There is some dispute over TV Wallander in our household. Hilary raves about the Kenneth Branagh BBC series whereas I maintain the original Swedish version, where Wallander (actually pronounced properly unlike the Branagh character!) is played by Kirsten Henriksson, is about 1000% better (or more). Anyway, the second Swedish series continues tonight on BBC4. For some reason that we can't understand we missed this the first time around. It is, in my view, the best drama currently on mainstream UK TV. On this, at least, Hilary agrees (since a Branagh version is not currently available).
If you have missed this, I guess it is available on BBC iPlayer. The books, by Henning Mankell, are also superb and I try to find a new one to take with me on each holiday.
WARNING: Some people find the books depressing. Mankell's reflexive detective struggles to come to terms with his broken marriage, critical daughter, contemptuous aged father, his own diabetes, changes in Swedish society, especially with its growing immigration and attendant racism, whilst maintaining a vision of the police service as a force for social good. In these struggles his character shines through as someone trying his best to be a good person - but realizing that he often fails. Holding all this together run beautifully crafted murder mystery plots. Obviously I don't find the books depressing. Instaead I find I can idently with many of Wallander's struggles and perhaps even learn something from them. Above all - the books are a bloody good read.
