Trapped was one of those shows that sat on my "should watch" list for many years - the shows that I hear good things and am sure I'll enjoy it, but yet know that it will probably not be as "easy" as some other shows I want to watch. Hence it sits. Eventually I got to it, and it was what I expected in that it was a harder show to watch that something slicker and easier, but at the same time it was engaging and satisfying on its own terms.
As a crime drama, it is well constructed in that it starts with one central murder, and draws in other issues and histories as we go. This structure means we know characters through the main thread, and then care when they are drawn in other directions or when things happen. It works well and in the end comes full circle in a way that feels tidy and satisfying, but not forced or trite. The pace is slow as you would expect from a Nordic/BBC4 show; it is a little difficult at times but mostly it justifies it by being a slow burn - not just slow then having occasional action. This suits the location which is well used throughout.
The cast do well with the material, although the standouts were of course being the bear-like presence of Ólafsson, and the much more interesting character from Kristjánsdóttir. Support is roundly good, but these are the two that drive the show. Direction and general production is very good, and mostly the writing balances the many moving parts - only occasionally letting us see a plot device as being just that. Overall it is a slow but roundly satisfying season - it didn't thrill me or make me want to rush back for the second season, but it worked well for what it did.