Something To Talk About
You know when you find a great show on Netflix and want to talk about it with your friends, but none of them have watched it (or even heard of it)? Well, that happens to us a lot. So, we came to talk to you all about these shows we love—wondering if any of you might've seen them also? Let's all "Tudum" together and jump right in.
Billionaire Island (2024-)
This story of two Norwegian Salmon farming families fighting for global dominance has been called Succession with salmon. It's a great show full of business and family intrigue—with plenty of back-stabbing and power plays and a drama and comedic sensibility that does have a bit of a Succession-esque vibe to it at times. But it is definitely its own show!
Rubicon TV AS, Billionaire Island 2024-
Sky Rojo (2021-23)
Money Heist became a worldwide smash at the end of the 2010s. We mention it, because the man who created the series, Álex Pina, made another series on the streamer called Sky Rojo. This black comedy action drama about three escorts on the run from their pimp has been called "Latin Pulp" by Pina himself—and that sounds like a very apt description to us.
Black Butterflies (2022)
When Mody agrees to write Albert's memoir, the story Albert tells will intrigue, terrify and change Mody's life forever. This dark French miniseries is surprising and will keep you clicking "next episode" until the end.
GMT Productions, Les papillons noirs (2022)
Rough Diamonds (2023-)
Centered in an Orthodox Jewish community in the heart of Antwerp's iconic diamond district, this series is part family drama and part business thriller. Interesting characters and a world that most of us probably aren't familiar with—on both fronts. And speaking of worlds most of us are completely unfamiliar with....
De Mensen, Rough Diamonds 2023-
Sanctuary (2023)
This Japanese series takes you into the world of Sumo wrestling, showing the training and the tradition in contrast to today's modern world.
The Glory (2022-23)
A woman spends years thinking about and enacting a plan to get revenge on her school bullies in this Korean psychological thriller. And while we're on the topic of revenge....
Hwa&Dam Pictures, The Glory (2022-2023)
Kleo (2022-)
From school bullies in 2022 to East German commanders after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Kleo was an East German agent in the 80s who was falsely sent to prison by her higher-ups. Well, after the fall of the wall, she is released and sets out on her path of revenge. Unlike Glory though, Kleo doesn't always take itself too seriously and enjoys mixing up comedy with the action/drama/thrills.
Zeitsprung Pictures, Kleo 2022-
Babylon Berlin (2017-)
Co-created by the great German director Tom Tykwer, this period neo-noir series begins in 1929 Germany as the Weimar Republic is on its last legs. Mystery and history.
X Filme Creative Pool, Babylon Berlin (2017-2025)
Alice In Borderland (2020-)
In Tokyo, three friends go to the bathroom only to emerge and find that the entire city is empty. While this isn't the first everyone-has-disappeared series we've seen, where it goes from there is wholly original, fascinating, thought-provoking, thrilling, dramatic, and a feast for the eyes.
Robot Communications, Alice in Borderland 2020-
Clark (2022)
This miniseries tells the story of the charismatic and infamous Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson (aka Sweden's first "celebrity gangster"). It also features the famous Norrmalmstorg bank robbery—which is where the term "Stockholm Syndrome" originates from.
Scandinavian Content Group, Clark (2022)
The Brothers Sun (2024)
Okay, so we know that many of you have probably heard of this one—even if you never watched it—as it was pretty well hyped given that it was co-created by Brad Falchuk and starred Michelle Yeoh. We're just still angry it was canceled after only one season and wanted to give it a shout out anyway.
Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision, The Brothers Sun (2024)
The Asunta Case (2024)
Based on a murder case that shocked Spain.
Netflix, The Asunta Case (2024)
Snabba Cash (2021-)
This great Swedish series is based on the Stockholm Noir novel trilogy and takes place in the world of finance and startups and the criminal underworld in Stockholm. Season one came out in 2021 and season 2 dropped the following year. We have our fingers crossed that there will be a season 3.
Ganglands (2021-)
Again we head into the criminal underworld—this time it's in Belgium. Like Snabba Cash, we are waiting for season 3 of this series as well.
Suburra: Blood On Rome (2017-20)
The Italian series began as a prequel to the 2015 film, Suburra (based on the novel of the same name)—but for the third season, it diverged from the prequel realm and became something a little different. Regardless, it is a powerful crime drama worth watching.
Cattleya, Suburra: Blood on Rome (2017-2020)
Suburræterna (2023)
In 2023, they released Suburræterna, a series that follows the events of Blood on Rome. It isn't as good as the first series, but once you watch Blood on Rome you'll want more—and this is the more there is.
Maestro In Blue (2022-)
Created, written by, and starring Christopher Papakaliatis, this great drama was the first Greek series on Netflix.
Beside Productions, Maestro 2022-
Gypsy (2017)
Yes, we know it came out seven years ago, was canceled after one season, and didn't get the best reviews either. But we really liked this Naomi Watts series and it's one of the cancellations that angered us the most back then.
Alias Grace (2017)
Viewers in Canada might've watched this one on the CBC first, but for the rest of the world, Netflix is where they watched it (if they even knew about it). Based on the novel by the great Margaret Atwood, this mini series tells a fictionalized story of the 1843 murder of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery.
Halfire Entertainment, Alias Grace (2017)
Fauda (2015-23)
An Israeli series that developed out of the real experiences and stories of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Faraway Road Productions, Fauda (2015-2022)
Lupin (2021-)
The show was the most-watched non-English series on Netflix when it came out so we're thinking a bunch of you have probably seen it. But for those whose Netflix algorithm avoids anything with subtitles, we would like to let you know about this super fun series about a master thief.
Physical: 100 (2023-)
If you haven't taken the dive into South Korean reality competition shows, then you haven't had the pleasure of Physical: 100. 100 people (men and women) compete in challenges of physical strength and endurance to determine the "ideal physique". The sets are huge and elaborate and the competition is tough. And while we're on the topic of huge South Korean reality competition shows....
Culinary Class Wars (2024-)
The biggest cooking competition show you've ever seen.
Studio Slam, Culinary Class Wars 2024-
Undercover (2019-)
A Dutch-language crime drama about, as you might've guessed, undercover police officers. The first season is the best of the three, but it's worth watching them all.
De Mensen, Undercover (2019-2022)
Imposters (2017-18)
Sure, it ran on Bravo first and was canceled after two seasons, but it's on Netflix (at least for now) and it's really good. Inbar Lavi plays a con woman who gets into relationships then slips away with all their money. The show is able to blend drama and comedy into a very enjoyable package. One we wish there'd been more of.
Glória (2021)
To quote Wikipedia, Glória "tells the story of a young spy operating in Cold-War Portugal, amid the intrigues of the US and Soviet Union". Espionage, intrigue, thrills, and Cold War history in one.
The Longest Night (2022)
The only reason we hesitated adding this intense and exciting Spanish prison thriller is because it ends on a cliff hanger and thus far there is no news if a second season is coming or not.
Lazonafilms, The Longest Night (2022)
Behind Her Eyes (2021)
This British noir thriller truly does have one of the best surprise endings we've seen in a long time.
Left Bank Pictures, Behind Her Eyes (2021)
King Of Stonks (2022)
Loosely based on the infamous Wirecard incident in Germany, this comedic-drama miniseries is entertaining and chaotic.
Bildundtonfabrik, King of Stonks (2022)
Hellbound (2021-)
We know it's one of the most watched Netflix shows ever—and yet, unlike other monster hits like Bridgerton and Squid Game, we don't hear Hellbound get talked about much. So, we will talk about it. This Korean dark, supernatural thriller starts out about supernatural beings who appear out of nowhere to condemn people to Hell. What's great about the series is how this premise grows into a really intriguing examination of religion, free will, and the manipulation of the masses. Season 2 dropped in October of 2024.
