20 European TV series to watch
It is not a secret that I enjoy watching European TV series; they offer an interesting insight into different cultures that are foreign to me. In fact, I recently published the post ‘Nordic Noir: 20 Scandinavian TV series to watch’, whereas last year I published the post ‘9 Italian TV series to watch‘. Today, I’m visiting a total of 10 European countries, including my home country. Without further ado, here are 20 European TV series I would recommend.
20 European TV series to watch (in alphabetical order)
Capitani (Luxemburg)
Capitani is a Luxembourgish crime drama, available on Netflix. There are currently two seasons, with twelve episodes each. In the first season, Police inspector Luc Capitani investigates the suspicious death of a 15-year-old girl. In the second season, Capitani, no longer working for the Police, investigates the disappearance of a sex worker.
Don’t Leave Me (Italy)
Set in Venice, Don’t Leave Me (Non Mi Lasciare) is an Italian crime drama. Following the death of a child, a team of detectives start investigating a ring of paedophiles. There are eight episodes, around 50 minutes each, available on Channel 4.
Floodland (The Netherlands)
Floodland (Grenslanders) is a Dutch TV series set near the border with Belgium. A Flemish psychiatrist collaborates with a Dutch police woman to try to find out what happened to a traumatized young girl, that appears to be a human trafficking victim. The eight 50-minute episodes are available on Channel 4.
Helsinki Crimes (Finland)
Helsinki Crimes (Harjunpää) is a Finnish crime drama based on the novels by Finnish author Matti Yrjänä Joensuu. In the TV adaptation, Police detective Timo Harjunpää investigates 4 cases (a new one every 2 episodes). There are a total of eight 40-minute episodes, available on Channel 4.
Maestro (Greece)
This is the first Greek TV series realised on Netflix (as Maestro in Blue). It is a mystery drama, set on the beautiful island of Paxi, south of Corfu. It stars Haris Alexiou, one of my favourite Greek singers-songwriters (she’s apparently also good in acting). There are nine episodes, each lasting 50-60 minutes. A second season has been announced.
Mobile 101 (Finland)
Mobile 101 (also known as Made in Finland) is another Finnish TV series. The story is based on true events about telecommunication company Nokia’s first steps towards global success. There are six 50-minute episodes available on Channel 4.
Money Heist (Spain)
Money Heist (La casa de papel) is an iconic Spanish TV series that needs little introduction. There are 41 episodes (in 5 parts), all available on Netflix. A Korean adaptation is also available on Netflix.
Muted (Spain)
Muted (El silencio) is a new Spanish TV series, available on Netflix. A teenager, who hasn’t spoken since he killed his parents, is released six years after his detention. Meanwhile, a psychiatrist-led team secretly watches his every movement. There are six episodes, each lasting about 47 minutes.
Redemption (Italy)
Redemption (Io ti cercherò) is an Italian TV series, where an ex-Police officer investigates the death of his son. There are eight episodes, each lasting 50-60 minutes, all available on Channel 4.
Rough Diamonds (Belgium)
Rough Diamonds is a predominantly Flemish-language drama. It is set in Antwerp, home to about 15,000 Haredi Jews, many of them Hasidic. Since World War II families of the Hasidic community have dominated Antwerp’s diamond trading industry. Nowadays, 85 percent of the world’s rough diamonds pass through Antwerp’s diamond district annually. This is the premise of this Belgian TV series. There are eight almost hour-long episodes, available on Netflix.
Sisterhood (Iceland)
Sisterhood (Systrabönd) is an Icelandic crime drama available on Channel 4. It stars Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir (from Trapped/Entrapped). There are six episodes, each lasting 45 minutes.
Tabula Rasa (Belgium)
Tabula Rasa is another Flemish-language drama, previously available on Netflix. A woman suffering from amnesia is locked in a secure psychiatric hospital. To get out, she needs to recover her lost memories. There are a total of nine episodes.
The Lørenskog Disappearance (Norway)
The Lørenskog Disappearance (Forsvinningen – Lørenskog) is a Norwegian mini TV series, available on Netflix. Based on true events, it follows the investigation of the disappearance of a billionaire’s wife. There are five episodes, each lasting 50 minutes.
The Lying Lives of Adults (Italy)
The Lying Life of Adults (La vita bugiarda degli adulti) is an Italian TV series based on Elena Ferrante’s novel of the same name, and starring Valeria Golino. It is a coming-of-age drama set in Naples. There are six episodes, each lasting 40-60 minutes, available on Netflix.
The Red Door (Italy)
The Red Door (La Porta Rossa) is another Italian TV series. There are 3 seasons, the first one being available on Channel 4. In the first season, a Police officer gets killed and becomes a ghost, helping to investigate his own murder. There are twelve episodes, each lasting 50-60 minutes.
The Snow Girl (Spain)
The Snow Girl (La chica di nieve) is another new Spanish TV series, available on Netflix. Set in Malaga, it follows the investigation of the disappearance of a 5-year-old girl. There are six episodes, each lasting about 45 minutes.
The Twelve (Belgium)
The Twelve (De Twaalf) is a Flemish-language courtroom drama. Set in Ghent, it follows a murder trial, as well as the lives of members of the jury. There are ten episodes, each lasting 45-50 minutes, available on Channel 4, as well as on Netflix (in some countries).
They Were Ten (France)
They Were Ten (Ils étaient dix) is a French mystery set in the Caribbean, adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel ‘And Then There Were None’. There are six 50-minute episodes, available on Channel 4.
Time Is a Killer (France)
This is another French crime drama available on Channel 4. Time Is a Killer (Le Temps Est Assassin) is set in Corsica and is based on the novel of the same name by Michel Bussi. There are eight episodes, around 50 minutes each.
Two Summers (Belgium)
Two Summers (Twee Zomers) is another Flemish-language drama available on Netflix. There are six episodes, 45 minutes each. A group of middle-aged friends reunite on a small island off the coast of France. Events that happened during a holiday thirty summers earlier start coming to light, with tragic consequences.
Further watching
If you’d like to watch more European TV series, check out my posts:
Nordic Noir: 20 Scandinavian TV series to watch
Alex
(the Traveling Psychiatrist)