Bloodlands
James Nesbitt and from the creator of Line of Duty. How could anyone miss this winning combo? When an expensive car is pulled from the sea, veteran Northern Ireland police detective Tom Brannick (Nesbitt) instantly sees the connection to a notorious and long-buried series of mysterious disappearances. It’s a case that comes from Tom’s – and his country’s – dark past. From executive producer Jed Mercurio (Bodyguard, Line of Duty), this gripping four-part thriller is made for Nesbitt who as Brannick is obsessed with unmasking the semi-mythical figure behind this case, code-named Goliath.
The Sketch Artist
From Canada comes this French-language crime drama where stories are told from an interesting angle – our protagonist is Eve, a young sketch artist who can ‘read’ people. Eve and her colleagues – Maryse, the methodical director, Bernard, the seasoned investigator, and Anthony, the new technician – help police solve crimes and tackle cold cases. The ten-part series plays out a case over two episodes each. One cold case is immensely personal for Eve: the disappearance of her baby boy five years ago. This watchable series will capture your emotions as well as your eager attention.
Iggy & Ace
In this SBS Digital Original drama series, Iggy (Sara West) and Ace (Josh Virgona) are best mates. They live, work and play together, but alcohol plays too big a role in their lives. When Ace decides to get sober, Iggy feels rejected, and defensive at the idea that she too may have a problem. Fall in love with Iggy and Ace in this excellent Australian offering, from writer Ab Morrison. Roz Hammond (The Heights, Mad As Hell) also stars. Each of the 6 episodes is 10 minutes long.
Iggy & Ace is now streaming . Episodes are also available with subtitles in , , , and .
Derby Girl
Mix up Mean Girls, I, Tonya and Whip It with some Edgar Wright style and you get this fresh, young French comedy. 25-year-old Lola Bouvier is a former ice-skating star with a massive ego. Looking for a shot at redemption she is determined to become the greatest roller-derby champion of all time, sadly for her she unwittingly joins one of France’s worst teams, the Cannibal Unicorns. Dubbed by Variety as “fast-paced” and “darkly comic”, Chloé Jouannet (, My Summer in Provence) stars as Lola. Strap on your skates!
Romulus
If you’re a Vikings or Rome fan, then you can’t miss this Italian series. Spoken completely in ancient Latin, it is a dramatic and gritty retelling of the ancient myth about the founding of Rome. But this is not the story you’ve heard before about two brothers, Romulus and Remus and the she-wolf who saves them.
“This is a story about tribes,” (). “What we see are these almost primitive men and women, terrorised by nature and gods. We follow the stories of three or four characters, all outcasts for one reason or another, and how they survive and take their destinies into their own hands.
“This is done with a realistic ambition to do something that is powerful narratively but has a very realistic approach to the storytelling.”
Catch and Release
We are nothing if not dedicated to maintaining a constant supply of high-quality Nordic Noir. Set in a small village in northern Norway, Catch and Release follows the aftermath of the murder of well-liked Dr Meyer, who’s found floating down river with a bullet in his back. Among those desperate to solve the crime are his daughter, Erika, a young doctor, and ailing policewoman, Irja. With other locals getting tangled up in the investigation, prime suspect is the teenage Mira, who fled the scene with a shotgun in hand. We can feel you rubbing your hands together in satisfaction, NN fans, and rightly so.
Nude
The year 2026 brings a radical change to France: the Transparency Law requires everyone to live nude. But tensions are heightened when the law’s creator, Jean Lanvin, is found murdered... fully dressed. An up-and-coming young detective works the case with her ex-partner, Franck, who’s just woken up out of a coma he fell into back in the days when everyone still wore clothes.
Atlantic Crossing
Starring SBS On Demand favourite Sofia Helin (Saga Noren from ) and Kyle MacLachlan, this period drama takes us to Washington, D.C. in 1940 where Crown Princess Märtha and her children are living at the White House as political refugees from Nazi-occupied Norway. Her presence there influences how President Roosevelt views the unfolding tragedy in Europe. What begins as a friendship turns into affection and turmoil when Märtha courageously speaks out against the Nazis, eventually changing the course of the war. This compelling series features both Norwegian and English languages.
Beowulf
If it’s another historical action epic you’re after, look no further. This UK series is an epic reimagining of one of literature’s greatest and most enduring heroes, Beowulf. Set in the mythical Shieldlands, a place of spectacle and danger populated by both humans and fantastical creatures, the story begins with Beowulf (Kieren Bew) returning after many years, to Herot to bid its leader and his former guardian Hrothgar, Thane of Herot (William Hurt) goodbye. But with a political conspiracy afoot, Beowulf’s homecoming does not go as planned. Essentially a Western set in Britain’s mythic past, the story unfolds on a huge canvas, filmed among the breathtaking beauty of England’s north east. Get ready for epic fights, thrilling chases, raids, celebrations and battles.
Hard
Sex sells in this series from HBO Brazil. Sofia is a committed housewife whose life is shattered when her husband dies suddenly and she inherits a pornographic film company called SofiX. At first, she just wants to dump the problem. But when she fails to get a job as a lawyer and risks losing her home, she has no other way out. She decides to take over the business, on the condition they make more artistic and tasteful movies. But things get a little complicated when she starts falling for porn star Marcello. This stylish, funny and salacious show is an adaptation of the French comedy of the same name and it’s loads of fun.
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Who's who in the world of 'Hard'
Bäckström
Nordic Noir fans, you know we love you. Renegade detective Evert Bäckström is famous in Sweden for solving 99% of his cases. But when a bullet-ridden skull is found in the archipelago, DNA results confirm it belongs to a victim of Thailand’s 2004 tsunami. Faced with this inexplicable mystery, Bäckström is left to contemplate whether one can die twice. Based on the novel, Can You Die Twice? by Leif GW Persson (who is also a writer on the series), you will not want to miss this intriguing mystery. Kjell Bergqvist (, also streaming) stars in the lead role.
In Therapy
After the 2015 terrorist attack in Paris, psychotherapist Philippe Dayan is inundated with new clients. Between treating a traumatised cop and surgeon, a teenager with a personality disorder and a young couple whose child is in crisis, Philippe reconnects with his former therapist Esther for help and support in navigating his own emotional earthquake. A huge success in France, this series marks the TV debut of The Intouchables co-directors Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache. SBS viewers will recognise several cast members, including Mélanie Thierry () and Reda Kateb ().
SF8
Deliciously fascinating, this sci-fi series from Korea explores themes of robots, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality (VR), horror, fantasy, superpowers and natural disasters, with a dose of romance thrown in. In its eight stand-alone episodes, dive into storylines that include becoming trapped in a terrifying fantasy world while live-streaming a VR game, a detective who’s not a fan of AI systems who ends up working with an AI implant, and a nursing robot who agonises over which of their patients to save.
Crisis Unit
From Switzerland comes this thrilling drama set in stricken modern-day Yemen. When the president of a Swiss humanitarian agency is murdered, Geneva acts quickly to replace him. Thrust into the role is young law professor Suzanne. She will need immense fortitude to survive much less withstand the role, with over a dozen other members of the organisation kidnapped. Suzanne is determined to free the hostages, forging unlikely alliances and making dangerous discoveries along the way.
Featuring several languages including French, this show unusually highlights the complexity of aid work and a country little seen on our screens.
The Eagle
This series is classic Nordic Noir. If you missed it the first time, you definitely don’t want to miss it as it returns by popular demand. Charismatic detective Hallgrim Hallgrimsson (Jens Albinus) assembles a special law enforcement unit to fight cross-border crime and terrorism. Nicknamed The Eagle for his unerring intuition, Hallgrim exudes competence and self-assurance, but behind the dynamic façade is a tormented personality.
First released in 2004 this classic, one of the first big international Nordic Noir series, ran for 3 seasons, with writers Mai Brostrøm and Peter Thorsboe also writing hits like Unit One (), Modus () and creating The Team ().
Doc
If it’s medical procedurals you are after, you can’t go past this Italian drama. What would you do if you couldn’t remember the last 12 years of your life? This high-concept series is based on the true story of Italian doctor Pierdante Piccioni. Dr Andrea Fanti (Luca Argentero) is Head of Internal Medicine at Milan’s top hospital. He’s a cold, arrogant man who believes that any emotional connection with his patients will get in the way of a proper diagnosis. He’s a man who lives for medicine, not his patients. Then a grieving parent shoots him in the head. When he wakes from his coma, he has lost the last 12 years of memories (which includes the loss of his son and the breakdown of his marriage). Perhaps this is a chance to start anew with his wife, patients and colleagues. This hit Italian series is also filled with your usual medical procedural drama and is already being looked at for a US remake.
Awake
After 11 years in a coma, Dana wakes up to a new world where technology has taken over and everyone she has ever loved is different. Family secrets and past lies begin to unravel, as Dana struggles to make a life of her own in the ever-chaotic Beirut. This bold Lebanese drama was created by Nadia Tabbara and directed by Mazen Fayad.
Dark Woods
Tragically based on a true story from the 1980s, German series Dark Woods follows Thomas (Mattias Brandt, Babylon Berlin) who investigates the disappearance of his sister, Barbara. He ends up searching for over 30 years, and uncovers a series of murders along the way. Covering two timelines, this compelling series is from award-winning writer Stefan Kolditz (Generation War).
