This is one of the three Borowski Tatorts scripted by Henning Mankell. The murderer - we are in no doubt who it is from start to finish - is portrayed as a violent, short-fuse, scary character but also as a tragic character who is utterly trapped by his emotions - including parental feelings - and by his past actions. This is a case where Brandt, more on edge than usual because her epilepsy is getting worse, continually disagrees with Borowski's approach. After initially going along with Brandt, under pressure Superintendent Schladitz eventually seems to come down on his friend Borowski's side of the argument. Which of course adds to Brandt's frustration. She senses that there is a male-female dynamic going on and she is at the wrong end of it.
Although in their different ways Borowski and Brandt both contribute to the eventual resolution of the case, in the course of doing so they fall out big time. It gets raw - they both completely lose it and end up bawling at each other. After that neither is willing to sue for peace, and it's goodbye Sarah Brandt.
Funnily enough this downbeat, unhappy ending for a popular and successful character really struck a chord with me. It felt like brave, honest writing, shining a light on something we don't like to think about - as it did with the troubled, tragic character of the murderer. People do fall out at work, to the extent that someone has to leave. But I can't recall that ever happening in an English-language crime series, and I found this episode extra compelling for that reason.
Although in their different ways Borowski and Brandt both contribute to the eventual resolution of the case, in the course of doing so they fall out big time. It gets raw - they both completely lose it and end up bawling at each other. After that neither is willing to sue for peace, and it's goodbye Sarah Brandt.
Funnily enough this downbeat, unhappy ending for a popular and successful character really struck a chord with me. It felt like brave, honest writing, shining a light on something we don't like to think about - as it did with the troubled, tragic character of the murderer. People do fall out at work, to the extent that someone has to leave. But I can't recall that ever happening in an English-language crime series, and I found this episode extra compelling for that reason.