Set between the two wars, Babylon Berlin is a period piece that displays the social complexities of the 1930's, a time where one war has recently ended, and another is quietly brewing in plain-sight.
Berlin's troublesome politics connect with drama, as we witness the poverty of unstable veterans and their struggles with addiction, the poverty of families victim of the working class, grouped together and taking extremities to get by. But Berlin isn't all negative, it's ripe with ambitious youth, a youth that parties and enjoys life's simplicity. There's an energetic culture behind the city, which adds to the eeriness of what's slowly forming in the background.
Babylon Berlin is more than just culture, however, it's a noir-esque drama that has well-dressed detectives running through the night in search of those engaging in shady activities; primarily that involving pornography and an obscure train said to be carrying something of great value.
As expected, secrets containing great value often result in a few hidden agendas; detectives and businessmen with alternate motives, corruption spilling into the picture to create a cluster of backstabbing and manipulation across politics and the public. All while staying true to the setting.
Performances fit perfectly with the setting, with the characters looking roughed-up by the city and left to pick themselves up as best as they can. Their gritty nature sits well with the poorer districts within the city, with the signs of the former war still evident on the faces of those in the streets. Everything feels believable for the time, nothing is overly exaggerated -- aside from the final episode -- and the attention to detail only heightens the drama.