An Avenging Angel whose online “nom de guerre” is White Wolf receives information from a discredited inside source resulting in damaging information about six officers derelict in the line of duty who falsified reports with incorrect information, covered up police brutality, inflicted unnecessary violence and committed “accidental” murder as well as malfeasance.

The murdered officers avoided prosecution and prison because the Justice Department failed to investigate and to institute police reforms necessary for transparency. Prior to murdering each officer, a taped confession of guilt is mailed to investigative reporter Jenny Langenegger. Federal police commissioner Peter Schwaller wants a quick solution by putting Wilder and Kägi under pressure to solve the case quickly.

The Avenging Angel is among the walking wounded who may as well be dead in this snowy white Alpine landscape dotted with mountains and trees, telephone poles and cars moving along highways covering the evil that men and women do. The Angel’s role brings to mind Biblical references as embodied by the Protestant Reformation under Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) and John Calvin (1504-1564) – the two foremost exponents of religious reforms based on Biblical interpretations and moral teachings.

The Avenger finds solace and comfort only in his imaginary family life, a psychological break from reality which intrudes upon his real life, thereby becoming the manifestation for his redemptive actions as a survivor and Avenger. His dichotomy as a Christ-like figure expiates his suffering through vengeance because he cannot “turn the other cheek.”

Season 3 comprises six episodes and takes place in Nottingen, a village near the Swiss capital, Bern (Bern is the second most populated canton where German is the official language, but the spoken language is Bernese German – the local variant of the Alemannic Swiss German dialect).

Bela Batthyany and Alexander Szombath created this series written by Tamara Mattle, Bettina Alber and Roberto Martinez, whose scripts were fluidly directed by Jan-Eric Mack and Samuel Periard under the producers’ — Beat Lenherr’s and Peter Reichenbach — watchful eyes. This versatile production team has crafted solid, sacred, visual and visceral portraits embodied by Spale and Signer, leading a powerful cast whose richly-textured, subtly shaded performances remain deeply etched in our memories long after the series is over.

Wilder is well worth watching even if the subject tests our mettle and morality.