In the new “Tatort: Gottesgarten” (airing Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. on Das Erste and already available now in the ARD Mediathek), Chief Detective Felix Voss (Fabian Hinrichs) receives a new partner: Emilia “Emmy” Rathgeber (Rosalie Thomass) joins the Franconian investigative team. Their first joint case begins with a brutal murder at an hourly-rate hotel in Nuremberg’s red-light district.
What is “Tatort: Gottesgarten” about?
At a Nürnberg hourly-rate hotel, the drag performer Elias Schaller (Moritz Bock) is found stabbed to death. For Felix Voss and his new colleague Emmy Rathgeber, it initially seems clear that they must look within the red-light milieu for the person responsible. Yet the investigation proves challenging: the crime-scene team uncovers a multitude of DNA traces from previous visitors, and identifying the culprit isn’t straightforward. The murder weapon is also missing.
While Voss and Rathgeber are still adjusting to their new workplace, their colleague Wanda Goldwasser’s (Eli Wasserscheid) inquiries eventually lead them to Gottesgarten in Upper Franconia. There, Elias grew up. His parents (Horst Kummeth and Jule Gartzke) react to their son’s death in markedly different ways, and with every new lead it becomes clearer that there is more to this murder than a initially opaque case.
In the seemingly tranquil setting, the investigators uncover a complex web of events, where old conflicts, dashed expectations, and a son who apparently could not live the life he wanted all intertwine. In the end, the story circles around nothing less than the big question of what is right and what is just.
A new team that clicks from the start
A fresh wind also blows through the precinct. After two years in Munich, Emmy Rathgeber begins her duties in Franconia. To welcome her, there are flowers, a warm “Servus,” and the prospect of a two-headed leadership that still needs to find its footing. The fact that the moving company they used happened to mix up the appointment is one of the small hurdles of starting anew.
Yet the new detective doesn’t let this rattle her. She greets her surroundings openly, with humor and a certain ease. Rosalie Thomass described her character as “curious, open, capable, humorous and empathetic. It’s a lively, grounded, sensuous character who exists entirely in the here and now.” It is precisely these traits that make Emmy an intriguing addition to the team.
Felix Voss also feels a bit more approachable when paired with his new partner. When the forensic team notes that he hasn’t seemed as rigid since Emmy arrived, he’s surprised. Emmy finds him more restrained than rigid. A small, beautiful moment that shows how two people can change one another without many words.
The chemistry between Rosalie Thomass and Fabian Hinrichs works. The dialogues carry a lightness, the playful jibes feel natural, and especially in the quieter moments the pair has room to develop. “I felt a great openness and curiosity toward me. And I think that fits the characters very well. Both are investigative personalities,” Thomass explains about the on-set harmony. “It’s not taken for granted that you are always seen as an equal. Here, that was the case—and that’s wonderful.”
From the mysterious murder to the uncomfortable truth
The case initially follows classic crime-story routes: a dead body, a missing murder weapon, an array of clues, and investigators forced to navigate conflicting hints. But “Gottesgarten” isn’t content with merely answering who killed Elias Schaller. What matters is also how it happened.
As the investigations lead further from Nürnberg into the Upper Franconian countryside, the victim’s family circle comes increasingly into focus. Behind the picturesque backdrop lie notions of decency, tradition, and a supposedly proper life, clashing with the wishes of a young man who clearly wanted something different for himself.
Director Dustin Loose and screenwriter Constantin Lieb weave the crime plot into a broader social conflict, giving the film emotional depth.
Is it worth tuning in?
Yes. “Tatort: Gottesgarten” is a compelling Franconia-set crime thriller and a strong debut for Rosalie Thomass. Emmy Rathgeber brings a refreshing calm and plenty of energy to the team, without becoming merely a foil to the idiosyncratic Felix Voss.
Fabian Hinrichs clearly benefits from the new pairing. His detective can reveal, alongside his usual restraint, a lighter, more humorous side. The fact that Emmy accepts him as he is makes their dynamic feel credible. The familiar faces around Eli Wasserscheid, Stefan Merki, Matthias Egersdörfer and Lisa Sophie Kusz help ensure that the new lineup doesn’t come off as a complete reboot.
The Upper Franconian landscape provides a vivid contrast to the depths that lie behind the façades. The tension grows as the story unfolds, making the film genuinely gripping. “Gottesgarten” is a blend of classic police work, family drama, and thriller—and it succeeds on both counts: as a crime story with a layered case and as a successful introduction for a new investigative duo.
