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When you want to be able to dive into some TV and sit back and relax, it can be hard to know what to pick these days. The rise of streaming services means there’s more drama on offer than ever before, yet finding that hidden gem can be a little stressful at times. To help you on your way, we’ve gone in a fresh direction by taking a look at the best foreign language TV shows you really should be watching.
All of Us Are Dead is a zombie story from South Korea
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An apocalyptic high school zombie thriller is the place to find gore, along with some surprisingly human moments along the way. You’ll get to know the surviving students’ back stories, what makes them human, and how they used to feel about their now zombified classmates. Ideal if you want a self-contained and potentially more moving version of shows like The Walking Dead. All that’s left is to try and watch it from behind your fingers because you never know what’s going to jump out at the survivors from around the corner!
Borgen is full of political intrigue and popular in Denmark
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When the country’s first female leader takes office she’s making history, but little does she know she’s doing it in more ways than one. The twists, turns and scheming political plots pit so many high-level operators against one another that it can be hard to resist the intrigue. The deeper you get into the show, the more you’re invested in the various arcs that start to play out. A great option for those of you who were hooked on shows like The West Wing.
Business Proposal is an instant South Korean classic
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Dating between opposites with a power dynamic has always been a surefire way for laughter and love to ensue, and Business Proposal appears to be no different in that regard. It’s a funny, moving and playful look at what happens when a workaholic is pushed by a loved one to find his own love in the shape of a quirky employee who sees him for who he really is. By getting to know him on a deeper level, you get to see the friction and contrasting emotions that develop as his two roles – boss and partner – begin to rub up against one another. Not to be missed for those who love the human element that only great writing can produce.
Ezel will have you in constant suspense
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The drama starts when the police storms into Omer’s bedroom while he is still sleeping. He gets arrested for a murder and robbery at the casino the night before. Little did Omer know that the stakes would be far higher than any casino games he’d ever played! And with an intro like that, how can you resist taking a closer look?
The suspense, tension and drama on show here really are worth a watch for no other reason than you wanting to find out if he actually did it. Ideal when you want true suspense that works across multiple different levels, episode after episode.
Cable Girls will take you back in time
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Head back to the 1920s and meet a fun-loving, human and utterly delightful group of phone operators and you’ll quickly become richly intertwined in their story. The four leading women in this piece have so much to tell and share, and yet in so many ways they’re pushed to the margins as women of their time.
This is an enchanting look at some of the first generation of women to build professional careers, the struggles they faced, and of course, the secrets they would overhear. Highly recommended watching for anyone looking for a little escapism that will take you back to an era that has been forgotten in so many ways.
Fauda is an Israeli hit that’s all about action
Trailer:
Follow an elite team of Israeli commandos as they work undercover in Palestine, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat from the very first scene. The special effects and action scenes are all there as you would expect, but it’s the human element that really adds something special to the mix. By becoming acquainted with the characters on a deeper level, you become more heavily invested in their success, giving the show a real sense of suspense and danger. You’re literally praying they all make it back in one piece by the end.
We hope you’ve found something that will turn your next binge-watching session into something special. Enjoy!