Detective Hole

Detective Hole

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Overview

When a series of ritualistic murders hits Oslo, a gifted detective must navigate a puzzle of patterns, corruption and his own demons to catch the killer.

Media

Detective+Hole

Cast

Tobias Santelmann

Genres:

Keywords:

based on novel or book corrupt cop

More Show Details

Vote Average: 7.3/10

Vote Count: 100 Votes

Show Popularity: 13.9713

Show Status: Returning Series

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: Norwegian

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 02 May 2026 at 7:41 pm

9 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10 THE SUMMARY Oslo is under a heatwave as a serial killer begins leaving ritualistic clues—including a five-pointed star—behind at every crime scene. Detective Harry Hole (Tobias Santelmann) is a brilliant but tormented alcoholic whose career is on the line. He’s forced to work with the charismatic but corrupt Tom Waaler (Joel Kinnaman), whom Harry suspects is involved in the very crimes they are investigating. This nine-episode series, adapted by Jo Nesbø himself from his novel *The Devil's Star*, is a dark, gritty dive into the heart of Nordic Noir. THE PROS This show is an absolute highlight for crime fans because it finally gives the Harry Hole character the screen time he needs to breathe. It hits a 9 because Tobias Santelmann is an honest-to-god revelation, playing Harry as a pained, shaky, and deeply smart man without falling into the "tortured genius" clichés. The chemistry—or rather the pure, cold hatred—between him and Joel Kinnaman is epic. Kinnaman plays Waaler with a sly, terrifying menace that keeps the tension high in every scene they share. The cinematography captures the "overcast" summer of Oslo perfectly, making the city feel like a character itself. It’s a smart, heavy series that stays true to the dark heart of the books while feeling like its own fresh thing. THE CONS It stays at a 9 because the sheer amount of suffering and misery on screen can make it a heavy watch that might feel like a bit of a slog if you’re not in the right mood. It misses a higher mark because some of the supporting police subplots can feel a little thin compared to the intense cat-and-mouse game between Harry and Waaler. A few of the mystery reveals near the end move so fast they might be a head-scratcher if you aren't paying close attention to every tiny detail from the earlier episodes. While the show is visually stunning, the pacing slows down in the middle as it focuses on Harry's personal spiral, which is honest to the character but might test the patience of viewers just here for the serial killer hunt. THE VERDICT 9/10. A dark, moody, and expertly acted masterpiece of modern crime TV. It’s an epic result for Jo Nesbø fans and a fair shout for the best detective show on Netflix in years. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • To keep the show feeling as authentic as possible, Jo Nesbø insisted on writing the scripts himself and even filmed many of the scenes at Restaurant Schrøder, the real-life Oslo landmark where Harry Hole drinks in the novels.• Tobias Santelmann actually bulked up and spent weeks studying the specific dialect and slang used in Oslo’s police force to make Harry’s raw, gravelly voice sound entirely natural.• The show's soundtrack was composed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, who used a mix of low, droning strings and metallic sounds to reflect the "unseen danger" lurking in the shadows of the city. THE VIBE Like a cold beer in a hot, crowded bar. It smells of cigarette smoke, damp asphalt, and the metallic tang of a heavy badge.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

9 Episodes

Air Date: 2026-03-26

In season one, Harry Hole goes head-to-head with his long time adversary and corrupt detective Tom Waaler. Harry is a brilliant but tormented homicide detective who struggles with his demons. As the two navigate the blurred ethical lines of the criminal justice system, Harry must do all he can to catch a serial killer and bring Waaler to justice before it is too late.

Videos

Detective+Hole

Detective+Hole

Detective+Hole

Detective+Hole

Cast

Tobias Santelmann

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Detective Hole

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Detective Hole

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 2 May 2026 at 8:41 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10
THE SUMMARY
Oslo is under a heatwave as a serial killer begins leaving ritualistic clues—including a five-pointed star—behind at every crime scene. Detective Harry Hole (Tobias Santelmann) is a brilliant but tormented alcoholic whose career is on the line. He’s forced to work with the charismatic but corrupt Tom Waaler (Joel Kinnaman), whom Harry suspects is involved in the very crimes they are investigating. This nine-episode series, adapted by Jo Nesbø himself from his novel *The Devil’s Star*, is a dark, gritty dive into the heart of Nordic Noir.
THE PROS
This show is an absolute highlight for crime fans because it finally gives the Harry Hole character the screen time he needs to breathe. It hits a 9 because Tobias Santelmann is an honest-to-god revelation, playing Harry as a pained, shaky, and deeply smart man without falling into the “tortured genius” clichés. The chemistry—or rather the pure, cold hatred—between him and Joel Kinnaman is epic. Kinnaman plays Waaler with a sly, terrifying menace that keeps the tension high in every scene they share. The cinematography captures the “overcast” summer of Oslo perfectly, making the city feel like a character itself. It’s a smart, heavy series that stays true to the dark heart of the books while feeling like its own fresh thing.
THE CONS
It stays at a 9 because the sheer amount of suffering and misery on screen can make it a heavy watch that might feel like a bit of a slog if you’re not in the right mood. It misses a higher mark because some of the supporting police subplots can feel a little thin compared to the intense cat-and-mouse game between Harry and Waaler. A few of the mystery reveals near the end move so fast they might be a head-scratcher if you aren’t paying close attention to every tiny detail from the earlier episodes. While the show is visually stunning, the pacing slows down in the middle as it focuses on Harry’s personal spiral, which is honest to the character but might test the patience of viewers just here for the serial killer hunt.
THE VERDICT
9/10. A dark, moody, and expertly acted masterpiece of modern crime TV. It’s an epic result for Jo Nesbø fans and a fair shout for the best detective show on Netflix in years.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• To keep the show feeling as authentic as possible, Jo Nesbø insisted on writing the scripts himself and even filmed many of the scenes at Restaurant Schrøder, the real-life Oslo landmark where Harry Hole drinks in the novels.
• Tobias Santelmann actually bulked up and spent weeks studying the specific dialect and slang used in Oslo’s police force to make Harry’s raw, gravelly voice sound entirely natural.
• The show’s soundtrack was composed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, who used a mix of low, droning strings and metallic sounds to reflect the “unseen danger” lurking in the shadows of the city.
THE VIBE
Like a cold beer in a hot, crowded bar. It smells of cigarette smoke, damp asphalt, and the metallic tang of a heavy badge.

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