User reviews

This takes place in Sweden at least 17-18 years or so ago. Two people are killed one morning in a quiet neighborhood. The detective in charge begins what ends up being a very long investigation. Not just one that goes cold, this one he obsesses over and doesn't stop. Even to the extreme detriment of his own personal life. But he had promised the relatives that he would catch the guy. He's relentless in his dedication to figuring out what happened and why on earth it happened. I admit at times I was talking to my tv because the man let his own life slide. At other times, I was astounded at the work he did. The acting was good and you felt for all the characters. Of course it was also sad at times. If you like true crime or even good police procedurals this is one to watch.

As a fan of Scandinavian TV and films, I thought this show was really well-made. I am not Swedish so I wasn't familiar with this story (I was too young when it happened to have seen it on the news) so it was surprising to hear that this is Sweden's 2nd largest case in history.

It is atypical for a Nordic show in that there is very little action and few characters outside of the main cast of about 4 actors. There are no big name stars or pointless, dragged out filler scenes or dialogue. There's a lot of detail that shows how the case developed and the writers were wise not to make us wait 10 episodes before getting to the arc of the plot. The show is more about the story and less about the actual characters beyond short bursts of their personal lives.

The acting is better from the families, whose lives we don't get to see too much of. This was fine since I think subplots can take away from the main points of the show. It was slower than many Hollywood productions but I appreciate how this was actually a mini series with 4 episodes and not anything longer!

Or ho hum. But I'm not sure.

It was really a weird one.

It seemed to drag on & on & on. But we managed to binge the whole thing at once. We did doze off a little, but not too much.

It was interesting and suspenseful with all the positive attributes of a series. But there was no action - it was all drama. Good drama, granted. But nothing to really keep you on the edge of your seat.

Another review expressed a bit of distaste that sexual abuse was brought into it. There wasn't any sexual abuse in it. They got that from 1 line in the whole series & it meant nothing. I don't mean gay to be a spoiler - it would just be a shame if it wasn't watched because of that.

It looked SO COLD throughout. Movies like that tend to make me want to hibernate so that could be conducive to my lack of enthusiasm.

Because it was a good series. There are a lot worse.

My cuppa. I love international dramas and especially Scandinavian (Beck, etc).

I watch this with subtitles - never dubbed. Please watch it with subtitles if you can.

This is Swedish and it is luxurious how it unfolds for us along its four episodes. Brilliantly done covering many years and very poignant. At first the makeup may seem a bit odd - trying to make the main characters younger than the actors are but you quickly accept it.

The focus is on the development of genealogical forensics (if you've watched the documentaries on it you'll know it has revolutionized police work).

In this case it's taking place in the EU, which has far stricter controls than the U. S.

At any rate this is based on a true story and it's fascinating stuff. The two main characters are acted so well. And in fact all the acting is fantastic.

The four hours fly by and this becomes a rare thing (for me) that I wished it was longer. I did not want it to end.

Speaking of the ending there's a very nice twist as to who the murderer is, which I greatly appreciated. I love clever endings.

I gave it a 9 and not a 10 because there's a bit of an insidious agenda about people who live alone - loners - being messed up. It's a weird and disturbing bias. And it bothered me quite a bit. It's almost "racist" in a way - that "loners" are not quite right. At one point in a discussion they actually say it out loud: that there is something wrong with "loners".

But don't let that get in your way of enjoying this! Highly recommended!

This miniseries has been crafted with high sensibility, the characters are developed in perfect way and all the actors do an amazing job.

It's an immersive experience, that lead to feel the pain of the parents, the struggling and the weight of responsibility that investigators have.

The movement thru the years, that often is the most difficult part on this kind of movie, it's smooth. Impressive work also from the makeup department. Characters are fully believable in all the years of their life.

Impressive performance from the lead actor.

It's the first time I give a 10 to something, but this deserve it all.

For a drama that was dubbed (and I think the same people dubbed several characters in this one) The Breakthrough was surprisingly watchable, and it seemed well acted.

So many of these sort of crime dramas are padded out, but this was just about the right duration.

It was based on a true story, so we knew the ending wouldn't be contrived, even if it was somewhat tame.

There was a eureka moment of course, but it was really all about the process, and the strain on those involved trying to solve this crime, and those hoping to see it solved.

In most crimes that take many years and DNA advancements to solve, there are the 'if onlys'. If only the police had pursued certain lines of inquiry, or investigated potential suspects, more thoroughly at the time. This was one of those.

A poignant, subtle and well-paced Swedish true crime drama. There is sadness permeating every scene in the four episodes but it's captured in a very thoughtful way so it never feels like misery p*rn. The series doesn't ring sensational at any point and I thought it has been done with a lot of respect for the real people behind the story, including the families and the police officers.

Great performance by all the actors from beginning to end. I found the understated urgency and perseverence of the lead detective really touching and well acted. Overall, I watched it all in one day and felt on the edge of my seat to the very end.

The Swedish miniseries The Breakthrough (Genombrottet) (2025) is available on Netflix. It has 4 episodes, which was enough to develop, in a well-organized way and without much ado, the search for the killer responsible for two murders that take place right at the beginning of the first episode. All the actors who participate in the miniseries 'dressed' their respective roles in a very convincing and competent way, which made it easier for those watching the miniseries to follow the events unfolding, without feeling the fatigue that many series sometimes cause. The way the detective in charge of conducting the investigation acts when interacting with the families involved as well as with his co-workers, comes as a surprise, considering that in many police-related films, detectives are usually bullies, acting with a certain amount of aggression. And, most of the time, have no empathy with the people they deal with.

A veteran cop is on duty when a double murder is committed in the small town they live in. He promises the victims' families he will find the murderer, but his hard work goes on for years at great personal loss to himself and with little result to the murder case.

Years later he reads an article about a man who is promoting genealogy to make the world a better place. He wonders if he should meet that man.

I was not familiar with the actors in this Swedish show, but the lead, Peter Eggers was excellent as the cop who is hooked on trying to solve the case

Excellent performances and a thoughtful, well- constructed story make this well worth watching.

Rather slow and tedious for me but my wife very much liked it. There's room for all tastes. It was interesting to see the way in which Ancestry can help catch a killer. It was in fact a bit difficult to understand the exact nature of the technique used. Acting was ok but sartorial style seemed to not change much over the lengthy period that was covered It was also a bit odd that most of the scenes were in snow even though the action took place over a number of years For me the most interesting aspect was the use of a Pet Shop Boys tune as the theme music without apparently acknowledging the fact.

While the original story on which this is based might have its roots in fact, this script is very poorly written. There is main plot to this but also a number of underlying subplots that have no bearing on the main plot. They may be intended to show bits and pieces of the main characters lives but they really are so superficially done, that they only serve as distractions and irrelevancies. As is common to all Scandinavian series, there is a fair bit of moralizing and the need to educate rather than entertain the viewer, inserting bits of historical information that add little to the narrative. Overall, the series could have been done in 2 episodes and accomplished the same objective.

This kept my interest throughout the series. It had drama, tenderness and suspense that kept me riveted to the screen from beginning to end! An excellent series.

The acting was outstanding. It revolves around the murders of a young boy and elderly woman that were stabbed to death. It took 16 years to solve the case which involved the latest DNA research. This research went against the Swedish police and their la s against the rights of privacy.

This is the first time that I have rated and written a review for IMDB.

If you want to be completely entertained and kept on the edge of your seat watch this limited series.

It's subtle, emotional and atmospheric.

Actors did a good job.

Simple and yet impactful storytelling.

In 4 episodes that they did quite well. No unwanted plot twists.

A miniseries which I enjoyed after quite sometime.

Went into it without any seeing any review and end up writing one.

Touches upon the pain of loosing and many other topics without being over melodramatic.

I will recommend this miniseries for you all the watch. It's a good watch for cold winter day.

One of the best swedish drama to come out way.

Go watch and let me know how did you like it.

Enjoy your day and have a good year.

Well, its not something completely new. The golden state killer documentary has the same receipe. This series even refers to it, but its a solid nordic crime with many original elements. Good cast. Strong leading actor. You need to see last the first episode to get into the main plot because this is a drama that jumps in time. Do not expect any Great twists as its based on a true story.

The DNA perspective of investigations in crime in general has a suspenseful and exciting aspect to it. Hope to see more crimes like this but perhaps from fiction with more culmination and suspensful twists, which this lacked due to its true nature.

Excellent series in a calm setting yet you can feel the impact on the lives involved. Loved the performance by Mattias Nordkvist especially.

The subdued approach of the main characters has impact. The acting is something a lot of other series could learn from. I read in some reviews that the series is 'missing action', but that is so short sighted. This has way more credibility than series with actors pulling out guns and shouting and what not.

The setting in the winter landscape through the years is a bonus to the story. I also like how the telling of this true story gives a subtle hint to reflect on how people willingly or unwillingly become loners or lonely and the choices deriving from that.

The only reason I felt compelled to make this review was because of how highly rated this seemed to be for absolutely no reason.

It follows all the same tropes of similar series. Without distinction. In fact all they did beyond that was add the exact trope to other characters and pray that it would connect with the audience. Personally the moment I saw the "busy detective ends up neglecting his family" trope occur I sighed heavily. This is nothing but a cheap way to get viewers interested in the main character and his goals. We have to be able to move on from this comically overused format. I don't care if it's based on a real story, at that point at least thin it out or don't mention it. All it does is insult the viewer.

It might be the first time where I've watched a 4 episode series where I thought they were actively trying to stretch it out. There was that little substance. In my opinion this should've been made into an hour long movie instead.

The only interesting part of the series was the focus on genealogy. I would preferred it if they'd put more emphasis on that. The very few scenes where Per is allowed to give detailed explanations of the methodology was the most fascinating part by far. Besides that they could've shown more investigations into different characters, more of a look into ****** until he came to be excluded, the on the ground investigative methods that were initially used to attempt to find the killer.. If this investigation was as flawless as they made it out to be, with the main character supposedly being able to perfectly recall what was written inside each document folder they had on the case, why wouldn't they take even one minute to go over it?

The most insight anyone is ever going to get into.murder investigations is by going over the exact evidence that was gathered and how they did it. If you really want the audience to connect with the character you show them what he's capable of and where all his efforts are. That's what people are here for, not half assed drama.

Maybe 1/10 is too harsh of a rating, but I feel like this show perfectly encompasses all of my frustrations with nordic noir at the moment.

This is a gripping and tragic story centered around the double murder in Linköping, which truly captivates the audience. The series is cleverly structured, maintaining a well-balanced pace that prevents viewers from feeling rushed by the plot or overwhelmed by too many characters.

What really elevates this series is the exceptional acting. Peter Eggers shines in his role as the lead investigator, delivering a performance that is both compelling and engaging. Mattias Nordqvist also makes a strong impression as Per, the genealogist, and together they create a believable dynamic. Many of the actors are familiar faces from other productions, which only underscores their talent. Bahador Foladi, who plays the victim's father Saad, delivers a poignant performance that is genuinely moving. For those who understand Swedish, it's particularly striking to hear his distinctive accent, which adds an extra layer of authenticity to his character. This nuance might not be as easily appreciated by international audiences, but it enriches the viewing experience for those who can catch the subtleties of his speech.

However, it's a bit disappointing that we don't get to follow Saad's family more closely throughout the series. Their story feels a little underdeveloped, and it would have added more depth to the narrative perhaps.

If you're looking for a series that showcases excellent acting and a compelling storyline, this is definitely worth watching.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this. I ended up watching all four episodes one one night. It was based on a true story. A young boy and a woman murdered in Sweden. I like the "slow burn" of the series, not the rush to finish in one episode. This is why I like European series. The actors were terrific! Top notch and believable, like-able, compassionate actors. Series did a great job, depicting the story about what happened to solve the case and catch the killer with DNA, and complexities of breaking down dna and matches. Netflix produces more series like this. This was a high quality series with twists and turns, excitement and relationship failures and building relationships.

A Police officer and a genealogist solve a cold case in Sweden, using patience, perseverance and science. I love Scandinavian movies and series for a number of reasons. Maybe the most important is that they are modest, unpretentious and just do their best to tell a story in a straightforward manner. No flashy camerawork, no over-the-top characters, no inclusive agendas they need to impose, no flawed super heroes hell bent on saving the world from evil geniuses or shady conspiracies. Normal human beings doing their jobs as best they can, with their personal problems getting in the way of work just as we all know it happens to any of us. Their filmmaking is fresh, unassuming and straight to the point. It's calm but not boring, human but not preachy, efficient but not groundbreaking. I wish Hollywood might go back to the basics instead of pushing too hard on their present ways and means. I do recommend this mini series for a few hours of sound, well crafted entertainment.

Based on real events, this miniseries is poorly adapted for the screen one wonders if any of the responsible producers ever read the screenplay. This screenwriter demonstrates zero talent or originality, instead delivers one of the worst examples of poor and amateurish storytelling.

There is absolutely no finesse or inventive dramatic flare. The so-called structure resembles so many other mediocre crime serie out there, one could have at least hoped they could have been influenced by something better than the bottom of the barrel productions.

And let's not get started on the directing. It's so stiff and poor, a student filmmaker could have done a superior job.

It's such a shame. The case is good. The miniseries is not.

It was incredibly sad story. At the and I might have a little bit cry... It is different than its genres tv series.

I always like to read and watch northern detective stories. This one is quite good. Lead role is very well played. Supposed to solved immediately cause seems easy incident in the first episode. Then plot twist.

I like the story and its way of handling by the director and producer. Actors are well played and get into the characters.

Original sound is good for understanding the cultural differences which effects voice, body language or mimics. Although English dubbing is good enough to listen.