It's really a shame to see a good idea executed so badly and so utterly, utterly German.
The whole thing starts quite promising, with a solid cast (the characters of Mina, Adem and Paul are played quite nicely and with subtlety) and a fresh topic that, as far as I know, has never been covered in a series format.
The cinematography is quite a lot better than most other German productions, and the overall production value seems quite high. It's a show that is definitely pleasant to look at.
I also was happy to see that the topic of German fraternities (Studentenverbindungen), that has been talked about a lot in the past due to several right-leaning and sometimes outright nationalist / national socialist groups in these circles, seemed to be treated with a lot of insight into traditions and culture of these fraternities. I have some experience in this type of student community, and I know for sure that there are some open-minded, tolerant and modern fraternities out there. I was happy to see that the writers have put effort into research and seemed to try to steer clear of stereotypes. At least for the first two episodes that is true.
However, by episode three, the whole show takes a radical turn for the worst. It turns out that the sometimes a little awkward and insecure but still friendly and well-mannered members are actually cruel, hard-right incels with a solid disliking for foreigners. While I had hoped that the writers would show both the tolerant and xenophobic spectrum of the scene, I was ok with a one-sided approach. After all, it's a show, it should be exciting.
Unfortunately, though, this episode contains a ridiculous scene where after revealing their true nature the brothers stand on top of a table, singing and literally drooling, because, well they are evil, and evil people are disgusting, right? At least on German TV they apparently have to be, or else you wouldn't know they are evil. You wouldn't be appalled by a well-mannered, subtle villain that can hide his true self, so they must be caricatures in order to really hammer home that They. Are. Bad!!!1!1!!! It's something I've seen over and over again in German productions, where the viewers seem to be considered idiots that need to be told exactly what's good and what's bad in order for them to understand. Frankly, I cannot take any more.
And as if that wasn't enough, after this it does not get better but instead slides downhill fast with a bunch of lapses of logic and lazy writing. Why does Adem lose his conscience, then regain it, then lose it again? Why is he suddenly back in the fraternity after being kicked out? Why does he decide to leave, then decide to stay in? And why the heck does he, apparently, still decide to leave everything behind in the last scene? Füxe does not give answers and I'm honestly not surprised nor really interested to find them.
What could have been a multi-faceted view at an interesting topic, at a historical part of German culture that can be both fascinating and repugnant, instead is boring, laden with stereotypes and, in parts, just plain dumb. What a waste.
The whole thing starts quite promising, with a solid cast (the characters of Mina, Adem and Paul are played quite nicely and with subtlety) and a fresh topic that, as far as I know, has never been covered in a series format.
The cinematography is quite a lot better than most other German productions, and the overall production value seems quite high. It's a show that is definitely pleasant to look at.
I also was happy to see that the topic of German fraternities (Studentenverbindungen), that has been talked about a lot in the past due to several right-leaning and sometimes outright nationalist / national socialist groups in these circles, seemed to be treated with a lot of insight into traditions and culture of these fraternities. I have some experience in this type of student community, and I know for sure that there are some open-minded, tolerant and modern fraternities out there. I was happy to see that the writers have put effort into research and seemed to try to steer clear of stereotypes. At least for the first two episodes that is true.
However, by episode three, the whole show takes a radical turn for the worst. It turns out that the sometimes a little awkward and insecure but still friendly and well-mannered members are actually cruel, hard-right incels with a solid disliking for foreigners. While I had hoped that the writers would show both the tolerant and xenophobic spectrum of the scene, I was ok with a one-sided approach. After all, it's a show, it should be exciting.
Unfortunately, though, this episode contains a ridiculous scene where after revealing their true nature the brothers stand on top of a table, singing and literally drooling, because, well they are evil, and evil people are disgusting, right? At least on German TV they apparently have to be, or else you wouldn't know they are evil. You wouldn't be appalled by a well-mannered, subtle villain that can hide his true self, so they must be caricatures in order to really hammer home that They. Are. Bad!!!1!1!!! It's something I've seen over and over again in German productions, where the viewers seem to be considered idiots that need to be told exactly what's good and what's bad in order for them to understand. Frankly, I cannot take any more.
And as if that wasn't enough, after this it does not get better but instead slides downhill fast with a bunch of lapses of logic and lazy writing. Why does Adem lose his conscience, then regain it, then lose it again? Why is he suddenly back in the fraternity after being kicked out? Why does he decide to leave, then decide to stay in? And why the heck does he, apparently, still decide to leave everything behind in the last scene? Füxe does not give answers and I'm honestly not surprised nor really interested to find them.
What could have been a multi-faceted view at an interesting topic, at a historical part of German culture that can be both fascinating and repugnant, instead is boring, laden with stereotypes and, in parts, just plain dumb. What a waste.
