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European Television Series on NetFlix

There is probably a classification of traveler that might find interest in this sort of thing. NETFLIX, and I would assume the other similar services, has quite a bit of interesting foreign television content. Sometimes pure entertainment, sometimes it can reveal cultural differences, sometimes it’s fun just for the location shots.

Comrade Detective” a Romanian series from the 1980’s produced by the government as part of their anti-west propaganda; it’s hilarious. My favorite line so far involves one detective referring to the female US Ambassador as a prostitute. The other detective says, “It is redundant to refer to a capitalist as a prostitute”. Satire

Silver Spoon” a Russian show that reveals the corruption of the oligarch system in Russia through the misadventures of the son of an oligarch that is forced to service on the police department as punishment from his corrupt father. Very well produced and a bit graphic and disturbing at times. Some good messages and inside look at a small precinct station and the rights of criminals and citizens and various living conditions in Moscow (presumably).

Servant of the People” sometimes hilarious sitcom in which a school teacher thanks to some ranting in his classroom that ends up going viral on the internet, is elected President of Ukraine. The funniest things in life are based on reality and this one takes a shot at governmental corruption and bribery. Again you get some glimpse of how people live and some cultural norms.

Man to Man” okay, not a European series, a South Korean comedy spy series with the first episode being filmed in Budapest. I didn’t find it terribly funny, but the photography in Budapest was nothing short of stunning.

Posted by
1221 posts

There's a free (ad-supported) streaming service called Tubi TV that has a little bit of everything from classy to trashy. They've got some UK real estate shows in their Reality TV area right now including "Location, Location Location", "My First Home", ** and **"My Flat Pack Home" along with the odd Gordon Ramsey show.

They've also got some UK, Canadian, and Australian scripted shows that aren't necessarily available on the pay streamers, or are available for free instead of pay like the proper "The Avengers" (ie. not the superhero movie franchise)

Posted by
9110 posts

Comrade detective is on Amazon prime. It's an American show filmed in Romania. While the satire is set in the 80s it was filmed last year on location using local actors but dubbed with Hollywood celebs.

Posted by
4256 posts

Thanks for the update, no wonder I couldn't find it on Netflix.

Posted by
20175 posts

Okay, I played the sucker on that one. The producers stay in role, even in the promotion. The description of the show is:

In the thick of 1980's Cold War hysteria, the Romanian government
created the country's most popular and longest-running series, Comrade
Detective, a sleek and gritty police show that not only entertained
its citizens but also promoted Communist ideals and inspired a deep
nationalism. The action-packed and blood-soaked first season finds
Detectives Gregor Anghel and Joseph Baciu investigating the murder of
fellow officer Nikita Ionescu and, in the process, unraveling a
subversive plot to destroy their country that is fueled by-what
else-but the greatest enemy: Capitalism.

I should have known better, as it hit every stereotype just right.

Posted by
9110 posts

After the faux intro from respected author Jon Ronson I fell for the ruse as well until half way through the first episode when my BS detector went off the charts. Still a funny show though. If you are into Adult Swim type humor it's a home run.

Posted by
20175 posts

Another show, one I haven't watched yet, is "The Sniffer" (Netflix). A Ukrainian detective show that has gotten good reviews.

Any others out there???

Posted by
922 posts

Witnesses (aka Les temoins), starring Marie Dompnier and the aging-but-still-gorgeous Thierry Lhermitte. It's a detective thriller set in a French coastal town; I was completely engrossed by it. Netflix.

Posted by
462 posts

"Tangerines" - available on prime.

"Wallander" - episode 3 taking place in Lithuania

"Night Watch" series - night Watch, day watch. Kind of hard to follow the subtitles, but a pretty good show overall.

Posted by
27 posts

My new favorite on Netflix is Borgen, a fictional Danish political drama filmed for three seasons (30 episodes) from 2010-2012.
Smart, fascinating view into Danish governmental proceedings and concerns and a window to their view of the world. Akin to the
West Wing. Plus lovely views of both building interiors and outdoor Copenhagen. Also interesting to see how many English phrases are sprinkled into their conversations.

Posted by
20175 posts

Also interesting to see how many English phrases are sprinkled into
their conversations.

The Ukraine show "Servant of the People" has its share of English four language. Its comforting to know that we have given the world such a gift.

Posted by
1221 posts

Also currently on Hulu- 'Deutschland 83' ** which is an East German spy sent to West Germany to gather information. International buzz was apparently good enough to produce a **''Deutschland 86' for airing next year.

Posted by
28065 posts

Living in Washington DC, I'm fortunate (or not, depending on how much time one has for watching television) to receive not only a PBS sub-channel that's 100% British TV but also MHz, which shows all-foreign content, some of it in English but much of it subtitled. Detective/crime shows are especially prominent, but three recently broadcast offerings looked especially interesting. I've recorded them but haven't watched them yet:

Weissensee - Drama about Stasi activities in the last days of the GDR.
Turkish for Beginners - Merged-family comedy about a mixed (Turkish/German) second marriage, set in Germany.
A French Village - drama about life in France under German occupation. Gets into issues of collaboration, etc.

A lot of MHz's content is available via a subscription to MHz Choice.

Posted by
604 posts

Selkie thanks for heads up about Deutschland 83, its coming tomorrow. Also what about the German crime show Tatort. IIRC it was a well produced crime drama that I watched in the summer of 1982 that I spend in Nurnberg.

Posted by
1601 posts

James E. I loved the line "read too much TV"
Other than sports, Jeopardy, and Amazing Race, I read all of my TV.
I watch "cop shows" in every language. The formula of the cop show is comforting and consistent, then add the language, the scenery and the culture of the country of origin and I am hooked.
If you want a show from a particular country let me know and I can likely give you a good recommendation.

My favorite shows are generally from Scandinavia. They get the gritty right.
My absolute favorite show is The Bridge (Bron/Broen). Very well done series. My golden doodle is named Saga Noren.
Second favorite is the Swedish version of Wallander with Krister Henrickson.

I pause the show frequently especially during the car driving scenes or the helicopter fly overs and show my husband, "I was standing right there and saw this and right around the corner is this..." Transports me right back to the scene and increases the value of my travel dollar. : ).

Posted by
971 posts

Of the various Scandi tv shows, Borgen really does capture it's subject, Danish politics very well. The Nordic Noir crime shows have been good, but the amount of grusome murders portrayed in these shows have been a bit unrealistic. However we curently have an ongoing case that has been all over the media in both Denmark and the World. It involves a famous inventor/rocket builder and a female journalist whose body washed ashore after a trip on his homemade submarine. No crime writer could make that stuff up!

Posted by
1692 posts

Two I would throw in. Both from Spain's TVE and the first episodes are on the rtve.es website.

Isabel - About Isabel la Catolica

El Ministerio del Tiempo - Spain does Doctor Who time travel as a government department.

Posted by
2030 posts

I watch a lot of European TV series. Right now my 2 favorites are:

Spiral - gritty (R rated) French cop / legal drama. The dark, un-glamorous side of Paris. Excellent acting especially the lead woman detective. 4 seasons are available on Netflix, even though there is a 5th series, and they are filming a 6th.

Hinterland- British detective series, set in Wales. Good stories, set in fantastic, beautiful Welsh countryside.

Posted by
4811 posts

Watched Hinterland and loved the scenery but enjoyed Shetland more. Glad to hear some Netflix titles for Scandinavia!

Posted by
1221 posts

The Prisoner.
Do rewatch that one right before a trip to Portmeirion, Wales

Posted by
3482 posts

On Netflix:
Outlander: wonderful Scottish time travel drama based on the amazing books by Diana Gabaldon.

Crossing Lines: about an inter-European detective squad. Some good scenery in a few places, mostly Prague and the Hague.

Shetland: great crime drama.

Wallander: crime drama in Sweden.
Wouldn't make you rush to go there though! Too grey looking! , but great series.
See if you can find the original subtitled Swedish one, it's much better then the one starring Kenneth Branagh.

Brunetti: I could only find it at the library on DVD.
It's about a police detective in Venice, based on books by Donna Leon. It's really good, and great scenery.
subtitled.

Posted by
28065 posts

Though the Brunetti series is set in Venice, with exteriors filmed there, it's a German-language production. At least the shows I've recorded from MHz are in German, subtitled in English.

Posted by
1692 posts

Netfilx also offers the choice of language on certain offerings. Sometimes it is interesting to listen to how other languages view the same original.

And live action Polish dubbing is something to behold.

Posted by
7 posts

Yes! I am so glad I found this thread and I am so interested in these shows! I watch a lot of British TV and movies but I'm looking up all these suggestions now. Thanks!

Posted by
17418 posts

That is the second recommendation I have heard for Shetland. Is it British?

Posted by
8965 posts

Lola, the BBC Shetland series was broadcast on PBS a while ago. It was based on the very good series of novels by Ann Cleeves. Makes you want to visit the islands, although seems like a lot of people get murdered there. (joke).

Posted by
2349 posts

I just checked it out. I'm in the middle of Ann Cleeves second book. I think I'll read them all first before watching.

Posted by
626 posts

For the Nordic crime drama fans, check out Rebecka Martinsson on Acorn TV (subscription service). Acorn TV has British, Canadian, and Australian TV along with some foreign shows. They have all but the most recent season of Murdoch Mysteries and all of the Doc Martin shows. For WW I history buffs, try Anzac Girls about the nurses from Australia and New Zealand who took care of troops in various spots during the war. Excellent short series.

Posted by
3398 posts

I am really enjoying "The A Word" which is set in the English Lake District. It's a drama about a family who's young son is diagnosed with autism. Great actors, really good storytelling, all in a beautiful setting! Here in California it's screening on the Sundance channel.
I can't wait to check out some of these other shows listed here...great thread James!

Posted by
4684 posts

Both the TV series and the original novel series for "Outlander" are American, not British. The reactions of actual Scottish people to them can charitably be described as "very mixed".

Posted by
1022 posts

I have enjoyed the Shetland series. Hopefully they will start another season. I actually have been to the Shetland Islands in June 2010. Loved my trip there. My 2nd great grandfather (and his mom and his sister) came to the States from Shetland.

Kim

Posted by
2723 posts

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the many, many UK focused series showing on the American PBS stations (with the older versions offered via Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu streaming). My favorites include Endeavour (shot on location in Oxford), The Crown (London and other UK locations), Monarch of the Glen (Scotland), Victoria (more London), Call the Midwife (London), and of course Downton Abbey. Speaking of the latter, Gran Hotel has been called the Spanish version of Downton Abbey...it's binge worthy and has lovely costumes and scenery.

Posted by
897 posts

Two of the three Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon "Trip" movies are on Netflix now. The first, a TV series called "The Trip", once was on Netflix. The two currently on Netflix are road trips to Italy and Spain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trip_to_Spain
trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTvy8ab1NSo
The Trip To Spain - Mick Jagger Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPjk2nYiY0Q
These are less travel films & more of just them talking to each other.

While it's nice to watch foreign shows while at home the the USA, it's also nice watching Netflix and Amazon Prime while travelling abroad. You get the local programming, but that includes a lot of English language shows.

Posted by
9110 posts

Trip to Spain was just released to DVD/BluRay in the US:
http://a.co/8Dgx9L4

These are less travel films & more of just them talking to each other.

I disagree the Trip series is practically the dictionary definition of a "road trip comedy"

Posted by
10621 posts

Netflix has "Call my Agent" a French TV series about a Parisian talent agency and its clients. Each week a famous celebrity plays him or herself in the show, some known in the States, some not, but all famous in France. Very Parisian, funny, sophisticated, sexy.

Posted by
2134 posts

Watched "Paranoid" on Netflix recently. In addition to small town Britain, much of the series is set in Dusseldorf. I was delighted to see many of the places we visited earlier this year. Dusseldorf is a destination well worth considering if you are in the area- beautiful sites, great transit and good food and beer.