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Review: Arcadia Fallen By Melissa Compton
I’ve been indulging myself in my love of anime style graphics this month, combined with Scandinavian storytelling by playing Arcadia Fallen. Honestly it didn’t take long before I was hooked! Arcadia Fallen is a virtual novel. This role playing game encourages you to forge your own path through choosing emotion based responses. The graphics were great from the beginning which starts with customizing your character. I found the customizer easy to use. Much simpler than some I have experienced and was thrilled with the result. (see image of Morgan to the right). Your character plays the role of a young alchemist apprentice. who is murder and somehow unwillingly bound to an illegal spirit. Once drawn into a war between humanity and magic. You work together to join a group of unlikely heroes to escape their own doom. The emotional based responses you select affect the relationships between characters as well as the course you take through the game. It is an immersive game and quite addictive. you have to solve puzzles at different stages in the game starting with pattern matching. Although the novel is divided into chapters the save option came in handy. The storytelling is straightforward interesting and is clouded in mystery. This isn’t a game where you can easily anticipate the next move. You need to work your way through and allow the vents to unfold. The characters are well balanced and all shrouded in mystery. One of my favourite things was the glimmer of diversity shown in the roles. Romantic relationships are not limited to boy-girl in the novel generally. The authoritarian influence is female. The game features more than 4.5 hours of voiced dialogue by Laura Post (Persona 5: Royal, Fire Emblem: Three Houses) and Allegra Clark (Dragon Age: Inquisition, Genshin Impact). The voice acting for the game was funded by a Kickstarter campaign. Arcadia Fallen is the brainchild of Galdra Studios founded by three friends: Daniel and Mette had been researching interactive narratives in games during their studies, and joined by Jesper, they sought to bring their new ideas for how to write stories to the world. Their Master's Thesis became the prototype for Arcadia Fallen. After graduation Galdra Studios was founded. Since October 2018, Daniel and Mette have been working towards finishing and releasing Arcadia Fallen in 2021.
We love, love, love Arcadia Fallen if you want to give it a try you can find it on Steam, coming soon to Nintendo Switch.
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Screenshots Puzzle: Alchemy mastering potions
The Alley: Morgan and the illegal spirit
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Editor’s Note
Hey & welcome to our first issue of Nights Entertainment Magazine. November has been quite the month and our gaming world has been on fast forward. In October we made the decision to split the magazine and there’s been a lot of background work going on. Molding the new publication into one specifically for gamers whilst still covering entertainment. Moving forward we are covering tv, film, gaming on all platforms. Bringing you reviews, features, and more.. A bit more about us, we have a loyal following that have been following us for 2 years. But in case we’re new to you, the magazine started as Norwich Nights back in November 2019. We can’t believe it has been two years. Gaming was always a centre part of the magazine, and the current publication is an expansion on that. We’ve always prided ourselves on filling the blog with gaming news as soon as we receive it. Everything we do at the magazine is out of pure passion. We’re a small independent magazine. As such know the struggles that brings and are very supportive of indie game developers too. We put this issue together with all the love and pride we could conjure. We hope you love it! Dawn reviews Barotrauma, while I discuss representation in gaming, and review Arcadia Fallen. We've got the episode breakdown from the BBC’s new drama’s, and a Christmas gift guide. so dig right in and enjoy.
Till Next Month Melissa xx
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Nights Entertainment credits
Nights Entertainment is published by
Editor
Nights Publishing
Melissa Compton
ISSN 2752-9975
info@nights-magazine.com
Printed in U.K
Gaming Columnist Dawn Boyd
Contributors Melissa Compton, Dawn Boyd
Design Melissa Compton
Photography Adobe Stock, BBC Pictures,
Advertising Melissa Compton
No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form, in whole or part without prior permission from the publisher. All published material is either the copyright of Nights Publishing or the creator (inc writers, photography etc.). Nights Publishing does not require our writers to surrender copyright: instead we work closely with our writers and artists to ensure all content is original. We reserve the right to edit letters, copy, or images submitted to the magazine. The submission of material to Nights Publishing unsolicited or requested is taken as permission to publish in the magazine and on our online platforms or events. We cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, images or materials lost in mail. Whilst every effort is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused resulting from use of the magazine.
Nights Publishing is a small independent publisher. © Nights Publishing 2021
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December Contents
Reviews: 02 Arcadia Fallen 18 Barotrauma Features: 08 Film Releases for December
10 Comic Book Release Nights Entertainment Magazine6
11 Representation in Gaming: Let’s Start a conversation 14 Race Team Rivals 20 Christmas Gift Guide 26 You Don’t Know Me Episode breakdown 30 BBC Anounces Christmas Line-up 36 Vienna Blood Special: Production interviews & Episode Breakdown
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Film Releases for December 2021 RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY. Date:, 3/12/2021
Director:: Johannes Roberts tells an origin story that’s more faithful to the vibe and narrative of the original video games. Strange things are afoot in the fictional Midwest town that once played host to the shadowy Umbrella Corporation. The death toll is mounting. Twisted shapes are moving in the darkness. It falls to the elite S.T.A.R.S team of the local police force to infiltrate the nightmarish Spencer Mansion, discover the shocking truth and survive the night.
West Side Story Date:: 10/12/2021 Director: Steven Spielberg Spielberg’s retelling of the Broadway hit musical for the big screen.
C Cllifford The Big Red Nose Dog
Date: 10/12/2021 Director: Walt Becker When lonely Emily brings home an adorable scarlet pup from an enchanted animal emporium, she doesn’t believe the old shopkeeper’s advice that the more she loves Clifford, the bigger he’ll get.
Spiderman—No Way Home Date: 15/12/2021 Director: Jon Watts Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker in SpiderMan: No Way Home, facing hi It’s tougher being a teenager when your secret identity as Spider-Man is no longer a secret. But when Peter Parker calls on his Avenger ally, Dr. Strange, to conjure a mystical way back to anonymity, something goes wrong and opens the door to our hero’s toughest challenge yet s ultimate home truth -
it’s tough being a teenager.
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THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS Date: 22/12/2021 Director Lana Wachowski Twenty years later, in The Matrix Resurrections, our hero Neo is still alive, but has lost his memory and is kept in a compliant stupor by therapy sessions and the blue pills that block out the truth. But after Neo’s dreams jolt him back to reality – and his former revolutionary allies Trinity and Morpheus invite him to rejoin the fight against the Machines – Neo is ready to reenter the Matrix.
THE KING’S MAN Date: 26/12/2021 Directed by: Matthew Vaughn Before Eggsy and before Harry Hart, there was the Duke of Oxford and his dream of creating Kingsman, the world’s first independent intelligence agency. Set in the tumultuous early years of the 20th century, this Kingsman prequel reveals the origins of the dapper-but-deadly spy agency as the Duke of Oxford and his trusted compatriots take on a rogue’s gallery of historical bad lads including the mad monk himself, Rasputin. This is going to be spectacular.
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BATMAN '89 #4 Date: 07/12/2021 $3.99 Someone’s hot on Bruce Wayne’s heels, out to prove his connection to Batman once and for all! Meanwhile, Harvey Dent plans his next steps for Gotham with just the simple flip of a coin. What does he have in store for Gotham, and can Batman twist probability in his favor?
BATMAN: ONE DARK KNIGHT #1 Date: 21/12/2021 When a simple GCPD escort goes sideways, Batman finds himself on the wrong end of Gotham City in the middle of a heat wave with a super-villain in tow. Follow Batman as he traverses block by block across a pitch dark Gotham City while dragging a highly difficult E.M.P. to his permanent home at Blackgate Prison. The dark corners of Gotham City contain many surprises…and E.M.P. plans to deliver many more shocks before the night is through!
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Representation in Gaming: Let’s start a conversation! This was a huge theme at MCM’s London comic con, this year. Gaming legends like Mc Fixer debating the subject on panels. We were both grateful and impressed that comic con chose to open up the conversation. Although it should be a larger ongoing conversation. One that all industries get involved in. There’s no debating that representation in gaming is improving. Technology and developer software is growing. The options for widening customization options become a reality. Better representations of the community that supports the industry are viable. Our take on the lack of diversity within representation is due to oversight. Gaming is about storytelling and unless you set out with the main storyline that has diversity at its focus. It is possible to understand how you might overlook it. It’s also in how the industry views characterization and storylines. For a gamer, the ability to design a character to reflect themselves in a game is equal to a child personalizing their bedroom. We need appropriate representation. It’s a conversation we should be having until there’s no longer an issue. According to Techradar, 45% of gamers in the US are female yet only 19% of employees are female. Although this may be part of the problem. As we’re seen with publishing. It takes quite a while to get results by trying to deal with the problem on a corporate level. You also run the risk of ending up with a system of token employees but nothing within the games changes. Another part of the puzzle is: it is claimed that a player is unable to immerse themselves in a game. If they can’t see themselves represented in the game. Honesty although the premise is reasonable. The first game I immersed myself in was Need For Speed (PC version). I wasn’t represented, and could not drive in reality. Yet, I love fast cars! It had nothing to do with representation and at the time I didn't realize I loved fast cars. But had everything to do with the fact my ex-husband was stupid enough to believe when I said “I’ll just set up for you,”. According to Mordor Intelligence, China has 665 million gamers (2021). I wouldn’t say that Chinese representation in gaming characters is any better or worse than other ethnic groups. Nights Entertainment Magazine11
There are games like The Sims 4 that are better at representation. I would in general say that issues arrive with some but not all story-based games. Action-based games and their representation of female characters can be annoying. The 3 choices of damsel in distress, female action characters designed for sexual objectification, or traditional. Generally, this is where I get confused. Feisty female characters tend to have larger muscles like their male counterparts. At some point did someone confuse breasts as a muscle and think hey they need to be bigger. This issue with representation in gaming is much bigger than gender equality or ethnicity. Questions need to be asked before the issue can be answered with certainty or solved. Questions like where are the females working in gaming do they need a louder voice? Are all the writers, artists, executives white, male, and middle-classed? Where exactly does the block to representation lie? Other industries like books or journalism started from and existed on for centuries a white, middle-class perspective and workforce. It's taken a long time for them to start to catch up to the idea of representation. They're still working at it on a lot of levels. Gaming is a much newer industry in comparison. is it thus surprising we’re starting to see the issue surface as a problem now? Let’s dive into the statistics from the 2020 UK Census. The most worrying statistic of the census is the number of employees living with physical or mental health conditions. 21% of employees in the gaming industry live with a chronic health condition 8% higher than the figure for the working population. The percentage of employees living with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression is 31% higher than the average by 13%. The higher a position the employee has the more severe the anxiety/depression. To get to the bottom of the issue of the lack of representation. We need to look deeper at the industry and where it's going wrong. For example, 21% of workers are LBGQ+ (although 79% are heterosexual). Yet LBGQ+ representations in gaming are lacking. 21% is a high percentage for the workforce. Add to this the factor that although 10% of the workforce in the gaming industry are BAME. With roles spread across the industry. There are few BAME workers in senior positions. These statistics give us many parallels with the UK publishing industry. The high levels of employees with university degrees may help explain the BAME worker percentage as university applicants from BAME backgrounds are lower. The main question this leads us to ask is. Where are the voices? We do have higher than average diversity levels, why does this filter through to games? Do we need an approach that looks at this from a senior level to make any traction on the issue? If we look at the example of the book publishing industry. How do we stop representation from becoming a list of fads? Rather than a legitimate approach to improve representation in gaming. Representation in gaming needs across industry approach. With the gamers and professionals working together. More research along with an understanding of the needs for individuals to be acknowledged within gaming is needed. While this can or not affect the player's ability to immerse themselves within the game. It would improve engagement and interaction. But when all is said and done there is no industry without the players. Society deserves fair representation. Gaming already has the foundations to be leaders in this area. Sources: UK Games Industry Census 2020,
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Helsinki-based Supremacy Games to release unique mobile blockchain racing game Race Team Rivals NFT Garage, the ground breaking NFT mobile game
Multiple NFT games in the pipeline, many titles based on global hit licensed properties Supremacy Games announced the first mobile game developed in Finland that has integrated NFT functionality, Race Team Rivals NFT Garage. Race Team Rivals is a free to play mobile game now available globally, excluding China. The game can be downloaded from App Store, and an Android version will soon be available. Race Team Rivals will drop a unique collection of NFT cars that can be used to race within the Race Team Rivals mobile game. The game can be played even without the NFT cars, but NFT ownership will provide additional benefits, such as a special VIP racing mode. NFT cars will be available December 9th 2021, and NFT functionality will be available in the game Q1/2022. Race Team Rivals NFT Garage SERIES 1 is an exclusive limited series, only 2500 Series 1 cars will ever be available. Cars are collectable in four different rarities and 25 different power levels. The cars are not randomly generated but are meticulously crafted and display the expertise and enthusiasm for automobiles of the team. Race Team Rivals NFT Garage cars will be available for sale December 9th, 2021. Cars will become available in the OpenSea market and sale requires Ethereum Wallet. A selection of cars and more information is available now at nft.raceteamrivals.com “Finland is a leading hub of mobile game development, and we are happy to combine that expertise with our blockchain expertise to create NFT games that are fun and rewarding to play. The team has worked on many high-profile IP based games, such as Top Gear, and this enthusiasm for cars and driving games can be seen in Race Team Rivals NFT Garage”, commented Supremacy Games CEO Jari Pauna. Supremacy Games also revealed that they already have in the pipeline several NFT games and limited-edition functional token collections that are connected to global brands. “Working with huge global brands is exciting and we can’t wait to announce all the titles we have in the pipeline. We aim to create games where the NFT functionality gives true value to the players and fits perfectly with the brands”, said Supremacy Games CEO Jari Pauna.
For more information on Race Team Rivals NFT Garage Discord: https://discord.gg/NcD2K3zvT4
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Out on January 05 2021
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REVIEW
Barotrauma – But how much trauma?
Who is ready for Christmas? Me neither, so on that note let us investigate seeing what the game scene has to offer for us. The first selection for perusal is an indie horror simulation. Not my usual dip into the simulation scene but variety is the spice of life and all that! This new adventure comes from the new and debut PC title from a small Finnish developer, Fakefish. The game is Barotrauma. A submarine horror simulation set on the moon of Jupiter, Europa. The game was released in 2019 but has rea started to build itself and its steam reviews. It is an overwhelmingly positive attitude. With the gameplay, set in space naturally there would be some alien for unusual creatures to add some extra spice. With the opportunity to try something new, I was more than happy to give it a whirl. Although I tend to enjoy a more light-hearted tone in my games. to cover up my lack of ability in gameplay. It was going to take some investing. Being the stubborn person that I am, I did not want to go into a campaign straight away, but I needed to do it. With it not being an ease you in kind of game at all. I soon backtracked and started the tutorials. What I like is the ability to play various roles. When getting stuck into each practice, it is a level where you learn the mechanics for five separate roles available on your submarine. And again, because I cannot decide to save my life, I made my way through each one. The tutorials are for engineering, mechanics, security officer, captain, and healer. Each one gives step-to-step scenarios to go between to give a brief overview. I do like the individual tutorial, but I did find the controls very clunky. Unlike most tutorials I have played, there was no demonstration of what each control does.
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REVIEW
The instructions are clear in what you need to do but unfortunately, that is where the hand holding stops. And I like handholding!! I will say to my dying day, I am not the greatest thinker, I need it pointed out to me in clear instruction. That was something this game lacks for sure. Most disappointing. Whilst the information was in the tasks, there was not much direction in how to do it or where to find it. The layout of the submarine could be quite confusing and there is a pointer to go but it was of limited use. After making my way through each, the only option left for me was to begin story mode. There are multiplayer options which I would quite frankly be naff at. I am mad for my Rocket League online but that is the limit. Submarine editing was a possibility that did almost sway me but not enough. Character creations were surprisingly good and non-gender specific to a role. The details that you can go into are great but unfortunately limited because of the colour palette. The lighting in-game is very dark, even on the menu. For atmosphere it is great but for the gameplay, it does make a limit. I am a colour fiend, and this game is very dark, not a complaint as such because it does add to the story. Another pointer in the 'I am not the target audience' column. The technicalities of the game are surprisingly intricate for such a small developer, and I have to say it is extremely impressive. You can see the work and the passion in the project from the team. Its continued rise and impressive positive attitude received towards the game is an excellent indicator of the potential they have. It is very in-depth for the first foray into gaming, even with some experienced hands at creating. I wanted to check through the website for some research and they are such a new team. I am not the ideal person to play this game. Despite what may seem like a negative review, not my intention, when I managed to successfully make my way through a task on my own. I rode that high for a while. The game gave me an excellent sense of achievement. Speaking to others who may be their target audience they explained that this is quite a popular idea behind a game now. With that in mind, I would say Barotrauma is a success. What this game has also done is encourage me to keep jumping out of my comfort zone. The team should be pleased because you can see when you get stuck in, their plan and aim, you will get sunk in. If this is a game full of technical fun, that allows you to think on your own and has some cooky bits of humour in the chat with the cremates. If you want to lose yourself in logic and a game that needs you to think creatively, then Barotrauma is the game for you. Colour me impressed; not for me but an excellent example of skill. Well played Fakefish but I am afraid I am not traumatized!
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Editor’s Picks: Gaming LucidSound LS10X - Shock Blue Stay focused on the game with the lightweight and comfortable LucidSound LS10X Stereo Gaming Headset for Xbox. This headset delivers high fidelity surround sound, crystal clear chat via the detachable boom mic or built-in mic, and long-lasting comfort with memory foam padding and spacious over-ear design. (£49.99)
FUSION Pro Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch The awesome PowerA FUSION Pro Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch puts premium materials and professional-level gaming features at your fingertips. This highquality Bluetooth-enabled gamepad includes swappable black and white faceplates with embedded anti-friction rings, a mappable Pro Pack with customizable paddles, swappable sticks, and a custom protective case for the controller and all components. (£89.99)
Spectra Infinity Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S
Achieve brilliant gameplay with the amazing PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S. Officially licensed by Xbox, this one-of-akind gamepad offers a ton of customizable colour combinations across three distinct light zones. Plus, you’ll level-up your competitive advantage with two mappable buttons you can program on-the-fly, and three-way trigger locks for super-precise throws. A 3.5mm stereo audio jack with one-touch mic mute, an easyto-use Share Button, and dual rumble motors promise a truly immersive gaming experience. (£39.99)
All available from amazon.co.uk
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Editor’s Choice: Games
Rune Factory 4 Special: Release Date: 7 December 2021 Developed by Marvelous Inc. and published by Marvelous Europe Limited, Rune Factory 4 Special will launch in Europe and Australia on 7th December 2021 for the PS4™ system, Xbox One, and globally on Windows PC via Steam and Windows Store Rune Factory 4 Special opens with a young man or woman falling from an airship and landing in the town of Selphia. Appointed as the local regent by mistake, the hero is charged with protecting the town and bettering the lives of its people. As the newly-appointed prince or princess, royal duties are fulfilled by issuing orders to help the town prosper, or by taking a more relaxed approach to governance by raising crops and helping townsfolk. Should some dungeon adventuring be on the day’s itinerary, a vast array of weapons along with magic can be crafted or bought for battle against dangerous foes—companions or friendly monsters can also join to aid the player during their travels. And, of course, there’s a huge cast of lovable townsfolk, including 12 potential suitors to woo and marry. This game has been rated PEGI 12, USK 6 and PG in Australia and New Zealand.
For more information please see: www.marlevousgames.com
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Editor’s Choice: Films No Time To Die (James Bond) [2021] Release date: 20 December 2021 No Time To Die is yours to own with exclusive never-before-seen bonus features. Daniel Craig returns one last time as James Bond, starring alongside Oscar® winner Rami Malek in No Time To Die. Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
Available from amazon.co.uk £9.99
Marvel Studios Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings DVD Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must face the past he thought he left behind and confront his father, leader of the dangerous Ten Rings organization.
Available from amazon.co.uk £9.99
The Last Duel DVD Release date 06 December 2021 Jodie Comer “makes her mark” (Owen Gleiberman, Variety) in this thought-provoking drama set during the 14th century in France from visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott. Based on actual events, the film centres on one woman’s (Comer) accusation that she was brutally attacked by Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), her husband Jean de Carrouges’ (Matt Damon) friend. Now, in order to prove his wife’s claim, de Carrouges must fight Le Gris to the death, the victor believed to be determined by God. All three lives hang in the balance in this gripping, cinematic film also starring Ben Affleck as Le Gris’ scheming ally, Count d’Alençon.
Available from amazon.co.uk £9.99
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Editor’s Choice: Games Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition – PlayStation 5 Hear the city come alive around you in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales with 3D spatial audio enabling you to hear what’s happening around you from the rooftops to the city streets. The sounds of the city immerse you in Marvel’s New York and bring blockbuster Spider-Man moments to life with the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech
Available from Amazon.co.uk RRP: £69.99
Pokemon: Brilliant Diamond (Nintendo Switch) Journey to the Sinnoh region in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl! Embark on an adventure through the Sinnoh region with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl on Nintendo Switch, You’ll visit many different locations in the Sinnoh region, while striving to become the Champion of the Pokémon League.
Available from amazon.co.uk £42.99
Arcadia Fallen Arcadia Fallen, a modern fantasy visual novel where your choices shape the personality of your character, is OUT NOW on Steam! You play the role of a young alchemist apprentice who is unwillingly bound to an illegal spirit. Suddenly drawn into a war between humanity and magic, they must join a group of unlikely heroes to escape their own doom, hopefully saving the world along the way.
Available on Steam now! £19.49
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Editor’s Choice: Books The Wheel of Time Box Set 1: Books 1-3 (The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt, The Dragon Reborn) Prepare to turn the Wheel of Time - discover the first three novels in one of the most influential and popular fantasy epics ever published, now in a stunning box set with striking new cover art. Paperback
Release Date 2 December 2021 Available from amazon.co.uk £23.99 Runescape: The First 20 Years - An Illustrated History A full-colour hardcover companion tome that offers a look behind the scenes as the iconic online fantasy RPG celebrates its 20th birthday! In 2001, RuneScape transformed the world of MMORPGs with a magical world that was free-to-play in your browser. Assuming any number of fantasy roles, players carved their own adventures in a fantasy land filled with vibrant characters, daring adventure and mystery. In an industry where success can often be short lived, RuneScape has defied the odds by not just surviving, but thriving over an incredible two decades. Now you can get an insider's look at the tremendous talent and enormous effort that went into creating the land of Gielinor and the magical races who inhabit it. Jagex and Dark Horse present a guide to the history of the RuneScape franchise, exploring the detailed tapestry of RuneScape and Old School RuneScape through exciting and exclusive art and behind the scenes interviews!
Available from amazon.co.uk £23.49
Interesting Stories For Curious People: A Collection of Fascinating Stories About History, Science, Pop Culture and Just About Anything Else You Can Think of Author: Bill o’ Neill Available from amazon.co.uk £8.99
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You Don’t Know Me Episode breakdown
Hero (Samuel Adewunmi)
Sunday, 5 December, 2021 at 9pm BBC 1 —Episode 1 Hero (Samuel Adewunmi), a young man from South London, is in the dock for murder. The prosecution barrister relates damning evidence to him in the closing speech. Hero decides he wants to tell his own story, rather than the version that his barrister decided was in his best interests, and exercises his right to present his own closing speech. He fires his barrister and tells the jury that he is innocent and shares a very different sequence of events that placed a law-abiding car salesman in the frame for murder.
Monday, 6 December, 2021 at 9pm BBC 1 —Episode 2
Having stepped down from the dock to present his own closing speech Hero (Samuel Adewunmi) - a young car salesman from South London - continues to present his own truth to the jury. He explains the weight of physical and circumstantial evidence against him, and his account tells a very different story to that of the prosecution’s. Nights Entertainment Magazine26
Sunday 12 December, 2021 at 9pm BBC 1 — Episode 3 Determined to convince a jury that he is not guilty of murder, Hero’s (Samuel Adewunmi) closing speech introduces another mysterious character not mentioned by the prosecution in their case. Will the jury believe Hero’s version of events and the previously undisclosed accounts of what happened?
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Hero Samuel Adewunmi Abebi (Yetunde Oduwole)
Monday 13 December 2021 9pm BBC—Episode 4 It’s the concluding day of Hero’s (Samuel Adewunmi) closing speech and his last chance to prove that he is innocent of murder. Hero insists that someone else shot alleged drug dealer Jamil (Roger Jean Nsengiyumva) - but will the jury believe he’s telling the truth or will they find him guilty?
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BBC announces Christmas line-up across channels and BBC iPlayer From a huge array of brand new shows and specials, to festive editions of your favourites, there is something for everyone on the BBC this Christmas
“Christmas
2021 is a time to reunite with friends and family once more, and this year’s lineup of must-see shows will bring everyone together to share the festive season on the BBC. There’s a stocking full of special programmes to enthral and enchant featuring your favourite stars and characters, whatever your mood. The BBC is the place to be entertained this Christmas and New Year.” Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer Christmas 2021 is a time to reunite with friends and family once more, and this year’s line-up of must-see shows will bring everyone together to share the festive season on the BBC. There’s a stocking full of special programmes to enthral and enchant featuring your favourite stars and characters, whatever your mood. The BBC is the place to be entertained this Christmas and New Year.— Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer The BBC is treating viewers to a wealth of festive sparkle and yuletide entertainment over the holiday season, spreading good cheer, and a little mystery, across the nation this Christmas and New Year. From a huge array of brand new shows and specials, to festive editions of your favourites, there is something for everyone on the BBC this Christmas, featuring a host of big name stars, much-loved faces, and a very popular little sheep. From the best in drama, comedy and entertainment, to factual, arts, music and religion programming, the offer from the BBC this year promises to enchant and delight. The spectacular line-up is available live or on-demand on BBC iPlayer and across our channels alongside a vast range of box sets, so viewers can choose when and where they want to watch Christmas on the BBC.
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Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer says: “Christmas 2021 is a time to reunite with friends and family once more, and this year’s line-up of must-see shows will bring everyone together to share the festive season on the BBC. There’s a stocking full of special programmes to enthral and enchant featuring your favourite stars and characters, whatever your mood. The BBC is the place to be entertained this Christmas and New Year.” The world’s favourite sheep returns to the BBC this year in a ‘Santastic’ adventure Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas, which sees Shaun’s seasonal excitement turn to dismay as everyone learns the true value of Christmas. There’s more animated adventures in the adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved story Superworm narrated by Olivia Colman with Matt Smith playing the hero with other voices including Patricia Allison and Rob Brydon. Get ready to escape into other worlds over the festive season in a selection of gripping new dramas; Sarah Phelps’ A Very British Scandal, starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany as the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, recounts one of the most notorious legal cases of the 20th century. Psychological thriller The Girl Before, adapted from the novel of the same name by JP Delaney, tells the story of Jane, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw who moves into a strange house designed by an enigmatic architect played by David Oyelowo.
Around the World in 80 Days is a brand new adaptation of the classic novel from Jules Verne and stars David Tennant, Ibrahim Koma and Leonie Benesch as the intrepid threesome Phileas Fogg, Passepartout and Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue. Mystery packed thriller The Tourist starring Jamie Dornan charts one man’s search for his identity through the vast and unforgiving Australian outback in a character-driven drama full of shocking, surprising, funny and brutal turns.
A Very British Scandal, Around The World in 80 Days, The Girl Before and The Tourist For the first time ever, Death In Paradise fans are in for a Christmas treat as Danny John-Jules returns to the Saint Marie police force to assist DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little) in another mystery on the sun soaked Caribbean island; and the nuns of Nonnatus House are preparing for a winter wedding between Lucille and Cyril (Leonie Elliott and Zephryn Taitte) as well as having an influx of expectant mums in Call the Midwife. Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor Who will be joined by a host of guest stars including Aisling Bea, Adjani Salmon and Pauline McLynn for a spectacular New Year’s Day special; and Worzel Gummidge makes a welcome return in two brand new episodes - Twitchers and Calliope Jane - created by and starring Mackenzie Crook, alongside Bill Bailey as Mr Peregrine and Nneka Okoye as Calliope Jane. Over in Albert Square, love is in the air as two couples prepare to marry. Denise and Jack, (Diane Parish and Scott Maslen) and Chelsea and Gray (Zaraah Abrahams and Toby-Alexander Smith) head to the registry office, but as always in EastEnders, the road to wedded bliss is anything but smooth. Nights Entertainment Magazine31
Natural history lovers are treated with not one but two brand new films from Sir David Attenborough - Attenborough's Wonder of Song in which David chooses some of his favourite recordings from the natural world; and Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard where he is joined by Professor Ben Garrod and a team of archaeologists at a quarry in Swindon.
Attenborough's Wonder of Song
Amongst a raft of sensational comedy and entertainment specials, The Weakest Link makes a spectacular return to BBC One this year. With brand new host Romesh Ranganathan, there will be a Christmas special in which he is joined by eight celebrities hoping to win £50,000 for their chosen charity, and an additional four episodes stripped across a week. Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel features Danny Dyer, Zoe Ball and David Walliams competing with the help of seven celebrity experts to win money for their chosen charity. Blankety Blank, hosted by Bradley Walsh, has fast become a firm favourite with viewers and this special will feature more famous faces as contestants vie to not win the iconic cheque book and pen. Paddy McGuinness hosts a celebrity edition of I Can See Your Voice, featuring guest Leona Lewis alongside the Celebrity Investigators Jimmy Carr, Alison Hammond and Amanda Holden. For fans of Mrs Brown’s Boys there are two visits to Finglas this season. At Christmas, Agnes (Brendan O’Carroll) has become a non-singing member of the choir, and Dermot (Paddy Houlihan) and Buster (Danny O’Carroll) have organised a benefit night for a rather unusual cause; whilst New Year brings about fresh starts in the Brown house, and an unexpected visitor has a unique investment opportunity. Lee Mack’s Not Going Out sees Lee and Lucy (Sally Bretton) take a visit to the Panto, the star of which is Lucy’s teenage crush, Jason Donovan; and The Ghosts of Button House think Santa has stopped off early when Mike and Alison (Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Charlotte Ritchie) find a man sleeping in a tent in the grounds. Strictly Come Dancing, will see couples compete in some fab-yule-ous routines for the Christmas glitterball, alongside dazzling group numbers and performances from Jamie Cullum, Sheridan Smith and Gary Barlow. Three teams of famous faces - Tamzin Outhwaite and Jake Wood; Gareth Malone and Yolanda Brown; and Alex Brooker and Ellie Taylor, who each hope to win £10,000 for their chosen charity, join Marvin and Rochelle Humes in The Hit List; and Danny Dyer returns to host two seasonal episodes of The Wall vs Celebrities, with questions once again posed by Angela Rippon. Even though it’s Christmas, the tall tales don’t stop in Would I Lie For You? where Rob Brydon is joined by team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack alongside Jim Broadbent, Rose Mattafeo, Angela Rippon and Ardal O’Hanlon. Nights Entertainment Magazine32
It’s Secret Santa time for the presenters of Top Gear – Driving Home For Christmas, as Paddy, Freddie and Chris each buy surprise cars for each other, before setting off a Christmas themed road trip from Bethlehem (in Wales…) As is traditional, a lone chorister of King’s College Cambridge sings the opening verse of Once in Royal David’s City, heralding the service of music, readings and prayer in Carols From Kings; and this year’s Midnight Mass will come from St. Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham, presided over by the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Rev. Bernard Longley. The Christmas Day Eucharist will come live from the beautiful Coventry Cathedral, and there will be offerings from Songs of Praise, including Rev. Kate Bottley at a Christmas market held in the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral, and Katherine Jenkins will host a celebration of Christmas from Westminster Abbey. On 1st January, the Most Rev. Justin Welby will reflect on a challenging 12 months, as well as meeting inspirational people, in The Archbishop of Canterbury’s New Year Message. It’s holiday season at The Repair Shop, where the dedicated team of craftspeople are ready to lovingly restore some treasured Christmas keepsakes; and brand new host Sarah Pascoe sets challenges for some wellknown faces in two episodes of The Great British Sewing Bee under the watchful gaze of judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant. And there are three yuletide outings for MasterChef this year - MasterChef: The Professionals Rematch Special pits four of the chefs from previous series against each other to win challenges judged by Monica Galetti, Marcus Wareing and Gregg Wallace; ten previously judged celebrities return for a MasterChef Christmas Cook-Off, hosted by Gregg and John Torode; and a Champions Special sees five of the winners from the amateur series return to show how far they have progressed since winning the series.
And BBC Sports Personality of the Year will take place in Media City Salford, celebrating achievement in sport from unsung heroes to more well known faces. The year on BBC One rounds off with the starriest celebrities on The Graham Norton Show; and then it’s off for fireworks and a music extravaganza in the New Year’s Eve Concert. Over on BBC Two, M.R. James’ The Mezzotint, adapted by Mark Gatiss, stars Rory Kinnear, Robert Bathurst, Frances Barber, John Hopkins, Emma Cunniliffe, and Nikesh Patel. This haunting tale, set in an old English college in 1922, it is guaranteed to bring some eerie fear to the audience.
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There are laughs and stars a plenty in Beauty and the Beast: A Comic Relief Pantomime for Christmas, an adaptation of the classic tale written by Ben Crocker and The Dawson Bros.; in an extended (by one minute) episode of Mandy, starring Diane Morgan, she tries to discover the true meaning of Christmas; whilst in Latimer Crescent, Michelle and Alan’s (Joy McAvoy and Graeme ‘Grado’ Staveley) Christmas plans go awry as neighbours get on each other’s nerves in Two Doors Down, also featuring Arabella Weir and Alex Norton. And ‘lost’ since 1970, an episode of the Morecambe & Wise Show will be broadcast for the first time in 50 years
Live at the Apollo has always highlighted some of the brightest comedy talent, and this seasonal special is no different, as host Jason Manford introduces Maisie Adam and Nabil Abdulrashid; and the QI elves will be featuring a sparkly S for this year’s show, hosted by Sandi Toksvig, alongside regular panellist Alan Davies, Bonnie Langford, Joe Lycett and Sally Phillips. And Frankie Boyle’s New World Order returns, where Frankie will be joined by guests to look back on some of the biggest stories in what has been a baffling year. And across 10 festive episodes, Jeremy Paxman will gather some familiar graduates to compete in Christmas University Challenge. Romesh Ranganathan, and of course his mum Shanti, will return for his look at modern Britain alongside some celebrity guests in The Ranganation. And Only Connect, hosted by Victoria Coren Mitchell will be accompanied by cheese, wine and two teams from previous series try to figure out what connects Ben, Phillip Schofield, The Ivy and Cricket. This festive season, Gareth Malone is heading to Blackburn, where he discovers a huge amount of amateur musical talent as he puts on a Christmas concert celebrating the work of the NHS staff and other keyworkers from the region. And Gregg Wallace will pay a visit to a Christmas card factory for Inside the Factory. Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer, along with Ted the fishing dog and some fantastic surprises, head to the rivers Eden and Tyne where their mission is to catch an elusive English salmon for Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing; and Si King and Dave Myers are also heading back home to celebrate with their families in The Hairy Bikers Go North For Christmas.
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Andi Oliver’s Taste of Home Christmas Special sees the chef in the city of Glasgow, where she will help three households shop and prepare their family recipes for some celebratory feasts.
Sir Quentin Blake remains one of the most iconic illustrators, and for this very special programme, Quentin Blake: The Drawing of My Life, he will fill a 30 foot canvas with some of the most-loved characters and key moments from his career. Featuring contributions from a host of famous faces, Joanna Lumley, Ore Oduba and Peter Capaldi will also read passages from some of the many books he has illustrated. The seven musically gifted siblings of the Kanneh-Mason family will perform some of their favourite Christmas music as they prepare their Nottingham home for the holiday season in A Musical Family Christmas With The Kanneh-Masons; and no New Year would be complete without Jools’ Annual Hootenanny, where Jools and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will be joined by guest performers for the countdown to midnight. And the traditional Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Day Concert from Vienna will come from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. Music always captivates the audience at Christmas, and this year BBC Two is treating the audience to some of the concerts from the vaults, including Adele; Madonna; and Lady Gaga, all At the BBC. And Madonna: Truth or Dare takes a behind-the-scenes look at the 1990 Blonde Ambition tour.
Jonathan Van Tam On BBC Four, Professor Jonathan Van Tam will be joined by scientists who have all had vital roles to play in the Covid-19 pandemic in the 2021 Christmas Lectures from The Royal Institution; and a unique performance of Winter Journey - or Winterreise - will be staged in a tower built at the 2300m summit of the Julierpasse in south-east Switzerland, from filmmaker John Bridcut and performances from Benjamin Appl accompanied by pianist James Baillieu. And of course the little ones aren’t forgotten, as CBeebies and CBBC welcome some favourite faces to the screens over the Christmas season, including Justin Fletcher in The Night Before Christmas; Bluey tries to be good and kind; Tish Tash is responsible for decorating the Christmas tree; and there are festive editions of Numberblocks and Alphablocks - Letters to Santa Andy and the Band are tasked with trying to save Christmas; Jess and Tracy rediscover the meaning of Christmas in The Beaker Girls; and the Horrible Histories gang put their own spin on Christmas; Blue Peter, hosted by Adam, Mwaksy, Richie and Henry the dog, will be packed with special studio guests and letters from badge winners; and in celebration of Jacqueline Wilson’s Wonderful World, from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the multimedia adventure will be broadcast on iPlayer as well as Radio 3 and Radio 4.
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Vienna Blood Special: P and Episodes 1-
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Production Interviews -3 Rundown!
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Production Interview: Robert Dornhelm, Director What are your key considerations in any project? The key consideration for me to do a film is the script. If the script is any good or has a little bit of originality and is not just a rehash of another police drama, I’m interested. Police dramas in general don’t interest me, but this one, set in Vienna at the turn of the century, is very reminiscent of our times today, similar themes, subjects of nationalism, intolerance, war... that interests me. And to make a historic journey dealing with problems of our time is fascinating.
What films do you think about when you’re directing Vienna Blood? The Third Man is a good reference. Graham Greene is a wonderful writer and he deals with the moral dilemma of the human race, issues of ethics and right and wrong. You can look at it today from our comfortable apartment somewhere and say, well, you know it doesn’t affect us. But in reality, if you don’t care about the human race anymore and accept it, we pretend all the bad things happened in the Third Reich. We have similar situations today and the famous ‘Swiss boat is full’ is repeating itself. ‘Europe is full’ we say but we could easily absorb a few hundred thousand people with no sweat, and yet we are behaving like people did about 70 years ago. We have not become more noble human beings and that’s very disturbing and I would like to sound the alarm bells.
What does Vienna Blood have to say to contemporary audiences? Any film that I do which is a period movie has to have relevance for today’s problems. If that’s not the case we wasted an opportunity. Yes, it’s nice to see beautiful costumes and Vienna at the turn of the century and recreate all that stuff. But without learning something for today’s problems it’s a pointless journey.
What do the lead actors bring to Vienna Blood? What I love about our two protagonists is that they developed a wonderful chemistry. I think Matthew and Juergen have become personally very close and it’s like they are reacting off each other in an inspired way which I’ve never had the good luck to experience before because I’ve never done this kind of TV series. But it’s nice to see relationships and families develop. I have started to like it, so maybe I will do more series in the future!
What’s special about directing a period drama? It is lovely to paint on a canvas, using oils and having a nice big frame. You can paint more generously and have more colours available than with a docudrama. Colour is not necessarily something good, but to be able to choose the colours and figure out how you want to portray the time that the story takes place is a wonderful luxury that I enjoy. I am, by nature, a minimalist and I don’t like to waste a lot of stuff. To create the strongest effect with the least amount of means is an ambition that I think every artist should have. To have a lot of material available makes life easier, but hopefully the effort is worthwhile and the audience are going to be taken on this wonderful journey to Vienna at the turn of the century.
How do you find working with the British cast? The whole British acting department is like being able to play on a Stradivarius. You cannot make a wrong tone. The instrument (the actors) is always perfect. You can just touch on it and you change the tune - but they’re always in sync with what we are trying to do and that’s wonderful.
Do you like surprises? Every day there’s a surprise scene. I like to be surprised, and if the scene I already had in my head turns out the way I thought it would, it would be boring. What is nice is when an actor comes up with something that I didn’t think about. For example, we had a big surprise because one of our actors who was supposed to start filming with us, with whom I rehearsed the part, had to cancel because his daughter had Coronavirus. Overnight we had to get a new actor to jump in cold. At six in the morning he got his costumes done, at nine he had dialogue coaching to try to get the Austrian accent away from him and at 10 o’clock we shot the first scene. My great surprise was that he managed to do it well. Nights Entertainment Magazine39
Production Interview: Steve Thompson, Writer and Executive Producer How do you go about adapting the Vienna Blood novels? Writing a TV script based on a novel is completely different from the process of writing an original piece. Clearly, because you’ve got this fantastic material to start with on which you can base all of your decisions. The novels are about six or seven hundred pages long, and for a 90-minute TV drama that’s simply too long. And what Frank Tallis does in the books, is follow the journeys of many different characters - multiple protagonists. What we’ve done in the TV version is focus on these two people, the police inspector and the doctor and their relationship as they solve the crime. And consequently other small characters have to be lost along the way, we simply don’t have time in those 90 minutes to focus on everyone. Part of the process of adapting, in this case, is actually stripping out some really good things, some really rich storylines. There’s quite a job of restructuring the book and throwing away a lot of beautiful details that we are not able to use as we simply can’t fit them in the time. A lot of the restructuring is just focusing on the particular story we want to tell. The restructuring was the biggest part of the rewriting.
Do you have a viewer in mind when you write? When I write the viewer I imagine watching it is me. I write things that I enjoy and I would want to watch I think. I guess different writers write for different people but I don’t, I write stuff that I think I would enjoy watching. When I used to write plays, occasionally I used to write them with my mother in mind, because if I put swearing in she’d always complain. I was a playwright 15 years ago and if there was a lot of swearing in it, I could hear my mother’s voice saying "Stephen it’s not clever to swear" and I’d take some of the swear words out! But most of the time I just write for myself.
Where did you want to take the characters in series two? When I started the second series I wanted it to be the same but different. I wanted people to tune in and feel comfortable and familiar with the characters and the central relationship with Max and Oskar, to recognize it and to feel they were getting more of the same. At the same time, I want to serve them up something different and we did that in two ways. The first is that Max and Oskar have both moved on in their personal lives. Max has started his own private practice - emulating Freud very much, he’s now taking private clients for psychoanalysis sessions. When we met him in the first series he was just working in the hospital, now he has his own private practice. And that gives us some really good drama because in the first episode of the new series he has his first private patient and it’s his patient who’s involved in the murder. So you can see Max’s world expanding. At the same time Oskar’s world has changed. He has a new boss, one of his colleagues (Von Bulow) who doesn’t like him at all, they have a huge animosity between them. At the end of the first series Von Bulow is actually promoted and becomes Oskar’s boss, so that at the beginning of the second series, Oskar’s work life is very difficult and very tense and there’s this very abrasive relationship at the centre of it. Both of their worlds have changed.
How true to the period is Vienna Blood? I think when we’re writing historical fiction it is incredibly important to be accurate. But at the same time we are representing a world that is distant and alien and it’s very important to be sensitive as we are doing that. For example, in the first series a woman is appallingly badly treated by the medical profession. She has an illness that the doctors of the period decide is hysteria, which is kind of a catch all for a lot of psychological problems, and she is treated with electroshock therapy. And actually watching that as a modern audience it’s appalling and yet at the same time we have a duty to say that this is as it was, this is actually what happened in the period and as shocking as it was we have a duty to represent it accurately.
How faithful are the scripts to the novels? In the drama we make one or two decisions which are different from the original novels. When we first meet Max and Oskar in the first novel written by Frank, they’re old friends and they’ve been friends for a long time. I was interested in their first meeting because Oskar, immersed in the world of police investigations and crime, was not necessarily going to meet Max that easily. I was interested to find out how they had met and I wanted to write about that. So an essential difference between the books and the TV version is you get to see how they meet. And it’s quite an explosive relationship to begin with. They are not immediately friends - they are not immediately drawn to one another. There is a certain amount of animosity and friction and that can provide some really good drama for us, so I think that was an essential difference. Nights Entertainment Magazine40
What worlds did you want to explore in series two? With each episode we enter a new world, a new part of Vienna we’ve never seen. The first episode of the new series is set in a hotel, and is very much about the politics of the hotel and the different strata - upstairs and downstairs - and the different people that mingle there. It includes the complexities and intrigue and the different, very rich characters who would mix and collide in a Viennese hotel of the period - they were incredibly elegant, beautiful palaces. Our first episode focuses on this precinct of the hotel, which is somewhere we have never been before. Equally, the final episode of the second series is also set in a place we have never been to, and we enter the monastic world. A murder takes place in a monastery and that gives us a whole new aspect of Vienna and a different lens through which we can see the city. There are new worlds to explore and that makes it very exciting.
Would you have made a good detective? Would I have made a good detective if I hadn’t chosen to become a writer? Actually, I didn’t choose to become a writer it happened by accident. I’m a mathematician by trade. My degree is in mathematics and I used to be a mathematics teacher, so I have a very structural, logical mind. Does that make a good detective? Yeah, probably it does. Some great detectives work entirely on instinct and they can almost sniff out the criminal. If you look at some of Thomas Harris’ novels, the FBI detective in the novel Red Dragon for example, it seems not to be based on logic at all, it seems entirely based on instinct. Whereas other detectives are incredibly logical in their processes. That would be me, I would be the person who would sit down and sift the facts. And of course, somebody like Sherlock is a mixture of the two, he has an incredible encyclopedia of facts in one half of his brain but in the other half of his brain he has an extraordinary imagination which, however strange the crime turns out to be, he can actually imagine how it was committed and visualize it happening. The marriage of the two makes him brilliant. I’d be the logical half of the brain - Mr. Math's here!
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Frank Tallis, author or the Liebermann novels How did you feel about the reception of the first series of Vienna Blood? Very happy, naturally. Novelists are unaccustomed to reaching an audience of millions in one evening. The idea of Max finding his way into so many homes in a single 90-minute episode was very exciting. Why do you think Vienna was such a cultural phenomenon at the start of the 20th century? Largely because the Viennese loved socializing. The coffee houses and salons were places where people from all walks of life (with different interests) gathered to talk and exchange ideas. This proved to be very fruitful. Gustav Klimt, for example, was invited to an autopsy by the professor of anatomy at the medical school. Klimt attended the autopsy so that he could better understand the ‘truths’ behind the superficial appearances of the human form. Cross-fertilization became the engine of Viennese creativity. Freud borrowed the techniques of poets and novelists in the service of science when he wrote his early case studies. Then, poets and novelists borrowed Freudian ideas in the service of art. Studies in Hysteria became a reference work, not only for doctors, but for authors, playwrights, and theatre directors. The first episode of the second series, The Melancholy Countess, draws on your novella of the same name. What lead you to write a novella this time rather than a novel? Actually, I didn’t decide to write a novella - I was asked to write one by my publisher in New York. The idea was to promote the Liebermann novels by publishing a low-cost novella on Amazon. I might publish The Melancholy Countess as a free e-book in the UK. Writing a short Liebermann story was a salutary exercise. I forget which famous novelist said that he didn’t have the time to write short stories but whoever it was he was very perceptive. Getting a short story to work requires a lot of thought and effort. Shorter forms are less tolerant of longueurs and authorial self-indulgence. Which is probably why there aren’t that many truly great novellas. The Viennese, incidentally, were masters of the shorter literary forms. Arthur Schnitzler and Stefan Zweig wrote some of the finest and technically groundbreaking novellas of the 20th century. They both corresponded with Freud and made use of his ideas in their work. During the filming of the second episode, which draws material from your novel Fatal Lies and involves a terrorist plot, there was an actual terror attack in Vienna. Do you think that Europe has laid to rest its ghosts of the early 20th century? Well, Liebermann’s Europe suffered two world wars. Things are a great deal better now. But has Europe laid to rest its early 20th century ghosts? Probably not. Nationalism and extremism are still part of the political landscape. Migration across Europe is still a problem - or at least, it is still perceived as a problem. Antisemitism is still a problem. And so on. This morning [1 June 2021] The Guardian published an article about the recruitment of British soldiers into a neo-Nazi group called National Action; a cardboard swastika was displayed in barracks in Cyprus. If the quality of political leadership and debate doesn’t improve soon - on both the left and right - I fear that some of the mistakes of the past might be repeated once again. Max’s crime solving technique draws on his psychoanalytic skills. Is there a similarity between the skills involved in detection and psychoanalysis?
Oh yes. The thing I miss most about seeing patients - I’m a full-time writer now - is the detective work. Most psychological problems are quite straightforward, but complex cases require detection skills: identifying clues, following leads, digging deep for answers. Retrieving a repressed memory that explains a symptom is analogous to the culprit being exposed by Poirot in the drawing room! It can be as thrilling and as intellectually satisfying as the last scene in an Agatha Christie. A final piece of a puzzle falling into place. The third episode of the new series is based on your novel Darkness Rising and explores religious conflict in different guises particularly antisemitism. Is religious fervour a subject which you’re especially drawn to explore? I’m very interested in religion and how belief systems develop. Although I am not anti-religion, I am antiirrationality, and antisemitism has always struck me as a particularly sickening example of irrationality. When I started writing the Liebermann series in 2003, antisemitism seemed more ‘historical’ than it does today, which is both sad and worrying. Only a few weeks ago, I saw some disturbing images of a protest march in London which was openly antisemitic. The media seemed to respond with alarming complacency. It gives me no joy to say that with respect to antisemitism, the Liebermann books are more relevant in 2021 than they were at the time of writing. Nights Entertainment Magazine42
Each book in the series takes us to a different side of Vienna. In this second series we get monastic life, a high-class hotel and the world of imperial politics. What elements are you looking for when you decide on the settings of your books? For me, setting is everything. First there is the broad, colourful canvas of Freud’s Vienna. Then there is usually some form of ‘closed’ community - anything from a secret society to a fashion house. There is the world and then smaller worlds nested within the greater world. Once I’ve got a setting, plots arise spontaneously. A setting will suggest specific themes for exploration, and impose helpful limits. The dramatic space in which the characters operate will be clearly defined. Fortunately, Freud’s Vienna was made up of many worlds. I was spoilt for choice! The worlds of the opera house, the military academy, the palace, the hospital, and so on. And they really were like worlds in Freud’s time - not just places. The imperial court, for example, used its own dialect. We think of detective fiction as a genre driven by a big central character. But, in reality, almost all of the great fictional detectives operate in distinctive settings. You need a distinctive setting for a big character to get sufficient traction to move the story forward.
Do you have plans to write more Liebermann novels? I’d love to write more Liebermann novels, but whether I do or not rather depends on opportunity and time. For the past five years I’ve been otherwise engaged writing psychology books - a clinical memoir, a philosophical book that summarizes what the great psychologists can teach us about coping with life - and I’m currently working on a book called Mortal Secrets: Freud, Vienna And The Discovery Of The Modern Mind. It’s several things: a Freud biography, a book about Freud’s cultural context - and also, a book about how Freud and his Viennese contemporaries influenced how we think and live today. When I’ve finished, I’d like to turn it into a TV documentary. If I do get an opportunity to write more Liebermann books, then it would be interesting to move him forward in time. A WWI trilogy could be quite exciting. I see Max as a medical officer on U-5, a real Austrian U-boat that was commanded by Georg von Trapp, who later became famous as the patriarch of the von Trapp family singers. Yes, that’s right, the family who inspired The Sound Of Music. This set-up would lend itself to some amusing exchanges. Max often pops into my head uninvited. Only this week he materialized – not in Vienna - but in a Cairo nightclub in the 1920s and I wondered what on earth he was doing there. I’d have to write another novel to find out.
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Vienna Blood Episodes: Series 2, Ep. 1/3 - The Melancholy Countess
Amelia Lydgate (Lucy Griffiths), Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard), Oskar Rheinhardt (Juergen Maurer) Autumn, 1907. When a depressed Hungarian Countess is found drowned in the bath of her lavish hotel suite, it looks like suicide. Intense scrutiny falls on her psychoanalyst, Max Liebermann, who asked the Countess to stop taking her prescribed medicine and start taking a course of Freud’s talking cure with himself. Investigating Officer Oskar Rheinhardt teams up with the disgraced doctor to solve the riddle of the Countess’ death and clear Max’s professional reputation. A post-mortem reveals that the Countess was poisoned, which turns Max and Oskar’s attention to Oktav Hauke, a young Second Lieutenant with a reputation for dubious relationships with rich, older women. When Max’s private practice is vandalized and transcripts of his meetings with the Countess are stolen, it seems that Max knows more than he realizes. Max searches for clues to the identity of the murderer, but it will take more than understanding the source of the Countess’ melancholic dreams to unlock this case.
Series 2, Ep. 2/3 - The Devil's Kiss
Police Commissioner Strasser (Simon Hatzl), Oskar Rheinhardt (Juergen Maurer) 1907, Vienna. A beggar-girl finds a mutilated corpse in the slum quarter. The man’s hand and tongue have been severed. Director Strasser warns Oskar that the victim was a Secret Service agent and the investigation is not the concern of the Leopoldstadt police, but when Oskar receives anonymous messages relating to the murder, he can’t resist delving further. Max moves the street girl into the Liebermann home, hoping to recover her traumatized memories, while Oskar follows the trail left by his anonymous informant to a rifle and ammunition cache at a private address. Nights Entertainment Magazine44
Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard), Brother David (Nicholas Matthews) Autumn, 1907. A fanatical monk, Brother Stanislav, has been found brutally murdered in his monastery. Suspicion falls on a religious Jew, Isaak Korngold, who had reprimanded the monk for spreading anti-Semitic rhetoric. After Oskar arrests the obvious suspect, the scandal edges the Korngold family business towards bankruptcy and threatens Isaak’s brother, Jonas’ upcoming marriage to Clara Weiss. Clara is left with little option but to plead with her ex-fiancé Max Liebermann for help. To Oskar’s annoyance, the monastery proves impervious to investigation. Max goes undercover and carries out enquiries in the guise of a monk.
Series 2, Ep. 3/3 - Darkness Rising
Liebermann (Matthew Beard), Brother David (Nicholas Matthews
Max
Autumn, 1907. A fanatical monk, Brother Stanislav, has been found brutally murdered in his monastery. Suspicion falls on a religious Jew, Isaak Korngold, who had reprimanded the monk for spreading anti-Semitic rhetoric. After Oskar arrests the obvious suspect, the scandal edges the Korngold family business towards bankruptcy and threatens Isaak’s brother, Jonas’ upcoming marriage to Clara Weiss. Clara is left with little option but to plead with her ex-fiancé Max Liebermann for help. To Oskar’s annoyance, the monastery proves impervious to investigation. Max goes undercover and carries out enquiries in the guise of a monk. Meanwhile Oskar’s investigation brings him into sharp conflict with Commissioner Von Bulow, who is convinced that Max is blinding him from getting to the bottom of a Jewish revenge murder .
Vienna Blood airs on BBC 2 this winter as soon as we have a concrete release date we will let you know,
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