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30 years of Wilsberg: The TV classic and its unforgettable investigators!
Find out more about the anniversary season of “Wilsberg”, the important characters and exciting developments in German crime fiction.
30 years of Wilsberg: The TV classic and its unforgettable investigators!
The ZDF crime series “Wilsberg” is celebrating a very special anniversary this year: private detective Georg Wilsberg, originally portrayed by Joachim Król and now played by Leonard Lansink for years, has been an integral part of the German television landscape for 30 years. The success story of this popular series began with his first case “And the dead are let rest” in 1995. Lansink has given the character a familiar and consistent face that has delighted audiences for two decades.
In the current storyline of “Wilsberg”, which runs under the title “Mindful to Deadly”, the story about the protagonist and his friends becomes more and more exciting. Ekki, a close companion of Wilsberg, is in a crisis of meaning and takes part in a self-discovery retreat. Accommodated with his ex-girlfriend Silke Sestendrup, he quickly realizes that the peace he had hoped for will not last. The retreat, led by the young dropout couple Linus and Lena, seems to have had decisive twists in store for the murdered Bertram von Winterberg, as he also stayed there before and his personality changed afterwards.
The unexpected murder
The mysterious murder of Bertram may be directly related to his stay at the retreat. The clues intensify as Inspector Overbeck, who voluntarily gives philosophy workshops for prisoners, delves deeper into the case. David, a participant who was in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, continues to claim he is innocent. Overbeck begins to question his statements and reopens the case.
Meanwhile, Wilsberg becomes aware of the mysterious events and goes undercover to the retreat. The exciting narrative and sophisticated plots continue to attract a large audience. Fans can look forward to complex characters and an exciting plot, brought to life by the script by Markus B. Altmeyer and the direction by Britta Keils.
Popularity of crime series in Germany
The popularity of crime novels and crime series in Germany remains unbroken. In 2023, for example, “Tatort” was a ratings hit with an average viewership of around 7.9 million, closely followed by “Nord bei Nordwest”, which attracted over 8.6 million viewers to the screens. Viewers appreciate the diverse stories and characters in the series, such as those of Wilsberg and his friends. The distinction between genre preferences shows that women often prefer series from a family environment, while men prefer action, thrillers and adventures.
The consistency of characters and deep emotions in stories like Wilsberg's proves that audiences are looking for gripping storytelling even in uncertain times. With “Wilsberg” now 30 years old, nothing stands in the way of an exciting future for this crime series and its loyal fans.