Many popular sidekicks didn’t start out as strong characters. Sometimes this was due to the storytelling standards of the time, and other times it was simply a lack of depth in their original creation. Despite these rough beginnings, they’ve since become beloved by fans.
The enduring popularity of Star Trek is mostly due to its consistently high production values and compelling storytelling. Both critics and fans have always praised the show’s various versions, appreciating the thoughtful ideas and technical skill that create a convincing vision of the future. This success continues today with streaming series like Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which earned high marks on Rotten Tomatoes by combining a classic coming-of-age story with the established world of the United Federation of Planets. However, even a beloved franchise like Star Trek has faced challenges, and some seasons haven’t received positive reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fede Alvarez, the director behind films like Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe, brought us Alien: Romulus in 2024, and it’s quickly becoming popular on HBO Max. As of today, it’s the third most-watched movie on the streaming service, trailing only One Battle After Another and Immaculate (according to Flix Patrol). This is great news for the film, which was already a critical and commercial success when it first came out.
Premiering in November 2024, Invincible Fight Girl tells the story of a determined accountant who dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. Over ten episodes, she trains with her Aunt P, striving to reach the top of the wrestling world. Though not an anime itself, the Adult Swim series features action sequences inspired by the Japanese animation style. Created by Juston Gordon-Montomgery and produced by Cartoon Network Studios, the show concluded in the same year it began, and its future remains uncertain. The first season ended with the protagonist, Andy, receiving a major opportunity with the “GWC,” leaving plenty of potential storylines for a possible second season.
Steam has a lot of strategy games, but many of the really good ones don’t get the attention they deserve. Some are simple to learn and easy to put down, letting you pick them up again whenever you want. When you combine that with a free-to-play model, it’s not surprising that games from years ago still have a loyal following in 2026.
The new movie, Avengers: Doomsday, will reunite familiar faces from past Avengers films. You can expect to see Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk and Chris Hemsworth as Thor again, but it will also surprisingly bring back Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. The film will also introduce some new heroes to the team-up, including characters from the Fantastic Four and the X-Men (previously from FOX).
If a new story focusing on Gollum and Gandalf is made, the Hobbits seem like the most likely characters to appear alongside them. Gandalf often spends time with the Hobbits, and the upcoming film, The Hunt for Gollum, could easily include some familiar faces from the Shire. There’s been talk for a while about a major Hobbit character potentially being involved, and now some of the actors who played Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings are discussing whether they’d be interested in reprising their roles and what projects they’re considering.
Valheim has consistently received positive feedback during its time in Early Access, earning over 251,000 reviews on Steam. Its unique blend of Viking themes and survival gameplay has resonated with players, providing a compelling open-world experience focused on crafting and exploration. However, those of us without powerful PCs have been eagerly awaiting the game’s release on PS5. Now, we finally have a date – 2026 – and many believe this launch could coincide with the official, full release of version 1.0.
The Dragon Ball Super manga has moved past the story covered in the anime and the Broly movie, and it has plenty of content that could be adapted into a new anime season. However, the manga is currently stuck on a major cliffhanger involving Frieza. If the anime is going to continue, the manga needs to finish the Frieza arc soon to avoid another long wait for fans.
As a huge DC fan, I’m really getting into this DC K.O. series! It’s a wild tournament where all the biggest heroes and villains are fighting to become King Omega – basically, someone with power on the same level as Darkseid. Things are getting seriously intense, and now that we’re down to the Final Four, it looks like the ultimate showdown will be about more than just strength. It’s shaping up to be a battle of ideals: Superman’s hope versus the Joker’s complete chaos. It’s fascinating to see these characters pushed to their limits!