User reviews

This series recently popped up on PRIME, and, like all Amazon subscribers, we are always in tge hunt for a compelling crime and detection series, esp. Of the Euro flavour. And so we stumble on DENGLER (or PRIVATE DETECTIVE DENGLER), a series about a tall, handsome cop who quits the force to work privately. He is aided by a sidekick that he picks up almost accidentally, Olga, a hacker of renown, who has a warrant on her head for breaking into the wrong cyber files.

Olga (Birgit Minichmayr) has unusual features: pouty lips mixed with an otherwise tough but androgynous appearance. In any other Euro series, Olga & Dengler would be lovers by episode 2, but her steely glare and chain-smoking persona deter that step. I just finished episode 3 and the pair operate like an effective but bickering team.

These somber episodes (we watched no. 3 today) are lengthy and unfold slowly, almost procedurally. Contrast this approach with the Brit series INSPECTOR FROST, in which we see the players, the challenge and FROST's wit all in the first 10 minutes. Ep. 3 DIE SCHÜTZENDE HAND, in which our pair of sleuths are hired by an anonymous client to investigate the outcome of a robbery, takes a long time to get there, but we were locked in anyway. There's quite a twist at the 60-min mark and another just before the credits roll. Be prepared!

I had not been aware of this show and don't recall it being shown on PBS. I stumbled upon Dengler (known as Private Detective Dengler in the U. S.) on the PBS Passport app, decided to give it a try and was immediately drawn in. Shows of this genre are in my wheelhouse. It apparently began in 2015 and it appears to have slowly rolled out an episode at a time over several years which may explain why I was unaware of it.

Dengler is a German production with English subtitles. The subtitles are very well done and easy to follow. There are a total of 6 episodes that run about 90 minutes each and are complex and moody, building slowly at first but they're very compelling with an exciting conclusion. The acting, directing and writing are very good.

Dengler (Ronald Zehrfeld) is a former federal cop who left the force and becomes a private investigator. He is assisted by Olga (Birgit Minichmayr), a tough as nails computer wiz/hacker. She is good as well and they play very well off of each other. Every episode is a different case for Dengler to solve including political intrigue, corruption, corporate greed & evildoing and societal issues which are very interesting. Both characters are tough but very committed to solving their cases with integrity and they're likable.

I'm glad I found Dengler, it is a very well done show and I recommend it if you like the genre. A lot of intrigue and plot twists to keep it interesting with excellent acting, writing and direction.