White Wall

It is so refreshing to see a sci-fi production that is a drama rather than an action flick. Curiously, that seems to be the reason people dislike it. I did not think the pace was slow at all. Maybe if you are used to watching Avengers and the like...

Surprisingly good. All dialectal embarrassments aside, this had me wanting more from the first episode.

The first couple of episodes perfectly set the scene and were absorbing. Unfortunately, episodes 3 and 4 could have been cut altogether as they concentrated on personal relationships which, in context, were of no real interest. The last four episodes focused on the main storyline and I think they were well paced, leading up to a finish that was not really predictable. Some events were not explained to a conclusion, but I don't mind being left to think about the possible scenarios. In conclusion, 6 episodes would have been better than 8.

Wow. Considering the perceived aspiration of Finnish big budget TV trying to emulate either Nordic noir crime stories or Hollywood series, White Wall is a breath of fresh air: an original scifi story staying grounded in the real world and inspired by real-world events. Ordered and collaboratively produced by the Finnish and Swedish national broadcast companies and said to be the most expensive Finnish TV production to date, I feel like not a single euro or Swedish crown was wasted here.

The Nordic noir elements are there: the gloomy aesthetics, the social commentary and a diverse cast of characters who feel like real people. But White Wall absolutely stands on its own legs as one of the most interesting European scifi series and one of the best Finnish series in recent years.

The lead writer Mikko Pöllä has come up with an intriguing mystery story featuring a strong message, and whether you agree with that message or not, you should be impressed by his skills at handling the subject matter. I was anxious during the final two episodes. How would the writers tackle the ending? But it turned out to be even better than I had expected, satisfyingly tying (almost) everything together while also boldly making a statement. Unfortunately I have to agree with some of the other reviewers in that the pace was a bit slow. Still, it didn't stop me from binging the series in one day.

The actors do a good job overall. For those unfamiliar with the Nordic way of being and state of mind, the characters could come across as overly stern. But that's just how we are, and considering that the story takes place in a (fictitious) town in northern Sweden, it's all the more believable. Although I feel like they could have shown us a bit more of the community and properly introduce us to the setting outside of the nuclear waste facility. Luckily there is an appropriate proxy character, a voice of the people, who also takes the themes to a universal level.

The camerawork is breathtaking, from the claustrophobic, damp underground tunnels (shot on location in a real mine) to the beautiful snow-covered vistas. And it's all accompanied by the haunting and beautiful score written by Timo Kaukolampi and Tuomo Puranen.

This is a world-class production with minor flaws and I hope to see more from the creators Mikko Pöllä, Aleksi Salmenperä and Roope Lehtinen. Actually I'd love to see another original series from them, with a global streaming network such as Netflix or Amazon providing the budget.

Recommended to: Fans of series such as Dark or Tales From The Loop, fans of Nordic noir and anyone interested in topical & thought-provoking science fiction.

As others have noted the pace is really slow and if you can't stand visual ambient or ambiguous interpretations, this might be too much. Personally I loved it for just those reasons. Psychological sci-fi that doesn't hold your hand. Minimal effects and no flow-breaking violence.