SINGAPORE – Welcome 2022 with exciting new shows premiering in January, as well as popular series which are making a return to the small screen. From a lavish period drama set in 19th-century America to the final season of crime series Ozark, here are 10 titles which are worth the watch.
Premieres on Jan 28 on Netflix
In this dark comedy that satirises the psychological thriller genre, a heartbroken woman named Anna (Kristen Bell) sits by her window every day with a big glass of wine. She quickly takes notice when a handsome man moves in across the street with his young daughter. Things take a turn for the macabre when Anna witnesses a murder – but does she really? The series promises to keep audiences guessing until the very end.
Premieres on Jan 21 on Netflix
The fourth and final season of crime drama Ozark will have 14 episodes, the first seven of which will be released on Netflix on Jan 21. This last leg will wrap up the saga of the Byrde family, who moved from the Chicago suburbs to Missouri as part of a money laundering scheme for a Mexican drug cartel.
In the latest season, Marty (Jason Bateman) and Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney) have to confront their ally-turned-foe, local criminal Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner), and their children’s increasing involvement in their criminal activities.
Premieres on Dec 30 on Netflix
Binge this Taiwanese period drama over the New Year as it drops its next eight episodes. The murder mystery series starring Ruby Lin and Cheryl Yang has three parts, the first of which was released last month.
Audiences found out who the murder victim was at the end of Part One. Part Two will focus on the suspects who may have had hidden grudges against the victim.
Expect new guest stars like Wu Kang-jen and Gingle Wang, as well as more screen time for Lin’s real-life husband Wallace Huo, who plays an ex-convict.
Premieres on Jan 25 at 10am on HBO Go and HBO (StarHub TV Channel 601 and Singtel TV Channel 420)
From Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey (2010 to 2015) comes yet another series about the upper class – this time set in 1882 America during the Gilded Age, an era of rapid economic change and growth.
This sumptuous period piece follows a penniless young woman, Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), who uproots herself from rural Pennsylvania to New York City after the death of her father. She moves in with her old-money aunts Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon). Expect gorgeous costumes, sets and plenty of relationship drama.
Premieres on Jan 10 at 11pm on HBO Go and HBO (StarHub TV Channel 601 and Singtel TV Channel 420)
The critically acclaimed teen drama’s debut season won its star Zendaya the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 2020 Emmy Awards, over the likes of Olivia Colman, Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Oh.
In Season 2, Rue (Zendaya) continues to struggle with sobriety and mental health issues, navigates her complicated relationship with romantic interest Jules and contemplates what she wants to do with her life.
Premieres on Jan 4 on Viu and at 9.15pm on tvN (StarHub TV Channel 824 and Singtel TV Channel 518).
This fantasy medical drama stars veteran K-pop idol Rain as brilliant yet arrogant surgeon Cha Young-min, whose life is upended by an accident. His spirit enters the body of Go Seung-tak (Kim Bum), a mediocre surgical resident.
Young-min and Seung-tak, who have wildly different personalities, end up having to navigate a medical career while sharing one body, leading to plenty of high jinks.
Available on Viu
Another Boys Over Flowers? Yes, the famed Japanese manga of the same name has spawned at least five live-action adaptations – Taiwanese, Japanese, South Korean and two Chinese series. Now, it is Thailand’s turn.
The story is well-known. A poor, headstrong girl butts heads with the handsome, wealthy and powerful clique F4, who rule her high school. Before long, she catches the eye of the quartet’s leader and the two fall for each other.
The Thai version reunites the hugely popular duo of Bright Vachirawit Chivaaree (above) and Win Metawin Opasiamkajorn from boys’ love drama 2gether: The Series (2020). They respectively play Thyme, the leader of F4, and Kavin, the Thai version of the manga’s elegant playboy Sojiro Nishikado.
Premieres on Jan 28 on Apple TV+
An all-star cast of comedians unite for a genre-blending murder-mystery comedy series. When someone falls off a cliff and dies at an after-party for a high school reunion, everyone is a possible suspect. Each episode focuses on a different character’s account of how the fateful evening went.
The ensemble cast includes A-list comedienne Tiffany Haddish as a detective.
Available on Disney+
K-pop girl group Blackpink member Jisoo makes her leading lady debut opposite actor Jung Hae-in in this series set during the 1987 democracy movement in South Korea.
When university student Young-ro (Jisoo) discovers a bloodied graduate student Soo-ho (Jung), she hides him in her dormitory. But Soo-ho has secrets of his own. Amid the political upheaval, a romance develops between them.
Premieres on Jan 1 on BBC Player
Comedian Greg Davies plays Wicky, the title character in this British sitcom, whose job is to clean up crime scenes and wash away the stench of murder.
His unique role leads to encounters with gossipy neighbours, friends and families of the victim – and, sometimes, even the murderers themselves. The show is based on hit German comedy Der Tatortreiniger (2011 to 2018).
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MCI (P) 031/10/2021, MCI (P) 032/10/2021. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2021 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.