#MYStayHome: What are Malaysians binge-watching during the MCO?

A deadly contagious disease threatens mankind in South Korean disaster movie The Flu. Photo: handout

With Malaysians being home-bound due to a two-week-long movement control order (MCO), many people are taking the opportunity to catch up on their favourite shows.

Are pandemic shows on people’s viewing list? What do Malaysians plan on watching?

TK Sim, 75

“Lots of people have been talking about Contagion (2011) and drawing comparisons with the current pandemic, so I really want to watch it.

Otherwise, I prefer to watch wholesome programmes, especially those with inspiring stories or characters. So, besides vegan cooking and nutrition shows, I usually watch shows on Da Ai Drama channel.

I just finished watching a 32-episode (Taiwanese, Hokkien) series titled A Fool Like Me, which is about volunteer workers in a hospital.

These are actually true stories, so at the end of each series, they show the real people who share their experiences, and teach a valuable lesson."

Nicole Yang, 50

“There is a pandemic movie titled The Flu (2013) that looks quite scary, but I will still watch it because (Korean actor) Jang Hyuk is in it.

And now that I have to stay home and prepare my own meals, I like to watch the handsome Chef Nic and pretend that he is cooking gourmet meals for me.

Staying home makes me miss the outdoors, so I watch relaxing country lifestyle channels like Liziqi and Xiaoxi’s Culinary Idyll, because they show how to harvest fresh ingredients before cooking.

And since I cannot balik kampung, I also miss my kitty cats, so I am binge-watching cute cat channels (on YouTube) like Cream Heroes and animal rescue channels such as Kritter Klub."

Sherinawati, 37

“I’ve started binge-watching The Ghost Bride, and it’s so exciting that I cannot stop. I’ve never seen the two Chinese male actors before but they are so hot and the story really captures my attention. I like it so much that I’ve been recommending it to everyone I know. It’s not scary at all; I even watch it with my kids.

I may watch Outbreak (1995), but not with my kids around. Although I’m keen to educate my kids, I don’t want them to panic unnecessarily."

Dezry Woo, 28

“I was worried that there wouldn’t be anything worth watching as China productions are at a standstill.

I’m going to binge-watch court dramas, so I will be watching Ming Dynasty to check out Tang Wei’s portrayal of Empress Sun and also Miss Truth which is about a Tang Dynasty female forensic doctor. Maybe she’ll perform an autopsy on someone who died from an infectious disease.

It looks like I will probably be able to speak fluent Mandarin after this movement control order is over."

Tang Wei as Empress Sun in Ming Dynasty

Marsha Lorraine, 19

“I’m getting through the final episode of Dilraba’s Eternal Love, and she is so pretty there. I’m also halfway through Joy Of Life, and that is a really good Chinese drama that I would definitely recommend.

Next, I’m looking forward to watch Memorist because Yoo Seung-ho is so cute as the detective with supernatural ability."

Toni Lee, 45

“I’m planning on rewatching Nirvana In Fire, because my kids like it, especially my daughter. And Crash Landing On You is still trending, so I want to watch that next because I really like Son Ye-jin, and I wonder whether a North-South story like that can actually work.

I also want to catch up on variety shows because I really like some of the China ones like Who's The Murderer.”