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Airing times
KDD - Berlin Crime Squad (KDD - Kriminaldauerdienst, 2007)
Germany
Presentation:
This thrilling crime drama took German viewers by storm, winning numerous awards, including Best Series, Best Actor (Manfred Zapatka), Best Actress (Saskia Vester) and Best Fiction.
In the heart of Berlin, crime and violence plague the citizens. This crime drama, a staple of the genre, details the tireless efforts of the city’s most dedicated and hard working squad off officers and peace keepers. Not only does it explore the complex, tumultuous cases that keep these cops working around the clock, the series digs deeper, exploring the relationships, psychology, and personal traumas of the two leading team members.
Fighting crime can take its toll, and the dedicated members of the Berlin Crime Squad spend each day facing down murderers, robbers, kidnappers, arsonists and countless other heinous criminals. The terrible sights they see, and the grief and pain of the victims takes a toll on even the hardiest of enforcers. Worse, when the streets aren’t threatening to kill them, the characters face battles in their homes, and in their own minds. Family, love, and personal fulfillment are all battered and thrown by the wayside in their tireless pursuit of justice.
Led by Helmut Enders (Götz Schubert), the team is formed by recovering alcoholic Jan Haroska (Manfred Zapatka), rich boy Leo Falckenstein (Barnaby Metschurat), Turkish Mehmet Kilic (Billey Demirtas), thoughtful María Hernández (Jördis Triebel), experimenter Sylvia Henke (Melika Foroutan) and the coordinator and girlfriend of Enders, Cristina Bender (Saskia Vester).
Acclaimed by critics and the public for its realism, the rhythm and the complex human relations it showcases, the series has taken home awards at the Bavarian Television Award and the German Television Awards.
Synopsis:
Season 3
Episode 1
After a work day, Mehmet Kilic (Billey Demirtas) observes a dealer selling drugs in an alley. He finds a bag of cocaine but instead of arresting the man, he lets him get away and takes the coke for personal use. Sylvia Henke (Melika Foroutan) is exhausted from the daily stress at KDD and has been trying for a long time to get a transfer. Helmut Enders (Götz Schubert) has in recent months, an affair with his ex-wife Sabine (Johanna Gastdorf). After she survived the death of their daughter and their temporary separation, they are planning a trip to Argentina.
Episode 2
Carla Wagner (Henny Reents) has doubts regarding Mehmet Kilic’s (Billey Demirtas) innocence in the murder of Frank Beck (Uwe Preuss). In the interrogation room, Mehmet, his boss, and Wagner’s colleagues must convince her that he had nothing to do with the killing. Outside of the precinct, the romance between Sylvia (Melika Foroutan) and Leo (Barnaby Metschurat) is heating up, but Leo’s growing uncertainty is beginning to gnaw at Sylvia. Worse, their transfer is not going as smoothly as anticipated despite the positive press over their life-saving intervention in the case of the wounded rap artist.
Episode 3
Kristin Bender (Saskia Vester) suffers a rude awakening as Enes (Edin Hasanovic) has, once again, unexpectedly appeared in Germany. Now working as a facilitator in the cases of young girls from Kosovo forced into prostitution, Enes is desperate for help with a particularly difficult case. When another facilitator suddenly dies, doubts emerge as to whether or not it was a case of self-defense or murder. As the rabbit hole goes deeper, Kristin must choose between her love for her son, and her loyalty to the law.
Episode 4
Gerd Halter, renowned actor of the Berlin theatre, turns up dead one day after a gruesome fall through a hotel window. As his life comes to an end, the beloved star’s former life as a Stasi spy is revealed to the public. Now the squad must deal with both the criminal investigation and a media fire storm. Sylvia (Melika Foroutan) is on duty and is thus exempt from the campaign to help the department’s image, which is only being further tarnished when Mehmet (Billey Demirtas) falls ill after a dramatic confrontation with Veli Gür (Bülent Sharif).
Episode 5
A student rushes into the KDD station, begging for help. His school has become a battleground, and all signs point to a new drug as the cause behind the violence. Meanwhile, Kristin (Saskia Vester) is getting more and more worried about Enes (Edin Hasanovic), who is desperately trying to prevent an innocent person from going to jail in his stead. Consumed with guilt, Enes prepares to confess to everything.
Episode 6
In a dramatic raid, arms dealer Manfred Seitz (Uwe Bohm) is captured in his fortified villa. As this unfolds, Sylvia (Melika Foroutan) and Mehmet (Billy Demirtas) must deal with a terrible kidnapping case. The main suspect in the abduction is a recently discharged rapist, and the entire neighbourhood has formed a mob and is in hot pursuit.
Episode 7
Jan (Manfred Zapatka) and Maria (Jördis Triebel) head to the youth welfare office on an emergency call. There, they meet a desperate mother who as lost her child, and use any means necessary to find him. Mehmet (Billey Demirtas) is still on the run from Karsten Stieglitz’s (Michael Rotschopf) massive manhunt. Neither man knows what will happen next: Will Mehmet face his pursuer, or will her continue to flee? Meanwhile, Leo (Barnaby Metschurat) is wrestling with the death of his father, finally reaching a decision that could change the squad forever.
Episode 8
A desperate father appears at the KDD station, begging wildly for help. The ensuing chaos envelopes the whole squad and nobody can figure out what is going on when the situation suddenly escalates into an unexpected, dramatic turn of events. As the drama unfolds, on the other end of the city, Enders (Götz Schubert) is distraught over Mehmet’s murder confession and Leo’s termination.
Season 2
Episode 1
As the last season drew to a close, the force was mired in conflict, corruption, and crime. The second season opens to Officer Sallek (Christian Redl) deciding that enough is enough: he will testify in court against his corrupt peers to bring honor back to the crime squad. As the trial unfolds, Jan Haroska (Manfred Zapatka) must finally confront a former associate of the infamous drug kingpin Aoun (Andre Hennicke). The witness, Han, is played by none other than Jürgen Vogel, a world renowned German actor who shocked audiences with his stunning performance in the 2008 drama The Wave (Die Welle). When he brings his talents to the KDD Berlin Crime Squad, you won’t believe what happens.
Episode 2
The KKD team is in shock after the announcement of Horoska’s suspension. They don’t know Sabine had to make this decision because of Jacobi. To make up for it, she accepts giving him Armin Ponew’s address. This information may help the police find Mahler, who has killed some of them. Inspector Sylvia Henke hears a radio message from the kidnapper – Luis. She panics and causes an accident, but hopefully Leo will keep an eye on her.
Episode 3
Frank Döring is assigned as a new member of the KDD. The team is distant at first, especially Leo who rejects “The New One”. He is the one who after Sylvia’s self-admission at the psychiatric clinic, obsessively searched for her tormentor. Maria has handled the death of her partner quite well, but her new colleague Keitel has not. He constantly reminds her of how little he thinks of women in uniform. When Ponew asks Enders for information about planned raids for his “services“, Enders senses that he has entered a pact with the devil.
Episode 4
The Berlin press celebrates the capture of the cops murderer. Helmut Enders, the one who gave the decision can’t handle the situation because he feels too burdened about his involvement with the dubious informant, Armin Ponew. Jacobi, the one who brought them together and therefore has Enders under control, believes he can fulfill his dreams: The headlines give him the last lift he needs for his candidacy as Senator of the Interior. Maria and Keitel, her new partner, try a new beginning, but the harmony does not last long: When Keitel suspends the unruly homeless-man Van Gogh on a remote feeder road, Maria reports the irresponsible incident to her superior. She has no idea what consequences this action will have for her.
Episode 5
When Sabine Enders seeks advice from Haroska, because her husband Helmut spoke of a „secret informant“on a telephone call, she gets a surprise: Haroska practices sports and is clearly trying to get his addiction under control. But Sabine’s news upset him – he knows too well that Enders’ contact man, the dubious Armin Ponew, is dangerous. Ponew blackmails the young goalkeeper Bob Kwahne to manipulate games for the gambling mafia of the regional league. The young man suffers: Either he betrays his team or he shows the machinations to the police, what would result in his deportation to Cameroon.
Episode 6
Haroska made an appointment at the psychological service to undergo a „stress test“, so he can return to the police. Helga Sievers, his supervisor of the Anonymous Alcoholics makes him once again forcefully clear that he – if there is a chance of rehabilitation – must take full responsibility for the incident at the Gendarmenmarkt. Behrens undertakes administrative procedures for Kristin to get Enes‘guardianship. To simplify the process, Behrens makes an offer to Kristin which leaves her confused and doubtful. While Leo and Döring investigate a case of child abduction, Enders gets involved deeper into the machinations of Armin Ponew and the betting mafia. In the firm belief to do the right thing, he does not realize that he has become an instrument which he originally hoped to combat.
Episode 7
Haroska returns to service. His first case leads Leo and him to a retirement home, where there have been a number of mysterious deaths. The truth they discovered is sadder than they could imagine. Kristin is about to get guardianship of Enes. When the team is called to investigate a burglary at a secondary school and one of the culprits is brought to the police station, Kristin experiences bitter disappointment. Helmut Enders cannot believe it: The people behind the betting mafia of Igor Stosic did not show up to the manipulated game.
Episode 8
Armin Ponew is desperate. Because of Bob Kwahne’s suicide, he has lost all of his money and now has immense debts with Igor Stoschek. He desperately seeks help from his old friend Wolfgang Jacobi and blackmails him. Jacobi, the big winner of the election to the House of Representatives does not need these kinds of troubles. He is the most promising candidate for the post of Minister of the Interior and consoles Ponew. Enders has learned the truth of Stieglitz and is now stunned: In the belief that he was doing the right thing, he played into Jacobi’s hands, the mastermind behind the incidents at the Gendarmenmarkt?
Episode 9
Igor sits in custody. Enders‘part of the deal is therefore fulfilled. Now he is waiting for Ponew, who in return will help to convict Jacobi. Enders has no idea that Ponew is already in Jacobi’s pocket. Haroska takes care of Rüya Deniz, a cheerful woman who runs a center that supports the integration of migrants. For a group of women who she has taught to ride bikes she demands police protection and the facilitation of a bicycle test, something Keitel accepts to do. Maria found out that she’s pregnant. As if this wasn’t hard enough to bear, she must still find out who the father is. When a woman appears at the police station and files a charge of rape, she identifies the rapist as Mehmet.
Episode 10
The big day of Jacobi’s appointment as Minister of the Interior in Berlin is here. Enders is forced to improvise together with Stieglitz, Haroska and Leo how to confront the corrupt and dangerous politician. They receive unexpected help from the Land Office of Criminal Investigation-official Carla Wagner, who in the past had spied upon Ponew and Enders. For Kristin the day begins with a shock: Behrens stands with Enes‘birth mother in front of the door and wants to take her son with her. Kristin loses ground when she recognizes Behrens’ true face. A bombing at the Employment Agency demand Mehmets and Sylvias full action, especially since a lot of job seekers have said to have committed the attack.
Season 1
Pilot
Officer Jan Haroska (Manfred Zapatka) is unwelcome even at his own son’s funeral. In order to grieve, he and his colleague Leo Falckenstein (Barnaby Metschurat) must go against the rest of the family’s wishes. Jan’s torments don’t end there, though; his daughter’s wedding has left her deeply in debt and, without the money to help her, Jan can only watch as she struggles. But the demands of the job don’t wait for reprieve, and Jan is called to investigate the assault of a Turkish storeowner’s daughter. Together with Maria Hernandez, Jan’s colleague, he investigates and finds that every clue points to a boy named Max Meral as the perpetrator. Suspicious, Jan orders everyone, including Meral’s father, to the police station for interrogation. At the station, Police Chief Helmut Enders (Götz Schubert) introduces Mehmet Kilic (Billey Demirtas) and Kristin Bender (Saskia Vester) to the newest officer, Sylvia Henke (Melik Foroutan).
Episode 1
Officer Jan Haroska is burdened with the solemn duty of informing Helmut (Götz Schubert) and his family of Lisa’s death. She was killed when a crash, caused by her boyfriend, violently ended her life. Worse, the autopsy revealed that the girl was under the influence of drugs prior to her death. Now the boyfriend is under suspicion, and is being thoroughly investigated by the squad. Jan, concerned for his friend’s well-being, orders Helmut to go home as soon as he arrives at the station. Tensions run high, and Jan, struggling with so much responsibility, is barely able to resist the urge to start drinking again. Soon after, Leo Falckenstein (Barnaby Metschurat) and Jan are called in to investigate a crime in a park. The witness is brought to the station and interrogated by Kristin (Saskia Vester), revealing that there may be more to this crime than they thought.
Episode 2
A breakdown of the squad’s computer network throws the police station into chaos, and that’s just the beginning of their problems. Henry Zander, a man suffering from behavioral problems, damages some parked cars along the street, including the car owned by Manfred Rahn. Jan attempts to stop him, but Zander is on the verge of escape when he is suddenly, and surprisingly, stopped by a formerly inconspicuous man. Rahn and Zander are isolated in two different surveillance rooms and left to stew before interrogation.
Episode 3
The situation in the police station is getting more and more hectic. Enders is forced to take some time off, and the internal affairs investigator Stieglitz is slowing losing his patience. Stieglitz informs Jan and Leo that he knows something, but before he can trick them, Kristin sends them into action, away from the prying investigator. Their case involves a federal soldier who supposedly attacked his wife and mother-in-law. Maria and Mahler are already on the scene. When the pair bars the suspect from entering his home, the suspect suddenly collapses.
Episode 4
After being threatened by Han, Jan leaves Maria alone. He then tries, unsuccessfully, to contact Marlie. The next morning, Jan arrives drunk at the police station, and his colleagues fall over themselves trying to hide him from the watchful eye of Stieglitz. However, there is no fooling him. He interrogates Leo, demanding the location of Pit's murdered girlfriend. Leo gives Stieglitz the information in an effort to protect Jan, not knowing what he has just done.
Episode 5
Leo is on his way to meet Jan, who is preparing for a clash with Han. Leo tries to warn Maria about Han over the phone, but is too late. Han has already been to Marlies' house and has kidnapped Ben. Jan panics and he wants to give himself up to the police. Leo manages to stop him, and convinces him to carry out an alternative plan: Leo will act as a stand in for Ben, and will pay Han from his own private funds. Enders leaves his family and secretly goes to the empty police house manager's apartment.
Episode 6
A raid at a construction site goes horribly wrong when an employee of the labor department is accidentally killed. Meanwhile, the squad at KDD is shocked to learn that Timur, the Turkish worker, has named Mahmet’s old address as his place of residence. Mahmet, in light of this surprising news, takes over the interrogation of their suspect. More residency problems occur when Jan Haroska finally asks Enders to find his own place to live. Kristin, oblivious to all of the drama, arrives at the station only to find a tabloid paper with the headline: “Death at the Police Station – Investigating Officer Lovesick” with herself as the officer in question.
Episode 7
Jan, in an unsuccessful attempt to mend the rift between them, visits Marlies at her new apartment, only to be turned away. Enders finally returns to work, but this means that Karen, who had become friends with Mehmet, is no longer needed at KDD. Her duties fall to Kristin, who is having a fairly difficult weekend herself. Enders attempts to rebuild his fractured team, and encourages Kristin to stand up for herself and earn back the respect she’s lost. Out in the field the detectives question Behrens the pharmacist, who suspects that his colleague has been stealing Viagra from his store. After an awkward interrogation, Kristin devises an effective, if peculiar, solution to the problem.
Episode 8
The crime squad has their hands full again, both in and out of the station. Jan and Leo busy themselves trying to talk to the implacable Stieglitz, attempting to convince him that Sallek is profiting from drug trafficking in Berlin. The say that their witness Han will give them proof if his boyfriend Androsch is released. Stieglitz finally agrees, after much convincing. Outside of the station, Sylvia tries unsuccessfully to reach Leo. Distracted, she goes for a walk only to be attacked and knocked unconscious. She awakens inside of an unknown apartment, where her abductor beats and assaults her.
Episode 9
In a thrilling follow up to the last episode’s cliff-hanger, the episode opens with Sylvia awakening in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Badly hurt and shaken, she demands to see her daughter before making a statement. Leo wants to take her statement himself, but he is too frightened and ashamed with himself; he regrets not being there to help Sylvia. Unable to express his frustration and regret, he accuses Sylvia of voluntarily having sex with her kidnapper. This enrages Sylvia at first, but she soon crumbles, feeling nothing but pain and loneliness.
Episode 10
The team is beginning to fall apart, torn asunder by seemingly irreconcilable differences. Sylvia begins to agree Kristin on the issue of Rahn’s death. She believes that it could have been avoided, and that her current hardships are the penance for her sins. Leo tries to help her, but is unable to talk her down. Out in the field, an emergency room doctor report a woman named Susanne Jung to the police, accusing her of abusing her two year old child. The child shows symptoms of withdrawal, along with numerous bruises.
Airing times
Trivia:
- KDD was called “The best German crime drama” by newspaper Der Spiegel.
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