The Glass Dome Review: Netflix Thriller Series That Will Keep You Drawing Until Dawn
The Glass Dome Review: April 15, 2025, lands on Netflix: The Glass Dome (Glaskupan – original title), the new Swedish miniseries penned by the renowned crime author Camilla Läckberg. Six intense and tight episodes make up a journey into the darkest folds of memory, trauma, and guilt. The absolute protagonist is Léonie Vincent, extraordinary in the role of the tormented criminologist Lejla Ness, flanked by a solid cast that brings life to a microcosm as fascinating as it is disturbing. Set in a freezing village and suspended in time, the series moves between the rules of the procedural, the psychological drama, and the horror, skillfully mixing twists and introspection for a thriller that not only entertains but also forces you to look inside.
In recent times, Netflix has released The Are Murders (Åremorden, original title), a series based on the highly successful novels of Viveca Sten. Now, however, it is already time to return to descend into cold Nordic territories full of tension and mysteries. The title of the new series is “The Glass Dome“, a psychological thriller written by Camilla Läckberg, a Swedish writer well known to fans of Scandinavian yellows. The narration evolves into a succession of twists and revelations, in which the boundary between memory and present becomes increasingly blurred. Ehi you! Yes, you who are desperately shaking Netflix in search of something other than the usual mediocre thriller. Stop immediately, because “The Glass Dome” is exactly what you are looking for. And if you liked “True Detective”, “Dark,” or any other series where past trauma returns to haunt the present, then get ready to cancel all your commitments for the next six hours.
The Glass Dome Review: The Story Plot
The series takes place in a small Swedish community where the border between the past and the present becomes blurred. At the center of the story is Lejla, a brilliant criminologist who returns to the village of her childhood. The return is not just a gesture of nostalgia: as a child, she was the victim of a terrible kidnapping that took place in a mysterious glass dome that marked her existence very much. During the episodes, the past obviously comes back to knocking hard: the peaceful community hides dark secrets that threaten everyone’s peace. The figure of Valter, the retired policeman who assumed the role of a father figure for Lejlasi confirms important, but it is when a young girl mysteriously disappears that Lejla is forced to dig deep into the memories of her childhood. Traumatic memories alternate with new investigations, revealing disturbing similarities between the current case and its painful past: the protagonist is therefore forced to confront never completely elaborate truths. All of this is in a claustrophobic and gloomy setting, which accentuates the sense of restlessness.
The Glass Dome Review and Analysis
What makes the glass dome more than just a crime is the deep psychological investigation of its protagonist: Lejla is not a simple detective in search of the truth but a broken woman in constant conflict with herself. The screenplay, signed by Amanda Högberg and Axel Stjärne, draws a complex and multifaceted character, suspended between scientific rationality and visceral fear at the same time. Léonie Vincent is magnetic in her measured interpretation, made of silences, looks, and small gestures that reveal a constant inner turmoil. Pain is never screamed, but it insinuates itself, silent and relentless, in every shot. Lejla is not just looking for a culprit: she tries to understand herself, to find meaning in her survival. This is where the series finds its beating heart: in the intimate and fierce battle against the ghosts of the mind.
The setting is much more than just a background: the village of Granås is a real character in itself. Immersed in the snow, closed, almost claustrophobic, it is a place that breathes together with its inhabitants, imbued with suspicions, gossip, and silent truths. The direction makes the most of the Nordic landscape to create an overwhelming but, at the same time, hypnotic atmosphere. The relationships between the characters are intertwined in a web of secrets, regrets, and old wounds never healed, and every house, every face, and every gesture seem to hide something. Finally, the glass dome, visual metaphor and narrative of psychological imprisonment, becomes a symbol of an entire community unable to forget – or perhaps – guilty of wanting to do it too quickly. The thriller thus becomes a mirror of society, denouncing the difficulty of elaborating collective trauma.
The narration of “The Glass Dome” moves masterfully between present and past, with intense flashbacks and detectors that gradually build the puzzle. Current events begin shortly after a mourning in Lejla’s family and, following a memorial service full of suspicious details, a girl disappears in circumstances disturbingly similar to those that Lejla lived through years earlier. Is this the same kidnapper who returns after a long time? Are you an imitator? Or are they completely disconnected events? The last option seems highly unlikely in the TV series world, but hey, I won’t spoil anything! The missing girl is Alicia (Minoo Andacheh), the daughter of Lejla’s friend Louise (Gina-Lee Fahlén Ronander). With the help of Valter and local law enforcement agencies, Lejla is forced to confront the trauma that threatens to completely define her life (some inhabitants still call her “the girl in the box” despite being now an adult), as it certainly has the best chance of resolving this new disappearance.
One of the most successful aspects of the series is the creation of an incredibly vivid sense of place. Thanks to a cold and threatening but also dynamic photograph, we are catapulted into a network of intertwined country relationships, all incredibly credible in their emotional baggage. Among the most fascinating faces (and, given the nature of this kind, among the suspects) are local police officers, led by the intense and often hostile Tomas (Johan Rheborg). The result is a procedural strictly connected with a good dose of false tracks and twists that they’ll make you shout, “I KNOW!” and then, “WAIT, IT WAS NOT AS A THOUGHT!” within minutes.
“The Glass Dome” works as much as a thriller as a psychological drama. Many of the most compelling moments concern the protagonist’s struggles with her unsolved past and a present full of psychological losses and manipulations. Lejla is tormented by the psychological impact of the past and by the unresolved nature of her ordeal. Move the food on the plate with each meal, it is constantly moving. The actress, whom we saw in series as “Faithless” and “Spring Tide”, offers a sober but completely magnetic interpretation, which gives you the impression of a person with fireworks that explode constantly in his head. Without giving anything away, the plot works and flows quite well from start to finish. The final stages, however, perhaps ask the public a little too much for TAG1. It wouldn’t be accurate to define something blatantly artificial here, but it’s worth noting that the series starts stronger than it ends. However, it is well recited throughout the cast; each main character here is satisfactorily developed by the end of the finale. But it is Vincent who shines, in a sober but completely compelling lead role. The series is a thriller, but it is just as easily classifiable as a psychological drama.
“The Glass Dome” is effective in what it aims to do: it keeps the viewer glued for all six episodes, offers genuine twists and well-developed characters. It is as if “The Silence of the Lambs” met “Dark”, with an unmistakable Nordic touch that adds depth to the already disturbing atmosphere. The series may have been even more memorable if we had had more time with Lejla. This project certainly completes its task as a whodunit but is more captivating as a character’s study; it is more compelling when we are in Lejla’s head. “The Glass Dome” is a tense and highly “binge-watchable thriller” on kidnappings, with an interpretation that makes Léonie Vincent turn his head. If you love psychological thrillers with a strong personal drama component, this series is absolutely for you. With its icy Nordic setting, its tormented characters and a mystery that unfolds like a ball of wool in the hands of a spiteful cat, “The Glass Dome” certainly deserves the six hours it will take you to devour it.
And you, have you seen this new Netflix gem? Do you think Nordic thrillers have that little bit more than their American cousins? Share your views in the comments and tell us which twist surprised you the most (but watch out for spoilers for those who haven’t seen it yet)! Although the rhythm is deliberately dilated, the glass dome keeps its tension constant thanks to a layered narrative structure. Each episode adds a piece to the story, skillfully alternating moments of suspense with more introspective parentheses. Even the choice to use numerous flashbacks allows the viewer to gradually enter the protagonist’s mind, understanding the weight of his fears. The final cliffhangers of each episode work, fueling the desire to continue watching, but without ever falling into easy sensationalism, always remaining in perfect balance between investigation and human drama.
The Glass Dome Review: The Last Words
The Glass Dome is a thriller that does not chase the rhythm but shapes it intelligently. Each episode digs deeper into the wounded soul of the protagonist, offering a reflection on trauma and collective memory. The glacial direction and silent landscapes amplify the emotional tension, making every detail suspicious. Lejla, interpreted with intensity held by Léonie Vincent, is the real enigma to be deciphered. There are twists and turns, but it is the sore humanity of the characters that captures. An author noir who is not afraid to slow down to make us feel every crack. The new Swedish miniseries Netflix “The Glass Dome“, created by the crime writer Camilla Läckberg, is a compelling six-episode psychological thriller that will capture you from the first to the last minute. With a tormented protagonist, a cold and disturbing setting, and a mystery that is intertwined between past and present, this series offers both an intricate enigma and a powerful study on trauma and its intergenerational effects. An engaging vision that deserves your time, especially if you love thrillers like “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Prisoners”.
Cast: Léonie Vincent, Johan Hedenberg, Johan Rheborg, Farzad Farzaneh
Created By: Camilla Läckberg
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars)
The Glass Dome Review: Netflix Thriller Series That Will Keep You Drawing Until Dawn | Filmyhype
Director: Camilla Läckberg
Date Created: 2025-04-15 13:38
4
Pros
- Faceted and well interpreted protagonist
- Dense, oppressive but fascinating Nordic atmosphere
- Deep psychological analysis
- Credible and rhetorical-free dialogues
- The magnetic interpretation of Léonie Vincent
- Unpredictable twists and well positioned red herrings
- An immersion in a Swedish village full of secrets and tensions
Cons
- The initial rhythm may be too slow
- Some supporting actors remain in the background
- You may find some somewhat forced narrative turns
