CHECK OUT “THE BRIDGE”
By FITSNEWS || The Öresund Bridge is a 7,845-foot dual carriageway road and rail bridge that spans most of the Öresund Strait between Malmo, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark. It’s the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe, and one of the most beautiful cable-stayed bridges in the world.
It’s also the focal icon of the Scandinavian crime drama The Bridge – which debuted in Sweden and Denmark in the fall of 2011 (the first season of which is now available for streaming on Hulu).
The Bridge begins with the mysterious placement of a dead body in the center of the Öresund span – smack dab on the border of the two countries. The ensuing police investigation into the murder – conducted jointly by Danish and Swedish investigators – gradually unmasks a suspect with far more than one killing on his mind.
We’ve watched plenty of crime dramas … from plenty of different countries (Great Britain’s Luther is among our favorites). And while we haven’t quite completed the first ten-episode season of The Bridge , we can already say it’s one of the best things we’ve ever watched on television. Or on any screen.
Beginning with the opening credit reel focusing on the iconic bridge itself (set to Choir of Young Believers’ song “Hollow Talk”), The Bridge offers as its backdrop an unflinching and grimly gorgeous look at industrial, mechanized life in these two Nordic metropolises – where everything seems cold and hauntingly distant.
Beyond the cinematography, the plot and character development – notably the interplay between lead investigators Saga Norén (Sofia Helen) and Martin Rhode (Kim Bodnia) – is masterfully executed. In addition to the expertly timed tension and release of the murder investigation itself – the evolution of these two lead investigators (and their relationship with each other) is gripping.
Norén, for example, displays symptoms of Asperger syndrome – while Rhode is constantly conflicted due to failings in his personal life (issues which gradually begin to seep into the investigation). Bottom line? The depth of their exchanges with each other and those around them – including the mysterious perpetrator of the crime – put to shame anything we’ve ever seen on American television.
Speaking of, there was an American spinoff of the show … but it lasted only two seasons before FX canceled it.
Tired of flipping channels and finding nothing worth watching? Subscribe to Hulu and check out The Bridge …
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20 comments
An article about what you binged watched this weekend. Really?
Great! So yous’ guys don’ watch euro-trash TV?
How about a special column (like Liz”s) for the review of entertainment … cops & robbers, spy v. spy, comedy or what not. The video jungle is just that.
Why you dissing Honey Boo Boo dawg?
Don’t make me bitch slap you with a can of Bud.
Damn! I thought this was going to be about the Ravenel Bridge, and presenting lots of sex, violence, nude females, drama, comedy, politics, and so forth — all showcasing local “talent” such as commentators on Fitsnews. In fact, I had a lightning flash that … oh, well, it was just a thought (sigh)…..
Mmmm … might make a good tv movie … Got a script? No? Then write one, I would bet it would be interesting, maybe even profitable for you.
(Scripts for movies and TV series seldom run past 100 pages. Sex and violence sells, ditto poli-wog corruption … )
Well, a good thought, although I’m not a proponent of sex and violence – at least not together. That’s why I try to get my violence over with by 6 pm….
See? You do have it to write interesting stuff off the cuff … Could you string together 20, 30 paragraphs of it? Then turn it into a video oriented outline? … Then …?
So “Bones” with subtitles.
Thanks for the recommendation. I just finished watching Justified on Amazon Prime so I need something new to watch. I also heard that Broadchurch, a British crime series that just became available on Netflix, is a great series.
Check out Peaky Blinders on Netflix. Good stuff.
It’s in English, btw.
More important story: WHO is the “If you’re shy, don’t click here” babe that keeps showing up on the page, with the ginormous boobs, great legs, and what appears to be grey hair?
I need to get to the bottom of that.
Perhaps Taylor can submit an essay on those ads after viewing every one. Newer ones keep “popping up” each week.
That particular one pops up every time for me. The girl in that ad wants me, bad. And I can be just as bad as she wants. ;)
JK. I know what that shit’s alll about, and I don’t click.
I’m now waiting for that one to show up for me — and it’s on YOUR recommendation…
The Bridge series has been cancelled.
If popularity keeps apace, it will come back.
Thought that would happen when “The Killings” got cancelled.. That series was full of suspense and mixed emotions.
That’s the Americanized version. The original Swede/Dane production is still going. In both Swedish and English versions.
Will check it out,but I prefer comedies.I’m still watching reruns of Reno 911