Detective Hole season 1’s “iconic, brutal” finale for [SPOILER] explained by key star

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*Warning: Contains major spoilers for the Detective Hole season 1 finale.*

The first season of the ‘Detective Hole’ series is based on the fifth book in Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole novels. Nesbø explained to TopMob that this particular story is where the series’ overarching plot really begins to coalesce.

The novel resolves the long-standing conflict between Harry Hole and his rival, the corrupt police officer Tom Waaler.

In the finale, Waaler, portrayed by Joel Kinnaman, dies after abducting Oleg, the son of Harry’s colleague Rakel.

In a shocking and violent scene, Harry accidentally catches Waaler’s arm in a rising elevator, resulting in a gruesome amputation and Waaler bleeding to death.

Kinnaman described his character’s death as ‘iconic’ in an exclusive interview with TopMob. He praised the writer, Jo, for having a limitless imagination and not being afraid to push boundaries.

I was really fascinated to hear Kinnaman talk with TopMob. He shared what initially attracted him to the role – a character he described as deeply conflicted – and how he approached understanding him. It was interesting to get his perspective on the character’s internal struggles and his process for bringing him to life.

I’ve come to see him as a truly malignant narcissist – someone who, in terms of deeply harmful personality traits, is frighteningly close to being a full-blown sociopath. It’s a chilling realization, understanding just how far gone he is.

This person struggles with empathy, often acting without considering others’ feelings, but is capable of feeling it at times. I found that particularly fascinating.

Tobias Santelmann stars as Detective Hole in the new series, alongside Pia Tjelta, Ellen Helinder, and Maxime Baune Bochud.

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Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a major international TV production company. He holds a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-03-31 13:34