16 International Series To Watch Right Now On Netflix
11. Tempel
Mark Tempel left a life of boxing and organized crime for a quiet life as a nurse happily living with his family. German miniseries Tempel tells the story of how he returned his former life and risked the new life he built as a result.
One day men working for the mafia threaten his family and destroy his daughter’s violin, so he returns to boxing to win enough money to buy a new one. The allure of his old life, and those in it, draws Mark back in and causes problems in the Tempel home.
The issue that binds Mark and his former employers together is gentrification. Gentrifiers attack the Tempel family, and gentrification of the neighborhood would be bad for Tempel’s old comrades because it hurts both their drug and prostitution rackets.
While the exploration of gentrification is interesting, it is the character of Mark Tempel that is the show’s biggest asset. Ken Duken is a charismatic lead who slips seamlessly between caring nurse and skilled boxer. It’s the type of charisma that viewers will surely follow.
12. Crossing Lines
Crossing Lines centers on a team made up of officers from different countries who investigate cross-border crimes. They are sent all throughout Europe to solve cases.
The visually appealing experiences of watching the team travel across Europe alone makes it worth viewing, but it’s the members of the team that makes the series. Each member has their own country, culture, and personality, which adds a layer to the typical mixing of personalities one sees on crime procedurals.
A great procedural is built on characters coming together to make an interesting and entertaining family. While Crossing Lines does that in spades, it’s the exploration of crime in Europe that adds something special.
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders tried to tap into this, but Americans visiting Europeans cities is different than European citizens working to save people in their own countries. That’s why Crossing Lines works well.
13. Fauda
For those tired of seeing stereotypical depictions of the Middle East, Israeli political thriller Fauda may be for you. This time the story of people living in the West Bank are told by the people who have that lived experience.
It’s powerful, important, and necessary to see people telling their own stories.
The series centers on Doron Kavillio who is enjoying life after being a commando when his-former-partner-turned-alleged-bad-guy resurfaces after being thought to be dead. The events that follow are thrilling for audiences and incredibly difficult for Doron.
Fauda gives time to both sides of the conflict, which goes beyond a typical tale about villains and heroes. Instead, it’s about groups of people who are at odd yet all have a valid point of view.
After a gripping initial season in 2016, it was renewed for a second season and a third, which is set to air in 2019.
It’s a compelling story that feels more authentic than most of the American television shows set in the region. Get into it, folks.
14. Money Heist
Spanish heist drama Money Heist, known formerly as La casa de papel, is a fun thrill ride about a group of thieves. A mastermind calling him El Professor puts a group together for a heist, and, as usual, things do not go as planned.
The plot may sound like many other heist stories, but what sets Money Heist apart is its characters. Of course, there’s action and danger, but this story is driven first and foremost by the strangers at the center of the heist.
Each member of the team is given the name of a city to hide personal details from the others. Still, young people in love and the ties of friendship are just as much complications in the criminals’ plans as the fact that plans typically don’t go exactly how anyone expects.
The two go hand-in-hand, which is what makes the series worth a watch, and audiences agree.
After its first batch of episodes aired in 2017, audiences and critics had great things to say. Since then the second set of episodes aired, and a third “part” is on the way.
15. Fallet
Crime shows both in the US and abroad are very popular. We watch a lot of episodes about criminals and the acts they commit. Swedish series Fallet does stand out among them.
Two incompetent detectives, one from Sweden and the other from the UK, are tasked with a murder case in the Swedish town of Norrbacka to save their careers. And, that’s right about where it diverts from your typical crime series.
Norrbacka is the type of quiet town where police chief, who is about to retire, is excited that there’s a murder. It’s the humor and quirky tone that gives Fallet its unique energy. Case and point, this case hangs on the skills of two cops, who quite honestly suck at their jobs.
It’s funny, like laugh out loud funny. Even so, in the midst of the comedy, Fallet still finds time for social commentary. It discusses the issues facing their respective countries and other topics, including misogyny. The show is quite layered.
Fallet will make you laugh. Then it’ll surprise you. Maybe they solve the crime or fail miserably, but you’ll definitely enjoy watching them try over the course of the season.
16. Secret City
Fans of Anna Trov, star of Fringe and Mindhunter, will be happy to see her on Australian espionage miniseries Secret City. The Cold War may be a thing of the past, but this show centers on a war that is currently hearing up.
Secret City looks at the current arms race, the one being fought with technology and computer programs. What the show does brilliantly is mix the high-tech devices and old-school spycraft while exploring geopolitics. It’s the modern spy drama.
Trov’s Australian political journalist Harriet Dunkley is investigating for a story when she finds someone is following her and ends up right in the center of a serious national security situation.
Secret City is a great modern espionage story. It looks to our complicated present and future where the secret things people do are no longer as secret as they once were. Hackers, journalists, and everyday citizens, oh my.
The series threads the needle between being an interesting yet complex web and over-complicated mess for the sake of intrigue. Secret City is a short and compelling watch.
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What foreign series are you watching? Let us know in the comments!
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Alamin Yohannes
Alamin is an aspiring writer, social media editor, and television enthusiast. While he has been a TV fan since the days of Martin, Living Single, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the introduction of Netflix and a rewatch of Grey's Anatomy kick things into high gear. One of his life goals is to find a Cul-de-Sac crew of his own and he'll never stop hoping for "Happy Endings" to return. Alamin may not love every television show, but he'll definitely catch any new show out. You can also usually find him talking about whatever he's currently watching on Twitter.