TV Long Form Drama

Task 2 :
Identify ways that different social
groups are portrayed
Grace Lewis
  Comrade Walter Schweppenstette
He is an authoritative figure in the HVA, the
East German foreign intelligence agency. He
is Aunt Lenora’s boss and is part of the team
who put Martin undercover in the West.
He is portrayed as very unforgiving and
completely devoted to the party. He is in a
East German higher social class than Martin and his family
because of his position in the authorities. We
Authority are yet to see him on his own in the show,
which suggests that despite his position, he is
Characters a weaker character and he needs to be
constantly supported.
His social group is his work; his life is his
work. This portrays the German Democratic
Republic as quite parasitic because he
doesn't have a social life, he spends all his
time on politics and trying to undermine the
West.
  Martin
Martin is the protagonist of the show. He is chosen by the HVA
to be an undercover agent in the West, spying for the East.
Martin doesn't want to serve the country entirely, even though
he says he does. When the position in the West is brought up,
Martin immediately declines because of his mother and
East German girlfriend. This shows his attitude to world events is very
homely, he prioritises social over politics.
Family and His social group is his friends and family, even the guys that he
works with, not the ones he works for.
Friend
Characters  Lenora

Including Aunt Lenora is a key role in Martin and his mother's lives. She
works for Walter Schweppenstette and Martin's mum’s sister.
Protagonist She is very devoted to the party and her country as she is
willing to give up her only nephew for a dangerous undercover
Martin position. She is highly motivated to discovering whatever the
West is up to, at any cost.
She is not limited in her social groups, like Walter. She is part of
the HVA and those associated in those circles but she is also
welcome with her family. However, she doesn't appear to have
any close friends and only returns to her family when she needs
something, using them because her sister won't turn her back
on her.
  Ingrid Rauch – Martin's mother
Martin's mum is a very gentle figure in the series. She is
suffering from kidney failure and undergoing dialysis
while remaining a strong motherly figure.
She is portrayed as very strong willed but not in a
East German resisting manner. She lets Walter and Lenora enter her
house and take her son away, without much protest.
She doesn't want to totally change her life because
Family and she's happy but takes it all with a pinch of salt as no
government and country is ever perfect.
Friend She appears to have many social groups as there are
lots of people of all different circles at her birthday
Characters party. This is due to the fact that she is a very friendly
lady and is willing to take anyone in.
Including
Protagonist  Annett – Martin's girlfriend
The audience doesn't see a lot of Annett in the first
Martin episode but they can see how important she is to
Martin and he doesn't want her to get hurt.
She is depicted as very caring and a typical young
person who has been raised in East Germany and
doesn't know any different, like Martin. She too is very
friendly and mixes in several social groups. She isn't
involved with the politics of the situation, she just cares
about the people.
  General Wolfgang Edel
General Edel is Martin's boss in the west and is unaware that
he is actually Martin posing as Moritz. He even has Martin
come to his house and join in with the BBQ.
Edel is portrayed as a very stereotypical general. He is stern
and focused on his work but without being too power crazy
as he tries to juggle many negotiations, people and family
life. He is just trying to do the best by everyone around him.
It is not explicitly mentioned but it is implied that he has a lot
on his mind and puts a lot of pressure on himself.
His social groups are well balanced. At work, he is close with
West German the other generals and work colleagues as he is continually
trying to maintain peace. However, total balance is not quite
matched in his home life where he clashes with his daughter
Authority a little. He is someone who has spent most of his life around
other men and armed forces and lacks a few social skills in
Characters everyday events.

 General Arnold Jackson

The audience doesn't see a lot of General Jackson in the first
episode as he is in talks with Edel. It is his briefcase that
Martin has to try and break into and photograph documents.
He too comes across quite focused and stressed about the
political status but this is understandable as he is in a very
important role in the army. He is also portrayed as
continually wanting to negotiate, working out what's best in
the most passive way.
  Alex Edel
Alex Edel is the son of General Edel. He is rebellious
and has a broken relationship with his father. The
audience sees him attending a peace rally held by
Tischbier and so they become aware he is not the
perfect lieutenant son that his father wants him to
be.
The audience learns that Alex is not a perfect person
and can see that he doesn't really want any part in
West Germany the Cold War. The War has affected and influenced
his whole life and he's had enough of it, including
being the man his father wants him to be.
Family and Socially, he is conflicting as he has a place at the
Friend army with his colleagues but also in a home setting
and at the peace rally with Tobias. Alex is lost and
conflicted about where he is supposed to belong and
Characters where he wants to be.
 Yvonne Edel
Yvonne is General Edel's daughter. She too conflicts
with her father when she is asked to sing at the BBQ
and they have different ideas about what she should
sing.
She is rebellious and like her, Alex and Martin have all
grown up in a split Germany that has affected their
lives. They have all had enough of it, one way or
another and want change.
  Tobias Tischbier
Tobias is Martin's mentor in the West. He is also
undercover and is a HVA supervisor. He helps to
train Martin how to become a spy and works as
law professor in the West while also leading
peace rallies.
West Germany The audience immediately likes Tobias because
they see the personal sacrifices he has made
Family and without becoming obsessed with his work. He
doesn't want the War because it has taken over
Friend his life and he is a large advocate for peace.

Characters His social groups are very conflicting as he isn't

overly committed to any in particular. He is a
peace leader, spy mentor, law professor and HVA
supervisor and yet he remains calm and gentle
with Martin, helping him fit into his new role. In a
way, he becomes a friend and almost father
figure to Martin, who hasn't had that kind of
guidance in his life before.