Rostock is about identities and self-discovery this time. In the infirmary, the newcomer, Melly Böwe, shakes old balances of power. In the case of a murdered teacher, “Daniel A.” at the heart of the action: suspect and trans.
What happens?
After a night out at Knockout, Nathalie Gerber’s body is found in the disco’s parking lot. The elementary school teacher had a date with an online acquaintance, Daniel Adamek (Jonathan Perleth), who quickly became the focus of the investigation. Although Adamek is innocent, his private situation drives him to flee, because Daniel’s real name is Daniela and he is trans. He shies away from coming out in front of his father (Jörg Witte), a single police officer who is already driving his domestic situation to despair – Daniel’s 15-year-old sister recently had a baby.
There is little time for any inaugural celebrations in the area. Bukow’s successor Melly Böwe (Lina Beckmann) brings a good mood and delicious cake rolls, but district manager Henning Röder (Uwe Preuss) is the only one who welcomes the newcomer for the moment. Thiesler (Josef Heynert) and Pöschel (Andreas Guenther) are glued to their chairs, Katrin König (Anneke Kim Sarnau) seems far from ready to fill the empty space at her side with collegial life. In the course of the investigation, however, the idiosyncratic commissioner soon has little choice.
What is it really about?
First of all, the question has to be turned around at this point: What is it really not about? Clear answer: about the murder. Rarely has a case been so disinterested in the victim, and the perpetrator is known from the start. Rather, the story follows the title hero “Daniel A.”, a trans man who has enough on his plate even apart from the involvement in this case. His father is spinning the wheel, his teenage sister is busy with her young baby. For Daniel himself, his camper van is the last resort, not only from the police, but also in the struggle for his own identity.
Away-Zapp-Moment?
Not available in detail, the subtle tension is constantly maintained, on the part of Daniel A. and in the interaction of the new colleagues. There is little time left for the character of the murdered Nathalie Gerber, who is literally ignored in terms of the story.
Wow-Factor?
Typical for Rostock, consistently high, not only in the internal relationship at the police station, where the Bukow/Böwe swap needs to be balanced, but also in terms of the title hero: Jonathan Perleth, also a trans man in real life and a native of Rostock, masters the demanding part of Daniel Adamek with bravado and persuasiveness.
How was it?
9 out of 10 points – the cast remains the pound, the story fits perfectly to Rostock, already excited anticipation for the next case.
