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A tablet is a convenient way to get tasks done at home or on the go — and it's even better when you have the right accessories that make your tablet even easier to use. Check out the best deals on Amazon Fire Tablet accessories as of March 29.

Best Amazon Fire Tablet accessories deals as of Mar. 29: Best Amazon Fire Tablet keyboard deal for kids Amazon Kids Bluetooth Keyboard $35.19 at Amazon (save $8.80) Get Deal Best Amazon Fire Tablet keyboard deal for adults Amazon Bluetooth Keyboard Case $44.99 at Amazon (save $5) Get Deal Best Amazon Fire Tablet case deal for kids Amazon Kid-Friendly Case $24.99 at Amazon (save $4) Get Deal

As of March 29, Amazon has limited-time deals on Amazon Fire Tablet accessories. Get 20% off accessories like kid-friendly cases and keyboards, plus plenty of other helpful extras on sale for up to 20% off. Shop some of our favorite picks below.

Best Amazon Fire tablet keyboard deal for kids Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Kids Bluetooth keyboard $35.19 at Amazon
$43.99 Save $8.80 Get Deal Why we like it

If you've got older kiddos who have an Amazon 10-inch Fire Kids Pro tablet, you might want to consider the Amazon Kids Bluetooth Keyboard. This shockproof keyboard is durable and designed to hold up to the wear of everyday life with kids. At the same time, this practical keyboard turns the tablet into more of a laptop so it's easier for kids to type and learn with the tablet. We also love that just one charge gives this keyboard 400 hours of battery life.

Best Amazon Fire Tablet keyboard deal for adults Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Bluetooth Keyboard Case $44.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $5.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Having a keyboard for your Amazon Fire Tablet gives you more functionality and helps you be more productive, especially if you use your tablet for work and creativity. If you have an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, this compatible Amazon Bluetooth Keyboard Case could be a great fit. The keyboard also functions as a slim screen cover, protecting your tablet from scratches and dings. With a 200-hour battery life, this keyboard is ultra-reliable.

Best Amazon Fire tablet case deal for kids Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon kid-friendly case $24.99 at Amazon
$28.99 Save $4.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If your child has a tablet, they'll also need a protective case (they'll drop it many times, that's a guarantee). This vibrant blue Amazon kid-friendly case is made for the Kids Fire 7 tablet. It's slim enough that older kids won't find it too bulky, but still rugged, durable, and (most importantly) kid-proof. It also comes with a helpful adjustable stand that props the tablet up while your child enjoys reading or streaming.

Setting up Apple Pay for contactless payments on your iPhone is easy as hell.

I was averse to using Apple Pay for a while. Something about it — putting my phone in the air above a card reader and having money taken out of my bank account — felt exceptionally odd. I was connected to the technology of yore, dedicated to using my physical plastic or cash money as long as I possibly could. But then the MTA — the corporation that controls public transportation in New York City — began encouraging commuters to tap their cards or phones to pay the entry to the trains. I used my card until, eventually, the task of taking my wallet out of my pocket and pulling a card out became too time consuming for me and the people behind me. I set up Apple Pay. I have not turned back.

There's a reason so many people use Apple Pay. Setting up Apple Pay for contactless payments on your iPhone might seem like a daunting task, but it's actually pretty easy — and using it is even easier. 

SEE ALSO: How to take a screenshot on a Mac Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• iPhone
• credit or debit card

Step 1: Add a card to your Wallet

Navigate to your Wallet app and click the "+" icon in the top-right corner.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 2: Choose "Debit or Credit Card"

Follow the steps to add cards to Apply Pay. Click "continue," and either take a photo of your card or manually enter the card's information.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 3: Pay with Apple Pay

To pay with your default card on an iPhone, simply double-click the side button on your phone, use your Face ID or enter your passcode, and point the phone at the card reader. When the card has been accepted, you'll see Done or a checkmark on the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Amazon deals of the day: OUR TOP PICK Echo Pop with Amazon Basics smart color bulb $22.99 at Amazon (save $29.99) Get Deal BEST KINDLE DEAL Kindle Scribe (64 GB) with Premium Pen $319.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal BEST ANKER DEAL Anker Soundcore Space A40 noise-cancelling earbuds $49 at Amazon (save $50.99) Get Deal BEST ECHO DEAL Amazon Echo Buds (2nd gen) with wired charging case $54.99 at Amazon (save $65) Get Deal BEST SHARK DEAL Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense Air Purifier $149.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal

It should come as no surprise that we love a good deal here at Mashable. We're regularly scouring the web for the best deals around, and Amazon's discounts tend to stand out in an oversaturated shopping market.

While there's currently no big shopping holiday on the calendar (until Prime Day, of course), the retail giant is still wowing us with savings on this random Friday in March. Amazon's own devices, in particular, are seeing impressive discounts up to 40% off. If you're looking to do some retail therapy heading into the weekend, we've got you covered with the best Amazon deals of the day.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon deal of the day: Echo Pop with Amazon Basics smart color bulb $22.99 at Amazon
$52.98 Save $29.99 Get Deal

Who doesn't love free stuff? As of March 29, you can get the Echo Pop speaker paired with an Amazon Basics smart light bulb for only $22.99. That's the same price as the Echo Pop on its own at the current sale price (regularly $39.99). The Amazon Basics smart bulb regularly costs $12.99, so you'll be pocketing that amount by snagging the bundle. The Echo Pop is a "good budget-friendly option in the Echo lineup," according to Mashable's reviewer, SaVanna Shoemaker, and makes a good addition to the homes of folks "who like to keep music playing, and who also use Alexa as a home assistant."

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Scribe (64 GB) with Premium Pen $319.99 at Amazon
$419.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale fell short in the Kindle department, but this Kindle Scribe deal makes up for it. At $319.99, it's about $15 shy of its lowest price to date and the biggest discount we've seen since Black Friday season. You'll save $100 on the 64GB version with the premium pen, which is a stylus with a virtual eraser on the back and a customizable shortcut button on the side. The Scribe isn't a perfect device, but it does bridge the gap between traditional reading and e-reading by allowing you to mark up books to your heart's content. If you don't need the extra storage, the basic pen option (which is essentially just a stylus) with 16GB is also on sale for its lowest price since Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Space A40 noise-cancelling earbuds $49.00 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $50.99 Get Deal

Just last week, during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, we saw the Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds drop to an all-time low $49.99. As of March 29, they're 99 cents cheaper. We haven't had a chance to review the buds ourselves, but our friends over at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) tested them to find they "deliver quality active noise cancellation and balanced, detailed audio for a modest price." These buds boast 50 hours of audio playback, a fast-charging feature that delivers a four-hour battery life boost in just 10 minutes, and adaptive noise cancellation — and all for under $50.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Buds (2021 release, 2nd gen) with wired charging case $54.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal

How about another great earbuds deal? The Echo Buds (2nd gen) with the wired charging case are down to just $54.99 from $119.99. That's 54% in savings and just $5 shy of the all-time low price, which they haven't hit since March 2022. The Echo Buds 2, according to Mashable's own Alex Perry, are "a really solid pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that will go easy on your wallet." The battery life is just OK, but the effective active noise cancellation, comfort, and solid sound quality make up for it. Not to mention, the low cost.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense Air Purifier $149.99 at Amazon
$239.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal

While this Shark air purifier deal has been floating around for a couple of weeks, it's still worth the buy. At $149.99, it's down to an all-time low price — just in time for peak allergy season. Thanks to its anti-allergen nanoseal and Clean Sense IQ technology, it captures 99.98 percent of large, small, and micro-sized pollutants in the air and automatically adjusts on the regular to maintain consistent air quality. It's best suited for a 500-square-foot room or smaller.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

UPDATE: Mar. 29, 2024, 10:30 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest drops from Best Buy's Video Game Spring Sale.

Quick links: Today's game deal 'Star Wars Jedi: Survivor' (PlayStation 5) $29.99 at Best Buy (save $40) Get Deal Today's game deal 'Star Wars Jedi: Survivor' (Xbox Series X) $29.99 at Best Buy (save $40) Get Deal

When one sale ends, another begins.

Best Buy's Video Game Spring Sale is here, bringing seven days of gaming-centric deals with it. It's basically a warmer-weather version of the 12 Days of Gaming Sale the retailer hosts around the holidays. New offers are popping up on its website every single day from March 25 to March 31, with each deal available for one day only.

Day five of the Video Game Spring Sale boasts two more of those deals. Today, you can snag a hefty deal on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for PlayStation and Xbox. You can get it today for just $29.99 (normally $69.99), which is a great buy for this critically acclaimed sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Note that Amazon was matching that discount at the time of writing.

Mashable reviewer Alex Perry praised the game for "improving upon one of the best Star Wars games ever" when the game debuted in April 2023. The "smartly iterative sequel" is a vast upgrade from its predecessor, and is well worth giving a spin, especially if you're craving more Star Wars right now.

SEE ALSO: Gaming starter kit: All the gear you need to play like a real gamer

Best Buy's sale page specifies that each deal featured in its Video Game Spring Sale will cover "a featured video game and/or gaming accessory," and that "[saving] amounts will increase each day," but we don't know the full lineup ahead of time. Be sure to keep checking back with us daily to get the lowdown on what's discounted.

Previous Best Buy Video Game Spring Sale deals

Note: Anything marked with a strikeout was sold out or unavailable at its Video Game Spring Sale price at the time of writing.

Day one:

• Lords of the Fallen — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• Lords of the Fallen Deluxe Edition — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)

• SCUF Instinct Pro wireless controller for Xbox Series X/S — $209.99 $229.99 (save $20)

Day two:

• Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)

Day three:

• Skull and Bones Limited Edition — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

• Nacon Revolution 5 Pro — $169.99 $199.99 (save $30)

Day four:

• 'Sonic Superstars' — $24.99 $59.99 (save $35)

• Turtle Beach Recon Controller — $24.95 $59.95 (save $35)

SAVE $60.99: Today, Mar. 29, you can save 30% off on a pair of Google Pixel Buds Pro noise-cancelling earbuds at Amazon. This takes the list price of $199.99 down to $139.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Buds Pro $139.00 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $60.99 Get Deal

Whether you're taking work calls or enjoying your favorite music and podcasts on-the-go, having a reliable pair of noise-cancelling earbuds is a must. However, it's also important to maintain healthy listening habits to protect your hearing. How does one strike a balance? With Google Pixel Buds Pro, you can prioritize entertainment and health.

As of today, Mar. 29, Google Pixel Buds Pro earbuds are on sale for $139. This is $60 less than the typical list price of $199, saving you 30%. While this isn't the lowest price we've seen for these noise-cancelling earbuds, today's sale is a great value, making these earbuds more budget-friendly.

We love these earbuds for their long-lasting battery life (31 hours) and their superb noise-cancelling technology. What sets these earbuds apart from the competition is how they work with you to monitor your listening and support your hearing wellness. Through an app on your phone, you can monitor your listening and receive insights on how it's impacting your hearing so you can make informed choices about how you listen.

Shop today's deal and score a pair of Google Pixel Buds Pro for just $139 at Amazon.

Wondering how to watch the college basketball tournament? Here are your best options: Most channels Sling TV Blue Plan $15 for the first month, then $40/month (save $25) Get Deal Most affordable Max With Ads $9.99/month Get Deal

The Alabama and Clemson men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 30. The game is scheduled to start at 8:49 p.m. ET/7:49 p.m. CT. 

No. 6-seeded Clemson comes into the contest 25-11 overall. Most recently, Clemson beat No. 2 seed Arizona 77-72 on Thursday in the tournament’s third round. Chase Hunter scored 18 points with seven rebounds and five assists to lead Clemson.  

No. 4 seed Alabama enters the matchup 25-11 overall. On Thursday, Alabama defeated No. 1-seeded North Carolina in the third round of the tournament. Grant Nelson led Alabama with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracket

Brad Brownell is the Clemson men’s basketball head coach. Nate Oats is the Alabama men’s basketball head coach. 

Clemson vs. Alabama basketball game time, network

The Clemson vs. Alabama men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on TBS and truTV at 8:49 p.m. ET/7:49 p.m. CT on Saturday, March 30. TBS/truTV broadcasters are scheduled to be Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst), and Allie LaForce (reporter). 

Whatever team wins this game advances to play on Saturday, April 6 in Phoenix. 

Cable and satellite TV are no longer necessary for enjoying live sports. Consider live streaming options to watch Saturday’s game via services like Sling TV or Max.

Best streaming services for the Alabama vs. Clemson basketball game

Watching college basketball requires a streaming service if you don’t have cable or satellite TV. For the Clemson vs. Alabama men’s basketball game on Saturday, here are your top streaming options.

Most channels: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $15.00
$40.00 Save $25.00 Get Deal

If you want to watch just the Alabama vs. Clemson game on TBS via Sling TV, you’ll need either the Orange Plan or the Blue Plan. Both the Orange and Blue plans start at $15 for the first month and then increase to $40 per month subsequently, and they both also come with 50 hours of free DVR storage.   

TBS is one of 26 channels included on both the Orange and Blue plans. There are six channels exclusive to the Orange Plan, including ESPN and ESPN2. There are 14 channels exclusive to the Blue Plan, and those include FS1, NFL Network, and TruTV. Another difference between the Orange and Blue plans is that you can only stream on one device with the Orange Plan, and the Blue Plan allows streaming on three devices at once.

In higher-priced plans, Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, TNT, and TruTV. 

Most affordable: Max Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With Ads
Watch Now

Max offers you a tiered approach to subscription services, each level includes the B/R Sports Add-On at no additional cost. College basketball fans can access comprehensive coverage, mirroring the depth and intensity of the tournament itself. The B/R Sports Add-On gives you access to live sports on TBS, TNT and TruTV.

There are three Max tiers. The cheapest package is Max With Ads, which is $9.99 per month. It allows streaming on two devices. You can save 42% by paying for one year upfront at $69.99. 

The second package is Max Ad-Free, and that is $15.99 per month. If you’re mainly getting Max for sports, there isn’t much difference between Max With Ads and Max Ad-Free since sports will still include ads. If you pay one year upfront, you save 45% on Max Ad-Free at $104.99. 

Max Ultimate Ad-Free is the third package, and it is $19.99 per month. It also upgrades to allow streaming on four devices at once. Plus, it has 4K Ultra HD capability. The one-year price for Max Ultimate Ad-Free is $139.99. 

Wondering how to watch the college basketball tournament? Here are your best options: Most channels Sling TV Blue Plan $15 for the first month, then $40/month (save $25) Get Deal Most affordable Max With Ads $9.99/month Get Deal

The UConn and Illinois men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game at TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, March 30. The game is scheduled to start at 6:09 p.m. ET/5:09 p.m. CT. 

No. 1 seed UConn enters the matchup 34-3 overall. Most recently, UConn defeated San Diego State 82-52 on Thursday in the third round of the tournament. Cam Spencer scored 18 points and Tristen Newton added 17 points for UConn. 

No. 3-seeded Illinois comes into the contest 29-8 overall. On Thursday, Illinois beat No. 2 seed Iowa State 72-69 in the tournament’s third round. Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Fighting Illini with 29 points and five rebounds.

SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracket

Dan Hurley is the UConn men’s basketball head coach. Brad Underwood is the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball head coach.

Illinois vs. UConn basketball game time and network

The Illinois Fighting Illini vs. UConn men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on TBS and truTV at 6:09 p.m. ET/5:09 p.m. CT on Saturday, March 30. TBS and truTV broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Dan Bonner (analyst), Stan Van Gundy (analyst), and Andy Katz (reporter). 

The winner advances to play on Saturday, April 6 in Phoenix. 

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live-streaming platforms like Sling TV and Max offer fans flexibility and accessibility that aligns with modern sports viewership.

Best streaming services for the UConn vs. Illinois basketball game 

If you have cut the cord, don’t fear because Saturday's clash between the UConn and Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball teams is streaming. There are several streaming platforms ready to give you access to the game. Here are your top options.

Most channels: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $15.00
$40.00 Save $25.00 Get Deal

If you want to watch the UConn vs. Illinois game on TBS via Sling TV, you’ll need either the Orange Plan or the Blue Plan. Both the Orange and Blue plans start at $15 for the first month and then increase to $40 per month subsequently, and they both also come with 50 hours of free DVR storage.  

TBS is one of 26 channels included on both the Orange and Blue plans. There are six channels exclusive to the Orange Plan, including ESPN and ESPN2. There are 14 channels exclusive to the Blue Plan, and those include FS1, NFL Network, and TruTV. Another difference between the Orange and Blue plans is that you can only stream on one device with the Orange Plan, and the Blue Plan allows streaming on three devices at once.

In higher-priced plans, Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, TNT, and TruTV. 

Most affordable: Max Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With Ads
Watch Now

Max is broadcasting men’s college basketball this March. With a trio of options to choose from, Max is adding to each tier for free the B/R Sports Add-On. Part of the B/R Sports Add-On is live streaming sports from TBS, TNT and TruTV.

The cheapest package is Max With Ads, which is $9.99 per month. It allows streaming on two devices. You can save 42% by paying for one year upfront at $69.99. 

The second package is Max Ad-Free, and that is $15.99 per month. If you’re mainly getting Max for sports, there isn’t much difference between Max With Ads and Max Ad-Free since sports will still include ads. If you pay one year upfront, you save 45% on Max Ad-Free at $104.99. 

Max Ultimate Ad-Free is the third package, and it is $19.99 per month. It also upgrades to allow streaming on four devices at once. Plus, it has 4K Ultra HD capability. The one-year price for Max Ultimate Ad-Free is $139.99. 

GET $22 OFF: Get an Echo Pop Kids for just $27.99 at Amazon. That's 44% off the original listing price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop Kids $27.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal

Sometimes kids need an extra (digital) hand when it comes to morning and bedtime routines, especially if it also means they can burst into spontaneous dance parties to their favorite songs. If that sounds like a good addition to your home, there's a handy smart speaker designed just for kids on sale today at Amazon.

As of March 29, the Echo Pop Kids smart speaker is on sale for $27.99 at Amazon. That's a $22 discount, or 44% off.

SEE ALSO: Celebrate spring blooms with flowery Lego sets on sale for 20% off at Amazon

The Echo Pop Kids is a smart speaker designed specifically for kids. It's available in two designs featuring Disney Princesses or Marvel's Avengers, so your child can pick their favorite. Access to kid-friendly music from various streaming services and a six-month free subscription to Amazon Kids+ allows them to enjoy singalongs, educational games, audiobooks, and even fun morning routines. Plus, Alexa will automatically filter out explicit content and provide kid-friendly responses.

The Echo Pop Kids also helps your child build independence. They can set alarms and timers, control compatible smart lights in your home, and even call pre-approved friends and family. Need help with homework? Alexa can lend a hand there, too. And at bedtime, they can wind down with audiobooks or calming stories.

Grab this handy home helper for just $27.99 today.

Get A FREE PORTABLE 2TB SSD: As of March 28, purchasing the new entry-level Samsung Galaxy Book4 for $699.99 through Samsung's website also gets you a free portable 2TB SSD (a $284.99) value.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Book4 (Intel Core 5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $699.99 at Samsung
Get a free 2TB portable SSD ($284.99 value) Shop Now

Samsung's new Galaxy Book4 series laptops were a pretty pricey bunch for the first month they were out. That is, until March 28, when an entry-level Galaxy Book4 finally meandered into the fold. Not Pro, not 360, not Pro 360, and not Ultra — just plain Galaxy Book4.

Starting at $699.99 (for the Intel Core 5 version), the Galaxy Book4 already nearly halves the cost of the next-cheapest Galaxy Book4 iteration. The entry-level model does max out at 512GB in storage on its own, but a current Samsung promotion solves that problem real quick: Samsung will throw in a free 2TB portable SSD T7 Shield (a $284.99 value) when you purchase your Galaxy Book4 through Samsung's website. (Samsung initially notes that it's a $219.99 value, but scrolling down to the itemized bill ahead of checkout shows that your full savings are $284.99.)

SEE ALSO: Samsung will give you a free 65-inch 4K TV just for pre-ordering one of its 2024 QLED or OLED TVs

The most affordable Galaxy Book4 is able to stay that way by cutting corners with some specs, like opting for an FHD non-touchscreen rather than a 3K AMOLED touchscreen and paring back to 8GB of RAM over 16 or 32GB of RAM. Still, the latest Intel processor's power is more than enough for working from home, downloading or streaming a movie, and even some casual gaming. And, depending on usage, you could hit 20 hours before needing to charge your Galaxy Book4.

UP TO 33% OFF: Get up to 33% off vacuums and steam cleaners at Amazon.

Our top picks: Best deal overall Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet upright bagless vacuum $134.49 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Bissell Little Green HydroSteam multi-purpose portable carpet and upholstery cleaner $198.99 at Amazon (save $31) Get Deal Best budget deal Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop $59.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal

It's finally spring (despite the weather forecast), so it's time to tackle those dust bunnies and give your home a deep clean. With up to 33% off vacuums and steam cleaners at Amazon, there's never been a better time to invest in a powerful cleaning machine.

Here are our top picks for the best vacuum and steam cleaner deals:

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Bissell Our pick: Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet upright bagless vacuum $134.49 at Amazon
$154.59 Save $20.10 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet upright bagless vacuum has a large tank, works on hard floors, carpets, and upholstery, and comes with specialized tools for pet hair removal. With a 27-inch cord and swivel steering, you can zoom in and out every nook and cranny without worrying about the limits of cord length or maneuverability.

Plus, thanks to its edge-to-edge cleaning capabilities and triple-action brush roll, you can expect a thorough and efficient clean every time.

Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bissell Our pick: Bissell Little Green HydroSteam multi-purpose portable carpet and upholstery cleaner $199.98 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30.01 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bissell Little Green HydroSteam multi-purpose portable carpet and upholstery cleaner is a versatile and convenient option for tackling stains and spills. It has three cleaning modes: SteamWash for tough stains, Steam for freshening and deodorizing, and Wash for quick spot cleaning. It also has a super fast drying time — in 25 minutes or less — so you can get back to using your furniture and carpets in no time.

Best budget deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Our pick: Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop $59.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop has more than 55,000 reviews on Amazon and is a top-rated choice for steam-cleaning floors. It features a large water tank, a quick heat-up time, and two machine-washable microfiber pads that lift and lock in dirt. In just 30 seconds, this steam mop is ready to go to work.

From the 3 Body Problem to the Total Solar Eclipse, host Josh Burstein takes us on a comedic journey through the week's top stories.

Check out the full articles:
'Game of Thrones' creators say ending response didn't change their approach to new show
The thrilling solar eclipse is soon. An expert gave us viewing tips.
Tesla Model 3 'Ludicrous' will be more than just a speedier M3, new leaks show
Instagram is limiting political content. Here's how to get around it.
Oh boy, 'Joker 2' might be a 'jukebox musical'
Dev Patel and Jordan Peele team up for bloody, brutal 'Monkey Man' trailer

SAVE $100: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB) is just $349.99 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $449.99. That's a 22% discount and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB) $349.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

When it comes to screen size, bigger usually is better. If you don't want to drag out your laptop every time you stream your favorite shows or do some gaming, a tablet is a great way to do just about anything while still being able to lounge around in bed or on the couch. And today, you can get a great one for a new low price at Amazon.

As of March 29, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB) for just $349.99 at Amazon, down from its normal price of $449.99. That's a 22% discount and a savings of $100 — and the lowest price we've seen. You can get the discount on the 128GB configuration in both gray and silver.

SEE ALSO: Laptop vs. tablet: Which device works best for you?

This model boasts a 10.9-inch screen, a Samsung Exynos 1380 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a battery life of up to 18 hours. It's also rated IP68 for water and dust resistance.

This is an excellent tablet for just about any use case, especially as it comes with the Samsung S Pen, which lets you doodle or take notes with ease straight onto your tablet screen. You can also use it to control the camera or as a stylus substitute for your finger.

Now that you can save $100 on this tablet, it's a good idea to go ahead and snag one for yourself if you want something affordable and reliable. Whether you want to get some work done on the go or get your game on, it's an excellent value.

If you're like us and consumed by the mind-bending series that is Netflix's 3 Body Problem, you might have a few burning questions. Bringing author Liu Cixin's novels to the streaming screen, showrunners David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo have crafted a sci-fi epic worthy of your video meeting/watercooler chats.

SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' creators say ending response didn't change their approach to new show

In the first season of the series, there's a lot to take in, which is where we come in with our overtly obsessive nerdery and penchant for watching TV shows way too many times for tiny clues. Here's everything you need to know about 3 Body Problem, from how it differs from the book to the mathematical quandary at the series' core.

• Read Mashable's 3 Body Problem review

• Watch the trailer

• How the book and the Netflix show differ

• What exactly is the three-body problem in 3 Body Problem?

• What do the San-Ti aliens actually look like? — we asked the showrunners about this too.

• What's the deal with the stars?

• Why John Bradley's character is the best and worst part of the show

• What does Dr Ye Wenjie's 'joke' about God really mean?

• Why Will's £20 million star sucks

• What's the deal with everyone smoking?

• Fairy tales might be a big clue

• Let's unpack that horrifying Judgment Day scene in episode 5

• A guide to Jin and Jack's VR gamer names

• Why is the show set mostly in the UK? The showrunners told us.

• 8 burning questions we have for Season 2

How to watch: 3 Body Problem is now streaming on Netflix.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 29 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 29

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, March 29, 2024:

AcrossFawn's mother

• The answer is Doe.

Like the kereru pigeons of New Zealand, which fall out of trees after eating fermented fruit

• The answer is Drunk.

Starbucks size

• The answer is Venti.

Went go-go-go

• The answer is Raced.

Sea, in French

• The answer is Mer.

DownAspiration

The answer is Dream.

One of 20 in a 6-Across

• The answer is Ounce.

Join a contest

• The answer is Enter.

Save for later viewing, for short

• The answer is DVR.

Baby goat

• The answer is Kid.

"I still remember when I first used VR, I hadn't cried so much for a long time. Especially being someone that was failed by the NHS [National Health Service]," Levia*, a trans woman living in Britain, explained. "Many trans people cry when they finally feel whole in VRChat."

Transgender people don't fit into society's cisheteronormative understanding of sex and gender, resulting in the feeling of being excluded and underserved. In 2022, the U.S. Transgender Survey found that of respondents who'd been to a doctor in the last year, 48 percent reported at least one negative experience, such as being refused healthcare or being misgendered. Conservatives continually seek to restrict gender affirming care in the U.S. and UK. This, combined with hate crimes on the rise, has contributed to 41 percent of trans people attempting suicide at some point in their lives.

SEE ALSO: People are having sex in VR using Bluetooth sex toys

Society is failing trans people, and some are turning to virtual reality (VR) to affirm their gender identity, seek resources, and create community. 

An egg-cracking machine

Metaverse game VRChat, where users can embody any avatars they like from e-boys to furries to a cursed Marge Simpson, is one of the biggest VR social platforms by user numbers. According to users Mashable spoke to, it's also the most common social VR platform trans people are playing. One of the main reasons that VRChat is used over other options, like Meta Horizon Worlds, is due to how freely you can customize your avatar.

Being able to select from a wide range of avatars in a broad spectrum of art styles is fun for anyone, as you can visually embody anyone or anything you'd like. Looking at yourself in the mirror as an avatar, seeing your movements perfectly mimicked by the digital suit you're wearing, is riveting. But, for transgender people especially, this visual embodiment can be life-changing.

"When I put this avatar on and saw myself in the mirror, I was like oh — my egg cracked at that moment," Penny Buttercup said, looking at herself in the mirror wearing the feminine avatar that changed her life two years ago. "I felt like me, in a way I never had before." 

"Egg cracking" is a metaphor for when a transgender person realizes their gender identity. In contrast to the idea of "being in the closet" for gay and lesbian identities, which suggests people are intentionally hiding their identity, people who haven't cracked their egg aren't consciously aware they are trans.

I felt like me, in a way I never had before. - VRChat user Penny Buttercup

"It's like a self-produced protection that people develop in order to deny the possibility that they could come out or transition," Cáel M. Keegan, associate professor in critical sexuality studies at Concordia University, said. "We're in an egg but we don't know we're in an egg."

Now looking back, Penny realizes she was in an egg the whole time. There have been signs throughout her life, from not wanting to go shirtless on the beach to creating a chromosome-swapped superhero alter-ego for herself as a kid. But she never realized what it meant until she put on a cute anime avatar at the age of 30.

For this reason, some have described VRChat as an "egg-cracking machine."

Finding your avatar — for a price

"There's a special moment that happens when somebody embodies an avatar, because we're not just staring at a puppet anymore. When you put on that VR headset, you can see your hands and you can see the nuance of your movement. You are that avatar," Tizzy, the founder of the largest trans community in VRChat, Trans Academy, told Mashable. "For trans people who deal with gender dysphoria, that is incredibly powerful."

As a result, finding the perfect avatar to embody is of the utmost importance for the trans community. The sheer number and variety of avatars publicly available is astounding: over four million. 

"I was having a lot of trouble finding a publicly available avatar that felt like 'me,' I couldn't find that perfect outfit." Zerelic, a trans VRChat avatar creator, told Mashable. "So instead I decided to, metaphorically, teach myself how to sew."

Zerelic is now the unofficial "avatar person" for the VRC Trans Academy, and was recently equipped with the task of creating the official avatar for the academy.

Using online marketplaces, like Gumroad, individuals can purchase avatar templates (called bases) as well as clothing, accessories, hairstyles, and more. Using this method, creating an avatar could cost anywhere from $30 to $300, according to Zerelic.

To do this, you still need some proficiency in tools like Unity and Blender, while being content with the options publicly available — limiting your creativity. In turn, some create, or hire someone to create, their avatar from scratch.

The creator will then need to understand how to use software like Blender, Unity, Photoshop, and Substance Painter in order to get perfect results. Due to this, paying someone to create an avatar from scratch is a costly process, with the most complex avatars being priced above $5,000.

While this may seem a lot for a virtual avatar, it's much cheaper than the hefty price tag that comes with transitioning in real life — $140,000 for some. 

"Avatar creation can be a literal lifesaver. It enables people who may live in areas where it's too dangerous to do so, or people who just aren't in a good enough financial situation, to still be allowed to be who they truly are," Zerelic said. "I can't count the amount of times I've felt gender euphoria simply from being in my avatar and seeing myself move around in it."

That said, VR itself comes at a cost: Even the cheapest headsets on the market start at $299, requiring a level of monetary privilege to purchase. 

For those who can partake, they identify extremely closely with their virtual persona. Some VRChat users' avatars influence their chosen name and style, or even serve as a reference for facial feminization surgery.

I can't count the amount of times I've felt gender euphoria simply from being in my avatar and seeing myself move around in it. - VRChat user Zerelic Creating community

Trans people have created communities on the internet since the earliest chat rooms and forums became available.

"It wasn't really until the invention of the internet that we got these kinds of disparate trans communities where people could exchange information," Keegan, who is also special editor of arts and culture at Transgender Studies Quarterly, said. "Since then, it really has been the primary way that trans people engage with one another."

Prior to the internet, trans activists were publishing in print (see: Virginia Prince and Lou Sullivan) but anti-obscenity laws stunted this practice, Keegan explained. So it wasn't until the early internet chat rooms that we saw a boom in distribution of trans resources.

The VRC Trans Academy is just the next evolution of this deep-rooted history. Founded in September 2022, the non-profit organization aims to offer resources, classes, and foster a loving community for trans VRChat users. 

Now with almost 22,000 group members, the Trans Academy regularly hosts workshops and lectures in their VRChat world. The most popular are classes that focus on feminizing, masculinizing, and androgenizing voices. 

"Being authentically perceived by ourselves and others can be such an affirming thing. Voice can play an important part in that perception in both VRChat and in real life," Tizzy explained. "Voice training isn't something that is always accessible, oftentimes being gatekept by location or finances. Our ultimate goal at the Trans Academy is to create accessibility."

The trans and wider LGBTQ+ community have relied on distribution of resources and information through groups like the Trans Academy for a long time, as institutions often lag behind.

SEE ALSO: When virtual reality meets psychedelic therapy

"[Doctors and institutions] often know less about the resources than trans people do," Keegan said. "There's a whole history of this with the AIDS crisis where it was members of the queer community, in groups like the Treatment and Action Group of Act Up, who knew more about the virus than medical researchers did."

In the face of institutions repeatedly failing their community, trans people have consistently found themselves in internet spaces to support each other — VR is no different.

If you visit the VRC Trans Academy on any day, you'll be greeted with a warm hug from trans and queer people. Everyone openly discusses their identities, vents about troubles they're facing in their life, and supports each other in times of need. 

"VR creates a lot of accessibility for community," Tizzy explained. "If somebody is in a city or a small town where they're unable to have access to other trans people in real life, you can log into VRChat. And you can suddenly have access to tens of thousands of people who are all going through what you're going through."

While VR presents a beacon of hope for many, the high cost serves as a barrier for entry. As a result, there exist numerous narratives untold, communities unformed, and struggles unacknowledged.

"The readable history of trans identity tends to be a white one. It's what ends up getting studied or written about," Keegan said. "There are all kinds of other ways that this happens that aren't as easily investigated."

Historical oversight isn't novel, it's a recurring pattern. Accessible stories are often the ones that form our history books, leaving behind libraries of untold tales and unexplored truths.

VR is a powerful tool for trans people, albeit an inaccessible one for now.

"I think of the me in the virtual space as the me I aspire to be," Levia finished. "So I'll work towards it."

* Names for VRChat players are their online personas, some of which have transferred to in-person names.

Since the dawn of the internet, users have gone online to escape. They've flooded forums to build community when the outside world was lacking, and they've delved into fantasy worlds, fanfiction, and original characters to explore the limits of personal identity.

In the '00s, online accounts, from the blinged-out Myspace pages to fantasy RPG profiles, were exaggerations of real-life personalities or total aliases, intended to obscure reality in favor of something completely different than who they are IRL. 

But in modern times, the internet is fiending for authenticity — even if it's hard to distinguish. Anonymity is less popular; users are building avatars that more accurately represent themselves in the real world; and platforms are catering to the demands of young users who view online spaces as mirrors for their everyday lives, as the internet becomes less fantasy and more reality. Among those are the 71.5 million daily active users on Roblox.

SEE ALSO: The women fighting to make women and girls safe in the digital age Making Roblox players into Roblox designers

According to the platform's 2023 Digital Expression, Fashion, and Beauty Trends report, more than half of Roblox's Gen Z (17-24 years old) users believe customizing their online avatars is more important than styling themselves in the real world. Around 70 percent of users polled stressed the importance of having a diverse range of skin tones, body sizes, hair colors, textures, and styles, while the year racked up more than 165 billion avatar updates among users. 

"These findings echo what we see on our platform: self-expression through digital identity and fashion is an essential part of people’s experience," Roblox wrote. "And 40 percent of Gen Z feel it’s easier to present their authentic selves in the metaverse than in the physical world."

Despite growing alarm from parents and children's advocates about the safety of the platform, Roblox continues to dominate as a favored digital space for people of all ages. It's not just a gaming platform for young kids, but a quickly growing metaverse marketplace and incubator for young digital designers and engineers. 

"40 percent of Gen Z feel it’s easier to present their authentic selves in the metaverse than in the physical world." - Roblox

Jasmine (@Jazzyx3) and Lona (@Lirn) are some of Roblox's most popular, self-taught designers, and they represent a facet of the user base that began as regular, kid players but have now transitioned Roblox into an adult career. They're also leading the charge as Black designers building User-Generated Content (or UGC) for other users of color, most specifically in a variety of diverse, multicultural hairstyles and accessories. Some of their most popular creations include Jasmine's "Long Dreads" and "Light Brown Parted Afro," and Lona's "Bantu Knots," "Locs Pigtails," and " Headscarfs" designs.

Modern gamers and designers are adding to a complicated history of Black hairstyles in games, as well as other advocates for diversity options like skin color and body type. Many online still don't understand the call for representative gaming, a sentiment on full display when Lona took over Roblox's Twitter account to explain her work on natural hair styles.

Tweet may have been deleted

"The way I see it, creation should be representative," Lona has said of her work. "I set out to create authentic Black hairstyles for avatars. It’s a technical and complex design, but I knew I could do it with passion and flair."

The 23-year-old designer started as a developer in 2020, but had been playing since she was 10. Lona and her brother would create custom illustrations for niche Roblox communities, known as groups, in order to earn in-game currency known as Robux. This built foundation skills that would set her up for an easy transition into UGC design using platforms like Blender, the free, open source 3D graphics software. In those early days, Lona would convert hairstyles from other games or mimic the styles of celebrities for what were essentially Roblox cosplayers, or those performing in virtual concerts. 

Lona's multicultural hairstyles offer users a more authentic gaming experience. Credit: Roblox/ @Lirn

Jasmine, who's also in her 20s, similarly started using Roblox young, joining the site as a player almost 15 years ago. She tells Mashable she's always been a creative, whether making art offline or on, and loved diving into other people's creations. Like others on the platform, she started off making 2D and 3D clothing for Roblox clans or roleplay groups, and later designed character's hair to reflect her real-world styles.

Forgoing her plans to be a nurse, the designer now does Roblox full time — and not just professionally. Jasmine was friends with Roblox interns, lives with fellow Roblox designers, spends most of her free time on the platform, and even met her fiancé through Roblox. She still works and plays with many of her original Roblox friends, which she equates to observing the evolution of your high school graduating class. 

"It's a unique position to be in," she said. "That's my every day, real life and online vocabulary. It feels like there's no off switch. But I love it."

View this post on Instagram

Both Jasmine and Lona are now part of the UGC catalog program, which enables creators to build and profit from assets like game models, avatar options, and audio that aren't created by Roblox or its administrators. These assets are then available for download or purchase (using Robux) on Roblox's marketplace, or catalog, which debuted in 2019. 

"Back then, it was complex because we were limited to keeping it under a certain poly count limit so the game wouldn't slow down," she said. "I would use Blender, I already had experience with it, and Photoshop to create the textures, and then use Roblox Studio to import." Roblox Studio, now housed in the platform's Creator Hub, is the site's creative game engine, which lets players build and test their own worlds, games, and more, she explains. Jasmine began once Roblox introduced the ability to upload a user's own 3D models. 

Now, Roblox has enabled more UGC creators — many of whom might not easily access the support and resources needed to have game design careers — to create assets for themselves and others, usually through an online network of communities and requests. "I uploaded the headscarf one," Lona recalled to Mashable, "and I was getting tons of Twitter DMs asking me to make something from their culture." Lona received a similar response to her pigtail locs design, the first natural hairstyle she created for the platform.

Creators like Jasmine and Lona commune off Roblox too, in Discords specifically for Black UGC creators, which share job opportunities and technical and personal support. They get inspiration from other online places, like Pinterest and Twitter, as well as media like their favorite TV shows.

Lona thinks Roblox UGC skills should be taught to as many young people as possible, maybe even in schools, because it's enabled her to find a space in a predominantly male, predominantly white industry. Jasmine, whose work crosses over with many real-life brands, called for more opportunities for creators to work directly with companies on the platform and build professional connections.  

View this post on Instagram Turning Roblox communities into careers

In a 2023 interview with Mashable's Elizabeth De Luna, model, investor, and Roblox fan Karlie Kloss spoke of the platform's potential to inspire, support, and build career opportunities for young women as it merged tech and fashion. "A fashion publication used to play that curation role, and I think still does, but the next generation is going other places for that influence, that taste-making," she told Mashable. "What we're really hoping to do is kind of act as a curated space that can both elevate and invest the design talent on the platform." 

Kloss built her own UGC world, Klosette, in 2022, enabling users to design and wear their own clothes while working through a Sims-like promotion toward fashion editor-in-chief. Socialite Paris Hilton made a similar move last year, launching her "Slivingland" complete with limited edition digital fashion items. 

But regular users still make up the majority of UGC customization and sales, with some turning the process into multi-million dollar businesses. In Sept. 2023, Roblox announced it was expanding its creator offerings to facilitate this further, opening up the marketplace to non-UGC creators and introducing new creator subscriptions. Roblox also launched several AI helpers, like Code Assist, an AI-powered scripting resource for coders, and Assistant, available to creators and brands that can answer questions about building, growing, and monetizing Roblox creations, the site explains.

Tweet may have been deleted

There's a huge, real-dollar market for digital designs, especially ones that enable more specific personalization. In addition to requests for more diverse styles and customization options, the 2023 Roblox report outlines a brand-driven feedback loop in which users express demand for real design-inspired UGC, and then seek to purchase those items to wear in the real world, a practice Roblox calls "twinning." Brands, then, will need to work with and for the designers who have already pioneered the market.

SEE ALSO: 'Queering technology': Meta's mixed reality drag show blends VR, design, and fashion

Jasmine and Lona have both been selected to create Roblox designs for big brands, like Forever 21 and Gucci, as well as collaborations with celebrities, like Swedish House Mafia. Jasmine's simple Forever 21 beanie was a massive success, prompting the box brand to launch a real-world version of the winter hat. "That was my first ever brand deal I ever got involved in. I didn't think the beanie would become such a big statement," said Jasmine. "I think with the online space of accessories, and the brands coming on [Roblox], it's almost like a test run of what would work in this reality."

And Roblox users continue to make calls for a wider range of accessories and custom designs. "I think the demand comes from the previous lack. The rarity of it," Lona explained. "Playing as a girl, I only wore one hairstyle." 

Tweet may have been deleted

While users take representative customization into their own hands, platforms follow in their wake. Roblox is driving itself into the creator economy with force, with the demands of Black and multicultural designers becoming more technical alongside the platform's evolution.

"If it wasn't for the community, you wouldn't see so much progress," said Lona. "It has shifted. The only limit, something that would actually benefit us as Black hair creators, would be… transparency. That hasn't been added into the catalog yet."

In Alice Rohrwacher's La Chimera, the past is so close you can almost touch it. In fact, many characters do.

The film's central band of Italian tomb robbers — or tombaroli — regularly pillage gravesites peppered throughout the Tuscan countryside. They physically force historical artifacts into the present, transporting them from their longtime homes of soil and stone to buildings of glass and steel, where they'll be sold to the highest bidder.

SEE ALSO: 'Sing Sing' review: Colman Domingo delivers in prison-set friendship drama

But the past lingers here in other ways, too. Our head tomb raider, an Englishman named Arthur (Challengers and The Crown's Josh O'Connor), is haunted by visions of his lost love Beniamina (Yile Yara Vianello). But are these memories, dreams, or some more ghostly calling? La Chimera thrives in that fuzzy area between life and death, past and present, creating a gorgeous fantasy that is charming and melancholy in equal measures.

La Chimera invites us into a tale of tomb raiders. Melchiorre Pala, Josh O'Connor, and Vincenzo Nemolato in "La Chimera." Credit: Courtesy of Neon

Our first introduction to Arthur is not that of an Indiana Jones-esque archaeologist, but of a disheveled man down on his luck. Just released from jail for some good old-fashion grave pillaging, Arthur curls up asleep in a train car, wearing a rumpled white suit. There's something alluring about him: The three local young women sitting nearby can't help but ask where he's from. Yet there's something volatile to him too. A remark from a passing salesman about how bad Arthur smells draws his ire, provoking a miniature fistfight that sends all the train's passengers scurrying away from this angry foreign stranger.

SEE ALSO: 'Riddle of Fire' review: A dreamy fantasy adventure with 'Goonies' flair

It's in this state of rage that Arthur arrives back home in Tuscany, where his fellow tombaroli await his return. Despite Arthur's initial desire to keep his distance — especially from the mysterious antiques dealer known as Spartaco (Alba Rohrwacher) — it's not long before he's back in the tomb-raiding business. Turns out, he has a knack for finding ancient burial sites using a dowsing rod, an ability that leads the tombaroli to describe him as a kind of sorcerer.

Rohrwacher and cinematographer Hélène Louvart lean hard into the magical realism of Arthur's mysterious power. The scenes of his searching are filmed with lingering care, while his moments of discovery lead to the entire world being flipped upside down. It's a striking motif, one that recalls the image of the hanged man in tarot decks (which is also referenced in one of La Chimera's posters).

Alice Rohrwacher crafts a soft fantasy with La Chimera. Luca Gargiullo, Melchiorre Pala, Vincenzo Nemolato, Ramona Fiorini, Josh O'Connor, and Giuliano Mantovani in "La Chimera." Credit: Courtesy of Neon

Arthur's gift is far from the only fantastical element in La Chimera, which is so full of magic it welcomes us into a near-dream state. The recollections of Beniamina tout imagery that would be right at home in a fairy tale: Flocks of birds mid-flight, lost figures wandering through gorgeous landscapes, and a trailing red thread that pulls Arthur towards some impossible treasure.

Elsewhere, Arthur often visits Beniamina's mother Flora (Isabella Rossellini) in her massive house, which is so vast and beautifully frescoed that it may as well be a palace. Apart from Arthur, Flora's only companion is her music student Italia (Carol Duarte), whom she treats more like a maid. Sometimes her flock of daughters stops by as well, but their constant gossiping and scheming about Italia recall wicked stepsisters more than loving family members.

It's with these bricks that Rohrwacher builds the fantasy of La Chimera, along with some lighter touches. A musical troupe's song all about Arthur and the tombaroli makes for a charming accompaniment of their exploits, situating us in what feels like a much older adventure film. At times, characters turn to the camera to confide directly in the audience. At others, footage is sped up to create delightfully herky-jerky chase scenes. There's a real sense freedom in all this experimentation, and you can't help but get swept up in Rohrwacher's vision.

Josh O'Connor is superb in La Chimera. Carol Duarte and Josh O'Connor in "La Chimera." Credit: Courtesy of Neon

Throughout these fantastical interludes, Rohrwacher and O'Connor keep La Chimera rooted in Arthur's loss and pain. While the tombaroli hunt artifacts for financial gain, his quest walks the line between needing money and needing to find some greater meaning. Early mentions of a door to the afterlife clue us into the true purpose of his constant searching, even as elements of his life (like a possible romance with Italia) bind him further to the world aboveground.

O'Connor proves achingly excellent as Arthur, threading the needle between his desperate quest and the more grounded aspects of his time away from the tombaroli. That balance is present throughout the film, but especially in a party scene that sees him yearning for Italia one minute, then digging like a madman in the dirt the next. It's an unexpected combination of charming and haunted, and O'Connor nails every beat. You find yourself wanting to jump down in the dirt alongside him and search for the many buried treasures La Chimera still has in store.

La Chimera is now in theaters.

TL;DR: Through March 31, PDF users, take note — a lifetime subscription to PDF Expert's Premium Plan for Mac is just $109.99 for a limited time (reg. $139.99).

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TL;DR: Through April 2, add some organization to your workflow with Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional on sale for just $24.97 (reg. $249).

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TL;DR: Through April 2, a lifetime subscription to LazyApply Job Application Basic is on sale for just $59.97 (reg. $149).

One of the universal truths is that everyone has to look for a job at some point in their lives. Whether you're looking for your first job or looking to make a move out of your current position, having the right tools can make all the difference. Something to consider that could make the process less time-consuming is LazyApply. A lifetime subscription is on sale for just $59.97 (reg. $149) through April 2.

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