The episode begins with Algaforce CEO Katarina Askov (Minna Treutiger) at a Nordic Council conference. Katarina tells the audience about her journey to develop the “greenest battery.” Aida (Alida Morberg) leaves to go to her cabin where she arranges a meeting over the phone. When the lights go out, she walks into another room. She asks someone what they want when she’s hit. The assailant drags her body across the floor.
10 Hours Earlier – During a meeting, Klara Sandberg (Hanna Alstrom) becomes distracted. She tells them that everything she’s saying is “sh**.” Peder (David Lenneman) her of how popular “MILF Hotel” is. After repeating his quote, she says it’s no longer funny. Another man accuses her of thinking she’s better than them. She assures him that they’re all better than this. When asked for examples, she says, “Sven Hjerson,” a genius in solving crimes. A man assures her that if Hjerson can be secured before the next budget meeting, her idea will be approved.
While listening to his interview on TV, Sven Hjerson (Johan Rheborg) becomes frustrated.
Zana (Anna Sise) tells Klara that Hjerson aborted their meeting soon after it started. After saying he’s somewhat of a joke, she claims he visits the barbershop daily. Klara gets excited when she finds the Flashback thread, “Where does Hjerson cut his hair.”
Klara goes To Slakthusomradet to find Hjerson getting his hair cut in a barbershop. She asks his driver where he’s going next. The man tells her that they’re going to Varta Harbour.
While Klara prepares for her trip, Niklas (David Fukamachi Regnfors) discovers birth control pills in her bag. He reminds her of how they agreed to stop taking them. She tells him that menstrual pains prompted her to start taking them again. After promising to discuss it later, she questions why someone would go to the barbershop every day. Olivia (Maja Soderstrom) says her grandparents would go to there for the gossip.
Pernilla (Evelyn Mok) has the line partially blocked while utilizing the phone. Hjerson asks if it’s appropriate to stop here before moving along.
Klara intentionally bumps into Hjerson as he prepares to enter his cabin. As she cites a piece in an issue of “Hant Extra,” he enters his cabin and shuts the door behind him.
Klara approaches Hjerson in the buffet line. He asks if they are acquainted. When she identifies herself, he says they are old primary school classmates. She reminds him of their previous encounter in the hallway. He admits to finding gossip “fun.” Niklas calls to inform her of his moving out. She assures him that she does respect him before reminding him that Olivia can’t be left there alone. She pretends the signal is disconnected. The waiter informs them that there’s only one table. Reluctantly, Hjerson agrees to share it with Klara.
During dinner, Hjerson appears to be annoyed with Klara sucking on her lobster.
Aida Fabris asks Pernilla if she has a cousin who works in the financial crimes unit. Pernilla says she assumed the meeting was to apologize. Aida halfheartedly apologizes for not including her name in the articles. Pernilla warns that she will pay for all her crap. Hugo (Lukas Larsson) offers to buy Aida a sex of the beach. When she refuses his offer, he sarcastically says he isn’t sure it would possible for him to get turned on by an “ugly idiot” like her. She tells him to “piss off” before walking away.
Klara squirts lobster juice on Hjerson’s glasses. While he cleans his glasses, she asks what the initials on his handkerchief stand for. After a failed attempt to get his food to go, Klara asks what’s his first impression of her. He suggests they are drifting apart even though they were only recently married. She describes him as a loner who has a fear of intimacy. He acknowledges she is somewhat right. She asks what he does for a living. He says dividend income. After telling him of her plan to adapt a TV program based on a crime she witnessed as a child, he tells her goodnight.
Magnus (Christian Hillborg) cuts Alexandra (Leona Axelsen) off when she tries to talk to him.
At the Nordic Council conference, Aida receives several messages from a frantic Visselblasaren (Eric Rusch). The messages read, “I can’t do this. I think I’m being followed.” She sends him a message suggesting he calm down. As she walks to her room, he sends another message to warn her that his badge is missing. When she bumps into Hjerson, he turns to see her talking to Magnus. She tells him to leave her alone. He reminds her of their agreement to meet.
Aida arrives on the deck to find Visselblasaren gone. She sends him a text asking where he’s at. Once she reaches her cabin, she communicates with him on the phone.
Klara receives a message from Niklas suggesting they discuss her birth control pills. She flops back on the bed.
Hjerson has a flashback of dancing when the room goes dark. The entire ship experiences a blackout.
Aida enters another room where she encounters someone. She asks, “What do you want” when she’s hit. Upon entering the hallway, Klara hears Aida’s screams. She continues down the hall when someone knocks her out. When she comes through, Hjerson asks if she dropped something. She tells him that she was attacked. He enters Aida’s room to find her lifeless body lying on the bed. A guard approaches to see if they’re okay. Hjerson informs him of Aida and Klara’s attacks.
Magnus is in a room alone when he makes his exit.
A female officer tells Hjerson and Klara that Aland police will assume control of the investigation when the ship arrives in Mariehamn. The officer suggests they keep quiet while the investigation is ongoing before leaving. Klara tells Hjerson that she was at the bar shouting at a man.
Hjerson has flashbacks when Klara approaches. She asks if he believes someone murdered Aida. After asking what she wants, he tells her that he doesn’t want anything to do with her. She says if Aida was killed, she also could’ve been also. He assures her that “they” weren’t out to get her, only Aida. As she walks away, she holds up Aida’s locked cellphone. A text from Katarina orders her to stop calling. He apologizes to Klara.
Hjerson asks Katarina what’s her relationship with Aida. Katarina tells him that she was her student at a journalism school. She claims Aida viewed her as a “sellout” after she gave up her teaching job and went into business. Klara asks when they last spoke. Katarina says about a week ago. When Hjerson asks where she was when the electricity went out, she asks about Aiden.
Klara describes Katarina’s reaction as “genuinely shocked.” Klara tells Hugo that Hjerson can read minds. Hugo asks what’s he thinking now. Hjerson suggests he’s thinking “women are idiots” before saying he has issues with women. Hugo asks what he’s talking about. Hjerson informs him that Aida was discovered in her room dead. Hugo claims to have never left the bar. His friends vouch for him.
After warning the ship will arrive in Mariehamn in four hours, Hjerson asks if she noticed conference members wearing purple lanyards.
Klara tells a worker that her boss, Katarina is upset about the blackout. Hjerson asks if the CCTV would detect anyone that left the conference before the power went out. He shows them photos of two people – Aida and Magnus – who left prematurely.
Klara asks Pernilla when she last saw Aida. Pernilla claims they met at the bar before the conference. She says Magnus and Aida’s relationship probably didn’t end on a good note. She tells them that Magnus and a woman wearing a badge were at the bar.
Hjerson informs Magnus that he’s a suspect in Aida’s death. Magnus claims he and Aida had plans to meet. He tells them that he saw her speaking with an intoxicated man in front of her cabin. When Hjerson admits to seeing them on the steps, Magnus takes off running. They find his lifeless body lying on a structure below as the episode comes to an end.
Agatha Christie’s Hjerson Review
The show was ruined by weak writing. The plot is interesting enough but the execution failed miserably. A good murder mystery exhibits suspense, intrigue, and captivation, all the things this show failed to implement. At times, I felt more annoyed than anything else. Klara’s grotesque table manners served no purpose, other than to exacerbate Hjerson’s displeasure with her intrusion.
Poor editing altered the flow. It was a bit of a mess.
A short flash forward is an effective way to highlight a particular scene in a screenplay. In this case, the flash forward was broken down into two scenes, which were repeated later in the show. Since the episode was less than 45 minutes, it was a way to waste precious airtime.
I must gripe about the poor cinematography. The depth of field, framing, shots, and exposure, all were off. This is some of the worst cinematography I’ve seen in a while.
I was peeved by Hjerson’s constant mumbling. Johan Rheborg appeared to be talking under his breath. It was difficult to make out what he was saying half the time.
The resolution felt too easy. Hjerson’s investigation entailed little more than asking questions. It was not well thought out.
The show is an insult to the iconic Agatha Christie. Each of the best-selling author’s books was nothing short of a “work of art.” This is difficult to capture in a 45-minute episode.
The episode deserves a 5. Get more Agatha Christie’s Hjerson recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
