{{Short description|German romance-drama programme}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox television | genre = Romance, Drama, Crime<ref name="crew" /> | director = {{unbulleted list|Tarek Roehlinger|Greta Benkelmann}}<ref name=":4" /> | starring = {{unbulleted list|Anna Bardavelidze: Louna Loris|Gustav Schmidt: Nicolas Dardenne}}<ref name=":3" /> | composer = Sebastian Fillenberg | country = {{unbulleted list|Germany|Austria}} | num_seasons = 1<ref name="zdf" /> | num_episodes = 24<ref name=":3" /> | runtime = 25 minutes<ref name=":3" /> | company = {{unbulleted list|Producers at Work|Wega Film}} | network = ZDF | released = {{Start date|2025|04|10|df=y}}<ref name="zdf" /> }}
'''Crystal Wall''' is a German-Austrian TV programme that was made for ZDF in 2024 by the production companies Producers at Work and Wega Film. The first season has 24 episodes, which are broadcast online on a weekly basis. The first episode aired on 10 April 2025 on ZDF's streaming service.
== Plot == The MMA fighter Louna Loris saves the millionare-to-be Nicolas Dardenne from a life-or-death situation. In return, she is appointed as his personal bodyguard.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Oferath |first=Paula |date=27 April 2025 |title="Crystal Wall": Kritik zur ZDFneo-Serie über eine MMA-Kämpferin und einen Millionenerben |url=https://www.prisma.de/news/tv/Crystal-Wall-Kritik-zur-ZDFneo-Serie-ueber-eine-MMA-Kaempferin-und-einen-Millionenerben,51687814 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505184952/https://www.prisma.de/news/tv/Crystal-Wall-Kritik-zur-ZDFneo-Serie-ueber-eine-MMA-Kaempferin-und-einen-Millionenerben,51687814 |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |website=Prisma |language=de}}</ref> However, Louna is pursuing another goal; she wants to find out about her father's mysterious death. He worked for the powerful Dardenne company and died under strange circumstances.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Jordan |first=Matthias |date=10 April 2025 |title="Crystal Wall" im ZDF: Liebe zwischen den Klassen |url=https://kulturnews.de/crystal-wall-zdf-mediathek-liebe-zwischen-den-klassen/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505184340/https://kulturnews.de/crystal-wall-zdf-mediathek-liebe-zwischen-den-klassen/ |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |work=Kulturnews}}</ref> While she works at Nicolas' side, the pair become closer, which is a cause of great conflict for Louna, because of her mistrust for the influential family.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
The so-called 'crystal wall' is symbolic of the world that separates Louna and Nicolas, but with time these differences begin to crumble.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|access-date=5 May 2025 |archive-date=5 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505165021/https://www.gala.de/lifestyle/film-tv-musik/-crystal-wall--bei-zdfneo--so-gut-ist-die-new-adult-serie-24346802.html |date=10 April 2025 |language=de |publisher=Gala Magazine |title=So gut ist die New-Adult-Serie |url=https://www.gala.de/lifestyle/film-tv-musik/-crystal-wall--bei-zdfneo--so-gut-ist-die-new-adult-serie-24346802.html}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
== Production == Based on the literary genre of new adult fiction,<ref name=":5" /> the romance-drama series was created for a younger target audience.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|access-date=5 May 2025 |archive-date=5 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505165320/https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/101488/zdf_startet_newadultserie_crystal_wall_im_april_/ |author=Krei, Alexander |date=17 February 2025 |language=de |publisher=DWDL.de |title=ZDF startet New-Adult-Serie "Crystal Wall" im April |url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/101488/zdf_startet_newadultserie_crystal_wall_im_april_/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> The screenplay was written by Lead Writer and Creative Producer Brigit Waiwald together with a Writers' Room that included Florian Vey, Silva Raddatz, Aglef Püschel, Katja Grübel und Burkhard Wunderlich.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Roth |first=Veit-Luca |date=18 February 2025 |title=«Crystal Wall» startet im April |url=https://www.quotenmeter.de/n/158951/crystal-wall-startet-im-april |access-date=5 May 2025 |work=Quotenmeter}}</ref>
The series was directed by Tarek Roehlinger (episodes 1–12) and Greta Benkelmann (episodes 13–24),<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" /> and produced by Producers at Work<ref name=":6" /> and Wega Film for ZDF.<ref name="crew">{{cite web |title=Crystal Wall |url=https://www.crew-united.com/de/Crystal-Wall__338734.html#!searchterm=crys |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505165643/https://www.crew-united.com/de/Crystal-Wall__338734.html#!searchterm=crys |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |publisher=crew united |language=de}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> The show consists of one series with 24 episodes.<ref name="zdf">{{cite web |title=Crystal Wall |url=https://www.zdf.de/serien/crystal-wall-100 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505164738/https://www.zdf.de/serien/crystal-wall-100 |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |website=ZDF |language=de}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> The show features model Barbara Meier in a guest appearance as Valerie.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 April 2025 |title=Barbara Meier mit Gastrolle in neuer ZDF-Serie |url=https://www.stern.de/kultur/barbara-meier--gastauftritt-in-der-zdf-serie--crystal-wall--35622598.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505191301/https://www.stern.de/kultur/barbara-meier--gastauftritt-in-der-zdf-serie--crystal-wall--35622598.html |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |work=Stern |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Oberleitner |first=Maria |date=22 April 2025 |title=Barbara Meier spielt Gastrolle in neuer ZDF-Serie "Crystal Wall" |url=https://www.onetz.de/oberpfalz/amberg/barbara-meier-spielt-gastrolle-neuer-zdf-serie-crystal-wall-id5079483.html |access-date=5 May 2025 |work=Onetz}}</ref>
Filming took place in Berlin and Vienna.<ref name=":6" /> The series premiered on 8 April 2025 at the Achtung Berlin film festival,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=5 May 2025 |archive-date=5 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505170134/https://achtungberlin.de/2025/crystal-wall |date=8 April 2025 |language=de |publisher=Achtung Berlin |title=Crystal Wall |url=https://achtungberlin.de/2025/crystal-wall}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> and the first episode aired on 10 April 2025.<ref name=":6" />
== Reception == Prisma praised the series, in particular its diverse cast and Anna Bardavelidze's performance as Louna.<ref name=":3" /> In contrast, Die Tageszeitung criticises the show's illogical dialogue and outdated aesthetic, as well its failure to look beyond typical tropes of the genre.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Trautmann |first=Marie-Sofia |date=15 April 2025 |title=ZDFneo-Serie "Crystal Wall" kommt nicht ohne genretypische Klischees aus |url=https://taz.de/New-Adult-Serie-Crystal-Hall/!6079399/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250503021911/https://taz.de/New-Adult-Serie-Crystal-Hall/!6079399/ |archive-date=3 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |work=Die Tageszeitung |language=de |issn=0931-9085}}</ref> Kulturnews praises Brigit Waiwald's writing, in particular the characters' depth, as well as the actors' performances. However, it questions the viewers' ability to empathise with Nicolas' suffering due to his wealthy background.<ref name=":4" />
== Episode list ==
=== Series 1 === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Episode<ref name="zdf" /> !Name (English translation)<ref name="zdf" /> !First released on ZDF-Mediathek<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=Pressemappe {{!}} Crystal Wall |url=https://presseportal.zdf.de/pressemappe/crystal-wall |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505170435/https://presseportal.zdf.de/pressemappe/crystal-wall |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |publisher=ZDF Presse |language=de}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> !First broadcast on ZDFneo<ref name=":2" /> |- |1 |Blut auf Gold ''(blood and gold)'' |10 April 2025 |27 April 2025 |- |2 |Der Job ''(the job)'' |10 April 2025 |27 April 2025 |- |3 |Tag Eins ''(day one)'' |10 April 2025 |27 April 2025 |- |4 |Väter ''(father)'' |10 April 2025 |27 April 2025 |- |5 |Mütter ''(mother)'' |10 April 2025 |4 May 2025 |- |6 |Eifersucht ''(jealousy)'' |10 April 2025 |4 May 2025 |- |7 |Zwischen den Stühlen ''(between the chairs)'' |10 April 2025 |4 May 2025 |- |8 |Die Fabrik ''(the factory)'' |10 April 2025 |4 May 2025 |- |9 |Entscheidungen ''(decisions)'' |10 April 2025 |11 May 2025 |- |10 |Party |10 April 2025 |11 May 2025 |- |11 |Begehren ''(desires)'' |17. April 2025 |11 May 2025 |- |12 |Verrat ''(betrayal)'' |17 April 2025 |11 May 2025 |- |13 |Vertrauen ''(trust)'' |24 April 2025 |18 May 2025 |- |14 |Opfer ''(victim)'' |24 April 2025 |18 May 2025 |- |15 |Der Sohn ''(the son)'' |1 May 2025 |18 May 2025 |- |16 |Schande ''(shame)'' |1 May 2025 |18 May 2025 |- |17 |TBC |8 May 2025 |TBC |- |18 |TBC |8 May 2025 |TBC |- |19 |TBC |15 May 2025 |TBC |- |20 |TBC |15 May 2025 |TBC |- |21 |TBC |22 May 2025 |TBC |- |22 |TBC |22 May 2025 |TBC |- |23 |TBC |29 May 2025 |TBC |- |24 |TBC |29 May 2025 | |}
== References == <references />
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=tt35829382}}
Category:German drama television series Category:Austrian drama television series Category:2020s television series Category:Romance television series Category:ZDF original programming Category:ZDFneo original programming Category:German-language television shows Category:German crime television series Category:Austrian crime television series