Nordic Television Series Worth Watching
Gloomy mysteries, midnight-sun-lit thrillers, and more Nordic goodness available to stream.
When GoTravelDaily A-List travel advisor Melissa Lee realized her clients needed a pick-me-up, she started thinking outside the box. The Scandinavia expert knew that her clients were still eager to plan trips, but those trips would be — for now — a distant light at the end of the tunnel. What could offer a dose of the Arctic landscapes and Nordic aesthetics in the short term?
Ever since “Smilla’s Sense of Snow” and “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” made it to bookshelves across the world, so-called Nordic noir has been this region’s best-known genre. However, while there are plenty of gloomy mysteries and eerie, midnight-sun-lit thrillers available to stream, that’s not all the Scandinavian TV worth watching. Therefore, Lee took the time to draw up a comprehensive list of her favorite series — complete with descriptions of where they were shot and what’s worth visiting in the area — to tide over her travel-hungry friends, family, and clients.
Denmark
Arvingerne (The Legacy)
Set on Funen, an island off Denmark, The Legacy tells the story of four siblings after their mother’s unexpected death upends their lives. Moreover, with beautiful views of the island and its iconic Egeskov Castle, Lee notes that “this series is great for those wanting a sense of the Danish lifestyle and cultural norms.” Only the first season is currently available to stream, but the second and third can be purchased on DVD.
Seasons: 3
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Den Som Dræber (Those Who Kill)
This miniseries is a classic murder mystery. “A serial killer is on the loose in Denmark,” Lee explains, “and a Copenhagen detective and forensic psychiatrist team up to stop them.” An American spinoff of Those Who Kill ran on A&E in 2014, and in 2019, it was announced that the Danish original would be returning for a new season.
Seasons: 1
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Finland
Kaikki Synnit (All the Sins)
Lee recommends this award-winning crime drama, “a mystery set in northern Finland with a glimpse into small-town life.” A detective returns from Helsinki to his remote hometown to investigate a murder case — uncovering secrets he wishes he hadn’t. Shot on location in the North Ostrobothnia region, All the Sins shows “a flatter, more pastoral landscape dotted by small villages and church spires.” A second season is currently in the works.
Seasons: 1
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Ivalo (Arctic Circle)
“Finnish Lapland is an increasingly popular travel destination,” says Lee of the striking setting for this crime drama. An attempted murder occurs in a remote wilderness cabin, linked to a deadly new virus. While the days are short, the landscapes are starkly, icily beautiful. “Viewers get a sense of what a Lapland winter is like: travel by snowmobile, sub-zero temperatures, and limited sunlight.”
Seasons: 1
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Sorjonen (Bordertown)
It’s a familiar tale: a hotshot detective, worn out by his work in national law enforcement, takes a small-town job to spend more time with his family in the countryside. However, nothing is ever so simple. This crime drama is set in the small Finnish city of Lappeenranta, just 15 miles from the Russian border. “Almost three quarters of Finland is forested,” says Lee, and the web of deceit that emerges emerges amidst the dense evergreens of the surrounding region.
Seasons: 3
Where to Watch: Netflix
Iceland
Brot (The Valhalla Murders)
The first Icelandic series to appear on Netflix, The Valhalla Murders takes viewers on a journey across the island nation — in pursuit of a killer. After a series of seemingly unrelated murders, a detective returns home from Oslo to help investigate. The story unfolds from Reykjavik to the harbor to the wilderness along the Ring Road, based (loosely) on real events that occurred in rural Iceland in the 1940s.
Seasons: 1
Where to Watch: Netflix
Ófærð (Trapped)
This smash-hit series is reportedly the highest-production-value television show in Iceland’s history. After a body is discovered in the remote fishing town of Seyðisfjörður, it’s clear that this isn’t an isolated incident. As a formidable blizzard sets in, “Iceland in winter can be brutal and unforgiving,” notes Lee, “but Icelanders are adept at carrying on with business, even when cut off from one another.” A third season is in development.
Seasons: 2
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Norway
Grenseland (Borderliner)
This crime drama is set in and around Halden, near Norway’s border with Sweden. Like many series on this list, it focuses on a detective who returns to his small hometown from the big city — only to realize the crime he’s investigating is intimately connected with family history and village life. The area is adorned with “expansive, dense, and beautiful forests,” which Lee describes as common in this part of southeast Norway.
Seasons: 1
Where to Watch: Netflix
Nobel
This region is renowned for its murder mysteries and crime dramas, but Scandinavia has also produced thought-provoking political thrillers. Lee recommends Nobel for a glimpse into “how the Norwegian political process and foreign relations are navigated.” A Norwegian Special Forces officer returns from Afghanistan, where Norway has maintained troops since 2001, confronting a system in Oslo that is just as volatile and corrupt. “The main story here is modern politics and government,” states Lee, but street life in Norway’s capital plays a significant role.
Seasons: 1
Where to Watch: Netflix
Valkyrien (Valkyrie)
This dark medical thriller unfolds in Oslo, where a desperate doctor, intent on curing his dying wife, becomes entwined in the city’s criminal underbelly. Viewers will recognize Oslo’s famous modernist skyline and the islands dotting the Oslofjord, but Lee appreciates Valkyrie for its exploration of “Oslo beyond the margins” — presenting a gritty, dark visual of Norway’s capital and most populous city.
Seasons: 1
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Sweden
Bron/Broen (The Bridge)
Typically, says Lee, “the Øresund Bridge allows for easy travel by car or train between Copenhagen and Malmö.” However, in this series, it becomes “a jurisdictional nightmare” when a body is found directly in the middle: half in Denmark, half in Sweden. Although the unprecedented cooperation needed to solve the crime is challenging, The Bridge “still highlights the community connection between the two cities.” Note that season 4 is not yet available to stream in the U.S.
Seasons: 4
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Midnattssol (Midnight Sun)
This show is set in Kiruna, primarily known for being home to the Ice Hotel, but things take a darker turn when officials begin tracking a series of cryptic, ritualistic killings. The midnight sun typically attracts tourists, but here it contributes an unsettling element to the investigation. “The series showcases both the geography of the region and the indigenous Sami people,” Lee emphasizes.
Seasons: 1
Where to Watch: Hulu
Morden i Sandhamn (The Sandhamn Murders)
According to Lee, “the 30,000 islands of Stockholm’s famed archipelago come alive in this light mystery series,” based on the novels of Viveca Sten. Though the island of Sandhamn, termed “Sweden’s sailing capital,” grapples with crime in the show, it’s actually a popular summer destination. Lee notes that “Swedes and visitors alike spend their days cycling, sailing, swimming, and enjoying the relaxed vibes” throughout the archipelago, which is accessible from Stockholm via car, train, or ferry.
Seasons: 6
Where to Watch: Prime Video
