Overview
- The ZDF episode Das Traumschiff – Madikwe aired on January 1 and included a storyline in which passengers discuss jumping overboard, triggering immediate criticism from viewers and national outlets.
- Commentators faulted the near-comic tone and said the broadcast lacked a pre-show trigger warning, noting only a brief helpline notice appeared after the closing sequence.
- Germany’s Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe und Suizidprävention highlighted the Werther-effect risk from prominent, emotional depictions of suicide without careful framing and support information.
- A separate subplot about teens in a newly blended family drew additional outrage on X, with some users calling the depiction inappropriate.
- Despite the fallout, ratings were strong: about 5.07 million viewers overall (18.7% share) and roughly 770,000 in the 14–49 demo (13.2%), trailing Tatort in total audience as ZDF said the series seeks a positive takeaway.