Entertainment
Disney Quietly Adds A Disney+ Feature Fans Have Wanted For Years
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
On October 30, without much fanfare, Disney finally added “Top 10 Today” to Disney+, letting viewers see the movies and shows currently trending on the streaming service. This has been a staple of Netflix since it was first implemented in 2019, driving users towards the newest and most popular options, but Disney’s version has a catch. The “Top 10 Today” will vary based on the profile’s content rating, whether the subscription is for both Disney+ and Hulu, and, of course, the country.
The Daily Top 10
Ever since Netflix launched the Top 10, it’s been a helpful guide for users looking for the next show or movie to stream, but the Disney+ version lumps all content into one list. Shows and movies won’t be separated, at least not at first, which is why the initial “Top 10 Today” in the United States has Hocus Pocus as number one, followed by Agatha All Along. The surprise entries are number five, which is a Holiday special, The Simpson’s Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and number 6, Venom, which is being re-watched thanks to the recent release of Venom: The Last Dance.
Most surprising is that the smash hit children’s program, Bluey, is not on the list at all. That makes sense, as Disney had to clarify to users that the “Top 10 Today” isn’t a list of the most-viewed programs but rather is built off different factors, from views to trending popularity with a boost for titles new to the platform. By comparison, Netflix’s Top 10 is based solely on views.
The Discoverability Problem
Disney is using the Hulu methodology behind that service’s Top 15 as the base for the new Disney+ feature, further integrating the two. The one difference between the service’s top listings is that Disney+ blocks it from showing up on kid’s profiles, which should stop children from seeing something advertised that parents may not want them to watch. Adults don’t get the same consideration, which means there’s a chance Madame Web shows up in the Top 15.
For users that have Disney+ and Hulu, the new “Top 10 Today” will help unearth some hidden gems, since it’s so easy to forget just how much content is on the service. The Simpsons exist alongside Bob’s Burgers, Reservation Dogs and Pochahontas are both a click away, and that’s before you dive into either the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the award-winning anime series. Discoverability will always be an issue for every streaming service; just look at the hidden treasures buried on Tubi someday, and a top list is an easy solution.
A Small Insight Into Disney+ Popularity
As the weeks go on, it will be interesting to see how the Disney+ “Top 10 Today” starts to shift. Will it remain dominated by Holiday shows and films, or will Bluey and The Simpsons climb to the top? When Thunderbolts is on its way to theaters, will The Falcon and The Winter Soldier suddenly become a popular rewatch?
Disney+ viewer numbers are, as with all streaming services, shrouded in secrecy, forcing everyone to extrapolate information based on tidbits, like the top listings, and whenever a company shares total viewership numbers or watch hours. It’s not perfect, but this is another way to try and get a clear view of what’s popular and what’s not.
Entertainment
Get Ankers 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $60 less at Amazon
SAVE 15%: As of April 22, you can get the Anker Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $339.99, down from $399.99, at Amazon. That’s a 15% discount or $60 savings.
$339.99
at Amazon
$399.99
Save $60
Working off a laptop is great until you realize you only have two ports and need to plug something in. If you’re hooked up to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you’re pretty much out of luck on the rest. Not only that, but your previously uncluttered desk will most likely look like a Best Buy exploded (a rat’s nest of cords isn’t cute or helpful for anyone getting work done).
If you literally hate mess and cords as much as I do, you need a docking station to hide all that chaos and protect your aesthetic. Right now, Anker’s Prime TB5 Docking Station is on sale for $339.99 at Amazon, down from $399.99. (That’s a $60 price cut.)
Mashable Deals
Are you going to use all 14 ports at the exact same time? Probably not, but you’ll never have to dig through your bag for a specific adapter again. You just plug a single cable into your laptop, and the dock handles the rest. It features a Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, two Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports, two USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, SD and TF card readers, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, an audio jack, and your choice of HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.1. It’s also fast enough to transfer a 150GB file in 25 seconds.
Entertainment
How I scored ad-free Paramount+ Premium for only 99 cents
SAVE $26: As of April 22, returning subscribers can score two months of ad-free Paramount+ Premium for only 99 cents per month with the code N8C27L. Usually $13.99 per month, that’s $26 in savings. Just note that your mileage may vary.
$0.99/month for 2 months (save $13/month) with code N8C27L
If you’re looking to save some money on your streaming lineup, my number one recommendation is to cancel your subscriptions. While it doesn’t work for every streamer, many will offer you a special discount to come back. Not to mention, you’ll be eligible for any new deals that may appear that are marketed to “new and returning customers.” Case in point: as of April 22, returning subscribers can get two months of ad-free Paramount+ Premium for just 99 cents per month.
I’ve tested this out myself, so I can vouch for it. When you navigate to Paramount+ and sign in to your existing account, you’ll be prompted to pick a plan. Select the Paramount+ Premium monthly plan for $13.99 per month. On the “Welcome back!” page, scroll down to the box that says “Have a promo code?” and enter N8C27L. Once you hit “apply” the price should drop to just 99 cents per month.
Credit: Paramount+
That’s all, folks. You can take advantage of two full months of ad-free Paramount+, Showtime, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, CBS live TV, UFC fights, and more for less than two bucks. That’s $26 total in savings.
Mashable Deals
Paramount+ has a surprisingly hefty library. Subscribers can enjoy Paramount+ Originals like Landman and RuPaul Drag Race All Stars, Showtime series like Dexter Resurrection and Yellowjackets, CBS hits like Survivor and NCIS, and nostalgic shows from Nickelodeon and MTV. Not to mention, there’s a lineup of movies that’ll keep you fully entertained for your two-month promotional period. Just be sure to cancel again before the second month is over if you want to avoid paying full cost. You can always sign up again when another deal arises. I know I will.
Entertainment
How Stargate SG-1 Used A Classic Trope To Emotionally Wreck Its Fans
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Garfield and Friends said it best: “Oh no, we’ve resorted to an evil twin storyline.” Star Trek: The Original Series did it the best with Mirror Universe Spock, and ever since, it’s been a lazy excuse for every series to use when they run out of ideas. The exception is Stargate SG-1’s sixth episode, “Cold Lazarus,” which plays with the trope by making the twin less evil and more confused.
When fans say they skip this episode when rewatching, it’s not because it’s a lazy, poorly written episode. In fact, it’s the opposite. The ending of “Cold Lazarus” is a pivotal character moment for Jack O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) and a gut punch to the audience.
Stargate SG-1’s First Evil Twin
“Cold Lazarus” opens with the SG-1 team on a planet that doesn’t look like Vancouver (it was a giant pile of sulfur at the port of Vancouver). The desert landscape is dotted with shattered blue crystals that look like the remnants of a civilization until we see a crystal eye-view of O’Neill, a mysterious light knocks him out, and all of a sudden, a second O’Neill is looking down at the first. Turns out, the crystals are the civilization.
Fake O’Neill is trying to figure out who O’Neill is and what SGC is all about. When he pulls out photos of his family, it takes Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) by surprise. O’Neill’s never mentioned his wife, Sara, or his son, Charlie. Confused, the Fake O’Neill goes to the home, where Sara is disgusted he’d come by and thinks it’s a sick joke that he’s asking about Charlie. If you’re wondering if you missed a key part of O’Neill’s backstory, don’t worry, this is the first time that either Sara or Charlie is mentioned, and tragically, we soon learn why.
No One Ever Dies
Charlie shot himself with O’Neill’s gun. Fake O’Neill starts to piece this together when he goes into Charlie’s old room and breaks down, prompting Sara and him to finally have the conversation about their shared grief. Back in SGC, the crystal’s nature is revealed to be an energy alien calling itself Unity, which accidentally killed a Jaffa, and the Goa’uld shattered them in retribution. That’s when O’Neill stumbles back through the Stargate, and the team realizes the mistake they made.
The Fake O’Neill is soon captured at a local hospital, suffering from Earth’s radiation, where he explains that he sensed O’Neill’s pain after he took his form and wanted to help ease the suffering, as nothing ever truly dies to Unity. To prove its point, Unity transforms into Charlie, giving O’Neill and Sara one last chance to see their child. Fans who haven’t lost a child can understand the emotion, but for fans who have, this scene is emotional torture, in the best way possible.
Jack knows this isn’t Charlie, but he talks to him like he is, and then they walk together through the Stargate back to Unity’s planet. It’s a beautiful moment that explains so much about O’Neill’s throwing himself into work and how even his friendships remain professional. “Cold Lazarus” may have started out with the “evil twin” trope in full effect, but the ending is proof that even early during its run, Stargate SG-1 was going to be the greatest.
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