Goodnight Swedeheart

It would be a shame if Wallander did not return for a third series. Much-publicized & so high profile you'd need to open the skylight, it nevertheless remains one of those projects that nobody asked for and no-one seems to regard with much excitement. "Ingmar Bergman meets Midsomer Murders" was the rather lazy Radio Times verdict.

Yet it achieves something that detective dramas tend to do every decade or so, which is strike a perfect balance between subject matter, imagery and music. Wallander offers pretty much what any modern police series offers - murky conspiracies, shocking violence, a lead character with a troubled home life - but transforms them via its highly distinctive atmosphere. In this
respect it can take its place alongside the likes of Inspector Morse and Twin Peaks.

Also it is the best part Kenneth Branagh has had for a very long time. The almost comic level of tragedy Kurt Wallander suffers requires someone you can really put up with for 90 mins. Now he's into middle age Branagh looks like someone who has been broken down but who still remains essentially decent despite the grinding self-pity. Like Robbie Coltrane in Cracker it's
a pleasure of sorts to be in his company, you just wish everyone would leave the poor self-destructive sod be.

The BBC haven't done themselves any favours scheduling the Swedish version of Wallander on BBC 4, which is generally regarded as superior - would you bother with a British version of Law & Order with Five showing the genuine article? The Branagh version finds itself in the odd position of being the slick Hollywood-style attempt, but in my view is a lot better than that
and deserves more respect.