The long-running ZDF series “The Dream Ship” (on the air since 1981) will air on Easter Sunday (April 5) an episode with Iceland as the destination. Among other things, it features a love story that goes beyond the usual romances of the format and tackles the theme of same-sex love in old age (TheColu.mn reported).
At the center is the character Evelyn Küpper (Saskia Vester, 66), who travels to Iceland with her granddaughter Ronja (Rosa von Lobenstein, born 2000). There she encounters her youthful love Antonia (Michaela May, 74). After decades without contact, the two women realize that their mutual attraction and familiarity remain unbroken.
Destigmatizing Different Life Paths
Actress Saskia Vester emphasizes, in the context of filming, the relevance of such stories for German television and sees in them an opportunity for further destigmatization of life choices. According to Vester, the developments in recent years do show a positive trend toward greater openness, yet the societal rethink process is far from complete.
“In my youth, unfortunately, there was still a different tone,” Vester recalls. She adds critically that we as a community “are far from having reached the goal yet.” The actress notes that change takes time and that it also involves a generational shift: “It simply takes a while before everyone truly changes their mindset.”
Which Guest Stars Will Be Onboard for Easter on “The Dream Ship”?
In addition to the love story between Evelyn and Antonia, the episode includes other plotlines as usual: Passengers Dominik Dahlke (Bernhard Piesk) and Nikolaus Andresen (Barnaby Metschurat) learn through their father’s inheritance about their half-brotherly relationship and the father’s double life.
Also back on board is the regular ensemble, including Captain Max Parger (Florian Silbereisen), First Officer Martin Grimm (Daniel Morgenroth), Hotel Director Hanna Liebhold (Barbara Wussow), and Ship’s Doctor Dr. Jessica Delgado (Collien Monica Fernandes). Evelyn Burdecki appears as a guest star in the Easter episode. “The Dream Ship – Island” airs on Easter Sunday at 8:15 PM on ZDF and is also available in advance for streaming in the ZDF Mediathek.
The First Gay “The Dream Ship” Kiss in 2019
“The Dream Ship” has been on ZDF since 1981. Queer love is nevertheless still somewhat new in the long-running, historically conservative TV series: only in 2019 was there the first gay kiss (TheColu.mn reported). Later, more queer storylines followed. By Easter Sunday 2024, for example, there was a lesbian wedding aboard (TheColu.mn reported).
