Blå ögon

Its very clear the director ran out of time and somewhere forgot several of the plot lines. The last episode failed to shed light on some gigantic plot holes and left a bad aftertaste. The hinted connections between the plots was abandoned and a big 'scew you' explanasion was shoehorned in to end the season that did not know if it would get financing for a second round.

I can imagine it is difficult to create a political series approaching wide audience, but yet versatile and not simplistic narration. The Danish Borgen or the UK and US House of Cards are fine respective examples, but I can easily say that Blå ögon is on their heels... Well, the pace is sometimes uneven, some characters are static and the authors have taken sides (letting understood that rightism is worse than leftism), but some witty turns, intertwining events/characters and solid performances (particularly female ones) make the 10 episodes of an hour each pass with interest and understanding. Perhaps the events in the last episode came with a certain rush and let many things open (and a hint for a next season), but no news of it so far - I would be definitely interested to follow.

Being a fan of Scandinavian series, I try not to pay attention that there are same actors and actresses performing in most series (the more famous tend to spend more time on screen, so if the script lets you guess whether their characters vanish or die, so the chances are they do not:) ), but what the heck... Even mediocre Scandinavian series tend to me more interesting and realistic that good US ones.

I can usually handle some brutality and violence (in context), but I was squirming for far too much in this series. The Millennium trilogy and The Killing had some graphic violence but this tops them both. Despite some really solid acting and a few interesting political storylines, there was just such an overwhelming sense of foreboding, nastiness and just plain negativity that it was hard to focus on what was happening. Scandinavian dramas and shows are mostly far superior to most comparable series and movies out there, but this one has gone too far for me. There were some interesting relationships and social commentary and the 'noir' aspect of this genre certainly played out, but you will have a hard time finding it 'enjoyable'. Unless you like horror films. A pretty bleak representation of the racism, political back-stabbing and general malaise of Swedish society. At least Wallander had a bit of levity now and then. It's got a good pace and is definitely a 'thriller' but not for late night viewing I'd say.

The actors: Madelene Jacobsson, Marie Richardson, Louise Peterhoff, Cecilia Frode, Niklas Hjulström, Karin Franz Körloff & the stunt performer: Madelene Barwén Trollvik really gets visible according to my view of things.

The scriptwriters and the directing is great from my Point of view. One of few productions in modern-history of Swedish TV that succeeds as in making things interesting, money and so on!

/Joel Kullberg

Wow, was a complex story to follow. Good acting, nice performances. Storyline had a few holes in it, but artistic license is a good excuse, and there were only a couple or so. There was some glossy stylised terrorism scenes, they do add to the tension, but those can be ignored if it isn't your bag. Something that cant be ignored is the violence. Not that there is too much of it, but it i designed to pull you in emotionally and it certainly does do that. By the end of it I found myself both liking the main terrorist char, but also hating him. And the series does that all the way through with most of the characters,they are quite complicated chars.

Overall a little lightweight compared to The Bridge (9/10 for me), but weightier than Borgen (7/10)

Strange ending considering there isn't a 2nd series and nothing is planned.

See for yourself, worth spending your time on though,