Winter 2019 TV Watchlist

The Witcher - Netflix - Dec 20th

A new fantasy series to fill that very large Game of Thrones sized void, staring the always delectable Henry Cavill as a monster slayer…Sign me up! I have not read the books or played the highly popular video game adaptation but I am intrigued by this world that we have glimpsed at through the trailers and it looks promising.

The Expanse Season 4 - Amazon Prime - 13th Dec

The Expanse may just be the best show on TV about space right now and I am so thrilled that Amazon Prime saved this gem and by the looks of it boosted the budget quite profusely. I am quite a new fan of the show as I only started watching it last December after my sister’s boyfriend recommended it, I binged the show in like 2 weeks.

Avenue 5 - HBO & Now TV - January

And now something else set in space but dealing with a wholly different subject material…Space Tourism. This looks to be one of the funniest shows hitting our screens this season as creator Armando Iannucci the man behind Thick of It and Death of Stalin is writing and directing and Hugh Laurie is leading the show.

The Valhalla Murders - Netflix & RÚV - End of Dec

Ooh, serial murder in Iceland! In the grand tradition of the Nordic crime thriller, The Valhalla Murders looks to be just the chilling serial killer drama we all want this winter.

You Season 2 - Netflix - Dec 26th

Joe will be back and creepier than ever but there isn’t a trailer yet!!! I found You to be utterly creepy and extremely addictive viewing so here’s hoping to an equally disturbing season 2.

초콜릿 (Chocolate) - Netflix & JTBC - Already Airing!

Two episodes have already aired and I am in love with the vibe of this drama, it’s nostalgic, emotional and sweet. It’s also just like eating chocolate or having a cup of cocoa on a cold Winters night, it’s heartwarming and like a little slice of happiness to get through this cold season. The story focuses on a Neurosurgeon and a Chef who met by chance when they were kids and by chance, they encounter each other again.

사랑의 불시착 (Crash Landing on You) - Netflix & tvN - Dec 14th

Hyun Bin (Memories of the Alhambra) and Son Ye-jin (Something in the Rain) in a romantic comedy together, yes, please. Ever since this drama was announced, I have been counting down till December. Both actors have been in some of my favourite dramas this past couple of years so it’s awesome to see them in something together, and judging by the trailers it is going to be romantic and hilarious!

That’s all the TV shows I’ll be watching this Winter, no doubt the list will grow as more TV shows get released but I think this uncanny mix of Sci-fi & fantasy, Crime and Romance will get me through this dark and dreary season.

Let me know in the comments section what TV Shows you’ll be watching this season too.

Autumn 2019 TV Watchlist

These are all the shows I am either already watching or will be watching this autumn.

His Dark Materials - BBC & HBO

To say this adaptation of Philip Pullman’s wildly popular book series is highly anticipated wouldn’t quite cut it. Ever since the divisive end to Game of THrones this year everyone has turned there attention to His Dark Materials as it promises to fill the fantasy, family and intrigue gap that that the end of Thrones has left.

나의 나라 (My Country: The New Age) - Netflix & JTBC

Yang Se-jong and Woo Do-hwan in a period drama together, what else could a girl need? A friendship turned into rivalry, epic fight scenes, beautiful cinematography and a blossoming love triangle!

Besides swoon worthy leads and epic imagery I always like watching Period dramas or 사극 (Sageuk) as they are called in Korea as even though they are highly fictionalised, watching them gives you a glimpse into the countries history. My County: The New Age is set at the end of the Goryeo dynasty and the dawning of the Joseon dynasty which is a rather fascinating time.

This is the Korean drama that everyone is talking about right now and it’s easy to see why. And luckily we get it the same day it’s released so there’s no worries of spoilers or having to wait eons for English subs to come along.

Watchmen - HBO & Sky Atlantic/Now TV

Set in a alternate present, Watchmen follows Det. Angela Abar as she navigates a world where masked vigilantes have been outlawed. As a fan of the Zack Snyder movie I have had this series on my radar since it was announced so I’m thrilled it’s finally nearly here!

배가본드 (Vagabond) - Netflix & SBS TV

A plane crash kills over 200 people including stuntman Cha Dal-gun’s young nephew, with the help of rookie NIS agent Go Hae-ri he will stop at nothing to expose the truth. From the get go this series is heart wrenching, but the pace and execution of the stunts and fight scenes will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Giri/Haji - BBC 2 & BBC iPlayer

Giri/Haji which translates to Duty/Shame follows Kenzo Mori a Detective from Tokyo who travels to London to track down his missing but presumed dead brother who may or may not have killed the relative of a Yakuza member. This drama will be in both Japanese and English in a similar vein to last year’s’ Strangers a thriller set in Hong Kong.

Catherine The Great - Now TV

Helen Mirren is Catherine The Great in this lavish period drama which follows the later life of the Russian Empress as she navigates court life and a multitude of lovers.

Plan Cœur Saison 2 (The Hook Up Plan Season 2) - Netflix

Plan Cœur aka The Hook Up Plan is a French Rom-Com series that focuses on a trio of friends and their adventures and misadventures in love. Season 1 was brilliant and now season picks up 4 months after the events of last season. Julio has given up his job as a male escort but how long will that last and can Elsa really trust him?? Seasons 1 & 2 are streaming on Netflix now so check it out if you haven’t already!

That’s my Autumn 2019 TV Watchlist, what are you planning to watch as the evenings get darker and colder?

TV Shows You Should Be Watching Right Now

Big Little Lies

After a phenomenal first season Big Little Lies (which was technically only supposed to be a mini-series) is back! After the shock finale, season 2 follows the Monterey 5 dealing with the aftermath of their rather massive lie. And if you weren’t already excited about the shows return, the fact that Meryl Streep has joined the cast for this new season should secure your attention.

Watch on HBO or Now TV

Search: WWW

I am really enjoying this drama at the moment as it feels rather fresh and original. Women working in the tech industry is never really explored and I love how each female character in this drama has strengths and weaknesses, they are just so real and relatable. Also, when watching a Korean Drama you can’t not talk about the Male lead, and Chang Ki-young as Park Mo-gun is killing it with the charm!

Watch on viki.com

One Spring Night

As soon as I heard that Ahn Pan-seok was making a drama this year I was eagerly awaiting its arrival as I loved Something in the Rain and Love Affair. Jung Ha-in returns after charming everyone in SITR and damn he is so likeable as a single father in this drama too! One of the main reasons I love Ahn Pan-seok’s work is just how real it feels, its as if he is making 16 hour long independent films, he is a genius and I can’t wait to add One Spring Night to the list of my favourite Korean Dramas

Watch on Netflix

Dark

Dark is a German language Sci-fi and its criminally underrated and wrongly compared to Stranger Things. The TV Show follows a small town dealing with the disappearance of a young boy and it swiftly turns into a freaky mystery involving time travel! What more could you want? So buckle up and get ready to watch season 2 on Friday!!!

Watch on Netflix

Years and Years

Russell T Davies has created a rather amazing show. Years and Years is so compelling because it is set in the very near future and it feels like everything that happens in the show could plausibly happen in real life! The cast is amazing and the storylines of each episode are riveting.

Watch on BBC iPlayer or HBO (from June 24th)

Killing Eve

Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer as Eve Polastri and Villanelle respectively are some of the most fascinating women on screen at the moment. Ever since the season one finale I’ve been hungry for more episodes to devour and lets just say that I have already binged the entire season and I’m probably going to watch it all over again ASAP.

Watch on BBC iPlayer

5 reason why you must watch Netflix’s Kingdom

Kingdom is Netflix’s new original Korean Period Drama with a twist, yes there is a Zombie outbreak! Directed by first time TV Director (he’s made quite a few films, A Hard Day and The Tunnel) and written by Kim Seong-hun who was behind Signal, one of the most critically acclaimed and popular cable TV Dramas of the decade in Korea.

Zombies in Joseon!

The marriage of period drama and zombies is quite frankly genius, with Zombies going mainstream in tv shows like The Walking Dead, the undead started to lose their appeal. But with a fresh historical setting new life has been breathed into the genre.

The Cast

For Netflix’s first foray into original Korean content this cast is impeccable. Kingdom is headlined by Ju Ji-hoon and Bae Doona who are currently some of the most recognisable faces from Korean Cinema. Ju Ji-hoon plays a crown prince searching for answers and Bae Doona plays a small town nurse who first encounters the undead!

The Horror

While the Zombies are horrifying so are the living and breathing people! Class systems, poverty and power hungry rivalries make some characters do some pretty awful things, including the source of the zombie outbreak!!!

Cinematography

A TV series about Zombies has never looked so beautiful. This is a masterfully shot drama that oozes style and substance. And standing at only 6 episodes long, you can tell an immense amount of detail has gone into crafting this aesthetically stunning drama.

It’s Netflix’s First (truly) Original Korean Drama

Censorship be gone! Hello blood, guts and gore! Anyone who has watched Korean Dramas before know that certain things don’t get aired on national TV, and often if present (Say a gun or a knife, or a bloody wound) they will simply be blurred out which is quite jarring (to begin with especially) as it takes you right out of the action of what’s happening. So thankfully as this is a true Netflix Original it will not have to pander to broadcasting rules in Korea!

Have you been convinced? Then go see what the hype is all about, and be warned you may just binge watch this short little series in one sitting!

Kingdom only on Netflix

5 Reasons Why I’m Obsessed with Maniac and Why You Will Be Too!

Maniac is a limited series based on the Norwegian series of the same name (though many things have been changed as far as I’m aware). Its a Psychological Sci-fi drama with an awful lot of dark humour thrown in. There is also a whole lot of bizarre quirkiness…which leads me to the 5 reasons why you will become obsessed with Maniac 

THE RETRO FUTURE AESTHETIC 

If you put Maniac side by side with Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, the obvious comparison to be made is the Retro Future setting. I love this aesthetic, it’s clear that Maniac is a weird mixture of 60’s, 80’s and the present time albeit in an alternative universe to our own. The attention to detail in creating the world of Maniac is impeccable and the experience is fully immersive and the fact that no real world issues are explored there isn’t a hint of preachiness in the storyline at all which is also rather refreshing. 

AZUMI FUJITA 

Okay, Annie and Owen are awesome, beautifully realised complex characters but Azumi, one of the central scientists on the drug trial, is personally for me the best character in the series. I don’t know what it is…it could be the similar haircut and glasses, the apparent lack of emotions, the cool fashion sense, her overall juxtapositions in characterisation. Either way she’s an awesome character and I’m kinda obsessed.

Monday mornings got me like…

DREAMS VS REALITY

I love how this show deals with Dreams vs Reality. Annie abuses a drug so that she can see her dead sister in a hallucinatory state. It’s totally messed up and dark, but it makes sense, its rather painfully beautiful. Owen himself is stuck in a family dilemma and struggles with the possibility that he may be  suffering from schizophrenia. 

Maniac raises the question, would you rather be stuck in a dream than face the reality of the situation?

AI

I love Science Fiction, it’s one of my favourite genres in film, tv and literature. I also am extremely interested in Robotics and AI, I think it’s so fascinating. GRTA is a quirky computer that was the brainchild of the equally quirky characters Dr Azumi Fujita and Dr James Mantleray. I’m not going to spoil anything but a self aware computer is never a good thing in fiction is it?

INTELLIGENT STORYTELLING

This is a series that you have to pay attention to, it’s full of recurring details, connections and faces. But your attention will be rewarded with one of the most thought provoking and emotionally rich tv series I’ve watched in quite a while. And once you finish the series you’re going to want to restart the journey all over again.

So what are you waiting for…