Netflix’s recent original series, ‘The Breakthrough’, has been vaunted as an intriguing fresh take on crime miniseries. Despite it being a curious exploration of an extensive criminal investigation in Sweden, the talk around it has been rather muted. Regardless, the series has secured its spot in Netflix’s Top 10 list and garners an admirable score on the Rotten Tomatoes’ Popmeter. Thus, whether you’re a die-hard crime drama enthusiast or someone seeking a compact series for a quick binge-watch, ‘The Breakthrough’ stands as a compelling option.
Its plot chronological retelling of genuine events. On an ordinary day, October 19, 2004, an unprecedented tragedy struck the diminutive city of Linköping, Sweden – a young boy of eight and a woman aged 56, found their lives brutally cut short, right in the midday sun. While a local biker happened to witness the crime, the suspects had vanished before they could be fully recognized, leaving the city in disbelief and terror.
The case turned ice-cold swiftly, owing to the lack of significant leads or substantial evidence. All trails leading to the murderer seemed to evaporate and the case remained a chilling mystery.
In an unprecedented turn of events, the case gained momentum 16 years later when a genealogist, employing a trailblazing DNA analysis methodology, managed to close-in on the evasive suspect. This revolutionary technique not only brought the spotlight back on the case but also sparked crucial debates about the ethical and legal aspects of implementing DNA mapping in criminal cases.
‘The Breakthrough’ diverges from the typical crime show narrative format by placing ‘time’ in the protagonist’s seat. The passage of time becomes a key factor in the narrative, stretching across 16 years. The detective’s frustrating struggle to crack the case, the unending agony of the victims’ kin, and the residual dread in the community since the crime serve as compelling subtexts.
Moreover, ‘The Breakthrough’ intriguingly shifts the focus from the villain to the cumulative toll the case has had on the investigators and the victims’ families. It’s a poignant exploration of the emotionality and human cost of such tragic events, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, empathy, and compassion in the face of abhorrent crime.
‘The Breakthrough’ also breaks free from the sensationalism that pervades conventional true crime narratives. It offers a complex and systematic narrative structure filled with nuanced characters grappling with intense emotions and bending the legal frameworks for long-awaited justice.
Netflix’s impressive track record in crafting top-tier crime series, fictional as well as factual, is evident in ‘The Breakthrough’. The platform’s crime dramas have established an elevated narrative benchmark, masterfully untangling intricate, bone-chilling stories that leave viewers hooked till the final moment.
‘The Breakthrough’ consists of just four dense episodes, consumable over a relaxing weekend, making it a light yet engrossing watch.
Netflix has also been lauded for their knack of procuring engrossing foreign drama series, predominantly the ones dabbling in profound crime narratives. Plaudits have flowed for series like the suspense-filled German thriller ‘Dark’, the eccentric U.K. dark comedy ‘Baby Reindeer’, and the intriguing French detective series ‘Lupin’, not to forget the recent sensation from South Korea, ‘Squid Game’.
Given this, if you are on the prowl for a fresh series to binge, ‘The Breakthrough’ is a commendable option that is very likely to leave you satisfied.