The episode opens in Auschwitz II-Berkshire in May 1944. Young Lali Sokolov (Jonah Hauer-King) is awake in his bunk when an alarm is activation. SS guards are ordered to search every vehicle. At the administration building, Bella (Maja Wolska) informs Gita Furmanova (Anna Prochniak) that the escape prisoners, Rosin and Mordowicz (Yoav Rothman) reached freedom. Gita shares the news with Lali when he arrives for more tattooist supplies. She suggests they will tell the world the truth about the camp.

September 1944 – SS Guard Stefan Baretzki (Jonas Nay) asks Lali why he is so quiet. Lali tells him that he didn’t sleep well. Baretzki complains about his mattress. Later, a male prisoner grabs a tattooist instrument from Lali’s table and charges an SS guard. Baretzki hits him with his gun. The prisoner is thrown to the ground. Lali and Leon (Phenix Brossard) watch Baretzki strangle the prisoner with his boot.

In the present, old Lali Sokolov (Harvey Keitel) envisions Baretzki asking if Heather Morris (Melanie Lynskey) is aware of his being a Nazi-paid tattooist while the other prisoners starved.

Auschwitz – Baretzki returns with Gita. Once alone, Lali apologizes for being sad. She recites a verse from the Bible and tells him about the planes. She gives him a word of encouragement before returning to work. Later, Gita returns Naomi Hoffmanova’s (Gonny Gaakeer) pants. Looking at the fine work, Naomi says Gita’s mother but stops. Gita tells her to say it. Naomi says her mother would be proud and kisses her on the forehead. Esther (Ellie De Lange) borrows Gita’s sewing kit to expand the waistband of her pants. Naomi sees Esther is about seven months into her pregnancy. Esther asks if she will die. No one answers. Gita urges Hanna (Tallulah Haddon) and Ivana (Mili Eshet) to tell no one. Marta (Avital Lvova) observes Gita adjusting Esther’s pants.

Marta informs Gita of her plan to send Esther to the infirmary. Gita gives her a purse full of cash. Later, she tells Esther that she can stay in the barracks but she must be very discrete. Naomi, Hanna, and Ivana give her food before going to work. Several months after his escape, Mordowicz is returned to the camp under a false name. He shows Lali where he tried to remove his tattoo to keep the SS from identifying him. No one believed their story about the conditions in the camp. He says their story was sent to their allies. Lali covers his old number with a rose tattoo.

In the present, Lali tells Heather that the rose concealed Mordowicz’s identity and he died an old man. He envisions Baretzi calling him a “Yes Man.” Heather asks if he has read her transcript. He questions if a book is necessary. Frustrated, she takes the teacups into the kitchen. When she returns, she stresses the need for the world to know his story.

Auschwitz – Esther goes into labor. Naomi urges her to not scream. Gita, Hanna, and Ivana assist in the delivery. Marta watches as Esther brings a baby girl into the world. She hands Naomi her knife to cut the umbilical cord and wipes tears from her face before issuing orders. Gita nestles the baby.

In the present, Lali shows Heather a photo of Esther’s daughter, Naomi Miriam, as an adult. He recalls the good-hearted people in the camp.

Auschwitz – Marta calls off a list of numbers, one of which belongs to Esther. Naomi claims the number as her own. Marta replaces Esther’s number with Naomi’s.

In the present, Lali tells Heather that Esther lives in Rotterdam with her husband and their children.

Auschwitz – Cilka (Yali Topol Margalith), Bella, and Gita are ordered to burn all the files in the administration building. Bella tells them of the impending transfer of all the female prisoners to another camp near Poreba. Cilka believes they will be killed. Bella says they will send her and the other political prisoners home. As the female prisoners prepare to leave the camp, Lali approaches Gita and tells her that Mr. Pavlic (Michal Rezny) in Bratislava will help her. Frightened, Baretzki tells Lali that his future is uncertain but he was like a brother to him. When he holds out his hand, Lali refuses to shake it.

In the present, Lali compliments Heather’s writing abilities. He says when the male prisoners were evacuated from the camp, Baretzki did not go with them.

Auschwitz January 1945 – In line with the other male prisoners, Lali makes eye contact with Baretzki.

In the present, Lali tells Heather that he hid diamonds under his tongue. He says after several transfers, he fled one day during work duty. The guards never followed him.

Poland January 1945 – Gita and Hanna support Ivana as they march through Poland.

Austria April 1945 – Captain Petrov (Andrei Nova) gives Lali water before notifying Commander Volkov (Alexander Terentyev). Lali is ordered to clean up.

Poland – Ivana refuses to drink. Hanna says they should be near Poreba. Gita cradles Ivana’s head. The next morning, Ivana is unresponsive. SS Guard Greta (Jeanne Jaeger) orders the prisoners to leave the dead. Gita removes Ivana’s shoes before rejoining the march.

Austria – Lali looks at himself in the mirror. A guard delivers a tray to him. He crams his mouth full of food.

Gummifabrik – Hanna and Gita flee into the woods as the episode ends.

 

The Tattooist Of Auschwitz Review

Esther gives birth to a baby girl in the camp. Her number is called to be executed. Naomi gives her life to save the young mother. All paperwork is burnt before Auschwitz Berkshire is vacated. Lali tells Gita that Mr. Palvic in Bratislava will help her. The female prisoners are marched across Poland. Ivana doesn’t survive the trip. Hanna and Gita escape at Gummifabrik.

Lali escapes but finds himself in the hands of Commander Volkov. He has no idea what Volkov will have him to do.

The episode deserves a 5.5 out of 10. Get more The Tattooist of Auschwitz recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with Reel Mockery can help build brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest TV shows, movies, and celebrity happenings.