Television Review: The Bridge (Episodes 3 & 4)
Television Review: The Bridge (Episodes 5 & 6)
Television Review: The Bridge (Episodes 7 & 8)
I am hooked on the latest Scandinavian noir crime thriller from BBC Four. The Bridge features the most extreme pairing of “odd couple” detectives I’ve ever seen – Saga from Malmo in Sweden, and Martin from Copenhagen in Denmark. Connecting them is the Oresund Bridge, on which is found a composite female body – the top half of a Swedish politician and the bottom half of a Danish drug addict – neatly joining together the two national halves of the bridge.
Saga is single, fixated on her job, and can’t imagine any other condition. She probably lives somewhere on the autism spectrum, albeit high performance. When a potential witness is trapped inside a car booby trapped to explode, she calls him on the phone to answer questions. As you would. Bit of a pain in the arse is Saga, but she’s fascinating to watch. Her facial expressions remind me of Data from Star trek: The Next Generation when he’s confronted with a particularly odd human concept, the difference being that Data is at least prepared to consider the idea on its merits.
Martin, on the other hand is your average, slobby bloke – an overweight family man who just had a vasectomy and can’t afford to take time off work. He’s clever, though, and willing to cut corners where necessary, something that visibly shocks Saga. More importantly for their professional relationship, he doesn’t take offense, even when called upon to sit on his day-old vasectomy stitches, just because Saga is irritated by him standing up all the time.
There are also a couple of intriguing subplots. One involves Charlotte, who ruthlessly violates medical ethics to ensure a new heart for her husband, only for him to pop his clogs seconds after telling her the marriage is over. I’m not sure where it can go from there.
Then there’s Stefan the social worker, who at first I thought was the killer, since he looks like a 70s porn star and hangs out with prostitutes and drug addicts. The actual killer may be the dimly seen figure looking down on Malmo from a luxury high rise apartment. And I have high hopes of August, Martin’s asocial computer geek son, being involved in some way.
The Bridge is a slick, chilling, and intelligent drama, with a murderer who seems to be killing to highlight social and political problems, feeding a tabloid reporter links to statistics relating to the crimes. It’s also blackly funny in places, as when the bomb squad gives up on freeing the reporter from his booby trapped car and one of them shrugs, as if to say, “That’s life!” And Saga’s reactions to the weird things her colleagues do – like calling someone just to hear their voice – are very enjoyable. Can’t take my eyes off the lass.
Given that Denmark and Sweden have different cultures, I’m probably missing a whole subtext that Scandinavian viewers would pick up on quite naturally. But even without it, the intriguing plot, clean, spare production values, stunning photography, and the fascinating relationship between Saga and Martin, kept me watching.
I do understand the languages as spoken in The Bridge. However, I find the characters rather daft and unbelievable. As an example: the sex scene in episode 2: it didn’t fit into the story line at all and was totally unnecessary. I was a little disappointed as this is what programme makers put in when they’ve run out of ideas – hoping they’ll keep the viewers watching. I am sorry – but I nearly couldn’t be bothered to watch the following episodes, as I didn’t expect it to be particularly thought challenging. I did watch the next episodes – but although not as bad as I thought it could still be improved. Although reasonably good dialogue I find the acting stilted in some places.
You mean when Saga picks up the unnamed chap in the bar? She does hook up with him again in episode 5, and even learns his name (Anton). Then, in episode 6, Anton spots her across the street and looks meaningfully at her, so I suspect he’s getting worked into the plot. And the plot is expanding week by week to encompass more characters. These encounters highlight Saga’s dysfunctional and completely focused social relationships, so they’re interesting for that as well. Wish I did know Swedish and Danish to understand the nuances. As to the acting, I don’t find it stilted, except for Saga, who would naturally hold herself stiffly. She never fiddles with anything, and always carries her hands at her sides unless she’s actually using them.
Yeah…I do understand Saga’s character…only problem is…Scandinavians would never employ someone like that as a detective. They take madness very seriously
).
Her Danish colleague is quite comical though, and I can see Danish humour filtering through – and the role is played very well. Fortunately dialogue is kept short, so that those who need to read subtitles can catch up. The opening episode was good, but It’s just that the story line jars somewhat – it doesn’t hang together after that. I much prefer Wallander to this one – but I’ll see it through to the end anyway.
I believe Saga is autistic. I think it’s rather clever to put such a character in the role of a police officer and see how people around her react. Autistic people can’t read peoples’ expressions, understand sarcastic humour, are very rigid in their actions and movements – Saga displays all these attributes and more.
Autistic people usually have problems communicating with others, which is why I find Saga’s character out of place – certainly would not have been employed by the police.
As for the story line, I think a much better plot could’ve been hatched.
1. One half each of two very different women were found on the dividing line between two countries. Top a Swedish politician – bottom a Danish prostitute.
2. It’d have been more interesting if we’d learnt more about the background of each woman – how did they get to doing the jobs they did?
3. Then, finding parallels, eventually converging, to give a picture of how women are perceived in society, and how they are used by men, regardless of status.
I know a woman who left her business employment and started her own business – primarily because as she said – she did all the work, while the man took the money, thereby ‘pimping’ on her. I have seen it all the time – there’s a lot of material to draw from this kind of scenario. Make the story line and plots more of a ‘brainer’ and leave out the dreadful sex scenes, which are totally unnecessary and doesn’t leave much to the imagination.
I thought this was an exceptional drama made all the better for not succumbing to the conventional style of ending. I thought Saga was brilliant and Firefly (last person to comment) has it wrong, I’m afraid, the Scandanavians do employ people on the autistic spectrum within the Police. Be careful about your language. Autistic people are not mad, but working in that environment would probably send you in that direction, it’s true to say. Anyway, we need more quality drama like this. Well done BBC for showing it.
Well said Lisa
I have no little niggles about this exciting drama. I love Saga and it is refreshing to have a character who is so unfeeling, cold, and who can’t understand the social niceties that some are obsessed with. It is also strange for me to watch something with sub-titles but I don’t find it a hindrance at all.
It’s a little unfair to call her unfeeling and cold, Pam. She is quite clearly affected by Asperger’s Syndrome – which is quite an interesting touch from the writers. The first giveaway was her offering the breath freshener to Martin in one of the early scenes and the more obvious signs such as her reluctance to break rules, observe social niceties and, quite , where she picks the guy up in the bar without making any pretence as to what she wanted, I’m not sure that this would prevent her from being a detective; in some ways it could be an advantage, although I agree that, she would be a complete pain to work with. I’m rather enjoying it, overall.
By the way, apologies for the terrible grammar and punctuation in my comment above; this page is rather bright, isn’t it?
They have portrayed saga as having AS very crudely but missed out the main emotion she would feel if she had AS which is anxiety and fear of unpredictably which is why this does not add up.
who can tell me who does the music for the titles on ‘The Bridge’?
Hi!!! I just found it today : “Hollow Talk” by Choir Of Young Believers
Great song
What are the words? I can only make out the odd phrase
The Choir of Young Believers, a band from Copenhagen. Fits the show perfectly.
Do you suppose the facial scars that have become evident in the last two episodes below Saga’s nose are real or are they going to be worked into a future storyline?
She had a bicycle accident in her early twenties, which badly marked her face. They are absolutely genuine.
Ah, I was wondering that…so I wasn’t the only one who noticed!! Has she ever changed her clothes (apart from in the office in Ep. 1)?
I think the scar is her own – I’ve seen something like it in other photos of Sofia Helin. Saga probably has many identical sets of clothes, since it wouldn’t be rational to buy anything different when you’ve found something you like. Do you remember Jeff Goldblum’s character in The Fly? When he opened his wardrobe there was a row of identical suits.
Those with A S are not interested in fashion. Clothes feel uncomfortable. I wear my clothes like a uniform…same sets worn always. I abhor shopping for clothes and I dislike tight clothes and patterns near my face.
Any idea where I can find the ringtone used by the main characters?
Nice blog. I’m hooked too, an amazingly atmospheric thriller.
Thank you. I’m enjoying your blog as well. Not What You Expected looked very entertaining. There’s not much theatre in Kintyre, more’s the pity.
Only 2 episodes left, I have absolutely loved this series!! Getting this silly nervous feeling, what am I going to watch after The Bridge?????????????????????
There is to be a sequel, according to this interview with Sofia Helin.
Agree with you, the feeling of what is comming after is a funny one
Yes, found out today!
And DVD will be out on 21.5 .12 !!!!!!
Thank You for the link. I can’t wait until Saturday, now that I know there is more to come, in 2013
can anyone tell me who the theme music for The Bridge is by?
the choir of yu believers found this on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFQ6XgvX3Qo
sorry that should say ‘young’
believers
Brilliant! what a treat after The Killing and Borgen. Not sure why i should like these Scandinavian dramas but I do. The music is haunting and Sofia Helin (saga) plays her autistic role just great.
Thanks BBC for non pleb TV.
Another link for the theme
Was really looking forward to the last two episodes but what a disappointment. It was almost like they didn’t know how to end it. All those strands – what happened to Sven the social worker? How on earth did the killer manage to either brick up a wall or plaster an entire wall in the garage in such little time? Help……!
I thought the ending was brilliant. Jens had plenty of time to construct August’s coffin because he had it all planned out beforehand – he just had to deliver August. Saga spotted the architectural drawings in his basement. Stefan was arrested for the murder of Soren.
Saga is one of the most original creations I’ve come across in years. For a region noted for its gloominess the writer has taken a character with a ‘disorder’ and made them intelligent and independent, but also accidentally hilarious because she relates the facts as they are and in whatever situation she finds herself. The concept of tact is alien to her as it would be to someone who demarcates her world into fact/fiction; truth/lies. The plot can be traced back to several recent story lines (Seven is immediately apparent) nevertheless the treatment is far better constructed than the first series of ‘The Killing’ for example, which despite having another womdrous central female character, did tend to go round the houses in an attempt to spin the plot out over 20 episodes. One does wonder how much the Scandanavians are paying for this quality drama. They are surely getting better value that we are for £145 a year from the dreadful stuff (Sherlock excepted) emanating from the BBC writer’s room.
The first and last episodes were excellent, with regard to originality – I just wish the middle had been too, but the story line right through was muddled and difficult to follow – even when you do understand the languages. Again, Saga’s character was unrealistic, and although I’m sure people with her personality problem are working in all sorts of communal offices, NHS and the like, in this country – she’d not have held a position as a police officer/detective in the Scandinavian countries – nor this country, come to think of it. A lot more realism could have been spun from the original idea.
I think you will find we are in all aspects of employment…me…???…I worked in Occupational Therapy.
Jane Austen, 1775-1817, English novelist, author of Pride and Prejudice
Béla Bartók, 1881-1945, Hungarian composer
Bobby Fischer, 1943-2008, World Chess Champion
Michelangelo, 1475 1564 – Italian Renissance artist
Erik Satie, 1866-1925 – Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1827, German/Viennese composer
Alexander Graham Bell, 1847-1922, Scottish/Canadian/American inventor of the telephone
Anton Bruckner , 1824-1896, Austrian composer
Henry Cavendish, 1731-1810, English/French scientist, discovered the composition of air and water
Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886, US poet
Thomas Edison, 1847-1931, US inventor
Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German/American theoretical physicist
Seth Engstrom, 1987-Present, Magician and World Champion
Henry Ford, 1863-1947, US industrialist
Benjamin Franklin,1706-1790, US polictician/writer
Kaspar Hauser, c1812-1833, German foundling, portrayed in a film by Werner Herzog
Oliver Heaviside, 1850-1925, English physicist
Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, US politician
Carl Jung, 1875-1961, Swiss psychoanalyst
Franz Kafka, 1883-1924, Czech writer
Wasily Kandinsky, 1866-1944, Russian/French painter
Abraham Lincoln,1809-1865, US Politician
H P Lovecraft, 1890-1937, US writer
Ludwig II, 1845-1886, King of Bavaria
Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1868-1928, Scottish architect and designer
Gustav Mahler, 1860-1911, Czech/Austrian composer
Marilyn Monroe, 1926-1962, US actress
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791, Austrian composer
Isaac Newton, 1642-1727, English mathematician and physicist
Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher
Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British logician
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish playwright, writer of Pygmalion, critic and Socialist
Richard Strauss, 1864-1949, German composer
Nikola Tesla, 1856-1943, Serbian/American scientist, engineer, inventor of electric motors
Henry Thoreau, 1817-1862, US writer
Alan Turing, 1912-1954, English mathematician, computer scientist and cryptographer
Mark Twain, 1835-1910, US humorist
Vincent Van Gogh, 1853-1890, Dutch painter
George Washington, 1732-1799, US Politician
Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Viennese/English logician and philosopher
Virginia Woolf, 1882-1941, English Writer
Isaac Asimov, 1920-1992, Russian/US writer on science and of science fiction, author of Bicentennial Man
Hans Asperger, 1906-1980, Austrian paediatric doctor after whom Asperger’s Syndrom is named
John Denver, 1943-1997, US musician
Glenn Gould, 1932-1982, Canadian pianist
Jim Henson, 1936-1990, creator of the Muppets, US puppeteer, writer, producer, director, composer
Alfred Hitchcock, 1899-1980, English/American film director
Howard Hughes, 1905-1976, US billionaire
Andy Kaufman, 1949-1984, US comedian, subject of the film Man on the Moon
L S Lowry, 1887-1976, English painter of “matchstick men”
Charles Schulz, 1922-2000, US cartoonist and creator of Peanuts and Charlie Brown
Andy Warhol, 1928-1987, US artist
Tony Benn, 1925-, English Labour politician
Pip Brown “Ladyhawke”, 1979-, New Zealand Singer/Songwriter, Musician
Charles Dickinson, 1951, US Writer
Bob Dylan, 1941-, US singer-songwriter
Joseph Erber, 1985-, young English composer/musician who has Asperger’s Syndrome, subject of a BBC TV documentary
Bill Gates, 1955-, US global monopolist
Genie, 1957-?, US “wild child” (see also L’Enfant Sauvage, Victor, )
Crispin Glover, 1964-, US actor
Al Gore, 1948-, former US Vice President and presidential candidate
Jeff Greenfield, 1943-, US political analyst/speechwriter, a political wonk
David Helfgott, 1947-, Australian pianist, subject of the film Shine
Garrison Keillor, 1942-, US writer, humorist and host of Prairie Home Companion
Paul Kostabi 1962-, writer, comedian, artist, producer, technician
Kevin Mitnick, 1963-, US “hacker”
John Motson, 1945-, English sports commentator
John Nash, 1928-, US mathematician (portrayed by Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind, USA 2001)
Keith Olbermann, 1959-, US sportscaster
Michael Palin, 1943-, English comedian and presenter
Oliver Sacks, 1933-, UK/US neurologist, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings
James Taylor, 1948-, US singer/songwriter
Robin Williams, 1951-, US Actor
Jamie Hyneman, 1956-, Co-host of Mythbusters
Seth Engstrom, 1987-, Magician and World Champion in Sleight of Hand. The best man with a deck of cards that the world has ever seen.
Amy Lee
Richard Pearse (First to fly a plane),
Dr Janet Frame (Famed Authoress),
Charles de Gaulle (Great French warzhyphenztime/peacezhyphenztime leader/President),
T E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) (British leader of Arab Revolt against Turks),
Captain Matthew Webb (First to swim the English Channel),
Satoshi Tajiri (Pokemon Inventor – formal diagnosis),
Dan Aykroyd (Leading Musician/Comedian, Blues Bros – formal diagnosis?),
Alfred Hitchcock (Horror-movie Sub-genre Creator),
Bobby Fischer (Greatest Chess Player Ever),
Daniel Tammet (Smartest Man Alive Today – formal diagnosis),
Les Murray (Greatest Living English Writer/Poet Alive – self diagnosis),
Gary Numan (Greatest Industrial Synch-pop Musician Ever),
Craig Nicholls (Lead singer of top Australian group The Vines – formal diagnosis).
John Couch Adams
Joy Adamson
Hans Christian Andersen
Sherwood Anderson
Archimedes of Syracuse
Hans Asperger
Julian Assange
W. H. Auden
Sir A.J. Ayer
Dan Aykroyd CM
Charles Babbage FRS
Stefan Banach
Syd Barrett / Roger Barrett
Béla Bártok
Daisy Bates
Samuel Beckett
Ludwig van Beethoven
David Bellamy OBE
Jeremy Bentham
Richard Borcherds
Robert Boyle
Gordon Brown
Anton Bruckner
Warren Buffett
Tim Burton
David Byrne
Lewis Carroll
Augustin Louis Cauchy
Henry Cavendish
King Charles XII of Sweden
Bruce Chatwin
Bram Cohen
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Marie Curie
Helen Dale / Darville / Demidenko
Henry Darger
Charles Darwin
“Dibs”
Emily Dickinson
Paul Dirac OM FRS
Greg Egan
Albert Einstein FRS
Robert Emmet
Paul Erdos
Robert “Bobby” Fischer
Tim Fischer AC FTSE
Sir Ronald Aylmer Fisher FRS
Henry Ford
Janet Frame ONZ CBE
Rosalind Franklin
Evariste Galois
Bill Gates
Antoni Gaudi
Charles de Gaulle
Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss
Kurt Godel
Major-General Charles George Gordon CB
Glenn Gould
Temple Grandin
Sir William Rowan Hamilton
Daryl Hannah
G. H. Hardy
John Hartford
Hermann Hesse
Patricia Highsmith
David Hilbert
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Edward Hopper
John Howard (1726-1790)
Peter Howson
Stonewall Jackson
Thomas Jefferson
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Irene Joliot-Curie
Sir Keith Joseph CH PC
James Joyce
Wassily Kandinsky
Leo Kanner
Immanuel Kant
Andy Kaufman
Alfred Kinsey
Stanley Kubrick
Ladyhawke / Pip Brown
Paul Laffoley
Joseph Louis Lagrange
Oscar Levant
Charles Lindbergh
Nikolai Lobachevsky
Deborah Locke
Courtney Love
H. P Lovecraft
L.S. Lowry
James Clerk Maxwell FRS
Darius McCollum
Herman Melville
Gregor Mendel
Michelangelo
Reg Mombassa / Christopher O’Doherty
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein KG GCB DSO PC
Caiseal Mor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Les Murray
John F. Nash Jr.
Craig Newmark
Sir Isaac Newton FRS
Craig Nicholls
Nico / Christa Paffgen
Moe Norman
Gary Numan
George Orwell
Patrick Pearse
Grigori Perelman
King Philip II of Spain
Henri Poincare
Enoch Powell MBE
Willard Van Orman Quine
Srinivasa Ramanujan
Charles Richter
Bernhard Riemann
Paul Robeson
Peter Mark Roget FRS
Bertrand Russell
Carl Sagan
Erik Satie
Solomon Shereshevskii
William Shockley
Boris Sidis
William James Sidis
Adam Smith
Vernon L. Smith
Socrates
Spinoza
Richard Stallman
Lawrence Summers
Screaming Lord Sutch / David Sutch
Jonathan Swift
Satoshi Tajiri
Daniel Tammet
Nikola Tesla
Henry David Thoreau
Alan Turing
J. M. W. Turner
Maurice Utrillo
Eamon de Valera
Michael Ventris
Louis Wain
Robert Walser
Andy Warhol
John B. Watson
Simone Weil
Orson Welles
Herbert G. Wells
Opal Whiteley
Norbert Wiener
Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Jack B. Yeats
W. B. Yeats
Bill Gates
Oh, well, so there is ‘madness’ in all of us – which probably explains why the World is as it is!
Interesting and surprising list, with some of my favourite people on it. Jane Austen in particular, who I would love to have met. Where’s a time machine when you need it most?
Yet another successful Scandinavian thriller. It didn’t really disappoint me. The realisation of what the the villain was actually aiming to do was, I thought, well controlled until Saga’ moment of realisation. I found the professional relationship between the two central characters was excellent and did much to help the working of the plot. Both central characters were interestingly dysfunctional and this contributed much to my enjoyment. Like one of your earlier contributors, I wonder why we cannot have similar quality British drama regularly on our screens. Too much money spent on programmes like The Voice perhaps?
I’m inclined to agree. “Reality” and talent shows are the lowest form of televisual entertainment. That said, I loved Maestro, about 4 untrained slebs vying to conduct opera. But they were actually competent and opera is brilliant.
Best series I have seen for years.I only watch programmes on iplayer.
I think I will start watching danish tv and I dont suppose they buy much from bbc.
I think the water and the urban landscape play as large a role as Saga and Martin. (I do wonder whether the place is as empty as its portrayed.) Music matches the atmosphere perfectly too. Loved everything about the series.
I really enjoyed this series. I have mild AS and it upset me to see Saga doing and saying things that I do…and watching the reaction from people as she walked away. I’m sure this has happened to me but to watch it on screen was sad. My Husband,Bertie, kept saying ” you do that “…or laughing when she said something inappropriate in public….it takes all sorts…he means well. Roll on the next series.
;o)
Some of the stuff she came out with made me laugh out loud. Refreshing honesty.
I guess it’s like looking at someone who has Touretts.?…” funny ” to look at but a bugger to live with.
;o)
No, not laughing at her, laughing with her honesty and forthrightness. I like Saga.
Fantastic series and Saga was just brilliant, bringing a touch of humour to what was a rather dark tale. I do think though that the end slipped as August was shown lying in his coffin and kicking at the base but when it was dug out of the wall it was upright. And was there really time to built it into that wall? Still a great show and look forward to seeing more.
Yes this series has been spellbinding and I was heartened to read that there may be a sequel but horrified that the Americans may make it. Please tell me this is incorrect info.
Here’s the relevant bit from the Sofia Helin interview.
I read that as saying the sequel set to start filming in October will be a proper Scandinavian Noir with Sofia playing Saga, but there’s a possibility of UK/French adaptation with a different actor. Thankfully it doesn’t mention a US adaptation – that would be the kiss of death. And I certainly wouldn’t watch it without Sofia. Her portrayal of Saga is the heart of the drama.
Can’t wait for the next series – Saturday nights won’t be quite the same. If any French/Uk adaptaion was as gripping as “Engrenages”, Spirale in Uk version – it could be quite something.
I was really saddened when Saga heard that her understanding boss was moving on and that a new manager (I don’t know Swedish police rankings) was to be appointed.
I felt her loneliness and isolation with the loss of her protector. Great series.
A wonderful wonderful spellbinding series however some inconsitencies towards the end. Did any one else get the impression that Jens shot Saga in the HEAD and top left shoulder at Martin’s house. It was just about fesaible she could carry on from the shoulder wound – but in the head? Also after she returned to work she kept dabbing at a wound on her lower right stomach – where did this come from?
I saw first a stomach, then a shoulder wound. The stomach wound missed all the vital organs so she was able to continue with painkillers.
Did I miss something regarding Stefan Lindberg. Was it only that his sister was raped by the other dodgy coppers and that he murdered that other chap. Who was the other chap and what was the relevance of him/his wife that Stefan rehoused?…
I don’t know if Sonja was raped – at least I don’t remember that being mentioned. Stefan spirited Veronika and her child/children (?) away to a house in the country to get them away from Soren, her abusive, drug addict husband. It was Soren who attacked Stefan in his flat, and Stefan killed him.
That’s great thanks but why in the story?
What’s the relevance to the main story?
I’m all for subplots but they need to tie in somewhere
I think for a couple of reasons. Stefan was the prime suspect for a while, due to his contacts with the homeless, and he represents the “moral murderer.” As opposed to Jens, for all his fake concern with social problems. Stefan really does care, as shown by his devotion to his newly-found sister, and his determination to give Veronika the chance of a decent life away from Soren.
Indeed – why in the story? This is why I say – the middle was a muddle.
Sounds like a great series. I don’t think it has been on Australian television. We are always so far behind the UK.
I was hooked from the start – my first Scandi Noir. Well worth getting the DVD. I’m sorry for giving away the ending, though I watched them all again with equal enjoyment to pick up the clues and subtleties I missed first time round.