The ultimate comfort watch is back on Walter Presents. Sure, there’s death involved, but there’s something so cosy and charming about The Sommerdahl Murders. It’s as if Midsummer Murders was set in Denmark – there’s an unusually high body count for such a small place but you just know that everything is going to be wrapped up neatly in a bow. Series two picks up the morning after the end of series one, meaning that Dan and Marianne’s personal relationship is teetering on the brink whilst the cases keep coming. 

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 2  – The Directors

The series is directed by Carsten Myllerup. He made his TV series debut with Hotellet back in 2001, where he took the helm for six episodes. 

Since then, he has gone on to direct series such as Darkness: Those Who Kill, Lulu & Leon, Kristian, Dicte: Crime Reporter and Aber Bergen. In terms of feature films, Myllerup has directed just one to date – a 2003 horror starring Tuva Novotny, called Midsommer. 

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 2 – The Cast

Here are the key players in the four-part series:

• Dan Sommerdahl – Peter Mygind (Flame and Citron) 
• Flemming Torp – André Babikian (Borgen) 
• Marianne Sommerdahl – Laura Drasbæk (Alfa / Grow) 
• Hanegaard – Lotte Andersen (The Bridge)  
• Benjamin – Mathias Käki Jørgensen 
• Svend – Peter Gantzler (Call Me Dad)  
• Lina – Diêm Camille (The Wheel of Time) 
• Fru Sommerdahl – Lisbet Lundquist (Rita)

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 2 – The Plot

DCI Dan Sommerdahl returns to investigate more chilling cases while navigating his complicated personal life. Set in the seemingly peaceful seaside town of Elsinore, Denmark, Dan is confronted with both old and new challenges as he seeks justice for victims and attempts to rebuild his fractured relationship with his estranged wife, Marianne. 

The season opens with the high-profile murder of world-famous musician Razor. As the investigation unfolds, Dan and Flemming discover that several women in the town are struggling with unresolved feelings for the slain musician, further complicating the case. The deeper they go, the more they uncover about the town’s hidden passions and secrets.

When a folk-high school teacher is found dead, the investigation reveals the deceased had been romantically involved with someone at the police station. Could the killer be one of their own? The suspense deepens when another employee at the school is murdered, leading Dan to focus on the school’s staff. The shocking discovery of the culprit leaves Dan reeling.

A tragic fire at the town’s finest restaurant results in the death of a chef’s assistant. As Dan and his team investigate, they uncover a web of jealousy and rivalry, with arson at its core. Tensions rise even further at the annual local chefs’ competition, where a participant is threatened with death – but the team soon realises they’ve made a critical mistake.

The investigation takes a darker turn when a paralyzed patient is murdered at a local nursing home. Dan begins to uncover a series of thefts within the facility, but when he finds the thief, the case takes an unexpected twist. Meanwhile, a new murder leads Dan and Flemming down a dangerous path involving a European cannabis ring. But will they find their killer among the criminals?

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 2 – Our Review  

Season 2 of The Sommerdahl Murders continues its blend of cosy crime drama and emotional entanglements, set against the picturesque backdrop of Helsingør, Denmark. While the show maintains its procedural roots, this season leans more heavily into the personal lives of its central characters, particularly the complex love triangle between Detective Chief Inspector Dan Sommerdahl, his estranged wife Marianne and his best friend and colleague, Detective Flemming Torp.

The season opens with a high-profile case: the murder of local (turned world famous) musician, Razor. This investigation sets the tone for the season, intertwining personal drama with professional duty. As Dan and Flemming dig into Razor’s past, they uncover a web of unresolved romantic entanglements involving several women in the town, adding emotional depth and complexity to the case.

Subsequent episodes follow a series of intriguing cases, each with its own unique flavour. A schoolteacher’s murder reveals a scandalous romantic link to someone within the police department, while a second death at the same school raises suspicions about the staff. Episode two is probably the strongest in the series, as it deals with a student exploring their gender identity and opening up about self-harming and alienation.

Despite the engaging cases, the emotional core of the season remains the strained relationship between Dan, Marianne and Flemming (who, it has to be said, continues to be the best-looking detective on TV). Dan is desperate to win back Marianne. However, this season we see her hook up with an old flame and move Flemming into her annexe apartment. Dan, meanwhile, offers to take her sailing around Bali for an extended period of time. This adds tension to every scene they share, often bleeding into their professional interactions and threatening to derail investigations.

More than this, Dan’s mother appears to be losing her memory. She turns up at the station to bring her deceased husband his packed lunch and seems to think her granddaughter is still a baby. It’s a very sad storyline, to watch someone in decline, and it adds to Dan’s already complicated personal life.

Visually, the series remains a treat. The sun-drenched streets and coastal views of Helsingør contrast sharply with the dark themes of murder and betrayal, creating a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from grittier Scandinavian noir. (In addition to this, Marianne’s wardrobe of colour-blocked pastels and tasteful jumpsuits are another fun element of the show.)

Season 2 of The Sommerdahl Murders offers a solid mix of murder mysteries and emotional drama. Whilst it’s more Heartbeat than The Chestnut Man, it still makes for binge-worthy entertainment. For fans of its character-driven dramas with a romantic twist, this season delivers both intrigue and heartache in equal measure. The closing moments of episode eight ripple with both passion and heartache. And, of course, an 80s power ballad. 

When will season three of The Sommerdahl Murders air? 

In the UK, series three is set to air on July 19 on Walter Presents via Channel 4, which means there isn’t long to wait until your next binge-watch. So far, a total of six series have been filmed. We can only hope that we don’t have to wait long for those, either. 

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 2 comes to Walter Presents via Channel 4 on June 19.

Written by: Mary Munoz, Content Creator at Nordic Watchlist