itt: non-english-language netflix series you recommend (or not) and commentary thereon

I know - such a perfect balance of perspectives. I love how Yu and Tokui play down their lasciviousness for Torichan’s benefit, and Kentaro’s frequent mute horror.

I feel like just watching Han-san made me a better person in dealing with difficult people.

Han-san! Otm. What an amazing presence. I’m still not over his departure. Minori taught me how being brazenly belligerent in the face of anything is actually a reasonable way to get by.

The meat incident was unforgivable though.

I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one taking personality tips from Han-San.

There's some episode where Tokui off-handedly mentions wanting to 'touch Kentaro's man parts' (something like that) that just killed me.

That was amazing. How he sort of casually enacted it too. My phone is full of screenshots of TH.

Even how You was groping Reina as an example of older people trying to relive their youth. I was like, ummmm.... well yeah, it's a bit different in asian and with women.

What was Han-san saying when they were going to confront Nacchan? It was so amazingly good. I am going to look for it tomorrow because everyone should memorize it.

Like, it was something about not judging her for her actions because they still valued her as an individual and that was not in question.

Minori became my favorite, I think largely because of how she handled the situation with Natsumi.

I think Kantaro the Sweet Tooth Salaryman might be better if the episodes were shorter.

Natsumi was decent in how she spoke to Uchi in the case of the meat. I was a big fan of Minori's sister in that episode too.

I have some Aloha State left to finish, but...I dunno, I'm getting bored of Taishi dominating this season.

The beauty queen shenanigans of Aloha State is the only thing really that made the end of the series worthwhile. And I guess Taishi comes out ok.

Yes! Cheri’s transformation into this great spirit of wildness was excellent, although the series was never quite the same after Guy left. His terribly-judged beach date was the highlight of Aloha State for me. With Taishi, I feel like the whole ‘guilty samurai’ routine expressed some kind of universal truth that was compelling enough.

Someone like Natsumi not just becoming a show villain is one of the strengths of Terrace House. Aloha State could've used a Han-san.
I agree that Aloha State became too Taishi-centric. I wonder if the other people just weren't really doing anything or anything the producers wanted to air- unlike American reality shows it seemed like they actually prefer not showing some of the "trashier" behavior.
Taishi was a recognizable and not entirely unsympathetic type but he was never really taken to task for some of his behavior and attitudes which was annoying given his own self righteousness.

I really enjoyed the Guy-Niki interlude.
Minori's sister was always good.

"Break up caused by meat! Break up caused by meat!" - The official TERRACE HOUSE thread

Every bit of Babylon Berlin is so good.

I just discovered this thread by searching for Babylon Berlin opinions. I just noticed that one this weekend and wanted to check the ilx reaction on it. Looks like that comes mostly recommended. Will check it out along with other stuff on this thread. I hadn't realized that Netflix was bringing on so many foreign shows until a month or so ago.

I've brought this one up a couple times on the regular Netflix thread, but since it hasn't been mentioned here: Tientsin Mystic is a really entertaining Chinese supernatural detective drama.

I have gotten a copy of Babylon Berlin season 2 but I'm waiting to watch it till I really need a treat.

Looking forward to THE RAIN, out on Friday: Danish post-apocalyptica about people who can't go out in the rain or they turn into monsters

Been mentioned on the other netflix thread, but Aggretsuko is well worth it - A Sanrio Red Panda eases the stresses of work with a secret life of Death Metal Karaoke singing.

don't normally have the patience for Korean dramas but am finding the supernatural/crime show "Black" strangely compelling - about a girl who can see death and a guy who's possessed by death. First few episodes are uneven and confusing (iirc the second episode was actively bad) but the way it juggles multiple genres at once is kinda entertaining: it's basically a supernatural thriller, crime procedural, family tragedy, conspiracy drama and rom-com all rolled into one. Also every episode has about 23402908243 subplots.

― Roz, Saturday, January 20, 2018 9:01 AM (three months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Friend of mine recommended Dark, which was discussed upthread. Will give Black a try as well, I guess.

― Eloi's Comin' (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, January 21, 2018 7:06 PM (three months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Started in on episode 1 of this one last night. Do all Korean tv shows run this over an hour per ep? It's not that I lack the patience, but am liable to fall asleep.

"run this long - over an hour per ep" is what I meant there.

the El Chapo series produced by Univision is pretty good. if you like Narcos you should watch it

first season is decent, mostly detailing his rise to power and his first stint in jail. second season is better, it goes into full-on cartel war and gets really nuts. but they're both worth watching

Finished Babylon Berlin not too long ago, and it's as great as has been mentioned.

When they first performed the "Ashes" song, I would've bet good money that it was a cover of a Bowie song!

Any reviews of The Rain? Yah/nah?

Yah-ish: well acted, leaves one too many big questions unanswered, end disappointing

Oh man, so many netflix shows have a disappointing end.

my faves so far, all-time

TRAPPED - Scandi murder shows are my favorite thing in the world. Grim, cold, deeply disturbing.

HOTEL BEAU SEJOUR - murder again with hyperreal supernatural vibe a la Dead Like Me or Six Feet Under. weird & twisty turny & i learned that Belgium loves motorcross

BABYLON BERLIN - i loved this so much i seriously contemplated finding a german language class for like an entire week afterwards.

the first ep was really off-putting but maybe it's because i accidentally watched the dubbed version

I thought it was absolute rubbish tbh, but I watched it after recently seeing Berlin Alexanderplatz, and possibly me became too pretentious and highfalutin a fool for Netflix period fluff.

saying "I watched it" I think I got as far as first couple of eps and can't remember much other than thinking it was all very pretty but not very engaging.

booooo

Kind of enjoying Octb. Lots of explication and recapitulation, makes it good for viewing with partial attention.

Is Baron Noir on Netflix yet? I found both seasons on the dark net and got pulled in.

Net Noir

Powder: Indian version of the Wire kinda

Scrolling through this thread trying to find something fun to watch, comes across this:

Not a series but we watched An Off-Day Game, a Malayalam art film that Netflix is carrying for some reason (with subtitles) and thought it was great. For a fairly low-budget film, the shots are gorgeous and the story is brutal but reveals itself gradually. Basically, it's about four middle-aged guys who get drunk on an election day [which are holidays in Kerala] and the way their dark sides are progressively revealed in the way they treat each other. It probably helps to have a basic understanding of Kerala politics and Indian caste and colour prejudices and discrimination. (Broadly, the two main political coalitions are a coalition led by the Communists who are probably the most anti-caste party and a Congress-led coalition who would be centre-left by mainstream Indian standards but function as the more right-wing side in the context of Kerala.)

― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), 30. december 2017 03:26 (seven months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I've been looking for this everywhere, the director then won the Tiger Award at Rotterdam for his followup film Sexy Durga, which was on my top ten last year. Netflix is weird.

Also, have just started on Terrace House.

Oh, it doesn't really matter, but I also saw that ten months ago I posted a comment about what I used to watch with me ex-girlfriend and how cool she was. Now we are moving in together and watching cool Japanese reality shows :)

Ghoul, a Netflix India horror co-production with the makers of Sinister, Insidious, etc, about a black site for detaining Muslims in a near-future Fascist India is good.

(finally watching the movie of GOMORRAH on mubi)

U.S. Netflix seems very well loaded with South Asian content; anybody know why?

I have no idea, but it's the same in Denmark and I'm planning to watch a whole bunch of it. Saw Chauthi Koot yesterday, and it was really interesting. On the watch list is also Court, Ajji, Masaan, Dhoobi Ghat, Thithi and Peepli Live.

If anyone knows something I'd love to read it. It's really weird, but someone, somewhere, somehow, made a good deal to bring the best of new Indian art house cinemas to Netflix. For some reason.

Winning market share in India is one of Netflix’s top priorities, and something they’re currently failing to do as quickly as they wanted, so it’s an area of great investment for them. I guess it’s easier to build credibility if you’re competing against Zee, etc, with the diaspora as well.

That sorta makes sense and there might be similar reasons as to why there's so much Korean and Japanese content. I still don't quite get why you would buy and show films such as Chauthi Koot and An Offday Game, those are minuscule art films. Oh well, I love it.

Expat communities as well, lots of Indians and and Koreans in lots of markets around the world. Hulu, in the early days of subscription went big on Korean content as Korean Americans was a big enough niche without any designs on going overseas.

Second series of Au Service de la France is up and while not as immediate as the first hits it's stride about 4 or 5 eps in. Excellent stuff.

wasn't feeling series 2 as much, but the red telephone gag did make me laugh for 2 minutes straight, and mary jo is awesome.

Most enjoyable thing I've seen this year is 'A Korean Odyssey' Fun, the clothes were great, and the guy who plays Devil King Woo is terrific.

'Something in the Rain' is good too, be interested in knowing if it's a realistic portrayal of workplace dynamics in Korea. Also all the characters seem to stay up drinking half the night p much every day!!

I know we've already been over it, but it blows my mind that Netflix has Gandu available:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6vqxPLxkUE

Only in India...