A new week means the top streaming services have likely seen the usual top 10 shuffle, with viewers discovering new shows and movies over the weekend. Netflix probably experiences the most changes as newer releases manage to crack the trending lists, which is no small feat on the world’s biggest streaming service. “Unfamiliar” is a recent title worth making note of this week, having shot straight to the No. 5 spot.
“Unfamiliar” is a German thriller series set in Berlin that follows a family racing to contain the fallout of their past while protecting loved ones and those trying to disappear from it. While its premise may sound like a typical spy drama you’d stumble across on TV, sometimes all you really need is a show packed with action and twists to feel rewarded. “Unfamiliar” delivers exactly that within Netflix’s signature style of tightly-packed episodes.
With countless titles added to Netflix every month, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So if you’re looking for a bingeable series that doesn’t require much brain power (or time), here’s everything you need to know about “Unfamiliar” now that it's climbing the charts.
What is ‘Unfamiliar’ about?
“Unfamiliar” follows Simon (Felix Kramer) and Meret Schäfer (Susanne Wolff), a married couple who once worked as agents for Germany’s foreign intelligence service but have since left that life behind to run a discreet safe house known as “The Nest.” Their day is quickly disrupted during their daughter’s 16th birthday when an injured stranger shows up seeking help and soon triggers a chain of events tied to a botched mission from their past.
As they probe his true identity, they are pulled back into the world they hoped was behind them, pursued by assassins, Russian operatives, and even members of their former agency. Caught in an escalating crisis, the Schäfers struggle to shield their loved ones as unresolved business from their former lives catches up with them.
Should you stream ‘Unfamiliar’ on Netflix?
The spy genre has seen another surge in popularity in recent years, with a solid stream of successful series appearing across streaming platforms. “Slow Horses” on Apple TV is often cited as one of the most critically acclaimed. Netflix, of course, has its own share of hit spy thrillers, including “Black Doves” returning for a second season in 2026, and “The Night Agent,” which comes back this month with season 3.
If you enjoyed any of these, “Unfamiliar” comes highly recommended, especially if you’re looking for something to pass the time while waiting for Netflix’s bigger shows to return.
This series takes a more personal approach, following a family of former foreign intelligence agents who now run a covert safe house for people in hiding. However, a threat they believed long gone suddenly resurfaces, setting off the chaos that follows. It’s probably most comparable to “The Americans” and even 2018’s “Bodyguard.”
Reviewers also seem to be impressed with this spy thriller. Karina Adelgaard from Heaven of Horror said: “If you’re a fan of well-written characters and enjoy a solid spy thriller plot with lots of action and twists, then Unfamiliar is definitely for you.” Meanwhile, Moneycontrol’s Abhishek Srivastava stated that the show “succeeds in focusing on character over spectacle,” adding that “the pacing is controlled, stakes feel personal, and tension grows from interpersonal conflicts rather than loud action.”
The first episode of “Unfamiliar” very much paves the way for an engaging series, since it provides enough context to draw you into Meret and Simon’s complicated situation, while layering in just enough mystery to hint at twists to come.
If the opening piques your interest, the rest of the series dives even deeper into the family’s past, reveals that those involved might not be who they seem, and ends in a way that strongly hints at a second season (without giving away spoilers). Plus, with six episodes, it’s the perfect length for anyone seeking a gripping binge-watch this week.
Stream "Unfamiliar" on Netflix now
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