My German TV Obsession: Talking About Shows (and Getting it Wrong!)

Okay, so here I am, six months in Berlin, and honestly, the biggest surprise hasn’t been the beer or the sausages (though they’re pretty great). It’s how much I’ve started talking about television. It sounds ridiculous, I know, but it’s become a surprisingly important part of my daily conversations – and a huge area for improvement in my German. Specifically, trying to really talk about what I’m watching, and the way Germans express their opinions about it, is proving to be… well, let’s just say challenging.

First Impressions: “Ich habe ‘Dark’ gesehen”

When I first arrived, I tried to impress my colleague, Steven, by saying, “Ich habe ‘Dark’ gesehen.” (I’ve seen ‘Dark’). He looked utterly bewildered. Turns out, ‘Dark’ is the huge German Netflix show. I’d mentioned it vaguely to a friend back home, but hadn’t realized its popularity here. He immediately launched into a lengthy description of every twist and turn, using words like “komplex” (complex) and “unglaublich” (unbelievable). I just nodded, trying to look interested, and eventually mumbled, “Ja, sehr interessant.” (Yes, very interesting.) It felt… awkward. I realized I wasn’t actually participating in the conversation; I was just a passive listener.

Opinions, Opinions, Opinions – and the German Difference

The thing is, Germans love to express opinions, often quite strongly. It’s not about polite agreement like sometimes back home. When I offered a slightly hesitant, “Ich fand es gut” (I found it good) about a local crime drama, ‘Tatort’, my friend, Alice, raised an eyebrow. She said, “Gut? ‘Tatort’ ist genial! Aber die Schauspieler sind manchmal etwas übertrieben!” (Good? ‘Tatort’ is brilliant! But the actors are sometimes a bit over-the-top!). Suddenly, ‘Tatort’ seemed… a little intense. I learned that saying something is simply “gut” isn’t enough. You need to explain why you liked it.

Connectors: The Key to Building a Conversation

That’s where the connectors came in. I started noticing how Germans used words like “weil” (because), “denn” (because/as), “also” (so/and), and “aber” (but) to link their thoughts. It made a massive difference.

For example, after struggling to articulate why I enjoyed a silly sitcom, ‘Stromberg,’ I tried this: “Ich fand ‘Stromberg’ lustig, weil die Charaktere so exzentrisch sind.” (I found ‘Stromberg’ funny because the characters are so eccentric.) It felt much more natural, and Steven actually laughed!

Here are a few useful phrases I’ve picked up:

• Ich finde…: I think…
• Meiner Meinung nach…: In my opinion…
• Deshalb…: Therefore…
• Zum Beispiel…: For example…

Practical Scenarios & My Mistakes

Let’s talk about a recent attempt to discuss a German reality show, ‘Kitchen Impossible.’ I said, “Ich fand die Küche sehr… lustig!” (I found the kitchen very… funny!). My pronunciation was terrible, and my colleague, Markus, stared at me. It turned out “lustig” is rarely used to describe a kitchen. He patiently corrected me, explaining that “interessant” (interesting) or even “unglaublich” (unbelievable – in a good way!) were more appropriate. Lesson learned! Also, apparently, arguing loudly about the contestants’ cooking isn’t considered a normal pastime. Apparently, there’s a certain level of decorum!

Expanding My Vocabulary

Here’s a list of useful vocabulary related to TV shows in German:

• Sendung: Program/Episode
• Rollen: Roles/Characters
• Hauptdarsteller: Main actors
• Drehbuch: Script
• Plot: Plot/Storyline
• Unterhaltung: Entertainment
• kritisch: Critical (about a show)
• positiv: Positive (about a show)

Moving Forward: A Little Bit Braver

I’m still making mistakes, definitely! But I’m trying to be more assertive, more specific, and to actually listen to how Germans express their opinions. I’m starting to understand that it’s not just about saying what you think, but why you think it. And honestly, the more I talk about television – and the more I mess up trying – the more comfortable I’m feeling with my German. Next time, I’m tackling ‘Babylon Berlin’ – wish me luck! “Viel Erfolg!” (Good luck!)

Does anyone have any other tips for discussing TV shows in German? I’d love to hear them!