It is definitely safe to say that the animated series, Bluey, has become part of our everyday lives. For if you have kids, you’re watching it with them on a consistent basis, or you’re watching it on your own at the recommendation of others and well… Bluey and her family have found their way into our lives and our hearts, simply because the show is just that good. For it features something for everyone and offers a lot of life lessons for kids and parents and stimulates healthy conversations about life and family and everything in between. Also, it is downright funny. To the point where no one can keep a straight face when Rita has slipped on her beans, or when Muffin delves into chaos.
 
If anything, Bluey is becoming routine and we celebrate it often, to the point where marathons of the show are becoming traditions for holiday weekends, such as this one. For Disney Junior will once again be hosting its annual ‘Red, White, and Bluey’ Marathon from July 1-4 and well… what better way to settle in for the long holiday weekend with the family, than by watching a wholesome show that everyone loves and well, here are the details on this weekend’s marathon, along with a lovely surprise announcement regarding new episodes, courtesy of Disney and Disney Junior.
 
In honor of the July 4th holiday, Disney Junior is hosting its annual "Red, White and Bluey" celebration with fan-favorite episodes of the hit show "Bluey.” The marathon will also include fun Bluey-inspired games between episodes.
 
Beginning this weekend, July 1-2 and continuing through Tuesday, July 4, select episodes of "Bluey" will air beginning at 6:25 AM EST/PST on the weekends and 6:00 AM EST/PST on Tuesday throughout each day. Parents, kids, and families can catch Chilli, Bandit, Bingo, and Bluey in episodes such as "Keepy Uppy," "The Sleepover," "Hide and Seek," "Neighbours," as well as more throughout the holiday weekend.

And the fun doesn’t stop there! Beginning Wednesday, July 12, ten all-new episodes will launch on Disney+. These new episodes include cameos from well-known “Bluey” fans including Lin-Manuel Miranda, who appears as a talking horse in the episode “Stories,” and Rose Byrne, who plays Chilli’s sister Brandy in “Onesies.”’

ABOUT BLUEY:
 
Created and written by Joe Brumm and produced by the multiple Emmy® Award-winning Ludo Studio for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and BBC Studios Kids & Family, Bluey follows the adventures of a lovable and inexhaustible Blue Heeler puppy who lives with her Dad, Mum and little sister, Bingo. It showcases the joyful simplicity that can be found in families, by bringing to life how children learn and grow through play.
 
Bluey is produced by Emmy® Award-winning Ludo Studio for ABC KIDS (Australia) and co-commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios Kids & Family. Financed in association with Screen Australia, Bluey is proudly 100% created, written, animated, and post produced in Brisbane Queensland, Australia, with funding from the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland and the Australian Government.
 
Seasons 1-3 of “Bluey” are streaming now on Disney+, and available on Disney Channel and Disney Junior, with more episodes from season three still to come.'

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘Silo’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article contains discussions regarding suicide, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about why it is so important to search for the truth, courtesy of the Apple TV+ series, Silo. For this brilliant and engaging dystopia story, one set below the Earth where the last vestiges of mankind fight to survive beneath the repression of an authoritarian regime… has made it clear that living without the truth, is no way to live. That we need the truth and freedoms to grow and show off our beauty and that if by chance… a hidden truth is keeping us from doing that, we should fight with every fiber of our being to grab hold of it and expose it to everyone and anyone, so it spreads far and wide and brings a regime to its knees, and frees us. 
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But what the show hasn’t covered yet, is the sheer fact that there is some inherent risk in exposing the truth. Not the kind that we’ve seen Bernard and his lackeys exhibit, that’s the stuff we know, since those in charge rarely like being challenged or having the truth exposed. No instead, the show has yet to explore, the real emotional toll that comes forth from exposing the truth. Because the quest to find it can break a person down and having it in hand, can also be a difficult and painful experience. Because just like that… you have it, in the raw and in all of its blunt and powerful glory, and when it is a truth we are not prepared for… that can shake us to our core and leave us wondering if it was worth the search and well... it turned out… the show was saving that exploration for the season one finale. 

For the risk and the pain that accompanies uncovering the truth was put on full display in ‘Outside’, but only after Juliette Nichols, made life living hell for Bernard and Sims. Because she wanted to do what anyone would do that searches for the truth. Show it to everyone after it is uncovered and let it do its thing. Which was why she worked to have the video of the outside world displayed across every screen in the Silo. To start the conversation, to start the fight for freedom and create a shift in power. But alas, Bernard was too quick and put a stop to this, but not before Juliette gave him and his lackeys quite the scare. But his ability to shut her down, did lead to one final and desperate attempt to escape capture on Juliette’s part. One that failed when she finally made her way to Mechanical, and well… in order to make this mess as amicable as possible for both sides, so peace could return to the Silo, a deal was struck. The truth about George in exchange for submission and a cleaning and that deal broke Juliette’s heart.

Since she came to learn that George did everything, he could, to avoid capture and to avoid spilling the beans about the truth, going so far as to jump from above to ensure that the right person would lead the revolt and expose the realities about the world to everyone. Which Juliette was still hoping to somehow do, despite the fact that her day had come to clean. For that meant she would drop dead just as Holston and Allison did. Which meant that perhaps… all she could hope for… was to be defiant and inspire through that, and she did indeed stand tall and refuse to clean. And she opted to honor Holston and give him back his badge as a final act before dying and that… and an assist from Martha, changed everything. For her old friend stepped in before the big moment and made sure that the airtight suit wasn’t so airtight, informing us that something was mixed into the oxygen… to keep the truth from being displayed from those outside. A harsh truth in fact.
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In that, there wasn’t sunshine and rainbows outside, that was a mere virtual reality experience designed to offer a pleasant view before that toxic oxygen did the cleaner in. No instead, what we learned is that the world was indeed devastated above, in fact, it appeared that a nuclear winter had settled in, making it seem as though Bernard was right and that his push to preserve life wasn’t done in malice, just through dubious decisions. But the reveal that there were multiple Silos near Juliette, just on the outskirts of a devastated city… meant that there was a chance that humanity wasn’t down to just 10,000 strong. There were likely others out there and more secrets about mankind’s past to uncover. But alas, the price paid for this truth was high. After all, Juliette no longer has a home to return to and is facing an uncertain future and unrest is indeed brewing back home, the kind that will divide these people, and draw blood.

But… she knows. She knows that Bernard is indeed manipulating people and keeping great secrets and that George gave everything for her to become a hero and well… that made for quite the powerful story. One that showed the glory and the horror of the truth and surprised us every step of the way. Since we didn’t see so many twists and turns coming and that ending is something else. Since it leaves us mad with desire to know the rest of the truth about this devastated world and the good news is… all we must do now is wait patiently to get those answers. For Silo has been renewed for a second season by Apple TV+, and it will be fascinating to see where this story takes us in year two. But while we wait, we can celebrate one incredible first season and one stunning finale. One that drew us into an incredible world born from our worst nightmares, since none of us would ever want to be in a world this bland and we are all now pulling, for the right kind of revolution to take place. To free these people from the horrors of the Silo and whatever brought the world to its knees. Until next season.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular question that we’ve all pondered upon or asked someone during our travels through the world… is what we would do if we could go back in time… and strike at one of history’s greatest monsters. Because each and every one of us is aware of the lasting impact and legacy of men like Hitler or Stalin, and our imaginations cannot help but wonder what the world would have become… if those monsters didn’t rise to power and kill millions without giving it a second thought. So that question allows for us to play ‘What if?’ and explore how far we would go to change the course of history for the better and think of a world without monsters, and really… that’s about as much merit as we give that discussion. For it is seen as nothing more than a fun little mental exercise.
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But… in reality… it is a question that deserves more gravity than we technically give it. Because that is a loaded question to say the least. For so much more would change in the world if by chance Hitler was taken out before he could ever rise to power. To the point where everything could change for the worse for reasons that we don’t honestly think about when it comes to that discussion. But that is of course, why fiction exists, to ponder upon such matters and teach us fine lessons we miss when we have that little chat with our friends on a casual evening, and it just so happens that this particular question is top of mind today… simply because it, and its potential consequences, served as the focus of this week’s episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+.

A feat that ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ accomplished by putting Lieutenant La’an Noonien-Singh in quite the unique situation. Wherein she found herself recruited by Starfleet’s Temporal Investigations Division to solve quite the problem. In that, someone was trying to alter the past in the 21st Century, and were they to be successful, everything would have changed. There would be no Starfleet, no Federation. Just a group of humans desperate to survive and a ship named Enterprise, that operated without nobility, complete with a surly and jaded Captain James T. Kirk at the helm and well… with Jim’s inadvertent help, La’an was swing by the 21st century (with Kirk) and uncover quite the dastardly plot. In that, Romulan agents were the ones toying with the timeline in the hopes of becoming the dominant species in the galaxy over the Federation and La’an’s quest to stop this… led to some powerful moments.

The kind that explored… what makes La’an and James T. Kirk, tick. Since we’ve not really spent quiet time with either of these characters, not like this anyways. For they had to work together without any hope of help, and they of course… had to survive and that let us see a slightly different angle of Jim Kirk’s rambunctious and looser side and it really informed us of the kind of wonderful person that La’an truly is. And how much the Federation means to her, and how resourceful she can be when pressed up against an impossible situation, as evidenced by how she found Pelia in this era of time and how she used Pelia’s limited knowledge in this century to her advantage. Since a vintage watch from the 1980s led this duo to the endgame in question, wherein they came to learn exactly what the Romulan Star Empire wanted to change at this particular point in the timeline.

In that, they deduced that the death of Khan Noonien Singh, just a boy at this point in time, would prevent the formation of the United Federation of Planets. For without his cruelty, there would be no Eugenics Wars, and without that conflict, humanity wouldn’t wage World War III, and without that conflict, Zefram Cochrane would never build the first warp capable ship, the Phoenix, and never meet the Vulcans with an assist from the crew of the Enterprise-E. Which meant… La’an had to make a powerful choice. Let Khan die and delay major suffering… or let history take its course and let humanity find its way to peace and prosperity, and she chose the latter. Not out of cruelty or some sense of sadism, but because… the real answer to that question… is to do nothing. For history cannot be fixed. Because without those moments of darkness, nothing is learned or gained, nor is there any unity forged or value placed upon what is lost and we simply don’t grow.

Which means that instead, we should focus on rising from the suffering, rising from the darkness, and coming together to work as one. And that was… a powerful message to gleam from a powerful episode of this show. One that also forced La’an to finally deal with her heritage and featured some wondrous moments for Paul Wesley to shine as Jim Kirk, including THAT powerful moment near the end. Speaking of acting, Christina Chong (La’an) truly led the way in this episode and moved us deeply from beginning to end and well, this really was quite the engaging watch. In part because it offered a little wibbly-wobbly* time travel for us to enjoy, and that’s always fun… but also because it really did provide the viewers with a thoughtful and challenging story. One that put a deep spin on that age-old question so that we can worry less about yesterday, and more about tomorrow. Until next time.

*A common phrase our ‘SNW’ beat writer, Shae, has used and will use again when she returns from her well-deserved shore leave.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode two of ‘Secret Invasion’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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One particular lesson that our parents teach us in our youth, is that it is critical that we follow up on our promises. In large part because our parents want us to be respected and trusted, and showing others that our word is our bond, is an easy to make that happen. Since people know that a person who backs up their word will always follow through. But this is a lesson… that carries with it a deeper meaning as well, one that we don’t discuss when teaching it to others and maybe we should. Since it would add more gravity to this lesson and perhaps keep people from going back on their word, all because… there are consequences when that happens. The kind that we tend to learn the hard way as we grow into adulthood. 
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Because despite being told how important it is to keep our word, we will forget to do so along the way or choose not to do so for various reasons, and there is backlash when that happens. The kind that can cost us a friend or get us into a fight with someone that matters and that alone… is enough to teach us to stick to our promises. But for some… they learn that lesson in a far harder manner, since sometimes, going back on our word can in fact… devastate a life and create enemies, and if we knew the potential fallout of not following through on a promise… a lot of heartache could be avoided, or the lesson could be learned in a far less painful manner. But alas, the opposite is just how the world works at the moment and really, this lesson is top of mind today, simply because Nick Fury’s journey offered up the worst-case scenario regarding it in the next episode of Secret Invasion on Disney+.

For ‘Promises’ is a story that encompassed decades in the MCU. Wherein we were able to see the moment when Nick Fury promised the emotionally devastated Skrulls, a world. One that would let them flourish and rebuild their lives… and well… we know how that ended and the fallout from that attack… truly transformed Nick’s world and life. Since he didn’t know where he went wrong or when he lost his way, and it wasn’t long before he found himself without much in this life outside of the wife, we never knew he had… who happened to be a Skrull no less… and the shame of failure. Something he wasn’t used to but brought upon himself. For he never found that world and never went the extra mile as promised and the hope he robbed from others… really did create some terrifying fallout, the kind that was explored further here in a terrifying manner.

Because while Nick tried to sort out his own life, while dodging the ire of Talos and Rhodey, Gravik was making plans for world domination. Because he saw the success of the attack as the chance to rally Skrull around the globe to rise up and take Planet Earth from a species that didn’t appreciate it or one another, and what was terrifying… was how many powerful Skrull were willing to listen. For they truly were tired, and ready to settle somewhere comfortable and in a stunning set of moves… Gravik was able to inspire the vast majority of them to stand with him as their one and only General, and wage a grand war to end all wars… for humanity at least… and while there are still some holding out hope for peace, there isn’t much time left on the clock to make that happen. 

Which means, it will take some incredible work to save the planet from this secret invasion. But while we wait to see how that plays out, we can celebrate one unique tale. One that really did explore how a common occurrence in everyday life can be applied to something epic, and what that fallout would look like and well… it certainly wasn’t good. Not to mention, in many ways, this series appears to be setting the stage for Nick Fury’s finest hour or biggest blunder. Hopefully the former and that too, is unique. Since Fury has always been viewed as a true champion for good. But here, he’s a flawed man, who does believe in good but struggles with the follow through now and again and thinks ideology will win, and clearly… more is needed. And truly, it will be interesting to see what comes next in this story, now that Nick Fury is at his lowest and his enemies… are on the rise. Until next time.

It is definitely safe to say that the STARZ Original Series, Heels, is nothing short of a storytelling masterpiece. For not only does this show respect wrestling and present in a realistic light, but it also offers up one incredible tale. One that features characters we deeply care about, courtesy of their depth and relatability and this is a series that ponders upon some powerful concepts. Such as the power of our dreams, what it really means to chase them and the sacrifices that come with that and of course… it chronicles the ups and downs of life and the struggles we face as we chase our dreams and the brilliance of those elements and the cast’s work in bringing these characters to life, made it easy for STARZ to renew this series for a second season, one that we inching closer and closer to.

For July 28th, 2023, will see season two of this incredible series debut on STARZ, and well… with the countdown on… STARZ felt now was the perfect time to provide everyone with a sampling of what we can expect from year two of this series. Courtesy of a trailer for season two, some key art and some updated details on the new season ahead. And since you’re here because you’re a giant Heels fan, just as we are… here is that trailer, that art, and those details for you to enjoy, as we continue to countdown the seconds to the return of the Duffy Wrestling League and all the lessons it has to offer.  
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'STARZ released today the trailer and key art for season two of the critically-acclaimed drama "Heels," which returns to the ring for season two on Friday, July 28 at midnight (ET) on the STARZ app. Starring Stephen Amell (“Arrow”) and Alexander Ludwig(“Vikings”), the small-town sports drama series based on a wrestling league in rural Georgia will also debut via linear tv on STARZ at 10:00 PM ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, July 28, 2023.
 
"Heels" is aptly named after the wrestling term for a villain or antagonist. Most stories center around heroes vs. villains, but in wrestling, it’s faces vs. heels. Season two brings fans back to the family-owned wrestling organization, Duffy Wrestling League (DWL), where brothers and rivals, Jack (Amell) and Ace Spade (Ludwig), continue to fightover their late father’s legacy and their individual versions of success, while also working to find their own identity as a “face” or a “heel.” The show invokes feelings of nostalgia akin to  “Friday Night Lights,” while covering topics like the effects of trauma on communities, finding personal identity, and women taking the lead in every facet. It is centered around a small-town community where everyone knows each other and everyone in town follows the saga of the Heels and Faces in the DWL.    
 
Season two also stars Alison Luff (“New Amsterdam”) as Staci Spade, Mary McCormack (“Deep Impact,” “The L Word”) as Willie Day, Kelli Berglund (“The Goldbergs,” “The Animal Kingdom”) as Crystal Tyler, Allen Maldonado (House Party, “The Wonder Years,” “The Last O.G.”) as Rooster Robbins, Chris Bauer (“Gaslit,” “Survivor’s Remorse,” “True Blood”) as Wild Bill Hancock, Trey Tucker (“The Outpost”) as Bobby Pin, Robby Ramos (“Chicago P.D.”) as Diego Cottonmouth,Alice Barrett Mitchell (“The Thing About Pam,” “Billions”) as Carol Spade, Roxton Garcia(“Reminensce”) as Thomas Spade, David James Elliott (Trumbo, “JAG”) as Tom Spade, Joel Murray(“Mad Men,” “Shameless”) as Eddie Earl, CM Punk(“Mayans,” “AEW Dynamite”) as Ricky Rabies, AJ Mendez (“Women of Wrestling,” “WWE”) as Elle Dorado, Josh Segarra (Scream VI, “Arrow,” “The Other Two”) as Brooks Rizzo, and Emmy Raver-Lampman as Jen Lussier.
 
“Heels” showrunner and executive producer Mike O’Malley (“Survivor’s Remorse,” “Shameless”) also portrays Charlie Gully on the series. Michael Waldron (“Loki,” Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, “Rick and Morty”) is the show creator.Christopher Donnelly (By Sidney Lumet), Pete Segal (Get Smart, 50 First Dates, Tommy Boy,“Shameless”), Patrick Walmsley (JT LeRoy), and Julie Yorn (Hell or High Water, White Boy Rick) also serve as executive producers on the series. “Heels" is produced through O'Malley Ink and LBI Entertainment in association with Lionsgate Television for STARZ. 

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About “Heels” Season Two
“Heels” is a drama that follows Jack (Stephen Amell) and Ace Spade (Alexander Ludwig), two brothers and rivals who war over their late father's wrestling promotion, vying for national attention in small-town Georgia. In the ring, one is a villain, or "heel,"; the other a hero, or "face.” Season two begins after a spectacular showing at the South Georgia State Fair, the Duffy Wrestling League’s popularity is suddenly on the upswing. Hoping to seize the opportunity, Jack and his cohorts prepare for a possible business deal with a new streaming service that may propel them onto a national stage. But the past and its tragedies threaten to upset everything when Ace leaves Duffy and the Dome in his rearview, and rival promotion Florida Wrestling Dystopia’s vengeful frontman Gully comes calling.”
 
About STARZ 
STARZ (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company, is a leading global media streaming platform committed to delivering premium content that amplifies narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences. STARZ is home to the highly rated and first-of-its-kind STARZ app that offers the ability to stream or download STARZ premium content, as well as the flagship domestic STARZ® service, including STARZ ENCORE, 17 premium pay TV channels, and the associated on-demand and online services. In 2018, STARZ launched its international premium streaming platform STARZPLAY, now LIONSGATE+, to provide subscribers access to bold, curated storytelling. LIONSGATE+, coupled with the STARZPLAY ARABIA joint venture in MENA and Lionsgate Play in South and Southeast Asia, has a footprint that extends across the globe. STARZ and LIONSGATE+ are available across digital OTT platforms and multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies around the world. In February 2021, STARZ launched #TakeTheLead, a multi-faceted and innovative inclusion initiative expanding its existing efforts to improve representation on screen, behind the camera and throughout the company. 
 
About Lionsgate 
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company's film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by an 18,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.'

Please enjoy this sneak peak of Episode 206 of ‘Run the World’.  Which arrives tomorrow, 6/30/23 on STARZ!

​Please enjoy this sneak peek of the Season One Finale of Silo, which debuts on Apple TV+ tomorrow, (6/30/23).

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Hijack’.
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One particular mental game that we all play often in our lives, is ‘What if?’ and we play that game for a bevy of unique reasons. For instance, sometimes we play it, to help us ponder upon what our next moves should be when we’re making some big life changes. Since that can help us visualize and focus. Sometimes… we play the game out of fear and let our imagination look at all the negative possibilities that could occur from a scary or tough decision. And sometimes… we just play it for the sake of boredom. Which is where we ponder upon wild scenarios and ones, we think we will never encounter in this life, simply because our imagination just wanders.
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But now and again, we play the game so hard and so well… that certain scenarios that play over in our minds that stick with us. Because we simply cannot stop pondering upon what could happen if we ran into it and sometimes… those thoughts find their way into fiction. Wherein creatives minds can explore that question in relative safety, since the scenario that haunts them, haunts us and it just so happens… that Apple TV+ is now host to a new series that ponders deeply upon a ‘What if?’ scenario we’ve all thought about now and again. Specifically, how would we respond if we were on an airplane that was actively being hijacked? Because we would be presented with all kinds of choices, and well… what Hijack explores regarding those questions makes its series premiere, quite the intense and powerful watch.

Courtesy of how ‘Final Call’ and ‘3 Degrees’ play out. For these are a pair of episodes that take place in real-time, as will the rest of the series. Wherein we are introduced to the passengers and crew of Kingdom Airlines Flight 29. A plane that is bound from Dubai to Heathrow Airport in London and well… while the plane is midair, an unfortunate discovery, forces a group of unsavory characters to bring that worst-case scenario to life and seize the plane. Which brings about fear and powerful tension inside the plane since no one knows what their fate is going to be and that quickly informs us… that the vast majority of people that think about this scenario… would be compliant. Because after all, their lives are in the hijackers’ hands and there is no shame in standing down, especially since history has proven that compliance saves lives in situations such as these.

But of course, with these opening chapters being a game of ‘What if?’ it is only right for the story to ponder upon… what would happen to those that opt to be the hero and fight back and try to reclaim the plane and well… that too reflects history in this tale since a pair of gents quickly learn quickly that those with guns have far greater power aboard an aircraft and such an act of rebellion would end as quickly as it did here. And of course, to add more intrigue to the story… it also ponders upon, what might happen if someone was one step ahead of the bad guys. Since Sam Nelson, our lead character and something of an everyman on this plane… is able to observe and understand his captors quickly and works to outmaneuver them to send signals to the ground when this group of hijackers makes it clear they want this to happen in secret.
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Which is where the story grows into so much more than a fun and uncomfortable exercise in the game of ‘What if?’ Since there are clearly deep motives in play regarding this hijacking. For the bad guys are well armed and also know the crew well, and on the ground… suspicious things are starting to come together regarding how these individuals made it on the plane so easily and with weapons no less. All of which sets the stage for five incredible episodes to come. The kind that will undoubtedly reveal all to us and ramp up the tension and that makes this series premiere, brilliant in every sense of the word. For it provides us with an original plot, and refreshing scenarios regarding stories in this vein and it feels shockingly realistic at times and that definitely helps the viewer to immerse themselves within this story and invest in the everyday folks aboard KA29. 

Not to mention, it doesn’t hurt that we are treated to quality performances from top to bottom, since those sell the fear aboard the plane and add to the tension and realism and of course… we’d be foolish to not point out that Idris Elba is the real draw here acting wise. Since he sells deception well in this tale, at a level where we don’t know if we can trust him as a hero or not, at least not until the very end of episode two. But above all, what truly makes this premiere so impressive and resoundingly brilliant, is the sheer fact that it leaves you desperate for more. Because we have to know what these villains want, and what exactly is going on, on the ground, to inspire murder and secrecy and above all… we have to know how this ends and not being able to know right away… is genuinely frustrating and it means, we will be counting down the minutes to next Wednesday to enjoy another chapter in this magnificent new show… one that is going to take us on an incredible ride. Until next time.

For nearly fifty years, the action-adventure/thriller/summer epic, has dominated the box office and rightfully so. For these are event motion pictures, the kind that take us on an emotional rollercoaster for a couple of hours before returning us to our everyday lives and truly… the theater has been the perfect place to enjoy these spectacles. Since they harbor all of the state-of-the-art gear to provide that perfect immersive experience courtesy of surround sound and crystal-clear picture, and truly… these types of films and that type of experience are here to stay since blockbuster movies in that vein still make amazing amounts of money and people still buzz about them the instant they’re announced. 
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But what’s truly fascinating about this particular type of story, is that it has been around long enough… that it is beginning to evolve. For there are creative minds curious if this type of story can do more, can be more and take us on a different kind of immersive experience and it just so happens… that the first step in the evolution of the action thriller is about to take place, on Apple TV+ no less. For tomorrow will see the debut of Hijack, a story about an airplane hijacking, that will play out in real time over seven episodes, and that concept alone… makes this quite the important project. Because it really is a full-on expansion of what this type of story accomplishes. For instead of a two-hour, high-octane ride, we are going to be privy to nearly a full day’s worth of action and intensity and a situation that we all deeply fear.

However, while those elements alone would be enough to carry this new type of epic through and through, there are plenty more special elements present in this story, as this reporter learned at a recent press conference with members of the cast and its creative braintrust, and through an advance look at the series. Such as the fact that this is a supremely cinematic story in nature, one that the creators worked hard to put together in realistic manner. Something they achieved by building a full-on plane on a sound stage so that they could properly capture the claustrophobic nature of this type of disaster and offer up an intimate look into the moment as well. In fact, even the action sequences were crafted with that thought in mind, so that more realism would be achieved and so this series can take us on a visceral and powerful experience, and it really does achieve that through its setting and its technical prowess and more. 

For clever writing comes into play often in this series, the kind that takes us on a powerful journey. One that is slow burning in nature, so the intensity properly ramps up to a crescendo. And taking time with the story allows for everything here to feel organic and plausible and that draws us into the story and allows for us to get to know the people we’re spending time with on this plane and attach to them and really, it is the intimacy that makes this story so special. Because you become deeply invested in this story, and its characters and you simply want to know more about why this is happening, and how it will be resolved. Which also allows for some real-time surprises to come into play. The kind that only enhance this already amazing experience further and the wonder of this show doesn’t end there.

Because it also features, some magnificent acting. Which adds depth to the tension, and it also doesn’t hurt, that Idris Elba is the lead. Since he brings the gravitas that he is known for to this role and that too, only adds to the evolution of this type of story. Because it allows for an A-List name, a staple of the thriller epic, to do more within this genre, adding new depth to this genre, courtesy of a series that is revolutionary in nature. Because we’ve never seen a thriller such as this one and truly, all of these elements… and the passion that went into creating them… has given life to something original and impressive and this is a series that will likely light a spark and lead to more action epics and thrillers on the small screen. Where the audience can enjoy it at their own pace, and their own leisure and the best news of all… if that you don’t have to wait that much longer to see what the evolution of the blockbuster is going to look like. For the first two episodes of Hijack take flight on Apple TV+, tomorrow, 6/28/23.

Idris Elba (“Sam Nelson” and Executive Producer) and Jim Field Smith (Co-Creator and Director) Regarding How the Setting Enhances the Storytelling
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Idris Elba: “But actually, you know, I think the- the fact that we didn’t break the plane apart and make… you know, this is a real plane, just in a studio, and the- the- the confinement of that just really applied to the drama. Even for the crew, you know, figuring out how we’re going to do this top shot without being able to take the roof off was about trying to figure out how to do that. And, you know, it all sort of led into the claustrophobia of it, so the crew, the actors, you know, everyone was sort of tight, and we’re… it was almost like watching a documentary being made while being in the documentary, you know.”
 
Jim Field Smith: “It meant we could keep going more, you know, it meant that we could stay in the moment and let the scene play out more, which, you know, when you’re dealing with a hijacking it’s about people reacting and trying to figure out live, you know, how to get through the next second, how to get through the next minutes. And so, we were able to bring some of that into the actual making of it, you know, we used a lot of unbroken shots, we moved often with Sam’s character… with Idris’ character, Sam, we’re moving with him through the plane. So, we did a lot of that for real, you know. And there was a lot of like, you know, literally people having to hand the camera to each other and stuff like that. But, again, that was, as Idris says, that was all about wanting to feel engaged in the drama of it and not feel like it was artifice or that it was… we were sort of sitting aback and watching it from afar, I wanted it to feel like
you’re in that hijack.”
 
George Kay (Co-Creator and Writer) Regarding the Show’s Realistic Inspiration

“I was on a train, actually - I was on the Eurostar, I was doing a lot of work in France – and we were in the Eurostar tunnel and the train stops quite abruptly. And even though I knew everything was alright, it flashed through my mind, what if there’s something going on, on this train? What if it’s happening up the carriages? And I looked around me at the people, the kind of businessman eating his lunch, and the squabbling family, and I thought like, how would we cope as a group of people if this was a serious incident? Would the tough looking guy really be tough, would the kind of the weedy guy really rise up and actually cover himself in glory and manage to stand up to people. Who are these people really when you look past them as- as- as… you get past your prejudice of those people and how they look. And it kind of put me in mind of blitz spirit and like when the chips are down, how does the British or an international community cope when suddenly thrust into kind of extremes. Then the thought of a plane was much more of a visual, you know, we could really open it up…”
 
Actors Archie Panjabi and Max Beesley (“Zahar Gafoor” and “DI Daniel O’Farrel”) Regarding What Attracted Them to the Series
 
Archie Panjabi: “Well, when I first read it, I think I was sent three and I couldn’t put it down. And then, by the end of the third one, I wanted to know if my character had [LAUGHS] successfully saved the passengers, so I phoned up my agent and said, “I need to read four to seven”, and she said [LAUGHS] so selfish of me. But she said, “do you not want to do it?”, I said “no, I’d love to do it. I just need to know what happens to the passengers” And that’s when I thought this is a brilliant script, it’s really thrilling, it’s going to have audiences at the edge of their seat, so. And Idris was in it, of course, and Max and Jim [LAUGHS].”
 
Max Beesley: “Well, I… Interestingly enough, Idris is very kind enough to suggest me for the role to the producers, which was lovely, and then- and then when I got the scripts, the first thing I always look at is who’s written it, because I write myself and I love… I like good writing. And I saw it was George, and then Jim as a director, and I’d seen Criminal, and what I loved about that show was it was compelling. It was in such small, confined spaces yet there was so much going on within the stillness, if that makes sense, and I thought it was really clever television that they’d both created. And so, immediately, I was like great, let’s go. And also, I wanted to work with Idris. I didn’t realise that he’d be thirty thousand feet up in the air and I’d be running around the ground trying to find out what was going on, you know, but…”

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Finale of ‘Happy Valley’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article also contains discussions regarding suicide, which made be triggering to some individuals.
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If there is one word that one can associate with the final season of Happy Valley on AMC Networks, it would have to be… unconventional. For there have been no bombastic moments or grand speeches regarding the final showdown to come between Sergeant Catherine Cawood and her nemesis, Tommy Lee Royce. Nor has there been a bloodbath of main characters dying at his hands. There have only been intimate moments with a few dashes of incredible surprises in this farewell journey, and that has made for an engaging and refreshing final season of the show. Because we simply don’t know what to expect and well, the surprising nature of this goodbye journey is top of mind today… because the show’s series finale, leaned hard into the unconventional. 
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For the finale was a story… that featured unique paths to bringing bad guys to justice. For instance, the men that freed Tommy, and their boss… were brought to justice through conventional police-work. Not to mention, Rob’s story ended with his own dirty and underhanded acts coming back to bite him and Faisal finally faced the music for all of his own transgressions, through carelessness. Since there was finally something to tie him to his distribution of drugs and eventually the murder of Joanna and that was just so smooth and so prompt, that it defied convention. For normally… we get a big build up to such arrests and endings. But here… it just another day at the office for the now retiring Sergeant Cawood. 

Not to mention, all the family drama was handled in a stunning manner as well. For what Ryan did, would lead to ultimatums and big speeches and heartbreak in some form or fashion following the wrong choice, in other stories in this vein. But Ryan… did all of this to understand for himself what his father was all about, because he needed that closure and that allowed for him, to make a tough call in this story and feed all the information he had to the police because he came to understand the danger his dad presented, and he also… opened up to his grandma about his decisions and how hard this was upon him. And that brought about… a different kind of heartbreak. One grounded in gratitude and frustration since Catherine came to realize… how well she and Clare had raised Ryan, and what a man he was becoming. Not to mention, she realized… that the fighting was worthless, as was the fury over a decision that Ryan was going to make regardless. Because they were family and they only had each other, and that needed to be cherished for certain. 

Speaking of Tommy Lee Royce, even the resolution involving him was unconventional in nature. Since Tommy came to learn how little he mattered in this world now, when allies turned upon him when those good ol’ boys were arrested, and that left him wounded and broken and without a place to stay. Which brought him to the Cawood estate, wherein he learned about the life Ryan led and that broke him emotionally as well. To the point where he was slightly penitent and that brought forth… a different kind of final showdown between he and Catherine. Since she eventually came to learn he was in her home and well, once they were face to face… Tommy did his best to offer sorrow and remorse and even absolution and Catherine was finally able to speak her mind and say all the things she needed to say regarding the impact he had upon her life. Making for one unique final showdown, one grounded in humanity and emotion and one free of traditional tropes.

If anything, the only familiar aspect of this showdown came about via the fact that the heavy died. But not through traditional means. Since Tommy took his own life in a horrific manner, and well… his end closed a long and painful chapter for Catherine and allowed for her to finally move on. All of which made, for a perfect ending to a perfect series. For it brought everything to a wonderful and logical and refreshing close, and it allowed for everyone to experience a journey of growth and what’s amazing… is that it still left us hungry for more. In part because this finale was so good and so engaging that this writer, and others, undoubtedly, didn’t want it to end. But also, because, we want to see Catherine and her family enjoy peace at last, without the cloud of Tommy Lee Royce hanging over them. But perhaps that is the brilliance of this ending. In that, it tasks us to dream of that continuation, for this was the only chapter of their lives we were privy to, and what a powerful and moving chapter that turned out to be.