In an ideal world, we’d all get weekly massages, with bonus sessions on days we’re extra tense, tired, or sore. But with the average appointment costing $100 (and some going way higher), massages are luxuries that are hard for most people to justify on a regular basis. The total time of a session—including the drive to an office, a possible wait, the setup in the room, and the drive home—is another common barrier to in-person massages.
In my last 14 years of collegiate and professional running, I’ve experimented with different massage schedules. During some marathon build-ups, I splurged on a short (half-hour) session every week, while in others, I waited to book until I felt the need for some major TLC. I can’t say that I ever identified the perfect frequency for both my body and my wallet. I can, however, confirm that regular massages are an invaluable tool for keeping legs fresh, torsos relaxed, and whole-body tension in check. (Research confirms those benefits and more.)
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My massage game took a major turn for the better about two years ago, when my husband and I were gifted a handheld percussive therapy device (a.k.a. massage gun). Our new gadget definitely didn’t take the place of a real-life, dexterous masseuse. But it was a great addition to our recovery tool collection, and it gave us an easy way to stay on top of our body maintenance in between appointments. The device turned out to be especially useful during the last year and a half of pandemic life, with practitioners less available than in ordinary times.
Having only extensively used that one device until recently, I jumped at the chance to try out a competitor: the Hypervolt by Hyperice. For the last few weeks, I’ve been testing it out, comparing it to the massages I’m used to, and honing in on my honest opinion. Keep on scrolling to see it all.
It’s small but heavy
Unboxing the Hypervolt, my first observation was the discrepancy between its size and weight. At less than 10 inches tall and 7 inches wide, it’s pretty small, relative to other (non-mini or -travel) massage guns. But at 2.5 pounds, it felt quite a bit heavier than I expected. If you’re only zapping one area for a minute or two, you probably won’t be bothered. But if you’re doing a more extensive massage on your or someone else’s body, or if you plan to travel with it in a backpack or carry-on, you’ll want to consider whether you’d get more out of a lighter device such as the Hypervolt Go.
There’s no learning involved
I appreciate that using the Hypervolt is as simple as switching the device into “on” mode on the bottom, and then pressing the single button on the back to control the speed of the percussion. There are only three speeds to choose from—levels 1, 2, and 3—and you know which one it’s on based on the number of blue dots that light up just above the speed adjustment button.
The grip isn’t very ergonomic
The Hypervolt’s grip itself is nice: smooth, comfortable, and just shy of being too wide. But it becomes apparent pretty quickly that, if you want to apply significant force into the head, you have to choke up on the handle so much that you’re basically holding the center of the unit. At that point, it doesn’t matter how nice the grip is, since you’re not really using it. Alternatively, depending on the area you’re massaging, you can apply pressure with both hands from the very back (rather than the bottom)—although I’m pretty confident that’s not how the device was designed to be used. Either way, the shape of the top-heavy Hypervolt makes it difficult to use the grip as intended, and a little awkward to hold otherwise.
It doesn’t cause a racket
Some percussive devices are so loud when kicked into high gear that they make it difficult to use while also having a conversation or watching something on tv. Not so with the Hypervolt. I don’t know exactly how it works, but the patented “QuietGlide” it’s equipped with definitely makes a difference, volume-wise. It’s not as nearly silent as the Hyperice website advertises, but it is quiet enough to be considered background noise, which plenty of competitors cannot claim.
The battery lasts a good while
Two hours may not sound like long for an electronic device, but when you consider that you’ll probably use the Hypervolt for a few minutes at a time, the battery life is actually pretty good. I wound up charging mine much less frequently than my GPS watch, and thanks to the obvious indicator halo at the bottom of the unit—green means it’s charged—I was never caught off guard by a dead battery. If two hours sounds insufficient for your needs, you can always buy a spare battery for $80, which is compatible with both the Hypervolt and Hypervolt 2, and will double your running time.
It comes with more head attachments than you’ll probably use
While the idea of different massage heads is nice, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably end up using the tip you first attach, and either forget about the others or not bother to tag them in. I spent most of my testing time with the round head—it has the look and feel of a small lacrosse ball—and found it worked well on most areas. Whether I was hitting my quads pre-run or working through a knot in my calf, as long as I kept the speed high and pressure up, it got the job done. Other options include a flat disk, a rounded double-prong, a more pointed nozzle-looking tip, and a three-tiered curved head. The Hypervolt also comes with a pouch for storing the attachments that aren’t currently in use.
Pull the Trigger?
Hyperice did a good job with the Hypervolt: it’s a powerful, quiet, easy-to-use device that makes self-massage a convenient everyday option. In general, I got what I wanted out of it, which was a strong zap on specific body parts whenever the urge struck—usually right before or right after a run.
My biggest issue with this device (beyond the price) is its shape and grip. When used as intended, the user is limited in how much pressure she’s able to apply, and ends up targeting muscles from an odd, not-very-powerful angle. Combined with the fact that the Hypervolt is heavier than its size suggests it should be, it ends up falling a little shy of the seamless massage experience I hope for in a handheld gun. That’s not to say that this is not a quality device, but rather that it’s one that nails several features and has some ground to make up for on a couple of others. For now, I’ll be sticking with the gun I own, but with an eye on developments that may make the Hypervolt more of a contender in the future.
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The crowdfunding platform launched a halfhearted backpedaling campaign Wednesday, after a Dec. 8 plan to move its service to the blockchain was met with derision from the creators who depend on it. Kickstarter’s initial proposal, as fleshed out in a second, longer blog post from the company, would see the company help develop, fund, and utilize a decentralized crowdfunding protocol — something creators are clearly not feeling.
“[We’re] supporting the development of an open source protocol that will essentially create a decentralized version of Kickstarter’s core functionality,” wrote Kickstarter founder Perry Chen and CEO Aziz Hasan. “This will live on a public blockchain, and be available for collaborators, independent contributors, and even Kickstarter competitors, from all over the world to build upon, connect to, or use.”
Chen and Hasan made clear that “Kickstarter.com will be built on top of the protocol.” They did not, however, apparently consider the possibility that independent contributors might not want to build upon, connect to, or use such a product.
While the specifics of the creator concerns vary, they seem to break down into two main buckets: the potential environmental impacts of moving Kickstarter onto the blockchain, and Kickstarter campaigns being damaged by being associated (however distantly) with cryptocurrency scams.
“I joined the platform 12 years ago and have run 10 campaigns since then,” read one typical response. “I have a special place in my heart for KS, but I’m not backing another project until y’all walk this back.”
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Kickstarter’s Twitter mentions were flooded with similar comments.
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And so, on Wednesday, the company tried to calm the rising storm with a follow-up post.
“We know our community has a lot of questions about this new direction, including how it will benefit creators, and how we’ll stay true to our environmental commitments,” wrote the company. “We are listening.”
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We reached out to Kickstarter to determine just what, exactly, listening means in this context. After all, listening to creator concerns won’t mean much if those concerns are then ignored.
“We’ve heard from members of our community that we could have told the story of why we are supporting a decentralized protocol better,” replied a company spokesperson in part. “We’re working to paint a clearer picture of the opportunities and possibilities that the protocol will unlock for the community.”
Does that mean Kickstarter will abandon any of its blockchain plans? Not exactly.
“Many of these plans are still taking shape, and we’re planning more ways to gather input from the community as we move forward from here,” the spokesperson wrote.
If Kickstarter’s belated realization that the people actually using its service aren’t overly enthusiastic about the blockchain sounds familiar, that’s because it should. Discord, a group chat platform, teased and then walked back a possible NFT integration in November. Discord’s customers made it known that they were actively uninterested in the plan.
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Kickstarter, it seems, might have saved itself a headache had it taken the time to crowdsource a few opinions before announcing its blockchain strategy.
UPDATE: Dec. 16, 2021, 4:31 p.m. PST This post has been updated to include comment from a Kickstarter spokesperson.
Chris “CT” Tamburello — just CT to those of us who love MTV’s The Challenge — didn’t undergo a midlife crisis when he turned 40. Just the opposite. He calls it a midlife breakthrough.
“Instead of getting myself a big fancy car or anything like that, I went to a doctor,” the longtime reality star, now 41, told Mashable in an interview Wednesday. “And I was like: ‘What’s wrong with me? I’m not living right.’ Basically, it was mental health. It was in my own head. I was slowly killing myself, really.”
After a heart-to-heart with his wife and his doctor — and a whole slew of tests — Tamburello made the conscious decision to start taking care of himself, physically and mentally.
I was slowly killing myself, really.
“Honestly, I just cut a lot of the bullshit out of my life,” he said. “I found peace and just started taking care of myself, you know. [I] laid off the bottle, laid off crappy food, stopped eating my feelings… and really [had] people that I could talk to.”
The changes in his life have borne fruit. If you saw Tamburello this season on The Challenge: Spies, Lies & Allies, he looks like he jumped into a time machine. Gone are the days of “dad-bod” CT. He looks like the dude who once carried fellow champ Johnny Bananas on his back like a toddler.
But despite appearances, CT himself would tell you he’s a different person now. And that is why, in part, he (SPOILER ALERT) won this season of The Challenge. He took home a whopping $400,000, his share of the grand prize won alongside Kaycee Clark, his partner for the closing sprint of the grueling final. That’s back-to-back wins for CTand titles in three out of the last four seasons. That’s an unheard of level of success in the modern era of the show, where contestants train for The Challenge like it’s a pro sport.
“I feel vindicated,” said Tamburello, who previously walked away from the show for years. “I kind of came out of retirement because after having a kid, I didn’t want him to see me from the past. I wanted to get back [on] my feet, get in shape, and to get right. I feel like I’ve done that.”
CT, in action. Credit: MTV
It was a perfectly played season by the vet. This year, MTV stacked the cast with tons of new faces, plucked from other reality shows across the globe. The veteran players smartly aligned, eliminating rookies and pitting rooks against themselves, helpful cannon fodder that kept the pros safe. This was especially helpful for CT, considering he entered the season a four-time champ and the reigning winner. The target on his back was at least delayed until the rookies were churned through. That was a little surprising to CT, considering the usual cutthroat nature of a game.
I wanted to get back [on] my feet, get in shape, and to get right. I feel like I’ve done that.”
“So many people this season had a chance to take a shot at me,” Tamburello said. “But they stuck to their word, for whatever reason, and I appreciate that. Things could have been completely different for me. My road to the final could have been a hell of a lot harder.”
Yet, even as things got down to the nitty-gritty, Tamburello managed to keep himself out of eliminations. Then, when the final came, he made zero mistakes. He burned through puzzles, was as strong as ever, and never tired over the excruciating multi-day run.
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Still, Spies, Lies & Allies made clear that CT’s best traits as a competitor might not be physical. He avoided drama. He whispered self-serving ideas into other people’s ears without putting himself in danger. He was nobody’s top ally but nobody’s top enemy, either. Back in the day, he was a known brawler with a bad temper, often stirring up chaos in the house.
“One thing I’ve learned over the years is work smarter, not harder,” he said. “I’ve taken a backseat and a more passive approach to The Challenge.”
In a house mostly full of younger people who spent their whole lives watching reality TV, and who’ve carved out lives as reality TV stars, CT is different. His season of The Real World: Paris, aired 18 years ago. There were no formulas for being a reality star back then — people weren’t thinking about how to get storylines, there were no meta conversations about airtime or which archetypal character you were — you just kind of appeared on TV and that was that.
“A lot of people try to find where they fit in and how they fit into the show,” CT said about the modern era of The Challenge. “I’ll be honest with you: I’m still not quite sure what my role is. I’ve been sort of grandfathered in, I’ve been doing it for so long. At the same time, I took the opportunity to take that hand and play it the best way I could. What can I say, it’s paying off.”
SEE ALSO: MTV’s ‘The Challenge’ is America’s finest sport
To viewers and fans, he fulfills the role of the living legend in the house. The player everyone respects and definitely fears. He’s Tom Brady now, or Michael Jordan during his second Bulls run. He’s also one of, if not the only, remaining connection to The Challenge‘s roots, back when the show was a boozefest with far less money on the line. After this recent run from CT, you could argue either he or Bananas are the best male Challenge contestants ever — no one else comes close. Bananas won seven times to CT’s five, but a fair number of the former’s wins came when the show still had its training wheels on. Tamburello, who has now raked in more than $1.3 million in prize money, has also eclipsed Bananas in lifetime earnings.
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CT could have won even more from Spies, Lies & Allies, but in the season’s thrilling finale, he and Clark decided to share some of the cash with their fellow finalists. Host TJ Lavin threw in a twist right at the end: The ultimate winners decided how much of the $1 million grand prize they took home. Tamburello and Clark — who only teamed up for the very last sprint — elected to give the other four finalists $50,000 apiece. It was a bit of generosity that their fellow competitors greatly appreciated. And maybe also shows just how far CT has come since his first Challenge in 2004.
“It’s safe to say I wouldn’t have been able to get as far as I did If it wasn’t for all of them in the final,” CT said. “And look,I know what it’s like to go all that way, make it to a final, and to walk away with nothing…. 400 is enough, man, you know what I mean?”
“A lot of people try to find where they fit in and how they fit into the show… I’ll be honest with you: I’m still not quite sure what my role is. I’ve been sort of grandfathered in.”
Tamburello indicated in the season finale that he’d be back. And in our conversation, he talked about the show being a fantastic escape, jokingly referring to the Challenge house as Never-never Land.
“I get to go be a kid again,” he said. “I live in a bunk bed. I have to ask for snacks. I gotta wait for someone to pick me up in the morning and tell me what to do.”
As fun as it is, CT is under no illusions about what lies in wait for him the next season of Challenge. The target on his back is mountain-sized after winning back-to-back titles, especially when the vast majority of the cast has never won at all. His age be damned, CT’s not sneaking up on anyone anymore.
“It’ll go back to how it used to be,” he said. “I’m going to step off the plane and straight into the fire.”
Thanos’s snap in Avengers: Infinity War is arguably the single most consequential event in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To remove half of the living universe in one fell swoop amounts to a loss of life on a scale we barely have numbers to quantify. Then, everyone who remained behind had to cope with an impossible trauma. By the time Bruce Banner brought everybody back five years later, everyone on every world had changed forever. The aftermaths of both the snappening and un-snappening are simply a part of the MCU’s storytelling makeup from here on out.
It didn’t take long into Phase 4 for the MCU to show the aftermath of the blip from a layman’s perspective. WandaVision episode 4 showed Monica Rambeau’s chaotic return from being gone for five years as a barely staggered reverse-dusting that poofed billions of people back into reality at roughly the same time. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the doubled world population puts stress on the geopolitical structures that emerged in the five-year gap to handle the blip in the first place, leading to further inequality and extremism. However, it wasn’t until Hawkeye that the MCU showed what being blipped was actually like for those who disappeared. And the truth is horrifying.
Hawkeye episode 5 opens with the story of Yelena Belova’s blipping. Shortly after the events of Black Widow, Yelena is successfully working on her mission to free the remaining Black Widow agents of the Red Room’s chemical control. After that, her plan is to move to New York with her sister, Natasha, and finally have a family again. Minutes later, Thanos snaps somewhere in Wakanda. Yelena blips. When she returns, her first thought is to find Natasha, who the audience knows is already dead.
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The horrifying reality is that those who blipped didn’t actually feel anything. One moment Yelena was in a bathroom, and the next the bathroom walls were a different color as five years went by in a snap. There was no pain, no time to parse what the strange dust was, and no sense of disappearing with an impulse to say goodbye. According to the blipped, they stayed in place while the world around them changed in confusing and impossible ways. By the time they realized anything was wrong, they’d already lost five years of their lives.
Monica was asleep when she blipped. From her perspective, she took a nap and had a Rip van Winkle–esque awakening five years later. That somehow feels kinder than those who were conscious during the time shift, who didn’t even have the benefit of experiencing a transition between their lives in 2018 and the new reality of 2023.
Of course, both Monica and Yelena quickly discover that the one person they need to contact upon their return is dead. So, the result of their slightly different yet still traumatic blip circumstances is the same. Multiply what they went through by literal billions of life forms across an entire universe and the full effect of Thanos’s snap becomes even more unconscionable than it seemed in the first place. Put the entire MCU in therapy.
I have a confession: I’m a tab hoarder. My days online are spent digitally skipping from one tab to the next. I open new tabs, filling them with compelling news stories, Google docs, social media, and various random pages, then abandon several of them for weeks. I rarely return to complete the task I’d started, but leave the tabs open with an optimism that’s frankly not justified by my track record.
So, naturally, this was the habit I tackled first when I decided to overhaul how I use the internet and my devices for the coming New Year. With more concentration and less distraction as my guiding principle, I called Doreen Dodgen-Magee, a psychologist who’s written extensively about tech use and the author of Restart: Designing a Healthy Post-Pandemic Life, for advice.
She offered several helpful suggestions that go beyond the commonsense tips you’ve heard already, like setting a timer for social media and removing apps from your phone. But before I get to those, let me share what happened when I attempted to work in a single tab versus the 26 open in my Chrome browser and 14 in my Safari browser.
My first task: pruning my work inbox. Every morning, I receive at least 100 emails, only about a half-dozen of them worth thinking seriously about. Most days, I bounce back and forth between email and other tabs, often Twitter, Facebook, or news sites. (For journalists, social media is a form of reporting and thread-gathering.) This time, though, I sat with my single tab and combed through the messages, feeling unusually focused on the work.
Once finished, I returned to my 25 other tabs and didn’t feel overwhelmed. It was actually worse than that. Instead, I had an urge to click on whichever tab might give me the strongest satisfaction. At the moment, it was Twitter, where a parade of distractions might deliver fresh insight about the Omicron variant or humorous beefing between high-profile users. It brought to mind research experiments that offer rats doses of an addictive drug, like morphine or cocaine, and the way those rodents will sometimes just keep pressing a lever to get their hit, even if it eventually kills them. That’s when I realized it: My brain had not organized my choices around actual priorities but a physiological sensation of instant gratification and pleasure.
Even if I’d deluded myself into believing I was savvier than that, I couldn’t ignore the revelation. I had a problem. I needed to make changes that reoriented my brain away from distraction-based impulses and toward periods of deep, sustained focus.
In her book, Dodgen-Magee lays out strategies to do just this. The five that I found most transformative were: introducing pauses before I reached for my phone or opened a new tab; putting down my phone or closing a window after I’ve accomplished a certain goal; unitasking, or focusing on a single task rather than trying to juggle multiple things at once; changing my physical environment so that there’s a tactile activity that helps ground me when I’m spending a lot of time online; and silencing and distancing my devices, specifically my phone.
Dodgen-Magee also developed a comprehensive approach for identifying exactly which “habits” are best to adopt for your life. First, she recommends assessing your values to see whether your tech use aligns with the things you hold dearest, which could be principles like authenticity, knowledge, and competency. (Dodgen-Magee offers dozens of values as examples from which to choose.) Next, compare the two or three habits that dominate your daily life with your cherished values. Someone who prizes curiosity, for example, might think they’re fulfilling it by researching their interests online. Yet Dodgen-Magee says that when the browsing leads to nothing else — no lived experiences like taking a pottery class or learning a new language — it’s become a one-dimensional pursuit, with little in the way of genuine fulfillment. That makes it a habit to target for change.
To develop new habits, Dodgen-Magee suggests using “spotting points.” Think of the gymnast or snowboarder who goes tumbling through the air, but keeps her eyes fixed on a single point so she doesn’t come crashing down. Dodgen-Magee argues that we need the same kind of reference points to form healthy habits as our devices — and the algorithms that fuel our internet use — sometimes threaten to pull us far away from the most important things, like time spent with family, personal hobbies, and screenless adventures. A spotting point, then, is a value, goal, or role (like parent, friend) we use to steady ourselves and correct our worst online impulses.
“I think we’ve all spotted to being informed and quote-un-quote connected when in reality that doesn’t fit most of our values.”
“I think we’ve all spotted to being informed and quote-un-quote connected when in reality that doesn’t fit most of our values,” says Dodgen-Magee. “When you’re trying to spot to 18 different true norths, let’s actually take a look at your values…and see if they’re actually even attainable via connection with your tech.”
Full disclosure: I haven’t yet gone through the values assessment Dodgen-Magee recommends step-by-step, partly because I knew I needed deeper concentration and less distraction from the outset. But it’s an exercise worth trying, and something I’ll be doing to better reinforce the following new tech habits I’ve adopted.
Build in pauses
In some ways, pausing before grabbing a device or clicking a link might be the hardest skill to cultivate. But Dodgen-Magee says it’s essential for reacclimating the brain to a less frenzied existence. When there’s no pause and you follow an impulse to check out the clothing sale that just landed in your inbox, or to chase the next level in the game you’ve been playing, or to respond to the last five texts in a group thread, the brain will repeat that pattern again and again. For more internal stillness and external control over my digital choices, Dodgen-Magee recommends doing something to interrupt the habit of moving from one click to the next.
She likes setting a timer for two minutes each time you feel tempted to get online or use a device when it’s not necessary at that moment. Pausing between the reflex to act in a habitual way offers the brain an opportunity to develop new expertise, Dodgen-Magee writes in Restart.
I like the idea of expertise. My brain can master, for example, waiting before I randomly check to see if the recently renovated house in my neighborhood sold, and for how much. Home sale prices are one of my banal curiosities — and a habit totally enabled by the internet — but I don’t need to reach for my phone on a dog walk to get the miniscule rush that comes with knowing exactly how much someone paid. Indeed, if I really need to know, I can just set a time once a week to check, rather than making it a daily, random, time-wasting habit.
Dodgen-Magee also recommends adapting an acronym used in 12-step recovery programs known as HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) to introduce pauses during tech use. When the temptation to scroll, click, browse, or game comes over you, try first checking whether you’re feeling any of the emotions or sensations in HALT. If so, address those first, perhaps with a snack, meditation, outdoor walk, or another soothing activity. That break can make it easier to forego tech use and keep “spotting” toward your values.
Turn away from the screen
I’m not a Twitter power user, but there’s something about the platform that draws me in. I enjoy reading other people’s exchanges, finding new experts, and drawing insights about what’s on people’s minds. Sometimes scrolling on Twitter feels like I’ve got a metal detector in my hands, scanning the ground endlessly for a bit of treasure. So it’s unsurprising that Twitter is my go-to when I’ve finished writing a story, checking my email, or another task. Opening that window is like a reward, but I also waste a lot of time scrolling, then lose sight of what I want to accomplish next.
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That’s why I appreciated Dodgen-Magee’s recommendation to turn away from my screen once I’ve completed a task. This is a kind of pause, but in the reverse direction. By setting my phone down after replying to a text message versus randomly checking my bank account or fitness tracker simply because I can, I give my brain another opportunity to direct itself with purpose and meaning. What I choose to do in the minutes between meetings, deadlines, or online tasks is up to me, but Dodgen-Magee suggests making it an activity that aligns with my values and goals. For me, that could be five minutes doing physical therapy or leaving a sweet note on my daughter’s desk.
Change your physical environment
The longer you spend online, the easier it is to lose touch with your body. Body posture falters, breathing shortens, muscles tense. To bring yourself back into your physical being, she recommends adding something tactile to your desk, or wherever you most use your phone or tablet. This could be kinetic sand, fidget toys, Legos, or something similar. I opted for a medium-sized bowl of clothing buttons, which I collected from members of my Facebook Buy Nothing Group. As a child, I used to plunge my arm into a giant bin of buttons at the fabric store where my mother shopped, and found the motion surprisingly soothing. When I’m feeling particularly stressed during work, or struggling to turn away from my screen, I dunk my hand in the buttons as a way to restore calm. In turn, that makes it simpler to practice my other habits, like pausing or turning away from the screen.
Unitask
Prior to adopting Dodgen-Magee’s recommendations, my tech use looked like an impossible-to-finish maze. I would begin at my inbox, take a detour to Slack, then back to my inbox where I’d click on a story, read half of that, then text a friend about its contents, go to Twitter to see if anyone posted about it, and then forget what I’d set out to do in the first place. My personal tech use, filled with lots of scrolling, texting, weather-checking, online cart-filling, and podcast listening, was no less chaotic.
Dodgen-Magee reminded me that multitasking isn’t a thing. The brain simply can’t do it. A better name for multitasking would be task-switching, says Dodgen-Magee. But as a parent, spouse, sister, daughter, friend, and employee, I tricked myself into thinking otherwise. I stocked my online grocery cart while also cooking dinner. I meditated without silencing notifications, even though I know better. I texted my parents pictures of their grandchildren while walking and listening to a podcast.
Now, I’m building in pauses and consciously making a decision to do one thing at a time. I’m not always successful, but the truth is that it’s liberating. Surprisingly, my brain feels less overwhelmed. I’ve tried staying present for real-time Slack and text conversations with friends rather than toggling between windows and tasks during the brief silences while I’m waiting for the other person to respond. It’s more gratifying than I expected.
Silence and distance your devices
This may be the suggestion you’ve heard most, but it’s a critical one: Spend chunks of the day — even three-minute bursts— without your phone or device. To truly reorient the brain toward quiet and stillness, you need…quiet and stillness. I’m experimenting with iOS 15 Focus Mode, which lets you schedule silenced notifications during the workday, as well as at night and when driving. I’ve tried putting my phone into a zippered pouch during dinnertime. Sometimes the thought that I’m missing something, like an important text or Slack, tugs at me during the silence. More often than not, nothing happened.
Ultimately, I want to be comfortable with nothing happening. After nearly two years of pandemic chaos, I am grateful that my life is relatively uneventful. I just need to keep teaching my brain that’s a good thing, too.
Two things that feel really good: saving money and orgasming. Get the best of both with these sex toy deals — check out our top picks as of Dec. 15.
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We’re not saying that treating yourself to some new sex toys will almost certainly improve your life, but we’re also not not saying that. Spending some money on upping your solo sesh game or adding a little spice with a partner is well worth the investment. Though we do believe in springing for well-made toys since you’ll be putting them in, on, and around your genitals, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to drop a ton of cash. Every week, we’ll be rounding up the best deals directly from manufacturers and online sex shops alike, so you can find a toy you’ll love, at prices you’ll love (almost) as much. Check out our finds from this week below.
Vibrator deals
Credit: Lelo
Our pick: Lelo Soraya Wave rabbit vibrator
$179.99 at Lovehoney (save $45)
Why we like it
Check out Mashable’s official review of the Lelo Soraya Wave.
Admittedly, this vibrator sits on the pricier end of the spectrum, but it also is not your one-trick bullet vibe. As you’d expect from a rabbit vibrator, it provides internal and external stimulation, and that internal stimulation is boosted by Lelo’s Wave Motion technology, which replicates a “come hither” motion and actually has the potential to do something for you G-spot. In other words, it’s a rabbit vibrator that can actually deliver on dual stimulation (groundbreaking). Along with being waterproof, reviewers also noted that this vibe was pretty damn quiet, so for those who share a space, shelling out might just be worth it.
$39.95 at Pink Cherry (save $50.04 with code CHEER)
Why we like it
Suction toys are great for those that love all the attention on their clit, but they can also be quite expensive. With the Satisfyer Pro 2, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for cost. Unlike other clit stimulators, the Pro 2 uses air pulses and vibrations (with 10 different vibration modes, by the way), so getting that just-right intensity is as easy as it should be. Plus, this USB rechargeable waterproof toy allows you to take those good vibes to the bath and shower without any worries.
More clitoral stimulator and suction toy deals:
Lelo Sona Cruise — $90.01$137.99 (save $47.98)
Zumio I — $93.99 $109.99 (save $16)
Better Love Tap Dancer — $117.50$175.99 (save $58.49)
When it comes down to it, everyone will have their own preferences when it comes to dildos (or any sex toys, for that matter), but here’s why this one is worth a second look. The silicone exterior minimizes friction (though we recommend using with a water-based lube to make sure everything goes extra smoothly), and it can strap in to harnesses. It’s a no-frills, quality dildo that’s big without being massive, and free of any weird curves that bring more pain than pleasure.
More dildo deals:
Doc Johnson Smoothie 18″ Double Dong — $9.98$19.95 (save $9.97 with code BONUS50)
Adam & Eve Cool Curve Jelly Dildo — $12.48$24.95 (save $12.47 with code BONUS50)
Adam & Eve Eve’s Vibrating Strapless Strap-On — $39.98$79.95 (save $39.97 with code BONUS50)
Pleasure Works First Mate Firm Core Silicone Dildo — $79.99$99.99 (save $20)
Le Wand Bow Wand Metal Dildo —$114.99$134.99 (save $20)
Deals on sex toys for penises
Credit: Fleshlight
Our pick: Fleshlight Go Stamina Training Unit Lady Pack
$66.45 at Fleshlight (save $15.40)
Why we like it
When it comes to sex toys specifically for people with penises, Fleshlight might just be the most recognizable name out there, and for good reason — they’re masters at the masturbation sleeve. Fleshlight’s sleeves have made our favorites list before, and this bundle comes with a compact version of one of the brand’s most popular sleeves, the Stamina Training Unit, as well as lube and cleaner. This deal’s a holiday special though, so don’t wait around if you’re looking to save some cash.
More deals on sex toys for penises:
Pipedream Ass-Gasm Penis Ring Plug — $11.48$22.95 (save $11.47 with code BONUS50)
Cal Exotics Super Head Honcho Masturbator — $14.98 $29.95 (save $14.97 with code BONUS50)
Cal Exotics Silicone Rechargeable Rockin’ Rabbit Enhancer — $19.98$39.95 (save $19.97 with code BONUS50)
Satisfyer Men Heat Masturbator — $54.95$79.99 (save $25.04)
Fleshlight Go Stamina Training Unit Lady Pack — $66.45$81.85 (save $15.40)
$14.98 at Adam & Eve (save $14.97 with code BONUS50)
Why we like it
We’ll be blunt — anal play can feel really great, but jumping right in to putting a seven-inch dildo up your butt can be markedly less so. That’s where an anal training kit, like this one from Adam & Eve, comes in. These three sizes of silicone plugs are designed to slide in with minimal friction, and allow you to work your way up to what feels best. The tapered tips and bottoms makes insertion simple and safe, and according to reviewers, these plugs are perfect for beginner use.
UPDATE: Dec. 15, 2021, 5:30 p.m. EST This story has been updated to reflect current pricing, including many picks up to $100 cheaper than their prices from the week of Dec. 6.
The Samsung 70-inch TU6958 Series 4K Crystal UHD TV offers enjoyable HDR on a big screen for a small price — $599.99$749.99 (save $150)
The LG 65-inch C1 Series OLED 4K TV has dazzling picture that can keep up with gaming — $1,796.99$2,499.99 (save $703)
The Insignia 70-inch F30 4K Fire TV operates on Amazon’s Fire TV platform and is cheaper than it was on Black Friday — $499.99$749.99 (save $250)
Large 4K TVs no longer have to cost an exorbitant amount of money. Rather, these high-quality TVs featuring punchy colors, decipherable shadows, and smooth transitions are actually affordable for regular consumers. And to make them even more budget-friendly, we’ve gathered up the best deals on 4K and QLED TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more.
Samsung TV deals
Credit: Samsung
Our pick: Samsung 70-inch TU6958 Series 4K Crystal UHD TV
$599.99 at Best Buy (save $150)
Why we love it
A 70-inch TV from Samsung for less than $600? That should say it all. Though it’s not anything super fancy in the 4K category, the TU6985 Series still gets great reviews for being crisp and responsive for the price. This price could drop closer to $529.99 (we’re thinking of a 70-inch Samsung TV deal from Black Friday 2020), but the TV could also sell out before that happens.
More Samsung TVs on sale
Samsung 50-inch Q60A QLED TV — $579.99$699.99 (save $120)
Samsung 50-inch The Frame QLED TV — $849$1,299.99 (save $450.99)
Samsung 55-inch 7 Series 4K TV — $399.99$499.99 (save $100)
Samsung 55-inch Q70A QLED TV — $799.99$999.99 (save $200)
Samsung 55-inch Neo QLED QN90A Series 4K TV — $1,377$1,799.99 (save $422)
Samsung 65-inch 7 Series 4K TV — $499.99$649.99 (save $100)
Samsung 65-inch The Frame QLED TV — $1,447.99$1,999.99 (save $552)
Samsung 70-inch Q60A Series QLED TV — $999.99$1,349.99 (save $350)
Samsung 75-inch 7 Series 4K TV — $929.99$1,099.99 (save $170)
Samsung 75-inch Q70A Series QLED TV — $1,499.99$2,099.99 (save $600)
LG TV deals
Credit: LG
Our pick: LG 65-inch C1 Series OLED 4K TV
$1,796.99 at Amazon (save $703)
Why we love it
The LG C1’s OLED display has more than 8 million pixels to bring you deep blacks and vibrant colors. Its 4K AI processor adjusts with the content to ensure everything you watch looks the best it can. Its zippy refresh rate keeps heavy-graphics gaming on point, too.
More LG TVs on sale
LG 48-inch A1 Series OLED 4K TV — $796.99$1,199.99 (save $303)
LG 48-inch C1 Series OLED 4K TV — $1,096.99$1,599.99 (save $403)
LG 55-inch NanoCell 80 4K TV — $646.99$799.99 (save $153)
LG 55-inch A1 Series 4K OLED TV — $1,096.99$1,299.99 (save $203)
LG 65-inch NanoCell 75 Series 4K TV — $729.99$949.99 (save $220)
LG 65-inch 90 Series QNED Mini LED 4K TV — $1,599.99$1,999.99 (save $400)
LG 70-inch UP8070 4K TV — $749.99$999.99 (save $250)
LG 70-inch NanoCell 75 Series 4K TV — $899.99$1,199.99 (save $300)
Sony TV deals
Credit: Sony
Our pick: Sony 55-inch X80J 4K TV
$549.99 at Best Buy (save $250)
Why we love it
Sony doesn’t often have the budget-friendly range that Samsung or LG do, so a 50-inch 4K TV for under $550 feels lucky. This X80J and the slightly more expensive X85J use different panels and offer different viewing experiences. If you care about wide viewing angles, this living room-sized X80J is the way to go.
More Sony TVs on sale
Sony 50-inch X85J 4K TV — $649.99$849.99 (save $200)
Sony 55-inch X85J 4K TV — $749.99$999.99 (save $250)
Sony 65-inch X85J 4K TV — $899.99$1,199.99 (save $300)
Sony 65-inch X90J Bravia XR 4K TV — $1,198$1,499.99 (save $301.99)
Sony 75-inch X85J 4K TV — $1,199.99$1,599.99 (save $400)
Sony 75-inch X90J 4K TV — $1,599.99$2,099.99 (save $500)
Sony 77-inch X80J OLED 4K TV — $2,999.99$3,499.99 (save $500)
The 70-inch version of this Fire TV is $70 cheaper than it was for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The F30 series is the latest version of one of the best bargain TVs available. (It’s not to be confused with Amazon’s Omni series) It makes content look crisper than a non-4K TV does — plus, it has the Fire TV platform built in.
More TVs from TCL, Vizio, and more
Insignia 43-inch 4K Fire TV — $249.99$319.99 (save $70)
TCL 43-inch Class 4-Series 4K TV — $245.98$349.99 (save $104.01)
Pioneer 50-inch 4K TV — $279.99$469.99 (save $190)
Insignia 50-inch Class F30 4K Fire TV — $299.99$449.99 (save $150)
Hisense 55-inch ULED U7G TV — $599.99$849.99 (save $250)
Insignia 65-inch Class F30 4K Fire TV — $449.99$699.99 (save $250)
Hisense 65-inch 65A6G 4K TV — $449.99$599.99 (save $150)
Hisense 70-inch A6G 4K TV — $549.99$849.99 (save $300)
Hisense 120-inch L9 Series TriChroma Laser ALR TV — $4,999.99 $5,999.99 (save $1,000)
Explore related content:
The best Apple deals as of Dec. 14: iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch, and more
The best 4K TVs: For gamers, Netflix binge-watchers, and everyone else
One of the reasons I’m so excited to see movies in theaters again is getting to watch trailers on a big screen. You may think that there are too many trailers before movies nowadays, but you can’t deny that special moment right after a really good trailer plays. You can feel the excitement of the other people in the theater, a collective sense of, “Wow, we should go see that.”
That’s because trailers are an art form in themselves. They have to tease the most exciting parts of a movie without giving too much away, which is a hard balance to pay off. When done well, they get us invested and leave us with key images and dialogue that stick with us until the film’s release. Sometimes a good trailer can be even better than the film it’s promoting.
Whether they’re giving us an adrenaline rush or making us cry, the following trailers are all absolute winners that you’ll want to watch again and again. Take a look at the 15 best movie trailers of 2021.
15. Marry Me
Is the trailer for Marry Me as tightly edited or well-scored as other trailers higher up on this list? No. Does it feature one of the most memorable and unhinged moments out of any trailer this year? Absolutely.
The sneak peek starts out simply enough: pop superstars Kat (Jennifer Lopez) and Bastian (Maluma) are getting married at a massive concert event, and single math teacher Charlie (Owen Wilson) is wrangled into going. Things quickly go off the rails for both Kat and Charlie, resulting in a brilliantly bonkers rom-com set up that’ll have you asking, “What?” I don’t want to spoil anything, so just watch the trailer and bask in the insanity. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Fellow
How to watch: Marry Me is in theaters Feb. 11.
14. The Suicide Squad
From the trailer alone, James Gunn’s take on DC Comics’ misfit team of day-saving anti-heroes is a massive step up from the 2016 abomination that introduced the world to LetoJoker. The April 2021 trailer for The Suicide Squad set up the movie’s dizzyingly impressive ensemble cast, with standout moments for John Cena, Idris Elba, David Dastmalchian, and, obviously, returning star Margot Robbie. And it’s all set to a haunting rendition of Steam’s classic, forever-hummable one-hit wonder, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.” — Adam Rosenberg, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch:The Suicide Squad is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Prime, and more.
13. Shiva Baby
Here’s the thing: Shiva Baby is a comedy, but its trailer makes it feel like straight-up horror. Thanks to an unsettling score that would be right at home in any horror movie, close-ups on Danielle’s (Rachel Sennott) increasingly unnerved face, and invasive dialogue that cuts to the bone, this trailer nails Shiva Baby‘s sense of claustrophobia and anxiety. There are still plenty of laughs throughout, with a final punchline that firmly sticks the landing, but the brilliance of this trailer lies in its ability to play with genre conventions without giving too much away. — B.E.
How to watch:Shiva Baby is now streaming on HBO Max.
12. Turning Red
And the award for best use of *NSYNC in a trailer goes to…Turning Red!
The boy band’s hit “It’s Gonna Be Me” takes on a whole new meaning when paired with the protagonist of Pixar’s upcoming film, 13 year-old Mei (voiced by Rosalie Chiang). Get it? Because when *NYSNC sings “me” it sounds like “Mei”? Brilliant!
Aside from the inspired song choice, the trailer for Turning Red introduces Mei’s biggest secret: When she experiences intense emotions, she turns into a giant red panda. Mei’s panda form is extra adorable, as are her interactions with her friends and family. Every joke and emotional beat in the trailer lands, but would we really expect anything less from Pixar? — B.E.
How to watch: Turning Red is in theaters March 4.
11. In the Heights
Life works differently in musicals: Everything’s heightened, from the drama to the visuals to the emotions, and set to the beat of a song. That intensity is what comes across most of all in the stunning second trailer for In the Heights, which plays up the irresistible rhythm, the joy and heartbreak of the characters, and the awesome dazzle of the dance numbers. Though you can watch In the Heights on HBO Max, this trailer makes clear this film was meant to be seen on the big screen, with a big crowd to weep and laugh and cheer along with you. — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor
How to watch:In the Heights is now streaming on HBO Max.
10. The Batman
When we watched the first trailer for The Batman in 2020, the movie hadn’t even finished filming. The film’s second trailer, released after shooting wrapped, gives us a fuller idea of what Robert Pattinson’s version of Bruce Wayne will be up against. Feast your eyes on the film’s cast of villains, including the Riddler (Paul Dano), Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), and the Penguin (Colin Farrell); seriously brutal action sequences; and some fascinating latte art.
While the plot is still very much under wraps, the trailer establishes that this iteration of the Caped Crusader will be darker and moodier than any of its predecessors — good news for superhero fans who like a lot of edge in their movies. — B.E.
How to watch: The Batman is in theaters March 4.
9. Last Night in Soho
Less is more in the trailer for Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho. Equal parts thrilling, mysterious, and stylish, the trailer only features one line of dialogue and leaves much of the movie’s story up to the imagination. However, what we do see is more than enough to pique our curiosity: hands bursting out of floorboards, lavish musical performances, and an eerie scene where Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy mirror each other flawlessly, all set to Taylor-Joy’s haunting rendition of Petula Clark’s “Downtown.” — B.E.
How to watch:Last Night in Soho is in theaters and available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Prime, and more.
8. Army of the Dead
There’s no denying Zack Snyder knows how to sell a movie. Set to an edgier take on Kenny Rogers’ country tune “The Gambler,” the explosive trailer for Army of the Dead starts syrupy and slow, but builds to the high-octane action Snyder fans love. In just three minutes, this preview introduces us to all the key facts we need about this zombie-heist hybrid, setting up an impossible burglary plan undertaken against a backdrop of Las Vegas-borne living dead.
It’s an appropriately flashy first glimpse at what turned out to be a pretty fun movie. Sure, they didn’t really deliver on that whole “They’re smarter, they’re faster, they’re organized” tease — as it turned out, Army of the Dead’s zombies weren’t all that different from what we’ve seen on screen before — but Dave Bautista and that zombie tiger definitely lived up to the hype. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch:Army of the Dead is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Zola
Zola, based on the epic 148-tweet Twitter thread by A’Ziah “Zola” King, pulls much of its aesthetic from social media. So does the trailer, which features onscreen likes, screenshots, and the buzzing of notifications. These details prime us for director Janicza Bravo’s slick and stylized approach to adapting a piece of internet history. On top of that, the trailer is full of brilliant line deliveries by the cast (Taylour Paige’s deadpan “word” is perfection), and its clips of escalating insanity come to life with Mykki Blanco’s song “My Nene.” When Zola (Paige) asks the instantly iconic question, “You wanna hear a story about how me and this bitch fell out?” you’ll have no choice but to answer, “yes, 100%.” — B.E.
How to watch:Zola is streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime with a Showtime subscription.
6. Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon‘s trailer covers so much ground in such a short amount of time: It serves as an introduction to the world of Kumandra, establishes Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) and Sisu’s (Awkwafina) relationship, and even manages to throw in an epic action sequence involving a mischievous con baby. It’s engaging from the very first second, and a perfect showcase for the film’s gorgeous animation.
The trailer kicks into high gear in its last minute, with the use of Tamara Bubble’s song “I’m That Good” lifting it from good to absolutely great. Suddenly, we’re treated to snippets of high-intensity fight scenes, mostly between Raya and Namaari (Gemma Chan), setting up their rivalry and raising the bar for the film’s action. It’s epic, adrenaline rush-worthy, and absolutely makes you want to see what comes next. — B.E.
How to watch:Raya and the Last Dragon is now streaming on Disney+.
5. House of Gucci
The trailer for Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci could have just been Lady Gaga strutting around in Gucci clothing and it still would have made this list. What we got is even better. Set to Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” this trailer invites us into a world of decadence, greed, and great outfits. In between the dubious Italian accents and snippets of Gaga romancing Adam Driver, we get juicy soundbites like the instantly iconic “Father, son, and House of Gucci.”
The trailer’s finest moment comes wrapped in a red ski suit and fur hat: Gaga stirs the absolute hell out of a teeny-tiny espresso cup while declaring: “I don’t consider myself to be a particularly ethical person, but I am fair.” What a line. What a performance. What a trailer. — B.E.
How to watch: House of Gucci is now in theaters.
4. West Side Story
The trailer for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story could only ever open with drowsy Manhattan and the telling whistle tag of this musical — but it invokes full-body chills nonetheless. The whistles build, adding drums and bits of fanfare until we see the Jets’ and Sharks’ shadows confront each other, then cut to black.
The teaser’s final 40 seconds are a dizzying blur of color and movement, from the iconic dance at the gym to fights between the gangs and intoxicating shots of dancing Anita. But whoever cut this trailer spared no emotion, setting that second half to a pared-down version of “Somewhere” sung by none other than the original Anita, Rita Moreno. Reader, I just sobbed upon a rewatch. Give this trailer an Oscar. — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch:West Side Story is in theaters Dec. 10.
3. Licorice Pizza
You know you’re in for a treat when the first look at Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza kicks off with David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” The classic tune perfectly accompanies this trailer, which manages to give as few details as possible while still evoking a strong sense of nostalgia. We see flashes of young actor Gary’s (Cooper Hoffman) life in the San Fernando Valley, the beginnings of his relationship with Alana (Alana Haim), and a tense encounter with film producer Jon Peters (Bradley Cooper). The trailer manages to be funny, tender, and sad all at once, and it establishes Hoffman and Haim as actors to watch. — B.E.
How to watch: Licorice Pizza is in select theaters now, with a wide release Dec. 25.
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2. Spider-Man: No Way Home
Possibly the most anticipated movie of 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home needed a trailer that would deliver on the astronomical hype. Luckily, this trailer did that with just two words: “Hello, Peter.”
Sure, we see the repercussions of Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s ending, but that’s all blown out of the water by the trailer’s final seconds. An appearance by Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock and a hint of Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin? The MCU spider-verse is open for business, and we couldn’t be more excited. — B.E.
How to watch: Spider-Man: No Way Home is in theaters Dec. 17.
1. The Green Knight
The trailer for David Lowery’s The Green Knight— based on the Arthurian tale Sir Gawain and the Green Knight — is nothing short of a fantasy masterpiece. Edited to perfection, it strikes the perfect balance between dreamy and epic, all while showcasing Dev Patel’s commanding lead performance.
The Green Knight‘s trailer spoils us with stunning imagery: giants roaming through stark landscapes, stars blurring as they move across the sky, the Green Knight in all his forest-y glory, Patel in a variety of medieval outfits. Accompanying these visuals is Black Math’s “Lapse,” a song that ended up on my Spotify Wrapped because of my obsession with this trailer. Separately, the music and visuals are good. Together, they’re great, creating a trailer that is gorgeous, entrancing, and atmospheric. — B.E.
How to watch:The Green Knight is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Prime, and more.
2021 gave us some truly fantastic movies and TV shows, but it also gave us a ton of specific onscreen moments to obsess over. We highlighted these entertainment standouts every week in our “Thanks, I Love It” series, discussing everything from stellar animation to Marvel musicals.
Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on some of our favorite entertainment moments of the entire year, including jaw-dropping dance scenes, scene-stealing performances, and no less than two fights involving public transit. Here, in no particular order, are the very specific things from film and TV this year that made us go, “Thanks, I love it!”
1. The Shang-Chi bus battle
Simu Liu, welcome to the MCU. Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings may have culminated with classic Marvel CGI spectacle, but the first two acts include some of the best hand-to-hand combat and action Marvel has ever seen — including the iconic bus battle.
Shang (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina) are minding their own business when they’re attacked by members of the Ten Rings who want Shang’s pendant. After Katy’s desperate “Does he look like he can fight?” (yes), Shang unleashes his years of martial arts training upon the attackers. The sequence has almost too many brilliant beats to count: A rider immediately broadcasting the fight (Zach Cherry, in his second Marvel cameo), the brakes giving out so the whole thing turns into Speed, the bus splitting in two while Shang manages to save all the passengers. Watch this one over and over (and broken down in Marvel’s Assembled on Disney+), and you’ll always find something new to love. — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Shang-Chi is now streaming on Disney+.
2. Connie Britton’s “hatchet job”
Where does one even begin with Mike White’s The White Lotus? The music was maddening, the finale buildup was jaw-clenchingly stressful, and performances from actors like Murray Bartlett and Hollywood treasure Jennifer Coolidge were masterful. It was a wild ride filled with twists, turns, and truth bombs, but four months after the shit show of a finale aired (sorry), one scene still plays on a loop in my head. Calm down, it isn’t a NSFW one. I’m obviously talking about Connie Britton’s character Nicole obliterating Alexandra Daddario’s character Rachel by the pool with the iconic, unforgettable line, “That was a hatchet job!”
Britton is queen. I mean, her range! Somewhere out there, Eric Taylor is shaking. Not many scenes can leave me simultaneously giddy, giggling, and genuinely scared for my life, but her fierce and unforgiving delivery was so on the mark that I nearly spiraled into my own career crisis from secondhand mortification. It remains a standout scene of the year and of Britton’s career. — Nicole Gallucci, Senior Editor, Editorial Operations
How to watch: The White Lotus is now streaming on HBO Max.
3. Sex Education‘s raunchy a capella
You know you’re in for a ribald ride the second Moordale Secondary’s choir begins singing “suck-a, suck-a, suck-a.” Still, it’s no less shocking when they launch full-tilt into a spirited rendition of Peaches’ “Fuck the Pain Away.” The song appears twice over the course of Sex Education‘s third season, and both times it is an absolute joy. The juxtaposition of the cutesy choir singing and the song’s lyrics? Hilarious. The performers’ enthusiasm? Infectious. Mr. Hendricks’ (Jim Howick) pride in his students? Adorable.
“Fuck the Pain Away” (Moordale’s Version) is a perfect anthem for “sex school” Moordale, and for Sex Education as a whole. My only complaint is how catchy it is: This is not the kind of song you want to be caught singing absentmindedly in public. I speak from experience. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Fellow
How to watch: Sex Education is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Daniel Radcliffe’s fabulous dance scene in Miracle Workers
Go, Daniel, go! Credit: Photograph by Tyler Golden / Warner Bros.
This wildly irreverent comedy series has moved from heaven to the hell of the Dark Ages to the wild terrain of the Oregon Trail. On each venture, Daniel Radcliffe has played a reliably lovable clown. Yet the dynamic actor/executive producer took on a bold new challenge in “What Happens in Branch Water.” There, pious Reverend Ezekiel Brown chugged snake oil (literally), shed his skin (metaphorically), and took to the saloon stage like 1844’s’ answer to Ziggy Stardust. He vogued, twerked, and shimmied with pride, all while singing a bangin’ dance remix of “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain.” It was outrageous. It was hilarious. And look, I’m not going to lie, it was hot. — Kristy Puchko, Deputy Entertainment Editor
How to watch: Miracle Workers is now streaming on HBO Max and TBS.
5. Ben Affleck in The Last Duel
Color me surprised: When the first trailer dropped for Ridley Scott’s epic about a rape and the resulting true story about the last legal duel in France, watching it sounded exhausting. But the film — named one of Mashable’s best of the year — is excellent, a smart satire of toxic masculinity featuring great performances by Adam Driver and Jodie Comer. But I was most delighted by Affleck’s supporting turn as Pierre d’Alençon, the layabout cousin of the king. Affleck is having a blast in this thing, and he looks it, too, whether he’s having a late-night orgy at the palace or conferring with his bestie, Driver. Each line reading? Spectacular. The terrible hair? Inspired. A knowing smirk to the audience in each background shot? Playful perfection. Let the Oscar campaign begin. — Erin Strecker, Entertainment Editor
How to watch: The Last Duel is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Prime, and more.
6. Y: The Last Man’s Radiohead vigil
This haunting scene, featuring a candlelit a capella version of beloved all-male band Radiohead’s “Karma Police,” is one of the few where Y: The Last Man stops fixating on the overwhelming political, social, practical (and yes, occasionally positive) effects of all cis men dying, and provides a place for the survivors to grieve for something else that is lost in almost all fictional apocalypses: the space we make in our lives for art and music. In a year where I vowed never again to take for granted the magic of live music, it hit hard.
In amongst the horror of all the cis men loved and lost by our surviving main characters, as well as the ever-present loss of so many literal men in the street, the show only once addresses the fact that also on the billions-long list of dead dudes are the famous ones whose art and work meant something to people.
Yes, we’re all absolutely sick to death of mournful, dark covers of classic songs — but here, it made perfect sense. — Caitlin Welsh, Australia Editor
How to watch: Y: The Last Man is now streaming on Hulu.
7. Raya and the Last Dragon‘s fight scenes
Let’s get ready to rumble! Credit: Disney
Every time a weapon is drawn in Raya and the Last Dragon, you can expect epic action with heavy personal stakes. The movie’s best fights are between friends-turned-enemies Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) and Namaari (Gemma Chan). You feel the animosity in each encounter, with the fighters holding nothing back. Seriously, this is the first time I’ve watched a Disney movie and thought, “Wow, they might actually kill each other.” The fight choreography, which incorporates several Southeast Asian martial arts, is phenomenal and beautifully animated, and the end results are among the best combat scenes put to film this year. — B.E.
How to watch: Raya and the Last Dragon is now streaming on Disney+.
8. Wild Bill Hancock’s eloquent potty mouth on Heels
As a writer, I love an elegantly dirty line. The syllabic beauty of naughty words strung together with panache packs a bigger punch than standard taunts, and no television character’s potty mouth punches harder than Wild Bill Hancock’s on Heels. Heels‘ family drama is as quality as it gets, but when the Spade brothers are off screen, it’s Wild Bill’s show.
To Bill, all the world’s a stage. The bombastic, performatively cruel showmanship that made him a top-tier heel in professional wrestling is just who he is— and that cruelty comes out with an intelligence that transforms wrestling ring low-blows into a symphony of biblical references, Shakespearean syntax, and X-rated content. Whether he’s politely informing a woman of the three places men daydream about putting their…well, you know, or declaring with aplomb that he must fake his own death to avoid the shame of pooping his pants, Bill speaks like his every word should be written down as a dirtbag commandment. With Heels renewed for Season 2, I can’t wait to hear what comes out of his mouth next. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Heels is now streaming on Starz.
9. The magical women of Dune and The Wheel of Time
Duneand The Wheel of Timewere two of 2021’s biggest science-fiction and fantasy adaptations, and both feature orders of women with extraordinary abilities: the Bene Gesserit and the Aes Sedai. As a big fan of Frank Herbert’s Dune and a new reader of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, I couldn’t have been more thrilled to see both groups come to life onscreen this year.
Dune‘s Bene Gesserit are strong yet sinister, with their commanding use of the Voice and weird way of fighting instantly landing them in the sci-fi film hall of fame. The Aes Sedai are similarly powerful, with The Wheel of Time‘s showrunner Rafe Judkins smartly expanding on their storyline in Season 1. As a result, we see more of their use of the One Power and learn more about their relationships and in-fighting. Both projects take time to develop these groups of strong, fascinating, flawed women, and they’re better adaptations for it. — B.E.
How to watch: Dune is in theaters and available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Prime, and more. The Wheel of Time is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
10. The shadow puppetry in Candyman
Don’t say it. Credit: Universal Pictures
We’ll say it five times: Nia DaCosta’s Candyman was an exceptional, multidisciplinary piece of art. Notably, the director wielded a traditionally child-like storytelling form to present harrowing events from the past. Handcrafted by Chicago’s Manual Cinema (none of it CGI), shadow puppetry is used to recreate past vignettes of racist violence and injustice toward Black people, connected to the Candyman urban legend but inextricably linked to real events.
The shadow puppetry, stark and sinister, appears when William Burke (Colman Domingo) tells artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) the tragic origin of Candyman: artist Daniel Robitaille (Tony Todd, from the original film). In the end credits, puppetry also conjures subsequent manifestations of Candyman, each reminiscent of the real (and ongoing) history of white supremacy, systemic violence, wrongful accusations, and atrocities against Black people in America. Each tale’s consistent aesthetic forges chilling connections between past and present. In fact, the shadow puppetry was so crucial to the film, the title font and marketing material employed the same visual theme. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
How to watch: Candyman is available for rent and purchase on iTunes, Amazon, and more.
11. Mike Faist in West Side Story
The tragic love story at the center of West Side Story is a main reason the show has remained so beloved for 60+ years. But watching Steven Spielberg’s remake, I came away with a new appreciation for Riff, the tough-talking, doomed leader of the Jets. Played to heartbreaking perfection by Broadway vet Mike Faist (Dear Evan Hansen), he is just one example of the highs movie musicals can reach when they cast, you know, actual Broadway performers. He’s wildly charismatic, and whether he’s rumbling or singing, you can’t tear your eyes away. — E.S.
How to watch: West Side Story hit theaters Dec. 10.
12. My YA crush getting an Indian love interest
Starting in 2003, I devoured the Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz. I ended up inevitably developing a crush on the troubled teen super spy at their center, and was weirdly jealous of his fictional crush, Sabina — a name too suspiciously South Asian for me to not imagine myself in the role. My cousin and I would joke that I could play her in a movie, because back then casting an Indian girl as romantic lead in a YA adaptation was indeed laughable.
Fast forward to 2021, when IMDb TV’s Alex Rider Season 2 cast Sabina as none other than British-Indian actress Charithra Chandran. Chandran brings a much-needed three-dimensionality to the character, and it was genuinely moving for me as a fan to see her in the role. I realized that my teen “jokes” about inserting a South Asian actress into this story were actually what I desperately wanted to see, and I’m grateful that Alex Rider came into the world at a time when we can have that. — P.K.
How to watch: Alex Rider is now streaming on IMDb TV.
13. Invincible’s subway scene
The worst father-son bonding experience ever. Credit: Courtesy of Amazon Studios
Amazon’s Invincible, adapted from Robert Kirkman’s superior comics about a kid superhero living in a very real and unforgiving world, is like an eight-episode-long gut punch. For my money though, the subway moment — a scene that never even happened on the page — hit the hardest.
The season-long crumbling of Mark Grayson’s relationship with his father, Nolan, finally boils over in “Where I Really Come From.” As father — who we’ve now learned is a secret alien conqueror — and son brawl their way around the planet, a late rally for Mark finds them at a temporary standstill in a subway tunnel. It doesn’t last, though.
Nolan suddenly seizes the upper hand, grabs his son by the head, and holds him suspended in the air, facing forward, as a train barrels toward them both. He’s only able to watch as his own indestructible body rends the crowded train in two, spilling gallons of blood as every passenger on board is killed. If Nolan ever possessed a shred of humanity, it’s clearly long gone. It’s a wrenching scene that fully sells the enormity of Nolan’s betrayal, and it’s a moment that is sure to ripple outwards through the rest of the series. — Adam Rosenberg, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch:Invincible is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
14. The big reveal in Malignant
I’ll admit, Malignant is controversial. The latest sci-fi thriller from James Wan, released in September, landed itself in the hot seat over a ridiculous, finale plot twist. But it’s one that I personally loved. Spoilers ahead.
When Madison Mitchell (Annabelle Wallis) first discovered she had a conjoined twin, I was annoyed. At that point, the reveal that our hero had some kind of parasite, and in fact was not being haunted, seemed obvious. But later, when she learned that conjoined twin had been living in the back of her skull for 27 years — then finally grew strong enough to hijack her body, manipulate her limbs, and enact his revenge but BACKWARDS — I laughed so hard I cried.
The fun of Malignant’s not-so-surprise ending is the tremendous commitment Wan brings to it. The unique combat, gory kills, and spinning cinematography make the big battle against its main monster one of the most flat-out entertaining things I saw all year. It’s a ludicrous finish to a really fun film that I’m still yelling about. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Malignant is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Prime, and more.
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15. Alessia Cara is here!
Yes, Brooke Dubek (Heléne Yorke) kept talking about Alessia Cara all throughout The Other Two‘s second season, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that the pop star would actually show up. So imagine my astronomic excitement when she appeared in the season’s ninth episode and asked Brooke to be her manager.
Brooke’s obsession with Alessia Cara is my favorite running gag of Season 2. It is so random yet so specific, and Yorke’s commitment to the bit is Emmy-worthy. Alessia Cara’s cameo is the cherry on top of a perfect joke, and the greatest comedy wish fulfillment of 2021. Also, Alessia Cara is a great actress — props to you, Alessia Cara, you smashed it. — B.E.
How to watch: The Other Two is now streaming on HBO Max.
TL;DR: As of Dec. 15, save up to 35% on a range of Samsung handheld and robot vacuums at Amazon, including the Samsung Jet Bot Robot Vacuum for $385 and the Samsung 90 + Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum for $475, the latter of which comes with a Clean Station.
Regret missing out on those Dyson Black Friday deals, or realizing that you could really use a Roomba to pick up after your holiday party? Worry not — Amazon’s got a bunch of Samsung vacuums at serious sale prices.
Best robot vacuum deal
Credit: Samsung
Samsung Jet Bot Robot Vacuum with Intelligent Power Control
$385 at Amazon (save $214)
Why we like it
The Samsung Jet Bot Robot Vacuum is a smart little robot vacuum that uses LiDAR sensors to map out your home so it can more accurately navigate obstacles and receive instructions about where not to go. It also automatically identifies the type of flooring it’s on and adjusts suction for the most effective clean with its high-efficiency, anti-tangle brush roll. Use Google Assistant or Alexa to control your Jet Bot, or just set it free to roam.
While Amazon’s got the lower price at $385 ($214, or 36%, off its retail price of $599), Samsung.com is offering a free pair of Galaxy Buds Pro (worth $149.99) with the same vacuum at $87 more than its Amazon price. So if you’re also in the market for earphones, we recommend opting for the Samsung website.
Best stick vacuum deal
Credit: Samsung
Samsung 90 + CS Bundle Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum
$475 at Amazon (save $324)
Why we like it
Prefer handheld vacuums? The Samsung 90 + Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum (bundled with a Clean Station) is $475 instead of its retail price of $799, which will net you savings of $324 (or 40%). It’s super lightweight and has an extendable arm, so you can adjust the length to your liking. The five-layered filtration system gets rid of pet dander, pollen, and dust. Plus, its turbo action brush lets you clean two different surfaces at the same time (get that border between wood and carpet perfectly clean). The Clean Station, which collects the dust from the vacuum, helps prevent fine particles from being released back into the air.
Other Samsung vacuums on sale at Amazon:
Samsung Jet Bot+ Robot Vacuum with Clean Station — $489$799 (save $310) (get Galaxy Buds Pro at $49.99 instead of $199.99)
