My First Cracks at Talking About TV in Germany

Okay, so here I am, six months in Munich, and I’m still feeling that awkward thrill of trying to actually speak German. It’s not that people aren’t trying to be patient – most of them are – but it’s this constant little knot in my stomach when I try to form a sentence. Today, I want to talk about something that’s surprisingly useful for this: talking about TV shows. It seems silly, I know, but it’s been a really good way to build up the confidence, and, let’s be honest, to avoid small talk about the weather.

The Initial Disaster: “Ich mag…?”

The first time I tried to say I liked a show, it was a complete disaster. I was at a Stammtisch (a regular gathering of friends) with some colleagues from work, and someone asked, “Was schaust du so?” (What are you watching?). I panicked and blurted out, “Ich mag… Tatort?” (I like Tatort?).

The silence that followed was… palpable. It turns out, saying “Ich mag…” followed by a specific show is not the natural way to express your opinion. One of the guys, Steven, gently explained, “No, no. You say, ‘Ich finde den Tatort gut’” (No, no. You say, ‘I find the Tatort good’). Suddenly, I felt like a complete idiot. I realised I’d been approaching it like I was translating a textbook instead of just… talking.

Opinions and the Right Way to Phrase It

Steven’s correction was huge. It really opened my eyes to how Germans express opinions. It’s not about simply stating you like something; it’s about how you say it. Here’s what I’ve learned:

• “Ich finde… gut/schlecht/interessant” (I find… good/bad/interesting) – This is a super common and generally safe way to express an opinion about a show.
• “Mir gefällt…” (I like…) – Still perfectly fine, but using “gut” or “schlecht” feels more natural.
• “Der [Show Name] ist spannend/lustig/traurig” (The [Show Name] is exciting/funny/sad) – Describing why you like it is key.

Example: “Mir gefällt Dark, aber ich finde den Tatort spannend!” (I like Dark, but I find the Tatort exciting!)

Connecting My Opinions with “Weil” and “Deshalb”

It’s not just about saying what you think, but also why. This is where connectors like “weil” (because) and “deshalb” (therefore) come in. I struggled with these for ages!

I asked my flatmate, Lena, about a show we both watched. “Was hältst du von Stromberg?” (What do you think of Stromberg?). I replied, “Ich finde Stromberg lustig, weil die Charaktere so komisch sind.” (I find Stromberg funny, because the characters are so funny). Lena gently corrected me, “No, no. Say ‘Deshalb’ instead of ‘weil’. It sounds more formal.”

“Deshalb finde ich Stromberg lustig, weil die Charaktere so komisch sind!” It felt much smoother, didn’t it?

Common Phrases & Vocabulary

Here’s a little list of phrases I’m actively using:

• Was schaust du so? (What are you watching?)
• Hast du den [Show Name] gesehen? (Have you seen [Show Name]?)
• Ich habe gerade [Show Name] gesehen. (I just watched [Show Name]).
• Ich kann die Serie nicht verstehen. (I can’t understand the series).
• Die Serie ist total spannend! (The series is totally exciting!)
• Die Serie ist total langweilig! (The series is totally boring!).

A Small Victory – Ordering Pizza and TV Recommendations

The other day, I went to grab pizza with some colleagues. We started talking about our favourite shows, and this time, I actually managed a relatively coherent conversation. I told them about Babylon Berlin, explaining why I found it so fascinating. “Ich finde Babylon Berlin unglaublich spannend, weil die Geschichte so komplex ist und die Schauspieler so gut spielen.” (I find Babylon Berlin incredibly exciting because the story is so complex and the actors are so good).

One of the guys, Markus, even recommended a show he thought I’d like: Deutschland 83. “Du solltest Deutschland 83 sehen, wenn du Spionagethriller magst.” (You should see Deutschland 83 if you like spy thrillers).

It was a small victory, but it felt huge. It’s about more than just understanding the grammar; it’s about feeling comfortable enough to actually engage in a conversation. And, who knows, maybe I’ll even start to genuinely understand those complex storylines I’m watching! Next challenge: mastering the subjunctive mood! Na gut, los geht’s! (Okay, let’s do it!)