Netflix’s new Swedish series, The New Force, brings a powerful piece of history to life. The show, which started on October 3, 2025, follows the journey of Sweden’s first female police officers in 1958. They face a tough job in a male-dominated world while patrolling the dangerous streets of Stockholm. Here is a simple guide to the actors and the characters they play.
The Three Pioneers at the Heart of the Story
The story focuses on three women who graduate from the police academy and become roommates. They are assigned to the busy Klara district in Stockholm.
Josefin Asplund as Carin Eriksson
Josefin Asplund plays Carin Eriksson, a determined rookie with a strong protective instinct, especially for women. The show follows her as male officers often do not take her seriously. She finds herself investigating the death of a s*x worker named Monica, which leads her to a dangerous pimp named Jack Hellman. Carin also has a complicated relationship with her boyfriend, Arne, and her family past. Josefin Asplund is known for her roles in the TV series Vikings and the movie The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Agnes Rase as Siv Morell
Agnes Rase portrays Siv Morell, an ambitious officer who wants to become a detective. She is determined to move up in the police ranks and prove herself. She forms a connection with a veteran detective, Oscar Thornberg, while dealing with the prejudice from her male partner, Rossi. Agnes Rase is a rising Swedish actress who has previously appeared in the film Midsommar.
Malin Persson as Ingrid Gustafsson
Malin Persson plays Ingrid Gustafsson, a more reserved and thoughtful officer. She secretly has a Jewish heritage that she hides from her colleagues, a storyline that shows the cultural biases of the time. She is often the voice of reason in the group and must deal with a partner, Wallin, who initially refuses to speak to her. Malin Persson has starred in shows like Thunder in My Heart and Midnight Sun.
The Supporting Cast of Officers and Civilians
The world of The New Force is filled with other key characters who support, challenge, and complicate the lives of the main trio.
The Male Police Partners
Christopher Wagelin plays Johan Reimer, Carin’s patrol partner. He is more accommodating than other male officers and becomes a mentor figure, but he still holds some of the era’s gender biases.
Jimmy Lindström plays Wallin, Ingrid’s patrol partner. He embodies the distrust many male officers had for their female colleagues, initially refusing to even acknowledge her.
Pablo Leiva Wenger plays Rossi, Siv’s patrol partner. He is openly sexist and creates problems for her, even blaming her for his own mistakes.
Police Leadership and Detectives
- Cilla Thorell plays Jenny Berg, an established police sister who oversees the female officers at the Klara precinct.
- Peter Eriksson plays Gunnar Svärd, the district chief. He started the program to hire female officers because of a personnel shortage, hoping it would earn him a promotion.
- Hannes Fohlin plays Oscar Thornberg, a police detective who shows interest in Siv and is one of the few welcoming male veterans.
- Dominik Henzel plays Carl Gustaf Fischer, a detective who strongly disapproves of women being in the police force.
Personal Relationships and Antagonists
- Rasmus Luthander plays Arne Grahn, Carin’s upper-class boyfriend. Their relationship is tested by the dangers and secrets of her job.
- Leonard Terfelt plays Jack Hellman, a menacing brothel owner who becomes a key figure in the central mystery involving the death of a s*x worker.
The Real-World Inspiration Behind the Drama
The New Force is not just a fictional story. It is based on real events in Swedish history. The first class of women was admitted to the Swedish Police Academy in 1957, and they began joining patrols the following year. The series shows the public ridicule, media belittlement, and scorn from colleagues these pioneers faced. The show uses its 1958 setting to tackle issues of gender equality, class, and social unrest that were prevalent in Stockholm at the time.
The series was created by Patrik Ehrnst and Rojda Sekersöz, with Sekersöz also serving as a director alongside Julia Lindström. It was filmed in Norrköping, Sweden.
The show uses a hip-hop soundtrack over retro-style credits, a creative choice that perhaps underlines how many of the issues from 1958 are still relevant today.
All six episodes of The New Force are available to stream now on Netflix.
Also Read: Where Was The New Force Filmed? Exploring the Swedish Locations of Netflix’s Period Drama
