Mafia: A Gritty Crime Saga Redefining Sweden’s Darkest Decade

Images: Viaplay

By Jon Donnis

If you've been feeling the absence of a heavyweight crime drama, the kind that pulls you into its murky depths and refuses to let go, Mafia might be exactly what you've been waiting for. It's sharp, it's intense, and it doesn't flinch. The new six-part series lands on 23 June, with new episodes dropping weekly until 28 July, and it promises a gripping ride through Sweden's criminal awakening in the 1990s.

Katia Winter as Gunn

Set against the backdrop of a nation quietly slipping into the grip of organised crime, Mafia draws from true events. This is not the Sweden of quaint countryside views and neutral politics. This is a version of the country that's learning to live with gang violence, ruthless ambition and blurred lines between power and law.

At the centre of it all is Radovan "Jakov" Jakovic, played by Peshang Rad. Jakov isn't your standard villain. He's sharp, unpredictable and carries himself with a sort of vision that makes him as fascinating as he is dangerous. Watching him climb the ladder of the criminal underworld feels less like a montage of shootouts and more like witnessing a slow, deliberate takeover. His performance here might be the one people remember him for.

Peshang Rad as Jakov

But there's always someone standing in the way. That someone is Gunn Thörngren, played by Katia Winter. She's the only one in the police force who seems to understand what's really going on. Her mission to bring down Jakov turns personal, then obsessive. She's tough, focused and far from naive. It's a proper battle of wills, and the tension between them powers the series forward.

Each episode runs about 45 minutes, but there's no wasted space. The pacing is tight. The world is detailed. The series builds layer by layer, with the rise of organised crime weaving into the transformation of a whole country. Sweden doesn't just provide the setting, it becomes part of the story, a character in its own right, shifting from calm to chaos in parallel with Jakov's ascent.

Peshang Rad as Jakov - Photo: Peter Cederling 

It's Swedish-language, with English subtitles, but don't let that slow you down. The performances do more than enough to carry the weight, and the tone is pitch-perfect throughout. Mafia doesn't lean on stylised gloss or exaggerated cool. It's raw, grounded, and lets the story speak for itself.

If you've got room for a new obsession, Mafia might be the one. It's about loyalty, power, control, and the cost of choosing a side. Whether you're drawn to the mastermind behind the violence or the officer chasing justice, there's no guarantee anyone makes it out clean.

On Viaplay starting 23 June - https://amzn.to/4n8tZV5