The Typist (2018– ) User Reviews (4)

When the Past Takes Over

[Rupert17 · 8/10 · 29 January 2019]

Iris Berben plays Freya, who lost her daughter years before in what appear to be strange circumstances. She works as a typist for the police and frequently takes down verbatim interviews with those charged with murder. She is an introverted, contemplative loner who lives her life alone haunted by her daughter's disappearance and the lack of closure surrounding her fate .

This is quite a multi-layered narrative and over five episodes the truth surrounding Freya's life is stripped bare in a clever and complicated series of revelations. I liked the fact that sensationalism is omitted and replaced by believable actions and an ultimately acceptable denouement. Iris Berben's acting is underplayed in one sense, but quite riveting in another.

The series is set in today's Berlin, and although a dark theme is always pervasive the modern optimism of contemporary Germany is always to the fore.

Suspenseful, low-key crime drama is eminently bingeable

[lotekguy-1 · 7/10 · 26 April 2021]

The title might seem to invite little curiosity, but the reality of this five-part German miniseries is anything but bland. The titular character, Freya (Iris Berben) is a reclusive, middle-aged plain-Jane who has spent decades transcribing interrogations, testimony and reports for the Berlin police department. She has suffered tragic loss in her life, aggravated by painful reminders when similar crimes (child abduction and abuse) come across her desk. She still has no idea of the fate of her daughter who disappeared 11 years earlier. When an obvious multiple offender is found not guilty, something snaps.

Freya goes secretly rogue when a new crime seems to connect to her own daughter's abduction, even though the cops fail to see her point. A new chief who is an old friend of hers returns to Berlin. They are close, but he's enough of a purist for Freya to keep him at arm's length from her activities. She also must avoid the attention of an ambitious female detective, who is jealous of the boss' high regard for this lowly, mousy clerk.

The series is low-key, but compelling, with some surprising twists. We root for Freya, even when she makes some unwise or illegal moves. The script maintains suspense admirably as to who did what to whom; who knew what and when they knew it; whether Freya will succeed, and what that might look like.

The 2018 series was nominated for a couple of awards in Europe, including Best Direction. All the performances are rock-solid - especially Berben's balance of conveying strong emotions while keeping them under a tight lid. There is some violence, and a disturbing overall theme, but nothing on-camera should seem too graphic for most viewers. Those with the time and taste for a five-hour binge can certainly consider this a worthy candidate.

einfallsreich

[antoniotierno · 8/10 · 12 September 2020]

Tatsächlich ist "Die Protokollantin" vor allem auch eine Geschichte des Scheiterns, zusätzlich zu einer Kriminalserie. Freya begeht aktiv und passiv Selbstjustiz an Männern, die jungen Frauen Böses angetan haben, doch ihre junge Tochter bekommt sie dadurch nicht wieder. Ausgerechnet bei ihrem jüngsten Racheobjekt Thilo Menken mehren sich schon bald die Zweifel, ob er tatsächlich für das Verschwinden eines weiteren Mädchens verantwortlich war. Zeitgleich scheitert Freyas Chef Silowski an seinem Sohn, der um sich herum die Mauer eines Berliner Luxus-Hipsters aufgebaut hat. Der Kommissar ist wahrscheinlich der beste Schauspieler der Serie, und hier hat er sogar besser als in Babylon's Berlin gespielt.

Excellent underplayed series

[ppmoore · 10/10 · 18 August 2020]

Very good, well-acted series.Probably not to everyone's liking. Iris Berben was excellent in the lead role.