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TL;DR: Work smarter, not harder, with an operating system made for professionals, Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, on sale now for just $12.97 (reg. $199) through May 3.

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You’d be surprised at the difference a new operating system can make. From fresh tools to a new interface, Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is ready to streamline your workflow, designed with modern professionals in mind. Right now, you can give your PC this upgrade for only $12.97 until May 3.

If you’ve got a PC that can’t upgrade through Windows Update, we have some great news. This Windows 11 Pro license provides a good upgrade for less than the cost of your lunch.

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The first thing you’ll notice with this new operating system? An enhanced, easy-to-use interface, with better ways to multitask. Snapping windows, virtual desktops, and snap layouts make things easier, while you can also take advantage of a powerful search experience, voice typing, and easy redocking.

This OS sets itself apart by including its own AI-powered assistant, Copilot. This handy tool is right on your desktop, ready to answer questions, help with tasks, and even change settings, summarize web pages, or open apps.

You can sync your iPhone and Android devices right to the computer for better efficiency. You’ll also enjoy improved cybersecurity with biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and enhanced antivirus protection to help keep your data safe.

Regularly $199, this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license is now just $12.97.

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 4/19.

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TL;DR: Get multiple AI model responses in one window with this lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan, now only $74.97 (reg. $619) through April 26.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $74.97
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Not all AI responses are created equal. With dozens of models on the market, it’s hard to keep up with what each one does best. That guesswork also adds a lot of time to your workflow, as you tab-hop and compare results. ChatPlayground AI lets you check out multiple answers side-by-side, all in one convenient window.

Right now, you can lock in permanent savings with this lifetime subscription to the Unlimited Plan for $74.97 until April 26.

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Everyone talks about AI being a huge timesaver, but it really requires the right tools. ChatPlayground AI lets you query dozens of models in one place — and it’s a Chrome extension, so it’s easily accessible when you need it.

With ChatPlayground AI, you can enter your prompt and see answers from ChatGPT, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Llama, and over 20 more models in seconds. Not only do you get easy access, but you also avoid paying subscription fees for multiple models.

No matter your AI need — from generating code to creating images to answering simple questions — ChatPlayground AI gets you answers for all of it. Need help with prompt building? Prompt engineering tools are available to help you get more accurate responses.

If you don’t feel like typing, you can use image and PDF chat features. ChatPlayground AI also saves your past conversations, so you can reference them or keep up an ongoing project with just a few clicks.

This Unlimited Plan means you’ll have unlimited monthly messages, priority customer service, and priority access to any new features and future models.

Score a lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan for just $74.97 (reg. $619) now through April 26.

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 4/19.

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TL;DR: Get eight apps for one low price with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, on sale now for just $32.97 (reg. $219.99) through April 19.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $32.97
$219.99 Save $187.02   Get Deal

It turns out the go-to tools of yesteryear can still get the job done. Before you start hunting down the newest, coolest apps, give the old classics of Microsoft Office a try. This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license for Windows equips your PC with eight staples and new favorites, all for just $32.97 — less than $5 each — now through April 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Whether you’ve got a new computer, an old device in need of Microsoft Office, or you’re sick of paying monthly subscription fees for your apps, we’ve got a permanent solution for you. This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license gives your PC a fresh set of tools — eight to be exact — from ’90s classics to newer essentials.

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Curious what’s included? This edition gives you Word for your document needs, Excel for spreadsheet building, Outlook for email management, and PowerPoint for creating presentations. There’s also Access for managing large databases, Publisher for professional document design, Teams for staying connected with others, and OneNote for digital note-taking.

You don’t have to worry that this 2021 edition is vintage; the apps have been redesigned and have a ribbon-based interface for easy access to features, tools, and customizations. Make sure your device is running Windows 10 or 11 before you purchase.

Get a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for only $32.97 (reg. $219.99) through April 19.

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TL;DR: Say goodbye to ads and hello to an amazing deal with this AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription, now just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through April 16.

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Are you old enough to remember when browsing online was fun? Back when autoplay videos and obnoxious pop-up ads weren’t around every turn? If you’d like to go back to those good ol’ days, it’s time to meet AdGuard. This service blocks ads in their tracks, and right now you can lock in a lifetime subscription to the Family Plan for just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through April 16, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

AdGuard brings peace back to your laptop… or smartphone or tablet. This intuitive ad blocker provides three handy features at once — an advanced ad-blocking module, a privacy protection tool, and parental controls.

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You can enjoy your time online ad-free with AdGuard. It does more than your average ad blocker, going the extra mile to banish all types of ads, such as pop-ups, videos, and banners.

Aside from letting you browse without interruption, AdGuard also gives you added peace of mind by keeping you safe. It can serve as a shield against malware, phishing websites, and cyberattacks, while hiding your data from hackers and blocking trackers.

This lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan means you can share this internet experience with everyone under your roof, securing up to nine devices. You don’t have to worry about compatibility either, as it works on both Android and iOS.

The parental control features are an added bonus for those with children at home. It helps restrict access to inappropriate or adult content, serving as a second set of eyes.

By locking this in for life, you can pay once and enjoy the benefits forever. You’ll also have access to future updates and new features.

Lock in this AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription for just $15.97 through midnight.

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.

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For years, AI companies have trained their models on artists' copyright-protected work, without permission or payment.

That's because training data is the fuel that powers new AI models, and in the AI arms race, companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, Meta, and Google are mining every corner of the internet — and our shared cultural heritage — for untapped data.

When I talked to Daniel Roher, the Oscar-winning co-director of The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, he had a blunt message for tech CEOs who lay claim to protected work: "Fuck you."

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When I spoke to Roher and producer Ted Tremper about the AI copyright issue in recent interviews, I mentioned a conversation I had with the CEO of a leading AI video company. The CEO told me training is fair use, full stop. ("It's not called learning right, or training right. It's called copyright.") And to that attitude, Roher had a blunt response.

"The guy who has a financial vested interest is saying that he's gonna train his model on what the fuck he wants?" Roher told me. "It's kind of like the guy who runs the tobacco company saying that, you know, smoking is good for you. Everyone should have a cigarette, and if you say differently, fuck you. And to that, I'm like, 'Dude, go fuck yourself.'"

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AI companies offer several defenses for using copyrighted material without paying. There's the cost argument — models have billions of parameters, and it would be too expensive to compensate individual rights holders. The China argument (an argument President Donald Trump has echoed) — Chinese AI companies aren't asking for permission, so neither can we. Then, there's the fair use argument — training AI models on copyrighted work falls under the fair use legal doctrine.

Right now, dozens of lawsuits from authors, musicians, journalists, and entertainment giants like Disney are tackling the fair use question, arguing that AI companies have to abide by copyright law like everyone else.

Last year, the U.S. Copyright Office issued a report concluding that training is likely not covered by fair use, though it isn't legally binding. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

Early court rulings on this topic have so far favored AI companies, and Big Tech is forging ahead with its quintessential "move fast, break things" ethos. You've heard of "ask forgiveness, not permission," but AI companies typically aren't asking for either.

SEE ALSO: Judge in 'Kadrey v. Meta' AI copyright case rules for Meta, against authors

So, is the David versus Goliath AI copyright battle already lost, I asked Roher?

"Language like 'the battle's already been lost'? [Dude], relax. The battle hasn't already been lost," Roher said. "This is just a unique challenge of 25th-century technology that's crash-landed into the 21st century, being regulated by legislative processes forged in the 17-fucking-hundreds. And court cases take a long time, but I think, at the end of the day, the book is still very much open on whether the IP battle has been won or lost."

Roher also urged anyone with an interest in artificial intelligence to push back against overreach from Big Tech.

"So, yeah, for the tech CEO to be like, you know, 'Fuck you, I will come for your shit.' My response is, 'Fuck you back. No, you're not.' And I applaud media outlets like the New York Times, which are standing up for their material and doing the very, very good public work of fighting companies in court."

After finishing The AI Doc, producer Ted Tremper founded the Creators Coalition on AI along with Daniel Kwan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and others to protect artists' rights. And as more artists file suits, some AI companies are striking deals with IP holders like Disney and Universal Music Group, but Tremper said that's not necessarily a positive development.

"What they're doing is making deals with the people who have the biggest, scariest lawyers," Tremper said. "To me, what that indicates is that they are fine with having a two-tiered system for considering data. That if you have big, scary lawyers and you're a multi-million or billion-dollar company, you can have the right to have your creative work and your IP protected. However, if it's you and me and things I post online, the photographs of your children. Those things are fair game."

Tremper said there's nothing fair about Big Tech companies harvesting books, movies, TV shows, and newspapers at scale.

"The idea that saying that a machine that has perfect memory, that is able to have perfect recall of an amount of data that would take dozens of human lifetimes, if not hundreds of human lifetimes, to actually read, and is being made by some lab or a company whose explicit goal is to replace human labor — I feel like that falls outside the scope of any reasonable fair use argument."

Whether the courts will ultimately agree is still an open question. In the meantime, both artists and AI companies are gearing up for a legal fight that could define the future of AI development.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

13. The Heartbreak Kid: Becoming Shawn Michaels

If you're into WWE documentaries and have exhausted both seasons of Netflix's WWE: Unreal, check out Peacock's new deep dive into the career of the legendary Shawn Michaels. The Heartbreak Kid: Becoming Shawn Michaels tracks the highs and lows of the Hall of Famer's life in and out of the ring, comebacks and all. Expect interviews with Michaels himself, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Bret Hart, Mark "The Undertaker" Calaway, and more. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

How to watch: The Heartbreak Kid: Becoming Shawn Michaels premieres on Peacock April 17.

12. Roommates

Following in the footsteps of Adam Sandler, his daughter Sadie Sandler is headlining the kooky comedy Roommates. In director Chandler Levack's follow-up to her semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy Mile End Kicks, Sadie stars as college freshman Devon, who hopes her new roommate will be a path to coolness and fun. But Celeste (Heretic's Chloe East) is a bit much with no boundaries.

Will they become friends? Or make each others' lives a living hell? Tune in to find out. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Sadie Sandler, Chloe East, Sarah Sherman, Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll, Storm Reid, Janeane Garofalo, and Carol Kane

How to watch: Roomates begins streaming on Netflix April 17.

11. Ramy Youssef: In Love

Comedian Ramy Youssef returns for his third HBO special, Ramy Youssef: In Love, directed by The Bear creator Christopher Storer. (Youssef directed The Bear's superlative "Honeydew" episode, making this a true crossover event.) This time around, Youssef is touching on hot-button topics like the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival and Grok's production of sexualized images, but he's also taking time to talk about love — including the perils of being a dog dad. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Ramy Youssef

How to watch: Ramy Youssef: In Love debuts on HBO and HBO Max April 17.

10. Trevor Noah: Joy in The Trenches

Trevor Noah's newest Netflix comedy special, Joy in the Trenches, hits the streaming platform this week, with the comedian, former Daily Show host, philanthropist, and podcaster digging into the state of the world today as only he can. Filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., the set sees Noah speaking to topics including the time Donald Trump threatened to sue him over his Epstein joke at the Grammys. Noah has multiple Netflix specials in the catalogue now, with the latest following Afraid of the Dark, Son of Patricia, I Wish You Would, and Where Was I, so you could essentially have a five-hour Trevor Noah-a-thon this week. — S.C.

Starring: Trevor Noah

How to watch: Trevor Noah: Joy in The Trenches debuts on Netflix April 14.

9. A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough

At 99 years old, Sir David Attenborough has brought a wealth of knowledge to the world through his broadcasts about nature. In his latest, he looks back at a gorilla he met 50 years ago. With A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, this celebrated natural historian walks us through the life of Pablo, who grew from a curious infant to a top silverback leading his own pack. Beyond that, Attenborough shows what Pablo's descendants are up to now.

If you got caught up in Punch the monkey's zoo dramas, we suspect you'll fall hard for this intimate documentary. — K.P.

Starring: David Attenborough

How to watch: A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough debuts on Netflix April 17.

8. Noah Kahan: Out of Body

"Stick Season" singer/songwriter Noah Kahan takes fans behind the curtain in this intimate documentary. Out of Body sees Kahan returning home to Vermont, where he reconnects with his family and wonders what's next for his skyrocketing career. From looks inside Kahan's creative process to frank discussions about his experience with body dysmorphia, Noah Kahan: Out of Body promises to be an insightful peek behind the curtain for Kahan fans. — B.E.

How to watch: Noah Kahan: Out of Body debuts on Netflix April 13.

7. Big Mood, Season 2

Camilla Whitehill's brilliant dramedy Big Mood is back for a second season, and it's once again examining the messy, difficult Venn diagram of friendship and mental health. The show focuses on 30-year-old Londoners and inseparable best friends Maggie (Nicola Coughlan) and Eddie (Lydia West), who are navigating bipolar disorder and grief, respectively, and feeling misunderstood by each other. Season 1 left them in relationship rubble; Season 2 examines the awkwardness of patching things up after such a friendship breakup — and realising boundaries must be drawn.

Coughlan and West capture that heart-in-throat feeling of seeing an ex-friend, one who you've rehearsed what you'd say to. Eddie's been off-grid in the U.S. making a new bestie in Whitney, a Californian boho chic wellness influencer armed with ginseng gummies, amethyst suppositories, and unity crystals (a "TikTok hippie," Maggie calls her). Maggie, despite taking charge of her health and declaring she's in her "stable girl era," is dubbed a loose cannon by others, and is even demoted to junior bridesmaid at a wedding. So, can the pair rekindle their friendship? What happens when one person feels they've moved on, the other left behind? Come for the Rupert Everett cameo, stay for the complex portrayal of modern friendship. — S.C.

Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Lydia West, Robert Gilbert, Eamon Farren, Niamh Cusack, Amalia Vitale, Luke Fetherston, Rebecca Lowman, Stephen Sobal, and Kate Fleetwood

How to watch: Big Mood Season 2 premieres on Tubi April 16 and is streaming on Channel 4 in the UK.

6. Undertone

Maybe don't wear headphones for this one if you scare easily, because Undertone is all about audio horror. Directed by Ian Tuason in his directorial debut, the film introduces podcaster Evy (Nina Kiri), who gets wrapped up in a series of creepy audio recordings teeming with hidden messages.

Don't expect a jump-scare-filled fright fest from Undertone. It's a slow burn of a horror film. That didn't work for Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, who wrote in her review, "The film's slow-burn approach, and my patience for it, didn't pay off. In the end, I was more impressed by Undertone's concept than I was entertained by its execution." — B.E.

Starring: Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco, Michèle Duquet, Keana Lyn Bastidas, Jeff Yung, Sarah Beaudin, and Brian Quintero

How to watch: Undertone is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

5. Margo's Got Money Troubles

A24 and David E. Kelley's much-anticipated adaptation of Rufi Thorpe's Margo's Got Money Troubles hits Apple TV this week. Elle Fanning stars as Margo, a bright young writer and single mother who's struggling to make ends meet. She soon finds financial success on OnlyFans, as well as a dysfunctional but loving support system from her parents, ex-Hooters waitress Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and ex-wrestler Jinx (Nick Offerman).

Margo's Got Money Troubles is undeniably heartwarming, thanks in no small part to its tremendous ensemble, led by a luminous Fanning. Yet it often skews towards narrative convention, even as Margo and her family break the mold. As I wrote in my review, "There's no denying that Margo's Got Money Troubles and this stellar cast will melt your heart. Yet overall, I just wish that the series could have been just as fearless and imaginative as Margo herself." — B.E.

Starring: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, Nick Offerman, Thaddea Graham, Rico Nasty, and Lindsey Normington

How to watch: Margo's Got Money Troubles premieres on AppleTV April 15.

4. Dust Bunny

After giving audiences such sensational (and sensationally twisted) shows as Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, and Hannibal, Bryan Fuller makes his feature directorial debut with a monster movie that feels like Amélie meets Léon: The Professional.

The story centers on a young girl (Sophie Sloan) who's plagued by the monster under her bed — a massive dust bunny. So, naturally, she looks for a hitman to take care of the creature. Lucky for her, there's one living in her building. And he's played by Hannibal's Mads Mikkelsen. The result is a monster movie that is whimsical, gnarly, thrilling, and fun.

In my review, I wrote, "Dust Bunny is exactly the kind of movie fans should expect from Fuller, but it's also wildly surprising. As soon as it ended, I wanted to watch it again — not just for the fun of it, but to assure myself it was real and not some strange dream sparked from too much sour candy."* — K.P.

Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Sophie Sloan, Sigourney Weaver, David Dastmalchian, Rebecca Henderson, and Sheila Atim

How to watch: Dust Bunny debuts on HBO Max April 17.

3. The Pitt, Season 2 finale

For 14 episodes of The Pitt Season 2, we've stressed about Baby Jane Doe, Dr. Robby's (Noah Wyle) upcoming motorcycle trip, and Dr. Santos' (Isa Briones) charting woes. Now, it all comes to a head in the Season 2 finale, which picks up right after Dr. Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi) reveals to Dr. Robby that she has a seizure disorder. What will he do with that information, and how will the rest of the day shift close out their 4th of July? — B.E.

Starring: Noah Wyle, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, and Sepideh Moafi

How to watch: The Pitt, Season 2 finale airs April 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

2. The Dark Wizard

Any fans of Free Solo will want to tune in for this one. Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen's The Dark Wizard tells the story of Dean Potter, a legendary figure in the climbing community who made a name for himself doing a variety of increasingly risky extreme sports. Over the course of four episodes, the HBO docuseries does an excellent job of unpacking Potter's personal motivations, showing his struggles with mental health as he throws himself into free soloing, highline walking, BASE jumping, and wingsuit gliding. Acting almost as a prequel to Free Solo, the series also features climbing legend Alex Honnold talking about the rivalry the two once shared.

"Yes, there's breath-taking footage of the many awe-inspiring acts that made Potter famous," I wrote in my review. "But rather than purely mythologising him, the filmmakers have gone to great lengths to give insight into his personal struggles and motivations. The end result is nerve-wracking, enthralling, and — in the documentary's final moments — almost unbearably sad." — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Dean Potter

How to watch: The Dark Wizard debuts on HBO and HBO Max April 14.

Best of streaming this week: Beef, Season 2

Beef is back, this time with a whole new cast (and a whole new beef). Creator Lee Sung Jin drops viewers into a feud between two couples: country club manager Josh (Oscar Isaac) and his interior designer wife Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), and club employees Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny). When the latter record a compromising video of the former, they kick off a chain of blackmail that escalates all the way to the club's new billionaire owner, Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung).

While Beef's second season doesn't reach the highs of Season 1 (a near-impossible task), it still delivers an ambitious, riveting, and can't-miss showdown between four incredible actors. As I wrote in my review, "Everything involving the couples is divine: a dizzying whirlwind of blackmail, shifting allegiances, and astounding performances from the show's core four. It's when Beef Season 2 moves beyond them that it loses some of its focus (although it never lets up on the stress)." — B.E.

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho, Seoyeon Jang, Mikaela Hoover, BM, and William Fichtner

How to watch: Beef Season 2 premieres on Netflix April 16.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

Here's an open secret: almost every major dating site and most of the internet's hookup sites have been victims of major data breaches at one time or another. In fact, some of them have even undergone multiple data breaches. We're talking full names, addresses, billing information, and in some cases extremely personal information about sexual preferences. 

To be fair to these sites, their success paints a giant target on their backs. If you're a hacker, you're going to target the largest websites with the most users, because that's where your exploit is likely to return the most value for your (illegal) work. These big sites now spend millions of dollars on cybersecurity, hoping to stave off future attacks.

But then there are the hookup sites that fly under the radar, the sites that aren't yet large enough to attract the attention of malicious actors. If you're looking to experience the internet's hookup culture without exposure to the most popular sites, here are three solid adult dating sites that haven't experienced a data breach:

Friends with Benefits

Think of Friends with Benefits like a website version of Tinder or a slightly toned down version of AdultFriendFinder. Setting up an account is easy and requires very minimal personal information, so it's a great starting spot for people wary of sharing their data, but it's also vulnerable to bots and fake profiles, and you'll spend as much time weeding out the obviously AI-generated profiles as you will messaging people. 

If you live in or near a large metropolitan area, Friends with Benefits can work for you, because that's where their users are most concentrated, and as of this writing, they have yet to have a data breach. 

Guilty Affairs

We don't condone cheating on your partner or spouse, but it's a simple fact that a huge draw of online hookup sites is how much easier they make stepping outside of your relationship. Unfortunately, that also makes them a desirable target for hackers, who get not only your personal information but some excellent blackmail material ("You wouldn't want your wife to know…") — just think of the damage done to Ashley Madison users after more than 60 gigabytes of data were leaked.

If you're looking to explore some extra-marital fun but want to keep a low profile, Guilty Affairs is a good place to start. The interface is incredibly simple and easy to use, and doesn't require a ton of sensitive personal information before you can create an account and explore your options — there's nothing like their Roulette wheel of local singles to build excitement, for example.

SEE ALSO: All your Hinge questions, answered

Best of all, they're very transparent about their dedication to cybersecurity, with 256-bit encryption as standard and PCI DSS certification across all of their payment methods, so if you do decide to purchase tokens (called "Coins" on the site) to boost your profile or browse incognito, you can be assured of high levels of payment protection. 

Senior Sizzle

Okay, granted, if you're not a bit advanced in years, a hookup site whose tagline is "intimate encounters over 50" might not sound that enticing, but there are a whole lot of single seniors out there looking to get frisky, and the site is well designed to help them find their "sizzle." 

From a security standpoint, the site touts an in-house security team as well as "industry standard" efforts like firewalls and data encryption to help keep your personal information safe. And as of the time of this writing, they've been successful, with zero data breaches, which is no small feat given the site was first launched more than 20 years ago. 

How to protect yourself from data breaches

While it's a good idea to audit your website choices before you sign up, ensuring they have a history of good cybersecurity practices, it's also important to realize that you have a major role to play in protecting your own data. Here are a few best practices to follow to ensure your online safety:

1. Limit your exposure. The less data you share with each dating website, and the less specific that data is, the better.

2. Sign up using a personal email. Never use your work email, and consider creating a backup email specifically for online dating signups. 

3. Don't divulge personal information to unverified people. The person you're talking to might be a cute, fun single, but they could also be a chat bot or scammer eager to learn everything they can about you for nefarious ends. Save the detailed conversations for in-person meet-ups.

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on April 15-18. Stuff Your E-Reader, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering books in a variety of genres for Kindle and Kobo.

A lot has been said about Kindle in the last week or so, and we've tried our best to make sense of the situation. We're not going to get into the weeds of why "BookTokers, Bookstagramers, and the most passionate Kindle users across the internet are fuming this week," because another Stuff Your Kindle Day is live right now.

Stuff Your E-Reader, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering participants the chance to download books from a variety of genres without spending anything. Everything that you download is yours to keep forever, and unlike a lot of these giveaways, Kindle and Kobo readers can stock up during this limited-time event.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Kindles to help you find the perfect e-reader

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Stuff Your E-Reader takes place on April 15-18. A lot of these free giveaways only last 24 hours, so it's refreshing to have so much time to consider your options. You can relax and make a plan without stressing about missing the deadline.

Which ebooks are free?

Stuff Your E-Reader is an all-genre book blast for Kindle and Kobo readers. Stuff Your Kindle Days usually focus on a particular genre, which can exclude large portions of the reading world who might not be interested in downloading hundreds of romance titles. This event is truly for everyone.

The Indie Author Collective has launched a hub page for this event, with filters for promotions, genre, and representation. Check out everything on offer here.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

All the single ladies — as well as the single fellas — are complaining about the same thing lately. Everyone's exhausted from the stress, admin, and the general minefield that is online dating. App fatigue isn't just a buzzword term. It's a real phenomenon, and it makes connections all the much harder to find. Sometimes it feels actually impossible, like getting lost in the never-ending app-scroll. We understand the basic problem all too well: You just want the dating apps that actually work. Which begs the question: Which dating apps do actually work?

There are no right answers, of course. Because it’s less about finding an app that works than finding the right app for what you actually want. People on eharmony are probably looking for long-term commitment, while people swiping through hookup apps such as Tinder are after… well, let’s just say we know what they’re looking for.

The crucial thing is to remember you'll get results if you know how to navigate the right apps. Sure, we're all suffering from dating app burnout, but research proves that they do get job the done. A SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus found that 65 percent of people aged between 18 and 29 have used dating apps, while a 2023 report found that one in five young people met their partner via an app. The best dating apps are one of the most reliable ways to meet a partner.

Thankfully, Mashable’s dating experts know what they're talking about here. They've put valuable hours into testing and using datings apps IRL, determining the best apps for every kind of dater. So, to help you make a match, we've put together this roundup of the dating apps worth downloading in 2026.

TL;DR: Unblock ePorner for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content. After the introduction of these age verification laws, some porn sites blocked users from those locations. The same situation is now taking place in other parts of the world.

So where does that leave frustrated users? Desperately seeking a solution, that's where. Fortunately, you can still access all your favorite porn sites in just a few simple steps. There's a quick and easy hack that can secure access to restricted content from any location or network. You don't need to be a skilled hacker. Anyone can follow this simple solution.

If you want to unblock porn sites like ePorner for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock ePorner for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process tricks porn sites into providing you with access even if there is a block in place over your network.

Unblock ePorner from anywhere in the world by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to ePorner

4. Connect to ePorner from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most leading services do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like ePorner without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it means you can temporarily unblock porn sites like ePorner and then recover your investment.

What is the best VPN for ePorner?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like ePorner, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries and all 50 U.S. states

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 ePorner for free with ExpressVPN.

So, what is the best e-reader for 2026? I'm regularly testing new e-readers (and tablets) and cycling through different models to stay up to date on the best options available. So, if you're gearing up to read more books this year, I can recommend a model you'll love.

PS: For book lovers, we'll be on the ground at BookCon 2026, covering all the best gadgets and the latest news from your favorite authors.

Featured Video For You New e-readers in this guide

As of April 2026, we've added two new e-readers to the list. After months of testing, we've included the Durobo Krono, an open Android e-reader that allows you to access your Kindle, Libby, and Kobo libraries on one device. The Xetink X4 e-reader is a unique, compact device that doesn't look like much, but is pretty impressive.

We're currently in the process of testing the Boox Palma 2 and the Boox Go 10.3 (Gen II).

2026 Kindle updates

On April 7, 2026, Amazon sent a notice to some Kindle users stating that as of May 20, 2026, Kindle e-readers released in 2012 or earlier will no longer be supported. After May 20, Amazon will no longer lend software updates or provide web services to these devices, essentially bricking them. Users will still be able to read currently downloaded books on the device, but to add new books, they will need to connect the device to a computer. This is a huge hit, especially to Libby users who need web service access to read borrowed books.

The affected Kindles include:

• Kindle (1st generation)

• Kindle (2nd generation)

• Kindle DX

• Kindle DX Graphite

• Kindle Keyboard

• Kindle 4

• Kindle Touch

• Kindle 5

• Kindle Paperwhite (1st generation)

Owners of these Kindle models are obviously upset, as it means they'll need to purchase a new device to maintain access to all features. While some are considering switching to a different e-reader, like a Kobo or the Durobo Krono, Amazon still makes great e-readers, and it's a testament to the brand that devices that are at least 14 years old are still going strong.

Other e-readers we've tested From left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, Kindle Scribe Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The latest e-readers I tested were the Kindle Scribe (2025) and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. Previously, Kindle Scribes were disappointing e-readers, but Amazon made major improvements on these devices, and now, they're worthy of your attention. We've included the Kindle Scribe (2025) on this list because it's a better value, even if the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is technically more impressive. For more details on the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, you can read our full review.

We've also tested the Remarkable PaperPro and Onyx Boox Go 7 as contenders for this list. After several weeks of testing, both devices proved to be pretty good but not quite list-worthy.

Whenever you search for e-readers, Remarkable's tablets will always pop up in the search results, but unfortunately, it's hard to obtain ePUB files on the Remarkable. With Remarkable, you can access files within Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. If you have any locked ePUB files — like from Libby — you won't be able to access them on a Remarkable tablet. So, after testing the Remarkable tablet myself, it proved to be a better document reader or digital journal than an e-reader.

The Onyx Boox Go 7 is a better e-reader option than the Remarkable. It's the same size as the Kobo Libra or Amazon Kindle, but it really lags on processing speed. To read ePUB files from Libby required downloading the Adobe Digital Editions app onto the Boox Go 7, and there was so much lag while opening and closing the app. While it was an easier process than getting library books on a Nook, it was still a major pain compared to Kindle or Kobo's integrations. The Boox Go 7 lagged and took ages to load files. I was most looking forward to testing this Boox because of its page-turning buttons, but unfortunately, I found that they didn't work on my device.

What about the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?

If you're familiar with the Kindle lineup, it may come as a surprise that the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition isn't on this list. Don't get me wrong, it's great, but I think there are better options. The Signature Edition is an upgraded version of the Paperwhite, and we've compared the devices head-to-head. The short version? The Paperwhite is a better value, even with the SE's added features like auto-adjusting brightness and 32GB of storage.

If you are prepared to spend $200 on an e-reader, though, I say skip the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and go for the Kobo Libra Colour.

Where's the Nook on this list?

In terms of big-name e-readers, you might notice one omission from this list: the Barnes & Noble Nook. I have tested this e-reader, and it was previously featured on this list. However, after testing more devices, it no longer makes the cut. In comparison to any of the Kindles or the Kobo Libra, the Nook has sloth-like performance, making it frustrating to use.

Plus, getting my library books onto the Nook was a nightmare, as it was a multi-step process that required downloading to a computer before uploading to a Nook. Its only redeeming quality was the buttons on either side of the device, which made page turning a breeze. However, unless you are a loyal buyer of Barnes & Noble books, I recommend steering clear of the Nook.

Where to get e-reader books for free

Once you get an e-reader, it's time to fill it up with books, and that doesn't necessarily mean spending money. In fact, you can load up your e-reader without spending a dime; you just need to be a bit resourceful.

The best way to read nearly any book — a classic or hot new release — is with Libby. I have read hundreds of free books with the Libby app — I wouldn't have been able to test for this guide without it. It connects with your library card, allowing you to borrow from your local library's digital collection. Plus, both Kobo and Kindle have exceptional Libby integrations.

Another way to build your library is through Stuff Your Kindle Day events. These are 24-hour opportunities led by authors that make books discounted or free.

If you're a fan of the classics or looking to discover a treasure lost to time, an online resource like Project Gutenberg has more than 75,000 books in the public domain that you can download and read on an e-reader.

TL;DR: TCGplayer has unopened listings for the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Spider-Man Play Booster Display Box starting at $102.49 with shipping included.

Where to buy the Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Display Box: Best TCGplayer deal Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Display Box $102.49 at TCGplayer Shop Now Best Amazon Deal Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Display Box $114.95 at Amazon Shop Now Best Walmart Deal Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Display Box $114.95 at Walmart Shop Now

The Spider-Man crossover set may have slipped under the radar compared to other popular sets like Final Fantasy and Avatar: The Last Airbender, but you can now buy more packs of the wall-crawler’s set at under market value.

As of April 16, unopened listings for Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Box start at $102.49 with shipping included. That’s only 42 cents under TCGplayer’s own $102.91 market price, but it also undercuts Amazon and Walmart. While Amazon is calling that its lowest price in 30 days, but TCGplayer still comes out ahead as the go-to place to buy right now.

In this 30-pack box, you’re getting boosters with 14 Magic cards, as usual — with at least one card of Rare rarity or higher, and at least one Traditional Foil card. The Land slot is also Traditional Foil in 20% of boosters, so there’s still plenty of room for the kind of flashy pulls collectors chase.

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!

For any Marvel fans who also love trading card games like MTG, the Spider-Man crossover expansion is a must-buy: featuring not only cards and mechanics based on the comic book industry’s favorite web-slinger, but those around other heroes and key villains, too. 

If Magic: The Gathering is still new to you, or you’re checking out the other expansions in the game right now, you can also grab the MTG Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box for a new low price of $18.99. Alternatively, the 30-pack MTG Play Booster Box from the Avatar set is also available for around $120.  

TL;DR: Walmart has the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Bundle listed for $99.97, down from $125. Amazon is matching that price right now, but there’s limited stock.

Where to buy the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Bundle: Best Walmart Deal Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Bundle $99.97 at Walmart Shop Now Best Amazon Deal Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Bundle $99.97 at Amazon Shop Now Best TCGplayer deal Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Bundle $101.47 at TCGplayer Shop Now

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover has delivered some of the most eye-catching Magic: The Gathering products of the year, available at some tempting price points.

As of April 16, Walmart has the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Bundle listed for $99.97, down from $125. Amazon is currently sitting at the same price, but only one unit is left at that price. After that, the next lowest Amazon seller is asking $103.28 with another $3.99 for delivery, which brings the real total to $107.27.

As the only contender under market price that also has stock readily available, Walmart is the go-to spot for this MTG TMNT box.

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The Pizza Bundle comes with nine TMNT Play Boosters and one Collector Booster, plus two of six promo trading cards, five traditional foil full-art pizza basic lands, 25 non-foil full-art pizza basic lands, and a special oversized Spindown life counter. So while the pizza-box presentation is a bit of a gimmick that’s part of the appeal, there’s more than enough underneath to make a feast both for your decks and binders.

If you want to test out any of the other new Magic: The Gathering expansions, the MTG Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is still at a new low price of $18.99. In the event you’re already up to speed on the Avatar expansion, you can buy its MTG Play Booster Box for around $120.

If you've noticed that nearly every major audio brand now has some form of open earbuds, you're not mistaken — seats are filling up quick on the latest audio bandwagon. Naturally, it would follow that open headphones are slowly starting to creep into the market.

The idea of open headphones, however, isn't quite as intuitive as their earbud counterpart. While it's easy to picture earbuds with a hook or cuff component holding them in place, headphones by design have ear cups that cover — and close off — the ear.

SEE ALSO: Open earbuds guide: What they are, who should buy them, and why they're popping up everywhere

So how do they work? Below, we break down the emerging trend of open headphones (spoiler alert: they've been around longer than you think), how they're different from traditional headphones, and the pros and cons of trying them out.

What are open headphones?

In the most basic terms, open headphones allow air to pass through the ear cup, allowing for a more natural soundstage that feels like it's coming from the space around you — because the sound is actually able to reach the space around you.

Typically, this means open headphones have a mesh ear cup, so there's still a physical component covering the ear. This also makes the open headphones' other common name, open-back headphones, make more sense — the back is there, it's just very permeable. This design also means that open-back headphones absolutely do not come with any active noise cancellation, or any passive noise cancellation, as the ear cup isn't designed to keep sound out.

The Sony Inzone H6 Air headphones are the latest open-back headphones to hit the market. Credit: Sony

Traditionally, open-back headphones have occupied the studio headphone space — think audio engineers, music producers, or just straight-up audiophiles. Again, the open space can allow for a more natural spatial audio (which is especially helpful, considering how horrific microphone-induced spatial audio can get). Open-back headphones are also known for more faithfully reproducing sounds as intended by the original mixers of audio, whether that be music or video games.

Right now, popular models of open-back headphones come from brands like Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, and Sony, with the latter just releasing its first pair of open gaming headphones. JLab also recently released a pair of open-back headphones with an entirely removable mesh panel, to more closely mimic the experience of an open earbud (but more on that below).

SEE ALSO: Hands on: The new Sony Inzone H6 Air open gaming headset isn't like anything I've tested before Open headphones vs. closed-back headphones

To the average consumer, high-end headphones can be synonymous with flagship noise-cancelling headphones. Understandable, as they usually offer some of the best audio performance, comfort, and of course, noise cancellation.

However, those headphones aren't necessarily always the best for a certain listening experience. As one of our testers explained, the open-back Sennheiser HD 599 offered the best audio quality against traditional, closed-back headphones because they incorporated the ambient environment and allowed for that wider soundstage you might get from studio monitors or surround sound speakers. As our guide points out, this can be great for "deep, critical listening, especially if you plug them into a vinyl record player."

Open-back headphones may look like normal headphones, but different mechanics are at play to create the best sound possible. Credit: Sennheiser

Open-back headphones are also likely to produce a more flat sound, or in other words, one that does not emphasize any particular frequency. This can be great for hearing the mix as it may have been intended, but bass-heads can sometimes have issues with these headphones as a result (if you fall into that category, we recommend you check out the Sony ULT Wear headphones). Finally, as many are intended for the best audio quality possible, many open-back headphones are wired, which is a notable deviation from the almost entirely wireless options from closed back headphones.

Open headphones vs. open earbuds

While both open headphones and open earbuds can offer you greater awareness of the environment around you, for the former, it's a byproduct, while for the latter, it's by design.

A large part of the reason open earbuds became popular in the first place is because they provide a degree of safety when running through a park or riding a bike. The situational awareness allows for the wearer to listen to their audio with relative privacy, but not totally be in their own bubble, whether at home or out and about.

Open earbuds come in a variety of shapes and sizes, while generally open headphones look like standard headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The major downside of open earbuds is that they tend to require some degree of sound sacrifice. Their small housing means they can't pack a ton of drivers, and don't benefit from sitting outside of the ear canal — the result can mean a less robust and nuanced sound profile than you would get with traditional earbuds.

On the other hand, open-back headphones were made with sound at the forefront of their design. As mentioned above, the transparency they provide allows for the most natural-sounding spatial audio possible, letting the nuances of the audio envelop the listener. And the sheer size of the headphones means they can typically house more, and better, drivers for a superior listening experience similar to studio monitors.

The fact that both open earbuds and headphones allow you to hear the world around you better is merely an inevitability for the headphones' design, but it wasn't the reason they were created. That said, earbuds and headphones share the common problem of not being the easiest to use in louder environments. And as both allow for sound from the outside to come in, they also both allow for sound to come out, so you'll want to be aware that both are prone to sound leakage.

It's been 26 years since Greg Focker first tried (and mostly failed) to impress his new father-in-law (Robert De Niro) in Meet the Parents, and now there's a new family member in the hot seat.

In the trailer above for Focker-In-Law, Greg welcomes his son's new girlfriend (Ariana Grande) into the family home — only to suspect that she may be up to no good.

The problem? She appears to have the entire family fooled, including the gatekeeper of the circle of trust himself. Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Skyler Gisondo, Beanie Feldstein, and Eduardo Franco also star.

Focker-In-Law is in theaters Thanksgiving 2026.

Val Kilmer AI deepfake film As Deep as the Grave has just released its first trailer. The internet has responded with overwhelming disgust.

A widely recognised actor known for his roles in films such as Top Gun, Batman Forever, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Kilmer died from pneumonia last April at 65 years old. Upcoming film As Deep as the Grave has now used generative AI to create a digital puppet in Kilmer's likeness, having it portray a character appearing in "a significant part" of the historical film.

As Deep as the Grave follows married archaeologists Ann Axtell Morris (Abigail Lawrie) and Earl H. Morris (Tom Felton), who conducted fieldwork in the U.S. southwest during the 1920s. Kilmer's AI-generated likeness will be used to depict Father Fintan, a Catholic priest who is also a Native American spiritualist. The film also features Abigail Breslin, Wes Studi, and Finn Jones.

Though Kilmer was cast in As Deep as the Grave prior to his death, delays in production and issues with his health meant he never shot any scenes. Kilmer had previously given a tech-assisted performance in Top Gun: Maverick, which digitally altered his real voice. He also worked with UK company Sonantic to create an AI speaking voice based on his old recordings. However, As Deep as the Grave will be the first time his likeness and voice will be completely AI-generated in a film.

"Very fitting that this trailer includes a scene where a corpse is unceremoniously yanked out of the ground," read one of the top comments on As Deep as the Grave's trailer at time of writing.

CGI likenesses of deceased actors have been used in feature films before. In 2016, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gained attention for using CGI and motion capture to resurrect Peter Cushing and portray a younger Carrie Fisher for a few minutes of the film. In 2015, Furious 7 used similar techniques to insert Paul Walker into the remainder of the film after he died mid-shoot. Though Furious 7 largely received a pass due to the circumstances, Rogue One received criticism regarding the ethics of its CGI Cushing. Using generative AI to completely create a performance out of nothing appears to go a step even further, completely removing any actors from the process.

Writer and director Coerte Voorhees told Variety that he chose to use AI rather than recast the role due to budget constraints, and that Kilmer's children gave the project their blessing. Even so, online commenters have labelled it disgusting and disrespectful, not only for digitally reanimating Kilmer but also for the damaging precedent As Deep as the Grave's use of AI could set for the film industry as a whole.

Reddit Reddit

Let's get your biggest question out of the way: Does Season 2 of Lee Sung Jin's anthology series Beef surpass the highs of Season 1?

It does not, but that doesn't mean the season is a disappointment. Season 1 set an extraordinarily high bar for any follow-up to clear, and Lee does his best to clear it by going bigger than before. In Season 2, the people involved in the show's titular beef have multiplied. Instead of two people going head-to-head like Steven Yeun and Ali Wong did in Season 1, Beef Season 2 throws two couples in the arena, played by Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny. It also goes international, spinning a tale of cover-ups and corruption that will take its rage-fueled antics all the way to Seoul, South Korea.

SEE ALSO: 'Euphoria' Season 3 review: It should be great. Instead, it's gross.

The widening in scale leads to both Beef's biggest successes and pitfalls. Everything involving the couples is divine: a dizzying whirlwind of blackmail, shifting allegiances, and astounding performances from the show's core four. It's when Beef Season 2 moves beyond them that it loses some of its focus (although it never lets up on the stress).

Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan face off against Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny in Beef Season 2. Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Carey Mulligan, and Oscar Isaac in "Beef." Credit: Netflix

In one corner of Beef Season 2, we have married couple Josh (Isaac) and Lindsay (Mulligan). He's the general manager of a swanky country club; she's an interior designer who's helped shape the club's look. (Think crushed velvet and swaths of patterned wallpaper.) From the outside, they look extremely well off. They rub shoulders with the California elite, host elaborate fundraisers, and exude an aura of love, even 15 years into their marriage. In reality, they're drowning in a money pit, and those financial troubles have festered into rank hatred.

That hatred spews forth mere minutes into Beef Season 2's first episode, with an argument that starts at a 10 and escalates to Marriage Story levels of personal attacks and beyond. Adam Driver punching a hole in drywall pales in comparison to Isaac and Mulligan tearing Josh and Lindsay's house to shreds.

Watching the fight is Beef Season 2's second pair of combatants: lower-level club workers Ashley (Spaeny) and Austin (Melton). The engaged couple stopped by Josh and Lindsay's to drop off Josh's wallet, only to stumble on a war zone. Now armed with a video of Josh accosting Lindsay, Ashley and Austin realize they have enough leverage to blackmail their way into higher-paying jobs, kicking off a simmering workplace feud that interrogates both couples' relationships.

SEE ALSO: 'The Boys' has overstayed its welcome: Season 5 review

The ensuing beef is full of jaw-dropping moments, from electrifying shouting matches to a gag-worthy scene involving a Shirley Temple. But what's really enticing about Beef Season 2 is seeing the ways in which these couples become a twisted mirror to one another. Josh and Lindsay are a couple on the last legs of their romantic relationship, while Ashley and Austin's own relationship is truly kicking off. (They've been together for one and a half years.) The former are jaded yet accustomed to fights. After their episode 1 blowup, they laugh it off and calmly rearrange the wreckage of their argument. The latter, on the other hand, are so conflict-avoidant that they can barely express their true feelings. Instead, they couch them in therapy speak about radical honesty and being each other's "safe space." But as money becomes more and more of a stressor, the anger becomes clearer, and Ashley and Austin's love, like Josh and Lindsay's, begins to decay.

As the couples interact more, Lee plays with alliances. Unexpected friendships pop up between the men and women, adding a gendered layer to the tense proceedings. The pairs also become more similar, with one couple unknowingly echoing the other's manipulative tactics or nasty revenge plots. In the end, Beef asks, is rage the great equalizer? Are these couples really the same, deep down?

Beef Season 2 is full of spectacular performances. Charles Melton, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, and Cailee Spaeny in "Beef." Credit: Netflix

Each of Beef Season 2's leads delivers exceptional work. Isaac is both magnetic and repulsive as Josh, who occupies a strange middle ground between managing his staff and being at the beck and call of his club's clientele, who treat him as a friend before asking for a free round of golf. Josh is always calculating how much power he has in a room, and Isaac makes sure these calculations — as well as Josh's menacing power trips and nightmarish humiliations — ring loud and clear even in Beef's most pregnant pauses.

Mulligan thrives in Lindsay's nastiness, even in text conversations where she doesn't have to utter a word. But between her pointed remarks and clear disdain for the other women at the club, Beef and Mulligan find ways to deepen Lindsay, highlighting insecurities about aging or her relationship with Josh. Watching Lindsay facetune herself is heart-wrenching, as are scenes when Mulligan sheds Lindsay's prissier exterior for more introspection.

SEE ALSO: 'The Audacity' tears Silicon Valley a new one: Review

As Austin, Melton often displays the wounded-puppy melancholy that earned him acclaim for May December (for which he was eternally robbed of an Oscar nomination). However, he also proves he has serious comedy chops with Austin's daffy sweetness, which later morphs into a more steely cunning that's among the show's biggest and most compelling transformations.

Spaeny's Ashley undergoes a major transformation of her own. Early episodes see Spaeny channeling the fresh-faced ingenue energy she brought to projects like Priscilla or Civil War. But as Ashley gains more power and status, that sweetness curdles into Karen-esque expectations of servitude from those around her, including Austin. Darkly funny and a little frightening, it's delightful to see Spaeny play against type.

Another key piece on the board is Academy Award winner Youn Yuh-jung as Chairwoman Park, the new billionaire owner of the country club. The most powerful player in Beef's game, she's also its quietest, sitting back while everyone scrambles to please her. Youn is formidable as this calm titan, yet Beef Season 2 often struggles to thread the needle between Park's bigger plans and the meaty couple drama at its heart.

Beef Season 2 offers a frightening look at late-stage capitalism. Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny in "Beef." Credit: Netflix

Beef Season 1 earned rave reviews for its examination of Asian American identity. That examination takes a backseat in Season 2, with the exception of Austin, who is half Korean and realizes he needs more "Korean presence" in his life after connecting with Park's translator Eunice (Seoyeon Jang).

The lessening of that theme is a shame given how crucial it was to Beef Season 1. Lee does keep Beef connected to South Korea in Season 2, though, using Park's involvement at the club as one of the many ways in which the season examines late-stage capitalism.

Name-dropped throughout the season, capitalism is the reason Josh, Lindsay, Austin, and Ashley are struggling. Austin and Ashley weather horrifying debts, including health insurance woes incurred in an episode that makes The Pitt look like a pleasant daydream. Josh and Lindsay are also in compounding financial struggles, all while trying to keep up appearances of their own wealth. (It doesn't help that all four are surrounded by the ludicrously wealthy club members.) These problems all eventually lead them to the same place: under Park's thumb.

Most of Park's shady dealings feel disjointed from the rest of the season. They eventually culminate in a series of wild set pieces, ranging from corporate espionage to bloody slapstick. These are big swings that don't entirely gel with what's come before. However, they do emphasize how our four leads' problems may seem big until they're dwarfed by the machinations of the ultra-rich doing their best to protect themselves at any cost necessary. That's why Beef Season 2 is littered with imagery of ants and bees, all worker insects laboring in service of their queen. In the end, that's all Josh, Lindsay, Austin, and Ashley are to Park.

Of course, it's the relationships between these four that truly make Beef Season 2 tick, so the switch-up isn't always the most satisfying. Still, Beef Season 2 is ambitious, impeccably acted, and proof that the series, while brilliant as a stand-alone, does have legs as an anthology.

Beef Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

In amongst all the double-crossing and back-stabbing, Beef Season 2 is loaded with cameos.

A lot of them are fairly brief, and most of them are impressively unexpected, so much so that you may have missed a couple. From Olympic athletes to award-winning musicians, we've broken down all the famous faces that pop up in the second season of Lee Sung Jin's show below.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best Netflix TV shows of 2025 Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps' cameo, which comes in episode 2 along with a couple more famous faces below, is actually pretty crucial to the plot, as he inadvertently starts Josh (Oscar Isaac) down the path of embezzling money from the club. In the scene in question, Josh pours whiskey for rich club member Troy (William Fichtner) and some famous friends while they play cards.

Distracted by their conversation, Josh knocks over a bottle, the penalty for which is apparently joining in on a round.

"Put your money in," growls Phelps when Josh hesitates, only for him to quickly lose what is presumably a substantial sum.

"What's your Venmo?" Josh asks the Olympic swimmer and record-breaking gold medallist.

"@MichaelPhelps," comes the response.

"There's a $5k limit," says Josh.

"Back to back days is fine," replies Phelps.

Oh, dear.

Benny Blanco and Baron Davis

Also appearing in the scene are record producer Benny Blanco and NBA player turned TV host Baron Davis. The pair are part of a conversation with Troy where he talks about a "buy-borrow-die" loophole that his accountant set up.

"I've got a capital gains situation," Blanco tells Troy. "Who's that tax guy you got?"

Davis, meanwhile, is the one that encourages Josh to join in the card game. "Party foul!" he calls out when Josh spills the whiskey. "I saw that, Joshie! Now you gotta play."

Hot Chip

In an entertaining sequence in episode 5, Troy whisks Josh away on a private jet to his chalet, where Hot Chip happen to be performing a few songs. "They were in town for a festival," says Troy. "Called a few favors in."

Josh, a would-be musician, gets called up on stage to perform "Over and Over" with them while he really should be back home helping Lindsay (Carey Mulligan) search for their missing dog — a decision that's the final nail in the coffin for their relationship.

Suni Lee

In episode 6, Austin (Charles Melton) is thrown into the deep end in his new role as a physical therapist at the club's wellness center by the arrival of gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee.

"Josh says that you'll work with my team to get me right for L.A.," says Lee, before arching her back into a handstand and performing the splits. "Nobody's been able to figure out why, but I feel a slight pinch in my QL and my psoas when I do this."

Austin, who isn't even a qualified physical therapist, attempts to blag his way through the interaction while growing increasingly nervous.

"You're sweating like crazy," Lee comments.

"Yes," replies Austin. "I run hot due to my high basal metabolic rate."

Finneas O'Connell

Another unexpected cameo occurs in episode 7, when Josh pops into the wellness center and finds Troy with musician Finneas O'Connell — who says it's "about time" when he finds out Josh and Lindsay are getting divorced.

"Oh man, Billie hated it when you bought Lindsay round," Finneas says, referring to his sister Billie Eilish. "Even when she said something nice, it always felt like a diss."

A nice touch is Eilish's "Bad Guy" playing in the background during the scene.

Beef Season 2 is streaming now on Netflix.

For leaders rising through the ranks, honest feedback tends to disappear as their visibility increases, stakes get higher, and people grow more cautious. Over time, even strong executives can develop blind spots without realizing it. If you see this happening, suggesting executive coaching to them can help—but only if you approach it carefully. Your goal […]

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

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

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

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

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

Force.

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

POWER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

1, 2, 3..

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

COUNT

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A name.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TITLE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Smooth.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SLICK

Final Hurdle hint

A curtain.

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

DRAPE

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