#cruise changes 2025

[cruiseandtravel]

MSC Cruises: New Limitations on Alcoholic Beverage Packages from 2025

Starting from April 1, 2025, MSC Cruises will introduce significant changes to its alcoholic beverage packages to promote responsible consumption during cruises. These provisions will apply to packages purchased from December 18, 2024, onwards. MSC Cruises is committed to promoting responsible alcohol consumption during its cruises, announcing significant changes to its alcoholic beverage…

[netscapenavigator-official]

Listen. I hope I’m wrong. I hope in 1-3 days you all can point at this post and be like “look at this idiot for being paranoid.” I do. But I feel like the writing’s on the wall. There are no paths forward without Pennsylvania, and that gap is too large.

I hope the non-voters are happy. Legitimately. I hope the Green Party is happy. For real. I hope this outcome brings them the joy they hoped it would. I hope they don’t come to regret the next 2-4 years. I hope they’re at peace.

I hope Europe isn’t forced to change their stance on Ukraine like many Prime Ministers have warned they would. I hope there are Palestinians left in Gaza to liberate after Trump “finishes the job” and gets his real estate property. I hope the number of queer folk killed, whether individually or systematically, in the coming years is minimal. I hope the number of women killed by inaccessibility to medical care is minimal. I hope the number of disabled people who face financial hard times is minimal. I hope we genuinely can cruise through these next 4 years. I hope I’m still around to try and fix this in 2-4 years.

I hope the message the non-voters and Green Party sent is actually received. I hope they didn’t send the message to Democrats that conservatism is the way to win and what we should be embracing.

I hope that nothing in Project 2025 is completed. I hope we win at least one branch to throw a stick in the gears of fascism. I hope Trump bombs his second term so poorly that 2026 wipes the GOP out of the House and Senate.

I hope there’s still a global superpower to fix in 4 years. I hope that the corruption we��ve allowed to thrive tonight doesn’t infect our neighbors across the Atlantic like they fear it will.

I still hope for a better future. But I don’t believe that future is going to happen this time. I’m going to try to go to bed.

[taylorswiftstyle]

MTV Video Music Awards | September 11, 2024

Dior Resort 2025 Lorraine Schwartz earrings Stuart Weitzman ‘Ultrastuart Maverick Leather Boots’ - $1,550.00

Dior’s latest cruise collection was an ode to Scotland and the house’s first runway show held there in 7 decades. Creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri said of her inspiration, “Scotland is an important reference in the fashion world and I wanted to interpret it in a different way. For my generation, it’s so associated with punk.” The result was an offering full of voluminous skirts, dramatically cinched dresses, and hourglass jackets rendered in historically accurate tartans and, indeed, set off with certain punk sensibilities thanks to studded leather accessories and clompy buckled boots. 

The VMA dress code typically leans towards the wacky and the outrageous. Hence why Taylor has felt comfortable appearing in alphagetti soup baby onesies (aka The Incident, circa 2014). I’ll put it on record again and again that I may pull a face at that look (and still do, a decade later) but I will always appreciate a risk (relative to the wearer). Fashion should be fun! 

The collection filters Scotland’s most historic women into its fabrics. Namely, Mary Queen of Scots: a fiery Sagittarius woman I’d like to think Taylor might feel kinship with. During her years of imprisonment in England by QEI, Mary would insert veiled - often political - symbols into her embroidery. At one point even the phrase, "In my end lies my beginning" was embroidered into her state's clothes. Doesn’t that feel, “In the death of her reputation, she felt truly alive”? 

In his review of this Dior runway, Mark Holgate for Vogue described the collection as one that “drew on the geopolitics of fabric[s …] and the way [Mary] gave political commentary through her embroideries.” He described the series as full of “defiant beauty and an equally defiant energy. It felt uncompromising. But then maybe women can’t afford to be anything but that, especially now.” If a possible connect, I admire this evocation in the wake of Taylor’s major political endorsement. Especially given Chiuri worked with the iconic Harris Tweeds for their artisan, loomed wool. This teed her up nicely for an onstage call to action to remind viewers to register to vote.

All-in, this felt like a cohesive night of looks to underpin TTPD’s aesthetic. The runway’s interplay of proportions and bustier-like top are very TTPD - sensual, emboldened, playing with what to reveal and what to hide. A look that’s dark academia adjacent. 

I do find the biker gloves (also by Dior) confusing and I’m searching for insight on their ‘why’. At the Grammys, I could buy into the ‘Albatross’ reference in her black elbow-length gloves. These? I’m still trying to make sense of. A straitjacket allusion, perhaps? Were I to make some styling tweaks, I would have removed the gloves, opted for the coordinating tartan shorts from the runway, and changed the boots out to an equally tall but caged style to tie into the patterned effect of the ensemble.

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images

[spngirlpolls]

the thing with supernatural is. it was on a major television network for fifteen consecutive years. so yes technically it’s in the mainstream but somehow it had zero impact on pop culture. none of those actors are household names. it’s hardly ever referenced in other media. ask a stranger on the street to name any major character on that show. what are the odds they even know what you are talking about. i would argue nearly every other show on the wb/cw ranks higher in the zeitgeist. gilmore girls. riverdale. gossip girl. one tree hill. the vampire diaries. you understand.

and then in the same breath. indelible impact on internet culture. changed the very landscape of fanfiction. the crux of a large portion of the user base on this website. millions made at those fan conventions. supernatural cruise 2025. you understand.

so is it niche. absolutely not. is it mainstream. absolutely not.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

What a February

Well...what a great couple of days to be stuck in the office, amiright? (I work mostly from home but on occasion I have to go into the office and of course some nice little royal bombs get dropped when I can't be here.)

I've gotten some anons about what's happened but I won't be posting them (sorry, everyone!). Because so much has happened, I think it would just be confusing to rehash some of it, and other asks were also sent to Empress and Sassy (nothing wrong with that! They were doing answers in real-time and they've said pretty much the same things I'd have said).

So to recap recent events:

2/5/24: Buckingham Palace announced King Charles has cancer. Fortuntely it was caught early, Charles is doing/feeling well, he's beginning treatment immediately.

2/6/24: Harry catches a last-minute flight to London. Clarence House puts out a story "business as usual, nothing to worry about, King can still work and he is still working" (i.e., Harry go home).

2/7/24: Harry arrives in London. He goes directly to Charles, who is delaying travel to Sandringham to see him. Harry's PR says they met for an hour, Meghan wanted to say hello/wish him well via Facetime but Charles declined, and Harry went to BP for the evening. The Daily Mail tracked the comings and goings from Clarence House and realized the meeting lasted less than 15 minutes, from the time of Harry's convoy entering the grounds to Charles's helicopter leaving. It is further revealed that Harry spent the night in a hotel, William didn't return Harry's calls, Harry didn't want Camilla involved in the meeting, and none of Harry's "friends" offered to host him for the night. Also, William makes his first public engagements since mid-January when Kate's treatment began; Tom Cruise is there.

2/8/24: Harry flies home. He's papped at Heathrow entering the VVIP suite (as one does). Wait, Harry's not at home! He's in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl (or the Superb Owl) and makes a surprise appearance to present the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. Sussex PR immediately begins telling everyone that Harry and Meghan will be attending the Super Bowl.

2/9/24: Lambrook School begins half-term break and the Wales family travels to Anmer Hall/Sandringham estate. Harry's appearance in Vegas gets picked up by the media.

2/10/24: Meghan's PR starts walking back their own rumors that they'll be in Vegas for the Super Bowl, citing the need to prepare for their Canada IG trip.

2/11/24: Super Bowl Sunday. No Harry and Meghan to be seen.

2/12/24: Meghan's PR reveals she spent the weekend cooking with Afghan immigrants in an Archewell initiative.

2/13/24: Harry and Meghan launch their newest rebranding effort with their new Sussex website with Meghan's coat of arms (rather than their joint coat of arms). Meghan announces a new podcast deal with someone no one has really heard of.

2/14/24: Harry and Meghan arrive in Vancouver for the "one year to 2025 Invictus Games." Meghan coordinates a photoshoot with outdoor activities; merches two outfits; and virtue-signals their "we're still royal" demands with Kate cosplay, a coat called Kensington, and a 'you can call us Sir/Ma'am' exchange caught on camera. In the evening they're papped going to a super-romantic Valentine's Day dinner date.

2/15/24: Day 2 of the Vancouver IG kickoff visit. They visit wheelchair basketball. Meghan gives her signature full-body contact-hugs. Sussex PR announce that the family has changed their surname to Sussex (from Mountbatten-Windsor) and this is the first time all family members have the same surname. Meghan also claps back at mounting criticism by saying "We will not be broken."

2/16/24: Day 3 of the Vancouver IG kickoff visit. Harry gives an interview to GMA's Will Reeve (son of the late Superman actor Christopher Reeve and his wife, Dana) in which he blabs about Charles's cancer and reiterates how much he loves his family, hinting that he's available to come back. Sussex PR also drops an article in the afternoon (with BP collaboration) announcing Harry and Meghan's plan to return with half in/half out; this is very clearly one of Charles's trial balloons from Clarence House.

(Today) 2/17/24: Backlash to the trial balloon is swift, so Clarence House backtracks immediately and does damage control. Kensington Palace announces that William will attend the 2024 BAFTAs tomorrow. Half-term break for Lambrook School ends on February 19th so the Waleses are traveling back to London/Windsor this weekend. And Hollywood has fought back by leaking about their Netflix deal, which contradicts a ton of Meghan's PR from 2020/2021.

Since some of you have asked for my thoughts, here you go. I am warning you now it's probably going to be my usual essay.

On the new website:

The new Sussex website is a problem. It conveys a legitimacy to the public that Harry and Meghan do not have, which The Queen and Edward Young made very sure was publicly known back in 2020. In particular, it's the use of Meghan's coat of arms, which signals palace support or endorsement. IMO, Buckingham needs to force them to take the coat of arms down.

I suspect they are using Meghan's coat of arms because a) Meghan believes it was personally awarded to her and is hers to use as she wants, whereas Harry's coat of arms probably comes with strings from the BRF and b) it's CYA if ever there's a divorce - if you look at it from a business standpoint, this is nothing more than Meghan branding the company with her name so she can prove ownership when they're splitting assets in a divorce, increasing her chances of getting the "company."

What about Archewell?

They're probably phasing out Archewell. It doesn't have the same visual connection to Harry and Meghan that Sussex does. I think they struggled so much with Archewell and were never able to get it off the ground in terms of a brand or an identity, in part due to the COVID-era launch. Sussex is a much stronger association for them and connects them more tightly to the royal identity. Archewell will probably be either their nonprofit arm or their content creator arm but it won't be as important going forward as it's been in the past.

Frankly, I would be surprised if Archewell v Sussex branding didn't come up in the brand analysis that WME did when Meghan first signed with them. We know they did a brand analysis because there was a ton of PR in August 2023 about Harry and Meghan becoming separate brands, which didn't work at all and they were back together as a "Sussex" brand in September 2023 with Dusseldorf Invictus Games. Seeing the success of "Team Sussex" in Dusseldorf definitely informed the website and the rebranding attempt.

What about the timing of all this?

They're taking advantage of the quietness from the royal family. They do this every year like clockwork when 1) the BRF is on summer holidays (July through early September) and 2) the BRF is on winter holidays (late December through early February). What is unusual about this timing is that it's taking place in mid-February and possibly well into March, which is a clear signal that it's the Sussexes taking advantage of Kate's absence to draw attention to themselves because Kate isn't there to steal their headlines.

And that it was a whole week of Sussex PR is not unusual either. It's their usual pattern when they have something big they want to promote and dominate the news with. It's cyclical at this point: first is a reminder of their royal status (Harry flying to Charles's bedside), then it's a reminder of their celebrity status (the Super Bowl appearance), then it's a big announcement (Sussex website), culminating in a set of public engagements/appearances (Invictus Games) with media attention. And to keep the attention coming, they drop breadcrumbs about the royal family to look like they're still "in," which buys them a few extra days of coverage because Charles falls for the bait every time.

The more interesting bit of timing in all of this is the Netflix article. Netflix wouldn't randomly give comments like this, so something must have happened behind the scenes for them to be pushed to this particular breaking point. I feel like perhaps the Sussexes may be trying to renegotiate their deals - maybe they asked for more money or maybe Meghan is trying to get more out of this 'Meet Me at the Lake' production than was agreed - and this is Netflix making it clear that it's over and done. I also have a niggling feeling that it might be connected to the upcoming film awards (BAFTA Film Awards tomorrow, Oscars on March 10th) - maybe they're trying to score tickets to parties using Netflix's name?

Are they really going to come back? Will Charles let them work again?

Analytically, the evidence points to 'no.' The trial balloon failed quickly faster than any other I've seen recently, which is and isn't surprising. It's surprising how quickly Charles backtracked since it had his implicit endorsement. It's not surprising that Charles pulled it down - he's as thin-skinned as Harry and Meghan both are when it comes to criticism.

But it's also more than just the trial balloon. It's everything else.

Charles wants them back on the family side. That's always been pretty clear. I think he waffles on having them back on the "work" side: on the one hand, the BRF needs the help since 10 of The Queen's 14 working royals are elderly (all 5 Kents, the 2 Gloucesters, Charles and Camilla, and Anne) and 2 of the remaining 4 are dealing with a signficant health issue and are temporarily out of commission - in the business sense, this is unsustainable and untenable succession planning. But on the other hand, no one wants Harry and Meghan back, for a litany of reasons including how much shit they've talked about the family (collectively and individually), the petty PR games they play for attention, and the Sussexes' general toxicity. And by 'no one,' I mean family members, courtiers/staff, others in the aristocracy (not getting invites to the Grosvenor wedding is a huge reflection of what "their kind" thinks of teh Sussexes), and the at-large general public.

Charles probably has entertained the idea of half in/half out now that he's in charge and the Sussexes are now lovebombing him (vs in 2020 when they were lovebombing The Queen) but his biggest opposition is public support - it took Charles 30 years and 4 significant deaths (Diana, Queen Mother, Philip, and her own forthcoming death) to get The Queen's support for Camilla to become 'Queen Camilla and, in turn, the public's support or the public's indifference.

Charles doesn't have that kind of time to get the institutional and public support to bring Harry back. He's got 10 years at best, which is now handicapped by a cancer diagnosis.

Beyond that, he doesn't even have Harry and Meghan's cooperation the same way he had Camilla's cooperation. Camilla cooperated with a 10-year wait to be liked well enough that no one would object to her marrying Charles. Camilla then cooperated with a further 17-year wait to be liked well enough that the institution would support her becoming Queen.

Can Harry and Meghan wait that long? No. They can't. They couldn't wait an extra year to get engaged. They couldn't wait to have their first child. They couldn't wait out the criticism from Fall 2018. They couldn't wait out the criticism from Summer 2019. Harry couldn't wait for the phone-hacking settlement. When they want something, they want it now. They buy completed projects and slap their branding on it vs. developing their own programs.

Can Harry and Meghan cooperate with anyone? No. They can't. They couldn't cooperate with William and Kate on the Royal Foundation. They couldn't cooperate with the courtiers for Archie's birth. They couldn't cooperate with the family on Megxit. They couldn't cooperate with the rota for tour coverage. They need to be totally and fully in control of absolutely everything. Their idea of cooperation is 'I tell you what to do, you do it.'

And because they're too impatient and because they refuse to cooperate, there's no way they'll support a 10-years long PR drive for Charles to rehabilitate their public image and get William's support. Heck, they can't even last a 3-month media rebrand. Charles knows that, which I suspect is why he may be trying to fast-track it but 1) when has fast-tracking something ever gone well for the BRF and 2) William is the linchpin holding it all together. Charles can't do anything without William's support. Yes, William is that powerful now - the public does pay attention to what he and Kate signal and the public would support them more than they would support Charles. Charles can't risk losing William's favor any more than he already has.

The third reason stopping Charles from taking Harry and Meghan back as working royals is Camilla and that Harry doesn't want her involved. He admitted it last week when he didn't contradict her leak about it. IMO, this reveals Harry's hand: he wants to position himself (or Meghan and himself) as Camilla's alternate, the way Charles often stood in as Philip's alternate. They want Camilla to retire so they can take her place in prestige, wealth, and attention. It's the only way they can "be better" than William and Kate, and they probably think it's how they can get "more" in the inheritance than William. Unfortunately for them, Camilla is Charles's line in the sand so no way will Charles let that happen after he spent 30 years getting Camilla to be able to sit next to him, and on top of all that, Camilla herself didn't wait 30 years to be Queen just for a pair of narcisstic glassbowl shitheads to usurp her at the last second.

That's the "working royal" side of it.

When you look at the "family" side of it, we know that Charles is more accepting of allowing the Sussexes back as family members, albeit with two strict rules:

No Meghan

No royal work

We know these are Charles's rules because it's already been communicated to us, most especially in the events around the Queen's funeral and his own coronation.

We also know these are Charles's' terms because Harry is publicly fighting against them this week, which suggests that these may have been reiterated (or relitgated, perhaps) during the <15-minute visit on February 7th.

"We all finally have the same surname for the first time as a family" and "maybe I'll become an American' is Harry's way of telling Charles and the courtiers that all four of them are a package deal and they all move together (like Archie's salt and pepper shakers). Meaning that if Charles wants Harry back, Charles must also take Meghan, Archie, and Lili too.

The Vancouver trip being such a royal rip-off is Harry's way of demanding royal work. His position is that he and Meghan must have the exact same lifestyle now that they had back in 2018: a palace residence, glamorous patronages, military honors, gushy praising media coverage, carriage processions, and equal precedence to the entire Wales family.

All this to illustrate that the dividing line is over the work aspect.

On one side is everyone saying "no, they can't work, they're just family." On the other side is Harry and Meghan saying "we're not just family, we're also working royals." And Charles is there smack in the middle saying "don't make my last years miserable" begging someone to give in. It's clear that Charles hopes it will be the institution (i.e. William) that gives in so he can fast-track the rehabilitation.

So no, I don't think Charles and the Sussexes will succeed in being part-time working royals. I think we'll see a lot of negotiating in the coming weeks and months (like Sussex demands for Trooping) and it may get loud and it may look frighteningly real, but that's only because William and Kate are on leave from work and their absence lets Harry and Meghan play offense. Once the Waleses are working again, or a new picture of Kate is released (I'm still hedging my bets for something celebrating Mother's Day next month), the Sussexes go back to playing on defense, and playing poorly.

We only need to worry if William, Kate, and Camilla appear to be changing their minds. They represent "the institution" to Charles, as well as public support (William) and establishment media (Camilla). William continues to tell everyone he isn't speaking to Harry. Kate's body language at the Windsor Walkabout keeps resurfacing. Camilla has leaked that Harry doesn't want to see her when he visits Charles and that she doesn't support the Sussexes coming back. There's nothing to worry about for now.

[mikecardenmpreg]

miscellaneous tai encounters not worthy of their own posts

getting greeted with a YEEEAAAAHHHHH and a high five from mike because i was wearing the shirt

me and andy talking about managers from hell

talking about ska influence on tai with adam (he doesn't hear it the way i do)

listening to bill and adam argue over what scenes were in flannigan and mr. jane and which were in double duel

me saying jokingly saying "who's favorite band is ween anyway?" and adam going "mine" 🫣

andy excusing himself from adam, mike, and jamie by saying WE (him, me, and brittany) were gonna get dinner (we did not get dinner with andy but we did go to the buffet at the same time)

bill's dead on colin meloy impression

jamie remembering me from literally 7 years ago and going "you changed your hair" girl yeah it's been 7 years i hope so

jamie telling us a crazy story from that exact show 7 years ago

telling jamie about the hearing loss i got in my left ear from said show

honestly just talking to jamie he's so chill

mike talking about why he didn't bring his 5 year old on the cruise with him: [hollow, tired, stressed out voice] he's too much

bill senior showing everyone baby pics of bill in the crowd and william going "c'mon man!" when he found out

on that same note, someone showed bill and bill sr. a really old pic they took of bill at a show in like 2004 and bill sr. goes "that's you!" and bill goes "yeah i know"

mike pulling his tech, snow, out of thin air and introducing us to him and telling us how amazing he is and how he does everything and snow dying from embarrassment and then immediately leaving

william asking me on TWO separate occasions "where's santi?" BITCH!!!! this literally caused me psychic damage

seeing jamie wander around in his overalls like the little hobbit he is

me saying to mike "bill tells me you have a sense of humor" and him going "i do!" (i still don't believe him)

im paraphrasing bc i don't exactly remember what he said to me but i remember the sentiment but mike was telling me about how pre-split shows kinda lost their charm because he was doing the same thing day in and day out and how what they're doing now is a lot more special to him 🥲

get mike a fidget ring 2025

[brightlotusmoon]

The homophone in question is believed to have been used as slang as far back as the 1590s according to Online Etymology Dictionary, if not earlier. Since opening its first store, Kum & Go was always at risk of being interpreted that way. But customers clearly read it as meaning a place for a quick stop, and its name readily conveys that it’s a convenience store. Maverik on the other hand sounds like a place to buy unlicensed Tom Cruise merch. The decision to sacrifice the former for the latter strikes as a misguided marketing move. It’s like Buc-ee’s changing its name because of a 21st-century slang word.

In the end, management’s squeamishness could hurt the brand rather than help it. But we’ll all know for certain when Maverik is rolled out across the company’s locations, and ventures into territories beyond.

[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

Sacrifices/BTR Book 2: a Jhea fanfic.

Chapter 3: Vegas, Vegas, Vegas..

April 18th, 2025. 7:56 AM. WWE Private Jet for Head Writers and Family.

The hum of the jet engines filled the cabin as Jey and Rhea sat side by side, cocooned in the excitement of the day ahead. Jeyce and Jaciyah, his youngest son, sat across from them, absorbed in their phones, blissfully unaware of the whirlwind of emotions swirling around their parents. Despite Jeyce’s recent suspension, Jey still brought him along; family was everything to Jey.

Rhea picked at the assortment of finger foods offered by the attendants, her mind racing with thoughts of the ceremony to come. She was still wrapping her head around the whirlwind that had brought her here—the unexpected joy of being honored at the Hall of Fame, the upcoming induction, and the looming surprise Jey had hinted at.

Jey glanced over at her, unable to suppress the grin spreading across his face. He was bursting with excitement, practically vibrating in his seat as he envisioned how everything would unfold.

The ceremony was set to start at five o’clock, and Jey had meticulously planned every detail. He had arranged for a limo to whisk them away afterward, but the real surprise was yet to come—Rhea had no idea that today wasn’t just about her induction. Jey had concocted a secret of his own, one that he hoped would leave her speechless.

As the jet soared through the clouds, Jey leaned in closer to Rhea, a conspiratorial whisper escaping his lips. “You have no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this,” he said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. “You’re going to love it.”

Rhea turned to him, her brow furrowed in curiosity. “What do you mean? Just dinner, right?”

“Dinner,” he echoed, his voice playful, “and a little something extra.”

Rhea narrowed her eyes, suspicious yet intrigued. “Jey, what are you up to?”

“Just trust me,” he said, his grin widening. “I promise you’re going to love it.”

Jaciyah looked up from his phone, his youthful exuberance shining through. “What’s going on? Are you guys planning something?”

Jey chuckled, ruffling his son’s hair. “Just a little surprise for your mom. Can’t ruin it before it even starts.”

The jet continued its smooth ascent, and Rhea leaned back in her seat, a mix of excitement and anxiety swirling within her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that today would be life-changing in ways she couldn’t yet comprehend.

Jey reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers, grounding her amidst the uncertainty. “No matter what happens, I’m here with you. We’re in this together.”

Rhea smiled, squeezing his hand back, finding comfort in his presence. “I know. I just can’t help but feel a little nervous.”

“Good nerves,” he reassured her, his voice steady. “You’ve earned this, Rhea. You deserve to be celebrated, and I can’t wait for everyone to see you shine.”

As the jet cruised through the skies, Rhea glanced out the window, envisioning the future that awaited them. Today would be a new chapter, filled with love, celebration, and perhaps a few unexpected turns. And no matter what surprises Jey had in store, she felt ready to embrace them all, hand in hand with the man she loved.

—

4:20 PM.

Jey watched as his children embraced their grandfather Solofa, the warmth of family enveloping him like a comforting cloak. Talisua, Jey’s mother, stepped forward, her face radiant with pride and love. “E afua mai mauga manuia o nuú…” she intoned, her voice melodic as she passed a sei—a traditional floral headpiece—into Jey’s hands. The words meant, “From the mountains flow the blessings to the village,” and he felt their significance as he carefully pinned the sei into Rhea’s hair, wanting to adorn her with the love of their family.

As Solofa wrapped Jey in a bear hug, he said, “Tautua nei mo se taeao manuia…” which meant “to serve now for a better tomorrow.” The words resonated deeply with Jey as his father placed a customized blue ula fala around his neck, a symbol of their heritage and the love that bound their family.

Suddenly, Jey’s phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a text from Trinity: Rhea is blindfolded and in the limo now. A rush of adrenaline surged through him. “I’ve got to go,” he said, glancing back at his family, who wore expressions of anticipation.

Jaciyah quickly rushed to hug his father. “I can’t wait for Rhea to be my official stepmom,” he exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement. Jey smiled, his heart swelling with joy as he absorbed the moment.

“I can’t wait either, son.” Jey replied, ruffling Jaciyah’s hair before making his way out of the hotel room. He took the elevator down, his pulse quickening as he exited the lobby of Caesars Palace.

As he stepped outside, he spotted the sleek black limo waiting for him. Climbing in, he noticed everyone inside was silent, the air thick with anticipation. He scooted towards Rhea, who sat with her blindfold on, a stunning white ruched long-sleeved mesh dress hugging her figure.

“Hey, babe,” Jey said softly, reaching for her hand. Rhea instinctively grasped it, her warmth flooding through him.

“I am not letting Trinity blindfold me again.. shit is scary.” she said, a hint of playfulness in her voice.

Jey laughed, the sound light and genuine. “It will be worth it, I promise.”

“Don’t tell me you rented the whole joint out,” she teased, her voice light but filled with curiosity.

“Maybe,” Jey replied, unable to keep the grin off his face.

“Since when do you wear aftershave?” Rhea questioned, her tone shifting to playful scrutiny.

Jey glanced around the limo, catching Finn’s eye. Finn mouthed an apology, and Jey shrugged, “I figured I’d try something new.”

“No offense, babe, but you smell like Finn, and I don’t want an Irishman; I want my Samoan,” she quipped, causing everyone in the limo to cover their mouths so they would not laugh.

As they pulled up to the Bliss Wedding Chapel, Jey’s heart raced with excitement. He carefully opened the door, helping Rhea out first, her blindfold still in place. Trinity peeked out to watch as Jey guided Rhea toward the chapel entrance, her excitement evident. Once inside, Trinity looked at everyone and said, “Let’s do this!” They all exited the limo and used the service entrance to enter the chapel, which was decked in blue and silver flowers and arrangements.

Once inside, Jey felt the energy shift, a hushed anticipation enveloping them. Rhea turned her head, sensing the atmosphere, her pregnancy nose taking in all the scents. “What’s going on? It’s too quiet for a fancy dinner,” she said, impatience creeping into her voice.

“Sorry, the people aren’t coming out to check us in,” Jey replied, trying to keep his voice steady despite the thrill coursing through him.

Rhea huffed playfully. “I’m getting impatient and hungry as fuck.”

Jey wiped a thin line of sweat from his brow, feeling the weight of anticipation in the air. He opened the chapel doors and walked Rhea inside. His eyes saw every one and he couldn't help but feel even more sweaty. Everyone’s eyes were on him, silently urging him to take the plunge.

Taking a deep breath, Jey dropped to one knee, looking up at Rhea with all the love he could muster. “It’s okay to take off the blindfold,” he said, his voice steady despite the flurry of emotions swirling within him.

Rhea hesitated, her breath caught in her throat. As she pulled down the blindfold, her gaze shifted, and her heart nearly stopped. Jey was on one knee, surrounded by the faces of those who had embraced her as family. She turned her head and saw everyone she loved: Jon and Trinity, Damian and Kayden, Dom and Liv, Finn, JD and Carlito, Joe and Galina, Joseph and Almia, and even Cody with his wife, Brandi. The realization washed over her like a wave.

“Oh my god,” she repeated, her mouth agape in shock.

Jey smiled, his heart swelling as he took her hand in his. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?” he asked, his voice earnest.

Rhea’s eyes widened further, her shock morphing into exhilaration. “Fuck yes!” she exclaimed, pulling him up and capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. The world around them faded as they lost themselves in the moment.

“Uh, we haven’t gotten to that part yet!” Jon interjected, a teasing grin on his face, breaking the spell.

Rhea and Jey pulled back, laughter spilling from them as they rejoined reality. Jey gently reached for the sei, pinning it into Rhea’s hair with care, a symbol of their love and commitment.

“Ready?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with joy.

“More than ever,” Rhea replied, her voice filled with warmth.

As Jey walked her down the aisle, their fingers interlaced, she felt the love and support radiating from their family. The girls stood by Rhea’s side, each of them glowing with happiness, while the boys flanked Jey, all grinning from ear to ear.

Jon cleared his throat, commanding the attention of the room. “We are gathered here today because someone decided to plan a wedding in three days!” His statement erupted laughter, the sound echoing off the chapel walls.

“Hey, don’t blame me! It was all Jey’s idea!” Rhea chimed in, her laughter infectious.

“True, true!” Jey admitted, his smile wide as he looked at Rhea. “But you’re the one who said yes!”

Jon chuckled, shaking his head in mock disbelief. “Alright, let’s get this show on the road before they change their minds!” He gestured toward the assembled family, the atmosphere brimming with love and laughter, a perfect reflection of the bond they all shared.

As Rhea and Jey stood before Jon, their hearts aligned in a rhythm of pure happiness, they knew this was just the beginning of a beautiful journey together, surrounded by those who mattered most. The love and laughter they shared today would echo in their hearts forever.

“We already know why we here today guys, let’s get this over with..” Jon said as he shared a grin. Jey looked at Jon. “Uce’.. the dang book..” Jey said in reference to the book the chapel gave Jon.

“Sorry… might have had a drink with Cody before we got in the limo.” Jon admitted.

“HE CAME ON TO THE BUS JEY! THERE WAS NO STOPPING HIM!” Cody yelled from the back.

Jey rubbed his temples, his wedding day already into becoming a memorable one.

“Okay okay.. I’ll get back to this..” Jon said as he opened the book. He tried to adjust his eyes and said “Liv! Give me your glasses.. can’t read this shit..”

“Uce’!” Jey yelled impatiently, which caused the room to laugh.

“Okay okay… On this joyous occasion, two souls find solace in one another's embrace. As they express their undying devotion through exchanging vows of mutual respect and understanding, these lovers commit to a journey that celebrates the specialness of individuality while never failing to remain intertwined with love for each other throughout life's many adventure.. Joshua it is time..”

Jey took a deep breath, his heart racing as he gazed into Rhea’s eyes. “Rhea,” he began, his voice steady yet filled with emotion, “from the moment I met you, I knew you were someone special. You have shown me what true love feels like, a love that is unwavering and real. You have been my partner, my confidante, and my best friend. I promise to always support you, to stand by your side in every challenge we face, and to cherish every moment we share. You are the love of my life, and I can’t wait to spend forever with you.”

Tears brimmed in Rhea’s eyes as she listened to Jey’s heartfelt vows. When it was her turn, she took a step closer, feeling the warmth radiating from him. “Jey, my love,” she began, her voice trembling with emotion, “you have brought light into my life in ways I never thought possible. Through the ups and downs, you’ve been my strength, and I’m so grateful for every moment we’ve shared. I promise to be your rock, to lift you when you’re down, and to love you fiercely for all the days of our lives. Together, we can face anything, and I’m so excited for our future.”

As their words hung in the air, Jon smiled, his heart swelling with pride for the couple before him. “Now, Jey, I need you to look at Joseph for your ring,” he instructed, and Jey turned his gaze toward his brother.

Joseph stepped forward, a proud smile on his face as he presented the stunning ring to Jey. The ring glimmered in the soft light of the chapel, a perfect symbol of their love. Jey took the ring, his hands trembling slightly as he slipped it onto Rhea’s finger, sealing his promise with that simple yet profound gesture.

“Rhea,” Jon said gently, “look at Trinity for your ring.”

Trinity stepped forward, her beautiful blue dress accentuating her 31-week pregnant belly, radiating joy and love. She carefully handed Rhea Jey’s ring, a twinkle in her eye as she watched the couple. Rhea accepted the ring, her heart racing with excitement as she took a moment to admire the way it glimmered in her palm.

With careful precision, Rhea slipped the ring onto Jey’s finger, their fingers brushing together as she did. The ring fit perfectly, just like their love—meant to be.

Jon beamed at the couple, filled with pride and emotion. “Now that you have exchanged your rings, it is time to solidify this union. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Jey pulled Rhea close, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss that ignited the chapel with cheers and applause. It was a kiss filled with promise and love, a sweet testament to their journey together.

As they broke apart, Rhea’s heart swelled with happiness, and Jey looked down at her with pure adoration. They turned to face their family, hands still intertwined, ready to embrace this new chapter of their lives together.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Fatu!” Jon announced with excitement, and the room erupted into applause and cheers. The love and support of their family enveloped them, creating an unforgettable atmosphere that would forever be etched in their hearts.

In that moment, Jey and Rhea stood hand in hand, ready to face whatever the future held, bound by a love that was unbreakable and true.

Dominik’s voice echoed through the chapel, jolting everyone back to reality. “I know you said keep an eye on time, but it is 5:30!” he shouted, glancing at his watch with an exaggerated sigh. Urgency erupted as everyone quickly gathered their things, making their way toward the waiting limo. There was a Hall of Fame ceremony to get to, and despite the wedding excitement, they knew they couldn’t keep the WWE Universe waiting much longer.

Everyone piled into the limo once more, filling the seats with laughter and chatter as Damian reached over to the minibar. With a mischievous grin, he grabbed a bottle of tequila, pouring shots for everyone except the pregnant ladies—Rhea and Trinity, who both playfully rolled their eyes at him.

“To Jey and Rhea!” Damian shouted, holding his glass high as everyone joined in, echoing the sentiment before clinking glasses and downing their shots. Joe, unable to resist the moment, grinned widely, holding his glass out. “Another, please!” he called out, laughing as Damian handed him the bottle with a knowing smile.

The limousine finally pulled up at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where a swarm of WWE staff awaited their arrival.

Jey, Damian, and Rhea stepped out first, making their way through the bustling backstage area. Rhea felt the nervous excitement bubbling in her chest as she clutched Jey’s hand. She took a deep breath, glancing around at the stage setup, the gleaming lights, and the buzz of anticipation. It was almost surreal to be here, knowing she was the final inductee for the night.

As the ceremony began, Rhea sipped her water, grounding herself as she watched the others take their seats. Jey squeezed her hand gently. “Just breathe, babe,” he whispered, his steady voice calming her nerves. She nodded, taking a deep breath, feeling a surge of confidence return.

After each inductee had went, an assistant peeked around the corner, giving a slight nod. “It’s time.”

Jey turned to Rhea, giving her one last, encouraging smile as he led her to the entrance. Damian walked beside them, his usual calm demeanor masking his own excitement. They stopped just at the curtain, with Damian and Jey stepping forward to make their entrance. Jey turned to Rhea, quickly leaning to kiss her, his lips lingering for a moment longer than usual. It was a silent promise—a reassurance.

As Damian’s music filled the arena, the crowd’s cheers erupted, echoing through the backstage as he and Jey stepped out onto the stage.

The announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Ladies and Gentlemen, to announce the final inductee for the Class of 2025, the Archer of Infamy, Damian Priest, and Main Event, Jey Uso!”

The audience roared in excitement, fans holding up signs, chanting their names as Damian and Jey stepped up to the podium. Damian waited for the crowd to settle, a sly grin on his face as he began speaking.

“Tonight is not just any Hall of Fame ceremony,” he began, his voice filled with pride. “Tonight, we are here to honor someone who has not only left an indelible mark on this industry but has also inspired everyone here. She’s relentless, fierce, and has a heart that shines brighter than all these lights combined.”

Jey took over, his voice filled with warmth and love. “This woman… she’s been through it all. She’s shown strength in every match, in every moment, and in every challenge she’s faced. I’m not just proud to call her my partner in life; I’m honored to stand here as she’s recognized for everything she’s given to all of you, to WWE, and to me as a wife.”

The crowd cheered wildly, and Rhea, waiting just behind the curtain, felt a rush of emotion as she listened to Jey’s words.

Damian continued, his voice carrying over the noise. “So, without further ado, please welcome to the Hall of Fame, a legend in her own right, a woman who redefines what it means to be a champion—Demi Fatu, better known to all of you as Rhea Ripley!”

The curtain parted, and Rhea stepped out to the deafening cheers of the crowd, her entrance music blaring loudly. She paused, overwhelmed by the sea of faces, the flashes of cameras, and the warmth of the applause. She could feel the weight of every moment, every battle, every victory she had fought for in this business.

Jey and Damian stepped back, making way for her as she reached the podium. She glanced over at Jey, her eyes shining with tears as she took his hand for a moment, grounding herself before turning to the crowd.

Rhea took a deep breath, steadying herself as she looked out at the crowd, every face watching her with admiration. She smiled, grounding herself in the moment before she began, her voice carrying a newfound strength and warmth.

“Being here tonight… it’s surreal. But being a professional wrestler, especially for the WWE, has been so much more than championships, wins, and losses,” she said, her tone soft but powerful. “To truly be a WWE Superstar is to live and breathe this business, to sacrifice moments, to fight through pain, and to stand tall in the face of doubt and hardship.”

Her voice grew more intense as she continued. “Every time I step into that ring, I’m not just wrestling for myself. I’m wrestling for the young girl who felt alone, who wanted to find strength in herself. I’m wrestling for every fan who’s faced struggles and found solace in watching us give everything we have in that squared circle. WWE has been more than just my job. It’s my passion. It’s my heart. And it’s my family.”

She took a shaky breath, looking at Jey, then back at the audience. “You all have given me a home, a purpose, and a love I never thought possible. And I will never, ever stop fighting for all of you. Thank you… for believing in me.”

As her words settled over the crowd, a wave of applause rose, filling the arena. The entire audience leaped to their feet, giving Rhea a powerful standing ovation. She turned toward Jey, her eyes brimming with emotion, and kissed him deeply, sealing the moment with love and gratitude. Jey held her close, their shared strength radiating through the embrace.

Suddenly, from beneath the stage, a figure emerged. Jon, moving quickly and with urgency, came into view, startling everyone onstage. Jey, Rhea, and Damian exchanged confused glances, their laughter fading as they took in Jon’s expression.

“Babies!” Jon called out, breathless, his excitement barely contained. “Trinity! It’s happening!”

Jey and Rhea’s eyes widened, realization dawning. They didn’t wait another second, quickly climbing down from the stage to reach him. Damian stepped up to the mic, his voice booming through the arena as he tried to keep the crowd informed.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re sorry for the interruption, but Rhea and Jey are about to become godparents!” he announced, grinning as the crowd erupted with cheers and applause at the unexpected news.

Jey and Rhea pushed through the crowd, finally spotting Trinity. She was seated, visibly uncomfortable but determined, a soft glow surrounding her as she held onto her belly, her breaths controlled but heavy.

“Oh my god, Trinity!” Rhea gasped, reaching her side as Jey steadied her with one hand, his own expression a mix of shock and excitement. They quickly helped Trinity up from her seat, supporting her with gentle touches and whispered reassurances.

Hunter appeared, moving through the crowd with a team of security and WWE staff, concern etched across his face. “Come on, let’s get you out the back way,” he said, his tone firm yet caring. He signaled for the team to clear a path, ensuring they could avoid the front entrance where fans were already gathering.

With Jon, Jey, and Rhea at Trinity’s side, they navigated through the maze of hallways backstage, Hunter leading the way. Every step was a reminder of the family they had built, bound together not just by blood but by love and loyalty. And as they reached the waiting ambulance, Jey’s hand found Rhea’s, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

In that moment, everything felt complete. This wasn’t just another night in WWE. It was a night they would remember forever—a celebration of family, friendship, and love that would carry them through every challenge and triumph yet to come.

—

Flashback January 9th, 2025 11:13 AM

Trinity placed the s’mores dip into the oven, the warmth of melted chocolate and marshmallows filling the kitchen as she listened to Rhea vent. Rhea’s expression was a mix of frustration and sadness, her hands clasped tightly around her coffee mug.

“I mean, am I asking for too much?” Rhea asked, her voice barely a whisper as she looked up at Trinity with pleading eyes. “I just… I want him to be open with me, to actually talk about the things he’s feeling. But every time I push, it’s like he just shuts down.”

Trinity gave her a sympathetic smile, wiping her hands on a dish towel before moving closer to Rhea. She leaned against the counter, arms crossed, and nodded thoughtfully.

“No, girl, you’re not asking for too much,” Trinity reassured her. “Look, Jey’s been through a lot. But so have you. Wanting him to open up and go to therapy isn’t unreasonable. You’re trying to build something real, something solid, and that takes honesty from both sides.”

Rhea sighed, swirling her coffee absently as she considered Trinity’s words. “I don’t want to keep feeling like I’m the only one putting my heart on the line, you know?”

Trinity nodded knowingly, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Trust me, I get it. Jon used to be the same way, always so guarded. He’d act like nothing ever bothered him, and if I even brought up the idea of therapy… whew, that man would go running.” She chuckled, rolling her eyes fondly at the memory.

Rhea’s eyes softened as she looked at Trinity, finding comfort in the shared experience. “So how did you get through to him?”

Trinity shrugged, a bit of nostalgia in her gaze. “Honestly, it took a lot of patience. And more than anything, I had to accept that he’d open up in his own time. I couldn’t force him. But once he realized that I wasn’t going anywhere, that I was here for the good and the bad, he started to trust me with his feelings.” She paused, giving Rhea a meaningful look. “Sometimes it just takes time for them to feel safe enough to let that guard down.”

Rhea nodded slowly, absorbing Trinity’s words. “I get it… but sometimes I feel like he doesn’t trust me with that part of himself. Like, if he doesn’t let me in, how am I supposed to know what he’s really going through?”

Trinity reached out, giving Rhea’s arm a comforting squeeze. “You’re doing everything right, Rhea. Just keep being there for him, and let him know that it’s okay to let go of that tough exterior. He loves you—I’ve seen it. He just might not know how to show it the way you need right now.”

Rhea’s expression softened, her eyes glistening with emotion. “Thanks, Trin. I just needed to hear that I’m not crazy for wanting more.”

Trinity laughed, pulling Rhea into a warm hug. “Girl, you’re far from crazy. You’re just in love with a stubborn Samoan. And trust me, it takes a strong woman to love a man like that.”

Rhea chuckled, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. “Guess we’re both strong then.”

“Exactly,” Trinity grinned, releasing her from the hug. She glanced at the oven timer, smiling as it went off. “And speaking of strong, you’re about to have to be strong enough to handle this s’mores dip, because it’s about to be too good for words!”

As Trinity placed the s’mores dip gently on the dining table, Trinity asked her about the infamous pregnancy nose.

Rhea laughed, nearly dropping her spoonful of s’mores dip. “Oh God, the pregnancy nose! I’ve heard about that,” she said, shaking her head. “The swelling, the aches, the hormones… it's a lot.”

Trinity chuckled, leaning back in her chair with a sigh. “Girl, it’s no joke. Some days, I’m all about it—just ready to be all over Jon. And then other days, I swear I could sleep for a whole week if I was left alone.” She rubbed her belly affectionately, a mix of exhaustion and love in her eyes. “These twins are running me ragged.”

Rhea smirked, glancing at Trinity’s belly. “Jey loves the fact that I’m willing still jump his bones every day.” She rolled her eyes playfully. “But the swollen feet? The constant cravings? Not so much ready for that.”

Trinity grinned, dipping her spoon back into the chocolatey marshmallow goodness. “Trust me, Jon has been more than willing to… help out, let’s say, with that part. But the damn pregnancy nose? I am praying it skips me. I don’t want to look in the mirror and see a different face staring back at me.”

Rhea laughed again, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Jey would never let me live that down. He’d be calling me Button Nose more often than I'd like."

Trinity snorted, covering her mouth with her hand to keep from spilling her dip. “You’re bad!” She gave Rhea a playful nudge. “But hey, at least we have each other to vent to. The guys wouldn’t understand.”

Rhea nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for her friend. “Yeah… it’s good to have someone to talk to about this stuff. It’s not all glamorous, no matter what people think.” She paused, looking down thoughtfully. “But even with the scares and the worries… I think I’m ready. At least, I hope I am.”

Trinity gave her an encouraging smile. “You are, Rhea. And when the time comes, you’ll have a whole family behind you. Especially me.”

Rhea’s eyes softened, and she smiled back. “Thanks, Trin. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

They shared a warm look before diving back into the s’mores dip.

—

Later that night…

Rhea, dressed in a black babydoll lingerie dress, felt a warm flutter in her chest as she settled next to Jey on the bed, the familiar scent of his cologne wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. The dim light from the bedside lamp cast a soft glow, highlighting the playful glint in his eyes as he regarded her.

“Seriously, though,” Jey said, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “You’re looking fine tonight. What’s the occasion? Trying to distract me from my game?” He gestured towards the paused screen of Tetris, his playful tone lightening the atmosphere.

Rhea chuckled, brushing her fingers along his arm. “Maybe a little,” she replied, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. “But more than that, I wanted to remind you that we’re in this together. Whatever happens, we’re a team.”

Jey shifted closer, his expression turning serious. “I meant it when I said I wanted to be strong for us both, Rhea. I know things have been tough lately, but we can handle this. Together.” His gaze locked onto hers, filled with unwavering conviction.

Rhea felt her heart swell at his words. She appreciated his strength, but she wanted him to know it was okay to lean on her too. “I know you want to protect me, but you don’t have to do it alone. I want us to face everything together, even the hard stuff.”

“Trust me, I get that,” he replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “But there are times I can’t help but feel like I need to shield you from everything, especially after… everything that’s happened.”

“I get that too,” she said softly, the weight of their past lingering in the air between them. “But we can’t let fear run our lives. We have to embrace whatever comes next.” She leaned in, kissing him again, deeper this time, pouring her emotions into that brief connection.

When they pulled back, Jey’s smile was genuine, filled with love and appreciation. “You always know how to get me, don’t you? I swear, you’re magic.”

Rhea laughed, feeling the tension of the day melt away. “Only when I need to be. Now, are you going to play or what?” She gestured playfully toward the controller.

“Alright, alright. But you’re in trouble now,” he warned, picking up the controller again. “I’m going to crush you in this game.”

“Not if I can help it,” Rhea challenged, leaning back against the headboard, ready for the playful competition to unfold. They settled into an easy rhythm, laughter and friendly banter filling the room as they played, the worries of the world fading away, if only for a little while.

In those moments, the love they shared felt stronger than any obstacle they faced, and Rhea couldn’t help but believe that together, they could conquer anything.

As Jey and Rhea laughed together, completely engrossed in their game, the shadowy figure remained hidden behind the thick bushes outside their window. The faint light from the room illuminated their faces, capturing moments of laughter and joy that only deepened the figure’s seething rage.

The intruder’s eyes were cold, almost lifeless, as they watched Jey lean into Rhea, his arm wrapped around her protectively. Every smile, every glance, every touch between the couple fueled the figure’s resentment. The happiness radiating from inside that room was like a slap to the face—a reminder of everything they’d lost or had stolen from them.

Silent and unmoving, the figure’s grip tightened around something concealed in the folds of their jacket. The sound of Jey and Rhea’s laughter drifted out into the quiet night air, heightening the figure’s resolve. Their breath hitched as they fought to suppress the bitterness clawing its way up their throat.

In that moment, the figure made a silent vow: they wouldn’t let Jey and Rhea’s happiness last much longer. Soon enough, the couple would know what it felt like to have everything they cherished stripped away—piece by piece.

With one last piercing glare at the scene inside, the figure slipped back into the shadows, disappearing into the darkness. The night held its secrets well, and for now, Jey and Rhea remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing just outside their window.

[twistedtummies2]

Top 10 Appearances of Disney's Evil Queen

Not so long ago, Disney released the teaser trailer for an upcoming live-action remake of its first great animated feature, “Snow White,” scheduled for release in Spring of 2025. When I saw the teaser, two thoughts immediately sprung to mind. The first was, “May God have mercy on their souls for this stupidity.” The second was…while the trailer largely did not impress me, I was genuinely intrigued by the first looks at Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. Ever since her casting was announced, she was the one part I was genuinely interested in seeing, and for all the problems the trailer presented, I remain hopeful that she, at least, will turn in a worthy performance. This got me thinking of all the past times the Evil Queen has shown up in Disney properties since her debut in their premiere animated motion picture. I’ve done similar lists in the past for two other Disney Villains - Maleficent and Scar - and I decided it would be fun, in light of this news, to give the Queen a look-see, too. Now, a few key rules must be established: first of all, I’m only talking about DISNEY’S Evil Queen. Other versions of the fairy-tale icon aren’t counted here at all; I made a separate list of my favorite versions of the character in general a while back. Second, and slightly tied to that, I am NOT including the characters of Regina from “Once Upon a Time” and Queen Ravenna from “Snow White and the Huntsman.” This is because I feel, while each certainly has been influenced by the Queen from the original Disney movie, they really stand as their own versions of the character. I’m only talking about the original Disney Queen and her reappearances. Third and finally, I can obviously only count appearances I’m actually fairly familiar with; for example, there’s a somewhat famous Disney comic series called ‘The Return of Snow White” which I’ve heard is very, VERY good…but I sadly haven’t read it yet, so I don’t think it’s right to include it here. With that said…“dip the apple in the brew, let the sleeping death seep through!” These are My Top 10 Appearances of Disney’s Evil Queen!

10. Kingdom Hearts.

“Kingdom Hearts” is one of my favorite video game series of all time, and a big part of why is the appearances of the Disney Villains. From Maleficent to Hades, from Pete to Ursula, it’s great to see all of these famous baddies show up, and - when the chance arises - to battle them in delightfully crazed combat. HOWEVER, not every villain is a knockout antagonist. I think partially because, as time has gone on, the series has focused more and more on its own original lore and characters than on mingling the Disney worlds INTO that lore, the villains seem to be taking a step back with every other installment. Case in point: the Evil Queen. While by no means the worst of the Disney Villains in this universe, I’ve personally always felt slightly disappointed with the Queen’s appearances in KH. She’s kept perfectly in character, and her times onscreen do lead to some great moments, but she has very little to do with the overarching plot of games like “Birth By Sleep” and it feels like there was more that could have been done with the character than ultimately was. However, it was great to see her, and her presence did lead to possibly my favorite boss fight (at least for the Disney characters) in all of KH history. End of the day, I’d be remiss to leave this off the running entirely. I really just wish we'd gotten more of her.

9. Villains Tonight!

This now-retired spooky spoof was a tongue-in-cheek musical farce originally performed on Disney Cruise Lines. The main character of the show is Hades, who - at the start of the play - is trying to reform…not because he actually desires redemption or feels genuinely repentant, but simply because he is so sick and tired of being foiled time and time again by Hercules, he’s had enough. However, things change when the Fates inform Hades that he needs an upgrade in evil-ness, otherwise he’ll lose control of the Underworld (and, really, that’s all Hades has left). So, the God of the Dead decides to summon some of his fellow villains to his lair, hoping their collective wickedness can help him out. While most of the villains in the show are essentially cameo appearances - showing up for a single "spotlight moment" musical number, and then departing till the end of the show, a-la “CATS” - the Evil Queen actually plays a fairly sizeable role in the story. Hades sends out Pain and Panic with physical invitations for both the Queen and Maleficent. It’s revealed that the two arch-villainesses are not only rivals, but also old flames (har har) of the Lord of the Underworld. Their competitive spirit nearly gets the better of them, but later in the show, they put their differences aside to spoil the day (they’re certainly not SAVING it), and help Hades get back into the evil groove. This is by far the silliest of all the Queen’s appearances on this list, but it’s a lot of fun; the back and forth between herself and Maleficent is so delightfully catty, and it’s cool seeing these two end up being the…ah…“heroes” that help Hades in the end.

8. Disney’s Villains’ Revenge.

I only recently rediscovered this PC game from my youth. While not everything in it still holds up in my adult years, I’d generally say it’s still a pretty interesting title! Made as a sort of promotional method to advertise some of Disney’s older films (which were being either released or re-released to video en masse at the time), this game features four of Disney’s resident rogues: Captain Hook, the Queen of Hearts, the Ringmaster from Dumbo (...okay, that’s the odd one out…), and - of course - the Evil Queen. The plot begins when Jiminy Cricket (in an uncharacteristic show of abject stupidity) decides to meddle with a magical storybook, tearing out the last page from four of the tales contained within (you can guess which ones). Because of this, the villains are able to rewrite their stories the way they want to, twisting things around and coming up with the “unhappy endings” they want most. With help from the Blue Fairy, Jiminy and the Player thus travel into each story to set things right again. In the Snow White section of the game, the Evil Queen has written the Prince out of existence. She tricks Snow White into eating a poisoned apple, and then - just for good measure - she begins to force each of the Seven Dwarfs to take an apple as well, putting them to sleep one by one. Jiminy and the Player need to work fast to find a way to bring the Prince back from the proverbial void before all of the Dwarfs are knocked out. Later, at the climax of the game, the Queen joins in the final battle with the other villains. Instead of being killed, her punishment for her evil deeds is to be forced to remain in her hideous old crone form for the rest of her life. Serves her right, I’d say!

7. Fantasmic!

This nighttime spectacular - an extravaganza of stunts, dance routines, and special effects, all tied together by a loose plot - is generally considered one of the greatest shows ever put on at the Disney Parks. While the exact size of the Queen’s role in the story has changed a couple times through different evolutions and interpretations, she has always been an integral figure in the proceedings. The story - what little there is - begins with Mickey Mouse taking the audience on a tour through his own dreamworld, “where beauty and love will always survive.” The Queen’s arrival is a major turning point: she’s having none of this happiness and harmony rubbish, thank you very much! So, with the help of the Magic Mirror, the Queen summons some of the other Disney Villains to help her “turn that little mouse’s dream into a Nightmare Fantasmic!” (Hence the title.) Although Maleficent is ultimately the final obstacle Mickey must overcome to save his dreamland, it’s the Evil Queen who spearheads the conflict and is the true leader of the villains in the show. Through every change and iteration of Fantasmic, this has remained fairly constant; whatever alterations the nightly spectacle goes through, it’s a fair bet she won’t be leaving Mickey’s dreams alone anytime soon.

6. Kingdom Keepers.

It took me a bit of time to warm up to the Evil Queen in this book series, but once I did, I found she was more than worthy of praise. The “Kingdom Keepers” series is a sort of “Night at the Museum”-esque series of novels, with the premise being that, every night, all of the rides and attractions at the Disney Parks come to life…and so do a great many Disney characters. Not all of these characters are good guys, of course, and a number of them - mostly Villains, naturally - have banded together to form an organization called “The Overtakers.” You can guess what their evil scheme is based on that name alone. While the main leaders of the Overtakers are Chernabog and Maleficent, the Queen plays a notable role in the latter half of the initial series of novels: first, she takes charge as the main antagonist of the fourth book, “Power Play,” leading the Overtakers in a scheme to release the imprisoned Dark Fairy and Black God. The Queen remains a prominent character for the next couple books, and once again takes command in the final novel of the series, “The Insider,” after the main protagonist of the series - Finn Whitman - succeeds in slaying Maleficent. While I personally feel that, in “Power Play,” the character felt like a sort of “Diet Maleficent” - the two characters just have a lot in common in general - the Queen really came into her own as the series progressed, and we saw her interact with other characters more and more. Part of the fun throughout the books was her interactions with her main henchperson: Cruella DeVil. The Queen and Cruella made for a truly odd couple of baddies, since, while Maleficent and the Queen have a lot in common, Cruella and Her Majesty are almost polar opposites. I haven’t read the sequel series to the original seven books, but I can only hope the self-proclaimed Fairest in the Land is just as good (bad?) there.

5. Snow White’s Scary Adventures.

As far as the Parks go, I would argue this ride…USED to be the Queen’s magnum opus. Originally simply called “Snow White’s Adventures” in past iterations, the ride was later more appropriately titled in light of the fact it REALLY leaned on the darker, more macabre elements of the story, with the Queen - seen primarily in her Witch form - basically being the star of the show. Throughout the ride she menaces the riders, tempting them with her Poisoned Apple and cackling with glee, popping up at unexpected intervals as the guests navigate their way through her dungeons and the spooky woods beyond. It was widely regarded as one of the best of Disney’s film-themed dark rides, and when I visited Disneyland (a whole twelve years ago, jeeze I feel old…), it was probably my second favorite after “Peter Pan’s Flight.” UNFORTUNATELY, this ride basically doesn’t exist anymore, at least not at the American Parks: at Walt Disney World, it was replaced with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster, and the Witch has almost nothing to do for that one. (Though her one brief appearance near the end IS done with a VERY impressive animatronic.) As for Disneyland, the ride was recently refurbished as “Snow White’s Enchanted Wish,” which effectively neutered the original ride and, in my opinion, lacks the emotional impact the original, much darker attraction had. It’s truly sad how some of the best things must always remain in the past.

4. Mirror, Mirror.

This was the sixth of the “Twisted Tales” series of books released by Disney, and it is the first one I ever got to read. The series, created by author Liz Braswell, works off a very simple formula: take a random “What If?” question about a Disney movie, and then create either an alternate universe or a sequel or even a prequel out of that concept. While Braswell spearheaded the series and wrote the vast majority of the books, she was not the only author involved; a few other creators also joined in to handle various subjects and stories. Enter Jen Calonita, whose first entry into the books was this one. As the byline on the book’s cover indicates, the concept is based on the idea that, instead of using the Poisoned Apple to kill Snow White right off the bat, the Queen instead tricks the Prince. However, there’s a bit more to the story than that: while the Queen is still utterly despicable, the book gives her a sympathetic leaning, with a backstory that explains more of her wicked actions, while still keeping it clear that her deeds are reprehensible. The twist to the plot also allows Snow White herself to take a more proactive role in the story, as she goes from a humble and sweethearted young lady like in the film to the one who has to face the Queen to save the kingdom. It’s an interesting turnaround that takes the classic fairy-tale and turns into a more complex and action-oriented story, and while I don’t think it’s the best book of the Twisted Tales series, it’s nevertheless a personal favorite.

3. Snow White Live!

Nowadays, we take Disney’s stage musicals somewhat for granted. From Beauty and the Beast, to The Lion King, to Mary Poppins, and more, it’s almost more surprising when an especially popular Disney movie DOESN’T have some kind of staged version out there, be it Broadway or some other avenue. (I mean, by God, they have a stage version of “The Aristocats,” for crying out loud!) However, this was not always the case: the very first attempt at doing a full-length stage musical treatment of a Disney film came in the late 70s/early 80s, as part of a plan to save the prestigious Radio City Music Hall. And what better movie was there to choose than “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”: the first animated feature film Disney made would also be their first foray onto the New York stage scene. This production has gone by several titles, some longer than others, but I’ve always known it by the colloquial name “Snow White Live!” in reference to NBC’s fairly recent live TV musicals. This production was, in fact, recorded and aired on TV and in video release at its height of popularity…but since it has never been re-staged, to my knowledge, and has never received a DVD or Blu-ray release, it’s largely fallen into obscurity. This is a shame, because it’s really a very good production! Part of its appeal, of course, comes from the villain: the Evil Queen is played by two different actors in the show. In her radiant, Queenly form, she is played by Anne Francine; most well-known onstage for her work in the musicals “Mame” and “Anything Goes,” and recognizable to film audiences for her appearance in the movie “Crocodile Dundee.” As the Witch, the character was played by a male actor, Charles Hall, who also voiced the Magic Mirror. Hall would go on to be a constant presence at Radio City, playing the role of Santa Claus for many years in a row during their famous Christmas Spectacular. Both do a great job putting their own spin on the character’s dual identities, and I love them almost as much as the original Queen from the movie! If you haven’t seen this show before, you can easily find it on YouTube; definitely go and check it out.

2. Vil Schoenheit, from Twisted Wonderland.

Well, if you know me, you should have known this guy was coming. In case you haven’t been paying attention to or just didn’t know about my frankly unhealthy addiction to this mobile game, let me give you the basic summation: “Twisted Wonderland” is a gacha-style game, wherein the player gets transported to a parallel universe, and begins life staying at a School of Dark Magic. This school has apparently been inspired by “The Great Seven” - seven of the most infamous Disney Villains - and throughout the game’s story you encounter different figures based on the Great Seven, as well as other Disney characters (mostly villains). The Evil Queen is one of the Great Seven, and while she, herself, has virtually no bearing on the game at all, the analogous character to her is this lad: Vil Schoenheit. Vil is the resident celebrity of Night Raven College, the school in question: he is a professional actor, dancer, singer, and model, who also dabbles in directing, costume design, photography, and even commercial fashion. He is vain, domineering, and carries himself with an icy, sometimes deadpan authority, and is highly persnickety about personal appearances. His Unique Magic allows him to place a poisonous curse on anything he touches, and he is, in fact, a very skilled potion maker and poisons expert: it was this knowledge that allowed him to become the leader of Pomefiore, the house inspired by the Queen. Admittedly, when the game was first released, Vil was actually one of the characters I was LEAST interested in…but as time has gone on, and we’ve seen more of him and learned more about him, he’s become more and more of a favorite of mine. He wouldn’t likely be in too many other people’s top three, but he’s certainly in mine.

1. Fairest of All.

As much as I love Vil, you really can’t beat the original Evil Queen. And as far as other works beyond the film go, I don’t think anything has ever beaten this story. This was the first - and, in my opinion, the best - of Serena Valentino’s book series collectively entitled “Villains.” The series explores the origins of different famous Disney antagonists, and shows their own side of the story for their respective films. As the series went on, it began to build its own lore and a broader universe, which I’ve always had mixed feelings about. “Fairest of All,” however, as the first book, doesn’t have any of the issues this budding lore presents in other novels of the series: it stays with its subject, not really deviating from it, presenting simply the story of how the Evil Queen became so evil. Even more than the later “Mirror, Mirror,” this book makes you sympathize with the Queen, and explains her origins and motives in a way that is both tragic and disturbing. At the start of the story, she actually tries hard to be a good mother to dear Snow White, and a worthy bride to her husband, the King. However, as time goes on, personal insecurities and the pressure of her power begin to twist her heart and mind, ultimately transforming her into the villainess we all recognize. There have been many sympathetic takes on the Evil Queen, both by Disney and by others, but this may very well be my favorite take: it inspired me a lot when I was working on my own twist to the plot…but that’s another story (literally). Bottom line, for somehow being both beautifully simple and wonderfully complex, “Fairest of All” is, in my opinion, the best appearance of Disney’s Evil Queen.

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

House of Mouse.

The Queen had multiple small appearances throughout this show, but nothing super substantial. Still, it was fun to see her pop up and all the shenanigans she’d get up to. I think my favorite was the time she sold Pete a poisoned apple like a used car saleswoman. XD

Once Upon a Halloween.

A Halloween special in tribute to the Disney Villains, where the Evil Queen consults not the Magic Mirror, but rather the Black Cauldron, in a plan to - what else? - take over the world. At the end of the special, the power of the Cauldron overwhelms the Queen…though thankfully, her end is much less horrifying than the Horned King’s.

Snow White: An Enchanting Musical.

This was a stage show at Disneyland that was a reimagining of the original Disney film, with some minor changes to the plot and new dialogue. It featured a pre-recorded Patrick Stewart as the Magic Mirror. Fun show, but I find the other appearances more noteworthy of interest.

Disney’s Golden Anniversary of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs.

An EXTREMELY weird (and very, VERY cheesy) 1987 TV special made in tribute to the film’s 50th anniversary. Jane Curtin played the Queen, seeking revenge on the Seven Dwarfs, with the help of…uh…Sherman Hemsley. (pauses) Weird choice for the face of the Magic Mirror, that one…

[lightleckrereins]

The Six the musical 2024 covers - alternates, swings, rehearsal swings and emergency covers

End of the year means alts post and a new round of complaining about the fact that US (and Canada) alt promo photos are not always released. And last year of cruises which also means last time rehearsal alts show up in this.

West End

Meg Dixon-Brasil: Rehearsal swing, Norwegian Breakaway 4.0; covering Boleyn/Seymour/Howard. Swing, West End; Joined October 2023 covering all six queens. Emergency cover, UK and International tour; joined the tour as a swing during the Italy tour stop in April 2024.

Gabriella Stylianou: Principal Seymour, Bliss 2.0. Alternate, West End; Joined October 2023 as alternate Aragon/Seymour, acted as temporary replacement Seymour from cast change until November 2023 and between May and September 2024.

Naomi Alade: Alternate, West End; Joined October 2023 as alternate Boleyn/Cleves.

Hannah Lowter: Alternate, West End; Joined October 2023 as alternate Howard/Parr. Emergency cover UK tour; joined the tour for one show in July 2024.

Natalie Pilkington: Alternate, Norwegian Bliss 1.0; alternate Aragon/Cleves/Parr, covered Seymour. Swing, alternate, UK tour; joined June 2021 as swing, became alternate Seymour/Parr March 2022, left April 2023; returned as emergency cover for a few shows in May 2023. Emergency cover, West End; joined the cast as alternate for a few shows in June 2022. Universal swing, UK productions; came back in October 2023 as universal swing for West End and the UK tour covering all six queens, left June 2024.

Leesa Tulley: Alternate, UK tour; joined March 2022 as alternate Boleyn/Howard; acted as temporary replacement Howard between August and October 2022, left April 2023. Emergency cover, West End; came back on standby between August and September 2023; returned as standby on and off between February and July 2024.

Danielle Rose: Alternate, West End; Joined November 2021 as alternate Boleyn/Howard, left October 2023; returned as alternate Boleyn/Seymour/Howard between June and September 2024.

Hana Stewart: Alternate, West End; joined October 2019 as alternate Seymour/Parr, left November 2021. Alternate, Broadway; joined March 2022 as alternate Aragon/Seymour/Parr, left April 2022. Swing, West End; returned between June and September 2024 covering all six queens.

Claudia Kariuki: Principal Seymour West End; joined November 2021, left October 2023. Emergency cover, West End; returned for one show in June 2024.

Harriet Watson: Alternate, UK tour; alternate Seymour/Parr, left March 2022. Standby, UK productions. Universal swing, UK productions; came back as standby cover for both WE and UKT throughout 2022, left January 2023, returned for a few shows throughout the year. Emergency cover, UK productions; returned to the UK tour in June 2024 and to West End in August 2024.

Esme Rothero: Swing, West End; joined November 2021 covering all six queens, left October 2023; returned as swing between November 2024 and January 2025. 

UK and International tour

Shakira Simpson: Swing, UK and international tour; joined April 2023. Universal swing, UK productions; came back in September 2024 as universal swing for West End and the UK tour covering all six queens.

Ellie Jane Grant: Alternate, UK and international tour; joined April 2023 as alternate Aragon/Cleves. Emergency cover, West End; joined the cast as alternate for a few shows in July and August 2024. Universal swing, UK productions; came back in October 2024 as universal swing for West End and the UK tour covering all six queens.

Izi Maxwell: Alternate, UK and international tour; joined April 2023 as alternate Boleyn/Howard; acted as temporary replacement Boleyn between March and May 2024. Emergency cover, West End; joined the cast as alternate for a few shows in April and May 2023

Tamara Morgan: Alternate, UK and international tour; joined April 2023 as alternate Seymour/Parr. Emergency cover, West End; joined for a few shows in June 2024.

Harriet Caplan-Dean: Swing, UK tour; joined March 2022, left April 2023. Emergency cover, West End; joined the cast as swing in April 2023 and September 2023. Emergency cover UK and international tour; returned as swing during the April 2024 international tour stops.

Milly Willows: Alternate, UK and international tour; joined August 2024 as alternate Aragon/Parr.

Erin Summerhayes: Alternate, UK and international tour; joined August 2024 as alternate Boleyn/Seymour.

Lorren Santo-Quinn: Principal Boleyn, Bliss 7.0. Alternate, UK and international tour; joined August 2024 as alternate Cleves/Howard.

Broadway

Ayla Ciccone-Burton: Alternate, Broadway; Joined August 2022, covering Boleyn/Cleves/Parr, temporarily left between September and November 2023; left March 2024.

Aubrey Matalon: Alternate, Broadway; Joined December 2022, covering Boleyn/Seymour/Howard, left March 2024. Emergency cover, Broadway; returned for a few shows in August 2024.

Kristina Leopold: Alternate, Broadway; Joined December 2022, covering Aragon/Seymour/Parr, left March 2024. Principal Aragon, Boleyn tour; joined April 2024, left July 2024.

Cassie Silva: Alternate, Broadway; joined January 2022 as alternate Howard, left March 2022. Alternate, Aragon Tour; alternate Boleyn/Cleves/Howard. Standby, Broadway; returned as a standby in July 2022 with her tour covers while still part of the tour company. Universal alternate, US companies; returned September 2023 as alternate for Broadway and the Boleyn tour, covering Aragon/Boleyn/Cleves/Howard, left March 2024. Principal Boleyn, Boleyn tour; joined April 2024, left July 2024.

Sierra Fermin: Alternate, Broadway; Joined December 2023, covering Aragon/Cleves/Howard.

Wesley Carpenter: Principal Seymour, Bliss 3.0. Universal alternate, US companies; Returned September 2023 as alternate for Broadway and the Boleyn tour, covering Boleyn/Seymour/Howard/Parr, left September 2024.

Jessie Davidson: Alternate, Broadway; Joined March 2024, covering Seymour/Howard/Parr.

Jenny Mollet: Alternate, Broadway; Joined March 2024, covering Aragon/Boleyn/Seymour.

Zoe Jensen: Principal Howard, Broadway; joined December 2022, left December 2023. Temporary replacement, Broadway; returned as principal between August and September 2024.

Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert: Alternate, Chicago and North American tour; alternate Aragon/Cleves/Parr was temporary principal Cleves during the St. Paul run. Alternate, Broadway; covering Aragon/Boleyn/Seymour/Cleves/Parr in 2020, switched to Aragon/Boleyn/Cleves in 2021, left December 2022; came back on standby late December 2022; returned between December 2024 and January 2025 as alternate Aragon/Cleves.

Boleyn tour

Aryn Bohannon: Alternate, Boleyn tour; alternate Boleyn/Seymour/Howard, left July 2024. Standby, Aragon tour; temporarily joined the Aragon tour with her three covers. Alternate, Broadway; joined October 2024 with her Aragon tour covers.

Jana Larell Glover: Alternate, Boleyn tour; alternate Aragon/Cleves/Parr, left April 2024. Alternate, Broadway; joined April 2024 changing her covers to Aragon/Boleyn/Cleves/Parr.

Taylor Pearlstein: Alternate, Boleyn tour; alternate Boleyn/Howard/Parr, left April 2024. Alternate, Broadway; joined temporarily in August 2024 with her tour covers.

Kelly Denice Taylor: Alternate, Aragon Tour; alternate Aragon/Seymour/Cleves. Standby, Broadway; became standby for Broadway starting June 2022 with the same covers while still being alternate in the tour company. Standby, Boleyn Tour; joined the Boleyn tour for a few weeks in July and August 2023 but didn’t play any performances. Alternate, Boleyn tour; rejoined the company full time with her Aragon tour covers. , became principal Seymour, Boleyn tour; became principal in April 2024.

Amaya White: Alternate, Boleyn tour; alternate Aragon/Seymour/Cleves, Joined April 2024.

Carlina Parker: Alternate, Boleyn tour; alternate Aragon/Cleves/Parr, Joined April 2024.

Taylor Sage Evans: Alternate, Boleyn tour; alternate Boleyn/Howard/Parr, Joined April 2024.

Caroline Siegrist: Principal Howard, Breakaway 6.0. Alternate, Boleyn tour; alternate Seymour/Howard/Parr, Joined November 2024.

Canada

Hailey Lewis: Alternate, Canada; alternate Aragon/Cleves/Parr. Alternate, Boleyn tour; joined November 2024 as alternate Aragon/Boleyn/Cleves/Parr.

Julia McLellan: Alternate, Canada; alternate Boleyn/Seymour/Howard

Abigail Sparrow: Principal Howard, Breakaway 3.0. Alternate, Canada; alternate Seymour/Howard/Parr.

Darcy Stewart: Alternate, Canada; alternate Aragon/Boleyn/Cleves

Australian tour

Chiara Assetta: Swing, Australian tour; joined when the show reopened in December 2021; returned in August 2024 for the second run.

Cristina D’Agostino: Alternate swing, Australian tour; joined the company in June 2021 as resident choreographer, became alternate (emergency) swing in April 2022; returned in August 2024 for the second run.

Gabriella Boumford: Alternate, Norwegian Bliss 6.0; covering Aragon/Cleves/Parr. Swing, Australian tour; joined in August 2024 for the second run.

Thalia Smith: Swing, Australian tour; joined in August 2024 for the second run.

Norwegian Bliss

7.0

Izzy Formby-Jackson: Alternate, Norwegian Bliss 7.0: covering Boleyn/Seymour/Howard. Swing, UK and international tour; joined August 2024.

Hannah Lawton: Rehearsal swing Norwegian Bliss 7.0; covering Seymour/Howard/Parr.

Norwegian Breakaway

6.0

Deirdre Dunkin: Alternate, Norwegian Breakaway 6.0; covering Aragon/Cleves/Parr.

Giulia Marolda: Rehearsal swing Norwegian Breakaway 6.0; covering Boleyn/Cleves/Parr. Alternate, Norwegian Bliss 7.0; came back changing her covers to Aragon/Cleves/Parr.

Poland

Agnieszka Rose: Alternate, first polish non-replica production; alternate Aragon/Seymour.

Aleksandra Gotowicka: Alternate, first polish non-replica production; alternate Boleyn/Howard.

Marta Skrzypczyńska: Alternate, first polish non-replica production; alternate Cleves/Parr, emergency cover Howard.

Hungary

Mónika Horváth: Alternate, Hungarian non-replica production; alternate Aragon/Cleves.

Krisztina Magyar: Alternate, Hungarian non-replica production; alternate Boleyn/Howard.

Dóra Csonka: Alternate, Hungarian non-replica production; alternate Seymour/Parr.

[glorygirlki]

This year was a lot. I had my wins, I officially started a job in my career field at the beginning of the year working in mental health. I consoled and changed women and young girl's lives, helped them during some of the roughest days they've ever experienced. Bought a new car. I obtained my associates degree. Made amazing new friends. God blessed me with the news of my baby girl. Learned how to set boundaries with myself and others. Went out the country on my first ever cruise. But, I also had my losses. I cried so many tears I could've created my own ocean. Relationships ended, I lost the love of my life. I lost friends, family and even myself at one point. Through it all I kept my head high, trusted God and kept going. I learned a lot this year and can't wait to apply it in this next phase. 2025 will be the year everything I planned for comes into action. 2025 please be good to me🤞🏾💕

Happy New Year 🎆

[the-bar-sinister]

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (300 words) by thesavagesabretooth

Three drabbles. Apollo is in the car three times when the same song comes on.

-

November 10, 2025– 9:15 am

Kristoph had the top down on his car, and the wind whipped through Apollo's hair as they cruised down the highway toward the detention center to talk to their client.

The radio was set low, barely audible over the sound of the warm, rushing air, but Apollo caught a few bars of a song and reached to turn it up.

He hesitated.

"May I?

"You like this one, Mr. Justice?" Kristoph smiled. His hand brushed Apollo's as he turned it up himself. "Me too, I suppose."

As the aching music washed over them, Apollo's boss put his arm around him.

-

June 20, 2026– 10:05 pm

They sped down the highway, top down, under the dark, starless LA sky. Klavier had the music turned up, belting out the lyrics to some new tune on the radio. His arm was around Apollo's shoulder, and he wished he could feel as free as Klavier seemed to.

The music changed and a familiar song came on. Klavier's expression changed with it– wistful.

"Ach, I love this one," he murmured, turning it up further. "My brother and I used to…"

He shook his head.

"Never mind." 

He belted out the lyrics to this one, too, and Apollo sang with him.

-

final part is under the cut

September 15, 2030– 2:45 pm

"And if a double decker bus crashes into us. To die by your side, oh what a heavenly way to die."

They sat three across in Kristoph's old convertible with Apollo in the middle, Klavier with his arm on the passenger side window, and Kristoph at the wheel.

How had they gotten here? So much had changed. Three prosecutors now. Apollo's return to America, his career change. Kristoph's deal with the prosecutorial office, his revised sentence, his community service. Klavier– still just Klavier.

The three of their voices joined the lyrics in harmony.

Apollo wouldn't trade it for the world.

[heartofsix]

Six 2024 Production Guide!

New year means new opportunities for chaos for Six! I got a lot of great reviews from my Boleyn Tour update post, so I thought I'd do another one for what we know about Six going into 2024 - by production!

West End

Current cast is contracted until February 2025, so no major cast change this year

Natalie Pilkington is set to return as Universal Swing after being away for Panto

So far, no change in the alternate system (no second/third covers or alt costumes), but that very well could change

Broadway

Current cast is contracted for a year, so likely a December cast change again

The remaining 2.0 alternates (Ayla, Aubrey, & Kristina) will leave on March 4th

It is unclear whether or not the 3 new alternates will join before or after the current alternates leave

Cassie will likely leave before the Broadway cast change, similar to Marilyn

The first sing-a-long will be on March 6th!

UK Tour

Cast change will occur around July

Shows are currently booked through 28 September

The current cast will perform in Germany & Switzerland from March to April

North American (Boleyn) Tour

Cast change will occur on April 14th (new cast starts April 16th), Adriana (and Wesley and possibly Cassie) will also be staying

Shows are currently booked through July 28th

Australia

A new Australia (and potentially Australasian) Tour will begin in August 2024.

Canada

It is unclear how long the Canadian Production will run, but the cast says they are contracted for a year. So we may or may not have a cast change, depending on if they get an extension or not

Maggie Lacasse (Seymour) is expected to return in January or February

NCL Bliss & Breakaway

Both cruises are on their final casts: Bliss 7.0 & Breakaway 6.0

Bliss will close around February 24th

Breakaway will close around January 26th

Great reminder that the Six the Musical Wiki is a great place to get information! It's constantly being updated with accurate and sourced information by myself and countless other users. Wishing everyone a great year both in and outside of Six!

[ellowynthenotking]

October Roundup!

Let's see, what has Ellowyn managed this month:

As far as, well, fanfic in general, I have written nothing. This is because I have undergone the worst sorrows of my life this month, along with turning 25.

In terms of professional type writing though! I finished writing Undeath on the High Seas, which is a standalone Zombie Apocalypse novel set on a cruise ship. It's a shorter novel that will officially be available for sail November 25th, 2025.

I'd add my wordcounts and stuff, but sadly I had to suddenly change tracking software last month and didn't think to update lifetime totals or anything like that.

If you want to see some of my posts or on going series, please check out my Patreon:

Thanks again to @bardic-tales for setting up stuff and linking us together!

Other writers who you should follow:

@megandaisy9 @watermeezer @littleshopofchaos @nightingaleflowlibrar @kricketbee @themaradwrites @pinkevilwriter @serenofroses @asirensrage @aalinaaaaaa

@goldenlilium-ocs @glbettwrites @wyked-ao3 @badscientist @thebadphilosopher @andromedalestrange @fantastictrashpolice @seastarblue @happypup-kitcat24 @chickensarentcheap @allaboutmagic @ryns-ramblings @kathaliabloodyrose @riemmetric @andromedaexists @kckramer @tales-from-nocturnaliss @pastelpinkhobbies @idonthaveapenname @the-bar-sinister @rosesonkittens @bloodred2023 @kanobarlowe @aquixoticwrites @new-royston-cursebreakers @rosemirmir @salmonandfox @fablesandfragments @paganmindidnothingwrong @elshells @viscerawrites @dawsonskyelar @greenapplespider @edupunkn00b @the-duke-of-nuts @exclawshou @karkkidoeswriting @ashyecatcher

[agentnico]

Most Anticipated Films of 2025

It’s already the end of 2024 - this year went ridiculously quick, and as such I believe I am due my late-twenties existential crisis any moment now. Before however that chaotic affairs comes crashing down I wish to look forward to 2025, which will hopefully bring a more exciting selection to my cinematic hobby, as 2024 in particular has been a most mediocre year at the movies. Having gone through my Letterboxd and the movie calendar, I’ve compiled a list of movies I’m having high hopes for to be good - doesn’t mean the final product will turn out any good, but one can hope. So without much further ado, these are the films I’m most interested in (in no particular order) watching in 2025…

SUPERMAN - Look, I am aware that many DC and Snyder Cut fans out there are highly displeased with the direction this franchise is going in, but honestly the DCEU was an absolute mess, and this universe is in high need of a revamp and restart. Bringing on James Gunn and Peter Safran as the heads of this new DC cinematic universe I’m truly excited for, as Safran is a long-time proven producer in the business and Gunn is one of the better superhero directors out there, having done wonders with the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and his The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker projects for DC. So at the end of day why not give these two a chance? And Superman is now a highly important film for Warner Bros, as it needs to kickstart a new major film series, and get the fans and new audiences on board. First teaser looked fun (Krypto is going to be one cute dog!!), so yes, I am ready to look up!

WICKED: FOR GOOD - This one may be the most shocking entry on the list, as when I was going into 2024 I couldn’t care less about the Wicked movie adaptation. I had watched the original Weat End show with my wife, but in my eyes it felt very much as a musical made for the stage, as well as my passiveness for the Wizard of Oz world. I could care any less cents for the Tin Man, what can I say. However after seeing the first Wicked movie my opinion changed - aside from the plain MCU-style cinematography and lifeless directing, this movie was a wonderful and delightful piece of escapism, with wonderful songs, great performances from its leads and a very faithful adaptation of the stage play. Bring on the second one!

SHELBY OAKS - I have been following YouTuber Chris Stuckmann’s movie reviews since I was a teenager, so it’s great to see a success story in Hollywood come to life with him directing and getting his first movie distributed and released. Do I wish it was something other than a found-footage style horror flick? Maybe, but beggars can’t be chooses and I’m hoping Stuckmann will use his life experience of critical movie thinking to not drop down to the mistakes so many others have in this genre previously.

DEATH OF A UNICORN - We love us an A24 flick. More so we love an A24 flick with a high-end ridiculous concept, and Death of a Unicorn may just be that, where never-aging Paul Rudd and the stranger-lipped Jenna Ortega accidentally hit and run a unicorn, and then proceed to exploit the dead creature’s miraculous curative powers. So, you know, just a regular Tuesday for most folk, and with the likes of Will Poulter and Richard E. Grant among the cast this is expected to be a real hoot!

THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM IS DOWN - Last time Ruben Östlund took on a cruise crisis. Now it’s on a plane! I wasn’t as big of a fan of TRIANGLE OF SADNESS, as there may have been a tad too much vomiting and diarrhoea for my tastes, however I still admired the ambition. With this new film, this is the provided plot summary: “When the entertainment system suddenly stops working onboard a long-haul flight, the passengers are stuck with no screens to look at and are forced to endure 15 hours of life without digital distraction. Chaos ensues.” I mean - that sounds like a zany and outlandish time, which could be both hilarious and a decent commentary on the modern phone-obsessed society we live in today. Also per Deadline, Östlund plans on including a scene where a young boy asks to borrow his older brother’s iPad and is told he has to wait five minutes. “And then I want to challenge the audience,” Östlund teases. “You stay with the kid in real time. And he’s looking in the catalog, putting it back and the restlessness is coming. So he asks his mother, ‘How much do we have left?’ And she says, ‘Well, now it’s four minutes and 45 seconds, you have to calm down.’ When the audience starts to realise that this is a real-time shot, I think a lot of people are going to be very, very frustrated," he said, still chuckling. "I want to create history."

MICKEY 17 - Multiple Robert Pattinsons? A crazy clone sci-fi black comedy concept? Made by the Academy Award winning director of Parasite? The trailers promising a wacky yet fun experience? Sign. Me. Up. Everyone needs more Bong in their lives!

THE BATTLE OF BAKTAN CROSS - Whenever Paul Thomas Anderson makes another film, that is event cinema. He’s one of those directors where his films can only be referred to as “films”, not “movies”. He’s an auteur in the fullest meaning of the term, and now he’s teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio for his next feature, promising as always a wild experience. And maybe another Oscar for Leo? We still don’t have official plot details for the film. It’s all being kept hush-hush, although many signs have been pointing towards this potentially being a modern-day adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s “Vineland.”

WILD HORSE - Martin McDonagh is coming off the most acclaimed film of his career, 2022’s The Banshees of Inisherin. It looks like his next one will be bringing back some familiar faces with Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken. As per McDonagh’s own words “I think the next thing might be set in an Island, not in Ireland, like in ‘Banshees,’ but again to have the island be a character. So, that’s a scoop for you, I think that’s going to be the next thing.” There you go, it’s McDonagh doing his shtick on an island. Good stuff.

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS - Marvel really needs to get back on track. Many have complained about theirconsistent drop in quality, and with 2025 being one of their busiest years ever with 3 movies and 6 shows (talk about over saturation!) I’m not holding out much hope, though I am optimistic about this Fantastic 4 movie. Directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision) and set in a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world, featuring a planet-eating cosmic being Galactus, voiced by the gravelly sounding Ralph Ineson. Please be good. Please!

WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY - Without a doubt my most anticipated release of the year. Say what you will about Rian Johnson’s Star Wars escapade, his take on the murder mystery genre with Daniel Craig’s Southern slurring detective Benoit Blanc is nothing short of top tier entertainment. Both Knives Out and Glass Onion were fantastic, and honestly I wouldn’t mind Craig and Johnson to keep making these movies for years to come. As long as they have the material, let Benoit keep untangling these twisted webs of lies.

Additionally I’m holding out for some more solid physical media releases in 2025 on 4K from the likes of Curzon and The Criterion Collection, as in fact physical media releases in 2024 was somewhat thriving and actually worth the price. Well, I say worth the price - the big collector’s set always cost over £40 which is too much, but nevertheless I appreciate that these remasters and transfers get a lot of work put into them, so I’m willing to churn out more cash for a worthy keepsake. My favourite physical media output in 2024 came from Curzon with the beautiful Paris Texas and Memories of Murder 4K sets; Arrow Video’s Man from U.N.C.L.E. Blu-ray/4k combo; the 40th anniversary Studiocanal release of The Third Man (packed inside a music box!). Some genuinely great items to add to the collection, so here’s hoping more of that for next year, as physical media is a dying breed so I’m ever so thankful that we still get special companies as the aforementioned and the likes of Second Sight and Indicator doing the great work they do. Now let’s just have 2025 makes cinema trips worthwhile again!

[mariacallous]

Above the bar at a small brewpub in Užupis, a hip neighborhood in Vilnius, Lithuania, hangs a portrait of a Madonna-like saint cradling a weapon—something between a rifle, a bazooka, and a 5G antenna.

The caption below reads: “Saint EDM4S.”

EDM4S—or Electronic Drone Mitigation 4 System—is a portable electronic-warfare weapon from Lithuania. Point the EDM4S at a hovering uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) and pull the trigger: The drone should lose contact with its operator and fall inertly from the sky.

Hundreds of EDM4S systems have been donated to Ukraine over the past two years. They are just one weapon in an unseen, and under-appreciated, battle for control of the electromagnetic spectrum. Powering this battle is a furious arms race. Ukraine and its allies on one side, Russia on the other. Both sides are trying to innovate better ways to spoof, jam, and disrupt enemy communications, particularly drones, while simultaneously working to harden their own systems against hostile signals.

This is electronic warfare. In late 2023, Kyiv identified winning the upper hand in this battle as one of its key priorities. With Russia steadily advancing across eastern Ukraine, the need to gain control of the electromagnetic space—and the skies—has only grown more important. Regardless of how this war unfolds in 2025, Ukraine has already changed electronic warfare forever.

Fighting to Electromagnetic Stalemate

Electronic warfare, or EW, has been a part of human conflicts for more than a century. Soon after radios were deployed to the battlefield, soldiers realized that sending bursts of static over a frequency could disrupt the enemy’s ability to communicate. But it wasn’t until World War II that EW really came into its own.

Early in WWII, the British were desperately trying to recapture control over their skies in the Battle of Britain. While British dogfighters grew steadily better at downing incoming Luftwaffe bombers, the Germans slowly moved their raids to the cover of darkness. This prompted a perplexing mystery for the British: How were the Germans so good at flying to their targets in the dead of night?

A young British scientist solved the mystery when he discovered a clue in the wreckage of a downed bomber. The plane’s landing assistance system, which used radio waves to measure the plane’s relative distance to the runway, had been improved so dramatically that it was being used as a rudimentary navigation device. Operators on the ground in Germany and occupied France would emit long, narrow bands of radio signals over British skies: The target factory or town could be found where the two beams coincided.

Armed with this information, the English raced to build their own radio and relay stations, broadcasting their own radio beams into the skies to confuse the incoming German pilots.

Thus began the Battle of the Beams. The Germans refined and upgraded its ability to broadcast and receive signals in British airspace, while the United Kingdom raced to detect and disrupt those signals. It set the pace of EW fights for a century to come.

Today, the electromagnetic space is much more complicated: Different types of signals are broadcast straight across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radar to GPS and GLONASS, to cellular signals. At any given moment, a soldier, UAV, fighter jet, or cruise missile could be sending and receiving a variety of different signals.

With that, militaries have raced to find new ways to jam, intercept, and even spoof those signals. One nation may issue new encrypted radios to its forces, prompting a rival country to develop more powerful radios to flood those channels with static. Recent decades have also seen radar and radio used to detect artillery launches and triangulate their exact position, allowing counter-battery systems to hit the source of fire. Fighter jets, in particular, have developed some of the most advanced onboard radio and radar systems for communications, EW, and counter-EW.

Throughout the Cold War, NATO and the Soviet Union were locked in a fierce battle to obtain even a marginal advantage over the other in this EW fight. That dynamic has driven some anxiety. A 2017 report commissioned by Estonia’s military took stock of Russia’s EW capabilities and warned that, should Moscow invade NATO’s eastern flank, it could likely knock out communications across a huge swath of the Baltics, thereby “negating advantages conferred on the Alliance by its technological edge.”

It wasn’t until Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that the world got to see the extent of Russia’s EW prowess. And it was a dud.

“Russian EW was a no-show,” wrote Bryan Clark, director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, in a July 2022 analysis for IEEE Spectrum.

Moscow had spent years planning for a major war with NATO, designing its EW systems to interfere with the onboard systems of advanced fighter jets and to jam the targeting computers of advanced ballistic missiles. Instead, it found itself in a war against fast-moving defenders making ample use of off-the-shelf UAVs.

Russia’s systems were “not very mobile, not very distributed,” Clark tells WIRED. Their relatively small number of big systems, Clark says, “weren’t really relevant in the fight.”

Moscow’s strategy assumed there would be a relatively static battlespace. Along the front, they would deploy the Infauna, a heavily armored vehicle that targets radio communications. Further out, around 15 miles from the front lines, they would send the Leer-3, a six-wheeled truck capable of not only jamming cellular networks but of intercepting communications and even relaying SMS to nearby cell phones. Even further out, from a range of about 180 miles, the fire-truck-sized Krasukha-4 would scramble aerial sensors.

“When you get close to the front, you get electronic weather,” Clark says. “Your GPS won’t work, your cell phone won’t work, your Starlink won’t work.”

This electromagnetic no-man’s-land is what happens when you “barrage,” Clark explains. But there’s a big trade-off, he says. Jamming across the spectrum requires more power, as does jamming in a wider geographic area. The more power a system has, the bigger it must be. So you can disrupt all communications in a targeted area, or some communications further afield—but not necessarily both.

Move Fast and Jam Things

Russia’s military was marred, early in the war, by bad communication, worse planning, and a general sluggishness in adapting. Even still, it had a big head start. “Unfortunately, the enemy has a numerical and material advantage,” a representative for UP Innovations, a Ukrainian defense tech startup, tells WIRED in a written statement.

So Ukraine developed two complementary strategies: produce a large volume of cheaper EW solutions, and make them iterative and adaptable.

Ukraine’s Bukovel-AD anti-drone system, for example, fits comfortably on the back of a pickup truck. The Eter system, the size of a suitcase, can detect the jamming signals from Russian EW systems—allowing Ukraine to target them with artillery. Ukrainian electronic warfare company Kvertus now manufactures 15 different anti-drone systems—from drone-jamming backpacks to stationary devices that can be installed on radio towers to ward off incoming UAVs.

When the full-scale war began in 2022, Kvertus had one product: a shoulder-mounted anti-drone gun, like the EDM4S. “In 2022, [we were producing] tens of devices,” Yaroslav Filimonov, Kvertus’ CEO told me when we sat down in his Kyiv offices this March. “In 2023 it was hundreds. Now? It’s thousands.”

“Our advantage is that we have many clever people and clever engineers, and we have our own research and development department,” Filimonov says. “Our reaction for different changes on the front line is very fast.”

That’s because Kvertus dispatches its staff to the front lines to see how things are working—or not. EW operators constantly send back reports on which parts of the spectrum are being bombarded by Russia, and which parts of the spectrum Russian forces are inclined to use. Military tech firm Piranha-Tech’s systems are now capable of downing drones from more than a kilometer away, from a height of roughly 500 meters.

UP Innovations was financed as part of Business Springboard, a government-led initiative to finance veteran-run businesses in Ukraine. Being veteran-run means they have firsthand knowledge of what their soldiers actually need. UP has been working on special helmet pads with fabric that works as a Faraday cage to protect the wearer’s radios from jamming.

“Today, every unit has specialists working with tactical radio electronic warfare devices,” Yuriy Momot, deputy CEO of Piranha-Tech, tells WIRED. “There is no operation that goes without the use of radio electronic warfare. As we talk, one of their anti-drone guns sits on the table between us. Just the day before, guns just like this one helped one unit shoot down a dozen enemy drones—including one carrying a grenade.

The early versions of these anti-drone guns caused some skepticism that they would ever be much use in the real world—Russian military analysts mocked them as cheap toys. That mockery has long since faded, however. In recent months, plywood shacks have been popping up on high-rise rooftops in Moscow and St. Petersburg. They house a couple of Russian soldiers, a shotgun, an assault rifle, and a Russian-made anti-drone gun.

But when it comes to defending themselves, Kyiv has opted for a very apropos solution: a decentralized, distributed EW solution.

For more than two years, Ukraine has faced an onslaught of missiles, drones, and glide bombs—all equipped with onboard communications and radar designed to overcome Ukraine’s air defense systems. In recent months, the Iranian-designed Shahed drones have been known to weave, deke, and loiter through Ukrainian skies, distracting and frustrating air defense systems.

To deal with this aerial threat, Kyiv developed Pokrova, a secretive mesh network of EW systems that was revealed earlier this year.

“It’s not one, not two, not three transmitters” that make up Ukraine’s electromagnetic force field, Oleksandr Fedienko, a Ukrainian politician who serves as deputy chairman of a parliamentary committee on digital transformation, wrote on Telegram earlier this year. “There are hundreds of thousands of devices that are installed throughout the country.”

Pokrova isn’t just jamming the Shahed navigation systems, but spoofing their signal. This allows Ukrainian EW operators to feed them new coordinates, gently bringing down the drones so that they can be analyzed and cannibalized for parts. In recent months, Ukraine managed to spoof the signals being sent to these drones—flying more than 100 back into Russia.

Fedienko promised that Ukraine was still racing to scale up the system even further. “It's only a matter of time when the rockets and missiles with which the Russians attack us will fly in the opposite direction,” he wrote.

EW isn’t completely foolproof. But it remains an incredibly promising defensive technology when layered on top of other anti-air systems.

Ukraine’s ability to scale up this domestic industry has put it toe-to-toe with Russia, once thought to have the most impressive EW program in the world. But Russia has learned and adapted too. It’s now a “cat-and-mouse game,” Clark says.

Beating EW

In a secret drone workshop in Kyiv, Yvan holds up a tiny chip. Installed on a small FPV drone, Yvan hopes this chip could overcome Russia’s EW efforts.

With these chips and two cheap antennas, Yvan’s drones are programmed to hop across the electromagnetic spectrum at a dizzying rate, as many as 25 times per second, in unison with its base station.

Yvan hopes that the link between the drone and its operator can move frequencies faster than Russian EW operators can jam the signal. If that works, it could keep these drones in the air significantly longer. AI is already being used to make this signal-hopping seem as random as possible. (Just as AI is being used to detect the hopping pattern in order to predict its next move.)

There are existing solutions to these problems, like controlled reception pattern antennas (CRPAs), which can tune out jamming signals. However, they can cost upwards of $30,000 per unit, meaning Ukraine simply cannot afford to acquire them at scale. So they’ve had to innovate. Yvan’s solution can be dispatched for just hundreds of dollars.

Ukraine first started sending drones deep into Russia in early 2023—with a brazen attack on the Kremlin itself. Then, one small drone exploded spectacularly over the Moscow sky. Since then, Ukraine has stepped up its efforts. In early September, Kyiv launched its most expansive drone attack on Russia since the beginning of the war: An estimated 158 drones descended on targets across the country, setting fires at oil refineries, power plants, and pipelines. Although most were downed, likely through more traditional air defense systems, the attack shows the limitations of Russia’s own EW defenses.

With this constant competition on the electromagnetic spectrum, defense companies are getting creative about how their drones travel.

“In the Western world, GPS always works. Here, GPS never works,” says Stepan, a Ukrainian defense executive. (WIRED is using only his first name for security reasons.) That’s why he’s been developing drones to operate without GPS—or its Russian equivalent, GLONASS. Instead, he employs the drones’ onboard cameras to conduct thermal imaging of the ground below, employing “pure math” to confirm its trajectory by checking terrain, landmarks, and waypoints. This is not entirely new: The US Tomahawk missile, for example, has used terrain mapping for decades. What’s novel is how quickly and nimbly Ukraine has been able to distribute this technology to its nascent drone industry.

Since speaking to Stepan in Kyiv in March, this strategy of terrain mapping has become more common on the battlefield. Artificial intelligence has helped augment how drones understand the land below. They’ve also introduced other kinds of strategies, such as using cell phone towers as landmarks to guide their trajectory—much like the Luftwaffe pilots used radio beams to guide their flight towards British cities.

“The newer systems are using a combination of GPS, terrain mapping, and electronic signal intelligence to figure out where they are and to make themselves more precise,” Clark says.

Ukraine is already coming up with new ideas about what it could achieve if its drones can penetrate deeper into Russia. One drone prototype is equipped with EW systems that could, if it lands in the right spot, wreak havoc on Russian radar, air defense, and communications systems.

Innovation isn’t just moving forward—it’s also looking backwards. One of the most ingenious innovations being deployed in Ukraine is the German-made HIGHCAT drone, and it’s surprisingly old school. A lightweight quadcopter, the drone comes with a 6-mile cable, providing a fixed link to its base station.

It’s not just uncrewed aerial vehicles that are targeted by EW: Ukraine has increasingly deployed land and naval drones to aid in its fight to recapture territory.

Drone manufacturer SkyLab has, despite its name, become known for its ground-based autonomous vehicles. Those land vehicles have been used to deliver artillery, carry wounded soldiers, and could even be used for demining efforts. At their secretive offices in Kyiv, Denys gestures to a stout four-wheel vehicle in the corner. He says SkyLab has been exploring everything from AI to lidar to help these devices find their way home, even in an electromagnetic barrage. (WIRED is identifying the executive with a pseudonym for security purposes.)

“What frequency and mode do I have to use in the next version? What cameras, what gimbals, what logistics, what batteries?” he says. “Now it’s six, maybe seven generations of this rover.”

Innovate or Die

The Battle of the Beams was on track toward an electromagnetic stalemate. As they continued to improve and pioneer their radio warfare technique, neither the British nor the Germans looked set to gain a meaningful advantage over the other.

Then Britain innovated. When the Bristol Beaufighter took to the skies in mid-1940, it adapted Germany’s innovation to create an early aircraft interception radar. By using radio signals to identify enemy planes in the dark skies, British pilots quickly began downing Luftwaffe bombers and took back control of its airspace. The Germans then abandoned the Blitz and redeployed most of their offensive air assets eastward.

England’s victory in the battle came, in large part, because it was capable of uncovering the secrets to Germany’s innovation and reverse engineering it.

That’s happening in Ukraine, too, in both directions. Filimonov says his company’s effort to stay one step ahead is always frustrated by the “rats”—those who are “gathering information and then sending this information to our enemy.” The longer Ukraine’s technological innovation remains a secret, the more effective it will be. On the other side, Piranha-Tech’s Momot says he is always racing to identify Russia’s technological leaps forward, then “developing a countermeasure before the enemy can start large-scale production.”

Late last year, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the erstwhile commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, wrote in a detailed paper that Ukraine had achieved “parity” with Russia on EW—but it needed superiority.

While Ukraine is iterating advantages, a real breakthrough may have to come from Washington.

The United States has transferred an enormous amount of equipment to Kyiv, but it hasn’t—yet—handed over the EW crown jewels. “Electronic warfare is one of those very, very closely held technologies for the US and its closest partners,” Mick Ryan, a veteran of the Australian military and an independent military analyst, tells WIRED. “We're going to have to change the paradigm on how we look at EW and how we share the technologies with other partners, if we want to beat the Russians.”

Clark agrees that the Pentagon is “holding back some of the most sophisticated capabilities,” but there are signs that has changed in recent months: When the American-made F-16 fighter jets arrived in Ukraine in August, the US announced it had upgraded the jets with advanced onboard EW systems.

“One F-16 with a reprogrammed pod won’t achieve air dominance alone, but it may give you a pocket of air superiority for a moment’s time to achieve an objective that has strategic importance and impact,” the director of the US Air Force 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing said in a statement.

More than 80 years after the Battle of the Beams, Ukraine has put a modern spin on the Bristol Beaufighter: drone-on-drone combat. Footage emerged last year of two drones duking it out over the front lines. In mid-April, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was briefed on a new drone capable of intercepting Russian helicopters and loitering munitions.

The world may soon see more of these drone dogfights. Igor, another defense executive (who WIRED is not identifying for security reasons) says his company has been working furiously on a drone designed to hunt and destroy Russian UAVs.

Igor’s anti-drone drone would be a “fire and forget” solution, he says, meaning the drone could loiter in the skies, using a suite of onboard sensors to target all incoming Russian drones. If perfected, it would bring the story of EW full-circle.

There’s one big technological problem with having these drones patrol the skies, Igor says. “You need to confirm that it’s not a bird,” he laughs. “You don’t want to make enemies with Mother Nature.”