Case

I have watched almost every single scandinavian crime series done in the last 6-7 years. Many of them are really great and some are acceptable. But among all of them I would rate this at the very bottom. So watch it only if you find absolutely no other alternatives in the genre. While most modern scandinavian series looks like they came right from the cinema with great cinematography this whole thing looks kind of cheap. And the whole thing feels a bit cheap too. There is something very odd and very off with the whole pacing. The plot is nothing special, it has few surprises, and it is hard to care for or root for any of the characters. The whole thing drags along in a very slow tempe. Which I usually dont mind that much if it builds up to something great. But this doesnt. Instead it makes you watch it spend at least half its running time watching drug addicts and a alcoholic whine, cry and being drunk/drugged down. And you dont really care what happens to them. Too little time is spent on the crime-aspect of this crimes-seires. This is the only scandinavian series I am sorry I didnt give up right away instead of suffering with it all the way through. After binge-watching this last weekend I was unsure if I wanted to watch anything at all this weekend. But thankfully I gave "Kalifat" a chance and that one is everything this is not. And it gave me my faith back in scandinavian crime-series.

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.

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.

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.

It seems like 6 months since I watched an American made series. I have watched series from Mexico, Sweden, Finland and so on and they are uniformly excellent. Even though the dialog is foreign, I perfectly understand what is happening because the actors are so accomplished. I think Hollywood directors should spend about a year watching these offerings because they have a lot going for them. The Case is no exception. The director set just the right atmosphere and even though I've had a little trouble sorting out the Icelandic names I know what's happening. Keep em coming Netflix. Next on my list is Season 3 of the show about the Mexican soccer team. That is a great series too.