The Markovič Method: Hojer (original title Metoda Markovič: Hojer) is Czech crime television series produced by TV Nova. It is about investigation of murders committed by serial killer Ladislav Hojer which was led by Jiří Markovič who was known for unorthodox investigative methods. Markovič is helped by his colleague and friend kpt. Josef Vilímek and their hot-headed young colleague por. Vlasta Červenka.
Tropes of The Markovič Method:
- Adaptation Name Change: Many characters were renamed for the series:
- Antonín Jarolímek to Josef Vilímek
- Lubomír Fiala to Vlasta Červenka
- Jaroslav Zmek to Robert Smrk
- Vladimír Tekverk to Jaromír Stahwerk.
- Jan Tvrdík to Jiří Prchlík
- Antonín Sova to Miloslav Sokol in fifth episode
- Affably Evil: Hojer is always friendly to investigators especially to Markovič.
- Anti-Hero: Stahlwerk is an intelligent murderer with sadistic urges who helps Markovič with his investigation.
- Anti-Villain: Jiřina Radlická in second episode murders her husband but it is implied she did so because he was beating her.
- The Atoner: Stahlwerk helps Markovič with his investigation partly as an atonement for the murder he committed.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Vilda in the third episode. He disguises himself as nice person who tries to help anyone he can which earned him nickname Golden Person. In reality he is a sexual predator and pedophile.
- Bruiser with a Soft Center: Vilímek is a tough matcho guy but when his wife is diagnosed cancer his more sensitive side is shown. He tries to be a support for his ill wife but its clear that he himself is devastated by her condition. In some scenes it is clear that he is holding tears. He it further expanded in fifth episode when his wife dies and cries in Markovič's arms.
- Cannibal Larder: Investigators examine Hojer's fridge in second episode and find rotten meat there. In next episode Hojer admits he was keeping there body party of his victim before consuming it.
- Death Seeker: Stahlwerk changes his confession due to advice of his lawyer and starts to deny his disorder. He starts to claim that his victim was his lover and he killed her because she was blackmailing him. Markovič notes that this confession leads to capital punishment and manages convince him to return to his original confession and thus saving his life. According to public sources Tekverk (real life Stahlwerk) started to deny his disorder because of the guilt he felt for his crime and wanted to be executed.
- Dirty Coward: Hojer eventually turns out to be one. Throughout the series he develops sort of friendly relationship with investigators especially Markovič but when he realises that he is facing capital punishment he initially calls of his confessions and then tells the court that he confessed all murders because police officers were torturing him.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Hojer weirdly starts to see Markovič as a parental substitute.
- Family Man: Markovič is shown as one. He has loving relationship with his wife Eva and is loving father to two children.
- Friend to All Children: Markovič has a soft spot for children. It is especially shown when he interrogates Prchlík's children who survived their father's attack. Social worker notes that Prchlík's daughter is afraid of men due to the attack but she opens up to Markovič.
- When Markovič investigates Vilda Liška case he is clearly infuriated at Vilda for what he was doing to children.
- Happily Married: Markovič and his wife Eva.
- Markovič's colleague and friend Josef Vilímek is also shown happily married
- Červenka eventually marries Irena and they seem to be a happy couple.
- Hate Sink: Vilda in the third episode. He is a predator who sexually abuses kids and doesn't think that there is anything bad about it. When Markovič loses his temper and hits him its shown as pretty understandable.
- Jiří Prchlík in fourth episode. He killed his mother in law and then tried to kill his children and wife. This is supported by the fact that real life Markovič who was an opponent of capital punishment himself stated that Tvrdík (Prchlík's name in real life) deserved to be executed.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: Markovič and Vilímek. It is especially evident when Vilímek's wife is diagnosed with cancer.
- Hidden Depths: Červenka is talented draftsman.
- Innocently Insensitive: Červenka tells a joke about cancer despite repeatedly being warned by Vilímek to not finish the joke. Vilímek slaps him when Červenka finishes the joke. It is then revealed that Vilímek's wife was recently diagnosed with cancer herself.
- Monster of the Week: Each episode features investigation of another of Markovič's closed cases besides Hojer.
- Nice Guy: Markovič is the most notable example.
- Police Are Useless: Slovak policemen in fifth episode are shown as highly incompetent.
- Police Brutality: Subverted. Markovič and other members of his Department don't beat suspects. There are only two exceptions in series when they were beating suspect. First time when Hojer almosts strangles Irena during reconstruction. Červenka who seems to have feelings for Irena then startes beating up Hojer but his colleagues quickly stop him. Second time is when Markovič interrogates Vilda Liška who is a sexual predator targetting children. Markovič hits him when Vilda says that "these bitches wanted it."
- Police Lineup: During the third episode. Hojer's surviving victim is called to idnetify Hojer. Its not clear whether she didn't really recognise him or didn't want to recognise him but Hojer himslef recognised her.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Vilímek is Red oni to Markovič's blue oni.
- Serial Killer: Hojer murdered several women.
- Too Dumb to Live: Hojer who doesn't listen to his lawyer Žabimajerský and even confesses to 2 murders in fourth episode despite the fact that it ensures Capital punishment for him. He seems to not care stating that "wooden sleeping bag" expects everyone.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Žabimajerský sort of. He is polite since the beginning but more reserved to policemen. As the case progresses he develops friendly relationship with investigators and Hojer. It is further shown in fifth episode when he calls out Slovak police officer for boycotting investigation to show some respect to Markovič.
- Tragic Villain: Hojer can be seen as one. He comes from incomplete family and didn't have much luck in his life especially with women which led to him becoming a serial killer.
- Truth in Television: The series is based on real events and real cases. Investigation itself is shown in very realistic light.
- The Un-Reveal: Its never revealed whether Hojer killed the sixth victim or not.
- What the Hell, Hero?: When Červenka says he wants to go see an execution as he hasn't seen one he is called out on it by Markovič who notes that a person will die there.
- Would Hurt a Child: Prchlík attempts to kills his children to hurt his wife for leaving him.
