Efterforskningen: Denmark's Ethical Approach to True Crime
A Danish TV series redefines the genre by focusing on investigation over exploitation in the Kim Wall murder case
By
Susanne SperlingEfterforskningen, a Danish television series released around 2020–2021, dramatizes the police and prosecutorial investigation into the 2017 murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall by Peter Madsen aboard his submarine UC3 Nautilus. The series stands apart in the true crime landscape by prioritizing ethical storytelling over sensationalism.
On August 10, 2017, Kim Wall disappeared after boarding Madsen's submarine UC3 Nautilus in Copenhagen. The case captivated Scandinavia and drew international attention. Peter Madsen was subsequently convicted of murder in 2018, with his life sentence upheld on appeal. Yet rather than sensationalizing these brutal facts, Efterforskningen chose a different path.
The series focuses explicitly on the intellectual dimensions of the investigation—the detective work, prosecutorial strategy, and forensic reasoning that led to Madsen's conviction. It deliberately avoids graphic depictions of violence and excludes the perpetrator as a character, a deliberate narrative choice that fundamentally reshapes how the story is told. This approach reflects a commitment to treating the real suffering of victims and their families with dignity.
Danish media outlets including Weekendavisen and Advokaten have discussed Efterforskningen as a principled response to true crime ethics. The series has been cited as a positive Nordic example of the genre, contrasting sharply with the more sensational approaches common in American true crime productions. Rather than exploiting tragedy for entertainment, the series positions itself as a serious artistic examination of how justice systems work when confronted with extraordinary crimes.
The production was developed with extensive research into the actual case, grounding its narrative in verified facts while maintaining dramatic coherence. This commitment to both accuracy and restraint has made it a model for how true crime content can function as genuine art rather than mere spectacle. The series demonstrates that audience engagement need not depend on graphic violence or the glorification of perpetrators.
By centering the investigation rather than the crime itself, Efterforskningen invites viewers to appreciate the intellectual rigor required to solve complex cases. The focus on police work and prosecution creates narrative tension through procedural discovery rather than through details of suffering. This methodology allows the series to honor the memory of Kim Wall while exploring the broader question of how institutions respond to tragedy.
The Danish approach represented by Efterforskningen arrives at a critical moment in the global true crime boom. As the genre has expanded across streaming platforms and podcasts, concerns about victim exploitation and the glorification of violence have intensified. Efterforskningen suggests an alternative—that true crime can be both compelling and conscientious, intellectually rigorous and ethically grounded.
The series' reception in Danish media indicates growing appetite for true crime that respects boundaries. Publications focused on law and media ethics have engaged seriously with the work, suggesting that ethical storytelling need not compromise artistic or commercial viability. Instead, it may enhance both by attracting audiences seeking substance over shock value.
Ultimately, Efterforskningen represents a deliberate choice about what true crime can be. It proves that the genre's appeal lies not in sensational details but in the human drama of investigation, the puzzle of justice, and the institutional response to extraordinary circumstances. In doing so, it offers a model that other producers—both Nordic and international—might consider as the true crime genre continues to evolve.
**Sources:**
https://www.information.dk/kultur/2015/11/naar-underholdning-virkelige-ofre-gerningsmaend
https://www.weekendavisen.dk/kultur/nogle-gange-skal-kunsten-tie
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWBVkTBCMbQ/
https://ibbondebjerg.com/tv-series/nar-virkeligheden-er-bestialsk/
https://www.advokatsamfundet.dk/nyheder-medier/tidligere-artikler/2023/advokaten-1/2023-advokaten-1-advokat-i-fiktionen-advokaten-skal-vaere-en-anti-helt/