Entertainment
Good Omens Finale Is Bad Fanfiction Brought To Life
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
When Good Omens first graced Prime Video with its presence, it felt a bit like a gift from God himself. Not only was it a very solid adaptation of the original Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman book, but its central duo was perfectly cast.
David Tennant plays a dastardly demon with a heart of gold, and Michael Sheen plays a natty angel who loves nothing more than tea and a good book. Their unexpected friendship is at the very heart of what makes Good Omens work, and Tennant and Sheen have the perfect amount of quirky chemistry to bring this unconventional relationship to life.
Good Omens later had something of a fall from grace. Season 2 went beyond the confines of the source material, and it was generally beloved thanks to guest stars like Jon Hamm and narrative input from co-showrunner Neil Gaiman. Unfortunately, Gaiman got canceled amid a slew of truly horrific allegations and was reduced from showrunner to co-writer.
It seemed like the right call, as a major association with a disgraced writer would be an albatross around this popular series’ neck. But in the absence of Gaiman’s more overt influence, the Good Omens’ finale became a cluttered mess of an unsalvageable story that feels like bad fanfiction.
Ready For Final Judgment
The Good Omens finale picks up more or less where Season 2 left off. Michael Sheen’s Aziraphale is now running the show in Heaven and trying to prepare the Earth for a kinder, gentler Second Coming. David Tennant’s Crowley, however, is now destitute and living in an alley. Rejected by Hell and personally rejected by Heaven (Aziraphale previously freaked out when the demon kissed him), Crowley eeks out a meager life that is all about getting his car back. Their plots intersect when a reborn Jesus begins wandering the Earth, kicking off a manhunt whose outcome may very well lead to the end of the world.
I walked into the Good Omens finale with a very open mind. I really enjoyed the first two seasons, and I was already a huge fan of the two leads. David Tennant is buoyantly funny and charismatically compelling in Doctor Who, and he almost single-handedly breathed new life into that aging sci-fi franchise. Michael Sheen, meanwhile, really blew me away in Masters of Sex, a show in which his character is defined by quiet dignity and barely restrained passion. In short, these actors represent two great tastes on their own, and in the first two seasons of Good Omens, they most certainly tasted great together (get your heads out of the gutter, demons!).
Heaven Help The Fans
Sadly, the breezy chemistry between Tennant and Sheen is pretty much the only thing the Good Omens finale has going for it. Early on, the plot gestures at some neat ideas, including a resurrected Jesus (played wonderfully by Bilal Hasna) trying to find his purpose in the brave new world that is Earth.
Jesus gets some of the best scenes in this finale and is nominally important to the plot because Aziraphale and Crowley must team up to find him. But his entire storyline is rendered meaningless by a rushed ending that (without giving any spoilers) quite literally renders everyone else’s plots completely meaningless.
Before the accusations against Neil Gaiman came to light, Good Omens was going to have a full third season, but everything got condensed into a single double-episode-length finale. I’m not sure what the hell the writers and producers were planning to do with a whole season. As is, there’s barely enough plot to hold this finale together.
We spend a weird amount of screen time watching an angel gamble to get his car back and Jesus scrambling to learn the meaning of life. It’s just marking time, and even major plot points about the Book of Life being stolen are just excuses to awkwardly jam our two lead characters back together.
All Puzzles, No Answers
David Tennant and Michael Sheen are doing their absolute best with this sloppy script, and watching their very different energies bounce off each other is always great fun. Unfortunately, the Good Omens finale is proof that you can’t make great television on fun vibes alone.
These two spend plenty of time bantering because, frankly, they have little else to do. The closest thing to character development is them coming to terms with their feelings for each other in such an oddly chaste way that it’s guaranteed to piss off those who hated the decision to make these characters gay and those who wanted to see more of a passionate, full-blooded romance.
The poor handling of their relationship is a microcosm of everything wrong with the Good Omens finale, currently streaming on Prime Video. From its meandering plots to its nonsensical conclusion, and to every annoying whimsy in between (including some distractingly stupid visual effects), this finale episode feels like nothing more than fanfiction.
As such, it has plenty of fan service but no actual substance, which is sure to disappoint fans praying for this show to stick the landing. Unfortunately, the Good Omens finale offers all who pray a rather bleak reminder: sometimes, the answer to your prayers is a firm “no.”
GOOD OMENS SEASON 3 REVIEW SCORE
Entertainment
The Best New Show Of The Year Is A Supernatural Comedy Horror On AppleTV
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
The 2026 television season has been a little lackluster so far when it comes to original, new series. The Boroughs was a fun binge on Netflix, Margo’s Got Money Troubles was a good comedy, but nothing can compare to the surprising success of Widow’s Bay on AppleTV. It’s a horror comedy, which might be the hardest combination of genres to pull off, that plays out like Twin Peaks meets Parks and Recreation. No show will leave you laughing so hard in one episode, before traumatizing you in the next.
Widow’s Bay Is The Most Original Show In Years
That odd mix of shows makes sense since Widow’s Bay was created by Katie Dippold, a writer for Parks and Recreation. The series takes place in the island town of Widow’s Bay in New England when Mayor Tom (Matthew Rhys) decides to boost tourism to the small community. The catch is that the community, primarily Wyck (Stephen Root) believes the island is cursed.
It’s not a spoiler to say that yes, yes it is cursed, and yes, there are real horrors at work on the island. That’s not surprising. What is surprising is the dry humor and Matthew Rhys’ perfect facial expressions, as the town’s residents will deliver the most absurd lines with a perfectly straight face. If you vibed with the humor of Parks and Recreation, you know what you’re getting into with the odd residents of Widow’s Bay, especially Kate O’Flynn as Tom’s assistant, Patricia. There’s a sequence with her involving a shotgun that is destined to be a social media hit for years to come, and one of those moments that you’ll think, “I’d do the same thing.”
Slapstick Comedy, Horror, And Amazing Sight Gags
Before starting your binge of the first season, avoid as many spoilers as you can. Widow’s Bay sets up mysteries early on with the chained church bell, the strange basement room, a rolling fogbank, and, while it’s not a supernatural mystery, how many Diet Cokes can Town Hall employee Dale consume? His desk is filled to the brim with cans. That can’t be healthy.
Keep your eyes peeled while watching Widow’s Bay as the production team was heavily influenced by The Simpsons usage of sight gags. Some are called out with blatant shots, others exist in the background of a conversation, but put together, they make the town of Widow’s Bay an absurdist version of Twin Peaks.
No one had supernatural slapstick down on their 2026 Bingo card, but here we are. While Netflix pulled the plug on The Boroughs, Widow’s Bay has already been confirmed for a second season, which is good considering the stakes-raising season finale ends by revealing a whole new layer to the mystery of the island. We have a long wait until Season 2 premieres, giving you plenty of time to watch the show of the Summer, and you can still convince your friends you were a fan of Widow’s Bay before it was cool. ]
Widow’s Bay Season 1 is now streaming on AppleTV.
Entertainment
Don’t pay $199 for Windows 11 Pro when it’s currently just $13
TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is down to just $12.97, giving users an easy OS upgrade with advanced security, productivity tools, gaming features, and Copilot AI.
Some upgrades just feel right. This is one of them.
If your PC has been running a little sluggish or you’ve been meaning to bring your system up to speed, Windows 11 Pro is just $12.97 (reg. $199) — a rare, time-sensitive offer that rewards quick, savvy decisions.
Mashable Deals
This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s more about giving your computer the modern foundation it deserves. Windows 11 Pro brings a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and enhanced security — all in a one-time lifetime license.
Think of it as the difference between driving a reliable car and suddenly upgrading to one with a smarter dashboard, smoother handling, and built-in security features.
For professionals, creators, and power users, this upgrade also unlocks features like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and seamless Azure AD integration — tools that make a real difference when you’re working across projects or managing sensitive data.
And yes, Windows 11 comes with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or even help you generate code on the fly. It’s like having a co-pilot (literally) inside your OS.
Mashable Deals
But you don’t need convincing — you already know a smart upgrade when you see one. Get Windows 11 Pro for just $12.97 (reg. $199).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Gene Roddenberry Secretly Fixed Star Trek’s Earliest Plot Hole
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Star Trek is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Part of why that is so impressive is that this franchise has managed to maintain the same continuity for so many years. Sure, the Kelvinverse rebooted everything for a few movies, and we occasionally get glimpses of alternate universes with their own twisted history. But the main Trek timeline, from The Original Series through Starfleet Academy, has remained the same, which is an amazing creative achievement. But it also leads to something as annoying as it is inevitable: plot holes!
There are many seeming plot holes throughout the franchise. Heck, Starfleet Academy introduced more than its fair share in only one season. However, the earliest plothole goes back to William Shatner’s very first episode, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” This episode features a mock grave for James Tiberius Kirk that reads “James R. Kirk.” This weird screwup inspired decades of attempts by fans and creators to explain what happened. However, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had a simple explanation from the very beginning. That is, the godlike character who created the tombstone was still fallible, meaning that this would be an in-universe screwup rather than a production error.
A Ghoulish Plot Hole
“Where No Man Has Gone Before” was actually the second pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. It’s the episode that sold NBC on this new show, which isn’t surprising, because this is a great hour of television. Strange energy from the galactic barrier gives one of Captain Kirk’s best friends, Gary Mitchell, godlike powers. Those powers are getting stronger by the minute, so Kirk eventually has to make the difficult decision to kill his buddy in the name of keeping the entire ship (and quite possibly the entire galaxy) safe.
At one point, Mitchell uses his powers to summon a tombstone that reads “James R. Kirk.” It makes for a great threat, but there’s just one problem: the character’s name is James Tiberius Kirk. Incidentally, Gene Roddenberry seemingly knew Kirk’s middle name early on, even though it wasn’t officially revealed (outside of The Animated Series) until The Undiscovered Country. In the introduction to Star Trek: The Classic Episodes 1, Original Series writer D.C. Fontana claimed that once Roddenberry noticed the mistake, he came up with a quick and easy explanation. “Gary Mitchell had godlike powers, but at base he was human. He made a mistake.”
Powers Like A God, Mind Like A Human
Unfortunately, Roddenberry kept this plot hole explanation to himself. I say “unfortunately” because this mistake sent fans into a tizzy trying to explain the discrepancy. On top of that, various Star Trek writers tried their hands at providing explanations. One such explanation came from Michael Jan Friedman’s non-canonical My Brother’s Keeper series. In these books, when the future captain meets Gary Mitchell, he claims his middle name is “Racquetball.” Later, when Kirk steamrolls through a discussion, Mitchell says the man’s middle name should be “Rhinoceros.” Therefore, Friedman explained that the “James R. Kirk” on the tombstone is just an in-joke between former friends.
Additionally, the late, great Star Trek writer Peter David tried his hand at an explanation. In his novel Q-Squared, the events of “Where No Man Has Gone Before” take place in a parallel reality in which Kirk’s middle initial really is “R.” In this non-canonical book, we also find out that Mitchell’s powers came from briefly being possessed by Q, who had to pull himself together across all of time and space. Quick side note: while Marvel has really played out the concept of multiverses, Q-Squared is an amazing novel, and every Trek fan should read it at least once.
These writers did their best to explain where “James R. Kirk” came from. On top of this, fans have constantly debated this issue, all trying to one-up each other in coming up with a suitable explanation for this plothole. As it turns out, though, none of this debating and speculating was necessary because Gene Roddenberry had the perfect explanation ready. Namely, that having the power of a god isn’t the same as having the unlimited knowledge of a god. It’s short, it’s simple, and it’s effective. Most of all, it does what Star Trek has always done best: keep the sci-fi storytelling centered around humanity.
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Entertainment
Good Omens Finale Is Bad Fanfiction Brought To Life
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
When Good Omens first graced Prime Video with its presence, it felt a bit like a gift from God himself. Not only was it a very solid adaptation of the original Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman book, but its central duo was perfectly cast.
David Tennant plays a dastardly demon with a heart of gold, and Michael Sheen plays a natty angel who loves nothing more than tea and a good book. Their unexpected friendship is at the very heart of what makes Good Omens work, and Tennant and Sheen have the perfect amount of quirky chemistry to bring this unconventional relationship to life.
Good Omens later had something of a fall from grace. Season 2 went beyond the confines of the source material, and it was generally beloved thanks to guest stars like Jon Hamm and narrative input from co-showrunner Neil Gaiman. Unfortunately, Gaiman got canceled amid a slew of truly horrific allegations and was reduced from showrunner to co-writer.
It seemed like the right call, as a major association with a disgraced writer would be an albatross around this popular series’ neck. But in the absence of Gaiman’s more overt influence, the Good Omens’ finale became a cluttered mess of an unsalvageable story that feels like bad fanfiction.
Ready For Final Judgment
The Good Omens finale picks up more or less where Season 2 left off. Michael Sheen’s Aziraphale is now running the show in Heaven and trying to prepare the Earth for a kinder, gentler Second Coming. David Tennant’s Crowley, however, is now destitute and living in an alley. Rejected by Hell and personally rejected by Heaven (Aziraphale previously freaked out when the demon kissed him), Crowley eeks out a meager life that is all about getting his car back. Their plots intersect when a reborn Jesus begins wandering the Earth, kicking off a manhunt whose outcome may very well lead to the end of the world.
I walked into the Good Omens finale with a very open mind. I really enjoyed the first two seasons, and I was already a huge fan of the two leads. David Tennant is buoyantly funny and charismatically compelling in Doctor Who, and he almost single-handedly breathed new life into that aging sci-fi franchise. Michael Sheen, meanwhile, really blew me away in Masters of Sex, a show in which his character is defined by quiet dignity and barely restrained passion. In short, these actors represent two great tastes on their own, and in the first two seasons of Good Omens, they most certainly tasted great together (get your heads out of the gutter, demons!).
Heaven Help The Fans
Sadly, the breezy chemistry between Tennant and Sheen is pretty much the only thing the Good Omens finale has going for it. Early on, the plot gestures at some neat ideas, including a resurrected Jesus (played wonderfully by Bilal Hasna) trying to find his purpose in the brave new world that is Earth.
Jesus gets some of the best scenes in this finale and is nominally important to the plot because Aziraphale and Crowley must team up to find him. But his entire storyline is rendered meaningless by a rushed ending that (without giving any spoilers) quite literally renders everyone else’s plots completely meaningless.
Before the accusations against Neil Gaiman came to light, Good Omens was going to have a full third season, but everything got condensed into a single double-episode-length finale. I’m not sure what the hell the writers and producers were planning to do with a whole season. As is, there’s barely enough plot to hold this finale together.
We spend a weird amount of screen time watching an angel gamble to get his car back and Jesus scrambling to learn the meaning of life. It’s just marking time, and even major plot points about the Book of Life being stolen are just excuses to awkwardly jam our two lead characters back together.
All Puzzles, No Answers
David Tennant and Michael Sheen are doing their absolute best with this sloppy script, and watching their very different energies bounce off each other is always great fun. Unfortunately, the Good Omens finale is proof that you can’t make great television on fun vibes alone.
These two spend plenty of time bantering because, frankly, they have little else to do. The closest thing to character development is them coming to terms with their feelings for each other in such an oddly chaste way that it’s guaranteed to piss off those who hated the decision to make these characters gay and those who wanted to see more of a passionate, full-blooded romance.
The poor handling of their relationship is a microcosm of everything wrong with the Good Omens finale, currently streaming on Prime Video. From its meandering plots to its nonsensical conclusion, and to every annoying whimsy in between (including some distractingly stupid visual effects), this finale episode feels like nothing more than fanfiction.
As such, it has plenty of fan service but no actual substance, which is sure to disappoint fans praying for this show to stick the landing. Unfortunately, the Good Omens finale offers all who pray a rather bleak reminder: sometimes, the answer to your prayers is a firm “no.”
GOOD OMENS SEASON 3 REVIEW SCORE
Entertainment
The Best New Show Of The Year Is A Supernatural Comedy Horror On AppleTV
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
The 2026 television season has been a little lackluster so far when it comes to original, new series. The Boroughs was a fun binge on Netflix, Margo’s Got Money Troubles was a good comedy, but nothing can compare to the surprising success of Widow’s Bay on AppleTV. It’s a horror comedy, which might be the hardest combination of genres to pull off, that plays out like Twin Peaks meets Parks and Recreation. No show will leave you laughing so hard in one episode, before traumatizing you in the next.
Widow’s Bay Is The Most Original Show In Years
That odd mix of shows makes sense since Widow’s Bay was created by Katie Dippold, a writer for Parks and Recreation. The series takes place in the island town of Widow’s Bay in New England when Mayor Tom (Matthew Rhys) decides to boost tourism to the small community. The catch is that the community, primarily Wyck (Stephen Root) believes the island is cursed.
It’s not a spoiler to say that yes, yes it is cursed, and yes, there are real horrors at work on the island. That’s not surprising. What is surprising is the dry humor and Matthew Rhys’ perfect facial expressions, as the town’s residents will deliver the most absurd lines with a perfectly straight face. If you vibed with the humor of Parks and Recreation, you know what you’re getting into with the odd residents of Widow’s Bay, especially Kate O’Flynn as Tom’s assistant, Patricia. There’s a sequence with her involving a shotgun that is destined to be a social media hit for years to come, and one of those moments that you’ll think, “I’d do the same thing.”
Slapstick Comedy, Horror, And Amazing Sight Gags
Before starting your binge of the first season, avoid as many spoilers as you can. Widow’s Bay sets up mysteries early on with the chained church bell, the strange basement room, a rolling fogbank, and, while it’s not a supernatural mystery, how many Diet Cokes can Town Hall employee Dale consume? His desk is filled to the brim with cans. That can’t be healthy.
Keep your eyes peeled while watching Widow’s Bay as the production team was heavily influenced by The Simpsons usage of sight gags. Some are called out with blatant shots, others exist in the background of a conversation, but put together, they make the town of Widow’s Bay an absurdist version of Twin Peaks.
No one had supernatural slapstick down on their 2026 Bingo card, but here we are. While Netflix pulled the plug on The Boroughs, Widow’s Bay has already been confirmed for a second season, which is good considering the stakes-raising season finale ends by revealing a whole new layer to the mystery of the island. We have a long wait until Season 2 premieres, giving you plenty of time to watch the show of the Summer, and you can still convince your friends you were a fan of Widow’s Bay before it was cool. ]
Widow’s Bay Season 1 is now streaming on AppleTV.
Entertainment
Don’t pay $199 for Windows 11 Pro when it’s currently just $13
TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is down to just $12.97, giving users an easy OS upgrade with advanced security, productivity tools, gaming features, and Copilot AI.
Some upgrades just feel right. This is one of them.
If your PC has been running a little sluggish or you’ve been meaning to bring your system up to speed, Windows 11 Pro is just $12.97 (reg. $199) — a rare, time-sensitive offer that rewards quick, savvy decisions.
Mashable Deals
This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s more about giving your computer the modern foundation it deserves. Windows 11 Pro brings a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and enhanced security — all in a one-time lifetime license.
Think of it as the difference between driving a reliable car and suddenly upgrading to one with a smarter dashboard, smoother handling, and built-in security features.
For professionals, creators, and power users, this upgrade also unlocks features like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and seamless Azure AD integration — tools that make a real difference when you’re working across projects or managing sensitive data.
And yes, Windows 11 comes with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or even help you generate code on the fly. It’s like having a co-pilot (literally) inside your OS.
Mashable Deals
But you don’t need convincing — you already know a smart upgrade when you see one. Get Windows 11 Pro for just $12.97 (reg. $199).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Gene Roddenberry Secretly Fixed Star Trek’s Earliest Plot Hole
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Star Trek is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Part of why that is so impressive is that this franchise has managed to maintain the same continuity for so many years. Sure, the Kelvinverse rebooted everything for a few movies, and we occasionally get glimpses of alternate universes with their own twisted history. But the main Trek timeline, from The Original Series through Starfleet Academy, has remained the same, which is an amazing creative achievement. But it also leads to something as annoying as it is inevitable: plot holes!
There are many seeming plot holes throughout the franchise. Heck, Starfleet Academy introduced more than its fair share in only one season. However, the earliest plothole goes back to William Shatner’s very first episode, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” This episode features a mock grave for James Tiberius Kirk that reads “James R. Kirk.” This weird screwup inspired decades of attempts by fans and creators to explain what happened. However, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had a simple explanation from the very beginning. That is, the godlike character who created the tombstone was still fallible, meaning that this would be an in-universe screwup rather than a production error.
A Ghoulish Plot Hole
“Where No Man Has Gone Before” was actually the second pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. It’s the episode that sold NBC on this new show, which isn’t surprising, because this is a great hour of television. Strange energy from the galactic barrier gives one of Captain Kirk’s best friends, Gary Mitchell, godlike powers. Those powers are getting stronger by the minute, so Kirk eventually has to make the difficult decision to kill his buddy in the name of keeping the entire ship (and quite possibly the entire galaxy) safe.
At one point, Mitchell uses his powers to summon a tombstone that reads “James R. Kirk.” It makes for a great threat, but there’s just one problem: the character’s name is James Tiberius Kirk. Incidentally, Gene Roddenberry seemingly knew Kirk’s middle name early on, even though it wasn’t officially revealed (outside of The Animated Series) until The Undiscovered Country. In the introduction to Star Trek: The Classic Episodes 1, Original Series writer D.C. Fontana claimed that once Roddenberry noticed the mistake, he came up with a quick and easy explanation. “Gary Mitchell had godlike powers, but at base he was human. He made a mistake.”
Powers Like A God, Mind Like A Human
Unfortunately, Roddenberry kept this plot hole explanation to himself. I say “unfortunately” because this mistake sent fans into a tizzy trying to explain the discrepancy. On top of that, various Star Trek writers tried their hands at providing explanations. One such explanation came from Michael Jan Friedman’s non-canonical My Brother’s Keeper series. In these books, when the future captain meets Gary Mitchell, he claims his middle name is “Racquetball.” Later, when Kirk steamrolls through a discussion, Mitchell says the man’s middle name should be “Rhinoceros.” Therefore, Friedman explained that the “James R. Kirk” on the tombstone is just an in-joke between former friends.
Additionally, the late, great Star Trek writer Peter David tried his hand at an explanation. In his novel Q-Squared, the events of “Where No Man Has Gone Before” take place in a parallel reality in which Kirk’s middle initial really is “R.” In this non-canonical book, we also find out that Mitchell’s powers came from briefly being possessed by Q, who had to pull himself together across all of time and space. Quick side note: while Marvel has really played out the concept of multiverses, Q-Squared is an amazing novel, and every Trek fan should read it at least once.
These writers did their best to explain where “James R. Kirk” came from. On top of this, fans have constantly debated this issue, all trying to one-up each other in coming up with a suitable explanation for this plothole. As it turns out, though, none of this debating and speculating was necessary because Gene Roddenberry had the perfect explanation ready. Namely, that having the power of a god isn’t the same as having the unlimited knowledge of a god. It’s short, it’s simple, and it’s effective. Most of all, it does what Star Trek has always done best: keep the sci-fi storytelling centered around humanity.
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