Ep 1. Part 1

The show Paper Giants: Magazine Wars is a six-part Australian drama series that depicts the intense rivalry between two magazine publishing houses in the 1980s. In season 1 episode 1, titled Part 1, the audience is introduced to the main characters and the intense competition that drives the Australian print media industry.

The episode begins with the ambitious editor of Women's Weekly magazine, Nene King, played by Mandy McElhinney, attending a conference where she learns of the success of her rival publication, New Idea. Determined to boost the circulation and profile of her magazine, King sets her sights on acquiring a popular but controversial article on the recently divorced Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

As King works to secure the rights to the article, she clashes with her boss Kerry Packer, played by Rob Carlton, who is unhappy with her efforts to spend money on acquiring stories rather than making a profit. King's determination to secure the article ultimately pays off, as Women's Weekly sales skyrocket after its publication.

Meanwhile, New Idea's editor Dulcie Boling, played by Rachel Griffiths, struggles to find a way to compete with Women's Weekly's success. When an opportunity arises for New Idea to acquire the letters between Princess Diana and her lover James Hewitt, Boling seizes it without realizing the fallout that will follow.

The episode also depicts the personal lives of its main characters, including King's relationship with her boyfriend, who works for a rival publication, and Boling's strained marriage to her husband.

Part 1 of Paper Giants: Magazine Wars effectively sets up the intense competition between the two leading women's magazines and the personal and professional lives of the women behind them. The audience is given a glimpse into the cut-throat industry of magazine publishing and the lengths that editors will go to in order to stay ahead of their rivals.

Overall, Part 1 of Paper Giants: Magazine Wars is a gripping first episode that effectively sets up the rivalry between Women's Weekly and New Idea, whilst giving viewers an insight into the politics of the print media industry in the 1980s. It sets the scene for an intense and thrilling drama series that will keep audiences hooked until the very end.