s3276169 Deutschland 83 is a look at the cold war from those who experienced it, first hand. This series offers up a very German take on the cold war and shows how the average German feels, in a ominous sense, "caught in the middle". One half of their country controlled by the US and the other the USSR. Both sides playing dangerous military games, that the Germans, not incorrectly, feel they could pay a tragic price for. Its refreshing to see this honest, "coal face", take on the German cold war period. One that strips away the political rhetoric and exposes, this proxy conflict, for the folly it really is. Caught in this web of political intrigue is a young East German border guard turned spy. He is a reluctant but capable pawn in this political game, forced into dangerous actions at the behest of his ambitious handlers in the Stasi. This is inherently interesting material, that's made more so by reasonably good scripting and characterizations. Whilst there are a few logic "pot holes" along the way and a few moments where you do need to suspend disbelief, this is for the most part quite a credible, series. Better still, it uses a lot of iconic 80's material, including classic 80's hit songs, sound bites from politicians of the time and even the Walkman and the original IBM PC gets a revamp. These little touches, really lend this show the right atmosphere and feel, lifting it above the mundane. Eight out of ten from me.

newjersian I am always wondering on why the writers and movie makers treat us as fools? Maybe they really think that we are fools? Consider this. In the movie a Communist spy goes from West Germany to East Germany, donates his kidney and returns to his military base in the West, and all this just in one week. However, in real life after donating a kidney a person may need up to 12 weeks off work to recuperate, although most donors are more or less back to normal within six weeks. Or the Communist spy calls his girl in Eastern Germany from the personal home phone of a general, a commander of a military base. And that call is not traceable? On another occasion the spy buys an old microphone from a street vendor and attaches it under the table of the NATO head of intelligence. And then the knocks on the typing machine divulge to the listeners in East Germany the content of top secret materials. That part was really funny! Or the spy attaches microphone in full view under the lamp-shade in the hotel room of an American general. The movie is full of such dumb moments. At some point I thought that maybe the movie is just a parody on spy films. Nope! The creators of that serial were dead serious. Maybe we all became so intellectually disabled that we can swallow such stupid baits.

Karl Self My feelings about this TV series are ambiguous. It's fun to watch and has a nice, grubby look to it, as well as a great, dishy cast. It also serves as a platform for great 1980ies music -- let me just tell you, kids, that not all Eighties music was that cool, a lot of it was terribly naff.The series is however in no way realistic. Quite often it's verging on insulting the intelligence of the viewer, such as when our babyfaced 007 contacts his handlers by phoning them ("Hello, I'm at their party as a top undercover agent and they don't suspect a thing! Oh no, I think someone has overheard me, creating further complications throughout the storyline!") or meeting them at a gas station -- of course, slipping back into the car just a microsecond before the general gets back in.Also, a sexy Asian assassin slash bit of fluff appears, gets thrown off a balcony onto a flight of marble stairs and just vanishes from the plot without a further trace. Fine by me!And I liked the persona of the main character, he's not your usual butch superhero nor an ingenu. He looks like he's been thrown into things.In brief, action and suspense in an unsual setting with a nice vibe to it. But nothing more.

John Black This started with such promise, but by the 3rd episode it's all fallen apart. The character acting is way over the top thanks to the scriptwriting which turns into a parody of itself. There's still some nostalgic value which kept me going, but closer to the 7 episode you are irritated as hell, leaving you thinking this is just plain silly and unbelievable. Such a pity, this could of been something quite special! I was hoping for something a little more sophisticated like "The Lives of Others 2006". Give it a whirl if you still enjoy it by episode 6 you at the home stretch. But for me it doesn't match up to the above ratings. Sorry, I really wanted to like this!