This Swedish Show Is a Perfect Pick if You Loved 'Defending Jacob' & 'Adolescence'
It's a story about a family trying to maintain a facade of normalcy even as everything falls apart.
In 2023, Netflix released A Nearly Normal Family, a Swedish series based on the bestselling novel of the same name by M.T. Edvardsson, which has been translated into 35 languages.
The story centers on a seemingly perfect family whose lives unravel when their teenage daughter becomes a murder suspect. Unlike typical thrillers, however, the plot doesn't focus on hunting down the perpetrator – the answers are revealed almost immediately.
The central question is how far the family will go to protect one another and what the consequences are of harboring lies for years.
What Is 'A Nearly Normal Family' About?
Adam Sandell is the pastor of a small parish in an affluent suburb of Lund. He adores his 19-year-old daughter, Stella, and his wife, Ulrika, who is a lawyer. At first glance, they appear to be the perfect family.
In reality, however, things are far from idyllic. Four years ago, Stella was raped by an assistant coach. However, her parents decided not to report the rape to the police after a medical examination failed to confirm signs of assault.
Stella dropped out of school, quit her sports teams, and stopped communicating with her parents. Then, one morning, Adam and Ulrika learned that their daughter had been detained on suspicion of murdering 30-year-old Chris Olsen.
'A Nearly Normal Family' Is a Chilling Swedish Drama Disguised as a Thriller
A Nearly Normal Family is less a detective story than a multilayered drama about how silence can tear a family apart. Ulrika persuades her husband not to report a rape, thereby denying their daughter justice.
Stella perceives this as indifference, yet, she's also in no rush to speak about her trauma. Instead, she drops out of school and retreats into her own fears.
Ulrika seeks oblivion through alcohol and infidelity. Adam suspects the truth, but initiating a conversation might cost him his last refuge: the facade of the perfect family.
A Nearly Normal Family reveals how easily a wealthy, happy family can lose everything and become lost in a web of lies.
'A Nearly Normal Family' Is a Confident Drama That Is Free of Unnecessary Pretension
Unlike many detective stories, A Nearly Normal Family doesn't try to surprise viewers with unexpected plot twists. The series' strength lies in slowly immersing viewers in the dark atmosphere of a small town, not in giving them the chance to play detective.
Viewers accustomed to complex Scandinavian mysteries will likely figure out the plot well before the series ends, yet the experience remains compelling.
A Nearly Normal Family captivates with its sincerity and realism, prompting us to reflect on how well we truly know our loved ones.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'A Nearly Normal Family'?
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A Nearly Normal Family has 78% from critics and 75% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.9/10.
Where to Watch 'A Nearly Normal Family'?
A Nearly Normal Family is available to stream on Netflix.
