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Jordskott: Series 1 (TV)
R2 - United Kingdom - ITV Review written by and copyright: Matthew Crossman (23rd August 2015). |
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The Show
 Eva Thorn lad (Moa Gammel) is a police detective who, seven years earlier lost her daughter Josefine. The official report says that Eva’s daughter drowned in a lake and her body was never recovered but Eva believes that someone took her daughter. Seven years later, and whilst still trying to cope with the loss of her daughter, Eva returns to the same area that her daughter disappeared in when a young boy also goes missing. As Eva gets drawn into the investigation it becomes clear that there are dark forces behind the disappearances and it is down to Eva to protect her loved ones from those forces but how far is she willing to go? If that seems like a relatively short synopsis it’s because it is. Deliberately. To reveal too much of the plot will rob the viewer of many of the wonderful and frightening surprises that the show has in store. Whilst set and filmed in Sweden creator Henrik Bjorn has given the show a distinctly American feel. The way that the woods plays such a large part in proceedings mirrors David Lynch’s ‘Twin Peaks’ and there are certain aspects of the production that have more than an ‘X-Files’ feel about them. What is most rewarding about this series is that it starts down, what the viewer suspects is, a normal police drama route but after several twists and turns becomes something else altogether, and it’s something much more frightening. The combination of detective story and supernatural story gives the show an edge that many of it’s predecessors do not and it’s this aspect that is the reason I have compared it to ’Twin Peaks’ and ’the X-Files’. Like many shows of this length (ten sixty minute episodes) it does take a few episodes to hit it’s stride. This is not a bad thing as it allows the viewer to become fully aware of the characters reasons and motives and that luxurious pace at the start certainly pays off in spades by the time the final few episodes roll around. The characters are all well defined and the acting is of a high standard indeed. One false note in the actors performances could easily have ruined the production but thankfully there are none. The directorial duties are shared between the creator of the show, Henrik Bjorn, and Anders Engstrom, and because it’s just the two the vision of the show is constant throughout. When Jordskott (which incidentally translate into English as earth shot or earth sprung, giving you some indication of how the forces play a part in proceedings) first aired in Sweden in 2014 it garnered the highest viewing figures in that country in over ten years. It has recently concluded it’s run on ITV’s Encore channel and if you missed it then I urge you to pick up this four DVD collection now. It’s not to be missed.
Video
It is presented here in it’s original 1.78:1 ratio (anamorphic). As, it seems, with many of these Nordic Noir shows, the tones of the picture are often sombre with a slightly blue tint. Having never been to Sweden I cannot say if the country is naturally like that or not but it certainly works here in presenting mood. The forest where much of the story unfolds is lush and green and the clever camera work makes it feel as if the forest is one of the characters. The show is presented here on four DVD’s with episodes 1-3 on disc 1, 4-6 on disc 2, 7-8 on disc 3 and episodes 9-10 on disc 4. All the extras are on disc 4.
Audio
The audio of the show is presented in Swedish Dolby Digital 5.1 Most of the soundtrack is through the centre and front speakers whilst the rears come into their own for some creepy effects, especially later in the series. The dialogue is crisp and clear and the musical soundtrack never threatens to force itself over the dialogue. Subtitles are provided for the Swedish to English translation but these are for dialogue only. The subtitles are of a simple variety and are white, computer generated with a slight black outline. Not the prettiest but they do the job. For those viewers that speak and understand Swedish the subtitles can be switched off.
Extras
Behind The Scenes - This extra is divided into three sections. The first is ‘Production’ (7.41) Fillip Hammertoe (producer) and Henrik Bjorn (creator and director) talk about the genesis of the project and how they shot a short pilot with the intention of getting financing for the full production. The pair talk about problems they faced in bringing Jordskott to the screen and how they surmounted those problems. The also discuss the locations and sets used in the show. The majority of this section is in English with no subtitles available with the exception of the sections that are spoken in Swedish. The second of these sections is an interview with Goran Ragnerstam and Moa Gammel who play Goran Wass and Eva Thornblad respectively (8.11). Goran Ragnerstam’s interview pieces are in Swedish and are subtitled. He talks about the mythological aspects of the show and his own views in the supernatural and what makes this show different from other Nordic Noir shows. Eva Thornblad’s interview is also conducted in Swedish and is also accompanied with subtitles. Eva talks about the set design and how intricate everything was and how no detail was ignored. She also discusses the International interest in the series and how intense filming the series was. The third extra in this section is an interview, in Swedish with English subtitles, with creator/director Henrik Bjorn (3.32). Henrick talks about the ‘mash’ of genres that make up Jordskott and that how it is the perfect series to watch if you like to be scared and frightened and yet intrigued.
Overall
A top class television show which will keep the viewer guessing right up until the end. The generous running time of nearly ten hours allows the show to unfold at a natural pace which itself means that the creepier elements build nicely rather than attacking the viewer. Despite the fact that I have compared it, favourably, to The X-Files and Twin Peaks, Jordskott is quite unique and well worth seeking out. 
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