Aahana Swrup
The Mandarin Netflix series ‘Million-Follower Detective’ follows a police investigation into a cryptic series of murders that seem to be prophesied by a masked influencer online. A content creator by the name of Baba Witch, who has historically been correct in some of her predictions, begins uploading daily tarot card readings, which foretell one brutal death each day. Surprisingly enough, these deaths continue to come true as a number of influencers find themselves in near-death incidents in accordance with the psychic’s prediction. As a result, veteran detective Chen Chia-jen must work together with the High Technology Crime Unit’s Li Hsin-ping to identify the killer influencer and uncover the method behind her mystical madness. The series functions within the premises of the familiar crime-thriller genre, adding modern elements of internet culture and its pitfalls into the mix.
Million-Follower Detective is a Fictional Story That Analyzes Influencer Culture
‘Million-Follower Detective’ is a work of fiction, credited to the imagination of the show’s writer and director, Shaun Su. Since the series is largely a product of fictionalization, the characters and the narratives explored in the show remain confined to the premises of the on–screen story. It derives no direct inspirations from any real-life crime stories. The story revolves around a cryptic and dangerous influencer, Baba Witch, who accurately predicts a series of murders and near-deaths. As a result, the obvious conclusion emerges that the video-maker must either be the killer behind these murders or be connected to the real serial killer. In real life, there has been an instance of a serial killer equipping an influencer persona and making public content and spectacles out of their homicidal ventures.
This rudimentary aspect of the series is a fictitious element. Consequently, the killer, victims, and investigators, and other parties involved in the on-screen crime, also become fictionalized additions. Even so, while the plot details of the series remain devoid of real-life connections, the crime thriller manages to find some grounded familiarity through foundational roots in realistic themes and ideas. The murders predicted by Baba Witch all center around a group of influencers, whose choice in careers seems to be directly connected to the attacks. Although it isn’t evident from the get-go, the killer’s crimes are a reaction to the darker side of influencer culture, which mindlessly makes victims out of regular people in the name of content.
In real life, between October 2022 and September 2023, multiple “motorcycle influencers” lost their lives in tragic traffic accidents. This sparked a conversation about the nature of chasing content through reckless means in pursuit of online fame and success. ‘Million-Follower Detective’ centers its instrumental crime around the same concept, highlighting the dangers of influencer culture through characters like Lin Ting-yu and his friends. Additionally, it underlines the importance of technological law enforcement units and their collaboration in crime investigations. In doing so, it takes a familiar landscape of detective shows and adds a modern touch to the well-trodden story structure. Overall, these elements improve the fictitious show’s grounding in realism.
Baba Witch is a Fictional Social Media Influencer
Much like other elements of ‘Million-Follower Detective,’ Baba Witch, the face of the central antagonist is also a work of fiction created in service of the narrative. In-universe, the content creator is presented as a psychic who makes predictions and does tarot card readings to prophesy great destruction and tragedies. Eventually, she gains online traction once a series of daily readings reveals the future deaths of a group of influencers that each come to fruition as the days pass. Thus, the masked tarot reader becomes a person of great interest in the police’s investigation into the serial killings. The influencer is textually inspired by Baba Yaga, an entity from Slavic folklore.
The mythology around the Slavic witch presents her as either an evil spirit who eats children or a guiding force who aids heriod individuals. Over the years, the folklore character has gained some prominence in pop culture with many IPs like ‘Doctor Who,’ ‘Scooby-Doo,’ and ‘John Wick’ referencing her in some way or another. Baba Witch uses the known mythology of Baba Yaga to establish her own psychic roots and instill a dangerous connotation. In real life, there are no content creators or influencers who bear a direct resemblance to Baba Witch. Moreover, it is common for some creators to don masks on the internet as a part of their “faceless” branding. Nonetheless, there are no notable names with a connection to psychic or death prediction content. Ultimately, Baba Witch remains a fictional addition to a fictional narrative.
Read More: Is Million-Follower Detective a True Story? Is Baba Witch Based on a Real Influencer?
