Beyond the central murder investigation of Anna Bergdahl, the series explores corporate corruption, environmental politics, and the moral gray areas of justice. Critics often compare it to The Killing for its slow-burn pacing and focus on the "second story"—the long-term impact of crime on a community. The Scholarly Work: Disconnect (Karppi, 2018)
Both works, though in different fields, use "Karppi" as a vessel to explore the friction between the individual and the overwhelming systems—whether they be criminal conspiracies or social media algorithms—that define the late 2010s. Karppi(2018)
The book highlights that even when users try to "disconnect" (e.g., a "digital detox"), the industry often commodifies that resistance, turning the desire for a break into just another consumer product. Beyond the central murder investigation of Anna Bergdahl,
Karppi examines how platforms use "affective bonds"—like buttons and notification metrics—to stimulate positive emotional reactions. These "emotional flows" make it difficult for users to disengage, creating a state of "banal deception" where users feel socially connected but are actually isolated. The book highlights that even when users try
The series centers on Sofia Karppi (Pihla Viitala), a detective returning to work in Helsinki shortly after the tragic death of her husband. Her character embodies the "flawed protagonist" trope of the genre—socially isolated, throwing herself into work to avoid personal trauma.