Deutschland 86

Compared to the first season, it's actually a little disappointing at first - in particular the first few episodes, but it does get better about halfway through and finds its feet well enough....and becomes the familiar show we all know and love.

The Berlin stuff is all good, I found the African parts quite poorly handled and just not very interesting or compelling.

Apparently the script is still realistic and versatile (I have seen a documentary depicting GDR´s suspicious affairs in the theatre of global politics), but as all this is commonly less known and places of action are so far from one another, all this seems more arid and not so smooth.

The performances are still strong, with some additional cast excelling (e.g. Lavinia Wilson), and the hypocricy and absurdity of this society are yet clearly visible. Plus the staging work, background (incl. opening theme) -- all this stylish again.

PS I have read that Deutschland 89 is under way - looking forward to it.

I'm a big fan of the first season and the second caught me offguard at the premier. This time moving further from Europe "Able Archer" ordeal and focusing on much brutal frontline events where the socialist bureaucrats trying to use kolibri to do their proxy dirty work.

Three years have passed since the events of 'Deutschland 83' and a lot has changed; Martin has been shipped off to Angola where he is teaching German to orphans and changes in the Soviet Union mean the German Democratic Republic must fend for itself. This means that the government is desperate to earn foreign currency; even if it means dealing with ideological enemies... such as shipping arms to Apartheid South Africa despite the arms embargo. Martin's aunt, Lenora Rauch, is working in Cape Town working on the plan and utilises Martin; he sabotages the plan and comes up with another that will see them head to Angola and into danger. Events will ultimately take them back to Germany.

I really enjoyed the first series so was pleased to learn that there was to be more; having just finished the second series I can say I enjoyed it as much as the first. It contains plenty of tense moments, some good action, lots of great characters and the all-important nostalgia factor for those who grew up in the 1980s (but not in East Germany). The story includes many real events such as the bombing of a West Berlin disco and the retaliatory strikes on Tripoli by the United States. The series captured the paranoia of living in East Germany and the dangers involved with trying to get out. Surprisingly there are also quite a few amusing moments; the sight of East German officials at a 'Rocky Horror Show' event at the US Embassy was priceless! The cast do a fine job; most notably Jonas Nay, as Martin; Maria Schrader, as Lenora; and Sylvester Groth as Walter Schweppenstette. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to anybody who watched 'Deutschland 83'... I'd advise watching that first as it serves to introduce most of the key characters.

These comments are based on watching the series in German with English subtitles.

The plot was very interesting with lots of twists, good balance of continuity and variation. No one's "good" or "bad", the characters have so much depth. The setting's awesome, really makes you travel in time. A meaningful and adventure-packed talk about history, adventures, feelings and human nature.