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In the wake of midterm elections that were catastrophic for Republicans, do those on the right agree with Donald Trump refusing to take any of the blame?

Apparently not. In the Daily Show monologue above, host Jordan Klepper plays some clips of key figures appearing to criticise or distance themselves from the president.

"This is your guy. This is your brand. You have a decade of merch and idolatry behind him. You don't want to turn on him just because of one, little generational collapse," Klepper says. "So, time to lock in. Right-wing media, hit that reframe!"

SEE ALSO: Why Jordan Klepper thinks we're living in "dumb McCarthyism"

Cue a clip of pundits like Matt Walsh and Ben Shapiro also criticising Trump, followed by Megyn Kelly saying "eh" after talking about Trump sharing a post to remind America he's still president.

"Eh? Eh?" says Klepper. "Is she sassing the president? You don't sass the president unless you're Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin!"

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It won't shock you that there's a superabundance of interview podcasts and internet series out there. You're probably subscribed to a bunch of content creators (perhaps those who made this year's Mashable 101) or maybe you depend on your feed to hand-deliver the most viral clips. But your time is precious, so we've rounded up the best on the internet this week.

Whether you're into deadpan showdowns, niche hot takes, or simply wholesome interviews between creative minds, here's what we reckon is worth your time (and of course, we'd never leave out Mashable's own Say More, what are you, nuts?).

SEE ALSO: The Mashable 101: The creators defining the internet in 2026 1. Solid Air: Derrick Gee x Troye Sivan

Just a deeply satisfying listening session between two music nerds, Troye Sivan joined Derrick Gee to play his favourite tracks on Solid Air this week. Watching the pair connect while sharing and deconstructing songs from Madonna, Kelela, Groove Armada, The Avalanches, Cornelius, and more is the active listening I crave.

How to watch/listen: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram

2. Baby, This Is Keke Palmer: Lil Jon

In one of the most moving podcast interviews of the week, Keke Palmer's interview with Lil Jon is worth watching. In the episode, the rapper unpacks grief and faith in relation to his 27-year-old son Nathan's drowning in Feb. 2026, in a conversation that Palmer treats with space and respect.

How to watch/listen: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok

3. Handsome: Mae Martin, Tig Notaro, and Fortune Feimster x Alanis Morissette

And now, for Handsome's first ever in-person guest, it's Alanis Morissette! Comedians Mae Martin, Tig Notaro, and Fortune Feimster welcomed the iconic musician to their podcast studio for a chat about her latest concert residency Butterfly with a Machete, but also got deep about hard-to-access emotions, "wholeness" vs "wellness", and the power of community when it comes to tuning into who you are. Honestly, maybe Morissette could be the fourth Handsome host?

How to watch/listen: Hulu, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok

4. Say More: Mark Stetson x Jordan Klepper

For Mashable's Say More this week, executive producer Mark Stetson sat down with comedian and Daily Show host Jordan Klepper to unpack his new, lengthily-titled special, The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Red Flags. If you want to know how Klepper gets through Trump rallies unscathed and how he crafts his signature style of political comedy, settle in.

How to watch/listen: Mashable, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok

5. Mythical Kitchen: Josh Scherer x Uncle Roger

If there's one thing Uncle Roger can't abide, it's subpar egg fried rice (Jamie Oliver would know). Same goes for the man behind the beloved internet character, creator Nigel Ng, whose own restaurants across Malaysia and London serve it up daily — and yes, Uncle Roger himself has "tested" it.

On Tuesday, Ng joined Mythical Kitchen's Josh Scherer — both as himself and as Uncle Roger in a fitting judge role — to test expensive and cheap versions of fried rice, from Panda Express ("it kind of tastes like the box," Ng says) to the pricey lobster fried rice from Tao (a "rip-off according to Uncle Roger). And there's cooking afoot, as the two put their own spins on the dish — Ng's cookbook is quite literally titled Don't Mess Up Your Rice, so pay attention.*

How to watch/listen: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram

And here's a few more the internet loved this week:

• Hot Ones Versus: Sam Rockwell x Parker Posey

• Gaydar: Anania x Julio Torres

• Friends Keep Secrets: Colman Domingo

• Subway Takes: Tom Hiddleston

• The Comment Section with Drew Afualo: Peyton Dix and Hunter Harris

• Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend: Olivia Colman

• Criterion Closet: John Turturro

• Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster: Andi Osho

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior Mashable article.

SAVE OVER $10: As of Nov. 6, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Bundle has returned to its lowest-ever price of $174.89 at Amazon. That's $10.06 off its typical price of $184.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Bundle $174.89 at Amazon
$184.95 Save $10.06   Get Deal at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering fans don't have to wait for Black Friday to score trading card deals. Amazon has a few early drops available to shop now, including a price cut on the Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Bundle. As of Nov. 6, collectors can snag this bundle for $174.89, which marks a return to its lowest-ever price.

Overall, you're saving just over $10 with this deal compared to paying its typical price, but it's important to note that it's actually cheaper than its market price at TCG Player by a few dollars (it's listed for $178.25).

SEE ALSO: The Black Friday 2026 countdown is on: Our top 7 hacks for finding the best deals

This MTG bundle is full of Marvel-themed cards to check out. The full set comes with four Commander Decks — Avengers Assemble, Wakanda Forever, The Fantastic Four, and Doom Prevails — with each holding 100 cards, including 30 Commander cards. Plus, the Avengers Assemble, Wakanda Forever, and Doom Prevails decks also come with a foil Borderless card included in the 100-card pack, while the Fantastic Four deck comes with four of them, one for each team member.

Alongside all of those cards, you'll also get 10 double-sided token cards, a deck box, a strategy guide, and a reference card. It's a truly stacked bundle, so don't miss out on this chance to save at Amazon.

If you're looking for even more MTG deals right now, Amazon's also discounted the Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box and Reality Fracture Play Booster Box.

Looking for a good microcontroller project to spend some time on this weekend, or just stashing away some inspiration for a rainy day? Here are some ESP32-powered builds for your car, garage, and driveway. Some are useful, others are just for fun.

TL;DR: Gopuff launched weekly limited-quantity Pokémon card drops starting Nov. 6, releasing collector packs and single-card deals delivered in as fast as 15 minutes every Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Gopuff Pokémon Card Drops   Learn More at Gopuff

Buying Pokémon cards at retail stores usually means dealing with picked-over shelves, strict box limits, or waiting days for an online delivery. Instant-delivery app Gopuff is trying something different: scheduled weekly hype drops delivered straight to your door in minutes.

Starting Nov. 6, Gopuff is running a six-week series of scheduled Pokémon Trading Card Game drops. Rather than restocking cards at random, the platform uses a dedicated in-app storefront where you can preview upcoming products, set alerts, and order packs delivered locally in as little as 15 minutes, alongside regular household items.

Why trading cards are hitting quick-delivery apps

The move comes as demand for physical collectibles spikes on rapid-delivery platforms. Gopuff says its trading card sales jumped 335% between Q4 2025 and Q3 2026, leading the company to treat card restocks as scheduled shopping events.

The weekly drops will feature sought-after items at competitive prices, including the Mega Evolution Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box and the 30th Celebration Poster Collection.

For collectors hunting singles, each drop also includes a "Hit of the Week" run in partnership with Card Vault by Tom Brady. Every Friday, Gopuff will offer a single high-value, graded card at a price below market value. With only one available each week, snagging it comes down to whoever checks out first.

How the weekly drop schedule works

To give shoppers a predictable window to buy before stock sells out, each week follows the same schedule in the Gopuff app and on its website:

• Monday: A homepage countdown timer goes live, signaling the start of a new batch without revealing the specific cards.

• Thursday at 3 p.m. ET: Exactly 24 hours before the sale, Gopuff reveals the products. You can preview the lineup, set push alerts, and pre-load items into your cart so you are ready at checkout.

• Friday at 3 p.m. ET: The drop unlocks and checkout opens. Orders are fulfilled from nearby micro-fulfillment hubs and delivered in as fast as 15 minutes.

All items are sold on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, and local stock and purchase limits will vary by location.

Just make sure your internet connection is quick — when that clock hits 3 p.m. ET, it is every trainer for themselves. To check out upcoming products or set drop alerts, head to Gopuff's website or open the app on iOS or Android.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know your athletes.

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.

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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.

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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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Athletic wear

• Green: Football players

• Blue: Soccer players

• Purple: Similar games, different surfaces

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Types of shorts

• Green: NFC QBs, familiarly

• Blue: MLS stars

• Purple: ____ hockey

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 #774 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Types of shorts: BASKETBALL, BIKE, COMPRESSION, GYM

• NFC QBs, familiarly: BAKER, DAK, JORDAN, KYLER

• MLS stars: DE PAUL, LEWANDOWSKI, MESSI, SON

• ____ hockey: AIR, FIELD, FLOOR, ICE

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.

SAVE $20.10: As of Nov. 6, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Booster Bundle is on sale for $49.89 at Amazon. That's a 29% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Booster Bundle $49.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $20.01   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're a Pokémon fan or a collector of trading cards, there's a new deal at Amazon on the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Booster Bundle. It includes a selection of booster packs to open, collect, and trade, and it's currently $20 off.

Normally $69.99, this booster bundle is now just $49.98 on Amazon. Whether you're stocking up on Christmas gifts or adding to your own collection, you can do it for less.

The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Booster Bundle contains six booster packs from the Pitch Black expansion, giving collectors and players alike the opportunity to discover new cards and add to their decks.

The set explores a darker side of the Pokémon world, with Mega Darkrai ex emerging from the shadows alongside Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, Mega Excadrill ex, and more. Suitable for ages six and up, the bundle is ideal for both newcomers and more experienced collectors.

Interested? Head to Amazon to grab this Pokémon deal while it's still available.

Donald Trump is fond of saying "promises made, promises kept", but how does that actually compare to the U.S. president's track record?

Jimmy Kimmel has the answer. "We put together a refresher of the 10 biggest promises the president has failed to fulfil so far," the host says in the monologue above.

Cue a countdown of 10 things Trump has said he'll do that haven't come to pass — from ending inflation and getting food prices down to settling the Russia/Ukraine war and paying down the national debt. Oh dear.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

The best early Black Friday Pokémon DVD deals: Pokémon: The Johto Journeys (DVD) $15.49 (save $29.33) Get Deal Pokémon: Johto League Champions (DVD) $19.49 (save $30.50) Get Deal Pokémon Advanced (DVD) $19.99 (save $13.37) Get Deal Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl (DVD) $19.99 (save $24.99) Get Deal Pokémon: Indigo League — Season 1 Limited Edition (Blu-ray) $24.99 (save $3) Get Deal

Amazon just rolled out early Pokémon Black Friday deals on a massive collection of Pokémon DVDs. If you want to lock down your favorite eras on physical discs before the holiday shopping rush kicks off, now is a great time to grab them while they're on discount.

If you were holding out for a stack of high-definition Blu-rays, standard HD releases never actually existed for the earlier seasons because of how the anime was originally created. The vast majority of the series remains strictly DVD-only, making the remastered Season 1 release the lone standout Blu-ray discount in the mix.

If you are ready to trade endless streaming app searches for a permanent spot on your media shelf, Amazon has marked down several fan-favorite generations to well under $20. We rounded up the best discounts from the sale.

'Pokémon: The Johto Journeys' (DVD) Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media Pokémon: The Johto Journeys (DVD) $15.49 at Amazon
$44.82 Save $29.33   Get Deal at Amazon

After wrapping up his initial Kanto adventures, Ash reunites with Misty and Brock to take on the Johto League. Pokémon: The Johto Journeys kicks off this fan-favorite era, following the trio as Ash tackles new gym leaders and catches beloved Gen 2 staples like Totodile, Chikorita, and Cyndaquil.

Across four discs and over 15 hours of runtime, this 41-episode collection captures the sweet spot of early-2000s Saturday-morning cartoons.

'Pokémon: Johto League Champions' (DVD) Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media Pokémon: Johto League Champions (DVD) $19.49 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $30.50   Get Deal at Amazon

Picking up right after the introductory Johto arc, Pokémon: Johto League Champions tracks the heart of Ash, Misty, and Brock's travels through the region. From navigating the busy streets of Goldenrod City to taking on iconic gym challenges like Whitney's notoriously tough Miltank, Season 4 delivers some of the most memorable battles and classic encounters of the Gen 2 era.

The collection covers 52 episodes, giving you over 20 hours of vintage Pokémon animation that never made the jump to standard high-definition discs. If you are revisiting Ash's path toward the Silver Conference, this is the middle chapter that ties the Johto saga together.

'Pokémon Advanced' (DVD) Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media Pokémon Advanced (DVD) $19.99 at Amazon
$33.36 Save $13.37   Get Deal at Amazon

Season 6 marks a brand-new era for the anime, taking Ash and Pikachu far across the sea to the Hoenn region. Pokémon Advanced shakes up the classic travel dynamic by saying goodbye to Misty and introducing May, her little brother Max, and the ever-reliable Brock. It also brings Pokémon Contests into the spotlight for the first time, giving the story a dual focus as Ash works toward Hoenn Gym Badges while May learns the ropes of being a Pokémon Coordinator.

Spread across five discs with nearly 15 hours of runtime, this 40-episode collection captures the vibrant, tropical Gen 3 adventure in its original broadcast format. If you grew up exploring the Hoenn map or want to relive the early days of Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip, it's a nice nostalgic shelf piece.

'Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl' (DVD) Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl (DVD) $19.99 at Amazon
$44.98 Save $24.99   Get Deal at Amazon

Season 10 takes the adventure up north as Ash and Pikachu head to Sinnoh, reuniting with Brock and teaming up with novice Pokémon Coordinator Dawn. Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl revitalizes the show's dual-protagonist dynamic, splitting screen time between Ash's quest for Sinnoh Gym Badges and Dawn's drive to match her mother's contest legacy, while introducing Gen 4 favorites like Piplup, Turtwig, and Chimchar.

Spanning seven discs and nearly 19 hours of runtime, this 51-episode collection delivers one of the most balanced, character-driven story arcs in the anime's long run. Between the classic Sinnoh gym battles and Ash's clash of philosophies with Paul, it is easily one of the most rewarding retro eras to own on physical media.

'Pokémon: Indigo League – Season 1 Limited Edition' (Blu-ray) Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media Pokémon: Indigo League – Season 1 Limited Edition (Blu-ray) $24.99 at Amazon
$27.99 Save $3   Get Deal at Amazon

This is where the entire cultural phenomenon started. Pokémon: Indigo League follows 10-year-old Ash Ketchum on his very first day as a Pokémon Trainer, oversleeping, missing out on the standard starter choices, and ending up stuck with an unruly, disobedient Pikachu. Alongside Brock and Misty, Ash battles gym leaders across Kanto, befriends classics like Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, and takes his first shot at the Pokémon League tournament.

Packed onto nine discs with nearly 31 hours of total runtime, this massive 78-episode box set gives you the complete initial journey. While the remastered Blu-ray edition offers sharper picture quality, it caps out at 52 episodes — making this comprehensive DVD release the only home video set that delivers the full Kanto arc from start to finish.

More Pokémon early Black Friday DVD deals

• Pokémon the Series: Black and White Complete Season (DVD) — $19.99 $23.54 (save $3.55)

• Pokémon the Series: Journeys (DVD) — $19.99 $43.39 (save $23.40)

Cybertruck, the pricey, gargantuan, angular, steel-plated pickup darling of Elon Musk's, never sold very well. And now, Tesla appears to be ready to accept that fact.

On Friday, CEO Musk said on X that the company will be "winding down production of the Cybertruck at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of next year to make room for increased Cybercab production."

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Musk didn't say whether the Cybertruck production will move somewhere else, and he didn't explicitly say it's the end of the road for Tesla's pickup. But the clues are pretty clear. First of all, the Cybertruck is exclusively produced at Gigafactory Texas. If the company doesn't relocate somewhere else, which is unlikely given that the Cybertruck has a stainless steel body that presents unique manufacturing demands, then the Cybertruck has less than a year left.

Add to that the fact that Tesla recently canceled the Cybertruck launch in Australia and New Zealand, as well as continuous reports of poor sales ever since the Cybertruck went on sale in 2023, and it's pretty obvious that Tesla is giving up on the pickup.

SEE ALSO: Tesla cancels Cybertruck launch in Australia and New Zealand

The move also lines up with Musk's recent total focus on self-driving. When the company unveiled the new Tesla Roadster in October, he said it would be the last manually driven car that Tesla will ever produce.

It is no wonder, then, that the manufacturing capacities used for the Cybertruck will be repurposed for the Cybercab, Tesla's autonomous taxi car.

As for customers looking for a manually driven electric pickup, the choice is actually improving. Slate recently launched an affordable electric pickup, Ford is working on its own cheap electric pickup called Fathom, and Rivian is launching its mid-size pickup, the Rivian R2T, next year.

Want more tech news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts.

SAVE $130: As of Nov. 6, the Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 is on sale for $1,069 at Amazon. That's an 11% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 $1,069 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $130   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're looking for a portable power station, Jackery is one of the biggest names in the business. Its range includes options for powering everything from small devices to larger appliances, depending on your needs. If you're looking for the latter, the Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 is on sale at Amazon right now.

Usually priced at $1,199, it's now down to $1,069. This deal saves you $130.

With this portable power station, you'll get 2,400W of output and a 2,048Wh capacity, which can be expanded to 12kWh for longer-lasting home backup during power outages. Its Smart Energy Management system and Priority Routing feature help keep essentials running by directing available power to your most important appliances first.

It's built to last, with a long-life LFP battery rated for more than 6,000 charge cycles. Jackery states this equates to around 16 years of use. The system is also 34% lighter than the previous generation, so it's easier to move and set up than comparable expandable 2kWh units.

This unit is available at Amazon now, but only for a limited time.

SAVE OVER $150: As of Nov. 6, the Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus cordless vacuum has hit its lowest-ever price of $199.98 at Amazon. That's $180.01 off its full price of $379.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus Cordless Vacuum $199.98 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $180.01   Get Deal at Amazon

As the years go by, Black Friday sales start earlier and earlier, and this year is no different. Early deals are already dropping left and right, including on a wide variety of items for your home.

If a new vacuum is on your holiday wishlist, now is the time to check it off: Amazon has dropped the Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus cordless vacuum to a new low price before Black Friday officially starts. As of Nov. 6, shoppers can scoop up this cordless cleaner for $199.98, down from its usual $379.99. That's a hefty 47% discount, saving you just over $180 in total.

SEE ALSO: The Black Friday 2026 countdown is on: Our top 7 hacks for finding the best deals

The Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus can cover quite a lot of ground in your home. With the help of its MultiFLEX wand, it can bend to clean underneath furniture so you don't have to worry about dust and debris collecting in spots you can't see. It also features FloorDetect Technology, which automatically adjusts the brushroll speed for different floor types as you're moving it around.

Its battery lasts up to 50 minutes, giving you plenty of time to scoot it around your home's floors. And for when you need more of a spot clean, it can even transform into a hand vacuum to reach places above the floor, with an included Crevice and Upholstery Tool to help you out.

This early Black Friday deal is a real treat for shoppers. Don't miss out on 47% off the Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus cordless vacuum at Amazon.

GTA fans have waited 13 years for Grand Theft Auto VI. Finally, the next installment of the GTA series comes out on Nov. 19.

There's no early access for GTA 6. You simply have to wait until the release date.

But what if you could play GTA 6 on Nov. 18? Or, more accurately, roughly 18 hours before everyone else in the U.S.? Well, there's a way to do just that.

How to play GTA 6 a day early on Xbox

GTA 6 will have a global release date, dropping at midnight for each time zone. This means that New Zealand, which is 18 hours ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S., will get to play the long-awaited game before everyone else.

If you have an Xbox, there's long been a not-so-secret trick on Xbox consoles that lets U.S.-based gamers access games a little bit before everyone else in the country. 

As our friends at PCMag point out, gamers can simply go to their Xbox dashboard and do the following:

1. Go to Settings

2. Scroll to System

3. Select Language & Location on the right-hand side

4. Change your region to New Zealand

5. Hit Restart Now to restart your console and save the settings

This has previously worked to access other games early, as it tricks the console into thinking it's on New Zealand time. It's possible that Microsoft switches things up and closes the loophole before the launch of GTA 6. But, as of now, unless anything changes, it should work.

This is a quick and easy process, and you'll be able to change the settings back on your Xbox the same way.

Also, be sure to pre-order the digital version of GTA 6 as you'll be able to download the game on Nov. 10. While it won't be playable until the release, it'll be ready to go on your console as soon as it does release without having to wait for the game to download and install then.

How to play GTA 6 a day early on PlayStation

PlayStation 5 users, unfortunately, don't have it so simple. And there's no guarantee that this will work either. So, before we go any further, know that it just might not be worth the time and effort.

PlayStation accounts are region-locked, so Sony knows exactly where you're based when you're signed into your account. 

If you want to attempt to access GTA 6 early on your PS5, create a new PSN account while using a VPN with a New Zealand-based location. From there, you'll actually have to purchase the game under this new account in the New Zealand PlayStation Store. As PCMag points out, this might even cost more due to currency conversions.

And, again, there is no guarantee that this will work.

Worst case, you have to wait another 18 hours before you can play a game you've already waited 13 years for.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Europe's Hera spacecraft just took its first close-up picture of Didymos and Dimorphos, the asteroid pair NASA used for target practice in 2022. 

The European Space Agency mission is designed to do a sort of crash scene investigation following NASA's DART mission, the first planetary defense rehearsal. DART, which stands for Double Asteroid Redirection Test, involved sending a 1,300-pound, refrigerator-size spacecraft straight for Dimorphos, the smaller asteroid orbiting Didymos, to see if a strike could change its trajectory in space. 

The spacecraft's hip check to Dimorphos seems to have worked, lopping 33 minutes off its orbit. But the change was more significant than scientists predicted, leaving open questions on the extent of the impact and why it unfolded the way it did. 

The new black-and-white photo shows Didymos, which measures about a half-mile wide, from about 37 miles away. Shadow hides most of Dimorphos, its 500-foot-wide battered moonlet. 

Hera's view shows the side of Didymos that NASA's spacecraft never saw before the crash. The "backside" looks remarkably different, according to the team, with boulders, craters, and grooves. It also shows the continuation of a ridge that wraps around the asteroid's middle. 

"The first thing we said was 'Wow!'" said Patrick Michel, Hera's principal investigator, in a statement. "This feels like looking at a whole new world."

SEE ALSO: Oh, snap. Martian volcanoes might actually still be alive.

Some of these features may come from debris the crash blasted across the half-mile gap between Dimorphos and Didymos, said mission scientist Michael Kueppers. The space agency will release detailed images of both asteroids on Nov. 25.

The robotic spacecraft, about the size of a small car, flew for two years to reach the asteroids, which now sit about 122 million miles from Earth.

Scientists hope Hera's findings will help turn "kinetic impact" — ramming a spacecraft into an asteroid to nudge it — from a one-time experiment into a reliable planetary defense tool, if Earth ever needs it. 

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter today.

When DART hit, it blasted rock and dust into space, and that spray pushed the asteroid like a rocket's exhaust. Scientists call this extra kickback the "beta factor," and Hera will help measure it. That number could tell future mission planners how hard they'd need to punch a killer asteroid (unlike Dimorphos, which posed no threat) to move it out of Earth's way.

But before scientists can answer that, Hera has to see what DART left behind. The spacecraft will map the crash site to learn whether the collision caused a deep crater, left a shallow dent, or changed the asteroid's whole shape. 

Hera's small companion probe, Juventas, will scan the interior of Dimorphos. Credit: ESA illustration

Scientists also want to know if the impact knocked Dimorphos into a wobble. Before the crash, Dimorphos always kept the same face toward its larger partner, the way our moon does with Earth. Telescope data now hint that it may be tumbling.

Hera's small companion probe, Juventas, will scan the interior with radar, sort of like taking an X-ray, to look inside the asteroid. Meanwhile, Hera will measure the asteroid's mass and density to show how tightly it's packed. Dimorphos might be a single solid rock, or it might be a loose pile of boulders with empty gaps between them. 

Its composition could explain why it reacted the way it did during the collision. Gravity on Dimorphos is about 200,000 times weaker than on Earth, so even the tiny forces that make particles stick together could affect how the asteroid holds up under a hit. 

"We have an exciting work ahead of us to sort it out," Kueppers said. "We look forward to seeing much more of both bodies and systemically mapping all the changes we identify."

TL;DR: Get a Babbel lifetime subscription and access to all language lessons for $159 with code LEARN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159
$249 Save $90   Get Deal

Most language apps lean on vocab drills and matching games, and that kind of practice rarely prepares you to hold a conversation. If you’d rather learn the phrases people use when they travel, shop, or work, try a Babbel lifetime subscription on sale for $159 (reg. $299) with code LEARN.

What can you learn from Babbel?

Babbel gives you lifetime access to courses in 14 different languages, and the format is designed to fit into real life. Each lesson takes around 10 to 15 minutes, so you can actually stick with it whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just squeezing in some study time between meetings.

Here are a few of the included languages

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Swedish

And that’s just the beginning.

Unlike other apps that focus heavily on word games or repetitive matching drills, Babbel centers its content around practical conversation topics. You’ll get lessons on travel, shopping, business, culture, and more, all developed by expert linguists and backed by academic research. Speech recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation, while the new AI-powered conversation partner lets you practice speaking in real time.

Lessons sync across devices, so you can start on your computer and finish on your phone. There’s also an offline mode if you want to download lessons ahead of time. You can move at your own pace, revisit review sessions, and jump between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on your comfort.

Use code LEARN through Nov. 8 to get Babbel on sale for $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR:  Leave Windows 10 behind and get a lifetime license for Windows 11 Pro for $12.97 (reg. $199).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $12.97
$199 Save $186.03   Get Deal

A new Windows license usually costs around $200, which is a lot to spend on a computer you already own. If you’d rather update your PC for less, try a Windows 11 Pro lifetime license on sale for $12.97 (reg. $199).

Microsoft extended Windows 10 support to Oct. 2027, but those Extended Security Updates only include security patches. You won’t get new features, non-security fixes, or technical support on an operating system near the end of its life.

Windows 11 Pro has a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and stronger security, and you pay for it once. Microsoft is also bringing back the movable taskbar and adding a resizable Start menu, with both changes rolling out in stages.

For professionals, creators, and power users, the Pro edition also includes Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and Azure AD integration. Hyper-V lets you run virtual machines on the same computer, and Windows Sandbox opens a disposable desktop for testing apps you don’t trust. BitLocker encrypts your drive, so a lost laptop doesn’t expose your files. With Azure AD integration, IT teams can manage work accounts and sign-ins from one place.

Windows 11 also comes with Copilot, an AI assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or help you write code as you work. You can ask it to turn on dark mode or find a file instead of digging through menus.

A one-time payment of $12.97 is the full cost, with no subscription or yearly renewal to track.

Give your PC a modern operating system for a one-time price. Through Nov. 8, you can get Windows 11 Pro for life for just $12.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

When Channel 4 released the first clip from its upcoming series It Get Worse, created by comedian Leo Reich, it sent the internet down a thirst spiral.

In the clip, taken from early on in It Gets Worse's first episode, angsty 24-year-old Ethan (Reich) sits down for a chat with a therapist (Andrew Scott). Talking at a mile a minute, he frets that his life is already over before it's had a chance to start. While Scott's therapist does listen attentively, it soon becomes clear that he is not Ethan's actual therapist. Rather, he's a match from a hookup app, and Ethan has stopped by his office between sessions to have sex. It's not long before Scott's character is dominating Ethan, telling him he's a "hole for daddy" and spitting in his mouth.

SEE ALSO: NSFW clip of 'daddy' Andrew Scott has internet in a chokehold

The scene was immediate catnip for anyone who ever experienced Fleabag's Hot Priest fever, but more than that, it established the bold tone of Reich's series, a combination of confessional vulnerability and frank sexuality that can flip from awkward to hot to eye-opening at a moment's notice. While Scott's memorable therapist doesn't return for the rest of the six-part season, that tone carries through, and It Gets Worse truly only gets better.

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What's It Gets Worse about? Leo Reich and Emily Fairn in "It Gets Worse." Credit: Jack Barnes / A24 Films / Channel 4

It Gets Worse is the latest in a string of comedies by Gen Z/zillennial showrunners about people in their 20s struggling with what it means to be an adult. That puts it in conversation with shows like Rachel Sennott's I Love LA and Rebecca Shaw and Ben Kronengold's Adults. However, It Gets Worse shares more DNA with Lena Dunham's Girls, from its messy honesty to its central trio, who teeter on a knife's edge between absolutely imploding and hugging it out. (Dunham also guest stars as the world's worst boss.)

Our gateway into this trio is Ethan, who, according to a voiceover from author Zadie Smith, "had one of the easiest lives in recorded human history." He lives, unemployed, in London, where he receives money from his mother, enjoys the occasional no-strings hookup, and lives with his two closest friends from uni: Abi (Emily Fairn) and Sam (Olive Gray). The former wants nothing more than to prove to others that she's "made it" as an adult, curating a social media feed that screams "corporate girlboss." The latter is an aspiring writer who claims to reject society's monogamous norms, even though her seemingly blasé façade hides a deeper need for affection.

SEE ALSO: Here's how to watch Andrew Scott's thirst-inducing performance in 'It Gets Worse'

The three are in crisis, forced to leave the flat they share as their landlord looks to sell it. The move scatters them across London while they try to find new living situations. Ethan avoids returning home to his London-based parents, opting instead to crash at hookup partner Jesse's (Arian Nik) place. Abi moves in with her boyfriend of three years, Tom (Sean Delaney), who will cook elaborate miso lamb dishes for her but always avoids having sex. Sam joins her ex-girlfriend Zara's (India Mullen) anarchist commune, which hosts an awkward sex party and demands its members chip into the shared MUBI account.

Each situation forces Ethan, Abi, and Sam to take stock of their lives and their relationships, both platonic and romantic, all leading them to ask that most daunting of questions: What the hell am I going to do with my life? Surely, this can't be it.

It Gets Worse weaves a messy tale of early 20s friendships and screwups. India Mullen, Safia Oakley-Green, and Olive Gray in "It Gets Worse." Credit: Ana Blumenkron / A24 Films / Channel 4

From callous bosses to awkward crushes, It Gets Worse conjures up a world of all too relatable worries. Even if you haven't experienced something like this yourself, you know someone who has, and you've almost certainly commiserated with them as they've vented.

That's almost what watching It Gets Worse feels like: a diaristic venting of anxieties about life in your early 20s. Some scenes felt so personal that I almost felt like I shouldn't be watching them. And no, I'm not just talking about the sex scenes, although there are many, and they all fall somewhere on the scale from "hot and mildly awkward" to "I'm watching through my fingers out of sheer pain for the characters involved." I'm also talking about the scenes where It Gets Worse truly gets in its trio's heads as they weather painful realities: Ethan hearing someone surgically pick apart how he uses humor as a defense mechanism. Abi realizing in real time that her promotion doesn't actually come with a pay raise. Sam trying to put on a brave face as her current hookup, Tess (Safia Oakley-Green), becomes far more interested in Zara. With each of these moments, It Gets Worse packs a gut punch.

Those gut punches extend to the fraught dynamic between Ethan, Abi, and Sam as well. These are people who know everything about one another and will tell each other to fight for what they deserve. These are also people who will shit talk something that's important to their friends, then turn around and tell them how great it is. Between the constant needling, you might be inclined to think that these three need nothing more than to get away from each other, much in the way you might have thought Girls' leads needed to take some serious time apart. Yet It Gets Worse also finds bittersweet ways to keep bringing them back together, and Reich, Fairn, and Gray's chemistry is so sharp and lived-in that you can't help but yearn for them to share the screen time and again.

Bittersweetness defines much of It Gets Worse, even as it often opts for a brash, of-the-moment aesthetic. You can tell it's an A24 production from the credits alone, whose flashing block letters recall the credits of Charli XCX satire The Moment or Halina Reijn's Gen Z slasher Bodies Bodies Bodies. (The latter even gets name-dropped.) Yet the core of It Gets Worse is the serious growing pains Ethan, Ali, and Sam experience. Reich treats these pains with an Ethan-like touch, covering them in quick one-liners and canny satire so the trio's traumas never turn into full-out tragedies. As he does, he extends a sympathizing hand to anyone in their early 20s (or anyone who's ever been in their early 20s), as if to say, no matter what generation you belong to, no matter your experience, we've all been at an uncomfortable crossroads. But maybe that discomfort is worth celebrating in all its messiness. It's certainly worth watching play out in It Gets Worse.

It Gets Worse is now streaming on Paramount+ and Channel 4.

From the sandwich-board ads outside neighborhood bodegas to campaigns by multimillion-dollar companies and midterm political races, AI-generated advertising is becoming part of our everyday scenery. But figuring out which images were photographed, which were prompted, and which fall somewhere in between is getting harder. In a September study of more than 500 consumers, only 17 percent correctly identified the AI-generated ad in a lineup of 10 — even though half initially felt confident they could spot it.

So what gives an AI ad away? Often, it’s something small that doesn’t hold up as well as the overall image. These six signs can offer clues.

1. The product looks plausible until its parts stop making sense

An ad can have a believable setting and a perfectly ordinary model, then fall apart around the product. For example, in June, an REI Instagram ad featured a bicycle with an extra set of handlebars growing out of its saddle.

Screenshot contains AI-generated image. Credit: Screenshot: Reddit/r/REI

According to the retailer, Meta's AI personalization tool altered a vendor-provided image, turning a real photograph into slop. REI said it took steps to unenroll from the tool.

"While a two-handled bike might be interesting, it is not something you will find in our assortment," REI told Fast Company.

Other advertisers have encountered similar changes. In July reporting by Business Insider, advertising consultant Jessica Gleim said Meta had suggested an image that turned a client's pajama dress into a shirt and pants. For another client, a women’s networking group in Montana, the tool proposed adding men. As Gleim told BI, "It’s not usable to help my clients grow their business," regarding AI-generation.

2. The same character or object looks different between shots

Sometimes, each shot looks plausible on its own. Put them together, though, and the main character — or main vehicle — doesn’t quite stay the same.

Coca-Cola's 2025 viral AI-generated "Holidays Are Coming" commercial drew criticism for its poor shot consistency, and its harshest critics called it "soulless, bland, and hard to even watch." Viewers and experts documented changing vehicle design across the truck scenes, including mechanically implausible configurations. (Of course, that didn't stop Coca-Cola from airing the commercial all winter long.)

The same sort of inconsistency appeared in Toys "R" Us's 2024 film, made with OpenAI's Sora (RIP). The film depicts the company's founder Charles Lazarus as a boy dreaming about a fantastical toy store. But the child's appearance varied throughout the video.

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Similar inconsistencies can happen within a shot. Last year, UC Berkeley digital forensics expert Hany Farid told Mashable to look for "temporal inconsistencies," such as "the building added a story, or the car changed colors, things that are physically not possible." These changes can occur in the background, away from the main subject, making them easier to miss.

SEE ALSO: Coca-Cola created another AI holiday video, and I expect a lot more like it 3. Movement doesn’t match the object — or the speech

Back to Coca-Cola. In their 2024 AI holiday advertisement, the trucks were moving along roads without their wheels even rotating. Very sloppy.

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McDonald's Netherlands encountered its own visual problems in an AI-generated Christmas commercial from last year, with distorted faces and bodies, and the company pulled the ad after backlash. The Sweetshop CEO Melanie Bridge allegedly defended the production in a now-deleted statement, saying, "AI didn’t make this film. We did."

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As for synthetic people, look for a mismatch between the face and the voice. Australia's national science agency identified poorly synchronized lip movements, flickering around the eyes, and expressions that don’t fit the emotional tone of speech as potential deepfake clues.

4. Lettering and details fall apart

Sometimes, the overall composition survives while the smaller elements look like nonsense. Product labels, objects on shelves, scenery, and body anatomy can look convincing at a glance but make no sense up close.

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The promotional images for Glasgow's creepy Willy’s Chocolate Experience offered a memorable example in 2024. Amid the "nightmarish" scene, the AI-generated ads promoting the event initially promised "enchanting entertainment," "catchy tunes," and "exaggerated lollipops."

Those errors can also creep into real photographs when AI tools alter them. Photographer and marketer Abigail Hogue told Business Insider that a Valentine's Day campaign she photographed for Quite Literally Books began running with AI changes. Friends sent screenshots showing garbled product lettering and merchandise that resembled knockoffs. She disabled the AI creative enhancements and republished the campaign.

That unevenness makes lettering a useful clue, though an increasingly imperfect one. As the Global Investigative Journalism Network's guide explains, newer generators are much better at producing readable text and anatomically correct hands.

5. The action plays like a fantasy blockbuster AI-GENERATED IMAGE Credit: Screenshot: NFL

Sometimes, AI-generated ads lean into the absurdity, turning a simple sales pitch into a Marvel-level spectacle. The drama keeps escalating, the scenes get stranger, and a soda commercial starts to feel like the trailer for an entire cinematic universe.

Fanta's latest Halloween campaign takes that approach. The ad features a vampire driving a sports car, a werewolf performing a DJ set, and a cyborg Frankenstein — all to promote soda. The brand spent a year and a half developing the world with AI-powered entertainment studio GRAiL, describing the technology in its announcement.

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And Kalshi's deliberately chaotic commercial, which appeared in the YouTube TV stream of Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals, jumps through surreal scenes with the energy of an internet fever dream. Creator PJ Accetturo told NPR that he made it in two days using AI tools. See also: The NFL's larger-than-life "Ride the Float" commercial.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 6. The typography looks familiar

Sometimes, it's the font itself that can be a dead giveaway. Unrelated ads often share the same chunky, rounded headings or vaguely handwritten type, creating the impression that they all came from the same AI generator. In one Reddit discussion, users noticed similar-looking lettering across generated images, even when the words themselves were nonsense.

One particular Brushstroke font is even being called "the new Comic Sans" by some graphic designers.

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Reporting on AI-generated flyers in Houston, Chron's Gwen Howerton described a recurring combination of bright lettering against dark backgrounds, boxed bullet points, and words circled or underlined for emphasis. Many also used type resembling marker scribbles. The repetition extended beyond Instagram to bar screens, banners, and neighborhood signs.

Meanwhile, AI companies have cultivated another recognizable style through their own branding. Claude and Perplexity have openly embraced serif fonts — letters with small strokes at their ends, familiar from printed books. Asked why, Monotype's senior executive creative director Charles Nix told Creative Bloq: "In order to seem more human." He also described the historical associations of serif typography as a way to convey authority and distinguish these brands from the sans serif lettering that has dominated technology branding.

Designer and type practitioner Keya Vadgama offered a similar explanation to WIRED: "Serifs have an origin in calligraphy. It connotes a very human, fluid way of making letterforms." Reporters added that Runway and Manus had also adopted serif typography in their interfaces and branding.

Some ads are starting to disclose AI use

Lately, the clearest answer to "is that ad AI?" may come from the ad itself. In a June update, Meta said it was rolling out an "About this ad" section containing AI labels for ads created or significantly edited with its generative tools. It also said it would begin labeling ads when it detected industry-standard signals from third-party AI tools.

That push for transparency is reaching state law, too. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the Artificial Intelligence Deceptive Advertising Act on Oct. 22. Taking effect Dec. 21, the law requires clear disclosures when AI-generated or significantly AI-altered content creates a false impression about the nature, origin, or authenticity of advertised goods or services. It won't put a label on every AI-assisted ad, though. The legislation exempts evidently fictional content, parody, satire, commentary, criticism, and text-only content.

SEE ALSO: Pennsylvania enacts law regulating AI-generated advertisements

As AI ads get better and better, the clues keep changing, which means that by the time we know what to look for, there may already be something new to catch.

Ever since I was a small Who, I have loved Dr. Seuss. 

His Sneetches, the Lorax, Horton — the joy they induce!

I gobbled up books, shorts, and feature films, too. 

I giggled, sang along, and even cried a boo-hoo! 

But one of his heroes had a movie fall flat, 

That rascally sharp dresser, the Cat in the Hat. 

In 2003, Mike Myers tried in live-action.

Audiences marveled at what the duck happened.  

Now comes an animated The Cat in the Hat. 

What am I, a critic, to say about that? 

Voiced by Bill Hader, this feline is fun. 

Lively and silly, with shenanigans. 

He brings with him his Things One, Two, and beyond, 

Plus a goldfish who wags a fin at things done wrong. 

But the focus of this kid's movie is odd: 

The Cat in the Hat might lose his job.

He works in the business of bringing kids joy, 

And is assigned to a girl and a boy. 

They've just moved and are feeling quite sad, 

But it's not enough to make them feel glad. 

The Cat must appease his bullying boss, 

Who worries about the collateral costs 

Of how the Cat brings mirth to kids near and far. 

The Cat's only ally is Sherri from HR. 

If that sounds convoluted, oh, just you wait. 

This story gets overcrowded to a terrible state. 

A mother-daughter squabble kicks off the action, 

Then a MacGuffin makes for a time-travel distraction. 

There's also a monster in hot pursuit, 

And a pesky landlady to boot! 

Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni direct and write. 

Their animation is warm, delicately textured, and bright. 

The voice cast has performers spirited and merry, 

Like Quinta Brunson, Xochitl Gomez, and Matt Berry. 

Sure, there's fun to be had in this Cat's appearance, 

But too many fart jokes hurt the experience. 

Dr. Seuss got silly and kooky indeed. 

But such potty humor is not his speed. 

With an overstuffed plot and action chaotic,

The movie's message feels half-assed and quixotic.

Hader's The Cat In The Hat is certainly better than Myers'. 

But so is plucking out my nose hairs with needle-nose pliers. 

In the end, I can't cheer this cartoon's feline joker. 

Best I can say is that this movie is mediocre.

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Cat in the Hat opens in theaters on Nov. 6.

Jordan Firstman has forged his reputation in comedy with a spiky and unapologetically queer sense of humor, as seen in his writing for Search Party, and his performances in Sebastián Silva's dark comedy Rotting in the Sun, and Rachel Sennott's chic satire I Love LA. Firstman stays strongly on brand with his directorial debut, Club Kid. But this New York City story is also a hopeful fairy tale about growing up and getting your shit together. 

Smartly cast and full of energy, Club Kid is a feel-good movie that doesn't fall into the trap of being overly sentimental. It's far less broad that Big Daddy, Mr. Mom, or Three Men and a Baby, and exponentially more queer. But reflective of the film itself, it's the throbbing heart at its core that suggests Firstman's perspective is growing as his hero is. 

Club Kid is a comedy for the fuck-ups. Jordan Firstman and Reggie Absolom co-star in "Club Kid." Credit: A24

Imagine someone made a movie about your messiest friend. And if you are that friend, brace yourself to be seen. (We listen, and we do judge a little!) 

Written, helmed, and starring Firstman, Club Kid centers on Peter Green, a flailing party promoter who's spent the last decade or so doing hard drugs, staying out all night, and hooking up with untold men in Manhattan (and perhaps some of the cooler outer boroughs). 

Now in his thirties, this lifestyle isn't as cute as it used to be. Crashing on his couch is Nicky (Eldar Isgandarov), a surly twink who fancies himself a "low-key philosopher." Thrashing his business is his inability to resist the coke and ketamine that he's selling on the side of party planning. Showing up sloppy high to a sales meeting puts him on the outs with his ferocious business partner (Cara Delevingne), who feels smugly superior for being able to handle a bump before lunch. 

It's into all this chaos that Arlo (Reggie Absolom) is dropped. Kirby Howell-Baptiste, in an explosion of British party girl charisma and comedic outrageousness, turns up as Edison, who drops a bomb with a smile. Ten-year-old Arlo is Peter's son, spawned from a forgotten threesome a decade ago. His mom, a Brit he knew as "Innit babes," went back to London, had the kid, got abused by her boyfriend, and ultimately died by suicide. So, Edison reasons, Arlo belongs to his bio dad now. 

Peter is so bad at adulting he can't even begin to make sense of this. But he does give the kid a place to stay and begins to grow attached. They bond over music. And being raised by a mom addicted to the party scene, Arlo is familiar with Peter's world in some vague way, and so quickly wins over a clutch of overgrown club kids, including a beguiling trans DJ called Saffron (Saturn Risin9). 

Meanwhile, Peter sees himself in a new light through Arlo's eyes. Could he be more than a dealer and an aging addict? Could he be a responsible dad? Could he abstain from casual sex and hard partying and settle into a loving relationship with Arlo's therapist (Diego Calva)? Club Kid paves a path where this could be possible, but not without some logical bumps along the way. 

Club Kid shows Firstman has a distinctive vision as a director.  Jordan Firstman directs "Club Kid." Credit: A24

As you might expect of a New York City-set movie premiering at NYFF, Club Kid depicts the city with an authentic intimacy. For starters, the film begins inside an Uber, where the stoic driver (Jamil Zraikat) speaks gently on the phone in a foreign language, before his car is overrun with tweaking club kids who crank up house music and sing along, while their bodies shimmy in feathers, sequins, sweat, and glitter.  

Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra follows Peter from the cab into a club, where the lights are a bleeding purple neon, and the music blares so loud the theatrical audience might be tempted to cover their ears. Yet, it's clear from Firstman's onscreen thrall that Peter feels at home in this cacophony. Later, after Arlo becomes part of his life, the lights are red, blurring more features, and the handheld camera that once expressed enthusiasm turns panicked. A strobe light that bursts white in a relentless pulse throws the audience into a desperate search to make out what's on screen, reflecting Peter's panic as he seeks a missing Arlo. 

In calmer moments, the static camera captures everyday New York events with awe, like flipping through the bins of a vintage record shop, chatting on a park bench with a friend, or moving a gifted piano up an unwelcoming staircase. The use of 35mm enhances the romance of the city, imbuing each frame with the familiar grain distortion many generations still associate with cinema. Firstman and Newport-Berra create a terrific balance of the beauty and unpredictability of New York. So, when Arlo speaks simply of his affection for the city, there's a flush of comfort in knowing he gets it. 

Club Kid is brilliantly cast.  Jordan Firstman writes, directs, and stars in "Club Kid." Credit: A24

First up, Firstman wrote a role for himself that's strategic and well-suited. He gets to deliver the kind of snarky jokes his fans might expect. But then, the plot probes deeper, giving him the chance to earnestly portray vulnerability, worry, adoration, and desperation. This is not a vanity project, as Peter is a bit of a clown. 

Beyond him, casting director Carmen Cuba has selected a superb array of supporting players to build out Peter's chosen family. Delevingne, who has her own reputation as an eccentric socialite, strides smoothly into the role of a party monster. Howell-Baptiste is a one-woman show as the human tornado that is Edison, beaming and enchanting while delivering darkly hilarious dialogue. Risin9 is a standout in the party posse, radiant, warm, and mischievous, like that cool cousin we all aspired to be. Isgandarov is terrific as Nicky, swiftly capturing a familiar queer archetype, then plunging in with jubilant spontaneity. He's perfectly paired with Colleen Camp (Clue), who plays Peter's downstairs neighbor Evelyn, a kind of chosen godmother who has money, scads of style, and a big heart exploding with tough love. 

And then there's Arlo. Absolom, who some might recognize from The Other Bennet Sister, is simply terrific. He offers a open stare that comes off not as naive but knowing. And in that, there's a bit of tragedy. But this child is fueled by hope, hope that tomorrow will be better than the yesterday he's seen. He hopes Peter can be his real dad. He hopes he can weave himself into the club scene, in part because he has a true love of it from his mom's influence, and in part — it seems — so he can ingratiate himself to his newly revealed father. In moments of tension, you see this façade of maturity crack as Absolom and Firstman make sure the audience sees past the precociousness to the simple truth: He's just a kid. He needs a security that he's never known. And the film grows slower and more meditative as Peter grapples with what that means. 

In the end, Club Kid gives an ending that is happy and earned. Firstman doesn't abandon the path in favor of a Hollywood ending that will have audiences cheering. Instead, he delivers something more realistic, but still hopeful and aspirational. It's a happy ending the way New York City understand them, and that's a hard-won gift. 

Club Kid was reviewed out of the New York Film Festival. It opens in theaters on Nov. 6.