Babylon Berlin: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		4.5

Babylon Berlin: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie Review

The definition of must-see TV.

One of the best television series in several years, Babylon Berlin is a television masterpiece. The Netflix series is an epic that takes viewers on an exciting journey. The production also stands as the most expensive German series in history (with a budget of approximately 50 million). Adapted from the novel Der nasse Fisch by Volker Kutscher, Babylon Berlin is a remarkably unique and compelling drama from master filmmakers Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, Cloud Atlas), Henk Handloegten, and Achim von Borries. Don't miss it: Babylon Berlin is a must-see series.

Babylon Berlin is set in Berlin, Germany during the 1920's. The second season ended with a bang while setting the stage for the new season. Season 3 of Babylon Berlin brings back Gereon Rath (Volker Bruch) as a young detective involved in the vice squad. After surviving an intense standoff, the detective finds that he has more work to do.

Charlotte Ritter (Liv Lisa Fries) also finds a new and surprising mission (one that tests her and her limits). In a sense, the journey of the characters is only just beginning to unfold. When a theatrical production goes awry as murders start taking place (one-by-one) a serial killer is on the loose. The killer dons a mysterious black cape and keeps everyone on their respective toes. Can Gereon stop the killer from slaying again? Meanwhile, a strange cult is starting to form – and the cultism leads to more unexpected horror.

Season 3 is (in some respects) a departure from the earlier seasons. While it retains every element fans have grown to love about the series, Babylon Berlin: Season 3 introduces genre-fare with the new horror plot-line mixing things up. The storyline reminds one of the Scream movies (with creepy episodes leading to one shock after another). While the departure might not be for everyone, the production still retains all the other components that fans have grown to love: a charming cast of characters, great production values, and powerful storytelling.

The stars of Babylon Berlin continue to be at the heart of the production: Liv Lisa Fries is the most-valuable-player. Oozing charisma and radiating with beauty, Fries is a constant joy to watch. The character is taken on a compelling journey in the third season and viewers won't want to miss a moment. Volker Bruch is also dynamic in his leading role: delivering a nuanced and rewarding performance.

A television masterpiece.

With the fifty-million price-tag of the television series, it comes as no surprise that the production design by Uli Hanisch (Cloud Atlas, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) is exceptional. This is a stunning production with spectacle that rivals big-budget Hollywood films. The scale of the sets remains grandiose. There is nary a scene that doesn't manage to evoke a strong reaction on a visual level.

The visual wonderment of Babylon Berlin even extends to the cinematography by Philipp Haberlandt (Beat, Deutschland 83), Frank Griebe (Heaven, Run Lola Run), and Bernd Fiscger (4 Days in May, Fleming). The series looks gorgeous and pulls one in to the storytelling with ease. The aesthetic brilliantly explores Berlin, Germany in all of its unending refinement.

The score composed by Tom Tykwer and Johnny Klimek (Run Lola Run) is one of the best elements of the series. Every episode has a pitch-perfect score that sounds just as impressive as anything coming out of Hollywood today. The style is uniquely German and it manages to cast a compelling spell.

Babylon Berlin simply awes on so many levels. Even the costumes by Pierre-Yves Gayraud (Cloud Atlas, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) manage to enchant. The costume designs are superb and every actor wears something befitting their character. To call the works of Pierre-Yves Gayraud anything less than masterful would be unfair.

Directed by filmmakers Tom Tykwer (The Princess and the Warrior), Henk Handloegten (Good Bye Lenin!), and Achim von Borries (Love in Thoughts), Babylon Berlin: Season 3 is one of the absolute best and most rewarding television achievements in some time. Every episode is perfectly paced. The third season continues to find new ways to explore these characters. Adding in the horror elements, the storytelling becomes even more intense and invigorating. No fan of great television should go without seeing this masterful gem.

Babylon Berlin: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Babylon Berlin is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series looks radiant throughout the entire season. The production design and cinematography are beautifully realized throughout the set. The color reproduction is similarly phenomenal. Kino has provided the series a stunning presentation which never falters with compression woes (such as one can sometimes find on streaming).

Babylon Berlin: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes two lossless audio options: German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The lossless audio quality is exceptional and manages to expand the nuances of the series. The surround sound presentation is enormously active and engaging. Subtle sound effects become pivotal during key moments: from the patter of rain to the bustling of the street. A great presentation that is a perfect match in quality for the exceptional video.

Includes optional English subtitles. The subtitles were free of any glaring spelling or grammatical errors.

Babylon Berlin: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Babylon Berlin Seasons 1 & 2 Trailer (HD, 4:00)

Babylon Berlin Season 3 Trailer (HD, 2:27)

Babylon Berlin: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The third season of Babylon Berlin is one of the best seasons yet. Adding in elements of horror and cultism to the genre production, Babylon Berlin manages to be just as compelling as it has been since episode one. The performances also remain stellar with leading actors Liv Lisa Fries and Volker Bruch continuing to charm. The third season is full of plot twists and sub-plots (making it an essential watch for fans of the German series). The Blu-ray release features a superb video-audio presentation and comes highly recommended.