Flateyjargátan

Out of the excellent dramas to come out of Iceland this is the worst ever

More of the mystery genre, than the thriller genre, but contains several of the scandinoir elements, like a female main actor and and a contemporary theme (female emancipation). The series illustrates beautifull icelandic landscape, the local daily stressless way of living. 4 episodes is just enough to get you acquainted with the environment and the stoiry. Not the best in its genre, but still a good series.

I didn't mean to say "enigmatic" in my title there - I just thought it would look terribly good but I've undermined it now by writing this. I hope you can forgive me, I'm new to all this.

Flateyjargátan has little to do with the Icelandic sagas historically - and apparently bears only scant relation to the book on which it is based. Rather, the whole thing has been turned into a character piece and a commentary on female agency. Frankly, I'm way on board with that and I love Iceland so I was already up for it.

The setting is 1970s rural Iceland for the most part, so you get beautiful scenery and there's a lovely earthy colour palette running through it all. The cast are tremendously good - and all hands play it well. The uninitiated to the grim and stoic world of "scandi noir" (inaccurately named as it is here) will likely find the pace and tone quite overbearing but it's only four hours all in so it didn't crush me to death which I value. Special mention to the wonderful title sequence as well - a 3d animated bit of medieval manuscript art that is genuinely very beautiful.

It's no masterpiece, but it is a characterful and atmospheric slab of historic mystery and has a special place for me as whatever the Icelandic equivalent is for what we'd call a foreigner that loves British culture "Anglophile". "Isophile"? That sounds terrible. Forget I said anything.

This was a who-done-it wrapped up with social issues, an ancient riddle and moral dilemmas. Set amongst stunning scenery but also in very austere backdrop of remote Icelandic life it was compelling. Four episodes was just about right. It is not slick or glamourous, but far better than Shetland, for instance, which is the only comparison I can make with a a UK drama.

The story started promising with a beutifull environment but unfortunately after the first episode it´s boring to watch. Bad acting (especially the policeman from Reykjavik) and a stupid story with very unlogical people. Too black and white acting by many of the actors . Could have a been a good story but did not becouse of the annoying stupid and simple script!