'Deutschland 89' Episode 4 Review: Assassination of German banker Alfred Herrhausen spells danger for Martin
Spoilers for 'Deutschland 89' Episode 4 'Operation Condor'
When Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay) wakes up from his magic mushrooms trip in frankfurt, he has little idea of what he has gotten himself in. Not just himself, but his son Max (Ari Kurecki) and Nicole Zangen (Svenja Jung) too.
Shortly after arriving in Frankfurt in the company of Carl Baumgarten (Rainer Sellien) and Sabine Baumgarten (Samia Muriel Chancrin) who had drugged him into the plan, he figures out that something isn't right. As Carl whisks him away from his family and takes him to steal police signals, Sabine has Nicole trapped. And soon enough, it is revealed to him that he is a part of a much bigger operation - the very one that he was sent to prevent from happening.
Episode 4 of 'Deutschland 89' is a high stake, thrilling instalment of the spy back in action. It shows the real-life assassination of Alfred Herrhausen, banker and the Chairman of Deutsche Bank, who was assassinated in 1989. He was also an advisor to Helmut Kohl and a proponent of a unified European economy. In real life, Herrhausen was assassinated, probably by the West German far-left terrorist group Red Army Faction particularly Andrea Klump and Christoph Seidler.
Similarly, on the show, the Baumgarten couple could be playing the real-life assassins. As Martin tries every possible way to making sure his son and Nicole remain safe, he is going to discover it might not be that easy as he leaves on his way to Romania - probably following Lenora (Maria Schrader) there.
Shortly after the attack, Lenora, Martin's aunt, shoots him. As it turns out, Lenora is part of a second terrorist cell, just as involved as him. He assumes she is on her way to Romania to escape and follows her there. As usual, it is the small details in the 'Deutschland' franchise that continue to remain notable.
Production value of the show including fashion and props is, like always, top quality inducing a sense of nostalgia. As the world is crumbling around and people can make little sense of what is to happen, the show delivers one impressive episode after the other. Adding a good deal of mystique is Walter Schweppenstette (Sylvester Groth) and his new wife Beate (Corinna Harfouch), who clearly knows a lot more than she is letting on.
'Deutschland 89' will air two episodes back to back on Thursdays at 11 pm ET/10c on Sundance TV.