Now that Babylon Berlin is getting a US Blu-ray (and DVD) release, here's a spoiler-free overview of the series:
That was a good TV show, excellently done. I love how they managed to get in the flair and optimism and party mood of the "Roaring 20s" (and early 30s) in the Weimar Republic (especially in Berlin; Bob Fosse used the same "background" for CABARET), while at the same time evil is encroaching from the far left and far right. All wrapped up in a good mystery story.
That was a good TV show, excellently done. I love how they managed to get in the flair and optimism and party mood of the "Roaring 20s" (and early 30s) in the Weimar Republic (especially in Berlin; Bob Fosse used the same "background" for CABARET), while at the same time evil is encroaching from the far left and far right. All wrapped up in a good mystery story.
I'm thrilled the first two series are finally coming to R1 Blu-ray. As you might recall, I've spent most of this year immersing myself in German Expressionist and New Objectivity art as well as the time frame in general.
Even if BB sputters in the end, it will still have been worth it to enjoy the recreation of the Weimar Republic era, as it ties in with other contemporaneous interests I have of that period in European history.
I've also become enamored with the series underscore and the Bryan Ferry Orchestra music. Roxy Music never made any kind of music chart impact in the US, so I have no connection with the 1970s-1980s versions of his work, nor do I have any interest in exploring it; I enjoy Ferry's music in its "updated" 1920s style.
Babylon Berlin, along with the films of Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, Quentin Tarantino, and Martin Scorsese leads me to believe that songs work better than (recent) film scores in conveying emotional power for the scenes they accompany.
I love the BABYLON BERLIN series. Since the available video versions were all Region 2, I ended up subscribing to Netflix, where I watched all the current episodes.
I’ve even gotten through half of the first book, which is VERY different from the series. In fact, the series takes elements of the book and develops them much further. (For instance, the nightclub Moka Efti is barely mentioned, so far, in the book, while it’s a beehive of activity in the first season of the show.) In addition, I believe a far better series about a Weimar detective is the Bernie Gunther novels by Philip Kerr, which I think paint a far deeper image of the period.
I’ve been fascinated by the Weimar era since I first saw the original cast of the show, “Cabaret,” back in 1967, which actually featured Lotte Lenya, in person, a major figure from the period. That led me to read related books by Christopher Isherwood, and research art and culture of the period. It’s a fascinating time, with so much creative energy, like the last glimpse of sunlight before a towering thunderstorm.
Our time is quite similar. Too bad we’re not remotely as creative.
"Season 3" is also being released on Blu-Ray in the US on Nov 24, no Amazon link yet. Their search engines are garbage, you can't even find the S1-2 BD through the search engine.
Weird, I ordered it from that very link back in early March and it shipped to me and I got it. Maybe they're re-releasing it? It's an import so "release dates" are kind of unofficial anyway.
In addition, I believe a far better series about a Weimar detective is the Bernie Gunther novels by Philip Kerr, which I think paint a far deeper image of the period.
I love the Bernie Gunther novels, have read them all.
In fairness, only one is set during the Weimar period, the final one.
The other 13 are all set during the Nazi period or in the 50s.
Philip Kerr wrote them in no particular order, they jump around in time. They're not chronological like the Babylon Berlin series, which is one book per year starting in 1929.
I added the years each novel is set to the Wikipedia page for his books:
I’ve been fascinated by the Weimar era since I first saw the original cast of the show, “Cabaret,” back in 1967, which actually featured Lotte Lenya, in person, a major figure from the period. That led me to read related books by Christopher Isherwood, and research art and culture of the period. It’s a fascinating time, with so much creative energy, like the last glimpse of sunlight before a towering thunderstorm.
I used to have a huge crush on Liza Minnelli; Cabaret had a lot to do with that.
I respect Lotte Lenya--Mrs. Weill and all that--and she has some tremendous moments, but I do not always enjoy her singing voice. She is excellent on the 1930s version of "Alabama Song", which has a wonderful, ghostly quality about it.
Our time is quite similar. Too bad we’re not remotely as creative.
Considering the many horrific events of the past 20 years, one might think that popular culture would be creatively stimulated instead of shuffling along in the Orwellian-dystopia we know and loathe today.
Weird, I ordered it from that very link back in early March and it shipped to me and I got it. Maybe they're re-releasing it? It's an import so "release dates" are kind of unofficial anyway.
I've only listened to Volume II via the 'Tube, but it comes off like the typical volume II in that there are some stellar musical moments, but on the whole it falls short of the majestic musical heights achieved by volume I, which makes for some of the best nighttime "driving home" music I've ever heard.
This viewpoint will no doubt change once I get my clammy hands on the series proper--I intend to review the hell out of it--as most every quality music score soars when heard in context alongside its visuals.
I'm thrilled that BB is *finally* coming to R1 DVD.
Weird, I ordered it from that very link back in early March and it shipped to me and I got it. Maybe they're re-releasing it? It's an import so "release dates" are kind of unofficial anyway.
I've only listened to Volume II via the 'Tube, but it comes off like the typical volume II in that there are some stellar musical moments, but on the whole it falls short of the majestic musical heights achieved by volume I, which makes for some of the best nighttime "driving home" music I've ever heard.
This viewpoint will no doubt change once I get my clammy hands on the series proper--I intend to review the hell out of it--as most every quality music score soars when heard in context alongside its visuals.
I'm thrilled that BB is *finally* coming to R1 DVD.
To be clear though, it's not a Volume 2 of music from the original miniseries, however. It's the completely separate soundtrack to "Season 3," the sequel series. I found the sequel inferior in every way, sadly, to the untouchable masterpiece that was the original miniseries. This includes the music.
The new song is nowhere near as good as "Zu Asche, Zu Staub," and it isn't used throughout the season in multiple forms, the way the original song was, becoming a theme song. They also didn't have Brian Ferry, who added his magic to the original miniseries.
Season 3 felt like a rushed cash-grab in every way, and the music was no exception, tragically. I listened to the original album many, many times, but I listened to the new CD once and filed it away on my shelf.
I found the sequel inferior in every way, sadly, to the untouchable masterpiece that was the original miniseries. This includes the music.
The new song is nowhere near as good as "Zu Asche, Zu Staub," and it isn't used throughout the season in multiple forms, the way the original song was, becoming a theme song. They also didn't have Brian Ferry, who added his magic to the original miniseries.
That's too bad. Given how so many recent, highly-regarded TV series come apart at the seams, I will just have to be satisfied with those first two series of BB. My interest in the show is less about the actual show itself, and more a case of how it will augment my fascination with the Weimar-era.
I have not seen Season 3 (but intend to next month, when I can stream it here). I was always somewhat skeptical about a third season, as -- obviously -- the original series had a story arc which was set up, told and resolved in two seasons, the story was "finished". It was always supposed to be a two season show.
No "need" for a season 3, other than that the first two seasons were obviously well done and both a critical and commercial hit. So I do not expect season 3 to be "as good" as the original two seasons. However, if it manages to be at least good if not great, it should still make for an enjoyable watch and to revisit some of the settings and characters.
I have not seen Season 3 (but intend to next month, when I can stream it here). I was always somewhat skeptical about a third season, as -- obviously -- the original series had a story arc which was set up, told and resolved in two seasons, the story was "finished". It was always supposed to be a two season show.
Once I begin watching the first two series, I'd like to do an episode-by-episode-and-music review thing. I may be alone in that endeavor, but with just sixteen episodes it won't take much time at all, depending on how I arrange my viewing schedule; mustn't binge something like this.
Strange how a popular and critical hit series like BB isn't discussed here more, but then that's always been the tragedy of FSM.
I found the sequel inferior in every way, sadly, to the untouchable masterpiece that was the original miniseries. This includes the music.
The new song is nowhere near as good as "Zu Asche, Zu Staub," and it isn't used throughout the season in multiple forms, the way the original song was, becoming a theme song. They also didn't have Brian Ferry, who added his magic to the original miniseries.
That's too bad. Given how so many recent, highly-regarded TV series come apart at the seams, I will just have to be satisfied with those first two series of BB. My interest in the show is less about the actual show itself, and more a case of how it will augment my fascination with the Weimar-era.
...or I'll just take a chance on series 3.
The look of Season 3 is still stunning, they used that same MASSIVE set they built at Babelsberg, though not as extensively, because the nightclub that was so central to the original miniseries isn't part of the story anymore. They also found some great locations throughout Germany. Season 3 revolves around a murder at the UFA studios, so that part is kind of fun, they stage a lot of scenes from fictional movies inspired by real ones.
The issues to me with Season 3, without going into spoilers are:
- there is really just one central narrative, the murder they're investigating, where the original miniseries had about a dozen, which were all skillfully interwoven. - almost none of the interesting secondary characters from the miniseries are back (they either died or aren't part of the new story being told in S3) and the handful of new secondary characters aren't very interesting.
I have not seen Season 3 (but intend to next month, when I can stream it here). I was always somewhat skeptical about a third season, as -- obviously -- the original series had a story arc which was set up, told and resolved in two seasons, the story was "finished". It was always supposed to be a two season show.
No "need" for a season 3, other than that the first two seasons were obviously well done and both a critical and commercial hit. So I do not expect season 3 to be "as good" as the original two seasons. However, if it manages to be at least good if not great, it should still make for an enjoyable watch and to revisit some of the settings and characters.
In fairness, it's based on a continuing series of books, where each book is set in one year starting in 1929 and going through about 1938 right now, I believe. (Not all of them have been translated and I haven't read them, I've just read articles about them)
That said, the original miniseries is NOT simply a film of the first book. They spent years developing it, and expanded the narrative a LOT, from everything I've read they just used the first book as a springboard to create a massive epic with whole storylines and characters not in the book. There are HUGE changes and additions to the source novel.
Season 3 is based on the second book, I believe, and it definitely feels like a single-plot novel brought to the screen. It was very clearly rushed onto TV after the massive success of the miniseries.
Also, just to clarify, it was never a two season show. The naming of the first 8 episodes as Season 1 and the second 8 as Season 2 was arbitrary and purely contractual. The original miniseries was shot as a whole, and has always been broadcast as a whole. They caused a lot of confusion by calling them 2 "Seasons."
They did say when it aired though that they had hoped to return and film further books if it was successful, so the idea of returning to the well was there, but they clearly put EVERYTHING into that first miniseries.
