Entertainment
The Epic Historical Horror Series I’ll Never Stop Mourning
By Drew Dietsch
| Published
There are only a handful of shows that come around in your life that feel truly special. As if someone had finally tapped into a greater idea that you had always wanted to see executed in a long-form fashion. Carnivàle was that show for me. Airing only two seasons on HBO back in 2003, this historical horror fantasy epic managed to bring something to the television landscape that still has never been replicated at its best.
Every Prophet In His House
To describe the core story of Carnivàle wouldn’t do justice to its larger scope of characters, but the basic premise follows two men, Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl) and Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown) and their awakening into a number of supernatural abilities and events. Set during the Great Depression in the midst of the Dust Bowl, the series uses these two characters to explore an ancient battle between two magical forces and the feelings of impending apocalypse that color this dilapidated America.
Ben becomes a part of a traveling carnival and this is where the ensemble nature of the show often comes into play. Carnivàle allows for a rich and varied tapestry of characters and stories that often don’t directly tie in to the larger supernatural story at play. This is often seen as one of the key criticisms viewers have of the show, but it’s the humanity and heart of the show’s misfit troupe that gives it a lot of its power.
However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Brother Justin is one of the best roles Clancy Brown has ever played in his entire career. His story dives into depths of depravity, sin, and evil as he comes to realize his purpose for the power he wields. It’s an amazing character that should be viewed as one of TV’s true unsung great villains. Brother Justin is worth the price of admission to Carnivàle alone.
The Lingering Horror Of Carnivàle
But, I specifically called Carnivàle a horror series and that’s where I want to focus. There are a number of dreams/visions in the series and outright freaky supernatural moments. I don’t want to spoil them all for anyone who might be discovering the show for the first time, but I will say that the picture above is a moment that has stuck with me ever since I first watched the series. It’s is one of the most haunting conclusions to a story I’ve seen executed in a mainstream television series and it still chills me today.
The big bummer is that the series was canceled after its second season ends on an enormous and game-changing cliffhanger that will never be resolved. Unfortunately, it feels like Lost took a lot of steam away from Carnivàle as that series debuted in 2004 and did a better job at capturing a larger audience for a mysterious and seemingly magical epic television show.
At this point, there will never be a true conclusion to Carnivàle. Too much time has passed to film anything that could involve most of the original cast. It’s always possible a reboot series or something could happen, but there’s very little chance it would capture the specific power that the original series still conjures up. Instead, the best thing to do is stream the show on Max and celebrate what we got. It’s certainly a lot better than Lost, a show I watched the entirety of and only made me pine even harder for Carnivàle.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
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:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
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…
TRIPE.
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.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
