Babylon Berlin's final season echoes today's democratic fragility
The final season of Babylon Berlin depicts Hitler's rise to power, airing as Germany faces a major state election. The creators note that modern democracies have faced pressures similar to the Weimar Republic, making the show feel prescient. Lead actors describe the series as now being "in the volcano itself" rather than dancing on its rim.
The series took 13 years to produce, with its creators noting that pressures on modern democracies in places like the US, Hungary, and South Korea emerged in ways they never anticipated at the outset. Production intersected with real events when series three was shot at Villa Adlon, which later hosted a controversial AfD meeting about deportation plans in 2023.
The final season depicts Hitler's appointment as chancellor alongside a subplot involving a missing medical file about his WWI service. The AfD, founded around when production began, now leads national polls and could win a state election in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, with another test in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern two weeks later.
This series may sharpen public awareness of democratic vulnerabilities as Germany approaches critical elections. Viewers could draw parallels between Weimar-era instability and current political pressures, potentially influencing civic engagement or voter turnout. The show's timing may also amplify discussions about far-right parties' legitimacy and historical lessons, though its impact likely varies across audiences—some may find it cautionary while others dismiss historical comparisons as exaggerated.