Only the BBC would hail something like Deutschland 83 as cutting edge etc...Growing up at the time of the StaSi and the political situation during this time, it saddens me to see that the characters, although well acted, are stereotypes of bad party members and poor East Germans, good and innocent soldier and of course the obligatory west German fat cats.There are much better German dramas and series dealing with this subject matter and thankfully I receive German TV and can watch them but, I can't help feeling that once again it's playing safe and encouraging the current "continental opinions" of the BBC and it's obvious programming choices. I did however notice that for once the BBC didn't get the chance to show a series with the episodes back to front or the middle at the beginning and series three episodes in the middle of series one.....not forgetting putting the prefix "New" to a series that is over twenty years old.As mentioned it contains some very fine acting but an oh so predictable story line and quite frankly a very tiresome and well chewed political theme. It is easy on the eye, ear and brain for the US and UK market and should for this reason sell well .....so I wish the producers, writers and actors good luck but please "must do better" with the next project! It wouldn't hurt the BBC doing likewise either.

I am enjoying this drama so far but I have to admit that it is necessary to suspend belief at times in order to follow the plot. I have to assume that there was a considerable time between his recruitment by the STASI and being sent West as an ADC to a General. He has to have been trained fully in spy "tradecraft" he had to be trained in the ways and disciplines of the German Army and he had to have had a convincing back story to cover his training etc. What happened to the body of the man he "replaced"? Surely that would have alerted the security services that a "dead" man was now ADC at a major NATO conference. It is details like this that are the enemy of the avid watcher of these sorts of film. So it's because of these inconsistencies and inaccuracies that I am only able to Rate the show 5. I can come back at the end and see how I feel then.

Double SPOILER ALERTFirst of all for those who wish to see a season 2, The story resolved at the end of season 1 (or mini series) so nothing left to pass on into season 2 and that's great, don't want the memory of this awesome show get ruined by prolonged multi season nonsense. But as good as it was, there was also problems:1. show never delivered the feel of 1983. Something was missing, I think it was mostly the flashy color and digital HD quality. Past decades are remembered by color and quality of media so If you want the feel of 1983, the show should be recorded by the devices of that era, Digital HD quality with flashy colors as good as it looks, never gives that nostalgic feel to the audience... Some 2 stars smoked out over this issue.2. The whole idea of replacing people in high office belongs to pre photography age. It's insanely ridiculous that they did not have the photo of the real person at base specially when that person was going to serve as Germany's top general. If the security of NATO was that cheezy, I wonder how we are still alive today!3. The hostage situation, there was no way someone can cover it up with all those witnesses and a dead prostitute on the ground... And the whole scene was unnecessary, so the squeezed an unnecessary insanely ridiculous section in the show which had nothing to to with the resolve of the show. 1 star smoked out!4. Martin gave coffee cans which were suppose to be bombs to Jakal, Jakal blew a building. But later on it was said that Jakal blew the building with 25 kg of explosive so whatever was in coffee can, had nothing to do with explosion. I still wonder why they squeezed that scene into the show. 1 star smoked.5. American general while hugging a whore, tries to calm Alex saying that he has German wife!!! Ho ridiculous is that?6. General killed himself at the end but why? The wife he never loved just left him, so why? he was enjoying prostitutes, in reality he had to celebrate for that wife to move out. There was problem with daughter, he had no idea that alex had aids and there was no defeat or work problem, all the sudden we hear that he killed himself. but why?????7. AAAH, Good to mention that a university professor lives in a mansion and he is all over the newspapers... I wonder how no one in German secret service asked how he got money to live in a mansion because with university salary, no one can live in a mansion!Overall very entertaining show but could be much better.6/10

1980ies was a really critical decade in the post-WWII period, tensions were the highest since the 1960ies, as the economical gaps between the East and West started to enhance faster. The split Germany encountered apparently the biggest tensions as the nation/language was the same, NATO bases were close, and GDR intelligence was considered among the best in the world...Although I was quite young at that time, Deutschland 83 seems very realistic to me, brings forth some memories and attitudes East Germans were known in the Warsav Pact block... True, some topics were apparently "bedighted" and intensified for the sake of feature series and providing meatiness and additional warmth and humour, this mini-series is no US-type of action mockery, with constant chases and blasts. For younger generations accustomed to search engines etc., some events may seems odd and questionable, but back then all checking was much more complicated and slower.The cast is evenly strong, I found Jonas Nay as Martin Rauch / Moritz Stamm, Maria Schrader as Lenora Rauch, and Ludwig Trepte as Alex Edel most elaborated characters/performances. But still, it is good that all speak their native language (or broken German), and being made on German soil and cities, you can feel the real European/German life and background throughout the whole series.The ending could have been more twisty, but still, a good series. Special mention to those who selected songs and soundtrack - one can hardly find more suitable melodies and texts for specific events and general atmosphere.