The Sommerdahl Murders (2020– ) User Reviews

Well, it's not Scandi noir

[laduqesa · 5/10 · 25 July 2020]

The locations are beautiful right by the sea and the houses the main characters live in look like upper middle-class homes. Everything is just perfect except for the murders and the breakdown of a marriage.

The plots are pretty mundane. I guessed the motivations and murderers in 2 of the 4 plots and I'm pretty useless at whodunnits - I'd rather get a surprise at the end when we find out who the miscreant is. Running through everything is the marriage breakdown. I really can't understand why it was focused on so heavily. If it had impinged on the investigations and had led to someone getting away with another murder or crime, this would have been an acceptable use of the time spent on this theme. But it didn't. It just made the series frothier and more superficial than it needed to have been. It didn't help that the eponymous detective was so unlikable - stalking. telling his daughter tales, being nasty and unprofessional.

As usual, I watched till the end. I didn't hate it but there are far better things to have seen, I think. It was just a nicely numbing few episodes of escapism.

The wife character drags it down into slop

[macgharvey · 6/10 · 2 July 2021]

Marianne is such a needy selfish drip. She's a forensic pathologist that works WITH her husband and has his respect in addition to being married to him. She acts like she just sits home all day waiting for him to come home. Be more realistic if she complained about having to see him all day, every day. They solve murders together. Not thrilling enough, so she sleeps with someone else and flirts with his best friend. Lame. Fast forward through her scenes.

Murder or marriage?

[Casino-Royale · 7/10 · 15 July 2020]

I really wanted to get hooked on this as I love Danish TV but this is pushing the limits. It has real potential but to emphasise so much on the breakdown of the marriage of the lead character has turned it in to a soap opera. Half the time you forget they are actually supposed to be out solving murders. It doesn't help that Dan Sommerdahl and his wife Marianne are not exactly likeable, you end up not really caring what happens to the relationship. The saving grace is André Babikian, he give his usual good performance.

Romantic crime series

[saskiabudke · 7/10 · 31 May 2020]

The Sommerdahl Murders is not like any typical Scandinavian TV series. It is more a romantic drama with some murders in the episodes. It's quite predictable, yet I still enjoy watching it. I recommend it if you want an easy to watch series with beautiful Scandinavian scenery.

Soap opera disguised as murder/detective mysteries

[msghall · 7/10 · 27 June 2021]

The plots are slight and the scripts are light, but the good natured camaraderie among the cops saves the day. You won't find the disfunction and bad vibes of UK or US shows of this type and that's a big plus. On the plus side, you also don't find the prudery of UK/US shows; people here hop into each others' beds with regularity and ease and that is refreshing. This is a feel-good snack where you don't have to think too much.

Don't look for any deep meaning or character revelations in this series. But do expect an entertaining time waster that is more comfort food than nutrition. The scenery is beautiful, though.

For them only who have some knowledge of Denmark

[BeneCumb · 6/10 · 14 March 2021]

/about Season 1/

This locality-based Series (in and around Elsinore) is no flop, but not more than mediocre, no Scandi Noir, with several predictable cases (if I did not guess the wrongdoer, I could guess the run of scenes and problem-solving approaches) and unrealistic living atmosphere of the policemen in Denmark (mid-level officers all having private houses with a sea-view, really?). The cast is also just above average, no memorable performances (Babikian, Drasbæk, Mygind are not A-grade actors in Denmark).

As for level, it is more close to e.g. Anna Pihl or Morden i Sandhamn than to Bron/Broen or Innan vi dör, for instance. And last but not least - Danish weather is seldom so pleasant as in this Series :)

PS Season 2 has somewhat meatier cases, but the personal relations, this triangle, is still not smooth and sometimes annoying. And again - no rainy days around Elsinore at all! :)

Its ok

[nattstjerne · 4/10 · 31 May 2020]

Not very exciting, and you can easily do other stuff while having this on in the back (meaning you don't miss much if you look down a few times during the episode). It's also very predictable.

Dancing Dan, Chef Svend and Simba!

[elevenseven-531-404419 · 8/10 · 27 July 2020]

Well written and all the actors give a fine performance. This is my first Scandinavian series and my favorite things about it were the seaside, noticing how clean people lived (every place anyone went was immaculate) and the parties. I also want to dance with Dan, enjoy Svend's Mooncake and run on the beach with Simba. Was the storyline predictable? Yes, but I liked discovering Helsingor and it's inhabitants so much it didn't matter. The subtitles were awesome as well. I'm looking forward to finding more series like this one.

Very Poor

[crumpytv · 2/10 · 29 December 2021]

By far the worst Danish drama I have seen.

8 episodes, with each plotline covering 2 episodes. Relationship stories linking together.

The worst of this is Marianne.

She parades around like she is God's gift to men. There is no way this woman could sustain a 25 year marriage. She is just so irritating.

Generally the acting all-round is average.

The obligatory same-sex relationship turned up in the final episode ... yaaaaawn!!

Fine series from Danmark

[glvogt-99458 · 9/10 · 8 July 2020]

An appealing cast of characters, very good writing and acting, and easy viewing with the subtitles. Each story/case is developed over two episodes, so there is plenty of time for character development and plot twists.

50% of a good show

[hwc-60878 · 5/10 · 15 August 2021]

The mystery and investigation portions are entertaining. However, the soapy marriage squabbles drag the whole thing down.

The Unsatisfied Mrs Sommerdahl

[julimarce · 1/10 · 25 October 2020]

The above should be the title of this totally misleading series. The fact that Sommerdahl is a detective and good at his job is totally irrelevant ( and the murder stories are super boring). The series is about Sommerdahl wife that after 25 of marriage decided that the lack of attention from her over worked husband is the reason for a one night stand with a older acquaintance and her request for divorce when guilt ensues. And the story keeps developing from there, a triangle is created and on and on....what about the Murders? This is not a detective story drama is pure and simple Soap Opera, and as such should be titled.

Need more of this

[ritakc-46893 · 9/10 · 19 August 2020]

My first Danish series, as well. Very pleased! Great story lines & twists. Beautiful scenery and likable, believable, characters. Easy to follow with subtitles. Please...more seasons!

Predictable and boring

[jon-kjetil · 1/10 · 18 April 2020]

One of the least interesting crimes I have seen. The murderers can be guessed early on. The characters are one sided and their relationship issues are boring to watch.

No tak

[Pegasus-10 · 4/10 · 11 July 2020]

Usually the setting for these Scandanavian crime shows lifts sometime mundane plots, but there's not much going for it in that department. The crimes (each spread over two hour-long episodes) are nothing new, but the main problem with the show is the boring drama concerning Dan and Marianne's marriage, which stretches throughout the series. There are much better crime dramas available set in other Northern Europe.

Very silly

[hzethpwz · 1/10 · 13 July 2021]

The female lead is a disillusioned wife, who's solution is not appropriate.

The husband acts worse than the most spoilt brat one has ever encountered.

The male best friend is not much better.

The interaction of these three is a pathetic, annoying saga.

The sub-tales unfolding are all right, nothing up to the usual excellent standard of Scandi TV About the same level as US Network and soap abominations.

Watched whole of first season. Erasing second season, unwatched.

YMMV but I hope not.

I disagree

[Minnie-46 · 8/10 · 11 June 2022]

This was my first Danish mystery. I loved every last second of the two seasons. I will agree that Dan was not very likable in the beginning, but his character evolved into being more sympathetic. As for the marriage drama, I wasn't expecting it and the outcome added to mystery. I'm looking forward to seeing the third season.

Give it a chance, it's worth it in the end

[jeddahgal · 10/10 · 2 October 2020]

I had saved this amongst my Scandi noir shows but kept passing it by for others that have gotten more promotion. Then just recently I was looking for something to binge on and decided to give it a chance. A little slow getting off the ground, but really got hooked as the episodes improved as they progressed. Want to see Season 2 now but not available until next year. Had never seen any of these Danish actors before, but thumbs up for all three.

embarrassing poor quality

[piaktw · 1/10 · 26 June 2021]

The acting is just a mess (from quality actors in other series) and the storyline and script are clearly not very... talented (understatement).

Dan the police's behaviour when his wife (soon to be ex-wife after 25 looong years) is childish and petulant.

The only redeeming feature is the pretty Helsingör setting. But really, how many fake full-moons over waters and angles of Kronborg castle are too many?

There are so so many fantastic Danish crime dramas, this is definitely not one of them. Amateur hour. Don't waste your time.

Love triangle? Who would want her?

[classicrun-44914 · 3/10 · 27 November 2022]

I get the murder mystery concept. The murders here are interesting but not really gruesome. There are some good plot twists but they are basic who done its. What I don't understand is the love triangle. The wife is completely and totally unlikable as a character. I don't understand why anyone would fight over her. She's selfish. She wears horrible one piece jumpers that are not required for the job. Her hairstyles are awful. She knew what she was getting when she married the guy. She's having a midlife crisis, thinking that her life is unfulfilled and she wants to be 20 again. That's the basis of all of this? She feels robbed of the life she should have had? All she sees is the negative and none of the positive. I kept watching episode after episode hoping she would change. I really just wanted to have her end up alone and even more miserable while hubby goes to the disco and has fun with a really nice woman.

Love this show

[katiemarieb · 8/10 · 24 June 2021]

I love this show. The chemistry between the characters is evident. I don't mind the subtitles. It's the plot that draws me in.

Terrible writing and bad acting

[mlaukamp · 2/10 · 26 April 2022]

The cast is a mix of B-list actors and newcomers and all perform really bad. What's worse is the script and story is so terribly written it is hard to watch. The detectives are just plain stupid and overlook the most obvious clues and the backstory of the personalities are just idiotic.

Enjoyable

[avacuppa · 10/10 · 20 July 2020]

I enjoyed this series. I thought the writing and acting were good. Is there another season coming?

Good lord.

[pigsmiceandmen · 1/10 · 1 July 2021]

They just released a second season, and looks like a 3rd. Wow, someone owes someone a huge favour.

Poor reality

[BalderJensen · 5/10 · 24 June 2021]

This danish tv series, from my homeland, is written by persons who knows very little about police work, and how things are organized in the police.

Husband and wife does not work together in danish police!

The series revolves too much around the failed Marriage of Dan Sommerdahl and his wife Marianne.

It takes too much time in the episodes, instead of using the time on crimesolving.