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Tatort 'Königinnen' Returns on ARD as Critics Reappraise Its MeToo Story

A reappraisal of the episode spotlights star turns and music as critics debate whether its comic tone undercuts a serious sexual-misconduct storyline.

Overview

  • The episode centers on an attack on Bavaria-Bund president Josef Gehrling, who is shot in the head with a bolt gun and left fighting for his life as detectives probe the case.
  • Reporting emphasizes that the plot frames Gehrling's assault in the context of alleged sexual harassment by him of many product-queens, which gives multiple women possible motives.
  • The rebroadcast on Sunday, May 24, 2026, brought renewed attention to the episode’s strong guest cast, especially Veronica Ferres and Wolfgang Fierek, and to LaBrassBanda’s notable soundtrack.
  • Reviewers praise the script’s lively dialogue and performances while criticizing the film’s tonal mix, saying comic elements sometimes undercut the gravity of the MeToo-related material.
  • Set in a fictional Bavarian village and filmed near Munich, the story uses the product-queen pageant to explore local power dynamics and the risks faced by young women in ceremonial roles.