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Most of us watch Netflix through the app, whether it's on a smart TV, a tablet, or a phone. But millions of us still stream it on our computers, even if only occasionally. There's one advantage to watching on a browser that Netflix has yet to replicate on their app. That would be the famous secret category codes. Or not so famous; that's probably why you're reading this.

The secret categories originated from the dull boring days before streaming. Yes, Virginia, there used to be a thing called DVDs by mail. There used to be video stores, too, but that's a story for another time. When Netflix's primary business was DVD rentals - crazy, right? - they categorized and subcategorized movies ad infinitum to make films easier to find. Sadly, they haven't carried those subcategories forward to the app, but you can find them through a web browser.

When I say they created subcategories,...

The Post-Truth World (Zui hou zhen xiang) is a thriller movies directed by If Chen starring Joseph Chang and Edward Chen. You can watch it on Netflix starting January 21.

Taiwan is the place where this dark thriller comes from that is a quality product that knows how to find its rhythm in a plot that is attractive, does not let you down and is well posed. This will not go down in history nor will have many fans as it was premiered on a Saturday, at a bad hour and rather unwillingly by the streaming channel.

Howeverr, it has an interesting treatment of the characters, its rhythm as a reflective and dark thriller with a halo of “adult film” which finally deals with more serious issues, and that nonetheless is relegated to a back space by products of lesser quality.

We are before an interesting movie that knows how to...

Chinese streaming giant iQiyi has announced a slate of 33 Chinese original productions, including Pledge Of Allegiance, a sequel to hit martial arts film Brotherhood Of Blades, and an adaptation of hot Chinese sci-fi writer Liu Cixin’s Ball Lightning.

The streamer, which has been making a big push into Southeast Asian markets, has also struck a deal with Malaysian broadcaster Suke TV for exclusive rights to ten Malay variety shows to stream on its iQiyi International platform for audiences in Singapore and Malaysia.

The new Chinese content slate is divided across five genres – Epic Tales, Young Power, Mystery Adventures, Oriental Fantasy and Differentiated Romance.

Pledge Of Allegiance, a spin-off from 2014 hit Brotherhood Of Blades about a group of brutal secret police, falls under the Epic Tales banner, along with new seasons of hot period dramas, Nirvana In Fire 3 and Chinese Paladin 4. Brotherhood Of Blades grossed 14m (RMB93m) in Chinese...

Chinese-owned streaming platform iQiyi added its first Thai original series and two additional shows from Taiwan to its slate of content destined for markets outside mainland China.

The additions were revealed Thursday as part of the Hong Kong FilMart rights market being held virtually this year for the third time.

The Thai series is “KinnPorsche,” a ‘boys love’ action series starring Mile Phakphum Romsaithong (“Ladytwenty” and “Khamin Rak Kap Poon”) and Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat (“Chart Suer Pun Mungkorn” and “Pra Teap Rak Hang Jai”).

The Taiwanese productions, “Lesson in Love” and “Oh No! Here Comes Trouble” are both set in high school. “Lesson in Love” stars Edward Chen (“Your Name Engraved Herein”) as a student who harbors feelings for a teacher played by Ann Hsu (“The Victims’ Game” and “Tag Along”). The cast also features Hsueh Shih Ling, aka rapper MC40.

Fantasy comedy, “Oh No! Here Comes Trouble,” stars Tseng...

Spotlight on how and why Taiwanese drama series are gaining increasing prominence on the world stage.

Taiwanese drama series are gaining increasing prominence on the world stage, in line with the rapid growth of global Ott platforms.

Stirrings of new interest in drama from Taiwan were seen in 2017 with The Teenage Psychic and 2018 with On Children. But it is the events of the past two years, when audiences found themselves craving more content during pandemic lockdowns, that has seen a sizeable number of made-in-Taiwan series make their way to fresh audiences around the world.

High-profile titles such as The World Between Us,...

The Taiwanese Lgtb love drama “Your Name Engraved Herein” opens with the popular quotation from The Song of Solomon 8:7 about the power of love that can neither be quenched by water, nor drowned by the floods: “If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, his offer would be viewed with utter contempt.” And the religious reference is in its right place as an introduction to the interesting chapter of the Taiwanese (relatively recent) history marked by political changes, which was at the same time stuck in stubborn conservatism.

“Your name engraved herein” is screening at Slovak Queer Film Festival

One of the titular characters – Chang A-Han (Edward Chen), a young student with a despotic father and a strict Catholic upbringing, is faced with many challenges. It’s 1987, shortly after the Martial Law in Taiwan was being lifted, and the wind of change is still...