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 thanks to one character: Tom Waaler.
The series, which has already been making waves 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, treacherous colleague Tom Waaler. With Joel Kinnaman in the role, we’re given a villain who gets under your skin long before we even reach the events 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, 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 as readers, we 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. It’s a joy to watch him and Santelmann play off each other; it’s like watching two wolves pretending to be dogs 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 a twist is coming. But what makes this series—and especially the character of Waaler—so strong is the slow burn. The show leans heavily into the tension built up in the books, particularly leading into what’s known in the literary world as “The Devil’s Star.” Those who’ve read the books know that’s where the story truly explodes, and the series hints at it masterfully.
There are three reasons Tom Waaler becomes the series’ biggest draw:
- 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 realize he’d probably lift your wallet while you’re up to take a leak.
- Depth: Unlike a lot of “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. That makes the betrayal cut all the deeper when it comes.
- Loyalty to the Source Material: They didn’t try to “modernize” him or turn him into an “antihero” with a tragic backstory. He’s just the slimy bastard Nesbø wrote, and it’s refreshing.
I’ve seen some critics outside of Norway praise Santelmann’s performance as Harry, and deservedly so. But I think those of us who know the city, who know what the alleys of Oslo smell like on a cold winter night, we appreciate the nuances of Waaler a little more. He’s not just a villain in a series; he’s 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 shows up on screen. Every glance he shoots 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 road ahead toward the final confrontation—those of you who’ve read The Devil’s Star know exactly what I’m talking about.