Category: Viral

We can’t say it enough, but the IPA is (and likely always will be) the most popular craft beer variety in the US. Stop into a random craft brewery and you might not find a Kölsch or bock, but you’ll always find one IPA. Usually more. Crisp, slightly floral, and dank-bitter West Coast and hazy, juicy, fruity, New England-style IPAs tend to dominate the market. But don’t sleep on the very bitter, deeply resinous Double IPA, either.

The definition of a double (also known as the “imperial”) IPA is a bit tricky. Exactly which beers fit the bill is open to interpretation. What we do know is that if you crack open a double IPA it will probably fall between 7-9% alcohol by volume and be loaded with vibrant, crisp hops. It will be hoppy in both aroma and flavor and contain considerably more malt than regular IPAs.

This bold, potent beer style is perfectly suited for spring drinking for a variety of reasons. The higher alcohol content keeps you warm on those still-pretty-chilly spring afternoons and evenings and the fresh hop flavor reminds you that summer isn’t far off. Check ten of our favorite Double IPAs below — click the prices if all your scrolling and reading leaves you thirsty!

Russian River Pliny the Elder

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $7.99 for a 16-ounce bottle

The Beer:

One of the most sought-after beers in America, Russian River Pliny the Elder is brewed using Simcoe, CTZ, Centennial, and Amarillo hops. It’s not a beer that spends any time on a shelf and that’s a good thing according to the folks at Russian River. It’s supposed to be enjoyed fresh and is made in very limited quantities so that it sells out quickly.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find notes of ripe grapefruit, juicy guava, and resinous pine. The flavor is dominated by sweet malts, wet grass, crisp apple, tangy lime, and just a hint of bitter hops. The finish is hoppy, subtly sweet, and filled with more tropical fruit flavors.

Bottom Line:

This beer is brewed in very limited quantities and it constantly makes lists ranking it as one of the best double IPAs on earth. Because of that, it isn’t easy to find. If you get your hands on a bottle, share it only with your friends who truly appreciate the bold flavor of a double IPA.

Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $11.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

With a name like Hop Bullet, you can be pretty sure what you’re getting yourself into when you crack open one of these bad boys. This in-your-face IPA gets its flavor from the addition of Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Crystal, Magnum, and Idaho 7 hops as well as extra Magnum hops and lupulin dust (concentrated hop flavor) added into the kettle.

Tasting Notes:

Take a moment to breathe in the heady aromas of lime zest, ripe pineapple, and floral hops. On the palate, you’ll find flavors of juicy grapefruit, sweet malts, tangerine, and vibrant hop oil. It all ends with a subtly bitter, hoppy, citrusy punch that you’ll go back to again and again.

Bottom Line:

Sierra Nevada knows how to make hoppy beers, and this is one of its best. Add to that the fact that you shouldn’t have much difficulty finding this beer and it might just become your go-to spring and summer sipper.

Troegs Nimble Giant

ABV: 9%

Average Price: $14 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Giants aren’t usually known for being nimble, but this 9% double IPA is. Brewed with Vienna and Pilsner malts as well as Simcoe, Azacca, and brightly floral Mosaic hops, this hop giant manages to have bold, intense hop flavor but remains well-balanced.

Tasting Notes:

Take a moment to nose this bold giant and you’ll find scents of orange blossoms, citrus zest, honey, and floral hops. Sipping this beer reveals notes of grapefruit, juicy mango, orange, subtle sweet malts, and a gentle, piney bitterness. The ending is a great combination of bright citrus and floral hops.

Bottom Line:

Nimble Giant is only released once per year. Every June, fans of this double IPA eagerly await its return. You should too.

Lord Hobo Boom Sauce

ABV: 7.8%

Average Price: $14.99 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

It doesn’t get more descriptive than calling your beer “Boom Sauce.” You know you’re in for a true hop wallop. This complex, yet surprisingly well-rounded double IPA is brewed with Pilsner, Planet, Spelt, and oat malts as well as red wheat, flaked oats, and Warrior, Amarilla, Ella, Falconers Flight, and Mosaic hops.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find aromas of ripe mango, sweet berries, tangy grapefruit, and pine. On the palate, you’ll be greeted with notes of juicy guava, pineapple, citrus zest, sweet, caramel malts, and citrus hops. The finish is hoppy, sweet, and refreshing.

Bottom Line:

When it comes to double IPAs, you’d be hard-pressed to find a beer with a more balanced flavor. The various malts are paired perfectly with floral, resinous hops.

Ninkasi Tricerahops

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $10.99 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

First released in 2007, this year-round, dry-hopped double IPA is brewed with 2-Row, Pale, and Carahell malts as well as Cascade, Chinook, Summit, Palisade, and Centennial hops. The result is a beer with balanced, floral, citrus, and piney notes.

Tasting Notes:

Take a sniff and you’ll find aromas of tropical fruits, tangerine, caramel malts, and floral hops. On the sip you’ll find flavors of dried orange peels, juicy grapefruit, sweet malts, and subtly bitter, resinous hops. The ending is fruity, sweet, and filled with piney, subtly bitter hops.

Bottom Line:

This beer is named for one of the least beloved dinosaurs of all time. But this giant, hop beast deserves to be your new favorite double IPA.

Cigar City Florida Man

ABV: 8.5%

Average Price: $12.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

“Florida Man” is a legendary southern (often mullet-wearing) figure. His name dominates headlines from the panhandle to Miami. This bold, uncompromising double IPA, brewed with Citra, Azacca, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavarian hops with the addition of peach esters and Canadian honey malt is named in this mythical man’s honor.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll notice scents of orange peel, grapefruit, and bright, floral notes. Sipping this beer reveals flavors of sourdough bread, honeysuckle, mango, orange, and a nice, subtly bitter kick of hops. It all ends with a duo of sweet fruit and citrus hops flavors.

Bottom Line:

You don’t have to be (or even know) a “Florida man” to enjoy this beer. You also don’t have to ever visit America’s dangling appendage to drink it.

Pipeworks Ninja vs. Unicorn

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $10 for a 22-ounce bottle

The Beer:

We’d all like to see what would transpire in a fight between a unicorn and a ninja, but the odds of seeing this is very unlikely. Instead, we’ll have to settle for a beer brewed in tribute to this mythical battle. This beer was brewed with more than five pounds of hops per barrel. To say it’s an intense hop experience is a total understatement.

Tasting Notes:

Give this beer a nice nosing before taking a sip and you’ll find aromas of citrus zest, bright grapefruit, and resinous hops. Take a sip and you’re sure to bask in notable flavors of fresh lime, orange peels, crisp pears, and subtle, piney hops. The finish is a mixture of sweet, tropical fruit flavors and pleasantly bitter hops.

Bottom Line:

This is an epically hopped beer. It’s also the best pick on this list for fans of citrus-forward double IPAs. The more you drink it, the more you’ll find new, citrus flavors.

Toppling Goliath King Sue

ABV: 7.8%

Average Price: $19.99 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Toppling Goliath’s King Sue (similar to Pliny the Elder) is one of the most sought-after double IPAs in America. This hazy, juicy, tropical fruit-filled IPA is brewed using solely Citra hops. The result is a refreshing, bold, crushable, juice bomb.

Tasting Notes:

Take a few moments to breathe in the aromas of bright grapefruit, juicy mango, and floral hops. The palate greets you with notes of guava, orange, pineapple, and subtle resin. The ending is memorable with a nice combination of citrus zest and ripe tropical fruits that pair well with the final flourish of spicy hops.

Bottom Line:

If you’re only going to try one double IPA on this list, make it Big Sue. You won’t regret cracking open one of these fruit-forward, hoppy brews.

Melvin 2X4

ABV: 9.9%

Average Price: $13 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

The Wyoming-based brewery is well known for its IPAs and one of its best is its 2X4. This award-winning beer is brewed with Citra, Simcoe, Columbus, and Centennial hops along with light malts. The result is a flavorful IPA filled with pine, citrus, and floral flavors.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find scents of orange creamsicle, caramelized pineapple, and bright pine needles. Sipping this beer reveals flavors of citrus zest, fresh grass, tropical fruits, and subtly bitter hops. The finish is a nice mix of sweet malts and resinous hops.

Bottom Line:

When it comes to double IPAs, this beer ticks all the boxes. It’s a great combination of sweet malts and bold, floral hops.

Maine Beer Company Dinner

ABV: 8.2%

Average Price: $10 for a 22-ounce bottle

The Beer:

We dare you to find a poorly executed beer from the Maine Beer Company. You honestly can’t. Its Dinner is a complex, highly memorable double IPA. This 8.2% brew is made with 2-Row, Carapils, Caramel, 40L, and Dextrose malts as well as Falconer’s Flight, Citra, Simcoe, and Mosaic hops.

Tasting Notes:

Before sipping, breathe in the aromas of sweet, caramel malts, fur tips, and citrus. On the palate, you’ll find notes of juicy pineapple, guava, blood orange, sweet malts, and resinous pine. The ending is refreshing and full of grapefruit and pine flavors.

Bottom Line:

If you’re a fan of the Maine Beer Company, you’ve probably already tried its hazy Lunch. Now it’s time for dinner — a treat full of fresh, hoppy, juicy flavors.

As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

Sunday night saw a pretty weird Academy Awards, dominated by some surprise wins (sorry for the anger you’re getting, Anthony Hopkins), some delightful dancing (thanks, Glenn Close), and some weird tweets (wtf, Chuck Schumer?). But there was one award that most people agreed was just: Another Round, the Danish drinking drama starring Mads Mikkelsen, won the trophy for Best International Feature Film. If you didn’t see it because you’re one of the many Americans who don’t like reading subtitles, then first off: calm down, reading subtitles isn’t hard. At the same time, don’t worry, because there’s already an American remake afoot. And it’ll come from Leonardo DiCaprio.

This comes from Deadline, who report that Appian Way, the production company he runs with Jennifer Davisson, are among the winners of a huge bidding war for remake options for the film. Among the people DiCaprio beat out were Jake Gyllenhaal and Elizabeth Banks, though the latter should be fine as she’s already making a movie called Cocaine Bear. Deadline says it’s being designed as a vehicle for DiCaprio himself, which means it won’t bring Mikkelsen, a Hollywood staple himself, back for the American redo. (That said, he’s already pretty busy anyway.)

Should it star DiCaprio, it will find him playing an early middle-aged school teacher who gets out of a rut by, well, drinking. He and his longtime friends hatch a plan to drink just enough that they’re loose and spontaneous but not enough that they’re too drunk. It’s basically the below sketch from Mitchell and Webb Look, but as a serious drama that wins major awards and yet still features a bananas dancing scene.

(Via Deadline)

John Wall’s first season with the Houston Rockets saw him show some promise returning from his Achilles injury, but with a lack of high-end talent around him, Houston has sputtered to the NBA’s worst record at 15-46. With 11 games to go in the season, the Rockets will play out the year without their star guard, as he is dealing with a hamstring injury that will cause him to be shut down for the remainder out of an abundance of caution, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Wall will finish the season averaging 20.6 points, 6.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game for Houston on 40.4/31.7/74.9 shooting splits in 40 games.

It is more than understandable that Houston would not risk bringing Wall back too soon from a hamstring, which as we’ve seen with Kevin Durant and James Harden in Brooklyn this year, can be tricky injuries to manage. The Rockets have been eliminated from play-in contention and if it wasn’t already the case, full focus has shifted to the future. Continuing to get reps for guys like Jae’Sean Tate, who has been one of the few bright spots in Houston this season, is now the most important thing as coach Stephen Silas and the front office try to figure out who on the roster has some value for the future as the rebuild continues for the Rockets.

To this day, the identity of Twitter celebrity dril remains unknown. Since 2008, the social media star — with his famous avatar: a seriously blurry picture of a sunglass-clad Jack Nicholson — has regularly filled feeds with absurdist tweets, chock full of deliberate misspellings, inspired non sequiturs, and other stuff that’s difficult to explain to people who aren’t on Twitter. But though he’s kept his real self private (even as he’s announced a video game), you may be able to see him as the villain — or something — in a what may turn into a full-blown Adult Swim Show.

It’s called VIRTUAL PRISON, and it’s made by dril, Derek Estevez-Olsen, and Pierce Campion. So far it’s just a pilot, and it’s bananas. Estevez-Olsen plays a man who awakens on a low-res computerized island, where a scientist, played by Campion, informs him he’s in a computerized prison, perhaps for life. Our hero is rescued, of sorts, by a masked, motorcycle-riding ruffian named Gomer, played by dril, both his face and his voice obscured, setting the scene for a thrilling, if weird, prison escape.

So far this is all the VIRTUAL PRISON that exists. It has not yet been picked up by Adult Swim, and according to Vice, to do so requires two things: a ton of people need to comment on the pilot’s YouTube page (which one can view above) or the three creators need to convince top brass that there’s more to it than this pilot — which may be tougher than it seems since none of the three have traditional comedy writing or performance backgrounds.

This isn’t the first dril has skulked outside the confines of Twitter. Starting in 2019, he and Estevez-Olsen collaborated on TruthPoint: Dark Web Rising, a parody of InfoWars, with dril decked out in a simulacrum of his Jack Nicholson avatar. If VIRTUAL PRISON is anything like that — or even like his tweets — then TV may never be the same.

You can watch the pilot in the video above (and if you enjoy it, please visit its YouTube page and leave a comment).

(Via Vice)

Earlier today, Insomniac Games released an action-packed trailer for their upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. The trailer offered fans an extended look at the new title’s gameplay and photo mode, as well as formally introduced us to Rivet, a female Lombax from an alternate dimension where Dr. Nefarious — the series’ villain — reigns as emperor.

From Playstation’s blog:

Yes! We finally revealed her name… you guessed it! Right?! Rivet is a Lombax resistance fighter from another dimension, where the evil Emperor Nefarious hunts all those who oppose him. You saw brand-new locations like Nefarious City, and alternate-dimension twists on old favorites like Sargasso and Torren IV along with a sneak-peak at some new weapons and gameplay mechanics.

The song we chose for the trailer has special meaning beyond just being a great, exciting track. It is from the (Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame nominated) band DEVO, a personal favorite of mine, but, some would say more importantly, the band that the incomparable Mark Mothersbaugh co-founded. I’m excited to announce that Mark is the Composer of the Rift Apart soundtrack! Beyond his work in DEVO, you’ve likely heard his compositions across the years whether it was in the original three Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter games, as well as animated series like Rugrats, and the blockbuster film: Thor Ragnarok. We are so thrilled to be collaborating with Mark and cannot wait for you to hear the incredible score he’s come up with.

Rivet’s full reveal comes nearly a year after the game’s announcement trailer last summer, which left fans speculating just who the new character could be — especially since the Lombax species are very few and very far between in the series. While Rivet seems to play similarly to the series’ main protagonist, Ratchet, in many regards, it appears Insomniac is using some of what they learned working on the PlayStation Spider-Man games, incorporating similar swinging movements into her move set. It was also later announced Jennifer Hale, a voice actress known for her work in Mass Effect, Metal Gear Solid, BioShock Infinite, Metroid Prime, and Overwatch, will be voicing the game’s newest addition.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is available for preorder now, and will be released for PlayStation 5 exclusively on June 11.

When the documentary series Framing Britney Spears bowed on HBO back in February, it caused an avalanche of support to come the singer’s way. Long a target of condescending press coverage — not to mention still legally under the control of her domineering father — Spears found the public finally rallying to her side, hoping to correct years of unfair coverage. Now the team behind the doc look to be trying to do for Janet Jackson what they did for Britney.

According to US Weekly, Left/Right TV, who produced the Spears doc, are at work on a movie about the infamous halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII, in 2004. That’s the one where a performance by Jackson and Justin Timberlake resulted in a “wardrobe malfunction,” in which the latter ripped off part of her costume, exposing one of her breasts for half a second. The incident led to a massive fallout. The FCC tried, and failed, to fine CBS for over half a billion dollars, while some accused the two of staging it, with Jackson receiving more vitriol than Timberlake.

Neither Jackson nor Timberlake are involved in the movie, though the former is working on a documentary about her own career to coincide with the forthcoming 40th anniversary of her debut album, Janet Jackson. Timberlake, meanwhile, has come under fire over the last couple years, as the public has begun viewing his treatment of both Jackson and Spears, who he once dated, with a more critical eye. Indeed, after Framing Britney Spears debuted, he issued a formal apology to both parties.

“I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “Because of my ignorance, I didn’t recognize it for all that it was while it was happening in my own life but I do not want to ever benefit from others being pulled down again.”

(Via US Weekly)

As a whisk(e)y drinker, you could easily spend all of your time sipping on Scotch, Irish whiskey, Canadian whisky, and Japanese whisky (along with expressions from many other nations) and never run out of bottles to tip back. Of course, you’d be missing out on a whole slew of whiskeys. Most notably, American-made bourbons, ryes, and single malts.

But even for lovers of American whiskey, the focus can sometimes be myopic — with big brands dominating the conversation. So we figured the time was right to shout out some American whiskeys that don’t get the due they rightly deserve. To find these gems, we asked a handful of bartenders for their picks. Click the prices to get a bottle for yourself.

Noah’s Mill Bourbon

Inga Tantisalidchai, bartender at OLEA Cellar Craft Cook in Newport Beach, California

ABV: 57.15%
Average Price: $60

Why This Bottle?

Noah’s Mill from the Willet distillery is one of my favorite whiskeys that not too many know about. It’s not your average whiskey you find behind the bar, but it is definitely something add to your home bar.

I love the nutty notes and burnt caramel finish.

Clyde May’s Special Reserve Alabama Style Whiskey

Joan Percival, bartender at Proof Whiskey Bar & Craft Cocktails in Omaha, Nebraska

ABV: 55%
Average Price: $60

Why This Bottle?

Clyde May’s Special Reserve 110 proof is Alabama-style Whiskey, a relatively new category of American whiskey that ages new make with apples in the barrel. It would be wrong to lump this spirit with most other flavored liquors. Since the flavor comes only from the interaction of whiskey, barrel, and apples, the result is extremely subtle and well-integrated. It’s not particularly sweet, but you really get the brightness of apple, both in the nose and on the palate.

There’s nothing else out there like it.

Whiskey Acres Rye

Kristan Arnold, bartender at Elgin Public House in Elgin, Illinois

ABV: 43.5%
Average Price: $47

Why This Bottle?

Whiskey Acres Rye whiskey. This is a straight farm-to-table whiskey. This family grows everything on their own farm and distills and bottles it all right there. This whiskey has a nice bite but is great on the rocks. Support local!

Uncle Nearest 1884 Whiskey

Emily Lawson, bartender and owner of Foxhole Public House in Bentonville, Arkansas

ABV: 46.5%
Average Price: $48

Why This Bottle?

Fawn Weaver’s 1884 Premium Small Batch Uncle Nearest Whiskey needs to be at the top of everyone’s whiskey list this year. I have been following along with this brand since 2017, and love what they are producing. As the head of a woman of color-owned business, Fawn is blazing trails and making incredible sips and I am fully here for it.

Jim Beam Black Bourbon

Austin Zimmer, bartender at Le Prive in New York City

ABV: 43%
Average Price: $23

Why This Bottle?

Jim Beam Black. it’s a smooth whiskey with classic Bourbon vanilla notes, along with caramel and wood. The real taste experience is very quick, soft and light, and very satisfying. It doesn’t get its due because people don’t spend a long time thinking about Jim Beam.

Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Whiskey

Stephen Sylvester, bar manager at Piccalilli in Culver City, California

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $42

Why This Bottle?

A blend of 60% rye and 40% bourbon brings the best of both worlds of sweetness and spice. Redwood Empire does three different whiskeys — one bourbon, one rye, one blend — all named after famous Redwood trees, each including the latitude and longitude of said tree on the bottle.

John Muir inspired labeling and partnering with Trees for the Future to plant a tree for each bottle sold highlights the importance of our forests.

Mellow Corn Whiskey

Jeff Rogers, bar director of Jester Concepts in Minneapolis

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $16.99

Why This Bottle?

Heaven Hill’s Mellow Corn, a straight — aged a minimum of two years — corn whiskey that is a staple at whiskey and cocktail bars, but not known by all. It’s often overlooked due to the bourbon craze. It is smooth and light. The sweetness of the corn is balanced with flavors added from barrel aging. The price point is beyond reasonable and the lightness of the whiskey is great for spring and summertime sipping or in cocktails.

Laws San Luis Valley Straight Rye

Doug Fisher, beverage director at Morris American Bar in Washington, DC

ABV: 47.5%
Average Price: $60

Why This Bottle?

Lately, my go-to bottle for a post-shift drink is the San Luis Valley Straight Rye from Laws Whiskey House. It has a lovely bouquet of orange spice, a rich mouthfeel, and a pleasant peppery finish that showcases the 100 percent rye mash bill. Everyone I’ve introduced it to has fallen in love with it and you can understand why.

Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon

Justin Frierson, beverage director, and operating partner at Eleven | Eleven in Chicago

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $40

Why This Bottle?

This whiskey has a soft nose of maple and peach. Cinnamon, brown sugar, and apricot are also present, with a subtle white pepper and pumpkin finish. I enjoy selling it because it is complex as are all whiskeys in the Redwood Empire line. It’s also new to almost everyone I taste out on it and they are pleased every time.

Writer’s Picks:

Deerhammer American Single Malt Whiskey

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $54

Why This Bottle?

Made from 100% malted barley, this Scottish-style American single malt is distilled two times in copper pot stills before being aged in new, charred American oak barrels for a minimum of two years. The result is 92 proof whiskey with flavors of brown sugar, vanilla, freshly brewed coffee, and subtle cooking spices.

Straight Edge Bourbon

ABV: 42%
Average Price: $52

Why This Bottle?

This blend of 5, 7, and 8-year-old bourbons sourced from Kentucky and Tennessee is finished in seasoned wine casks from Napa Valley. The result is a rich, mellow sipping whiskey with notes of charred oak, toasted vanilla beans, buttery caramel, and a ton of pleasing fruity flavors.

As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

The Academy Awards is an evening for honoring the best achievements in film. But it’s also an event where the film industry unabashedly professes its progressive views to the world.

The nice thing about last night was that, for once, Hollywood’s talk about being inclusive was actually on display. The broadcast featured a diverse group of attendees and winners, putting to bed the #OscarsSoWhite critiques of the past six years, for now, at least.

Depending on where one stands on the political spectrum, Sunday’s broadcast was either an exhilarating night of celebrating progressive views or three hours of virtue signaling from some of the country’s richest and most powerful people.

However, there was a beautiful moment in the broadcast that everyone should appreciate. After being awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 93rd Oscars, Tyler Perry gave a speech about unity that cut through America’s political divide and got to the heart of what real humanity is about.

Tyler Perry Accepts the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

www.youtube.com

Perry was given the award for a lifetime of charitable work, including the time he paid for people’s groceries during the pandemic.

“Tyler knows what it is to be hungry, to be without a home, to feel unsafe and uncertain. So when he buys groceries for 1,000 of his neighbors, supports a women’s shelter, or quietly pays tuition for a hard-working student, Tyler is coming from a place of shared experience,” presenter Viola Davis said.

In his speech, Perry’s main theme was refusing hate. A tough ask in a time when the country is so politically polarized.

“And in this time, with all of the internet and social media and algorithms and everything that wants us to think a certain way, the 24-hour new cycle…it is my hope that all of us would teach our kids, and I want to remember: just refuse hate. Don’t hate anybody,” Perry said.

“I refuse to hate someone because they are a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian. I would hope we would refuse hate,” he said.

Perry urged people to meet in “the middle” a place without hatred or judgment. “That’s where healing happens, that’s where conversation happens, that’s where change happens – it happens in the middle,” Perry said. “Anyone who wants to meet me to meet me in the middle to refuse hate and blanket judgment and lift someone’s feet off the ground, this one is for you, too.”

At first glance, asking people to come together in the middle doesn’t appear to be that original of a statement. But at a time when many have drawn up sides, choosing to be vulnerable, step out in the middle, and reach out to listen, is a pretty bold move.

That doesn’t mean to forget about one’s values. It means to be willing to have a conversation and find our shared humanity. This type of action is more important than ever when, as Perry noted, people are stuck in ideological bubbles and may not even understand what the other side is saying.

Perry proved just how brave you have to be to walk towards the middle when he said he refuses to hate someone because they’re a police officer. After that line, the applause he earned seemed to die down a bit. Was it a signal that his statement made a few people a little uncomfortable?

But change happens when we leave our comfort zone.

Perry’s words were powerful at a time when the nation is reeling from police violence. He challenged the notion that, as a Black man, he has to hate the police.

When, in fact, Perry appears to be standing with the vast majority of Black people (81%) who want the police to spend the same, or more, time in their neighborhoods. The important point is that a vast majority of Black (91%) also want the police to be held to higher standards of behavior and accountability.

Perry further explained why he gave his speech in a post-award interview.

“Just where we are in the country and the world, and everybody is grabbing a corner and a color, and they are all – nobody wants to come to the middle to have a conversation,” he said.

“Everybody is polarized, and it’s in the middle where things change,” he added. “So I’m hoping that that inspires people to meet us in the middle so that we can get back to some semblance of normal. As this pandemic is over, we can get to a place where we are showing love and kindness to each other again.”

Perry’s speech was challenging, uplifting and, ultimately, a practical way of seeing the world that allows us to all move forward. It’s also a wonderful example of why he’s seen as a humanitarian.

This post contains spoilers for ‘The Falcon and The Winter Solider.’

This past weekend, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier concluded and gave Marvel fans the moment they’ve all been waiting for: the inauguration of the next — and rightful — Captain America, Sam Wilson. In addition, fans finally got to see the broody Bucky Barnes achieve something resembling peace of mind and closure, something that he’s been sorely needing for the past 80 years or so.

However, just like its Disney+ predecessor, WandaVision, The Falcon and Winter Soldier finale did more than tell a fantastic story — it set things in motion for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some pretty major ways, establishing not only the next Captain America but new villains and dynamics. So, what’s next for Sam, Bucky, and The Avengers in the MCU’s phase four? As always, Marvel Studio is keeping things delightfully open-ended, but has provided us with enough information to keep us psyched and speculating. Here are a few of our big questions and what we know so far.

Will The Falcon and the Winter Soldier get a second season?

As of right now, there are no plans for a second season. Much like WandaVision, the short-and-sweet six-episode mini-series seemed more interested in setting up the universe’s upcoming full-length features rather than becoming an entity in itself.

Ooh, what kind of full-length features?

Last week, Deadline reported a new Captain America movie is in the works, with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier showrunner Malcolm Spellman at the helm. While Marvel is staying tight-lipped about the film’s director and cast, Spellman’s involvement could easily mean the movie will feature Anthony Mackie reprising his role as the new Captain America and will follow his next steps in the star-spangled boots. Captain America 4 could even feature former Cap, Chris Evans himself, who earlier this year was rumored to be reprising his role in the MCU at some point, though, if true, would presumably in some small, supplemental way. However, at least one character in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is sure to get more screen time: Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who (in the comics) is an antagonistic double-agent working for the Russian spy ring Leviathan and the (wait for it) former lover of one Nick Fury. Fontaine might make her next appearance in Black Widow, which hits theaters July 9.

Apart from Sam and Val, what’s next for everyone else?

It’s highly unlikely we’ve seen the last of Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp), and Eli Bradley (Elijah Richardson). Bucky, for example, could have roles in the upcoming Avengers or Captain America movies. In addition, he also has close ties with Wakanda and could make an appearance in the Black Panther sequel and/or Disney+’s upcoming Wakanda series. Also on the side of good is Joaquin, who inherited Sam’s old wings in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and appears to be on track to become the next Falcon and serve alongside his newly promoted friend.

Baron Zemo is an interesting one, being a character we already have quite a bit of rocky history with. However, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier showrunners seemed intent on making his character both more charming and redeemable in the series, leaving us speculating he might be around more. He was last seen headed to The Raft, a prison where, in the comics, Zemo created the villainous super-group called The Thunderbolts. John Walker and Sharon Carter are also a couple of characters seemingly up to no good, with Walker joining Fontaine to potentially use his super-solider talents outside the law and Sharon possibly setting herself up in a pretty cushiony role as double-agent.

Out of all of these characters however, Eli Bradley might just be one fans should be most excited about. In the comics, Eli joins the Young Avengers as Patriot, a hero modeled after Captain America. As we see the next generation of Avengers start to emerge — Cassie Lang as Stinger, Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel, Riri Williams as Ironheart, Kate Bishop as Hawkeye, and America Chavez as Ms. America — we see the future of the MCU, and it’s looking to be quite a cast of diverse and enthusiastic newcomers.

And speaking of additions everyone is pretty stoked about, we haven’t forgotten that Disney purchased Fox a couple of years back and therefore has rights to the X-Men. While WandaVision has a much closer relationship with the X-Men, that didn’t stop The Falcon and The Winter Soldier from containing one big ol’ homage to the X-Men in the shape of Madripoor, a fictional Southeast Asian city commonly associated with Wolverine and his son, Daken. In addition, a scene from the upcoming Marvel movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings takes place in the seaside city, and all this overlap cannot be a coincidence. Fingers crossed we finally get a chance to see Daken in action in Shang-Chi.

Until then, Marvel fans have something to look forward to with Loki, which hits Disney+ on June 11.

Movie fans of a certain age may remember that eliminating late fees was one of Blockbuster’s final, fatal mistakes early in the new millennium. But one Oklahoma woman rented Sabrina The Teenage Witch from the wrong store and ended up charged with a federal crime as a result.

The New York Times shared a wild story on Monday of a Norman, Oklahoma, woman who ended up with a bit of a legal mess afrer failing to return a VHS based on an Archie Comics character. Caron Scarborough Davis had a 21-year-old warrant out for her arrest filed by a now-shuttered movie rental store.

Prosecutors said that Ms. Davis had failed to return a copy of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” a television sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2003. She rented the tape from a video store in Norman, Okla., in 1999, according to court documents.

She was charged with embezzlement of rented property, and a warrant was issued for her arrest in March 2000. The store where she rented the tape, Movie Place, closed in 2008, according to KOKH Fox 25 in Oklahoma.

As the Times piece notes, it’s actually unclear if the VHS is of the 1996 movie, the show that ran seven seasons that used that film as its unofficial pilot, or any of the made-for-tv movies that starred the same cast. Presumably, it’s one of the movies given that sales of full seasons on VHS were more rare than movies for a variety of reasons, not to mention the fact that the retail value of the missing VHS was $58.59, much more in line with a single film at the time.

Davis apparently learned about the warrant when she got married and tried to change her name at the state’s DMV.

“I thought I was going to have a heart attack,” she said.

Ms. Davis said motor vehicle officials referred her to the district attorney’s office for Cleveland County, Okla., where a woman explained the charge against her.

“She told me it was over the VHS tape and I had to make her repeat it because I thought, ‘This is insane,’” Ms. Davis said. “This girl is kidding me, right? She wasn’t kidding.”

Thankfully for Davis, the charge was dropped by local authorities due to the “best interest of justice,” which is another phrase for the store that requested the warrant is no longer in business.

The whole piece is really interesting and also includes an interview with the manager of the last remaining Blockbuster, which was chronicled in a very good documentary on, ironically, Netflix, last year. And it serves as a good reminder that just because the membership card in your old wallet may no longer work, you should probably check to see if that copy of Encino Man you “forgot” to return may cost you a lot more in legal fees than you should have just paid in late fees.