Categoría: OffSide

Created by Héctor Lozano, Netflix’s ‘Merlí. Sapere Aude’ is a Spanish teen drama series that follows a student named Pol Rubio. Having just entered university, he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his teacher Merlí, whom he idolized during high school. Pol’s time as a philosophy student takes him through a journey of self-discovery and realizations, and he finds out more about himself and the world around him.

Featuring a stellar cast, the series presents various social and cultural issues using an engaging storyline. The topics addressed significantly impact real life, and Pol’s story seems to resonate with many in the audience. This makes one wonder about the show’s origins and whether it draws from actual events. If you are also curious about the same, here is everything we can tell you.

Is Merlí. Sapere Aude a True Story?

No, ‘Merlí. Sapere Aude’ is not based on a true story. The series is a spinoff and sequel to creators Héctor Lozano and Eduard Cortés’ Spanish TV series ‘Merlí,’ which follows a philosophy teacher named Merlí Bergeron who has a son named Bruno with his ex-wife. Shortly after Bruno starts living with Merlí, he is hired as a teacher at Àngel Guimerà High School. Using unconventional ways, the teacher tries to impart philosophical concepts to his students and helps them broaden their way of thinking.

The original series features several students with different problems, and as the show progresses, they form an attachment to their philosophy teacher, who is always willing to support them in their endeavors and acts as a support system. One of these students is Pol Rubio, popular in the school yet repeating multiple courses due to his troubled home atmosphere. However, as he grows closer to Merlí, he slowly starts improving in life.

‘Merlí. Sapere Aude’ tells Pol’s story in greater detail as he starts going to college and tries to walk the path of the man he admires so much and who helped him make a better person. The sequel explores several issues surrounding the young student, many of which were discussed in the original show. Topics like Pol’s sexuality are presented more elaborately, specifically how he comes to terms with his identity.

Pol and his dilemmas will surely resonate with many who are either going through or have gone through something similar. Furthermore, the series explores several philosophical topics like the original series. The iconic movie ‘Dead Poets Society‘ reportedly inspired ‘Merlí,’ motivating the showmakers to bring philosophical concepts to the general public. ‘Merlí. Sapere Aude’ seems not only to be building on a similar premise but does so from the perspective of a college student.

“In ‘Sapere Aude,’ I try philosophical concepts or ideas, especially about ethics, and I quote different philosophers about the same issues. I wanted to dive deeper and also plumb other subjects- logic, and metaphysics, for instance. We follow the difficulties the protagonist has in understanding the propositional logic, a more complicated discipline of philosophy,” Héctor Lozano shared with Variety while talking about the difference in presentation between the original show and the spinoff.

While talking about how he handled the continuation of an already established character, Lozano explained that he did not feel as bound as one might think. “The future we know about Pol is seven years later. In all this time, many things can happen. I wasn’t bound at all. Pol could have fallen in love with eight more people and traveled around the world before finding Bruno again,” he elaborated.

The creator added, “The viewer is invited to follow Pol’s life and part with the previous series. This is a new series, it is not season 4 of ‘Merlí.’ It’s ‘Sapere Aude.” It has the style of ‘Merlí,’ but now its protagonist is Pol Rubio, and it is from the point of view of the student. And Carlos Cuevas is fantastic. I love it!” In the Netflix series, the viewers are introduced to Pol’s new mentor, María Bolaño (María Pujalte), who has her share of parallels and differences when compared to Merlí Bergeron.

“I thought María could be the new important teacher for Pol. She will be his mentor, but from a very different standpoint than Merlí. The relationship is not paternalistic, it is more distant and more mature but necessary for both. María Pujalte is splendid for the character,” Lozano confessed. Suffice it to say that despite being a fictional story, ‘Merlí. Sapere Aude’ does seem to have several realistic elements.

The grief that Pol feels after losing his first mentor is something that many people may relate to. Similarly, his journey of self-discovery and attitude of standing up for what he believes is right seem inspired by daily life. In short, the series may not be based on a true story, though it does not mean that the story lacks real-life influences.

Read More: Where is Netflix’s Merlí. Sapere Aude Filmed?

California singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ty Segall is back with a brand new single today. “Void,” his first release of fresh music since his 2022 album “Hello, Hi,” is a psychedelic, kaleidoscopic rock track that centers Segall’s woozy vocal affectations and an intricate guitar part that is relentless in its loops and shimmers. The choral harmonies arrive with ample rewards, as the entire arrangement bleeds and morphs like a grand, hypnotic fusion of spectral, climaxing sonic DNA. It’s Ty Segall-core to the bone, and we’re obsessed.

Watch the music video for “Void” and check out Segall’s upcoming tour dates below.

Ty Segall’s Upcoming Tour Dates:
09/06 – Topanga Canyon, CA @ Theatricum Botanicum*
09/07 – Topanga Canyon, CA @ Theatricum Botanicum*
10/05 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom^
10/06 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre^
10/07 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe at Old National Centre^
10/26 – Austin, TX @ LEVITATION
11/10 – Jersey City, NJ @ White Eagle Hall – Solo Acoustic
11/11 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom – Solo Acoustic
02/20 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
02/21 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
02/24 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up
04/19 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
04/20 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
04/23 – Jackson, MS @ Duling Hall
04/24 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
04/26 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
04/27 – Washington, DC @ Atlantis
04/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
04/29 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
05/01 – Boston, MA @ Royale
05/02 – Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
05/03 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
05/05 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
05/06 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
05/07 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
05/09 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
05/11 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s
*Acoustic set w/ The Freedom Band

Although romance is not the most important element in Netflix’s science fiction series ‘The Imperfects,’ it plays an important role in the overall narrative. The show revolves around Tilda Webber (Morgan Taylor Campbell), Abbi Singh (Rhianna Jagpal), and Juan Ruiz (Iñaki Godoy) — three 20-something young adults whose secret abilities come out when they stop taking certain medications. All of them used to have a genetic condition that was — unbeknownst to them — cured with a synthetic cell. The aforementioned abilities are the result of the side effects of the cell. The medications kept the side effects dormant. But now, with the three protagonists not having access to the pills, their powers have re-emerged, prompting them to search for the doctor who gave them the powers in the first place.

It is established quite early in the series that Juan has a massive crush on Tilda, though they are both in a relationship with other people. If you are wondering whether Juan and Tilda end up together by the end of the first season, we got you covered. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Do Juan and Tilda End Up Together?

Seven Years before the start of the series, Juan and Tilda were part of an initiative known as the Wellness Program under Dr. Alex Sarkov (Rhys Nicholson), and Dr. Sydney Burke (Italia Ricci), and that’s how they met. At present, Tilda is the lead singer of an up-and-coming band, while Juan aspires to be a graphic novelist. Tilda is in a relationship with fellow band member P.J., whereas Juan is dating Darcy, an art student. When Tilda and Juan’s pills stop arriving, their respective powers start to come out. Juan blacks out and turns into a Chupacabra, a legendary animal from the Americas, while Tilda’s hearing and vocal cords are enhanced. As Juan and Tilda, along with Abbi, start searching for Sarkov, they encounter rogue scientists intending to capture and sell them and their DNA for money, agents of a shadowy government organization known as Flux, and other people with abilities.

As they desperately search for the cure so their lives can return to normal, Juan and Tilda predictably face issues stemming from their personal lives. Much to Juan’s dismay, Darcy seems drawn to the Chupacabra, and Tilda – at least temporarily loses her place in the band. Moreover, she constantly quarrels with P.J. because the latter can’t understand what is happening to her. A truly traumatic moment comes in Tilda’s life when P.J. is killed by a rogue scientist-turned-genetically-engineered creature. Tilda later takes revenge against this man by melting his brain.

As for Juan and Darcy, their relationship falls apart later in the season. With both P.J. and Darcy gone, the relationship between Tilda and Juan gets a narrative space to grow. Tilda is a few years older than Juan and often teases him, but it becomes quickly evident that they genuinely care about each other. In the season finale, Tilda, with the help of Abbi and others, saves Juan from Sarkov and Burke’s alter ego, Isabel Finch, but not before Sarkov has injected him with a drug that will permanently turn him into the Chupacabra. Fortunately for Juan, it has the opposite effect, and he is cured. Afterward, as they sit in the waiting room of what used to be Sarkov’s office, Tilda and Juan hold hands.

When the season ends, they haven’t seen each other for three months, but Tilda finds out that Juan has written a comic book about her, called the ‘Banshee Girl.’ However, just then, a monster virus outbreak starts happening. Tilda doesn’t get affected, as she decided to retain her powers, but Juan’s hands and nails suddenly become monstrously large.

Read More: Who Is Dr. Hallenbeck in The Imperfects?

Netflix’s ‘End of the Road’ follows the story of the Freeman family who gets entangled in a crime that endangers all of their lives. Starring Queen Latifah in the lead role, it serves as an exciting thriller full of action, while also throwing light on the issues of racism and the dangers that it still poses to black families. The film uses a mix of several elements to keep its plot at a steady pace, with danger always looming on the characters. The events often leave the audience on the edge of their seat, hoping that the characters make it out of the treacherous environment where they are trapped with no one to call for help. In the end, the Freemans do whatever it takes to survive. If you are wondering whether or not they make it out alive, then here’s what you should know. SPOILERS AHEAD

End of the Road Plot Synopsis

Brenda Freeman has had a rough couple of months. After her husband Jake got sick, she needed the money for his treatment, which she got from taking loans from the bank. After Jake’s death, she was left penniless and the bank took her house as well. Now, with two kids to take care of, she decides to move from LA to Texas. It is a three-day ride, and they are accompanied by Brenda’s brother, Reggie. They hope to get to their destination in time as they can’t afford any delays or detours. They just don’t have the money to pay for anything that is not planned.

They spend the first night of the journey in a motel, the cheapest they could find. Later that night, a man is murdered in the next room. He had stolen money from a drug lord called Mr. Cross, who has ties to the Sinaloa cartel. While his attacker leaves him behind, Brenda and Reggie try to help the guy who dies soon after. Unbeknownst to Brenda, Reggie finds a bag full of cash in the man’s room and takes it. This mistake creates a lot of problems for the Freeman family, with each of them coming very close to death.

End of the Road Ending: Who is Mr. Cross?

The problem with stealing the dead man’s money is that it belonged to Mr. Cross. The Freemans know nothing about him, except that he is a dangerous criminal. They have no idea what he looks like, but the problem is that he seems to know everything about them, even though he has never seen them. The Freemans know that they can’t trust anyone, especially because they are in an area that is full of white supremacists, who would not hesitate to kill all four of them. They find a lifeboat in the form of a cop named Hammers. However, in a final twist, it turns out Mr. Cross is none other than Hammers.

We first meet Hammers at the scene of the crime, where he explains that he has been after Mr. Cross for a very long time. He seems intent on meeting the Freemans and taking their statements, even when that’s already been done by other cops. He gets Brenda’s number from the officer who talked to her and asks her to come back, but when she refuses, he offers to meet her somewhere on the way. For a moment, this makes it look like Hammers is the guy hell-bent on bringing down Mr. Cross. It isn’t until later that everything comes into perspective.

It was Hammers who arrived that night at the motel and killed the man who stole his money while the Freemans were sleeping next door. Because they were woken up by the noise, Hammers couldn’t afford to stay around long enough to look for the bag with the money. He knew that he’d be called in the next day when the murder would be reported, so he leaves without a care in the world. He doesn’t expect the Freemans to take the money, but when they do, he tries to approach them as a police officer, hoping that they’d trust him and give back the money without any fuss.

When Brenda makes it clear that she is not going to come back to the motel and will talk to Hammers on her own terms, he decides to take a different route to communicate with her. A thing to notice here is that, by now, he is the only one who’s recently received her number and has talked to her. As soon as Hammers’ call is cut, Brenda receives another, apparently from Mr. Cross. He calls her by another number, this time using a voice modulator to hide his true voice. He asks Brenda to bring back the money, and she doesn’t put two and two together. She, and everyone else around her, believes that Mr. Cross is some cartel guy who keeps his distance from the cops. Instead, he turns out to be an actual cop.

Another hint that we receive about Hammers’ identity is when he shows up right after Cam’s kidnapping. By now, he’d not tried to contact Brenda again in his official capacity. She didn’t tell him where she was going, so how did he know where to find Reggie and Kelly? Also, when a dispatch reports Brenda’s overspeeding, a real cop would have had her stopped so that they could get to her and talk to her about the murder. Instead, Hammers tells other officers to back down and let Brenda go, because he knows that she is going for his money.

Similarly, with Kelly and Reggie in his car, when Hammers suspects that a car is following them, he asks both of them to duck down. They interpret it as an attack from Mr. Cross’ cartel. In reality, Hammers didn’t want anyone to see two black people in his car, because if someone saw them, Hammers would be leaving behind a witness who could cause trouble for him after he’d killed the Freemans. All of these red flags don’t make sense while the audience believes that Hammers is a good guy. But when we discover that he is Mr. Cross, his every action starts to fall into place.

What Happens to Mr. Cross’ Money?

Trouble begins for the Freemans when Reggie takes Mr. Cross’ money. He didn’t know that he was stealing from a drug lord. All he knew was that his sister was desperately in need of help and with the money in the bag, they’d have enough to start over and be in a better place. He tries to convince Brenda to keep the money, but she knows that it is blood money which means that nothing good can come out of it. Her fears are proven right when the money lands them in trouble with Mr. Cross.

In the end, with all the dangerous situations they survived, one would think that Reggie has learned his lesson by now. However, while running away from Hammers’ house, once again, Reggie asks Brenda to keep the money. Again, she refuses, so Reggie leaves behind the bag but takes some money from it. Obviously, he doesn’t tell his sister. He’d probably planned to hide the money until some time passed and he had a legitimate excuse to explain how he’d come across so much cash all of a sudden.

Despite his plans, Reggie is not able to keep the money a secret. Being his sister, Brenda knows just when Reggie is being cagey. After Mr. Cross is dealt with and the Freemans are out of danger, they sit at a diner to have breakfast. When Reggie offers to pay for it, Brenda takes one look at him and suspects that he has done something wrong. When he reveals that he stole some of the money from the bag, she tells him to return it. But with Mr. Cross gone, there is no one to give it back to.

Anyone who knew about the money is dead by now, so the Freemans are free to take the money and do whatever they want with it. After her children support Reggie’s actions, Brenda is forced to reconsider her stance and decides that it would be good for her family to use that money to restart their lives. With no one coming after them now, they can finally live in peace.

Read More: Is Netflix’s End of the Road Based on a True Story?

Prime Videos’ ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ takes place thousands of years before the events of the ‘LOTR’ films. The show focuses on the origins of some very well-known characters present in J.R.R Tolkien’s universe. While the main interest lies in the backstory of Sauron, whose identity continues to be an elusive piece of the puzzle, we also get to see the events that shaped the story of characters like Galadriel and Elrond. One of the most important characters in ‘The Rings of Power’ is Isildur.

An ancestor of Aragorn from ‘LOTR’ movies, in ‘Rings of Power’, Isildur is still a young man who is trying to find his place in the world. While we know where his story is eventually going to end, the show has a lot of time to explore his character growth and add more dimensions to him, imparting more gravity to his actions at the end of his road. This extended depiction of his tale will also allow throwing light on what really happened to him at the end of the war against Sauron. Does Isildur simply die or is he turned into a Nazgul? Let’s find out. SPOILERS AHEAD

Does Isildur Become a Nazgul?

With books, movies, and video games, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a sprawling franchise that opens all sorts of doors into the past and the future of several characters. Sometimes, as the medium changes, some details about the characters are tweaked, and their storylines tend to differ from what was originally written by the creator of the story. This is exactly what happened to the character of Isildur.

Following what’s told in the books, and what the movies faithfully adapt, Isildur does not become a Nazgul. In the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, the war against Sauron seems to be hopeless when Isildur uses the broken sword of his father to cut off Sauron’s finger on which he’d been wearing the Ring. In doing so, he destroys Sauron’s corporeal form, but the war is not over. Accompanied by Elrond, Isildur reaches the place where Sauron had forged the Ring. Had Isildur thrown the Ring into the flames, it would have been destroyed, leaving nothing that would tie Sauron to the power of coming back and destroying the world again. But by now, Isildur is corrupted by the Ring, so he decides to keep it.

Much later, Isildur, after leaving Minas Anor with around 200 soldiers, is attacked by an army of orcs at the Gladden Fields. The men are outnumbered and the orcs slaughter them. Isildur uses the Ring to render himself invisible and runs away. While trying to swim to the other side of river Anduin, the Ring slips off his finger and is left in the water. It is only found more than two thousand years later by Smeagol, who is further corrupted by it. With the Ring gone, Isildur makes it to the other side of the river, but is found out by the orcs, mainly because of the royal gem, Elendilmir, and is killed. It is during the War of the Ring that we discover that Saruman had found Isildur’s remains, as well as Elendilmir, which was otherwise considered to be lost.

While the books and the movies wrap up Isildur’s story in a simpler manner, the video games branch out differently. In ‘Middle-Earth: Shadow of War’, we discover that after the orcs found Isildur, they didn’t kill him. Instead, they dragged him to Mordor and threw him at the mercy of Sauron, who didn’t think that death was punishment enough for his actions. He put one of the Nine Rings of Men on Isildur’s finger and then turned him into a Nazgul, forcing him to serve under his command for millennia. Eventually, Isildur is killed by Talion, the protagonist of the game, and is finally released from his torment.

While Isildur turning into a Nazgul is certainly an interesting prospect, it doesn’t seem very viable while considering the original storyline of the character. Nazguls were created by Sauron when he gave the nine corrupted rings to the men, who used them so much over the years that they became invisible. The rings continued to hold power over them and they were so deeply corrupted that eventually, they forgot who they’d been originally. For this to have happened to Isildur, he needed a longer life span. Moreover, the fact that Saruman found Isildur’s remains proves that he had died and his corporeal form was gone, which means that he couldn’t have turned into a Nazgul.

Should ‘The Rings of Power’ stay true to the original plan for Isildur’s life and death, we will not see him turning into a Nazgul. However, because the show has the liberty to take the stories of its characters in any direction, the writers might toy with this idea. They surely have the opportunity to do so because, according to the show’s timeline, Isildur is already around and the rings haven’t been forged yet. This leaves a window, even if small, for Sauron to turn Isildur into one of the nine Nazguls. Whether or not the show chooses to go down that road is yet to be seen.

Read More: Is The Rings of Power’s Isildur Related to LOTR’s Aragorn? Explained

While Netflix’s ‘The Imperfects’ is primarily a science fiction series, it has elements that can very well catalog it into other genres, including romance. The plot revolves around three 20-something individuals — Tilda Webber (Morgan Taylor Campbell), Abbi Singh (Rhianna Jagpal), and Juan Ruiz (Iñaki Godoy). All three of them had a genetic condition and underwent treatment. Now they take medication to deal with the side effects of the said treatment. When the pills stop coming, the abilities that they have carefully hidden all this time resurface. The three protagonists subsequently embark on a perilous journey to find the scientist that did this to them.

The relationship between Abbi and Hannah Moore (Celina Martin) slowly develops through the season and confronts multiple serious hurdles. If you are wondering whether Abbi and Hannah end up together at the end of ‘The Imperfects,’ we got you covered. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Do Abbi and Hannah End Up Together?

Abbi and her friends discover that Alex Sarkov, the scientist that experimented on them, used a synthetic cell to treat them, even though they were told that the cell came from their bodies. It is this cell that is source of their power, For Abbi, her power has manifested through pheromones, which sexually arouse others and put them under Abbi’s control. As Abbi and her friends start looking for Sarkov, they discover that he had one more test subject followed besides the three of them, and that person is Hannah. She goes to speak to Hannah and learns that the latter is dying as her body rejected the treatment.

After Abbi leaves, Hannah is approached by Isabel Finch, the alter ego of Dr. Sydney Burke. Finch makes Hannah believe that she is an activist and wants to make other scientists like Sarkov face the consequences of their unethical practices. Hannah readily agrees and inadvertently becomes an accomplice to the murders of two geneticists. She later tries to sneak into Burke’s home but is found by one of the other test subjects, who nearly kills her until Abbi, Burke, and Tilda intervene.

Abbi and Hannah subsequently grow close. The group realizes that Burke is Finch’s alter ego, though the former has no idea about it. When Flux attacks Burke’s home, Hannah gets shot. To save her life, Abbi injects her with a serum that Sarkov previously administered on a patient named Doug. It makes a person nearly unkillable, but the pain of all the injuries they suffer never goes away. Hannah is furious after learning what Abbi has done to her, though she helps the other young woman in her fight against Flux.

Hannah comes to believe that Burke’s lab is a horrible place and urges Abbi to leave with her. But Abbi has become so deeply involved with everything that she can’t walk away. The darker aspects of Abbi’s character are underscored in the penultimate episode when she tries to use her pheromones on Hannah. Abbi has just found out that her mother may have cancer and needs someone to talk to, but Hannah declines to help. The pheromones have an adverse effect, and all Abbi can do is apologize.

In the season finale, Hannah drives Abbi and Tilda to Sarkov’s office. After they are cured, three months pass, and it is revealed that Abbi and Hannah are living together. Suddenly, a monster virus outbreak happens, and Abbi begins secreting a web-like substance instead of pheromones. When Hannah returns home, she finds Abbi stuck in a cocoon.

Read More: Do Juan and Tilda End Up Together in The Imperfects?

With KSL’s ‘The Letter’ Podcast exploring the way teens Zachary Snarr and Yvette Rodier were attacked on the evening of August 28, 1996, we get a complete insight into the realities of grief. That’s not only because this was a truly random act of violence but also because while the former died from his injuries, the latter miraculously lived to tell their tale — and survivor’s guilt is real. So now, if you wish to learn more about Yvette, with a particular focus on her experiences, her rough road to recovery, as well as her current standing, we’ve got the necessary details for you.

Who is Yvette Rodier?

It was seemingly back in high school that Yvette first came across Zachary (or Zach), just for them to immediately develop a banter-filled friendship with the sense it would stand the test of time. Therefore, when he asked her out on an official date for the first time less than two months after they graduated (in June 1996), it took the 18-year-old a few moments before she jumped on board. In fact, during their date on that fateful late August evening, Yvette actually remembers thinking, “I’m gonna get a kiss tonight. Zach’s gonna kiss me tonight,” yet it all ended much differently.

The duo was reportedly setting up Zach’s equipment to take pictures of the full moon at Little Dell Reservoir when a stranger suddenly approached from behind, only to open fire for no reason. While her date was shot thrice at point blank range, Yvette was hit at least four times — she took two bullets to her torso, one to her shoulder, and one to her leg, with several more grazing her head. Since it was ostensibly her screams that’d driven the stranger to reload his weapon, she carefully played dead once he stopped pulling the trigger again and didn’t move an inch until he’d left.

“When he left, that’s where my and Zach’s story really begins,” Yvette said in 2010. The two of them had been shot, robbed, and utterly destroyed, but she knew she had to drag herself out of this situation alone because her date was not responding to her at all. She thus somehow managed to crawl up the reservoir slope into the highway, where passing motorists quickly helped out by calling the emergency services. “I just knew I had to get to the top…,” Yvette candidly, emotionally expressed before adding she knows in her heart “that Zach made sure I got to the top that night.”

Where is Yvette Rodier Now?

Yvette’s injuries were unfortunately so severe that although she was rushed to the hospital, she suffered extensive nerve damage on the right side of her body, which likely continues to be painful. “I’ve had five operations total,” the once trusting, bubbly teen told CBS’ ‘48 Hours.’ “It took about three years for me to officially be out of hospitals… I would much rather have a surgery every other week than have to feel the survivor’s guilt.” She even stated, “Before the shooting, I would say I was a very trusting person. I was someone who really thought everyone else in this world was kind and generous and giving,” but definitely not anymore.

“I’m still afraid during full moons,” Yvette said. “Not really afraid of the moon, but just that something bad could happen during a full moon.” It’s also imperative to note she knows “the name of the man who shot me and who killed Zach, but I don’t say it out loud. I refuse to give him that power or respect. And I’ve never said his name out loud, and I never will.” Moreover, we should mention everything she does today; she does it with the clear intention of making Zach proud. She admittedly misses him to this day.

From what we can tell, Yvette had initially enrolled in college in the hopes of becoming a news reporter, yet she changed her path to general law following the shooting. She hence graduated from the University of Utah- SJ Quinney College of Law in 2008 and has since been working entirely with victims of crime to make a difference in the world. As per the last reports, the survivor now goes by Yvette Rodier Whitby, still resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a proud family woman who prefers to keep her personal life away from the limelight.

Read More: Where is Zachary Snarr’s Killer Jorge Benvenuto Now?

As a podcast that delves deep into the harrowing August 28, 1996, case of Zachary “Zach” Snarr and his friend-turned-date Yvette Rodier, KSL’s ‘The Letter’ is as gripping as it is staggering. That’s because it examines every aspect of the way the former lost his life while the latter survived following a completely random, cold-blooded deed of violence for no rhyme or reason at all. So now, if you wish to learn more about convicted perpetrator Jorge Benvenuto — with a specific focus on his offense as well as current standing — we’ve got all the significant details for you.

Who is Jorge Benvenuto?

Although Jorge Martin Benvenuto (born July 31, 1977) is reportedly a proud Uruguayan, he’d emigrated to the US alongside his family for a much different life when he was just a young boy. The (eventual) self-taught auto mechanic had initially resided in New York before making his way to Utah, where he found a home in an apartment complex right near Brigham Young University. The then-19-year-old was timid by all accounts, but his behavior had purportedly changed in a drastic manner after his quarters were robbed, and he lost his job around early-to-mid August 1996.

Therefore, Jorge’s mental health was at such a place he was driving around contemplating whether or not to use the gun he’d recently purchased to end his own life on the evening of August 28. That’s when he came across 18-year-olds Zach and Yvette on a date and decided to shoot them instead — it was nothing but a mere “thrill kill” — per his own confession days following the incident. He was actually shocked to learn the girl was still alive since he’d reloaded his weapon to fire at them again for good measure before robbing their unresponsive bodies and fleeing in Zach’s car.

Where is Jorge Benvenuto Now?

Jorge was immediately formally charged with one count of aggravated murder (a capital offense), one count of attempted aggravated murder, and two counts of felony aggravated robbery. However, it took a while for legal matters to proceed due to concerns over his mental well-being — he was originally even housed in a special section of Salt Lake County Jail on suicide watch. He was moved into the general jail population upon receiving continuous medication for a few months, but his defense still requested an evaluation of his competency to stand trial (it was later withdrawn).

There were a few preliminary hearings, yet Jorge eventually decided to enter into a plea agreement following a few negotiations on October 15, 1997. He pleaded guilty to aggravated murder (Zach’s homicide) and attempted aggravated murder (Yvette’s assault) in exchange for the robbery charges to be dismissed as well as the death penalty dropped.

Jorge Benvenuto was thus sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, which is a conviction that every court level has upheld in response to his appeals to withdraw the plea. He actually seems to have exhausted all legal routes. Hence, today, the 45-year-old is incarcerated at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison.

Read More: Zachary Snarr Murder: How Did He Die?

In the eleventh episode of ‘Rent a Girlfriend’ season 2 titled ‘Guide and Girlfriend,’ Kazuya goes out on a practice date with Sumi. He is shocked to see her wearing a school uniform and later finds out that she had seen Mizuhara in a similar dress while he was on a date with her. As their date is about to end, Sumi gives Kazuya a chance to open up about his feelings and he ends up opening up about his emotional turmoil fueled by Muzhara’s recent problems. Here is everything you need to know about the ending of ‘Rent a Girlfriend’ or ‘Kanojo, Okarishimasu’ season 2 episode 11. SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Rent A Girlfriend Season 2 Episode 11 Recap

The day after going to the hospital and the joint birthday celebration, Kazuya wonders how he could potentially help Mizuhara deal with her present circumstances. It has become quite obvious that she really needs someone to stand by her. But Kazuya knows he ought to be very careful as Mizuhara always acts as if she is strong enough to deal with everything on her own.

While he has all these confusing thoughts, he realizes that Mizuhara is calling him on the balcony. She tells him that Sumi wants to go on a practice date with him. Kazuya is confused because she has specifically asked him to come early in the morning. Therefore, he concludes that she has planned something. When they eventually meet for the date, Kazuya is shocked to see her in a school uniform.

Sumi confesses that she saw him and Mizuhara on a date and realized that he probably likes to go out with girls wearing such clothes. Although Kazuya is embarrassed, he appears impressed by Sumi’s attention to detail. Interestingly, Sumi takes Kazuya to the aquarium and it seems that she also knows that Kazuya likes observing fishes. Unfortunately, Sumi has so much planned for the day, that they end up literally running from one place to another in the aquarium. Luckily, they also go to the dolphin show which Kazuya has wanted to see from a very young age.

Unfortunately, everyone in his family was so busy that he never got to go. While he loves the show, Kazuya and Sumi end up getting wet because of the water splashes. They end up having to change their clothes. Kazuya reassures Sumi that he has had a great day so far when he realizes that she feels nervous about not taking into account the chance of them getting wet during the dolphin show.

Rent A Girlfriend Season 2 Episode 11 Ending: Why Did Sumi Take Kazuya to Odaiba? Did They Make Out?

After spending the entire day in the aquarium, Kazuya eventually takes Sumi to Odaiba. The duo is mesmerized by the beautiful panoramic view of the city. However, Kazuya soon notices that every couple there is making out. So, when Sumi tries to sit closer to him he feels a bit embarrassed. Kazuya naturally starts speculating the possible reasons for her taking him there to end the date.

Kazuya recalls Sumi telling him earlier that day that she is prepared to give him full service. From that statement given the circumstances they are in, Kazuya concludes that she may plan to kiss him. Since he likes Mizuhara, thinking about such a possibility naturally makes him feel embarrassed. Sumi eventually breaks the silence and comes closer to him. She reveals a gift and finally wishes him his birthday. It turns out that

Sumi had planned everything in advance and wanted to make it up for missing his birthday. Once he has received the gift, Kazuya feels relaxed as he realizes that he was overanalyzing their situation. Sumi then holds his hand gently and asks him to talk about anything that is bothering him. Kazuya realizes that he wants to desperately talk about Mizuhara’s situation but decides to do it by keeping her identity a secret. He tells Sumi that he has a friend who is going through a lot.

Her grandmother has been unwell for quite some time now but she recently collapsed in the hospital. While she tries to act strong, it is quite obvious from her condition that she is not doing well. Furthermore, he also explains that his friend has no one else in her family. She never says it but Kazuya can feel that she is struggling inside. After listening to Kazuya’s story, Sumi is moved to tears and reassures Kazuya that she is always there for him, whenever he needs her.

Sumi’s compassion brings tears to Kazuya’s eyes as well, who thanks her for everything. As the date finally ends and Kazuya heads home, he realizes that he can possibly help Mizuhara in the same way. Therefore, to sum up, no, Kazuya and Sumi do not make out. Sumi took him to Odaiba just so they have some privacy and she can give him his gift.

Read More: Rent A Girlfriend Season 2 Episode 10 Recap and Ending, Explained

Netflix’s ‘Who Likes My Follower‘ is an exciting dating reality show that revolves around three influencers who assist three of their followers in their journey to find love. Subsequently, Spanish influencer, singer, and actor Carmen Jedet Izquierdo Sánchez, popularly known as Jedet, came on the show to help her follower, Sergio, find his perfect partner. Although the latter’s journey proved quite thrilling, fans were taken up by Jedet’s charm and personality, increasing the curiosity surrounding her life. Well, let’s jump in and find out everything about her, shall we?

Jedet’s Age and Background

Born Josep-Eduard Sánchez Izquierdo on July 7, 1992, in Girona, Spain, Jedet is 30 years old currently. Her parents have Andalusian roots, and despite developing a bond with Girona during her childhood, she spent most of her growing years in Policar, located in the Granada province of Spain. Unfortunately, with Jedet preferring privacy, little is known about her personal life. However, according to sources, the actress and singer claimed that her father was the first person who ever abandoned her, and although her mother brought her up, she battled bulimia since she was 14.

Unfortunately, bulimia forced Jedet to undergo three years of therapy, yet she overcame her obstacles with a strong will and determination. Moreover, readers would be interested to know that apart from successfully undergoing a gender reassignment surgery, Jedet also underwent facial feminization surgery in 2020.

Jedet’s Profession

Jedet rose to prominence in 2016 when she began discussing the issues the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans people, face daily. The same year, she published her autobiography, ‘Mi último Regalo,’ which resonated well with her fans. While the praise and popularity humbled Jedet, she decided to put it to good use and dipped her toe into the music industry in 2017. The same year, she and Ms. Nina collaborated on the song ‘Reinas,’ and fans will be delighted to know that at present, she has a successful mixtape named La Leona under her belt.

Interestingly, Jedet wanted to branch out into other fields and entered the television industry as an actress. She started with minor roles in shows like ‘Looser’ and ‘Paquita Salas’ but soon became a household name after portraying La Veneno in the TV show ‘Veneno,’ for which she won the Best Female Performer in National Fiction at the 2020 Ondas Awards.

Subsequently, Jedet took on a small role in the TV show ‘Cardo’ and, in 2022, began appearing as herself on ‘Drag Race España,’ as well as on Netflix’s ‘Who Likes My Follower?’ Not just that, in 2020, she published her second book, ‘Butterfly Effect,’ and presently works as a singer, actor, and social media influencer.

Is Jedet Dating Anyone?

Interestingly, reports in 2020 mentioned that Jedet was in a happy relationship with singer Josh Ortiz. The two seemed quite comfortable with each other and even shared pictures together on social media. Additionally, the couple was spotted multiple times in public, making fans believe that they were in for the long run.

Albeit, since then, Jedet and Josh have removed their pictures from social media and appear limited in their interaction. Besides, while recent reports have confirmed their breakup, there is nothing to indicate a new relationship, making us believe that Jedet is currently single and focused on furthering her career.

Read More: Everything We Know About Aroyitt

Netflix’s ‘Who Likes My Follower?’ follows three participants as they try and find true love from a group of seven potential partners each. Their favorite influencers assist and advise them in the journey to make things interesting. Likewise, the Spanish video-game streamer, YouTuber, and TikTok artist, Aroyitt, appeared in season 1 of the show, where she assisted her follower, Pixxbe, in searching for the perfect partner. Even though the latter later realized she was better off single and left the show alone, fans are interested to know more about Aroyitt. Well, here’s everything we know about her.

Aroyitt’s Age and Background

Always pic.twitter.com/eZasEl5Bh6

— Aroyitt 💙 (@aroiagarcia) September 7, 2022

Aroia Garcia, also known as Aroyitt, has always preferred privacy in her personal affairs and hasn’t revealed much about her early life. Albeit, it looks like she was born in Bilbao, Spain, and is presently 27 years old. Talking about her childhood, she mentioned that she discovered her passion for video games at a very young age and stuck to it all through her growing years.

In fact, Aroyitt has experienced multiple console generations, as she started her journey on a Gameboy before graduating to a PlayStation and finally a PC. Moreover, as far as Aroyitt’s education is concerned, she revealed that she studied marketing in college, though she seems interested in studying psychology.

Aroyitt’s Profession

Despite studying marketing in college, Aroyitt realized her passion for video games and was determined to earn a living through them. Furthermore, the life of a streamer, YouTuber, and online influencer attracted her; hence, she started streaming on Twitch on January 2019 and immensely enjoyed the unorthodox profession. It did not take her long to get affiliated, and with her popularity almost increasing overnight, Aroyitt began earning a significant amount as a video game streamer.

On the other hand, the reality TV star has an active YouTube channel with over 584,000 subscribers, where she posts regular vlogs and updates on her life. Last but not least, Aroyitt is quite famous on TikTok and works with several brands as an online influencer. Interestingly, while the video game streamer has around 1.9 million followers on Twitch, she still dreams of expanding her career and has plans to study and pursue a job in voice acting.

Aroyitt’s Boyfriend

Ever since Aroyitt started getting popular, she has preferred to keep a tight lid on her dating life. She rarely discusses it publicly and even refrains from posting anything about it on social media. However, recently sources mentioned that Aroyitt was supposedly dating fellow YouTuber, Alexby, and the two appeared to be quite comfortable with each other. Thus, from the looks of it, she is currently in a happy relationship with him, and the two appear to be in it for the long run.

Read More: Jonan Wiergo: Everything We Know

It is commonly known that an online influencer we follow can often affect our lifestyles and choices. Netflix’s ‘Who Likes My Follower?‘ plays with that same theory as it follows three eligible singles ready to look for true love from a group of seven potential dates each. However, herein lies the twist as they are assisted and advised in their journey by an influencer they follow.

Fans were ecstatic to see Spanish actor, model, and online influencer Jonan Wiergo appear on the reality show. Staying true to the premise, he even assisted his follower, Apolo, in his journey to finding a perfect partner. Nonetheless, Jonan commanded an immense interest, and viewers are curious to know more about him. Well, here’s everything we can tell you!

Jonan Wiergo’s Age and Background

Like the other influencers, Jonan Wiergo has embraced privacy and rarely talks about his early life. Although, we know that he was born in Valencia, Spain, on August 1, 1997, and is 25 years old currently. While Jonan seems to have grown up in a close-knit family, he hasn’t revealed much about his loved ones and chooses to protect their identity. Nevertheless, in a February 2022 interview, Jonan mentioned that he had been interested in every aspect of marketing from quite a young age and wouldn’t have minded pursuing that subject after high school.

Jonan Wiergo’s Profession

As Jonan has been on social media since the age of sixteen, he had a lot of time at his disposal to get used to the hectic nature of it all. Interestingly, in the same February 2022 interview, the ‘Who Likes My Follower?’ star mentioned that although he loved the subject of marketing, he was never the one to work too hard for something. Hence, Jonan viewed social media as an easy way to get famous, and his plan ultimately paid off.

At present, Jonan is an internet sensation with over 577 thousand followers on Instagram. Besides, he has also dipped his toe in modeling and has made quite a name for himself in the industry. Viewers would be interested to know that Jonan has appeared on several TV shows, including ‘Pekín Express,’ ‘Dating Stories,’ and, of course, ‘Who Likes My Follower.’ Moreover, he has a vegan restaurant named Guakame in Valencia, Spain, and is currently focused on taking the establishment to further heights.

Jonan Wiergo’s Boyfriend

We are happy to report that Jonan has been in a longtime relationship with his loving boyfriend, Christian Tomás. While the couple has been together for more than five years, the reality TV star mentioned that Christian slowly converted him into a vegetarian before helping him adapt to a completely vegan lifestyle. Furthermore, Guakame is actually the brainchild of the pair, and they run it together. From the looks of it, Jonan and Christian enjoy an excellent relationship and do not shy away from professing their love on social media. It is heartwarming to see their love blossom, and we wish the happy couple the best for future years.

Read More: Everything We Know About Carmen Jedet Izquierdo Sánchez

A cold case of a Sheriff’s Sergeant’s murder from 1985 took close to a decade and a half to solve, with the authorities eventually believing one of their own was responsible. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Scorned: Fatal Fury: Law Enforcement Love Affair’ focuses on George Arthur’s slaying and how advancements in technology finally led to the evidence from the crime scene providing a possible culprit. Now, if you’re curious about what happened, here’s what we know.

How Did George Arthur Die?

George Lynn Arthur was a 37-year-old employed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California. In addition, he was married and worked as a Sheriff’s Sergeant at the Men’s Central Jail. George was popular with his peers and had been in the service for about 14 years when the incident occurred. However, his life came to a screeching end on the night of June 1, 1985.

At around 9:50 PM, George left work in his personal vehicle after his shift ended, yet just minutes later, he was involved in a one-vehicle crash. It appeared that he suddenly lost control of his car and crashed into a center divider head-on on a freeway ramp in Santa Ana, California. George was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead, and a coroner’s investigation shockingly revealed that he had been shot and killed.

Who Killed George Arthur?

Once the police learned that the cause of death was a gunshot wound, they examined the crime scene and the vehicle. It appeared that someone else was in the car, and there was a struggle before the shooting and the crash. The investigators located another person’s blood and hair in the car, giving them crucial biological evidence. Furthermore, witnesses at the scene remembered seeing a man getting out of the crash, limping away, and bleeding from the head.

The evidence now pointed to someone else being in the car with George, yet the authorities were limited by the technology of the time and couldn’t further analyze the biological evidence. Despite hundreds of interviews and following up of multiple leads, the case didn’t get much further, and it turned cold. Then, in 1999, the police decided to take a second look at the case and hoped for newer scientific techniques to help with the investigation.

The authorities looked at about 165 possible suspects before they came across Ted Eugene Kirby. They believed that he and George, both married men, were romantically involved with the same woman, making it a messy love triangle. Moreover, the police asserted that the victim might not have known that Ted was angry with him. The latter started working for the department in 1970, working in different areas until his transfer to Men’s Central Jail in 1986, where he stayed until his retirement ten years later.

Ted and George worked at the same place at the time of the incident. When the police began to suspect him, he lived with his wife in Spokane, Washington. In June 1999, they telephoned him and told him they would come to his home to collect his DNA sample. Despite agreeing initially, Ted lawyered up later and only provided his sample after a court order was obtained. Analysis revealed that his DNA matched the evidence left at the crime scene. The investigators believed that Ted hid in the van and waited for George to get in before the attack.

How Did Ted Eugene Kirby Die?

When the authorities returned to Spokane on July 7, 1999, they learned that Ted had been missing since June 30, 1999. He was last seen by his wife, Denise, who said that he had left the wedding ring on the table and walked out in the early morning. Ted’s wallet was still in his car, parked outside, but the 54-year-old had taken his gun with him and walked off. He was described as being depressed and emotional at the time.

On July 14, 1999, a TV crew in Ted’s neighborhood ended up at a 40-acre pasture, blocks away from his home. At around 12:30 PM, they discovered a decomposed body at the bottom of a rock outcropping, which the authorities later identified as Ted’s. There was a pistol beside him, and he had some head trauma, with the police believing that the wound was self-inflicted.

Read More: How Did Patti Wolzen Die?

Berry Bryant, a young college student with her whole life ahead of her, was brutally murdered in October 1996. The case deeply affected everyone involved, and her family has been dealing with the aftermath ever since. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Evil Lives Here: Shadows Of Death: The Dark Road’ chronicles what led to Berry’s killing and how the police caught the culprit. So, let’s find out more about this case then, shall we?

How Did Berry Bryant Die?

Born in Montana in March 1978, Berry Alexis Bryant was seen as a multi-faceted individual and took part in sports, band, and drill teams, among other things, in high school. The saxophone player was a sophomore at the Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, and was described as a friendly and loving person who got along with everyone. During just one month at college, Berry made good friends and was well-liked.

On October 5, 1996, the 18-year-old attended a school dance and then a party in a dormitory room. At some point during the night, Berry left the room, but little did she know that she would never come back. Additional information later led the police to Berry’s body about 16 miles outside of Powell. It appeared that she had been in an intense struggle with her attacker; she had several defensive wounds and was lying on some dirt in a pool of blood. Berry’s throat had been slit to the extent that she was almost decapitated.

Who Killed Berry Bryant?

Berry’s roommate began to get worried when she didn’t return. Her car was still parked in the parking lot, and the local hospital had nobody with that name being treated there. The investigation revealed that at the party, there was another teenager named Levi Collen, who was 19 years old at the time. He had known Berry from a conference before, and as per the show, it appeared that while he was smitten with was, she wasn’t interested.

Berry was last seen leaving the party with Levi, though sometime later, he returned blood-covered to the dorm and said he was in a fight with another man. At the time, he had some scratches on his body and was bleeding. On the way to the alleged spot with friends, Levi told them that he had killed Berry after raping her, resulting in them restraining him and calling the police immediately.

Initially, Levi provided different stories regarding what happened. Per the show, he mentioned they were in his car together and had consensual sex before Berry got out of the vehicle and attacked him with a beer bottle; Levi claimed he stabbed her to defend himself. However, the police didn’t believe him and asked him to lead them to the body. After Levi showed the police where Berry was, he confessed to what had happened.

Levi said he left the party with Berry and the two drove about 16 miles out of Powell. The show states that he tried to have sex with her, but she resisted. Levi then pulled out his knife, yet Berry continued fighting. He then raped her before slitting her throat from ear to ear and hiding the body in some brush. Apart from that, the authorities also heard from another woman whom Levi attacked sometime in the summer of 1995.

The woman said that she was at a bar with her friend and came across Levi, eventually going on a drive with him. According to the show, Levi wanted to have sex with her, and when she refused, he threatened her with a gun, drove to a desolate area, and then raped her. The survivor told the police that he bit her on her face and arms and told her that he would hunt down and kill her if she ever mentioned this to anybody.

Where is Levi Collen Today?

In November 1996, Levi was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping. He was also charged with sexual assault concerning the incident that occurred in the summer of 1995. As a result, he was handed down three consecutive life sentences. Prison records indicate that Levi remains incarcerated at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington, Goshen County.

Read More: How Did Eva Garcia Die?

Niqui McCown was looking forward to her upcoming wedding but seemingly vanished into thin air in July 2001. Loved ones and authorities searched far and wide for her, yet the searches ended in disappointment. The first half of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Still a Mystery: Danger at Close Range’ focuses on the circumstances surrounding Niqui’s disappearance and what clues the authorities uncovered in the aftermath. So, if you’re wondering the same, we’ve got you covered.

What Happened to Niqui McCown?

Marilyn Renee Nicole “Niqui” McCown grew up in Richmond, Indiana. The young woman was described as a beautiful, talented, and funny person with her whole life ahead of her. At the time of the incident, Niqui worked as a corrections officer at a local prison and raised her then nine-year-old daughter, Payton. The 28-year-old had been separated from the latter’s father for a while and was engaged to be married to Bobby Webster, the high school sweetheart she reconnected with.

On July 22, 2001, Niqui, Bobby, and Payton attended church, splitting up around noon. Niqui dropped her daughter at her parents’ place and headed to the local laundry service to wash her clothes. As per the show, she returned an hour later and left again to pick up her laundry; only this time, there was no sign of her returning.

Is Niqui McCown Dead or Alive?

The family reported Niqui missing on July 23, 2001, yet despite an extensive search for the young mother, she has not been found to date, making it impossible for us to determine her current status. According to the show, Bobby’s behavior after her disappearance raised suspicion- he had pawned her ring and tried to get the deposit back on the wedding. Furthermore, his polygraph test allegedly showed that he was being deceptive. However, the authorities eventually ruled him out.

The case stalled until November 2001, when the car Niqui was driving was found in an apartment complex in Dayton, Ohio. She used to live in that apartment earlier, and when the car was found, Payton’s father was still residing there. The vehicle also contained some of her clean laundry items; nevertheless, this turned out to be a dead end because of a lack of forensic evidence in the car. Eventually, the authorities turned their attention to Tommy Swint, a coworker of Niqui’s at the prison. As per the show, he was obsessed with her, though she only considered him a friend.

While the authorities saw Tommy as a person of interest, no evidence tied him to the disappearance. Then, in 2007, he was sworn in as a law officer in Trotwood, Ohio, but he resigned within two months when it came to light that he was still a person of interest in Niqui’s case. In November 2007, the police received a tip regarding his potential connection to a 1991 murder. Tina Marie Ivery’s dead body was found in a brush pile in December 1991 by some tree trimmers in Jefferson Township, Ohio.

The body had been wrapped in plastic bags taped together and then wrapped in a quilt. In addition, the victim was naked from the waist down and had been beaten and strangled to death. At the time, the authorities had collected semen, blood, and fingerprints yet didn’t get further. Then, in May 2008, it was concluded that Tommy’s semen was on Tina’s jacket, and he couldn’t be excluded as the source of the blood stain. In November 2009, the crime lab matched the fingerprint found on the tape at the scene to him.

Tommy denied knowing Tina or having anything to do with her murder but was indicted on February 3, 2010. About an hour later, the authorities heard a gunshot as they were approaching his house in Phenix City, Alabama, to arrest him. The 43-year-old had killed himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. At that point, he had not been charged with Niqui’s disappearance; hence any possibility of closure from him ended with his death.

Nonetheless, the family has not lost hope over the years. Payton, now an adult, wanted to continue looking for her mother. In July 2021, she said, “What I want to do is I want to get back out there. I want to start doing footwork again. I want to post the flyers. I want to go around, and I want to go back and look at the case and see where we missed. Even when we find answers, it’s going to be something that we’ve got to live with the rest of our lives, but the closure I think would help us out a lot.”

Read More: How Did Allaura Wells Die?

Disco 2 is the side project of Philadelphia DIY band Dead Love Triangle, colored with softness and heartfelt lo-fi by frontman Ben Roberts—who has something more to say than his normal surf-rock riffs that listeners are all too familiar with. A House Is Not A Holiday is Roberts’ first release under his new alias, which splits off from Dead Love Triangle’s signature style. Starting with house shows and growing onwards to play more serious gigs, Roberts has garnered a lot of success in his past project with immense attention towards the single “Makeout Party.” 

With this project, Roberts strives to express himself more emotionally and intimately. It is a DIY, self-recorded EP filled with hints of nostalgia, echoed harmonies and raw acoustic noise. The final track on the EP, titled “Come Back,” is full of the simplistic sounds that seem to call back to Dead Love Triangle’s origin. “These songs are dear to my heart in that they tell stories of love and loss, and grow with me. Recorded in parking lots, basements, and bedroom floors, Disco 2 is the do-it-yourself second coming of Disco—except much slower, and sadder,” Roberts shares. 

A House Is Not A Holiday is out now via self-release. Listen to “Come Back” below.

Boston rockers Pile are back with their first music since their smashing February debut All Fiction. “Scaling Walls” is a contemplative slow-burn with a midwest-emo instrumental bent and a healthy, healthy dose of vocalist Rick Maguire’s nihilistic croon. The tune builds to a climactic, minute-long finish, mountainous guitars and hints of cacophonous distortion kept neatly in check by its sharp run-time.

Watch the video for “Scaling Walls” and check out Pile’s upcoming North American tour dates below:

Pile’s Upcoming Tour Dates:
09/07 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom w/ Speedy Ortiz & Washer
09/08 – Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery
09/09 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
09/10 – Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
09/12 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
09/13 – Detroit, MI @ El Club
09/14 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village w/ Being Dead, Options, & Yours, Mookie
09/15 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
09/16 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
09/17 – Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club
09/19 – Missoula, MT @ The Show Room @ The ZACC w/ Panther Car
09/21 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
09/22 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
09/26 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
09/28 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s
09/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
10/01 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
10/02 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
10/06 – Denton, TX @ Andy’s Bar
10/07 – Austin, TX @ Parish w/ Porcelain
10/09 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
10/11 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa w/ KC Wren
10/12 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
10/13 – Atlanta, GA @ 529
10/14 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle w/ MJ Lenderman
10/15 – Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone
10/16 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall
10/17 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ Spring Silver
10/19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
10/21 – New York, NY @ Racket w/ Spring Silver
10/23 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair w/ Haasan Barcaly

Amazon Prime’s ‘Making The Cut‘ is an exciting design reality show that brings together a group of up-and-coming designers worldwide. These designers are pitted against each other through carefully curated challenges that test their endurance, skill, mettle, and technique. With the level of competition being relatively high, one or at times two contestants are eliminated after each challenge, while the last one standing is awarded a mentorship from Amazon Fashion and $1 million in prize money.

‘Making The Cut’ season 3 lived up to its hype and far exceeded it as it introduced us to ten incredible designers, each equally deserving of the top position. Besides, we witnessed several jaw-dropping creations as the show introduced a few twists to keep things interesting. Nevertheless, with the third iteration now behind us, let’s jump in and find out what the cast is up to, shall we?

Where Is Emily Bargeron Now?

Emily Bargeron was quite excited about the opportunity to compete with her fellow designers, yet her efforts fell short, and she was eliminated in tenth place. Now, she resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates her fashion brand, Mamie Ruth. Additionally, she has taken up several side projects and functions as the owner and creative director of East + Up, a vintage boutique, and the co-owner of Lose Ya Cool, a custom t-shirt company.

Emily also helped co-establish Starland Strange & Bazaar, a gift shop that acts more like a hangout zone where people can grab a bite, meet an artist, or spend time together. Moreover, readers will be glad to know that the designer is in a happy relationship with Clark Welmering, who supports her every step.

Where Is Ciara Morgan Now?

Although Ciara was eliminated in the ninth position, she remained grateful for the wonderful opportunities and exposure she got from competing in ‘Making The Cut.’ She currently resides in Los Angeles, California, where she works as a Product Development Coordinator with Sunrise Brands, alongside running her successful and famous fashion brand, Ciara Chyanne.

While we believe that Ciara is single presently, her work has been duly recognized, and she has been featured in several publications and TV shows. Furthermore, we are happy to report that apart from having several celebrities wear her creations, Ciara received the prestigious Visa’s She’s Next In Fashion grant in 2022.

Where Is Gabriella Meyer Now?

Gabriella gave her best on the show and even impressed the judges with a few of her creations. Sadly, she was bested and had to exit in the eighth position. Currently, Gabriella resides in the Greater Chicago Area, where she owns and operates her fashion brand,  Denimcratic. Interestingly, she got interested in Denim during her senior year thesis and ultimately decided to fashion her whole brand around the material.

Apart from using an environmental-friendly manufacturing process, Gabriella has spoken up on various issues, including the #MeToo movement, through her brand. Thankfully, her efforts have been given their due recognition by several celebrities, and she has been featured in publications like Rolling Stone, Marie Claire, and Vogue, among others.

Where Is Sienna Li Now?

After exiting the show in 7th place, Sienna Li returned to her everyday life in New York City, where she runs her eponymous fashion brand, Sienna Li. While the Parsons School of Design alumnus’ brand is known for being quite luxurious and high-end, she is interested in launching a second brand, which would be more accessible as it would have clothes for all occasions. Sienna has shown off her collections at the New York Fashion Week, and viewers will be glad to know that prestigious publications like Vogue Italia and L’OFFICIEL have featured the New York-based fashion designer.

Where Is Curtis Cassell Now?

Curtis Cassel wowed everyone with his brilliant creations on the show. Unfortunately, his efforts ultimately fell short and eliminated him in the sixth position. Currently, Curtis resides in New York City, where he owns and operates his fashion brand, Queera, which prides itself on being a nonbinary label that challenges and tries to break binary gender stereotypes. Although Curtis established his brand in 2020 and was into formal wear initially, he has since expanded his catalog to include accessible apparel; we wish him the best for the years ahead.

Where Is Markantoine Lynch-Boisvert Now?

Markantoine Lynch-Boisvert seemed thrilled at competing alongside his fellow designers, and he gave it his all in the show. Subsequently, he made it into the top 5 yet was eliminated in 5th place. Markantoine resides in Montreal, Quebec, where he is the Creative Director of his skatewear brand, MRKNTN. Additionally, he takes marketing and fashion design classes at the LaSalle College in Montreal and is a valued member of Quebec’s Metropolitan Fashion Cluster.

On top of that, Markantoine got some much-needed exposure in 2022, as he was asked to feature his creations at the Paris Fashion Week. Interestingly, reports in 2019 claimed that he was in a relationship with Alex James Taboureau, but from the looks of it, they have parted ways.

Where Is Jeanette Limas Now?

Jeanette was a force to reckon with throughout the season, and she proved it by powering her way to the top four. Her efforts, unfortunately, fell short, and she was eliminated in the fourth position after failing to make it into the top three. At present, Jeanette is based in New York City, from where she runs her fashion brand, Jeanette Limas Studio, LLC. Since launching her fashion brand in 2015, she has been experimenting with several styles, making her quite popular.

Moreover, Jeanette conducts most of her business online, with only a few boutiques keeping her creations in stock. In addition, she has participated in the New York Fashion Week, which helped her brand get some much-needed exposure, and she even launched an Amazon collection in August 2022. We are happy to report that Jeanette is currently in a happy marriage with Yaroslav Lozhko, and the two keep shuttling between Philadelphia and New York City.

Where Is Georgia Hardinge Now?

Georgia was ecstatic to make her way into the top three and gave her best in the season finale. However, the judges ultimately decided to eliminate her in 3rd place. Georgia has been active in the fashion industry for a long time, as she established her eponymous fashion label, Georgia Hardinge, in 2010. Apart from participating in fashion events worldwide, including the famous London and New York Fashion Weeks, she partnered with Lancôme in 2012 when she designed a skincare bottle range on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee.

In 2013, Georgia showcased a collection in collaboration with River Island and had her work shown off in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Presently, she lives in London, where she runs her fashion label and even operates a physical store at St Christopher’s Place. In 2022, she also represented the United Kingdom at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. On the personal front, she is happily married and a loving mother to a baby boy.

Where Is Rafael Chaouiche Now?

Rafael Chaouiche was considered one of the favorites to win the competition and even went on to be a part of the final two. Eventually, Yannik Zamboni bested him in the finals, and he had to bow out as the runner-up. Rafael is now based out of Curitiba, Brazil, where he runs his fashion brand, Chaouiche. He mentioned he found the inspiration to create such a brand from dynamic female personalities; hence, most of his creations include bold designs, splashes of color, and an interesting choice of fabrics and cuts.

While Rafael has been featured in prestigious Brazilian publications, viewers will be interested to know that appearing in ‘Making The Cut’ season 3 was his first time out of Brazil. Apart from work, the inspiring designer seems to be in a loving relationship, and we hope happiness never eludes him in the long run.

Where Is Yannik Zamboni

Yannik Zamboni came to the show intending to give his best and ultimately went on to win the whole thing. Judges appreciated his designs throughout the season, and never found himself in danger of elimination. Interestingly, Yannik started his professional career in the event management industry as he worked for Coty (Wella Schweiz). Albeit in 2018, he interned at the London-based fashion brand Feng Chen Wang and finally established his fashion brand, Maison Blanche, in September 2020.

Interestingly, besides creating incredible designs, Yannik has advocated for ecological, socio-political, and economic issues through his brand. He mentioned that a few of his creations were inspired by the daily struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Viewers will be surprised to know that Yannik did not want to appear on TV but had to do so since he was running low on finances. Thus, with him winning $1 million, we can expect him to expand his brand and amaze us with more breathtaking designs.

Read More: Is Making The Cut Scripted?