“A Good Family” – TV Series Review

The title of the six-episode Finnish drama, “A Good Family (Musta valo),” must have been meant ironically, since the leads may try to be one but fall well short of the goal line. Anna (Maria Sid) is a top police detective; hubby Henrik (Samuli Edelmann) is a former crime novelist who turned to teaching aspiring writers. They have two sons – adult Niko (Elias Salonen), who can’t steer clear of the “friends” who’d landed him in jail; and young Mikael (Paavo Usvola), who is adorable between panic attacks. The season covers Niko’s latest misdeed and his parents’ increasingly dubious efforts to protect him in what’s meant to be a thriller.

The handful of credited writers succeed on the suspense part. We really don’t know who will live or die; get caught or go free; or even who will end up with whom. The problem is that it becomes increasingly hard to care. I’ve praised quite a few crime dramas from several Northern European countries, but couldn’t quite get on board with this one.

Anna’s actions become ever harder to justify; Henrik’s seem really clumsy for one whose career has been centered around crimes, albeit fictional. Those of us who’ve even watched a bunch of procedurals would know better ways to cover up and shift blame to shield a loved one than how this guy does it. His writer’s block apparently spills over into their actual life.

I won’t disclose more about the plot. The premise is fine, but the product disappoints. The pace is dreadfully slow and the tone is dour, even compared to other Nordic crime drama series. There’s a ridiculous subplot with a hot coed throwing herself at rotund, middle-aged Henrik, despite knowing he’s married and that the Muse that inspired his career-making novel figuratively skipped town without him several years earlier. As the couple becomes more desperate and the collateral damage they cause piles up, innocent Mikael becomes the only one to solidly root for. Not likely what the producers intended. Or what most viewers would hope for, making this somewhere between miss-able and low priority on your watch list.

“A Good Family,” in Finnish with English subtitles, streams on MHzChoice starting Tuesday, Feb. 27.

RATING: 2 out of 4 stars