Halfworlds is a dark fantasy thriller television series produced and created by HBO Asia and written by Collin Chang.[1][2][3] Set in present-day Southeast Asia, the series reveals an underground society populated by demons from Asian folklore across the region.

Halfworlds
GenreDark fantasy
Thriller
Created byCollin Chang
Erika North
Garon de Silva
Andrew Chin
Nicholas Gauron
Written byCollin Chang
Joko Anwar (season 1)
Directed byJoko Anwar (season 1)
Ekachai Uekrongtham (season 2)
Mikhail Red (season 3)
Country of originIndonesia
Thailand
Original languagesEnglish
Indonesian
Thai
Mandarin
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16 (list of episodes)
Production
Production locationsIndonesia, Thailand
Original release
NetworkHBO Asia
RED by HBO
Release29 November 2015 (2015-11-29) –
present (present)

The first season of Halfworlds, set in Indonesia and directed by Joko Anwar, premiered on 29 November 2015. A second season, set in Thailand and directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham, premiered on 22 January 2017.[4] A third season was announced in November 2019 to be set in the Philippines and directed by Mikhail Red;[5] production of the third season faced several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

Cast

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Episodes

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Season 1

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Set in the city of Jakarta, Halfworlds Season 1 lifts the veil on a parallel world of bloodthirsty creatures from Indonesian mythology who have lived amongst humans for centuries.[7] They are known simply as "Demit" and have been carefully concealed by a powerful family of mortals. The arrival of the Gift, a mysterious supernatural event, causes this hidden world to reveal itself. As the day of the Gift draws near, Sarah, a street artist, finds herself caught between the worlds of human and Demit. Once the Demit find out who she really is, and what she must do, the delicate balance between the two worlds will be shaken forever.

The first season of Halfworlds premiered on 29 November 2015.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Episode 1"Joko AnwarCollin Chang and Joko Anwar29 November 2015 (2015-11-29)
A street artist finds herself caught between two worlds. Little does she know her life is about to take an unexpected twist.
22"Episode 2"Joko AnwarCollin Chang and Joko Anwar6 December 2015 (2015-12-06)
Sarah is pulled deeper into the Demit world and she can’t shake the feeling of being followed.
33"Episode 3"Joko AnwarCollin Chang and Joko Anwar13 December 2015 (2015-12-13)
After being attacked, Sarah's rescuer reveals himself and warns her to stop drawing the monstrous creatures she dreams of.
44"Episode 4"Joko AnwarCollin Chang and Joko Anwar20 December 2015 (2015-12-20)
A wounded Barata seeks out Sarah for help. Meanwhile, the search for the symbols continue in the Demit world.
55"Episode 5"Joko AnwarCollin Chang and Joko Anwar27 December 2015 (2015-12-27)
The Gift draws closer and the Demit grow frantic. Barata rescues Pinung from an attack but it might be too late.
66"Episode 6"Joko AnwarCollin Chang and Joko Anwar3 January 2016 (2016-01-03)
Sarah finally gets the answers she has been looking for but her relationship with her boyfriend Coki is in trouble.
77"Episode 7"Joko AnwarCollin Chang and Joko Anwar10 January 2016 (2016-01-10)
With The Gift just days away, the Demit world is in chaos. Sarah receives an offer from a stranger that is too good to resist.
88"Episode 8"Joko AnwarCollin Chang and Joko Anwar10 January 2016 (2016-01-10)
Sarah is trapped and her friends search for her. In a twist of events, The Gift is bestowed upon the most unexpected of all.

Season 2

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In the second season of Halfworlds, a tenacious researcher named Juliet is trying to uncover the secret world of demons known as "Peesaj" that live amongst mortals in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. Armed with research by her late father, she embarks on a quest for an ancient artifact of great power. During her search, her actions draw the attention of the local Thai Peesaj.

The second season of Halfworlds premiered on 22 January 2017.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
91"Episode 1"Ekachai UekrongthamCollin Chang22 January 2017 (2017-01-22)
A tenacious researcher named Juliet goes to Bangkok to continue her late father’s work on a hidden world of demons and gets more than what she bargained for.
102"Episode 2"Ekachai UekrongthamCollin Chang22 January 2017 (2017-01-22)
As Fyter spends more time with Juliet, he finds it harder to kill her. Tony enters the fight tournament in Soi P to win an exclusive session with the Seer.
113"Episode 3"Ekachai UekrongthamCollin Chang29 January 2017 (2017-01-29)
Juliet tracks Fyter down and arrives at Soi P after Warin’s attack. In the Citadel, Barata almost gets himself killed, but an old friend comes to his rescue.
124"Episode 4"Ekachai UekrongthamCollin Chang5 February 2017 (2017-02-05)
An important fight between Tony and Thip will determine who wins a session with the Seer while Barata reveals to Kaprey the reason he has returned to the Citadel.
135"Episode 5"Ekachai UekrongthamCollin Chang12 February 2017 (2017-02-12)
Thip meets with Wish who reveals the way to the Kris of Amorana. Mick finally catches Pym and Fyter is left with an important decision to make.
146"Episode 6"Ekachai UekrongthamCollin Chang19 February 2017 (2017-02-19)
Fyter, Mick, Wish and Juliet fight their way into the Citadel to retrieve the Kris. They meet Barata and must decide whether he is a friend or foe.
157"Episode 7"Ekachai UekrongthamCollin Chang26 February 2017 (2017-02-26)
An unexpected death in the Citadel changes everything.
168"Episode 8"Ekachai UekrongthamCollin Chang26 February 2017 (2017-02-26)
Fyter brings the Kris to Thip, while Tony finally meets Wish to get the answers he has been searching for.

Season 3

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Reception

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Awards

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The first season received 6 nominations from the 21st Annual of Asian Television Awards.[8]

Ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Asian Television Awards Best Drama Series Halfworlds Highly Commended [9]
Best Direction (Fiction) Joko Anwar Highly Commended
Best Cinematography Ical Tanjung Nominated
Best Editing Gan Jia Yi for Episode 6 Won
Natalie Soh for Episode 8 Nominated
Best Theme Song Aghi Narottama & Tony Merle Highly Commended

Broadcast

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Country Channel
  Brunei HBO Asia[10]
RED by HBO
  Cambodia
  Hong Kong
  Indonesia
  South Korea
  Macau
  Malaysia
  Mongolia
  Myanmar
    Nepal
  Palau
  Papua New Guinea
  Philippines
  Singapore
  Sri Lanka
  Taiwan
  Thailand
  Vietnam
  Australia SBS 2[11]
  Brazil Globoplay
  United States HBO

References

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  1. ^ Hon, Jin Yi (19 June 2015). "Cast of HBO Asia's new original series Halfworlds can't wait to 'kick a**'". TODAYonline. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. ^ Simanjuntak, Tertiani ZB (25 July 2015). "'Halfworlds' goes the whole nine yards". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  3. ^ Goh, Melody L. (27 September 2015). "Trailer watch: Joko Anwar's Halfworlds". Star2. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  4. ^ "About Halfworlds (Season 2) – HBO Asia". HBOAsia.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  5. ^ "HBO Asia Renews 'Halfworlds' for Third Season, Relocates Series to Philippines". variety.com. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Sam Concepcion gives update on HBO Asia's 'Halfworld'". 1 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Veil Is Lifted From Joko Anwar's Television Debut 'Halfworlds'". Jakarta Globe. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  8. ^ "The 21st Asian Television Awards (ATA) Winner List (Year 2016)". Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  9. ^ "FULL LIST: Nominees, Asian Television Awards 2016". 15 November 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  10. ^ "HBO Asia offers free view of Halfworlds S2's first episode". 19 January 2017. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  11. ^ "5 reasons to enter the parallel dimension of 'Halfworlds'". 14 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
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