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'Wisting' Episode 1 sets the pace for a deadly serial killer who has eluded the FBI for two decades

What Episode 1 of 'Wisting' basically does is set the tone for the series. And it does this so wonderfully at its own pace — taking time to offer us a glimpse of the lonely life led by Wisting and his family's struggle to come to terms with the recent, unfortunate death of their wife and mother

Spoilers ahead for Season 1 Episode 1 of 'Wisting' 

'Wisting' opens in ice-cold Larvik in Norway. Christmas is in the air and people are preparing for the festivities. Picturesque, quiet, Larvik is a quaint town covered in white — beauty and serenity throughout. However, the show quickly moves to the discovery of a decomposed corpse in the snow.

William Wisting, a chief investigating officer played by Sven Nordin, doesn't want to jump to the conclusion of murder. He thinks the corpse could have been a drunk, lost his way and frozen to death in the snow.

But once the police discover that the corpse was dressed in clothes from American brands, they know that it is not just another dead body — the corpse among the spruces of a Norwegian Christmas tree farm is connected to a wanted American serial killer. 

At the same time, there is another unexplained death in the town that has taken many by intrigue — a man dies on his couch in front of his television. Wisting's journalist daughter Line (Thea Green Lundberg) comes back to Larvik to do a feature story on the subject — loneliness is a real killer in today's world. 

'Wisting' doesn't shy away from showing the gory details of death through the episode — the corpses are highly decomposed state, and the series reminds us of the gravity of these killings by repeatedly showing us the visuals.

Even as Wisting's daughter returns to Larvik looking for a feature story, we can tell that she will have a bigger role to play on 'Wisting'. 

What Episode 1 of 'Wisting' basically does is set the tone for the series. And it does this so wonderfully at its own pace — taking time to offer us a glimpse of the lonely life led by Wisting and his family's struggle to come to terms with the recent, unfortunate death of their wife and mother.

It takes its time to establish the extent of the damage ensued by the American killer.  Soon, the FBI comes to help Wisting and his team look for the killer.

FBI Special Agent Maggie Griffin (Carrie-Anne Moss) gets straight to work in Larvik on a case she knows far too well — the serial killer has eluded her and the FBI for 20 years now.

'Wisting', much like the town the series is based in, is cold and quiet. There is a terror hidden underneath its pristine snow and it is waiting for its prey, patiently, as it has been for the last two decades.

Based on the work of Jørn Lier Horst, 'Wisting' is directed by the keen eyes of Trygve Allister Diesen and Katarina Launing and is an engrossing crime series. 

'Wisting' will premiere on Sundance Now on December 18, with new episodes added every Wednesday.