Feed aggregator

If, at some point in your life, you've managed to sit down and watch Terminator 2: Judgment Day without knowing anything about the plot, then you've achieved the rare joy of experiencing one of science fiction's great twists as it was intended. (If you've never seen Terminator 2 and somehow, by the grace of James Cameron, still don't know the premise, do yourself a favor and watch it now. It's okay; we'll wait.)

The twist we're talking about, of course, is the startling revelation that Arnold Schwarzenegger's ruthless T-800 robot is no longer trying to murder the good guys. This time, he's been sent from the future to protect them from something even more dangerous.

In a moment that even the film's trailer couldn't resist spoiling, Schwarzenegger pulls out a shotgun and aims it at a young John Connor (Edward Furlong) before barking, "Get down," in order to get a shot at the even deadlier T-1000 behind John. The world would never be the same.

In the decades since, the trope of villain-turned-savior has become a proud tradition of the genre. For example, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Loki started out as a supervillain fighting the Avengers, but he ultimately wound up saving the entire multiverse in a spin-off show of his own. And now, another beloved sci-fi show appears to be on the precipice of pulling a Judgement Day twist of its own.

That show is Severance, and in this case, the villain-turned-savior is none other than Harmony Cobel. 

Is Severance setting up its own Terminator 2 twist? Credit: Apple TV+

Played by Patricia Arquette, Cobel first appeared as a vindictive middle manager on the mysterious Severed Floor of Lumon Industries, where she seemed to take pleasure in torturing Mark (Adam Scott) and his fellow Innies. But in Severance Season 2, the character has suddenly become much more interesting, potentially setting up a twist even bigger than anything we've seen from the show so far.

Cobel has been noticeably absent from much of Severance's second season. After taking the blame for the "Macrodata Uprising" that capped off Season 1, she was forced out of her job. Soon afterward, she got in her car and drove off into the distance. But several weeks later, in Episode 8 ("Sweet Vitriol"), we finally learn what Cobel has been up to — and a whole lot more. 

The episode reveals that (spoiler alert!) Cobel invented the severance procedure, which explains both why she's so invested in managing Lumon's Severed Floor and why she's so mad about losing that job. Cobel returns to the town where she grew up and finds her old notebooks, which prove she came up with the original idea, though it's unclear exactly what she intends to do with them. But as she drives back towards the action and picks up her phone to talk to Mark, she barks three words that may hint at what's to come: "Tell me everything."

As Severance's several plotlines prepare to collide in Season 2's final two episodes, Cobel is sure to play a major role. Will she use this new information to reclaim her old job? Or will she wield it as a weapon to destroy Lumon and expose the severed procedure for what it really is? That second option is much more exciting and gives Arquette's character a chance to pivot from villain to hero just in time for a 75-minute-long season finale. The fact that she's seemingly already allied herself with Mark only increases the possibility that Cobel has already switched sides. 

Why Severance's big twist could be even better than Terminator 2's  When we first met Harmony Cobel and Mr. Milchick way back in Season 1, episode 1. Credit: Apple TV+

In the case of Terminator 2, the reason for Arnold Schwarzenegger's turn from villain to hero had less to do with the movie's plot and more to do with its star. In the seven years between the original Terminator and the sequel, Schwarzenegger became a Hollywood icon, thanks to both violent action flicks like Commando and kid-friendly comedies like Kindergarten Cop. Making him a ruthless killer again simply wasn't an option, so James Cameron turned his Terminator into a hero.

"To keep Arnold as that Terminator would break our ethical boundaries," Cameron told one journalist on the set of T2 back in 1991. "He's an idol for young audiences all over the world."

And so, Schwarzenegger became the hero.

When it comes to Harmony Cobel, we have to assume that the creators of Severance have been a bit more strategic. (Episode 8's big reveal may have come as a surprise, but the clues were there all along if you knew where to look for them.) Still, regardless of the reason why Cobel's character seems to be pivoting from villain to hero, if it really does happen, it stands to be just as iconic and influential a moment in science fiction history as Schwarzenegger's big intro in Terminator 2. 

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

It's every parent's worst nightmare. The phone rings in the middle of the night, and it's your child sobbing, calling for your help, and time is running out. What would you do to save them? 

This is the beginning of Hallow Road, the latest thriller from Babak Anvari, director of the critically acclaimed psychological drama Under the Shadow. A call in the night spurs a pair of parents to race out to find their daughter, who's calling them from the scene of car crash. But set mostly in the car on the way to the collision, this on-the-road tale plumbs deeper than the everyday fears parents experience, into something remarkably more disturbing. Written by William Gillies, Hallow Road offers a claustrophobic setting where fear comes from the unknown of what's going on at the other end of the phone line. 

The film's lean premise is certainly enough to intrigue. But the gripping performances of Pike and Rhys, combined with Anvari's ruthlessly riveting direction, will have you gasping for air. 

SEE ALSO: SXSW: What are the movies and shows you need to know about? Hallow Road is a story of parents desperate to save their child. 

Somewhere in England, stoic mother Maddie (Rosamund Pike) gets a frantic phone call from her 18-year-old daughter Alice (Megan McDonnell). Tearfully, the college student tells her mother that she's been in a car collision, and she's about 40 minutes away on a heavily forested stretch known as Hallow Road. And while she's okay, someone is lying in the road, unmoving. 

Maddie, who is a paramedic, calmly begins by asking clarifying questions of her daughter, like if she's called emergency services for help. Meanwhile, Frank — instantly anxious  — insists they rush to the scene. In real time, the couple will clamor into the car, tensions already high. As they comfort Alice over the phone, allusions are made to a fight earlier in the evening, something that caused the girl to run off into the night in distress. But there's also a growing conflict between the mother and father, as one wishes to confront the potentially catastrophic truth of this road incident and the other is desperate to coddle their scared child. 

Incredibly, Hallow Road is shot mostly within the sports utility vehicle the parents drive to the titular scene. Showing remarkable restraint, Gillies' screenplay never urges Anvari to cut to Alice or what she can see from inside her vehicle. Instead, all we see of her during her parents' mad dash is a profile photo beaming up from the caller ID on Maddie's phone. Though it's a chipper photo of a young woman smiling in a colorful knit cap, it's unnerving because of the sharp contrast of her voice, unhinged and weepy on the other end of the line. Other sounds will creep into the call as well, bringing a spine-tingling uncertainty to what exactly is going down on Hallow Road. 

Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys are jaw-droppingly intense in Hallow Road. 

This setup of racing to a crash might seem a bit thin for an 80-minute movie, but Hallow Road is pulse-poundingly alive because of the brewing fight between Maddie and Frank. While he's desperate to protect Alice from any negative fallout from this collision, Maddie fears facing the consequences are the only way forward. She cryptically suggests you can't run from what you've done, even if you get away with it. But the full meaning of this will take time to unfold. And in that time, each passing minute throbs with this couple's mounting fear, resentment, and guilt.

Rhys is a raw nerve, bellowing to be in control in a situation far beyond him. Pike, who played the terrifying anti-heroine of Gone Girl and the blithely cruel matriarch of Saltburn, begins weary yet resolute. But as the story races along, each will offer a surprising and fascinating performance that demands to be seen again, in part because of the terrifying secrets they reveal. 

Because the premise of this movie pits its stars against a increasingly menacing phone call, Hallow Road will undoubtedly draw comparisons to movies like the emergency services dispatch thriller The Guilty (either its Danish original or the Jake Gyllenhaal-fronted U.S. remake) or Tom Hardy's car-centric drama Locke. But Hallow Road abruptly veers off from these grounded dramas when someone else shows up on Alice's side of the call. Is it a good Samaritan who just happened to be on a long, dark, remote road at 3 a.m. in the morning? Or does this family have a whole new thing to worry about? Trapped in the car with Maddie and Frank, we, the audience, are in their unenviable shoes. And it's wickedly exhilarating. 

Don't look for spoilers on Hallow Road. 

Surely, it's tempting. Out of its World Premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival, Hallow Road was swiftly gaining buzz among attendees and critics. Personally, I'm glad that colleagues said only that I should see it without going into details. I knew the basic premise. But the gnarly turns in Gillies' script came as a true surprise, giving this critic a rare rush of actually being caught off guard. 

I've been careful not to reveal where Hallow Road goes to protect its deliciously devilish secrets. But I can tell you without spoilers that Anvari's direction is masterful. Though confined to the car, the cinematography of Kit Fraser brings energy through whip pans between parents, and a very tight close-up hovering over a wide-eyed stare of horror, as they can see only the road ahead of them but can hear something strange on the other end of the line. Pike and Rhys lean into this claustrophobic energy, guzzling up all the air in the car with their combativeness, resentments, and agony. And the soundscape of Alice's tinny voice over the phone colliding with curious sounds in the forest around her are so genuinely frightening that I full-on screamed. Twice. 

In the end, Hallow Road is a sensationally scary thriller not only for the surprises it packs but also for the metaphor it makes about parenting. Trapped with a mother and father in a battle for their child's future, the hypothetical becomes intensely real and really harrowing. Like Steven Soderbergh and David Koepp's sophisticated haunted house movie Presence, the anxiety of letting your kid out into the world becomes its own horror, with genre elements feeding in to make that terror hit like a lightning bolt; it will electrify your nerves and rattle you right down to your bones. So when you walk away from Hallow Road, you'll carry its stomach-churning scares with you, perhaps thinking, "There but for the grace of God go I." 

Hallow Road was reviewed out its World Premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival.

Bong Joon Ho's Mickey 17 may star multiple Robert Pattinsons and Mark Ruffalo as Space Trump, but the real scene-stealers are none other than the film's creepers.

SEE ALSO: 'Mickey 17' review: Bong Joon Ho attacks Trump fascism in dizzying sci-fi comedy

Inhabitants of the ice planet Niflheim, the creepers are what you'd get if you crossed roly-polies with the Graboids from Tremors. They vary in size, with each life stage coming with its own unique qualities.

The babies, for example, evoke the cuteness of another great Bong creature: super pig Okja. (Mickey 17's creature designer Jang Heechul also worked on Okja and Bong's first creature feature, The Host.) Meanwhile, Bong told Letterboxd that the intimidating Mama Creeper was inspired by The Godfather's Vito Corleone. Her maternal fierceness and leadership instinct also calls to mind Aliens' xenomorph queen, albeit less bloodthirsty. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bong revealed that other major inspirations for the creepers included everything from croissants and bison to puppies and armadillos.

All these traits combine to create an instantly memorable sci-fi creature that, like the marvelous Dune sandworms, pulls focus from its human castmates whenever it's onscreen. And as the press tour for Mickey 17 got underway, the creepers' scene-stealing tendencies extended to real life.

While no actual creepers could hit the road with Mickey 17's stars (I wish!), plush baby creepers did pop up throughout the press tour. Check out the creeper plush's majestically cute red carpet debut:

Then, feast your eyes on Ruffalo, Bong, Naomi Ackie, and Steven Yeun playing with the baby creepers:

Robert Pattinson is even holding a creeper plush like it's his evening handbag during a red carpet interview.

Cute and they make the perfect accessory? Say less!

Comments under any creeper-centric video rightfully celebrate these plush creatures and ask where they can be bought. But while there are some unofficial, likely scam websites claiming to sell them (an offer I trust about as much as I trust Ruffalo's villainous Kenneth Marshall), there is no official way to buy your own baby creeper plush yet. Mashable has reached out to Warner Bros. for further information on if and when Mickey 17's creeper plushes will be made available to the public.

Hopefully it's soon, because it's clear the people yearn for creeper plushes. And after their stunning debut on the Mickey 17 press run, who can blame them?

Mickey 17 is now in theaters.

TL;DR: Learn to play piano with Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, an AI-powered teacher, now offering lifetime subscriptions for $149.99 (reg. $299). 

Always wanted to learn piano? Nowadays, you don't need a teacher, and you certainly don't need to sit through boring classes. All it takes is a tablet, a keyboard, and your favorite robot.

Skoove is an AI-powered piano tutoring app that listens while you play and gives you curated feedback and useful resources to improve your skills. Normally, a Skoove lifetime subscription would cost $299, but now you can get it for only $149.99. 

AI can teach you to play piano

Have you seen how much piano lessons with a human teacher cost lately? For less than the cost of a few hours of private instruction, Skoove provides virtual piano lessons for life.

You don't need to know how to play to get started. All you need is a piano and a little time. These lessons can be taken at your leisure, so they fit into even the busiest of schedules. And it's compatible with any piano or keyboard so you don't need to buy a new instrument just to get started.

You'll have access to 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos with this Skoove subscription. And you won't just be learning passively — thanks to AI, Skoove can recognize the notes you play and provide real-time feedback as you go. 

Skoove offers a diverse range of genres, so you can learn the music you really love. You can conquer your favorite Beatles tune or learn to bust out some Beethoven. And you'll never have a shortage of song options thanks to the monthly updates that offer new music and lessons. 

More than one million people are already taking advantage of Skoove's innovative piano lessons and sharpening their skills at home. Your lifetime subscription ensures you can continuously improve your playing right alongside them. 

Lifelong access to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons are just $149.99 (Reg. $299) 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Premium Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription $149.99
$299 Save $149.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Save an additional 20% on a PDF Converter Pro lifetime license with code SAVE20 at checkout for a limited time only.

What a disaster: Every so-called free PDF converter seems to follow the same pattern. Either they want your credit card before letting you download or they completely wreck your file’s formatting. The truth is you need to pay for the best PDF converter tools.

But you don’t have to pay subscription fees or shell out for name-brand tools that offer way more features than you’ll ever use, just grab something basic like PDF Converter Pro that gets the job done affordably. This week, you can use code SAVE20 at checkout to get a lifetime license for Windows or Mac at $23.99 (reg. $29.99).

What can PDF Converter Pro do?

Next time you have to convert a PDF, you don’t have to go searching for some sketchy online tool — just open the app on your PC or Mac. Then, convert to or from formats like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Text, HTML, PNG, and JPG.

PDF Converter Pro works quickly and accurately. Once you get your converted document, you’ll notice that the original layout — whether it was a PDF or another format — is completely preserved, no matter if you had images, text, or hyperlinks.

Beyond simple conversions, the PDF tool also has various editors available. Merge and split pages, extract images, or add/remove password protections as needed.

Grab this PDF converter tool for Windows and Mac while it’s on sale for $23.99 with code SAVE20 at checkout (reg. $29.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter Pro: Lifetime License $23.99
$29.99 Save $6 Get Deal

TL;DR: Save $70 on the Kinhank retro-inspired gaming console for a limited time (reg. $159.99).

There’s a reason our readers are flipping out over this gaming console — it’s offering something big brands won’t. You get over 70,000 games pre-installed, from retro classics to modern favorites, plus built-in 4K streaming capabilities. And the best part? It’s only $90 with free shipping (reg. $159.99).

Soak in endless entertainment

A PlayStation or Xbox would cost you a fortune, and you’ll still have to buy every single game. So, it just makes sense that anyone who doesn’t want to play one of today’s newer games is grabbing this console to kick back and have fun game nights.

You’ll find tons of retro favorites like Space Invaders, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Pac-Man where family and friends of all ages can hop in and enjoy the fun. Your purchase includes two wireless controllers for multiplayer games, and you could turn a gathering into a tournament-style night.

When you aren’t playing games, the console can also stream movies. Add your favorite streaming apps with built-in Android OS, and use the included remote to easily navigate through when hosting movie nights.

Get your Kinhank Super Console while they’re still on sale for $90 with free shipping (reg. $159.99). No coupon is needed to get this price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kinhank Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator & Streaming Console $89.97
$159.99 Save $70.02 Get Deal

Is it an ick? Or do you just not fancy them?

The term was originally coined in 1999 in an episode of Ally McBeal (Season 1, episode 15 to be exact), and later gained widespread popularity in the 2020s on social media. Now firmly cemented in the dating lexicon and pop culture, the ick is a term which describes the phenomenon of getting a sudden (and at times inexplicable) wave of revulsion, cringe, or dislike for the person you're dating. The causes of the ick range from the understandable — being rude to waitstaff on dates, disrespectful behaviour — to the downright niche. In a list of icks currently being circulated on WhatsApp, examples include: "Two phones on table," "Grown adults on manual scooters," "Spotify with ads," "Coloured bed sheets," to name a few.

The causes of the ick range from the understandable...to the downright niche.

The ick can be helpful at times, too. As I write in The Love Fix — a non-fiction book about why dating is so hard right now — the ick can come in handy when we're struggling with romantic rejection or finding it hard to move on from a connection that didn't work out: "If it helps, view their disinterest as an ick. Let it turn you off. View their indifference as a trait that makes you lose attraction to them."

I have a theory that this term is just shorthand for a lack of physical attraction. Take, for example, the time I got the ick when a guy I was dating had a strawberry seed stuck to the tip of his nose. He'd done nothing wrong, but when I looked at his face, all I could see was the seed on his face staring back at me. In this case of the ick, I could no longer hide from a fact I'd been avoiding for some time: I just wasn't physically attracted to my boyfriend. "He just doesn't do it for you?" as Ally McBeal's Renée succinctly put it.

The role of disgust in partner selection

In many ways, the ick can present as a turn off or a strong feeling of disgust. Evolutionary psychologists have extensively studied the role of disgust in relation to human survival.

Disgust has evolved to protect humans by encouraging them to avoid pathogens or anything that might cause disease. Sexual disgust discouraged humans from being attracted to partners with traits that might present threats to reproduction, such as health or genetic risks.

It's difficult to see how someone ordering soup of the day or who has their phone torch on unintentionally could be interpreted as a threat to reproduction, but here we are. But, from an evolutionary psychology perspective, we're wired to lose attraction when we experience disgust.

The importance of similarity in human attraction

I put this idea to a social psychologist specialising in human attraction: is the ick just a lack of attraction? Professor Viren Swami, social psychologist at Anglia Ruskin University, explained the difficulty in answering this question stems from the fact "the ick isn't a scientific term; rather, it's a phrase used in contemporary popular culture, which also means how the phrase is used can vary widely."

"I suspect icks signify the importance of similarity, particularly in the early stages of a relationship. We all have beliefs about how we think the world around us 'should work' — what is right, what is just, what is correct," says Swami.

SEE ALSO: How does orientation affect the dating app experience?

So, why is similarity important in the realm of human attraction? Social psychologists have extensively studied a phenomenon called the "similarity-attraction effect," which hinges on the idea that people are drawn to people who are similar to themselves in key respects. Why do we look for similarity in the people around us? Social psychologist Donn Byrne put forth the theory that humans have a foundational need to view the world as logical and consistent — this is called the "effectance motive." This means, we favour people who validate our ideas and views, who agree with us, and thus, reinforce the logic and consistency of the world around us.

Swami tells me that we want other people to share our views about how the world works "because that satisfies our 'effectance motive'." "But if someone behaves differently or does things in ways that feel 'wrong' to us, our effectance motive is no longer satisfied and that can cause anxiety or even repulsion," he adds. "In the early stages of a relationship, even minor differences in opinion or behaviour can feel like a big deal, precisely because our effectance motive is not being satisfied."

Is it the ick? Or just emotional unavailability?

Has the ick become a get-out-of-jail-free card for emotionally unavailable daters? Tom Stroud — Bumble ambassador and host of the Why Do Men?, a podcast about male dating behaviour, and star of Love Is Blind UK — thinks the ick is "a subconscious reaction which is symptomatic of something bigger." Stroud feels icks have become a "normalised way to justify losing interest" without engaging with the reality of waning attraction.

"Rather than interrogating the deeper reasons why attraction fades — compatibility, emotional availability, or fear of intimacy — people lean on the language of ‘icks’ to avoid engaging with those uncomfortable truths," he adds. "It’s easier to say, 'I can’t date him because he runs for the bus' than to admit, 'I’m not emotionally ready' or 'I never actually fancied him that much to begin with.'"

"The problem isn’t that ‘icks’ exist," Stroud adds. "It’s that they’ve been turned into a get-out-of-jail-free card for emotional avoidance. Instead of reflecting on what we really want in a partner, we outsource that decision to a fleeting moment of discomfort." 

SEE ALSO: What is attachment theory and how does it impact sex and relationships?

Annabelle Knight, dating and relationship expert at Lovehoney, echoes that avoidant attachment styles can play a role in the ick. “People who have an avoidant attachment style may get the ick more often as a way to distance themselves from their partner when intimacy starts to increase; it’s often a subconscious defence mechanism," says Knight.

What if you find yourself on the receiving end of the ick? Stroud says it's important to remember it's not a personal failure — "it’s just someone realising they’re not as into you as they thought." "And while it can be frustrating, it’s also a blessing in disguise. The right person isn’t going to completely lost interest the minute they discover your secret comic book collection or your lucky birthday pants," he adds.

Does the ick say more about us than the other person?

The ick is so firmly embedded in the popular zeitgeist, we use the term liberally, sometimes without fully realising what's at the root of this feeling. I firmly believe in trusting your instincts when it comes to dating — if something feels off, you should listen to that feeling and act accordingly.

But when the ick is something arbitrary like witnessing your partner running for a bus or rolling their ankle, it's worth spending some time with that reaction to try and understand where it's coming from. Could it be that you're just not that attracted to the person?

Knight suggests reflecting on why you might be feeling the ick. "Are you scared to get close to this person? Are you being too picky? Do you need a little more time to get comfortable? Quite often, the icks we feel about other people can reflect things we’re uncomfortable with about ourselves, rather than anything that person has done," she says. "Ask yourself if your response is appropriate or is it a little extreme for the ‘crime’ committed."

So, is the ick just a lack of attraction? Well, if it's disgust you're feeling, then yes! If it's a jolt that's alerting you to a strong dissimilarity to a person — also yes! But, if it's something deeper, like a fear of getting close to someone, you may need to interrogate what's behind this feeling.

For anyone who's seen Boiling Point — Philip Barantini's one-shot kitchen drama starring Stephen Graham — Adolescence is surely high on the to-watch list.

Co-created by Graham himself alongside frequent collaborator Jack Thorne, and directed by Barantini, the four-part Netflix drama/thriller takes Boiling Point's one-take format and multiplies it across four settings, following the shattered lives of a family whose 13-year-old son is accused of murdering a classmate.

Like Boiling Point, it's tense and hard to watch. But it's also stunningly acted, incredibly well written, and impossible to look away from.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2024 What's Adolescence about?

The show establishes its highly stressful tone early on with a dawn raid. Police batter down the door of the Miller family and march inside with guns drawn, ignoring the shock and confusion of dad Eddie (Graham), mum Manda (Christine Tremarco), and older sister Lisa (Amelie Pease) and going straight to the room of teenager Jamie (Owen Cooper). It quickly becomes apparent that he's under arrest for murder, and that DI Bascome (Top Boy's Ashley Walters) and DS Frank (Andor's Faye Marsay) have a strong case.

What follows is an unbroken hour at the local police station, where the camera roves between small-talking officers, wary solicitors, and the devastated Miller family as they huddle in a sterile waiting room and try to piece together what their son — who maintains his innocence — has been accused of.

It's TV at its most anxiety-inducing, somehow made even more intense by the unrelenting one-shot format. Like the Millers we're not given the luxury of cut-aways — we have to experience the entire chaotic ordeal alongside them in real time. The subsequent episodes (each of which is its own one-shot) jump forward by days and then months, giving us an insight into the aftermath, first at Jamie's school, then during a therapy session, and then finally coming back full circle to the Millers as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

Credit: Ben Blackall/Netflix Adolescence's one-shot format is a directing masterpiece.

Making a miniseries where each episode is shot in one take sounds more like a technical exercise than something that'll benefit the viewer. But the thing is, it does. Barantini's ambitious directorial format works perfectly for this tense show, and the change in locations between episodes keeps things fresh. The police station and school settings of the first two episodes are a chaos of sound and movement, an assault on the senses that mirrors what the characters are feeling. The third episode — which essentially just features Jamie and a psychologist (A Thousand Blows' Erin Doherty) — bubbles with the tension of a play. And the finale follows the Millers through a birthday, where they try to make the best of it despite everything. Here, the camera refuses to look away as the characters alternate between anger, sadness, and brief moments of happiness.

Calling Adolescence a TV show feels like it isn't doing it justice. It's somewhere between TV, film, and theatre, almost a new type of viewing experience altogether. The performances are crucial here, and fortunately everyone — from veterans like Graham and Walters to newcomers Cooper and Pease — does an outstanding job. The realism is constant, comprehensive, and painful.

Episode 2, which takes place at at school, is one hour of chaos. Credit: Ben Blackall/Netflix Does Adolescence have any weaknesses?

The subject matter at the heart of the show is difficult, and the story is so relentlessly miserable that it won't be for everyone. As two characters discuss directly in one episode, the focus is also very much on the accused rather than the victim, who is little more than a name in the show. But Adolescence's story isn't a crime mystery so much as a psychological study — it's an exploration of the manosphere culture that's having a real world affect on teenagers, and the societal and familial triggers that might lead to a seemingly ordinary 13-year-old doing something unthinkable.

On this level, and on almost all others, the show is chillingly effective.

Adolescence is streaming now on Netflix.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, March 13, 2025:

AcrossThe slightest bit

• The answer is ATad.

Like a crossword clue about crossword clues

• The answer is Meta.

Sports shocker … with a hint to the circled letters

• The answer is Upset.

Sign of life

• The answer is Pulse.

Small arguments

• The answer is Spats.

DownMake excited

• The answer is AmpUp.

Automaker with a Cybertruck

• The answer is Tesla.

"This is ___" (disclaimer accompanying an alarm)

• The answer is ATest.

First ones might be awkward

• The answer is Dates.

FedEx competitor

• The answer is UPS.

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

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

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

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

Scopely said it would buy Niantic’s video game business, which includes Pokémon Go, for $3.5 billion. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund acquired Scopely in 2023.

Meta has obtained an emergency ruling blocking whistleblower and former employee Sarah Wynn-Williams from promoting her memoir Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism. In other news, have you seen Barbra Streisand's house?

The International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) handed down the emergency arbitration ruling on Wednesday, finding that Meta was likely to succeed in its case against Wynn-Williams for breach of contract. Specifically, Meta alleges that Wynn-Williams violated the non-disparagement agreement she signed as an employee.

SEE ALSO: Meta built content censorship system to break into China, report says

"The Emergency Arbitrator finds that, after reviewing the briefs and hearing oral argument, [Meta] has established a likelihood of success on the merits of its contractual non-disparagement claim against Respondent Wynn-Williams, and that immediate and irreparable loss will result in the absence of emergency relief," the arbitrator wrote in his ruling.

As such, the ICDR ruled that Wynn-Williams is temporarily prohibited from promoting Careless People or further distributing audio and electronic versions of it. She is also temporarily barred from making any "disparaging, critical, or otherwise detrimental comments" about Meta, and has been instructed to retract any such comments she has previously made.

This does not mean that Wynn-Williams' claims in Careless People are false, nor that they are true. It simply means that the ICDR considers it likely that she violated her contract by sharing them.

Wynn-Williams was previously Meta's director of global public policy, with Careless People covering her time at the company from 2011 to 2017. The memoir paints a grossly unflattering picture of the tech giant, including allegations of sexual harassment and claims that Facebook ignored internal concerns about its impact on democracy and human rights.

In its review of the book, The New York Times called Careless People an "insider account of a company that she says was run by status-hungry and self-absorbed leaders… even as Facebook became a vector for disinformation campaigns and cozied up to authoritarian regimes."

This week it was reported that Wynn-Williams also filed a whistleblower complaint to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in April, alleging that Facebook (now Meta) misled investors about its efforts to enter China. According to the complaint, in 2015 Facebook developed a censorship system intended for use by the Chinese government in an effort to enter the Chinese market.

Meta ultimately fired Wynn-Williams in 2017, which she claims was retaliation for her sexual harassment complaints. Meta maintains that it fired Wynn-Williams for "poor performance and toxic behavior" and that while it had been interested in operating in China, they ultimately did not come to any agreement with the country's government. Still, this doesn't mean that Meta didn't try.

"[Careless People] is a mix of out-of-date and previously reported claims about the company and false accusations about our executives," Meta said in a statement shared with several publications.

Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism was published this week by Macmillan.

TL;DR: A wide range of free AI courses are available to take on Udemy.

It's possible that AI is going to eventually take over the world, but we should have a few years before we get to the point of no return. So how should we approach those years? We may as well learn how to make the most out of AI before it deems that we're all obsolete.

A wide range of online courses on AI can be found on Udemy. And better yet, some of the best examples can be taken for free. We've checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started.

These are the best online AI courses you can take for free this month:

• A Gentle Introduction to Generative AI

• AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals

• AI Art Generation Guide: Create AI Images For Free

• AI Filmmaking

• AI for Beginners: Learn The Basics of ChatGPT

• AI for Business and Personal Productivity: A Practical Guide

• AI for Everyone

• AI Literacy Essentials: Working Responsibly with AI

• AI-Powered Chatbot: Build Your Own with No Code

• AI Product Strategy

• Artificial Intelligence for Accountants

• Artificial Intelligence for Humans: AI Explained

• Artificial Intelligence: Preparing Your Career for AI

• Become an AI Accelerated Engineer Using ChatGPT

• Become an AI-Powered Engineer: ChatGPT, Github Copilot

• Become an AI-Powered Engineer: Cursor, the AI-First IDE

• Business Analyst: Digital Director for AI and Data Science

• ChatGPT 101: The Complete Beginner's Guide and Masterclass

• ChatGPT in 30 Minutes: New Prompt Engineering and AI Skills

• ChatGPT, Midjourney, Firefly, Bard, DALL-E, AI Crash Course

• ChatGPT Security: Privacy Risks and Data Protection Basics

• Create Faceless YouTube Videos Using Free AI Tools Only

• Deep Learning and AI with Python for Beginners

• Digital, Virtual and AI Photography

• Gemini AI Course for Beginners

• Generative AI and Prompt Engineering

• Generative AI For Leaders

• Google Gemini AI with Python API

• How To Make YouTube Automation Videos in 20 Minutes Using AI

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

• Learn Basics About AI

• Master Gemini AI

• Mastering Generative AI for Developer Productivity

• Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals: Get Started with AI

• Midjourney and ChatGPT: Unleash AI for Unique Image Generation

• Prompt Engineering+: Master Speaking To AI

• Prompt Engineering Principles: ChatGPT & DALL-E

• Unleash your Creativity with Stable Diffusion AI

These free online courses don't include certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but you still get unrestricted access to all the video content. You can learn at a pace that suits you, so what's stopping you from enrolling?

Find the best free AI courses on Udemy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Udemy AI Courses Free at Udemy Get Deal

TL;DR: Watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Marc Márquez started the new MotoGP season with a victory at the Grand Prix of Thailand, but there is a queue of talented riders behind him in the standings looking to take the top spot off the experienced Spaniard. This weekend the action heads to Argentina.

If you're interested in watching the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina?

The MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina takes place at Chang International Circuit. The 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina race starts at 2 p.m. ET on March 16.

How to watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina for free

Every 2025 MotoGP race is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

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

Unblock ServusTV by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a 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 Austria

4. Connect to ServusTV

5. Watch MotoGP for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for MotoGP?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming 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 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Manchester United vs. Real Sociedad for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Things are not exactly going well for Manchester United in the Premier League right now, so the Europa League has been a welcome distraction. They face Real Sociedad in the last 16, with the score tied at 1-1 after the first leg. Everything is still to play for as the action heads to Manchester.

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

When is Manchester United vs. Real Sociedad?

Manchester United vs. Real Sociedad kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on March 13. This fixture takes place at Old Trafford.

How to watch Manchester United vs. Real Sociedad for free

Manchester United vs. Real Sociedad is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

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

Unblock ServusTV 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 Austria

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Stream Manchester United vs. Real Sociedad in the Europa League for free

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 they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ServusTV without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Manchester United vs. Real Sociedad before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

• 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 United vs. Real Sociedad for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for £77.11 and access AI-powered writing, image creation, video editing, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1min.AI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription £77.11 at the Mashable Shop
£416.41 Save £339.30 Get Deal

Need an AI companion that can do it all? Get a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for £77.11 and access AI-powered writing, image creation, video editing, and more. No more switching between apps. With 1min.AI, you can access multiple AI tools in one platform.

What you'll get with your lifetime AI assistant:

• Works with AI models like GPT-4, Claude 3, Gemini, and more for smart content generation

• Automates writing tasks with AI-powered tools for blogging, SEO, social media, and branding

• Edits and enhances images with background removal, upscaling, and text replacement

• Converts speech to text, generates voiceovers, and even translates audio with AI

• Manages PDF documents with AI-driven summarisation, translations, and Q&A tools

• Creates and edits videos using AI-powered features for quick content production

• Business Plan includes 4,000,000 credits per month with options to earn free credits daily — no ongoing fees

Skip the monthly AI tool subscriptions and get lifetime access to a 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for just £77.11 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

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

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 13 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: To show favoritism

• Green: Ways to get a driver's attention

• Blue: Parts of a popular poker game

• Purple: Old English words

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

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

• Yellow: Partiality

• Green: Signal down, as a taxi

• Blue: Cards in Texas Hold 'Em

• Purple: Shakespearean Words

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 #641 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Partiality: ANGLE, BIAS, SLANT, SPIN

• Signal down, as a taxi: FLAG, HAIL, WAVE, WHISTLE

• Cards in Texas Hold 'Em: FLOP, HOLE, RIVER, TURN

• Shakespearean Words: ANON, ART, THOU, WILT

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 13

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for March 13 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 13, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To pursue.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CHASE.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 13

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

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

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

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: How to earn points on the green

• Green: _________ race

• Blue: Women's college basketball teams

• Purple: Teams that fired their coach

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: Golf scoring terms

• Green: Types of racing

• Blue: Last year's women's NCAA tournament final four

• Purple: NFL teams to change coaches this offseason

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 #171 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Golf scoring terms - ALBATROSS, BIRDIE, BOGEY, EAGLE

• Types of racing - BMX, DRAG, HORSE, STOCK CAR

• Last year's women's NCAA tournament final four - GAMECOCKS, HAWKEYES, HUSKIES, WOLFPACK

• NFL teams to change coaches this offseason - BEARS, JAGUARS, JETS, SAINTS

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

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

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

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

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

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 13 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 13 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: What goes around comes around

These words have nothing to do with karma.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are related to motion.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is NiceComeBack.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 13

• Rebound

• Boomerang

• Ricochet

• Bounce

• Return

• NiceComeBack

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

An arbitrator has prevented the employee from promoting her book and disparaging the company until private arbitration concludes.