Perfectly blending the noir, thriller, and Southern Gothic genres,the acclaimed mystery TV showTrue Detectiveremains one of the best crime dramas of the 21st century. However, in the years since the series premiered, many great follow-up projects have premiered across the world, garnering attention after being added to Netflix. This introduces a wide array of audiences to series that are similar toTrue Detective.
Most ofTrue Detective’s best episodesare in season 1, as Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have fantastic onscreen chemistry that uplifts the thrilling central mystery. However, part of the fun of the project is the fact that it’s an anthology series, tackling a new case and a new cast of characters every season. Some of the best-received crime dramas use this format to keep the audience interested.
True Detective Fans Should Check Out Deadwind While It’s On Netflix
Deadwindis a dark, atmospheric Finnish crime dramathat ran for three seasons, premiering in 2018. Starring Pihla Viitala as Sofia Karppi,Deadwindis comparable toTrue Detectiveand will scratch a similar itch for fans of the show. It’s surprising that the series is still as underrated as it is, sinceDeadwindfollows a similar formula toTrue Detective, which instantly made waves.
Though it isn’t set against the backdrop of decaying towns in the Southern U.S., there’s still a clear sense of style and purpose, and the backdrop ofDeadwindis just as influential to the story. Deeply grim and gritty,Deadwindbegins with the death of Sofia’s husband, which forces the protagonist to return to her life as a detective while attempting to balance her personal life.
Like True Detective, Deadwind Features A New Case For Every Season
WhileDeadwindkeeps Sofia on as the lead detective throughout its seasons, each installment of the show takes the characters in exciting new directions. Like thebest crime drama TV shows,Deadwinddraws from contemporary issues and social circumstances to make the cases connect back to the deeper themes of the story. However,Deadwindremains much more consistent throughout its run, whereasTrue Detectivestruggled to match the success of its first season.
It would be easy for the seasons ofDeadwindto grow repetitive, as the audience knows that it will be up to Sofia to unravel the threads of the shocking murders that take place. However,Deadwindconsistently subverts the audience’s expectations and finds a way to make the stakes even higher, forcing Sofia and her allies to confront themselves and their own preconceived notions.
How Deadwind Differs From The Hit HBO Series
There are some obvious differences betweenDeadwindandTrue Detective,as the shows have completely different sensibilities and cultural contexts, taking place in two different countries. Comparing how the investigators inTrue Detectiveoperate both within and outside the law to the way the detectives inDeadwindexamine evidence is interesting, especially within the larger context of the genre.
It’s fair to say that there will never be anotherTrue Detective, butDeadwindisn’t a pale imitation; it’s amust-watch, underrated crime drama.Deadwindfeels wholly original from the beginning, and understands that the more anthology-style format can become even more gripping when audiences get to follow more long-term character arcs, as seen through Sofia’s growth on the show.
