In the West Palatinate, a young, committed police officer is shot dead during a routine check of a truck driver. He was one of the employees of Stefan Tries, the head of the police station in Zarten. Tries is no stranger to Lena Odenthal, who is entrusted with the case: almost 30 years earlier, he stood by her when she had to solve a murder in Zarten. With her colleague Johanna Stern, Lena Odenthal returns to the place where she once met the up-and-coming police officer Stefan Tries. He is now an aged provincial king who has his own view of what is legal in his kingdom. It quickly becomes clear that his understanding does not match that of Lena Odenthal. What has become of Stefan Tries is also a personal question for Lena. Old feelings play a role, thatLives lived and dreams given. It's about dependency and corruption. And about a victim, a young police officer like Stefan Tries once did, who set out to make his homeland a better place.
SWR celebrates the 30th birthday of the Lena-Odenthal "crime scene" with "Tatort: The Palatinate from above". Author Stefan Dähnert used motifs from the third Lena Odenthal "crime scene" "Tod im Häcksler" from 1991, which was also set in the fictitious town of Zarten. Just like back then, local policeman Stefan Tries is played by Ben Becker. This encounter creates a new closeness between the two characters, while the different developments drive them apart. The sequel, which is also the 70th case of Lena Odenthal, was staged by Brigitte Maria Bertele.