When it comes to offering up streaming content, Netflix has no shortage of material, considering their offerings of award-winning original movies and critically acclaimed television series. But their catalog is also rather diverse in that they also serve up plenty of international content from across the globe. And when one finally plows through all the English-language series Netflix pushes out, one may want to dabble in something outside the typical assortment of programming. Here’s a selection of 12 different non-English series on Netflix to check out as an international sampler of various programs, from stirring detective dramas to off-beat comedies.
1. Ragnarok (Norwegian)
In the small town Edda in Western Norway, something strange is in the air, literally. A combination of climate change and industrial pollution has reshaped the region, thanks to the factories of the wealthy making the town a little more gloomy. But the town holds a darker secret involving frost giants that are plotting the destruction of the planet. To combat this Norse mythology threat, the teenager Magne discovers that he possesses the spirit and powers of Thor, a god of lightning who may just be what needed to save the Earth from fantastical threats. This brilliant bit of urban fantasy weaving in mythology comes from Denmark and has generated enough buzz to be on its way into a second season.
2. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (Japanese)
Based on the manga series Yarō Abe, this Japanese series takes place late at night in a quiet corner of Tokyo. Tucked away is a diner that only stays open through the night, run by the mysterious chef known only as The Master, sometimes breaking the fourth wall to speak to the audience directly. In his 12-seat diner of the Shinjuku district, The Master finds a number of customers frequenting his establishment. And each of them has a story to tell as the drama is revealed in this anthology series that mixes in relatable stories of human struggle with fine dishes to go along with the intriguing tales.
3. The Neighbor (Spanish)
Based on the comic book El Vecino by Santiago García and Pepo Pérez, The Neighbor tells the story of one hapless man who doesn’t seem to have much going on in his life. But he soon discovers that he has a special power that may allow him to make a difference in the world. Trying to better master and understand these powers, he enlists the help of his neighbor to learn about the ins-and-outs of becoming a superhero. Lessons of fighting evil and hiding his abilities become a real challenge in this quirky superhero comedy starring Quim Gutiérrez, Clara Lago, Adrián Pino and Catalina Sopelana.
4. Delhi Crime (Indian)
Inspired by true events, this Indian crime drama created by Richie Mehta, who additionally writes and directs the series, follows the 2012 Delhi incident and the troubling aftermath that followed. With an incident occuring the Munirka neighborhood of South Delhi, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vartika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah) investigates this troubling ordeal that led to the assault of a young woman. Making its debut at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in the Indie Episodic category, the show has been a captivating and provocative enough of real-world drama that it would soon warrant a second season.
5. The Gift (Turkish)
Based on the novel Dünyanın Uyanışı by Şengül Boybaş, The Gift follows the life of troubled Istanbul painter Atiye (Beren Saat). She soon finds some purpose when she ventures to an Anatolian archaeological site and digs up a miraculous discovery of strange and eerie symbols that shed some light on her past. But she may not be prepared for the secrets she will unearth at that mysterious site or what twisted information such symbols will hold for her past and future. Written by Jason George and Nuran Evren Şit, this Turkish drama is an intoxicating mixture of intriguing mystery and dark fantasy.
6. Hyena (Korean)
Life is exceptionally tough in the cutthroat world of being a lawyer. When dealing with high-profile clients in Korea, the stakes are far higher and tactics far more sinister when it comes to winning the case and making that paycheck. Kim Hye-soo and Ju Ji-hoon play rivals of the city and legal system in this stirring bit drama directed by Jang Tae-Yoo. It’s a vicious battle of attorneys eager to do whatever it takes to come out on top when representing the 1% of society that demands the absolute best when it comes to trials and money. Whether or not justice of serves seems to be secondary when it comes to such victories.
7. Toon (Dutch)
Created by Dirk van Pelt, Beer ten Kate and Joep Vermolen, this off-beat Dutch comedy follows the exploits of Toon (Joep Vermolen), a musician who finds himself striking the big time when composing a jingle that brings him much fame for being so viral. The jingle was made with the help of his Nina (Amy van der Weerden) and Toon’s sister becoming their manager. But with this new chapter in their lives comes a whole new level of chaos as they try to navigate the world of business and make a living out of making music. It’s a quirky mixture of showbiz frustrations and content creator scenarios.
8. Green Frontier (Colombian)
Created by Diego Ramírez Schrempp, Mauricio Leiva-Cock, and Jenny Ceballos, Green Frontier is a Columbian crime drama set on the border of Brazil and Colombia. It’s there that a detective and her partner soon find themselves on the trail of a strange series of murders that are plaguing the region. As they dig deep into exploring the jungle, they soon realize that what they’re investigating is no mere homicide when an eerie indigenous tribe comes into play, unearthing mysterious secrets and dark rituals that reside within the harsh wilderness. The series stars Juana del Río, Nelson Camayo, Ángela Cano, Miguel Dionisio Ramos, and Bruno Clairefond among others.
9. Resurrection Ertugrul (Turkish)
Taking place in the 13th-century soon after the Mongol invasions, Resurrection: Ertuğrul is a historical drama that follows the adventures of Turkish warrior Ertuğrul Gazi (Engin Altan Düzyatan) aligns himself with the sultan to fight off his enemies. Hoping to attain land for his actions, he does battle against numerous tribes before he would eventually ascend to forming the Ottoman Empire. Based on the historical legend of Muslim Oghuz Turks, the show was created by Mehmet Bozdağ and lasted for five long seasons. The show was so iconic it would go onto have a sequel series, Kuruluş: Osman, that follows Ertugrul’s son, Osman I.
10. Babylon Berlin (German)
After being transferred from Cologne to Berlin, police commissioner Gereon Rath (Volker Bruch) finds himself in a much different version of Germany in 1929. Rath is assigned to this region for the purposes of secretly taking down an extortion ring. On his mission, he’ll also run across Charlotte Ritter (Liv Lisa Fries), a flapper of the slums by night and police clerk by day, aiming to become an inspector one day. Based on the novels by German author Volker Kutscher, this neo-noir thriller went onto two seasons and won numerous television awards, including Best Series from the German Television Awards.