On both a personal and professional level, I am a huge fan of global television. As much as I love Hollywood's output, there is something fascinating about seeing familiar television tropes through a different cultural lens. A detective show set in Nigeria or Indonesia just naturally flows differently because it is set in an unfamiliar world featuring characters who live a very different life than I do here in the U.S.
But if you are a global television fan in America, content discovery can be a frustrating exercise in futility. As a TV critic, you might think I would know about every worthwhile global television series coming up, and have plenty of information about the show. And you would be wrong.
American streamers often have casual approach to highlighting their global catalog. Netflix does the best job overall, but there are as many mystery global titles on their premiere list as ones with a fully-fleshed out logline and cast bios. At the other end of the promotion spectrum is Max, which not only doesn't promote their global originals, it's often nearly impossible to find them unless you know the specific title.
So I decided to leverage the interest in global television of myself and my readers by launching the "1st Annual Too Much TV Global Television Awards." My hope is both the nomination and eventual winners lists will provide suggestions on recent global TV shows and movies you should be watching. And if it is a success, it might even convince your favorite streamer to put a bit more effort into promoting the shows in the future.
I decided on a couple of guidelines for nominations. The title must have been originally produced in a language other than English. It had to have premiered on streaming (and for the most part, global TV is a streaming phenomenon) between 12/1/23 and 12/1/24. But because of the lag time with some global shows making it to the U.S., the program could have been originally released in its original market up to a year before that date - or no earlier than 12/1/22.
The nominee list is a mix of titles I have have watched this year that I think are worthwhile, along with titles suggested by Too Much TV readers.
The categories were a problem. It didn't make sense to me to choose just one drama from the entire globe, given the number of worthy shows available in the U.S. So I divided the nominees into three regions: APAC (Asia-Pacific), EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) and Latin America.
But I eventually realized that because some countries were over-represented, the only fair way was to break down those regions a bit further. For instance, in EMEA dramas, you'll see a catch-all EMEA drama category for countries which don't have many entries. But if a category had five or more titles on the nomination list, I broke those out separately into either countries (Spain) or territories (Nordic countries).
In the end, a show could be voted best Spanish drama and best EMEA drama. Which might be a bit clunky, but it seemed like the best way to do it.
There are also a lot of great global shows which aren’t yet legally available in America. Much of the original output from growing regional streamers such as iQIYI or Multichoice aren’t yet available in the U.S. So some regions aren’t as well represented on this list as they should be.
Below is the list of nominees. Tomorrow I'll send out a link to a page where you can vote and you can choose as many or as few shows as you like. If you've just seen two global TV shows this year that you enjoyed, just vote for those. The same holds if you've seen 30 or more. The list itself indexes towards Netflix, just because of the number of global titles it releases. But there are a number of streamers represented on the nominations list - both big and small.
Anyone who is a free and paid Too Much TV subscriber will be eligible to cast a ballot. The voting ends Sunday, December 15th at 11:59 pm CT. And the winners will be announced on Monday, December 30th. Which will be an otherwise slow news week, and that should give the announcement a bit more oomph.
In a more perfect world, I would have links to info on all these shows, but I just didn't have the resources for that this year. Assuming this goes well, I'll put together info on the 2025 shows as the year progresses, which will provide me a better base for information next year.
APAC (Asia-Pacific)
Best Scripted Drama Series - South Korea
- A Shop For Killers [South Korea] [Hulu]
- Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born [South Korea] [Hulu]
- The Bequeathed [South Korea] [Netflix]
- Uncle Samsik Series Premiere [South Korea] [Hulu]
- Pachniko [South Korea] [Apple TV+]
- The Judge From Hell [South Korea] [Hulu]
- Gyeongseong Creature [South Korea] [Netflix]
- The Frog [South Korea] [Netflix]
- The Whirlwind [South Korea] [Netflix]
- The Trunk [South Korea] [Netflix]
- Red Swan [South Korea] [Hulu]
- A Killer Paradox [South Korea] [Netflix]
- The Tyrant [South Korea] [Hulu]
Best Scripted Drama Series - Japan
- Chastity High [Japan] [Netflix]
- The Silent Service Season One - The Battle of Tokyo Bay [Japan] [Prime Video]
- Tokyo Swindlers [Japan] [Netfix]
- Land Of Tanabata [Japan] [Hulu]
- Like a Dragon: Yakuza [Japan] [Prime Video]
- House Of The Owl [Japan] [Hulu]
- Beyond Goodbye [Japan] [Netflix]
Best Scripted Drama Series - APAC
- The Believers [Thailand] [Netflix]
- Don't Come Home [Thailand] [Netflix]
- Koda Factory [India] [Netflix]
- Ready, Set, Love [Thailand] [Netflix]
- Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper [India] [Netflix]
- Lavender Fields [Philippines] [Netflix]
- IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack [India] [Netflix]
- Joko Anwar's Nightmares And Daydreams [Indonesia] [Netflix]
- The Victims Game [Taiwan] [Netflix]
- Terror Tuesday: Extreme [Thailand] [Netflix]
- Mirzapur [India] [Prime Video]
- Pulang Araw [Philippines] [Netflix]
Best Scripted Comedy Series - APAC
- Let’s Talk About CHU [Taiwan] [Netflix]
- Maamla Legal Hai [India] [Netflix]
- Seoul Busters [South Korea] [Hulu]
- Killer Soup [India] [Netflix]
Best Unscripted Series - APAC
- Love Deadline [Japan] [Netflix]
- A-List To Playlist [South Korea] [Netflix]
- Risqué Business: Netherlands & Germany [South Korea] [Netflix]
- The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth [India] [Netflix]
- Culinary Class Wars [South Korea] [Netflix]
- Physical: 100 [South Korea] [Netflix]
- Agents Of Mystery [South Korea] [Netflix]
- The Boyfriend [Japan] [Netflix]
- Zombieverse: New Blood [South Korea] [Netflix]
Best Movie - India
- Murder Mubarak [India] [Netflix]
- Bhakshak [India] [Netflix]
- CTRL [India] [Netflix]
- Vijay 69 [India] [Netflix]
Best Movie - South Korea
- Badland Hunters [South Korea] [Netflix]
- My Name is Loh Kiwan [South Korea] [Netflix]
- Uprising [South Korea] [Netflix]
- Mission Cross [South Korea] [Netflix]
- Officer Black Belt [South Korea] [Netflix]
Best Movie -APAC
- Outside [Philippines] [Netflix]
- Missing [Japan] [Netflix]
- The Shadow Strays [Indonesia] [Netflix]
- Lolo & The Kid [Philippines] [Netflix]
- Borderless Fog [Indonesia] [Netflix]
- Grave Torture [Indonesia] [Netflix]
- Love Stuck [Thailand] [Prime Video]
- Bangkok Breaking: Heaven And Hell [Thailand] [Netflix]
Best Documentary - APAC
- To Kill A Tiger [India] [Netflix]
- Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale [India] [Netflix]
- The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth [India] [Netflix]
Best Variety/Comedy Special - APAC
- Sit Down With Stand Up Udom Taephanich [Thailand] [Netflix]
- Red Ollero: Mabuhay Is A Lie [Philippines] [Netflix]
- Deaw Special: Super Soft Power [Thailand] [Netflix]
- The Great Indian Kapil Show [India] [Netflix]
EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa)
Best Scripted Drama Series - Africa
- Postcards [Nigeria] [Netflix]
- Aníkúlápó: Rise Of The Spectre [Nigeria] [Netflix]
- Òlòtūré: The Journey [Nigeria] [Netflix]
- Savage Beauty [South Africa] [Netflix]
Best Scripted Drama Series - Continental Europe
- Detective Forst [Poland] [Netflix]
- Go Ahead, Brother [Poland] [Netflix]
- Citadel: Diana [Italy] [Prime Video]
- End Of Summer [Sweden] [Viaplay]
- Adoration [Italy] [Netflix]
- The Law According To Lidia Poët [Italy] [Netflix]
- Haven Of Grace [France] [MHz Choice]
- My Brilliant Friend [Italy] [HBO]
- Maxton Hall: The World Between Us [Germany] [Prime Video]
- Babylon Berlin [Germany] [MHz Choice]
- The Thaw (Odwilz) [Poland] [Max]
- Good Morning, Verônica [Portugal] [Netflix]
- The Mire Millenium [Poland] [Netflix]
- Maestro In Blue [Greece] [Netflix]
- Murder In...[France] [MHz Choice]
Best Scripted Drama Series - Middle East
- Kubra [Turkey] [Netflix]
- Another Self [Turkey] [Netflix]
- Midnight At The Pera Palace [Turkey] [Netflix]
Best Scripted Drama Series - Nordic Countries
- Ronja The Robber's Daughter [Sweden] [Viaplay]
- Secrets [Denmark] [Viaplay]
- The Sommerdahl Murders [Denmark] [Sundance Now]
- Billionaire Island [Norway] [Netflix]
- End Of Summer [Sweden] [Viaplay]
- Nemesis [Netherlands] [Hulu]
- Reindeer Mafia [Finland] [MHz Choice]
- The New Nurses [Denmark] [MHz Choice]
- MILF Of Norway [Norway] [Max]
- Detective Maria Kallio [Finland] [Viaplay]
Best Scripted Drama Series - Spain
- Red Queen [Reina Roja] [Spain] [Prime Video]
- Return To Las Sabinas [Spain] [Hulu]
- You Would Do It Too (Tú También lo Harías) [Spain] [Apple TV+]
- Cristóbal Balenciaga [Spain] [Disney+]
- The Last Night At Tremore Beach [Spain] [Netflix]
- Gangs of Galicia Series Premiere [Spain] [Netflix]
- Elite [Spain] [Netflix]
Best Scripted Limited Series -EMEA
- The Fortress [Norway] [Viaplay]
- See You In Another Life [Spain] [Disney+]
- The Signal [Germany] [Netflix]
- Supersex [Italy] [Netflix]
- Fiasco [France] [Netflix]
- Culte [France] [Prime Video]
Best Scripted Comedy Series -EMEA
- A Round Of Applause [Turkey] [Netflix]
- All And Eva [Sweden] [Viaplay]
- Toutouyoutou [France] [Netflix]
- Miss Merkel [Germany] [MHz Choice]
- Back To 15 [Portugal] [Netflix]
- Ayla & The Mirrors [Spain] [Netflix]
- Call Me Dad [Denmark] [Viaplay]
- Represent [France] [Netflix]
- The Life And Movies Of Erşan Kuneri [Turkey] [Netflix]
Best Unscripted Series -EMEA
- Fame After Fame [Spain] [Netflix]
- The Parisian Agency [France] [ Netflix]
- Rhythm + Flow Italy [Italy] [Netflix]
- Kaulitz & Kaulitz [Germany] [Netflix]
- Don't Hate The Player [France] [Netflix]
- Love Is Blind Sweden [Sweden] [Netflix]
- Love Village [Mexico] [Netflix]
- Making It In Marbella [Sweden] [Netflix]
Best Movie -Africa
- Tòkunbò [Nigeria] [Netflix]
- Suspicion [Nigeria] [Prime Video]
- Labola Man [South Africa] [Netflix]
- House Of Ga'a [Nigeria] [Netflix]
- Lisabi: The Uprising [Nigeria] [Netflix]
Best Movie - Continental Europe
- 60 Minutes [Germany] [Netflix]
- Find Me Falling [Greece] [Netflix]
- Trunk: Locked In [Germany] [Prime Video]
- Through My Window 3: Looking At You [Spain] [Netflix]
- Family Pack [France] [Netflix]
- GTMAX [France] [Netflix]
- Let's Go [Sweden] [Netflix]
- The Wages Of Fear [France] [Netflix]
- The Platform 2 [Spain] [Netflix]
- Justice [Poland] [Netflix]
- Blame The Game [Germany] [Netflix]
- Nice Girls [France] [Netflix]
- Stolen [Sweden] [Netflix]
- La Máquina [Spain] [Hulu]
- Colors Of Evil: Red [Poland] [Netflix]
- Non Negotiable [Spain] [Netflix]
- In Her Place [Spain] [Netflix]
Best Documentary -EMEA
- Eiffel Tower: Life Behind The Scenes [France] [MHz Choice]
- The Remarkable Life Of Ibelin [Norway] [Netflix]
- Skin Hunters [Poland] [Max]
- It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football [Spain] [Netflix]
Best True Crime -EMEA
- The Asunta Case [Spain] [Netflix]
- Under The Radar: Secrets Of A Swedish Serial Killer Series Premiere [Sweden] [Viaplay]
- Cooking Up Murder: Uncovering The Story Of César Román [Spain] [Netflix]
- You Are Not Alone: Fighting The Wolf Pack [Spain] [Netflix]
- The Missing Heiress – Betrayals On The Riviera [France] [MHz Choice]
- The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare [France] [Netflix]
- The King Of Zanzibar [Poland] [Max]
- The Yara Gambirasio Case: Beyond Reasonable Doubt [Italy] [Netflix]
- Raël: The Alien Prophet [France] [Netflix]
LATAM (Latin America)
Best Scripted Drama Series - LATAM
- The Unbroken Voice [Columbia] [Netflix]
- It Was Always Me [Columbia] [Disney+]
- Griselda [Columbia] [Netflix]
- Desperate Lies [Brazil] [Netflix]
- Divided Youth (Da Ponte Pra La) [Brazil] [Max]
- Baby Bandito [Chile] [Netflix]
- Good Morning, Veronica [Brazil] [Netflix]
- El Encargado [Argentina] [Hulu]
- Pedro el Escamoso: Más Escamoso Que Nunca [Columbia] [Hulu]
Best Scripted Drama Series - Mexico
- Midnight Family [Mexico] [Hulu]
- Acapulco [Mexico] [Apple TV+]
- We Were Kings [Mexico] [Netflix]
- Like Water For Chocolate [Mexico] [HBO Latino]
- The Secret Of The River [Mexico] [Netflix]
- Las Bravas F.C. [Mexico] [Max]
- The Accident [Mexico] [Netflix]
Best Scripted Comedy Series - LATAM
- Six Is Not A Crowd (Felices Los 6) [Argentina] [Max]
- Betty la Fea, The Story Continues [Columbia] [Prime Video]
- Envious [Argentina] [Netflix]
- Bia And Victor [Brazil] [Netflix]
- Nothing To See Here [Mexico] [Netflix]
- End Of The Line [Brazil] [Netflix]
- C.H.U.E.C.O. [Argentina] [Disney+]
- Every Family (Toda Família Tem) [Brazil] [Prime Video]
- El Encargado [Argentina] [Hulu]
Best Scripted Limited Series - LATAM
- Coppola, The Agent [Argentina] [Hulu]
- The Hijacking Of Flight 601 [Columbia] [Netflix]
- Women In Blue (Las Azules) [Mexico] [Apple TV+]
- Children Of The Church Steps [Brazil [Netflix]
- Bank Under Siege (aka Asalto al Banco Central) [Spain][Netflix]
- Every Minute Counts (Cada Minuto Cuenta) [Mexico] [Prime Video)
Best Movie - LATAM
- Rest In Peace [Argentina] [Netflix]
- Down The Rabbit Hole (Fiesta en la madriguera) [Mexico] [Netflix]
- Zero To Hero [aka Rodeio Rock] [Brazil] [Netflix]
- In Her Place [Chile] [Netflix]
- Pimpenero: Blood & Oil [Columbia] [Netflix]
- The Champion [Argentina] [Netflix]
- The Lost Children [Columbia] [Netflix]
- The Diary (El Diario) [Mexico] [Prime Video]
- Pedro Páramo [Mexico] [Netflix]
- Transmitzvah [Argentina] [Netflix]
- Bionic [Brazil] [Netflix]
- Goyo [Argentina] [Netflix]
Best Documentary - LATAM
- From Dreams To Tragedy: The Fire That Shook Brazilian Football [Brazil] [Netflix]
- Mon Leferte, te amo [Chile] [Netflix]
- Senna [Brazil] [Netflix]
- Romário: The Guy (Romário: O Cara) [Brazil] [Max]
- The Accidental Twins [Columbia] [Netflix]
- Ángel Di María: Breaking Down the Wall [Argentina] [Netflix]
Best True Crime - LATAM
- The Doomsday Cult Of Antares de la Luz 9 [Chile] [Netflix]
- Breaking The Silence: The Maria Soledad Case [Argentina] [Netflix]
- The Guardian Of The Monarchs [Mexico] [Netflix]
- Nelma Kodama The Queen Of Dirty Money [Brazil] [Netflix]
- Illusions For Sale: The Rise And Fall Of Generacion Zoe [Argentina] [Netflix]
- An Invisible Victim: The Eliza Samudio Case [Brazil] [Netflix]