ZDF media library: The 15 best and most popular series!

The ZDFMediathek is the offering of on-demand videos from Second German Television. In addition to the content of the public broadcaster, the media library also provides an impressive range of gripping series.

The 15 best series are included, ranging from great in-house productions to international series. Fans of the successful series “Inspector Barnaby” or the thriller series “The Swarm” will get their money’s worth in this overview. So that you always know what’s new in the ZDF media library, Netzwelt provides you with an overview.

The Swarm, 1 season (since 2023)

All over the world, the sea poses an unspecified danger. A team of international scientists sets out to find answers. The problem: Hardly anyone believes the researchers’ findings and so the group has to go on a life-threatening mission on their own.

Netzwelt recommendation: The eight-part thriller series “The Swarm”, which is based on the bestseller by Franz Schätzing, is an international co-production. Led by ZDF, France Télévisions, Rai, ORF, SRF, the Viaplay Group and Hulu Japan worked together to bring the gripping dystopia to the screen.

Inspector Barnaby, 24 seasons (since 1997)

Tom Barnaby works as an investigator at the Causton Criminal Investigation Department in the west of England. He is particularly responsible for bizarre crimes and brutal murder cases and is known for his intelligent investigative style. As with many investigators, the time-consuming cases increasingly cause problems in Barnaby’s personal life.

Netzwelt recommendation: The British inspector has been investigating “Inspector Barnaby” ​​since 1997. The crime series particularly impresses with its dark and gray atmosphere, brutal murder cases and the charisma of the investigator. From season 13 onwards, younger cousin John Barnaby takes over the position at Causton CID.

Out of Touch, 1 Staffel (2022)

Ava is an experienced couples therapist who has an extraordinary gift: she can sense her patients’ love lives the moment she touches them. While this ability enables her to achieve great success in her professional practice, it poses a challenge in her own love life. When Ava accidentally touches John and receives a disturbing vision from him, she is confronted with her own gift.

Netzwelt recommendation: The Swedish dramedy series “Out of Touch” (original: Handen på hjärtat) has a likeable cast with Sara Shirpey and Hannes Fohlin and tells an entertaining story about love in 6 episodes.

Normal People, 1 Staffel (2020)

Connell and Marianne grow up in the same village and, despite their differences, become closer after school. From school to university, their lives cross again and again and their young love is complicated throughout.

Netzwelt recommendation: The British series “Normal People” based on the book by Sally Rooney is an all-rounder about the love and problems of all Millennials and Gen Z. With its cast of Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, the series is authentic and touching .

Sløborn, 3 seasons (2020-2024)

After teenagers find a deceased couple in a boat and unsuspectingly take their valuables, the residents of the North Sea island of Sløborn have to fight a deadly virus. The rebellious student Evelin Kern seems to be the only one immune to pigeon flu and is supposed to take part in numerous tests.

Netzwelt recommendation: The series maker of the German thriller series “Sløborn” is known, among other things, for the gangster series “Dogs of Berlin,” which was released on Netflix in 2018. With “Sløborn” he shows in a perfidious way what happened to viewers at the same time during the corona pandemic.

The Outlaws, 2 seasons (since 2021)

Seven strangers from different walks of life, all of whom have been involved in criminal activities, are forced to do their community service together. As the group gets to know each other better, they realize that one of them is being threatened by one of the most dangerous gangsters in the city. To protect him, they must work together.

Netzwelt recommendation: The British Comey series “The Outlaws” is a co-production between Amazon and BBC. There is always humor, as the series creator Stephen Merchant already created the successful British series “The Office”.

The Rookie, 6 seasons (since 2018)

In his mid-forties, John Nolan decides to start over and join the Los Angeles Police Department as a rookie. Since he is significantly older than his colleagues in training, he constantly has to face challenges. However, that doesn’t stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a police officer.

Netzwelt recommendation: The US series “The Rookie” already has six seasons and the spin-off “The Rookie: Feds”. The main role in the series is played by Nathan Fillion (“Castle”), who provides plenty of entertainment during his midlife crisis. There are currently 3 seasons of the series available in the ZDF library.

The Crimson Rivers, 4 seasons (2018-2023)

Inspector Pierre Niémans and his student Camille Delauney are always consulted when others fail in the bizarre murder cases. However, they often encounter resistance in their manner and are not considered the most sociable people.

Netzwelt recommendation: The French ZDF series “The Purple Rivers” is an adaptation of the extremely successful film of the same name from 2000.

Around the World in 80 Days, 1 Season (2021)

After making a bet, the rich English gentleman Phileas Fogg and his French servant Jean Passepartout embark on a journey around the world that is to be completed in just 80 days. They are accompanied by the aspiring journalist Abigail Fix.

Netzwelt recommendation: The novel “Around the World in 80 Days” by Jules Verne is considered an absolute classic. The series adaptation “Around the World in 80 Days”, in which David Tennant (“Good Omens”), Ibrahim Koma (“St. Tropez”) and Leonie Benesch (“Babylon Berlin”) take on the leading roles, is a German- French-Italian co-production.

Deadlines, 2 seasons (since 2021)

When Elif comes back to Frankfurt-Goldstein for the first time in years, she meets her childhood friends Lena, Franzi and Jo. After years of being carefree, the four completely different women in their 30s now find themselves faced with social expectations: including questions about children, relationships, careers and capitalism.

Netzwelt recommendation: In the German comedy series “Deadlines,” the dialogue is sometimes malicious and politically incorrect. It’s about women’s responsibilities and their “deadlines” and what that actually means. The series received a nomination for the Grimme Prize 2022.

Death in Paradise, 13 seasons (since 2011)

London investigator Richard Poole is sent to the tropical island of Sainte Marie in the Caribbean to investigate the case of a murdered colleague. The new environment is actually fantastic, but he can’t get used to the Caribbean mentality at all.

Netzwelt recommendation: The crime series “Death in Paradise” is a British-French television series. The first investigator was Detective Inspector Richard Poole (Ben Miller), but the investigators were changed repeatedly over the course of the series.

Vienna Blood, 3 seasons (since 2019)

The police officer Oskar Rheinhardt is dealing with a bizarre series of murders in Vienna in the 1920s. When he meets Sigmund Freud’s student and psychoanalyst Max Liebermann, he asks him for support. The two become an unusual but successful team of investigators.

Netzwelt recommendation: The BBC Two crime series “Vienna Blood” is based on the novels “The Liebermann Papers” by Frank Tallis and was created in collaboration with ZDF and ÖR. Matthew Beard and Juergen Maurer star in the lead roles.

The mountain rescuers, 15 seasons (since 2009)

Markus Kofler and his team carry out daily mountain rescues around Ramsau in Styria, Austria. But his private life is also marked by ups and downs. At the beginning, this series was about Andreas Marthaler, who wants to open a climbing school with his girlfriend Sarah at the Grand Canyon. After the tragic death of his friend Stefan, Andreas fulfills his last wish and takes over the management of the Styrian mountain rescue service.

Netzwelt recommendation: The German action series “Die Bergretter” was initially broadcast in 2009 under the name “Die Bergwacht”. In 2012 the name was changed to “The Mountain Rescuers”. The 16th season of the hit series has already been confirmed.

This Is Going to Hurt, 1 Staffel (2022)

There is never a quiet moment in the delivery room. Assistant doctor Adam Kay experiences funny and heartwarming highlights as well as heartbreaking low points on the ward every day. The lack of beds and understaffing in particular are pushing doctors to their limits.

Netzwelt recommendation: The British series “This is Going to Hurt” is characterized by its black humor. Adam Kay in particular, who plays the lead role and was responsible for the idea, often breaks the fourth wall by addressing the viewer directly with sarcastic and ironic comments.

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