Best Netflix Series You’ve Never Seen

There are so many shows tucked away on Netflix that it is easy to miss the real gems. This list rounds up series from around the world that flew under the radar yet bring smart writing, striking settings, and memorable casts. You will find crime stories, sci fi mysteries, and offbeat comedies, many of them limited runs that are easy to finish. If you want something fresh for your next binge, start here.

‘Giri/Haji’ (2019)

This British Japanese crime drama follows a Tokyo detective who travels to London in search of his missing brother tied to a yakuza killing. Joe Barton created the series and Julian Farino directed several episodes. Takehiro Hira and Kelly Macdonald lead a cast that moves between English and Japanese dialogue. The show blends police work with family fallout and uses animation interludes in key moments.

‘Kingdom’ (2019–2020)

This South Korean period thriller sets a plague mystery in the Joseon court where the crown prince uncovers a strange illness spreading through the realm. Kim Seong hun and Kim Eun hee developed the series with lavish locations and detailed costumes. Ju Ji hoon and Bae Doona anchor the cast. The show combines palace intrigue with relentless survival stakes across two seasons and a special episode.

‘The OA’ (2016–2019)

Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, this genre bending mystery centers on a young woman who returns after a long disappearance with a new name and a startling story. The narrative moves between small town life and experiments tied to near death experiences. Brit Marling stars alongside Emory Cohen and Jason Isaacs. The series uses inventive structure with chapters that shift perspective and location.

‘Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories’ (2016–2019)

Set in a tiny late night eatery in Shinjuku, each episode focuses on a different customer and the dish that means something to them. Kaoru Kobayashi plays the Master who cooks to order and listens more than he talks. The format is anthology style with quiet slice of life storytelling. Food, memory, and city routines come together in warm self contained tales.

‘The Eddy’ (2020)

Damien Chazelle executive produced this Paris set drama that revolves around a struggling jazz club and the musicians who keep it alive. André Holland stars as the owner dealing with financial trouble and complicated family ties. Many scenes feature live musical performances recorded on set. The series moves between French, English, and Arabic and explores the business and artistry of the club.

‘Osmosis’ (2019)

This French sci fi drama imagines a startup that claims it can find a perfect match by reading the brain. The company runs a trial that entangles test subjects, founders, and investors. Agathe Bonitzer and Hugo Becker lead the cast. The show explores data, intimacy, and the cost of turning love into an engineered product.

‘1983’ (2018)

This Polish alternate history thriller asks what might happen if a terror attack kept the country under authoritarian rule long after the fall of the Iron Curtain elsewhere. A law student and a detective uncover a conspiracy with roots in the past. The show was created with a local team of writers and directors and was one of the first Polish originals on the service. The story travels from universities to security offices as the investigation widens.

‘Equinox’ (2020)

This Danish mystery follows a woman haunted by the disappearance of her school class during a graduation trip. Years later she begins to receive clues that pull her back to people she thought she left behind. Danica Curcic stars and the series adapts a popular podcast concept. Folk tales and modern life overlap as the search moves from Copenhagen to rural settings.

‘Luna Nera’ (2020)

Set in seventeenth century Italy, this fantasy drama follows a young midwife accused of witchcraft who finds refuge with a group of women hiding on the edge of society. The production uses historic towns and countryside to build its world. Antonia Fotaras and Giorgio Belli are featured among the main cast. Themes of superstition, family loyalty, and forbidden knowledge drive the plot.

‘Nobody’s Looking’ (2019)

This Brazilian comedy imagines a bureaucracy of guardian angels who follow strict rules while watching over people in a modern city. Victor Lamoglia plays a rookie who begins to question the manual he is meant to obey. The series blends workplace humor with fantasy elements and uses a bright visual style. Episodes explore how small choices ripple through everyday lives.

‘Typewriter’ (2019)

From India comes a ghost story about a group of school friends who form a club to investigate a haunted house in their neighborhood. Sujoy Ghosh created the series and builds tension with a story that spans generations. The show features a mix of English and local languages and uses coastal locations around Goa. Family secrets and old manuscripts fuel a mystery that ties past to present.

‘Tear Along the Dotted Line’ (2021)

This Italian animated series adapts the work of cartoonist Zerocalcare and follows his on screen alter ego through everyday misadventures. The narration breaks the fourth wall with fast jokes and sudden turns into heartfelt reflection. Voices include Zerocalcare and Valerio Mastandrea as the armadillo conscience. The style blends simple drawings with expressive timing and sharp observations about work and friendship.

‘The Valhalla Murders’ (2019–2020)

This Icelandic crime drama pairs a local detective with a returning investigator from Oslo as they track killings linked to an old case. The production uses stark landscapes and quiet towns for atmosphere. Nina Dögg Filippusdóttir and Björn Thors lead the investigation. The case draws on reports of abuse in a boy’s home and grows into a wider scandal.

‘Perfume’ (2018)

Inspired by the famous novel, this German series moves the premise to a modern setting where a group of former boarding school friends becomes tied to a disturbing murder. The investigators find a connection to experiments with scent and memory. August Diehl and Friederike Becht appear in central roles. The show examines obsession, privilege, and the power of carefully crafted fragrances.

‘Katla’ (2021)

From Iceland, this slow burn mystery begins after a long volcanic eruption isolates a small town. People presumed lost start to reappear covered in ash and with unanswered questions. Baltasar Kormákur serves as showrunner with a cast that includes Guðrún Eyfjörð and Ingvar Sigurdsson. Science, folklore, and grief intersect as the town tries to explain what is happening.

‘Caliphate’ (2020)

This Swedish thriller follows a young woman in Stockholm who becomes entangled with security services while a classmate is recruited online by extremists. Gizem Erdogan and Aliette Opheim lead the cast. The story tracks parallel lives in Sweden and the Middle East through family pressures and covert operations. Police work, classroom scenes, and encrypted chats form the backbone of the investigation.

‘The Rain’ (2018–2020)

Set in Scandinavia after a deadly pathogen falls during a storm, two siblings emerge from a bunker to search for survivors. Alba August and Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen star. The series moves across forests, labs, and fortified compounds as the group looks for a cure. Scientific trials and shifting alliances drive each leg of the journey.

‘Better Than Us’ (2018–2019)

This Russian sci fi drama introduces a highly advanced household android that bonds with a child and becomes the center of a corporate battle. Paulina Andreeva plays the robot while Kirill Käro and Vitaliya Kornienko portray the family caught in the fallout. Police and private security units track the machine through Moscow. Questions about ownership, autonomy, and human labor frame the conflict.

‘Bordertown’ (2016–2020)

A top detective relocates with his family to a Finnish border city where complex cases intersect with politics and local industry. Ville Virtanen stars as the investigator known for intense focus. The production makes striking use of lakeside neighborhoods and wooded roads. Each case unfolds across multiple episodes with forensic details and community ties.

‘Diablero’ (2018–2020)

This Mexican fantasy series follows a demon hunter who teams up with a priest and a resourceful ally to track supernatural threats in Mexico City. Horacio García Rojas, Christopher Uckermann, and Giselle Kuri headline the cast. The show blends urban locations with folklore and ritual. Nightclubs, chapels, and hidden markets become recurring hunting grounds.

‘Criminal: UK’ (2019–2020)

Set entirely inside a police interview suite, each episode focuses on a single suspect and the detectives trying to break their story. Katherine Kelly and Lee Ingleby lead the investigative team. The format uses surveillance corridors and mirrored glass to build tension. Guest actors rotate in as suspects with cases that range from fraud to violent crime.

‘Ragnarok’ (2020–2023)

In a Norwegian town overshadowed by a powerful family, a teenager begins to suspect that ancient forces are reawakening. David Stakston and Jonas Strand Gravli star. Environmental issues, school life, and local legends collide as characters discover unusual abilities. The story uses fjords, factories, and classrooms to ground its modern myth.

‘High Seas’ (2019–2020)

This Spanish period mystery is set aboard a luxury ocean liner sailing from Europe to South America. Ivana Baquero and Alejandra Onieva play sisters whose voyage is disrupted by deaths and secrets among the passengers. The production features elaborate sets and formal evening wear. Ship logs, passenger lists, and hidden compartments fuel the investigations.

‘The Mechanism’ (2018–2019)

Inspired by corruption probes in Brazil, this drama follows investigators who uncover a sprawling money laundering network. Selton Mello and Carol Abras portray the lead agents. Court filings, plea deals, and financial records drive the storytelling. The action shifts between offices, refineries, and political fundraisers as the case expands.

‘The Innocents’ (2018)

Two runaway teens discover one of them can shift appearance, drawing attention from a doctor who runs a secluded program. Sorcha Groundsell, Percelle Ascott, and Guy Pearce star. The series films across remote islands and city estates in the United Kingdom and Norway. Medical files, family histories, and surveillance footage shape the search for answers.

‘To the Lake’ (2019–2020)

A mysterious illness spreads across Russia as two families attempt to flee north by car and boat. Kirill Käro and Viktoriya Isakova lead the ensemble. The journey crosses frozen rivers and forest roads while authorities impose strict checkpoints. Supplies, trust, and old grudges become the group’s daily obstacles.

‘Control Z’ (2020–2022)

At a Mexico City high school, an anonymous hacker exposes student secrets and triggers escalating chaos. Ana Valeria Becerril plays a perceptive loner who pieces together digital clues. The series uses classrooms, rooftops, and social feeds to advance the mystery. Motives link to bullying, identity, and the pressure to fit in.

‘The Stranded’ (2019)

This Thai series follows elite school students trapped on an island campus after a sudden disaster cuts off communication. Papangkorn Lerkchaleampote and Chutavuth Pattarakampol star. Strange symbols, caves, and tidal patterns become recurring clues. The show mixes survival drama with local mythology and hidden experiments.

‘Leila’ (2019)

Set in a near future version of India, this dystopian drama tracks a mother searching for her daughter after being separated by a rigid caste like system. Huma Qureshi leads the cast. Government compounds, resistance cells, and fortified districts create distinct zones within the city. Records, checkpoints, and coded slogans reveal how the society operates.

‘The Woods’ (2020)

Based on a novel, this Polish limited series revisits a summer camp disappearance that connects to a present day murder investigation. Grzegorz Damięcki and Agnieszka Grochowska star. The story shifts between city courtrooms and forest paths as new evidence emerges. Family archives, cassette tapes, and witness statements tie the timelines together.

‘Black Spot’ (2017–2019)

Set in a remote forest town, this French Belgian series follows a police chief working with a newly arrived prosecutor on strange crimes. The community has a high murder rate and a history tied to the surrounding woods. Investigations uncover industrial interests, local clans, and old rituals. The production makes heavy use of misty valleys and dense trails to shape the atmosphere.

‘Call My Agent!’ (2015–2020)

This French workplace dramedy centers on a Paris talent agency where agents juggle client crises and internal power shifts. Real French film stars appear as exaggerated versions of themselves, creating case of the week storylines. The office staff manages contract disputes, image management, and last minute casting demands. Episodes move between agency meetings, sets, and red carpet events.

‘The Break’ (2016–2018)

A detective returns to his rural hometown in Belgium and is assigned a case involving a body found in a river. The investigation pulls in developers, sports clubs, and long running family disputes. The series presents police work alongside therapy sessions that reveal the lead’s own struggles. The town’s forests, farms, and football grounds become recurring search sites.

‘Tidelands’ (2018)

In a coastal Australian community, a woman comes home from prison and discovers tensions between residents and a group of mysterious outsiders. Local smuggling routes and underwater coves are central to the plot. The show mixes crime investigations with folklore about siren like figures. Power plays unfold in marinas, mansions, and salt flats.

‘Collateral’ (2018)

After a delivery driver is shot in London, a determined inspector uncovers links to immigration cases, military history, and political influence. The story follows church staff, soldiers, and civil servants connected by the victim’s final route. Interrogations and surveillance footage shape the inquiry. The series uses city estates, takeout shops, and government offices to track leads.

‘The Mire’ (2018–2022)

This Polish crime drama begins with journalists and police investigating bodies found near a swamp on the edge of a declining town. Newspaper archives and party records play key roles in piecing together the truth. Later seasons revisit the same region as power brokers change and new evidence surfaces. The production recreates period interiors and industrial zones with care.

‘Queen Sono’ (2020)

A top operative from a South African agency takes on missions that cross borders and corporate interests. Operations move through Johannesburg, Nairobi, and other hubs with on location photography. The plot threads involve private security firms, political funding, and family history. Action scenes are balanced with tradecraft and handler briefings.

‘Glitch’ (2015–2019)

In a small Australian town, several people rise from their graves in perfect health and without memory of their deaths. A local police sergeant and a doctor try to protect them while authorities take interest. Research labs and sealed records push the mystery forward. Rural roads, riverbanks, and a historic cemetery form the core settings.

‘Trese’ (2021)

Based on a Filipino comic, this animated series follows a detective who mediates disputes between humans and creatures from local folklore. Episodes feature aswang, tikbalang, and other beings embedded in modern Manila. The lead works with twin enforcers and a police captain who trusts her expertise. City alleys, train lines, and cemeteries provide the show’s urban backdrop.

‘Black Earth Rising’ (2018)

A legal investigator in London becomes involved in cases tied to prosecutions of crimes committed in Central Africa. Court procedures, extradition issues, and international warrants drive the plot. The story examines how law firms, governments, and NGOs interact on complex cases. Scenes take place in chambers, embassies, and news studios.

‘Paranoid’ (2016)

A doctor is killed in a playground and a small town British police team starts a case that soon involves contacts in Germany. Witness statements and pharmacy records become important clues. The detectives face leaks and anonymous messages that push them off course. Interviews span farms, clinics, and cross border offices.

‘Safe’ (2018)

A widowed surgeon searches for his missing teenage daughter inside a gated community where neighbors keep secrets. The investigation draws in school staff, club owners, and private security. Phone data, video clips, and hidden passages shift the direction of the search. The series maps the estate through cul de sacs, canals, and party venues.

‘Rilakkuma and Kaoru’ (2019)

This Japanese stop motion series follows an office worker living with three plush roommates who quietly disrupt her routine. Short episodes focus on small domestic moments like cooking, cleaning, and holidays. The production uses handcrafted sets and detailed miniatures. Narration and gentle humor highlight work stress, friendships, and daily comforts.

‘The Victims’ Game’ (2020–2024)

A forensic investigator with Asperger’s discovers links between a case and his estranged daughter’s circle. Crime scenes in Taipei and surrounding areas are processed with close attention to lab work and field protocol. Journalists, tech workers, and police units intersect as evidence accumulates. The show uses apartment blocks, riverbanks, and metro stations to stage key reveals.

‘The Twelve’ (2019–2020)

This Belgian courtroom drama follows jurors selected for a high profile murder trial while showing how their personal lives affect deliberations. Testimony, expert analysis, and reconstructed timelines build the case. Juror backgrounds introduce conflicts that spill into the jury room. Court corridors, homes, and workplaces alternate as the story unfolds.

Share the hidden shows you would add to the list in the comments.