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
The 75-inch Hisense U8 Mini LED TV is officially the cheapest its ever been at 50% off
SAVE $1,250: As of April 22, the Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for just $1,249.99. That’s a savings of 50% from its original list price of $2,499.99 and its best price ever.
$1,249.99
at Amazon
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at Best Buy
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If a new TV with a big screen, stunningly bright picture, and affordable tag is what you’re after, the 75-inch Hisense U8 TV is a great pick — especially now that it’s at a record-low price.
As of April 22, the Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is down to just $1,249.99 at both Amazon and Best Buy. Its original list price is $2,499.99, which means you’ll save 50% or a full $1,250. That’s officially the best price we’ve ever seen on this model. Previously, it dropped to $1,297.99 during Cyber Week, but this price beats that one by nearly $50.
CNET (Mashable’s sister site, also owned by Ziff Davis) reviewer Ty Pendlebury called the 2025 U8 TV the brightest TV he’s ever reviewed, but added that it “complements that brightness with excellent contrast and well-saturated colors.” It’s remarkably vibrant no matter the environment and no matter what you’re watching. The ice during the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs will be absolutely glistening on this TV, with its 5000 nits peak brightness, up to 5,600 local dimming zones, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. The 165Hz native refresh rate doesn’t hurt either. It won’t have any of the glitching and stuttering your old TV did.
It’s not just great for watching sports, either. Those dim-lit scenes in your favorite shows and movies will actually pop with the U8’s ultra-bright Mini LED panel. It’s even IMAX-enhanced for cinema-like picture quality. The Google TV smart platform provides a streamlined interface covering all the major streaming services, as well as Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, and Google Assistant for hands-free control.
Mashable Deals
On a normal day, we’d say the 75-inch Hisense U8 TV is too expensive for most folks, but as of April 22, it’s finally down to a price that won’t cause sticker shock.
Entertainment
Apples excellent AirPods Pro 3 are back on sale for just $200 — a $50 savings
SAVE $49.01: The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are 20% at Amazon and Walmart as of April 22. Snag a pair for just $199.99 (normally $249).
Our very own Stan Schroeder is fresh off reviewing the new AirPods Max 2, Apple’s updated over-ear headphones. While he thought their noise cancellation has improved since the last generation, they still can’t block out sounds as well as the AirPods Pro 3: “Wearing them on a busy street makes the outside noise vanish in a spectacular fashion,” he writes of the earbuds.
So, if you’re an Apple user looking for best-in-class ANC, stick with the AirPods Pro 3. Right now, they happen to be on sale for just $199.99 at Amazon and Walmart — that’s a savings of nearly $50 and one of their best deals to date. They briefly hit $184 on Amazon back in February, but never since. (And they were $219.99 everywhere last Black Friday.)
For comparison’s sake, the AirPods Max 2 are up to $350 pricier depending on the color.
The AirPods Pro 3 actually have the same H2 chip as the AirPods Max 2, so they support the same suite of smart features like Adaptive Audio and Live Translation. On top of that, they come with a built-in heart rate monitor that “worked perfectly,” per Mashable contributor Adam Doud. (Read his full review.)
Mashable Deals
On their own, the AirPods Pro 3 will net you up to eight hours of battery life per charge with their ANC enabled. Their included charging case adds an extra 24 hours of use.
I can personally assure you that you won’t find the AirPods Pro 3 on sale for anywhere cheaper — even if you go for a used pair. In new condition, they’re $239.99 at B&H Photo and full price at Best Buy and Target. Then there’s Best Buy’s open-box AirPods Pro 3, which are are $204.99 in fair condition. Pass.
Entertainment
LA public schools pass screen time limits for students in a first
Los Angeles public school students may be returning to the age of college-ruled notebooks and Scantrons, following a Tuesday school board vote that will limit the use of computers, laptops, and tablets in classrooms.
Titled “Using Technology with Intention,” the new resolution mandates the creation of grade-level and subject-specific screen time limits across Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, including a complete ban on device usage for kindergarten and first grade. The use of one-to-one devices, like individual Chromebooks, will be discouraged for second through fifth grades, as well.
Revised guidelines will also address video-aided lesson plans, access to video streaming platforms like YouTube, and expanded restrictions on gaming and social media platforms.
District staff must present the revised tech use policy by June, which will go into effect for all LAUSD students beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Guidelines will be reevaluated every year, and schools are tasked with tracking and sharing student screen time numbers with parents.
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The resolution cites increasing concern about the effect of screen time on young minds and alleged screen addiction, including recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies that show a correlation between high screen time and adverse health effects. The board was unanimously in favor of the tech restrictions, with one recusal.
“We know that tech is not going away and can be a powerful tool in the classroom. This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time and screen time in schools to ensure we are doing what actually helps students learn best,” board member Nick Melvoin said during Tuesday’s meeting.
“This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time…”
Advocates, parents, and even students have spent the last year lobbying for greater tech restrictions following the passing of a 2025 bell-to-bell cellphone ban restricting the use of personal devices during school hours. Schools Beyond Screens, a national classroom tech safety coalition founded by LAUSD parents and teachers, helped craft the resolution in collaboration with board members and co-sponsors Melvoin, Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Jerry Yang, Kelly Gonez, and Rocío Rivas.
“Now is the time for a safe and science-backed approach to classroom technology, one that is not guided by Big Tech talking points like screen value over screen time,” the organization wrote in a press release following the decision.
“There is much work to be done, and this is only the beginning, but today, we are proud, grateful, and – for the first time in a long time – hopeful. Our kids may yet have the kind of public education that they deserve — one that is proven effective and free of undue digital distraction, harmful content, and corporate exploitation.”
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