Arctic Circle

When Finnish detective Nina Kautsalo comes across a grisly find in a remote snowbound cabin, what begins as a routine missing-person search turns into something much more dangerous. Two women are dead, a third clings to life, and blood tests reveal an exceptionally rare and lethal virus in the survivor. As the Finnish Bureau of Investigation brings in outside expertise, Nina must work alongside a German virologist while the investigation into possible murders continues. Set against an unending, frozen landscape, the series raises the stakes by asking whether stopping a disease or catching a killer should come first, with personal loyalties and professional duty in constant tension.

Created by Olli Haikka, Petja Peltomaa and Joona Tena, Arctic Circle premiered in 2018 and features Iina Kuustonen, Pihla Viitala, Venla Ronkainen, Elena Leeve and Mikko Leppilampi in key roles. The show was produced for television as a Nordic-language drama series, emphasizing location cinematography and a cross-border procedural setup.

The series' stark arctic visuals and its hybrid of epidemiological thriller and serial-crime story helped it stand out within Northern European crime drama. Viewers and genre fans often cite the frozen setting and the way the show ties scientific urgency to criminal investigation as memorable, and it raised wider interest in pandemic-themed storytelling before global events made that subject more prominent.

Critical reaction was mixed to positive, reflected in a modest average rating of about 6.2 out of 10. Reviewers frequently praised the atmosphere, production design and lead performances, while some noted uneven plotting and pacing across episodes. Major themes include isolation, the moral cost of containment, the clash between scientific protocol and police procedure, and how extreme environments strain relationships.

The show did not sweep major international awards, but it drew attention for its leads and cinematography in festival and television-critics circles. Performances by the central cast were singled out repeatedly, helping the series find an audience beyond its domestic market.