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Nicola Walker stars as Annika Stranded in a new television series adapted from the original radio series that aired on Radio 4 in Britain (2013, 31 episodes). Annika, created and written by Nick Walker, follows Detective Inspector Annika (Nicola Walker) of the Glasgow HMU (Homicide Marine Unit). Newly transferred from Norway, Annika arrives with her highly respected success in solving crimes and begins a new life with her teenage daughter.
Breaking the fourth wall repeatedly throughout each of the six episodes that are now streaming on PBS Masterpiece Mystery (originally airing in Britain in fall 2021), look for a new episode to be released each Sunday. It is the subtle humor and self-deprecating awareness by Nicola Walker’s character that create a tone of inclusion for the audience. No longer is the audience completely unconnected or simply an onlooker as Walker invites the audience to notice the details that often get brushed over by traditional crime dramas.
Have a look at the trailer below, and enjoy a new approach to a traditional trope of mystery story-telling.
~Watch the series on Masterpiece Mystery here.
Watch the trailer for Season 1 (below)
~Annika was a Petit Plaisir for episode #342 of The Simple Sophisticate podcast, 10 Items I Am Wearing This Fall for Timeless Style (and to stay warm and cozy)
~Explore more Petit Plaisirs in TSLL’s Archives
Oh, your timing is impeccable! We have two eps of this series recorded & will be watching one of them — maybe both — this evening (as soon as the tea’s steeped — I’m serious about your timing being perfect.). I’ll watch anything with Nicola Walker in it . We finished the last season of “Unforgotten” this summer &, as always, were blown away by how incredibly good an actor she is. (There’s a documentary about how the series was made called “Unforgotten: Building The Series” that I’m trying to find.) Thanks for this!
Susanne,
I agree. Nicola Walker is outstanding. I do hope you enjoy. I was absolutely and immediately enjoying the series when I watched the first episode. Thank you for sharing their is a documentary on her other series. I will try to find it as well. 🙂
I’m adding an update: We watched this last night & thoroughly enjoyed it. My husband, whose ear isn’t as attuned to a Scots’ accent as mine, had some trouble with the dialogue but with me “translating” as we went (I have family born & living in Edinburgh but I can decipher Glaswegian if I listen closely) he was able to follow the story. I wasn’t sure I cared for the narrator (Walker) speaking to the camera at first, but liked it fine once I was used to it. I like the fact there was a whole story in the one episode with a beginning, middle & resolution, too, something many series have gotten away from, preferring a long multi-episode story arc. Turns out we had just the one ep recorded (I don’t know why I thought we had 2), & we’re both looking forward to the next one. Very much a petit plaisir!
I watched the first episode of Annika on PBS last night and it was fantastic! I didn’t realize she would speak directly to camera so was surprised and delighted by that treatment. It personalizes the character much more than usual. I agree that Nicola Walker is an amazing actress.
Jen,
So glad to hear you enjoyed the first episode as well. Yes, that breaking of the fourth wall is a good surprise and as you said, it does personalize her more and includes us as we become directly part of the conversation with this approach. Enjoy the rest of the season! 🙂
when i click on recipe it takes me to Annika info. Same when i try to access recipe under desserts.
Christine,
Thank you for letting me know! I had included a redirect and needed to add one more step. Here is the link to the recipe. https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/pp342yogurtcakecitron/