Der Tatortreiniger

German TV productions are usually meh at best. Sure, there was Heimat or Berlin Alexanderplatz, but mostly they suffer from small budgets and even smaller ambition. Crime Scene Cleaner is the rare exception from the rule, a real gem of unhurried and intelligent comedy. And more importantly, it is original. Not some knock-off, stuff you've seen before. The format allows it to be great in spite of a most likely abysmally small budget.

So far you are stuck with Canal+ in France and Network MHZ in the US, to actually see the show. Which is more than you can say for most German TV, but sadly the show is far from readily available. But it certainly worth the 30 day trial of MHZ streaming service.

Give it a try, you will not regret it...

The show is very good. Most of the times.

Some episodes are better than others but the writer has a brilliant mind with a dry and dark humor.

This is not so often to get from women writers. I was surprised that the scripts were written by one person. There are so much bizarre situations and pointy dialogues that I thought that have to be a team.

The acting is good and some of the guests for example Viviane de Muynck in Tauschgeschäfte do outstanding work. It seems to me that they saw a chance for an impressive performance and used it.

The directing is not much to mention. And it looks like the show has not much money. But that is not important because the best thing is the good writing.

Very German seems to me that the show has to go a long way to get to its right place in the public. It seems to be hidden in the corner of the NDR. As someone said correctly. There ore not much funny shows in Germany.

I'm usually a bit put off by philosophy in the guise of comedy, or most movies for that matter (e.g., that god-awful one from Germany years ago, about angels descending into taverns to bloviate to customers). But "Crime Scene Cleaner" does it adroitly and, IMHO, hilariously.

What puzzles me, however, are the two scathing negatives from German posters. I admit I don't know Mr. Madel's previous roles so I can't say whether he just cuts and pastes his performances here. But to say that CSC "sucks" in comparison to what's on American TV is a gobsmacker. If the poster could direct me to the U.S. sitcom that's crisply dialogued and nicely played by the supporting actors, and which is pitched as high, I'll watch it in a trice!

I won't spoil it. But this series is a light hearted black comedy from start to finish with the most amazing and baffling series finale I've ever seen. The series runs for 7 seasons, but it only totals 31 episodes with an ave running time of 30 mins each. So easy binge watching right here. While the episodes are not connected to each other, you do want to pay attention to every detail as it will all come down in the last episode. Bjarne Mädel (that goofy gangster from "How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)") is at his prime. It mostly depicts (northern) German dry humor (which does exists) and sure is the go-to series you want to know and brag about at the next party.

This is a character driven sitcom. Might be too much dialog for some people. I like it a lot. The humour is quirky and subtle. Whether Schotty is dancing in a bunny costume for extra cash,getting back some Nazi bullies or stuck in a magicians chest with a gay man talking about their hopes and dreams , there is never a dull moment.