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Category: MOVIE

  • Best New Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Week

    Best New Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Week

    ☕️ TL;DR

    Recent recommendations: [Film] Beaver Transformation Project, [US Series] Madison Valley Season 1, [K-Drama] Power at the Peak, [HK Drama] Goddess of Justice, [UK Series] Free Activity Time, [UK Series] The Other Bennett Sisters, [US Series] Imperfect Women, [K-Drama] Still Shining, [J-Drama] The Devil’s Handball Song, [Canada] Blue Sky Companions, [Animation] Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure 1st STAGE, [Animation] Chicken Fighter

    Highlights from recent trailers: Sekiro: Never Surrender new trailer, Dune 3 first trailer, Spider-Man: Brand New Day first trailer, Mortal Kombat 2 confirmed release date in mainland China

    Latest film & TV news: Sunshine Girls Choir set for mainland release on April 4, Emotional Value confirmed for import, The Spy release poster unveiled, Bitter Star Journey poster released

    [Film] Beaver Transformation Project

    • Keywords: Sci-Fi / Comedy / Adventure
    • Also known as: Hoppers
    • Runtime: 105 minutes, with two post-credit scenes
    • Where to watch: Now in theaters; Douban link

    🦫🦫🪵🥔❤️💞🥔

    @SHY: For Mabel, a suburban pond is her emotional sanctuary—until Mayor Jerry’s highway plan threatens to wipe it out. To stop the construction, she tries to lure back the beavers that once lived there as protected animals. But due to Professor Sam’s invention, her consciousness is transferred into a mechanical beaver, allowing her to infiltrate the animal world from a first-person perspective.

    After watching the trailer and reading the synopsis, you might feel like you’ve already pieced together the entire plot. While the beginning and ending may be fairly predictable, the “filling” in the middle is likely to surprise most viewers. Directed by Daniel Chong, the creator of We Bare Bears, the film takes a familiar premise and lets its imagination run wild, delivering unexpected twists and cleverly crafted humor. Backed by Pixar’s unquestionable technical prowess, the animals’ fluffy textures are rendered to perfection, wrapping the entire film in an irresistibly cute atmosphere.

    Though centered on the seemingly overused theme of environmental protection, the film avoids empty preaching and instead makes meaningful progress within its scope. Character developments are well-motivated, grounded in a belief in the inherent goodness of human nature. Immersed in nature, it invites viewers to let go of their worries and imagine coexistence across species—echoing, in a tongue-in-cheek way, an alternative possibility to Avatar. Brimming with childlike charm, the film captures the spirit of classic Pixar, and its strong word of mouth and box office performance come as no surprise.

    [US Series] Madison Valley Season 1

    • Keywords: Drama / Western
    • Also known as: The Madison Season 1
    • Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode (60 minutes for the premiere) × 10 episodes; Douban link

    How do you move on from the grief of loss?

    @潘誉晗: Before receiving the call about her husband Preston’s fatal plane crash, Stacey had never imagined losing him. Now 65, she had met him at 19, and they built a life together—working hard, raising two beautiful daughters, and enjoying a happy, affluent life in Manhattan. To handle the aftermath, she brings her family to Madison Valley in Montana, Preston’s long-cherished hometown—a place neither she nor her children had ever visited before.

    The vast plains and crystal-clear streams present a breathtaking landscape entirely unfamiliar to Stacey, who grew up in New York City. Like the proverbial “city mouse,” she has long enjoyed the conveniences of urban life, but in doing so has overlooked the grounding power of the land.

    In this gentle new take, Taylor Sheridan restrains the usual intensity of the Yellowstone universe. There are no land grabs, power struggles, or graphic violence—only a family trying to come to terms with sudden loss. The storytelling is delicate and steady, like the quiet river flowing past Preston’s beloved cabin. Simply watching it unfold brings a deep sense of emotional fullness.

    [K-Drama] Climax

    • Keywords: Drama / Crime
    • Also known as: 클라이맥스 / Climax
    • Runtime: ~60 minutes per episode × 10 episodes
    • Where to watch: Disney+; Douban link

    In the struggle for power, you either end up battered—or completely destroyed.

    @利兹与青鸟: Bang Tae-seop’s father, once a union representative, took his own life after being imprisoned due to a bribery scandal involving a prosecutor. Driven by a desire for revenge, Tae-seop becomes a prosecutor himself, but his humble background limits his career advancement, no matter how hard he tries to break into elite circles. After marrying top actress Chu Sang-ah, he begins to find the key to that exclusive world—and even develops ambitions of rising to the pinnacle of Korean politics. Using evidence of sexual bribery as leverage, he partners with conglomerate heir Kwon Jong-wook. Meanwhile, Chu Sang-ah has already fallen from grace: not only is she being threatened by Lee Ryang-mi, the conglomerate’s powerful second-in-command, but a rising male star in her company is also dragged into the web of power-for-sex deals. With both Tae-seop and Sang-ah holding secrets in Lee’s hands, how can this high-stakes game possibly be won?

    Although only two episodes were released in its first week, the series is dense with information, featuring a large cast and intricate relationships. Politics, capital, and the entertainment industry intertwine into an inescapable web. Beyond power struggles, it incorporates espionage and surveillance, making for a richly layered narrative. The muted color palette reinforces a somber, weighty tone. The cast is striking, with performances well-matched to their roles—Cha Joo-young, following The Glory, once again delivers a compelling portrayal of the villainous Lee Ryang-mi: powerful, unhinged, and commanding. The characters abandon their humanity for power or vengeance, only to find themselves with no way out, sinking ever deeper.

    [HK Drama] Goddess of Justice

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Also known as: Themis
    • Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode × 25 episodes
    • Where to watch: Youku; Douban link

    Should the age of a criminal be considered in upholding the integrity of the law?

    @潘誉晗: The trial of a seven-year-old boy’s fatal fall leads Judge Yan Huizhi to reexamine her career. Dissatisfied with the verdict, the boy’s mother confronts the juvenile suspect with a knife, demanding a confession—only to be shot dead by special police. Realizing that juvenile crime can no longer be ignored, Huizhi gives up a promotion opportunity and voluntarily applies to preside over the juvenile court: “If parents fail to teach, the court will.” Through this, she hopes to uphold justice while preventing young offenders from sinking deeper into the abyss of crime.

    Adapted from the Korean drama Juvenile Justice, the series focuses on crimes committed by minors. As a hotly debated topic today, it not only achieves solid localization but also boldly and sharply addresses many pressing issues: PUA, school bullying, sexual abuse by trusted teachers… One harrowing case follows another, making for a deeply unsettling viewing experience. While maintaining a tight narrative pace and delivering compelling courtroom drama, the series also probes the root causes of juvenile crime—family neglect, distorted personalities—issues that urgently demand public attention. The courtroom scenes are particularly well-executed.

    [UK Series] Waiting for the Out

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Also known as: Waiting for the Out
    • Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode × 6 episodes; Douban link

    My father, my uncle, and my brother—they’ve all been in prison.

    @潘誉晗: Philosophy teacher Dan takes on a new job, entering a prison to teach inmates. He hopes that through his lessons, they might learn to think philosophically. What he doesn’t expect is that the job will instead lead him to rediscover himself.

    Unlike typical prison dramas, Waiting for the Out presents a very different portrayal of prison life. There are no vicious criminals or irredeemable villains—these inmates show up to Dan’s class on time, like well-behaved students. Dan himself is an intriguing protagonist: he suffers from OCD and constant anxiety, repeatedly checking photos on his phone to confirm he has turned off the gas at home. He once had a respectable job, making his decision to teach in prison puzzling. Yet his father, uncle, and brother have all served time—an invisible thread that seems to have led him here as well.

    Each episode revolves around a philosophical topic, with discussions that are sincere and thought-provoking. As the series unfolds, we see Dan gradually come to terms with his own fragility and family history, finding himself anew. At the same time, in these prisoners—often scorned by society—we glimpse both sorrow and humanity.

    [UK Series] The Other Bennet Sister

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Also known as: The Other Bennet Sister
    • Runtime: ~30 minutes per episode × 10 episodes; Douban link

    Even an ordinary bird can soar across the sky.

    @利兹与青鸟: As a spin-off of Pride and Prejudice, this series is adapted from the novel of the same name and centers on Mary Bennet, the third daughter of the Bennet family. Compared to her sisters, Mary is unremarkable—seen by her mother as awkward, out of place, a bespectacled and unpopular bookworm. The story begins when Mr. Bingley purchases the estate. As her sisters marry one by one, books fail to provide answers for Mary’s life, and she resigns herself to a future of staying with her mother. However, her mother sends her to her uncle’s home to work temporarily as a governess. Arriving in London, Mary begins a new chapter in her life.

    From the five episodes released so far, the series stands out in both pacing and production quality. It addresses the original novel’s slower narrative progression while introducing fresh developments in each episode. Mary’s life in London is far from smooth—one challenge after another pushes her to grow. The cinematography is beautiful, ranging from pastoral, oil-painting-like landscapes to elegant and classical ballroom scenes. The characters’ inner monologues are delicately portrayed, revealing the constraints faced by women of that era, while the dialogue retains the literary charm of the original work. Freed from her mother’s constant criticism and supported by a kind aunt and accepting friends, Mary gradually discovers her strengths—and in doing so, inspires viewers with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for life.

    [US Series] Imperfect Women

    • Keywords: Thriller
    • Also known as: Imperfect Women
    • Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode × 8 episodes; Douban link

    Is there still such a thing as trustworthy friendship in this world?

    @潘誉晗: Late at night, Erin receives a call from Robert, the husband of her friend Nancy. He says he wants to report Nancy missing immediately. Hearing this, Erin is forced to reveal Nancy’s affair. She then rushes to Robert’s home to comfort him—only for the police to arrive and inform them that Nancy’s body has been found.

    Adapted from a novel, the series revolves around the death of a woman. On social media, Nancy’s daily posts paint a picture of a glamorous life as a wealthy wife. Her husband, from an old-money family, dotes on her; her daughter shares a close bond with her; and she is surrounded by two close friends, Mary and Erin. Yet it is precisely this death that exposes the illusion beneath the trio’s seemingly perfect friendship. Nancy’s affair was known only to Erin; Nancy’s unease about Erin’s relationship with her husband was confided only to Mary. They claimed to share everything—but once privacy and love come into play, everything begins to change.

    With a murder at its core, the series carries a strong sense of texture, using visuals and music to build an effective atmosphere of suspense. Its probing exploration of female friendship is both poignant and thought-provoking.

    [K-Drama] Still Shining

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Also known as: Still Shining
    • Runtime: ~60 minutes per episode × 10 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    May our love continue to shine.

    @潘誉晗: A car accident robs 19-year-old Yeon Tae-ri of his parents. Forced to take on the role of an elder brother, he sets aside his youthful impulsiveness and transfers to a rural town with his injured younger sibling. That summer, he meets Mo Eun-ah. Living alone with her father, Eun-ah carries her own hidden wounds. Bound by shared burdens, the two young hearts quickly draw close—but at the age of 20, their passionate love comes to an abrupt end. Ten years later, fate brings them together again. As long-silent feelings begin to stir once more, can they find their way back to each other?

    Both timelines portrayed in the series are deeply moving. At 19, Tae-ri and Eun-ah are two youths in the prime of their lives—wounded yet pretending to be strong, finding solace and healing in each other. But loving too early means that dreams and the future force them apart. At 30, they are more mature, burdened with greater concerns—yet capable of loving more deeply.

    There are no melodramatic twists or manufactured sweetness—only choices shaped by circumstance. Their intimacy comes naturally, born of genuine love. This story of reunion feels as fresh and gentle as the air after rain.

    [J-Drama] The Devil’s Handball Song

    • Keywords: Drama / Mystery / Crime
    • Also known as: 悪魔の手毬唄
    • Runtime: ~90 minutes per episode × 2 episodes; Douban link

    Every note of the nursery rhyme carries the weight of old sins.

    @Sholmes: Detective Kosuke Kindaichi arrives at Onikubi Village in Okayama Prefecture, staying at the local hot spring inn “Kame-no-Yu.” The village is abuzz with celebration as Chieko, a popular singer originally from the area, returns home in triumph. But the festive mood is short-lived. Soon after her return, several of her childhood friends—young women from the village—are murdered one after another. What makes the case especially eerie is that each body is found adorned with peculiar decorations, each corresponding exactly to the lyrics of an old folk rhyme passed down through generations in the village—The Devil’s Handball Song.

    The mountainous landscape of Onikubi Village and the wooden corridors of the hot spring inn form a somber yet beautiful backdrop. The female characters are not merely victims; each carries her own secrets and past, becoming active forces that drive the tragedy forward. By delving deeply into the psychology of its characters, the script moves beyond the simple question of “who is the killer” and instead asks, “what creates a killer.” Unlike the more free-spirited portrayal by Koji Ishizaka, Hidetaka Yoshioka’s Kindaichi exudes a quiet, almost melancholic warmth. He is not a detached puzzle-solver, but rather a compassionate observer of human tragedy—an interpretation that closely aligns with the fatalistic tone of the original work. The pacing is restrained: the first part focuses on building suspense, while the latter gathers all narrative threads, leading to a bittersweet truth.

    [Canada] Blue Skies

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Also known as: Blue Skies
    • Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode × 8 episodes; Douban link

    Our furry companions will always be humanity’s best partners～

    @潘誉晗: After retiring from the military, Jodie returns to her hometown and becomes a ranger investigator at Crystal Ridge National Park. The park is vast and home to many wild animals, so the job is typically done in pairs. However, on her final day before discharge, Jodie nearly caused a teammate’s death due to her own mistake, leaving her with deep psychological scars. As a result, she insists on working alone after becoming a ranger. On the very day her new supervisor arrives and requires her to find a partner, she unexpectedly discovers an intelligent stray dog in the park. She names him Blue, and from that moment on, they become the perfect team.

    Set against the backdrop of a national park, the series naturally benefits from breathtaking scenery, offering a visually soothing viewing experience. Amid such beauty, the close bond and seamless cooperation between Blue and Jodie add an extra layer of warmth and healing. The narrative is well-structured, and through the protagonist’s profession, viewers gain insight into the work of ranger investigators. Searching for missing hikers involves more than just basic tasks like area sweeps and drone surveillance—it also includes rappelling into valleys and exploring caves. The daily life of a ranger investigator is anything but easy.

    [Animation] Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure 1st STAGE

    • Keywords: Manga adaptation / Fantasy / Action / Adventure
    • Also known as: スティール・ボール・ラン ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 1st STAGE / STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure 1st STAGE
    • Runtime: 47 minutes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    True failure belongs to those who forget the spirit of exploration and never dare to challenge adversity.

    @SHY: In 1890, the 6,000-kilometer STEEL BALL RUN race kicks off across the United States. From San Diego to New York, contestants ride horseback across North America, competing for a grand prize of 50 million dollars. After encountering the mysterious Gyro Zeppeli, former prodigy jockey Johnny Joestar—now paralyzed from the waist down—enters the race, setting the stage for a bizarre adventure.

    As the beginning of JOJO’s new universe, Steel Ball Run synthesizes elements and characters from earlier parts, standing not only as a culmination of the series but also widely regarded as one of the greatest manga of all time. Hirohiko Araki transcends the conventions of traditional shonen manga, crafting vivid, fully realized characters while continuing to celebrate the courage of humanity. The entanglement of dark intentions and golden spirit elevates the protagonists’ journeys of redemption and growth, telling the story of a man abandoned by fate who rises again.

    Animating horses is notoriously difficult in hand-drawn animation—let alone the grand spectacle of thousands galloping across the plains. While many fans tempered their expectations, David Production delivered a reverse “PV deception,” with the final product showing a clear improvement over the initial trailer. Clever direction compensates for production limitations, concentrating resources on the exhilarating horseback battles in the latter half. The climactic finish line sequence fully ignites the audience’s emotions—guaranteed to get your blood pumping. This long journey is one worth witnessing.

    [Animation] Rooster Fighter

    • Keywords: Manga adaptation / Fantasy / Action / Comedy
    • Also known as: ニワトリ・ファイター / Rooster Fighter
    • Runtime: 24 minutes per episode × number of episodes unknown, updated weekly on Sundays
    • Where to watch: YouTube / Viu; Douban link

    A rooster among roosters—a true fighter!

    @SHY: On that day, humanity recalled the terror of being dominated—and the humiliation of being confined in cages. As monstrous “oni-beasts” trample cities at will, a furious rooster rises to stand against them. Named Keiji, he roams the land in search of the demon that killed his sister. Along the way, he forms strong bonds with companions such as Piyoko, a chick bearing the tattoo of “justice and loyalty,” and Elizabeth, a talented and beautiful hen, joining forces to overturn a seemingly hopeless future.

    Adapted from one of the new-generation meme manga sensations—nicknamed “our ruthless chicken bro, a man of few words”—the original work went viral across the internet early in its serialization. The anime fully embraces the language of short-form video clips: episode one is packed with rapid-fire references, from three-dimensional chicken-powered devices to “semi-circular physics,” unleashing absurd ultimate moves with clucks and crows, capped off with a punchy финisher—every frame feels like a highlight moment. Keiji, with grand ambitions, delivers sharp, hilarious lines that keep audiences laughing.

    Following last year’s work on “Hen Gear,” animation studio Sanzigen proves equally adept at bringing roosters to life. The bold, thick-lined modeling gives the characters a strong physical presence. While the story largely follows familiar shonen tropes, replacing the protagonist with a rooster makes everything delightfully absurd. Scripted by blockbuster veteran Hiroshi Seko, the series playfully subverts those very tropes. Watch as Keiji sharpens his feathers, lets out a mighty crow, and slays demons—reminding us that when the rooster crows, the world awakens. Truly, chicken bro is something else.

    More

    [Film] Supreme Marty

    @SHY: Marty Mauser, a young clerk working in a shoe store, possesses extraordinary table tennis talent. In his pursuit of a chance to prove himself, he is willing to pay any price. Can this unmatched obsession lead him to success? Although it awkwardly went 0-for-9 at the Oscars, the sheer number of nominations proves the film’s strengths. Director Josh Safdie crafts an extremely self-serving, almost manic character through unconventional editing and storytelling, while Timothée Chalamet delivers what may be a career-best performance, bringing the character’s magnetic presence to the big screen—even if you don’t agree with his actions, it’s hard not to be drawn in.

    [Film] Dream Team Miracle

    @SHY: Will, a small-statured goat with dreams of becoming a superstar, makes his way into the team of his dreams through talent, hard work, and a bit of luck. But in a sport dominated by fierce beasts, things are far from simple. Produced and voiced by Stephen Curry, this GOAT-themed film draws inspiration from real-life stories and is packed with countless Easter eggs. Fresh off an Oscar win, Sony Animation continues the distinctive visual style seen in Spider-Verse and The Mitchells vs. the Machines, delivering an outstanding audiovisual experience. While the script leans toward familiar territory, the underdog comeback story on the court remains genuinely moving.

    [UK Series] A True Woman

    @利兹与青鸟: Adapted from the novel of the same name, the story is set in the early 20th century. Emma Hart, a hardworking, sharp-minded, and determined maid from a poor background, seizes opportunities during World War I and gradually builds her own business empire through sheer effort. While it may sound like a typical “strong female lead” success story—with elements of love, betrayal, and family intrigue that make it dramatic and legendary—Emma is portrayed as a fully realized character with both strengths and flaws, making her compelling to watch. However, the ending may test viewers’ patience and emotions—perhaps a reflection of life’s bittersweet reality.

    [UK Series] Death in Paradise Season 15

    @潘誉晗: Saint Marie is always bathed in sunshine—unfortunately, it’s also a place where crime frequently occurs. Thankfully, the detectives at the local police station are reliable, working in sync and dividing tasks efficiently. Though they occasionally hit dead ends, they always manage to solve the case in the end. Over the years, this long-running series has seen a rotating cast of lead detectives; this time, the newcomer is transferred from Brazil. Yet the commissioner and mayor remain constant, as do the Caribbean scenery and the triumph of justice.

    [K-Drama] Boyfriend Subscription

    @潘誉晗: Seo Mirae gains access to a beta version of an otome game called “Boyfriend Subscription.” Within the game, she can choose from 900 high-quality male characters to romance. To better fulfill her role as a romance manga editor, Mirae enters the game—and unexpectedly rekindles her long-dormant feelings, rediscovering her desire for love. This urban romantic comedy, built around elements like otome games and manga, offers a fresh premise and a brisk, lighthearted pace.

    [K-Drama] Gods & Lawyers

    @利兹与青鸟: Shin Yi-rang, struggling in her career, opens a law firm inside a former shaman’s studio steeped in folk traditions. Unexpectedly, she gains the ability to communicate with spirits—and even be possessed by them—using these powers to seek justice for the dead. Blending supernatural elements with episodic investigative cases, the series features socially grounded stories that highlight human warmth, yet maintains an overall light and comedic tone. Yoo Yeon-seok’s performance, especially in possession scenes, is both exhilarating and entertaining, making it a perfect casual watch.

    📅 This Week’s New Trailers

    Sekiro: Never Surrender – New Trailer

    On March 17, the animated film Sekiro: Never Surrender released a new trailer. The film is set to premiere in Japan in 2026 and will be available on Crunchyroll. Adapted from the game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, it is directed by Kenichi Tsunama, written by Takuya Sato, with Takashi Mukoda serving as action animation director, music composed by Tatsuya Kato, and produced by Qzil.la. The theme song is “Blu” by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Source

    Dune 3 – First Trailer

    On March 18, the first trailer for Dune 3 was released. The film is scheduled to premiere in North America on December 18. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Robert Pattinson, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem, the film brings together new enemies and old allies as it builds toward an epic conclusion. Source

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day – First Trailer

    On March 18, the first trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day was released. The film will debut in North America on July 31. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Mark Ruffalo, the story follows Peter Parker after he has been forgotten by the world—his loved ones now strangers. As new threats emerge, can Spider-Man, fighting alone, rise again? Source

    Mortal Kombat 2 – China Release Date Announced

    On March 16, the action film Mortal Kombat 2 was officially scheduled for release in mainland China on May 8, alongside a new poster and trailer. Directed once again by Simon McQuoid, the film stars Karl Urban (Johnny Cage), Adeline Rudolph (Kitana), Jessica McNamee (Sonya Blade), Josh Lawson (Kano), and Ludi Lin (Liu Kang).

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    Animation Film Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island – Teaser Trailer: Directed by Kei Oikawa and produced by Cygames Pictures, the film is adapted from a story originally posted on X by creator Nagano in 2023. After receiving a special invitation, the adorable characters set off for a training camp on a mysterious island. The film will be released in Japan on July 24. Source

    Film Wild Horse Nine – First Trailer: Directed and written by Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), and starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, the story follows two CIA agents with vastly different personalities, Chris and Lee, who are sent to Easter Island. There, they must carry out a mission that tests their trust and loyalty. The film will premiere in North America on November 6. Source

    Film Jack Ryan: Ghost War – First Trailer: Directed by Andrew Bernstein and starring John Krasinski, Sienna Miller, McKenna Grace, and Khalid Abdalla, the film sees Jack reunite with veteran CIA agent Mike and former CIA director James. Drawing on their extensive experience, they face off against a formidable enemy. It will premiere on Prime Video on May 20. Source

    📽 Weekly Film & TV News

    Sunshine Girls Choir set for mainland release on April 4
    On March 19, Sunshine Girls Choir, the highest-grossing Chinese-language film in Taiwan box office history, was officially scheduled for mainland China release on April 4, alongside a trailer and poster. Directed by Hsiao-Chien Lin and starring Ivy Chen and Judy Ongg, the story follows Li Huizhen, who, in order to leave behind beautiful memories for her soon-to-depart daughter, decides to form a choir. Through rehearsals and shared moments, these imperfect women gradually heal one another. Source

    Sentimental Value confirmed for import
    On March 15, the film Sentimental Value was confirmed for import and will be released soon. The film won Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards and is directed by Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World), starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning. It was previously recommended in What to Watch This Week (260206 edition).

    The Informant release poster unveiled
    On March 16, The Informant officially announced its release date, unveiling a poster and trailer. The film will be released nationwide on March 27. It won Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor at the Golden Globes and received a nomination for Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and starring Wagner Moura, the story follows an ordinary professor who goes into hiding to escape persecution, using an individual’s fate to reflect broader historical memory.

    Bitter Star Journey releases new poster
    On March 16, the dark comedy Bitter Star Journey, directed by Jonah Hill and co-starring Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, and Matt Bomer, released a new poster. The film will premiere on Apple TV on April 10. The cast also includes Martin Scorsese, Susan Lucci, Laverne Cox, David Spade, Atsuko Okatsuka, Roy Wood Jr., Kaia Gerber, and Ivy Wolk.

  • Best New Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Week

    Best New Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Week

    ☕️ TL;DR

    Recent recommendations: [UK] The Capture Season 3, [US] Ted Season 2, [US] Let’s Get to Work, [Turkey] The Museum of Innocence, [China] Good Times Ahead, [US] One Piece Season 2: Toward the Grand Line, [Animation] Neon Genesis Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Screening, [Documentary] Age of Dinosaurs: Stories You Didn’t Know, [Reality Show] Small Town Hair Magician

    A few notable trailers: the official trailer for Dorohedoro Season 2, the final trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the first trailer for Gold Spy Operation, and the official trailer for We Are Not What We Seem

    Film & TV news: The Devil Wears Prada 2 confirmed for theatrical release in mainland China, Michael Jackson: The Journey of a Superstar confirmed for theatrical release, Gatao: Bridgehead scheduled for mainland China release on April 10, and a new poster released for the modern adaptation of Hamlet.

    [UK] The Capture Season 3

    • Keywords: Drama / Thriller
    • Also known as: The Capture Season 3
    • Runtime: About 60 minutes per episode × 6 episodes; Douban link

    How can we believe what we see?

    @利兹与青鸟: The third season picks up directly after the events of the previous one, set one year after Rachel infiltrated the counterterrorism unit and orchestrated the public exposure of the “Correction Program.” A spy manages to infiltrate the country by hacking and altering the facial recognition system at an airport’s electronic gate. However, Rachel’s counterterrorism department still detects his presence. This successful interception leads Rachel to publicly introduce her new initiative, the “Truth Operation,” a surveillance system designed to counter deepfakes. But during the press conference announcing the program, a major security incident occurs. Not only does Rachel find her own perceptions being questioned, but a series of even more chilling and unexpected events begins to unfold.

    From forged surveillance footage used as evidence to powerful alliances between government elites and tech giants exploiting deepfake technology, just when the audience thinks the story has reached its climax, the situation escalates once again. This season directly touches upon issues of national security. Even after the first two seasons received increasingly strong critical acclaim, the premiere of the third season still matches their quality. The opening episode is packed with information, with the live interview confrontation between Rachel and Kadija delivering intense psychological pressure. Surveillance tracking, gunfights, and chase sequences keep twisting and turning, making the story both tense and exhilarating, as viewers become immersed in a strategic battle where every move is countered by another. The shocking ending leaves audiences stunned. As those in power navigate the shifting balance between authority, technology, and human nature, ordinary people are left to wonder: how can anyone still tell truth from fabrication?

    [US] Ted Season 2

    • Keywords: Comedy
    • Also known as: Ted Season 2
    • Runtime: About 30 minutes per episode × 8 episodes; Douban link

    Suitable for the whole family (just kidding).

    @潘誉晗: One day, John and Ted accidentally discover that a telephone in the school basement can connect to a premium adult hotline. From then on, the two secretly sneak down to make calls—until the school receives a $5,000 phone bill. Furious about the situation, the school administration brings in an investigator determined to catch whoever is responsible and expel them. To escape punishment, Ted and John decide to invent a fictional school bully to take the blame. Meanwhile, Blair receives a call from her deeply annoying father, who claims he’s coming to take her back home.

    Season two of Ted is set in 1994, the final year of high school for Ted and John. Naturally, that means their campus life becomes even more chaotic, reckless, and outrageous. Continuing the tone established in the first season, the second season sees the return of what might be “the most obscene teddy bear in Western TV,” pushing the boundaries even further with cruder jokes and bolder storytelling. Yet this is also where the series shines. It successfully finds a balance where vulgar humor and genuine warmth can coexist. Amid seemingly outrageous plots and irreverent dialogue, the show weaves in surprisingly heartfelt moments—so that while audiences are laughing out loud, they also come to understand family bonds and feel the power of friendship.

    [US] DTF St. Louis

    • Keywords: Drama / Comedy / Crime
    • Also known as: DTF St. Louis / The St. Louis Hookup Case
    • Runtime: About 47 minutes per episode × 6 episodes
    • Where to watch: HBO Max; Douban link

    Middle-aged people have desires too.

    @潘誉晗: Floyd is found dead in an empty room at a community swimming pool used by local teenagers, prompting the police to launch an investigation. Based on surveillance cameras outside the street, suspicion quickly falls on Clark, a weatherman. Clark is Floyd’s colleague and friend, and during news broadcasts Floyd occasionally stands beside him as a sign language interpreter. However, after the police examine Clark’s text messages and emails, they soon discover that Clark had long been having an affair with Floyd’s wife, Carol.

    Although HBO has labeled the series with the tag “comedy,” the two episodes released so far suggest that the overall tone is rather serious and absurd. After all, who would have imagined that the hookup app uncovered during the murder investigation was something Clark originally introduced to Floyd simply to make his own affair easier? Even their seemingly instant middle-aged friendship was built upon Clark’s illicit relationship with Floyd’s wife. The tangled storyline keeps viewers guessing about what might happen next, and this series—marketed around the theme of a midlife crisis—mercilessly exposes the desires of middle-aged people through the conflicting dynamics of infidelity and friendship.

    [Turkey] The Museum of Innocence

    You were living through the happiest moment of your life.

    @潘誉晗: One day in 1975, Kemal reunites with his distant cousin Füsun. After years apart, Füsun has grown into a graceful young woman, and Kemal quickly finds his heart stirred. He begins an obsessive love affair with her, yet he does not end his engagement to his fiancée. On the day of Kemal’s engagement party, a heartbroken Füsun leaves and disappears. After 339 days, Kemal finally finds her—but she had already married someone else five months earlier.

    This limited series released by Netflix is adapted from the novel of the same name by Nobel Prize–winning author Orhan Pamuk. The production demonstrates remarkable sincerity, with excellent cinematography, visuals, costume design, and music throughout. With Pamuk himself involved in the adaptation, the series stays highly faithful to the original work. It perfectly recreates the ambiguous yet regretful atmosphere of the novel. Even more surprisingly, the series is directed by a female director. Through her gentle and nuanced visual language, we see Füsun’s descent into obsession, emotional breakdown, and pain within this relationship. Through Füsun’s tragic love story and emotional turmoil, viewers are also shown the oppression women face in a patriarchal society: even in an era becoming increasingly Westernized, women are still not allowed to freely pursue independence, love, and their dreams.

    [China] Good Times Ahead

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Runtime: About 45 minutes per episode × 40 episodes
    • Where to watch: Mango TV; Douban link

    A simple, steady life can still hold beautiful moments.

    @潘誉晗: Zhuang Xianjin lives up to his name—he’s truly “advanced.” As a highly skilled mechanical worker, he is warm-hearted, diligent, and constantly striving to improve. Mechanical failures that would normally take a full month to repair at a specialized workshop can be fixed by him with just a few tools in about an hour. However, now in his early forties, he has already been a widower for many years. He raises his three children—Haohao, Xuexi, and Tiantian—on his own. Because of his good character, Old Zhuang has not remarried for years, which worries those around him. People frequently try to introduce him to potential partners. Meanwhile, he has quietly developed feelings for Su Xiaoman, a widow raising a son and a daughter on her own.

    Set in the late 1970s, the story revolves around the everyday life of this newly formed blended family. While it lacks the modern glamour of contemporary urban dramas, this simple and heartfelt slice-of-life series has proven deeply comforting for many viewers. It feels almost like an essay written in a plain, unadorned style—perhaps not ornate in language, but striking directly at the heart. With parental love as its emotional foundation and starting point, the steady daily life within this reassembled family gently softens the viewer’s heart. After a period of initial adjustment, the small family gradually becomes more united and affectionate.

    [US] One Piece Season 2: Into the Grand Line

    • Keywords: Manga Adaptation / Fantasy / Adventure / Action
    • Also known as: One Piece: Into the Grand Line
    • Runtime: About 60 minutes per episode × 8 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    A person truly dies when they are forgotten.

    @SHY: After defeating Arlong, the Straw Hat crew continues their journey toward the Grand Line. Their adventure begins in Loguetown—the place where Pirate King Gol D. Roger was executed—before climbing Reverse Mountain, venturing into Little Garden, and eventually arriving at the frozen Drum Kingdom. Along the way they may meet new companions and encounter new enemies; new adventures are always waiting.

    After the first season topped Netflix’s global viewership charts in the second half of 2023, the second season arrives with a larger budget and upgrades across the board. Costume design and props strive to faithfully recreate the manga’s iconic looks without feeling cheap, while the action sequences—previously criticized—now feature more thoughtful choreography. The visual effects are equally impressive: Smoker’s smoke abilities, Mr. 3’s wax powers, and Wapol’s iron jaws all feel imposing and convincing. Meanwhile, Chopper’s appearance is a major highlight. Motion-capture technology brings his expressions and movements vividly to life, and his fluffy texture pushes the “cute factor” to the maximum.

    Original creator Eiichiro Oda continues to play a deeply involved role in the live-action production. He personally oversaw casting decisions, communicated with the actors individually, and even visited the filming location in South Africa to supervise the shoot, ensuring the quality of the script. This season skillfully integrates elements from the original storyline—eight episodes adapt five story arcs without feeling chaotic. Characters such as Brook and Sabo also appear earlier than in the manga, laying groundwork for future developments in the story. As the crew sings “Binks’ Sake” and witnesses the miraculous cherry blossoms blooming in the snowy kingdom, the upcoming Alabasta arc—currently nearing completion in the narrative—promises to be even more spectacular.

    [Animation] Neon Genesis Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Screening

    • Also known as: エヴァンゲリオン放送30周年記念特別興行 / EVANGELION 30th Anniversary Special Screening
    • Runtime: 15 minutes
    • Where to watch: YouTube / Bilibili; Douban link

    Brave girl, go forth and create a miracle.

    @SHY: Once there was a boy who stopped running away, grew up, and headed toward a new world without Evangelions. People say that was a happy ending to the story. But there is also a girl who remained behind in the old world, drowning in self-reproach, her fate gripping her by the throat, even her name overwritten. Can she, through her own strength, claim the happiness that belongs to her?

    This short film was originally a venue-exclusive video for the EVANGELION:30+ anniversary event and was never intended for streaming release. The studio khara, which has always been committed to cracking down on unauthorized recordings, ironically attached the high-definition original footage while sending out DMCA takedown notices. Once the situation spiraled beyond control, khara had no choice but to upload the video to its official YouTube channel—definitely not out of prideful stubbornness.

    When recommending Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time back in 2021, I once borrowed the subtitle style of the first three Rebuild films and titled my farewell “You Can (Not) Re-Take.” At that time, few could have imagined that five years later Anno and the creators at khara would revisit the story again, allowing Asuka to write her own ending through a series of retakes that cross different worldlines.

    The short film weaves together iconic scenes from both the original TV series and the Rebuild films, while also paying tribute to the ending of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto’s manga. Yuko Miyamura performs what feels like a one-person manzai act, speaking openly rather than hiding behind riddles, laying bare her feelings and reconciling with the regrets of the past. This special short, filled with both personal touches and genuine emotion, serves as the final completion for Soryu Asuka Langley—19 years after her existence was replaced by Shikinami.

    [Documentary] The Dinosaurs: Stories You Didn’t Know

    • Keywords: Nature / History
    • Also known as: The Dinosaurs
    • Runtime: About 45 minutes per episode × 4 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    @利兹与青鸟: This documentary is a new installment in the Life on Our Planet series, once again narrated by Morgan Freeman. Using advanced CG technology, it presents the grand 165-million-year epic of dinosaurs ruling the Earth—a brutal era dominated by massive creatures where only the strongest survived. The series begins with the birth of the first dinosaurs during the Triassic period and continues until their extinction following the asteroid impact at the end of the Cretaceous. Divided into four episodes—Rise, Conquest, Empire, and Fall—each spans millions of years but is connected through smaller narrative stories, using a dramatic storytelling style to guide viewers into lesser-known corners of that ancient world.

    Tiny long-winged birds less than 20 centimeters in size drive away the much larger Guanlong; Spinosaurus waits patiently with its abyss-like jaws wide open… The documentary carefully portrays the characteristics and behaviors of various dinosaur species while also recreating major milestones in Earth’s climatic history. As continuous volcanic eruptions, million-year storms, and freezing northern landscapes reshape the planet, species evolve and adapt in order to survive. When viewers witness the devastation of raging wildfires and overwhelming floods, they cannot help but marvel at both the fragility and resilience of life. Although the documentary prioritizes narrative over deep scientific explanation, it remains a captivating audiovisual spectacle that dinosaur enthusiasts should not miss.

    [Reality Show] Small Town Hair Magicians

    • Keywords: Lifestyle
    • Also known as: 보검매직컬 / Bogum Magic Curl
    • Runtime: About 90 minutes per episode × 10 episodes; Douban link

    Heartwarming moments filled with simple joy.

    @利兹与青鸟: Beyond a mountain rising like a towering wall lies a remote village so isolated that it doesn’t even have a supermarket. Taking inspiration from the barber license Park Bo-gum obtained during his military service, Park Bo-gum, Lee Sang-yi, and Kwak Dong-yeon open a charming little barbershop together. Park Bo-gum hopes that even after they leave, the shop can continue operating—becoming a small place that brings a bit of magic into people’s lives.

    Park Bo-gum works as the barber, Lee Sang-yi takes on the role of manicurist, and Kwak Dong-yeon prepares snacks, serves tea, and assists customers. The three divide their responsibilities clearly, and their interactions are filled with humor and witty remarks, creating a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. Soon, the bright and tidy shop officially opens. It includes a haircutting area, a manicure section, and a lounge space, along with a dedicated hair-washing room and even a fully equipped kitchen. Prices are also friendly to elderly customers. The grandmothers who come for haircuts are equally delightful—they put on lipstick to look good on camera, happily ask for sweet coffee, and enjoy chatting and cooking together with the hosts.

    Of course, things don’t always go perfectly for the rookie barber and manicurist. But those small mishaps make the show feel authentic and entertaining. Viewers are moved by the trio’s sincerity and comforted by the warm atmosphere of the little shop. Small Town Hair Magicians even reached the top of South Korea’s ratings chart with its very first episode. This leisurely and cozy lifestyle reality show is undoubtedly a perfect companion for a relaxing mealtime watch.

    More

    [UK] Young Sherlock
    @Sholmes: Young Sherlock meets his classmate James Moriarty at Oxford University, as well as Princess Shou’an of the Qing dynasty, who is also studying there. An ancient scroll brought from China by Princess Shou’an disappears from the library. Sherlock is seen entering the library at the time of the incident, making him a prime suspect. To clear his name, Sherlock teams up with Moriarty to investigate the theft, only to find themselves drawn into a much larger conspiracy. Blending mystery, action, and family secrets, the series portrays the formative beginnings of the great detective before he became the legend we know.

    [US] Detective Decker
    @潘誉晗: Decker was once a newspaper photographer, but after assaulting someone he ended up serving time in prison. After his release, relying on his sharp mind and the connections he built during his photography career, he switches paths and becomes a private investigator. The new series from the director of Sherlock sets its story against the picturesque backdrop of Florida. The bright sunshine and sandy beaches create a cheerful atmosphere—yet evil and murder lurk beneath the surface. This contrast gives the show an extra layer of intrigue.

    [US] The Marshal Squad
    @潘誉晗: As a spin-off from the Yellowstone universe, The Marshal Squad centers on Kayce from the Dutton family. At this point in the story, Kayce’s wife has passed away, and his relationship with his son has been strained. During this difficult time, he accepts an invitation to join a U.S. Marshals task force. Amid prairies, horses, rifles, and tactical raids, the former Navy SEAL follows his cowboy instincts and protects the vast land of Montana in his own way. Fans of the franchise shouldn’t miss it.

    [US] Rooster Life
    @潘誉晗: Best-selling author Greg recently accepts a job offer from a university where his daughter also works. She has just divorced her husband, who was also a professor at the same school. Worried that she may be struggling emotionally, Greg decides to move there to support her. HBO’s newest comedy explores a unique expression of fatherly love, following the amusing everyday incidents surrounding the father and daughter, as their unconventional relationship gradually becomes closer and more meaningful.

    [US] Bridgerton Season 4
    @潘誉晗: The fourth season of the hit franchise Bridgerton focuses on Benedict, the second son of the Bridgerton family. Known as a charming playboy, Benedict lives freely and has little interest in marriage—until he falls in love at first sight with a mysterious masked woman at a ball. Without even knowing her name, he becomes determined to find her at all costs. This Regency-era twist on Cinderella also depicts lovers bravely pursuing love despite the rigid class structures of the time.

    [Japan] Things Happening Around That Week Season 3
    @潘誉晗: Mano Ichika is a young police officer at the Crescent Police Station. She is enthusiastic about her work and full of passion, yet every time she’s on duty, unexpected little incidents seem to occur around her. Each episode lasts only about 15 minutes and adopts a dialogue-driven sitcom style. Rather than focusing on bloody crimes or grand investigations, the series simply revolves around the everyday life of a female officer. Through these small, ordinary moments, it delivers gentle warmth and an uplifting sense of life.

    [Animation] Beastars Final Season Part 2
    @SHY: After the battle with Melon, Legoshi barely survives after falling into the sea, while Haru—who witnessed the tragedy—faces looming danger. As tensions between carnivores and herbivores continue to escalate, this coming-of-age ensemble story among animals approaches its final chapter. The original manga’s ending was already somewhat divisive, and with the anime’s tighter runtime, the final arc feels inevitably compressed. The last few episodes manage to maintain the main storyline framework, though little more. Fortunately, the production quality remains strong, and the episodes before the pacing accelerates are still quite enjoyable. In the end, the series provides a complete farewell to its major characters—overall, a conclusion that is decent, if not particularly outstanding.

    📅 Trailers This Week

    Official Trailer for Dorohedoro Season 2

    On March 8, the animated series Dorohedoro Season 2 released its official trailer and is scheduled to premiere on streaming platforms on April 1. The series is adapted from Q Hayashida’s manga of the same name, directed by Yuichiro Hayashi, written by Hiroshi Seko, and produced by MAPPA. The story follows Caiman, a man whose head has been transformed into that of a lizard and who suffers from amnesia, as he and his partner Nikaido search for the sorcerer responsible for the curse. Source

    Final Trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

    On March 10, the animated film The Super Mario Galaxy Movie released its final trailer and will premiere in mainland China on April 3. The voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, and Brie Larson. Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach return, encountering Princess Rosalina and Yoshi on a cosmic adventure as they confront a universe-spanning crisis brought by Bowser Jr. Source

    First Trailer for The Gold Spy Operation

    On March 9, the film The Gold Spy Operation released its first trailer and is scheduled to premiere in North America on May 15. Directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill, Rosamund Pike, and Eiza González, the story follows an elite covert team tasked with recovering billions in stolen wealth from a brutal dictator—only for the seemingly impossible mission to spiral out of control. Source

    Official Trailer for We Are Not What We Seem

    On March 10, the film We Are Not What We Seem released its official trailer. Directed by Herman Yau and starring Patrick Tam, Anson Kong, and Ian Chan, the film will hold its world premiere at the Hong Kong Film Festival. Inspired by the real 1998 Wuhan bus bombing case, the story centers on a tragic incident that caused multiple casualties. To assist the investigation, the police force rehires Dragon Sir, a former forensic expert who left the force six years earlier.

    More

    Series Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 releases a new trailer: starring Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Ayelet Zurer, Margarita Levieva, and Krysten Ritter. Daredevil will face Kingpin head-on, uncovering the hidden forces behind the shifting power struggles of New York. Premieres March 24 on Disney+. Source

    Series Ted Lasso Season 4 releases its first teaser trailer: starring Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, and Jeremy Swift. Ted Lasso returns to Richmond and takes on his biggest challenge yet—coaching a second-division women’s football team. Premieres in August on Apple TV+. Source

    Film I, Permission release date trailer: produced by Yin Lu, directed by Yang Lina, and written by You Xiaoying. The film stars Wen Qi and Qin Hailu, with special appearances by Bai Ke and Li Xueqin. The story begins with a brief period of “living together” between a mother and daughter, exploring generational conflicts and reshaping a modern vision of the mother–daughter relationship. Scheduled to premiere on April 3. Source

    📽 Film & TV News Weekly

    The Devil Wears Prada 2 Confirmed for Mainland China Release
    On March 12, the film The Devil Wears Prada 2 was confirmed for release in mainland China, with the release date yet to be announced. Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, Tracie Thoms, Tibor Feldman, and director David Frankel return, while Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu, and Simone Ashley join the cast, with Lady Gaga making a cameo appearance. Source

    Michael Jackson: The Journey of a Superstar Confirmed for Mainland China Release
    On March 11, the biographical film Michael Jackson: The Journey of a Superstar was confirmed for release in mainland China and released its trailer and poster, with the release date yet to be announced. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film stars Jaafar Jackson—Michael Jackson’s nephew—as MJ, portraying the real life of Michael Jackson beyond the stage while recreating some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career. Source

    Gatao: Bridgehead Scheduled for Mainland China Release on April 10
    On March 13, the Taiwanese film Gatao: Bridgehead released a mainland China release-date trailer and poster, confirming its premiere on April 10. Directed by Yao Hung-i and Chiang Jui-chih and starring Ming-Shuai Shih, Rexen Cheng, Chang Tsai-hsing, Tang Chen-kang, and Jack Kao, the story follows the collapse of a once-stable underworld balance as rival gangs enter full-scale conflict. Amid loyalty, blood ties, and the struggle for power, who will rise as the next legend of the criminal world? Source

    Modern Adaptation of Hamlet Releases New Poster
    On March 12, the modern adaptation of Hamlet starring Riz Ahmed released a new poster and is scheduled to premiere in North America on April 10. The film is directed by Aneil Karia (Surge) with a screenplay by Mike Leslie. Set within London’s South Asian elite community, the story follows Hamlet as he is haunted by the ghost of his father and turns to violence in pursuit of revenge—only to ultimately fall into deep doubts about his own identity.

  • Best New Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Week

    Best New Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Week

    ☕️ TL;DR

    Recent recommendations: [Chinese] To Eliminate Evil, [Taiwanese Drama] Beatrice Ho’s Hellish Love Song, [Japanese Drama] The Clock Mansion Murders, [Film] Meeting the World, [US Series] The Night Agent Season 3, [Chinese] Love in the Age of Innocence, [Documentary] Guardians of Jiefangxi: Investigation Season, [Reality Show] The Trial of Tianji

    Several notable trailers: One Piece Season 2 final trailer, The Boys Season 5 final trailer, first trailer for Green Lantern Corps, first trailer for Beef Season 2, first trailer for Scary Movie 6, new trailer for The Silent Friends

    Several film and TV updates: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie set for mainland China release on April 3, Hello, Amélie scheduled for mainland China release on March 20, Miracle Dream Team releases its China-exclusive poster

    [Chinese] To Eliminate Evil

    • Keywords: Drama / Mystery / Crime
    • Also known as: The Devil Between Us
    • Length: About 45 minutes (per episode) × 16 episodes
    • Where to watch: iQIYI; Douban link

    Drugs—don’t touch them.

    @潘誉晗: Policewoman Hu Wenjing finally gets a rare day off and meets two friends at a café. Unexpectedly, they walk straight into the scene of a drug deal. Although Hu reacts quickly and immediately joins the pursuit, the incident still leads to the escape of the ringleader Ding Lai, the death of a colleague, and the disappearance of the drugs. Unwilling to accept the outcome, Hu Wenjing vows to track down the culprit.

    Adapted from the novel of the same name by writer Lei Mi, the series tells the story of a once-peaceful small town thrown into chaos by the emergence of a new type of hallucinogenic drug. The cast’s outstanding performances vividly bring this story to life, while the human nature embedded within it invites deeper reflection. Unlike a bustling metropolis, a small town has a limited population, yet precisely because of that, it forms a tightly woven network of relationships. Like the butterfly effect, one incident triggers a chain of consequences. In such a place, everyone is likely to cross paths—and it becomes all too easy to step, willingly or not, into the abyss of darkness.

    Black and white, justice and evil, right and wrong—everyone in the series understands the boundaries in their hearts. Unfortunately, not everyone can resist the temptation of money, or sometimes they are simply forced onto a path of no return.

    [Taiwan Drama] Beatrice Ho’s Hellish Love Song

    • Keywords: Drama / Comedy
    • Also known as: The Accidental Influencer: Love Me if You Dare / Beatrice Ho’s Toxic Monologue from Hell Season 2
    • Length: About 20–28 minutes (per episode) × 12 episodes; Douban link

    Hopefully we all have friends around us with whom we can share everything—and embarrass ourselves together.

    @潘誉晗: After going viral online for ranting about her ex-boyfriend while wearing a mask, He Bairui transforms into the “ex-girlfriend from hell” and unexpectedly becomes an internet celebrity. She now juggles two identities—maintaining her influencer persona online while continuing her ordinary life as an accountant at a dessert shop. In the second season, newly single He Bairui starts going on blind dates, only to find herself developing feelings for her boss. Meanwhile, when her mother discovers her online celebrity identity, the two become locked in a humorous clash of generational values.

    Although the first season was nominated for several Golden Bell Awards but ultimately won none, the series still managed to win over many viewers with its bold humor and daring storytelling. The second season maintains the same stable quality as the first: the dialogue remains sharp and fearless, and the plot evolves with the times. Alongside storylines about influencers selling products online, the show humorously explores He Bairui’s chaotic influencer career—for instance, how her good figure only lands her advertisements for adult products.

    With an ensemble cast of urban women as its core appeal, the series uses a witty and humorous tone to portray the friendships, romances, and family relationships of women in their thirties. Packed with jokes and lighthearted moments, it works perfectly as a stress-relieving watch.

    [Japanese Drama] The Clock Mansion Murders

    • Keywords: Novel Adaptation / Drama / Mystery / Crime
    • Also known as: 時計館の殺人 / The Clock Mansion Murders
    • Length: About 50 minutes (per episode) × 8 episodes; Douban link

    Together with the sinful beast’s remains, offer it before our gravestone to soothe my restless soul.

    @SHY: Three years after the tragic Ten-Angle Mansion incident on Tsunojima Island, Egami Takayoshi has graduated from university and become an editor at a publishing house, while Shimada Kiyoshi debuts as a mystery novelist under the pen name Shishitani Kadoshi. Rumors surrounding another residence designed by the same architect, Seiji Nakamura—the “Clock Mansion”—and the ghostly girl said to wander its halls once again intertwine their paths, as a new chain of murders begins to unfold.

    Following the success of The Decagon House Murders, Japan’s Hulu quickly seized the momentum and adapted the pinnacle of the “Mansion” series, The Clock Mansion Murders, into a drama. As one of the classic examples of architectural trick mysteries, the construction of the story’s setting naturally takes center stage. The production team gathered hundreds of antique clocks to faithfully recreate the intricate mechanisms of the Clock Mansion. The remarkable props and set design create a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere inside the mansion, while the chilling sequence of killings rivals that of a horror film.

    Still created by the original production team, the series draws on the experience gained from its predecessor and carefully incorporates most of the novel’s details. Numerous clues are planted early on, and through a smooth dual-line narrative that moves between events inside and outside the mansion, the novel’s brilliantly crafted tricks gradually reveal themselves to the audience. The final twist is unlikely to disappoint. By fully leveraging the strengths of the visual medium to present sights and sounds that are difficult to convey in text alone, the series ranks among the best of its kind, and one can only hope that more entries in the series will receive equally worthy adaptations.

    [Film] Meets the World

    • Keywords: Novel Adaptation / Drama
    • Also known as: ミーツ・ザ・ワールド / Meets the World
    • Length: 126 minutes; Douban link

    People sometimes fall in love with someone for no reason—and sometimes dislike someone for no reason as well.

    @SHY: At 27, fujoshi Mishima Yukari watches as fellow fans in her community keep getting into relationships, while she alone pours all her affection into the anthropomorphized yakiniku manga Meat Is My Life. After yet another failed group date, she ends up drunk on the street and is taken home by Kano Rai, a hostess from a nightlife bar. The two soon begin living together. Hoping to save Rai—who constantly struggles with suicidal thoughts—Yukari secretly launches the “Miss Rai Suicide Intent Reduction Plan.”

    If worries that work and entertainment cannot relieve remain unresolved, can relying on men really fix them? This film ruthlessly shatters unrealistic fantasies about romance and exposes the wounds of modern life. Yukari, who has grown distant from friends and family; Rai, who feels life is meaningless; Asa, a male host trapped in an unhappy marriage; and Yuki, a writer who only writes about death… In the neon-lit district of Kabukicho, these outsiders rejected by mainstream society gather together. With respect for one another’s passions and quirks, they begin to encounter an entirely new world.

    In such a diverse world, everyone deserves to explore a way of living that belongs to them. If your talent is loving someone you may never meet, or if you have a “condition” where skipping a chocolate smoothie in the morning feels unbearable—why not just live that way? Don’t let others’ judgments define you; simply do what you love. Even if your efforts bring no visible rewards, you can still find comfort within solitude. This bittersweet, oddly healing “poisoned chicken soup” may well be a remedy for today’s young people who are still searching for their place in the world.

    [US Series] The Night Agent Season 3

    • Keywords: Drama / Action / Thriller
    • Also known as: The Night Agent Season 3
    • Length: About 45 minutes (per episode) × 10 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    Can the government still be trusted?

    @潘誉晗: A commercial airliner flying through the night is struck by a missile, killing everyone on board with no survivors. Meanwhile, Peter receives orders to travel to Istanbul to capture a suspect. The man, a government data specialist, is accused not only of stealing classified documents but also of murdering his own superior. Yet after Peter finally apprehends him and begins questioning him, he starts to suspect that the man may have been framed. The reason the suspect fled is that, after analyzing various pieces of information, he had predicted in advance that the plane might be attacked. The success of the attack, he believes, may have been supported by a mysterious force operating within the United States.

    The second season received a polarized response, leaving some fans unsatisfied. This time, however, The Night Agent clearly makes a more serious effort to explore the deeper meaning of its script. While maintaining the style and standard established in the previous two seasons, the pacing remains fast, sharp, and efficient. Beyond a more mature political conspiracy storyline, the new season also expands on Peter’s childhood and past trauma, revealing the most human quality within him: as a Night Agent, Peter is expected to remain calm and composed, but more important than being a government intelligence officer is that he is, first and foremost, a kind person.

    [Chinese] Love Story in the 1970s

    • Keywords: Drama / Romance
    • Also known as: Love Story in the 1970s
    • Length: About 45 minutes (per episode) × 29 episodes
    • Where to watch: Tencent Video; Douban link

    In our love story, practicality matters.

    @潘誉晗: In an era when getting into university required recommendations, Fei Ni, who desperately wanted to pursue higher education, tried every possible way. Yet after four years, no matter how hard she worked, she still couldn’t secure a recommendation. Then one day, a sent-down youth who had returned to his hometown fell into a coma after rescuing someone on a rainy night. Hoping to earn recognition and finally obtain the chance to attend university, Fei Ni volunteered to take care of the heroic rescuer. That hero turned out to be Fang Muyang, her former middle school classmate whom she had not seen for many years.

    Adapted from the novel The Pragmatist’s Love by writer Meng Zhong Deyi, the series is set in the 1970s and tells the story of a young factory worker, Fei Ni, and Fang Muyang, a returned sent-down youth. Their relationship begins with a marriage of convenience arranged for housing. In an era when labor was celebrated as the greatest virtue, Fei Ni’s longing for higher education seemed out of place. Yet it was precisely this drive for knowledge that gave her endless motivation in both work and life. People are selfish by nature, and striving for one’s own future is nothing to be ashamed of. Looking at reality and making practical choices does not mean love cannot still be romantic.

    With careful recreations of communal apartment buildings and state-owned factories, the series immerses viewers in the atmosphere of the era. The love that grows quietly through the slow rhythm of everyday life leaves a warm feeling long after watching.

    [Documentary] Guardians of Jiefangxi: Investigation Season

    • Keywords: Crime / Society
    • Length: About 50 minutes (per episode) × 10 episodes
    • Where to watch: Bilibili; Douban link

    Don’t call me “sir”—I’m a people’s police officer.

    @利兹与青鸟: The new season of this “electronic comfort food” has arrived. This year, Guardians of Jiefangxi shifts its focus away from the everyday public service cases of the Pozi Street Police Station and instead turns its camera toward the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the Yuhua Branch in Changsha. Centered on the theme of “investigation,” the series allows viewers to see more criminal cases. The documentary continues the style of previous seasons, featuring cases that are sometimes shocking and sometimes darkly humorous, while also capturing the unwavering dedication and perseverance of the officers. It’s unlikely to disappoint either new or returning viewers.

    The first episode features two cases of economic crime. In the first, a housekeeper steals luxury goods worth over a million yuan; in the second, a driver addicted to online gambling repeatedly steals from his employer. Both are examples of people who repay others’ kindness with betrayal, harming those who trusted them—stories that leave viewers both saddened and reminded to reflect on themselves. These authentic and deeply human cases are part of the show’s defining charm and one of the reasons it resonates so strongly with audiences. The new season still feels comfortingly familiar.

    Following the camera, viewers gain a closer look at the real investigative process of police work: from confirming the case details and screening suspects to choosing the right moment to carry out an arrest. Every step is crucial to solving a case. Stripping away the traditional image of “detectives” often portrayed in film and television, the series shows how real criminal investigators confront each case in reality.

    [Reality Show] Battle of Fates

    • Keywords: Reality Show
    • Also known as: Battle of Fates
    • Length: About 66 minutes (per episode) × 10 episodes; Douban link

    Can destiny really be interpreted?

    @潘誉晗: A digital stone tablet displays the photograph of a woman. Soon after, her name, date of birth, and time of death appear on the screen. The question is: what caused her death? Five people wearing traditional Korean hanbok stand on the stage—among them are two shamans. But which two are they?

    In mid-February, South Korea launched a brand-new reality show titled Battle of Fates. As soon as it premiered, the program quickly gained widespread attention and discussion on streaming platforms thanks to its novel and unusual theme. Often described as the Korean version of The Psychic Station, the show gathers 49 “destiny interpreters”—including fortune tellers, tarot readers, shamans, physiognomists, and foot readers—who use the abilities they pride themselves on to predict the fates of strangers. The ultimate winner will receive a prize of 100 million won.

    Whether one calls it divine power, intuition, or inspiration, such abilities are often dismissed today as unscientific mysticism. Yet the show not only satisfies people’s curiosity but also uses this suspenseful, puzzle-like format to remind viewers that fate is full of unpredictable twists and helpless uncertainties.

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    [UK Series] Patience Season 2

    @潘誉晗: Detective Metcalfe’s transfer has barely sunk in for Patience when the newly arrived supervisor, Detective Monroe, immediately gives her a tough welcome. The new chief does not recognize Patience’s abilities and even forbids her from participating in investigations. As a result, Patience can only secretly pursue cases with the quiet help of her colleagues. Season two of Patience continues to revolve around Patience, whose natural talent for solving crimes drives the story forward. With a case-per-episode format, tight pacing, and bright visuals, it remains an easy and enjoyable watch.

    [Korean Drama] To You, Universe

    @潘誉晗: A car accident takes the life of Taehyung’s older brother and Hyunsoo’s older sister, leaving behind only their 20-month-old child, Wooju. Unable to bear the thought of the baby being sent to an orphanage—and knowing that raising a child alone is far from easy—Taehyung and Hyunsoo decide to raise Wooju together. This warm and healing series tells the story of two in-laws who initially cannot stand each other but gradually grow closer while caring for their nephew. It is also a touching tale of two hearts that have lost loved ones finding family and emotional healing again through responsibility.

    [US Series] Higher Learning Desire

    @利兹与青鸟: A creative writing professor’s department-chair husband is reported for having inappropriate relationships with several students. While preparing for the upcoming hearing, the professor finds herself developing a sexual interest in a newly arrived assistant professor. Amid career crisis and an atmosphere of anxiety and tension, she ends up writing the novel she is most satisfied with. Told from the female protagonist’s first-person perspective, the series frequently breaks the fourth wall as she confides directly in the audience. Awkwardness, helplessness, and forced politeness are portrayed through subtle and amusing expressions, while the story explores the sense of powerlessness that comes with being left behind by the times in middle age, the fading of authority, and the gradual loss of control over life.

    [Animation] Can You Help Me Clean This?

    @SHY: In Atami, a hot spring town famous for its resorts, there is a small laundry shop. Its optimistic and cheerful owner, Kaname Watanaka, shares a series of charming stories with the people around her. What few people know, however, is that she lost all her memories from two years ago. While the premise may sound somewhat heavy, the series itself is actually a gentle slice-of-life anime with a relaxed pace, depicting the local culture of a tourist town while occasionally including practical tips about laundry. Although the animation production is modest, the main character—voiced by Sayumi Suzushiro—has remarkable charm that may even cleanse your soul.

    [Animation] Princess, It’s “Torture” Time Season 2

    @SHY: “Guh… just kill me!” Awaiting the captured princess is torture from the Demon King’s army that is said to be more terrifying than death itself. Faced with fragrant “torture devices,” can the iron-willed princess protect the kingdom’s last remaining secrets without accidentally joining the enemy’s side? Director Yoko Kanamori continues the impressive style established in the first season, blending playful performances with ever-creative comedic gags that turn familiar tropes into endlessly entertaining moments. This fantasy food comedy—perfect for watching during meals—inevitably makes viewers exclaim, “So good.”

    [Animation] Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin — Kokoro’s Rice-Growing Diary

    @SHY: Determined to earn Sakuna’s recognition, Kokoro decides to grow rice entirely on her own and arrives at a barren field on Hinome Island. With the help of machines she invents herself, everything seems to be progressing smoothly—but will things truly go according to plan? After Sakuna’s growth arc concluded in the main story, this sequel shifts its focus to Kokoro, who continues the grounded story of farming life while living on her own. Beyond its stable and relaxing narrative, the series also raises its yuri undertones to a new level—after harvesting rice, they even make dumplings together, making the ending all the more satisfying.

    [Animation] The Mountain, The Moon Cave and The Sad God

    @SHY: The four members of the virtual band Gorillaz meet in the jungle and set out to climb a mysterious mountain, embarking on a surreal and fantastical journey. Created as a special music video for Gorillaz’s ninth album, the title comes from three of its singles. The tightly interwoven visuals and music convey a philosophical sense of cyclical existence. Produced by London’s THE LINE Studio, this fully hand-drawn short film uses cel animation and blends multiple traditional techniques to capture the texture and spirit of classic animation from the 1960s.

    • 📅 Trailers This Week

    One Piece Season 2 Final Trailer

    On March 2, the live-action series One Piece released the final trailer for its second season, which will premiere on Netflix on March 10. Starring Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Gibson, and Taz Skylar, the Straw Hat crew crosses Reverse Mountain and finally reaches the Grand Line. New adventures, new allies, and new enemies await them. Source

    The Boys Season 5 Final Trailer

    On March 6, the series The Boys released the final trailer for its fifth and final season, which will premiere on Prime Video on April 8. This is Homelander’s world now, completely subject to his unpredictable will. When Butcher reappears with a virus capable of wiping every superhero off the map, he triggers events that will permanently change the world—and everyone in it. Source

    Lanterns First Trailer

    On March 5, DC released the first trailer for its new series Lanterns, scheduled to premiere on HBO Max in August. Chris Mundy (Ozark) serves as showrunner, with Aaron Pierre playing John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan. When these two intergalactic police officers investigate a murder in the American heartland, they become entangled in a dark mystery on Earth. Source

    Beef Season 2 First Trailer

    On March 5, the series Beef Season 2 released its first trailer and is set to premiere on Netflix on April 16. Produced by A24 and created once again by Lee Sung Jin, the season stars Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Cailee Spaeny, Charles Melton, and Youn Yuh-jung. A young couple witnesses a shocking argument between their boss and his wife, setting off a chain reaction of escalating consequences. Source

    Scary Movie 6 First Trailer

    On March 2, the film Scary Movie 6 released its first trailer and moved its North American release date up to June 5. Directed by Michael Tiddes, the film stars Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Damon Wayans Jr., and Greg Wayans. Two friends once again find themselves caught in a chaotic incident involving killers, monsters, and supernatural creatures. Source

    The Silent Friends New Trailer

    On March 5, the film The Silent Friends released a new trailer. Directed by Ildikó Enyedi and starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Léa Seydoux, the story is set in the botanical garden of Marburg, a medieval university town in Germany. It tells three stories connected to a single ginkgo tree over the course of a century—a silent witness that observes the quiet transformations of three lives across 100 years. The film will be imported for theatrical release in mainland China.

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    TV anime Awashima Hyakkei new trailer: Adapted from the manga of the same name by Takako Shimura (Sweet Blue Flowers), directed by Morio Asaka (Nana), with series composition by Yasuhiro Nakanishi and produced by MADHOUSE. Set at Awashima Opera School, the series tells an ensemble coming-of-age story about girls who dream of standing on stage. It will begin airing on April 10. Source

    Film Sakamoto Days official trailer: Adapted from the manga of the same name by Yuto Suzuki, directed by Yuichi Fukuda and starring Ren Meguro, Fumiya Takahashi, Aya Ueto, Mayu Yokota, Eiku Shiono, and Keisuke Watanabe, with the theme song performed by Snow Man. The story follows the everyday life of former legendary assassin Taro Sakamoto. The film will premiere in Japan on April 29. Source

    Film The Lukuang Canal Murders release date trailer: Directed by Lai Chun-yu and starring Berant Zhu, Julia Wu, Chang Shih, Hsiu-shen Liang, and Chu Pak-hong. Inspired by Taiwan’s first major dismemberment case, the story follows Zhao Ziwu and Zhang Xiuxiu as they become entangled in a brutal crime. Facing a shocking series of murders, they attempt to uncover the truth behind the bloody mystery. It will be released in mainland China on March 28. Source

    Documentary film Moon Landing (Part One) release date trailer: The first documentary film about China’s lunar exploration program. Wu Jing lends his voice to the narration, using his distinctive presence to connect the many shining moments within this vast system and guide audiences through China’s ambitious three-step lunar exploration strategy: orbit, land, and station. The film will be released on April 24. Source

    Series Out of the Dust first trailer: The six-episode series stars Asa Butterfield and Molly Windsor, with Julie Gearey (The Prisoner’s Wife, Intergalactic) serving as creator and writer. The story follows Rosie, a woman living with her husband and daughter in an isolated Christian community. After encountering Sam, an escaped prisoner, she is forced to confront the true nature and constraints of the world she lives in.

    📽 Film & TV News Weekly

    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie set for mainland China release on April 3
    On March 2, the animated film The Super Mario Galaxy Movie released its mainland China release-date trailer and poster, confirming a theatrical release on April 3. The voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Brie Larson, and Benny Safdie. Mario and his companions break through gravity and venture into the vast galaxy, embarking on an unprecedented interstellar adventure. Source

    Hello, Amélie set for mainland China release on March 20
    On March 2, the Oscar-nominated animated feature Hello, Amélie released its mainland China release-date trailer and poster, confirming a March 20 theatrical release. A piece of chocolate awakens Amélie’s senses, and with the careful companionship of her housekeeper Ms. Nishio, she learns to listen to the wind, feel the rain, and experience the light—discovering the wonder of growing up. The film was also recommended in What to Watch This Week (Issue 251205). Source

    The Dream Team of Miracles releases China-exclusive poster
    On March 5, the animated film The Dream Team of Miracles released a China-exclusive trailer and poster, with a mainland China release scheduled for March 14. Produced by basketball superstar Stephen Curry in his producing debut and created by the team behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the story follows Will, an underestimated undersized player who rises to become a legendary rookie. Carrying forward the spirit of the GOAT, he writes a comeback story fueled by passion. Source

  • Best New Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Week

    Best New Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Week

    ☕️ TL;DR

    Recent recommendations: [Film] The Night King, [Film] Tokyo Taxi, [Hong Kong Drama] The Prosecutors, [US Series] Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, [K-Drama] The Truth About Sarah, [K-Drama] Glory: Their Court, [Chinese Drama] The Blindfolded Goddess, [UK Series] Can You Keep a Secret?, [Animation] Golden Kamuy Final Chapter, [Animation] Sentenced the Hero: Punishment Hero Unit 9004 Prison Records

    Selected trailers: Official Trailer for Detective Conan: Fallen Angel on the Highway, First Trailer for Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island, Official Trailer for Toy Story 5, First Trailer for House of the Dragon Season 3

    Entertainment news: A new Neon Genesis Evangelion anime project announced, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie confirmed for import, Paramount to acquire Warner Bros.

    [Film] Night King

    • Keywords: Drama / Comedy
    • Also known as: Night King
    • Runtime: 133 minutes
    • Where to watch: Now showing in theaters; Douban link

    Loyalty above all.

    @Sholmes: As traditional nightclub businesses in Tsim Sha Tsui continue to decline, Foon works as the manager of the Dong Yat Nightclub in Tsim Sha Tsui. When the Muse Group moves to acquire the nightclub, his ex-wife, Sister V, arrives as the guarantor and becomes his superior. Sister V initiates sweeping reforms and brings in new staff, while Foon, out of loyalty, strives to protect the PR hostesses he has worked with for years. Just as Foon and Sister V are caught up in internal conflict, Tai Chi Fung, the Muse Group’s heir, suddenly decides not to proceed with the acquisition, forcing the two to find a way to save the nightclub themselves.

    Through the nightclub’s rise and decline, the film reflects how traditional values and legacy industries in Hong Kong are impacted by waves of globalization and commercialization. The PR hostesses are not portrayed as negative stereotypes; instead, the film gives each of them their own stories and dignity, questioning society’s deep-rooted prejudices against such professions. The power struggle between Foon and Sister V also symbolizes the clash between old and new values — one committed to loyalty and promises, the other embracing efficiency and reform — much like Hong Kong itself. The conglomerate power represented by Tai Chi Fung serves as a direct critique of capital’s erosion of local culture, where people and traditions rooted in the past often cannot withstand a single commercial contract. Wrapped in comedy, the film carries the weight of social transformation, reminding viewers that once certain things disappear, they may never return.

    [Film] Tokyo Taxi

    • Keywords: Drama / Road / Healing
    • Also known as: TOKYOタクシー / Tokyo Taxi
    • Runtime: 103 minutes; Douban link

    I want to take a proper look at this nostalgic Tokyo.

    @SHY: Taxi driver Koji Usami, overwhelmed by the mounting pressures of life, accepts a request to drive 85-year-old Sumire Takano from Shibamata, Tokyo to a nursing home in Hayama, Kanagawa. What he assumes to be an ordinary trip turns into something else entirely, as Sumire repeatedly asks for detours to revisit places etched deep in her memory. Though complete strangers at first, the two gradually open up to one another, and their lives are quietly transformed as a result.

    Now in his nineties, director Yoji Yamada remains active on the creative front, adapting the 2022 French film Driving Madeleine into an authentically Japanese story. Chieko Baisho, a familiar face from the Tora-san series, plays Sumire Takano — a character of her own age — bringing a calm presence shaped by a lifetime of experiences. Takuya Kimura, who previously co-starred with her in Howl’s Moving Castle, takes the wheel this time, and the two share a natural chemistry as they journey together.

    As the scenery flows past the taxi window, Sumire gently recounts her eventful life, turning the small vehicle into a vessel traveling through time and reflecting the changes in Japanese society. Under the fading light of dusk, this unexpected journey shared with a stranger becomes the final, happiest day of her life. Transforming a once-in-a-lifetime encounter into an irreplaceable memory, this simple and tender story celebrates the kindness between people — and is sure to warm your heart.

    [Hong Kong Drama] The Unusual Prosecutor

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Also known as: The Unusual Prosecutor
    • Runtime: Approximately 45 minutes per episode × 25 episodes
    • Where to watch: Youku; Douban link

    A modern-day Judge Bao delivering justice.

    @潘誉晗: Prosecutor Bao Xiren suffers from “Mirror-Touch Synesthesia,” a rare condition that allows him to feel the emotions experienced by others, as if reflecting them like a mirror — whether joy, sorrow, or regret. This unique and powerful empathy often disrupts Bao’s daily life (such as causing him to faint in public after sensing someone’s pain), but it also enables him to quietly participate in the process of judgment. Together with his assistant Gongsun Po and undercover detective Zhan Xiongfei, he repeatedly solves complex cases.

    Although the series was delayed for two years before its release and lost some content due to editing, its overall quality remains impressive and distinctly Hong Kong in style. Inspired by the classic Justice Bao, the show delivers an innovative modern adaptation of this well-known traditional story. While preserving the original framework and narrative structure, it incorporates contemporary elements such as toxic fandom culture, idol misconduct, gaslighting, marriage scams, and school bullying. Across eight case-based story arcs, the series aligns with modern audience sensibilities and offers meaningful discussions on real-world issues.

    [US Series] Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

    • Keywords: Drama / Romance / Biography
    • Also known as: Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
    • Runtime: Approximately 45 minutes per episode × 9 episodes; Douban link

    The story of America’s most stylish power couple.

    @潘誉晗: The first season of acclaimed American director Ryan Murphy’s new anthology series Love Story focuses on the romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

    The series adopts a reverse narrative structure, opening with the tragic 1999 plane crash before rewinding seven years to the couple’s first meeting, creating a sense that everything was destined from the very beginning. Their encounter and love seemed fated, as did the inevitable tragedy that followed. In many ways, the love story between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn resembles a real-life Cinderella tale. Carolyn came from a modest background and, through intelligence and keen judgment, rose from working as a sales associate to becoming the PR director at Calvin Klein. Yet no matter how accomplished she was, being the girlfriend of the president’s son meant that even if she wished to keep a low profile, the spotlight would always follow her.

    Based on the four episodes that have aired so far, while certain plot points may raise questions about historical accuracy, the production quality is undeniably high. In portraying this iconic fashion-forward couple of the late 20th century, the series carefully recreates the atmosphere of New York’s fashion scene in the 1990s.

    [K-Drama] The Art of Sarah

    • Keywords: Drama / Crime
    • Also known as: 레이디 두아 / The Art of Sarah
    • Runtime: Approximately 60 minutes per episode × 10 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    I am like a glaring light, too dazzling to be looked at directly.

    @利兹与青鸟: A body is discovered in Seoul’s sewer system, with half of its face smashed beyond recognition — yet a luxury handbag bearing a special serial number makes identification less difficult. Elsewhere, a woman who casually spends tens of millions in cash at luxury boutiques draws constant attention wherever she goes. The two women share the same tattoo — could they be the same person? As the police investigation unfolds, we gradually uncover the legend of Kim Sarah. From a heavily indebted sales associate, to the wife of a loan shark tycoon, and eventually the founder of luxury brand Bado, every step in Sarah’s rise is astonishing, yet always shadowed by the looming risk of a fall into ruin.

    This is a fast-paced drama about money and lies. Despite some questionable plot logic, its rapid pacing, shifting identities, and layered twists more than make up for its flaws, immersing viewers in a world of extravagance and power struggles. It explores how an ordinary person disguises herself to infiltrate high society, how vanity can transform people into monsters, and offers a satirical take on class hierarchy and the luxury industry. Shin Hye-sun delivers a compelling performance as an ambitious, capable, and calculating woman, while the script’s attention to detail across different social classes adds credibility to the story. Notably, the series divides its narrative between external perspectives and the protagonist’s own viewpoint, allowing space for strong ensemble characterization and presenting a more complete portrait of Sarah’s dual life.

    [K-Drama] Honor: Their Courtroom

    • Keywords: Drama / Thriller / Crime
    • Also Known As: 아너: 그녀들의 법정 / Heder
    • Runtime: Approximately 45 minutes per episode × 9 episodes; Douban Link

    A Korean take on the “Devil’s Island” case.

    @潘誉晗: Yoon Ra-young, Kang Shin-jae, and Hwang Hyun-jin—three law school graduates—have been close friends since their university days. Together, they founded a law firm dedicated to providing legal services for female victims. This time, they are set to defend a high school girl who was sexually assaulted by a top male celebrity. However, their investigation unexpectedly leads them to a secret prostitution app called “Comect In,” behind which lies a vast sexual crime network involving numerous executives and public figures.

    This female-led legal drama, adapted from the Swedish series Heder, has sparked considerable discussion due to its bold and sensitive subject matter. It inevitably brings to mind the widely debated “Devil’s Island” case in recent years: the victims were all underage girls subjected to inhumane treatment, while judicial authorities destroyed evidence and used systemic power to threaten them.

    The screen adaptation does an excellent job of presenting these brutal realities in a way that is not overwhelmingly horrifying, while highlighting the immense difficulty of the case. A journalist investigating the truth is murdered, and the three protagonists face constant threats and obstruction. Yet for the sake of the women who were harmed, they never once consider giving up.

    [Chinese Drama] The Inner Eye

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Also known as: The Inner Eye
    • Runtime: Approximately 45 minutes per episode × 30 episodes
    • Where to watch: Mango TV; Douban link

    The sanctity of the law should never be challenged.

    @潘誉晗: Tang Yingying, an accomplished lawyer at Chen Jun Law Firm, takes on a case at the request of Shi Li, the son of the Aina Group, who hopes she will represent him in court. At a wedding a few days earlier, Shi Li served as the best man, while bridesmaid Zhang Yi later accused him of molesting her while intoxicated. Shi Li denies the allegation, insisting that the encounter was consensual and that no coercion took place. Tang Yingying was also present at the wedding, and recalling the determined expression she had glimpsed on Zhang Yi’s face that day, she decides to accept this highly controversial case.

    Adapted from the novel of the same name by Mrs. Jinya, the series follows Tang Yingying’s professional growth and struggles as a lawyer. Presented in an episodic format, the show features a total of 13 cases that explore topical issues such as the definition of sexual assault, domestic violence, and workplace harassment. While the narrative occasionally suffers from minor plot inconsistencies or idealized resolutions, its willingness to tackle sensitive and challenging subjects marks a notable step forward for domestic television dramas. Rather than focusing on grand, high-profile cases, the series shifts its attention to problems that ordinary people may encounter in everyday life — particularly those affecting women — lending it a certain degree of social relevance.

    [UK Series] Can You Keep a Secret?

    • Keywords: Comedy
    • Also known as: Can You Keep a Secret?
    • Runtime: Approximately 28 minutes per episode × 6 episodes; Douban link

    This is a secret that must never get out.

    @潘誉晗: Harold visits his mother Debbie one day, two months after his father William was presumed dead. Debbie appears to be in good spirits and even takes out a bag of cash, clearly pleased. But when she sees Harold breaking down in grief over his father’s passing, she finally reveals the truth — it was all a misunderstanding. William isn’t dead. Faced with the overwhelming financial burden caused by William’s Parkinson’s disease, she chose to conceal the fact that he is still alive in order to claim the insurance payout.

    This newly released British miniseries, which has already been renewed, consists of just six episodes, each under half an hour. Despite its short runtime, the tightly paced narrative makes effective use of this somewhat absurd premise to satirize real-world issues. Insurance fraud is certainly indefensible, but when an ordinary family’s healthcare coverage proves insufficient — and illness or eldercare pushes them into financial hardship — this retired couple finds themselves driven to desperate measures.

    Set in a picturesque town in southwest England, the series unfolds in a bright and charming atmosphere as Debbie and her family scramble to keep their secret under wraps. The result is a story rich in British-style irony, filled with both humor and mounting tension.

    [Animation] Golden Kamuy Final Season

    • Keywords: Manga Adaptation / Drama / Adventure / Action
    • Also known as: ゴールデンカムイ 最終章 / Golden Kamuy Final Season
    • Runtime: 24 minutes per episode × 13 episodes, updated every Monday; Douban link

    More grotesque than any god, yet dazzlingly beautiful — such is Golden Kamuy.

    @SHY: Following the trail of an escaped convict to Sapporo, Sugimoto and his companions run into Hijikata’s group, who are searching for the same target. With tensions on the verge of eruption, a temporary truce is brokered by Asirpa. To prevent the Seventh Division — which holds most of the tattooed skins — from obtaining the gold, the two sides agree to cooperate for the time being. Their next lead, involving a criminal imitating Jack the Ripper, points them toward the Sapporo Brewery.

    The once-in-a-lifetime quest for fortune finally nears its conclusion, as long-standing mysteries begin to unravel. The whereabouts of the tattooed skins from the 24 death-row inmates are revealed one by one, along with the method for deciphering their coded message. The truth behind Wilk becoming the mastermind known as Noppera-bō, and the past that shaped Lieutenant Tsurumi, comes to light — completing the character arcs of many, even as it foreshadows their eventual exits. Whether driven by ambitions of founding an independent nation or by the simple desire to protect loved ones, all are destined to meet their end.

    Although the anime adaptation’s production values remain modest, the strength of the original material ensures a compelling viewing experience. With its wildly multi-threaded narrative, intricate life-and-death mind games, and a massive showdown at the Sapporo Brewery rivaling that of Abashiri Prison — with the decisive battle at Goryokaku yet to come — the entire Hokkaido descends into chaos. Blending adventure, strategy, history, cuisine, comedy, and unexpected camaraderie into one exhilarating mix, this gripping series delivers an immensely satisfying ride.

    [Animation] Sentenced to Be a Hero

    • Keywords: Light Novel Adaptation / Fantasy / Adventure / Action
    • Also known as: 勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者 9004 隊刑務記録 / Sentenced to Be a Hero
    • Runtime: 25 minutes per episode × 12 episodes (Episode 1: 58 minutes), updated every Saturday
    • Where to watch: Bahamut Anime Crazy / Netflix / Bilibili; Douban link

    After you annihilate all the enemies, be sure to praise me… and pat my head.

    @SHY: A Hero is one who fights monsters — and also the most cruel form of punishment. Criminals sentenced to the Hero Penalty are thrown onto the frontlines against the Demon King. Even in death, they are revived, condemned to fight without rest for all eternity. Zero Flubaz, the former captain of the Holy Paladin Order who has been sentenced for undisclosed reasons, encounters Theolita, the Goddess of the Sword, on the battlefield. The two form a contract and are drawn into a vortex of war and conspiracy.

    Like other stories that center on criminals forced into battle, the tone of the original novel bears some resemblance to 86 -Eighty Six-. However, this work places less emphasis on romantic subplots and focuses more heavily on its war sequences, giving the overall narrative a more serious tone. Due to screenwriter Kenta Ihara’s disastrous handling of the early episodes, the anime may initially feel like yet another mass-produced pseudo-isekai. Fortunately, it gradually finds its footing in the mid-season, with its worldbuilding becoming increasingly intriguing as the story unfolds.

    Produced by the core team at Studio KAI, the adaptation’s production quality speaks for itself. First-time director Hiroyuki Takashima delivers a steady performance, joined by a lineup of notable supporting staff to present a visually stirring spectacle. The large-scale battle scenes are particularly impressive, featuring a wide variety of attack styles enhanced by dazzling visual effects. Built upon dynamic fight choreography and supported by well-placed suspense, this exhilarating action series is well worth following.

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    [Film] Family Matters
    @利兹与青鸟: In the hot and humid Taiwanese countryside lives an ordinary yet turbulent family of four — an adopted elder sister, a resentful mother, a younger brother conceived through sperm donation, and a gambling-addicted father. Divided into four chapters, the film is adapted from the director’s own short film Sister, portraying their intimate yet distant familial bonds. With a gentle pace and restrained storytelling, the film examines the quiet pain and love hidden within East Asian family dynamics, offering both lighthearted moments and deeply moving weight.

    [Film] Yes
    @利兹与青鸟: Harsh lighting, pounding dance music, and teasing laughter fill a party where an ordinary couple does everything they can to please the wealthy elite. Though they feel no shame, making a living this way gradually erodes both body and soul. This Hebrew-language film by an Israeli director blends absurdity, pain, and satire, using the couple’s predicament against the backdrop of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict to expose a decaying social reality and distorted moral values.

    [UK Series] Betrayal
    @潘誉晗: One day, John Hughes meets with an informant, only to witness the nervous source being shot dead in front of him. Although he quickly subdues the killer, the failed mission earns him a dismissal notice from MI5. Unwilling to see his career end this way, he decides to continue investigating the incident on his own. This four-episode series follows a midlife intelligence officer struggling with both professional and personal crises, delivering a concise yet gripping story.

    [Japanese Drama] Devoured by Salvation
    @Sholmes: Aspiring idol Minase Ten happens to pass by the set of popular actor Hōshō Chiaki and lands a small role, leading to more acting opportunities. Isolated by jealous members of her idol group, Minase becomes closer to Hōshō, whose possessiveness gradually intensifies. Set against the backdrop of the entertainment industry, the series uses restrained and delicate cinematography to depict a twisted romance that evolves from redemption into emotional consumption.

    [Japanese Drama] Suikoden by Kitakata Kenzo
    @SHY: In the late Northern Song dynasty, the imperial court is steeped in corruption and the people suffer greatly. Low-ranking official Song Jiang, deeply aware of the public’s hardship, resolves to uphold justice and gathers like-minded outlaws to challenge a nation in decline. While bearing the name Suikoden, the original novel reinterprets the classic tale through the lens of Japanese leftist struggle, drawing from author Kitakata Kenzo’s involvement in the Zenkyōtō movement. The adaptation adopts the scale of a historical epic drama, with meticulous production design offering a fresh perspective on a familiar legend.

    [Animation] Baki-Dou
    @SHY: Legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi is resurrected through a secret Tokugawa experiment, prompting martial artists such as Baki, Doppo Orochi, and Retsu Kaioh to face him in battle, each encounter offering experience for the next. With a premise even science fiction writers might hesitate to attempt, this season delivers an abundance of memorable moments — from “Do you think money can buy me?” to “I don’t mean to be rude” and “Is a sword really such an inconvenient thing?” Enhanced by its low-budget animation, the absurdity is dialed up even further, making it an entertaining watch best enjoyed with a glass of brandy.

    [Documentary] King of Paparazzi
    @潘誉晗: Netflix’s latest documentary focuses on Italian paparazzo legend Fabrizio Corona. Born into a family of serious journalists — both his grandfather and parents worked in traditional news media — Corona instead pursued a career in entertainment reporting, eventually crossing into criminal activity. Through the story of his career, viewers also gain insight into several modern social scandals in Italy.

    [Documentary] Unlocked: A Jail Experiment Season 2
    @潘誉晗: With a new warden determined to make changes, the Greenhaven Correctional Facility introduces the radical social policy of “freedom” in response to internal disorder. Cells are left unlocked and guards removed, allowing inmates to move freely and manage themselves in hopes of relearning social order and easing reintegration into society. While less groundbreaking than its first season, the second installment remains a worthwhile experiment for interested viewers.

    📅 This Week’s New Trailers

    Detective Conan: Fallen Angel on the Highway – Official Trailer
    On February 23, the animated film Detective Conan: Fallen Angel on the Highway released its official trailer and is set to premiere in Japan on April 10. Directed by Takahiro Hasui (Shin Samurai-den YAIBA) and written by Takahiro Okura (The Million-dollar Pentagram), the story centers on Chihaya Hagiwara as Conan and his companions travel to Yokohama for a motorcycle festival. Source

    Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island – First Teaser
    On February 26, the animated film Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island released its first teaser trailer and is scheduled to premiere in Japan on July 24. Directed by Kei Oikawa and produced by Cygames Pictures, the film is adapted from a story posted by original creator Nagano on X in 2023, in which the adorable characters receive a special invitation and set off for a mysterious island retreat. Source

    Toy Story 5 – Official Trailer
    On February 20, Pixar’s animated film Toy Story 5 released its official trailer and will premiere in North America on June 19. Directed by Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris, with voice performances by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack, the film explores the clash between ever-advancing technology and the timeless bond of companionship as modern gadgets “invade” childhood. Source

    House of the Dragon Season 3 – First Teaser
    On February 20, HBO’s hit series House of the Dragon released the first teaser for its third season, set to premiere in June. Starring Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, and Rhys Ifans, the story remains set 200 years before Game of Thrones, as the struggle of blood, fire, and dragons escalates toward a brutal naval war and the pursuit of absolute power. Source

    More

    Animated Film Crayon Shin-chan: Bizarre! My Yokai Holiday First Trailer: Directed by Masaki Watanabe (Sakamoto Days) and written by Yoshiko Nakamura, with animation produced by Shin-Ei Animation. While vacationing in Hiroshi’s hometown of Akita, Shin-chan and his family are drawn into a grand adventure in the “Land of Yokai.” The film is set to premiere in Japan on July 31. Source

    Series Pride and Prejudice First Trailer: Adapted from Jane Austen’s classic novel, directed by Euros Lyn (Heartstopper) and written by Dolly Alderton (Everything I Know About Love), starring Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden, Olivia Colman, and Rufus Sewell. The series will premiere on Netflix this autumn. Source

    Chinese Trailer for Prima Facie: Exhaustive Enumeration: Produced by the original creative team behind Prima Facie and starring Rosamund Pike, the film continues writer Suzie Miller’s courtroom-focused storytelling, centering on a woman navigating the dual roles of Supreme Court justice and mother. The film will begin its first round of preview screenings on February 28, with an official release set for March 8.

    Entertainment News Weekly

    A New Neon Genesis Evangelion Anime Series Announced
    On February 23, a brand-new anime series in the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise was officially announced, along with a teaser visual and its core creative lineup. Further details are yet to be revealed. Yoko Taro (NieR: Automata) will serve as series composer and screenwriter, with Kazuya Tsurumaki and Toko Yatabe directing, Keiichi Okabe composing the music, and production handled jointly by khara and CloverWorks. Source

    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Confirmed for Mainland China Release
    On February 14, the animated film The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was confirmed for release in mainland China, alongside a trailer and poster, with the release date yet to be announced. Featuring voice performances by Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Brie Larson, and Benny Safdie, the star-studded cast leads Mario and Luigi on an all-new interstellar adventure into the unknown. Source

    Paramount Set to Acquire Warner Bros.
    On February 26, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that its board of directors considers Paramount Skydance’s previous $31-per-share acquisition offer to be a superior proposal. Later that day, Netflix issued a statement declining to raise its bid for Warner Bros. Paramount is expected to proceed with the acquisition and will pay a $2.8 billion termination fee tied to the current merger agreement with Netflix. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval. Source

  • What to Watch This Week: 8 New Movies and TV Shows Worth Watching

    What to Watch This Week: 8 New Movies and TV Shows Worth Watching

    ☕️ TL;DR

    Recent highlights: [US] Miracle Man, [Animation] A Diary from Another Land, [Film] National Treasure, [KR] How Do You Translate Love?, [JP] The Toyotomi Brothers!, [Film] Extreme Judgment, [UK] The Enforced Thief, [Documentary] Traditional Chinese Medicine Across the Seas

    Several notable trailers: the first trailer for Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL, a new trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a new trailer for Supergirl, the first trailer for Daredevil: Reborn Season 2, and a new trailer for Doraemon: New Nobita’s Undersea Devil Rock Castle

    Several film and TV updates: Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol Arc officially greenlit; The Los Angeles Heist confirmed for release in China; How to Make a Fortune unveils a new poster; The Deer and the Cauldron 2 set for a mainland China re-release; Kill Bill scheduled for a theatrical re-release in Hong Kong

    [US Series] Miracle Man

    • Keywords: Action / Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Adventure
    • Also known as: Wonder Man
    • Runtime: approx. 30 minutes per episode × 8 episodes; Douban link

    Marvel’s take on Behind the Scenes.

    @潘誉晗: Simon Williams is an unknown actor who takes acting very seriously. He studies every small role in detail and often proactively offers better ideas. But in the eyes of the crew, this only slows down the production. One day, renowned director Von Kovak decides to remake Miracle Man. Upon hearing the news, Simon immediately auditions—because his love for acting began in childhood, when he watched the film Miracle Man. He dreams of one day portraying a superhero on screen. What no one knows is that he himself actually possesses superpowers.

    Marvel’s Miracle Man, released all at once at the start of the year, is genuinely different from previous Marvel series. It’s not really about superheroes, nor does it feature flashy visual effects or grand narratives. Instead, it’s a story about two actors who simply want to make good films. One is Simon, the protagonist; the other is Trevor (who takes on the role of the “Mandarin”). Both are highly skilled performers, yet they’ve been stuck on the fringes of the industry due to a lack of resources and opportunities.

    Abandoning the traditional superhero formula, the series leans heavily on dialogue-driven scenes, portraying the workplace anxiety of two struggling actors who recognize and appreciate each other’s talent. There’s very little action, but it’s surprisingly moving.

    [Animation] A Diary from Another Land

    • Keywords: Manga adaptation / Slice of life / Healing
    • Also known as: Another Country Diary / Ikoku Nikki / Journal with Witch
    • Runtime: 24 minutes per episode × 13 episodes, updated every Sunday
    • Where to watch: Bahamut Anime Crazy; Douban link

    When you feel sadness, it’s okay to be sad—fully.

    @SHY: Makio Takashiro, a reclusive novelist, suddenly learns that her older sister Misato and her husband have died in a car accident. At the funeral, Makio meets her 15-year-old niece, Asa Tagumi. Unable to tolerate the way relatives treat the girl as a burden, Makio takes her home. Living under the same roof, the two begin an awkward journey of cohabitation.

    Readers of the original manga might feel its tone would suit a live-action adaptation better. Yet this seemingly thankless anime turns out to be far more compelling than the film starring Yui Aragaki. Produced by Shuka, the studio behind Natsume’s Book of Friends, and directed by first-time director Miyuki Oshiro, the series blends the strengths of live-action sensibility and animation. Through the orchestration of layered imagery, diary lines dissolve into boundless deserts, and emotions are rendered with remarkable subtlety—never overtly manipulative, yet quietly stirring ripples in the viewer’s heart.

    Unlike the common trope of grief expressed through emotional shutdown, the sorrow here is understated. Makio’s decision to take in Asa is not about assuming the role of a “mother,” but about respecting her as an equal individual. Two people carrying different forms of loneliness cautiously find their way forward. With the companionship of each other and their friends, they reconcile with past memories and arrive at inner peace. This foreign diary of life feels like a cup of warming comfort, savored in the biting cold of winter.

    [Film] Kokuho

    • Keywords: Novel Adaptation / Drama
    • Also known as: Kokuho
    • Runtime: 174 minutes; Douban link

    Even after leaving the stage, one must not disappoint the world.

    @SHY: Born the son of a yakuza, Kikuyo loses everything through the cruel twists of fate and seeks refuge under the tutelage of renowned kabuki actor Hanai Hanjirō, training alongside Hanjirō’s only son, Shunsuke. Similar yet fundamentally different in circumstance, the two endure trials of skill and society alike. Through cycles of loss and gain, a sweeping life drama gradually unfolds.

    As the highest-grossing live-action film in Japanese box office history, Kokuho inevitably invites comparisons to works of a similar vein, such as Farewell My Concubine and Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū, while still standing firmly on its own. What must one go through to truly deserve the title of a “Living National Treasure”? With a carefully structured rise and fall, the film explores the tension between talent and lineage. Two mirror-like figures act out a tangle of destiny, where the tides of history and individual ascent and decline are tightly interwoven, creating remarkable dramatic intensity.

    To tell the story of life behind the scenes, surface spectacle alone is not enough. Grounded in meticulous costume, makeup, and production design, the film builds breathtaking stage settings. Fully committed performances and vocal delivery convey a restrained, classical Japanese aesthetic. Even viewers unfamiliar with kabuki can feel its depth of tradition and enduring allure, making its nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at this year’s Academy Awards well deserved. The seamless fusion of narrative and form elevates Kokuho into a film that balances both commercial appeal and artistic achievement, leaving countless audiences utterly captivated.

    [K-Drama] Can This Love Be Translated?

    • Keywords: Drama / Romance
    • Also known as: Can This Love Be Translated?
    • Runtime: approx. 60 minutes per episode × 12 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    Can the essence of love really be translated through language?

    @潘誉晗: A tragic fall leaves actress Cha Moo-hee in a coma while she’s wrapping up a TV drama shoot. One year later, she awakens to find her life completely transformed. Once an unknown performer, Cha Moo-hee has become one of the hottest global stars, thanks to the breakout success of the film Dolami, which she completed just before losing consciousness. The film’s “villainous woman” role catapults her to fame—but also traps her in a typecast image. Determined to break free, she joins a travel-themed dating reality show. As the program shoots across different countries, the production hires a multilingual interpreter—who turns out to be Joo Ho-jin, the very interpreter with whom Cha Moo-hee shared an unresolved connection a year earlier.

    A romance between a top-tier celebrity and a highly skilled interpreter gains an added layer of poetic beauty as it unfolds amid shifting landscapes and countries. But if this were merely a romantic comedy about love, it wouldn’t have earned such acclaim. What truly sets the series apart is its bold premise: after the accident, Cha Moo-hee develops a darker, split personality. Through this alter ego’s actions, long-buried wounds from her family of origin—hidden beneath her bright, cheerful public persona—are gradually revealed and, over time, gently healed.

    [J-Drama] The Toyotomi Brothers!

    • Keywords: Drama / Biography / History
    • Also known as: Toyotomi Kyōdai!
    • Runtime: approx. 45 minutes per episode (the extended premiere runs 58 minutes) × 43 episodes; Douban link

    Behind every successful “monkey,” there’s an exceptional man!

    @潘誉晗: With his older brother Tōkichirō away seeking his fortune, young Koichirō from Nakamura in Owari becomes the only male in the household. In his mind, the most important thing is simply finding work so the women in the family can eat well and live comfortably. One day, Tōkichirō returns, claiming he’s made a small name for himself and is now serving under Oda Nobunaga. He urges Koichirō to follow him and make something of himself in the wider world. But Koichirō only wants to stay close to home, living a quiet, peaceful life by the fields.

    NHK’s 65th Taiga drama returns once again to the Sengoku period, centering on the story of the Toyotomi brothers—Toyotomi Hidenaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The series tells how these two brothers, born into poverty, created a miraculous rise against the odds. As Hideyoshi’s younger brother, Hidenaga is the supportive figure who often remains in the shadows. In contrast to the calculating and ambitious Hideyoshi, the sharp-minded Hidenaga is sincere and pragmatic. It is precisely this complementary dynamic that makes the brothers such a perfectly matched partnership as they travel far and wide.

    Screenwriter Hiroyuki Yatsu, known for works like Hanzawa Naoki, excels at fast-paced workplace dramas. As a result, the series maintains a brisk rhythm throughout, complemented by an impressive and energetic score.

    [Film] Mercy

    • Keywords: Sci-Fi / Thriller / Action
    • Also known as: Mercy
    • Runtime: 100 minutes
    • Where to watch: Now playing in theaters; Douban link

    Facts are not the end of an investigation, but its beginning.

    @SHY: Los Angeles detective Chris Raven wakes up from a hangover to find himself strapped into an electric chair in a courtroom, facing execution for the murder of his wife, Nicole. From surveillance footage to bloodstains at the scene, all the evidence points to Chris. With no memory of the crime, can he clear his name and catch the real killer within the 90-minute deadline imposed by the AI judge Maddox?

    There’s no shortage of protagonists who are wrongly framed, but far fewer are arrested on the spot with no chance to run. Confined to a chair for the entire film, Chris is quite literally a “death-row chair detective.” For a slim chance at survival, he must sift through massive amounts of data to uncover subtle clues—yet every spark of hope often leads to a dead end, or even deepens suspicion against him. The looming 90-minute countdown runs almost in real time with the film’s duration, while first-person camerawork immerses the audience in relentless tension.

    As the producer of the Searching franchise, director Timur Bekmambetov has a keen understanding of technological progress. The film’s big-data surveillance network is grounded in real-world prototypes, and its UX design carries a hint of visionOS flair. These realistic details lend credibility to this near-future trial. By contrast, the action sequence meant to serve as the climax feels comparatively weaker. Personally, I think the film would be rated even higher if it leaned more fully into its immersive investigative focus. Still, taken as a whole, it remains a solid and well-crafted commercial thriller.

    [UK Series] Steal

    • Keywords: Drama / Crime
    • Also known as: Steal
    • Runtime: approx. 42 minutes per episode × 6 episodes
    • Where to watch: Prime Video; Douban link

    “We picked you because you’re the worst person in the entire company.”

    @潘誉晗: It starts as just another ordinary day at the Lochmere Pension Fund—until a group of armed assailants storm in. Calm and methodical, they take only a few minutes to gather everyone together and cut off all external communications. They then coerce Zara and Luke, who have system access, along with shareholders who hold signing authority, and successfully transfer £4 billion—money belonging to ordinary people’s pensions. The police soon launch an investigation and quickly turn their suspicions toward Zara and Luke. After all, the robbers’ methods were far too professional and efficient for there not to be an inside accomplice.

    As one of the first crime thrillers of 2026, this financial heist centered on public pension funds is both exhilarating and gripping. Sophie Turner’s Zara initially appears in the first episode as a minor employee forced into the situation, but as the story unfolds in episode two, her true role in the case is revealed. What begins as a high-energy heist quickly grows more complex, packed with twists that make it hard to predict where things will go next. In its pursuit of the truth behind the robbery, the series also exposes the darker side of the financial system and critiques the ways the powerful exploit tax loopholes, giving the show a layer of real social relevance beyond its thrills.

    [Documentary] The Healing Path

    • Keywords: Documentary
    • Also known as: The Healing Path
    • Runtime: approx. 28 minutes per episode × 12 episodes
    • Where to watch: Youku Video; Douban link

    Traditional Chinese medicine is profound and far-reaching.

    @潘誉晗: Last November, Phoenix Television launched a documentary with a fresh perspective titled The Healing Path. Each episode pairs a Phoenix TV host with a special guest, following the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at home, its spread overseas, and its broader impact. Starting from Hong Kong and Macau, the team travels to 12 different countries and regions to explore how TCM is “going global” in the modern era.

    With each episode running under half an hour, the documentary is made with genuine care and presents the appeal of TCM culture from multiple angles. A clinic downstairs with a martial arts troupe on the top floor; when Macau feels too small, crossing over to Hengqin to discuss cooperation with the government; working with foreign designers to make herbal medicine shops more appealing to modern audiences; keeping prices unchanged across five generations because the building is owned outright…

    As a visual medium, film brings traditional Chinese medicine—something many people take for granted in daily life—closer and into sharper focus. By following the crew’s journey, we not only see the dedication of practitioners committed to preserving TCM traditions, but also their efforts to help the culture grow and adapt, and ultimately, the contributions TCM continues to make to the wider world.

    More

    [Film] The Wasteland
    @SHY: In the distant future, 280 years after a ceasefire agreement that divided humans and their creations, an investigation team descends into an underground world where strange anomalies have occurred—only to be drawn into an unexpected battle. A prequel to Headless recommended four years ago, this distinctive stop-motion animated film is once again crafted almost single-handedly by director Takahide Hori, who wears many hats. With experience accumulated over time, the settings here are more refined and grotesque, and the story more playful. One can’t help but hope a sequel will further expand this world.

    [Film] Temporary Family
    @利兹与青鸟: Down-on-his-luck American actor Philip arrives in Tokyo and, by chance, joins a rental-family agency, taking on temporary roles as clients’ family members or friends to fulfill requests. There’s a girl seeking a fake marriage to gain freedom, a mother trying to transfer her child to a private school—everyone has their own unspoken troubles. As Philip helps others through a series of small adventures, he gradually heals himself. Tender, sincere emotions flow throughout the film, quietly revealing various social issues in Japan, while moments of humor slip in to draw knowing smiles.

    [Film] Franz
    @利兹与青鸟: A biographical film about Czech writer Franz Kafka, told through a fragmented narrative that moves between Kafka’s real life and the worlds of his fiction. Family, work, friends, and achievements are brought to the fore, interwoven with fourth-wall-breaking interviews and Kafka’s inner psychological visions. The compositions are meticulous, mirroring Kafka’s literary style, and together collage a portrait of his life. Watching this film is even more rewarding if you’re already familiar with Kafka’s life and works.

    [Film] The Fake Genius
    @Sholmes: In 1970s Rome, Tony, a young man dreaming of becoming an artist, ventures into the city with his paintbrush—only to discover that his talent is worth more on the black market. From copying for others to forging masterpieces, he becomes entangled with the mafia and those in power, eventually rising as Italy’s most legendary art forger and getting swept into the country’s darkest prime minister assassination case. Shot in classic noir style, the film dissects the boundary between art and deception with sharp pacing and a brooding tone—both a personal descent and a reflection of an era’s absurdity and greed.

    [J-Drama] Gimbap and Onigiri: Two People in Love, Similar Yet Different
    @潘誉晗: On this day, Korean exchange student Park Lin steps into a small eatery called “Tami.” Though it’s already closed, Hase, who works there, still makes her an onigiri. Simple as it is, the rice ball tastes wonderful to Park Lin, who is overwhelmed by academic and life pressures. Their encounter sparks a touching cross-border romance. This Japan–Korea co-produced sweet love story is visually fresh and gentle, using food to convey emotion and affection—warm, soothing, and heartfelt.

    [US Series] Ordinary Women
    @潘誉晗: During the Cold War, two CIA agents die under mysterious circumstances. To uncover the truth behind their deaths, their wives, Bea and Twila, volunteer to return to the Soviet Union to investigate. The KGB is meticulous—but to them, Bea and Twila are just ordinary women. Though set against a backdrop of espionage, the series unfolds from a female perspective, resulting in a lighter, more playful tone, with a strong retro atmosphere.

    [Reality Show] Antarctic Chefs
    @潘誉晗: To provide meals for South Korean researchers stationed in Antarctica, a team made up of Baek Jong-won, Lim Soo-hyang, Chae Jong-hyeop, and SUHO travels to King George Island. Beyond the comfort food that warms body and soul amid ice and snow, a standout moment comes when the Sejong Station seeks help from China’s Great Wall Station due to a shortage of ingredients. In addition to plentiful snacks, the Chinese researchers’ remarkable talent for growing vegetables achieves “vegetable freedom” even in Antarctica. Even at the South Pole, eating well still matters.

    📅 This Week’s New Trailers

    Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL — First Trailer

    On January 30, the TV anime Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL released its first trailer and confirmed a July premiere. Directed by Shoma Kimura, written by Tow Ubukata, with character design and chief animation direction by Shuhei Handa, music by Taisei Iwasaki, and produced by Science SARU, the series will, for the first time, faithfully adapt Masamune Shirow’s original manga. Source

    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — New Trailer

    On January 25, the animated film The Super Mario Galaxy Movie released a new trailer and is set to open in North America on April 1. Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, and Jack Black return as voice actors, with Brie Larson joining as Rosalina and Ben Safdie voicing Bowser Jr. A new galaxy, new companions—Yoshi joins the adventure. Source

    Supergirl — New Trailer

    On January 24, DC’s new film Supergirl released a new trailer and is scheduled for a June 26 release in North America. Directed by Craig Gillespie, the film stars Milly Alcock as Supergirl, Jason Momoa as Lobo, with Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, Emily Beecham, and Will Coben also appearing. The film is adapted from the highly acclaimed comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Source

    Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 — First Trailer

    On January 27, Marvel’s series Daredevil: Born Again unveiled the first trailer for Season 2, set to premiere on Disney+ on March 24. Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Ayelet Zurer, Margarita Levieva, and Krysten Ritter star. As Kingpin’s influence continues to grow, Jessica Jones makes her return. Source

    Doraemon: New Nobita’s Undersea Devil Rock Castle — New Trailer

    On January 28, the new Doraemon theatrical film Doraemon: New Nobita’s Undersea Devil Rock Castle released a 4D trailer. The film is set to premiere in Japan on February 27 and will also launch a 4D version—marking the first time the franchise has tried the 4D format.

    More

    Invincible Season 4 – Official Trailer
    As the world continues to recover from a global catastrophe, Mark is consumed by guilt. While doing everything he can to protect his home and the people he loves, he comes face to face with a powerful new threat—one capable of permanently altering humanity’s fate. Premieres March 18 on Prime Video. Source

    Star Wars Animated Series Maul: Shadow Lord – Trailer
    Set after the Clone Wars, Maul plots to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. There, he encounters a disillusioned Jedi apprentice—perhaps the ally he needs on his path of revenge. Premieres April 6 on Disney+. Source

    BBC Series Lord of the Flies – Official Trailer
    Directed by Marc Munden (The Sympathizer) and written by Jack Thorne (The Virtues), this adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel follows a group of boys stranded on a deserted island. As humanity’s darker instincts emerge, paradise turns into a battleground. Premieres February 8. Source

    J-Drama Kujo no Taizai – Trailer Released
    Starring Yuya Yagira and Hokuto Matsumura, and directed by Hiroyasu Doi, Takeyoshi Yamamoto, and Hiroshi Adachi, the series premieres April 2 on Netflix. Adapted from the manga of the same name, it follows the morally dubious defense attorney Kujo Kanato and elite young prosecutor Karasuma Shinji, as they confront sharp clashes between law and morality, each guided by their own sense of justice.

    📽 Weekly Film & TV News

    Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol Arc Announced
    On January 25, the official Dragon Ball franchise released a special video celebrating its 40th anniversary, announcing a new animated project titled Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol Arc, along with a teaser visual. Further details will be revealed later. At the same time, an enhanced version of Dragon Ball Super titled Dragon Ball Super: Beerus released its “Super Launch” video, confirming the addition of new footage and a reconstructed storyline. It is scheduled to air starting in fall 2026. Source

    The Los Angeles Heist Confirmed for China Release
    On January 26, the film The Los Angeles Heist was officially confirmed for release in mainland China, accompanied by a trailer and poster. The release date has yet to be announced. Directed by Bart Layton and starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Halle Berry, the film brings together a rule-bound master thief, a down-on-his-luck executive, and a detective trapped in a desperate situation—three very different lives drawn into a shocking crime. Source

    How to Make a Fortune Unveils New Poster
    On January 27, How to Make a Fortune, starring Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley, released a new poster. The film is directed and written by John Patton Ford (Emily the Criminal), and also stars Jessica Henwick, Ed Harris, Topher Grace, Bill Camp, and Zach Woods. It opens in North America on February 20, followed by a UK release on March 13.

    Royal Tramp II Sets Mainland China Re-Release Date
    On January 27, the 4K restored version of Royal Tramp II was officially dated for re-release, making its mainland China big-screen debut on February 7. Originally released in 1992, the film was written and directed by Wong Jing and stars Stephen Chow, Chingmy Yau, Brigitte Lin, and Michelle Reis, with appearances by Natalis Chan, Damian Lau, Deric Wan, Tony Leung Siu-hung, Sandra Ng, Fennie Yuen, Vivian Chen, and Paul Chun.

    Kill Bill to Be Re-Released in Hong Kong
    On November 29, Quentin Tarantino’s classic Kill Bill was confirmed for a theatrical re-release in Hong Kong on March 7. Volumes 1 and 2 will be screened together as a single feature with a total runtime of 275 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission, and will feature an additional seven minutes of previously unseen footage.

  • Treasure 2025: A Year in Light and Shadow Presenting an award for your “Masterpiece of the Year”

    Treasure 2025: A Year in Light and Shadow Presenting an award for your “Masterpiece of the Year”

    As What to Watch This Week enters its sixth year alongside you, we look back on our shared journey across the screen in 2025. Over the course of the year, we encountered hundreds of works—some stunned us with exquisite visual effects, others dissected reality through gripping narratives. Some viewers found resonance and healing here, while others used the lens to examine the times and question themselves. These films and series have documented, created, and accompanied our lives.

    This year’s annual What to Watch This Week · Awards Ceremony presents a total of 10 awards, ordered by each work’s release or premiere date. Our selections remain highly subjective, so we warmly invite you to join us in the comments: share the work that moved you most in 2025, and present an award to the one closest to your heart. Through these titles and moments, let’s preserve together the cinematic memories that belong to 2025.

    (Note: All works mentioned in this article were released, premiered, or made available online in 2025.)

    @Snow: Pittsburgh Medical Frontline — Season 1

    Work details: 2025-01 / United States / TV series / Drama / 50 minutes × 15 episodes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: Since its premiere, Pittsburgh Medical Frontline has consistently ranked among the top three most-watched series globally on HBO Max, averaging over 10 million viewers per episode, and leading the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards with wins including Best Drama Series and two other major awards. It has likely already become many viewers’ “Drama of the Year.” And yet, despite all this acclaim, I nearly quit after the very first episode, dragging my way through the rest over almost half a year—because it is too real in its suffering.

    The “hardship” of Pittsburgh lies in the sheer intensity and duration of public hospital emergency work. A typical daytime shift that starts in utter chaos: a woman pushed off a platform, a man severely injured while trying to save someone, an athlete with recurrent ventricular fibrillation, a patient whose teeth have been knocked out, a boy who accidentally ingested “candy”…… The number of cases covered in just the first episode alone could probably fuel an entire season of another medical drama. The series leaves almost no breathing room for slacking off—where would there be time for romance or melodrama? Watching the characters crack tired memes in front of patient monitors is about as relaxed as it ever gets. A 12-hour, multi-threaded, high-intensity shift is already suffocating enough, and then they’re forced into overtime by a mass shooting, all while having to call back medical records from hours earlier. If you start feeling stressed and overstimulated, congratulations—you’re officially on the same wavelength as the three interns.

    The “realness” of Pittsburgh comes from the people it portrays—people we might actually encounter in everyday life. They work diligently to save lives, but they also gossip, bicker, and spam bad jokes; when they see bizarre cases, they can’t help snapping photos. My favorite little angel is Mel: mildly autistic, with a solid theoretical foundation, but not framed as a headline-grabbing “genius” like Murphy in The Good Doctor. She’s simply a slightly awkward, ordinary doctor who does her job earnestly, cares deeply about her patients, and tries hard to fit in with her colleagues. Collins, whose inner strength is off the charts, can keep working even after fetal biochemical pregnancy loss—yet completely falls apart at the sight of a mouse. Santos, sharp-tongued and arrogant, is the kind of top-tier “problem colleague” we occasionally run into in real life, but she’s never reduced to a mere clown or villain; when something happens, she genuinely steps up.

    For many people, watching shows after work is about finally catching their breath. Pittsburgh Medical Frontline, however, makes you feel as if you’re clocking into yet another, even more intense shift alongside these overworked medical staff. It’s precisely this high-density, unvarnished, yet occasionally tender viewing experience that allows you to truly feel the scarcity of medical resources, the surge of social conflict, and the fundamental kindness that still underlies most people.

    @宽治: Hot Spot

    Work details: 2025-01 / Japan / TV series / Sci-fi, Comedy / 45 minutes × 10 episodes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: Fans of Bakarhythm will probably catch a whiff of that unmistakable “Bakarhythm flavor” the moment they start Hot Spot. In terms of character writing, it carries over the subtlety and everyday texture of Fictitious OL Diary; in terms of narrative ideas, it pushes the imagination even further than Rebooting Life; and it continues Bakarhythm’s consistent interest in anti-genre storytelling.

    Before watching Hot Spot, it was hard for me to imagine that a series centered on employees at a hot spring hotel would feature aliens at all. Even less imaginable was that this alien story would completely abandon ultimate questions like interstellar warfare or the fate of humanity, and instead focus on workplace gossip, friendships, and the small troubles of everyday life. Even Takahashi himself—the alien in question—looks like nothing more than an utterly ordinary middle-aged man, with none of the traditional aura of a “chosen one.”

    What’s more, the problems Takahashi uses his superpowers to solve—aside from the occasional life-saving moment—are mostly trivial things: helping catch a thief, retrieving a volleyball stuck on a rooftop, quickly applying a screen protector, delivering an exam admission ticket. These “missions” not only appear out of nowhere, but using his powers also comes with various side effects (running too fast causes a fever, boosting intelligence leads to hair loss), which can only be alleviated by soaking in a hot spring.

    We’re used to thinking that life consists of “highlight moments” and “everyday moments,” and that the people around us fall into the roles of “protagonists” and “NPCs.” Film and television, as dream-making machines, usually focus on the protagonist’s shining moments. What makes this series interesting is precisely how it dissolves that distinction, bringing the often overlooked B-side of life into view. Through its close attention to the mundane, it paradoxically creates a sense of the surreal—a fleeting, everyday kind of wonder hidden in domestic trivialities.

    And so, idle chatter becomes different because of that small spark of wonder. And so, we not only accept the alien’s “ordinariness,” but also begin to accept the “strangeness” of ordinary people. In that process, we draw a little closer to one another. And that, truly, is something worth cherishing.

    @潘誉晗: Adolescence in Chaos

    Work details: 2025-03 / United Kingdom / TV series / Drama / 60 minutes × 4 episodes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: At dawn, multiple police cars drive into a residential neighborhood and stop in front of an unremarkable detached house. Armed officers move in an orderly fashion, smash open the door, and storm inside with guns drawn. The Miller family of four lives here. Mr. Miller, the father, stands at the staircase with his hands raised, insisting he’s done nothing wrong—his two children are upstairs. The police, however, are very clear about why they’ve come: “Jamie Miller, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.” On this day, 13-year-old Jamie Miller is charged with murder.

    At this year’s 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, the British series Adolescence in Chaos went six-for-six, winning Best Limited Series, Director, Writer, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. Owen Cooper, who plays Jamie Miller, became the youngest male acting award winner in Emmy history. After its release, the series was met with overwhelming acclaim. The UK government announced plans to include it as an educational film to be screened in secondary schools, and even Prime Minister Keir Starmer admitted that watching it with his children was deeply shocking. The reason behind all this recognition and impact is simple: this four-episode series captures a pathological sentiment that has become alarmingly prevalent among teenagers today—misogyny.

    From the very first episode, the series makes it clear that the police have ample evidence and have arrested the right person. As a result, the story isn’t about finding the real killer, but about why Jamie did what he did. Over the remaining three episodes, the narrative unfolds from three perspectives: the police investigation at the school, Jamie’s psychological counseling sessions, and the Miller family’s experience. What emerges is a startling realization—that what many assume to be an innocent school environment has, without notice, long been breeding serious social issues; and that so-called masculine ideals have already formed an invisible hierarchy and crushing pressure, leading adolescent boys to develop deeply misguided perceptions.

    This is truly a work of profound significance.

    @知道分子吴先先: Marry My Husband, Please

    Work details: 2025-06 / Japan, South Korea / TV series / Drama / 60 minutes × 10 episodes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: Marry My Husband, Please is a classic rebirth-and-revenge wish-fulfillment drama. The female lead is terminally ill, discovers that her best friend and husband are having an affair, and is then brutally killed by the two. She unexpectedly reincarnates ten years into the past, resolves to defy fate, deliberately matchmake this “perfect couple,” take revenge on her ex-husband and former friend, and ultimately begin a new life—and a new romance.

    Marry My Husband was originally a Korean webtoon, later adapted by tvN into a Korean drama that received a positive response. In 2025, Amazon struck while the iron was hot and released a Japanese version. The adaptation was written by Satomi Oshima, starring Fuka Koshiba and Takeru Satoh, with Korean director Ahn Gil-ho and a Korean production team also on board.

    The collaboration between Japanese and Korean teams allows the series to truly shine. On one hand, Japanese dramas are known for their delicate character portrayals. Oshima, who previously adapted 1 Litre of Tears and Nagi’s Long Vacation, adds rich and believable backstories to what were originally more archetypal characters, giving everyone a coherent and convincing motivation for their actions. In addition, aside from Takeru Satoh, the entire supporting cast delivers strong performances. In particular, Sei Shiraishi’s portrayal of the second female lead stands out: through textbook-level facial control (subtle twitching when angry) and rapid, page-flipping-like expression changes, she brings to life a tragic, deeply love-deprived, control-obsessed “dominant best friend” whose feelings toward the heroine oscillate between love and hate. Some viewers have even remarked that they’ve met someone exactly like her in real life.

    On the other hand, the Korean team’s meticulous attention to set design, lighting, costumes, and music gives the series an exceptionally polished look, far surpassing many contemporary Japanese dramas that have become lackluster due to limited budgets, talent shortages, and declining production values. Because of this, I found myself watching it again and again: the first time for the story, the second and third for the lighting, makeup, and composition. I’ve watched it at least five times, and every rewatch has been a joy.

    Marry My Husband, Please is a show you can watch without overthinking—but it’s also more than just a simple guilty pleasure. I sincerely hope that domestic dramas will produce more high-quality, visually pleasing wish-fulfillment series like this, ones that respect the audience’s intelligence.

    @SHY: Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc

    Work details: 2025-09 / Japan / Animation / Fantasy / 100 minutes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: There’s a certain irony here. The Chainsaw Man TV anime once strained to achieve a “cinematic” feel and fell short; yet its follow-up, which stops blindly imitating live-action techniques and instead reclaims the essence of animation, turns out to be a true film. Under new director Tatsuya Yoshihara, the adaptation fully internalizes the spirit of the original manga, making numerous subtle but effective adjustments. Through lavish animation and restrained direction, it composes a dazzling yet heartrending ode to love and heartbreak.

    Stories always begin with the meeting of a boy and a girl. A phone booth in the rain, a roadside café, a school campus at night, fireworks at a festival—the rippling surface of a swimming pool tinted with ambiguity draws two lonely souls into quiet intoxication. Having never been loved, perhaps they see themselves in one another. Even if the relationship begins with lies, they still cling to the fantasy of brief comfort, tasting a youth they never had.

    Yet in the end, they wear collars. A blood-stained deep kiss rips apart the tender illusion, and the freshness of everyday life explodes into the chaos of a B-movie battlefield. At full throttle, MAPPA delivers a rousing action spectacle: chainsaws and bombs roar, blood sprays in every direction, the scenes growing ever more unhinged. The show-stopping arrival of the “Sharknado” pushes absurdity to its limit, embodying a violent aesthetic as sudden and ferocious as a storm.

    Would you rather be a country mouse or a city mouse? This fable, running through the entire film, sets its tragic tone. A protagonist yearning for an ordinary life is ultimately revealed as a used and discarded outcast, denied even the right to a humble wish. Choosing romance over reason is fated to exact the price of life itself. Petals wither, fireworks fade, footsteps halt abruptly at the end of an alley—light and darkness standing in stark opposition.

    When what was once within arm’s reach becomes untouchable, countless unspoken thoughts condense into a murmured line—“Actually, I never went to school either”—leaving behind an oblivious boy to wait alone. After living through a love so overwhelming, everything else in the world pales into insignificance; joy and sorrow alike fall silent. This ineffable blend of tenderness and cruelty is precisely what the much-anticipated first season of the anime should have been all along.

    @宛潼: The Girl

    Work details: 2025-11 / Taiwan, China / Film / Drama / 124 minutes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: The Girl carries a certain autobiographical undertone. To be honest, its narrative is relatively flat, without dramatic twists or conventional “plot highs.” But Shu Qi’s approach feels remarkably deft: she uses imagery to fill the gaps in the narrative. Those delicate, flowing shots and the play of light and shadow are themselves telling a story. They form the film’s very framework, bringing an otherwise understated plot vividly to life.

    What moved me to tears most was how the film strips away the “strong female lead power fantasy” and instead presents the quiet, restrained life texture that most women inhabit—and this, in fact, is reality. There are no reversals, no triumphant comebacks, only prolonged endurance. At times there’s a desire to break free, only to find there is no way out; after despair comes nothing but continued endurance. This suffocating sense of powerlessness is heartbreaking. To me, the mother in the film understands everything. She knows which path should be taken, but she herself is trapped and can no longer walk it. The greatest kindness of her life is sending her daughter away with her own hands, cutting off this cyclical fate.

    The film hides a detail of profound significance: throughout the entire story, only the girl has a name—no one else does. The others are faceless symbols, representing countless small families submerged under gendered and patriarchal narratives, and the suffering silently borne by women across generations. But starting with the girl’s generation, the old narrative finally comes to an end. They are no longer nameless shadows; they finally have names of their own.

    At the end, during the post-screening Q&A, Shu Qi broke into a genuinely happy smile. It reminded me of a line from the film and made me feel its deeper meaning: letting smiles no longer look so bitter, but truly be smiles.

    @利兹与青鸟: All Her Fault

    Work details: 2025-11 / United States / TV series / Drama / 45 minutes × 8 episodes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: If the hallmark of a top-tier thriller is the ability to make viewers “binge the entire series in one go,” then All Her Fault can safely be called this year’s most successful suspense drama. Centered on the accidental disappearance of a child, the series does not stop at unraveling a mystery; instead, it precisely dissects the terrifying truths lurking beneath so-called perfect families and a rigidly stratified society.

    The series opens with Marissa, a successful working mother, heading out to pick up her five-year-old son Milo based on a text message from another mother, Jenny—only to discover that the address is fake and her child has vanished without a trace. This fear, born from the collapse of everyday trust, instantly pulls the audience into a deeply empathetic state. What sets the series apart, however, is its construction of successive “narrative traps” that constantly overturn themselves. Suspicion first falls on Jenny’s family nanny, Kelly; then the husband Peter’s suspicious movements, followed by hidden secrets among family and friends, gradually come to light. Everyone seems like the culprit, yet every clue only leads deeper into the fog.

    The ambition of All Her Fault goes far beyond telling a twisty story. The title itself is a massive irony. Just as viewers grow accustomed to locating blame among female characters, the series sharply captures a collective subconscious reflex: whenever something goes wrong with a child—from everyday bumps and bruises to kidnapping cases—the mother is almost always seen as the primary party at fault. In the show, both Marissa and Jenny, no matter how successful they are professionally, cannot escape all-around scrutiny and blame from their husbands, the media, and even themselves once they are defined by the role of “mother.” Through their experiences, the series reveals how society at large molds motherhood into an identity that must be perfect—or else be burdened with original sin.

    As one incisive line in the series puts it, “It looks like a group of good people killing each other.” When the narrative perspective shifts to the tragic story behind the nanny Kelly, as well as a subplot in which a detective takes desperate risks for his autistic son, the series gradually peels back the cold chasm of class divisions. What emerges is a more universal—and more powerless—predicament: in the face of overwhelming structural injustice, anyone can be a victim, and anyone can, often unconsciously, become a link in the chain of harm.

    @Voyager_1: Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty: Chang’an

    Work details: 2025-11 / Mainland China / TV series / Mystery / 50 minutes × 40 episodes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: There’s an old saying that “sequels are doomed to fail,” but Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty is an exception. If the first season was a surprising dark horse, the second a solid and conscientious follow-up, then the third season—Chang’an (2025)—finally completes the transformation from a “niche gem” into a fully fledged series familiar to a broad audience.

    This time, the investigation duo led by Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng brings their long westward journey to an end and finally returns to Chang’an—a city both prosperous and seething with undercurrents. The most captivating element of the show remains that single word: “strange.” The writers not only continue their precise excavation of Tang-dynasty zhiguai (records of the uncanny), but in this third season, they more deeply intertwine these “strange cases” with the political landscape of Chang’an itself.

    From “The Golden Peach of Kang Kingdom” to “Polo in a Prosperous Age,” the bizarre cases this season are no longer mere curiosities of the jianghu, but point directly to the darkness of the human heart and the heights of the court. Avoiding flashy, studio-style excess, Tang Tales uses light and shadow to construct a distinctly Tang-era “Chinese Gothic” aesthetic—where the ecstatic dances of night banquets and the crimes lurking in sewers fold together into a three-dimensional vision of a flourishing Tang dynasty.

    The most award-worthy aspect lies in its unwavering commitment to using the “strange” as bait, Tang-era stories as the connective thread, and characters free of filler subplots. What remains is tightly interlocked reasoning, meticulous investigations, and the growing默契 and maturity of the investigative team when faced with matters of right and wrong. As we watch Su Wuming once again stroke his beard in contemplation and Lu Lingfeng break the deadlock with his spear, that long-missed, pure binge-watching thrill is the best possible reward—and the clearest proof that good money truly can drive out bad.

    @Sholmes: Knives Out 3

    Work details: 2025-11 / United States / Film / Mystery / 144 minutes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: Judd is a Catholic priest who is reassigned to the rural parish of Our Lady of Eternal Perseverance after assaulting a deacon for making disrespectful remarks. There, he assists Wicks in managing the parish. During the Good Friday service, Wicks steps into a storage room near the pulpit to rest, only to suddenly collapse. Judd discovers that Wicks has been stabbed in the back and is bleeding profusely. Police Chief Scott summons private detective Blanc to investigate the case, and the police consider Judd—who had been preaching alongside Wicks—as the prime suspect.

    On a rainy night, Judd witnesses Wicks emerging from a mausoleum. He gives chase, is knocked unconscious, and later awakens to find the body of the cemetery caretaker Samson lying on the ground. Just as Judd is about to confess to the crime, Blanc stops him and claims that he already knows who the real killer is.

    Structurally, the film adheres rigorously to the rules of classic fair-play detective fiction—ingenious tricks, the careful planting and payoff of clues, and a logically coherent process of deduction. Every clue, every misdirection, and every shot choice serves the central puzzle. The first case in the film is a locked-room murder, and Blanc explicitly references the famous “locked-room lecture” from The Three Coffins, with the solution unfolding strictly through logical reasoning.

    The film enhances the pleasure of deduction through multiple layers of foreshadowing. For example, the parish administrator Martha stops Samson from listening to a live sports broadcast during the sermon, forcing him to record the game instead—this recording later becomes one of the key clues in solving the case. Although Blanc and Judd hold opposing positions in matters of religious belief, they share an unshakable commitment to the pursuit of truth. This coexistence of shared goals and ideological conflict creates a strong chemistry between them, continually heightening the narrative tension.

    Cinematographer Steve Yedlin turns the imagery itself into a tool of misdirection and revelation—hiding clues in long shots, and using shifts between warm and cool lighting to hint at characters’ inner states. At a time when genre films are increasingly diluted, this movie remains steadfast in its devotion to the principles of classic detective fiction and achieves impressive results, proving that fair-play mysteries are far from outdated.

    @阿斯巴_甜: Yesterday’s Youth

    Work details: 2025-12 / Japan / Film / Drama / 113 minutes / Douban link

    Reason for the award: This film tells the story of five high school friends from different social classes and ethnic backgrounds, and the life choices they make about their futures amid an increasingly harsh social and school environment after an earthquake. Although both Hao and Yuta are high school students who love electronic music, Hao’s marginalized identity and impoverished background gradually make it impossible for him to tolerate Yuta’s game-like attitude toward life. As conditions continue to deteriorate and under the influence of his classmates, Hao ultimately chooses a path different from Yuta’s—while Yuta, in turn, grows more mature through Hao’s influence.

    As a first-time director, Sora Otomo cannot escape the label of being Ryuichi Sakamoto’s son, and his multicultural upbringing has meant that he has never shied away from expressing political issues directly—much like how he often wears a keffiyeh associated with Palestine as a form of protest. But if the core of this film is the director’s political expression, what I find even more compelling are the vibrant, youthful gestures layered on its surface.

    This is a fearless, rebellious posture: from collaborating on pranks against the school principal to flipping off the campus surveillance cameras. Their defiance becomes a flash of color in a fractured, oppressive environment, while music serves as their final utopia. Compared with clichéd, melodramatic youth films, the way Otomo portrays high school students responding to the outside world through resistance and escape conveys a sense of authenticity and an unbroken vitality of life.

    🙋‍: Share your 2025 viewing report—what films or series did you love most or find most memorable, and what awards would you want to give them? Feel free to join the discussion in the comments!

  • What to Watch This Week | 11 Recent Picks Worth Your Time

    What to Watch This Week | 11 Recent Picks Worth Your Time

    ☕️ TL;DR

    Recent highlights: [China] Crimes Against Humanity, [China] Mirage City, [Japanese drama] Lies Upon Lies Remain Lies, 🔦 [Film] Nothing but Remembrance, 🔦 [Film] Falling in Love with You Across Parallel Timelines, [Film] The Mysterious Gaze of Flamenco, [Korean drama] Made in Korea, [British drama] Trigger Point Season 3, [Animation] Elephant, [Interview] First-Person Plural Season 3, [Documentary] Born Wild

    Several exciting trailers: Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure official trailer, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising new trailer, first trailer for the live-action Look Back, first trailer for The Odyssey, first trailer for Avengers 5, and a new trailer for 96 Minutes: Train Bombing Case

    Several pieces of film & TV news: Jump Festa 2026 anime news roundup, Time Traveler confirmed for mainland China release on January 17, Return to Silent Hill confirmed for mainland China release on January 23, Pegasus 3 scheduled for release on February 17

    Based on reader feedback, if a recommendation contains spoilers (revealing core story elements, hidden threads, foreshadowing, or the ending), we will add a 🔦 emoji before the title of the corresponding work.

    You can find previous recommendations here, or by clicking the tag #What to Watch at the end of the article. For more themed watchlists, click here. If you’d like to read more in-depth film and TV content, feel free to follow our spin-off column “Watch What Café.” As always, we welcome your suggestions in the comments—thank you for your continued support and love for the “What to Watch” column.

    [China] Crimes Against Humanity

    • Keywords: Drama / History
    • Also known as: 731 / Jinglan Yue / Man’s Inhumanity to Man
    • Runtime: approx. 45–80 minutes per episode × 20 episodes
    • Where to watch: Youku Video; Douban link

    Real history is the best textbook.

    @潘誉晗: On December 13, China’s National Memorial Day, a series titled Crimes Against Humanity quietly premiered on Youku Video, while also airing simultaneously on Jiangsu TV. Focusing on the crimes against humanity committed by Japan’s Unit 731 on Chinese soil, the series launched without any excessive promotion, yet managed to break out of its niche purely through its faithful restoration of historical truth.

    The series adopts a dual-timeline structure. One timeline is set in Harbin in 1992, where Xiao Jin, a staff member at the Unit 731 Exhibition Hall, embarks on a decade-long, cross-border journey of investigation and evidence collection to make up for gaps in the museum’s historical records. The other timeline returns to that dark era, depicting the series of atrocities committed by the invading Japanese forces in Harbin.

    What deserves the greatest praise is the series’ refusal to rely on overtly sensational or emotionally manipulative scenes. Instead, it reconstructs the brutal truths of history in an extremely restrained and calm manner. Shots with almost no dialogue are laden with meaning; even a simple overhead empty frame becomes a silent indictment of the complete erosion of humanity within the Japanese army. By telling the story through the fates of ordinary individuals, the narrative makes the pain all the more piercing—because in that era, every civilian was trapped in fear and despair.

    [China] Mirage City

    • Keywords: Fantasy / Mystery
    • Runtime: approx. 50 minutes per episode × 24 episodes
    • Where to watch: iQIYI; Douban link

    The Mao Pian team is opening a brand-new rabbit hole!

    @利兹与青鸟: The new series from Youying Culture, the team behind Mao Pian, dropped its entire season at once last Friday. Like The Record of Unusual Creatures, its premise is wildly imaginative, yet it still sticks to the team’s signature style—twist upon twist, with a touch of unreliable narration.

    Hovering above Dengzhou City—is it a mirage, or a city that can actually fly? Are the mysterious iron-armored figures, impervious to blades and spears, wielding powerful magic, or are darker forces at work? Are the people who vanished and later returned suffering from lost souls, or is there another hidden truth? Among the emperor, the crown prince, the King of Jingnan, and Baili Yuan, which faction truly stands on the side of justice? A group of protagonists with extraordinary skills, distinct identities, and their own motives and secrets forge bonds through repeated brushes with death, unravel countless mysteries, and search for the truth behind an unknown power.

    Although the main roles are played by a different cast, the presence of “Brother Bao” signals that the creative team still retains strong control over the project. The world-building is expansive, with echoes of many classic science fiction works. Characters constantly exploit one another; schemes are layered upon schemes, loyalties flip back and forth, and details that initially seem illogical often turn out to be foreshadowing or are later explained. That said, limited budgets and uneven performances have long been the team’s weak points. Fortunately, the action scenes this time are fairly convincing, and the lighthearted comic relief lands a few genuine smiles. A post-credits scene plants yet another new hook—here’s hoping the next season won’t be too far away.

    [Japanese Drama] A Lie within a Lie Is Still a Lie

    • Keywords: Drama / Mystery
    • Also known as: A Lie Is a Lie and a Lie Is a Lie / 嘘が嘘で嘘は嘘だ
    • Runtime: approx. 23 minutes per episode × 4 episodes; Douban link

    Before a lie is exposed, it is the truth.

    @SHY: On a snow-filled Christmas night, Omori Manko—whose life has been riddled with setbacks—walks into an izakaya and reunites with her ex-husband, Kobayashi Kosuke, for a long-overdue meal. Before long, a handsome man with a surgically altered face who claims to be a marriage scammer, Nakamura Nobukazu, and a police detective with a wounded forehead, Namiki Masayoshi, join them one after another. The four, brought together by coincidence, may be hiding far bigger secrets behind their words.

    Screenwriter Ubukata Miku, known for well-received dramas such as Silent Snow and The Flower I Love Most, returns this time with what she herself calls a “talk-heavy ethical romance mystery psychological thriller sitcom.” Centered on the theme of “lies,” the series uses delightfully twisted yet witty dialogue to reflect the blurred boundaries between truth and falsehood in human life. Among the four who all claim to be honest with one another, which lines are true—and who is lying? With assured, skillful writing weaving together exquisite layers of foreshadowing, every line of dialogue is worth savoring again and again.

    A hit-and-run accident scrolling across the TV news, the identities of two people who present themselves as a con artist and a police officer, and the affair partner that led to the protagonist’s divorce all seem far from simple. Beneath the calm surface of the tavern, undercurrents swirl, gradually revealing a much larger picture through casual conversation. While the real world is filled with cruel truths and lies, within this entirely fictional drama there may still be a path toward a happy ending. This situational play, unfolding over the course of a single night, is a different kind of Christmas gift for the audience.

    🔦 [Film] All That’s Left of You

    Keywords: Drama

    Also known as: All That’s Left of You / The Vanished Homeland

    Runtime: 145 minutes; Douban link

    This is clearly the orange grove my family has cultivated for generations.

    @潘誉晗: Selected by Jordan to compete for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, All That’s Left of You is written, directed, and starring Sherine Dabis. Through four different time periods and a multi-threaded narrative, the film tells the extraordinary 75-year family history of a Palestinian family.

    The family once lived a simple yet happy life in the Jaffa region, with an orange grove passed down through generations and a relatively prosperous livelihood. Then war arrived, and everything changed. The 1948 Middle East war turned tens of thousands of Palestinians into refugees. They only wanted to live their quiet, ordinary lives, yet the flames of war forced this once-complete family into displacement. The husband who stayed behind in Jaffa was arrested for refusing to hand over the orange grove; the wife, taking the children into hiding in the West Bank, not only had to comfort them but also shoulder the extra burden left by her husband’s sudden absence.

    Drawing on her own experiences, the director approaches the story with a remarkably gentle touch, gradually lifting the veil on a cruel past. As the timelines shift, we witness how pain and pressure are slowly imposed upon this family, long concealed beneath the layers of history.

    🔦 [Film] Falling in Love with You Across Parallel Timelines

    • Keywords: Drama / Comedy / Romance / Fantasy
    • Also known as: Mirror Lover / Svodish s uma
    • Runtime: 99 minutes; Douban link

    You are my lover in the mirror.

    @潘誉晗: In Saint Petersburg, at a flat viewing, Eliza meets Vanya. To secure an apartment in the city center amid a crowd of prospective tenants, Vanya naturally slips his arm around Eliza, pretending they are a loving couple. Once the lease is signed, Vanya promptly turns his back on her, intending to move in alone. Eliza, however, refuses to back down. After a brief tussle, she successfully moves into the apartment as well. On the night she moves in, Eliza hears the thundering sounds of a party coming from the other side of the apartment. When she opens the bathroom door, she discovers that beyond it lies a parallel everyday world identical to this one—except that over there, it is Vanya who has rented the place.

    With a production budget of only $800,000, the film nevertheless received widespread acclaim upon its release in Russia. Falling in love across a mirror and between parallel worlds, brought about by a shift in time and space, may not be an entirely new idea, but it still feels delightful. What is even more surprising is that the romance between the two leads is built on emotional closeness rather than physical contact. Eliza, previously trapped in a toxic, manipulative relationship, finds her way out with Vanya’s help, while the playboy Vanya is prompted by Eliza’s words to confront his true self—because compared to touching a real body, reaching the soul matters far more.

    [Film] The Mysterious Gaze of Flamenco

    • Keywords: Drama / LGBTQ
    • Also known as: La misteriosa mirada del flamenco
    • Runtime: 109 minutes; Douban link

    Do not meet my gaze—because within my eyes lies a plague.

    @潘誉晗: In 1980, a mining town in the northern Chilean desert becomes home to a group of transgender women. Heavily made up, they live boldly and flamboyantly. A local legend circulates here, claiming that if you lock eyes with them, your soul will be stolen—and you will be infected by a plague. The plague, of course, terrifies people, yet desire entangles their reason. So they come up with what they believe is a brilliant solution—when bodies intertwine, just cover your eyes, and everything will be fine.

    At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, 30-year-old director Diego Céspedes drew attention in the Un Certain Regard section with his debut feature The Mysterious Gaze of Flamenco. The film carries a strong sense of magical realism, using “the plague” and “the gaze” as metaphors to explain AIDS at a time when it had not yet been named. AIDS is undeniably terrifying, but what is most ironic is how the people of this conservative town fear the disease while simultaneously craving the fulfillment of their own desires. Left with no way out, they resort to such absurd methods, believing they can block the virus this way. Yet the virus of prejudice—can it really be erased so easily, simply by covering one’s eyes?

    [Korean Drama] Made in Korea

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Also known as: 메이드 인 코리아 / Made in Korea
    • Runtime: approx. 50 minutes per episode × 6 episodes
    • Where to watch: Disney+; Douban link

    @利兹与青鸟: In 1970, a Japanese passenger plane is hijacked by a communist revolutionary group and ordered to fly to North Korea. Despite the hijackers being armed with knives and guns, the situation is quickly brought under control by a certain “businessman.” He not only helps the hijackers negotiate with the Japanese and South Korean governments, proposing a solution that satisfies all parties, but also discreetly takes care of the drugs he is carrying. This businessman—whose intelligence and combat skills are maxed out—is in fact the head of the Intelligence Division at the Busan branch of South Korea’s Central Intelligence Agency, secretly assisting a drug trafficking syndicate backed by his director. Meanwhile, the righteous and relentless prosecutor Jang Geon-yeong, himself a legendary figure, sets his sights on this very syndicate, and a battle of evenly matched forces between good and evil begins.

    The series boasts polished cinematography, using cold, restrained tones to underscore a corrupt and chaotic social backdrop. The two-male-lead showdown between Korean A-listers Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung gives the drama plenty of star power. That said, after the film The President’s Last Bang achieved notable success, starting with the same incident does put this show at a slight disadvantage, and the leads’ every gesture sometimes feels as if they are posing for a fashion spread—perhaps a bit too stylish, occasionally breaking immersion. Still, this type of subject matter sits squarely in the comfort zone of director Woo Min-ho and Hive Media Corp, the production company behind 12.12: The Day, so the overall production quality is well assured. With moments of light, witty humor sprinkled in to ease the tension, it’s a solid watch for those intrigued by the genre.

    [British Drama] Trigger Point Season 3

    • Keywords: Drama / Thriller / Crime
    • Also known as: Trigger Point Season 3
    • Runtime: approx. 60 minutes per episode × 6 episodes
    • Where to watch: ITVX; Douban link

    If only all evil could vanish in an explosion…

    @潘誉晗: One day, a crude explosive device is discovered near a stretch of wasteland. Upon receiving the alert, Lana’s unit heads to the scene immediately. There is a car on the wasteland, with a man inside desperately pounding on the window for help. As Lana approaches to defuse the bomb, she unexpectedly discovers that the device conceals an unidentified chemical weapon. Just a few days later, during an inspection at a university, Lana’s team finds a professor who has been bound. Left at the scene is a note reading “Confess or die.” The same note had appeared inside the car days earlier—clearly indicating that both incidents were the work of the same perpetrator.

    Produced by ITV, Trigger Point returns in its third season, once again using a series of linked explosions to highlight both the difficulty and the allure of life in a bomb disposal unit. No longer young, Lana relies on medication to withstand the relentless pressure of the job, yet when faced with an explosive crisis, she still demonstrates exceptional professional competence. The cases in this season also reflect social issues with real-world relevance. Buried beneath the chain of incidents is the truth of ordinary workers pushed and deceived by capital, rising up in resistance. With tight pacing, extensive on-location shooting, and impressive explosion effects, the series delivers a story that feels both gripping and grounded in reality.

    [Animation] The Elephant

    • Also known as: Adult Swim’s The Elephant
    • Runtime: 23 minutes
    • Where to watch: HBO Max; Douban link

    Who was I? What am I? Where will I be?

    @SHY: This Christmas, some of Cartoon Network’s most celebrated creators came together for a wondrous adventure that even they themselves did not fully anticipate. Jointly created by Pendleton Ward (Adventure Time), Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe), and Patrick McHale (Over the Garden Wall), the project adopts a “blind men and the elephant” approach: each creator was only allowed to work on their own segment, with no communication or sharing of ideas, yet all parts ultimately had to merge into a single story. To make this possible, they agreed in advance on the concept of “rebirth”—each chapter ends with the protagonist’s death—and collectively designed and selected each other’s bizarre characters and the sequence in which they would appear.

    Needless to say, the film becomes a showcase of wildly different artistic styles. It opens with Ward’s indescribable creature escaping from a laboratory, embarking on a bizarre flight alongside a frog-like right hand and a spy cat; next, Sugar’s character awakens in a room, the music button on their chest turning them into the center of a carnival, only for something uncanny to emerge once the music stops; McHale then closes things out by throwing all restraint to the wind, as a protagonist who dies and revives again and again ultimately finds solace within. While the overall structure may feel a bit loose, a shared theme can be sensed throughout, packed with quirky ideas that a regular series could hardly contain. It’s a truly singular creative experiment—and very likely 20 minutes you won’t forget.

    [Interview] First-Person Plural Season 3

    • Keywords: Humanities
    • Also known as: Im Schwarm
    • Runtime: approx. 60 minutes per episode × 8 episodes
    • Where to watch: Youku Video; Douban link

    To update the world is to become an updated version of yourself.

    @潘誉晗: In 2023, Youku launched a talk show titled First-Person Plural. With Zhou Yijun as the initiator of each discussion, the program invites guests from different fields in every episode to explore socially meaningful topics in depth through conversation. Seated around a table, guests from across disciplines engage in boundary-free dialogue, naturally drawing widespread attention online. The first two seasons, already aired, garnered considerable praise. And so, amid eager anticipation from fans, this show—regarded by many viewers as a refreshing presence—has finally returned this month.

    The very first episode of the new season invites well-known host Dong Yuhui and Xiang Biao, a professor of social anthropology at the University of Oxford. Starting from the topic of “e-commerce platforms,” they discuss history, development, and the future. The choice of subject is timely and highly relatable—after all, in this era of rapid internet expansion, shopping on e-commerce platforms has become an everyday part of our lives. What makes the conversation especially engaging is that Professor Xiang, who has lived in Europe for many years, is not particularly adept at online shopping. From their respective standpoints, these two guests from different fields spark moments of intellectual collision and resonance, offering viewers a rich exchange of ideas.

    [Documentary] Born to Be Wild

    • Keywords: Nature
    • Also known as: Born to Be Wild
    • Runtime: approx. 30 minutes per episode × 6 episodes
    • Where to watch: Apple TV+; Douban link

    @利兹与青鸟: To help the young of endangered species survive, jungles around the world are home to various rescue organizations and wildlife centers. Over the course of several years, the production team followed and filmed six baby animals rescued by humans: a young sloth bear from the forests of northern India, an abandoned elephant calf in Zambia in southern Africa, African black-footed penguins from South Africa, ring-tailed lemurs from Madagascar, cheetahs from the South African savannah, and the Iberian lynx from southern Spain. All of them are rare and endangered in the wild. Abandoned by their parents or threatened by illegal poaching, they are helped by rescue centers that invest immense effort and care to teach them survival skills, enabling them to eventually return to the wild.

    Narrated by British actor Hugh Bonneville, the documentary devotes each episode to a single species, documenting the process of rescue, treatment, feeding, and learning how to survive in the wild, all the way through to life after release. Black-footed penguins are sometimes forced to abandon unhatched eggs as temperatures rise—a heartbreaking sight; to help a young sloth bear return to nature, rescuers must build temporary shelters deep in the forest and stay with it to teach survival skills, an exhausting task; and a lone elephant calf must learn not only how to use its trunk but also how to socialize, which proves surprisingly delightful to watch. While marveling at the irresistible cuteness of these young animals, viewers also gain insight into their habits and the realities of wildlife rescue, making this series well worth watching.

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    [China] Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty: The Chang’an County Magistrate
    @潘誉晗: As a spin-off of the Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty series, this short drama The Chang’an County Magistrate centers on Wei Tao, the Chang’an county magistrate from the Season 3 case “So Close to the Heavens.” It tells the story of the first case he investigates after taking office—the mysterious deaths of eight elderly residents at the “Courtyard of Tragedy.” In the original series, Magistrate Wei, marked by a strong sense of clan honor, earned much sympathy for seeking revenge for his sister. This short drama presents his story as a prequel, offering viewers a measure of emotional consolation.

    [US Series] Robin Hood
    @潘誉晗: England, 1186. The Saxons suffer under Norman oppression and enslavement. Robert’s father is executed for resisting, and his mother soon dies as well. Driven by revenge—and by a growing awakening to national freedom—Robert decides to rally warriors willing to fight back against Norman rule. Unlike the familiar image of robbing the rich to aid the poor, Amazon’s reboot of Robin Hood presents him as a symbol of national dignity and freedom. Blending adventure with historical elements, the series delivers solid production values and a well-paced overall rhythm.

    [US Series] Spartacus: House of Ashur
    @潘誉晗: Starz has recently launched a spin-off of Spartacus, with the protagonist being Ashur—the antagonist who was beheaded atop Mount Vesuvius in Season 2. The series adopts a parallel-universe approach, imagining that Ashur survives, gains honor by killing Spartacus, and sets out to revive the gladiator school. Carrying on the style of the original, the spin-off remains lavishly bloody, paired with intricate power struggles—a Roman history retold through the lens of violent aesthetics.

    [Film] She, Like a Diamond
    @利兹与青鸟: The director and cast sit around a table reading the script together, jointly sketching the story of female seamstresses in a fashion studio in the 1970s. Rather than employing a play-within-a-play structure, the film weaves real-life script discussions into the narrative, preserving its integrity and making it easier for audiences to immerse themselves. Amid rich, colorful visuals and exquisitely crafted garments, women of very different personalities support one another through hardship, unleashing remarkable talent and moving strength.

    [Animation] THE LENTICULARS a/
    @SHY: After accidentally confessing his feelings to his crush Sawaki, Raku unexpectedly receives a positive response—though their relationship is far from smooth sailing. Director Tetsu Amemiya, renowned for his keen grasp of JK and DK sensibilities, finally sets aside show-stealing sci-fi concepts to deliver a straightforward school romance anime. Carrying forward the fine tradition of the 4S series’ mini-theater style, this work—essentially built on simple “paper-doll” movements—radiates youthful energy that can outshine many big productions. The delicate touches scattered throughout invite repeated appreciation. Please serve up the full a/b-side version as soon as possible.

    [Animation] Undead Unluck: Winter Arc
    @SHY: Amid a blizzard triggered by a UMA, a fierce battle is about to erupt. Elsewhere, Andy and Fuuko, traveling by plane, are ambushed by assassins sent by Billy. Serving as a transitional arc between two TV anime seasons produced by different teams, this installment mainly depicts an original story based on the concepts of original author Yoshifumi Tozuka. Director Sung Hoo Park and E&H Production, taking over the subsequent project, largely recreate the strengths seen in their other works—the animation is striking, the action scenes are satisfyingly intense, and hopes are high that the second season will maintain this level of quality.

    📅 This Week’s New Trailers

    Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure — Official Trailer

    On December 20, the anime Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure released its first official trailer. The 1st STAGE is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on March 19, 2026. Adapted from the manga by Hirohiko Araki, the series is directed by Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi, produced by david production, and follows the epic STEEL BALL RUN—a cross-North America horseback race of the century. Source

    Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising — New Trailer

    On December 21, the animated film Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising unveiled a new trailer and is set to open in Japan in February 2026. Akiyuki Shinbo serves as chief director, Yukihiro Miyamoto directs, Gen Urobuchi writes the script, Yuki Kajiura composes the music, Junichiro Taniguchi handles character design, Gekidan Inu Curry designs the otherworldly spaces, and SHAFT produces. Source

    Look Back — First Live-Action Film Trailer

    On December 21, the live-action adaptation of Look Back released a teaser trailer and is slated for release in Japan in 2026. Based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga of the same name, the film is directed, written, and edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The original work tells the story of the extraordinary bond between two girls, Fujino and Kyomoto, brought together by manga, and won first place in the 2021 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (Men’s category). Source

    The Odyssey — First Trailer

    On December 22, director Christopher Nolan’s new film The Odyssey debuted its first trailer and is set to release in North America on July 17, 2026. Starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and more, the film depicts Odysseus’s long journey home after the Trojan War. Source

    Avengers 5 — First Trailer

    On December 23, Avengers 5: Doomsday released its first teaser trailer and will open in North America on December 18, 2026. Directed by the Russo brothers, the film sees Chris Evans return as Steve Rogers, Robert Downey Jr. return as the villain Doctor Doom, with Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, and others also starring. Source

    96 Minutes: The Train Bombing Case — New Trailer

    On December 23, Taiwan’s box-office-topping film 96 Minutes: The Train Bombing Case released a new trailer. Produced by Zou Jiezhong and directed by Hong Zixuan, with a screenplay by Hong Zixuan, Chen Yifang, and Yang Wanru, the film stars Austin Lin, Vivian Sung, Wang Po-chieh, and Lee Lee-zen, with Yao Yi-ti and Tsai Fan-hsi co-starring. It is scheduled for mainland China release on January 10, 2026.

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    TV anime Medalist Season 2 — New Trailer: Adapted from the manga of the same name by Tsurumai Kaita, the series continues to be directed by Yasutaka Yamamoto, written by Jukki Hanada, with music by Yuki Hayashi and production by ENGI. It carries on the story of young skater Tsukasa Akeuraji and the girl Inori Yuitsuka as they set their sights on the world stage of figure skating. Broadcast begins January 24. Source

    Film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man — First Trailer: Directed by Tom Harper and written by Steven Knight, with Cillian Murphy reprising his starring role. Set in Birmingham in 1940, amid the chaos of World War II, Tommy Shelby returns from self-imposed exile. The film will receive a limited theatrical release in North America on March 6, followed by a Netflix release on March 20. Source

    Film A Step into the Past — Final Trailer Released: The film is adapted from the classic novel of the same name by Wong Yi. Louis Koo serves as chief producer, with Ng Yuen-fai and Lai Chun-lung co-directing. Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, Jessica Hsuan, Sonija Kwok, and Tavia Yeung reunite as the main cast. The film opens on December 31.

    📽 Weekly Film & TV News

    Jump Festa 2026 Anime News Roundup
    During the Jump Festa 2026 carnival held on December 20–21, Weekly Shonen Jump revealed the latest updates on many of its manga titles. Below is a small selection of highlights worth noting: Source

    Anime Chainsaw Man: Assassin Arc — Production Announced: Adapted from the manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto and produced by MAPPA. Devil hunters from around the world travel to Japan to kill Chainsaw Man, pushing Denji into even harsher circumstances. Staff details and release timing to be announced;

    TV anime One Piece: Elbaf Arc — Special Teaser: The series is set to resume broadcasting on April 5. The short anime CHOPPER’s, themed around “Chopper’s Daily Life,” will begin airing on January 5, while Season 2 of the live-action series is scheduled to premiere on March 10;

    TV anime Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity Arc — Teaser Trailer: The final season of the series, adapted from Tite Kubo’s manga. Directed by Tomohisa Taguchi and Hikaru Murata, produced by PIERROT FILMS, and scheduled to air starting July 2026;

    Animated films Haikyu!! vs. The Little Giant & special animation Haikyu!!: The Monsters’ Expedition — New Teaser Trailers: Directed by Susumu Mitsunaka and produced by Production I.G. The films will respectively depict Karasuno vs. Kamomedai and Fukurodani vs. Mujinazaka, with a theatrical release planned for 2027;

    Animated film New Gintama the Movie: Yoshiwara in Flames — Official Trailer: A fully reanimated theatrical version of the “Yoshiwara in Flames” arc. Supervised by original director Yoichi Fujita, directed by Naoya Ando, and produced by BN Pictures. Scheduled for release in Japan on February 13;

    TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game – Part 1 — Official Trailer: Adapted from the manga by Gege Akutami, directed by Shota Goshozono, scripted by Hiroshi Seko, and produced by MAPPA. The opening theme is performed by King Gnu. Broadcast begins January 8;

    TV anime Kaiju No. 8: Final Arc — Production Announced: Adapted from the manga by Naoya Matsumoto. The first two seasons were directed by Shigeyuki Miya and produced by Production I.G. An original short animation titled Narumi’s Workday has also been announced, with release details to be revealed later.

    Time Travelers — Mainland China Release Set for January 17

    On December 22, the animated feature Time Travelers released its mainland China release trailer and poster, confirming a January 17 theatrical debut. Produced by Natalie Portman and directed by Hugo Bienvenu, the film tells the story of a boy named Arco and a girl named Iris, separated by a thousand years, who meet across time and embark on an adventure together. The film won the Crystal Award for Best Feature Film at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Source

    Return to Silent Hill — Mainland China Release Set for January 23

    On December 26, the film Return to Silent Hill unveiled its mainland China release trailer and poster, and will open on January 23, day-and-date with North America. Christophe Gans returns to direct, with Jeremy Irvine and Hannah Emily Anderson starring. After receiving a mysterious letter from his missing lover, protagonist James is drawn back to the town of Silent Hill—once familiar, now consumed by darkness. Source

    Pegasus 3 — Release Date Set for February 17

    On December 26, Pegasus 3 was officially dated for a February 17 release during the Lunar New Year holiday period. Written and directed by Han Han, the film stars Shen Teng, with Yin Zheng, Huang Jingyu, and Zhang Benyu also leading, alongside Wei Xiang, Sha Yi, Fan Chengcheng, and Sun Yizhou, and special appearances by Duan Yihong. With the Bayinbuluk Rally now behind him, the former racing legend heads onto an all-new track, facing challenges unknown. Source

  • Ring in Christmas Cheer and Welcome the New Year With These 9 Holiday Films

    Ring in Christmas Cheer and Welcome the New Year With These 9 Holiday Films

    🎄 Merry Christmas!

    As the Christmas atmosphere grows ever stronger on shopping streets and social platforms alike, decorating your home in full holiday style—like lifestyle influencers do—may not be so easy. But spending a weekend evening watching a Christmas-themed movie is always within reach. Whether it’s the heartwarming holiday romance Love Actually or the adventurous animated classic The Polar Express, both feel like perfect seasonal choices. In this special edition of What to Watch, we’ve selected 9 films ideal for Christmas viewing, hoping to bring you a touch of warmth during these cold winter days.

    The What to Watch column will periodically release themed special editions. While keeping an eye on weekly new releases, we also revisit beloved classics together.

    You can check out previous recommendations here or by clicking the tag #WhatToWatch at the end of the article. If you’d like more in-depth film and TV content, feel free to follow our spin-off column What to Watch Café. And as always, if you have other suggestions, you’re welcome to share them in the comments—thank you for your continued support and love for What to Watch.

    [Film] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

    Non-professionals are advised to watch this film accompanied by chocolate.

    @潘誉晗: The mysterious gates of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory have been shut for fifteen years. All this time, no one has ever been seen entering or leaving, yet rich and tempting chocolate aromas continue to waft out from within. One day, Wonka announces that he has hidden five golden tickets inside five chocolate bars—whoever finds one will earn the chance to tour the chocolate factory.

    I think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an almost perfect choice for a Christmas family movie. For children, it’s a fairy-tale chocolate kingdom filled with wonder—like winning a golden ticket from the film itself, bringing pure joy. For adults, it offers a chance to see the world through children’s eyes and reflect on how grown-ups should provide the right guidance as kids grow up.

    The five children represent archetypes in a very deliberate way: the gluttonous grinder, the rich pay-to-win tycoon, the elite player, the tech geek, and the lucky chosen one. Their different backgrounds and the ways they obtain their golden tickets predetermine the choices they’ll make—and the consequences they’ll face—on this adventure. The film makes its message crystal clear: excessive greed, arrogance, and vanity are among the worst traits in the world, and they ultimately harm oneself. What’s truly precious is having the kind of pure kindness and childlike heart that Charlie embodies.

    When the visionary Tim Burton brings Roald Dahl’s story to the screen, he also reminds us that family is a child’s most important school. As long as a family is together, even living in a drafty little house and eating cabbage with cabbage soup every day can still be a source of immense happiness.

    [Film] The Shop Around the Corner

    • Keywords: Drama / Comedy / Romance
    • Also known as: The Shop Around the Corner
    • Runtime: 99 minutes
    • Where to watch: Youku Video; Douban link

    A “long-distance romance” story set on Christmas Eve, 1940.

    @利兹与青鸟: When it comes to Christmas movies, the classic It’s a Wonderful Life often tops various “best Christmas films” lists. But another lesser-known gem starring James Stewart, The Shop Around the Corner, is just as perfect for the holiday season. Directed by the renowned Ernst Lubitsch, a master of romantic comedies, the film carries his signature lighthearted and playful style, filled with witty dialogue and richly drawn ensemble characters, transporting viewers back to a small corner shop during Christmas in the last century.

    How did young people fall in love in 1940? Storylines we’re familiar with today—online romance and office love affairs—were already cleverly and elegantly constructed in The Shop Around the Corner decades ago. The film tells the story of a man and a woman who, by a twist of fate, become pen pals. In real life, they are bickering rivals, coworkers in the same shop who can’t stand each other; yet through anonymous letters, they unknowingly become soulmates who deeply admire one another. This dual relationship between the two leads is the film’s greatest highlight, generating plenty of humor as their circumstances shift, while taking the audience’s emotions on a gentle roller coaster.

    Beyond the central romance, the everyday ensemble scenes inside the shop are equally delightful: a stubborn boss who holds all the power, sly and mischievous employees sneaking moments of slacking off—elements that feel wonderfully true to life while remaining highly entertaining. When the plot veers toward an unexpectedly chaotic point and viewers begin to worry about how it can possibly be resolved, Lubitsch once again diffuses the tension with a light and witty touch, reminding us that this is the highest form of a truly heartwarming, family-friendly comedy.

    [Film] Everyone Says I Love You

    • Keywords: Comedy / Romance / Musical
    • Also known as: Everyone Says I Love You
    • Runtime: 101 minutes
    • Where to watch: Tencent Video; Douban link

    A warm and romantic all-star musical.

    @甜约翰: Set in New York, the film tells the story of a family with very different personalities, each bravely pursuing true love. Free-spirited Juna lives in a large, happy family—her mother Steffi and stepfather Bob have maintained a close friendship with Juna’s biological father, Joe Berlin, for many years. Her sister Skylar is about to walk down the aisle with her fiancé Holden, only to fall for a convicted criminal. Joe Berlin, who has remained single for years, meets a married woman while on vacation and ends up chasing her from Venice to Paris. Meanwhile, the family also includes an eccentric brother Scott, the innocent sisters Lane and Laura, and an adorable grandfather. With Christmas just around the corner, will they be able to find true love?

    This 1996 all-star musical was written, directed, and starred in by the “little old man” himself, Woody Allen. The film continues his signature style: a tightly structured script, concise storytelling, just-right choreography and musical design, and of course, Allen’s characteristically rambling musings. It carries a strong sense of classic Broadway tradition, yet moments like a dancing soul at a funeral and a duet by the Seine add a touch of lightness and warmth. Through his lens, every member of this middle-class family feels especially endearing, while New York, Paris, and Venice appear irresistibly romantic—almost as if this is what love itself looks like.

    Everyone says they love you—but what exactly is love? Is it that once-in-a-lifetime spark, or the quiet companionship that grows over time? Perhaps no one truly knows. With Christmas just around the corner, why not look for an answer in this film?

    [Film] A Christmas Carol

    • Keywords: Drama / Animation / Family / Fantasy
    • Also known as: A Christmas Carol
    • Runtime: 98 minutes
    • Where to watch: Tencent Video; Douban link

    A darker fairy tale better suited for adults.

    @甜约翰: The protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a thoroughgoing miser—selfish by nature and notoriously stingy. He treats his employees and nephew harshly, and even beggars on the street dare not ask him for alms. After his business partner dies, he becomes even more unrestrained. As Christmas approaches, Ebenezer, alone at home, encounters three spirits in succession—the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. These extraordinary experiences awaken another side of his humanity, and he finally repents, deciding to change his ways.

    This film is adapted from Charles Dickens’s novella of the same name, written in 1843. The original work is one of Dickens’s “Christmas Books” (alongside The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth), and the phrase “Merry Christmas” itself gained widespread popularity because of this story. Directed by Robert Zemeckis of Forrest Gump fame, the film combines a solid script, a dark visual style, unsettling elements, and the use of performance capture technology, resulting in a richly textured and distinctive cinematic experience.

    Of course, the film also carries a deeply educational theme: if you could see your own past, present, and future, what kind of life would you choose? It’s also worth noting that Jim Carrey, who plays the lead role, along with familiar faces such as Gary Oldman and Colin Firth, all deliver strong performances, adding plenty of highlights to the film.

    If you’re in the mood for something other than the warmth-and-fuzzies of Love Actually, this darker fairy tale for adults may be just the right choice for Christmas night.

    [Film] Klaus: The Secret of Christmas

    • Keywords: Comedy / Adventure / Coming-of-Age
    • Also known as: Klaus
    • Runtime: 96 minutes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    The most selfless acts are often the most moving.

    @SHY: Even the youngest children know the story—when the year draws to a close, a white-bearded old man in red sets off from the far north, riding a reindeer-drawn flying sleigh to visit homes around the world, quietly leaving gifts to be discovered upon waking. But where did this well-known legend come from? Here, I’m not talking about Saint Nicholas as you may have heard of him, but a story that might have truly happened in 19th-century Norway.

    When we think of Christmas, we naturally picture family reunions and festive decorations. This story, however, begins in a bleak, icy town that feels as though it has stepped straight out of a Lovecraftian myth. Jasper, a spoiled young man exiled there by his postmaster father, desperately tries to complete his delivery quota, only to find the townsfolk locked in deep-seated hostility, vowing never to interact with one another. At his lowest point, he reaches an understanding with the woodsman Klaus—and through acts of kindness born from selfish motives, they gradually weave the fabric of a new tomorrow.

    From letter-writing wishes and naughty lists to reindeer sleighs, chimney stockings, and even the iconic “Ho-ho-ho,” the film cleverly connects all the familiar elements of Christmas into a whimsical and imaginative symphony. With carefully planted foreshadowing and steadily advancing narrative threads, it traces the growth of Jasper and the townspeople alike. The striking contrast before and after their transformation naturally elevates Klaus into the figure we now recognize as Santa Claus.

    Built upon exquisite art direction, the creators use hand-drawn 2D animation to simulate three-dimensional lighting and textures, giving the film its distinctive “2D-rendered-as-3D” visual style—truly a feast for the eyes. Guided by pure love and goodwill, long-standing feuds are resolved, a harsh and frozen land is turned into a haven of laughter and joy, and warmth is carried out into the world. This beautiful legend is one I’m happy to believe in—and one of the finest interpretations of the origins of Santa Claus.

    [Film] The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales…

    • Keywords: Comedy / Adventure / Healing
    • Also known as: The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales…
    • Runtime: 83 minutes, with a post-credits scene
    • Where to watch: Youku; Douban link

    Since it’s come to this, I’ll just be Santa Claus myself!

    @SHY: The curtain slowly rises, and the show begins. The stage is a seemingly ordinary little farm. An overly responsible pig teams up with a not-so-bright duck and rabbit to escort a baby dropped off by a stork back home, setting off on a long journey. The scene then shifts to the Big Bad Fox plotting with Mr. Wolf to steal chickens—only to be mistaken for a mother by newly hatched chicks, forcing him to take on the responsibility of childcare. And as the year draws to a close, the duck and rabbit accidentally “kill” Santa Claus. Determined to step up and save Christmas, they join forces with the pig for a series of absurd and hilarious adventures.

    Benjamin Renner, director of Ernest & Celestine, brings his own illustrated book to the screen. Using the premise of animals putting on a stage play, he weaves together three standalone stories, occasionally breaking the fourth wall. Although only the final segment is directly related to Christmas, every childlike adventure is infused with a strong festive spirit. The corners of the frame are filled with delightful details—watching a snail on a tree branch repeatedly miss falling leaves, or the frog janitor stealing the spotlight during the end credits—there’s always a moment that will have you laughing out loud.

    Embracing the watercolor style that French animation does best, the film uses simple lines to sketch a cast of vividly distinct characters, gently telling a warm bedtime story with a brisk pace and a fresh, lighthearted mood. No matter how chaotic the journey may be, the adventure always ends with a heartwarming payoff. Just as the closing line says, everyone finds their own happiness—and that’s what matters most. With its uniquely French humor and delightfully silly charm, this whimsical, all-ages family fairy tale is the perfect festive treat to enjoy with friends and family.

    [Film] The Holdovers

    • Keywords: Drama / Comedy
    • Also known as: The Holdovers
    • Runtime: 133 minutes
    • Where to watch: Bilibili / iQIYI; Douban link

    A sincere and quietly moving slice-of-life film.

    @甜约翰: Set in the 1970s, the film follows Paul, a teacher at Barton Academy. Aloof, somewhat arrogant, and accustomed to keeping to himself, he isn’t particularly popular on campus. Having never married and lacking close family or friends, Paul is left with no choice but to stay at the school over the Christmas holidays. Remaining with him are Angus, a troublemaking student who is constantly causing problems, and Mary, the school’s head cook. And so, three very different people form an unlikely “alliance of the stranded,” spending an unforgettable Christmas break together…

    Directed by Alexander Payne (Nebraska, Paris, je t’aime), the combination of an eccentric teacher, a problem student, and a strong-willed cook may not sound novel, but the film stands out thanks to its solid script and high level of overall execution. The character work is especially compelling: a lonely, middle-aged single teacher; a rebellious student acting out in the wake of his parents’ divorce; and an African American mother who lost her son in the war. Three people who are, in different ways, “without a home,” move from mutual unfamiliarity to understanding, eventually opening up to one another and forming a temporary family for the holidays.

    Familiar without feeling formulaic, the film offers an alternative expression of “family without blood ties.” Paired with its rich sense of nostalgia, it feels heartfelt and deeply affecting—a genuinely sincere work that also happens to be perfectly suited for Christmas viewing.

    [Film] Carol

    • Keywords: Drama / Romance / LGBTQ+
    • Also known as: Carol
    • Runtime: 118 minutes; Douban link

    With Christmas approaching, it’s time to revisit Carol.

    @利兹与青鸟: Adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel The Price of Salt, the story unfolds in the cold of winter. Cate Blanchett plays Carol, a mother on the brink of divorce, while Rooney Mara portrays Therese, a sales clerk with a passion for photography. The two meet in a department store shortly before Christmas, exchange one lingering glance in the sea of people, and fall in love at first sight—only to suffer for a relationship that was deemed taboo by the society of that era.

    The film follows a familiar romantic narrative on the surface, yet director Todd Haynes creates a distinctive aesthetic space, amplifying sensory experiences of sound, sight, and touch to make this love story restrained, subtle, and unmistakably different. Shot on film, Carol has a soft, timeworn, grainy visual texture. Doors, windows, mirrors, and halos of light are frequently used as foreground obstructions, forming a barrier of time and space between the two women bound by love, while also positioning the audience outside the frame, observing that era from a distance. The score is flowing and densely woven, perfectly complementing the visuals and drawing viewers deeper into the delicate emotional shifts of the protagonists.

    Of course, for a love story, what matters most may be the intangible chemistry between the leads. The performances are nuanced and exceptional; in the face of such powerful on-screen chemistry, dramatic conflicts and plot mechanics feel almost secondary. Through subtle glances, restrained emotions, and expressive body language—through countless meaningful looks exchanged—this pure and genuine love is more than enough to move the audience.

    [J-Drama] A 29-Year-Old’s Christmas

    • Keywords: Drama / Romance
    • Also known as: 29歳のクリスマス
    • Runtime: Around 46 minutes per episode × 10 episodes; Douban link

    I like who I am right now.

    @潘誉晗: “On my 29th birthday, I started going bald, couldn’t go to Paris Fashion Week, was transferred from the fashion department to a company-run restaurant, got dumped by a jerk, was soaked to the bone in the rain, and panicked over the possibility that I might be pregnant with that jerk’s child—thankfully I wasn’t, and could finally breathe a sigh of relief…” For Noriko, a day that should have been a happy birthday celebration turned out to be truly miserable. Work, romance, family, friendship—those seemingly ordinary problems of everyday life all came crashing down on her at once during her 29th year.

    Society often feels deeply unfair to women. Men can still be seen as charming well into their forties, while women, once they reach a certain age, are told that if they don’t “solve” the issue of marriage, all that remains is to be chosen. That’s why I love this drama, and admire Noriko so much. Even in Japan in 1994, she proves—amid a strongly patriarchal atmosphere—that a woman can still be outstanding in her own right. When she questions her mother’s constant pressure to get married, her retort feels like it speaks for countless women: “In this male-dominated society, even when the pressure is so intense that I start losing my hair, no matter how hard my work is, I tell myself to keep going and keep trying. Please don’t dismiss my efforts as unfilial.” Exactly—if you’re capable of supporting yourself, why place your happiness in the hands of another person who may not even be reliable?

    As Noriko’s 29th Christmas approaches, she’s on the brink of turning 30. Yet at this moment, she is no longer anxious, nor filled with regret, because she has received the best Christmas gift of all: facing herself honestly. I think many women need a Christmas gift like this, too.

    More

    [Film] That Christmas @SHY: After a chaotic Christmas pageant, the children head home carrying their own worries. As a snowstorm gradually engulfs this small town in England, Santa Claus is about to face the biggest crisis of his career. Adapted from the children’s book of the same name by Love Actually director Richard Curtis, and featuring voice performances by Bill Nighy and others, this charming animated film uses Christmas to weave together a cast of characters and intertwined events, ultimately crafting a joyful, feel-good ending. Brimming with laughter and heartfelt moments, it’s a warm companion for year-end viewing.

    🙋: What films do you feel like watching this Christmas? Feel free to share with us in the comments! Click here to see more themed watchlists 📽

  • What to Watch This Week | 10 Recent Works Worth Your Time

    What to Watch This Week | 10 Recent Works Worth Your Time

    ☕️ TL;DR
    Recommended recent highlights:
    [Korean Drama] The Price of Confession、[Film] Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc、[Film] Ordinary Accident、[Film] A Familiar Touch、[Mexico] The Death of a Girl、[Thai Series] The Betrayal at Wat Phra Si — Season 2、[UK Series] Shetland — Season 10、[Chinese] The Big Deal Maker、[Anime] Ranma ½ Season 2、[Documentary] No Name

    A few notable trailers: the first teaser for the Street Fighter live-action film, a new trailer for Extreme Judgment, the official trailer for Kaguya-sama: Love Is War — The Stairway to Adulthood, a new trailer for Fate/strange Fake, and the first teaser for The Boys Season 5.

    A few entertainment news items: main visual for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, A Step into the Past premieres December 31, Drama Stories releases its first official poster, and Supergirl debuts a teaser poster.

    [Korean Drama] The Price of Confession

    • Keywords: Mystery / Crime
    • Also known as: 자백의 대가 / The Price of Confession
    • Runtime: ~50 minutes per episode × 12 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    The cost of confession.

    @利兹与青鸟: Ahn Yoon-soo is accused of murdering her husband Lee Ki-dae. Although Yoon-soo insists she is innocent, she is sentenced to life in prison. Her orphanage background and her neighbors’ descriptions of a gentle Yoon-soo seem at odds with each other, hinting that she may not be as simple as she appears. Nurse Moo-eun, after years of exploitation, poisons the couple she works for. She calmly waits at the crime scene for the police to arrest her, confessing everything with chilling composure. The two women meet in prison, and Moo-eun offers to take the blame for killing Lee Ki-dae—on one condition: Yoon-soo must help her kill someone.

    The series uses cold, muted tones to create a chilling atmosphere, and its visuals carry a strong sense of texture. The suspenseful narrative is tightly woven. Who is the real killer of Lee Ki-dae? How will Yoon-soo fulfill her promise? What secrets are the two women hiding? These questions draw the audience deeper, and the plot indeed takes unexpected turns, unraveling more and more cases until everything becomes increasingly enigmatic. The bloody confrontation near the end is especially memorable. Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun shine in their dual-leading roles—both adversarial and empathetic toward each other, completing their own redemption arcs through vengeance and the pursuit of truth. Beneath a gripping crime story, the drama explores themes of public shaming, prejudice, and arrogance, exposes the darkness of human nature, and ultimately lets the truth return to the light.

    [Film] Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc

    • Keywords: Manga Adaptation / Fantasy / Action / Romance
    • Also known as: 劇場版 チェンソーマン レゼ篇 / Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
    • Runtime: 100 minutes, with a post-credits scene; Douban link

    My heart was taken by Reze—perhaps never again will joy and sorrow feel the same.

    @SHY: After defeating Katana Man, Denji—the boy who can transform into Chainsaw Man—meets Reze, a girl working at a café. Their relationship quickly deepens. Yet just as things are about to move forward between them, Reze’s hidden identity leads to an explosive turn of events. Swept up by fate, where will Denji and Reze end up?

    Although this film lost “Mr. Cinematic” Nakayama Ryū—its famously beleaguered director who delivered a much-criticized TV adaptation—the new director, Tatsuya Yoshihara, picks up the mess left by his mentor and delivers a true dragon-slaying performance, achieving global acclaim and box-office success. With MAPPA returning for production—with staff largely unchanged—this theatrical version adopts a new creative direction that abandons the TV series’ pseudo-live-action aesthetic. Instead, it fully embraces the strengths of animation, channels the spirit of the original manga, and presents exhilarating visuals and direction that far surpass the TV adaptation.

    Adapted from one of the manga’s most beloved arcs, the film masterfully balances atmosphere—fusing a tender, emotional love story with roaring, explosive action sequences. With a score by Kensuke Ushio placed exactly where it belongs, the film becomes an audiovisual feast. Even a person as small as a mouse can burn bright like fireworks—this cruel, aching tale lingers long after the credits roll. This triumphant theatrical adaptation not only redeems the franchise but also stands as one of the best animated films—and one of the best films—of the year.

    [Film] Ordinary Accident

    • Keywords: Action / Thriller / Crime / Adventure
    • Also known as: It Was Just an Accident / A Simple Accident / Un simple accident
    • Runtime: 101 minutes; Douban link

    This is anything but an ordinary accident.

    @潘誉晗: One day, Narufar drives out with his wife and daughter. Midway through the trip, their car breaks down in front of a storage warehouse. After receiving help from the warehouse owner, Narufar goes inside to look for tools. The sound of his prosthetic leg scraping against the floor immediately puts warehouse employee Bashid on high alert. Years ago in prison, Bashid had been cruelly abused by a guard—and that guard made this exact sound when he walked. Believing Narufar to be that guard, Bashid plans to bury him alive in revenge. When Narufar denies the accusation, Bashid decides to gather former inmates to confirm his identity.

    Although banned from filmmaking for 20 years, director Jafar Panahi secretly shot this film and ended up winning the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. During the award ceremony, Juliette Binoche praised the film for “restoring our sense of life through shared humanity and freedom,” and rightly so. Faced with the dilemma of confronting their torturer or seeking revenge, the victims’ choices command deep respect—they are not brutal people, and even after inhuman suffering, they still hold onto kindness. The film is crafted with remarkable skill. Though it does not graphically portray the violence of the past, the actors’ words make the audience feel the weight of despair all the same.

    [Film] Familiar Touch

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Also known as: Familiar Touch
    • Runtime: 90 minutes; Douban link

    Don’t be a witness.

    @利兹与青鸟: Ruth, an elegantly dressed elderly woman, moves with practiced ease as she prepares her signature sandwich in her beautifully decorated home. Although she occasionally wears a vacant expression, nothing outwardly reveals that she is suffering from memory decline. And yet—the toasted bread meant for the plate ends up on the drying rack, and Steve, who should be recognized as her son, is instead treated as a stranger. Half coaxing and half tricking her, Steve brings Ruth to a high-end countryside care facility. The environment is tastefully warm, offering dining, reading, games, nursing, medical exams—everything one might need. The doctors and caretakers are attentive, but even so, it is difficult to feel that living here could ever be enjoyable.

    With delicate cinematography, thoughtful framing, and a gentle, tranquil tone, the director sketches the emotional journey of a proud elderly woman confronting her cognitive decline—subtle and deeply authentic. Newly arrived, Ruth insists she is no different from anyone else and refuses to accept the reality of her fading memory. She clearly remembers her date of birth, her home address, the recipe for her signature dish; she can prepare a refined meal more skillfully than someone half her age, and her handwriting remains beautiful. Yet her question, “Am I going to live here for the rest of my life?” pierces the heart like an arrow. The loneliness, loss of autonomy, and helplessness wash over the audience, prompting reflection on what it means to face aging.

    [Thai Series] The Believers Season 2

    • Keywords: Drama / Thriller / Crime
    • Also known as: The Believers Season 2
    • Runtime: ~60 minutes per episode × 8 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    When faith becomes a tool for crime.

    @潘誉晗: One day, Win and Game are brought before Councilwoman Ai. Pointing to the lawn behind her, she claims she will build a hospital there—one that, once completed, will bring immense merit. Unfortunately, she lacks the funding and needs Win and Game to help her raise 1 billion baht within six months. It turns out that the seemingly kind councilwoman is actually the mastermind pulling all the strings. Win and Game want to refuse, but once Ai threatens their families, they have no choice but to comply. Meanwhile, after successfully escaping to the U.S., Belle begins building her own life from scratch.

    Although The Believers Season 2 has slightly lower ratings compared to Season 1, the finale considered, the series is still worth recommending overall. It continues the first season’s bold spirit—unafraid to take risks with its setups—and this season escalates the scams even further, intertwining them with politics and power struggles. In Season 1, the protagonists devised scams to pay off debt; in Season 2, they act out of desperation to protect their families, bringing deeper, darker motivations into play—money laundering for the councilwoman. Exploiting people’s suffering to sell faith-based anxiety, then weaponizing that faith for profit and crime… as the Buddha said, all of this is sin.

    [Thai Series] The Believers Season 2

    • Keywords: Drama / Thriller / Crime
    • Also known as: The Believers Season 2
    • Runtime: ~60 minutes per episode × 8 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    When faith becomes a weapon for crime.

    @潘誉晗：One day, Win and Game are brought before Councilwoman Ai. Pointing to the lawn behind her, she claims she plans to build a hospital there—one that, once completed, would bring immense merit. Unfortunately, she currently lacks the funds. She needs Win and Game to help her raise one billion baht within six months. It turns out that the seemingly kind public figure is actually the mastermind behind everything. Win and Game initially refuse, but once Ai threatens their families, they are forced to comply. Meanwhile, Belle—who successfully fled to the United States—begins building her own career on her own terms.

    Although the second season of The Believers has slightly lower ratings than the first, considering the impact of its ending, it remains very much worth recommending. Continuing the boldness of Season 1—both in subject matter and narrative structure—this season escalates the fraud schemes and links them to politics and power struggles. In Season 1, the protagonists devised scams to pay off debts; in Season 2, they must act for the sake of their families, bringing deeper, riskier motivations into play—namely, the councilwoman’s money laundering. Exploiting people’s suffering to sell religious anxiety, then weaponizing that faith to commit fraud and crimes—thus, as the Buddha says, all of it is sin.

    [UK Series] Shetland Season 10

    • Keywords: Drama / Crime
    • Also known as: Shetland Season 10
    • Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode × 6 episodes; Douban link

    A traditional and classical Scottish detective story.

    @潘誉晗：One day, Tosh and Ruth receive a call from a colleague while on duty—there has been a murder, and the circumstances are extremely strange. The victim is a 76-year-old woman, strangled behind her own home, her body deliberately positioned facing the sea as if conveying a message. She had been dead for some time, but due to her remote residence, no one discovered her sooner. The person who finally found her was a neighbor who occasionally checked in on her and brought food. But when police investigate, they discover that this woman—who relied on her neighbor’s charity—actually had £400,000 in savings.

    Season 10 of the Shetland series continues its signature slow-burn narrative style. Under its cold, austere tone, the mystery grows as biting and chilly as the Atlantic winds sweeping across one’s face. Combined with the vast, desolate backdrop of the Shetland Islands, the story carries an air of solemnity. Following a distinctly classical detective approach, the investigators adhere to the most traditional—and fundamental—logic of deduction. Starting from the victim’s personal relationships, they peel back the layers one by one. As the truth gradually emerges, so too does the complex nature of human character.

    [Chinese Series] The Big Deal Maker

    • Keywords: Drama
    • Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode × 40 episodes
    • Where to watch: iQIYI; Douban link

    The art of doing business: from earning a living to building a nation.

    @潘誉晗：At Manchun Courtyard in Ningguta, a crowd gathers—these are medicine traders who have come for a rare thousand-year-old ginseng root. But to everyone’s shock, the ginseng mysteriously disappears. To prove his innocence, the gatherer Su Shuhe takes his own life. Witnessing this tragedy, Gu Pingyuan, who is overseeing the auction, resolves to seek justice on Su’s behalf.

    Adapted from Zhao Zhiyu’s novel of the same name, the series follows the legendary rise of Gu Pingyuan—a scholar wrongfully exiled—who transforms step by step from an outcast to a fugitive to a major figure in commerce. Ningguta, a place of exile for disgraced officials in the late Qing dynasty, is a frozen purgatory in the eyes of those banished there. Desperate to escape, exiles resort to every means possible, setting the stage for the story’s initial tragedy.

    Amid such harsh circumstances, Gu Pingyuan embodies the core traits of a compelling leading protagonist—using his intellect to solve problems, helping others while advancing his own goals. As he changes roles and ventures into business—establishing a foothold through banking houses, growing through tea trade, and expanding into the salt industry—he never forgets his identity and duty as a Chinese citizen. The full-scale on-location filming lends the late-Qing-era business drama rich texture, and several side storylines are equally captivating.

    [Anime] Ranma ½ Season 2

    • Keywords: Manga Adaptation / Comedy / Romance / Slice of Life
    • Also known as: らんま1/2 第2期 / Ranma ½ Season 2
    • Runtime: 23 minutes per episode × episode count TBA, updated weekly on Saturdays
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    If you really hated it, you wouldn’t make it this hard.

    @SHY: Centered on Saotome Ranma and Tendo Akane, whose engagement was arranged by their elders, the chaotic everyday life continues. Gosunkugi vows to find Ranma’s weakness; the master’s master, Happosai, is unsealed; Shampoo returns with her great-grandmother Cologne, followed closely by her childhood friend Mousse; and Ranma’s other fiancée, Ukyo, suddenly appears, adding fuel to the fire.

    With director Kōnosuke Uda and animation studio MAPPA returning at the helm, the second season maintains standout quality. Its fresh visual style and music sustain a relaxed, pleasant viewing experience, while the content remains highly engaging. Rumiko Takahashi’s brand of absurdist comedy thrives as the cast grows—one eccentric after another takes the stage, erupting into nonstop, slapstick chaos. Amid the ever-inventive episodic stories, Ranma and Akane’s bond deepens, keeping a smile on viewers’ faces throughout.

    While following the original manga’s narrative spine, the new adaptation also makes thoughtful modernizations to elements constrained by their era. Happosai—arguably the most controversial character—still embodies his lecherous nature, but boundary-crossing behaviors are significantly toned down and swiftly punished, aiming to reduce audience discomfort. By fully channeling the manga’s essence without rigidly clinging to convention, the series becomes more than a classic remade in a new bottle—it’s a romantic comedy that earns its place in a new era.

    [Documentary] Nobody, But Somebody

    A group of people who refuse to slide along a predetermined track.

    @利兹与青鸟: This documentary is an exclusive production by SMG’s Real Media, airing on Dragon Television while also releasing weekly online every Tuesday. Over three years, the team filmed six stories about young people—among them a young film director, a professional athlete, and a blind massage therapist. Some once enjoyed moments of acclaim for their talent, yet all are ordinary people who carry dreams while remaining largely unknown. With calm, restrained camerawork, the documentary enters their lives, bearing witness to the anxieties and perseverance of a younger generation.

    Each episode approaches its subject from a different perspective, revealing distinctive sparks that also reflect our own lives. Sunil, who once won the top directing prize at the Beijing Film Academy, returns to a quiet, uncelebrated routine after graduation; seen through his brother’s eyes, a father calls him “grand in thought, weak in action,” while Sunil feels his family pressures him too hard. Jiu-jitsu athlete Miao Jie, expected to retire at 22, persists until 36, trapped in a painful loop of effort and “effort that leads nowhere.” Graduates from a school for the blind studying massage come to Shanghai for internships, living vibrant lives no different from others—yet still keeping company with solitude in the dark.

    Their stories are both a small slice of the many and unmistakably resilient and unique.

    More

    [US Series] Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty
    @潘誉晗: On June 7, 2021, police received a call from a man reporting that his wife and younger son had been shot dead on their family estate. The man belonged to the Murdaugh family, a powerful local legal dynasty. As the investigation unfolded, police discovered that the caller himself was the true perpetrator. Adapted from the real-life Murdaugh family murder case, the series exposes how this family—long dominant in the local justice system—manipulated the law and concealed crimes, prompting viewers to rethink human nature and the rule of law.

    [Thai Series] Prison Love Chaos
    @潘誉晗: Often described as the “Thai version of Orange Is the New Black,” this series is adapted from a novel. It follows Belle, who is framed with drugs at a bar and wrongfully sent to prison, where she faces relentless oppression. During her incarceration, she meets Claire and receives her help on multiple occasions. With a strong, immersive atmosphere, the show not only depicts a taboo romance unfolding behind bars, but also portrays the stories of many female inmates. Subplots are layered with foreshadowing and hidden threads, adding a strong sense of suspense.

    [US Series] The Abandoned
    @潘誉晗: Jasper Valley is home to vast silver deposits, coveted by Constance Vanness, the matriarch of the powerful Vanness family. She plans to mine the silver and blast a road straight through the valley, but faces resistance from four households led by Fiona. This Netflix historical Western, set during the frontier era of the 1850s, centers on the rivalry between two formidable female leaders. Beneath a land dispute lies a deeper struggle over power—and the protection of family.

    [Documentary] Even Angels Have an Internship
    @利兹与青鸟: Produced by Bilibili, this documentary focuses on the growth stories of five medical students interning at Xiangya Second Hospital of Central South University. Rotating through departments such as orthopedics, breast surgery, ultrasound medicine, and cardiology, they participate daily in ward rounds, patient briefings, and assisting in surgeries. The documentary candidly presents the hardships, pressure, pain, danger, confusion, achievements, and joy of medical students, hoping to foster greater mutual understanding and respect between doctors and patients.

    📅 New Trailers This Week

    Street Fighter Live-Action Film — First Teaser

    On December 12, the first teaser for the live-action film adaptation of Street Fighter was unveiled at The Game Awards (TGA). The film is set for a North American release on October 16, 2026. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the cast includes Jason Momoa, 50 Cent, David Dastmalchian, Noah Centineo, Roman Reigns, Olivier Richters, Andrew Koji, and Eric André, among others. Source

    Extreme Judgment — New Trailer

    On December 9, the film Extreme Judgment released a new trailer and is scheduled to premiere in North America on January 23, 2026. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov and starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, the story is set in a society where AI courts have fully taken over the judicial system. Its creator, Rayven, finds himself accused of murdering his wife and must prove his innocence within 90 minutes. Source

    Kaguya-sama: Love Is War — The Stairway to Adulthood — Official Trailer

    On December 9, the anime Kaguya-sama: Love Is War — The Stairway to Adulthood released its official trailer, announcing that the opening theme will be performed by Masayuki Suzuki feat. Aoi Koga. The special one-hour episode is scheduled to air on December 31. Adapted from Aka Akasaka’s manga of the same name, the project is once again directed by Mamoru Hatakeyama, with Tetsuya Kawakami and Rena Iwasaki serving as chief animation directors, and produced by A-1 Pictures. Source

    Fate/strange Fake — New Trailer

    On December 6, the TV anime Fate/strange Fake released its “True” trailer and announced that it will begin airing on January 3. Adapted from Ryohgo Narita’s Fate spin-off novel series, the anime is directed by Shun Enokido and Takahito Sakazume, with music composed by Hiroyuki Sawano and animation production by A-1 Pictures. The story depicts a false Holy Grail War unfolding in Snowfield, a city in the western United States, following the Fifth Holy Grail War. Source

    The Boys Season 5 — First Teaser

    On December 7, the series The Boys released the first teaser for its fifth and final season, set to premiere on Prime Video on April 8, 2026. This is Homelander’s world, ruled entirely by his volatile will. When Butcher reemerges wielding a virus capable of wiping all superheroes off the map, he sets in motion events that will permanently change the world—and everyone in it. Source

    More

    The Copenhagen Test released a trailer: Starring Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera, with Thomas Brandon (Legacies) serving as writer, creator, showrunner, and executive producer. The story follows Alexander Hale, a first-generation Chinese American and intelligence analyst who discovers that his brain has been infiltrated—allowing the perpetrator to see and hear everything he experiences, as if watching a live stream from his perspective. Premieres on Peacock on December 27.

    Pretend Family released a special trailer: Produced by Han Sanping, written and directed by Li Taiyan, and starring Jackie Chan, Peng Yuchang, and Zhang Jianing, with Pan Binlong and Li Ping also in leading roles. The film tells the story of a group of strangers, each with their own agendas, who accidentally come together to form a family. It is scheduled for nationwide release on January 1, 2026.

    Billie Eilish: Gentle Impact Tour 3D Film released a trailer: Directed by James Cameron and Billie Eilish, with Cameron employing 3D technology to film multiple concerts from Billie Eilish’s tour this year. The film will be released in North America on March 20, 2026.

    The film Just Enough released a dated trailer: Directed by Zhang Xuanpeng, with Shen Teng serving as artistic advisor, and starring Yin Zheng, Pan Binlong, Huang Cailun, Zhang Yiming, and Liang Chao. Adapted from the South Korean film Director Kim vs. Director Kim vs. Director Kim, it follows “internet-famous fake master” Jin Mao, who wins a competition by sheer luck and is then chosen by capital investors to return to his hometown and build a kung fu-themed town. The film is set to premiere on December 27. Source

    📽 Film & TV News Weekly

    JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run — Key Visual Released
    On December 9, the anime JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run unveiled its key visual and announced a 2026 release on Netflix. Directed by Yasuda Kimura and Hideya Takahashi, with animation by david production, the story centers on the century-spanning STEEL BALL RUN race—a horseback competition crossing the North American continent. Drawn by the promise of a $50 million grand prize, formidable adventurers enter a fierce battle. Source

    A Step into the Past Set for December 31 Release
    On December 10, the film adaptation of A Step into the Past released its dated trailer and poster, confirming a December 31 theatrical release. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Huang Yi, the film is executive produced by Louis Koo and co-directed by Wu Hyun-hui and Lai Chun-lung. The cast includes Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, Jessica Hsuan, Sonija Kwok, and Joyce Tang. As mentor and disciple Xiang Shaolong and Zhao Pan face off, decades of tangled grudges are finally set to reach a reckoning. Source

    The Drama Story Releases First Official Poster
    On December 9, A24’s new film The Drama Story, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, released its first official poster and trailer, with a North American release slated for April 3, 2026. Written and directed by Dream Scenario filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli and produced by Ari Aster, the film tells a romantic love story that takes an unexpected turn on the eve of a couple’s big day.

    Supergirl Releases Teaser Poster
    On December 11, DC’s new film Supergirl debuted a teaser poster and its first trailer. Adapted from the comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film is directed by Craig Gillespie (Cruella, I, Tonya), with a script by actor and playwright Ana Nogueira (The Vampire Diaries, Hamilton). The cast includes Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Eve Ridley. The film is scheduled for a North American release on June 26 next year.

  • What to Watch This Week | 9 Recently Worthwhile Titles

    What to Watch This Week | 9 Recently Worthwhile Titles

    ☕️ TL;DR

    Recommended picks of the week: [K-drama] Connection、[US series] The American Nightmare、[US series] St. Denis Medical Season 2、[Chinese drama] Three Walks、[Film] Ordinary Children、[Film] Crown Shyness、[Film] Hello, Amélie、[Animation] The Mighty Nine、[Documentary] A Thought of Ryukyu

    A few standout trailers: the official trailer for Doraemon: Nobita’s New Undersea Devil’s Rock Castle; the first teaser for Detective Conan: The Fallen Angel on the Highway; the official trailer for Foreign Diary; the official trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms; a new trailer for Supreme Marty.

    A few film & TV updates: Hirokazu Kore-eda will direct the live-action adaptation of Suddenly, Turning Back; The Deer and the Cauldron set for release on December 5; Mountains May Depart confirmed for a December 12 re-release; Nanjing Photo Studio special screening edition dated; and Shadow Spider-Man unveils a new poster.

    [K-drama] Spirit Fingers

    • Keywords: Drama / Romance
    • Also known as: Spirit Fingers
    • Episode length: ~60 minutes × 12 episodes; Douban link

    Find the color that truly belongs to your life.

    @潘誉晗: The protagonist, Song Yuyeon, is a high school student who has grown deeply insecure. Her family constantly compares her to her genius younger brother, and her mother’s oppressive, discouraging parenting leaves her unable to express her true emotions. One day, she joins an art group called “Spirit Fingers” and unexpectedly meets the male lead, Nam Ki-jung. Under the influence of Nam Ki-jung and the group, Yuyeon slowly finds confidence and learns to face herself.

    Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, the drama features no major stars, and some viewers even mocked the setup — the male lead suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (so he often has to run to the bathroom). Yet this seemingly quirky and bizarre series became a surprising hit, delivering bursts of laughter as well as genuine emotional resonance. What appears to be a simple romantic comedy about a good girl and a “problem student” actually channels a powerful energy through the “Spirit Fingers” group.

    The group is made up of students and adults, all with different levels of artistic skill. But this group of eccentrically dressed adults teaches Yuyeon — and the audience — an important lesson in their own way: live more freely, and go find the color that belongs to your own life.

    [US Series] Death by Lightning

    • Keywords: Drama / Biography / History
    • Also known as: Death by Lightning
    • Episode length: 47–66 minutes (per episode; final episode is 66 minutes) × 4 episodes
    • Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link

    About the second U.S. president to be assassinated.

    @潘誉晗: Chicago, 1880. Ohio Congressman James Garfield agrees to a request from Treasury Secretary John Sherman to give a speech supporting Sherman’s presidential campaign at the Republican National Convention. Garfield’s speech is wildly successful, winning broad support — and, unexpectedly, thrusting him into the presidency himself. Among those ecstatic about Garfield’s rise is his fanatical supporter Charles Guiteau, who rushes to the White House demanding to be appointed a diplomat. After repeated rejection, the mentally unstable Guiteau decides to assassinate Garfield.

    This historical drama is adapted from the book by Candice Millard and uses the story of former U.S. President Garfield as its central thread. As the 20th president of the United States, Garfield’s journey was extraordinary. A man with a background in ministry, he never intended to run for office; his first major speech was merely to help a friend win votes. After becoming president as an unlikely dark horse, he pushed forward significant reforms and defended Black Americans’ right to vote. Yet only six months into his presidency, he was assassinated. Ironically, the bullet wound itself was not fatal — he could have survived.

    Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon deliver performances that not only bring this absurd and tragic chapter of American history to life but also expose the madness of political conflict in that era.

    [US Series] St. Denis Medical Season 2

    • Keywords: Drama / Comedy
    • Also known as: St. Denis Medical Season 2
    • Episode length: 22 minutes (per episode; exact episode count TBD); Douban link

    A hospital bustling with chaos, laughter, and life.

    @潘誉晗: After being promoted to head nurse, Alex finds herself even busier than before. She finally took a rare family vacation to Hawaii and was still basking in the joy of the trip, but the fast pace of work quickly pulled her back to reality. Joyce, now officially sponsored by the hospital, is excitedly planning to establish a birthing center to attract more expectant mothers and increase revenue…

    The second season of St. Denis Medical continues to focus on the everyday happenings within the hospital. Through a mockumentary lens, the show steps into the daily work of healthcare professionals — not only documenting how everyone performs their duties, but also using their humorous personal lives to sharply satirize and critique the current American healthcare system. Take the storyline where Bruce is attacked by a goose: because he passes out quickly and never sees what hit him, everyone initially suspects it was retaliation from a disgruntled patient. Terrified, they hope for better security measures, but installing surveillance equipment requires funding the hospital can’t spare, leaving the staff to brainstorm makeshift self-defense strategies instead.

    Through these quirky yet lovable characters, the series also reveals the deep, messy, and endearing bonds that hold them together.

    [Chinese Series] The Triple Echo of Time

    • Keywords: Drama / Fantasy
    • Also known as: The Triple Echo of Time
    • Episode length: ~47 minutes × 24 episodes
    • Where to watch: Tencent Video; Douban link

    In this life, the most important thing is not to forget who you are.

    @潘誉晗: In 2033, a global “internet blackout” turns the world upside down, reshuffling what used to be considered hot and cold industries. Print media suddenly experiences a revival. Meanwhile, 41-year-old programmer Zhao Zuoyou loses his job after the heavy blow dealt to the tech industry, and his wife files for divorce. Faced with this crisis, he decides to join a time-travel experiment run by a company called “Finite Life,” going back to his past so that his 16-year-old self will choose liberal arts instead of science. What he didn’t expect is that his 66-year-old future self also travels back — determined to stop the 41-year-old’s plan.

    Three versions of the same person, each at a different age, with different worldviews and life experiences. Created by the team behind Ancient Love Poetry, this soft sci-fi drama centers on the theme of difficult life choices. It plays with a dual-timeline time travel concept and introduces a fascinating scenario — your elderly and middle-aged selves standing before your 16-year-old self, each offering a completely different path and ending.

    The multi-thread narrative makes the series rich in information, while the fresh concept creates plenty of highlights. The setups, foreshadowing, and logic are all neatly resolved in the finale, making the overall execution impressively solid.

    [Film] How Dare You?

    • Keywords: Drama / Slice of Life / School
    • Also known as: ふつうの子ども / How Dare You?
    • Runtime: 97 minutes; Douban link

    Grown-ups have made a complete mess of our future!

    @SHY: Ueta Tadafumi, a 10-year-old fourth grader, develops a crush on his classmate Miyake Kokona — a young environmental activist passionate about protecting the planet. Hoping to get closer to Kokona, Tadafumi teams up with their class troublemaker, Hashimoto Haruto, forming a trio that starts with handing out flyers and gradually takes action to support environmental causes. But as their mischievous “missions” escalate, more serious consequences begin to loom ahead.

    Following the earlier recommendation of My Small Land, director Naomi Kawase draws inspiration from environmental youth activist Greta Thunberg and, through her sharp observational lens, presents this inventive children’s film. The story blends the familiar theme of environmentalism with the chaotic energy of spirited kids, depicting their small-scale revolution while also touching on family, education, and other social issues — creating a wonderful synergy that exceeds the sum of its parts.

    The film offers vivid, delicate portrayals of children’s psychology, and the young cast delivers impressive performances. Their improvisational moments feel natural and authentic, capturing the essence of real childhood. They are ordinary children, yet special in their own way; the questions they raise land with weight. Meanwhile, the adults’ supposedly righteous principles — which they themselves fail to follow — appear all the more ironic through a child’s eyes. The director’s messages, voiced through these children, are whimsical yet deeply thought-provoking.

    [Film] Crown Shyness

    • Keywords: Drama / Family
    • Runtime: 80 minutes; Douban link

    Do you think trees stand apart — or grow as one?

    @利兹与青鸟: Phun and Zai Zai are deeply in love, but Zai Zai has a five-year-old daughter living in Thailand, pulling her between motherhood and romance. Phun’s mother, Yu-Ling, had been away working for three years and passed away from cancer shortly after returning home. Their grandmother then moved in to live with Phun. She cannot accept the mother’s wish for a natural tree burial, nor can she accept Phun having a girlfriend.

    “Crown shyness” refers to the natural phenomenon where the crowns of neighboring trees avoid touching, leaving narrow gaps between them. The film uses this imagery to represent the love and distance between three generations — grandmother, mother, and child. Like trees rooted in the same soil, separated yet connected by blood, they move from resistance, to understanding, to depending on one another. The emotions feel genuine, as if unfolding right beside us.

    For a debut feature, the film shows remarkable maturity. The director expresses emotional currents mainly through visual language rather than dialogue — gentle, understated, yet powerful. The actors are intuitive and nuanced, with several scenes executed beautifully: Phun and Zai Zai laughing under the night sky, falling freely into each other’s arms; grandmother and grandchild lying together, remembering their daughter and mother, sharing grief, longing, and unresolved regrets.

    Love, family, and the sorrow of parting — from denial to anger to acceptance — are all portrayed with honesty, ultimately soothed by sunlight and the quiet of the forest.

    [Film] Hello, Amélie

    • Keywords: Drama / Fantasy / Coming-of-Age
    • Also known as: Amélie et la Métaphysique des tubes / Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
    • Runtime: 78 minutes; Douban link

    I want to see everything, feel everything, and give all the love I possibly can.

    @SHY: In the beginning, there was nothing. Little Amélie opens her eyes in the darkness and, from that moment on, regards herself as a god, refusing to respond to any external contact. But a small earthquake on her second birthday compels her to move by her own will and begin experiencing the world. As her third birthday approaches, Amélie must also learn to accept the things she does not like.

    Adapted from Belgian writer Amélie Nothomb’s semi-autobiographical novel, the film tells the story of her first years on earth through the eyes of a bewildered child. What makes it unique is that the protagonist’s seemingly naïve thoughts are portrayed as results of rational reflection, blending the process of infant development with metaphysical themes, all tinged with a touch of fantasy. After a series of events, Amélie evolves from the “god” of her inner universe into someone capable of accepting both others and her own ordinariness — and life becomes richer for it.

    To a newborn, everything is new. Amélie slowly learns the names of things, forms her own understanding of how the world works, and builds connections with the people around her — until sudden encounters with separation and death force her to bear sorrow she cannot yet describe. The film uses everyday imagery to craft a Zen-like poetic journey, its mood like falling raindrops: light, profound, and full of reverence for life. It is one of the most distinctive animated films I’ve seen this year.

    [Animation] The Mighty Nein

    • Keywords: Animation / Fantasy / Adventure
    • Also known as: The Mighty Nein
    • Episode length: ~45 minutes × 8 episodes; Douban link

    Can losers save the world and become heroes?

    @潘誉晗: At a sacrificial ritual, a bugbear cradles his dying wife and personally ends her life. Yet she does not fear death, because the beacon at the site will absorb her soul, allowing her to reincarnate once that soul finds a suitable vessel. Just then, three agents infiltrate the scene and steal the beacon. This sudden incident enrages the Bright Queen of the Dynasty, who accuses the Empire of stealing their sacred artifact and demands its immediate return.

    The latest entry in the tabletop-inspired animation lineup introduces a new protagonist group: the “Mighty Nein.” This party — composed of a mage, monk, goblin, goblin rogue, half-orc warlock, and more — is anything but conventional. In others’ eyes, they are misfits, “losers” who don’t quite fit anywhere. Yet it is precisely this marginalized group that pours everything they have into saving a world on the brink of collapse. After all, it’s often the overlooked nobodies who can act in ways no one expects.

    Continuing the D&D-inspired style, the animation embraces a dark ensemble tone. Occasional humorous exchanges between characters soften the heaviness of the plot. Paired with excellent fight choreography and dynamic storyboarding, the show delivers excitement even with fully 2D visuals.

    [Documentary] It Is Time to Change

    • Keywords: Documentary / History
    • Also known as: It is time to change
    • Runtime: ~190 minutes
    • Where to watch: Bilibili (Shípíndào Support Program; requires separate payment); Douban link

    True civilization never persecutes life.

    @潘誉晗: Mr. Gushiken, a 71-year-old resident of Okinawa, is a “bone retriever.” Since the age of 28, he has been excavating the remains of those who died in the Battle of Okinawa. He has little pension and lives a financially difficult life, yet he believes he must continue this work — because he is human.

    Over three trips and twenty days of filming in Okinawa, the Shípíndào team created the documentary It Is Time to Change, turning their camera toward a place not far from mainland China: Okinawa (the Ryukyu Islands). This region shares historical trauma similar to ours — once occupied by U.S. forces and later neglected by the Japanese government. Even now, although Japan has administrative control over Okinawa, the heavy presence of U.S. military bases continues to exert profound and far-reaching influence on the lives of the people.

    The nearly three-hour documentary is weighty. Aerial shots reveal the breathtaking beauty of Okinawa’s oceans — waters so crystal blue they seem dreamlike. Yet the islands’ history, and the many lingering issues it left behind, feel suffocating. Through interviews and on-site footage, the Shípíndào team weaves this fading chapter of grand historical tragedy into the fabric of everyday life, allowing viewers to viscerally experience the sorrow of what happens when history is forgotten.

    More

    [Film] Hello, Frida @SHY: A vibrant young Mexican girl overcomes illness and prejudice as she strives toward her dreams. Inspired by the real childhood of painter and activist Frida Kahlo, this animated film attempts to look beyond the cultural icon and portray the real person underneath. With a strong feminist perspective, dazzling visuals, and a touch of magical storytelling reminiscent of Kahlo’s artistic style, the film is aimed at younger audiences but remains engaging for adults as well.

    [K-drama] Kiss Boom @潘誉晗: To secure a job, the heroine Ko Dallin pretends to be a married and pregnant mother and successfully lands a position at a maternity product company. What she didn’t expect is that her boss, Gong Ji-heok, is the very man she once shared a spontaneous kiss with on Jeju Island. Recently released on Netflix and starring Ahn Eun-jin and Jang Ki-yong, this romcom balances workplace and family narratives well. While the character tropes are somewhat conventional, the leads’ strong performances make the series genuinely delightful to watch.

    [Chinese Series] The Mystery of the Brown Eye @潘誉晗: Detective-video blogger Yang Zhenghui suddenly realizes his ex-girlfriend Xiaowei has been out of touch for far too long. She hasn’t streamed or posted on social media in over a year — highly unusual. He begins to suspect something has happened to her. Adapted from the novel of the same name, the series expands on the original while staying largely faithful to it. Using the “brown eye” — a pottery flaw — as metaphor, the story exposes the darkness and complexity of human nature, involving cases tied to insurance fraud, wife murder, and other provocative topics.

    [Film] The Left-Handed Girl @潘誉晗: The film follows single mother Shufen, who makes a living running a stall at the night market. Returning to Taipei from the countryside means both she and her two daughters must adapt to an entirely new life. The older daughter, young and attractive, becomes a “betel nut beauty,” while the younger daughter, a left-hander, is labeled as having an ominous “devil’s hand” by her grandfather. Through the differing fates of this mother and her daughters, the film paints a deeply affecting portrait of the struggles faced by women living at the margins of society.

    [Documentary] But There Is Still Theatre @利兹与青鸟: A companion series to But There Are Still Books, each episode centers on a different theatre-related theme. It tells the behind-the-scenes story of actor Chiang Chi-ming and the stage play Assorted, Mixed, or Salad — rehearsals, character interpretation, and the meaning of acting in their lives. Other episodes follow theatre entering mountain schools, bringing children fresh, heartfelt experiences; the creation of a stage play by young disabled actors in Reversing the Future, showcasing the power of life; and the magical Asia Building and the neighbouring theatre troupe’s acting classes… inviting viewers to discover everything that theatre can be.

    📅 New Trailers This Week

    Doraemon: Nobita’s New Undersea Devil’s Rock Castle — Official Trailer

    On November 30, the animated film Doraemon: Nobita’s New Undersea Devil’s Rock Castle released its official trailer and is scheduled to premiere in Japan on February 27, 2026. This is the 45th entry in the Doraemon movie series, directed by Tetsuo Yajima and written by Isao Murayama. The film is a remake of the 1983 theatrical version and will follow Doraemon, Nobita, and friends as they embark on an underwater adventure. Source

    Detective Conan: The Fallen Angel on the Highway — First Teaser

    On December 3, the 29th Detective Conan movie revealed its subtitle The Fallen Angel on the Highway, along with a teaser visual and the first teaser trailer. The film will be released in Japan on April 10, 2026. Directed by Takahiro Hasui (True Legend of the Samurai YAIBA) and written by Takahiro Okura (The Million-Dollar Pentagram), the story will feature Chihaya Hagiwara as a key character. Source

    A Foreign Diary — Official Trailer

    On December 2, the TV anime A Foreign Diary released its official trailer and announced a premiere date of January 4, 2026. Adapted from Tomoko Yamashita’s manga of the same name, the series is directed by Miyuki Oshiro, written by Kohei Kiyasu, scored by Kensuke Ushio, produced by studio P.A. Works, and stars Miyuki Sawashiro and Fuuko Mori. It tells the story of the socially awkward novelist Takadai Makio and her cohabitation life with her late sister’s daughter, Asano. Source

    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms — Official Trailer

    On December 5, the Game of Thrones spinoff series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms released its official trailer and will premiere on HBO Max on January 18, 2026. Peter Claffey stars as Ser Duncan the Tall, while Dexter Sol Ansell plays Egg — the future Aegon V Targaryen. Fate, formidable enemies, and dangerous adventures await. Source

    Supreme Marty — New Trailer

    On December 4, A24’s film Supreme Marty released a new trailer and is set to premiere in North America on December 25. Directed by Josh Safdie (Good Time, Uncut Gems) and starring Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, the film tells the story of Marty Mauser, an American table tennis athlete chasing greatness in the 1950s. Source

    More

    “Home for Young Mothers” Sets Release Date: On December 1, the Dardenne brothers’ latest film Home for Young Mothers announced its nationwide release date of December 12. The film won Best Screenplay in the main competition section at the 78th Cannes Film Festival and will also represent Belgium in the Oscars’ Best International Feature category. It focuses on the survival struggles faced by five young mothers.

    A24’s “Mother Mary” Releases First Trailer: Directed by David Lowery (A Ghost Story) and starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel, the film follows a pop superstar who, after an existential crisis, pauses her tour to seek out Sam — the fashion designer who once crafted her public image. The film will premiere in North America in spring 2026. Source

    “Detective, Your Backpack Is Open” Drops Teaser: Written and directed by Shuichi Okita and starring Ryuhei Matsuda, this marks their reunion after A Man of 0.5. Set in a rural hot-spring town, the drama follows a detective-inventor who casually solves various whimsical cases.

    “The Sanctuary” Releases Trailer: Starring Jason Statham and directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Angel Has Fallen, Greenland), the film tells the story of a mysterious man hiding on a remote Scottish island. One day, he rescues a drifting girl from the stormy sea, setting off a chain of dangerous events. It is scheduled for North American release on January 30 next year.

    “The California Scheme” Unveils First Trailer: This marks James McAvoy’s directorial debut, with cast members Samuel Bottomley, Seamus McLean Ross, and James McAvoy himself. Based on a true story, the film follows two Scottish men in the 1990s who impersonate a famous California rap duo in hopes of becoming hip-hop stars. It will be released in England and Ireland on April 10 next year.

    📽 Weekly Film & TV News

    Hirokazu Kore-eda to Direct Live-Action Adaptation of Look Back

    On December 3, it was announced that Tatsuki Fujimoto’s short manga Look Back will be adapted into a live-action film, directed, written, and edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The film is scheduled for release in Japan in 2026. The original work tells the story of the deep, unexpected bond formed between two girls, Fujino and Kyomoto, through their shared love of drawing. It won first place in the 2021 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (Boys’ Edition) ranking and was previously adapted into an animated film. Source

    Royal Tramp Set for December 5 Release

    On December 1, Stephen Chow’s classic comedy Royal Tramp (4K restored version) announced its first-ever theatrical release in mainland China, scheduled for December 5. Starring Stephen Chow, Ng Man-tat, Chingmy Yau, Sandra Ng, Michelle Reis, Brigitte Lin, Natalis Chan, Deric Wan, Elvis Tsui, and others, the film returns after 33 years, allowing audiences to once again experience the nonsensical comedic charm of Hong Kong cinema’s golden era. Source

    Mountains May Depart to Return to Theaters on December 12

    On December 3, a new poster confirmed the 10th-anniversary re-release of Jia Zhangke’s film Mountains May Depart, set for December 12. The third act of the film takes place in the “future” of 2025 — a future that has now become the present. Ten years later, we revisit that snowy dance and reflect on our own journeys of wandering and separation. Source

    Special Screening of The Nanjing Photo Studio Announced

    On December 3, it was confirmed that a special black-and-white commemorative version of the film The Nanjing Photo Studio will screen on December 13 in select theaters in Nanjing, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

    New Poster Released for Noir Spider-Man

    On December 4, Amazon’s live-action series Noir Spider-Man, starring Nicolas Cage, released a new poster. Set in 1930s New York, the series follows an older Spider-Man. Directed by Harry Bradbeer and written by Oren Uziel (22 Jump Street, The Lost City), Uziel also serves as an executive producer.