‘Echos’ Recap: ‘Der Verrat’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Echos’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating Sundance Now series, Echos, we talked at length about how the show was starting to move the plot in a vastly different direction. For the last episode was devoid of the usual character study the show prefers to focus upon… so it could start to move the plot forward and offer us answers in an effort to ramp things up for the season finale and well, it is important to revisit that paradigm shift, simply because… it was the bare beginnings of things to come. For the next episode in this fascinating saga, built upon what the prior episode did and catapulted the plot forward even more. Which allowed for all kinds of answers and big reveals to come forth in ‘Der Verrat’.
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For instance, this is a story that revealed quite a bit about Janosch. For he returned home after getting a good look at his double in the sewers and demanded answers regarding how a lookalike was possible and well, that’s when his mother and father revealed quite the surprise. In that, Janosch was originally raised in the very underground that hangs over this tale and when his mother was found dead by his adopted father, he was brought home and cared for and lived the life he’s lived. Which meant, that his twin was kin and undoubtedly the last real connection he had to his former life and his now late mother, and that in turn motivated him to head back into the tunnels to find what little family he has left, to learn everything there is to know about his past and his lineage.

As for Nellie, well she also experienced some big moments in this tale. Since she teamed up with Tyler once again to find her brother and well… that went poorly. Largely because everyone vacated the safe space in the tunnels, due to the fact that there was too much heat surrounding them after the prior death, so… no answers were to be found underground. And it was also a failed endeavor because… Tyler didn’t want to admit to Nellie that she was responsible for the whole thing. So, she tried her best to smooth things over with Nellie until she could either figure out how to deliver Max to her or gain her trust long enough to make it hurt less and that… that just didn’t happen. Since Nellie discovered the truth and rightfully stormed off, leaving Tyler’s fate up the air in that moment… since she was unsure of how to make this right.

But she did figure out a way, thanks to Spider’s return to the hiding place. For he revealed that he saw exactly who grabbed Max at the end of the last episode and it turned out to be… Officer Kaltbrunner. For she knew that Max and her now late daughter interacted at the Rave party and that motivated her to kidnap Max and use her mother’s apartment to interrogate him for information regarding the whereabouts of her daughter. But of course, Max was unwilling to speak to the unfortunate truth about her, since he was unsure of how she would respond and rightfully so. But eventually… she came to learn that her baby girl was dead and well… she did not handle that well in the slightest since one could absolutely feel the anguish and raw fury that emanated from her soul over such news.

Which means that Max is still in grave danger, and it is going to take some incredible effort on Tyler and Nellie’s behalf to save him since the clock is ticking on his safety. Because a broken mother, full of anger and grief, is capable of anything and may do anything to find peace. Which is… a powerful way to set the stage for this show’s finale. For now, the stakes are at their highest and the danger is real and that will undoubtedly bring forth an intense story that might not end happy in the slightest. For this series has proven time and time again that it is unconventional in nature and eager to surprise and it will be quite fascinating to see how this harrowing journey through the underbelly of Munich is going to come to a close. Until next time.

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