This is some of the most amazing TV I have ever seen. How the actress who plays Saga didn't win every award going for this I don't understand. This is some of best acting that I have ever seen, and the rest of the cast is also superb. Everything about this series is absolutely superb, top quality TV and entertainment of the highest order!
3 Reviews
S3: Lots of moving parts which keep it moving along at a good pace even if it is occasionally more complex that it has the detail for (SPOILERS)
bob the moo14 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Although it is not a perfect show, it is to the credit of The Bridge that it is consistent and in control of what it wants to do. I realize this at the end of the third season, because it is a season which, like the previous two, is engaging and has good forward motion, but perhaps has some downsides to its structure and approach. In this season we see another serial killer seemingly starting a pattern of elaborate and somehow connected/meaningful murders; of course in keeping with the theme of the show, the murders have cross-national significance so Swedish detective Saga is assigned a Danish counterpart (Hanne in this instance, since Martin is now serving time in jail).
As with previous seasons, the structure sees lots of moving parts being involved. This means we have lots of forward motion, and lots of potential connections, all of which means that the show remains engaging in its twisty-turny way. This works very well throughout the season, with lots going on in the main thrust of the case, but also in the lives of the many supporting characters. The challenge as usual is that we have so many unknown characters all brought into play early on, and it can be hard to keep track of who is who, and why you should care (particularly since most of them are being established for later use). Having watched this show for some years, I knew to stay with it because all bits would fall into place, and indeed they do – but being honest it is still a challenge in the early stages to remember who is who and what they are to one another. The plot this season is solidly made throughout; although there are some "told you that would happen" moments, mostly it is a step ahead of the viewer in whatever it does, so we kept on our toes (unlike poor Hanne).
Technically the construction of the season makes this work well, and it is impressive how many plates the show keeps spinning, while also making them feel like one big plate. It is additionally impressive that you don't notice it working so hard to do it – but it is a great example of efficient editing. The cast are good and well led by Helin, who is really remarkable. It is worth seeing how expressive and lively she is when not in character, because it makes her ability to do so much with the lack of reaction all the more impressive; she delivers a lot of emotion and comedy with such small and restricted things. Lindhardt takes on the task of replacing Bodnia, but he does it very well and plays opposite Helin with a decent clash and chemistry. The loss of Malmberg was hard to take, and his character was missed, albeit used well as a gap in Saga's life. Kulle replaces him well (although not in a likable way). The season-specific cast are roundly strong from Boussnina, Bro (also seen in The Killing), Björk, Lundström (who returns just to be reminded that his character is crap and his ponytail is too), and others – generally everyone has good characters and their performances work well with them.
The season ends with the main mystery closed out in a tense and satisfying manner, but with many other questions remaining. Here's hoping that a fourth season is not too long in being confirmed.
As with previous seasons, the structure sees lots of moving parts being involved. This means we have lots of forward motion, and lots of potential connections, all of which means that the show remains engaging in its twisty-turny way. This works very well throughout the season, with lots going on in the main thrust of the case, but also in the lives of the many supporting characters. The challenge as usual is that we have so many unknown characters all brought into play early on, and it can be hard to keep track of who is who, and why you should care (particularly since most of them are being established for later use). Having watched this show for some years, I knew to stay with it because all bits would fall into place, and indeed they do – but being honest it is still a challenge in the early stages to remember who is who and what they are to one another. The plot this season is solidly made throughout; although there are some "told you that would happen" moments, mostly it is a step ahead of the viewer in whatever it does, so we kept on our toes (unlike poor Hanne).
Technically the construction of the season makes this work well, and it is impressive how many plates the show keeps spinning, while also making them feel like one big plate. It is additionally impressive that you don't notice it working so hard to do it – but it is a great example of efficient editing. The cast are good and well led by Helin, who is really remarkable. It is worth seeing how expressive and lively she is when not in character, because it makes her ability to do so much with the lack of reaction all the more impressive; she delivers a lot of emotion and comedy with such small and restricted things. Lindhardt takes on the task of replacing Bodnia, but he does it very well and plays opposite Helin with a decent clash and chemistry. The loss of Malmberg was hard to take, and his character was missed, albeit used well as a gap in Saga's life. Kulle replaces him well (although not in a likable way). The season-specific cast are roundly strong from Boussnina, Bro (also seen in The Killing), Björk, Lundström (who returns just to be reminded that his character is crap and his ponytail is too), and others – generally everyone has good characters and their performances work well with them.
The season ends with the main mystery closed out in a tense and satisfying manner, but with many other questions remaining. Here's hoping that a fourth season is not too long in being confirmed.
Another bad season finale
yavermbizi16 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
My overall rating of "Bron/Broen"'s Season 3: 6/10
It is utterly disappointing how what has been such a strong season dips in quality in the final two episodes - and it's not for absence of dramatic material! Really, while I've rated the finales of Season 2 and Season 3 both as 1/10, they are actually quite different: whereas in Season 2 I was really enraged by the stupidity of the plot, and the missed storytelling opportunities, this episode is a different kind of disappointment. It doesn't tie the story up well enough, other than Saga's mother's case and her mental state in general. This was rather well-handled, yes (although, truth be told, her commiting suicide would've been way more impactful, if "unfair").
However everything else is handled questionably. The barn showdown (the whole first third, let's say) is lame throughout, and inconsistent. The wealth, marksmanship, tactics, craftsmanship and other attributes of the killer necessary to pull off the murders are not even handwaved in the end, but simply ignored - a clear loss of seriousness compared with Seasons 1 and 2. The dialogues and acting seem weaker than usual. Saga pretends she's not been at a funeral twice in the episode, while she had clearly been said to have attended August's! Finally, I really question the direction the series seems to be setting up for Season 4: there is no way these two heroes will have the resources to get the case resolved without their jobs, especially not with an impending criminal conviction against one of them. If nothing else, I'd suggest the format of Season 4 having Saga be mostly confined/held at home off-duty, and Henrik consulting with her on his progress with his own case, and whatever the new plotline might be, while staying with the force. For a series that seems to posit that a mundane commitment to work can measure up to and sometimes even foil years of meticulous criminal planning, it would be an interesting twist to show a mundane inevitability of criminal punishment (even if on false grounds) measuring up to and perhaps even grinding down a brilliant mind stripped of most of its brawn, of the police force's backing.
(I've watched this series in original languages with English subtitles)
It is utterly disappointing how what has been such a strong season dips in quality in the final two episodes - and it's not for absence of dramatic material! Really, while I've rated the finales of Season 2 and Season 3 both as 1/10, they are actually quite different: whereas in Season 2 I was really enraged by the stupidity of the plot, and the missed storytelling opportunities, this episode is a different kind of disappointment. It doesn't tie the story up well enough, other than Saga's mother's case and her mental state in general. This was rather well-handled, yes (although, truth be told, her commiting suicide would've been way more impactful, if "unfair").
However everything else is handled questionably. The barn showdown (the whole first third, let's say) is lame throughout, and inconsistent. The wealth, marksmanship, tactics, craftsmanship and other attributes of the killer necessary to pull off the murders are not even handwaved in the end, but simply ignored - a clear loss of seriousness compared with Seasons 1 and 2. The dialogues and acting seem weaker than usual. Saga pretends she's not been at a funeral twice in the episode, while she had clearly been said to have attended August's! Finally, I really question the direction the series seems to be setting up for Season 4: there is no way these two heroes will have the resources to get the case resolved without their jobs, especially not with an impending criminal conviction against one of them. If nothing else, I'd suggest the format of Season 4 having Saga be mostly confined/held at home off-duty, and Henrik consulting with her on his progress with his own case, and whatever the new plotline might be, while staying with the force. For a series that seems to posit that a mundane commitment to work can measure up to and sometimes even foil years of meticulous criminal planning, it would be an interesting twist to show a mundane inevitability of criminal punishment (even if on false grounds) measuring up to and perhaps even grinding down a brilliant mind stripped of most of its brawn, of the police force's backing.
(I've watched this series in original languages with English subtitles)
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