On a seemingly ordinary Tuesday in October 2004, the Swedish city of Linköping was thrust into the center of a chilling mystery that would become the second-largest murder investigation in the nation's history. "The Unthinkable," the first episode of the Netflix mini-series "The Breakthrough," opens with a haunting introduction to the lives that were brutally interrupted and the relentless pursuit of justice that would follow.
The episode begins with a tender scene of a father, Saad, played by Bahador Foladi, teaching his young son, Adnan, about the intricacies of a watch. This intimate moment is juxtaposed with the chilling words of a shadowy figure typing "MUST KILL" on a computer screen, setting the stage for the horror that is about to unfold. The next morning, the tranquility of Linköping is shattered as Adnan, innocently walking to school, becomes the target of a brutal attack. A man in a blue hat, his identity concealed, is seen approaching the young boy with a knife. The attack is swift and violent, and as Adnan falls, the assailant turns his attention to a nearby woman, Gunilla, who had just woken up to the sounds of the struggle.
Detective John Sundin, portrayed with stoic determination by Peter Eggers, is thrust into the heart of the investigation. His Olympic aspirations are momentarily set aside as he is called to the crime scene. The gravity of the situation is immediately apparent: one victim is dead, and the other, Gunilla, is critically injured and rushed to the hospital. John's initial confidence in solving the case quickly is dampened as he learns that the only witness, a woman on a bike, has blocked out the killer's face from her memory.
As the investigation unfolds, John and his team face numerous challenges. The murder weapon, a butterfly knife, is found, but its origins are difficult to trace. A blue hat, discarded by the killer, provides a small clue but not enough to lead to an arrest. The victims, seemingly unrelated, add to the complexity of the case. John's team hypothesizes that the killer is a young man with mental health issues, likely to strike again if not caught soon.
In an effort to expedite the investigation, John makes a public appeal for men aged between 15 and 30 to voluntarily submit DNA samples. The police station is flooded with volunteers, but the killer remains elusive. As the days turn into weeks, and the weeks into a month, the pressure mounts. John's personal life begins to suffer as his obsession with the case strains his relationship with his pregnant wife, Anna.
The breakthrough comes in an unexpected form. Karin, the witness, undergoes hypnosis to try to recall more details about the attacker. Under the guidance of a hypnotist, she is able to piece together fragments of the scene, finally providing a description of the killer's face. This pivotal moment offers a glimmer of hope that the investigation may finally be moving in the right direction.
"The Unthinkable" is a gripping portrayal of the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of unimaginable horror. It highlights the dedication of law enforcement officers like John Sundin, who are willing to sacrifice their personal lives for the greater good. The episode also delves into the psychological impact of such a traumatic event on the victims' families and the community as a whole. As the first installment of "The Breakthrough," it sets the stage for a thrilling and emotionally charged journey into the depths of darkness that lurk beneath the surface of everyday life.