‘Babylon Berlin’ Recap: ‘Season 4, Episodes 9 & 10’

7/24/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Volker Bruch as Inspector Gereon Rath in Season 4 of ‘Babylon Berlin’. (Photo Courtesy of MHzChoice.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episodes 409 and 410 of ‘Babylon Berlin’. To revisit the previous episodes, click here.

There are a great many elements that go into creating a quality television show in this day and age. For starters, it needs to feature a plot that truly engages an audience. For they have endless options available to watch, but a great plot can definitely keep an audience around. Plus, it needs to harbor amazing characters that we genuinely care about, who grow before our eyes. But of the many elements that go into making an amazing television series, there is one above all that matters most: quality writing. For we need the plot to chug along and threads to wrap up so we can move onto other things and well, it is that latter reason why so many of us tune into Babylon Berlin on MHz Choice.

Granted, those other reasons apply as well, since you’ll find all that in the show. But truly, it always moves the plot along and wraps up plotlines and introduces new ones and never was that more evident than during the next block of episodes. For so many stories were pushed forward and wrapped up, likely to prepare us for new angles for those stories or more. After all, there are going to be consequences that come into play for so many of them. Since the diamond storyline featured bloodshed in these tales. Since Goldstein opted to put down Nyssen’s mother when she lied about the real status of the diamond. Giving rise to real sorrow for Nyssen despite having his Helga back, who escaped at last… and left dear old mum behind. But this has gravity and there will be hell to pay for that death, undoubtedly.

Not to mention, the whole mess with the Russians took quite the turn. Since Marie-Luise may not survive the season. For the precious document she worked so hard to steal was stolen, keeping Katelbach and Heymann in prison, and to make matters worse, Völker wanted to sow some real chaos. For she wanted Wendt to die, a move that really would have caused all kinds of problems and she wanted Marie-Luise to be the one to march him to his death. Which she tried to comply with but could not. For she cared, and she knew the hell it would bring down. So, she took the bullet intended for Wendt, and was in bad shape for it, and only time will tell if Wendt’s rescue of her in that moment will save her. But make no mistake about it… this did indeed escalate this plot thread for certain.

However, not all of the plot threads here, were left open ended. For the matter of the White Glove was handled here in quite the epic manner. After all, Charlotte was able to learn about this organization and what they do behind the shadows, since she snuck into the complex and saw first-hand one of their weird little trials, and well… that prompted her to take action. So that real justice could be served, and so that these men could pay for their crimes. So, she teamed up with her sister and her friend, to accomplish wonders. Wherein Charlotte and Toni locked the White Glove in place while Renate called Rath. Who of course, brought the entire police force with him… while Charlotte… tapped into a side of her psyche she never knew existed. One that was violent and forceful and well, that part of her helped bring so many to justice and it got her sister out of juvie.

But that was the only storyline that wrapped up neatly, and it, and the rest, paled in comparison to the centerpiece plot thread here. Because this episode finally featured the grand meeting between all of the gangsters in Berlin. One that ended, in outright disaster. Because despite Rath’s team disarming every last member of these gangsters before getting them into the most secure spot possible at Police HQ, they all managed to die. Because Böhm’s need for money allowed for him to be compromised in this situation by the Armenian. All so the Armenian could hide from sight just long enough to surprise them all and end them all. But not before staging the crime scene to make it look as though something got through. A move that consolidated power for this old villain and left Rath in a strange place. Since he will either be heralded a hero for letting the underworld rip itself to shreds or be tossed off the force for letting such violence take place inside headquarters no less.

But what matters most about these episodes, is that they did indeed offer up progress on all fronts. Because we are now barreling toward resolution on the diamond matter, things with the Russians are clearly coming to some kind of head and the fallout from the underworld massacre awaits, and there is likely good reason why all of this seems to be coming to a head. For what awaits is the season four finale of this beloved show, and getting this stuff ready to wrap up allows for the show to make way for something big for the finale. Something that will undoubtedly take our breath away, which this series is so incredibly good at in its finales and well, that is going to make the wait for next week’s end to season four… as painful as it gets. Since we simply must know… what struggles and victories lie ahead. Until next time.

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