Five Days at Memorial
Vera Farmiga (front), as Doctor Anna Pou, battles the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
(Photo: Russ Martin/dpa)
What is happening: New Orleans, 2005. The hurricane Katrina has devastated the city, the Memorial Hospital has to do without electricity for five days. The hospital’s food and medicine supplies are dwindling, and there is no evacuation plan. The doctors and nurses have to ask themselves questions that nobody wants to ask themselves: Who is allowed out first? And what happens to those who can no longer be saved?
Secret Star: Cherry Jones, who sometimes shows toughness, sometimes sympathy in the role of operations manager. And wears her sweatstains with dignity.
Not suitable for: Fans of whimsical hospital series à la scrubs or dr House. The situation at Memorial Hospital is too serious for jokes. Kathrin Müller-Lance
Eight episodes, on Apple+.
sand man
Tom Sturridge and Kirby Howell-Baptiste know why the world is so out of joint.
(Photo: Courtesy Of Netflix © 2022)
What is happening: The semi-divine lord of the dream realm is captured, dreams and nightmares then populate the world, everything gets imperceptibly out of joint – one has recently heard less convincing explanations for the current state of the world. But after a hundred years he is freed and has to restore order.
Secret Star: The British accent in the highly recommended original version. Somehow that seems, see game of Thronesyes being such a thing that dialogue in fantasy series only works really well in British English.
Not suitable for: People who take their fantasy battery for House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power want to save. Philip Boverman
Ten episodes, on Netflix.
For adults only
Hayley Squires takes on the entire porn industry in the role of Hayley Burrows.
(Photo: Tereza Erve ová/dpa)
What is happening: Hayley Burrows (Hayley Squires) is a mother of three and a porn actress. After an incident on the set, her carefully constructed double-role construct between terraced house and lingerie begins to falter. Upcoming actress Amy was apparently forced to film a scene despite an injury. Hayley feels responsible for the young woman and takes on her entire industry – a fight she can hardly win.
Secret Star: Rupert Everett as glitzy, ponytail-wearing, fur-coated top porn boss Carroll Quinn who takes care of Burrow’s children like a grandfather.
Not suitable for: Anyone expecting a blanket settlement with the porn industry. The series doesn’t make it that easy. Kathrin Müller-Lance
Four episodes in the ARD media library.
The Tourist – Duel in the Outback
This is before the accident. After that, the man Jamie Dornan plays here doesn’t know who he is anymore. Will he be scared of the truth?
(Photo: Ian Routledge/ZDF and Ian Routledge)
What is happening: A man (Jamie Dornan) is involved in a car accident in the middle of nowhere in Australia and wakes up in the hospital at a loss for who he is. A chubby village policewoman wants to help him – and both quickly realize that they will not find a flawless clean record in his past.
Secret Star: The outback as a backdrop, and the delicate bonds formed by a very unlikely couple.
Not suitable for: fact foxes.
Susan Vahabzadeh
Six episodes in the ZDF media library.
House of the Dragon
Fairytale? Scene from “House of the Dragon” with Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon.
(Photo: HBO)
What is happening: Also the prequel too game of Thrones Based on a book by George RR Martin, it sheds light on the downfall of House Targaryen, whose superpower is dragons. The problem facing King Viserys I is a fundamental one: Who will succeed him on the Iron Throne? Daughter Rhaenyra or Brother Daemon? Love, power, loyalty, revenge, betrayal – all this is in House of the Dragon opulent, but also cruel and bloody staged.
Secret Star: Matt Smith (dr Who) plays Troublemaker Daemon Targaryen, the brother of the king, wonderfully devious. Whenever he appears, it doesn’t bode well.
Not suitable for: All those who are afraid of dragons and fire and – at least for the first episode – heavily pregnant.
Caroline Gasteiger
Ten episodes on Sky.
Cleo
Kleo (Jella Haase) incognito and very close to the object of her revenge.
(Photo: Julia Terjung/Netflix)
What is happening: Kleo (Jella Haase) killed a bunch of people as IM for the Stasi, no big deal for her. One day she is betrayed and ends up in prison. When the Wall falls, Kleo is unexpectedly free – and very, very, very angry. A vendetta à la Uma Thurman in Kill Bill begins.
Secret Star: The useless Wessi Thilo (Julius Feldmeier), who hangs out in Kleo’s apartment after reunification. Everything is great entertainment for him: the drugs, the clubs, sex. He does yoga in Kleo’s grandfather’s Stasi uniform: “Look, if I keep practicing, I’ll soon be able to blow my own head.”
Not suitable for: People who think you shouldn’t make fun of the Stasi.
Christian Lutz
Eight episodes, on Netflix.