Bordertown (Finnish TV series)
Bordertown (Finnish: Sorjonen) is a Finnish crime drama and Nordic noir television series created by Miikko Oikkonen and starring Ville Virtanen as Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen. It premiered in Finland on 16 October 2016 on Yle TV1. The series was renewed for a second season on 25 April 2017. Season 2 premiered on 7 October 2018. It was renewed for a third season in September 2018. Season 3 has premiered in December 2019.
Bordertown | |
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Finnish title card | |
Sorjonen | |
Genre |
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Created by | Miikko Oikkonen |
Directed by |
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Starring |
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Country of origin | Finland |
Original language(s) | Finnish |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 31 |
Production | |
Running time | 58 minutes |
Production company(s) |
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Release | |
Original network | Yle TV1 |
Picture format | 16:9 (1080i50) |
Audio format | 2.0 surround |
Original release | 16 October 2016 – present |
External links | |
The series on Yle TV1 |
In addition to its home country, the series has also received praise internationally; one of the fans of the series includes American author Stephen King, among others.[1]
Plot
Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen is one of the most respected officers at the National Bureau of Investigation in Finland when his wife barely survives brain cancer. Sorjonen then takes a new job leading SECRI, the Serious Crime Unit in the city of Lappeenranta, South Karelia, and moves his family to the town near the border of Russia for a more peaceful life. But life turns out to be less than peaceful there.
Cast and characters
Main
- Ville Virtanen as Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen
- Matleena Kuusniemi as Pauliina Sorjonen
- Anu Sinisalo as Detective Constable Lena Jaakkola
- Lenita Susi as Katia Jaakkola
- Kristiina Halttu as Detective Superintendent Taina Perttula
- Olivia Ainali as Janina Sorjonen
- Ilkka Villi as Detective Constable Niko Uusitalo
Recurring
- Max Bremer as Coroner Hannu-Pekka Lund
- Matti Laine as Risto Susi-Huhtala
- Jasmin Hamid as Jenna "Jänis" Luhta
- Janne Virtanen as Robert Degerman
- Mikko Leppilampi as Mikael Ahola
- Laura Malmivaara as Anneli Ahola
- Niina Nurminen as Johanna Metso
- Elias Salonen as Elias Ström
- Eriikka Väliahde as Satu-Maria Porttila
- Svante Martin as Gösta Liljeqvist
- Satu Paavola as Veera Niemi
- Maria Kuusiluoma as Jaana Erkki
- Johan Storgård as Tuomas Heikkinen
- Robert Enckell as Paul Degerman
Development and production
Bordertown is produced for Yle by Fisher King Production[2] and Federation Entertainment.[3][4][5][6] The series was presented at the MIPTV Media Market in Cannes on 3 April 2016, where it competed in the MIPDrama Screenings for the "Coup de Cœur" award.[7][8][9]
International distribution rights were acquired from Federation Entertainment in October 2016 by Sky Deutschland for Germany, CanalPlay for France, and VRT for Flanders (Dutch-speaking Belgium).[10] The series was sold to "over 40 countries".[11]
Bordertown was renewed for a second season on 25 April 2017,[12] with Kuusniemi, Sinisalo, Susi, Ainali, and Villi also reprising their roles.[11] Filming began in Lappeenranta on 8 August 2017, and wrapped in Helsinki on 7 November 2017.[13][14][15]
The series was renewed for a third season in September 2018,[16] with filming starting on 13 December 2018.[17] The season is set to premiere in December 2019, and it has been labelled as the final one.[17][18]
Release
Broadcast
Bordertown premiered on Yle TV1 on 16 October 2016.[19] The debut was watched by 1.1 million viewers and set a record for a Finnish series.[20] The total viewership for Season 1 was an average of one million viewers.[11]
Season two premiered on 7 October 2018.[21] (It was originally scheduled to premiere on 14 October.[22])
Season three premiered on 1 December 2019.[23]
Home media
Netflix acquired rights in February 2017 to stream the series in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Netherlands.[24] Streaming of Season 1 became available on 31 March 2017, followed by Season 2 on 2 February 2019 and season 3 on 11 May 2020. [25]
Season 1 was released on DVD and Blu-ray in Germany by EuroVideo on 14 February 2019, followed by Season 2 on 11 April 2019[26][27]
Awards and nominations
Bordertown won the 2017 Golden Venla Awards for Best Drama Series, Best Actor (Ville Virtanen), and Best Actress (Anu Sinisalo).[28][29]
Series overview
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | ||||
1 | 11 | 16 October 2016 | 25 December 2016 | ||
2 | 10 | 7 October 2018 | 9 December 2018 | ||
3 | 10 | 1 December 2019 | 2 February 2020 |
Episodes
Season 1 (2016)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "The Dolls' House, part 1 (Nukkekoti, osa 1)" | Miikko Oikkonen | Miikko Oikkonen, Atro Lahtela, Matti Laine, Antti Pesonen | 16 October 2016 |
2 | 2 | "The Dolls' House, part 2 (Nukkekoti, osa 2)" | Miikko Oikkonen | Miikko Oikkonen, Atro Lahtela, Matti Laine, Antti Pesonen | 23 October 2016 |
3 | 3 | "The Dolls' House, part 3 (Nukkekoti, osa 3)" | Miikko Oikkonen | Miikko Oikkonen, Atro Lahtela, Matti Laine, Antti Pesonen | 30 October 2016 |
4 | 4 | "Dragonflies, part 1 (Sudenkorennot, osa 1)" | Jyri Kähönen | Miikko Oikkonen, Matti Laine, Atro Lahtela, Antti Pesonen | 6 November 2016 |
5 | 5 | "Dragonflies, part 2 (Sudenkorennot, osa 2)" | Jyri Kähönen | Miikko Oikkonen, Matti Laine, Atro Lahtela, Antti Pesonen | 13 November 2016 |
6 | 6 | "The Fury, part 1 (Raivotar, osa 1)" | Jyri Kähönen | Miikko Oikkonen, Antti Pesonen, Matti Laine, Atro Lahtela | 20 November 2016 |
7 | 7 | "The Fury, part 2 (Raivotar, osa 2)" | Jyri Kähönen | Miikko Oikkonen, Antti Pesonen, Matti Laine, Atro Lahtela | 27 November 2016 |
8 | 8 | "The Lady in the Lake, part 1 (Nainen järvessä, osa 1)" | Juuso Syrjä | Miikko Oikkonen, Atro Lahtela, Antti Pesonen, Matti Laine | 4 December 2016 |
9 | 9 | "The Lady in the Lake, part 2 (Nainen järvessä, osa 2)" | Juuso Syrjä | Miikko Oikkonen, Atro Lahtela, Antti Pesonen, Matti Laine | 11 December 2016 |
10 | 10 | "The End Game, part 1 (Loppupeli, osa 1)" | Juuso Syrjä | Miikko Oikkonen, Antti Pesonen, Atro Lahtela, Matti Laine | 18 December 2016 |
11 | 11 | "The End Game, part 2 (Loppupeli, osa 2)" | Juuso Syrjä | Miikko Oikkonen, Antti Pesonen, Atro Lahtela, Matti Laine | 25 December 2016 |
Season 2 (2018)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
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12 | 1 | "Five Finger Exercise, part 1" | Jyri Kähönen | Miikko Oikkonen, Paula Mononen | 7 October 2018 | |
SECRI investigates the murder of a woman and her son, which may be connected to Detective Lena Jaakkola's past actions in the FSB. | ||||||
13 | 2 | "Five Finger Exercise, part 2" | Jyri Kähönen | Miikko Oikkonen, Paula Mononen | 14 October 2018 | |
The investigation continues as Lena, Kari, and Katia make contact with a Russian convict who claims to be Katia's biological father. | ||||||
14 | 3 | "The Rite of Spring, part 1" | Jyri Kähönen, Juuso Syrjä | Paula Mononen, Miikko Oikkonen | 21 October 2018 | |
The manager of a local daycare becomes the subject of a SECRI investigation after an aborted fetus is discovered at her home. | ||||||
15 | 4 | "The Rite of Spring, part 2" | Jyri Kähönen, Juuso Syrjä | Paula Mononen, Miikko Oikkonen | 28 October 2018 | |
Kari and the SECRI team uncover a conspiracy connected to a daycare manager's dark past. | ||||||
16 | 5 | "Cat's Cradle, part 1" | Juuso Syrjä | Antti Pesonen, Miikko Oikkonen | 4 November 2018 | |
Niko leads the search for a deadly sniper while Kari takes leave to look after Pauliina, who is undergoing cancer treatment. | ||||||
17 | 6 | "Cat's Cradle, part 2" | Juuso Syrjä | Antti Pesonen, Miikko Oikkonen | 11 November 2018 | |
The search for the shooter intensifies as the police declare a curfew following more killings. | ||||||
18 | 7 | "The Bloodmaid, part 1" | Juuso Syrjä | Miikko Oikkonen | 18 November 2018 | |
When a body is found in the wall of a student's flat, SECRI must find the link between the student, the victim and other young women reported missing. | ||||||
19 | 8 | "The Bloodmaid, part 2" | Juuso Syrjä | Miikko Oikkonen | 25 November 2018 | |
More mutilated remains are discovered as SECRI searches for a killer with possible cannibalistic tendencies. | ||||||
20 | 9 | "Without a Shadow, part 1" | Jyri Kähönen | Miikko Oikkonen, Paula Mononen | 2 December 2018 | |
Two young men take the Sorjonen family hostage, forcing Kari to investigate the suspicious disappearance of their mother. | ||||||
21 | 10 | "Without a Shadow, part 2" | Jyri Kähönen | Miikko Oikkonen, Paula Mononen | 9 December 2018 | |
The hostage situation at the Sorjonen household intensifies as Lena travels to Russia to help Kari with the investigation. |
Season 3 (2019–2020)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
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22 | 1 | "Human stain"(Ihmisen tahra) | Marko Mäkilaakso | Miikko Oikkonen | 1 December 2019 |
23 | 2 | "The human Beast 1/2"(Ihmispeto 1/2) | Juuso Syrjä | Miikko Oikkonen, Sanna Reinumägi | 8 December 2019 |
24 | 3 | "The human Beast 2/2"(Ihmispeto 2/2) | Juuso Syrjä | Miikko Oikkonen, Sanna Reinumägi | 15 December 2019 |
25 | 4 | "Sons and lovers 1/3"(Poikia ja rakastajia 1/3) | Jussi Hiltunen | Miikko Oikkonen | 22 December 2019 |
26 | 5 | "Sons and lovers 2/3"(Poikia ja rakastajia 2/3) | Jussi Hiltunen | Miikko Oikkonen | 29 December 2019 |
27 | 6 | "Sons and lovers 3/3"(Poikia ja rakastajia 3/3) | Jussi Hiltunen | Miikko Oikkonen | 5 January 2020 |
28 | 7 | "The Lady in the mirror 1/2"(Nainen peilissä 1/2) | Marko Mäkilaakso | Paula Mononen, Miikko Oikkonen | 12 January 2020 |
29 | 8 | "The Lady in the mirror 2/2"(Nainen peilissä 2/2) | Marko Mäkilaakso | Paula Mononen, Miikko Oikkonen | 19 January 2020 |
30 | 9 | "Chess story 1/2"(Shakkitarina 1/2) | Juuso Syrjä | Paula Mononen, Miikko Oikkonen | 26 January 2020 |
31 | 10 | "Chess story 2/2"(Shakkitarina 2/2) | Juuso Syrjä | Paula Mononen, Miikko Oikkonen | 2 February 2020 |
See also
- Scandinavian noir
References
- Ilta-Sanomat: Legendary horror writer Stephen King praises Finnish TV series - even fans in flames: “I love Ville Virtanen” – Legendaarinen kauhukirjailija Stephen King hehkuttaa suomalaista tv-sarjaa – fanitkin ilmiliekeissä: ”Rakastan Ville Virtasta” (in Finnish)
- "Bordertown". Fisher King Oy. 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- "Bordertown". Federation Entertainment. 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- "Nordic Noir gets a lighter Finnish". Drama Quarterly. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- Keslassy, Elsa (9 March 2016). "Federation, Fisher King Team on Nordic Noir Series 'Bordertown'". Variety. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- Hopewell, John (2 April 2016). "'Marseille's' Pascal Breton on 'Bordertown,' Nordic Noir, Big Euro Co-pros and Crucial Change in Intl. TV (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- "Bordertown is coming to MipTV". ttvnews. TodotvMedia. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- "Federation taking buyers to Bordertown". Television Business International. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- Newby, Julian (11 May 2016). "MIPTV Fiction Wrap: Drama takes centre stage". MIPTrends. MIP Markets. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- Pham, Annika (10 October 2016). "Bordertown Sells to Germany-France-Belgium". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- Hannonen, Inka (17 January 2018). "Sorjosen toinen kausi menee ihon alle" [The second season of Sorjonen goes under the skin]. Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- Press Release (25 April 2017). "Sorjonen palaa Lappeenrantaan" [Sorjonen returns to Lappeenranta]. City of Lappeenranta (in Finnish). Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- Pham, Annika (2 May 2017). "Summer shoot for Bordertown Season 2". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- "Bordertown Begins Filming Season Two This August". Nordic Drama. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- Römpötti, Janne (10 August 2017). "Sorjosen tuotantotiimi aloitti uuden kauden kuvaukset Lappeenrannassa" [Sorjonen production team describes new season in Lappeenranta]. Uutisvuoksi (in Finnish). Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- Maijala, Juho (26 September 2018). "Sorjonen palaa vielä Lappeenrantaan — Kolmas tuotantokausi näyttää, millainen kaupunki on talvella" [Sorjonen returns to Lappeenranta – the third season will show what kind of city it is in winter]. Etelä-Saimaa (in Finnish). Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- Pham, Annika (13 December 2018). "Bordertown3 starts shooting for Yle". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- Jokainen meistä pystyy pahaan – Tulossa: Sorjonen 3. Yle Areena (in Finnish).
- Ainamo-McDonald, Maria (23 August 2016). "Sorjonen – uusi kotimainen rikossarja" [Sorjonen – a new domestic crime series]. Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- Pham, Annika (20 October 2016). "Finland's Fisher King signs first look deal with ZDFE". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- Yrttiaho, Tuomo (7 October 2018). "Kari Sorjonen palaa tänä iltana rikospaikalle – tv-sarjan vetovoima on yhä Ville Virtasen varassa" [Kari Sorjonen returns to the crime scene tonight – the TV series attraction is still Ville Virtanen]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Sanoma. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- "Huippusuositun Sorjosen toinen kausi alkaa syksyllä – ensimmäisen jakson esityspäivä on selvillä" [The second season of highly popular Sorjosen begins in fall – the date of first episode is set]. Imatralainen (in Finnish). 22 January 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- Slotte, Malin (26 August 2019). "Tio series att se fram emot i höst". Hufvudstadsbladet (in Swedish). Helsingfors. pp. 20–21.
- Åkman, Erika (28 February 2017). "Suomalainen rikosdraama nähdään nyt myös USA:ssa! Netflix osti supersuositun Sorjosen" [Finnish crime drama is now seen also in the USA! Netflix acquires the super popular Sorjonen]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- "First Look at What's Coming to Netflix in May 2020". What's on Netflix. 17 April 2020.
- "Bordertown (Staffel 1)". Online-Filmdatenbank (in German). 6 December 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- "Bordertown (Staffel 2)". Online-Filmdatenbank (in German). 8 February 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- Pham, Annika (16 January 2017). "Clean sweep for Bordertown at Finnish Emmys". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- Vestrheim, Emma (17 January 2017). "BORDERTOWN wins at the Finnish Emmy's". Cinema Scandinavia. Retrieved 14 May 2018.