u/Hot-Parfait-9601

I'm 39, massively lost confidence due to hair loss (I'm around a Norwood 5A). I quite like a shaved head (not completely bald/skin), but not a fan of the different densities (e.g. the dark/thicker hair on the sides/back, but thinner/lighter on top). Right now if I shave my head with a number 1 grade or closer it looks like the classic horseshoe.

I've considered SMP in the past, but it seems a big gamble (like many I've seen some that look great in photos, and others that look terrible), and in "real life" most of the time I can tell if someone has had it done - which isn't what I want.

I'm now considering a blend of FUE hair transplant (mainly to establish some front density/hairline) with the intention of keeping it buzzed/shaved, and then topping it up/filling in with SMP.

Is this pretty common? Anyone had this sort of thing done instead of just pure SMP? Particularly interested in hearing/seeing those with substantial hair loss to begin with.

Apologies if this is very common, only just looking into it more recently.

Thanks

Apologies for the title gore.

Like many of you, I recently read about the near 7-figure unpackaged spec sale from two unknown writers.

As an amateur, I've always known things like this were exceptionally rare, but the way some experienced pros talk about spec sales and this sale particularly, makes it seem comparable to winning the lottery.

I find it quite disheartening in all honesty. Many of us (naively) hope we're writing something special and hope it'll sell. But again, that seems to be the exception not the rule.

I'd like to ask any working professionals - for an amateur writer with aspirations of becoming a pro, what does the typical career path look like in 2026?

Is it essential to sell/option a spec to prove your mettle before the doors really open?

Or is there a way to earn a living with just having good samples to show? How are you guys earning a living?

Having done this on a casual, infrequent basis for over two decades, and seriously for the past four, at the age of 39 I'm starting to wonder whether it's just a fantasy. I solely write features - should I make a b-line for tv writing instead for more opportunities? Living in the UK in the middle of nowhere doesn't help.

Thanks for reading - I'll apologise in advance for any naivety I've shown, just looking for something to reignite that spark.

EDIT (12 August): Thank you so much to everybody who replied with their experiences and insights, particularly the post from u/CJWalley. Some very interesting and useful posts. I hope others have found this as informative as I have.

So I tried to start a return and had this red warning box pop up:

>We’ve detected abnormal purchasing and return activity on your account that may not comply with our Fair Use Policy. While this does not affect your rights, non-compliance with the policy could result in us taking appropriate action, including refusing your orders and access to our services in the future.

I didn't think our return rate was that bad, although we've returned more than normal this year.

Anyway - I spoke to customer services via chat to ask about it, and after an hour and being transferred six times, and was told "It's an automatic system generated flag that your returns are too high".

I mentioned that I'd read the Fair Use Policy (linked in the warning message) and it mentioned that Amazon could restrict or close accounts that it felt were abusing the free returns.

I mentioned this to the customer service associate as I was worried that if I returned anything else I could get my account restricted/closed - and if that was the case I'd rather keep the item (our Amazon account is vitally important to us for a few reasons).

He said in no uncertain terms "Don't worry, it's just a warning, nothing will happen, you can continue to return and your account will be unaffected".

Obviously I have a record of that in writing on the chat transcription.

However....

I know what Amazon are like and how difficult it can be to speak to someone if you have a problem to resolve.

• Is he lying? How close am I really to having my account restricted/closed for too many returns?
• Do Amazon always send a final warning email first before taking action?
• If it is restricted/closed, is there a way to appeal? Obviously the first thing I would show them is that chat log.
• If they did restrict/close my account, would it just be mine or everyone in my household's? It's my wife's Prime membership (I'm just listed on the "household" so can use the benefits.)

Just to be clear, I do not intentionally "abuse" the returns policy, nor does my wife. We've both been Amazon members for decades and Prime subscribers for years and spent tens of thousands.

The value of our returns is a fraction of what we spend, however this last year we've had to return quite a few things in terms of quantity (not value) - none of it was planned and most of it out of ours hands (wrong items sent, seals broken on vitamin containers, damaged orders).

We've also been redecorating and changed plans a few times so there were quite a few change of mind returns too (again low value, but high quantity). It's something we're making a conscious effort to reduce now - we don't like doing it.

Sorry for the long post!

I loved both of the first two seasons but season three feels wide open in terms of the direction they decide to take it. We could get a big time jump for instance (whereas season two was always likely to be the immediate aftermath of season one's cliffhanger).

What would you specifically like to see/see more of/less of in season three?

For me:

1. I hope we see more of the corporate/external side of Lumon - more of how the current Egan family operate outside of the company, more of Helena interacting with her father etc. I love those scenes.

2. More perks/rewards/quirkiness. Some of the most iconic moments from the show are when the perks are shown - Music Dance Experience, the Waffle Party, Choreography and Merriment etc.

3. Milchick fighting back more - I loved that scene where he put Mr Drummond in his place. We know Milchick is a good guy deep down and I'd like to see him more conflicted and leaning away from his loyalty to Lumon more.

4. More of the innie/outie relationship conflicts - Gretchen and Dylan especially.

5. More obvious antagonists - I thought Mr Drummond was a great new character and was disappointed he was killed off, but I'd like to see more intimidating, very strict/loyal Lumon antagonists who will stop at nothing to reach Lumon's objectives.

6. A deeper mystery/lore with Cold Harbor. It seems a lot of that story thread has resolved but I hope Lumon has bigger, grander plans. This was just phase 1 etc.

7. More Cobel. S2 was distinctly lacking.

8. Less Reghabi - I don't find that character adds much to the show and found those scenes with Mark to be less enjoyable.

9. I'd LOVE to see a Milchick-centric episode in which we see more of his lifestyle outside of Lumon and his home life. Maybe even a backstory episode with a younger Milchick?

10. Bigger secrets within Lumon HQ. I'd like to see what's on the other floors, other rooms, what other secrets Lumon is hiding.

11. More Miss Huang. I find that character so strange/intriguing - we have to know more, maybe even a Miss Huang-centric episode where something big is revealed about her.

12. More of a general one - I hope the production values and cinematography remain the same high standard. Part of why I love the show is it's so beautifully shot and the attention to detail is impressive. I hope the standards don't slip with so many changes to the creative team. Same with the soundtrack - it's so atmospheric.

What would you like to see more of/less of?

It's almost unanimous that season one is excellent television. There's also a lot of people that really liked season two, but feel the first one is still the best.

However, I don't think I've ever read a comment from anyone saying they prefer season two. (BTW spoilers below).

Maybe I'm just weird, but I prefer season two. I've said it. Maybe I'm the first.

Here's why:

• Season two introduces some really interesting and memorable supporting/minor characters - Mr Drummond, Lorne, Miss Huang, Gretchen, Nurse Cecily. Some of my favourite moments in the whole show involve them e.g. Milchick standing up to Mr Drummond, the scenes between Dylan and Gretchen.

• Season two is much more quotable - Milchick, Helly and Mr Drummond especially have some absolute bangers.

• When I think back to season one, I'm immediately drawn to the incredible finale and cliffhanger. I don't really remember other episodes - just moments (e.g. Music Dance Experience, Dylan's Waffle Party, the first episode with Helly waking up on the table). Season two has several excellent entire episodes - Woe's Hollow, Chikhai Bardo, Cold Harbor etc. Four of my top five episodes of the entire show would be from S2.

• Season two feels emotionally deeper and more satisfying - Gemma and Mark's backstory, Gretchen and Dylan's meetings, Helly and Mark, Burt and Irving, Cobel's backstory, Milchick's inner conflict.

• Season two leans into the quirkiness we love more - Milchick interacting with the animatronic Kier Egan, the mural painting, the ORTBO, Mammalians Nurturable, the Break Room video etc. Season one felt a little darker, more mysterious and edgier and was still figuring itself out. S2 feels like it gets the balance right.

• The finale is epic and rivals/exceeds S1's. It had everything - the fun/quirky stuff with Milchick and Kier/the band, Mark genuinely in danger, the Lorne/Mr Drummond scenes with the Emile, the emotional reunion with Gemma when you're desperately wanting them to escape. The cliffhanger for S1 is obviously better though.

Both seasons are excellent, I just think S2 gives more and is more re-watchable.

So several cast/crew including Ben Stiller, Adam Scott and Dan Erickson have been quoted as saying the wait for season 3 will be much shorter than the wait between season 1 and 2 (which was almost exactly 3 years).

As far as I know, season 3 hasn't begun filming yet. Normally Apple, or someone from the cast/crew will do some kind of announcement on social media when filming starts for their biggest shows like they did for S2.

The last update for the start of filming was "mid-2026" and technically we're into the second half of 2026 now. We've heard a couple of cast members in the last month or two say it was going to start "very soon".

Assuming they keep the quality the same, season 2's filming/post-production was:

• Filming - October 2022 to June 2023. WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike meant a big delay, but filming resumed January 2023 with reshoots and wrapped April 2023. Total duration of filming (not including shutdown): 1 year and 4 months (would have been a few weeks here and there where production moved between locations/built sets etc).

• Post-production: Filming completed April 2024. They would have started doing some editing/VFX before the end of filming but Ben Stiller and others have mentioned how long post-production took, without any interruptions. Season 2 came out January 2025 so let's say post-production took 8 months (but realistically it was probably a bit longer).

That's a total of TWO YEARS to film the whole thing, edit, complete VFX and all the other post-production work.

If they start this month and it took a similar amount of time, that would put the release of S3 no earlier than July 2028 - over 3 years since S2 first released.

I have no doubt they won't take THAT long. They'll refine processes, learn from experience etc and probably shave a few months off filming and post.

But there's no way we get S3 in the first half of 2027 (as I've seen a few people suggest), more likely October/November 2027 if they really push hard so they can say "well it didn't take 3 years". My opinion, the gap between S2 and S3 will be as long as the gap between S1/S2 and we don't see S3 until well into 2028.

The simple fact is - they've taken too big a break between the end of S2 and starting the writing and filming of S3. Really filming should have started end of last year/very early this year.

Sigh.

TL;DR - They've taken too long to write/start filming. Even if you take out the delays/shutdowns due to strikes, S2 still took around two years to film and complete post-production. Considering they haven't started filming yet, we won't be seeing S3 until Q4 2027 if we're lucky, even if they manage to trim a few months off filming/post. My bet is the gap will be the same as before and we won't see it until Q2 2028