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Some of the most interesting TV series last year I experienced with 2 Television series from Denmark (although one was Danish-Swedish co-production). The Bridge (aka Bron, aka Broen) (2011) and Borgen (aka The Fortress) (2010) although I've seen only the first season of Borgen. Both TV series were released by Arrow in UK on DVD and blu-ray. Borgen is available in US on LinkTV which is not broadcast widely. FX is already planning US remake of The Bridge, directed by Gerardo Naranjo and set on American-Mexican border.

Borgen Series 2 is currently being broadcast by BBC4 in the UK, in weekly double bills; we had episodes 5 & 6 last Saturday. As a cost saving and convenience measure, I usually dub these foreign series to DVD-R, then watch in a couple of sittings when I run out of "shop-bought" DVDs/BDs. I'm hoping to get round to The Killing III (Forbrydelsen III) in the next few weeks, by which time Borgen Series 2 will have finished, of course. However, it may have to take its turn after Lilyhammer S1, Homeland S2, and the last 10 episodes of Inspector Montalbano.

Don't forget Those Who Kill as well. It is a little less known because it played on ITV3 rather than on BBC4 in the UK, but it is also out on DVD. Strangely enough it also has an American remake in the works, with imdb already listing a Joe Carnahan directed pilot episode starring Chloë Sevigny.

colinr0380 wrote:Don't forget Those Who Kill as well. It is a little less known because it played on ITV3 rather than on BBC4 in the UK...

I agree - well worth watching. I have it on off-air DVD-Rs, but there's no realistic prospect of being able to revisit it any time soon!

The first series of Broen/Bron and Forbrydelsen are the dog's bollocks. Some of the best TV you could ever hope to see. I've just started on the first series of Borgen and that looks like it's going to be another class affair. I didn't think the second series of Forbrydelsen was anywhere as near as good as the first though. Decent but not anything special. I'll go back for the third after Borgen.

TMDaines wrote:The first series of Broen/Bron and Forbrydelsen are the dog's bollocks. Some of the best TV you could ever hope to see. I've just started on the first series of Borgen and that looks like it's going to be another class affair. I didn't think the second series of Forbrydelsen was anywhere as near as good as the first though. Decent but not anything special. I'll go back for the third after Borgen.

A bit late to respond, but my two cents worth:

My wife & yours truly loved Forbrydelsen (also thought the second season took a bit of a dip after season 1, but then they really went out with a bang with season 3), and Borgen is great viewing as well (more episodic than Forbrydelsen, but great ensemble of actors).

Season 3 of Broen has now appeared for pre-order on Amazon.co.uk, either on its own, or in a set with the other seasons.

TMDaines wrote:The first series of Broen/Bron and Forbrydelsen are the dog's bollocks. Some of the best TV you could ever hope to see. I've just started on the first series of Borgen and that looks like it's going to be another class affair. I didn't think the second series of Forbrydelsen was anywhere as near as good as the first though. Decent but not anything special. I'll go back for the third after Borgen.

If you like those, you must seek out The Eagle and Unit One. The Eagle is a monumental achievment, in the same way as the first season of The Killing.

A tip: Don't binge-watch. Savour the mystery. It is delicious entertainment, and high art.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm gonna need some more Danish shows before long.

Caligula wrote:A bit late to respond, but my two cents worth:

My wife & yours truly loved Forbrydelsen (also thought the second season took a bit of a dip after season 1, but then they really went out with a bang with season 3), and Borgen is great viewing as well (more episodic than Forbrydelsen, but great ensemble of actors).

Yes, Season 3 of Forbrydelsen turned out to be great as well. I would have voted for I & III of them in the lists projects, but now IMDb lists them as a TV show of multiple seasons, as opposed to a number of mini-series, as it does for Prime Suspect for instance. Speaking of that, due to the lack of any further Sarah Lund, I've started watching the old Prime Suspects to fill the void. Those have also been fantastic.

You're right in that Borgen is much more episodic. Far more of a TV show as opposed to self-contained mini-series. I still thought it was pretty great on the whole.

Caligula wrote:Season 3 of Broen has now appeared for pre-order on Amazon.co.uk, either on its own, or in a set with the other seasons.

I'm presuming the BBC will broadcast Broen/Bron before Christmas. I've heard about a big change for that one and am intrigued to see how it will play out.

Veering from the crime genre, I also enjoyed "The Legacy" and "1864". The "Keeper of Lost Causes" film series are also supposed to be good, but I have not seen.

Zot! wrote:Veering from the crime genre, I also enjoyed "The Legacy" and "1864". The "Keeper of Lost Causes" film series are also supposed to be good, but I have not seen.

We caught the first at the cinema and both of us really enjoyed it. The second one seems to be taking its time in being released over here.

TMDaines wrote:I'm presuming the BBC will broadcast Broen/Bron before Christmas. I've heard about a big change for that one and am intrigued to see how it will play out.

According to Broen's Facebook page BBC4 will start broadcasting on 21 November at 9pm. Enjoy!

The first two episodes of Bron ||| Broen were fantastic. The show hasn't missed a beat with the big change and is lining up another enthralling thriller that gets your mind racing. Two episodes a week is not enough!

It's funny but the perception of Danish TV in Britain is that the last half-a-dozen years have been a real golden period. Looking at the International Emmys would give you an entirely different perception, however. DR picked up three awards in four years at the turn of the millennium for Best Drama and have only picked up one since, with Forbrydelsen failing to win, and Borgen and Bron/Broen not even being nominated. It goes to show the real depth there and must surely make DR one of the leading TV producers in the world.

Season 4 of The Bridge is coming.

In the meantime, for those who enjoy their Nordic Noir, I recommend the Icelandic series Trapped, out on Arrow's Nordic Noir in DVD & Blu. Great viewing for a cold winter's eve with a murder investigation in a remote Iceland village cut off from the outside world by a snowstorm.

Great news. An absolutely fantastic series with one of the best crime leads there surely ever has been.

The fourth series or Bron/Broen is the absolute best yet. Why is the BBC sitting on this and has not broadcast it ASAP? Whilst the show sticks to the investigation of a creative and ambitious serial killer, it delivers far more on a personal, character driven level too. It’s both incredibly thrilling and emotionally moving. It takes the tropes of the series so far and dials them up to 11.

If this is the end, then bravo to the writers and lead actors. You couldn’t hope for a better crime series. I’m gutted it is over though!

Thanks, TM. I had no idea there was a fourth series! I'm downloading the 8 episodes now. I watched the Series 1-3 blu-ray set about 17 months ago, so I can just about remember the story so far.

The BBC are finally getting around to showing the fourth series of The Bridge from Friday 11th May, though they've moved it from BBC4 to BBC2 now.

And here's a tie-in BFI discussion on it!