Blackwater - Im Schatten der Vergangenheit

As someone who grew up in the 70's ( although not in Sweden ) I like the the sense of the 70's in those parts of the series that play in the 70's. Also the story line ( although slow ) I like. However... the switches between 1973 and 1991 I don't understand when it comes to choice of characters. Characters that are about 30 years old in 1973 are played in 1991 by actors in their end sixties/ seventies. 30+18 is still only 48 to me, so the choice of characters playing the 1991 versions of Annie, the doctor etc are way off, although played well. On the other hand Mia seems to fit in the timeline.

In short... I like the story line by I am not convinced and confused by the timeline.

This Series may not deliver the suspenseful crime thriller some might expect, but it offers a deep, moody experience that's rich in atmosphere and character. The story moves between the 1970s and 1991, exploring a mysterious double murder, a strange commune, and complex people with buried secrets. The timeline, however, is a bit confusing-actors in the '90s scenes look far too old for characters who should only have aged 18 years since the '70s. It's distracting and breaks the immersion.

The commune itself feels intentionally unsettling-sexually exploitative and strangely cultish. Meanwhile, the logging family is almost cartoonishly violent, making some scenes feel over the top. These elements are clearly meant to challenge viewers, but they can be frustrating to watch.

The setting and acting are definite highlights. The 1970s sequences are especially well done, capturing the mood and ideology of that time in Sweden. However, the story doesn't always connect its twists smoothly, and the final scene feels more like a twist for shock value than something truly meaningful.

If you're hoping for a tight crime plot, this might disappoint. But as a slow-moving character drama with Nordic flair, it is more than decent. Just be prepared for some odd character and performer choices (I can only imagine that Alba August is "pushed" into so many films and series due to her parents only).

Overall, okay watching if you enjoy thoughtful pacing, quirky characters, and a moody 70s setting more than a fast-paced mystery.

The strengths here are the drama and the scenery, but it falls short on tempo and how plot twists are connected to the main storyline and cues. It's not like you would think "Of course! Why did I not think of that? That was clever!" Instead, it is like you watch some drama that you become invested in, but in the end, it does not matter much. So, they could have portrayed almost anything to provide filling time. Based on a book I haven't read, I cannot comment on the adaptation, but I strongly suspect you would not feel the same disconnect reading the book. Ultimately, this mini series feels unsatisfying as a murder mystery series, which unfortunately was my main expectation going in. But, if you just want some slow moving drama spiced with murder mysteries and a 70's collective imagery to go with it (and along with that, contentions on sexual liberty and political themes of the day), this is totally worth watching. And then you might land on a better rating as well.

The series proceeds at a methodical pace akin to travel in the remote area of Sweden that it's set in. It was confusing at first with the jumps from 1973 to 1991 but once one got to grips with who the characters were and how they changed with age, the episodes were easy enough to follow.

I don't care about the anachronisms of certain cars being manufactured after the events or products shown not existing till later in the century. To me, the atmosphere and surroundings evoked by the different years were convincing.

There were two unexplained deaths - murders - in the two years covered by the series. The perp of the earlier incident was clearly not the main suspect but it took me till episode five to be sure of who it really was. Unfortunately, the 1991 murder was signalled far less delicately in the script and it was pretty obvious who'd done it.

I loved the touches such as the party ferries between Finland and Sweden. I've been on them in the 80s and 90s as well as the ones between Finland and Estonia. The remote vastness of the north with its untarmacked roads evoked strong memories of when I lived in Finland - our cottage only had a dirt road to it even though we were in the south. So many of the buildings and landscapes of where I lived were similar to areas in the series.

In short, even without the memories, I'd have loved this and recommend it.

This is one of the best Scandinavian series I have seen in a long time. But don't come expecting a standard Nordic crime series. This is more a crime story in the sense that Hamlet is a crime story. It's about man and nature, time's arrow and existential questions - and the acting is superb. They manage to make something work that usually never works: to have a younger and an older version of most of the characters, since it takes place in 1973 and 1991. Highly recommended if you like Twin Peaks and Top of the Lake - but I would also point to brilliant period recreations like Fanny and Alexander or Dazed and Confused.