The other Wallander

[Marshwheeling]

There have been several threads here, I believe, on the BBC series Wallander, based on the detective novels by Henning Mankell, with Shakespearean actor Kenneth Branagh in the title role. But I do not recall any mention here of the Swedish series that preceded the BBC series. It was in Swedish (subtitles here, of course), and starred Krister Henriksson as Kurt Wallander.

Conchita and I recently finished watching seasons 2 and 3 on Netflix (dunno about season 1, we couldn't find it), and enjoyed them immensely. Unlike the BBC series, most of the episodes are not based on Mankell's books, but rather on "story ideas" suggested by Mankell.

Some of the recurring characters are unfamiliar to a reader of the books. The stories feel a bit more like conventional cop dramas. The biggest difference is Krister Henriksson's Wallander, very different from Branagh in appearance and demeanor. He looks older and rougher around the edges than Branagh, and more believable as a cop. At the same time, Henriksson is more engaging and likable than Branagh. We were quite disappointed when season 3 ended in a way that made it impossible for the series to continue.

Has anyone seen this one?

 

[Onomea]

Yep. I like it better than the BBC version, too.

 

[Qball]

You bet
In Sweden on Swedish no subtitles
mr Henriksson IS Wallander.

Haven't seen the English version though

 

[M1A]

Just got Netflix and finished "Jack Taylor. Wallander is next.

 

[Marshwheeling]

You bet
In Sweden on Swedish no subtitles
mr Henriksson IS Wallander.

Well, he is a splendid actor.

The other thing that struck me is how much some Swedish expressions sound like their English counterparts. Made it fun to listen to the dialogue. I never picked up enough Swedish so follow it, but some expressions were familiar, especially the ones that sounded a lot like English.

 

[AZretired]

Yes I just finished season 2. Great series! The Swedes and Norwegians make some great TV. I also watched the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy and the "Annika Bengston: Crime Reporter"

 

[vigil617]

Thanks for the tip, Marsh. Been looking for our next cop series to watch. Haven't seen the BBC or Swedish versions, so we might just start with the Swedish one since you recommend it over the other.

We tried to get into "Hinterland" about the British detective posted to rural Wales. It's very good in some respects, but it's such an overly dark and humorless series that we haven't been able to get very excited about continuing to watch past the five or six episodes we've seen.

 

[L Pete]

I'm sorta' a fan, and the only thing that I noticed is that apparently is no sunshine or light bulbs in Sweden. The series is very dark in one way or another. Wallander is fighting some demons, and so is just about everyone else on the show. But,....it's a whole lot more interesting that the stupid American cop shows. Can we say, "the dumbing down of America"? The Brits shows are just more intelligent in this day and time, and that is just awful.....something needs to be done.

 

[Qball]

Another tip is "Beck"
the same type as "Wallander"

Peter Haber plays "Martin Beck" and Mikael Persbrant as "Gunvald Larsson"
Quite entertaining, "lets have a "stänkare"

 

[Jeff423]

There have been several threads here, I believe, on the BBC series Wallander, based on the detective novels by Henning Mankell, with Shakespearean actor Kenneth Branagh in the title role. But I do not recall any mention here of the Swedish series that preceded the BBC series. It was in Swedish (subtitles here, of course), and starred Krister Henriksson as Kurt Wallander.

Conchita and I recently finished watching seasons 2 and 3 on Netflix (dunno about season 1, we couldn't find it), and enjoyed them immensely. Unlike the BBC series, most of the episodes are not based on Mankell's books, but rather on "story ideas" suggested by Mankell.

Some of the recurring characters are unfamiliar to a reader of the books. The stories feel a bit more like conventional cop dramas. The biggest difference is Krister Henriksson's Wallander, very different from Branagh in appearance and demeanor. He looks older and rougher around the edges than Branagh, and more believable as a cop. At the same time, Henriksson is more engaging and likable than Branagh. We were quite disappointed when season 3 ended in a way that made it impossible for the series to continue.

Has anyone seen this one?

I've seen it and like it better than the British one. After that ending it will be difficult to continue. Maybe they will do a "prequel". Or maybe like Conan Doyle when he killed off Holmes, they are getting tired of the series.

 

[Biker Bill]

We have watched both, starting with the Swedish version and enjoyed it immensely!

From what we were able to find out, the first season of the Swedish version was actually released as a movie, not a TV show.

Followed up with the BBC version and enjoyed it as well. Sir Kenneth is certainly a different Wallander in temperament!

Have to agree that Scandanavian TV has produced some excellent programming (including the previously mentioned Anika Bengston)

Bill

 

[LVSteve]

I watch all that foreign language stuff on the MHz channel. My favorite is Detective Montalbano set in Sicily. Beck is usually pretty good, too.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Another tip is "Beck"
the same type as "Wallander"

Peter Haber plays "Martin Beck" and Mikael Persbrant as "Gunvald Larsson"
Quite entertaining, "lets have a "stänkare"

"Martin Beck" would have to be based on the excellent series by Mai Sjowal and Per Wahloo (Sorry, my umlaut-fu is weak) that appeared about thirty or forty years ago. Their best-known Martin Beck novel would probably be "The Laughing Policeman".