Jo Nesbø’s perpetually troubled detective, Harry Hole, endured a disastrous cinematic debut in 2017. The much-anticipated film The Snowman, starring Michael Fassbender, was a critical and commercial misstep, leaving a bitter taste for fans of the acclaimed Nordic noir series. However, Netflix is set to rewrite that narrative with Detective Hole, a brand-new series adaptation of Nesbø’s fifth novel, The Devil’s Star, which not only rights past wrongs but establishes a compelling new benchmark for the character.
A Shadow from the Past: The Snowman Misstep
The initial big-screen attempt to bring Harry Hole to life was plagued from the start. A notoriously rushed production schedule led to significant portions of the script being cut, rendering the film’s central mystery almost entirely incomprehensible. Adding to the confusion was a bewildering marketing campaign that featured oddly childlike doodles, completely undermining the dark, psychological thriller premise of Nesbø’s original work. Critics, including IndieWire, were merciless, with the film scoring a dismal 7% on Rotten Tomatoes. “If this were the opening act of a TV miniseries, you’d be exploring other channels some time between the second and third ad breaks,” read one particularly scathing assessment. This left the bar incredibly low for any subsequent adaptations.
Rebirth on Netflix: A Grittier, Sunnier Oslo
Mercifully, Detective Hole not only clears that low bar but soars over it with confidence and conviction. Ditching the desolate, snow-laden landscapes that famously hampered its predecessor, directors Oystein Karlsen and Anna Zackrisson present Oslo in a stark, often sunny light – showcasing both its gritty urban underbelly and its more serene, picturesque locales. The series dives deep into a multi-layered investigation involving illegal arms dealings and a clandestine society, introducing a serial killer whose gruesome calling card—placing a small, pentagram-shaped red diamond under victims’ eyelids—is far more chilling and less whimsical than anything previously depicted.
The Man Behind the Badge: Santelmann’s Compelling Harry Hole
Crucially, the new adaptation, which Jo Nesbø himself helped adapt, boasts a truly magnetic lead. Where Michael Fassbender’s portrayal in The Snowman often felt detached and listless, Tobias Santelmann imbues Harry Hole (pronounced “Hoo-leh”) with an intense, raw magnetism. Santelmann captures the essence of Nesbø’s description of Hole as a blend of Frank Miller’s Batman and Norwegian soccer coach Nils Arne Eggen – a perpetually sleep-deprived, often shirtless figure haunted by past transgressions.
The series opens by immediately immersing viewers in Hole’s default state: consumed by a five-year-old unsolved bank robbery where a clerk was brutally murdered. His vivid, almost hallucinatory flashbacks often plunge him into the heart of past crimes, a visual device that powerfully conveys his obsessive nature. This intricate web soon connects to Sverre Olsen (Arthur Hakalahti), a young arms dealer enmeshed in Oslo’s criminal underworld. Adding further intrigue is Tom Waaler (Joel Kinnaman), a physically imposing, leather-clad detective with an unnervingly casual disregard for legal procedure, whose suspicious presence at crime scenes quickly raises Hole’s hackles.
Navigating the Darkness: Flaws, Redemption, and Relationships
Detective Hole unflinchingly explores its protagonist’s profound flaws. A cold open flashback reveals a past tragedy linked to Hole’s actions while under the influence. His ongoing struggle with alcoholism is front and center, leading to desperate acts like attempting to bribe informants and arriving at murder sites in the debilitating throes of withdrawal. While the narrative occasionally leans into familiar ‘tormented cop’ tropes – Hole going rogue, the angsty shower scene, or a frenetic ‘murder board’ montage – Santelmann’s nuanced performance provides remarkable depth, allowing viewers to forgive an occasionally clunky line or a slightly overwrought moment.
Beyond the grim investigations, the series finds its emotional anchors in Hole’s relationships. His evolving bond with love interest Rakel (Pja Tjelta) and her pre-teen son, Oleg (Maxime Baune Bochud), transitions from initial hostility to a touching surrogate father dynamic, poignantly explored through their shared interest in platform diving. This human element, sorely lacking in The Snowman, grounds the series amidst its darker themes.
A Masterclass in Atmosphere and Production
Beyond its compelling narrative, Detective Hole is a feast for the senses. The soundtrack alone is a standout, featuring a meticulously curated selection of local alt-pop artists like Susanne Sundfør and Gundelach, alongside classic American rock legends like The Doors and Ramones. In a significant creative coup, the series secured an original score from the legendary Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Their signature nervy, atmospheric compositions masterfully ratchet up the suspense, proving once again their unparalleled ability to conjure a sense of dread.
Visually, Karlsen and Zackrisson showcase impressive flair, particularly during sequences like Episode 2’s macabre journey through an apartment block’s pipework, culminating in a blood-soaked shower. Viewers should be warned that Detective Hole is unflinching in its portrayal of violence and gore; the opening scene features a brutal demise that borders on torture, and occasional lingering shots of naked female corpses might be unsettling for some.
The Future of Nordic Noir’s Antihero?
Unpleasant voyeurism aside, Detective Hole is undeniably a superior entry, standing head and shoulders above many similarly themed, yet often ludicrous, thrillers currently populating streaming platforms. With a dozen other Harry Hole novels ripe for adaptation, Netflix has finally laid a solid foundation for a franchise that was nearly frozen out by its disastrous predecessor. The stage is set for this complex, compelling antihero to truly heat up the world of Nordic noir.
Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole premieres globally on Netflix this Thursday, March 26.
