As feminist political drama Borgen returns to Netflix, these are the best Scandi crime dramas to stream now
Scandi crime drama fans will be celebrating the return of Borgen, the Danish political drama series from the makers of The Killing that's centred around a fictional female prime minister of Denmark, Birgitte Nyborg, which returned to our screens earlier this month.
While not technically a crime drama, Borgen season 4 cements itself firmly in the Scandi-noir category through its amped up characterisation of lead character Nyborg (depicted by Sidse Babett Knudsen), whose ruthless tactics step up in this season. There's also political journalist Katrine Fønsmark, played by Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, who will stop at nothing to dish the dirt of the political going-ons.
Since its release earlier this month on Netflix, the show has been getting stellar reviews on social media. And you can also watch the trailer here, to whet your appetite…
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With eight hour-long episodes of Borgen: Power & Glory, there's still a fair chunk to get through – but we've learnt the hard way that, given the highly-addictive nature of this genre, we've been known to whizz through the shows in… oh, a day or two. If you've made that fatal mistake already – or are rapidly nearing the end of the eight-parter, then you need to get started on the Scandi crime dramas to fill the gap in your TV viewing regime.
There's much-adored Swedish drama Before We Die which is finally getting a reboot in the UK. It follows Detective Hannah Laing (played by Lesley Sharp) whose personal and professional worlds collide when her son becomes embroiled in a murder investigation. The new six-part series dropped on Channel 4 earlier this year.
So, why are we all obsessed with Scandinavian crime series? The genre has gained an international following for its dark, suspenseful, sinister, sometimes complex, always enthralling stories. Our obsession with the gloomy, gritty genre started back with Swedish author Stieg Larsson's Millennium series, of which The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was the first instalment, later made into a 2011 blockbuster starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig.
Then the world became even more hooked on Nordic noir following a trio of Scandi exports – also in 2011, when The Killing was remade in the US starring Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman; Borgen and The Bridge. So, what was once a niche, indie corner of entertainment has become a global phenomenon. And we can see why. There's something about the mix of bleak backdrops, whether it's drizzly, grey city streets or eery volcanic landscapes; brutal crimes by twisted criminals; tortured detectives and often strong female leads; and intriguing plots with plenty of twists and turns that keep us on the edge of our seats.
But since the Scandi crime boom, viewers have gradually started to look to the shows' original (and often far superior) Scandinavian roots, and streaming services have followed suit. Here's our pick of the best Scandi crime dramas to watch on Netflix right now. Warning: may cause addiction and/ or nightmares.
Mike KollöffelBorgen: Power & Glory
Borgen: Power & Glory, the reboot of political series Borgen (which spanned three seasons between 2010 and 2013) is a welcome addition to our Netflix roster. There's something so deliciously compelling about an unlikeable female protagonist, and the attitude of fictional first female Prime Minister of Denmark, Birgitte Nyborg – who's unapologetic for being a flawed parent and a workaholic – just does it for us.
NetflixThe Valhalla Murders
This Norwegian murder-mystery series centres around an Oslo detective who is on the hunt for a serial killer. Nordic noir at its finest – although maybe don't watch just before bedtime.
NetflixLilyhammer
It may be a few years old now, but this American-Norwegian comedy drama about a one-time New York Mafia member who flees to Norway in order to hide from his boss remains a gem.
Photo Credit: Johan PaulinThe Unlikely Murderer
Based on a true story, this television depiction of a 2018 novel of the same title chronicles how a man claiming to be an eyewitness to the assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme may have gotten away with actually doing the crime himself.
Netflix1. Caliphate
Netflix's eight-part Caliphate has been luring viewers in with its dark premise since it landed in March: three women become entangled in an impeding ISIS attack on Sweden. The series follows Pervin (a young woman from Sweden who lives in Raqqa, Syria, and is the wife of an IS member), Fatima (an agent of the Swedish Security Service who receives a tip-off that a terror attack is being planned) and teenager Sulle (who becomes enthralled by ISIS). This is the very definition of 'edge-of-your-seat viewing'.
Netflix2. Borderliner
Police officer Nikolai covers up a murder in his hometown to protect his brother, a local cop, from being implicated in the crime. But when Nikolai's partner begins to suspect foul play, things start to spiral out of control.
3. Quicksand
Adapted from a novel of the same name, Quicksand has you captivated right from the first scene, which opens on the aftermath of a school shooting in a wealthy Stockholm suburb. But one girl is still alive and covered in blood; 18-year-old Maja Norberg (Hanna Ardéhn). At first, she looks like the survivor of a horrific attack – until we learn that she's on trial for murder. But is she a victim or a criminal? The secrets behind the shooting slowly start to come to light in this edge-of-your-seat Scandi thriller.
4. Fallet
More of a spoof of the Nordic noir genre, Fallet is ideal if you want the essential components of a crime drama (murder most foul, bunch of homicide detectives, plot full of twists and turns – you know the drill), but with a bit of lighthearted relief. Unlike most series in its field, Fallet is actually pretty funny and full of offbeat spirit. The series follows Sophie Borg (Lisa Henni), a Stockholm detective, and British cop Tom Brown (Adam Godley) who must investigate the murder of an Englishman in a small Swedish village. Tom is a timid and lonely middle-aged man; Sophie is an aggressive and trigger-happy young women – and both are rather terrible at their jobs. Its characters and storyline will have you hooked.
5. Bordertown
Detective Kari Sorjonen (Ville Virtanen) leaves his high-profile job to relocate to Lappeenranta, a small and seemingly peaceful town on the Russian border. His wife has battled brain cancer and needs to recuperate, and he wants to focus his attention on his family. But he's soon drawn into a world of murder, rape, drug rings, sex trafficking and kidnapping. We love Bordertown for its skilful blend of gripping, gruesome crime with complex, intimate family relationships.
6. Eyewitness
Take our advice: watch the 2014 original Norwegian series before the US remake set in New York. Anneke von der Lippe won an International Emmy for Best Performance by an Actress for her portrayal of police officer Helen Sikkeland. When teenagers Henning (Per Kjerstad) and Philip (Axel Bøyum) meet up secretly in a forest, they witness a brutal murder. They manage to escape but agree never to tell anyone, both in fear of the perpetrator and of their secret being revealed.
7. Deadwind
A Finnish murder mystery which centres on detective Sofia Karppi (Pihla Viitala), a recently widowed mother of two. She returns to work not long after the death of her partner, when a woman is found dead on a beach. We soon learn that her death might not be random, when ties to a Helsinki construction company are discovered.
8. The Rain
The Rain isn't so much a crime drama; more a suspense thriller – but it does it with such Nordic noir prowess that we just had to include it. Six years after a deadly virus – carried in the rain – wipes out most of Scandinavia's population, two siblings emerge from their bunker to find civilisation as they know it destroyed. Simone (Alba August) and her younger brother Rasmus (Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen) must search for safety, meeting other survivors along the way in this post-apocalyptic, nail-biting thriller.
9. Wallander
Okay, we know that most of the time, remakes of Scandi dramas are usually inferior. But we think there's one exception: the UK adaption of Wallander starring Kenneth Branagh as Swedish cop Kurt Wallander. Still set in the typically bleak, grey Swedish landscape, Wallander must battle his own demons while trying to solve some baffling cases. Bonus: if you're feeling too lazy for subtitles or don't fancy dubbing, Wallander's English-language version has got your back. Extra bonus: there's four seasons, so plenty to get your binge on.
10. Warrior
This is one we can't get enough of lately. Warrior is a six-part Danish series following 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, as turf wars brewing between seriously dangerous rival organised crime gangs.
