Deutschland 83

Superb characterizations and riveting action are leavened by wry humor, making Deutschland delightfully addictive.

The series is imbued with retro cool and, similar to the winking hindsight of Mad Men, takes pleasure in mixing a complicated past with a keen sense of pop. [19 Jun 2015, p.57]

The show manages to juggle suspense with light moments without spoiling either mood.

It’s serious and it can be stark, but it’s also funny and brisk, a coming-of-age story with a sense of adventure.

What really makes this eight-episode series stand out is its setting, because a family divided is more impactful than strangers going at each other.

Nothing gets lost in translation in Deutschland 83, especially the timeless human drama.

It’s certainly entertaining and well-done but, based on the first two chapters, the viewers are going to have to swallow quite a large helping of implausible sauerkraut to attain their suspension of disbelief.