User reviews

After a couple of episodes I'm really enjoying this series. There are some interesting lively characters, a great mystery & fascinating plot lines. Cinematography is good, nice production values, good acting and the subtitles flow without feeling stilted or intrusive. The lead female is stunningly pretty (almost distractingly & unrealistically so) but contrasts nicely with all the truly scruffy, realistically unattractive blokes around her LOL On the down side, it all seems a little disjointed but I suspect that will lessen later as the story unfolds and disparate story lines are drawn together. I will return to this review when I've finished the series & update it but I saw there was only 1 review for this intriguing show and thought it deserved more. Unlike the other reviewer, I am not a fan of True Detective and don't find it a "benchmark" for anything other than how NOT to make a mystery, crime series. But both of us seem to think this series is good so I guess that in itself speaks volumes for the show! Give it a whirl. If you're not afraid of subtitles it is well worth it.

While not as polished and gripping as the best police dramas out there (with the first series of True Detective as the category benchmark), Springfloden does a good job in most of the departments.

The very beautiful Olivia is a Swedish police academy student who stumbles by chance on an old unsolved murder case that obsessed her father - the detective investigating on it - up until his death. Of course she can't resist the lure of this mystery and embarks herself on an unofficial investigation that will bring a lot of surprises and messes all around Sweden.

The writing and the side stories are well crafted and interestingly enough deal with social issues in developed countries (homeless, children without an economically stable/culturally evolved family). There's also some room for slightly humorous moments that in my opinion just add up points to the realistic tone of the drama.

As a whole I could find very few holes in how the pieces got connected together, yet for some reason or another I couldn't suspend the disbelief: most of the time everything was clearly part of an acted TV fiction. This might be due to the depth of the backstories of the characters we get to know which barely comes to the surface when these characters act. However It's hard to say this is any specific actor's fault (at least the leads showed a proper range): I would instead point the finger to the writing (which may have tried too hard to include cool stuff) or to the direction (which possibly wasn't able to capture the complexity of the characters in an expressive way).

This said Springfloden is a series you can't miss if you are into detective stories because it's more realistic and better executed than the 90% of the genre's other incarnations.

I binge watched season 2 (10 episodes) in just one sitting (!), something that I've never done before. The second season of ''Springfloden'' is based on the second novel in the Rönning/Stilton series, written by the Swedish duo of Cilla and Rolf Börjlind with the title ''The Third Voice''. The two Swedish authors are well-known for their scriptwriting for a number of Nordic Noir television series such as ''Beck'', ''Wallander'' (the Swedish edition with K. Henrikssen), ''Arne Dahl'' and ''Graven''. I've already read the book so I knew what to expect in terms of story and plot but nevertheless the series had a profound effect on me, thus I found myself unable to stop watching it. Julia Ragnarsson and Kjell Bergqvist both deliver strong performances in the primary roles and the same is true for the actors in the secondary ones, especially Dar Salim (Abbas), Cecilia Nilsson (Mette) and Johan Widerberg in the role of wayward police informant Minken. The episodes are short in terms of length (around 40 minutes each) and the plot moves forward in a rather fast pace leading to the final two episodes where the whole truth about the two cases, one in Marseilles and one in Stockholm, is revealed to the viewer. I found the final twists rather satisfying, something rare for every seasoned crime fiction fanatic, and overall I can say that the second season of ''Springfloden'' is worthy of the attention of all Nordic Noir enthusiasts around the globe.

Along with Denmark, Sweden is a leading representative of fine crime series and Nordic Noir, and after Millennium or The Bridge sagas one might wonder is there any room for more of the same or close quality and thrill, when you can do without constant shootings and chases, without fancy policemen... And yet, the Swedes continue surprising.

As many others, the events in Springfloden started working from the very beginning. True, the pace is calmer than in most US and many UK series, but this is one of their special characteristics. There are different cases to be solved, from past and present, and their sophistication and intertwining let fill the 10 episodes nicely, without undue tardiness or inclusion of "filling" characters or scenes. The solution of the major crime might seem trivial, but is realistic, and an unexpected twist in the very end rounds the series up in a fine manner.

But the gem of this series is undoubtedly Kjell Bergqvist as Tom Stilton (for this, above all, my total 9 points). I have seen some of his performances before, they were decent, but not so special to start to follow films or series based on his acting. But here in Springfloden, he is really something, his performance worth of Emmy of even Golden Globe, if the language of the series was different... But he obtained Kristallen for his role, a big honour in Sweden.

Thus, a highly recommended series, even for audiences outside Scandinavia.

PS Series 2 is a bit weaker, including Berqqvist less on screen, but still at least 8 points worth.

Definitely another binge series. thank you for absolutely great entertainment. It is the intricate plot split in two murders in two countries and it is much more then just that. It is the variety of likable characters' lives the viewer will care about just as much as the unfolding of the story, brilliantly keeping your attention.

This is one of the best shows I've ever seen. I've watched the whole series twice, and will probably watch it again before Mhz takes it off. Nothing is overdone, and not one note is wasted. I truly was amazed by the acting and the story in the first season, and when the second season came out, I re-watched the first season, too. The second season is just as excellent! The characters are so believable, the story has great twists, it's brilliantly filmed in beautiful places... I honestly only took off a star because I wished it would continue. The main characters draw you into their lives so completely. I can't give details - I can't spoil it for anyone! Mhz is my favorite streaming service. Everything is top notch - no perfect, plastic actors like Hollywood. Real people, unusual stories. Highly recommended!

My wife and I just finished Season 1. It was wonderful: well-acted with a gradual unfolding of information and clues that finally allow the police to solve the murders in Episode 10. Unlike many series where there is obvious padding to fill up some of the episodes, every episode is important. This is one of the best series we've watched recently.

Just finished watching series 2. Wow! There was so much going on, but it was all kept really tight and certainly had me guessing right to the very end! You know a show is good when you start to love or hate the characters as intended. Very binge-worthy series.

Wonderful reveal at the end. Enjoyed the series very much.

I picked this series as I am a Dar Salim fan. I am so glad I did. Getting to know the characters the way the series unfolds is extremely enjoyable. Each actor does a superb job. THANK YOU ALL. I love that I can't figure out what's going to happen!

When the Scandinavians make a good Noir film, it's really good. However, when they make a bad one....it's really bad. Spring Flood is really bad. The script is childishly written, and the episodes are filled with the usual B list Swedish actors who are probably on hiatus from other series in which they have secondary, supporting roles. The plot is long and drawn out, with a lot of sub-plots vying for dominance. The film editing is poor with some scenes that could have been easily cut since they do nothing to advance the plot or are relevant in anyway other than perhaps to demonstrate Swedish humor that does not translate well. It's watchable but just don't expect something like "The Bridge" or "Wallander".

Second Season (2018): Sadly, this is even worse than the first season. The casting is way off unless we are to believe that the police departments in Sweden and France are staffed by old and homeless people. This production is just poorly done, and never realizes it's potential.

I don't know why programs like this are so rare over here in the U. S. All the Scandinavian countries - Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark - produce impressive dramas frequently enough that "Nordic noir" has become a distinct, recognizable genre. For that matter, the French, Belgians, and Dutch do some pretty darned good shows, as well. Rarely do you see a car chase, thank goodness.

Springfloden ("Spring Tide") is one of Sweden's better offerings in the past several years. It began slowly, and built at a snail's pace, but every moment was important to the plot. For my money, season 2 was much better than the first, though I give both very high marks. Knowing there were only 10 episodes for each meant I knew there would be story resolution and not some endless cliffhanger arc with no conclusion. There were some mildly frustrating moments for me that I can only attribute to cultural differences between American and North European societies. Characters' attitudes toward homelessness, drug use, the sex trade, and other issues surprised me in some instances. I think what makes these programs so interesting to me is when the action goes in a slightly different direction than I expect. Keeps me on my toes. Anyway, this is a great series, and I hope to see a third season. But as with all good things in life, we may only get this little bit and no more.

The characters are all well-developed and you quickly became invested in their lives. Wish there was a third season. The plot lines are wonderfully complicated and nothing is predictable. You will be on the edge of your seat. Don't be surprised by the need for a stiff drink to calm your nerves.

Had to score down for some glaring little plot holes, otherwise a very well thought out, acted and unique mini-series.

Season 1 is great. Season 2 is as immersive but you really do have to suspend disbelief. Actors do a formidable job to bring their characters to life and the mysteries pack more than one strong twist.

In 1990 an unidentified pregnant woman was murdered by drowning on the island of Nordkoster off the coast of Sweden. Now, 25 years later, a young police recruit, Olivia Ronning, is tasked with researching the still-unsolved crime as a case study. The case has personal significance to her: her late father was the investigating detective.

A series that looks very intriguing on paper but in reality struggles to ever gain traction, seeming to be continually spinning its wheels. Part of the problem is the time span since the crime, meaning there's no immediate suspects or engagement with the victim. The whole thing seems like an academic exercise (which it is initially meant to be) rather than a live criminal investigation.

The many unnecessary detours and sub-plots don't add much to the overall story and just draw things out even more. The sub-plot involving the homeless people was reasonably interesting but that gets drawn out and padded too.

Overall, disappointing and hardly the Nordic noir I was expecting.

The Swedes just know how to make murder mysteries!!! The cast is suberb! The characters are so real you get drawn into their lives. There are so many layers to the main story, and it is so intense it kept me on the edge of my chair in anticipation! I will never be able to go back to watching American shows! I hope the series continues.

Please tell me there will be more?! So good so good. Love the characters and their personal evolution. Starting to like spiders too. I wan't more!

Another great Scandinavian noir .. great story great cast .. gritty and keeps you watching . the shows coming out of Europe and Scandinavia right now are untouchable....keep it up guys.

Good plot !! Loved the script and was bing watching again. Last time was with Trapped