Mashable

It's Christmas Eve, which means Santa Claus has started his annual journey around the world — and you can track his progress.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)'s Santa tracker is now live. It tracks the Jolly One's whereabouts as he crosses the globe delivering presents. NORAD Tracks Santa has been an annual Christmas tradition since 1955, when it first launched as a hotline for children to call and get updates on its status.

The hotline still exists, but you can also visit noradsanta.org and see Santa's progress in real-time.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: 6-7? Aura farming? 2025's viral internet slang, explained

The website shows Santa and his reindeer flying over a 3D satellite map of the globe, complete with gifts delivered (over 1.7 billion and counting as of publication), Santa's ETA for the next major destination, and his most recent visit. You can also click into icons on the map and learn about various locations by switching to a 2D map along his route.

I've had a Solawave red light therapy wand in one of my bathroom organizers for probably two years now. I really wanted to love it, but it just didn't provide noticeable enough results for me to remember to use it. So it should say something that I never forgot to use the Shark CryoGlow red light mask in the few months that I was testing it — and beyond.

The Shark CryoGlow mask's $349.99 price tag isn't exactly cheap, but it isn't expensive compared to the other top red light masks on the market. The price feels much fairer when the CryoGlow has a few unique flexes that separate it from popular competitors like the $395 Omnilux mask and $349 Solawave mask.

Shark hair tools like the FlexStyle have cemented themselves as formidable fixtures in the hair care world for years now. But the CryoGlow is Shark's first attempt at esthetics — one carefully designed over time after input from dermatologists, evidence from clinical trials, and customer feedback about other red light devices on the market. I learned all about its lore at SharkBeauty's launch event for the mask in January 2025, then brought one home to test for myself.

What does the Shark CryoGlow mask do?

The Shark face mask targets fine lines, acne, dark circles, and generally uneven skin texture. These are the main benefits of red light therapy (and blue light and infrared light), often yearned for when even the most devout skincare routines aren't doing enough.

The CryoMask is lined with 160 interlocking tri-wick LED bulbs, spanning all corners of the face and even a little under the jaw. Everyone calls it an LED mask, but if you want to get fancy, it's technically iQLED.

The Shark CryoGlow mask weighs around 1.5 pounds. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The pink glow is achieved when blue and red light are shining simultaneously. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

That 160 beats the 132 LEDs of the Omnilux mask or the 14 LEDs of the Solawave wand, so that's noteworthy on its own — but the "tri-wick" thing is crucial, too. Tri-wick means that every single one of those bulbs can emit each wavelength, so you're getting full-face light coverage regardless of the setting. Scientifically, this would be clocked in terms of irradiance: a measurement of power density at the source of the LED. The Shark CryoGlow hits a maximum radiance of 128mW/cm² compared to the 30mW/cm² of the Omnilux.

(The bulbs in several competing masks can't all illuminate simultaneously because they're either single-wick or bi-wick, meaning half turn off when their designated color isn't being used.)

The nanometer measurement of each wavelength plays a huge role in skin penetration. The Shark CryoGlow uses a 415nm blue light targeting the skin's surface layer and 630nm red light with 830nm infrared to travel to the deeper, cellular layer of skin.

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So, what's the difference between red light and blue light? All you really need to determine is the skincare concern you'd like to target, then scroll through the CryoGlow remote's settings to choose one. Shark designed the two main settings to be used for an initial eight-week session with daily use.

Better Aging mode: This mode stimulates collagen production and promotes plumping under the skin, making it the best setting for targeting fine lines and wrinkles. Here, the mask administers a combination of red and infrared light simultaneously for six minutes.

Blemish Repair mode: This is used to kill acne-causing bacteria and improve skin clarity and texture on the top layer of the skin. Here, the mask administers a consecutive concoction of blue light with infrared for a few minutes, then blue and red light together for a few minutes, then red light + infrared for a few minutes. It takes eight minutes total.

Skin Sustain mode: This is used to maintain your results and get a daily boost of brightness after your initial eight-week cycle is over. Skin Sustain administers blue light, red light, and infrared light simultaneously for a total of four minutes.

After each session is completed, the Shark mask turns off by itself. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The remote keeps track of how many sessions you've completed. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Each cycle's timing was calculated based on the wavelength combination of that setting — it's a much more precise approach than Googling "how long you should use red light therapy for." During the science part of the discussion at the launch event, it clicked for me: The momentary swipe of a red light wand with a one-inch surface is a really small amount of true LED exposure. This cleared up a lot of my confusion about my lack of Solawave wand results when it worked well for other people.

The Shark mask isn't overly chill to wear, but it's quick

I doubt there's anyone out there researching the best red light mask to buy and expecting to not look like Dwight in that episode of The Office where he cuts off the CPR dummy's face. It's just part of the game.

Still, the Shark mask definitely isn't the chicest or slimmest mask I've seen. It's not foldable like some other models, and is also a little clunky when it comes to storage. The heavy packer in me could not take this thing in a suitcase, even though it comes with a carrying pouch.

I wish the remote were wireless, but it does have a pants clip. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable My cat isn't scared of the mask. I kind of am. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

There's definitely no answering the door like this, but you know what? The horror fanatic in me does not mind casually walking around the apartment looking like Jason Voorhees for a few minutes (though I am a proud Michael Myers girlie at heart — argue with yourself).

The CryoGlow doesn't necessarily feel heavy if you're just scrolling on your phone while wearing it. But it does start to feel a little bulky if you're performing a real task that requires looking down. I kept trying to feed my cats during morning CryoGlow sessions and had to strain my neck to accurately scoop the wet food into the bowls on the counter.

The mask itself is rechargeable and doesn't need to be plugged into the wall while being used; instead, it needs to be charged about every three days. Though the remote and its cord mostly stay out of the way, it would be sick if it were cordless.

The CryoGlow takes a few hours to fully recharge. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The thing is, no Shark CryoGlow session lasts longer than eight minutes. You're not really being inconvenienced for long. The fans are whooshing right in your ear, but it's not so loud that you can't hear a conversation or watch TV. Honestly, the hardest part of wearing it is sitting there with air-dried skin without something moisturizing on it — Shark recommends a clean, dry face for light to best penetrate, but the itchy feeling post-cleansing makes me want to tear my whole face off.

Shark CryoGlow results: First three months, then a 10-month update

I kind of stopped giving a shit about how I look without makeup after my frontal lobe developed. But the CryoGlow marks a time in my life when I genuinely feel cute bare-faced. I truly feel like there's more of an inherent glow and evenness to my skin after my full CryoGlow session than I've ever had before.

But I know everyone is most interested in the full transformation, so fine, I'll give you a "before" picture. But before I expose myself like that, I'm entitled to show the "after" picture first.

My skin after completing the full CryoGlow session. (Peep the sticker in the phone case — I TOLD YOU I was a Michael Myers girlie.) Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I promise my skin is smooth in this photo — the only leftover "spots" are discoloration from previous giant pimples. I've accepted the fact that I need to pay for more microneedling to uproot those.

Does the Shark mask work on acne?

Every little kid dreams of growing up, having a mental breakdown about adult acne at age 30, and publishing a close-up photo of it in an online article for work. But I have to showcase the full transformation to show that yes, the Shark CryoGlow mask really does keep acne formation at bay.

Before: No concealer/foundation combo was hiding these. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable After: No makeup, just morning skincare! Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For context, I'm 30 years old and never really struggled with acne... up until about four years ago. It's been a battle to keep my chin, jawline, and cheeks clear since then. I was living in fear of waking up with a new pimple cooking after I had just gotten the last one to simmer down. Mine were in areas typically associated with fluctuating hormones.

All of that was happening while never skipping my nighttime skincare routine and attending a few microneedling appointments, my last of which was three months before I started testing the Shark mask. While I do believe my religious Tretinoin use has improved the texture of my skin, it was outnumbered by hellbent acne. The only true slowdown of pimples I experienced started a month into using the CryoGlow. I went from a new painful crater popping up almost every day to maybe one or two every two weeks.

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(The only other changes I recently made were spritzes of hypochlorous acid after waking up or going outside, and taking a Zinc supplement after TikTok suggested that could help with acne.)

The CryoGlow is excellent at fighting bacteria that causes acne and reducing redness of the ones that do exist, it doesn't really reduce acne scars or deep leftover red spots — and doesn't claim to. Those just seem to be stubborn little marks that probably require an in-office facial treatment.

Does the Shark mask work on fine lines?

Yes, the Shark mask made the fine lines in some areas of my face less noticeable.

The needlelike presence of my forehead wrinkles had become increasingly prominent in the last few years of my 20s. Makeup was making the texture even more noticeable, especially when it began creasing after a few hours. I finally started getting occasional forehead Botox about two years ago, and let me tell you: Botox is that girl. But the baby wrinkles soon creep back in, and keeping up with it gets expensive.

I'm fully convinced that the Shark CryoGlow mask was key in mellowing out my forehead lines enough to keep me out of the Botox chair for months longer than I'm "supposed" to. (For context: My last Botox appointment was five months before testing the Shark CryoGlow, and I did not get any Botox treatments while testing the mask.)

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Concealer and powder were blending more seamlessly than they previously did when I was overdue. There's nothing like that post-Botox forehead plumpness, but the CryoGlow provided the next best thing for me — a smoothness that no serums in targeted Instagram ads are going to achieve.

Unfortunately, the CryoGlow didn't have the same blurring effect around my crow's feet. God forbid you're someone who LAUGHS.

Does the Shark mask work on under eyes?

I definitely think I look less like a corpse on the days when I use the CryoGlow's under-eye chill pads. This is where the "Cryo" part of the title comes in: the mask is mimics cryotherapy, which can lower inflammation of the tissue using targeted low temperatures. The chill pads can cool at three different levels of chilly during an LED session, or can be used without lights.

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The CryoGlow's de-puffing effects don't feel super long-lasting — keep in mind that this is more of an elevated ice roller routine each morning than a heavy-duty under-eye treatment. You can't expect hollowness to permanently fill out, but I can vouch for the brightening effect. At any rate, the cool metal plates feel amazing when you're a zombie in the morning. If this sounds enticing to you but not enticing enough to spend $349.99, keep an eye out for when Shark releases the heating and cooling DePuffi device by itself in early 2026.

After almost a year, the Shark mask is still the mother of all skincare devices to me

Fast forward from May (when this review originally published) to December, I have since tested another top red light mask (the CurrentBody Skin Series 2 mask) as well as Shark's newest skincare device, the Shark FacialPro Glow. The FacialPro Glow isn't a direct comparison, since it targets clogged pores, dead skin, and sebaceous filaments, which aren't really on the radar of red light therapy. I think the FacialPro Glow is a great gift idea for a teenage girl, though.

In terms of which red light mask is the best, my resounding recommendation is the Shark mask over the CurrentBody mask. While the CurrentBody mask gets a few points for its flexible, more portable build, it's much more basic than the Shark mask.

A look at the LED bulb situation between the CurrentBody and Shark face masks. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The CurrentBody Skin Series 2 doesn't offer blue light at all, so some pimples popped up when I paused CryoGlow usage to test the CurrentBody. There's no customizing based on your current skin concern with the CurrentBody mask either — it doesn't have settings (just on and off), and there's no screen on the remote to provide a countdown timer. It's just an overall less luxurious experience that costs $120 more than the CryoGlow.

When researching other people's thoughts on both of these masks, the most common CryoGlow mask disadvantage I've seen is the lack of red lights around the eye (instead, the cooling pads are there). If fine lines around the eye are a much bigger concern for you than acne, then yes, you'd absolutely be better off going the CurrentBody route. I personally found the CurrentBody's eye-centric red lights blinding, to the point where I didn't want to wear the mask every day.

Is the Shark CryoGlow Mask worth it?

Shark's face mask continues to prove its worth in my skincare routine, and I'd recommend it to just about anyone.

The way my acne cleared up during the eight-week period was easily the most palpable result, and near-daily Shark mask usage has worked wonders on my skin's overall texture (and appearance without makeup) for almost a year now. I'm not saying you'll never get a pimple while using the mask, but I do think the CryoGlow's red, blue, and infrared concoction is extremely effective at mitigating the amount of acne popping up. Similarly, because its wavelengths can dig further into the skin than topical skincare, it's a more powerful tool for dulling fine lines than any retinols or retinoids I've tried. With less-dead under eyes in the morning as the cherry on top, I am glowier and more comfortable bare-faced now than I was pre-mask.

The Shark CryoGlow mask may or may not be able to accomplish these exact results for everyone from scratch. It probably depends on the skin you're working with to start, and the consistency of the rest of your skincare routine. The CryoGlow is definitely a slight financial investment up front, but most people deep in skincare mode know that no route to glass skin is cheap. Plus, regular CryoGlow use could end up saving you money over time.

Shark CryoGlow LED face mask $349.99 at Shark
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As always, the UK delivered a swathe of excellent TV shows in 2025, series that emotionally destroyed us, lifted us up, made us cackle, and instigated cultural conversation.

From the year's most ambitious, timely, and devastating Netflix show to the return of a beloved BBC teen comedy, we've handpicked our favourite British shows of 2025 — and we've included where you can stream them.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025, and where to stream them now

And while some are only streaming in the UK, you can always watch them with a VPN.

15. Big Boys, Season 3 Dylan Llewellyn and Jon Pointing in "Big Boys." Credit: Channel 4

Jack Rooke’s Big Boys returned for its third and final season this year, with the gang finishing up at Brent Uni and facing adult life. Over three glorious seasons, the show's core characters — Jack (Dylan Llewellyn, Derry Girls), Danny (Jon Pointing, Sweetpea), Corinne (Izuka Hoyle, Boiling Point), and Yemi (Olisa Odele, It's a Sin) — have become etched in viewers' hearts, effortlessly delivering Rooke’s poignant, personal, and hilarious script, with Pointing in particular giving a remarkable performance in Season 3. The series, based on Rooke's own life, approaches major conversations about grief, mental health, sex, and the future with warmth, lightness, and authenticity. And as for the series finale itself? It's one of the most heartfelt and devastating experiences you'll see on TV this year. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Dylan Llewellyn, Jon Pointing, Izuka Hoyle, Olisa Odele, Camille Coduri, and Harriet Webb

How to watch: Big Boys is now streaming on All4 in the UK and on Hulu in the U.S.

14. Film Club Aimee Lou Wood and Nabhaan Rizwan in "Film Club." Credit: BBC / Gaumont / Ben Blackall

The White Lotus and Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood puts on her writer's hat for Film Club, a romantic dramedy in which she also stars alongside Station Eleven's Nabhaan Rizwan. The show follows Evie (Wood), a twentysomething who has withdrawn to her childhood home in the aftermath of a nervous breakdown, and who takes solace in the weekly film club she shares with a core group of friends. The problem? She has a boyfriend (Adam Long), but there's clearly some long-buried feelings shared with her movie co-conspirator, Noa (Rizwan). What follows is a sweet story that's both amusing and depressing, with an undercurrent of sadness emphasised by composer Nathan Klein's moving score. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

Starring: Aimee Lou Wood, Nabhaan Rizwan, Suranne Jones, Owen Cooper, Liv Hill, Adam Long, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Lisa McGrillis, Arian Nik, and Ralph Davis

How to watch: Film Club is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

13. Black Mirror, Season 7 Ben Ashenden, Siena Kelly, and Amber Grappy in "Black Mirror." Credit: Nick Wall / Netflix

Charlie Brooker's sci-fi anthology series can be patchy, but when the show hits, it really hits. Opening with one of the all-time most devastating episodes (one that may be better not to watch first, in fact), Black Mirror Season 7 is a mixed bag with some very high highs (or lows, if you're talking from an existential dread perspective) and plenty of its trademark, technology-based terror. Fans of the U.S.S. Callister will be happy (there's a sequel), as will anyone who likes their futuristic fear with a side of moving nostalgia (hello, Eulogy).* — S.H.

Starring: Will Poulter, Awkwafina, Peter Capaldi, Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, Cristin Milioti, Chris O'Dowd, Emma Corrin, Jimmi Simpson, and Issa Rae

How to watch: Black Mirror Season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Miss Austen Keeley Hawes in "Miss Austen." Credit: BBC / Bonnie Productions / MASTERPIECE / Robert Viglasky

Ever wonder how we know so much about Jane Austen's life? Well, you can thank her elder sister, Cassandra Austen, who safeguarded the letters she sent and received from the novelist and, in doing so, provided the foundation for academics to study her life.

Adapted from Gill Hornby’s book of the same name by Andrea Gibb, Miss Austen begins in the period following Jane's death, a time during which Cassandra (Keeley Hawes) is secretly gathering up the letters her sister Jane (Patsy Ferran) sent people in their lives. As Cassandra reads these letters, we see flashbacks of the period of Jane's life where she is only beginning to gain recognition. We see glimpses of the Austen sisters' early adulthood, courtships, friendships, and family dramas. Directed by Aisling Walsh, Miss Austen is tender, moving, and an absolute delight from start to finish. — Rachel Thompson, Features Editor

How to watch: Miss Austen is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

11. Boarders, Season 2 Aruna Jalloh, Sekou Diaby, Josh Tedeku, and Jodie Campbell in "Boarders." Credit: BBC / Studio Lambert / Jonathan Birch

After an exceptional first season, Daniel Lawrence Taylor's Boarders returned for another glorious term. Season 2 sees the lauded series' five protagonists — Jaheim (Supacell's Josh Tedeku), Leah (Jodie Campbell), Omar (Myles Kamwendo), Femi (Aruna Jalloh), and Toby (Sekou Diaby) — back in class at predominantly white boarding school St. Gilbert's, where systemic racism, white saviour complexes, and classist snobbery underpins the hormonal chaos of adolescence. But this term, with the appointment of horrendous acting head Carol (Niky Wardley), the crew's scholarships are under threat.

For yet another season, Boarders writers Taylor, Yemi Oyefuwa, Jeffrey Aidoo, and Racheal Ofori expertly weave sharp cultural commentary with teen comedy highs and moving moments of drama, bringing in some mighty cameos this season too. And in the hands of this magnetic core cast? A++. — S.C.

Starring: Josh Tedeku, Jodie Campbell, Myles Kamwendo, Aruna Jalloh, and Sekou Diaby

How to watch: Boarders Season 2 is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Tubi in the U.S.

Featured Video For You ‘Supacell’ cast tell origin stories for their superpowers 10. Down Cemetery Road Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson in "Down Cemetery Road." Credit: Apple TV

Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson are the dynamic duo of my dreams in Apple TV's Oxford-set mystery crime thriller from Slow Horses' screenwriter Morwenna Banks. But it's not the buddy cop set-up you're thinking.

Based on Mick Herron's novel, Down Cemetery Road sees Thompson as hard-edged private investigator Zoë Boehm, whose marriage to her business partner Joe (Adam Godley) is as threadbare as their bank balance. Across town, Wilson plays Sarah Trafford, an art conservationist who is dragged into hosting a dinner party for her husband Mark's (Tom Riley) schmuck of a client. Before dessert, there's an explosion next door, leading to the disappearance of a young girl named Dinah (Ivy Quoi). The event sends Sarah into an obsessive hunt for the truth — and it leads her to Zoë and Joe's door.* — S.C.

Starring: Emma Thompson, Ruth Wilson, Adeel Akhtar, Tom Goodman-Hill, Fehinti Balogun, Darren Boyd, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Tom Riley, Adam Godley, Sinead Matthews, Ken Nwosu, and Aiysha Hart

How to watch: Down Cemetery Road is now streaming on Apple TV.

9. Amandaland Lucy Punch and Dame Joanna Lumley in "Amandaland." Credit: BBC / Merman / Natalie Seery

A spinoff like no other, Amandaland is technically a sequel to British sitcom Motherland, which explored middle-class motherhood in London. Amanda (Lucy Punch) is the Motherland character everyone loves to hate. In the original series, Amanda looks like she has it all (on the surface at least) — handsome and rich husband, massive house in a desirable postcode, popularity, beauty, and an enviable wardrobe full of designer clothes, not to mention a posse of mum friends who are obsessed with her to an unhealthy degree. But, in Amandaland, things could not be more different. Oh, how the mighty are fallen!

Now Amanda is a recently divorced mum of two teens, who's been forced to downsize and move to a new (and less desirable) area and pull her two kids out of private school (heaven forbid!) due to the change in circumstances. Amanda is handling it like a champ, though! She's turning her hand to being an Instagram influencer, rebranding her (much-needed) part-time job as a "collab," and making new friends (less successfully) at her kids' new school — including famous chef Della Fry, played by Derry Girls' Siobhán McSweeney. The iconic Joanna Lumley of Absolutely Fabulous fame plays Amanda's mother, and if that's not enough of a reason for you to get watching, I'm not sure I can help you. — R.T.

How to watch: Amandaland is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

8. The Death of Bunny Munro Rafael Mathé and Matt Smith in "The Death of Bunny Munro." Credit: Clerkenwell Films

Nick Cave's 2009 rambunctious novel The Death of Bunny Munro has been adapted for the screen, with Doctor Who and House of the Dragon star Matt Smith ricocheting through questionable life choices as the titular protagonist. Directed by Holiday's Isabella Eklöf and adapted by Somewhere Boy creator Pete Jackson, Sky's new six-part series brings Cave's book to life.

In one of the most problematic, confounding protagonists you'll meet, Bunny Munro (Smith) is a travelling salesman living in Brighton, England, who treats his young family as a side dish. Though sex addiction isn't recognised by science, it's clear Bunny struggles to stop thinking about or having sex and has a turbulent, adulterous life outside his marriage. And when Bunny isn't trying to seduce every woman he meets or sells moisturiser to, he's getting completely zonked with his friends including Poodle (The Wheel of Time's Johann Myers).

When Bunny's wife Libby (Sarah Greene) dies by suicide, he's suddenly grieving and solo parenting their nine-year-old son Bunny Junior (Rafael Mathé) — and Bunny will not allow social services to take his son away. So, they hit the road, with Bunny careening around Brighton from one tumultuous happening to another. It's not pretty. And it's here we get a raucous performance from Smith, offset by the sweetness of remarkable young talent in Mathé.* — S.C.

Starring: Matt Smith, Rafael Mathé, Sarah Greene, Lindsay Duncan, and Johann Myers

How to watch: The Death of Bunny Munro is now streaming on NOW in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

7. Get Millie Black Chyna McQueen and Tamara Lawrance in "Get Millie Black." Credit: Courtesy of HBO

An intense and compelling crime thriller from Booker Prize winner Marlon James, Get Millie Black takes the police procedural to Kingston, Jamaica, with celebrated authenticity. The Channel 4/HBO series sees an impeccable Tamara Lawrance as the titular investigator, a former Scotland Yard detective who returns to Kingston to investigate missing persons cases — including that of her own sibling. And that's when she's not dealing with current Scotland Yard blow-in Luke Holborn (Joe Dempsie). Tasked with a dark case of missing children and young people, Millie follows perilous threads through the city and finds herself and her partner Curtis (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr) in dangerous waters.

Aside from its gripping narrative, one of the most outstanding elements of Get Millie Black is James' exploration of harsh realities faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Jamaica. Among the Gully Queens, a community of trans and gay people forming chosen family on the margins of society, the show focuses on Hibiscus, a resilient, complex, and powerful character played with utter excellence by Chyna McQueen. — S.C.

Starring: Tamara Lawrance, Chyna McQueen, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, and Joe Dempsie

How to watch: Get Millie Black is now streaming on All4 in the UK and HBO Max in the U.S.

6. Dept. Q Matthew Goode in "Dept Q." Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

The Queen's Gambit creator Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani strike mystery gold in Dept. Q, adapted from Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen's series of the same name. The show centers on Detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), an English cop in Scotland who's disliked by practically everyone he comes into contact with. As Carl recovers from a traumatic gunshot wound, he's put in charge of a new department, one tasked with solving cold cases. It's a publicity stunt dressed up as a public service, but with the help of some unlikely assistants, Carl may just be able to turn this department into a powerhouse. Their first case? The disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie), whose current plight is nothing short of a claustrophobic nightmare.

Dept. Q toggles between taut mystery and intriguing character study, delving deep into Carl's growth toward someone who's maybe slightly pleasant, as well as the journeys of Carl's fellow detectives Akram (Alexej Manvelov), Rose (Leah Byrne), and Hardy (Jamie Sives). Together, they create a lovable squad with the potential for a long run of case-cracking on Netflix. The streaming gods demand it!* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Matthew Goode, Kelly Macdonald, Chloe Pirrie, Kate Dickie, Alexej Manvelov, Jamie Sives, and Leah Byrne

How to watch: Dept. Q is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Toxic Town Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood play two real-life mothers in "Toxic Town." Credit: Ben Blackall / Netflix

The first of two limited series from writer Jack Thorne on this list, Toxic Town tells a fictionalised version of a real-life story. Following a group of mothers who've given birth to children with limb differences, Thorne's drama follows their legal battle against the local council as they attempt to get to the bottom of whether or not they were poisoned due to negligence and corruption at the nearby steelworks. It's an emotional and frustrating story that's brought to life by a strong script and incredible performances across the board, especially from Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) and Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus), who star as two of the real-life mothers leading the fight.* — S.H.

Starring: Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, Rory Kinnear, Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle, Joe Dempsie, Claudia Jessie, Ben Batt, Stephen McMillan, Lauren Lyle, Michael Socha, Karla Crome, and Matthew Durkan

How to watch: Toxic Town is now streaming on Netflix.

4. A Thousand Blows Malachi Kirby and Erin Doherty in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight returned this year with a knockout show inspired by real figures of 1880s London. Talented boxer Hezekiah (Black Mirror's Malachi Kirby) and his best friend Alec (Small Axe's Francis Lovehall) emigrate to England from Jamaica, the former drawing the attention of the best bare-knuckled fighter on the Thames, Sugar Goodson (Adolescence's Stephen Graham). Beyond their ring rivalry, however, an all-women gang of thieves run by the charismatic Mary Carr (Adolescence's Erin Doherty) pilfer the prized possessions of the upper classes. With impeccable performances and detailed production design, A Thousand Blows is compelling tale of survival, of class warfare, and above all, making a name for yourself against all social odds. And yes, we're looking at a second season next year. — S.C.

Starring: Malachi Kirby, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, Francis Lovehall, Ziggy Heath, and Jason Tobin

How to watch: A Thousand Blows is now streaming on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu in the U.S.

3. Reunion Lara Peake and Matthew Gurney in "Reunion." Credit: BBC / Warp Films / Becky Bailey

A revenge thriller with a difference, Reunion follows Daniel Brennan (Matthew Gurney), a deaf man trying to reckon with his troubled past and the crime he's committed after being released from prison. William Mager's four-part BBC miniseries tells a revenge story that's not unfamiliar, but what makes it unique is the light it casts on the way deaf people are often left behind — or outright mistreated — by our various systems. A large number of the cast and crew in revenge use British Sign Language, and a big chunk of the show is in BSL with subtitles. — S.H.

Starring: Matthew Gurney, Anne-Marie Duff, Lara Peake, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Eddie Marsan, Olive Gray, and Joe Sims

How to watch: Reunion is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

2. What It Feels Like for a Girl Ellis Howard, Laquarn Lewis, and Hannah Jones in "What It Feels Like for a Girl." Credit: BBC / Hera / Enda Bowe

One of the most fearless, raw, and impeccable shows of the year, What It Feels Like for a Girl premiered at SXSW London to well-earned hype. Journalist Paris Lees adapted her memoir of the same name into an eight-episode coming-of-age series that refuses to be anything but authentic, whether joyful, resentful, lost, or ecstatic. Set in the Y2K era of the early '00s (and all the Sugababes, Ultra Nate, Rui da Silva, and All Saints that came with it), the series follows trans 15-year-old Byron (Ellis Howard) who navigates sex, drugs, gender identity, first loves, friendship fallouts, dangerous relationships, and forms of abuse, through an extraordinary performance by Howard.

Byron is determined to get out of their small town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, socially isolated and craving release from the strained relationship with their parents, while supported by their beloved Mommar Joe (Hannah Walters). They discover cottaging and sex work, and meet the Fallen Divas, Byron's wondrous found family of trans and queer friends including Lady Die (Laquarn Lewis), Sasha (Hannah Jones), Sticky Nikki (Alex Thomas-Smith), and Dirty Damian (Adam Ali). Despite their new support, Byron grows up fast, spirals into self-destruction, and tries to find their way. Channelling Lee's brazen, personal script, Howard's performance is at once vulnerable and fierce, assured and tentative, supported by the superb Lewis and Jones. By no means a light watch, but an authentic and powerful story of identity and loneliness, What It Feels Like for a Girl comes at a timely moment for the UK, where the rights of trans people are under unbridled attack. — S.C.

Starring: Ellis Howard, Laquarn Lewis, Hannah Jones, Jake Dunn, Adam Ali, Alex Thomas-Smith, Michael Socha, Hannah Walters, and Laura Haddock

How to watch: What It Feels Like for a Girl is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The U.S. streaming date is TBC.

1. Adolescence Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham in "Adolescence." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Likely to be the most harrowing viewing experience you'll have this year, Adolescence traps you in a nightmare over the course of its four episodes, each filmed in one take. Co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and directed by Boiling Point's Philip Barantini, Netflix's much buzzed-about miniseries examines the aftermath of a chilling murder committed by 13-year-old Jamie (newcomer Owen Cooper). Each episode focuses on a different perspective around the case, from a detective (Ashley Walters) investigating Jamie's school to Jamie's family reckoning with his actions.

These vignettes, coupled with Barantini's one-take technique, create an unflinching portrait of a crime that feels all too rooted in reality. As UK Deputy Editor Sam Haysom wrote in his review, "Adolescence's story isn't a crime mystery so much as a psychological study — it's an exploration of the manosphere culture that's having a real world affect on teenagers, and the societal and familial triggers that might lead to a seemingly ordinary 13-year-old doing something unthinkable. On this level, and on almost all others, the show is chillingly effective."* — B.E.

Starring: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, and Amelie Pease

How to watch: Adolescence is now streaming on Netflix.

(*) denotes a blurb has come from a prior list.

Everyone has their go-to Christmas movies. You know yours: They're the films that carry memories of wintry nights and repeat family viewings, the ones you absolutely need to watch to get into the Christmas spirit.

SEE ALSO: The best Christmas movies streaming now on Netflix

For the longest time, my holiday movie staples included a rotation of Love Actually, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials. But recently, a new challenger has entered the festive arena, and while it's technically not a movie, it's still on its way to becoming part of my personal Christmas viewing rotation.

I'm talking about Smosh vs. Christmas, a two-part TTRPG actual play video from YouTube channel Smosh Games, itself part of the broader comedy collective Smosh.

In Smosh vs. Christmas, Smosh cast members Shayne Topp, Amanda Lehan-Canto, and Angela Giarratana play a Dread one-shot with game master George Primavera and guest player Nick Williams.

The mechanics of Dread are simple, making the videos accessible for viewers no matter their familiarity with TTRPGs. Every time a player wants to perform an action in-game, they have to pull a block from a Jenga tower. Pull the block and place it on top of the tower, and they succeed. Knock the tower over, and their character dies. Immediately.

You can always choose to fail voluntarily or heroically sacrifice yourself, but for the most part, there's no room for error. That means every second of every tower pull bristles with tension, making Dread an ideal TTRPG system for a horror one-shot.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate Christmas movie streaming list for 2025

And while there are certainly horror elements to Smosh vs. Christmas, make no mistake: This miniseries is a laugh riot. It's what you'd get if you crossed a Hallmark Christmas movie with Krampus.

The game picks up in the small Midwestern town of Kringleton, where every day is Christmas. As the townspeople prepare to celebrate Christmas proper with a hot cocoa drinking contest, four outsiders descend on the town, each a walking Hallmark movie archetype. There's Charlie Penn (Topp), a sensitive, struggling novelist with a tragic past; Guy Wood (Giarratana), a small-town carpenter with a big heart and even bigger muscles; and Scott Ornamente (Lehan-Canto), a Patrick Bateman-esque Manhattan big shot who hates his home town of Kringleton. Rounding out the pack is Pop (Williams), a jolly fellow who really seems like Santa Claus.

The fun of each character stems partly from the stereotypes they're sending up, and partly from the surprising depth each player brings to them. The bits these comedians concoct are uproarious, no doubt about it, but the true joy of Smosh vs. Christmas is getting invested in these characters — and watching each player get more and more invested in the story Primavera is building.

As Charlie, Guy, and Scott settle into Kringleton, they all cross paths with Kringleton's resident single woman, Carol (Primavera). So begins the Hallmark movie dating sim of my dreams, one where simply saying hi to your love interest could result in a Dread tower pull, and therefore, potential death. If you thought your love life was high-stakes, think again.

To say much more about what happens in Smosh vs. Christmas would ruin its best surprises. After all, Dread is a game fueled by suspense and spontaneity, and you deserve to experience the same levels of stress and amusement that I did while watching. But suffice it to say that Smosh vs. Christmas undergoes some of the wildest yet most satisfying twists I've seen in any Christmas media, a testament to the cast's improv and storytelling skills.

And Smosh vs. Christmas holds up even if you know what's coming. I first watched it when it came out in 2024, and I recently revisited it to kick off the holiday season in 2025. This time around, it brought with it not the shock and terror of watching a horror TTRPG play out, but rather the cozy nostalgia of recalling the first time I watched it, all swaddled up in blankets and nursing a cup of hot chocolate. (For further TTRPG scares, I'd recommend Smosh's 2025 Christmas Dread special, We're All Gonna Die on Christmas, another festive horror banger.)

On top of the nostalgia, though, I found myself already looking forward to next Christmas, when I could revisit both Smosh vs. Christmas and We're All Gonna Die on Christmas through new eyes. So if you're looking to switch up your own holiday programming and maybe start a new viewing tradition of your own, I highly recommend watching comedians pull blocks from a Jenga tower. Trust me, it's more Christmasy than it sounds.

Smosh vs. Christmas is on YouTube.

It's hard to believe but some good things did happen online 2025.

Scrolling around the internet these last 12 months hasn't always been a pleasant experience — our timelines were full of AI slop, recession fears, and misinformation. But good things did manage to happen, too.

Mashable has kept tabs on uplifting digital stories with our Good Connection series. And if you need a timeline cleanse to end 2025, we've got eight online stories from this year that'll do just the trick.

1. The 'Ask an Axolotl' earworm

January feels like ages ago by now, but it was the month we were all humming along to a little ditty about an axolotl. TikTokker @doctor_waffle posted a video about the adorable amphibian. It's cute and so, so catchy.

Sure, the song was clearly intended for children but it seemed to soothe anyone with a pulse.

2. Everyone rallied for Buddies coffeeshop

When Rachel Rose, the owner of Buddies Coffee Roasters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, sobbed on camera, there was no way she could've predicted the response. She was going to lose the place she worked so hard for, and her emotion was real and raw.

People rallied in response, absolutely flooding Buddies with business. Even celebs like Joe Jonas showed up. Lines wrapped around the block.

Buddies did close — the situation with their lease wasn't fixable — but it seems Rachel and the roasting business are both thriving.

3. The cutest Craigslist love story

Oscar season gifted us the story of how Colman Domingo met his husband. Somehow, some way, Craigslist's Missed Connection section sparked a whirlwind, decades-long love story. It's truly the sweetest thing.

4. A Yankee who simply loves burritos

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells went viral this year for his passion project: reviewing breakfast burritos. During his travels throughout the season, he'd try breakfast burritos and rate them. That's it. Just a dude loving burritos.

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Wells does seem to be a fair reviewer, however. His top-rated burrito of the year came from the clubhouse of the Mets, the Yankees' crosstown rival.

5. The foster dog who stole our hearts

I'm a big fan of Isabel Klee, or @SimonSits on TikTok, who regularly takes in foster dogs. The internet as a whole fell in love with one of Klee's fosters, Tiki, who was rescued from pretty rough circumstances. The little pup healed with Klee from a dog that was clearly scared and scarred, to a precocious, adorable dog that got adopted.

It was such a lovely story.

6. The little niece who made the song of the summer

It's a pretty simple story: Creator @day1keenan has a niece who wanted to sing. And sing she did, making an absolute banger that many called the song of the summer.

This TikTok racked up more than 60 million views.

That little girl genuinely has talent and I could listen to that ditty all day long.

7. The NYC subway kitty

I don't know if you've ever seen a kitty ride the subway but it is freaking adorable. Look at this cosmopolitan little baby just hop right on.

As if the story couldn't get any sweeter, the commuter who scoops up the kitten in the video ended up adopting her. She's named Emmie, in honor of NYC's MTA.

8. Pop-up food pantries to the rescue

SNAP benefits were thrown into chaos amid the government shutdown this year, and neighbors came to the rescue to help one another. There were countless videos of pop-up food pantries, which appeared seemingly overnight to help neighbors.

AJ Owen (@ajpgh412) had perhaps the most viral pantry moment, when an anonymous donor dropped off a stack of cash to fund the pop-up Owen started with his children.

"The outpouring online is…overwhelming in the best way possible," Owen wrote in an email to Mashable at the time. "Seeing so many other people touched by what we are doing and deciding to do something as well brings tears to my eyes. Give people an opportunity to help and they will absolutely do it!"

So, yes, 2025 wasn't always great. But there were some truly lovely moments, too.

ON SALE: On Dec. 24 only, the Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp set will be on sale as the Best Buy drop of the day. It's $139.99 regularly, and we expect it to drop below $100.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp set $139.99 at Best Buy
Price drops at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 24 Get Deal

Holiday Lego deals aren't letting up just because we've officially passed the emergency last-minute shipping phase. Santa even has competition on his big day itself — the Best Buy drop of the day on Christmas Eve is the incredible Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp set, which is set to go on sale at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 24. We won't know the exact discount until that time, but we're predicting that'll drop to $99.99.

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Doomsday' teaser reveals the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers

This Marvel Lego set was a rare one that didn't see a Black Friday price drop. Actually, according to Amazon price tacker camelcamelcamel, this Spider-Man Lego set hasn't ever gone on sale at all. And that situation is exactly where an exclusive Best Buy drop shines. The one-day only sale price will only show up in the Best Buy mobile app, and inventory will dwindle as the day goes on. Whether this is a belated IOU gift or is just a treat for yourself, be sure to add it to your cart before your festivities start.

From afar, this may look like your average skyscraper Lego set. But there's so much detail to see up close: The set provides a multi-faceted view inside and out of Miles Morales' apartment, from the jewelry store to Venom's apartment to the glowing green Oscorp tower. Eight mini figures are included like Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider, Miles Morales, and Green Goblin, plus accessories like a motorbike, glider, and posable web.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Kinhank Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator & Streaming Console $84.97
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Right now, you can snag the Kinhank Super Console X2 for just $84.97 (reg. $159.99), plus free shipping, until Jan. 11.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

The Kinhank Super Console X2 is ready to handle all your entertainment needs at home. This console isn’t just a gaming device — it also lets you access your favorite streaming apps and watch content in one convenient spot.

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Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription $14.97
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Downtime is precious — especially this time of year — so the last thing you want is to spend 25 minutes scrolling through seven different apps before finally settling on something to watch.

The content wizard BitMar can help with that. For a one-time $14.97 payment (reg. $150), you get lifetime access to a platform that does all the searching, filtering, and organizing for you.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

BitMar is essentially a massive, intelligent content hub. It pulls together millions of free movies, shows, channels, videos, and songs from all over the web and organizes them in one place.

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is setting course for the Sea of Monsters, and just like in Season 1, there are bound to be a few adaptation changes ahead.

SEE ALSO: 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 2 review: Rough waters ahead for 'Sea of Monsters' adaptation

Whether it's adding new characters or tweaking major book events entirely, some of these changes from Rick Riordan's original books fall flat, while others enrich the world of the show. Here are all the biggest changes between Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 and The Sea of Monsters. We'll be updating every week, so be sure to come back for more adaptation breakdowns.

Episode 1: Grover meets new characters, like Alison Simms. Aryan Simhadri in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Season 2 kicks off with Percy having a nightmare about Grover in danger, just like The Sea of Monsters does. However, there are some key differences: Grover isn't in Florida, meaning we don't get him running into St. Augustine Bridal Boutique. (Don't worry, though, the show doesn't abandon the wedding dress storyline.) Instead, he's in the jungle, where he meets a crew of demigods like Alison Simms (Beatrice Kitsos). They're new characters who have allied themselves with Luke (Charlie Bushnell) and Kronos, meaning Percy and his crew will have even more rogue demigods to contend with.

Episode 1: Basically everything about Tyson is different. Daniel Diemer in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 introduces Tyson (Daniel Diemer), Percy's Cyclops half-brother. In the books, he is unhoused, and while he attends Meriwether College Prep with Percy, no one gives him any extra support outside of school. That changes in the series, as Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull) meets him while volunteering at a shelter, takes him in, and gets him into Meriwether. That means she and Percy already know he's a Cyclops, as opposed to in the book, where the Mist disguises his true nature to Percy.

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SEE ALSO: Watch Phineas and Ferb recap 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 1

I'm always happy to see Sally get to showcase her kindness and empathy, and I'm intrigued by whether she's aware of Tyson also being Poseidon's (Toby Stephens) son. Based on her telling Percy that they might have more in common than they think — hence the "two sides of the same coin" talk — it seems like she's got a pretty good idea, giving her more investment in Percy and Tyson's relationship.

Another big change with Tyson is how he speaks. In The Sea of Monsters, he has a more childlike speech pattern, as Cyclops age more slowly than humans. Here, though, he sounds like any of the other characters. Perhaps this was a case of the book dialogue simply not translating well to screen, for fear of infantilizing or stereotyping Tyson. Still, it seems like book Tyson's loyalty and enthusiasm carry over into show Tyson.

Episode 1: The Laistrygonian giant dodgeball scene gets a big change.

The Sea of Monsters opens with a monster attack in the form of a deadly gym class. Laistrygonian giants posing as visitors from Detroit sneak into Meriwether and wreak havoc during a dodgeball game, hurling fireballs at Percy, Tyson, and their classmates. Percy Jackson and the Olympians moves this fight scene from Meriwether to Camp Half-Blood, with the Laistrygonians ambushing Percy, Tyson, and Annabeth on their way to camp. In moving the scene, the attack winds up replacing the book's Colchis Bull fight.

SEE ALSO: 7 magic school series to buy young readers that aren't 'Harry Potter'

While there's still a fiery dodgeball element to the Laistrygonian sequence, it misses a lot of the charm from the book's version. Gone are the Laistrygonians' weak disguises, along with the name tags reading Joe Bob, Skull Eater, and Marrow Sucker. These disguises, along with the high school setting of the scene, are a huge part of the appeal of Riordan's series in the first place: seeing Greek mythology transposed into our day-to-day world. I understand wanting to fold two monster attacks into one due to time and budget constraints, but there's still a lot lost when you rip away one of the defining elements of the book series.

Episode 1: Chiron is fired for different reasons.

Rounding out the biggest changes from episode 1 is Chiron's (Glynn Turman) firing from Camp Half-Blood. In the show, he's fired because he's the son of Kronos, which makes the Greek gods wary about his allegiances. The book takes it a step farther: In The Sea of Monsters, Chiron's connection to Kronos makes him a prime suspect in the poisoning of Thalia's (Tamara Smart) tree. He's already fired by the time Luke poisons the tree in the show, though. Percy sees Luke attack the tree in person, furthering the animosity between the two.

Episode 2: Whoa, there's a lot of drama between Percy and Annabeth. Walker Scobell and Leah Sava Jeffries in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Percabeth shippers, buckle up, because this episode delivers so much angst. Chiron reveals the Great Prophecy to Annabeth before telling her that she can't let Percy go on any quests. Cue Annabeth planning to sabotage Percy in the chariot race should it come down to the two of them. Later, she suggests she go on Clarisse's (Dior Goodjohn) quest for the Golden Fleece without Percy. All of this is new, and it's stressful, adding more distrust between the pair.

Despite all the new twists in how the quest comes together, the end result is the same: Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson set out for the Sea of Monsters. However, Percy and Annabeth are more at odds than ever before, setting a more adversarial tone for the quest ahead.

Episode 3: Percy Jackson and the Olympians shows off a different side of Clarisse. Dior Goodjohn in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Episode 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 makes a few tweaks to Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson's encounter with Luke aboard the Princess Andromeda, getting new characters like Allison involved, and even having Tyson set off a bomb in totally badass fashion.

The biggest change in the episode, though, is that we get more of Clarisse's perspective as she sets out on her quest. We witness firsthand her trip to the Oracle, along with her father Ares (Adam Copeland) gifting her a ship and a zombie crew. Unlike in the book, these are losing soldiers from a vast variety of wars, as opposed to simply Confederate soldiers. For a number of reasons... good call, Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

But Ares' gift is a double-edged sword. He immediately undermines her field experience to the soldiers and threatens Clarisse should she fail. Dad of the Year, he is not. That scene fuels Clarisse's insecurities heading into her mission, which only get worse as the soldiers repeatedly ignore her.

By the episode's end, though, she's won them over by promising them a place in Elysium once they die. Is this a check she can actually cash? I'm not sure yet. However, her rousing speech is proof of her burgeoning leadership skills. Plus, seeing Clarisse actually struggle with the beginning of her quest is something we don't get much of in The Sea of Monsters, beyond a tense conversation Percy overhears between her and Ares. That's one of the benefits of a TV adaptation that isn't a book narrated in first person: We get to take in other perspectives. As a result, Clarisse gets more layers this episode, and Goodjohn gets to truly shine as a more prominent member of Percy Jackson and the Olympians' ensemble.

Episode 4: Percy Jackson and the Olympians gives us flashbacks to Annabeth, Luke, and Thalia's journey to Camp Half-Blood. Tamara Smart in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Following in the footsteps of episode 3's focus on Clarisse, episode 4 continues Percy Jackson and the Olympians' trend of showcasing new, non-Percy perspectives. This time, we get that in the form of flashbacks to Annabeth's time traveling with Luke and Thalia (Tamara Smart), daughter of Zeus (Courtney B. Vance), to Camp Half-Blood. A dangerous encounter between young Annabeth and a band of Cyclopes prompts Thalia's decision to find sanctuary at Camp Half-Blood, as opposed to continuing to live life on the road. In Annabeth's mind, this was the fatal decision that led to Thalia's death on the edges of camp. If she hadn't been captured by the Cyclopes in the first place, then Thalia would still be alive.

The actual Cyclopes encounter plays out differently in the show than in the books, which saw 7-year-old Annabeth saving a trapped Luke, Thalia, and Grover from a Brooklyn-based Cyclops' house of horrors. That fateful meeting led to Annabeth's deep hatred of all Cyclopes. However, in the show, Annabeth's ire is directed less at the Cyclopes, and more at herself for getting captured in the first place and slowing Thalia and Luke down. It's a poignant shift, one that emphasizes her survivor's guilt. It also gives us our first look at Smart in action as Thalia, getting us ready for Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 3 adaptation of The Titan's Curse.

Episode 4: The Scylla and Charybdis fight gives Clarisse a moral crisis.

Just like in the books, Percy, Annabeth, Tyson, and Clarisse face off with Scylla and Charybdis in order to enter the Sea of Monsters. But the show adds in a trolley problem-esque twist, courtesy of Annabeth's battle strategy. To get past Scylla, all Clarisse needs to do is sacrifice six of her men, one for each tentacle. Should she knowingly send these soldiers to their doom in order for guaranteed success? Or should she try her original plan of getting past Charybdis?

In the end, Clarisse follows Annabeth's plan. Yet the guilt of sacrificing her crew members overwhelms her, and she joins them on deck. Once again, the added depth to Clarisse works wonders here. It's great to see that as she's stepped up in terms of importance, the show has stepped up just as much in terms of letting audience members into her inner world.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+, with a new episode every week.

No one makes a hangout movie like Jim Jarmusch. From his feature-length debut Permanent Vacation onward, the American writer/director has woven his affinity for intimate settings and observational humor with various flourishes. Only Lovers Left Alive gave us vampires lounging around a rotting Detroit. The Dead Don't Die offered ghouls with the energy and desires of a late-night hang, craving coffee and chardonnay (and brains). Now, FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER offers the familiar family hang — one that's authentically awkward, funny, and tragic. 

Set over the course of three vignettes, Jarmusch's latest keenly illustrates how families are all different and the same. His astoundingly stacked cast boasts Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Sarah Greene, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat. Together, they construct short yet solid stories of three families in moments both mundane and pivotal, creating an absorbing portrait of love that's messy and profound. 

Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, and Tom Waits make for a quirky kickoff. 

"Father" is the first of three chapters of the film. In a small town in New Jersey, brother and sister Jeff (Driver) and Emily (Bialik) head to visit their dad (Waits), and they're anything but eager. Stiff in woolen blazers, V-neck cardigans, slacks, and a long skirt, they are dressed as if on their way to a business meeting rather than to reunite with the father they haven't seen in two years. Pulling up to his ramshackle house, which sits at the end of very long muddy driveway, it's clear they don't belong here. 

Waits, meanwhile, is dressed in battered striped pants, a hoodie, and has a head of hair that's not seen a brush or a bit of product in ages. Their dad's home is cluttered with books and laundry, as if in the wake of their mother's death years before he can barely care for himself. However, there are hints that their father (who goes unnamed) has a life outside of their understanding of him, like the glistening Rolex on his wrist. 

Within this reunion, Jarmusch's script reveals some backstory, touching on death, illness, divorce, and precocious grandchildren. But the movie keeps us firmly in this place, in this moment, where this family is perplexed about how to reconnect. There's no bad blood, it's more confusion on how this father created these kids.

Where they are almost perversely proper, polite, and put-together, he seems a weary whirlwind, embarrassed to be caught mid-spin. The conflict they encounter is not one of shouting or smashed plates, but swallowed arguments and a shared grief they can't bear to say aloud. So instead, they'll be civil and stay on the surface with small talk. Yet the visual storytelling and nuanced performances Jarmusch knits together allow the audience to probe deeper than these preppy siblings can dare. 

Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, and Vicky Krieps clash as mother and daughters. 

"Mother" follows "Father," transporting the film to Dublin, where a romance author (Rampling) is welcoming her two grown daughters for their annual afternoon tea. Where this matriarch is intimidatingly intellectual and chic, her daughters are a study in contrast. Timothea, or Tim for short (Blanchett), is a mousy pencil pusher who fusses and frets but always at a low volume, lest she be a bother. Little sister Lilith (Krieps) is a free spirit with pink hair, a comically casual attitude, and a penchant for lying about great successes to impress her mother. 

There's no drastic divide between this trio. Like the "Father" family, they've drifted apart, seemingly content to have lives of their own. But in this household, their proximity practically itches. Lilith looks for ways to razz her sister, sparking a juvenile sibling rivalry that forces Tim into flushed retreat. But these intrusions and escapes are all in the gentle way of making nice. The tragedy of these moments is in how we can see their urge to connect and their fear to, all in a furtive glance, a choked laugh, or a licked bit of pastry. 

Hilariously cast as the most boring person in this movie, Blanchett nonetheless exudes a quiet anxiety, offering pangs for every passive aggression from Krieps' provocateur. Then Rampling adds a primly prickly veneer that's sharply funny. For instance, when all three realize they're wearing red (a tailored dress, a modest turtleneck, a frayed novelty sweater), the mother declares it "embarrassing," pushing her daughters into opinions that throw them into cringeworthy opposition.

It's in such small moments that Jarmusch allows his audience to determine the meaning of these scenes and this collection of stories. But where the first two sections of this triptych are about relatively strained relationships, the final is a warm portrait of almost supernatural closeness. 

Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat are a revelation as twins.

Across all three vignettes, Jarmusch laces shared elements, like red clothing, a Rolex watch, clumsy toasts with nonalcoholic beverages, images of young skateboarders rolling by carefree and in slow motion, and some iteration of the idiom "Bob's your uncle." But in this chapter, he breaks the pattern of a family of three. In the Paris-set "Sister Brother," Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat play twins surveying what remains of their childhood home in the wake of their parents' deaths. 

It's been weeks since their parents' passing, so the stab of loss is not as sharp. Instead, the twins get to enjoy the easy comfort of each other's company. Like Jeff and Emily, they share an aesthetic. But it's far from preppy; instead they favor leather jackets and streetwear with an aspirational sense of chill. Whether chatting in the car, getting a coffee, or looking over childhood photos, they are at ease. Where the other families all showed a need to perform for each other, these twins have a connection so deep that it predates birth. They swear that even over oceans, they can sense when the other is getting sick or getting high. 

While each of Jarmusch's family units in FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER feels familiar, Moore and Sabbat are so convincing in their chemistry and connection that I began to wonder if they actually are twins. (They are not.) This radiant love for one another smooths the cutting edges of the grief of their story, because unlike the other chapters' characters, they are not alone together. They are together even when they are alone, because they truly see each other and don't shrink from such honesty and vulnerability.

Following the press screening at the New York Film Festival, Jarmusch said in a Q&A that he didn't make this movie with a message in mind. To suggest there's a resolute message would be to misrepresent the gentle development of every section of this film. Yet viewed as a whole, I found FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER breathtaking in what it has to say about family. On one level, it's a reminder that every family is different and the same. We are all connected by a bunch of experiences, big and small, that are just so common they might be overlooked without the focus of a filmmaker on them. But beyond that, FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER is a cool, rich, and wonderful celebration of familial love, which binds us and defines us — but not entirely. 

Part of the beauty of this film is where Jarmusch leaves each story. He's rarely been one for buttoned-up conclusions. And here, he essentially offers not even a day, but a few hours in the lives of people bound by blood, and — what else? We get a window into their lives, and a glimpse of how they see each other. Then, their story moves on without us. Where will they go? What will they experience? It's a mystery the movie won't dwell on, but we can.

In that, FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER invites us not only to see ourselves in these families for better or worse, but to imagine what might exist in the lives of our loved ones once they've closed the door and the visit has ended. 

FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER is now in theaters.

UPDATE: Dec. 18, 2025, 2:05 p.m. EST "FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER" was reviewed out of its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival. This review, originally published on Oct. 3, 2025, has been updated to include information about the theatrical release.

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

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

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

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

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

A popular coffee drink.

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

LATTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A small boat.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 24, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

KAYAK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

What a king might wear.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 24, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CROWN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

The edges of bread or a pie.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 24 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CRUST

Final Hurdle hint

Glamour.

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

GLITZ

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

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

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

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

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

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

A popular coffee drink.

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

LATTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A small boat.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 24, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

KAYAK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

What a king might wear.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 24, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CROWN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

The edges of bread or a pie.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 24 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CRUST

Final Hurdle hint

Glamour.

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

GLITZ

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 day four of the lunar cycle, which means the Moon is starting to come back into view. In fact, each night it will get bigger and brighter as we approach the Full Moon.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Dec. 24, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 18% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

Without any visual aids, you can spot the Mares Crisium and the Fecunditatis tonight. If you add binoculars or a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3. The last full moon was on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. This is known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this time, it passes through a series of phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes, which is why it can appear fully illuminated, partly lit, or completely invisible at different points in the cycle. This process is divided into eight main lunar phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

It's day four of the lunar cycle, which means the Moon is starting to come back into view. In fact, each night it will get bigger and brighter as we approach the Full Moon.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Dec. 24, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 18% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

Without any visual aids, you can spot the Mares Crisium and the Fecunditatis tonight. If you add binoculars or a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3. The last full moon was on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. This is known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this time, it passes through a series of phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes, which is why it can appear fully illuminated, partly lit, or completely invisible at different points in the cycle. This process is divided into eight main lunar phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

TL;DR: Live stream Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Group F of the Africa Cup of Nations promises one of the early stages’ big matchups, with both defending champions Ivory Coast and Cameroon in the same group. But we're not there yet.

Ivory Coast have already had their opening game with Mozambique while Cameroon will kick off their campaign today against Gabon. Cameroon are obvious favorites in this group game and have major fire power in Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo. Gabon aren’t particularly well known in world soccer but they're a relatively regular fixture in AFCON tournaments. They'll be determined to make a strong start in the Morocco-hosted tournament. 

If you want to watch Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cameroon vs. Gabon?

Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at the Le Grand Stade Agadir.

How to watch Cameroon vs. Gabon for free

Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 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 Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Cameroon vs. Gabon for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Cameroon vs. Gabon for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Cameroon vs. Gabon (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Group F of the Africa Cup of Nations promises one of the early stages’ big matchups, with both defending champions Ivory Coast and Cameroon in the same group. But we're not there yet.

Ivory Coast have already had their opening game with Mozambique while Cameroon will kick off their campaign today against Gabon. Cameroon are obvious favorites in this group game and have major fire power in Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo. Gabon aren’t particularly well known in world soccer but they're a relatively regular fixture in AFCON tournaments. They'll be determined to make a strong start in the Morocco-hosted tournament. 

If you want to watch Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cameroon vs. Gabon?

Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at the Le Grand Stade Agadir.

How to watch Cameroon vs. Gabon for free

Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 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 Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Cameroon vs. Gabon for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Cameroon vs. Gabon for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Cameroon vs. Gabon (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Cameroon vs. Gabon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the world's top soccer events and features elite players from leagues around the globe. If you'e a serious soccer fan, this is can't-miss action.

One game that really stands out is the Group F opener between Ivory Coast and Mozambique. Ivory Coast won the AFCON in 2023, their second win in 10 years, and went unbeaten in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. All of which makes them a hot pick to take the title again. There will be tough competition down the road from hosts Morocco and teams such as Algeria and Senegal. And while Ivory Coast should dominate Mozambique, the group stages can throw up all kinds of surprises

If you want to watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique?

Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 1.30 p.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at Stade de Marrakech.

How to watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique for free

Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 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 Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the world's top soccer events and features elite players from leagues around the globe. If you'e a serious soccer fan, this is can't-miss action.

One game that really stands out is the Group F opener between Ivory Coast and Mozambique. Ivory Coast won the AFCON in 2023, their second win in 10 years, and went unbeaten in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. All of which makes them a hot pick to take the title again. There will be tough competition down the road from hosts Morocco and teams such as Algeria and Senegal. And while Ivory Coast should dominate Mozambique, the group stages can throw up all kinds of surprises

If you want to watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique?

Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 1.30 p.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at Stade de Marrakech.

How to watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique for free

Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 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 Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you're counting down the days until the World Cup comes to North America, you can get your soccer fix with the Africa Cup of Nations. The good news is that you don't need to be on the African continent to enjoy all the action. You can stream it for free from anywhere around the globe.

It all kicks off with the group stage, and one game to watch today is Algeria vs. Sudan in Group E. Algeria are probably the strongest team in Group E. They've recently qualified for the World Cup — and went unbeaten in the qualifiers, no less — and won the AFCON in recent memory, having lifted the trophy back in 2019.

While host country Morocco are favorites to win the tournament, Algeria are looking to give them a run for their money. But could Sudan, who have qualified for AFCON for only the second time in 13 years, cause an early upset?

If you want to watch Algeria vs. Sudana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Algeria vs. Sudan?

Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan.

How to watch Algeria vs. Sudan for free

Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 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 Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Algeria vs. Sudan for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Algeria vs. Sudan for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Algeria vs. Sudan (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you're counting down the days until the World Cup comes to North America, you can get your soccer fix with the Africa Cup of Nations. The good news is that you don't need to be on the African continent to enjoy all the action. You can stream it for free from anywhere around the globe.

It all kicks off with the group stage, and one game to watch today is Algeria vs. Sudan in Group E. Algeria are probably the strongest team in Group E. They've recently qualified for the World Cup — and went unbeaten in the qualifiers, no less — and won the AFCON in recent memory, having lifted the trophy back in 2019.

While host country Morocco are favorites to win the tournament, Algeria are looking to give them a run for their money. But could Sudan, who have qualified for AFCON for only the second time in 13 years, cause an early upset?

If you want to watch Algeria vs. Sudana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Algeria vs. Sudan?

Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan.

How to watch Algeria vs. Sudan for free

Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 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 Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Algeria vs. Sudan for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Algeria vs. Sudan for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Algeria vs. Sudan (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Algeria vs. Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.