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.

Let us hope that more of these Yellow Bird series come to British television.