Keen for a new on-the-screen series to binge-watch, or something to listen to on your phone during your daily commute? Here are some recommendations from EL editors and readers for TV shows, movie, podcast and Netflix Singapore.
Thor: Love and Thunder Disney+
Brace yourself for more Thor in “Thor Four”! The everexpanding Marvel Cinematic Universe presents its latest instalment and fourth Thor movie, Thor: Love and Thunder.
The story reintroduces Jane Foster – the Mighty Thor played by Natalie Portman who was missing in action in the previous film in the series. Director Taika Waititi brings plenty of laughs to the audience with a bombardment of comedic moments; and the imagery and scenery of the locations are breathtaking and visionary.
Despite all that, the overall story feels dull and unimaginative. Much like many MCU movies, it doesn’t try anything new. It also has a huge pacing issue; the beginning is rushed, with too much going on at once. The villain, Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), has a generic character arc with poorly written motivations. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor barely has any character growth despite most of the focus going on him.
In all, the movie is a fun brain-off experience that will be enjoyed by those wanting to sit down for some mindless action.
– Lim Hunor
The Grey Man | Netflix
This new Netflix film is quite watchable – especially when you need a bit of escapism. I mostly enjoyed seeing Ryan Gosling in it, but you also have to sit through lots of killing and shooting! If you’re into car chases and explosions, you’ll have a field day! There are some pretty cool stunts, but I’m not sure who’s doing them. It’s nice that it’s not too predictable in the love department.
– Rebecca Bisset
Itchy Boots | youtube.com/itchyboots
I’m not a motorbike guy – at all. So, you’d wonder why I like watching the Itchy Boots channel on YouTube, which follows the adventures of a person riding a motorcycle around the world. Probably because that person, 35-year-old Dutch woman Noraly Schoenmaker, makes simple, beautifully filmed videos of off-the-beaten track locations (her drone footage of rivers, canyons and mountains is a real highlight). She’s relentlessly positive in the face of challenges and dangers – and there are plenty of those, as Noraly isn’t afraid to ride through the more notorious pockets of the planet, alone. And the videos are almost entirely lacking in any technical motorbike references, which means you can enjoy them without having to know what a sprocket is. (I’m guessing a sprocket is like a miniature rocket that helps fire up the engine – right?)
– Shamus Sillar
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman
Netflix I can’t say that I’ve watched many episodes of Late Night with David Letterman. But I can say that I’m enjoying My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, a talk show made for and streaming on Netflix.
Letterman interviews guests in a conversational style, reminiscent of how a biography would look if it was turned into TV. The setting could be in the studio or on location. Some places viewers are taken to include Mumbai (with Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan), Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford (with Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai) and Utah’s Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument (during a horse ride with palaeontologist/geologist Christa Sadler).
Season 1 in 2018 opened with a sit-down with Barack Obama – his first interview since leaving office; Season 4 premiered this May with six episodes, and guests including Billie Eilish, Kevin Durant and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
My absolute favourite episode is the Season 1 bonus, titled You’re Dave Letterman, You Idiot. This line is uttered by comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who’s the guest. The two greats talk about the progression of their careers, the state of stand-up comedy as well as the memories they’ve had of each other through the years.
– Patricea Chow
The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes | Netflix
The whole Marilyn Monroe mystery has always interested me – whether she was bumped off because of her liaisons with JFK, who was behind it, and the rest.
Another old journalist was obviously still wanting to get to the bottom of it, as he decided to revisit people he’d interviewed in the 80s to see if they were more willing to talk. We hear from the people themselves first hand – at least, those who were willing to talk.
After these investigations, things still don’t seem exactly clear, but there’s a better picture of what happened that fateful night, and what happened leading up to it – and it’s an insight into Marilyn’s life I hadn’t known before. Worth a watch!
I see there’s a new Netflix movie on her too, Blonde; who knows which angle that will take?
– Rebecca Bisset
Hospital Playlist | Netflix
This Korean drama series follows five best friends who met in medical school and who get the opportunity to work in the same hospital. On the side, they also play in a band together, with comical outcomes at times.
Each episode is equal parts hilarious and heart-warming, as they navigate their personal lives while doing their best for the patients who come with their own stories.
– Cindy Lau
Turning Red | Disney+
This Pixar movie runs on a simple albeit outlandish premise: Mei Lee, a 13-year old Asian American girl, discovers that she has inherited a rare family condition that turns her into a red panda whenever she encounters strong emotions. This is in addition to facing pressures from school and dealing with her “tiger mum”.
While it may initially seem silly, this coming-of-age story is relatable with its familiar characters and representation of the universal challenge of parent-child relations.
The movie also thrives on nostalgia of the early 2000s such as the prevalence of Nokia phones and a fictional boy band called 4 Town delivering catchy, wouldbe hits.
Most poignant is Mei Lee’s alter ego – it’s messy, chaotic and a reminder to us that it’s okay to not always be in control. The adorable animation certainly drives up the likeability.
– Yimin Huang
Anne With An E | Netflix
Based on the book Anne of Green Gables, this three-season series (2017-2019) takes us back to 19th-century Avonlea, a small Canadian town.
An orphan girl with a devastating past, Anne was accidentally adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a brother and sister pair. Anne’s talkative, compassionate and highly imaginative nature immediately captures the heart of shy Matthew, and they decide to let her stay.
Anne is full of new ideas that are ahead of her time, which are not always welcomed by the folks in the conservative town. Still, she remains positive. As the story progresses, she starts to inspire many around her, especially women, which leads to positive changes.
The characters are well played and the scenery is breathtaking. The story also addresses problems that are still relatable today. Whether you’ve read the book or not, this will keep your eyes glued to the screen.
– Judit Gál
Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+
Obi-Wan. That’s a name I haven’t heard for a long time. This six-part series about the legendary Jedi Master is set 10 years after the devastating events of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
Inquisitors from the Empire are hunting Jedi. Leading the hunt for Obi-Wan is Reva or Third Sister, played by Moses Ingram, which forces him off-world. Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen reprise their roles as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader respectively.
The show follows the same “babysitter” formula that has been embedded into Star Wars in recent times. And while I was excited to see that Deborah Chow was directing this series, as she did wonders on her episodes in The Mandalorian, the constant shaky camera work, close-up shots during action sequences and lacklustre writing made it hard to follow the plot. Star Wars has always had its cheesy moments but not at the expense of plot convenience.
The series does a good job of showing the PTSD experienced by Obi-Wan through flashbacks; overall, though, the story feels like an excuse for “the rematch of the century” and it doesn’t feel natural.
– Lim Hunor
Strictly Ballroom
YouTube This 1992 film is for those who love dance, artistic expression and celebrating love. It’s the first of Baz Luhrmann’s Red Curtain Trilogy of theatre-related films; it was followed by Romeo+Juliet in 1996 and Moulin Rouge in 2001.
Set in Australia, it opens with Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) and his dance partner losing the Southern Districts Waratah Championships for dancing his own style rather than traditional ballroom steps. With three weeks to the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Dancing Championship, Scott pairs up with beginner dancer Fran (Tara Morice), who’s happy to dance his steps for a shot at winning. While practicing in secret, they’re faced with hiccups – Scott being paired with an established Champion dancer without his knowledge, the couple being schooled in proper Paso Doble technique by Fran’s father and grandmother, and uncovering a conspiracy by Australian Dancing Federation head Barry Fife. The themes are issues we can identify with – artistic repression, struggles of the underdogs and love in different forms.
The film launched the screen career of both leads. Mercurio was already a well-known dancer before taking on this role and Morice was nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
– Patricea Chow
Stranger Things 4 – Netflix
Dunno about this one. I enjoyed the first season of Stranger Things; the mid-80s Atari-game vibe and cheesy synths really took me back. And there was lots of intrigue around Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her powers, heightened by the “small town USA” setting. Since then, though, it’s been the law of diminishing returns.
This new season just seems disjointed. (And I don’t mean all those broken bones dished out by the monster…) For one thing, it’s divided into two parts; seven episodes released together in June, then a wait for the final two. Why? Then there are the settings. We’re no longer just in small town USA, that’s for sure. Two different plot threads take place in the USSR – the one with Winona Ryder is, frankly, a slog to watch.
There’s also less fun to be had with the kids. One problem is that Eleven is mostly not with them – she’s off on her own, involved in a sub-plot in a research institute. To be fair, that particular storyline does have an interesting pay-off, which ties things together. The rest, though, is darker and more violent than before, but ultimately less engaging.
Who knows: now that the last two episodes have just come out, maybe I’ll watch them and love them and the whole season will feel like a win. Stranger things have happened.
– Shamus Sillar
Hi Bye, Mama! – Netflix
This is an emotional South Korean drama that depicts a woman who dies and becomes a ghost shortly after giving birth to her daughter. Five years later, she’s given the chance to regain her place as wife, mother and daughter. As she haunts her family, viewers are drawn into the moving journey of her loved ones and herself as they try to find peace, let go and move on.
Besides the titular ghostly mum, equally touching is the story arc of her own mother – we see how she deals with the grief of losing a daughter.
– Cindy Lau
Magic – Apple TV
When I was growing up in sleepy Kerteminde in Denmark, I played volleyball with my friends during any free time I had, and I daydreamed of a life in the big city – and in the big leagues. The kind of life Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr had.
Johnson is, in my opinion, the greatest basketball player of all time, certainly of my generation growing up. I always wondered what happened to him after he retired from the NBA.
Magic takes us back to when Johnson was a child growing up, his road to the NBA, his depression after he was diagnosed with HIV and what he’s doing now to make a difference in people’s lives. It reminds you that, while hard work pays off, keeping your dream alive can be tough. What you do in between will be what people remember you for.
I always believe in doing things to inspire and motivate, and if it can help just one person change the way they look at things, then you’ve done a good deed in this world. This documentary is a testament to that.
– Susan Knudsen-Pickles
Severance – AppleTV
Set in a dystopian future, where humans can opt for their consciousness to be “severed” – their work self detached from their personal life – Mark (Adam Scott) plays out a terrifying extreme scenario of attempting to attain work-life balance. His outside self, “Outie”, has no recollection of his work self, “Innie”, and vice versa, which might seem like the perfect solution to “not bringing your work home”. However, when a new colleague, Helly (Britt Lower), joins their team, he’s faced with more questions and revelations than his “severed” dual consciousness is ready to navigate.
It’s intriguing as it is illuminating as this Black Mirror-esque series takes you deep into the human psyche. If anything, it’s made me realise how jarring our work selves can be from our home personas, which, in turn, evokes a strange form of empathy for the characters; only ever having the privilege to acquaint themselves with half their person made me sad at some points.
The story gripped me from the first episode and at the point of this review, the show is still in the midst of Season 1, but I’m already betting on one hell of a cliff-hanger in the season finale.
– Zawani Abdul Ghani
Vikings: Valhalla – Netflix
Wow, was this good! I’ve watched all the previous seasons of Vikings, but you don’t need to have watched any of them first, as this is set 100 years later as a sequel.
The series is based in the 11th century, when, after 100 years of “peace” in England, the British King orders a massacre of all Vikings in England. This leads to the Danish Invasion of the country, all of which is based on real historic events. Not only will you be entertained but you’ll be learning too.
An extra bonus is the unbelievably good-looking cast, which only solidified that I definitely have a “type”!
– Michaela Bisset
The Adam Project – Netflix
I’ll watch anything with Ryan Reynolds in it – Smokin’ Aces, Deadpool, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Free Guy, Red Notice – so I wasn’t going to miss this one!
In The Adam Project, while time travelling from 2050 to look for his wife (Zoe Saldana), Adam (Reynolds) meets his 12-year-old self (Walker Scobell) in 2022. Both Adams also end up meeting a younger version of their dad Louis (Marc Ruffalo). Jennifer Garner and Catherine Keener have small roles respectively as Adam’s mum and Louis’s investor.
While the CGI effects are great and the acting is flawless, it’s the character relationships that are captivating. The chemistry between Reynolds and Scobell is palpable and it’s also great to see Reynolds in a different kind of role. My favourite pairing is Ruffalo and Keener; their last appearance together was as an estranged married couple in Begin Again (2013). Make this your one action or sci-fi film to watch this weekend!
– Patricea Chow
Suffragette – Netflix, Prime Video
I mentioned this in an editor’s letter in Expat Living magazine (April 2022) because I thought it was brilliant, and a story that needs to be told. I hadn’t known enough about the working conditions and societal issues that women faced in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Carey Mulligan is just brilliant in it. The movie was well done, thought provoking and something we should watch with our children to see how far we have come, and the conditions people had to live in then.
– Rebecca Bisset
The Tourist – BBC iPlayer
Just when I was thinking there was nothing to watch, I came across this! It’s different and interesting – the representation of the various characters in outback Australia is perceptive and empathetic. It also changed my view of Jamie Dornan (from the Fifty Shades trilogy)! I thought he was excellent in this, as was Danielle Macdonald as his sidekick junior cop. I will say no more in case I give things away!
– Rebecca Bisset
Midnight Diner | Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories – Netflix
Binge watch alert! These two anthology series are for fans of Japanese food and culture. Set in a simple 12-seater restaurant, Midnight Diner provides an insight into the lives of Japan’s night owls.
Master runs a small diner in the back alley of Shinjuku from midnight till 7am and can make any food for his guests as long as he has the ingredients. Each episode focuses on his patrons’ favourite dish and the intriguing story behind it. The diners are made up of colourful yet very real personalities – from the yakuza to strip dancers, famous people and commoners, all respect Master and his wisdom.
By the end of the season, the viewers have also become part of the diner, eating sushi and drinking sake while watching one episode after another.
There’s also a recipe book of dishes from season one (justonecookbook.com/netflix-midnight-diner-tokyo-storiesseason-1-recipes), which makes it a fun way to pick up some Japanese words.
– Judit Gál
Gunpowder Milkshake – Netflix
English actress Karen Gillian (Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy) takes on the lead role of Sam in this action thriller. Sam is a professional assassin who’s ordered to retrieve money that was stolen from The Firm, the organisation she works for. In a twist of fate, she ends up being hunted by assassins of The Firm even as she finds herself in the custody of a young girl.
Sam finds help from her estranged mother Scarlet (Lena Heady), who was an assassin of The Firm, as well as Scarlet’s former accomplices (Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino). Freya Allen portrays a young Sam.
The movie feels like a video game at times – over the top and fast yet fun. While the script was written by Navot Papushado and Ehud Lavski, there’s something about the development of the story that makes it feel as if it could have been penned by Quentin Tarantino.
– Patricea Chow
Inventing Anna – Netflix
As they say, “It’s who you know, not what you know”. This can’t be truer for Anna Delvey, a charismatic German woman who faced multiple charges of fraud in 2017. The nine-episode limited series chronicles a close-to-accurate timeline of her shenanigans up to when she was found guilty on eight of her 10 charges.
The production is snappy and sharp, only slowing down when dialogue marks a pivotal shift in character dynamics. While it does take some patience to sit through the hourlong episodes, the series teaches you that even something as simple as likeability can put you on the path to success. After all, the biggest question is: how did everyone become enamoured by her? One has to be slightly impressed – if not bewildered – by how someone with no credibility could almost con their way to a US$40 million loan.
Anyone who has a penchant for true-crime documentaries will lap this up, although you may have to ironically suspend disbelief to truly embrace this show.
– Zawani Abdul Ghani
The Tinder Swindler – Netflix
I watched this after I saw it on Netflix’s Top 10; it’s a perfect watch for anyone who is interested in true crime – or an avid user of dating apps.
The documentary tells the story of Simon Leviev (real name Shimon Yehuda Hayut; nickname “the Tinder Swindler”) and the women he conned. It shows his con through WhatsApp voice recordings and text messages so you feel like you’re living the situation; you also get multiple perspectives from victims, friends and partners.
What I found interesting was the response people have to it. Many naturally blame Simon while others have glorified him in social media while turning the blame on the women. It’s easy to watch this at home and think, “Oh, I’d never be so stupid.” but this guy has clearly mastered this ploy. It’s also fascinating to think about what people are capable of and how often he was able to get away with it.
– Michaela Bisset
The Book of Boba Fett – Disney+
The series kicks off at the conclusion of The Mandalorian, which revealed that Darth Vader’s right-hand man, Boba Fett (played by Temuera Morrison), is alive. Reunited with his iconic armour and in league with assassin Fennec Shand (played by Ming-Na Wen), the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter returns to the desert planet of Tatooine to fill the power vacuum left by the demise of Jabba The Hutt.
The Book of Boba Fett places equal emphasis on exploring new parts of the Star Wars universe and fleshing out established cultures, characters and planets of the original movies. The first episode alone further explores the culture of the enigmatic Sand People, last seen in The Mandalorian. This is truly an adventure for the die-hards.
– Dinesh Ajith
Stay Close – Netflix
We decided to watch this drama miniseries, because we liked some of the actors in it, and it turned out to be a fab, well-written show. Based on the 2012 Harlan Coben novel of the same title, the story follows what happens after Carlton Flynn goes missing, 17 years to the night when Stewart Green did. The two incidents begin to unravel the lives of those who are connected to both men. All the episodes are gripping and will keep you entertained.
– Jacqui Young
Haunting of Bly Manor – Netflix
Set in the 80s, this drama miniseries follows an American au pair who arrives at a country house in England to take care of two orphaned children. Instead of the usual jump scares that one would expect of horror shows, what makes this drama suspenseful is the characters living amidst an eerie home of forbidden rooms, a mysterious dollhouse and apparitions, as well as a misty lake close by.
Love stories and an interesting storyline provide some twists and turns. The plot is unpredictable and the story shuffles between dream and reality, where each character has an intriguing story to tell.
– Judit Gál
Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened – Netflix Singapore
It was meant to be a huge music festival in 2017, taking place on an exotic island with all the trimmings: private planes, luxury accommodation in an eco-friendly geodesic dome, and meals by celebrity chefs as revellers rocked out to Blink-182, Lee Burridge, Tyga, Pusha T and more. Promotional videos and posts by models and influencers such as Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski and Bella Hadid implied that they would be attending.
This documentary film exposes the deceit spun by co-organiser Billy McFarland that ran all the way until festival day, with fellow organiser Ja-Rule and investors portrayed as clueless onlookers. Besides hearing from service providers and ticket holders about unpaid debts and confusion, we also hear how staff at McFarland’s company were kept in the dark about organisational snags.
As I watched the mess unfold, I wondered why anyone would entrust this massive event to someone without any prior experience. It was a recipe for disaster right from the beginning.
– Patricea Chow
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Who is Spider-Man? We all find out in this latest cinema franchise instalment, which sees the superhero enlist the help of Dr Strange to keep his big secret under lock and key, to prevent endangering his loved ones. But things go wrong, and villains from the multiverse return in all their glory to square off with him. Spider-Man takes on his greatest challenge yet, where the stakes are high and his own future, as well as the future of the multiverse, hangs in the balance. No spoiler alert here: this is a feel-good movie for those who have grown up watching this iconic Marvel character. Fans will not be disappointed.
– Zak Johari
The Green Planet – BBC Earth and BBC Player
The Green Planet is a new five-part landmark series that follows Sir David Attenborough as he travels the world – from the rainforests of the tropics to the wildernesses of the frozen north – to explore the extraordinary ways in which plants have learnt to survive and thrive in almost every environment.
Using pioneering new filmmaking technology – from moving time-lapses to robotics – and the very latest science, the series takes the viewer on a journey into a series of magical worlds. It reveals that the lives of plants are as competitive, aggressive and dramatic as those of animals, and investigates the crucial role plants play in controlling our climate and maintaining our ecosystems.
– Dee Khanduja
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – Netflix Singapore
If you’ve read the novel (see our December issue for a review!), I suggest giving the movie a miss or risking disappointment – there are gaps in the storytelling as well as alterations in character development. The film follows Lily James as Juliet Ashton as she develops her story about the Society and the island’s missing inhabitant, Elizabeth McKenna.
Jessica Brown Findlay (Lady Sybil Crawley in Downtown Abbey) provides a riveting performance as Elizabeth, although without the background provided by reading the book, the viewer would be left wondering what motivates her to carry out what she did.
Regardless, the film clearly depicts the resilience, fellowship and love that people possess even during times of hardship. You’ll feel warm and fuzzy at the end of it. Catch it on Netflix.
– Patricea Chow
Signal – Netflix Singapore
This 2016 South Korean police drama series is inspired by real-life criminal cases that happened in Korea. It imagines the scenarios of how the crimes happened and how they could have been solved.
The crime-solving duo are Lee Jae-Han, a detective in the year 1989, and Park Hae-Young, a cold case profiler in 2015. They’re connected by a broken walkie talkie that works only when the time is right. With the foresight and hindsight gained from their communications, the duo are able to solve some of the crimes in the past and prevent some from taking place before 2015 rolls in.
The series questions what would make a person choose protecting themselves over the people around them and the consequences.
– Patricea Chow
Altered Carbon – Netflix Singapore
This cyperpunk TV series is set in the year 2384 in a futuristic metropolis, where former soldier and convicted criminal Takeshi Kovacs is pulled out of prison to investigate the murder of Laurens Bancroft, who’s also the man who hired Kovacs for the job. The rich don’t die of old age like everyone else as they can afford to clone new bodies and store their consciousness remotely in satellites so that they can “live” infinitely.
Season 1 focuses on Kovacs’ relationship with Quellcrist Falconer, the leader of a rebel group that rose against the new world order 250 years ago, who was also his lover, as he continues solving a series of brutal murders that seem linked.
Based on a novel of the same name by English author Richard K Morgan, the series was unfortunately cancelled after Season 2. So you’ll have to pick up the book to know how the story unfolds further!
– Patricea Chow
The Towering Inferno – Vudu
Released in 1974, this classic film has a simple premise. On the night of its dedication as the world’s tallest building, a fire breaks out on the 81st floor of a skyscraper, trapping party revellers on the 135th floor. The developer refuses to believe that the fire is a possible hazard and doesn’t call off the party until it’s too late. As firefighters battle to put out the quickly spreading blaze, guests become trapped as elevators and stairways become blocked or inaccessible.
Suffice to say, there isn’t a happy ending and I was left wondering how the two novels that the film was based on foreshadowed an even bigger tragedy that would unfold 27 years later with 9/11. This was the highest grossing film of 1974 and won three Oscars after being nominated for eight.
– Patricea Chow
Lucifer – Netflix Singapore
What would the Devil do if he took a break from managing Hell to spend some years in Los Angeles instead? This is the premise of Netflix TV series Lucifer, based on the DC Comics character created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg.
Fallen angel Lucifer Morningstar has quit Hell and is living it up in LA, where he owns a nightclub called Lux. He becomes a consultant to the LAPD, working closely with homicide detective Chloe Decker to solve cases. Their relationship develops to more than just work partners.
Along the way, his views of humanity, definition of good and evil, and understanding of what defines the Devil are challenged through interactions with different characters. The series culminates in a battle between Lucifer and twin brother Michael over who gets to take the spot that’s been vacated by dad!
This is an engaging series for fans of fantasy superhero stories. Each episode focuses on a standalone homicide case. The process of solving these cases puts human nature in the spotlight. Is someone inherently bad, or do they become bad through circumstance? And, if someone is bad, can they become good?
– Patricea Chow
Below Deck | Below Deck Mediterranean – Netflix
I’m slightly embarrassed even writing this but I simply couldn’t stop watching Below Deck. I watched three seasons of the main series and then even went on to watch the spin-off series, Below Deck Mediterranean! It’s a reality show that focuses around the yachting season and the jobs of the crew. You watch the chaos unfold between the staff and the sometimes outrageous and usually mega-wealthy clients.
At first, it was just something to have on in the background but it does become a little addictive as an escape-from-reality kind of show. If you want to watch something where you get to tune out, this is the one for you! You can find most of the seasons now on Netflix.
– Michaela Bisset
The Vow – HBO
How does a self-improvement organisation become a cult that carries out sex trafficking, racketeering and forced labour? This American true crime documentary on HBO delves into that.
Over nine episodes, you’ll learn how people were lured by the promise of career advancement to take NXIVM’s Executive Success Program for “self-development”, how female members were then invited to join Dominus Obsequious Sororium (DOS), a secret sisterhood that ostensibly championed female empowerment, and the chain of events that revealed DOS to be a means to trap members into sexual slavery under founder Kieth Raniere. Interviews with former NXIVM coaches and members are interspersed with archive footage and recordings of the organisation’s activities. These were recorded by Mark Vicente, maker of the 2004 film What the Bleep Do We Know!?, during his time as a member of Raniere’s inner circle.
This is a very timely documentary – in fact, some key members were sentenced as recently as mid-2021, while others are still awaiting sentencing. A second season focusing on Raniere’s trial is in the works.
– Patricea Chow
The Mauritanian – Amazon Prime
I’m not usually one for legal dramas (or Jodie Foster films for that matter!), but The Mauritanian captured my attention from start to finish. Based on the true story and memoirs of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, the film sees Tahar Rahim (The Serpent) play a Mauritanian man who was held for 14 years without charge in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He’s held on suspicion for his connection with Al Qaeda and the 9/11 bombings, which leads defence attorney and human rights lawyer Nancy Hollander (Foster) and military prosecutor (Benedict Cumberbatch) to go head to head in uncovering the truth in Slahi’s culpability. What comes to light is a harrowing insight into the unconstitutional methods of the prison that are left outside the purview of American law and justice. As evidence and tough-to-swallow accounts of torture and coercion are revealed, the audience is left with plenty to debate as Slahi’s judgement day finally comes around.
– Leanda Rathmell
Sweet Tooth – Netflix Singapore
This American fantasy drama is only eight episodes long, but it’s packed with action! It tells the story of Gus, a young “hybrid” boy who’s half-human and half-deer, living in perilous times. It’s an epic adventure in a post-apocalyptic world where hybrids are seen as threats. So Gus’s journey is filled with many obstacles, but he manages to get through them with the help of a gruff protector. It’s exciting and heart-warming at the same time, and the PG13 rating makes it suitable for watching with the family. Plus, the scenes are set in the beautiful terrain of New Zealand, which kind of helps with the wanderlust. Since leisure travel is out of the question, watching this will do for now!
– Anthia Chng
Made You Look – Netflix Singapore
This Netflix documentary tells the story of art dealer Glafir Rosales, who was unknown in the art world and didn’t even have an art degree, but whose vast and unbelievable collection of impressive expressionist paintings included works ostensibly by the likes of Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollack.
Rosales approached Anne Freedman, director and well-respected head and face of the prestigious Knoedler art gallery in New York; and it was here where all the drama started.
Anne Freedman was convinced that the paintings were real and sold them for millions of dollars, even as convincing evidence began to show up that the paintings could be fake. Finally, all hell broke loose when the head of Goldman Sachs, executive Jack Levy, purchased an untitled Jackson Pollock piece for $2 million. The FBI and art forensics were called in to analyse the artworks.
I won’t give away the ending, but this is an intriguing documentary – all the more fascinating for me because I’ve actually seen an original Rothko up close!
– Susan Knudsen-Pickles
The Last Days – Netflix Singapore
If you want to teach your teens a lesson or two about unbelievable hardship, then this documentary will achieve that. Produced by Steven Spielberg and originally released in 1998, The Last Days has now been remastered and released on Netflix. It’s a strong, “in your face”, no BS, real-deal story about five Hungarian Jews who survived the Holocaust and the hell that was Auschwitz.
We follow them from the day they were taken by the Nazis in Hungary, hearing about their terrifying journey in the cattle trains with no food or water. Their description of Auschwitz on their arrival is almost unbelievable – it really was hell on earth; the barracks where they were all packed like sardines; the gas chambers; and the knowledge that some of them were even used for experiments and studies.
This is painful to watch, but sadly it’s also real history. If you do decide to watch this documentary (it’s on Netflix), remember the tissues!
– Susan Knudsen-Pickles
A Promising Young Woman – Google Play
I absolutely loved Carey Mulligan’s performance and the cunning production in A Promising Young Woman. Mulligan plays medical school dropout Cassie, a mysterious and wicked “heroine” who leads a double life. Frequenting nightclubs and bars, she appears to have a twisted “hobby” of appearing to be alone, drunk and vulnerable, luring men to prey on her and abandon their own moral code.
The reasons behind her actions and insatiable vendetta are slowly unearthed as a traumatic story. The derailment of her promising future is revealed, condemning not just one man, but an entire system that has long protected criminals over their accusers. Incredibly thought-provoking for both men and women, this movie is wickedly empowering and bold. One for the big screen if you get a chance!
– Leanda Rathmell
Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal – Netflix Singapore
I remember hearing about this scandal over a year ago, where celebrities like Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were being charged with buying their kids acceptance into university. So, when this popped up on Netflix, I was keen to learn more about it.
The documentary is a deep dive into the fraudulent methods used by Rick Singer to get the children of rich and famous families into top universities in the US. It’s a fascinating look at the man behind it all and a great way to understand how these families ended up getting involved. You can’t help but think stuff like this must’ve been happening for decades.
Personally, I’m hoping that cases like these get more attention as the real victims here are the kids who work exceptionally hard to try to get into these “prestigious” universities only for spots to be taken from them. It might also make universities themselves become more accountable. But let’s see what you think!
– Michaela Bisset
Seaspiracy – Netflix Singapore
I remember watching Cowspiracy years ago – a documentary that took a close look at the beef industry – and being outraged by what was being covered up. Seaspiracy takes things to a new level. This 2021 documentary is about the impact of fishing on marine wildlife. Director Ali Tabrizi is great at covering all the various perspectives as well as making you question figures of authority such as the MSC, WWF and the UN – particularly around how flippant some of their rules and regulations are. It’s shocking to get a glimpse at how corrupt the world fishing industry might be.
Even if you don’t consider yourself much of an activist, I’d watch this as it’s very well put together and thought provoking.
– Michaela Bisset
Firefly Lane – Netflix Singapore
My niece recommended this to me, and I soon became hooked. It covers three timelines starting in the 70s, which is interesting from the point of view of fashion, music, mobile phones and lifestyle, for a start. But I think it’s clever and must have taken a lot of coordination. It didn’t get great reviews in Time magazine, but I really enjoyed it. I thought there were a lot of relevant points of discussion, and family and relationship issues we can relate to (even if you’re younger like my niece or daughter). Katherine Heigl is a key character and also the producer – no mean feat. The only problem is how long we need to wait until the next series!
– Rebecca Bisset
Dream Catchers (Short Film) – YouTube
Shalima Motial started Singapore-based Dream Catchers 10 years ago with the aim of providing a platform for artists. The pandemic manoeuvred the direction of the company’s journey from events/theatre to short film production.
Shalima and her team produced two short films during lockdown, with limited resources and movement, and only a shoestring budget. As an artist, she felt a responsibility to reach out with a message through the films; so, FlipSide is around the theme of domestic violence, and Caged concerns mental health awareness. Shalima wrote, produced and acted in both.
The films have been well received, winning accolades in international film festivals and being showcased by PocketFilms (India’s biggest short-film platform) and Touching Hearts, which has 2.2 million followers. You can watch both films on the Short Films YouTube channel.
– Dee Khanduja
Dream Home Makeover – Netflix Singapore
This Netflix series stars Shea and Syd McGee from Studio McGee, an interior design business in Salt Lake City. I loved watching girl boss Shea in her element, working with homeowners and contractors to transform different spaces. As Shea works on her clients’ homes, she also puts together her own new dream house, which turns out gorgeously. I’m eagerly awaiting another season!
– Lindsay Yap
Derren Brown: The Push – Netflix Singapore
This is a super interesting “human experiment” by English illusionist Derren Brown. The documentary shows how far humans will comply with what is unfolding in the environment around them. Basically, the documentary answers the question, “Can a person be psychologically coerced to kill another person?” The answer may just surprise you.
– Dee Khanduja
Long Way Up – Apple TV+
If you’ve been missing the wide-open spaces of a good old-fashioned road trip in 2020, and driving around and around Singapore is not doing it for you, then the latest instalment of the Long Way series may be for you. Ewan McGregor (aka Obi-Wan Kenobi!) and Charley Boorman (aka BFF of Ewan McGregor!) join forces again in Long Way Up to ride their motorcycles from the southern tip of Argentina, all the way through South and Central America, to Los Angeles, California. However, this time they are riding Harley-Davidson electric motorcycles! The last few episodes are a little squeezed for time, but overall the series is worth a watch for the sparsely visited places they pass through in this fascinating yet under-explored part of the world.
– Jason Keys
The Undoing – HBO
Check out Hugh Grant like you’ve never seen him before! He and Nicole Kidman are on top of their game in The Undoing. Each of the six episodes is captivating, with close-up camera shots revealing all kinds of demonstrative facial expressions as the story unfolds. A really good watch with class acting.
– Lara Sage
The Last Kingdom – Netflix Singapore
This series is set in England during the invasion by the Danes. It starts slowly, but really ups the ante with many twists and tense moments that make it quite compelling to watch all the way through. There’s lots of treachery, back-stabbing, forbidden love, wars and plotting by Kings and Danes. I enjoyed the fictional setting, in Winchester, England, which is close to my hometown; I could really visualise a bygone era. The cast is an interesting mix of Brits as well as actors from Nordic countries. It’s a decent show that got me doing the whole “back-to-back-viewings” thing from around Season 2 onwards.
– Dee Khanduja
Bridgerton – Netflix Singapore
I thought this would be a nice mum-and-daughter series to watch, and it was… up until about Episode 6, and then it gets fairly saucy! It’s interesting and entertaining, and a mix of fact and fiction, which gets you doing your own research to avoid any confusion. The show is like a combination of Pride & Prejudice and 50 Shades of Grey – and worth a watch on a rainy day!
– Rebecca Bisset
The Sinner – Netflix Singapore
This isn’t the jolliest or most relaxing of Netflix shows, but it’s certainly gripping and psychologically fascinating. The three seasons each star Bill Pullman (Independence Day) as brooding police detective Harry Ambrose. He investigates crimes committed by unlikely culprits – for example, Jessica Biel, who stars in Series 1 and is also the show’s executive producer. Storylines have twists and turns, some of them mind-bending and impossible to second guess. It’s less of a “whodunnit” and more of a “whydunnit”, featuring cliffhangers designed for binge-watching, and characters who stay with you long after you’ve finished watching.
– Jo Upcraft
The Queen’s Gambit – Netflix Singapore
This is an unexpectedly gripping series about a girl who plays chess! The lead actress Anya Taylor-Joy is a delight to watch as she breathes life into her character Beth Harmon. Beth is a child-star chess player who goes on to win some big chess tournaments, eventually beating a world champ. As an orphan, she struggles with dark personal challenges and addictions during her rise to the top of the chess world.
– Dee Khanduja
A Confession – BBC First
Recreating a true story from the not-so-distant past, A Confession focuses on the disappearance of a young woman in England after a night out with friends. It follows the heroic efforts of the local police to resolve the mystery as well as dealing with emotional families and bureaucratic obstacles along the way. Over six episodes, it is a gripping drama and a vivid reminder of the societal threats that exist outside the safety of our Singapore bubble/home. It’s not your standard murder-mystery crime show and it had us hooked from start to finish. See it on BBC First (StarHub channel 522).
– Jason Keys
Emily in Paris – Netflix Singapore
I loved this Netflix series. From the writers of Sex and the City, it’s light-hearted and funny – and of course, it’s always lovely to dream of being in Paris! The story follows Emily who is sent to the Paris office of her company, Savoir, to take on the assignment of a lifetime. Emily moves to France and brings her American perspective to the Paris staff of Savoir.
– Jacqui Young
Get Organized with The Home Edit – Netflix Singapore
I love getting things packed and arranged nicely – there’s this feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction, don’t you agree? When I spotted Netflix’s new series Get Organized with The Home Edit, I knew I had to watch it. The Home Edit’s all-woman team takes on everything from bedrooms to garages, and transforms them into neat and beautiful spaces – truly #homegoals. The first episode was already pretty exciting; it featured Reese Witherspoon who starred in Legally Blonde, one of my fave movies. I loved seeing the before and after shots of her closet – and, of course, the Legally Blonde outfits and memorabilia!
– Lindsay Yap
The Little Nyonya – Netflix Singapore
I’ve been watching an oddly compelling local drama on Netflix called The Little Nyonya. It first came out here in Singapore in 2008 and had a bit of a cult following; now there’s been a 2020 remake. It’s not exactly EastEnders, but it’s a great insight into Peranakan culture and local history. It starts in the 1960s and spans for decades.
– Jo Upcraft
Kingdom – Netflix
My husband flicked on the first episode of this series and I thought, “Ugh. This show has everything I hate: extreme violence, graphic sex and drugs.” But since he has had a rough couple of months (COVID sucks!), I figured I’d humour him and watch one episode – and I was hooked.
While it’s true that the show does have all that awful stuff I usually avoid in spades, it’s also an amazing, tender and sometimes disturbing story about a father and his two sons, all MMA fighters. The intricate plot lines are brilliantly acted with such emotion that each episode left me exhausted and wanting more. I was in awe of the raw acting talent, and equally awed by the amazing physiques of these talented actors, who all sport eight packs and bulging biceps. The three-season Netflix show’s plot-twist finale took me totally by surprise.
If you can stomach the realistic fight and sex scenes, it’s worth the watch. It’s one of those shows that haunts you long after the final credits.
– Melinda Murphy
Bloodline – Netflix
This three-season Netflix thriller is very interesting, but I’m not sure if the show is making me anxious, or if it’s just the ongoing COVID-19 situation! The ending is revealed in small snippets all the way through, so you’re kind of just waiting for it to happen.
– Rebecca Bisset
Umbrella Academy, Season 1 & 2 – Netflix
I’ve always loved shows like X-Men or anything where people have superpowers, so I thought I’d give Umbrella Academy a go. The show is about seven gifted children who are adopted by an eccentric billionaire, who raises them to save the world. Klaus (one of the siblings at the Academy) is hilarious – actor Robert Sheenan will have you in stitches. This is witty, quirky viewing and it shouldn’t be missed! Season 1 got rave reviews, but Season 2 was even better!
– Michaela Bisset
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