"Der letzte Zeuge" (1998) TV series 1998-2006

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

23 March 1998 (Germany)

Genre:

Crime

Awards:

4 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Ulrich Mühe	...	Dr. Robert Kolmaar (73 episodes, 1998-2007)
Gesine Cukrowski	...	Dr. Judith Sommer (71 episodes, 1998-2007)
Jörg Gudzuhn	...	Johannes Hoffer / ... (56 episodes, 1998-2007)
Renate Schroeter	...	Ulla Grünbein (41 episodes, 1998-2007)
Volker Ranisch	...	Fred Schröder (35 episodes, 1998-2007)
Dieter Mann	...	Prof. Bondzio / ... (32 episodes, 1998-2007)

Runtime:

Germany:45 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)

One of Germany's best

This is the best German crime series of the moment. The only downside to it is, that it seems to be on screen on and off. The series does not seem to have a regular schedule and I do not know since when it has been on and if there are even actual series of it. This year for instance, at one particular time there was an episode at ten o'clock at night after which it was announced that it would come on weekly from then on. But it was not on TV the following weeks. A few months later then, it was on weekly again with new episodes (the first on October 2nd 2002) starting at quarter past eight in the evening. These Episodes where never before screened but where produced in 2000. Which has to mean this series has some difficulties with getting on air. Despite the lack of schedule or planning of the airing dates this show is one to watch and I dare say it is almost a crime not watching it.

Der letzte Zeuge (The Last witness) centers around a pathologist by the name of Robert Kolmaar (Ulrich Mühe), called Robertchen by his friends. He (obviously) is often involved in very strange and exciting cases. But this is not all, for that is what makes up most (or all) crime series. The thing that is so great about this series are the actors. The other two main characters are Joe (Jörg Gudzuhn), who is a police inspector who always is on the case with Robertchen and Judith, Robert's assistant / lover. The thing that I really like about this series is that it is very funny. Robert as always has to do what he wants, he is very open and straightforward and can be downward silly and stupid when it comes to his big love Judith (Gesine Cukrowski). She is not only his love but also his biggest foe and his colleague. Joe can be pretty rude to suspects, for he and Robertchen are very cynical, which provides the show with a funny yet realistic tone. Judith, is quite a normal person. She has this love / hate relationship with Robert, which it seems is true love is always an issue in the series. Although they love each other very much they are not always very thoughtful of the other and they fight quite a lot. They are in a number of ways, like an old married couple. All of these elements, combined with interesting and exciting cases makes this the number one German crime series for me at the moment, since Die Cleveren is on a break and Astrid M.Fünderich has died in that series.

8 out of 10