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Hellground

2022Ended1 season8 episodes~240 min/epMidcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

A Black Forest village seems like an idyll - until the popular local GP dies. The village cop thinks it’s murder. And one murder leads to more...

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Hellground?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Hellground streaming on PBS Masterpiece via Prime Video and Walter Presents via The Roku Channel.

Reception

Is Hellground worth watching?

Hellground's Midcredits score is the 24th percentile of all shows, from 193 ratings across 2 sources. 59% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

24th percentile

Better received than 24% of shows

15th percentile among Crime27th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)21st
Approval (how many liked it)30th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

63 /100

21st percentile of all shows

13th percentile among Crime23rd percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.3 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

59% liked it

30th percentile of all shows

18th percentile among Crime34th percentile among 2020s
59% rated it 7–1041% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

32nd percentile

189 ratings across platforms

14th percentile among Crime30th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 3% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A stylized German-set thriller mixing black comedy, gore, and small-town secrets.

Fans praised

  • darkly comic tone with over-the-top scenarios
  • strong atmosphere from Black Forest setting
  • solid cast and inventive style

Detractors panned

  • unbelievable plot and absurd murder logic
  • overuse of ghost visions as narrative device
  • village secrecy makes lead detective seem oblivious

What stands out

Atmosphere75

Black Forest setting creates mood

Acting70

solid performances, Tanja anchored as moral center

Sound and music70

great soundtrack

Originality65

inventive and weird

Humor65

dark comedy that evolves

PacingDivisive60

short episodes, some found it too brief

CharactersDivisive55

vivid but village secrecy implausible to detractors

Plot and storyDivisive40

unbelievable murders and cover-ups

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2022 · 8 episodes

  • S1E1

    Episode 1

    Oct 31, 202233 min
  • S1E2

    Episode 2

    Oct 31, 202231 min
  • S1E3

    Episode 3

    Oct 31, 202233 min
  • S1E4

    Episode 4

    Oct 31, 202233 min
  • S1E5

    Episode 5

    Oct 31, 202227 min
  • S1E6

    Episode 6

    Oct 31, 202233 min
  • S1E7

    Episode 7

    Oct 31, 202228 min
  • S1E8

    Episode 8

    Oct 31, 202229 min

Watch experience

What is Hellground like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you wrung out and released.

Feelings

  • Tense
  • Contemplative

Themes

  • Community: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
  • Betrayal
  • Justice

Style

  • Satirical
  • Absurdist: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.

What it asks of you

  • Even-paced
  • Full focus
  • Affecting
  • Open-ended

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Rural
  • Domestic
  • Institutional

Story

  • Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.

How it leaves you

  • Cathartic
  • Hopeful
ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: throughout
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedSingle-season story
ToneThe series holds its grotesque and darkly comic material with a straight face, maintaining humanity even amid absurd scenarios.
The rideThe series sustains a high-tension, brooding atmosphere from start to finish, with quiet character moments interspersed.
StructureThe story unfolds linearly, following Tanja's investigation from the initial murder to the revelation of village secrets over the course of one season.
Episode formatEach episode builds on the previous, following Tanja's investigation as one continuous story with cliffhangers.
Season formatThe show is a limited series with one season telling a complete story, concluded within 8 episodes.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayDespite the dark and grotesque events, the series concludes with a gentle, human resolution that leaves a satisfying and hopeful aftertaste.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% (this title) · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Investigation: A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).

8% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series follows a village police officer investigating a series of murders, uncovering the connection to a local doctor and the village's hidden secrets.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% (this title) · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Society

CommunityBetrayal · 3% of showsJustice · 14% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores how a tight-knit rural community protects its own secrets, forcing a young policewoman to confront the darkness that binds the village together.
StanceThe film interrogates trust and morality within a closed community, questioning how far one goes for truth when no one else will.

The world

AmbientSupportive music · original score
Settinga small Black Forest village in contemporary Germany
MusicMax Filges and Christoph Schauer provide a moody, ambient score that underscores the tension without overwhelming the dialogue.

Content guide

Is Hellground okay for kids?

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • Germany12
  • Austria14
  • Switzerland16

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Hellground have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Hellground?

Cast

Ulrike C. Tscharre
as Moni Freischütz
Nicki von Tempelhoff
as Josef Hartholz
Andreas Anke
as Werner Freischütz
Alissa Atanassova
as Theresa
Lou Strenger
as Tanja Hartholz
August Wittgenstein
as Fabian Lambert
Hanna Bauer
as Junge Tanja Hartholz
Heiner Lauterbach
as Dr. Hajo Armbruster
Jakob Gessner
as Max Freischütz
Guido Renner
as Siggi Zenner

Crew

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