[MandoMan]

I only get Netflix and Amazon Prime. In addition to a number of American and British series, I’ve really enjoyed watching series from a variety of countries, in the original language with subtitles (English language is also available, but I like to get a sense of what languages sound like).

Finland: “Bordertown.” A cold, dark police procedural about an aging detective in a Finnish city near the Russian border. Excellent acting.

Sweden: “Bergen.” About a woman who becomes prime minister. If you liked House of Cards, you’ll like this. Superb!

Denmark: “Rita.” About a strong, mouthy, sexy elementary school teacher in her forties dealing with rules in ultraPC Denmark. She’s screwed up in many ways, but really cares. It’s a comedy series.

Norway: “Occupied.” The Russians take over Norway. The Norwegians start to accept it, then fight back, led by the ex-prime minister. Also “Norsemen,” a comedy takeoff on “Vikings,” with top Norwegian comic actors. The joke is that Norway today is not much like Viking times. The people are peace-loving, conciliatory, believe in compromise. What if the Vikings were like that?
“Lilyhammer.” Another great comedy. Little Stevie Van Zandt plays an American Mob informant who asks to be sent to a small Norwegian Olympic city for witness protection. He doesn’t much like the Norwegian way and proceeds to take the place over.

Ukraine: “Servant of the People.” Starring the real President Zelensky as a history professor accidentally elected president of Ukraine. He has to deal with corruption. It’s funny.

Mexico: Try “The Five Juanas”. Five young women turn out to all have the same birthmark, all have the same middle name, and all have the same wealthy, corrupt lawyer father who raped each of their mothers. Lighthearted and fun. They DO take revenge. Addictive.
“The Taco Chronicles” is amazing food porn about tacos. Really! And it’s gorgeous! “Heavenly Bites Mexico” is also good and really weird (as in beer with gummies in it).

Spain: There are a bunch of great Spanish series. “The Boat” is about a shipload of teenagers trying to survive at sea after a catastrophe has wiped out everyone else on earth. “Heirs of the Earth” is set around 1500 in Barcelona. “High Seas” is a mystery on a cruise ship in the 1930s. “Ministerio del Tiempo” (Ministry of Time) is about a secret ministry that sends people back in time to make sure the past doesn’t get changed. Knowing something about art and Spanish literature helps a lot. (They have the great artist Velazquez working for them as a police sketch artist.)

South Korea: Expect beautiful stars with perfect make-up and lots of lipstick, both men and women. Expect beautiful clothes, especially suits and overcoats. Expect no kissing or nudity or sex or profanity. Try “Vincenzo”, about a Korean boy, adopted and raised by an Italian godfather, who returns to Korea to wipe out corruption with a gun. Try “Crash Landing on You,” where a wealthy young woman accidentally crashes her hang glider in the demilitarized zone and is captured by North Korean soldiers. Try “Korean Porkbelly Rhapsody,” more food porn. “Juvenile Justice” is about a woman who is. Juvenile court judge who wants to give all the offenders maximum sentences. Why gradually appears by the end of the series. Amazing. Or try the really dark, ugly, scary series “Squid Game”.