This episode opens with two apparently unrelated deaths; a man dives into a lake near Kiel and is impaled on a set of bamboo stakes that somebody has placed under the water and in Malmo, Sweden, a girl is found suffering from rabies and soon dies. The cases aren't connected until it is discovered that the man also had rabies
a disease so rare in Northern Europe that a connection is assumed. Swedish detective Stefan Enberg heads to Kiel and meets up with his old friend Borowski to try to find the source. Borowski is investigating the swimmer's murder and at first isn't sure if he was targeted or if somebody had just placed the trap and didn't care who was killed by it. He suspects the former and the investigation centres on the woman he was with at the time; they were in an open relationship and if the killer was one of her other lovers that still leaves a lot of suspects! Things take a dark turn when first the prime suspect is found murdered then one of the investigators falls victim to the killer.
This was another solid episode; the deaths may have been somewhat convoluted but that is part of the fun of the genre; real murder is horrible but once the means becomes inventive and unlikely fictional murder becomes entertaining. That isn't to say it isn't disturbing; especially if it happens to a character we have had a good introduction to and don't expect to be a victim. The deaths are also fairly wince inducing as we are shown the stakes before victims are impaled. The identity of the killer is far from obvious but has at least been seen before being exposed. This revelation leads to an exciting finale where Borowski faces the killer at one of the locks on the Kiel Canal.
The cast does a solid job; Axel Milberg continues to impress as Borowski and I was pleased to see Sibel Kekilli return as his assistant Sarah Brandt as she is a fine character who provides some laughs without being a comic character. Magnus Krepper did a great job as Stefan Enberg, I'd never have guessed that he didn't speak Herman if I hadn't read it here of course that might not be the same if I actually spoke the language myself! These comments are based on watching the episode in German with English subtitles.
This was another solid episode; the deaths may have been somewhat convoluted but that is part of the fun of the genre; real murder is horrible but once the means becomes inventive and unlikely fictional murder becomes entertaining. That isn't to say it isn't disturbing; especially if it happens to a character we have had a good introduction to and don't expect to be a victim. The deaths are also fairly wince inducing as we are shown the stakes before victims are impaled. The identity of the killer is far from obvious but has at least been seen before being exposed. This revelation leads to an exciting finale where Borowski faces the killer at one of the locks on the Kiel Canal.
The cast does a solid job; Axel Milberg continues to impress as Borowski and I was pleased to see Sibel Kekilli return as his assistant Sarah Brandt as she is a fine character who provides some laughs without being a comic character. Magnus Krepper did a great job as Stefan Enberg, I'd never have guessed that he didn't speak Herman if I hadn't read it here of course that might not be the same if I actually spoke the language myself! These comments are based on watching the episode in German with English subtitles.
