Tech
Alien: Earth episode 6: Alien sheep is the shows greatest villain and there will be no further questions
The demise of Tootles (Kit Young) in Alien: Earth episode 6 is both avoidable and frustrating, but the silver lining is that it allows the show's greatest character to shine.
We're talking, of course, about alien sheep, the fluffy monstrosity stealthily stealing the show despite having no lines of dialogue whatsoever.
What happens with the sheep in episode 6?
Alien sheep is brought to life in Alien: Earth episode 4, the product of another misguided Prodigy experiment to test the capabilities of a new — and truly hideous — specimen: T. Ocellus, that nasty little octopus-like creature that can burrow into eyeballs and essentially take over creatures' brains.
Prodigy's plan? Release T. Ocellus into the same laboratory pen as a sheep, and observe what happens after it inevitably tunnels its way into the poor beast's head.
"The wavy lines are totally different now," says soon-to-be-dead hybrid Tootles, observing the sheep's intelligence chart once the octopus creature has completed its attack.
"Those are gamma waves," responds Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant). "Problem-solving, concentration. See how they've increased? This creature is highly intelligent."
He's not wrong, but it's only in episode 6 that we find out exactly how intelligent T. Ocellus is, when it uses its limited four-legged powers to despatch Tootles with nothing more than a well-timed headbutt.
The best part of this attack is the way alien sheep initially bides its time. When Tootles strolls into the lab, intent on completing his exciting solo responsibilities of feeding the assorted monsters, it simply waits and watches him bumble through his tasks. The minute Tootles discovers that the secure feeding hatch for the fly aliens' pen is broken (what the hell, Prodigy?) T. Ocellus sees its chance. As soon as Tootles has the cell door propped open with his foot and becomes off-balance, T. Ocellus slams its sheepy head into the glass and sends him stumbling. Moments later, the alien flies descend.
This manoeuvre may seem outwardly pointless for alien sheep at first, but later in the episode we see that it's just the first domino in a chain reaction. Tootles' grisly death leads directly to the attack on Prodigy employee Arthur (David Rysdahl), leaving the lab in a state of chaos that the final slow (and very metal) zoom into alien sheep's face suggests it will be taking full advantage of.
Alien sheep 1, Prodigy 0.
Why is alien sheep so great?
Brilliant acting isn't always about shouting loudly or crying on cue. Sometimes it's more subtle than than, and this is an area where alien sheep thrives. Somehow it's able to maintain a constant level of menace with a simple stare, gazing impassively out at its captors like a woolly Hannibal Lecter.
The sheep even breaks the fourth wall in the episode's final shot, staring directly down the camera lens as the opening chords of Godsmack's "Keep Away" play in the background. Absolute cinema.
At this stage we don't know what alien sheep's grand plan is, but we're certain of two things: 1) It will likely involve unspeakable levels of violence, and 2) We'll be rooting for it all the way.
Alien: Earth streams Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.
Tech
Bad Bunnys halftime show sparked emotional reactions across the Americas. See the heartwarming videos now.
During Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show, millions of viewers experienced the performance together — cheering in living rooms, filming on their phones, and reacting in real time. But for those of Latin American descent, hearing their home countries named out loud during Benito's grand finale made the moment especially meaningful.
In his closing act, Bad Bunny transformed the stage into a celebration of the Americas. Dancers carried flags from countries across North, Central, and South America, while a massive screen behind him flashed messages like "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." He capped the roll call of nations with a declaration that "together, we are America," framing the finale as a moment of shared identity and joy.
For those watching at home, the emotion didn't end when the music stopped. Viewers immediately took to social media to document their reactions, sharing clips of their friends and families cheering, hugging, and erupting with pride when their countries were named — turning a televised performance into a collective celebration.
Together, these clips formed a digital mosaic of diaspora, stitched from small, intimate moments across phone screens and time zones. Each video captured the same feeling: that for a few minutes, home — wherever it was — didn't feel so far away.
Tech
Best last-minute deals on Valentines Day flowers so far — you have way more options than plain roses
The Bouqs Co.
1-800-Flowers
Urban Stems
Unless your recipient has explicitly expressed their disdain for receiving flowers (we all know at least one hater), you really can't go wrong with surprising someone with fresh blooms for Valentine's Day. Not when there are so many opportunities to pick out a truly unique bouquet that fits his or her tastes: Most of the best flower delivery services are offering great last-minute Valentine's Day deals on flower deliveries, saving you 25% to 50% on a gift for the upcoming romantic weekend.
1-800-Flowers is your go-to spot for a classic bouquet of roses on a budget, while The Bouqs Co. and Urban Stems have elevated takes on traditional arrangements that aren't like anything you'd walk past in the grocery store. A majority of bouquets on sale can be delivered by Saturday, Feb. 14 (check the earliest possible delivery date for each). Either way, you're bound to find some pretty stems that scream "them" — so while the timing itself is rushed, the flowers they receive don't have to feel like an afterthought.
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SAVE $30: As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is on sale for just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99.
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Mashable's shopping team has spent quite a bit of time with Ultimate Ears Bluetooth speakers and we're big fans. We love the Hyperboom and Epicboom, but the itty bitty Wonderboom is one of our absolute favorites. If you're in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker, we highly recommend this tiny powerhouse — especially when it's on sale.
As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is down to just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99 and just 10 bucks shy of its best-ever price from Black Friday.
Our favorite sub-$100 Bluetooth speaker, the Wonderboom 4 fits in the palm of your hand but offers surprisingly balanced and powerful sound. As Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard noted in our roundup, "the sound profile is well-rounded and can get loud."
It can last up to 14 hours on a full charge, handles drops from up to five feet like a champ, and can be submerged in water for up to half an hour. We do wish it offered a companion app to customize the sound profile, but for a ultra-portable no-frills speaker, it's an excellent value.
Bad Bunnys halftime show sparked emotional reactions across the Americas. See the heartwarming videos now.
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