Netflix’s gift to the world this Christmas is Bridgerton, an eight-episode season based on the bestselling romance novel saga by Julia Quinn. The first offering from Shondaland following showrunner extraordinaire Shonda Rhimes’s jump to the streaming service, Bridgerton is a lavish adaptation of one of the most popular Regency romance series in the genre. (Be sure to read our Bridgerton review.) It’s a veritable bingo card of romance goodies: a fake relationship that becomes so very real; meddling families; red-hot banter; societal drama; petticoats a-plenty; and, of course, sex. It’s the kind of show that, once you finish watching it, makes you wonder why it’s taken so darn long for a network (or, in this case, streaming service) to make something like it.
The most conservative numbers position romance publishing as a billion-dollar-a-year industry, one made almost entirely by and for women, yet the genre remains the black sheep of literature. It’s the widely accepted punching bag of fiction that’s never commanded the legitimacy of even previously derided genres like science-fiction and crime. The general image of romance fiction is, even in 2020, an assembly line of derivative, badly written bodice-rippers designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. To rub salt on the wound, the loudest backlash to romance typically comes from people who haven’t read a single romance novel and proudly admit so.
Regé-Jean Page as Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, and Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton
It’s easy to forget that, once upon a time, comic books were disregarded by doubters as worthless (and potentially dangerous) before a critical renaissance paved the way for the multi-billion-dollar industry of expanded universes that we have today. They were seen as lacking the heft to take on weighty subject matter, despite the obvious deep-seated socio-political foundations of work like the X-Men and Captain America.
Romance continues to outsell sci-fi, fantasy, and crime fiction, and much like comic books, there is a romance novel out there tailored to your type: Historical, paranormal, suspense, Western, horror, faith-based, fantastical, even dystopian. The options are limitless. Sarah Marrs, writer for Lainey Gossip and Decider, notes that romance is primed for the big and small screen:
“As for why more romance novels should get the same treatment, there’s just no reason not to. We’re talking about one of the most consistently popular genres of fiction that branches into many sub-genres such as paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy. All those things are popular. Rom coms are popular. Why not adapt romance novels, which are the nexus of all of those things?”
For many years, romantic comedies were plentiful on the big screen, typically as star vehicles for actors like Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon. The genre fell out of favor by the mid-2000s as box office revenues fell, and eventually, such stories seemed to disappear from the screen altogether, particularly as the blockbuster mold evolved to encompass the current superhero trend. Over the past few years, however, rom coms have experienced a revival thanks to an unlikely source: Netflix. Some of the platform’s biggest hits over the past few years have been rom coms like Always Be My Maybe, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Half of It, so it’s no surprise that it would be the platform to stream the first honest to goodness romance novel adaptation — and trust in the tropes of the genre enough to get it so right on the first try.
That’s not to say romantic stories don’t exist on film or TV; it’s that stories by and for women that put women’s interests, desires, and aesthetics first are still seen as “niche.” Time and again success stories in Hollywood should have proven otherwise, from the explosion of Young Adult romance adaptations like Twilight, The Vampire Diaries and The Fault in Our Stars to the way networks like Lifetime, Hallmark and now Netflix have made entire seasons out of their holiday-themed romantic movies. Still, when it comes to the romance novel genre, it’s rare to see something like Bridgerton get greenlit, let alone unapologetically embrace all the drama, costuming and — again, of course — sex that have helped make the books such a hit.
Like comic book stories are not just for men, romances are not just for women: Everyone wants to watch Captain America save the day but only girls care about whether Daphne Bridgerton and Lord Hastings will realize their love for one another? To make the comparison more apt, many popular romance novel series are as interconnected to their own multi-layered worlds as some comic book arcs. Narratives intertwine and characters reappear across multiple stories and locations.
“Quinn’s novels are perfect for adaptation because it’s an interconnected world that’s not unlike a comic book universe, which is something viewers are really accustomed to at this point, so it’s an easy point of entry for the non-initiated,” said Sarah Marrs of Lainey Gossip and Decider.
Quinn’s series gives one book to each of the Bridgerton siblings’ romance but also explores the changing world around them. We see this in effect in the show as various plot threads blend together and new ones are introduced, laying the ground for further stories. Characters you met or who were the focus of another book pop up in a later sibling’s love story, and there even are “second epilogues” that jump a generation ahead to offer new material to mine from. It’s not unlike what Marvel Studios did with their now-iconic cinematic universe, although there are, admittedly, less explosions.
Many of the most popular romance series span many novels, spin-offs, prequels, and short story add-ons. They encompass dozens, sometimes even hundreds of characters, spread across time and location, with intertwining relationships that shape the world they inhabit. Meljean Brook’s Guardians series, for example, is eight books long (plus several short stories) and teases out a luscious, deftly developed world of angels, vampires, and demons that would put the scope of George R.R. Martin to shame. Like comic book arcs, these series spin off in multiple directions, change up the focus to encompass various characters, and always leave room for more.
Bree Bridges, co-author behind the best-selling dystopian romance series Beyond, hopes that the buzz around Bridgerton will open the doors for romance beyond the familiar. “While we’ve recently seen a pretty cool rom com revolution on streaming networks, sometimes I’m frustrated that the vision for romance adaptable to the screen is so narrow. While romantic comedies are a classic film genre, they’re the tiniest sliver of what the romance genre in books has to offer. The Bridgertons are a crack in that wall, but I would love to see it bust wide open.”
We’ve moved beyond treating sci-fi, crime novels, and superhero stories as frivolities, yet romance is left lagging behind, both in the public imagination and in the entertainment industry’s vision. Female-skewing audiences have proven time and time again that they will devote themselves to such material and be the kind of fanbase that’s become crucial in the oversaturated landscape of Peak TV. Just check out Twitter to see how high the hype for Bridgerton runs. MacKenzie Walton, an editor for Carina Press, notes the “voracious audience” for romance that the film and TV worlds have, willingly or otherwise, totally ignored.
Whatever trend the TV world is chasing, the chances are there’s a bunch of romances that would be perfect for what Hollywood desires. Just as there are countless superhero stories to be mined for content, romance has a bounty of offerings on the table alongside it.
The possibilities are limitless, but only if Hollywood is willing to pay attention. Like the world of comic books, however, such adaptations cannot be anything other than wholeheartedly committed. We had to suffer through a lot of shlock with capes before we got to The Dark Knight and Black Panther, but once those stories found their way to creators and producers with the focus, dedication, and genuine love of the source material (as well as the required funds to do it right), the game changed forever. Get romance novels into the hands of people like the Bridgerton team, writers and directors who don’t scoff at love stories and the drama within, and it won’t take long for magic to happen.
Awesome Games Done Quick–better known as AGDQ–takes place every winter and sees some of the best speedrunners in the world make history with difficult and nostalgic video games. Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the event is being held online instead of as an in-person celebration this year, but there are still a ton of games to watch. Here’s how to watch and what to expect.
How to watch AGDQ 2021
AGDQ 2021 is being streamed live on the organization’s official Twitch channel. It begins on January 3 at 8:30 AM PT / 11:30 AM ET with a pre-show presentation and concludes the following Sunday, January 10, after a special The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time stream. You can see the full stream below.
For this event, donations are going toward the Prevent Cancer Foundation. You can learn more on the official Games Done Quick website, which also shows off the prizes you’ll have a chance to receive for donating.
There will be a variety of games streamed during AGDQ 2021, both old and new. We’ve selected some of our favorites and organized them by date and time so you know when to be watching.
January 3
Ori and the Will of the Wisps: 3:23 PM PT / 6:23 PM ET
Metroid: Zero Mission: 6:54 PM PT / 9:54 PM ET
January 4
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots: 11:25 PM PT (January 3) / 2:25 AM ET
Ecco the Dolphin: 4:35 AM PT / 7:35 AM ET
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006): 12:03 PM PT / 3:03 PM ET
Dishonored 2: 5:17 PM PT / 8:17 PM ET
January 5
Strider: 6:51 AM PT / 9:51 AM ET
Mega Man 11: 9:17 AM PT / 12:17 PM ET
Cuphead: 3:40 PM PT / 6:40 PM ET
Hades: 4:25 PM PT / 7:25 PM ET
January 6
Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (first game): 12:27 PM PT / 3:27 PM ET
Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition: 3:12 PM PT / 6:12 PM ET
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: 7:19 PM PT / 10:19 PM ET
January 7
Pokemon Platinum: 9:15 AM PT / 12:15 PM ET
Halo 3: 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET
Half-Life: 6:10 PM PT / 9:10 PM ET
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order: 6:52 PM PT / 9:52 PM ET
January 8
Final Fantasy VII: 1:46 PM PT / 4:46 PM ET
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: 4:01 PM PT / 7:01 PM ET
Super Mario 64: 4:41 PM PT / 7:41 PM ET
January 9
Celeste: 6:24 AM PT / 9:24 AM ET
Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse: 6:54 AM PT / 9:54 AM ET
Super Meat Boy: 9:26 AM PT / 12:26 PM ET
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: 3:04 PM PT / 6:04 PM ET
January 10
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: 9:41 PM PT (January 9) / 12:41 AM ET
Nier: Automata is a very strange game, with multiple “endings” necessary in order to actually see its final ending and some of its content actually repeated from a different character’s perspective. This all comes together to deliver one of the most memorable conclusions in video games, but one clever player has managed to figure out a way to let you skip nearly all of it. We’re not exactly sure why you’d want to, but it’s apparently possible.
Major spoilers for Nier: Automata to follow!
Once you’ve unlocked ending “E” in Nier: Automata, you’re presented with a final credits sequence that sees other players’ save data assisting you in a retro shooter sequence to defeat the text itself. Completing this gives you the chance to sacrifice your own save data–thus erasing all of your progress–in order to give another player the chance to beat the game, too. This is where Twitter user Lance McDonald comes in.
I found a cheat code in NieR Automata that allows you to skip to the last ending immediately after killing the first boss and unlock the bonus modes. I’ll do a full video soon. It’s not a glitch, it’s an actual cheat code hard-coded into the engine. @yokotaropic.twitter.com/FtuNPovq6F
McDonald hasn’t completely detailed the inputs you need to activate the cheat but promised a full video will come soon. In the teaser above, he shows that you must kill the game’s first boss, which is at the end of a required action sequence to open the game. After that, he moves to the back of the arena, does a few jumps, and is then given the option to sacrifice his save data without playing the rest of the game.
This is the game’s “final secret” that the developers teased several years ago, which the series’ official Twitter account for Japan revealed shortly after it was posted. Nier: Automata has more than 20 endings, most of them being jokes, and five are required to see the actual conclusion. The game’s director Yoko Taro seemed to confirm the cheat with a response of his own on January 3.
The predecessor to Nier: Automata, Nier: Replicant, is getting a retooled and remastered version called Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139… on April 23. The game will be released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and features reworked combat more similar to Automata’s.
Karate class is back in session. The third season of Cobra Kai has premiered on Netflix, finally picking up where Season 2 left off in the first half of 2019. We now know what happened after Miguel’s (Xolo Maridueña) injury, learned much more about Kreese’s (Martin Jove) backstory, and saw how Johnny (William Zabka) reacted to being ousted from Cobra Kai. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Season 3 of Cobra Kai. If you haven’t watched the new season, which is available on Netflix right now, you should stop reading now. Why would you want to spoil what unfolds in the latest episodes?
In addition to all of the massive story developments in the new season, there are also some surprising characters that pop up throughout the season. Of course, it’s already been revealed that Karate Kid Part II’s Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita) and Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) are reunited with Daniel (Ralph Macchio) during his trip to Japan. The biggest surprise comes later in the season, though.
After she reached out to him on Facebook in the Season 2 finale, Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue) returns to the franchise for the first time since the original Karate Kid. We learn that she’s divorced her husband and is spending the holidays at home in the valley with her parents, which allows her to reconnect with both Johnny and Daniel.
For Karate Kid fans, this was a moment that most didn’t know could ever happen. Not surprisingly, it was a special thing to witness for the team that makes the show.
“For all of us, it was just a special in person, as we believe it’s going to be for you know the audience watching it at home who is wondering, ‘Will she show up? What will it be like?’ There was a magic in the air,” executive producer Josh Heald told GameSpot. “You’re literally bringing this character from the past and putting her into this evolving story with these guys who have put back on these roles and have been wearing them now for a few seasons. And as soon as she gets back in there, there’s magic there’s goosebumps.”
Of course, it’s not enough for Ali to simply appear. While it’s a great shot of nostalgia, it also has to serve the story. While they’re working to teach the next generation of karate students, both have a foot stuck in the past–Johnny more so than Daniel. With the reappearance of Ali, though, it’s a reminder of how everyone has grown since their high school days.
“It was a dream for us to be able to bring her back into this universe and to do it in a way where there were meaningful moments with both of these guys–you know, that it wasn’t just a Johnny story, it wasn’t just a Daniel story,” Heald explained. “It was really seeing how Ali has affected both of their lives, how she set them both on a course in a certain way. Those high school relationships, sometimes they have a way of imprinting themselves on you and you find yourself either pining away for something or regretting something, and we really wanted to explore that. There’s no better character in this universe to do that with.”
What did you think of Ali’s return to the Karate Kid universe in Cobra Kai Season 3? Sound off in the comments, then go watch the new episodes again on Netflix.
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It’s a new year and with it comes new deals. The highlight today is the Dell deal happening over at Best Buy. You can grab yourself one of the nice Inspiron 7000 series laptops, which are the perfect devices for those focusing on productivity and not gaming. If that’s not your cup of tea, we also have great deals on a smart vacuum, some energy and protein drinks and of course, tons of great games.
Even as consoles begin to transition to a new generation, PC is still its own standout platform for gaming with plenty going for it. All Xbox console exclusives and a few PlayStation console exclusives will be made available on PC, and most (if not all) big name multiplatform games also find their way to PC. On top of that, you get some truly unique experience that you can’t find on consoles. And if you can get your hands on the latest wave of video cards from Nvidia and AMD, PC games can even exceed the graphical fidelity and performance of the new-gen systems. So, as we look into 2021 in the video above, we highlight the biggest PC games going into the new year.
Some of the notable multiplatform games we’re looking forward to include Hitman 3, Nier: Replicant, Back 4 Blood, Far Cry 6, Resident Evil: Village, and Hogwarts Legacy, and so much more. PC also stands out for featuring console exclusives from both PlayStation and Xbox. For example, The Medium, Scorn, and Halo: Infinite are games that’ll boast the power of Xbox Series X|S but will simultaneously launch on PC. And games such as Deathloop (timed), Guilty Gear Strive, Kena: Bridge of Spirits are marquee PlayStation titles that’ll launch on PC, too. It’s like having the best of both worlds. Another surprising game that will land on PC is Persona 5 Strikers, given that the original RPG remains a PlayStation exclusive. One PC exclusive to pay attention to is Humankind, which looks to shuffle around the traditional formula of the 4X strategy genre that we’ve seen domination by the Civilization franchise.
The roster is much bigger than that and there’s plenty to be excited for in 2021 if you have a gaming PC, so be sure to check everything out in the video above, and take note of which ones strike your fancy. These are just the games that currently have a release date or release window in 2021, so there may be more surprises throughout the year. For a full list of the upcoming PC games in 2021 and beyond, be sure to check it out on GameSpot.com.
The Xbox Series X and Series S systems have been extremely difficult to find since they launched in November, and stock hasn’t improved much at the major retailers. However, head of Xbox Phil Spencer said he’s taken some steps to ensure the console will be more plentiful soon.
Talking to Xbox Live’s “Major Nelson” Larry Hryb on his podcast(via VGC), Spencer explained that Microsoft has been making new consoles as quickly as possible, but he’s also working with their production partners to further increase output.
“It really is just down to physics and engineering. We’re not holding them back,” Spencer said. “We’re building them as fast as we can. We have all the assembly lines going. I was on the phone last week with Lisa Su at AMD [asking], ‘How do we get more? How do we get more?’ So it’s something that we’re constantly working on, but it’s not just us. I think gaming has really come into its own in 2020.”
We’ve seen sporadic restocks of the Xbox Series X and Series S at places like Walmart and Best Buy since their initial release, and these will hopefully become more frequent as Microsoft is able to speed up production. Sony is having extremely high demand for the PS5, as well, and it also makes use of an AMD Radeon RDNA 2 style GPU. Because of this, bottlenecks for one company likely affect the other.
For help tracking down an Xbox Series X|S, check out our restock guide. It has updates from every major retailer so you can have the best shot of ordering a system soon.
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Many of the most popular romance series span many novels, spin-offs, prequels, and short story add-ons. They encompass dozens, sometimes even hundreds of characters, spread across time and location, with intertwining relationships that shape the world they inhabit. Meljean Brook’s Guardians series, for example, is eight books long (plus several short stories) and teases out a luscious, deftly developed world of angels, vampires, and demons that would put the scope of George R.R. Martin to shame. Like comic book arcs, these series spin off in multiple directions, change up the focus to encompass various characters, and always leave room for more.