The Bridge

I am writing this review after finishing the first series but at the same time I am also in the middle of the second series already which is no worse and is actually based on the exact same idea. The essence of the story is that there is a corpse on the European’s longest bridge between two countries. And since the corpse was found on the territory of two countries, one eccentric Swedish female detective and one also eccentric male Danish detective are in charge of the investigation. The best part is that they are both weathered by life and they both have their own lives with their own rules, addictions, problems and sufferings. Basically they are just normal people like all of us and it is up to the viewer if he likes them or not. But there is a breaking point during the investigation because there are not only scenes from the investigation but gradually some stories from detectives’ personal lives as well. Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia are by the way excellent in their roles. You won’t find a couple of detectives who would be more natural and at the same time more distinctive than anybody else from for example any US crime series. The European production is much better in this aspect and it’s great that the Northerners used this to their advantage. With a mysterious Nordic atmosphere, which is underlined by a brilliant camera that focuses on Scandinavian austerity in architecture, this series simply cannot disappoint you. (26/06/2017)

I took me a while to get used to the new partner. I mean the first Danish detective was really nice and quite strange at the same time. With this one, it took me a while, but somewhere half-way through the show, there was a breaking point and emotions awoke immediately. But the murder investigation is at times difficult to follow. And that’s despite the fact that the murders are properly ritual and brutal. They even affect Saga’s personal life, who in this season is getting hit from all directions, and it should be pointed out that in terms of the psychology, the actress Sofia Helin portrays probably the most complicated character in a crime show that I have ever seen. Towards the end, I kept thinking about whether I was more disappointed or pleased with the season. For instance, I kept looking for links to the actual bridge. But the season finale saved everything by becoming the best episode of the season, so season three deserves a solid four-star review from me. (29/11/2017)

When I watch a series and get to a point where I feel sad, because I know I am watching the last season and there will be no new episodes, I am actually quite happy because I know the time I invested into the series was worth it. I haven’t had that feeling for a long time and with The Bridge, I was really enjoying this season. Truthfully, maybe even more than the previous one. This feeling was amplified by Saga Norén delivering possibly the best moments out of the whole series. Her lack of empathy and emotionless escalated absolutely perfectly. Her partner Henrik wasn’t falling behind either. Even his storyline was slowly coming to an end, so, in fact, the side story is often far more interesting than the murder investigations themselves. In this case, the investigations really took a back seat. It is a shame, then, that the series didn’t keep up the pace it picked up in the beginning. During the second half of the season I was just waiting for the ending… and I must add that I really enjoyed that. (05/11/2018)