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I recently finished watching Shōgun (yes, I'm a little bit late to the party). Released earlier this year, Shōgun has become an utter revelation - going on to win 18 Emmys at this year's Primetime and Creative Arts Emmys, making it the most awarded single season of television in history. It's also the first non-English-language series to win Outstanding Drama Series. And it truly is outstanding, fully deserving of all the awards that it has garnered. As you would expect, the show revolves around the shogunate era of Japanese history: Wikipedia says this period spanned 1185 to 1868. The show in particular is set in the 1600s. Shōgun is a historical drama, so there's a lot of historical complexities to go with the dramatic narratives that drive the show. One particular thing stands out to me: seppuku. It's a concept I've known about, but seeing it played out on screen is utterly stark. But more interesting to me is the broader context of this ritualistic suicide - it is fully contained within a code of honour, and in the show is often played out as a consequence of individual shame and social failings. In some sense, that seems completely bizarre. To have to take your life (and your child's!) for simply speaking out of turn and rebutting a superior seems completely disproportionate punishment, but then its also worth considering the cultural context of Japanese society - one that emphasised honour, hierarchy and order. Of course, ritualised punishment ("sacred violence" is a particularly interesting phrasing that I've come across) is not unique to Japanese culture, but at least in watching Shōgun (and having little to no knowledge of Japanese history), it appears that rituals are particular poignant and important to the Japanese. Seppuku is no more, thankfully, but the notion of ritualised practices strikes me as still quite relevant. Violence aside, and beyond what it says about a culture that frowns deeply upon familial shame and disappointment, I think the broader context of ritual helps frame my perception of Japanese practices. For example, why Japan is famed for its craftsmanship, or why it has the second most Michelin star restaurants in the world. Anyway, all this rambling is really just to say: If you haven't watched Shōgun, I implore you to. It's the best show I've watched on TV this year. ~ Desmond

I do enjoy reality tv, especially those competition-style ones. I still watch Survivor (45 seasons and 24 years on), and growing up I enjoyed shows like Fear Factor, The Amazing Race, even American Idol. However, I’ll be the first to admit that reality tv can become tedious. After all, with every show, it’s about finding one good concept, then just rehashing it over and over until the show is eventually cancelled. And of course, questions will always arise about just how ‘real’ these shows are. But, to me, one show is greater than them all - The Great British Bake Off. For the uninitiated, the Great British Bake Off (Bake Off, from this point onwards) is, well, a baking competition. Pretty simple. 12 contestants, one tent, two judges, and each week one person is kicked out until there’s eventually a final and one person emerges victorious. On the surface, it might seem like a fairly straightforward cooking-based competition, much like Masterchef/Chopped/Top Chef/Hell’s Kitchen. But, it’s not. Each season, the winner gets... a glass cake tray and a bouquet of flowers - indicative of the low stakes nature of the competition What sets Bake Off apart is that it rails against conventional reality tv wisdom. Where most reality tv is about finding and fomenting drama and competition, about pitting heroes against villains, about juicy gossip and dramatic reveals, Bake Off is the anti-thesis of all of that. It’s a competition, but there’s no spectacular cash prize. The winner gets… a glass cake tray ‘trophy’ and a pat on the back. Winners at any school sports day might win a bigger prize. There are always some spectacular creations, along with hilariously tragic failures And the actual competition is, well, not particularly competitive. There are no heroes and villains (though there are certainly fan favourites). The competition is mostly personal and against yourself. Can you get the cake in the oven in time? How good is your pipe work? Is your three cakes plus profiteroles plus ginger biscuit recipe too ambitious? Do you know what a dampfnudel or prinsesstårta is?? Most of the time, the biggest challenge is time. The baking ambitions (and creations) range from rustic to cosmic, but time is always the single limiting factor. There are spectacular successes and tragic failures, and you learn to appreciate it all. And so do the other contestants. In fact, one of the most unique parts of this competition is the fact that unlike shows where contestants are typically trying to sabotage one another, the bakers will actively help each other out, whether it’s helping to decorate, get bakes out of the tin, even lending ingredients. Everyone wants to succeed, and everyone wants everyone to succeed. There is drama - not between people, but more so whether the pie is baked through or whether that three-tier cake with its chocolate dome is going to stay upright. There are spectacular creations that are wondrously inspiring. And of course, there are utterly devastating yet hilarious failures – watching a supposedly baked sticky toffee pudding pour out of the tin completely liquid with a distinct splat, or the top tier of a multi-tier cake slide slowly but ever surely off the top and onto the countertop, you cannot help but laugh while still feeling sorry for the baker. Bake Off is an absolutely charming show (and I'm also insanely obsessed with Noel Fielding's clothes - look at that jumper!) Where reality tv typically finds drama by pitting people against each other, Bake Off’s wonder is that it pits people against themselves – against their own technical abilities, time management, and baking ambition. It’s wholesome, and as a result such a refreshing departure from traditional reality tv. The show is not perfect. Some seasons are clearly better than others. There are some questionable choices when it comes to the theme of the week. This is just one of the funniest things you'll ever see - and exactly the charm and hilarity of the show purely distilled But fundamentally, the recipe works, and its delectable amidst our current tv landscape that’s all about feverish pace and fiery drama. (The spinoff Celebrity versions are also utterly hilarious.) And at its very core, it’s just quite chill. How many reality tv shows are willing to feature a segment that basically has contestants waiting for an hour and a half for a pudding to bake, and all they do is drink tea and stare at their ovens. And somehow, that is utterly captivating reality tv. ~ Desmond

(I did a search & couldn't find the thread related to TV show, so I might as well start one again) I shall kick start with my first recommendation, Marco Polo (Netflix originals) Surprising, with the among of local talents on show, Marco Polo wasn't much talk about here. Veteran actor Chin han playing the main antagonist Cricket Minister Jia Shidao, & Tan Kheng Hua as the Song Dynasty Empress, It was available on Netflix (think its still unavailable in Sunny Singapore yet) since Dec 12 (in 50+ countries). I was excited but a bit skeptical of the show when I first saw the trailer, but all doubts were removed when I eventually watched the show. It was a mini series, 10 episodes in the first season. It started slow but picked up pace at around episode 4-5. Some nice & breathtaking settings & drama, & a bit of Martial art fantasy (but not overkill). The story (at least season 1) is as much about Marco Polo as is Kublai Khan, Grandson of Gengshi Khan, who have now conquered much of Northern China, with eyes on of taking over the South. The story started by Vatician Marco, traveling with his Merchant father to the court of most powerful man of its time, Kublai Khan, to secured the silk road for trading & spread Christianity. When things went sour, he offered his son Marco Polo as servant to the great Khan, which the story unfold. I do not want to spoiled too much, just watch it.

Anyone watching this show on Saturday night or have watched it before online? I watched it online 2 years ago and try to watch it again every Saturday night. I used to only like 三国 but this version of 水浒very nice. The fighting scenes, the character imagines are nice and scenery also beautiful. I think next Saturday is last episode liao.