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Donald Trump is one year into his second presidential term, and like Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert is feeling reflective.

In the Late Show clip above the host rattles through a recap of some of the president's lowlights from the past 365 days, painting quite the bleak picture.

"A lot has happened in a short time," says Colbert. "This year alone: Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, held a giant military parade on his birthday, said he wants Canada to be our 51st state, signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship, tore down the East wing of the White House to build a ballroom, covered the remaining parts of the White House in golden geegaws, forced Paramount to make Rush Hour 4, made himself the chair of the Kennedy Center board and then renamed it the Trump Kennedy Center, and personally pocketed over $1.4 billion.

"And guess what? You didn't remember most of that stuff."

The Antigravity A1 isn't just another drone, but a flying invisibility cloak for an 8K 360-degree camera. While established brands focus on better flying, Antigravity focuses on better seeing, though that vision comes with a steep price and some limitations.

When training for a specific goal, a smart fitness tracker is an essential. Aside from simply tracking your activities, it can support your training through suggested workouts, fatigue tracking, and health stats that can relay the stages of your recovery. Many of these smartwatches now also offer insights into your training load, providing a readable stat that shows just how your workouts are impacting your body.

This is a popular feature on the Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple's most rugged smartwatch. But is this data actually useful?

What is Apple's training load feature and does it prevent overtraining?

Apple’s Training Load feature helps you see how hard your body is working over time, rather than just how tough a single workout was. It looks at the intensity and duration of your workouts over the last seven days and compares them to your previous 28 days of activity. Using this comparison, it puts your current workout load into categories from "well below" to "well above" your normal level. This gives you a sense of whether your training is sustainable.

Credit: Apple

It's a handy stat to have on hand, but it's also designed to support smarter training decisions, especially when it comes to rest. Now, the biggest indicator is always how you feel. Data can be wrong, so always listen to your body first and foremost. But the training load feature is a nice extra, and it even uses insights like how you slept to provide extra context on recovery. If your watch is telling you that you're overtraining, chances are you could do with another rest day.

The training load feature isn't specific to the Ultra 3. In fact, you can find it on watches like the Series 11, Ultra 2, and Series 10.

Other features of the Apple Watch Ultra 3

Training load is just one of many great features of the Ultra 3, and if you're serious about data and sports tracking, you'll fall in love with this watch. Training features include precision dual-frequency GPS for accurate pace and distance, heart rate zones and running power for more detailed effort analysis, pacer tools for structured sessions, and fully customizable workouts. There's also the Workout Buddy feature which gives you live guidance during sessions.

SEE ALSO: Can the Apple Watch Series 11 actually support marathon training?

The design of the watch is impressive too, and it's seriously robust. The titanium case and sapphire crystal display are built to last, and the large, bright screen is easy to read in all conditions, even in direct sunlight. The display also doubles as a bright flashlight. It’s water resistant to 100 meters, so it handles swimming, diving, and any water sports.

This watch is also a great companion for endurance activities and off-grid, multi-day tracking. The battery life won't fail you, lasting up to 42 hours in normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode. Safety is also covered, as the watch can detect hard falls or severe car crashes and will automatically alert emergency services if needed. If you’re off the grid, it also supports satellite emergency messaging, so you can get help even without cell signal.

Where to buy the Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available to buy at many major retailers, including, Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS, Cellular, 49mm, Black Ocean Band) $779.99 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon See It at Walmart

What is the best laptop for 2026?

My answer ultimately boils down to your operating system preference: Windows or macOS?

As of January 2026, I think the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4) is the best MacBook for most people. It's a sleek-as-ever notebook featuring impressive performance, open-lid support for two external displays, a great 12MP Center Stage camera, and an extremely reasonable starting price of $1,199 (making it $100 cheaper than its M3 predecessor).

The best Windows laptop for most people is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, a sophisticated and snappy Copilot+ PC boasting a stellar battery life of nearly 23 hours. Note that Microsoft makes an Intel version that may appeal to users wary of Windows on ARM for app compatibility reasons, but it's a business-oriented model with a significant markup.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops of CES 2026

Need something different? I've selected ten other options that are ideal for strict budgets, ultra-basic workloads, frequent travelers, content creation, PC gaming, and beyond.

A quick note before we get into the full list: A third of my picks received next-gen updates at CES 2026, and while most of their successors don't have official release dates or prices yet, the ongoing memory shortage is expected to make most new laptops more expensive later this year. Because of this, I'd strongly consider buying a last-gen model and springing for a RAM or SSD upgrade if possible. (More on this below.)

If you'd rather roll the dice and see how the latest laptops fare in testing, stay tuned. We'll be putting them through our extensive review process as soon as they start trickling out.

A note about laptop prices

Over the past 12 months, laptop prices have remained largely reasonable and stable despite a tumultuous economic climate. Last spring's tariff-related price increases wound up being minimal, and we saw affected models go on sale frequently throughout the year. In one impressive anomaly, Apple managed to release faster-than-ever MacBook Airs that were $100 cheaper than their 2024 predecessors, and ever since they turned five months old, they've enjoyed regular $200 discounts at major retailers.

Unfortunately, 2026 is probably going to look a lot different. As Mashable's Alex Perry reported, the global surge of AI data centers has created huge demand for DDR5 RAM and SSDs. Laptop manufacturers who put those same components in their PCs are now facing a shortage, and experts say this could lead to significant laptop price hikes or more limited configuration options. (Read: We might be going back to the days of 8GB RAM in mid-range laptops. It's so over.)

Since most manufacturers have yet to confirm price and availability details for the 2026 models they unveiled at CES, we have yet to see exactly how this RAM famine shakes out in reality. For their part, Windows laptops might be fine in the short term. Intel told Tom's Guide that PC makers have “about nine to 12 months of inventory" in stock as a buffer from the shortage. But what happens if it lasts beyond a year, as one Micron exec predicts?

This is all to say that if you're currently in the market for a new laptop, I'd buy one soon and equip it with as much storage and memory as you can afford. For what it's worth, the last-gen models I currently recommend won't feel outdated for years, and they've all held steady at their current prices so far.

SAVE $90: As of Jan. 21, the Roborock Q8 Max robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon. This is $90 off its retail price of $259.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q8 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner $169.99 at Amazon
$259.99 Save $90   Get Deal

Buying a robot vacuum doesn't have to break the bank. If you've been curious about getting something to help with the constant cleaning around the house, there are some nice options available that are kinder on your budget. The Roborock Q8 Max robot vacuum and mop is one that's worth considering, and it's even on sale right now at Amazon.

Not only has the Roborock Q8 Max dropped to $169.99 at Amazon, saving you $90 off its list price of $259.99, but this drop marks a return to its lowest-ever price. Keep in mind that this is a limited-time deal, so the clock is ticking to score it at this price.

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No matter if there's dirt on the floor or hair stuck in the carpet from your pets, the Roborock Q8 Max can handle it. It features 5,500 Pa suction, complete with dual rubber brushes for cleaning up hair while minimizing tangles. Its mopping system, which features 30 adjustable water flow levels, also works to get out stains on harder surfaces.

There's no need to worry about it running into any obstacles, either. The Roborock Q8 Max features PreciSense LiDAR navigation that maps out your home to find the best cleaning path.

Don't miss out on this limited-time deal on the Roborock Q8 Max robot vacuum and mop at Amazon. And if you're curious to see other budget-friendly picks we recommend, check out our breakdown of the best cheap robot vacuums.

SAVE $15: As of Jan. 21, the Amazon Fire Stick 4K is on sale for $34.99 at Amazon. That's a 30% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick 4K $34.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15   Get Deal

Looking to give your TV a new lease of life and avoid the need to purchase a whole new TV? Why not try the Amazon Fire Stick 4K. This streaming device can truly transform your streaming setup.

As of Jan. 21, the Amazon Fire Stick 4K is on sale for $15 off. Right now, you can get it for just $34.99 at Amazon. This is specific to the 4K option which includes advanced 4K streaming.

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The Fire TV stick plugs into your TV's HDMI port, as well as a wall outlet. It comes with an Amazon remote that will now control all of your TV's functions (including volume and power). When you login to your Amazon account, you'll see all your favorite movies, shows, and streaming apps all in one place. And if you have another Fire TV product elsewhere in your house, they'll all keep in sync so you can move from room to room and pick up where you left off.

This Fire Stick deal is available at Amazon right now.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck became Hollywood golden boys with Good Will Hunting before the childhood friends forged their own distinct paths in movie-making. Now they reunite for writer/director Joe Carnahan's The Rip, a Netflix action-thriller that's currently streaming.

In The Rip, Damon and Affleck play narcotics police officers whose long-time friendship is challenged when they discover $20 million in cash. Should they steal "the rip"? Their team is divided over the temptation to turn corrupt cops. And to hammer home some of the film's most dramatic moments, Carnahan blasted music between setups to give his cast, which includes Catalina Sandino Moreno and Sasha Calle, a sense of the tone he was building.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Jan. 16, 2026)

In an interview with Mashable Entertainment Editor, Kristy Puchko, Carnahan, Damon, Affleck, Moreno, and Calle spoke about this use of music on set. Then Carnahan shared how he used an unconventional audio tool for the film's final moments. To hammer home the loss Affleck and Damon's characters feel over the death of their captain, Jackie Velez (Lina Esco), Carnahan recorded audio of their children and moms yelling "Jackie!" so he could play that on set.

Affleck explained how "trigger objects" can be a tool for actors to channel an emotion, and how that came into play in shooting The Rip.

The Rip is now streaming on Netflix.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Indiana with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states still have restrictions in place for online adult content, leaving users searching for a solution.

Millions of users in Indiana are unable to access popular sites like Pornhub after the introduction of age verification laws. The reasons for this situation are complicated, but the workaround is quick and easy. In just a few simple steps, users in Indiana can secure access to Pornhub without spending anything.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Indiana, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Indiana

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

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 Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free in Indiana with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Musetti vs. Sonego in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It may be the 2026 Australian Open but this match is an all-Italian showdown, as No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti faces unseeded compatriot Lorenzo Sonego in a second-round draw.

Though Lorenzo is the favorite on paper, he had a tougher first-round contest that went to four sets before opponent Raphael Collignon retired injured. Sonego, meanwhile, smashed his way to the second round in straight sets. Can Sonego do the unexpected and eliminate Musetti? Or will Musetti advance to face the the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner in the latter stages?

If you want to watch Musetti vs. Sonego in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Musetti vs. Sonego for free

Musetti vs. Sonego in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Musetti vs. Sonego without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Musetti vs. Sonego in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Pegula vs. Kessler in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The second round of the 2026 Australian Open will serve up an interesting battle for U.S. tennis fans — an all-American showdown between Jessica Pegula and McCartney Kessler.

On paper, this women's singles match should go to Pegula, who entered the Melbourne-hosted tournament as the No. 6 seed and stormed the first round in straight sets. That said, Kessler is sure to make this an interesting match. The 26-year-old is unseeded but she also scored straight sets to advance. Can Kessler ride that momentum and cause an early upset over Pegula?

If you want to watch Pegula vs. Kessler in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Pegula vs. Kessler for free

Pegula vs. Kessler in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Pegula vs. Kessler without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Pegula vs. Kessler in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

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

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

Whether it's adding new characters or tweaking major book events entirely, some of these changes from Rick Riordan's original books fall flat, while others enrich the world of the show. Here are all the biggest changes between Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 and The Sea of Monsters.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Episode 1: Chiron is fired for different reasons.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Episode 5: Percy Jackson and the Olympians mashes up Circe and the Sirens. Walker Scobell and Leah Sava Jeffries in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Episode 5 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians mashes up two key encounters from The Sea of Monsters, those with sorceress Circe (Rosemarie DeWitt) and the Sirens. Here, instead of immediately turning Percy into a guinea pig the way she does in the books, Circe tries to keep Percy and Annabeth at her island resort with the promise that she can train them — and the other many demigods staying on her island — to get past the Sirens. Of course, she's lying and merely trying to keep people around to avoid the loneliness she's experienced for centuries.

The end result of the Circe encounter is the same: She turns Percy into a guinea pig, Annabeth saves him, and the two leave the island. But along the way, we get a new perspective on a legendary antagonist of Greek mythology, as well as some fascinating discussion of Percy and Annabeth's fatal flaws. As far as adaptation changes go, I'm not mad at it — especially since we still get to see Percy in guinea pig form.

Episode 5: That encounter with the Sirens looks way different.

Percy and Annabeth's meeting with the Sirens looks nowhere near how it looks in The Sea of Monsters. In the book, Percy plugs his ears with wax and ties Annabeth to the mast, as she wants to hear what the Sirens have to sing. In the show, after some drama about ear wax, Percy winds up on the mast, but Annabeth still falls under the Sirens' spell. 

Annabeth's vision differs between page and screen. In the book, she sees herself having a picnic with her father and Luke in a New York that she's designed. The show features a vision of Grover needing her to solve conflict between Luke and Percy, which then gives way to another vision of Annabeth slaying the Sirens and impressing her mother, Athena (Andra Day). 

As for Percy's vision? All he says he saw was Annabeth, which grounded him and led him to save her. But if his ears weren't blocked, and the Sirens' songs show you your greatest desire, and all he saw was Annabeth… Then that means for Percabeth fans, this sequence was a treat.

Episode 5: Clarisse and Grover team up against Polyphemus.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians introduces the unlikely team-up of Clarisse and Grover, who try to work together to escape Polyphemus' (Aleks Paunovic) cave. While their partnership isn't something we get to see in the books due to Percy's first-person narration, it's fun to witness in the show. The real switch-up here, though, is the reveal that thanks to his sense of smell, Polyphemus has known who Grover is the whole time. Plus, he's been using him as bait to lure Percy Jackson to his island. That's new territory for the show to tread, so what's Polyphemus' endgame?

Episode 6: Luke crashes the Golden Fleece party.

Several elements of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, episode 6 differ from The Sea of Monsters, from Polyphemus planting a decoy Golden Fleece to Hippocampus Rainbow's late introduction. But the biggest difference is undoubtedly Luke's arrival on Polyphemus' island. While he never shows up there in the book, his appearance there in episode 6 creates one of the show's most fascinating moral dilemmas.

In their skirmish with Polyphemus, Annabeth and Percy get separated. He winds up trapped in Polyphemus' cave with Clarisse and Grover, while Annabeth gets injured just outside it. Luke discovers her there and realizes she's dying. The only thing that can save her is the Golden Fleece inside the cave. Percy realizes that if he gives it to Luke, he'll save Annabeth but doom the quest to save Camp Half-Blood. Even knowing that, he does it anyway.

The whole sequence is a show-only creation, but it's a strong payoff to the discussion of Percy's fatal flaw from episode 5: He cares so deeply for his friends that he will always put them first, no matter the cost. What consequences will Percy's choice have as the show heads into episode 7?

Episode 7: The entire Annabeth rescue mission is new. Leah Sava Jeffries in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Episode 7 follows a similar shape to the climax of The Sea of Monsters: Percy fights Luke onboard the Princess Andromeda, and Clarisse, true to the prophecy, flies back to Camp Half-Blood alone with the Golden Fleece. However, the actual events leading up to these broader arcs are wildly different. For one, there's the added element of Percy needing to rescue Annabeth. Plus, Clarisse is actually around for the fight, whereas in the book, Percy sends her to the airport with the Fleece before crossing paths with Luke again.

All these shifts allow for a greater emphasis on ties that bind our group of demigods together, especially the newfound respect and friendship between Percy and Clarisse. As sweet as these changes wind up being, part of me does miss the chaos of Chiron and his Party Pony relatives crashing the boat and saving the day, even if creating a centaur stampede would have been in no way practical from a VFX and budget standpoint. You know what makes up for that, though? Seeing Sally Jackson come back to give Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson a ride back to Camp Half-Blood. Any time she brings out her exasperated demigod mom energy is a good time.

Episode 7: Annabeth realizes the Golden Fleece can save Thalia.

The Sea of Monsters ends with the twist that the Golden Fleece didn't just restore the protective barrier around Camp Half-Blood — it also brought Thalia back to life. However, in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Annabeth gets a vision that the Fleece could accomplish this, adding even greater personal stakes to getting the Fleece back to Thalia's tree as soon as possible.

Fascinatingly, it turns out that Kronos has kept the possibility of Thalia's revival from Luke. But The Sea of Monsters implies that Luke knew the Fleece could bring Thalia back. After all, Kronos wanted her alive again so he could have another child of the Big Three gods with a chance of fulfilling the Great Prophecy. The show's version of Kronos not telling Luke this crucial fact suggests that he doesn't fully trust him, sowing some seeds of discord between Luke and the Titan he's pledged himself to.

Episode 7: Kronos orders a battle at Camp Half-Blood.

Speaking of Kronos, he plays a bigger role in episode 7 because the Golden Fleece speeds up his return from Tartarus (at least, before a very sassy Percy snatches it off his casket). That role includes pushing Luke to fully attack Camp Half-Blood as a new test of loyalty, hinting at a finale battle that isn't in The Sea of Monsters at all. How will this new climax play out in episode 8?

Episode 8: The entire battle at the border of Camp Half-Blood is new.

The brunt of Season 2's finale involves a battle at the border of Camp Half-Blood, one that's completely new to the show. (However, in terms of Kronos taking the fight to Camp, it does bear shades of the climax of Battle of the Labyrinth.) It's the biggest set piece the show has done so far, and it's full of great character beats: Percy giving a motivational speech about the true meaning of being a hero, Tyson saving Percy from Luke, and Clarisse completing her quest with the help of her friends. It also offers up some exciting new show-only moments, including portraying campers like Chris Rodriguez (Kevin Chacon) defecting to Luke, whereas in the book, he's already on Luke's side.

Episode 8: Zeus turned Thalia into a tree as punishment instead of protection. Marissa Lior Winans in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

The battle is undeniably exhilarating, especially since, being a show-only invention, almost anything could happen. However, the most jaw-dropping change between page and screen comes in the finale's last moments, when Chiron reveals that Zeus didn't really turn Thalia into a tree to protect her from the Furies. Instead, he did so as punishment for her hesitation to join him in the coming battle against Kronos.

Zeus sees Thalia's refusal to be his weapon as proof that she'll side with Kronos, making her the demigod to tear down Olympus in the Great Prophecy. For him, turning her into a tree takes her off the playing field.

Now, though, Thalia is back, and she has more of a reason than ever to despise her father and the rest of the gods. How will this more intense anger impact her and Percy's alliance going forward, especially as the show heads into their quest in The Titan's Curse? While we don't know many of the specifics of Season 3 yet, it's clear the changes to Thalia's backstory may be setting in motion some intriguing future deviations from the source material.

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

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 21, the Apple Magic Keyboard is on sale for $189 at Amazon. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

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$249 Save $60   Get Deal

The Apple Magic Keyboard is back on sale at Amazon, and as of Jan. 21, it's at its lowest price in over a year. Right now, the price is down to $189 at Amazon ($60 off).

The Magic Keyboard is a great accessory for your iPad, especially if you use it for work or studying. And it's not just a keyboard, it also has a built-in trackpad, so you're really transforming your tablet into a laptop experience. The trackpad even has Multi-Touch gestures and cursor use. It's easy to set up and attaches magnetically to your device.

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It has a 14-key function row to give you quick access to common controls (volume, brightness, etc.), and the back panel includes an adjustable stand for flexible viewing angles. It's compatible with iPad (10th generation) and iPad (A16), and is available in a wide range of keyboard language options, including Arabic, British English, Chinese (Pinyin), Chinese (Zhuyin), Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Swiss, Ukrainian, and U.S. English.

Get this Apple deal from Amazon now.

What dating apps are completely free?

Mainstream dating apps like Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge all have robust free membership tiers that compete with paid subscriptions. Some free, more niche dating apps, like Archer and Lex, are also worth checking out. It just depends on what you're looking for and how much work you're willing to put in to get it.

These days, some people argue that big-name dating apps (read: Match Group apps, such as Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge) are all the same and have formed a single, amorphous dating platform. However, these apps still have distinct differences between them, as you can see below. 

And even though a lot of daters want to meet someone IRL, let's face it: Dating apps aren't going anywhere. Whether you're an introvert, a college student, or just looking for some steamy sexting action, we've got you covered.

Below, find our top picks for the best free dating apps. Use them to find your forever partner, a casual encounter, or something in between — all without paying a dime.

Note: All the free dating sites listed below offer a free membership option that allows you to talk and match with people at no cost. Though most offer paid premium memberships, these aren't apps like Match or eharmony, where you need to pay to match or chat with other users.

Featured Video For You These dating sites and apps are perfect for people on a budget

Jimmy Kimmel has marked the first year of President Donald Trump's second presidential term with an embarrassing supercut, recapping a few of the lowlights of the past 365 days.

"You really almost have to hand it to him, he can do so much damage in one three-day weekend," Kimmel said, beginning by reviewing the last few days alone. "I don't know if anybody has ever done more. Every country hates us now. It's official. All of them hate us."

Speaking on Trump's moves to take Greenland from NATO ally Denmark, Kimmel addressed the president's statement that he "no longer feel[s] an obligation to think purely of peace" simply because a Norwegian organisation did not give him the Nobel Peace Prize. Lambasting Trump, the late show host observed that ironically the U.S. is now "on the verge of going to war over the Nobel Prize for peace."

"It's like we armed a real housewife with nuclear weapons," said Kimmel. "This man is crashing the plane because the stewardess didn't bring them a bag of peanuts, okay? This is what happens to children who get anything they want. This is how they grow up. President Veruca Salt. 'I want Greenland! I want it now!' All because he didn't get a little medal around his neck. He's a child."

Kimmel then ended with a montage of dubious moments from Trump's current presidency, covering everything from renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, to his Tesla ad at the White House, to his messy breakup with Elon Musk, to his derogatory comments about other countries.

Archive of Our Own (AO3) will be offline for over half a day on Wednesday as it implements some updates. Users of the popular fan fiction platform are being about as chill about it as expected.

Fan fiction fans were warned of this week's AO3 outage well in advance, with its official X status account offering a heads up on Monday. A yellow banner at the top of the AO3 website also alerted users to the planned outage, ensuring those who weren't on X also received plenty of notice.

The scheduled downtime is to allow AO3 to implement improvements to its bookmarks and series search functions, including adding the ability to filter and sort works by word count. Other updates include fixing bookmark search results when a work's tags contain letters and numbers, and ensuring series' blurbs can't use tags that were only used on draft works.

However, this means that the Hugo Award-winning fan fiction cornucopia will be down for the count while such upgrades are taking place. AO3 states that the outage will last for about 15 hours, leaving fan fiction readers bereft of material for much of Wednesday.

The good news is that AO3 will return within the day, and theoretically will be better than ever when it does. The bad news is that, unless you already downloaded your favourite fics or are willing to scrounge around alternative platforms, you'll just have to endure our harsh reality without your comfort hurt/comfort WIP for a while.

When will AO3 be back up?

The AO3 outage is scheduled to begin at 3:00 a.m. ET / 12:00 a.m. PT on Wednesday, and is expected to last for approximately 15 hours. As such, AO3 will be back up at around 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT at the earliest.

Of course, it's possible that AO3 will be up earlier if updates go more smoothly than anticipated. It might also be down for a little longer if AO3's team encounters complications. Your best bet is to keep checking in around the time it's expected to return, and follow AO3's official Tumblr, Bluesky, X, or status page for updates.

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Though this week's downtime is notable due to its length, AO3 veterans have staunchly endured various outages over the years — including a 2023 DDoS attack which took the beloved archive offline for almost two days. It has become a unifying tradition for AO3's community to take to social media during such downtime, flexing their creativity to humorously lament the event and commiserate with each other in these trying times. Fortunately, such desolate times haven't lasted thus far, and aren't expected to do so any time soon.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

When you’re offered a top job, excitement can cloud your judgment. But misalignment at the outset often leads to frustration—for you and the board. Before you accept the role of CEO, pressure-test the opportunity by getting clear on four essential questions.   What’s the mission? Get clarity on the company’s north star. What is the strategic direction? Do board members […]

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

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

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

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

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

A front porch.

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

STOOP

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A small parcel.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GRAIN

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A pitted appetizer.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

OLIVE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Brighter.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BLUER

Final Hurdle hint

An inkling.

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

HUNCH

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

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 21, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 21, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 21 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 21 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 21 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this red space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, played vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you remember your childhood games.

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. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: 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: Success

• Green: The Ws

• Blue: Nickname for team names

• Purple: Greatest edge rushers of all time

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Victory

• Green: Pro Teams Whose Names Start with W

• Blue: Colloquial Nicknames for College Teams

• Purple: Players with 20-Plus Sacks in a Season

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 #485 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Victory - DUB, TRIUMPH, W, WIN

• Pro Teams Whose Names Start with W - WARRIORS, WHITE SOX, WILD, WIZARDS

• Colloquial Nicknames for College Teams - CATS, HOOS, VOLS, ZAGS

• Players with 20-Plus Sacks in a Season - GARRETT, HOUSTON, WARE, WATT

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 today's Connections.

HULU BUNDLES: Hulu is offering a range of bundle deals so you can stream from its impressive library without breaking the bank.

The best Hulu deals and bundles in January 2026: Best Hulu Bundle Deal Disney+ and Hulu Bundle 1st month for $9.99 Get Deal Best HBO Max Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Student Deal Hulu Student Deal Hulu with ads for $1.99/month Get Deal Best ESPN Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal

There's a wide range of excellent shows and films to watch on Hulu. From The Life of Chuck to the thrilling Alien: Earth series, it's a library that's full of options to keep you entertained through these winter months.

If these have caught your eye and have you itching to sign up for Hulu, we're here to help you get the best deal. Outside of the standard ad-supported and ad free plans, there are quite a few bundle deals available with Hulu that are worth exploring if you're looking to save some cash. This includes a great limited time deal on the Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, which is offering its first month for just $9.99.

SEE ALSO: 'Bob's Burgers' creator Loren Bouchard credits 'early fans' for the show's success

Considering Hulu and Disney Plus have just increased their prices, there's no better time than now to find a way to save through bundles. Below you can find details on Hulu's best bundles at the moment — alongside information on both its ad-supported and ad free plans, if you just want the basics — offering you a way to save on the service without going overboard on spending.

You can get additional streaming services thrown in at a lower cost, and what's better than that?

Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Get your first month of the Disney+, Hulu Bundle for $9.99 Get Deal Why we like it

For those interested in the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, it's enjoying a limited-time offer at the moment that runs until Feb. 17. Both new and eligible returning subscribers can get their first month of this streaming bundle for just $9.99. Usually it costs $12.99, which it will auto-renew at after the first month is up, but it's still a nice deal to take advantage of.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle — Get your first month for $9.99, then $12.99 per month

Unfortunately, this deal does not apply to the Premium ad-free version of this plan. This option is still available for $19.99 per month, as usual.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium — $19.99 per month

Best HBO Max bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

Released last July, this is one of the best Hulu bundles available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for the three of them separately. It's an incredible deal to take advantage of, especially if you've already got Disney+ and HBO Max subscriptions. There are two plans to choose from with this bundle, and they are:

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best student deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student Deal Hulu with ads for $1.99/month Get Deal Why we like it

If you're a student enrolled at a university, you can score a Hulu (with ads) plan for even lower than the above bundles. Hulu's Student Deal gives eligible college students the ability to buy a Hulu (with ads) plan for just $1.99 per month. Hulu notes that the deal lasts "so long as student enrollment status remains verified," then it goes back up to the standard monthly price.

• Hulu Student Deal — $1.99 per month

Best ESPN bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal Why we like it

Alongside the big Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max bundle, Hulu also has plans for sports fans that throw in ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+." 

The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $19.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $29.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $35.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $44.99 per month

Hulu's monthly plans

If you're just looking to jump straight into Hulu's library without any fancy bundles, there are a couple of subscription options to consider. The ad-supported tier comes in at $11.99 per month, but you'll get your first month free, which is a great way to test the waters and see if it's the right fit for you. If you want to go ad free, that'll cost you $18.99 per month. Unfortunately, this plan does not offer a free trial like its ad-supported sibling.

• Hulu (with ads) — $11.99 per month (get first month free), $119.99 per year

• Hulu Premium (no ads) — $18.99 per month

If you really want to go big on a streaming investment, there's the Hulu + Live TV plan. This costs a whopping $89.99 per month for its ad-supported plan, but comes with plenty to keep you busy. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) gets you access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN Select (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). If you want to go even bigger with the ad-free plan — which offers Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) alongside Live TV — it'll cost you $99.99 per month. The ad-supported plan also offers a free trial, but for just three days instead.

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN Select (with ads) — $89.99 per month (three day free trial)

• Hulu Premium + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select (no ads) — $99.99 per month

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select — $94.99 per month

• Live TV Only — $88.99 per month

Wondering what to watch once you get set up with a Hulu plan or bundle? We're here to help with that as well. Have a look at our roundups of the 30 best comedies on Hulu, the 25 best sci-fi movies on Hulu, and the 26 best horror movies on Hulu to start building your watchlist. And if you're in the mood to binge-watch a show, check out our breakdown of the 25 best shows on Hulu.