Ep 1. Jochen

Criminal: Germany is a gripping crime drama that explores the complexities of interrogations and the nuances of human behavior when under intense pressure. The first episode of the series, titled "Jochen," delves deep into the troubling case of a father whose wife and child have gone missing.

The episode begins with the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the German police force being alerted to the disappearance of a mother and her seven-year-old son. The father, Jochen, is brought in for questioning, and the atmosphere in the interrogation room is tense from the start.

Jochen is a respected surgeon whose life appears to be perfect on the surface, but as the detectives start asking him questions, they begin to unravel a more complicated and troubled picture. There appears to be a history of marital strife between Jochen and his wife, and the relationship between Jochen and his son is also strained.

The detectives' questioning becomes more and more intense, and Jochen becomes increasingly defensive. The detectives use various tactics to try and probe deeper into Jochen's psyche, but the skilled physician remains elusive.

As the episode unfolds, we see the detectives rely on psychological tactics and verbal jousting to push Jochen towards a confession. The viewer is left to ponder on who is telling the truth and who is trying to cover up a ghastly act.

Through the script, the cinematography, and the performances, the creators of Criminal: Germany build up a nail-biting tension that keeps the viewer glued to the screen. The situation in the interrogation room is fraught with danger, with one misstep from either party leading to catastrophic consequences.

In the end, the detectives manage to extract the truth from Jochen, but not without causing significant psychological damage to him. The closing scenes offer a window into the toll the interrogation process has taken on Jochen and the devastating loss he has to cope with.

Overall, "Jochen" is an excellent start to Criminal: Germany, showcasing the show's gritty realism, its outstanding production values, and the complex and authentic depictions of interrogation techniques used in Germany. The creators pull no punches, and the viewer is left with a powerful sense of the human costs of the criminal justice system and the toll it takes on both victims and perpetrators.