UK fans of Dan, Flemming and Marianne have had to wait just four weeks between series two and season three of The Sommerdahl Murders airing via Walter Presents. Since season two left us with a double personal tragedy for Dan, it seems only fair that we haven’t had too long to wait to catch up with the Helsingør-set series. But, despite all of the personal drama, the trio at the heart of the local police force still have crimes to solve. And the bodies just keep stacking up … 

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 3  – The Directors

The first four episodes of the series are directed by Rumle Hammerich, who has previously directed episodes of The Bridge and Borgen, as well as feature films such as 2009’s Headhunter, starring Lars Mikkelsen and 2005’s Young Andersen. 

The last four episodes are directed by Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen, who has directed music videos for the likes of Elton John and James Bay. He has also directed TV series such as The Family, Vild Sommer and Darkness: Those Who Kill. 

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 3 – 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)  
• Josephine – Maibritt Saerens (Darkness: Those Who Kill)
• Laura – Mia Højgaard (Seaside Hotel) 
• Otto – Kurt Ravn (Chaos) 

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 3 – The Plot

Season 3 of The Sommerdahl Murders, sees DCI Dan Sommerdahl navigating a personal crisis while solving murders in the picturesque coast town of Helsingør, Denmark. Dan’s marriage is in ruins, and his ex-wife Marianne is now in a relationship with his partner and best friend, Flemming Torp.

The season opens with the two-part episode Repressed Emotions, where the discovery of a man in a wetsuit found dead near a harbor apartment complex sets the tone for the challenges ahead. Dan and his longtime partner, Detective Flemming Torp, delve into the case, uncovering a web of secrets that test their investigative acumen.

The narrative progresses with The Cannes of the North, another two-part storyline focusing on the murder of a local real-estate developer found dead in a boat shortly after his marina project receives city council approval. As Dan and Flemming investigate, they encounter unexpected twists that challenge their perceptions and professional boundaries.

In For Love of God and Country, the detectives confront the perplexing case of a nun shot with a pistol potentially dating back to World War II. Their investigation reveals that the nun had advised an individual to abandon medication in favor of faith, leading to tragic consequences. This case forces the team to navigate the delicate intersection of faith, mental health, and accountability.

The season culminates with Fair Play, where the murder of widow Nancy Brinck and the disappearance of her prized show dog, Snowball, present a multifaceted mystery. As Dan recovers from a hospital stay, he is compelled to leave early to pursue new leads demonstrating his unwavering commitment to justice despite personal challenges. 

The Sommerdahl Murders Season 3 – Our Review  

What’s interesting about season three is that there’s a real sadness that permeates it. Not just because we have several deaths on our hands, but because it feels like the trio at the heart of the show are breaking down and drifting apart. Whilst Helsingør continues to look like something out of a postcard, all is not rosy for Dan, Marianne and Flemming.

More than this, Marianne and Flemming’s relationship causes a breakdown with her daughter, Laura, who is appalled at her mother’s choice of partner. Dan is also still dealing with the death of his mother, carting around a sky blue urn full of ashes. “Can they pull themselves together?” is a recurring theme throughout the season. 

And, besides the murders, that really is the heart of series three: personal relationships. The silence and awkwardness between Dan and Flemming is palpable at times – a lifetime of relying on each other and being a team has vanished, with Dan requesting that Flemming be transferred to a different station. It’s a breakdown of a friendship and, of course, a family as Laura chooses her dad’s side in all of this. You really don’t want this team to break up but, equally, you can understand why it no longer feels jolly and cosy.

However, it does feel like we’re now missing the tension between Flemming and Marianne – perhaps that “will they / won’t they” should have gone on for another season or two to keep things spicy. 

Pacing-wise, the series starts off strong with a twisty tale of domestic abuse and drug gangs, with one particular “Kingpin” intent on ruining the coastal town’s tranquility. It’s a great episode, dark and emotional, with memories of Dan’s own childhood rising to the surface. The series works best when it’s presenting authentic stories full of emotion and personal experiences, and that’s certainly what the season opener does. Episode two is a bit of a dip, and the weakest of the series, but it soon returns to form with episode three. Nuns are a classic horror trope and, here, we get a wall of secrecy and a miserable-looking prioress who has no intent in helping the police.

Finally, we round off with secrets of the ultra-rich and the realisation that the “Kingpin” is not some violent megalomaniac, but someone much closer to home. Overall, the series works hard to keep your attention. There are several narrative strands that end up concluding neatly, but plenty to lead on to the next series, too, which is something to look forward to. 

Overall, this is another engaging series from the Sommerdahl team. There’s exotic pet smuggling, drug overlords, mental health issues in veterans, a pregnancy storyline and a shock shooting. It has the curious local characters, complex cases and enough drama between our team of detectives to keep you coming back for more.

When will season four of The Sommerdahl Murders air? 

Unfortunately, despite having seasons two and three back to back in the UK, we don’t have any confirmation of when season four will air. 

Season three of The Sommerdahl Murders comes to Channel 4 via Walter Presents on July 11. 

Written by: Mary Munoz, Content Creator at Nordic Watchlist