Fans of the acclaimed ITV crime drama Unforgotten are being urged to binge-watch a "superb" Norwegian thriller that has just landed on BBC iPlayer. The series, titled Wisting, offers a dark and compelling fix for viewers who loved Nicola Walker's hit show, with early reactions hailing it as gripping and beautifully shot.
A Moody Scandi Procedural Lands on BBC
The BBC has made the entire Wisting series available for streaming, describing it as a moody Scandi thriller where Norwegian detective William Wisting tackles grisly cold cases, seemingly unconnected murders, conspiracies, and a rising body count. The show first debuted in 2019, with the BBC securing the rights that same year, and it has since aired five seasons, the latest arriving in 2024.
Plot and Characters That Hook Viewers
At the heart of the drama is homicide detective William Wisting, played by Sven Nordin across 26 episodes, as he confronts the most challenging cases of his career. The narrative takes a personal turn when his investigation into a serial killer collides with a news story being pursued by his crime-writing journalist daughter, Line, portrayed by Thea Green Lundberg. This intersection plunges Wisting into personal peril while he attempts to crack deadly crimes.
The third series, currently streaming on BBC iPlayer, sees a wealthy family's dark secrets exposed after a young British boy vanishes from his family's hotel and a staff member is found dead. The plot thickens as Wisting pursues an American serial killer alongside FBI agents, while his daughter investigates a dead neighbour, with both storylines dangerously intersecting.
Fan Reactions and Binge-Worthy Praise
Early viewers have been effusive in their praise, with many comparing it favourably to Unforgotten. One fan admitted to bingeing the whole first season in one sitting, stating they "just couldn't stop". Another commented, "The first episode was very gripping and compelling, I'm excited to watch more. It's a beautifully shot show, on location in snowy Norway."
Further accolades describe the series as "increasingly gripping", with a viewer noting, "I wasn't sure whether to invest in it but really glad I did." One enthusiastic fan begged for more, writing, "Wisting is one of the best series we've seen in a long time! Really, should rate a 10 but perfection is hard - this is close! Well done, not slow-moving; still not clear about Wisting's wife. But almost binged the whole series. All episodes were good stories; good cast; cleverly done; lots of suspects, twists and turns! MORE MORE MORE please!!!!!"
Another simply called it "superb", adding, "Great plot, great acting, great direction. Very watchable indeed."
Connection to Unforgotten and Its Legacy
This recommendation comes at a timely moment for crime drama enthusiasts, as ITV has recently confirmed that Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinead Keenan will return as DI Sunny Khan and DCI Jessica James for Unforgotten season seven. The series faced a significant shift when Nicola Walker, who played DCI Cassie Stuart, left after her character's tragic death in a car crash in season four.
Walker later explained her exit, telling Radio Times, "I've worked with [Unforgotten creator] Chris Lang more than any other writer and we are friends. From the very beginning, we talked about Cassie's story being finite; Chris was always putting her through a story arc that would damage her emotionally. The buzzword was that she was an empath, and the problem with being an empath is that eventually, you break. I felt that to have her keep coming back would make her seem like a superhero. So it was very much a joint and long-planned decision."
With Wisting now readily available, fans of such intricate, character-driven crime stories have a new obsession to dive into, promising twists, turns, and the chilling atmosphere of Norwegian noir.
