Arne Dahl: Europa Blues
(SVT, 2012 / BBC, 2013) [subtitled]
![TV poster: “Arne Dahl: Europa Blues” (SVT, 2012 / BBC, 2013) [subtitled]](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Arne-Dahl_Europa-Blues.png)
A suitably grim and downbeat ending to the series. Again, one of A-group has an unlikely personal connection to the case—Arto Söderstedt (Niklas Åkerfelt) maxing out on harried lightbulb moments while events go to hell for everyone concerned, good or bad.
Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes
dir. Mikkel Nørgaard (2013) [Danish, subtitled; originally ‘Kvinden i buret’]
![Film poster: “Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes” dir. Mikkel Nørgaard (2013) [Danish, subtitled; originally ‘Kvinden i buret’]](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Department-Q-Keeper-of-Lost-Causes.jpg)
Danish cold case crime drama whose value (beyond standard Nordic Noir) lies in a killer driven by plausible motivation, and the ‘thrown-together’ relationship between brooding misanthrope police detective Carl Mørck (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and his genial new immigrant partner Assad (Fares Fares).
Arne Dahl: To the Top of the Mountain
dir. Jörgen Bergmark (SVT, 2012 / BBC, 2013) [subtitled]
[originally “Upp till toppen av berget”]
![Miniseries poster: “Arne Dahl: To the Top of the Mountain” dir. Jörgen Bergmark (SVT, 2012 / BBC, 2013) [subtitled] [originally “Upp till toppen av berget”]](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Arne-Dahl_To-the-Top-of-the-Mountain.png)
The middle story of Arne Dahl’s first season shifts the focus to second-generation Chilean Swede Jorge Chaves, resulting in a more up-tempo narrative. A-group’s personal lives are better integrated into the investigation, which links a car bombing to a deep-buried paedophilia ring.
Arne Dahl: Bad Blood
dir. Mani Maserrat-Agah (SVT, 2012 / BBC, 2013) [subtitled] [originally “Ont blod”]
![TV poster: “Arne Dahl: Bad Blood” dir. Mani Maserrat-Agah (SVT, 2012 / BBC, 2013) [subtitled] [originally “Ont blod”]](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Arne-Dahl_Bad-Blood.png)
Swedish crime miniseries. The first half treads water, shunting A-group’s detective work to focus on personal lives and problems seemingly unrelated to the case. The second half is more satisfying, upping the investigative action and tightening the character focus to father-son relationships.
Arne Dahl: The Blinded Man
dir. Harald Hamrell (SVT, 2011 / BBC, 2013) [subtitled] [originally “Misterioso”]
![TV poster: “Arne Dahl: The Blinded Man” dir. Harald Hamrell (SVT, 2011 / BBC, 2013) [subtitled] [originally “Misterioso”]](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Arne-Dahl_Blinded-Man.png)
A well-constructed Swedish crime miniseries. Six police officers with markedly different personalities and skill-sets are assembled into a special squad to investigate a spate of killings. An agreeable blend of character development (each principal submerged at iceberg depth) and dark, not-too-twisty plot.