The ship has sailed: A TV show from Kazakhstan will portray romances between top TikTokers

Some of the top TikTok stars in Central Asia are coming together for a drama series, and the show’s creators are planning to engage with their viewers in a unique way. Kazakhstan’s JKS Entertainment and 1OS Studios are producing Target, an eight-episode program that will unite beloved influencers — and pair them up as the audience sees fit.

Target will combine elements of mystery, romance, drama, and sci-fi to tell the story of an elite private high school. The show is similar to other projects that have spotlighted top TikTokers, in that the app’s culture will become part of the plot. In Target‘s case, the central mystery will be set off by strange DMs that arrive on the protagonist’s phone.

It is Target‘s cast, rather than its premise, that will command attention. The cast includes influencers who are huge in Kazakhstan and live in shared creator houses. Lunamccalll, a member of the so-called Bip House, will have a role in the series. (“Bip” is an acronym that stands for “Bangers in Pyjamas.”) She will be joined by Raides, a Russian-born Korean creator whose residency in Yolo House has brought more than 15 million followers to his TikTok account.

But the biggest name associated with Target is Alina Kim, a.k.a. Homm9k. Kim is a sensation in her native Kazakhstan, where she supplies viewers with a steady supply of dances and other TikTok trends. These videos have brought nearly 44 million followers to her account. By casting her in Target, JKS and 1OS are clearly hoping to attract a slice of that audience.

@homm9k♬ Victoria’s Secret – Jax

The Kazakh TikTok community will surely go gaga over this mighty collaboration. For us in the West, the most interesting thing about Target concerns the relationships that will be depicted on the show. “We’ve also prepared surprises for our fans,” Beksultan Kazybek of JKS Entertainment told Television Business International. “The most “shipped” couples, who are loved by the audiences, will develop romantic relationships in the show as their characters progress.”

If I’m understanding this correctly, it means that the creators’ romantic proclivities on Target will be dictated by the fantasies of the show’s fanbase. Catering to shippers is unusual, but it’s actually a brilliant way to get viewers invested in the plotlines that will play out in each 30-minute episode. A fandom’s favorite ships can be the subject of endless internet debate, and TikTok stans from Kazakhstan will likely have strong opinions about who should end up with whom.

Target is currently in production. The show will be in English, and its international distribution rights are currently being shopped. And if your two favorite Kazakh TikTokers don’t end up together in season one, don’t worry. Target has already been renewed for a second season.