Achtsam Morden

Murder Mindfully (German Language): Achtsam Morden. Netflix 2024 Unassuming Lawyer Bjorn, struggle with pressure, failing marriage, not seeing his daughter enough, guilt over representing local gangland boss etc.

What does he do to resolve this problems he seeks spiritual guidance.

After attending a course of "mindfulness" his life turns around for the better, with added complications,

If you consider Break Bad as the premise these types of programmes you'll get the idea.

It is thoroughly entertaining and very watchable and worth 4 hours of anyone times (8x1/2 episodes)

The only spoiler I will give, I think the maker have left it open to enable a second series, which it does warrant.

After a long time I watched a really good and well made series I can't wait for season 2 already, Each episode pulls you deeper into the plot, keeping you hooked with unexpected twists and emotional depth. The acting, direction and screenplay are mind blowing it just gets better and better. Hope it gets renewed for season 2. I think the main lead and all the actors have done a fabulous job and it is very mature and modern. Also the series does not play around and is not afraid to put characters in the most difficult position they can deal with is jst amazing to see unlike other shows where they favour their main lead. It's undoubtedly one of the best shows in recent memory.

The scripts are solid, despite the somewhat simple-minded police. Unfortunately, the plot leaves a lot to be desired. Tom Schilling saves the whole thing with his outstanding presence, but sometimes you do wonder what the makers were thinking. For example, an assassin throws a hand grenade into a car without first checking whether there is anyone inside. He does the same thing a second time, throwing a hand grenade into an apartment without first checking whether the person he wants to kill is even in the apartment - an apartment in which the target does not even live, but in which he is only supposed to be hiding, which the assassin's employer only knows from an intercepted phone call. What's more, a special police squad has already stormed into the apartment at this point - how can the assassin not have noticed this? This is too implausible even for a comedy.

The role of Toni is a caricature and almost destroys the series. He exudes no danger whatsoever and is not funny. Marc Hosemann really didn't have a good day here, or the director has problems leading actors. Maybe he should take some extra lessons from Guy Ritchie when it comes to bizarre supporting characters.

Imagine you are a lawyer who can't find proper work-family balance, who gets no respect at work, is mistreated by his clients and whose family is falling apart. Would you go to a class that teaches you how to be mindful, how to live in the now, how to reduce stress? Yes? Well, that's what our hero does, albeit reluctantly at first.

And it helps, it truly does! He uses his newly learned skills to deal with dead bodies, suspicious mafia lieutenants, rival crime bosses, police.... And at home, with his family.

There are some plot holes in terms of how his actions play out, how others treat him and the like, but if you take the series as a comedy operating on comedic rules that don't always correspond with real life rules this is a funny series worth your time. Bite sized length episodes help in that each subplot doesn't drag out too much.

Unexpectedly, I enjoyed this series a lot.

Excellent acting, script, directing, production value. There were some pretty big plot holes, however, but they could be overlooked for the overall engrossing story.

I love that the conceit of the series uses the popularity of mindful meditation in Germany, with many people practicing it during commutes and at work.

The Netflix series is based on a series of novel - and both share the same name - that has a different protagonist and a completely different plot.

In the TV series the main character is a lawyer involved in murders. In the novels the main character is a mindfulness coach solving murders.

Which is better? I don't know, because I have never read the novels. But I do like the TV series.

I recommend watching this in German with subtitles.