HER LAST STAND. SARAH LUND RETURNS IN 'THE KILLING' SEASON THREE

Could THE KILLING's final season storytelling prove too high a price for even Sara Lund (Sofie Grábol) to handle? Image: DR 1 TV.

Sales of Faroese jumpers are likely to got through the roof again-and just in time to help desperate Xmas stores sales figures!-with the arrival of the third and final thrilling case for clever and intuitive Detective Sarah Lund to investigate, back into the dark and chilly streets, warehouses and high tech power worlds of Denmark in Forbydelsen-or THE KILLING for us Average Joe's in the UK. Having created the new term of Nordic Noir with it's two previous well-crafted and critically acclaimed seasons, whose success have also made it the envy of its TV making rivals and inspired a wave of imitators not just in native Denmark but worldwide (including the US's very own, only partially successful, re-make), THE KILLING's lead star Sofie Grábol, a noted thespian of her native land and now a well deserved television sensation and attractive sex symbol outside the series, along with its distinctive creator Soren Sveistrup, promise that the show will go our with a resolute and satisfying high-quality bang fireworks cocktail of drama, thrills, mystery and murder.

This time out, our heroine is about to celebrate her 25th year of ups and downs as a police officer- the only career she's ever known and loved, of which she's pretty much sacrificed everything in her life in the line and sake of her duty- when she's called to action investigating the mysterious and seemingly random death of a sailor, whose body is found in a scrap heap. What follows over the next ten weeks is a collision course return into the unstable mixing realms of social and political agenda, and its resultant grey palette of emotions, revelations and ideologies. The heart of the worlds financial institutions-already a hotbed of scum and villainy if I ever I saw any!- comes under Lund's almost fearless microscope and then into the very corridors of the Danish Prime Minister no less! In her prior rocky dealings with state and power brokers she has already fallen foul of her country's own security service and its paymasters, resulting in the death of one of her detective partners. Now, on the fierce eve of the country's all-important election, is it possible that, this time around, she may have strayed too close to the fire in her dogged pursuit of the truth?

Trailer: Forbrydelsen 3 (The Killing Season 3) - YouTube
The Killing (DK) Season 3 starts on 17 Nov 2012 [BBC4] - See description for music - YouTube

Despite a few preposterous story and character moments here and there- drawbacks that come with the need to create a controversial and powerful tale capable of living up to heavy viewer expectations generated from the original smash-hit premiere- the second season of the KILLING, with its military theme and the cover-up linked to Danish soldiers in Afghanistan, was solid and entertaining, but ultimately lacked the emotional involvement of the previous story, as well as proving far too short, coming to a close just when it was getting interesting. It's story-telling roots more centre stage in Denmark, with it's people and multi-layered, recognisable problems, here's hoping that this final, surely emotional run, really does live up to it's promise when it starts on the UK's BBC 4 channel from 17th November.

Coming soon to UK Blu-ray and DVD...

More on THE KILLING SEASON THREE here: The Killing creator Soren Sveistrup: Sarah Lund will go out on a high in series three | Radio Times

Sofie Grabol, aka The Killing's Sarah Lund: 'I took off my, jumper and my gun, and cried all, the way home' - Features - TV & Radio - The Independent

Sofie Gråbøl: 'There's not going to be a fourth Killing' | Television & radio | The Guardian

UK FACEBOOK page for the series: Forbrydelsen II (The Killing) BBC Four

SWEDEN'S NEXT SUMMER NIGHTMARE. 'WALLANDER' RETURNS...

Sweden's unique police officer, Kurt Wallander, as played by Rolf Lassgard, returns in a new case for UK viewers. Image:  YELLOW BIRD FILMS.

UK (and US) mass audiences may be enjoying Kenneth Branagh's often dark and miserable interpretation of "the Swedish Morse", Kurt Wallander, as originally created in the beautifully crafted novels of Henning Mankell, but the original European versions starring Rolf Lassgard and Krister Henriksson remain the best interpreations in my opinion, full of great acting, atmosphere, drama and interpreted twists and turns that don't feel forced, alongside cinematography that isn't over stylised but feels natural within the storytelling. The UK's BBC 4 have showed all of Henriksson's episodes (and will hopefully show the next batch of new 13 episodes currently being made, too), but not all of Larsson's run have been so lucky. Now, viewers get nearer to that ambition as the channel shows SIDETRACKED, showing in two parts starting this Saturday (28th July).

It's certainly one of the best of Mankell's novels-with a fiery start that got me ever more hooked on the character and Mankell's work in general in the early 2000's- and has our crusty detective in a terrifying cat and mouse game, as well as in a sometimes very tense race against time, to capture a dangerous tomahawk/axe wielding murderer calling himself Geronimo, after the famous American Indian warrior. This dark prowler of his unsuspecting victims, himself born from terrible circumstances and an air of modern day horror that remains chillingly prescient in our life and times, has a method to his madness in whom he chooses, stalks and eventually slays. Branagh's story adaptation, in a more condensed one and a half hours, proved disappointing in it's BBC 1 premiere a few years back, so I'm hoping for better here...

SCREAM II! THE DARK RETURN OF "FORBRYDESLEN" (AKA "THE KILLING")

Fighting dark times and dark crimes requires a unique combatant: the return of Sarah Lund (Sofie Grabol) in FORBRYDELSEN 2. Images: ZDF/YELLOW BIRD FILMS.

Those dark and heavy clouds of murder, intrigue and complex emotion remain more omnipotent than ever around the city of Copenhagen with the upcoming sequel to the hit Danish series FORBRYDELSEN-better known to UK BBC 4 viewers as THE KILLING. This new series, originally shown in its home territory in 2009, soon returns to British television and looks set to be even more atmospheric, fast paced, unsettling and downright addictive than the original first series run, which quickly became a wild-fire, word of mouth hit here (and now begins a daily episodic re-run on BBC 4 starting this Sunday evening-a much welcome lead-in to Season Two). The fictional world of great TV detective heroes welcomes back the terrific Sofie Grabol as the dedicated and often fearless Sarah Lund-one of the only women in the world who can make wearing Faroese jumpers and rain proof coats look reasonably cool!- now languishing in a demoted job position in Southern Denmark after the tragic events regarding her almost obsessive investigation into the Nanna Birk Larssen case, until she's suddenly and unexpectedly recalled back to help her once superiors investigate the brutal murder of a very successful, high profile female lawyer within her luxurious home. At first despised and unwelcome by her old colleagues, especially after the brutal death of her ex-detective partner Jan Meyer (Soren Malling), and having to enter into a new working relationship with an equally uneasy police officer, Ulrik Strange (Mikael Birkkjaer), and a tough new Justice Minister, Lund's analytical and intuitive skills soon begin to unravel the clues and break through the mist of alibis and potential motives from the dead lawyers family, work associates, not always so moral clients and friends, and leading her into a dangerous new realm of abusive power and control linked to a scenario that looks unlikely to leave the world's current headlines any time soon...

Trailers (contain possible spoilers): The Killing season 2 - Trailer - YouTube
Trailer - Forbrydelsen 2 - YouTube

New case, new partner: Lund with new Detective Ulrik Strange (Mikael Birkkjaer).

So, with such gargantuan acclaim for the prior season from audiences and critics alike, can this second season possibly top the original? Its a shorter run than the first-ten episodes instead of twenty-but they often say that less can certainly be more when done right. We surely hope this is indeed the case, and look forward to more of the talented Miss Grabol, and Detective Lund, in the future.


Look for more on FORBRYDELSEN 2 on KOOL TV in the not too distant future...

COMING SOON: "WALLANDER" SEASON THREE...

Wallander (Krister Henrikkson) and Isabelle (Nina Zanjani) duck for cover from a crazed gunman in WALLANDER Season Two. Image: YELLOW BIRD FILMS.

Fans of Henning Mankell's WALLANDER TV series, as played in the Swedish version by the excellent Krister Henrikkson, can rejoice with the news (revealed by Mankell himself, in yesterday's SKY ARTS 1 HD HAY SESSIONS 2011 literary event) that a brand new series of feature length TV movies will soon begin shooting later this year and that, as with the prior two seasons (which have been shown worldwide and on the UK's BBC 4 (currently showing the second season once again)), the author will be fully involved in all areas of their creation-from coming up with the intriguing story lines to having the final say on everything from the choice of casting and which directors are selected.

Great news, considering what a well-written downer the last book, THE TROUBLED MAN, was in its final pages with regards to the fate of our hero...

A further series of three WALLANDER novel adaptations (including THE DOGS OF RIGA and THE WHITE LIONESS), starring Kenneth Branagh in the title role, are also underway for the BBC.

A COMPLEX WORLD: "WALLANDER" SEASON TWO RETURNS...

Aiming high! Krister Henriksson is back as WALLANDER. Image: YELLOW BIRD FILMS.

Continuing their screenings of quality European drama, BBC 4 repeats weekly from tonight the second series of the hit crime drama/thriller series WALLANDER, based on author Henning Mankell's brilliant Swedish detective novels, as played on screen by Krister Henriksson. This time around, grumpy but loveable Kurt, finding old age to be a constant irritant, has sadly gone his separate ways with his police daughter, Linda (played by the late, and much missed, Johanna Sallstrom), and in life compensation has bought a retirement house by the sea, gotten himself a lovely new pet dog named Jussi, and is showing a healthy interest in a possible new relationship with new Police lawyer Katarina Ahlsell (THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO's Lena Endre). But, as usual, theres no rest for the wicked, as he soon has to investigate more lies, betrayals, gruesome murders and political machinations within the picturesque but deadly town of Ystad.

There are thirteen very enjoyable tales this season (a series which the British press has humorously dubbed "Inspector Morose",what with its occasionally very grim nature), and all are superbly made, but my particular favourite has to be episode 10, Valnaden, an atmospheric and bloody tale set in a Swedish high summer, which sees Wallander and his young police team investigate the death of a couple in a mysterious beach hut explosion, which then leads to further foul play within a business relationship and a very exciting, action packed finale.

Season One (Episodes 1 to 7) of Krister Henriksson's incarnation of WALLANDER are now available on DVD, and highly recommended by KOOL TV.