Anna Zackrisson’s Deliver Me hit Netflix on April 24 of this year. The five part series is a shocking exploration of the experience of two young friends caught up in inner-city gang life. Opening with the death of young Bilal (Yassir Hassan), the camera slowly pans back until we see his best friend, Dogge (Olle Strand), trembling with a gun in his hand.
Zackrisson’s series masterfully wove together the narrative of the two boys, their friendship from its outset and their pre-teen tribulations as part of a ruthless criminal network. The show attracted some controversy, as it was unflinching in its depictions of violence inflicted upon the young boys.
What it gave viewers was another truly gritty gang drama that didn’t dwell on cosy candlelit scenes or intricately patterned sweaters. It didn’t even have a strong female lead with a chaotic home life to root for. Instead, it focused on the all-consuming nature of poverty and how the allure of money (and, therefore, safety) can initially seem promising. Zackrisson also goes to great lengths to demonstrate how hard it is to extricate yourself from a gang once somebody else has decided that you work for them.
So, if it’s dogged, dirty gang warfare you’re after, then these are some more Scandinavian series you won’t want to miss.
Grow | Channel 4 – Walter Presents
This eight-part Danish drama is currently available through Walter Presents on Channel 4. It centres around two brothers (played by real-life siblings Andreas and Sebastian Jessen) who are forced to confront their grim, gang-centric upbringing as a result of their father’s death. One sees an opportunity to sell drugs and take over as heir to the “turf”, the other is a police officer ready to take down the wider criminal network. This show is relentless in its pacing and its violence. It ramps things up to a point where you will often be left holding your breath or watching through your fingers. It’s an extremely well-acted, well-paced piece of television that will leave you shattered.
Snabba Cash | Netflix
Both seasons of the pacy, gritty Snabba Cash are available on Netflix – so that’s your next weekend binge watch sorted. You’ll notice a few familiar faces from Deliver Me in Oskar Söderlund’s series, which he adapted from Jens Lapidus’ Stockholm Noir trilogy.
From the very first episode, it feels chaotic and realistic as you follow the interlocking narratives of Leya (Evin Ahmad) a single mother who desperately needs funds for her AI start up and her gang-running brother-in-law Ravy (Dada Fungula Bozela). There’s plenty of garish neon lighting, hand-held camera work and hyper-stylised violence to keep you compelled.
Prisoner | BBC iPlayer
Currently streaming on BBC iPlayer, Prisoner follows four different prison officers as they are faced with the closure of their facility. In order to keep the prison open – and their jobs – they are forced into running things in a more strict and “by the book” manner. This essentially leads to increasingly violent gang clashes within the prison as external supplies dry up. The guards, in turn, take different approaches to the new regime, with their chaotic personal lives often impacting their actions. It’s a really thrilling six-part series that knows exactly how to shred your nerves and leave you hanging at the end of an episode. Sofie Gråbøl, David Dencik, Youssef Wayne Hvidtfeldt and Laura Christensen are just some of the well-known faces amongst the cast.
Top Dog | Channel 4 – Walter Presents
Another Jens Lapidus adaptation, you can find all episodes of Top Dog through Walter Presents on Channel 4. It hails from the producers of Broen | Bron and centres around the unlikely pairing of a lawyer and a newly released former convict. Emily (Josefin Asplund) is said lawyer, appointed to the missing persons case of the son of the richest man in Sweden. Teddy (Alexej Manvelov) is trying to shed his former gang credentials, but ends up drawn back in when his former boss asks him to sniff out a rat. Emily and Teddy end up working together on the missing person’s case as the series focuses on themes of greed, desperation and “choosing a path”. It’s another brilliant watch with powerful performances from the two leads.
There’s nothing quite like settling down to a crime drama that really draws you into the world of its flawed characters and their messy lives.
What has been your favourite Nordic gang drama? Any series we have missed?
