At first glance, you might think the Johan Falk series was some sort of libertarian fantasy--intrepid lone hero breaks all the petty rules of society to struggle against titanic forces of evil. But of course it's just the opposite--John Falk is slick propaganda for a police state.
Why does Johan have to be the lone hero in the first place? Because the powers of law and order are hobbled by all those silly rules of due process and civil liberties, and the only answer (as the stories repeatedly assert) must be a huge increase in the surveillance, regulatory, and policing power of the state. Take that, Ayn Rand! To be sure, the shows are extremely well made, with lots of action, fancy houses, and hot actors. And also lots of hokum about the takeover of Europe by criminal forces, which will justify our only salvation, a total police state. (Do not even whisper the word "Fascism," or Johan will ridicule you as politically correct eunuch.) I hear this is Dick Cheney's favorite show. He probably watches it on his local state-funded "liberal" PBS station.
Why does Johan have to be the lone hero in the first place? Because the powers of law and order are hobbled by all those silly rules of due process and civil liberties, and the only answer (as the stories repeatedly assert) must be a huge increase in the surveillance, regulatory, and policing power of the state. Take that, Ayn Rand! To be sure, the shows are extremely well made, with lots of action, fancy houses, and hot actors. And also lots of hokum about the takeover of Europe by criminal forces, which will justify our only salvation, a total police state. (Do not even whisper the word "Fascism," or Johan will ridicule you as politically correct eunuch.) I hear this is Dick Cheney's favorite show. He probably watches it on his local state-funded "liberal" PBS station.