United Kingdom

By genre : Comedy – Fantastic & Science-Fi – History – Modern life & drama – Murder & investigation– Politicians & spies

I’m French. So, “Rosbeefs” (who, to be fair, do not include Scottish or North Irishmen) have been known to be our Arch ennemy for a good thousand years, before the 20th century. They can’t help doing everything in opposition to us: driving on the left, using a system of length or weight measurements that nobody understands, maintaining royalty (what an outdated idea!).

Well, no, I like them, God knows why. Something with the sense of humor, maybe, the ability to take an unconventional look at life’s vicissitudes. Respect for nature and animals, too. Oh, and good series! Don’t ask me about the food, but the series, at least they know how to do that. That’s something, I suppose.

Beyond the unclassifiable Dr Who, my favorite neighbors seem to have a predilection for series about murder and investigation. They’re also very good at mini-series. Oddly enough, when you cross the two, Harlan Coben’s adaptations aren’t great. But all the series listed below are. I had a hard time choosing. My favorite series are in bold.
The map at the bottom of the page shows the locations of the series (other than those taking place in London).

• Sex education / Netflix / The son of a sexologist decides to give sex advices in high school to impress a girl

• A discovery of witches / Netflix / The forbidden love between a witch and a vampire could change the destiny of all creatures and humans.
• Sandman / Netflix / Lord Morpheus, King of dreams and nightmares, loses his power. Humanity is on the verge of chaos

• Shardlake / Disney+ / Lord Cromwell sends a disabled man to lead a double investigation in a rich catholic monastery
• The last kingdom / Netflix / At the end of IXth century, Saxons resist to Danes (vikings) invasions. England will be born from this fight.
• My lady Jane / Amazon / In a uchronic England, Jane Grey becomes Queen of a nation divided between “normal” humans and metamorphic ones
• Renegade Nell / Disney+ / Uchrony, fantastic / England, 18th century. Helped by a pixie, a young woman fights for justice.
• Poldark / Cornwall, 1783. A captain comes back after the war of independance. He is noble, without money. But he will find love and new fights.
• Bridgerton / Netflix / Not exactly uchronic, but a reinvented Regency : romances and rumors at the court.
• Outlander / Netflix / From Scotland to the new United States, two wars of independancy. Between 1850 and 1980, two periods of time.
• A thousand blows / Disney+ / London, 1880. From East End to rich districts, a Jamaican man become a boxing star. By the creator of Peaky Blinders.
• The English game / Netflix / At the end of 19th century, workers’ teams begin to play football against aristocrats. How can the game be fair?
• Peaky Blinders / Netflix / Birmingham, 1920. A ruthless gypsy family takes control of all the city’s trafficking. Beautiful and powerful !
• Downton Abbey / Netflix / Great Britain, 1920. Dramas and joys in a noble family and its household. A classic (very classic)

• Toxic town / Netflix / Corby, Northamptonshire, in the 1990’s. Several mothers give birth to children with deformities. They will seek justice

• A good girl’s guide to murder / Netflix / A student in high-school decides to reopen the painful case of another student’s disappearance
• Bodies / Netflix / London. 1890, 1941, 2023, 2053. Four police detectives find a body in an alley. Naked, shot through the right eye. Same alley, same body…
• Collateral / Netlix / A pizza delivery man is killed. He was an illegal immigrant. But another boy should have done the delivery. Who was the target?
• Paranoid / Netflix / In a quiet countryside British town, a mother in stabbed to death. Secrets from her past resurfaces
• Sherlock / Amazon, Netflix & Disney+ ! / The famous detective, transposed in our time. Smart, and a excellent casting.

• Bodyguard / Netflix / A gripping story of a protection officer who faces terrorists, organized crime and… politicians !
• The diplomat / Netflix / Amidst a major international crisis, a newly appointed US ambassador takes up her post in London