MURDERBOT Recap: (S01E03) Risk Assessment
Murderbot Season 1 Episode 3, 'Risk Assessment,' deftly fleshes out the dynamics between our core group, simultaneously taking its time with character development while keeping the narrative action moving at a steady clip. It's a delightful blend of comedy and science fiction, complete with a fun fight scene in the episode's final minutes. The central mystery is also intriguing enough to keep us tuning in week after week. Bring on the creatures, the aliens, the killer robots, the human pheromones and more fictional TV shows-within-a-show.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Murderbot episode, 'Eye Contact' Murderbot, 'Risk Assessment'
We open with the PresAux team preparing to depart for the DeltFall habitat. Gurathin (David Dastmalchian) wonders if this is the right move. Perhaps they should launch an emergency beacon. Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) notes that the Company wants them to give up, to quit their expedition. Thus, the plan is to investigate this issue themselves. Plus, maybe they can learn more about the creatures, whether alien synthetics killed them and the strange map anomalies.
Mensah urges Gurathin to stay put with Bharadwaj (Tamara Podemski) while she heads for DeltFall with Pin-Lee (Sabrina Wu), Arada (Tattiawna Jones), Ratthi (Akshay Khanna) and our titular Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård). Naturally, the SecUnit isn't thrilled about accompanying the humans. It would rather not be crammed into a hopper with them and their raging pheromones. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 3, 'Risk Assessment.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+. Part of the Team (Whether You Like It or Not)
Then, Mensah asks the SecUnit if it could remove its helmet. It might help the others to see the SecUnit's human-appearing face and view it as part of the team. Great. The last thing our bot wants is to be part of any team. We love our antisocial misanthrope.
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Next, Murderbot watches Strife in the Galaxy while en route to DeltFall. Sure, it's no The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon , but it's a decent watch. I desperately need Murderbot to start a YouTube TV review channel. Ratthi remarks to Pin-Lee and Arada that it's a good thing that DetFall's emergency beacon didn't launch. Mensah agrees. She asks the SecUnit for its opinion.
Realizing Mensah is talking to it, the SecUnit switches off Strife in the Galaxy to answer her. 'They have three contracted SecUnits,' Murderbot says. That aside, DeltFall's communication equipment could've taken a hit if they had been attacked by a hostile. Mensah counters that the emergency beacon still should've been triggered despite DeltFall's destroyed comms system. No More Machine
Ratthi wonders if the SecUnit has feelings. After all, it looks human. Ratthi feels it's wrong to enslave a being that seems no more machine than Gurathin. Murderbot doesn't like that, to the humans, it seems like it has human emotions.
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While the humans discuss pointless human sentiments, the SecUnit checks in with those remaining at the PresAux habitat. Bharadwaj seems to be doing better … well, physically. We see her crying until Gurathin silently approaches. Upon seeing him, she quickly wipes her tears away. Bharadwaj shares that she can't stop picturing the two-mouthed creature bursting from the ground. She can still smell it. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 3, 'Risk Assessment.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+.
Gurathin offers his therapy modules to help Bharadwaj cope with the intense trauma she experienced. She politely declines. Then, Murderbot watches as Gurathin sneaks into Mensah's quarters. Why doesn't anyone lock their doors? Initially, the SecUnit wonders if Gurathin is secretly working for the Company. Humans Are Weird
Perhaps he plans to kill the crew, sell the proprietary data on the black market and use that money to purchase 'luxury goods' for himself. Nope. Gurathin is merely obsessed with Mensah. He buries his face in her pillow. Humans are weird. I say that as one.
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Suddenly, the satellite signal falters. Pin-Lee remarks that the satellite's been having outages since the group arrived. They've been tracking it to determine if there's a pattern. Murderbot confirms this, claiming that the Company makes all SecUnits periodically check client logs. Uh-oh. It can't let them know it spies on them of its own volition.
Understandably, Pin-Lee is upset. They scold the SecUnit for this invasion of privacy. Pin-Lee is now having doubts like Gurathin. What if this SecUnit is really just a faulty killing machine? And now the Company might be watching them. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 3, 'Risk Assessment.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+. Munitions Inspection
Later, while the others are asleep, Mensah asks Murderbot to sit with her at the controls. Murderbot would rather watch its shows, though. I get that. Mensah insists that the others didn't mean what they said about it. You know, that Murderbot is an agent of the Company and could kill them all. Mensah pivots, explaining that her family didn't want her to go on this trip. Uncomfortable, Murderbot interrupts her, claiming it must check the munitions.
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The following day, the PresAux hopper hovers over the DeltFall habitat, which looks more aesthetically pleasing than the PresAux one. The SecUnit doesn't detect the other SecUnits, but Ratthi remarks that all hoppers are accounted for. Murderbot urges Mensah to park outside the perimeter, though, for safety protocol reasons.
Before departing, Mensah asks Pin-Lee if they have weapons experience. They admit their experience mostly lies with games. Ratthi compliments them for being adept at the game KillJoyBloodLustTechRiot (try saying that 10 times fast). DeltFall
Arada remarks that she didn't know Pin-Lee played that game. 'I don't,' Pin-Lee responds before they chat more about the game with Ratthi. Uh-oh. Methinks there might be troubled waters in this marriage. Mensah urges Ratthi to stay put and keep watch. After all, he was sleeping during the training session on Port FreeCommerce.
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Later, Ratthi warns the quartet about a bevy of crustaceans as they pass through a creek. Hey, those crustaceans could be hostiles, waiting in the wings to attack any passersby. Mensah suggests they keep the channel open for essential communication only. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 3, 'Risk Assessment.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+.
Next, Murderbot orders the trio to stay behind while it surveys the DeltFall habitat proper. It has the largest weapon, you know. Mensah opens a private channel to chat with the SecUnit herself. Murderbot blasts open the door before entering. Then, it spots a destroyed SecUnit, half of its head blown off. Murderbot lies to Mensah, claiming said SecUnit is merely on standby. Surveying the Surroundings
Mensah asks for an update. Murderbot claims nothing is going on, and the DeltFall team doesn't need their assistance. Lies and fallacies!
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We see the entire team is dead. It's a bloody affair. Murderbot decides to lie to Mensah because humans do irrational things when upset. Fair enough. Mensah orders the SecUnit to leave now. In response, Murderbot creates static interference and cuts off comms. Oops.
Before Mensah loses the signal, our eponymous bot urges the trio to return to the hopper in 10 minutes if it doesn't emerge by then. Murderbot is proud of itself for causing the static, citing episode 807 of Sanctuary Moon as inspiration. Eight seasons of a TV show? In this economy? (I wish.) A Fight and a Stranger
Outside, Mensah, Pin-Lee and Arada head back to the hopper per Murderbot's instructions. Well, Mensah hesitates. Inside the habitat, the SecUnit observes that one of DeltFall's SecUnits went rogue, and the other two tried to stop it. Mess aside, Murderbot notes that the 'scenario' is too clean.
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Additionally, one SecUnit died trying to protect the communications hub. The other two? Surely, they killed each other simultaneously … just like the Season 1 finale of Strife in the Galaxy .
While contemplating the implausible plotlines of Strife in the Galaxy , one of the presumed dead SecUnits comes back to life, attacking our titular bot. Thankfully, Murderbot rises victorious, taking out the enemy in an almost video game-esque fight sequence.
The SecUnit examines the now-dead SecUnit, noting that someone overrode its combat module. Who did this? Behind Murderbot, we see what appears to be another SecUnit, this one in all black, approaching. When Murderbot whirls around to address the intruder, said SecUnit fires at it.
RELATED: Read our Murderbot recaps
Murderbot drops new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+.
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[email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
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Kids Loved This Toy the Year You Were Born
From plastic potato heads to robotic hamsters, the most popular toy the year you were born says a lot about the trends and culture of that moment in time. Some toys took off thanks to blockbuster movies or Saturday morning cartoons, while others gained traction through viral internet fame or playground buzz. Whether techy, cuddly, or totally unexpected, these popular toys captured kids' imaginations — and parents' wallets — year after year. This list rounds up the most iconic, in-demand toy for each year from 1950 through 2025 (so far!). Some have become enduring childhood staples, like LEGO, Barbie, and Nintendo. Others were short-lived sensations that came and went in a flash. (Remember Pogs?) Whether driven by innovation, celebrity tie-ins, or good old-fashioned fun, each toy earned its moment in the spotlight. So whether you're feeling nostalgic for your own childhood favorite or just curious about what your kids are obsessed with now, scroll through for a playful walk down memory lane — and find out what was hot the year you were Little People first appeared in 1950 as part of the Looky Fire Truck. These small, peg-shaped characters became a staple in toddler toys and helped children develop imagination and storytelling through simple, durable Potato Head has the distinction of being the first toy ever advertised on TV. Kids originally used real potatoes to create goofy characters using the included plastic parts, making it a wildly novel and customizable toy when it on the original Slinky craze, Slinky Dog debuted in 1952 as a pull toy with a coiled metal body. It charmed kids with its springy, bouncing motion and wagging tail as it rolled across the not widely sold until later, early development of Chatty Cathy began around 1953. The talking doll amazed kids by saying recorded phrases when you pulled a string, a pioneering feature that made it one of the first interactive marketed and sold as a wallpaper cleaner, Play-Doh later sold as a colorful modeling compound in the '50s. Its fun texture and bright colors made it a hit with kids for creative Putty was actually invented during World War II, and became a favorite toy by the mid-1950s. It could bounce, stretch, break, and even lift comic strips off newspaper pages, captivating kids with its oddball, hands-on started out as a stop-motion TV character before he became a bendable green toy figure. Along with his horse Pokey, Gumby became a 1950s icon that encouraged imaginative their reusable vinyl stick-ons and bold, colorful backgrounds, Colorforms let kids create endless scenes and stories... with no mess. From basic shapes to licensed characters, these peel-and-stick sets sparked imagination and became a staple in mid-century playrooms.A simple plastic ring became a full-blown national obsession in 1958. The Hula Hoop, popularized by Wham-O, had kids spinning, twirling, and competing in backyard battles across the country. At its peak, millions were sold each month, proof that the best toys don't need the iconic Barbie made her debut in 1959, it was nothing short of a revolution in the doll world. With her glamorous outfits, high heels, and grown-up lifestyle, Barbie offered a new kind of imaginative play — one where kids could dream big about grown-up life. She wasn't just a doll; she was a fashion model, astronaut, doctor and more paving the way for decades of role play and reinvention (not to mention a blockbuster movie decades down the road).Part toy, part drawing tool, Etch A Sketch let kids create art with just two knobs — no pencils or paper needed. The red-framed screen felt like magic, erasing instantly with a quick shake. It became an instant classic and a must-have for budding artists or everyday its smiling face, spinning dial, and wobbly wheels, the Chatter Telephone made talking on the 'phone' endlessly fun for toddlers. It encouraged pretend play and early communication skills. Plus, pulling it around by its string made it feel like a friendly little their wild hair and wide-eyed grins, Troll dolls were weird, whimsical and wildly popular. Originally created by a Danish woodcutter, these quirky little figures became a surprise hit in the U.S., sparking a full-blown craze that would return again and again over the decades (eventually as a huge movie franchise).Baking got kid-sized with the Easy-Bake Oven, which used a simple lightbulb to 'cook' mini cakes and cookies. It gave kids a taste of independence in the kitchen... and a warm, sweet treat to show for it. The nostalgia factor to this day? Still piping as the first 'action figure,' G.I. Joe marched onto the scene in 1964 and redefined toys marketed to boys in that era. With movable joints, military gear, and a backstory for every figure, G.I. Joe sparked a new kind of imaginative play centered around adventure, bravery, and buzzy board game turned the seriousness of surgery into silly fun. Players used tweezers to remove tiny 'ailments' from Cavity Sam without touching the edges, or risk setting off that iconic red nose and startling buzzer. Operation combined laughter and anticipation with a steady-hand challenge that kids turned math concepts (boring for kids!) into mesmerizing art (super fun for kids!). Using gears, rings, and colored pens, kids could draw endless looping patterns and intricate designs. It was part creativity, part precision and totally captivating once you started let kids create glowing masterpieces by plugging colorful pegs into a backlit screen. Whether following a template or freestyling, the result was pure magic, especially when the lights dimmed. It was creative, calming and just the right amount of retro-futuristic sleek, die-cast vehicles from Mattel featured flashy designs and ultra-fast wheels, turning any floor or track into a high-speed racetrack. Kids raced, collected and customized them — fueling a craze that's still going strong the Apollo 11 mission captured the world's imagination, Snoopy suited up in his own space gear. Released to celebrate the moon landing, the Snoopy Astronaut doll let kids bring home a piece of history with their favorite beagle leading the and sold as the 'world's first indoor ball,' the original Nerf Ball was soft, squishy, and safe to toss around the house — no risk of broken lamps or bruised siblings. It kicked off the iconic Nerf brand and proved that foam could be seriously fun.'Weebles wobble but they don't fall down!' These egg-shaped figures with weighted bottoms were a toddler favorite in the early '70s. No matter how far you tilted them, they always bounced back, making them endlessly entertaining and nearly impossible to to learn and play but full of surprises, Uno quickly became a family game night favorite. The colorful cards, wild rules and satisfying 'Draw Four' moments made it a hit across generations and a staple in every toy drawer even to this Alive brought pretend play to a new level with a doll that could eat, drink and even needed a diaper change. Kids loved the lifelike caregiving experience while parents loved watching their little ones eager to take on Magna Doodle debuted in 1974, captivating kids with its mess-free magnetic drawing magic. Using a special magnetic pen children could sketch pictures or write messages that appeared like magic on the screen — then swipe the slider to erase it all instantly. Its simplicity and reusability made it a go-to toy for car rides, classroom fun and creative play at home. It was durable, portable, and endlessly sounds like a joke — and that's because it kind of was. Created by advertising executive Gary Dahl, the Pet Rock was literally a smooth stone sold in a cardboard box with breathing holes and straw bedding. Marketed as the ideal low-maintenance companion, the novelty toy became a full-blown craze in the mid-'70s. Kids loved the silliness of having a 'pet' they didn't have to feed, walk, or clean up after. At its peak, more than a million Pet Rocks were sold, proving that with the right spin, even a rock could become a national Armstrong could stretch, twist, and bend like no other toy. Filled with a mysterious goo and encased in a muscular latex body, Stretch could be pulled up to four feet and still snap back to shape. Kids loved testing his limits, and Stretch Armstrong was unlike anything else at the Star Wars hit theaters that year, its impact was masssive. Kenner's action figures let kids bring the epic saga home, fueling an unprecedented demand for the tabletop playthings. They quickly became coveted collectibles and launched a new era of movie its flashing lights and catchy tones, Simon challenged players to memorize and repeat increasingly complex sequences. It was a game, it was a brain teaser and it became an instant classic — equally fun as it was futuristic (for the time).The Atari 2600 brought arcade action into the living room and helped launch the home video game revolution. With blocky graphics and joystick controls, it introduced classics like Space Invaders and Asteroids and changed how kids played colorful puzzle cube took the world by storm in 1980. Simple in appearance but devilishly tricky to solve, the Rubik's Cube challenged kids (and adults) to twist their way to victory and kicked off a worldwide brainteaser blue and irresistibly collectible, Smurfs figurines were based on the beloved Belgian cartoon. These hand-painted PVC figures came in endless variations and kids loved building their own Smurf villages and hunting for rare their colorful bodies, brushable manes and sweet names like Cotton Candy and Blue Belle, My Little Pony figures galloped straight into kids' hearts. Each pony had its own personality and symbol, making them endlessly collectible and perfect for imaginative their pudgy cheeks and yarn hair, Cabbage Patch Kids sparked a full-blown holiday shopping frenzy in 1983. Each one came with a unique name and its own 'adoption papers,' making them feel one-of-a-kind — something kids (and parents, forced to scour stores) couldn't get enough instantly captured '80s imaginations with their ability to shift from vehicles into heroic robots. Led by Optimus Prime and Megatron, the battle between Autobots and Decepticons played out in toy form, comics, and a hit animated series. Their unique 'more than meets the eye' gimmick made them endlessly fun to play with, and turned them into a pop culture juggernaut still going strong decades moving eyes and a mouth that 'read' stories aloud via cassette tape, Teddy Ruxpin felt like a magical storytelling companion. Kids were mesmerized by the animatronic bear who quickly became the year's most talked-about (and hardest to find) this futuristic game, players wore sensor-equipped vests and wielded infrared 'blasters,' scoring hits with light beams instead of foam darts or water. It felt like real-life sci-fi action inspired by the popularity of Star Wars and the arcade its rubbery strands and satisfyingly squishy feel, the Koosh Ball was a toy and stress reliever in one. Easy to catch and fun to fling it became a hit in classrooms and living rooms (and on office desks) 1988, the Nintendo Entertainment System had become a full-blown cultural force. Though it debuted earlier, this was the year titles like Super Mario Bros. 2 and Zelda II cemented the NES as the console to own. With its simple controller, iconic 8-bit graphics and awesome game library, the NES defined a whole generation of home Nintendo Game Boy forever changed how (and where) people played video games. This pocket-sized device brought portable gaming mainstream, with its grayscale screen, swappable cartridges, and unbeatable battery life. Bundled with Tetris, the Game Boy became an instant classic, captivating players of all ages and laying the foundation for handheld gaming as we know In 1990, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures were everywhere — from toy store shelves to school backpacks. Fueled by the hit cartoon and live-action movie, the toy line let kids collect all four pizza-loving heroes (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael), plus villains like Shredder and breakout hit toy brought 16-bit gaming magic to living rooms in 1991 setting a new standard for home consoles. With classics like Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Street Fighter II, the SNES delivered richer graphics, deeper gameplay and iconic soundtracks. It became a defining game console of the '90s and solidified Nintendo's legacy in the 1992, the Barbie Dreamhouse had evolved into a full-blown pink palace — complete with working lights, a ringing telephone and stylish plastic furniture. This iconic playset gave kids a glamorous space to bring their Barbie stories to life, whether she was hosting a pool party, relaxing in her canopy bed or making calls from her cordless phone. With multiple levels and rooms, the playhouse offered just about endless imaginative possibilities and cemented Barbie's status as a fashion-forward homeowner living her best a movie prop in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, the Talkboy became a real-life sensation in 1993. This silver handheld recorder let kids slow down their voices, record goofy messages and play them back for endless laughs — just like Kevin McCallister did. With its extendable microphone and futuristic design, the Talkboy felt like a gadget straight out of a spy the massive success of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on TV, the action figures became one of 1994's hottest toys. Kids could collect their favorite Rangers and reenact battles against villains like Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. With their martial arts poses, morphing accessories, and Zords that combined into Megazords, these toys became a major cardboard discs took schoolyards by storm in the mid-'90s. Kids stacked, flipped, and battled Pogs using heavy 'slammers,' turning recess into a full-on competition. With endless designs to collect, Pogs were as much about trading as they were about Me Elmo became a full-blown cultural craze during the 1996 holiday season. The fuzzy red Sesame Street character would giggle and shake when squeezed, sending kids into fits of laughter — and sending parents into a frenzy trying to find one. Stores sold out within minutes, sparking stampedes and sky-high resale pocket-sized digital pet from Japan required constant care — feeding, cleaning, and attention — or it would 'die,' making it both adorable and anxiety-inducing (an addictive combo). Kids became instantly obsessed, checking on their pixelated pals between classes and taking the responsibility debuted in 1998 and instantly captivated kids with its blinking eyes, moving beak and ability to 'learn' language over time. The furry, owl-like creature spoke its own language (Furbish, of course) before gradually switching to English, creating the illusion of intelligence. Its interactive nature and quirky personality sparked a massive holiday craze making Furby one of the most sought-after toys of the late ' the turn of the new millennium, Pokémon cards turned playgrounds into bustling trading hubs. Based on the wildly popular video games and animated series, the collectible card game let kids battle with their favorite characters like Pikachu, Charizard and Mewtwo. Rare cards became valuable, coveted Razor Scooter burst onto the scene in 2000 and became an instant phenomenon. Lightweight, foldable, and fun to ride, it was the must-have toy for kids (and even some adults) looking to zip around the neighborhood. Its sleek aluminum design and smooth-rolling wheels made it cooler than a bike and portable enough to carry into class or stash under the bed. Razor reportedly sold over 5 million scooters in its first year alone, making it one of the most iconic toys of the dolls hit the shelves in 2001 with a bold, fashion-forward attitude that shook up the doll aisle; they had oversized eyes, glossy lips, and edgy outfits. Characters like Cloe, Yasmin, Jade and Sasha offered a modern alternative to traditional dolls. Bratz quickly became a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for their diverse looks and cool toy combined fast-paced battles with customizable spinning tops. Kids launched their Beyblades into plastic arenas, watching them clash and knock each other out. Based on a Japanese anime, the toy's "Let it rip!" catchphrase became a playground marched onto the scene in 2003 as one of the first mass-market robots to combine real movement, personality and playability. Created by a NASA scientist, this humanoid robot could walk, dance, burp and even grab objects, controlled entirely by a its dual screens, touch controls, and built-in Wi-Fi, the Nintendo DS felt like the future of handheld gaming. From Nintendogs to Mario Kart, it delivered endless fun on the go, and became an instant must-have for release of the Xbox 360 marked in a new era of high-def gaming and online multiplayer experiences. With a cool design, a robust library of games like Halo 3 and Gears of War, and the rise of Xbox Live, it became serious gamers' absolute must-have toy. In addition to providing gameplay at home, it also connected players around the world, a feature that set the stage for modern online gaming Nintendo Wii revolutionized gaming in 2006 when it came out with its motion-sensing controls. Instead of traditional button-mashing, players swung, aimed and moved to play — whether bowling, boxing, or battling. The console attracted gamers of all ages and quickly became a household staple, selling over 100 million the music power of an iPod with the touchscreen magic of the iPhone, the iPod Touch was the ultimate tech toy in 2007. Kids and teens were obsessed with downloading apps, watching videos and showing off their sleek new innovative toy combined action figures, trading cards and magnetic pop-up transformations into one thrilling experience. Kids rolled marble-shaped Bakugan onto special cards, causing them to spring open into fierce creatures. Backed by a hit anime series, Bakugan quickly became a must-have collectible and strategic playground robotic hamsters scurried, squeaked and zipped through plastic tunnels, giving kids all the fun of a pet without the mess. Zhu Zhu Pets were an instant hit, flying off shelves during the holiday season thanks to their cuteness and first iPad launched a tablet revolution, and quickly became a must-have for families. With its big screen, intuitive design, and endless apps, the iPad was both a cutting-edge gadget and the coolest toy in the learning with touchscreen fun, the LeapPad Explorer was like a kid-friendly tablet packed with educational games and e-books. Parents loved the focus on reading and math, while kids loved feeling like they had a 'real' device of their brought toys to life... literally. Kids could place real action figures on a "Portal of Power" to transport them into the video game. The mix of physical play and digital adventure made it one of the hottest trends of the simple plastic loom sparked a DIY craze, as kids everywhere used tiny rubber bands to weave colorful bracelets. Rainbow Loom was creative, collectible, and a playground must-have. Plus, it got kids totally hooked on Frozen mania swept the globe, Elsa dolls became the most coveted toy of the year. With her sparkly blue gown and signature braid, the Snow Queen let kids bring the magic — not to mention the earworm — of "Let it Go" app-controlled droid rolled straight out of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and into kids' hearts. With lifelike movements and personality-packed responses, BB-8 felt like your very own robot fuzzy, animatronic creatures hatched from speckled eggs with a little help from their owners, creating a magical unboxing moment. The surprise element — and the cute toys inside — made Hatchimals an instant sellout started as a stress-relief tool turned into a playground craze. Fidget spinners were everywhere in 2017, with kids mastering tricks and showing off colorful designs that spun for minutes at a fun reached new heights with L.O.L. Surprise Dolls, which came hidden inside layers of colorful packaging. Each layer revealed a new accessory or clue, making the big reveal feel like a game. The fun styles, the mystery of it... kids couldn't get enough!These figures' stylized vinyl designs, featuring iconic characters from movies, TV, music, and gaming, became must-have collectibles. The figures' limited editions and convention exclusives fueled frenzied collecting with fans hunting for rare variants and driving August 1 2020, LEGO Super Mario blended physical bricks with a smart interactive Mario figure that collects coins, reacts to enemies, and connects via app. Starter sets, expansions and blind‑bag character packs brought classic video‑game levels to life for fans and designed for sensory relief, Pop-Its became a viral sensation thanks to TikTok. 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The ‘American Idol' Who Left the Mormon Church to Live His Best Gay Life
David Archuleta is finally in his sexual era, and it's hard to argue with his reasoning. 'I'm 34 years old now. It's about damn time that I let myself be flirty,' the pop star and former American Idol contestant tells The Daily Beast's Obsessed over Zoom. Archuleta first appeared on American Idol in 2008 at age 16, placing as a runner-up to David Cook. He won audiences over with his smooth, crisp vocals and boyish good looks. Since his first hit single 'Crush' in 2008, Archuleta has released eight albums, but this year finds him embracing a whole identity in his music: He's being himself, he's being gay, and he's being sexy. There's a freedom and joy you can hear in his music ever since Archuleta publicly came out in 2021. His latest music, including 'Crème Brulée' and 'Can I Call You,' off his forthcoming EP, Earthly Delights (releasing Aug. 15 alongside his upcoming tour) is lively, exciting, and gloriously queer. It took Archuleta these last 17 years to find himself. His experience on American Idol shaped the start of his career, and not necessarily in the way he wanted. 'Suddenly, a whole fan base is constructed for you. They want you to be a certain thing—they wanted me to be the teenage heartthrob,' Archuleta says. 'I never considered myself a teenage heartthrob. That's just how I was portrayed. That's how they wanted me to be seen. I tried to fill in that role as best as I could. But it wasn't who I wanted to be.' Though he knew he didn't fit into that producer-constructed mold, Archuleta's religious background made his self-discovery a challenging process: 'I grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like most religions, they have a pretty strong stance against homosexuality.' The weight of the word 'homosexual' weighed heavily on him. 'When you hear that word, you just think, 'If you're gay, you're automatically gonna be seen as some whore or pervert who's addicted to sex.' And I didn't want to be that,' he says. As time passed, it became more difficult for Archuleta to ignore his feelings. 'I realized that just because you fall in love with someone of the same sex doesn't mean you're suddenly some disgusting, evil, vile creature,' he says. 'You can still live your life normally, just like everyone else does. It's just that who you're in love with happens to be someone of the same sex.' When he turned 30, he decided to come out publicly: 'I figured out that coming out was a step worth taking. It was scary, but it's been worth it.' Growing up in the public eye, Archuleta found people were always prying into his private life. Since American Idol portrayed him as a heartthrob, people were especially interested in who he was dating. And Mormons, as Archuleta says, were particularly keen on knowing who he was going to marry: 'People literally come up to me in the grocery store asking if I'm dating anybody. The Mormon thing to do is ask, 'Who are you going to marry?' And I'm just like, 'I don't even know who you are!'' After he came out, he noticed a shift in people's attitudes toward him. 'When I said I was going to start dating guys, suddenly, all the Mormons were like 'Why don't you just keep that to yourself?'' Archuleta says. '[They] wouldn't leave me alone! It's so ironic that you obsess over who I'm dating, and then when I come out as queer, it shifts to, 'I don't get why gay people are so obsessed with talking about who they bring into the bedroom.' Who said I was bringing anybody into my bedroom?' Archuleta made the hard decision to leave the Mormon church in 2022, though it's a decision he doesn't regret. At first, it was especially hard, as he didn't have the support of the person who meant the most to him: his mother. 'Initially, my mom couldn't accept my sexuality,' Archuleta says. 'The people whom you care the most about in your life, you're gonna really care what they think. My mom is one of those people for me. I was always known as the good boy. I adapted a lot of my behavior and how I acted to be the good boy my mom wanted me to be.' The challenging time, he says, made him stronger: 'When you realize your life could upset them, it's scary. Now I've gotten to a place where I don't care. It was surprisingly liberating for me to be able to say, 'I don't need you to accept me, because I'm accepting myself, and that's the most important thing.'' Ultimately, Archuleta's mother came around and left the church with her son. 'I had to go against what she wanted for me to get there. It's not about your parents accepting you. It's about you accepting yourself and finding that love for you,' he says. 'I hope people know not everybody's parents accept them or the choices they make, and that's okay. My mom didn't either. What I needed was to be honest and live my truth, and do what was right for me.' That feeling of liberation is evident in his music. 'Crème Brulée,' in particular, isn't just a dreamy earworm. It is Archuleta ecstatically celebrating his queerness. The synth-laden track is cheeky, breezy, and it sounds like he's having the most fun he's had in years. It's one of the queer songs of the summer. 'I've started writing just kind of in this new place that's post-American Idol, post-religious life,' Archuleta says. 'Crème Brulée' has fans giddily declaring him a gay icon, though it's a title he's hesitant to claim: 'I'm not trying to be a gay icon or anything—I just want to be telling my message, sharing my experiences, and telling my story. I'm exploring my queer identity now and leaning into that. Earthly Delights is indulging in the stuff that I was always told growing up religiously, that I should never, ever dare even think of.' Embracing a new, sexier side is something Archuleta loves. 'Part of being a human being is being sexual,' he says. 'You forget that in religion because they villainize it so much. We all exist because humans are sexual beings! For some reason, we act like it's the worst thing in the world. It's literally in the book that you believe in, so I don't know why y'all be tripping.' 'Crème Brulée' finds Archuleta playing with some edgy and playful double entendres. In the song, he sings, for example, 'Snap me like a photo,' a not-so-subtle hint at what goes on behind closed doors. 'Before, I was always so worried about what was appropriate and being obedient. Now I can have fun and be silly in this way,' he says. While Archuleta received some pushback from people surprised by his new direction, he saw it as a chance to assert himself: 'I'm the boss, and I'm giving myself permission to sing this. It's been free and it's been liberating,' Archuleta says. That free spirit extends to his social media. On Archuleta's popular TikTok, he sometimes surprises fans with videos that talk about covering up hickeys, or even hinting at his preferred sexual positions. 'It was so taboo for me before,' Archuleta says, 'but not taboo for a lot of people. It's refreshing to feel so loose and relaxed, and not be so uptight about things.' 'I grew up on a reality TV show. That's how I was raised, to share and be exposed, whether I wanted it or not, and for people to connect with me on that level,' Archuleta says. He only asks one thing of his audience: 'I'm in a new phase. Let me be and let me live my life and share my journey as I see fit.' This summer, Archuleta performed at Pride events across America, including DC World Pride earlier this month alongside such artists as Troye Sivan and Cynthia Erivo. 'It was really great to celebrate,' he says. And Archuleta also recognizes that it's more vital than ever to be performing loudly and proudly as a queer artist. 'Being queer isn't easy,' he says. 'We're not a majority, but we will always be a constant in society. No matter what ethnicity, no matter what part of the world, no matter what, we will always be there. We didn't choose to be this way—we came into the world like this. Hopefully, everyone will be able to live without having to fear of other people think of us or how people treat us. We will continue to celebrate and make ourselves known.'
