Blackwater finally arrives on Channel 4’s Walter Presents with a stacked cast of famous Nordic stars and plenty of hype, having garnered significant praise across Scandinavia. But how does it translate here, and is it any good? The short answer: yes—but as the saying goes, “it’s not for everyone.”

Why? Well, it’s a serious slow burn. The narrative weaves multiple storylines and characters, while also jumping back and forth between timelines. While this technique can feel disorienting in some series, Blackwater handles it well, thanks to the clear distinction between older and younger versions of the characters, skillfully portrayed by the cast.

Let’s start at the top. From its opening moments, you can tell this series is going to be quirky—its distinctive music and even the font used to display the cast and crew hint at something different, and it’s a refreshing change of pace.

The first episode serves as a litmus test. It’s slow-paced, gradually building tension, confusion, frustration, and suspicion. What’s happening? Why? These questions linger, drawing you in.

The story begins in 1991, when Annie Raft (Pernilla August) is disturbed from her sleep as her daughter Mia (Alba August) returns home one evening with a man who triggers a deeply unsettling memory. Annie’s husband, Birger (Rolf Lassgård), is on night duty as a local doctor when Annie calls him to discuss a man she had seen in 1973. From there, we’re transported back in time.

In 1973, we meet a young Annie (now played by Asta Kamma August) as she arrives in the town of Blackwater with her young daughter, Mia. She’s searching for her boyfriend, Dan (Christian Fandango Sundgren), to join him at a commune, but he’s nowhere to be found—and the locals are acting decidedly strange.

Meanwhile, a group of brothers chase the town’s oddball, Johan (Liam Gabrielsson Lövbrand), and subject him to something truly cruel. Fortunately, he’s picked up by a passerby, Ylja (Alma Pöysti). Ylja is an enigma—mysterious, sensual, and a bit of a nymphomaniac. She also seems unfazed by the fact that Johan is lugging around a bucket with an eel in it.

Elsewhere, the local doctor—a younger Birger, played by Sven Boräng—is off on a fishing trip with the new policeman, while his wife, Barbro (Liv Mjönes), heads to a protest.

Are you still following? Good, because there’s even more.

A series of events leads Annie to stumble through the woods in search of the commune. Instead, she makes a horrifying discovery: two dead bodies in a tent. Meanwhile, Birger and the new police officer, Åke, are nearby on their fishing trip and soon become involved in the investigation.

From here, the series introduces more intriguing characters, including Magnus Krepper as the enigmatic leader of the commune Annie becomes entangled with.

Fast-forward to 1991, where we find Annie still haunted by the traumatic events of 1973. She appears to have either committed suicide or died in an accident—but could there be more to the story?

Writing this piece is fascinating in itself, as you begin to connect the dots of what’s been carefully layered throughout the episodes—a testament to how much of a puzzle Blackwater truly is. This complexity is precisely what makes it such an outstanding piece of work.

At times, the series feels like a blend of Twin Peaks and Hunt for a Killer—and it’s no coincidence. Director Mikael Marcimain, who also helmed the brilliant Hunt for a Killer (a must-watch for fans of Swedish true crime television), brings a similarly meticulous and atmospheric style to Blackwater.

The series is adapted from the novel Blackwater by Kerstin Ekman. While I haven’t read the book, it would be intriguing to hear how fans of the novel feel about the adaptation.

From the direction to the performances, everyone involved has delivered phenomenal work. This is a series that will stay with you long after the final episode. The slow-burn storytelling may test your patience, but the payoff is more than worth it. And at the heart of it all is the incredible cast, who bring this intricate story to life in a way that’s truly unforgettable.

Blackwater arrives onto Channel 4’s Walter Presents from the 17th January