The Bridge: Bron/Broen, Season 1, Episode 1-10 [Blu-ray]

You have to read English subtitles of the Swedish/Danish dialog. This original version of Bron/Broen (The Bridge) was so good it inspired several other remakes in other languages. The US version just didn't work for me and I think it was because the character that Sofia Helin created in this original version was what made this series so good.Sofia Helin brilliantly portrays a functional person with a mental condition but the series leaves it to the viewer to guess it's aspergers. It shows her struggle to deal with her other detective coworkers when she can't really feel emotion.The murder crimes are dark. She is their best detective. When she has to sensitively deal with victims next of kin she fails miserably inan almost humorous fashion. It's like Monk but only in concept. Not in the approach.She is forced to work with a detective from Denmark. He likewise does not want the partnership. But they grow to be friendsand they change each other. In this sense it is a lot like the two detectives in The Heat Of The Night(the movie).My only complaint is there are many pretty blonde female characters in this show. Sometimes I get confused as to who's who. It's easier for us gentle viewers to keep track of the characters when casting directors choose actors who do not look alike. I guess that's hard to do when there are so many beautiful blonde actresses in Sweden. But why am I complaining about that?

Read an article on the internet BBC news and culture site, which specifically referenced this tv series in connection with its overview of Malmo in Sweden, and was hooked. Wanted to know more, especially since Scandinavia seems to be en vogue at the moment, and have seen bits and pieces of other exports from that part of the world, along with a few of the hot actor/actresses/directors on the scene that hail from the various countries. It doesn't hurt that in some ways, this is reminiscent of the also voguish sociopath-like characters that entire series are being built around now: 'Sherlock', 'Dexter', and 'Elementary' to name the hottest ones in the media these last few years, and the many movies that also feature ambiguous psychological characterizations that suggest psychological pathology vs autism vs artificial intelligence. It doesn't take long to become intrigued by the main character Saga in this first season of 'The Bridge', and then to find yourself fully engaged in not only the storyline but the ancillary characters, and with only ten episodes of approximately 55 minutes each, the last scene from the last episode definitely leaves you wanting more. It is telling that this one Swedish/Danish series, which gets its name from the Oresund Bridge that connects Copenhagen, Denmark to Malmo, Sweden, has been remade several times over--relocated to other locales and with other foreign actors in these various other countries. I have not seen the other remade versions, but from fan postings, none so far can compare with this original 'Bridge'. Definitely 'Must See TV'.

I became interested in the bridge season 1 based on a recommendation for those who loved the danish version of the killing. After watching a trailer for season 1 on YouTube, I decided to buy the blue ray. For those interested in buying this disc, you must either have a region free blue ray player or a region b blue ray player. The disc is region locked and will not play in region A player designed for use in America. The story revolves around two halves of a dead body found on a bridge on the sweeden and Denmark border. Swedish police detective Saga Noren and Martin Rhode from Denmark are forced to work together to solve the murders. The series is in Swedish with English subtitles. In my opinion season 1 was interesting from the beginning to the end. The danish version of the bridge inspired a American remake of the series which aired on fx. Getting back to the subject the danish version of the bridge has 4 seasons and I will definitely be purchasing the remaining 3 seasons on blue ray. I highly recommend this series to fans of murder mysteries and fans of European television series

As someone who hardly ever watches film noir I was completely taken in by this series---it's atmosphere, clever and precise dialogue, story line of interactions between the cultures of two countries,the strange and proprietary music underpinning the episodes,the relationships between the main characters and even the exotic side stories which have little to do with the main narrative.However, having seen only the BBC version with subtitles. I was dismayed that certain key facets and details of the story were not adequately clarified;Incidents happened and are developed but not explained (perhaps the Swedish/Danish versions are more complete ),i.e.,but why was one of the detectives in certain houses or sites in the first place? The reliance by the main characters on their intuition without giving comment is important in the unravelling of the main story. A number of "contrived "coincidences weakened the piece at crucial turning points. The final hour of the series seemed padded---the final resolution could have been incorporated easily earlier on.Be that as it may, The Bridge is darn good entertainment.It has fine acting throughout and much to say about modern social life.