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How A.I. Could Reshape the Economic Geography of America

NYT Technology - 3 hours 8 min ago
As the technology is widely adopted, some once-struggling midsize cities in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and South may benefit, new research predicts.

How avoidant attachment shapes your dating app behaviour

Mashable - 3 hours 10 min ago

Have you ever caught yourself scrolling aimlessly on a dating app, rejecting profiles for reasons you can’t articulate? Well, maybe it’s a ‘me’ problem, rather than a ‘you’ problem.

I’m someone who has always struggled with emotional intimacy and showing vulnerability. As a guy in my late 30s who’s done OK in my London PR career, I have a strong desire to be independent and protect the life I’ve created for myself, at times fearing being taken advantage of. 

For those of you who have read Attached by Amir Levine, I’m ticking every number on the avoidant attachment style bingo card. Avoiding closeness? Tick. Difficulty trusting others? Tick. Almost too independent? Triple tick. 

I was a cast member on season one of the Netflix show Love is Blind UK, which taught me a lot about how I approach romantic relationships, and I’ve since become an ambassador for Bumble. I speak on panels and podcasts and create content on my Instagram page all about different dating and relationship dynamics. 

While this article isn’t meant to be a self-help guide extolling the benefits of talking therapy, here’s what I’ve learnt: the way you use dating apps can reflect how you approach relationships as a whole.  

How avoidant attachers scroll on dating apps

For the newbies in the room, avoidants often crave connection but find real intimacy challenging. It’s a tug-of-war between wanting love and fearing vulnerability.

Psychotherapist Louise Whitnall, who I worked with after the show was released last summer, says "people with avoidant attachment styles often come from backgrounds where their caregivers were not emotionally attuned to their needs or were emotionally distant for various reasons," which is pretty much bang on when it comes to my childhood. 

She also explains that "when a relationship reaches the point where genuine intimacy is required, avoidantly attached people may abruptly end or leave the relationship" — which also aligns with my past behaviour. 

When it came to dating and using apps, my avoidant tendencies would often lead me to prioritise physical appearance, often spending time endlessly scrolling without really engaging with anyone properly. In some cases I’d hesitate to move the conversation forward, self-sabotaging as a way of protecting myself in case they didn’t like me.  

It wasn’t until I started therapy in my early 30s that I began to understand how my avoidant tendencies were sabotaging my dating life and that I needed to make a change in how I was using dating apps.

SEE ALSO: The only dating apps worth downloading in December 2024 The problem with scrolling unintentionally

For years, I swiped with no clear intention. I’d reject people based on minor details like their choice of hobbies, the way they wrote their bio, or even where their pictures were taken. It wasn’t that these profiles were bad, it was that I was avoiding the discomfort of connection.

Because when you scroll without substance, you risk falling into two traps. 

The first is validation seeking. Each match becomes a hit of dopamine, a momentary boost that confirms you’re desirable. But, as with any short-term dopamine hit, it’s fleeting and short-lived. And you keep coming back for more, which isn’t ideal in the dating game. 

The second trap is avoiding vulnerability. It’s easy to keep conversations surface-level, giving you the illusion of connection without requiring you to open up in a meaningful way. 

But what I’ve realised is, the deeper relationships we truly desire require us to take risks and engage meaningfully.

SEE ALSO: What is attachment theory and how does it impact sex and relationships? Recognising your own swiping patterns

One of my biggest lightbulb moments was realising that my behaviour on dating apps wasn’t separate from how I acted in real life, it was a direct extension of it. The judgments I’d make seeing someone’s pictures on a screen would often directly reflect how I could be judgemental in the real world. 

If you think you might be self-sabotaging on dating apps, ask yourself these questions:

  • Do you swipe without reading bios or looking at photos for more than a second?

  • Do you find reasons to dismiss people quickly (e.g. "They’re not my type," "That hobby is weird.")

  • Do you match with people but hesitate to message them or ghost when things start to feel real?

  • Do you feel like your matches are more of a ‘score’ and that the more you get the better you feel?

If the answers to these are yes, then it’s likely you’re in the self-sabotaging cycle. These patterns might feel like they’re protecting you, but in reality, they’re keeping you stuck.

The answer isn’t just to "try harder" on the apps, it starts with looking inward. And dare I say it, applying some self-reflection.   How to date with intention

So, how do you move from scrolling without substance to dating intentionally? 

The answer isn’t just to "try harder" on the apps, it starts with looking inward. And dare I say it, applying some self-reflection.  

Here’s my five-step programme to avoid, er, avoidance. 

  1. Invest in Yourself First:
    Before you dive into dating, spend time understanding what you want in a partner — and why you might be avoiding connection. This bit is hard and might require some time out of dating. Journaling, therapy, and being more mindful about your behaviour can all help.

  2. Set clear intentions:
    What are you looking for in a relationship? Be clear in what you’re after. Bumble’s 2025 dating trends research shows that the majority of women place value on stability, and emotional consistency. There is nothing worse than someone who comes in with all the promises in the world who can’t deliver against them. If you’re just looking for something casual, that’s OK, just say it — dating apps literally give you an option to signpost what your dating intentions are. 

  3. Put time into your profile:
    Instead of listing generic interests, use your bio to share what matters most to you. Show your personality. Think about how your best friend would describe you. And invest time into it – this is more important than the swiping bit, and you’ll get better quality, more relevant matches if you commit to this. Finally, show a bit of vulnerability and openness. That’s what makes us human, right?

  4. Be open-minded about criteria:
    A big one. Physical attraction is important, but don’t let superficial preferences keep you from meeting someone amazing. Swipe slower, read bios carefully, and give people a chance to surprise you. Separate your negotiables from your non-negotiables – will that inch of height really make the difference when you’re walking down the aisle with your dream partner? Size doesn’t always matter. 

  5. Engage meaningfully:
    Once you match, commit to starting real conversations. Focus on a few quality matches and maybe consider pausing the swiping to dedicate time to a handful of people. Ask questions that go beyond small talk and really dive deep into who they are – if that scares them off, they’re probably not right for you anyway. 

How to scroll with substance

Changing how you use dating apps won’t just improve your experience — it can reshape how you approach relationships as a whole.

I’ve tried to be more open minded about my criteria, and I’m in the early stages of a relationship with somebody incredible who has made me completely reframe what I thought I wanted from a partner. 

Speaking from experience, I’ve tried to be more open minded about my criteria, and I’m in the early stages of a relationship with somebody incredible who has made me completely reframe what I thought I wanted from a partner. 

One of the biggest shifts for me was embracing the concept of satisficing — choosing a partner who meets my core needs and committing to them wholeheartedly, rather than endlessly chasing an unattainable ideal of perfection. 

Satisficing is about letting go of the pressure to find "the one" who checks every box and instead focusing on someone who is good enough in the ways that truly matter. 

It’s not about settling, it’s a mindset shift, recognizing that relationships thrive not because someone fits a fantasy, but because both people invest in each other and grow together. 

What I’ve come to realize is that love isn’t about meeting a checklist; it’s about showing up, committing, and nurturing something meaningful.  

Dating apps aren’t the enemy here. In fact, they can be a great tool when used mindfully. Features like Bumble’s profile prompts encourage thoughtful engagement and move you away from more ‘shallow’, validation-chasing criteria. 

The person I’m with now doesn’t check every box I thought I needed, and if I’m being totally honest, the old version of me might’ve written them off. But, by leaning into them and letting go of ‘perfect’, they’ve opened my eyes to a whole number of other qualities I didn’t even know existed. We’ve had some challenging moments where we’ve clashed on different perspectives, but we’ve both tried to listen to each other’s points of view rather than trying to find someone else with the same opinion.

So, next time you catch yourself looking for a match, pause and ask yourself, what am I really looking for? The answer might surprise you.

Squid Game Season 2 finale: Whos that other doll?

Mashable - 3 hours 10 min ago

Squid Game Season 2 may have ended on a brutal cliffhanger, but fret not! The show's third and final season is confirmed for a 2025 release — and the Season 2 finale even includes a post-credits scene to hint at what's coming next.

SEE ALSO: 'Squid Game' Season 2 is ruined by its latest twist: Full season review

After Seong Gi-hun's (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) rebellion against the games fails, Squid Game moves to a mysterious look at Season 3. In the sneak peek, three players — 096, 100, and 353, none of whom are in the core cast of the season — walk into a new game room. There, they come across a familiar face: Young-hee, the giant animatronic doll from the "Red Light, Green Light" game.

But Young-hee is not alone. As if one scary doll wasn't enough, we now have two scary dolls to contend with! Young-hee is facing another massive animatronic doll, this one a little boy in a cap. Who is he, and how does he figure into Season 3? Luckily, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has already given us the answer.

Who is the little boy doll in the Squid Game Season 2 finale? Young-hee the doll in "Squid Game." Credit: Netflix

The answer comes from a letter Hwang wrote to fans all the way back in June 2022, as part of Squid Game's renewal announcement. In it, he teases the return of Gi-hun, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), and even the suit-wearing recruiter (Gong Yoo). However, the most interesting tidbit comes at the very end of the letter.

"You’ll also be introduced to Young-hee’s boyfriend, Cheol-su," Hwang wrote.

Since there are no other animatronic dolls on the scene for Young-hee to hang out with, it's pretty clear that the doll we meet in Season 2's post-credits scene is Cheol-su.

(If you think it's confusing that Hwang would tease Cheol-su in a Season 2 announcement, only for him to barely appear in the season, you'd be right! According to Entertainment Weekly, Hwang originally envisioned Seasons 2 and 3 of Squid Game as one long season. The split must have come after the writing of the letter, which is why Cheol-su hasn't gotten his moment in the spotlight... yet.)

So now that we know what the deal with Cheol-su is, the real question becomes: What twisted game are he and Young-hee going to force our players into?

The post-credits scene shows a train signal flashing from red to green, which could imply that this game will be another version of "Red Light, Green Light." The train angle suggests a twist, though. Maybe the surviving players will have to play out some real-life trolley problems. The horror!

Squid Game Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

George Michael and werewolves: How Babygirl crafts a soundscape of desire

Mashable - 3 hours 10 min ago

A little over an hour into Babygirl, something magical happens.

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

CEO Romy (Nicole Kidman) and intern Samuel (Harris Dickinson) meet in an opulent hotel room to rekindle their BDSM-tinged affair. Right as they reconnect — with Samuel finally calling Romy his "babygirl," no less — you hear them. The telltale snare drums and synths of George Michael's "Father Figure," ushering us into a montage where Romy and Samuel explore their sexual boundaries, complete with a shirtless dance scene from Samuel.

It's a needle drop that is at once sensual and playful, as Romy and Samuel search for the "something special, something sacred" Michael sings about wanting in the song. It's also just one of many reasons Babygirl is a feast for the ears. Immaculate needle drops and the growling wolves and operatic vocals of Cristobal Tapia de Veer's (The White Lotus) score prove to be the perfect accompaniment to Romy and Samuel's exploration. However, Babygirl's soundscape also charts Romy's own journey of self-discovery, following her from her initial repression and shame about her desires to being unafraid to share what she wants.

To learn more, Mashable spoke with music supervisor Meghan Currier (Past Lives) and de Veer about their work on the film, including why "Father Figure" is Babygirl's anthem, and how Nicole Kidman's voice ended up on the soundtrack in an unexpected way.

"Father Figure" by George Michael is Babygirl's musical centerpiece. Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in "Babygirl." Credit: A24

"Father Figure" was written into the first draft of Babygirl's script that Currier received from writer/director Halina Reijn. "It was always in her mind," Currier told Mashable over Zoom. "She was like, 'As I was writing this script, I played this constantly.'"

(Outside of the song, the word "fatherly" does pop up a few times in the Babygirl screenplay, twice being used to describe Samuel's tone with Romy.)

Because of Reijn's connection to "Father Figure," Currier knew there was no alternative song for the scene and made it a priority to secure it. She also used it to build a musical mood board for Babygirl, which included gabber dance music for the film's rave scene and Christmas songs to match the film's time period as well. While these help flesh out the music of Babygirl's wider world, "Father Figure" remained the guiding sound for Romy and Samuel's relationship. It led Currier to use INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart" in the film as well.

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

"Almost in a generational context between Romy's character and Samuel's character, [Reijn and I] felt that leaning into some of these timeless songs that were created in the '80s felt really right," Currier said. "INXS also emerged from that same root."

"Never Tear Us Apart" plays during the first montage of Romy and Samuel's affair, speaking to the early days of their relationship. "Even though it's a beautiful love song, there's a darkness that cuts through it as well, and I think that really underscores the naughtiness of what they're engaging in," Currier explained. "At the same time, we see them figuring out the roles of the game, so to speak, so there is this push-and-pull quality sonically that beautifully takes us through that montage of them figuring out their roles."

By the time we get to the "Father Figure" montage, Samuel and Romy's relationship has shifted. Now they have a better sense of their roles in their sexual escapades. But there's also more of a willingness to be vulnerable with one another, highlighted in George Michael's lyrics about wanting to understand and be there for his lover. To paraphrase "Father Figure," Romy and Samuel can finally "be bold and naked" at each other's sides.

"The song has a much more grounded, soft quality to it that really supports what we're seeing in the dynamics of the two in this beautiful hotel room," Currier said. "It feels more cocooned and safe."

Babygirl's score tells a "werewolf" story. Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman in "Babygirl." Credit: A24

In the time between the "Never Tear Us Apart" montage and the "Father Figure" montage, Romy has grown to further embrace and understand her own desires, yet she still finds it difficult to verbalize what she wants, something Babygirl mirrors in de Veer's score.

De Veer plays with two main themes throughout. The first, titled "Mommy's Dollhouse," is our gateway into Romy's manicured, polished world. Strings, operatic vocals, and a lilting piano guide us through Romy's seemingly picture-perfect life – yet thumping drums hint at an underlying darkness and stress within. That inner conflict also comes through in the theme's piano line.

"I wrote this with my partner, Kim [Neundorf]. She was playing the right hand, which is this waltz-y melody, and I was playing the left hand. In my head, I was playing a military march," de Veer explained to Mashable over Zoom. "A waltz would be in three time, while what I'm playing is in four time. So there's kind of a fight going on. There's two things going on, which is unusual for a waltz, and I like the fact that there is something militaristic about her professional life."

The "militaristic" nature of "Mommy's Dollhouse" couldn't be farther from de Veer's second theme, "Wolves." Here, distorted vocals, animalistic breathing, and growling wolves blur together. It's part survival instinct, part distilled desire. For de Veer, the emphasis on the wolf sounds is also representative of Romy's personal transformation.

"There's almost a werewolf situation going on in this movie," de Veer said. "The theme transforms throughout until it becomes this kind of atonal music. It's rhythm, it's pulse — that's pretty much it."

Somewhere among the layers of rhythm and pulse that represent Romy's desire lies some of Kidman's own voice. In one iteration of "Wolves," de Veer samples a surprised noise Kidman made when she almost tripped on set during one of the dailies de Veer saw. (This isn't the first time de Veer has sampled Kidman's voice in his work. During his time in Canadian band One Ton, he sampled part of Kidman's argument with Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut.)

"This 'woo' sound [from Kidman] was spontaneous, so I took that," de Veer said. "I pretty much used anything I had."

While "Wolves" and "Mommy's Dollhouse" represent the two very different sides of Romy — her hidden desires and her outward perfectionism — de Veer manages to meld them together in the film's final scene, when Romy's husband, Jacob (Antonio Banderas), helps bring her fantasies to life. The organization and harmony of "Mommy's Dollhouse" mix with the primal, animalistic sounds of "Wolves," until Romy gets exactly what she wants.

As de Veer put it, "It feels like an explosion."

Babygirl is now in theaters.

The deep sea footage scientists filmed in 2024 is jaw-dropping

Mashable - 3 hours 10 min ago

An age of discovery is upon us.

Earth is an ocean planet, with over 70 percent of its surface covered in seas. With deep-sea robots, scientists regularly reveal new insights into the most mysterious realms of these expansive waters. Many alien ecosystems dwell in previously unknown canyons or cling to submerged mountains.

In 2024, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, an ocean exploration group that uses a robot capable of probing depths down to 14,760 feet (4,500 meters), embarked on a 55-day expedition that exemplifies the wild sightings found at these depths. Their remotely operated vehicle (ROV), SuBastian, spotted a colossal meeting or migration of crabs, a shimmering, psychedelic marine worm, life flourishing around deep methane seeps, and possibly 60 new species.

"Every time we put the ROV down with its 4K cameras onboard, we see some amazing biodiversity," Jyotika Virmani, an oceanographer and executive director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, told Mashable.

"It was just one thing after another," she added.

SEE ALSO: Scientists witness stunning, unprecedented carnage in the ocean

The view below shows the impressive, uncountable amassing of crabs during Schmidt's recent Chile Margin expedition. "Yesterday, we came across a crazy conflagration of crabs 400 meters down. Migration route? Mating season?" Jeffrey Marlow, a biologist from Boston University and chief scientist of the trip, posted online.

Submersibles crewed by biologists can certainly perform unique science, but ROVs have exploration benefits. Unlike people, they don't need oxygen, and can stay down for a long time. "We can operate it for two days if we need to," Virmani said. It's relatively easy to try out new technologies aboard these robots, and the ROV can also collect and bring samples back to the surface.

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Below, you'll find the otherworldly scenes captured by the Schmidt Ocean Institute and other deep sea explorers in 2024.

Footage of extremely ancient deep sea creatures

A deep sea mission, undertaken by the Ocean Exploration Trust aboard their 223-foot vessel (E/V) Nautilus, spotted four nautilus individuals. Creatures similar to these modern-day nautiloids — swimming mollusks residing in large shells — have been on Earth for some 500 million years, evolving much earlier than the dinosaurs.

But the creatures aren't easy to find. The Ocean Trust explorers have endeavored into the deep sea for 15 years and taken over 1,000 dives with their remotely operated vehicle. But these are the first nautiloids they've spotted.

"It's finally happened," a member of the exploration team said at the beginning of the footage, shown in the video below. The nautiloids were swimming in a south Pacific Ocean channel off Palau.

Squid with a huge brood of eggs

During their 55-day voyage through the Chile Margin, the Schmidt Ocean Institute serendipitously spotted a mother black-eyed squid clutching a large brood of eggs. Gonatus squids can brood up to 3,000 eggs at a time.

"It's not often you get to see that," Virmani said.

Tweet may have been deleted Octopuses punching fish

The ocean exploration group OceanX captured footage of octopuses punching fish in the Red Sea. OceanX often explores the deep ocean, but this scene is from shallower depths.

"The octopuses appeared to punch the fish to enforce social order and keep the hunting group moving along," OceanX explained in their video, below. "Researchers theorize that the octopuses hunt with the fish to find prey more easily, and the fish hunt with the octopuses to root out prey hiding in crevices."

Tweet may have been deleted Discovery of the "mystery mollusc"

Scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute identified an intriguing new deep sea species off California. It's see-through, can glow, and nabs prey with a large hood. At one point while filming, researchers watched it detach one of its finger-like appendages, likely as a decoy for a predator. The glowing appendage then floated away.

"When we first filmed it glowing with the ROV, everyone in the control room let out a loud 'Oooooh!' at the same time. We were all enchanted by the sight," Steven Haddock, a senior scientist at the institute, said in a statement.

Below, you can view brilliant footage of the animal, which biologists have dubbed the "mystery mollusc." It now also has a scientific name, Bathydevius caudactylus, and after years of observation and genetic testing, scientists have concluded it's a species of nudibranch, more popularly known as sea slugs.

Wild deep sea squid sighting

A baited robotic lander lured a magnapinna — a rarely seen bigfin squid — and allowed researchers from Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre and Inkfish to film this cryptic footage. The squid was observed in the Tonga Trench, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

"Exceptional" footage of two deep sea critters

"While diving on an unnamed seamount west of Babeldaob near the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, ROV Hercules happened upon two gorgeous deep sea creatures," writes the Ocean Exploration Trust.

Seen first is a Chaunacops, an anglerfish with a large lure. Next is a clear view of a dumbo octopus, named for its ear-like fins.

Shimmering creature in the remote ocean

While investigating the little-explored Chilean coast — with seeps and vents emitting nutrients into the water — the Schmidt Ocean Institute spotted a curious, almost alien-looking species: a shimmering species of polychaete crawling on the seafloor. It's a psychedelic marine worm.

You can see this slow-moving creature's sparkling bristles, or chaetae, in the video below.

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Polychaetes are extremely diverse organisms.

"The visual variety among the more than 10,000 described species means a polychaete enthusiast is never bored," Karen Osborn, the curator of Marine Invertebrates at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, explains. "They come in every imaginable color and pattern, from completely transparent to iridescent to candy-striped."

Predator discovery at 26,000 feet down The newly discovered deep sea predator, Dulcibella camanchaca. Credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Deep Sea biologists found a new animal some 26,000 feet (7,902 meters) underwater in the ocean's "hadal zone," named for the Greek god of the underworld, Hades. These researchers lowered baited traps into the Atacama Trench off of Chile, and brought up four individuals of a species now called Dulcibella camanchaca.

"Dulcibella camanchaca is a fast-swimming predator that we named after 'darkness' in the languages of the peoples from the Andes region to signify the deep, dark ocean from where it predates," Johanna Weston, a hadal ecologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who coauthored the discovery, said in a statement.

In the hadal zone, the deepest ocean realm, many critters depend on food sinking down from the more productive waters above. But Dulcibella camanchaca isn't a scavenger. The four-centimeter (1.5-inch) crustacean (an arthropod with a hard shell like a crab) captures smaller hadal crustaceans.

Deep sea exploration does much more than illuminate wonder.

Scientists want to shine a light — literally and figuratively — on what's down there. The implications of knowing are incalculable, particularly as deep sea mineral prospectors prepare to run tank-like industrial equipment across parts of the seafloor. For example, research expeditions have found that ocean life carries great potential for novel medicines. "Systematic searches for new drugs have shown that marine invertebrates produce more antibiotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory substances than any group of terrestrial organisms," notes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"There's life down there that has the potential to provide and has provided us with medicines," Virmani said.

Ditch boring piano lessons — learn at your own pace with Skoove on sale

Mashable - 3 hours 10 min ago

TL;DR: Learn piano your way, on your schedule with Skoove Premium and get lifetime access to 400+ lessons for $109.97 (reg. $299).

So, you want to learn piano but the thought of rigid lessons and intimidating teachers makes you cringe? Enter Skoove Premium: the AI-powered piano-learning app that’s as laid-back or ambitious as you want it to be. No pressure, no stress, just you and your keyboard figuring it out at your own pace.

With Skoove, you get lifetime access — on sale for $109.97— to over 400 lessons that break down everything from basic scales to advanced techniques. It’s like having a super chill piano teacher who doesn’t mind if you play your favorite pop songs 20 times in a row.

One of the coolest features? Skoove actually listens to you play. It uses AI to provide real-time feedback to nudge you toward nailing those notes and rhythms. It’s like a second set of ears that doesn’t judge your musical taste (we see you working on “Chopsticks”).

Whether you’re into Beethoven or belting out pop ballads, Skoove has lessons for every vibe. And the best part? You don’t need a fancy studio or clunky equipment to get started. Use it on your phone, tablet, or computer and practice wherever inspiration strikes — your living room, a park bench, or even the floor of your bedroom.

And because you’re getting lifetime access, there’s no ticking clock to stress you out. Learn at your own speed, explore new genres when you feel like it, and revisit lessons as often as you want.

For a limited time, get a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for $109.97 (reg. $229) and make piano-playing something you actually look forward to.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

No cloud drama — just MS Office 2019 for $25

Mashable - 3 hours 10 min ago

TL;DR: For only $24.97, grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 and level up your productivity.

Looking for a smarter, budget-friendly way to upgrade your productivity in 2025? For just $24.97 (reg. $229), you can own Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 — a lifetime license that includes many of the tools you need to work smarter.

Microsoft Office 2019 is trusted by millions for its powerful features and user-friendly design. While it’s not the newest version, it offers incredible value for cost-conscious professionals, freelancers on a budget, and small businesses. For users who don’t need the latest cloud-based features, this is a terrific option.

This suite comes with full access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. With no subscription fees and no recurring costs, you’ll enjoy lifetime access to premium Office tools for $24.97 — a fraction of the cost of Office 365’s annual subscription.

One of its more appealing features is offline functionality, which allows you to work anywhere, anytime, without relying on an internet connection. That means you can continue your work on the train to work or while you're in the air on your way to a conference.

Whether you're crafting documents, analyzing data, or preparing presentations, Office 2019’s enhanced features make it a productivity powerhouse. Enjoy advanced inking and editing tools, robust Excel data analysis capabilities, and dynamic PowerPoint presentation options.

Plus, Office 2019 is designed for Windows 10, ensuring seamless compatibility and offline reliability. Best of all, you can start using it immediately with instant delivery of download links and top-notch customer support.

MS Office 2019 has a lot to offer anyone looking to streamline their productivity, including an affordable price.

Get Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for just $24.97 (reg. $229) for a limited time.

Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows - $24.97

Get It Here

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Stream, navigate, and message hands-free with this wireless car adapter

Mashable - 3 hours 10 min ago

TL;DR: This wireless CarPlay and Android Auto adapter brings streaming apps from your phone to your car for $84.97 (reg. $149).

Cables are so last decade. It's about to be 2025 — if your car setup still involves wrangling cords to connect your phone, it’s time for a serious upgrade. This wireless CarPlay and Android Auto adapter is here to simplify your ride and make every drive feel a little more futuristic, on sale for 43% off at $84.97.

In just seconds, you can connect your phone to your car without the hassle of plugging it in. This handy adapter is designed to be compatible with over 800 car models and adds wireless CarPlay or Android Auto functionality to its system, so you can easily access maps, music, messages, and more, all hands-free.

This device also supports popular streaming apps. From listening to podcasts to playing your favorite playlists, you’ve got everything you need to keep road trips, commutes, or errand runs more entertaining. It also plays regular video streaming through your car's screen, but of course should only be enjoyed by your passengers while you're driving.

Setup is as easy as it gets. Just plug the adapter into your car’s USB or USB-C port, pair it with your phone, and you’re ready to roll. It’s compatible with most vehicles and phones, so you can enjoy a streamlined driving experience without worrying about compatibility issues.

Say goodbye to the spaghetti mess of cables and hello to a smarter, wire-free way to drive.

For $84.97, this wireless CarPlay and Android Auto adapter is an affordable way to add modern functionality to your car. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Why this 2020 MacBook Air might be your favorite computer yet

Mashable - 3 hours 10 min ago

TL;DR: Score a refurbished 2020 MacBook Air with the M1 chip on sale for $514.99 (reg. $1,499) — dependable and affordable.

Finding a computer that balances speed, reliability, and portability doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. If you’ve been on the hunt for a solid laptop to handle workdays, weekend streaming binges, and everything in between, this deal on the 2020 MacBook Air for $514.99 might just end your search.

At the heart of this MacBook Air is the Apple M1 chip, which revolutionized the performance game with its incredible speed and efficiency. Whether you’re multitasking across multiple tabs or editing photos for that side hustle, this MacBook Air handles it all without breaking a sweat. Plus, its fanless design keeps things quiet — perfect for working in cafes or late-night study sessions.

The 13.3-inch Retina display ensures everything looks crisp and vibrant, whether you’re binge-watching your favorite shows or poring over detailed spreadsheets. And with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, you’ve got enough power and storage for your essential apps, files, and more.

This refurbished model not only performs like new (and has an "A" refurbished rating, meaning it's near-mint) but also gives you the satisfaction of making an eco-conscious tech choice.

Plus, its compact build and lightweight design make it ideal for carrying from home to office — or wherever your day takes you.

Ready to upgrade without breaking the bank? This refurbished 2020 Apple MacBook Air with the M1 chip is available now at 65% off for $514.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

25 of the most underrated TV shows streaming on Netflix

Mashable - 3 hours 10 min ago

Mining for hidden gems on Netflix? We've got you covered.

Whether you've been scrolling for ten minutes or ten hours, finding the right Netflix show can be tricky. You'll pass up something perfect for you because you don't recognize the title, watch something you hate because it had a cool thumbnail, then panic and give up.

So, we at Mashable put our heads together to find a whole bunch of shows you're probably scrolling past but will definitely love. Because we've had this problem too.

Listed in no particular order, here are 25 of the most underrated Netflix TV shows streaming now.

1. The OA Credit: Netflix

If you're not already firmly aboard The OA train, it's best we not spoil the mystery.

What we can say: A young woman named Prairie Johnson (played by series creator Brit Marling) reappears after having been missing for seven years. When she disappeared, she was blind. Now, she can see. Oh, and she's insisting she's an angel.

Perfect for fans of science fiction, great acting, and good TV. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: The OA is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Santa Clarita Diet

Santa Clarita Diet was too good for this world. Canceled after just three seasons, Victor Fresco's pitch-perfect narrative of a suburban mom mutating into the undead hooked us from the start. Leads Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant's sparky chemistry remained believable, grounding their world of parenting, real estate, and murder in an emotional bedrock worth killing for. — A.F.

How to watch: Santa Clarita Diet is now streaming on Netflix.

3. The End of the F***ing World

Somewhere between a Wes Anderson movie and a PSA for staying in school, The End of the F***ing World masters the teen road trip. Starring Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden as star-crossed somethings James and Alyssa, this two-season romp blends humor, heart, and a classic rock soundtrack to punchy effect. As dark as it is touching, this show was one of a kind. — A.F.

How to watch: The End of the F***ing World is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Sense8

Science fiction has the power to break storytelling boundaries whenever and however its creators see fit. Sense8 did that in all the ways that matter.

This diverse, LGBTQ-inclusive story of "sensates" (people emotionally and psychologically linked to one another) reimagined the boundaries of human connection and made countless viewers feel seen. With just two seasons, fans could never get enough of Sense8, but at least Netflix made good on that finale — delivering a lasting legacy to streaming-kind. — A.F.

How to watch: Sense8 is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Copenhagen Cowboy Credit: Netflix

Director Nicolas Winding Refn made a big name for himself on the big screen, turning Tom Hardy and Ryan Gosling into icons with films like Bronson and Drive. But his small-screen streaming work has continually slipped through the cracks, starting with Amazon's magnificently trippy Too Old To Die Young in 2019 and continuing on to this year's also, whaddya know, magnificently trippy Copenhagen Cowboy

Perhaps the longform slow-burn surrealism is too much for some, but it's just right for us. Across six chapters, Cowboy tells the story of Miu (newcomer Angela Bundalovic) who gets dragged into a Danish underworld of criminals and perverts due to her ability to give off good luck to whomever asks favors of her. She is a heroine of little talk and much action — so basically every other protagonist in a Refn project. She and Gosling's character in Drive would find lots to not talk about! It's stylish psychosis, a hallucinogenic delight. – Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Copenhagen Cowboy is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Easy

Fans of Joe Swanberg and his "mumblecore" stylings can rejoice in Easy.

An anthology series examining intimacy in modern Chicago, this three-season masterpiece explored love, loss, and change with immeasurable kindness. For each mistake there was forgiveness. For every heartbreak, the hope of something new.

Appearances by Marc Maron, Elizabeth Reaser, Jake Johnson, Aya Cash, Hannibal Buress, and more make Easy a must-watch series for any indie film fan. — A.F.

How to watch: Easy is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Aggretsuko

Who doesn't want to watch a cartoon red panda find herself against all odds? Pressured by an unforgiving job and disappointing dating prospects, Aggretsuko does her best to find the life she wants by secretly singing death metal karaoke at night. It's delightful. Try five minutes. You'll get it. — A.F.

How to watch: Aggretsuko is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Derry Girls

Set against the tumultuous Northern Ireland conflict of the late '90s, this coming-of-age tale is surprisingly hysterical. Centered on four Catholic school girls and one English bloke named James, Derry Girls is a sitcom in the truest sense of the genre, finding humor in a reality rife with conflict and fear. What's more, the series paints a moving portrait of friendship untethered by time or place, making it a standout representation of camaraderie and growth. — A.F.

How to watch: Derry Girls is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Raising Dion Credit: Netflix

A serialized take on Dennis Liu's comic of the same name, Raising Dion follows mother and son Nicole (Alisha Wainwright) and Dion (Ja'Siah Young) as they cope with the death of Dion's father, Mark (Michael B. Jordan). When it is revealed that Dion has otherworldly abilities, Nicole must do everything she can to protect her son from himself — and the world. — A.F.

How to watch: Raising Dion is now streaming on Netflix

10. Archive 81 

Prepare yourself beforehand, because Netflix canceled this show after its first season and the climax leaves an awful lot hanging in the air, so you’re going to be frustrated by the lack of resolution. However, this horror series is both inventive and terrifying, with two timelines — one involving a video archivist in the present (Mamoudou Athie) and one involving a young woman (Dina Shihabi) recording her search for her birth mother in the past — overlapping in increasingly unsettling ways.

Even the unfinished question mark at its end hasn’t kept these fine eight episodes which we did get (some of which were directed by current indie It Boys Justin Moorhead and Aaron Benson of The Endless and Something in the Dirt fame) from continually creeping up on me at night. In the dark. In the night. – J.A.

How to watch: Archive 81 is now streaming on Netflix.

11. A Series of Unfortunate Events

It's no secret Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events books are great. But why their Neil Patrick Harris-led TV adaptation never got the following it deserved remains a mystery.

Whether every page came to life the way you'd imagined or not, there's no denying Netflix's take on the tale of the Baudelaire orphans was riveting. From "The Bad Beginning" to "The End," creators Mark Hudis and Barry Sonnenfeld brought every corner of this fantastical world to life with care and precision. The visuals? Spectacular. The cast? Perfect. The ankle? Tattooed. With an eye. — A.F.

How to watch: A Series of Unfortunate Events is now streaming on Netflix. 

12. The Get Down

The Get Down was ahead of its time. A musical drama from co-creators Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis, this single season spectacular released to underwhelmed audiences in 2016 who dismissed it as more style than substance. Today, it's got "Emmy winner" written all over it.

Soulful performances by Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Herizen Guardiola, and an outstanding supporting cast transform this historic look at late '70s hip-hop culture into a visceral experience. The scope of the characters' imaginations is only outpaced by the ambition of the series' creators. Worth a revisit if you passed it up the first time. Worth a rewatch if you didn't. — A.F.

How to watch: The Get Down is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Everything Sucks!

Ben York Jones and Michael Mohan's send-up of '90s high schoolers had just one season, but its memory lives on in our queues. Set in the aptly-named Boring High School, the interlocking dramas between the A/V and drama clubs was cringe-worthy, sweet, and entertaining.

Fans of Euphoria look out for a stellar performance by Sydney Sweeney, alongside series leads Jahi Di'Allo Winston, Peyton Kennedy, Quinn Liebling, and Elijah Stevenson. — A.F.

How to watch: Everything Sucks! is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Tuca & Bertie, Season 1 Credit: Netflix

An easy and breezy binge made up of just 10 episodes, Tuca & Bertie Season 1 is among Netflix's best offerings. Hilarious-yet-heart-wrenching, topical-yet-timeless, this story of thirtysomething birdies finding themselves is faultless. Voice performances by Ali Wong, Tiffany Haddish, and Steven Yeun shine through unique visuals that expand animated comedy for the better. 

It's hard to imagine a show as magnetic as this one getting canceled after just one season. And yet, Netflix made that mistake. Thankfully Adult Swim picked it up and made two more seasons… before canceling it again in November of 2022. — A. F.

How to watch: Tuca & Bertie is now streaming on Netflix

15. Neo Yokio

Created by Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig, Neo Yokio tackles social stratification through the lens of an absurd pink-haired dude named Kaz Kaan. Combining surreal styling with deadpan humor, this animated series looks at "the greatest city in the world." If it's for you, you'll know. — A.F.

How to watch: Neo Yokio is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts

In Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, the end of the world isn't all bad news. In fact, as protagonist Kipo Oak figures out, it's a chance to build something that's even better than what came before. Follow Kipo and her friends as they journey through a vibrant post-apocalyptic landscape, complete with mutant animals ("mutes") like Timbercats and Megabunnies, and do their best to unite mutes and humankind. This show is inventive, heartfelt, and accompanied by a truly groovy soundtrack…What more could you ask for? — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Alias Grace

Before there was Women Talking, there was this six-part adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 1996 novel also from actress-turned-writer Sarah Polley, and which covers a lot of the same territory – namely, how women in history have managed to survive under the weight of a culture that seeks to subjugate them at every turn. 

Grace, like Women Talking, tells a true story – this one of a 19th-century maid turned murderess (played by a terrific Sarah Gadon) who is interviewed about her life and eventual crime by a psychiatrist (Edward Holcroft). Directed not by Polley but by the exceptionally underrated Mary Harron (American Psycho), this series aches with implication, sadness, and devastating insight. – J.A.

How to watch: Alias Grace is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Blown Away Credit: Netflix

Follow me: Competitive. Glassblowing.

In the back-breaking world of glass arts, the stakes couldn't be higher. One wrong move and an award-winning masterpiece can become worthless shards in seconds. For the competitors in Blown Away, the pressure is on to nail weekly challenges and progress closer to the coveted title of "Best in Glass." There's screaming, there's crying, there's a whole bunch of people casually saying "glory hole," all next to a 2,000-degree furnace.* — A.F.

How to watch: Blown Away is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Brand New Cherry Flavor

This series already feels ahead of its time, and not just because it had the foresight to cast Manny Jacinto before he became MANNY JACINTO. Weird and wacky and sexy and dark and full of witchy Catherine Keener making people puke up baby kittens, Brand New Cherry Flavor came to us from the stellar team of Nick Antosca and Lenore Zion, who also made the also vastly underrated SyFy series Channel Zero.

It tells the story of a young filmmaker named Lisa (Rosa Salazar from Alita: Battle Angel) who goes to Hollywood with big dreams and instead…she starts to puke up baby kittens. And then there are the zombies. Like Heathers made by David Lynch or a sillier Starry Eyes, these eight episodes will have you simultaneously cackling with laughter and coughing up bile — and yes, that’s a most heartfelt recommendation. – J.A. 

How to watch: Brand New Cherry Flavor is now streaming on Netflix.

20. The Serpent

Your mileage may vary depending on how true crimed-out you are, but this eight-episode series from 2021 dramatizing the case of serial killer Charles Sobhraj (played with equal doses of chill and charm by the great Tahar Rahim) is one of the best there are. Set mainly in Thailand in the 1970s, Sobhraj would trap foreign backpackers at his hotel by stealing their money and passports, and then murder them in the jungle. That setting alone makes the show stand apart. 

But it's in the performances where The Serpent really shines. Rahim is stellar per usual (well, Madame Web excepted) but Jenna Coleman as Sobhraj's good-time girlfriend turning a blind eye and Billy Howle as the Dutch diplomat on the two's trail also drop ace turns. And future House of the Dragon star Fabien Frankel as a wayward Frenchman who falls under Sobhraj's terrifying spell almost steals the whole thing; the perverse relationship between the two men gifts The Serpent its sickening pull. — J.A.

How to watch: The Serpent is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Cunk On Earth 

It'd be a stretch to call comedian Diane Morgan's character of Philomena Cunk "underrated" inside of the UK, where she's been tickling the British populace pink with her daft proclamations for over a decade, and even gotten a BAFTA nomination for her trouble. But I won't stop until Morgan can be safely proclaimed a comedy legend here in the U.S. too, as this five-episode miracle of a program has become my go-to for a pick-me-up whenever needed. (And lo, has it been needed lately.)

Cunk On Earth follows the investigative reporting of one Philomena Cunk, who is resolutely ill-informed about everything but even more self-assured in her misbegotten information than that, as she takes us through her one-woman tour of human history. Befuddling real-life experts with moronic questions and assertions, Cunk kicks it off with the Big Bang and works her unwieldy way across the centuries from there, tearing a hole through space-time one riotously dumb proclamation after another. It's the funniest anti-history lesson ever crafted, Monty Python be damned. (And a new special, Cunk On Life, is dropping Jan. 2!) — J.A.

How to watch: Cunk On Earth is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Wanderlust

If you find yourself struck by a sudden thirst for Toni Collette — it happens to us all — I recommend you fire up the Netflix machine, for the streamer is keeping her booked and busy. Amongst the many pickings is this seriously under-appreciated six-episode 2018 series from British playwright Nick Payne. 

A showcase for Collette's ever-adaptable skills, Wanderlust sees her playing a couples therapist named Joy whose own marriage is on the rocks. So she and her husband (Steven Mackintosh) decide they'll be helped by trying out an open relationship, which… Well, it's complicated. The series keeps a refreshingly open mind though, showing both the bad and the good of their arrangement. And there's a banger of an episode where Collette and her own therapist (Zawe Ashton) dig deep down into Joy's personal troubles. — J.A.

How to watch: Wanderlust is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Girls5eva Credit: Netflix

This poor, perfect show about a post-prime pop group got tossed around like yesterday's laundry, but lord, did it not deserve it. Starting on Peacock and then transferring to Netflix for its third season, Girls5eva at least managed to gift us 22 exquisite and hilarious episodes before it was canned due to its eternally low ratings. And you should go discover them right now, because it doesn't get any funnier. And the showrunners (including several Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and 30 Rock people) were wise enough to see its ending coming, so the show has a proper enough send-off and you won't be left hanging. 

SEE ALSO: 'Girls5eva' interview: Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, and Paula Pell break down their Season 3 character arcs

Starring Broadway's Renée Elise Goldsberry and Sara Bareilles alongside comedians Paula Pell and Busy Philipps as the titular Y2K-era one-hit-wonder girl group, the show watched the foursome (minus one member who died before the series begins) reunite and try to recapture a whisper of their former fame. It's a series of hilarious humiliations from there; viciously smart about pop culture's disposal of women above a certain age, Girls5eva nevertheless keeps itself ruthlessly feel-good. And you'll be humming those ridiculously over-the-top original songs that end every episode ("B.P.E." 4eva!) for the rest of your days. — J.A.

How to watch: Girls5eva is now streaming on Netflix.

24. The Terror

Although AMC produced two seasons of The Terror (with a third starring Dan Stevens supposedly landing in 2025), Netflix only has the first one. But the first season of this anthology series is plenty enough for me, since it stands as a 10-episode horror master class. Created by screenwriter David Kajganich (Bones and All, 2018's Suspiria), the first season is based on Dan Simmons' novel about an 1840s Arctic expedition that goes terribly horribly wrong for two ships and their seamen.

Starring a who's-who of character actors including Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, and Ciarán Hinds — and with several episodes directed by All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave director Edward Berger — it's a swift descent into madness for the shipmates as food and sanity runs low in the ice fields. And that's all before something unspeakable starts stalking them. Fiercely acted and thrumming with perfectly calibrated tension, The Terror is legitimately one of the greatest pieces of horror fiction to come out of recent times. So wrap yourself tight in your Snuggie and hold on for dear life. — J.A.

How to watch: The Terror is now streaming on Netflix.

25. Crashing

A couple of years ago in an immediately post-Fleabag world, I'd have made the case that going back to discover the 2016 comedy series Crashing from the UK's Channel Four was your opportunity to see creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge before she broke out big. And that's still a big plus obviously! But here in a post-Bridgerton and post-Wicked world, Crashing has become doubly important because it's your chance to sneak back and see actor Jonathan Bailey as just a wee twinkling, adorably horned-up in every frame. 

Crashing sees Waller-Bridge playing Lulu, a lost young soul who moves to London to meet back up with her childhood best friend, Anthony (Damien Molony). Anthony lives there in an abandoned hospital as a property guardian alongside several of his friends, and the series follows along and gapes in awe at the gang's messily intertwined sex and love lives. Also there for that ride is Sam (Bailey), a womanizer who's on his own little side quest of self-discovery — primarily, that he's hot to trot for his gay male friend Fred (Amit Shah). As with anything Waller-Bridge's had a hand in, Crashing weaves a brutally funny tale of fuck-uppery. — J.A.

How to watch: Crashing is now streaming on Netflix.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry description comes from a previous Mashable streaming list.

UPDATE: Dec. 19, 2024, 12:47 p.m. EST This list was first published on Feb. 23, 2020. It has been updated to reflect the latest streaming options.

Squid Game Season 2 is ruined by its latest twist: Full season review

Mashable - 5 hours 10 min ago

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.

Hurdle hints and answers for December 26

Mashable - 6 hours 10 min ago

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.

Learn for life: Get 1,000+ StackSkills courses for £16

Mashable - 8 hours 10 min ago

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
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How to watch Wolves vs. Manchester United online for free

Mashable - 8 hours 10 min ago

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.

How to watch Southampton vs. West Ham online for free

Mashable - 8 hours 10 min ago

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.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur online for free

Mashable - 8 hours 10 min ago

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.

How to watch Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa online for free

Mashable - 8 hours 10 min ago

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.

How to watch Manchester City vs. Everton online for free

Mashable - 8 hours 10 min ago

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.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Leicester City online for free

Mashable - 8 hours 10 min ago

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.

How to watch Chelsea vs. Fulham online for free

Mashable - 8 hours 10 min ago

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

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 Chelsea vs. Fulham in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

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