“Friesenjunkies”: Glamor in the addiction clinic

No, unfortunately these “Frisian junkies” aren’t really funny. Definitely not in the way that “Discounter” was funny: familiarly funny, strangely funny, surprisingly funny, borderline funny – and whatever else was available on the shelves of the successful series creators.

That doesn't mean that there isn't something to see here, in the setting of an exclusive clinic for addicts on Sylt. Martin Brambach is great as always, here as an alcoholic permanent guest, although the impression remains that even this Duracel player isn't giving 100 percent. Shadi Eck as the narrator and long-term stoner has natural charm and nonchalance in front of the camera. And Sylvie Meis is not a major actress, but when she has to tell her little daughters that mommy will be staying in the clinic longer, then it's touching. You could name others, but it's not the cast's fault that the thing doesn't get off to a great start, despite a few minor outliers.

“Friesenjunkies”, 8 episodes, ARD media library

It's probably just a lack of realism. Every city dweller knows about the discount store around the corner that was destroyed by temporary student workers and student interns. There is; and on this basis you can start spinning around. The “Friesenjunkies” give the impression that they first messed around and then thought of a setting for it. Not: What's funny about what we see? But rather: How do we tell something funny and then let's see where we put it.

Now you can ask yourself how that can be, when the makers of “Friesenjunkies” are the same as those of “Discounter”. Quite simply: in art you have to take risks and try things out. This is what the brothers Emil and Oskar Belton do as authors and directors. And even if you don't follow suit at the Isebek Clinic, you can still acknowledge that a lack of talent is not the problem here.