6 min read
Let’s laugh together.
Today, it is a day for comedy — a rather familiar opening, actually. Not exactly a genre I am deeply drawn to, since I am more of a fantasy, science fiction, and supernatural series enthusiast. Still, I believe I have put together a list as thoughtfully as I could, just for you, and I hope you feel the same way. While bringing these series together, I started with a simple question: how do different countries approach comedy? Through this small research journey, I realised that no matter where we are, comedy remains comedy — but the way it is told does not. The series in this selection bring together laughter from different continents and different countries. If you are curious about hearing laughter from elsewhere, sharing it, and feeling it together, this list is just for you. Now, let’s take a look — hopefully, it becomes the reason behind your laughter.
Kardeş Payı
Country: Turkey
Year: 2014–2015
Creators: Selçuk Aydemir
Director: Selçuk Aydemir
Cast: Ahmet Kural, Murat Cemcir, Seda Bakan
Seasons: 2
Network / Platform: Star TV
About the Series
Some comedies shout their jokes; here, humour quietly leaks out of the way the characters think. A well-intentioned attempt to “fix life with an engineer’s mindset” turns ordinary moments into comedy on its own. If you enjoy character-driven humour rather than loud punchlines, step into this neighbourhood for a moment; a few scenes later, you will already feel part of the conversation.
The Benza
Country: Japan
Year: 2019–2021
Creators: Christopher McCombs
Director: Raito Nishizaka
Cast: Kyle Card, Christopher McCombs, Haku Inoue, Shun Sugata
Seasons: 2
Network / Platform: Tokyo MX / Amazon Prime Video
About the Series
Set almost entirely inside a small Tokyo apartment, The Benza finds humour in miscommunication and timing, where simple situations quietly spiral out of control. The comedy stays grounded, letting reactions and silence do the work rather than pushing for big jokes. If you appreciate character-based humour built from everyday awkwardness, this series pulls you in gently and makes small moments unexpectedly funny.
TVF Pitchers
Country: India
Year: 2015–2023
Creators: Arunabh Kumar
Director: Amit Golani
Cast: Naveen Kasturia, Arunabh Kumar, Jitendra Kumar, Abhay Mahajan
Seasons: 2
Network / Platform: The Viral Fever / ZEE5
About the Series
Dreaming is easy; keeping things running is not — and the humour lives right in that tension. The characters are sometimes too bold, sometimes too stubborn, yet nothing feels like a fairy tale. If team chemistry mixed with grounded comedy speaks to you, you will feel yourself walking alongside them, and when the episode ends, you will likely say, “Alright, just one more.”
Fleabag
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 2016–2019
Creators: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Director: Harry Bradbeer
Cast: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott
Seasons: 2
Network / Platform: BBC Three / Amazon Prime Video
About the Series
From the very beginning, there is an energy that says, “I’m here, and so are you.” The humour is direct, sometimes uncomfortably honest, but never empty. The story does not leave you in the audience seat; it pulls you closer, and by the end, the sense of “I’m glad I watched this” settles in on its own.
Yoh! Christmas
Country: South Africa
Year: 2023
Creators: Rethabile Ramaphakela
Director: Rethabile Ramaphakela
Cast: Katlego Lebogang, Siya Sepotokele
Seasons: 1
Network / Platform: Netflix
About the Series
Family expectations, social tension, and those moments where no one knows what to say next — the humour grows naturally from these situations. Nothing is forced, and that warmth carries through to the end, leaving you in a noticeably lighter mood.
Hacks
Country: United States
Year: 2021–present
Creators: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky
Director: Lucia Aniello
Cast: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder
Seasons: 3
Network / Platform: HBO Max
About the Series
Rather than talking about comedy from the outside, it steps straight into the kitchen. Generational tension and ego clashes unfold quietly, without shouting. If sharp dialogue and character friction appeal to you, the series sets its rhythm early and leaves you thinking, “Watching these two together is genuinely enjoyable.”
Club de Cuervos
Country: Mexico
Year: 2015–2019
Creators: Gaz Alazraki, Mike Lam
Director: Gary Alazraki
Cast: Luis Gerardo Méndez, Mariana Treviño
Seasons: 4
Network / Platform: Netflix
About the Series
Ego never runs out here, yet the series never worships it — it plays with it. Mistakes become fuel rather than frustration. The pace is lively without becoming chaotic, and by the end, you find yourself curious about what move comes next.
Nobody’s Looking
Country: Brazil
Year: 2019
Creators: Daniel Rezende
Director: Daniel Rezende
Cast: Victor Lamoglia, Kéfera Buchmann, Júlia Rabello, Projota
Seasons: 1
Network / Platform: Netflix
About the Series
A fantastical idea is kept small and grounded, letting humour emerge from everyday oddities rather than spectacle. If gentle, intelligent absurdity appeals to you, this series draws you in quietly and leaves you thinking, “I liked the tone of this world.”
Flight of the Conchords
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2007–2009
Creators: Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie
Director: Taika Waititi, James Bobin
Cast: Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie
Seasons: 2
Network / Platform: HBO
About the Series
Quiet, strange, and entirely its own. The jokes are so understated that you might miss them — but when you catch one, the smile lasts. It invites you into a small universe and closes with a simple feeling: “This is exactly my kind of humour.”
At the End of the Journey
As this list comes to an end, one thing becomes clear: comedy may travel differently across countries, but its effect feels surprisingly familiar. Some series make you smile quietly, others catch you off guard, but all of them remind us that laughter does not belong to a single place. If even one of these stories made you curious, linger for a moment, or feel a little lighter, then this journey has done its job. Wherever you are watching from, may these stories keep you company for a while longer. With the hope of meeting in laughter, enjoy watching. : )
If your interest extends beyond series and toward films from different cultures and perspectives, you may also want to explore the Movies section, where stories from around the world are brought together.
