The time of national television has long passed as Malaysians are now increasingly tuning in to Netflix for their entertainment fix.
With such a great variety of shows and movies available, it is no surprise that the online streaming platform is the newest go-to despite the subscription fee that comes with it.
However, it is just a shame that no Malaysian productions have yet to make a splash on Netflix.
Here are the hit Netflix series that ought to be given a Malaysian spin at some point:
1. House of Cards
Before the series was tainted by the horrifying revelations of lead actor Kevin Spacey’s sexual predation, House of Cards was certainly something that kept people glued to their screens.
House of Cards revolves around the Machiavellian plots of Francis “Frank” Underwood, who climbs up the echelons of power in Washington DC through endless scheming.
Rather unfortunately, Spacey carried his role very well, playing Underwood as a charismatic but utterly ruthless and dangerous politician without morality.
Apparently, as the current incumbent American president’s antics grew even more facetious, it became harder for the writers to write a plot that did not parallel the absurdity of real life.
As for a Malaysian edition, the writers will never lack inspiration; what with the abundance of megalomaniacal, treacherous snakes on the local political scene.
2. Kingdom
A surprise hit that came out earlier this year, Kingdom is what happens when The Walking Dead and Train to Busan are blended together.
Set in the Kingdom of Joseon, Kingdom follows the Crown Prince who investigates a mysterious plague that has afflicted his father and most unfortunately, does not stay contained within the palace.
Unlike The Walking Dead which eventually got dragged on for too long, Kingdom has intelligent characters, logical decisions and more importantly, action-packed and intense scenes.
For one, the zombies can run and infections can take place in the span of minutes.
Two, being set in feudal Korea, there is exactly one firearm used in the entire first season.
And three, even amidst the zombie crisis, political intrigue continues to imperil the Crown Prince’s life even further.
Given that this series is set in the late 16th or early 17th century, maybe a zombie television series set in Portuguese-occupied Melaka should be put to work?
3. Stranger Things
As what can be only described as a love letter to various films and books of the 1980s, this series is among the most recognisable of Netflix series to date.
To put the plot in as few words as possible without spoilers, a kid disappears and mysterious monsters from a parallel dimension attack a small town.
As absurd as it sounds, Stranger Things manages to make the science fiction horror story work well enough through clever writing and likeable characters.
Malaysians love stories of the supernatural and the paranormal, so an equally well-crafted local edition could certainly garner its fair share of fans.
4. Aggretsuko
On the surface, Aggretsuko might not look like much, and might in fact be dismissed as a children’s cartoon.
Interestingly enough, the anthropomorphic characters are indeed from Sanrio, the Hello Kitty franchise creators.
However, while Hello Kitty is light-hearted fun, Aggretsuko is a biting office satire, with themes that people in the working world can almost certainly relate to.
The main character, a red panda accountant named Retsuko works in a stressful environment with annoying colleagues and an unappreciative, abusive boss.
The draw of this series is that the normally mild-mannered employee vents out her frustration through screaming her lungs out in death metal karaoke.
While the characters may not be human, they deal with all too human problems such as workplace sexism, employee abuse and bullying as well as unfulfilling romantic relationships.
A great many Malaysians, women in particular, will no doubt find something familiar about the woes that Retsuko faces in her workplace.
Supposing that a Malaysian edition is ever made, perhaps the omnipresent, real-life issues of workplace racism and overbearing traditional mindsets can also be worked in.
5. BoJack Horseman
Similar to Aggretsuko, BoJack Horseman also has anthropomorphic characters, though they are sprinkled in the human world.
The show focuses on the disastrous attempts of the titular character, a narcissistic, self-loathing, alcoholic has-been actor of a popular ’90s sitcom to return to the spotlight.
If Aggretsuko was trained on the troubles of the everyday corporate worker, then BoJack Horseman lampoons the toxicity of celebrity culture and the deliberately ignored problems of the entertainment industry.
In yet another unexpected twist from an animated television show, BoJack Horseman also raises the issues of depression and mental health in a manner that makes it approachable and discussable.
Malaysians have a bad tendency of sweeping mental health issues under the carpet, which helps no one and harms all.
If it takes an animated cartoon to get Malaysians to even consider seeking help for their undisclosed mental issues, it will be certainly be worth it.