• Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet still seem to be going strong. 
• The couple attended their second Golden Globe Awards together on Sunday.
• Here's a timeline of their relationship, from interacting at Paris Fashion Week to attending award shows.

In what is arguably the most unexpected celebrity coupling since Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson, Kylie Jenner is dating Timothée Chalamet.

Reports first surfaced in April 2023 that the two were casually seeing each other. In the time since, more information has come to light about their rumored first meeting and sources have given details on the relationship, though neither Jenner nor Chalamet have confirmed it publicly.

Most recently, Chalamet and Jenner were spotted together at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, held in Los Angeles in January 2025. 

Here's everything we know about their relationship so far, from when it may have started to the pair's secret taco dates.

Representatives for Chalamet and Jenner didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

January 2023: Jenner and Chalamet meet during Paris Fashion Week

A video of Jenner and Chalamet from January that appeared to show them interacting during an event at Paris Fashion Week resurfaced in April, after the dating rumors began in full force. According to People, the video was taken at Jean Paul Gaultier's Paris Fashion Week show.

People reported that Jenner had again split from Travis Scott, the father of her two children, earlier in January, though the source told People it was "probably not the end" of Jenner and Scott's famously on-again, off-again relationship.

Chalamet, for his part, had most recently been linked to model Sarah Talabi in 2022 and actor Eiza González in 2020.

March 27, 2023: The two reportedly attend a dinner with Kendall Jenner and Kendall's rumored boyfriend Bad Bunny

Shortly before the Kymothée relationship rumors took the internet by storm, Page Six reported on March 27 that Jenner's sister Kendall and rapper Bad Bunny (who'd themselves been at the center of dating rumors for about a month at that point) were photographed out together leaving a club in West Hollywood, California.

The Page Six report mentioned in passing that Kendall and Bad Bunny had dinner "alongside other A-Listers — including her sister, Kylie Jenner, and Timothée Chalamet," among others. 

April 6, 2023: DeuxMoi posts about Jenner and Chalamet dating rumors

On April 6, pop-culture gossip curator DeuxMoi posted an anonymous fan submission claiming that "multiple sources" had told them that Chalamet "has a new girl... Kylie Jenner. ⚰️⚰️"

DeuxMoi soon followed that up with submissions from other readers who claimed they could confirm the news. One anonymous source told Deuxmoi they'd known about the pairing since Paris Fashion Week in January, indicating that the relationship may have started then.

The internet had a collective meltdown, with some expressing shock and horror at the unexpected pairing and others straight up refusing to believe that the two, who seem to run in very different social circles, had ever even met. 

April 7, 2023: Jenner and Chalamet eat tacos in a car together

According to photos from paparazzi agency Splash News reported on by Page Six and TMZ, Jenner and Chalamet had a "secret date night" at Tito's Tacos, a restaurant outside Los Angeles, that involved a kind of complicated car swap situation.

Page Six reported that Jenner picked Chalamet up in her car after he attended an art show. One of Jenner's security guards then apparently drove Chalamet's car, which followed Jenner's car, to Tito's Tacos, at which point Jenner's team hopped out and brought tacos back to the car, according to TMZ.

Jenner wasn't photographed during the reported date.

April 13, 2023: Jenner's car is seen at Chalamet's house

On April 13, TMZ published photos from paparazzi agency Backgrid showing a black car, which they identified as Jenner's black Range Rover SUV, in the driveway of a house, which they identified as Chalamet's Beverly Hills, California, estate. Other publications, including the Daily Mail and Page Six, reported on the same photos.

Page Six noted that the SUV had tinted windows and Jenner was never actually photographed inside the car, so it's unclear whether she was in it. The Daily Mail reported that the black SUV "arrived around 10 a.m. and left mere minutes later" followed by a "blacked out security Escalade."

Jenner famously collects luxury cars and she's shown a preference for Range Rovers in the past.

Representatives for Chalamet and Jenner didn't respond to requests for comment from TMZ, the Daily Mail, and Page Six at the time of the reports.

April 14-19, 2023: Sources say Jenner and Chalamet are dating, but just casually

Entertainment Tonight and People both separately reported on sources confirming the casual romance and giving more context for why Jenner and Chalamet were not going public.

On April 14, People reported that "a source close to 'The Kardashians' star" confirmed that Jenner and Chalamet "are hanging out and getting to know each other." (Representatives for Jenner and Chalamet didn't respond to People's request for comment at the time.)

Entertainment Tonight reported similar information from a source.

"They are keeping things casual at this point. It's not serious, but Kylie is enjoying hanging out with Timothée and seeing where it goes," said Entertainment Tonight's source in a story published April 17. "It's been really fun for her because it feels a lot different than her past relationships. It's new and exciting for Kylie and she's having a lot of fun."

The two both attended Coachella mid-month but avoided being photographed together, Page Six reported.

According to the Entertainment Tonight source, Jenner may have met Chalamet through her sister, Kendall, which tracks with their reported attendance at the March 27 dinner. "Timothée is also friends with Kendall, so it's been easy for Kylie to integrate him into her life," the source told Entertainment Tonight.

People reported on April 19 that a source close to Jenner said Jenner and Chalamet "hang out every week" and that Jenner is "having fun" and "wants to date without any pressure" after her on-and-off relationship with Travis Scott. The source also told People that the two had met "earlier this year at an event in Europe," which tracks with the viral video of the two from Paris Fashion Week in January.

May 1, 2023: Chalamet and Jenner don't make their big debut at the Met Gala; fans are bummed

Since the relationship reports broke, fans had been speculating that in true Kardashian-Jenner family style, the couple would make their big public debut in a splashy spectacle on the Met Gala red carpet.

Alas, that didn't happen. Jenner did attend the Met Gala, but she went solo, and Chalamet skipped the fashion event altogether.

May 29, 2023: A source tells People that Chalamet and Jenner are still casually dating, but it's still not serious

After weeks of relative silence on the Chalamet-Jenner front, a source confirmed to People that the reality star and the "Dune" actor are still enjoying each other's company and not putting labels on their relationship. According to People's source, Jenner's main priority is being a mom to 5-year-old Stormi and 15-month-old Aire.

A few days before People's report, Backgrid photos obtained by Page Six appeared to show the same black Range Rover (apparently Jenner's) from the April 13 sighting parked once again in the driveway of Chalamet's Beverly Hills home.

Sometime in May 2023: Jenner is finally seen leaving Chalamet's home

On June 1, Page Six reported that Jenner had been photographed leaving Chalamet's house for the first time. In the photos taken by Splash News, Jenner can be seen in the driver's seat of her black Range Rover, glancing at her phone before driving away from Chalamet's home.

Chalamet was photographed by the same paparazzo leaving in his own car shortly after Jenner departed.

September 4, 2023: Chalamet and Jenner make out at Beyoncé's Los Angeles concert

Footage obtained by TMZ shows the couple dancing, hugging, and kissing one another while taking in Beyoncé's Renaissance tour at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium. In the background, Jenner's sister Kendall is also visible. 

This was the first time Chalamet and Jenner were actually seen interacting in public together. Another video of the two at the concert, obtained by PopCrave, shows Chalamet smoking a cigarette and chatting with Jenner. 

September 10, 2023: The pair are spotted out and about in New York 

Chalamet and Jenner were photographed together at a US Open match in September 2023. In photographs from the event, the two are shown taking in the match, whispering in each other's ears, and even sharing a quick kiss. 

October 17, 2023: Chalamet alludes to his relationship with Jenner in a GQ interview

While the "Dune" star avoided mentioning Jenner by name, or even confirming their relationship, he told GQ's Daniel Riley that the intense scrutiny around his potential relationship reminded him of a "South Park" episode satirizing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in which the couple travels around the world on a "Worldwide Privacy Tour" demanding space from the public eye. 

"Sometimes, people are going to be hella confused when you say you're trying to live a private life," Chalamet said in the interview. 

November 1, 2023: Chalamet and Jenner are spotted together at the Wall Street Journal Magazine's Innovator awards

Chalamet and Jenner sat together, and were photographed smiling and talking to one another at the ceremony. 

December 10, 2023: Jenner secretly attends the premiere of Chalamet's new film 'Wonka,' according to reports

According to a report published in People, Jenner and her mom Kris didn't walk the red carpet ahead of the Los Angeles premiere of "Wonka." Instead, they quietly entered the theater after the opening credits. 

January 2024: The couple make their Golden Globes debut together

December 2024: Jenner attended the 'A Complete Unknown' after-party, according to reports

E! News reported that Jenner attended the after-party for the premiere of "A Complete Unknown."  Citing an anonymous source, the publication reported that Chalamet was seen introducing Jenner to other members of the film's cast. 

January 2025: The couple attend the Golden Globes together again

During the ceremony, Jenner and Chalamet were also photographed with his "A Complete Unknown" costars Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning.

• Jodie Foster, 62, has two sons named Kit and Charles.
• Her younger son, Kit, accompanied her to the 82nd annual Golden Globes.
• Foster married photographer Alexandra Hedison in 2014. 

Jodie Foster shouted out her family, including her two sons, during her Golden Globes acceptance speech on Sunday.

"Kit, my scientist son, and Charlie, my actor son starting his career, hopefully you understand the joy, such joy that comes from doing really hard, meaningful, good work," said Foster, who won best female actor in a limited series, anthology, or motion picture made for television for her role in the HBO series "True Detective: Night Country."

"So, my boys, I love you, and this, of course, is for you and the love of my life, Alex. Thank you forever," she continued. Her son, Kit, was in the audience.

While one of her kids is now following in her footsteps, Foster previously revealed that at one point, they didn't even know she was an actor. In fact, she actually told them she was a construction worker when they were younger.

Foster, 62, opened up about parenting during a January 2024 episode of "The View." Foster shares her two children with her former partner, Cydney Bernard: Charles "Charlie" Bernard Foster, 25, and Christopher "Kit" Bernard Foster, 22.

"I guess I just didn't want them to know me that way," Foster said. "I wanted them to know me as their mom and the person who went away to work and stuff."

She recalled one day when she brought her eldest son to set.

"I brought him to set one day and I bought him a little plastic tool belt and stuff," Foster said. "And I was like, 'Yeah, and this is this set and this set and this set.' And for a really long time, he thought I was a construction worker."

The Oscar-winner emerged as a Hollywood titan after having an illustrious career in the entertainment industry. After scoring her breakout role in the 1976 film "Taxi Driver," Foster appeared in several acclaimed films like "The Silence of the Lambs" and directed films like "Home for the Holidays" in 1995.

Even so, she's managed to remain relatively mum about her family. Here's a look at her wife and two children.

Foster's wife, Alexandra Hedison, is a photographer and former actor who appeared in "The L Word"

According to People, Hedison, 55, married Foster during an intimate ceremony in April 2014. Hedison is a photographer who often shares pictures of her work and artistic endeavors on Instagram. Hedison also directed the documentary "ALOK," which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and was executive produced by Foster.

Hedison, like her wife, is a jack of all trades. In addition to photography and directing, Hedison is a former actor who played Dylan Moreland on "The L Word" and appeared in other shows like "Melrose Place." Hedison's father is the late actor David Hedison, who appeared in the 1973 James Bond film "Live and Let Die."

Hedison also worked in home design. People reported that she appeared on a 2006 reality TV series called "Designing Blind." According to the Los Angeles Times, a home Hedison designed hit the market for $2.75 million in 2014.

Not much is known about Hedison's past relationships, but she dated television personality Ellen DeGeneres from 2000 to 2004, according to a 2004 report by The New York Times.

Foster and Hedison don't often make public appearances, but the couple has posed for certain red-carpet events, including the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Charles "Charlie" Bernard Foster is the eldest child of Foster and her former partner, Cydney Bernard

Entertainment Weekly and the Sun Sentinel reported that Foster gave birth to Charlie in July 1998 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. According to HuffPost, she shares Charlie with her former longtime partner, Cydney Bernard, whom she dated for 15 years before the two split in 2008.

Foster said Charlie had a natural affinity for Hollywood life, even at a young age.

"[He'll say] 'I want to be in movies. Why can't you get me a job?' Then I say, 'You have to earn that. If you want to be an actor, you can start by doing a little theater.' Then he says, 'I'm not interested in that. I just want to be famous and see my face.'" she told More Magazine in 2007, per People.

Based on Foster's comments at the 2025 Golden Globes, Charlie appears to have chased his dreams. He attended Yale University, where he participated in several acting projects. In 2019 and 2021, he played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in a local "Rocky Horror Picture Show performance," according to the Yale College Arts website.

Christopher "Kit" Bernard Foster is her youngest child

Foster and Bernard welcomed their second child in September 2001, according to CBS News.

Unlike Charlie, Foster said Kit isn't interested in following in his mother's footsteps.

"I know the perils of having a parent involved in your art form are too great," Foster told The Guardian in July 2018. "My older son is getting more interested in acting now, and I'm glad he discovered it late. My younger son is really shy and I can promise you he will never be an actor."

In other interviews, Foster shared small tidbits about Kit, including Magic Radio in May 2016. During her appearance, Foster called Kit "a little sensitive" and said that she waited "many years" before she let him watch "The Silence of the Lambs."

According to his LinkedIn page, Foster's "scientist son" graduated from Princeton University with a BA in chemistry and now works as a research associate.

• Nikki Glaser hosted the 2025 Golden Globes. Compared to Jo Koy last year, her monologue killed it.
• Despite expressing worry over a Diddy joke in the press, Glaser went for it on stage.
• Glaser said that she ran her monologue many times in clubs before doing it on the Globes stage.

At last year's Golden Globes, comedian Jo Koy defended his poorly received opening monologue by saying that he only had 10 days to write it.

In 2025, his successor Nikki Glaser — who was also nominated for best performance in stand-up comedy on television — showed up prepared. She still took some risks onstage, though.

Glaser's monologue took shots at streamers like Paramount+ (which is streaming the awards show), Netflix, and Peacock, viral moments like the viral Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo "holding space" meme, and somewhat surprisingly, the rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, who will stand trial in May on a sex-trafficking indictment. (Combs' attorneys said in a statement that he has "never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — woman, adult or minor.")

"That movie was more sexually charged than Diddy's credit card," Glaser said of the Zendaya-led film "Challengers," prompting laughter from the crowd.

"I'm sorry. I'm upset too," Glaser continued. "The afterparty's not gonna be as good this year, but we have to move on."

"Stanley Tucci 'freak off' just doesn't have the same ring to it. No baby oil this year, just lots of olive oil," she said, referencing the allegations of sex performances and baby oil usage found in Combs' indictment, and Tucci's proclivity toward Italian food.

Combs' attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Glaser ran through her monologue dozens of times in clubs ahead of the Globes. The New York Times reported that during one of those runs, Glaser expressed hesitation about telling a joke about Combs at the show despite it landing with the club audience.

"You promise you will still be hollering on your couch when it dies in the room? I don't think you will," Glaser told the audience after someone urged her to keep it in her monologue.

Glaser told the Times the following day that she felt it was "almost more important" that the jokes in her monologue land for the people in the room than audiences at home.

"I don't know if I'm savvy enough to watch a joke that bombs on TV and still go: That's still a good joke," Glaser said.

Luckily for Glaser, her joke about Combs — and later in the monologue, another crack about the possibility of other, yet-to-be-uncovered celebrity criminals in the room — landed with the in-person audience. The rest of her opening was a hit for Globes attendees and those on social media as well.

"Nikki Glaser is very very good at this," "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart wrote on X.

Here are the other most memorable moments from Glaser's monologue.

Glaser poked fun at streaming platforms like Paramount+

Glaser opened her monologue with a joke about the Globes being "Ozempic's biggest night." She quickly transitioned to poke fun at the Globes' own streaming host: Paramount+.

"If you're watching on CBS, hello. If you're watching on Paramount+, you have six days left to cancel your free trial," she said.

Later in her monologue, Glaser shouted out Eddie Redmayne's Golden Globe-nominated role in "The Day of the Jackal," which airs on the streaming service Peacock.

"It's about a top-secret, elite sniper that no one can find, 'cause he's on Peacock," Glaser said. "I think I've seen more actual peacocks in my life than shows on Peacock."

Glaser didn't spare Netflix, knocking its recommendation system by way of "Emilia Pérez."

"I think it is without a doubt the most audacious, groundbreaking film to ever autoplay after 'Is It Cake?'" she said. "Seriously."

Glaser brought Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Adam Sandler in on bits

Glaser also proved that she knew how to involve her audience.

The host referenced a viral meme from the "Wicked" press tour, when journalist Tracy Gilchrist informed stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that people were "taking the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity' and really holding space with that, and feeling power in that." When Erivo became emotional while responding, Grande delicately held on to one of her fingers.

"I'm scared," Glaser said at one point during the monologue. "Ariana, hold my finger."

In response, Grande reached out to her, before grabbing Erivo's finger.

"Tonight, we celebrate the best of film, and hold space for television," Glaser continued.

Later in the monologue, Glaser honed in on Timothée Chalamet.

"Can I just say, you have the most gorgeous eyelashes on your upper lip," she remarked.

After praising Chalamet's ability to play "beloved eccentrics" like Bob Dylan and Willy Wonka, Glaser suggested that he take on a role as Adam Sandler next.

"Actually, your name sounds like something Adam Sandler would say," Glaser remarked, before launching into a Sandler impression and repeating Chalamet's name.

When Glaser called out to Sandler, who was sitting in the Golden Globes audience, she coaxed a "Chalamet" out of him as well.

Watch Glaser's full monologue below.

Watch the 2025 Golden Globes on Paramount+ with Showtime.

• Zendaya is an awards favorite this year for her role as Tashi Duncan in "Challengers."
• Her career began as a teenager, on Disney Channel titles like "Shake It Up" and "Frenemies."
• Zendaya has a "complicated relationship" with child acting but wouldn't change her career path.

"Challengers" star Zendaya says that she wouldn't change her career — but she does have a "complicated relationship" with child stardom.

The actor, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in "Challengers," joined fellow awards season contenders for The Hollywood Reporter's annual drama actress roundtable. The group, which also included Demi Moore, Mikey Madison, Zoe Saldaña, Tilda Swinton, and Angelina Jolie, spoke with each other about their iconic 2024 roles and careers.

Zendaya, 28, has been working since her teenage years, starring in Disney Channel shows and movies like "Shake It Up" and "Frenemies." Now, she says that she's working to cultivate hobbies — in her case, pottery and baking — outside of acting.

"I have a complicated relationship with the idea of child acting because I've seen it be detrimental to people," the actor told THR. "I'm so grateful that this is how it turned out. I wouldn't change it, but there are things that I wish I lived out privately, you know? Because you're figuring out who you are in front of the world."

Zendaya has previously spoken about growing up in the spotlight, telling Vogue Australia in 2020 that she navigated her transition into adulthood by maintaining a "clear vision" of her goals as well as a "very good sense of self."

"Challengers," which was directed by Luca Guadagnino and costars Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist, also gave Zendaya the opportunity to play an adult character in Tashi Duncan. Though not exclusively, many of her previous highly acclaimed roles in series like "Euphoria" or films like the "Spider-Man" franchise have featured her as a teenager, even well into adulthood.

"For so long I was playing a teenager, way past when I was one," she told THR. "Being able to play Rue [on HBO's 'Euphoria'] has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. But there comes a time when you've got to start playing your age and beyond. And it was a scary thing."

• Natalia Grace, an orphan accused of being an adult who posed as a child, is the focus of an ID docuseries.
• After her former adoptive parents abandoned her, she was taken in by the Mans family.
• Natalia recently confirmed she was no longer living with them, a year after the series' cliffhanger suggested they'd fallen out.

Days before the premiere of "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter," Natalia Grace Mans confirmed that she is no longer living with the Mans family.

The Investigation Discovery documentary series, released in three batches, explores the story of Natalia Grace, whose former adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, said she was an adult posing as an orphaned Ukrainian child.

The first season, which aired in May 2023, gave an overview of Natalia Grace's story and covered the accusations against her. The Barnetts, who said they believed Natalia to be a 6-year-old Ukrainian orphan when they first adopted her in 2010, came to believe that Natalia was really an adult con artist. In the series, Michael alleged that Natalia had attempted to harm members of the family and said that a therapist had diagnosed her as a "sociopath," all accusations that Natalia denied.

Natalia has a rare form of dwarfism known as spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. Though her Ukrainian birth certificate said she was born in 2003, in 2012, Michael and Kristine Barnett succeeded in legally changing Natalia's birth year to 1989.

That made Natalia an adult on paper, but she was still classified as a dependent due to her disability status. After leaving Natalia alone in an Indiana apartment and moving to Canada in 2013, the since-divorced couple faced charges of neglect in 2019. (Michael was acquitted in October 2022, and the charges against Kristine were dismissed in March 2023.)

"Natalia Speaks," the second season of the series, aired in January 2024 and featured extensive interviews with Natalia in which she denied the Barnetts' allegations of violent behavior and their claims that she faked her age. She also accused Kristine Barnett, who did not participate in the docuseries, of abusing her as a child. In a statement posted to Facebook in January 2024, Kristine said that Natalia "was not abused by anyone in my family."

The docuseries also featured Natalia's confrontation with Michael Barnett, who apologized to Natalia and alleged that Kristine had manipulated him.

In the years since her time with the Barnetts, Natalia found a new family in Cynthia and Antwon Mans, a religious couple who later adopted her. The second season of the docuseries presented their relationship as a loving one and a happy ending for Natalia, but a revelation in the last two minutes of the docuseries threw all that into doubt.

Now, ahead of the new episodes of the docuseries airing on January 6, Natalia has clarified where she stands with the Mans family.

How did Natalia Grace meet her new adoptive parents, Cynthia and Antwon Mans?

Both Antwon and Cynthia Mans featured heavily in the second part of the docuseries, "Natalia Speaks," with Antwon accompanying Natalia to receive DNA test results that appeared to determine that her true age is around 22 years old. He also sat in on her confrontation with her former adoptive father, Michael Barnett. Natalia praised the Mans family throughout the series and referred to them as her parents even before they legally adopted her.

Natalia previously testified in Michael Barnett's neglect trial that she came to live with the Mans family after meeting Cynthia Mans through a neighbor while she was living alone in Lafayette, Indiana, where the Barnetts had moved her in July 2013. At that time, Natalia said, she was 9 years old, though she was legally 23 years old due to the Barnetts changing her age.

Antwon and Cynthia, who had multiple other children living in their home when Natalia came to live with them, spoke highly of Natalia in the series. They said she didn't behave in their home in a way uncharacteristic of other children and certainly not the way the Barnetts said she acted with them. But the show did raise one specific incident: Genesis Mans, a child also living with the Mans family, recalled in an interview in episode five that Natalia bit her when she was a baby. Genesis said Natalia told her the incident occurred when Natalia was 10 (legally 24 years old).

"I would say she has been violent in a typical way like most kids do. You know, most kids fight, most kids argue, but nothing unusual to where there was just crazy unrest in that sort of way. There's nothing dangerous about Natalia at all, absolutely not," Bishop Antwon Mans said in an interview in episode five of "Natalia Speaks."

In episode six, Natalia said she remembered "having some behavior issues" when she first met the Mans, and she apologized for her early behavior.

"When Natalia first got with us, there would be moments that she would just be so broken, and just feel like, 'How do I deal with this?'" Cynthia Mans recounted in an interview in episode six.

"Natalia been with us all these years, and let me tell you, we have corrected Natalia, and she's never came at us with the knife or put thumbtacks up on our stairs, or tried to hurt our children," Cynthia continued, referencing allegations from the Barnetts.

Episode six of "Natalia Speaks" depicted Antwon and Cynthia Mans formally adopting Natalia, with both parents wearing t-shirts celebrating their status as adoptive parents.

"It has been a really long journey. I have always wondered if I would be able to find someone that would actually love me. But then I met my parents, and it's been different ever since. It's been a good different," Natalia said in an interview in episode six.

Documents shown in the episode indicated the adoption paperwork was filed in June 2023, about a decade after she began living with them.

The docuseries suggested Natalia Grace and the Mans family had a falling out

In the last two minutes of episode six of "Natalia Speaks," a black screen appears with text that reads, "Two weeks ago, and six months after Natalia's adoption, the producers got a shocking phone call."

Audio of Antwon and Cynthia's voices then plays over a shot zooming in on Natalia sitting on a porch.

"Something ain't right with Natalia," Antwon says. "This girl is tweakin'. I feel like she's the enemy in the house. And she said to us, we have held her hostage. Made us look like we're the enemy."

"Natalia is stabbing her family in the back over a complete lie," Cynthia says.

"She's done other things, too," Antwon continues. "But this was a new low. Natalia does not have emotions for nothing but herself. We're done. We're done with her."

Then the screen cuts to black with the text, "Natalia's story will continue."

Jason Sarlanis, president of crime and investigative content, linear and streaming at Discovery, told The Hollywood Reporter after the episode aired that producers initially believed that Natalia's story, despite being full of "twists and turns," had reached a positive conclusion.

"We genuinely thought Natalia had found a happy ending with her new family, so you can imagine we were all thoroughly shocked when that call came from the Mans," Sarlanis said.

"Our series was already finished and locked, but we instantly mobilized with our producers to ensure that this shocking development was included in our finale," Sarlanis told THR. "Our viewers are so invested in Natalia's case we felt our series needed to reflect the constantly shifting truth of her situation."

"One thing has always proven to be true with Natalia's story — nothing is ever what it seems."

Natalia still interacted with the Mans family on social media after the phone call, but things got messy

Despite the cliffhanger, Natalia appeared to still be on good terms with the Mans family on social media after their phone call to producers, which "The Final Chapter" states took place on December 1, 2023. She appeared in posts from the Mans family's social media accounts, including a Thanksgiving 2023 post on Instagram.

The family's TikTok account, which the Instagram page references, posted on December 26, 2023 that Natalia had launched her own TikTok account under the handle @natgrace20. The post bears several hashtags, including #MamaBabyIsGrowingUp, #MamasForEverBFF, #FamilyIsForever, and #GoFollowBabysPage. According to the timeline presented in the documentary series, the post was likely made after or around the same time as the phone call between the Mans family and the docuseries' producers.

One post on the @natgrace20 account, previously viewed by BI, was a video of a woman who appeared to be Natalia wishing her followers a happy 2024. A December 29, 2023 post on the account featured photos of Natalia and the Mans family.

"2023 was amazing but 2024 is gonna be awesome," the December 29, 2023 post's caption read, accompanied by the hashtags #newbeginnings, #fyp, and #family4ever. It also tagged the Mans family's account.

"i love you so much my forever baby," the Mans family account replied to the post.

"I love you mama," the Natalia account replied.

On January 5, 2024, after "Natalia Speaks" aired, the Instagram account appearing to belong to Natalia posted to let people know that she was safe. The post did not explicitly reference her relationship with the Mans family, nor the ending of the show.

"I am okay and doing well and thank you all for your support and prayers," read the caption. "I wish I could tell you more Abt the show but I signed an agreement with the show to keep things confidential for now. I will let you guys know when I can for sure, but just know I am okay. Love y'all! #safe #livingmybestlife."

Later posts indicated that things were more complicated. One February 2024 TikTok on the Mans family's account reads: "Life can be so hard when raising kids. I miss my daughter so much and I will never understand why things are like this."

Another February post on the Mans family's Facebook page said they and Natalia had "disagreements" but she was still their daughter and they didn't hate her. It also claimed that the audio from their phone call to producers had been edited, and did not reflect the "full audio" of the conversation.

A representative for ID did not immediately return BI's request for comment.

In a March 2024 TikTok video, Cynthia Mans said that Natalia was no longer active on their account, or any account, as she'd decided to leave social media. Another post later that month said Natalia no longer lived with the family and that she wasn't speaking to Cynthia anymore.

"I miss my baby so much," she said.

As of January 3, 2025, all posts on the @natgrace20 TikTok account had been deleted or set to private.

Previous requests for comment from BI sent to the Mans family's Instagram account and the Instagram account appearing to belong to Natalia in 2024 did not receive a response. Natalia's Instagram account was wiped as of January 3, 2025.

Natalia Grace confirmed in January 2025 that she's no longer living with the Mans family

In a People cover story published days before the premiere of "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter," Natalia said that she was living in New York with the DePaul family, who previously attempted to adopt her when she was a child.

Natalia told People that while she was living with the Mans family, she "learned how to be a mother," assisting in raising other children in the family. The publication reported that Antwon learned that Natalia was dating a man named Neil and removed access to her phone. People also reported that on the new episodes of the show, which have yet to be released, neighbors allege that Cynthia and Antwon Mans had physically abused Natalia while she lived with them.

Natalia would not confirm or deny those allegations to People.

Antwon and Cynthia Mans did not immediately respond to BI's requests for comment sent to their personal Facebook profiles, their family Facebook page, and an email listed on the Facebook page. They also did not respond to People magazine's requests for comment.

People reports that Neil, Natalia's boyfriend, contacted the DePaul family, and they organized a plan to help her leave the Mans family in the middle of the night. In December 2023, Nicole DePaul drove to Nashville, where the Mans were located, to pick up Natalia, as shown in a preview from the docuseries.

Natalia has lived with the DePaul family — Nicole, her husband Vince, and daughter Mackenzie, who all have dwarfism too — since then. Nicole told People that their relationship was typically smooth, though it had its difficulties.

"Did she probably do weird things in the past? Yeah," Nicole told People. "[But] when you take in a child, you take that child as your own. You don't just get rid of them when they don't fit into your puzzle."

Natalia told People that she informed her adoptive mother, Cynthia, that she wasn't "kidnapped or dead" once she left the Mans family. Now, she is preparing to one day live on her own by studying for the GED and learning how to drive. She also told People that she met Neil, her boyfriend, for the first time in person after leaving the Mans family.

"It's been a big learning curve for me. For the most part, I've made peace," she told People. "It is definitely a blessing to be alive today. And there's nothing I can do to change the past."

"The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter" will premiere on January 6 on Max and Investigation Discovery.

• IMDb ranked the most popular movies released in 2024 using its own data.
• The top 10 included franchise hits like "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Dune: Prophecy."
• It also featured some breakthrough originals, like "The Substance" and "Longlegs."

2024 was a huge year for film franchises, according to IMDb's end-of-year rankings — but few original works cut through the noise.

IMDb, the entertainment database, measures the popularity of titles throughout the year through its propriety MOVIEmeter metric, calculated through data like number of page visits for a specific title. In other words, the more people who click on "Deadpool & Wolverine's" IMDb page, the higher its MOVIEmeter score. The scores are only available through IMDb Pro, the platform's professional service, though IMDb maintains public rankings.

Last year, the most popular films on IMDb were overwhelmingly franchise titles like "Dune: Part Two," "Alien: Romulus," and "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes." There were a few buzzy original titles in the mix, however, like "Longlegs," "The Substance," and "Civil War."

Here are the top 10 most popular films of 2024 according to IMDb, ranked.

10. "Longlegs"

IMDb Rating: 6.7/10

Synopsis: "In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree."

Where to stream: Available to rent or purchase digitally

9. "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes"

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Synopsis: "Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike."

Where to stream: Hulu

8. "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"

IMDb Rating: 6.7/10

Synopsis: "After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife."

Where to stream: Max

7. "Civil War"

IMDb Rating: 7.0/10

Synopsis: "In a dystopian future, four journalists travel across the United States during a nationwide conflict. While trying to survive, they aim to reach the White House to interview the president before he is overthrown."

Where to stream: Max

6. "The Substance"

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Synopsis: "A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself."

Where to stream: Prime Video with MUBI

5. "Alien: Romulus"

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

Synopsis: "While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonists come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe."

Where to stream: Hulu

4. "Joker: Folie à Deux"

IMDb Rating: 5.2/10

Synopsis: "Struggling with his dual identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital."

Where to stream: Max

3. "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga"

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Synopsis: "The origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her encounter and teamup with Mad Max."

Where to stream: Max

2. "Dune: Part Two"

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Synopsis: "Paul Atreides unites with the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future."

Where to stream: Max

1. "Deadpool & Wolverine"

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Synopsis: "Deadpool is offered a place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by the Time Variance Authority, but instead recruits a variant of Wolverine to save his universe from extinction."

Where to stream: Disney+

• "Wicked" has received some criticism for its use of backlighting, as well as its color grading.
• Director Jon M. Chu told BI that he thinks the film is "gorgeous."
• Chu said that he wanted the film to feel "natural" and lived-in.

"Wicked" director Jon M. Chu has heard criticisms of the movie's visuals, and he's brushing them off.

"I think the movie is absolutely gorgeous," Chu told Business Insider in a recent interview.

Chu's film, which adapts the first act of the Broadway musical, takes on the difficult task of bringing the world of Oz back to the big screen after the 1939 technicolor classic "The Wizard of Oz," and not everyone was impressed. Some online have criticized the film's color grading as well as its use of backlighting (where actors are lit from behind), particularly in the "Dancing Through Life" library sequence where sunlight is streaming through large circular windows.

"There's a color of the rainbow in every frame of this that evolves through the movie," he said.

"I love the aesthetic, and I love that it doesn't feel like we're on a back lot, that there's actually life, that there's environment, and that it's not perfect, that you see scratches and dust," Chu added.

Chu has championed the film's use of natural light, and backlighting, in previous press appearances. In a behind-the-scenes interview with Vanity Fair about the "Dancing Through Life" sequence, he said that production designer Nathan Crowley's library design allowed for natural light — something that he praised the film's director of photography, Alice Brooks, for taking advantage of.

"Things that people would be scared of, like backlighting, is actually what I love about her stuff," Chu told Vanity Fair.

The director told BI that he enjoyed "atmosphere" in film that called back to works like "ET" and "Searching for Bobby Fischer," which he called one of his favorite films. Ultimately, he wanted to put viewers "inside" the world of Oz.

"To me, it was like putting Oz in a world that was natural and beautiful, but didn't take away from the spectacular color and grand landscapes," he said.

Chu also told BI that he was heartened to see fans pick up on details in the film, like Ariana Grande's ad-libbed lines in "Popular," after seeing it in theaters. Now, with the film available to view at home (and part two on the way), he said was happy viewers would be able to watch deleted scenes from the film.

"This movie has been amazing because people have gotten so close to, and watched it, so many times that they're picking up on the things that we pick up in the edit room," Chu said. "I feel like they're all in the edit room with me, and now I get to show them all the secret footage."

"Wicked" is now available to purchase or rent on digital.

• BI rounded up the movies that got a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes in 2024 with 25 reviews or more.
• Most of the films are fictional dramas centered on family dynamics and working-class characters.
• "All We Imagine as Light" received the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Some of the year's top-rated movies are ones that may have flown under the radar.

Business Insider rounded up the titles that earned perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores this year with at least 25 reviews.

These include films that tackle serious subjects, from working-class struggles to coming-of-age challenges. But not all the top-reviewed movies are dramas. "LaRoy, Texas," a crime comedy starring Steve Zahn and John Magaro, also earned a 100% critics score.

All Rotten Tomatoes scores were current as of December 31, 2024, and are subject to change.

"All We Imagine as Light"

Number of reviews: 124

What it's about: "All We Imagine as Light," written and directed by Payal Kapadia, is set in Mumbai and follows Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and Anu (Divya Prabha), two nurses and roommates, and Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam), their coworker who's a cook at the hospital. The film explores the power of friendship among the three women as they navigate personal challenges, from affairs to eviction.

Why you should watch: Critics are enchanted by Kapadia's second feature film, calling it "dreamlike," "luminous," and a "sensual triumph." The movie feels like an ode to Mumbai, where the bustling city is captured so vibrantly that it becomes a character in the narrative, too.

"All We Imagine as Light" premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where it won the prestigious Grand Prix award.

Where to watch: In select theaters.

Watch the trailer for "All We Imagine as Light" here.

"Daughters"

Number of reviews: 65

What it's about: "Daughters" is a documentary from filmmakers Natalie Rae and Angela Patton about a group of girls getting ready for a dance with their incarcerated dads. For some of them, it will be the only physical contact that they have with their fathers while they serve their prison sentences.

Why you should watch: Critics called "Daughters" emotionally moving, providing a grounded view into what it's like having a family member in prison. Some praised the film for focusing on, and humanizing, its subjects.

"Daughters" earned two awards at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it premiered: festival favorite and audience choice: U.S. documentary competition.

Where to watch: Netflix

"Nowhere Special"

Number of reviews: 63

What it's about: "Nowhere Special" centers on John (James Norton), a 35-year-old window cleaner and single dad who is raising his 4-year-old son Michael (Daniel Lamont) after the kid's mom leaves following his birth. When John learns that he has a few months left to live, he becomes determined to prepare his son for his death and find a new family for him.

Why you should watch: Uberto Pasolini's drama, originally released in 2021 before getting a US theatrical release this year, is an understated and tender look at life and death. Critics say Norton's performance as a father dying of brain cancer is tear-inducing, and his young costar Lamont shows signs of a promising future as an actor. Despite its heartbreaking premise, "Nowhere Special" maintains a hopeful outlook.

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV+.

Watch the trailer for "Nowhere Special" here.

"Jim Henson Idea Man"

Number of reviews: 60

What it's about: This documentary, from Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard, follows Jim Henson's storied career, from the Muppets franchise to films like "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth." The film includes footage from Henson's archives, as well as interviews with prior collaborators and family members.

Why you should watch: Critics praised the documentary as capturing Henson's spirit without sanitizing his life. Some wrote that while Howard takes a fairly straightforward biographical approach, it works well for Henson as a subject.

"Jim Henson Idea Man" premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in the "Cannes Classics" section. It won five Emmy awards, including outstanding documentary or nonfiction special and outstanding motion design.

Where to watch: Disney+

"Sugarcane"

Number of reviews: 57

What it's about: Directed by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, "Sugarcane" follows the aftermath of unmarked graves being discovered near an Indian residential school in Canada that was run by the Catholic Church and closed in 1981. The film tracks a Williams Lake First Nation investigation into abuse and missing children at St. Joseph's mission.

Why you should watch: Critics praised the film as empathetic, sensitive, and in some cases, "devastating." Some praised the film for the way depicts the aftermath of tragedy and injustice.

The film won the U.S. documentary — directing award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it premiered. It has also received documentary film awards at the Sarasota Film Festival, the San Francisco International Film Festival, and from the National Board of Review, among others.

Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+

"Girls Will Be Girls"

Number of reviews: 53

What it's about: The coming-of-age Indian film stars Preeti Panigrahi as Mira, a 16-year-old girl constrained by the rules of her boarding school and her strict mother when she develops a connection with a new student named Srinivas (Kesav Binoy Kiron) and expresses interest in exploring her sexuality and desires.

Why you should watch: Critics call "Girls Will Be Girls" a stellar debut for first-time feature filmmaker Shuchi Talati, who also wrote the script. Many agree that the movie tackles typical coming-of-age themes with a cultural specificity that makes "Girls Will Be Girls" stand out from the myriad of other existing films in the genre.

The protagonist's intimate journey is examined with sensitivity and quiet moments that let the cinematography and scene composition do all the talking."

"Girls Will Be Girls" earned the audience award in the world cinema dramatic category at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Watch the trailer for "Girls Will Be Girls" here.

"No Other Land"

Number of reviews: 49

What it's about: Directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor, "No Other Land" is a documentary about Palestine and Israel. It follows the Israeli destruction of Palestinian homes and schools in Masafer Yatta, a group of West Bank villages that Adra calls home. The four directors hail from Palestine and Israel, and filmed over the course of four years.

Why you should watch: Critics described "No Other Land" as "essential," important, and emotionally affecting viewing.

The film has picked up dozens of film festival and critic awards, including the Berlinale documentary film award and Panorama audience award for best documentary film at the Berlin International Film Festival, and best documentary and non-fiction film awards from Los Angeles, Boston, and New York critics groups, among others.

Where to watch: "No Other Land" is available to purchase or rent in some regions, though it does not yet have distribution in the United States.

"I Am: Celine Dion"

Number of reviews: 46

What it's about: This documentary, directed by Irene Taylor, tracks Dion's diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome, a condition that causes the muscles to stiffen involuntarily. The documentary includes archival footage from Dion's storied career, and follows her through her diagnosis, treatment, and desire to return to the stage.

Why you should watch: Critics called the documentary "raw," doing justice to Dion's legendary career while humanizing her as as a subject. Adrian Horton of the Guardian called the film "unabashedly sentimental" and "deeply earnest."

Where to watch: Prime Video

"On Becoming a Guinea Fowl"

Number of reviews: 46

What it's about: The A24 dark comedy stars Susan Chardy as Shula, a woman who discovers her Uncle Fred's body on the road one night. With the dayslong funeral proceedings underway, she must confront the secrets of her middle-class Zambian family.

Why you should watch: Critics say the film is compelling and intriguing, with a script that deftly balances its serious subject material with moments of humor. Many have also praised Nyoni's sharp directing style and her exploration of the political, cultural, and social facets of Zambian life.

Where to watch: "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" is currently not available to stream. It will be released in limited theaters on March 7.

Watch the trailer for "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" here.

"Music By John Williams"

Number of reviews: 45

What it's about: Directed by Laurent Bouzereau, "Music By John Williams" examines the storied composer's career and work across multiple franchises. The film features interviews with people like Steven Spielberg, who worked with Williams on films like "Jaws" and "E.T.," and George Lucas, creator of "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones."

Why you should watch: Critics wrote that the film was a fitting tribute to Williams and a lovely celebration of his work. Some praised the film's depiction of Williams' relationships with filmmakers, including Spielberg and Lucas.

"Music By John Williams" won the award for best music documentary at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

Where to watch: Disney+

Watch the trailer for "Music By John Williams" here.

"LaRoy, Texas"

Number of reviews: 42

What it's about: The comedy, written and directed by Shane Atkinson, stars Steve Zahn as a private detective named Skip and John Magaro as Ray, a man who becomes depressed after he learns that his wife is cheating on him. As Ray is about to shoot himself with a gun and end his life, his life takes a wild turn when he gets mistaken for a hitman and becomes involved in an assassination plan.

Why you should watch: Critics say that Atkinson's feature directorial debut is an entertaining thrill ride, toeing the line between believable absurdity and over-the-top shenanigans. The influence of and nods to the filmmaking brothers Joel and Ethan Coen are plentiful, and the movie is bolstered by a solid cast comprised of Magaro, Zahn, and Dylan Baker.

"LaRoy, Texas" won three major prizes at the 49th Deauville American Film Festival: the Grand Prize, the Audience Award, and the Critics Award.

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV+. Also available to stream on MGM+.

Watch the trailer for "LaRoy, Texas" here.

• Insider compiled 2024's top Netflix original movies based on critics' rankings from Rotten Tomatoes.
• The list includes titles with an 80% or higher score and at least 20 reviews.
• The top films included "Daughters," "Will & Harper," and "Hit Man."

This year's top Netflix original movies span genre and form, ranging from action flicks to documentaries to all-ages animated films.

You might remember "Hit Man," which helped cement Glen Powell's star status on the heels of "Anyone But You" and before the summer blockbuster "Twisters." Perhaps you caught the Academy Award-nominated "Society of the Snow" after it premiered on Netflix in January. Or maybe you were tuned for Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, "Woman of the Hour."

There are 21 Netflix films this year that boasted aggregated critic score on Rotten Tomatoes of over 80% — provided they had at least 20 reviews. Here's the full list, from lowest to highest score.

Note: All scores were current on the date of publication. In the event of a tied score, the movie with more reviews was ranked higher.

21. 'Ultraman: Rising'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

Netflix synopsis: "For decades, his dad was Ultraman, maintaining balance between humans and kaiju-kind. Now it's Kenji's turn — and it's the hardest job he's ever had."

20. 'The Beautiful Game'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

Netflix synopsis: "This heartwarming tale of football, friendship, and triumph against the odds stars Bill Nighy as the caring manager of England's Homeless World Cup team."

19. 'The Piano Lesson'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Netflix synopsis: "A fight over an heirloom piano stirs up ghosts of the past in this Denzel Washington-produced adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play."

18. 'Martha'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Netflix synopsis: "From homemaker to lawbreaker, discover the story of America's original influencer and her comeback from the scandal that almost cost her everything."

17. 'Society of the Snow'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

Netflix synopsis: "Nominated for a Golden Globe, this touching film about the 1972 airplane crash in the Andes 'hypnotizes with its spectacularity,' praises El Mundo."

16. 'The Shadow Strays'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "Skilled in the art of killing, a young assassin defies her mentor to save a boy from a ruthless crime syndicate — and she'll destroy anyone in her path."

15. 'Joy'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "Born in 1978, Louise Joy Brown was the world's first IVF baby. But who were the scientists that made her birth possible? This drama tells their story."

14. 'The Kitchen'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "London, 2044. The gap between the rich and the poor is stretched to its limits. The Kitchen is one of the only social housing estates left."

13. 'The Imaginary'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "Amanda and her imaginary friend Rudger go on thrilling make-believe adventures. but when Rudger finds himself alone, he faces a mysterious threat."

12. 'Woman of the Hour'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "An aspiring Hollywood star matches with a sadistic serial killer on a dating game show in Anna Kendrick's 'tremendous directorial debut' (Screen Daily)."

11. 'Orion and the Dark'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Netflix synopsis: "Sean Charmatz's directorial debut about a boy who befriends the Dark is a 'marvelously told tale' that 'has fun with fear' (San Francisco Chronicle)."

10. 'Rez Ball'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

Netflix synopsis: "They play fast, shoot fast and never stop. A high school basketball team defies the odds in this LeBron James-produced drama inspired by true events."

9. 'Hit Man'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

Netflix synopsis: "A mild-mannered professor poses as a fake hit man in this comedy that's 'a blast of pure pleasure and one of the year's best films' (The Washington Post)."

8. 'Black Barbie'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

Netflix synopsis: "From Shondaland comes this 'must see' (RogerEbert.com), 'magnificent' and 'simply spectacular' (Black Girl Nerds) documentary on the first Black Barbie."

7. 'Rebel Ridge'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

Netflix synopsis: "A former Marine with a mysterious background uses his unique skills to pursue justice when small-town cops seize the cash he needs for his cousin's bail."

6. 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

Netflix synopsis: "When the parents of a beloved World of Warcraft player announced his death, his guild members reached out ot them — and revealed his hidden life."

5. 'The Greatest Night in Pop'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

Netflix synopsis: "Music stars met their idols, egos were tested, the clock was ticking — and history was made. A documentary on the night 'We Are the World' was recorded."

4. 'His Three Daughters'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

Netflix synopsis: "A trio of estranged sisters reunite at their dying father's New York City apartment in this 'bitingly funny and disarmingly honest' drama (The Atlantic)."

3. 'Will & Harper'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 99%

Netflix synopsis: "When Will Ferrell's good friend Harper comes out as a trans woman, they take a road trip to bond and reintroduce Harper to the country as her true self."

2. 'Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhaka Sherpa'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

Netflix synopsis: "Bone-chilling winds. Dwindling oxygen. Avalanches. Lhakpa Sherpa makes a perilous, record-breaking summit of Mount Everest in this gripping documentary."

1. 'Daughters'

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

Netflix synopsis: 'This Sundance prize-winning documentary about a group of girls reuniting with their dads is 'an admirable, ennobling picture,' says Vulture."

• Netflix's 2025 slate of new TV shows includes the latest Harlan Coben thriller.
• The streamer will also release a true crime series about a controversial influencer.
• Here's a full list of all the confirmed new shows.

2024 was a big year for Netflix thanks to the likes of "Baby Reindeer," "3 Body Problem," and "Avatar: The Last Airbender" — and it looks like 2025 will be equally huge.

The streamer will release new chapters of beloved shows, including "Stranger Things" season five, "Wednesday" season two, " and "You" season five.

But there are also plenty of brand-new shows on the slate for 2025. Here are the ones that we're the most excited about.

'Missing You'

Netflix Synopsis: "Eleven years ago Detective Kat Donovan's fiancé Josh — the love of her life — disappeared and she's never heard from him since.

"Now, swiping profiles on a dating app, she suddenly sees his face and her world explodes all over again. Josh's reappearance will force her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her father's murder and uncover long-buried secrets from her past."

Release date: January 1

'American Primeval'

Netflix synopsis: "This is America…1857. Up is down, pain is everywhere, innocence and tranquility are losing the battle to hatred and fear. Peace is the shrinking minority, and very few possess grace — even fewer know compassion. There is no safe haven in these brutal lands, and only one goal matters: survival."

Release date: January 9

'Sakamoto Days'

Netflix synopsis: "Follow the action-packed story of legendary ex-hitman Taro Sakamoto, as he bands with comrades to face off against the looming threat of assassins to ensure a peaceful life with his beloved family. Sakamoto and company run wild in no-holds-barred, over-the-top battles that have stolen the spotlight and captivated audiences far and wide.

"In a world overrun by assassins like the special force 'The Order' from the Japanese Association of Assassins (JAA), and a mysterious individual called 'X (Slur)' targeting assassins, what is the true meaning of strength for Sakamoto?

"Get ready for non-stop assassin action as chaos ensues in the ordinary (and not-so-ordinary) life of Sakamoto and his comrades!"

Premiere date: January 11

'The Residence'

Netflix synopsis: "132 rooms. 157 suspects. One dead body. One wildly eccentric detective. One disastrous State Dinner. 'The Residence' is a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world's most famous mansion."

Premiere date: March 20

'Devil May Cry'

Netflix synopsis: "In this animated adaptation of the popular Capcom game and from the vision of Adi Shankar, sinister forces are at play to open the portal between the human and demon realms. In the middle of it all is Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, unaware that the fate of both worlds hangs around his neck."

Premiere date: April 2025

'Adolescence'

Netflix synopsis: "'Adolescence' tells the story of how a family's world is turned upside down when 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl who goes to his school.

"Stephen Graham will play Jamie's father and 'appropriate adult', Eddie Miller. Ashley Walters stars as Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe, and Erin Doherty is Briony Ariston, the clinical psychologist assigned to Jamie's case."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'Apple Cider Vinegar'

Netflix synopsis: "Set at the birth of Instagram, 'Apple Cider Vinegar' follows two young women who set out to cure their life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness, influencing their global online communities along the way.

"All of which would be incredibly inspiring if it were all true. This is a true-ish story based on a lie, about the rise and fall of a wellness empire; the culture that built it up and the people who tore it down"

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'Department Q'

Netflix synopsis: "Department Q is an adaptation of the novels of the same name from Danish author, Jussi Adler-Olsen. Created by Scott Frank, the series revolves around Carl Morck, a former top-rated detective in Edinburgh assigned to a new cold case whilst wracked with guilt following an attack that left his partner paralyzed and another policeman dead."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'Hostage'

Netflix synopsis: "When the British Prime Minister's husband is kidnapped and the visiting French President is blackmailed, the two political leaders both face unimaginable choices.

"Forced into a fierce rivalry where their political futures, and lives, might hang in the balance, can they work together to uncover the plot that threatens them both?"

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'The Leopard (Il Gattopardo)'

Netflix synopsis: "Based on what many consider to be one of the greatest Italian novels of all time, 'The Leopard' is a dazzlingly sensuous epic, set against the backdrop of revolution in 1860s Sicily.

"At its heart is Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, who leads a life surrounded by beauty and privilege. But as Italy moves towards unification and the old aristocratic order is threatened, he realizes that his family's future is in jeopardy. New allegiances must be made, each one a threat to his principles.

"Eventually Don Fabrizio is faced with an impossible choice. He has the power to engineer a marriage, between the rich and beautiful Angelica and his nephew Tancredi, that could secure his family's legacy, but doing so he would break his favorite daughter, Concetta's heart.

"The series will be a modern exploration of timeless themes — power, love, and the cost of progress."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'Leviathan'

Netflix synopsis: "In 1914, on the eve of war, a fugitive prince and a girl in disguise meet aboard a bioengineered airship, the HMS Leviathan, and change the course of history."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'Running Point'

Netflix synopsis: "When a scandal forces her brother to resign, Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) is appointed President of the Los Angeles Waves, one of the most storied professional basketball franchises, and her family business.

"Ambitious and often overlooked, Isla will have to prove to her skeptical brothers, the board, and the larger sports community that she was the right choice for the job, especially in the unpredictable, male-dominated world of sports."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'Sirens'

Netflix synopsis: "Devon (Meghann Fahy) thinks her sister Simone (Milly Alcock) has a really creepy relationship with her new boss, the enigmatic socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore). Michaela's cult-ish life of luxury is like a drug to Simone, and Devon has decided it's time for an intervention.

"When Devon tracks her sister down to say WTF, she has no idea what a formidable opponent Michaela will be. Told over the course of one explosive weekend at The Kells' lavish beach estate, Sirens is an incisive, sexy, and darkly funny exploration of women, power, and class."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'Toxic Town'

Netflix synopsis: "Based on one of the UK's biggest environmental scandals, 'Toxic Town' is the story of the people at the heart of the Corby poisonings. Focusing on the mothers, who took on a David and Goliath battle for justice, the series traces through the years of their fight as a terrible truth comes to the surface."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'Too Much'

Netflix synopsis: "Jessica is a New York workaholic in her mid-thirties, reeling from a broken relationship that she thought would last forever and slowly isolating everyone she knows. When every block in New York tells a story of her own bad behavior, the only solution is to take a job in London, where she plans to live a life of solitude like a Bronte sister.

"But when she meets Felix — who is less Hugh Grant in Notting Hill and more Hugh Grant's drunken roommate — she finds that their unusual connection is impossible to ignore, even as it creates more problems than it solves. Now they have to ask themselves: do Americans and Brits actually speak the same language?

"From the creator of 'Girls' and the producers of 'Love Actually, Too Much' is an ex-pat rom-com for the disillusioned who wonder if true love is still possible, but sincerely hope that it is."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'The Undertow'

Netflix synopsis: "Jamie Dornan will play the roles of identical twins, Adam and Lee, whilst Mackenzie Davis will play Adam's wife Nicola. The series is based on the Nordisk Film Production AS television series Twin, created by Kristoffer Metcalfe."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

'The Witness'

Netflix synopsis: "When Rachel Nickell was murdered on Wimbledon Common in 1992, André became a single parent overnight. Putting his own grief to one side, he made his son Alex — the only eyewitness to the attack — the centre of his world.

"Navigating the unscrupulous media furore and the urgency of an increasingly desperate police investigation, his sole concern became the welfare of his traumatised son. This is the story of how a father and son moved through the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy, from darkness into light."

Premiere date: Date in 2025 TBD

• Monica Barbaro plays Joan Baez in "A Complete Unknown," which follows Bob Dylan's early career.
• Barbaro told BI that she and Timothée Chalamet, who plays Dylan, first met at a music rehearsal.
• Barbaro did vocal training to sing like Baez and duet with Chalamet's Dylan.

In "A Complete Unknown," Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro inhabit two musical legends: Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. True to form, the actors first met on set at a music rehearsal.

The film, directed by James Mangold, stars Chalamet as a young Dylan during the early years of his career, from his 1962 debut self-titled album through his controversial pivot to electric instrumentation. It features many of Dylan's contemporaries from the era, including Baez (Barbaro), Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), and Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook).

The film's greatest strength is its music, much of which was recorded live on set. Not only does Chalamet perform live as Dylan, but he duets in-character with his collaborators. That led to the perfect meeting for the actors.

"We heard each other's voices in recording studio sessions, because I would sing duets to his voice," Barbaro told Business Insider. "The first time we met was a music rehearsal, and it was just the most beautiful experience to me."

Like Chalamet, Barbaro also did vocal training to play Baez in the film, working to emulate the singer's trilling vibrato while also researching Baez's life and career. The actor told BI that she knew the music was going to be "the biggest hill to climb," and she knew that Chalamet — who spent five years preparing to play Dylan — had been practicing. By the time they first met, she felt ready to hold her ground not only as an actor, but as a musician.

"Getting to play next to him and hear the harmonies of our voices and the accompaniment, so complementary of each other — that was a career highlight," Barbaro said.

"I'm so glad we waited until that point to meet each other and to work with each other," she continued. "It was more true to a Bob and Joan version of the meeting that we'd have these musical proficiencies, that we could collaborate and play together."

• Bob Dylan and Joan Baez are played by Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro in "A Complete Unknown."
• The two folk singers met in the early '60s and quickly became close collaborators.
• They dated briefly in the '60s and continued to perform together over the years, despite friction.

James Mangold's new biopic, "A Complete Unknown," opens with 19-year-old Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) arriving in New York City, essentially homeless yet armed with his guitar.

It's not long before viewers are introduced to 20-year-old Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), an already-established performer in the Greenwich Village folk scene. In her first scene, Baez takes the stage at Gerde's Folk City and sings "House of the Rising Sun," the fourth track on her self-titled debut album, released in 1960.

"Joanie was at the forefront of a new dynamic in American music," Dylan recalled in the 2009 documentary "Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound."

"She had a record out, circulating among the folk circles," he continued, "and everybody was listening to it, me included. I listened to it a lot."

In "A Complete Unknown," Baez's performance at Gerde's is followed by Dylan's. He sings "I Was Young When I Left Home," leaving the movie version of Baez awestruck.

The star-crossed encounter kicks off a fruitful collaboration and passionate romance, despite Dylan's existing relationship with Sylvia Russo (Elle Fanning).

In real life, however, Baez had gone to Gerde's specifically to see Dylan.

"Somebody said, 'Oh, you've gotta come down and hear this guy, he's terrific,'" Baez told Rolling Stone in 1983. "And so I went down with my very, very jealous boyfriend, and we saw this scruffy little pale-faced dirty human being get up in front of the crowd and start singing his 'Song to Woody.'"

"I, of course, internally went completely to shreds, 'cause it was so beautiful," she continued. "But I couldn't say anything, 'cause I was next to my very, very jealous boyfriend, who was watching me out of the corner of his eye and trying to mentally slaughter Dylan, I think. And then Bob came over and said, 'Uhhh, hi' — one of those eloquent greetings — and I just thought he was brilliant and superb and so on."

The movie depicts Dylan and Baez starting a sexual relationship after another chance encounter, when Baez stumbles upon Dylan performing "Masters of War" in a coffee shop. Notably, this takes place in the throes of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, when the world seemed on the brink of nuclear armageddon. After kissing at the coffee shop, the pair return to Dylan's apartment.

Again, this doesn't seem to be quite accurate. Dylan and Baez did meet again, but it would've been years before they began their ill-fated fling.

In real life, Baez was instrumental in introducing Dylan to a larger crowd

Dylan and Baez became an unofficial musical duo in the early '60s, encouraging each other to refine their songcraft (she as a singer, he as a writer) and regularly performing duets at Baez's concerts.

In the 2009 Baez doc, one friend described the pair as "quite a force at that time," adding, "I think she had a crush on him. I know he had a crush on her."

The details of Dylan's life can be difficult for historians to confirm, given his penchant for myth-making and obfuscation. (He even asked Mangold to include an inaccurate scene in "A Complete Unknown," according to actor Edward Norton, apparently just for kicks.) So, it's unclear exactly when Dylan and Baez's relationship became romantic.

When Rolling Stone asked Baez how long they'd been involved, she replied, "You mean what period of three months was it? Um, Bob and I spent some time together. I honestly don't know what the year was."

Baez wasn't interested in drugs, which she said caused her to feel disconnected from other musicians, including Dylan. She also wanted Dylan to be more politically active outside his music, leading to a rift between them.

In 1965, a few months before the famous Newport Film Festival that saw Dylan "go electric," he invited Baez to join him on tour in England — but neglected to invite her onstage for any show. This trip is scrubbed from the timeline in "A Complete Unknown," but by all accounts, it was the death blow to their relationship.

"I just sort of trotted around, wondering why Bob wouldn't invite me onstage, feeling very sorry for myself, getting very neurotic and not having the brains to leave and go home," Baez told Rolling Stone. "That would be the best way to describe that tour. It was sort of just wasted time."

Dylan also traced their split back to 1965 and, more specifically, the frenzy of his newfound fame.

"I was just trying to deal with the madness that had become my career, and unfortunately she got swept along, and I felt very bad about it," he said in the Baez doc. "I was sorry to see our relationship end."

"A Complete Unknown" depicts Dylan and Baez duetting at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, but this didn't happen in real life; they were on the outs by then. (They did sing at the festival together in 1963 and 1964.)

Baez later said that Dylan broke her heart.

Even after their relationship deteriorated, their connection fueled their art

Many fans believe Baez inspired notable Dylan songs, like the iconic 1965 hit "Like a Rolling Stone" and 1966 song "Visions of Johanna," though he's never confirmed either theory.

In 1968, Baez released her ninth album, "Any Day Now," comprised entirely of Dylan songs. Her 1970 compilation album, "The First Ten Years," includes six Dylan covers, including her much-loved version of "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." She also released the 1972 song "To Bobby" as an open letter to Dylan, begging him to engage with the protest movement.

A few years later, Baez wrote the heart-wrenching ballad "Diamonds & Rust," which was shaped by an emotional phone call with Dylan.

"Well you burst on the scene / Already a legend / The unwashed phenomenon / The original vagabond," she sings. "You strayed into my arms / And there you stayed / Temporarily lost at sea / The Madonna was yours for free."

Baez later described "Diamonds & Rust" as "the best song of my life."

"The really, really good stuff comes from down deep," she told Rolling Stone in 2017, "and that was how strongly I was affected by Bob in the relationship and everything. It'd be stupid to pretend otherwise."

"I love that song 'Diamonds & Rust,'" Dylan said in the 2009 documentary. "To be included in something that Joan had written — ooh. I mean, to this day, it still impresses me."

"Diamonds & Rust" was released in 1975 on Baez's album of the same name. Later that year, Dylan invited her to join the Rolling Thunder Revue tour alongside a wide cast of their contemporaries, including Joni Mitchell and the Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn.

In the Baez doc, Dylan said he remembers her as "completely in her element" during that time, while Baez characterized the tour as fun and carefree — a departure from her typical activities as a social activist. The experience seemed to mend a bridge between them, however temporarily.

Dylan and Baez performed a few more duets before cutting ties for good

The pair reunited at a 1982 Peace Week concert at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, performing a three-song set together: "With God On Our Side," a cover of Jimmy Buffett's "A Pirate Looks at Forty," and "Blowin' in the Wind," which Dylan had written shortly after they met.

Dylan's guest appearance at the anti-nuke event came as a shock to the crowd, given that he'd declined to denounce the Vietnam War and generally avoided political events.

The following year, when Rolling Stone asked Baez about Dylan's state of mind at the show, she demurred.

"I really have no idea. But I love singing with him," she replied. "He isn't in tune, the phrasing is nuts, and he always wants to do a song I've never heard before."

The magazine also asked if the couple would ever get back together, "when they're both 60 or something." Baez replied, "Spare us, please. Both of us."

In fact, the very next year, they reunited again for a 1984 European stadium tour with Carlos Santana.

Baez came to discover she'd only been added to the bill because the promoter thought it would boost sales. In her 1987 memoir, "And a Voice to Sing With," Baez said she wasn't treated as an equal performer and was largely ignored by Dylan backstage.

After a few haphazard duets in Germany, Dylan stopped inviting her to share the stage with him, so she decided to quit the tour. In her book, Baez described Dylan as tired and disoriented when she said goodbye in his dressing room. She told him their touring together didn't work out, and he said, "That's too bad." She also wrote that he ran his hand up her skirt.

"Goodbye, Bob," Baez wrote. "I thought maybe I shouldn't write all this stuff about you, but as it turns out, it's really about me anyway, isn't it? It won't affect you. The death of Elvis affected you. I didn't relate to that, either."

The two musicians haven't been seen together since. While they did cross paths at a 2010 White House event to celebrate civil rights-era music, Baez said she didn't try to greet him.

"The chances of him just walking past me would be too awful a scenario," Baez told Rolling Stone. "It would just bring up feelings that aren't necessary."

In 2015, Dylan praised Baez when he was named Person of the Year by MusiCares.

"I learned a lot of things from her," he said during his acceptance speech. "A woman with devastating honesty. And for her kind of love and devotion, I could never pay that back."

Last year, Baez told Variety that she was not in touch with Dylan, though she didn't harbor any resentment. "I may never see him again," she said, "and that's OK too."

• Gong Yoo returns in "Squid Game" season two as the recruiter.
• Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told BI he wanted to explore the character's backstory and true nature.
• That true nature is pretty wild — and Gong embraces it in his performance.

Gong Yoo's ddakji-playing recruiter is blessedly back in "Squid Game" season two — and this time, his appearance is even more memorable.

Gong plays the recruiter, a well-dressed, frankly unfairly attractive man who approaches people and challenges them to a game of ddakji. If they win a round, he gives them money. If they lose, he slaps them. Win-win! After enough time, he'll invite them to participate in a game with a much larger prize pool, and much more severe consequences for losing.

He appears only briefly in season one to recruit Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) into the games. More memorably, he utterly trounces Gi-hun in ddakji, slapping him no less than ten times all while remaining perfectly pleasant and composed. It's enough to, if you're a true freak, make him want to slap you too.

Luckily for those of us who have been thinking about this scene for the past three years, there's a whole lot more Gong Yoo in season two.

"I got many, many requests, people asking me to tell us the backstory about the ddakji man," creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told Business Insider. "I also thought of him to be a very intriguing character, so I wanted to bring him back again in season two and give him is own narrative."

Warning: Spoilers ahead for season two, episode one of "Squid Game."

Gi-hun tracks down the recruiter as a means to an end

In season two, Gi-hun is a man on a mission: he wants to shut down the games, and to do so, he needs to pin down his first point of contact. That's ddakji guy, and Gi-hun enlists a veritable small army of foot soldiers to scour the Seoul subway system for people getting slapped. It's slow going until Gi-hun's former creditor Mr. Kim (Kim Pub-lae) and his associate Woo-seok (Jeon Seok-ho) actually manage to find him.

They pursue him from the subway, to a bakery, to a convenience store, to a park, and eventually to an alleyway. Unfortunately, Mr. Kim and Woo-seok are no match for six feet of bitch-slapping recruiter, and he captures them and forces them to play a game that leaves Mr. Kim dead.

When Gi-hun returns to the motel where he's taken up residence, he finds the recruiter waiting for him. During their conversation, the recruiter reveals his backstory: after getting brought into the game as a guard, he was given a gun. After killing a player who turned out to be his father, the recruiter realized that his calling was.... leading people to their violent deaths. Sure!

This time, the recruiter challenges Gi-hun not to ddakji, but a modified game of Russian Roulette that will inevitably leave one of them dead. Apparently, he's a man prone to absurd melodrama, because he queues up "Time To Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman to set the tone.

After trying to convince Gi-hun to acknowledge that he's a "piece of trash" like everyone else who ended up in the games, the recruiter ends up with the last bullet in the gun — and after Gi-hun calls him a dog, ddakji man pulls the trigger, ending his own life.

No more Mr. Nice Ddakji Guy

In season one, the recruiter was an entrancing figure because of the difference in his demeanor (perfect, poised) and actions (slapping the daylights out of people). This time, however, Hwang told BI that he wanted to not only reveal his backstory, but also, "what kind of state he is in as a human being."

The answer? One untethered to anything except his objectively wild and remarkably strong convictions. This is a man who does it all — harassing people already being crushed by debt, sentencing them to a death game, and murder — for the love of the game. It's not really clear why he believes people, like those he recruits into the games, are trash. On the flip side, it's incredibly clear that he's a sadist who will play any game he initiates to the end, even if he has to forfeit his own life.

Gong brings a charged energy to his sequences in episode one — particularly his confrontation with Gi-hun — that remains largely unmatched by the rest of the season. His physicality, whether it's getting up in another performer's space or spinning the barrel of a pistol, is unmatched.

"Gong Yoo is an actor who's mostly taken on very sweet characters," Hwang said. "He's never done something that's as crazy or insane as this one, so I was personally curious to see how he was going to portray the character as well."

In season one, it was clear that the recruiter was a tightly coiled spring. In season two, Hwang and Gong finally let him snap.

"Squid Game" season two is now streaming on Netflix.

• "Squid Game" is finally back, three years after its first season.
• Season two features some familiar faces, but also plenty of new characters.
• Here's a guide to the major characters in season two, and who plays them.

After a three year-long wait, "Squid Game" is finally back.

The Korean-language Netflix series takes place mostly within the confines of a killing game, in which the economically disadvantaged play children's games for money. To participate, they wager their lives.

The show is one of Netflix's biggest hits, prompting the streamer to invest not only in a second and third season from creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, but also in in-person experiences, a reality series, and a video game.

"Squid Game" season two stars Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun, the winner of the games on season one. Unfortunately, the nature of the show means that most characters from season one like Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) and Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo) aren't back in season two. While there are a few familiar faces, the majority of the cast are new.

Here's a guide to the major characters in "Squid Game" season two, and who plays them.

Warning: This post contains light spoilers for "Squid Game" season two.

Seong Gi-hun

Gi-hun is a veteran player of the games, and returns as player 456. In the three years since he emerged as the sole survivor of his cycle, he's used his fortune to search for the man who recruited him so he can find a way to shut the games down.

Seong Gi-hun is played by Lee Jung-jae.

Hwang In-ho / The Front Man

Toward the end of season one, Jun-ho discovered that his other brother, In-ho, was the Front Man in charge of the games. Initially, Jun-ho believed that In-ho may have been a player.

Lee Byung-hun plays In-ho.

The Recruiter

The recruiter is a tall, handsome man who recruits people into the games by challenging them to a game of ddakji.

Gong Yoo plays the recruiter.

Kang No-eul

No-eul is a young woman working at a theme park. Originally from North Korea, she hopes to locate her child and bring her to South Korea. Later, she's recruited into the games — not as a player, but as a soldier.

No-eul is played by Park Gyu-young.

Park Jung-bae

Jung-bae (Player 390) is Gi-hun's friend from outside the game — the same one with whom he gambled on horse races in the season one premiere. Unfortunately, this time they meeting inside the game.

Park Jung-bae is played by Lee Seo-hwan.

Hwang Jun-ho

Jun-ho is the detective who followed Gi-hun to the games in season one, infiltrating them by posing as a guard. He's the younger brother of Hwang In-ho, the Front Man. In-ho shot Jun-ho toward the end of season one, but he survived — and at the beginning of season two, he's working as a traffic cop.

Wi Ha-jun plays Hwang Jun-ho.

Mr. Kim

Mr. Kim, referred to as Kim Dae-pyo in the credits, is Gi-hun's former creditor. After winning the game, Gi-hun paid him back, and retained his services to help him find the recruiter.

Mr. Kim is played by Kim Pub-lae.

Woo-seok

Woo-seok is close to Mr. Kim. Now, both Mr. Kim and Woo-seok work for Gi-hun as part of his search for the recruiter.

Woo-seok is played by Jeon Seok-ho.

Dae-ho

Dae-ho (Player 388) is a young man who Gi-hun and Jung-bae befriend in the game. Like Jung-bae, he's also an ex-Marine.

Dae-ho is played by Kang Ha-neul.

Lee Myung-gi

Myung-gi (Player 333) previously worked as a cryptocurrency influencer. However, a poor recommendation led to him, and other players, losing a significant amount of money.

Myung-gi is played by Yim Si-wan.

Kim Jun-hee

Jun-hee (Player 222) is a young woman who entered the games to repay her debt, as a result of losing money on Myung-gi's recommendation. He's also her ex-boyfriend.

Jun-hee is played by Jo Yu-ri, who is a singer and former member of the K-pop group IZ*ONE.

Thanos

Thanos (Player 230) is a rapper who lost money after bying cryptocurrency on Myung-gi's recommendation. In the game, some people recognize him as a celebrity.

Thanos is played by Choi Seung-hyun, a musician also known by his stage name T.O.P.

Nam-gyu

Nam-gyu (Player 124) is one of Thanos' groupies in the games. Previously, he worked at a nightclub, where he first met Thanos.

He's played by Roh Jae-won.

Min-su

Min-su (Player 125) is one of the younger players in the game, and aligns with Thanos. He also befriends Se-mi, a cool young woman.

Min-su is played by Lee David, who described the character in a cast featurette as an "ordinary guy" who is "super timid."

Se-mi

Se-mi (Player 380) is a young woman who befriends Min-su in the games.

Se-mi is played by Won Ji-an, who described the character as "bold and determined."

Park Yong-sik

Yong-sik (Player 007) is a young man who joined the game to pay off his debt. Unfortunately, he also encounters his mother there.

Yong-sik is played by Yang Dong-geun.

Jang Geum-ja

Geum-ja (Player 149) is Yong-sik's mother. She joined the game to help her son pay off his debt.

Geum-ja is played by Kang Ae-sim.

Hyun-ju

Hyun-ju (Player 120) initially faces discrimination in the games because she is a trans woman. She's a former special forces soldier.

Hyun-ju is played by Park Sung-hoon.

Young-mi

Young-mi (Player 095) befriends Hyun-ju in the games, and refers to her as unnie — a term that younger women use to refer to older women they are close to.

Young-mi is played by Kim Si-eun.

Seon-nyeo

Seon-nyeo (Player 044) is a shaman who often behaves melodramatically and unpredictably in the games.

Seon-neyo is played by Chae Kook-hee.

Gyeong-seok

Gyeong-seok's (Player 256) daughter Na-yeon has cancer, and he joins the games to fund her expensive treatment.

Gyeong-seok is played by Lee Jin-uk.

• The first season of "Squid Game" was extraordinarily good TV, and season two is no exception.
• In the three years since season one aired, "Squid Game" has also become a cultural sensation.
• "Squid Game" season two follows similar patterns as the first — but it works to great effect.

Before "Squid Game" was a cultural phenomenon, it was an astoundingly great television show — and luckily, season two of the Korean-language drama reminds us exactly why.

The South Korean series about a death game for the economically downtrodden exploded after hitting Netflix in September 2021. Not only was it the most significant non-English hit in Netflix history, it quickly became one of Netflix's biggest shows ever.

That popularity spilled from the small screen to myriad even smaller screens, becoming an internet phenomenon whose biggest symbols — the pink-clad guards, green jumpsuits, and even star Lee Jung-jae's beaming face — became inescapable memes eventually divorced from their original meaning.

That's part of why the return to creator Hwang Dong-hyuk's blistering fever dream is so gripping. "Squid Game" season two brings the cultural phenomenon back to Earth and executes the nigh-impossible, continuing what could have been a complete story in a way that's just as cutting as its predecessor.

Back to the game

In its first season, "Squid Game" struck viewers with sheer novelty: its sharp class satire, grounded in childlike aesthetics, was dissonant in a way that was both disturbing and wildly compelling. While there's no way to recreate that shock factor in season two, the series doesn't need to reinvent the wheel to be excellent. In fact, its iterative nature is a thematic strength.

Season two is functionally a torture cycle for Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), the victor of the games. Burdened with a 45.6 million fortune won through the deaths of his companions, Gi-hun puts it to use attempting to shut the games down. This time, he's the one with power, funding a citywide manhunt for the games' ddakji-playing recruiter (a once-again show-stealing Gong Yoo) and incentivizing his employees with a substantial reward. Unfortunately, Gi-hun's crusade puts him back where he started in the games, with his life on the line.

This time, however, he knows exactly who his enemy is: the Front Man, also known as Hwang Jun-ho's (Wi Ha-jun) elder brother, In-ho. This season, the gamesmaster has a much more involved role — one that actor Lee Byung-hun, finally unmasked, handles with grim, enthralling aplomb. He is equal parts Gi-hun's foil and torture master, slowly working to dismantle his still-idealistic worldview by repeatedly exposing him to the horror of human nature.

That makes season two's repetition of familiar games, like "Red Light, Green Light," or character beats, like Gi-hun encountering an old friend in the games, incredibly effective. Even though he's been dealt the same cards — frankly, better ones, given that he's no longer bound by his debts — Gi-hun must struggle against human hubris and avarice.

There are, of course, new challenges. Season two introduces several new games that are just as superlatively designed as their predecessors. This cycle's new mechanic, a chest badge to indicate which players vote to leave or stay in the games, establishes a rote but still compelling division between the players.

New players make an impression

Wisely, Gi-hun takes a backseat for much of season two to make room for the show's captivating cast of new characters.

Choi Seung-hyun (a rapper known by the stage name T.O.P) is an easy standout and sure-to-be fan-favorite as Thanos, a braggadocious rapper burned by a failed crypto investment. Kang Ae-sim is easy to emotionally invest in as Geum-ja, a woman who joined the games to pay off her son's debts, only to discover he agreed to play as well. Former soldier Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) is the most compelling of the bunch: a transgender woman, she faced discrimination after transitioning, leaving her in debt after she was fired from her job while pursuing gender-affirming surgeries.

Lee shows up once again to work this season, deftly handling the nuances of Gi-hun's plight and changed character. Most striking are the moments where he falls back into Gi-hun's childlike innocence from season one, most frequently due to the actions of his former gambling buddy Jung-bae, played by a painfully endearing Lee Seo-hwan. Still, Lee pulls off the determined, beleaguered savior well.

For the most part, Hwang (who still mostly wrote season two himself, this time with a few assistants) juggles the series' myriad character arcs and plot lines well, though some threads don't hold up as well as others. The weakest of the bunch is Jun-ho's quest outside the games to locate the island where they're held and also, presumably, Gi-hun and his brother. While his arc posing as a guard in season one provided valuable insight into the process of the games, this time, his search is mostly a distraction with little payoff in the confines of the season.

Ultimately, though, "Squid Game" manages to live up not only to its preceding season but the myth of the franchise itself. Success can bring crushing pressure, and with it, an impulse to iterate. In this case, though, the iteration works in service of the show's point: there is no escape: not for the game's players, and certainly not for Gi-hun.

"Squid Game" seasons one and two are now streaming on Netflix.

• Netflix has dropped many original, well-received series in 2024.
• "Bridgerton," "Nobody Wants This," and "Baby Reindeer" are among the most-talked-about series of the year.
• "Supacell" season one and "Ripley" have also received critical acclaim.

Some of Netflix's best shows of 2024 are fresh offerings from the streamer.

Over the years, Netflix has created several award-winning hit series, from "Stranger Things" and "The Crown" to "Emily in Paris."

"Bridgerton" is another big hit. After its release in May and June 2024, its third season became the sixth most-watched English Netflix TV show of all time.

But many established shows haven't returned in 2024, providing space for series including "A Man on the Inside," "One Day," and "Baby Reindeer" to shine.

Here are the Netflix originals released in 2024 that have scored highly on Rotten Tomatoes.

"Ripley"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

"Ripley" differs from previous adaptations of Patricia Highsmith's "The Talented Mr. Ripley" books by being filmed in black and white, creating an enchanting noir world.

Like in the book, Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) is a con man who is pulled into a world of extravagant wealth when he is hired to bring a son home to his father.

This adaptation is a slow-moving psychological thriller, but if you can survive its pace, you will be rewarded with a visually beautiful piece of television and another amazing performance from Andrew Scott.

Terminator Zero

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

"Terminator Zero," the first anime set in the "The Terminator" universe, flew under the radar when it premiered in August. However, critics praised the series, saying it had stunning animation.

The series takes the story format of past "Terminator" projects and brings it to 1997 Tokyo.

Malcolm Lee (voiced by Yūya Uchida in Japanese and André Holland in English) is developing a rival AI system to Skynet when he is visited by a Terminator. He and his three children try to escape from the assassin while being helped by a mysterious soldier from the future.

"Griselda"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

"Griselda" — a limited series about the life of Griselda Blanco (Sofía Vergara), a real-life drug trafficker who died in 2012 — was Netflix's first big hit of 2024.

"Griselda" does not stick to the facts of Blanco's life but portrays a fascinating, fast-paced story about the self-destructive nature of greed.

Critics praised Vergara as the standout in the series for portraying Griselda's transformation from housewife to brutal killer. Vergara is best known for starring in comedies, but "Griselda" showed she can handle serious roles.

"Bridgerton" season three

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

Though there are plenty of complaints about this season of "Bridgerton," the show's writers still managed to hook audiences in for another eight episodes of romantic chaos.

The series sees lead couple Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) figure out whether they can be more than friends.

Fans and critics praised Coughlan and Newton's cozy chemistry, while supporting characters like Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) stole the show with spell-binding performances.

The franchise also finally committed to including LGBTQ+ characters in the "Bridgerton" world by confirming that two siblings are bisexual, teasing more great romances to come.

"One Day"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix dropped the perfect romantic drama right in time for Valentine's Day in 2024.

"One Day," an adaptation of David Nicholls' bestselling book of the same name, is about a 20-year relationship between two people, Dexter (Leo Woodall) and Emma (Ambika Mod), who couldn't be more different.

Each episode jumps a year forward to show how their relationship has changed, making the series easy to binge. Woodall and Mod are captivating with their subtle but convincing performances, bringing Dexter and Emma to life.

Though the story is remembered for its devastating ending, every bit of "One Day" is thrilling television.

"Dead Boy Detectives" season one

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Since the end of "Supernatural," there has been a gap for a new supernatural mystery series to take over, and "Dead Boy Detectives" may be the perfect successor.

Though the show is technically a spinoff of Netflix's "The Sandman," they couldn't be more different. Two ghosts (George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri) choose to stay on Earth instead of going to the afterlife and begin a new career solving paranormal mysteries with a psychic medium friend.

The cleverly written series blends the case-of-the-week format with an overarching villain, making it fun for all types of fans.

"Nobody Wants This" season one

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

"Nobody Want This" was arguably the biggest surprise hit of the second half of 2024.

Based on the life of the series' showrunner, Erin Foster, "Nobody Wants This " follows a burgeoning relationship between an unlikely couple: a self-destructive, agnostic sex podcast host and a modern "hot rabbi."

Fans and critics alike thought Kristen Bell and Adam Brody had irresistible chemistry and were mostly won over by the pair's performance rather than the series' story.

Brody's performance marked a revival for the actor.

"Black Doves" season one

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

Netflix had so much confidence in "Black Doves" that it renewed it for a second season in August before the first season dropped.

The gamble paid off. "Black Doves" received critic praise and a Golden Globe nomination. During its premiere week, it was also the second most-watched series in English on the platform.

Keira Knightley stars as Helen Webb, the wife of a UK political figure and an operative of a spies-for-hire organization. When Helen's secret lover is killed, her organization sends Sam Young (Ben Whishaw) to protect her. Together, they investigate her lover's murder.

Knightley and Whishaw give great performances in this thriller full of surprise twists that seamlessly blend violence and comedy.

"A Man on the Inside" season one

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

The last time showrunner Mike Schur and actor Ted Danson teamed up, they created "The Good Place," which was named one of the top 10 best shows of the 2010s by AV Club, Time, and Vanity Fair.

Now they're back with another show that's making fans laugh and cry, "A Man on the Inside."

The series follows Charles Nieuwendyk (Danson), a widower grieving the loss of his wife, who is hired as a spy in a retirement home to help a private investigator solve a theft. Along the way, Charles makes new friends, reconnects with his daughter, and learns about combating loneliness as he grows older.

The series has great performances across the cast, including Danson, Stephanie Beatriz, Sally Struthers, and Stephen McKinley Henderson.

"The Diplomat" season two

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

"The Diplomat" earned SAG, Emmy, and Golden Globe award nominations after debuting in 2023 with an 84% Rotten Tomatoes critic score.

Season two received an even better score and solidified the show as one of the most exciting thrillers on TV right now. The show could win more awards in 2025.

Keri Russell is the standout actor as Kate Wyler, a US ambassador to the UK who is helping to defuse an international crisis while the White House moulds her to step in as the new vice president.

In season 2, Kate finally meets the VP she is meant to replace, Grace Penn (Allison Janney).

"American Nightmare"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

Felicity Morris and Bernadette Higgins, the filmmakers behind Netflix's "The Tinder Swindler," released an arguably even more harrowing true crime series in 2024 with "American Nightmare."

The show was based on the case of Denise Huskins, a woman who was kidnapped, drugged, and raped in 2015. When she was let go by her kidnapper, the police accused her and her boyfriend of faking the kidnapping.

The real culprit, Matthew Muller, was arrested later that year for a similar home invasion, and investigators later found evidence that linked him to Huskins' kidnapping.

"American Nightmare" is a sensitive, riveting retelling of this case without the sensationalism seen in some other Netflix true crime shows.

"Baby Reindeer"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 99%

"Baby Reindeer" may be on your radar because of the multiple controversies concerning the real-life people who inspired the show.

Based on writer Richard Gadd's autobiographical one-person comedy show, "Baby Reindeer" is about an aspiring comedian who is stalked by a woman he serves at a pub.

Gadd takes the audience on a nuanced, darkly comedic, and shocking emotional roller coaster as he unpacks his trauma. No wonder "Baby Reindeer" won six Emmys in 2024.

"Supacell" season one

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

We may be in an era of Superhero fatigue, but that has not stopped "Supacell" from becoming a Netflix hit in 2024.

The sci-fi drama follows a group of Black people living in South London who discover they have superpowers. Together, they must fend off a secret organization hunting them and save an important person.

The initial logline sounds like every superhero story, but "Supacell" strengthens its storyline by shining a light on the experiences of Black Londoners.

The series boasts a talented cast of rising stars and great action sequences. It also shines a light on sickle cell anemia, a historically poorly understood condition that mostly affects people of African and Caribbean backgrounds.

"Girls5Eva" season three

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

Thank god Netflix picked up "Girls5Eva," the riotously funny comedy created by "Umbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" alum Meredith Scardino, for a third season.

The series follows a has-been '90s girl group who reunites after a young rapper samples their single "Famous 5eva" and makes them relevant again. "Girls5eva" has it all: jokes on jokes on jokes, themed songs about Fort Worth, Texas, and Renée Elise Goldsberry reliably giving the comedy performance of her life every single episode, among plenty of other redeeming attributes.

While it's one of the funniest shows on television, "Girls5eva" also has a lot of heart and commentary on queer fandom, modern fame, and female friendship.

"Heartstopper" season three

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

For the third season in a row, "Heartstopper" is one of the highest-rated Netflix original series of the year.

"Heartstopper" is a cozy, wholesome series about the relationship between two British high school students as well as the highs and lows of teenagers' lives from a queer lens.

Season three is filled with fun cameos from British actors includin Hayley Atwell and Jonathan Bailey, and great performances from the lead actors Kit Connor, Joe Locke, and Yasmin Finney.

"Arcane: League of Legends" season two

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

"Arcane" season one, a video game adaptation of "League of Legends," received a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating, a 96% Rotten Tomatoes fan rating, and won four Emmy awards.

Though fans and critics said season two's conclusion was rushed, they praised it for its beautiful animation and electrifying action.

"Arcane" season one is a decadeslong, tragic story about the class conflict between the technological utopian city of Piltover and its neighboring poor city of Zaun.

The two cities head toward war in season two following the previous season's cliffhanger, where Jinx, a mentally ill criminal from Zaun, shoots a rocket at the Piltover's governing council.

• "Squid Game" season one premiered on Netflix three years ago.
• The Korean-language series is one of Netflix's biggest shows ever and was renewed for a second season.
• Here's a recap of everything important you need to remember from season one.

Back in 2021, "Squid Game" premiered, and the buzzy show quickly turned into a global sensation.

The Korean-language Netflix series, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk and starring Lee Jung-jae, is broadly about how adverse financial situations drive people to desperation. In the show, which is set in South Korea, people in heavy debt are invited to participate in a shady game with the promise of a monetary reward. What they don't realize upon joining, however, is that they'll be killed if they lose.

"Squid Game" is one of Netflix's biggest hits ever, to the extent that the streamer even spun it off into a reality series called "Squid Game: The Challenge." Despite the fact that it's endured as a pop culture phenomenon, it's been three years since the first season was released on Netflix.

Ahead of "Squid Game" season two's premiere on December 26, here's everything you need to remember about what happened in season one.

Seong Gi-hun decided to join the games after falling into debt

At the beginning of "Squid Game," Seong Gi-hun is a down-on-his-luck man who, following his divorce, lives with his mother. Hounded by loan sharks and unable to take his daughter Ga-yeong out for her birthday, Gi-hun encounters a recruiter who invites him to participate in a game with a monetary reward.

Gi-hun agrees, and is taken with 455 other players to a mysterious facility. There, he's assigned the player number 456 and encounters his old friend Cho Sang-woo (player 218) who has also fallen into deep debt. Gi-hun also befriends player 001, an old man named Oh Il-nam, and recognizes player 067, Kang Sae-byeok, as a woman who pickpocketed him outside of the games.

Sae-byeok is a North Korean defector attempting to bring her mother to South Korea and provide for her younger brother. Other relevant players include Ali (Player 199), a Pakistani immigrant attempting to provide for his wife and child; Han Mi-nyeo (player 212), a woman who relies on allies to survive the games; and Deok-su (Player 101), a gangster whose comrades sold him out in the outside world.

Guards inform the players that should they win six games, they'll win billions of Korean won.

The first game, 'Red Light, Green Light,' is a bloodbath — but the players still return after.

Gi-hun and the other participants quickly realize that they're in mortal peril when players who fail the first game, "Red Light, Green Light," are immediately gunned down. However, for every player who dies in the games, 100 million won gets added to the prize pot.

Gi-hun and the above players all make it through the first game. The surviving players vote to leave the game without any of the winnings. When presented with the choice outside the game, however, they choose to return. Gi-hun chooses to play after realizing that he can't pay for his mother's diabetes treatment.

Detective Hwang Jun-ho investigates the games, believing they may be tied to his brother's disappearance.

While briefly back in the outside world, Gi-hun attempts to expose the games to the police but fails.

However, detective Hwang Jun-ho notices similarities between Gi-hun's story and the disappearance of his brother, and decides to follow Gi-hun back to the island when he returns to the game. Once there, he poses as a guard. While undercover, Jun-ho discovers a secret organ-harvesting ring led by the game's guards.

Jun-ho eventually finds the games' archives and records, which indicate that his brother was a previous player.

In episode seven, when a group of VIP guests arrive, Jun-ho goes undercover as a waiter to find out more about their identities. After separating one from the rest of the group, he threatens him with a gun and interrogates him about the games.

In episode eight, Jun-ho escapes to another island but is tracked down by the Front Man, the boss of the games, and a group of guards.

The Front Man takes off his mask and reveals he is In-ho, Jun-ho's lost brother, and asks Jun-ho to join him. When Jun-ho declines, In-ho shoots him and Jun-ho seemingly falls off a cliff to his death.

Players begin to form alliances over the next rounds of games.

Gi-hun, Ali, Sang-woo, and Il-nam form one group and are the main focus after the first game. Han Mi-nyeo tries to join Deok-su and begins a sexual relationship with him. Sae-byeok tries to get through the games alone.

The second round is Dalgona, in which players have to cut shapes out of a sugar honeycomb biscuit without breaking it. Sang-woo figures out the game before it starts but tricks his group into splitting up, leading to Gi-hun picking the hardest shape (umbrella). Gi-hun still makes it through after figuring out it is easier to break the shape out by licking the biscuit.

The third game is tug-of-war, in which two teams of 10 pull a rope across a high platform. The losing team's members are pulled over the edge to their death.

Gi-hun and his allies, now including Sae-byeok, split up to recruit five more people, leading to three men and a woman, Ji-yeong (player 240), joining the team. Deok-su betrays Mi-nyeo, kicking her out of his team of men, so she joins Gi-hun's team.

Using clever tactics, Gi-hun's team makes it through tug-of-war despite having weaker people.

There's a secret organ-harvesting sect within the organization.

In episode four, we learn that some of the guards are harvesting the body parts of the players killed in the games to sell on the black market.

They hire Byeong-gi (Player 111), a doctor, to perform the surgery to safely remove the organs. The guards buy his allegiance by giving him the secrets of the next game so he can stay alive, and he uses that information to ally with Deok-su and his group of strong men.

In episode five, the organ smuggling ring falls apart when the guards are unable to tell Byeong-gi what the next game is. He freaks out, kills a guard, and tries to escape. The Front Man tracks down Byeong-gi and the remaining guard and kills them both.

In episode four, the players riot.

After Deok-su accidentally kills another player during a confrontation over food, the players learn they can kill each other outside the games without any consequences and still increase the prize fund.

When the lights go out for bedtime, the players turn on each other. Amid the chaos, Gi-hun and his allies protect Sae-byeok from Deok-su and his cronies. Before there is more bloodshed, Il-nam cries out that everyone should "stop this madness," and the guards intervene and end the riot.

While the guards check the bodies, Jun-ho, still disguised as a guard, approaches Gi-hun and asks him if he has seen his brother, Hwang In-ho. Gi-hun says players don't use names inside the games, so he doesn't know.

Gi-hun bonds with Il-nam.

One night between the games, Gi-hun and his team form a barricade to stop themselves from getting attacked.

While Gi-hun and Il-nam are on watch duty, Gi-hun daydreams about the time he went on strike with his fellow employees at a motor company and was mercilessly attacked by the police.

He then talks about the experience with Il-nam, explaining that they went on strike and barricaded themselves in the company building after the company laid off Gi-hun and a group of employees who had been working there for over a decade.

Then Il-nam falls ill, and Gi-hun looks after him.

Players turn against each other in the Marbles game.

In this game, everyone pairs up. The twist, however, is that their partner will be their opponent: They will play games against each other until one person is the winner and the loser is killed.

Ali and Sang-woo pair up and play a game where you have to guess if there's an even or odd number of marbles in a hidden hand. Ali, who has never played the game before, has a streak of wins, so Sang-woo begs for his life and then tricks Ali into believing they both can win by sticking together. Sang-Woo then steals Ali's marbles and progresses, leaving Ali to die.

Gi-hun and Il-nam play a similar game, but Il-nam begins to lose his memory and focus and wanders off. When they finally play the game, Il-nam is winning until Gi-hun starts to use Il-nam's poor memory to his advantage, lying about the guesses they make. As Gi-hun is about to win, Il-nam reveals that he knew Gi-hun was deceiving him but gives him the final marble anyway. Gi-hun progresses, and Il-nam is seemingly shot off-screen.

Ji-yeong and Sae-byeok pair up, but instead of playing, they open up about their lives. Ji-yeong reveals that she went to prison after killing her abusive father, who killed her mother. At the last moment, the pair play a game where they have to throw a marble nearest to the wall to win all the marbles. After Sae-byeok throws her marble, Ji-yeong deliberately fails her throw. She tells Sae-byeok she has nothing to live for, so she wants her to win and live life to the fullest.

Deok-su makes it through. Mi-nyeo could not find someone to pair with, so makes it through automatically.

Only three characters make it past game five.

Game five is Glass Bridge, where players have to make it across a bridge made of glass platforms. Half of the glass is tempered glass, which could survive the weight of two players, and the other half will break on impact, letting the players fall to their deaths.

The contestants must choose which path is the safe one. They're given an order and Gi-hun, Sae-byeok, and Sang-woo end up near the back of the line.

During the game, Mi-nyeo uses the opportunity to get her revenge, throwing herself and Deok-su onto one of the brittle glass platforms and to their deaths.

After Sang-woo pushes the final player in front of them to his death, Sang-woo, Gi-hun, and Sae-byeok make it across just in time before the remaining glass blows up, but shards of glass stab all three of them.

Sang-woo kills Sae-byeok but dies during the last game.

When they return from the glass bridge, Gi-hun and Sang-woo get into a fight over Sang-woo killing the other player during the glass bridge game. Sang-woo, Gi-hun, and Sae-byeok are given a feast — and at the end, each of them are left with a knife.

Sae-byeok was gravely wounded by a glass shard during the bridge game, so Gi-hun tries to protect her during the night. They promise to look after each other's family members if one of them dies in the next round.

Gi-hun attempts to kill Sang-woo in his sleep, but Sae-byeok stops him and says that he is not a killer. She passes out, and Gi-hun tries to get her medical help. Sang-woo uses this as a distraction to stab Sae-byeok in the neck, killing her.

The final game is Squid Game, where an attacker has to get to a safe area behind a defender. Gi-hun is the attacker, and Sang-woo is the defender. Sang-woo says that he killed Sae-byeok out of mercy — and to prevent Gi-hun and Sae-byeok from voting to end the game.

The game devolves into a bloody fight in the rain, with both men attempting to stab each other. Gi-hun overpowers Sang-woo but doesn't kill him. He moves toward the safe area, but attempts to convince Sang-woo to stop the game with him and leave with their lives.

Sang-woo chooses instead to stab himself, and asks Gi-hun to look after his mother. Gi-hun sees her after he is released from the game, but returns home to learn that his own mother has died.

Gi-hun discovers Il-nam is alive — and not who he appeared to be.

Gi-hun has barely touched his winnings a year after the games. One day, he receives a mysterious card with an address on it.

There he finds Il-nam (Player 001), who reveals he created the games and entered the competition to have fun because he was dying from a tumor. Il-nam also makes a wager with Gi-hun that no one will help an unconscious drunk man lying on the pavement across the street from them. Gi-hun accepts, but Il-nam dies before discovering that he was wrong.

Gi-hun is revived from this encounter, gets a haircut, and changes his hair color. He picks up Sae-byeok's brother, Kang Cheol, and takes him — and a suitcase full of money — to live with Sang-woo's mother.

Gi-hun almost leaves Korea but changes his mind.

Gi-hun prepares to fly to the United States to visit his daughter, but spots the game recruiter at the airport inviting someone else to the game.

Gi-hun chases him down, but the recruiter escapes. Gi-hun steals the invitation card from the new candidate and calls the number on the way to his plane. In-ho answers, and urges Gi-hun to get on the plane.

Gi-hun says that he can't forgive him, and turns back.

"Squid Game" season two premieres Thursday, December 26 on Netflix.

• 2024 may not have been as big a year for television as 2023 – but there were plenty of gems.
• Series like FX's "Shōgun," Prime Video's "Fallout," and Netflix's "Baby Reindeer" cut through the noise.
• Here are the BI entertainment team's favorite television series of the year.

Amid shake-ups in the television industry, 2024 still delivered a slate of great TV series ranging from familiar continuations to ambitious debuts.

That includes series like FX's "Shōgun," an immersive adaptation that brought top Japanese talent to American screens; the Brian Jordan Alvarez comedy "English Teacher," which turns high school culture wars into comedy fodder; and hits like "Baby Reindeer," which captivated the world with a story pulled from creator Richard Gadd's life.

Here are our favorites from this year.

"Abbott Elementary" season 4

Season four of "Abbott Elementary" picks up with Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) officially dating after their slow-burn romance played in the show's previous seasons. At the start of this season, the pair are unsuccessfully trying to keep their relationship a secret from their Abbott Elementary coworkers when they return to school.

The writing of "Abbott Elementary" remains as sharp and culturally relevant as ever, and the latest season sprinkles in new characters that keep the show fresh and exciting — from Jacob's younger brother Caleb (Tyler Perez) and an IT guy named O'Shon (Matthew Law) whom the staff have a crush on to a lovable guinea pig named Sweet Cheeks who breaks through Melissa's (Lisa Ann Walter) tough exterior. — Olivia Singh

"Arcane" season 2

Netflix and Riot Games' "Arcane" is one of the most impressive and ambitious animated works of the past decade — and while it doesn't always find its footing, the end result is still so spectacular.

The series is adapted from Riot Games' massively popular video game "League of Legends," honing in on a small cast of characters who live in Piltover, the gleaming city of progress, and Zaun, its less-than-scintillating undercity. The conflict between the two cities has reached a critical point by season two. Unfortunately for all parties, so has the evolution of Hextech, a magic-powered technology that has spiraled out of control and turned one of its developers into a misguided messiah. Oops!

Season two is nothing if not ambitious and widens its scope while leveling up its already excellent animation, courtesy of the French studio Fortiche. In the process, it loses some of the intimate character work and tight focus that made its first season truly extraordinary. Still, the second season serves as a fitting conclusion and is a harbinger of good things to come from Riot's entertainment arm. — Palmer Haasch

Read Haasch's interview with "Arcane" showrunner Christian Linke.

"Baby Reindeer"

Few shows caused as much of a stir this year as "Baby Reindeer," starring and written by comedian Richard Gadd. Netflix and the creator himself billed the series as a true story based on Gadd's real-life experience of being stalked by an older woman. Unfortunately, the show's stalker character, Martha Scott, was quickly outed as Fiona Harvey, who took legal action against the streamer.

Despite all the behind-the-scenes controversy, "Baby Reindeer" is a work of art. Gadd lays himself bare as Donny, who's loosely based on himself. He's a powerhouse in episode four, which flashes back to explain the source of Donny's trauma before meeting Martha.

It's an engrossing watch with equally powerful performances from Jessica Gunning, who plays the disturbed but deeply sad Martha, and Nava Mau, who plays Donny's girlfriend, Teri. — Caralynn Matassa

Read about the legal drama behind "Baby Reindeer.'

"The Boys," season 4

If "The Boys" is Prime Video's NSFW answer to superhero fare like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then season four feels like the equivalent of "Avengers: Infinity War" — minus a snap from a villain that wipes out half the universe.

Season four of "The Boys" is darker than past seasons, as the characters confront deep-seated traumas. For an aging Homelander (Anthony Starr), this means grappling with the legacy he'll leave behind for his son Ryan. For his nemesis Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), it means coming to terms with his looming death and trying to prevent Ryan from succumbing to Homelander's darkness.

It's a season filled with even more gory, jaw-dropping scenes and yet another Emmy-worthy performance by Starr, particularly in Homelander's gory homecoming episode.

The endgame is nearing, with a fifth and final season of "The Boys" likely premiering in 2026. Season four ends with the perfect foundation for all hell to break loose one last time. — OS

"English Teacher"

It's astounding that it took this long for Brian Jordan Alvarez to get a series order after the release of his excellent 2016 web series "The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo" — but thankfully, "English Teacher" premiered this year.

The series stars Alvarez as Evan Marquez, a beleaguered but idealistic Texas high school teacher who comes under fire at work when a parent complains about him kissing his ex-boyfriend in front of the students.

While "English Teacher" embraces the thorny politics of being an American educator in 2024, it doesn't spin them into saccharine teaching moments or cheap jokes. It mines them for character threads and comedy. — PH

"Fallout"

With "Fallout," Jonathan Nolan proved that prestige-y video game adaptations weren't exclusive to HBO. Rather than directly adapting one of the multiple games in the postapocalyptic "Fallout" universe, Nolan instead leverages the style, humor, and striking visual identity of the games to show us something new.

"Fallout" stars Ella Purnell as Lucy, a naive resident who grew up in an underground bunker known as a Vault, established to protect humanity from nuclear armageddon. However, after tragedy befalls her home, she ventures to the surface, only to learn it isn't as deserted or unsurvivable as she was led to believe.

The series features stellar performances from Purnell and Walton Goggins, who spends most of the season admirably noseless. And while it's set in the grim aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, it's also irreverently funny and endearing. — PH

Read Eammon Jacobs' review of "Fallout" and Jason Guerrasio's interview with Walton Goggins.

"Hacks" season 3

The Max original "Hacks" has only gotten better with age, and in season three, it feels like the show has hit its stride.

The show follows veteran stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, who, on the coattails of a successful comedy special, is gunning for her dream: a late-night hosting gig. After cutting her young writer, Ava Daniels, loose at the end of season two, Deborah realizes that she needs Ava — and Ava craves working with Deborah again, too.

This central relationship — and all the ways Deobrah and Ava support, encourage, and mess each other up — is constantly in flux. Season three not only succeeded in being funnier and more resonant than its predecessors but also in shifting Deborah and Ava's power dynamic into something new and a bit dangerous ahead of season four. — PH

Read Haasch's interview with "Hacks" stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Mark Indelicato.

"Industry" season 3

Move over, "Succession" — there's another contender for the best HBO show about horny, psychopathic capitalists. "Industry," the show about London's most dedicated and depraved bankers, finally broke through to the mainstream with its third season.

Seasons one and two delivered well-written, well-acted, character-driven drama about the highs and lows of a group of young bankers trading stocks (and spit). Still, season three upped the ante, spending more time away from the office in lavish locations, such as the English countryside, a yacht in the Mediterranean, and a Davos-like conference in Switzerland.

The change in scenery enhanced the story and deepened our understanding of the series' core group of complicated characters, most of whom have greatly evolved since we first saw them sitting and sweating at their Pierpoint desks.

All of it leads to an explosive finale that's massive in both budget and sheer plot, effectively wiping the slate clean for a now-confirmed season four. It's an appropriately daring move for a show confident in its vision. It's peak TV at its peak. — Samantha Rollins

Read Rollins' interview with "Industry" showrunners Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.

"Love Island USA" season 6

There were many (many) reality dating shows that aired in 2024. Having regrettably watched most of them, I can confirm that the latest installment of "Love Island USA" blew them all out of the water.

The franchise, which spun off of the UK edition, has the secret sauce that makes this genre sing. It's largely thanks to a format that other shows have tried — and failed — to replicate, wherein participants must constantly recouple to find true love (and win a cash prize).

Season six had a particularly explosive set of personalities among its cast, leading to some serious drama, shocking betrayals, truly memorable moments, and fan-favorite standouts, including Serena Page, Leah Kateb, and Jana Craig. — CM

"A Man on the Inside"

"A Man on the Inside" is initially presented as a spy mystery series as Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson), a widower who recently lost his wife, accepts a job to go undercover in a retirement home.

That's all background noise to the main event, which follows the lives of a kooky gang of residents who find community with each other after being left behind by their loved ones.

Anyone who has seen Danson in any of his other many roles would not be surprised that he is an incredible leading man. However, the show's real strength is the supporting cast, especially Margaret Avery, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Sally Struthers, who provide so much humor and heart that they may make you shed tears.

"A Man on the Inside" proves we really need more TV shows centered on older characters, and there's ample talent out there to make those stories worth watching. — Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Read Rollins' interview with "A Man on the Inside" creator Mike Schur.

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"

Prime Video's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," a reboot of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's 2005 film (mostly in name only), is deeply funny, emotionally stirring, and clever.

Sure, both titles share a similar premise — a husband and wife who are both assassins — but the television series flips it on its head to create something much better.

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play two strangers who, upon taking a new job as shady agents for a mysterious boss, are paired together as a cover story.

The 10-episode season features a laundry list of guest stars, ranging from Ron Perlman to Micaela Coel. — PH

Read Haasch's review of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and Jacobs' interview with guest star Ron Perlman.

"Nobody Wants This"

Rom-coms are so back.

Six years after Netflix was credited with a rom-com renaissance thanks to hits like "Set It Up" and "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," the streamer struck gold again with "Nobody Wants This," a comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. The show became an instant hit, proving audiences yearn for more high-quality modern rom-coms.

"Nobody Wants This," created by Erin Foster and loosely inspired by her love story, follows Noah (Brody), an attractive and newly single rabbi, and Joanne (Kristen Bell), the outspoken agnostic host of a sex podcast. Despite their different views on religion and lifestyle, they pursue a relationship.

Noah and Joanne's swoon-worthy first kiss scene went viral, people realized that Brody had been leading man material all along, and the show jumped to the No. 2 slot on the streamer's Top 10 list for English-language TV in the week of its debut. Unsurprisingly, "Nobody Wants This" will be returning for a second season, which begins filming in February. — OS

"One Day"

The second attempt at bringing David Nicholls' bestselling novel "One Day" to the screen (after a 2011 film adaptation) is a rousing success.

The novel of the same name is already beautifully tragic, relatable, and perspective-altering, but the Netflix show amplifies all these strengths with gut-punching performances from leads Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod, who play destined lovers Dexter and Emma.

With each episode set in a different year, "One Day" takes audiences on a 14-year journey as the two grow into adults and fall in love with other people and each other, but never at the right time. For romantics or young people worried about the future, this is the show to watch from 2024. — AA

"The Penguin"

Colin Farrell leads the spinoff sequel to the 2022 film "The Batman," playing the titular comic book villain Oz "Penguin" Cobb. It was fascinating how quickly it became apparent that the show had more in common with "The Sopranos" than nearly anything DC Studios has released.

Farrell utterly transforms as Cobb, the mobster clawing to the top in Gotham after the death of crime boss Carmine Falcone in "The Batman" left a power vacuum. Still, Cristin Milioti is the real standout as Sofia Falcone, Carmine's daughter and accused psychopathic serial killer, fresh out of a stay in Arkham State Hospital. — CM

Read Jacobs' interview with "The Penguin" showrunner Lauren LeFranc.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"

On its surface, "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" was a show greenlit solely because of a TikTok scandal where several couples in a Mormon community were implicated in an alleged swinging scandal. That premise didn't seem like it'd carry far, but turns out the swinging was possibly the least dramatic thing about these women.

After a moderately slow start, "Secret Lives" turns the dial up to 11 in episode four, a group birthday vacation where all hell breaks loose as the group of friends and frenemies start calling one another out. (Shout out to the truth box, the real MVP.)

It was hard not to root for Taylor Frankie Paul and follow her tumultuous relationship with Dakota Mortensen or to root against the deeply annoying Whitney Leavitt, who became the sleeper villain of season one. We're dying to see what becomes of MomTok when the show returns in 2025. — CM

Read Haasch's interview with Taylor Frankie Paul and Mayci Neeley.

"Shōgun"

There was no stopping "Shōgun" at the 2024 Emmys, and for good reason. Based on James Clavell's 1975 novel, the stunning historical epic focuses on an English sailor who finds himself shipwrecked in Japan and crosses paths with Lord Toranga, a powerful warlord.

With incredible performances, sweeping visuals, and mesmerizing battle sequences, it's no wonder the show set a record for the most Emmys won by a single season of television and that the creators decided to rethink their limited series plan and continue the show with second and third seasons. — CM

"The Traitors" season 2

They were the words heard 'round the reality TV-loving world: "Oh lord, not Ekin-Su."

Few shows were as memed as "The Traitors," the US iteration of the international competition series where reality stars and celebrities try to deceive one another to claim a cash prize.

Season one, which aired in 2023, was entertaining, but season two reached new heights, largely thanks to compulsively watchable characters like meme factory Phaedra Parks and "Shahs of Sunset" star MJ Javid, who gave us one of the best reaction shots of the year. — CM

Read Matassa's interview with "Big Brother" alum Dan Gheesling, who tried and failed to extend his gaming skills to "The Traitors."

"X-Men '97"

Not only did "X-Men '97" expertly capture the spirit of the original animated "X-Men" series, but it also made it feel modern and relevant to the 2020s amid some gorgeously animated action.

The performances are seamless with the original show, adding new dimensions to the Marvel Universe that fans, new and old, will appreciate.

It deserves all of the praise for easily navigating the messy Jean Grey/Madelyne Prior clone saga from the comics. Season two can't come quickly enough. — Eammon Jacobs

• "Squid Game" was a massive hit for Netflix, which greenlighted a second and third season.
• Its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, said he's "exhausted" after working on the show and wants a break.
• Netflix has spun off "Squid Game" into a reality series, in-person experiences, and a video game.

After "Squid Game" became a global sensation in 2021, Netflix invested big time in the series and the franchise — and after working on the show's second and third seasons, its creator is ready for a break.

"I'm so exhausted. I'm so tired," Hwang Dong-hyuk, the mastermind behind the show, told Variety. "In a way, I have to say, I'm so sick of 'Squid Game.' I'm so sick of my life making something, promoting something. So I'm not thinking about my next project right now."

He added: "I'm just thinking about going to some remote island and having my own free time without any phone calls from Netflix."

"Squid Game," a Korean-language series, captured global audiences three years ago with bright, childlike aesthetics juxtaposed against a gripping, deadly story.

Unable to provide for himself or his mother's medical care, Seong Gi-hun, a divorced dad, signs on to a game where people in heavy amounts of debt play children's games in pursuit of a 45.6 billion won cash prize. To do so, they wager their lives: Losing a game means instant death. Seong, played by Lee Jung-jae, survives, but the other 455 players don't — and at the end of season one, he sets off to shut down the games himself.

The series was a massive hit for Netflix, to the tune of 330 million viewers and 2.8 billion hours viewed to date, according to Variety. Bloomberg reported a month after season one's premiere in October 2021 that Netflix estimated the series would make the company $900 million. The first season was critically successful as well: The show was nominated for 14 Emmy awards and won six, including outstanding directing for a drama series for Hwang and outstanding lead actor in a drama series for Lee.

In the three-year gap between seasons one and two, the streaming platform has capitalized on the property, spinning off the "Squid Game" franchise into the reality series "Squid Game: The Challenge" and in-person experiences where people can play through nondeadly versions of the games with their friends. This year, Netflix launched the video game "Squid Game: Unleashed" and made it available to nonsubscribers.

Hwang has been kept in the loop on these "Squid Game" projects and consults on prospective on-screen continuations of the franchise, Variety said. However, he told the publication that he was more concerned with finishing the main series.

He told Entertainment Weekly he'd intended seasons two and three to be one story but had to split them in two because of what would have been a lengthy episode count. The second and third seasons were filmed back-to-back, and season three is expected in 2025.

It's a lot of work for a creator who didn't anticipate he'd be doing a second season at all.

"I had no intention of doing a second season," Hwang said, "because the overall process of writing, producing, and directing the series was so challenging."

• HBO's "Dune: Prophecy" explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.
• The show is loosely based on a "Dune" prequel novel but expands past its scope.
• Showrunner Alison Schapker spoke with BI about bringing the franchise to the small screen.

"Dune: Prophecy" goes way back, thousands of years into the history of the powerful women who shaped the history of the entire "Dune" universe.

"Any 'Dune' fan knows it's just so endlessly deep in its lore, and its worldbuilding, and its specificity," showrunner Alison Schapker told Business Insider. "But for new fans who are coming in, I feel like the best way to discover a world is always through your characters."

The HBO prequel series focuses on the origins of the Bene Gesserit, the shadowy organization responsible for a breeding program meant to bring about a messiah known as the Kwisatz Haderach. In Frank Herbert's original novel and Denis Villeneuve's film adaptations, that messiah is Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet in the Villeneuve movies), a young man who shapes the history of the Imperium.

"Prophecy" is loosely based on "Sisterhood of Dune," a novel with the same premise co-authored by Herbert's son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson. It follows Valya and Tula Harkonnen, sisters from a then-disgraced family — not the powerhouse the Harkonnens are in Villeneuve's films — who shape the development of the Sisterhood 10,000 years before Paul's birth.

The prequel novel served as a jumping-off point, but the creative team had free rein to build on the story, creating new characters and twists along the way. It was a challenge that Schapker, a sci-fi veteran known for her previous work on "Westworld" and "Altered Carbon," enthusiastically approached.

Schapker spoke with BI about adapting the vastness of "Dune" for the small screen, which involved juggling interpersonal drama, science fiction scope, and multiple timelines to tell the Sisterhood's story.

You were brought onto "Dune: Prophecy" after it had already been in development. How did you approach it?

This was a corner of the "Dune" universe that I really dove into. I was much more familiar with Frank Herbert's vision of "Dune." Over the years I've always been on the lookout for "Dune." But then obviously, Denis' films come along, and I think unlocked it in a new way for fans and new people, and just is so elegant, so immersive, so artistically rich.

I approach every project the same way. I want to look at everything that's there, everything I inherit, and build upon it, and deepen it, and prune it, and just continue the process of crafting story. We're only six episodes — I would say these are very robust, full hours of television, and there's a lot of discovery that goes on as you're doing it, which is really just the best.

This show has to do a lot of exposition for "Dune" in a very short timeframe, especially for newcomers. What was top of mind for you when it came to setting things up in the first episode?

Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in their novels were not just looking at the origins of the Bene Gesserit, but they put two Harkonnen sisters right in the middle of it all. I felt like that was so exciting as a "Dune" fan, as a writer to explore, "Okay, what does it mean that this organization that's going to have such influence had a Harkonnen shepherding it? What does that tell us about the Harkonnens, and what does that tell us about the sisterhood?"

It was really fun to have this familial sisterhood between Valya Harkonnen and Tula Harkonnen at the center of a larger sisterhood with all the women at the school. That baked-in choice I thought was so strong, and the premise unfolded from there.

Telling the sisters' story requires two different timelines in the show, with younger and older versions of both Valya and Tula. How did you manage that, and craft the throughline of their relationship in both eras?

I feel like we're all a product of our past selves, and our history over time. The Bene Gesserit and the sisterhood, at this time period, they're big on long-term plans, and eventually, they're going to put into motion a plan that would last many thousands of years.

Part of it begins when Valya Harkonnen comes into control of the sisterhood, when she's a young woman played by Jessica Barden. That is very much the time period of the books. So when we were doing a direct adaptation, a lot of that is this younger Valya Harkonnen and her rise to power in the sisterhood.

But we also wanted to have room to create a rich television series, and see an older Valya, played by Emily Watson, a little more in control — where she took the sisterhood, and then how she was tested as part of a larger exploration of how it went from the Sisterhood to the Bene Gesserit. We wanted to look at the organization over time.

That's the new stuff we were extrapolating. We were doing it in conjunction with the Herbert Estate, but it allowed us some room to create and bring in some new events and characters.

In this show, you have that grounded familial relationship, but also the space opera scope of a "Dune" property. How do you balance that?

That is my joy. That's everything I want.

Obviously, we're never going to have an IMAX screen — but I do think "Dune" warrants an epic, but intimate juxtaposition, because it is asking you to think about time and worlds and politics and the impact of things like war, and power, and nature.

I think the epicness really helps those themes come through. It puts you in your place almost as a small piece of something larger. I feel like the humanity of it is woven into this bigger tapestry of the universe, and so I think some of the epicness really helps that feeling.

Early on in the development of this series, there was a push to bring in a female showrunner. I'm curious about how you've reckoned with that side of the discourse, and how any of it plays into this being a show functionally driven by women on the page and behind the camera.

It's incredibly rewarding. First of all, I think we have to start with "Dune" and the fact that women are players in such a pivotal and real way. Right in the narrative, you're brought on board as an equal in terms of who's pulling the strings, and the Imperium. That's just exciting. As a creator, of course I want my women characters to be having an impact on story as much as anyone else.

But yes, there's nothing better than feeling all your characters have a specificity and a voice. It was really fun to center the Bene Gesserit, and the sisterhood, and the Harkonnen sisters.

At the same time, it's certainly not out to be a treatise on gender. I had a lot of discussions with the Herbert estate. Just that idea that he's always thinking about how social structures and social forces might change, but be familiar even while utterly different.

"Dune: Prophecy" airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and streams on Max.