Stella Blómkvist

I can't believe that I rated this so highly, but I wound up loving it. Despite being extremely cynical, it's too over-the-top and too post-modern to be noir. Stella, the protagonist, is a piece of work. One has to look very closely and snatch at a few brief moments to find any redeeming qualities in her at all. The police, politicians and financial elite aren't any better. Occasionally, I'll read a review off something complaining that there were no likeable or admirable characters. If you have that issue, this is NOT a show for you! Stella is likeable, but only in a very nasty way, as she wreaks havoc among her friend (singular) and acquaintances. She frequently breaks the fourth wall and talks to the audience, with scenes inserted that display what she's talking about. Sometimes characters in those scenes look straight at the audience and smile. The show has a very dark sense of humor, and if people get what they deserve, it's by accident. It's very stylishly filmed. It's a hoot. imdb seems to think that a 2nd season is in the works, but gives no details. I really hope that's the case. Streams on Sundance Now in the US, which is how I bumbled into it.

She does everything wrong: as a young lady smoking in public places, drinking (rather expensive in Iceland) whisky, getting herself in every impossible situation you can think of. The openings scene is not for children or for very prudent people. But if you are neither you will love Stella Blomkvist. Watch it, you get your moneys worth. I hope there will be a second season!

This is a 6-part television series (the duration of each episode is around 45 minutes), directed by a young, talented Icelandic director, Óskar Thór Axelsson (''I Remember You'', ''Trapped'', ''Black's Game'') and having Heida Reed, in the role of the protagonist, Stella Blomkvist. Stella is a big-shot lawyer in today's Reykjavik which seems to have the same problems as every major European capital does. Each story is completed in two episodes, so -in total- there are three separate stories linked by a common plot thread which involves corrupt politicians, tabloid scandals and the forbidden videos hidden in the ''blue bag'' which everybody wants to possess, but only Stella knows its whereabouts.

Stella's character is a tough as nails, dynamic counselor who is always chasing the big cases, both for the prestige and the money. She doesn't mind bending the rules when that is what's demanded but she is far from immoral, as she seems to have a rather strict set a principles and a clear as well as unambiguous sense of right and wrong. As a result, Stella is a sympathetic character who manages to win the audience from the first episode, but this show is lacking strong secondary characters who would help the stories to seem more plausible and be more engaging. The ''bad'' characters are nearly caricatures, or at best, they are one-dimensional and exist for the sole purpose of moving the plot forward. The pacing of the show is fast and effective and the editing is worthy of a special mention. The stories themselves, though being entertaining, are a far cry from the high standards of the best Nordic Noir television productions.

Overall, I cannot say that it is a show that I wouldn't recommend, but there are a lot of flaws in this Icelandic production. If you expect the quality and brilliance of other Icelandic series such as ''Trapped'' you will definitely be disappointed. If you are looking for a crime show that is easy to watch and equally easy to forget, then you should take a chance and watch this.

Heida Reed got a part in the new procedural FBI International which I watched and I'd never seen her before so checked this out. Very watchable series and the obligatory plot twists are never too obvious. The Icelandic scenery was novel, and I half expected Stella to be kidnapped and taken to an active volcano or something for interrogation, but that never happened. Well worth a watch.

This is an entertainment! Right ? And fiction. Right? And ironic. Right? Just enjoy it. 😁