Swedish Angst.
I bet you thought that all Swedes were slim, blonde and beautiful - like Ulrika was before she met Sven.
So did I.
But then I became addicted to Wallander - Swedish style.
(Not the Kenneth Branagh version - I can't stand a clever dick. )There are no blondes, there is some chubbiness in evidence and they have British teeth. Everyone says skål a lot as they share a drink on their Ektorp sofas.
It's probably much like Taggart but the Swedish settings and subtitles give it the feel of Bergman at his best. The gloom and angst will give you reasons to be cheerful however depressed you may be feeling.
(BTW do all front doors open outwards in Sweden? Doorstepping can be very dangerous unless you stand well back.) However the enigmatic, troubled Stefan is beautiful.
Unfortunately, he decided to top himself at the end of the series. Unbelievably, Linda (the female cop) did the same thing in real life shortly after the series ended. What is it with these Scandinavians eh?
But Stefan reminded me of someone and this was driving me nuts. Finally I had it - it was Terry Jones.
OK - I know he isn't beautiful but there's a certain je ne sais quoi. Perhaps it's the wonky grin or the piercing black eyes.
When looking for a Terry Jones pic I found this website. What a brilliant idea.
Hope this post has cheered you up a bit if it's your first day back.
KAZ
Labels: Reasons to be miserable (part 1)
posted by KAZ at 9:31 am
43 Comments:
Yes, I do feel a bit down today.
WOT? No more real Wallender? thats pissed me off proper.
They have too much night time in Winter and too much day time in Summer. It's very confusing.
Sx
Your pic of Ulrika cheered me up, although the thought of a "Swedish Taggart" had me looking for "QI" in the schedules. I'll give it a try - I didn't know you could get it without Kenneth Branflake.
[x] gloom
[x] angst
[x] depressed
Yep, back to non-idling today for me.
Dave:
Well if this hasn't cheered you up - nothing will.
Gerald:
Me too - it gave structure and meaning to my life.
Scarlet:
A bit like Scotland - only more so.
Rog:
A new series will be unlikely - unless it's set in the afterlife.
But there will be repeats.
xl:
Non idling will be hell after your lovely holiday.
But who knows - something good might happen today.
I really should give the Swedish Wallander a go....it would probably help when visiting Ikea too.
Cheers for the link to that "Same Guy" site. The likeness between Freddie Mercury, Brun. And Borat is uncanny.
That was a good choice of Ulrika picture. I always thought how different she used to look on various episodes of Shooting Stars (sometimes radiant, other times grumpy).
Happy New Year to you and yours!
ah! Shooting Stars. . . that's brought a smile to my face
(-:
Thank you for your efforts, but I am already replete with happiness.
NiC:
There will surely be repeats where we can mourn those no longer with us.
You can also play 'Spot the Billy'.
Istvanski:
I love it.
I saw a bit of the Big Brother' version of Ulrika.
The housewife in a grey cardi look was not a good one.
View:
Yes - Reeves and Mortimer used to make me laugh a lot.
Vicus:
You obviously didn't watch Swedish Wallander.
Imagining 'oor Gordon as one of the pythons has certainly brightened up my lunchtime... thank you.
We missed episodes 11 and 12 like we missed the second part of the Arena docs on Orson Welles. Bloody BBC4. I quite like the Branagh ones, too.
But I kept looking for signs that the actress was suicidal. She didn't smile much, I suppose.
No, I did not read them and I do not have a tv. You know Kommissar Beck by Sjöwall & Wahlöö?
The Swedish people I learned to know were blond with good teeth but not particulary large.
I didn't scroll through every page on "Same Guy" so I don't know if they have this one or not ...
I've always thought that Russell Brand and Nigella Lawson are the same guy.
That Stefan is actually Colin Farrell - wondered where he'd got to lately...
I keep coming back to look at Ulrika's tits.
Where ARE Stan & Sven?
Steve:
If you have another spare moment for net loafing you should look at the rest of the site.
Geoff:
Bloody BBC4?
If not smiling was a suicidal test - they'd all be dead by now.
Mago:
I haven't yet been introduced.
But I'll try one of their novels soon.
MJ:
That's an excellent one.
I didn't see it on the site.
Macy:
No - Colin isn't angst ridden and it shows.
Geoff:
Teehee! I'm shocked.
Sven will be busy shagging someone.
Stan's probably in Accrington??
no I haven't gone back, another month yet ho hum
thumb twiddling's not so easy is it no wonder you watch stuff like this.
It's good to see the Mitchell brothers in the first picture. Their loveable, cheeky Cockney ways are always a fillup to the senses.
Try reading Stieg Larsson (The Girl With the Iron-On Tattoo) if you want to know how dull and long-winded they can be. Or if you really like Ikea furniture
Danes irritate me. I don't know why, they just do.
Yes I do, they've mastered that smart casual leisure dress sense that the Germans like and added ponytails.
Kill a Dane. Refuse their Bacon. They are almost as evil as the Swedes, and have been known to steal their turnips.
I'd like to see the Swedish adaptations of Menkell - can't stand the British version (PBS bought the series and holds episodes to ransom until "viewers like you" send in donations during fund-drives).
Always thought Terry Jones dreamy!
Poor terry - to be Gordon B's lookalike!
As for the English "naice" version of Wallander-boo! Not the same.Right pissed-off, I am.
Do you get "Unit One" over there? It's Danish. Quite bloody, but good.
We seem to have endless American rubbish.
zIggI:
Ho Hum.
Bon Courage ma chérie
Kevin:
Ha Ha.
Fill up indeed and I thought it was a pair of lovely Swedish piglets.
UGrumpy:
For some reason, I think I'll probably give that a miss.
garfer:
Do Danes still rape and pillage?
Arabella:
I'm sure you would appreciate it.
My eyes were glued to the screen during all Terry's history programmes.
I never knew the middle ages could be so captivating.
Arabella:
I don't think we get Unit One - it sounds good.
Try Mad Men - it's American class.
I also love NCIS.
First is "The dead in the Göta-channel". The Beck-novels can be read each for its own as crime story but they are also ment as a description of society. The protagonists change etcetc.
Damn I missed all of this , is it still on , if so which chanel . The pictures of Ulrika and Terry Jones cheered me up
Sort of like Ikea. There's always a screw loose?
Varsågod!Talar du Engelska? Var finns …!!!!!!!!(It's not just Swedes.Fins aint what they used to be either.......)
mago:
Sounds good
But I'm snowed up at the moment - can't get to the book shop/
Beast:
BBC4 - you'll have to wait for repeats. Clear the room of all sharp objects first.
Rosie:
Or a bit missing.
Tony:
On the button as usual.
Mr Jones seems to have gone askew on the treadle by knocking up some 20-something...he still isn't going to outdo Tony Randall.
Don't they have vaswreckotmy services in the UK?
My great grandfather left Sweden because of a famine...why he didn't think of becoming a Pineapple Farmer in Hawaii is beyond me! He just had to move somewhere cold..gawd that is depressing!
OK, I'll concede Mad Men is classy, buut the rest is formulaic trash. Harsh, aint I?
(And please don't tell that Garfer person where I live!)
Love Wallander and am drawn to anything that's Swedish, introspective and gloomy. I don't think I could live there though, with the weird levels of daylight and huge amount of cold weather. I mean, there's snow outside today and I already feel down in the dumps!
Donn:
Oh No - I didn't know about that.
What next - Michael Palin I suppose?
He was a Swede - he didn't want to be happy.
Hi Purple Pal:
Oh dear - another rival for Don Draper's attention.
(swoons)
Garfer - he's all talk.
Betty:
Introspective and gloomy yes.
Snow yes as well - but only if there's sun to go with it and I don't have to drive.
1).Wallander. Now I would have been willing to give this programme a go but you have already told me best character killed himself.
2). Have you really given this Terry Jones thing your full consideration?
3). Ulrika is looking a lot more busty than usual on that photo. Do you think they sell those at Ikea?
1) Repeats? He is lovely.
2) I'm gutted after Donn's comment.
3) No but they're 'buy one get one free' this week at Lidl.
Cheer me up? Yeah, thanks for that. And for the Wallander spoiler.
Hello blackwatertown:
I do try to please.
Much prefer the Swedish version too. He's a real hottie in a kind of mature man type of way. And the landscape looks better too.
Madame:
So glad I've found another fan.
the wallander books are excellent. i've not seen the swedish adaptations but I am told they are good.
I remember that you were a fan.
You would love the Swedish films - look out for repeats.
Don't ask me how I ended up here, can't resist the urge to reply to this old blog post though.
Yes, Swedish doors always open outwards.
And about the cold weather and lack of light in the winter; Wallander is living on the same latitude as Newcastle, not awfully north I think.
Post a Comment
<< Home