The Evolve Edit: This Week in Trends
From Pedro Pascal to Serena Williams, this week’s cultural edit decoded
Why is Pedro Pascal suddenly everyone’s heartthrob? What can Danny Dyer teach us about masculinity? And why should we all be reading Girl on Girl? This week’s trend roundup explores the people and stories shaping the cultural conversation.
💫 The Surprising Leading Man: Pedro Pascal, Again
Confession: I haven’t watched The Last of Us. But I did watch most of Game of Thrones, and I’m still recovering from it. Pedro Pascal connects both these series, and now he’s at the centre of The Materialists playing a handsome billionaire, in the upcoming film by Past Lives director Celine Song.
I wasn’t expecting Pascal to emerge as a heartthrob, but I’m fully here for it. Type his name into Google and the top search? “Pedro Pascal past girlfriends.” The interest is real.
The Materialists is already out in US cinemas and lands in the UK this August.
Written and directed by Celine Song, it stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, set against the high-gloss, high-stakes world of luxury dating in New York. Think: a matchmaker, her ex (an aspiring actor), and a billionaire client.
If you’re into film, narrative trends, or how desire is portrayed in consumer culture, this one’s worth bookmarking.
🎧 Masculinity, Reframed: Danny Dyer on Desert Island Discs
Continuing the theme of unexpected leading men; Danny Dyer.
If you raced through Rivals like the rest of us, you might be delighted to hear his recent Desert Island Discs interview is an emotional standout. It aired last month, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
In a deeply honest and wide-ranging conversation, Dyer speaks about masculinity, vulnerability, being fashionable (finally!), and how he found acting as a kid. It’s powerful in hearing someone reflect without polish, and with genuine openness.
📚 Girlhood, Re-examined: Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert
This recommendation came via the brilliant Pandora Sykes, through her Books and Bits Substack.
Girl on Girl is a cultural deep dive into how 90s and 00s media shaped a generation of women. If you grew up in that era, much of it may feel uncomfortably familiar, but the unpacking is necessary, timely, and deeply relevant.
For anyone building brands or messages aimed at women today, this book feels essential. It’s a sharp reminder of what we absorbed without question, and how those influences still echo in the present.
Psychiatrist and academic Dr Kate Womersley offers a smart, incisive review in The Guardian:
🔗 Read the review here
Live in London? Pandora Sykes will be interviewing Sophie Gilbert in person on 8th July, tickets are available here:
🎟️ Eventbrite link
🎾 In the Arena: Serena Williams' New Documentary
If you’re warming up for Wimbledon, this is a must-watch.
The new series In the Arena: Serena Williams is now streaming on Disney+ and Apple TV, with a BBC iPlayer release coming on 21st June. Unlike previous portrayals that spotlighted her personal life, this one puts the sport front and centre, with gripping match footage and candid reflections.
Even if you’re not a die-hard tennis fan, there’s something deeply compelling about watching someone who redefined what excellence looks like in her field.
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Until next time,
Corinna x