Based on the Norwegian TV series by Ole Marius Araldsen, this is one of the best series on any streaming service in quite some time. This is brilliant. I could go on with any number of superlatives, but all I can say, is watch it. If you were given the opportunity to take a pill that would open up undiscovered memories and dreams, would you take it? Two strangers, Annie and Owen, sign up for a pharmaceutical test program where their memories are revealed to them; also, their dreams and sub consciousnesses are becoming interconnected. But unknown to them, danger is present: the giant computer that runs the tests has gone rogue and is threatening to destroy the program. HAL9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey immediately springs to mind with its “Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

Having lived in Johannesburg many years ago, this crime series was of interest. Of course, the city looks nothing like it did back in 1976. With the city as the backdrop, the story follows tough ex-cop Shadow as he pursues justice on his own terms and seeks to help those who are powerless to protect themselves. However, he is equipped with a rare ability, and that is he doesn’t feel pain. I like this one. It’s a little different to the usual fare.

This Swedish drama miniseries based on the Malin Persson Giolito’s novel, is set in Stockholm where best friends Dogge and Billy try to escape the escalating violence in their neighbourhood. As it takes over the struggling fringe communities no one is left untouched by its vehemence. The story exposes how many children are left to their own devices and become prey for those who are out to exploit them. This is an excellent series, although it is harrowing and troubling as the drama unfolds. Olle Strand and Yasir Hassan are outstanding and believable as the two boys.

This crime series from Germany tells the story of two contrasting Berlin police detectives who become a team against their will – and are forced into a territorial battle with the Berlin underworld that confronts them with their own human weaknesses and criminal activities – and into a final decision on which side of the law they’re actually on. Lots of twists with this one and it does hold one’s attention right to the end.

This is Netflix first Hebrew language series and it’s a winner. Boys behave just as silly in Israel as anywhere else. Pini and Nisso, inseparable childhood friends, co-owners of a local Jerusalem bar and die-hard fans of soccer team Beitar Jerusalem. Their friendship is tested when their lives take unexpected turns, their bar faces closure and their favourite team is set to play the most important match in its history. Friends and family are constantly advising them to grow up, get rid of the bar, stop all the partying… easier said than done. An utterly pleasurable experience to spend a few hours with Pini and Nisso. Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir write, direct and star in their creation.

This is quite a good drama series from Turkey, although it does take on a soap opera quality as one gets into it. It’s basically about ambition, how far you will stoop to achieve it and who you’ll step on on your way up. The story follows Asli, who doesn’t appear to want to rely on the merit of hard work to be able to climb the ladder. She uses some questionable methods in order to reach the summit and be the most reputable person on the table. The most annoying part for me was the constant use of pop songs, which came in at the most inopportune times.

At first, I presumed this was another mother/daughter at odds with each other type of drama, but it turned out to be much more than that. The irresistible, dynamic Georgia Miller is no ordinary mother. Daughter Ginny Miller often feels more mature than her 30-year-old mother. After years on the run, Georgia desperately wants to put down roots in picturesque New England and give her family something they’ve never had: a normal life. But Georgia’s past threatens her and her family’s new lifestyle, and Georgia will do anything to protect her family.

An interesting part of this documentary from Germany is how the story is told from the aspect of both the victims and the perpetrator. In 2012, a mysterious series of murders strikes fear and dread in Berlin. The victims, seemingly chosen at random, are drugged with an unfamiliar substance – a trail that confronts investigators with a dilemma. As news of the gruesome murders hits the headlines across Germany and further cases emerge that may be linked to previous murders, the pressure mounts on the investigators to solve the case

Based on true events, this docudrama crime thriller begins in September 2013, when people in Spain were shocked with a horrifying and highly publicised crime. Asunta Basterra, a 12-year-old girl of Chinese origin, had disappeared. Roasario Porto and Alfonso Basterra, her adoptive parents, reported her missing, although 24 hours later it was learned that she had really been murdered. Her body was found on a forest track near the family’s country house.