Swedish/Danish crime drama The Bridge

[AnnaD]

I am going to write about The Bridge, a crime drama without revealing spoilers. I love the Swedish female lead detective, Saga Noren, who attends a call on Oresund Bridge (The Bridge of the bridge), when a dead body is found on the bridge at the exact border on the bridge between Sweden and Denmark. One dead woman, straddling both police jurisdictions, means that both the Swedish and Danish Police have responsibility for revealing the intrigue. At the call out, which is episode one of three seasons, we meet Saga Noren, who comes across as very matter of fact, incapable of small talk, capable of direct talk and command, and she takes charge of the event. Five minutes later, her Danish counterpart answers the call to investigate the body that has been dumped on the road at the Swedish/Danish border of Oresund Bridge. This is Martin Rohdes, who looks like a Soprano character, but is there as Detective from Copenhagen. He is capable of small talk, is attentive, empathetic, and can reflect, hold and respect the emotional turmoil of those around him, in contrast to scalpel sliced direct Saga. Saga doesn't want to work with Martin, and tells him that she will handle this case. He looks at her, and gets in his car, and later they realise that they have to work with each other. 

 

To cut to the chase of why I liked this show, the dialogue and depiction of Saga as a human with Aspergers, who is focused, determined, a workaholic, who shys from social interaction and is aware of her social awkwardness whenever conversation beyond her work's requirements demand small talk, who is transparent and forthcoming when asked, about her shortcomings, who is forthcoming about her intelligence and reveals it, equally, without spin, to whoever is asking, is a revelation. I don't know what it is about Saga's character that I more love: her vulnerability, her intelligence, her courage, or her compassion. She is such an intriguing mix which are showcased at various times through the show. It is kind of like episodes of Six Feet under, in that, the viewer gets to see the regular character being revealed as much as the murder victim is. Also the colleagues who support Saga are well drawn and sympathetic too. Saga's boss, Hans, is very aware of Sagas prodigious intelligence and equal social unease and enables her to be supported in doing her job and advocates for her. It is clear that he understands and respects Saga and is aware that Saga's compulsion to work at all costs is driven as a coping mechanism for other issues. 

Saga's Danish colleague Martin Rohdes is a gruff but kind bear of a man, who is socially very astute, and is impressed and initially exasperated by Saga's brutal truths delivered indiscriminately, and in spite of, the audience, but realises that Saga's integrity, transparency and honesty is hand in hand with her brutal truth. It is so good. 

 

It is a very intriguing commentary on the relationship between the perceptions of the Swedes perception of the Danes, and vice versa. There is a lot of subtext in the dialogue that I am sure Pat and Ingun could elaborate on. Lots of sly prods and questions. I have searched the internet and there is speculation only that a fourth season will be made. The actress who plays Saga, Sofia Helin, says playing Saga is exhausting psychologically as Saga is so focused and so different from the actress's own temperament. It was also a great way of seeing Sweden and Denmark. The other satisfying theme is that most of the suspects although eliminated from various investigations, were kind of dodgy but dodgy in a way where their obvious dodginesses weren't revealed sufficiently to frame them. Very intriguing. 

[ClaireC]

Anna, there is a very good American offshoot/version of this show with compelling actors, too.  In the American version, the Bridge is the one between the U.S. and Mexico at El Paso (I think) and the two police are the female American and a Mexican liaison officer.  The plot twists and turns around drug trafficking and the (very real) murders of dozens of Mexican young women.  

 

I will try to find the Danish series now that you've mentioned it here, as you may want to see the American show - although very gritty, I loved it.

[AnnaD]

ClaireC, I will look for it on either Netflix or Lightbox, I will need something to watch before I can marathon OITNB, Orphan Black or (runs out of options)!!

[Maureen]

@AnnaD, I've watched 3 seasons of The Tunnel, a remake of the Swedish/Danish series The Bridge, (re)made in French/English. Other than the location, they changed it from the bridge between Sweden and Denmark to the tunnel that runs across the channel between France and England and the different languages, it's the same script and the same characters. The storyline is excellent and the characters, acting, etc., is superb. It's a great drama/thriller/mystery. We loved it -- we wish it had been scripted for more than 3 seasons. Hopefully, at some point, they'll put together another season.

Edited December 13, 2016 by Maureen

[AnnaD]

Thanks Maureen, I will watch this version also. The Tunnel. 

[ClaireC]

Thanks, @Maureen!  I was going to mention it, too, but I couldn't remember the title of that series... another example of my Swiss-cheese brain.  ?

[AnnaD]

Well now the punters have 3 tv versions of the same show to discuss. I am a bit pissed that I can't discuss it with you yet. You can talk amongst yourselves but just know I will lurk and be following anyway ;)

[Yin-da]

The shooting of the 4th season of "Broen" starts during this Winther (2016/2017) and can be seen on Swedish, Danish and Norwegian television early in 2018. The beginning of season 4 starts 18 months ahead of where season 3 left and has an unpleasant start, I read here but it's in Norwegian.

[AnnaD]

thanks, Ingun! Great news!! 

[Christina Lily Pedersen]

One of our few good TV shows here in Denmark, along with "The Killing", which is very similar and can be found in an AWESOME American remake :D

[ClaireC]

2 hours ago, Christina Lily Pedersen said:

One of our few good TV shows here in Denmark, along with "The Killing", which is very similar and can be found in an AWESOME American remake :D

 

Yes, Christina!  I loved  the American series of The Killing!  The two cops were so quirky, they were believable (for a change).  You know, the writer/director is Canadian, and although the setting is supposed to be Seattle, it was actually shot in Vancouver - plenty of rain to go around.

 

Edited December 14, 2016 by ClaireC