6 Degrees of Scandi TV
You’ve probably heard of the game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, which tests the theory that any actor in Hollywood can be connected to Kevin Bacon in six steps or less. But why should one actor be the nexus of an entire entertainment industry? Over in Topic’s second home, Scandinavia, a similar phenomenon exists, but the web of connections is far more complex and, well, web-like. Just on Topic alone, we have an entanglement of six popular Scandi crime thrillers and six prominent actors that seem to appear and reappear in every show. May we present to you our own game: Six Degrees of Scandi TV.
Before we get to the game, let’s get to know the six shows and six actors in question. And if you’re not already subscribed to Topic, be sure to subscribe to watch these Scandi cult favorites, plus much more.
The Shows
When the Dust Settles (Når Støvet Har Lagt Sig)
When a terrorist attack shocks Copenhagen, the lives of eight strangers are radically changed. The days before and after the attack reveal that they’re more connected than meets the eye.
Familiar Faces: Peter Christoffersen, Lotte Andersen
Considered to be the series that started the Nordic Noir genre, The Bridge (Bron/Broen) follows Detective Saga Norén as she and her colleagues investigate a string of crimes committed around Øresund Bridge, the conduit between Sweden and Denmark.
Familiar Faces: Peter Christoffersen, Lars Simonsen, Lotte Andersen, Kim Bodnia
Corrupt CEOs, ambitious climbers, dogged detectives. Welcome to a world where in order to follow the connection between big bankers, crime syndicates, and cartels, all you have to do is follow the money. Originally aired in Denmark as “Bedrag.”
Familiar Faces: Lars Simonsen, Lotte Andersen
The Killing (Forbrydelsen) is Nordic Noir defined. Follow the unprecedented Detective Sarah Lund as she takes on a series of complex murder cases, each with political implications, and watch as obsession consumes her.
Familiar Faces: Lars Simonsen, Lotte Andersen, Kim Bodnia
Technically not a Scandinavian production, but the wintry mystery series has all the trappings of a Scandi Noir. When a gruesomely staged body is found at the German-Austrian border, two detectives investigate. As the ritual-like murders continue, they enter the killer’s sinister world, set in the Alpine wilderness.
Familiar Faces: Nicholas Ofczarek, Hanno Koffler
Dark Woods (Das Geheimnis Des Totenwaldes)
This is also not a Scandinavian production, but it’s undeniably noir in nature. Inspired by a real-life case that went unsolved for almost 30 years, the series follows a high-ranking police officer’s decades-long search for his sister and a smart young detective who ends up becoming instrumental in the investigation.
Familiar Faces: Nicholas Ofczarek, Hanno Koffler
The Actors
Peter Christoffersen
Appears in: When the Dust Settles, The Bridge
Kim Bodnia
Appears in: The Bridge, The Killing
Lars Simonsen
Appears in: The Bridge, Follow the Money, The Killing
Lotte Andersen
Appears in: The Killing, The Bridge, When the Dust Settles, Follow the Money
Nicholas Ofczarek
Appears in: Pagan Peak, Dark Woods
Hanno Koffler
Appears in: Pagan Peak, Dark Woods
The Game
The rules are simple:
- Put the names of the six shows in a hat or bowl.
- You draw three and your opponent draws three.
- Watch the shows you’ve each selected and make a note when you come across one of the actors from above.
- The person with the most names wins.
- But in reality, you both win because you’ve both just watched some of the most groundbreaking crime shows in history.
- You don’t actually have to write anything down. Also, you and your friend can watch the shows together. And you don’t have to watch just three.
OK, who are we kidding? Maybe this isn’t a game at all but a watchlist, one that happens to feature six of the most must-see Scandi TV shows. We don’t blame these actors for wanting to be in all of them.
This article was originally published on Topic.
