'Vienna Blood' Season 2, Episode 5-6 Recap: "Darkness Rising"

Vienna Blood has leaned heavily into the Liebermans' Jewishness, so opening with Catholic iconography and Gregorian chant is a choice. It's due to a lecture organized by Herr Strobl (Serge Falck), and Professor Priel (David Oberkogler) attended by Mendel, Max, and Amelia, featuring Brother Stanislav (Lukas Watzl). Perhaps they should have researched before attending. A protestor interrupts, Isaak Korngold (Alexander Absenger), the brother of Jonas, Clara's new fiance. He denounces the monk for anti-semitism and calling Jews demons, stirring up bigotry. Brother Stanislav doubles down, driving Isaak to throw a rock at him. Mendel and Max say nothing, but Max seems to wish he'd had the stones to stand up with Isaak.

Amelia: "I assume this is just a hobby? Otherwise, you and I won't have much of a future."

Since Brother Stanislav is dead a week later, it was probably better not to. He's found by the chamberlain, Brother Killian (Florian Stetter), forcing the Abbot (Erwin Steinhauer) to call in Reinhardt. But he won't let the body leave the monastery, forcing Dr. Jager to make a house call to confirm the monk was stoned to death. Stanislav's friend, Brother David (Nicolas Matthews), looks down when asked if Stanislav had enemies. The Abbot admits the priest's bigotry was controversial but brings up Isaak's threat of stoning. Oskar arrests the alibi-less Isaak and tells Jonas and Clara they can't see him.