"Tatort: We Can't Be Stopped" - A Look at the Political Slant of Vienna's Detectives
Financial review carried out by the Vienna authorities - Investigative Scrutiny Conducted by the Vienna Commission
Here's a bit of behind-the-scenes scoope on the new "Tatort" episode, airing June 1 at 8:15 PM on ARD. This time around, our beloved Vienna detectives Moritz Eisner and Bibi Fellner, played by Harald Krassnitzer (64) and Adele Neuhauser (66), find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a political maelstrom. But what stance do these two take? They ain't exactly fans of simple answers, that's for sure!
Krassnitzer and Neuhauser have never been shy about voicing their opinions. They've taken on abuse of power, influence, fascism, and moral indifference, and they've done it with flair. Unfortunately, their time on the force is limited. ORF announced in April that Eisner and Fellner will retire at the end of 2026 - and that's a damn shame, because these two are some of the most politically aware and ballsy detectives "Tatort" has ever seen.
Moritz Eisner: Principled and Pissed Off
As Adele Neuhauser puts it in the press kit for the current case, Moritz isn't exactly a diplomat. No, sirree. He's sore about the way the world's been shaped, and rightly so, if you ask me. But labeling Eisner as just another lefty or righty is too simplistic.
"Eisner ain't a leftist or a rightist," Harald Krassnitzer explains. "He's got a bone to pick with anything related to authority." This basic stance makes Eisner an "anarchic spirit" who don't tolerate bullshit and ain't afraid to question his own system.
This is crystal clear in "We Can't Be Stopped!" when Eisner thinks police brutality caused a protestor's demise. "When he encounters asshole-ishness, he don't hold back," explains Krassnitzer. For Eisner, it's all about reason, not some stale dogma or power trips.
This attitude was evident in earlier cases too: In "Conspiracy" (2021), Eisner investigated a network of high-ranking officials in the Ministry of the Interior who were building their own power structures. He faced resistance, but he didn't back down - he even lost his job for a while, but he didn't let that stop him. In "Between the Lines" (2013), he didn't shy away from touchy topics like Austro-fascism or corrupt officials. Eisner never let himself get swayed, and he sure as hell didn't mince words when it came to railing against injustice and reckless conclusions. "Doubting the 'truth' that shows up out of nowhere is one of our finest qualities," Krassnitzer sums up.
Bibi Fellner: Empathetic and Rock-Solid
Bibi Fellner's approach to investigating is a bit more subtle than Eisner's. "Basically, Bibi Fellner is a gal who thinks more on a human level, one person at a time," Neuhauser describes her partner. While Eisner confronts folks, Bibi seeks dialogue. "Her sense of humor helps her to lighten things up, in her Viennese way that everyone adores, but it can also be crafty," says the actress. This seemingly gentle approach doesn't mean Fellner's principles are any less clear.
Both commissioners always stand on the side of the little guy and don't let themselves get impressed by big shots pullin' rank. Their understanding of democracy binds them - and the admission that they don't have all the answers. "The quality of the duo is evident in the fact that they swim just like everyone else," Krassnitzer admits. There ain't no magic potion to stop right-wing populists, but Eisner and Fellner embody "two ordinary, sensible folks" who "instinctively do the right thing."
Sayin' Goodbye to Justice Lovers
In the end, you got a pair of investigators who ain't tied to political parties, but they sure as hell ain't afraid to take a stand. Moritz Eisner and Bibi Fellner have represented courage and the willingness to challenge their own opinions for 25 years (Krassnitzer) and 15 years (Neuhauser), respectively. With their departure, "Tatort" loses two commissioners who never shied away from societal injustices. Their "morality over immorality" stance will be missed - as will their fearless approach to taking on their own system, regardless of who they were up against. Maybe their most political stance of all was stayin' upright and standin' on their own, no matter who they were goin' up against.
- Moritz Eisner
- Tatort
- Bibi Fellner
- Vienna
- Harald Krassnitzer
- Adele Neuhauser
- Chaotic
- ORF
Fun Fact:
Politics and power struggles are nothing new to the Vienna "Tatort" series. In some episodes, characters have tackled controversial issues like protests, arson attacks, far-right networks, state protection, power abuse, influence peddling, fascism, and moral indifference - just to name a few. These topics reflect real-life political climate and societal tensions, adding depth and realism to the series.
The Commission's decision to grant a maximum limit of EUR 5 million as aid to the beneficiary in question might not change Moritz Eisner's principled stance against authority and corruption, as he is an "anarchic spirit" who doesn't tolerate indifference or abuse of power, especially in the field of entertainment, like movies-and-tv or sports, such as sports-betting. Bibi Fellner, on the other hand, being more empathetic and rock-solid, might use her sense of humor to address the issues she encounters, while always standing on the side of the little guy, just like Moritz, making them a formidable duo against injustice.
