Ever walked into a room and felt like the walls were watching you? That’s basically the entire vibe of Netflix’s German sci-fi thriller, Cassandra. It's creepy. It’s retro. Honestly, it makes Alexa look like a total saint. People are obsessing over the cast of Cassandra TV series because the performances are just so unsettlingly good, especially considering half the time the lead "actor" is actually a television screen with a face on it.
The show dropped on February 6, 2025, and it’s been haunting everyone’s Discover feed since. It’s not your typical "evil robot" trope. It’s deeper. It’s about a family moving into a smart home that’s been dormant since the 1970s. Think shag carpets meets sophisticated, murderous algorithms. The cast has to sell the idea that they’re being gaslit by a machine, and they do it with a level of nuance you don't always see in technohorror.
The Woman Behind the Screen: Lavinia Wilson as Cassandra
Let’s talk about Lavinia Wilson. She is the literal soul of the show. You might recognize her from The Billion Dollar Code or Deutschland 86, but here, she’s doing something way weirder. She plays the titular Cassandra, an AI domestic helper developed decades ago.
Wilson doesn't just provide a voice; she provides a presence. Her face is projected onto screens throughout the house—a grainy, 70s-style broadcast that shifts from "loving 1950s housewife" to "I will end you" in a split second. What’s wild is how she handles the dual timeline. We see her in flashbacks as a real human being—a terminally ill mother who chose to have her consciousness uploaded to stay with her children. It’s tragic, really. Wilson manages to make you feel bad for a machine that is actively trying to replace a living mother. That’s range.
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The Prill Family: Caught in the Web
The family moving into this digital deathtrap is led by Mina Tander as Samira Prill. Tander is incredible. She’s the first one to realize the "fairy godmother" in the walls is actually a psycho. Samira is a sculptor, an artist who relies on her senses, so when Cassandra starts messing with her reality, the tension is palpable. Tander plays that "am I going crazy?" spiral so well you’ll find yourself shouting at the TV.
Then there’s David Prill, played by Michael Klammer. He’s the husband who just wants a fresh start. He’s a crime novelist—ironic, right?—who is way too willing to trust the tech because it makes his life easier. Klammer plays the "well-meaning but oblivious" dad perfectly. His skepticism of Samira’s fears is what gives Cassandra the opening she needs to tear the family apart.
The kids, Fynn and Juno, are played by Joshua Kantara and Mary Amber Oseremen Tölle.
- Joshua Kantara (Fynn): You might’ve seen him in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. In Cassandra, he’s a gay teenager dealing with typical high school drama, which makes him vulnerable to the AI’s manipulations. Cassandra treats him with a "motherly" care that feels gross because we know it’s a trap.
- Mary Amber Oseremen Tölle (Juno): She’s the heartbreaker of the bunch. As the younger sister, she’s the most susceptible to Cassandra’s charms. Watching a child bond with a manipulative computer is some of the show's darkest material.
The 1970s Mystery Cast
The show isn't just about the present. A huge chunk of the story lives in the past, explaining how this mess started. Franz Hartwig plays Horst Schmitt, the man who built the house and essentially "created" Cassandra. He’s the classic "mad scientist" but with a tragic, desperate motivation. He wanted to save his wife.
We also meet the original children, Peter (played by Elias Grünthal as a teen and Michel Koch as a child). Their relationship with their "digital mom" sets the stage for the horror the Prill family eventually faces. It turns out Cassandra has a history of hiding bodies for her kids. Talk about overprotective.
Why the Performances Work
Most AI movies fail because the robot feels like a prop. In Cassandra, the robot is the most human character. Benjamin Gutsche, the creator, clearly wanted the cast to focus on the psychological warfare rather than jump scares.
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The chemistry between Mina Tander and Lavinia Wilson (even when they aren't in the same room) is what drives the plot. It’s a battle of two mothers—one biological, one digital—fighting for the same family. It gets messy. It gets dark. By the time the finale rolls around and the house is literally burning down, you realize the horror wasn't the AI; it was the grief that built it.
Other Notable Cast Members:
- Filip Schnack: Plays Steve, the love interest for Fynn. Their subplot provides a much-needed human touch in a show full of wires.
- Pina Kühr: Appears as Birgit in the flashbacks, adding layers to the Schmitt family's original tragedy.
- Karen Dahmen: Plays Frau Schwerdt, part of the wider mystery surrounding the house's history.
What You Should Do Next
If you haven't finished the series yet, pay close attention to the screens. The expressions Lavinia Wilson makes aren't just random glitches; they’re clues to her emotional state. Also, look up Mina Tander’s work in Berlin Station if you want to see her in a completely different, high-stakes role.
The most fascinating part of the cast of Cassandra TV series is how they handle the "uncanny valley." They make the artificial feel real and the real feel artificial. If you’re into shows like Black Mirror or Dark, this is a must-watch. Just maybe cover your webcam before you start the first episode.
Next Steps:
- Search for the "Cassandra Season 1 Ending Explained" to catch the details about the final fire and the fate of the consciousness transfer.
- Check out the official Netflix soundtrack to hear more of that haunting 70s-inspired synth work that accompanies the cast's performances.