Haus Kummerveldt - Episode Guide

Luise's passion is literature - she wants to go down in history as a famous writer and ultimately escape the boredom and narrow-mindedness of aristocratic country life. Just as she was about to send the manuscript of her novel to a publisher, her father died, after which Luise's younger brother Veit returned to the country estate after a long absence and became her guardian. Meanwhile, Luise is dealing with her father's death by completing her manuscript and finally sending it to the publisher. In order to demonstrate his new power to his headstrong sister, Veit wants to force Luise to marry the simple-minded Count von Mogge and give up writing. While the Count is still proposing, Luise throws herself out of a window into the moat. After this incident, she is attacked by the young, handsome doctor Dr. Büchner treated. Does love come into play here?

Luise would like the fact that Dr. Büchner has fallen head over heels in love with her to gain erotic experiences. The young doctor sees in her the love of his life and soon makes her a marriage proposal. Luise reacts irritated. Meanwhile, Luise's brother Veit is struggling with self-doubt. He has ambivalent feelings towards his sister. On the one hand there is the sibling closeness and bond, on the other hand old rivalries and power games between the siblings reappear. In addition, Luise's desire for freedom and her literary ambitions do not fit in at all with Veit's gender image, which was shaped by the Wilhelmine zeitgeist. In order to live up to his idea of male authority, he tries to take control of Luise's life. But Luise cannot be controlled.

The publisher rejected Luise's manuscript – as a woman she should find a husband and devote herself to sewing. So Luise has to find a different approach to publishing her manuscript. Perhaps a submission under a male pseudonym promises more success? dr Büchner wants to surprise Luise with a bouquet of flowers in the hope of spending a romantic afternoon with the lady of his heart. But things turned out differently and the naïve doctor witnessed how the conflict between the von Kummerveldt siblings continued to escalate. Because Veit got hold of the letter that the publisher had sent to Luise. He reads in the presence of Luise and Dr. Büchner out of it with malicious delight. Luise does not want to accept this humiliation and challenges her brother to a pistol duel.

After the pistol duel, silence reigns in the Kummerveldt house, Luise and Veit avoid each other. Both try in their own way to process the sibling conflict. Veit's wound is treated by Dr. Büchner, whom Veit threatens not to reveal the truth about the origin of the injury. Meanwhile, the new housemaid Karla begins her service. Veit feels drawn to her – in his position of power, an ominous coincidence for the young woman. Karla also arouses Luise's interest. Because Luise has a new task. Her male pseudonym has received a new letter from the publisher, which has turned out to be more benevolent, but also advises choosing more naturalistic themes as a basis for literature in the spirit of the zeitgeist.

Veit is looking for ways to get physically closer to the maid Karla, again using his position of power. Luise observes the two and sees it confirmed that Veit as a man can get everything he wants, while almost all doors remain closed to her - as a woman. Veit's leg injury is also wrapped up in a male heroic story by the housekeeping staff, in which Veit allegedly caught a poacher in the act and was shot in the leg. At Veit's birthday party, at which one of Veit's former military comrades, Dr. Knecht, and his sister Adalind are present, the siblings meet again. Luise seems changed and initially mimes the good sister.

With the newly learned cycling, Luise regains a bit of freedom and also – once again – causes an unpleasant sensation, which not only bothers her brother Veit. Luise's behavior also resonates with his comrade Dr. Servant increasingly outraged, who sees Veit as responsible for stopping his sister. Luise knows how to take advantage of this fact – she has finally found a way to provoke her brother. Karla is unsettled by Luise's great interest in her everyday life and asks her not to write about her anymore. Luise reluctantly agrees to Luise's subsequent suggestion that Karla be given an alias in her text. It's not just this topic that bothers Karla - but also sudden attacks of morning sickness, which the house servant can't hide.