Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Babylon Berlin, which stands as one of the most visually stunning and historically immersive series ever created for television.
Premiering on October 13, 2017, and currently running through 2025, Babylon Berlin has aired four seasons with a fifth and final season filmed in 2024. The German neo-noir series consists of approximately 40+ episodes, each running about 45-50 minutes. Available on Netflix internationally and originally broadcast on Sky 1 in Germany, this masterpiece was created by Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries, and Henk Handloegten, based on the novels by Volker Kutscher. Set in 1929 Berlin during the final years of the Weimar Republic, the series follows police inspector Gereon Rath and stenographer Charlotte Ritter as they navigate the political conspiracies, social upheaval, and decadent nightlife of a city teetering on the edge of catastrophe.
Babylon Berlin operates as both a gripping crime thriller and an epic historical drama that captures the intoxicating atmosphere of a society dancing on the precipice of destruction. The series doesn’t just recreate 1920s Berlin – it immerses viewers in the contradictions of a city that was simultaneously the cultural capital of Europe and a powder keg of political extremism. What makes this show exceptional is its commitment to showing how personal stories unfold against the backdrop of massive historical forces, revealing how ordinary people become caught up in the events that will reshape the world.
The series masterfully blends elements of film noir, political thriller, and period drama to create something entirely unique in the television landscape, offering a window into the final years of democratic Germany before the rise of Nazism.
A City of Secrets Where Every Shadow Hides a Conspiracy
The central narrative begins with a Soviet freight train’s hijacking that leads Inspector Gereon Rath and typist Charlotte Ritter to uncover a vast political conspiracy involving Russian gold, German nationalists, and corrupt officials. Babylon Berlin doesn’t focus solely on crime procedural elements but uses each mystery to explore the broader social and political tensions tearing Weimar Germany apart. The series shows how Berlin in 1929 was a city where communists, fascists, democrats, and criminals all competed for power while ordinary citizens tried to survive economic uncertainty and social chaos.
The show explores how the aftermath of World War I and the global economic crisis created perfect conditions for political extremism to flourish. Babylon Berlin demonstrates that the fall of democracy doesn’t happen overnight but through the gradual erosion of institutions, the normalization of violence, and the exploitation of social divisions by those seeking power.
Gereon Rath: A Damaged Detective in a Broken System
Volker Bruch delivers a compelling performance as Inspector Gereon Rath, a war veteran from Cologne who transfers to Berlin carrying psychological scars from the trenches and personal secrets that threaten to destroy him. Rath represents the generation of men who survived the Great War only to find themselves adrift in a rapidly changing world. Bruch masterfully portrays a character struggling with PTSD, addiction, and the moral complexities of police work in a corrupt system.
What makes Gereon such a fascinating character is his position as an outsider trying to maintain his integrity while working within institutions that are themselves compromised. Babylon Berlin uses his character to explore how trauma, both personal and collective, shapes individual choices and historical events.
Charlotte Ritter: Rising from Poverty Through Determination
Liv Lisa Fries brings remarkable depth and strength to Charlotte Ritter, a working-class woman who supplements her stenographer’s salary through nighttime work that forces her to navigate Berlin’s dangerous underworld. Charlotte represents the “New Woman” of the 1920s – independent, ambitious, and unwilling to accept the limitations society places on her gender and class. Fries captures Charlotte’s determination to escape poverty and build a better life, even when it requires making morally complex choices.
The relationship between Charlotte and Gereon forms one of Babylon Berlin’s central dynamics, showing how two people from vastly different backgrounds can find connection amid the chaos of a rapidly changing world.
When Democracy Dies: The Rise of Extremism in Plain Sight
The series reaches its most chilling moments as it depicts the gradual rise of political extremism and the erosion of democratic institutions that will eventually lead to Nazi rule. Babylon Berlin excels at showing how fascism doesn’t emerge overnight but grows through the exploitation of economic anxiety, social division, and the failure of democratic institutions to address people’s real concerns. The show demonstrates how seemingly minor compromises and accommodations with extremist groups can have catastrophic long-term consequences.
These historical developments serve as the backdrop for personal stories that reveal how ordinary people can become complicit in or resistant to the forces that will reshape their society.
International Acclaim and Netflix Success
Babylon Berlin has received widespread international acclaim and numerous awards, establishing itself as one of the most expensive and ambitious German television productions ever made. The series found a global audience through Netflix, where viewers discovered its unique blend of historical authenticity, visual spectacle, and compelling character development. Babylon Berlin stands out in the streaming landscape for its commitment to historical accuracy, its stunning production values, and its sophisticated approach to depicting one of history’s most crucial periods.
The show’s exploration of how democracy can collapse has resonated particularly strongly with contemporary audiences, making it more relevant than ever in today’s political climate.
A Historical Epic That Illuminates Our Present Moment
If you love period dramas that combine historical authenticity with compelling personal stories, Babylon Berlin is the perfect series to discover on Netflix. This isn’t just entertainment – it’s a masterful exploration of how individual choices and historical forces intersect during moments of crisis, offering crucial insights into how democracies can flourish or fail.
Why This Series Represents Television’s Most Ambitious Historical Achievement
Babylon Berlin stands as proof that television can tackle the most complex historical subjects while maintaining both entertainment value and educational depth. It’s a series that respects both the intelligence of its audience and the complexity of history, making it essential viewing for anyone interested in understanding how the past continues to shape our present.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 40+ (ongoing series, fifth and final season filmed in 2024)
Platform: Netflix, originally aired on Sky 1 (Germany)
Years: 2017-2025
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Genre: Historical Drama, Crime Thriller, Political Drama
Status: Ongoing series (final season forthcoming)
Protagonists: Volker Bruch (Gereon Rath), Liv Lisa Fries (Charlotte Ritter), Lars Eidinger (Alfred Nyssen)
Antagonist: The collapse of democratic institutions and rise of political extremism (no single antagonist)