Watch Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun is a thrilling crime drama series produced by Swedish Television (SVT) in collaboration with French television network Canal+, which premiered on October 23, 2016. Helmed by the acclaimed duo Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, the ten-episode series is set in the desolate, bleak landscape of the remote Swedish Lapland.

The show's protagonist is Kahina Zadi (Leïla Bekhti), a French detective who travels to the small village of Kiruna in Swedish Lapland to lead an investigation into the brutal murder of a French citizen. She is paired with the local prosecutor, Anders Harnesk (Gustaf Hammarsten), who is familiar with the area and its people. Although the two detectives are from different countries and have different personalities, they must work together to solve the crime.

The show is infused with a palpable sense of atmosphere and brooding tension, with the unforgiving and austere landscape of the Swedish Lapland, replete with deep forests and endless, snow-covered tundras, serving as an almost haunting backdrop to the series. The writers and directors of the show have meticulously crafted a sense of place that is both alien and starkly beautiful, evoking a sense of foreboding and isolation that perfectly complements the show's themes of violence, murder, and human alienation.

As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the murder is only the beginning of a much larger and more sinister plot. The detectives must navigate a network of intertwined and overlapping interests, including a mining company, a local Sami community who live off the land, and a religious cult that has taken root in the area. These varied plotlines are woven together with deftness and precision, and the series frequently shifts between moments of thrilling action and moments of intense character development.

One of the most striking aspects of Midnight Sun is its use of bilingualism. As Kahina and Anders work together to solve the crime, they often speak in both Swedish and French. This reflects the show's production history, with the series having been written in both languages and filmed in both Sweden and France. The bilingual dialogue adds an extra layer of complexity to the show's already dense plot, emphasizing the cultural differences between the two detectives and adding an extra layer of authenticity to the series as a whole.

The acting in Midnight Sun is superb, with Leïla Bekhti delivering a powerful, nuanced performance as the troubled and determined Kahina. Gustaf Hammarsten is equally excellent as the local prosecutor, capturing the nuances of the character's reserved and introverted personality with ease. However, the standout performances in the series come from the supporting cast, particularly Peter Stormare as Rutger Burlin, the enigmatic and ruthless CEO of the mining company, and Richard Ulfsäter as Thorndahl, the charismatic leader of the religious cult.

Despite its heavy subject matter, Midnight Sun is a visually stunning show, with each episode being framed and shot with a painterly eye for composition and detail. The cinematography is a feast for the eyes, with the show's naturalistic lighting and slow, deliberate pacing complementing the bleak and isolated setting perfectly.

The show's score, composed by Nathaniel Mechaly, is also a highlight, evoking a sense of tension and unease that perfectly meshes with the series' darker themes. The music is a perfect complement to the show's visual aesthetic, with the haunting sounds of strings and percussion underscoring the moodiness of the series.

In conclusion, Midnight Sun is a gripping and beautifully crafted crime drama that combines thrilling action and character-driven storytelling with a sumptuous visual style. With its engaging performances, diverse cast of characters, and intricate plotlines, this series is a must-watch for fans of the genre, as well as anyone who enjoys engaging and thought-provoking television.

Midnight Sun is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between October 23, 2016 and on SVT