How not to miss interesting European projects on Netflix that broke records this year? Read our new article!
We all know popular Netflix series of 2020 like 'The Queen's Gambit' or . But what if we told you that the streaming service also released very appealing European projects that deserve attention? Here is our top list of the best new European series that premiered on Netflix in 2020.
We are used to a new season of 'American Horror Story' coming out around Halloween, but Ryan Murphy hasn't pleased us with dark projects for a long time. This is exactly that case. A new p
Open materialUnorthodox (Germany, USA)
A miniseries based on the autobiography of Deborah Feldman, a Jewish girl who lived in an ultra-Orthodox community and fled to Berlin. The project boldly confronts religion and the real world, introducing a culture you probably didn't know about.
Despite its original form, the series tells a quite universal story of rebellion, freedom, and self-discovery. Moreover, the creators show how to build a new life while rejecting the beliefs you were raised with. Interestingly, this project consistently appears in all top lists of the best series of 2020.
Ragnarok (Norway)
What would the Norse gods look like in the modern world? The creators of this dark show provide an answer. The series takes place in a fictional Norwegian town where local mythology literally comes to life. According to the story, this is the last place where people haven't yet abandoned their belief in the old gods. But the problems here are very modern: climate change, industrial pollution, destruction of nature, corruption.
What does the series offer? Interesting epigraphs for each episode, plenty of drama, incredibly beautiful landscapes. But it attracts Russian-speaking viewers thanks to actor Herman Tømmeraas from the once popular series 'Skam'.
Barbarians (Germany)
A historical drama about revenge and betrayal, based on the true story of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. This moment was one of the turning points of the war and marked the beginning of the fall of the Roman Empire and its failure to advance across Europe. The most appealing thing about this project is the interpretation of real facts, historical figures, and the incredibly atmospheric visuals. Something similar to the first season of 'Vikings' or 'Game of Thrones'.
Essentially, it's a story about the friendship of three children from a Germanic tribe who were separated during the Roman occupation. There are brutal sword fights, bloody executions, local folklore, mythology, red cloaks of the Romans, and love intrigues. I guarantee that after watching the series, you'll turn to history and be amazed by what was actually happening at that time.
Into the Night (Belgium)
For most of its runtime, 'Into the Night' is a one hundred percent airtight thriller, with events taking place on board an airplane, with all the ensuing circumstances: mounting tension and conflicts between people, a paranoid and claustrophobic mood. The dynamic plot, concise episodes, and well-written characters are appealing. It's easy to watch and intriguing.
The story also has plenty of melodramatic moments: suddenly flaring romantic relationships, realizing one's mistakes, and so on. At the same time, the ending of the debut season directly hints that a continuation awaits us ahead.
More about the project in our .
'Into the Night' is a series worth watching, and there are 5 reasons for it.
Open materialLove 101 (Turkey)
A Turkish project about schoolchildren, their problems with peers, and family relationships. In less than a week, the series entered the top 10 in several countries around the world.
The series has several interesting main characters united by a common goal, great soundtracks, and the right message. The creators reflect on life priorities and how to decide what you really want.
The storytelling style is also intriguing because the story begins in our time, 20 years before the main events of the show. And in the finale, we return to an already abandoned house and partially learn what happened to the schoolchildren.
More reasons to watch the series in our .
How Netflix learned to produce successful teen series, what societal issues they raise, and why the Turkish 'Love 101' deserves attention.
Open materialLa Révolution (France)
This year, Netflix delighted us with a large-scale historical project about the French Revolution. Have you ever wondered why it was considered one of the bloodiest in history? Well, the creators of the new series took a look at this epochal event from a supernatural perspective!
According to the plot, a mysterious virus (a popular topic now) known as 'Blue Blood' is discovered in France. The virus drives members of the aristocracy to kill commoners.
This series will appeal to anyone who loves beautiful details: from costumes to landscapes and palaces in stark contrast to urban slums. Here you will see a truly creative approach to historical series combined with blood, carnage, and fires. I was particularly impressed by how the finale presents its own version of the creation of the modern French flag.
Young Wallander (Sweden, UK)
The series is based on the works of Henning Mankell about the fictional inspector Kurt Wallander, presenting viewers with another adaptation of the adventures of the iconic detective. The project is interesting for how it combines two directions of the detective genre at once — British and Scandinavian.
The entire series is one big social statement. It also boasts a rather dark and dynamic narrative that doesn't let go until the end credits. From the very first scenes, the series 'Young Wallander' boldly and unceremoniously dismantles the myth of an absolutely calm and decriminalized Sweden. Gangs recruiting juvenile delinquents operate on the local streets, and society's hatred towards migrants is felt everywhere.
More impressions of the first season .
'Young Wallander' is another adaptation of the adventures of the iconic detective from the popular series of Swedish novels.
Open materialThe Valhalla Murders (Iceland)
The second Icelandic series presented on Netflix. A similar crime drama project, Trapped, was released earlier — we also recommend checking it out.
'The Valhalla Murders' is a Scandinavian noir in the spirit of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo': snowy landscapes, murders, a tangled story. At the center of the plot is the solving of a series of murders in the hometown of a local detective. Interestingly, similar events occurred in real Iceland in the late 1940s, where boys in a government institution were subjected to beatings and abuse by staff.
The Woods (Poland)
The events of the Polish detective story unfold in 1994 and 2019. In the past, we have a summer camp where a murder occurs and children go missing, while in the present, this case takes an unexpected turn.
The plot is a kind of tangle of small interconnected stories, each of which can suggest one or another possible development of events. Thanks to frequent understatement and jumps between timelines, the authors manage to maintain intrigue right up to the final credits.
A tangled story, dark tones, music matching the mood, and frequent use of the so-called Dutch angle (tilted horizon), as well as a Polish version of Vincent Cassel — all this makes the series a must-watch for all fans of the genre.
More about the series in our .
'The Woods' is a new Netflix project based on the works of the famous American writer.
Open materialLove & Anarchy (Sweden)
A romantic comedy web series and the second Swedish-language project on Netflix. The series is based on the relationship between an ambitious female consultant and a young IT specialist.
'Love & Anarchy' tells the story of how an orderly life begins to fall apart, while secondary themes in the show touch on issues of digital technology and age differences.
Both characters challenge each other, forcing them to do things that contradict established social norms. And almost immediately, harmless games have real consequences. It's easy to watch, and there's incredible chemistry between the actors.
White Lines (Spain, UK)
A story about love, search, and relationships, unfolding against the backdrop of the bright Spanish sun, loud music, and the unrestrained fun of Ibiza. The main creator of the project is the well-known Álex Pina, who gave the world 'Money Heist'.
The series pits two dissimilar worlds against each other: the British one with its coldness, gloominess, and rationality, and the Spanish one, which bursts with colors and literally breathes life. This is not the worst detective story, as the intrigue is maintained right up to the very end. The story also works as a family drama.
More impressions of the project .
The series 'White Lines' is a story about love, search, and relationships, unfolding against the backdrop of the bright Spanish sun, loud music, and the unrestrained fun of Ibiza.
Open materialBloodride (Norway)
'Bloodride' is an anthology series where each 30-minute episode is a separate story, not connected to the others, so you can watch it in any order. As a common hook, viewers are shown a bus, each passenger of which becomes the hero of one of the episodes.
In the project, the authors balance well between horror and black comedy. Depending on the episodes, your impressions will vary, but the series is not drawn out and is perfect for watching in one evening.
More details about the episodes of the first season read .
In this show, each 30-minute episode is a separate story, not connected to the others, so you can watch it in any order. Let's briefly go through each episode.
Open materialFreud (Austria, Germany)
The main character of the Netflix series is a young Sigmund Freud, who is not yet a world-famous scientist but is already an extraordinary personality. By a random coincidence, he becomes involved in the investigation of a mysterious series of murders. And he uses the method of hypnosis to solve crimes. Why not?
The series is considered controversial due to the unexpected portrayal of the scientist, as well as an abundance of scenes not for the faint of heart. But it is still an interesting atmospheric detective story and a strong drama about suppressing one's own demons.
The Mess You Leave Behind (Spain)
'The Mess You Leave Behind' is another high-rated Spanish project for fans of intrigue and romantic entanglements. First and foremost, everyone noticed this series because of the rising Spanish star from the project 'Elite' — Arón Piper.
We follow the story at a high school where a new teacher gets a job. The girl soon discovers that her predecessor died mysteriously. And already in the very first episode, we are shown a serious plot twist, which nevertheless leaves many questions.
Again, an interesting storytelling style — the intersection of two timelines that slowly reveal details and intrigues, and the viewer has to decipher it all. A real Netflix trademark, no less.
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