Bonn - Alte Freunde, neue Feinde (2022) User Reviews

Great new German history TV-show

[beatrock-97080 · 7/10 · 19 January 2023]

Two secret services (Verfassungsschutz and the Gehlen organization, forerunner of the BND) compete in the young Federal Republic. Gehlen's concern is to combat the influence of communism. The Verfassungsschutz is on the hunt for old Nazis.

An atmospheric picture of the West German Republic in the early 1950s is presented here, true to the original style and beautifully photographed. Historical are mixed with fictional characters. Unfortunately, the plot is somewhat predictable, but it is still fun to watch the intrigue play out.

This might not be the new Babylon Berin, but it is close. Watch it.

Based on historically true events, you will learn how former high ranking Nazi people kept in charge after WW2

[Erik_Surewaard · 7/10 · 8 January 2024]

This series of 6 episodes is based on the real events that took place in West-Germany in the years just after WW2. This whereby former ranking officers from the SS and the Nazi army are involved in rebuilding a new "shadow army" in Germany.

You will learn how both Dr. Otto John and Reinhard Gehlen - historically important people after WW2 - act against each others objectives. This through the eyes of a young woman whom has close ties to both sides: i.e. She basically functions as a spy for its own country.

The series is a combination of (1) a historically relevant and interesting storyline, (2) pretty decent acting, and (3) scenes that make you think it is really post-war Germany which you are watching. It was such an attractive watch that I binged all episodes in one day...

The historic events shown in this series also triggered me to further investigate what exactly I saw in this series. This series really makes you wonder whether the "Allied Forces" were 'allied' in the first place?! This whereby the capitulation of Nazi Germany merely caused the defeat of one enemy (Nazi Germany), whereby WW2 just continued against Russia under another name: i.e. "The Cold War".

Concluding, this series challenges the viewer on what exactly happened just after WW2. I score it thereby at 7.3/10, resulting in an IMDb score of 7 stars. I personally hope that this series will get a second season. The 6th episode is left open ended, so as a viewer I am left craving to see more. Especially after reading some more on Wikipedia...

Rather disappointing

[bdk-04949 · 4/10 · 13 February 2023]

I really liked the setting and the atmosphere. They've created a great 50s "BRD vibe". I really wish the whole show had been up that standard. The story has some loopholes, but I'd be happy to ignore those, IF everything else was good. But most of the dialogues are not very well written and / or delivered, and thus sound rather unnatural. Even worse, most of the smaller (German-speaking!) roles are actually dubbed in German (!), which completely takes viewers who have not been numbed by German TV's almighty dubbing presence completely out of any suspension of disbelief and adds to the "clunkiness" of the dialogues. Such a shame, as this show actually would have had potential and the actors and characters seem to fit rather well.

Probably a lot easier to watch if you don't speak German and don't realize HOW unnatural a lot of the talking sounds. In that case, it's probably pretty enjoyable.

Great setting and story, lackluster performance and realization

[starfishr-751-546917 · 5/10 · 26 October 2023]

"Bonn" is a miniseries playing in germany a decade after the end of world war 2. It focuses on the conflict between the Verfassungsschutz which is hunting and prosecting former Nazi officials and the Organisation Gehlen which was the predecessor of today's BND (the german foreign intelligence agency) and is more sympathetic and supportive towards former Nazis, enabling their escape from prosecution. The outcome of that conflict might determine the future of the very young west germany which is now linked with western allies to prepare for a possible new war with the USSR.

The series does a great job at portraying the life of a young woman that is being recruited as a spy for the Verfassungsschutz, conflicting with her father's Nazi background.

The story plays out well and both the set design as well as the locations give off a very post-war feeling.

Unfortunately the realization breaks the immersion and the tension in many places. While most actors and actresses do a good job, some roles (Toni's boyfriend played by Julius Feldmeier) made me feel like watching a school play.

Many scenes also have a german voice-over despite the characters speaking german and it's not lip synched at ALL (the scene in the bar/club in one of the later episodes...) and it's a prime example where small, really weak moments ruin the whole show.

The story is still very exciting, especially since the audience knows from the beginning that it's based on real history. However, it's painfully badly done in some parts which really removed most of the fascination that I had in the beginning. A real shame.