In the blink of an eye, 2022 is already upon us. With plenty of festive shows and highly anticipated blockbusters released during the holiday season, the ones in January may be rather muted. But then again, as we settle into the New Year, it seems to be the perfect moment to update your to-watch list and satisfy your binge-watching needs. Check out TheHomeground Asia’s recommendations across Netflix, Viu, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime.
The Wheel of Time
Based on Robert Jordan’s novel series of the same name, the first episode of the epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time was first released in November 2021. It was not until Christmas eve that the last episode aired, leaving viewers even more captivated than before. The series features Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), who is a member of a powerful group of sorceresses, going on a mission to find the prophesied teen who may or may not destroy the world. Despite beginning with a rather expository start, critics have praised the immersive storyline, gorgeous scenery and memorable visual effects and characters.
The Wheel of Time is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
The Book of Boba Fett – Chapter 3
A new spin-off from the popular Star Wars show The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett tells the adventure of the iconic Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) who had little screen time on the original trilogy. The series takes place after Fett’s apparent death in Return of the Jedi and documents his adventure in the galaxy’s underworld. Along the way, the series shows him making a name for himself and taking over the territory once owned by Jabba the Hutt.
The Book of Boba Fett – Chapter 3 is now streaming on Disney+.
Doctor Sleep
Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Doctor Sleep is a 2019 sequel to the book and movie versions of The Shining. Doctor Sleep follows the now-adult protagonist Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) who suffers from PTSD of his childhood trauma, where his drunken father attempted to murder him and his mother at the haunted Overlook hotel. He eventually meets a young girl, who possesses the same psychological powers as him, and attempts to protect her from a cult. Although not entirely horrifying, be ready for the gore and violence on screen. What a start to the new year!
Doctor Sleep will be available on Netflix from 1 January 2022.
Ghost Doctor
The original Boys Over Flower actor Kim Bum will star alongside South Korean singer-songwriter and actor Rain in this comedic K-drama Ghost Doctor. Here, Rain plays an arrogant but genius thoracic surgeon Cha Young-Min while Kim plays a silver-spoon, mediocrely-skilled resident Go Seung-Tak. Due to a paranormal incident, Cha’s spirit became lodged into Go’s body and he found that he could control Go’s actions. With different backgrounds, personalities and skills, chaos ensues between the two doctors.
Ghost Doctor will be streaming on Viu from 4 January 2022.
Mother/Android
The Hulu Original science fiction thriller is making its way to Netflix this January. Here, Chloë Grace Moretz plays a pregnant woman, who along with her boyfriend Sam (Algee Smith), attempts to survive the post-apocalyptic world that sees androids going rogue and destroying humanity. Nine months after the horrendous technological glitch that caused humanity’s downfall, the couple heard of a refuge that allows mothers to live a peaceful life away from androids and decided to embark on a dangerous mission in search for it.
Mother/Android will be available on Netflix from 7 January 2022.
The Eternals
If you have put off watching The Eternals in theatre but happen to have a Disney+ subscription, you can relish in award-winning director Chloe Zhao’s expansive world of ancient heroes from mid-January onwards. The Eternals is Marvel’s third movie to debut in its Phase 4, the fourth part of a group of superhero films and TV series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The captivating film features a group of ten ancient heroes or Celestials, who were tasked to watch over humanity and to only intervene when the Deviants, their villainous counterparts, appear. It stars Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Don Lee, Barry Keoghan, Lia McHugh, deaf actress Lauren Ridloffa, Kumail Nanjiani, and Brian Tyree Henry who plays a Celestial in a homosexual relationship.
The Eternals will be streaming on Disney+ from 12 January 2022.
The Journalist
Fans of the Japanese medical drama series Doctor X will be delighted to see a familiar face: Yonekura Ryoko starring in the upcoming, highly-anticipated crime drama The Journalist. A TV adaptation from the 2019 Japanese movie of the same name, the series is directed by Academy Awards winning director Fujii Michihito, who also directed the movie which took home three major awards, including the Best Picture of the Year, at the 43rd Japan Academy Awards. The drama series will tell the story of an ace journalist (Yonekura) attempting to uncover the corruption that plagues the nation.
The Journalist will be streaming on Netflix from 13 January 2022.
Midnight Asia: Eat. Dance. Dream.
We never know when mask-free and quarantine-free travel will be a thing again, but we can still look forward to catching a glimpse of the world with travel documentaries. In Midnight Asia: Eat. Dance. Dream., the Netflix documentary series brings viewers on an escapade to some of Asia’s great metropolises after dark. From Seoul to Tokyo, Mumbai to Bangkok, the series unveils hidden locations, uncovers culinary spots and explores the nocturnal world of these cities. The show is unhosted but features unique characters, just like the slice of life Japanese drama Midnight Diner that boasts different but interesting personalities. We reckon this is the perfect way to sate your pent-up wanderlust, although you could consider binging on our travel stories too.
Midnight Asia: Eat. Dance. Dream. will be available on Netflix from 20 January 2022.
All of Us Are Dead
If you are into zombie flicks, the upcoming South Korean thriller drama will likely pique your interest. In All of Us Are Dead, a group of high school students find themselves trapped in their campus and surrounded by zombies. Despite the cliche plot, the series is based on the Korean webtoon Now at Our School and holds plenty of promises—we haven’t been disappointed yet with the Kingdom series, have we? The Netflix horror original stars Lee Yoo-Mi who played Squid Games’ fan-favourite contestant Ji-Yeong, Rich Ting who was cast in Angelina Jolie’s film Salt in 2010, Yoon Chan-Young, Park Ji-Hoo, and more.
All of Us Are Dead will be streaming on Netflix in January 2022.
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