Season 4 Jeremy Allen White in "The Bear." Credit: FX Networks

Perhaps The Bear can overcome its underwhelming third season and get back to top form in Season 4. After all, Season 3 left us with a ton of unanswered questions: What did the restaurant review of The Bear really say? Will Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) finally talk things over with Claire (Molly Gordon)? Did Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) accept a job offer at another restaurant? Who knows! One thing’s for sure: I bet we’re in for a healthy serving of mouthwatering cooking scenes. Here’s hoping they just come with a side of much-needed evolution. — B.E.

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, Matty Matheson, Edwin Lee Gibson, Corey Hendrix, Oliver Platt, Molly Gordon, Ricky Staffieri, and Jamie Lee Curtis

How to watch: The Bear Season 4 premieres on Hulu in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

SEE ALSO: 'The Bear' falls victim to its own success: Full Season 3 review Chad Powers Glen Powell in "Chad Powers." Credit: Disney

Remember when Eli Manning went undercover as a man named Chad Powers at Penn State’s walk-on football tryouts? Well, that video is now the basis for a entire TV show, starring Glen Powell (Hit Man, Twisters). The move (and the show's sports focus) calls to mind the creation of Ted Lasso, since the character originally starred in ads for NBC's coverage of the premier league.

Created by Michael Waldron (Loki) and Powell, Chad Powers introduces quarterback Russ Holliday (Powell), whose bad behavior puts an unceremonious end to his college career. To get back in the game, Russ walks onto a struggling Southern football team disguised as the charming Chad Powers. (Of course he's charming — he's played by Glen Powell.) Could Russ' alter ego help the team turn over a new leaf, and improve his own behavior? — B.E.

Starring: Glen Powell, Steve Zahn, Toby Huss, Perry Mattfeld, Clayne Crawford, Wynn Everett, Frankie A. Rodriguez, Colton Ryan, Keese Wilson, Xavier Mills, and Quentin Plair

How to watch: Chad Powers premieres on Hulu in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Paradise

This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman turns to political thrillers with Paradise, starring Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction) as Xavier Collins, head of security for U.S. President Cal Bradford (James Marsden, Jury Duty). When Cal is murdered, Xavier becomes the prime suspect, resulting in a twisty interrogation that will guide us between the past and the present until we get the truth. — B.E.

Starring: Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin, and Percy Daggs IV

How to watch: Paradise premieres Jan. 28 on Hulu.

A Thousand Blows

Whenever Steven Knight has a new show out, it's always worth marking it in the calendar — and that goes double when Stephen Graham has a leading role. The Peaky Blinders creator's A Thousands Blows follows Hezekiah (Black Mirror's Malachi Kirby) and Alec (Small Axe's Francis Lovehall), two friends who come to the UK from Jamaica, only to get mixed up with violent boxer Sugar (Graham) in 1880s London. — S.H.

Starring: Malachi Kirby, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, Jason Tobin, James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Walters, Francis Lovehall, Daniel Mays, Adam Nagaitis, Gary Lewis, Tom Davis, and Robert Glenister

How to watch: A Thousand Blows premieres Feb. 21 on Hulu.

What's coming to Netflix in 2025?

Where do we even start with Netflix's 2025 slate? This year we'll be getting the final seasons of Netflix heavy hitters like Stranger Things, Squid Game, and You, along with new seasons of Black Mirror and Wednesday. But keep an eye out for original programming as well, like mystery The Residence and basketball comedy Running Point. Here, in alphabetical order, are the Netflix series to keep an eye out for.

American Primeval

Netflix has witnessed what a hit Yellowstone has been for Paramount, and before that Deadwood for HBO. Now, the streamer is offering its own gritty-as-hell Western show from Peter Berg, who developed the hit ensemble drama series Friday Night Lights and has unleashed a slew of very manly Mark Wahlberg movies like Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon, Mile 22, and Spenser Confidential. That may give you a sense of what Berg's brand of the Wild West has in store, if the name alone wasn't enough of a clue. 

The six-part limited series American Primeval is set in 1857, on a territory where gun-slinging white settlers, Indigenous communities, and Mormon missionaries collide over culture, religion, and fatal conflicts. The trailer gives a hint of the dangers any man might face. Yet at the series center is a city-sprung mother (GLOW's Betty Gilpin) and her young son, forging through every wild obstacle to find her far-off husband. Such a precarious position can make for strange bedfellows, including a gruff loner, played by Friday Night Lights' Taylor Kitsch. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Jai Courtney, Shea Whigham, Betty Gilpin, and Dane DeHaan

How to watch: American Primeval premieres Jan. 9 on Netflix.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Netflix loves tales of true crime and social media scandals, be it Inventing Anna, Escaping Two Flames, or The Tinder Swindler. Well, this based on a "true-ish" series is about to join their ranks. 

Apple Cider Vinegar stars Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson, an Australian wellness influencer who became (in)famous for her claims over conquering brain cancer through her unique wellness treatments. And wouldn't you know it, she had an app for that! Unfurling the story of Gibson and her Whole Pantry app, Apple Cider Vinegar brings prestige TV polish to the tale of an Instagram star's rise and fall, from inspiring to appalling. — K.P.

Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Aisha Dee, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Mark Coles Smith, Ashley Zukerman, and Susie Porter 

How to watch: Apple Cider Vinegar premieres on Netflix in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Black Mirror, Season 7

We don't know too much about the upcoming season of Black Mirror, but we do have a few clues. Creator Charlie Brooker spoke a bit about the sci-fi anthology series' new episodes during Netflix's Geeked Week, telling Tudum that they're going to be "a little bit OG Black Mirror."

"You can expect a mix of genres and styles," Brooker said. "We've got six episodes this time, and two of them are basically feature-length. Some of them are deeply unpleasant, some are quite funny, and some are emotional."

The other thing we know is that the cast is ridiculously stacked, including the likes of Barbie's Issa Rae, The Crown's Emma Corrin, and many, many more. — S.H.

Starring: Awkwafina, Milanka Brooks, Peter Capaldi, Emma Corrin, Patsy Ferran, Paul Giamatti, Lewis Gribben, Osy Ikhile, Rashida Jones, Siena Kelly, Billy Magnussen, Rosy McEwen, Cristin Milioti, Chris O'Dowd, Issa Rae, Paul G. Raymond, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jimmi Simpson, and Harriet Walter

How to watch: Black Mirror Season 7 premieres on Netflix in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Castlevania: Nocturne, Season 2

Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 reunites us with our merry band of vampire hunters, including Richter Belmont (voiced by Edward Bluemel) and sorceress Annette (voiced by Thuso Mbedu). But this time around, there's a big addition to the crew: Dracula's son Alucard (voiced by James Callis), a key character from the original Castlevania series.

With Alucard by their side, Richter, Annette, and co. hope to take down the Vampire Messiah Erzsebet Báthory (Franka Potente) before she can plunge the world into eternal darkness. Based on the trailer, we can expect more incredible fight sequences, dark magic, and even a dragon. — B.E.

Starring: Edward Bluemel, Pixie Davies, Thuso Mbedu, Sydney James Harcourt, Nastassja Kinski, Zahn McClarnon, Franka Potente, James Callis, Richard Dormer, Iain Glen, Elarica Johnson, and Aaron Neil

How to watch: Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 premieres Jan. 16 on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 'Castlevania: Nocturne' is an animated masterpiece that's perfect for Halloween The Night Agent, Season 2

Can confirm, consistently awake Night Agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) actually did have a little nap since Season 1 landed on Netflix in 2023. But after that massive season finale, we're back in action, with plenty more nocturnal espionage ahead of us with the second season of The Night Agent on the way. Season 2 of Shawn Ryan's series, based on Matthew Quirk's novel, promises to plunge Peter and us back into the midnight world of Night Action, the secret organisation with that all-important landline in the White House basement. But who exactly can Peter trust? — S.C.

Starring: Gabriel Basso, Luciane Buchanan, Amanda Warren, Arienne Mandi, Louis Herthum, Berto Colon, Michael Malarkey, Keon Alexander, Brittany Snow, Teddy Sears, Navid Negahban, and Rob Heaps

How to watch: The Night Agent Season 2 premieres Jan. 23 on Netflix.

The Residence Uzo Aduba and Randall Park in "The Residence." Credit: Erin Simkin / Netflix

It's been years since Shonda Rhimes wove political intrigue through the White House with Scandal, and now, Shondaland is taking us right back with The Residence, from former Scandal writer Paul William Davies. But this time, it's a whodunnit murder mystery! Orange Is the New Black's Uzo Aduba is in the lead as Detective Cordelia Cupp, a spectacularly alliterative detective name, quite frankly. When something goes awry around the high-stakes White House State Dinner, she's called in to investigate. It seems like an impossible case. But have you met Cordelia Cupp? She's got this. — S.C.

Starring: Uzo Aduba, Randall Park, Giancarlo Esposito, Al Franken, Andrew Friedman, Julian McMahon, Edwina Findley, Molly Griggs, Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Al Mitchell, Dan Perrault, Bronson Pinchot, Susan Kelechi Watson, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Mary Wiseman, Spencer Garrett, Kylie Minogue, Jane Curtin, James Babson, Eliza Coupe, Izzy Diaz, Paul Fitzgerald, Ros Gentle, Chris Grace, Juliette Jeffers, Sumalee Montano, Nathan Lovejoy, Taran Killam, Julieth Restrepo, Mel Rodriguez, Brett Tucker, and Rebecca Field

How to watch: The Residence premieres March 20 on Netflix.

Running Point Scott MacArthur, Kate Hudson, and Drew Tarver in "Running Point." Credit: Katrina Marcinowski / Netflix

Kate Hudson gets her Ted Lasso moment with Running Point, a new series from Mindy Kaling (Never Have I Ever) about a woman who unexpectedly becomes the president of a famed basketball team. 

Hudson plays Isla, the one daughter in a male-dominated family. When her brother resigns as president of the Los Angeles Waves basketball organization, it's up to Isla to step up to the plate. Now, she'll have to prove herself to skeptical family members, the board, and everyone in sports. How hard can it be? — B.E.

Starring: Kate Hudson, Scott MacArthur, Drew Tarver, Max Greenfield, and Brenda Song

How to watch: Running Point premieres on Netflix in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

The Sandman, Season 2

Netflix's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman comics is back for a second season, where we'll see more of Dream (Tom Sturridge) and his Endless family. Based on casting news, this season looks to adapt the Brief Lives and Season of Mists storylines from the comics. It will also be the first season released following the news of allegations of sexual assault against Gaiman. — B.E.

Starring: Tom Sturridge, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston, Adrian Lester, Esmé Creed-Miles, Barry Sloane, Ruairi O’Connor, Freddie Fox, Clive Russell, Laurence O'Fuarain, Ann Skelly, Jack Gleeson, Indya Moore, and Steve Coogan

How to watch: The Sandman Season 2 premieres on Netflix in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Squid Game, Season 3 Lee Jung-jae in "Squid Game." Credit: No Ju-han / Netflix

Still reeling from the cliffhanger ending of Squid Game Season 2? Don't worry, you won't have to wait another three years to find out what happens next. The show's third and final season is already shot, and it premieres in 2025. 

Hopefully, this season will gives us some answers to our biggest questions: What are the full consequences of Gi-hun's (Lee Jung-jae) rebellion? What happens when he finds out the Front Man's (Lee Byung-hun) true identity? And perhaps most importantly, will Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) ever get off that damn boat? — B.E.

Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-jun, Lee Byung-hun, Gong Yoo, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Jo Yu-ri, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, and Roh Jae-won

How to watch: Squid Game Season 3 premieres on Netflix in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Stranger Things, Season 5

Get ready to say goodbye to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Joyce (Winona Ryder), Hopper (David Harbour), and the whole Hawkins crew, because the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is just around the corner. That means it's time for one last stand against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) in all his tentacled glory. Season 4 ended with him unleashing the Upside Down in the real world, so we're guessing our heroes will need a lot more than some Kate Bush bangers to put an end to this mouth-breather. — B.E.

Starring: Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, Maya Hawke, Cara Buono, Priah Ferguson, Jamie Campbell Bower, Brett Gelman, Linda Hamilton, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, and Alex Breaux

How to watch: Stranger Things Season 5 premieres on Netflix in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Wednesday, Season 2

Da-da-da-da! Click click! We've been tormented by the tiny clues and behind-the-scenes snippets from Season 2 of Tim Burton's Netflix series, but finally, Wednesday is returning to Netflix. Jenna Ortega is back in the braids and pinstripes as our spooky eponymous queen, returning to the spooky Nevermore Academy with her best teen werewolf friend Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) and siren Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday). But what lies in store for the students this time around? We don't know much, but we do know there's going to be a bunch of new faces (just check out that cast list). Remember that dance? It's probably time to break it out again. — S.C.

Starring: Jenna Ortega, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Bianca Barclay, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, Victor Dorobantu, Hunter Doohan, Isaac Ordonez, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Jamie McShane, Fred Armisen, Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, Noah Taylor, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Lumley, Thandiwe Newton, Frances O'Connor, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, and Joonas Suotamo

How to watch: Wednesday Season 2 premieres on Netflix in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

XO, Kitty, Season 2

To All the Boys I've Loved Before spin-off XO, Kitty is back, this time with more love triangle drama and a super special guest. It's a new semester at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS), and Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) is ready to buckle down and study. She might be a little distracted though, given her romantic feelings for Yuri (Gia Kim) and Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee), and her confusion on what to do next. You know what'll cheer her up though? A surprise visit from Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) himself, who appears briefly in Season 2's trailer to give her a sweet pep talk. — B.E.

Starring: Anna Cathcart, Minyeong Choi, Gia Kim, Sang Heon Lee, Anthony Keyvan, Peter Thurnwald, Regan Aliyah, Audrey Huynh, Sasha Bhasin, and Joshua Lee

How to watch: XO, Kitty Season 2 premieres Jan. 16 on Netflix.

You, Season 5

Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is back for one last hurrah in You Season 5, which marks the end of Netflix's twisted serial killer journey. This time, Joe's back in New York, living happily ever after as the husband to the ultra-rich Kate (Charlotte Ritchie). But when the ghosts of his past (and his own dark side) come calling, they threaten to bring his fairy tale ending crashing down. Will Joe finally get his comeuppance? Or will he slide away once again? — B.E.

Starring: Penn Badgley, Charlotte Ritchie, Griffin Matthews, Anna Camp, and Madeline Brewer

How to watch: You Season 5 premieres on Netflix in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Zero Day Robert De Niro and Angela Bassett in "Zero Day." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Prime Target isn't the only cyber attack-themed thriller coming to streaming this year. Hot on its heels will be Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, and Michael Schmidt's Zero Day, a conspiracy-filled limited series that follows a former U.S. President (Robert De Niro) heading up a commission to track down the cyber-criminals responsible for a devastating attack. Angela Bassett, Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, and more star in this political thriller that places the world of disinformation at its centre. — S.H.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Angela Bassett, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Dan Stevens, Matthew Modine, Bill Camp, McKinley Belcher III, Gaby Hoffmann, Clark Gregg, and Mark Ivanir

How to watch: Zero Day premieres Feb. 20 on Netflix.

Max/HBO

HBO and streaming service Max have a lot coming our way in 2025. We get new seasons of The White Lotus and The Last of Us, as well as highly anticipated genre series like the Westeros-set A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and IT prequel It: Welcome to Derry. There's so much more where that came from though. Here, in alphabetical order, are the HBO and Max series to keep an eye out for.

And Just Like That..., Season 3 Sarah Jessica Parker in "And Just Like That..." Credit: Craig Blankenhorn / Max

And just like that...there's a third season of the Sex and the City reboot. After those major cameos, anti-Android sentiments, strangely minimal use of Carrie Bradshaw's voiceover, and those big moments of the finale, And Just Like That... Season 2 threw a lot at us. The plot of Season 3 is pretty under lock and key but as you can see from the cast list, there's plenty of your favourites returning.

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Mario Cantone, Sarita Choudhury, Evan Handler, David Eigenberg, Nicole Ari Parker, John Corbett, Sebastiano Pigazzi, Dolly Wells, Mehcad Brooks, Jonathan Cake, and Logan Marshall-Green

How to watch: And Just Like That... Season 3 premieres on Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

The Chair Company 

Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave) and his writing partner Zach Kanin bring their infinitely meme-able, anxiety-inducing comedy stylings to HBO with The Chair Company. The half-hour comedy stars Robinson as a man who, after an embarrassing incident at work, finds himself investigating a conspiracy theory. We can only imagine how much we'll be cackling (and cringing) at whatever comes next. — B.E.

Starring: Tim Robinson, Lake Bell, Sophia Lillis, Will Price, and Joseph Tudisco

How to watch: The Chair Company premieres on HBO and Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Duster

Crime drama Duster promises high-octane thrills courtesy of J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan (Shameless, The Walking Dead). Set in the American Southwest in the 1970s, the series centers on the FBI's first Black female agent (Rachel Hilson, Red, White & Royal Blue), who teams up with a getaway driver (Josh Holloway, Lost) in order to take down a formidable crime syndicate. — B.E.

Starring: Rachel Hilson, Josh Holloway, Keith David, Sydney Elisabeth, Greg Grunberg, Camille Guaty, Asivak Koostachin, Adriana Aluna Martinez, and Benjamin Charles Watson

How to watch: Duster premieres on Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

The Gilded Age, Season 3 Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector in "The Gilded Age." Credit: Barbara Nitke / HBO

The 1800s-set period series The Gilded Age returns for more old money vs. new money squabbles, gorgeous gowns, and lauded Broadway stars sinking their teeth into Julian Fellowes' scripts. Here's hoping that we get more petty beefs between America's uber-wealthy, and that Bertha and George Russell (Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector) get whatever they damn well want. — B.E.

Starring: Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Harry Richardson, Taissa Farmiga, Blake Ritson, Taylor Richardson, Phylicia Rashad, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jordan Donica, Victoria Clark, Merritt Wever, Bill Camp, Leslie Uggams, LisaGay Hamilton, Paul Alexander Nolan, Hattie Morahan, Andrea Martin, Jessica Frances Dukes, Dylan Baker, Kate Baldwin, Michael Cumpsty, John Ellison Conlee, Bobby Steggert, and Hannah Shealy

How to watch: The Gilded Age Season 3 premieres on Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Harley Quinn, Season 5

Over four seasons, Harley Quinn has dumped her bad boyfriend Joker, built her own kick-ass gang of villains, won the heart of Poison Ivy, and even joined the Batfamily as a vigilante hero. So, where could Season 5 of this gleefully grown-ups-only animated series take fans? Why not Metropolis? 

That's right. Harlivy is leaving Gotham behind (it's been a dump since that whole tree zombie thing anyway) to move to Superman's turf. But they're bringing their friends like Clayface, Frank the Plant, Bane, King Shark, and his rambunctious brood of shark pups with them! Of course, there'll be new friends and foes to face too, including Lois Lane, Enchantress, and some deeper-cut DC characters primed for a madcap makeover. — K.P.

Starring: Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, Ron Funches, Tony Hale, and Jason Alexander

How to watch: Harley Quinn Season 5 premieres Jan. 16 on Max.

Hacks, Season 4 Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in "Hacks." Credit: Jake Giles Netter / Max

Fresh off its Emmy win for Best Comedy, Hacks is back with a vengeance. Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) both ended Season 3 with seemingly everything they wanted. Deborah finally gets to host a late night talk show, and Ava is at her side as her head writer. The only problem? Deborah didn't want Ava to have that job in the first place. Ava blackmailed her into it, reversing the power dynamic that's been in place since Season 1. Will tensions between the two give their collaboration an extra edge and help their talk show flourish? Or will it cause their dreams to implode before they take off? Either way, we're ready for the showdown. — B.E.

Starring: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Kaitlin Olson, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato, Christopher McDonald, Rose Abdoo, and Poppy Liu

How to watch: Hacks premieres on Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

It: Welcome to Derry  Chris Chalk in "It: Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO

No, It: Welcome to Derry isn't about Pennywise the clown (Bill Skarsgård) joining up with the Derry Girls crew. (But wouldn't that be delightful?) Instead, this prequel to Andy Muschietti's IT films takes us back to Derry, Maine in 1962, when Pennywise last awoke to frighten the living daylights out of the children of Derry. According to Entertainment Weekly, It: Welcome to Derry draws inspiration from Mike Hanlon's interludes in Stephen King's It, which means book fans can look out for key moments like the racially motivated burning of the Black Spot, a Derry club that served Black customers. — B.E.

Starring: Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Bill Skarsgård, Madeleine Stowe, Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Dorian Grey, Thomas Mitchell, BJ Harrison, Peter Outerbridge, Shane Marriott, Chad Rook, Joshua Odjick, Morningstar Angeline, and Rudy Mancuso

How to watch: It: Welcome to Derry premieres on HBO and Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Peter Claffey in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." Credit: Steffan Hill/HBO

House of the Dragon Season 3 may be a ways away, but fret not! We’re heading back to Westeros in 2025 anyway, thanks to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, the series takes place a century before Game of Thrones, when hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) wander the Seven Kingdoms in search of work and tournaments. The two are an odd pair if there ever was one: one tall, one small; one lowborn, one highborn. Yet their fast friendship will overcome any differences they may have, and guide them through some truly perilous adventures. — B.E.

Starring: Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Tanzyn Crawford, Daniel Ings, Sam Spruell, Ross Anderson, Edward Ashley, Henry Ashton, Youssef Kerkour, Daniel Monks, Shaun Thomas, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Steve Wall, and Danny Webb

How to watch: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on HBO and Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

The Last of Us, Season 2

Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) are back to break our hearts in the highly anticipated second season of The Last of Us. Like in the games, the show will pick up after a time jump. Joel and Ellie are now comfortably situated in Jackson, Wyoming. But the difficult choice Joel made at the end of Season 1 still haunts him — and it's not long before demons from his past come back to bite. Prepare your tissues accordingly.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2 teaser is here to bring you to tears

On top of the returning cast, Season 2 introduces several major new characters, including former Firefly Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), Ellie's girlfriend Dina (Isabela Merced), and Jackson resident Jesse (Young Mazino). According to the season's first teaser, Catherine O'Hara also joins up as Joel's therapist. — B.E.

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Young Mazino, Isabela Merced, Danny Ramirez, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord, Catherine O'Hara, and Jeffrey Wright

How to watch: The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Peacemaker, Season 2 John Cena in "Peacemaker." Credit: Katie Yu / HBO Max

James Gunn's Peacemaker was a refreshing standout in a sea of same-y superhero shows, so here's hoping he can pull off the same magic trick twice with Season 2. John Cena returns in the titular role, alongside fellow castmates Steve Agee, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, and Freddie Stroma. Plot details are under wraps for now, but we do know Season 2 will feature a totally new intro sequence. Bring on the dancing! — B.E.

Starring: John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Robert Patrick, Frank Grillo, Sol Rodríguez, and Tim Meadows

How to watch: Peacemaker Season 2 premieres on Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

The Pitt

ER's Noah Wyle returns to an onscreen hospital in The Pitt, from ER and The West Wing producer John Wells. Wyle plays Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, chief attendant in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital's emergency room. The 15-episode season plays out in real time, with each episode following one hour in Robby's 15-hour shift at a Pittsburgh hospital. Based on the trailer alone, we're looking at a highly stressful ride, one that hopes to shed light on the challenges facing American healthcare workers. — B.E.

Starring: Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, and Katherine LaNasa

How to watch: The Pitt premieres Jan. 9 on Max.

The Rehearsal, Season 2 Nathan Fielder in "The Rehearsal." Credit: Courtesy of HBO

Season 1 of Nathan Fielder's (The Curse) docu-comedy The Rehearsal saw Fielder offering real-life people the chance to "rehearse" key moments of their life in order to predict every possible outcome. Inevitably, though, this already-strange concept morphed into something stranger, examining everything from parenthood to empathy to how we view reality TV. Whatever Fielder has cooked up to top that in Season 2, you can bet it will be uncomfortable as all get out. — B.E.

Starring: Nathan Fielder

How to watch: The Rehearsal Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

The Righteous Gemstones, Season 4 Walton Goggins in "The Righteous Gemstones." Credit: Jake Giles Netter / HBO

American's most beloved (and totally not self-serving at all) televangelists are back in The Righteous Gemstones Season 4. Get ready for more Gemstone family dysfunction, more opulent megachurch issues, and hopefully more Baby Billy (Walton Goggins, Fallout) bangers. I can't help it that "Bible Bonkers" is a bop. — B.E.

Starring: Danny McBride, John Goodman, Walton Goggins, Edi Patterson, Adam Devine, Tony Cavalero, Cassidy Freeman, Tim Baltz, and Skyler Gisondo

How to watch: The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 premieres on HBO and Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Task

Mark Ruffalo stars in Task, a new miniseries from Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby. Ruffalo plays the head of an FBI task force sent to the working class suburbs of Philadelphia. There, he'll try to put an end to a series of drug-house robberies led by an unsuspecting family man. — B.E.

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Martha Plimpton, Mireille Enos, Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Raúl Castillo, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Owen Teague, Dominic Colón, Margarita Levieva, Raphael Sbarge, Mickey Sumner, Brian Goodman, Elvis Nolasco, Colin Bates, Isaach de Bankole, Phoebe Fox, Silvia Dionicio, and Coral Peña

How to watch: Task premieres on HBO and Max in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

The White Lotus, Season 3

Mike White's Emmy–winning satire The White Lotus travels to Thailand for Season 3, where you can expect to see more rich people behaving badly, and more resort staff lamenting the fact they have to cater to the guests' every whims. Other plot details — including whether this season will open with yet another death — are still under wraps.

You know what's not under wraps? This season's star-studded cast, which sees the return of spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) from Season 1. (Hopefully she lasts longer than Season 2's returning character, Jennifer Coolidge's Tanya.) New cast members include Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), Walton Goggins (Fallout), Leslie Bibb (Juror #2), Michelle Monaghan (MaXXXine), Parker Posey (Thelma), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Patrick Schwarzenegger (Gen V), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education), and Blackpink's Lisa. We won't have to wait too long to see this cast in action, as The White Lotus reopens its doors this Feb. — B.E.

Starring: Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Lek Patravadi, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, Aimee Lou Wood, Nicholas Duvernay, Arnas Fedaravičius, Christian Friedel, Scott Glenn, Dom Hetrakul, Julian Kostov, Charlotte Le Bon, Morgana O’Reilly, and Shalini Peiris

How to watch: The White Lotus Season 3 premieres Feb. 16 on HBO and Max.

Paramount+/Showtime

Whether you love solving the mysteries of the wilderness or exploring space, the final frontier, Paramount+ has you covered. Here, in alphabetical order, are the Paramount+ and Showtime series to keep an eye out for.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 3

Paramount+ has a dazzling array of Star Trek shows and movies old and new, including 2025's film spinoff Star Trek: Section 31 starring Michelle Yeoh. But only one of these series can be called the delightfully horniest of the bunch, and that'd be Strange New Worlds. 

Centering on a time when Spock (Ethan Peck) was not only young and hot, but also everyone (including Carol Kane as a flirtatious engineer) was hot for him, Strange New Worlds doesn't take itself as seriously as some of the classic Trek shows. To that point, this series has already offered a musical episode that including move-busting Klingons and a crossover episode with the animated comedy Lower Decks, which resulted in all kinds of epic adventure and hilarity.  

What does Season 3 have in store? Paramount gave a glimpse of some of the action and drama to come out of New York Comic Con last fall. But we suspect the show's biggest surprises are being held close to their coms badges. We can't wait to see them. —K.P.

Starring: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, Bruce Horak, Rebecca Romijn, and Martin Quinn

How to watch: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 premieres on Paramount+ in 2025. 

Yellowjackets, Season 3

I hope you're hungry for more teen cannibalism, because Yellowjackets Season 3 is on the way. And this time, Hilary Swank is along for the ride!

SEE ALSO: 'Yellowjackets': 10 burning questions we have for Season 3

Unluckily for her, Swank joins the Yellowjackets in a time of crisis, in both the past and present. Season 2 ended with the young Yellowjackets losing their cabin, and with the present-day Yellowjackets experiencing a heart-wrenching death. How will each group respond to these tragedies? My money's on cannibalism and crime — and I can't wait to see where the wilderness takes us next. — B.E.

Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Tawny Cypress, Lauren Ambrose, Simone Kessell, Sophie Nélisse, Sophie Thatcher, Samantha Hanratty, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Courtney Eaton, Liv Hewson, Kevin Alves, Steven Krueger, Warren Kole, Sarah Desjardins, Elijah Wood, Joel McHale, and Hilary Swank

How to watch: Yellowjackets Season 3 premieres Feb. 14 on Paramount+ with the Showtime plan.

Peacock

Peacock's got tons of thrillers and mysteries in store in 2025, from the return of Rian Johnson's Poker Face to suspenseful crime stories like Long Bright River. Plus, the return of The Traitors promises some exquisite reality TV backstabbing. Here, in alphabetical order, are the Peacock series to keep an eye out for.

All Her Fault

Sarah Snook taking the lead in a new show? It absolutely needed to happen. Given how good she was in Netflix's underrated horror film Run Rabbit Run, the Succession star should be perfect for her role in Megan Gallagher's All Her Fault, in which she plays a mother who goes to pick up her young son from a playdate only to find out he's disappeared. Based on Andrea Mara's novel of the same name, this one also stars The White Lotus' Jake Lacy, IT's Sophia Lillis, and Ant-Man's Michael Peña. — S.H.

Starring: Sarah Snook, Jake Lacy, Sophia Lillis, Michael Peña, Dakota Fanning, Abby Elliott, Jay Ellis, and Thomas Cocquerel

How to watch: All Her Fault premieres on Peacock in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Lockerbie: A Search for Truth

In 1988, a bomb destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 as it flew over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. All passengers and crew members died in the explosion, while debris from the aircraft killed an additional 11 Lockerbie residents. That true story is the basis for Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, which stars Colin Firth as Jim Swire, the real-life father of one of the Lockerbie victims who sought justice for those who perished in the bombing. — B.E.

Starring: Colin Firth, Catherine McCormack, Sam Troughton, Jemma Carlton, and Harry Redding

How to watch: Lockerbie: A Search for Truth premieres Jan. 2 on Peacock.

Long Bright River

Liz Moore's Long Bright River gets the TV treatment in this upcoming Peacock limited series of the same name. The thriller stars Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout) as police officer Mickey, who patrols a Philadelphia neighborhood that was especially impacted by the opioid crisis. When a string of murders hits the neighborhood, she learns that her family history may have something to do with it, kicking off a suspenseful case. — B.E.

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Nicholas Pinnock, Ashleigh Cummings, Callum Vinson, John Doman, Dash Mihok, Britne Oldford, Matthew Del Negro, Harriet Sansom Harris, Patch Darragh, and Perry Mattfeld

How to watch: Long Bright River premieres on Peacock in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Poker Face, Season 2 Natasha Lyonne in "Poker Face." Credit: Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock

Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne put a delightful spin on Columbo in Poker Face, which sees Lyonne sniffing out crime as "human lie detector" Charlie Cale. In Season 1, she solved murders everywhere from racetracks to dinner theaters, so who knows what's in store for her next?

One thing's for sure: Like in Season 1, Poker Face Season 2 will be packed with high-profile guest stars. Among the faces you can expect are John Mulaney, Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live), Sam Richardson (Veep), Giancarlo Esposito (The Boys), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Kumail Nanjiani (Only Murders in the Building), and Margo Martindale (The Sticky). There's even more where those came from, and that's no lie. — B.E.

Starring: Natasha Lyonne, John Mulaney, Ego Nwodim, Sam Richardson, Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Holmes, Gaby Hoffmann, Kumail Nanjiani, Sherry Cola, Kevin Corrigan, Ben Marshall, Kathrine Narducci, Cynthia Erivo, BJ Novak, and Margo Martindale

How to watch: Poker Face Season 2 premieres on Peacock in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

The Traitors, Season 3

If you love reality TV, Alan Cumming, or social deduction games, The Traitors is the perfect treat for you. Each season throws famous reality TV stars into a Scottish castle, where the "traitors" among them will seek to murder the "faithful." It's basically a game of high-budget mafia, with Cumming as narrator. In Season 3, contestants include Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause, The Real Housewives of New York City's Dorinda Medley, Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval, RuPaul's Drag Race winner Bob the Drag Queen, and King Charles III's second cousin, Lord Ivar Mountbatten. Truly, anything could happen. — B.E.

Starring: Alan Cumming, Bob Harper, Bob the Drag Queen, Britney Haynes, Carolyn Wiger, Chanel Ayan, Chrishell Stause, Ciara Miller, Danielle Reyes, Dolores Catania, Dorinda Medley, Dylan Efron, Gabby Windey, Jeremy Collins, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Nikki Garcia, Rob Mariano, Robyn Dixon, Sam Asghari, Tom Sandoval, Tony Vlachos, and Wells Adams

How to watch: The Traitors Season 3 premiers Jan. 9 on Peacock.

Twisted Metal, Season 2 Stephanie Beatriz and Anthony Mackie in "Twisted Metal." Credit: Skip Bolen / Peacock

Peacock's adaptation of the Twisted Metal games continues in Season 2. Based on the end of Season 1, we'll be seeing the titular tournament in action, so strap in for some serious car-on-car violence. Plus, get ready to learn more about John's (Anthony Mackie) mysterious sister Dollface, last seen on the hunt for her brother. — B.E.

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Samoa Joe, Will Arnett, Michael James Shaw, Saylor Bell Curda, Lisa Gilroy, Anthony Carrigan, Richard de Klerk, Patty Guggenheim, and Tiana Okoye

How to watch: Twisted Metal Season 2 premieres on Peacock in 2025. The release date has yet to be announced.

Prime Video

Looking for superheroes or high fantasy? Prime Video's got you covered in 2025. Here, in alphabetical order, are the Prime Video series to keep an eye out for.

Invincible, Season 3

In Invincible Season 3, Mark Grayson (voiced by Steven Yeun) is on track to become Earth's greatest defender. According to the trailer, he's already increased his speed, endurance, and strength by leaps and bounds. He's also got a new, "serious" suit. (But is it too serious?) Mark's training comes with some major baggage, though, as he keeps butting heads with Global Defense Agency Director Cecil Stedman (voiced by Fallout's Walton Goggins) over Cecil's methods for protecting Earth. The trailer even sees Mark beating Cecil up before cutting any ties with him. Could we be seeing Mark go fully rogue this season? — B.E.

Starring: Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons, Seth Rogen, Walton Goggins, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, Grey DeLisle, Zachary Quinto, Chris Diamantopoulos, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Andrew Rannells, Kevin Michael Richardson, Ben Schwartz, Clancy Brown, Jay Pharoah, Mark Hamill, and Melise Jow

How to watch: Invincible Season 3 premieres Feb. 6 on Prime Video.

On Call 

It's a tale as old as time: Veteran police officer and rookie team up and gradually learn more about one another. That's the case in On Call, a half-hour police drama series that follows a longtime training officer (Troian Bellisario) and rookie (Brandon Larracuente) as they patrol Long Beach. The series incorporates a mixture of bodycam, dashcam, and cell phone footage in order to create a more grounded effect. — B.E. 

Starring: Troian Bellisario, Brandon Larracuente, Lori Loughlin, Rich Ting, and Eriq La Salle

How to watch: On Call premieres Jan. 9 on Prime Video.

The Wheel of Time, Season 3

Looking to satisfy your high fantasy cravings? Then look no further than The Wheel of Time. Prime Video's adaptation of Robert Jordan's epic series continues in 2025  — and according to the teaser, things are darker than ever. Sure, Dragon Reborn Rand (Josha Stradowski), Aes Sedai Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), and the rest of our heroes won the Battle of Falme in Season 2. But the Forsaken's hunt for Rand continues, and the villainous Aes Sedai faction known as the Black Ajah are stepping out of the shadows.

Worst of all? Moiraine keeps getting visions of thousands of possible futures. In every future where she survives, Rand dies, and vice versa. If the two can't both survive the season, who could we be parting ways with in Season 3? — B.E.

Starring: Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Josha Stradowski, Zoë Robins, Madeleine Madden, Marcus Rutherford, Dónal Finn, Ceara Coveney, Kate Fleetwood, Natasha O’Keeffe, Ayoola Smart, Kae Alexander, Laia Costa, Olivia Williams, Luke Fetherston, Callum Kerr, and Nuno Lopes

How to watch: The Wheel of Time Season 3 premieres March 13 on Prime Video.

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Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard VPN + Ad Blocker Family Security Suite $34.97 at Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 Adelaide International for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

After a break at the end of the year, top-level tennis is back in a big way.

2025 is serving up the United Cup, Brisbane International, and Adelaide International in the build up to the Australian Open. The first Grand Slam of the season is obviously the priority for the best players in the world, but these tournaments offer an opportunity to build some valuable momentum.

If you want to watch the 2025 Adelaide International for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Adelaide International?

The Adelaide International is a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts in Adelaide at the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre. The tournament forms part of the WTA and ATP tours.

When is the 2025 Adelaide International?

The 2025 Adelaide International takes place from Jan. 6 to Jan. 11.

How to watch the 2025 Adelaide International for free

The 2025 Adelaide International is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

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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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Adelaide International for free from anywhere in the world

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If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. This might be a good time to invest, because 9Now is offering free coverage of the Brisbane International, Adelaide International, and Australian Open.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

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Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Gain a player

• Green: Teams in Georgia's capital

• Blue: Recent champions in MLB

• Purple: Games involving a pigskin ball

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

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

• Yellow: Ways to add someone to a team

• Green: Atlanta teams

• Blue: Last four World Series winners

• Purple: _______ football

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 Sports Edition #98 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Ways to add someone to a team - DRAFT, FREE AGENCY, TRADE, WAIVERS

• Atlanta teams - DREAM, FALCONS, HAWKS, UNITED

• Last four World Series winners - ASTROS, BRAVES, DODGERS, RANGERS

• ______ football - AMERICAN, AUSTRALIAN RULES, FANTASY, FLAG

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.

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

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.

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.

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 December 30 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: Sandwiches or wraps you'd order at a deli

• Green: Essential items for brewing a morning drink

• Blue: Giving or settling something, often financial

• Purple: Famous names or brands that are marked with extra emphasis

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: Lunch Orders

• Green: Used to Make Coffee

• Blue: Pay, with "Up"

• Purple: Names Featuring "!"

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 #570 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Lunch Orders: CLUB, HERO, MELT, WRAP

• Used to Make Coffee: BEANS, FILTER, GRINDER, WATER

• Pay, with "Up": ANTE, COUGH, PONY, SETTLE

• Names Featuring "!": AIRPLANE, JEOPARDY, PINK, YAHOO

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 30

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

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.

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

Strands 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 December 30 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 30 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Keep It Classical

These words are arrangements for music.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are how you create classical music.

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 Composition.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 30

• Symphony

• Prelude

• Sonata

• Overture

• Concerto

• Composition

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.

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 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 today: Hints and answers for December 30 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's The Mini crossword answers for December 30 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Look vacantly at someone.

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 S.

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...

STARE.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 30

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

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.

One day, you’re an all-powerful CEO, star wife, and mother, and the next day you're eating out of your young intern’s hand, quite literally. How is this contradiction possible, if it is a contradiction at all? The answer for both Nicole Kidman’s character in Halina Reijn’s film Babygirl and for many others who identify as BDSM submissives lies in the elusive concept of subspace: a metaphorical space and altered state one submits to during a kink scene, thanks to arousal and exchange of consent.

SEE ALSO: 'Babygirl' review: Nicole Kidman to 'Challengers': Hold my beer

The notion is very new to Romy Mathis (Kidman, whose performance won her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at this year's Venice Film Festival). She's the sharply dressed big boss with her hair always pinned up, until she meets Samuel (Harris Dickinson): a much younger, cocky, and borderline rude intern wearing a suit twice his size, filling it with ego. Romy finds herself trembling when Samuel controls a stray dog about to jump on her in the street with a mere whistle and a nod. From this seemingly passing interaction, the flows of her desire steer the narrative into the unknown waters of ambivalent wants and surrender, as Romy and Samuel begin an affair based on the exploration of dominance and submission.

"Scene" and its double meaning  Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in "Babygirl." Credit: A24

According to Lina Dune, kink educator and host of the Ask a Sub podcast, a Dominant/submissive (D/s) relationship affords "a ritual space," where equal, consenting adults negotiate, establish boundaries and safe words, and create "a container where things can transform and alchemize." The set-up is called a "scene" and within the kink scene, the submissive can experience subspace. In theatre, cinema, or kink, we associate the word "scene" with a curated experience and performance. 

Speaking to Mashable, director Halina Reijn champions this dual meaning, adding that for her, Babygirl is about performing. "Of course, in a BDSM setting, there’s a lot of performing," she says, "but sex in general can also be very performative." As a result, this theme informed the script and conversations with Kidman, becoming an instrument to explore the character's authentic self. "Romy thinks she has to perform the perfect mother, lover, wife, leader," says Reijn, "and we are all a little bit like that — what we forget to do is be ourselves and accept whoever we are."

Featured Video For You Halina Reijn explains 'Babygirl’s' trojan horse of sexual tension

But what makes Babygirl stand out is that it shows dominance and submission as a process of negotiation, trial and error, rather than a textbook example or a polished act. Babygirl’s kink scenes feel real and inviting because they lay bare the mechanisms in the inner workings of control exchange. In each scene, Samuel umms and ahhs, trails off, laughs in the middle of his commands, while Romy is shown to resist, back out, and change her mind. For the actors, this means an extra layer of performance that incorporates flippancy and respect for consent; for the viewer it means relatability.

Not every scene is a "scene" but subspace is a space Credit: A24

Subspace is a term used within the D/s and BDSM communities, according to Dune, to talk about "the altered state that comes about through the experience of submission." She insists that it is a wide category that encompasses individual experiences that may differ from one another, like that of intoxication or alcohol intake, for example. Scientifically, the state is a reaction to adrenaline, oxytocin, and endorphins rushing into the brain, but what does subspace feel like? 

Dune explains that for some people it may be "a floaty, dreamy, quiet disconnected feeling," while others might giggle or cry. "I like to refer to it as 'getting high on your own supply,'" she says, "because you're not on anything, but the experience of crossing over a taboo."

Thinking of cinematic representations of liminal states — hallucinations (Enter the Void), drug-induced trips (Queer), or drunkenness (Another Round) — perhaps film is the most suitable medium to portray a subjective, heightened state of mind. The key is in the spatial metaphor: one "goes into" or "inhabits" a space. Unlike other films, Babygirl doesn’t rely on classical point-of-view shots showing a dizzy, spell-binding world seen through the protagonist's eyes. Instead, the handheld work of Reijn’s long-time collaborator, cinematographer Jasper Wolf is more subtle. 

Lights, camera, submission! Credit: A24

Halfway through the film, Romy and Samuel decide to meet at a cheap hotel. No wonder, their affair belongs to clandestine spaces, the four walls of every office, bathroom stall, and hired bedroom swelling with desire. When it’s just the two of them, they can be free from the outside world’s demands. In that sequence, Romy storms out and comes back, Samuel wrestles her to the ground, and their power dynamics become a source of play: a scene begins. The camera sinks down with her, framing her face in a close-up, while Samuel becomes a blur in the background: where he touches her and how is not as important as Romy’s reactions. 

Discussing that part of the film, Wolf tells Mashable that the camera is like a third character in the room with them. Instead of story-boarding the shots, he would film long, single takes to capture the erotic flow of power exchange. The camera often remains still and fixed on Romy, letting the viewer accompany her throughout the cascade of emotions coloring her face with arousal: from surprise through shame to blissful release, we partake in her surrender. 

"It's like an honest and sometimes relentless gaze on what is going to happen between the two," he says. 

Coordinating subspace Credit: A24

Why can’t words accurately describe subspace? "If we lived in a matriarchal utopia, perhaps we would have more words for it," jokes Dune. But in today’s individualistic Western world, she points out that people "are expected to actualize themselves in a way that’s masculine-coded. Submission, in contrast, is understood to be very vulnerable which is more female-coded." 

In cinema, pop culture, or daily life, the derogatory stereotype for men in power who want to be dominated and/or humiliated is often presented as a point of humor. Admitting a submissive desire costs a lot: "I'll receive at least one phone call per week from someone who says they want to be a sub, but stress on the fact that they are not submissive in their day-to-day life," says Dune. 

What’s novel about Babygirl is that not only does it show the characters’ vulnerability, but also how much they are willing to reveal to one another. In cinematographic terms, this exchange of consent is translated by panning movements linking Romy and Samuel's faces as they look at each other. "Put simply," says Wolf, "the camera is often a representation of her inner world: it becomes more free and fearless alongside Romy."

On set, the cast and production team worked with intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot (No Hard Feelings, Dead Ringers) to ensure there were no surprises. Dickinson, who had previously worked with Talbot on the TV series A Murder at the End of the World, underscored the importance of clear communication. "If you approach [sex] scenes with too much trepidation and sensitivity, it can be anxiety inducing; you need an intimacy coordinator to be very direct and pragmatic about it," he tells Mashable's Anna Iovine. Reijn also brainstormed with Talbot when writing the intimacy scenes, saying that the work with a coordinator "goes much further than just being on set with her."

Facing subspace Credit: A24

Later in the film, there is a second hotel room scene, where Samuel "directs" Romy from across the lavish suite. He commands her to strip, tells her where to put her hands and how to pose. Even when both are naked, the camera doesn’t linger on the nudity of their bodies, but their faces. When sharing subspace, they see each other anew, and their newfound intimacy translates into the visuals. To channel the ebb and flow, Wolf used a mix of camera lenses, shifting between spherical and anamorphic. As for the visible effect, "it’s not in your face and it shouldn’t be," he says, "but a slight change of perspective [makes you] suddenly see them with different eyes." The game of letting your guard down plays out on their faces.

Unlike films like Steven Shainberg's Secretary, which relates submissive kink to trauma, Babygirl succeeds in telegraphing to a wider audience the message that these are real people, and their desires — even when dangerous to their status quo — don’t have to be as destructive or severely punished. "The BDSM community,” says Dune in relation to Secretary, "wants to see more empowered people portrayed as submissive and break that stereotype." 

But she is optimistic: "I think we’re getting closer to better representation of BDSM on screen. Obviously, I would be a lot more excited about films that hire sex workers as consultants, but for example, a film like Sanctuary had less research done into the BDSM community, but what I saw on screen rang true to me." Dune admits that she doesn’t expect education from cinema, or at least not the kind that sex and kink educators like herself offer, adding that "film should be about fantasy."

By setting Babygirl’s subspace explorations against a corporate, hetero-mono-normative backdrop, Reijn also makes a political point. However ephemeral, subspace is a consent-bound altered state that resists categorization. Perhaps a way for some of us to survive the capitalist hell is to surrender — to desires or to films like Babygirl — and take Dune’s advice: "Let the film dominate you."

Babygirl is now showing in cinemas.

Go web go! Marvel Animation has dropped a new trailer for the upcoming animated Spidey series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

We're back to basics with this Disney+ series, sending Peter Parker (voiced by Hudson Thames) to the early days of his newfound powers, attending high school, living with Aunt May (Kari Wahlgren), and finding himself under the mentorship of Norman Osborn, future Green Goblin (Colman Domingo).

Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio are voicing their roles of Matt Murdoch/Daredevil and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin from the Netflix series, while Downton Abbey: A New Era's Hugh Dancy takes on Doctor Octopus, Cathy Ang voices Pearl Pangan, and Paul F. Tompkins is Bentley Wittman/The Wizard. But there's plenty more appearances in store.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is streaming on Disney+ from Jan. 29.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Keep from scoring

• Green: Used in England's summer sport

• Blue: Offensive players who play or played in LA or St. Louis

• Purple: Athletes known by their father's name

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

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

• Yellow: Prevent a goal

• Green: Cricket equipment

• Blue: Rams WRs past and present

• Purple: Famous juniors

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 Sports Edition #97 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Prevent a goal - BLOCK, PARRY, SAVE, STOP

• Cricket equipment - BAIL, BALL, BAT, STUMP

• Rams WRs past and present - BRUCE, HOLT, KUPP, NACUA

• Famous juniors - BECKHAM, EARNHARDT, GRIFFEY, RIPKEN

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.

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

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.

Hertz is reportedly trying to sell some of its electric vehicles to the people who are currently renting the cars. The rental car company is apparently looking to unload a portion of its EV fleet and is proactively reaching out to customers about the option to outright buy the vehicles they're renting.

A viral post on Reddit showed an apparent email from Hertz offering a customer the option to buy the very EV they were renting. In this case it was a 2023 Tesla Model 3 for $17,913. Folks in the comments mentioned getting similar offers for other EVs.

Reddit

Hertz communications director Jamie Line told The Verge that this wasn't a new strategy and seemed to suggest it wasn't limited to EVs.

"By connecting our rental customers who opt into our emails to our sales channels, we’re not only building awareness of the fact that we sell cars but also offering a unique opportunity to someone who may be in the market for the same car they have on rent," Line said.

Hertz has long sold vehicles from its fleet and there are a number electric cars currently for sale on its site. Hertz did announce this year a plan to sell-off some 30,000 EVs after major losses.

The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl featured stunning football: No. 18 ranked Iowa St. knocked off No. 13 Miami in a high-scoring, 42-41 victory. However, when it came to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, hardly anyone was talking about the actual football.

That's because it is one of the most wonderfully unhinged events you'll ever see. Last year, the game generated headlines after it "sacrificed" its strawberry mascot as a toasted trophy for the winning team. In 2024, the Pop-Tarts Bowl ramped things up. They had a competition among Pop Tart mascots to be sacrificed, they resurrected last year's pastry, they ripped packaging off, and all-in-all just got super weird.

Only at this weird college football game could you see a humanoid Pop-Tart being lowered to its "death" with a sign reading "Follow Your Dreams." Naturally, the internet loved it all.

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This BlueSky post from Anne T. Donahue really summed the festivities — which all centered around a Pop Tart going to "mouth heaven" — by basically calling it a Mad Men fever dream.

don draper: the pop tart, he's selfless. the sacrificial lamb; a testament to his commitment to his truth -- a greater good. pop tarts rep: i ... i still don't get it. don draper: gentlemen (takes a long drag off his cigarette) he's jesus christ.

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— anne t. donahue (@annetdonahue.bsky.social) December 29, 2024 at 8:56 AM

The festivities truly were something else — I, for one, cannot wait for the 2025 Pop-Tarts Bowl.

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.

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 December 29 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: Variations of a warm color associated with passion or intensity

• Green: Details you would confirm when setting a meeting or schedule

• Blue: Varying quantities of hair

• Purple: Sounds like a tree but isn't

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: Shades of Red

• Green: Appointment Specifications

• Blue: Different Amounts of Hair

• Purple: Tree Homophones

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 #569 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Shades of Red: BRICK, CHERRY, MAROON, RUBY

• Appointment Specifications: DATE, DURATION, LOCATION, TIME

• Different Amounts of Hair: HEAD, LOCK, STRAND, WISP

• Tree Homophones: BEACH, FUR, PAIR, YOU

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 29

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, December 29, 2024:

AcrossGetting closer, so to speak

• The answer is Warm.

First-string crew

• The answer is A team.

___ journalism, style associated with Hunter S. Thompson

• The answer is Gonzo.

Prized "activity" for new parents

• The answer is Sleep.

Opposite of more

• The answer is Less.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 29, 2024 DownMoves like an excited dog's tail

• The answer is Wags.

Ring-shaped reef

• The answer is Atoll.

Zellweger of "Bridget Jones's Diary"

• The answer is Renee.

Puzzles in a children's coloring book

• The answer is Mazes.

Cleans the floor

• The answer is Mops.

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

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.

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