A couple meets for a tryst at a beach house. After they have fooled around, the house explodes. This leads to a seemingly endless array of failed relationships and children crying out for stability. Actually, there is a great deal of crying out as some of the characters, when faced with difficulties, howl and howl hysterically. Katarina's daughter has a friendship with another girl whose father died in the explosion. Everything is so haphazard and scattered, you need a program to figure out who is doing it to whom and who is related to whom and if there were crimes committed. I have to say that this is my least favorite of this series. It's just too much chasing and shooting like so many other television cop shows.
6 Reviews
Swedish Wallander goes all BBC Wallander on us!
mike-h-williams31 May 2010
Unlike all the other episodes from this season it looked very much like Yellow Bird's BBC Wallander team had been given the reins for this story. Whilst the teleplay was especially gripping towards the end of the story the shaky hand-held camera work and bleached out visuals were a reminder of how disappointing the BBC version is in comparison with the usually more stolid and realistic Swedish version. This disappointment was compounded by the absence of two key regular characters - dependable Ebba and Wallander's best friend, Jussi! I only hope that the Swedes see the error of their ways in time for the last three episodes of season 2.
Not up to par, but interesting cast trivia
jtkeroac944 April 2013
I've just finished watching 7 episodes from season 2009-2010 and have to agree with some of the others who posted comments critical of this installment. Mroz picked out an unintentionally funny scene where Wallander swims at least half a mile, fully clothed with shoes - although I might add, he was also shot in the face and holding onto his pistol with one hand - not bad for an overweight, ready-to-retire cop who smokes like a chimney!
I don't mean to pick on Wallander's lifestyle choices, after all, they are part of what makes the character tick. But seriously, a little perspective on how to incorporate the man's strengths and weaknesses into a believable story. We don't watch Wallander to see chase scenes and shootouts at the expense of good character and plot development. Unlike previous installments, this episode seemed formulaic – which still ain't bad compared to most repetitive cookie cutter police dramas.
TRIVIA: Check out Iben Hjejle, speaking in her native tongue, who played John Cusack's girlfriend Laura (the significant one) in High Fidelity (2000).
I don't mean to pick on Wallander's lifestyle choices, after all, they are part of what makes the character tick. But seriously, a little perspective on how to incorporate the man's strengths and weaknesses into a believable story. We don't watch Wallander to see chase scenes and shootouts at the expense of good character and plot development. Unlike previous installments, this episode seemed formulaic – which still ain't bad compared to most repetitive cookie cutter police dramas.
TRIVIA: Check out Iben Hjejle, speaking in her native tongue, who played John Cusack's girlfriend Laura (the significant one) in High Fidelity (2000).
Unbelievable Character Development
Groddeck14 September 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I really appreciate this Walander series for being realistic. The characters seem to be like guys from your neighbourhood. But here something happened to make me quit. I stopped watching this one episode after the following happened:
!!!SPOILER!!!
Peter Adler gets the murderer of his beloved wife point blank. He knows that the murderer is actually the murderer. The murderer says: "Gimme the weapon." Peter Adler starts crying and gives away the weapon and lets himself get slaughtered like a sheep.
Serious! Nobody would act like that! And Peter Adler, the guy who broke Martinsson's nose, wouldn't do so either.
!!!SPOILER!!!
Peter Adler gets the murderer of his beloved wife point blank. He knows that the murderer is actually the murderer. The murderer says: "Gimme the weapon." Peter Adler starts crying and gives away the weapon and lets himself get slaughtered like a sheep.
Serious! Nobody would act like that! And Peter Adler, the guy who broke Martinsson's nose, wouldn't do so either.
Hard to guess who did it!
Tweekums31 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
When a couple go to the beach for a romantic weekend they did not expect their cottage to be blown up. The investigation soon shows that the two victims were neighbours who were having an affair, they were also worth a lot of money. The first suspect, the woman's husband, demonstrates that he is prone to violence when he punches Martinsson in the face. Another obvious suspect is a homeless man who was in the vicinity of the cottage at the time of the explosion and stole a wallet from the couple's car. Of course this being a murder mystery the most obvious suspects aren't the guilty ones and ultimately we learn that the murders were motivated by a corrupt business deal many years before. As the net closes around the killer he flees on a boat along with his daughter and her friend who just happens to be prosecutor Katarina's daughter.
This was a fairly exciting episode although it was difficult to guess the killer early on as he wasn't introduced until late in the story and had been reported dead earlier on. Surprisingly two members of the police get shot during the final sequence although unsurprisingly neither is seriously injured.
This was a fairly exciting episode although it was difficult to guess the killer early on as he wasn't introduced until late in the story and had been reported dead earlier on. Surprisingly two members of the police get shot during the final sequence although unsurprisingly neither is seriously injured.
The beach house
jotix1008 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
A couple is seen arriving at an isolated cottage by the sea. It is clear they have come to the remote spot in order to be out of prying eyes because of an illicit affair. We are surprised as a drifter comes near the house, and later as he is stealing a wallet left unattended in the car, there is a loud bang with an explosion. The house is set on fire and the drifter moves away.
The police investigation that ensues, finds a case of arson was committed by someone that wanted to kill the couple. The first finding is a man that has suffered severe burns all over his body. Pontus and Isabelle are ordered to go to the beach in search of possible clues about the person that set the place on fire. Isabelle made a grisly discovery of a burned woman who was believed to be another victim.
The burnt woman is identified as Nina Adler, whose husband, Peter, is called to the hospital. Mrs. Adler has suffered injuries that take her life, adding two victims to the crime at the cottage. Wallander and his team suspects him of having to do with the crime. They also are interested in the lady next door, the wife of Martin, who is Peter Adler's partner in their maritime business. The police also want to question Martin's wife Kim.
Not having much to go on. The police are without much to go on. When the dead man is identified, it turns out to Martin who evidently was having an affair with his partner and business associate's wife. In turn, we get to know Peter was also involved with Kim, who has a change of heart perhaps of remorse after the death of her husband. Unfortunately, there is a criminal at large after all the clues are followed.
This was a good episode in the series based on Henning Mankell's work. The chapter was directed by Mikael Marcimain and written by Lars Lundstrom. The episode is well developed because the nature of the crime. At the center of the story is a study on adultery, not only by one set of partners, but perhaps unknown to them, the people this duo was married to, also are engaged in their own torrid affair.
This season of "Wallander" have proved more exciting than the earlier version. We have seen new characters, as well as a new place for the Ystad police headquarters. Krister Henriksson captures the spirit of Wallander, a man with a complex character. The addition of Lena Endre as Katarina is a asset; this is an excellent actress who excels in all her appearances. Same could be said about Nina Sanjani and Sverrir Gunadson, seen as Isabelle and Pontus, two police rookies with great intelligence and a keen sense of what their jobs entail.
The police investigation that ensues, finds a case of arson was committed by someone that wanted to kill the couple. The first finding is a man that has suffered severe burns all over his body. Pontus and Isabelle are ordered to go to the beach in search of possible clues about the person that set the place on fire. Isabelle made a grisly discovery of a burned woman who was believed to be another victim.
The burnt woman is identified as Nina Adler, whose husband, Peter, is called to the hospital. Mrs. Adler has suffered injuries that take her life, adding two victims to the crime at the cottage. Wallander and his team suspects him of having to do with the crime. They also are interested in the lady next door, the wife of Martin, who is Peter Adler's partner in their maritime business. The police also want to question Martin's wife Kim.
Not having much to go on. The police are without much to go on. When the dead man is identified, it turns out to Martin who evidently was having an affair with his partner and business associate's wife. In turn, we get to know Peter was also involved with Kim, who has a change of heart perhaps of remorse after the death of her husband. Unfortunately, there is a criminal at large after all the clues are followed.
This was a good episode in the series based on Henning Mankell's work. The chapter was directed by Mikael Marcimain and written by Lars Lundstrom. The episode is well developed because the nature of the crime. At the center of the story is a study on adultery, not only by one set of partners, but perhaps unknown to them, the people this duo was married to, also are engaged in their own torrid affair.
This season of "Wallander" have proved more exciting than the earlier version. We have seen new characters, as well as a new place for the Ystad police headquarters. Krister Henriksson captures the spirit of Wallander, a man with a complex character. The addition of Lena Endre as Katarina is a asset; this is an excellent actress who excels in all her appearances. Same could be said about Nina Sanjani and Sverrir Gunadson, seen as Isabelle and Pontus, two police rookies with great intelligence and a keen sense of what their jobs entail.
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