In the first season of eight episodes, two detectives, German Ellie (Julia Jentsch) and Gedeon (Nicholas Ofczarek [de]) from Austria, hunt a serial killer, Gregor (Franz Hartwig), who is using a Krampus mask as a disguise.
The pilot episode, "Finsternis" (English: "Darkness"), had its world premiere on 21 September 2018 at the Tribeca TV Festival, ahead of the full series broadcast.
[3][4] Its Austrian debut was at the Urania Cinema, Vienna, on 15 January 2019,[5][6] and its German premiere at Gloria-Palast, Munich, on the following day.
Season two A year later, Ellie mentors junior detective, Yela, who is joined by Gedeon, as a police advisor.
Xandi is protected by his older brother Wolfgang, his mother Therese, the family's employee Manni and investigating chief detective Manuel.
Season three Six months later serial killer Felix, follows instructions from his leader Stefan who poses as legendary figure, Jackl the Knacker.
Felix successively kills Samir, Marianne, Tobias and Peter while praying to Jackl, "sequere me, te protegam" (English: "Follow me, I'll protect you").
"[13] The creators researched serial killers, including their online interviews, in developing the character of Gregor Ansbach (Franz Hartwig).
Gedeon starts as a jaded, cynical and corrupt officer who becomes dedicated to catching Gregor, and who is protective of Ellie.
"[13] Filming of Der Pass took place from November 2017 to April 2018 in both Austria and Germany, at Bad Gastein, Berchtesgaden, Graz, Söcking, Vienna, Grundlsee and Sportgastein.
[3] The second season filming began in January 2020,[14][15] however, it was delayed by restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in April and continued intermittently to December 2020.
"[4] Die Presse's Anna-Marie Wallner observed the series title, Der Pass, has multiple meanings, both the geographical location between Austria and Germany and the annual festival group of St Nicholas, Krampus and the Angel.
[1] Wallner praised the "courageous and rather unusual" storyline, where the villain is revealed to the audience in episode 3 while "tension nevertheless persists.