ZERV - Zeit der Abrechnung

I have always been fascinated by the subject of pre and post-wall East Germany like the Deutschland series or The Same Sky. Divided We Stand is not of that caliber. The 1990s sets, cars, fashion and music were spot on. The main story line of the murder investigations and links to the arms trade at first felt authentic and had promise but was let down by the tired Buffonish Bureaucrat teamed with the Streetwise detective trope. The latter shifting from competent and assertive to cowering and confused. Cartoonish and improbable Army officers and police captains just got annoying plus other uniquely East German story lines that went nowhere. Just a very uneven series that seemed to give up trying in the last couple episode. A score of 5 is probably a good average but for a fan of the genre--disappointing.

Disjointed and amateurish are the best words to describe this. Following a group of West German officers who've been sent to investigate crimes in the East, the story was in turn fanciful, unreal and unbelievable. The acting was of a poor standard as well.

Themes and stories were not followed up - the forced adoption strand was simply dropped and we never knew what the result was. The children's home strand was simply ludicrous. Every country had its own scandals in this respect but in the times that this series was set in, the priority was to cover up not to give credence to victims.

The main theme, that of arms smuggling was better and seemed to draw on some historical facts pertaining to the war in former Yugoslavia. But the derring-do was forced and breakthroughs came by coincidence rather than doggedness.

I watched it all but I can't really recommend it.

An excellent series, with tension, unexpected humor, and great feeling, it conveys a difficult time for Germany, amid varying human corruptions. Well paced and well acted! Even the music selections are well chosen, and the series won major German awards, well deserved, for the lead actress and in two other categories. It was a surprise and it keeps a great pace all the way through the end, which provides hope that the series will be renewed. It also provides an excellent perspective on the difficulties of the German post-wall reunification, but with exceptional humor and sympathy for the lives affected.

This is an excellent series. Principal characters needing to work together, are Karo Schubert, chief inspector in former e.germany, and Peter Simon, leader of a team from w.germany investigating financial crime. Schubert, is an appealing character from the start, sympathetic but tough, but later the uptight rigid somewhat arrogant Simon gains your appreciation too. The dramatic plot, set only 2 years after the unification of Germany in 1989, involves disappearances, murders, corrupt politicians, duplicitous secret service, and large scale theft of state property.

The casting is excellent, acting of high standard, and the intelligent and often witty dialogue is entertaining and educational throughout. We greatly enjoyed this series and were sorry when it was over.