Is there anything more satisfying than a well-crafted mystery thriller? It keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, gripping their armrests, waiting with bated breath for the next jaw-dropping plot twist. Asian productions in this genre are on the rise, and they know how to push said genre’s boundaries while presenting pulse-pounding, gritty, and bold narratives. Thankfully, prominent streamers are investing in thrillers from Asia and distributing them on an international platform for fans to discover.
The mystery thriller genre is also Netflix’s forte (like last year’s The Hunting Wives), and there’s a new entry on the streamer that eagerly awaits your attention. Enter the Taiwanese thriller Million-Follower Detective, an eight-episode series that ticks off all the binge-watching requirements. Bolstered by engaging visual elements, compelling performances, and an addictive story that’ll find you saying, “Just one more episode,” Million-Follower Detective should be your next watch. Best of all, it can be watched in one sitting, with each episode an average of 45 minutes, making it perfect for those who don’t have all the time in the world to commit to a lengthy binge.
About Netflix’s New Thriller, ‘Million-Follower Detective’
Here’s a synopsis for the show per Netflix:
“When influencer Yen Wei is being shot as he attempts to attack the police, veteran detective Chen Chia-jen discovers he is acting under someone’s orders. Technology Criminal Investigator Li Hsin-ping joins the case, and soon a chilling pattern is revealed — a string of influencer murders linked to a masked online prophet known as Witch Baba, whose eerie predictions always come true, including four murder cases back to back.
As Witch Baba’s prophecies ignite a viral online investigation among influencers, and eventually draw more than one million people joining the discussion, Chen realizes the case may be connected to his estranged daughter. Joining forces with influencer Lin Ting-yu, Chen dives deeper into the web of lies — only to uncover a dark past that changes everything.”
Million-Follower Detective stars Ekin Cheng, Patty Lee, Shou Lou, Chen Yan-fei, and Kent Tsai, with Shaun Su as the series scribe and at the helm as director. So far, the few reviews available to read highlight the show’s strengths, such as the solid performances from series leads Ekin Cheng, Patty Lee, and Shou Lou, along with its darkly atmospheric vibe and the fascinating characterization of Witch Baba. If anything, the evocative nature of Witch Baba, as seen in the image at the top of this piece, should ignite enough intrigue to give the series a spin.
Additionally, the gore and violence might appeal to true-crime fans. A review from Leisurebyte notes the show’s “fresh spin on the crime thriller genre,” but it’s the performances that really stand out.
‘Million-Follower Detective’ Has a Lot to Say About the Digital Age
There’s thought-provoking commentary here about social media and its impact on modern society. For starters, Witch Baba accurately predicts the influencer-targeted murders. The rise in true crime as an obsession among the masses. Self-styled “citizen detectives” solve the crimes that law enforcement can’t.
Million-Follower Detective also explores how information is instantaneous in this digital age, but misinformation – well, more like disinformation – travels at the speed of light. It’s easier for bad-faith players to disseminate disinformation than invest in the truth. In the same vein, it’s especially challenging to decipher, even with all this knowledge at our fingertips, what truly is the truth.
Million-Follower Detective is now streaming on Netflix.
