BECK – THE SERIES, VOLUME 2
(Nordic Noir) Available now.
“A person doesn’t have to be evil just because they do evil things.” It’s precisely the subtle philosophical maturity that exemplifies the measured, contained approach that Swedish detective drama Beck invariably displays.
Packaged for the UK as the second volume of the Beck series, these latest four television films (numbers 31 to 34 in a run going back to 1997) provide ample support for the show’s continued success, even if The Last Day—in some respects the most predictable of the four—toys with the idea the titular Martin Beck retiring.
The principle story arc across these episodes is the effective writing out of Beck’s principal sidekick, Gunvald Larsson, and the establishment of his successor Steinar Hovland; the latter, played by the mightily-bearded Kristofer Hivju, may be a self-described “troll” but quickly proves to be a likeable, tenacious and—as one superior soon discovers—loyal colleague.
From the murder of an investigative journalist to some historic police corruption, Beck and his team continue to successfully cast light on the shadows of human behaviour.
DID YOU KNOW?
Peter Haber initially refused the role of Martin Beck because he felt “it’s too complicated, too big”, but changed his mind after about a week.
Review first published in Crime Scene #6.
