Our monthly round-up of the most talked-about Netflix works you should be shortlisting:

The Wandering Earth

What it’s about: China’s first big-budget space flick and megahit (it’s made more than US$700 million in the country alone) The Wandering Earth was based on Chinese author Liu Cixin’s eponymous novel. The plot: in the future, the sun is dying out and consequently, Earth’s freezing. What’s left of humanity decides to physically propel the planet towards another galaxy 4.2 light years way — FYI, a light year is the measurement of the amount of distance covered by light in vacuum in one year —  and approximately 9.46 trillion kilometres. And oh, the journey’s slated to take about 2,500 years, no big deal.

Who’s in it: Qu Chuxiao, Li Guangjie, Ng Man-tat, Zhao Jinmai and Wu Jing

Why watch it: According to most reviews, this apparently isn’t the usual propaganda piece from the Chinese government, which already makes it a winner (both metaphorically and at the box office). Add that there are no aliens involved (something much closer to humanity acts as the “villain”) and it does make for an interesting premise.

The Society

What it’s about: Think of The Society, a new 10-episode series, as a 2019 take on William Golding’s classic tome Lord of The Flies — the latter was essentially about the darkness inherent in humanity, displayed when a group of boys, stranded on a deserted island, eventually revert to primal behaviour over time without any higher authorities or laws in place to keep them in check. In The Society, a group of teenagers are mysteriously transported into a new, adult-free town and the battle for how their new world should function quickly splinters the group.

Who’s in it: Mostly Gen Z up-and-comers such as Kathryn Newton, Rachel Keller, Gideon Adlon, Jacques Colimon, Olivia DeJonge, Alex Fitzalan, Kristine Froseth, Jose Julian and Natasha Liu Bordizzo

Why watch it: If you’re into Game of Thrones or Battle Royale, The Society should probably be up your alley, albeit in a more suburban setting.

See You Yesterday

What it’s about: Time travel is a story that never gets old (geddit) and in See You Yesterday, two Tony Stark-esque teenagers, Sebastian and CJ, succeed in creating time travel devices (their backpacks). But it’s not for leisure; the latter’s older brother was shot in an encounter with police officers.

Who’s in it: Eden Duncan-Smith and Dante Crichlow

Why watch it: Newly minted Oscar-winning director Spike Lee is producing the show, so we’re expecting some standards.