Entertainment
The Strangest Part Of The Highlander Franchise Is Better Than Every Single Sequel
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
If you ask an average Highlander fan what the worst part of the series is, they’ll say Highlander II. If that’s the answer, I think they haven’t seen Highlander: The Source, the 2007 made-for-TV SyFy original that should have known better. Both films made some disastrous missteps, but in between the release of each of them came a spin-off that, on paper, sounds absolutely insane: a Highlander cartoon set in the post-apocalypse far future with no blood but still included implied beheadings.
Highlander: The Animated Series aired for 40 episodes, and despite the insane concept, it was ahead of its time with better characterization than the live-action movies.
Immortals After The Apocalypse
Highlander: The Animated Series follows Quentin Macleod (“Same clan, different vintage,”) centuries after a meteor struck Earth and wiped out almost all life, which caused the Immortals to change their mission from fighting for “the Prize” to preserving the knowledge of humanity. Calling themselves Jettators, they specialized in different aspects of knowledge, from history to nuclear power, which could be passed on through a non-bloody Quickening with no beheadings. One of the Immortals, Kortan, refused the Oath and ruled over the wastelands as a tyrant, beheading other Immortals in accordance with the old ways, but he was destined to be defeated by The Highlander.
This should not have worked; after all, the central tenet of the Rules of Highlander is “There Can Be Only One,” but Highlander: The Animated Series is based entirely around “What if we work together for the greater good?” It works because even the good guys aren’t perfect, and most of the bad guys have either sympathetic backgrounds or wind up being morally ambiguous. The cartoon doesn’t shy away from muddying the waters between good and evil.
Shades Of Grey In A Cartoon Series
Malone, the wild sidekick to Kortan, is the one that has stayed with me because after watching him be a constant annoyance for multiple episodes, we finally see his origin and how he went crazy. It’s a dark episode and turns one of the most annoying characters and his annoying laugh into a tragic figure. Highlander: The Animated Series never shies away from the tragic backstory, right down to the Immortal Shepard, with the knowledge of satellites, choosing a life of exile because he blames himself for the meteor that struck the planet.
The Ups And Downs Of Highlander
Highlander: The Animated Series aired concurrently with the famed television series, starring Adrian Paul as Duncan Macleod, in what we can acknowledge now was a golden era for the adventure franchise. After Highlander: Endgame bombed in theaters, and The Source was disowned by everyone involved, the franchise went into hibernation as soon as it aired. Until Henry Cavill, living the dream of nerds everywhere, was attached to the remake that’s been in production for what feels like forever, and we still know nearly nothing about it.
Though the franchise has seen better days, Highlander: The Animated Series is available on multiple streaming platforms today, including Peacock, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Amazon Freevee. No prior knowledge of the franchise is required to enjoy it since it discards all the rules of the original movie and live-action series, which makes it a great entry point for new fans.
If you’re a disillusioned fan of the franchise, it’s also a breath of fresh air, showing how, when done right, the tale of Immortals and The Source can be deep (for an afterschool cartoon), with plenty of room for great characters, and of course, an amazing soundtrack.
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.
Mashable Top Stories
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.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
