In the isolated rural town of Skarnes Norway the body of the funeral home director’s daughter is discovered in a field. Perhaps not to her good fortune, Live (pronounced Liva) is discovered to be alive before the police budget busting autopsy is performed. Grappling with fragmentary memories of the attack that left her for dead in the field Live discovers that not only has she developed a compulsion for blood but that dark familial secrets present new dangers from unexpected quarters.

Postmortem: No One Dies in Skarnes is billed as Nordic noir/horror/comedy though from the first two episodes I would say the show’s emphasis is horror/noir with only occasional touches of humor serving as counter point to the bleak tone and setting. Produced in Norway and currently streaming as a Netflix Original the show has a distinctly Nordic noir aesthetic, presenting the fantastic premise with grounded realistic performances and cinematography. While the story has one foot solidly in its own unique vampire lore the other remains planted in a world of overdue bills and heartless banks so familiar to the audience giving the fantastical a realism necessary for the audience suspension of disbelief.

This commitment to a realistic approach continues to its casting, hair, and make-up with the production eschewing the ‘cover model’ look for its female performers but a more grounded sense of attractiveness that avoids glam for a relatable appearance. The performances themselves are balanced to small emotes with a restrained quietness in keeping with the Nordic noir tradition and that serves the story better than loud overly expressive gesticulations.

Having watched just two of the six episodes of the first season it is difficult to say if the show succeeds. I am of the personal belief that ending are essential to artistic success of any film or series and that a bad one, looking at you Game of Thrones, can critically damage the good that came before. That said I am hopeful that Postmortem: No One Dies in Skarnes will stick its landing.