The Bridge (Bron/Broen) is a superb Nordic Noir from the Danes and Swedes. This crime drama is jointly financed production between Denmark’s DR and Sweden’s Sveriges TV.
The original title of this thriller show is Bron/Broen in the Danish/Swedish languages respectively. Therefore, both the opening and closing credits of the show appear in both Swedish and Danish languages, including the series title and descriptive character names. This highly engaging crime-drama series is created and written by Hans Rosenfeldt.
Key details about The Bridge (Bron/Broen) Series
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller |
| Original title | Swedish title: Bron means The Bridge Danish title: Broen means The Bridge |
| Seasons | Four (4) Seasons (2011, 2013, 2015, & 2018) |
| Episodes | First Season (September – November 2011) has Ten (10) Episodes. Second Season (September – November 2013) has Ten (10) Episodes. Third Season (September – November 2015) has Ten (10) Episodes. Fourth Season (January – February 2018) has Eight (8) Episodes. Total = Thirty-Eight (38) Episodes and Four (4) Seasons |
| Creators | Måns Mårlind, Hans Rosenfeldt, Björn Stein |
| Cast | Sofia Helin, Rafael Pettersson, Sarah Boberg, Kim Bodnia, Thure Lindhardt, etc. |
Focus on the Nordic/Scandi/Scandinavian Noir
Now, before we delve any further into the details of this crime drama series, allow us to explain the Nordic Noir briefly. We are sharing the quote from the Nordics website.
“The Nordic Noir is most often considered to be a specific genre of TV series. However, it also includes literature, film productions, and video games. Besides, it has even been extended to style, design, and music. Its key elements include a murky atmosphere, dark narratives, and flawed protagonists. Its popularity may lie in the fact that it usually undercuts the dominant narrative of the Nordics as thriving states with happy people and successful economies, but there is a dark underbelly here, too.”
Nordics
Please note, that the Nordic Noir genre is also known as Scandinavian Noir or Scandi Noir, as it is set in the Nordic or Scandinavian countries of Europe. This kind of crime fiction genre is usually written from a police point of view. Also, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland Islands are part of the Nordic Region.
Awards won by The Bridge (Bron/Broen) Series
| Award Names | Award Winners |
|---|---|
| Crime Thriller Awards, UK – 2012 | Best International TV Drama – Winner Dagger |
| Biarritz International Festival of Audovisual Programming – 2012 | TV Series and Series Music – Johan Söderqvist (composer), Patrik Andrén (composer), Uno Helmersson (composer) – Winner |
| Danish Film Awards (Robert) – 2014 | Sofia Helin – Best Actress – TV Series (Årets kvindelige hovedrolle – tv-serie) – Winner Robert Kim Bodnia – Best Actor – TV Series (Årets mandlige hovedrolle – tv-serie) – Winner Robert Camilla Bendix – Best Supporting Actress – TV Series (Årets kvindelige birolle – tv-serie) – Winner Robert |
| Monte-Carlo TV Festival – 2014 | Winner Golden Nymph – Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Kim Bodnia |
| Kristallen – 2014 | Best Television Drama – Winner Kristallen Best Actress – Sofia Helin – Winner Kristallen |
| Kristallen – 2016 | Winner Kristallen – Best Television Drama |
The Bridge (Bron/Broen) Series {Season1/2011}
Poster of Season One (2011) of this Series
Synopsis of Season One (2011) of this Series
The body of a woman is found in the middle of the Øresund Bridge, which links Malmö (Sweden) with Copenhagen (Denmark), the two countries. As this body is found exactly on the border between the two countries, a police team from both countries is put together to investigate, which is led by the Danish inspector Martin Röhde from the Copenhagen police department and the Swedish detective Saga Norén from Malmo CID. They try to catch this mysterious criminal before it gets worse and more personal.
Review in brief of Season One (2011) of this Series
Its story
Opening with horrifying murder victims, the corpse of a Swedish politician with the upper half of the body is paired with the lower half of the body of a Danish victim. Both the murdered fatalities’ bodies are cut in half at the waist, and then their corpse is precisely placed at the border on the Øresund Bridge to allow the police authorities of the two countries – Sweden and Denmark to discover them.
Then, Swedish detective Saga Norén and Danish inspector Martin Röhde are teamed up and asked to solve this homicide case. Meanwhile, the series of well-thought-out gruesome crimes continue to be carried out by the self-proclaimed killer, who named himself the ‘Truth Terrorist’.
Our comments
Both the lead actors Sofia Helin (Swedish detective Saga Norén) and Kim Bodnia (Danish inspector Martin Röhde) are in top form. Their on-screen buddy chemistry is a compelling watch. Other actors in its ensemble cast are good too. But, we think, the strong script is the real winner in this show. Not to forget, its music (theme) is haunting and unforgettable.
The social messages and political overtones supposedly behind these gruesome murders are hard to miss. Besides, one can not escape the grim mood of this crime series. This is a sublime piece of the bleak crime drama. While watching this show, you might feel that you have undertaken an emotional roller-coaster ride. And we were rooting for Saga, all the way.
Trailer of Season One (2011) of this Series
Ratings of Season One (2011) of this Series
| FM’s rating | 4.25/5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes rating as of the date | 96% Audience Score |
The Bridge (Bron/Broen) Series {Season2/2013}
Poster of Season Two (2013) of this Series
Synopsis of Season Two (2013) of this Series
A tanker is heading towards the bridge. When it is boarded by the coastguard the crew are discovered to be missing. The only people on board are five youths, drugged and chained. Saga and Martin are assigned to investigate the case.
Review in brief of Season Two (2013) of this Series
Its story
A group of environmental activists, or should we call them the eco-terrorists threaten to release the deadly airborne virus in both countries. These radical environmentalists want the world to start paying much greater attention to the growing threats to animals and the environment around the world by human acts. Once again, Swedish detective Saga Norén and Danish inspector Martin Röhde join hands to hunt for the smart eco-terrorists. They try to stop them before it is too late.
Our comments
The environmental messages and political overtones supposedly motivating these eco-terrorist activities are difficult to miss in this season too. The bleak and ghastly criminal acts continue to haunt not only these two police detectives but even us. Once again Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia continue to impress us with their acts.
Trailer of Season Two (2013) of this Series
Ratings of Season Two (2013) of this Series
| FM’s rating | 4.15/5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes rating as of the date | 94% Audience Score |
The Bridge (Bron/Broen) Series {Season3/2015}
Poster of Season Three (2015) of this Series
Synopsis of Season Three (2015) of this Series
When a prominent Danish gender campaigner is found murdered in Malmo, Swedish detective Saga Noren is assigned a new Danish partner Henrik Sabroe to help with the investigation of Helle Anker’s murder.
Review in brief of Season Three (2015) of this Series
Its story
When a well-known gender theorist, and owner of Copenhagen’s first gender-neutral preschool, is found murdered, with her dead body left as if she is in a painting about a family having food at a dining table. In this season, the Swedish detective Saga Norén gets a new partner from Denmark Police, Henrik Sabroe to investigate.
Meanwhile, the series of murders continues, and all the murder victims are similarly arranged as characters in paintings in an eerie manner. Thus, with the murders of those who support gender equality and gay (LGBTQIA+) marriages, it seems that the criminals disapprove of LGBTQIA+ rights in their society.
Our comments
The story in this season seems to follow the socio-political question of our era about the progressive rights of LGBTQIA+ people. This crime drama continues to get darker with each season. As a result, this show manages to awe and shock, with its theme and cruel crimes. The good acting by the lead actress Sofia Helin remains a constant. So, she and her classic Porsche 911 S car sustain our interest in this Nordic crime saga.
Trailer of Season Three (2015) of this Series
Ratings of Season Three (2015) of this Series
| FM’s rating | 4.05/5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes rating as of the date | 93% Audience Score. |
The Bridge (Bron/Broen) Series {Season4/2018}
Poster of Season Four (2018) of this Series
Synopsis of Season Four (2018) of this Series
Set two years after Season 3, this fourth and final season starts with the discovery of a woman who was brutally murdered at the base of the bridge. Henrik seeks Saga’s help, but being imprisoned, there’s nothing she can do.
Review in brief of Season Four (2018) of this Series
Its story
The fourth and final season is more personal, as both the Swedish detective Saga Norén and her Denmark Police partner Henrik Sabroe confront their pasts, insecurities, issues and demons. And then This season also explores the burning issue of immigration in Scandinavian nations, as the dead body of a woman victim (head of the Danish Immigration Board) is found close to the bridge between Denmark and Sweden.
Our comments
These are tricky times, as the police investigate another ghastly crime. Meanwhile, both of them (Saga Norén and Henrik Sabroe) try to find peace within themselves. Because it is time to say goodbye and move on with their life. perhaps, for the leading lead actress Sofia Helin, this series shall remain one of her best-known works. On a sombre note, it is our farewell to the riveting and intriguing Nordic crime series and its captivating characters.
Trailer of Season Four (2018) of this Series
Ratings of Season Four (2018) of this Series
| FM’s rating | 4.30/5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date | 62% Tomatometer 93% Audience Score |
| Critics Consensus / Rotten Tomatoes | The Bridge’s mysteries still smoulder with morbid intrigue, but the series is feeling strained in a fourth season that is off-putting in its grisly imagery and directionless in its arc for the central characters. |
Focus on the bonus information about this Nordic-Noir series
About this Nordic-Noir
Like most Nordic-Noir crime series, this show is a dark tale about violent criminals and murderers. The cold and depressing cinematography only adds to the mood of the not-so-happy people living in the happy nations. We do not wish to give away significant spoilers of this captivating police crime drama, so we have deleted many of the lines in this article, as they could reveal the twists and turns in this engrossing show. Anyway, we have shared only those bare-minimum details about this Nordic show.
Loved the character of detective Saga Norén
To reiterate, like the rest of the world, we also loved the Bron/Broen series, especially the iconic character of detective Saga Norén (Sofia Helin) and her vintage car.
Swedish actress Sofia Margareta Helin played the unforgettable character of detective Saga Norén. Sadly, after the conclusion of the finale of this show, we may not see any more series/films of this great detective Saga. Actress Sofia Helin (Saga) is also known for the movies – Dalecarlians (2004), Arn: The Knight Templar (2007), The Snowman (2017), The Emigrants (2021), and the series – Mystery Road (2018), Atlantic Crossing, (2020), Exit (2021), etc.
Has an enduring music
Again, to repeat ourselves, we also loved the opening and closing theme of the show. This theme music is from the song ‘Hollow Talk’ by Copenhagen-based Danish chamber pop band Choir of Young Believers. This theme song is taken from the album ‘This Is for the White in Your Eyes’.
This Scandi-Noir series led to the sudden rise in the popularity of Scandinavian dramas around the world. No wonder, this show was sold to more than 200 countries. You know, inspired by this (The Bridge) Nordic-Noir, both England and France have their version of “The Bridge” series, re-titled “The Tunnel” – released in 2013.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
Then, there is also a USA/Mexico version titled “The Bridge” show (I and my team have also seen this version), which was also released in 2013. Inspired by this (The Bridge) show, we have also seen another series named “Pagan Peak” (I and my team have also seen this version) – released in 2018, this show was produced by Austria and Germany.
So, go ahead, walk on the bridge and enjoy the Nordic view.
Check out a few more Nordic Noir:
The Killing: A Must-Watch Nordic Noir From Danes
Trapped: Cold-Blooded Nordic-Noir From Iceland
Borgen: Refreshing Political Drama From Denmark
Featured Image and Posters: The Bridge (Bron/Broen) Series | IMDb & Pinterest.