The Killing (Denmark)

Subtitled European dramas were once the preserve of chin-stroking arty types and insomniacs looking for something to watch at 2.30 in the morning. But all of sudden, everyone seems to be hooked on them. If you're feeling out of the loop, here's our guide to the new wave of cult Euro hits.

First up, it's the daddy of the them all: The Killing. Rather than serving up a formulaic case-of-the-week in each episode, the whole of the first series was about just one murder in Copenhagen. And that meant it could explore everything from the trauma and secrets of the victim's family to the power-play of an ambitious mayoral candidate. The second series was just as thrillingly complex, and the show's hero – cop and jumper-enthusiast Sarah Lund – is now one of telly's iconic detectives.

• Watch a trailer for The Killing