Looking for an atmospheric Scandinavian thriller to get stuck into this weekend? A gripping six-part series lands on Channel 4 on Friday (30 January), and it could just be your perfect crime drama binge.
The series, titled The Pushover, follows a North Zealand police inspector and a Copenhagen journalist as they follow separate leads on a chilling murder case.
The thriller comes to Channel 4 streaming thanks to its offshoot streaming service, Walter Presents, which highlights high-rated, award-winning foreign-language dramas hand-picked by Italian TV producer, Walter Iuzzolino. Walter knows what he's doing when it comes to gripping drama, with executive producer credits on popular shows such as Professor T, Bookish and The Couple Next Door.
© Channel 4The Pushover sounds like another gripping addition to the slate, promising plenty of deception, high-stakes drama and two compelling leads. Keep reading to find out more.
What is The Pushover about?
Based on the Nora Sand novel series by Lone Theils, the Denmark-set thriller opens when a wealthy woman is found drowned in a pool. Suspicion falls on her boyfriend, Tom, a notorious con artist and Tinder-swindler.
© Channel 4When he unexpectedly turns himself in, he admits to fraud, but insists her death was an accident. Detective Morten Stark (Morten Hauch-Fausbøll) is convinced he's lying and, lacking any hard evidence, plays a risky game to expose him.
© Channel 4Elsewhere, journalist Nora Sand (Marie Sandø) finds multiple past fraud cases against Tom while digging through a former colleague's research.
The synopsis continues: "As she and her team trace his past, they reveal a chilling secret and uncover a tangled web of deceit, exploitation and murder."
What have viewers said about the show?
The series has been described as "gripping" by viewers. One person wrote online: "This is an intelligent and quietly gripping crime drama, with a strong focus on complex, believable characters as well as a solid and carefully constructed plot. The pacing is confident and restrained, allowing the story to unfold naturally. Classic Nordic noir at its best, and a must for anyone who truly enjoys high-quality Scandinavian drama."
© Channel 4Meanwhile, a second viewer added: "It's a slow burn, but there's something poetic, almost hypnotic, that creeps under your skin as a viewer. I actually wanted to watch the first episode again - and it's remarkable how subtly it lays out the blueprint for what the story is really about.
Five more Scandi thrillers to add to your watchlist...
1/5
© Courtesy of NetflixNordic Noir fans love The Åre Murders
1. The Åre Murders – Netflix
Set in the remote ski town of Åre, the story follows police officer Hanna Ahlander (Carla Sehn), who moves there after being suspended from her job and dumped by her boyfriend.
Hanna's escape is far from a peaceful retreat in the chocolate-box landscape as she teams up with local officer Daniel Lindskog (Kardo Razzai) to work on a chilling investigation.
This Scandi series focuses on the case of a missing 17-year-old girl, which becomes increasingly complicated when a human trafficking network is uncovered in the snowy landscape.
Based on Viveca Sten's novel, this drama features all the hallmarks of Nordic noir, from cosy knitwear to a brooding atmosphere.
2/5
© Courtesy of NetflixJohan Hedenberg as Valter and Leonie Vincent as Lejla in The Glass Dome
2. The Glass Dome – Netflix
After being abducted as a young girl, Lejla (Léonie Vincent) conveniently became an expert in profiling child predators.
Now an adult, she returns to her Swedish hometown from the United States for a funeral. However, just before her return flight, she discovers her best friend Louise dead in a bathtub in what appears to be a suicide. Her friend's young daughter, Alicia, is also missing.
As Lejla stays to assist the investigation, she finds that the links between her own abduction and the present-day case are closer than she imagined.
3/5
© WireImageIda Engvoll plays Rebecka Martinsson in season one
3. Rebecka Martinsson – Amazon Prime
Widely considered one of the best Nordic noir series, the show follows high-flying lawyer Rebecka Martinsson. The corporate professional returns to her hometown of Kiruna, above the Arctic Circle, following the sudden death of a childhood friend.
Upon her arrival, Rebecka realises her friend was murdered and discovers that the townsfolk are hiding secrets.
Based on Åsa Larsson's celebrated crime novels, Rebecka must confront her traumatic past while working on the investigation with Inspector Anna-Maria Mella.
4/5
© PA Images via Getty ImagesSofie Gråbøl became famed for her woolly jumpers
4. The Killing – Channel 4
If there is one Nordic drama you must watch, The Killing is a masterclass in the genre – and made woolly jumpers cool again.
The series centres on detective Sarah Lund (Sofie Gråbøl) as she investigates the brutal murder of 19-year-old Nanna Birk Larsen in Copenhagen.
In a clever narrative twist, each episode follows one day of the investigation, drip-feeding clues and connections.
While there are two further series and a US remake, the Scandinavian original remains the definitive version.
5/5
© Photo: NetflixThe writer behind the show drew inspiration from the real-life tradition of creating chestnut dolls
5. The Chestnut Man – Netflix
The series starts with the brutal murder of an entire family on an isolated farm in 1987, setting a grisly tone.
The narrative then jumps to the present day, where another crime scene is discovered in Copenhagen alongside a figurine made of chestnuts.
Detectives Naia Thulin and Mark Hess are pulled into the investigation as they hunt for a missing politician's child. Not for the faint-hearted, the investigators must use the nutty clues to track down a serial killer.
The Pushover is available to stream on Channel 4 now.
