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As a big movie and TV fan, I’ve noticed spin-offs usually fall into pretty predictable patterns. They’re either prequels – telling stories before the original show – or sequels, picking up the narrative after the main events. Sometimes, they even run alongside the original series, happening at the same time. Honestly, each approach can work, and it really depends on the story they’re trying to tell. But if I’m being honest, I usually find sequels the most satisfying, though there are exceptions, of course!

Featuring appearances by big names like Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, The Great boasts excellent casting all around. Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult shine as Catherine and Peter, and their playful chemistry is a highlight of the show. Though the third season’s surprising finale left fans eager for more, The Great remains more compelling than many other historical dramas, even with its story still unfolding.

I’ve been so impressed with HBO’s fantasy shows lately – they’re some of the best out there! Seeing A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in 2026 really proved that the world of Westeros still has so much to offer, and it was great to see them try a more comedic approach. And it’s not just that show – His Dark Materials, True Blood, House of the Dragon, and a bunch of others all stand alongside what I consider HBO’s ultimate fantasy series.

Early superhero movies in the 2000s, like the first X-Men and Fantastic Four films, often featured costumes that were quite different from the bright, colorful looks in the original Marvel comics. Filmmakers were hesitant to fully recreate the comic book designs. However, more recently, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been embracing those iconic comic book looks for its heroes, frequently using them for the characters’ ultimate or most polished outfits, which has strengthened the connection to the source material and honored the heroes’ histories.