Die Brücke

An instant favorite. I like Nordic crime dramas, and The Bridge is the best of the best. The series has an excellent atmosphere, a well-written story, and suspense that just keeps building up. I consider Season 2 to be the weakest of the three, but still worth no less than five stars. I was very concerned about Kim Bodnia's departure, but Thure Lindhardt was able to fill his shoes and had great chemistry with Sofia Helin. I hope that the creators will get talked into making a fourth season. The best line of all three seasons: "Saga Noren, Malmö police"." (15.07.2016)

Many hundreds of tons of water have rolled under the bridge since I first saw the series, so I didn't exactly remember the plot. What I remembered perfectly, however, was the impression the show made on me at the time. I was all the more pleased that the first season hadn't lost its charm for me even after all those years, and I was once again hooked on a well-written story with a perfect atmosphere and damn interesting characters. / Lesson learned: Some nations build bridges across the sea, others tunnel under it, and the story of Moses is suddenly not as cool as it used to be. (02.08.2022)

I had been looking forward to rewatching this series for quite some time. The Swedish-Danish collaboration took me by surprise years ago and made me reconsider my approach to crime series. Now that I know what to expect, I'm keen to see how Bron holds up for me. After the first episode, I'm satisfied because both the case's quality and the characters clearly exceed the usual standard. / Lesson learned: "Divide and conquer" doesn't apply here. It should be "divide and investigate." (29.07.2022)

The well-executed plot gets a solid five-star rating from me. The collaboration between the Swedish and Danish creators results in a story that's not only very interesting but also boasts a high-quality, raw atmosphere. The central investigator duo is superbly written and performed. Kim Bodnia is always a reliable choice in my opinion, and while I hadn't heard of Sofia Helin before diving into the series, I quickly developed a fondness for her in the role of Saga. / Lesson learned: Sometimes, there is such a thing as too many emotions. (29.07.2022)

It looks like the creators hit their stride with the second episode, and I'm hoping they keep up the momentum. The third encounter with this weird (or should I say special?) investigative duo was once again intriguing, a bit moody, and even had its funny moments – I thoroughly enjoyed it. The analysis of the perpetrator's profile had me cracking up. / Lesson learned: Are you running away from a murderer? Don't stop. (30.07.2022)

The storyline is shaping up really well from my perspective, and the creators are going all out to keep me hooked. The fourth episode doesn't lag behind its predecessors, delivering the perfect mix of atmosphere, tension, and action. While the script does dip into some clichés (the whole wrong building scenario felt a bit overused), overall, it didn't leave a bad impression on me at all. / Lesson learned: Just like Carrot Ironfoundersson knew, a police officer on duty should always wear the Protective. 5*- (30.07.2022)

The gloomy yet captivating narrative continues its course, a trademark move by the Scandinavians who seamlessly blend their unique atmosphere, solid tension, and intriguing side plots. / Lesson learned: Tell lies. People seem to like that. (31.07.2022)

The episode maintained the show's usual moody and atmospheric vibe, although the suspense took a backseat to glimpses into the investigators' personal lives. What began with a Winnie the Pooh-like innocence in the opening episodes gradually morphed into a grumpy grizzly bear. / Lesson learned: You might want to check your basement. (31.07.2022)

A truly interesting episode. The investigation took a detour in the wrong direction, but the Nordic atmosphere they've created is just something else – slightly depressive, but in a captivating way. There's this constant tension in the air, and the friction between the two investigators is growing, adding an extra layer of intrigue. On top of that, the creators threw in some thought-provoking topics that really got me thinking. Strangely enough, Saga Norén's views are growing on me, despite her having Asperger's syndrome. It's got me questioning myself a bit. Especially her theory about small people is surprisingly logical (albeit lacking in emotions), and it resonated with me. / Lesson learned: When someone offers you to spend a night at their place, don't be shocked when it's just a sleepover. (01.08.2022)

A major turning point in the first season. Finally, the investigation veers in the right direction, and there's a whole bunch of other stuff going down. The creators really pulled out all the stops on this one. Besides the usual atmospheric vibes that I love, they cranked up the tension and threw in some action that we've been missing out on. What got me thinking was this scenario they presented: Imagine you're an investigator hunting down a serial killer, and instead, you stumble upon a completely different crime. Would you be psyched about cracking a new case, or bummed that it's just a dead end? / Lesson learned: If you're a sadist, steer clear of pets. Not even fish; you never know... (01.08.2022)

The episode was fantastic. The creators skillfully matched tension with the already great atmosphere, delivering a gripping investigation that propelled the story forward and filled in some gaps from the past. The plot had me hooked from the get-go, refusing to let me relax my attention for even a moment. When the end credits rolled, I was shocked to realize that what felt like thirty minutes was, in fact, the entire episode. There was only one thing that didn't quite sit well with me; considering that a defensive grenade scatters shards within a radius of two hundred meters, observing its explosion seemed somewhat naive (to put it mildly). / Lesson learned: Think carefully about who you take with you on your trip. (02.08.2022)

While I felt the finale was a tad weaker than the previous episode, I couldn't find enough reasons to rate it below five stars. Despite a bit of a slowdown and occasional lapses in logic, I thoroughly enjoyed the investigation and the resolution of the case. The Nordic approach to building the atmosphere, coupled with the unique duo of investigators — one dealing with Asperger's syndrome and the other with excessive blood flow to the lower brain — added a special touch. / "You've never been much of a liar." - "But I'm getting better right?" - "Absolutely." / Lesson learned: Don't give a weapon to someone you don't trust. 5*- (02.08.2022)

Even on a rewatch, the second season made a great impression on me thanks to a well-written story (though extremely challenging to execute in real life), fantastic atmosphere, suspense, and the casting of the two leads. This is how you make a crime series. / Lesson learned: Don't trust, verify. (09.08.2022)

The start of the second season was far from disappointing. The creators successfully maintained the atmospheric vibe from the previous season. Admittedly, creating a gloomy atmosphere might be easier in a Viking setting than in a tropical paradise. The new investigation kicked off in an intriguing manner, with both investigators teaming up again. So far, I'm content with how things are unfolding. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that initially, only one season was planned, leading the creators to come up with hasty explanations now. / Lesson learned:  Are you coughing up blood? Don't panic; maybe it's just tuberculosis. (03.08.2022)

I'm sick and tired of all sorts of activists, especially the environmental ones, and I'm glad I can keep rooting for the investigators in the second season. / Lesson learned: Love meat? Don't be selfish — spare the planet and have a thistle. (03.08.2022)

The third episode brought some intriguing developments to the story, sprinkled with occasional hints of action. The creators, true to form, enhanced the narrative with their trademark quality and a persistently gloomy atmosphere. The plot of this episode once again revealed that the owls are not what they seem, and it seems that the Northerners still have a few surprises up their sleeves. However, the introduction of new supporting characters, about whom I haven't gleaned much yet, slightly dampened the overall impression. While it's apparent they'll play a crucial role in the plot later on, for now, they seem to be slowing down the pace. / Lesson learned: An active idiot is worse than a class enemy. This will probably always hold true everywhere. (06.08.2022)

Just as I anticipated, the episode lived up to my expectations. The investigators meticulously combed through every detail to push the case forward. Alongside the consistently excellent atmosphere and occasional bursts of action, the tension made a comeback after a brief hiatus, keeping the whole experience thoroughly entertaining. The second season is hitting all the right notes for me so far. / Lesson learned: Becoming a voluntary witness is nothing short of folly. (06.08.2022)

The plot was quite intriguing, and the storyline kept progressing without any signs of stagnating. What caught me off guard this time was the writer's unexpected approach. Admittedly, my lack of familiarity with the procedures of local police forces might have led to a misinterpretation on my part. The on-site reconstruction, particularly with a freshly shot witness present, struck me as a bit peculiar. But hey, who am I to judge; descendants of Vikings are known for their toughness, right? Despite that, the episode maintained a solid atmosphere, injected some humor, and kept the tension alive, leaving me satisfied as usual. / Lesson learned: Sometimes when you're looking for something, you end up finding something completely different. (07.08.2022)

Once again, I couldn't be more satisfied. The body count is on the rise, a spectrum of suspicious characters is emerging, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's a bit twisted, I know. Saga was on fire, expressing herself in her idiosyncratic way even more than usual. This episode also made me realize that I have a serious issue with modern architecture; while I don't mind occasionally revealing some personal details, living in a shop window is beyond my comfort zone. / Lesson learned: Those who seek shall find. Sometimes. (07.08.2022)

The glaring incompetence of the police in safeguarding a potential key witness, especially after two attempts on her life, bothered me immensely. Originally, I leaned towards a four-star rating, attributing it to a script error. Then it struck me that maybe it wasn't a mistake but an accurate portrayal of reality. But I'm no expert. All I know is that the episode had an excellent atmosphere, a plot featuring humor and subtle tension, and, of course, a proper pervert. / Lesson learned: In today's overly technological age, it's safer to get in the bathtub in a wetsuit. 5*- (08.08.2022)