naletof

Anno 1790 (2011)

Mediocre

I was quite thrilled when I saw that SVT was producing a new historical series. I had "Gustav den III:s äktenskap" (The Marriage of Gustav III) fresh in mind, also an SVT-production, which was brilliant. This time, however, I was left disappointed. There is nothing wrong with costumes, sets, lights, or special make-up - (this the makers guarantee by repeatedly showing us close-ups of bloody wounds). But the acting performances are very mixed and the script is quite poor.

We meet Johan Gustav Dåådh, physician and freethinker. Fresh from war he returns home to Stockholm to soon find himself caught up in a crime mystery he successfully solves. He then becomes appointed commissar and solves a new case in each episode. It seems like the makers became so caught up in the year 1790 that they failed to think of a good storyline or come up with interesting and intelligent criminal cases. Because if it wouldn't have the splendour and exotic feel of times passed, the series - as a crime series - wouldn't live long today. The crimes are not very engaging and the persons who turn out to be the perpetrators are not very surprising, not to say obvious. So after one or to episodes the pattern is set. The clever Dåådh always finds the answers (haven't we seen this character before?) and his attempt to fight for human rights at the same time, his 'unusual' method of questioning suspects without torturing them, is a bit like knocking at an open door for today's audiences. All these things put together fails in the end to wake any kind of excitement in the viewer.

As I said before, the acting performances are mixed in quality. You have both really good actors playing along with poorer ones. Peter Eggers, who plays Johan Gustav Dåådh, is acceptable, but I would say it takes more than that to pull off a leading role. Johan H:son Kjellgren (police chief Wahlstedt), Linda Zilliacus (his wife) Richard Turpin (police assistant Nordin) on the other hand give all quite good performances. There are also prominent Swedish actors guest starring and this, of course, raises the level.

One thing that probably sets this series apart from other Swedish ones is perhaps that there is a bit more blood and violence than usual. But I don't know if that is a good thing.