BERLIN STATION

Full Name:	Berlin Station
Nationality:	American
Organization:	CIA
Occupation	CIA Station

Creator:	Olen Steinhauer
Time Span:	2016 - 2019

ABOUT THE SERIES

Berlin Station is the name of a team of CIA operatives.

They are the main group assigned to the local headquarters of the American intelligence organization operating out of Berlin, Germany. The time period is modern so the primary focus of attention is on the constantly unsteady relationship with Russia although terrorism will also be a major focus. The recorded adventures we are allowed to follow revolve around the team members though considerable attention is given one new arrival at the Station, Daniel Miller.

"Miller has a clandestine mission: to uncover the source of a leak who has supplied information to a now-famous whistleblower named Thomas Shaw. Guided by veteran Hector DeJean, Daniel learns to contend with the rough-and-tumble world of the field agent: agent-running, deception, and the dangers and moral compromises". As time passes, Miller will survive being shot in the line of duty. Months later, "he recovered from his injuries sufficiently to be given a new clandestine assignment: to infiltrate a far-right German political party believed to be planning an act of terror right before an upcoming election".

The following is a description of the major players in the more than two dozen episodes of this drama (taken from the excellent entry on Wikipedia):

Daniel Miller: a cerebral CIA officer who shifts from working as an analyst at Langley headquarters in the USA to serving as an undercover officer in Berlin and is tasked with finding a leak in CIA operations.
Hector DeJean: a disillusioned veteran CIA officer with dubious tactics and many secrets.
Robert Kirsch: a devoted and successful Deputy Chief who digs intelligence out of the city of Berlin through a mix of force, diligence, and cleverness.
Valerie Edwards, the no-nonsense administrator who serves as a Berlin Station Internal Branch Chief, and later Station Chief.
Steven Frost: a veteran of the Cold War, who serves as the CIA's Chief of the Berlin Station for a while.
Sandra Abe: a quiet presence leading the efficient operation of Berlin Station while having an affair with her boss, Steven.
April Lewis: the new young case officer assigned to Berlin Station.
BB Yates: Berlin's new Chief of Station, replacing Frost after a while, nicknamed "The Station Whisperer".

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:	29
First Appearance:	2016
Last Appearance:	2019
Network:	EPIX

REGULAR CAST
Richard Armitage	Daniel Miller [ 1-3 ]
Michelle Forbes	Valerie Edwards [ 1-3 ]
Mina Tander	Esther Krug [ 1-3 ]
Rhys Ifans	Hector DeJean [ 1-3 ]
Richard Jenkins	Steven Frost [ 1-3 ]
Ashley Judd	BB Yates [ 2-3 ]
Leland Orser	Robert Kirsch [ 1-3 ]


1	Station to Station Episode 1-1, first aired 10/16/2016 Director: Michael R. Roskam Writer: Olen Steinhauer Daniel Miller is sent to the CIA's Berlin Station with a covert mission to discover the identity of Thomas Shaw, a whistleblower leaking confidential intel to the German press.

2	Lights Don't Run on Loyalty Episode 1-2, first aired 10/23/2016 Director: Michael R. Roskam Writer: Olen Steinhauer Daniel investigates the murder of Shaw's courier while Station Chief Steven Frost and agents Valerie Edwards and Robert Kirsch clash in their own investigation of a suspected ISIL collaborator.

3	Riverrun Dry Episode 1-3, first aired 10/30/2016 Director: Christoph Schrewe Writer: Bradford Winters Hector DeJean bugs Daniel's phone, and Valerie's surveillance reveals that one of her informants is lying to her. Investigators from the US arrive to lock down the station, leaving Steven and Robert concerned that evidence of their past indiscretions will be found.

4	By Way of Deception Episode 1-4, first aired 11/06/2016 Director: Christoph Schrewe Writer: Larry J. Cohen Steven outmaneuvers his rival for the promotion to Deputy Director. Hector works against Daniel's risky mission.

5	Unter Druck Episode 1-5, first aired 11/13/2016 Director: Giuseppe Capotondi Writer: Amanda Kate Shuman Both American and German interests align when the Station learns the subject of Shaw's next leak: Chinese defector Houjin Lin. Daniel is teamed with Esther Krug to secret Lin out of the country before the leak breaks, pre-emptively countering Shaw's attack.

6	Just Decisions Episode 1-6, first aired 11/20/2016 Director: Giuseppe Capotondi Writers: Olen Steinhauer, Amanda Kate Shuman Valerie's investigation into Aleksandre and Ruth Iosava comes to a head in a German/American sting Operation involving Clare Itani, a CIA Officer and Hector's lover. Langley's unannounced participation moves things from bad to worse.

7	Proof of Life Episode 1-7, first aired 11/27/2016 Director: John David Coles Writer: Amanda Kate Shuman In the wake of the botched Iosava Op and Clare Itani's kidnapping, Frost pursues traditional negotiation channels to secure Clare's release. Hector goes rogue, bringing Daniel with him--unknowingly paving the way for Daniel's moment of clarity.

8	False Negative Episode 1-8, first aired 12/04/2016 Director: John David Coles Writer: Kyle Bradstreet The debacle of Iosava continues to plague the Station. Daniel thinks he has identified Thomas Shaw, and tries to track down Steven Frost. Robert Kirsch is encouraged to distinguish himself as Acting Station Director, by undercutting Valerie Edwards.

9	Thomas Shaw Episode 1-9, first aired 12/11/2016 Director: Joshua Marston Writer: Bradford Winters Daniel and Hector find their fates intertwined. Langley sends Clay Williams to investigate the Berlin Station. We see the Thomas Shaw origin story.

10	Oratorio Berlin Episode 1-10, first aired 12/18/2016 Director: Joshua Marston Writer: Olen Steinhauer Robert Kirsch and Valerie Edwards connect evidence to cast light on Langley's role in the Iosava rendition, while Sandra and Kelly Frost try to help Steven. The aftermath of Thomas Shaw lingers over Daniel. Elsewhere, Hector tries a new approach to make amends for bad behavior.

11	Everything's Gonna Be Alt-Right Episode 2-1, first aired 10/15/2017 Director: Christoph Schrewe Writers: Tony Basgallop, Bradford Winters Under the direction of new Chief of Staff BB Yates, Daniel Miller, Robert Kirsch, Valerie Edwards and the rest of Berlin Station embark on an unsanctioned operation to uncover a possible terrorist attack.

12	Right Here, Right Now Episode 2-2, first aired 10/15/2017 Director: John David Coles Writer: Tony Basgallop Daniel uses Hector to further his mission with Otto Ganz, much to Hestor's dismay.

13	Right to the Heart Episode 2-3, first aired 10/22/2017 Director: John David Coles Writer: Kiersten Van Horne Valerie works to obtain intel on the Far Right while Robert's teenage son Noah arrives in Berlin and asks questions. Meanwhile, Frost agrees to the Ambassador's request to spy on Berlin.

14	Do the Right Thing Episode 2-4, first aired 10/29/2017 Director: Bronwen Hughes Writer: Larry J. Cohen BB Yates' past is revealed while she juggles keeping Berlin Station's Far Right operation covert or revealing it to Ambassador Hanes; Daniel discovers a lack of trust between Otto Ganz and his daughter.

15	Right of Way Episode 2-5, first aired 11/05/2017 Director: Bronwen Hughes Writer: Lara Shapiro The Station's sting operation to catch the Far Right in an arms deal goes horribly awry, with Lena Ganz escaping after her father is killed by police. Meanwhile, Robert and Frost make plans to investigate the money trail behind the PfDs.

16	The Right Hook Episode 2-6, first aired 11/12/2017 Director: Sarah Pia Anderson Writers: Nina Braddock, Bradford Winters Robert and Frost travel to Norway to investigate the illegal money trail leading to PfD. Meanwhile, BB and Valerie devise a new plan involving a member of the Far Right, April makes an astounding discovery revealing an assassination plot, and Daniel is MIA for most of the episode, as he is bound and gagged.

17	Right and Wrong Episode 2-7, first aired 11/19/2017 Director: Sarah Pia Anderson Writer: Zach Craley April weighs telling Robert about Hector's assassination plot; Daniel tries to arrange safe passage out of Berlin for Hector with help from Esther.

18	The Righteous One Episode 2-8, first aired 11/26/2017 Director: Giuseppe Capotondi Writer: Tony Basgallop Hector is wanted by German authorities for the assassination of Katerina Gerhardt, but Berlin Station begins to discover there is more at play than a jaded ex-CIA officer.

19	Winners Right the History Books Episode 2-9, first aired 12/03/2017 Director: Giuseppe Capotondi Writer: Bradford Winters A search for the truth behind Katerina Gerhardt's assassination and Nick Fischer's role in it. Meanwhile, a protest occurs outside the American Embassy as calls to turn Hector over escalate.

20	Aut Concilio Aut Ense Episode 3-1, first aired 12/02/2018 Director: Christoph Schrewe Writer: Jason Horwitch Valerie Edwards sends Daniel Miller and Robert Kirsch on an urgent mission to Estonia, where they meet renegade CIA Officer Rafael Torres and uncover signs of a covert invasion by Russian forces.

21	Fire Knows Nothing of Mercy Episode 3-2, first aired 12/02/2018 Director: Christoph Schrewe Writer: Jill Blotevogel Berlin Station follows up on the evidence Kirsch brought home from his mission, crystallizing their theory about a possible upcoming invasion.

22	The Old Lie Episode 3-3, first aired 12/17/2018 Director: Bronwen Hughes Writer: HSM Resnik The Station enlists Rafael Torres to track down a missing comrade's, Daniel Miller last known location, leading him to hostile territory. Kirsch visits an old friend.

23	If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish Episode 3-4, first aired 12/24/2018 Director: Bronwen Hughes Writer: Jennifer Kennedy The Explosion of a Fishing Boat is detected. CIA Agent Rafael Torres violates the Station Chief of Berlin Station Orders and retrieves the burned body that he believes is of Missing CIA Agent Daniel Miller.

24	The Dream of the Four Policemen Episode 3-5, first aired 01/06/2019 Director: Hagen Bogdanski Writer: Sara Gran Kirsch and Torres must risk their lives to secure their fallen comrade's location.

25	In Cold Hell Episode 3-6, first aired 01/13/2019 Director: Christoph Schrewe Writer: Morenike Balogun Valerie and B.B. rally the support of the 14-EYES, a powerful intelligence collective. Kirsch and April, using Sofia as bait, trap Sergei. Kirsch offers to swap Sergei for Daniel. April comes clean to her asset, securing the tech for U.S. interests

26	The Eye Fears When It Is Done to See Episode 3-7, first aired 01/20/2019 Director: Tanya Hamilton Writer: Zach Craley Valerie is stunned when B.B. betrays her and votes against the 14-Eyes invoking Article V. April faces the loss of the tech when her assets are arrested and face deportation. Kirsch's spy swap goes horribly awry when Bruno, Esther's officer, is exchanged instead of Daniel.

27	The Green Dacha Episode 3-8, first aired 01/27/2019 Director: Tanya Hamilton Writer: Jennifer Kennedy Daniel and Hector are being hunted by Vassily Krik. They manage to find shelter in a green house in the woods where a well kept secret will be revealed..

28	End of War Episode 3-9, first aired 02/10/2019 Director: Marc Jobst Writer: Jill Blotevogel Frost volunteers with Valerie's reluctant consent to rescue Daniel from Krik's estate. When Daniel confronts Frost about his past alias as ""Diver"" shots are fired. Hector is a secret witness. Krik is arrested by his government. Daniel's body is dumped on the streets of Berlin. Torres uses his cover as a ruse to get Platov to Germany.

29	Book of the Fallen Episode 3-10, first aired 02/17/2019 Director: Marc Jobst Writer: Jason Horwitch Mere hours remain before enemy forces topple the Estonian government. Without Langley's backing, Berlin Station acts alone in one final desperate push to prevent the fall of a nation.

MY COMMENTS

There are, regretfully, some excellent spy series which could, IMHO, never make it on traditional network channels. They are just too good and too non-formulaic. Mind you, there have been a good number of network spy series that I have enjoyed. They just never had the kind of quality that this series, which came to us via Epix, now MGM+, enjoyed in each episode.

Considering that the series came from the incredible mind and imagination of Olen Steinhauer, it is not hard to understand how it was so very, very good. My, how that man can write!!!

GRADE

My Grade: A+

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