Monthly Watchlist: Here’s What the City Nomads Team is Binging This May
PUBLISHED May 10th, 2022 07:00 am | UPDATED October 20th, 2022 12:00 pm
You’ve watched the Ozark, you’ve devoured Selling Sunset’s latest episodes and picked out the season’s diamond (*cough cough* Bridgerton fans). What’s next? If you’re a film and tv series buff like us, here’s a personalised list of recommendation from the City Nomads’ team to get you started on your next watchparty!
Sharmaine’s Pick: Better Call Saul
Genre: Dark comedy, Crime
An Emmy-nominated prequel, Better Call Saul follows the story of renowned crime series Breaking Bad’s Saul Goodman. Before his big transformation into the morally challenged criminal lawyer that we know today, Goodman was just an ex-con artist turned attorney, known as Jimmy McGill. The series takes us through the adventures, trials and tragedies of Jimmy’s life as a small-time attorney before he channels his alter ego. If you’re in the bingy mood, so far season six is easily our favourite one with an exciting plot line! Keep a lookout for Sharmaine’s favourite character, Mike Ehrmantraut. She describes him as “fearless, calm and smart. The true blue OG (original gangster)!”
Better Call Saul is available for streaming on Netflix.
Wen Jing’s Pick: Pachinko
Genre: Drama
Calling all K-drama lovers! Adapted from the novel by Min Jin Lee, Pachinko revolves around four generations of a Korean family – from when the nation was under Japanese rule in the 1910s to “present day” 1980s. It follows the lives of different family members through their hardships and struggles with identity. Resilient and headstrong, Sunja is Wen Jing’s favourite character, as she manages to remain gentle and kind even during times of hardship. A moment worth waiting for in the series is “when Sunja visits Korea for the first time since she left 50 years ago and reconnects with her past. It’s a powerful scene but I can’t spoil it too much”, says Wen Jing.
Pachinko is available for streaming on Apple TV+.
Kim’s Pick: Manifest
Genre: Supernatural Drama
191 passengers were presumed dead after a Montego Air Flight 828 went missing. After the plane finally lands at its destination, passengers learn that five years have passed – but they haven’t aged a day. In this supernatural drama, follow the stories of protagonists Ben Stone and sister Michaela as they resume to a life where the world has moved on, and figure out what happened to their flight through their new abilities in Manifest. As opposed to the main characters, Dream Mikami (is Michaela’s partner in the police force) is Kim’s pick for her favourite character, “She is the least dramatic character, no non-sense and loyal. Even though she is from a wealthy family, she is passionate and uses her intelligence to help her partner”.
Manifest is available for streaming on Netflix.
Emily’s Pick: Delicious Romance
Genre: Romantic Comedy
It wouldn’t be a watchlist without a good ole romantic comedy. Chinese series, Delicious Romance is a female-centric narrative, following three women in their early 30s and modern challenges they face in urban China. Think topics like food disorders and body-image concerns, complicated relationships, divorce, gossiping colleagues, and dream jobs. Emily particularly enjoys the how food is incorporated in the series as a metaphor for what’s happening in the different character arcs. For instance, in a hotpot scene we can hear dialogues like “You’re willing to control the heat to make the beef taste better, so why can’t you be civil for the sake of a happy family?”. The show charms with its relatable and quirky bits, showcasing the sisterhood, and character development of the protagonists.
Delicious Romance is available for streaming on Netflix.
Tanisha’s Pick: Schitt’s Creek
Genre: Satire, Comedic Drama
The world turns upside down when the wealthy Rose family falls to the pitfalls of bankruptcy, defrauded by their business manager. The only asset to their name? An old small town named Schitt’s Creek, which they once bought as a joke. Join Johnny, Moira and their two pampered adult children David and Alexis, as they adjust to the middle-class life, being stuck together in a motel. Dan Levy’s character David is Tanisha’s favourite for his sassy attitude, snarky comments and an all-too-relatable persona. Easy to follow and perfect for those days when you are looking for a light-hearted watch.
Schitt’s Creek is available for streaming on Netflix.
Top Image: AppleTV+
