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Wisting

Wisting

2019–2025Ended5 seasons26 episodes~60 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

Empathetic, meticulous and relentless - the only thing to escape Larvik detective William Wisting in his hunt for Norway's most notorious criminals is a happy family life. And when two mysterious deaths interrupt Wisting's Christmas, it is the beginning of a showdown with the deadliest killer of them all.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Wisting?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Wisting streaming on Acorn TV via Prime Video and AMC+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Wisting?

Wisting earns 3 badges, led by Visual feast and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Wisting worth watching?

Wisting's Midcredits score is the 71st percentile of all shows, from 11K ratings across 4 sources. 83% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

71st percentile

Better received than 71% of shows

68th percentile among Crime69th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)58th
Approval (how many liked it)79th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

72 /100

58th percentile of all shows

58th percentile among Crime56th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

83% liked it

79th percentile of all shows

72nd percentile among Crime77th percentile among 2010s
83% rated it 7–1017% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

70th percentile

11K ratings across platforms

52nd percentile among Crime72nd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 31% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A visually striking Nordic crime drama with solid performances but derivative plotting and an annoying central family subplot.

Fans praised

  • Strong ensemble cast with Sven Nordin's grounded lead performance
  • Beautiful Norwegian landscapes and atmospheric Nordic noir setting
  • Gripping suspense and well-paced storytelling across multiple seasons

Detractors panned

  • Unbearable daughter character Line undermines the show
  • Formulaic plot with tired crime drama clichés and predictable twists
  • Wooden dialogue and amateurish writing, especially in later episodes

What stands out

Cinematography80

Stunning Norwegian scenery and moody lighting praised even by detractors

AtmosphereDivisive75

Captures Nordic noir bleakness; snow, forests, isolation strong

ActingDivisive65

Sven Nordin solid but divisive; supporting cast praised, Carrie-Anne Moss underutilized

TensionDivisive60

Effective suspense for many fans; detractors find it boring and predictable

PacingDivisive60

First half taut, second half drags; overall engaging binge for fans

Plot and storyDivisive55

Two-part season structure praised by fans, panned as disjointed and predictable by detractors

CharactersDivisive40

Daughter Line widely hated; Wisting bland; side characters (Hammer) save grace

OriginalityDivisive35

Heavily reliant on Nordic noir tropes; few fresh ideas

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 6 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Episodes

5 seasons

Season 5 · 2024 · 4 episodes

  • S5E1

    Episode 1

    Dec 26, 202445 min
  • S5E2

    Episode 2

    Dec 26, 202445 min
  • S5E3

    Episode 3

    Dec 26, 202444 min
  • S5E4

    Episode 4

    Dec 26, 202442 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Wisting like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you haunted.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseContemplativeDread
Heaviest: late
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe series presents its grim cases and procedural detail with earnest seriousness, typical of Nordic noir.
The rideThe series builds suspense steadily through each season, often culminating in dramatic climaxes, with a heavy emotional weight in the final episodes of each arc.
StructureThe series tells its stories in a conventional chronological order across episodes.
Episode formatEach season centers on a primary case arc (serial killer hunt, corruption probe) while episodes contain procedural steps and subplots that advance the main narrative.
Season formatEach season presents a largely self-contained investigation, with Wisting facing different cases across the five seasons, while maintaining core character continuity.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Haunting · 9% of showsThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves a lingering unease and provokes reflection on justice, family, and institutional integrity.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEach season typically follows Wisting's team hunting a serial killer or fugitive, with a manhunt at the core.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2% (this title)
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 14% of showsFamily bondsObsession · 2% of shows: A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores the pursuit of justice across international lines, while Wisting's dedication strains his family relationships and fuels his relentless focus on the killer.
StanceThe series interrogates the pursuit of justice by following a dedicated but flawed detective, without celebrating or condemning the system outright.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanRuralWildernessDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score
SettingLarvik, Norway, across seasons with cross-border chases into Sweden
MusicAtmospheric score that underscores the Nordic noir setting.

Content guide

Is Wisting okay for kids?

TV-14

Wisting is rated TV-14. As of August 19, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (50/100), sexual content at moderate (52/100), language at intense (67/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at moderate (50/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 14 other countries
  • Canada14+
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Brazil16
  • Austria12
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK12
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway15
  • Poland16
  • Spain16
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 81%
Profanity
Intense
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (6 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (52 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Wisting have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Wisting?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Sven Nordin
as William Wisting
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Thea Green Lundberg
as Line Wisting
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Mads Ousdal
as Nils Hammer
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Lars Berge
as Benjamin Fjeld
Evelyn Rasmussen Osazuwa
as Veronica Rambøl
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Mads Sjøgård Pettersen
as Tommy Kvanter
Mariann Hole
as Sissel
Kjersti Sandal
as Torunn Borg
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Heidi Goldmann
as Bjørg Karin
Maria Bock
as Agnes Kiil

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