We’ve never seen Hauke Jacobs like this before: In the first of three new episodes of “Nord bei Nordwest”, the wanted bachelor is unusually prickly. The reason is the private life of his colleague.
Just in time for the New Year, ARD invites you again on Thursday evening to Schwanitz. This small town located somewhere on the Baltic Sea, where there are more murders than people and where international criminals regularly gather.
In “Big Duck with Mushrooms”, the title of the new episode, world politics has now arrived in this quiet nest. Recently, there has been increasing talk of a new Cold War and a bloc confrontation between the “free West” and authoritarian states like Russia and China.
“Nord bei Nordwest” attempts to answer, with its usual dark humor, how we should actually imagine this. In the first of three new episodes airing Thursday, a Chinese diplomat is found dead. In the immediate vicinity of the new Asian restaurant opened in Schwanitz. A Chinese special investigator is therefore soon arriving in the northern German province.
While she suspects the Chinese of stealing dogs, veterinarian Jule Christiansen (Marleen Lohse) checks in incognito into the restaurant’s guest house and thus supports Hauke Jacobs (Hinnerk Schönemann) in his investigation for murder. However, he is only half involved. Because her colleague Hannah Wagner (Jana Klinge) returns from vacation, newly engaged, and quits her job – to explore the world with her future husband.
A message that Jacobs cannot handle: the otherwise kind police officer and veterinarian becomes very angry and envies his colleague’s luck. What he doesn’t want to admit: he’s jealous. But instead of confessing his feelings to his colleague, he reacts harshly and with disdain.
“Nord bei Nordwest” also builds on the new episode’s proven recipe: Nordic Noir mixed with a pinch of dark humor and a romantic love triangle – all woven around an absurd criminal case. This has worked well in many films so far. But in “Fat Duck with Mushrooms,” now the 25th episode of the series, the concept reaches its limits. Because the closer the cases come to reality, the less the offbeat world of Schwanitz works. The actions of Chinese secret services on German soil were only recently discussed at the Dortmund “crime scene”. Here, between Hauke Jacobs’ tangled love story and the wacky funeral directors, things get inappropriate.
Ultimately, it’s the magical love triangle that keeps the viewer hooked. And guarantees that you can turn it back on in seven days.
“Nord bei Nordwest – Big duck with mushrooms” is broadcast on Thursday January 2 at 8:15 p.m. on Erste
