Month: January 2022

We dive into everything Paramount Plus from pricing plans and availability, to new releases!

Paramount Plus is your home for all things CBS, along with networks like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, Showtime, Paramount Pictures and MGM Pictures. Launched in 2021, this streaming service delivers thousands of hours with a vault of movies and shows you already love, along with new releases, and Paramount Plus Original programming.

While it doesn’t have a library to contend with Netflix or Disney Plus, Paramount Plus has a library with over 30,00 streaming hours to dive into. This includes great new shows like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the iCarly revival, and Yellowstone prequel – 1883. They also add new content regularly, and new additions include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a hefty James Bond collection, the Rocky films, Paranormal Activity movies, along with classics like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, just to name a few. 

Paramount Plus: sign up for a 7-day free trial now

Also the place to live stream NFL, Paramount Plus has amassed more than 39.6 million subscribers, and is now available in Latin America, Canada, and Australia, Europe and the UK with plans to expand even further. Stay tuned for more on how to watch it, how much it costs and what else is on, or check out our lists of the best Paramount Plus movies and the best Paramount Plus shows for even more information.

Where is Paramount Plus available?

Paramount Plus is currently available in the US, Latin America, Canada, Australia, and European countries, including the UK, Germany, Italy, and France, and Nordic countries like Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Late 2022 saw it arrive in the Caribbean, and there are still plans for expansion across Africa and Asia.

Is there a free trial for new Paramount Plus subscribers?

For those looking for a Paramount Plus free trial, head to our guide where you can learn about how new subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial.

Alternatively, Walmart Plus subscribers can get Paramount Plus thrown in for free with their subscription.

What is Paramount Plus?

Paramount Plus is the rebranded platform of CBS All Access service. Outside the US, most countries don’t have CBS All Access, meaning ViacomCBS has little in the way of a streaming footprint. So, while the rebranding part is important for US customers, the global ambition is what matters here on a wider level. 

Paramount Plus draws on a deeper well of content from the parent company’s portfolio, with a library of older shows and movies alongside a selection of originals. CBS All Access featured news and sports content, like UEFA matches – whatever US customers enjoyed on CBS All Access now forms a key part of Paramount Plus.

Paramount Plus features over 40,000 episodes of TV shows and more than 2,500 movies, as well as a whole host of original shows to get stuck into.

Internationally, the content will vary depending on current licensing deals. For example, Amazon has the rights to show Star Trek: Picard outside the US as it stands – so don’t expect to see an identical library globally.

Paramount Plus cost: How much are plans?

This is how Paramount explains the difference in pricing tiers. (Image credit: Future)

The Paramount Plus price is $5.99 with ads or $11.99 per month without ads.

Paramount Plus Essential delivers tons of great on-demand originals and library content, NFL games, UEFA Champions League, and 24/7 Live News from CBS. This tier includes ads.

Paramount Plus with Showtime delivers tons more content for the upgrade in price. You’ll only find ads on live TV and a few select shows, Live TV with CBS and college football, and the ability to download your favorite shows and movies. This tier also gives you full access to Showtime, which lets you check out Yellowjackets, Billion, and reboot Dexter: New Blood. 

You will find a nice little discount if you opt to pay annually for Paramount Plus. Paramount Plus Essential will run you $59.99 per year, and Paramount Plus with Showtime comes out to $119.99. That’s an 18% saving overall, making the essential plan $5 monthly, and the Plus with Showtime $10 monthly.

Paramount Plus apps: which devices are compatible?

(Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Paramount Plus is available on the following supported devices, according to this help page:

Apple TV (‘Supported versions’ on 4th Gen and 4K)Android TV (including Nvidia Shield, Sony Bravia TVs from 2015 onwards, Hisense Android TVs, TCL 3-Series Smart TVs)Android phones and tabletsChromecastCox Contour boxFire TV (including Fire Stick and Fire Cube)Google TViPhone and iPad (iOS 11+)LG TVPortal TVPS4 and PS5Roku (most models)Samsung TVVizio TVVIDAA TVWeb browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari (Max OS X 10.10+) and Microsoft EdgeXbox Series S and XXfinity X1 & Flex 

Paramount Plus shows, movies and originals

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is at home on Paramount+ (Image credit: Paramount+)

Promising “live sports, breaking news, and a mountain of entertainment,” Paramount Plus is already brimming with fantastic TV shows, movies, and live coverage, including exclusive, original shows like Yellowstone prequel, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. They even have exclusive Paramount Original movies like Pet Sematary: Bloodlines. 

In 2022, the platform saw the arrival of Halo, based on the popular games of the same name, which feels like the closest the service has to a massive The Mandalorian-type show. Frasier fans can binge the original seasons before diving into the new revival. 

Sports on the service include UEFA soccer, PGA golf, NFL, NCAA basketball, The Masters, and the National Women’s Soccer League.

In terms of movies, your kids will be pleased with the likes of SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, exclusive to the service. The same goes for Star Trek and Indiana Jones movies, which were available at launch. There are also options for slightly older kids, like Monster High 2, Are You Afraid of the Dark, and Avatar the Last Airbender. With plenty of Nickelodeon content, you won’t need to worry about them having shows they’ll enjoy.  

After they’ve made their paid TV debut, Paramount Plus has also made a deal to be the streaming home of MGM’s new movies, like No Time To Die, House of Gucci, and Creed 3. 

Other movies span a range of genres and eras, from newer titles like Top Gun: Maverick, Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2, Transformers 7, Dungeons and Dragons to older favourites such as Scream, Minority Report, Interstellar, The Wolf of Wall Street and tons of others.

Paramount Plus: What’s new for 2023?

There is a huge cohort of movies and shows joining the platform in early 2023. Below, we list the Original shows and movies, followed by movie and show titles that will already be familiar. 

New to Paramount+ in late 2023: Originals

Lawman Bass ReevesDe La Calle Colin from Accounts Louis Tomlinson: All Those VoicesBargainMonster High 2The Caine Mutiny Court MarshallPet Sematary: BloodlinesPainkiller: The Tylenol Murders Frasier VindictaMilli Vanilli Fellow Travelers

New shows to Paramount+ in late 2023:

Ink Master (Season 15)Isle of MTV: Malta Air Disasters (Season 1-7)MTV Crivbs (Season 19)Reno 911! It’s a Wonderful Heist 

New movies on Paramount+ in late 2023:

The list of new movies coming to Paramount+ is enormous, and whittling it down to a ‘best of’ list still left us with a huge range of titles, so strap in tight!

Airplane ! & Airplane II: The Sequel Akeelah and the BeeAlmost Famous BabelCarrie Casino Royale Clerks Father of the Bride  Fiddler On the Roof For Your Eyes Only Good BurgerHalloween VIII: ResurrectionIn the Heights Malcolm X Minority ReportParanormal Activity 2, Paranormal Activity 3, Paranormal Activity 4Rambo IIIShaftShakespeare in LoveShirley ValentineStar Trek BeyondMegavilleNight of the Living DeadOctopussy Playing Mona LisaQuantum of Solace Return Of The Pink Panther Robocop Rocky, Rocky Balboa, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V Scrooged Semper Fi ShowgirlsSmokey and the Bandit 1, 2, and 3Skyfall The Alamo The Curious Case of Benjamin Button The Defiant Ones The Dirty Dozen The Host The Living Daylights The Original Kings of ComedyThe World is Not Enough Tomorrow Never Dies Train to BusanVampire in Brooklyn View To A Kill 

Interested in other platforms? Check our our guide to the best Netflix shows to stream right now.

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Here’s everything we know so far about Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is less than three months from launching in theaters – and, we don’t know about you, but we can’t wait for it to arrive.

The follow-up to 2018’s award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – one of the best superhero movies – has been a long time coming. But, like all spectacular (see what we did there?) things, this joint Sony Pictures-Marvel film will be well worth waiting for.

While we wait for Across the Spider-Verse to thwip its way into cinemas worldwide, there’s plenty of reading around the subject you can do. First, read our Spider-Man movies in order guide to see where it’ll fit in the webslinger’s cinematic timeline. Then, read on for more details on the sequel itself, including its release date, trailers, cast, plot, and more.

Full spoilers follow for Into the Spider-Verse. Some potentially big spoilers are discussed for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, too. We’ll forewarn you once we get to those, however, if you’re avoiding them pre-release.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse release date

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will reunite Miles Morales and Gwen Stacey. (Image credit: Sony Pictures Animation)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse arrives in theaters on June 2. The film was originally supposed to wallcrawl its way into cinemas last April, but was pushed back to October due to the pandemic.

It was later delayed again, with executive producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller telling Deadline: “We could try to get it out at the original date and it would be fine. But the expectation for this film is it has to be as ground-breaking and special and wonderful as the first one was. So we thought ‘let’s make it great.'”

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trailer

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘s first official trailer debuted in December 2022, with the teaser showcasing the incredible amount of other Spider-People from across the, well, Spider-Verse among other crowd-pleasing and thrilling moments.

It might not be long until we get a second trailer, either – industry insider Grace Randolph saying a new teaser could debut ahead of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which releases on April 5. Here’s hoping the trailer swings its way online on that date, too.

Missed the first teaser in December 2021? Check it out below:

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse cast

Spider-Man 2099 is one of the new main cast members in Across the Spider-Verse. (Image credit: Sony Pictures Animation)

Here’s the confirmed cast list for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse so far:

Shameik Moore as Miles Morales/Spider-Man
Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen 
Oscar Isaac as Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099 
Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker/Spider-Man 
Issa Rae as Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman
Daniel Kaluuya as Hobart ‘Hobie’ Brown/Spider-Punk
Jason Schwartzmann as Johanthan Ohnn/The Spot
Bryan Tyree Henry as Jefferson Davis
Luna Lauren Velez as Rio Morales
Greta Lee as Lyla, Spider-Man 2099’s AI assistant
Shea Wigham as Captain George Stacey
Jorma Taccone as Adrian Toomes/The Vulture
Rachel Dratch as Miles’ school counselor

Moore, Steinfeld, Johnson, Henry, and Velez will reprise their roles from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. 

Oscar Isaac co-stars after cameoing in the first movie’s post-credits scene. Lee also returns as Lyla from that end credits scene. Issa Rae (Insecure) will play Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman, who’ll be pregnant in the film

Three other characters were confirmed alongside Rae’s Drew. Shea Wigham (Boardwalk Empire, True Detective) is voicing Captain Stacy, the father of Steinfeld’s Spider-Gwen, in his first-ever voice acting role. Jorma Taccona (The Lonely Island) will play the Earth-65’s version of The Vulture.

Jason Schwartzmann (Fargo, Moonrise Kingdom) has been cast as The Spot. A lesser known Spider-Villain, The Spot – real name Johnathan Ohnn – is a scientist who tried to mimic Marvel superhero Cloak’s superpowers (in the comics, anyway). Unsurprisingly, the experiment goes awry, with Ohnn’s body becoming covered in giant, black spots. However, Ohnn realizes these are portals to other dimensions and begins using them for nefarious means.

The Spot is the primary villain for the next two animated Spider-Man movies. (Image credit: Sony Pictures)

With Across the Spider-Verse continuing to explore the Spider-Man multiverse, The Spot seems like the perfect villain. Per co-director Kemp Powers, Valve’s iconic videogame series Portal was a key influence on The Spot’s aesthetic (via IndieWire). Additionally, a new toy leak (thanks to Reddit for the, erm, spot), reveals “If The Spot can realize the true power of his abilities, he could become a threat to entire universe”. Sounds ominous.

Daniel Kaluuya (Black Panther, Nope) was cast as Hobart ‘Hobie’ Brown, aka Spider-Punk in November 2022, while Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live) plays an unnamed counselor at Miles’ school.

Potential spoilers for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’s cast follows.

Spider-Woman is one of many new Spider-People in Across the Spider-Verse. (Image credit: Sony Pictures)

Other Spider-People from the previous film could return, including Kimiko Glenn’s Peni Parker and John Mulaney’s Spider-Ham. However, Nicolas Cage hasn’t been asked back as Spider-Man Noir (via ScreenRant). Yuri Lowenthal, who voiced Peter Parker in Sony’s PS4/PS5 Spider-Man game, hasn’t been tapped to appear, either (per ComicBookMovie.com).

Cyborg Spider-Woman and Ben Reilly, aka Scarlet Spider, should make their movie debuts. They’re part of a puzzle set (per Twitter user MCU Campus), so this seemingly confirms they’ll show up. During a YouTube Premium trailer afterparty, Phil Lord and Chris Miller also confirmed some other prominent Spider-People who’ll appear, including Peter B. Parker’s child, aka Mayday, and Spider-Man India (i.e. Pavitr Prabhakar). The latter will apparently be voiced by Deadpool’s Karan Soni (via The Hollywood Reporter).

Here are other Spider-People we noticed in the first trailer:

Armored Spider-Man
Bombastic Bag-Man
Doppelganger
Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man (PS4 and PS5 version)
Manga Spider-Man
Otto Octavius’ Superior Spider-Man
Spider-Cop
Spider-Man (PS1 version)
Spider-Man Unlimited
Spider Monkey
Spinneret
Wolf-Spider

Additionally, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘s official poster has spoiled some Spider-People’s appearances, such as Spectacular Spider-Man, Lady-Spider, Spider Byte, and Spiderling. Scarlet Spider and Spider-Byte were officially confirmed to appear via the film’s line-up of Funk Pop figurines, which Miller also tweeted about.

Live-action stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon have also expressed interest in appearing. Speaking to Collider, Lord and Miller declined to comment on the trio cameo-ing, but The Cosmic Circus and CanWeGetSomeToast claim Holland will appear.

Other Spider-Men alumni in Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield could feature, too. The duo had supporting roles in Spider-Man: No Way Home but, speaking to Variety (via Fandom), Lord said of those rumors: “It’s a high bar to clear. The gauntlet has been thrown [by Spider-Man: No Way Home]”, before Miller added: “All things are possible in the multiverse.” Watch this space, then.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse plot

Miles Morales will continue to explore the Spider-Man multiverse in the animated sequel. (Image credit: Sony Pictures)

Here’s the movie’s official synopsis: “Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar-winning Spider-Verse saga, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. 

“After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.”

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly (EW) in 2021, Lord and Miller explained why the next chapter in Miles’ story is being told over two movies. “Miles’ story is an epic,” Miller and Lord said. “We wrote what we thought the story needed to be, and to our surprise we realized it was two movies instead of one.” The pair have also described the follow-up film as “The Empire Strikes Back of the trilogy” (via Empire).

Originally, Across the Spider-Verse was going to be an Avengers: Endgame-style movie, with a two-and-a-half hour runtime. Speaking to The Direct, though, senior animator Ere Santos confirmed splitting the film up into two movies gave Across the Spider-Verse room to breathe.

Per Empire, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘s story will comprise six main universes – each with their own signature animation style. Two are seen in the 2021 teaser – Mumbatten, the Indian-inspired Earth-50101, and Nueva York, which is Spider-Man 2099’s world and based on Syd Mead’s neofuturistic illustrations. We’ll also visit the worlds of Miles (Earth-1610), Spider-Gwen (Earth-65, which is a watercolor-inspired realm), and Spider-Punk’s New London (Earth-138). According to a separate Empire article, the final universe is being kept tightly under wraps, likely due to some major spoilers.

Miller doubled down on exploring other realities with Collider, saying: “The idea that we’d be going to different dimensions really opened up an opportunity artistically to have each world have its own art style, and to be able to push the folks at [Sony Pictures] ImageWorks to develop a way to have each dimension feel like it was drawn by a different artist’s hand. Seeing the development of that stuff is breath taking, and really, it’s the reason we keep doing it, because it’s so hard to get it right.”

Speaking to IndieWire, co-director Joaquim Dos Santos revealed the team worked closely with real-life Marvel artists, including Spider-Man 2099 creators Rick Leonardi and Kris Anka, to bring their work to life. “Comics are the R&D and the foundation for all these franchises,” Dos Santos said. “But oftentimes the creators barely get a mention in the credits, so making sure they’re a part of this is super important.”

Elsewhere, Lord and Miller also hinted it might tie into the MCU. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Miller said: “The multiverse is big and wide, and all things grow. Why would you think [that in] a multiverse, in which many things are possible, that [those things are] not related?”

Lord added: “The writers and directors [on No Way Home] are all buddies of ours, so we sort of have been in the loop as far as what’s going on [in other movies]. And we are always trying to make sure we’re not stepping on each other’s toes and telling different types of stories, and different themes, and all that stuff – because people want an original story that feels new and interesting. It’s our job to give it to them.”

It sounds like Gwen Stacy will have a big role to play this time around. Not only does she appear to be torn about events that play out, co-director Kemp Powers also teased (per Total Film): “[This film explores] the unique dilemma of being Gwen Stacy. She’s a vigilante seen as responsible for the death of her world’s Peter Parker. [And] the cop in charge of tracking her down is her father.”

In fact, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be full of emotional story beats. Lord and Miller revealed there’s one Spider-Gwen scene that’ll really tug at our heartstrings. Based on the plot synopsis, we’ll see Miles grappling with what it truly means to be a Spider-Man in this film as well.

Where The Spot is concerned, Powers told Cartoon Brew: “From the very beginning, he just seemed like endless potential visually and the arc of the character. His arc really complements the journey of Miles in this film really well.”

Meanwhile, co-directer Justin K. Thompson revealed 17 new tools were created to help The Spot’s various ink-style spots function fluidly. So it sounds like The Spot won’t just be a tragic villain of sorts, but one as visually spectacular as the movie’s other elements. Thompson and Powers also told Cartoon Brew that we’ll see more family-based drama play out between Miles, Gwen, and their respective parents, so maybe you’ll want to bring a pack of tissues with you to your screening next year.

With those official comments out of the way, what can we determine from what we’ve seen of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse?

Potential story spoilers follow.

Initially, we thought Spider-Man 2099 would be Miles’ new mentor. However, with Peter B. Parker confirmed to return, plus Spider-Man 2099 grappling with Miles in both trailers, it seems they’ll end up clashing. The latest trailer and story synopsis make out that a Spidey civil war is on the way, so maybe Miles and Spider-Man 2099 become the figureheads of each faction, with Gwen caught in the middle. Speaking to EW, Miller teased: “He [Spider-Man 2009] is not the villain of the movie, but he’s sort of an antagonist to Miles because they both think that what they’re doing is the right thing.” 

Is that really the case, though? Speaking during the trailer afterparty, Phil Lord surprisingly revealed Spider-Gwen is actually recruited by Spider-Man 2099 to join his Spider-Force/Spider-Society team. Miles, though, doesn’t, and she can’t tell him why. The plot thickens…

As for Spider-Woman, Chris Miller explained her movie look is inspired by a “comic run when she’s pregnant during Secret Wars”. Could we see elements of that comic series used in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse? Regardless, Spider-Gwen has a great relationship with Spider-Woman, someone she sees as a mentor figure. 

Spider-Woman isn’t the only Spider-Force person that Spider-Gwen is close to. She’ll also have a tight bond with Spider-Punk, with the pair’s penchant for music a particularly cool shared interest. Understandably, Miles is jealous of their friendship.

And what of fans who have been shipping Gwen and Miles since 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse? Can they expect a romance to finally blossom in this film? According to Lord: “It’s… complicated. Long distance relationships are hard”. However, Amy Pascal, one of the movie’s executive producers, has described Across the Spider-Verse as a “love story between Miles and Gwen” (per Empire). Maybe romance-laced sparks will fly after all.

Lastly, given the secrecy around the live-action Spider-Man stars’ appearances and Across the Spider-Verse‘s final universe, will this movie actually cross over with Sony and Marvel’s live-action Spider-Man universe and the MCU? Industry leaker Daniel Richtman suggests we will. If these worlds collide, expect fans (us included) to lose our minds over the unprecedented crossover.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse sequel

When will Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse land in theaters? (Image credit: Sony Pictures)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘s sequel, titled Beyond the Spider-Verse, is expected to land in cinemas on March 29, 2024. Its release date was revealed alongside Across the Spider-Verse‘s revised launch date, although Beyond the Spider-Verse‘s arrival could change if it needs additional development time.

Very little is known about this movie. Given its title, though, could we see Miles and company make the jump into live-action and potentially appear in the MCU (that’s if they don’t do so in this film, anyway)? It would be a hugely crowd pleasing moment if that happened, but we’ll have to wait and see how Across the Spider-Verse ends first.

For more Spider-Man content, find out which Spider-Person will be the first to receive a live-action show on Prime Video, plus the second Spider-Person who’ll follow in their footsteps on Prime Video. Additionally, read our Spider-Man movies ranked piece.

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Here’s everything we know so far about The Wheel of Time season 2 on Prime Video.

When will The Wheel of Time season 2 be released? With rumors swirling around about an early 2023 launch, we had hoped to have an official date by now.

Unfortunately, that’s not been the case. However, one of the best Prime Video shows is set to make its return this year, so we’ll have a new season of The Wheel of Time to look forward to.

Speaking of which, you’ll want to know more about the Prime Video fantasy series’ next installment. In this guide, you’ll find key details on its possible launch date, casting news, plot details, the show’s future, and more.

Major spoilers follow for The Wheel of Time season 1. Potential spoilers for the series’ next season and the books it’s based on are also discussed.

The Wheel of Time season 2 release date: what we know

The Wheel of Time season 2 will be released before the end of 2023. (Image credit: Amazon Studios)

The Wheel of Time season 2 doesn’t have a release date yet. The Telegraph India had suggested it’ll land in Q1 2023 (thanks to Reddit for the catch) but, as we prepare to enter Q2 2023, that doesn’t seem likely anymore.

Speaking to DragonMount, a Wheel of Time YouTube fan channel, showrunner Rafe Judkins said of The Telegraph India’s report: “There is some truth to it, in that I do believe that season 2 will be premiering in 2023, I think early. There is still a lot of work we’ve go to do on the show in post/VFX, all of that, so, expect it in 2023.”

The Wheel of Time season 2 trailer

The Wheel of Time season 2’s first teaser was released in October 2022. It opens with a fast-paced, still image-based montage of the first season’s key moments. It’s not until the 0:25 mark that the season 2 footage begins, but it looks suitably foreboding, action-packed, thrilling, and fantastical. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait much longer for another trailer to arrive.

The teaser arrived three months after a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s next installment was released, too:

The Wheel of Time season 2 cast

Moiraine and Lan are part of The Wheel of Time season 2’s cast. (Image credit: Amazon Studios)

Here’s the The Wheel of Time season 2’s confirmed cast so far:

Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred 
Daniel Henney as Lan Mandragoran 
Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor 
Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al’Meara 
Madeleine Madden as Egwene al’Vere 
Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara 
Dónal Finn as Mat Cauthon 
Fares Fares as The Dark One 
Johann Myers as Padan Fain
Sophie Okonedo as Siuan Sanche

Dónal Finn (Cursed) has replaced Mat Cauthon as the actor responsible for portraying Barney Harris. In September 2021, we reported Harris was no longer part of the cast. No reason has been given for his departure. Meanwhile, of the series’ supporting cast members that we haven’t listed above, Kate Fleetword’s Liandrin and Kae Alexander’s Min Farshaw might be back. 

Why ‘might’ and not ‘will’? The first season’s plot pulled from multiple books in Robert Jordan’s book series, while Judkins took some creative liberties with the story that pans out in the source material. If The Wheel of Time‘s second season diverges from the books, we may not see Liandrin or Min return, even though they have roles in The Great Hunt and The Dragon Reborn (i.e. the second and third novels). Alexandre Willaume’s Thom Merrilin has confirmed he isn’t returning (per The Mighty Dragon podcast).

Elsewhere, Amazon has revealed some of the new faces we’ll see next time out:

Ceara Coveney – in her first major acting role – will portray a hugely significant character in Elayne Trakand. In the novels, Elayne is Queen of Andor and Cairhien, and one of the most powerful Aes Sedai.

Natasha O’Keeffe (Misfits, Filth) and Meera Syal (Paddington 2, Doctor Who) have also been cast in undisclosed roles. Rafe Judkins has teased that they’ll portray “two of the most important characters”. Additionally, Ayoola Smart (Killing Eve) has been cast as Aviendha, a Wise One from the Nine Valleys sept and one of Rand’s love interests.

Potential season 2 cast spoilers follow.

Here’s a rundown of other rumors and announcements relating to season 2’s cast:

Katie Yeung as Yasicca Celleach, a member of the Aes Sedai and an ancient scholar
Gary Beadle as Elyas Machera, a Warder who is a wolfbrother like Perrin
Laia Costa as Magdelena
Salle Salee as Elsa Treehill
Julian Lewis Jones as Bayle Dormon
Daniel Francis as High Lord Turak
Elena Fokina as an unnamed sul’dam

Deadline has claimed Guy Roberts (Hanna), Arnas Fedaravicius (The Last Kingdom), and Gregg Chillingirian (A Discovery of Witches) will play supporting roles. Roberts will reportedly portray Uno Nomesta, a one-eyed soldier who served Lord Agelmar before the latter’s death in the season 1 finale. Fedaravicius will play Masema, another of Agelmar’s former charges. Finally, Chillingirian portrays Ingtar Shinowa, a warrior from war-torn lands.

WoTseries.com suggests Marie-France Alvarez (Paddington 2) will portray another Aes Sedai called Celestin. Melissa James (Coronation Street) and Jessica Boone (Das Boot) have also apparently been hired, according to WoTseries.com. British-born New Zealand actor Rima Te Wiata (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) is rumored to be playing Sheriam Bayanar, another Aes Sedai and the so-called Mistress of Novices (via WoTseries.com). The same WoTseries.com website suggests Ken Bradshaw (Eastenders, Wire in the Blood) will play Asan Sandair, a city guard who crosses paths with Rand.

Lastly on theWoTseries.com front, the site claims Jay Duffy (Derry Girls), Hayley Mills (The Parent Trap), Darragh O’Toole (Peaky Blinders) and Lubna Kerr (Moondogs) have signed on. Vincent Kerschbaum (Brothers of War) and Lily Banda (Deep State) have reportedly been cast as well (per WoTseries.com).

In an interview with The Press and Journal, Stewart Kenneth Moore (Carnival Row) confirmed he has a bit-part role. Moore refused to reveal his character’s identity, but hinted that he’ll turn up in episode 5 for a “fairly memorable scene.”

Finally, The Witcher fansite Redandian Intelligence claims four other actors have been joined the party, including Laura Crowhurst (The Last Bus) and newcomer Natasha J. Murley. Game of Thrones‘ Will Tudor will also allegedly play Barthanes Damodred, a relative of Moiraine’s, while Haruka Kuroda (Killing Eve) is set to portray one of Min Farshaw’s aunts.

The Wheel of Time season 2 plot

Will Rand and Egwene reunite in the show’s second season? (Image credit: Amazon)

Spoilers follow for The Wheel of Time season 1.

We don’t know much about The Wheel of Time season 2’s story. However, per Prime Video’s Fanology Twitter account, it’ll deal with theme of loneliness. That’s not surprising, given Amazon has pulled a Fellowship of the Ring-style move and broken up our merry band of heroes. Meanwhile, Daniel Henney told New York Comic-Con attendees that there’ll be more individual storylines in season 2.

There are also lots of plot threads that need to be picked up or resolved.

After temporarily defeating The Dark One, Rand – aka the Dragon Reborn – is continuing his journey alone. The Dragon Reborn is a prophesied, all-powerful channeler of the One Power fated to save or destroy the world. Rand considers himself dangerous to everyone, so he asks Moiraine to tell his friends that he perished in battle against The Dark One so they don’t come looking for him. Josha Stradowski, who plays Rand, says the character’s season 2 arc will be built around redefining his identity (via The Wrap).

As for Moiraine, The Dark One destroyed her connection to the Source, which is where Aes Sedai draw the One Power from. Unable to channel her powers, Moiraine and Lan’s relationship is set to change. The duo hardly feature in The Wheel of Time’s second book, but Judkins told CBR.com their upcoming arcs will comprise wholly original content created specifically for the TV adaptation, as “you can’t sideline Rosamund Pike and Daniel Henney in a season of television”. Additionally, Pike revealed (per Entertainment Weekly) that Moiraine will return to her home city of Cairhien in The Wheel of Time season 2.

The season 1 finale also teased the arrival of the Seanchan – a villainous, seafaring empire that has ambitions on conquering The Wheel of Time’s main continent. Asked by Collider how they’ll make a *ahem* splash, Judkins said: “Everything’s following this traditional fantasy format coming out of the first book. In the second book, the Seanchan come out of nowhere and slap our characters, so we really wanted to have them function the same way in the show. We get this nod to them at the end of season 1 but, in season 2, the Seanchan arrive and they affect the story.”

Elaborating on their role, Judkins told New York Comic-Con 2021 attendees (via SyFy.com): “The Seanchan come in and sideswipe every story in the show. They sideswipe the show as much as they do the books and it’s a really cool storytelling device that Robert Jordan built and I think it’s so special and I’ve been so excited to bring it to the screen.”

There are many other branching narratives and subplots that the second season needs to circle back to. Judkins confirmed to Nerdist that “we’ll certainly see” more of the backstory of Lews Therin, aka the first Dragon, as season 2 and the overall series progresses. Judkins also teased the potential introduction of Gawyn and Faile, who are important characters in Egwene and Perrin’s stories, and the possibility of Rand and Min interacting more (per CBR). As for Mat, Judkins revealed he’s heading for the White Tower – the Aes Sedai’s stronghold – in the season 1 finale.

We’re also expecting to learn more about Perrin’s wolfbrother powers and hope our heroes will get the Horn of Valere – a key item in the final battle with The Dark One – back after Padan Fain stole it in the season 1 finale. The love triangle between Moiraine, Lan, and Nynaeve is also set to be explored in more detail (via Inverse).

Speaking about The Wheel of Time season 2’s overall theme, Judkins told EW the show’s next entry will “peel back the surface and try to understand what balance between dark and light they’re trying to find within themselves.”

The Wheel of Time’s next entry will also cover plot elements from multiple novels, Judkins telling EW: “[Audiences] will see that some characters are diving more into their book two story in season 2, and some of them are diving more into their book three story. We have a big round-up point at the end of season 2 that reconnects everything and pushes us off in a new direction where we’ve completed all the stories we need to get through.”

Additionally, we can expect blood – and lots of it, according to Daniel Henney (via ContentMode). Judkins also told TVLine: “More characters will die in the show than in the books, because we cannot carry a cast of 2,000 actors for seven seasons!” Prepare for your favorite characters to potentially perish at some point, then.

Finally, Judkins took to Twitter to answer fans’ season 2 questions during some post-production downtime. One key detail confirms the introduction of the Forsaken, i.e. channelers who serve the side of Shadow in the War of Power. Fans can expect to see new locations, such as Cairhien, Tear, and Falme in The Wheel of Time season 2, too.

Will The Wheel of Time get more seasons?

Moiraine and company will return in season 3. (Image credit: Amazon Studios)

The Wheel of Time season 2 won’t be the final entry in this live-action adaptation, with Amazon renewing it for a third season.

Interestingly, The Shadow Rising, which season 3 will be based on, is the fourth book in Jordan’s epic fantasy book series. Given The Wheel of Time season 2 will adapt books one through three, it makes sense that the series’ third season will pick things up with book four.

As for future seasons, much will depend on audience interest and if Amazon feels it can fund its two big fantasy properties in The Wheel of Time and The Rings of Power. The latter’s premiere was the biggest Prime Video launch of all-time so, if only one show is continually greenlit, it’s likely to be its Lord of the Rings show, which is already returning for The Rings of Power season 2.

That said, we’d still expect Amazon to renew The Wheel of Time for more seasons. Judkins has eight seasons mapped out, so it would be silly for Amazon to cancel the series midway through its run (if a fourth season is also greenlit). Here’s hoping, then, that The Wheel of Time can keep rolling on until it reaches its end point.

For more Prime Video TV content, check out everything we know about Invincible season 2 and our picks of the best Prime Video movies.

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We break down everything we know about Succession season 4, from its confirmed release date to expected storylines.

Succession season 4 is now streaming on HBO Max, Sky and NOW, and the return of television’s most dysfunctional family is already proving more explosive than a Japanese rocket launch organized by Roman Roy. 

Showrunner Jesse Armstrong’s fictionalized take on the Murdoch media empire is dark, dramatic and often hilarious, combining tension and comedy in ways rarely seen on screen. The series’ third season, which premiered in October 2021, continued to prove why Succession is one of the best HBO Max shows around.

Succession season 4 was given the go-ahead by HBO even before the credits had rolled on season 3, and we’re excited to see how the series’ upcoming episodes continue to tie up the loose ends left by the latter’s shocking cliffhanger.  

Below, you’ll find everything we know about Succession season 4, from details on the show’s returning cast members to its episode release dates, confirmed plot threads and various teaser trailers. 

Naturally, spoilers for Succession seasons 1-3 follow, so proceed with caution. 

Release date: Succession season 4 began streaming on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic on March 26, 2023.

Cast: Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun and J. Smith-Cameron all return for season 4, while fringe characters like Willa, Stewy and Ewan also feature again. Alexander Skarsgård is reprising his role as Lukas Matsson, though Adrien Brody’s future as Josh Aaronson is less clear.

Story: After Logan’s shocking decision to consider Matsson’s offer of buying Waystar Royco, we expect Kendall, Shiv and Roman to band together in an effort to relieve power from their father in season 4. Shiv and Tom’s marriage is also likely to come under the microscope, following the latter’s presumed betrayal. 

Succession season 4 release date

Succession season 4 began streaming on March 26, 2023. The release date was announced alongside the season’s second full-length trailer, which you can watch via the tweet below. 

As usual, Succession season 4 is available to stream on HBO Max in the US, while Sky Atlantic and NOW pick up the mantle in the UK. In keeping with seasons 1, 2 and 3, the show’s latest instalment is made up of 10 episodes, with each entry streaming weekly every Sunday at 9pm ET / 6pm PT (or 2am BST every Monday for those in the UK). 

Following the above pattern, Succession‘s season 4 finale should air on Sunday, May 28 (or Monday, May 29 if you’re in the UK). 

Succession season 4 cast

As for which cast members have returned for Succession season 4, Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun and J. Smith-Cameron are all reprising their roles. 

Their involvement in new episodes was made public in June 2022, though it didn’t come as much of a surprise. After all, Succession’s drama is wholly reliant on examining the twisted relationships between those in its central Roy family (the clue is in the show’s name), and future episodes would struggle to maintain the series’ compelling tensions should even one member exit the fray. 

(Image credit: HBO)

Fringe characters like Willa (Justine Lupe) and Stewy (Arian Moayed) return for Succession season 4, too, while Ewan actor James Cromwell is also expected to reprise his role in upcoming episodes. 

Although many of these characters don’t play a direct role in influencing the question at the heart of the show – who will inherit Logan Roy’s media empire? – almost all maintain very particular relationships with certain Roy family members that reveal more about the motivations of the show’s main players; they’re therefore important pieces of Succession’s puzzle. 

The same goes for Alexander Skarsgård’s tech entrepreneur Lukas Matsson. At the end of season 3, Logan Roy – in a move that shocked his children – appeared to strike a deal with Matsson to relinquish power of Waystar Royco in exchange for a payout. Given that this decision is likely to form the crux of season 4’s plot, it’s no surprise that Skarsgård is involved in Succession’s latest season.

(Image credit: HBO)

Less clear is whether Adrien Brody, who briefly starred in season 3 as billionaire investor Josh Aaronson, will reprise his role. Aaronson was used as a vessel through which Succession’s showrunners sought to question Logan’s competence as an elderly CEO. Having fulfilled that purpose, it’s hard to see where Brody could take the character next. We’re staying tuned to new episodes to find out. 

Succession season 4 story

Update: Since Succession season 4 has only recently begun streaming, we’ve opted to keep the below information written in the style of predictions. 

Following the fallout of Kendall’s betrayal and Logan’s gung-ho quest for revenge in Succession season 2, last year’s episodes placed the spotlight on each Roy sibling equally, giving actors Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin room to flex their (at times cringe-inducing) muscles. Season 4 seems primed to continue in that vein, after Logan’s dramatic decision to consider Matsson’s offer left the trio of siblings more united (against their father, that is) than ever. 

Naturally, Kendall, Shiv and Roman deem Logan’s desire to relinquish family control of Waystar Royco an act of betrayal. For three seasons, viewers have watched the siblings trade insults over which of them is best placed to inherit their father’s company – it follows, then, that none of them want to see it fall into outsider hands.

This conflict is likely to drive the plot of Succession season 4. Other narrative threads are harder to pin down, though we expect Shiv’s unconventional marriage to Tom to come under the spotlight once again, after the latter betrayed his wife in exchange for Logan’s favor (so much betrayal in this family!). 

At least, that’s what season 3’s cliffhanger finale wants us to believe – we don’t yet know the full extent of Tom’s role in the switcheroo, nor how much Greg played a part in alerting Logan to his children’s plans of sabotaging the deal with Matsson.

Sarah Snook, for one, is excited to learn more. She told SiriusXM: “I’ve got no idea [where the show is going with that incident]. I can’t wait for us to start shooting again, because I want to know what happens.”

(Image credit: HBO)

In reference to season 3’s final shot – which suggests Shiv knows what Tom has done – Snook added: “I feel like it’s a really powerful position for Shiv to be in, because she knows information, and then can choose whether to reveal that information. She could choose not to tell her siblings, and she could also choose not to tell Tom that she knows […] But it’s got to light a fire [within her].”

Right now, though – and for the first time in the show’s history – it looks like season 4 will begin with Kendall, Shiv and Roman versus everyone else. 

As for Connor’s role in Succession‘s upcoming episodes, a wedding to Justine Lupe’s Willa could to be on the cards. In the below set image, a large “Willa Ferreyra & Connor Roy” banner can be seen strewn across a harbor building, which logic suggests will play host to either an establishing shot, the pair’s rehearsal dinner or their wedding proper. 

(Image credit: Splash News)

Connor’s pursuit of the presidency is also likely to form its own narrative offshoot, which may pave the way for the return of Justin Kirk’s far-right congressman Jeryd Mencken, among other politically-inclined characters. 

But the crux of Succession season 4 will, of course, revolve around Matsson’s proposed acquisition of the Roy family business. Indeed, HBO’s official synopsis for the season reads as follows: “In the ten-episode season 4, the sale of media conglomerate Waystar Royco to tech visionary Lukas Matsson moves ever closer. The prospect of this seismic sale provokes existential angst and familial division among the Roys as they anticipate what their lives will look like once the deal is completed. A power struggle ensues as the family weighs up a future where their cultural and political weight is severely curtailed.” 

In any case, given that HBO executive Francesca Orsi declared, in her official renewal announcement, that “Jesse Armstrong [continues] to surpass our wildest expectations” with each new season of Succession, we’re expecting to be surprised by the inevitable twists and turns that Succession season 4 has in store.

Succession season 4 trailers

HBO released the first official trailer for Succession season 4 – which features fleeting appearances from all of the show’s major players – in October 2022. Check it out below.

In January 2023, HBO released the second full-length trailer for Succession season 4, alongside confirmation of its March 26 release date. Check it out below. 

Then, in March 2023, HBO released a third and final full-length trailer for Succession season 4, which you can find below. 

Prior to the release of Succession season 4’s first full-length trailer, HBO gave fans a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it glimpse into the show’s new episodes during a sizzle reel for HBO Max’s 2023 content slate. 

Take a look at the sneak preview below (between the 1:30 and 1:40 mark), which contains a few clips not featured in the new season’s main three trailers.

The future of the show

As for whether Succession season 4 will be the show’s last, series creator Jesse Armstrong confirmed in a February interview with The New Yorker that it will be. 

“There’s a promise in the title of Succession,” he told the publication. “I’ve never thought this could go on forever. The end has always been kind of present in my mind. From season 2, I’ve been trying to think: Is it the next one, or the one after that, or is it the one after that?

“We played out various scenarios,” Armstrong said. “We could do a couple of short seasons, or two more seasons. Or we could go on for ages and turn the show into something rather different, and be a more rangy, freewheeling kind of fun show, where there would be good weeks and bad weeks. Or, we could do something a bit more muscular and complete, and go out sort of strong.” Armstrong ultimately opted for the latter. “That was definitely always my preference,” he admitted.

Brian Cox as Logan Roy in Succession season 4 (Image credit: HBO)

Indeed, Armstrong had been teasing the possibility of the show’s ending for several months prior to the aformentioned admission. “There’s going to be a very definite moment when that story is over, and it can’t go on too long,“ he told The New Statesman in September 2021. 

Armstrong then repeated that line at the 2022 BAFTA TV awards. When asked how long he intends to keep the show running, he told reporters: “I won’t answer that one precisely. I don’t think it should go on forever. But we’re still having fun at the moment.”

Even HBO executive Casey Bloys remained in the dark on Succession‘s future. “For those conversations, we really tend to leave it with the showrunners,” he told Deadline in July last year. “Jesse is obviously figuring out what he wants the fourth season to be and he will decide whether he sees it going beyond that or not. We’ll really leave it to him and let him have his process and figure out what he wants to do.”

We now know, though, that Succession season 4 will be the show’s last. Here’s hoping, then, that Logan finally appoints a successor in the coming weeks.

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You’ll find OLED panels in TVs, smartphones, and the latest Nintendo Switch model – but what exactly is it?

OLED is a term that you see everywhere in tech. Whether you’ve been hunting for a new TV, eyeing up the latest laptops or reading about the Nintendo Switch OLED. But what is OLED tech? And, importantly, do you need to upgrade to an OLED TV and an OLED laptop? 

Let’s begin with what OLED stands for: Organic Light Emitting Diode. It’s this panel tech that makes OLED TVs stand out in comparison to other types of displays. OLED TVs can turn their pixels off, in turn allowing them to deliver perfect blacks.  

OLED TVs bring you better image quality, faster response times and reduced power consumption. So if you’re looking to buy one of the best TVs, you need to learn more about OLED to help you decide whether it’s a better fit for your viewing needs than the likes of Samsung’s QLED TVs. 

This guide is an OLED TV explainer, helping you to figure out how OLED works, what sets an OLED TV apart from other panel types, and most importantly, if this TV tech is right for you.

OLED explained

What is OLED?

OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode, with the ‘organic’ part referring to the carbon film that sits inside the panel before the glass screen. 

OLED panels emit their own light when an electric current is passed through, whereas cells in a LCD-LED display require an external light source, like a giant backlight, for brightness.

This backlight is what separated LCD screens from their LED variants. A traditional LCD screen has a backlight (called a cold-cathode fluorescent light, or CCFL) which is uniform across the entire back of the screen.

In an OLED TV display, the pixels themselves are the things producing the light, and so when they need to be black they are able to turn off completely, rather than relying on a backlight to turn off on their behalf.

Is OLED worth it?

Most OLED TVs offer exceptional picture quality, though they need to be paired with a high-spec processor to really do sources justice (Image credit: Panasonic)

Is OLED worth the cost?

If you watch an OLED and compare it to your experience with another kind of TV panel, you’ll notice blacks are just that: actually black. Compared to the soupy greys of most LEDs, there’s no comparison. If you regularly watch content in a dark room, OLED is king. Combine these inky blacks with the bright whites OLED panels also produce, and you’re left with a fantastically vibrant image.

LG and Panasonic, the most consistent producers of OLED televisions on the market, like to use the term “infinite contrast” to describe how the self-lighting pixels switch off completely when reproducing black; giving it an “absolute” black color instead of a “relative” black that only describes how dark one pixel can get compared to the brightest pixel on the screen.

The advantages of OLED go beyond simple static image quality. OLED panels are hugely responsive, meaning PS5 and Xbox Series X gamers and home cinema aficionados are going to absolutely love OLED TVs. 

OLED panels are capable of a refresh rate of as low as 0.001ms, which for reference, is around 1,000 times faster than a standard LED-backlit LCD panel, while also being superior to the now-discontinued plasma tech.

And, because the lighting source they use is so tiny, the depth of screen sizes has shrunk at the same rate. That means OLED TVs have awesomely deep blacks and bright, peak whites, improved color accuracy, as well as responsive motion – and all from a form factor that’s just a few millimeters in depth and lighter than many LED TVs.

Nintendo Switch OLED

What about the Nintendo Switch OLED?

What about the Nintendo Switch OLED?

OLED isn’t just a TV technology. It’s found in countless premium smartphones, as well as the Nintendo Switch OLED – an updated twist on the beloved gaming console that packs an OLED screen rather than the LCD display used on the existing Switch and Switch Lite.

Nintendo’s decision to utilize OLED speaks to the tech’s ability to deliver premium image quality, and the Switch OLED delivers more vibrant colors and improved contrast over the original model. 

Metroid Dread, which launched with the Switch OLED, is one of the best examples of just how good games can look on the handheld’s 7-inch 720p screen. Few games make better use of OLED’s deep blacks than Samus Aran’s exceptional side-scrolling adventure. 

What OLED TVs are there?

One of the best OLED TVs on its way in 2023 is the LG C2 OLED. (Image credit: Future/Techradar)

Who makes OLED TVs?

OLED TVs have been on the market since 2012, and a range of manufacturers have tackled the technology over the years. LG has always been the main manufacturer of OLEDs, and its sister company LG Display is currently the only manufacturer that produces OLED panels.

In recent years, Samsung, Sony and Panasonic have put out a number of quality OLED TVs to compete with the best LG has to offer. The best OLED TVs in 2023 are the LG C2 OLED, the budget-friendly LG A2 OLED, the Sony XR-A95K, and the Samsung S95B. 

The best 8K TVs also have an OLED in their ranks, with the awesome but hugely expensive LG Z2 OLED, which comes in either 77-inch or 83-inch sizes. 

For smaller and slightly more affordable choices, there’s the 42-inch LG C2 OLED; the first 42-inch OLED panel to ever hit the market. 

Panasonic is also making waves with its OLED output, and the upcoming, envelope-pushing Panasonic MZ2000 was one of the best TVs at CES 2023. 

For more of the latest and greatest OLED TVs, head to our best OLED TVs guide to see the top models we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing on the site – or our OLED TV deals page for the cheapest sets going right now.

OLED prices

Although we don’t have all the pricing details of every new OLED TV in 2023, we know the 55-inch LG C3 OLED will retail for $1,799 / £1,999 (around (AU$2,600). (Image credit: LG)

Why are OLED TVs so expensive?

OLED TVs are definitely getting cheaper, but they’re still not exactly affordable. We don’t have all the latest pricing details of upcoming 2023 OLED TVs, but the 55-inch LG C3 OLED (which is likely to be the firm’s most popular OLED) will retail for $1,799 / £1,999 (around (AU$2,600). 

OLED panels sold by Panasonic and Sony are usually even more expensive. The Sony XR-A95K is one of the best OLED TVs in 2023, but the 55-inch model will set you back an eye-watering $2,799 / £2,199.

Thankfully, OLED TVs are finally getting smaller, which means certain, more bedroom-friendly panels are finally retailing for less than $1,000 /£1,000. At time of writing, the brilliant LG C2 OLED 42-inch model is being sold in the UK for around £850.

It’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for end-of-year sales. Black Friday and Cyber Monday usually have numerous good TV deals on OLED displays – and given their normally high starting price, you can often get hundreds discounted at the right time. Cheaper OLED TV deals can also see notable price cuts that bring them more within reach of mid-range buyers.

Check out the latest OLED TV prices and deals for more details

OLED burn-in

Burn-in shouldn’t worry you, thanks to Screen Shift functions and improving manufacturing processes (Image credit: Toshiba)

Do I need to worry about burn-in with OLED?

Burn in, or image retention, is when an image or sequence is played so often and continuously on a television set that it leaves a permanent mark on the panel – obviously not ideal for a home television.

You don’t particularly need to worry, as it largely happens only when displaying a static image or sequence on repeat, as with a display unit in a showroom or retail store. You should get several years warranty, anyhow, and we don’t see many home cinema fans using their OLED TV in this way.

TV makers like LG are also working to limit the risk of this for a while, with screen saver features, a Screen Shift function that “moves the screen slightly at regular intervals to preserve image quality”, and “Logo Luminance Adjustment, which can detect static logos on the screen and reduce brightness to help decrease permanent image retention” (via LG.com).

But if you’re planning on leaving your TV for countless hours at a time – say, to parent the children in your absence, or to play the same looping video over and over – then OLED may not be the right panel technology for you. Compared to earlier models though, OLED TVs in 2023 are much less susceptible to burn-in than they have been in the past. 

What’s next?

The upcoming LG G3 OLED TV has ‘META’ built-in, a solution that combines a form of MLA with a brightness-boosting algorithm. (Image credit: LG)

What’s the future for OLED?

OLED is an expensive panel technology that has finally managed to gain real market traction over the past few years. As for what the future holds? Better break out the shades: OLED is about to get a whole lot brighter.

Over the last year or so, Samsung has made a splash with its QD-OLED TVs. Using quantum dots to boost brightness, QD-OLED tech combines the perfect blacks of OLED with the brightness and startling color range of Samsung’s existing QLED panels. The results are both brighter and brilliant – the Samsung S95B is one of the best OLED TVs we’ve ever reviewed. 

Samsung isn’t the only company chasing brighter OLED panels, though. The upcoming Panasonic MZ2000 deploys a technology called Micro Lens Array to boost brightness by 150% over previous models. This is achieved by the presence of billions of tiny convex lenses, which are placed above an OLED panel’s pixels. 

The upcoming LG G3 OLED will utilize a similar technique to Micro Lens Array in order to deliver brighter pictures. Called ‘META’, this is a solution that combines a form of MLA with a brightness-boosting algorithm.

The future of OLED technology is also going to be wireless. The LG Displace OLED was unveiled at CES 2023, and thanks to its wireless charging station, it can remarkably operate without a single cable for hours at a time. We don’t know how prevalent wireless OLED TVs are going to be going forward, but it’s still an incredibly exciting tech development. 

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With some big new releases, we’ll help you find the best MacBook for students in your life as they head back to school.

The best MacBook for students is going to be the one that best serves their educational needs. It’s true that there aren’t as many choices in the MacBook family that budget-minded students can afford. At least not compared to what Windows have on offer. However, there are more than enough compelling options if you know where to look.

MacBooks are among the best laptops on the market. However, students, especially those in college, often need something affordable, and the best MacBook and Macs generally have a reputation for being expensive. However, there are ways around paying full price. First of all, Apple always offers discounts and promotions for students, especially during big sale events and back-to-school season. There’s also the fact that slightly older models can go on sale at online retailers whenever new models are launched.

Now that you know the tricks to getting a MacBook that’s affordable enough for students, it’s just a matter of figuring out which model is right for your matriculating needs. A lot of it depends on what program of study a student is planning to pursue. And, we’re here to help.

We’ve tested and reviewed every single MacBook that hit the shelves, and our top picks of the best MacBook for students below should set you off the a good start. Take a look at our picks for every type of student, as well as the best MacBook deals available right now.

If you think a MacBook isn’t for you, you should check out the best Windows laptop for school, since there are literally hundreds of Windows laptops to choose from.  Or if you don’t need anything as robust, one of the best Chromebooks for students might do the trick.

The best MacBook for students 2023

(Image credit: Future)

While the MacBook Pros have the sheer performance suitable for power users and content creators, for the rest of us, there’s the MacBook Air (M2, 2022). That isn’t to say that it’s not powerful in its own right. On the contrary, we found its performance to be exceptional during testing, tackling 4K video editing and music production workflows fast and in silence (thanks to its fanless design). In some benchmark tests, its single-core performance is even on par with the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022).

It isn’t just its specs that saw an upgrade over its predecessor. Its battery life got a 5-hour uptick, giving it 16 hours of use on a single charge, while its screen is bigger and its design is better. We may not have gotten those full colors that the iMac 24-inch is sporting, but you’re getting a far more modern design here. It’s even thinner and smaller while offering a bigger screen size.

Just keep in mind that this is an expensive. If you’re on a tighter budget, then there are other cheaper options on this list.

Read our in-depth Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) review

(Image credit: Future)

Apple rolled out their much-talked-about M1 silicon chip that’s so far been a real game-changer. And, the first laptop to receive it is the company’s thinnest and lightest, putting it on the list of the most exciting Apple laptops of recent years. 

The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) came impressively close to the performance of the more expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020) during our testing, and despite its fanless design, we didn’t notice any major incidents of throttling. It also lasts around four hours longer than its predecessor.

Even with the launch of the new MacBook Air (M2, 2022), the M1 MacBook Air is still plenty powerful and also much less expensive, especially if you can get it on sale. Touting excellent performance alongside brilliant battery life while staying reasonably priced, the M1 MacBook Air is hands-down overall the best MacBook for students in 2022.

Read the full Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review

(Image credit: Future)

The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) may not have gotten a massive design overhaul, but what it lacks in that department, it makes up for big-time in performance and battery life. Thanks to Apple’s groundbreaking M1 chip, the 2020 MacBook Pro 13-inch delivers excellent performance and exceptional battery life. 

Its performance is so impressive, in fact, that it can easily handle 4K – and even 8K – videos. It kept up admirably with Final Cut Pro, allowing us to scrub through the footage while showing a preview of the video at the same time. And, while it’s true that the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is comparable in performance, the fact that the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) has fans means it can work harder and longer.

As for its battery life, it lasted 13 hours and 22 minutes during testing, offering users a 5-hour bump over its Intel counterpart. Whether you’re in high school or in college, this is the best MacBook for students if you’re looking for a powerful laptop that keeps things small and lightweight. This 

Read the full Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) review

(Image credit: Future)

Its 2021 predecessor may have been an almost perfect laptop, but the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) blows it out of the water in terms of power. It may have cemented the line’s status as the mobile workstation for content creators, but it’s also great for photography, film, and graphic design students with a more flexible budget.

During testing, it handled everything we threw at it from editing videos in 8K to recording numerous instruments at the same time and editing multi-track audio projects in Albeton Live 11. Meanwhile, its Liquid Retina XDR and mini-LED technology display delivered vibrant colors and rich, deep contrast, making our creative experience incredibly immersive.

It keeps the same design as the 2021 model, but given its solid build quality, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It is eye-watering expensive, however, so only invest if you can justify the price with your demands and you won’t be forced into living off of instant noodles until you graduate.

Read our full in-depth Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) review

(Image credit: Future)

The MacBook Pro is now its truest self with the launch of the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) and its 16-inch counterpart. Armed with the new M1 Pro and M1 Max, MacBook impresses with breathtaking power and equally breathtaking battery life – just what every professional needs and deserves. 

It really shines when it comes to heavy duty professional-grade creative work, allowing us to create complex 3D scenes in Cinema 4D and to edit 8K video in Final Cut Pro seamlessly during testing. Apple then rounds it all out with its XDR display with 1600 nits of peak brightness and a wide color gamut. It’s one of the most impressive displays we’ve seen in a laptop.

There’s also an SD card slot, an HDMI port, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports, all of which can stay available thanks to MagSafe charging being back. It’s among the most expensive MacBook Pros ever launched, but it’s also certainly among the best.

Read our in-depth Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) review

(Image credit: Future)

The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) might not come with a new design update, which makes it look and feel a bit redundant, especially because the M1 version is pretty impressive in its own right. However, while there’s nothing exciting about its outside, Apple’s brand-new M2 chip certainly makes up for it in a massive way.

If you already have the M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch, this might not be worth an upgrade – unless, of course, you need a bit more power. In our tests, this 2022 model achieved better performance in both single and multi-core CPU tests. That means a noticeable boost in its multitasking capabilities, allowing users to open and utilize various applications open at once. 

It also scored around twice as much as the Intel Core i7-1185G7-powered Surface Laptop 4, and lasted almost two hours longer than the M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch in our battery life test. That’s while keeping the same price tag as before.

Read our in-depth Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) review

Today’s best student MacBook deals

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The Elder Scrolls 6 is officially being worked on over at Bethesda Game Studios. Here’s what we know so far.

The Elder Scrolls 6 is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated games of all time, given that it’s the successor to Skyrim and the rest of the beloved RPG series. So far, Bethesda hasn’t revealed all that much about the game, despite having announced it back in 2018 alongside a brief teaser trailer.

What we do know is that The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development, and that it will be the next release for Bethesda Game Studios after Starfield comes to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Strangely, The Elder Scrolls 6 was revealed way back in 2018, during an E3 presentation. A short teaser was shown, giving us a clue as to where the game will be set. Since then, Bethesda has been practically radio silent.

While we wait for details on The Elder Scrolls 6, this page will serve as a hub for everything we know about the game so far. Read on for all of the latest news and rumors about Bethesda’s next major RPG after Starfield.

The Elder Scrolls 6: cut to the chase

What is it? The long-awaited sequel to the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

When can I play it? TBC but likely 2025 at the earliest

What can I play it on? TBC but likely PC and Xbox Series X|S 

The Elder Scrolls 6 release date and platforms

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Don’t hold your breath for The Elder Scrolls 6 release date – you won’t be exploring its dungeons any time soon. Despite being announced at Bethesda’s E3 2018 conference, little more than a logo was revealed and, more than four years later, we still have few solid details about the next Elder Scrolls game. We don’t even have a subtitle or a release year. Todd Howard said that the game will be coming after Starfield, the company’s next big IP, while Xbox Head Phil Spencer has said it won’t release until after Fable 4. Given Starfield is set to release in the first half of 2023 and Fable doesn’t have a release date yet, the wait for Elder Scrolls 6 is set to be long.

Similarly, platforms for The Elder Scrolls 6 haven’t been confirmed yet but, given Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax Media, releases on PC, and Xbox Series S|X are almost a certainty. A PS5 release is much less certain, however, as Microsoft may opt to make the new Elder Scrolls game an Xbox exclusive. Similarly, releases on Xbox One and PS4 seem extremely unlikely, as Starfield shows Bethesda’s moving on from last-gen hardware.

What we do know, however, is that The Elder Scrolls 6 will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one.

The Elder Scrolls 6 trailer

Latest trailer

The only footage we have of The Elder Scrolls 6 is a very short clip of the game’s logo. Other than that, you might be waiting a while to see more. Here’s the announcement trailer:

Elder Scrolls 6: where will it be set?

(Image credit: Bethesda)

We’re willing to bet that like all the other games in the series, The Elder Scrolls 6 will take place on the continent of Tamriel. Previous games have taken us to High Rock, Hammerfell, Morrowind, Cyrodil, and Skyrim. Valenwood, Elsweyr, and Black Marsh are the biggest places left to explore. However, even though these areas are prime spots for exploration, that’s not to say that Bethesda won’t return to areas from previous games. 

There were rumors that The Elder Scrolls 6 could be set in Valenwood, the home of the Bosmer. It’s an area of Tamriel that Bethesda hasn’t explored much and that’s based on a reported internal Bethesda memo from all the way back in 2014. In this memo, Bethesda employees were reportedly warned against using the terms Fallout: Nuka World, Elder Scrolls VI or Project Greenheart.

It’s hard to tell from the short E3 clip we have of the game. However, since it was shown, general opinion has moved towards the idea that The Elder Scrolls 6 will be set in either Hammerfell or High Rock.

Adding credence to the Hammerfell rumor is a post from the official Elder Scrolls Twitter account at the end of 2020. That says “transcribe the past and map the future” and shows an image with an unmapped Hammerfell region. There is, however, a chance that this teaser doesn’t relate to Elder Scrolls 6 at all.

Obviously, those of us who know the world of Tamriel thanks to Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim and yes, even Elder Scrolls Online, the entire world is a veritable expanse of different lands and settings where the game could be set. We do know one thing for certain; wherever it does end up being set, we can expect to be fulfilling a great many side quests.

The Elder Scrolls 6 news

(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

Fallout 5 is coming after The Elder Scrolls 6
In an interview with IGN, Todd Howard confirmed that Fallout 5 will be Bethesda’s next project after The Elder Scrolls 6.

“Yes, Elder Scrolls 6 is in pre-production and, you know, we’re going to be doing Fallout 5 after that, so our slate’s pretty full going forward for a while” Howard told the publication. “We have some other projects that we look at from time to time as well.”

Bethesda wants to take its time to get it right
The Elder Scrolls 6 is probably still a few years away yet but that’s not because Bethesda is deliberately dragging its heels. In an interview with IGN, when discussing the gap between Skyrim and its follow up, Howard said “Would you plan to have the kind of gap we’re having between Skyrim and the follow-up? I can’t say that’s a good thing. Do I wish I could wave a wand and the game we wanted to make […] just came out? Absolutely.”

According to Howard, however, the time felt right for Bethesda to try something new with Starfield and The Elder Scrolls Online meant that the Elder Scrolls franchise was in a relatively good place.

“That being said,” he added, “everything takes longer than we would like as well, but we want to make sure that we get it right. Hopefully Elder Scrolls 6, you don’t want to say hey, that it’s worth that kind of wait, but that it does stand up to the series as it has been in a really big, impactful way for when it comes out.”

Check out our release date schedule for the biggest upcoming games

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals are still available and here are the best ones this week.

Regardless of whether you’re looking for a carrier or unlocked device, you’ll find all of this week’s best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals right here on this page. We’ve compared all the options and found what we think, in our opinion, are the top value choices right now if you’re looking to save some cash while jumping on the foldable bandwagon.

In fact, its introductory price of $999 makes it around the same price as a Galaxy S21 Plus, although no one would dare to call the Galaxy Z Flip 3 an ‘affordable’ device by stretch of the imagination. That said, there are a couple of nifty ways to save some cash with this week’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals – regardless if you’re looking for an unlocked or carrier device.

Key upgrades include a beefy new Snapdragon 888, an expanded cover screen four times the size of that featured on the previous model, and some new camera software upgrades. Samsung has also improved the refresh rate of the internal display so it’s zipping along at a speedy 120Hz – which brings it in line with all the latest flagship devices on the market. 

If you’d like to read a bit more about the specs of this device we’ve attached a mini-review just at the bottom of the page, just beneath this week’s best Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals.

Check out our Galaxy Z Flip 4 deals page for the latest device

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals: what you need to know

Finally, Samsung has finally managed to do what seemed impossible just a few years ago – produce a foldable device that actually costs around the same as a similarly specced out ‘normal’ device. Well, relatively speaking – the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 does still costs $999 at launch, which isn’t exactly pocket change.

That puts it in same price bracket as the ‘plus’ sized flagships like the iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus – powerful devices, but not any more powerful than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, thanks to its new Snapdragon 888 chipset. Put simply, you’re not paying that new-tech novelty tax for going with a foldable device, and you’re even getting a few new design improvements too.

While, on initial inspection, the Flip 3 may look a lot like its predecessor, it’s now featuring a cover display that’s four times larger, an upgraded internal screen that’s capable of 120Hz refresh rate, and a reinforced hinge that feels a lot sturdier than those on previous Fold devices. Samsung has also ditched the glass outer back design for this new iteration, instead opting for a new ‘glastic’ design. Some may not welcome that change, but it does mean a cheaper device – and one that’s more durable.

See our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review

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Here’s everything we know about Shadow and Bone season 2 before it debuts on Netflix.

Praise the Saints! Shadow and Bone season 2 is almost here. The popular Netflix fantasy series returns on Thursday, March 16, so we hope you’re gearing up for a return to the Grishaverse.

With two years passing since its first season aired, it’s about time one of the best Netflix shows returned to our screens, too. We know you’ll be eager to find out if it’s any good as well, so be sure to check back in with TechRadar shortly for our full thoughts on Shadow and Bone‘s second season.

While you wait for our review to land online, there’s plenty of reading to do around the series’ next batch of episodes. Below, we’ve compiled everything worth know about Shadow and Bone season 2, including its Netflix release date, episode titles, cast list, potential storylines, its future, and more. Full spoilers follow for Shadow and Bone season 1, plus Leigh Bardugo’s book series of the same name.

Shadow and Bone season 2 release date

The Crows are back for more heisting in Shadow and Bone season 2. (Image credit: Netflix)

Shadow and Bone season 2 magics its way onto Netflix on Thursday, March 16. All eight episodes will debut on the world’s best streaming service on that date, too. If you’re curious to know about each episode’s title, check out the list below:

Episode 1 – No Shelter but Me
Episode 2 – Rusalye
Episode 3 – Like Calls to Like
Episode 4 – Every Monstrous Thing
Episode 5 – Yuyeh Sesh (Despise Your Heart)
Episode 6 – Ni Weh Sesh (I Have No Heart)
Episode 7 – Meet You in the Meadow
Episode 8 – No Funerals

Shadow and Bone season 2 trailer

Shadow and Bone season 2’s official trailer debuted on February 17. The near three-minute teaser, well, teases plenty of fantasy-based action, darker storylines, new heroes and enemies (and team ups!), continent-spanning adventures, and another epic showdown between Alina and Kirigan. Color us excited.

Missed the first teaser in September 2022? Watch it below:

A 25-second video of newcomers Nikolai Lantsov, Wylan Hendriks, Tolya Yul-Battar, and Tamar Kir-Battar in their official costumes debuted last year, too:

Finally, a number of Shadow and Bone-based tweets have teased more footage from the forthcoming season. Check out this General Kirigan/Darkling-centric one, before watching Alina and Mal’s first meeting with Nikolai Lantsov/Sturmhond. There are snippets of new scenes in this “Everything we can tell you about season 2” video on Netflix’s Twitter page, too.

Shadow and Bone season 2 cast

Alina and Mal are back in Shadow and Bone season 2. (Image credit: Netflix)

Here’s Shadow and Bone season 2’s confirmed cast list:

Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov 
Ben Barnes as General Aleksander Kirigan/The Darkling 
Archie Renaux as Malyen ‘Mal’ Oretsov 
Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker 
Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa 
Kit Young as Jesper Fahey 
Danielle Gilligan as Nina Zenik 
Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar 
Patrick Gibson as Nikolai Lantsov
Jack Wolfe as Wylan Hendriks
Lewis Tan as Tolya Yul-Battar
Anna Leong Brophy as Tamar Kir-Battar
Daisy Head as Genya Safin
Zoe Wanamaker as Baghra
Sujaya Dasgupta as Zoya Nazyalensky 
Luke Pasqualino as David Kostyk
Gabrielle Brooks as Nadia
Julian Kostov as Fedyor
Georgia Reece as Queen Tatiana
Kevin Eldon as The Apparat

Protagonists Alina Starkov and Mal Oretsov return, as does General Kirigan, who survived an attack in the Shadow Fold in the season 1 finale.

Kaz Brekker, Jesper Fahey, and Inej Ghafa are back, too. As in the Six of Crows duology, the Crows’ story (more on this below) line ups with Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar, so we’ll see the former – at the very least – join their gang. Danielle Gilligan and Calahan Skogman, who play Nina and Matthias have been bumped up to series regulars alongside Daisy Head, who plays Genya Safin.

Spoilers follow for Shadow and Bone’s book series and some season 2 storylines.

Tolya and Tamar are two new characters introduced in season 2. (Image credit: David Lukacs/Netflix)

As for characters making the leap from Bardugo’s books to the small screen, Wylan Hendriks (whose surname has been changed for the TV series) is one of four new major supporting characters.

In the novels, Wylan joins the Crows as their demolitions expert for a job inside Fjerdan’s military stronghold known as the Ice Court. Jack Wolfe (Inside No. 9, The Witcher) portrays Wylan in Shadow and Bone season 2.

Another fan-favorite character set to appear is Nikolai Lantsov, who is portrayed by Patrick Gibson (Tolkien). In the books, Nikolai adopts the pseudonym Sturmhond and leads a pirate armada that aids the war effort for the kingdom of Ravka. Nikolai becomes a key ally of Alina and Mal’s, so his arrival will be vital in their quest to stop General Kirigan. Gibson told Entertainment Weekly (EW) he wasn’t sure if he could play the “Tony Stark-esque” Sturmhond persona for an entire series, but he was won round by the scenery he gets to chew as Nikolai in later episodes.

The final two newcomers are twin siblings Tolya Yul-Battar and Tamar Kir-Battar, who are played by Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat) and Anna Leong Brophy (Traces). In the source material, Tolya is a Grisha Heartrender and a member of Sturmhond’s pirate crew. Meanwhile, Tamar is also an ex-member of Sturmhond’s team and a fellow Heartrender. In the TV adaptation, though, both characters are part of Sturmhond’s crew.

Lastly, Redanian Intelligence, a Witcher fansite, claims seven other actors – five in one article, two in another – will play bit-part roles in season 2:

Tommy Rodger (Goodbye Christopher Robin) as Jordie Rietveld, Kaz’s older brother
Rhoda Ofori-Attah (Sex Education, Top Boy) as Aditi Hilli, Jesper’s mom
Newcomer Alistair Nwachukwu as Adrik Zhaban, Nadia’s brother
Newcomer Tumi Fani-Kayode as Miradi, an original character
Seamus O’Hara (The Northman) as Halsov, an original character
Tim Plester (After Life) as Per Haskell, the leader of the Dregs
April V. Woods (Gangs of London) as Saskia, Kaz’s childhood friend

Shadow and Bone season 2 story

General Kirigan is coming for Alina and Mal in season 2. (Image credit: David Lukacs/Netflix)

Spoilers follow for Shadow and Bone season 1 and the book series.

Here’s Shadow and Bone season 2’s plot synopsis: “Alina Starkov is on the run. A beacon of hope to some and a suspected traitor to others, she’s determined to bring down the Shadow Fold and save Ravka from ruin. 

“But General Kirigan has returned to finish what he started. Backed by a terrifying new army of seemingly indestructible shadow monsters and fearsome new Grisha recruits, Kirigan is more dangerous than ever. To stand a fighting chance against him, Alina and Mal rally their own powerful new allies and begin a continent-spanning journey to find two mythical creatures that will amplify her powers. 

“Back in Ketterdam, the Crows must forge new alliances as they contend with old rivals and even older grudges that threaten not only their place in the Barrel, but their very lives. When a chance at a deadly heist comes their way, the Crows will once again find themselves on a collision course with the legendary Sun Summoner. 

“Based on Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels, Shadow and Bone returns for a second season of new friendships, new romance, bigger battles, epic adventures – and a shocking family secret that could shatter everything.”

Season 2 will follow stories from multiple novels – those being Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising (the second and third books in the Shadow and Bone trilogy), and the first book from the Six of Crows spin-off duology. That’s based on returning cast members, new additions to the show’s line-up, and what the season 1 finale set up.

With Alina and Mal going their separate ways to the Crows in episode 8, the second season will continue the former’s journey to new lands to keep Alina out of Kirigan’s reach and increase her power output. Per Entertainment Weekly (EW), they’ll begin their quest in a new location called Novyi Zem. That’s before they make plans to locate two mythical creatures that can help amplify Alina’s powers (via Netflix Tudum), putting them on a collision course with Nikolai.

As season 1’s final entry revealed, Kirigan has tapped further into his Darkling powers and created new creatures known as Nichevo’ya. Unlike the Volcra that inhabit the Fold, these shadow monsters can move in broad daylight. Expect them to be difficult adversaries for Alina and Mal to overcome.

Ben Barnes, who portrays Kirigan, has expressed interest in seeing Shadow and Bone season 2 “steer off” from the books (per Collider) in a similar vein to how season 1 incorporated the Crows into Alina’s arc – and that’ll be the case. Speaking to EW, co-showrunners Eric Heisserer and Daegan Fryklind confirmed season 2 will contain new material for fans of the novels to enjoy, as well as fresh twists on how the book series’ storylines play out.

What’s in store for Queen Tatiana and Genya this season? (Image credit: David Lukacs/Netflix)

Speaking as part of IGN Fan Fest, Jessie Mei Li and Ben Barnes teased fans what can expect from the light and dark dynamic at play between their characters. “If you thought their relationship was interesting in season 1, you’ll just have to wait for season 2,” she said. “The way these characters are entwined and the things that they share are pretty interesting.”

“When you read the books, they have this connection to each other that is almost sort of telekinetic or something,” Barnes added. “But I think that’s quite difficult to represent in a show, so we had to sort of find these clever ways to work around continuing their connection and their relationship.”

Meanwhile, the Crow will team up with Nina and Wylan, but not in a bid to free Matthias, who was arrested in season 1 (not deliberately, anyway). Additionally, fans of the books shouldn’t expect to see the Ice Court job, a major heist from the novels, this season – Heisserer telling EW it’ll be part of another season. Instead, the gang need to concoct a plan to overthrow Pekka Rollins, who has taken over their establishments and framed them for crimes they didn’t commit in their absence from Ketterdam. 

Well, among other things we can’t spoil here *tease tease*. Based on some of Shadow and Bone season 2’s new cast members, we can confirm you’ll see flashbacks to Kaz’s and Jesper’s childhoods. For every other major reveal, secret, and spoiler, though, you’ll have to wait for season 2 to air.

Nikolai Lantsov will play a key role in Shadow and Bone second 2. (Image credit: David Lukacs/Netflix)

Another Grishaverse novel – King of Scars – could set the scene for Zoya’s season 2 arc. A supporting character in the Grisha trilogy, Zoya’s character is given a more prominent role in Bardugo’s second duology, so elements of these books may be incorporated in the second season. 

In the season 1 finale, Zoya was seen heading to Novokribrisk – the city that Kirigan destroys with the Fold – to search for her family. Meanwhile, in the King of Scars spin-off novels, Zoya crosses paths with Nikolai, which could’ve set up an intriguing subplot in Shadow and Bone season 2. Based on what we’ve seen, however, no elements from King of Scars have been used. Instead, Zoya has been repurposed for another subplot in the second season.

As for Nikolai, his Siege and Storm arc will be a key part of season 2. In the novels, Lantsov – who masquerades as a pirate leader (known as a Privateer) called Sturmhond – is hired by Kirigan to transport him through the True Sea in order to track down a mythical dragon known as the Rusalye. Lantsov, though, eventually teams up with Alina and Mal, and fights alongside the duo to stop the Darkling from exacting his master plan. Expect parts of this storyline to be directly adapted.

Aside from Novyi Zem, we’ll be visiting other fan-favorite locations, including Shu Han and Hellgate. The latter is a Kerch prison located on the small island of Terrenjel outside of Ketterdam, and established fans will know all about the importance of this destination for some of our heroes.

Lastly, we’ll learn more about Morozova, aka the mastermind behind the amplifiers’ creations. Speaking to Netflix Tudum, Fryklind teased: “We’ve also really dug into more of the mythology this season in terms of the amplifiers, but also the creator of the amplifiers, Morozova – who he was, what his backstory is and how he ties into this world.”

Will Shadow and Bone get more seasons?

What does the future hold for Shadow and Bone? (Image credit: Timea Saghy/Netflix)

That depends on whether fans tune into Shadow and Bone season 2. The franchise doesn’t have as big a following as others in the fantasy genre, but the Grishaverse still has a sizable and passionate audience. Its fanbase is likely to have grown, too, with Netflix’s adaptation introduces the series to new audiences.

There are a number of directions Netflix’s adaptation of the Grishaverse can go in as well. Like the streamer’s growing Witcher-Verse, Shadow and Bone could potentially lead to spin-offs that delve into the wider universe and/or be based on Bardugo’s sizable source material. Whether it’s expanding on a pre-existing short story, a novel like King of Scars, or creating entirely new content (which its showrunners have previous form for making), Netflix can go in all manner of directions in and around Shadow and Bone season 2. 

If it continues to be a success, future seasons and spin-offs may be put into production by Netflix, too. The streaming giant has shown it’ll put faith in projects that deliver huge viewing figures, so Shadow and Bone‘s future may be bright if its second season draws in a large audience again.

For more Netflix fantasy-based content, check out these five epic fantasy shows before Shadow and Bone season 2 arrives. Alternatively, read up on everything about The Witcher season 3.

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