Deutschland 83

Refreshing to watch the beginning of this series on Sundance Channel, a foreign language entry that catches a moment in recent German history without the usual quintessential archetypes and funny accents of any random American production involving Germans. The tables are turned in fact because it is the American characters speaking German who seem a bit less than convincing. English subtitles are no major distraction, because the script is terse and direct.

As in most German cinema, nothing is left to the imagination. If a character is destined to be a hero or a saint (or something in between) that element is telegraphed in advance by the director's emphasis on a frown, an arched eyebrow, a look of confusion, or a surreptitious stage movement. We know where the series is going by the end of the first episode, yet we identify with the young man at the center of the story irrespective of his opening attitude. There is none of the ambivalence or inchoate suspense found in one of John Le Carré's filmed spy novels.

I am looking forward immensely to viewing the remainder of the series in spite of not believing, really, that many of the easy coincidences, arch villains, clandestine meetings in the woods, and other stereotypical story devices could have actually happened.

This show is just awesome! They capture the feel of the 80's in a great way. I was not in East or West Germany but the older guys I worked with were and this show is as described. A people on the edge....

I really like the German actors and actresses, but especially the younger ones. The star, Jonas Nay, is awesome. A sense of innocence, youth, determination, and bravery even though he is the EG spy. It is great! Nikola Kastner is really great too. She conveys my memory of an 80's woman, from wherever so well.

The intrigue is great. Reminiscent for me of The Americans...kind of places a stress on you to watch as you get involved with the characters.

I think the only drawback for some viewers would be the subtitles. I don't mind at all.

You know, I want to know the model of that EG car that the mother drives!

I may be biased as reading, movies, and artifacts from the cold war era are a hobby of mine.

They really place you in it.....a good feel for what happened I think.

I was in the US Army in '83 and intimately involved with the PII deployment and Able Archer. This perspective, from the East and West German point of view, is both reminiscent of my own experience and an enhancement of it. Well acted, produced, and an accurate account of the times. I had many German friends at the time, but due to my position I avoided talking politics as much as possible, but I hear their views echoed here.

Still, I was very aware of my friends reluctance to allow the PIIs and Cruise Missiles into their country. It wasn't until some years later that I discovered how Able Archer was perceived in the East, and this series recounts much of what I learned. It's been said that '83 was on par with the Cuban Missile Crisis in terms of edging toward nuclear war.

So to find a series that takes a piece of my past and twists and supplements it is very interesting. That is very well done makes it a must see for me! There are elements of the plot that get a bit overblown at times, but add to the intrigue and suspense (it is a fictional account, so that's OK). I'm very glad to have found this and would recommend it!!

IF you already like the series "The Americans", remember the 80's and don't mind subtitles.

It is a nice German spy adventure involving the youth in the German states that had been divided since the end of WW2.

I was 28 years old at the time this story takes place so... there were more than a few sentimental moments for me. It can be a lot of fun if, like me you are old enough to remember songs like "99 Luftballons". Or maybe you remember that sensation first time you ever used that "new" Sony Walkman? WOW!

Obviously this is a TV series so it isn't Shakespeare but... I found the writing more than adequate. Actors were good too. I found it easy to follow even while reading subtitles. (I only understand a tiny bit of German).

Watching as a U.S. citizen is a real bonus too. I do remember most of the historical events depicted but... from a much different perspective. It was eye opening to finally consider what it must have been like for the people living in Europe during this period.

1980ies was a really critical decade in the post-WWII period, tensions were the highest since the 1960ies, as the economical gaps between the East and West started to enhance faster. The split Germany encountered apparently the biggest tensions as the nation/language was the same, NATO bases were close, and GDR intelligence was considered among the best in the world...

Although I was quite young at that time, Deutschland 83 seems very realistic to me, brings forth some memories and attitudes East Germans were known in the Warsav Pact block... True, some topics were apparently "bedighted" and intensified for the sake of feature series and providing meatiness and additional warmth and humour, this mini-series is no US-type of action mockery, with constant chases and blasts. For younger generations accustomed to search engines etc., some events may seems odd and questionable, but back then all checking was much more complicated and slower.

The cast is evenly strong, I found Jonas Nay as Martin Rauch / Moritz Stamm, Maria Schrader as Lenora Rauch, and Ludwig Trepte as Alex Edel most elaborated characters/performances. But still, it is good that all speak their native language (or broken German), and being made on German soil and cities, you can feel the real European/German life and background throughout the whole series.

The ending could have been more twisty, but still, a good series. Special mention to those who selected songs and soundtrack - one can hardly find more suitable melodies and texts for specific events and general atmosphere.