At first it seems as if this episode of BECK is going to address the contentious subject of racism in contemporary Sweden, as the two police officers investigate a case involving the murder of two immigrants and encounter a crippled white supremacist who believes that the entire incident is a prelude to an Islamist attempt to subvert Swedish democracy.
In the end, however, Stephan Apelgren's drama embraces a more liberal point of view as it shows how illegal immigrants have been ruthlessly exploited by a European business person (Simon Norrthon) prepared to go to any lengths to clear his name. The action shows how the concept of delegation - a staple of contemporary management - can be used to absolve people of responsibility. Passing on the job to others engenders an "out of sight, out of mind" philosophy.
What renders this episode noteworthy is its refusal to take itself too seriously, despite the seriousness of its subject-matter. Gunvald Larsson (Mikael Persbrandt) has a joke or two at Beck's (Peter Haber's) expense over Haber's nascent love-affair with pathologist Gunilla (Anu Sinisalo); and later on has a laugh or two at tyro detective Oskar's (Måns Nathanaelson's) expense as the younger officer vainly tries to continue working while simultaneously worrying about his wife's impending birth. Even Ayda Çetin (Elmira Arıkan) has the chance to exchange some banter with young officer Jenny (Anna Asp) over the latter's refusal to speak much.
Nonetheless such moments do not detract from the basic thrust of this episode, which serves to remind us of the destructive consequences of capitalist exploitation.
In the end, however, Stephan Apelgren's drama embraces a more liberal point of view as it shows how illegal immigrants have been ruthlessly exploited by a European business person (Simon Norrthon) prepared to go to any lengths to clear his name. The action shows how the concept of delegation - a staple of contemporary management - can be used to absolve people of responsibility. Passing on the job to others engenders an "out of sight, out of mind" philosophy.
What renders this episode noteworthy is its refusal to take itself too seriously, despite the seriousness of its subject-matter. Gunvald Larsson (Mikael Persbrandt) has a joke or two at Beck's (Peter Haber's) expense over Haber's nascent love-affair with pathologist Gunilla (Anu Sinisalo); and later on has a laugh or two at tyro detective Oskar's (Måns Nathanaelson's) expense as the younger officer vainly tries to continue working while simultaneously worrying about his wife's impending birth. Even Ayda Çetin (Elmira Arıkan) has the chance to exchange some banter with young officer Jenny (Anna Asp) over the latter's refusal to speak much.
Nonetheless such moments do not detract from the basic thrust of this episode, which serves to remind us of the destructive consequences of capitalist exploitation.
