The Handmaid's Tale
A harrowing vision of a dystopian future, The Handmaid's Tale explores the inner workings of Gilead — a society governed by a religious autocracy where fertile women are placed into child-bearing servitude for politicians and other powerful members of society. June (Elizabeth Moss) is one such woman, now known by her 'handmaid' name Offred, which echoes the name of her new master, Commander Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes). We follow June as she navigates life in a totalitarian state, occasionally gaining insight into the events that led her to this horrible situation. As if her plight wasn't awful enough, June must also contend with Joy (Yvonne Strahovski), Fred's cruel and resentful wife who wants nothing more than to give birth to her own child. Truly harrowing and often brutal to watch, the show treads a fine line between peerless drama and torture porn, but you'll be riveted by Moss and Strahovski's performances to the bitter end.
Killing Eve
A thrilling game of cat and mouse, Killing Eve sees MI5 officer Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) on the trail of a brilliant – and psychopathic – assassin known as Villanelle (Jodie Comer). Though they're on opposite sides of the law, the two women become obsessed with each other, upping the tension as Eve chases Villanelle across Europe. While Killing Eve's premise sounds familiar, the show's approach to this kind of material is anything but. Surprisingly funny while also harbouring a dark, violent edge, the show is able to juggle different kinds of emotions and extremes with ease. As binge-worthy as they come, fans of murder mysteries and crime shows will likely tear through Killing Eve's eight-episode run in no time.
Counterpart
In a world with two realities that exist side-by-side and can communicate with each other, a nebbish accountant (J.K. Simmons) comes face to face with his alternate self — a kick-ass spy who drags the reluctant number-cruncher into his dangerous world (almost literally). A unique show with terrific dual performances from Simmons, Counterpart is recommended viewing for those who love their shows a bit left of centre.
The Bridge
When the body of a woman (or, more accurately, the top and bottom halves of two women who have been sewn together) is discovered on the Øresund Bridge right on the exact border between Sweden and Denmark, inspectors from both countries must work together to bring down the deranged killer responsible. While the show has been remade in different locales, the original version of The Bridge is by far the best. A must-watch series for fans of Scandi noir.
