Luna Wedler and Jessica Schwarz dive into the world of genetic engineering in "Biohackers". Is the new German Netflix series worth it?
From August 20, 2020, the streaming service Netflix will take viewers into the world of synthetic biology in the six episodes of the new German original series "Biohackers". It's all about DNA and primarily genetic engineering. People can thus "go from creatures to creators", according to the premise of actress Jessica Schwarz (43, "The Perfect Secret") in her role as Prof. Dr. Tanja Lorenz. "We're making God obsolete," she even says to her students.
Attention, the following passages contain spoilers for the new series "Biohackers"!
This is what "Biohackers" is all about
The series begins with a train ride – and mysterious fainting fits of the passengers. What this is all about is not yet clear. Because time jumps back two weeks and Mia Akerlund (Luna Wedler) starts her medical studies at the University of Freiburg. She first meets her new flatmates: party girl Lotta (Caro Cult), botany freak Chen-Lu (Jing Xiang) and bodyhacker Ole (Sebastian Jakob Doppelbauer).
One of her courses is led by Prof. Dr. Tanja Lorenz (Jessica Schwarz), star lecturer at the university and renowned scientist, who promotes research projects in the field of synthetic biology with her private sector excellence center and at the same time works to liberalize EU legislation in this area.
Mia has a plan: She wants to gain the trust of her lecturer and become a student assistant with her in order to get answers and proof. The student and lecturer share a dark secret from the past – but Tanja Lorenz has no idea about it. Via the biology student Jasper (Adrian Julius Tillmann), for whom Mia develops feelings, she finally comes even closer to Tanja Lorenz. Mia doggedly risked her head and neck more than once. In doing so, it brings explosive information to light.
If these are made public, more than one person is at risk of harm. Jasper also keeps (more than) one secret. Will Mia still go ahead with her plan? Will she get the decisive answers from Tanja Lorenz? And does Mia have feelings for Jasper's roommate Niklas (Thomas Prenn)? Together with him, she ends up in the train chaos of the initial situation. In the end, nothing is what it seems.
What can the viewer expect in "Biohackers"?
"Biohackers" is an exciting series, with a very topical topic, but a few weaknesses in the implementation. The six entertaining episodes each range around 40 to 45 minutes, which take place within two weeks. That sets a rapid pace for the plot. Because everything happens pretty fast – sometimes too fast. The development of the characters falls by the wayside, which is a shame for the successful cast. In addition, technical jargon is so naturally thrown around that laypeople cannot always follow it.
Idea generator and director Christian Ditter (born 1977, "How to Be Single") also uses clichés for his characters. Jessica Schwarz plays the ice-cold, career-oriented researcher to the point, but she is denied any depth. A woman who makes a career – of course, a happy partnership, a happy family life or even just friends are excluded. Or is there something else behind it?
Luna Wedler, who had her breakthrough as "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (2017), manages to win everyone over as opaque Mia in record time – a bit too easy? Your flat share with the weird types, however, is clearly oversubscribed. A quick speaker with no dots or commas who grow plants herself, a party mouse who likes to run around half-naked and always has sex in the back of her head, and a nerd who keeps presenting his bizarre inventions and experimenting on himself. A "Comic Relief" couldn't be more classic. But the laughs are guaranteed.
There are also two good-looking guys who are as charming as they are mysterious. However, Thomas Prenn alias Niklas is moving a little too quickly from the initial marginal phenomenon to an important ally. His motives, however, are completely in the dark. Not to forget Benno Fürmann (48, "Babylon Berlin") – whose brief appearance as a science journalist Andreas Winter already suggests that he might appear again.
Is a second season possible?
The series wants too much in some places. It is well known that sometimes less is more. The naturalness with which the freshman student Mia moves on the subject of genetic manipulation is a bit unrealistic. The one or the other explanation of terms with which one takes the viewer by the hand would not have hurt. Not everyone is familiar with DNA and Co.
"Biohackers" ends with a huge cliffhanger that calls out for a sequel. You want more as a viewer, too many questions are open, too much potential has not yet been exhausted. The DNA looks incomplete – but more detailed research would not hurt.