Stella Blómkvist

Heida Reed got a part in the new procedural FBI International which I watched and I'd never seen her before so checked this out. Very watchable series and the obligatory plot twists are never too obvious. The Icelandic scenery was novel, and I half expected Stella to be kidnapped and taken to an active volcano or something for interrogation, but that never happened. Well worth a watch.

Didn't know what to make of this one at first, has a stylish look about it (think last year's 'Atomic Blonde' with its neon lights and bright colours?) and contains the wonderful Heida Reed (Elizabeth in Poldark!) in the lead. 3 sub-plots within one, 'Stella Blomkvist' doesn't really click for me until late on when there's a whole web of Scandi-crime-noir intrigue. It felt like the makers were new to the medium, so trying out lots of things, not everything working. Fair play to them though, by the end I was a lot more involved, in some measure thanks to the quality of the acting. Reed is fun as the renegade cop (though she could use a a few more rough edges), Kristín Þóra Haraldsdótti good as her long-suffering geeky sidekick Gunna and Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir great as the sexy scheming government minister Dagbjört, ably assisted by lots of others (an ensemble of Chinese actors caught up in the plot, too). 'Stella Blómkvist' takes chances just like its chief protagonist, and the plot hinges on China's use of both soft and hard power in its foreign relations, so very 'topical' these days. It's worth continuing ...

I just finished season 1, and to be honest I only started this show because of the actress playing Stella. The storyline was okay, but some scenes were really just questionable. I'm going to watch the next seasons though lmao.

If this series is representative of modern day Iceland, it certainly does not portray it in a very "likeable" light! A lawyer who sleeps around with any and everyone, incompetent police, corrupt leaders and a superpower trying to buy the country, are all not pleasant to see but is what seems to be happening in that country. While the series is entertaining at times because of its modernity, it does have the potential to become formulaic and tiresome. Best enjoyed until that happens, but be prepared to watch a series that does not seem to have boundaries on sexuality or sexual situations!

She does everything wrong: as a young lady smoking in public places, drinking (rather expensive in Iceland) whisky, getting herself in every impossible situation you can think of. The openings scene is not for children or for very prudent people. But if you are neither you will love Stella Blomkvist. Watch it, you get your moneys worth. I hope there will be a second season!