Technology

The best early Black Friday Amazon device deals at a glance: Best Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) $139.99 (save $90) Get Deal Best Fire TV deal Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $694.99 (save $125) Get Deal Best Fire TV Stick deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 (save $30 with coupon code STREAM4K) Get Deal Best Blink deal Blink Mini 2K+ $24.99 (save $25) Get Deal Best Echo deal Echo Show 5 Kids $54.99 (save $45) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Like-new Kindle Paperwhite $106.99 (save $37) Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale officially kicks off on Nov. 20, a full week ahead of Black Friday proper. But as you probably know at this point, the actual dates of the sale are blurred beyond recognition. Many deals, particularly on Amazon's own devices, are already live days before the event — and will likely stick around after all is said and done. Other than Prime Day, it's the best time of year to grab an Amazon device.

Plenty of Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Fire TV Sticks, and Blink security cameras are already chilling at record-low prices. We're particularly impressed by the Fire TV deals, with some 2025 models up to $210 off. As usual, Kindle deals are slim to none ahead of the official event kick off. We expect those to drop later this week. Echo deals are also lacking, but we'll be keeping an eye on the new Echo Show 8, 11, Studio, and Dot Max for their first big price drops.

We're keeping track of all of the best Amazon device deals below and will continue to monitor anything new that pops up once the sale begins. For deals beyond Amazon devices, be sure to follow along with all of Mashable's coverage in our Black Friday hub.

Best early Black Friday Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) $139.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $90   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's best iPad competitor and our favorite Fire tablet, the Fire Max 11, is back down to $139.99 at Amazon ahead of Black Friday. That's 39% in savings and matches its all-time low price from October Prime Day. As Mashable's reviewer noted, "The Amazon Fire Max 11 has a large, 11-inch display and is blazing fast, making it a good alternative to pricier tablets for streaming and games." It also features 8MP cameras that support 1080p video, an octa-core processor, WiFi 6 compatibility, and a 14-hour battery life. While it is a couple of years old, it's the newest generation of the tablet available.

Read our full review of the Fire Max 11.

More Fire tablet deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB) $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $69.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $70.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids (16GB) $54.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $55.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (32GB) $74.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $75.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (32GB) $84.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $75.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids (32GB) $104.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $85.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (32GB) $104.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $85.00   Get Deal Best early Black Friday Amazon Fire TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $694.99 at Amazon
$819.99 Save $125   Get Deal Why we like it

The newest and fanciest Fire TV in Amazon's lineup, the 2025 Omni Mini-LED Fire TV is loaded up with specs. It packs hands-free Alexa, Interactive Art Mode (similar to Samsung's The Frame), a 144Hz refresh rate, and Intelligent Picture technology, which can fine-tune the details of whatever you're watching. With a 4K QLED mini-LED display featuring Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness, and 768 dimming zones, it's easily the best Fire TV picture quality to date. And now that the 55-inch model is down to only $694.99 — its lowest price on record — it's almost in budget-friendly territory.

More Fire TV deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick HD $17.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $17.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $39.78 at Amazon
$65.98 Save $26.20 with 2-year protection plan Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 with coupon code STREAM4K Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Cube $89.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $249.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $80   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV $279.99 at Amazon
$469.99 Save $190   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $329.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $70   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV $349.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 65-inch Omni 4K Fire TV $449.99 at Amazon
$669.99 Save $220   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 65-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $894.99 at Amazon
$1,089.99 Save $195   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 75-inch Omni 4K Fire TV $569.99 at Amazon
$839.99 Save $270   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 75-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $1,289.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $210   Get Deal

For more Amazon Fire TV deals, check out our full list of Black Friday TV deals.

Early Black Friday Echo deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop Kids $21.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $28.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Kids $31.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00   Get Deal Early Black Friday Kindle deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $106.99 at Amazon
$143.99 Save $37.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $126.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $53.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-New Amazon Kindle Scribe $278.99
$404.99 Save $126   Get Deal

Check out our full curated list of Black Friday Kindle deals.

Early Black Friday Blink deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Mini 2 $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Mini 2K+ $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Video Doorbell $29.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $40   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 $27.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $52   Get Deal

With the Financial Times' report that Apple is preparing for the post-Tim Cook era, the question arises: who will actually take over one of the most powerful jobs in tech? Cook has led Apple since 2011, growing its valuation from $350 billion to $4 trillion. However, as the company embarks on its next chapter — particularly amid pressure to introduce new, innovative hardware and remain competitive in AI — the shortlist of potential successors is taking shape.

SEE ALSO: Tim Cook’s time at Apple could be coming to an end, report says

And at the top of that list is the person insiders say is the most likely candidate: John Ternus.

John Ternus (the frontrunner)

Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has the clearest path to the CEO role. Having joined the company in 2001, he’s overseen engineering for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods, and played a major role in the transition to Apple silicon. It is not an exaggeration to say he has literally touched every major Apple device in the modern era. With hardware at the center of Apple’s strategy — and Apple needing someone who understands the product pipeline inside and out — Ternus is widely seen as Cook’s successor, per the Financial Times.

Craig Federighi

Federighi, Apple’s software chief, is the face of macOS and iOS, and one of the company’s most public figures thanks to his keynote presence. While he brings charisma and user-facing credibility, Apple may want to lean towards operations and hardware-minded leadership for the top job, making him a less likely but still notable contender.

Eddy Cue

Cue oversees services including Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud, and the App Store. Services are a massive revenue engine for the company, but Cue’s expertise is focused on that specific ecosystem rather than Apple’s core hardware and operations. Still, as one of Apple’s longest-tenured executives, his name inevitably appears in succession chatter.

Katherine Adams

As General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Legal and Global Security, Adams oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including corporate governance, privacy, and global security. Her background at Honeywell and deep experience in legal strategy make her indispensable internally; however, historically, Apple has never pulled a CEO from the legal side of the organization.

Sabih Khan

Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Khan oversees global operations, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, and AppleCare. Having been with Apple since 1995 and playing a key role in shipping nearly every major Apple product, he fits the classic Tim Cook mold more than anyone besides Ternus. If Apple wants a steady operations-first leader again, Khan is the alternate pick.

So who’s actually next?

All signs point to Ternus. He represents the product-first vision Apple wants to maintain, he’s already leading the teams behind its most important devices, and insiders say the board is preparing for a transition that prioritizes hardware expertise, according to the Financial Times. Nothing is final — and Apple could still shift direction — but right now, Ternus is the one to watch.

With the Financial Times' report that Apple is preparing for the post-Tim Cook era, the question arises: who will actually take over one of the most powerful jobs in tech? Cook has led Apple since 2011, growing its valuation from $350 billion to $4 trillion. However, as the company embarks on its next chapter — particularly amid pressure to introduce new, innovative hardware and remain competitive in AI — the shortlist of potential successors is taking shape.

SEE ALSO: Tim Cook’s time at Apple could be coming to an end, report says

And at the top of that list is the person insiders say is the most likely candidate: John Ternus.

John Ternus (the frontrunner)

Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has the clearest path to the CEO role. Having joined the company in 2001, he’s overseen engineering for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods, and played a major role in the transition to Apple silicon. It is not an exaggeration to say he has literally touched every major Apple device in the modern era. With hardware at the center of Apple’s strategy — and Apple needing someone who understands the product pipeline inside and out — Ternus is widely seen as Cook’s successor, per the Financial Times.

Craig Federighi

Federighi, Apple’s software chief, is the face of macOS and iOS, and one of the company’s most public figures thanks to his keynote presence. While he brings charisma and user-facing credibility, Apple may want to lean towards operations and hardware-minded leadership for the top job, making him a less likely but still notable contender.

Eddy Cue

Cue oversees services including Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud, and the App Store. Services are a massive revenue engine for the company, but Cue’s expertise is focused on that specific ecosystem rather than Apple’s core hardware and operations. Still, as one of Apple’s longest-tenured executives, his name inevitably appears in succession chatter.

Katherine Adams

As General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Legal and Global Security, Adams oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including corporate governance, privacy, and global security. Her background at Honeywell and deep experience in legal strategy make her indispensable internally; however, historically, Apple has never pulled a CEO from the legal side of the organization.

Sabih Khan

Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Khan oversees global operations, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, and AppleCare. Having been with Apple since 1995 and playing a key role in shipping nearly every major Apple product, he fits the classic Tim Cook mold more than anyone besides Ternus. If Apple wants a steady operations-first leader again, Khan is the alternate pick.

So who’s actually next?

All signs point to Ternus. He represents the product-first vision Apple wants to maintain, he’s already leading the teams behind its most important devices, and insiders say the board is preparing for a transition that prioritizes hardware expertise, according to the Financial Times. Nothing is final — and Apple could still shift direction — but right now, Ternus is the one to watch.

The DietPi team announced over the weekend an update to its alternative to Raspberry Pi OS. DietPi 19.9 brings a new entry to the DietPi database of optimized software, plus upgrades for other software and some bug fixes.

A truly great hot hatch has to juggle speed, practicality, and everyday livability, and one affordable contender nails that balance better than most. It delivers punchy acceleration, sharp handling, and plenty of real-world usefulness, all without the sky-high repair bills that often come with performance cars. For drivers who want something quick and playful but still dependable, it stands out as one of the most well-rounded options on the road.

SAVE $151.99: The Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones are on sale at Amazon for $248, down from the normal price of $399.99. That's a 38% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal

A good pair of headphones can feel kinda life-changing. Imagine a 10-hour plane journey with noise-cancelling headphones that aren't uncomfortable after watching just one movie. Problem is, the best headphones tend to come with steep prices. But that's all remedied thanks to today's early Black Friday deal at Amazon.

As of Nov. 17, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones are on sale for $248 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $399.99. That works out to a 38% discount, shaving a sweet $151.99 off the price. This deal marks the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon on the Sony XM5 headphones.

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The new Sony XM6 headphones are stunning, no doubt, but the older XM5 headphones are still an excellent option, espeically thanks to this new all-time low price. In Mashable's list of the best Sony headphones, the XM5s earn the top spot as the best former flagship.

"Brand enthusiasts who can’t afford the pricier WH-1000XM6, but still want the extravagant Sony listening experience — you won't be disappointed. Very few things separate these two models, besides the big price difference," wrote freelancer Alex Bracetti. Currently, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $429.99 which means the XM5s are nearly $200 cheaper.

SEE ALSO: The JBL Tune Buds are heavily discounted ahead of Black Friday — save $60 with the best-ever price on Amazon

Bracetti also wrote, "The WH-1000XM5s retain many series hallmarks, including ANC, battery life, sound, and special features," so you don't need to worry about a major drop in quality with this previous model.

One of the only major differences between the XM5 and XM6 models is the lack of ear cups that fold up on the older model. But given the almost $200 price difference, that's a sacrifice we're willing to deal with.

Before the chaos of Amazon Black Friday hits this Thursday, snatch up a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones for under $250. This new record-low price is a heck of a deal, especially compared to the price of the new XM6 headphones.

The end of an era is coming in 2026 for Apple – maybe?

According to a new report from the Financial Times, Apple is currently making plans for Tim Cook to step down as CEO. And it could be happening next year.

Apple's plans are not related to performance issues or any sort of negative outlook for the company, according to the outlet's sources. In fact, Apple is expecting to break sales records this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: Apple expects record sales for the holidays

Cook has been CEO of Apple for nearly a decade and a half and led the company during one of its most trying times. He took over the position after Apple founder Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO in August 2011 due to medical reasons. Jobs died in October of that year. 

John Ternus, Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineers, is considered the likely favorite to take over the reins from Cook. However, no final decision of a new Apple CEO has been made. Ternus has been with the company since 2001 and would be the same age, 50, as Cook was when he became CEO 14 years ago. 

Ternus has been more visible as of late at the Apple keynote events, potentially being prepared to eventually step in as CEO. He most recently introduced the new iPhone Air at September's Apple event.

As the Financial Times points out, Cook has previously shared that Apple has “very detailed succession plans." Apple has lost some key executives this year as both Apple's chief financial officer Luca Maestri and Apple's chief operating officer Jeff Williams left the company. Both were considered close to Cook.

Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman previously reported that Ternus was being looked at as Tim Cook's successor. However, in response to the Financial Times report, Gurman shared that there is nothing on his radar pointing to Cook stepping down anytime soon.

But, if Cook was to step down as Apple CEO next year, don't expect him to do so before the earnings report in January 2026, which would cover how the company did during the holiday season, according to the Financial Times. However, anytime after the earnings report appears to be fair game and an early transition would get the CEO comfortable before Apple's big keynote events, starting with the WWDC in June.

The end of an era is coming in 2026 for Apple – maybe?

According to a new report from the Financial Times, Apple is currently making plans for Tim Cook to step down as CEO. And it could be happening next year.

Apple's plans are not related to performance issues or any sort of negative outlook for the company, according to the outlet's sources. In fact, Apple is expecting to break sales records this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: Apple expects record sales for the holidays

Cook has been CEO of Apple for nearly a decade and a half and led the company during one of its most trying times. He took over the position after Apple founder Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO in August 2011 due to medical reasons. Jobs died in October of that year. 

John Ternus, Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineers, is considered the likely favorite to take over the reins from Cook. However, no final decision of a new Apple CEO has been made. Ternus has been with the company since 2001 and would be the same age, 50, as Cook was when he became CEO 14 years ago. 

Ternus has been more visible as of late at the Apple keynote events, potentially being prepared to eventually step in as CEO. He most recently introduced the new iPhone Air at September's Apple event.

As the Financial Times points out, Cook has previously shared that Apple has “very detailed succession plans." Apple has lost some key executives this year as both Apple's chief financial officer Luca Maestri and Apple's chief operating officer Jeff Williams left the company. Both were considered close to Cook.

Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman previously reported that Ternus was being looked at as Tim Cook's successor. However, in response to the Financial Times report, Gurman shared that there is nothing on his radar pointing to Cook stepping down anytime soon.

But, if Cook was to step down as Apple CEO next year, don't expect him to do so before the earnings report in January 2026, which would cover how the company did during the holiday season, according to the Financial Times. However, anytime after the earnings report appears to be fair game and an early transition would get the CEO comfortable before Apple's big keynote events, starting with the WWDC in June.

Google's WeatherNext 2 is here, and it's not just some advanced AI model to help with Gemini. It is designed to give faster and much more detailed global weather predictions. This should fundamentally change how Google generates forecasts, making them smarter, quicker, and more useful.

My first exposure to Critical Role wasn't a clip from any of their campaigns, but instead, a GIF set of their animated introduction for Campaign 2. Scrolling past it on Tumblr, I immediately became bewitched by the characters. Who was this joyful blue tiefling fighting foes with glowing lollipops and unicorns? What lay in the past of this clearly traumatized, fire-wielding wizard? And how had this disparate crew of goblins and humans and orcs and more banded together?

SEE ALSO: Critical Role fans, you can watch the first episode of 'The Mighty Nein' on YouTube

With those questions in mind, I set off right down the Critical Role rabbit hole, discovering the adventuring party known as the Mighty Nein. Yet as much as I enjoyed witnessing these characters' stories play out in an improvised Dungeons and Dragons format, I couldn't help but yearn for an expansion on the animated introduction that had exposed me to them in the first place.

Now, that expansion is here in the form of Critical Role's new animated series The Mighty Nein. And it's as glorious as I had hoped.

What's The Mighty Nein about? Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein is Critical Role's second animated series with Prime Video, following in the footsteps of The Legend of Vox Machina. While the latter took a few episodes to nail the balance between bawdy humor and high fantasy, The Mighty Nein hits the ground running, delivering a darker, more mature story right from the get-go.

That story begins with a heist: A strike team of formidable wizards from the Dwendalian Empire steals the powerful Luxon Beacon from the Kryn Dynasty. The sequence plays out almost wordlessly, punctuated by beats of lethal magic and hand-to-hand combat. It's a gripping reintroduction to the world of Exandria, one that sets the stage for a devastating war between nations. It's also a darkly funny choice for The Mighty Nein's starting point, because while the Dwendalian wizards and Kryn soldiers are elite, highly organized forces, our titular heroes are... not.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mighty Nein' trailer: Critical Role's new show teases magic battles and tons of trauma

By the time The Mighty Nein begins, the actual Mighty Nein crew is far from being assembled. Each of the team's members (and despite what the name suggests, there are only six of them) is scattered to the winds, dealing with their own woes. And trust me, The Mighty Nein does not skimp on the traumatic backstories. Dirt-covered wizard Caleb Widogast (voiced by Liam O'Brien) scrounges for magical components while running from his past. Goblin thief Nott the Brave (voiced by Sam Riegel) drowns her sorrows at every waking moment. Cobalt Soul monk Beauregard Lionett (voiced by Marisha Ray) faces derisions from her superiors, who dismiss her detective work based on her hotheadedness.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Elsewhere, shipwrecked sailor Fjord Stone (voiced by Travis Willingham) awakens with magical powers he didn't ask for and doesn't know how to use, while prankster Jester Lavorre (voiced by Laura Bailey) can't get her patron god (and best friend) to answer her call. Rounding out the group is Mollymauk Tealeaf (voiced by Taliesin Jaffe), a circus ringmaster oozing with charisma, yet plagued with worries about his circus going under (and some unsettling memories).

In short, these six have nothing in common. However, the brewing conflict over the Luxon Beacon will bring these outcasts together in unexpected ways and offer them the chance to prove that maybe, just maybe they can make a difference for the better. Based on the skills shown by both the Dwendalian and Kryn forces in the opening, though, they have their work cut out for them.

The Mighty Nein builds a formidable team. Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein takes no shortcuts when it comes to bringing its team together. There are arguments and in-fighting aplenty in the series, each a perfect showcase of the distinct personalities the show is working with. Yet from these arguments emerge strong bonds of camaraderie, made all the sweeter by the conflict it took to get there.

The Mighty Nein manages to preserve all of the wonderful relationships players crafted at the table during Campaign 2: Nott and Caleb's protection of one another, Jester and Fjord's playful friendship, Beau and Caleb's growing respect and trust, Mollymauk's ability to bring everyone together... I could go on, as the webs The Mighty Nein weaves between its characters are as rich and varied as the characters themselves.

The complexities of these characters and their relationships come through, not just in dialogue but also in The Mighty Nein's jaw-dropping action sequences. The Legend of Vox Machina already set the bar high on how to translate Critical Role's battles into animation, but The Mighty Nein more than meets that bar, even surpassing it when it comes to magic usage.

That's because each magic user in The Mighty Nein has their own unique way of casting. Caleb uses material components to create destructive spells, Jester summons sparkling herds of mini unicorns and candy, Mollymauk wields blood magic that even he seems surprised he has access to, and Fjord sends out watery blasts without quite knowing how. In the case of all four, but especially the latter two, watching them fight means watching them discover enchanting new abilities on the fly. You're seeing heroes grow into themselves in real time — and in spectacular fashion, thanks to dazzling animation from Titmouse.

This sense of discovery turns The Mighty Nein into an unforgettable story of becoming something greater than you ever thought you could be, and of finding belonging you never thought you would. It's the found family trope done to a tee, and honestly, when I dreamed of an animated series based on the Campaign 2 intro all those years ago, never did I expect it to hit as hard as this.

The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein premiere Nov. 19 on Prime Video, with a new episode every Wednesday.

My first exposure to Critical Role wasn't a clip from any of their campaigns, but instead, a GIF set of their animated introduction for Campaign 2. Scrolling past it on Tumblr, I immediately became bewitched by the characters. Who was this joyful blue tiefling fighting foes with glowing lollipops and unicorns? What lay in the past of this clearly traumatized, fire-wielding wizard? And how had this disparate crew of goblins and humans and orcs and more banded together?

SEE ALSO: Critical Role fans, you can watch the first episode of 'The Mighty Nein' on YouTube

With those questions in mind, I set off right down the Critical Role rabbit hole, discovering the adventuring party known as the Mighty Nein. Yet as much as I enjoyed witnessing these characters' stories play out in an improvised Dungeons and Dragons format, I couldn't help but yearn for an expansion on the animated introduction that had exposed me to them in the first place.

Now, that expansion is here in the form of Critical Role's new animated series The Mighty Nein. And it's as glorious as I had hoped.

What's The Mighty Nein about? Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein is Critical Role's second animated series with Prime Video, following in the footsteps of The Legend of Vox Machina. While the latter took a few episodes to nail the balance between bawdy humor and high fantasy, The Mighty Nein hits the ground running, delivering a darker, more mature story right from the get-go.

That story begins with a heist: A strike team of formidable wizards from the Dwendalian Empire steals the powerful Luxon Beacon from the Kryn Dynasty. The sequence plays out almost wordlessly, punctuated by beats of lethal magic and hand-to-hand combat. It's a gripping reintroduction to the world of Exandria, one that sets the stage for a devastating war between nations. It's also a darkly funny choice for The Mighty Nein's starting point, because while the Dwendalian wizards and Kryn soldiers are elite, highly organized forces, our titular heroes are... not.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mighty Nein' trailer: Critical Role's new show teases magic battles and tons of trauma

By the time The Mighty Nein begins, the actual Mighty Nein crew is far from being assembled. Each of the team's members (and despite what the name suggests, there are only six of them) is scattered to the winds, dealing with their own woes. And trust me, The Mighty Nein does not skimp on the traumatic backstories. Dirt-covered wizard Caleb Widogast (voiced by Liam O'Brien) scrounges for magical components while running from his past. Goblin thief Nott the Brave (voiced by Sam Riegel) drowns her sorrows at every waking moment. Cobalt Soul monk Beauregard Lionett (voiced by Marisha Ray) faces derisions from her superiors, who dismiss her detective work based on her hotheadedness.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Elsewhere, shipwrecked sailor Fjord Stone (voiced by Travis Willingham) awakens with magical powers he didn't ask for and doesn't know how to use, while prankster Jester Lavorre (voiced by Laura Bailey) can't get her patron god (and best friend) to answer her call. Rounding out the group is Mollymauk Tealeaf (voiced by Taliesin Jaffe), a circus ringmaster oozing with charisma, yet plagued with worries about his circus going under (and some unsettling memories).

In short, these six have nothing in common. However, the brewing conflict over the Luxon Beacon will bring these outcasts together in unexpected ways and offer them the chance to prove that maybe, just maybe they can make a difference for the better. Based on the skills shown by both the Dwendalian and Kryn forces in the opening, though, they have their work cut out for them.

The Mighty Nein builds a formidable team. Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein takes no shortcuts when it comes to bringing its team together. There are arguments and in-fighting aplenty in the series, each a perfect showcase of the distinct personalities the show is working with. Yet from these arguments emerge strong bonds of camaraderie, made all the sweeter by the conflict it took to get there.

The Mighty Nein manages to preserve all of the wonderful relationships players crafted at the table during Campaign 2: Nott and Caleb's protection of one another, Jester and Fjord's playful friendship, Beau and Caleb's growing respect and trust, Mollymauk's ability to bring everyone together... I could go on, as the webs The Mighty Nein weaves between its characters are as rich and varied as the characters themselves.

The complexities of these characters and their relationships come through, not just in dialogue but also in The Mighty Nein's jaw-dropping action sequences. The Legend of Vox Machina already set the bar high on how to translate Critical Role's battles into animation, but The Mighty Nein more than meets that bar, even surpassing it when it comes to magic usage.

That's because each magic user in The Mighty Nein has their own unique way of casting. Caleb uses material components to create destructive spells, Jester summons sparkling herds of mini unicorns and candy, Mollymauk wields blood magic that even he seems surprised he has access to, and Fjord sends out watery blasts without quite knowing how. In the case of all four, but especially the latter two, watching them fight means watching them discover enchanting new abilities on the fly. You're seeing heroes grow into themselves in real time — and in spectacular fashion, thanks to dazzling animation from Titmouse.

This sense of discovery turns The Mighty Nein into an unforgettable story of becoming something greater than you ever thought you could be, and of finding belonging you never thought you would. It's the found family trope done to a tee, and honestly, when I dreamed of an animated series based on the Campaign 2 intro all those years ago, never did I expect it to hit as hard as this.

The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein premiere Nov. 19 on Prime Video, with a new episode every Wednesday.

We, as a society, have discovered that perhaps the world isn't ready for a ChatGPT-powered children's toy. Or, rather, ChatGPT isn't ready to safely interact with kids.

Toymaker FoloToy announced it would pull its AI-powered teddy bear called Kumma, which was built on OpenAI's GPT-4o model. The news follows reports of serious safety concerns, including the bear talking about sexual subjects, knives, or lighting matches.

"FoloToy has decided to temporarily suspend sales of the affected product and begin a comprehensive internal safety audit," FoloToy Marketing Director Hugo Wu told The Register in a statement. "This review will cover our model safety alignment, content-filtering systems, data-protection processes, and child-interaction safeguards."

The news follows a report from a consumer watchdog organization called the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) that revealed serious concerns about the toy. The teddy bear reportedly gave detailed instructions for lighting a match, talked about sexual kinks like bondage, and gave tips for "being a good kisser." It even asked if the user would like to explore said kinks.

We've seen time and again that guardrails for AI tools can fail when it comes to young people. It seems like it's a good idea to no longer sell an AI-powered teddy bear so long as that's the case.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

We, as a society, have discovered that perhaps the world isn't ready for a ChatGPT-powered children's toy. Or, rather, ChatGPT isn't ready to safely interact with kids.

Toymaker FoloToy announced it would pull its AI-powered teddy bear called Kumma, which was built on OpenAI's GPT-4o model. The news follows reports of serious safety concerns, including the bear talking about sexual subjects, knives, or lighting matches.

"FoloToy has decided to temporarily suspend sales of the affected product and begin a comprehensive internal safety audit," FoloToy Marketing Director Hugo Wu told The Register in a statement. "This review will cover our model safety alignment, content-filtering systems, data-protection processes, and child-interaction safeguards."

The news follows a report from a consumer watchdog organization called the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) that revealed serious concerns about the toy. The teddy bear reportedly gave detailed instructions for lighting a match, talked about sexual kinks like bondage, and gave tips for "being a good kisser." It even asked if the user would like to explore said kinks.

We've seen time and again that guardrails for AI tools can fail when it comes to young people. It seems like it's a good idea to no longer sell an AI-powered teddy bear so long as that's the case.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The Apple Watch has offered sleep tracking since 2020, and since then, it has been updated with new visuals and features. Each update has provided more insight into your sleep patterns and overall performance.

Uh oh, there's a new trend on TikTok, and this one's sad.

The white rabbit TikTok trend is all about your life turning upside down. Think: footage of a ballet dancer followed by them experiencing a horrible accident, or footage of a wedding followed by footage of a divorce, or footage of my cat following a laser pointer across the wall followed by footage of a dead battery.

The videos are usually set to the tune of a clock ticking and some soft piano coming in later. Nearly 180,000 videos have been made using the audio, some with text over the first clip that says, "the day before the rabbit got me," or "48 hours before that stupid rabbit got me," or simply, "that damn white rabbit." Sometimes it's followed by the aftermath; often, it isn't.

It's a reference to the white rabbit in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, whose trickery and general vibe turn everything upside down.

Uh oh, there's a new trend on TikTok, and this one's sad.

The white rabbit TikTok trend is all about your life turning upside down. Think: footage of a ballet dancer followed by them experiencing a horrible accident, or footage of a wedding followed by footage of a divorce, or footage of my cat following a laser pointer across the wall followed by footage of a dead battery.

The videos are usually set to the tune of a clock ticking and some soft piano coming in later. Nearly 180,000 videos have been made using the audio, some with text over the first clip that says, "the day before the rabbit got me," or "48 hours before that stupid rabbit got me," or simply, "that damn white rabbit." Sometimes it's followed by the aftermath; often, it isn't.

It's a reference to the white rabbit in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, whose trickery and general vibe turn everything upside down.

Even though we're over a decade into the USB Type-C era, there are still many desktops, laptops, and other electronics without the port. Thankfully, SanDisk has a new portable SSD with both Type-A and Type-C ports, making it easy to move files across all your devices.

Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet provider, is appearing everywhere in homes, on RVs, boats, and even airplanes. While we've seen some airlines, like United, add Starlink to select planes, this week another major airline announced that it'll be outfitting its entire fleet with super high-speed internet, starting later this month.

If you've noticed high CPU usage on your Windows desktop or laptop, you’ve come to the right place. Unless you’re running a demanding application, high CPU usage usually means something is using more processing power than it should, causing your computer to feel slow or unresponsive.

Firefox just rolled out some upgrades to its Tab Groups feature to make browser organization far more useful. This is the kind of thing you would normally see from Google Chrome, so it's now something you wouldn't miss if you switched to Firefox from Chrome.