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The Bridge Season 1 was a perfect example of strong writing with well-developed characters and great direction, especially when it involved stunning views of the Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden.
*IMPORTANT: This review contains some key details about Season 1*
As Season 2 begins, a ship is taking the usual path, as they should across the waters, but suddenly veers off without warning. It’s not responding to calls from the coastguard, even though we’re told they communicated with it earlier; heads straight for the bridge, hits it and grinds to a halt. Saga Norén (Sofia Helin) is assigned to the case and, on board, she finds five people chained up and no-one else, so whoever has put them in that position has long since got off the ship. But who did this, and why?
Saga’s path is destined to cross with that of Martin Rohde (Kim Bodnia) as she investigates because the five were a mix of Swedish and Danish nationals, but they haven’t seen each other since August’s funeral. Martin’s boss is unsure how he’ll react to seeing Saga again, 13 months on from everything that happened, while Saga seems completely oblivious as to why this would be the case. In fact, she’s still such an oddity, she still thinks nothing of having a change of tops in her drawer at work, and she’s the complete opposite to a ‘people person’. For example, when Martin asks her why she hasn’t come over to see him since the events of the first season, she says blankly, “because I didn’t have a case which involved Denmark”.
That said, he finds working with her is cathartic in the light of what’s happened.
The next paragraph lists a few of the basics that happens early on in season 2, but just in case you want to avoid them, I’ve hidden them:
Overall, there’s a great deal to stir into the big mixing pot, as with the previous season, and the relationship between Saga and Martin goes from strength to strength. They also announced on Breakfast, on Thursday January 30th, ahead of that weekend’s Nordicana event, that there’s plans for more ‘Bridge’ and I can’t wait for it. I don’t know how many possible scenarios there are for involving a bridge, but even if it didn’t and they found a way to incorporate the two leads then I’m all for it. After all, Taggart survived long after the actor who played the titular character had passed away. There certainly feels like there’s a lot more to discover in the characters of Saga and Martin.
I know that The Bridge also spawned the European remake The Tunnel, which I understand was very close in plot and almost everything else, but I had no desire to watch a copycat version of something so good. It can’t compare. I’m also going to avoid the U.S. remake, also known as the original’s title, The Bridge, involving a serial killer operating on both sides of the Texas-Chihuahua border.
At least we know that if they try to remake this season, they can’t have a ship running loose in either case…
You can see the interview this Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia on BBC Breakfast page 2, where you can also read about the presentation of the package.
Presented in the original 16:9 ratio, the picture perfectly captures the grim and grey-looking Danish and Swedish suburbs.
The sound is in Dolby ProLogic and is fine for what it does, getting across the dialogue (even though I need the subtitles to understand it), plus plenty of atmosphere.
Sadly, there are no extras on this release, so technically the overall score loses points for that, but overall this is another quality drama well worth seeing.
The menu features links to the five episodes on each of the two discs, with the theme playing in the background and subtle animation of clouds on the background against the image of the bridge itself.
Naturally, there are subtitles in English, and with Season 2 they’re presented as optional unlike season 1’s which were burnt into the print. Chapters are thin on the ground with just 5 per 60-minute episode. Season 1 had 6 per episode, so deflation has kicked in early.
The Bridge Season 2 is released on February 3rd 2014 on Blu-ray, DVD and a Complete Season 1 & 2 Blu-ray Boxset.
Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia on BBC Breakfast (Jan 30th 2014)
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FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS |
10 10 7 0 |
| OVERALL | Unmissable. |
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 10 * 60 minutes
Year: 2013
Released: February 3rd 2014
Cat no: FCD831
Chapters: 5 per episode
Picture: 1080p High Definition
Sound: DTS 5.1
Languages: Danish, Swedish
Subtitles: English
Widescreen: 16:9
Disc Format: 2*BD50
Directors: Henrik Georgsson, Morten Arnfred and Kathrine Windfeld
Producers: Gunnar Carlsson, Bo Ehrhardt and Anders Landström
Season writing credits: Camilla Ahlgren, Maren Louise Käehne, Måns Mårlind, Hans Rosenfeldt, Nikolaj Scherfig and Björn Stein
Music: Patrik Andrén, Uno Helmersson and Johan Söderqvist
Cast:
Saga Norén: Sofia Helin
Martin Rohde: Kim Bodnia
Hans Pettersson: Dag Malmberg
Lillian: Sarah Boberg
John: Rafael Pettersson
Jens Hansen: Lars Simonsen
Mette Rohde: Puk Scharbau
Laura Mössberg: Julia Ragnarsson
Jakob Sandberg: Daniel Adolfsson
Axel Mössberg: Johan Hedenberg
Niklas Nilsson: Alexander Öhrstrand
Linus Nilsson: Andreas Ahlm
Albin: Simon Åhlander
Anna-Dea: Julie Wright
Katarina Lövgren: Ronja Svedmark
Mathilde Madsen: Stephanie Leon
Mads Nielsen: Jakob Oftebro
Julian Christensen: Peter Christoffersen
Marcus: Fredrik Hiller
Beate Frelle: Danica Curcic
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.
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