The Bridge
The Bridge had its eighth and final episode last Friday. Final is the word as the ending made it clear that sadly we have heard and seen the last of “Saga Noren, Lanskrim Malmo “ ( Malmo CID) as she answers the phone . Never mind the unraveling of the criminal drama there was always the worry that the fragile Saga would top herself or in the penultimate searing scene Henrik would be made to witness the killing of his daughter Astrid, lost presumed dead but now found by Saga and now bonding with Henrik.
The plot strands were weaved together and the two murderers revealed. The identity of the first was more or was apparent from the seventh episode when 2 pickpocketing juvenile sisters who stole a key mobile phone whose ownership was never discovered recognised the hand bag from which they took the phone. The second murderer was a real coup de theatre but no spoilers here.
What are the ingredients that made the series such a success in its and final manifestation? There are the multiplicity of red herrings , powerful acting , human interest , first class detection but above all the central character Saga Loren played by Sofia Helin. Devastatingly beautiful , nicely fleshed out with her Porsche 911 and black leather trousers , emotionally disturbed witha disarming frankness she is the series’ driver. Throughout the series her relationship with fellow cop Henrik Sabroe ( Thure Linstadt) dominates as much as the Orensund Bridge. . At a Skanda noir symposium at Shoreditch, I attended the Sonia Helin session. She was open, friendly, not luvvie nor self-absorbed like many actors though when asked about one scene when her then boyfriend Martin refuses sex as his mother is staying in their loft she. begins to pleasure herself replied to one questioner on “ do you have problem about masturbating? ‘.
In the final sequence she drives over the bridge and stops the car you think she is going to top herself like her sister Jennifer but all that goes in the grey water below is her police badge
PS: I must be honest and confess all was not clear to me at the end. How did Saga work out who killed and kidnapped Henrik’s wife and children? Who was Morgan Sonning and what role did he play? All was made clear by this blog. I am grateful for it but it does contain spoilers
