Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Kleo, which takes us into the gritty world of post-Cold War espionage with a killer twist that’s both brutal and surprisingly funny.
Released on August 19, 2022, with 8 episodes in the first season (around 45-50 minutes each), Kleo is Netflix’s German original series that dives deep into the chaotic aftermath of the Berlin Wall’s fall. The second season dropped on July 25, 2024, consisting of 6 episodes, continuing this wild ride of revenge and political intrigue.
This isn’t your typical spy thriller – Kleo blends dark comedy with intense action sequences, creating a unique tone that oscillates between laugh-out-loud moments and genuinely shocking violence. The series captures the disorienting period of German reunification through the eyes of someone who lived and killed for a system that suddenly ceased to exist.
The show manages to be both a period piece and a timeless story about betrayal, identity, and what happens when your entire worldview crumbles overnight.
The Ultimate Betrayal: East German Spy Seeks Deadly Revenge
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, a former spy killer is set free and embarks on a revenge spree against the people who conspired to betray her. Kleo follows the titular character, a highly skilled Stasi assassin who was imprisoned just before the wall came down. When she’s released, she discovers that her own people betrayed her during what was supposed to be her final mission.
What makes this plot compelling is how it weaves personal vendetta with historical upheaval. Kleo isn’t just hunting down her betrayers – she’s navigating a world where everything she believed in has been dismantled. The series uses this backdrop to explore themes of loyalty, identity, and the price of blind faith in institutions.
The revenge plot unfolds methodically, with each episode revealing new layers of the conspiracy while Kleo systematically eliminates her targets. The writing cleverly balances exposition about East German politics with pulse-pounding action sequences.
Kleo Straub: From Loyal Assassin to Rogue Avenger
Jella Haase stars as Kleo Straub, a former East German spy who transforms from dutiful state killer to unstoppable force of nature. Haase delivers a powerhouse performance that captures Kleo‘s evolution from confused ex-prisoner to focused predator.
What’s fascinating about Kleo‘s character is how she maintains her methodical, almost robotic approach to killing while grappling with very human emotions of betrayal and loss. She’s simultaneously vulnerable and terrifying, often in the same scene.
The character development shows Kleo learning to navigate civilian life while pursuing her deadly agenda. Her interactions with ordinary people provide both comic relief and genuine pathos, as she struggles to understand a world that’s moved on without her.
Sven Petzold: The Unlikely West German Connection
Dimitrij Schaad plays Sven Petzold, a West German policeman whose investigation becomes entangled with Kleo‘s revenge mission. Their dynamic creates the show’s most interesting relationship – part partnership, part cat-and-mouse game.
Sven represents everything Kleo was trained to despise about the West, yet their forced collaboration reveals shared humanity beneath their ideological differences. Their chemistry drives much of the series’ emotional core, providing lighter moments amid the bloodshed.
The character serves as both Kleo‘s foil and unlikely ally, challenging her black-and-white worldview while being drawn into her chaotic orbit.
When Past and Present Collide: The Explosive Final Confrontation
The climax of Kleo brings together all the conspirators in a high-stakes confrontation that spans multiple locations and decades of secrets. Without spoiling specifics, the resolution ties together personal revenge with larger political machinations in a way that’s both satisfying and brutal.
The final episodes ramp up the violence while maintaining the series’ dark humor, creating moments that are simultaneously shocking and absurdly funny. Kleo‘s journey comes full circle as she confronts not just her betrayers, but the system that created her.
The season finale sets up future storylines while providing closure to the central revenge plot, leaving viewers both satisfied and hungry for more.
Success on Netflix
Kleo currently sits at 7.5/10 on IMDb and picked up 34.33 million hours watched globally across two weeks in the top 10s between August 21 and September 4. The series performed exceptionally well in German-speaking countries while finding international appeal through its unique blend of historical drama and action comedy. In Germany, the show remained in the TV top 10s for 29 days total, proving that Kleo‘s mix of local history and universal themes resonated with audiences both domestic and international.
Why Kleo Deserves Your Binge Session
If you love espionage thrillers with a dark comedic twist, Kleo is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. It’s a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still delivering genuine thrills and emotional depth.
Why You Should Watch This German Masterpiece
What Works:
- Jella Haase’s powerhouse performance as the titular assassin
- Perfect balance of dark humor and intense action sequences
- Authentic historical setting that enhances rather than overwhelms the plot
- Supporting characters that feel real and contribute meaningfully to the story
- Stylish direction and cinematography that captures both eras convincingly
What Doesn’t:
- Some plot conveniences strain believability in later episodes
- Violence can be gratuitous at times, potentially alienating sensitive viewers
- Second season feels slightly less focused than the tight first season
- Cultural references may not translate perfectly for non-German audiences
- Pacing occasionally slows down during exposition-heavy scenes
Kleo proves that Netflix’s international content continues to push boundaries, delivering a uniquely German perspective on universal themes of betrayal and revenge that will keep you glued to your screen.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: 14 (Season 1: 8 episodes, Season 2: 6 episodes)
- Platform: Netflix
- Release Years: 2022-2024 (Completed)
- Current IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Type of Production: German original series
- Status: Two seasons completed
- Protagonists: Jella Haase (Kleo Straub), Dimitrij Schaad (Sven Petzold)
- Antagonists: Various Stasi officials and conspirators from Kleo’s past