Tatort (TV Series) Borowski und das Fest des Nordens (2016) User Reviews

Disturbing, drawn-out and in every way disappointing "Tatort" Episode

[thursdaysrecords · 3/10 · 23 June 2017]

As a big fan of the Tatort phenomenon, this episode was deeply disappointing. The story is filled with senseless violence and abundance of depressed (and depressing) characters. The Kommisar team Borowski and Brandt have never been less appealing. Borowski goes over and beyond his usual narcissist and sexist behavior, even lowering himself to calling his colleague a "stupid cow" when they disagreed about a point of procedure. Kommissar Brandt is struggling with a newly diagnosed and very serious chronic illness, frequently taking in pills. Borowski is depressed because apparently his wife and teenage daughter have exited his life, and is desperately seeking female companionship. --

The episode title is derived from the annual festivities at the "Kieler Woche", where extended carnival-like partying culminates in an impressive "parade" of classic ships and sail boats. A few brief scenes show Borowski in the company of an Asian immigrant waitress who made it clear that she was "legally in the country and in no need of a native born husband". --

A major contributor to my low rating for this episode is the repulsiveness of the "killer", who seemingly murdered repeatedly without a motive. Other minor players are of similar debased character, making it difficult to watch the entire film, much less be entertained by it. - I've seen the Tatort Team from Kiel in many other episodes, some of which I rank among my favorites. "Borowski und das Fest des Nordens", however is very far from the mark. Avoid this one, it's not worth your time!

Borowski and the Festival of the North

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 16 July 2019]

As this episode opens Roman Eggers goes to the home of his ex-wife and children for the first time in six months but is not welcome. He then returns to the flat he has been living in; here he is seen by another woman; she clings to him despite his protestations. He then hits her with a blunt object and she dies... Borowski and Brandt are soon on the case. Initially they don't know the identity of the woman and although there are some finger prints at the scene they aren't on record. They disagree about possible motives. As the episode proceeds there is another murder, linked by fingerprint evidence.

This is a fairly downbeat episode; the killer is fairly normal, albeit with obvious anger issues, and the murders are fairly brutal. They also have a realistic feel; so no inventive murder methods or convoluted motives. There is also a strained working relationship between Borowski and Brandt; this isn't helped by the fact that he appears to be drinking rather a lot and she has recently changed her medication. While this may make the story more 'gritty' it isn't as much fun as when they get on better. Eggers might not be a very nice person, even before we see him commit murder, he isn't totally unsympathetic. The cast, both regulars and guest stars, do a solid job. Overall a solid story.

These comments are based on watching the episode in German with English subtitles.

A Different "Goodbye" for Sarah Brandt

[andywhite-60566 · 8/10 · 28 September 2020]

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.