Vaka

Stockholm sinks into a sleepless fog as an insomnia crisis spreads beyond beds and into every corner of public life. A prime minister struggles to steady the country while shielding his son from collateral danger. A nurse races to save her infected partner, chasing leads as hospitals strain and clinics scramble for beds. A teenager steps up to protect a vulnerable neighbor, drawing others into a fragile circle of care. The show knots these perspectives into a single tense portrait of a city under quiet siege. The ensemble features Lola Zackow as Lovisa Hassan, Jonas Karlsson as Christian, Aliette Opheim as Elin, Gizem Erdogan as Saga, and Silas Strand as Isak.

Created by Brynja Björk, Vaka is a Nordic drama set in Stockholm that brings together Lola Zackow, Jonas Karlsson, Aliette Opheim, Gizem Erdogan and Silas Strand. The series debuted in 2026 and positions itself as a tense social thriller that blends political drama with intimate human stakes. The production leans into late night shoots, stark hospital corridors, and a city breathing under the strain of crisis.

As of now there are no major awards documented for Vaka. Early feedback highlights strong performances from Zackow and Karlsson and a crisp, restrained approach to moral conflict, though the show has just begun its life on screens. No official nominations or wins are listed in available sources.

Even in its initial reception, Vaka prompts conversations about sleep deprivation as a cultural signal and about how leaders balance personal risk with public duty. Its nocturnal Stockholm setting gives the drama texture and realism, echoing real world fatigue in urban life and the toll of political decisions on everyday people.

Critics praise the way the series threads multiple viewpoints into a cohesive whole while avoiding overstuffed melodrama. Themes include governance under pressure, family loyalty, medical ethics, and the resilience of neighbors in moments when the city looks to strangers for safety. Vaka asks what a society owes its citizens when sleep itself becomes a threat and the line between public success and private sacrifice is blurred.