Beck (TV Series) I Guds namn (2007) User Reviews

Beck – In God's Name

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 27 August 2016]

When a paparazzi photographer is murdered Beck's boss, Margareta Oberg, asks if he was homosexual as there has been a spate of anti-gay murders… there is no indication that he was though. It turns out that his flat has been ransacked by somebody looking for something. A check of property found on him suggests it could be a photograph stored on a hidden memory stick. A look at the stored pictures doesn't show anything obvious but Margareta takes a couple of the pictures. Shortly afterwards Margareta is murdered. Beck's team discovers that she had taken two pictures but nothing on them appears to be a motive for murder; they merely show a female politician kissing an unknown man; an affair that may be embarrassing but hardly a reason to kill two people. Closer examination reveal that the politician is wearing an unusual cross… one that is used by a shadowy religious group that believes that Sweden must be 'cleansed' of homosexuals. Gunvald, who had been off work suffering from burn-out, returns and tries to go undercover with the group but he could be putting both himself and those he cares for in real danger.

This was a solid enough episode but it did lack a sense of mystery as the opening scene showed a meeting where an anti-gay sermon was preached and the identity of the murderers wasn't hidden. That doesn't mean that the story wasn't without surprises; the biggest being the murder of Beck's boss, there are also plenty of tense moments. Away from the central mystery we have Gunvald's burn out and Beck's neighbour feeling down following the loss of his brother. These are two characters who usually provide the shows more amusing scenes so it was interesting to see them in a more downbeat situations…. Mikael Persbrandt and Ingvar Hirdwall impress in these roles. Overall an entertaining episode even though we knew who did it from the start.

These comments are based on watching the episode in Swedish with English subtitles.

More than Usually Downbeat Episode

[l_rawjalaurence · 7/10 · 29 August 2016]

Centering around a right wing vigilante group dedicated to ridding Sweden of the "pernicious" influence of homosexuality, a corrupt politician (Elisabeth Carlsson), and the cold-blooded assassination of Beck's boss Margareta (Marie Göranzon), this was a particularly downbeat episode of the detective series.

Director Kjell Sundvall worked hard to create a noir atmosphere of darkened passages, ill-lit rooms, and black nights where it seemed that anything could - and frequently did - happen. While Beck (Peter Haber) and his fellow police officers managed to uncover the activities of the vigilante group, there remained a lingering sense of disillusion: why did Margareta have to die as a result?

The pain of loss was felt in particular by Gunvald (Mikael Persbrandt); despite claiming to be burned out and requiring compassionate leave, he had sufficient energy to pursue one of the killers with such vigor that when they eventually clashed in a morgue, the denouement was particularly savage. While Beck justifiably upbraided Gunvald for unprofessional behavior, we nonetheless felt that the police officer was somehow justified; there are occasions when restraint simply does not work.

This production, although structured around the basic whodunit framework, was far more interested in social criticism of an amoral world where it seems that anything goes, so long as those in power profit through their activities. In this kind of environment the police force have only limited powers to enforce the law.

Season Three Review

[southdavid · 7/10 · 4 July 2022]

Powering straight on, "Beck" remains on an eclectic production schedule, it's been four years and we're now in 2006.

Martin Beck (Peter Haber) continues as the highest profile detective in Stockholm. Along with his second in command, Gunvald Larsson (Mikael Persbrandt), the team negotiate a series of murder and terrorism cases, as well as the return of Lena Klingstrom (Stina Rautelin), the beginning of a potentially awkward relationship as well as the death of one of their own.

So, for this season several of the supporting cast have gone. The most high profile is Malin Birgerson, who featured heavily in the last season. Hillman, Robban and Nick, played by Hans Zischler, Jimmy Endeley and Marten Klingberg respectively all disappear too, with none of their departures mentioned. They are replaced by Bodil, played by Ing-Marie Carlsson and Mans Nathanaelson's naïve and amiable Oskar Bergman. The biggest return though is Lena, still played by Stina Rautelin, who re-joins the team and, oddly for the show, they address her departure, though only hinting at the reasons for her return.

Gunvald is still there though and is given a none case related background story as looking after his niece gives him a reason to hang out with Martin's daughter, Inger and her son. Though the relationship is never particularly deep and seemingly drifts in and out without much forethought, it does facilitate one of the episodes most dramatic moments, when Gunvald's niece is kidnapped.

Whilst there is still the odd moment that doesn't quite ring true - Oskar's over explaining should have been tolerated after the first time it paid off, Gunvald's burn out rather comes out of nowhere - it's a lot more settled and consistently enjoyable that it was in the first season and I'm happy to carry on.