Latest news with #SeasonFinale
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TVLine's Performers of the Week: Zach Gilford and Jordana Spiro
THE PERFORMERS | Zach Gilford and Jordana Spiro More from TVLine Poker Face Finale Introduces Charlie's Ultimate Nemesis in a Shocking Reveal - Plus, Grade It! Criminal Minds Boss Talks Finale's Chilling Tease, Reveals Season 19 Time Jump and 'Overdue' [Spoiler] Arc Is Leanne Morgan Sitcom Reba Redux? Did Bear 'Cave' Grow? Does Last of Us News Bode Well for Part III Game? Did Lucifer Botch Beach Pick? And More TV Qs! THE SHOW | Criminal Minds: Evolution THE EPISODE | 'The Disciple' (July 10, 2025) THE PERFORMANCES | It was the Mob Doctor reunion we didn't know we needed. Criminal Minds: Evolution brought its latest season to a close by putting a face to Sicarius' insanely devoted disciple known as… well, the Disciple. There'd been some build-up for this deviant character, so when Jordana Spiro — whom we first came to know from the bubbly TBS sitcom My Boys! — showed up as the very damaged Tessa Lebrun, it took a moment to adjust expectations and then drink in her wonderfully modulated, delicious performance. Evolution vet Zach Gilford, meanwhile, did terrific work with a script in which the Man Formerly Known as Sicarius, Elias Voit, found himself in the Disciple's lair, where the goal was to 'trigger' the mild-mannered amnesic into rediscovering the 'God'-like rush of killing someone — as he had to do when a captive Dr. Ochoa's (Aimee Garcia) life was threatened. As Elias sussed out his situation, Gilford showed us the wheels always turn-turn-turning. Elias sternly schooled Tessa on why her plan to take his 'network' of killers was ill-conceived, and offered a better approach — but did he mean it? 'It doesn't matter what they know, it matters what they can prove,' he told Tessa after suggesting they frame Ochoa as a confederate, and his ice-cold shrewdness brought back the chills we felt when first meeting Sicarius nearly three years ago. Spiro's material ran the gamut, due to several beefy flashback sequences — from sexually harassed grad student looking to blow off steam, to Uncle Cyrus' fraught captive, to ambitious Disciple. When Voit appeared to gun down Ochoa in cold blood, Spiro made Tessa seem downright intoxicated by the murderous sight. Similarly, when scolded by Voit, it was clear that Tessa felt blessed to glean wisdom from her own 'God.' Capping the hour, Spiro got to play Tessa as a crestfallen, betrayed believer, while Gilford in the very final tease got us worrying that Voit's killer instinct in fact has been revived. Brrrr! Scroll down to see who got Honorable Mention shout-outs this week… She fooled human lie detector Charlie Cale… and she fooled us, too. Patti Harrison was so good at playing Charlie's dopey new pal Alex in Poker Face's Season 2 finale, we didn't even suspect that she was also the cold-blooded assassin known as The Iguana. And yet Harrison made the transformation from goofball to killer completely seamless, taking on a confidently sinister tone as Alex spelled out how she pulled off her high-risk kills and managed to evade Charlie's lie-detecting skills in the process. (Harrison also made us laugh a lot along the way, like when Alex told Charlie that lying to her 'was like great sex. I assume. I don't really do physical pleasure.') Harrison crafted Alex into the ultimate nemesis for Charlie — so much so that we're actually hoping she survived that fiery car crash at the end, so we can see more of her sly tricks in the future. — Dave Nemetz Immortal self-care, thy name is The Sandman's Destruction. Along those lines: Kudos to Barry Sloane for playing one of the fantasy series' Endless siblings with such refreshing lightness and ease. Episode 6 of the series' final season showcased Sloane's warm, relaxed performance as Dream and Delirium's 'prodigal' brother, a stark contrast to the gloom so prevalent elsewhere in the story. The joy Sloane brought to his scenes — a knowing smile at Dream's seriousness, a fond glance at Delirium —made us fall in love with the elusive Endless brother despite his scant screen time. Even when Destruction realized he'd have to leave the idyllic Greek island where he'd been hiding, Sloane's wry smile conveyed the character's bittersweet resignation: Destruction would continue, somewhere, and there was nothing to be done about it. Beautiful work, all around. — Kimberly Roots In Friday's Resident Alien, D'arcy Bloom took a long hard look in the mirror and didn't like what she saw. After drunkenly losing thousands of the diner's money, D'arcy lied to her best friend Asta, who believed her without question. As a result, D'arcy began to spiral and Alice Wetterlund's sad, defeated eyes made us feel her character's remorse. She later admitted she was barely hanging on, leading to a full-blown crisis of conscience, one D'arcy knew stemmed from her worsening drinking problem. 'I don't feel good about my life. Why should I keep going?' she asked Harry, gutting us. The actress' body language and tone forced us to feel her pain all the way to the front steps of an AA meeting. Even when Wetterlund isn't slaying us with her impeccable comedic timing, her instincts and heart are always one of the show's brightest beacons of light. — Nick Caruso Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments! Best of TVLine 90+ TV Shows That Switched Networks — And How Long They Ran After They Relocated TV's 30+ Best Cliffhangers of All Time From Buffy, Friends, Grey's Anatomy, Twin Peaks, Severance, Soap and More 20+ Age-Defying Parent-Child Castings From Blue Bloods, ER, Ginny & Georgia, Golden Girls, Supernatural and More
Geek Girl Authority
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
POKER FACE Season Finale Recap: (S02E12) The End of the Road
Poker Face Season 2 Episode 12, 'The End of the Road,' delivers an unsurprising twist in Alex being the Iguana, but it's still a devastating one all the same. The season finale deftly lays the groundwork for a potential third season while delivering fun homages to '70s films and that literal Thelma & Louise -themed cliffhanger. Cinematically, stylistically, it's a blast. Patti Harrison proves to be a delightful Moriarty to Natasha Lyonne's Sherlock. It's great to see her embracing a more serious role. 'The End of the Road' is solid, from beginning to end. RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Poker Face episode, 'Day of the Iguana' Poker Face, 'The End of the Road' We open with Charlie (Lyonne) and Alex (Harrison) on the road, en route to Beatrix Hasp's safe house in Greenville, Indiana. Alex pores over a large map, but still struggles to get them going in the right direction. She begs Charlie to turn on her phone so they can use the GPS. Naturally, Charlie is hesitant, what with the FBI, the five families and a mysterious, deadly assassin all on her tail. Still, she allows Alex to do it for a few minutes. That's when Luca (Simon Helberg) calls Charlie. Luca, who's with Agent Milligan (Taylor Schilling), explains that the Iguana killed Beatrix's son. Well, after the Iguana slaughtered the Iguana. As it turns out, Real Todd was an Iguana, and Fake Todd assumed his identity. Of course, she hasn't an inkling who that is. Luca adds that the Iguana is the deadliest assassin in the world, suspected of at least 50 assassinations. And now Charlie is leading him to Beatrix. That's why he framed Alex. It's all a setup. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: (l-r) Taylor Schilling as Agent Milligan, Simon Helberg as Luca — (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK) On the Lam Charlie orders Alex to cover her ears while she tells Luca that Beatrix's mafia bros are out for her. Luca texts Charlie footage of the prosthetics the Iguana used to transform into Fake Todd as they're washed away on the beach. Luca impresses the severity of the situation. If Alex dies and Charlie leads the Iguana to Beatrix, the FBI, CIA and NSA will be all over her. She'll spend the rest of her life in prison. RELATED: Poker Face Season 2: Our 6 Dream Guest Stars Luca demands to know Beatrix's location. Charlie refuses to disclose this, instead hanging up on him. Luca and Milligan lose connection with Charlie's phone. Milligan states there are over 25 safe houses in Indiana. Meanwhile, Charlie pulls over to think. Alex proposes they head to a diner to fuel up on food and concoct a new plan. Perhaps they don't need to run to Beatrix. Later, Charlie parks in the lot of a diner and a truck stop. Charlie and Alex nervously make a beeline for the entrance, realizing that anyone they encounter could be the Iguana. Alex heads to the bathroom while Charlie scopes out the diner patrons for anyone — and anything — suspicious. Alex returns with matching pink hats. You know, something to commemorate their impromptu, on-the-lam adventure. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: Patti Harrison as Alex — (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK) There's the Girl Charlie spies one fella who looks mighty suspicious. He has a bandage around his hand. Charlie recalls the Iguana/Fake Todd (Justin Theroux) sporting a nasty gash on his palm. Perhaps this is the Iguana in disguise. Charlie and Alex barrel out of the diner. The man spots them, shouting, 'There's the girl!' Outside, Alex informs a handful of men in the parking lot that Bandaged-Hand Man (who could be the Iguana) is after them. The men proceed to beat the snot out of Bandaged-Hand Man as Charlie and Alex flee. RELATED: Russian Doll Season 2 Thoughtfully Explores Motherhood and Trauma Elsewhere, Luca meets with reps of the FBI, CIA and NSA, including SAC Darville (Lili Taylor). He tries to persuade them of the Iguana's role in all this and Charlie's importance. Dude goes to bat for Charlie. They remain unconvinced, though, and they refuse to disclose Beatrix's location. In fact, each agency only has one part of the password, as it were, so none of them truly know where she is. Later, Charlie and Alex arrive at Beatrix's safe house. Charlie decides to meet with her first to soften her up before introducing Alex into the equation. After exiting her vehicle, Charlie gives Alex a stick of Big Red gum. If you recall, Alex told Charlie in episode 10 that she had a deadly cinnamon allergy. Hmm. The Real Iguana Is the Friend We Make Along the Way While walking around the house, Charlie stumbles upon something awful. Alex gasps in the car. Charlie rushes toward her Barracuda to discover Alex is missing. Uh-oh. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Mabel Mora Charlie discovers a handful of slaughtered agents — muscle used to protect Beatrix — outside the house. Inside, she finds one agent in a pool of his own blood on the floor. A large pot of presumably spaghetti sauce is on the stove. An aerial shot shows Charlie roaming through the halls until she encounters Beatrix's (Rhea Perlman) corpse propped upright in her recliner in the living room, the TV blaring. RIP to a baking mafia queen. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale — (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK) Then, Alex emerges from the corner, a gun pressed against her temple, making it appear that the Iguana has her. However, plot twist, Alex is the real Iguana. The new leather ensemble is a dead giveaway. Alex killed those FBI agents and Beatrix. Of course, Beatrix was the goal all along. Let's Get Expositional Alex casts Beatrix's body aside and forces Charlie to sit in the recliner. She points her weapon at Charlie. Now, it's time for an exposition dump, kids. How did the Iguana weasel her way into Charlie's life? We learn that Alex is a talented contract killer. She's taken out presidents, queens, kings, billionaires, etc. However, something was missing from her life. It all became rote. RELATED: Read our Russian Doll recaps At one point, Alex sliced her hand to feel, well, something . Then, her agent called her with a new assignment: Beatrix Hasp, a mafia boss. The agent mentions Charlie as a potential hurdle. She's close to Beatrix and has her innate lie detector. Alex embraces the challenge, though. No one has caught Alex in a lie since she was five. Pulling the wool over Charlie's eyes would keep her sharp. So, Alex orchestrated her first meeting with Charlie at the coffee shop in NYC. She learned to subdue the common triggers one associates with lying to trick Charlie. Of course, Charlie eventually caught on to Alex, hence why she gave the latter that stick of Big Red. But the cinnamon allergy was a lie. Compulsive Do-Gooder Anyway, Alex hired Fake Todd, the world's second greatest assassin, to kill Beatrix's son. She poses as the superior he chats with on the phone at the wedding, disguising her voice. Then, she situates herself in the boathouse so he makes her the patsy and frames her for Kirby's murder. And if you're wondering what happened to Fake Todd, Alex made quick work of him, disposing of him in the water. RELATED: The Best True Crime Shows on Netflix All of this transpired according to plan — even getting blamed for murdering Beatrix's son. As for Bandaged-Hand Man, Alex sliced his hand in the bathroom, hence why he shouted 'There's the girl!' and chased her and Charlie out of the diner. Charlie and Alex debate whether Charlie truly likes people. Alex accuses her of being a 'compulsive do-gooder.' Everyone lies to Charlie all the time, including Alex. Of course, Alex's lying inevitably caught up with her when it became too arduous to continue the ruse. I love this idea of Charlie's big nemesis having the ability to lie undetected. Well, for the most part. Alex pivots, claiming she now has to kill Charlie since her assignment is complete. Beatrix is dead. Wild Goose Chase However, Charlie finds another challenge for Alex to overcome. She turns the stove on with the pot of sauce. It overflows and triggers the smoke alarm. Luca, who's keeping an eye on all the safe houses in Indiana, gets an alert from said alarm. He and a team, along with local authorities, park outside the safe house. RELATED: Read our Only Murders in the Building recaps Next, Alex emerges with a gun to Charlie's head, holding her hostage. Charlie's always getting held hostage. She shoves Charlie into the Barracuda and zips away. Luca, Milligan and the others give chase. During the pursuit, Charlie wonders what Alex plans to do next. Alex claims it's the end of the road. There's nothing left for Alex to accomplish. Then, Milligan gets an order from the tippy-top. Like, the big boss. They are to shoot to kill. Stop that vehicle at all costs. The authorities lay down a chain to pop the Barracuda's tires. Agents train their weaponry on the approaching car. Alex speeds up. Charlie insists that Alex actually can't lie to her. 'You've never done it when I'm trying to catch you,' she says. Interesting. Thelma and Louise Alex swerves down a side road, catching the authorities off guard. They pursue her, but, of course, most of them pop the tires on their vehicles because of the chain on the road. Luca and Milligan realize there's a cliff not far ahead. Alex means to drive her and Charlie off it, Thelma & Louise -style. RELATED: Top 11 Peter Bogdanovich Films Alex plays another game of Two Truths and a Lie as she did in episode 10. If Charlie wins, Alex will let her live, and she'll have a Sherlock to her Moriarty. A bona fide rival. A legitimate challenge. However, if Alex wins… Then, Alex begins the game. She claims she had a dog named Puddles as a child. Next, she asserts she's double-jointed. Finally, she plans to drive the car off the cliff regardless of who wins. Charlie states they're all true. Alex tries to slam on the brakes, but unfortunately, the Barracuda is on her last legs. She brakes malfunction. Unable to stop, the vehicle flies off the 500-foot cliff. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: (l-r) Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, Simon Helberg as Luca — (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/PEACOCK) To Be Continued But that's not the end of this story. The car freezes mid-air, and the text 'To Be Continued' materializes on the screen. Thankfully, we're not concluding the season on this very literal cliffhanger. After the camera lingers on the spinning wheels and details of the Barracuda, we rewind time. Before the car careens off that cliff, Charlie jumps out. RELATED: Read our Poker Face recaps Charlie rolls over the side of the cliff but grabs a few tree roots before she falls with the Barracuda. With Alex still inside, the car explodes in a fiery blaze upon hitting the ground. Luca, whose vehicle was hot on the Barracuda's heels, quickly helps Charlie to her feet. Luca reveals that, with Alex out of the equation, Charlie is now wanted by the FBI. She broke a bevy of laws, from aiding and abetting a serial killer to leading that killer to someone in witness protection. Beatrix is also dead, so there's that. However, Luca gives Charlie a way out — a head start, really. He offers her his coat and apologizes, but the next time he sees her, he will have to arrest her. Charlie realizes she's officially on the run again as she tearfully bids farewell to Luca. What a heartbreaking scene, performed beautifully by Lyonne and Helberg. POKER FACE — 'The End of the Road' Season 2 Episode 12 — Pictured: Taylor Schilling as Agent Milligan — (Photo by: PEACOCK) On the Road Again Meanwhile, Milligan checks out the wreckage at the bottom of the cliff to find that Alex is gone. Just like that. Moriarty is on the loose. Elsewhere, Charlie hitchhikes on a snowy highway. She meets a homeless dog and takes him in. A truck driver stops for her, revealing he's heading to Wichita, Kansas. Charlie claims she's fine with that as she gets in the truck with her newfound pup buddy. Poker Face is now streaming on Peacock. KNIVES OUT 3 Reveals First Look of Benoit Blanc With Long Hair Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL Trade Rumors: Dougie Hamilton's future in doubt as Devils quietly seek trade partners
Devils are reportedly exploring trade options for veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton (Image via AP) The New Jersey Devils may be preparing for a major shake-up on their blue line, with reports indicating the team is actively exploring trade possibilities for veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton. The 32-year-old still has three years remaining on his seven-year, $63 million contract, which now includes a modified no-movement clause that could make him more moveable than before. Dougie Hamilton's no-move clause shifts, opening trade window for Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald NHL insider Elliotte Friedman broke the story during Sunday's episode of 32 Thoughts, revealing that Dougie Hamilton's name is 'kind of out there' in trade circles. The Devils, according to Friedman, have already initiated conversations with a few teams. 'The next biggest question for the Devils is Dougie Hamilton. He went from a full no move clause to a partial no trade,' Friedman said. 'I'm curious to see what happens. I don't have a great feel for it, in terms of percentage chances that anything occurs with him, but I know that his name was kind of out there a little bit and I had heard that they had been talking to a couple of teams.' The Season Finale | 32 Thoughts Hamilton's modified clause now allows the Devils to trade him to 22 of 32 teams—offering considerably more flexibility than before. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like So sicherst du dir bessere Chancen bei der Wohnungssuche! ImmoScout24 Mehr erfahren Undo This adjustment will remain in place through the 2027–28 season. Dougie Hamilton's performance solid, but Devils may be eyeing a new direction Last season, Hamilton played 64 regular-season games, notching 9 goals and 31 assists for 40 points while posting a +8 rating. In the playoffs, he registered two assists in five games, logging over 25 minutes per night and peaking at 31:16 of ice time in Game 3 against Carolina. Despite his efforts, the Devils exited the postseason in five games. With his high cap hit of $9 million annually, the Devils may be looking to reallocate resources or adjust their defensive core as they continue to fine-tune their roster. Meanwhile, they've extended goalie Jake Allen and added forwards Connor Brown, Evgenii Dadonov, and Cody Glass—moves that indicate New Jersey is quietly restructuring for both immediate impact and future flexibility. Also Read: NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins face pressure to trade Rickard Rakell despite strong 70-point season If a trade partner emerges willing to absorb Hamilton's contract and value his elite puck-moving skillset, the Devils might just pull the trigger. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Best EA FC 25 formations with codes to go 15-0 in FUT Champs this weekend
Some formations are just better than others in EA FC 25, so here's a list of the five best to help elevate your game just in time for FUT Champs. Want to improve your EA FC 25 FUT Champs record and get better rewards? Using one of these formations could be the change you need to get a better rank. With the EA FC 25 Ultimate Team power curve constantly changing, it's more than likely that you've had to change formation multiple times since EA FC 25's release to try and stay up to date with the meta. If you haven't changed formation and find yourself struggling for wins, then maybe using one of these EA FC 25 formations could be the change that works for you. EA Sports released its Season Finale gameplay update in early June, with changes being made to passing, heading and goalkeeping. We tested the gameplay, and the changes weren't huge, but it was enough to slightly change the meta, meaning some formations are now better than others. If you want to get more wins in FUT Champs, these are some of the best EA FC 25 formations you can use to do so. Best EA FC 25 formations to use to get 15-0 in FUT Champs These are five of the best formations to use in EA FC 25 right now. To make things easier for you, we've even included codes, so you can get these tactics on your account hassle-free. These formations aren't guaranteed to get you 15-0 in FUT Champs, but if used correctly, they can help. 4-2-3-1 Narrow Best for tiki-taka football, the 4-2-3-1 has made a return after the latest update to the top of the formations table. Here are the custom tactics we use for the 4-2-3-1: Build-up Style: Balanced Defensive Approach: High (65) Goalkeeper: Sweeper Keeper, Balanced RB: Full Back, Defend CB: Defender, Defend CB: Defender, Defend LB: Full Back, Defend CDM: Deep-Lying Playmaker, Build-Up CDM: Holding, Defend CAM (R): Shadow Striker, Attack CAM: Playmaker, Balanced CAM (L): Shadow Striker, Attack ST: Advanced Forward, Attack CODE: 4DQsS@N?CUM 4-2-1-3 One of the most overpowered formations since EA FC 25 launched, the 4-2-1-3 remains extremely meta. Here are the custom tactics we use for the 4-2-1-3: Build-up Style: Balanced Defensive Approach: Balanced (60) Goalkeeper: Goalkeeper, Defend RB: Full Back, Defend CB: Defender, Defend CB: Defender, Defend LB: Full Back, Defend RCDM: Deep-Lying Playmaker, Defend LCDM: Deep-Lying Playmaker, Defend CAM: Playmaker, Roaming RW: Inside Forward, Attack ST: Advanced Forward, Attack LW: Inside Forward, Balanced CODE: o#CHD?Nuyk4 4-4-1-1 (2) Another formation that suits tiki taka football, the 4-4-1-1 (2) gives you a solid midfield structure while also being free-flowing in attack. Here are the custom tactics we use for the 4-4-1-1: Build-up Style: Balanced Defensive Approach: High (70) Goalkeeper: Goalkeeper, Defend RB: Full Back, Balanced CB: Defender and Defend CB: Defender and Defend LB: Wingback, Balanced RM: Inside Forward, Balanced RCM: Holding, Defend LCM: Holding, Defend LM: Inside Forward, Balanced CAM: Playmaker, Balanced ST: Advanced Forward, Attack CODE: NAmh7i1VXKh 4-2-2-2 A very attacking formation, 4-2-2-2 is very flexible in how you want to play. If you want your players to dominate in the middle, set both your CAMs to Playmaker. If you like crossing the ball, set them both to Half Winger. For a mix of both, follow the CAM tactics below. Here are the custom tactics we use for the 4-2-2-2: Build-up Style: Balanced Defensive Approach: High (70) Goalkeeper: Sweeper Keeper, Balanced RB: Full Back, Balanced CB: Defender, Defend CB: Defender, Defend LB: Fullback, Defend CDM: Holding, Defend CDM: Holding, Defend CAM: Shadow Striker, Attack CAM: Half Winger, Attack ST: Advanced Forward, Support ST: Advanced Forward, Attack CODE: SsqG5nmYcPm 4-4-2 An Ultimate Team staple, the 4-4-2 remains one of the most balanced formations in the game, with your team able to stay solid defensively while also being dangerous in attack, especially on the break. Here are the custom tactics we use for the 4-4-2: Build-up Style: Balanced Defensive Approach: Balanced (60) Goalkeeper: Goalkeeper, Defend RB: Full Back, Balanced CB: Defender and Defend CB: Defender and Defend LB: Full Back, Balanced RM: Inside Forward, Balanced RCM: Box-to-Box, Balanced LCM: Holding, Balanced LM: Winger, Balanced ST: Advanced Forward, Support ST: Advanced Forward, Attack It's important that when using these tactics, the players you use are familiar with the roles. If we've listed a CM or CDM as Deep-Lying Playmaker and your player isn't familiar with it, simply change it to Holding, and vice versa.
Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
I tested the EA FC 25 gameplay to see what the Season Finale Update changed
Some big gameplay changes were made in EA FC 25 Title Update 15, so I put it to the test to see what's got better, or worse EA Sports has released its Season Finale update in EA FC 25 with big changes to passing, heading, and goalkeeping, but how different does the game actually feel? The EA FC 25 gameplay and meta has changed multiple times since its release last year, and after EA Sports dropped Title Update 15 earlier this week, the game has started to feel different for players once again. From first-time through balls to long-range trivela shots, there's been a host of different ways to create chances and score goals in EA FC 25, but the EA FC 25 Season Finale update has claimed big changes have been made to short passing, heading and goalkeeping specifically, which could see the meta shift again. Headers in attack have been nothing short of useless in EA FC 25, killing the overpowered Aerial meta that we saw in EA FC 24. But, improved header accuracy is one of the biggest updates in Title Update 15, so this meta could be making a comeback. Another big change is that players with high passing stats will now be able to complete ground passes more regularly, regardless of PlayStyles, and the fact that they couldn't is something which we've complained about in the past. Lastly, goalkeepers with the Rush Out PlayStyle are not as overpowered when rushing off their line, so the acceleration has been dropped. So, how accurate are these changes and has the Season Finale update refreshed the meta in EA FC 25? Let's take a look... READ MORE: First UFL PC release date confirmed with PC play-dates and requirements revealed EA FC 25 Season Finale update review We jumped onto EA FC 25 for a few hours to test out the Season Final update and see if we could really feel these gameplay changes in-game. Ground passing To test out if ground passing had improved for players with high passing stats (it's crazy this even needed an update), we first jumped into Clubs, building one pro with 91 passing and zero passing PlayStyles to see how good he was at passing. We've tested this out before to prove how overpowered PlayStyles were, and the pro with no passing PlayStyles struggled. Well, to put it simply, ground passing wasn't much of an issue, and it has improved. My player was able to make accurate passes along the floor, mainly short distances. Under pressure, my pro was able to squeeze passes through tight spaces, and even though there were still some issues with first-time passes, it was way more accurate than before. I then jumped into Ultimate Team, where I mainly used an Evolved Conor Bradley (I'm a Liverpool fan, I only evolve Liverpool players so don't judge) with all the passing PlayStyles, two passing PlayStyle Plus' and 90 passing against an Evolved Trey Nyoni (again, don't judge), with just one passing PlayStyle but 90 passing. In Ultimate Team, there did seem to still be a big gap between passing ability, even though they both had 90 passing, but it wasn't like Nyoni was unusable. All in all, passing has improved, but PlayStyles are still extremely important. Heading Sorry to say it, but heading still feels useless following the update. Players with high heading stats, the Aerial PlayStyle and/or the Power Header PlayStyle never consistently got headers on target in attack, with plenty blazing over the bar like we've seen in the past. Now, I did notice that from corners I was winning headers way more often, but the accuracy just wasn't there, so it doesn't look like the Aerial meta is returning. Is that a good or a bad thing? I guess time will tell. Goalkeeping Goalkeepers are weird. Some games, my 'keeper with Rush Out PlayStyle Plus could feel rapid off his line and make crucial saves, and sometimes, a poppadom would've been just as useful between the sticks, and this was before the update. But after the update, my 'keeper does feel slower, just like EA wanted. To me, goalkeepers were never overpowered in the first place, and it didn't seem like a crucial update that needed to be made, but now it's here, I can't say that it makes much of a noticeable difference, so there's no need to worry here. Elsewhere, the game felt pretty much the same. No new metas have seemed to appear from the hours I have spent on the game, so this 'major' Season Finale update doesn't really that major after all.
