The premiere episode of "Murder Mindfully," titled "Breathing," sets the stage for a darkly comedic exploration of a man's life spiraling into chaos as he attempts to find balance through mindfulness. Björn Diemel, our protagonist, is introduced as a man on the brink of a personal and professional crisis. At 42, he claims to have no violent tendencies until he embraces mindfulness, a decision that changes his life in unexpected ways.
Three months prior, Diemel is shown as a busy lawyer working for a mafia lord, Dragan, who is a constant source of stress in his life. Dragan's illegal activities and the pressure to cover up his messes have made Diemel a troubled man. His marriage is suffering, and his wife, Kathrina, is tired of him missing important moments in their daughter Emily's life. She suggests that Diemel attend a mindfulness program led by Joschka Breitner for the sake of their daughter.
Diemel, recognizing his own disarray, decides to give the program a chance. Despite being late for his first appointment, Breitner's calming demeanor and the program's teachings resonate with Diemel. Breitner introduces the concept of mindful living and its importance, encouraging Diemel to pause and reflect on his life, something he has never done. Through controlled breathing and reflection, Diemel starts to feel a sense of optimism and control over his life.
As the weeks progress, Diemel begins to implement the principles of mindfulness. He spends more time with Emily, ignores work calls during quality time, and even moves out of his house to focus on self-improvement. Kathrina is happy with the changes, hoping to get back the man she fell in love with. At work, Diemel takes breaks and refuses to let work issues affect him, showing significant progress in his mindfulness journey.
However, the calm is short-lived. While Diemel is on his way to a lake house with Emily, borrowed from Dragan, he receives a call from his boss. Dragan is in a crisis, having killed a man in front of 50 witnesses, and he summons Diemel back to the office. Diemel's argument with the secretary, Ms. Bregenz, escalates, and he leaves Emily with a trainee to meet Dragan in the building's secret basement.
The situation is dire: Dragan, acting on a tip from Toni, killed Igor, the right-hand man of a rival gang leader Boris, mistakenly believing Igor was encroaching on his territory. It turns out Igor was merely purchasing a grenade. With irrefutable evidence against him, Dragan faces certain imprisonment. Diemel suggests surrendering to avoid Boris's wrath, but Dragan refuses, choosing instead to flee and forcing Diemel to take him to the lake house, using Emily as a cover.
Diemel is trapped, facing the threat from Dragan and the moral dilemma of involving his daughter in the mafia's affairs. He employs Breitner's lessons to stay calm and decides to go with the flow, setting the stage for a tense and unpredictable series of events. "Breathing" ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager for the next episode and the unraveling of Diemel's increasingly complex life. The episode masterfully blends humor with the gravity of its subject matter, providing a compelling start to the series.