This show is aesthetically pleasing and has great acting. It tackled some very tough material in post WWII Germany, so tough that as a viewer in the U. S. I did not think it could do some aspects justice. I cannot say whether it succeeded or not in that regard but some of the major elements were addressed: the treatment of the Jews, the still-present influence of Nazis, Soviet and British occupation, and a devastated economy and infrastructure.
There are some very powerful moments that truly tested the actors' abilities that were performed with excellence. In these aspects the production was well thought out, written and directed. As this focuses on the plight of the Wolf family, it is one of the best depictions of strong and courageous females. Unlike many films today, strong female roles are propped up by emasculated, incompetent men, but not here. The women persevere and overcome against the efforts of powerful and devious male counterparts. For the most part these strengths are used to redefine who the German people are postwar, but there are some who use their strength as a means to an end gaining personal desires. Either way the performances were strong and believable.
Unfortunately, the show was over sexed. The use of love scenes and passion can further the story. In this case they detract, all of them. Done properly, they can elicit viewers emotions in support of a relationship, or at least the understanding of what the character motivations are. Done improperly, as they were here, with prolonged grinding and humping, take you out of the story. Filmmakers giving an effort can allude to events artfully with tact and even get more of the vision across to the viewer (Think shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho that never showed one wound). Or they can do it the easy way and just show sex and bring down an otherwise good plot. Then, not one but two, devious business deals had to be consummated (pun intended) in a strip club with bare breasts hovering inches from the men's faces.
The destruction of one of the more admirable characters at the end becoming a rapist seemed completely out of place, like a last-minute correction. One writer says to the other, "How are we going to end the marriage?" The other writer replies, "Hmmm......er.... I got it! He rapes her!"
Hopefully, if the series continues, the producers will realize the talented cast they have is well able to carry the story and not give in to their insecurities and use excessive sexual content.
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