Konflikti

Seen one episode in but it already feels just like an unbelievable commercial for the Finnish defence forces. Unnecessary sex scene, wannabe edgy president that you can't take seriously after her first scene and so much of unimportant idling makes me think that is there even a story behind all of this.

At least it looks quite good. The military equipment provided by the Finnish defence forces are authentic which gives some realness to this lame and stoic story. Peter Franzén is the standout as the other main lead in the series and gives a good performance as a Finnish military staff member. Hopefully the rest of the series will be better.

Update:

Quite surprised by the later episodes (4 and 5) the tension is really there and all the corny, cringe and boring scenes are gone. It's not a perfect show by any means but much better than the start.

Terribly sorry, but even the premise: that a few paratroopers could accomplish anything of military or territorial value, and that foreign military equipment and soldiers could "slip ashore" from "Venezuelan" ships unnoticed, is stupid and unrealistic. Even more strange, no plausible motive is given for why a "foreign force" would take this action, which in real life only could lead to said force being thrown back into the sea in record time. This unrealistic premise is then combined with the nowadays requisite and formulaic "conflicts" amongst soldiers and political leaders, and some totally unnecessary sex scenes. Apart from some refreshing exceptions, the acting is most often wooden, probably because of the likewise stilted writing. Even seasoned, normally competent actors can't seem to get it together. Like everyone is satisfied with the first take. To top it all off, the music score feels uninspired, and curiously detached from events rolling by. Production values are sometimes pretty good, but really feel wasted on this drawn out series (two episodes would have been enough).

An interesting premise that is perhaps not that far removed from real life. Mostly english language, it even has some Americans in the otherwise finnish cast.

The first few episodes do a good job of building a sense of confusion on the ground and in senior government circles. The conclusion however is a bit of an anti-climax.

Only has a small cast, the Finnish landscape is gorgeous, photography is good, the acting is pretty limited, I imagine it was made on a small budget and seemed to rely on stock footage for things like warships, aircraft were mostly absent. Overall, it feels more like a documentary than a drama.

The show is a breath of fresh air for military and political dramas. It skips the Hollywood tropes where people take gunshots and keep fighting like superheroes. Here, the weapons and their effects feel real and grounded, making the stakes hit harder.

The conscripts are exactly how you'd expect them to be-regular young people, not elite commandos with picture-perfect execution. And seeing them represented is refreshing since most shows focus on elite units and their over-the-top personal drama. The politicians, too, are spot-on, acting just as self-serving and calculating as you'd imagine.

The portrayal of the opponent (likely Russia, though it's not confirmed yet) is chillingly realistic. The propaganda, manipulation, and subtle plays to exploit the Finnish society feel all too plausible and add an extra layer of tension.

At times, the dialogue can feel stiff, especially in the situation room, almost like watching an amateur play. But honestly, that might just be what it's actually like-people under pressure saying what they need to without worrying about sounding polished. The military's formal Finnish (kirjakieli) adds to the authenticity, even if it's not the most natural for a viewer.

All in all, Conflict gets a solid 9/10 from me. It's fresh, timely, and incredibly engaging. If you're into realistic military dramas, this is absolutely worth your time!

Aku Louhimies offers well-written TV-entertainment. The realism surprises - these are the threat images that Finland has been preparing for for years. The Ukrainian crisis made this more real. Every Finnish reservist will surely recognize the series' attempt to respect realism. The story is written from the perspective of a Finnish soldier. It's delightful. This is not traditional American war imagery, but offers a view of how Europe wants to deal with these issues. Definitely worth of watching!

Although the characters are a bit stereotypical, their actions are enjoyable to watch. At the time of writing this review, the series has progressed to its fifth episode. The battle scenes have already become more intense. Hopefully, the sixth episode will maintain this intensity. I believe that a fairly large budget has been spent on the series. It is reflected in the production in a good way. A lot of defense forces equipment has been included and even Swedish Gripen fighters.

It would be really nice if the series also gained international exposure. I believe that Finland's position on the world map - on Russia's neighbor - makes this series great to watch all over the world.