Language Spanish
Originally aired in 2017
Three parts 23 episodes

Want to watch a nonstop, crazy, speed thriller? Then Money Heist is the perfect series for you. It is about a biggest heist planned by one man, the professor and his eight chosen criminals. There is never a lull moment in the narration. The keep you guessing through out .The professor depicted as a sensitive, compassionate person still a mastermind behind the heist makes it an interesting watch. Part one and two were good but I think part 3 lost its zest.
Don’t miss this action packed adventure.

Padmini Satyanarayanan

Language English
Originally aired in 2016
Four seasons 33 episodes

When my son suggested this series to me and when I saw the posters I thought it is a children’s comic book story and gave it a miss. But when there was a time I couldn’t choose a series (Netflix and Amazon prime have presented a problem of plenty now) he again insisted that I watch ST. so I watched it and scolded myself for having missed it for so long. Yes it is about children, yes it is a comic book story but what a casting! What acting! What characterizations! What locales! What CGs! It was a complete treat to watch.

It does remind you of ET the extra-terrestrial, Back to the Future, Aliens and Terminator at times but that is the secret of its success because we feel so nostalgic and we get closer to the people. Astounding performances by the cast especially the children, I should mention Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, the kid is simply awesome.

Padmini Satyanarayanan

DASTAAN - பாசாங்கில்லாத பாகிஸ்தான் காதல்
Language Urdu
Country Pakistan
Originally aired in 2010
One season 23 episodes

I started watching Pakistani TV series primarily to improve my Urdu; to enrich the vocabulary and to learn the nuances of the language but I must admit that I was so impressed by the story value and the execution of the stories that I couldn’t stop with one. Unlike the saas bahu sagas of Star Plus or the two wives hungama of Sun TV, these series had strong story lines with solid values. Another important factor is that they don’t keep churning these stories for seven years, ten years and call that in itself as success. Maximum a series would be 25 episodes.

Dastaan is an epic series in its own right. Based on the events that occurred during the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan. Bano is engaged to Hassan who works in the Pakistani side in Rawalpindi and she is in Ludhiana the Indian state of Punjab. Her family is destroyed completely during the riots and did she survive to reach her finance in Pakistan is the rest of the story. Human suffering is the same whatever side of the border you are in, The trials and tribulations; the tears and anguish; the longing and the separations; the torture and humiliations are all the same. The drama does not make villains out of Hindus and Sikhs but only depicts how mob culture can destroy humanity in our own neighbors and friends.

Dastaan is a heavy subject to watch, I had to give a day’s break every now and then to compose myself, and still it shakes your very being. You are left with questions like was all this necessary? For what purpose? What did we achieve by cutting of an arm of the peninsula? Couldn’t they have done it without so much bloodshed? Were our leaders careless that they did not foresee such a calamity? Or were they indifferent? There are no graphic scenes of violence in the drama still it tears you apart.

Watch Dastaan to know the bitter history of India and Pakistan, what our people endured because of the egoism and foolishness of our leaders, because Bano is not just the daughter of Pakistan, she is as much our daughter too.

Padmini Satyanarayanan

BLACK SPOT/ ZONE BLANCHE
Language French
Originally aired in 2017
Two seasons 16 episodes

An honest cop with a troubled past, her loyal colleagues, a weird prosecutor, a small town with a close knit community, to top it all a Celtic god believed to be haunting the forest, what more do u want for a gripping crime thriller? Black spot is brilliantly engaging. If you want to break away from a bustling city life and go to a tranquil place, watch Black spot it will automatically transport you to a remote French town.

Padmini Satyanarayanan

McMAFIA - ரஷ்யன் மாஃபியா கதை
Language English/Russian
Originally aired in 2018
One season 8 episodes

Macmafia is about a Russian mafia family who relocate to England and start a legitimate business. The son Alex Godman is brought up as an upright gentleman. Alex starts a business and wants to lead a calm and quite life with his girlfriend Rebecca until the past catches up with them and he is sucked into the world of crime. It is a gripping tale of someone who wants to be righteous but could not ignore family values. It’s a breezy watch of just 8 episodes, so happy viewing!

Padmini Satyanarayanan

Language Hindi/ English
Originally aired in 2017

Inside Edge is Amazon Prime’s first ever original series. It is based on an imaginary cricket team playing league games modeled on IPL. Anyone interested in cricket and IPL should not miss it. Strong storyline, interesting screenplay, impressive performances and a racy climax makes it wonderful viewing. I finished all the 10 episodes in two days! While it shows the ugly face of betting and match fixing it also shows how some players uphold the spirit of the game. This is also the first Indian television series to be nominated for Emmy Awards.

Language Korean
Originally aired in 2019
One season 18 episodes

Arthdal Chronicles was touted as THE EPIC drama of all times and created a hype that almost killed the series. It received lot of flak for being too much like Game of Thrones. It is a gross injustice to the series if it is compared with the all-time greatest epic drama in television history. Korean viewers even called it embarrassing. But one should see the series to know that it is nothing like GOT. Of course it is an epic drama about mythological times with kings, monsters, magicians which would resemble other epics. Another big complaint was that it was slow. I would say every KDrama is guilty of this charge. They tend to grow on you. If you have the patience to go through the first few episodes you are definitely in for a treat. This is true for almost all KDrama series.
Arthdal Chronicles is breath-taking in its settings, visuals, locations, costumes, make-up; has a solid story and outstanding performances by the cast. I thoroughly enjoyed all the 18 episodes even though each one was about 80 mins long. If you love mythologies don’t miss this one. The final episode hints at another season. I personally would welcome a second season but it seems it is most unlikely due to low TRPs and the huge production cost. It is so disappointing to leave a story half way through like this. Hoping the producers would consider viewers like me.

Padmini Satyanarayanan

Language Turkish
Originally aired in 2014
Five seasons 448 episodes
Available in Netflix

Diliris Ertugrul(Resurrection Ertugrul) is a Turkish historical drama which traces the life of Ertugrul the father of Osman I, founder of the Ottaman Empire. Engin Altan Düzyatan as Ertugrul and Esra Bilgiç as Halime Hatun are the lead pair.
Ertugrul hailed from a small tribe called Kayi tribe as the third son of the tribe’s chief. He went on to become the Uc Bey since he was the only person to face the Mongols and defeat them. His story is portrayed in this epic drama.
When it was first aired in Turkey in 2014 it became an instant rage throughout the Arab world. It’s been dubbed and aired in 22 countries.
The grandeur of the story, the cast, the locations, the sets and the stunt choreography are simply breath taking. The staggering number of episodes may put you off in the beginning but once you start watching you ll be sucked into the world of Ertugrul.
Happy watching!

Padmini Satyanarayanan

Language Korean
Originally aired in 2016
One season 16 episodes

Take a crime thriller with cops and serial killers throw in a supernatural element and what do we get? A masterpiece, yes Signal is truly a masterpiece. The lead actors and the plot do the trick. There is no need for fashionable costumes, breathtaking locations, kisses and clingy romance like in other K Dramas. Especially Jo Jin Woong as Lee Jea Han, the honest cop has excelled in his role. He is clumsy, he is vulnerable but he is also genuine and he is honest. He is not that smart Sherlock Holmes type of detective but he cares deeply. Every time he cried I cried with him. A life time performance.
Watch it if you like fast paced crime thrillers added with the supernatural.

Padmini Satyanarayanan

Language Korean
Originally aired in 2016
One season 16 episodes

I was never a stickler for romances, so this series was lying in my laptop for two full years. Since I had nothing else to do I decided to watch it. What a beautiful love story! And how did I miss it for so long! We should give it to the Koreans when it comes to instilling morals and values through their TV series. I heard that many young Koreans enrolled in the army after this series was aired. All the four protagonists and every supporting characters have done their job to perfection.
There is a sub plot with a North Korean soldier in it. The dignified way in which they portray his character is so adorable (I am also reminded of Kim Ki Duk’s The Net, if you haven’t watched it yet plz do). I wish our filmmakers have the same courtesy while making films about our neighboring country.
Though the story is predictable and nothing out of the ordinary still the series manages to keep us involved. The actors were so good that I have started watching Arthdal Chronicles featuring the same actors Song Joong Ki and Kim Ji Won.

If you are in a mood for a breezy love story don’t miss this one.

Padmini Satyanarayanan