What To Watch This Week: Dec 30, 2024-Jan 5, 2025

Mediacorp Let’s Celebrate 2025 (mewatch, Mediacorp Entertainment on YouTube, Mediacorp TikTok; Dec 31, from 10pm)

For the first time, Mediacorp is ringing in the New Year at the Sports Hub! The livestreaming kicks off at 10pm (Channel 5 will carry the show from 11pm). The line-up of performers includes Iman Fandi, Tasha Low, Taufik Batisah, Tosh Rock, and Vishnu Balaji. Australian illusionist Cosentino will also partake in the festivities (he's going to make 2024 disappear right before your eyes!) The evening will culminate in a 15-minute fireworks display over the Kallang Basin. With Joakim Gomez and Munah Bagharib as hosts.

Photos: Yana Gagarin (for Munah Bagharib), Singapore Sports Hub

Alien: Romulus (Disney+; Jan 1)

The best way to describe Fede Alvarez’s chapter — which takes place between Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Aliens —  is to liken it to a greatest hits album by your favourite rock band, featuring familiar tunes, never-before-heard remixes, and special guest appearances. Geddit? There’s enough goo and acid blood to whet your appetite for the upcoming Alien: Earth series. Maybe.

Photo: Disney+

Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever (Netflix; Jan 1)

Freddie Mercury once asked, who wants to live forever? Well, tech mogul Bryan Johnson does. This documentary by Chris Smith (Tiger King) chronicles Johnson’s no-expenses-sparred quest (what’s US$2 million a year to a billionaire?) to unlock the immortality code. Sure, some of us aren’t as well off as Johnson, but maybe we can pick up a practical tip or two about staying healthy and living longer. How’s that for your New Year’s resolution?

Photo: Netflix

Cunk on Life (Netflix; Jan 2)

Let’s change things up a bit with a mockumentary with the return of — God help us — Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan), quite possibly the worst documentarian on the planet. In this one-off special (thank goodness), she ponders the meaning of life and deconstructs the fabric of the universe. You’ve heard of Neil deGrasse Tyson? Cunk is the anti-Neil deGrasse Tyson. This should be fun.

Photo: Netflix

Selling the City (Netflix; Jan 3)

The latest reality soap from the creators of Selling Sunset and Selling the OC, follows another group of hot property agents selling even-hotter properties, this time from New York City’s Douglas Elliman agency. Seriously, if I were a money launderer, I’m so watching this. Study your math, kids, key to the universe… and accountancy. Just saying.

Photo: Netflix

When the Stars Gossip (Netflix; Jan 4)

Post-Squid Game, we need something light, or rather gravity-light. Set onboard a space station, this 16-part K-drama — hyped as Netflix’s first “earth to space romance” — stars Lee Min-Ho as an OB-GYN (easy, ladies) and space tourist and Gong Hyo-Jin as the station commander he falls in love with. By the way, did I mention the part where the good doctor is also the future son-in-law of a chaebol family.  It’s going to be complicated.

Photos: Netflix

Exploring the Unknown with Wang Yibo (Max; now streaming)

Chinese actor/singer Wang Yibo takes a break from showbiz to show off his shag face and channel his inner Bear Grylls as he confronts mother nature and her elements in this six-part series. After tackling the heat of the Hainan  jungle in the first episode, Yibo moves on to somewhere  cooler, way cooler. New episodes on Saturdays.

Photo: Max