Drama often works by personalising issues; thus a crime drama needs its brilliant detective, uniquely able to see his way through a mystery. And hence, it's no surprise that programmes like 'Cracker' have used the notion of the criminal psychologist - a role whose real life value is marginal in most crimes - as a key protagonist - it's just so much more appealing than having a crime solved through the teamwork of the ordinary. Swedish drama 'Sebastian Bergman' also features a criminal psychologist as its central character, combined with the downbeat feel of other recent Scandanavian dramas ('Wallander', 'The Killing', 'The Bridge', etc.). Unfortuantly, it just isn't very good, combining ridiculous 'Silence of the Lambs'-style plotting with a moody pretentiousness that is mostly irritating. It feels neither like a thriller or real life (whereas the brilliant 'The Killing' felt like both), a beast as lumbering as its weary protagonist. Sadly proof that not everything out of the north is good.
Review of Den fördömde
