It’s rare we come across a detective duo as compellingly compatible as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, but we’ve found a couple just as attuned to solving puzzling cases in BBC’s exceptional detective drama Vienna Blood. If you swap the grittiness of Sherlock’s present-day London for the decadence of fin-de-siècle Vienna, and Dr Watson for a Jewish medical student specialising in psychoanalysis, you’d arrive at BBC’s exceptional detective drama Vienna Blood.
The series starts in the early 1900s, where Vienna is the illustrious centre of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Introducing Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard), a medical student under Sigmund Freud, who’s fascinated with the criminal mind and soon becomes the key to unlocking a string of dark crimes being carried out across the city. The show has been named ‘a Sherlock rival’ for good reason – and by the end of four seasons you’ll see why it’s up there with the greatest in the crime category.
With the detective drama now available to binge on BBC iPlayer, here’s everything you need to know about Vienna Blood, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Vienna Blood about?
The four series, which first aired on the BBC in 2019, were adapted from Frank Tallis’s bestselling Liebermann novels, and take us to Vienna in the 1900s. The beautiful city became a vibrant melting pot of culture, philosophy and science, simmering away in the city’s grand cafes and opera houses.
Vienna Blood introduces us to Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard), an English doctor studying neurology under the renowned Sigmund Freud. Hungry to learn more about criminal psychology, he convinces the tenacious Police Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt (Juergen Maurer) to let him observe, and soon his knowledge of forensics and perception becomes vital to unlocking a string of disturbing murders plaguing the capital.
It’s a riveting ride, and the final series is a culmination of all the drama when the double murder of an arms dealer in police custody and a senior public official turns into a political scandal. It becomes Liebermann’s most dangerous case yet, with a seditious government mole known as Mephisto at its centre. But will the psychoanalyst and detective be able to stop the infiltrator from bringing down the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire?
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Matthew previously spoke about how he connected with his character and the similarities they share. ‘We’re a similar age. I didn’t study medicine – I studied English Literature – but a disproportionate amount of my thesis had a Freudian tilt, or at least a psychoanalytical angle,’ he told the BBC.
‘So it’s something I’ve been interested in for a long time. I actually did it at school – I did Psychology – so I’m fascinated by that world. I had already read quite a lot of Freud, so we share that. And I think we share a sense of humour – I find the things that Max finds funny funny, too. And I guess a curiosity; I’m very nosy – I get told off when I go to people’s houses and start looking through their bookshelves and asking them lots of questions.’
Who’s in the cast of Vienna Blood?
The cast of Vienna Blood includes:
- Matthew Beard (Elizabeth Harvest) as Max Liebermann
- Juergen Maurer (Neben dur Spur) as Oskar Rheinhardt
- Conleth Hill (Magpie Murders) as Mendel Liebermann
- Charlene McKenna (Clean Sweep, Bloodlands) as Leah Liebermann
- Amelia Bullmore (Riot Women, Scott & Bailey) as Rachel Liebermann
- Luise von Finckh (Sleeping Dog) as Clara Weiss
- Jessica De Gouw (The Couple Next Door) as Amelia Lydgate
Is Vienna Blood any good?
Yes – if you’re fan of dynamic double acts (think Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson), you’ll love Max and Oskar’s enthralling crime-busting chase through various puzzling cases with the stunning backdrop of Vienna. The writer, Steve Thompson, is well-versed in thought-provoking murder mysteries, having worked on the BBC’s famed Sherlock, and Vienna Blood is every bit as addictive. However, this show isn’t simply a Sherlock Holmes copy – it very much establishes its own identity as a stylish period drama steeped in significant political history with the rise of antisemitism looming across Europe.
Is there a trailer for Vienna Blood?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Vienna Blood below.
How can I watch Vienna Blood?
You can watch all episodes of Vienna Blood on BBC iPlayer.
What other detective dramas can I watch now?
If you want something equally as gripping but more modern, we’d recommend The Tower, which stars Sarah Whelan as Detective Sarah Collins, who investigates the dark side of policing. The drama kicks off at a southeast London tower block, where a Metropolitan police officer and 15-year-old refugee have plummeted to their deaths – and it’s the beginning of a catalogue of compelling mysteries. You can watch The Tower now on ITVX. An equally engrossing series is Case Histories, which follows former soldier and policeman Jackson Brodie (Jason Isaacs) as he attempts to crack a range of unconventional cases. Case Histories is available to watch now on U.
