I'd like to say first of all that I enjoyed this drama series and watched it all over a thirty six hour period. I need to say also that in a previous life, I worked with problem children too so I was watching with a slightly jaundiced eye and somewhat critically. I wish that I had been allowed the time these social workers could afford to spend the whole day on one case. I cannot believe that even in well-resourced, welfare-state Finland, two professionals would work on one file and on occasion, sit for hours by a client's hospital bed.
I also was dubious about the continued rule breaking that was either covered up by the head of department or by line managers. I also didn't find it convincing that the two leads gave out their personal phone numbers to be available all day and night to clients. However, one strand was horribly familiar to me, namely the encroachment into public services by private companies out to make a quick buck by squeezing profit and cutting corners. It's long been the norm in the UK, but I didn't know Finland was prey to these vultures.
Many of the episodes had one story about a particular client that needed the pair's help. However, there was an overarching storyline about a missing child and the resulting scandal that engulfed Rita. Some of the clients from previous episodes also had their stories followed through later although others appeared only once.
Interspersed with the events in the field were scenes of home life, both of the clients' and the social workers' families. Especially interesting were the effects the work had on the dynamics of the relationships of the latter.
I didn't guess who the baddie was, although it took a somewhat contrived meeting with them by one of the clients who was in distress for it to be revealed who it was.
I wasn't expecting the storyline and had thought it would involve caseloads and politics. The added theme involving Rita's scandal made the series much more interesting, especially when she pulled Laura into her orbit concerning it.
I don't envisage a second series, although I might be wrong; scriptwriters are far more inventive than my imagination. If it comes, I'd watch it.
