David Downs

Excruciating, when it could be riveting. Slow and dragging, when it could have been evenly paced and, from time to time, flowing. Characters making inexplicable decisions with screamingly obvious, disastrous results. Dialog which either wanders aimlessly or laboriously shoves the meager plot along. An entire episode would have been saved if every scene didn't begin with an ash covered vehicle driving up and parking ... taking about 10-15 seconds of completely unnecessary footage. Dozens and dozens of times. Every episode. I finally lost it when -- Spoiler, but not much of one -- a character who has just revealed her deep and abiding love for her sister, watches almost disinterestedly as the "sister" commits suicide. There is one redeeming quality. The actors do develop their characters in often nuanced and interesting ways. One might fault the characters motivation and decisions ... and intelligence ... but, over time, one begins to see a complex personality being presented. Unfortunately, the personality is usually, essentially unlikable -- abandoned by the script and direction and illogical plot. This, I guess, is supposed to be Nordic Noir. It is indeed noir.