TV FROM AROUND THE WORLD: "Quicksand / Störst av allt" (Sweden)
While there are certainly plenty of good crime dramas on TV right now (for example, “Sharp Objects” or “Unbelievable”) a lot of amazing shows come out of other countries, and because of that, we don’t always hear a lot about them.
One of these is “Quicksand”, a Swedish crime drama that dissects how a doomed relationship between two teenagers led to a horrible event. Teenagers Maja (Hanna Ardéhn) and Sebastian (Felix Sandman) fell deeply in love over the summer, but when they are thrust back into the real world for school, Sebastian starts to spiral, hating everything in the world except for Maja. When Maja starts falling out of love, everyone around her convinces her to stay with Sebastian, saying that he needs her, and it’s her job to save him. Talk about toxic.
“This series contains graphic depictions of school violence, sexual assault, and substance abuse which some viewers may find disturbing. It is intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.”
This warning plays at the beginning of the first episode, but I think it’s essential to put that warning here too. This show is very intense and covers a range of tough and sensitive topics. The first episode begins with the tragic event that the plot revolves around -- a shooting at the high school involving the young couple, which ends with the boyfriend dead and Maja in custody. The detectives and lawyers begin investigating what really happened and why, and slowly the show reveals the truth about Maja and Sebastian’s relationship and how it spiraled up to that fateful day.
The scenes referring to the shooting aren’t extensive, but they are still difficult to watch. Throughout the series, the shooting is revisited a few times, as you slowly see more of what actually happened, and why. If you don’t think you can handle watching those scenes, which is totally understandable, then I don’t recommend watching this series. But if you can, “Quicksand” tackles these issues in our society and how people are shaped by things like toxic relationships, neglect, rage, and inequality in a delicate and responsible way.
“Quicksand” is based on the 2016 award-winning novel of the same name by author Malin Persson Giolito. The story is (thankfully) not based on any real events. The first and only season has 6 episodes, each around an hour long, so this is a quick binge. I recommend watching in one or two sittings if you can because it’s so emotionally taxing, but it’s worth it.
All of the acting in “Quicksand” is amazing, especially Hanna Ardéhn and Felix Sandman, the two young actors who play the main couple. Actor David Dencik plays Maja’s lawyer, Peder Sander, though you might recognize him as playing Mikhail Gorbachev in HBO’s hit series “Chernobyl”. Head writer Camilla Ahlgren is known for her work on the original Swedish Dragon Tattoo trilogy (not to be confused with the U.S. versions with either Rooney Mara or Claire Foy), and the original Swedish series “The Bridge” (“Bron/Broen”).
The series is compelling and intelligent, and has a very interesting structure. Despite starting with the shooting, there are still consistent twists and turns throughout, with a huge one at the end of Episode 2, both for viewers and for Maja. By the time you get to the last episode, which is Maja’s trial, you feel like you’ve gone on this whole difficult journey with her, and understand why she did what she did.
“Quicksand” is a difficult watch, that’s for sure, but it is also a worthy exploration of these issues of our society, and how young people are shaped by the pressures around them. Watch if you like shows like “The Sinner”, “Top of the Lake”, or “Marcella”, or basically any crime dramas.
You can find “Quicksand” streaming now on Netflix!