Despite the title, Reindeer Mafia on MHz Choice is not a recreation of The Sopranos starring Rudolph and his friends (but we should note that we would very much watch a show with that exact logline). This series, originally titled Poromafia, actually won the Golden Venla Award, an award ceremony recognizing Finnish television, for Best Drama Series in 2023. Set in Finland, the Nordic show follows the death of the Nelihanka family matriarch, and the carnage that follows once her will is revealed.

Opening Shot: A man frantically exits a home, retrieves a canister of gasoline from a car and burns down the house with a seemingly murdered body inside.

The Gist: 10 years later, sickly Brita Nelihanka (Rea Mauranen) is subtly coerced by her husband Rouku (Aake Kalliala) into signing a vote for a railway station to be built, but they need permission of the Herding Cooperative. “What do you really need the train station for?” Brita asks as Rouku injects her with a syringe. He replies, “We need to look to the future.”

After Rouku leaves, Brita struggles to write a series of letters. Another woman arrives, Pirkko (Kaija Pakarinen), and Brita asks to be injected again, before cryptically instructing her to deliver the letters at a certain time. When asked if she’s feeling okay, Brita ominously says, “My number is up.” 

Brita dies. Sameli Nelihanka (Samuli Edelmann), the man from the beginning, spent the last 10 years in prison, but has now been granted parole for his mother’s funeral. One wrong move and he’s back behind bars. He’s reintroduced to his gang, his father Rouku and brother Pieti (Olavi Uusivirta). The gang runs “Reindeer Mafia Safari,” taking tourists out to explore the Finnish Laplands with hopes to expand the business. 

At the funeral, Sameli is jolted at the arrival of a young woman, Sara Poikipää (Anna-Maija Tuokko). “Sameli used to date her. Then Sameli killed her father,” Pieti says to an onlooker. Pirkko arrives and gives both Sameli and Sara one of Brita’s letters. At the wake, Rouku corners Pirkko on their contents. Reluctantly giving him his letter, Rouku reads in disbelief and forces Pieti to leave with him in a helicopter.

After reading his letter, Sameli also rushes to find Pieti. But, his ankle monitor beeps, signaling the beginning of his nightly house-arrest. After being taken to a desolate part of the laplands, Rouku asks Pieit, “Have you always known?” Pieiti replies he has, then is forced to undress before being left nude and alone in the subarctic wilderness.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of: A crime-meddling, power-hungry family in internal disarray after the will of the deceased head of the household is revealed? You may hear some similarities to the hit Max show, Succession. 

Our Take: From the first episode alone, the plot seems to be one audiences have seen before. There’s the eldest boy with a dark past, the threatening patriarch, a comic-relief relative and everyone is fighting for a piece of the inheritance pie. Plus, the promise of deceitful family secrets to be revealed along the way. 

Albeit, we’re interested. Episode 1 doesn’t set up a lot of context, leaves you with nothing but questions and quite a bit of confusion on who is related to who. All by design for the mysteries to be revealed along the way. The foreboding mood and cool-toned color scale of the frozen laplands captivates attention and curiosity, with the uncanny vibe that’s created as a result. Combined with the English subtitles, you’re unable to look away in fear of missing a key detail. 

Some solid performances from the cast propel the episode. When Aake Kalliala’s Rouku corners Pirkko at the wake, we see a small glimpse of the unabashed cruelty simmering below the surface to potentially be unleashed later in the season. Even the contemptuous 30 seconds of screen time Anna-Maija Tuokko delivers as Sara sets her up as a performance to keep note of. Mikael Persbrandt from Netflix series Sex Education is also slated to star in later episodes.

Sex and Skin: A single side shot of a naked Pieti at the very end, but the bits and bobs are covered.

Parting Shot: A fully nude and screaming Pieti trying to shield himself from the cold as the helicopter flies away, leaving him in complete darkness.

Sleeper Star: Mikko Kouki plays Rasmus, Pirkko’s son. The goofball gang member is the occasional tension reliever, setting up a drab welcome home party for Sameli, or creating awkward moments for tourists at the Safari. In a short scene where he purposefully sets a trailer on fire, steals a lockbox full of cash and lies about it, it’s apparent Rasmus will bring more to the plot than an occasional chuckle. 

Most Pilot-y Line: “Your mother is no longer here to protect you.”

Our Call: STREAM IT. With murder, reindeers running around and snowy backgrounds, Reindeer Mafia is an alluring crime drama fit to watch during the upcoming holidays. 

Claire Waheed is a recently graduated freelance writer currently based in Texas. She loves all things pop culture and new adventures.