The Nordic Noir Files: The Glass Dome

Everyone knows Netflix is a virtual treasure trove of foreign TV series. It’s been that way for years now, and every year their collection of Nordic noir only continues to gloriously expand. After a recommendation from a trusted work friend (who hasn’t steered me to a bad TV series yet), I knew I had to check out the six part Netflix Swedish crime series, The Glass Dome.

Also known as Glaskupan, what starts out as a seemingly typical crime drama set in the fictional town of Granås takes a series of unexpected turns that had me second-guessing myself at every turn. When child-abduction survivor and behavioral scientist Lejla Ness returns home to attend her foster mother’s funeral, it’s obvious something is more than a little rotten in Granås. When Lejla’s childhood friend turns up dead and her daughter abducted, we quickly discover that you can take the girl out of the trauma, but you can never really take the trauma out of the girl.

Setting Is Everything In The Glass Dome

I think I may have said this when talking about The Are Murders, but it’s worth saying again. There is something about the Nordic landscape that is absolutely perfect for dark series like these. The lingering cold, even in the greener seasons, lends to a darkness that lurks in every shadow. The Glass Dome knows exactly how to use those factors to its advantage.

When criminologist Lejla Ness returns to Sweden from the States to attend her adoptive mother’s funeral, she only does it for her adoptive father. She wants to appease him, as he is obviously hurting. We learn that Lejla’s real mother dies after she’s abducted. Lejla never identifies with her adoptive mother, but she bonds with Valter, though, because she never had a father.

As the story begins to unfold, we learn about Lejla’s abduction as a child. Held prisoner and mentally tormented by her captor, he keeps her on display in a glass case, and only he sees her. She never sees her captor’s face, but she comes to understand while imprisoned that she was not the first. When her abductor lets her go, he cuts her hair in some strange release, before setting her free, an act that sends chills down the spine.

The Glass Dome’s Victim Becomes The Hunter

The premise not only sets us up for Lejla’s reluctance to return to Sweden, but also her career choices. Her interactions with her tormentor, alongside being raised by the local police chief who took her in, guide her future. Sadly, coming back to Sweden opens a dark door she thought closed a long time ago.

Shortly after her adoptive mother’s funeral, Lejla discovers her best friend Louise dead in a bathtub. For all intents and purposes, it looks like a suicide. When Louise’s daughter Alicia turns up missing shortly after discovering the body, events kick into high gear.

It’s impossible to tell who might be to blame. Is it Louise’s husband Said, who’s facing volatility for the mining operations he’s promoting in their small town? Is it the current police chief, Lejla’s Uncle Tomas, who was having an affair with Louise before she died? Even more terrifying is the possibility that Lejla’s abductor from childhood is back and ready to resume the cycle that stopped with her.

Every scene and interaction casts suspicion. Even when you feel like you know what’s what, The Glass Dome manages to surprise at every turn. I’m not going to spoil it, don’t worry. But I will say that this show encourages viewers to trust their gut. I knew who the monster was from the start. When the reveal takes place, I can’t help feeling like my years as an armchair detective finally pay off.

The Glass Dome’s Reveal Is Its Greatest Reward

At times, The Glass Dome is almost ethereal. Lajla’s dark dreams, always just out of reach, lead us closer to the truth, all while continuing to hold us just out of its reach. Sticking with this show, even as it throws us red herring after red herring, is worth it. The payoff in the end is its greatest reward, especially for those who don’t see it coming.

Another one of The Glass Dome’s most redeeming qualities is its lacking happily-ever-after. Solving the crime in this case doesn’t put anyone at ease. Lives are destroyed in ways there is no coming back from. This is especially true for the main character. Lajla Ness loses everything, and yet she still manages to stand tall when all is said and done.

I want to see where Lajla goes from here, but I doubt that will happen. The series is inspired by Swedish crime novelist Camilla Läckberg’s work, but written directly for screen. Even Lajla being a criminologist herself seems to lend to future exploration. That being said, it’s hard to imagine a future for her character beyond The Glass Dome’s bleak ending.