If you were disappointed by the 2017 big-screen adaptation of the legendary Harry Hole, Netflix’s new Norwegian crime drama, Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, is the redemption you’ve been waiting for. Based on the fifth novel, The Devil’s Star, this series is a bleak, atmospheric dive into the dark depths of Oslo that you simply must see.
The story follows Harry Hole, a brilliant but self-destructive detective played with zeal by Tobias Santelmann. Harry is obsessed with old cases and haunted by a tragic past. His fragile balance collapses under a dual threat: a serial killer who leaves red five-pointed diamonds on his victims, and his own colleague, Tom Waaler. Joel Kinnaman is chillingly effective as Waaler, a corrupt officer who serves as a philosophical counterweight to Harry’s battered morality.
Beyond the gripping performances, the series is a success for Nordic noir. The cinematography captures Oslo in a suffocating heatwave, interrupted only by occasional, heavy rains, while the score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis creates a thriller atmosphere.
Admittedly, at nine episodes, the narrative occasionally feels heavy. A leaner version might have reached “masterpiece” status, but the central “double confrontation” between Santelmann and Kinnaman remains attractive enough to keep you through even the slower parts.
This is an intelligent thriller that doesn’t compromise. It explores the cost of obsession and the rot of power without hesitating.
The Verdict: Binge-worthy. It’s a beautifully directed, gruesome journey that finally gives this iconic literary character the screen presence he deserves.
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