Vienna Blood fans, get ready! The highly anticipated fourth season of this mesmerizing PBS drama starring Max Liebermann and Oskar Rheinhardt makes its grand debut on January 5, 2023. Set against the rich backdrop of 1909 Vienna, this season promises to unravel complex tales of mystery, intrigue, and personal conflict.
Returning to navigate the treacherous waters of crime are Freudian psychoanalyst Max Liebermann, played by Matthew Beard, and the astute inspector Oskar Rheinhardt, portrayed by Jürgen Maurer. This season kicks off with the duo embroiled in the chilling investigation of a double murder—a senior public official and an arms dealer found dead under suspicious circumstances.
Liebermann returns from a successful lecture tour across America, where audiences have embraced his interpretations of psychoanalysis, including his associations with none other than Sigmund Freud himself. Beard explains, "[Max] has been on a very successful press tour because they’ve all lapped up his psychoanalytic theories, and he’s taken Freud over there..." With this new-found acclaim, Liebermann finds himself back in Vienna, but the thrill of academia pales compared to the excitement of solving real-life mysteries with Rheinhardt.
Throughout Season 4, viewers will witness our protagonists unearth shocking conspiracies entwined with the very heart of the Austro-Hungarian government. A figure shrouded as “Mephisto” emerges as the season's villain, plotting to destabilize the empire from within. Beard teases audiences about this menacing character stating, "It’s not some anonymous distant foe...and also it’s revealed...that they also have a connection to the past of Vienna Blood and earlier seasons." This depth adds layers to the narrative as Liebermann and Rheinhardt grapple with both old and new enemies.
Their investigation does not come without personal struggles. Max’s budding relationship with investigative journalist Clara Weiss complicates the dynamic between him and Rheinhardt. Beard reflects on their relationship's crossover potential, comparing it to "a Lois Lane-Clark Kent thing" and indicates some unresolved feelings will resurface as the story progresses. "We leave the last season with Max and Clara kind of shaking hands and deciding to have a professional relationship... which of course, is more complicated than it seems,” Beard adds.
These personal entanglements are interspersed with larger societal issues, echoing historical realities during the turbulent period leading up to World War I. Maurer remarks on the atmosphere of early 20th-century Vienna, expressing concern about rising nationalism and its dangers. "It was a crazy time back then... Nationalism was taking over people’s minds, which is never a good idea. And...what we have in the fourth season is you see...a society is about to get destroyed, the empire."
These timeless themes resonate with today’s viewers, making the show not just relevant, but also something of historical reflection. Beard reinforces this notion, stating, "We do have to go there because it would be ludicrous not to explore it... It would be crazy not to show how [being Jewish] would affect their life in Vienna at the time.”
Despite the show's historical setting, it does not shy away from exploring personal character arcs. Maurer’s Rheinhardt will wrestle with keeping his beloved city and empire intact amid chaos. The balance between preserving ideals of democracy and grappling with encroaching dangers is mirrored throughout their investigative work.
The creative forces behind Vienna Blood have taken advantage of this season’s extended format to allow characters to evolve organically. Beard points out the luxury of being able to "spread out this story over all these parts," hinting at rich character development and narrative depth.
Interestingly, Beard has been juggling roles simultaneously, filming Vienna Blood alongside his participation in another upcoming series, Moonflower Murders. He shares the humorous coincidence of his co-star Conleth Hill portraying his father on one show and then flipping the roles as lovers on another, describing it as "quite hilarious."
So, mark your calendars and brace yourselves for the unexpected twists and enthralling mysteries this season promises. Vienna Blood Season 4 kicks off on January 5, 2023, at 10/9c on PBS, welcoming back the dynamic duo on their latest escapades through the entrancing streets of historic Vienna.