Young Wallander

[RockyIII]

I gave this tv show a shot mainly because it is available on Netflix in Dolby Vision.
I thought the show was decent but what baffled me is the choice of having this in English when everything takes place in Sweden. To me that totally ruined everything because the performances at times feel unnatural and the dialogues forced.
This whole thing should have been shot in the original language the cast speaks. To me that felt like trying to avoid the elephant in the kitchen, for lack of better words.

[goresnet]

Did you watch any of the original Wallander?

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by goresnet

Did you watch any of the original Wallander?

No, but after watching this I will certainly go back and watch the original show.
Again, I think the show was clever, dynamic, well produced, but an English-speaking nation of Sweden just ruined the gritty and primal atmosphere that the show had the potential of conveying

[EvaDK]

Kenneth Branagh is a huge fan of the Swedish Wallander, hence a UK version was made with him.

But the Swedish is the one to watch; the Brits can't really get the tone right and they interpret the mood of the character such that he appears overly melancholic or depressed in the UK version. Branagh's Wallander looked like a man who slept in the same clothes he wears on the job and lives in a car. Krister Henriksson played the character a lot more nuanced and subtle than that.

[marcls76]

Originally Posted by EvaDK

Kenneth Branagh is a huge fan of the Swedish Wallander, hence a UK version was made with him.

But the Swedish is the one to watch; the Brits can't really get the tone right and they interpret the mood of the character such that he appears overly melancholic or depressed in the UK version. Branagh's Wallander looked like a man who slept in the same clothes he wears on the job and lives in a car. Krister Henriksson played the character a lot more nuanced and subtle than that.

I understand why the original Swedish version would be more appreciated but I personally preferred Branagh’s version. I felt the production was superior and I thought Branagh’s performance (especially as the character developed) was outstanding. I was so disappointed with Young Wallander and had to switch it off. Wasn’t even shot in Sweden! And as it was meant to be Wallander at the start of his career, it really should have been set in the 70s or 80s which would have made it a lot more interesting. As it was, it was just another average detective drama that could have been called anything. Missed opportunity all round.

[RockyIII]

That was my point. The show was definetely shot in Sweden but the British English they speak just doesn't gel well with the atmosphere the shows wants to convey. If this is taking place in Sweden let them speak the language otherwise it feels like the city was evacuated and a bunch of Brits took over

[marcls76]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

That was my point. The show was definetely shot in Sweden but the British English they speak just doesn't gel well with the atmosphere the shows wants to convey. If this is taking place in Sweden let them speak the language otherwise it feels like the city was evacuated and a bunch of Brits took over

It was shot in Lithuania

[EvaDK]

I haven't seen any of the young Wallander, so I can't say anything about that one. But I'll give Branagh's Wallander series one big plus; he discovered Tom Hiddleston whom he would later cast as Loki in Thor and the rest is history.

Personally, I'm also a big fan of another Swedish police series, Beck with Peter Haber. The newer episodes aren't as good as the classic ones, though.

[marcls76]

Originally Posted by EvaDK

I haven't seen any of the young Wallander, so I can't say anything about that one. But I'll give Branagh's Wallander series one big plus; he discovered Tom Hiddleston whom he would later cast as Loki in Thor and the rest is history.

Personally, I'm also a big fan of another Swedish police series, Beck with Peter Haber. The newer episodes aren't as good as the classic ones, though.

Yeah, great point on Hiddleston! The only downside was, him not being in the later episodes. Too busy making big budget movies lol

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by marcls76

It was shot in Lithuania

My apologies...Either way it was not in UK and the English they speak clashes very harshely against the background and it's quite painful at times

[marcls76]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

My apologies...Either way it was not in UK and the English they speak clashes very harshely against the background and it's quite painful at times

Completely agreed! I was hoping for an authentic Swedish series when I first saw it advertised. A real shame