Snow is forecast to hit parts of the UK in the coming days as temperatures take a tumble. Now a pharmacist has shared five essential pills every household should stock up on in colder weather.
Peter Thnoia is a superintendent pharmacist at online chemist PillTime. He said early intervention was key to tackling coughs and colds that are circulating.
His top five medications to have at home could help alleviate those seasonal sneezes. Here we share his top five recommendations.
1. Vitamin D3 (not D2)
Vitamin D supplements are recommended for all adults in the UK during autumn and winter when our exposure to sunlight is reduced. It can help to support immunity, bones and overall wellbeing.
Mr Thnoia said: “Vitamin D is one of those silent essentials: you don’t notice it when you’re getting enough, but you definitely feel it when you’re not.
“That’s why we recommend everyone in the UK takes a daily supplement between October and March. It supports immunity, bone health, and general wellbeing during the months when our bodies need a little extra help.”
Vitamin D3 is generally more effective and better absorbed by the body than D2, Mr Thnoia added.
He said: “For most adults, the NHS recommends 10 micrograms a day, and it’s advised not to exceed 100 micrograms (4,000 IU). Children and infants have even lower safe limits.
“If you’re unsure about how much to take, especially if you have an existing health condition, it’s always best to check with your doctor or pharmacist.”
2. Paracetamol
Most of us reach for paracetamol to treat common ailments and it can be helpful when dealing with the early signs of a cold. But Mr Thnoia warned not to double-dose when using cold and flu medicines in combination.
He explained: “It’s brilliant for bringing down fevers and helping with headaches or general winter aches, which are all those typical signs when something’s brewing.
“But it’s important to remember that a lot of cold and flu tablets already contain paracetamol, so you need to be careful not to double up. Always check the label and stick to the stated dose.”
3. Sore throat remedies
Lozenges or throat sprays can help ease pain and irritation, one of the earliest cold symptoms.
Mr Thnoia said: “Winter viruses often start with a sore, dry throat, and it can really knock you off your stride. Lozenges with a mild anaesthetic can ease the sting, and sprays are great for targeting pain more directly.”
4. Saline nasal spray
Saline nasal sprays can help to relieve congestion, particularly for people who are prone to sinus issues.
Mr Thnoia said: “It’s always worth having a few of these ready to go, especially if you talk a lot in your job or work in a colder environment.”
5. Cough syrups
Coughs and colds can spread more easily when people spend more time indoors during the colder months. Choosing the right cough syrup to match your symptoms — whether it is a tickly or chesty cough — can help speed recovery, Mr Thnoia said.
He added: “We always see a rise in coughs and sniffles as the weather turns, it’s part of the season.
“But what makes a big difference is being stocked up ahead of time, especially if you rely on regular medication too. No one wants to be caught out during a weekend.”
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If you’ve ever rewatched “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Season 1 and thought, “Huh, this looks a little cheap,” you’re more on target than a stake lodged in a bloodsucker’s heart.
The “Buffy” crew made extensive use of a converted lumber warehouse in Santa Monica to build multiple sets for the show. In Season 1, that warehouse — which was not a professional soundstage — provided a home for several interior and exterior sets, but it wasn’t the easiest place to shoot. Director of photography Raymond Stella described the less-than-ideal facilities in “Slayers and Vampires,” recalling, “We didn’t have any [lighting] grids to work off of […] It made it challenging. We made it work, but we had our limitations, so it kind of tended to make it look a little low-budgety if you weren’t careful.”
Buffy had to work wonders without any real sound stages
20th Television
“Buffy” got off to a rough start, with Joss Whedon and his crew originally producing an unaired pilot that didn’t impress anyone at The WB. The only reason audiences ever got a Season 1 of “Buffy” was because the soap opera “Savannah” was canceled mid-season, and the network needed a replacement. As such, you can imagine The WB wasn’t shelling out millions per episode of “Buffy,” which left Joss Whedon and his crew in a tough situation.
Instead of being given space on the Warner Bros. lot, the show was handed their Santa Monica warehouses and had to make the best of it. Still, Season 1 contains some of the best “Buffy” episodes, thanks in part to some truly inventive use of the Santa Monica facilities.
Fun fact about the show’s first season: Whenever you see Buffy and her friends inside at school, they’re in the same spot. As Whedon explained, “This hall you’ll see a lot of in the first 12 episodes. It is the entire school. We only had the one hall, so we use it over and over again.”
Buffy actually expanded its warehouse sets as it went on
20th Television
The crew also shot on location in Season 1. The exterior Sunnydale High School scenes, for example, were all shot at Torrance High School in California. Scenes at Buffy’s house were also shot on location at an actual house in the city. The slayer’s bedroom was the only interior set from the house that was built in Santa Monica during Season 1.
As the seasons progressed, the crew eventually built more house sets. The same was true of the Sunnydale cemetery. During the first season, scenes in that location were mostly shot at the real-life Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery. Later, however, the crew built a cemetery on the Santa Monica warehouse’s lot. By Season 3, production designers had begun to construct an entire downtown Sunnydale strip on the grounds of the warehouse; this area became known as Maple Court.
A high-flying partner at EY was fired from his $850K role after he propositioned a female colleague at a Christmas party, and was later accused of assault in a Sydney bar.
Leonard Nicita was terminated from his role as a senior partner in the firm’s Transaction Tax team in November 2023, according to a decision from Justice David Mossop in the ACT Supreme Court last month.
The first incident happened at a 2022 Christmas party which had a “Miami Vice” dress-up theme, and resulted in a female partner making a complaint to management, the decision said.
During the party, as Nicita’s managing partner described it, he “made comments to the complainant to the effect that you thought she was beautiful, you wanted to sleep with her and, when the complainant said she was married, you noted that most of your affairs are with married women”.
Leonard Nicita was terminated from his role as a senior partner in the firm’s Transaction Tax team in November 2023. linkedin
When he was notified of the complaint two weeks later, Nicita said that he “was totally shocked and relayed [to her] my recollection of what occurred, believing it to be innocuous”. In evidence to the court he denied he had said he wanted to sleep with the complainant, but said he had suggested they go out for dinner.
When she had said that she was married, he asked her whether she was happily married.
When she told him that she was, he said, “ah yeah, but you will be surprised since being single that I have probably been with more married women than other single women”.
Nicita’s boss told him he was “very disappointed with his behaviour” and that it was “completely unacceptable from anybody, let alone a partner, let alone a senior partner, let alone a senior partner [who] has just re-joined the Firm”. (Nicita had earlier had a stint at EY from 2013 to 2015.)
Nicita was accused of propositioning a female colleague at a Christmas party, and was later accused of assault in a Sydney bar. spritnyuk – stock.adobe.com
The 50-year-old received sanctions including 4 per cent of income (33,969.78 USD) being stripped from that year’s pay, and was told he was on his “first and final warning against further instances of inappropriate behaviour”. He was also told to apologise to the complainant.
The next incident happened in August 2023 after Nicita had attended a fundraising function for the Sydney University Rugby Club.
Some colleagues moved on from the club to continue drinking at Dean & Nancy cocktail bar in Wynyard, and Nicita joined them with his girlfriend, the decision said.
Having paid the bill of $1,555.29 USD, which he claimed as an expense from EY, Nicita then discovered his jacket was missing.
Nicita’s boss told him he was “very disappointed with his behaviour” and that it was “completely unacceptable from anybody, let alone a partner, let alone a senior partner.” Shutterstock / ArDanMe
While trying to locate his jacket, he got into an altercation with bar staff that led to a charge of common assault.
CCTV footage of the incident, according to the decision, showed Nicita “pushing the bar manager with his hand and then moving forward and bumping him with his chest”.
When his boss became aware of the charge and questioned Nicita three months later, Nicita argued the incident was “innocuous” and the assault was “merely a push”.
The managing partner decided to terminate Nicita’s position for “Just Cause” under the partnership agreement.
Nicita launched legal action against the decision, claiming his boss had breached the partnership agreement and seeking damages for those breaches.
He argued the bar incident “did not involve conduct as a partner of the firm but instead occurred in his private life,” and “at the time of the termination, he had given notice of his retirement from the partnership”.
He also claimed the decision was not made in good faith because his boss could have put him on “garden leave” instead.
In his October decision, Justice Mossop rejected Nicita’s arguments and dismissed the proceedings, ordering him to pay costs to EY.
The Issue: The FBI probe of six Democrats who urged military members to refuse illegal orders.
The six Democrats who urged service members to disobey what they call “illegal orders” should all be censured, at the very least (“Dems in for a battle,” Nov. 26).
Dems have gone so far off the deep end in their psychotic hatred of President Trump that somehow, they feel justified in making seditious statements like this.
Since military recruitment has been increasing, it would seem that the heroes in our military would beg to differ with these fools.
Robert DiNardo
Farmingdale
The Dems’ latest political stunt was to warn our troops to not follow unlawful orders, creating further grist for the Trump Derangement Syndrome mill. However, what those Democrats did was not sedition.
Our troops know not to follow unlawful orders — they’re indoctrinated in this throughout their careers. As a cadet at West Point, I was told not to follow unlawful orders in my mandatory law course. Those instructors weren’t committing sedition by telling me this.
One of the greatest lessons of the Second World War was that having to “follow orders” does not excuse one’s crimes. This is not rocket science. It’s just politicians doing another of the many reprehensible things they do.
Charles Michael Sitero
Ormond Beach, Fla.
Well, if Democrats are urging our military personnel to ignore and disobey orders from the president, I think it’s only fair to make a counter-offer.
When a Democratic-controlled Congress tells the American people they’re raising our taxes, our response should be: We won’t pay it. Go pound sand.
Myron Hecker
Pearl River
Sen. Mark Kelly using his naval service to protect himself from the consequences of his words is disgraceful.
I’m a former senior naval officer (23 years of active service). One of my responsibilities was to train subordinates in such things as “legal orders.”
Kelly’s words now make this work harder. I’m ashamed that I ever wore the same uniform he did.
Rocco P. Cascone Jr.
Staten Island
For all who called upon the military to refuse to follow illegal orders, there can only be one response: Arrest and prosecution.
Ken Karcinell
Hewlett
The Issue: Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s claim that Lee Zeldin accepted donations from the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett looked to ridicule EPA head Lee Zeldin and many others with their connections to Jeffrey Epstein, only to have it backfire (“Wrong Epstein’s plan for payback,” Nov. 22).
Then, in her usual condescending voice, she tried to walk it back by saying this wasn’t the Jeffrey Epstein that she was referring to. She said it, and she lied — end of story. This is who we have representing us in government.
Lorraine Fittipaldi
Apollo Beach, Fla.
Clueless airhead Jasmine Crockett claimed that Jeffrey Epstein donated to Lee Zeldin’s campaign when Zeldin was a New York representative.
“We gonna expose it all,” she brayed. And she sure did. She exposed herself to be an incompetent hack and typical leftist anti-Trump Democrat.
It turns out two different Jeffery Epsteins donated to Zeldin after the late sex offender committed suicide. Great research: Crockett’s staff is as ill-suited for the job as she is.
Walter Goldeski
East Brunswick, NJ
Jasmine Crockett should be forgiven for thinking that the convicted child sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein was making campaign contributions after his death: Given all the votes Democrats traditionally get from dead people, her error is entirely understandable.
Carole Campolo
East Hampton
Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
Robert Irwin, part of the famous Irwin family known for their former reality series, Crikey! It’s the Irwins, discovered a new talent while performing in season 34 of Dancing With the Stars. The Aussie was favored to win the 2025 season, and with all the fanfare, Robert’s personal life became a major topic. While professing their admiration for him all over social media, fans wondered whether Robert had a girlfriend.
Though he keeps his personal life away from the public eye, Robert spoke to People in September 2025 about what he wants in a relationship.
“My mom and dad met when she was this American tourist coming over to Australia, and that’s also how my sister met her husband,” he said about his late dad, Steve Irwin, and mom Terri Irwin, and sister Bindi and her husband, Chandler Powell. “I’ve been saying, when is that going to happen for me?! … I’m still waiting for it. That American tourist is not quite lined up.”
So, what’s the latest on Robert’s dating life? Keep reading to find out.
How Old Is Robert Irwin?
As of November 2025, Robert is 21. He will turn 22 on December 1, 2025.
Does Robert Irwin Have a Girlfriend?
No, Robert does not appear to have a girlfriend at the moment. But enthusiastic fans speculated about the nature of his relationship with Marvel Cinematic Universe star Xochitl Gomez. Xochitl joined Robert on the dance floor in the DWTS 20th anniversary special episode in November 2025. After performing a jive together, judge Derek Houghmade a note of the duo’s chemistry, and Robert’s dance partner, Witney Carson, shot a look that prompted dating rumors about Robert and Xochitl.
Shortly before Robert won season 34 of DWTS, Xochitl was seen outside his trailer with flowers, according to photos published by TMZ.
At the time of publication, though, neither Robert nor Xochitl has publicly confirmed whether or not they’re in a committed romantic relationship. Xochitl insisted that she was single, though, in an interview following the DWTS season 34 finale.
Robert previously dated late actor Heath Ledger‘s niece Rorie Buckey for almost two years. The former couple started dating in 2022 and announced their breakup in February 2024.
“We wanted to share that we have decided to go our separate ways but profoundly appreciate all of the time spent together and wish one another all the very best into the future,” Robert and Rorie wrote in a joint Instagram Stories statement at the time. “We wish to express gratitude and respect we have for one another as we continue our journeys on different paths.”
Just an hour’s drive from Newcastle, you’ll find yourself in the enchanting village of Blanchland, built entirely from historic stone.
Nestled beneath a “woodland cloak in a fairytale setting,” as Visit Northumberland describes it, Blanchland is a picture-perfect village on the edge of County Durham, in Northumberland, considered one of the Northeast’s most stunning locations.
The village itself was constructed using stones from the 1165 Blanchland Abbey, and its rich historyresonates through the walls of its buildings. These structures line the cobbled streets, housing traditional cafes, bakeries, and shops, with no trace of modern intrusion.
Blanchland is encircled by fells, offering awe-inspiring views due to its close proximity to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. However, what attracts many visitors is its historic abbey, founded by Walter de Bolbec and once visited by the illustrious Edward III.
A TripAdvisor review reads: “It’s right in the centre of the medieval village of Blanchland; no entry costs, just go in and peruse at your leisure. It really is a lovely old abbey; nearby tea rooms and gift shops make it well worth a visit.”
Another visitor described the location as a “simply lovely” destination. They said: “Whenever we are in the area, we love to drive to Blanchland to stroll in the attractive stone village and look at this lovely church. The church was once part of a much bigger abbey, and it is perhaps worth considering the general history.”
Despite having just 135 inhabitants according to the 2011 census, the settlement attracts tourists from across the country, eager to soak up its distinctive character. Many head straight to the Lord Crewe Arms Hotel, amongst the nation’s most historic inns, with origins stretching back to the 12th century.
The establishment boasts classic features including exposed timber beams, stonework and crackling fireplaces. One recent guest said: “After a few days touring round Northumberland we saved the best hotel till last, and it did not disappoint.”
A fellow visitor added: “We just loved everything about this hotel. The fabulous location, the glorious building, the gorgeous room, the lovely bar, the friendly and helpful staff – brilliant.”
Given its picturesque countryside position, Blanchland offers several well-loved rambling trails that provide an excellent opportunity to discover the surroundings and take in the sweeping moorland.
A more manageable option is the Blanchland and Shildon circuit, measuring approximately 5.6 km, whilst an 8 km route connects Blanchland to Edmundbyers, featuring diverse landscapes and spectacular North Pennines vistas.
Everyone loves a good twist, as long as it is done right, that is. Whether it is the “He was dead the whole time” twist in The Sixth Sense, “I am your father” from Darth Vader, or learning that Tyler Durden isn’t real at the end of Fight Club, a good twist can become as large a talking point as a film is in its entirety. Focusing on British cinema, there is no denying the country has delivered some of the best twists in film history, as well as some of the best horrors, thrillers, and dramas that perfectly nail that dark turn in the more modern scope of cinema.
These ten already phenomenal films caught us off guard with their twist endings. As many of these movies are not widely known, we will keep them as spoiler-free as possible; besides letting you know that there is a twist to be found within.
Here are 10 great British movies with a dark twist that you need to add to your must-watch pile.
10
‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ (2004)
Optimum Releasing
Dead Man’s Shoes stays dark throughout, with it being one of the most viscerally brutal revenge tales ever, as one man openly stalks a group responsible for the death of his brother. Don’t believe us? Watch the monologue in which he first confronts them, “Sonny Confronts Richard,” as the intensity of his hatred is palpable. That said, this tale of one man returning home to fight his brother’s bullies is a profoundly emotional and shocking journey that culminates in a rather dark twist.
We won’t say precisely what it is. Still, the movie builds to the moment rather brilliantly, with Paddy Considine’s Richard’s escalating events matched by moments of brutality his brother suffered at the hands of a gang of local punks. Also, if you want to talk about some of the most underrated movies of the 2000s, this British thriller by Shane Meadows remains overlooked, a masterpiece that does not really fit comfortably into one genre box.
9
‘The Wicker Man’ (1973)
British Lion Films
It is a bit difficult to call the ending of 1973’s The Wicker Man a twist, as it is now so deeply ingrained in pop culture, helped by the “Not the Bees” remake starring Nicolas Cage, and is also more a build-up to a singular event. Still, the visceral shock of those final moments of Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) as he faces an inconceivable, horrid fate remains shocking decades after the movie’s release.
The movie, which is now a familiar plot of an outsider entering a community with its own distinct beliefs and rules, is somewhat cliché. Still, films like Midsommar, The Blair Witch Project, and Kill List (to name a few) would arguably not exist without the groundbreaking Robin Hardy movie that essentially created the folk horror genre. Even if the story and its twist feel familiar through cultural osmosis, there is no excuse not to check out what remains one of the best horror movies of all time.
8
‘Kill List’ (2011)
Optimum Releasing
2011’s Kill List sparked interest in British cinema (beyond your Guy Ritchie-ish crime thrillers) among fans of horror and dark thrillers, only to become somewhat forgotten over time. Still, Kill List remains as one of the most revered folk horror movies to come out of Britain since The Wicker Man, thanks to its tense atmosphere and shocking revelations. The story follows ex-soldier–turned–hitman Jay (Neil Maskell) and his partner Gal (Michael Smiley), who take on an ongoing job they would usually avoid due to financial hardship.
Kill List is about constant escalation, with each job becoming more disturbing than the last, including one of the most gut-wrenching reveals ever committed to screen. The twist ending, which places Jay and Gal into a much darker, broader conspiracy, certainly hits hard, but the entire movie is a dark ride through some of the darkest corners of humanity and the British countryside.
7
‘Sightseers’ (2012)
StudioCanal
When the dark British wit hits, it makes for a pretty spectacular comedy. Sightseers, at its core, is a road-trip movie about two quintessential British tourists, Tina (Alice Lowe) and Chris (Steve Oram), hitting up the many landmarks and quaint museums across the country. Yet, where the turn comes is when one of them, Chris, shows his true colors and is willing to justify murder against anyone who does not respect refined British sentiments.
The growing relationship between Tina and Chris paints a picture of confusion on Tina’s part as she tries to rationalize her love for her only romantic partner and the murders he commits, and it is the source of much of the movie’s humor. Their developing relationship leads to a shift in dynamic that offers a wonderfully bleak yet humorous twist near the end of the film.
6
‘Tyrannosaur’ (2011)
StudioCanal
Fans of British cinema already knew that Olivia Colman was a future global star, long before her Oscar-winning performance in 2018’s The Favourite. In Tyrannosaur, Colman gives one of the best performances of her career as a kindhearted charity shop worker, Hannah, who has a chance encounter with the grizzled, quick-to-anger Joseph (Peter Mullan). The two form a unique friendship, one that reveals both their vulnerabilities.
The twist comes from what each slowly reveals to the other, particularly the abuse that Hannah suffers at the hands of her husband, which drew her to Joseph in the first place. It is a pretty devastating reveal with profound implications, raising a sense of moral ambiguity that will have audiences contemplating the movie days after watching it. The film, directed by Paddy Considine who starred in Dead Man’s Shoes, also exists in that space of highly overlooked cinema due to it not fitting nicely into a singular genre and some pretty dark and uncomfortable subject matter being explored.
5
‘Triangle’ (2009)
Icon Film Distribution
Delivering an engaging story focused on time travel is a challenging endeavor for many filmmakers, either getting lost in the science of it all or folding under the weight of its misuse. Triangle is a film that, on paper, should not work, using time loops, slashers, and a bit of the supernatural to tell its story of cyclical death upon a cruise ship. Yet, the execution here is utterly gripping, with some surreal imagery that will stick with viewers long after; a woman trying to escape only to stumble upon a pile of bodies, all of them her.
Triangle is one of the movies that likes to keep audiences guessing, and while a twist here seems inevitable, it lands in a pretty impotent and devastating way. Purists looking for accurate time-travel movies may scoff at the setup here. Still, for those seeking a clever horror movie that bends genres to deliver an unforgettable finish, Triangle is a must-watch.
4
‘The Duke of Burgundy’ (2014)
Artificial Eye
Peter Strickland is a director whose films almost always feature some dark twist, yet with a visceral, artistic flair that keeps each of his works engaging. The obvious choices here would have been Berberian Sound Studio or In Fabric. Still, we want to highlight the lesser-championed erotic drama The Duke of Burgundy to give readers a broader range of genres to pick from. Plus, the movie itself is a deeply fascinating character study, backed by strong performances.
Centered around the affluent Cynthia (Chiara D’Anna), and her submissive lover Evelyn (Sidse Babett Knudsen), The Duke of Burgundy chronicles sexual obsession and ritual to the point of one seeming to get off in losing their entire identity and sense of self in servitude to another. Throughout, there is an undeniable unsettling element to this contract, but its psychological depth slowly unwinds, culminating in a twist that reveals the true nature of the troubling relationship.
3
‘The Innocents’ (1961)
20th Century Fox
Inspired by Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw, The Innocents has become a somewhat familiar story; notably, Nicole Kidman’s The Others, also inspired by the book, shares much in common with this British classic (don’t worry, the twists in both films are different). Here, governess Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr) is hired by an estate to care for two children, only to be confronted by a series of supernatural events shortly after her arrival.
The film is a landmark in the genre of gothic British cinema, and would prove to be highly influential, from its atmosphere/ visuals to its story and approach to horror. This alone makes it worth a watch, but those looking for a twist ending will also find a wonderfully bleak and shocking revelation to cap off the final moments of an already phenomenal film.
2
‘Censor’ (2021)
Vertigo Releasing
As time goes on, fewer and fewer horror fans are going to be aware of what a “Video Nasty” is, let alone its impact on the genre and the discourse around horror and censorship. That is, unless filmmakers like Prano Bailey-Bond find ways to explore the period in Britain when owning movies became illegal unless they met a particular moral code.
The story here is straightforward yet full of nuance once you dig in; a censor, Enid Baines (Niamh Algar), believes she sees her missing sister in one of the films she is reviewing for approval, setting off a downward spiral as her investigation takes her down dark rabbit holes. As she moves forward, the line between fiction and reality begins to blur, but it is the movie’s final moments that really make an impact with a cruel twist to Enid’s plight. Censor is one of the most incredible movies to come out of the 2020s for genre fans who have been obsessed with horror for decades; an absolute must-watch.
1
‘A Dark Song’ (2016)
IFC Midnight
Presenting a sort of cruelty through repetition, one woman, Sophia Catherine Walker, contracts with a man who has mastered the dark arts, Joseph (Steve Oram), and becomes a highly abusive partnership. Their initial goal of contacting Sophia’s deceased daughter becomes increasingly complex, and while the movie is a bit of a slow burn, it keeps audiences guessing.
The twist comes after a series of escalating incidents, yet it remains a shocking revelation. Technically an Irish-British co-production, A Dark Song was released without much fanfare, perhaps not comfortably fitting the horror genre given its focus on the bizarre contract and rituals, with a lot of, admittedly, uncomfortable treatment of Sophia’s character (don’t worry, it makes sense as the movie goes on). Still, the 2016 indie certainly deserves more eyes on it.
As I’m sure you know, Metroid Prime 4is finally arriving next week for Nintendo Switch 2. Given that it’s been an eye-watering 18 years since the last Metroid Prime game, you’d be forgiving for wanting a little bit of a refresher.
Fortunately for you, dear reader, that’s exactly what I’m here for. We’re going to go over the story of the last three Metroid Prime games to get you properly up to speed. I’ll even dig into Metroid Prime Hunters and Metroid Prime: Federation Force, because I love you.
Metroid Prime Pinball is basically just a retelling of the first Metroid Prime, before anyone tries to @ me wondering why I haven’t mentioned the 2005 Nintendo DS spinoff.
Where Do The Metroid Prime Games Fit In The Timeline?
It’s not all so straightforward
Mercifully, the Metroid timeline is far more straightforward than The Legend Of Zeldatimeline. But that’s probably because there have been half as many games.
If you’re interested in Metroid Prime 4, the good news is you don’t have to catch up on all your Metroid history. In fact, the entire Prime series takes place between the original Metroid and Metroid 2: Return Of Samus, so there’s a lot of Metroid lore you don’t really need to know.
Here are the basics from the very first Metroid game, though: Samus Aran is an intergalactic bounty hunter who has traveled to the Planet Zebes to take down the Space Pirates. The Space Pirates, naughty crab-things that they are, have attempted to harness the power of the Metroid, a life-draining alien creature.
Their plan fails when Samus kills their commanders Ridley and Kraid, before destroying the Space Pirate leader Mother Brain, eliminating every last Metroid in the Space Pirate facility, and then blowing the whole thing up for good measure. Things tend to blow up around Samus.
The Events Of Metroid Prime
It’s not a phazon mom, it’s who I am
2002’s Metroid Primekicks off not long after the events of the original Metroid. Samus Aran investigates a distress signal sent by the space frigate Orpheon. She quickly discovers the Space Pirates have hijacked the station to experiment with a strange substance they call Phazon.
Upon further investigation, Samus discovers Ridley is alive and has been cybernetically enhanced. The Orpheon ultimately falls out of orbit and crashes onto the planet Tallon IV, leaving Samus stripped of most of her abilities (this happens to her a lot).
As Samus explores the various biomes of Tallon IV, she uncovers the truth behind Phazon. The deadly miasma began to infect the planet when it arrived many years before, inside a huge meteor. The worst of the phazon was contained at the impact site by the inhabitants of Tallon IV, a peaceful bird-like race called Chozo (the same race that took Samus in and raised/trained her as a child).
Between the meteor and the Phazon, the Chozo were ultimately wiped out. They were able to leave a message for Samus, however: gain entry to the impact crater, and defeat the monster at the heart of the planet.
Samus ultimately takes out Ridley (again), and encounters the Metroid Prime deep underground. The Metroid Prime is a Metroid that has spent years feeding on the Phazon in the impact crater, and has evolved into a horrifying monster. Samus manages to destroy it and escape before everything blows up (again). Although, a post-credits scene shows the Metroid Prime survived, and has reshaped itself into a twisted clone of Samus.
The Events Of Metroid Prime: Hunters
Gorea? I barely know her
Metroid Prime Huntersisn’t particularly important to the overall story since it’s primarily a multiplayer game, but it’s worth mentioning for one very important reason that we’ll get to. Samus has been drawn into a race with six other bounty hunters in search of an “ultimate power” hidden within the Alimbic Cluster.
Samus goes toe-to-toe with each of her rival hunters: Weavel, Trace, Sylux, Spire, Kanden, and Noxus. The only name you need to remember from this bunch, however, is Sylux. This mysterious hunter is set to play a huge role in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and his hatred of Samus and the Galactic Federation is established in this game.
Samus and the other hunters are forced to briefly work together when it becomes clear the “ultimate power” is, in fact, a horrifying monster called Gorea that was sealed away. Who could have seen that coming? The galaxy is saved, and the hunters go their separate ways.
The Events Of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Samus it ever was
After the Galactic Federation loses contact with troops who have been sent to explore the planet Aether, Samus is called to check it out, and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes begins. It soon becomes apparent that Aether is absolutely drenched in Phazon, with dead Federation troops reanimating to attack Samus. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she encounters the Metroid Prime again, who has now rebranded as Dark Samus.
Samus follows her doppelgänger through a portal to a dark mirror version of Aether called Dark Aether, eventually learning Aether was split into two parallel dimensions when it was hit by a meteor containing Phazon.
Obviously, this poses no problem for Samus, who is able to make Aether whole again and whup Dark Samus’ ass. That’s our girl.
The Events Of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Mother brain may I
The big finale of the core trilogy kicks off in explosive fashion. It emerges that Dark Samus didn’t die (obviously) and has, in fact, managed to use Phazon to corrupt the Space Pirates and bend them to her/its will.
This newfound force takes Samus by surprise at the start of the game, and she’s taken out in an explosive battle. She wakes up from a coma around one month later to discover that things have not exactly been going well in her absence.
Dark Samus is planning to overrun the cosmos with Phazon by striking as many planets as she can with the same kind of meteors that wrecked Tallon IV and Aether. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Samus has herself been infected by Phazon and needs to wear a special suit to keep it in check or risk being… corrupted.
Samus does what she does best, reclaiming her abilities via lots of backtracking, before shutting off the Phazon at the source: planet Phaaze. It’s here she has her final confrontation with Dark Samus, and destroys the entire planet of Phaaze, causing all the Phazon in the galaxy to become completely harmless goop. Someone still has to mop it up, presumably, but that’s not for Samus to worry about. She flies off to find another bounty to hunt, a mysterious spaceship on her tail that has since been confirmed to belong to Sylux.
The Events Of Metroid Prime: Federation Force
Yes, it’s canon, I’m sorry
The 3DS‘ Metroid Prime: Federation Force is about as welcome among fans as a fart in a lift, but unfortunately, it does have some important plot points, so we do need to deal with it.
Okay, when I say “some” important plot points, I mean one. Samus is barely in this game, leaving you to play as Federation troops. Our hero only really features in the story when she’s kidnapped by Space Pirates at the end (as if) and brainwashed to become the game’s final boss.
Incredibly, we will never be able to forget Federation Force because of the fact its final scene sets up the entire story of Metroid Prime 4.The very last cutscene shows Sylux stealing a Metroid egg, using some kind of weapon that causes it to grow at an alarming rate. Sure enough, trailers for Prime 4 have shown Sylux backed by his own army of Metroids. That’s bound to cause some headaches for Samus.
Will Sylux be the true big bad of Prime 4, or is someone else pulling the strings? Is Dark Samus really gone? Is Phazon no longer a threat? We’ll find out for sure when Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches next week on December 4.
As Maná entered the bowels of the Kia Forum on Friday night, its members received a royal welcome from the USC Marching Band, the Inglewood High School band and the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Team.
That evening’s performance marked the Mexican rock band’s 43rd arena show in the L.A. area, surpassing Bruce Springsteen’s record for most arena performances in the region.
In honor of Maná’s longstanding history with L.A. and the historic Forum venue, a permanent wall installation was revealed backstage at the venue following their spectacle-filled arrival that read: “Mana – Kings of L.A.”
Overall, the Grammy winners have played more than 30 shows at the Forum; in 2012, they played 11 straight sold-out shows at Staples Center in support of their eighth album “Drama Y Luz.”
Formed in the Mexican city of Guadalajara in the mid-1980s, Maná first played in L.A. in 1993 following the release of their acclaimed 1992 album “¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños?” The band was instrumental in popularizing the rock en español genre, and their music is often heard across the Southland, from house parties to sporting events.
Earlier this year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced that the group was among the 14 artists nominated for the 2025 inductee class, alongside Oasis, Mariah Carey, Outkast and Cyndi Lauper.
Though the band was ultimately not inducted into the Rock Hall this year, they represented the first primarily Spanish-language act to be nominated for induction.
“This alone makes Maná’s nomination important in an increasingly global society,” De Los contributing columnist Alex Zaragoza wrote back in February. “But when considering the Mexican band’s impact on Latin music, as well as the Trump administration’s increasing crackdowns on immigrants in the United States, their inclusion is imperative.”
Weeks after tens of thousands of Angelenos gathered for “No Kings” protests against the policies of President Trump, the newly minted “Kings of L.A.” showed solidarity with the many residents of their “second home” who have been affected by the current administration’s actions in recent months.
Manás Fher Olvera turns toward a cheering sellout crowd while performing with the band at the Kia Forum on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“L.A. has always been very influential for us … and we’ve seen the city evolved,” lead singer Fher Olvera told The Times. “We’ve seen that Latinos have continually gained power, but also that the problems facing the community here have grown, especially over the last few years.”
Following the initial wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that took place throughout L.A. in June, Maná was among the many artists that spoke out against ICE’s actions by reaffirming that immigrants and Latinos “make this country great.”
“Right now our message is to have faith, do not despair,” Olvera said. “Like the Buddhists say, ‘Everything shall pass.’ And these problems will also pass and thankfully it won’t take too long [because] presidential term don’t last so long — although this term has felt like five minutes underwater.”
Olvera expressed optimism about the future of Latinos in the U.S., pointing to the growing power of the confounding Latino vote.
“The power of Latinos will continue on after this [period], and Latinos will be the ones to change future elections,” he said. “And that scares [politicians], but there’s no way of going back.”
Drummer Alex Gonzalez noted that there hasn’t been any issues with ICE at their concerts since the onset of Trump’s second term and called on Latinos to know and use their rights throughout the country.
That sentiment was more clearly expanded on when the band closed out the Friday show with a truncated rendition of Bob Marley’s 1973 hit “Get Up, Stand Up.”
“Get up, stand up / Stand up for your right / Get up, stand up / Don’t give up the fight,” Olvera belted out after delivering an impassioned speech about the Latino community to the packed stadium.
“I think it’s important to take advantage of the stage we have to share messages about the environment and human rights,” guitarist Sergio Vallín told The Times. “[We’ve] also stood for something positive for our fans.”
Mexican pop-rock band Maná performs at the Kia Forum in Inglewood.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
From their earliest tracks, the group has commented on social issues in tracks such as “Falta Amor,” “Me Voy a Convertir en Un Ave,” “Justicia, Tierra y Libertad” and their cover of Rubén Blades’ “Desapariciones,” which discusses how dictatorships across Latin America have disappeared citizens.
In 1996, Maná launched the Selva Negra Foundation — named after a song released that year with the same name — which protects species, restores ecosystems and promotes environmental education. They have also been vocal in protecting vulnerable sea turtle species in Mexico and prominently feature sea turtle motifs in their concert set designs.
Friday night also served as an occasion for families to carry on the legacy of Maná fandom and to have cross-cultural connections through the band’s music.
Maritza Castillo was celebrating her 48th birthday with her husband, two children and siblings-in-law at the concert. A native of San Miguel el Alto in Jalisco, Mexico, she was first exposed to Maná at age 16.
“I love Maná because it brings me back to my youth and they were the first concert I’d ever been to here in the States,” Castillo said. “My love for the band is now moving on to other generations. To have my son want to play their music in the car without me asking, I’m like, ‘Wait, you like Maná?’ So that’s made it all very exciting.”
With Maná also having roots in the Mexican state of Jalisco, Castillo expressed joy that her children are connecting with their heritage through music history.
“I just keep trying to pass on our culture to the kids who are grown up and born in L.A.”
SYDNEY — Australia’s federal parliament has passed legislation that will enforce content quotas for popular streaming video on-demand platforms.
Earlier this month, the national government announced it would push ahead with quotas, that would require those services with over 1 million domestic subscribers to invest 10% of total program expenditure for Australia, or 7.5% of their total Australian revenue, to support local storytelling.
Now those points become law.
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There’s a strong incentive to play by the rules. The Bill provides the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with “substantial powers” to determine compliance. Failure to do so would see the streaming businesses face large civil penalties, with fines of up to ten times their annual Australian revenues.
“We have Australian content requirements on free-to-air television and pay television, but until now, there has been no guarantee that we could see our own stories on streaming services,” comments Australia’s arts minister Tony Burke. “Streaming services create extraordinary shows, and this legislation ensures Australian voices are now front and centre. Now, no matter which remote control you’re holding, Australian stories will be at your fingertips.”
With that investment, the likes of Netflix, Disney, Amazon and other SVOD services operating in these parts will be compelled to create more local content, from drama, children’s programming, documentaries, arts programs and educational shows.
“Today marks a watershed moment for Australian storytelling and the music that brings screen stories to life,” reads a statement from Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS. “This legislation means local composers will have unprecedented opportunities to contribute to the next era of local screen creation.”
Passing in parliament on Thursday night, Nov. 27, the Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025 should create “substantial new opportunities” for Australian screen composers and music creators, according to APRA AMCOS.
Eligible programs must pass the scrutiny of the Australian Content Test Standards (ACTTS), which sets the bar applied to commercial and subscription television services, including post-production in Australia.
Additionally, the legislation has been supported by the Greens and includes an extra A$50 million ($32 million) in funding for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to invest in homemade children’s and drama content.
“Screen music is fundamental to storytelling – it drives emotional connection and defines the cultural fingerprint of Australian productions,” adds Ormston. “The IP developed by our screen composers represents valuable cultural and economic assets that resonate with audiences both here and around the world.”
Screen Producers Australia welcomed the development. “Today is a landmark day for Australian screen storytelling,” remarks SPA CEO Matthew Deaner, nothing the organization’s members had worked “patiently and tirelessly” on the issue for more than 10 years, roughly the time when Netflix switched on. “It finally puts in place a strong starting point for a regulatory framework that responds to the enormous changes that digital streaming platforms have made to our industry dynamics and viewing habits.
Adds Australian Writers’ Guild CEO Claire Pullen: “This is a watershed moment for Australia’s screen industry. This will give our members and the entire creative community more certainty around their careers, and the industry here at home.”
The new rules should’ve been implemented in 2024 but were delayed over concerns on how they might create a stumbling block for Australia’s trade agreement with the United States.
