Blackwater

Top reviews. A crime series you just have to watch, I read. Could this live up to expectations?

After watching it, my answer is both yes and no.

No, in the sense that the series is not very exciting after a brutal double murder. A strange investigation starts and we quickly understand that this will take time to be solved. It is a slow crime story. You have to be patient here.

Not bad, but cumbersome and time-consuming.

What I have to admit I liked the most were the incredible characters and environments that are portrayed in this series by some of Sweden's very best actors. The series is about two different eras, and manages to juggle between them well. It is particularly in the era that is about the 70s that I find exciting and interesting. A sect that wants to turn its back on society, small-time criminal villagers, a mysterious Finnish woman appears and more. This is incredibly well described and an insight into a recent past.

In sum, I would therefore recommend the series. But don't expect a crime thriller with lots of action, but a comprehensive story that is carefully uncovered.

Mmmmmm...The review with 'boring boring boring' as the header is the key to why you should watch this. He/She don't get it,Never lived amongst the rocks. Praise be. Lets talk Rolf Lassgård. That frame, the look over the shoulder with a rye almost desperate glance. The whispering voice that booms. The cheek of him to be so good. It's almost annoying. Lets talk about the overall brilliance of the casting. The Pernill family in real life, as Mother and two daughters playing Mother and two daughters in the show. It's genius, and it works. Like that wasn't interesting enough lets talk about Sven Boräng who plays a younger Rolf Lassgård. What a fantastic example of an actor totally owning his craft. He must of spent hours on end shadowing Lassgård's every move and nuance because he nailed it to the point you are watching Rolf. Wonderful work. Now I can talk about the music, because it is music and not soundscaping. Yuk. I work as a composer often with nordic noir. I put myself forward for this show when I first got wind of it's pre production. When I was told Mattias Bärjed was on it, I was so happy. Perfect. So great to hear the feel of the water, the rocks, the time frame. Odd, catchy and totally appropriate. But then he was in a great band and, moreover he composed for 'Hunt for a Killer'. I reviewed it a couple of years back and said it was a game changer for nordic noir. I am British but have spent many many years in Finland,Sweden, Norway. Folk who find a lot of these series 'slow/long winded' need to spend serious time in these places to understand the pace, the culture. Then they will understand. Maybe.

The strengths here are the drama and the scenery, but it falls short on tempo and how plot twists are connected to the main storyline and cues. It's not like you would think "Of course! Why did I not think of that? That was clever!" Instead, it is like you watch some drama that you become invested in, but in the end, it does not matter much. So, they could have portrayed almost anything to provide filling time. Based on a book I haven't read, I cannot comment on the adaptation, but I strongly suspect you would not feel the same disconnect reading the book. Ultimately, this mini series feels unsatisfying as a murder mystery series, which unfortunately was my main expectation going in. But, if you just want some slow moving drama spiced with murder mysteries and a 70's collective imagery to go with it (and along with that, contentions on sexual liberty and political themes of the day), this is totally worth watching. And then you might land on a better rating as well.

Hope they do more like this. Didnt wanted it to end. The August family and Lassgård is excellent.

I especially liked the 70's part of it, it felt like I was in that pediod of time with the clothes, music, cars and so on.

Didnt think it was obvious what was going to happen, it is very mysterious and special and I can understand why its not suitable for everyone.

Its a serie where you dont do anything else than whatch it, cause if you look at the phone at the same time you might miss clues. I think I will watch it again sometime just to understand some of the mysterious parts in the beginning and just to se the beautiful nature up in north. And ofcourse dont forget the music its perfect.

This is one of the best Scandinavian series I have seen in a long time. But don't come expecting a standard Nordic crime series. This is more a crime story in the sense that Hamlet is a crime story. It's about man and nature, time's arrow and existential questions - and the acting is superb. They manage to make something work that usually never works: to have a younger and an older version of most of the characters, since it takes place in 1973 and 1991. Highly recommended if you like Twin Peaks and Top of the Lake - but I would also point to brilliant period recreations like Fanny and Alexander or Dazed and Confused.