10 Underrated Foreign Language Shows to Watch on Netflix
“Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” — Bong Joon Ho
Well, in this case, it’s not films we are talking about, but some underrated personal favorite foreign language shows on Netflix which deserve much more recognition than they ever receive. With the advent of so many subscription-based OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Mubi among others, films and shows from all over the world have become increasingly accessible to the general public. One can easily switch on her/his smartphone, tablet and laptop and all these amazing shows are just a click away. It has become even easier to decipher all these shows despite their original languages being unfamiliar, with the help of the high-quality subtitles that accompany them on these streaming platforms.
The shows also come with dubbings but as a film and tv series buff, I would recommend viewers to try and do justice to the shows and watch them in their original languages. You can always pause and re-watch portions of the shows if you miss dialogues but, nothing beats the experience of watching them in their original languages because the stories always land better that way. But don’t worry if you secretly prefer the dubbed versions. Do whatever suits you best but do not miss out on these amazing shows listed in this post!
Here is my list of 10 underrated foreign language shows on Netflix, from good to best (because there is no worst!) –
10. Curon (IMDb rating — 5.8/10)
Curon, is an Italian supernatural thriller series set in northern Italy. It’s set in a small town, known for a bell tower in the middle of a spooky lake adjacent to the town, and its unexplained events. The setting is rather gloomy and the plot begins with the main characters returning to their hometown many years later to find sinister things happening around them. The series starts off just fine, but gradually there is suspense built through the ambiguity of the engaging main characters.
However, don’t seek too much depth in the show, because it mainly revolves around teen characters trying to navigate life and discover dark secrets of the past. An article in Times Of India has accurately summarized the show’s content as “… idea of discovering one’s true self… told in a supernatural way, which is only believable if you can digest heavy dose of suspended reality.”
9. Biohackers (IMDb rating — 6.8/10)
This fast-paced German techno-thriller, explores the dark subject of genetic engineering. A compelling thriller, combined with drama, has a plot that is glued together with a ton of synthetic biological experiments and visually appealing usage of bio-technology. In terms of genre, it oscillates between thriller and science-fiction.
The show has received mixed reviews but, based on the positive ones, the show is applauded for its accurate representation of the laboratory scenes containing complex biological experiments, dialogues about gene therapies and the addressal of various concerns about genetic engineering. It also has a few funny characters who make the overall show less dark and more enjoyable.
8. The Mess You Leave Behind (IMDb rating — 6.8/10)
El desorden que dejas or The Mess You Leave Behind, is a Spanish thriller-drama limited series available on Netflix. The series is created by Carlos Montero and is based on his novel of the same name. The main character is a literature teacher in a small town of Galicia who discovers that her predecessor died under mysterious circumstances. This gives rise to her obsession of trying to unravel the dark secret behind her death. At the centre of the plot is the disturbing, and sometimes inappropriate relation between the teacher and her students. While popular reviews have described the show as “Meh..”, it remains interesting because of its two intertwined plotlines. You can stream it, if you like to watch unknown underrated shows, and you could skip it if you are expecting to be completely mind-blown.
7. The Mire (IMDb rating — 7.0/10)
Rojst or The Mire, is a Polish crime-drama series revolving around a brutal double-murder of a young prostitute and a local political activist. Alongside, two teenagers commit suicide under mysterious circumstances. Set in the 1980s, the show takes place in a small forgotten city in the south-west of Poland. The main character is a veracious journalist, Witold, who is to cover the murders for a local newspaper. Meanwhile, another amateur journalist joins him in the same editorial office and gets increasingly obsessed with the search for truth. It’s a slow burn show with authentic storytelling.
6. The Valhalla Murders (IMDb rating — 7.1/10)
The Valhalla Murders or Brot, is an Icelandic police-procedural series investigating Iceland’s first serial killer. The main character is a police detective named Arnar, who travels from Norway to assist Kata, the female officer who is in charge of the case. They race against the clock to find the culprit responsible for a series of murders which leads them to the unravelling of some horrifying incidents that occurred 35 years ago. The show is a fine epitome of Scandinavian Noir. The mood of the show is dark but the beautiful Icelandic landscape keeps the viewers captivated throughout. It’s a must-watch show for all Scandi-noir lovers. It’s a solid whodunit mystery with no superfluousness and some engrossing characters.
5. Lupin (IMDb rating — 7.5/10)
Lupin, is a French mystery thriller, inspired by the adventures of the master thief Arsène Lupin, a character created in the 1990s by Maurice Leblanc. With the dream of a better life, Lupin’s father had once come to France but he was framed for the theft of an expensive diamond because it was easier to blame a black person than find the real culprit. 25 years later, his son Lupin, sets out to avenge his father for the injustice he had to face, using his charisma and mastery in thievery. The show is great for a one-time watch and can definitely keep you entertained if you want to watch something fast-paced on a weekend.
4. Bordertown (IMDb rating — 7.6/10)
Bordertown or Sorjonen, is a Nordic-noir series where the main character is a quirky police detective, often regarded as the Finnish Sherlock Holmes. He moves to a small town hoping to work less and spend more time with his family but his expectations fail when he realises that the small border-town is not as peaceful as he thought. To solve the despicable crimes, he delves deep into his highly intuitive mind. The crime-drama show is compelling and addictive according to popular reviews. It can be enjoyed best if watched in its original language as that delivers the proper tone of the characters. This one is a perfect blend of interesting storyline and excellent cinematography.
3. The Bonfire of Destiny (IMDb rating — 7.7/10)
Beginning the countdown for the best three shows of the lot, Le Bazar de la Charité or The Bonfire of Destiny comes third. It’s a historical drama set in the backdrop of the devastating fire that took place at a charity event in Paris in 1897. Approximately 126 people had died in the horrific fire. The centre of the plot contains the intertwined lives of three women who fight their own battles and struggle to cope with their losses after the accident. Their lives fall apart as they experience betrayal, deception and romantic dilemmas. The show is especially interesting because of its accurate depiction of the 19th Century Paris, its people and their relationships. It’s overall, a great piece of storytelling and must not be missed.
2. Unorthodox (IMDb rating — 8.0/10)
This drama series comes second in the list of shows. If you’re already familiar with the name, you must be wondering why I’ve included this show in the list of “foreign language” series! That’s because Unorthodox is a German-American show with dialogues switching between both the languages. It’s about a 19-year-old ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman living in an unhappy marriage. To get away from her highly religious community and their smothering rules, she flees to Brooklyn in hopes of turning her life around and pursuing her dreams. As she opens herself up to the new world, her past catches up to her. The plot is inspired by Deborah Feldman’s 2012 autobiography, Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots. This show is realistic and the female protagonist Etsy, played by the impeccable actress Shira Haas, steals the show. It’s definitely worth the binge.
- Borgen (IMDb rating — 8.5/10)
Topping the list is the Danish political drama Borgen. It’s about a prime minister’s rise to power and how power affects the prime minister. The main character Birgitte, is believed to be based on the first female prime minister of Denmark. An IMDb review states this about the series —
“It gives an incredible in-depth (and probably honest) view of politics, one you have never experienced before. After watching the first season of this show, one is already deeply impressed by the acting and the story line. Guess what: season two even beats season one. The private life of prime minister Birgitte Nyborg gets a more important part.”
Borgen is gripping, addictive and one of the best political drama shows out there.
In conclusion, all the shows listed above are great in their own ways. I would suggest not to rely on the reviews, as they are always subjective. But, as someone who is passionate about watching a wide variety of films and shows, I can assure you that these shows are worth the attention. Hence, without further ado, add them to your list and start watching!
