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Divided We Stand

Divided We Stand

2022–Ongoing2 seasons7 episodes~49 min/epMidcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

ZERV" tells of the first years after the fall of the Wall, the breaks in life courses, of completely different biographies and of the successful coming together in the common fight against crime, which knows no East and West. ZERV stands for the Central Investigation Office for Government and Association Crime, founded in Berlin in 1991 by decision of the federal government.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Divided We Stand?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Divided We Stand streaming on MHz Choice via Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Highlights

What stands out about Divided We Stand?

Divided We Stand earns 2 badges, led by Thought-provoking and Broadly Agreed.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Divided We Stand worth watching?

Divided We Stand's Midcredits score is the 42nd percentile of all shows, from 335 ratings across 2 sources. 68% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

42nd percentile

Better received than 42% of shows

34th percentile among Crime47th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)40th
Approval (how many liked it)46th

Acclaim

Broadly Agreed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

69 /100

40th percentile of all shows

35th percentile among Crime45th percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.9 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

68% liked it

46th percentile of all shows

34th percentile among Crime52nd percentile among 2020s
68% rated it 7–1032% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

40th percentile

329 ratings across platforms

21st percentile among Crime39th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 6% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A German post-reunification crime drama with period-authentic 1990s setting, mixing murder investigations and arms smuggling.

Fans praised

  • strong sense of time and place in post-reunification Germany
  • well-paced storytelling with tension and unexpected humor
  • strong performances and casting chemistry

Detractors panned

  • disjointed, amateurish plot with dropped storylines
  • unbelievable coincidences and cartoonish characters
  • uneven tone and forced drama

What stands out

ActingDivisive75

lead actress award-winning, but detractors call standard poor

AtmosphereDivisive70

spot-on 1990s sets, cars, fashion, music

Dialogue65

intelligent, witty and educational

PacingDivisive60

well-paced to end vs uneven and giving up late

Emotional impact60

sympathy for affected lives

CharactersDivisive55

appealing leads vs tired trope and cartoonish officers

TensionDivisive50

good tension vs forced derring-do

Plot and storyDivisive45

promising premise undermined by dropped threads and coincidences

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2022 · 6 episodes

  • S1E1

    Other Times

    Feb 22, 202248 min
  • S1E2

    Undercover

    Feb 22, 202247 min
  • S1E3

    Searching For Clues

    Feb 23, 202250 min
  • S1E4

    Culprits From The Past

    Feb 23, 202249 min
  • S1E5

    Seven Bridges

    Feb 24, 202250 min
  • S1E6

    Across Borders

    Feb 24, 202248 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Divided We Stand like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseColdMelancholic
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Wry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.WarmSolemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe series plays its post-reunification corruption story straight, with dry wit and warmth toward its characters, never mocking the material.
The rideThe series sustains a consistently tense and bleak atmosphere across its run, with emotional peaks during revelations about systemic betrayal.
StructureThe series follows a conventional case-of-the-week format with a season-long arc; no unusual storytelling devices are used.
Episode formatGiven the synopsis mentions a special investigations unit and uncovering crimes, the structure likely features case-of-the-week investigations woven into a larger arc about a Western-originated conspiracy.
Season formatWith 2 seasons and an ongoing story about a police unit, each season likely addresses a new phase of the corruption investigation, though this is based on limited synopsis information.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves the viewer reflecting on the moral complexities of reunification and the cost of corruption, with a sympathetic yet sober view of the period.
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).Mystery
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

Why this archetypeThe typical episode follows the special investigations unit as they dig into crimes in East Berlin, often murder and corruption cases with hidden culprits; the series arc further uncovers that many crimes originated in the West.

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 showsSelfCorruption
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% (this title): Power 5% · Corruption 3% (this title) · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: 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%: Community 25% · 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%

Power

Corruption · 3% of showsJustice · 14% of showsBetrayal · 3% of shows
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series investigates systemic corruption that blurs lines between East and West, questioning whether justice is possible within a compromised institution.
StanceThe series warns that corruption can fester even in the institutions meant to uphold justice, with societal consequences for a reunified nation.

The world

Late 20th centuryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score
SettingBerlin in the years following German reunification, focusing on a police station and the divided city's criminal landscape.
MusicThe score likely uses a blend of modern orchestral and electronic elements to underscore the tension and the setting's post-reunification unease.

Content guide

Is Divided We Stand okay for kids?

Ratings in 5 other countries
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Austria12
  • LU16
  • Portugal16
  • Switzerland12

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Divided We Stand have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Divided We Stand?

Cast

Nadja Uhl
as Karo Schubert
Fabian Hinrichs
as Peter Simon
Thorsten Merten
as Hajo Gärster
Fritzi Haberlandt
as Uta Lampert
Leon Ullrich
as Bernd Haller
Henriette Hölzel
as Frauke Beckmann
Max Hubacher
as Holger Bündner
Alina Stiegler
as Patrizia Schäfer
Rainer Bock
as Hans Thieme
Imogen Kogge
as Elisabeth Schubert

Crew

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What other shows share a tag with Divided We Stand?

291 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: political thriller. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.