Industry Insiders Call for Complexity – and Honesty About Menopause – as Sex & Crime Threaten to Take Over New Finnish Shows: ‘Easy is Not Always Best’
variety.comMarta Balaga No surprises there: Sex and crime still work when it comes to attracting viewers. But even when playing with familiar tropes, it’s crucial to add complexity to stories and characters, Fremantle’s Jamie Lynn argued on a roof table at the Berlinale Series Market. “Easy is not always best.
You still need to back great writers and great ideas,” he said during a panel discussion “Cold Cases & Hot Flashes – The Rise of Crime and Relationship Dramas in Challenging Times,” organized by the Audiovisual Producers Finland (APFI). “I have kids and before this, I said: ‘You have to put cheese on the vegetables in order to get them down.’ We have to make the shows that are approachable, but all this complexity and great, rich character work, that’s what people want.
We just need to get them in quicker.” Lynn was presenting new pickup “The Revenge,” described as “The Talented Mr. Ripley” meets “Sharp Objects”. “It’s a fresh take.
The Nordics, in general, have consistently punched above their weight when it comes to incredible series, but the term ‘Nordic Noir’ has been created for a reason.
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