International Series Worth the Subtitles

Key takeaways

• Subtitles stop a lot of people from trying non-English shows, and I get the resistance, reading text while tracking a story is a real adjustment.
• But some of the best television being made right now isn't in English, and once you adjust to subtitles, an enormous amount of great TV opens up.
• Here's where to start, sorted by how much of an adjustment each one actually requires.

Why do subtitles feel like such a bigger barrier than they actually are?

Mostly because the adjustment period is real but short. Most people report that after the first episode or two, reading subtitles stops feeling like conscious effort and becomes closer to automatic, similar to how reading closed captions on an English show eventually fades into the background. The barrier is more about that initial unfamiliarity than any lasting difficulty.

If you want an easier entry point with a familiar genre structure

Money Heist (La Casa de Papel). A Spanish heist thriller with a plot-driven, high-momentum structure that translates easily regardless of language, since the tension comes as much from pacing and stakes as dialogue. It's one of the more accessible international shows for someone new to subtitled television.

Squid Game. A South Korean survival thriller that became a genuine global phenomenon, with a premise simple enough to follow easily even while adjusting to reading subtitles, since the visual storytelling does a lot of heavy lifting.

If you want something that rewards a bit more patience

Dark. A German science fiction mystery with intricate, multi-generational time travel plotting. It demands real attention regardless of language, but the puzzle box structure is exactly the kind of show that rewards the focus subtitles require anyway.

Babylon Berlin. A German crime drama set in Weimar-era Berlin, with lavish production value and a slow-burn plot that unfolds across a richly detailed historical setting.

If you want an acclaimed drama that isn't plot-driven, more character focused

My Brilliant Friend. An Italian adaptation of Elena Ferrante's beloved novels, following a decades-spanning friendship between two women in Naples. It's a slower, more literary watch than the plot-driven entries on this list, but widely considered one of the best literary adaptations in recent television.

Call My Agent! A French comedy-drama about talent agents in the Parisian film industry, funny and warm, with a real ensemble cast dynamic that translates well even with subtitles doing a lot of the comedic timing work.

My honest opinion on why non-English television has gotten so much stronger recently

I think streaming platforms investing directly in non-English original productions, rather than only acquiring finished foreign shows after the fact, has raised the overall craft level across international television. Money Heist and Squid Game specifically becoming massive global hits proved there's real appetite for subtitled content among English-speaking audiences, which has only accelerated investment in non-English originals since.

Does dubbing work as well as subtitles for these shows?

Generally, I'd recommend subtitles over dubbing where you have the choice, since dubbed performances often lose real nuance in vocal delivery that the original actors intended, especially for character-driven dramas like My Brilliant Friend. For faster-paced, plot-driven shows like Money Heist, dubbing is a more reasonable compromise if subtitles aren't working for you, since less of the show's impact depends on subtle vocal performance.

Frequently asked questions

What's an easy international show to start with if I've never watched subtitled TV? Money Heist or Squid Game are both strong entry points, since their plot-driven pacing makes the subtitle adjustment easier.

Is Dark hard to follow with subtitles? It's complex regardless of language, given its intricate time travel plotting, but that complexity would demand close attention even in English.

Should I watch international shows dubbed or subtitled? Subtitles are generally recommended for character-driven dramas to preserve original vocal performances, though dubbing is a reasonable compromise for faster-paced, plot-driven shows.

What's a good international show for someone who wants character drama over plot twists? My Brilliant Friend offers a slower, more literary character study if the puzzle-box or heist-thriller entries aren't your speed.

Want something matched to your specific mood tonight?

Our series recommendation quiz can help you find something else worth the subtitles based on what you're actually in the mood for.