Month: August 2024

This week’s finale of House of the Dragon ends much the same way it’s second season began, with both sides preparing for war but neither ready to fight in one. And sure, we thought we’d see more battles (on the ground and in the sky) by now, that a few more Targaryens might die and at least one city might be sacked, but the lack of forward momentum when it comes to armies and armadas, blockades and dragons doesn’t extend to the characters on this show.

If season two (and its finale) proved anything, it’s that the interpersonal drama and political alliances are what’s fueling the action on this show. That’s why this episode’s most impactful scene materialized as a quiet moment between two queens willing to make sacrifices in the name of peace and maybe their friendship. It’s why a character’s redemption arc was cemented with a story, not a sword. And it’s why both nothing, and everything, happened, setting up a season three that promises to move more swiftly to its inevitably bloody end.

In the meantime, here’s where everyone stands on the HoTD leaderboard after the show’s season two finale.

Rhaenyra Targaryen

House of the Dragon is doing some truly interesting things when it comes to Westeros’ true heir. Rhaenyra began this season broken by grief, craving revenge and then shrinking from the bloody fallout of its execution. Her political instincts where muffled, her war strategy nonexistent, and her belief in her own ability to rule seriously cast into doubt. It’s amazing what a season-long break from your over-bearing, war-mongering spouse and a situationship with real baddie can do for one’s self esteem.

Sure, the show’s season finale proved Rhaenyra’s still got some things to figure out – there’s the whole chopping off her brother’s head thing, the uneasy alliance with her biggest frenemy, the atrocious table manners of her extended family members, and the delicate negotiation of a potential throuple with her uncle-husband and his former mistress – but she’s got the firepower now to do it. Unlike Alicent, Rhaenyra has found a way to upend the patriarchal systems put in place to hinder her pursuit of power by aligning herself with those who’ve also suffered under its rule. She’s eschewed tradition and evolved past inherited biases to challenge an archaic hierarchy, to create a space for herself instead of letting others dictate her role for her. In other words, the DNA tests are in. Rhaenyra Targaryen really is 100% that b*tch.

Daemon Targaryen

We’re as surprised as you are that, after weeks of wandering the haunted courtyards of Harrenhal, barking at the moon, and dream-f*cking his mother, Daemon has risen this high in the House of the Dragon power rankings. But the silver-haired scoundrel really came through this episode, first scoffing at the suggestion he should be king by one of Rhaenyra’s turn cloak advisors, then bending the knee to his estranged wife in front of a host of Riverlords whose respect he’s barely even earned himself.

It helped that Alys was there to guide him on the path fate had already determined, forcing him to fondle a bleeding weirwood tree in order to finally realize the futility of his own existence. (Sidenote: The phrase “go touch grass” is now out. When a man is getting too opinionated, we now say, “go grope a weirwood.”) Daemon not only saw his own watery grave, but the destruction of his house, the threat of the White Walkers, and a glimpse of the Prince Who Was Promised – Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons. That kind of prophetic epiphany will straighten a treasonous adulterer out real quick. But, the most important development in Daemon’s redemption arc is that his poor dragon is getting treated to pork and a one-way ticket out of this hell hole. Praise be, Caraxes’ long nightmare is finally over.

Alicent Hightower

We’d like to strongly suggest Alicent Hightower add Chappell Roan’s “Femininomenon” to her Spotify playlist and play that joint on repeat during the show’s hiatus because girl, that song is about you. The Dowager Queen’s short wilderness retreat left her refreshed and ready to hand over her sons’ heads on a silver platter in exchange for her freedom and the safety of her favorite child. Or maybe Alicent woke up one day and realized she’s in her mid-30s and she doesn’t have nearly enough stamps on her passport. Sometimes a b*tch just wants to quit her job and travel the world. Who really knows. But Alicent makes some tough choices this episode, ones that are brought on after her son commits mass murder and then recruits Helaena to do the same. Her confession to Rhaenyra was heartbreaking on multiple levels.

It’s clear the two still hold deep love for one another, but the ways in which their paths have diverged have created a chasm no bridge could ever cross. Alicent is just now realizing how the internalized misogyny that’s governed her life has actually destroyed any hope of happiness for herself, or her children. She’s reflecting on all of the harm she’s caused and the reason for it – the jealousy of Rhaenyra, a woman who was sure of her wants in life, the dysfunction of her marriage, the controlling nature of her father, and the way abstract concepts like “duty” and “honor” are thrust upon women like shackles to keep them subservient and silent. It’s all a little too late, of course. War is inevitable and her betrayal will bring shame to her house and all of her children will still die terrible deaths in the end, but that kind of self-actualization takes years of therapy for most people so at least she’s saved a fortune in co-pays.

Larys Strong

Old club foot finally reveals his hand this episode, hobbling to Aegon’s sickbed to tell the disfigured monarch he’s got some gold stashed away in Essos. As long as the burnt slice of Wonder bread can stomach living with some goats, they can avoid the more fiery bits of this civil war, wait out the coming storm, and return to unseat the victor when the time is right. It’s a well enough plan, and Larys is stronger than us to see it through. If it’s between spending a whole season of playing nursemaid to a manchild who constantly pees on himself and burning to death in dragon fire, we’ll take the latter.

Aegon Targaryen

On the one hand, Aegon is ruining his mother’s filicidal vacation plans. On the other, we got to hear him complain about his ugly mug and crippled body and incontinence problem. We were even treated to the very visceral description of his prick exploding like “a sausage on a spit” at one point so, yeah, maybe all those fears of AI taking writers’ jobs are a bit overblown because Google could never.

Helaena Targaryen

One of the best choices made by the showrunners this season is the decision to highlight just how powerful Helaena Targaryen is in this dance of dragons. Her advantage doesn’t lie on dragon back, but in dreams, something the show plays with in the finale by connecting her to Daemon whilst he’s in the middle of a life-altering vision. Helaena has seen this story before, perhaps when she was still a child. She knows Aemond tried to kill their brother, she knows Aegon will escape death again to become king, she knows of the battle at the God’s Eye and the coming winter and the legacy her house will leave behind. But, unlike a character like Bran Stark, her insight is ignored, belittled as the ramblings of a mad woman. Maybe that’s because of her sex, or maybe it’s because her prophecies aren’t packaged in a way the people around her care to figure out, but if anything has been made clear this season, it’s that more people should pay attention to the gentlest Targaryen. Except you, Aemond. You can get a job and stay away from her.

Tyland Lannister

Tyland got his hands dirty this week, both literally and figuratively, rolling around in the mud with the kind of riff-raff he’d probably turn his nose at were he back in King’s Landing. Luckily for him, a tall white guy with a beard and a habit of making a fool of himself amused the pirate lords he was sent to treat with and he ends the season in the most unlikeliest of places – aboard a ship, an armada in tow, and with several women wanting to sleep with him.

Corlys Velaryon

Just as we’re starting to feel sympathy for the Lord of the Tides, wiping our eyes as he reveals the name of his new vessel and gives some worthwhile advice to his former daughter-in-law, Corlys has to go and f*ck things up by reminding us what a piece-of-sh*t father he’s been. It’s bad enough he plays dumb when his queen presses him for information on his bastard son, but Corlys took his behavior to a new level of ick when he offered to help Alyn rise above his station. He’s a grown man who survived on fish guts and seaweed for decades before you took notice of him, my man, your desperation for an heir is really starting to show.

Aemond Targaryen

Aemond Targaryen as a character is a laughable villain, an overgrown toddler throwing a temper tantrum by way of tyranny and scorched earth. But Aemond Targaryen as a hypothetical model, a what if scenario that questions how the world might look if fragile masculinity came equipped with a mythic fire-breathing beast that could lay waste to entire civilizations at the first hint of a hurt feeling is absolutely nightmarish. We hate to generalize here, but maybe no man should be in a possession of a dragon from now on.

Rhaena Targaryen

Starving, freezing, dehydrated, and delirious. We’ll never forgive the HoTD writers for putting Rhaena through all of this just to claim a dragon when all Ulf had to do was step on some eggs and make Silverwing laugh.

Otto Hightower

This week in, “Where In The World Is Otto Hightower?” we visit a dim-lit and dirty prison cell where the former Hand of the King has been stripped of his dignity (and facial hair) and made friends with the rats. Who did this to him? Our money’s on Larys Strong.

Criston Cole

The bad news: We only got one episode of respite before Criston Cole popped up on our screens once more to moan about the cost of war and the nonexistence of honor and how he’s helpless against the wiles of teenage girls. The good news: the show’s former “Character We All Love To Hate” title holder is hella depressed and practically salivating at the thought of that sweet, eternal reprieve. Godspeed to you, ser.

Ulf

That brings us to the show’s newly-crowned “Character We All Love To Hate,” Ulf, a man so unremarkable his mother could only string three letters together in place of a name. Coincidentally, “ulf” is also the sound everyone makes whenever this guy’s face shows up on screen. We know this whole civil war business is really just a number’s game, but couldn’t the Blacks stand to lose just one dragon rider?

‘House of the Dragon’s second season can be streamed on Max.

Taylor Sheridan isn’t content to create, write, and helm a mere handful of shows for Paramount. Several more are incoming, including the apparently revamped series that was meant to star Matthew McConaughey. Also, Yellowstone will conclude its rodeo this fall (without Kevin Costner), and Tulsa King will return for a second season led by Sly Stallone and featuring Frank Grillo, who I cannot believe is only now entering the Sheridan universe.

Then there would be Landman, a Texas-set story about those oil-industry roughnecks and businessmen who maneuver around them. This series will premiere relatively soon (compared to, say, 6666) with filming taking place this past spring and post-production currently ongoing. Let’s talk about what we can expect, starting with a gathering of star power.

Cast

Sheridan might have assembled his most impressive gathering of stars yet for this series. Landman shall be led by Billy Bob Thornton, who also appeared in 1883, so perhaps he will one day be considered Sheridan’s muse. I’m only half-joking on that front, but we will see how this show is received and whether it receives future seasons. Thornton, of course, has portrayed both straightforward and more morally complex, nuanced characters, but here, he is a unique beast: Tommy Norris, a wheeling and dealing oil company crisis manager.

We will also see Tommy’s private life, which includes an ex-wife (Ali Larter, and you can catch a glimpse of them together over at Vanity Fair). They share two twenty-something children (Michelle Randolph and Jacob Lofland), one of whom will be getting grubby in the oil fields. Meanwhile, Jon Hamm will portray oil-industry titan Monty Miller (an apparently friendly associate to Tommy), who is married to Cami, portrayed by Demi Moore. The cast further includes Michael Peña as Armando Medina, “a veteran roughneck.”

Additionally, Andy Garcia, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie, and James Jordan are onboard, and the series, which filmed in Texas including the Fort Worth area, pulled extras from the local community to portray TCU college athletes and experienced oil-field workers.

Plot

Interestingly enough, this show takes place a world apart from the gangster-focused Tulsa King, which is set in the former “oil capital of the world,” and heads down to Texas, where Sheridan owns numerous properties. As always with his series, he will zero in on a facet of the American experience, and as Jon Hamm has revealed, Landman stands apart from other Sheridan shows to focus upon “oil speculators and what they called landmen, which are the guys that run around and try to acquire mineral rights and land rights in the hope of speculating and finding oil.”

The show will take a behind-the-curtain glimpse not only of the billionaires leading the industry but also the unforgiving terrain of the oil fields. As Thornton recently told Vanity Fair, those scrubland scenes were “probably the hardest thing I ever did.” The Bad Santa and Sling Blade star revealed how the brutal heat led him and the crew to nearly pass out:

“It was so hot some days, and we’re shooting out at these oil pumpjacks. Do you know what caliche is?’ That’s the cement-like powdery soil that blankets the landscape. ‘We’re on these caliche roads with the rocks in ’em and stuff, and I’m wearing cowboy boots, and there are scenes where I have to run to the truck. It’s a hundred degrees with a hundred percent humidity. Jesus Christ … This just sucks.”

Demi Moore, however, seems to have had a more pleasant experience, and she discussed how the show highlights the women who also pull strings in the oil industry: “He writes incredible, complex, dynamic and delicious women who are powerful, vulnerable, flawed,” Moore says. Look for Moore’s Cami to be as much of a force as her Hamm-portrayed husband, Monty Miller.

From the show’s synopsis (with a reference to the storied Boomtown podcast):

“Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, Landman is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. Based on the notable 11-part podcast Boomtown, the series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics.”

Release Date

Landman will debut on November 17 on Paramount+.

Trailer

No teaser trailer exists yet, surprisingly enough, although that should happen any day now. In the meantime, here’s Sheridan talking (at the 2:20 mark below) about writing the show specifically for Billy Bob.

Every single week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.

10. A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder (Netflix series)

Based upon Holly Jackson’s 2019 novel, this series follows protagonist Pip Fitz-Amobi (Emma Meyers), a high-school student who works to solve a five-year-old murder of a fellow teenager in her English town. This involves exonerating the also-dead accused murderer to find the real killer. Reader feedback from the series points towards tons of changes from page to TV screen, and if the cumulative streaming numbers reflect that disappointment, then the other three books in Jackson’s series likely won’t become additional seasons. At this point, however, the jury remains out.

9. Cobra Kai (Netflix series)

This final, super-sized season, which is only getting started, continues to crush the generation gap while keeping things real for the underdogs. This spin off has also accomplished what few TV shows or movies could have ever hoped for: successfully rebooting a 1980s property while appealing to Gen Z and the original The Karate Kid audience. This season, fans of Chozen and Tory will be happy to see deeper dives into their psyches, and Daniel and Johnny are still occasionally at each other’s throats while now training their joint dojo members to travel to the Sekai Taikai world championship and dominate outside of the Valley.

8. Deadpool, Deadpool 2 (20th Century Fox movies steaming on Disney+)

By breaking too many box-office records to count in a week (the film is already passed $550 million worldwide), the Merc With The Mouth has done what the MCU couldn’t do on its own. Of course, he had plenty of help from his best frenemy, James “Logan” Howlett, and an extensive list of [Fill In The Blank]pool cameos. The first films (along with the less well-received Once Upon A Deadpool) remain available for those who need a refresher before reaching into that Wolverine-themed popcorn bucket.

7. Lady In The Lake (Apple TV+ series)

This slow-burning mystery (and to be fair, the book is that way, too) is slowly rolling out each week to follow Natalie Portman’s former 1960s housewife who determined to strike out on her own. Sadly, this happens at the expense of other people’s privacy, but that’s only one angle to be gleaned from the subject matter. This story, of course, is based upon Laura Lippman’s bestselling novel that is part of her collection of Baltimore-focused books with spooky sights and sounds to offer, which makes things a little more mystical-feeling than the book. Viewers will need to tune in to find out if Lippman’s twist materializes onscreen or if the show will go a different way.

6. The Decameron ( Netflix series)

Feel like a little pandemic escapism? Oddly enough, you would not be alone. The Black Death serves as the 1300s backdrop for this Netflix version of the oft-adapted work from Giovanni Boccaccio. The tone of the series is darkly comedic and heads not only into tales of survival but also class systems and power struggles. The ensemble cast is a trip and includes Zosia Mamet, Tony Hale, Amar Chadha-Patel, Lou Gala, Karan Gill, Tony Hale, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Douggie McMeekin, Jessica Plummer, and Tanya Reynolds.

5. Those About To Die (Peacock series)

It’s a big year for Gladiators this year with Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 on the way, and this show also takes aim at “bread and circuses” and the “entertainment underbelly” of Ancient Rome. The subject matter is, at least loosely, based in fact, but adapting the real-life Flavian dynasty has somehow led to Anthony Hopkins and togas and the Flavian sons battling it out over who will succeed dad. Even more togas and sandals and gratuitous violence will materialize, so you have been warned.

4. Time Bandits (Apple TV+ series)

Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement are making it weird again, as they do. Goodness, another book adaptation? Yes, we cannot get away from them. Here, the Terry Gilliam book takes TV series form after the 1980s cult-classic film, and Lisa Kudrow is leading ragtag thieves through time and space to save some lives but, apparently, must also save the entire human species.

3. Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+ series)

Apple TV+ is doing it here, as well, with its most popular drama to date, which is also a book adaptation and will receive a second season with “a new mystery,” meaning the anthology route. Jake Gyllenhaal threw on a suit to portray troubled prosecutor Rusty Sabich — who stands trial following the murder of his lover/colleague — in this adaptation of the Scott Turow novel. Thus far, several possibilities exist for the second season’s story, which could potentially be based upon another Turow book. Heck, David E. Kelley and Turow could decide together that this series should switch to a brand new original story, but we do know that Gyllenhaal is executive producing, and perhaps we will even see Rusty return onscreen if the followup novel, Innocent (which involves a time jump), is adapted in a later season.

2. Dexter (Showtime series streaming on Netflix and Paramount+)

With Dexter: Original Sin filming and Dexter: Resurrection announced, there has never been a better time to indulge (whether it’s an initial exposure or a rewatch) in eight seasons of this serial-killer series starring Michael C. Hall. In other words, there’s still time to learn his Code and what’s going on with his Dark Passenger (with a ninth Dexter: New Blood season, too) before the new followup show arrives. Like Suits, The Walking Dead, and so many more long-lived series, we are living in a wonderful time where DVD purchases and rentals are not required to enjoy crowd-pleasing hits of yesteryear.

1. House of the Dragon (HBO series streaming on Max)

After last week’s penultimate episode events, fans are now left wondering whether Aemond will still steer clear of Dragonstone after learning of Rhaenyra’s growing collection of riders. He’s now essentially alone with Vhagar unless he can convince Helaena to join him at Harrenhal, which makes it look extra dumb for him to have acted so impulsively to take Aegon out of the running for Team Green. The prince regent will likely continue f*cking up, but the season finale will tell that tale. See you then.

Cody Rhodes used some help from Roman Reigns and retained his WWE Championship against Solo Sikoa on Saturday night at SummerSlam from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland.

Sikoa made his way to the ring before it was time for the champ to make the long walk from his bus to the squared circle. Rhodes hopped off the bus with his dog, Pharaoh, before he was greeted by Arn Anderson. Rhodes handed off Pharaoh, put on the American Nightmare jacket and a mask before making his way to the stage.

Sikoa immediately went on the attack with Rhodes, setting up for a Samoan Spike before the champ reversed into a Cody Cutter. Sikoa began to turn the tide again, setting up for a Cross Rhodes before Rhodes reversed into the finisher of his own. Before he could get the pinfall, Tango Loa and Tama Tonga made the save.

Kevin Owens and Randy Orton came down to back Rhodes, beating Loa and Tonga out of the ring. Rhodes hit the Cross Rhodes for two before Owens and Orton fought off Loa and Tonga around the outside.

Rhodes grabbed the stairs, hit Sikoa twice, then was speared while holding the stairs for a two count. Sikoa went for the hip attack with Rhodes placed near the stairs. Rhodes moved, then hit two Cross Rhodes before Jacob Fatu hit the ring and attacked Rhodes. Fatu connected on a moonsault for Sikoa’s two count before tossing Rhodes to the outside.

Fatu tossed Rhodes on the announce table, making his way to the top rope before connecting on a splash through the table. Sikoa threw Rhodes into the ring, hit a splash from the top rope and only got the two count. Sikoa set up for the Samoan Spike, but Rhodes dropped to his knees. Rhodes popped up and found his way into a Cody Cutter.

With both opponents laid out, Roman Reigns’ music hit and the former world champ made his way to the ring wearing an OTC shirt. Reigns hit the ring, landed a Superman Punch on Sikoa and dropped him with a spear before staring down Rhodes and exiting the ring.

Rhodes took advantage, grabbing Sikoa, hitting Cross Rhodes and retaining the belt.

There are few things WWE loves more than getting celebrities involved in the ring. Some are better than others (some, like Logan Paul, just become regular parts of the roster), but a lot of making a celebrity look good in the ring comes down to the guy selling for them.

On Saturday night in Cleveland, we got an all-time entry in the art of selling for someone who has no idea what they’re doing in the ring from Austin Theory. The ever-obnoxious Theory came out with Grayson Waller while The Miz and R-Truth were hyping up the Cleveland crowd for a new attendance record, and did the typical heel work of bashing the home city, mocking sports teams and celebrities in the crowd. One of those was Jelly Roll, who left his seat and popped up in the ring with a chair and hit both with perfectly adequate chair shots.

That would normally be the end of a celeb segment, but Jelly Roll wasn’t done just yet, as he grabbed Austin Theory by the throat and proceeded to hit Theory with one of the biggest chokeslams you’ll see in any ring — celeb or not.

This is truly unbelievable work by Theory who effectively hits this chokeslam by himself because, while I’m sure Jelly Roll is pretty strong, he is not “pick a man up 4 feet over his head” strong. Theory has always been elite at the art of selling things in cartoonish fashion, and there is nothing you want more in a spot with a celebrity than that guy. I’m not sure what Theory’s future holds as a potential champion, but if nothing else, he can make a lot of money for a long time in WWE simply by being the guy willing to take crazy bumps from various celebrity guests.

Gunther has moved from King General to the World Heavyweight Champion, choking out Damian Priest to win his first major belt on Saturday night from the Cleveland Browns Stadium at SummerSlam.

Gunther and Priest put on a banger, with hard hitting action coming from both competitors across the match. Priest landed the South of Heaven chokeslam for an early two count, while Gunther connected on a powerbomb that couldn’t finish the job.

Priest landed another South of Heaven chokeslam, but as the referee’s hand counted to three, Finn Balor placed the challenger’s foot on the bottom rope. Priest saw the replay and turned to a menacing Balor, when Gunther grabbed him from behind in a chokehold.

Priest began to fade before fighting Gunther off, reaching under the bottom rope and choking Balor. Gunther pulled Priest off his former Judgement Day team member, powerbombed him, then put him to sleep with a chokehold.

The win is Gunther’s first major championship win as part of the main roster and continues his rise into one of the top stars in wrestling. Priest’s loss comes after Dominik Mysterio cost Rhea Ripley a chance at the Women’s World Heavyweight championship, turning on Mami and aligning himself with Liv Morgan. If it wasn’t clear before, it seems like the Judgment Day is officially done.

LA Knight won the United States championship, pinning Logan Paul on Saturday night at SummerSlam from the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Paul made his entrance flanked by Machine Gun Kelly, while Knight pulled up to SummerSlam in a stolen PRIME truck, destroying the driver side window before getting started.

Knight and Paul went back in forth, with Paul showing yet again why WWE is bullish on the level he can reach.

MGK tried to make his presence felt, handing over brass knuckles to Paul, who used them to knock down Knight. The brass knuckles weren’t enough though, as Knight made his way back to his feet, reversed a Buckshot Lariat attempt, and connected on the BFT for the pinfall.

Knight’s win felt long overdue, with his meteoric rise following the YEAH! movement all the way to an unsuccessful title opportunity against Roman Reigns. It’s taken some time for Knight to work his way back, but after a WrestleMania 40 win over AJ Styles and a few months trying to find his footing, it appears he’s back on his path to the top.

Whether he eventually reaches the main event scene is unknown, but his blend of ring work, mic work, and pure star power sure feels like a bet to one day hold the biggest prize in WWE.

Queen Nia Jax is now the WWE Women’s Champion, pinning Bayley to become champion at SummerSlam on Saturday night at the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Jax took advantage early on, looking to hit a leg drop from the middle rope, but Bayley moved. Bayley hit the Bayley to Belly for a two count, then hit a Urinage in the corner. Jax connected on an Annihilator, but Bayley kicked out at two.

Bayley landed a miraculous powerbomb from the corner, then followed with an elbow drop, but wasn’t able to finish her off. Tiffany Stratton’s music hit and she came running down with the Money in the Bank briefcase, looking to cash in.

Jax took advantage of the distraction, took out Bayley and then landed back to back Annihilators for the win and her second world championship. After the match, Stratton celebrated with Jax, holding the briefcase alongside Jax.

The win comes after Jax ran through the Queen of the Ring tournament, defeating Lyra Valkyria at the end of May to earn her championship match at SummerSlam. Jax held the Raw Women’s championship once in her career, holding the belt for just 70 days before ultimately dropping it to Alexa Bliss.

The USA men’s basketball team moved to 3-0 and earned the top seed heading into the quarterfinals of the Olympics on Saturday with a blowout win against Puerto Rico, as they shook off a slow start thanks to a huge night from Anthony Edwards to cruise to a 19-point win.

With that performance, they moved ahead of Germany and Canada in point differential among the three undefeated teams in the group stage. While plenty of people expected the USA and Canada to be in that position, Germany going through their group undefeated, which included France, was a bit of a surprise — particularly with how dominant Germany was in beating the host nation. After the USA’s win over Puerto Rico, LeBron James was asked about Team USA’s path to a fifth straight gold, and he highlighted the many talented teams they’d have to face, via Sam Amick of The Athletic.

“There’s a lot of great teams right now,” he began. “Obviously Canada, Germany. I like the battle Greece has had. You know, Serbia, we had them in our group play. We know what they’re capable of. Australia advanced as well. Australia. So there’s a lot of great teams.”

Notably missing from that list was France, and when a French reporter asked about the host nation, LeBron noted their blowout loss to Germany left him unimpressed.

“Um, I’ve been impressed,” James said unconvincingly before changing course. “Um, you know, I wasn’t very impressed with their last game. I didn’t think they was ready for the physicality of Germany. But other than that, they’ve been playing some good ball.”

James isn’t wrong. This France team hasn’t looked all that impressive since their opening win over Brazil, needing a miraculous finish to avoid a loss to Japan and then getting smoked by Germany. If anything, LeBron was probably being kind saying they’ve played “good ball” other than the Germany game, considering how shaky they looked against Japan.

That said, the name of the game is making it to the knockout rounds and Victor Wembanyama is capable of being flat out unguardable. The question is whether France can provide their young star enough support, particularly in the backcourt. Their quarterfinal matchup with Canada figures to be a fascinating one, as it pits a France team with a dominant frontcourt and weak backcourt against a Canada team that’s built the exact opposite way.

Bron Breakker is the new Intercontinental champion after pinning Sami Zayn Saturday night at SummerSlam from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland.

Breakker opened the match looking for a spear, but missed Zayn and went into the steel post. Zayn immediately went on the offensive, with a tope over the top rope and taking Breakker out.

Back in the ring, Breakker began to find his momentum, hitting a frankensteiner. Zayn fought his way back, connecting on an exploder suplex into the corner and setting up for the Helluva Kick. Breakker reversed into a spear before hitting a second spear for the pinfall.

The win and his first main roster championship is the next step in the evolution of Breakker on the main roster. A former NXT champion and one of the more dominant, explosive members of the WWE roster, Breakker seems destined for greatness. A former football player at Kennesaw State University and the son of Rick Steiner, Breakker has hit the ground running since his permanent move to the main roster.

His elevation to the second-most important men’s championship on Monday Night Raw sets him up perfectly as WWE grooms him into a future main event level talent, similar to what we’re seeming with Gunther.