Innan vi dör

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

This is an excellent entry into the group of Nordic Noir thrillers, which have been a mixed bunch lately, to say the least. It also shows how a seemingly tired plot device can be made to look fresh and exciting when the production is put together by the right team. This is the case here. The choice of the locale is near faultless, the direction is crisp and editing is so sharp it appears as if the story would lose its flow if another frame were cut out. It wouldn't, but that is how it looks like.

What makes it really work, however, the complexity of characters and the competence of actors who embody them. Looked at closely there are no goodies and baddies, just human beings shaped by their circumstances and landed on the opposite ends of the law. Each main character surprises you with their capacity to act against your expectations and make it believable. Marie Richardson as the conflicted mother and the heroic but flawed detective and Adam Paisson as her capable, self-possessed, hard-headed son are superb and lead a cast of excellent actors. There are no small parts here and the actors seldom take a wrong step. In the case of Peshang Rad as Stefan, it is amazing to see what an actor can do with the little background given to his character. It is perhaps unfair to pick actors from what is an excellent ensemble.

Another aspect that impressed me is that the violence is never gratuitous and mostly implied, leaving one wonder how the suspense is sustained for ten episodes. If I outlined the script it would seem like a collection of police thriller clichés yet the series looks and feels original thanks to the professionals who put it together.

Highly recommended.

Slightly disturbed female cops are the thing in thrillers these days. This is a nice series with interesting plot lines and good acting. It kept me hooked all the way along the first season so naturally I decided to continue with the second. This was a disappointment. Very far fetched plot twists, dead that come back alive, just too much to be credible. So enjoy season 1 and leave it at that.

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.

"Before We Die" ("Innan vi Dör") is a Swedish crime drama series, one of the best made, in a long time. There's not much to complain about, and even though the series is in 10 episodes within the same story-line, it manages to keep the quality, as well as the pace.

In a script that is both clever and very well written, the actors manage to be as credible as the story is. This is a raw, relentlessly drama that starts with the police Hanna Svensson, played by Marie Richardson – who isn't as boxy as Saga Norén in "Bron" ("The Bridge") – but you cannot exactly accuse her for being socially elegant. Instead, she's pushy and zealous, but with a large sense of justice. Even up to the point when she puts her own son - Christian - behind bars for two years for drug trafficking.

Marie Richardson carries the series and she does it with a nervy presence that engages. Magnus Krepper is wonderfully sleazy as her police colleague. Adam Pålsson does a poignant interpretation as Hanna's son, who wants to make old injustices right again and Alexej Manvelov works perfectly as the villain. With some reservation of stereotyping the bad guys, but that is something you will soon overlook.

I really hope this series will be out there with English subtitles, because I heartily recommend it.