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Binge-watching this holiday season because you can

After an exhausting year, what better than to kick back and binge-watch some shows this holiday season?

Josa Lukman and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, December 20, 2019

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Binge-watching this holiday season because you can Gripping: Martin Scorsese's latest movie 'The Irishman' stands at three hours and 29 minutes. (Courtesy of Netflix/-)

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f you want a break from the constant barrage of news, you couldn't do much better than diving into some of the exciting series currently offered on the many streaming services. These shows are perfect to watch with your loved ones or by yourself for some me-time with a good bottle of wine or a bag of potato chips.

Lost in Space

This series is one of the best family friendly shows you can find in the treasure trove of terrific series on Netflix. It follows the Robinsons and the scores of other space colonists trying to survive on a strange planet where they encounter the viewers’ favorite, a special robot called Robot. There are just a few days left to catch up on the series before season two starts on Dec. 24.

Bear meets girl: 'His Dark Materials' is set in an alternate world where humans have animal companions, which are manifestations of the human soul.
Bear meets girl: 'His Dark Materials' is set in an alternate world where humans have animal companions, which are manifestations of the human soul. (Courtesy of HBO/-)

His Dark Materials

Another family friendly show to watch on HBO or the mobile app HBO Go, the fantasy-adventure series will reach its finale on Dec. 24. Adapted from the book trilogy of the same name by Philip Pullman, the eight-episode series is set in an alternate world where humans have animal companions called daemons, which are the manifestation of the human soul.

Kata Bocah The Show

The Indonesian version of the US comedy show Kids Say the Darndest Things has been aired every Monday on GoPlay, the video-on-demand platform from Gojek, since November. The young participants share their honest opinion and analysis on the life problems faced by the adults and give their comments on the food prepared in each 20-minute episode.

In limbo: Korean drama 'Hotel Del Luna' brings a supernatural twist to romance.
In limbo: Korean drama 'Hotel Del Luna' brings a supernatural twist to romance. (Courtesy of GT.st/-)

Hotel Del Luna

The English and Indonesian-subtitled Korean drama series could be binged on mobile streaming app VIU, the home for Asian shows across the continent. The series offers a supernatural twist through its titular hotel, which can only be seen on a full moon. Like Hotel Cortez in American Horror Story: Hotel, it is populated with spirits. However, unlike the sinister Cortez, the Del Luna serves as a sort of halfway home before spirits move on to the afterlife.

BoJack Horseman

If you enjoy black comedy infused with drama, you might want to catch up on BoJack Horseman. Now would be a good time to binge on previous seasons before the second part of the final season airs at the end of January. First airing in 2014, the series has been lauded for its handling and portrayal of sensitive issues, from sexuality and mental health to political issues such as gun control and abortion rights.

On a quest: Starring Henry Cavill as main character Geralt of Rivia, 'The Witcher' is adapted from the Polish novels of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski.
On a quest: Starring Henry Cavill as main character Geralt of Rivia, 'The Witcher' is adapted from the Polish novels of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski. (Courtesy of Netflix/-)

The Witcher

The latest Netflix original series was premiered on Dec. 20, starring Henry Cavill as main character Geralt of Rivia, the sword-wielding monster slayer. The series is adapted from the book series by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, which also gave way to video games for PC and console. The big-budget action epic began streaming on Dec. 20 and was expected to appeal to fans of Game of Thrones.

Kisah Tanah Jawa: Merapi

Along with hosting movies and serials from major studios around the world, Kuala Lumpur-based streaming service Iflix runs an individual localization program for its market of 13 countries.

For Indonesia, its latest offering is a six-episode horror series titled Kisah Tanah Jawa: Merapi (Stories of Java: Merapi). Done in collaboration with Rapi Films, the series premiered on Halloween this year.

The story revolves around Mount Merapi in Central Java, where friends Andi (Deva Mahenra) and Babon (Joshua Suherman) went looking for another friend who went missing for two months and was presumed dead during a mountain hike.

Watchmen

Superhero drama Watchmen on HBO offers a darker, bleaker take on the genre, where masked vigilantes have become outlaws. Starring Regina King and Don Johnson, the final episode of the nine-episode first season premiered on Dec. 16. Executive producer and writer Damon Lindelof likened the 2019 series to a remix of the original 1987 comic series, offering a new story set 34 years after the events of the comic.

The Crown

If you want something more realistic, this historical drama on Netflix takes a look into the reign of British monarch Queen Elizabeth II. The third season was released in November and a fourth season is in the works, with an all-new cast to account for the time period depicted.

Dua Garis Biru

Along with serials sourced from local TV, Iflix’s retinue also include crowd favorite movies this year, such as the critically acclaimed family drama Dua Garis Biru (Two Blue Stripes), starring Angga Yunanda and Zara of JKT48 fame. High school sweethearts Dara (Zara) and Bima (Angga) deal with the consequences of teen pregnancy, where they learn that uninformed decisions can have wide ranging implications across both sides of the family. Gina S. Noer’s directorial debut received 12 nominations at the 2019 Indonesian Film Festival, bringing home the award for Best Original Script as well as Best Supporting Actress for Cut Mini’s portrayal as Bima’s mother.

The holiday season might also be a good way to fully take in The Irishman, Martin Scorsese’s latest film available on Netflix that’s a whopping three hours and 29 minutes long or to catch up with the fast growing Indonesian web series you can watch for free on YouTube. The three-episode Nanti Kita Cerita Tentang Hari Ini (Let’s Talk about Today Later), as one of the latest productions, will be made into a feature film by Visinema Pictures and is expected to be released on Jan. 2, 2020. (ste)

 

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