Watch The Same Sky

The Same Sky is a gripping German drama series produced by ZDF in 2017. Set in Cold War Berlin in the 1970s, the series tells the story of a young East German spy, Lars Weber (Tom Schilling), who is sent to West Berlin to infiltrate the American intelligence agency.

Lars is tasked with befriending an American family, the Hoffmanns, and using their patriarch, John Hoffmann (Ben Becker), as a means to obtain valuable information. While living with the Hoffmans, Lars begins to develop a genuine bond with the family, particularly with John's daughter, Lauren (Stephanie Amarell), leading him to question his loyalty to his own country and his mission.

Meanwhile, the series also follows the lives of two women on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain. In the East, Sabine Cutter (Friederike Becht) is a talented scientist who is seeking greater freedom and yearns to travel to the West. In the West, Rikki Schwartz (Sofia Helin) is a feminist and political activist who supports her husband (Jörg Schüttauf) in his work as a journalist critical of the East German regime.

As the series progresses, the lives of these characters become increasingly intertwined, and their individual struggles with love, loyalty, and political ideologies are brought to the fore. Tension and suspicion rise as the East German Stasi hunt for the elusive informant who is believed to be working within their midst.

The Same Sky is a slow-burning thriller that immerses the viewer in the era of Cold War Berlin. The attention to period detail and the authenticity of the settings and costumes is impressive, and the series is compelling in its portrayal of daily life in East Germany.

All the actors deliver standout performances, with Tom Schilling providing a magnetic presence as the conflicted young spy. Sofia Helin, best known for her role in the critically acclaimed Nordic Noir series The Bridge, delivers a nuanced performance as the complex Rikki Schwartz.

The series also explores themes of gender and sexuality, with both Sabine and Rikki facing societal constraints that limit their opportunities and desires. At the same time, the series explores the relationships between fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the bonds that form between unlikely allies.

The Same Sky has been praised for its intricate plotting, with the tension building slowly but surely towards a dramatic conclusion. Its themes of betrayal, loyalty, and political intrigue make it a timely and thought-provoking series, while its strong performances and engaging storylines make it a must-watch for fans of quality drama.

The Same Sky is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between March 27, 2017 and on ZDF