Fans of crime dramas are praising the Finnish series Bordertown (also known as Sorjonen), available to stream free on Channel 4, describing it as 'utterly gripping' and 'outstanding', with one viewer saying you'll have 'a hard time stepping away' from the show.
Set near the Russian border
The Nordic noir series is set in the Finnish town of Lappeenranta, approximately 30 kilometres from the Russian border. Created by Miikko Oikkonen, it stars Ville Virtanen as Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen.
Sorjonen follows the detective, regarded as one of the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) most distinguished officers in Finland. He is portrayed as a high-functioning autistic individual with savant characteristics. The narrative tracks his move with his family to Lappeenranta, where he tackles intricate cases while trying to maintain balance in his domestic life.
Critical and viewer acclaim
The series spans three seasons with 31 episodes in total and has received widespread acclaim both in Finland and globally. It proved so popular that it spawned a film spin-off entitled Bordertown: The Mural Murders, which debuted in autumn 2021 and is presently available on Netflix.
One critic said: "That European register... gives a twist to the most traditional [police series], supported by the beautiful Nordic landscapes." Another reviewer noted: "Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen follows in a long tradition of savant detectives; he's eccentric, brilliant, obsessive, better with evidence than navigating social situations. But as created by Miikko Oikkonen, he's also complex and nuanced."
Viewers hooked
One fan wrote on IMDB: "Finnish crime noir tour-de-force! Bordertown is an endearingly intelligent, moorishly entertaining Finnish crime-noir drama series of the highest ilk." Another said: "Simply outstanding. All crime series are second to this. It's utterly gripping, fantastic acting, great storylines and the horrifying details will keep you glued to the TV in anticipation for the next scene or episode."
An audience review on Rotten Tomatoes reads: "This show is big, it's bold, packed with drama, tension, and action in all of the right places... You'll have a hard time stepping away from this show given that every episode only gets better than the last." Another IMDB review adds: "SUPERB CRIME DRAMA! Well, this is a gripping nail biting edge of your seat crime drama with excellent twists n turns n heaps of tension and suspense throughout."
Sorjonen (Bordertown) is available to stream for free on Channel 4.
