Sure, returning to work after a long weekend can feel like a cruel twist of fate, but think of it this way: it only took four days to end up back here, on the precipice of another weekend. You know what that means — namely, that you have to start planning for the next seven days of pop culture to plan for. The very thought might fill you with terror, but we’re here to stop that from happening, dear reader, by filling up your datebook for you. That’s the Popverse Playlist guarantee. Just remember: no take-backsies.

This week! Animated fantasy gets critical (role)! He-Man muscles his way into the chat! And… we’re… football crazy, even though the World Cup is still a couple weeks away…?

If you only watch one show this week, then it really has to be… The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4

The heroes of Exandria return in what is promised to be the penultimate season of the animated adaptation of the beloved Critical Role campaign, but if season 3 seemed to leave everyone in a pretty good place, don’t expect that to last too long: Sam Riegel has already promised that season goes to a “darker, more epic place than ever before,” with the Vox Machina “facing foes that they are not ready for.” Sure, fans think they know how the story is going to go, but changes to the source material have been teased in the promo for the new season. How big could those changes end up being, in the grand scheme of things? How literal should we take the tease that we should “get those tissues ready,” Sam? Tell us everything now.

The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 debuts on Prime Video June 3, 2026.

If you check out one movie this week, then it should be… Masters of the Universe

I’ll be honest — the first trailer for this reboot of the prime 1980s fantasy franchise and love letter to non-toxic masculinity left me pretty cold, but then I got to the clip where we see the movie gleefully remembering how genuinely, joyfully dumb the toys were (Fisto! Ram-Man!) and I started to feel a lot more excited about how campy and amusing the end result might be. By the time we got to Skeletor recreating a classic Burt Reynolds moment (Yes, I know it’s also a reference to the meme, but give me this), I have to admit: I find myself genuinely curious how weird and silly this movie is willing to be. We can only hope that the answer is ‘very.’

Masters of the Universe arrives in theaters June 5, 2026.

If you can only pick up one comic this week, then make sure it’s… Roy of the Rovers Vol. 1

And now for something from completely offside, so to speak. World Cup 2026 is just around the corner, and to mark the occasion, North American stores are finally able to check out Roy of the Rovers, the recent reboot of the classic British comic book character that debuted in the UK back in 2018. Written by Rob Williams (Judge Dredd, Suicide Squad), it’s a YA-targeted soccer story of the power of football transforming a young man’s life that, honestly, plays out like the follow-up to Ted Lasso that you didn’t know you wanted. Think sports manga, but with more of a feel-good factor. It’s what Roy would want, after all. (Honestly, Ted, too; maybe it'll be a good way to prepare for his forthcoming fourth season...)

Roy of the Rovers Volume 1 will be available in comic book stores June 3, 2026.

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