What is happening: The rise and fall of the German financial service provider Cablecash AG is told, so Wirecard is told, but with funny staff. The store, which is in danger of imploding, is led by the delusional super puke Magnus A. Cramer (great: Matthias Brandt) and Felix Armand (also great: Thomas Schubert), who, so to speak, is constantly running after Cramer with a shovel and broom and quickly realizes – actually I need a huge one sweeper.
Secret Star: “Thai-Klaus”, a barefoot madman who is really capable of anything, he is an extremely windy shadowy man and is consequently soon appointed “Head of International Strategy” at Cablecash AG.
Not suitable for: Anyone who prefers to look for logical errors rather than truthfulness in intentionally exaggerated full-throttle stories like this one. Cornelius Pollmer
Six episodes, on Netflix.
What is happening: Two very different criminals meet in the Springfield prison. Smart Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), jailed for years on drug and gun possession charges, is offered the prospect of freedom if he can extract information from the portly, impenetrable girl killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) about his victims. A question of timing, you can’t tackle the psychopath too quickly, but also not too slowly.
Secret Star: Ray Liotta, who often embodied the rebellious youth in the cinema, is white-haired and white-bearded here as Jimmy’s father. One of his last roles.
Not suitable for: Viewers who get restless without action and pace. Because this story lets us feel our own transience with silence, delay and refusal. Fritz Goettler
Six episodes, on Apple+.
What is happening: Five millennials are looking for meaning in life. The fact that they met each other in the self-help group at school already points to various imbalances in the respective characters, which the series happily unfolds. There is the good-humored womanizer, the sensitive gay man, the misjudged artist, the stiff financial woman and Nola, played by Sophie Passmann, who then – and that is the dramaturgical hook of the series – makes a podcast about all the big and small misery .
Secret Star: the smoking grandmother of artist Tia, played by Michaela May. Because she’s a lot cooler than the rest of the constantly busy gang.
Not suitable for: People who find youth language nervous.
Christian Lutz
Eight episodes, on Amazon Prime.
What is happening: As always in “Resident Evil”, whether in the legendary video games or audio books, animated series, comic books, six films with Milla Jovovich: the zombie apocalypse. Apparently it took place between 2022 and 2036 this time, and the plot approaches the catastrophe from both sides. Some might think that’s complete nonsense. Everyone else, and that’s exactly what makes the films so charming and successful, should have a lot of fun.
Secret Star: infected dogs.
Not suitable for: People who can’t cope with permanent and often completely unexpected time jumps. Juergen Schmieder
Eight episodes, on Netflix.
Better Call Saul
What is happening: In the final episodes of this series, attorney Saul (Bob Odenkirk) is transformed forever from lovable rascal to shameless law-bringer; his partner Kim (Rhea Seehorn) has to disappear in a way that explains why she was in the earlier filmed but later set original series Breaking Bad was never even mentioned. And of course the question hovers over everything: Will Walter White appear again?
Secret Star: Mike (Jonathan Banks), the cleaner of the drug & chicken salesman Gus, who can’t wipe off enough blood to get everything clean.
Not suitable for: sentimental optimists hoping for a happy ending. This series used to be a thieving comedy. Now it becomes a tragedy. Milan Pavlovic
13 episodes, on Netflix.
What is happening: the Circle-Residents live in isolation in their own apartments, with cameras constantly tracking them. The only way to start talking to each other in this reality TV series is by texting them via voice-enabled social media platform The Circle. This means that there are completely different people behind the profile pictures than expected.
Secret Star: Seaburn Williams, who moves into his Circle apartment as “Rebecca”. And despite this obvious lie, finds the most honest friendships.
Not suitable for: Viewers who think of disgust testing and foreign shame when it comes to reality TV – and don’t want to change that either. John Korsche
4 seasons of 12 to 13 episodes each, on Netflix.
You can find more series recommendations here.