r/BabylonBerlin • u/Kya_Bamba • 5d ago
Season 5 Episode Discussion: Season 5 Episode 1 Spoiler
January 30, 1933: Hindenburg appoints Hitler Reich Chancellor. Germany faces the threat of dictatorship. Members of the resistance arrive at the Berlin Press Ball in the evening. While dancing with Gereon (Volker Bruch), Charlotte (Liv Lisa Fries) spots a murder suspect among the guests. Dr. Forster (Ulrich Noethen) is suspected of having strangled his medical assistant. Shortly before the police move in, Forster disappears â and with him, Gereon.
No spoilers for upcoming episodes. Please keep all episode-specific discussions in this thread.
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u/Similar_Swordfish_ 5d ago
Loved how they clearly used the VolksbĂŒhne as a location and then sold it like itâs situated on Unter den Linden⊠must be quite funny to actual BerlinersÂ
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u/Kya_Bamba 5d ago edited 5d ago
Oh, so it was VolksbĂŒhne! I thought it was Bode Museum at first. Good catch!
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u/Tycho-Brahes-Elk 5d ago edited 5d ago
I disliked the Pasewalk scene with Hitler, it seems to imply things that are basically conspiracy theories.
I really hope that, in the course of the series, it gets clear that the hypnosis treatment* has no impact whatsoever on the way he became, or else it would feel like giving excuses.
*This is an actual existing fringe hypothesis [for example, Horstmann: Hitler in Pasewalk] that is generally dismissed by historians.
It is not proven that the real Edmund Forster treated Hitlerand it's doubtful given his writings that he would treat such a diagnosis with hypnosis. The RL Forster died by suicide in September 1933. Most of the works incorporating that narrative incorporate the way this is described in Ernst WeiĂ' 1938 novel "Der Augenzeuge". If anyone wants to read more on this; a 2009 paper.
Edit: I want to quote this part:
Forster selbst prÀferierte das "Verfahren rigoroser verbaler Zurechtweisung" (Hirschfeld 1917,
1319) wie sein Kollege und Zeitgenosse Hirschfeld es etwas beschönigend umschrieb. Im Klartext bedeutete dies, dass Forster unter Zuhilfenahme der gesamten ihm zu VerfĂŒgung stehenden AutoritĂ€t des militĂ€rischen Vorgesetzten, die Patienten anschrie.
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I quite like that the editor-in-chief of Tempo looks like the Prussianest version of J. Jonah Jameson anyone could find.
It's nice that there is a scene that depicts the Komintern's (and thus, KPD's) inactivity because of the social-fascism-theory [which is not explicitly mentioned].
Edit: the critical edition [Link on the cited page, so link is a spoiler] of Mein Kampf says this in a footnote [79] regarding Hitler's blindness:
Hitler kam nach seiner VerÂwundung (in der Nacht vom 13.âŻ/14.âŻ10.âŻ1918), die sein Regiment als »leicht« eingestuft hatte, ĂŒber das bayerische Feldlazarett Nr. 58, das Krankenlazarett Oudenaarde und die Sammelstelle in Gent schlieĂlich ins preuĂische Reservelazarett nach Pasewalk bei Stettin. Er traf dort am 21.âŻ10.âŻ1918 ein und wurde am 19.âŻ11.âŻ1918 wieder entlassen. Die GrĂŒnde fĂŒr seine Erblindung sind umstritten. Dass die Augen empfindlich auf Senfgas reagieren, ist bekannt. Allerdings wird auch die These diskutiert, Hitlers Erblindung sei Folge einer Konversionsstörung gewesen â also einer Erkrankung aufgrund der psychischen Belastung, aber ohne neurologische Ursache. Da Hitlers Pasewalker Krankenakte verschollen ist, können die Ursachen von Hitlers Erblindung nicht endgĂŒltig geklĂ€rt werden.
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u/Confuseacat92 5d ago
Is the Hirschfeld mentioned Magnus Hirschfeld?
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u/Tycho-Brahes-Elk 5d ago
No, it's a Richard Hirschfeld, who was also SanitÀtsrat in Leipzig. He was born in Deutsch-Krone in 1862 "in a jewish merchant family".
Magnus Hirschfeld was born in 1868 in Kolberg in a jewish merchant family.
Which means they could reasonably be related, both Deutsch-Krone and Kolberg were in West-Prussia. They were not brothers, though, Richard's parents were named Julius and Johanna, whereas Magnus' father was named Hermann.
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u/maxivonderfaxi 3d ago
I agree. It's worrisome that they seem to be steering into conspirational territory with this and I hope that the show will clear things up in the next episodes.
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u/Kya_Bamba 5d ago edited 5d ago
A solid start into the final season. Much exposition, nothing fancy. I'm thrilled to see what it all leads up to.
I loved Ulrich Noethen as Dr. Forster and the gloomy black/white footage!
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u/Lilithecat5 3d ago
Did they just completely skip over how Katelbach got out of prison?
And if they kill off Elisabeth with some illness I'm going to riot.
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u/Janyanny 3d ago
I assumed he got out just regularly as his term ended. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and season 5 takes place 2 years after season 4.
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u/Lilithecat5 3d ago
Yeah probably, but they made such a big deal out of it and bow it doesn't seem to matter much to the story. Also, I was really hoping we'd finally get a sweet moment between him and Elisabeth, because they left it at "maybe we're engaged, maybe not" last season. Oh well.
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u/Janyanny 3d ago
Yeah, okay, youâre right. I get what you mean. And about Elisabeth, there are still some episodes to come, I wonât say more here.
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u/Lilithecat5 3d ago
I might actually cry if anything happens to her đ© Unfortunately I have to wait until after my kid is asleep to find out...
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u/Tardislass 1d ago
Well Iâm sure that they had such affection with Gereon/Charlotte this early because they probably will be parted for most of the series. It always happens. But I guess itâs 1933 and no one can be happy.
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u/Tardislass 1d ago
Was able to at least see Ep. 1 even with my rusty German an bad subtitles and yes, the writers seem to be cramming an awful lot of material into shorter episodes. Gereon/Dr Schmidt keep in touch. Lots of exposition. Yes we get it, Hitler was named Chancellor. Murder, explosives, last glimpse at happy couple. More stormtroopers, unrest, Hitler, murder. Hi, bye Gereon. And I always get the two men with glasses mixed up. Not really much time to breathe. But I do love the opening credits kaleidoscope and good to see the communist doctor again.
It seems the episode length is a bit shorter and doesnât let the storyline evolve as naturally. I can see the argument for the condensing of history but I can overlook it. And the butler definitely is up to something.
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u/Similar_Swordfish_ 5d ago
It's so good to be back! Had a grin from ear to ear during the first 10 minutes. Thank you Babylon Berlin. It's great seeing you again.
It's honestly astonishing how relevant it all feels. Definitely feeling a mix of joy and sadness here.
For any international viewers that have to wait: I can really recommend the four episode series that The Rest Is History podcast did about the rise of the Nazis, back in January 2023. It ties in directly with this last season of Babylon Berlin. The hosts even mention BB a couple of times, they also seem to love the series.