Ratings Report: ‘Euphoria’ Soars, ‘The Broken Marriage Vow’ Off To Impressive Start

Kaci Walfall - Naomi/CW

Broadcast: The CW has premiered its new series Naomi based on the comic book series of the same name. Created by Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship, it follows Naomie McDuffie, a comic book-loving teenager who discovers she has powers. It premiered on January 11, 2022, and sits at the 9:00 PM slot on Tuesdays. Its pilot recorded an audience of 800,000 U.S. viewers but has drastically decreased to 590,000 and 510,000 viewership count on its last two episodes. The decrease in the audience can be attributed to competing with the final season of NBC’s This Is Us. In addition, the series seems to be missing the mark in terms of the story. The titular character’s only redeeming quality is that she has superpowers. Without this, the character’s life can be seen as perfect. There is also some confusion in terms of the overall DC universe as Superman is first referred to as fictional and then switched to be real. Because it focuses on a teenager, Naomi rushed the establishment of the protagonist’s inner circle, making it hard for the audience to follow along. In contrast, 17-year-old actress Kaci Walfall, who portrays McDuffie, grounds the series. Walfall’s skilful balance of charm and curiosity showcases her maturity and comfort in front of the camera. While the series might not be perfect, it does include wonderful details on the protagonist’s journey of learning about her identity. Its clunky writing and below-average CGI is not the defining quality of the series, however; its push for inclusion keeps it fresh and interesting.

Andrés Palacios and Iker García Meza - Amor dividido/TelevisaUnivision

Cable: Mexico’s latest telenovela Amor dividido, premiered on Las Estrellas, one of the cornerstone networks of TelevisaUnivision, on January 17th, 2022. It stars Eva Cedeño, Gabriel Soto, Arturo Peniche, Irina Baeva, and Andrés Palacios. It is produced by Angelli Nesma Medina and is an adaptation of the Colombian telenovela Allá te espero created by Adriana Suárez and Javier Giraldo. It focuses on Abril and Max, portrayed by Cedéno and Soto respectfully, who have nothing in common. Abril prioritizes her family while Max strives for corporate success and gratification. More importantly, it centres on Abril, who loves her hometown contrasted with Max, who’s forgotten his roots. Under some circumstances, they are forced to live in Mexico City and find each other amid recent break-ups. Like any telenovela, there are many twists and shifts before the two main characters meet, however it’s interesting that a big part of the series is Max’s disconnect from his culture after finding comfort in a first-world country. Its viewing numbers have fluctuated over the course of the last 15 episodes. It premiered to 3.1 million viewers from Mexico but has decreased to 2.7 million. Just like Allá te espero, this series addresses the importance of love for the family and encourages effort as a push for success and achievement of dreams. While it may sound cheesy, the theme of recognizing that humans make mistakes but having the flexibility to overcome them and move forward is ubiquitous and powerful. Time will tell if Amor dividido will have the same reach as the show it’s adapted on.

Zendaya Coleman - Euphoria/hbo

Streaming: The highly anticipated second season of Euphoria is here and quickly gaining traction. It is a teen drama television series created and written by Sam Levinson for HBO. Loosely based on the Israeli television miniseries of the same name, it follows a group of high school students and their experiences discovering their identity. After becoming the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Zendaya returns as the star and series’s narrator. It also includes a star-studded ensemble that adds depth to the experiences portrayed in the series. After the first season, it was praised for its story, score, cinematography, and performances. However, Bryn Sandberg of The Hollywood Reporter noted its controversy around teen sex and drugs. Season two is no different. Instead, it feels as though it has been turned up a couple more notches. The mature content is beautifully captured on camera making the audience want to both keep watching and turn away. Once again, Zendaya expertly captures an array of emotions, troubles, and concrete issues. Her expertise shines through as she showcases the mental and emotional journey crafted throughout the season. In all transparency, at times, the viewing experience is uncomfortable, although, that highlights the struggle each character faces with drugs, sexuality, social relationships, and more. With season three just green-lit, Euphoria is here to stay. 

International Series: On January 24, 2022, The Filipino Channel premiered The Broken Marriage Vow which replaced Marry Me, Marry You. It is based on the British drama series Doctor Foster and also premiered on Kapamilya Channel’s Primetime Bida evening block, A2Z, Jeepney TV, TV5. It stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Zanjoe Marudo, Sue Ramirez, and Zaijian Jaranilla. It follows a family that is shattered by broken trust and infidelity. Dr. Jill Illustre, portrayed by Maria, begins to unravel when she discovers her husband has a mistress who is connected to a development project led by him. In the town of Baguio, a northern island of the Philippines, everyone knows everyone else and there are no secrets. The series centers on Maria’s character as a chain of events that impact the lives of the couple, their son, and their community of friends and colleagues. It opened to 6.5% AGB Nielson Ratings (NUTAM People) but has increased to 7.9% with its peak being 8.6% for its February 2nd episode. While it’s still early, it is shaping up to be a hit based on early reviews from many people who attended the pilot’s virtual screening on KTX.PH. There has been praise for Maria and Marudo’s performances, the camera work, and the taste of Filipino culture. This show is surely looking like something Filipino’s will be proud of. With its inclusion of Filipino outfits and cultural dishes, it’s something to be on the lookout for.