The Man Who Died

I'm not new to Finnish tv series but this one went above and beyond my expectations. The best adjective that I can use to describe it is "quirky".

It might sound a bit odd the used adjective but it summarises how it is. I was amazed since the very first episode and you really do not know what is going to happen therefore you want watch more and more. Jussi Vatanen is an extraordinary actor, and from my point of view, one of those able to portrait anything. It's not the first time I see him on screen and he is absolutely talented without detracting anything to the rest of the cast that made a splendid job. His research to identify who is culprit, maybe knowing who might be, is another reason why you want to keep watching it. I think the number of episodes is the right ones as well. My question is, how much "gelato" can a person eat? This a recommended tv series to watch, very different from what we might have been used to watch coming from across the ocean. Scandinavian shows are so well done and hit the point every single time.

This is another excellent series from Finland that can probably only be appreciated by a Finn or someone who has lived there. I come into the latter category. An added bonus for me was that the action was set in Hamina, just fifty kilometers from us and we often went there on a weekend. I never tired of marvelling at the concentric street plan - a defensive device from when the city was fought over by empires.

The series is billed as a comedy as well as a crime drama. I don't want to labour the point, but scenes that had me roaring with laughter as being so idiosycratically Finnish would probably leave most foreign viewers cold. It was all done in the understated way typical of the country. I particularly liked the doctor's holiday premises and why he was there.

As for the crime aspects, these were so darkly comic that despite their ridiculousness, there was still a sharp frisson of tension. I didn't guess the identity of the poisoner but it was clear the main suspect wasn't guilty.

I watched the lot within a day. At the end, I was sorry that there weren't a couple more episodes to keep the chuckles going.

It's so hard to recommend or not. I would say try it and if you don't "get it" no harm done, you can give up. As is obvious, I loved it.

To my recollection, this is the first time I have ever watched a Finnish production. But, if it's representative of the genre, I certainly hope it's not my first and last! This series is excellent! Great acting, quirky characters, bizarre deaths, a man trying to solve his own murder before he dies! The writing is excellent and the unusual twists just add to the watching experience. This may be the very first show I have ever been able to watch all the way through with solely captions. Definitely worth it though. The humor ranges from almost slapstick to very dark and macabre. And the scenery is beautiful! I have only been to Helsinki Airport where I slept on a bench before connecting to Moscow but the scenery definitely made me want to go back for a longer visit throughout the country of Finland.

I completely concur with the first 5 reviewers- this quirky & refreshing work has it all.

Loads of quality & charm in the production (just take the score/soundtrack) & it has the rollicking ride of a "nicer" Tarantino or Ritchie crime comedy, with a bit of umami (ie the flavour of mushrooms) of mystery, the supernatural & existentialism.

I also found parallels with the idiosyncratic & heartwarming stories of people & places, from a past period of Oz Cinema, such as Priscilla, as I did with "Mestari Cheng/ A Spice For Life- Mater Cheng" (2019). At only halfway through the second episode, there's already a bunch of interesting shifts.

I'm not familiar enough with Finnish culture to pick up on any play on it (What, no saunas?!?), apart perhaps from a general Scandi thing of initial politeness & brevity, which pretty quickly moves to honesty &/or wit. Maybe there's some connection between Finland & Japan, with the languages sounding slightly similar to an Anglo ear, the connections with nature & both their histories being somewhat defined by being at either end of "The Bear".

Good job- ReelMedia for making it, & SBS for curating it. Leaning a bit away from the Nordic Noir & into some healthy humour works well, & has got to be more fun & genuine to do, eg the Norsk "Headhunters" (2022).

Regarding my "Review Headline"- a repeating scenario made me think of a line from an ancient & obscure "Oz Rock" song- ""Working Week" by our Spy vs Spy, circa "Crazy '88" (yes, a Kill Bill reference), but the rest of those "cooee-ed" words could also apply (you have to listen to the song, as only the sung lyrics appear online). Funnily enough the band is currently doing gigs, or perhaps you'd prefer our odder still Architecture in Helsinki.

One of the best Finnish shows I have seen since being introduced to Nordic productions about 5 years ago. The actors were superb, the storyline had mystery, humor, action, some fantasy elements and most of all, heart. The story is about man who is a specialty mushroom distributor and owner. The first scene shows him in Japan at a board meeting wooing his new potential customer. The Japanese appreciate exotic mushrooms and are willing to meet in Finland to further research the mushrooms and his business. The relationship between the Japanese CEO and the Finnish owner is a good, solid one, as each finds beauty in nature, the forest and what the earth provides for us humans. This business relationship and trust is key throughout the show while the main character experiences profound upheavals in every other aspect of his limited life. I'm being vague purposely as I hope there are others who will be intrigued enough to actually give the 4-part series a try. It's really that good!