3 outstanding and underrated foreign language TV shows to watch on Netflix

If you've grown bored of the same shows and films popping up on your Netflix feed time and again, you may find yourself desperate for something to help get you out of your viewing slump. Well, one great way to do that is to go global. The foreign-language television shows available on Netflix offer audiences the opportunity to explore the world in a brand new way—through gripping, personal stories that get you thinking.

Now, if you've never watched a film or TV show in another language, you may be a little daunted by the idea of having to read subtitles or deal with a dubbed version, in which English voice actors record over the original dialogue. Therefore, I have chosen three shows that are available right now on Netflix that are perfect for viewers new to foreign-language content.

From stunning visuals that draw you in from the very first frame to distinct characters that feel familiar even from half a world away, there will certainly be something for you to enjoy in each one of these suggestions. Let's dive in!

The Empress

A classic fish-out-of-water situation, The Empress is a German-language show that will appeal to fans of Bridgerton, Jane Austen, and Downton Abbey. It follows Elisabeth (Devrim Lingnau), a young woman who falls in love with Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (Philip Froissant) and is soon faced with the notion of becoming his wife and an empress in the process.

Full of intrigue, the plot envelops you in full-bodied characters who have their own desires, motives, and flaws, all of which combine to make Elisabeth's rise to the highest social standing in the land rocky at best. The performances are subtle and incredibly effective while largely relying on a slow, unfolding sensation, perfect for those new to reading subtitles and watching the screen at the same time.

Visually, the show is luxurious, filling the screen with polished gold, brilliant white marble, and lush greenery to give viewers the sensation that they, too, are stepping into this unfamiliar royal world alongside Elisabeth. The cinematography also primarily makes use of gentle morning sunlight and golden candlelight to give the series an intimate feeling, which parallels the secrecy and subterfuge at court.

For those new to watching foreign-language media, The Empress is also a great one to start with because the storylines and characters are similar to those found in English-language period dramas. Therefore, viewers will be able to follow the plots while adjusting to the new language and learning about the fascinating history of a country different from their own.

Kleo

Looking for something a little more funky? Kleo is another German-language period drama, but this one utilizes wacky characters, bright color schemes, and a truly twisting storyline to bring viewers into the topsy-turvy world of Germany after the removal of the Berlin Wall.

The show centers around Kleo (Jella Haase), an impulsive and slightly ruthless woman who was trained up to be an agent for East Germany's secret police, known as the Stasi. With the fall of the wall, Kleo's life and motivations are thrown into chaos, a disorientation that is only compounded when she learns of a mystery that could unravel everything she thought she knew about herself.

While on the gory side, the show successfully draws viewers in through the use of endearing characters who are struggling to find their place within this new, and rapidly changing, world. The show isn't confined to Germany, however. The mystery takes Kleo and her optimistic hanger-on Sven (Dimitrij Schaad) around the world while maintaining a consistent visual aesthetic that is reminiscent of the greys and muddy whites of post-World War II Germany, offset by the striking pops of color introduced in the '60s and '70s.

Unfortunately, Kleo is one of those Netflix shows that ended too soon. However, though it was sadly capped at two seasons, audiences who give it a chance will no doubt feel well-served by the packed plotlines of the 14 total episodes. And who knows? Perhaps the wacky and wonderful world of Kleo will one day return.

Baby Fever

For those more interested in modern drama-comedies rather than period pieces, Baby Fever is a wonderful offering. Nana (Josephine Park) is a fertility doctor who feels at a dead end in her life and is still very much hung up on her ex-boyfriend—whom she sees as the one who got away. After spotting her ex leaving the sperm bank, she decides in a moment of drunken madness to inseminate herself with it.

What follows is a hilarious, heartbreaking, and real story of people trying to live together in the world in spite of their varied mistakes, outlooks, and backgrounds. Nana, having crossed such a huge line, must find her way through an intense workplace, complete with a boss who is both firm and desperate for approval, while trying to decide what to do about her future.

While it can be difficult to create a compelling storyline around someone who has made a decision that many people would denounce, the show succeeds through the use of a few very specific tactics. One, Nana is shown as someone entirely at the mercy of her emotions, so viewers can see the remorse, indecision, and desire written across her face and follow that journey alongside her. Additionally, the writers very cleverly surround Nana with endearing, strong characters who draw her back into the realm of reality and ask the questions audiences are dying to ask themselves.

Netflix is full of incredibly well-made foreign-language shows, so hopefully these three will help reveal just how much these series can offer and get you clicking on another one the next time you're wondering what to watch!

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