IT General

SAVE OVER $70: As of June 29, Beats Fit Pro are on sale for $128.24 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Fit Pro $128.24 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $71.71   Get Deal

Prime Day officially came to an end last week, but Amazon hasn't dropped all the discounts quite yet.

If you missed out on picking up a bargain, you might just find a great deal still hanging about. If earbuds are what you're looking for, Beats Fit Pro are still on sale. In fact, they're at their best-ever price, down from $199.95 to $128.24. This price applies to the black and sage gray color options.

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Beats audio doesn't disappoint, and these earbuds are no different. They come with three different listening modes for noise reduction: Active Noise Canceling, Transparency Mode, and Adaptive EQ. These let you choose the level of noise cancellation you want, either completely blocking out background noise or removing just enough that you can stay aware of what is happening around you.

These earbuds also have a signature flexible wingtip. It helps them stay secure inside your ear, making them a perfect choice for workouts of all intensities. They're comfortable too, and they come with several ear tip sizes so they won't cause any discomfort.

This deal might not be around for long, so head to Amazon now.

Samsung has been one of the first major smartphone makers to embrace foldable smartphones. Now, the company is reportedly looking to take the next step forward by launching a smartphone with a rollable screen.

Korea's Money Today (via SamMobile) claims that Samsung Display is in discussions to supply display panels for a rollable smartphone developed by Samsung Electronics (both companies are subsidiaries of the Samsung Group).

SEE ALSO: Apple's foldable iPhone Ultra probably won't be late after all

The details are slim; market research company Omdia reportedly predicts that the phone (with the possible name Z Slide) will have a 10-inch, rollable display, with a 16:9 aspect ration, and a 440.6 ppi resolution. According to Money Today, the phone could launch in the first half of 2028; a successor is already planned, and that one could hit the market in 2030.

We've seen rollable phone concepts before; LG was very close to launching one in 2021, but then the company shuttered its entire mobile phone division, and the phone never saw the light of day.

We've also seen several Samsung Display concepts of stretchy, bendy, and rollable phones, but most of those concepts never make it to actual phones you can buy. In the video below, you can see Samsung Display's "Rollable Flex" screen in action.

For a company of its size, Samsung has been quite adventurous when it comes to new phone form factors. Besides dominating the foldable phone market with its Z Fold and Z Flip phones, Samsung was the first major manufacturer to launch a tri-folding phone.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black 3-Booster Pack Blister is on sale for $39.93 at Amazon, down from its $45.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister $39.93 at Amazon
$44.95 Save $5.02   Get Deal

The Pokémon TCG’s Pitch Black expansion is still a few weeks away from hitting the trading card market, but we’re finally seeing some preorder discounts drop.

As of June 29, the Pokémon TCG Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister (Binacle) is listed for $39.93 at Amazon. Against the current TCGplayer market price of $42.44, that puts Amazon $2.51 lower than market value. This is also the lowest price it's ever been at Amazon (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel). 

This blister comes with three sealed booster packs from the upcoming Pitch Black expansion, along with a special foil promo card featuring Binacle. Each booster pack includes 10 game cards, one Basic Energy card, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. 

At the time of writing, TCGplayer does have listings starting slightly lower. However, Amazon’s listings do include the 30-day refund/replacement option, which gives you a bit more flexibility..

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Individual Pitch Black booster packs are currently selling for $19.95 on Amazon, costing $59.85 if you were to buy three. With this three-booster blister at $39.93, the cost-per pack comes down to $13.31 — saving you $6.64 each. 

Pitch Black is built around Mega Darkrai ex, with Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, and Mega Excadrill ex also joining the expansion. The set includes more than 115 cards, more new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, over 20 Trainer cards, and plenty of Pokémon and Trainer cards with special illustrations. 

Other Pokémon TCG deals are live on Amazon. You can grab the Chaos Rising Booster Bundle for around $50 and the 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Display Box is still $50 off. 

TL;DR: Live stream Netherlands vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup showcases three huge games from the Round of 32 on June 29, including Netherlands vs. Morocco.

The Netherlands have had moments of looking really impressive in this tournament, but they've also shown some vulnerable flashes. Morocco, on the other hand, stunned Brazil with their quality in the group stage and notched up comfortable wins against Scotland and Haiti. All of which makes this an interesting matchup.

If you want to watch Netherlands vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Netherlands vs. Morocco?

Netherlands vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 29. This fixture takes place at Monterrey Stadium.

How to watch Netherlands vs. Morocco for free

Netherlands vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Netherlands vs. Morocco for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Netherlands vs. Morocco for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Netherlands vs. Morocco (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Netherlands vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage is now well underway. Next on the schedule is Germany vs. Paraguay — one of three big knockout fixtures taking place on June 29.

Germany looked good in their opening group game, dismantling Curacao 7-1. But the Germans — four-time World Cup winners — looked shaky against Ivory Coast then lost to Ecuador 2-1.

They'll be looking for a decisive win to prove the tough times are over (don't forget, they failed to get to this point at the last two World Cups). Paraguay are certainly beatable, but nothing is certain at this level and Paraguay looked solid in the group stage.

If you want to watch Germany vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. Paraguay?

Germany vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 4.30 p.m. ET on June 29. This fixture takes place at Boston Stadium.

How to watch Germany vs. Paraguay for free

Germany vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Germany vs. Paraguay for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Germany vs. Paraguay for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Germany vs. Paraguay (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Germany vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

TL;DR: Get a near-mint 2020 MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD for $429.97 (reg. $1,999) through July 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 2020 (Refurbished) $429.97
$1,999 Save $1,569.03   Get Deal

Looking for a laptop that can keep up with your storage demands? As we continue to accumulate more photos, videos, and important files, investing in a laptop with massive storage capacities is a smart move. And the only thing smarter would be making it one of Apple’s most powerful portable devices, the MacBook Pro.

Right now, you can grab a feature-packed 13-inch MacBook Pro, complete with 1TB of SSD, for just $429.97 (reg. $1,999), while supplies last.

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There’s a reason the MacBook Pro has amassed such a massive fan base — this laptop has a lot to offer. A 13.3-inch Retina display features Apple’s True Tone Technology, which automatically adjusts depending on your lighting and helps reduce eye strain.

Everything you see on that vibrant screen is powered by the 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, which offers a 2GHz base speed that makes multitasking smooth and steady. With 1TB of storage, you can save all of your important files locally, without shelling out extra for cloud storage or hard drives.

A Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar offers a comfortable typing experience and easy access to shortcuts to save you time on this MacBook Pro. There’s Touch ID to keep your device safe, and four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Ports for easy connectivity. This model also offers 10 hours of battery life, so you don’t have to worry about frequent charging.

You’re securing a massive discount due to this model’s grade A refurbished rating. That means you’ll receive a device in near-mint condition, with minimal to zero amounts of scuffing on the case.

Bring home a MacBook Pro for just $429.97 (reg. $1,999) through July 1 as part of this Extended Deal Days offer — while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get more done this summer and beyond with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus, on sale now for $54.99 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus: Lifetime License $54.99
$249.99 Save $195   Get Deal

When a piña colada poolside is calling, and it’s hard to get work done this summer, you may need to call in some reinforcements. Give your workflow a little productivity refresh with Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus.

The tools you used in the ’90s have been updated and come with some new friends with this Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus lifetime license, on sale now for $54.99.

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If you need a little help tackling the old to-do list, let Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus get you back on track. This suite of apps gives you six new tools to handle both personal and professional tasks, and there are no subscription fees.

This license gives you permanent access to new favorites and old staples. You’ll have Word for documents, Excel for spreadsheets, and PowerPoint for presentations. Outlook can keep your emails organized, OneNote improves how you take notes, and Access makes it easy to manage large amounts of data.

These apps are equipped with advanced features, and your lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus includes frequent feature updates. You’ll enjoy a more modern, intuitive workspace with dark mode support. There’s also a boost in cybersecurity with features that support security and regulatory requirements.

This license is tied to your device, not your Microsoft account. You’ll receive instant access to a license key and a download link. Just make sure your device is running Windows 10 or 11 before purchase.

Lock in this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for only $54.99 now.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $700: As of June 29, the Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum and mop has been discounted to $699.99 at Amazon. This is $700 off its list price of $1,399.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Slim Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $699.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $700   Get Deal

Prime Day may be behind us now, but don't let the post-summer sale blues get you down. Amazon's still holding onto some amazing deals. Particularly if you're looking for a robot vacuum: The Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum and mop is still 50% off, but only for a limited time.

As of June 29, the Roborock Qrevo Slim is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon. That's $700 off its original price of $1,399.99, and just a cent away from its lowest-ever price at the retailer. There's no telling how long it'll stay at this price, so now is your chance to save.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is over: We found 50+ deals still live on our Apple, Ninja, Lego, Sony, and DJI favorites

Now that summer has arrived and more time is being spent outside, the Roborock Qrevo Slim is a helpful pick-up to make sure your floors stay free of pet hair, crumbs, and dirt that may get tracked inside. This cleaner can scoot underneath furniture in your home to hit hard-to-reach areas. Its side brush and mop help cover corners, so every spot gets a good clean.

When it comes to vacuuming, it boasts 11,000Pa suction power with dual counter-rotating all-rubber brushes that help keep hair tangles from slowing it down mid-clean. And as for mopping, it comes with dual spinning mops that reach speeds of 200 rotations per minute to scrub up any stubborn stains. It can even lift the mop up as it moves across carpets so they don't get all wet.

Plus, with the help of a StarSight dual light solid-state LiDAR system, it maps out your home and keeps away from any items in its way as it cleans. If the Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum and mop sounds like what you need, don't miss out on this deal at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: The iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, or iPhone 17 Pro are free right now with T-Mobile. Here's how to qualify for this promotion.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Pro Free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Shop Now

If you've been keeping an eye on tech news this week, you probably saw the grim reality: Apple just jacked up prices across its iPad and Mac lineups due to soaring AI-driven chip costs. And with experts warning that smartphone price hikes are almost certainly next, this might be the time to get ahead and upgrade.

If you want to dodge the incoming price squeeze, T-Mobile has arrived with a stellar escape hatch.

T-Mobile has dropped a fresh batch of free iPhone deals. Here are our favorites this week:

• Apple iPhone Air — free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

• Apple iPhone 17e — free when you port your number over from a competitor and activate a new line on almost any T-Mobile postpaid service plan.

• Apple iPhone 17 — free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

• Apple iPhone 17 Pro — free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

T-Mobile isn't handing over these sleek devices out of the goodness of its heart. The retail cost of your new phone is offset by 24 consecutive monthly bill credits. Your monthly statement will show a standard charge for financing the phone, which is immediately balanced out by an equal credit to bring that charge to nothing.

You are signing up for a 24-month commitment with the network. If you decide to cancel your service, switch to another carrier, or try to upgrade to the iPhone 18 before those 24 months are up, the remaining unpaid balance on the phone's retail value will become due immediately.

You'll also have to cover the standard upfront taxes and a one-time $35 activation fee. But with Apple's prices actively trending upward, paying a small fee upfront to lock down the latest iPhone 17 for the next two years is one of the smartest financial moves you can make in the current tech landscape.

Score the latest iPhones for free with T-Mobile this week.

TL;DR: Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open, French Open, and U.S. Open would all argue that they're the biggest tennis event on the schedule, but Wimbledon has that special something.

Maybe it's the fast-paced tennis on lush green surfaces. Maybe it's the crisp white outfits. Or maybe it's the copious amounts of champagne and strawberries consumed by fans. Whatever the reason, Wimbledon is hard to beat.

If you're interested in watching Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is Wimbledon?

Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is the third of four Grand Slam tennis events each year.

The defending singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek.

When is Wimbledon in 2026?

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships is the 139th edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from June 29 to July 12.

How to watch Wimbledon 2026 for free

Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for Wimbledon, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of Wimbledon.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free with ExpressVPN.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 29, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 29, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 29 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 29 Pips

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 2 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-4, placed horizonatally.

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

Megan Thee Stallion made a special appearance in Love Island USA Season 8, Episode 23, serving up some "Hot Girl Bakery" for the Islanders after a chaotic recoupling. 

SEE ALSO: 'Love Island USA' saw Trinity and Bryce get back together, and the internet couldn't be happier

Megan hosted a series of fun cake-filled challenges for the Islanders, which was much needed after Aniya was left heartbroken from giving up a connection with Carl in favor of staying loyal to KC. The Islanders, boys and girls alike, were asked to sit on cake, throw some cake (both literally and figuratively), ice some cake, and eat some cake.

As one can expect, Megan kept it real, and called out some of The Boys (KC, Caleb, Zach, Corbin, Bryce, and Sincere) for putting some of The Girls (Aniya, Jen, Kayda, Kenzie, Melanie, and Trinity) down while they were at Casa Amor — and the internet was here for it.

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There were four challenges: the first was musical chairs, the second was a cake-throwing (a change from the usual Love Island pie-throwing), the third involved icing The Boys in a cake using a giant piping bag, and the fourth was a cake-eating challenge. The rounds got increasingly heated, with the Islanders taking out some of their frustrations from the recoupling on each other. 

KC and Corbin seemed to get the most cake and icing in the face from The Girls, and even a bit from the new Casa Amor addition, Parmida.

For the icing challenge, Megan saved the best bite for last, singing Aniya's praises before letting her go all in on KC. Specifically, Megan called Aniya "the thickest, the realest, the cutest, and the prettiest," before handing her the piping bag.

"I am choosing to cream this guy because I have never felt so disrespected, put to the side, not checked up on in my entire f***ing life, and I feel like he's going to see how that feels today," Aniya said before icing KC.

Social media users loved that Megan used her presence to uplift Aniya.

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After announcing The Girls as the winners of "Hot Girl Bakery," Megan Thee Stallion revealed she had one more dessert on the menu for the Islanders: the results of the public vote that would determine which dumped Casa Amor bombshells would return to the island.

Since revenge is a dish best served cold, the newly returned bombshells made their entrances in giant cakes. These two bombshells were revealed to be Amora, who briefly explored a connection with Sincere at Casa Amor, and Carl, who had built a strong connection with Aniya in the villa.

Viewers were excited that Aniya might have a shot with Carl again.

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However, Amora's arrival might stir some trouble for Sincere and Melanie, who were already in a tense spot after having a fight earlier that day about Sincere’s behavior at Casa Amor. The cake might be gone this episode, but the post-cake regret is just getting started.

New episodes of Love Island USA premiere daily except Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT on Peacock.

The "Casa Amor" portion of Love Island USA ended with a recoupling in Season 8, Episode 21, marking the ultimate test of faith for the Islanders when it comes to their partners. One couple in particular passed with flying colors, and social media users couldn't contain their excitement.

SEE ALSO: 'Love Island USA' Casa Amor served up bombshells, drama, and “French fries”

Things weren't looking too hopeful for The Girls (Aniya, Jen, Kayda, Kenzie, Melanie, and Trinity) when Casa Amor first aired in Season 8, Episode 17, kicking off with a dramatic livestream of The Boys (KC, Caleb, Zach, Corbin, Sincere, and Bryce) receiving lap dances from the Casa Amor bombshells (Amora, Parmida, Jaiden, Tierra, Alannah, and Sydney). Things got even more confusing for The Girls when they were given the opportunity to explore connections with a boatload (pun intended) of 12 new bombshells at the villa.

Both sides were forced to rethink their existing partnerships, and were given the opportunity to either stay in their couples or choose one of the bombshells to partner up with in Episode 21. Trinity and Bryce were one of three couples who chose to stay loyal to each other, and people were moved by the duo's tear-filled reunion. 

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Some people are saying that the recoupling of Trinity and Bryce might give them a chance to be this season's winning couple.

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Two other couples also had us biting our fingernails with uncertainty because both had explored other connections during Casa Amor: Kayda and Zach, and Melanie and Sincere. Kayda explored a connection with Chay while Zach briefly spoke to Alannah (who has since been removed from the rest of the season), and Melanie explored a connection with Corey while Sincere got to know Amora.

However, both duos ultimately decided to stay coupled within their existing connections. Melanie didn't let Sincere off the hook so easily for his behavior at Casa Amor though, and social media users had some conflicting thoughts about the situation.

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While Kayda, Zach, Melanie, and Sincere reaffirmed their existing connections, Aniya did not have the same luck with KC. Aniya chose to stay local to KC, but KC walked in with Tierra — ending their connection and leaving Aniya single and vulnerable.

Aniya was devastated not only at KC's betrayal, but also because choosing KC meant that she had to give up a connection with Carl, the bombshell she had genuinely hit it off with during Casa Amor. Social media users were sympathetic to Aniya's heartbreak.

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The Girls came to Aniya's defense, calling out KC for being dishonest with Aniya. Trinity and Tierra got into an argument, with Tierra calling Trinity a "little girl." Let’s just say there wasn't much amor in the casa that night.

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The other Islanders chose to partner up with the new bombshells: Jen chose Gal, Caleb chose Jaiden, Kenzie chose Dylan, and Corbin chose Parmida (followed by a series of "boos" from The Girls).

The remaining bombshell men who did not get picked (Carl, Chay, Corey, and Ronnie) were asked to leave the villa. Bombshell women Amora and Sydney's exits were not shown on-screen.

Despite the episode ending on a heartbreaking note for Aniya, a call for a public vote on which dumped Islander (between Amora and Sydney for the bombshell women and Carl, Chay, Corey, and Ronnie for the bombshell men) should be allowed to return to the villa left viewers with some hope. 

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New episodes of Love Island USA premiere daily except Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT on Peacock.

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

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

Admission.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

ENTRY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Clear.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 29, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CRISP

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Smack.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 29, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SPLAT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Discovered.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FOUND

Final Hurdle hint

Crown.

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

TIARA

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

"It's our house, man."

Matt Smith declares the Targaryen energy of House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 2, as Mashable tasked the cast with unpacking the episode's biggest moments. And there are many of them.

As Team Black march back into the Red Keep, and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) finally stares down the Iron Throne, episode 2 sees the major players of Westeros making monumental moves. In the video above, House of the Dragon stars D'Arcy, Smith, Olivia Cooke, Fabien Frankel, Steve Toussaint, Abubakar Salim, Ewan Mitchell, Gayle Rankin, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Clinton Liberty, Tom Bennett, and Kieran Bew give us an insight into the chaos.

"The episode was just amazing on the page, and very, very electric, and so I certainly wanted to meet the bar that was set by Sara [Hess], Ryan [Condal], and the team," D'Arcy told Mashable. "But I think my instinct was that this is where a political family, one's personal and political lives being so enmeshed, can be so fruitful, because some of the personal/professional boundaries that [Rhaenyra] has to cross in order to take her her place and to take her crown are important identity thresholds.

"I wanted it to feel like a moment of personal reckoning, and I wanted to trouble the journey to the throne so much that by the time she gets there, the anticipated triumph is robbed in that moment, and that actually there's something very sparse about it, especially under the gaze of Alicent, her former friend."

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Team Black supporters, rejoice! Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) has the Iron Throne, and King's Landing with it.

The momentous victory comes at the end of House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 2, when Rhaenyra, Daemon (Matt Smith), and the rest of Team Black's dragonriders descend upon King's Landing. Thanks to her many dragons and Alicent Hightower's (Olivia Cooke) help from the inside, it's not long before Rhaenyra wins the world's bloodiest game of musical chairs and sits atop the Iron Throne.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3: How does Rhaenyra's conquest of King's Landing compare to the book?

The entire Fall of King's Landing sequence plays out similarly to how it does in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, with a few exceptions, of course. Among the biggest is Rhaenyra's first interaction with the Iron Throne during her coronation.

In the book, the Iron Throne slices and dices Rhaenyra when she sits on it for the first time. According to an eyewitness account from Septon Eustace, she leaves the throne room with blood running down her legs and palm. That can only mean one thing: The Iron Throne has rejected her, and her rule won't last long.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments

In House of the Dragon, though, Rhaenyra leaves the Iron Throne cut-free. (She is, however, traumatized by having to behead Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), so it's not a pleasant seating experience either way.) The omission of the cuts could come down to the show's source material. Fire and Blood is written as a historical account, so everything we're reading is filtered through biased, perhaps even unreliable sources. Septon Eustace is one such source. He supports Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) over Rhaenyra, and if anyone were going to embellish Rhaenyra's coronation in a way that delegitimizes her rule, it would be someone like him.

By ignoring Eustace's account, House of the Dragon firmly legitimizes Rhaenyra's rule instead, a choice that tracks with the its very sympathetic portrayal of her. (House of the Dragon has previously brought up the idea of the Iron Throne rejecting rulers in the past, though, as the throne did cut Viserys (Paddy Considine) during his reign.)

However, the series also alludes to book Rhaenyra's experience with the Iron Throne in a clever way. Her first moments on the Iron Throne are reflected in the pool of blood left over from Otto's execution, hinting at the bloodshed that led her to this moment, as well as all the bloodshed to come. After all, we're only on episode 2 of Season 3. There are so many more episodes left for things to go wrong; we don't need a cut from the Iron Throne to let us know things are only going to go south from here.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

No matter where you stand in the Game of Thrones versus House of the Dragon debate, there's one area where the prequel series trounces the original, and that's its treatment of sexual violence.

Onscreen sexual violence was a constant from Game of Thrones' very first episode, in which Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) raped Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) on their wedding night. From there on out, scenes of sexual assault became a disquieting norm. Several consensual encounters in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels were turned into non-consensual ones in the show, including Jaime Lannister's (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) rape of his twin sister, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), in Season 4. At times, Game of Thrones even used a woman's assault as a vehicle for a male character's development. The show's depiction of Sansa Stark's (Sophie Turner) rape at the hands of Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) became less about her traumatic experience than about Theon Greyjoy's (Alfie Allen) reaction to it. (Sansa does not even cross paths with Ramsay in the novels.)

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' review: Season 3 atones for the sins of Season 2

In showing these scenes of sexual violence in graphic detail, Game of Thrones hoped to hammer home the brutality of Westeros. But House of the Dragon proved that you don't need explicit scenes of assault to emphasize the harsh realities women face in the series (and by extension, the medieval period on which it was based). Aside from one upsetting but brief scene of marital rape between Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) and young Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey), House of the Dragon has shown far more restraint than its predecessor when it comes to portraying sexual violence. Instead, it focuses on the patriarchal systems that cast doubt and inferiority on women like Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent (Olivia Cooke), which in turn foster violence.

However, a scene in House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 2 threatens to derail that restraint and launch the series down a slippery slope towards Game of Thrones' worst tendencies.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments

In the scene, Master of Laws Jasper Wylde (Paul Kennedy) accosts Alicent, believing her to be a traitor to the Iron Throne. He then attempts to rape her, falsely assuming she would be willing due to her prior sexual relationship with Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). Thankfully, Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) intervenes not too long into the attack, and the scene is nowhere near as graphic as anything we've seen in Game of Thrones. Still, Alicent's extended struggle set off alarm bells that any Game of Thrones viewer is all too familiar with. For a moment, it looked like we were about to watch yet another unnecessary Westeros-set rape.

"Unnecessary" is truly the best way to describe the scene. Alicent's assault is not in House of the Dragon's source material, Martin's Fire and Blood. Nor does it wind up having any further bearing on the episode, besides terrifying Alicent as she tries to ensure Rhaenyra's safe passage to the Red Keep. You know what else could have established that fear? The simple fact that Jasper already suspects her plans! There was absolutely no need to escalate to threats of sexual violence. Possibly losing her head as a traitor to the crown should be frightening enough, yet House of the Dragon seems to believe that the only way it can truly raise the stakes for Alicent is by putting rape on the table. (The show has already put her through enough sexually, between her marital rape, Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) fetishizing her feet, and her own son, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), giving her a non-consensual kiss.)

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3: How does Rhaenyra's conquest of King's Landing compare to the book?

Alicent's assault isn't the only troubling moment of sexual violence to appear in House of the Dragon Season 3. In episode 1, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) witnesses a frightened, half-dressed woman leaving a soldier's tent. He informs Criston that their troops are hurting women and should be punished for their crimes, to which Criston responds that they'll all be reduced to their base animal instincts soon enough thanks to the war. The scene is meant to establish their opposing outlooks: Gwayne hopes to hold fast to order and any last modicum of knightly honor, while Criston embraces apathy. Yet the show fails to consider the victim who sparked this conversation. She's a nameless entity whose trauma exists solely to fuel Gwayne and Criston's differences. Her rape is as good as window dressing for House of the Dragon's purposes, and that is a severe step back for a show that has previously not relied on sexual violence as a crutch for shock value.

Rape should not be a world-building tool. It took five seasons and a loud uproar over Sansa's assault for Game of Thrones to truly understand that. While the series scaled back its portrayals of sexual violence in Season 6 and beyond, that unfortunate legacy still lingers over the franchise, including in Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. In the show's first few scenes, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) rehearses being a knight by telling an imaginary assailant to "stop raping." In a vacuum, it's a funny moment, but it also feels like an acknowledgement of Game of Thrones' over-reliance on rape as a plot device. If only House of the Dragon would listen.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.

You can see why people talk about Harrenhal being cursed.

Not only is the place a spooky, ruined husk of a castle, but it's now been invaded by both Team Black and Team Green since the Dance of the Dragons began.

Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) conquered it back in House of the Dragon Season 2, and now Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) has done the same thing. But what do their very comparable, but also very different, conquests of the castle reveal about them? Actually, quite a lot.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 2: Aemond, WTF did you DO? What happens in Harrenhal in Season 3, episode 2?

Fresh from kissing his own mother (heave), Aemond flies in to Harrenhal on the back of Vhagar and immediately starts burning soldiers. He dismounts, kills a few more people, then bursts in on poor old Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) and his children eating supper.

"Draw your sword," hisses Aemond.

"Your grace, I have no sword," responds sweet Ser Simon.

"Then get one!" says Aemond.

Ser Simon, now in peak charm offensive mode, gets up from the table and slowly walks towards Aemond, telling him he does not wish to oppose him. But the minute he's face-to-face with Team Green's drama king, he gets a dagger in the belly.

Aemond then kills both of Ser Simon's sons, but not before he gets a knife in the back himself.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments What does this second Harrenhal invasion tell us about Aemond?

The scene in episode 2 has multiple similarities to Daemon's invasion of Harrenhal back in Season 2, episode 3. Like Aemond, Daemon also flies in on his dragon and faces minimal opposition (even less, in fact — there's just one guard who he quickly knocks out cold before reaching the dining hall).

The difference? When Ser Simon Strong immediately surrenders, Daemon doesn't needlessly slaughter him. He accepts his offer and stays in the castle.

Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Aemond and Daemon are both undoubtedly fierce warriors. But their parallel Harrenhal sieges show a key weakness in Aemond's character: Either because of a deep mistrust of people, a ruthlessness, or some combination of the two, Aemond makes a mistake in killing Ser Simon. In return for his restraint, Daemon gets supper, while Aemond's aggression only gets him gravely injured.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

For all things House of the Dragon, Mashable has you covered.

After 20 episodes, several bloody battles, and the death of two sons, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) has finally done it. She's taken the Iron Throne of Westeros.

The victory comes at the end of House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 2, which sees Rhaenyra and Daemon (Matt Smith) crash King's Landing on dragonback and take the Red Keep by storm. It's a massive development in both the show and its source material, George R.R. Martin's Targaryen history Fire and Blood. However, just like with episode 1's gargantuan Battle of the Gullet, House of the Dragon makes several changes when translating Rhaenyra's triumph to the screen.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 family tree: How the Targaryens, Velaryons, and Hightowers connect

From Alicent Hightower's (Olivia Cooke) new involvement to her father Otto's (Rhys Ifans) demise, here are all the biggest differences between House of the Dragon and Fire and Blood's takes on the Fall of King's Landing.

Alicent is behind the Fall of King's Landing in House of the Dragon. Olivia Cooke and Phia Saban in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

House of the Dragon's biggest change to the Fall of King's Landing has been in the works since the Season 2 finale, when Alicent came to Dragonstone to strike a deal with Rhaenyra. She told Rhaenyra that once Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) flew to Harrenhal, she would be free to take King's Landing, along with Aegon II's (Tom Glynn-Carney) head. Alicent would even tell the soldiers to stand down, and in return Rhaenyra would let her, Helaena (Phia Saban), and Jaehaera go free. This deal is all completely new to the show, and the same goes for the deal's execution in Season 3, episode 2, as Alicent keeps her word.

In the book, the end result is the same: Alicent surrenders the city. However, she does so under duress. Rhaenyra offers her the choice between giving up her life and giving up King's Landing, and obviously, Alicent chooses to stay alive.

Gwayne straight up dies in Fire and Blood. Freddie Fox in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO

Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) might not like slumming it in the Riverlands with Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), but he should be thankful he's not around for the Fall of King's Landing. If he were, he'd likely meet his Fire and Blood fate: death at the hands of City Watch commander Luthor Largent (Tom Cullen).

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 1: Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower are worlds apart

In the book, Gwayne is second in command of the gold cloaks, and he wants to sound the alarm on Rhaenyra's arrival. Luthor, still loyal to Daemon for creating the City Watch, puts an end to it by stabbing him. However, show Gwayne gets to live another day.

Otto Hightower's execution looks different in House of the Dragon. Rhys Ifans in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

While Gwayne escapes his Fire and Blood death, his father Otto is not so lucky. Like in Fire and Blood, he is the first person to be beheaded during Rhaenyra's reign.

House of the Dragon does alter some elements of Otto Hightower's execution, though. For starters, it comes right after his release from the prison cells below King's Landing, which is where Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) has apparently been keeping him since halfway through Season 2. Otto avoids any prison time in Fire and Blood.

SEE ALSO: I saw 'House of the Dragon's Jace Velaryon DJ his own funeral

House of the Dragon also fleshes out Otto's death by having Daemon encourage Rhaenyra to take his head herself. (The book does not describe his execution in any detail.) It's a brutal moment that sees a still-grieving Rhaenyra continue the cycle of violence that has plagued Westeros since the start of the Dance of the Dragons. It also bodes very ill for her relationship with Alicent, who's escorted back to the Red Keep just in time to see her former friend standing over her dead father's body. Not quite how you imagined the day would end, right, Alicent?

Aegon II flees during Rhaenyra's invasion in Fire and Blood. Matthew Needham and Tom Glynn-Carney in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO

Part of Alicent and Rhaenyra's deal was that Rhaenyra would get to take Aegon's life. In the show, he's already far from King's Landing, but in Fire and Blood, he makes his escape during the Fall of King's Landing itself. He doesn't go alone: He takes his children Jaehaera and Maelor (who does not exist in the show), along with Kingsguard members Willis Fell and Rickard Thorne.

Rhaenyra doesn't get sliced by the Iron Throne in House of the Dragon. Emma D'Arcy in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

While Rhaenyra winds up on the Iron Throne in both House of the Dragon and Fire and Blood, the show leaves out a pretty major detail about her first time on Westeros' most famous chair. In Fire and Blood, the Iron Throne cuts her legs and palm, suggesting that it has "spurned" her and that she won't sit atop it for long. House of the Dragon leaves this out entirely, perhaps choosing not to play into the legend of the Iron Throne rejecting unworthy rulers. (Or choosing to emphasize that Rhaenyra is truly worthy.) However, the show has set a precedent for the Iron Throne cutting people in the past, with Viserys' (Paddy Considine) many festering wounds throughout Season 1.

But just because House of the Dragon's Iron Throne didn't cut Rhaenyra doesn't mean she's in for a smooth reign. Based on the trailer for the rest of Season 3, she's going to face the challenge of winning the realm back to her side, as well as contend with the forces of Ormund Hightower (James Norton). She may officially be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, but there's still plenty of Season 3 left for things to go wrong.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

If you can hear the sound of screeching angst on the wind, that's no rogue dragon. That's me, after watching House of the Dragon's latest episode.

Season 3, episode 2 of the HBO series features the loss of one of my favourite characters in Westeros, at the hands of one of the most diabolical. We're used to character deaths by now — this is the Game of Thrones universe — but this death in particular need not have happened. Nay, should not.

I'm talking about Aemond Targaryen's (Ewan Mitchell) cold-blooded slaying of Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale). And yes, Mashable asked Mitchell about it.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments What happens to Ser Simon Strong in House of the Dragon? Vale, Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale). Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

The most patient man in the Seven Kingdoms and a stealth MVP of House of the Dragon Season 2, Ser Simon has been putting up with Targaryen bravado for an age. As Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) stomped through seized halls and tripped balls nightly last season, the Castellan of Harrenhal remained a paragon of diplomacy — even making sure Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) wasn't usurped by her own uncle-husband.

Strong pledged fealty to Rhaenyra in Season 2, so he's technically a direct enemy of Aemond's, who's next in line for his brother Aegon II's (Tom Glynn-Carney) throne. However, when Aemond strides into Harrenhal, with his dragon Vhagar happily barbecuing up the small number of soldiers stationed in the crumbling castle, Ser Simon is yet again hospitable to a gate-crashing Targaryen.

Called to duel for the castle by the prince regent, Ser Simon simply hands the keys over instead of taking up arms. "I do not wish to oppose you; I have not wielded a blade these many years," he says. Strong makes the unwise decision to try and reason with Aemond, even putting a hand on his shoulder to seal the peace deal. It doesn't work. Aemond murders the unarmed Ser Simon and his sons (but not before one of them gets a cheeky stab in).

"I'm innocent, man. He came to me!" - Ewan Mitchell

Reader, I flipped the proverbial table. Not this delightful Harrenhal Santa, this provider of post-battle wine, this constant source of acquiescence to punk princes. Aemond's no stranger to eliminating those in his way — whether he intends to or not — but murdering my gracious Westeros grandfather at his own table is too far. Worse than pashing your own mother.

"I'm innocent, man," Mitchell told Mashable. "He came to me!"

Asked why Aemond demands Ser Simon pick up his sword, Mitchell said Aemond's aim is clear.

"It's just to give him a fair fight, or just be like, look, go out on your sword, as opposed to, you know..." he said. "Because I think Aemond goes into that room with the intention he's going to wipe out everyone in it, and he does until [Alys] shows up."

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3: Sharako Lohar one-liners, ranked Who's even left in House Strong?

Aemond's Strongicide means big trouble for the Strong family's legacy. This noble Riverlands family's days are numbered. Ser Simon and his sons are now slain. Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr) and his father, Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes), died in a fire. Harwin's bastard sons with Rhaenyra are both dead, so all we have left is... the diabolical master of whisperers, Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), who commissioned the fire that killed his father and brother. He's currently on the World's Worst Road Trip with Aegon II, in enemy territory where everyone seems to want their heads.

Now, my question for the room. Will Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), who showed up after the slaughter of the Strongs, help this murdering brigand, Aemond? Should she? I, for one, might leave him on the floor for a bit.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.