Creators:
Miikko OikkonenCast:
Ville Virtanen, Anu Sinisalo, Matleena Kuusniemi, Kristiina Halttu, Ilkka Villi, Olivia Ainali, Lenita Susi, Max Bremer, Matti Laine, Jasmin Hamid (more)VOD (1)
Seasons(3) / Episodes(31)
Plots(1)
Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen is one of the most respected officers at the National Bureau of Investigation in Finland. When his wife barely survives brain cancer, Sorjonen decides to take his family to an idyllic small town near the border of Russia, to live a quiet peaceful life. But how peaceful is life on the border between two worlds? (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews of this series by the user Necrotongue (35)
The Bloodmaid (Part One) (2018) (S02E07)
Whenever a walled-up corpse is found, it's a sure sign that the case will hook me in. I've mentioned it several times before, but there must be something wrong with me. I wouldn't even dare to bring this up with a psychologist; it's the kind of thing that might prompt them to start measuring me up for a padded cell. But let's get back to the series — the seventh episode had me hooked, not just because of what was inside the walls. I was captivated the entire time, never a dull moment. I'm already eager to see how Sorjonen will untangle this mystery. P.S. That genius who penned the episode description for Netflix should take a second look at it. Maybe then they'll realize the utter nonsense they've written.
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The Bloodmaid (Part Two) (2018) (S02E08)
This conclusion to the miniseries stands out as one of the better ones, if not the best so far. Though I must admit, the creators did seem to try fitting a square peg into a triangular hole on their way to the final goal. Hey, sometimes logic has to take a backseat, right? The case itself was incredibly intriguing, keeping the tension high throughout. There were plenty of funny moments peppered in as well, making for an enjoyable ride. The only thing that threw me off was finding myself a few steps ahead of Sorjonen during the investigation. Am I becoming a genius detective, or was the script just more transparent than usual? The emotional play during the piano game didn't quite hit the mark for me, but Lena's character brought a lot of entertainment value in the end. 4*+
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Without a Shadow (Part One) (2018) (S02E09)
The Finns brought us another case, but this time, I'm a bit skeptical about the direction they took. The mix of home invasion and investigation didn't quite pique my interest; perhaps it was because logic seemed to take a backseat here more than I'm used to. I couldn't help but feel that the plot involving two idiots was unnecessary and detracted from the overall experience. If the creators had ditched that strange subplot, I would definitely be giving this a higher rating.
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Without a Shadow (Part Two) (2018) (S02E10)
I have to say, neither the finale of the miniseries nor the entire second season left much of an impression on me. The chaos at the Sorjonen family's house, thanks to the brain trust of the two morons was infuriating. And Lena's Russian storyline didn't impress me much either. Despite the Degermans losing family members and employees left and right, they still seem to pose a challenge to Sorjonen's mental capacities. Overall, it didn't quite grab me as much as I had hoped. 3*-
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Season 3 (2019) (S03)
The final season was noticeably better than the previous one. It did have its flaws but not too many. Compared to the second season, the third one was much more balanced, the logic was not brutally tortured, and despite occasional excesses, I actually had a good time overall. The Finns brought the series to a satisfying conclusion, while successfully steering clear of melodramatic scenes, which is something I always appreciate.
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The Human Stain (2019) (S03E01)
The creators threw a bit of chaos into my mind with all the jumping between different timeframes. But as I started to piece together the names and connections from previous episodes, the storyline began to make sense, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. They certainly tried to tug at the heartstrings in a few scenes, but being the tough cookie that I am, I managed to resist reaching for the tissues once again. What I particularly liked was the addition of Sorjonen's old case. The Finns really nailed it with that storyline.
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The Human Beast 1/2 (2019) (S03E02)
I have always had (and still have) a good relationship with women, which could "Hogwarts" me in a bad way today, so I was pleased with the introduction of the second episode; if someone has to be manipulated, it should rather be a man. The situation later became complicated, but I consider the overall gender outcome of 2:1 a success in this series :-) Sorjonen's Moriarty is back on the scene, so I'm curious about what else I will see.
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The Human Beast 2/2 (2019) (S03E03)
I can't tell if the creators are trying to be too clever for their own good, but I was hoping for more momentum and fewer bizarre encounters with the master of unexpected arrivals and departures. While the case as a whole did manage to keep my interest, I couldn't quite get into this overly complicated finale. I'm also a bit let down that the creators went for a clichéd meeting with characters we really shouldn't have been seeing anymore.
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Sons and Lovers 1/3 (2019) (S03E04)
After the fourth episode (or rather the first part of this new miniseries), I'm cautiously optimistic that the creators have steered clear of the unfortunate missteps from the previous part. The case is unfolding quite intriguingly, especially considering it all began in a retirement home, and I was surprisingly enjoying myself. Right from the start, we're presented with many suspects, it's like one of those Agatha Christie's stories. All the investigators seemed to be hitting their usual stride, and even Janina revealed her inner caveman. While it won't win her any points with me, I can appreciate the effort.
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Sons and Lovers 2/3 (2019) (S03E05)
The chaos in the chronological sequence did throw me off at first. I even had a feeling that I'd accidentally started watching the previous episode. But as the episode unfolded, I found myself syncing up with the creators' wavelength. This episode was all about filling in the gaps from what we've seen before. The investigation started stagnating a bit (it felt like Sorjonen was waiting for that moment when only one suspect remained, guaranteeing them as the perpetrator), and Janina was back "in form." Despite that, I still found myself enjoying the episode. 4*-
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Sons and Lovers 3/3 (2019) (S03E06)
This time around, the Finns didn't catch me off guard with their time games — I was ready for them. Unlike the beginning of the fifth episode, I didn't stumble through the plot. However, I did run into another issue. The entire story felt somewhat watered down to me; the investigation branched out too widely, and there were moments where I found myself not really invested in who did what to whom. Additionally, a real lunatic seemed to emerge from the Sorjonen family, so by the end, I was honestly relieved when the closing credits rolled.
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The Lady in the Looking-Glass 1/2 (2019) (S03E07)
Here we go - another case involving a religious community, and I must say I'm quite pleased about it. I'm not a fan of any form of religious faith (or rather the institutions profiting from it), and it's essential to keep people informed about it. What's more, right from the start, it became clear that despite the vast differences among religions, there's a common thread running through them. I found the investigation intriguing, and the circumstances of the case kept me engaged.
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The Lady in the Looking-Glass 2/2 (2019) (S03E08)
The creators wrapped up the case quite satisfactorily in this episode, without any major lapses in logic. This time, Sorjonen's daughter's mental development didn't hinder my enjoyment either; her actions had an understandable and relatable reason behind them, even if the execution was a bit inconsiderate. Well, Sorjonen solved another mystery, and now I only have two episodes left. If they're anything like this one, I might actually start missing the series.
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Chess Story 1/2 (2019) (S03E09)
It's almost as if the creators have shelved their previous hints of criminal collusion in the Degerman company, only to bring it back with a new case. However, Sorjonen's nemesis is also making a return, which made me a bit uneasy. The last time Maasalo was involved, it wasn't the best the series had to offer. Fortunately, this episode did not disappoint; the plot intrigued me and there was no boredom or illogical twists. So far, so good.
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Chess Story 2/2 (2019) (S03E10)
The finale was not bad, I did enjoy it. However, one gripe I have with the Finnish creators is their tendency for weak endings. The final clash between Sorjonen and the Mastermind seemed somewhat lacking.
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