The acclaimed German series, Babylon Berlin, has officially concluded filming for its fifth and final season. This neo-noir drama, based on Volker Kutscher’s best-selling novels, explores the tumultuous life of Berlin from the roaring 1920s to the collapse of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazi regime.
The concluding season consists of eight episodes, set during the critical final days of the Weimar Republic, beginning in February 1933, shortly after Adolf Hitler was appointed as Reich Chancellor of Germany. The narrative will unfold until March 5, when Hitler’s violent campaign against political opponents culminated in elections that solidified his grip on power.
In this season, adapted from Kutscher’s novel The March Fallen, police detective Gereon Rath (played by Volker Bruch) reunites with flapper-turned-investigator Charlotte Ritter (Liv Lisa Fries) for a final, gripping case. An exclusive first-look image reveals the pair dancing at the iconic 1933 press ball, the last major social gathering in Berlin before the Nazis seized control.
The series co-creators, Tom Tykwer, Henk Handloegten, and Achim von Borries, expressed their intent to depict a dramatic turning point in German history. “We now end with the final season during the last days of this crumbling republic, in February 1933, perhaps the most dramatic month in German history,” they stated. “All our characters are now finally called upon to show their true colors in a system that is being turned upside down before their eyes.”
As Gereon mysteriously disappears, Charlotte is drawn into an investigation involving a series of murders linked to former soldiers, which ultimately connect to Gereon’s past and the emerging fascist leadership in Germany.
The final season will also feature a strong ensemble cast, including notable German actors such as Lars Eidinger as the tycoon Alfred Nyssen, Christian Friedel as police photographer Reinhold Gräf, and Hannah Herzsprung as Helga Rath, among others. Music enthusiasts will also recognize Bryan Ferry, the British pop icon and frontman of Roxy Music, who will appear in several dance hall scenes. He reinterpreted some of his classic songs in the 1920s jazz style, contributing to the show’s soundtrack.
Since its debut in 2017, Babylon Berlin has become the most expensive German-language series ever produced, captivating audiences with its blend of crime drama, historical context, and vibrant period aesthetics. The series has achieved international acclaim, being sold to over 140 territories around the globe.
The fifth season is set to premiere on public channel ARD in Germany and will be available in the United States via the streaming platform MHz Choice. As fans await the final chapter, Babylon Berlin promises to deliver its most intense and reflective moments, encapsulating a pivotal era in history.
