Babylon Berlin, a German television series loosely inspired by Volker Kutscher’s novels, was brought to life by the creative collaboration of Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries, and Hendrik Handloegten, who served as creators, writers, and directors. The series made its debut on October 13, 2017, on the German entertainment channel Sky 1. The initial eight episodes formed Season 1, with the subsequent eight constituting Season 2. Following this, the second run, known as Season 3, comprised 16 episodes and premiered on Sky 1 on January 24, 2020. The fourth season, consisting of 12 episodes, premiered on October 8, 2022. In June 2023, Babylon Berlin secured a renewal for a fifth season due to its substantial international success, amassing over 55 million digital views.
Concerns among fans about the fourth season being the series’ conclusion were dispelled when The Hollywood Reporter revealed the producers’ confidence in its renewal, citing the show’s global popularity. The fifth season is in development, commissioned by ARD Degeto, X Filme, and Beta Film.
Plot of Babylon Berlin:
Set in late 1920s Berlin, the series follows Gereon Rath, a police inspector from Cologne, who relocates to Berlin to investigate an extortion ring operated by the city’s mafia. What initially seems like a straightforward case takes unexpected turns, affecting the lives of Rath and his close associates, Bruno Walter and Charlotte Ritter. The trio becomes entangled in crimes involving drug dealing and weapon trafficking, forcing Rath to grapple with the decision to expose the crime or remain loyal to his friends, unsure of who can be trusted in a world filled with ambiguity.
Cast Members:
Volker Bruch plays the role of Gereon Rath, joined by Liv Lisa Fries as Charlotte and Peter Kurth as Bruno Walter. The ensemble cast also includes Matthias Brandt, Lars Eidinger, Fritzi Haberlandt, Benno Führmann, Hannah Herzsprung, Hanns Zischler, and others.
Availability of Babylon Berlin:
Initially, Netflix streamed the first three seasons in Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand, with the first season premiering in January 2018, followed by the subsequent seasons in February 2019 and March 2022. However, Netflix did not acquire the rights to the fourth season, resulting in its exclusion from the platform. Despite the impending fifth season, Babylon Berlin will not return to Netflix, marking a departure from the platform’s usual licensing practices.
Babylon Berlin Season 4 Release and Season 5:
Season 4 premiered on October 8, 2022, with twelve episodes, but it will not be available on Netflix. Season 5 is currently in production, with no official release date announced, and it will not be part of Netflix’s library.
Departure from Netflix:
Regrettably for fans, Babylon Berlin is set to leave Netflix on February 28, 2024. All three existing seasons will be removed from the platform, leaving uncertainty about where the episodes will be available in the future.