Down the Detective Hole: 7 great Nordic noirs you can watch right now
If Nocturne sent you on the hunt for more bleak murder-mysteries, we've got you covered.
Here are seven great Nordic noirs you can watch right now, based on the source material:
1. The Chestnut Man (Netflix) - This Danish thriller from 2021, based on Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril's novel The Sandman, features a string of grisly serial murders accompanied by a disturbing figurine made of chestnuts and matchsticks. The show's two seasons are filled with surprising and occasionally disturbing twists, and its unorthodox pairing of seasoned detective Naia Thulin and disgraced Europol investigator Mark Hess adds a rare romantic element to the genre.
2. The Killing/Forbrydelsen (Tubi) - This original Scandi-noir series, which premiered on Danish TV in 2007, is far superior to its U.S. remake. The Danish version features a tighter story, intense pacing, and a clear answer to the murder of teenager Nanna Birk Larsen. Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole, based on his fifth book, is also notable for being a significant improvement over the 2017 Michael Fassbender film that brought it to attention.
3. Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole (Netflix) - Adapted from Jo Nesbø's fifth book, this show stars Tobias Santelmann as the titular detective, known for his broody, chaotic, and self-destructive nature. The show tackles a ritualistic serial killer and features the unhinged narcissist Tom Waaler as a key antagonist. Kinnaman's performance as Waaler is particularly noteworthy for its shocking violence and fashion sense.
4. Wallander (BritBox) - Based on Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander books, this BBC series ran from 2008 to 2016 and stars Kenneth Branagh as the weary, depressive detective. Branagh's performance captures Wallander's complex emotional layers, making him the blueprint for many detectives in the genre. Although the cases themselves aren't always the most compelling, Branagh's commitment to exploring Wallander's soul is exceptional.
5. The Bridge/Broen (Pluto TV) - Another all-time classic of the Nordic noir genre, this Swedish-Danish production also inspired an American remake. The original series focuses on a gruesome murder involving a body sliced in half on Øresund, the strait between Sweden and Denmark. The show is worth watching, but the original remains superior in its portrayal of murder and political tension.
Written by urgent.news from The A.V. Club's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
