Abstract: The last decade has seen an explosion of progress in the discovery and characterization of exoplanets, with the limits continuously being pushed to smaller and cooler planets. Despite the smorgasbord of new systems being classified, gas giants in short orbital periods still remain the most promising exoplanets for detailed atmospheric characterization given their large atmospheric scale heights, frequent transits, and extreme properties. Furthermore, these objects provide us with a planetary science laboratory for objects which have no solar system analog. I will discuss some of the exciting work being done to develop a better understanding of these fascinating objects, including our group's state-of-the-art measurements of the velocity dynamics in the upper atmospheres of ultra-hot Jupiters and what the future holds for similar observations using next-generation telescopes.