Hello friends!
Another time of disconnection and enjoyment of watching a new TV show, this one is not so new, but it was recommended to me and I wanted to see one of those investigative, crime series in a Nordic setting again. Those who know this genre best.
This is the Finnish TV show Bordertown, whose original name is Sorjonen, the last name of the brainy protagonist. And yes, there are Finnish landscapes there near the border with Russia, and a lot of suspense.
TV Show: Bordertown (2016-2020)
It is a series from Finland, filmed there, and in the three seasons a small police team solves some crimes that occur in a small border town. With a new special member who has prestige and his own deductive method, from there investigation and landscapes intermingle.
What is this about?
There is suspense and murders, in a small town that borders Russia, hence the title, and events occur there, which must be solved by a small investigation group that incorporates a prestigious investigator who is very good at his work with his own deductive method, is the protagonist, Sorjonen.
But there is also a plot that extends for some chapters with some of the suspects, as well as another plot of political and business corruption, of the family that dominates the positions of power and the money of the city.
Other characters: Family & Team
And Sorjonen's wife is also involved in this political and business sphere. Family is another important point, Sorjonen leaves his job in Helsinki to change his life, returning to his wife's hometown, and thus work less and spend more time with his wife Pauliina who has recovered from a serious illness and with his daughter Janina.
But in the end the work in Laaperanta, the Finnish city to which they go, ends up absorbing their time as well, but the situations of the wife and the daughter also end up intermingling in some cases and with other characters.
The small team of police officers he works with stands out a lot, a small office linked in cooperation to Interpol with almost no resources but who are very effective. Not only Sorjonen, but also Nico, a good police officer who always accompanies and supports, and Lena, a very tough woman, with a daughter Katia who will become friends with Sorjonen's daughter and of whom we discover part of her life, her dark past in Russia, in different episodes. She become the best partner of Sorjonen. They understand each other well.
Then organizing and setting limits is the boss, and two other colleagues who usually help with various tasks.
Anything else to comment? Photography & Scenery
There is one aspect that I like about this TV show, the photography. It is not like other series filmed in Iceland, but also in Finland there are impressive frozen and not so frozen landscapes but where nature predominates.
And we are also shown other industrialists, also from the city. They are simple, silent, and beautiful shots, to enjoy while we think about how the case will be resolved.
And another detail that I like is that, in many situations, the cases are related to the other part of the border, to Russia, where they sometimes travel, to Saint Petersburg, to Lena who lived there, and speaks Russian. There are some episodes where various dialogues are given in Russian (subtitled) and I find it very interesting, it gives the series a more authentic touch.
I think it is a good TV show to watch, to discove the characters, you get to know a little about some characters in particular (although not all of them), specially about the protagonist Sorjonen and his work partner Lena. And curiously [spoiler?]
the end of the series unites them in some way...
We see that Bordertown has received good reviews and some nominations and awards, so if you like suspense, crime and investigation thrillers, and shocking, very cold natural spaces, I recommend it to you.
Just three seasons, and I have already watched all of them. Recommended.
More information about the TV show and all the shared images here:
Original title: Sorjonen (2016-2020) IMDB - Bordertown