"Detective Hole": a new adaptation of Jo Nesbø

      Not Holmes, but Hole

      The creators immediately showed that the lessons of the past have been learned. In 2017, "The Snowman" with Fassbender flopped spectacularly: the script was cut by 15%, and the marketing campaign with children's drawings turned a dark thriller into a comedy about Jack Frost. The rating on Rotten Tomatoes is a pitiful 7%. After such a concentration camp that was set up for the book, it was frightening to expect a new incarnation of Harry Hole. But the creators of the series did everything to atone for their sins.

      And they started with the main thing — finding the perfect Hole. It became Tobias Santelmann, and his story of landing the role deserves a separate paragraph. Jo Nesbø himself admits that he and the director watched his audition tape and... almost crossed the actor off the list. Santelmann seemed "too nice and too handsome" for a gloomy alcoholic. Nesbø was already ready to take another actor, but decided to give Santelmann a second chance. And, as they say, "when he hadn't even left the door, we already knew — this is Harry." And, damn it, they were not wrong. Santelmann played Hole as he is in the books and as he should be on screen — eternally drunk, sociopathic, unpleasant to communicate with, but a brilliant detective. And there are no Netflix-style perversions with skin color, gender swaps, and the like — just a concise, harsh, Scandinavian noir with the right actors.

      No spoilers

      The fifth book of the series — "The Pentagram" (18+) — was taken as the basis. And thank God, because the first book "Bat" (18+) is indeed dreary and stretched out. In the series, however, everything is much more upbeat. The plot revolves around a series of ritual murders in Oslo, where the maniac leaves tiny diamonds in the shape of a five-pointed star under the eyelids of the victims. Harry Hole, who is on the verge of dismissal after a series of personal and work disasters, reluctantly takes on the investigation, which quickly pits him against a corrupt but charmingly dangerous colleague, Tom Woller (brilliantly played by Joel Kinnaman).

      The series is dynamic, dark, and very atmospheric. The music is simply beautiful — it's that northern "cold" vibe that we love so much in Scandinavian detective stories. Lots of snow, gray skies, dreary police stations, and beautiful yet frightening Oslo.

      Critics and viewers: what people are saying

      And here comes the most interesting part. The reaction to the series is practically a copy of my own feelings. Critics greeted "Detective Hole" with unexpected enthusiasm. At the time of its premiere, the series held a perfect 100% "freshness" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, later settling at a very strong 92%. Viewers on IMDb rated it 7.9. The first season almost instantly took first place in viewership in 29 countries, including the USA. Everyone praises the atmosphere, direction, and Santelmann's performance.

      But! Almost all reviews, including viewer ones, hit the same point — a rushed finale. Many criticize the series for being too drawn out. Radio Times outright states that nine episodes are too much for a story that would fit perfectly into six. The Hollywood Reporter delivered a killer description: "well acted and atmospheric, but too convoluted." And some reviewers even called the finale "somewhere between illogical and completely absurd." And this is pure truth. By the end of the season, the plot starts to twist so much that you are no longer sure who killed whom and why. It's that feeling when, at the end of a great dinner, instead of dessert, you're served a raw potato.

      But you know what? Despite all this, "Detective Hole" is the best adaptation of Nesbø of all that have been made. And probably the only truly successful one. The series leaves a very pleasant aftertaste, as it does not try to be what it is not. It is not for a wide audience; it is for those who love a hero who is a completely crazy drunk, but at the same time a damn smart detective. If you missed a true Scandinavian detective with its slow, lingering horror and absolute uncompromisingness — this is your choice. Yes, the ending is muddled. Yes, a couple of episodes could have been trimmed. But 8.5 hours of good noir that you can't tear yourself away from — that's already good.

      Rating 4/5