Nordic Noir

At work we were talking about various TV shows we are watching and a much younger, trendier co-worker said, " I think it so cool that you like Nordic Noir."

Nordic Noir? 

What is that? Well, I googled it and found: 

Scandinavian noir or Scandinavian crime fiction, also called Nordic Noir, is a genre comprising crime fiction written in Scandinavia with certain common characteristics, typically in a realistic style with a dark, morally complex mood. According to one critic, "Nordic crime fiction carries a more respectable cachet... than similar genre fiction produced in Britain or the US". Language, heroes and settings are three commonalities in the genre, which features plain, direct writing style without metaphor.

With its roots in the ground-breaking TV dramas The Killing, Borgen, Wallander and The Bridge, Nordic Noir has become a genre in its own right, influencing screenwriters far beyond the Scandinavian Peninsula.

I just love Bron/Broen (The Bridge). I find it refreshing and not at all like the overly fake US crime shows. The main female character may have Asperger's Syndrome, they just never tell us anything, except she can be difficult.

You find yourself unable to stop watching this show.

Nordic Noir covers a whole lot of shows and geographical areas. There is even one in France that would qualify. Witnesses.  Set in the small coastal town of Le Tréport in northern France, it has all the markings of Nordic Noir.  The characters are interesting and you see just enough of their inside lives to be interesting.

And Finland contributes with Easy Living. It is an odd show with a unique story line.  The husband is a criminal in disguise, the wife a self indulgent and deceptive social climber, and the children not as oblivious as their parents think.

Another show I like is The Sandhamn Murders. It is actually more of a drama than a crime show, but I just love the beautiful summer outfits the women wear. And unlike Nordic Noir, it is not dark -- either physically or emotionally. It takes place in the summer time on an island where Swedes have the most adorable summer homes.

Check them out -- it is worth your time to watch a few and who knows, you may find yourself binge watching.

Pat