Conflict

Terribly sorry, but even the premise: that a few paratroopers could accomplish anything of military or territorial value, and that foreign military equipment and soldiers could "slip ashore" from "Venezuelan" ships unnoticed, is stupid and unrealistic. Even more strange, no plausible motive is given for why a "foreign force" would take this action, which in real life only could lead to said force being thrown back into the sea in record time. This unrealistic premise is then combined with the nowadays requisite and formulaic "conflicts" amongst soldiers and political leaders, and some totally unnecessary sex scenes. Apart from some refreshing exceptions, the acting is most often wooden, probably because of the likewise stilted writing. Even seasoned, normally competent actors can't seem to get it together. Like everyone is satisfied with the first take. To top it all off, the music score feels uninspired, and curiously detached from events rolling by. Production values are sometimes pretty good, but really feel wasted on this drawn out series (two episodes would have been enough).

The show is a breath of fresh air for military and political dramas. It skips the Hollywood tropes where people take gunshots and keep fighting like superheroes. Here, the weapons and their effects feel real and grounded, making the stakes hit harder.

The conscripts are exactly how you'd expect them to be-regular young people, not elite commandos with picture-perfect execution. And seeing them represented is refreshing since most shows focus on elite units and their over-the-top personal drama. The politicians, too, are spot-on, acting just as self-serving and calculating as you'd imagine.

The portrayal of the opponent (likely Russia, though it's not confirmed yet) is chillingly realistic. The propaganda, manipulation, and subtle plays to exploit the Finnish society feel all too plausible and add an extra layer of tension.

At times, the dialogue can feel stiff, especially in the situation room, almost like watching an amateur play. But honestly, that might just be what it's actually like-people under pressure saying what they need to without worrying about sounding polished. The military's formal Finnish (kirjakieli) adds to the authenticity, even if it's not the most natural for a viewer.

All in all, Conflict gets a solid 9/10 from me. It's fresh, timely, and incredibly engaging. If you're into realistic military dramas, this is absolutely worth your time!

An interesting premise that is perhaps not that far removed from real life. Mostly english language, it even has some Americans in the otherwise finnish cast.

The first few episodes do a good job of building a sense of confusion on the ground and in senior government circles. The conclusion however is a bit of an anti-climax.

Only has a small cast, the Finnish landscape is gorgeous, photography is good, the acting is pretty limited, I imagine it was made on a small budget and seemed to rely on stock footage for things like warships, aircraft were mostly absent. Overall, it feels more like a documentary than a drama.

As a special forces soldier, I find the series excellent. Aki is the Man. The criticism has been so inferior that this becomes a success. Few dare to present characters as stereotypes. A traditional officer is a traditional officer. Now there are also those women. Today there are women in the army. You'd think it would do. And there are also immigrants. You'd think that would do too. Fortunately, the audience decides. I'm sure the Defense Forces have been happy to help. Critics criticize and soldiers fight. That's the difference. Congratulations Finland 107 years! This is a good reminder to be ready. Not with a keyboard but with a gun.

This was a relevant series to the times. Finland has changed, Finlandisation is no more. The policies of Kekkonen and others have been trashed in the new reality. The series revealed this decisively and showed that there were still relics of a bygone age. Prime Minister Kai Laavakura hadn't grasped the fundamentals of the shift and wanted to negotiate, even illicitly treating with shadowy forces. President Linnea Saaristo has "got it", despite her inexperience, and takes a firm grip on the situation despite exposure to realpolitik in the shape of a disinterested United States.

Set pieces were extremely well done and realistic. However, the kill ratio between the Finnish conscripts and troops against professional mercenaries was exaggerated and strained credulity.

I loved the scenes of the army on the streets of Helsinki, a city I know and love. One of the final scenes was of a tank by the statue of Marshal Mannerheim which seemed appropriate and a wake for a dead soldier portrayed the drink the Marshal immortalised.

Access to other state buildings was granted such as the Presidentinlinna and Eduskuntatalo. I used to live in Finland and it was so warming to see the old streets I used to know so well. I was rooting for the President all the way.

This might be a niche interest but I would still recommend this to an international audience. It's a timely reminder of what might happen after the disaster of Ukraine and the non--attributable warfare originally used there in the Crimea. We live in perilous times.