To many, Chinese New Year is all about the hustle and bustle of visiting relatives, collecting and giving red packets, entertaining guests and more. But to some, it is simply a long weekend where you can kick back and take a well-deserved break, and that’s valid too.
But what better way to spend the holiday than in bed with Netflix?
If that is exactly what you’re intending to do this year, you’re in luck, as here are some shows to keep an eye out for on Netflix for you to binge to your heart’s content!
The Dragon Prince
Though celebrating it may not be our top priority, we can at least watch something that is still somewhat on brand with the Year of the Dragon!
Set in the fictional, magical land of Xadia, The Dragon Prince revolves around two human princes who forge an unlikely bond with the elfin assassin sent to kill them. They then embark on an epic quest to bring peace to their warring lands.
Netflix has aired the fifth season of the animated series in July 2023, and is slated to air its sixth season sometime in 2024, though when exactly is not yet announced.
Either way, the holidays leave you plenty of time to binge-watch the series before the new episodes drop!
Before you scoff and say that it’s just a kids show, the series delves into darker and thought-provoking themes at times. Whatever it is, there will be something you’re bound to enjoy!
The Brothers Sun
Although its been out for about a month, there’s no harm in promoting this amazing piece of work even more.
The Brothers Sun is a dark comedy and action television series about the titular Sun brothers: Charles and Bruce. Having no recollection of his past, Bruce learns of his family’s true identity as ruthless gangsters after his older brother moves in from Taiwan after an assassination attempt on their father.
The best part: It stars Michelle Yeoh. Do you really need further arguments than that?
With only one season spanning eight episodes, I would say this is just the right series to squeeze into your three-day break!
(There will be a fair amount of bloodshed and gore, so this might not be the right show for younger viewers!)
Orion and the Dark
Now, on to something more kid-friendly!
Orion and the Dark is an animated film produced by DreamWorks Animation. It is about an elementary school boy Orion who is consumed by an irrational fear of the dark. The Dark takes on a physical form and whisks Orion away to show him that there is nothing to be afraid of in the night.
Animation enthusiasts can make a mental note to bookmark this show on 2 February, when it first premieres on Netflix. Parents can take this opportunity to cuddle up with their young ones after a long day of visiting to enjoy this family movie together!
A Killer Paradox
It might not be the most auspicious thing to watch a series with the word “killer” in its name on the Lunar New Year, but we think this may be worth the risk.
Based on the webtoon of the same name, A Killer Paradox is a crime and thriller series that tells the story of a man who accidentally murders a serial killer and a detective who pursues him relentlessly.
Starring Parasite star Choi Woo-shik, the drama is set to premiere its first episode on 9 February 2024, so if you’re planning to stay up late on Chinese New Year’s Eve to 守岁 (a traditional custom where children stay up as late as possible to wish their parents a long life), you can “kill” some time with this black comedy!
Doctor Slump
Staying in the K-drama land of South Korea, here is a more lighthearted series that better suits the Lunar New Year.
Doctor Slump is an ongoing romantic comedy series about a pair of enemies-to-lovers who both once had promising prospects in their career, but fell into slumps due to respective reasons.
Starring veteran actors Park Hyun-sik and Park Shin-hye, Doctor Slump first premiered on 22 January and will continue to air new episodes every Sunday until 16 March.
Single’s Inferno Season 3
Lunar New Year is near, but you know what other special occasion is around the corner? Valentine’s Day!
If you don’t have a lover to bring to your relatives’ houses, what better way to celebrate your chronically single self than to watch a reality show about incredibly attractive Korean men and women finding love while stranded on an island?
The third episode of Single’s Inferno had finished airing on 9 January 2024, and the fourth season has already been confirmed.
Okay, I admit it, I’ve never watched any episodes of Single’s Inferno, but hopefully that will change soon.
Love is Blind Season 6
If Korean dating shows do not tickle your fancy, we can turn our attention to another reality dating program made in the West!
Love is Blind’s whole premise is a social experiment where single men and women look for love and get engaged, all before meeting in person. It is an incredibly popular show that has spawned five earlier seasons and spin-off series in Brazil, Japan and Sweden!
The sixth season will take place in Charlotte, Northern California, and will air on the befitting day of 14 February.
Fans of both The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon can rejoice as the final season of the latter series will be premiering this February!
Young Sheldon is a show about, well, young Sheldon Cooper from the hit 2007 American sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The prequel series follows the genius nine-year-old boy’s childhood living in East Texas with his family.
After leaving viewers on quite the cliffhanger, the first episode of its final season is set to air on Netflix on 15 February 2024, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. Unfortunately, you would not get to watch it over your three-day holiday, but you can catch up on whatever has transpired over the last six seasons in order to swiftly pick up where they left off!
