Western with Steam Locomotive: New 'Harter Brocken' on ARD - A Wild West murder unfolds on Germany’s Brocken Railway in *Harter Brocken*’s latest twist
The next episode of Harter Brocken brings a Wild West twist to the German crime drama. Village sheriff Frank Koops finds himself tangled in a murder mystery on the historic Brocken Railway. This time, the case involves former East German agents, a steam train, and a wedding that turns deadly.
The trouble begins when a woman’s body is discovered across the tracks near Misery and Worry. Koops, a small-town cop with a habit of stepping on toes, starts digging into the case—much to the frustration of the LKA. His investigation points to ex-Stasi operatives who now hold positions within the state criminal office, all trying to bury their past.
The episode, titled The Blackmail, weaves personal drama into the crime. Koops’ best friend Heiner, the local postman, is set to marry colleague Mette. But as wedding plans unfold, the murder probe pulls them all in. In a bold move, Heiner even risks his life in a dramatic stunt to prove his devotion. Director Hanno Olderdissen called filming this mix of German crime and Western-style action on a steam train a career standout. The episode’s climax reveals a shocking truth: the victim was killed not by a person, but by the locomotive itself. The Blackmail airs on ARD at 8:15 PM on Christmas Day, blending holiday cheer with a dark, steam-powered mystery.
Koops’ investigation exposes a web of old secrets and new dangers. The episode ties together a wedding, a train, and a cover-up that stretches back to East Germany. Viewers will see whether justice—or the locomotive—wins in the end.
