Fellow NAGers (let’s make this a thing?), I hope that insofar as is possible, you’re taking precautions to care for yourselves and your loved ones during the COVID-19 outbreak and that you and yours pull through. For those who’ve suddenly found themselves stuck indoors with people they may or may not know that well (I hear they’re called… family?) and are wondering how to spend the time, why not binge-watch something, as per usual?
Many of you likely have the same general idea, but are wondering what’s available that you haven’t already shamelessly watched in one sitting. Fear not! Because the binge is never-ending, I’ve put together a list with some Scandinavian crime shows worth watching. I’ve watched all these before and personally vouch for their entertainment value. So, get yourselves situated and see which of these strike your fancy.
NB: PLEASE TAKE THE AGE RESTRICTIONS ON THESE SHOWS SERIOUSLY.
JORDSKOTT
Synopsis: A detective returns to her hometown seven years after her daughter’s disappearance, trying to find a connection to a current case.
If you like your genres like you like your company (that is to say, mixed), then Jordskott will hit that sweet spot. Available on Showmax, this show is as much an examination of our relationships with our environment and others as it is a crime drama. Oh, and there’s more reasons to leave the forest alone than potentially getting lost.
BORDERLINER
Synopsis: To protect his family, a police detective covers up a murder case. But when his partner suspects foul play, he is trapped in a dangerous game on duty.
Perfect for people who love trying to solve the crime as the show goes and who don’t mind being wrong more often than they’re right, Borderliner is eight episodes of twisty crime and family drama that will keep your mind busy. Borderliner, available on Netflix, is billed as a Norwegian crime noir, and is a great one day binge. Added bonus – the lead actor looks a lot like Charlie Hunnam.
THE VALHALLA MURDERS
Synopsis: An Oslo detective with a painful past returns to his native Iceland to help a police officer hunt for a serial killer with a link to a mysterious photograph.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKwJoo0kItA
This one comes with serious content warnings for abuse and sexual assault. We follow a detective returning home to confront painful memories, and another who finds her life turning on its head as her work collides with her personal life. The Valhalla Murders has characters named after Norse gods, but no magic. In fact, it’s depressingly realistic. This show packs in to one season, what many draw out over three, so be sure you have ample mental and emotional bandwidth available when you get into it.
WARRIOR
Synopsis: A war veteran plagued by guilt over his final mission teams up with his best friend’s widow to infiltrate a dangerous Copenhagen biker gang.
Whilst muted colours, understated action, and grinding storylines are a staple of Nordic filmmaking, Warrior dares to be occasionally exciting. As straightforward as its synopsis, this one season mini-series is a lovely palette cleanser after some of the heavier themes explored in the other shows.