Who’s who in tense Faroe Islands crime series ‘Trom’

‘Trom’ takes the isolation of the North Atlantic’s Faroe Islands and runs with it, in this gripping addition to the Nordic Noir collection at SBS On Demand.

‘Trom’. Source: REinvent Studios

While it’s part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the archipelago of the Faroe Islands, bobbing between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean, is self-governing. That fact is underlined by the premise of Trom, a crime drama set and filmed on location in the Faroes.

When local activist Sonja gets in touch with Hannis, a journalist she has never met, it’s to tell him that she is his daughter and that her life is in danger. This leads the curious Hannis to return after a long absence, but by the time he arrives, Sonja has gone missing.

The Faroe Islands give Nordic Noir a new home in ‘Trom’. Source: REinvent Studios

As the mystery deepens it becomes clear this close-knit community keeps plenty of secrets, as Hannis decides to stay and dig into what has happened. His search for the truth soon brings him into conflict with the local police. 

This compelling six-part series is based on Jagvan Isaksen’s crime novels, adapted for television by series creator Torfinnur Jákupsson.

So who's who in in this island mystery?

Sonja á Heyggi (Helena Heðinsdóttir) – environmental activist

A free spirit, Sonja is unafraid to push the boundaries of everyone around her. A prominent activist, she’s affiliated with the international Guardians of the Sea, who target the Faroe Islands for its whaling practice. She’s a passionate advocate for the environment, determined to leave behind a better world for her young daughter. But when she disappears, the list of Sonja’s potential opponents and enemies quickly add up.

Hannis Martinsson (Ulrich Thomsen) – journalist

Ulrich Thomsen as Hannis Martinsson in ‘Trom’. Source: REinvent Studios

Hannis left the Faroes as a heartbroken young man, and has been on the move ever since. Consumed with work, Hannis has become a master investigative journalist, known for his uncompromising methods and strong allergy to authority, which sometimes lands him in trouble.

To cope with his deep-seated anxiety, he drinks too much. With a criminal past, he feels like a fraud, and has become rather unstable. He’s built a wall around himself, keeping others at bay, but when Sonja gets in touch and claims to be his daughter, he’s drawn back to the Faroes to confront his past, and brings with him the hope of building a more settled future.

Karla Mohr (Maria Rich) – police chief

Maria Rich as Karla Mohr in ‘Trom’. Source: REinvent Studios

Karla is Danish, and moved to the Faroes as a young police officer, longing to forge the peaceful family she never had as a vulnerable foster child. The stunning landscape, slower pace of life and genuine community spirit, along with a passionate romance, gave her a newfound sense of belonging. Karla now protects the islands like a fierce matriarch.

Filled with a strong sense of justice, Karla is determined to find out what happened to Sonja, but the investigation places her at the heart of a mounting community crisis as well as a media frenzy, all without the necessary evidence to charge anyone. A major personal conflict makes itself known, adding to her already overwhelming sense of guilt that she didn’t do enough to protect Sonja.

Ragnar Í Rong (Olaf Johannessen) – wealthy industrialist

A self-made billionaire, Ragnar’s industrial fishing empire has revived the local economy. A widower with a troubled teenager, Ragnar is also a part-time preacher and highly respected in the community. Many see him as a saviour, bringing jobs and financial stability as well as offering charity and spiritual guidance, but his hunger for success and ambition to become more powerful also feed a dangerous greed.

 

How far will Hannis go to uncover the truth? Will Karla confront the biggest dilemma of her career? Trom is the first series from the Faroe Islands to appear at SBS On Demand, and we could not be more thrilled about it. 

Nordic Noir collection

Trom is a proud addition to our stable of Nordic Noir series streaming at SBS On Demand, which include:

• Sweden’s Bäckström, Blinded and Before We Die
• Iceland’s Stella Blomkvist, Black Sands and Trapped, and
• Norway’s Beforeigners, Wisting and Furia.

Six-part series Trom is now streaming at SBS On Demand.