STV+: Episode 1

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We wish everyone a very happy holiday and a wonderful new year!

Vote for Readers Show of the Year in 2023!

If you haven't already, head over to our mega poll where we find out which show you all consider to be the best this year.  With over 330 to choose from , you can select up to 20 as your choice. Note: The poll will be closed on 31st December at 5am EST.

Hyped Up: Percy Jackson and The Olympians on Disney+

Percy Jackson and The Olympians launched earlier than expected on Disney+ and Hulu with the first couple of episodes released last night.

In this series, Percy Jackson embarks on a journey across America, evading monsters and outsmarting gods, all in an effort to return Zeus' master bolt and prevent an imminent war. Alongside his quest companions Annabeth and Grover, Percy's odyssey brings him closer to the answers he seeks: how to navigate a world where he feels like he doesn't belong and discover his true destiny.

The cast includes Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, and Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood.

Created by Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is executive produced by Steinberg and Dan Shotz, with additional executive producers Rick Riordan, Rebecca Riordan, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein from The Gotham Group, Bert Salke, Jeremy Bell from The Gotham Group, D.J. Goldberg, James Bobin, Jim Rowe, Monica Owusu-Breen, Anders Engström, Jet Wilkinson.

Right from the opening scene, Disney's adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians emphasizes its commitment to accuracy in relation to the books. The combination of captivating visuals and a direct recitation of the first lines from the book by our lead character, portrayed by Walker Scobell, immediately captivates new audiences and reassures long-time fans that this second attempt to bring Rick Riordan's Greek mythology-inspired novels to the screen is something to embrace (unless, of course, you discover you're a demigod – or a Half-Blood, in Percy Jackson terms).

The cinematography, casting choices, and character moments breathe new life into The Lightning Thief in a way never seen before. If the rest of the series can maintain this enchantment, fans of the franchise can rest assured with little cause for concern.

Performer of the Month

The winner for November  with 59% of the votes is Jay Hernandez. Known as Thomas Magnum in Magnum P.I., Hernandez steals the show with his portrayal of a former Navy SEAL turned private investigator. His character tackles daily crime-solving missions in Hawaii, and Hernandez's authentic and precise performance in Magnum P.I. deserves significant praise.

2nd Place: Tom Hiddleston (Loki)
3rd Place: Sophia DiMartino (Loki)

Sullivan's Crossing - Sins of the Father - Review

The first season finale of Sullivan’s Crossing promised to be an emotional one, as Maggie headed to Boston to face her wrongful death trial and Sully was confronted with losing Sullivan’s Crossing. The episode certainly delivered, ending with multiple unexpected cliffhangers.

The storytelling throughout the series has been beautifully done, and the finale was no exception. Roma Roth, show runner, and her crew should be proud of what they have accomplished with Sullivan’s Crossing. They have created a heartwarming, family drama that is so rare on television these days. Every episode took viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, and the final episode took us on that ride multiple times in the span of an hour. So many new revelations were made and a ton of questions were left unanswered, that it will be excruciatingly painful for viewers to wait for season 2 to premiere. Luckily, they have already begun filming for the Canadian Television Network in Nova Scotia.

The episode began with Maggie preparing to head back to Boston for her trial. Maggie visited Jackson before she left and thankfully, he was on the road to healing. She told him and his parents that she was heading back to Boston, and Cal overheard. He was obviously sad about Maggie's departure, but he understands the position she is in and her need to figure out her path in life. Cal and Maggie have one last walk together and he tells her that she is special, which is something she hasn’t heard in a while. Cal and Sully say goodbye to Maggie and promise her that they will be waiting for her, rooting for things to go her way. After everything that has happened during her time at Sullivan’s Crossing and the baby steps that Maggie has made towards repairing things with Sully, it is a much more emotional goodbye this time around.

In Boston, Maggie is shocked to see Andrew at her trial, but he insists that he only came to show his support. Things go from bad to worse at the trial, as Maggie’s case is picked apart by the defence. When the mother on the other side of the lawsuit took the stand, Maggie was stunned as she watched her lawyer attack the woman’s character. Maggie apologized to her and told her lawyer to ask the judge to rule in favour of the defence. Thankfully, the defence had already asked the judge to dismiss the case with prejudice, leading to all charges being dropped. After the trial, Andrew apologized for his actions at Sullivan’s Crossing and told Maggie that he is in therapy and will wait for her, no matter how long it takes but she does not respond. She was also offered her job back at Boston Commonwealth hospital, which she said she had to think about, much to her mother’s disappointment. Maggie has left a huge part of her heart at Sullivan’s Crossing, perhaps she is finally realizing that Boston isn’t where she belongs after all.

Read the full review

Netflix Numbers

Last week, Netflix unveiled its inaugural "engagement report," providing insights into the viewership patterns of movies and series on the streaming platform.

Titled "What We Watched," the report presents viewership data for films and TV shows streamed on the platform from January to June. Netflix has committed to releasing updated versions of this report every six months, as part of a broader initiative to enhance transparency with the media, creators, and viewers. Here is the top 20 directly from the Netflix report:

More to Come

As this is our first mailing, we are committed to more exclusive access and features in the coming months.  This newsletter will evolve as we do!