The Nordic noir thriller has been praised for its ‘excellent’ action and gorgeous visuals
The fourth series of a very popular thriller has just dropped on Channel 4(Image: Channel 4)
The fourth series of a very popular thriller has just dropped on Channel 4.
Arctic Circle is the latest box set to dop on the broadcaster’s streaming platform and has been described as a “gripping Finnish crime drama” that follows detective Nina Kautsalo as she investigates a string of dangerous cases that straddle the border between Russia and Finland.
The series first aired back in Finland in 2018 for four seasons, and now all of them are available to binge on Channel 4. Arctic Circle stars Iina Kuustonen in the lead role, alongside fellow cast members Pihla Viitala, Mikko Leppilampi, Venla Ronkainen, and Taneli Mäkelä.
The fourth season sees Nina, now chief of police in Ivalo, investigate a possible threat to an astrophysicists’ conference occurring during the rare Eiscat comet.
As her former boss Jaakko Stenius joins the inquiry, a carbon‑monoxide incident killing 24 care‑home residents, initially ruled accidental, reveals evidence of mass murder.
The synopsis reads: “When the rare Eiscat comet blazes across the endless night sky in its first appearance in two thousand years, it draws scientists from around the world to Ivalo for an international conference.
“After the FBI warns of a potential threat, Nina’s former boss, Jaakko Stenius (Kari Ketonen), arrives to lead a covert investigation with her. As they dig deeper, chilling links emerge between the comet and a fanatical sect determined to fulfill an ancient prophecy before the comet disappears again.”
Set in Lapland, the show has been praised by viewers for its “sublime” casting and gorgeous visuals.
One viewer wrote: “This series has it all: interesting story with multiple plot lines, nice balance between drama and thriller, good acting by everyone involved (Finnish actress Iina Kuustonen is a marvel to watch), and beautiful shots of vast snowy landscapes in Lapland.”
While another said: “Outstanding. This is a top quality show with fine performances and a terrific plot. Good production values with characters that are fully explored.”
Adding: “All good shows there must be an array of engaging characters. Artic Circle has that in spades. The countryside is both haunting beautiful and bleak. It’s an unforgiving environment and has been captured to perfection.”
And a third commented: “The show itself has a brilliant storyline and the location for filming sets the scene nicely. The acting is superb, especially the young girl who plays Venla.”
It come after Channel 4 announced its “most watched show” of 2026, Patience, would be returning to screens for a third season. You can read more on this here.
Series 1 to 4 of Arctic Circle are available to stream on Channel 4 now.