Subtitles You'll Want to Read
When 14-year-old Míŝa Sikorova goes missing from her small village, her disappearance sets off a series of mysterious and shocking events. Míŝa’s mother, the mayor, happens to be battling a powerful coal company. Coincidence? As the story unfolds, you’ll discover a dark underbelly to the community, and the cold landscape, paired with an eerie score, will have your nerve endings wired.
Wasteland is directed by Ivan Zachariáŝ and Alice Nellis and starring Zuzana Stivínová.
Czech Republic
Czech
1 season: 8 episodes, 8 hours
Czech Lion Award (highest award for film in the Czech Republic) for Best Television Drama Series
Popcorn and a blanket
Lots of expletives
A journalist’s quiet life is derailed when he exposes evidence of corporate conspiracy involving his own brother. He’s then faced with a choice: Seek the truth, or sacrifice those he loves. A moving character piece with the gripping elements of investigative crime procedural, The Pact (aka Pakt) is perfect for those looking for a dark drama with twisty layers.
Season 1 of The Pact is directed by Marek Lechki and Season 2, Leszek Dawid. The series stars Marcin Dorociński.
Poland
Polish
2 seasons: 12 episodes, 12 hours
The shades drawn on a rainy weekend afternoon
“Gazeta,” which means “newspaper”
Being 16 is hard enough, but for Xiao Zhen who can communicate with the dead, she must juggle the pressures of her teenage life with the demands of the spirit world. Things get even more complicated when others want to take advantage of her abilities.
Teenage Psychic is directed by Chen Ho-Yu and starring Kuo Shu-Yao, Kent Tsai and Akio Chen.
Taiwan
Mandarin
1 season: 6 episodes, 6 hours
Best Miniseries and Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film at the 52nd Golden Bell Awards — Taiwan’s version of the Emmys
Your best girlfriends and all the lights on
“Tongji,” which means “spirit medium”
Fantasy horror series Halfworlds is an easy binge, but one that won’t give you all the answers up front. Be prepared to wade your way through parallel worlds, and the histories of mythological demons. A good chunk of the series is in English, which makes it even easier to immerse yourself. Brutal and dark, Halfworlds doesn’t shy away from blood and violence, but its conceptual style, sexy, steam-punky demons, and fantasy backdrop will keep you watching.
Season 1 of Halfworlds is directed by Joko Anwar and stars Arifin Putra and Reza Rahadian. Season 2 is directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham and stars Arifin Putra and Peem Jaiyan.
Indonesia & Thailand
English, Bahasa Indonesian & Thai
2 seasons: 12 hours — Season 2 gets extended to full-hour episodes so you get even more mythological mystery
A Best Editing win at the 2016 Asian Television Awards — which is a bit like the Emmys, but bigger since it includes the entire Asian Pacific region
A suspension of disbelief. (Things get weird fast)
“Toyol,” “Pelesit” and other demons from Malay culture
Couples therapy, tantric sex, cyber hacks, government corruption, murder and investigative journalism come together in the Brazilian series La Vida Secreta de las Parejas. If it sounds like a lot, it is. But the drama unfolds slowly so you can savor every dirty detail. At the show’s center is Sofia Prado (Bruna Lombardi), a sexologist who helps patients through counseling and alternative sexual therapy. When one of her patients is killed, Sofia gets caught up in the investigation, uncovering secrets of the city’s most powerful families, companies and politicians.
La Vida Secreta de las Parejas is directed by Carlos Alberto Riccelli and Kim Riccelli and starring Bruna Lombardi.
Brazil
Portuguese
1 season: 12 episodes, 12 hours
Your partner (You might learn something)
“Sexo,” which means — you guessed it — sex
Based on cult-favorite graphic novel, El Hipnotizador follows Arenas, a mysterious hypnotist with a remarkable ability to reveal the darkest secrets of his patients even though he hides secrets of his own. He “practices” in a fictional, faux-historical city, giving the series the mood of a fantastical period drama. While Arenas is able to use his unique gift to help the locals, he’s also working to resolve — or flee — the skeletons in his own closet.
Season 1 of El Hipnotizador is directed by Alex Gabassi and José Eduardo Belmonte. Season 2 is directed by Marco Dutra, Aly Muritiba and Pablo Machline. The series stars Leonardo Sbaraglia.
