Towards the end of last week, Rolling Stone reported that Kanye West was working on his own series of mini-cities dubbed the “Yecosystem.” Now, Ye himself has confirmed this, although he also offered a clarification.
On Friday (October 21), in a post shared on controversial social media platform Parler (which it looks like West will soon own), he wrote, “The communities I’m building are not called the Yecosystem They don’t have a name yet.”
@Ye/Parler
The Rolling Stone report noted that “Yecosystem” was one of a few trademarks that were filed by West, with others including “Yzyverse,” “Yxyverse,” and “Yeezyverse.”
As for what’s going on here, this project has been in the works for years and is described as “a self-sustained enterprise that would have its own branded homes, retail stores that sell Yecosystem-branded food items and beverages.” The first campus, of multiple that West hopes will be established across the country, is set to launch as soon as November.
The publication’s source said, “He’s trying to do sh*t that people couldn’t even conceive of and he’s trying to make it happen. He comes from a good place. It’s definitely his goal that everything that people touch that’s his is a good thing and has a good impact on the world.”
Multiple times per week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.
Mila Kunis stars in this adaptation of Jessica Knoll’s novel of the same name, and when Mila Kunis stars in a movie, people click. Unfortunately, the movie would have been better received with a trigger warning. Yet if you go in with eyes open (and know that there’s plenty of trauma for the protagonist due to a mass shooting and sexual assault), then you might appreciate how the story portrays the strength of Mila’s character in working to overcome what she’s been through, rather than allow her wealthy fiancé to encourage burying it deep within her consciousness. Also, Scoot McNairy plays her high-school teacher who’s helping everyone sort through the mess.
Charlie Hunnam picks up in his first starring TV role since Jax Teller drove into a Mack truck in the final moments of Sons of Anarchy. As Hunnam relayed to us, the project was as chaotic as it looks to shoot, but he’s thrilled to have finally adapted Gregory David Roberts’ sprawling book for the screen. Hunnam’s character, Lin, finds a kindred spirit in Shubham Sarif’s fast-talking Prabhu character, and they’re truly dealing with some nefarious forces. Will Lin ever get out of Bombay, and does he really want to do so? He’s an escaped convict trying to keep his head low after escaping from an Australian prison, so it’s not like he’s got too many choices to stay out of trouble.
9. Winchesters (CW series streaming in various places)
If you’re a Jensen Ackles fan and loved seeing him as Soldier Boy on The Boys but are disappointed in seeing the character put on ice, never fear. He surfaces in this new CW series that’s already receiving good viewership, and it’s no wonder, given that this is a Supernatural prequel. Jensen’s Dean Winchester is the narrator of this series that details how Dean’s parents, John (who fought in Vietnam) and Mary (a demon hunter, naturally), saved the world. There are plenty of shadowy forces and secrets at work, and both John and Marry are dealing with warring family legacies, which they must reconcile before moving on with a family of their own.
Kaitlyn Dever (Loretta!) stars in this reimagining of this Romeo and Juliet side story, in which we found out what happened to the pre-Juliet love interest that Romeo seems to totally forget existed. Rude. However, Rosaline is on her game, so she plots to keep them apart, and we won’t give away whether or not she succeeds or they end up killing themselves anyway. Dever never turns in a subpar performance, and it’s glorious to see her in a project where she’s having a wicked good time.
The first season recently concluded for this Jeff Bezos fantasy-epic lovechild, and one can expect that he’ll keep arranging to fund this series until it runs out of story. Although this didn’t receive as much week-to-week fuss as House of the Dragon, rest assured that most viewers seem to love it because they kept watching. Finally, Tolkien’s fable Second Age rose with a young Galadriel refusing to pay attention to the trolls who complained that this is too “woke” of a take on Middle-earth
Diego Luna stars in this unusually grounded piece of the Star Wars universe far, far away. The show might not be bringing the weekly gushing via some Baby Yoda cuteness, but it’s a slow burn that fans seem to appreciate. As well, Cassian Andor is now receiving a character study that we rarely get to see from these Star Wars shows, and although this will apparently be the last time that Andor plays this rebellion hero, it will still be the longest-running season of related shows in the streaming service’s history (thus far).
5. Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix series) and Conversations With A Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes (Netflix docuseries)
Ryan Murphy cannot be stopped, nor can people stop watching shows about serial killers, so Murphy’s dramatized take on the prolific cannibal is still earning major clicks for Netflix. After you’re done listening to people ask what that “smell” is, there’s also Joe Berlinger’s documentary approach to putting Dahmer behind bars. Berlinger previously helmed the dramatized Ted Bundy movie starring Zac Efron, and he’s a big Metallica guy, if you’re into that sort of thing. Alright, I’m clearly attempting to stop thinking about serial killers.
Louie and Lestat are finally decloseting their romance, which is a good thing, but also, they’re seriously messy lovers. This show ends up being overall better than the 1990s movie that starred Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, and Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm from Game of Thrones) gives us a much more layered (and socially responsible) Louis than we’ve seen before. Anne Rice lovers can also look forward to The Mayfair Witches, which will star Alexandra Daddario as the heir to a long legacy of magical beings.
More Ryan Murphy. In this project, he gives his audience a supporting cast of Margo Martindale, Richard Kind, Mia Farrow, and Jennifer Coolidge. One or some of them may or may not be terrorizing the Brannock family (including Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannivale) with threatening letters. This show is slightly campy and not full of triggers, and although the real-life story never saw a resolution to the identity of The Watcher, this show takes viewers on a long line of imagined scenarios. This one is definitely worth a watch, as long as your expectations include no definitive ending.
Jamie Lee Curtis says goodbye to Laurie Strode after literally decades of her dealing with the sh*ttiest brother in the world. Seriously! But for one final round, Mike Myers is back, and the end product is satisfying although not stunning, and do not fear because David Gordon Green is not done with horror yet. He’ll soon begin production on reworking the Blumhouse take on The Exorcist franchise, which is probably something that no one expected from the director of Your Highness and Pineapple Express.
It seems like only yesterday that plenty of us doubted that the Game of Thrones franchise could overcome the underwhelming final season of the George R.R. Martin flagship series. A pleasant surprise: this is a highly entertaining, action-packed, and well-executed prequel that takes us into all the soap-operatics that eventually brought a dynasty down. Finally, event TV is truly back again, so grab yourself a Negroni Spagliato (with Prosecco in it) and kick your feet up (while avoiding Larys Strong) because the Dance of the Dragons has officially begun.
Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is one of the newest football venues in the NFL and the Las Vegas Raiders are pulling out all of the entertainment stops to raise the profile of their home games. Sunday’s win against the Houston Texas featured JoJo singing the national anthem, Carl Weathers (of Happy Gilmore and The Mandalorian fame) lighting the ceremonial pre-game torch, and Iggy Azalea performing the halftime show. Heck, even Lil Jon made an appearance mid-game to try to hype up the crowd.
Iggy Azalea might’ve felt like a strange choice. But to the Raider faithful fanbase who simply parties their faces off, Azalea was welcomed as warmly as the in-house cover band who performs overplayed cover songs over the stadium speakers once a quarter. Azalea’s 12-minute performance added to the absurdity of the Raiders game experience. Playing in front of the gigantic torch, she closed with “Fancy” and didn’t hold back one bit on the booty-shaking and slapping. But one Raiders sportswriter wasn’t having it.
The Athletic’s Tashan Reed — who typically strikes a tasteful balance on Twitter between team updates, hip-hop references, and his opinions (sometimes inexplicable ones) on food — chose chaos this afternoon. “The combination of Allegiant Stadium trying to make BBQ and Iggy Azalea performing at halftime is gonna make me depressed,” Reed tweeted. Originally from the St. Louis-area, Reed’s opinions on BBQ carries some weight, but his vocal disdain for Azalea, got him totally roasted by the rapper, who quoted Reed’s tweet and said, “If you think you’re depressed now I’ll spare you the tears you’d cry knowing what my paycheck was to come and jiggle a lil ass.”
If you think you’re depressed now I’ll spare you the tears you’d cry knowing what my paycheck was to come and jiggle a lil ass. https://t.co/0oExq3LIB2
That is a cold-blooded own. Think what you will about Iggy Azalea, but she just put Reed in a blender. Rumors of her demise were greatly exaggerated apparently and this bodes well for her comeback plans.
After ‘Animal Farm,’ South Korea’s R&B princess BIBI continues to tease and feed avid listeners parts of the upcoming Lowlife Princess: Noir with two more pre-release singles and a set release date for her first studio album.
Earlier today, BIBI unveiled “Sweet Sorrow Of Mother,” one of two pre-release singles, with a short music video to compliment it. The playful jazz single features a piano accompaniment with a message about the sorrows of being madly in love. Just like ‘Animal Farm,’ BIBI showcases a minimal form of acting as a lonely jazz club singer in the 1920s or 1930s.
BIBI’s other pre-release single “Motospeed 24” is said to be released Friday, October 28, around the same time (12 a.m. EST/1 p.m. KST).
Last Friday, BIBI and the Fheel Good Music team dropped the release schedule for her first studio album, Lowlife Princess: Noir. Besides the two pre-release tracks already set to drop this week, the debut album now has a settled release date for next month. Korean R&B listeners and BIBItans (BIBI fans) can expect the first full project on the midnight (EST/1 p.m. KST) of Friday, November 18. Though more info on the album, tracklist and lead single have yet to be confirmed, fans can now rest easy knowing a date has been settled.
Following the release of her studio album, BIBI will take part of 88Rising’s Head In The Clouds in Jakarta, Indonesia on December 3rd and 4th.
Lowlife Princess: Noir comes out on 11/18 via Fheel Good Music/88Rising.
Summer has come and gone, and while we’re enjoying all things pumpkin spice, we’re having a hard time letting go of the pool parties, travel plans, and outdoor adventures that come with summer. If you’re like us, then you’re also still craving the carefree vibes of seasons past. Well, we can live in denial together by jetting off to domestic destinations where temperatures are still high and the sun is shining.
To help you stay warm while the weather cools, three of our travel writers are sharing their domestic go-to destinations for warm-weather adventures. From Austin, Texas to California’s wine country to Arizona’s finest lake, read on for where to adventure, stay, eat, and party in order to avoid fall for as long as possible.
If I’m paying money to travel the country in fall, it’s to get in the water. And Austin is warm enough to swim into late October and even November. Paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake is practically an institution, you’ve got to do it at least once when you visit town — and it’s right in the city. Rentals are affordable and you’re not burning a whole day — it’s an easy three-hour activity.
If that’s not adrenaline worthy enough for you, you might want to hit the very Instagrammable Jacob’s Well. The swimming hole got massive on IG and has since had to become reservation-only. Note that it’s closed to swimmers for the remainder of the year but hiking is still open.
Pure popularity-wise, the Barton Springs Public Pool — which is an aquamarine natural spring — is still open and thriving. It’s a truly wonderful shared space, just a few miles from downtown, and has to be in the top 20 picnic spots in the country.
If you have a little more time and are down for a three-hour drive to Waco, you can hit Waco Surf — a wave pool and wakeboarding lagoon that has been drawing incredible reviews from some of the best surfers on earth. The season shuts down soon, so make sure to check their website. I haven’t been but it’s on my personal travel bucket list.
Where to Eat — Diner Bar
Diner Bar
In the Editor’s Letter to kick off the 2022 Uproxx Fall Travel Hot List, I praised Mashama Bailey’s fried ugali (sorghum porridge) at her new concept, Diner Bar in Austin, as my favorite bite of the year. I also gushed over her deviled eggs which are, I am 100% sure, the best I’ve ever tasted in my life. Oh, and I forgot to mention the foie and grits, which is fantastic — with grits providing possibly the most ideal platform ever for quick-seared foie gras. Who needs shrimp when you have fatty goose liver?
The cocktails carry a vibe that fits nicely with the menu — refined-yet-accessible. I loved the “Pirates in a Hot Tub” which was basically autumn in a glass without veering too sweet. “The Sinning Sisters” was strong without trying too hard to be boozy (while actually being quite boozy) and was nicely balanced. That’s a tough trick to pull off when you’re dealing with a smoky mezcal as the base spirit.
Knowing I was headed to his city recently, Uproxx’s Josh Kurp pointed me to Nixta Taqueria, where they make tortillas by hand with heritage corn. The Beard Award-winning restaurant opened in 2019 but has been booming of late (thanks to that ’22 Beard Award and great local buzz) and it was easy to see why. Those incredible tortillas and the duck-fat refried beans are huge differentiators from Austin’s many excellent taco shops. If you’re only getting one taco, go for the duck confit, it’s not a common dish and if you’re not use to duck you’ll appreciate its tenderness; if you’re getting a second (you’ll want one), I think the Enchilada Potosina, with potato and chorizo puree, just might be the best item on the menu.
If you’re opening a hotel in downtown Austin, you know it’s going to be hard to compete with mid-century darling, The Line. So how do you pull it off? You go “full boutique” for starters, with a moody-yet-sumptuous design befitting your city. Then you get mega-star chef Mashama Bailey to open not one but two restaurant concepts on property – Diner Bar and The Grey Market. Add a more affordable sister hotel in the same space, tommie Austin, featuring a unique design concept of its own.
Boom. You’ve got something special on your hands.
It’s not quite fair to expect a downtown hotel to have a pool but… it’s also way better when one does. The Thompson’s pool deck is shared with the tommie and serviced by Wax Myrtle’s, which brings the sexy energy (Thrillist called it “Sexy AF”). Once you venture outside, you’ll find some of the city’s most classic bars and hottest restaurants within easy walking distance.
Where to Party (If You’re Not Too Tired) — The Concourse Project
The Concourse Project
The Concourse Project is… well, it’s basically a warehouse. With some trailers for food and drinks. A few food trucks. That’s basically it. But within that simple construct, the venue has become home to some of the very best parties in the nation. The venue has hosted massive DJs and incredible EDM events. Recently, I was there for its first rap show — Pusha T.
The club is just stylized enough to feel cool but there’s no artifice. No fakeness. It’s a place to party and enjoy awesome music and it nails that dual purpose. Ultra-high ceilings and lots of space make it easy but it’s the artists they bring in that really do the heavy lifting to draw the crowds.
Chloe Caldwell (@chloeicaldwell) — Santa Margarita, California
Where to Adventure — Santa Margarita Rach
Chloe Caldwell
If your favorite kind of adventure includes avoiding crowds, then Santa Margarita — the southernmost point of Paso Robles wine country in Central California — is calling your name. The town is home to about 1,000 locals and it feels like stepping onto the set of an old Western film — much thanks to Santa Margarita Ranch, a nearly 14,000-acre property that’s basically the heart of the tiny town. Most (if not all) of the adventure you’ll find in Santa Margarita is operated through the ranch. You can start by embracing the ranch lifestyle by going horseback riding with Central Coast Trail Rides. Your experienced guide will take you through acres of the ranch’s vast property, which leads you past wide open views, vineyards, a lush creek-bed crossing, wildlife, and more.
Follow that up with an adrenaline rush and go ziplining with Margarita Adventures. The six-zipline course takes you soaring over the ranch, which includes sweeping views of Ancient Peaks Winery‘s estate vineyard. I recommend doing the sunset zipline tour — you’ll fly over vineyards as the sun goes down over the mountains (yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds), then hit the last few lines in the dark (glow sticks included).
Living in LA, this was the first time I’ve been able to see a night sky full of stars in way too long.
Where to Eat — The Range
Chloe Caldwell
I’ll be honest, there’s not a lot to choose from in Santa Margarita. But I absolutely loved my dining experience at The Range. Sticking to the Old Town Road vibes, this family-owned and operated business is equipped with funky decor that combines rustic romance with country chic…If that makes sense?
I ate out on the patio, which I recommend if it isn’t too hot outside (besides, a chilled glass of Savvy B will cool you off).
As for the food, you’ll find hearty meals like forest mushroom ravioli, 14-hour oak-smoked brisket, and even pan-seared elk medallions. At this point in the day, I was already stuffed with wine and cheese from the local winery (more on this later), so I stuck to the starters (go with the caramelized onion pizzette) and a salad. But my boyfriend would tell you to order the roasted lamb chops, which come complete with Burbank potato gratin, veggies, and garlic herb pan jus.
Where to Stay — The Stampede Loft
Paso Robles Vacation Rentals
Just down the street from the main stretch of Santa Margarita off Old Highway 101 is the newly refurbished vacation rental known as The Stampede Loft. Again, sticking to the good ol’ Western aesthetic, this rental does barnyard chic at its finest. It’s also located beside a small vineyard and farmhouse, which really makes it feel like a luxury version of rustic living.
The two-bedroom, one-bath apartment is the upstairs part of a duplex house (you can also rent the bottom floor) that comes complete with a private outdoor deck and a barbecue — plus WiFi and a TV with streaming services if you need a digital indulgence after your outdoor adventures. I loved the apartment-style setup of this vacation rental, which features a full kitchen, living and dining room areas, and a laundry machine. Stop at the grocery store for dinner and breakfast supplies so you can make the most of the grill and kitchen!
Overall, The Stampede Loft is perfect for a weekend with friends or a couple’s getaway.
Where to Party (If You’re Not Too Tired) — Ancient Peaks Winery
Chloe Caldwell
You obviously can’t go to Paso Robles wine country without drinking at least a full bottle of wine (okay, two bottles). While you won’t find any massive ragers in Santa Margarita, I certainly left Ancient Peaks Winery with a strong buzz. Ancient Peaks makes its wine on the 900-acre Margarita Vineyards, which is the only vineyard in the Santa Margarita Ranch AVA.
Visit the Ancient Peaks tasting room in town to sip on the local vino (the cafe here is a great spot for lunch, too). It’s definitely worth doing a full wine tasting to get a taste of their signature collection, as well as their limited-edition Pearl Collection. From chardonnay and merlot to petite Sirah, Ancient Peaks Winery offers the complete wine country experience. If you aren’t tired before you show up for your tasting, you certainly will be after you leave.
I first visited Page Arizona and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area nearly ten years ago. You might say I actually stumbled onto it, as I truly had no idea what to expect, besides the photos of surreal slot canyons that I had seen online.
I followed the directions I had found on a random forum that led me to a dirt pull-off on the side of a road. I followed the makeshift trail and a few people, wondering if I was in the right place. After a short walk, I was gobsmacked by one of the most impressive views I had ever seen. A 270-degree bend in the Colorado river below the steep drop-off of red canyon walls – it was unlike anything I had ever seen.
Of course, with the increase in social media sharing, Horseshoe Bend is now a well-known attraction. The dirt pull-out has been replaced by a parking lot and accessible viewing – and you should view it, definitely. But there is another way to see this impressive natural formation – one that you won’t be sharing with hundreds of others – rafting the river below.
While there are no rapids on this portion of the Colorado River, the half-day rafting trip I went on was absolutely a memorable adventure.
The day starts with a drive underground to the bottom of the Glen Canyon Dam where you marvel at the construction before heading off onto rafts. The 15-mile trip down the river is unlike anything I had ever seen. To view the impressive canyon walls from below, along with wildlife and petroglyphs is a once in a lifetime experience. One that you can easily still enjoy before the weather really shifts (hurry, you have one week left! Or plan for next year!).
Where to Eat — Rainbow Room at Lake Powell Resorts
Lake Powell Resorts
The view from the Rainbow Room at Lake Powell Resorts feels like a mirage. Every time I have walked in to dine I am blown away again – first by the view, and then by the food.
On my last visit, I started my dinner with a prickly pear cocktail and a charcuterie board – both fantastic. I followed with a wedge salad and took my time savoring the seared salmon with grilled peach and jalapeno salsa, avocado crema, farro pilaf, and seasonal vegetables entree. The pastries at Rainbow Room are all made in-house, and I was happy to try the Mexican chocolate lava cake that came highly recommended.
Where to Stay — Lake Powell Resort
Emily Ventures
In my opinion, there is really only one place you should consider staying when visiting the Page/Lake Powell area, and that is Lake Powell Resorts. Located right on the lake and within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the views, access, and amenities are incredible.
I have stayed here several times now, and recommend a room facing the water for the dreamiest sunrise and sunset views. Take advantage of the two swimming pools, restaurants, a bar, and a coffee shop while also stopping by the marina to rent powerboats, watercraft, and jet skis.
Lake Powell Resort and Marinas have boat cruises and dinner sunset sails leaving right from the marina at the resort, making it central to truly everything you could need or want.
Where to Party (If You’re Not Too Tired) — Rent a Houseboat
The best way to party in Page is unique — on a houseboat! Lake Powell is known for houseboating, and you can rent a variety right at Lake Powell Resort and Marina. This is perfect for larger groups who want to adventure all together. Lake Powell has 96 major side canyons and nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline, making it ideal for private exploration and celebration.
House of the Dragon’sfinal episode carried on the tradition its predecessor started, arriving in Game of Thrones style with a much-publicized leak and a ton of controversy. But, it’s Scorpio season, what did we expect?
Before that happens, let’s recap the line of succession one last time to see who is really poised to take the Iron Throne.
The Pretenders
HBO
Aemond Targaryen
Have we referenced Taylor Swift’s Midnights album too much when it comes to House of the Dragon? Probably, but after the complete pandemonium of its season one finale, you can’t listen to Swift sing, “Hi, it’s me. I am the problem,” and not imagine she write that in reference to Aemond Targaryen. This one-eyed Becky with the good hair made an absolute mess of things by turning a routine political envoy assignment into an opportunity to commit war crimes. What’s worse, the show wants us to believe slaying a child and his dragon was just a prank gone wrong in Aemond’s eyes eye. He wanted retribution sure. He was borderline obsessed about evening the score between him and his cousin – despite claiming the trade of claiming Vhagar was more than worth it a decade ago – and when Lucerys refused to engage, he chased him down on dragon’s back. What did he think was going to happen? Despite trying to humanize Aemond a bit by changing such a fundamental aspect of his character – in the book he’s a psychopath who fully intends on murdering Luke – the end result is the same. Aemond had a temper tantrum and because of it, thousands of people (and too many dragons) are going to die.
Otto Hightower
Otto Hightower may have been riding high after successfully usurping the throne and placing his grandson on its sharply pointed seat but he was brought back down to size this episode with just a single visit to Dragon Stone. Well that, and a well-worded insult from one Daemon Targaryen. Otto likely knew his daughter’s offer of peace wouldn’t be accepted by Rhaenyra and her King consort – he probably hoped it wouldn’t – but we can’t imagine he welcomed a standoff with two of Westeros’ most ferocious dragons and their riders. He’s clever and cunning and a threat to Rhaenyra’s claim, but he just doesn’t seem as dangerous as the show would like us to believe.
Jacaerys Velaryon
Jace is a cute kid and it’s clear he’s trying hard to fill the role expected of him but, as of now, this Jon Snow stand-in hasn’t really done anything applause-worthy save offering his cousin a turn on the dancefloor. In fact, and look we don’t say this lightly, but some might look at his brother’s death and think, “If only.” If only Jace hadn’t suggested he and his siblings ride out on dragon’s back to gather support instead of, we don’t know, sending a damn raven like everyone else without flying beasts has to do, we might not be down one dragon, and up one Targaryen Civil War. Again, this is what some people might be saying. We’re above such gossip.
The Contenders
HBO
Rhaenys Targaryen
Rhaenys Targaryen has always been the kind of HOTD character we can get behind. Patient, observant, happy to sit back and sip her wine while men cut each other’s throats for a chance at more power. But, despite her reluctance for war, she proved to be a valuable asset to Rhaenyra’s claim – and she read her ailing husband for filth while he was still recovering on his deathbed. Basically, Rhaenys was living this episode and we’d be okay with her taking the Iron Throne – if that option is still there.
Rhaenyra Targaryen
House of the Dragon’s finale aired on Emilia Clarke’s birthday and yet the show’s writers still decided to treat her predecessor like this? Look, Rhaenyra has made some mistakes. She was complacent. She allowed the Hightowers to gain power over her father. She gave birth to multiple children who looked nothing like their father, giving Alicent and Otto even more grounds to call her inheritance into question while doing nothing to quell the rumors. She played nice for over a decade and now that her children are dying and her throne has been stolen, she’s finally realized what it takes to wear her crown. But, despite her losses this episode, we’d rather be an enemy of Alicent’s, of any Hightower, than of Rhaenyra Targaryen. She’s motivated, determined, backed by some powerful allies and ruthless in a way few have yet to see. (We also wouldn’t want to be up against Emma D’Arcy in the Best Acting category at next year’s Emmys, but that’s neither here nor there.)
Daemon Targaryen
Ignoring the screams of his wife while she delivered their stillborn baby. Leaving her to grieve the deaths of both her father and their child while he sad-boy-stared into the ocean. Trying to ignite a war early by threatening Otto Hightower’s life. Choking the queen he recently crowned after she refused to turn her kingdom to bone and ash. Daemon Targaryen was a straight-up villain in this episode. We hated it, but we have to admit, he’d make a terrifying king if Rhaenyra ever lets him near the throne after this episode.
‘House of the Dragon’ is currently streaming on HBO Max.
(House of the Dragon spoilers will be found below.)
House of the Dragon exceeded most expectations with this first season full of even more Targaryen (and Hightower and Valaryon) soap operatics we could’ve reasonably expected. This prequel series is almost good enough for people to forgive that final season of Game of Thrones. We’ve got even more names to grow confused over now, this is true, but we have an abundance of loved-and-loathed characters already, and theories flew like the dragons themselves ahead of this week’s season finale.
The ending of the episode was a whopper and essentially sets off the Dance of the Dragons. Aemond, who so desperately wants to be Daemon (who purposely did evil this week), put his own misguided villainy to work and wreaked enormous damage. This damage appeared to be unintended as well, given that he seemed to want to scare the hell out of Luke after being denied the right to an eye for an eye? That objective didn’t work out as planned, given that Arrax is tiny, and Vhagar, well, enormous Vhagar did not control herself. Let’s just say that Rhaenyra’s reaction confirmed that civil war is definitely on the way. Luke and Arrax never stood a chance, and Aemond f*cked up.
But this picture is worth a thousand Aemond deaths.
hbo max
In the House of the Dragonseason finale, Princess Rhaenyra, I mean, Queen Rhaenyra had the worst day ever. Or maybe days? It’s unclear how much time passes between the beginning of the episode and the end of it, but whatever the answer, a lot of stuff happens to Rhaenyra — none of it good (except the whole First of Her Name, etc. thing).
She learns about the death of her father, King Viserys, and that Aegon — thanks to a, ahem, “misunderstanding” by Alicent — has been crowned the leader of the Seven Kingdoms; and she loses one son during childbirth, and another son, Lucerys, after he and his dragon get snapped in two by one-eyed Aemond and his dragon, Vhagar. On top of all THAT, she also gets choked by her uncle-lover, Daemon, who constantly speaks over her. When Daniel Powter said “you had a bad day,” Rhaenyra felt that.
she lost her daddy, her baby daddy, had a miscarriage, her son was killed, her throne usurped, everyone in king’s landing betraying her WHATEVER SHE DOES NEXT SEASON IS JUSTIFIED I DON’T WANT TO HEAR A SINGLE COMPLAIN #HouseOfTheDragonpic.twitter.com/xv1sdv1Sb3
Ahead of the finale, Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra) told the New York Times, “It’s no coincidence that the male figures with power within this court have created conditions where Alicent and Rhaenyra’s relationship becomes untenable.” That was proven yet again during the episode. A peaceful compromise could have been met — right up until the moment when Aemond chased after Lucerys on a dragon.
The Miami Heat picked up their first win of the season on Saturday night in a 112-109 victory over the Raptors at home, but the majority of attention after the game was on an incident involving Caleb Martin and Christian Koloko that saw both get ejected in the third quarter for a fight on the baseline.
After Martin fouled Koloko, knocking him down, he went and stood over the rookie big man, who took exception to that and got up and wrapped up Martin, who then picked Koloko up and drove him into the first row with a tackle.
Benches vacate at Heat vs. Raptors as Christian Koloko and Caleb Martin get into it. pic.twitter.com/80lJhoqJPo
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) October 23, 2022
It was a good job by the other players on the floor and the referees to keep it from becoming anything more than that, but the NBA has one cardinal rule regarding fights ever since the Malice in the Palace, and that is to never let them spill into the stands. As such, it came as little surprise when word came down on Sunday night that Martin — and Heat rookie Nikola Jovic, who left the bench area — was suspended for a game, while Koloko got a fine for his involvement.
Given that Martin was the one who escalated things from some pushing and shoving to things going into the stands where fans are, it’s not surprising he got the worst of the punishment. As for Jovic, it’s an expensive lesson from the league that you cannot leave the bench area during an altercation, no matter what your intentions.
The Raptors and Heat will meet again on Monday in Miami, with the Heat needing to back up their win without Martin as they look for the mini-series sweep.
(House of the Dragon spoilers will be found below.)
House of the Dragon entered the TV landscape with a huge challenge: to overcome the underwhelming nature of the O.G. Game of Thronesfinale season. As viewers soon happily realized, however, the prequel’s done so in spades and even makes me feel better about the idea of a Jon Snow solo joint. This show’s given us high soap operatics along with plenty of fire breathers, and even though GRRM’s total disrespect for names can be confusing at times, it’s still a wonderful thing and has engendered enough goodwill for people to hatch loads of theories for this first season finale.
When the episode began, however, a speedy turn of events quickly pulled at the heartstrings of viewers. Rhaenyra, upon being informed of (rotting) Viserys’ death, promptly went into labor and gave birth to a stillborn child. Naturally, people found tragedy upon compounded tragedy to be too much to handle, this early in the game.
HBO’s House of the Dragon airs on Sundays at 9:00pm EST.
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