Babylon Berlin

The Weimar Republic is a great setting for a crime series with a political backdrop. For this reason alone, I was very much looking forward to the show and I wasn’t disappointed. On the other hand, some of the creators' decisions managed to dampen my enthusiasm. I was satisfied, but not enough to give five stars. Out of the sixteen episodes, three were considerably weaker. Unfortunately, this included the finale, which crossed over to another genre with the action, which spoiled my overall impression. Season 1 was definitely better, I immensely enjoyed the contrast between the crisis-affected daytime Berlin and its nightlife decadence. I was equally pleased with the clashes of political views (the two Bolshevik factions alone would have been enough). Whatever my complaints, the fact is that I enjoyed the series and wasn't bored for a moment, so I was more or less satisfied. Oh, and by the way, I can't get the theme song "Zu Asche, zu staub" out of my head no matter how hard I try. (12.08.2018)

A strong four stars. An awesome film noir (or should I say ‘series noir’?) set in the Weimar Republic, which was a fertile breeding ground for various political factions, as well as a thorn in the side of many Germans. I've always liked interwar Germany, just as much as I like the period of Prohibition in the US. The story was very well written, and I was pleased with the acting performances and the great atmosphere. All in all, I'm very happy with the first season. (09.08.2018)

After the first episode, I belong to the satisfied viewers. I enjoy Germany during the Weimar Republic period similarly to the USA during prohibition times. However, the creators started so many actions at once that I am a bit confused, but I assume that the following episodes will bring order into the plot. (08.08.2018)

No way! In the previous comment, I was hoping that the situation would clear up, and it did. Within a single episode, everything is in order for me, and what I have seen so far is very enjoyable, whether it's police investigations, intrigues between both Bolshevik factions, or the nightlife of Berlin. (08.08.2018)

The third episode was indeed of good quality, but I think four pieces are just right. The tempo of the story was slower this time because the creators scattered it with too many detours. I'm not entirely sure, for example, if I needed to know that Mrs. Ritter suffers from "that French illness". (09.08.2018)

The episode opens with a romantic scene by the Spréva River, later followed by a bloody operation against Bolshevik demonstrators (and not only them), and the conclusion belongs to erotic tension and blackmail, three in one - what more could you ask for? I know, there are many things, but still, I was satisfied and had a great time. (09.08.2018)

I was unexpectedly disappointed, the fifth episode was so far the weakest part of the first season. The plot was less interesting this time, the pace was slower as a result, and even the visit to the Dutchman didn't exactly thrill me. The heroic police officer who was injured during the protests amused me, and I suspect that Kardanov is actually Rasputin, considering all that this person survives... (09.08.2018)

Even though the summer idyll in the rowing club in the sixth episode did not add any pace, I enjoyed it more than the previous episode. The uncertain atmosphere of the Weimar Republic still works excellently, the tension in society is almost visible, so I am looking forward to everything gradually escalating. After the attack on the power station, I almost have no doubts about Kardanov's true identity. (09.08.2018)

The seventh episode didn't exactly fill me with boundless enthusiasm, but on the other hand, it didn't disappoint me either, so I had no reason to lower my rating. I had the feeling that the investigation got a bit stuck, only Lotte was working as before. Nothing against memories of fallen friends, but the diorama with the explanation did seem a bit bizarre to me. (09.08.2018)

And the final piece turned out fairly well for the creators, a lot of matters remained open for the second season, but even this time the series did not avoid some detours, which ultimately appeared blind (for example, Gert's story). Despite being the most intense episode of the first season, the enthusiasm did not arrive. (09.08.2018)

I found Season 2 very enjoyable, not counting episodes 3 and 8, which annoyed/disappointed me a lot due to the poor writing. The rest of the episodes were okay, so I enjoyed the great atmosphere and plot, rich in various political machinations, but I still think the first season was slightly better. (12.08.2018)

The first episode of the second season pleased me, the creators seamlessly continued from the previous series, and I was very satisfied with that. However, it was noticeable that the first episode was setting the stage for the second series, and that disappointed me a little. I think it wouldn't be a big problem to build the plot in a way that the transition between seasons is not at all apparent. (11.08.2018)

Even the second episode was not bad at all. The investigation followed a political lead, and since I am really interested in politics in interwar Germany, I couldn't be bored. Only the ending, from the scene with the telescope, was very predictable, so it slightly disappointed me. (11.08.2018)

Like this, no, the third episode pissed me off so much that I was only considering giving it two stars, but in the end, I added one star because I had been enjoying the show so far and didn't want to harm it too much. The fact is, I'm not sure if the creators are so naive or if they think the viewers will swallow everything, but this aerial trip to the beauties of the Soviet Union deeply disappointed me. (11.08.2018)

After the previous disaster, the creators returned to proven quality. The episode once again did not lack a quality atmosphere, and the creators succeed in illustrating the growing mistrust and tension in the divided society of the Weimar Republic before Adolf Hitler's rise to power. In one of the comments about the first season, I labeled Greta's storyline as a dead end. I no longer think that because I have a hunch... (11.08.2018)

I decided not to base the story on historical details in order to make it more interesting. And it worked great. The atmosphere was as great as always, the Bolsheviks were pushed aside, and now the monarchists are in the lead. The political situation was more than fascinating, and I also enjoyed Lotta's storyline, so I give it a full score. (11.08.2018)

In the sixth episode, I especially enjoyed the political jokes, Rath's intervention against the assassins was already quite predictable, in addition, the proven cliché of last-minute rescue could not be missing. Sometimes, I really wish to see someone save someone else and still have two minutes to spare. (12.08.2018)

Please, I'm glad I changed my opinion on Greta's storyline in time, now I would feel like a mere fool (read idiot). This time, politics remained in the background and action was given more space. I'm just curious who was actually behind the action with Benda's villa, a typical "brownshirt" would certainly not have come up with it on their own. (12.08.2018)

The conclusion of the series brought me a similar disappointment as the flight to the USSR in the third episode. I think Commissioner Rath wouldn't be able to provide first aid even for a sprained ankle, it was a tragic spectacle. I suspect Lotte will be a distant relative of Kardan, their lust for life is unmistakable. I also didn't really grasp how Rath got into the carriage and closed the entrance hatch behind him, but never mind, the important thing is that we got to the life wisdom that we know so well here in Karvina, namely that coal is black gold. (12.08.2018)

Season 3 of Babylon Berlin was the weakest one so far. The whole thing was unbalanced, there were moments when everything seemed almost perfect, followed by a slap in the face and a decline in quality (when it completely gave up on logic). Honestly, the whole plot with the killer of actresses seemed redundant and an obvious effort to fill the increased number of episodes. As long as the creators focused on politics, money, and the atmosphere, it was great. 4*- (25.07.2020)