Frustrated by his failing health and fretting about his own legacy, Lou Reed spent his final days intent on making something “really astonishing.”By Will Hermes
The Movies Fantasy League Mea Culpa SpectacularNow that rosters are locked and points are rolling in, we can take a retrospective look at the pricing that we got right, and oh-so-very wrong.
emergency discussionThe Love Is Blind Experiment Finally Broke A season defined by external drama reminds us why we’re really watching.By Kathryn VanArendonk, Dee Lockett, and Nic Juarez
the industryRomeo and Juliet Was a Tragedy In 1968, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting were the most famous teenagers in the world. Fifty-five years later, they sued Paramount for child abuse.By Lila Shapiro
book reviewHow Zadie Smith Lost Her Teeth Since her audacious debut, she has been moving toward character-driven realism. In the process, she’s become the least interesting version of herself.By Andrea Long Chu
profileThe Spectacular Life of Octavia E. Butler The story of the girl who grew up in Pasadena, took the bus, loved her mom and grandmother, and wrote herself into the world.By E. Alex Jung
performance reviewWhat Was Brangelina? The couple were always known for their image-making savvy. Now, as their divorce reenters the press cycle, we’re reminded of who’s better at it.By Angelica Jade Bastién
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first personThe Voice of New York Is Drill It’s the most captivating sound the city has heard in decades — and also the most misunderstood. Here, 19 NY drill artists set the record straight.By Camille Squires