Vienna Blood is a British-Austrian procedural drama television series set in Vienna, Austria, in the early 1900s. Based on the Liebermann novels by Frank Tallis, the series follows Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard), a doctor and student of Sigmund Freud, as he assists Police Detective Oskar Rheinhardt (Juergen Maurer). By providing psychological insights into the subjects’ motives, they investigate disturbing murders with success. A continuing sub-theme is the growing anti-Semitism against the Liebermann family. Max is a member of a liberal Jewish family in Leopoldstadt, a traditional Jewish district, while Oskar, a lapsed Catholic, is based at that district's police precinct.
The first series began broadcasting on BBC Two on 18 November 2019. On 6 July 2020, it was recommissioned for a second series.[1] The programme was renewed for a third series, which began broadcasting on BBC Two on 14 December 2022.[2][3] It has been renewed for a fourth series.[4]
When a medium is found dead in mysterious circumstances, Dr Max Liebermann is called upon by Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt of the Vienna Police to assist in finding her murderer.[5]
2
"Queen of the Night"
Umut Dag
Steve Thompson
25 November 2019 (2019-11-25)
N/A
A grisly series of murders in Vienna's slums leads to a speedy arrest, but Oskar and Max disagree over a suspect.[5]
3
"The Lost Child"
Umut Dag
Steve Thompson
2 December 2019 (2019-12-02)
N/A
Max's nephew suffers a breakdown after the drowning of a fellow cadet at a military academy. Max suspects foul play.[5]
Following an altercation at a lecture, a monk is killed. A suspect is arrested, the brother of Clara's fiancé. Max doesn’t think he killed the monk and goes undercover to find out what happened.[5]
^"The Devil's Kiss" was released on 10 December 2021, on BBC iPlayer.
^"Darkness Rising" was released on 10 December 2021, on BBC iPlayer.
A young seamstress is murdered in a luxury fashion house. Oscar and Max are initially perplexed, but further clues are revealed when Max receives a letter at his new practice.[5]
2
"The God of Shadows"
Robert Dornhelm
Steve Thompson
21 December 2022 (2022-12-21)
N/A
Max applies his neurological expertise to the case of a retired soldier, Captain Steiner, who is convinced that he is cursed and tortured by vengeful spirits.[5]
3
"Death Is Now a Welcome Guest"
Robert Dornhelm
Steve Thompson
28 December 2022 (2022-12-28)
N/A
When a famous film star dies during the premiere of her new film, Max and Oskar's investigation gets them embroiled in the dark underbelly of stardom and far-right politics.[5]
Each episode consists of two parts[5] but numbering of episodes varies by country. In Austria, episodes are numbered by case (3 episodes per series) but in the USA by part (6 episodes per series).
The first series of three 90-minute episodes was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two between 18 November and 2 December 2019.[14] Austrian channel ORF 2 aired the show beginning 20 December 2019 with dubbing.[15][16]
In the United States, PBS showed the series in six 45-minute episodes; broadcast began on 19 January 2020.[17][18]
Reception
Vienna Blood received a 53% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the ‘Critics Consensus’ reading, 'Though it rarely rises above 'watchable', fans of period crime series may enjoy passing time with Vienna Blood's charismatic cast anyway.'[19]The Guardian's Emine Saner, giving three out of five stars to the first episode, remarked that the series was similar to Thompson's prior work on Sherlock, particularly in its leads' dynamic and the presentation. However she did praise the two lead actors.[20] Sean O'Grady of The Independent gave it five out of five stars, praising the direction, recreation of the period and storytelling.[21]
