Wallander Season 1 Episode 1 Before the Frost

Wallander is a Swedish television series, based on the novels by Henning Mankell. The series follows the story of Kurt Wallander, a detective in the small town of Ystad, Sweden. In the first episode of season 1, titled "Before the Frost," Wallander is called to investigate a gruesome murder that takes place at a local farm.

The episode starts with Wallander attending his daughter Linda's wedding, while struggling with the fact that he is getting older, and his life feels unfulfilled. Linda has invited her mother, Mona, who Wallander separated from several years ago. Wallander finds it difficult to be around her and it is clear that there is unresolved tension between them.

Shortly after the wedding, Wallander is called to the scene of a murder at the farm of his neighbor and friend, Arne Viklund. It appears that someone has killed Viklund's daughter, Linda, and her boyfriend, Stefan Fredman. Furthermore, Viklund is missing, and his wife is in a state of shock.

Wallander quickly takes charge of the investigation, which proves to be difficult from the outset. With no leads to follow and no obvious motive for the murders, Wallander and his team are forced to proceed with caution. They soon discover that Stefan's father, Erik, is a convicted criminal who has been released from prison, and may have a motive to seek revenge on Viklund, who testified against him in court.

As Wallander digs deeper into the case, he discovers that Viklund has been involved in some shady deals with Erik Fredman, and may have been embezzling money. Furthermore, a mysterious man in a blue car has been spotted in the vicinity of the farm, and Wallander is convinced that he is a key suspect.

Meanwhile, Wallander's personal life is also in turmoil. His daughter Linda is struggling with her own problems, and it becomes clear that Mona is still in love with Kurt. This causes tension between Wallander and Mona, and he is not sure how to proceed.

As the investigation continues, Wallander begins to draw connections between the murder, Viklund's shady business dealings, and the mysterious blue car. With the help of his team, he is able to piece together a complex web of deceit and corruption, leading to a dramatic showdown at a remote location.

Overall, "Before the Frost" sets the tone for the rest of the series, with its gritty and realistic portrayal of detective work in a small town setting. The episode also establishes Wallander as a flawed and complex character, struggling not only with his job but also with his personal demons.