Der Palast - Episode Guide

East Berlin 1988: When Marlene Wenninger visits the GDR, she can hardly believe her eyes. A woman who looks exactly like her is dancing on the stage of the Friedrichstadtpalast. The dancer Christine Steffen is also completely surprised. Now, of all times, she gets the long-awaited chance to dance her first solo. Meeting Marlene, her previously unknown twin sister from the West, turns her life upside down.

Marlene came from Bamberg in Bavaria to negotiate with the GDR Foreign Trade Ministry for her family business. She is invited to the Friedrichstadtpalast by the gentlemen and has discovered her doppelganger on the stage.

When Marlene learns that her mother Rosa is in hospital, she convinces Chris to swap identities. It would also be a unique opportunity for Chris to meet her father. But crossing the border with her sister's passport is dangerous and Chris has concerns about more than just her daughter Lilia. 

Lilia calls in sick and accepts that her solo will be danced by Bettina. She travels to the West with mixed feelings. Meanwhile, preparations are beginning for the next show, "Dream Visions", for which a guest choreographer from England has been hired.

Rosa is overjoyed to finally be reunited with both daughters. She tells Chris and Marlene the truth about their separation shortly before the Wall was built in 1961. Because it is too dangerous, the sisters promise never to exchange passports again.

Marlene does not want to give up her proximity to her new family and moves to West Berlin without further ado. With her West German passport, she can travel back and forth between East and West Berlin as she pleases. An option that is not open to Chris.

The ensemble is fighting for the future of the world-famous Friedrichstadt-Palast in the recently reunified Berlin. Ballet director Regina Feldmann is reorganizing the legendary kickline. The siblings Luise and Lukas are there to audition. While their brother is immediately convincing, Luise loses her nerve during her solo and is rejected. But Lukas manages to get them to audition together and both are ultimately hired. Overjoyed, they set up a shared apartment in East Berlin with their colleague Karla from Munich. Between the old tenants Erwin and Martha, the wall woodpecker Ringo and the squatter scene, the trio conquers a home - and the largest show stage in the world. They have no idea that the palace is threatened with closure.

The newcomers have no idea what is threatening their brave new world. At the Love Parade, Karla, Luise and Lukas celebrate exuberantly with the others from the palace ensemble. For Luise, however, the day ends in chaos when her brother and her roommate suddenly disappear in the crowd. When real estate agents turn up, it becomes clear that life in East Berlin is just as threatened by commercial interests as the palace. Luise in particular feels abandoned by her brother and her roommate. The young filmmaker Uli distracts her - and finally, thanks to his documentary about the Love Parade, she also finds Lukas' secret.

When Kolberg fires the stage designer Theo, Regina loses her most important ally. At the same time, the relationship between the ballet director and the young dancer Lukas is in danger of being discovered. Despite the big age difference, Regina and Lukas feel a close bond, and the experienced ballet director enjoys the carefree moments in private. Karla, who also has her eye on Lukas, is annoyed by the secret affair. No one suspects what she is hiding from the others. But after a blunder during the performance, there is a scandal between Karla and the ballet director Regina. Meanwhile, in the East Berlin shared flat, there is an opportunity to profit from the upheaval: Martha and Erwin propose a lucrative money exchange deal to the "youngsters". When the currency is changed, 6,000 East German marks become 6,000 West German marks, and if they top up all available accounts together, they can make an enormous profit thanks to the exchange rate!

Kolberg plans a promotional gala in the palace with guest star Gina Gambetti and causes unrest in the ensemble. To save her professional integrity, Regina ends her relationship with Lukas. Hurt by Regina's rejection, he applies to another company. Meanwhile, Luise, supported by Uli, throws herself into her own dance project and develops her talent as a choreographer. Assistant director Nadja discovers the secret of her friend, the violinist Johanna. A separation for good seems inevitable. As if that weren't enough, Regina is faced with another challenge.

When the press tears the show to pieces, Kolberg resigns. Now the palace is without a director. Regina also has to find a solution to her private dilemma. She cannot share Lukas's joy about his new commitment. So far she has only told her confidant, the bartender Martin, about the pregnancy and does not want to put Lukas under pressure. Disappointed and irritated, Lukas gives in to Karla's advances. At the same time, sparks fly between Uli and Luise. But the next moment the shared flat is on the verge of collapse: an arson attack, presumably on behalf of the property speculators. When Regina learns of a planned vote in the Senate on the closure of the palace, she draws strength from an idea.

Her street performance opens up a real opportunity for Luise: But while she enthusiastically begins a choreography for the palace, Karla collapses in pain. 

Luise can't count on Lukas either. After his argument with Regina, he moved back to his parents on the Baltic Sea. Luise makes a quick decision and follows her brother. At the same time, Regina tries to come to terms with her situation.

Only an impossible offer from Martin makes them make a decision. Back in Berlin, the siblings find themselves in the middle of a house-to-house fight between arsonists and residents. When the police arrive to clear the street, everything seems lost. But in the fight for the occupied houses and the struggle for the future of the palace, it becomes clear: courage, imagination and solidarity are needed for a new beginning to succeed.