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kollaakestaa
Reviews
Kaikki synnit (2019)
Series 1 is an outstanding police drama, full of intrigue--rating 10/10. Series 2, also full of fine acting & teeming w/ subplots, fails to wrap up the action--rating 7.5/10
SERIES 1 is a tightly crafted, well-thought-out police crime drama, with lots of intrigue, a steady stream of fast-paced action, and lots of fresh storytelling. Agents Räihä and Terho are likeable if deeply flawed characters. The ending nicely wraps up the action, for a coherent resolution. The scenery, including aerial photography, celebrates the northwestern Finland countryside. The climax/resolution surprises!
The Laestadian services are authentically depicted.
Foreshadowings/Omens using bird strikes are a nice touch.
Actress Väänänen as Räihä's mom deserves special praise; whenever she appears, intense drama occurs.
'Could have done without the gay sex scenes; they're not important to the plot.
My favorite line is from Agent Terho: Forgiveness is overrated.
SERIES 1 deserves all its accolades and more. Rating: 10/10
SERIES 2 expands on the high drama of series 1.
The theme of forgiveness (or lack thereof) permeates series 2 as well, including most notably in the life of the guilt-ridden war criminal/philosopher.
The witchy women's group is a nice antagonist to the stodgy Laestadians.
Unfortunately, series 2 loses its way plot-wise.
(A) Most new characters in series 2 fail from the start to be viable suspects for the homicide, or to even pertain to the homicide.
(B) Interesting characters are written out suddenly, just when their development has started to get interesting.
(C) The incoherent, illogical non-wrap-up of the homicide is IMO a disappointment, including because Officer Ritola's dark action at the end contradicts nearly everything the viewer has learned about him up to that point.
(D) Compelling but only marginally (if at all) connected subplots, rather than the homicide, appear to drive series two.
These are the reasons I rate SERIES 2 a 7.5/10.
COINCIDENCE OR INTENTIONAL ALLUSION?
This series, and series 2 in particular, takes place in a small northern Finland town near Oulu, called Varjakka, and involve a Laestadian-owned company that is working on a phone screen, which it sells to an American company at great profit. This exact place and these facts parallel the real-life story of former Laestadian prime minister of Finland, Juha Sipila.