10 International Series to Binge Watch Over the Holidays

This year, the international television scene provided an embarrassing wealth of incredible dramas, comedies, and crime procedurals that were on par with or frequently even better than the best options available domestically. In addition, shows from more established local broadcasters now have access to global platforms and a global audience on a scale never before seen. This is thanks to the international expansion of companies like Netflix, Amazon, AppleTV+, and others.

Our favourite 2022 series stocking stuffers include a German feminist spy thriller, a Korean interpretation of a British romantic classic, and a deep dive into the 1980s French hip-hop scene.

Let’s have a look at the 10 International Series to Binge Watch Over the Holidays.

House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon is an American fantasy drama television series created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. The second instalment of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” franchise, it is a prequel to “Game of Thrones” (2011–2019). In October 2019, a straight-to-series order was issued for “House of the Dragon”, with casting beginning in July 2020 and principal photography commencing in April 2021 in the United Kingdom. The series premiered on August 21, 2022, with ten episodes comprising the first season. The series was renewed five days after its premiere for a second season. [Source: www.thesouthafrican.com]

Oh Hell

Streaming on HBO, “Oh Hell” is arguably the best show in 2022. This German dramedy channels Fleabag and Single Drunk Female to tell the story of 20-year-old Helene (Mala Emde), who is extremely self-aware and hilarious, but still unable to avoid extreme acts of self-sabotage.

Derry Girls

Derry Girls is a British teen sitcom created and written by Lisa McGee that premiered on 4 January 2018 on Channel 4. The most successful comedy on the channel since “Father Ted”, the series was inspired by McGee’s childhood in Derry, Northern Ireland, during the final years of the Troubles. It stars Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, and Dylan Llewellyn as five teenagers living in mid-1990s Derry while attending Our Lady Immaculate College, a fictional girls’ Catholic secondary school based on the real-life Thornhill College, where McGee herself studied.

Finding Ola

Finding Ola is the standout series from Netflix’s new Middle East originals. In this drama, Tunisian-Egyptian actor Hend Sabry portrays a divorced woman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Sabry is reprising a role she played in the acclaimed 2010 romantic comedy series “Ayza Atgawez” (I Want to Get Married), but here, her character Ola is older, wiser, and much busier, juggling the demands of being a single mother, her career as a pharmacist, and her responsibilities as the daughter of ageing parents, all while hoping to find new love. A story about the empowerment of women with a gentle Arab flavor.

Suzhal: The Vortex

Suzhal: The Vortex is an Indian Tamil-language crime thriller streaming television series created by Pushkar–Gayathri for Amazon Prime Video. The series is an investigation into the disappearance of a person in the fictional town of Saambaloor, Tamil Nadu, which unravels and rips the intricate social fabric of the small town. It stars actors R. Parthiban, Kathir, Aishwarya Rajesh, and Sriya Reddy. The series is currently streaming on Amazon. [Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com]

Beyond Evil

Beyond Evil is a South Korean television series starring Shin Ha-kyun and Yeo Jin-goo. Shin Ha-kyun and Yeo Jin-goo play oil-and-water police detectives who team up to solve a 20-year-old cold case murder that they believe was committed by a serial killer. This Korean thriller is reminiscent of Bong Joon Ho’s procedural classic Memories of Murder (2003) in that it explores the dark heart of man in a convoluted and terrifying manner. The series is available on Netflix.

Queen Sono

Queen Sono is a South African crime drama streaming television series created by Kagiso Lediga that premiered on Netflix on February 28, 2020. The series stars Pearl Thusi, Vuyo Dabula, Sechaba Morojele, Chi Mhende, Loyiso Madinga, Rob van Vuuren, Kate Liquorish, Khathu Ramabulana, Enhle Maphumulo, Abigail Kubeka, Connie Chiume, Otto Nobela and James Ngcobo And Featuring Mario Diederiks. It is Netflix’s first African original series. The lead character, Pearl Thusi’s ferocious performance as a badass secret agent has aged not a day. The Netflix series explores pre- and post-apartheid South African politics, but its main appeal is Thusi and the impressive action sequences throughout.

Kleo

Kleo is a German action-thriller television series co-created by Hanno Hackfort, Richard Kropf, Bob Konrad for Netflix. The plot follows Kleo Straub (Jella Haase), a former East German Stasi assassin, on her revenge journey after her arrest and subsequent imprisonment until the fall of the Berlin Wall. The series debuted on Netflix on August 19, 2022. In September 2022, it was renewed for a second season.

Bad Sisters

Bad Sisters is an Irish black comedy television series developed by Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, and Brett Baer. It is based on the Flemish series Clan, which was created by Malin-Sarah Gozin and is set in Dublin and filmed on location in Ireland. The first two episodes premiered on August 19, 2022. On November 8, 2022, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a second season. The show perfectly balances the drama, comedy, and mystery elements, but the chemistry between this cast of sisters is what makes the show sing.

Prisma

Prisma is an Italian series which features Mattia Carrano in the central role as Andrea and Marco, twin brothers who appear identical on the outside but have very different approaches to life. The show explores the typical YA dramas of friendship, love, and social and sexual identity, but does so with a refreshing sense of patience, empathy, and exploration. The series is available for streaming on Amazon.