Dicte

..so many productions appear artificial, or produced for 'effect.' This is a show that feels 'real-life'. These characters do not come off as actors, and that is something so welcome in sitting back and watching things play out. Iben Hjejle is a favorite actor, on either side of the pond... she is just so natural. Have been fortunate to see her in other works... she never disappoints. She is someone you would just like to meet and really get to know. Of course the story lines have to been taken independently, because no one person would have so much happen to them in real-world situations. But there is something truly unique in this production, it has a warmth and closeness, and she and all the other regular cast members make that happen time and again. So glad it does sparingly occur, because it gives hope it will somehow come about again. Special is special... even if it does not happen very frequently.

Workmanlike Danish crime/human interest drama that ticks pretty much all the boxes we've come to expect. Young (-ish = late 30s/40s) professional female protagonist, check. Hipper and funkier than other people her age, as against more conventional friends and co-workers who seem occasionally bemused or irritated with her behavior, check and check. With her career, has to juggle raising one or two children more or less alone, and then a mystery crops up, check. Old boyfriend or ex-husband lurking around for color, check. Bad guys, if any, most likely to be right-wing, religious, or foreigners, check. A cast with familiar faces such as Iben Hjelje (from "Dag,") Laerke Winther Andersen ("Den som draeber," "Bankelot"), Dar Salim ("Broen," "Borgen," "Livvagterne," "Game of Thrones,") and Lars Brygmann ("Borgen," "Bankerot," "Rejseholdet") has crewed the show through three seasons now, very watchably. If you are not already a Nordic drama fan, this show is unlikely to win you over; if you are, however, you will enjoy it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first season of this Danish crime drama. Second season began to fade as character's bizarre personal lives overtook the "crime" part of this drama. The third season saw a continued movement away from the crimes and revolved almost totally around the increasingly annoying and unbelievable personal lives of the characters. I would definitely recommend season one but skip season two and three.

This series, retitled 'Dicte - Crime Reporter' here in the UK, follows crime reporter Dicte Svendsen as she reports on, and gets involved in, various cases in her home city of Aarhus, which she has returned to after some time away. She lives with her teenage daughter, Rose, and usually ends up working with policeman John Wagner. The cases typically, but not always, concern murders. These cases are each two episodes long although they were combined into single double length episodes here. As well as the mysteries there are ongoing personal stories involving Dicte and her friends' various relationships, personal and professional problems.

Amongst all the 'Nordic Noir' this series is lighter fare with its shorter individual cases and a protagonist who is closer to the enthusiastic amateur of classic whodunits than more realistic police investigations. Dicte constantly gets herself into situations that put her in danger or could get her arrested in real life. The cases are intriguing and the characters' personal lives are entertaining if rather chaotic... some might say soapish. The cast does a fine job; although not being Danish I can't comment on their accents. Most notable amongst the cast are Iben Hjejle, who plays Dicte; Lars Brygmann, as Wagner; and Dar Salim, who plays photographer and Dicte's love interest Bo Skytte. Overall I'd certainly recommend this for fans of crime drama looking for something lighter than most recent Nordic offerings.

These comments are based on watching the series in Danish with English subtitles.

Dicte is a good break from the slick over-directed over-produced American dramas. It shows normal people with crooked teeth and not a lot of make-up solving gritty crimes and involved in many of life's dramas. I particularly enjoyed the nature of the Danish people, being open and interactive, divorcing a little too much perhaps, but very human, leading good lifestyles. It is not all about lawyers, psychopaths, terrorists and greedy people like I often see in dramas in North America. They are like the British and the Canadians, living in a somewhat civilized society where people care about each other. I really appreciate not too slick and not too always money-oriented. Is is a really refreshing series that I found most compelling to watch.