Deadwind (Karppi) s3, well done Finnish noir

Pihla Viitala in Deadwind

Deadwind (Karppi) roars back for season 3 with some answers to questions from the past, some new mysteries to solve, and a closer understanding between the two lead detectives.

When season 3 of Deadwind (Karppi) begins, about 18 months have passed since the end of season 2. A newly discovered body prompts the police to want to get their team of Sofia Karppi (Pihla Viitala) and Sakari Nurmi (Lauri Tilkanen) back in action.

Heikki Nousiainen and Noa Tola in Deadwind

Karppi has been away from work living at her father-in-law’s (Heikki Nousiainen) with her son Emil (Noa Tola). Her step-daughter Henna (Mimosa Willamo) is just being released from a stint in prison.

Nurmi has been recovering his health. He has a cool new car that runs great! He’s sent to find Karppi and bring her back to work on the new case.

Pihla Viitala and Lauri Tilkanen in Deadwind

The new case involves a body with peculiar markings. As the series goes on, the markings are found to represent a symbol that is used again and again in new murders. Karppi and Nurmi struggle to understand what it means. As usual with Deadwind, the crime has many tie-in to various characters. There’s a medical company and drug testing in the plot. This series is well-written and the mysteries are complex and multi-layered.

Kreeta Salminen and Mimosa Willamo in Deadwind

Henna, who still wants nothing to do with her stepmother, has her own subplot this season. No sooner is she out of prison than she’s involved with Venni (Kreeta Salminen) and back in a criminal situation again.

Another important subplot involves Karppi’s husband who died in Germany before the start of season 1. Karppi gets a tip that his death may not have been a traffic accident after all. In solving that old mystery, she discovers things about her husband that she didn’t know.

The relationship between the two detectives deepens this season. They start telling each other their secrets and being more vulnerable with each other. They are in danger as part of the mystery surrounding the drug trials and have to take care of each other several times.

This Finnish drama has maintained its top notch quality for three seasons without missing a beat. It’s beautifully shot. Even though most of it happens at night and in the shadows, there’s enough light to see what’s happening. The characters are no nonsense cops, but you get attached to them. Of the two leads, Karppi is the one giving the orders and I like that.

You can see the season 3 trailer on YouTube. All three seasons are available now on Netflix.


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