Anyone watching Deutschland 83?

[Destinysdaughter]

Am enjoying it so far. Very intriguing
premise and beautifully shot. I don't mind subtitles, find they make me concentrate more and am very interested in this period of history. Looking forward to see how it develops...anyone else? ( guess most of you are watching War and Peace tonight!)

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

We wondered if the plan had been that he was to get the document and then be bumped off as disposable. Lots of loose holes there, though. The Chinese woman's reaction to being turned down seemed a bit extreme unless she was yet another spy. Didn't they do any screening at all of the hotel staff before this top secret conference?

[IPityThePontipines]

The Chinese woman was to provide a cover for the floppy disk being stolen, to take suspicion away from him.

The attack was a surprise to make it look convincing.

Him smirking at the secretary while Part Time Love played was a bit on the nose, but I'll allow it.

[gingercat12]

I enjoyed episode 2 much more than episode 1.

[SonyaAtTheSamovar]

I watched episode 1 and really enjoyed it despite implausibilities! Subtitles didn't get in the way.
Switched to War and Peace this week but I must watch catch up, thanks for the reminder.

[gingercat12]

I loved him being beaten up by a girl. I was surprised no one checked her out, I mean it was way before multi-cultural times.

Loved the nudist scene. There were a lot of German tourists in the 80s where I'm from and they always caused huge embarrassment / excitement with the locals.

Mayer's secretary is so charming.

[SymphonyofShadows]

I'm really enjoying it. I did get a bit confused on the first one as I thought the person who shot the real young soldier in the train carriage was a man dressed as a girl. This week I saw that she is female but she has a very androgynous look. It suits her persona.

It's very clever how it makes you root for the East Germans

[gingercat12]

I think all countries on the Continent were rooting for themselves at the time. Only the Americans and the Brits were hawkish. The rest really did not want a world war on their own land again.

Even General Edel is a pacifist in the film by American standards.

[Elendon]

I've recommended this to my daughter who is studying modern history. I love Martin's character and can barely watch some of the scenes as he bumbles along in his spying activities. I have to say that Beethoven's 7th has been ear worming me all week!

When I was at University in Galway during this time, I got to know some Americans via CND. The man was a senior executive at a computer company, he and his wife (who was a member) saw no conflict with his work and her activities. They were a hoot and really changed my views on Americans.

It's just so evocative of the period. The Puma tee shirt had me in howls of laughter.

[gingercat12]

Oh, yes. I used to love Puma. (still would)

[morningtoncrescent62]

I caught up on Ep 2 last night. I think it's fabulous - and I agree about it being evocative of the period. I was a wannabe hippie at the time, and I loved the daughter's commune. I lived in one rather like it! Loving the soundtrack as well. I thought the Chinese woman was an agent who was supposed to kill Martin after he'd completed his mission, but it all went wrong.

Did they really have wheelie bins in West Germany at the time? We didn't have them here, at least, not where I lived.

I hadn't clocked that the waitress was also the women who shot the soldier on the train. Is the link guy (the one who lives in Bonn whose house Martin stayed in) the one who was giving the CND speech in the university? I'm rubbish at remembering faces.

[Elendon]

Those wheelie bins were there in the early 80s, only posh people had them, but the colours, oh man, I would just love an orange wheelie bin.

I think the guy is called Leon, university lecturer. And yes he was giving that speech.

I think the Ninja woman was used as a diversion because of the floppy disk. It's comedic but also very dark.

[floooOoooatyfloooOooo]

Anybody watch tonight? Confused by the ending!

[mummydarkling]

Yes am quite enthralled. Yes I wondered if the find in the cellar was about his previous life as a border guard and his mum and Thomas possibly fence it for him. Am now worried that his Mum will be denounced. That is just a theory.

[rosebiggs]

I'm loving this - it's brilliant! It's so tense when he's doing his spy thing. I really feel sorry for him as he's such a reluctant spy. I wonder if he'll grow to enjoy it?
The floppy disc and East German computer was so funny.
And the Walkman!
Is Thomas his brother? I don't understand what's going on there.

[rosebiggs]

What would happen to his mum if she was denounced?

[Davros]

I'm not sure anyone could say that the Russians wanted peace?!

[Elendon]

Loved it last night. Lucky Linda!

I was somewhat worried about the gas station scene. Seemed to be a bit of a problem getting back in the car and no payment and petrol pump hose still in the car! I don't think Martin's mum is going to get that kidney and Martin has to donate as well!

University guy is called Tobias, not Leon.

It's all so bonkers, but then it was a bonkers time if I recall rightly.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

I think Thomas, Martin's mum and the girlfriend (Annett?) all teach at the same school. Good spot about the books, I'd forgotten that.

Re the Russians wanting peace, in 1980 when I started university there was a student on my course who was a member of the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) - very important apparently to distinguish this group from the Communist Party of Great Britain and innumerable other tiny far left groups (how we laughed a few years later when we saw Life of Brian). Anyway, I had many arguments with him about the USSR. As far as he was concerned it was a socialist paradise. Stalin was a hero of the people. The mass purges had never happened or were justified. He was a hopeless case. I often wonder what happened to him. I don't think he ever finished our course; his political activities were his top priority. I'm sure he would have said the USSR was only interested in world peace and that the USA was the warmonger.

[Davros]

gaspode my parents were the same. They met as members of the Communust party which was acceptable in the 50s, not long after the War. It was also their form of youth rebellion. Years later (now!) my mum still won't hear a word against Stalin etc

[floooOoooatyfloooOooo]

I know so very little about what was going on at the time. I don't understand what all the books means? Can someone explain? And what does it mean if his mum gets 'denounced'?

[justkeeponsmiling]

Can I join please? I've been watching from the start, really enjoying it. Loving the moments of commedy like the floppy disc and east-german computer.
floooo I think the books were all ones that were banned in east-germany at the time. If his mum was found to have so many banned books I guess she would be arrested and possibly prosecuted as some kind of traitor.
I think the mum and Thomas are obviously involved in some dodgy dealings and are now on very dangerous grounds. Not sure if I think Martin is also involved - in the beginning of the very first episode he brings a book home for his mum that he had previously confiscated.
Thinking about it, I reckon the most likely scenario is that Martin is not directly involved but has an open mind, otherwise he wouldn't have brought the book home.
I also think the sister, Martin's aunt has an idea that the mum is up to something. Hence when she spoke to Annette about moving in she made a comment along the lines of "while Martin is away his mum is vulnerable and we don't want her to be an easy target for people with the wrong ideas". I had wondered at the tine what she had meant. I think the sister will now lean on Annette to get info about what the mum is up to. The question is if she planns to use any information to help/protect the mum or to arrest or maybe blackmail her. I fear the latter!
Does the mum know Annette has been sleeping with Thomas? I thought she said something to that effect last night but not sure if I got that right.

[Drew64]

I don't do subtitles!
If I'm going to read, I will read a book!

Shame, because it looked good.
Tried to watch episode 1 but couldn't do the subtitles

[wowfudge]

Martin is an only child: his mum said he was 'all she had' when she found out he was being recruited to spy.

The kidney transplant business is all cobblers - it's just not happening and I am guessing that the blood sample is in order to see whether Annett's baby is Martin's, if it is to be used at all.

I love it - some obvious continuity errors: did anyone put the petrol nozzle back? - but I thought it was hilarious that Linda typed out the lyrics to 'Hungry Like the Wolf' as it was their song!

[IPityThePontipines]

Drew - it's just practice. In many countries, watching film and tv with subtitles is the norm and it's no big deal.

Just - I think you're right, the aunt definitely has ulterior motives. Yes, the Mum did know about Annette sleeping with Thomas and didn't seem that bothered about it.

Really enjoying this. Is there a second series, or will it be a one off?

[OttiliaVonBCup]

Oh the books!

She had Solzhenyzin and 1984 there, it doesn't get more trouble than that!

The petrol nozzle fuck up was hilarious.
Mother did know about Annett and Thomas, that's why she asked whose baby it was.