Before We Die

Being a big fan of Nordic Noir the last year or so has seen a dip in the quality of crime dramas from Scandinavia. So I'm pleased to see Something of a return to form with "Before we die". We have a slight change in that the bad guys are a Croatian family under the guise of running a family restaurant also run a major violent drug cartel. A recruited informant is placed as a mole in the restaurant to gather information on the gang but once the moles police accomplice is killed no one from the gang or the police knows the identity of the mole except us the viewer. A good binge watch. 8/10

Over the past decade or so, we've seen a remarkable rise in high-quality Scandinavian "new wave" crime series-shows that break away from the traditional one-case-per-episode format, like Wallander or Beck. Instead, they focus on complex, interconnected characters and storylines, weaving suspense and psychological depth into a larger, season-long arc. When done well, as in this case, the result is gripping and multi-layered storytelling.

The series in question is filled with tension and unease, keeping the viewer constantly on edge. Many twists, which may initially seem overly intricate or even implausible, gradually unfold with logic and depth-sometimes only several episodes later-providing satisfying resolutions. Notably, each episode ends with a compelling reveal or dramatic turn in the final scene, practically demanding you start the next one immediately.

As for how realistically the show reflects Swedish society-its portrayal of crime, corruption, and the murky relationships between cops and criminals-it's hard to say. But from a viewer's perspective, it's captivating to watch and emotionally engaging.

In terms of casting, many of the lead roles are filled by familiar faces from similar Nordic noir series, and all deliver memorable performances once again. Refreshingly, the show avoids the cliché of keeping major stars alive until the finale-here, no one feels truly safe. I'd especially like to highlight Adam Pålsson, who deservedly won the Kristallen award in 2017 for Best Male Actor in a TV production. His performance adds a strong emotional core to the story.

All in all, I'd rate the first season a solid 8.5 to 9 out of 10. I'm definitely curious if a second season exists-the final scenes leave plenty of narrative threads open for continuation.

P. S. Season 2 is a bit "thinner" in terms of complexity, but still offers compelling twists, strong character moments, and excellent performances that make it well worth watching.

I love subtitled shows. I seem to get drawn into the story more. I've seen so many in the last few years and Innan vi dör is right up there with the best of them. The acting is top notch and characters are well developed. The storylines take many turns and it keeps things really interesting. I was thrilled to hear a second series is in the works and it can't come soon enough. 8/10

I enjoyed watching this. The basic plot has been seen before but there was a freshness and some originally to this series. The acting and overall production is good. The script is well paced and in the last episode we learn something that refers us back to opening episode. A satisfying finale.

There was a flow to this show that is hard to replicate and the bad reviews from some users boggles my mind. I'm not a fan of reading subtitles, but after watching this show, I've changed my mind. It was gripping from the first episode and I couldn't figure out all the twists and turns, which kept me very engaged through each. I'm the type who can't watch a show unless I get drawn in through a great plot and excellent acting... this contained every bit of that and more. The filming was top notch, and each actor (besides maybe one or two) played their roles flawlessly. There were a couple questionable moments (no spoilers) that kept me from giving this a 10 star review, but by the end, they sort of made sense. There is nothing worse than watching a show with a terrible ending... but fortunately this ending was well worth the wait. I am hoping season two will be as well written as the first and in that, I hope this show gets more views. American thrillers have been far less interesting then in previous years, so I will be looking for more shows like this in the Nordic Noir genre, which is purely based off of this show. If half of them produce anything close to what I just watched, I will be a fan for life.