Deutschland 83

Though the cold war belonged primarily to the U.S. and USSR, its impact was felt most directly in the countries physically split by the passions of the superpowers. Deutschland 83 vividly re-creates a divided Germany of the 1980s. tracking an east German undercover agent recruited by the Stasi to spy on the west German military, the program shows what happens to people on different sides of the border when they share the prospect of nuclear disaster. Combining the story of a young man coming of age in a community not his own with the thrill of Cold War espionage, Deutschland 83 fleshes out what kept Germany segmented into East and West for nearly half a century. Nostalgic, funny and ironic, the series showcases family frailty, crash courses in spy-craft and lackluster actions that turn politically explosive. Its rapid pacing, retro style and agile score animate an edgy political thriller that makes us think anew about a conflict long gone. For providing a riveting example of how far international television can go in dramatizing the complications of international intrigue, Deutschland 83 wins a Peabody Award.