WaPo Berlin Season 4 Episodes

Episode 1

Wem gehört die Stadt?

49 mins

On Hanna Kowollik's first day at work, the body of a Federal Foreign Office employee is found in the Spree Canal near the controversial Humboldt Forum. Hanna isn't the only new member of the team: Wolf Malletzke, who broke both arms while repairing the roof of his summerhouse, is being represented by his colleague and friend Axel Sommer. The WaPo team's initial investigations reveal that Markus Förster was allegedly killed with a hammer in the beer garden of the Flussbad association. The association wants to build an open-air swimming pool accessible to all citizens in the heart of Berlin's historic center - a project fiercely opposed by cultural officials and conservative politicians. Jasmin learns from an employee of the association, Jenny Baumann, that the deceased had an argument with local resident Gerhard Hentschel the day before. Hentschel turns out to be a bitter loser of the reunification process. He dismisses the argument with Förster as a trivial matter. On the evening of the murder, Tizia Idris was on duty in the beer garden. She wanted to bring her daughter, just a few months old and whom she had to leave behind in Sudan while fleeing Eritrea, to Germany as quickly as possible. Hentschel supported her in this effort despite his apparent misanthropy. But then Förster promised to help her. The investigation also focused on the dead man's widow, Rebecca Förster. Apparently, her husband had unexpectedly agreed to the divorce she had initiated. But as long as her husband hadn't officially agreed to the divorce, Rebecca and their son would inherit a fortune worth millions. Undoubtedly a motive for murder. But Jenny also had a motive: Förster had given her an alibi during violent riots at the time, but he wanted to retract it. As the investigation progressed, the WaPo Berlin team began to doubt whether the victim, Markus Förster, was really as friendly and helpful a person as everyone had initially portrayed him to be. When the murder weapon was finally found, the case took another dramatic turn.

Episode 2

Kleine Freiheit

48 mins

Aylin Krger reports her roommate Laura Kastner missing after finding Laura's handbag at the swimming area of the "Kleine Freiheit" campsite. Due to Berlin's housing shortage, the two women lived together in a small camper van. Axel and Fahri later find Laura Kastner's body on the shore. However, there are no signs of external violence. Quite the opposite: It appears that Laura fell into the water and drowned after a night of partying and drug use. So was it just a tragic accident? This seems to be confirmed. Aylin Krger, Laura's roommate, claims that Laura went through cold turkey. Laura was a fixture on Berlin's party scene. But the police also learn that Laura had decided to change her life. How does this fit together? When Jan Conrad discovers that Laura had been clean for a long time and was first drugged before being administered the drugs, everything points to a perfectly planned murder that almost passed off as an accident. Laura's mother, Petra Kastner, blames herself terribly. The two had argued the evening before Laura's death because Laura wanted money. Money that Petra didn't have. Laura Kastner incriminates Laura's notoriously jealous ex-boyfriend, Sven Kapprath, a testosterone-fueled doorman who, however, denies any guilt. The police discover that groundskeeper Julian Seeger promised Laura a tiny house she could have moved into. Now, after Laura's death, Aylin claims it. Did Aylin Krger possibly get rid of her unpopular roommate so she wouldn't end up on the streets herself in the fall? To further the investigation, Marlene agrees to pitch her tent at the campsite for a few days and go undercover. In doing so, she uncovers some dark secrets that put her in a highly dangerous situation.

Episode 3

Der alte Fritz

48 mins

Axel and Fahri discover the body of a man dressed as Frederick the Great at Berlin Cathedral. The victim was stabbed in the back and is identified as Jens Mommsen, a long-term student who earned extra money giving historical city tours. Apparently, Mommsen had an argument with his colleague Robert Baars the previous evening. Was it simply a turf war, or is there much more to it? Robert Baars, dressed as Frederick the Great, also offers city tours and has many followers on his social media account. As a Black man, however, Robert focuses his tours on the beginnings and consequences of colonialism. For this, he is subjected to racist insults and threats, not only online. When Jasmin and Axel question Robert about the argument, he plays it off and gives as an alibi that he was in Lotte's tearoom. Jens Mommsen's roommate, Sophie Lorenz, works there, and she willingly gives Robert an alibi and is head over heels in love with him. The WaPo team's investigative work reveals that the dispute between Robert and Jens was anything but trivial: Jens had snatched Robert's coveted doctoral position under Professor Rademann. Robert was certain that Jens had fabricated allegations of plagiarism against him. Everything points to Robert Baars, especially since Dr. Conrad Roberts identified Robert's "Fritz stick" as the murder weapon. But Robert continues to protest his innocence. Meanwhile, Marlene and Hanna manage to identify one of the agitators who threatened Robert online: security guard Arne Litkowski. He denies any guilt or racist motives. Meanwhile, Sophie Lorenz makes a discovery that casts Jens Mommsen in a completely different light and almost costs Robert his life.

Episode 4

Ein Fest für Lena

48 mins

A sunny morning on the Spree, a jet ski is traveling at over 80 km/h. But its speeding doesn't go unnoticed: The jet ski is tracked by the camera drone of the Berlin Police Department, and the driver is arrested by Axel and Fahri. But the footage doesn't just show the jet ski, which was traveling far too fast: Fahri and Axel spot a male body in the undergrowth along the riverbank. The dead man is Carl Kessler. Kessler worked as a clerk at a Berlin district office and was a guest at a party held by his colleague Lena Johansson the previous night, celebrating her civil service appointment. The party took place on a rented houseboat on the Spree from the small party boat rental company "Hauptstadtboot." "Hauptstadtboot" is run by Kreuzberg native Martin Gutmann and his partner, former social worker Wiebke Jung. Lena Johansson is very close friends with the two. Did one of the guests kill Carl Kessler? Did a dispute between colleagues possibly escalate? Lena herself comes under suspicion when it turns out that Carl apparently threatened to expose her during the party. What did he have against her? Or did Kessler's roommate, the food blogger Constanze Brenner, kill him? Why else would she be entangled in contradictory statements to Jasmin and Marlene? To understand what really happened that night, Jasmin and her team must uncover Carl Kessler's dark secret and delve deep into Lena Johansson's past.

Episode 5

Musterschülerin

48 mins

The body of 17-year-old boarding school student Alina Kowalewa is found in Lake Tegel. The girl had been missing for two weeks. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head; her body was deliberately dumped in the lake. Who killed the seventeen-year-old, described by everyone as a model student? Alina's parents are shocked, especially her mother Ulyana, who has been unresponsive since Alina's disappearance. The police are investigating the girl's environment - at the boarding school and with her family. Her stepfather, Lutz Meinke, describes her as a sweet girl with outstanding academic achievements, something her mother always strongly encouraged. During the course of the investigation, the image of the well-behaved girl crumbles: Alina's performance had slipped, she was taking ecstasy, and had a boyfriend - much to her parents' irritation. Did Alina's boyfriend, Eric, have something to do with Alina's death? This is a likely possibility, as it turns out he took his father's gun to the boarding school island to show off. Alina's art teacher, Martin Pohlenz, who is also the boarding school's guidance counselor, is also suspected. Was the relationship with his student closer than he admits? Alina's phone calls with him and the numerous drawings she made of him support this. Did the teacher kill her to conceal the alleged affair? Alina's parents' house is also increasingly coming under investigation. The pressure to perform that Alina was under and her mother's obsession with control are becoming increasingly apparent. But so is the suspicious behavior of her stepfather, who is becoming entangled in contradictions. Apparently, Alina didn't want to go home. What was she afraid of? The case takes a tragic turn that leaves even the experienced WaPo investigators unmoved.

Episode 6

Spreepiraten

48 mins

The creative director of a successful computer game startup is dead: Ion Pechlin is floating in the Spree, with, of all things, a sword stuck in his back. The charismatic head of the up-and-coming independent studio "Kreuzberg Korsaren" seemed universally beloved. Who could have wanted his death? His business partner and best friend, Marcus Knipphoff, is stunned. Investigators from the Berlin Police Department quickly realize that the startup's imaginative facade conceals harsh working conditions bordering on exploitation. The new computer game "Rusty River 2" is scheduled to launch in a few days, which is why the employees are toiling away on their computers day and night. As strange as the playful world and its illustrious characters initially appear, the more the case unfolds, it becomes clear that behind the pirate romance lies a storm of greed, resentment, exploitation, lies, and disappointment, demanding great sacrifices. Did frustrated programmer Chrissie Hashem lose her temper and kill her boss? Was it ultimately more about who was in charge at the company? Or did a blackmail scheme by toxic fan and game streamer "Fri3ibuterking-Mike" get out of control? And what role does the resourceful and brilliant programmer Dorian Fischer, who suffers from an autism spectrum disorder, play?

Episode 7

Wunschkind

48 mins

The WaPo discovers an unmanned kayak on Lake Wannsee. It belongs to Steffen Engelhard, who runs a guesthouse and kayak rental business on the lake with his wife and son. Steffen initially remains missing - until his body is discovered floating in the water by Fahri and Axel. The investigation reveals that he was killed with a paddle when he landed at the rental business's dock after a kayak tour. Tourist Marie Hanschke quickly becomes the focus of the investigation. For several weeks, the young trans woman had been living in a room in the Engelhards' guesthouse to take a break from big city Berlin, where she lives in a shared apartment with her best friend Isabel Noack and other women. On the evening Steffen disappeared, Marie suddenly left in a hurry and returned to Berlin. Evidence indicates that she had gone out on the lake the day before in a rental kayak. Did Steffen Engelhard accompany her? And if so, what happened between the two? But Steffen's son Filip also quickly becomes suspected of having murdered his father in the heat of the moment. An irreconcilable dispute had been simmering between father and son for a long time: Filip designed and tailored fashion against Steffen's wishes. He dreamed of studying fashion design. Steffen, on the other hand, the athletic guesthouse and rental shop owner, always wanted a worthy successor to follow in his entrepreneurial footsteps. As the WaPo team discovered, a rift developed between the two shortly before Steffen's death: Steffen threatened to disinherit Filip. When it then came to light that Steffen Engelhard had cheated on his wife Katja with other women throughout their marriage, Katja also came under suspicion. For years, she apparently looked the other way and tolerated her husband's escapades. Was the attempted assault on Marie the last straw?

Episode 8

Männerschutzgebiet

48 mins

A body is found in the water. Without papers, but with extremely unusual injuries: multiple muscle fiber tears all over his body. Even Dr. Conrad initially can't explain what happened to the victim. Only when the body is identified as fitness trainer Malte Berger and it becomes clear where he spent his final hours does the investigation get underway. The strange event is called "Men's Sanctuary" and appears to be a kind of harmless adventure playground for men. But rumors of arms trafficking, torture, and more or less legal financial transactions quickly spread. The WaPo team investigates that the deceased had filed a complaint against the organizer of the men's sanctuary, Uwe Brandis, demanding damages for providing incorrect advice. Malte Berger lost a considerable sum after investing in the cryptocurrencies recommended by Brandis. Did Brandis want to cover up his incorrect advice? Or are the connections between members of the "Men's Safe Area," including Silvio Brennemann, and the city's notorious criminal, Rocko Schmidtke, connected to Malte Berger's death? The landlady of the property, Kira Becker, who had been friends with the deceased since childhood, is particularly affected by his death. The police gradually uncover the relationship between Kira Becker, her partner Benni Lauer, and Malte Berger. To get to the bottom of the machinations, Axel and Makoye pose as "arm wrestlers" and spend a few evenings in the "Men's Safe Area," where not everything is as it seems. And when it turns out that Malte died in a game called "Tough Guys," the police must do everything they can to catch his murderer.

Episode 9

Endlich frei sein

48 mins

Jasmin is canoeing on the Müggelspree early one morning when suddenly a gunshot rings out. At first she thinks the shot is aimed at her, but then notices that a young stand-up paddler is lying dead in the water nearby. Jasmin immediately raises the alarm and has the waterways closed. Shortly afterwards, when she receives a call from Police Chief Alexandra Falkenbach, it becomes clear that the young woman was in the witness protection program. The dead woman, Sophie Reuting, was supposed to testify in a trial against a well-known Frankfurt biker clan. The investigative team suspects that the perpetrators come from the biker scene. But Enzo Küster, who had a secret affair with the dead woman, and his girlfriend Nele Nowak also have a motive for the crime. When it turns out that Enzo's foster father Mitch Gellner owns two hunting rifles, one of which is missing, the pressure on Enzo and Nele increases. But then the case suddenly takes a turn that no one expected.

Episode 10

Rosentod

48 mins

A bizarre discovery in a Berlin lake: A woman's body was sunk in a bay with a stone, and dozens of hybrid tea roses were then scattered on the water's surface. Investigators quickly determine that the dead woman is star soprano Christina Varell, who had hosted a reception on her yacht "Lohengrin" the previous evening. The mercurial opera diva had suddenly disappeared from there. Prior to that, sewage skipper and plumber Frido Zille had been carrying out repairs on the yacht. Forensic pathologist Dr. Dillinger is able to reconstruct the course of events: Christina Varell likely fell from a great height down a short flight of stairs. But who has a motive for the murder? Her young partner, Tim Molsen, becomes the prime suspect, as he was cheating on Varell with other women. Varell's understudy, Li von Haselstein, also profits from the death of her rival. Opera director Florian Herzog is also a suspect, as he was apparently blackmailed by the diva. What did she have against him?

Episode 11

Das Ende eines Traums

48 mins

After a party with friends, 16-year-old Paul Hübner is found dead in the water. His mother, Katrin Hübner, is devastated. Wolf and Hanna examine the evidence at the crime scene and determine that everything points to foul play. In addition, several valuable compasses, mementos of Paul's late father, were stolen from the family home. Are Paul's death and the theft connected? One of the party guests quickly becomes the focus of the investigation: Alex Pohl, who has a previous conviction for theft. But Paul's best friend, Milan Jovanovic, is also a suspect. The two had a heated argument on the night of the crime. Paul also had an altercation with Steffi Maibaum, one of his mother's co-workers. An observation by Hanna ultimately provides Jasmin and her team with the crucial clue, and they stumble upon the tragic ending of a dream.

Episode 12

Romeos Tod

48 mins

When the body of pensioner Günther Puschke is found not far from the Glienicke Bridge, everything looks like an accident. But forensic pathologist Dr. Dillinger discovers that the old man died of a drug overdose. Because Günther Puschke is registered at a retirement home in Brandenburg, Jasmin calls in her colleague Axel Sommer. Sommer knows the Parkaue residence only too well. His father, Kurt Sommer, is also housed there and his lies seriously confuse the investigation, especially when it turns out that the victim, Günther Puschke, once worked as a "Romeo agent" for the Ministry for State Security. According to the director of the residence, Julian Tietz, Axel's father and Günther Puschke have been arguing constantly lately. The reason for the disputes is said to be new arrival Rosemarie Schindler. Axel, in turn, suspects medical student Lara Kolle, who teaches yoga at the residence. Puschke had mentioned to her that he was very wealthy. Did that mean he had to die?

Episode 13

Schatten der Vergangenheit

Episode 14

Neue Feinde alte Kähne

48 mins

Jonas Pietschmann is found severely injured on the office ship of the Bernd Pietschmann shipping company and is admitted to the hospital with severe traumatic brain injury. He appears to have been knocked down there during the night. When Hanna and Fahri try to inform the family about the attack, they learn that the relationship between Jonas and the rest of the family has recently been very strained. The reason: his father's inheritance. Jonas wanted to continue running the shipping company, while his stepmother Audrey and his sister Nina wanted to sell it as quickly as possible. When Max finds Jonas's last voicemail on Nina's cell phone, everything changes: Jonas found a will on the evening of the crime that made him the sole heir. Nina protests her innocence and is covered by her husband Henrick. It is Henrick who draws the investigators' attention to another suspect: Dietmar Brehm, a good friend of the family, who has a noticeable scratch on his neck.

Episode 15

Mord nach Drehschluss

48 mins

Tobias Keller, the production manager of a film production, is found murdered not far from his film set. The circle of suspects is quickly narrowed down. At the time of the crime, only four members of the film crew were still on site. All of them had a motive. After filming ended, a physical altercation broke out between Keller and the gaffer, Ingo Naumann, during an after-work drink. The reason was the serious accident suffered by the Syrian-born lighting technician Djamal Khadur a few days earlier. On the same day, Keller's girlfriend also visited the set with a baby, which greatly upset prop master Bibiana Leitner, as she was apparently in a romantic relationship with the victim. Film manager Renate Oschatz is also a highly suspected suspect due to an irregularity in the company's accounts, which Keller apparently became aware of. The fourth suspect is caterer Ladislav Vanek, who, despite the production's organic label, used conventional food and pocketed the profits. Only a cheesy act of affection leads to the true trail of the perpetrator.

Episode 16

Gefährliche Illusionen

48 mins

The motorboat of well-known conspiracy theorist Leonard Kofel explodes on the Havel River. A sensitive case for the WAPO, as Kofel hasn't only made friends with his internet channel "Truth Rigorous." Leonard Kofel's new girlfriend, Dina Finkenwald, who is seven weeks pregnant, immediately suspects an attack. And his twin brother, Robert Kofel, who worked on "Truth Rigorous," is also shocked. The investigation confirms that the explosion was caused by an explosive device. In the course of the investigation, it emerges that Kofel's internet channel was financed by a dubious company called "HVX Limited." But who is behind "HVX Limited"? The WAPO also discovers that Leonard Kofel wanted to hand over explosive information to journalist Louis Herder, but canceled the meeting at the last minute. When Dina is electrocuted at home, the investigative team comes under increasing pressure. Are the perpetrators now after Dina as well?