Derrick

A true classic and without doubt one of the best known German 'Krimis'. I like the episodes from the 70's and early 80's best. Not only because of the sometimes hilarious nostalgia, but the episodes were - in relation to to the later episodes, that is! - fast-paced, and much less boring.

In the 90's, almost every episode concluded in philosophical chatter and most killers were obsessed with "the beauty of death". The series moved away from the whodunnit genre, simply because viewers could no longer guess who was the killer. Even the least obvious characters turned out to have a dark side. The nicest, least suspicious people suddenly turned out to be killing lunatics with no motive but some philosophical crap, and Derrick seemed more of a shrink than an "Oberinspektor". Also, the series moved from the people-next-door environment, mostly in the 70's, to the rich people exclusively in the 90's, which made it sometimes repetitive.

Nevertheless, if you like detective series, whodunnits, and last but not least the German "Krimis", I can recommend this, along with "Tatort" and the "Der Alte" series as a close second. These three were the most popular German cop shows in the 80's and early 90's.

This fantastic German 'Krimi' is unique because of its sterile depiction of murder investigation. Derrick's only weapon is his reasoning. He needs no gun to arrest suspects, he fires his arguments one by one at them, so that the murderer (often a neat & rich person) simply has to surrender. The settings are always great: cool, white villas, sleazy nightclubs and, as another commenter said, an absolutely spartan office. As far as I know there are no references to the families and friends of the protagonist and his introvert sidekick Harry, and you need a magnifying glass to find frivolities like humor. The sterility and formality of the series may be repulsive to some viewers, but I think it's a haven for people that are fed up with them Hollywood-influenced police series on steroids.

There are rumors that Derrick is back on Dutch television, so: "Harry, hol' den Wagen!"

Two years ago I discovered this German TV series and I enjoy to see every day a new episode. Derrick is first this chief inspector of Munich , Stephan Derrick,who with his colleague Harry Klein solves crimes using their hability to observe, talking with the people,looking for the motive of a crime, investigating the past, the friendships of a suspect or of a victim.Rarely they have to use their weapons for arresting a suspect. Derrick is also Munich, this town with nices neighbourhoods , great monuments, the English Garden, the banks of the Isar River,but also dangerous neighbourhoods and also the nice surroundings (lakes, countryside,etc). Derrick is a very consistent TV series, a pleasant size (57-59 minutes), Derrick and Klein have to act quickly (there is not time for their personal problems). The same writer for all the episodes, Herbert Reinecker !! The episodes have the touch of Herbert Reinecker, a man who has some favorite themes: through his episodes Herbert Reinecker shows his indignation, his anger or his aversion when people are forcing women to prostitution (white slavery), when men are abusing and raping women, when rackets are destroying honest businesses. Also the description of the bourgeoise and high society with their problems of inheritance, fight for power o infidelity may be quite acid. As I mention the private life of Stephan Derrick and Harry Klein doesn't have a great importance in these episodes.

This is the greatest detective show ever to be sent on norwegian TV. Horst Tappert and Fritz Wepper play Munich KriminalPolizei officers who take their jobs seriously. We never see the two in their homes, the office is the closest we get. The office is spartanly decorated with maybe some curtains and a small flower. Derrick sits by his desk until midnight waiting for a phonecall, and answers Der KriminalPolizei. Many of his "clients" are easteuropean pimps and kriminals, and angstridden upper middle class wifes in their 40s and their families.

These peoples houses have all white walls and tasteful interiors. Oh, Derrick has almost never fired a gun or used other forms of violence , and he only drives a Mercedes. And always in a suit and a coat. His assistant, Harry Klein used to wear a leather jacket. GREAT.

I grew up with this series too. I probably started watching this when I was 4 or 5 years old, and watched it up until recently. I normally never watch German series, but this one was something special. Todays kids may find it antiquated and corny, but I like it.