Netflix’s New Crime Drama Has Entered the Top 10. Here’s Why You Should Watch
Netflix has wasted little time giving viewers another mystery to get hooked on. Detective Hole, the new crime drama based on Jo Nesbo’s bestselling Harry Hole novels, premiered on March 26 and immediately landed in the U.S. Top 10.
The Nordic noir series arrived alongside the more heavily anticipated horror miniseries Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, which was executive produced by Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers. While that series opened at No. 4 on Netflix’s daily list of the most popular shows in the United States, Detective Hole followed closely behind at No. 6 the day after its debut.
That is a strong early showing for a new foreign-language crime series, and its position could rise over the weekend and into the following week.
A New Netflix Mystery Built Around Harry Hole
Detective Hole is adapted from Jo Nesbo’s series of Harry Hole novels, specifically the fifth installment, The Devil’s Star.
The story centers on Detective Harry Hole, played by Tobias Santelmann, an Oslo police detective whose professional life becomes increasingly dangerous while his personal struggles continue to follow him. Harry is investigating a serial killer who has managed to remain elusive while causing havoc, but the case becomes even more complicated when he has to contend with corruption within his own department.
One of the most significant figures in that conflict is fellow detective Tom Waaler, played by For All Mankind star Joel Kinnaman.
The combination of a difficult murder investigation, a troubled central detective, and corruption inside the police force gives the series plenty of material for its nine-episode first season.
A Nordic Noir With Room to Grow
For many American viewers, Tobias Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman may be the most recognizable names in the cast. Since Detective Hole is a foreign-language series, the rest of its ensemble may be less familiar to U.S. audiences.
That may not matter much once the mystery gets underway. The series has an ensemble cast that helps establish its Oslo setting and the increasingly complicated world surrounding Harry Hole.
Netflix has already found major success with action-driven thrillers and mystery series, including The Night Agent and The Lincoln Lawyer. Detective Hole could potentially follow a similar path if viewers continue tuning in.
Its early Top 10 performance gives the series a promising start.
Harry Hole Has Been on Screen Before
This is not the first time Nesbo’s famous detective has been adapted for the screen.
The character previously appeared in the 2017 movie The Snowman, with Michael Fassbender taking on the role of Harry Hole. The film also featured Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Ronan Vibert, Val Kilmer, and J.K. Simmons.
Despite its impressive cast, The Snowman did not perform strongly enough to lead to additional Harry Hole movies.
The Netflix series gives the character another opportunity to reach a much larger audience, this time through a serialized story that has more room to explore the detective and the cases surrounding him.
Could Detective Hole Return for Season 2?
There is plenty of source material available if Netflix decides to continue the series.
Nesbo’s Harry Hole series contains 13 novels in total, while the first season of Detective Hole draws specifically from The Devil’s Star, the fifth book.
That leaves numerous stories that could potentially be adapted in future seasons. Of course, another season would depend on the series continuing to perform well on Netflix.
For now, Detective Hole has made an encouraging first impression. Its debut at No. 6 on the U.S. daily Top 10 puts it in a strong position, while its nine-episode first season gives viewers plenty of time to get caught up in Harry Hole’s latest investigation.
If you enjoy crime mysteries, police thrillers, and stories built around a dangerous investigation, Detective Hole is worth adding to your Netflix watch list. And with 13 Harry Hole novels available as potential source material, there is certainly room for the series to continue beyond its first season.