Unni Lindell: The Cato Isaksen Mysteries, Set 1

This Norwegian TV series is based on novels by writer Unni Lindell, whose protagonist detective Cato Isaksen appears to have been inspired by the anti-hero crime-fighters populating U.S. television in the 1970s. Cato (Reidar Sørensen) is a no-nonsense, take-charge homicide investigator who always seems to be in conflict with his stuffy, humorless superiors. He's also constantly at odds with two ex-girlfriends who are the mothers of his three young sons. Fortunately, his colleagues help keep Cato focused on solving Oslo's trickiest murders, while his adorable pet cat, Marmalade, offers some feline emotional support. The three episodes included here may give viewers a sense of been-there/done-that in terms of plotting: “The Snake Bearer” concerns a serial killer on the loose; in “The Dream Catcher,” one of Cato's kids has knowledge relating to a girl's death but refuses to cooperate with the investigation; and “The Mourning Cloak” involves a murder, a disappearance, and dark childhood secrets. But the action moves at a crisp pace, resulting in some genuinely entertaining thrillers that could double as travelogues, thanks to handsome views of Oslo and the surrounding countryside. Still, the real fuel here is Sørensen, a Norwegian actor who commands the screen with his solid, gruff presence, even when he's staring in enigmatic silence at the surrounding mayhem. Recommended. [Note: Unni Lindell: The Cato Isaksen Mysteries, Set 2 is also newly available.] (P. Hall)