The Plums in NYC

The Testaments premieres tomorrow on Hulu and Disney+ in Canada, starring Chase Infiniti as Agnes but if you’ve read Margaret Atwood’s book, you know who she really is. This is the sequel series to The Handmaid’s Tale, so we’re back in Gilead, several years after the conclusion of Handmaid’s, experiencing it through Agnes. Chase is leading a series here – an excellent follow-up to her breakout role in One Battle After Another, the newly crowned Best Picture Oscar winner.

I’ve screened part of the series and can confirm that Chase’s performance in OBAA wasn’t a fluke; she has it, the talent, the charisma, the layers. As Agnes, Chase is among a cohort of “Plums”, young girls who’ve not yet gotten their periods, being groomed for what will eventually be their only contribution to society: breeding. This is Gilead, after all, so it’s not like we’re getting a happy, happy, fun, fun show about teenagers.

Outside of the story though, the Plums are on the press tour, after spending months together filming in Toronto, hanging out in New York today, enjoying the freedom and expression not afforded to their characters. Chase just posted this…and, of course, it’s set to one of the most viral songs of the moment, with a K-pop connection.

@chase.infiniti

the plums take nyc 💜💜💜🤍

♬ Dracula (JENNIE Remix) - Tame Impala & JENNIE

By now it’s no secret that Chase is a K-pop stan. She’s always talking about K-pop, she’s always being asked about it, and apparently when they were in production on The Testaments in Toronto, she was taking the other girls – Rowan Blanchard, Lucy Halliday, and Mattea Conforti – to Koreatown for dinner and bonding sessions.

Here they are, the Plums at press events today, and Chase in a deconstructed and layered khaki set with outrageously good hair and makeup.

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What else happened today…

Labubu is over… and there is a new toy craze taking over. Kayleigh Donaldson is here with the toy trend update. (Pajiba)

Michelle Pfeiffer and Elle Fanning are promoting Margot’s Got Money Troubles in matching necklines and hairstyles. (Go Fug Yourself)

There is speculation that Emerald Fennell is rebooting Basic Instinct. There are also denials. Terrina Jairaj suggests, though, that this story might actually be perfect for an Emerald reimagining. (The Mary Sue)

I had no idea that there had been a recipe change and that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups tasted different, probably because I haven’t had one in a while – and I actually love them but maybe this was a good thing, that it’s been a while since they’ve been in the cupboard because I would have been as annoyed as the Cup’s descendant. How long before the change-back goes on sale? (Celebitchy)

If you haven’t already, and you are deeply invested in the Beckxit, aka the Beckham Family Drama, you need Bridget Read’s deep-dive that was just published at New York Magazine. There’s all kinds of new tea here – like the rabbi mistakenly calling Brooklyn by his father’s name, TWICE, during the wedding that no one can stop talking about all these years later. Top to bottom this is why gossip is better in long-form. The kicker is a thing of beauty. (The Cut)