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The 15 most WTF moments from Severance Season 2, episode 1

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 03:00

Severance has finally returned, with a Season 2 premiere that plunges us straight back into the unsettling world of Lumon Industries. And while it's great to be back, it's also downright freaky.

SEE ALSO: I went to the 'Severance' pop-up in Grand Central Station. It was wild.

That's because the season premiere, titled "Hello, Ms. Cobel," throws a lot at viewers. New characters, new Lumon perks, and new Severance mysteries enter the fray, each one eliciting a varying degree of "What the hell is going on?" from me. And you can bet that sentiment will only grow with every episode of Season 2.

From surprise throuple mentions to Lumon's embrace of stop-motion, here are the 15 most WTF moments from Severance Season 2, episode 1. Let's break them down — and maybe, just maybe, we'll find some answers along the way.

The Wellness Room is just... gone.

In an extended sequence in Severance's first-ever episode, Innie Mark (Adam Scott) walks through the fluorescent halls of Lumon's Severed Floor without a care in the world. The opening of "Hello, Ms. Cobel" echoes that moment by flipping it on its head. Now, in his first moments back at Lumon since the Innies' Season 1 escape, Mark runs helter-skelter through the halls. Gone is the purpose and routine of the Season 1 hallway walk: Here Mark backtracks and loses his way. The entire sequence, which Scott says took about five months to film, is a perfect, destabilizing reintroduction to the world of Severance, but it ends with a sobering reveal.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' food, ranked

Mark's destination throughout this mad dash is the Wellness Room, where Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman) — whom he now knows is his Outie's wife, Gemma — used to work. But to Mark's horror, the Wellness Room is completely gone, and Ms. Casey is nowhere to be found. In retiring her to the foreboding Testing Floor, has Lumon made her disappear completely? And if they can lock her away, what's stopping them from doing the same to Mark and all of Lumon's other Innies?

Mark, look out! There's someone behind you!

As Mark takes in the now-gone Wellness Room, Severance goes full horror movie for a second. A mysterious suited figure appears in the hallway behind Mark, like the world's most professional stalker. They disappear just as quickly as they arrive, but their identity remains a mystery. It's not Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman), as he's wearing an entirely different outfit, and it's not one of Mark's new team members, since they're all in the Macrodata Refinement department. So, who is this new arrival on the Severed Floor? And why are they menacingly watching Mark from afar?

Mark has an entirely different team. Tramell Tillman, Alia Shawkat, Stefano Carannante, and Bob Balaban in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

When Mark finally arrives in MDR, he's greeted not by Helly (Britt Lower), Irving (John Turturro), and Dylan (Zach Cherry), but by three entirely new coworkers. Mark W. (Bob Balaban), Gwendolyn Y. (Alia Shawkat), and Dario R. (Stefano Carannante) are transfers from other Lumon branches, and they're full of fascinating information about how Lumon operates elsewhere.

SEE ALSO: John Turturro shares fascinating Stanley Kubrick story on 'Severance' podcast

Gwendolyn and Mark W. (who straight up asks Mark to change his name) come from 5X, a newer branch that was shut down. Apparently its Perpetuity Wing had animatronic Eagans, so you know it's fancy. Meanwhile, Dario, presumably from an Italian branch, describes his former workplace as being "very poor." Their Eagans were brooms, and the employees didn't even have an elevator — just a rope. Another funny detail: Where Mark received a crystal head cube as a reward, it looks like Dario received a carved wooden head cube as a substitute. Come on, Lumon, do better!

Lumon's newest hire, Miss Huang, is a literal child. Sarah Bock in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

Another new addition to the Severed Floor? Deputy Floor Manager Miss Huang (Sarah Bock), who is fully a teenager. What in the world is such a young person doing on the Severed Floor? Is she a Lumon experiment, born and raised in the building? Or is this just the worst possible way to earn community service hours for school?

Whatever Miss Huang's deal is, she makes the already-bizarre vibes at Lumon even stranger. Props to Bock for bringing such a disarming emptiness to a character viewers will be analyzing for weeks to come.

Mr. Milchick gives Mark the fakest newspaper of all time. Tramell Tillman in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

Mr. Milchick catches Mark up on everything that's happened since the Innies escaped. In the past five months, he claims their Outies have become "the face of severance reform," leading to Lumon attempting to make amends. His proof? A clearly doctored newspaper. You're telling me with all its resources, Lumon can't properly Photoshop a fake parade photo? Or maybe they just underestimate the Innies' ability to spot a fake, in which case, that's just insulting. Either way, it's clear Mr. Milchick is lying about what's going on in the outside world. But what else is new at Lumon?

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2, episode 1: Milchick's newspaper proves Lumon is lying about severance reform Severance brings throuples into the mix.

According to Mr. Milchick, Lumon fired Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) because she was romantically pursuing both Mark's Innie and Outie. (More lies!) Her goal? A throuple, a word that I never thought I'd hear on Severance. I'm not mad about it, though, nor have I stopped thinking about Tillman's line read. Seriously, he deserves an Emmy for his delivery of "throuple" alone.

Miss Huang isn't here to make friends. Sarah Bock in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

The red ball icebreaker game from Season 1 is back! But Miss Huang is not playing around. When Mark says he's lucky to have made four new friends that day, she steps in with a condescending, "That's nice, Mark. But I have to remind you that I'm a supervisor. Not a friend."

It's enough to make your skin crawl, as is Mark's extra long pause afterwards before amending his statement to "three new friends." Great work environment you're fostering here, Lumon!

SEE ALSO: Ben Stiller jokingly addresses his 'Severance' Season 1 cameo in the official 'Severance' podcast It's an Innie-only episode. Adam Scott in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

In a first for Severance, "Hello, Ms. Cobel" doesn't alternate between the Innie and Outie worlds. Instead, we only the Innies' perspective on life, and it is downright horrifying. Not only do we experience firsthand the information barrier between the Innies and the Outies, but we also experience the constant, mundane loop of their lives, which begin and end at the Lumon elevator.

Season 1 already highlighted that this is no way to live, but getting a better firsthand understanding of the Innies' experience hammers home just how miserable this existence is. I could barely handle it for one episode — how are they supposed to handle it for years at a time?

"Kier Pardons His Betrayers." Sarah Bock, Adam Scott, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, and Britt Lower in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news? Helly, Irving, and Dylan are back! The bad news? Lumon has installed a new painting outside the elevator, titled "Kier Pardons His Betrayers."

SEE ALSO: Ben Stiller, Adam Scott, and John Turturro revisit 'Severance's weirdest scene on the 'Severance' podcast

Lumon's no stranger to cursed paintings — I'll never forget how "Kier Taming the Four Tempers" foreshadowed the waffle party — but this one, with its half-likenesses of the MDR Innies, is especially WTF-inducing. I simply do not like how the "betrayers" are buried up to their shoulders in the ground, or how Kier is holding a bloody sword. If that painting was the first thing I saw after getting out of an elevator, I'd turn around and head back up, I tell you that much.

So, Mark basically murdered those other Innies, right?

The return of the core MDR group means the loss of Mark W., Gwendolyn, and Dario. But since Mark and Gwendolyn's branch shut down, that means they're permanently retired, right? And who knows what the future holds for Dario? Basically, it looks like this new trio of Innies has been offed, unless they come back in future episodes. After all, why bring in actors like Balaban if you're barely going to use them? (Unless, of course, this was Severance tricking us all along.)

For now, though, RIP to these new Innies. We hardly knew you, but you seemed fun.

SEE ALSO: Severance Season 1 Recap: Everything you need to remember before watching season 2 Severance presents: the greatest, strangest corporate video ever made.

The MDR Innies file into the Break Room, which they've now discovered is an actual torture-free room where can take breaks. Here, Mr. Milchick plays them a new orientation video that promises them that "Lumon is Listening." Words can't even begin to describe how much I adore this freaky stop-motion gem.

Over the course of the video, Severance treats us to stop-motion reenactments of key moments from Season 1. My personal favorite? When Irving's declaration of "Let's burn this place to the ground" causes his head to burst into raging flames, Heat Miser-style. (Second place goes to the Helly and Mark kiss, which prompts a valid "What the shit?" from Dylan.)

The entire video is full of fascinating details (for example, Lumon operates in 206 countries) and bananas storytelling, from the talking Lumon building to the infectious pronunciation of "pineapple BOBBING." Dylan is totally right that Lumon's promises of new perks are just a "massive-ass head game," but I'll be damned if they don't know how to put on a good show.

Why did Helly lie about what she saw outside Lumon? Adam Scott and Britt Lower in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

Severance follows up this confounding video with yet another weird twist: Helly lies to her coworkers about what she saw when she woke up in the outside world. Instead of telling everyone she's Helena Eagan, heir to Lumon, she concocts some story about leaving her "boring" apartment and telling her story to a "night gardener."

So, why in the world would Helly lie? Could she be so ashamed of her Outie identity that she doesn't want to share it with her friends? Could she be so afraid of the Eagans' retaliation that she decides to keep quiet? Or could she actually be Helena, posing as Helly to gather intel? Whatever the truth, you'd think Helly could come up with a better lie than one involving a night gardener, of all things.

Is Helly jealous of Gemma?

When Mark reveals his plans to break Gemma out of Lumon, Helly's reaction is... suspicious. She seems to downplay the situation and questions Innie Mark's allegiance to Gemma. After all, she's not really his wife, right?

But for Mark, it's not so simple. "We're the same-ish person," he says of Outie Mark. "So it's mushy."

I agree, Mark; it is mushy. With Innie and Outie Mark each having their own romantic interests, Severance is setting up for what might be the most complicated love triangle ever. (Or would this be more of a quadrangle?)

What will happen in the Outie Family Visitation Suite?

As incentive for trying to get Dylan to stay, Mr. Milchick reveals that he's planning to build an Outie Family Visitation Suite, where Dylan can meet his wife Gretchen. It's the perfect psychological button to press following Dylan's desire to see his family back in Season 1, and it works like a charm.

The implications of the visitation suite are massive, as they could be the one place where Innies and their Outies' acquaintances can communicate. Could any of the Innies sound the alarm on their plights from the suite?

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2: What is Cold Harbor?

For now, it's looking unlikely: Milchick only offers this privilege to Dylan, as all the other Innies are single and this perk could lead to jealousy down the line. But hold on, Mr. Milchick — being single doesn't mean the Innies don't have family ! What about Mark's sister Devon (Jen Tullock)? Why not just call it the Outie Significant Other Visitation Suite then?

What is Cold Harbor, and what does it have to do with Gemma?

"Hello, Ms. Cobel" ends with the MDR Innies back at work, refining their macrodata while still not knowing what it does. But wait! The last few seconds give us a small hint, revealing that Mark's file, labeled Cold Harbor, is somehow linked to Gemma. For her part, Gemma appears to be under some kind of observation, but as for why (or what is going on) we still don't know yet. But after such a strong start to Season 2, I can't wait to find out.

Severance Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+, with a new episode every week.

How to watch Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers online

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 03:00

TL;DR: Live stream Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Brooklyn Nets head to crypto.com Arena to face the Los Angeles Lakers in a non-conference matchup. The Nets are 14-26, which puts them in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. The Lakers are 21-17, which puts them in sixth place in the Western Conference.

The Nets have lost four of their last five games, but are coming off a win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers have lost three of their last five games, which were all consecutive losses. The Lakers have not won a game since January 3.

When is Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers?

Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA starts at 10:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 17. This game takes place at crypto.com Arena in L.A.

How to watch Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Nets vs. Lakers basketball game.

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How to watch Nets vs. Lakers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers for free by following these simple steps:

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  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

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Live stream Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

Severance Season 2: What is Cold Harbor?

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 03:00

Severance's Season 2 premiere, "Hello Ms. Cobel," has already left us with a ton of questions. Is Lumon really telling the truth about severance reform? Why is Helly (Britt Lower) lying about what she saw in the Season 1 finale? And what in the world is Miss Huang's (Sarah Bock) deal?

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2 may already be the best show of the year: Review

But perhaps the most pressing question surfaces in the episode's final seconds, when Mark (Adam Scott) returns to work in Lumon's Macrodata Refinement (MDR) department. As he and his team get back to sorting numbers, images of his screen alternate with flashes of another screen, which displays Mark's Outie's wife Gemma (Dichen Lachman), whom he believed to be dead but who was actually working on Lumon's Severed Floor as Wellness Counselor Ms. Casey. The screen also shows Gemma's vitals, like her heart rate and temperature, as well as a small symbol that looks like a severance chip, highlighting that Ms. Casey is Gemma's severed Innie. Above it all, on the top left of the screen, are two mysterious words: Cold Harbor. What in the world could that be?

What, exactly, is Cold Harbor? Dichen Lachman in "Severance." Credit: AppleTV+

Cold Harbor is the name of the file Mark is working on at the moment. (Fun fact: It was also the code name for Season 2 during filming.) Like prior MDR files we've heard about, including Allentown and Tumwater, it's named after a location — likely the historic district in Virginia where the 1864 Battle of Cold Harbor took place. Severance has yet to reveal the significance of these file names, but could each of MDR's files be linked to real-world consequences in these specific locations?

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2, episode 1: Milchick's newspaper proves Lumon is lying about severance reform

We don't know that for sure, but thanks to the end of "Hello, Ms. Cobel," we do know that Cold Harbor is linked to Gemma in some way, and that Mark is 68 percent done with the file. Given that Lumon is tracking Gemma's vital signs, could Mark's progress on the file be linked to her physical wellbeing? Is his MDR work tied to the resurrection of his Outie's late wife, or keeping her alive outright? And if Gemma is linked specifically to Cold Harbor, could files like Allentown and Tumwater be linked to other individuals once presumed dead?

While the final moments of "Hello, Ms. Cobel" leave us with several questions, they also give us some helpful hints about MDR's work. Chiefest among them is what MDR's numbers actually mean.

What do the numbers in Severance mean? Adam Scott in "Severance." Credit: AppleTV+

At the bottom of the screen monitoring Gemma and Mark's progress on Cold Harbor, we see the five boxes Mark has to sort his number clusters into. Unlike on Mark's screen, though, these boxes have four smaller boxes under them, labeled WO, DR, FC, and MA. These are almost certainly abbreviations for the Four Tempers established by Kier Eagan: woe, dread, frolic, and malice. That would explain why Mark tells Helly the numbers should make her feel different ways back in Season 1.

This theory is further backed up by Severance's 2022 companion book Severance: The Lexington Letter. The last section of the book is an orientation booklet for Macrodata Refiners. It's the first confirmation that the numbers are divided into subgroups WO, DR, FC, and MA, and it gives specific details for the reactions these numbers should prompt. WO numbers, for example, "elicit melancholy or despair." FC numbers, on the other hand, "elicit joy, gaiety, or ecstasy." Sounds like woe and frolic to me!

But now that we know what the numbers mean, a whole new crop of questions arise. What is Lumon hoping to achieve in sorting Kier's Four Tempers into different combinations? Are they trying to build a person with the perfect balance of the Tempers? Is Gemma just the latest in a series of guinea pigs in pursuit of this goal? Or maybe Mark is unknowingly rebuilding the late Gemma's personality so that she can be resurrected in earnest. In which case, are these numbers how Lumon cracks immortality? And perhaps most pressing of all, what will happen when Mark completes Cold Harbor? My head is spinning, and we're only one episode into Season 2!

Severance Season 2 is now streaming on AppleTV+, with a new episode every Friday.

Silo Season 2s twisty ending, explained

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 03:00

OK, deep breaths. That was a lot to unpack.

The Silo Season 2 finale had multiple threads to follow, most of which led to more questions than answers. So let's unpack what answers we do have, and speculate on what might be coming in Season 3.

From the fate of Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) and Bernard (Tim Robbins) to that weird pre-apocalypse flashback, we've broken down the finale below.

SEE ALSO: 'Silo' Season 2, episode 9: What is the safeguard? What happens at the end of Silo Season 2?

Multiple cliffhangers, plus an unexpected flashback!

Like the second season as a whole, the finale jumps between key characters like Juliette, Bernard, Lukas (Avi Nash), Shirley (Remmie Milner), Knox (Shane McRae), and Sims (Common). As rioters finally reach the top of the silo, hellbent on getting answers from Bernard, they see Juliette reappear on the camera outside and warn them not to come out. But as she runs down the stairs towards the airlock she's met by Bernard, coming the other way with a gun. The two of them discuss how to save the silo from the ominous safeguard procedure (more on that below), before they find themselves trapped between the airlock doors as fire engulfs them.

Elsewhere, Sims visits the vault after confronting Lukas. The same robotic voice that spoke to Lukas in the tunnel addresses Sims, agreeing with his statement that he "wants to save the silo" before telling him and his son to leave the vault. "Camille can stay," the voice says, referring to Sims' wife (Alexandria Riley).

Finally, we have a flashback in which two people meet for a date in a bar, before the days of the silo. It eventually becomes clear that the man is a Congressman and the woman is a journalist, trying to get answers from him about a possible "radiological attack on the Unites States." Eventually he leaves, but not before giving her a gift he picked up on a whim from a nearby store: what appears to be the same duck-shaped Pez dispenser that appears as a "relic" in Silo Season 1. Intriguing!

Credit: Apple TV+ So what is the safeguard procedure?

It was a major question in Season 2, episode 9, and in the finale we finally get the answer. When Juliette encounters Bernard leaving the silo, their conversation makes it clear that the safeguard is a way for someone outside the silo to pump in poison.

"There's no point what you're trying to do: Save them. It's out of your hands, it was never in your hands, in my hands, in anyone's hands," says Bernard.

"Because of the poison they can pump in?" responds Juliette.

"You know about that?"

"I know about that. But I don't know who'd do it, and I don't know why."

"I know the who. But I don't know why and I don't fucking care."

Presumably the "who" is the owner of the voice that threatens Lukas with the safeguard in episode 9. But who exactly that owner is — whether some kind of sentient AI or ultimate Head of IT — will be a question for Season 3.

What will happen to Sims and his family?

The voice in the vault that responds to Robert Sims claims to want to save the silo, too — but how do we know if it's telling the truth? On the one hand, you could argue that it surely wouldn't even engage with Sims if it didn't want to save the silo. On the other, we know that Juliette has a plan in place for stopping the safeguard. Maybe the poison takes time to pump in? Perhaps the owner of the voice is aware of this, and is planning to use Sims' family to stop Juliette from getting in the way of its plans?

One thing that does seem likely, though, is that the owner of the voice intends to work with Camille Sims, rather than her husband. Maybe, based on its observations of the silo, it thinks she's the more capable family member?

Credit: Apple TV+ Will Juliette and Bernard survive the fire?

Juliette and Bernard aren't in a great spot at the end of Season 2, and that's putting it mildly. As the airlock doors closes Bernard throws himself to the ground, and when the fire starts pouring into the cramped chamber Juliette does the same. But is there any way either of them can have survived that?

Well, maybe. Let's not forget that Juliette is actually wearing a fire suit. Although she's not as quick to duck down as Bernard, that should offer her some protection.

If either of them is going to die, Bernard seems the most likely. He drops to the floor quickly, but that may not be enough to save him — especially now that he's no longer the show's main villain.

What's the deal with that flashback?

From all the clues we're given, it seems fairly obvious that the flashback at the end of Season 2 is meant to take us back to the silo's origin. The Congressman is from Georgia, for starters, and it's heavily implied that this is where the silos are located (the travel book relic from Season 1 references Georgia, for instance, and the skyline beyond the silo resembles that of Atlanta).

The scene we witness also implies that the threat of war is looming, or possibly already here. The Congressman has to pass a radiation checker before he enters the bar, there's talk of a dirty bomb and a threat from Iran, and there's the journalist's mention of a possible "radiological attack". The silos may be already under construction at this point, for all we know. Perhaps the Congressman even has knowledge of the project.

So, will we see these people again? Will Season 3 be peppered with flashbacks that tell the silos' origin story? At this point it's impossible to say, but it certainly seems possible. Maybe the journalist will end up being one of silo 18's first occupants — the Pez dispenser certainly hints at this — and maybe, just maybe, the Congressman will be revealed as one of the fabled founders.

How to watch: Silo is streaming now on Apple TV+.

Severance Season 2, episode 1: Milchicks newspaper proves Lumon is lying about severance reform

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 03:00

Lumon is back to their lying ways in the Severance Season 2 premiere — but would we expect anything less from the world's shadiest company?

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2 may already be the best show of the year: Review

In Season 2, episode 1, Mark (Adam Scott) returns to the Severed Floor following the Innies' daring Season 1 escape. But in a shocking turn of events, Lumon doesn't have any plans to punish Mark and his fellow Macrodata Refiners. Instead, new floor manager Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) claims that the Innies' worries about mistreatment resonated with the outside world, leading Lumon to reflect upon its wrongdoings (aka torture). Now, Milchick claims, Mark and his fellow Innies have become the face of "severance reform." He's even got a newspaper to prove it!

Something's fishy about this. Credit: Screenshot: AppleTV+

The heavily redacted newspaper, titled The Kier Chronicle, features a front-page story about the Innies blowing the whistle on their mistreatment, along with two side stories about the "Baird Creek Bandit" and new Lumon recycling technology.

The key article here remains the whistle-blowing story, which is full of juicy tidbits, including mentions of new Innie privileges like "top-of-the-line recreational facilities, sexual liberation, improved snacks, and the possibility for field..." The text cuts off here, but I'm guessing it goes on to say "field trips." These seem fairly consistent with the promises Milchick makes to Mark, Helly (Britt Lower), Irving (John Turturro), and Dylan (Zach Cherry) later in the episode, although he doesn't mention "sexual liberation" to them outright.

SEE ALSO: 12 burning questions we have after the 'Severance' Season 2 trailer

Interestingly, the article also name drops Mark's brother-in-law, Dr. Ricken Hale (Michael Chernus), cited as author of The You You Are and These Values Nine: How I Let Kier In. The former book was key to the Innies' revolt in Season 1, but the latter book hasn't been mentioned yet. It's likely a Lumon fabrication, one meant to make Mark believe that Ricken — whose work he respects — is a dedicated follower of Kier Eagan. If Mark trusts Ricken, and Ricken likes Kier, then surely Mark should trust Kier and Lumon, right?

The many, many redactions and Ricken mention aren't The Kier Chronicle's only red flags. In fact, the title of biggest red flag falls to the front page image of Mark, Helly, Irving, and Dylan being celebrated in a ticker tape parade.

Right off the bat, it's obvious that photo has been doctored. The image of the Innies is taken from their group photo from Helly's very first day, which everyone kept on their desk.

Compare with the newspaper, and this is a match! Credit: Screenshot: AppleTV+

The Innie photo has been pasted onto an image that isn't even from this century. It's actually a photo from a ticker tape parade from Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1960 visit to Rio de Janeiro. See for yourself:

Dwight D. Eisenhower, notably NOT a Lumon employee. Credit: Universal History Archive / UIG via Getty images

The faking of the photo and the whole newspaper is continued proof of how Lumon manipulates the Innies and what little information they have of the outside world. And since that photo is a fake, it's clear there never actually was a celebration for the Innies, which means their message didn't spread as far as Lumon would have Mark believe. So why would Lumon lie about that and severance reform in the first place? Why ply Innie Mark with better perks in the hopes of getting him to remain at Lumon, when the company could theoretically just fire his Outie and replace him in MDR?

Given all this effort to keep Mark at Lumon, perhaps the key to MDR's "mysterious and important" work isn't having just any severed worker perform it. Maybe the true key is having Mark himself carry it out. After all, episode 1 ends with ominous flashes between Mark's macrodata refining and shots of Gemma/Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman). Could Lumon be exploiting Outie Mark and Gemma's relationship for the sake of their latest sinister project?

Severance Season 2 is now streaming on AppleTV+, with new episodes every Friday.

Severance Season 2, episode 1: Why does Helly lie about what she saw?

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 03:00

After three long years, Severance is finally back with its second season, and things are just as mysterious and confusing as ever.

The good news? After a disorientating start, where it seems Mark (Adam Scott) has had his team replaced, he finally reunites with Dylan (Zach Cherry), Irving (John Turturro), and Helly (Britt Lower). The bad news? Helly decides to lie to them about what she saw on the outside at the end of Season 1.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2 may already be the best show of the year: Review What happens with Helly in Severance Season 2, episode 1?

We know from Season 1's final episode who Helly really is on the outside of the severed floor: She's actually Helena Eagan, a direct descendant of Lumen founder/CEO Kier Eagan and the daughter of the current Lumon CEO. While on the outside she takes to the stage to give a speech, telling the confused audience that the innies are "prisoners," declaring, "They torture us down there!" before being tackled by security.

In the first episode of the second season, however, Helly has a different story for her friends. Instead of telling them who she is on the outside, she tells them that when she woke up, she was in an apartment by herself.

"I was watching some nature show on TV, wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt," says Helly. "Then I went outside and found a guy; he looked like a gardener. Told him everything. I think he kind of thought it was bullshit, but he said that his brother was a cop and that he would tell him everything. I don't know. Sorry, guys. I really tried."

Why does Helly lie to the others about what she saw?

There are really only three possible explanations as to why Helly might be lying to the others. The first, and maybe most likely, is that she's ashamed. Her outie isn't just an employee at Lumon — she's literally one of the higher-ups. To some extent, she's responsible for what the innies go through on the severed floor. Perhaps Helly lies because she doesn't want her friends to think badly of her?

The second option is that she's lying because Lumon has some kind of leverage over her. Maybe they're forcing her to tell a certain story, and have threatened her with something bad happening if she doesn't.

The third and most out-there option is that she's not really innie Helly at all. Maybe, just maybe, the Helly who rejoins Mark and the others is her outie counterpart, Helena, in disguise as her innie in order to gain information about what the others know.

Severance Season 2 is streaming now on Apple TV+, with a new episode every week.

Biden reportedly wont enforce the TikTok ban. This doesnt mean much.

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 02:36

President Joe Biden reportedly won't enforce the U.S. TikTok ban, leaving it up to President-elect Donald Trump to make the final call on the popular video-sharing app's immediate future. 

In a statement to ABC News, a White House official indicated that the current administration will leave the implementation of TikTok's ban to the incoming Trump government. Even so, this isn't a stay of execution, as TikTok will still have no legal authority to continue operating in the country. The Biden administration just won't be jumping down its throat as soon as the ban begins.

"Given the timing of when it goes into effect over a holiday weekend a day before inauguration, it will be up to the next administration to implement," the official said.

SEE ALSO: TikTok ban countdown: See the latest updates as time runs short

This alleged decision to leave the matter to Trump isn't all that surprising. Barring the Supreme Court intervening in TikTok's favour within the next few days, the U.S. TikTok ban is currently scheduled to take effect from Sunday, Jan. 19 — just one day prior to Trump's presidential inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20. As such, it seems likely that Biden and his staff will be preoccupied with other issues on his last full day in office.

Trump previously issued an executive order banning TikTok in 2020, however blocks by the courts meant it never took effect. The then-president subsequently appeared to lose interest in the ban, with Biden eventually dropping the order altogether after he took office in 2021.

Now it seems the roles are reversed, with Biden having approved a TikTok ban which Trump may try to thwart.

Fortunately for TikTok's U.S. users, Trump appears to have softened his stance on the app since his first term in office. Speaking at an event last December, the billionaire mused that "maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while," seemingly swayed by the millions of views his videos have received.

Less than a week later, Trump submitted an amicus brief in TikTok's appeal against the ban, requesting that the Supreme Court issue a stay on it so he can "pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue" once in office. Trump also met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in December, and has reportedly invited him to Monday's inauguration alongside fellow tech executives Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk.

It seems few people truly want TikTok banned altogether. Many politicians and business people have been expecting that TikTok's parent company ByteDance will simply sell its U.S. operations to an American company, with everyone from Musk to former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick being suggested as potential buyers. Even the White House official told ABC News that the Biden administration's position is that "TikTok should continue to operate under American ownership." 

"I don't think TikTok is going to be banned," then-North Carolina Congressman Jeff Jackson said after voting for the ban last March (ironically speaking in a TikTok video). "The bill that just passed the House was about telling TikTok they have to sell to another company…. If it [passes the Senate], TikTok will be sold for billions of dollars and will continue to operate."

However, it seems as though such baseless confidence may be misplaced. ByteDance has given little indication it would be willing to sell, with a complete U.S. TikTok shutdown reportedly planned for when the ban comes into effect on Sunday. This would prevent people from downloading the app, while current U.S. users who open TikTok will be shown a pop-up directing them to a website with information about the ban.

Even if the outgoing Biden administration has stated that it won't enforce the TikTok ban, continuing to operate without official authorisation is a risk ByteDance is unlikely to take. If it does so, TikTok could be hit with a fine of around $850 billion, incurring penalties of up to $5,000 for each of its 170 million U.S. users (a cohort which hypocritically includes Biden, Trump, and Attorney General Jackson). ByteDance was valued at $300 billion last November.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks online

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 02:00

TL;DR: Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference matchup. The Thunder are 33-6, which puts them in first place. The Mavericks are 22-19, which puts them in eighth place.

The Thunder have won four of their last five games, and are coming off three consecutive wins. The Mavericks have lost three of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back losses to the Denver Nuggets.

When is Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks?

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 17. This game takes place at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Thunder vs. Mavs basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Thunder vs. Mavs from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat online

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 02:00

TL;DR: Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Denver Nuggets head to Kaseya Center to face the Miami Heat in a non-conference matchup. The Nuggets are 24-16, which puts them in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Heat are 20-18, which puts them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

The Nuggets have won four consecutive games. The Heat have won three of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

When is Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat?

Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat in the NBA starts at 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 17. This game takes place at Kaseya Center in Miami.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Nuggets vs. Heat basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Nuggets vs. Heat from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks online

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 01:00

TL;DR: Live stream Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Minnesota Timberwolves head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in a non-conference matchup. The Timberwolves are 21-18, which puts them in seventh place in the Western Conference. The Knicks are 27-15, which puts them in third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Timberwolves have won four of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the Washington Wizards. The Knicks have won three of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the Philadelphia 76ers in overtime.

When is Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 17. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York.

How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Magic vs. Celtics basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Magic vs. Celtics from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

Spain Overhauls Domestic Violence System After Criticism

NYT Technology - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 00:00
Spain uses an algorithm to score how likely a domestic violence victim is to be abused again. A Times investigation last year identified flaws in the system.

Spain Overhauls Domestic Violence System After Criticism

NYT Technology - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 00:00
Spain uses an algorithm to score how likely a domestic violence victim is to be abused again. A Times investigation last year identified flaws in the system.

Turn your TV into a window to the world with a lifetime of MagellanTV documentaries

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: MagellanTV's lifetime subscription — now £163.49 (reg. £816.69) — lets you stream thousands of documentaries whenever you want.

Opens in a new window Credit: MagellanTV MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: Lifetime Subscription £168.49 at the Mashable Shop
£816.69 Save £648.20 Get Deal

Forget endlessly scrolling through shows you’ll never watch. With MagellanTV, you get access to thousands of documentaries that inform, entertain, and inspire — and this lifetime subscription lets you enjoy it all for £163.49 – a 79% discount from the usual price.

From jaw-dropping true-crime series and deep dives into history to captivating explorations of science and nature, MagellanTV offers a curated selection of premium documentaries you won’t find on other streaming platforms. No filler, no fluff — just content that expands your horizons.

Love high-quality visuals? MagellanTV delivers over 3,000 titles in 4K Ultra HD, so you can immerse yourself in stunning detail while learning about the world’s mysteries, discoveries, and stories. Whether you’re a lifelong learner, a history buff, or someone who just loves a good binge, there’s always something fascinating to stream.

Stream smarter, explore endlessly, and enjoy your favourite documentaries whenever you want. It’s a cost-effective way to replace hours of mindless browsing with thought-provoking, bingeworthy content.

For a one-time payment of £163.49 (reg. £816.69), you get lifetime access to MagellanTV’s growing library of documentaries.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

How to watch Sinner vs. Giron online for free

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Giron in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Jannik Sinner is looking to defend his Australian Open crown, and next up he faces Marcos Giron in an interesting third-round matchup. The top seed will obviously be the favorite, but anything can happen at this stage of the tournament.

If you want to watch Sinner vs. Giron in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sinner vs. Giron for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Sinner vs. Giron.

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

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Sinner vs. Giron without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • 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.

Live stream Sinner vs. Giron in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Raducanu vs. Swiatek online for free

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Raducanu vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open third round is the first real opportunity to see massive matchups between top players, and that's exactly what fans are getting with Raducanu vs. Swiatek. Both players are Grand Slam winners, but neither has made much of an impression at this tournament.

But that could all change this year. If you want to watch Raducanu vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Raducanu vs. Swiatek for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Raducanu vs. Swiatek.

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

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Raducanu vs. Swiatek without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • 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.

Live stream Raducanu vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Draper vs. Vukic online for free

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Draper vs. Vukic in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open third round includes some fascinating matchups, including Draper vs. Vukic. The 15th seed will be the favorite to win this one, but Vukic will be playing in front of a passionate home support.

If you want to watch Draper vs. Vukic in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Draper vs. Vukic for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Draper vs. Vukic.

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

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Draper vs. Vukic without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • 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.

Live stream Draper vs. Vukic in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Shelton vs. Musetti online for free

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Shelton vs. Musetti in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The third round of the Australian Open is when things really start to heat up with some massive matchups, including Shelton vs. Musetti. This game sees the 16th and 21st seeds go head to head, making this one particularly difficult to call.

If you want to watch Shelton vs. Musetti in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Shelton vs. Musetti for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Shelton vs. Musetti.

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

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Shelton vs. Musetti without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • 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.

Live stream Shelton vs. Musetti in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Fritz vs. Monfils online for free

Mashable - Fri, 01/17/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Fritz vs. Monfils in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The third round of the Australian Open includes some really interesting matchups, including Fritz vs. Monfils. The American is the favorite to take the win, but the experience and class of Monfils cannot be ignored.

If you want to watch Fritz vs. Monfils in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Fritz vs. Monfils for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Fritz vs. Monfils.

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

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Fritz vs. Monfils without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • 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.

Live stream Fritz vs. Monfils in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

The Traitors Season 3s latest banishment has me fuming

Mashable - Thu, 01/16/2025 - 22:00

It's been a long time since an episode of TV has made me as flat-out angry as The Traitors Season 3, episode 4, "I Will Bury You Under the Sand."

SEE ALSO: 2025 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

The episode starts out like a standard enough installment of The Traitors. We witness a murder (RIP to Survivor's Jeremy Collins), the Faithfuls do their best to strategize for that night's round table banishment, and everyone completes a physically strenuous challenge. But things take an extra traitorous turn when Survivor legend Rob Mariano, aka Boston Rob, sells out fellow Traitor and RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 winner Bob the Drag Queen. (Big Brother's Dan Gheesling attempted a similar, unsuccessful move against The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Phaedra Parks in Season 2.) The result? Bob the Drag Queen becomes the first Traitor to be banished, while Boston Rob becomes a hero among the Faithful.

On the surface, Rob's move is an impressive piece of gameplay and reality TV storytelling. Following the episode's challenge, Bob had insinuated that any of the the three late arrivals to the competition — including Boston Rob, The Challenge's Wes Bergmann, and Big Brother's Derrick Levasseur — could be Traitors, putting a target on Rob's back. Bob had also made some questionable moves throughout the series so far, becoming the target of suspicion himself, with Dylan Efron, of Down to Earth with Zac Efron, leading the charge against him. In championing Bob the Drag Queen's exit, Boston Rob cements Dylan's trust, along with the trust of everyone who believes Dylan. Sure, it's a "legendary" move, as fellow contestants describe it. Personally, though, I found the whole thing sickening (and not in a good way).

Why does Bob the Drag Queen's Traitors exit suck so much? I don't care that he was a murderer — justice for Bob! Credit: Euan Cherry / Peacock

In a campy fun reality TV show that's all about betrayal and murder, it feels silly to get up in arms about a fake banishment — especially when Bob himself says, "That was just gameplay, baby," in his exit interview. (Host Alan Cumming even reminds everyone that this is all just a game following the banishment.)

Yet following Season 2, which saw RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 runner-up Peppermint get banished first (she was a Faithful), it's hard not to notice the beginnings of a pattern in terms of how drag queens get treated on the show. Coming at the series as a Drag Race fan first, and a Traitors fan second — as well as a novice when it comes to other reality shows, like The Challenge and Big Brother — I'll admit that I'm biased towards Bob in the first place. When Cumming tapped him on the shoulder, that was my Super Bowl moment. It felt like The Traitors acknowledging Bob as a threat, and investing in him as someone who would go far in the story. That was a relief after the ousting of Peppermint, a Black trans woman and a drag performer whose elimination certainly felt like the product of implicit biases.

Unlike Peppermint, though, Bob was actually a Traitor — and in doing so created some damn fine TV in the process. His gleeful exclamation of "We are eating!" before taking out Jeremy was pure Traitors goodness. (Although now it feels more like a bit of pride coming before the fall.) Also unlike Peppermint, Bob got more time to establish himself within the castle, earning fierce allies to the point that some contestants refused to vote for him. During the roundtable, everyone kept reiterating just how much everyone in the castle liked him — so why did his elimination feel so ugly?

SEE ALSO: Help, I can't stop thinking about Suzie Toot's 'Woman's World' lip sync

It comes down to the Traitor-on-Traitor betrayal. The Traitors has set up a rivalry between Bob and Rob since one of their first interactions, when Bob told Rob his backwards cap and blazer combo was a fashion crime. (He's right; I don't care if it's Rob's signature.) As Bob advocated for chaos in the turret, the rift between them only grew. But that doesn't make the expression on Bob's face when Rob singles him out any less brutal. That's only compounded further by Bob's futile attempts to dig himself out of the hole.

To be fair, Rob has never shied away from playing a villain (he was notably a villain on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains). Yet there's one moment from his whisper campaign that I can't get out of my mind, and that's when he tells Dylan, "We're going to take out the drag queen tonight." The lack of a name brought me back to Peppermint's elimination in Season 2. Gameplay errors put both her and Bob on the banishing block, but it's hard to shake the feeling that bias didn't play a role in their Traitors exits.

Season 3 of The Traitors certainly has more queer representation than Season 2, including The Bachelorette's Gabby Windey, Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause, and The Biggest Loser's Bob Harper. But for now, it still feels like Drag Race contestants are sitting ducks on The Traitors. If they are to make it farther in future competitions, it might help to cast multiple Drag Race alumni in order to build more room for the kinds of built-in alliances and storylines that come with having multiples members of the Housewives or Survivor franchises.

So, what's next for The Traitors following Boston Rob's big move?

Now that I no longer have Bob to root for, at least I have someone to root against in Rob.

Thankfully, it seems like people are already on his trail. Traitors Danielle Reyes (of Big Brother) and Carolyn Wiger (of Survivor) have realized that Rob is only out for himself, which means they'll either have to take him out or risk their own necks. (Or they could have gone against him at the roundtable. I might always be bitter.)

Meanwhile, Wes has deduced that Rob's certainty about Bob being a Traitor could implicate him. After all, how can you be 100% sure that someone is a Traitor? Only if you're a Traitor yourself. But can Wes, Carolyn, and Danielle turn Rob's new fan club against him? I pray to Alan Cumming they do, because it will make for seriously fabulous TV. I just wish it didn't have to come at Bob's expense.

The Traitors Season 3 is now streaming on Peacock, with a new episode every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 17

Mashable - Thu, 01/16/2025 - 22:00

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

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Yellow: Duke it out

  • Green: Alternative names for Massachusetts teams

  • Blue: Soccer team nicknames

  • Purple: Famous group of players on Houston's baseball team

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: Fight

  • Green: Shortened nicknames for Boston teams

  • Blue: Premier League team nicknames

  • Purple: Astros "Killer B's"

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 #116 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Fight - BATTLE, BOX, BRAWL, SPAR

  • Shortened nicknames for Boston teams - B'S, C'S. PATS, SOX

  • Premier League team nicknames - BEES, CHERRIES, FOXES, HAMMERS

  • Astros "Killer B's" - BAGWELL, BELL, BERKMAN, BIGGIO

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.

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