Released in 2015, the German series “Germany 83” was a real discovery for fans of “spy” films. Combining the seriousness of the subject with the ease of storytelling, he was headlong into the whirlpool of events and immersed in the atmosphere of the Cold War. Despite the fact that the series was the result of cooperation with the American TV channel, he was able to afford to abandon the classic cliches about the good West and bad “commies”, since in the United States it was broadcast in German with English subtitles. The lack of ambition for width reduces the focus on ideological content, which in this case turned into the freedom to be objective, balanced and honest towards both Germanys. For this project and received critical acclaim and very unexpected in the absence of widespread advertising love of the audience. The history of "Germany 83" was completely finished, but, realizing the success, the authors set about sequels. The announcement of Germany 86 was a very pleasant surprise.
Alas, the “crystal” of expectations was shattered by reality: everything that Germany loved in 83 was lost by 86. The initial lack of plans for the continuation turned into a slurred new plot: if in the first season for individual adventures told in each series, there was a global “through” theme, then now we first just start “galloping” across Africa, and then wander through the equally intricate labyrinth of soul throws of the protagonist. The expanded geography, of course, somewhat revives the television picture and demonstrates the globality of the Cold War, but the absence of a bright “major conflict” has become a critical disadvantage.
Having received the recognition and attention of viewers in the “83rd year”, the new series was tightened by information trends: now, instead of showing both Germanys on “equal rights”, we get expensive restaurants, hotels and an advanced medical center on the west side and a prison with an orphanage in the east as scenery. Residents of Germany have an active civic position and have fun with fashionable music, and in the GDR are squeezed, cold and all under surveillance. It is impossible to consider such a disposition as a “cranberry” because, regardless of the outcome of the Cold War, prisons, orphanages and observation of the right people were on both sides of the Berlin Wall, and the mentality of the inhabitants of Germany differs not only in the coordinates of geographical longitude, but also in breadth, and this process has been formed for centuries. So this grouping of scenery does not pretend to be objective, but simply corresponds to the vector of modern media.
Over the past 3 years, the actors have also degraded (perhaps just degraded their roles): instead of a serious structure, the East German “headquarters” are now a bunch of awkward personalities with clown habits, who are united only by faces with the characters from the first season. The mutually subtle irony based on the contradictions of the two systems was replaced by “jokes” in which an East German agent forgets the word “freedom”, etc.
The new season tried to acquire a full-fledged tragic character – separated when trying to escape from the GDR to Germany with her husband and daughters, a woman doctor. Yes, there was illegal migration from east to west: the inhabitants of a socialist country had the opportunity to receive an excellent education, and the “capitalist” lands, due to their size and dense population, provided a large number of vacancies with a certain shortage of their own specialists. The ease of integration and the presence of relatives “behind the wall” really pushed young people not yet bound by obligations to implement their “baggage” received from the socialist camp in the “sausage emigration”. But for a truly tragic heroine, a typical portrait of a defector is not suitable, since it is not too photogenic. Our “heroine” absolutely does not run to Germany from the unsettled life: Frau Fischer lives in a two-storey mansion and clearly does not need anything. The reason for the desire to change the location, the authors of the script identified the moral burden that fell on her shoulders after she realized the ineffectiveness of drugs that were used as part of a Western-paid experiment to treat hopeless patients in the east. The script blunder is that Tina knows perfectly well - the experiment is conducted by both Germanys together, and after moving to Germany, she will have to work for the same unscrupulous people from whom she allegedly fled! After refusing to continue work, the series did not show us any persecution in her direction. The “trigger” for the escape was... her daughter’s refusal to enter a prestigious school. I think that prestigious schools are considered such that they do not take everyone there, and this is even more pronounced in the capitalist model of management than in the socialist model. The motive that prompted Tina to send an audiocassette with exposure to the GDR is also unclear. If she didn't want the tape published, why send it? And if she wanted, then it made no sense to cross the border: a refugee who uncovered dirt on a West German pharmacological company would definitely not be hired. In short, the attempt to make a tragic storyline based on the notorious race from the GDR to Germany turned out to be illogical, the character looks stupid and does not cause sympathy because of its artificiality.
Something similar happens to the main character. By the end of the series, Martin is disillusioned with his ideals and morally ready to move to the opposite camp. But what triggered this change? During the first season, he faithfully performed the work assigned (okay, imposed) by his country. For 3 years between the series, he fell to the bottom in Angola, where he received funding. Yes, Martin stayed away from his family and homeland, but this procedure is objectively necessary, as all the intelligence services of the West were looking for him. The events of Germany 86, for all its geographical breadth, were fleeting, and if during their time he learned something disappointing about his leadership in the GDR, it was only that in his actions he was too close to the manner of Germany. Here it is quite understandable to want to get out of the game, but there is no reason for treason and defection to enemies, since they are no better. Problems with his wife and disappointment with his aunt are also personal problems, not ideological ones. And even Annette’s socialist “charms” are much more appetizing than Bridget’s capitalist ones. In general, Martin Rauch “repaints” during the series not because it is logical in his life experience, but because it should be today.
The final scene, in which the chief economist of East Germany with tears digs into a pile of papers and ejects the cannibalistic thesis that the main product that their economy produces is blood plasma, and completely makes the audience blush. The GDR, economically behind Germany, still remained one of the most developed European countries with a very powerful industry and agriculture, capable of ensuring food independence, which is now a rarity on the continent.
Is Germany 86 a bad and low-quality TV series? Probably not. Just from an original, honest and not politically biased product, it degenerated into a clichéd history, of which there are many. For such a promising project, this is tantamount to a death sentence.
Disappointment of the year.
5 out of 10