Trapped

If you look for one of the most accomplished police drama series search no further. Excellent writing, photography and acting. You'll be immersed in a small Icelandic town where a series of crimes (murders included) need to be solved. Top notch realism. It's awesome how easily you can fall in love with well built/developed characters even if they're not good looking, dysfunctional, exceptionally smart or heroic: just normal. It's even more awesome you can fall in love with a well written police drama even if no child was killed, no supernatural stuff is hinted as possibly present, no worldwide conspiracy menaces mankind, no criminal mastermind always wins. It's a good lesson for all those creators modeling their products on a dumb target audience: you don't need to. There's already youtube and Hollywood and special effects and cartoons for that: if you write series, do it well.

The murder drama set is an isolated small town is a well-worn trope, really just an extended version of the locked room mystery, or the country house killing. But when the small town is in northern Iceland, that's an unusually claustrophobic setting and 'Trapped' uses its location perfectly. When the winter storms come in, you feel cold just watching; when the thaw comes, it feels visibly warmer. The stunning scenery is also used to good effect, not least during the chilling opening credits. What I also liked about this story was that, although bad things were done, the motives (and competencies) of those involved are ultimately revealed to be fit to the scale of the world in which they have happened: the story doesn't ultimately depend on some deranged force of pure evil, or inter-galactic conspiracy. The sense of mutual hurt felt in a place where everybody knows everybody else, even if they sure don't all like one another, is also well conveyed. Perhaps there's just a little too much of taciturn people being gloomy in the dark for a perfect drama: it takes time to get to know the protagonists, although perhaps that's just the Icelandic way. Overall, it's very good, and makes one keen to return to Iceland, though probably I'll choose the summer season.

The lead character is engaging and you'll feel for him. Right from his hair to the way he walks to the way he dresses is all so real. And so is his life. The world created is so lovely you'd want to keep going back. Thoroughly enjoying it.

S1 Review

In terms of plot, tonality and direction Trapped is not unique, despite that trapped is a remarkable inclusion to the genre of Nordic noir. The series opens in a snowy remote town in Iceland where a deadbody surfaces in the river .The fiercely inclement weather ,and an ensuing storm challenges the understaffed police in the town led by Andri Olafsson to solve the case. The series helmed by Baltasar Kormákur (director of "Everest","Adrift") is an intriguing watch throughout .The snowy cold town of siglufjörður acts as a perfect ally to justify the title of the series. The series builds up on the characters of the small town which seems all okay until the body shows up. Some old memories jogged up where as few persons are driven to the verge of exposing their true self. The incident sends this apparently peaceful town into an unexpected turmoil. The situation worsens as the last hope of any help from the central police department is delayed due to the impending storm. The local police with it's limited resources finds it to difficult to solve the case .The series is a slow burn and the character arcs of the cast suits it enough for this bleak thriller. The town, surrounded by icy mountains and river works as a perfect metaphor to the claustrophobic condition of the residents of the town regarding the incident. Olafur olafsson as an efficient but misplaced cop Andri is brilliant in his role.He has a robust screen presence throughout the series playing the role of a tragic cop with a troubled family life. Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir plays a more affectionate female cop and the most lovable character of the series. She also done a great job in playing her role .As the series progresses, it divulges more and more of this peaceful town i.e political conspiracies, personal vendetta and also some unusual turn in relationships. The writers has done a commendable job in building up the gravity and the atmosphere of the series. The characters will stay with you for some time. The directors also have proved their calibre by not hurrying the climax as some shows with promising beginnings usually fall victim to, although I admit some of reveals are predictable.The spectacular work in cinematography and the magnificent soundtracks by Johan Johannson and Hildur Guðnadóttir is more than perfect. The title montage is beautiful to be said at least. The series although particularly beautiful may not appeal to all,because of it's slow pace. The series is not at it's best in portraying the melodramatic situations,it may seem forced and unnecessary. Vividly atmospheric and purposefully bleak,the series, is surely a must watch who love slow burn crime dramas.

Very much in the dark, foreboding style of Scandinavian police process fiction, Trapped is beautifully produced and acted with realistic characters and enough pot-boiling clues to keep the audience on the edge of its seat. A wonderful setting and the drama of a big storm accentuates the claustrophobic community and gives the crime element a grimness and urgency. The local police chief, Andri, is the focus of the story and his acting is exemplary. Simply enjoyable! Supporting characters, the two other local uniformed police officers, the ferry captain and the Rekyavik cast all contribute to a very watchable and dramatic series. Television at its best, flavoured with an Icelandic blackness provided by the climate and the terrain.