Summer isn't the TV wasteland it used to be.

This used to be a time when fans could catch up on shows they missed via reruns, but we have streaming services for that now.

It also used to be the season when networks aired shows that wouldn't have a chance during the proper fall/spring schedules, but now it's the time for critically acclaimed shows like Lifetime's "UnReal" and HBO's "The Night Of."

But are the summer shows hotter than what we've seen so far in 2016?

Metacritic keeps track of a curated group of critics, assigns each review a number according to how positive or negative it was, and then creates a weighted average score for each show.

We looked at how this year's offerings stack up on the scores, and you'll likely be surprised by what missed the cut. (Sorry, "Game of Thrones" and "Mr. Robot.")

Here are the 20 most critically acclaimed TV shows of 2016 so far, according to Metacritic:

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20. 'Roots' (History)

Score: 83

19. 'Penny Dreadful' (Showtime)

Score: 83

18. 'The Dresser' (Starz)

Score: 84

Sometimes watching a "classic" after its prime makes it hard to understand what everyone loved about it.

In 2009, James Cameron's "Avatar" made history with the technology it used to capture actors' facial expressions in real time to later be used for animation. The film focuses on a U.S. Army mission to Pandora, an alien world full of resources earth desparately needs in 2154. 

“This film is a true hybrid — a full live-action shoot, with CG characters in CG and live environments,” Cameron told The New York Times in 2007. “Ideally, at the end of the of day, the audience has no idea which they’re looking at.”

Roger Ebert said "Avatar" was "one of those films you feel you must see to keep up with the conversation."

Well, I missed out on the conversation.

I never watched "Avatar," and I never had a desire to.

But finally, seven years after the highest-grossing film of all time premiered, I watched it. And honestly, I saw some problems. Maybe I missed out on the time that made it special. Maybe it was overblown. Either way, I'm pretty apathetic toward "Avatar."

These were my thoughts while I watched "Avatar" for the first time.

To be fair, I didn’t watch this film in 3D, as it was intended. However, I believe if a movie is truly so stunning, its greatness shouldn't be limited to a format. 3D shouldn’t make “Avatar.” Storytelling and cinematography should make “Avatar."

SEE ALSO: James Cameron just announced 4 more 'Avatar' movies — here's when they're coming out

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One minute in and I'm already rolling my eyes at the dialogue — "They can fix a spine if you've got the money. But not on vet benefits, not in this economy." — which is not a good sign for the next 2.9 hours.

I want to watch TV like this. It would be perfect to fall asleep to.

Three minutes in and I'm finally seeing those really cool special effects I was promised.

It's official — Pottermania is back.

The "Harry Potter" spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is due at the box office this fall. The JK Rowling-approved play "The Cursed Child" opened in London Saturday to glowing reviews. Then the production's script hit shelves today — sparking record numbers of pre-orders in the US.

But then again, passion for this magical franchise never really went away, largely thanks to Pottermore. With former Sony exec CEO Susan Jurevics at the helm, the official "Harry Potter" site's dedication has kept the franchise's flame burning as brightly as the Goblet of Fire.

Everything little thing this exec does is magic — literally. That's why we're delighted she will be speaking at Business Insider's IGNITION conference in December about how to keep your audience enchanted.

Jurevics definitely has the magic touch when it comes to keeping "Harry Potter" fans engaged. Under her leadership, the website has garned some truly supernatural traffic lately. Big successes have included the staggered release of new stories about beloved characters and a new, monster hit quiz that sorted fans into the houses of America's recently revealed wizarding school.

That's why we can't wait to fall under Jurevics's spell this December.

Other IGNITION speakers include Airbnb cofounder Nathan Blecharczyk, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch, and Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes. IGNITION takes place December 5-7 at the Time Warner Center in New York City.

Act now – early-bird tickets are available for a limited time!

SEE ALSO: Sir Martin Sorrell, James Murdoch, Ann Lewnes, and more— check out IGNITION's incredible lineup

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"Terminator Genisys" was one of the big summer-movie duds of 2015, with a weak $27 million opening and eventual lackluster $440.6 million worldwide gross (it only made $89.7 million domestically).

Not a very good performance for a legendary franchise that saw its star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, return to play the killing machine for the first time in 12 years.

Paramount has since indefinitely postponed any future "Terminator" movies. "Genisys" star Emilia Clarke also confirmed in April that she would not be returning to play Sarah Connor.

Business Insider brought up the "Terminator" franchise to another "Genisys" star, Jai Courtney, while he was doing press for the upcoming DC Comics movie "Suicide Squad" (opening on Friday), and he didn't seem too disappointed about the studio hitting the pause button on "Terminator."

"Um, no," Courtney said when asked if he was sad that no more "Terminator" movies are coming soon.

Courtney is no stranger to franchise relaunches that don't live up to expectations. One of his big breakout roles was playing the son of "Die Hard" character John McClane (Bruce Willis) in the 2013 movie "A Good Day to Die Hard." The weak box office on the movie scrapped any chances of Courtney taking over the franchise from Willis.

"I've certainly become unattached to the idea of it having to come around again," Courtney said of potential franchise movies getting sequels. "If it seems like an obvious movie to make then cool. But with 'Terminator,' who knows, it's probably time to leave it where it is. But if they can get back in there and dig around and decide there is another film to make, I'll take the call."

The good news for "Terminator" fans is there's still hope for a comeback. The franchise's creator, director James Cameron, will get the rights back in 2019. 

SEE ALSO: Here's the moment when Burt Reynolds became the most famous star on the planet

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Shannon Purser doesn't have much on her IMDb page.

In fact, she only has one acting credit to her name: Netflix's "Stranger Things," the hit thriller series that debuted July 15.

There's a lot of talk about all of the '80s pop-culture references in "Stranger Things," or how the show is Winona Ryder's comeback.

But there's also a lot of talk about Purser.

Purser plays Barb, the quintessential '80s nerdy best friend to Nancy (Natalia Dyer), the pretty and perfect teen lead character.

Barb isn't even present in the show for very long. 

She's decently featured as a supporting character in the first two episodes and then very briefly in episodes three and seven.

Yet fans connected with Barb, making #WeAreAllBarb a robust hashtag. Someone even painted a mural dedicated to the character.

Purser understands exactly what it is that people love about Barb.

"People saw Barb and saw how unapologetic she was about who she was and what she believed in and what she wanted to wear, even. I think they admired her for not wanting to please others too much, and for being an honest and loyal friend," Purser told Vulture of her sudden fame. "Everybody has been a third wheel, and Barb is a wonderful, nerdy third wheel. People really relate to her and her outcast, left-out position because everybody's felt that way at some point." 

Read the full interview with Purser.

SEE ALSO: Here are the references to '80s movies in Netflix's great new show 'Stranger Things'

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In Matt Damon's next movie, "The Great Wall," set in ancient China, the actor plays a warrior who defends the wall from fire-breathing dragons.

But since the trailer for the movie went online last week, there has been criticism that once again Hollywood is plugging a white actor into a story that focuses on another culture.

"Fresh Off the Boat" actress Constance Wu took to Twitter and tweeted a statement on why she feels movies like "The Great Wall" are "perpetuating the racist myth that only a white man can save the world."

"Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon," Wu wrote in her statement. "They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela. Your big sister when she stood up for you to those bullies that one time."

Here is Wu's full statement:

Hollywood has a history of "whitewashing" topics going all the way back to when white actors wore blackface or played Native Americans in Westerns. The attention to it has increased in recent years, thanks to the outcry of #OscarsSoWhite and actors speaking out about the lack of diversity.

Then there are clever memes like #StarringJohnCho, in which actor John Cho ("Harold & Kumar") is Photoshopped into major movie posters to show the diversity problem.

"The Great Wall" opens in theaters February 2017. Expect this topic to bubble back to the surface around then.

SEE ALSO: I finally watched "Avatar" for the first time, and it has one glaring problem

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We now know when winter will end.

According to Entertainment Weekly, HBO's new programming president Casey Bloys confirmed that "Game of Thrones" will end with its eighth season.

Fans might think this is old news because showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss have been quite vocal about their plans for the series, but this is the first official word from the network head.

"Yes, they have a very specific plan about the number of seasons they want to do," Bloys told EW at the Television Critics Association’s press tour. "Believe me, as the new [programming executive] coming in, if I could get them to do more, I would take 10 more seasons. But we take their lead on what they think they can do the best version of the show."

But that doesn't mean HBO will never visit Westeros again. When a show is as successful as "Game of Thrones," talk of spin-offs is always around.

"We’ve talked about it," Bloys said. "It’s something I’m not opposed to, but of course it has to make sense creatively. ... [Benioff and Weiss] weren’t opposed to it, but there’s no concrete plans for it at this point."

The show's seventh season has been delayed and will debut in summer 2017 — instead of its typical spring start — because filming needs to take place during the winter months, seeing as winter has finally come to Westeros. The seventh season has also been shortened from its normal 10-episode count to seven.

Bloys also confirmed to EW that the delay will mean the show is out of the running for next year's Emmy Awards, though he said he isn't that concerned.

SEE ALSO: These are the characters you need to know before 'Game of Thrones' season 7

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It looks like "True Detective" may get a third season on HBO after all. 

Or, at least, the new HBO president of programming, Casey Bloys, is planning on it.

"It’s a really valuable franchise for us," Bloys told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour over the weekend, according to The Wrap. "I think both seasons average about 11 million viewers an episode. So not dead. Just I’m not sure we have the right take for a third season yet."

The show's first season, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as police officers trying to solve a killing, became a sensation, with the internet going crazy for theories of the fictional case.

However, season two, which did not have the direction of season-one helmer Cary Fukunaga, did not find the same excitement from viewers. The story moved to Los Angeles and tackled police corruption. It starred Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, and Rachel McAdams. 

According to Bloys, show creator Nic Pizzolatto has an overall deal with HBO and is currently "working on some other projects." 

Bloys is striking a different tone than his predecessor Michael Lombardo, who stated in May that the series would not be back for a third season. 

Bloys was named as HBO's president of programming in late May.

SEE ALSO: This "Terminator" actor had bad news about sequels in the franchise

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The summer has seen a lot of sequels, but to the chagrin of Hollywood execs, many are bombing at the box office.

Analysts are crying sequel fatigue, but studios trying to bank on franchises isn't new. They're just doing it a lot more frequently, but with titles people care way less about seeing.

In looking at Box Office Mojo's ranking of some of the top-grossing franchises adjusted for inflation, it's clear that pursuing sequels has always been a roller-coaster ride.

Business Insider selected 15 franchises — the dominating fantasies as well as some animation, action, and horror films — from the top 100.

Of those 15, only three — "Toy Story," "The Lord of the Rings," and "Captain America" — have seen growth with every installment. The same can't be said, though, for "Iron Man," Marvel's other major solo-character series.

Every other franchise lacks a pattern, except that it seems that "Fast and Furious" reached a positive turning point in 2009 and no one wants more "Scream" movies at this point.

See how your favorite franchise did over its lifetime:

SEE ALSO: The sequels that are bombing badly at the box office this year

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Disney will remake the 1984 Ron Howard comedy "Splash" with Channing Tatum playing a merman character.

The original comedy starred Tom Hanks, who falls in love with Daryl Hannah, who happens to be a mermaid.

In this twist, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Tatum will play a merman while "Workaholics" star Jillian Bell will play the Hanks role.

Howard and producing partner Brian Grazer will produce the film.

A script is in the works. No word yet on when filming will start.

The original "Splash" was one of the hit comedies of the mid-1980s, and elevated the statuses of Hanks and Hannah.

The role-reversal idea is the big trend hitting Hollywood at the moment. The recent "Ghostbusters" release had an all-female lead cast, and there's also plans of making a female-led "Ocean's Eleven" movie.

SEE ALSO: The crazy drug-fueled story behind one of Hollywood's most notorious lost movies

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While flowers make a nice gift for holidays or romantic occasions, they typically only last for a few days.

To combat the vicious cycle of nature, bespoke rose atelier Venus Et Fleur created a collection of roses that they claim can stay fresh for up to a year. 

"People love getting roses, but hate having to throw them away," Seema Bansal, Venus Et Fleur's cofounder, said to Business Insider. Bansal and her partner, Sunny Chadha, launched the company in New York City in August 2015.

They came up with the idea after Chadha sent Bansal a set of roses on Valentine's Day last year, only to realize that the quality of the flowers was not what they had expected from the hefty price tag. 

They made it a goal to create high-quality floral arrangements that can reach a global audience, require little maintenance, and are able to last. 

The roses can stay fresh and soft for so long because of a special formula and process the company has developed. 

They start by bringing in roses from Ecuador. They'll typically use red roses, since red is the most common color their farm supplier grows. They'll then cut the roses at their peak state and use a non-toxic bleach to remove their color. 

Next, each rose is dehydrated. The roses are then injected with natural oils and a non-toxic and non-allergenic wax formula that is similar to silica. 

Afterwards, the roses sit in a color tank to soak in their dye. Colors range from a rich red to more playful variations like rainbow and metallic-dipped roses.

The roses come styled in Parisian keepsake boxes, though the company will be introducing black-and-white marble boxes and suede boxes within the next few months.

Since the flowers are dehydrated, the only maintenance they require is a light dusting from time to time, though the company does recommend that you keep the flowers away from excessive sunlight, heat, or humidity. Their scent will typically last anywhere from two to three weeks.

Thanks to their easy maintenance and uniform design, the roses are popular with hotels, at weddings, and with major retailers like Bloomingdale's and Bergdorf Goodman. 

They're also a hit with celebrities like the Kardashians, DJ Khaled, Danielle Brooks, and several NBA and NFL players. 

The Eternity DE Venus collection is currently available online, or for pickup at its New York City location. Prices range from $39 to $539, depending on the specific arrangement. 

SEE ALSO: A former Clinton Foundation exec raised $14.1 million to create a smart thermometer he hopes will help stop diseases from spreading at the Olympics

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Not many people took it seriously when Kanye West announced he would be running for president in 2020 during last year's MTV VMAs.

But apparently Kanye did. In a new interview with BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac, he said he's still serious about making a run for the Oval Office, according to People.

Kanye says he doesn't have an official party affilitation, however, or even traditional ideology.

"When I talk about the idea of being president, I'm not saying I have any political views," West said in the interview, which will air in full Monday afternoon. "I just have a view on humanity, on people, on the truth. If there is anything that I can do with my time and my day, to somehow make a difference while I'm alive I'm going to try to do it."

In particular, West cites the epidemic of gun violence in the country for why he wants to run.

"We are numb, we're numb to 500 kids getting killed in Chicago a year, we're numb to the fact that it was seven police shootings in the beginning of July," he said.

Of course, the rapper and designer has a lot on his plate as it is, and he's been known to change his mind, so we'll have to wait until the next presidential election year to see if he'll actually make a campaign happen.

SEE ALSO: 30 celebrities who love and endorse Donald Trump

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Kanye West — rapper, husband of Kim Kardashian, fashion designer, expert Tweeter— wants to design merchandise for an unlikely destination: Ikea.

"I have to work with Ikea - make furniture for interior design, for architecture," West said to BBC.

Namely, he told BBC that he could imagine college students wanting him to design "a minimalist apartment inside of a college dorm."

He envisioned the following:

"'Yo Ikea, allow Kanye to create, allow him to make this thing because you know what, I want a bed that he makes, I want a chair that he make.'"

Who wouldn't want to sit on a Kanye West chair while downing Swedish meatballs?

Though Ikea may not seem nearly as prestigious as his very expensive Yeezy line, West has been on the road to making his goods more available to the mass market, firstly by dropping the prices of his line, and more recently, with the expansion of his partnership with Adidas.

Essentially, Kanye West appears to want to dominate the retail sphere, and he very well may be suited to do so. Earlier this year, he tweeted some reasonable ideas about the retail and fashion industries.

SEE ALSO: Kanye West summed up the retail industry's biggest problem in one tweet

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The new Frank Ocean album everyone's been waiting for is going to be an Apple Music exclusive for the first two weeks of its release, according to The New York Time's Ben Sisario and Joe Coscarelli, who cite "a person with knowledge of the release plans."

The album, called "Boys Don't Cry," will be released this Friday — unless it's delayed again.

According to the Times, the release will also include a "major video" and a "printed publication" of the same name, which will be "distributed at Apple stores."

After that two-week window is up, the album will get a wide release. But this window is a win for Apple, who has been competing with rivals like Jay Z's Tidal for exclusive content. The window is also longer than the one week Apple got for Drake's latest album, after signing a reportedly $19 million contract with him.

That makes you wonder how big of a check they wrote to Frank Ocean.

Exclusives

Exclusives have been a hotly debated strategy in the streaming industry over the past few months.

Tidal has used high-profile exclusive windows from Kanye West, Beyonce, and Rihanna to boost its downloads. And while this strategy has worked in the short term, it's less clear whether it has provided a bump in long-term, paying Tidal users.

In fact, data from SurveyMonkey Intelligence suggests that the uptick in loyal Tidal users from these exclusives has been disappointing.

Perhaps that's why there are rumors that Jay Z is trying to sell Tidal to Apple. Kanye West fanned these rumors over the weekend by tweeting about discord between Apple and Jay Z that seems to stem from acquisition talks.

"This Tidal Apple beef is f------- up the music game," West wrote. "I need Tim Cook Jay Z Dez Jimmy Larry me and Drake Scooter on the phone or in a room this week!!! F--- all this dick swinging contest. We all gon be dead in 100 Years. Let the kids have the music. Apple give Jay his check for Tidal now and stop tying to act like you Steve."

Spotify's stance

Spotify, Apple's biggest rival in streaming music, has come out swinging against the very concept of exclusives.

"We’re not really in the business of paying for exclusives, because we think they’re bad for artists and they’re bad for fans," Jonathan Prince, Spotify's head of communications told The Verge earlier this year. "Artists want as many fans as possible to hear their music, and fans want to be able to hear whatever they’re excited about or interested in — exclusives get in the way of that for both sides. Of course, we understand that short promotional exclusives are common and we don't have an absolute policy against them, but we definitely think the best practice for everybody is wide release."

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Matthew McConaughey is in the middle of a mid-career renaissance, scooping up awards as one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation.

But now he'd like to do something different.

McConaughey has been announced as the creative director for Wild Turkey bourbon. The actor will serve as "a storyteller for Wild Turkey behind the camera and in front of it," according to a press release sent out Monday. That includes directing and writing a series of TV and digital ads for the brand that will launch in September.

In this video paired with the announcement, McConaughey visits with the distilling family behind Wild Turkey, the Russells, and gets mystical about the power of traditional American bourbon.

McConaughey says he was approached a few years ago by the brand to be a spokesman, but he wanted something a little more hands-on for his new gig.

While he's known for his eccentric Lincoln commercials, his involvement in the Wild Turkey ads will go much further.

"I told them, ‘I don’t want to be just a face. I have ideas. I’m an idea man,’” McConaughey told The New York Times of his role.

It's yet another new era in the ongoing evolution of McConaughey.

SEE ALSO: 15 documentaries on Netflix right now that will make you smarter

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We will finally see Jared Leto's version of The Joker when "Suicide Squad" hits theaters on Friday, and the Oscar-winning actor hopes that this won't be a simple one-and-done affair.

"I hope it's an introduction [of the Joker] ... and not the end!" he told the Toronto Sun, according to Heroic Hollywood. "Because I could easily just play the Joker a couple more times and then retire. Because it's so fulfilling and so creative and it's so imaginative. It's really difficult to think about doing anything else!"

In fact, Leto wants his Clown Prince of Crime to go up against Ben Affleck's Dark Knight.

"I think it would be incredible to see Batman and the Joker go head-to-head!" Leto said. "This Batman and this Joker. I mean, I don't know, that might be too much! But that would be fun."

It has been confirmed that Affleck is writing a standalone Batman movie that he will also direct and star in.

Affleck as Batman is also supposedly in "Suicide Squad," so maybe we'll see the two do battle sooner than that.

SEE ALSO: Kanye West says he's still very serious about running for president

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Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson is writing his own superhero drama.

Starz has extended its deal with the rapper and his production company, G-Unit Film & Television Inc.

Based on a screenplay Jackson wrote, the drama is called "Tomorrow, Today" and is the first project from Jackson's company. He will also serve as the drama's executive producer.

Jackson currently serves as an executive producer on "Power," the other collaboration between the rapper and the network. 

"I am looking forward to continuing my relationship with my Starz family, we have had great success together on ‘Power’ and I am excited to get going on all of our upcoming projects together," Jackson said in a statement, according to Variety. "I knew Starz would be the perfect home for ‘Tomorrow, Today.’ This project is very personal to me… creating it, writing it, finding the best team for it and I will continue to be involved every step of the way."

Variety described “Tomorrow, Today” as a superhero-themed series about a veteran from the South Side of Chicago who, after being falsely imprisoned, becomes the personal experiment of a deranged prison doctor trying to create the perfect man — and an unstoppable killing machine. Set free, but on the run, the veteran must reconcile with the world that has turned against him, and use his newfound abilities for good.

Sounds like Captain America meets Luke Cage, no?

SEE ALSO: No one wants to buy 50 Cent's incredible $6 million mansion that he's been forced to sell due to bankruptcy

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Peter-Joey Pham had a plan. 

After reading that Nick Johnson, America's first Pokémon Go master, was leaving for a worldwide trip to catch the three monsters that are only available internationally, Pham decided to book his own global Pokémon adventure.

He shared his story with Business Insider, and it's a doozy.

Last week, he booked a last-minute flight from Manhattan, where he works in finance, to Sydney, Australia, to catch the regionally exclusive Kangaskhan.

Then, he talked himself out of it.

But his coworkers wouldn't let him stop before he even began. So on Friday, July 29th, Pham ended up at New York's Kennedy airport, waiting for his flight to Sydney, at the same time Johnson was at the same airport waiting for a flight to Paris in his quest for Mr. Mime.

Pham's plan was both simple and a little insane: He couldn't take a lot of time off from work. So he planned an itinerary that would leave him 14 hours to catch Kangaskhan in Sydney, 10 hours to catch Farfetch'd in Tokyo, and 12 hours to get Mr. Mime in London.

"I had a high degree of confidence that I could do it at the time I booked based on my research regarding nests (typical MIT grad)," Pham writes in an email to Business Insider. "Roughly 10 hours to catch one Pokémon at a given nest, sounds reasonable right?"

He wasn't expecting to beat Johnson to total Pokémon mastery, but thought it might be fun to spark a good-natured rivalry. 

It didn't work out that way. At all.

Australian Pokémon adventure

The problems began at the airport: At the terminal he realized that he wasn't sure if his phone would work in Australia, which would make playing Pokémon Go impossible. So he tried to cancel his tickets. They told him he couldn't cancel after he checked in, so he decided that he had to get on the flight, or sacrifice the $1,000 or so he spent on last-minute tickets to Sydney.

It was only then, as he was about to get on the plane, that he told his long-distance girlfriend for the first time that he was going on a worldwide Pokémon adventure with only a 30-pound backpack for company.

"[She] is in denial that I am actually traveling. After I send her my itinerary, after the shock settles, a quick fight ensues but the argument is cut off thanks to lift off," Pham writes.

He got off the plane at 8AM Sydney time to find that he had 2G internet service, which isn't fast, but fast enough for the game. He rented a bike and went cruising for Kangaskhan over and around Sydney's many hills and through a beachside cemetary, only to find...nothing. By this time, his long-distance girlfriend had come around and was cheering him on.

Exhausted, and realizing his bike wasn't worth much against Sydney's hills as he shuffled between Pokémon hotspots like Burrows Park and Bonte Park, he returned the bike. 

Then he got hit by a car.

Kangaskhan Shuffle

"The accident is serious enough that I can barely move for several minutes and pain pierces through my arm and shoulder every time I try move my right arm (still hurts as I type this)," Pham says. "I think to myself, I could have died searching for Pokemon…what has my life arrived to."

In pain, but not willing to give up just yet, Pham dragged himself to Sydney's Crystal Street, where he ran into a gaggle of fellow trainers also looking for the elusive Kangaskhan. 

Those players informed him that Niantic, the developers of Pokémon Go, had reshuffled the areas where Pokémon appear, all over the world. Which means that they literally couldn't tell him where Kangaskhan might be. It was the same story over by the Sydney Opera House.

Says Pham:

Wait. WHAT. I had spent thousands of dollars, traveled thousands of miles to catch these imaginary electronic monsters that no longer were in the places I had researched. I am in an unknown city, have bruises and cuts all over my body, can barely move my right arm and am struggling to carry my ever growing heavy pack. And I had less than 5 hours before my flight to Tokyo.

Totally revulsed at the idea of repeating this process all over again, Pham decided to cancel his flight to Tokyo, book a hotel in Sydney, and be a tourist, rather than spend all that money to repeat this physically gruelling process.

"How different Sydney was without a 30lb pack and you aren’t interviewing randos about a kangaroo," Pham jokes.

And then, on his way back to the Sydney airport, he found and caught a Kangaskhan — right at the last possible minute. It was only a CP125, which is pretty weak, but he didn't care.

"I let out a roar and a guy across the street laughs and tells me he got him too. I run over to him and tell him my story and he stares at me in disbelief," Pham writes.

Aftermath

So Pham is going to spend a little time in Honolulu before he heads back to New York City.

Still, with 143 Pokémon caught, he's currently tied with Johnson, who caught Mr. Mime in Paris over the weekend. So it wasn't a total loss, by his reckoning, and he says he has no regrets.

"As I am making my way through customs, I can’t help but smile. I am exhausted, dirty, with possible broken bones, pain shooting everywhere and thousands of dollars on my credit card bill to account for…but I did it, I got my fake, electronic, armored kangaroo," Pham says.

He says he wishes Johnson well as he continues his international journey. Johnson is en route to Hong Kong for his own Farfetch'd, after which he'll head to Sydney, which delivered such a beat-down to Pham.

Still, Pham has two final thoughts on Pokémon Go and the urge to travel around the world to catch 'em all.

First: "I would advise anyone thinking of doing this to contact me immediately. Me and your significant others will proceed to destroy your passport and hide your credit cards."

And second: "I have no intention of resuming this or touching this god forsaken app for a VERY long time."

SEE ALSO: America's first Pokémon Go master is getting a free trip around the world to complete his Pokémon collection

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NOW WATCH: How to find Pokémon in 'Pokémon Go'

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Wikipedia has released a redesigned app an Android, following on its iOS app update a few months ago, The Next Web reports.

The new app captures the look and feel of a modern news app, and its user experience might provide a useful template for publishers to emulate.  

Here are some of the main features of the new Wikipedia app, and how they could translate for a publisher’s app:

• In the news, which sits at the top of the feed, and includes new and updated articles based on current events. All publishers – including those who specialize in certain coverage areas, and those who cover a broad range of topics – can employ a similar section in their apps, to highlight their insights and expertise as it relates to current news.
• Trending articles, which highlights the five most popular Wikipedia articles of the day. Most publisher-apps already feature a section like this, but personalizing the trending section for each individual reader can create a more optimal user experience, and help drive engagement and time spent within the app. 
• Featured article is a single story handpicked article by Wikipedia editors on a daily basis. Publishers can highlight their editorial-flavor via a similar feature in their own apps. This can aid in building a distinct brand and voice for their company. 
• Because you read, which provides a feed of articles based on reader history. This personalization element is crucial in contemporary news platforms. As content becomes more and more abundant, tailoring the experience for each user is essential to help cut through the noise.
• Continue reading, which allows readers to pick up unfinished articles. The modern app user faces distraction and interruptions throughout the day, and this feature works to alleviate these tensions. It is a useful feature to help readers track their reading history, and gives them the extra security that they can leave the app without losing their progress. Ultimately, this feature can improve app retention and drive loyalty.
• Picture of the day, which, quite intuitively, shows a new photo every day. Publishers could pair the photo of choice with a relevant article, or an interesting topic, to encourage engagement with the app. In addition, the area in which these photos exist could double up as real estate for mobile ads. 

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Netflix has a bunch of subgenres that make it easy to find movies and shows in specific niches like "monster movies" or "military dramas."

Each one is tagged with a code number (for example, "Epics" is category No. 52858).

And while some of these categories are accessible through Netflix's "subgenres" bars, many are not. "Dramas," in particular, has no subgenres that show up. Here's how that section appears on my Netflix:

So if you are looking for the aforementioned "military dramas," what are you to do?

Luckily, there are a few sites that have made alternate interfaces that show you what titles are in Netflix's different subgenres.

The easiest to navigate is Netflixcodes.info, which shows you the main genre and then a selection of the subgenres. Here is how it looks (h/t Exstreamist):

If you click on each button it will take you to a list of those films or shows on Netflix. And while it doesn't include all the secret categories, it gets all the important ones down.

For a slight variation on that, head to Netflixcodes.me, which lists the subgenres purely alphabetically and has a search bar at the top. This is perfect if you know which subgenre you want. Here is what it looks like:

But if you want the most complete list, with incredibly niche subgenres like "Action & Adventure based on a book from the 1960s (4082)," check out this site titled "NetFlix Streaming by Alternate Genres (Extended List)."

Here's what that one looks like:

SEE ALSO: 23 of the most interesting secret categories on Netflix and how to find them

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NOW WATCH: How to find Netflix’s secret categories