There are plenty of impeccable foreign TV shows out there, but many of them are overlooked in favor of instant classics that were able to break into the mainstream. This is certainly the case for international shows like Squid Game and Black Mirror, which became overnight phenomena due to their compelling takes on real-world issues and stunning cinematography.
While these shows undoubtedly deserve high praise, it is unfortunate that only a select few foreign television series end up receiving universal recognition. Since viewership tends to follow regional patterns, it would benefit audiences to give more international TV shows that their favorite streaming services provide a chance.
10/10 Dark Contains Several Interesting Storytelling Elements
Available On Netflix
Dark is a German science fiction thriller that starts when two children going missing in the fictional town of Winden, and gradually exposes the shocking secrets and dark pasts that hopelessly entangle four interconnected families as they search for the kids. While Dark is composed of several moving parts that may initially confuse viewers, these overarching elements nicely complement one another.
Despite being a Netflix Original series, many fans ardently believe that Dark does not get the attention and praise it deserves. From its compelling, fully realized characters to the seamless incorporation of fantastical elements like time travel, Dark is sure to have at least one mystery that will capture viewers’ attention and leave them on the edges of their seats.
9/10 The Light In Your Eyes Is A Compelling K-Drama With Science Fiction Elements
Currently Unavailable In The US
The Light in Your Eyes is a Korean drama with unexpected fantastical elements that follows Kim Hye Ja as she discovers her marvelous ability to travel through time. However, Hye Ja quickly learns of the negative repercussions of her newfound ability; when she overused it, she rapidly aged and became a 70-year-old woman.
While the K-drama possesses plenty of devastating moments, like Hye Ja’s own family not recognizing her after she rapidly aged, it also contains its fair share of refreshing elements like the wholesome bond that forms between her and a young man named Lee Joon Ha. Unfortunately, The Light in Your Eyes is perpetually overlooked by fans of K-dramas in favor of bigger titles.
8/10 Starstruck Wittily Satirizes Stereotypical Romance Tropes
Available On HBO Max
Starstruck is a British comedy series that follows an average girl named Jessie as she comes to terms with the aftermath of accidentally sleeping with film star Tom Kapoor. While similar series follows the female protagonist as she unexpectedly falls in love with the celebrity, Starstruck diverges from this played-out trope and refreshingly focuses more on its comedic subject matter.
Even though the series compellingly reimagines an overdone narrative, Starstruck continues to be overlooked since it initially appears to be the love story it satirizes. However, the novel screwball comedy is undoubtedly worth watching due to its distinct point of view and the unexpected bond that develops between Jessie and Tom.
7/10 3% Is A Captivating Thriller That Critically Addresses Real-World Issues
Available On Netflix
3% is a Brazilian dystopian thriller that takes place in the fictional, impoverished “Inland” and centers around a cutthroat competition where “Inland” residents have the opportunity to participate in “The Process.” Participants that perform within the top 3% are considered successful and granted access to the remote, affluent “Offshore” society.
While 3%compellingly critiques real-world issues like the immense class divide and how the wealthy see no issue with such a great divide, the series has yet to receive the praise it deserves. As a show that possesses an abundance of thought-provoking twists and turns that make it an even more captivating watch, 3% is sure to have something for everyone.
6/10 The Returned (2012-2015) Ought To Be A Pillar Within The Zombie Apocalypse Genre
Available On AMC+
The Returned is a French supernatural drama series that chronicles the eerie happenings of a small mountain town where the dead are miraculously coming back to life with no signs of recent death. While this initially seems like a gift from God, the town’s residents become aware that it is anything but through eerie signs that quickly turn nefarious.
While The Returned has received some praise and even inspired an American adaptation in 2015, the show’s lasting impact within the zombie apocalypse genre is perpetually overlooked. Some viewers may think that the show’s zombie elements come out of nowhere, but this take on the genre is truly unique and sets The Returned apart.
5/10 Queen Sono Is A Compelling Spy Thriller That Deserves More Praise
Available On Netflix
Queen Sono is a South African crime drama that tells the riveting tale of the titular protagonist as she works for the Special Operations Group (SOG) while investigating her family’s past and the mysterious events that led to her mother’s assassination. Despite only consisting of six episodes, Queen Sono contains fully realized characters and is dripping with suspense.
Even though the show is a Netflix Original series, it hasn’t quite received the appreciation and high praise it deserves as a compelling spy thriller. While Queen Sono was initially slated for a second season, Netflix retroactively reversed its renewal—much to the disappointment of the series’ small yet loyal fan base.
4/10 Derry Girls’ Regional Acclaim Ought To Be Universal
Available On Netflix
Derry Girls is a coming-of-age sitcom that is inspired by creator Lisa McGee’s own experiences of growing up in Derry, Northern Ireland, in the 1990s. While the series tackles real-world issues and is deeply entangled in political and historical subject matter, it is refreshingly irreverent and is much more than the typical nostalgic sitcom.
While Derry Girls has been met with positive reception across Great Britain, the series has not received this same praise among American audiences due to the characters’ thick accents. However, this minor distraction should not dissuade international audiences from giving the phenomenal sitcom a chance.
3/10 The House Of Flowers Offers A Fresh Take On Overdone Telenovela Tropes
Available On Netflix
The House of Flowers is a Mexican dark dramedy that follows the dysfunctional de la Mora family matriarch and eldest daughter as they attempt to maintain the family’s prestige amidst countless scandals. The show is perhaps most beloved for its ample LGBTQ+ representation and is often described as a telenovela for millennials.
Despite being somewhat popular, The House of Flowers is not praised enough as a work that takes overdone telenovela tropes and makes them appeal to an audience demographic that typically dislikes the genre. Because of this, it is high time to give the show its flowers.
2/10 Alice In Borderland Deserves To Be Appreciated On Its Own Merit
Available On Netflix
Alice in Borderland is a Japanese science fiction thriller that follows a group of friends who find themselves supplanted in an alternate reality and are forced to compete in a series of dangerous games. The show as a whole is kept interesting throughout, as shocking information surfaces regarding who is truly responsible for the friends’ newfound suffering.
While the series has received some praise, much of it is rather indirect since critics and audiences alike primarily celebrate Alice in Borderland by likening it to pillars in pop culture like Squid Game and the Cube film franchise. Even though such praise is arguably better than nothing, the show ought to be lauded as a unique work that is much more than the sum of its parts.
1/10 My Brilliant Friend Tells A Captivating Story Of Friendship That Is Skipped Over Entirely By Most Viewers
Available On HBO Max
My Brilliant Friend is an Italian coming-of-age drama that follows two girls with completely different ideals and personalities as they form an unexpected bond. While the show has many compelling elements, like its stunning cinematography, the series is notable for its ability to encourage audiences to become endeared to the two girls as they grow older across its three seasons.
Despite offering a fresh and compelling take on the coming-of-age genre, My Beautiful Friend remains immensely underrated. If you’re looking for a captivating show that features a refreshing friendship between two strong-willed young girls, the Italian drama series is sure to be the perfect watch.
#Underrated #Foreign #Shows
