Why the final season of The Bridge is essential watching
As the endlessly thrilling Scandi noir enters its final season, we reflect on what makes the crime show so great
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Your support makes all the difference.Saga Norén, the beloved detective from Nordic noir series The Bridge, could well be television’s greatest character.
Played by Swedish actor Sofia Helin since 2011, the character’s forthright manner has seen Norén wedge her way into the hearts of viewers across the globe — it’s still shown in more than 170 countries making it one of the most successful Scandinavian exports of all time. Helin’s performance is just one of many reasons why the ending of The Bridge is a sad day for television. The Bridge has never been defined by its gritty genre instead placing the spotlight on Norén and the Danish male counterpart she finds herself solving crime alongside .
The eight-episode swansong — currently airing on BBC2 — unites her with co-detective Henrik (Thure Lindhardt) for one sure-to-be-gripping final investigation.
Throw in the unsolved case of the latter’s missing children to deal with, alongside the fact we begin with Norén on the opposite side of the law having been framed for her mother’s murder, and it’s clear this final series is a major must-watch. Indeed,
Norén’s Asperger syndrome — which remains an unmentioned cause of fascination throughout — is what truly separates The Bridge from, say, Scandi noir predecessor The Killing. The character’s direct personality infuses the series with an originality thanks to the sensitively handled writing by series creator Hans Rosenfeldt (the man behind ITV’s Marcella). Seeing Norén, pictured below, develop friendships with her co-detectives, who in turn help her acquire the social skills she’ll never truly have, is a pleasure to witness.
In many ways, it’s placing these figures in the spotlight — characters who would perhaps not be handed such opportunities in real life — that makes The Bridge so enjoyable despite its often morbid content. Lindhardt has a theory: “Watching characters that are awkward, overcoming their own obstacles and finding some of the hardest criminals in the world, is interesting,” he tells me. Their unlikely partnership along with the structure of the title — the Oresund Bridge separating Denmark and Sweden — stands tall as a symbol of the show’s co-production, something Helin herself describes as representative of “two countries working together wanting to show each other [their] best.”“Best” is a good word for it. Upon reflection, each hugely binge-worthy series of The Bridge is a carefully assembled puzzle, every piece handed to the audience in endlessly thrilling ways.
Think you know all the murder mystery tropes? Think again. All three series are filled with breathtaking reveals that have gone on to inspire the twists doled out in British shows including Line of Duty (BBC) and Broadchurch (ITV). Placing Norén behind bars for the final series is an interesting, if hugely brave move, stripping her of the authority she’s maintained across three series.
After 30 stellar episodes, however, it’s impossible to doubt the capabilities of the creative team behind one of the most entertaining crime shows of the past decade. These final episodes provide the perfect opportunity to spend time in the company of one of TV’s most electrifying partnerships one last time.
Watch The Bridge on BBC2 and iPlayer now
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