JP Mangalindan’s work spans more than two decades of TV, film, technology, and business journalism. His reporting blends cultural analysis with a signature hybrid approach—part critic, part reporter—examining how character, story, and industry intersect. In recent years, his features and finale explainers for TIME and ELLE have become known for their emotional clarity, narrative insight, and finely tuned editorial voice.

Alongside his entertainment coverage, JP has written widely on influencer marketing, startup culture, and the pressures of the digital economy, including explorations of parenting and work during the pandemic.

He also writes Scene and Unheard, his Substack dedicated to TV and film, where he publishes essays, industry dispatches, and recurring columns that trace what we watch, what we overlook, and the stories that stay with us.

First Look: Smoke Goes Inside the Mind of a Real-Life Serial Arsonist

An exclusive look at the Apple TV limited series from creator Dennis Lehane, starring Taron Egerton. Smoke draws from the real case of serial arsonist John Leonard Orr, a story previously explored in the 2021 podcast Firebug.

The True Story Behind Chief of War, Jason Momoa’s Hawaiian History Epic

An exclusive, in-depth look at Apple TV’s sweeping nine-episode retelling of Hawaii’s unification, co-created, co-produced, and led by Jason Momoa. Momoa reflected on how the deeply personal project required patience, persistence, and a long view of storytelling.

Breaking Down the Devastating Ending of All Her Fault

Star Sarah Snook, creator Megan Gallagher, and executive producer Nigel Marchant break down the twist-filled finale of Peacock’s popular limited series. Across eight episodes, All Her Fault examines how love can blur into possession—and how far a parent will go to protect their child.

Sydney Chandler on Wendy’s Dangerous Epiphany in Alien: Earth’s Season 1 Finale

When Alien: Earth began, it appeared to be a straightforward survival story—humans fighting monsters through dim corridors, tangled jungles, and sun-blasted shores. Over eight episodes, though, that premise evolved into something more psychological and more mythic. Star Sydney Chandler breaks down the climactic episode.

Breaking Down the Unexpected Twists of Heavenly Rom-Com Eternity

Eternity star Elizabeth Olsen and director/co-writer David Freyne unpacked their unexpectedly moving film—from the impossible choice faced by Olsen’s character to its striking final twist. Freyne described the story as “the dilemma of choosing between your first great love and your last great love.”

The Meaning of A House of Dynamite’s Bold, Bewildering Ending

Kathryn Bigelow’s latest film is a nuclear thriller driven by unrelenting urgency, confronting the impossible weight of decision-making when every choice could cost millions of lives. In the end, Bigelow leaves audiences with an unsettling question—and that’s precisely the point.

The Hollywood sign and… Erewhon? How the luxury grocery store became an L.A. tourist destination

Erewhon—home to celebrity smoothies and a constant backdrop for TikToks—has also become a destination for curious visitors. I spoke with several out-of-towners who explained why the upscale supermarket has become an unexpected L.A. attraction.