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As the technology is widely adopted, some once-struggling midsize cities in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and South may benefit, new research predicts.

During Squid Game Season 2's Mingle game, contestants stand on a rotating platform as an unsettling children's song plays. "Round and round, round and round," children sing. "Let's go around in circles and dance."

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

The song may be an apt way to kick off one of Squid Game's many deadly children's games, but it also proves a pretty accurate description of the viewing experience of Season 2. Despite all the hype — three years of it — for the return of Netflix's biggest series ever, Squid Game Season 2 is frustratingly recursive, characterized not by Season 1's propulsive do-or-die stakes, but instead by repetitive, borderline uninspired storytelling.

That problem of repetition hangs over the whole season, but nowhere more so than in the return of Squid Game's voting mechanic, which takes on a larger role this season (much to the show's detriment).

What is Squid Game Season 2's voting mechanic, and why doesn't it work? The players of "Squid Game" Season 2. Credit: No Ju-han / Netflix

In Season 1 of Squid Game, once the players experience the horrors of Red Light, Green Light, they are offered a choice. If the majority of them vote to end the games, they can all go home. They do (by one vote). Yet when the players re-enter the real world and are confronted once again by the full weight of their debt, most of them choose to return to the games for the slim chance that they might be able to win a life-saving amount of money.

When Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) returns to the games in Season 2, he experiences the post-Red Light, Green Light vote again. Only this time, things are different. Now, players get the choice to end the games between every challenge. If they do choose to leave, they get to split the current prize pot, which goes up with every death.

This change to the games' voting mechanic is a fascinating twist. It tests whether players are willing to survive and walk away with a comparatively smaller (but still significant) amount of money, or if they'd rather risk their own lives and those of the people around them for a shot at more money in the next round. "One more game," they tell themselves, calling to mind the gambling addictions that landed them in debt.

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

The extra voting also further stokes tensions between those who wish to leave and those who wish to continue. Finally, it serves as a message from the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) to Gi-hun: Despite Gi-hun's attempted heroics, there will always be people who will choose to play at the cost of others. That's part of why the Front Man and the other people who run the games view players as "roaches," even though they're disregarding the injustices of the capitalist system that put them there in the first place.

With all this nuance in mind, the repeated voting works in theory. But in practice, it falls flat. There are three voting scenes in Season 2, and each drags more than the last. After all, there are only so many ways you can make people lining up to push a button interesting. Not to mention that after every vote, people have to apologize or explain themselves. These scenes feel so much like RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars contestants justifying whose lipstick they pulled that you might wonder whether you turned on the reality show Squid Game: The Challenge instead.

Squid Game tries to play with its own formula by having "shocking" switch-ups in who votes for what. It's an easy way to chart where people stand on the games, but it's tough to focus on the personal arcs of people choosing to leave or stay when the outcome is so obvious. The meat of Squid Game is the games themselves, so we know going into each vote that there's no way it's going to pass. By design, the show has to stay in this hellish playground.

Really, the repeated voting only gives us the illusion of difference, just as it gives players like Gi-hun the illusion of escape. What could have been an interesting game mechanic becomes dreaded padding in an already frustrating season. So by the time the third vote results in a tie, I'm less intrigued by what will happen next and more horrified at the promise of yet another voting sequence. (At least the series avoids round four thanks to Gi-hun's finale rebellion.)

Squid Game Season 2 is just like its voting mechanic: dull and repetitive. Choi Seung-hyun in "Squid Game." Credit: No Ju-han / Netflix

Squid Game's overemphasis on voting is just one symptom of Season 2's overarching problem: Recycling Season 1 plot points with twists that run themselves into the ground.

Let's start with an obvious one. Once again, the games' player 001 is a plant from the people controlling the games. This time around, it's none other than Front Man Hwang In-ho, who's snuck into the games to watch over Gi-hun, and who ends up becoming one of his closest allies. All the better to break his spirit once he finds out his true identity! The only problem is, Gi-hun doesn't learn who 001 really is this season, so we lose the feeling of brutal catharsis we got with the Oh Il-nam (O Yeong-su) reveal from Season 1.

SEE ALSO: The 25 best movies of 2024, and where to watch them

(That detail is just one of many unsatisfying arcs Squid Game leaves dangling at the end of Season 2. No wonder, given that creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told Entertainment Weekly that he originally envisioned Seasons 2 and 3 as one story.)

Elsewhere, Squid Game looks to add a new perspective with the character of Kang No-eul (Park Gyu-young), a North Korean defector — like Season 1's Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) — who's become a soldier in the games. What could have been an illuminating look into what pushes someone to take that role quickly becomes a remix of the organ-harvesting plot from Season 1, with very little thought given to No-eul's inner conflict once she recognizes someone she knows from the outside in the games.

Even the games themselves become rote. The Six-legged Pentathlon is a mishmash of too many games, to the point that watching it becomes a slog. Mingle overstays its welcome after a few rounds. It feels like you're watching Squid Game beat itself into the ground. Add in the overlong subplot of Detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) puttering around, lost, on a boat, and that becomes doubly true. We're going round and round, dancing in circles, with not much to show for it.

Squid Game Season 2 is a step down — but that's not solely its fault. Park Gyu-young in "Squid Game." Credit: No Ju-han / Netflix

When Squid Game Season 1 first hit, it felt like a fresh take on the "death game" genre. It spoke directly to anxieties about debt and inequality that spring from living under late-stage capitalism. Plus, the children's game elements offered a fiendish aesthetic twist, complete with pastel playgrounds and the now-iconic shape masks the soldiers wear.

Since then, though, the concept of Squid Game has been done to death. Beyond Netflix's ill-advised reality spin-off, YouTuber MrBeast recreated the games for his channel in 2021, then basically ripped them off again for his Beast Games game show. Meanwhile, Netflix has continued to release countless tie-in products, a mobile game, and even a real-life experience. Squid Game mania and a long wait time between seasons has only increased expectations, but it's also diluted what once felt special. Season 2 further dilutes Squid Game, even ending with a generic gunfight that's miles removed from the claustrophobic, almost intimate stakes of Season 1.

With every effort to dial up an element from Season 1, be it the voting mechanic or the Front Man's role, Squid Game Season 2 weakens its own mystique and appeal. It's proof that too much of a good thing can absolutely ruin a show's momentum, and that sometimes, some great series just don't need a second season.

Squid Game Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

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

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

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

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

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

To push.

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for December 26 Hurdle Word 1 answer

SHOVE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A jam.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 26 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

JELLY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A popular Colorado ski resort town.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 26, 2024 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ASPEN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A raid.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 26 Hurdle Word 4 answer

FORAY

Final Hurdle hint

A Jewish scholar.

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

RABBI

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

TL;DR: Spend your life learning new skills with unlimited access to the full 1,000+ course catalog on StackSkills Unlimited, just £15.93 (reg. £478.74). 

When you're in school, learning sort of happens at you. There are teachers and homework and tests, but when you're an adult, those aren't quite as common. Taking the initiative to learn something new can be tough, but there are plenty of courses out there to help. Plus, they might even help elevate your career. 

Whether you're an IT professional, a graphic designer, a business owner, or a hobby collector, StackSkills Unlimited has something for you to learn. This expansive learning platform is home to over 1,000 courses across fields as varied as IT, finance, and marketing, and it's only £15.93 to unlock them all. 

Is StackSkills worth it?

Judging whether or not access to a learning platform is worth it is tough. If you want to expand your skillset professionally or personally, there's certainly quite a lot to learn here. You can check the catalog before buying to see if there are any courses you're interested in, but it's unlikely anyone would want to finish every course. 

StackSkills isn't just about professional courses. You can check out guitar lessons, courses about art, and more. If learning is your hobby, you have quite a lot to work with, and there's no rush to get through it all. If you leave a course and want to come back, you can track your progress from your account page. 

Lifelong learners, look out

Whether you want to practice a new skill to show off at work or finally figure out how to play piano, StackSkills has a course for you. 

Get Lifetime Access to StackSkills Unlimited on sale for £15.93 (reg. £478.74). 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: StackSkills StackSkills Unlimited: Lifetime Access £15.93 at the Mashable Shop
£478.74 Save £462.81 Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Wolves vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premier League is available to live stream on Prime Video over the festive period. A number of top fixtures are hosted by Prime Video this Christmas, including Wolves vs. Manchester United.

Are Manchester United on the road to recovery? It's probably too early to say, but Rubem Amorim has secured some decent results since his arrival. And he'll expect nothing less than three points against a struggling Wolves side.

If you want to watch Wolves vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Wolves vs. Manchester United?

Wolves vs. Manchester United in the Premier League starts at 5:30 p.m. GMT on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at the Molineux Stadium.

How to watch Wolves vs. Manchester United for free

Wolves vs. Manchester United is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Wolves vs. Manchester United (plus more Premier League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the Premier League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch Wolves vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Wolves vs. Manchester United on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream Wolves vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Southampton vs. West Ham in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premier League is available to live stream on Prime Video this Christmas. Fans can watch a number of top fixtures over the festive period, including Southampton vs. West Ham.

Southampton are rooted to the bottom of the table, but they'll still believe that they can turn things around. Russell Martin was sacked earlier in the month, so maybe a change of approach could be beneficial for the Saints.

If you want to watch Southampton vs. West Ham in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Southampton vs. West Ham?

Southampton vs. West Ham in the Premier League starts at 3 p.m. GMT on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at St Mary's Stadium.

How to watch Southampton vs. West Ham for free

Southampton vs. West Ham is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Southampton vs. West Ham (plus more Premier League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the Premier League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch Southampton vs. West Ham for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Southampton vs. West Ham on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream Southampton vs. West Ham in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premier League is available to live stream for free this Christmas, with some massive games hosted by Prime Video. Fans can forget all about the festivities and live stream a number of key games, including Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur.

Nottingham Forest are flying high this season, but they'll be well aware that Spurs can beat anyone on their best day.

If you want to watch Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur?

Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League starts at 3 p.m. GMT on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at the City Ground.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free

Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur (plus more Premier League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the Premier League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

10 Premier League games are available to live stream for free this Christmas, including Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa.

Both sides are battling it out for a place in the top half of the table, which isn't exactly where they'd want to be at this stage of the season. But there is still a lot of football to be played this season, so both teams can still mount a challenge on the top four.

If you want to watch Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa?

Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa in the Premier League starts at 3 p.m. GMT on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at St. James' Park.

How to watch Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa for free

Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa (plus more Premier League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the Premier League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Manchester City vs. Everton in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Prime Video is hosting 10 live games from the Premier League this Christmas, including Manchester City vs. Everton.

Manchester City are having a pretty wild season by their high standards. It feels weird to see a Pep Guardiola side struggling like this, and Everton will be looking to make things much worse for the champions.

If you want to watch Manchester City vs. Everton in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Manchester City vs. Everton?

Manchester City vs. Everton in the Premier League starts at 12:30 p.m. GMT on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at the Etihad Stadium.

How to watch Manchester City vs. Everton for free

Manchester City vs. Everton is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Manchester City vs. Everton (plus more Premier League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the Premier League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch Manchester City vs. Everton for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Manchester City vs. Everton on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream Manchester City vs. Everton in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. Leicester City in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Prime Video is the best place to live stream the Premier League this Christmas, with 10 live games hosted by the platform over the festive period. There are some really interesting games on offer, including Liverpool vs. Leicester City.

Liverpool are looking like title favorites at this mid-way stage of the season, whereas Leicester City are struggling near the bottom of the table. The appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy could turn things around for Leicester City, but they won't be expected to take anything back from Anfield.

If you want to watch Liverpool vs. Leicester City in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. Leicester City?

Liverpool vs. Leicester City in the Premier League starts at 8 p.m. GMT on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Leicester City for free

Liverpool vs. Leicester City is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Liverpool vs. Leicester City (plus more Premier League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the Premier League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch Liverpool vs. Leicester City for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Liverpool vs. Leicester City on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream Liverpool vs. Leicester City in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Chelsea vs. Fulham in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Prime Video is the place to watch the Premier League this Christmas, with 10 live games available to stream on Dec. 26-27.

There are a number of big games taking place over this period, including Chelsea vs. Fulham. Chelsea are starting to look like the real deal, and possibly the most likely team to challenge Liverpool for the title. Fulham are also having a good season, but mid-table mediocrity is a more likely result for the Cottagers.

If you want to watch Chelsea vs. Fulham in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Chelsea vs. Fulham?

Chelsea vs. Fulham in the Premier League starts at 3 p.m. GMT on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at Stamford Bridge.

How to watch Chelsea vs. Fulham for free

Chelsea vs. Fulham is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Chelsea vs. Fulham (plus more Premier League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the Premier League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch Chelsea vs. Fulham for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Chelsea vs. Fulham on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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The Premier League is partnering up with Prime Video this Christmas, with 10 live games available to stream over the festive period.

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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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 26 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: Protecting your head in football

• Green: Shots on the court

• Blue: Team reps in women's basketball

• Purple: Looks/sounds like baseball stars

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: Parts of a football helmet

• Green: Basketball shots

• Blue: WNBA mascots

• Purple: Homonyms for MLB All-Stars

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 #94 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Parts of a football helmet - CHIN STRAP, FACE MASK, PADS, SHELL

• Basketball shots - BANK, FADEAWAY, FLOATER, PULL-UP

  WNBA mascots - BLAZE, BUCKETS, DOPPLER, ELLIE

• Homonyms for MLB All-Stars - BETS, BURNS, SAIL, WIT

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.

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 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 26 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Relative conjunction

These words are people at a family party.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are names for different relatives.

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 Reunion.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 26

• Grandchild

• Neice

• Nephew

• Uncle

• Aunt

• Cousin

• Inlaw

• Reunion

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.

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 26 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: Used to estimate or give a rough idea

• Green: Plants that are tall and woody

• Blue: Something large or substantial

• Purple: Abbreviations of areas with different postal codes

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: Approximately

• Green: Trees

• Blue: Sizable, As An Amount

• Purple: US States Abbreviations, Per AP Style Guide

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 #564 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Approximately: ABOUT, AROUND, LIKE, ROUGHLY

• Trees: ELDER, PALM, PINE, SPRUCE

• Sizable, As An Amount: HANDSOME, HEALTHY, RESPECTABLE, TIDY

• US States Abbreviations, Per AP Style Guide: ALA, ARK, MISS, ORE

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 26

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.

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 26 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 26 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Stick, attach, or fasten (something) to something else.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one reoccurring letter.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

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...

AFFIX.

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 26

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.

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'Tis the season for Doctor Who to return with a holiday special that mixes action, adventure, mirth, mystery, and heartache. Even before you get to the plotline of "Joy to the World," there are reasons to thrill over this new episode sight unseen. Not only does it see the return of Ncuti Gatwa's debonair and canonically queer Fifteenth Doctor, not only does it feature Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan in the title role, but also this particular Christmas special is penned and executive produced by former series showrunner Steven Moffat.

Between Moffat and current EP and showrunner Russell T Davies, this epic series has delivered some of its biggest moments in holiday specials like "The Runaway Bride," "Voyage of the Damned," and "The Husbands of River Song." So, what could their combined forces bring to this Christmas? A rousing celebration of the holiday, its embrace of love and loss, and a time-wimey mission to save the Earth to boot!

SEE ALSO: 'Doctor Who' Christmas specials ranked, and where to watch them

Whether you're a longtime Whovian or new to the series, you'll relish the weirdness and wonder of "Joy to the World."

What's "Joy to the World" about? Credit: Disney+

Having returned his last companion, Ruby Sunday, back to her time and place, the Doctor (Gatwa) is once more on his own, but hankering for company. The cold open shows him confoundingly popping in on strangers across time: Manchester 1940, Italy 1962, Everest Base Camp 1953. But his destination is a humble (actually, borderline dingy) hotel in 2024 London. There, he meets Joy (Coughlan), a young woman with a radiant smile, a festive sense of style, and a holiday alone planned for herself.

However, once the Doctor barges in, Joy is swiftly entangled in a mystery involving a bizarre briefcase that won't let her go, but will make her say, "The star seed will bloom, and the flesh will rise."

What does it mean? That's up to the Doctor to find out. To do so, he'll need to traverse eras through the Time Hotel, a cheeky resort where visitors can stay in hotel rooms across all human existence on Earth — and even earlier. (Look out for dinosaurs!) But that's not all. The Doctor will also need to take some time to himself, whether he likes it or not!

Doctor Who gives voice to those who feel lonely on Christmas. Ncuti Gatwa and Ncuti Gatwa in "Joy to the World." Credit: Disney+

Loneliness is a major element of "Joy to the World," revealing that despite two hearts and all of time and space at his fingertips, the Doctor's just like us. In a moving scene where the Fifteenth Doctor briefly encounters his future self, he is filled with an uncharacteristic fury. "Do you see?" he screams in self-loathing. "This is why nobody likes you! You have to be mysterious all the time. That's why everyone leaves you. That's why you are always alone."

This is categorically untrue. The Doctor has been adored and embraced by a cavalcade of companions, allies, and frenemies (looking at you, Missy) over eons. But this scene reflects how all-too-human anxiety can lie to us, because statements like these can feel true. You see yourself not as you are, but as you fear you may be. And while the Doctor is known for running, he can't run from this. He can't run from himself.

Over the "long way 'round" 'til next Christmas, he is forced to go outside his comfort zone, staying put in one place. There's a special sweetness in his blooming friendship with the desk clerk, Anita Benn (Steph De Whalley). She doesn't know him as the legendary time-traveler who can sweep her away in his big blue police box. She knows him as an eccentric with wild stories and a love of puzzle games, and she loves him for that. By the time the Doctor is ready to face himself again, he hears those words of damnation from his past self, and he understands they come from a place of fear, not truth. And with that, he is able not only to make a new friend in Joy, but also help her overcome her fear and self-imposed loneliness as well.

Nicola Coughlan and Ncuti Gatwa shine in "Joy to the World." Credit: Disney+

Admittedly, the whole ensemble of this Christmas special is as cracking as the party crackers that are a UK tradition. However, few on Doctor Who — or the whole of television really — can keep up with the relentless charisma of Gatwa. Coughlan can and must, as their heroes spend much of the episode at odds. When he "mansplains" to her about time travel's wobbly rules, she bickers back righteously. When he explodes with panic about impending annihilation, she must be his comically calm foil. "You do like to talk, don't ya?" she chides with a wilting but smiling reply. And when he cries out against the cruelty of a galaxy that is endlessly ravenous, she is gloriously resigned to an ending that may not be happy by Americans' standards, but is about as close as a Doctor Who Christmas special will get.

Together, they push and pull each other through this adventure, coming out the other side changed. And yeah, it's an ending that will probably make you cry. I did. But there's a reliable comfort in Doctor Who holiday specials, because of how intensely they embrace the pleasure and pain of the holiday season.

Coughlan brings her own radiance to Joy, her beautiful round face and bright blue eyes shimmering with tears, her hair a halo of gold, framed by a bright red beret and matching jacket. Visually and emotionally, she is a shining symbol of the season, its warmth, yearning, and heartache. And in the end, she is the star this episode demanded.

How to watch: Doctor Who is now streaming on Disney+.

This year's Doctor Who Christmas special, "Joy to the World," brings together Doctor Who and Bridgerton in the shiniest way ever by welcoming the dazzling Nicola Coughlan into the Whoniverse as the eponymous Joy. "The stars literally aligned," the show's current showrunner and executive producer Russell T Davies said of the Irish actress's casting, noting that "everyone in the world wants to work with her." And watching this latest Doctor Who Christmas special, it's little wonder why, as Davies put it: "There she is, and she's absolutely wonderful!" 

Within the episode Joy (Coughlan) is on a lonely holiday in a London hotel when the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) gleefully intrudes with a ham-and-cheese toastie, a pumpkin latte, and a time-wimey adventure across Earth's history. Not only will this cheery singleton be overtaken by villainous tech, but she'll also cross paths with a polite "lizard man," a raging T-rex, and double the Doctors. But in the end, her fate is bittersweet while pointing a true north for the Time Lord's return in Season 15. 

Mashable spoke with Davies and "Joy to the World" executive producer and screenwriter Steven Moffat about the episode, and what it means for next season. 

SEE ALSO: Every 'Doctor Who' Easter egg found in 'Joy to the World' The Doctor makes another festive friend… and farewell.  Nicola Coughlan plays Joy in "Doctor Who: Joy to the World." Credit: Disney+

As has been the case in some of the best (and most heart-breaking) holiday specials, "Ode to Joy" ends with the death of a friend. But as far as Doctor Who exits go, Joy's is pretty radiant!

In our Zoom interview, Moffat expressed how such a bittersweet conclusion is crucial to a Doctor Who holiday special, explaining, "Well, Christmas is always about all the people you love and and the people you love who aren't there this year. That's what it's always about. It's looking around the table and seeing who's not there. So it's joyful because everyone you love is there, and it's sad too, because someone's missing. So, you know, its love and loss are, I'm afraid, inextricably connected. There's nothing we can do about that. To love is to lose." 

No show on television might recognize this as well (or often) as the decades-spanning saga of a person reborn over and over, destined to love and lose much more than the rest of us. "That just fits," Moffat said. "The Doctor loses quite a lot. He loses all his friends. He must do. So just making [the special] a little bit about loss, but not miserable, just acknowledging a bit of sadness that things do end. And things have to end — otherwise, nothing could get started."

Davies concurred, adding, "It's a very emotional show. That's what we love about it, is we love dialing everything up to 11. It's like, if the Doctor feels slightly sad, we bring in 100-piece orchestra. We're gonna bring them in [and tell them], 'Play loudly. Please play loudly!'" He continued, "I think that's the program at its finest. It's setting out to make you laugh more than any other show and make you cry more than any other show. And actually, it's one of the program's strengths.You have to look at what Doctor Who does that other shows don't. That's absolutely one of the things that we do, so lots more than to come!"

How does "Ode to Joy" set up for Doctor Who Season 15? Ncuti Gatwa readies for action in "Doctor Who: Joy to the World." Credit: Disney+

At the end of the episode, Joy has resigned herself gladly to becoming a star. And while the Doctor fears she will burn and die, she shrugs this off, saying that she's "changing." 

"I will shine. Everywhere. Forever." she promises, smiling brightly. "And sometimes on you, my funny little Doctor, because you need to change too." More directly, she gives the Doctor a new mission: "You need to find a friend. Do that. Go and find one now. I'll be watching." 

Davies promises Season 15 will pick up from this quest to combat his loneliness. "Here is a man who makes coffee for two, then realizes that he's on his own — in a dressing gown," Davies said of the episode's first act. "The man is just born to talk and needs someone to talk to. And so she's told him that. When we find him in the first episode of the next season — coming up quite soon — he is actively looking [for a friend], but for different reasons than I just explained."

Davies kept things vague, but assured, "It's a slightly different setup that will unfold as the season goes on. But you get Varada Sethu coming in as Belinda Chandra, who's magnificent." Last spring it was announced that Sethu, who'd previously appeared in Season 14's "Boom," would be the Doctor's next companion, following on the heels of Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday. But Davies didn't drop any more details about this new character. 

Speaking of next season, he assured a continuity of emotion. "When you watch this all as a run on streaming, it'll flow very naturally from Joy setting it up with the Doctor's happiness at the end, and where you find next will feel like a straight line," Davies said. "Actually, it's nice."

What does the Jesus cameo on Doctor Who mean?  Ncuti Gatwa and Nicola Coughlan meet and part in "Doctor Who: Joy to the World. Credit: Disney+

Speaking of nice, there's a surprisingly sacred allusion at the end of "Ode to Joy." While the episode ends with loss, the Doctor swells with, well, joy as he watches his new friend become a star that shines across time upon his loved ones, and hers, and even the birth of Jesus.  

When asked if this iconic scene in Bethlehem might mean Jesus could become a character within Doctor Who, Davies joked, "A companion, I think. That would be amazing," before bursting into giggles. 

How to watch: Doctor Who is now streaming on Disney+.

The time has come! Doctor Who has unveiled the latest Christmas special, full of timey-wimey twists, heart-wrenching turns, and Easter eggs that even the most eagle-eyed Whovian might overlook.

"Joy to the World" not only brings Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan into the ever-expanding ensemble of Doctor Who, this 2024 Christmas special also reunites showrunner/executive producer Russell T Davies with former showrunner/executive producer and this episode's screenwriter, Steven Moffat.

Mashable interviewed the pair to get details on this ep's juiciest secrets. Below, we break down all the Easter eggs worth snatching up.

Madame Vastra and Jenny Flint almost get name-dropped.  Mr. & Mrs. Flockhart (Peter Benedict and Julia Watson) celebrate Christmas during the Blitz. Credit: Screenshot: YouTube

"Joy to the World" opens with sirens blaring over 1940 Manchester, which is ablaze from bombings. The Blitz is on as Mr. & Mrs. Flockhart (Peter Benedict and Julia Watson) try to enjoy a peaceful Christmas holiday. 

Coming away from the window, Basil Flockhart comments to his wife, Hilda, "The Cathedral's been hit. Used to know someone who lived up that way. Long time ago." His wife asks if it was a woman, and he responds, "Two women, in fact."

Subtly, Basil is alluding to the Silurian Sherlock and her wife/Watson, who were in another Moffat-penned ep, "A Good Man Goes to War," Series 6, episode 7. 

Moffat confirmed this in Mashable's interview, noting a shift in the scene's location from London to Manchester might have obscured the reference.

SEE ALSO: Did you catch Doctor Who's 'Joy to the World' sly reference to a fan-favorite character? Who's the woman on the Orient Express? Niamh Marie Smith plays Sylvia Trench in "Doctor Who: Joy to the World." Credit: screenshot: YouTube

After surprising the Flockharts, the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) pops in on a lone woman (Niamh Marie Smith), riding in a train cabin on the Orient Express through Italy in 1962. Notably, she cradles a handwritten letter and a copy of Agatha Christie's 1934 novel, Murder on the Orient Express. Now, Christie ran into the Tenth Doctor in "The Unicorn and the Wasp," Series 4, episode 7, which was set in 1926. But who is this fan of her work, reading the whodunnit on the train that is its setting?

The credits of "Joy to the World" reveal the character's name and her connection to another epic British franchise. She is Sylvia Trench, a Bond girl whose presence changes her lore and loops the iconic spy into the Whoniverse.

SEE ALSO: James Bond is canon in 'Doctor Who' now. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay get a brief visit from the Doctor.  Edmund Hillary (Phil Baxter) and Tenzing Norgay (Samuel Sherpa-Moore) in "Doctor Who: Joy to the World." Credit: Screenshot: YouTube

When the Doctor pokes his head into that tent in 1953's Everest Base Camp, he's popping in on the history-making team of New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary (Phil Baxter) and his guide, Nepalese-Indian Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay (Samuel Sherpa-Moore).

On May 29, 1953, they'd be the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest — 29,028 feet high — and would go onto worldwide acclaim. Hillary would be knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and immortalized on New Zealand's five-dollar bill, while Norgay was named one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century by Time magazine. 

So, it turns out the Doctor snatching some of their equipment wasn't an issue for the expedition. 

Bridgerton gets another nod or two on Doctor Who.  Nicola Coughlan stars as Joy. Credit: Disney+

Last season, Russell T Davies not only cast Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) in "Space Babies," but also dug into Bridgerton mania with "Rogue," a Regency-set episode full of secrets, romance, and deadly shapeshifters!

With "Joy to the World," Doctor Who welcomes Bridgerton's Season 3 leading lady Nicola Coughlan into the fold, playing the titular Joy. But keen-eyed viewers will also notice that at the Time Hotel, several extras are swanning around in gowns and towering wigs that harken back to the grandeur of Bridgerton's balls. 

Silurians return.  Ncuti Gatwa, Nicola Coughlan, and Jonathan Aris tackle a mystery in "Doctor Who: Joy to the World." Credit: Disney+

The "lizard man" (Jonathan Aris) who strolls into Joy's room with a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist is — as the Doctor explains — a Silurian, "the proudest race and original inhabitants of Earth." 

First introduced in 1970 with the Third Doctor's "Doctor Who and the Silurians," this scaled species has appeared in several TV episodes and spinoff comics. They memorably resurfaced on the rebooted series with the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) in "The Hungry Earth," in which the subterranean humanoids are awakened by drilling in South Whales. This Silurian hotel manager's appearance shows a future where his kind lives in peace with humans, just as the Doctor had hoped! 

Psychic paper is a waiter's dream. 

The bland wallet the Doctor carries contains a blank piece of paper to the untrained eye. But Whovians know this device allows the Doctor to flash any kind of identification he needs to infiltrate even the most secure locations, be they military instillations or Time Hotels with earnest service staff. 

Early in the episode, we see him flash the psychic paper to pacify Time Hotel staffer Trev. But when the tables turn and he's serving guests at the London hotel where he met Joy and Anita, the psychic paper signals to him what the guests actually want to order. Diets be damned! Jelly and biscuits for all! (Or Jell-O and cookies, if you're American.) 

The Weeping Angels get a blink-and-you-'ll-miss-it mention. 

While working at the hotel where he met Joy — going the long way 'round — the Doctor befriends front desk clerk Anita Benn (Steph de Whalley). The two begin hanging out in Joy's old room, playing board games like Snakes and Ladders and Clue. But also, they tell stories. Whovians who remember the harrowing days of "The Angels Take Manhattan" and "Blink" (both penned by Moffat!) will recognize their lore, even if they're not named. 

The Doctor says, "Can't move if you're looking at them!" And Anita rejoins, "Rubbish!" But ask Amy Pond or Sally Sparrow. The Weeping Angels might look like stone statues of angels covering their faces. But when you're not looking they're on the move, and they are AFTER YOU. 

The Time Hotel's Mr. Benn's shop has two potential meanings.  Credit: Disney+

When the Doctor first arrives at the Time Hotel, shots of the lobby reveal a curious shop called "Mr. Benn's Any Era Clothes." In the end credits, it's revealed that Benn is Anita's last name. Could this then be foreshadowing (in a time-wimey way) that she was fated to end up working at the illustrious lodging (thanks to a good word from an old friend)? Possibly! More likely though is the alternative. 

Mr. Benn is the name of a children's book series that became an animated BBC show. Both center on the eponymous fellow who goes to a costume shop, tries on different outfits (spaceman, deep sea diver, knight), and then walks through a door to the setting in which they'd be appropriate to have an adventure. So, this allusion is perfectly suited to the needs of tourists at the Time Hotel. After all, we don't all have TARDIS wardrobe at our disposal. 

Villengard returns.  A nefarious suitcase emits a Villengard hologram. Credit: Screenshot: YouTube

What villainous capitalist endeavor would consider destroying Earth and all of human history to create their own power source by birthing a star? The biggest arms dealer in the Whoniverse, that's who. 

Originally described as a planet known for weapons manufacturing, Villengard was re-introduced in "Boom," a 2024 episode also penned by Moffat. In that ep, a landmine trapped the Doctor in one place as he tried to make sense of a foggy planet at war. 

Like in "Boom," "Joy to the World" shows innocent bystanders caught in the crossfires, not only of Villengard's machinery but also in their merciless pursuit of financial supremacy. (They consider the loss of all life on Earth across time as "collateral sacrifice.") Both episodes also see a victim slain by Villengard tech turning it into something saving instead of destructive, their uploaded consciousnesses becoming a helpful ghost in the machine. 

Why does Doctor Who say "mavity"? Ncuti Gatwa exits the TARDIS In "Doctor Who: Joy to the World." Credit: Disney+

In the world of Doctor Who "mavity" means "gravity," and has since 2023's "Wild Blue Yonder."

That episode began with Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and the Doctor (David Tennant) traveling back to the pivotal moment when Isaac Newton sat under that apple tree. They tell him excitedly he can appreciate "the gravity of the situation." But Newton mishears them and decides the term for his scientific concept will be mavity.

Ever since then, the show has followed along. So when the Doctor is spiraling into science speak to hologram Trev in "Joy to the World," he asks, "Can you access air density, humidity, temperature, rotational mavity?"

The Doctor loses another friend on Christmas.  Ncuti Gatwa and Nicola Coughlan meet and part in "Doctor Who: Joy to the World." Credit: Disney+

This is as much of a tradition for this franchise as a decorated tree is for the rest of us. Some of the best (and most heartbreaking) Doctor Who Christmas specials have ended in loss, including "The Voyage of the Damned" and "The Husbands of River Song." 

In "Ode to Joy," the Doctor loses a pair of new friends, though neither is meant to be seen as a tragedy. To save Joy — and every other inhabitant of Earth past, present, and future — he must leave behind his work friend, Anita. But they'll always treasure their year together. And while she's not an official companion, Anita does get the door opened to a wider universe and a brighter future, thanks to his recommending her to the Time Hotel. (Anyone who can politely brush off the chaos response of "The star seed will bloom and the flesh will rise" deserves a promotion!) 

As for Joy, much like the late soldier John Francis Vater (Joe Anderson) in "Boom," she loses her human life because of Villengard's vicious plans for financial gain. But while the Doctor (and his audience) might weep for her, Joy refuses to. She tells him she will not die, she will "change." This is an idea echoed in "Boom," that death is not an end. Just a change.

Joy's change makes her a literal star, shining down across time on characters old and new, from the Doctor's last companion Ruby Sunday to his pal Anita to the birth of Jesus himself. 

How to watch: Doctor Who is now streaming on Disney+.