My First Month of Talking About TV in Germany

Okay, deep breath. It’s been a month since I moved to Munich, and honestly, I’m still figuring things out. The language is… intense. But one thing that’s been surprisingly helpful for actually connecting with people, even strangers, is trying to talk about what we watch. It sounds silly, I know, but it’s a door. And let me tell you, opening that door has been more challenging than I anticipated.

The Initial Awkwardness

The first few weeks were just… silence. I’d be in the Kaufhaus (department store) with my friend Sarah, and she’d ask, “Hast du gute Serien gesehen?” – “Have you seen any good series?” – and I’d just freeze. My brain short-circuited! I wanted to say, “Oh yeah, I love Dark!” – which, by the way, is brilliant – but all that came out was a panicked, “Äh… ich… ich weiß nicht.” – “Uh… I… I don’t know.” It was mortifying. Sarah was lovely, of course, but the lack of conversation felt like a huge barrier.

Learning the Phrases – It’s About “Schauen”

I realized I needed to learn the basics. “Schauen” – to watch – is the key word. Then there’s “gern” – to like, “Ich schaue Serien gern” – “I like to watch series.” I started with the super simple: “Ich schaue oft Netflix” – “I often watch Netflix.” It’s amazing how much easier things felt when I had a basic phrase.

I also quickly learned that Germans don’t just ask “Hast du gute Serien gesehen?” They want details. They want to know why you like something. I made the mistake of just saying, “It’s good” – “Es ist gut.” That just got me a blank stare. Then my colleague, Thomas, explained, “Nein, nein. Sag mir, was gefällt dir daran? Was ist der Grund?” – “No, no. Tell me, what do you like about it? What’s the reason?”

Small Talk and Ratings

Now, ratings are a thing here. It’s not just about ‘good’ or ‘bad’. They actually discuss the IMDb rating. I heard a group of guys in the Biergarten talking about Stranger Things and the rating was 8.6. “8.6 ist wirklich gut!” – “8.6 is really good!” one of them exclaimed. I wanted to jump in and say, “Ich finde Stranger Things auch toll, aber ich finde die Serie etwas übertrieben.” – “I also think Stranger Things is great, but I find the series a little over the top.” But, I hesitated. I wanted to sound informed, not like a complete tourist.

A Real Conversation (and a Minor Disaster)

Yesterday, I was at a coffee shop with a woman named Ingrid, who I’d met through the expat group. We were chatting about our weekends, and she asked, “Was hast du am Wochenende geschaut?” – “What did you watch over the weekend?”. Feeling a bit bolder, I said, “Ich habe The Crown geschaut. Es war sehr interessant, aber ich fand die Schauspieler manchmal etwas… theatralisch.” – “I watched The Crown. It was very interesting, but I thought the actors sometimes a little… theatrical.”

She nodded, but then she said, completely seriously, “Theatralisch? The Crown ist doch eine historische Dramaserie! Die Schauspieler müssen natürlich übertrieben sein!” – “Theatrical? The Crown is a historical drama series! The actors have to be exaggerated!” I realized I’d completely missed the cultural nuance. In my home country, “theatralisch” could be a neutral descriptor, but here it was a major criticism! I quickly recovered and laughed it off, saying, “Ja, ja, du hast Recht! Ich muss lernen!” – “Yes, yes, you’re right! I have to learn!”

Key Takeaways for Now

Here’s what I’m learning, and you should too if you’re trying to talk about TV in Germany:

• “Schauen” is your friend: Know the basics of watching.
• They want detail: Don’t just say “It’s good.” Explain why.
• Ratings matter: Familiarize yourself with IMDb ratings.
• Be aware of nuance: “Theatralisch” might not always mean “over the top” – research!
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes: Seriously, everyone does. Laugh it off and learn.

Honestly, even these small conversations are helping me feel more comfortable and confident. And who knows, maybe I’ll even discover a new favorite series! Tschüss for now!