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The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is $500 off at Amazon — act fast to save on this beginner-friendly drone
SAVE $500: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price of $1,599.
Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon$1,599 Save $500 Get Deal
What's in store for the drone market in 2026? We're honestly not sure. Legislative pressure is mounting on DJI imports, but we expected stock to be dipping already. That's clearly not the case, because stock is readily available on Amazon and some of the most popular drones are heavily discounted for a limited time.
The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is down to $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off a beginner-friendly drone that offers professional specs without the hassle of FAA paperwork.
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!Lightweight drones like this have historically had to compromise on quality, but that's not the case here. The Mini 5 Pro offers a massive 1-inch CMOS sensor, so whether you’re shooting 50MP stills or 4K/120fps slow-motion, the dynamic range is staggering.
The DJI Mini 5 Pro also makes use of forward-facing LiDAR that powers the new Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing, allowing the drone to dodge branches, power lines, and buildings even when you can’t see them on your screen. The last thing you want to do is crash your brand new $1,099 drone. This helps avoid that haunting scenario.
You're also getting 42GB of internal storage with this discounted drone. That means you can actually capture a full afternoon of 4K footage without needing an external card at all. It's a simple feature that makes a huge difference for users.
Save $500 on the DJI Mini 5 Pro this weekend.
Euphoria made sex work go viral. Real sex workers are still getting censored.
You've likely seen the viral clips: Sydney Sweeney's Cassie, in dog ears and a heart-shaped dog nose, saying "woof woof" as Jacob Elordi's Nate pulls her leash. Or maybe you've seen the clip of Cassie dressed as a baby to shoot content for her OnlyFans — though HBO has apparently already altered it after intense backlash.
This is Season 3 of HBO's Euphoria, which Mashable's entertainment reporter Belen Edwards rightfully called gross rather than great. Euphoria seems to proudly showcase the salaciousness of sex work to gain viewers and viral moments, all while real sex workers struggle to maintain a voice online amidst censoring legislation.
What 'Euphoria' gets wrong about sex workMainstream portrayals of sex work are far from new, especially on HBO (See: The Deuce, Minx, and earlier seasons of Euphoria). But writer, director, actor, and OnlyFans performer Megan Prescott told Mashable she hasn't seen a good portrayal of sex work or online sex work on TV so far.
SEE ALSO: 'Euphoria' Season 3: What happened to everyone during the time jump?"I think there is such a snobbery in the world in general around sex work," said Prescott, who is also chair of National Ugly Mugs, a UK-based charity dedicated to sex worker protection and justice. "For some reason, we think that they [sex workers] don't know their own industry better than anyone else." She said mainstream shows often don't have real-life sex workers as consultants.
Euphoria cast porn performer Chloe Cherry as Faye in Season 2, but it's unclear whether there are any sex worker consultants behind the scenes. HBO representatives for Euphoria didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment.
It's not a stretch to believe the show doesn't. As Edwards said in her Season 3 review, "Cassie's sex work has no depth to it, and in her 'right-wing suburban bubble,' everyone heaps shame on her, from her fiancé to her friends. Euphoria doesn't interrogate these biases or examine the intricacies of sex work further. Instead, it's happy to keep the shame coming," in the form of the now-infamous clip of Cassie dressed as a baby.
"We've just had someone write a show about their fantasy of a type of sex work, and in doing that, the general public will be like, 'Oh my god. On OnlyFans, you can dress up as a baby. That's disgusting,' which is just not accurate," Prescott said.
OnlyFans' Acceptable Use Policy prohibits "illegal activity including actual, claimed, or role-played: exploitation, abuse, or harm of individuals under the age of 18." But Euphoria creators either didn't consult actual OnlyFans performers to create the show, or didn't care that they were portraying it inaccurately.
We don't know the intentions of Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and the people behind the show; it can be provocation for provocation's sake. But when inaccuracies about sex work are broadcast to the world, sex workers feel the brunt of the fallout. There are already campaigns to ban porn or at least severely restrict access to it, and this portrayal could fuel those calls. But banning porn would make performers turn to more dangerous forms of sex work.
"Portrayals of sex work in mainstream media such as Euphoria rely on reductive and harmful stereotypes, which often shape public perception of sex workers in ways that justify harmful policy," said Diana Rotten, digital strategist for the campaign Scotland for Decrim.
Sex workers in the UK and beyond are facing increasingly hostile legislation, Rotten continued. This is partly due to the Online Safety Act, the UK's age-verification law. Age-verification statutes typically require proof of age, like a facial scan or government ID, to access explicit content — and sometimes content that's not at all explicit but still deemed "adult."
Beyond age-verification, there have also been pushes to implement the "Nordic model" of in-person sex work, Rotten said, which criminalizes buyers of sex as opposed to sellers. But many sex workers highly criticize the Nordic model, saying it keeps them unsafe. For instance, Northern Ireland implemented the Nordic model in 2015, and from 2016 to 2018, there was a 225 percent increase in reported violence against sex workers. Sex workers often advocate for decriminalization instead.
The public's first impression of sex workers shouldn't be shaped through sensationalized and voyeuristic lenses, but grounded in the lived experience of sex workers themselves, Rotten continued. "Too often, the film and television industry is happy to create moral projections and spectacle on sex workers whilst failing to adequately demand improvement of their working conditions," Rotten continued.
Maedb Joy, founder and creative director of Sexquisite Events, a performing arts company that platforms sex worker artists, said similar, that unless you have sex workers in the decision-making process, it's not going to be accurately represented. She said portrayals are often one-dimensional (Anora came to mind) or reduced to stereotypes.
The 'gap' between TV and pornPrescott is a former child actor and starred on the UK series Skins as Katie Finch. She said she was 16 when she did her first sex scene, and she didn't have a chaperone. (Today, working children must be chaperoned if they're under 16 or 18, depending on the UK territory.) Nor was it a closed set, meaning non-essential people were also present. Everyone was fine with that, she said.
"But as a 30-year-old woman, I started an OnlyFans, and there was an absolute uproar," despite how she's "done exactly the same thing on national television as a 16-year-old."
Further, the gap between what someone might do on mainstream TV and OnlyFans is getting smaller (such as simulated sex), but society only demonizes the latter. But starring in someone else's TV show means relinquishing control of your image and sexuality, while OnlyFans can mean taking ownership of and profiting from it, Prescott said.
"I can only speak for myself, [but] I felt a lot safer doing sex work than I have in the acting industry, particularly before the MeToo movement," she said. "There's so many parallels between sex work and mainstream acting that the fact that actors have so many more rights than sex workers do is just appalling to me."
Real-world consequences from TVIt's not all bad news. Joy said representation of sex workers on mainstream TV is "getting there," noting the New Zealand series Madam, about a woman who opens a brothel after her husband has an affair with a sex worker.
Another TV show out now, Margo's Got Money Troubles, may be another example of better representation. Based on the novel by Rufi Thorpe, the show follows a young mother who starts an OnlyFans account to support herself and her baby. Thorpe, who also executive-produced the show, paid OnlyFans models to consult on the story.
The reality is, to have an accurate portrayal of one of the most marginalized groups, they must be consulted. If you're not listening to sex workers or sex worker organizations, your idea of what sex work is like comes from media depictions of it, said Prescott, and those perceptions can turn into actual laws that impact people.
The reality is, to have an accurate portrayal of one of the most marginalized groups, they must be consulted.As it is, Hollywood is profiting off of sex workers while actual sex worker income has recently decreased due to the enactment of age-verification laws. And sex workers have been banned or shadowbanned from major platforms for years now, thanks in part to previous legislation. FOSTA/SESTA, twin laws enacted in 2018, outwardly tried to stop online sex trafficking, but studies show they actually pushed sex workers offline into less safe situations.
Major social media platforms cracked down harder on sexual content after FOSTA/SESTA went into effect, and that's been the trend for years. Just this month, Meta removed sex toy shop Bellesa's Instagram account. Nonprofit Repro Uncensored documented more than 70 queer, reproductive rights, and creative accounts removed from Instagram in April 2026.
Joy said the Sexquisite account had been removed before. "We lost our Instagram account at 26,000 followers just before we went on tour last year," she said. But at the same time, she sees companies like Honey Birdette allowed to promote their lingerie, and Sabrina Carpenter danced on a pole in the "Tears" music video. Sex workers are glamorized and used for aesthetics, but real workers aren't allowed to live those aesthetics, Joy said.
"It's the same old story that people get to take from our culture and profit off it and commodify it, but when it's literally our lives, it's criminalized," said Joy.
These policies claim to protect women and children, but they often force people into more isolated and precarious working conditions, whilst failing to address poverty, which is the main reason for entry into the sex industry, Rotten said.
Media shapes perception. And in a world that is increasingly harsh on sex workers, we need to shape a better perception.
Cats: The Jellicle Ball review: Ballroom and Cats are a match made in the Heaviside Layer
Let the sound of clacking fans and roaring audiences lead you to Cats: The Jellicle Ball, a rapturous reinvention of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats.
Now on Broadway after a 2024 run at PAC NYC, Cats: The Jellicle Ball transposes the often confounding pageantry of Cats to the ballroom scene, a haven for LGBTQ art and expression. The move breathes new life and meaning into Webber's work, creating a joyful spectacle that is the only way I'll accept Cats from now on.
SEE ALSO: 'Mexodus' review: This live-looped musical is a theatrical miracle Cats: The Jellicle Ball brings ballroom culture to Andrew Lloyd Webber. The cast of "Cats: The Jellicle Ball." Credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeDespite its revamped title, Cats: The Jellicle Ball is still Cats. That means it's still the story of the Jellicle Cats gathering for the Jellicle Ball, where the leader of their clan, Old Deuteronomy (André De Shields) will choose one cat to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn.
However, Cats: The Jellicle Ball zeroes in on the "ball" aspect of the original Cats, smartly tying the musical's storyline to contemporary ballroom culture. Pioneered by Black and Latina trans women in the 1960s, but with origins dating back to the drag balls of the Harlem Renaissance, ballroom culture centers on competitive balls where attendees walk or perform in categories for prizes. Examples include "realness," tied to a performer's ability to "pass" as a cishet man, or "virgin vogue," a category for newer dancers. Participants are often members of "houses," which are part team, part chosen family.
All these elements map onto Cats: The Jellicle Ball eerily well, to the point that no part of the show's recontextualization feels awkward or forced. In directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch's vision, "Old Gumbie Cat" Jennyanydots (Xavier Reyes) becomes Mother of the Haus of Dots, whipping her house kittens into shape. The much lusted-after Rum Tum Tugger (Sydney James Harcourt) rules supreme in the realness category, while self-described "fat cat" Bustopher Jones (Nora Schell) rocks the body category. And yes, it all takes place on a catwalk. Here, each cat's introduction is more than just a wave hello to the audience: It's a full-on presentation to the Jellicle Ball's judges.
SEE ALSO: 'Every Brilliant Thing' review: Daniel Radcliffe gives us one million reasons to love life. This play is one of them.The presentations themselves are jaw-dropping, full of gravity-defying moves courtesy of choreographers Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons. Their choreography highlights the five elements of vogue, from dips and spins to mesmerizing hand and floor performances. A rousing take on "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat" even doubles as a lesson in the differences between Old Way and New Ways of voguing, charting the evolution of the art form.
Accentuating these looks further is the stunning costume, hair and wig, and makeup design by Qween Jean, Nikiya Mathis, and Rania Zohny, respectively. In Cats: The Jellicle Ball, performers' looks aren't as explicitly cat-like as those in the original production. You won't find any furry bodysuits or painted-on whiskers here. Instead, the musical pulls inspiration from streetwear and couture alike, creating a colorful blend of styles while still nodding to the show's source material with cat-eared hats, fur coats, or clawed boots. Like with Cats: The Jellicle Ball's dramaturgical shifts (Josephine Kearns served as dramaturg and gender consultant), each design choice cannily acknowledges Cats' past while pushing it into the future. That experience doesn't even let up during intermission, during which you can hear banger remixes of songs from other Webber musicals.
Cats: The Jellicle Ball pays moving tribute to LGBTQ history. Junior LaBeija and Bryson Battle in "Cats: The Jellicle Ball." Credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeCats: The Jellicle Ball's new ballroom setting isn't just an opportunity for the show to rain glitter and general fabulousness on the audience. (Although, trust me, there is plenty of that.) It's also a tribute to the pioneers of ballroom culture, which has entered the mainstream thanks to documentaries like 1990's Paris Is Burning, shows like Pose, and copious references everywhere from Madonna's "Vogue" to RuPaul's Drag Race. Ballroom slang like serving, eating, or clocking it has also become more widely used, if divorced from its original context. But over the course of the two hours you spend at Cats: The Jellicle Ball, the musical hopes to give audience members that context and honor it, too.
The biggest examples come at the beginning of the show's second act, when Old Deuteronomy sings "The Moments of Happiness" to newcomer Sillabub (Teddy Wilson Jr.). As he reflects on the past, projections (courtesy of Brittany Bland) behind him display images of the Founding Mothers of ballroom, including Crystal LaBeija, whose image makes another cameo in the show. That thoughtful moment moves into Gus the Theatre Cat's (Junior LaBeija) self-titled number, in which he regales the Jellicle kittens with tales of his work in the theater. In a vacuum, the song is still a moving remembrance of glory days gone by. But having LaBeija, the iconic emcee featured in Paris Is Burning, perform the song adds a whole new layer of meaning to it. This is a titan of ballroom passing the torch to a new generation and making sure they know their history. The relevance of that casting might not mean something to everyone in the Broadhurst Theatre, especially if Cats: The Jellicle Ball is their first exposure to ballroom. But for those in the know, the effect is endlessly powerful.
Cats: The Jellicle Ball also gestures to the trials and discrimination the LGBTQ community faces, artfully changing up Old Deuteronomy's 11th-hour disappearance to involve a harrowing encounter with police. With that, "Magical Mister Mistoffelees" (Robert "Silk" Mason) becomes a rousing number of resistance and solidarity, albeit with some clever magical humor thrown in. It's a euphoric sequence in a musical full of them. Old Deuteronomy's introduction alone had the audience out of our seats and clacking our fans along for several minutes, overjoyed by the power of sick beats, dance moves, and De Shields boogieing up and down the catwalk. "Memory," sung exceptionally by "Tempress" Chasity Moore's Grizabella, brought the house down. And every runway showdown prompted gasps and approving clacks around the theater.
Would you find this level of collective joy at a more "traditional" Cats staging? I'm not sure. The show's bizarre nature can be alienating, even off-putting. (Let's not forget the horrors of 2019's film adaptation.) Yet with its ballroom angle, Cats: The Jellicle Ball finds a clear focus for Webber's polarizing show and turns it into a weird, wild celebration of an important subculture. Come one, come all, and get swept up in the magic.
Lifetime access to this Montessori-style learning app for kids is now 76% off
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, a Montessori-inspired app that helps kids learn through play, is now $59.99 (reg. $250).
Opens in a new window Credit: Pok Pok Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription $59.99$250 Save $190.01 Get Deal
Technology isn’t going anywhere. However, the rise of a virtual world doesn’t mean that we should give in to unhealthy online practices. That goes for kids, too. Pok Pok is an award-winning app that helps kids in grades 2 through 8 learn with calm, supportive, educational games. A lifetime subscription is now $59.99 (reg. $250).
Pok Pok is bringing children in grades 2 through 8, ad-free, low-stimulation learning. Not only is this a healthy way to introduce kiddos to screentime, but it also helps kids learn on their own — intuitive in-app tools give kids what they need to form new skills all on their own.
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!Pok Pok was created by concerned parents and developed in close collaboration with early childhood experts to provide kids with enriching and safe developmental tools. They do this with Montessori-inspired practices — an educational approach that focuses on hands-on, independent learning. This learning model helps kids develop life skills through impactful experiences. Pok Pok has no rules or levels, no pop-up ads, or sneaky in-app purchases – just a one-time subscription fee and lifetime access to learning.
This lifetime subscription doesn’t just live on one device. If a tablet happens to break or a phone gets lost, you can just install Pok Pok on a new device and keep the fun going. Your subscription lets you use Pok Pok on up to 10 devices, so it can grow with your current children or be passed down the line as your family continues to grow
For a limited time, get a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for $59.99.
Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through April 19.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
All Babbel language courses are now available for life during this limited-time deal
TL;DR: Study 14 new languages with lifetime access to Babbel for $159 (reg. $646.20).
Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159$646.20 Save $487.20 Get Deal
There’s more to learning a new language than rote memorization, but you wouldn’t know that from looking at some language-learning apps. If you’re not making any progress with dense vocabulary lists and grammar memory exercises, it might be time for a more practical approach. Babbel is a language-learning tool designed by actual linguists that walks you through learning up to 14 different languages in a more practical, natural way. Right now, a lifetime subscription is also available for $159 (reg. $646.20).
Babbel gives you lifetime access to all 14 of its current languages. That includes
French
Spanish
German
Italian
Portuguese
And more
If you want to focus on one language, you can. If you want to bounce between a few, you can do that, too.
The actual lessons are short, usually about 10 to 15 minutes each, and they cover language you’d use in everyday situations. Babbel teaches things like asking for directions, ordering food, shopping, getting around, making conversation, and handling common business situations.
Babbel also lets you start at the level that fits where you are now. You can go in as a total beginner, jump in at an intermediate level, or work through more advanced material. There are even pronunciation lessons with speech recognition that lets you say words and phrases out loud instead of just reading them. And if you want to practice an actual conversation, try the AI speech partner.
There’s nothing worse than forgetting the language you put all that work into studying. That’s why Babbel also includes personalized review sessions, so older material comes back around before it disappears from your memory.
Use code LEARN to get a Babbel Lifetime Subscription for $159.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Get over $1,000 off a MacBook Pro — last chance to save
TL;DR: Save on signature Apple performance with a Grade A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro (2020) for just $399.99 (reg. $1,580).
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 2020 (Refurbished) $399.99$1,580 Save $1,180.01 Get Deal
Time to upgrade your laptop? Shopping for a student in your life or a young professional who needs a more advanced computer? Or looking for a good deal on new tech? Shopping refurbished gives you an opportunity to buy a 2020 MacBook Pro for 74% off.
The MacBook Pro is one of Apple’s tentpole devices; therefore, like most other Apple tech, it rarely goes on sale. By shopping outside the official Apple store, all the features of the MacBook Pro are no longer overshadowed by the cost.
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!With the following features, the Pro is fit for professionals and students alike:
Vivid images thanks to retina display and true tone technology for creative work or play.
Touch ID and a touch bar.
Improved connectivity and optimized OS performance with 16GB RAM and 2GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5.
512GB SSD storage for fast operation.
Shopping refurbished offers the opportunity to save up to 74% while also making an environmentally conscious decision. Certified refurbished items undergo rigorous quality checks to ensure they arrive operational.
This Grade “A” refurbished product earned its rating by meeting the following criteria:
Minimal wear on the body. May have light wear, but none are visible from over 1 foot away.
No scratches or burns on the display screen.
Clean and operational keyboards.
Get a refurbished Apple MacBook Pro (2020) for just $399.99 (reg. $1,580).
If you order this deal, you’ll get a lifetime of Microsoft Office 2021 on us. Add MSO to your cart and enter GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) to zero it out. Ends April 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
How to unblock Pornhub for free
TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.
Access to Pornhub is in turmoil. Early in 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws. In response, Pornhub banned visitors from those states from accessing their website. The same situation then took place in France, and although Pornhub is complying with the UK's age verification law, users are now required to provide personal information to access the site.
The situation is constantly changing, but you can stay one step ahead with a quick and easy hack. If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.
How to unblock Pornhub for freeVPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access adult sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.
Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub
Visit Pornhub
The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to your favorite site, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for Pornhub?ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, 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 streaming speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Unblock Pornhub for free with ExpressVPN.
The 10 best free dating apps to find your spring fling
If you're on a budget and things look bleak in the relationship department, don't panic. You don't need to shell out hundreds to find a genuine connection. As the weather warms up and the spring dating pool thaws out, there are plenty of free dating apps that let you chat, match, and meet a partner without shelling out cash upfront.
Dating itself will cost you time and money, so why should dating apps eat at your wallet, too? You don't have to resort to dating an AI to save money. Simply use a dating app's free tier. The good news is, the most popular apps are free to use — no credit card required.
What dating apps are completely free?Mainstream dating apps like Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge all have robust free membership tiers that compete with paid subscriptions. Some free, more niche dating apps, like Archer and Lex, are also worth checking out. It just depends on what you're looking for and how much work you're willing to put in to get it.
Critics will tell you that the big-name dating apps (like Bumble, or Match Group giants such as Tinder and Hinge) are all the same, forming a single, amorphous dating platform. However, these apps still have distinct differences. That said, dating app companies are moving more features behind paywalls, frustrating daters on a budget. (We're looking at you, Grindr.)
Below, find our top picks for the best free dating apps. Use them to find your forever partner, a casual encounter, or something in between — all without paying a dime.
Note: All the free dating sites listed below offer a free membership option that allows you to talk and match with people at no cost. Though most offer paid premium memberships, these aren't apps like Match or eharmony, where you need to pay to match or chat with other users. And if you're being pressured to send money to someone on a dating app, you might be involved in a romance scam.
Featured Video For You These dating sites and apps are perfect for people on a budgetHurdle hints and answers for April 18, 2026
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintTo produce.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerHATCH
Hurdle Word 2 hintSadness.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerGLOOM
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
Hurdle Word 3 hintA white and yellow flower.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerDAISY
Hurdle Word 4 hintA cold dwelling.
Hurdle Word 4 answerIGLOO
Final Hurdle hintHuge.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerLARGE
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on April 18
The New Moon has now passed, which means each night the Moon will appear bigger and brighter in the sky. This happens as more of its sunlit side comes into view from Earth. From now, it will become more illuminated each night until the next full Moon.
What is today’s Moon phase?As of Saturday, April 18, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Tonight, 1% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.
The Moon is starting to brighten again, but for now, there's still to little of its surface lit up to see anything.
When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.
What are Moon phases?NASA states that the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, during which it passes through eight distinct phases. We always see the same side of the Moon, but the amount of sunlight reflecting off it changes as it moves along its orbit, creating the familiar pattern of full, partial, and crescent shapes. These shifting appearances are called lunar phases, and there are eight in total:
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.
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 18, 2026
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you love hockey. If you don't, well, then good luck!
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Plus 1
Green: Champions
Blue: Physical locations
Purple: A delicious pun
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Types of Hockey Goals
Green: Last Four Teams To Win the Stanley Cup
Blue: NHL Arena Names
Purple: Hockey Terms That Are Also Food Items
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #572 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Types of Hockey Goals — EMPTY NET, EVEN STRENGTH, POWER PLAY, SHORT-HANDED
Last Four Teams To Win the Stanley Cup — AVALANCHE, GOLDEN KNIGHTS, LIGHTNING, PANTHERS
NHL Arena Names — BALL, CANADIAN TIRE, CAPITAL ONE, TD
Hockey Terms That Are Also Food Items — APPLE, BISCUIT, GRINDER, ICING
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
NYT Pips hints, answers for April 18, 2026
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 18, 2026The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 18, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 18 PipsNumber (11): Everything in this purple space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.
Number (9): Everything in this red space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically; and 2-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (3): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Every domino half in this yellow space must have 0 pips. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 18 PipsLess Than (3): Everything in this red space must add up to be less than 3. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.
Less Than (7): Everything in this purple space must add up to be less than 7. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.
Number (6): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally.
Number (8): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.
Number (6): Everything in this green space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.
Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 18 PipsNumber (3): The domino half in this purple space must have 3 pips. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this red space must add up to 0 pips. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.
Greater Than (0): The domino half in this dark blue space must have more than 0 pips. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally.
Number (0): The domino half in this green space must have 0 pips. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally.
Equal (5): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally; and 5-2, placed vertically.
Equal (4): Every domino half in this yellow space must have 4 pips. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.
Number (3): The domino half in this purple space must have 3 pips. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (2): Every domino half in this red space must have 2 pips. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.
Less Than (5): Everything in this light blue space must add up to be less than 5. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally; and 6-1, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this yellow space must add up to be 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.
Number (8): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to be 8. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed horizontally.
Equal (4): Every domino half in this green space must have 4 pips. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.
Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add up to be 8. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 18, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a fizzy drink.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 18, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Gawk
Green: Currents
Blue: Surprise victor
Purple: Pops
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Look at with awe
Green: Basic electricity terms
Blue: Unexpected winner
Purple: Starting with soda brands
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 #1042 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayLook at with awe: GOOGLE, MARVEL, STARE, WONDER
Basic electricity terms: AC, DC, POWER, VOLTAGE
Unexpected winner: DARK HORSE, LONG SHOT, SLEEPER, UNDERDOG
Starting with soda brands: CRUSHWORTHY, FANTAGRAPHICS, FRESCAPE, PEPSINOGEN
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 April 18, 2026Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
NYT Strands hints, answers for April 18, 2026
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a good deal.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 18, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Not too muchThe words are related to saving.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe being economical.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is On the Cheap.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
NYT Strands word list for April 18Bargain
Inexpensive
On the Cheap
Budget
Sale
Affordable
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 18, 2026
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a suck-up.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 18, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 18, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Bootlicker.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
TOADY
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
This open-source smart home system is slowly overtaking Alexa and Google Home
Smart home ecosystems such as Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home can be very frustrating. They're not always compatible with smart home devices, you're limited in what you can do, and they may not be hugely respectful of your privacy. There's a free and open-source alternative that's gaining ground fast.
Get Microsoft Office apps on your Mac for under $9 each
TL;DR: Outfit your Apple device with some Microsoft essentials with this Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 for $49.97 (reg. $219) through April 19.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $49.97$219 Save $169.03 Get Deal
Made the move to Mac, but missing the old Microsoft Office classics? Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 gives you the best of both worlds — a suite of Microsoft tools ready to work on your Apple device.
For two more days, this lifetime license can be yours for just $49.97 through April 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
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!There’s a reason Microsoft Office classics never went out of style — decades later, they still work great. Now available in convenient app form, these tools are ready for your Mac with the Microsoft Home and Business for Mac 2021 lifetime license.
This software bundle gives your Apple computer the must-haves: Word for document creation, Excel for spreadsheet building, PowerPoint for designing eye-catching presentations, and Outlook for managing your emails.
The license also includes two newer favorites — OneNote to upgrade the way you take notes, and Teams to keep you connected with others.
While you typically have to pay monthly subscription fees to enjoy these apps, this license lets you pay once and enjoy them for life. The license is linked to your Microsoft Account, not your device.
This Office for Mac license is supported by macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 15 Sequoia, and macOS 26 Tahoe. If you run into issues, free customer service is available.
Score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 for just $49.97 (reg. $219) now through April 19.
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Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen: Ending explainer
Well, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen lives up to its title. Something very bad does, in fact, happen at the wedding between Rachel Harkin (Camila Morrone) and Nicky Cunningham (Adam DiMarco), leaving gallons of blood and countless dead Cunninghams scattered across the reception's dance floor.
SEE ALSO: 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' review: Marriage is a killerDespite what all the blood might have you think, this ending isn't all bad news for the (un)happy couple, as a last-minute twist leaves Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen on a somewhat hopeful note. Let's dive into it.
SEE ALSO: Where can you stream 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen'? Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen's wedding curse, explained. Zlatko Burić in "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen." Credit: NetflixBefore we get into the very end of Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, let's rewind to the show's fourth episode, which lays out a curse that has been plaguing Rachel's bloodline for years. Rachel hears about it from the frightening older man (Zlatko Burić) who approached her in episode 1 with the ominous question, "Are you sure he's the one?" Turns out it wasn't just a creepy question. It was also a warning.
According to the man, the curse began long, long ago, with his great-great-great-great grandparents. They were very much in love, but before the wedding, the groom died in a hunting accident. The bride begged Death to bring him back, which set in motion a tricky bargain. Death agreed to bring the groom back if the bride believed he was her true soulmate. It worked, but with a price: Death cursed all of the bride and groom's children to find and marry their true soulmates, or pay him with their lives.
The curse passed onto the man, who got engaged to his "beloved" Marianne, Rachel's great-great-great-great-great-grandmother. However, when faced with the ultimatum that he must marry his true soulmate by sundown on his wedding day or die, he left his bride at the altar. After that, the curse transferred to her bloodline: Rachel's bloodline. Now, every Harkin must marry their soulmate by sundown on their wedding day.
If the person they marry isn't their soulmate, then they die by hemorrhage. If they flee the wedding before getting married, then the curse passes to their betrothed's family. As for the man, he became immortal as a result of his cowardice, and now he must bear witness to every Harkin wedding.
SEE ALSO: Will there be a 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' Season 2?Let's face it: The "soulmate" aspect of the curse is almost impossible to beat. Even if you did believe in the concept of soulmates, the numbers game of actually finding "the one" in a world of billions of people is not favorable. Plus, the curse is basically a self-fulfilling prophecy. Knowing about it will constantly have you second-guessing your impending marriage, leaving you to doubt your love at the altar. And doubt is the death knell for any married Harkin.
What does Rachel choose in Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen? Camila Morrone in "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen." Credit: NetflixArmed with the knowledge of this curse, Rachel has to decide what to do on her wedding day. If she gets married to Nicky and he isn't her soulmate, she'll die. If she leaves, she dooms the Cunningham family to live with the same curse. In theory, she could opt for a secret third option and keep postponing the wedding indefinitely. However, since the wedding is also meant to double as one final celebration for Nicky's dying mother, Victoria (Jennifer Jason Leigh), there are external pressures on Rachel and Nicky to make sure it stays on track.
To guarantee her survival, Rachel mixes a potion that will transform her into Nicky's soulmate. She knows it will work because it's how her great-aunt survived her own wedding, where most of the other Harkins perished immediately. At the last minute, though, Rachel decides not to drink the potion. (Meaning she cut off her own toe for nothing!) She's sure Nicky is her soulmate, and she decides to go through with the wedding.
SEE ALSO: What is 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' about? What does the curse do in Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen? Camila Morrone in "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen." Credit: NetflixIn the end, it's Nicky who gets cold feet. After he and Rachel recite their vows and Rachel puts Nicky's ring on his finger, he wonders whether they should get married at all. In the past, Rachel expressed her cynicism with the institution of marriage, but Nicky's brilliant mind decides that the altar is the best place to finally take these thoughts into consideration. Great timing.
Nicky's pause means that the sun sets before the marriage ceremony is complete. With no marriage, the next wave of the curse kicks in, and it transfers to Nicky's bloodline. Here, we learn that the curse won't just impact Nicky's descendants — it's retroactive.
That means all the Cunninghams who are married to the person they don't truly believe is their soulmate (and let's face it, that's basically everyone) begin to spurt blood and die. Sorry to break it to everyone who was dancing to "I Will Survive" moments before, but they do not, in fact, survive.
How does Jules survive in Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen? Karla Crome and Jeff Wilbusch in "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen." Credit: NetflixVictoria and Portia (Gus Birney) are among the many Cunninghams who fall victim to the curse in Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. Yet one married Cunningham mysteriously survives: Jules (Jeff Wilbusch), whose marriage to Nell (Karla Crome) has been on the rocks since we've met them. They're even planning on getting a divorce.
Amidst the wedding carnage, Nell wonders aloud why Jules hasn't perished like the rest of his family. In response, he casts her a yearning look, one that implies that, even after everything they've been through, he truly believes he's found his soulmate. His survival is proof that apparently you can live through the curse.
Why didn't Nicky die in Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen? Adam DiMarco in "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen." Credit: NetflixJules isn't the only married Cunningham to survive the curse. When the Cunninghams start dropping like flies, Nicky realizes his error and rushes an unwilling Rachel into completing the marriage ceremony. He survives, truly believing Rachel to be his soulmate.
Unfortunately, Rachel is not so lucky. After seeing Nicky's cowardice and hearing how he didn't believe her about the curse, she no longer thinks he's her true soulmate. No way is she willing to lay her life on the line for him. Unfortunately, that's exactly what ends up happening once the wedding rings are on: Rachel dies, just like her mother did years ago.
How does Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen end? Camila Morrone in "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen." Credit: NetflixHowever, this is not the end of Rachel's story. Death, who's been lurking throughout the series as a shadowy POV character, makes one last move. He takes the life of the witness, who's long been hoping for the release of death, and resurrects Rachel. Perhaps he recognizes that Rachel was forced into the marriage and deserves another chance, or perhaps he just wants to inject new blood into the curse.
Now, Rachel will be the witness for future Cunningham weddings. Her late predecessor leaves a helpful note to signal her new role to her: "Your turn," written in blood.
Only one Cunningham is left for her to shadow: Jules and Nell's son Jude (Sawyer Fraser). His marriage — if he even has one, after witnessing this mess — won't be for a while yet, so Rachel has all the time in the world to live a free, unburdened life. (She also gives him ample warning about making sure he's careful about who he marries.)
Of course, the thrill of her immortality may eventually fade and curdle into the quiet menace of the witness who came before her. But for now, as she climbs into the witness' old "Just Married" truck and flings her wedding ring out the window, Rachel feels liberated. Turns out the something very bad she'd been dreading actually wound up being good for her.
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is now streaming on Netflix.
Infiniti starts QX65 production in Tennessee—here's why it's so important
Infiniti hopes it just marked a major turning point in its U.S. ambitions. The upscale Nissan brand has started assembling its 2027 QX65 luxury SUV at its Smyrna, Tennessee plant, giving it a key role in launching a crucial new model.
This $165K track car does what million-dollar prototypes do
Revolution Race Cars is trying to carve out a new niche in the track-day world with the launch of the HyperSport. Described by the UK-based company as a lightweight track car built for performance and safety, the HyperSport combines the racing character of single-seaters, GTs, and prototypes.


