Already with the first three seasons we have fallen under the fascinating appeal of “Babylon Berlin”. The historical portrayal of morals impresses with its lavish sets, ambivalent characters and cryptic crime plots that are firmly anchored in the historically realistic setting, but at the same time have an ultra-modern effect. It’s only natural that the previous seasons ended up in our respective top 30 of the best series of the year.
So season 4 couldn’t come soon enough – but it took a long time. The production, which is still in the hands of the director trio Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries and Hendrik Handloegten, always demands a huge effort, not least for the bustling and sinful Berlin of the 1920s and 1930s to to live. While Season 1 and 2 were both released in 2017 (because they were shot together), we had to wait a little over two years for Season 3. And with Season 4, it was even a few more months.
It is unclear whether the fact that the controversy surrounding protagonist Volker Bruch, who spoke out publicly against the federal government’s corona policy several times in 2021, was allowed to cool down a bit, also played a role this time. The fact is that the wait is finally over: The fourth season of “Babylon Berlin” starts today, October 8, 2022 on Sky One and the Sky streaming service WOW (formerly Sky Ticket). Two of the season’s 12 episodes air every Saturday from 8:15 p.m. and are available on demand earlier in the day. In 2023, the season should also be seen in the first.
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The fourth season of “Babylon Berlin” is based on the novel “Goldstein”, the third part of Volker Kutscher’s book series about researcher Gereon Rath (played by Volker Bruch in the series adaptation). In it we now write the year 1931, in which the mood in Germany against the background of the worldwide economic crisis and the rise of the Nazis becomes increasingly uneasy.
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In this tense climate, Gereon Rath finds himself this time in the boxing milieu and also increasingly in the circles of Hitler’s militant supporters, which ultimately put a heavy strain on his relationship with his colleague and former confidant Charlotte Ritter (Liv Lisa Fries). In turn, she risks her job to help her homeless sister who is struggling to survive on the streets of Berlin.