Time is flying this year, and in the blink of an eye, we are almost, nearly, halfway through 2021. As the month with the most number of public holidays this year, May is also projected to have 20 days of rainy weather, very conducive for a good catch-up or a holiday binge session.
Whether you are looking to binge a new K-drama over a rest day, or spend some quality time with your mum in front of the television this Mother’s Day, we have a show for you, here on our list of top 10 shows to watch for the month of May.
For Netflix Couch-Potatoes
Lucifer
We begin with a binge-worthy fan-favourite and it is everyone’s true desire to see Tom Ellis back on our screens! It’s been a long wait but part two of the fifth season of Lucifer is finally here. And get this – after four and a half seasons, we finally get to meet God!
While we would love for him to stick around a little longer, the big guy is tired of playing with humanity and wants to retire. The penultimate season of the series promises fun hijinks, as Lucifer makes a tumultuous return to the land of the living, in hopes of making things right with Chloe, while cultivating a new ambition – competing against his ‘evil’ twin Michael for the title of God.
Lucifer season five, part two spans eight episodes, and will be released on Netflix on 28 May.
Money Explained
“We spend it, borrow it, and save it.”
Love it or hate it, money makes the world go round. Money, Explained is a documentary series that deciphers the human behaviour that makes money tick, exploring the many minefields that come with big bucks. From credit cards and casinos, to scammers and student loans, rediscover the relationships that US citizens have with their bank balances, and the temptations of a system designed to lead them into the poverty trap.
Money Explained will be released on Netflix on 11 May.
Move to Heaven
After a long, long wait, Move to Heaven is finally coming to our screens. Inspired by the essay Things Left Behind by Kim Sae-byul, Move to Heaven is about a young man named Han Geu-Roo (Tang Joon-Sang) who has Asperger’s syndrome. Geu-Roo helps his father in the family business of ‘trauma-cleaning’, assisting in taking care of the things left behind by people who passed away.
His father’s untimely demise however, puts Geu-Roo in the custody of his cold, ex-convict uncle Jo Sang-Koo (Lee Je-Hoon), who becomes his guardian. In the course of maintaining the family business, uncle and nephew uncover untold stories associated with the deceased, going through different epiphanies and sentiments, as they themselves begin to heal.
Move to Heaven is a Netflix Original and will be released on the platform on 14 May.
For K-Drama Addicts
Youth of May
This sweet retro melodrama for the ages reunites Lee Do Hyun and Go Min Si from Sweet Home. But instead of playing siblings this time around, the pair headline as a couple in Youth of May. Set in 1980 during the Gwangju Uprising, Youth of May tells the love story of a medical student Hwang Hee-tae (Lee Do-hyun) and a nurse Kim Myung-hee (Go Min-si).
A driven and thoughtful medical student, Hwang Hee-tae enters Seoul National University’s medical school with top scores, but postpones his graduation due to a trauma from an incident. Kim Myeong-Hee, a strong-headed nurse who works hard for her dream of studying abroad, and is the main breadwinner of her family. In a twist of events, Myeong-Hee stands in for her friend on a blind date with Hee-Tae, who falls in love with her, and during a time of chaos and opposing politics, the two spend the peak of their youth experiencing their first love and heartbreak together.
Staying true to its name, Youth of May marked the beginning of the month and premiered on 3 May.
Mine
The star power is strong in Mine, with top Korean actresses Lee Bo-Young and Kim Seo-Hyung headlining the show. Seo Hee-soo (Lee Bo-young) was a former top actress and now Hyowon Group’s second daughter-in-law and Jeong Seo-hyeon (Kim Seo-hyung), the first daughter-in-law of the Hyowon Group. As our two female leads go head to head as daughters-in-law of a Chaebol conglomerate, the series glimpses into the lifestyle of the strong, ambitious women of high society who overcome social prejudices to find themselves.
As we say goodbye to Vincenzo, Mine will take TVN’s weekend slot, and premieres on 8 May.
My Roommate is a Gumiho
While the 2020 drama Tale of the Nine-tailed is busy topping Netflix charts, another Gumiho-centred K-drama is coming to our screens this May! My Roommate is a Gumiho is a romantic comedy that stars model heartthrob Jang Ki-Yong and Girls’ Day’s Hyeri. Shin Woo-Yeo (Jang Ki-Yong) , a 999-year-old nine-tailed fox longs to become human. But his hopes are dashed when his one chance at becoming human – his ‘fox bead’ is accidentally swallowed by Lee Dam (Hyeri).
While he fights for a chance at mortality, she fights for her life, as the bead can exist inside of a human for only a year before it breaks, killing its host. Our experienced gumiho and evergreen university student are hence forced to live together, leading to cohabitation antics and drama as they figure out how to resolve their dilemma.
My Roommate is a Gumiho will air every Wednesday and Thursday on TVN from 26 May, taking the slot of Mouse.
For Cinephiles
Disney’s Cruella
Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone headlines the live-action prequel feature film that tells the story of a young Cruella de Vil, the villain from 101 Dalmations. In 1970s’ London, amid the backdrop of the punk rock revolution, a young grifter named Estella (Emma Stone) aims to leave her mark on the fashion world. Befriending a pair of thieves who share her predilection for mischief, the trio establish a life for themselves in London.
With their help and her creativity and wit, Estella catches the eye of fashion legend Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson) through her fiery flair. As von Hellman takes Estella under her wing, their relationship sends Estella down a dark path, embracing her cruel and wicked side and transforming her into the revenge-bent Cruella.
Disney’s Cruella premieres in theatres on 27 May.
Fast & Furious 9
One of the highest’s grossing film series ever, Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto is back with Fast & Furious 9 or F9. After the events of The Fate of the Furious (2017), Dom has settled into a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian. Little do they know that danger lurks just over their peaceful horizon. Dom and his crew and family join together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered: Dom’s forsaken younger brother, Jakob (John Cena). The personal vendetta between brothers and a confrontation with their old enemy, Cipher, will force Dom to confront the sins of his past to save the lives of those he loves most.
Fast and Furious 9 comes to theatres 26 May.
A Trip with Your Wife
What would you do if someone paid you US$10 million for a trip with your wife?
If the premise sounds familiar, that’s because it was swiped from the famous 1993 fim starring Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson, Indecent Proposal. This Taiwanese version however adds a little bit more drama to the triangle – what if that someone was your best friend?
Bryan Chang and Rhydian Vaughan play college besties, Ah Cheng and Ah Zhi, who both fell in love with the same girl, Xiaoya (played by Michelle Chen) in college. Being a good friend, Ah Zhi helped Ah Cheng win Xiaoya’s heart, before slowly drifting apart from the couple.
Years after Ah Cheng and Xiao Ya are married, his company faces a crisis of bankruptcy. As Ah Cheng’s desperation puts their relationship to test, Ah Zhi reappears and makes his former best friend an offer he can’t resist.
A Trip with Your Wife premieres in local theatres on 6 May.
For Disney Fans
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
We have all heard of the drama that went down between the leads that led to Olivia Rodrigo’s Billboard hit song Driver’s License. But it will take more than behind-the-scenes drama to quell our excitement for season two of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series! We have waited over a year and a half for this, but the show is finally back, with teenage drama and catchy tunes.
You would think that after the smashing success of their production of High School Musical One, it would only be natural that the students put on High School Musical Two. But Miss Jenn’s competitive spirit gets in the way as she pushes the theatre students of East High to stage a production of Beauty and the Beast for the spring musical, leading the cast in an attempt to win a prestigious local student theatre competition. The East High Leopards face off against their rival North High theatre group, led by Miss Jenn’s ex-boyfriend, Zack (played by six-time Dancing with the Stars winner Derek Hough).
Will we ever get to dance along to new renditions of our favourite High School Musical Two songs? Guess we will have to tune in to find out!
The second season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series premieres 14 May on Disney +.
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