The second season of Kleo keeps us hooked with its mix of espionage, betrayal, and personal vendettas, just like before. And let’s be real—the red suitcase feels like a character in itself, doesn’t it? Anyway, with the release of Season 2, it’s the perfect time to dive into a detailed cast and character guide of old and new characters.
Spoilers Ahead
Kleo Straub
Jella Haase as Kleo Straub is the fierce and strong-willed protagonist of the show. From a young age, Kleo was a true patriot who worked as an unofficial Stasi agent for East Germany. Living with her grandfather, Otto Straub, she developed a deep love for her country and took on secret missions to “take care” of West German enemies, often by assassinating them. Kleo’s last mission involved killing a CIA agent in a West Berlin bar named Big Eden. After this mission, she planned to leave the agent life behind and become a mother with her partner, Andi Wolf. However, things took a drastic turn when her own higher authorities framed her and sent her to prison, including her trusted grandfather, who betrayed her by calling her mentally unstable. While in prison, Kleo lost her child. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, she was released as a political prisoner. This experience made her strong and heartless, and she came back stronger with a new attitude: she no longer cared about anyone except herself.
Throughout the first season, Kleo goes on a mission of revenge, where she kills those who conspired against her, including her grandfather Otto, Colonel Ludger Wieczorek, and Minister Mielke. She realized that these people were only interested in furthering their own power, and she was just a pawn in their game. Kleo’s trust in others was shattered. She even attempted to kill Andi Wolf, her ex-boyfriend, because he tried to kill her to maintain his power. Though it hurt her, she couldn’t bear his betrayal. By now, Kleo understood that the only person she could trust was herself and maybe Sven Petzold, a police officer who was helping her in her mission. Together, they got the suitcase, which held information about a crucial pact between East Germany and America, and Kleo returned it to her aunt for the greater good of the country. Kleo discovered her mother was still alive and prioritized meeting her by taking her address from her aunt. However, she soon realized she had trusted the wrong people again. Her aunt, Margot, took advantage of the situation and the pact for her own gain. Meanwhile, Sven had given the suitcase to Min Sun, one of the BND agents, as he was working as an informant for her. Feeling betrayed, Kleo tried to kill Sven as well, but the problem was she’d fallen in love with him. So we see for the first half of the second season, when Sven tries to win her trust back, Kleo keeps on giving him a cold soldier, because you can imagine how difficult it is for her too. She had learned from experience not to be gullible and understood that people often acted in their own self-interest. She needed to adopt a similar mindset to survive.
Throughout the second season, Kleo evolved into a more mature version of herself. She didn’t want to kill people anymore to achieve her goals. Instead, she focused on uncovering the truth about her past and retrieving the evidence of the pact in the suitcase to make a positive change in the world. She was done being a Stasi agent by now. When she discovered her father was Nikolai, she realized he was still a monster despite the good times they spent together in her childhood. He had killed her mother and Fabian, whom Kleo thought was her father, and wanted the pact’s evidence for his own selfish agenda, not for the country’s betterment. Kleo decided to kill him. But you know she is, after all, a human. She struggled with the idea of killing her father. But when Nikolai killed Rose Carmichael, a CIA agent, in front of her and then tried to kill Sven, the love of her life, Kleo couldn’t take it anymore. She killed her father and kept the pact for herself, which really marked a moment of victory for our girl.
Otto Straub
Jürgen Heinrich as Otto Straub, was a high-ranking Stasi officer whose life was marked by his unwavering dedication to the state, often at the expense of his family. His strict socialist beliefs and commitment shaped his relationships, particularly with his daughter Bridgett and granddaughter Kleo. When Otto couldn’t control his daughter Bridgett, who opposed his strict socialist ideals, he had her arrested. He told everyone she had chosen the wrong side and later declared her dead, even though she was very much alive. Otto wanted to raise Kleo in a way he couldn’t with Bridgett by shaping her into a model of loyalty and obedience. Kleo did as he pleased until she completed a mission to kill a supposed CIA agent. When Otto needed to cover up this mission, he framed his own granddaughter and had her sent to prison. This betrayal showed Otto’s true nature as an utterly selfish person who only cared about himself. Kleo’s decision to kill him was a fitting end to his deceitful life. Throughout the series, Kleo realized how deeply her grandfather’s selfishness was seated. She discovered that Otto had collaborated with Nikolai in Operation Ludsch and covered up Nikolai’s murder of Fabian, whom she’d grown up believing to be her father. This further revealed Otto as a liar who betrayed his family repeatedly. He didn’t want to jeopardize his connection with Nikolai, so he didn’t hesitate to play with his loved ones’ emotions. His unwavering dedication to the state led him to betray his own family and ultimately cost him his life. He represents the destructive power of blind loyalty to a cause by showing how it can corrupt personal relationships and lead to devastating consequences. His death at the hands of his granddaughter, whom he had manipulated and controlled, serves as a sad end to his complex and morally ambiguous journey.
Andi Wolf
Vladimir Burlakov as Andi Wolf was a complex character whose actions had a profound impact on Kleo. Initially, Andi appeared to be a trustworthy ally and romantic partner to Kleo, but as the series unfolded, we got to see his true nature. At first, Andi seemed supportive and loving, and Kleo trusted him deeply. He was another Stasi operative, and their shared background and experiences brought them close together. However, when Kleo was arrested and imprisoned, she discovered that Andi was not who she thought he was. Instead of standing by her, Andi was part of the conspiracy that led to her imprisonment. He had betrayed her by aligning himself with those who wanted to cover up the mission and maintain their own positions of power. So you can imagine how Andi’s betrayal cut deep because Kleo had genuinely cared for him. When she got out of prison and started her quest for revenge, she initially had no idea of Andi’s true involvement. It wasn’t until later, when Sven and Kleo began to piece together the conspiracy, that Andi’s role became clear. He had conspired with Uwe and other former Stasi agents to silence Kleo and protect their secrets. In a confrontation with Andi, Kleo learned more about the suitcase, which contained explosive documents. This information revealed how deeply Andi was involved in the treachery against her. Just as he was about to share more details, Andi was killed by his partner Anja, who turned out to be a skilled Stasi assassin named Ramona who hid her true identity to keep an eye on him. Andi’s death was a turning point for Kleo. Andi Wolf was a tragic figure—a man who chose self-preservation and ambition over loyalty and love.
Uwe
Vincent Redetzki as Uwe, a former Stasi agent, is a relentless and cunning antagonist in Kleo’s journey. Initially appearing as a comrade, he quickly becomes a significant threat after Kleo’s release from prison. Uwe’s survival after being shot by Sven in the café reveals his tenacity and drive for revenge. His manipulative nature and willingness to collaborate with others, like Andi, to take down Kleo demonstrate his ruthless ambition. Uwe’s character is marked by betrayal and a relentless pursuit of his own interests, which makes him a formidable adversary and a central figure in the ongoing conflict. After getting shot by Sven while trying to kill Kleo, everyone thought Uwe was dead. However, he survived. In the new season, we see Uwe is still driven by his thirst for power and revenge. He aligned himself with Kleo’s enemies, including her aunt Margot and Nikolai, to further his agenda and was involved in Operation Ludsch himself. Uwe’s hatred for Kleo grew, and he was willing to go to great lengths to see her destroyed. He even kidnaps Sven to lure Kleo into a trap. When his plans of killing Kleo started to fall apart, he felt humiliated by Margot’s mockery and couldn’t handle the shame. In a fit of rage, he killed her and her husband, Erich Honecker. As for Jutta, Uwe discovered she was a double agent working for both the CIA and Operation Ludsch. To protect his secrets and eliminate any threats to his mission, he decided to kill her too. Uwe’s actions were driven by a mix of fear, betrayal, and a need to regain control over the chaotic situation. By the end of the season, Uwe remained a significant threat, alive and more vengeful than ever, as he failed to kill Kleo this time too, and was about to be killed by her, but he survived. And trust me, knowing Uwe, we can predict this sets the stage for more intense confrontations between the two in the future.
Rose Carmichael
Rose Carmichael was a CIA agent with a cunning and strategic mindset. She appeared on the scene with a clear agenda: to manipulate people to achieve her goals. Her primary interest was the red suitcase and the critical information it contained. To lure Sven, she used the promise of a significant sum of money and a permanent job with the CIA, knowing that his past betrayals and uncertainties might sway him. However, Sven’s loyalty to Kleo proved stronger. Rose’s plan involved tracking Kleo to get closer to the suitcase. Despite her manipulative nature, she helped Kleo rescue Sven from Uwe. This move wasn’t purely unselfish; Rose saw Kleo as a valuable asset in finding the suitcase. By assisting her, Rose hoped to gain Kleo’s trust. Her end came abruptly when Nikolai appeared unexpectedly and shot her from behind, eliminating her as a threat and cutting short her schemes. Rose’s death highlighted her role as a cunning yet ultimately expendable pawn in the high-stakes game surrounding the suitcase and the secret pact.
Nikolai Zhukov
Nikolai Zhukov is a high-ranking KGB officer, known for his ruthlessness and strategic mind. His connection to Kleo is deeply personal—he is revealed to be her biological father, a secret kept hidden for years. This revelation adds layers to his character and shows him as a man capable of deep emotional wounds and dark actions. Nikolai’s work places him at the heart of Soviet intelligence operations. His primary agenda revolves around “Operation Ludsch,” a covert plan aimed at creating a Soviet Republic of Germany. This plan involved annexing the Federal Republic to the GDR and bringing it under Soviet control. His motivations are driven by power and a desire to reshape the geopolitical landscape in favor of the Soviet Union. Despite his high ambitions, Nikolai’s end comes in a personal confrontation with Kleo. After learning the truth about her paternity and Nikolai’s role in her father Fabian’s death, Kleo sees him as a monster who destroyed her family. When she threatens to destroy the pact papers, Nikolai reveals his true priorities and shoots Sven in a fit of rage. This act solidifies his image as a power-hungry man who values his plans over the people he cares about. In the end, Kleo kills Nikolai in a final act of vengeance and self-defense, which ends his reign of terror for personal and geopolitical dominance.
Sven Petzold
Dimitrij Schaad as Sven Petzold is one of those characters who really sticks with you. At first, he’s just a regular German police officer who worked for the fraud squad, but when he crosses paths with Kleo, everything changes. He’s drawn into her world of espionage and becomes not just a sidekick but someone who deeply cares about her. At first he thought that Kelo was a murderer as he witnessed her kill the “CIA agent” in the Big Eden bar, but eventually, when he got to learn the truth about Kleo’s mission, he became deeply intrigued by it. Initially, he acted selfishly because he lost his job and wanted to work for the BND. To achieve this, he became an informant for Min Sun by gaining her trust to pass information about Kleo. But Sven’s a good guy at heart, with a strong sense of right and wrong, and he can’t help but be intrigued by Kleo’s quest for justice. He wanted to help her not only because he’s curious about the suitcase and the secrets it holds but also because he genuinely cares about Kleo. As their journey unfolds, he becomes more than just an ally; he’s her partner and her love interest. In the second episode, we see how he turned down a big offer from the CIA, which showed that he values his connection with Kleo over money and power. Their story takes a dramatic turn when they break into the KGB headquarters to get the crucial pact. Even though they face massive risks, Sven stands by Kleo’s side. Things get really intense when Nikolai, Kleo’s father, shoots Sven in a bid to stop her. In the end, Sven survives, and their relationship stands strong. The series wraps up with a touching moment between them where they share a kiss together, which shows that despite all the danger and betrayal, their love and partnership have only grown stronger.
Miscellaneous characters
Jutta: Jutta’s character was a double agent, working for both the CIA and Operation Ludsch. She initially helped Kleo by providing crucial information about her mother’s hiding place and assisting in locating the red suitcase. However, she met her end when Uwe, feeling betrayed by her, shot her.
Margot Honecker: Steffi Kühnert as Margot Honecker is a complex and formidable character in Kleo’s story. As a high-ranking member of the East German regime, she played a crucial role in Kleo’s development as an assassin, by giving her training and shaping her into a deadly and efficient operative. Margot’s methods were rigorous, which reflected her commitment to the state and its ideals. She saw potential in Kleo and molded her into a weapon for the Stasi by instilling in her a sense of duty and loyalty. Margot’s true nature is revealed through her interactions with Kleo regarding the mysterious suitcase. She disclosed that the suitcase contained secret photographs of her husband First Minister Honecker and President Reagan, which highlighted a secret pact between the U.S. and East Germany. This revelation shattered Kleo’s perception of her country’s integrity and exposed the hypocrisy of those she once served. In a final twist, Margot offered Kleo her mother’s address in exchange for the suitcase. Kleo, feeling betrayed by everyone she once trusted, handed over the suitcase. Margot’s actions underscored her manipulative and self-serving nature, as she sought to secure her own position and interests. Margot’s character is defined by her ruthless pragmatism and unwavering dedication to her cause. In Season 2, Margot Honecker was deeply involved in Operation Ludsch, a plan to annex the Federal Republic of Germany to the GDR with the help of the KGB. She tried to recruit Uwe to ensure the success of the operation to leverage his skills and loyalty. However, when Uwe felt betrayed and humiliated by Margot’s condescending attitude and manipulations, he lashed out in rage and ultimately killed her and her husband, Erich Honecker.
Min Sun: Yun Huang as Min Sun is an operative working for the BND (Federal Intelligence Service of Germany) and has her own agenda tied to the suitcase containing sensitive information. Min Sun tries to enlist Sven’s help because she recognizes his unique position and skills. Sven, a German police officer, has been closely following Kleo’s trail, investigating her past missions and the people involved. His determination and proximity to Kleo make him a valuable asset to Min Sun. She believes that by collaborating with Sven, she can track down Kleo and ultimately get her hands on the suitcase, and finally she did get the suitcase and give it to the US. But when it got lost again Min Sun got killed by CIA agent Rose Carmicheal for betraying their trust.
Kimberly: Kimberly, operating under the codename Bear, was deeply involved in the mission to retrieve the red suitcase from the US Embassy. She orchestrated the assassination at the Olympic Stadium to secure the suitcase. Her path crossed with Sven’s when she lured him by playing on his vulnerabilities and desires. Kimberly provided Kleo and Sven with crucial details about Operation Ludsch. Despite her apparent cooperation, her ulterior motives soon became clear. In a final confrontation, Kimberly’s duplicity and ambition led to her death. She attempted to kill Kleo by pushing her off a roof, but Kleo, driven by a mix of survival instincts and retribution, turned the tables and pushed Kimberly instead which ultimately led to her death.
Bridgett: She is Kleo’s mother, who was abandoned by her own father, Otto Straub, due to her opposition to his strict socialist ideals. Otto couldn’t control Bridgett’s rebellious spirit and labeled her as having chosen the wrong side and had her arrested, later falsely declaring her dead to maintain his control over Kleo. Bridgett’s defiance and desire for a different GDR made her a target of Otto’s ruthless ambition to uphold his version of socialism. At the end of season one, we see that even though Bridgett finally reconnects with Kleo after years of separation and reveals the truth to her daughter by explaining the past and the reasons behind her absence, she has moved on with her life and no want to leave her past behind, including Kleo. In the new season, Bridgett reconnected with Kleo to warn her of the dangers she faced and to reveal hidden truths about Kleo’s past. She disclosed that Nikolai Zhukov, not Fabian, was Kleo’s real father and that Nikolai killed Fabian out of jealousy and revenge. Bridgett had kept this secret for years to protect Kleo. Tragically, during their reunion, a grenade attack ordered by Nikolai killed Brigette.
