European TV Series Worth Watching

For those who cannot travel to Europe or don’t wish to endure the hassles of international travel, there is an easier way of engaging with the continent. It’s called armchair travel and it can be done from the comfort of your home.

EUROPEAN TV SERIES 

Television is a form of armchair travel and Europe has a wealth of talent that has produced top quality shows. Those of you who overlook international drama, usually on the basis of an aversion to subtitles, are missing out for I believe some of the best television in the last 10 years has come from continental Europe.

In this post, I’ll focus on non-English language European TV series worth watching. The list is divided into genres with titles in no particular order under that genre.

I have a favourite that is head and shoulders above the rest but you’ll have to wait until the end before I reveal that!

By the way, if you want more ideas on armchair travel, check out my Armchair Travelling Guide and my 30 Movies About Europe post.

DRAMA 

BORGEN:

Danish coalition politics is an unlikely subject matter for an international smash hit but, such is the quality of acting and writing, Borgen has captivated audiences around the world. Sidse Babett Knudsen is sublime as the fictional Brigitte Nyborg, Denmark’s first female Prime Minister. Coincidentally, Helle Thorning-Schmidt became Denmark’s first female Prime Minister the year after Borgen’s first screening.

The word borgen means castle, the informal name given to Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen where Denmark’s government operates from.

SPIN:

If you want your politics with oodles of trés chic style and a Parisian backdrop then Spin is the programme to watch. Known as Les hommes de l’ombre (The men of the shadows) in its native France, Spin concerns the battle of two spin doctors conniving to get their candidate into the presidential Élysée Palace.

DEUTSCHLAND 83, 86, 89:

Set in pre-unified Germany, this Cold War thriller concerns an East German border guard sent to infiltrate and spy on the West German and NATO forces. Not only is it a political thriller but a family drama at heart. The first series is set in 1983, the second in 1986 with the final series beginning in November 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down. With a fantastic soundtrack, the Cold War never looked as hot!

THICKER THAN WATER:

A Swedish drama set on Finland’s Aland Islands, Thicker Than Water is about three siblings who have to run a guesthouse as a stipulation to inheriting it. Family secrets begin to unfold and the family bond unravels as soon as all three siblings re-unite. Tjockare än vatten is its original title.

THE TWELVE (DE TWAALF):

A woman stands accused of the recent murder of her daughter and the murder of her friend almost two decades earlier. This riveting Belgian drama is based predominantly around the jury members, their difficult decision, and the manner in which the prosecution presents the case.  You will be left guessing right up to the shocking end. The Twelve Australia version was based on this series.

RIDE UPON THE STORM:

Booze, bishops and breakdowns is how The Guardian newspaper describes this Danish drama and it’s a description that’s pretty apt. From the makers of Borgen, this family drama focuses on an priest, his family, the impact of their choices and so much more. Herrens Veje is its title in Danish.

CRIME 

THE BRIDGE:

Denmark and Sweden excel when it comes to the crime genre and the two countries combined to make one of the best. The Bridge (Danish = Broen; Swedish = Bron) centres on the combined efforts of the Malmo and Copenhagen police forces to solve crimes concerning both jurisdictions.

The series one crime sees a dead body placed on the exact border between the two countries on the Oresund Bridge, the infrastructure that gives the series its name. Sophia Helin is outstanding as Saga Norén, the unconventional, results-driven Malmo lead detective.

THE KILLING:

Another series featuring the Copenhagen police force, Sofie Gråbøl stars as Sarah Lund, a detective who is drawn to investigating a serious crime prior to re-locating to Sweden with her fiancé. She becomes consumed in her hunt for the killer, a hunt which leads to the corridors of power. Known as Forbrydelsen in Denmark, this show gained international acclaim and awards.

BELOW THE SURFACE:

Staying in Copenhagen, Below the Surface is one of the most tense security procedural thrillers you are likely to see. Passengers on the Copenhagen metro are taken hostage in an act of terrorism and the race is on to save the hostages and kill the baddies. Below the Surface is known as Gidseltagningen in Denmark.

TRAPPED:

A ferry from Denmark arrives into the harbour of a remote Icelandic town at the same time a mutilated corpse is fished from the water. The small, under-resourced local police force manage the colossal investigation. Antagonism from within the police force doesn’t help matters either. Known as Ófærð in its native Iceland, Trapped was a refreshing take on the genre.  

WALLANDER:

The second police drama on my list set in Southern Sweden’s Skåne County, Detective Kurt Wallander isn’t exactly the most uplifting of fictional characters given his line of work and messy personal life. But the Wallander series showcases the beautiful landscape of Skåne more than The Bridge. The series is based on the books by Henning Mankell and is both set and filmed in the pretty town of Ystad.

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO:

The second crime drama on my list based on a book series. Set in beautiful Sicily in the South of Italy, Inspector Montalbano is more a destination promotional video than a crime series. Along with detective work, Inspector Montalbano is equally concerned with finding great food and coffee. Luca Zingaretti plays Andrea Camilleri’s lead character with aplomb.

SPIRAL:

The slice of Parisian life that we don’t see on tourist brochures is the focus of this police procedural drama. Spiral (French = Engrenages) stars Caroline Proust as the lead investigator under constant pressure for results from superiors, leading to unethical methods on occasion. Spiral also gives us an insight into the French legal system.

COMEDY 

THE OUT-LAWS:

Known as Clan in its native Belgium, The Out-Laws is an outrageous black comedy centred on four of the Goethals sisters and their attempts to murder Jean-Claude, the husband of the fifth sister. The Goethals sisters come up against the DeWitt brothers whose insurance business will collapse if they pay out on Jean-Claude’s life insurance policy. Set in the Flanders region of Belgium expect to learn plenty of Flemish swear words. The Irish TV series Bad Sisters is based on The Out-Laws.

PROFESSOR T:

Another black comedy from the Flanders region, Professor Jasper Teerlinck is the eccentric and offensive psychology academic contracted as an advisor to the Belgian police, and is played by the excellent Koen De Bouw. Some classify this as a police procedural and crime drama series. To be honest, the crimes play second fiddle to the professor’s comical eccentricities. Ben Miller starred in the UK remake of Professor T.

SUPERNATURAL 

BLACK LAKE:

Some consider Black Lake a crime drama/thriller but for me it was definitely in the supernatural/horror genre. A group of friends visit a disused ski resort in Northern Sweden with one of the group intent on buying the resort. Yes, people go missing and bodies pile up but the culprit may not be of this life or world. Svartsjön is Black Lake in Swedish although the series featured Danish and Norwegian dialogue as well.

THE RETURNED:

Filmed in the scenic mountainous Haute-Savoie part of France, this paranormal drama was one of the most atmospheric and innovative shows to air in recent years. The first series opens with a couple in shock to discover their daughter returned from the dead. Soon, more of the town’s deceased reappear and their return coincides with strange happenings.

An outstanding series with terrific direction and music, it is known as Les Revenants in its native France. Heavy on detail and characters The Returned needs to be carefully digested. Miss one minute at your peril.

AND THAT’S A WRAP 

Those who overlook TV series not scripted in their native language, usually on the basis of an aversion to subtitles, are missing out. Some of the best television in recent times has come from a variety of non-English speaking countries. It’s so good, some of the above choices have had remakes in the English-speaking world.

And while some titles in the genres are in sharp contrast with traditional tourism promotional material, it still allows for cultural insight and escapism. Sometimes, the TV series can inspire you to visit a destination. So whether you’re researching your trip or re-living your holiday memories, TV series are an excellent way of experiencing other cultures.

And as for my favourite on the list? It’s Borgen. Given that House of Cards is one of my favourite English language TV shows in recent years, it’s only natural that a political drama command the top spot on my European TV series worth watching list. Saying that, The Returned and The Outlaws are a very close second.

Happy viewing!