What would it be like to step inside the mind of a bestselling author, to see their characters and settings with all the vivid detail of their creator's imagination? The dark and violent Scandinavian crime drama Harry Hole on Netflix offers exactly that experience, but the result is oddly disappointing. Jo Nesbo, the Norwegian superstar novelist, has adapted his mega-selling series of thrillers about an Oslo policeman, and while he retains the sordid, brutish atmosphere of the original stories, the translation to television adds little to the pictures already conjured on the page.
The Adaptation's Strengths and Shortcomings
In this Netflix series, viewers get to discover exactly how Nesbo imagines Harry Hole to look, complete with his tortured mannerisms and brusque demeanour. We meet his long-suffering colleagues face to face, as well as his girlfriend Rakel and her troubled son, Oleg. The eyes of Harry's nemesis, the narcissistic psychopath Tom Waaler, are brought to life on screen. However, the complex, psychologically layered elements of the books cannot be fully translated to television, making this adaptation feel like a simplified version for those who lack the time or inclination to read the novels.
Nesbo's Control and Creative Choices
Jo Nesbo, a meticulous writer known for his remarkable consistency of tone and description, maintained complete control over this Netflix adaptation by supplying the entire nine-part screenplay. A former rock musician, Nesbo insisted on a punchy soundtrack by Nick Cave, but he fell into the obvious trap of trying to squeeze his entire vision into the first episode. Instead of allowing Harry's world and past to reveal themselves gradually, everything is served up in the first half hour: his alcoholism, the fatal blunder that wrecked his career, his difficult childhood, his fear of romantic commitment, and the loyalty he inspires in colleagues. This approach feels like being buttonholed in a pub by someone who unloads their entire life story before you can even reach the bar.
Comparisons and Criticisms
Harry Hole has appeared on screen before, notably in the 2017 film The Snowman starring Michael Fassbender, which felt derivative and cynical. A decade later, Nesbo's vision is starting to look outdated, similar to the recent adaptation of Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta on Amazon Prime. Serial killers and their terrified female victims have become passé, and one problem that mars the books is even more stark here: it's hard to understand why Harry's fellow detectives and bosses are so infinitely patient with him. He's proud of being charmless, and his contempt for rules often seems like crass arrogance, leaving viewers questioning why he is tolerated.
On a lighter note, the adaptation does clarify how the Norwegian name should be pronounced: it's 'Hooler', not 'Hole'. At least his mother didn't call him Lars. Ultimately, while the series captures the dark essence of Nesbo's work, it fails to deliver the depth and nuance that make the books so compelling, reinforcing the old cliché that the books are indeed much better.
