Der Zürich-Krimi

I've just gotten to series 2, episode 3 - "Borchert and the Deadly Trap." Already saw series one and three. This is a fantastically good series, well worth streaming. Borchert is a wonderful character - flaws, dedication to humanity, well-versed in law and the realities of the world. This particular episode is the high point so far. Direction and cinematography are brilliant! It's like a major movie. You just can't go wrong with this whole series. Some of the actors change, year to year, but that's OK. Minor characters are very interesting, like the cabbie Borchert hires as his own personal chauffer, and his law partner's secretary. Quite complex, but done so well it's not difficult to follow. Just amazingly good!

The location seems impervious to crime and yet it's the perfect backdrop to thoughtful and complex plots. Borchert is seasoned, cynical and driven by truth and justice. He has a dark side that makes him empathetic to understand human motivation. Even in tailored suits, he looks disreputable enough to talk to seedier compatriots. Dominique is a lawyer, daughter of Borchert's best friend and finds more in common with the unorthodox Borchert than with her society lawyer father. Her love interest is a crime inspector. The three in uneven interaction solve crimes with multiple strands. Moderately paced, little violence, thankfully lacking the hyped tension and violence of many American shows, this show is a great view with a glass of red wine.

This series begins by dropping the viewer into the middle of an ongoing story that seems to be already in motion. There is little in the way of character introduction, and the information is given very slowly throughout the episodes. Because of this, viewers have no idea at times what is going on as the background and character development unfolds too slowly and asynchronously. It's something to watch when there isn't much else in your streaming queue.

What is there not to like about Zurich and the surrounding countryside. Give this excellent series a chance. It may take a few episodes to cattch on the the relationship of the main characters, but once you do, not only do the episodes get better, but one can get hooked on wanting more. Christian Kolund is excellent as Borchert. The first season is about his trying to clear his name. There are 17 episodes in total so far, and the more we wtch, the more we accept his routine ( living quarters, tramnsportaion, dress, his own daily routine)The stories are about and hour and a half in length, and capture you for the complete time instead of stopping and starting again.