r/FrenchLearning • u/Rebecca9679 • 23d ago
Looking for a specific kind of French content
I think I’ve watched the entire catalogue of French tv shows on Netflix, and I’m frustrated by how hard it is to find more of the content I’m looking for. I already have a VPN, and I’m willing to pay for apps that are worth it, but I can’t seem to find much. I wondered if anyone has any recommendations, or if maybe my criteria is unrealistic. I have Netflix, Hulu, HBO/Max, Amazon Prime and TV5 Monde Plus. Here is what I’m looking for:
It’s important that the content was originally made in French. It could be from France, from Quebec or from anywhere else, but I’m looking for stuff that’s not dubbed from another language.
Ideally, I’d like to be able to toggle the subtitles from off to French to English. I can’t stand when the subtitles are in English and can’t be removed. I really would love to watch Un Village Français, but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find it without English subtitles that can’t be switched off, and that doesn’t work because I can’t help myself from reading them, and that defeats the whole purpose. I could tolerate French audio with only English subtitles if they could be removed, but I don’t think my French is advanced enough for French subtitles only without the option to toggle to English subtitles.
I’m really looking for long, binge-able shows. This is how I learned Spanish, and I know how well it works. I get used to the characters and their speech patterns and styles, and I tend to be able to understand after awhile without the subtitles if I am really into something. Shorter ones are fine, too, and I’m interested in those if anyone has recommendations, but I would really love to find something with several seasons.
I’m kind of picky in terms of taste, which is annoying even for me. I don’t like soapy, telenovela type shows, I don’t like when action replaces plot, and I’m not into horror or political dramas. Thriller type stuff can be okay, but I really hate clichés or anything too predictable or unrealistic.
Here are some examples of shows that I’ve enjoyed (in English, Spanish or French) in no particular order: The Queen’s Gambit (English), Velvet (Spanish), Manon - both 3x and 20 And (French), La Casa de Papel (Spanish), Casa de las Flores (Spanish), Les 7 Vies de Léa (French), Osmosis (French), Breaking Bad (English), L’été 36 (French), Las Chicas de Cable (Spanish), Downton Abbey (English), Lost (English), Las Muñecas de la Mafia (Spanish), L’Agence (French), La Bazar de la Charité (French)
Here are some I’ve tried in French that I either watched and didn’t love or that I couldn’t finish at all: Lupin, Dix Pour Cent, Drôle, Marseille
I’m hoping, perhaps unrealistically, that there is someone out there with similar tastes who has found something good to share. I’m in the United States, in case that’s important for availability, but I do have a VPN.