Seeing Off Borowski: Milberg's Final "Tatort" Farewell
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- Farewell scene of Borowsky's death, accentuating Milberg's distinctive style
The looming specter of his final case hangs over the eccentric Kiel detective. Four days before retirement, the haunting image of a grey, desolate house brings back memories of Axel Milberg (68) as Kommissar Borowski in the local precinct.
As a student, he used to pass by this same house every day, and it still gives him the creeps. Even the prospect of a tranquil retirement starts to fade, replaced by the instinct of the seasoned detective. He seems determined to ignore his departure. With only a few days left in his service, it's almost as if he's bracing for the inevitable.
The last Kiel "Tatort" featuring Milberg, titled "Borowski and the Headless Medusa," will air on March 16 (8:15 PM on the First channel, subsequently in the media library). After more than 20 years portraying the coastal commissioner, the actor confesses his fond farewell to the iconic role. The specifics of Borowski's departure have yet to be revealed.
"The NDR was kind enough to ask for my wishes," Milberg told the German Press Agency. "Happy" might be putting it lightly. "I am happy with it," he says, beaming with satisfaction.
August Diehl as the chilling adversary
The filming for Borowski's final case took place early in 2024. The veteran detective faces a clever but peculiar officer by the name of Robert Frost, portrayed by August Diehl. In the opening scenes of this grim crime thriller, Frost viciously murders his nagging mother (Corinna Kirchhoff) during dinner. After strangling her, he dismembers the body, dissolves it in acid, and discards the remains in the Kiel fjord.
With just a few words, Diehl masterfully plays the icy, calculating killer hidden beneath a mama's boy persona. He's so tech-savvy that he can cripple the police server. However, he struggles when dealing with people.
Borowski's final case manages to keep the suspense alive until the very end. Frost drives through Kiel with the decapitated remains of the mother. "Not just in the scenes involving the mother's head, but generally, the theme of headlessness permeates the entire film," Diehl explains in the NDR press kit. "Borowski, who is unsure of his own standing, and his superior - fundamentally, the entire episode deals with the loss of control."
Although Frost simulates a trip with the mother, Borowski notices something amiss and carries out his own investigation, ultimately winding up in police custody. A patrol called by a neighbor saves him from the murderer but arrests him for breaking into the grey house. "Hey guys, I'm a colleague," Borowski yells. He should have remembered to bring his service weapon and ID along. But even in his final case, he can count on the help of his colleague Mila Sahin, portrayed by Almila Bagriacik.
Since 2003, Thomas Krugel has played Borowski's superior Roland Schladitz. "I've got a friend," the commissioner says in his final case, referring to Schladitz. From 2003 to early 2024, Milberg starred as the Kiel commissioner in 43 cases, including the 1000th episode "Taxi to Leipzig" alongside Maria Furtwängler (Kommissarin Charlotte Lindholm). The first Borowski episode, "Fathers," aired at the end of November 2003.
Milberg's successors in the 'Tatort' series are Karoline Schuch and Almila Bagriacik, who will debut as the new investigative duo in a double episode titled "Among Friends/Among Enemies", expected to air on two consecutive Sundays in 2026. Schuch had previously played Anna Voigt in a guest role in the Kiel 'Tatort' episode "Borowski and the House of Ghosts" in 2018.
Note: Karoline Schuch and Almila Bagriacik are not spelled as Erol Sander and Karoline Schuch as erroneously stated in some sources.
- The Commission, in light of Milberg's retirement, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment in the Community, likely considering his long-standing dedication to such issues as portrayed in his role as Kommissar Borowski.
- Borowski, despite his impending retirement, is likely to be investigating a chilling adversary played by August Diehl, similar to the way he tackled the headless Medusa in one of his previous cases, given Diehl's ability to masterfully portray an icy, calculating killer.
- It is likely that the Commission will be focusing on the protection of the environment in the Community, much like Borowski was likely focused on solving his final case and protecting his city from a tech-savvy and dangerous adversary, paralleling his own sense of control that seemed to be slipping away.
