There was a time when half of Europe seemed to be investigating in Scandinavian drizzle. Every investigator was emotionally wrecked; homicide cases chased viewers with shivers down their spines. Danish, Swedish, and later Icelandic crime dramas defined television with societal chasms and a coldness that was more than weather.
The big hype around morally charged storylines may be over — but what remains is an established style that treats crime as a mirror of social rifts.
A Detective Between Guilt, Shame, and the Past
Precisely in this tradition sits the Finnish series “All the Sins,” whose six parts Arte will show starting February 19, each Thursday in a triple-bill. Across its three seasons, the series leans less on speed and more on atmosphere and deceleration. Pure Finland and Nordic Noir in its most authentic form: the melancholic aesthetics and piercing glances thread through the scenes like a quiet melody.
Detective Lauri Räiha (Johannes Holopainen), a gay investigator from Helsinki, returns after ten years to his homeland Varjakka to unravel two ritual murders of community members. He is accompanied by his supervisor Sanna Tervo (Maria Sid), a woman who outwardly appears promiscuous but inwardly torn.
Faith, Sin, and the Quest for Forgiveness
The two must penetrate the abysses of a conservative Laestadian community in northern Finland’s Varjakka—a fictional small town near Oulu, serving as a stronghold for this strict Lutheran revival movement.
Many members reject contraception and view people as inherently sinful beings in need of conversion. But does this so devout outward stance also provide fertile ground for religiously motivated murders?
Räiha in six episodes must not only confront his past actions but also the traumatic history of his Laestadian family. The investigations are repeatedly slowed by Räiha’s aggression issues and Sanna’s remorse over her relationship with her daughter and the slain husband. When a third murder occurs, it becomes clear: the victims are connected to one another.
Direct link | Original trailer with English subtitles. Arte will show a German-dubbed version. |
Atmosphere Over Pace
“All the Sins” (by Mika Ronkainen and Merja Aakko) focuses less on the “who” and more on the “why” of the crime. Themes of guilt and shame, gender roles, and forgiveness give the series psychological depth and social relevance.
In doing so, it manages to avoid clichés: the abused bodies remain unseen, northern Finland isn’t shown in snowy landscapes but in green fields, village churches, and bright lighting.
Nevertheless, genuine suspense only surfaces sporadically. It’s also clear that the series is a bit done with its run. If you lean into the calm pace and dense atmosphere, it does develop its own appeal.
“All The Sins” (original title: Kaikki synnit) airs on Arte in the first season with six episodes on free TV. Starting February 19, the series will run on Thursdays at 9:45 p.m. in a triple-pack
