Netflix International Roundup
Stream These Shows From Around The Globe
In the realm of television, viewers looking for shows from around the globe have usually been limited to programs offered by their local networks. For the most part, if you live in America, you only have access to American TV, with only a paltry offering of foreign shows, like Sherlock and Doctor Who. The DVD market helped viewers craving more exotic programming, but audiences still weren’t satisfied.
However, thanks to the rise of Netflix and other streaming services, American TV fans have access to a larger library of shows – American and otherwise – than ever before. Here are five shows from all over the world which you can stream right now.
Requiem
This British supernatural thriller about a traumatized young woman uncovering the secrets of her mysterious past stars Lydia Wilson (Ripper Street) as the lead character, a cello player whose life is turned upside down after her mother’s suicide. A haunting atmosphere and claustrophobic discomfort are the hallmarks of a great thriller; in this respect, Requiem delivers, with terror to spare.
Tales By Light
This nature documentary hails from Australia. A collaboration between National Geographic and Canon (who provides the state-of-the-art camera and tech used in the series), Tales By Light explores the sights and sounds of exotic locales all over the world, from the heights of the Himalayan mountains to the deepest depths of the ocean. The imagery on display is nothing less than beautiful and majestic, and the series is not to be missed.
Peaky Blinders
Set in post-World War I Britain, Peaky Blinders explores the rise of organized crime in the region. But don’t mistake it for a British Godfather clone; it’s more along the lines of an ass-kicking thriller like The Untouchables. Throughout its four season run (season five is due in 2019), Peaky Blinders has utilized an all-star cast, including Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Sam Neill, Adrien Brody, and Aiden Gillen, among numerous others.
The Frankenstein Chronicles
This unique take on Mary Shelley‘s Frankenstein mythos stars Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, Goldeneye) as a police inspector investigating a series of grisly murders. In a meta twist, Anna Maxwell Martin plays Mary Shelley herself, the author of the book, Frankenstein, or: The Modern Prometheus. It’s a dark and violent show, but stylish and utterly enthralling. Watch it, but make sure you have someone to cuddle with – it gets a little bloody.
Babylon Berlin
This German production is the most expensive non-English TV series ever made, with a budget of $45 million. The series explores the rise of the Nazi party in the wake of WWI from the perspective of cops, nightclub performers, and gangsters. Think of it like Cabaret, but not a musical (although it does have Bryan Ferry!).