6 Years Later, This Overlooked Danish Show Is Still One of the Best Examples of Serious True Crime

In the flood of true crime documentaries and podcasts, only a few rise to the level of thoughtful and ethical art. The Danish miniseries The Investigation, about the 2017 murder of journalist Kim Wall, is one such rare work.

Five years after its premiere, it remains an underrated gem of the genre and a benchmark for respectfully depicting monstrous tragedies.

What Is 'The Investigation' About?

Kim Wall, a talented journalist known for her daring reports from conflict zones, was brutally murdered by inventor Peter Madsen in his homemade submarine.

Her body was dismembered and thrown into the sea. However, The Investigation deliberately avoids showing the crime itself.

Instead, the camera silently witnesses the routine yet important work of investigators, divers, forensic experts, and lawyers.

'The Investigation' Focuses on the Victim, Not the Murderer

In The Investigation, Kim Wall is portrayed as a vibrant individual, not a faceless victim. Her accomplishments and travel routes are charted on a police station map. Meanwhile, her killer is devoid of both an on-screen persona and a name – in the series, he is referred to only as "the accused."

This approach radically counters the true crime genre's dangerous tendency to romanticize criminals, turning them into central, almost charismatic figures.

The Investigation shifts the focus back to where it belongs: the value of a lost life and the tremendous efforts of those striving to restore justice for the victim and their family.

This Is a Brilliant Example of Thoughtful True Crime That Shows the Investigation as It Is

Rather than contrived plot twists and detective insights, The Investigation offers a nearly documentary-like slowness and meditative rigor.

Viewers are immersed in the daily grind of endless interrogations, bureaucratic red tape, fruitless searches in the cold waters of the strait, and moments of despair and doubt. The creators deliberately make us feel the same frustration and impatience as the investigators.

In one pivotal scene, the exhausted diver Lars silently ponders whether the search is worth continuing. But he continues. His persistence and belief in the importance of his work, even when hope has all but faded, underlie the series's central message.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Investigation'?

• The Investigation has 84% from critics and 77% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.6/10.

Where to Watch 'The Investigation'?

The Investigation is available to stream on HBO Max.