Entertainment
New King Arthur Series Is Turning Into Must-See, Prestige Streaming
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published
When I reviewed the first two episodes of The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin, I said it wasn’t a prestige show. I was wrong.
The Pendragon Cycle Gives Merlin A Magical Presence
Episode 3 of The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin picks up an unspecified number of years after the end of episode 2. The baby Merlin is now a golden-eyed adult, played by Tom Sharp, who has been riding with the “Sons of Constance,” Aurellius and Uther, in their quest to unite the fragmented England into a single kingdom under a high king. The last high king didn’t fare so well, and the three men are hoping to install Aurellius in his place. They go to Ynis Avallach for a well-deserved rest before Merlin and Uther take off to go rally more aid.
Aid is needed because the Saxons have been threatening and raiding along the coast. Ynis Avallach is weakened and unable to provide military support, but has been harboring refugees among the Britons. Everyone, from Avallach to the Maridunum and Belgae monarchies to Morgain, who is married and living on the Isle of Fear, is afraid of the Saxon threat and is protecting themselves by hoarding resources or isolating themselves.
Politics are tense, and negotiations are happening just as often at the end of a sword as by diplomacy. War is about to erupt, and divided, the regional kings of England are not strong enough to defend themselves. In the midst of all this is an aloof Merlin, initiated in the ways of his people but sure that something is missing, and having visions of a young woman. He is also certain of another magical presence observing his every move.
The Rise Of Merlin Delivers Beautiful People And Gorgeous Vistas
This third installment of The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin is a vast improvement over the other two. The effects are awesome, treating us to ornate castles and frightening visions; gone are the cheesy CGI keeps of the first two episodes. They are embedded in sweeping shots of gorgeous vistas of seaside cliffs, lush valleys, and primeval forests. The Britons live in very well-designed sets built to resemble period wooden keeps. Visually, this episode knocks it out of the park.
Awesome natural views are not the only things that make the episode beautiful. Ynis Avallach is awash in white and green, with Charis managing the crisis there in her usual stunning, ethereal white. She takes on even more of the unearthly air that defined her in the first episodes, even as her character is more grounded in the events around her. Morgain, in contrast, is dressed in rich greens and feathery blacks, an earthy combination that honors her femininity as much as it remains modest.
The men, more active in the story, are clad in the blacks and browns of travelers rather than the rich robes of those they’ve left behind. This gives them a chance to go hunting and camping, get dirty, and for Myles Clohessy as Uther to show off his shirtless physique, muscular but not overbuilt. Even with the significant influence of the two Atlantean ladies involved in events, this episode is all about the men and their quest.
Incredible Performances Carry This New King Arthur Show
There’s even a great buddy comedy between Uther and Merlin’s steward, Penelaus, which is a great cue to talk about the acting. One of my only three complaints about the episode and the performances of the numerous actors who appeared was that, once or twice, someone let out an anguished cry or a shout that was out of place and overemphatic.
Otherwise, the acting is incredible: Merlin’s smoldering intensity, Uther’s fiery temper, the hesitant nervousness of King Taldric, the grim determination of Rose Reid’s Charis, and Arellius’s idealism are all to be commended. An intense negotiation between some of the men builds significant tension because it is so well-performed (except for a single Anakin Skywalker “Noooooooo!”).
In the first two episodes, my favorite performer was Emree Franklin for her layered, nuanced portrayal of Morgain. In this episode, she doesn’t disappoint, emanating strong feminine power and demonstrating that she has her husband and sons wrapped around her finger without breaking a sweat. Rose Reid represents her foil, using her dignified strength to portray Charis as she handles things her own way.
But the show is stolen by Alex Laurence-Phillips as Pelleas. This actor conveys more with his face in scenes with no lines than a thousand lines of dialogue. His reactions to what is happening around him are priceless, and his banter with Uther is comic relief for what could have been a very heavy episode.
A Tale Of Two Amazing Scenes
While the majority of The Rise of Merlin’s third episode is focused on diplomatic negotiations between leaders who are proud, angry, and desperate, the political maneuvering is engrossing. The comic relief between verbal battles is essential to the flow of the episode, otherwise you’d need a Xanax by the end.
However, there are two scenes in particular that I need to single out for their excellent screenwriting and the framing by which they were presented.
The first is a presentation of two opposing points of view in two different conversations. The perspective of this intertwined scene shifts between the two discussions, comparing and contrasting how they relate to one another and to the show’s complicated politics. The technique of aligning these conversations side by side rather than as separate scenes is riveting and relevant because it shows how these perspectives bypass and misunderstand one another.
The second tandem scene that deserves recognition is a feast of production value, featuring two battles that unfold concurrently. With tight frames, we are brought closely into the action in the same way as some of the hardest-hitting battles in Game of Thrones (I was reminded specifically of the “Battle of the Bastards”). Once again, our perspective is switched from one fight to the other, brilliantly centered in all the action. The color contrast between the two skirmishes makes them easy to follow, even in all the chaos. The tandem presentation connects all the episode’s events into a beautiful, unified whole.
Room For Improvement In The Pendragon Cycle
For all the praise I have lavished upon this episode, there were some glaring flaws. I already mentioned the occasional overacting. This was further amplified by the inclusion of so many characters that I lost track of some of their names (e.g. I think his name was King Taldric?). All the important characters are easily identifiable, but ancillary characters are easy to get lost in, and conversations drop names of people that I’m not sure turned up on-screen.
Another major issue is that Merlin’s eyes look fake. The character is said to have golden eyes, similar to those of the bird he was named for. The problem is that the contact lenses the actor is wearing look more like bad CGI in many scenes. I’m not sure they weren’t. Since Merlin is the main character of the show, it is very distracting when his eyes are highlighted in a way that makes them stand out more than they normally do.
How Christian Is This Christian King Arthur Show?
One other thing to note is that while magic is discussed and used in the episode, Christianity is not as prominently emphasized. This is somewhat of a break from the first two episodes, which were very preachy.
Magic and the pagan gods have not been disrespected in this series so far, but have been shown as primal and demanding forces of nature, contrasted with a giving and benevolent Christian god. However, little of that is featured in this episode, and Merlin is still wearing his druidic spiral on his cheek. Future episodes will pick that thread back up, but so far, I have been impressed with how religion has been handled by a show that was expected to be very heavy-handed.
The Pendragon Cycle Levels Up In Episode Three
Overall, Jeremy Boreing has done a wonderful job adapting this story, and the third episode shows that The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin is learning and improving. As it goes along, production values are becoming sharper and the majority of its effects are getting better. If the next four episodes are as good as this one was, The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin will absolutely earn its place among prestige epics.
THE PENDRAGON CYCLE EPISODE 3 REVIEW SCORE
The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin is streaming on Daily Wire+. Episodes drop on Thursdays.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 5, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you’re a birdwatcher.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
To dive.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
The letter O appears twice.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter S.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
SWOOP
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
Entertainment
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 5, 2026
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you’re a fan of pro racing and tennis.
As we’ve shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections: Sports Edition?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication’s sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Mashable Top Stories
Here’s a hint for today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Here are today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
-
Yellow: Football Positions, Abbreviated
-
Green: Members of the 500-HR Club
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Blue: First Names of QBs to Throw 500 Career TDs
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Purple: ___500
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections: Sports Edition #500 is…
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
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Football Positions, Abbreviated – CB, OT, S, TE
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Members of the 500-HR Club – BANKS, BONDS, FOXX, KILLEBREW
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First Names of QBs to Throw 500 Career TDs – AARON, DREW, PEYTON, TOM
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___500 – ATP, DAYTONA, INDY, WTA
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
Entertainment
Perfect, R-Rated 1970s Crime Thriller Is A Heist Turned Media Circus
By Robert Scucci
| Published
After watching 1975’s Dog Day Afternoon critically, and for the first time as an adult, I might have to go out on a limb here and say that Al Pacino is my favorite comedian. I remember passively watching this one on cable when I was a kid, but the minor details were fuzzy, and I was long overdue for a proper rewatch. I could give you the usual spiel about how Dog Day Afternoon is based on a real-life hostage situation orchestrated by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile, but I’ve made my feelings clear about how source material is used countless times, and that applies here as well.
Fully understanding that creative liberties are always taken in this context, I’m simply here to watch a movie for entertainment’s sake, and I’m actually disappointed with myself for not getting to this one sooner. It’s billed as a biographical crime drama for obvious reasons, but it’s funnier than it has any right to be thanks to Al Pacino’s portrayal of a bank robber who is completely out of his depth. If anything, it plays more like a comedy of errors, where each escalation creates even more unintended spectacle.
Failure To Prepare Is Preparing To Fail
Dog Day Afternoon wastes no time getting into its heist, and it deliberately avoids showing any of the planning that took place beforehand. You’ll soon see why, because it’s painfully evident that Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino), Sal Naturile (John Cazale), and Stevie (Gary Springer) are grossly unprepared to rob the First Brooklyn Savings Bank in every conceivable way. For starters, they clearly didn’t do any kind of loyalty test, because Stevie immediately changes his mind and bolts.
Sonny then struggles to pull his gun out of the flower box he used to smuggle it inside the bank, which does nothing to make him look intimidating. He’s further humbled when he realizes the bank already completed its daily cash pickup, leaving him and Sal with just over a thousand dollars to show for their efforts. Frustrated, Sonny sets fire to the bank’s ledger, which attracts outside attention and quickly results in the police surrounding the building. With no exit strategy, Sonny and Sal are forced to hold everyone hostage while they try to figure out what to do next.
As the hours tick by, the press becomes an increasingly dominant presence outside, and Detective Sergeant Eugene Moretti (Charles Durning) urges Sonny to step out for negotiations. Sonny, having no real grasp on bank robbing protocol, insists on running everything by Sal first. Through these conversations, Sonny’s true motive comes into focus. He was trying to raise money for his lover Leon’s (Chris Sarandon) gender reassignment surgery, only to learn that his actions may have made Leon an accessory to the crime.
Pacino’s Comedic Timing Is Next Level
Before Sonny starts making demands for a jet to stage his escape, Dog Day Afternoon truly shines thanks to how Pacino carries himself throughout the ordeal. Sonny is borderline bumbling in his attempts to control the situation, and it’s the small throwaway moments that really sell it. When a hostage asks if they can use the bathroom, Sonny casually asks another teller where the bathroom is. That’s not a question a competent bank robber should ever be asking, because a competent one would have cased the place weeks or months earlier.
Whenever Sonny is presented with a counteroffer to one of his demands, he averts his eyes and mutters that he needs to consult with his partner before locking the bank down again. The earnestness behind Pacino’s portrayal of a man who is wildly unqualified for the situation lands so well because of how seriously he plays it. The humor is further amplified by just how bored the hostages seem to be. They quickly realize they’re not in immediate danger and mostly just wait things out, humoring Sonny as he continues to dig himself deeper.
Holding a near-perfect balance between crime thriller and comedy of errors, Dog Day Afternoon remains such a satisfying watch because of how fully Al Pacino commits to the premise. In Sonny’s mind, this is deadly serious business. For the audience, the comedy comes from watching someone this ill-equipped try to control a situation that keeps slipping further away from him, and it’s still a joy to watch unfold over 50 years later.
Dog Day Afternoon is streaming for free on Tubi as of this writing.
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