Thursday, June 17, 2010

SWEDISH WALLANDER SERIES TWO

Update: This blog is now dormant. You can read all the old posts and a lot of new material at
Crime Scraps Review http://crimescraps2.wordpress.com



The second series of Swedish Wallander is coming to an end, and despite missing the first few episodes, and thinking I would miss Stefan and Linda too much to enjoy watching it, I have become hooked.
The last two episodes Arvet [The Heritage] and Indrivaren [The Collector] were both of the highest standard. Great scripts and good acting with the smouldering relationship between Isabelle [Nina Zanjani] and Pontus [Sverrir Gudriason] bursting into flame made these episodes gripping television.
If poor lonely Kurt [Krister Henriksson], helped by the faithful dog Jussi, could connect with the attractive prosecutor ice princess Katerina [Lena Endre] the series could end on a high.

The Heritage is about the murder of the profligate husband of the wealthy owner of a cider making factory an event which leads to more killings, and some confusion.
This episode produced an interesting social commentary, and a line that I was surprised could come out of socialist Sweden, spoken to of all people Henning Mankell's detective. One of the laid off Swedish employees complains that the firm have taken on Poles "who will work for a snickers bar a week."

In The Collector a women is killed during a break in at her apartment. The victim is recognised by Isabelle, and subsequently a violent figure from Isabelle's past wants to re-establish their relationship. This episode highlights the love and loyalty the Ystad team have for each other, and it ends with Pontus and Isabelle walking together on the beach, and Kurt sadly sitting with his dog.

One more episode to come in this high quality series in which the acting of the supporting cast has been so accomplished, with Mats Bergman as Nyberg, Douglas Johansson as Martinsson, and Fredrik Gunnarsson as Svartman.

This was something sadly lacking in both the BBC Wallander series.

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Norman - Thanks for this summing-up. I wish this Wallander series were available where I live. Alas, I shall have to look for the DVDs.

10:41 AM  
Blogger Dorte H said...

We will probably get this one before or later, and like you, I will miss Linda a lot, but I am also ready to give it a chance.

12:14 PM  
Blogger Lauren said...

Regarding that 'non-Swedish' line, I think the point a lot of crime fiction is making is that for (too) many, the welfare state only applies to fellow white Swedes...

11:41 AM  
Blogger Uriah Robinson said...

Lauren I am watching the final Swedish Wallander now, interrupted by the World Cup, and the theme of this episode is similar. The purpose of the EU seems to be to supply a source of cheap Lithuanian and Polish labour to rotten employers in the richer countries.
When Turkey comes in perhaps the Lithuanians will be priced out of the market.

3:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Krister said on Swedish radio yesterday that he is due in London for the Dagger awards.

Wallander nominated in international crime film catagory

2:12 AM  

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