The Sommerdahl Murders

/about Season 1/

This locality-based Series (in and around Elsinore) is no flop, but not more than mediocre, no Scandi Noir, with several predictable cases (if I did not guess the wrongdoer, I could guess the run of scenes and problem-solving approaches) and unrealistic living atmosphere of the policemen in Denmark (mid-level officers all having private houses with a sea-view, really?). The cast is also just above average, no memorable performances (Babikian, Drasbæk, Mygind are not A-grade actors in Denmark).

As for level, it is more close to e.g. Anna Pihl or Morden i Sandhamn than to Bron/Broen or Innan vi dör, for instance. And last but not least - Danish weather is seldom so pleasant as in this Series :)

PS Season 2 has somewhat meatier cases, but the personal relations, this triangle, is still not smooth and sometimes annoying. And again - no rainy days around Elsinore at all! :)

The Sommerdahl Murders is not like any typical Scandinavian TV series. It is more a romantic drama with some murders in the episodes. It's quite predictable, yet I still enjoy watching it. I recommend it if you want an easy to watch series with beautiful Scandinavian scenery.

The mystery and investigation portions are entertaining. However, the soapy marriage squabbles drag the whole thing down.

I'm not sure why so many people are hating on this show. I really enjoy watching it a lot. I have just started season five and I always get happy when a new season comes out. I love how every two episodes is a different story, but there is also some backstory that continues across the seasons. The love triangle in the first season or so can be a little irritating, because it doesn't feel like it really makes sense, but the show continues on past that and there is much more to the show than their relationship. The murder mysteries are always interesting, not too gory, and not too intense. I find it a very enjoyable show, and I hope they continue making it.

As other reviewers have said, this is a decent show. The mysteries are good, the acting is good, and I always find myself enjoying the episodes. The exception here is the soapy ménage that persists between Dan, Fleming, and Marianne, the latter of whom is the least interesting/most annoying character in this series. By the beginning of season three, I was hoping beyond hope that the writers would do the viewers a favor, and either kill her off, or send her somewhere to "find herself" (because she seems like one of those people who would need to do that), and then just leave her there. Everything seems angst-filled with her, and it gets to be seriously tedious after a while. Largely she adds nothing to the show. Fortunately there are other delightful characters to partially make up for her existence, Svend in particular, a wonderful character who bakes. I'm looking forward to more, but not with Marianne. She needs to go.