German TV shows can be amazing tools for language learners who want to add some flavor to their lessons. It\u2019s easier to understand new vocabulary with the added context of a story and its visualization.<\/p>\n
German-language shows will also give you a feel for natural pronunciation<\/a>,\u00a0cases and\u00a0word order<\/a>\u2014and with subtitles, you can practice hearing and reading at the same time. Check out our list of some German TV series divided by genre, with details on where to watch them and how to utilize shows within your studies.<\/p>\n [fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n Where to watch: <\/strong>Netflix<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDark\u201d is one of the biggest shows on Netflix in recent times<\/strong>. It\u2019s a Netflix original series<\/a> produced in Germany with an all-German cast, and has won numerous awards in Germany and abroad.<\/p>\n \u201cDark\u201d follows members of the fictional town of Winden in Germany. Strange things are happening in Winden<\/strong>, beginning with the disappearances of some of the inhabitants\u2019 loved ones. As the mystery develops and the plot thickens, other skeletons fall out of the main characters\u2019 closets: affairs, crimes, suicides.<\/p>\n Soon, Winden finds itself in the middle of a conflict of apocalyptic proportions, complete with wormholes, time travel and an epic battle to save the world.<\/p>\n \u201cDark\u201d is a mix of science fiction and thriller. I recommend it for fans of the American Netflix show \u201cStranger Things\u201d<\/a> and other similar TV shows, such as \u201cThe X-Files.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Where to watch:<\/strong> YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n Vampires are booming on-screen, and Germany is no exception. In this web series, a new vampire awakens amidst fighting vampire guilds<\/strong> in Cologne. There\u2019s a lot of action and fake blood, but the camera always fades out before you can see something that might ruin your appetite.<\/p>\n The language is pretty standard, so it\u2019s easy to follow. One character sometimes speaks English.<\/p>\n Where to watch:<\/strong> DVD on Amazon<\/a>, Apple TV<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Did you ever wonder what the German version of \u201cStar Trek\u201d<\/a><\/strong> would look like?<\/p>\n In the first German sci-fi series, Commander McLane and his crew aboard the space cruiser Orion<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0protect Earth from extraterrestrial threats.<\/p>\n While fighting against the hostile \u201cFrogs\u201d (read: aliens, not Frenchmen!), he often finds himself at odds with authorities. The 1965 cult black and white series features hand-made special effects, \u201960s hairdos and retro gadgets.<\/p>\n The good thing about the future according to the \u201960s is that there are no dialects and no Umgangssprache<\/em>; the language is rather formal. On the downside, you need to be fairly familiar with technical vocabulary.<\/p>\n Where to watch:<\/strong> DVD on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n In this dystopian series set in 2017<\/strong>, Germany has become a surveillance state. When a group of civil rights activists is protesting against a new brain scanner, they stumble across a conspiracy even bigger than they imagined<\/strong>. But will they be able to stop the powerful corporation Protecta Society?<\/p>\n Being the first transmedia<\/a> German series, \u201cAlpha 0.7\u201d has different layers. The TV series works on its own, but you only get the complete picture in combination with the corresponding radio play and website, which is unfortunately offline but can be viewed via the Wayback Machine<\/a>.<\/p>\n The characters speak standard language at a moderate pace, but be prepared for some IT-specific vocabulary. Although the young activists talk faster and use more colloquial language, it\u2019s easy to follow the plot.<\/p>\n Where to watch:<\/strong> DVD on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n “Kommissar Rex”<\/em> is a German-Austrian show<\/strong> about a police dog who helps a team of cops solve every crime investigation with\u00a0sheer instinct and intuition. Rex is a German shepherd<\/strong> and a beloved character in many different countries around the world.<\/p>\n The series is set in Wien, but a new Austrian-Italian production\u00a0of the series\u00a0is set entirely in Italy. The original series is great for language learners of all levels.<\/p>\n Where to watch: <\/strong>Netflix<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDogs of Berlin\u201d is the second Netflix original series produced in Germany<\/strong>. As with \u201cDark,\u201d this show is completely in German with English subtitles and German closed captions for accurate German transcriptions.<\/p>\n \u201cDogs of Berlin\u201d follows two police officers investigating the murder of a famous (fictional) German-Turkish soccer player<\/strong> named Orkan Erdem. If you need any foreshadowing, the German word Orkan<\/em> means \u201churricane,\u201d and that pretty much sums up this action-packed show!<\/p>\n As the investigation into Orkan\u2019s murder progresses, the police officers uncover more and more unsavory information that puts Orkan Erdem\u2014and even the whole policing institution\u2014in a bad light. At the same time, tension and rumors surrounding the murder begin to grip Berlin, and eventually, the city is thrown into hysteria as tensions rise between pro-Turkish groups, the Berlin mafia and neo-Nazis.<\/p>\n Where to watch:<\/strong> ARD Mediathek<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cTatort\u201d<\/em> is the longest-running and most popular German crime series. Many devotees watch it with friends at home or in a pub and exchange bets on the murderer. \u201cTatort\u201d<\/em> also features some of the most well-known German actors, such as Til Schweiger (\u201cInglorious Basterds\u201d) or Sibel Kekilli (\u201cGame of Thrones\u201d).<\/p>\n Since 1970, the opening sequence has remained the same, but the episodes have kept in touch with the zeitgeist. The series\u2019 trademark is its critical perspective on the social setting of the crime<\/strong>, debating topical issues like integration, extremism or corruption.<\/p>\n Especially interesting from a language point of view, the episodes are produced by different regional teams in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and star different inspectors, making it several series in one.<\/p>\n This means you can easily avoid the dialects that are most difficult for you, or, if you\u2019re planning to visit, familiarize yourself with a particular one. The pace and use of Umgangssprache<\/em> differs with inspectors and the social milieus they\u2019re investigating.<\/p>\n Where to watch:<\/strong> Amazon Prime<\/a>, DVDs on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n This 10-part German TV series about the Russian mafia in Berlin<\/strong> is, in my humble opinion, one of the best German productions out there. Though the viewer figures were low when it aired, it received critical acclaim for its unique plot and impressive cast.<\/p>\n It tells the story of police officer Marek Gorsky, the son of Latvian-Jewish immigrants, who, along with his partner, is investigating the dealings of the Russian mafia in Germany\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n Gorsky is a tormented character who, in his job, struggles with the memory that his brother\u2019s murder case was never solved, and the fact that his sister is married to a Russian mobster.<\/p>\n This highly suspenseful action series<\/strong> is perfect for German students with a higher level of German who are looking for something to keep them on the edge of their seats!<\/p>\n Where to watch: <\/strong>ARD Mediathek<\/a><\/p>\n Detective Sophie Haas is the main character in \u201cMord mit Aussicht.\u201d <\/em>Contrary to her expectation of working in K\u00f6ln, she must instead tackle crimes in the fictional village of Hengasch. Despite its small size, Hengasch has plenty of unique quirks.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a satirical drama<\/strong> that gets most of its ironic laughs from emphasizing the regular clich\u00e9s often found in standard crime drama series<\/b>. It also pokes fun at the many differences between city and provincial living.<\/p>\n This series is an easy way to get your fix of police drama (and jargon) while enjoying witty and comedic German.<\/p>\n Where to watch:<\/strong> DVDs on Amazon<\/a>, SAT.1 Online<\/a><\/p>\n Homicide detective Mick Brisgau has been in a coma since the late 1980s. Twenty years later he wakes up and returns to work<\/strong> with the Essen homicide department.<\/p>\n \u201cDer letzte Bulle\u201d <\/em>follows Brisgau, an old-school macho cop, as he tries to come to terms with his new modern<\/strong> life<\/strong> and deal with new technology. He also has to come to terms with the fact that his old crime-fighting partner is now married to his ex-wife.<\/p>\n It sounds like a somber plot, but there\u2019s actually quite a bit of humor and thoughtful dialogue infused into the storyline. The series can also resonate with the nostalgics who, like Mick, have a bittersweet relationship with current-day trends and technology.<\/p>\n Where to watch: <\/strong>ZDF<\/a> (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen<\/em> \u2013 Second German Television)<\/p>\n \u201cWilsberg\u201d was developed in the 1990s. The show followed Georg Wilsberg, your typical small-town hero: he\u2019s a bookseller by day and a private eye by night<\/strong>.<\/p>\n His private eye capabilities help keep his neighborhood safe as he uncovers petty crimes and even crimes that implicate more powerful people in his town.<\/p>\n As expected, there are a few laughs along the way! At times, the show is charming and funny, but it can be suspenseful and dramatic<\/strong>. Since the show is from the 1990s, the language is a bit altmodisch\u00a0<\/em>(old-fashioned), but still familiar to older German speakers.<\/p>\n Where to watch: <\/strong>Prime Video<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBlochin: Die Lebenden und die Toten\u201d<\/em> (\u201cBlochin: The Living and the Dead\u201d) is a mini-series that originally aired in 2015 on ZDF.<\/p>\n The show follows a police officer named Blochin who must confront his shady past as a drug dealer to solve a crime that threatens to destabilize his community and daily life.<\/p>\n Naturally, this crime involves old friends from his past life, and what he discovers even implicates prominent German politicians.<\/p>\n This show is only one season long with five episodes, each between 60 and 90 minutes in length. Like other shows on this list, this show is great for learning crime and legal vocabulary<\/strong> as well as for getting a taste of what would be considered \u201cnon-standard German.\u201d<\/strong> In this case, that means the criminals use a lot of informal language and vocabulary related to crime and drugs.<\/p>\n Where to watch: <\/strong>Netflix<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cParfum\u201d<\/em>\u00a0is based on the German crime novel\u00a0\u201cDas Parfum\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(The Perfume)<\/a>, which was originally published in 1985 and still enjoys commercial and critical success today.<\/p>\n The story follows a group of students whose friend is murdered<\/strong>. Even after the friend is buried and gone, things don\u2019t seem quite right.\u00a0<\/p>\n As their own personal murder investigations unfold, disturbing secrets emerge<\/strong> and the students realize they are connected by things other than their mutual love of perfume.<\/p>\n Where to watch: <\/strong>Amazon Prime<\/a><\/p>\n “Block B unter Arrest”<\/em> follows Bea Kroeger, who is accused of trying to murder her husband<\/strong>. She is sent to a penitentiary to await trial and has to learn how to survive on the inside.<\/p>\n Soon enough, Bea realizes she can trust no one but herself. This is a particularly\u00a0interesting show if you are interested in learning German slang.<\/a>\u00a0Plus, it has been one of the most successful series to be released in 2015<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Where to watch: <\/strong>Amazon Prime<\/a><\/p>\n “Ein starkes Team”<\/em> has been running on ZDF since 1994<\/strong>. Only three 90-minute episodes air every year. It is a crime drama centered on a special unit made of a chief of police, a sub-chief and one of their subordinates.<\/p>\n It’s a kind of gourmet detective series<\/strong>, with beautiful shots of Berlin, great acting and a touch of sarcastic humor.<\/p>\n Because the genre is so familiar, and one generally knows what to expect from, for example, cops finding a dead body or interrogating a suspect, it is a good show for practicing your German regardless of your language level.<\/p>\n Where to watch: <\/strong>Amazon Prime<\/a><\/p>\n One of the most\u00a0enduring classics in Germany’s entertainment industry, “Derrick” is a clever detective series starring the beloved German actor Horst Tappert. It ran from 1974 all the way to 1998<\/strong>. Apparently, they didn’t only show this one in Uruguay, as it is the most exported German series of all time. It has aired in over 100 countries<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Tappert plays Inspector Derrick, an eccentric, unmarried\u00a0policeman who lives alone in a tiny apartment. But he is no ordinary loner. He has an uncanny ability to solve the most complex crimes in record time<\/strong>. The secret of this show’s\u00a0success can probably be attributed to the actor’s charisma and the clever screenplays.<\/p>\n Where to watch:\u00a0<\/strong>DVDs on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n If you enjoy \u201cThe Office,\u201d<\/a> you should give this very popular German sitcom a chance.<\/p>\n The show takes place in the office of a fictional insurance company called \u201cCapitol Versicherung AG\u201d<\/em> and focuses on the department headed by Bernd Stromberg. As the TV crew documents the day-to-day occurrences in the office<\/strong>, Stromberg tries, often unsuccessfully, to have his department come off in the best light.<\/p>\n The show, a parody of the modern \u201creality show\u201d genre<\/strong>, is great for German students since the humor is sophisticated yet very accessible.<\/p>\n Where to watch:<\/strong> DVDs on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cPastewka\u201d shows that Germans have quite a good sense of humor!<\/p>\n Often compared to the likes of \u201cSeinfeld\u201d<\/a> and \u201cCurb Your Enthusiasm,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0the series revolves around the comedian and actor Brian Pastewka, who plays a fictionalized version of himself. It has been well received throughout German-speaking Europe and even picked up a Rose d\u2019Or award<\/a>.<\/p>\n Naturally, you can expect to hear and pick up German that\u2019s flavored with comedy and wit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Where to watch:<\/strong> SAT.1 Online<\/a><\/p>\n Cutely, the title of \u201cVerliebt in Berlin\u201d<\/em>\u00a0is a play on words in German, meaning to be both in love with<\/em> and in<\/em> Berlin.<\/p>\n Widely broadcast across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, it\u2019s a lighthearted comedy series which focuses on unlucky-in-love Lisa Plenske<\/strong>. Lisa is a bit of a fish-out-of-water in her job at the \u00fcber-chic\u00a0Kerima Mode\u00a0<\/em>fashion house.<\/p>\n Sure, the plot is very reminiscent of \u201cUgly Betty,\u201d<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>but the German setting livens up the story enough to make it feel like a fresh, new idea for a TV series. Expect some romantic dialogue as well as business and fashion-related lingo<\/a>.<\/p>\nSci-Fi and Fantasy Series<\/h2>\n
\u201cDark\u201d<\/h3>\n
\u201cPax Aeterna\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
\u201cRaumpatrouille Orion\u201d<\/em> (Space Patrol Orion)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u201cAlpha 0.7 \u2013 Der Feind in dir\u201d<\/em> (Alpha 0.7 \u2013\u00a0The Enemy Within You)\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Crime Series<\/h2>\n
“Kommissar Rex” <\/em>(Rex: A Cop’s Best Friend)<\/h3>\n
\u201cDogs of Berlin\u201d<\/h3>\n
\u201cTatort\u201d<\/em> (Crime Scene)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u201cIm Angesicht des Verbrechens\u201d<\/em> (In the Face of the Crime)<\/h3>\n
\u201cMord mit Aussicht\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(Murder with a View)<\/h3>\n
\u201cDer letzte Bulle\u201d <\/strong><\/em>(The Last Cop)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u201cWilsberg\u201d<\/h3>\n
\u201cBlochin\u201d\u00a0<\/h3>\n
\u201cParfum\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Perfume)<\/h3>\n
“Block B unter Arrest”\u00a0<\/em>(Block B Under Arrest)<\/h3>\n
“Ein Starkes Team”\u00a0<\/em>(A Strong Team)<\/h3>\n
“Derrick”<\/h3>\n
Comedy TV Shows\u00a0<\/h2>\n
\u201cStromberg\u201d<\/h3>\n
\u201cPastewka\u201d<\/h3>\n
\u201cVerliebt in Berlin\u201d<\/em> (In Love in\/with Berlin)<\/h3>\n
\u201cDer Tatortreiniger<\/em>\u201d <\/em>(Crime Scene Cleaner)<\/h3>\n