Every month, we’ll tell you about new television shows to hit terrestrial and cable channels, as well as streaming sites in Singapore! We’ll also highlight shows that you’ve got to be home (or on your phone) to catch every month.
What to catch this April?
There’s quite a lot of local fare on Channel 5 this month, especially with the continuation of long running drama “Tanglin.” There’s also the out-of-Japan debut of “Ajin: Demi-Human” on Netflix, and several other drama series too.
Premonition (Channel 5, 11 April)
Jonah Lee (Johnny Lu) dies for sixty seconds and gains a special power – the power of having premonitions of fatal accidents. With the help of Police IO Belinda Tan (Rosalyn Lee), he becomes a reluctant ‘hero’ and prevents several calamities from happening. However, the question remains – why was Jonah given the power? To save others, or to save himself?
Crime shows are very popular with local audiences for some reason, but science fiction doesn’t fare so well on our screens. So here’s to hoping that melding both genres will yield the start of good science fiction programmes on local television! And then maybe we can get heroes with flashier powers on screens (like pyrokinesis, maybe).
Ajin: Demi-Human (Netflix, 21 April)
Seventeen years ago, an utterly immortal human was discovered on an African battlefield. Since then, more of these new and unknown life forms began to appear among mankind. These undying beings start to be known as “demi-humans.” One day, just before summer break, a Japanese boy leaving his high school is involved in a traffic accident that kills him on the spot. Then, he comes back to life. A huge bounty is placed on his capture. Now the boy’s attempt to evade all of mankind begins.
Easily relatable student protagonist? Check. Super-powered race hiding amongst humans? Check. On the run from a giant organisation with ample resources? Check. Ajin looks like another hit anime that’ll turn into a live-action film soon, especially since the bulk of the characters are, ostensibly, human.
Entertainer (Viu, 21 April)
Ji Sung is playing a former top director at a large entertainment company who forms his own small solo agency. He assembles a group of singers to form a band to manage, and together the band overcomes adversity while Ji Sung’s character truly understands what it means to be an entertainment manager.
It’s got all the story beats necessary for good character development — a fall from grace (a former top director), a motley crew of misfits (a group of singers), and realising that life isn’t always that easy (understanding what it means to be an entertainment manager). And as the trailer shows, this isn’t going to be some weepy, emotional nonsense — it’ll be a madcap, wacky drama that’s full of comedy. If you’re fatigued from the countless Korean tragedies on screen, then this looks like a much needed breath of fresh air.
Shows premiering in April
Channel 5
Death is Our Business (2 April; Saturdays 10.00 pm)
Tanglin (new episodes) (4 April; Mondays to Fridays 8.00 pm)
Heroes (5 April; Tuesdays 9.30 pm)
Premonition (11 April; Monday 10.00 pm)
Rush Hour (21 April; Thursday 10.00 pm)
Containment (27 April; Wednesdays 10.00 pm)
Baby Bumps (local telemovie) (30 April; Thursdays 7.30 pm)
Lifetime (Starhub Channel 514)
Pitch Battles (26 April; Tuesdays 6.00 pm)
Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart (movie) (23 April; Saturday 7.00 pm)
Viu
Entertainer (21 April)
Netflix
The Ranch (1 April)
Kong: King of the Apes (15 April)
Ajin: Demi-Human (21 April)
Hinterland (second season) (1 April)
Z-Nation (first season) (21 April)
Partners in Crime (first and second season) (1 April)
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