But there’s a lekker twist: the hit Scandinavian shows, which include the acclaimed Trom (25 June), Snow Angels (2 July), Max Anger – With One Eye Open (9 July) and The Dark Heart (16 July) have all been dubbed in Afrikaans, adding to local appeal.
Elouise Kelly, Country Manager at Viu South Africa explains: “Thanks to the success of blockbusters such as The Killing and Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, Nordic Noir – a genre of crime fiction set in Scandinavia – has seen a sharp rise in popularity over the past few years. The combination of stunning yet stark icy landscapes and complex, dark storylines that so beautifully juxtapose a calm and stoic setting with a morally bankrupt and dangerous underbelly, has resonated with viewers across the globe. We wanted to bring these twisting tales back home for our South African audiences to enjoy.”
With viewers demonstrating a growing appetite for diverse and authentic international content made accessible through dubbing – as evidenced by the popularity of shows such as Squid Game – Kelly says that the addition of Afrikaans to the four shows will further entice South African viewers.
Crime drama and mystery Trom, set in the isolated island community of Faroes, follows journalist Hannis Martinsson, as he sets out on the trail of a compelling story after the body of a missing animal rights activist is discovered in the midst of a local whale hunt. Was the activist really who she said she was? And will his digging for the truth make him collateral damage?
Snow Angels tells the story of a five-week-old baby who disappears from home a couple of days before Christmas, while Sweden is paralyzed by a debilitating snowstorm. But as police officer Alice soon discovers during her investigations, the family may be hiding something.
Max Anger – With One Eye Open is a thriller about ex-Swedish military member Max Anger, who finds love with a Russian colleague. When she disappears in St Petersburg after discovering something dangerous, Max goes after her, determined to track her down – but soon his quest turns deadly.
In The Dark Heart, an investigation is launched when a wealthy landowner goes missing after giving her daughter an ultimatum: end her relationship with the son of a rival farmer or lose her inheritance. The story follows Tanja, an investigator with Missing People Sweden, who soon stumbles upon a deadly web of deceit.
These shows find an ideal home on Viu South Africa, which is renowned for its diverse library that contains a vast selection of local and international content. Viu features the country’s best-loved shows, including Uzalo and Skeem Saam, as well as Viu Originals such as the hit uBettina Wethu, while its sizeable Korean content vertical was attributed to having been a key driver in the K-wave phenomenon.
“With its origins in the East, Viu remains locally-focused and rooted, and our unique DNA means that we understand – more viscerally than most – that great content comes from all over; not only from Hollywood. Our dual-model, which allows viewers greater flexibility through affordable daily, weekly or monthly subscription options, as well as our advertising-funded offering that allows viewers to watch for free, caters to the real needs of the South African market. We’re excited that through our inclusive platform, all South African viewers will be able to enjoy these captivating Nordic Noir stories,” Kelly says.
Watch the Trom, Snow Angels, Max Anger – With One Eye Open and The Dark Heart, only on Viu.
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