Shows coming to Singapore in November: The Punisher, Vikings, S.W.A.T., Ejen Ali and more

Every month, we’ll tell you about new television shows to hit terrestrial and cable channels, as well as streaming sites in Singapore. We’ll also highlight shows that you’ve got to be home (or on your phone) to catch every month.

Overview of November’s shows

November has a mixed bag of shows which skew more towards action and fantasy, rather than the usual family or romantic dramas. Then again, the past few months have seen plenty of melodramas, so it’s not like we’re lacking in that department for shows. If you’re looking for something to get your blood pumping, November’s offerings won’t disappoint.

Ejen Ali (2 Nov, Thursdays 2pm)
Suria

A 12 year old boy finds himself in danger when he accidentally got involved in an espionage mission. With enemies on his back, Ali accidentally binds an intelligent device to himself, making him a property of the agency. Left with no choice, Ali has to train himself and partake in field missions as a spy agent.

Although the art style looks similar to other popular animations, what sets “Ejen Ali” apart is that it’s a Malay animation. We don’t see that much Asian animation anyway, and they dare to break new ground by going into action. “Ejen Ali” looks like a pretty interesting and refreshing offering compared to Suria’s usual slate of dramas.

S.W.A.T. (3 Nov)
FOX+

S.W.A.T. is a high-octane dramatic action series that takes a realistic and sensitive look at the brave men and women who form the elite unit of Metro Special Weapons and Tactics of the L.A.P.D. The series follows ex-Marine Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson as he is promoted to leader of his own S.W.A.T. team. Making it even more difficult for Hondo in his new position, is his hidden romantic relationship with his now direct superior Jessica Cortez and the ongoing frustration of his teammate Deacon, who was passed over for the leadership position. With the city on edge following the accidental shooting of an innocent teenager, Hondo, a lifelong resident of South Los Angeles, finds himself torn between his compatriots in blue and his civilian neighbors. He’ll have to find a way to bridge these two worlds and bring a deadly crew of anarchists to justice before they can get the city to turn on itself.

S.W.A.T. already has an uncomfortable premise from the start — an accidental shooting in a country where easy access to firearms is a hot topic of debate. With the protagonists already embroiled in conflict, the question is whether they can learn to work together long enough to defeat the true enemies of the city, and whether more innocent victims will get literally get caught in the crossfire. We’re betting there’ll be another accidental shooting towards the end of the season to heighten the stakes.

The Punisher (17 Nov)
Netflix

Known throughout New York City as The Punisher, Frank Castle must discover the truth about injustices that affect more than his family alone.

Next up in the pipeline of Marvel Netflix shows is “The Punisher”, who first appeared in the second season of “Daredevil”. The character of the Punisher is, admittedly, a lot more suited to Netflix’s style than some of the other Marvel shows on their list. However, will he be able to pull off that grim angst by himself for one whole season? That really depends on how much violence we’ll get to see, won’t it?

Vikings (30 Nov, Thursdays 9pm)
HISTORY (StarHub TV Ch 401 / Singtel TV Ch 209)

In Vikings Season 5, in the wake of the death of king Ragnar and his son Sigurd, the sons of Ragnar are in civil war. Over in England, King Aethelwulf and bishop Heahmund wage war against the Nordic invaders, while Bjorn follows his destiny as he and Halfdan explores Northern Africa in the Mediterranean. In the Atlantic, Floki makes a discovery that will change the world of the Norsemen forever.

With Norse mythology seeing more popularity thanks to a movie about a Norse thunder God, it’s interesting that a series based on historical Vikings is also exploring “the end of the world”. With the characters venturing into other countries and clashing against other cultures, the biggest thrill would be seeing just how long the Vikings can survive their current crises.

Terrestrial

Suria

Ejen Ali (2 Nov, Thursdays 6pm)

Isteri Tuan Ihsan (6 Nov, Mondays 7pm)

Biar Aku Jadi Penunggu (11 Nov, Saturdays 9.30pm)

Ejen Ali (Suria)

Cable

HISTORY (StarHub TV Ch 401 / Singtel TV Ch 209)

Vikings (Season 5) (30 Nov, Thursdays 9pm)

And Baby Will Fall (Lifetime)

Lifetime (StarHub TV Ch 514 / Singtel TV Ch 302)

Sinister Minister (movie ) (1 Nov, Wednesday 9pm)

Forgotten Evil (movie) (8 Nov, Wednesday 9pm)

Menendez: Blood Brothers (movie) (15 Nov, Wednesday 9pm)

Ungodly Acts (movie) (22 Nov, Wednesday 9pm)

And Baby Will Fall (movie) (29 Nov, Wednesday 9pm)

Streaming

Viu

Monkey Flower (12 Nov)

Nothing to Lose (23 Nov)

Netflix

Greenleaf (Season 2) (1 Nov)

Call My Agent! (Season 2) (2 Nov)

Alias Grace (3 Nov)

The Sinner (7 Nov)

Lady Dynamite (10 Nov)

The Killer (movie) (10 Nov)

A Christmas Prince (movie) (17 Nov)

The Punisher (17 Nov)

Mudbound (movie) (17 Nov)

Godless (22 Nov)

She’s Gotta Have It (23 Nov)

The Many Faces of Ito (24 Nov)

Frontier (Season 2) (24 Nov)

Good Morning Call (Season 2) (28 Nov)

Glitch (Season 2) (28 Nov)

FOX+

S.W.A.T. (3 Nov)

The Long Road (5 Nov)

Marcus Goh is a Singapore television scriptwriter, having written for “Lion Mums”, “Crimewatch”, “Incredible Tales”, and “Police & Thief”. He’s also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find him on social media as Optimarcus and on his site. The views expressed are his own.

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