The Man Who Smiled

Kurt Wallender (Kenneth Branagh) tackles the case of "The Man Who Smiled" in this entry into the series. After killing a man in the line of duty, Wallender quits the force for a time, during which he is approached by a friend who needs his help. He is convinced that his elderly father was murdered and did not die as the result of a car accident. Wallender says that he is unable to help. Then his friend is found dead as well. Both father and son had received threatening postcards. Though someone else has been assigned to the case, Wallender feels it is his duty to investigate. Father and son had involvement in the foundation of a wealthy man, and Wallender is led there to see what he can find out. What he learns is shattering and leads to a violent conclusion.

This is a very intense story, very dark - if possible, it's even darker and more intense than the episode that precedes it, in which Wallender quits the force. Unshaven and rumpled, Wallender trudges through this case with a world's worth of guilt on his shoulders.

This is in no way to put down the excellent performances or story. However, sometimes gritty programs like this are not to everyone's taste, and they're certainly not for people looking to be cheered up! Branagh is fantastic as an unhappy man whose temperament seems too sensitive for his line of work.