Jo Nesbø’s “Detective Hole” on Netflix: Why Tom Waaler Is the Villain We Hate to Love

It’s no secret that we Norwegians have a complicated relationship with seeing our own stories get the Hollywood treatment. We hold our breath every time someone decides to adapt 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 thanks to one character in particular: Tom Waaler.

The series, which has already generated major buzz internationally, dives into the dark world of Harry Hole (played by a phenomenal Tobias Santelmann). But for those of us who’ve been following the books since high school, one thing stands out: the introduction of the magnetic, duplicitous colleague, Tom Waaler. With Joel Kinnaman in the role, we get a villain who makes our skin crawl, long before we even reach the plot of Nemesis or the explosive ending 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 smooth, charismatic polar opposite. While Harry struggles with the bottle and his inner demons, Waaler represents order—but we, as readers, know that behind the façade 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 damn charming that you almost forget you hate him. Almost. Watching him and Santelmann go head-to-head is a pure joy; it’s like watching two wolves pretending to be dogs while sizing each other up to see who’ll go for the jugular 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 the Waaler character specifically—so compelling is the slow burn. The series leans heavily into the tension built up in the books, especially leading up to what fans know as “The Devil’s Star.” Those who’ve read the books know that’s where the story truly explodes, and the series hints at this masterfully.

There are three reasons Tom Waaler is the series’ biggest draw:

• The Charisma: Kinnaman doesn’t play him as a stereotypical villain. He’s the kind of guy you’d want to grab a beer with, right up until you realize he’d probably lift your wallet while you’re up to use the washroom.
• The Depth: Unlike the “must-have villain” in so many crime dramas today, the writers give us time. We get to see Waaler as part of the team, as an asset. It makes the betrayal sting that much more when it hits.
• The Faithfulness to the Source Material: They haven’t tried to “modernize” him or turn him into an “anti-hero” with a sad backstory. He’s simply the conniving bastard Nesbø wrote, and it’s refreshing.

I’ve seen a number of critics outside Norway praising Santelmann’s performance as Harry, and it’s well-deserved. But I think those of us who know the city, who know what it smells like in Oslo’s back alleys on a cold winter night, we appreciate the details of Waaler just a little bit 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 taking a break in the kitchen whenever Tom Waaler appears on screen. Every glance he throws Harry’s way, every smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, is like a warning of the storm to come. I’m already looking forward to seeing how they handle the road ahead to the final confrontation—those of you who’ve read The Devil's Star know exactly what I’m talking about.