Vienna Blood (2019)
Feb. 20th, 2021 01:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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victorian221bRecently, whiling away time in airports, I watched a mini-series which popped up in recommendations. Created by a Sherlock writer Stephen Thompson, Vienna Blood has many familiar traits. There's a duo of protagonists, one of them tall, dark, wearing a funny hat, and having unusual investigation methods whereas the other is heavily built, more down-to-earth, and can defend himself and his companion.
The series is set in 1907 in Vienna, where a young doctor Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard) becomes an assistant to a police detective Oskar Rheinhardt (Jürgen Maurer). At first the policeman is not glad at all that some snotty youth with connections now follows him around and is being clever, but when Liebermann's insightful suggestions based on his studies of psychology prove pivotal in solving crime cases, Rheinhardt grows more appreciative of Liebermann's company. These two definitely have the Dynamic, one being an observer of human nature and the other a man of action, one of middle class and the other of working class, and both stubborn and determined.
Max's fiancee Clara Weiss (Luise von Finckh) deserves a special note. In the beginning she seems to be somewhat vacuous in comparison with Max the intellectual. He has little interest in her and often runs off to investigate while she, long-suffering and good-natured, lets him—a kind of a shout-out to the canon Mary. Later on, her character has a significant development. She voices her displeasure about being constantly neglected by Max, she tries to understand him and his fascination with crime, she even sets out to help him with an investigation by bravely risking her safety and posing as a bait for a suspect.
Eventually (SPOILER ALERT!), she has the courage to break off their engagement, having realised that Max is infatuated with someone else. Max, on the other hand, is good at analysing others, but when it comes to his own feelings and motivations, he is a mumbling mess. Rheinhardt teases him about it in a kind, friendly way.
Watching this series, it's easy to imagine young Holmes and his first acquiantance with Lestrade, and how Holmes gradually makes a reputation for himself while at first no one takes him seriously. It's interesting that Liebermann and Rheinhardt are on first name terms which is unusual for the time period.
There are only three episodes, but each is one and a half hour long. The cases are complex and multilayered, a real treat even if they lack the edge just a tiny bit (imo). Anyway, I'm looking forward to season 2!
The series is set in 1907 in Vienna, where a young doctor Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard) becomes an assistant to a police detective Oskar Rheinhardt (Jürgen Maurer). At first the policeman is not glad at all that some snotty youth with connections now follows him around and is being clever, but when Liebermann's insightful suggestions based on his studies of psychology prove pivotal in solving crime cases, Rheinhardt grows more appreciative of Liebermann's company. These two definitely have the Dynamic, one being an observer of human nature and the other a man of action, one of middle class and the other of working class, and both stubborn and determined.
Max's fiancee Clara Weiss (Luise von Finckh) deserves a special note. In the beginning she seems to be somewhat vacuous in comparison with Max the intellectual. He has little interest in her and often runs off to investigate while she, long-suffering and good-natured, lets him—a kind of a shout-out to the canon Mary. Later on, her character has a significant development. She voices her displeasure about being constantly neglected by Max, she tries to understand him and his fascination with crime, she even sets out to help him with an investigation by bravely risking her safety and posing as a bait for a suspect.
Eventually (SPOILER ALERT!), she has the courage to break off their engagement, having realised that Max is infatuated with someone else. Max, on the other hand, is good at analysing others, but when it comes to his own feelings and motivations, he is a mumbling mess. Rheinhardt teases him about it in a kind, friendly way.
Watching this series, it's easy to imagine young Holmes and his first acquiantance with Lestrade, and how Holmes gradually makes a reputation for himself while at first no one takes him seriously. It's interesting that Liebermann and Rheinhardt are on first name terms which is unusual for the time period.
There are only three episodes, but each is one and a half hour long. The cases are complex and multilayered, a real treat even if they lack the edge just a tiny bit (imo). Anyway, I'm looking forward to season 2!
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Date: 2021-02-20 11:59 am (UTC)If anyone is interested, I wrote some ficlets to try to explore the series: Vienna Blood
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