Jo Nesbø’s “Detective Hole” on Netflix: Why Tom Waaler Is the Best Villain We Love to Hate
It’s no secret that we Norwegians have a complicated relationship with seeing our own stories interpreted by Hollywood. 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 down to one particular character: Tom Waaler.
The series, which has already created quite a buzz internationally, delves into the dark world of Harry Hole (played by a brilliant Tobias Santelmann). But for those of us who’ve followed the books since high school, one thing 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 climax 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 Norwegians 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 antithesis. While Harry battles his demons and the bottle, Waaler represents order – but we 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, 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 play off each other is a pure delight; it’s like watching two wolves pretending to be dogs, all while sizing each other up to see who’ll go for the throat first.
Why It Works So Damn Well
Let’s be honest: we’ve seen a thousand police procedurals. We know the twist is coming. But what makes this series, and especially the Waaler character, so strong is the slow-burn build-up. The series leans heavily into the tension developed in the books, particularly leading up to what’s known in the book universe as "The Devil's Star". Those who’ve read the books know that this is where the story truly explodes, and the series hints at this masterfully.
There are three reasons Tom Waaler becomes 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, until you realise he’d probably swipe your wallet while you got up to use the restroom.
- The Depth: Unlike many "must-have" villains in today’s crime dramas, the writers give us time. We see Waaler as part of the team, as a resource. That makes the betrayal so much more painful when it comes.
- Loyalty to the Source Material: They haven’t tried to "modernise" 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 some critics outside Norway highlight Santelmann’s performance as Harry, and it’s well-deserved. But I suspect 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 in Waaler even more. He’s not just a villain in a series; he’s a part of what makes Nordic noir so unique – the eternal battle between order and chaos, where the lines are often blurred.
If you haven’t seen the series yet, do it. And don’t make the mistake of taking a kitchen break when Tom Waaler appears on screen. Every glance he throws Harry’s way, 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.