Fall is for layering. Layering your favorite capsule closet pieces, layering scents, and layering blankets on top of you on the couch as you curl up for a movie marathon. When it comes to fall beauty, the cooler temperatures bring dry, irritated skin—which means layering moisturizers and serums. But skincare, as many of us are learning, often isn’t a more-is-more game. Curating a skincare routine takes intentionality, especially when juggling active ingredients. High-performance skincare can also make our skin highly reactive. Strategic skincare layering can prevent stressing out our skin microbiome and protect our skin barrier.

We asked a dermatologist which skincare ingredients work symbiotically and what skincare ingredients not to mix. The result, this handy skincare ingredients layering chart to help us decode your products and practice safe skin-care layering.

Featured image by Michelle Nash from our Wake Up Call With Sanetra Longno

Dr. Mona Foad

Dr. Mona Foad, Board-Certified Dermatologist and founder of MONA Dermatology.

First Things First: How to Build a Skincare Routine

I’ll be the first to admit: The skincare I do in the summer could hardly be called a routine. Though I’m fastidious about my sunscreen application (and reapplication!), it can sometimes feel too hot to do more than the basics.

But now that fall is calling us back to routine, I asked board-certified director Dr. Mona Foad what we should actually be using (a bit of a skincare capsule closet, if you will)—and in what order.

“The rule I give patients is simple: Go from thinnest to thickest consistency,” says Dr. Foad. “Start with cleanser, then toner, then any water-based treatments like serums, then thicker creams, and finish with sunscreen in the morning or, at night, a facial oil, if you use one.”

If you’re trying to get back into a more consistent skincare routine, Dr. Foad says the best routine is one you can stick to. “The bottom line is that consistency in your routine matters just as much as the products themselves.”

Your Skincare Layering Routine, According to a Derm

There’s a reason that skincare layering is important: It makes sure you’re getting the most out of your products.

According to Dr. Foad, “Thinner, more active-rich formulas need direct contact with the skin to penetrate and work, and if you apply a heavy moisturizer first, you’re blocking everything else from absorbing properly.”

The order Dr. Foad generally recommends is:

• Cleanser
• Toner or essence
• Antioxidant serum (like vitamin C) in the morning
• Treatment actives (like retinol) at night
• Eye cream
• Moisturizer
• SPF during the day
• Face oil at night

Skincare Layering for Mature Skin: What to Know?

When it comes to mature skincare, Dr. Foad recommends collagen support and barrier strength—plus extra moisturization with richer products.

For this, she says you can’t go wrong with retinol. “Retinoids remain the gold standard for stimulating collagen production, so that’s usually the foundation of an evening routine, paired with a rich moisturizer to offset dryness.”

“I recommend a vitamin C serum for antioxidant protection, followed by a peptide-rich moisturizer and broad-spectrum SPF,” says Dr. Foad. “Layering in a hyaluronic acid serum underneath moisturizer can also make a real difference.”

Can You Layer Skincare for Sensitive Skin?

Whether your skin is generally sensitive or if it is damaged from a disrupted skin barrier, layering skincare ingredients can either help or hurt your skin.

Depending on what is causing your sensitivity (be it fragrance, over-exfoliation, or allergies), what ingredients your skin can tolerate will look different.

If you don’t know what sets your skin off, Dr. Foad recommends consulting a derm and simplifying your skincare routine, adding new products one at a time to see how your skin reacts. “Introduce one active ingredient at a time, give the skin a couple of weeks to adjust, and build the routine slowly from there.”

Stick to the basics, says Dr. Foad. “Start with a gentle cleanser, followed by a fragrance-free hydrating toner, then a barrier-supporting serum with ingredients like niacinamide or ceramides, and finish with a rich, simple moisturizer and mineral sunscreen.”

The Ultimate Ingredient Layering Chart

Ahead, Dr. Foad breaks down what skincare ingredients not to mix in this chart for how to layer your retinol, vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs, peptides, niacinamide, azelaic acid, and benzoyl peroxide.

Retinol

What to layer with retinol: Peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, all of which help offset the dryness and irritation that retinol can cause while supporting collagen production.

What not to mix with retinol: I do not recommend combining retinol with vitamin C, AHAs, or BHAs in the same application, since layering multiple active exfoliants can overwhelm the skin barrier. I tell patients to use retinol at night and save vitamin C and acids for the morning.

Vitamin C

What to mix with vitamin C: Vitamin C is most effective when paired with vitamin E and ferulic acid, which stabilize it and boost its antioxidant power. It also works well with sunscreen, as it enhances your protection against UV damage.

What not to mix with vitamin C: I don’t recommend layering it directly with benzoyl peroxide, since benzoyl peroxide can oxidize and deactivate vitamin C.

AHAs

What to mix with AHAs: AHAs like glycolic acid pair well with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to offset dryness.

What not to mix with AHAs: I don’t recommend combining AHAs with retinol or vitamin C on the same night, since that’s simply too much active exfoliation and increases the risk of irritation and barrier compromise.

BHAs

What to mix with BHAs: BHAs, primarily salicylic acid, work well alongside niacinamide, which calms inflammation while the BHA clears the pore.

What not to mix with BHAs: Like AHAs, I recommend keeping BHAs separate from retinol in the same application.

Peptides

What to mix with peptides: Peptides are one of the easiest ingredients to layer with almost anything. They work particularly well with retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid.

What not to mix with peptides: I don’t see meaningful conflicts with peptides and other actives.

Niacinamide

What to mix with niacinamide: Niacinamide is my favorite ingredient to recommend because it plays well with nearly everything, including retinol, vitamin C, and acids. It helps strengthen the skin barrier and reduce irritation from stronger actives, which makes the whole routine more tolerable.

Azelaic Acid

What to mix with azelaic acid: Azelaic acid pairs nicely with niacinamide and is generally well-tolerated alongside most other ingredients. I do recommend introducing it gradually if combining with retinol, since both target cell turnover.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is the ingredient I’m most careful about layering. Beyond deactivating vitamin C, it can also reduce the efficacy of certain retinoids if applied at the same time, so I recommend using benzoyl peroxide and retinol at different times of day, and always following with a good moisturizer since they can be drying.

My Signature Fashion and Fall Décor Shows on QVC

The model escaped due to a misconfiguration by Google’s testing partner, Irregular.

A new survey from the Pew Research Center shows that a majority of people worldwide now expect artificial intelligence to lead to fewer jobs rather than more. The survey is based on responses from 37 countries. In 34 of these countries, it is more common to believe that AI will result in fewer jobs over the next 20 years. Concerns are greater in wealthier countries.

In Sweden, for example, there are signs of growing skepticism toward the technology. The proportion of Swedes who are more concerned than enthusiastic about the increased use of AI has risen by nine percentage points in one year. This is the largest increase among the countries compared over time. Concerns have also increased among both younger and older Swedes.

In the US, 71% of respondents said they think AI will lead to fewer jobs over the next 20, compared to 5% who say it will lead to more jobs. Most pessimistic were the Australians, with 76% predicting fewer jobs because of AI. The most optimistic groups were in Nigeria and the Philippines, where just 26% of respondents predicted AI-induced job losses outweighing gains.

Brits looking to squeeze in one last holiday this year could save money by swapping peak summer for September or October, with new data revealing the cheapest destinations for an autumn getaway. According to new booking data from lastminute.com, the Spanish costas, Tunisia, Morocco and Albania dominate the list of the cheapest destinations for September and October. The Costa Dorada comes out on top as the cheapest destination, with an average price of just £79 per person, per night. The Costa Dorada is a beautiful strip of Mediterranean coastline in Spain’s Catalonia region, southwest of Barcelona with many resorts and beaches that line its coast.

The Costa Dorada is then followed by Sousse in Tunisia (£86pp/pn), the Costa Brava (£87pp/pn), the Albanian Coast (£90pp/pn) and Hammamet (£91pp/pn), also dubbed the “Tunisian Saint-Tropez.” The new data also found that sun and beach destinations now account for 57% of UK September bookings, up from 54% in 2025. Interestingly, Istanbul in Turkey and Krakow, Poland’s capital city, were the only cities to feature on the cheapest destinations for Brits this autumn.

Zante is proving particularly popular among Brits with September bookings up a whopping 189% year-on-year. Rhodes has seen its bookings increasing by 37.6%, while bookings by British holidaymakers heading to the Algarve are up 30.1%. The Costa Blanca has also seen a rise in demand, with September bookings increasing by 27.4%, according to the data.

Average booking values are 32.8% lower in September than August for Antalya, while Crete is 30.7% cheaper and Tenerife is 27.7% cheaper.

Zoe Fidler, Brand and PR Director, lastminute.com said: “September is proving to be a smart time for Brits to squeeze in one last dose of summer, with travellers turning to the likes of Zante and Rhodes for sunshine without the peak-season crowds.

“We’re seeing strong demand for last-minute escapes, showing that it can be better to leave it to the last minute as you can still get good variety and quality deals at the right price.”

A 42% increase in a matter of weeks is a very strong performance for any share. That is exactly what has happened to the price of Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) since the first week of August. It may have its detractors, but SpaceX stock’s recent performance is the stuff of investors’ dreams.

I still do not have any in my portfolio. Could now be a smart time to change that?

There’s more than momentum driving this rally…

Given the high profile SpaceX stock has enjoyed since listing on the stock market this summer, it can be tempting to look at the sort of price rise we have seen recently and write it off as just dizzying momentum driven by over-excited investors.

It could turn out to be that, in fairness. But I think there is probably more to it. For starters, SpaceX has a market capitalisation of $2.1trn. This is not some tiddler that can be significantly affected by small trades.

The upswing has followed the company’s quarterly results last month. They seem to have been the catalyst for the positive share price movement. In some ways that is understandable. As a newly-listed company, investors are keen to feel reassured that SpaceX is not just hype but a serious growth business.

Reporting quarterly revenues of $7.8bn – a 92% year-on-year increase – certainly delivered on that score.

… But there’s still a valuation conundrum here

Still, while that growth rate is highly impressive, it equates to around $30bn-£35bn of revenues in a year. That is a lot – but hardly justifies a market-cap north of $2trn, in my view.

Even allowing for the prospect of ongoing strong growth, that looks very expensive to me.

Ignoring the price-to-sales ratio for a moment, what about earnings?

Here too, the current SpaceX stock price looks hard to justify from my perspective. The company is loss-making and burning through cash at a fast clip. Not only that, but it is not pacifying investors by building up hopes of free cash flow soon. Rather, it has said it will need to keep spending heavily on capital expenditure.

This then, is the conundrum. Is a loss-making company without a proven profitable business model worth over $2trn? I think it is not. But clearly, some people think it is. That optimism could yet push the price higher, I reckon.

Lots to look out for

I do see reasons for optimism, in fairness. SpaceX has proven technology, much of it proprietary. It has a significant, deep-pocketed customer base. It is strategically focused on areas that are expected to see rapid demand/growth in coming decades, such as satellite launches.

If it keeps growing fast, plays to those strengths and demonstrates that it has a plan to move into profit, I think investor excitement could potentially drive the SpaceX stock price higher from here.

But it faces multiple risks as a business, including growing competition and the prospect of tighter regulation in its AI business.

At the current price, I will not touch it with a bargepole. After all, there are other growth stocks in the market I see as far more attractively valued.

What growth stock do we like better than SpaceX right now?

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Christopher Ruane does not hold any positions in the companies mentioned.

Sci-fi and fantasy are often viewed as opposite ends of the genre spectrum, but there are also many instances where the two genres can co-exist quite beautifully indeed. In fact, while sci-fi is my favorite form of storytelling, some of my most beloved shows only shine as brightly as they do because of their willingness to borrow various hallmarks from fantasy narratives. The sci-fi/fantasy ratio can obviously differ from project to project, but that only keeps these hybrid endeavors even more compelling and unpredictable.

Personally, I much prefer it when sci-fi is the bedrock genre and fantasy augments the action. That’s not an absolute rule, though. Whatever suits the story best is what should be prioritized, and the greatest sci-fi/fantasy TV shows know where to draw the line. Or, in some cases, when not to draw the line in the first place. What’s especially great about the instances where these two genres collide is that, while sci-fi usually focuses on high-concept, pseudo-scientific logic to explain every corner of its lore, and fantasy tends to sway more toward unanswered mysteries, those two mission statements are even less binary than usual.

‘The X-Files’ (1993–2002, 2016–2018)

Mulder & Scully Don’t Just Investigate Alien Activity

By its very nature, The X-Files has always refused to place itself firmly in either the sci-fi or fantasy category. The show’s traditional case-of-the-week formula opens up several avenues, some of which can be fully explained by in-universe scientific principles. For instance, although aliens sit at the core of The X-Files‘ sci-fi-heavy formula, it’s not unheard of for Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) to find themselves in the throes of an investigation involving demons and other supernatural lore. Sure, some of these fantasy-tinged cases can, and sometimes are, explained with semi-logical rationalization, but not all of them. Several confirm the existence of beings not found in typical sci-fi shows.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? More sci-fi, given the focus on aliens. Don’t get caught up on that, though.

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–2025)

The Duffer Brothers Struck Gold With This Perfectly Balanced Approach

Netflix

Stranger Things could be easily described as Netflix’s biggest hit of all time, even with the mixed reviews for the fifth and final season. I think the biggest reason for the show’s success is the expert blending of sci-fi and fantasy visual markers, as well as terminology borrowed from both genres. At first glance, Stranger Things makes a strong case for being a horror-influenced supernatural thriller, albeit one that’s aimed at a younger audience than an actual blood-and-guts fest would be. However, it quickly becomes evident that it’s a sci-fi show dressed as a fantasy epic. That said, it’s impossible to separate the two without it ceasing to feel like Stranger Things. It’s a masterful entwining of countless tropes that can be tricky to make work in tandem.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? It’s presented as a 50/50 split, but the fantasy lingo is largely just the kids’ way of making sense of advanced scientific principles. Therefore, it’s more sci-fi.

‘Doctor Who’ (1963–1989, 2005–2025)

When the Show Inevitably Returns, Expect More Genre-Straddling Action

From the outside, Doctor Who may seem like a cut-and-dried sci-fi show, but that would be a wild oversimplification. Even before the era of Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, which paid a lot of attention to a Pantheon of literal gods, the long-running British series has always proudly worn its fantasy influences on its sleeve. Sure, the traversal of the timeline and visits to alien worlds might scream temporal space opera, and it certainly is one.

That said, Doctor Who also routinely showcases mythical beasts like vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and more. Sometimes, the Doctor rattles off some sci-fi patter to strip away some of the more traditional mythology from these fantastical beasts. Other times, the show intentionally leaves things open-ended, passively expanding the Doctor Who universe. Plus, anything that treats time as a living, breathing entity always earns a fantasy classification in my book.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? This is easily a sci-fi show. The dalliances with fantasy are treated as landmark occasions rather than part of the regular blueprint.

‘Foundation’ (2021–Present)

It’s Often Described as “‘Game of Thrones’ in Space”

Apple TV

Anyone who has read Isaac Asimov’s Foundation book series will know how wild the thought of a live-action adaptation sounds. Yet, somehow, Apple TV continues to pull it off. The show makes some bold divergences from and additions to the source material, but it’s still a slick storyline that unfolds over hundreds of years. The fantasy elements are baked into the concept, and therefore a bit tricky to spot at first. Dig even a little below the surface, though, and things like mathematical equations that can predict the future, mind-reading characters, and a wide array of fictional locations, and Foundation reveals itself as a cleverly concealed sci-fi/fantasy epic.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? The overwhelming space opera elements pull Foundation firmly into sci-fi territory. The fantasy elements help keep things fresh, though.

‘Supernatural’ (2005–2020)

It’s Not All Demon Hunting for the Winchester Brothers

The CW

It would be totally understandable for anti-fantasy viewers to take a passing glance at Supernatural and assume it isn’t the show for them. That would be an unfair judgment, though, even if the circumstantial logic is pretty ironclad. There is plenty to enjoy for the discerning sci-fi fan in Supernatural​​​​​. After the comic book adaptation had burned through all the source material and started penning original stories, the use of things like time travel and parallel universes started to be peppered into the show’s formula with increasingly greater frequency. That said, Supernatural never permanently strays from its original set of fantasy-genre tropes.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? This one is easy. Supernatural is a fantasy show that needed to borrow some sci-fi tricks during its 15-year run.

‘Loki’ (2021–2023)

The God of Mischief’s Presence Prevents Pure Sci-Fi Status

Disney

Loki‘s core premise of the TVA monitoring the multiverse is undeniably sci-fi. On the other hand, the MCU very rarely makes things quite so straightforward when it comes to genre labels. Although sci-fi is at the heart of almost everything the franchise does, characters like Loki (Tom Hiddleston) always make sure that fantasy is never too far away. If the show had someone like Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye leading the story, then calling this one a sci-fi show would be a far more defensible stance. Because of all the mystic lore surrounding Loki, his role as the Disney+ series’ main character means it’s impossible to completely turn away from the canon surrounding his god-like background.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? Sci-fi. I think it would be bland and predictable without a main character lifted from another genre, though.

‘Lost’ (2004–2010)

The Island Creates Countless Inter-Genre Opportunities

ABC

If I were describing Lost to someone who had never seen the show, I would probably just call it a mystery thriller. I stand by that as an accurate description, but it also opens up more questions than it answers. That’s sort of the whole point of Lost, though. Its true genre is almost impossible to nail down, which means that it automatically inherits not just the sci-fi genre label, but also a fantasy one. It’s not fully sci-fi, and it’s not entirely fantasy. In fact, Lost‘s refusal to provide actual answers to some of its biggest mysteries means it’ll likely never be fully categorized. That’s the way it should be, though.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? Fantasy, for sure. The science never fully adds up to earn Lost a traditional sci-fi genre label.

‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964, 1985–1989, 2002–2003, 2019–2020)

Whatever the Episode, There’s Always Something Genre-Heavy

CBR

A little like The X-Files, The Twilight Zone also relished its freedom to do almost anything it liked in terms of genre. The anthology series’ primary goal has always been to unnerve the audience, and sci-fi offers equal opportunities to do that as fantasy does. Binding it all together with things like horror and suspense creates a cocktail of genre-defying brilliance, although none of the revivals have ever managed to recapture quite the same lightning in the same bottle as the original run. Either way, sci-fi fans won’t be left disappointed by The Twilight Zone, nor will those who love fantasy.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? The sheer amount of variety on offer makes this a moot question for this show.

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (2008–2014, 2020)

Every Corner of the Franchise Is Dripping With Both Genres

I could have picked any Star Wars show, but The Clone Wars feels like the best balance between sci-fi and fantasy. The animated project adopts the same sci-fi vibe as its live-action counterparts, with lightsabers and starships being used to establish interstellar dominance, but The Clone Wars really delves into the more fantastical elements of the Star Wars universe. It shows things like Younglings being guided via the Force to their first lightsaber crystals, and even Anakin (Matt Lanter) and Obi-Wan (James Arnold Taylor) interacting with god-like beings who are the living embodiment of the Force itself. It’s way trippier than the battle sequences and family drama that Star Wars is typically known for.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? Fantasy, albeit dressed up as sci-fi.

‘The Sandman’ (2022–2025)

The Netflix Show’s Sci-Fi Worldbuilding Happens Mostly Off-Screen

Netflix

I know it’s tempting to think of The Sandman as strictly fantasy, but that ignores a huge part of the canon. Although most of the story jumps between various periods of Earth’s history and several less grounded settings, there are several references to what’s going on away from the human homeworld. While these moments may only be brief, mentioning other corners of the universe, and even other planets, is a constant reminder that The Sandman has more lore than meets the eye, and it isn’t all quite so predictably fantasy-edged. In fact, some of the unadapted comics show Dream (Tom Sturridge) exploring the stars, and there’s no reason to believe this didn’t happen in the live-action version of the canon, even if we never actually see it on screen.

• Is It More Sci-Fi or More Fantasy? Fantasy, but I would have loved the sci-fi lore to be explored more thoroughly.

Highlander was one of those films that came at the perfect time and captured imaginations. The original film spawned several sequels, a handful of television shows, and a novelization. However, a reboot never happened, even though Summit Entertainment announced in 2008 that it was remaking the original movie.

Now, however, the long wait is almost over. Starring Henry Cavill as Connor MacLeod, Amazon MGM’s upcoming movie promises everything fans loved about the original, plus serious John Wick energy, as first-look footage for the Highlander reboot revealed at CinemaCon 2026. Since principal photography only began in early 2026, though, it will still be quite a while before the film arrives.

In the meantime, Highlander fans can tide themselves over with other excellent television shows with similar vibes to the original movie, exploring narrative elements like time travel and immortality that made the film such a cult favorite. Not only will catching up with these satisfy the need for some Highlander-esque hijinks, but it’ll make the wait for Henry Cavill’s Highlander reboot go by that much faster.

Highlander: The Series (1992–1998)

What better show to watch while waiting for the Highlander reboot than Highlander: The Series? (It is the best sequel to the original Highlander film, after all.) Though the series focused on a different character than Connor MacLeod, Christopher Lambert did appear in the first episode as a segue from the films. The protagonist in the show is Duncan MacLeod, an Immortal who has lived for 400 years, but took himself out of the Game by hiding from other Immortals.

Duncan MacLeod’s Immortal journey primarily examines his relationships, whether they be with other Immortals or mortals. Throughout the series, he loves and loses people several times, fights numerous others like himself, and learns about the Watchers, a secret society that records the history of the Immortals. Overall, the series shares many themes with the films, but it also reveals more backstory about Duncan and the Immortals in general. While it isn’t the same as the Highlander film, Highlander: The Series is the closest someone can get to it while waiting to see Connor MacLeod on the big screen once again.

Forever Knight (1992–1996)

Image via MovieStillsDB

Forever Knight featured Nick Knight, a vampire who was also a detective and was eager to shed his immortality and become human once again. Honestly, in some ways, this show is a bit of a rip-off of Highlander, not only because it features an immortal who wants to become human, but also because the vampires on this show had a warning sense about each other, just as the Immortals do. The show also contains many flashbacks to the main character’s previous lifetimes.

However similar the two were, this show stood on its own as a fun urban fantasy show, which followed Nick’s struggle to protect innocent people to make up for the sins of his past lives as a killer, while also trying to keep the secrets of the vampire world away from any humans in his life. Unfortunately, Forever Knight‘s series finale was hated by fans, sparking quite a bit of controversy.

Xena: Warrior Princess (1995–2001)

Sometimes we’re simply in the mood for an action-packed melodrama from an earlier decade that’s a tad cheesy. Xena: Warrior Princess and Highlander both offer that up in spades. Here, the infamous warrior comes in the form of the haunted heroine, Xena, who hopes to make up for the harm she’s caused innocents in the past by helping people now. Xena constantly struggles to fight for the greater good throughout the series, willing to sacrifice everything to be better than the person she previously was.

However, her grand adventures are what most make Xena: Warrior Princess like Highlander. With her trusty sidekick, Gabrielle, at her side, Xena made her way through a fantasy version of Ancient Greece, a sword in hand and her Chakram in the other. In the fight between good and evil, there’s no shortage of mortal enemies or battles, after all, and this show delivered all that action in an enjoyable (and occasionally ridiculous) way.

Highlander: The Raven (1998–1999)

Fireworks Entertainment

Highlander: The Raven didn’t last long, but it carried on the good-versus-evil themes the rest of the Highlander franchise dealt with. This time, the Immortal was a woman named Amanda, introduced in Highlander: The Series. However, Amanda doesn’t start on the side of good; when the show begins, she’s a thief. She’s also framed for murder, which is how she meets a cop named Nick Wolfe, who soon learns of her immortality.

Amanda’s journey is one of redemption, as she spends the series trying to become a better person with Nick’s help. She also finds herself facing off against other Immortals and actually battling them, instead of running away as she would have previously. The show offers a different perspective on Immortal life and explores what might make an Immortal something other than good and what could lead them to switch sides. It’s an intriguing watch. However, be forewarned: Highlander: The Raven ends not only with a wild twist, but on a cliffhanger.

The Immortal (2000–2001)

Chum Television/ Courtesy: Everett Collection.

Imagine something similar to Highlander, but more martial arts-based, and you’ll have The Immortal. This show is a quick watch at only 22 episodes, with a main character similar enough to Connor MacLeod that in the book The American Martial Arts Film, author M. Ray Lott wrote: “The resemblance to Highlander is probably not coincidental.” Raphael Cain sees his wife and child murdered in 16th-century Asia by demons, and decides to dedicate his life to pursuing them throughout the centuries with the aid of magic, his squire, and his samurai sword.

The show is mostly set in the 21st century, and while it’s a bit silly at times, it’s also entertaining. Perhaps The Immortal wasn’t the best show around (hence the single season), but it makes an excellent replacement for those missing out on the elements that made Highlander what it was.

Angel (1999–2004)

Image via MovieStillsDB

Angel might not seem similar to Highlander at first glance, but since both feature an ancient immortal European who fights evil beings in modern times, they’re more alike than one might think. Angel originated on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a brooding vampire who became Buffy’s first love before getting his own spin-off show. There, Angel is still broody, but this time he works as a private investigator, waging a war against the forces of darkness (often in the form of lawyers).

Another thing the two properties share is flashbacks to the past. Angel’s life has gone on so long that his early days as Angelus, or even his memories from when he was still human, are vital to understanding what makes him tick in the modern world. He’s seen friends, family, and lovers come and go while he lives on, much like MacLeod, but somehow remains standing. He also has more than enough mortal enemies to keep him occupied throughout the centuries. In the end, Angel‘s dark, tormented, immortal main character has much in common with Highlander‘s protagonist.

Vikings (2013–2021)

MovieStillsDB

This historical drama might seem like an unlikely choice for those missing Highlander‘s supernatural shenanigans, but like Highlander, Vikings explores the warrior ethos while delving into concepts of legacy. Both shows also feature farmers who become so much more as they battle personal demons and mortal enemies. Plus, Vikings has epic fight scenes that should satisfy any Highlander fan.

This show draws on the tales of Ragnar Lodbrok, one of the more notable Norse heroes. Over the course of the series, Lodbrok goes from farmer to Scandinavian king, with later seasons following his sons and their adventures. Dramatic and action-packed, Vikings is a fantastic show for those seeking adventure and battles (and who don’t mind a few historical inaccuracies).

Outlander (2014–2026)

When it comes to time-traveling epics involving Highland warriors, Outlander is the next best thing after Highlander. Based on Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling book series, the show follows a nurse from 1945 who time-travels to 1743 in Scotland, gets dragged into the Jacobite uprising, and falls in love with a Highland warrior. While Outlander has romance at its heart, it’s also about fighting for what one believes is right, packed with adventures across eras.

Additionally, the show features a protagonist who struggles with destiny, much like Connor MacLeod. Jamie Fraser and his family constantly try to defy fate, but destiny always arrives. Plus, with eight seasons, Outlander will keep fans plenty busy until the release of the Highlander reboot.

The Witcher (2019–Present)

For those who can’t wait to see Henry Cavill swinging a sword again, The Witcher should satisfy that need. Based on the Polish book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski, the show follows Geralt of Rivia (Cavill in seasons 1–3) as a monster hunter in a fantasy world. Like MacLeod, Geralt is long-lived and hard to kill (though he isn’t immortal). While there’s no time travel involved, The Witcher timeline is sometimes confusing enough that viewers might feel as if it is.

The show is action-packed, as Geralt not only battles monsters but also gets tangled up with Princess Ciri (thanks to the Law of Surprise), Yennefer the witch, court politics, and more. The show shares a similar vibe with Highlander, not only in its battles and sword fights, but also in how its main character wanders the world for centuries. That makes The Witcher a perfect show to rewatch or catch up on before the Highlander reboot comes out.

Highlander: The Animated Series (1994–1996)

Highlander: The Animated Series was a kids’ show, but it often dealt with mature and violent themes. It was also very different from most previous iterations in the Highlander universe, set far in the future in a post-apocalyptic society where all Immortals except one had agreed to quit the Game and instead help humanity by preserving its knowledge. Of course, it isn’t long before the one who hasn’t taken the oath, Kortan, basically takes over the world and, in the process, kills Connor MacLeod. Connor’s death, though, allows a future Immortal to rise and take on the challenge of fighting Kortan.

The show explored mentoring new generations and passing on knowledge rather than hoarding it, as well as the eternal personal struggle between good and evil. Unlike most cartoons, the characters in Highlander: The Animated Series aren’t one-note; they’re multifaceted, with the potential for good or evil, including Quentin, the Immortal who can take on Kortan. Even though it only had two seasons, it’s an interesting addition to the Highlander universe and worth a watch.

First TV Show

Highlander: The Series

Created by

Gregory Widen

Movie(s)

Highlander, Highlander II: The Quickening, Highlander III: The Sorcerer, Highlander: Endgame, Highlander: The Source, Highlander (Reboot)

Charlie Puth has cancelled his upcoming Australian and New Zealand tour, scrapping a number of November arena dates first announced in April.

The six-date arena run was due to begin at Auckland’s Spark Arena in early November before heading to Australia for concerts in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

According to an email sent to ticket holders, the shows will no longer proceed and all tickets will be automatically refunded to the original payment method. Fans do not need to take any action to receive their refunds.

Ticketing outlets have also listed the concerts as canceled and removed tickets from sale.

No reason for the cancellation has been announced, and Puth had not publicly addressed the decision at press time. It is not yet known whether replacement dates will be scheduled.

Announced in April, the regional run was set to mark Puth’s first Australian visit since 2023. The singer had promised fans an “unforgettable live experience” featuring a “world-class band.”

“I feel like I’ve worked and waited my entire career to put this sort of live show on for you all,” Puth said when announcing the dates.

The canceled shows were scheduled in support of Puth’s fourth studio album, Whatever’s Clever!, which arrived in March. Produced by Puth alongside BloodPop, the project blends jazz, soft rock and yacht rock influences and includes guest appearances from Kenny G, Kenny Loggins and Jeff Goldblum.

Puth first topped the Billboard Hot 100 as a featured artist on Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” in 2015. The Furious 7 soundtrack single spent 12 weeks at No. 1 and earned three Grammy nominations, including song of the year.

His debut album, Nine Track Mind, followed in 2016 and included the singles “Marvin Gaye,” featuring Meghan Trainor, “One Call Away” and “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” featuring Selena Gomez.

Puth’s representatives and the tour’s promoter have not publicly provided further details about the cancellation.

SUNDAY: An expert at portraying deliciously hot messes in shows including Catastrophe and, more recently, Apple TV‘s Bad Sisters, Sharon Horgan hits a nerve of midlife neuroticism once again in her bawdy, bittersweet, and unapologetically raunchy new comedy. She’s Alex, a divorced literary agent who observes of her latest milestone that “No decade moves faster than 50 to 60” (I can attest to that), and “You have to make every single second of your time count.” That includes attending to her sex drive’s ticking clock, now that her son is heading to college, though not without hiccups. Rupert Friend (Homeland) plays Patrick, a desirable friend Alex can’t decide whether to take seriously. We hope she does. The series opens with two episodes.

SUNDAY: Mad Men Emmy winner Jon Hamm is back in another period piece, this time set in 1977, starring in a docudrama as Indianapolis radio news anchor and reporter Fred Heckman, “the most trusted voice in news.” Mulling an offer to leave the Midwest for a New York gig, Fred finds himself becoming the news when a desperate hostage taker (Giovanni Ribisi), who’s holding a mortgage banker (Kristoffer Polaha) at gunpoint, demands to be interviewed live on air by Fred. There’s an absurdist quality to this heightened situation, with police, lawyers, and a frenetic station manager all breathing down Fred’s neck as he tries to keep the apoplectic caller from pulling the trigger. The eight-part series opens with two episodes.

SUNDAY: Joe’s (Zoe Saldaña) harrowing rescue was just the beginning. In the Season 3 finale of Taylor Sheridan‘s espionage thriller, the Lioness, her team, and the intelligence top brass hunt for who was behind her kidnapping and torture. “One can’t apply logic to politics,” warns Joe’s CIA boss Kaitlyn (Nicole Kidman) as they sort through a geopolitical minefield of conspiracy in which Secretary of State Mullins (Morgan Freeman) is reminded, in no uncertain terms, “The whole world hates you, even your friends.” It’s a grim final hour that reveals the personal cost their clandestine duty takes on their personal lives.

SUNDAY: After last week’s explosive showdown in Rushville, the superhero saga jumps forward to 2026 to confront the mystery that was teased at the end of the first episode: the death of Earth’s first Lantern, Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler). Though his former partner/adversary John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) has moved on after rejecting the powerful ring, he’s called back to Rushville to help sheriff Kerry Kane (Kelly Macdonald) investigate the murder while coming to terms with his own complicated Lantern history. As seen in trailers, this also prompts a visit by the current Lantern, Guy Gardner, played (as in 2025’s Superman movie) by Nathan Fillion, who sees the whole situation as “bad optics.” (We agree when it comes to his unfortunate bowl cut.)

SUNDAY: Lola Petticrew gave one of the standout performances of the year as a damaged and vengeful serial killer in Hulu‘s Furious. The actor is just as impressive in this four-part drama, based on Louise Kennedy’s novel, that returns to the period of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the subject of Petticrew’s breakout role in FX‘s 2024 series Say Nothing. The setting: a small Irish town near Dublin in 1975, where Catholic schoolteacher Cushla (Petticrew) is drawn against her better judgment to Michael (Tom Cullen), a lawyer whose red flags include being married, Protestant, and a pariah to both sides of the conflict because of his high-profile defense of young Catholic protesters. Their secret, dangerous romance plays out against an unforgiving climate of bigotry, violence and oppression. Gillian Anderson co-stars as Cushla’s mother, who buries her own disillusionment in drink.

INSIDE WEEKEND TV:

• Live from Roku City (Saturday, streaming on Roku): Five-time country-music Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan performs an exclusive concert the day after the release of his ninth studio album, Signs.
• College GameDay (Saturday, 9 am/ET, ESPN): Mississippi native and movie/TV legend Morgan Freeman makes his first appearance as a celebrity guest picker on the pregame show, broadcast from Oxford, Mississippi, on the Ole Miss campus in advance of the primetime game between Ole Miss and LSU (7:30 pm/ET, ABC).
• Crossroad Springs (Saturday, 8/7c, Great American Family): Willis’ (Shaun Johnston) prize blue-ribbon cow goes missing on the eve of the town’s Strawberry Social, igniting a new chapter in the Hamilton-Newman feud.
• Garage Sale Mysteries: Murder Takes the Stage (Saturday, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel): When Jennifer’s (Lori Loughlin) book club reenacts the Lizzie Borden case (probably not inspired by the new season of Netflix‘s Monster), someone ends up dead.
• The Ocean Between Them (Saturday, 8/7c, Lifetime): Rebecca Gayheart stars as a mother who launches a desperate search for her daughter (Jessica Lord), who’s gone missing while kayaking during a storm off the coast of Belize.
• 60 Minutes (Sunday, 7/6c, CBS): New correspondent Ross Douthat interviews Patrick Clancy, ex-husband of Lindsay Clancy, whose trial for the murder of their three children ended in a mistrial.
• Best Medicine (Sunday, 8/7c, Fox): A mermaid washes up in Port Wenn in the quirky comedy’s Season 2 premiere, with the great Andrea Martin guest-starring as a local who causes a ruckus while on prescribed oxygen. The episode repeats Tuesday in its regular time period (8/7c).
• The Marlow Murder Club (Sunday, 8/7c, PBS): Amateur sleuth Becks (Cara Horgan) ends up on the other side of the investigation when a man is killed during her university reunion. Followed by a new episode of Marble Hall Murders (9/8c).
• Best of VMAs: Unforgettable Moments (Sunday, 9/8c, CBS): In advance of next week’s MTV Video Music Awards, former MTV VJ Vanessa Lachey looks back at standout moments from past years.
• The Detour with David Chang (Sunday, 9/8c, CNN): The celebrated chef takes a road trip through America, discovering regional culinary treasures with the help of a new companion each week. His first stop: Tennessee, where chef and Milk Bar owner Christina Tosi introduces him to Benton’s smokehouse.
• High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam (Sunday, 9/8c, TNT): While Baghdad burns, CIA analyst John Nixon (Joel Kinnaman) finally comes face to face with Saddam Hussein (Waleed Zuaiter).
• A Tale of Two Cities (Sunday, 10/9c, MGM+): It’s a tale of two suitors when Lucie (Mirren Mack) is torn between Sydney (Kit Harington) and Charles (François Civil) while the Revolution erupts in Paris.

ON THE STREAM:

• Cold as Balls (Sunday, streaming on Netflix): Kevin Hart returns for a new season of his interview show, grilling sports greats while they both soak in ice tubs. Guests include Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Rob Gronkowski, Cooper Flagg, UFC‘s Sean O’Malley, soccer’s Zlatan Ibrahimović, and influencer IShowSpeed, with Saturday Night Live‘s Marcello Hernandez making a special appearance.
• Rock Out (Sunday, streaming on Revry): Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black‘s (Milk) docuseries explores the intersection of rock & roll and queer culture, discovering LGBTQ+ trailblazers who helped shape the popular music of our time. Among those interviewed are the late Dolly Parton, Roger Daltrey, and Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner. Also streaming on Revry: Season 2 of the reality competition King of Drag.