7 API shows and films we’ll be binging this winter
Our roundup of upcoming shows and films to help with a little escapism in the foreboding days ahead
Lee Jung Jae as Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game 2
Noh Juhan/Netflix
Words by Daniel Anderson
The world feels like it's burning after the recent election results, and let’s be honest, it’s hard to keep up with the chaos. But in times like these, TV and film remain our ultimate escape. Here’s a roundup of titles we’re thankful for—ones that just might bring a little light to these dark days and help make the season a bit merrier.
Love Your Enemy
Seok Ji Won (Ju Ji Hoon) and Yoon Ji Won (Jung Yu Mi), born on the same day into feuding families, fell in love in high school but parted ways after Seok moved away. Now in their 30s, they reunite at their old school, where he is chairman, and she is a P.E. teacher. Old wounds and unresolved emotions resurface as they face their shared past.
Love Your Enemy premieres on Viki on Nov. 23.
Moana (Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) are back, and this time, the ocean’s calling louder than ever. Three years after their first epic voyage, Moana sets sail with an unlikely crew to answer a mysterious call from her ancestors, plunging into dangerous, uncharted waters. The star-studded voice cast includes Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Hualālai Chung (be on the lookout for our interview with him and producer Christina Chen, coming soon!) and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Moana’s feisty little sister, Simea.
Moana 2 premieres in theaters on Nov. 27.
The Trunk
The Trunk stars Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo in a gripping mystery melodrama about contract marriages, buried secrets, and tangled emotions. Noh In-ji (Seo), a lonely employee of NM (New Marriage), enters yearly "marriages" with contract husbands, while Han Jeong-won (Gong) signs on in a desperate bid to hold onto his past. Directed by Kim Kyu-tae (Our Blues) and based on Kim Ryeo-ryeong’s novel, the series explores love, obsession, and the haunting truths hidden behind a glamorous facade.
The Trunk premieres on Netflix on Nov. 29.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Keanu Reeves joins the Sonic universe as Shadow the Hedgehog, the fan-favorite edgy villain bringing chaos this holiday season. In this latest installment, Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails face their most formidable foe yet, a rival whose powers far outmatch their own. To save the planet, Team Sonic must forge an unlikely alliance and push their limits. Director Jeff Fowler returns alongside Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba and James Marsden.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 premieres in theaters on Dec. 20.
Six strangers find themselves in a shadowy neighborhood with no memory of how they arrived, drawn to a mysterious light shop at the end of a dark alley. Guarded by a cryptic shopkeeper, the shop holds clues to their buried traumas and intertwined pasts. Adapted from the work of Kang Full, best known for his web comics and the K-drama hit Moving, the series stars Ju Ji-hoon (Blood Free), Lee Jung-eun (Parasite), Kim Min-ha (Pachinko), Park Bo-young (Strong Girl Bong-soon), and Bae Seong-woo (Veteran).
Light Shop premieres on Disney+ on Dec. 4.
Laid
Leave it to Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Joy Ride) to deliver an unconventional rom-com. In Laid, she stars as a woman whose exes keep dying in bizarre ways, forcing her to revisit her "sex timeline" to unravel the mystery. Created by Nahnatchka Khan (Fresh Off the Boat) and Sally Bradford McKenna (The Mick), this darkly funny series also features Zosia Mamet, Michael Angarano, and Tommy Martinez.
Laid premieres on Peacock on Dec. 19.
Squid Game 2
Is it dystopian that Squid Game will become our escapist comfort show? The global juggernaut returns with Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) stepping back into the high-stakes survival game after a fateful decision. Returning stars Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo join a dazzling lineup of newcomers, including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Big Bang’s T.O.P., and K-pop soloist and former IZ*ONE member Jo Yu-ri. This twisted Christmas gift promises to be the perfect binge.
Squid Game 2 premieres on Netflix on Dec. 26.
Published on November 20, 2024
Words by Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson is a disabled Chinese American adoptee based in Seattle. His freelance writing specialties include K-pop, entertainment, and food. He believes that any restaurant can be a buffet, and the key to success is to take a nap each day. Follow his adventures on Instagram @danzstan.