Babylon Berlin (2017)

While I do enjoy watching, and reviewing, terrible movies, I must admit that it is a breath of fresh air to take a (minor) break from HULKACINEMA! and write about something properly incredible. I am a fan of noir. I love the trappings of the genre, and its ability to weave multiple ideas and themes into a single story. I love the fractured people, and their doomed shots at redemption. To say that Babylon Berlin had me hooked from the get-go is an understatement. It is a sprawling noir epic that has seated itself as one of my very favorite new TV shows.

Summary:

Gereon Rath has transferred to Berlin from Cologne. His mission: root out a pornography ring and get rid of some compromising material pertaining to a family friend. In Berlin, however, nothing is simple, and no one is safe. Before the end he'll deal with communist spies, a rogue branch of the German military, corrupt cops, an on-the-run Russian princess, and PTSD. To say more would spoil it.

Pros:

A Wonderful Period Piece: My wife was a history major in college. It is difficult, then, to watch historical dramas, because she KNOWS when things aren't accurate. She drank this show in and reveled in it. The costumes are absolutely gorgeous, the sets and art design are thorough and inspired. You will feel like you are in 1929 Berlin. And that is a wonderful, scary place to be. This program is one of the most expensive ever made, and it shows.


The Music: From the opening titles, to the seedy floors of Berlin's dance clubs, this show revels in its music. Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer knock it out of the park. They have created a score that is at once quintessentially noir, without stumbling into the cheesy trappings of the genre's weaker elements. It is haunting, beautiful, and soaked through with a sense of impending dread. It captures the time and story perfectly.


The Ensemble: This is a sprawling story, and everyone plays their part. Volker Bruch, as our man Gereon, is incredibly nuanced. He is a man torn between many poles, and his performance allows us to see all of those elements pulling him apart. Liv Lisa Fries, as the erstwhile lady of the night turned amateur sleuth, is a revelation. She is tough as nails, but never feels weary in her role. Peter Kurth does the lord's work as Detective Bruno Wolter: he is a survivor in a city that chews up people and spits out their gristle. But you can't help but root for him. Even at his worst. Severija Janusauskaite is the resident femme fatale, and she makes the most of every second of screen time she has. And those are just the principals: this show boasts fine performances from everyone that crosses the frame.

A True Epic: The show takes place in 1929 Berlin. The country is entrenched in post-war misery, and the rumblings of what any person whose ever studied history bubble right below the surface. Communistas take to the streets and antagonize the police, and plot a government overthrow; elements of the German military are plotting their own return to glory; there are even the seeds of Nazism, spreading their roots throughout the season; gangsters keep an eye on all that happens in the city; all the while, the common man, and woman, labors in the streets for a pittance. Ultimately, we all know how this turns out, but the show makes some serious hay out of Gereon & Co.'s struggle against The Machine. You know it can't end well, but you root for them anyway. You get caught up in the struggle. That's great TV.

Cons:

You Gotta Read: Unless you are fluent in German, you'll be reading subtitles. Some people hate that. "Why would I want to read, when I watch a movie?" they'd say. Subtitles have never bothered me, however. It actually demands more of my attention: I can't look away, or futz on my phone when I NEED to have my eyes glued to the screen to read the dialogue.


Don't Let it Catch You Nappin': This show requires a lot. It requires attention and effort. Between the labyrinthine story and the English subtitles, you cannot afford to look away for long. This is not a show you can just turn on in the background of household chores. This show will require more of you than most feel-good TV shows.

In Conclusion:

I am always on the look for decent noir, and Babylon Berlin more than scratched that itch. In fact, I found it difficult to binge the show: it was nice to watch a few episodes at a time, and digest it slowly. Babylon Berlin is the best show you probably aren't watching. And you should fix that, post-haste.

Should You Watch It?

Yes. If you dig noir: consider this an absolute must-watch. If you like period dramas: this show will wow you with its attention to detail. If you like finely crafted television that isn't afraid to build an epic story: this show is for you. It's on Netflix. You're welcome.

Miscellany:

- Babylon Berlin is the most expensive non-English TV show ever made, with a budget of forty million for its first season.

- Bryan Ferry, of Roxy Music fame, makes a cameo in the night club. He's dapper as fuck.
- The show was renewed for a second and third season. Hopefully those make their way to Netflix ASAP.