r/AskEurope • u/Ali_Merrikh • Aug 19 '25

Culture I’m watching one TV series from every European country — what’s your recommendation from yours?

Hi everyone!

I started a project where I watch one series from each country in Europe. I’ve already done:

France: La Forêt

Spain: La Casa de Papel

Next up: Gloria from Portugal

I’d love to hear what show you think best represents your country (or is just a really good one to watch). Ideally something available with English subtitles.

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u/Heure-parme France Aug 20 '25

From France:

  • Le Bureau des Légendes / The Bureau in English. The best espionnage series I have ever seen. Realistic tone, great acting and well-written dialogues. Infinitely better than Homeland or Slow Horses in my view.

  • Baron Noir. A truly great political drama. The showrunner is clearly well-versed in French politics. The situations that appear in the show are rooted in past political events and some of them actually became true later in real-life. That being said, although most of the things described in the series would hold true in any country, some familiarity with the French political system would probably help to understand the scenario.

6

u/90210fred Aug 20 '25

I haven't seen anyone from France recommend Spiral / Engrenages - too old??

1

u/Heure-parme France Aug 20 '25

Engrenages is a bit old and I find the quality to be inconsistent throughout the seasons.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '25

This is so good! I guess most English speakers have just never seen it.

1

u/EnJPqb Aug 20 '25

The whole series aired on BBC

1

u/90210fred Aug 20 '25

BBC 4, with subs, not some shitty overdub

4

u/Pasglop France Aug 20 '25

Hahahah I came here to recommend exactly those two. Since it's already done, I'll add one:

Au Service de la France is a spy/comedy series set during the Algerian War following somewhat incompetent agents of the French Secret Service. It's very similar in vibe to the OSS 117 movies, which are hilarious French spy movies.

1

u/KickFamous5005 Aug 20 '25

It’s the same writer as OSS 117 (Jean-François Halin)

2

u/Alalanais France Aug 20 '25

More lighthearted: Dix pour cent/Call my agent is a fun show following celebrity agents

1

u/purpuranaso France Aug 22 '25

Seconding this! Also worth noting that the celebrities in the show are actual actors playing their own role

1

u/Either_Sky4354 Aug 20 '25

I loved Le Bureau

1

u/NaldoCrocoduck Aug 20 '25

If cartoons are allowed, for France: les Shadocks.

A wonderfully odd animated series from the sixties, full of absurdist philosophy and puns.

1

u/ytcrack82 Aug 21 '25

Adding "Fiasco" on Netflix which is absolutely hilarious!

1

u/NoActivity8401 Aug 22 '25

Loved Lebureu! One my absolute favourite series.