Stranger Things' Netflix Crash, Wicked Spin-Offs, Stray Kids in Rio

Netflix Collapses Under the Weight of Stranger Things 5 Premiere

The final season of Stranger Things is so highly anticipated that it literally broke the internet, or at least, it broke Netflix. Minutes after the first four episodes of the long-awaited Season 5 dropped, the streaming service crashed, leaving thousands of desperate viewers staring at frozen screens and connection errors. The outage tracker Downdetector recorded over 14,000 reports in the US alone, alongside widespread freezing issues reported by fans, cementing the final season's status as a genuine pop-culture phenomenon.

Netflix quickly scrambled to fix the issue, stating that service was "recovered for all accounts within five minutes." This chaos isn't surprising, given the three-year wait and the promise from co-creators, the Duffer Brothers, that this season features "the most violent death of any season." All four previous seasons made it onto Netflix's global top 10 charts the day before the finale, setting a historic first for the streaming giant.

Universal Eye “Wicked” Spin-Offs

Universal has officially announced plans to expand the franchise following the remarkable success of the film adaptations of Wicked. In the early stages of development, producers are reportedly considering various spin-offs and sequels. Michael Moses, Universal’s chief marketing officer, told Vultura that with the film’s overwhelming success and substantial fanbase, there is “almost a responsibility to figure out how we can continue in this universe.”

Composer Stephen Schwartz feels the narratives of Glinda and Elphaba have reached their conclusion, but he acknowledges that there are numerous opportunities for exploration. Adapted from Gregory Maguire’s novels, Oz features several political and romantic storylines. Fans can anticipate that Universal are committed to using the momentum to keep audiences in the enchanting Wicked universe for many years to come.

ICYMI:

• Olivia Dean has announced that Ticketmaster and AXS will refund any additional money that fans spent on inflated resale tickets, following her criticism of the pricing.

• An Artists for Aid concert is to take place in Los Angeles on January 10th. The lineup includes Clairo, Blood Orange, Shawn Mendes, Alex G, Geese, and many more, with all proceeds supporting the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund & the Sudanese American Physicians Association. 

Robert Irwin Crowned Dancing with the Stars Winner, Matching Sister Bindi’s Title

Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin, was officially named the winner of this year's Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday evening. His victory secures a remarkable family legacy, as it comes exactly ten years after his elder sister, Bindi Irwin, won the coveted Mirrorball trophy in the same popular dance competition.

Irwin and his professional partner, Witney Carson, were consistent favorites throughout the show's 11 weeks. Despite sustaining a rib injury, Irwin triumphed over fellow finalists, including influencer Alix Earle and Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles. He expressed his profound wish that his late father, Steve Irwin, could have witnessed his achievement, stating, "I wish he could see it, I really wish he could be here."

POP FACT: On this day in 2008, Britney Spears released her sixth album, Circus. The album went straight to #1 in the US.

Stray Kids Make History as First K-Pop Headliner for Rock In Rio Festival

K-pop powerhouse Stray Kids has made history by becoming the first K-pop act ever confirmed to headline Brazil's iconic Rock In Rio festival, which is set for September 11, 2026. The long-running festival, which has previously featured rock giants like Queen, Metallica, and Guns N’ Roses, announced the milestone on social media, stating that the group will open a "new era" for the event. The festival posted, "For the first time in history, K-pop comes to Rock City... The beat that conquered the planet will echo on the World Stage.” The only other headliner announced so far for the 2026 edition is the legendary Elton John.

ICYMI:

• A relative of Donald Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has been detained by ICE. 

• In anticipation of the release of Stranger Things Season 5, Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)’ has returned to the Global Spotify chart at #146 with 1.31 million streams. 

• Toby Wallace has been cast in Netflix’s live-action ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series.

• Four new suspects have been arrested in connection with the Louvre jewellery heist. The jewels are still missing. 

• Eva Green has been cast as Aunt Ophelia in ‘Wednesday’ Season 3.

Best New Track: I Don’t Wanna Go To Bed by Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran released the deluxe edition of Play, which includes seven new songs separate from the extended edition. We just go along with it and hit play.

So here we’re going for a breezier pop vibe. Sonically, it diverges from what we heard on singles “Azizam” and “Sapphire.” We’re fans of “Spiral” with its drum line. “Crashing” features a really strong guitar section too.

But the clear standout has to be “I Don’t Wanna Go to Bed.” Verse 1 drags us into a bittersweet sixteen. The thrill of young love which feels like it could last forever. “Another awkward teeth bump / Kissin’ like we're kids / When people fall in love /Does it feel like this?” he sings. You know, this is the guy behind probably the biggest wedding song ever. So yeah, his love songs rarely surprise us.

Hit play, then spin it back. All weekend’s wide open for you.

—Dawson Therre

— Katie Macbeth

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