Mostly set in sunny Costa del Sol, Spain – a paradise, if you will – The Paradise infuses Finnish high production quality and grit into the seaside town of Fuengirola. Hilkka Mäntymäki (Riitta Havukainen, Freezing Embrace) is a seasoned investigator from Oulu, Finland whose retired husband is in the beginning stages of dementia. With a hint of relief, Hilkka goes to Spain to help investigate a homicide within a Finnish enclave in Fuengirola. Once there she’s instantly an asset in partnering with the younger detective Andrés Villanueva (Fran Perea). Other than their age difference, they’re actually quite similar with a no-nonsense approach, maybe a little impulsive and definitely a little moody. The initial investigation only temporarily ends Hilkka’s time in Spain as she and Andrés begin to uncover a more complex set of cases that seem connected. 

The Paradise is an unusual crime drama with all sorts of contradictions fitting comfortably together. It’s both gritty and sunny, brooding characters aren’t limited to the guys, and the detective duo connect with each other in surprising ways.