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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Squid Game' Season 3 Review: Netflix's Once-Thrilling Smash Limps to an Unsatisfying Finish
There are some series that work so well as one-and-dones that it's hard to imagine what could possibly be gained creatively from pressing onward with a second season. Sometimes, those seemingly unnecessary renewals nevertheless yield pleasant surprises: Barry got only darker and weirder as it went on, White Lotus successfully expanded itself into a globe-trotting anthology, and so on. Other times, however, that initial skepticism proves justified. The second round of Netflix's South Korean sleeper hit Squid Game was a thudding step down from the first, rehashing most of the same themes and story beats at a slower pace with fewer insights. But it also delivered only half a season's worth of plot, planting bombs to be detonated later and then cutting off just as things got truly intense. A reasonable person might have hoped a third season could provide enough payoff to make at least some of those stumbles worthwhile. More from The Hollywood Reporter Charlize Theron's 'Old Guard 2' Mullet Made Her Daughters Cry: "They Want Mom to Look Like a Princess" Bert Kreischer to Topline Netflix Sitcom 'Ice Road: Vengeance' Review: Liam Neeson Returns for a Forgettable Sequel to an Already Forgotten Action Flick Alas. It brings me no pleasure to report that the third and thankfully last of Squid Game seasons only confirms that we, like Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), should've left that cursed island behind for good after his first victory. Season three picks up in the immediate aftermath of season two, as the last few rebels from Gi-hun's violent uprising are put down and their bodies cleaned up. Gi-hun himself is not among the dead, though that fact gives him no relief. The man who returns to the dorms is one so flattened by grief and guilt that he snaps to life only to scream at the guards to just kill him already. They don't, of course. Nor are the surviving contestants moved to reconsider his earlier pleas to choose to quit. So the game, and Squid Game, proceed as usual, hurtling contestants through deadly high-stakes versions of hide-and-seek, jump rope and something the organizers term 'Sky Squid Game,' which is essentially a shoving match atop dizzyingly high columns. But the thrill is gone, even if the VIPs — yes, they are back, and their bizarrely stilted line readings along with them — try to convince us otherwise. The voting is 'more exciting than the actual games!' one declares, as if responding to viewer complaints that the voting took up too much time in season two. 'This just keeps getting more and more interesting!' another announces late in this season, like we might start to believe them if they just say it loudly enough. It doesn't work. While creator Hwang Dong-hyuk still has a few more nasty tricks up his sleeve — including one final twist of the knife so cruel I gasped when I realized what was happening — its latest run is too short on surprise and emotion and too long on misery and, well, length. Its main thematic target is once again the unjustness of our modern capitalist system, this time with a specific and sometimes devastatingly shrewd eye toward how the pretense of democracy can paper over unspeakable cruelty. 'In accordance with your free and democratic vote, the next game will resume tomorrow,' the participants are informed after each vote to keep playing, as if there could be anything 'free' about such a choice being made in a system rigged by distant elites and enforced by faceless thugs. In one of the season's most darkly hilarious moments, a player apologetically informs another that the others have voted to sacrifice him. 'Please forgive me, but we're going to need you to die,' he pleads, invoking majority rule in a futile attempt to erase his own complicity and the man's desire to live. But season three is an awfully long way to go for those occasional bits of wisdom, and a largely unpleasant one besides. Squid Game has never been a 'nice' show by any standard. Early on, however, its grimness was tempered by a deep empathy for the people trapped in this maze, and the occasional flickers of hope that compassion and connection might arise even under the harshest of climates; part of what made that initial outing so fascinatingly queasy was the tension between how bad we felt for the characters' suffering and how entertaining it was to watch. Now, it's gloom and doom all the way down. The show is still great at coming up with new and creative ways to torture its characters (one twist involving a baby is as viscerally upsetting as it seems logistically implausible), but less so at digging into their humanity. And without the latter, the former starts to feel like misery for misery's sake. If the new players introduced in season two felt disappointingly thin, season three makes no attempt to flesh them out any further. It's a miscalculation that limits our investment not just in clearly odious figures like sadistic Nam-gyu (Roh Jae-won) or greedy Jeong-dae (Song Young-chang), but also in sympathetic souls like trans soldier Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) and expectant mother Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri). Aside from Gi-hun, now a strong silent type with no remaining trace of his old gregariousness, the one thing all of them have in common is that they seem more like pieces being pushed around a chess board than complicated human beings with agency and interiority. In lieu of character and relationship work, Squid Game season three offers heaps and heaps of plot. But while there are a few bright spots — chief among them the bits of levity offered by slightly goofy, occasionally clever and generally lovable loan shark Woo-seok (Jeon Seok-ho) — the pace is lumbering. Painstaking efforts by guard No-eul (Park Gyu-young) to save a player she knows from the outside, the interminable quest by ex-cop Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) to find the island, and the frequent cuts back to the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) in his fancy chair and the VIPs in their luxury suites only drag the proceedings in the arena out further, while adding little in the way of new information, emotional impact or thematic depth. By the time Squid Game finally crawls over the finish line, there's no sense of the triumph you might get from completing a really good story — only of relief that this entire grueling experience is finally over. The series has one last jolt to offer on its way out, one that could just be a fun little bow to tie the whole thing together or the start of yet another new spinoff chapter. For its sake and our own, let's hope it's the former. The kindest thing to offer this universe now might be a mercy killing. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Cosmopolitan
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Short Haircuts for 2025: Bob vs. Pixie Styles
Everyone seems to be getting a major haircut right now. Sofia Richie just debuted a sharp bob, and Selena Gomez went for a short, shaggy one. Then there's the pixie—Emma Stone and Taylor Russell are both wearing the cool-girl cut as of late. So, it's official: short cuts are the biggest summer hair trend. I haven't had short hair since I was three, but suddenly I'm in a quarter-life crisis and need my hair above my shoulders (I blame Leslie Bibb's White Lotus bob). If you're feeling the same craving for a big chop, I'm breaking down the key differences between bob and pixie haircuts—including how to choose a length, how to maintain it, and how to make the cut feel intentional (and not impulsive). Ahead, everything you need to know about bob hairstyles vs. pixie hairstyles. Plus, expert tips from celebrity hairstylist Marc Ballance to help you avoid any post-salon regret, and tons of celeb bob and pixie cut inspo to help you choose your fighter. While both styles are short, the biggest difference comes down to length and how the cut accentuates your face shape. "A pixie is short, cropped close to the scalp, often showing off the ears and neck," says Ballance. "It tends to feel bold, and face-framing in a striking way." Because of how much it opens up the face, a pixie can feel like a dramatic, edgy transformation—especially if you're coming from longer lengths. A bob, on the other hand, still qualifies as a short haircut but offers more versatility in length and styling. "Bobs hit somewhere between the jaw and collarbone and can be tailored to feel classic, soft, or super modern," Ballance explains. You'll see bobs that are blunt and angular, tousled and beachy, or softly layered for movement. Ballance recommends thinking of it like this: pixies show off your features by cutting shorter lengths and opening up the face, while bobs give you more room to play with style and texture. Pixie styles are cropped, like, super cropped. These cuts typically sit above the ears or right at the cheekbones, depending on the exact shape and how much length you leave on top. Some pixies are super tight and short, while others are slightly grown-out and tousled. They're ideal if you want a haircut that feels expressive, with zero effort required for ponytails or updos. It's definitely the bolder choice of the two, but when tailored right, you get a modern, low-maintenance cut that shows off your face. "Bobs have a little more freedom and can fall anywhere from the jawline to the shoulders," says Ballance. That flexibility is what makes them such a popular go-to for short hair first-timers. Unlike a pixie, a bob still gives you enough hair to tuck behind your ears, style with a curling wand, or clip back with accessories. There are countless bob styles and lengths to choose from, and you can add bangs, create face-framing layers, or keep it all one length for a sleeker finish. This cut gives you a change with short hair, without the full commitment of a pixie. "With a bob, there's a lot of freedom to customize, as there's more length to play around with—think curtain bangs, blunt micro fringe, face-framing layers, invisible internal layers. It's a stylist's playground," explains Ballance. Basically, if you like having styling options and want a cut that works with hot tools, waves, or updos, bobs have a lot of range. Pixie cuts can be versatile, just in a different way. "Pixies can have layers too, but they're more about sculpting the overall silhouette than layering for movement." You'll rely more on product—think texture sprays, waxes, or creams—to shape and define your look. If you want a short cut with minimal styling, a pixie is your best bet. Short hair and curls can absolutely coexist, but the approach matters. "I love a curly pixie, especially when the shape is customized to the curl pattern." says Ballance. "You can work with natural texture to create something super flattering and low-maintenance." Pixies that are shaped to enhance your curl type can look chic, defined, and effortless. Curly bobs can look amazing too, but they do come with a learning curve. Because there's more length, you have to be careful about how layers are cut and how the movement is distributed. "You want to avoid altering the amount of weight too much, as this can cause them to get puffier and wider," explains Ballance. Aka: go to a curly hair specialist. Let's talk about maintenance, because both cuts require trims, just at different paces. A pixie is definitely more high-maintenance. Since the shape relies on ultra-clean lines and proportions, regular upkeep is super important. "Trims every four to six weeks are key to keeping the shape fresh and intentional," says Ballance. "The shorter you go, the faster you'll notice grow-out." Bobs are a little more forgiving, especially if you opt for a more lived-in or layered style. But they're not totally low-maintenance either. "You can go six to twelve weeks for a bob, depending on your texture and how structured or lived-in you like it. With both, regular shaping around the face and bangs area goes a long way," he says. If you're not into frequent salon visits, you might want to opt for a bob that can grow out more gracefully. If you enjoy keeping your cut sharp, a blunt bob, or the pixie will be ideal. Okay, now that you've done some research, here are some of our favorite celebrity bob moments to give you visual inspo for length, shape, and vibe. Zendaya Gracie Abrams Ayo Edebiri Kendall Jenner Need something to show your hairstylist exactly how you want your pixie cut shaped? Here are some of the best celeb pixie cuts worth saving to your camera roll. Tyla Emma Stone Taylor Russell Kris Jenner Marc Ballance is a celebrity hair stylist based in New York City whose clients include Nick Jonas, Bad Bunny, and more. He's a pro when it comes to all things cuts and styling. Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about everything from beauty trends and product launches to celeb interviews and personal essays. She's obsessed with all things skincare and tapped the rest of Cosmo's beauty team for all their best face mist recs. Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You'll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it's usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles' entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
27 Swimsuits From Amazon With *Thousands* Of 5-Star Ratings, Because You're Tired Of Crossing Your Fingers And Hoping For The Best
FYI: Amazon Prime Day is coming! A ruffled one-piece swimsuit with lace-up detailing on the back that also helps you adjust the fit for comfort. The bottom cut is a tad cheeky, but many reviewers say it doesn't ride up. A chic bandeau and high-cut bottoms that'll have you feeling like a guest vacationing at the White Lotus — but don't worry, you're just a background character soaking up all the tropical vibes (and not at risk of murder). A fully lined one-piece swimsuit with hollowed-out straps giving it a unique look. The crossover straps offer plenty of support up top, with wire-free removable bra cups that won't poke you in the side, plus full coverage in the bottom. A plunging scoop one-piece offering a simple, classic design fit for any swim-related occasion. FYI, it's high-cut and cheeky, but feels comfortably secure without being suffocating. A bikini set that includes a super cute flouncy top that's not tight or constricting on your chest (yay, adjustable straps!) and high-waisted bottoms that stretch comfortably. A ruched swimdress hiding comfy boyshorts underneath so you're not constantly pulling your suit down to cover your bottom. It'll be our little secret! Or a vintage-inspired swim dress with a cute bow at the center and a slightly more flared fit that gives a nice silhouette without the tight hug at your stomach. It also has shorts underneath! A high-waisted bikini if you're looking for bottoms that come up a bit higher and hug your waist — the thicker, adjustable straps also add to this swimsuit's supportive feel. And both pieces have this gorgeous patterned band tying the whole look together! A bustier-style bikini top with a long-line underwire design that lifts and supports, complete with adjustable, double G-hook straps at the back to lock everything in. It comes in bright colors and darling patterns like cherries and polka dots — a true stunner of a top you can pair with any bottoms. A deeeep-V one-piece if you're not afraid of a little (OK, a lot) of side boob and are ready for your cheeks to get some sun. You're ready for your Baywatch debut! A playful ruffled top bikini that comes with removable adjustable straps, so you have the choice between rocking a truly off-shoulder look or adding in some extra support. Or a ruffle-topped one-piece, also with removable adjustable straps so you have ~options~, though many reviewers say the top stays up just fine without them (depending on your bust size)! A one-shoulder option that's basically begging you to pair it with a flowy maxi skirt and wear it to brunch — the ruffled style is just too cute! A funky layered tankini for breathable stomach coverage with a cute side view of the bra underneath. Perfect for water sports *or* chasing kiddos around the beach, this tankini has a non-underwire bra and a fitted band that holds the bottoms in place. A sporty colorblock bikini that's as bold and vibrant as your personality — and perfect for playing some volleyball or throwing a Frisbee on the beach. A one-shoulder bikini with a fun tie detail at the waist that elevates it from "basic" to "model off-duty vibes." A crisscross side lace-up one-piece that'll have you strutting like a Love Island bombshell entering the villa. A push-up bikini top with underwire support, molded cups, and crisscross strappy back that'll keep you feeling totally supported up top, even while zipping across the water on a Jet Ski. A high-waisted bikini set that doesn't require you to be on a boat off the coast of Bali, sipping on a fruity cocktail while posing for photos — but I'm just saying it would be right at home in that scenario. A ruched monokini with a high neck and peekaboo mesh neckline that's both sexy and supportive — reviewers say it holds everything in place well despite the lack of underwire! A flouncy swim skort that turns your favorite one-piece or bikini top into an adorable outfit you'd be tempted to throw on just to do chores or run errands. The built-in shorts help prevent any painful thigh rubbing while keeping you comfortably covered, if that's what you're looking for. Simple twist-front bottoms made to go with any swim top in your closet, especially for those of us who rock a very different size in bottoms than we do in tops. They're stretchy, a bit cheeky, and will stay firmly in place after that cannonball into the pool. A pair of stretchy drawstring boardshorts you can pull on for a day of swimming and lounging by the water. They dry fast, so you don't even have to change clothes afterward if you're heading elsewhere, and underwear liner is built-in (so you can go commando). Reviewers say they stay put without riding up or squeezing your thighs uncomfortably, even if you have curves! A high-waisted retro number that'll have you feeling like a modern-day Wonder Woman — if she ever took a break from fighting baddies to relax on the beach with a margarita, that is. A V-neck one-piece with cinching at the bust that lets you decide how ~risqué~ you wanna be and a fun cutout underneath — just don't forget to apply sunscreen there! And a scoop-neck monokini giving the illusion of being a two-piece from the front, with lace-up detailing adding some flair in the back. A high-waisted bikini that includes a ruffled smock top you'll *definitely* want to pull out and wear with some denim cutoffs too — it's basically just a cute crop top that happens to be built for water, complete with adjustable straps!
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Carrie Coon Said Not Getting Botox Has Impacted Her Career
From Gone Girl to The Gilded Age, Carrie Coon is beloved for her standout performances as 'complex' charatcers. And now, in a new interview with Glamour magazine, the White Lotus star explained why she thinks she's 'typecast' in roles like these. 'We all have a way we present in the world,' she began. 'The perception of me is that I am verbal, intellectual. My voice is lower and I don't have Botox, so I tend to play older than I am. And so I've always had a gravitas or some authority.' Botox (otherwise known as Botulinum toxin) is injected into the face to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by relaxing the muscles that cause them. It's definitely not uncommon for Hollywood stars to get Botox — particularly women, who are far more likely to experience ageism. Despite this, Carrie said she has opted out of getting Botox injections, and instead chooses 'science-based skin care' treatments while embracing her natural beauty. 'Authenticity is more evocative than any kind of engineering you might consider doing to your face or your body,' she said, urging today's young Hollywood stars not to succumb to the pressure to conform to beauty standards. 'Now, this is not the message coming from culture. As a woman who is 44, watching myself in HD is not easy, and it's not comfortable.' Acknowledging how her decision to forgo cosmetic treatments like Botox has impacted the roles she gets, Carrie said she stands firm in her decisions. 'It's a choice I'm making for myself,' she said. 'Yes, it's hard, but I hope that I will continue to work as a character actor — they kicked me out of leading lady status — and I'm very inspired by other women in the business, I see who I can tell are also not augmenting their appearance.' That said, she made it clear she has 'no judgment' towards her peers who opt to go under the knife. 'You've got to do what makes you feel good, what makes you feel like the authentic version of yourself,' she emphasized. 'That is not my place to judge, but I know people are going to judge me.' Carrie concluded by sharing her ultimate secret to feeling youthful for life: Do what she did with Tracy Letts and marry someone older. 'You'll always be young and beautiful when your husband is 15 years older than you,' she joked.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Arnold Schwarzenegger laments end of son's romance with Miley Cyrus
Arnold Schwarzenegger has reflected on the collapse of his son's romance with Miley Cyrus. The Terminator star, 77, is a proud father of five, and his eldest son, Patrick Schwarzenegger, 31, dated pop singer Cyrus, 27, from November 2014 until April 2015. The Party In The USA singer made quite the impression on the Schwarzenegger family - and Arnold had high praise for her while appearing on Watch What Happens Live on Monday. He told host Andy Cohen, "She's a wonderful, wonderful girl and human being. She came up to Sun Valley when we were skiing up there, and she was just a wonderful house guest. We just all loved her." Arnold added, "She was just a really good, good person and fun to hang out with. I'm sorry it didn't work out. "But Patrick, in the meantime, found another girl that he got engaged with and he's getting married to in September." Patrick has been in a relationship with model Abby Champion, 28, since 2015 and they have been engaged since December 2023. The couple had planned to marry sooner, but work forced a delay in plans. Patrick previously told People, "We got engaged. And it was our moment, it was this great thing. "A few days later, I booked White Lotus, and I was like, 'Abby, I know we're in this high of engagement, and we're gonna get married this year. But we're going to have to push it. I got White Lotus, and I'm going to film for the next seven months in Thailand.'" His future wife was thrilled, however, with the actor revealing, "She was ecstatic because she was a huge fan."
