Explainer

Whether an ending leaves you puzzled or you're missing a piece of deep-cut lore, Polygon's explainers help you understand.

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A man clutches his face while looking upwards in distress in Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen just introduced the only character powerful enough to take on Sukuna

Even in a world shaped by cursed techniques, Domain Amplification is no joke

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A grotesque monster stalks Grace in Resident Evil Requiem.
The Resident Evil backstory you need to know before Resident Evil Requiem

Umbrella, Raccoon City, and all kinds of viruses, explained

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Dunk (Peter Claffey), a tall, ragged-looking man wrapped in a green cloak, sits in the grass in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is lying about being a knight. Here's the evidence.

Was Dunk ever knighted? George R.R. Martin reportedly says no. Here's how his novella and the HBO show handle it differently

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An image of Thaddeus from Fallout season 2. He has short hair that sticks up and a face that looks scarred and pockmarked.
We already know what’s coming for Thaddeus in Fallout season 3
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And it might not be all that super

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yuji and megumi learning about a new rule of the Culling Game in Jujutsu Kaisen season3
Jujutsu Kaisen just changed the rules of the Culling Game

A new rule in the Culling Game force Yuji and Megumi to adapt

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The Spider (Nic Cage) stands on a rooftop with lighting forking behind him in Spider-Noir
Spider-Noir’s Ben Reilly is very different from Peter Parker

Nic Cage is playing a mix of two strange spins on Spider-Man

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The massive, tentacled Illithid Netherbrain, as seen in Baldur's Gate 3.
The Baldur's Gate show will canonize a BG3 ending, but which one?

Given the plethora of ways the game's ending can play out, there's no telling which direction the show will choose

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Yuji Itadori looks straight ahead in Season 3, Episode 6 of Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen previews episode 7's thrilling Tokyo Colony 1 arc

Yuji Itadori is about to plunge headfirst into the deadly Culling Game

FalloutS2FLimage5_3000
Fallout season 2's post-credits scene sets up an iconic moment from the games
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The Brotherhood of Steel may have the last laugh after all

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Ex Machina
Despite all the love for Ex Machina, its greatest achievement still gets overlooked

Alex Garland's thought-provoking sci-fi thriller is now on Netflix

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dexter-sol-ansell_0
Who is Egg really, and what is his importance to Westeros?

There's more to this bald lad than meets the eye

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A close-up of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Wonder Man in Wonder Man, in a black leather super-suit, with red sunglasses
Wonder Man left major questions unanswered — but the biggest one doesn't matter

But let's talk about that ending, and the small, important question: Where's Josh Gad?

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An image from Star Wars Maul - Shadow Lord. It depicts Darth Maul, an alien with red skin, dark markings and a double-sided red lightsaber, glaring.
Is Dave Filoni bringing Darth Talon back to Star Wars canon?

Has Filoni brought Lucas' legacy characters into Canon?

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Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) sits alone on his couch in his dingy Los Angeles apartment in Wonder Man
Is Wonder Man a mutant? The Marvel superhero's comic book origins, explained

The MCU's latest series explores one of the strongest heroes in Marvel Comics

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Prince Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) waves at the crowd from a crowded stage framed by sunflowers and his brother Maekar (Sam Spruell) and nephew Aerion (Finn Bennett) in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
What is the Blackfyre Rebellion and why is it important to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

HBO’s new Game of Thrones spinoff is a small story set in uncertain times

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jujutsu kaisen s3e3-1
Jujutsu Kaisen just raised the stakes with a Neon Genesis Evangelion twist

Kenjaku's ultimate plan sure sounds like the Human Instrumentality Project

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Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) gives a presentation to the students at Starfleet Academy in front of a giant window showing Starfleet ships destroyed in the Burn
What is the Burn in Star Trek and why is it important to Starfleet Academy?

The plot of Star Trek: Discovery looms large in the new series

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shonen like Naruo, shojo like Sailor Moon, and kodomomuke like Pokemon
From Shonen to Isekai: A beginner's guide to anime genres

Understanding anime can be hard, especially if you missed Toonami’s golden era

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Maki in the JJK S3 opener slashing two men
Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 brings back Maki, but why does she look so different?

Unraveling the secrets of Maki's intense makeover

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Yuji fights off an attack in Season 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen's Culling Game, explained

A sinister tournament begins, pitting sorcerers and cursed humans against each other. What is the true purpose behind this deadly game?

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