Everyone’s been into a series on TV at a point in their lives. Whether it was the daily 9PM show on Channel 8 or Descendants Of The Sun, we know how exciting, and gratifying, it was to be part of the fan base of an ongoing show. If you ever find spare time in your busy Singaporean lives, then here are some shows we’d highly recommend. But let us warn you — while watching TV shows is usually meant for unwinding, the sheer thrill from watching the shows below may actually have the opposite effect.
Riverdale
If you love teen dramas such as Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars, Riverdale is the perfect up-and-coming TV series for you.
Based on the characters by Archie Comics, Riverdale’s plot is driven by the murder of a high school student, one of the Blossom twins, in their spooky little town where everyone seems a bit too perfect. Reinvention comes through with the writing of the show and indeed, details such as the characters’ near-consciousness that they’re playing strangely conventional roles is what brings this show success.
While the original audience familiar with Veronica’s white headband, Betty’s constant ponytail, and Archie’s red hair have long passed teen age — most are even grandparents now — the show may just be the beginning of Archie’s return to teenage relevance.
No. of seasons: 1 (ongoing)
Number of episodes: 10 (ongoing)
Watch on Netflix here.
Black Mirror
Fans of tech-based dystopia, feast your eyes on Black Mirror. The British anthology series is beloved for its ability to create a dystopian world founded in modern technological extrapolation, making some of our worst fears come true.
The best part about this series is — none of the episodes are interconnected. Each episode has an entirely new premise, and can be watched on its own. Hence, the wide variety of episodes available makes Black Mirror an extremely easy series to ease yourself into – a series that you can put away, and return to, at anytime.
I would highly recommend starting with White Christmas from Season One. Once you’ve had your mind blown, the next step would naturally be to search the other great episodes from all three seasons, and soon, you’d find yourself in a daze for the next couple of days.
No. of seasons: 3
Number of episodes: 13
Watch on Netflix here.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Book purists, you would love the newest take on Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. With Lemony Snicket, otherwise known as Daniel Handler, onboard as screenwriter, as well as two one-hour long episodes dedicated to covering each book, viewers are able to get a taste of the true essence of the series paired with perfect pacing.
If you’re completely new to the series, here’s the breakdown. The show revolves around Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, orphans who are constantly facing trials and tribulations as they are passed around from guardian to guardian. The villainous Count Olaf, played by Neil Patrick Harris, pursues the children, following them through their home-hopping whilst trying to seize their inherited fortune.
Though Lemony Snicket opens the show explicitly telling viewers that “there is no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle”, the series retains everything darkly humorous from the books, and Neil Patrick Harris’s hilarious portrayal as Count Olaf will leave you exhilarated from laughter.
No. of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 8
Watch on Netflix here.
Stranger Things
Hailed as one of the best shows Netflix has ever made, this thrilling drama stars award-winning actress Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, who lives in a small Indiana town in 1983 — inspired by a time when tales of science fiction captivated audiences. The nostalgia from the bygone era of the 80s is what makes this show so endearing — although ‘endearing’ wouldn’t be a term I’d use to describe the horror in the rest of it.
A quartet of kids star in the centre of the series, as well as up-and-coming actress Millie Bobby Brown, who plays telekinetic girl Eleven. Divulging too much about the show would defeat its purpose, and all I can say is that the brilliant band of child actors and actresses, a genuinely terrifying monster or two, and the constantly surprising storyline, will get you hooked.
With only eight episodes, each lasting an hour long, this show is perfect for a weekend marathon. Or if you ever decide that the eight hours of sleep adults should be getting every night is overrated.
No. of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 8
Watch on Netflix here.
Sense8
A diverse set of individuals around the globe one day find themselves connected — first by a violent vision, then by their ability to psychically share one another’s knowledge and skills, and finally by the urgent need to find out what happened and why. If this premise doesn’t pique your interest in the slightest, I wouldn’t know what else will.
Even with eight characters of distinct race, class, and sexuality, the show doesn’t scrimp on the detailing. Each has their own backstory, which the show took care to thoroughly explore and explain before picking up its pace. Primarily character-driven, the gradual mutual understanding between the ‘sensates’ allows the show to reach a depth unmatched by most sci-fi shows.
By the end of the series, a strong a sense of attachment never before felt would leave you with pretty painful withdrawal symptoms.
No. of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 13
Watch on Netflix here.
Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones is one of the many TV series based on Marvel Comics, and is heralded as one of the strongest Marvel franchise to date. This Netflix original chronicles the life of its engaging antihero, the mysterious Jessica Jones who has had her career as a superhero cut short by a tragedy. Jessica eventually opens her own detective agency, which seems to be called into cases involving people with special abilities.
You don’t have to be a Marvel fan to enjoy this show — in fact, this show is nothing like The Avengers. Much darker and definitely way less family-friendly, Jessica Jones plays out more as a psychological thriller than a superhero series. It deals with psychological abuse, violence, and manipulation, and many instances in the show are more heart-wrenching than explosion-galore-awesome.
No. of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 13
Watch on Netflix here.
Sherlock
Sherlock is currently unavailable on Netflix Singapore, but we had to add it into the list. While the witty, epic protagonist played by the brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch could be reason enough to dive into this series, the wonderful writing by creators Steven Moffat (who also wrote Dr. Who) and Mark Gatiss will make you stay.
The contemporary, 21st century twist on the century-old stories of Sherlock Holmes is what makes this series so fascinating. The show doesn’t just show you Sherlock solving mysteries — it shows you how he does it. Through the hour and a half long episodes, your mind would be filled with theories of your own, as you try in vain to crack the case.
Alas, our peasant brains are nothing compared to Sherlock’s. We can only watch in awe, as John Watson does, as Sherlock rattles off with his deductions and conclusions — complete with a snide remark on John’s (and by extension, the viewers’) boring little brain.
No. of seasons: 4
Number of episodes: 13
