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.

As a special forces soldier, I find the series excellent. Aki is the Man. The criticism has been so inferior that this becomes a success. Few dare to present characters as stereotypes. A traditional officer is a traditional officer. Now there are also those women. Today there are women in the army. You'd think it would do. And there are also immigrants. You'd think that would do too. Fortunately, the audience decides. I'm sure the Defense Forces have been happy to help. Critics criticize and soldiers fight. That's the difference. Congratulations Finland 107 years! This is a good reminder to be ready. Not with a keyboard but with a gun.

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!

Got me hooked from the first episode! Surreal to watch coming from a Finnish perspective. Really makes you think about the turbulent world we live in nowadays and what you appreciate the most in your day to day life.

Loved the inside jokes, that open especially to the Finnish population and people familiar with the Finnish society and system. Also great way to learn something about Finnish security for the viewers new to Finland.

Lots of Finnish military technology on show, which makes the series every mil-tech geeks daydream! The Defense forces presence in training the cast shows as well put together action in the excercise and action scenes.

This was a relevant series to the times. Finland has changed, Finlandisation is no more. The policies of Kekkonen and others have been trashed in the new reality. The series revealed this decisively and showed that there were still relics of a bygone age. Prime Minister Kai Laavakura hadn't grasped the fundamentals of the shift and wanted to negotiate, even illicitly treating with shadowy forces. President Linnea Saaristo has "got it", despite her inexperience, and takes a firm grip on the situation despite exposure to realpolitik in the shape of a disinterested United States.

Set pieces were extremely well done and realistic. However, the kill ratio between the Finnish conscripts and troops against professional mercenaries was exaggerated and strained credulity.

I loved the scenes of the army on the streets of Helsinki, a city I know and love. One of the final scenes was of a tank by the statue of Marshal Mannerheim which seemed appropriate and a wake for a dead soldier portrayed the drink the Marshal immortalised.

Access to other state buildings was granted such as the Presidentinlinna and Eduskuntatalo. I used to live in Finland and it was so warming to see the old streets I used to know so well. I was rooting for the President all the way.

This might be a niche interest but I would still recommend this to an international audience. It's a timely reminder of what might happen after the disaster of Ukraine and the non--attributable warfare originally used there in the Crimea. We live in perilous times.