This time Leitmayr and Batic have to deal with a murder on the oriental carpet or rather a "murder under mistletoe". In their 90th joint case, the Munich team go on an atmospheric journey through time - very British, very entertaining.
What is happening?
Kalli (Ferdinand Hofer) invites you to the Christmas party and has come up with something special for it: a home crime dinner with drinks and snacks and a crime riddle. Leitmayr (Udo Wachtveitl) and Batic (Miroslav Nemec) are initially moderately enthusiastic about it, but allow themselves to be persuaded by the group to take part. Schwupps, the clock is turned. The year is 1922, the scene of the action: the luxurious mansion Beckford Hall in Great Britain.
Kalli is now Charles Bantam, son of Lady Mona Bantam (Sunnyi Melles), and Dr. Mallard (Alexander Hörbe), the singer Kitty (Katharina Schlothauer), Reverend Edgar Teal (Joshua Jaco Seelenbinder) and the housemaid Heather (Marie Rathscheck) come into play - they are all suspected of being Arthur Rogers (Christoph Rogers), the butler of the house , to have brought around the corner. The commissioners also have to go through the time tunnel and do the complicated investigative work as Chief Inspector Francis Lightmyer and Detective Constable Ivor Partridge.
What is it really about?
Batic and Leitmayr started their service on New Year's Day 1991, "Animals", the title of their first "Tatort" episode. It is now her 90th mission and the round number is being celebrated with a very special episode. In the spirit of Agatha Christie, the two can be seen as British police officers. "Murder Under Mistletoe" is laid out as a classic crime riddle, an entertainingly old-fashioned mix of "Murder on the Orient Express" and "A Corpse for Dessert", spiced up with a dash of Downton Abbey.
Roadzapp Moment?
none.
Wow-Factor?
It could be discussed whether the repeated switch to the present time was necessary at all. Apart from that, director Jobst Christian Oetzmann and author Robert Löhr have polished a little crime thriller jewel here. From the art deco design of the opening credits to the grandiose scenery and Lightmyer's whistle to the cast around the reliably engaging Sunnyi Melles, "Mord unter Misteln" is a successful sidestep that could easily become an annual Christmas tradition. How about Borowski as Hercule Poirot? Or Boerne as Miss Marple?
How was it?
9 out of 10 points - an extremely nice gift, implemented with great attention to detail and in an entertaining manner. Agatha Christie would have liked it.
(This article was first published on Sunday, December 25, 2022.)
