Can mindfulness coaching help a mob lawyer survive his own criminal clients?
In short: Björn Diemel is a burnt-out defense attorney struggling to balance a demanding career with his family life. When his wife insists he see a therapist, he discovers that mindfulness techniques can solve his work-life balance issues in unexpected, lethal ways while navigating the dangerous world of organized crime.
Murder Mindfully, or Achtsam Morden, is a German black comedy series adapted from the bestselling novel series by author and lawyer Karsten Dusse. The story follows Björn Diemel, a lawyer whose primary client is the volatile mafia boss Dragan Sergowicz. Desperate to save his marriage and reconnect with his daughter, Emily, Björn begins sessions with a mindfulness coach named Joschka Breitner. He soon finds that the meditative skills intended to reduce his stress become essential tools for survival within his high-stakes, criminal environment.
The television adaptation, which stars Tom Schilling as Björn, premiered globally on Netflix in October 2024. The first season, consisting of eight episodes, was a significant success, reaching the top spot on the platform's international non-English charts shortly after its debut. The series was praised for its dark, deadpan humor and sleek cinematography, particularly its nighttime depictions of Berlin. It later received the 2025 German Television Award for Best Comedy Series, with critics noting its ability to blend genre tropes into an engaging, fast-paced narrative.
The production follows a consistent structure, with each season adapting one of the five novels published by Heyne Verlag between 2019 and 2024. Following the success of the first season, a second eight-episode season was released in May 2026, and Netflix has already commissioned a third season to continue the adaptation. While some observers suggest the series draws heavily from established streaming hits, its popularity remains strong, with the second season also securing a place in the global top ten rankings for non-English language programming.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Murder Mindfully
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