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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 fashion magazine.

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

VOGUE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A hue.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

COLOR

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A representative.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

AGENT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Girthy.

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

BULKY

Final Hurdle hint

Untruthful.

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

DODGY

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

SAVE $80: As of Aug. 6, AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169 at Amazon. This is 32% (or $80) off their list price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal

If you've been waiting for AirPods Pro 2 to receive another big price drop after Prime Day, we have good news to share: These sleek earbuds are back down to $169, so if they've been on your radar, now is a great time to jump on them.

This marks an $80 discount from their list price of $249. While the lowest-ever price they hit was over Prime Day, this is still a worthy deal to take advantage of while it's still available. Personally, I'm a very big fan of the AirPods Pro 2 and certainly think they're worth the investment, especially at a price like this.

SEE ALSO: Which AirPods are best for travel? I compare the noise-canceling features.

Boasting high-quality sound thanks to the H2 chip, the AirPods Pro 2 also offer various noise-canceling features. Looking to block out sounds around you entirely? Active Noise Cancelation can assist. Or, if you'd rather let some sounds in to be more aware of your surroundings, Transparency mode gets the job done. There's also Adaptive Audio, which works as a combination of ANC and Transparency mode to give you the best listening experience no matter the environment you're in.

We even consider these earbuds to be the best for Apple users in our roundup of the best earbuds, so why wait to pick them up? Act fast to score the AirPods Pro 2 for $169 at Amazon.

Looking for more great AirPods deals? Right now you can also save on the Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC), which are marked down to under $100.

From the moment King of the Hill dropped its opening credits as a teaser for the long-awaited Season 14, my heart quickened. The theme song roared in with images of Arlen residents like Bill, Dale, Boomhauer, and the Hills: Hank, Peggy, and Bobby, all behind the fence of the eponymous family's home. It was like no time had passed, but even in a cartoon series where characters can remain the same age for season after season, time has passed.

Season 14 of King of the Hill picks up with Hank and Peggy being retirees who have returned from their time in Saudi Arabia to Arlen, Texas, and Bobby Hill, now a 21-year-old chef who skipped college to begin his own restaurant. Episode 3 of the new season from creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels digs into Bobby's business specifically. And I was not prepared for how emotionally invested I was in seeing Bobby (voiced by Pamela Adlon) turn out okay.

"Bobby Gets Grilled" proves the biggest test for the fan-favorite character yet. And that brought me levels of stress I haven't felt since the real-time episode of The Bear, Season 1, "The Review."

What happens in "Bobby Gets Grilled?" Bobby Hill stands in his restaraunt, Robata Chane. Credit: Hulu

It's a big day for Bobby Hill. Now living in Dallas, he's the head chef and co-owner of Robata Chane, "a traditional Japanese barbeque with a fusion of flavors and techniques of the German traditions of the Texas hill country." But despite a staff that is dedicated to his vision, problems abound. Nearly out of the Binchotan charcoal they need to grill, Bobby must source some immediately, or Robata Chane will have to shut down. And the could-be new supplier, Mr. Yoshida, refuses to sell to Bobby, because he sees this white man as a cultural appropriator.

Yoshida flyers the district, calling out this perceived transgression, which draws the ire of three German-Americans who are bothered that Bobby's not as "pure" in his German heritage as they'd like. ("Really? You're going there?" Bobby responds with surprise.) And that's not all. Bobby's investors, the smug father-and-son duo of Ted and Chane Wassanasong, are waffling on their commitment to backing Bobby's vision. And still, there's more.

Charcoal. Bobby Hill, son of proud propane (and propane accessories) salesman Hank Hill, is using charcoal and not propane in his restaurant. When Peggy and Hank come to visit Bobby's restaurant for the first time, Hank is utterly shattered to learn this bit of grilling information. So, what's Bobby to do?

A last supper. With the encouragement of his new friend and sous chef Emilio, Bobby prepares a possible last supper, serving his fusion food his way to all who doubt him: The Germans, Mr. Yoshida, the Chanes, the Hills, and the Gribbles (who came along for the ride).

It's a setup reminiscent of the impeccable indie Big Night, which came years before The Bear brought the stresses of running a restaurant to streaming. I realized as I watched, my muscles tensed, tighter and tighter, my fear for Bobby pulling me into a full-body clench. And as Bobby laid down his grilled kebabs of yuzu-wurst stuffed with rice and pickled daikon, I gasped. My eyes rimmed with tears, ready to weep with agony if he failed and joy if he thrived.

And Bobby Hill thrives.

Bobby Hill is no Carmen Berzatto. Credit: Hulu Credit: Hulu

"That boy ain't right" was a catchphrase from the original run of King of the Hill, coined by Hank to sum up how he couldn't make sense of his artistic young son. Where Hank grew up stewing in the toxic masculinity of war stories, womanizing, and football that was his father Cotton's worldview, Bobby shrugged off such trappings, perhaps in no small part because of the influence of his mother Peggy Hill, who is similarly a confident and creative oddball.

Whether it was prop comedy, dancing with dogs, or playing video games, Bobby's interests were generally met with initial dismay from Hank. But despite his bristling, Hank loved Bobby, and showed it in the ways his own stymied emotional awareness would allow. In "Bobby Gets Grilled," Bobby reflects on his own awareness of how he often disappointed his dad, explaining to Emilio, "My dad loves four things in life: America, my mom, me, and propane. And when I was a kid, depending on the week, propane would be above me on the list."

It's a moment that's funny, but also achingly true. Bobby and Hank love each other, but also have a big gap in how they see the world. For Hank, he worried that Bobby's creativity and softness would be a disadvantage. Because in every flashback, Cotton Hill bullied Hank into the idea that sensitivity was a weakness a man could not afford. So Hank's critiques of Bobby came not from a place of disgust, but of concern and confusion. And in "Bobby Gets Grilled," we get to witness Hank finally get it. Bobby being Bobby is how he wins.

Addressing his diners before the last supper, Bobby says, "Before we serve it, let me make something perfectly clear. This is not authentic Japanese or German food. It's authentic Bobby food. It's important that I'm authentic to myself."

Then, he lets his food speak for him. With his thoughtful attention to detail and taste, he wins over all who doubt him, one by one — even his dad. "Everyone loves the food," Hank tells Bobby, as his son stands over the charcoal grill, "And that includes me." Hank even leads a toast to Chef Bobby.

Bobby Hill is a hero to small-town weirdos, who dreamed of something else. Bobby Hill in his restaurant Robata Chane in "King of the Hill." Credit: Hulu

For 13 seasons of the original run of King of the Hill, Bobby became a representative for kids who didn't fit the mold of their small town's ideals. Being a dog-dancer in a football town isn't easy. But Bobby gave a vision of confidence that gave us a path to follow and encouragement to stick to it. Sometimes, he even led that path for his parents.

In Season 4, episode 23, "Transnational Amusements Presents: Peggy's Magic Sex Feet," Peggy feels down on herself because a devious foot doctor has exploited her "ugly feet." Bobby finds her talking negatively about herself, calling herself stupid for loving her body as it is. Bobby offers a speech that's been shared around the internet ever since this episode aired in 2000.

“I'm fat. But big deal. I don't feel bad about it. You never made me feel bad about it, and just because there are some people in the world who want me to feel bad about it, doesn't mean I have to. So Bobby Hill's fat. Eh. He's also funny, nice. He's got a lot of friends, a girlfriend, and if you don't mind, I think I'll go outside and squirt her with water. What are you gonna do?”

Bobby dared to love himself, even when he was mocked or misunderstood. He was true to himself as a watergun-toting 11-year-old and now as an embattled 21-year-old. He stuck to his metaphorical guns and showed the world his heart, his truth, and his food. Season 14 of King of the Hill will throw other curveballs of adulthood his way, specifically in terms of romance. But here, in this moment, Bobby Hill proves a role model again.

For every creative kid who made their parents scratch their heads, for every small-town oddball who'd found their community in a big city, for every fat kid who dared to love themselves, or a goofball who did good, Bobby has been an inspiration. And seeing him get grilled and come out on top meant not only that King of the Hill is back and as good as ever, but also that Bobby Hill is still a hero for us weirdos.

King of the Hill is now streaming on Hulu.

TL;DR: Plantum helps you identify 33,000+ plant species, diagnose issues, and care for your greenery — all for just $14.97 (reg. $59.99) with lifetime access.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever bought a plant, loved it for three weeks, and then slowly watched it wilt into botanical sadness. No judgment — many of us have been there. But now, your iOS device can save the day (and the Monstera). You can currently get lifetime access to all its features for just $14.97 (MSRP: $59.99).

Plantum is basically a green-thumb sidekick. This powerful AI plant app can identify over 33,000 plant species in just three seconds, and it boasts over 98 percent accuracy. Just snap a photo and get the scoop — name, care tips, water schedule, sunlight needs, the works.

Whether you’re trying to ID the mystery sprout in your backyard or panicking over brown spots on your fiddle leaf fig, Plantum is a solid resource. It’s not just a plant identifier — it’s also a plant doctor, encyclopedia, and care coach, all in one. Plus, it even comes with a built-in light meter so you can finally stop guessing where to put your sun-loving succulents.

This lifetime subscription is on sale for a limited time, offering years of expert-level plant knowledge for a one-time low payment. Whether you’re a plant newbie, a seasoned gardener, or somewhere in between, Plantum turns every leaf into a learning experience without ads, recurring fees, or mystery mulch.

Get a lifetime of plant support with Plantum on your iPhone or iPad for just $14.97 (MSRP: $59.99) through September 7 with code SAVE5.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Plantum Plantum - AI Plant Identifier Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (For iOS Only) $14.97
$59.99 Save $45.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 World Games for free on The World Games Live. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The summer of 2025 has been extremely busy for sport. We've already been treated to Wimbledon, the Tour de France, the Club World Cup, and so much more. The list is long and beautiful, but we're still squeezing in more exciting events before things start to win down towards the latter half of the year. And the next event on the schedule really is special.

The World Games shines a light on some of the sports that are not showcased by the Olympic Games. If you want to watch the 2025 World Games for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the World Games?

The World Games is an international multi-sport event made up of sports and sporting disciplines that are not contested in the Olympic Games. They are usually held every four years, one year after a Summer Olympic Games.

SEE ALSO: The internet's obsession with run clubs is ruining running

A total of 34 sports will be included in the 2025 edition of the World Games, including Archery, Cheerleading, Flag Football, Kickboxing, Lacrosse, and Squash.

When is the 2025 World Games?

The 2025 World Games is the 12th edition of the event. This year's competition takes place on Aug. 7-17 in Chengdu, China.

How to watch the 2025 World Games for free

The 2025 World Games is available to live stream for free on The World Games Live. This free streaming platform will provide extensive live coverage of competitions, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and medal ceremonies for all 34 sports of the programme.

Unable to access these free live streams in your location? You should use a streaming-friendly VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in another location, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2025 World Games from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 World Games 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 a location with access

4. Visit The World Games Live

5. Watch the 2025 World Games 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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2025 World Games before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch the 2025 World Games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Get studio-style, professional headshots from casual selfies in minutes with ResumePhoto AI — just $16.97 (reg. $29) for the Premium Package.

When you’re working within a tight budget, finding time (or money) for a professional headshot shoot can be a challenge. But your LinkedIn profile, job application, or portfolio deserves more than that five-year-old selfie in semi-decent lighting. The ResumePhoto AI platform is your new go-to for polished, professional headshots — no studio or reservation required.

For just $16.97, you can transform your everyday selfies into studio-style portraits using advanced AI. Just upload eight or more casual photos of yourself (think: clean lighting, clear face, no hats or heavy filters), and ResumePhoto’s smart algorithm gets to work. In just minutes, you’ll have dozens of high-res headshots with customizable outfits, backgrounds, and styles tailored to your industry.

Whether you’re in finance, tech, education, creative arts, or applying for your first gig, there’s a look that matches your vibe. Go formal or casual, switch out backgrounds, and even tweak retouching for the perfect balance of real and refined. Best part? No need to schedule a shoot, dress up, or spend hours choosing photos — ResumePhoto handles all of that behind the scenes.

If you’re updating your online presence, building your personal brand, or just need a better photo for the team page, this is an easy, affordable win. Professional results, fast — without the awkward poses or studio price tag.

Get the ResumePhoto AI Premium Package while it’s on sale for just $16.97 (reg. $29).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Resoume ResumePhoto AI Professional Headshots: Premium Package $16.97
$29 Save $12.03 Get Deal

Of late, the inner turmoil of little girls has birthed a string of movies about big emotions and monsters. Inside Out 2 introduced Anxiety to the feelings crew, pitching its heroine into adolescent social panic. Imaginary spun a horror story of a forgotten imaginary friend gone vengeful, while Netflix's animated adventure The Imaginary focused on the personal growth of an imaginary friend dreamed up by a grieving little girl. Then the woefully overstuffed and underwhelming If, from John Krasinski, had another grieving young heroine coping with her emotions through rescuing abandoned imaginary friends (or IFs). 

All this means Sketch comes into a crowded field. And yet this inventive indie with a similar setup spins a wondrous and wacky story all its own. 

The feature directorial debut of Seth Worley, Sketch centers on the Wyatts, who are struggling to process their pain in the wake of their mother's death. Widowed dad Taylor (The Decameron's Tony Hale) strives to be upbeat, tucking away mementos of the kids' mum as if that'll hide away the agony. Eldest child Jack (Kue Lawrence) follows his father's lead, determined that a good attitude can fix any problem. Meanwhile, 11-year-old Amber (Bianca Belle) is filled with rage, which spills out in a sketchbook where she scribbles vicious monsters in violent scenarios. But when a bit of magic brings these creations to life, the family must face their hurt head-on and team up to save the day from these creative manifestations of mourning.

SEE ALSO: Tony Hale is hot, and 4 other reasons to watch 'The Decameron'

Bringing together a strong, kid-friendly premise and a deeply crafty sensibility, Worley builds a visual world of imagination and emotion that's a twisted pleasure to visit. 

Sketch dazzles with its distinctive design.  Credit: Angel Studios

Forget glorious hand-drawn animation or a cavalcade of balloon-like CGI cartoons. Worley, who has a background as a visual effects artist, uses computer graphics to create a sublimely hand-drawn feel by building Amber's beasts as they are drawn. Think creatures fully fleshed-out but made of scribbles, their limbs wiry and a little bit wrong, their mouths spewing glitter, their tracks leaving splotches of color behind. With textures of waxy crayon, slippery marker streaks, and stippled chalk, these are monsters unlike any we've seen in movies before. They are monsters you'd see in a kid's doodles, complete with googly eyes, glitter flourishes, crooked fangs, and a thirst for blood. 

Unbridled joy bursts forth from even Sketch's most suspenseful action scenes, because of the delightful absurdity of these designs. They're creepy but not outright scary, making this a sensational movie for kids who are beginning to get into horror but aren't ready to go to sleep with goosebumps. Actually Sketch has a very Goosebumps vibe, from its playful score to its colorfully creepy world and child heroes, who are sharply drawn. 

Behind his can-do attitude, Jack carries a heavy self-imposed burden that makes him fiercely protective of his sister. He's not afraid to call a kid a "b-hole" if he has it coming! Amber wears a furrowed brow, but her eyes glow bright when she's talking about her drawings — even the grisliest ones. The siblings' reluctant sidekick in this spirited adventure is classmate Bowman (Kalon Cox), a big mouth who is 95 percent bad impulses and 5 percent goofball. Clamoring for creative solutions to the very creative problem of rampaging drawings, they'll grab water guns and other improvisational weapons. But their greatest tool is their chaotic chemistry. When they collide, sparks fly — as well as juvenile insults — and it's Goonies-style drama, alive with silliness. 

Tony Hale and D'Arcy Carden lend stellar support.  Credit: Angel Studios

Hale has been a supreme supporting player on everything from Arrested Development to VEEP, The Decameron, Inside Out 2, Toy Story 4, and Hocus Pocus 2. But here, he's far less of a buffoon. Worley, who also scripted Sketch, which Hale produced, gives the celebrated "that guy" a role that's a bit more grounded. With a warm but not comically broad smile, Hale swiftly establishes Taylor as a devoted dad. There'll be moments of frustration and even moments when he's not mad — say it with me — he's just disappointed. And these hit home because Hale's performance walks the line between family-friendly broad comedy and tender family drama. When an eager Amber shows off her drawings of vicious birds atop a pile of bodies, Hale's expression is a look of mingled pride and revulsion that deftly establishes this strong but straining father-daughter bond. He marvels at her, even as he's a bit freaked out by her potential. 

Playing Taylor's sister Liz, D'Arcy Carden, the Emmy-winning Janet of The Good Place, gives off major "cool aunt vibes" from the moment she swaggers onto scene, ready to throw her skills as a real estate agent toward helping this family move on (or at least move out of the family home). Alternatively dishing out tough love to her brother (wanted or not) and marveling over her niece's dangerous creativity ("I love her brain!"), Liz provides a path forward for a family so lost in grief they've forgotten how to talk to each other. But as emotional as this movie can be — with maybe one too many stops in the action to discuss feelings —  it is above all things funny and joyful. 

Yes, there's talk of death, and grief, and deadly monsters, and multiple scenes where children are fleeing for their lives. But laced throughout is a vibrant thread of humor that celebrates the messiness of family, being young, and being hurt, and it exists without mocking its characters. These wonderfully entertaining bits make up for a third act that gets a bit clunky. Comedy comes from the understandably exasperated look of a dad whose last nerve is fraying, from the little girl whose defiant backtalk is vexingly silly, from the squabbling of kids that is as frenzied as it can be outrageous. 

Worley doesn't just keep things light to keep Sketch as appropriate for kids as it is for parents (something Krasinski did not manage). This tone, mixing horrific elements with delightful ones, underscores the very message of the movie: that life is both, and ignoring one won't make it go away — quite the opposite, actually! 

In the end, Sketch is a fantastically fun and heartwarming movie with a slathering of weird that makes it a real treat.  

Sketch opens in theaters Aug. 6.

UPDATE: Aug. 5, 2025, 9:16 a.m. Sketch was reviewed out of its World Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2024. The review has been updated with the latest release information.

TL;DR: The DJI Mini 4K drone is available to purchase for $299 on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 4K Drone $299 at Amazon
Get Deal

DJI is one of the biggest names in drones, with a strong reputation for creating incredible aerial shots. The DJI product range is the top choice of TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers. That being said, we were surprised to see the DJI Mini 4K drone so near the top of the charts of best-sellers over Prime Day. We knew these drones were popular, but surely not as popular as AirPods?

Then the real reason hit us like a drone to the head.

President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at helping the U.S. drone industry and shoring up protections against malicious drone activity. The measures don't actually order a full ban on Chinese-made drones (yet), but talk of a ban on DJI drones has been doing the rounds for a while now. That uncertainty is clearly causing an uptick in sales.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

The good news is that you can still find the DJI Mini 4K drone on Amazon, listed for $299 right now. It's being sold by AeroTech Hubs. We don't generally recommend third-party sellers, but AeroTech Hubs has excellent reviews and times are tough right now. Amazon is warning that stock is running low, so you might need to act fast to secure your drone.

The DJI Mini 4K is full of helpful features for beginners and advanced users alike. It has one-tap takeoff options and a return to home function. But perhaps most importantly for content creators is the three-axis gimbal and 4K quality, as well as advanced wind resistance and extended battery life. It's a step up from the DJI Neo Mini 4K that we think creators will appreciate.

Get the DJI Mini 4K drone for under $300 at Amazon.

SAVE $20: As of Aug. 6, the JBL Clip 5 is on sale for $59.95 at Amazon. That's a 25% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Clip 5 $59.95 at Amazon
$79.95 Save $20 Get Deal

If you're looking for a quality speaker that's portable and affordable, meet the JBL Clip 5. This handy little device is perfect for listening on the go, and it doesn't sacrifice sound for portability.

And as of Aug. 6, this impressive speaker is on sale at Amazon for $59.95, saving you $20 on the list price. This deal is available in all nine color options.

SEE ALSO: Sonos Roam speakers are overheating and melting their charging ports

Despite its small size, this is a powerful speaker. The driver and passive radiator give you a bigger, better (and louder) JBL Pro Sound. Known for its handy clip design, this speaker is perfect for listening on the go. Just clip it onto your backpack, belt loop, or whatever you want, and make the most of the 12-hour battery life. Heading on a long hike, spending hours at the beach, or taking a scenic cycle, this is the speaker for you.

And this speaker is IP67-rated, meaning it’s both waterproof and dustproof, so it’s built to handle outdoor adventures and beach days. Plus, with JBL’s Auracast feature, you can connect multiple JBL speakers to expand your sound for an even bigger, more immersive listening experience. And when running low on battery, press the Playtime Boost button to add up to three more hours to your battery life.

Get this deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $70: As of Aug. 6, the Amazon Fire TV 40-inch 2-Series is on sale for $179.99 at Amazon. That's a 28% savings on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV 40-inch 2-Series $179.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $70 Get Deal

The Amazon Fire TV 2-Series is on sale at Amazon, and it's back down to its lowest price this year. As of Aug. 6, you can pick up the 40 inch model for $179.99, a saving of $70 on list price.

And this is a great TV, especially for the price. One of the standout features is the built-in Alexa voice control. Not only can you use this to control some of your other smart home devices, such as robot vacuums and bluetooth speakers, but you can also use it to search through all your streaming platforms at once.

SEE ALSO: Score a stunning 50-inch QLED Fire TV for just $229.99 — save $100 at Best Buy

It also has strong visuals, so you can enjoy an HD 1080p resolution with support for HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Audio. Meaning all your shows, movies, and gaming experiences are the highest quality.

For entertainment, the TV runs on Amazon's Fire OS, so you'll have access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more. Not to mention, the interface is simple and really easy to use. It also features two standard HDMI inputs and one ARC input, making it easy to connect gaming devices. And if you have more than one Fire TV, all of your movies and shows will stay in sync across devices.

This deal has a "limited time" stamp on it, so don't miss out.

SAVE $320: As of Aug. 6, the Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% saving on its list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock Roborock Q5 Max+ $279.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $320 Get Deal

Innovation is a great thing, especially when it reduces your household chores. Enter the faithful robot vacuum. We're big fans here at Mashable, just check out our top picks for 2025. And being the fans that we are, we're always on the hunt for new deals and discounts that will save you money and effort. Much like this latest Amazon deal on the Roborock Q5 Max+.

As of Aug. 6, this vacuum is reduced by 50% to just $279.99, the lowest it has ever been priced.

SEE ALSO: Best robot vacuums for apartments, tested in my apartment

This model is equipped with a DuoRoller system, meaning it can pick up dirt, dust, and pet hair easily, whether it's on carpet or hard floors. It boasts a 5,500 Pa HyperForce suction power, so it's powerful enough to pick up even the most stubborn dirt.

Not only does it self-empty, but the dustbin has a 2.5-liter storage, so you'll only need to empty it around every seven weeks. The voice controls are also a big plus. Whether you use Alexa, Google Home, or Siri, it'll work for them all. Commanding your robot vacuum to start work sounds pretty fun, right?

For moving around your house, it uses the PreciSense LiDAR. This means it cleverly maps out your rooms so it can move around without bumping into any obstacles like coffee tables or shoes.

If you're interested, get it while it's on sale. Head to Amazon before it jumps back up in price.

SAVE $20: As of Aug. 6, the Fitbit Versa 4 is on sale for $179 at Amazon. That's a 10% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Versa 4 $179.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $20 Get Deal

The smartwatch industry is saturated with incredible options, whether you're looking for a running watch with a battery that lasts weeks, a lifestyle watch that monitors your health, or just an affordable model that does a bit of everything and does it well (I rate the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro for this). If Fitbit has caught your eye, there's a huge selection of impressive watches on offer. But I can't help but share my love for the Fitbit Versa 4.

And as of Aug. 6, you can find the Fitbit Versa 4 reduced to just $179. This price is specific to the black model.

SEE ALSO: Four fitness gadgets to help improve your health

This is my favorite watch in the Fitbit range, and one I've spent a lot of time testing. In my opinion, it's an excellent all-rounder fitness tracker. Whether you're hoping to run a 5K or want to get some insights into your sleeping habits, this watch has a bit of everything.

There are over 40 sports tracking modes that include running, swimming, cycling, and general workout features. However, it's worth noting that the battery life isn't as long-lasting for long-distance activities as the likes of Garmin or Coros.

Other features of the Versa include heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and built-in GPS so you can head outside for activities without your phone. And style-wise, the Versa 4 ticks all the boxes. It has a bright AMOLED display with vibrant colors and images, and is touchscreen-controlled so it's easy to use as well as stylish on your wrist.

Get it from Amazon at its reduced price now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 4 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Secured to jackets

• Green: To poke fun

• Blue: Done in the ring

• Purple: Body parts

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

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

• Yellow: Accessory with a pointy fastener

• Green: Tease

• Blue: Boxing punches

• Purple: Muscle nicknames plus "S"

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #787 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Accessory with a pointy fastener: BADGE, BROOCH, BUTTON, PIN

• Tease: BAIT, NEEDLE, RAG, RIB

• Boxing punches: CROSS, HOOK, JAB, UPPERCUT

• Muscle nicknames plus "S": SHAMMY, SPEC, SQUAD, STRAP

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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

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

Sonos has acknowledged an issue causing its portable Roam speakers to overheat and melt when plugged in to charge. If you have one, maybe consider unplugging it when it isn't in use.

As spotted by Bloomberg, several Reddit users have reported that their Sonos Roam speakers have been overheating, creating an apparent fire hazard by melting the charging cable and area around the USB-C charging port. The issue appears to primarily impact the first generation Sonos Roam, which was initially released in 2021. (Sonos subsequently launched the updated Roam 2 in 2024, and no longer offers the original model for purchase.)

SEE ALSO: Sonos' big comeback is a streaming box

While not a new issue, the Roam's overheating problem was recently brought to attention by a post on the r/sonos subreddit by user u/jssumm. Sharing three photographs of their speaker's melted and blackened USB-C port and charging cable, u/jssumm noted that the Roam had only been two years old and hadn't been used for at least a month.

"It was plugged in using the included Sonos usb cable and plugged into an Apple usb block in the wall, so there’s no cheap knockoff products to blame here," wrote u/jssumm.

Several other Roam users subsequently chimed in to share that they had also encountered this issue. Previous complaints on r/sonos and the Sonos community forum indicate the problem has persisted for a while, with some posts dating back two or three years.

Responses these users received from Sonos' customer support have reportedly varied, with some given a replacement device while others were offered a discount on their next purchase. At least one customer claimed they were told that there aren't any issues with the Roam, and that the damage was caused by their own user error.

Sonos has now acknowledged the Roam's overheating issue, and has noted that it is taking steps to address it.

"We care deeply about product quality and safety and are extremely proud of our record," Sonos said in a statement to Mashable. "We’ve closely tracked a limited number of reports in which certain USB-C charging cables included with the first-generation Sonos Roam speakers have overheated and caused damage to the charging port.

"While the overall incidence rate is very low, and environmental conditions appear to play a role, we’ve taken several proactive steps to even further reduce the likelihood of this issue, including software updates and accessory improvements."

Sonos has been fighting to regain users' trust after the disastrous launch of its buggy new app last year, which dramatically damaged its reputation for delivering quality audio products. The company has since laid off approximately 300 employees, with former CEO Patrick Spence stepping down in January. 

Though the Roam's overheating issue existed long before the current turmoil, the new spotlight on it will no doubt be an unwelcome obstacle amidst Sonos' efforts to course-correct. Even so, Sonos users appear optimistic about new CEO Tom Conrad taking the helm, particularly as he seems aware that the company has significant work ahead of it to win back consumers.

As much as it would pain Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) to hear me say it, Season 2 of Netflix's Wednesday brought me great cheer.

It's been nearly three years since Wednesday first descended on our Netflix queues like a deliciously woeful storm cloud. And in that time, showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have fine-tuned the show's formula. They've ditched what didn't work (say goodbye to Season 1's much-maligned love triangle) but upped the macabre elements and the involvement of the rest of the Addams Family. These moves, combined with the show's ever-enchanting boarding school setting, set the stage for more grotesque fun.

SEE ALSO: 9 burning questions for 'Wednesday' Season 2, because we can't wait Wednesday Addams has a new mystery to solve in Season 2. Emma Myers and Jenna Ortega in "Wednesday." Credit: Jonathan Hession / Netflix

When Wednesday returns to Nevermore Academy (after a summer break spent hunting a serial killer, as one does), it's to horrible news. She's popular now! The horror!

That's right, the most outcast of all the outcasts is now the talk of Nevermore, all thanks to her heroic Season 1 actions. Wednesday's new legions of adoring fangirls make for a fun twist on the dynamic of Season 1, which saw her more on the outs with her classmates. Of course, all this is a nightmare for Wednesday, who would much prefer notoriety to popularity.

SEE ALSO: 10 burning questions we have for 'Wednesday' Season 2, Part 2

But Wednesday has a far more pressing nightmare to deal with. In honing her psychic powers, she witnesses a terrifying vision: Her roommate and bestie Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) is going to die, and it will be all Wednesday's fault.

Burdened with this terrible knowledge, Wednesday sets out to save her friend, soon finding out that Enid's prophesied doom may connect to other murders in the town of Jericho, and to the literal murder of crows circling Nevermore. Yes, the crows add to the Edgar Allan Poe vibes of Nevermore, but would it be too much for them to stop pecking people to death?

Wednesday Season 2 is still filled with dark delights and high school fun. Jenna Ortega in "Wednesday." Credit: Jonathan Hession / Netflix

The killer crows are just one of the many ways in which Wednesday remains committed to its creepy, kooky roots. Wednesday's visions take a turn for the darker, too, accompanied by black tears that both add to her monochromatic aesthetic and herald that she's pushing her psychic limits to the point of disaster.

This season, Wednesday gets its first zombie: a re-animated Nevermore student known as Slurp. Wednesday renders his backstory in gorgeous black-and-white stop-motion animation, reminiscent of Tim Burton's "Vincent" and Frankenweenie. (Burton directs four of Season 2's eight episodes, just as he did with Season 1.) The brain-guzzling zombie horror proves to be madcap (if, again, murderous) fun, while elsewhere, Wednesday gets extra dark with a storyline involving experiments at Willow Hill Psychiatric Hospital.

SEE ALSO: 'Wednesday' Season 2 keeps the Edgar Allan Poe references alive. Here's all of them.

It's not all doom and gloom, though, even if that's what Wednesday herself would prefer. Wednesday Season 2 continues to find fun in high school traditions, from a school bonfire to a prank day. The Nevermore spirit reaches its peak on a school camping trip that pits Outcasts against Normies, delivering the game "capture the flag" as only Wednesday can.

Season 2 also brings new faculty into the fray, each a treat in their own right. Steve Buscemi, rocking his best Poe look, is clearly having a blast as new Nevermore Principal, Barry Dort. Billie Piper intrigues as new head of music, Isadora Capri, someone who may challenge Wednesday in more ways than one. But bringing in Christopher Lloyd, who portrayed Uncle Fester in a pair of Addams Family movies, to play a professor who's just a head in a jar is an inspired choice.

Lady Gaga is also slated to appear as a Nevermore teacher in Wednesday Season 2, Part 2, but Part 1 is tragically Gaga-less.

Wednesday Season 2 is an Addams Family affair. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán in "Wednesday." Credit: Jonathan Hession/Netflix

Just as the new Nevermore faculty get a chance to shine, so to do the other members of the Addams Family.

Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) enrolls at Nevermore and works on honing his lightning powers by practicing some light resurrection. Meanwhile, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) joins the academy's fundraising committee, meaning she and Gomez (Luis Guzmán) move to Nevermore. The pair truly begin to ignite the spark of chemistry established in Season 1. Although their interactions are nowhere near the raging furnace of prior Gomez and Morticia portrayals, it's a thrill to watch their sweet seductiveness truly come into play. (A tango scene paying tribute to Addams Family Values helps too.)

But the most rewarding relationship on display this season is between Morticia and Wednesday, who clash often over the latter's overuse of their psychic abilities. Just your normal teenage rebellion: A daughter wants to use an old family book of spells, while her mother would rather she find a non-volatile psychic guide. It happens to all of us!

Joanna Lumley joins the family as Wednesday's icy Grandmama Hester Frump, and Fred Armisen's wacky Uncle Fester also gets far more screen time. Jury's still out on Cousin Itt, though.

As Wednesday's take on the Addams Family continues to grow, make no mistake: Wednesday remains the star of the show. Ortega remains the cold, dead heart of the series — and I mean that as a compliment in tribute to Wednesday! With one deadly glare and a dry putdown in voiceover, Ortega's Wednesday is still a force to be reckoned with. (Especially now that she's not burdened with a love triangle!) Watching her detective exploits continues to be pure gothic fun, and that's something worth snapping about.

Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Part 2 premieres Sept. 3.

According to user data from Reclaim.ai, a calendar-app company, the average full-time white-collar professional in the U.S. spends 17.8 hours a week in meetings. If you want to be happier at work (or want your employees to be happier), you should fight against the scourge of time-consuming, unproductive meetings at every opportunity. Here are some […]

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Say goodbye to subscriptions — don’t miss this deal and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for $49.97. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $49.97
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TL;DR: A wide range of ChatGPT courses are available to take for free on Udemy.

Udemy hosts an absolutely massive bank of online courses covering everything from Python programming to Microsoft Excel. Not yet familiar with this platform? It's time to change that.

And better yet, some of the most popular examples of these online courses are available to take for free. It sounds too good to be true, but it's legit. You can learn about a large selection of useful topics without spending anything, including ChatGPT.

SEE ALSO: Toxic relationship with AI chatbot? ChatGPT now has a fix.

We have checked out everything on Udemy and lined up a selection of standout free ChatGPT courses to get you started. These are the best ChatGPT courses available to take for free this month:

• AI for Business and Personal Productivity: A Practical Guide

• Become an OpenAI ChatGPT Master: Start Earning with AI

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

• ChatGPT for Email Writing: Use AI Tools to Write Like a Pro

• ChatGPT Made Easy: AI Essentials for Beginners

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

• ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

• ChatGPT Quick Guide — Prompt Engineering, Plugins, and more

• Master ChatGPT: Build AI Assistants That Know Your Business

• Mastering ChatGPT: Advanced Techniques for Professionals

• Perfect Your Writing with ChatGPT and DeepSeek

• Smart ChatGPT Productivity Hacks for Business Professionals

The only catch is that these free online courses do not offer certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging. You still get unrestricted access to all the video content, so you can start learning at your own pace.

Find the best free ChatGPT courses on Udemy.

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

It's hard to believe we're still a few days away from a full moon, especially when it looks almost there tonight. The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility, and we're still in the phase before a full moon. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

So, what's happening with the moon tonight, Aug. 6?

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Aug. 6, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, the moon will be 91% lit up tonight, the 13th day of the lunar cycle.

If you enjoy spotting marks on the moon's surface, this is the time of the lunar cycle to pull out the binoculars. With your unaided eye, you'll be able to spot many things tonight, but most notably the Mare Cirisum, the Mare Tranquillitatis, and the Tycho Crater.

With binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Mare Humorum, the Alps Mountains, and the Clavius Crater.

If you're lucky enough to have a telescope, there are endless geological features to spot, namely the Caucasus Mountains, Apollo 11, and the Descartes Highlands.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on August 9. The last full moon was on July 10.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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.

Last Quarter (or Third 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.

Depending on your generation, you may have been introduced to the Star Wars extended universe by several different movies — Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Episode VII: The Force Awakens, or even The Clone Wars TV show. Maybe you don't even remember.

And if you're really lucky, you haven't seen any of these movies yet, and you can dive into Star Wars in all its glory for the first time. Fortunately, all the Star Wars movies and TV shows are streaming in the same place.

How to watch Star Wars: Disney+

The Walt Disney Company spent a casual $4.05 billion in 2012 to buy Lucasfilm from Star Wars creator George Lucas. The House of Mouse has since given the entire franchise a permanent home on the Disney+ streaming service. (That includes all of the films in addition to Star Wars shorts, specials, and canon TV shows like The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian.)

If you'd rather rent or buy individual Star Wars movies instead of forking over $9.99 a month for a Disney+ subscription, you can do so via Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, YouTube, and Fandango at Home. There's no guarantee they'll always be there, though.

What's the best order to watch Star Wars movies? You have three choices.

From "who shot first?" to "how useful are lightsabers, really?" and "has any character ever sucked more than Jar Jar Binks?" — hot take: yes — there are some debates that hardcore Star Wars fans will never settle. Four decades of intergalactic action will do that to you.

While the Star Wars universe is relatively quiet circa 2025, there's never a bad time to revisit one of the Star Wars fandom's favorite questions: In what order do you watch Star Wars movies?

Fans generally agree that you've got three ways to journey through the series:

• The traditional order based on the movies' release dates

• The chronological order of events within the Star Wars universe

• The lesser-known "Machete Order"

What's the Machete Order? More on that in a sec.

How to watch the Star Wars movies in release order Credit: Lucasfilm

The Star Wars movie series is made up of 11 films: a trilogy of trilogies known as the Skywalker Saga, plus two spin-offs that were released between the three newest films. (Disney considers those to be origin stories, but they're not required viewing to understand the main storyline.)

If this is your maiden voyage into a galaxy far, far away, do yourself an enormous favor and watch the series in order of release date. The original movie, Episode IV: A New Hope, sets up so much of the conflict and characters that'll carry you through the rest of the journey, and you'll spoil some pretty major surprises and twists if you start elsewhere.

Original trilogy (available on Disney+):

• Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (May 1977)

• Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (May 1980)

• Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (May 1983)

Prequel trilogy (available on Disney+):

• Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (May 1999)

• Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (May 2002)

• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (May 2005)

Sequel trilogy, plus spin-offs (available on Disney+):

• Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (Dec. 2015)

• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Dec. 2016)

• Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (Dec. 2017)

• Solo: A Star Wars Story (May 2018)

• Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (Dec. 2019)

How to watch the Star Wars movies in chronological order Credit: Lucasfilm

If you've been around Tatooine a few times, so to speak, try binge-watching the Star Wars movies the way George Lucas intended: in chronological order of the series' events. This approach revolves around the Battle of Yavin, also known as the Battle of the Death Star, which took place in Episode IV and marks "year zero" in the Star Wars timeline.

Here's what a chronological watch list looks like for the series:

1. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (set 32 years before the Battle of Yavin)

2. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (set in 22 BBY)

3. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (set in 19 BBY)

4. Solo: A Star Wars Story (set circa 10 BBY)

5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (leads right into the Battle of Yavin)

6. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (set in 0 BBY)

7. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (set three years after the Battle of Yavin)

8. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (set in 4 ABY)

9. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (set in 34 ABY)

10. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (set in 34 ABY)

11. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (set in 35 ABY)

How to watch the Star Wars movies in Machete Order

One could easily make the argument that The Phantom Menace is just a 136-minute-long reminder of what happens when a movie's entire budget is spent on crappy CGI. That, combined with the fact that its plot has no real effect on the rest of the prequel trilogy, has led many a viewer to ask: Does Star Wars really, truly need it?

Software developer and Star Wars guru Rod Hilton tried to answer that very question about a decade ago when he created the "Machete Order," which slashes Episode I out of the series entirely and puts the other two prequel movies between Episodes V and VI — a viewing sequence that refocuses the story on Luke Skywalker, the protagonist of the original trilogy, while preserving the series' biggest reveals. (Also a bonus: way less Jar Jar.) It may not be the "proper" way to watch the Star Wars movies, but it's definitely a fan favorite.

Here's how to go about watching the movies (all available on Disney+) in Machete Order, per Hilton's blog:

1. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

2. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

3. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

4. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

5. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

6. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

7. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

8. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

If you really want to keep Episode I as part of your Star Wars rotation, Hilton recommends treating it like an anthology film that you pull in after the "book" of the main story is closed. (Same with Rogue One and Solo.)

Where do the Disney+ Star Wars TV shows fit into the franchise? Credit: Lucasfilm

Star Wars has evolved beyond movies. From animated classics like The Clone Wars to recent Disney+ originals such as The Mandalorian and The Acolyte, the extended universe gets a bit more convoluted. So, it's helpful to know where each Star Wars TV series fits in chronologically.

The Acolyte (2024) is the earliest part of the Star Wars timeline, set at the end of the High Republic era, long before the Skywalker Saga begins. The Clone Wars comes in next, taking place between Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Obi-Wan Kenobi, a mini series from 2022, follows the Jedi a decade after the events of Episode III. Five years before Episode IV: A New Hope, we have Andor (2022), which follows the formation of the Rebel Alliance.

In the gap between the fall of the Empire and the rise of the First Order, there are several different stories: The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Skeleton Crew, and Ahsoka.

Here's our best estimation of the chronological order of the Disney+ Star Wars shows:

• The Acolyte

• The Clone Wars

• The Bad Batch

• Obi-Wan Kenobi

• Andor

• Star Wars Rebels

• The Mandalorian (Seasons 1 & 2)

• The Book of Boba Fett

• The Mandalorian (Season 3)

• Skeleton Crew

• Ahsoka

• Star Wars Resistance

The best Disney+ deals

Not yet a Disney+ subscriber? Subscriptions start at $9.99 after a price hike in summer 2024, but we've rounded up a few of the best ways you can save some money on the streaming service below.

Best Disney+ deal: Save 17% on an ad-free annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ Disney+ Premium annual subscription (no ads) $159.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal

Last year, Disney+ hiked its price up from $13.99 to $15.99 for those who wish to watch ad-free. With the yearly plan, you'll pay $159.99 per year, which breaks down to $13.33 per month. That saves you about 17%, though you have to pay all at once.

Best Disney+ bundle deal: Save 44% on Disney+ and Hulu with ads Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu and Disney+ with ads) $10.99 per month (save 44%) Get Deal

If you want the most bang for your buck, Disney's bundle deals are the best in the biz. You can bundle Disney+ and Hulu for just $10.99 per month with ads, which basically gets you Disney+ for $1 per month (44% in savings). You can also add HBO Max (with ads) or ESPN+ into the mix for a grand total of $16.99 per month. Going ad free costs an extra $9 per month for Disney+ and Hulu and an extra $13 per month for the trio bundle.

Best deal for Verizon customers: Save $6.99/month on Disney+ bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon / Disney+ Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (with ads) $10/month as a myPlan perk (save $6.99/month) Get Deal

Verizon customers can score the Disney+ bundle for even cheaper with myPlan. Just add a Disney Bundle to your account through myPlan, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, all with ads. All three would regularly cost you $31.97 per month separately or $16.99 per month through the Disney Bundle deal, but by signing up through this myPlan deal, you'll only pay $10 per month.

Another way to get Disney+ for free Opens in a new window Credit: Total Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total Wireless $60 plan (save $15.99 per month) Get Deal

Verizon Total Wireless customers on the $60/month prepaid unlimited plan get Disney+ Premium (no ads) for free. No terms or trial periods. Just keep your account in good standing and you'll get Disney+ access. If you cancel or switch your plan, your subscription will end as well. If you're on the $50/month prepaid unlimited plan, you're also eligible for six free months of Disney+. Want to extend your trial? Just upgrade to the $60/month plan.