Watch The Teenage Psychic

The Teenage Psychic is a Taiwanese drama series that premiered on HBO in 2017. The show captures the life of a teenage girl, who has unique abilities to communicate with the spirits of the dead. This girl is named Lin Shu-yao, played by Shu-yao Kuo, who lives with her mother and grandmother in a small town in Taiwan.

The series is a coming-of-age story that navigates through the everyday struggles of a teenage girl, along with the added pressure of dealing with spirits. It portrays the life of Lin Shu-yao, who besides managing school and family, embraces her abilities to help people who are struggling to get over the loss of their loved ones. Lin uses her powers to communicate with the spirits to help fulfill their last wishes or provide comfort to their grieving families.

The plot of The Teenage Psychic explores various themes that include love, friendship, family, and religion, and shows how they shape Lin Shu-yao's life. It showcases how Lin's abilities to help others often come into conflict with her teenage desires, the limitations of being a psychic, and the scrutiny of society that comes with being different. Throughout the series, she doubts her abilities and often finds herself at the receiving end of criticism from the people around her.

But the show is not only about Lin's psychic abilities; it also delves deep into her character development and her relationships with others. The show deals with various subplots, each of which plays an important role in creating a well-rounded storyline. One of which is the love triangle with Lin's long-time friend and crush, Wang Xiaodong, played by Akio Chen, and the new transfer student Zhang Yuxiang, played by Fandy Fan.

Lin's relationship with her family is also a significant aspect of the show. Her mother, played by Nana Lee, is overprotective, and her grandmother, played by Chun Hong, seems to know more than what she lets on. There are several scenes throughout the series that showcase the close-knit bond between the three generations.

The show's cinematography is striking and well-executed, with gorgeous backdrops and haunting sound effects. The teen vibe permeates throughout the series with its catchy soundtrack, perfectly complements the overall mood of the show.

What makes The Teenage Psychic unique is its representation of Chinese culture and its spiritual beliefs. The show specifically focuses on the Taoist belief of the afterlife and the rituals associated with it. It showcases how the belief in ghosts and the spiritual world has been ingrained in Chinese culture for centuries.

In conclusion, The Teenage Psychic is a well-written, well-executed television drama that encompasses a wide range of themes such as friendship, family, love, and religion. It manages to balance the struggles of a typical teenage girl with the added pressure of her psychic abilities. The show stays true to its Taiwanese roots, which is refreshing to see on a global platform like HBO. It is an emotional journey that will leave viewers feeling satisfied with how everything plays out.

The Teenage Psychic is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (14 episodes). The series first aired on December 1, 2017.