Every month, we’ll tell you about all the new shows on terrestrial and cable channels, as well as what’s streaming on Netflix, Disney+, HBO Go, Viu, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video and iQiyi.
Highlights
With the arrival of the Omicron variant, we might all have to stay home this Christmas. So it’s great to have returning series Money Heist and Cobra Kai on Netflix. Amazon Prime Video has Harlem and The Expanse, while Apple TV+ offers original movie Swan Song. On the home front, we’ve got the fourth season of Lion Mums on Channel 5. Sex and the City fans will squeal knowing that the revival, And Just Like That, is out on HBO GO. The Book of Boba Bett also debuts on Disney+ at the end of the month, giving us some action while we wait for the third season of The Mandalorian. And K-drama fans, don’t worry, there’s Moonshine on Viu.
Money Heist (Part 5 Volume 2) (3 Dec)
Netflix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EhZKMqiScQ
This heist drama comes to its epic conclusion in this final set of episodes Main character Tokyo (Úrsula Corberó) is dead, but their enemy still lurks in the Bank of Spain, wounded but as dangerous as ever. Facing their darkest hour and greatest challenge yet, the gang hatch a bold plan to get the gold out without anyone noticing. To make matters worse, the Professor (Álvaro Morte) makes the biggest mistake of his life.
Now on their second heist, the team saw Tokyo sacrificing herself to defeat their enemies in the first part of Part 5. Now that the main protagonist is gone, how will the story proceed? Will the Professor finally get what he wants? Can they get out of this bank alive (most probably, they did it before after all). It looks like it’ll be an exciting conclusion to the series. Will we get a sequel?
Harlem (3 Dec)
Amazon Prime Video
This comedy follows four stylish and ambitious best girlfriends in Harlem NYC, the mecca of Black culture in America. There’s Camille (Meagan Good), a popular young anthropology professor at Columbia with extensive knowledge of the dating norms of many cultures, but has a hard time navigating her own love life; Tye (Jerrie Johnson), a successful, queer dating app creator who prefers keeping vulnerability — and romantic partners — at arm’s length; Quinn (Grace Byers), a hopeless romantic and trust fund fashion designer who is trying to give back to the world while running a struggling business; and Angie (Shoniqua Shandai) a confident, vibrant, and filter-free singer and actress who also lives rent-free and fabulously with Quinn. Together, they level up from their 20s into the next phase of their careers, relationships, and big city dreams.
Shows about friendships, shows about New York City, and shows about dating are always popular — and Harlem is all three. It has that sort of sass that comes with ladies of this demographic, and it feels fresh and daring. Hopefully, the series is as funny and stylish as the trailer looks — and if it is, it’ll probably be one of the hits of the year.
Lion Mums (Season 4) (6 Dec, Mondays to Wednesdays 9.30pm)
Channel 5
This comedy-drama is back for its fourth season as it examines parenting, growing older, and societal pressures in Singapore. Set two years after Season 3, it sees Min Yi (Vanessa Vanderstraaten) grappling with settling back into society and regaining her trust with Kai. Meanwhile, Grace (Constance Lau) with Durrani (Nurul Aini) by her side, is still dealing with the shock of seeing her abuser for the first time since her assault until a mysteriously friendly new mum arrives at Charleston forces her to confront her past. At the top of her game, Durrani’s firm is on the rise and she is offered a possible route towards politics – but will she be able to juggle it along with her two kids and a paranoid husband? Then there’s newlyweds Chae Lian (Lina Ng) and Beng Hian (Lim Yu Beng) settling into their new lives but they may soon discover that the honeymoon period lasts a lot shorter than expected. Meanwhile, their children have to tackle the PSLE.
The PSLE! It’s not the be-all and end-all of every child’s Primary school journey, but it certainly feels like it. Expect all the PSLE tropes to be covered — copious chicken essence, insane Mathematics questions, tonnes of social media complaints, and mountains of assessment books. I, for one, am keen to see how the PSLE will be depicted this season — and whether the kids survive it.
And Just Like That (Dec 9)
HBO Go
This comedy-drama is a revival of Sex and the City, which sees Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) navigate the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s.
It’s time to see whether the premise of Sex and the City still holds up twenty years later (and also, whether they can recapture the charm of the original). Conspicuously missing is Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), but given her legendary feud with Sarah Jessica Parker, it’s easy to see why. Producers have handwaved it away by saying that friends in your 30s may not be friends in your 50s… but surely there’s going to be some mention of Samantha in the series, and I want to know what they’ll say about her.
Moonshine (21 Dec)
Viu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYpPd-2-ynk
This period drama is set in the late Joseon era – a time marked by strict prohibition laws. Kang Ro-Seo (Hyeri) illegally brews wine for sale to support her family, but clashes with Nam Young (Yoo Seung-Ho), an imperial officer out to crack down on moonshine. Sparks will fly when the two meet, and with so much alcohol around…
The concept is a fairly standard one and you can see the inevitable love story a mile away. But period dramas are always fun to watch, and the show does sound fairly funny from the outset. It remains to be seen how this premise will be prolonged for multiple episodes. Also, who is going to drink all that wine?
The Book of Boba Fett (29 Dec)
Disney+
This science fiction drama is set in the Star Wars universe. It finds legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) and mercenary Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) navigating the galaxy’s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate.
Audiences really like Mandalorians (or at least, characters who don Mandalorian armour), don’t we? The popularity of The Mandalorian is no doubt one of the factors for a show centering around Boba Fett. The Star Wars underworld is an aspect of the universe that’s not frequently seen, so it’ll be interesting to find out how it’ll be depicted in this show.
Cobra Kai (Season 4) (31 Dec)
Netflix
This martial arts comedy-drama returns for a fourth season. As a sequel to The Karate Kid, it takes place over 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament with the continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). this season finds the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang dojos joining forces to take down Cobra Kai at the All Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament… and whoever loses must hang up their gi. As Samantha (Mary Mouser) and Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) try to maintain the dojo alliance and Robby (Tanner Buchanan) goes all in at Cobra Kai, the fate of the Valley has never been more precarious. What tricks does Kreese (Martin Kove) have up his sleeve? Can Daniel and Johnny bury their decades-long hatchet to defeat Kreese? Or will Cobra Kai become the face of karate in the valley?
Yes, because Cobra Kai exists, so does the concept of the Miyagi-Verse. Ever since the series found a new home on Netflix, production on new episodes has been going full steam — with a fifth season coming! But first, it remains to be seen whether old foes Daniel and Johnny can join forces or not…
TERRESTRIAL
Channel 5
Lion Mums (Season 4) (6 Dec, Mondays to Wednesdays 9.30pm)
Lil Wild (Season 2) (26 Dec, Sundays 9am)
Let’s Celebrate 2022 (31 Dec, Friday 11pm)
Channel 8
Leave No Soul Behind (21 Dec, Mondays to Fridays 9pm)
Suria
Misteri Minda (2 Dec, Thursdays 8.30pm)
Identiti (2 Dec, Thursdays 10.30pm)
Check-In Cinta (4 Dec, Saturdays 8.30pm)
CABLE
Animax (StarHub Ch 432; Singtel Ch 342)
Fruits Basket (Season 3) (29 Dec, Wednesdays to Fridays 10pm)
Haikyu!! (Season 2) (21 Dec, Mondays and Tuesdays 8pm)
BBC Earth (StarHub Ch 407)
Universe (5 Dec, Sundays 9pm)
BBC First (StarHub Ch 502)
The Canterville Ghost (3 Dec)
Grantchester (Season 6) (10 Dec)
All Creatures Great and Small (Season 2) (24 Dec)
Call the Midwife: Christmas Special 2021 (release date TBA)
Death In Paradise: Christmas Special 2021 (release date TBA)
BBC Lifestyle (StarHub Ch 432)
The Great British Bake Off: Christmas Special 2020 (1 Dec, Wednesdays 8.20pm)
Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat Christmas (6 Dec, Monday 8.20pm)
Gordon, Gino and Fred: Desperately Seeking Santa (14 Dec, Tuesday 10.10pm)
Cartoon Network (StarHub Ch 316; Singtel Ch 226)
Mechamato (4 Dec, Saturdays and Sundays 3pm)
Tom & Jerry In New York (6 Dec, Mondays to Fridays 3pm)
CBeebies (StarHub Ch 303)
Bluey Series 1: Christmas Episode (24 Dec, Friday 6.50pm)
CinemaWorld (StarHub Ch 613, 614)
The Traveller (24 Dec, Fridays 10pm)
GEM (StarHub Ch 814; Singtel Ch 519)
Next Stop, Discovery (1 Dec, Wednesdays 7.50pm)
Masquerade 2021 (25 Dec, Saturdays 9.30pm)
Nat Geo Wild (Starhub Ch 413; Singtel Ch 207)
Africa’s Deadliest (Season 6) (15 Dec, Wednesdays 8.30pm)
National Geographic (Starhub Ch 411; Singtel Ch 201)
Lost Treasures of Egypt (Season 3) (9 Dec, Thursdays 9pm)
Called To The Wild (16 Dec, Thursdays 10pm)
Countdown To Disaster: White Island Eruption (31 Dec, Fridays 9pm)
One (StarHub Ch 124 [Malay], StarHub Ch 823 [Mandarin]; Singtel Ch 513 [Mandarin], Singtel Ch 604 [Malay])
Now We Are Breaking Up (7 Dec, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8.10pm)
STREAMING
Amazon Prime Video
Harlem (3 Dec)
The Expanse (Season 6) (10 Dec)
Encounter (movie) (10 Dec)
Carnage A Trois (17 Dec)
Being the Ricardos (21 Dec)
Apple TV+
Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues (3 Dec)
Swan Song (17 Dec)
BBC Player
Ghosts (Season 3) (1 Dec)
Disney+
The Light In Your Eyes (1 Dec)
Tokyo MER (Season 1 Part 2) (1 Dec)
Gabby Duran & The Unsittables (Season 2) (1 Dec)
China’s Megatob (3 Dec)
The Hot Zoe (Season 2) (8 Dec)
Welcome to Earth (8 Dec)
Christmas…. Again? (10 Dec)
Ron’s Gone Wrong (15 Dec)
Foodtastic (15 Dec)
The Santa Clause Jingle All The Way Disney Holiday Singalong (24 Dec)
The Book of Boba Fett (29 Dec)
Snowdrop (release date TBA)
Blackpink: The Movie (movie) (release date TBA)
HBO GO
Santa Inc (2 Dec)
Landscapers (8 Dec)
And Just Like That (9 Dec)
Gensan Punch (movie) (16 Dec)
My Gift: A Christmas Special from Carrie Underwood (16 Dec)
Station Eleven (16 Dec)
Finding Magic Mike (16 Dec)
There Is No I In Threesome (21 Dec)
Promising Young Woman (movie) (24 Dec)
Cry Macho (movie) (30 Dec)
iQiyi
Bad and Crazy (17 Dec, Fridays and Saturdays 9.50pm)
meWATCH
Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories @ Job Haunting (17 Dec)
Netflix
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean (1 Dec)
Lost in Space (Season 3) (1 Dec)
Love Island USA (Season 3) (1 Dec)
The Power of the Dog (movie) (1 Dec)
Single All The Way (movie) (2 Dec)
The Whole Truth (movie) (2 Dec)
Money Heist (Part 5 Volume 2) (3 Dec)
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (Season 4) (3 Dec)
Mixtape (3 Dec)
Money Heist: From Tokyo To Berlin (Volume 2) (3 Dec)
David and the Elves (6 Dec)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba: Entertainment District Arc (6 Dec)
Voir (6 Dec)
Titans (Season 3) (8 Dec)
The Unforgivable (movie) (10 Dec)
Back To The Outback (10 Dec)
The Hungry And The Hairy (11 Dec)
The Future Diary (14 Dec)
The Hand of God (movie) (15 Dec)
A California Christmas: City Lights (movie) (16 Dec)
Aggretsuko (Season 4) (16 Dec)
A Naija Christmas (movie) (16 Dec)
The Witcher (Season 2) (17 Dec)
Grumpy Christmas (movie) (21 Dec)
Emily in Paris (Season 2) (22 Dec)
Don’t Look Up (movie) (24 Dec)
1000 Miles From Christmas (movie) (24 Dec)
The Silent Sea (24 Dec)
Stories Of A Generation – With Pope Francis (25 Dec)
Cobra Kai (Season 4) (31 Dec)
The Lost Daughter (movie) (31 Dec)
Queer Eye (Season 6) (31 Dec)
Single’s Inferno (release date TBA)
Viu
Street Dance Girls Fighter (1 Dec)
Three Sisters (movie) (18 Dec)
Moonshine (21 Dec)
Escape From Mogadishu (movie) (25 Dec)
F4 Thailand (release date TBA)
This article was written for and first published on Yahoo.
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
Send me an email if you want to get in touch!
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