FeistyUpper
If you don't like this, we can't be friends.
Matialth
Good concept, poorly executed.
Pacionsbo
Absolutely Fantastic
lathe-of-heaven
Since others here have gone into detail about the basic story, I thought I'd just leave a few brief comments comparing this original Danish version to the one that was remade here in the states as 'The Killing'The primary thing for me personally, and this may just be my own sensitivities or personal preference, but I REALLY liked the characters in this version a LOT better than in the U.S. one. I've not completed either of the series, but I have come away with a definite impression comparing the two.The U.S. one I tried to watch first (Netflix - a 'free trial' and I chose this show to watch first :) I got through several episodes, and the overall atmosphere and basic production was pretty good and similar to this one, even down to the nifty drums in the soundtrack when a particularly dramatic moment was coming up. BUT... in my lowly and wretched opinion, I just didn't care for the actual characters in the American version. The main detective was good, but I just got so bloody tired of her same bland, blank expression all the time. And, I know this probably is just me, but the frigg'n CONSTANT gum chewing in each and EVERY bloody scene! GEEZ... okay, cute little plot device, but did it need to completely dominate EVERY scene with her chomping away. I honestly found that quite annoying (as if you couldn't tell) And her partner in the U.S version just came across as such a COMPLETE @sshole, to me anyway it just went beyond, WAY beyond what was necessary to convey the contrast with her business like manner and methods. So, as you can see, the TWO MAIN characters of the show I wasn't very impressed with; so not a great beginning, that's for sure...In this Danish version, the characters come across as MUCH more real and believable instead of artificial constructs. I will say though, I did think that the politician in the American version was a pretty cool guy; I really liked him a lot (doesn't he kind of remind you of a young Anthony Perkins) Very slick and likable guy. The Danish guy is very good too, but the politician guy was about the ONLY character that I actually liked in the U.S. version.The U.S. version seems to throw a number of deliberately manufactured red herrings at you right at the first. It's not that I mind that approach at all; most of your very best Mysteries do that, but I guess I just don't really care for the rather superficial way they really build up the suspense in the very last few minutes of an episode REALLY making it look like someone is guilty, and then almost immediately in the next episode basically throw cold water all over it, making you go, 'Oh, okay...' To me, it comes across as sort of gimmicky and 'artificial' rather than a more naturally occurring development of the story.So, I will leave this brief comparison with you, basically just my lowly impressions of the differences between the two series. Hopefully that will give you at least a little something to go on if you are trying to decide which version to watch. FWIW, primarily the main difference to me is that I like the characters here in this original Danish version a LOT better, so I will be much more likely to enjoy and continue watching the rest of the 3 seasons...
dragokin
Forbrydelsen is one of the best crime shows of its era, along with Sherlock and Bron/Broen. Probably the best thing about it that the creators learned from mistakes of Season 1 and shortened Season 2 and 3 from twenty to ten episodes.If you're used to crime mysteries solved within one episode, it might prove challenging to watch. On the other hand, all cases are connected to people and organizations beyond the world of crime which only adds to its realism. Despite a slight overkill in Season 1, the tensions are high throughout all episodes. This show left me asking for more.The main character is female, which was the right decision, if you ask me. It was a breath of fresh air in a genre overpopulated by alpha males, various dropouts, recovered addicts, and highly functional sociopaths.
Bene Cumb
It is a long sad story where secret past, political convulsions and daily constant misunderstandings intertwine - all in Copenhagen, in a pleasant capital where I spent 3 years in my youth... Anyway, the events are catchy to follow, there are lots of twists, but when the episodes pass you realize that the logic is often "lame" - i guess that watching the whole stuff backwards would prove somewhat odd and malformed picture. The cast is, of course, cream of the cream of contemporary Danish performers (incl. smaller roles), beginning with Sofie Gråbøl, Søren Malling, Lars Mikkelsen, Bjarne Henriksen, Ann Eleonora Jørgensen - to name a few... Plus the characters are well elaborated. Thus, not bad, but I still prefer Bro/Broen and Ørnen: En krimi-odyssé - less gloomy and not so protracted.
steven-222
Watching this series was often exhilarating and involving, but around episode 6 I began to tire of so many gratuitous red herrings, which created a too-predictable pace. "Ah, now we suspect HIM...but there's too much time left...so it can't be him!" It think the story would have been stronger if it had been shorter, or else less predictable.And the ending...what can I say? Deeply, deeply disappointing in just about every way, all the more so because I just didn't buy all the cynicism, especially of the tycoon father, who could hardly just "forget" the man who just put him through total hell. Now he would just shut up and forget about it? Hmmmm, I don't think so. Nor did I really accept the behavior of the Prime Minister, or of our heroine. Too bad!In every way, inferior to The Bridge, which was of equal length but totally brilliant, rigorously consistent, and painfully logical right up to the final moment.
