Watched 19 seasons of “Derrick” – no more rush

Anyone who has seen all 281 episodes of “Derrick” so far can officially consider themselves an investigator in the service of nostalgia.

Only six seasons separate me from the TV Olympus – and probably the best small talk knowledge about Munich balconies, old BMWs, 1970s coats and remarkably frequently asked questions like: "Can we talk for a minute?"

➡️ Read also: Derrick – a classic of German crime history.

It's done—well, almost. I'm done with 19 seasons of "Derrick." I know Munich better than any taxi driver, and my TV chair already creaks like an old company car.

Your gaze wanders, lost in thought, into the gloom of the next episode, while the opening credits play quietly somewhere in the background. And you can clearly feel it: You've changed.

Anyone who has investigated with Chief Inspector Derrick across the Bavarian capital for so long not only develops a keen sense for Munich pimps, retro suits, wallpaper patterns and wood paneling, but also begins to live at a completely different pace.

Rushing? Now only met with a raised eyebrow. Monologues under ten seconds? Unrealistic. Walking through the apartment? In slow motion. Measured. Dignified. Derrick-like.

The great achievement lies not only in perseverance, but also in the growing ability to unmask perpetrators with a single, meaningful glance.

After 19 seasons, you've seen through them all: the nervous millionaire, the shady housekeeper, the lonely flautist intent on murder, and the spurned model. Anyone who's still surprised by this probably dozed off briefly in episode 87.

Video: Derrick, Season 1, Episode 1

Now only six seasons remain – and then? The big farewell comes. Or perhaps the big nothing. Because after Derrick, everything is... ...somehow too fast, too loud, and too screaming.

You begin to miss the actors like old friends, and the cry of “Harry, get the car” echoes in your ears for a long time.

But don't worry: The remaining seasons are coming. And who knows – maybe you'll retrain afterward. To become a police detective. Or an antiques dealer. Something with old cars, wood, and no stress, anyway.

19 seasons later, you not only have a crime archive in your head, but also an inner peace that every meditation app loses to.

Six more seasons. Then I'll either be completely enlightened, move to Munich, or speak exclusively in Derrick quotes...

Sierks Media / © Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Federal Archives, B 145 Image-F034156-0025, Reineke Engelbert, CC-BY-SA 3.0 / Video: YouTube