Plot Summary
”The Breakthrough” is a Swedish crime drama series on Netflix that dramatizes the real-life 2004 double murder in Linköping, Sweden, and the subsequent 16-year investigation that led to the resolution of the case.
The series opens with the brutal stabbings of eight-year-old Adnan Abbas and 56-year-old Gunilla Persson in a park in Linköping. Adnan is attacked on his way to school, and Gunilla is stabbed when she attempts to intervene. Detective John Sundin leads the investigation, initially believing that the case will be swiftly solved due to the collection of the murder weapon and a hat left at the scene. However, despite these pieces of evidence and a witness, Karin, who saw the perpetrator, the case grows cold as traditional investigative methods fail to identify the killer.
As years pass, the lack of progress takes a toll on John, affecting his personal life and leading to the dissolution of his marriage. In 2020, on the brink of the case being relegated to the cold case unit, John learns about the use of forensic genealogy in solving crimes in the United States. He enlists the help of genealogist Per Skogkvist, who employs this innovative technique to analyze DNA evidence from the crime scene. Through constructing family trees and identifying distant relatives, they narrow down potential suspects.
Ending Explained
The breakthrough comes when Per discovers that journalist Stina Eriksson, who had been covering the case, shares significant genetic markers with the suspect. This revelation leads them to two brothers, David and Stefan Nilsson. Focusing on David, who matches the psychological profile of the killer, they obtain a DNA sample that conclusively matches the evidence from the crime scene. Upon arrest, David confesses to the murders, stating that voices in his head compelled him to commit the crimes to find peace.
Connection to Real-Life Events
“The Breakthrough” is based on the true story of the 2004 Linköping double homicide, where eight-year-old Mohamad Ammouri and 56-year-old Anna-Lena Svensson were fatally stabbed. The case remained unsolved for 16 years until advancements in forensic genealogy led to the identification and arrest of Daniel Nyqvist in 2020. Nyqvist confessed to the murders, citing auditory hallucinations as his motive, and was subsequently sentenced to psychiatric care.
The series closely follows the actual events, highlighting the persistence of law enforcement and the innovative use of DNA technology that ultimately brought closure to one of Sweden’s most notorious cold cases.
Review
Critical Reception:
The Guardian praised the series for its meticulous storytelling, noting that it “is linear, precise, and tells the story of what happened from beginning to end, with care, and without much fuss.”
The Times, however, offered a more critical perspective, suggesting that the series “seeks to pick up a terrible crime, real people, real shattered lives, and place them in an artistic genre that serves a different purpose,” resulting in a narrative that may leave viewers feeling uneasy.
Rotten Tomatoes reflects mixed reviews, with a 60% approval rating from critics based on five reviews, and a 73% audience score from over 50 ratings.
Audience Feedback:
On Reddit, users expressed varied opinions. One viewer commented, “Overall, I enjoyed this. It didn’t drag on too long and had a good flow. The lead detective was a good character that made you root for him.”
Conversely, another Reddit user felt the series lacked depth, stating, “I felt that the whole story would have been more satisfying as a 20 minute read of a good article… Instead we sat through 4 episodes of dull, dreary dialog.”
In summary, “The Breakthrough” has garnered a spectrum of reviews, with some appreciating its methodical approach to true crime storytelling, while others found it lacking in engagement and depth.
