Case

SPOILER: "Case" is an Icelandic crime series, a spin off apparently from another show.

When a teenager, Lara, is found hanged, suicide is presumed, but one detective, Gabriella, is suspicious there might be another cause. Meanwhile the girl's parents have hired an attorney to investigate as well.

What is uncovered is a hot mess -- the young woman was a promising ballet student, and it is learned that the ballet master was not only a bully, but giving his students drugs.

Then there are videos on the Internet of some of the girls having sex, and a crime ring that is getting underage girls hooked on drugs and turning them into prostitutes.

This is a Wallander-type series - dark and depressing. It's also sexually graphic and a little on the slow side. At the end, there are some unresolved matters because there possibly was a season 2 or at least plans for one. There is a subplot involving the lead detective's sister who has some mental health issues. Actually the season ends on what may be the beginning of an entire new plot for her.

It's so interesting to watch something un-Hollywood - no one is glamoured up, and there is frontal nudity of men as well as women, which is unusual. It was also fascinating to see parts of Iceland and hear the language.

Good characterizations and acting are real highlights as well as a plot that will keep you guessing.

In the great tradition of bleak crime shows such as Wallander, Case is an atmospheric procedural cop show that is very addictive. The heart of men, the innocence of youth, and the fish-out-of-water female cop are tropes we've seen before, but they are combined here to make a great series. Characters are bathed in the Icelandic summer sun that never sets and are drawn realistically: no one is either all good or all bad; and everyone is guilty of something. It makes a very binge-able show that is highly intelligent, even if there are some plot holes regarding the cops' behaviors and procedures that are less than believable. High marks to the actors, particularly the lead cop Gabriela and the alcoholic, perverse and dogged Logi. The 9th and last episode ends with the opening of another story line about Gabriela's amnesiac/brain-damaged? sister. It makes me hope for a season 2. Case isn't a masterpiece like Wallander and other Midnight Sun shows but it deserves respect.

Of all the Nordic Noirs this one is the least attractive. Not one character makes a good decision, they all seem blasé as hell, fail at having common sense, have completely the wrong reactions...

Towards the last third of the series this obvious lack of realism becomes quite annoying...

Too bad, the story could be so much more.

Although it definitely shows the underbelly of human nature, this dark crime show is much more gripping than other procedural dramas. There are graphic depictions of nearly everything, and yet the core characters are strong and well rounded. The acting is incredible on everyone's parts, and the frequent wide shots immerse you in the setting. The plot somehow manages to employ constant twists while keeping a coherent story and not dropping any loose ends. In fact, I found myself wondering, with four minutes left of the last episode, how in the world will they tie all this up. But the writers managed it, leaving their protagonist, Gabriela smiling, and also leaving a cliffhanger suggestive of another season. If you can stomach the things shown - I admit I had to pause it and give a few minutes to steel myself at times - then it is one hundred percent worth watching all the way through. To see all of these incredibly developed, multifaceted characters come to a conclusion in all of their different ways was truly a gift. You hate the baddies, you love the star detectives, and even the neutral characters hold onto your heart(or at least your thoughts). It was a pleasure to watch this show, and I'm sincerely hoping for another season.

This series is amazing. There are so many twists and turns to the plot, where I think I know who's responsible, until I suspect another who I wouldn't have guessed. I would never have expected such a clever crime drama from a country with one of the lowest crime rates. I'm a woman and I don't know what other reviewer was ranting on about it being misogynistic. It had some unpleasant scenes regarding abuse, drug use, prstitution, pimps, but it was just a story about unfortunate people. If anything it gives a warning against young girls getting involved in abusive people and situations. Only thing is it left a few unanswered questions, so seems to be the start of another series, but I'm unsure how to find out if I can watch with English subtitles. I only found out about Case because the first programme was on Channel 4 part of Walter Presents, and then the rest online. Like the Icelandic comedy Næturvaktin/The Night Shift, I don't have a clue how I can watch again with English subtitles since BBC stopped showing on their website.