The wait is finally over for fans of Scandinavian crime fiction. Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole began streaming on Netflix globally on March 26, 2026. This nine-episode series brings one of literature’s most beloved troubled detectives to the screen in a Norwegian-language production written by Nesbø himself. After the disappointing 2017 film adaptation of The Snowman, this new series aims to give Harry Hole (pronounced HAH-ree HOO-leh) the treatment fans have been waiting for.
The series adapts Nesbø’s fifth novel, The Devil’s Star, and arrives with strong critical backing. It currently holds a perfect 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praise the atmospheric direction, the committed performances from the lead cast, and the authentic Norwegian setting. However, some reviews note the nine-episode run feels stretched, with pacing issues in the middle episodes. The question for viewers is simple: should you press play or skip this one?
What Is Detective Hole About and Who Stars in It?
Tobias Santelmann takes on the role of Harry Hole, a brilliant but deeply flawed detective in the Oslo police force. The story begins with a traumatic event from five years earlier—a car chase during a botched bank robbery investigation that resulted in the death of Harry’s partner. Now trying to stay sober and maintain a relationship with Rakel (Pia Tjelta) and her young son Oleg (Maxime Baune Bochud), Harry gets pulled into a new case involving a serial killer who leaves red diamond-shaped stones under the eyelids of victims.
Across from Harry stands Joel Kinnaman as Tom Waaler, a fellow detective who is clearly corrupt and dangerously charismatic. Kinnaman’s Waaler serves as the perfect foil—smirking, wealthy beyond what police salary should allow, and seemingly connected to the city’s criminal underworld. The tension between these two men drives much of the series, with Waaler representing everything Harry opposes within the system.
The supporting cast includes Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as Harry’s partner Ellen, Ellen Helinder as Beate, a Swedish officer with a near-superhuman ability to recognize faces, and Peter Stormare in a cameo as a gang leader named Odin. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis provide the atmospheric score, adding to the show’s moody feel.
Is Detective Hole Better Than The Snowman Adaptation?
Yes, by a wide margin. The 2017 film The Snowman, starring Michael Fassbender, became famous for all the wrong reasons. Production rushed through filming without completing roughly 15 percent of the script, leaving the plot incoherent and audiences confused. That movie holds a dismal 7 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Working Title co-chair Eric Fellner, who produced both projects, told Variety that the key lesson was simple: “That to do a Jo Nesbø adaptation you need Jo Nesbø front and centre!” This time, Nesbø wrote the entire series himself, ensuring the tone and character work matched his vision. Santelmann’s performance as Harry has drawn comparisons to what Fassbender’s version lacked—a sense of genuine exhaustion and internal conflict that makes the character’s struggles feel real.
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What Critics Are Saying About the Netflix Series
Reviews for Detective Hole are largely positive, though with some common criticisms. Many critics agree the show succeeds where the film failed.
Richard Roeper from the Chicago Sun-Times (via Roger Ebert’s site) noted the series is strong but could improve if it became “a bit leaner” and more focused in future seasons. Pat Stacey of the Irish Independent called it a restoration of the character, portraying him as a troubled but brilliant detective battling inner demons.
The Hollywood Reporter praised the central performances, writing that Santelmann “gives a performance that matches the somber aesthetic” and that Kinnaman is “having a blast preening and sneering” as the villainous Waaler. The review also noted the series avoids the visual darkness problems common to similar shows, making the gloom “visually intelligible” rather than just murky.
Kelcie Mattson from Collider described the series as “a roundhouse-kick of a thrill ride” that delivers exactly what the genre promises. The Irish Examiner gave it strong praise, saying: “Every character is allowed to breathe. They could all support their own spin-off series.”
Radio Times was more measured, giving the series three out of five stars. The review noted that while the central characters are perfectly cast, the show “never does anything which feels particularly new or innovative” and runs too long at nine episodes. This sentiment appeared in multiple reviews—that a tighter six-episode cut could have elevated the series from good to great.
Slate offered the most critical take, calling the show “full of freakish perverts” and noting that while it’s well shot, the story leans heavily into absurdities and “untrammeled sadism.” The review pointed out that nearly every male character besides Harry comes across as creepy or deviant, which can feel excessive.
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What Viewers Should Know Before Watching
This is not light entertainment. Detective Hole carries a consistently dark tone throughout all nine episodes. The violence is graphic, with several scenes that linger on gore and naked female victims. Working Title’s Eric Fellner acknowledged this in an interview, saying: “There’s some pretty shocking stuff in it, but one person’s shocking is entertaining, another person’s shocking is depraved.”
The series also deals with heavy themes including addiction, police corruption, and sexual violence. The first episode contains a death that Fellner said will “blow people’s minds” because a major Norwegian actress is killed off early.
For fans of Nordic noir, this will feel familiar. The show hits all the genre markers: a brooding detective with a tragic past, a bleak urban setting, complicated relationships, and a killer who leaves symbolic clues. If you enjoyed shows like The Killing, The Bridge, or Netflix’s Department Q, this fits squarely in that tradition.
The series is in Norwegian with English subtitles. Netflix originally considered making it in English but switched to Norwegian to maintain “cultural specificity.” The show’s visuals and action sequences, including a helicopter chase in the opening minutes, give it a high-end feel despite a budget described as “high-end for Norway but low-end for America.”
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