The 15 Best Scandi Noir TV Dramas of All Time – Ranked

Long winter nights in the middle of the bleak witching landscape. Minimalist decor with enviable woodwork and chic lamps. Whimsical characters. Significant breaks. Brain crime – mystery plots. Since appearing on the television scene two decades ago, they have become the trademarks of Nordic noir – hauntingly atmospheric dramas hailing from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.

The Scandinavian screen following exerted a strong stylistic influence on British drama. Local series such as Broadchurch, Hinterland and Shetland share many of the hallmarks. So are the recent US thrillers A Murder At The End Of The World and True Detective: Night Country. However, we have limited our selection to series made in Scandi, rather than those inspired by them. We’ve also discounted items like Sky’s Fortitude – set in Norway and shot in Iceland but produced in the UK.

As we head into fall, it’s the perfect time of year to snuggle up with some frozen drama. Here’s our countdown of the top 15 and where you can stream them tonight…

15. The Reindeer Mafia (2023)

This darkly comic Finnish drama is also reminiscent of Succession, but with a dash of The Sopranos on snowmobiles. Upon the death of the powerful matriarch Brita Nelihanka, longtime ruler of wasteland Lapland, her relatives descend to collect her inheritance. Of course, it’s not that simple. When the loot reaches surprised recipients, the dysfunctional clan finds itself embroiled in an internal power struggle. Secrets and lies emerge. Cuts and bleeding inevitably ensue. It gave rise to a subgenre of snow-related crime called “Reindeer noir”. Other locally made dramas include The Arctic Circle and 66th North Precinct.

Follow him on: channel4.com