How to Fall in Love with Icelandic TV Series in 4 Steps: A Beginner's Guide

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They are unhurried, cold and unfamiliar — but once you get a taste, it's impossible to tear yourself away.

Icelandic series hit you like a fresh wind off a glacier: they sting with their unfamiliarity at first, then bring that pure clarity that makes everything feel lighter.

If you're used to Hollywood pacing and Korean emotional intensity, it'll feel strange at first. But don't worry. All you need is the right entry point.

I've put together four steps that'll help you truly fall in love with Icelandic series — and discover the genre for yourself.

Step 1. Atmosphere That Captivates

We recommend: "Trapped"

Genre: crime thriller, drama

For whom: if you're tired of loud shows and want to dive into a slow-burn investigation

A small town cut off from the world. A body found in the harbor. And while the storm intensifies, the main characters try to unravel the crime — not with big speeches, but by simply doing their job.
Two men standing in a room wearing black clothing, next to a poster depicting a man standing in the snow
Frame from "Trapped" series poster
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"Trapped" is the perfect starting point: slow, dark, but gripping from the first minutes. Atmosphere is the main character here.

Step 2. Characters You Can Believe In

We recommend: "The Valhalla Murders"

Genre: detective, drama

For whom: when you really want to get to the truth

There won't be any supercops or supervillains here. Just police officers who make mistakes, get tired, but keep moving forward. And a plot based on real events — which adds weight.
Snow-covered street under streetlamp light and a poster featuring a woman's profile
Frame and poster from "The Valhalla Murders" series
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The story revolves around a criminologist who came to Iceland from Oslo to catch the country's first serial killer in history.

Step 3. Beauty You Can't Look Away From

We recommend: "Katla"

Genre: sci-fi, thriller

For whom: if you love "Dark" but want something fresh

A town at the foot of a volcano. People who were thought dead start emerging from under the glacier. Each episode feels like walking through someone else's dream. Minimal words, maximum tension.
A girl in a brown jacket wearing a respirator and a man with a rifle in his hands
Frames from "Katla" series
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In a word, Icelandic sci-fi.

Step 4. Local Color That Can't Be Faked

We recommend: "Black Sands"

Genre: crime drama

For whom: if you want to feel how real Iceland lives

A young female police officer returns to her hometown, where she discovers the body of a foreign tourist. The main character decides to investigate the crime and find a dangerous serial killer.
A girl leaning against the wall and a poster featuring two men and a girl looking in different directions
Frame and poster from "Black Sands" series
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It's also a story about the relationship between a daughter and her harsh mother. Drama against the backdrop of Iceland without any sugar-coating.

Icelandic series don't shout like Hollywood ones do. They whisper. But in a way that's impossible not to hear. Earlier on zoomboola.com, we told you how to fall in love with Korean series in 4 steps.