Fans of addictive crime dramas set against breathtaking landscapes, featuring a dynamic and captivating lead character, are in for an absolute treat with our latest recommendation. The description above will undoubtedly ring a bell for fans of the genre, calling to mind some of Britain's finest crime dramas such as Broadchurch, Happy Valley, The Bay, and Shetland - and this one stands up equally well against the lot of them.
A Nordic Noir Gem on Channel 4
Sorjonen (also known as Bordertown) is a Nordic noir crime drama set in the Finnish town of Lappeenranta, approximately 30 kilometres from the Russian border. The series was created by Miikko Oikkonen and boasts a remarkable performance from Ville Virtanen in the lead role as Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen. The show spans three seasons with a total of 31 episodes and has earned widespread acclaim both in Finland and across the globe.
Sorjonen follows Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen, one of the most highly regarded officers at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Finland. DI Sorjonen displays traits of savantism and is a high-functioning autistic man. The series sees him relocate his family to Lappeenranta while tackling complex cases and attempting to balance the demands of his home life.
Cast and Spin-Off
Ville Virtanen is joined by Matleena Kuusniemi, Anu Sinisalo, Lenita Susi, Kristiina Halttu, Olivia Ainali, and Ilkka Villi, alongside a broader ensemble cast. The show proved so popular that a feature film spin-off was commissioned, entitled Bordertown: The Mural Murders, which made its debut in autumn 2021 and featured characters from the original television series. Bordertown: The Mural Murders is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Critical and Audience Acclaim
The crime drama has garnered widespread critical acclaim, with one reviewer writing: "That European register... gives a twist to the most traditional [police series], supported by the beautiful Nordic landscapes." Another critic said of the police procedural: "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."
Audiences have been equally captivated, with one viewer posting on IMDB: "Finnish crime noir tour-de-force! Bordertown is an endearingly intelligent, moorishly entertaining Finnish crime-noir drama series of the highest ilk. The first season is divided into several two part chapters, each connected to the proceeding ones but can be viewed as isolates (though not as pleasurably). The story, the vignettes, and the characters, are well developed and expanded and have a wonderful Finnish 'feel'."
Another fan of the series writes: "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." While one viewer's review on Rotten Tomatoes reads: "This show is big, it's bold, packed with drama, tension, and action in all of the right places. All of this is perfectly complimented with beautiful imagery set in the Finnish town of Lappeenranta paired with a brilliant soundtrack. It takes crime busting TV to an entirely different level. Instead of rushing through each case in a 60 minute time slot, it takes its time and makes sure to sink its teeth into a very well written script. Every last bit of Bordertown has purpose. You'll have a hard time stepping away from this show given that every episode only gets better than the last."
An IMDB user review says: "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 n suspense throughout. It is extremely well written with each episode having a different crime story n murder plot. The acting is brilliant and the actors have done a great job in bringing the characters to life with heaps of charisma. I highly recommend this series especially if you like suspense and tension in crime dramas."
Sorjonen (Bordertown) is available to stream for free on Channel 4.
