‘The Rings of Power’ Just Got Some Pretty Brutal News

Clunky title aside, I thoroughly enjoyed Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. We rewatched the original Peter Jackson trilogy between episodes, and the show held up even when going up against two stone-cold classic films. — What did not hold up? The Return of the King. — That said, I wouldn’t particularly argue with anyone if they felt Rings of Power had some pacing issues. You had to want it at times, and apparently, not a lot of people did! According to a new report, only 37% of viewers actually finished the first season. That’s not great. It’s still on track for Season 2, but this bad boy cost a serious chunk of change. I know Jeff Bezos is crazy about the show, but crazy enough to dump what could amount to billions into something that not even half the audience is finishing? (TVLine)

We are one step closer to a Best Stunts Oscar category. (Lainey Gossip)

Cardi B calls out women who claim they have sex multiple times a day: “You practically telling the world that your man on drugs.” (Dlisted)

Brad Pitt did not enjoy Angelina’s billionaire lunch date. (Celebitchy)

Kayleigh is back on her BS, talking YET AGAIN about why Chris Pine is the Best Chris. (Daily Beast)

A fond farewell to Finland’s cool clubbing prime minister. (Jezebel)

Game of Thrones’ next spinoff really shouldn’t be an Aegon the Conqueror series. (Polygon)

Moana isn’t even seven years old. It does not need a live-action remake now or any time soon. Goddammit. (IndieWire)

From Seth: In his excellent Substack, Oliver Willis tears down the “liberal media” fallacy: “There is no hope left here. The mainstream press isn’t going to have a moment of reflection or shame when they realize what they have collectively done to wound America’s legacy.” (Oliver Willis Explains)

Here’s what happens when Kirk Cameron, Jack Posobiec, Sean Spicer, and Libs of TikTok read to children. (Daily Dot)

That little douchebag who pushed a wheelchair down the stairs has been released from his hockey team. (The Hockey News)

Mobius_Walker knew nothing about For Small Creatures Such as We by Sasha Sagan beyond the cover and title when he picked it up. “This book was a salve that reminded me that rituals can be created and enjoyed by anyone, and that religious belief or faith is not a necessary ingredient to a meaningful ritual.” Do you have rituals, religious or otherwise? (Cannonball Read 15)

From Steven: Half my brain: OMG going to the moooooon finally! Other half: actually since they’re going to the moon you should be wishing them ad lunam not ad astra. YOU IDIOTS.

Wiseman. Glover. Koch. Hansen.

The next four Moon explorers have been chosen. The Artemis II mission now has a crew.

Congratulations to our fellow astronauts! Godspeed and ad astra as your journey begins. Go #Artemis!

More: https://t.co/6tMHM26iY5 pic.twitter.com/0nF4XOpFvT

— NASA Astronauts (@NASA_Astronauts) April 3, 2023