Finished with Unfamiliar? These German Netflix series you'll want to watch too
For a good thriller series, we are more than happy to knock on the door of our friends at Netflix. They usually send us on a trip to the US, England, or of course Scandinavia. They almost never disappoint, but this time we are surprised by a different destination: Germany. With the new thriller ‘Unfamiliar’, they are once again in charge on Netflix. And anyone who has seen this series knows immediately: we want to make this trip more often.
Unfamiliar: the German Netflix thriller everyone is talking about
Simon (Felix Kramer) and Meret (Susanne Wolff) seem to lead a quiet life. Except for one detail: the former spy couple still runs a safehouse for people in need, a clear link to their past. And that very house pulls them back to then. What starts as a rescue mission turns out to be a trap; the mission they thought they had left behind sixteen years ago suddenly revs up again. The danger is back, and how. The two flee from hired killers, Russian agents, the German intelligence service (BND), and even vengeful ex-lovers. Meanwhile, they must also protect their daughter and keep their marriage intact. It’s a lot, you could say, especially when old secrets escalate the tension.
A title like ‘must-see of the moment’ doesn’t just come out of nowhere, and fans are already begging for a sequel. If it’s up to the creators of ‘Unfamiliar‘, that will happen, but we still need to convince Netflix. An extra binge session can’t hurt.
Fortunately, this is not the only German series that perfectly combines tension and mystery. You’ll want to see this one too.
Dark
Among German thrillers, one clearly stands out: ‘Dark’. It was the first German-language Netflix Original ever and such a hit that even thriller king Stephen King is a fan, and that doesn’t just happen. The story takes place in the town of Winden, where young Mikkel (Daan Lennard Liebrenz) disappears in the woods. And he is not the only one.
This is just the beginning. Double lives and broken relationships between four families slowly come to light. As they search for their children, the web of secrets and questions grows larger. This mystery grips generations and goes back much further than anyone could have ever thought. Don’t worry if you sometimes lose track, it gets quite complicated, but that’s exactly what makes this series hard to let go.
1899
We’ll stay a little longer with the creators of ‘Dark’, because they clearly didn’t go for a one-hit wonder. With ‘1899’ they scored again. In the series, we follow the passengers of the ship Kerberos, an immigrant ship on its way from Europe to New York. They all dream of one thing: a better life abroad. But that dream comes to a brutal halt when they encounter another ship in the middle of the open sea, a ship that has been missing for months. An encounter that turns their dream journey into a nightmare. There’s no escaping the past, just like their secrets.
Despite the many fans, Netflix canceled the series after one season, but those eight episodes are definitely a must. The ending leaves a bit to our own imagination.
Kleo
A fan of ‘Killing Eve’? Then you’ll also enjoy ‘Kleo’. This German crime thriller is sometimes quite brutal, but humor is certainly not lacking. Kleo Straub (Jella Haase) is a top spy and one of the best in her field, until she is betrayed. Once out of prison, she has only one goal: to take revenge on everyone who lured her into a trap. Kleo knows no boundaries. What she believes must happen, happens, even if the violence meter reaches a new level. It’s sure to be a wild ride, and with two seasons, you can keep going for a while. Believe us, this is really different from the usual.
Crooks
He was hard to miss in the Netflix Top 10: the crime thriller ‘Crooks’. In this hit, we follow Charly (Frederick Lau), a former criminal who has gotten his life back on track, but he can’t enjoy it for long. Former connections threaten his family and force him back onto the wrong path. A coin needs to be stolen, and it’s worth quite a lot. Out of desperation, Charly agrees, and that costs him dearly. The heist goes wrong, and he has no choice but to flee. Together with his driver, he tries to stay out of the hands of various international criminal gangs while also trying to protect his family. A situation that escalates further and becomes almost unbearable. It’s still uncertain whether Charly will manage to stop it in time.
Good news for everyone who is left with questions after the eight episodes: season 2 has been confirmed. It’s still a wait for a definitive date, but sometime this year we can dive back into this series. Just a little patience…
Das Signal
Something different: a miniseries that is perfect for binge-watching over a weekend. ‘Das Signal’ has it all: drama, mystery, tension, and a touch of science fiction. Paula (Peri Baumeister) is an astronaut and discovers a radio signal during her mission. It’s certain that it doesn’t come from Earth, but from where? She doesn’t get the chance to investigate. Once back on Earth, her plane goes missing. Her husband Sven (Florian David Fitz) is now left alone and tries to discover what is really going on. We won’t spoil anything, but the ending is one to discuss thoroughly. And to be honest: that’s sometimes quite nice.
Put those pretzels on the table and pour a beer. It’s time for an exciting trip to Germany. Tschüss!
Image: Netflix
