TV preview: Wallander

Kenneth Branagh returns for a new trilogy in what promises to be a dark, thrilling and emotional finale for the Swedish detective.
Kenneth Branagh as Kurt Wallander in the final series of Peter Harnesss TV adaptations of Henning Mankells books.Kenneth Branagh as Kurt Wallander in the final series of Peter Harnesss TV adaptations of Henning Mankells books.
Kenneth Branagh as Kurt Wallander in the final series of Peter Harnesss TV adaptations of Henning Mankells books.

The series opens with The White Lioness which sees Wallander drawn into the case of a missing Swedish national while attending a police conference in South Africa. “Finally it seems that Wallander is sorting out his life,” says Branagh. “He shaves, he combs his hair more. He seems to have a potentially satisfying relationship with a woman. His relationship with his daughter Linda is much better, too. But just at that point, life intervenes and things start to go wrong for him.”

In the final episode, as Wallander tries to prevent his personal life from falling apart, he finds himself in a race against time when Linda’s father-in-law disappears and he becomes entangled in Cold War politics.

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The series is based on novels by Henning Mankell, which have been adapted for the small screen by Peter Harness.

“Scandinavia has these very long, very dark nights, which gives the country a kind of melancholia,” says Branagh.

“Wallander is still pursued by psychological demons but this story is his attempt to solve his final case and safeguard his family’s future. It’s a very fitting goodbye.”

Wallander, BBC1, Sunday, 9pm

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