My First Month Talking About Netflix in Germany

Okay, deep breath. It’s been a little over a month since I moved to Berlin, and honestly, getting settled is…well, it’s a process. But one of the biggest hurdles, surprisingly, has been just talking about what I watch. Back home, it’s totally normal to drop into a conversation, “Ich habe gestern ‘Stranger Things’ gesehen.” Here? It’s a little…different.

The Initial Awkwardness

The first few weeks, I felt incredibly self-conscious. I’d be meeting new people at the Biergarten (beer garden – a small outdoor beer hall) and someone would ask, “Was schaust du so?” (What are you watching?) and my brain would just blank. I wanted to say, “I love ‘The Crown’!” but instead, I’d mumble something about “Videos” and immediately regret it.

It’s not that Germans don’t watch TV, it’s just that it feels…private. It’s not a casual topic like, “What did you have for breakfast?” It’s almost like admitting you have a slightly nerdy hobby.

Learning the Phrases

Thankfully, a friendly barista at my local café, Sarah, noticed my confusion. She patiently explained some of the common phrases. “Es gibt viele gute Serien auf Netflix,” she said. (There are many good series on Netflix.) She also told me to be prepared for the question “Hast du einen Streaming-Account?” (Do you have a streaming account?). This led to a slightly awkward explanation about Netflix and my subscription – which felt a little vulnerable, to be honest.

Another really useful phrase is “Ich mag diese Serie sehr!” (I really like this series!). It’s a good way to start a conversation, rather than just launching into a detailed description of a show.

Real-Life Dialogues – And My Mistakes

Let me give you an example of a slightly embarrassing conversation I had with a colleague, Thomas, in the office.

• Thomas: “Hast du am Wochenende etwas Schönes gesehen?” (Have you seen anything nice this weekend?)

• Me: “Ja, ich habe ‘Die Sendung mit der Maus’ gesehen.” (Yes, I watched ‘Die Sendung mit der Maus’ – a popular German children’s educational TV show.)

• Thomas: (Confused look) “‘Die Sendung mit der Maus’? Ist das…für Kinder?” (‘Die Sendung mit der Maus’? Is that…for children?)

I realized my mistake! ‘Die Sendung mit der Maus’ is incredibly popular in Germany, but it’s specifically for children. It completely undermined my attempt at sounding sophisticated. I quickly corrected myself, explaining, “Nein, nein, ich habe auch einige Filme gesehen, die für Erwachsene sind.” (No, no, I also watched some movies that are for adults.)

Common Genres and Preferences

I’ve noticed a few genres seem particularly popular. Krimis (crime dramas) are huge – everyone seems to be obsessed with shows like Tatort (a long-running German crime drama). Komödien (comedies) are also big, especially those with a touch of dark humor.

When I mentioned I enjoyed American sitcoms, people were a little surprised. “Sitcoms sind nicht so beliebt hier,” (Sitcoms aren’t so popular here) someone told me. “Wir schauen eher Dramen oder vielleicht etwas mit Humor.” (We watch more dramas or perhaps something with humor.)

Talking About Streaming Services – It’s More Than Just Netflix

It’s not just Netflix. Amazon Prime Video is also extremely common. I’ve learned that Disney+ is gaining traction, particularly with families. And then there’s ProSieben and ZDF – the major German TV channels – that a lot of people still watch live.

When asking about someone’s viewing habits, you’ll often hear questions like, “Schauen die auf Amazon Prime?” (Do you watch those on Amazon Prime?)

My Progress (and Ongoing Challenges!)

I’m still definitely learning, and I’m still occasionally stumbling over phrases. But I’m starting to feel more comfortable talking about what I watch. It’s helped me connect with people, learn more about German media culture, and even discover some new shows! “Ich lerne noch Deutsch, aber ich schaue trotzdem gerne Fernsehen!” (I’m still learning German, but I still like to watch TV!)

The biggest takeaway? Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Germans are generally pretty friendly and understanding. And who knows, maybe I’ll even become a Netflix connoisseur here in Berlin! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go browse the German Netflix menu…