From The Straits Times    |

If convenience and entertainment had a baby, it would be HBO GO. Available for both Apple and Android users, the service was only accessible to users subscribed to its cable TV package previously.

For only $13.98 per month, you can gain access to all of HBO’s original content on up to five registered devices, all while streaming two different shows simultaneously. Ongoing content released in the US will be launched on its app at the same time, regardless of time zones. What this means: You don’t have to worry about the bombardment of spoilers on social media.

Shows can also be downloaded beforehand and watched offline to avoid unexpected data charges.

While there’s a wide array of HBO shows to choose from, the best part is the content that’s exclusive to HBO GO this year-end – perfect to binge-watch with your loved ones during the festive season.

Below, the five shows that you should be tuning in to this Christmas and New Year’s.

 

1. Watchmen (2019)

Based on the DC Comics of the same name, Watchmen is a superhero drama series that takes place 34 years after the events in the comics. In this alternate reality, outlawed masked vigilantes fought alongside the police force to take down the Seventh Kalvary, a white supremacist group and the show’s main antagonist. Some of the main stars include Regina King, Don Johnson and Tim Blake Nelson.

 

2. His Dark Materials (2019)

Written by English author Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials is a trilogy that includes Northern Lights (1995), The Subtle Knife (1997), and The Amber Spyglass (2000). The story is set in a parallel world where humans live with their daemons (a daemon is a tangible manifestation of a person’s true nature that takes the form of an animal).

This fantasy drama stars Dafne Keen as Lyra Belacqua, the main heroine. Following the search for her missing friend, Roger Parslow (played by Lewin Lloyd), she uncovers the mystery behind all the kidnappings linked to Dust, a mysterious substance that’s attracted to consciousness.

 

3. Silicon Valley (2014)

This comedy series should be no stranger to many. Silicon Valley, which debuted in 2014, follows the lives of five men – Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch), Nelson “Big Head” Bighetti (Josh Brener), Bertram Gilfoyle (Martin Starr), Dinesh Chugtai (Kumail Nanjiani) and formerly Erlich Bachman (T.J. Miller) – working in their start-up tech company, Pied Piper.

Exclusively on HBO GO during the year-end: all seven episodes of Season 6 to tickle your funny bone. One of the main arcs of this final season focuses on Maximo Reyes’ (played by Arturo Castro) business offer to buy out a 10 per cent share from Pied Piper for a billion dollars.

You can also catch all five previous seasons on HBO GO.

 

4. Catherine the Great (2019)

Loosely based on the life of Catherine the Great, Russia’s longest-ruling female monarch, this miniseries stars Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren as the Empress. The four-episode-long series shows Catherine II’s reign over Russia from 1762 until her death in 1796, as well as her secret rendezvous with Grigory Potemkin (played by Jason Clarke).

Fun fact: Catherine the Great was neither Russian nor named Catherine at birth. Also, she came into power after overthrowing her husband, Peter III, during a coup that she plotted. 

 

5. Food Lore (2019)

Food Lore is an anthology series that features eight different Asian cultures (Singapore, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines,Thailand and Vietnam), with each episode being produced by directors from each respective country. Think Eric Khoo for Singapore, Don Aravind for India and Phan Dang Di for Vietnam.

Season 1 features Malaysia in the first episode and Philippines in its last. Each episode will explore the way these native cuisines bring people from all walks of life together.

 

Videography Alicia Chong

Art Direction Debby Kwong

 

Photos: HBO Asia

 

ALSO READ: HER WORLD AND HBO GO COSIED UP FOR A FUN-FILLED EVENING

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