Nordic Noir: 20 Scandinavian TV series to watch
The winner of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest was rightfully Sweden with the song “Tattoo”, performed by Loreen. Although Sweden won the jury vote and the overall competition, it actually came second in the public vote. Neighbouring Finland might have won the public vote, but came second overall (in my opinion, it should have come last). Sweden’s other neighbour, Norway, finished fifth, whereas Denmark and Iceland did not qualify for the final. Inspired by Eurovision, today I’m reflecting on the Scandinavian TV series (mostly crime dramas) I’ve recently watched (as well as some older ones).
20 Scandinavian TV series to watch
I have previously written about Norwegian, Finnish and Icelandic TV series, but since then I’ve watched many more TV series from Scandinavia and the Nordic countries. At this point, I would like to point out that the term Scandinavia most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway and Sweden. However, it sometimes refers to all of the Nordic countries, and therefore also includes Finland and Iceland.
Agatha Christie’s Hjerson (Sweden)
Agatha Christie’s Hjerson reminds me of this year’s Eurovision. It is a Swedish production, but the story takes place in the Swedish-speaking Åland, actually an autonomous region of Finland, located in the Baltic Sea, almost halfway between the two countries. The main character, Sven Hjerson, is inspired by Agatha Christie’s writings. Ariadne Oliver is a minor Agatha Christie character, a crime writer who shares many similarities with Christie herself. Scandinavian Sven Hjerson is Oliver’s detective, the same way as Belgian Hercules Poirot is Christie’s. He investigates a new case every 2 episodes. There are 8 episodes available on Channel 4, each lasting for about 45 minutes.
All the Sins (Finland)
All The Sins (Kaikki synnit) is a crime series set in a rural community in Northern Finland. There are three seasons, with six 45-minute-long episodes each. The second season takes place 15 years before the first one, whereas the third season takes place 5 years later. They’re all available on Channel 4.
Arctic Circle (Finland)
Arctic Circle (Ivalo) is another crime series that takes place in Northern Finland, specifically in Lapland. In the first season, a local police officer works together with a virologist to solve crimes and prevent the spread of a deadly disease. There are 10 episodes available on Channel 4, each lasting for about 45 minutes. There is also a second season, but it is not currently available in the UK.
Borgen (Denmark)
Borgen is a Danish political drama and one of the most iconic Scandinavian TV series. The first season was broadcasted in Denmark in 2010. The second and third were broadcasted in 2011 and 2013 respectively, whereas the fourth one (Power & Glory) was released on Netflix in 2022 (and largely takes place in Greenland). There have been a total of 38 episodes. It stars Sidse Babett Knudsen, who plays a politician who later becomes the first female prime minister of Denmark.
The Bridge (Denmark/Sweden)
The Bridge (Bron/Broen) is another iconic Scandinavian TV series, and the first Danish crime drama I’ve watched. It was first broadcasted in 2011. Since then, there have been a total of four seasons (38 episodes), as well as multiple international re-makes, including four more bridges (connecting the USA and Mexico, Russia and Estonia, Singapore and Malaysia, and Greece and Turkey), a tunnel (between the UK and France) and a mountain pass (between Germany and Austria). In the first season, a dead body is found on the Øresund Bridge, which connects Copenhagen with Malmö. The body is placed precisely on the border between the two countries, necessitating a joint investigation by the Danish and the Swedish Police.
The Chestnut Man (Denmark)
The Chestnut Man is based on the debut novel of the same name by the Danish author Søren Sveistrup, creator of The Killing, one of the most iconic Scandinavian TV series (see below). There are 6 episodes available on Netflix, each lasting for about 55 minutes.
Deadwind (Finland)
Deadwind (Karppi) is a crime series set in Helsinki. There are three seasons (all available on Netflix), consisting of a total of twenty-eight 45-minute-long episodes (12 in the first season, 8 in the second and third seasons).
DNA (Denmark)
DNA is another Danish crime series. In the first season, a Danish detective and a French investigator (played by the British actor Charlotte Rampling) try to find out what happened to the former’s daughter, who disappeared a few years previously. There are 8 episodes (sadly no longer available on BBC), each lasting for about 40 minutes. There is also a second season, but it is not currently available in the UK.
Entrapped & Trapped (Iceland)
Trapped (Ófærð) is a crime series set in Siglufjörður, the northernmost town in Iceland, which is also the setting of Ragnar Jónasson’s detective series “Dark Iceland”. It stars Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir, whereas the music has been composed by Jóhann Jóhannsson and Hildur Gudnadóttir. The first two seasons have 10 episodes each and are available on Amazon Prime. The third season (released as Entrapped), has 8 episodes and is available on Netflix.
The Girl from Oslo (Norway)
The Girl from Oslo (Bortført) is a Norwegian drama that takes place in Israel and the Sinai Desert, where a Norwegian girl and her two Israeli friends are kidnapped by ISIS terrorists. There are 10 episodes, available on Netflix.
Grow (Denmark)
Grow (Alfa) is another Danish drama. It tells the story of two estranged brothers, one of whom is a police officer, whereas the other gets involved in criminal activities and drug dealing. There are 8 episodes available on Channel 4, each lasting for about 40 minutes.
The Killing (Denmark)
I’ve already referred to the Killing (Forbrydelsen) as one of the most iconic Scandinavian TV series and one of the first Danish crime dramas I’ve watched. Created by Søren Sveistrup and starring Sofie Gråbøl and Lars Mikkelsen, it was first broadcasted in 2007. Since then, there have been a total of three seasons (40 episodes), as well as several international remakes, including an American one.
Monster (Norway)
Monster is a Norwegian crime series available on Channel 4. There are 7 episodes, each lasting about 55 minutes.
Outlier (Norway)
Outlier is another Norwegian crime series available on Channel 4. The story takes place in Northern Norway. There are 8 episodes, each lasting about 40 minutes.
The Rain (Denmark)
The Rain is a post-apocalyptic Danish TV series available on Netflix. There have been a total of 3 seasons (20 episodes). In the first season, a deadly virus, carried by rainfall, wipes out almost all humans. Two siblings take shelter in a bunker and are among the few survivors of the pandemic.
Seizure (Norway)
Seizure (Besatt) is one more Norwegian crime series available on Channel 4. Like Outlier, there are 8 episodes, each lasting about 40 minutes.
A Storm for Christmas (Norway)
A Storm for Christmas is a Norwegian TV series available on Netflix. A storm traps travellers and workers at an Oslo airport in the lead-up to Christmas. Not as romantic as Home for Christmas (Hjem til jul), it is nonetheless a good TV series to watch during the festive period. There are a total of 6 episodes.
War Sailor (Norway)
War Sailor (Krigsseileren) is a 3-episode mini-series from Norway. The story takes place mostly during World War II and follows two sailors from Bergen to Singapore. It is available to watch on Netflix.
When the Dust Settles (Denmark)
When the Dust Settles (Når støvet har lagt sig) is a Danish drama available on Channel 4. It explores the lives of a group of people, victims of a terrorist attack in Copenhagen. There are 10-hour-long episodes.
Witch Hunt (Norway)
Witch Hunt (Heksejakt) is another Norwegian TV series available on Channel 4. There are 8 episodes, each lasting 45 minutes.
Further watching
There are a lot more Swedish and Danish TV series on Channel 4.
If you’d like to watch more TV series from Norway, check out my post ‘12 Norwegian TV series to watch‘.
If you’d like to watch more TV series from Finland and Iceland, check out my post ‘10 Finnish and Icelandic TV series to watch‘.
Or, if you don’t want to watch any more Scandinavian TV series, you can watch the videos of some of my favourite Eurovision 2023 songs…
Loreen – Tattoo (LIVE) | EUROVISION WINNER | Sweden 🇸🇪 | Grand Final | Eurovision 2023
Marco Mengoni – Due Vite (LIVE) | Italy 🇮🇹 | Grand Final | Eurovision 2023
Andrew Lambrou – Break A Broken Heart (LIVE) | Cyprus 🇨🇾 | Grand Final | Eurovision 2023
Victor Vernicos – What They Say | Greece 🇬🇷 | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023
Alex
(the Traveling Psychiatrist)