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German Thriller ‘Schattenseite’ Makes Free-TV Debut on Das Erste Tonight

The six-part drama probes digital coercion at school, with critics noting strong performances alongside concerns over a crowded script.

Overview

  • Das Erste premieres the series at 21:45 on October 26 following Tatort, with the first two episodes airing tonight.
  • All six episodes have been available to stream on ARD Mediathek since October 17.
  • Set after a student’s death, an anonymous platform threatens to publish classmates’ private material once a click threshold is met, forcing betrayals and fueling cyberbullying and extortion.
  • Samirah Breuer leads as Nola alongside Sithembile Menck and Florian Geißelmann, with direction by Özgür Yıldırım and Alison Kuhn from a script adapted by Jonas Ems and Hanna Hribar.
  • In a new interview, creator Jonas Ems says the story draws on real experiences and emphasizes that social media also has benefits, adding that a second season is possible if demand supports it.