Dicte

..so many productions appear artificial, or produced for 'effect.' This is a show that feels 'real-life'. These characters do not come off as actors, and that is something so welcome in sitting back and watching things play out. Iben Hjejle is a favorite actor, on either side of the pond... she is just so natural. Have been fortunate to see her in other works... she never disappoints. She is someone you would just like to meet and really get to know. Of course the story lines have to been taken independently, because no one person would have so much happen to them in real-world situations. But there is something truly unique in this production, it has a warmth and closeness, and she and all the other regular cast members make that happen time and again. So glad it does sparingly occur, because it gives hope it will somehow come about again. Special is special... even if it does not happen very frequently.

I loved this show. LOVED this show. However, in Season 3 that all changed.

First, the good: There's a lot to like in "Dicte." Iben Hjelje - who was excellent way back in "Hi Fidelity" with John Cusack several years ago (check it out if you haven't) - continues to be a wonderful and versatile actress who lights up the screen with her infectious laugh and beautiful smile. The characters are well drawn; you care about what happens to them, and after two seasons I was definitely invested. The plots are interesting and don't only focus on one murder, although at times there are story lines that drift off, only to be picked up again in later episodes.

Now, the not-so-good: All of this unfortunately changed in Season 3. I won't spoil it for you, but I will say that the show took a drastic turn and went off in a completely different direction - it became stressful and ultimately an unhappy experience for me, so I quit watching halfway through. The show's creators had a wonderful thing going; I understand wanting to try something "new," but in this case, it just didn't work. Without being able to give any context this is difficult to explain, but after one episode you'll see what I mean.

It's too bad; there are so few great shows out right now and "Dicte" was a fun twist on the excellent-but-too-prevalent Scandanavian police drama. That said, if it ain't broke, please don't fix it. Too late on this one. Definitely check out seasons 1 and 2, though!

Loved season 1, 3 strong women characters, good plots, great interactions male detective adds value. Season 2 starts ok then goes off the rails. Dicté becomes a neurotic a$$ , my favorite character gets killed due to Dicte's actions. Season 3 is just stupid people doing stupid men things. Dicté is so hung up on her own problems that she hurts all around her. I rate season 1 a 9, season 2 a 7 and season 3 a 2. So, average 6.

We watched season 3 just for completeness. It was painful. Each character that we liked in season 1 (except Torsten, his wife and Dicte's daughter) did mean things over the course of time so we ended up disliking all of them. With no characters to like the truly simple minded plots became a series of who cares. Don't watch season 3, make up your own endings. They'll be much better.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first season of this Danish crime drama. Second season began to fade as character's bizarre personal lives overtook the "crime" part of this drama. The third season saw a continued movement away from the crimes and revolved almost totally around the increasingly annoying and unbelievable personal lives of the characters. I would definitely recommend season one but skip season two and three.

Workmanlike Danish crime/human interest drama that ticks pretty much all the boxes we've come to expect. Young (-ish = late 30s/40s) professional female protagonist, check. Hipper and funkier than other people her age, as against more conventional friends and co-workers who seem occasionally bemused or irritated with her behavior, check and check. With her career, has to juggle raising one or two children more or less alone, and then a mystery crops up, check. Old boyfriend or ex-husband lurking around for color, check. Bad guys, if any, most likely to be right-wing, religious, or foreigners, check. A cast with familiar faces such as Iben Hjelje (from "Dag,") Laerke Winther Andersen ("Den som draeber," "Bankelot"), Dar Salim ("Broen," "Borgen," "Livvagterne," "Game of Thrones,") and Lars Brygmann ("Borgen," "Bankerot," "Rejseholdet") has crewed the show through three seasons now, very watchably. If you are not already a Nordic drama fan, this show is unlikely to win you over; if you are, however, you will enjoy it.