A Brilliant Detective Moves His Family To A Quiet Finnish Town Hoping For A Fresh Start — Only To Find Himself Pulled Into A String Of Disturbing, Complex Murder Cases That Begin Colliding With His Personal Life. Bordertown follows Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen, an exceptionally gifted investigator whose unusual methods become crucial as increasingly dark cases unfold against the haunting landscapes of Lappeenranta. Spanning 31 episodes across three seasons, the Nordic noir has been hailed as “utterly gripping,” “superb” and “outstanding,” with viewers saying it becomes incredibly difficult to step away once you’re invested. Fans of Happy Valley and Shetland looking for another atmospheric crime obsession may have just found it.

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Fans Say This ‘Utterly Gripping’ Nordic Crime Drama Is Almost Impossible to Stop Watching

Still from Bordertown

Crime drama fans searching for something with the brooding atmosphere of Happy Valley, Broadchurch, The Bay or Shetland may want to add a lesser-known Finnish series to their watchlist.

Sorjonen, also known internationally as Bordertown, has earned an enthusiastic following for its intricate investigations, distinctive central detective and striking Nordic setting. Viewers have described the series as “outstanding” and “utterly gripping,” with some warning that once the story gets going, stepping away becomes increasingly difficult.

Created by Miikko Oikkonen, the Nordic noir drama is set in Lappeenranta, a Finnish city located roughly 30 kilometres from the Russian border. Across three seasons and 31 episodes, the series follows Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen, played by Ville Virtanen.

A brilliant detective looking for a quieter life

Kari Sorjonen is regarded as one of the National Bureau of Investigation’s most accomplished officers. He is portrayed as a high-functioning autistic man with characteristics of savantism, possessing an exceptional ability to examine evidence and uncover connections others might overlook.

But his professional brilliance doesn’t necessarily translate easily into everyday life.

The story follows Sorjonen as he relocates with his family to Lappeenranta, hoping to establish a different rhythm away from his previous life. Instead, he soon finds himself drawn into a succession of complicated criminal investigations.

As the cases become increasingly demanding, Sorjonen must balance his extraordinary commitment to solving crimes with the pressures and relationships waiting for him at home.

That combination of intricate police work and personal drama gives the series a broader emotional dimension than a straightforward procedural.

Three seasons and 31 episodes of Nordic noir

Still from Sorjonen (Bordertown)

Rather than squeezing every investigation into a conventional hour-long episode, Bordertown frequently gives its mysteries room to develop across multiple instalments.

The first season, for example, features several interconnected two-part stories. Individual cases can stand on their own, but continuing character arcs and relationships reward viewers who follow the series in order.

The show’s Finnish setting is another major part of its identity. Lappeenranta and the surrounding Nordic landscapes provide an atmospheric backdrop to stories filled with tension, disturbing crimes and psychological complexity.

One critic praised the way its European tone and Nordic scenery bring something distinctive to the familiar police procedural format.

Sorjonen himself has also attracted attention. Although the brilliant but socially unconventional detective is a familiar crime-fiction archetype, critics have praised the character for possessing greater complexity and nuance.

Ville Virtanen leads an acclaimed ensemble

Virtanen is joined by Matleena Kuusniemi, Anu Sinisalo, Lenita Susi, Kristiina Halttu, Olivia Ainali and Ilkka Villi, alongside a wider supporting cast.

The series became successful enough to expand beyond television.

Its popularity eventually resulted in the spin-off film Bordertown: The Mural Murders, which reunited characters from the original drama. The movie debuted in autumn 2021 and is currently available on Netflix.

Viewers call the series ‘simply outstanding’

Still from Bordertown

Audience reaction to Bordertown has remained particularly enthusiastic.

One IMDb viewer described the series as an intelligent and highly entertaining example of Finnish crime noir, praising its carefully developed characters, interconnected stories and unmistakably Finnish atmosphere.

Another fan went even further, calling it “simply outstanding” and praising its performances, storylines and ability to keep audiences anticipating what will happen next.

The show’s slower, more deliberate approach has also been singled out as one of its strengths.

A Rotten Tomatoes audience reviewer praised Bordertown for allowing its investigations to unfold naturally instead of rushing each mystery into a single 60-minute episode. The same viewer highlighted its combination of drama, action, tension, Finnish scenery and soundtrack, adding that audiences may find it difficult to pull themselves away as the episodes progress.

Other viewers have similarly praised the twists and sustained suspense, with one IMDb reviewer describing the drama as a tense, edge-of-the-seat experience driven by strong writing and convincing performances.

A binge-worthy option for crime drama fans

With 31 episodes spread across three seasons, Bordertown offers considerably more to get invested in than many shorter crime miniseries.

Its combination of unsettling investigations, an unconventional lead detective, ongoing family drama and atmospheric Finnish landscapes makes it particularly well suited to viewers who enjoy character-driven crime series such as Happy Valley and Shetland.

And judging by the reactions from viewers who have already discovered it, this may be one crime drama where watching a single episode quickly turns into several.

Sorjonen (Bordertown) is available to stream for free on Channel 4.