- Commissioner Thiel, the Underworld Syndicate, and a Charming Academic Boerne
2 out of 5 pointsComedy, humor, and a bit of thrill: Even after its 20th anniversary, the Münster "Tatort" doesn't shake things up
What's it about?
Young lawyer Nikolas Weber (Hadi Khanjanpour) gets found shot dead in his office. Before this incident, Weber had an argument with one of his clients: Münster mafia boss Nino Agostini (Claudio Caiolo). Agostini is pissed off because Weber lost a case. Moreover, Weber and his law firm partner Erik Nowak (Hendrik Heutmann) were having issues with the bar association and were at risk of losing their licenses.
Prominent lawyer Friedhelm Fabian (Jan Georg Schütte) is also involved in the case. He's the best friend of forensic pathologist Professor Karl-Friedrich Boerne (Jan Josef Liefers). Fabian and his wife Veronika (Proschat Madani) are planning to move to Central America. For their farewell bash, they invite Boerne, his assistant Silke Haller (ChrisTine Urspruch), detective Frank Thiel (Axel Prahl), and prosecutor Wilhelmine Klemm (Mechthild Großmann).
The day after the party, lawyer Fabian gets kidnapped while walking his dog. Now, Boerne and Thiel have to find a murderer, solve a kidnapping, and figure out how both cases are interconnected.
Why watch "Tatort: A Friend, A Good Friend"?
The first "Tatort" from Münster went on air in October 2002. Mixing comedy with crime drama – that was a unique take at the time. Ever since, the unlikely duo of Thiel and Boerne has consistently delivered excellent ratings and built a massive fanbase. With the case "A Friend, A Good Friend," the investigators celebrate their 20th anniversary. The film provides what one expects: entertaining storytelling, moderate tension, and the usual Thiel, Boerne, and colleague banter.
What's missing?
Certain parts of the story (written by Benjamin Hessler) fail to bring something novel: there's a kidnapping, the police shouldn't interfere, and eventually, things go south. We've seen this plot in other films before. Additionally, some of Boerne's funny yet somewhat outdated comments towards his colleague Silke Haller don't seem fitting. In one scene, he asks her where her cowbell is, as he didn't hear her enter the room. This might have been amusing in 2002, but 20 years later, it feels outdated.
The investigators?
In this case, Professor Boerne plays a significant role: he's been pals with the Fabians for a long time. Friedhelm is his closest buddy, and he harbors secret feelings for Veronika. Boerne's emotional rollercoaster of love, friendship, and loyalty leads him to downplay the situation and hinder Thiel's investigation.
To watch or not to watch?
Fans will appreciate another "Tatort" from Münster, but for everyone else, this episode might not be essential viewing.
The "Tatort" episode "A Friend, A Good Friend" first aired on November 13, 2022. The ARD will rebroadcast the film on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at 8:15 PM.
In this rebroadcast announcement, the ARD will air the "Tatort: A Friend, A Good Friend" episode originally aired in 2022, featuring Detective Frank Thiel and Professor Karl-Friedrich Boerne from the Münster team.
During a gathering at Fabian's house, the prominent lawyer gets kidnapped, causing Boerne and Thiel to work on two interconnected cases: solving a murder and locating Fabian.
