Vargasommar

I loved the idea of a series set in Haparanda. Although it's in the north of Sweden and I used to live in the south of Finland so much resonated with me. Forty years ago nobody locked their doors in the village where we lived just as everywhere seemed accessible in the series. I'd thought that this had changed.

So, we have an international drugs ring operating from over the border in Finland whose hitwoman might or might not be an abducted child from Sweden. This is something that is never resolved and it's a flaw in the story; it's irritating that there is this loose end.

Bodies pile up as the assassin rampages unseen through town. It's inconceivable that specialist forces from Stockholm are not brought in; this is something that even the provincial centre of Lulea wouldn't be able to handle.

There's a human interest story going on at the same time involving loss and illness. That was more interesting and better delineated than the crime angle.

I watched it all partly to enjoy the vast vistas of the north. But as a story, this was over the top and not credible. I can't give more than three stars.

I loved the first five episodes and most of the last as well. But the last ~15 minutes ruined it, there was literally no payoff to everything that was built up during the story.

There's something special about a show so competently building up to something, and then totally fumble the ending of it. I don't understand in what case this would be considered a good ending.

Besides this, the acting is great, the cast does a really good job. There's some clear inspiration from shows like True Detective, which I love. The scenery is gorgeous and the dialogue is used sparingly, which I feel fits well considering where the series is set.

Embarrassingly bad acting, the story has several loose ends. No, avoid this, those are hours you'll never get back. The attempts to imitate the Northern dialect are not good, and what about the wolf? What happend to Kenneth and Sandra, the body? It is incredibly frustrating when several events are thrown in to make the story more exciting, but basically none of them are followed up or explained. I had high expectations but this was truly one of the worst things I've seen. The casting is completely incomprehensible. Several comedians was casted who don't get their roles right at all. Their Stockholmsaccents gets through every now and then. I've seen better acting when we did charades on AW. Sorry, but please choose good actors, there are several in Sweden.

This show is currently streaming for free in Australia. I only speak English so relied on subtitles. Leaving a review after noticing all previous reviews are negative.

I found the series compelling and thought the acting was exceptional. Although relying on subtitles I was picking up subtle facial expressions and mannerisms that spoke volumes and fleshed out the characters.

There are quite a few scenarios relating to both police and criminal behaviours/decisions that are unrealistic but the meat and bones of the show is the characters and the question.

Appreciated and enjoyed the ending. Would recommend anyone not from Scandinavia watch this as judging from other reviews the accents and well known actors grate on Scandinavian nerves.

But its not bad either, rating is right now 5,8 with less than 300 votings and I think its just about correct also, its an ok serie without sparkles and it will not blow you of the chair but its works , Rosenfeldt does Rosenfeldt things , he like to do stories in a story and some are good and some not that good, I think it was a clever building up and the story is a bit sloppy but its ok , acting was on the limit here and there, production was good consider its a slim budget, the weak link was the director, he did some misstakes time to time

Ending is a disaster

It felt rushed and clearly fast written , and it is what it is, tv entertainment.