Nyrkki

I really know nothing about Finnish post war history. I have a vague knowledge of the Soviet invasions in the 1940s but that is about it so this cold war thriller is new territory.

A slow burn series that drew me in bit by bit and with quite a number of unexpected twists.

Who are the real heroes in this? That is perhaps the most difficult question of all.

But atmospheric design and music, quality acting, a script that seamlessly moves between Finnish, Russian, English and Swedish is a fine mix.

Recommended for lovers of cold war spy thrillers. But be warned, it is quite violent and explicit.

Absolutely stunning visually! As a vintage fan, I loved the authentic feel of the early 1900's in the show. The outfits, the style, the hair, the suits, the furtinute, the settings, the cigarettes, the music... Beautiful!

The performance of Uusivirta, Grabowsky, Vauramo and Petersson were very enjoyable. Parviainen in the lead I found to be a bit too restrained and aloof. Great at moments though, especially in the final episode! I would have loved to see what Kosonen would have done with her character, since her fight scene was a breath of fresh air!

Sure this show had some stumbles, but all in all it created a very intriguing fictional world of espionage and betrayal. I've never seen this type of storyline and energy in Finnish productions. Great pace and twists!

Very good show with complicated layers of storylines. Told like the viewer is reading a great novel. Told slowly and meticulously, without any wasted time/energy, and developed perfectly. Top show for sure. Constant action. Don't look away, or you're sure to miss something.

I enjoyed this, but you have to concentrate. If you are not familiar with Finnish/Russian history and politics it is difficult to understand a lot of what is going on, so I would recommend a binge watch. The best Cold War thriller I have seen for many a year.

It's a great idea. The production is a bit reminiscent of the surrealistic European films of the early '60s; and it becomes increasingly (literally) theatrical with studio shots and lighting. But potentially most confusing is the illogical action. One example: what seems likely to be a 99% certain death somehow becomes a 1% survival. Another, an killing is interrupted by the "timely" arrival of a distraction. The broad plot remains but details have to be simply ignored. The most obvious is how a mysterious person can obtain and sell a huge quantity of arms.

If we ignore this, we have a drama with endless twists, turns, and action.

And maybe, just maybe, they know something not in our history books!