Jo Nesbø’s “Detective Hole” on Netflix: Why Tom Waaler is the Villain We Love to Hate
It's no secret that we Norwegians have a complicated relationship with watching our own stories get the Hollywood treatment. We hold our breath every time someone dares to touch one of our literary treasures. But now that Jo Nesbø's "Detective Hole" has landed on Netflix, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief – and it's all down to one single character: Tom Waaler.
The series, which has already been making a huge splash internationally, delves into the dark world of Harry Hole (played by a brilliant Tobias Santelmann). But for those of us who've been following the books since high school, there's one thing that really stands out: the introduction of the magnetic, treacherous colleague Tom Waaler. With Joel Kinnaman in the role, we’ve got a villain who makes your skin crawl, long before we even get to the plot of Nemesis or the explosive finale of The Devil's Star.
From Page to Screen: Who is Tom Waaler?
For those of you who haven't read The Devil's Star: A Novel (or "Marekors" as we know it best), let me give you a quick rundown without spoiling too much. Tom Waaler isn't just a colleague of Harry's; he's his slick, charismatic polar opposite. While Harry struggles with the bottle and his inner demons, Waaler represents order – but we as readers know that behind the facade lurks one of the most calculating and dangerous figures in the Oslo underworld. He's a cop on the outside and a criminal mastermind on the inside.
Kinnaman captures this duality in a way I didn't think was possible. He's so bloody charming that you almost forget you hate him. Almost. It's an absolute joy to watch him and Santelmann play off each other; it's like watching two wolves pretending to be dogs, all while sizing each other up to see who will go for the throat first.
Why It Works So Damn Well
Let’s be honest: we've seen a thousand police procedurals. We know a twist is coming. But what makes this series, and especially the Waaler character, so strong is the slow build-up. The series leans heavily into the tension built up in the books, particularly leading into what’s known in the book world as "The Devil's Star". Those who've read the books know this is where the story really explodes, and the series hints at this masterfully.
There are three reasons Tom Waaler becomes the series' biggest drawcard:
- The Charisma: Kinnaman doesn't play him as a stereotypical villain. He’s the kind of bloke you’d want to have a beer with, until you realise he'd probably nick your wallet while you're up for a piss.
- The Depth: Unlike many "must-have villains" in today's crime dramas, the writers give us time. We get to see Waaler as part of the team, as an asset. It makes the betrayal hurt so much more when it lands.
- Loyalty to the Source Material: They haven't tried to "modernise" him or turn him into an "anti-hero" with a tragic backstory. He's simply the cunning bastard Nesbø wrote, and it's refreshing.
I've seen a few critics outside Norway praising Santelmann's performance as Harry, and it's well-deserved. But I reckon those of us who know the city, who know what it smells like in Oslo's back alleys on a freezing winter night, we appreciate the finer details of Waaler even more. He’s not just a villain in a series; he's part of what makes Nordic noir so unique – the eternal struggle between order and chaos, where the lines are often blurred.
If you haven't watched the series yet: do it. And don't make the mistake of popping out to the kitchen for a snack whenever Tom Waaler appears on screen. Every look he gives Harry, every smile that doesn't reach his eyes, is a harbinger of the storm to come. I'm already looking forward to seeing how they handle the path towards the final confrontation – those of you who've read The Devil's Star know exactly what I'm talking about.