Musings on Nordic Noir

With the world as it currently is, I am finding myself feeling desperate for so very many things. And perhaps at the top of that list is grown-ups. Young or old.

This is also true when watching TV. I need to see competence, integrity, decency, wanting the right outcome. Now is definitely not the time for viewing Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

I have long watched British shows for warmth and soul, extraordinary landscapes, and spectacular architecture. And often, some quite clever writing. So now when I need to escape (and boy do I) that is where I go first. But I am in a holding pattern as I await the next seasons of some of our favorite British shows to come out —Ludwig, Blue Lights, Line of Duty.

When I need a bit of energy, I might even watch some American shows. Although honestly, aside from The Wire, Sopranos, and Breaking Bad, I see very little American TV. Does Ted Lasso count?

But when I want a certain set of standards—restraint, taste, and intelligence (with no obvious plastic surgery or Botox shellacking)—I head for Nordic Noir. Despite it being fiction (and the number of grisly murders), the shows give you a good feel for so many cultural norms.