International Television Series Highlights

In the past week, several international television series have garnered significant global attention through critical acclaim, awards, and viral popularity. Below is a summary of these notable series:

"Shōgun" (Japan)

• Genre: Historical Drama
• Country of Origin: Japan
• Distribution Platform: FX (United States), Disney+ (International)
• Unique Elements: "Shōgun" made history by becoming the first Japanese-language series to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. Its first season secured 18 awards at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, setting a new record for the most awarded single season in Emmy history. The series also received four Golden Globe Awards, including Best Television Series – Drama, and a Peabody Award. (en.wikipedia.org)

"Culinary Class Wars" (South Korea)

• Genre: Reality Cooking Competition
• Country of Origin: South Korea
• Distribution Platform: Netflix
• Unique Elements: This series achieved unprecedented popularity, recording the highest topicality score for original content released in 2024. It was recognized as Korea's Favorite Program by Gallup Korea in September and October 2024, marking the first web variety show to top the survey. The show also won the Grand Prize in the Broadcast category at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, a first for an entertainment program in the award's history. (en.wikipedia.org)

"Three-Body" (China)

• Genre: Science Fiction
• Country of Origin: China
• Distribution Platform: CCTV-8, Tencent Video
• Unique Elements: Adapted from Liu Cixin's Hugo Award-winning novel "The Three-Body Problem," this live-action series received critical acclaim upon its release. It quickly became a trending topic on Chinese social media, with viewers praising its faithful adaptation of the original novel. The series broke Tencent Video records for debut-day popularity. (bignewsnetwork.com)

"HPI" (France)

• Genre: Crime Comedy
• Country of Origin: France
• Distribution Platform: TF1 (France), Hulu (United States)
• Unique Elements: "HPI" (Haut Potentiel Intellectuel) has achieved immense international success. The U.S. adaptation, titled "High Potential," premiered on Hulu, attracting 11.5 million viewers within three days, making it the platform's most-watched show during that period. The original French series has been viewed by 280 million people across 105 countries and is nominated for an International Emmy Award in the comedy category. (lemonde.fr)

These series exemplify the growing global appeal of non-American television productions, each offering unique storytelling and cultural perspectives that resonate with international audiences.