The Last Cop (German: Der letzte Bulle) is a German television series that was first aired in 2010. The series is about a policeman from the 1980s put into a modern police department in Essen.

Plot The show is set in Essen, in the center of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, located in North Rhine West-Phalia. A large part of the 5th season also takes place in Cologne. Mick Brisgau is a homicide detective who was shot in the head on duty in the late 1980s leading to a 20 year long coma. The show starts when he awakes suddenly from the coma and is allowed to return to his old job at the homicide department. As an old-school macho cop, he doesn't know about modern technology such as cellphones or computers, or modern investigation methods. The likes of the Domain Network System, CDs, the Internet, search engines and GPS are turnoffs for Mick, as is the realization that women now partake in soccer and men in wellness. He tries to deal with the modern world in general, and homicide cases in particular, as if it was still the 1980s.

The rough style of the main character (played by Henning Baum) is complemented by the prudence, professionalism and dullness of his new partner, Andreas Kringge (played by Maximilian Grill). Throughout the show's run, Mick and Andreas ultimately go from (very) reluctant partners to best friends. Other characters include Brisgau's former partner, Martin Ferchert, who is now head of the homicide department; Brisgau's wife Lisa, who divorces him during the first season; the medical examiner Roland Meisner, who has been living with Brisgau's wife for years, predictably leading to a somewhat fierce rivalry between the two men; Isabelle, Brisgau's adult daughter, whom he had only ever known as a baby; the police psychologist Tanja Haffner, who constantly expresses concern for Mick's wellbeing

The series uses songs from the 1980s, sometimes to comment on the plot, and features other items from the decade such as Brisgau's Opel Diplomat V8.http://www.sat1.de/tv/der-letzte-bulle/video/comic (episode 4) which he continues to use as his service vehicle.

Seasons 1-3 and 6 are primarily episodic, while seasons 4 and 5 take a more serialized approach, focusing on Mick's past, both before and after he wound up in a coma. Following the show's 5th season, Mick goes on vacation, but a plane crash leads to him being stranded on an island in the Pacific for several years. The show's 6th season has him return to Essen, where he reluctantly joins the police force once more.

Production and transmission The series ran first on 12 April 2010 on Sat.1 Television with 2.99 million viewers (or 9.2 percent) somewhat below the average of the TV channel. Of the target demographic (people ages 14 to 49), 1.68 million people watched the premiere, translating to a market share of 13.2% for Sat.1, better than average. Beginning with the airing of the second episode, "The Last Cop" managed to continuously increase its audience count all the way until the season finale. The twelfth episode brought in the show's best numbers yet, having been viewed by 3.41 million people (with 1.77 million in the 14 to 49 demographic). Overall, the season's 13 episodes were viewed by an average of 3.03 million people, of which 1.58 million belonged to the target demographic. This view count translated to a market share of 10.1 and 13.7%, respectively.

With the start of the second season on March 14, 2011, the viewer share almost doubled to 4.09 million viewers (2.11 million were part of the target demographic) and Sat.1 ordered a third season, which premiered on February 6, 2012. The fourth season aired in Germany beginning 21 January 2013.

The show has been aired in combination with the Sat.1 production Danni Lowinski from the start, but while the latter scored better in the beginning it is now The Last Cop that shows better results. With a viewer share of 15% for The Last Cop and with the two series being the best-running productions of Sat.1, it was announced on 9 April 2013 that a fifth season was being planned for both shows. The fifth season of The Last Cop aired on April 24, 2014, but it ran on Sat.1 emotions instead of Sat.1. On October 31, 2025, more than ten years after the fifth season had concluded, a sixth season was released on Prime Video. The new season was then aired on Sat.1 about a month later.

The series has been sold to neighbouring countries; it has run on Austrian ÖRF since 31 May 2011. The French Direct 8 has run a dubbed version since March 2012 under the title of Mick Brisgau, le come-back d’un super flic. It is also dubbed for Italian Rai 1 where it runs under the title of Last Cop - L'ultimo sbirro during the summer. In Bulgaria, the series runs as Ченге от миналото on Diema in a dubbed version. In Brazil the show is being aired on cable channel Globosat+ under the name O Último Policial, in German language with Portuguese subtitles. In Spain the series is dubbed and runs as El último poli duro on Canal+ Spain and Cuatro.

Cast Timeline

● Main cast, (S) supporting cast, (G) guest star Rolle123456Michael „Mick“ Brisgau●●●●●●Andreas Kringge●●●●●●Martin Ferchert●●●●●●Tanja Haffner●●●●Dr. Roland Meisner●●●●●(S)Uschi Nowatzki(S)●●●●(S)Lisa Brisgau●(G)Isabelle Brisgau●●(G)(S)Dana Kringge(G)(S)(S)(S)(G)Karl Kringge(G)(G)(S)Astrid Schuhmann●(S)Ralf Berger●Carolin Berger● Main Cast CharacterActorSeasonEpisodesCharacter DescriptionMichael „Mick“ BrisgauHenning Baum1–1–Homicide detective who wound up in a coma for 20 years after being shot. Father to Isabelle and Mick Jr. In season five, he serves as a uniformed cop for a few days, before eventually finding employment at the private security company Ruhrsafe-Security. Lived on an isolated island after surviving a plane crash and returns to Essen after eleven years, where he rejoins the homicide desk.Andreas KringgeMaximilian Grill1–1–Mick's partner, joins the State Criminal Police Office in season five and becomes its director by the end of the season. In season six, he volunteers to be transferred back to the homicide desk in order to spend more time with his family. Briefly works as a uniformed cop alongside Mick.Martin FerchertHelmfried von Lüttichau1–1–Captain of the homicide desk, assumes leadership of the public relations department in season three, then resumes his old position in season four. In season five, he goes into politics. As of season six, he is once again the captain of the homicide desk.Tanja HaffnerProschat Madani1–41–43, 45–52Police psychologist, becomes the new homicide captain in season three, resumes her old position in season four. Following season four, she emigrates to Argentina. Dr. Roland MeisnerRobert Lohr1–1–A forensic scientist who is a rival to Mick, due to his relationship with Mick's ex-wife while he was in a coma. After season four, Meisner created the company Meisner Technology. In season six, he acts as Carolin's temporary replacement while she is on vacation.Uschi NowatzkiTatjana Clasing1–1–Owner of Mick's favorite bar and is good friends with him, Andreas, Tanja and Roland. Is also Martin's life companion.Lisa BrisgauFloriane Daniel1–21–14Mick's ex-wife and Meisner's ex-fiancée.Isabelle BrisgauLuise Risch1–2, 4–52–15, 20, 23, 48, 55–56, 58–60Mick's daughter, initially works as a banker, then at an advertising firm in season five.Ralf BergerTorben Liebrecht661–The district attorney, Ferchert's boss, and Carolin Berger's husband.Carolin BergerPeri Baumeister662–Forensic scientist, Ralf Berger's wife. Is currently having an affair with Mick. Supporting Cast CharacterActorSeasonEpisodesCharacter DescriptionDana Kringge (Maiden Name. Riedmüller)Karoline Schuch2–424–52Wife of Andreas Kringge5, 653–60, 67–68Dr. Niklas HoldRené Steinke327–38A former friend of Tanja's.Christine WegnerSuzan Anbeh328–33Reporter and Roland Meisner's sister.Bernhard SchallerHendrik Duryn3–439–40, 50–52A probation officer and the one responsible for Mick's coma.Stefanie AverdunkFranziska Weisz443–51Controller at the Financial department. Had a fling with Mick.Arno FieberBernd Michael Lade444–52Murderer of Klaus Beck and attempted to have Mick killed. He kidnaps Andreas while fleeing, but Mick is able to track him down, saving Andreas and arresting Fieber.Ansgar KörtingAugust Schmölzer449–52Ordered the death of Klaus Becker and tried to have Mick killed.Holger BrawitschMišel Matičević553–54; 59A colleague of Andreas at the SCPO, is killed during a meeting with Mick. Lutz GörnemannAdam Bousdoukos553–59Another colleague of Andreas at the SCPO, is killed by Klaus Koller.Klaus KollerOliver Stokowski553, 60Director of the SCPO (Stokowski previously played the role of Headmaster Abraham in the season three episode "I'll Say No More")Vera KollerSusanna Simon553–60Wife of Klaus Koller, is accidentally shot and killed by Koller during a cash handover (Simon previously played the role of Inga Klein in the season four episode "Waste of Time")Astrid SchuhmannChristina Hecke5–54–Had a one-night-stand with Mick, leading to the birth of Mick Jr.Rüdiger BremmeOliver Stritzel554–60Koller's successor at the SCPOAnja RusseckYangzom Brauen555–60Andreas' partner at the SCPOErwin BrisgauPaul Faßnacht555–60Mick's father and Isa's grandfather, who lives in Monaco (Fassnacht previously played the role of Ecki Troller in the season one episode "The round shape must go in the square hole", as well as the instructor Koslik in the season four episode "Those Who Fly Too High")Tilda FrankKaren Dahmen661–63Andreas' new partner on the homicide desk, eventually transfers to the SCPO Karl KringgeLauri Kröck661–Son of Dana and Andreas Kringge

Remakes

French Falco is the series that started in 2013.

U.S. At Turner Upfront TNT had announced the production of a pilot for a US remake (titled "The Last Cop") of the German series in May 2013. The adaptation would have seen the 1990s cop Mick Branigan awakening after 20 years in coma and returning to his job at the LAPD. The pilot was produced by Sylvester Stallone with Fuse Entertainment and Fox Television Studios co-producing the show for TNT. However, the series never panned out.

Estonian Kanal 2 started the series under name Viimane võmm (The Last Cop) in 2014. The main characters are Mikk Kotkas (actor Üllar Saaremäe), Anders Prikk (actor Robert Annus) and Tanja Murrik (actress Ülle Lichtfeldt). Kotkas drives old white Volvo 700-series wagon.

Japanese Nippon Television Network and Hulu announced the production of a mini-series for a Japanese remake of the German series, which began to air starting in the summer 2015.

Russian Petersburg – Channel 5 produced first two seasons (39 episodes) of Последний мент (The Last Cop) in 2015–2016. Gosha Kutsenko plays the lead role - captain Alexey Divov.

Czech The Czech remake Polda (The Cop) premiered on 23 October 2016. Five seasons ran on TV Prima.

Trivia

In episode 4 "Nightshift", a DJ working a party at the Vesuvio restaurant lists off several excellent (in his opinion) old TV shows during an argument with the host. One of these is "The Clown" from the late 90s, with the DJ's actor, Sven Martinek, having played the main character of that very show. In episode 19 "The Naked Tankers from Huttrop", Peter Fieseler portrays the murder victim Adam Ritter. In the show "The Savior - We are Attorneys" he portrayed the defense attorney Ben Ritter. In episode 26 "The Missed Chance", Brisgau and Kringge's current homicide case takes them to a steel mill. The man they are looking for works in Sector 7G, according to works council member Ziller. This is a reference to the Simpsons, where Homer Simpson also works in Sector 7G as a safety inspector at a nuclear power plant. In episode 31 "Nymphs and Don Juans", Andreas teasingly refers to Mick as "Mister Undercover Love", due to the latter's undercover investigation into a sex therapy group. In the 2010 movie "Undercover Love", Henning Baum played the main character Johannes Mueller.