'Shadowplay': What the critics are saying

The buzz is big on our new drama series set in the lawless chaos of post-war Berlin.

Shadowplay

Source: Distributor

The premise

Max McLaughlin is an American cop who arrives in Berlin in the summer of 1946 to help create a police force in the chaotic aftermath of the war. Max's goal is to take down "Englemacher" Gladow, the Capone of post-war Berlin. At the same time, Max undertakes a secret crusade to find his missing brother, who is killing ex-Nazis in hiding. Unbeknownst to Max, he is being used as a pawn in what is the beginning of the cold war.
The setting

No institutions. No order. No laws. Post-war Berlin is a chaotic place where no-one can be trusted and nothing is sacred. A place where unpredictable characters and violent situations are the norm. A place where everybody is a criminal or a survivor or both. A place where everybody carries secrets, most of them dark. While the Allies argue whether to let the Germans suffer in this purgatory or if they should be reformed, they are all certain of one thing – the Russians mustn’t claim the city.

Berlin is the key to the new Europe: It’s the cradle of the two Superpowers: East and West.

 

The critical response so far:

 

"Stylish, morally complex and compelling…vivid portrait of a complex time and place."

News.com.au

 

"Darkly evocative and instantly captivating"

The Sydney Morning Herald

 

“Edge of your seat thriller…Peels back the layers of post WWII Berlin.”

The West Australian

 

“Gritty and intriguing.”

TV Week Magazine

 

  premiered with a double episode Thursday 4 March on SBS. Episodes will continue weekly at 9:30pm from Thursday 11 March. New episodes will be available at  each week on the same day as broadcast. Shadowplay will also be subtitled in  and , available to stream for free at SBS On Demand. Each subtitled episode will become available at the same time as broadcast. Start with episode 1:



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2 min read
Published 2 February 2021 2:43pm
Updated 9 March 2021 10:31am

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