Character Relationship Map: The Experiment

Characters

• Tarek Fahd, Prisoner Nr. 77 (played by Moritz Bleibtreu) — protagonist
• Berus (played by Justus von Dohnányi) — supporting
• Dora (played by Maren Eggert) — supporting
• Bosch (played by Antoine Monot Jr.) — supporting
• Professor Dr. Klaus Thon (played by Edgar Selge) — supporting
• Lars (played by Philipp Hochmair) — minor
• Dr. Jutta Grimm (played by Andrea Sawatzki) — supporting
• Günther Schütte, Prisoner Nr. 82 (played by Oliver Stokowski) — supporting
• Joe Maier, Prisoner Nr. 69 (played by Wotan Wilke Möhring) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Joe Maier, Prisoner Nr. 69 → Dr. Jutta Grimm (Professional Distressed Participant And Researcher) — Grimm is among the researchers overseeing a study in which a distressed participant's request to leave is delayed.

  Prisoner Nr. 69 begs to leave, but the researchers delay their decision and he is returned to the prison.

• Dr. Jutta Grimm → Tarek Fahd, Prisoner Nr. 77 (Professional Researcher And Participant) — Grimm oversees the experiment that Tarek joins, but the account gives no direct personal exchange between them beyond the study setting.

  Grimm explains the study's conditions to the participants, including Tarek, and later becomes unreachable when the men need help.

• Dr. Jutta Grimm → Professor Dr. Klaus Thon (Professional Disagreeing Research Colleagues) — Their disagreement over intervention reflects the conflict between Grimm's alarm and Thon's concern about ending the study.

  The researchers debate whether the escalating behavior warrants intervention. Grimm threatens to stop the study, while Thon argues that removing key p...

• Berus → Günther Schütte, Prisoner Nr. 82 (Power Coercive Guard And Prisoner) — Berus is identified as the guard Tarek challenges, while the account describes guards coercing Schütte; it does not specify which guard forced him to drink.

  The guards make Prisoner Nr. 82 drink milk despite his protests, presenting obedience as necessary to keep order.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Lars → Tarek Fahd, Prisoner Nr. 77 (Narrative Messenger) — Lars's message gives the men information about the beating and the lack of contact with Grimm.

  A message from Lars reports that the guards have beaten Bosch and that Dr. Jutta Grimm cannot be reached.

• Tarek Fahd, Prisoner Nr. 77 → Dora (Alliance Resistance Collaborators) — Dora participates with Tarek in efforts to disrupt the experiment; the account gives no further detail about their individual actions.

  Tarek becomes involved in efforts to disrupt the experiment with Bosch and Dora.

• Tarek Fahd, Prisoner Nr. 77 → Bosch (Alliance Resistance Collaborators) — Tarek and Bosch are involved in efforts to disrupt the experiment as conditions deteriorate.

  Tarek becomes involved in efforts to disrupt the experiment with Bosch, and a later message reports that the guards have beaten Bosch.

• Berus → Joe Maier, Prisoner Nr. 69 (Conflict Abuser And Victim) — Berus's assault on Prisoner Nr. 69 marks a serious escalation of the guards' violence.

  Berus seriously injures Prisoner Nr. 69, after which the researchers recognize that the situation has gone beyond harmless role-playing.

• Tarek Fahd, Prisoner Nr. 77 → Berus (Conflict Principal Antagonists) — Tarek directly challenges Berus's authority as the experiment's guard regime becomes increasingly coercive.

  Tarek taunts Berus and questions his authority, and their confrontation grows more hostile as the guards enforce the rules.

Story Analysis

A paid group-behavior study becomes increasingly dangerous as prison roles harden into coercion, violence, and a breakdown of oversight.

Plot Progression

1. The Study Begins — Tarek joins a paid two-week study and learns that participants will surrender privacy and basic rights under video monitoring. The volunteers are divided into prisoner and guard roles.
2. Rules Turn Coercive — The prisoners meet and talk about their lives and reasons for joining. The guards begin enforcing rules with increasing force, including making Schütte drink milk despite his protests.
3. Violence Defies the Experiment — Tarek's conflict with Berus grows more hostile while researchers debate whether they should intervene. Berus seriously injures Prisoner Nr. 69, and Thon resists removing key participants even as Berus...
4. Help Is Delayed — Prisoner Nr. 69 begs to leave, but the researchers delay their decision and return him to the prison. Tarek joins Bosch and Dora in efforts to disrupt the experiment, while Grimm threatens to stop it.
5. The Guards Seal Off — The guards treat the disturbance as a possible test and choose to isolate themselves rather than respond to warnings. Lars reports that Bosch has been beaten and Grimm cannot be reached; the men prepa...