Every month, we’ll tell you about new shows to hit terrestrial and cable channels, as well as streaming sites in Singapore. We’ll also highlight the television shows that you’ve got to be home (or on your phone) to catch every month.
Overview of December’s shows
Although December does not have the sheer plethora of shows that earlier months have had, it has more than made up for it with the diversity of programmes, with something to tickle everyone’s fancy. KIN fanfic lovers will be pleased to know that KIN By The Fans will be out on MeWatch, while DC fans can enjoy the second season of Pennyworth on Warner TV. Korean drama buffs can enjoy period comedy-drama Mr Queen on Viu. But if you’ve held back on getting a Netflix subscription, this month is absolutely worth it — with intriguing new Japanese sci-fi drama Alice in Borderland, an adaptation of Broadway hit The Prom, the fourth part of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and the second part of Transformers: War for Cybertron hitting the streaming service this month. We might not be able to gather for Christmas this year, but you can be certain that you won’t be bored!
Alice in Borderland (10 Dec)
Netflix
Three delinquent youths find themselves transported to a parallel, dystopian world where the only way to survive — is to play increasingly sadistic games. With danger lurking around every corner and vice tempting them at each turn, will the youths be able to survive the game and return home? Based on the manga and anime of the same name, and stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Ysuchiya.
With Netflix’s expansion across the globe, it’s fun to see more and more diverse titles and adaptations hitting their service — like Alice in Borderland. While the premise may sound familiar, it’s the execution that’s different, and who doesn’t love seeing an alternate (and post-apocalyptic) version of Earth? With a strong cast and a solid fanbase, it’ll be interesting to see how many more seasons of this manga/anime adaptation we’ll get.
The Prom (movie) (11 Dec)
Netfix
Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, this movie sees a bunch of annoying, self-centred theatre actors running to the rescue of a poor little teenager in a quiet town in Indiana, who has been banned from going to her prom because she wants to bring her girlfriend along. However, their plan backfires as they discover that their big city antics don’t quite work in the small town. A physical journey turns into one of self-discovery, as they struggle to find a way to help the ostracised girl with song, dance, and plenty of glitz.
The original Broadway musical took inspiration from real world events, but of course it ended with a happy ending. But there was so much positivity, joy, and light in the way everything that was portrayed, which was the biggest strength of the production. Now that it’s on Netflix, with big names like Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman portraying the washed-up thespians in the show — who knows how much more of an amazing spectacle it’ll become?
Mr Queen (13 Dec)
Viu
Presidential chef Jang Bong-hwan mysteriously finds himself transported into the body of Queen Cheorin — who is royalty in the Joseon era. Unfortunately, not only does Bong-hwan have to deal with being in a different era, in the body of a different gender, there’s also court intrigue to deal with and scheming politicians to avoid. Will Bong-hwan ever return to the his body, in the right time?
The concept of the show sounds startlingly like that of Go Princess Go, which ended with the time and gender displaced protagonist consummating the marriage with the husband. So there’ll definitely be comparisons between the two dramas, especially in the way that the story will end. Nevertheless, it’s fun to see a period comedy (it’s almost always heavy, melodramatic drama when it comes to period settings), and the whole fish-out-of-water idea is always fun to see.
Pennyworth (Season 2) (14 Dec, Mondays 9pm)
Warner TV (Starhub Ch 515; Singtel Ch 306)
Before he became the butler of Batman, Alfred Pennyworth was a young man finding his way in life in London. The second season explores the burgeoning friendship between Alfred and Thomas Wayne (Bruce Wayne’s father), even as they navigate secret societies, thwart political disasters, and fight bad guys. Everyone knows how the journey will end, but this series shows just what happened on that journey.
Produced by the same folk who did Gotham, Pennyworth has a decidedly more slick and modern approach (despite taking place even further in the past). Fortunately, it hasn’t quite suffered from the tonal whiplash that Gotham used to have, although it remains to be seen if these two shows are, indeed, linked. Jack Bannon plays a particularly endearing Alfred, and it’s entertaining to see how he struggles to control his anger and how he’ll grow into the father figure that we all know that he’ll be.
Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy: Chapter 2: Earthrise (30 Dec)
Viu
The second part of the Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy, this new chapter of the series, subtitled Earthrise, sees the battle between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons expanding past their home planet of Cybertron. With the AllSpark, the only artifact that can save Cybertron, lost in space; the majority of Autobots having evacuated from the planet; and the Decepticons being left behind on Cybertron with a small group of Autobot — what will happen next to the Transformers? Could there be a third faction of Transformers, unaligned with either Autobots or Decepticons?
This darker, more mature take on the Transformers mythos ended on a cliffhanger in the first chapter, and it performed its balancing act of appealing to the older fanbase (like this writer) while still telling a whole new story with aplomb. The trailer teases so many new characters, locations, and storylines, both familiar and fresh, which makes waiting for the next chapter so agonising. There’s an accompanying toyline, of course, and a large part of the series’ appeal is watching your toys “come to life” on television. And this intriguing new faction, the Mercenaries, who were hinted at in the card game — how will they play into the entire Transformers mythos?
Terrestrial
Channel 8
Mister Flower (31 Dec, Mondays to Fridays 9pm)
Suria
Cucu Tauke Beras (8 Dec, Tuesdays 7pm)
Masak Macm Saya (8 Dec, Tuesdays 8.30pm)
Cable
HBO (Starhub Ch 601; Singtel Ch 420)
Euphoria: Trouble Don’t Last Always (movie) (7 Dec, Monday 11pm)
Adventure of the Ring (13 Dec, Sundays 9pm)
The Rhythm Section (5 Dec, Saturdays 9pm)
Dark Waters (19 Dec, Saturdays 9pm)
The Courier (25 Dec, Saturdays 9pm)
Cartoon Network (Starhub Ch 316; Singtel Ch 422)
Adventure Time: Distant Lands (7 Dec, Mondays and Saturdays 5pm)
Boomerang (Starhub Ch 317; Singtel Ch 228)
Pat the Dog: Santa Pat (25 Dec, Friday 10 am)
Warner TV (Starhub Ch 515; Singtel Ch 306)
Pennyworth (Season 2) (14 Dec, Mondays 9pm)
FX (Starhub Ch 310; Singtel Ch 507)
Your Honor (7 Dec, Mondays 10pm)
National Geographic (Singtel Ch 201; Starhub Ch 411)
Virus Hunters (3 Dec, Wednesday 9am)
BBC First (Starhub Ch 502)
All Creatures Great and Small (4 Dec)
Life (18 Dec)
BBC Earth (Starhub Ch 407)
Joanna Lumley’s Unseen Adventures (10 Dec, Thursdays 9pm)
Snow Animals (18 Dec, Thursdays 8.50pm)
Waterhole: Africa’s Animal Oasis (29 Dec, Tuesdays 8.05pm)
BBC Lifestyle (Starhub Ch 432)
Britain’s Best Home Cook (Season 2) (28 Dec, Mondays 7.30pm)
CBeebies (Starhub Ch 303)
Grace’s Amazing Machines (Season 2) (7 Dec, Mondays 8.20pm)
Christmas Stunt (24 Dec, Thursdays 8.40am)
BBC Brit
Ghosts (Season 2) (1 Dec)
TLC (Singtel Ch 254)
Macy’s Thanksgiving Cake Spectacular (1 Dec, Tuesday 7.10pm)
Crazy Cookie Builds (2 Dec, Wednesdays 7.10pm)
Holly Dazzle (7 Dec, Monday 7.10pm)
Cake War Christmas: Ultimate Christmas Lights (8 Dec, Tuesday 7.10pm)
Holiday Wars (16 Dec, Wednesdays 7.10pm)
Jamie’s Italian Christmas (23 Dec, Wednesday 7.10pm)
Jamie & Jimmy’s Food Fight Club: Festive Feast (24 Dec, Thursday 7.10pm)
Jamie’s Easy Christmas Countdown (25 Dec, Friday 7.10pm)
Streaming
Viu
Awaken (1 Dec)
My Secret Bride (1 Dec)
Cheat On Me If You Can (3 Dec)
A Werewolf Boy (movie) (4 Dec)
Blood and Ties (movie) (4 Dec)
True Beauty (10 Dec)
Mr Queen (13 Dec)
Live On (18 Dec)
Netflix
Angela’s Christmas Wish (movie) (1 Dec)
Natalie Palamides: Nate – A One Man Show (1 Dec)
Break (movie) (4 Dec)
Big Mouth (Season 4) (4 Dec)
Leyla Everlasting (movie) (4 Dec)
Mank (movie) (4 Dec)
Detention (5 Dec)
Mr Iglesias (6 Dec)
Super Monsters: Santa’s Super Monster Helpers (6 Dec)
Ashley Garcia: Genius: Christmas (9 Dec)
The Big Show Show: Christmas (9 Dec)
The Surgeon’s Cut (9 Dec)
Alice in Borderland (10 Dec)
Giving Voice (11 Dec)
The Prom (movie) (11 Dec)
A California Christmas (14 Dec)
Tiny Pretty Things (14 Dec)
Song Exploder (Season 2) (15 Dec)
How To Ruin Christmas: The Wedding (16 Dec)
Run On (16 Dec)
The Stand-In (16 Dec)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (movie) (18 Dec)
Sweet Home (18 Dec)
The Midnight Sky (movie) (23 Dec)
Your Name Engraved Herein (movie) (23 Dec)
Bridgerton (23 Dec)
Cops and Robbers (28 Dec)
Best Leftovers Ever! (30 Dec)
Equinox (30 Dec)
Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy: Chapter 2: Earthrise (30 Dec)
Best of Stand-Up 2020 (31 Dec)
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Season 4) (31 Dec)
meWATCH
KIN: By The Fans (17 Dec)
This article was first published on and written for Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore.
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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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