Based on the books by Lisa Marklund, Annika Bengtzon: Crime Reporter is a Swedish production that follows a journalist from a national newspaper. The look and sound of this entertaining foreign series has a cinematic quality that is more than you would expect from a multi-episode production. In some ways, Annika Bengtzon: Crime Reporter is not dramatically different from high quality American crime shows. Most of the main characters are better looking than the average person and frequently find themselves in somewhat improbable situations.
The six episode series was originally filmed for DVD distribution, and though it used to be available on Netflix, it’s currently streaming on the MHz Choice channel, available through Amazon Prime in the US.
The title character is played by Malin Crepin. Bengtzon is a working mom with two young kids and a husband. Some of the secondary story lines deal with the tensions and conflicts between her career and family life. Primary plots deal with international politics and current cultural issues. Each episode has a new central story, but there is continuity in the other events that take place at work and home.
The films, each about 75 minutes in length, are recommended for all that enjoy foreign TV series, crime dramas and political thrillers on Netflix. All episodes of Annika Bengtzon: Crime Reporter were released in 2012. It is subtitled. There is no word yet of a season 2, though there are three more novels in the written series.
UPDATE: Annika Bengtzon is currently not available on Netflix in the United States. (If the situation is different in your country, please leave a comment below.) Also, consider contacting Netflix to request they carry the series again. There are both live chat and phone options at the bottom of the Help Center page.
Great TV show, when does season 2 come out?
I’m not aware of plans for more Annika B., but I hope they do produce more episodes!
Really didn’t like her husband cheating on her. After 10 years together, they finally marry, and he immediately turns around and cheats on her? Unbelievable. This is what happens with nearly every female professional in a TV series, but it’s not real life. Can’t we have just ONE series where the woman gets to have what men always have — a loving family that respects the commitment of a woman to her career AND her family? This was one reason “The Closer” was so popular. The female lead had an amazing career AND an amazingly normal home life. She didn’t get to have children, but at least she had a committed partner.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Chelseags!
I really enjoyed watching this series, but you should not wait too long for next episodes. English is my second language and reading the subtitles helped me to improve. Annika’s husband is really handsome, and I didn’t like he to be alone all the time with the kids: in real life that would not be fair for anybody.
Luciernaga – thank you for reading and commenting. It is true the situation you describe is not fair, but it does sometimes happen.
Love these shows