French Shows on Netflix: My Review

In the past year, I’ve watched numerous shows on Netflix, probably about half of which have been in French. It’s a great way to continue learning the language by exposing yourself to faster conversation and with subtitles, if needed. Of course on Netflix you can change the language of almost everything into French, but there are also many shows originally in French, too. 

Below is a list of all of the French shows I have seen and my recommendations of each. Let me know if you have watched any and what your opinions are!

• The Circle France: 6/10

This is a reality show that we also have an American version of. Contestants live in apartments on their own and communicate with each other solely through sending messages through their TVs. Each episode the contestants rank each other based on their conversations and someone is eliminated until there is a winner. The French practice on this show is great because it is everyday language that young people are using. I learned so many new words from watching this show, but I am giving it a 6/10 because sometimes the concept of the show is a little slow and boring. 

• Plan Coeur (The Hookup Plan): 3/10

While this show is another option for French practice, I probably wouldn’t recommend it. Usually, I love rom-coms, but this show was not my favorite. The acting was a little cringy and many scenes were slow. By the time I was on Season 2, I was unable to continue. 

• Dix Pour Cent (Call My Agent!): 7/10

This is a four season show about a French talent agency dealing with a variety of clients. It is fun to watch because each episode features a client who is actually famous in real life. The French is fast so it is a good challenge to try and understand everything. I do have to say I haven’t finished this show, but I do hope to return to it at some point in the future. 

• Le Bazar de la Charité (The Bonfire of Destiny): 9/10

This is definitely my favorite show on this list. I watched this show back in December 2020 and I love it. It’s about a fire that took place in Paris and it follows the lives of three women who were affected by the incident. The French is moderately slow so it is easier to understand without subtitles, as well. I would recommend this show to anyone, even if you choose to watch in English. 

• The Serpent: 4/10

This is really a show in mostly English but it has some French so I figured I’d include it. It tells the story of Charles Sobhraj, a man who conned and killed others acting as a dealer of gems. Personally, I felt this show was a little slow and not that exciting, but I know other people (including my parents) liked it a lot. 

• Lupin: 7/10

This show is a relatively recent French show that features Omar Sy, a famous French actor. It is about a father who uses inspiration from a fictional character to get revenge for the wrongdoings that were done to his dad. It is an exciting show with a lot of action, but sometimes can become predictable. It is still a great show for learning French, though, and it will soon have a second season out, too. 

• L’Agence (The Parisian Agency): 8/10

I just recently started watching this show and so far I love it. It follows a family of four boys and their parents who own a real estate company out of their house in Paris. They sell luxury homes to the richest clients, and since they work as a family it shows their personal lives, too. I love seeing different French houses/apartments and the vocabulary is definitely beneficial and challenging. 

Those are my 2020/2021 French shows so far! Leave a comment if you have seen any or if you plan on watching:)