Netflix subscribers can’t get enough of the “gripping” new Swedish true-crime series The Breakthrough, with many viewers completing the entire four-part drama in a single session.
The show is an adaptation of the 2004 book by Anna Bodin and Peter Sjölund, chronicling the second-largest criminal probe in Swedish history.
In the early 2000s, the otherwise tranquil city of Linköping was left reeling after the brutal daytime murders of a young child and a woman in her late 50s went unsolved for 16 years due to the absence of suspects or clear motives. But the case saw significant progress once a genealogist entered the scene.
Since its arrival on Netflix, The Breakthrough has been lauded on X (formerly Twitter) for its “highly watchable” plot.
One viewer recommended the series: “I’ve just watched a Swedish true crime series on #Netflix called #Genombrottet / #The Breakthrough. It’s about a double murder that became the second largest investigation in Swedish history. Really well made show. Watch it!”.
Another tweeted their approval: “Finished a wonderful watch #TheBreakthrough using genealogical for criminal cases,” while someone else rated the show highly: “#TheBreakthrough 10/10 for a great show and short episodes.”
Many expressed their enjoyment at the “binge-worthy” length of the 40-minute episodes, and others gave nods to the “terrific performances” delivered by the cast, reports Surrey Live.
Directed by Lisa Siwe and penned by Oskar Söderlund, The Breakthrough features Peter Eggers, Mattias Nordkvist, Jessica Liedberg, Jonatan Rodriguez, and Karin de Frumerie in the lead roles.
The series’ ensemble cast also includes talents like Annika Hallin, Julia Sporre, Malin Güettler, Anna Azcárate, Marley Norstad, Pevin Hannah Namek Sali, and Helen Al-Janabi.
Siwe shared insights with Netflix, stating, “Though this is a fictional drama series about a crime, it is, above all, a depiction of a human tragedy – where we place our focus on the victims and the investigation rather than the perpetrator,” and highlighted the show’s compassionate lens, “It’s a story about the compassion and care for one another that is needed to move on when terrible things happen.”
The Breakthrough is available to watch on Netflix