Anyone who loves TV might have heard some of the buzz surrounding foreign shows lately. With the ubiquitousness of streaming services, TV imports have become more and more accessible to us over the past few years, and since platforms like Netflix and Hulu have gotten in on the production game, these days we don't even have to wait to watch a lot of the best TV series from other countries — they're released worldwide from day one. Whether you're into cerebral dramas or irreverent comedies, it might be time to give international shows a shot.
Foreign TV series are different from US ones in so many ways, from the aesthetics to the social and political themes and even the brand of humor. That alone is enough to make them pretty interesting to watch, but countries such as Great Britain, Spain, and Korea have also really upped their game when it comes to production value, and a bunch of shows from those countries are seriously delivering on the intrigue and drama.
So if you've grown bored of the American standbys and don't want to wait for the new crop of fall TV shows to debut stateside, now is the perfect time to check out some of the excellent foreign series that have been getting a lot of attention in the entertainment world — whether they've been around for a while or they're relatively new. Keep reading to see our top recommendations for foreign TV shows.
'Money Heist'
Money Heist is a popular and highly-rated drama out of Spain about a group of robbers led by a brilliant thief who goes by the name "the Professor." Together, they train and plan for what they believe will be the biggest heist in Spain's history. The series is suspenseful and delivers some incredibly intense drama, as the thieves do just about anything to pull off their mission. Beyond the action, though, the show offers moving themes of friendship, family, and love.
'Elite'
Elite is another Spanish drama, this one focusing on a group of three teenagers from working-class families who end up getting into one of the country's most prestigious high schools. It chronicles their experiences as they attempt to navigate the wide gaps in experience and perspective between them and their new privileged peers.
'Lupin'
The French series Lupin has been something of a surprise hit. Released early in 2021, it's already in its second season. The show is a retelling of the classic French tale of Arsène Lupin, a thief and master of disguise. The main character is Assane Diop, and he's on a mission to avenge his father's death.
'Giri/Haji'
The Japanese/British series Giri/Haji has been making waves in the TV world since it premiered in 2019. Despite nabbing a BAFTA (basically the British Oscars) for best supporting actor, the series was canceled after one season. But people across the world are still watching the show, which is about a detective who travels from Tokyo to London to track down his brother, who got involved with the Yakuza crime syndicate and is on the lam.
'Peaky Blinders'
We cannot get enough of Irish actor Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders. The British series, which is now produced by Netflix, has been around since 2013 but only has five seasons, with a sixth and last on the way. Seasons are short and only come every couple of years, but the show — about a group of brothers who work their way up from being a small-time street gang to some of the most powerful men post-World War I — is riveting and totally worth waiting for.
'Dark'
Dark is a supernatural thriller out of Germany about the disappearances of two young children. As authorities and the community hunt for them, the secrets and sins of four families begin to come to light, revealing deep troubles within the town and among its residents that go back decades.
'Stranger'
A Korean cop procedural, Stranger follows a quirky prosecutor and an ambitious and driven female detective as they set about solving an unnerving murder they discover to be connected to political corruption. Eventually, they realize that someone on the inside may be working against their efforts to uncover the truth.
'The Last Kingdom'
The English series The Last Kingdom has gained a bit of a cult following among fans interested in Viking history. It tells the story of a man named Uhtred, who was kidnapped by Vikings from his home in England as a child, and was raised by the Norsemen. Years later, he uses what he learns from them to try to reclaim his birthright.
'Kim's Convenience'
A comedy out of Canada, Kim's Convenience is about a multigenerational Korean-Canadian family and their adventures — and misadventures — running a convenience store, and navigating the expectations and demands of their two cultures. It has an incredibly diverse cast and is absolutely hilarious, while still being insightful.
'Derry Girls'
Derry Girls is a super-fun and relatable Irish comedy about a group of teen girls growing up in Northern Ireland during the country's period of turmoil in the 1990s, known as "the Troubles." The girls are navigating all that comes with adolescence while surrounded by confusing and difficult political and social circumstances.
'Kingdom'
Kingdom is an absolutely intriguing Netflix original thriller series out of South Korea. It takes place during the country's Joseon period and tells the story of a kingdom's leader who mysteriously falls ill. Rumors run rampant, and the prince is left to save his people from a plague that looks a whole lot like the zombie virus. So yeah, it's a period series and a zombie show. But it's done really, really well.
'Move to Heaven'
Netflix made its foray into the K-drama genre with the original series Move to Heaven, which premiered in May 2021. The concept is pretty fascinating too. It's about two people — one of whom has Asperger's syndrome — working as what are known as "trauma cleaners." Their job is to clear out the belongings of deceased people, giving them a unique view into people's private lives and leading them to reflect on the human condition.
'Wentworth'
We love a good prison show, and Australia's Wentworth is among the best. Viewers who enjoyed Prison Break and Orange Is the New Black should definitely check out this one, which is centered around a woman who is in prison awaiting trial for charges of attempted murder against her husband.
'Babylon Berlin'
There's something so interesting about the 1920s that almost any show or film set during that time period draws us in, and Babylon Berlin is no exception. It follows the story of a police commissioner who moves from Cologne, Germany, to Berlin, where he finds himself investigating a scandal involving the Berlin Mafia, while the city around him is in the midst of often painful transformations and changes.
'Nevertheless'
A new K-drama, Nevertheless is a series about two art school students who embark on a "friends with benefits" relationship when one realizes that he's not interested in an actual relationship and the other decides that she no longer believes in love. The show is sexy, fun, and all-around entertaining.
'The Great'
Though the Hulu original series The Great is headlined by American actress Elle Fanning, it's actually an Australian production about a Russian monarch, and it is fantastic. If you like history and period dramas — especially those with a healthy bit of sass and sexiness — this series about Catherine the Great is a must-watch.
'Monarca'
This Netflix original series out of Mexico is super interesting. It's about a Mexican family who has made a fortune in the tequila business but finds their company and their family falling apart as they wade through deep corruption among their country's aristocrats and biggest businesses. One family member returns home after decades, hoping to piece things back together, and must face what seem like insurmountable challenges.
'Narcos: Mexico'
Hot on the heels of the success of the original Narcos, Netflix premiered Narcos: Mexico in 2018. The series, which stars Diego Luna and Scoot McNairy, kicks off in the year 1980 when the Guadalajara Cartel first begins to gain power. It follows a US Drug Enforcement Agency agent who moves his family to Mexico to take on the case, which inevitably proves to be far more dangerous than he imagined.
'Shtisel'
We are definitely not used to seeing TV shows from Israel, but Shtisel is absolutely fascinating. The story chronicles the lives of various members of a Haredi family living in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem. Even though Shtisel has been on the air since 2013, there are only three seasons (totaling 33 episodes), so it's easy to binge watch the entire series in a couple of weeks (or less).
'Workin' Moms'
Canadians are darn good at comedy series that capture the hilariously frustrating situations of real life, and Workin' Moms is another worthy watch that proves just that. It's about a group of mothers who bond over their struggle to balance their career ambitions with the pressures of parenthood.
'Cable Girls'
The Spanish TV series Cable Girls is one of Netflix's longest-running international series to date, and though it came to a close in 2020, all episodes are still available on the streamer. Set in the glamorous 1920s, it's about four women from different walks of life who are all working as telephone operators, which of course was a very new job at the time.
'The Break'
The Netflix series The Break out of Belgium is the perfect show for crime junkies. It's in the vein of series such as The Killing and True Detective, with a slow-burn sort of suspense driven home by stellar performances and impeccable writing. Fans of the genre will not be disappointed in this one.
