Joel Kinnaman’s “Dexter Meets Patrick Bateman” In Netflix’s Obscure But Brilliant 9-Part Thriller

Published Sep 20, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns. Before Screen Rant, he was a Senior Writer for The Cinemaholic, covering everything from anime to television, from reality TV to movies. After high school, he was on his way to become a Civil Engineer. However, he soon realized that writing was his true calling. As a result, he took a leap and never looked back. In one of his most chilling but brilliant TV roles, Joel Kinnaman plays a character who reminds one of fictional serial killers like Patrick Bateman and Dexter Morgan. The show, in question, premiered early this year on Netflix and soon rose in the ranks to become one of the best crime thriller offerings on the streaming service. Based on Jo Nesbø's Detective Harry Hole books, Netflix's Detective Hole is a compelling 9-episode crime thriller series. It immerses viewers in its Norwegian setting from its opening moments and gradually unfolds the truth about a series of overarching murder mysteries. While it initially comes off as a conventional crime drama, it gradually morphs into something more eccentric and memorable than the regular fare of shows in the genre. Tobias Santelmann is incredible as the titular lead in Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole on Netflix. However, Joel Kinnaman is an absolute standout as the morally complex antagonist in the series. Joel Kinnaman's Tom Waaler In Detective Hole Lives a Double Life Like Dexter & Patrick Bateman Joel Kinnaman plays a corrupt detective named Tom Waaler in Netflix's Detective Hole. Similar to Patrick Bateman and Dexter, Waaler lives a double life. He seems to have a polished and hyper-controlled exterior, where he almost comes off as an anti-thesis to the troubled protagonist. He even carries himself with immense confidence and charm. However, beyond his perfect exterior, he hides many dark secrets. Like Bateman, he is revealed to be a morally hollow narcissist who carefully works in the shadows and leaves a trail of blood behind him by mercilessly killing many innocents. Just like Dexter, he makes good use of his law enforcement background to operate as a predator from within the legal system. Since, as a detective, he understands how investigations work, he uses his position of power to cover his tracks and fulfill his own dark agenda under the cover of authority. Similar to Christian Bale and Michael C. Hall, Joel Kinnaman never leaves a dull moment with his chilling portrayal of his morally skewed character. Even though Kinnaman has many memorable roles under his belt, Tom Waaler is arguably among his best characters. Detective Hole Is One Of Netflix’s Best Crime Thrillers Ronald Plante/Netflix When it comes to crime thrillers, Netflix still has limited offerings compared to other streamers and networks like Prime Video and HBO. In recent years, however, Netflix's crime thriller catalog has evolved with shows like The Night Agent. Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole further helps Netflix establish itself as a serious destination for some gritty and unique crime thrillers. Instead of coming off as a replacement for some of the most conventional crime shows, like Reacher and The Night Agent, Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole establishes itself as a distinct addition to the genre. Similar to prestige shows like True Detective, it introduces subtle supernatural elements that allow it to bend genres and etch a unique identity for itself. While it is unknown whether Detective Hole will get to return for another season on Netflix, the show's season 1 proves that it deserves the long-term adaptation treatment like Reacher and Bosch. Hopefully, it will get more follow-ups in the near future and one of its new installments will also give us a glimpse of the backstory that shaped Joel Kinnaman's Tom Waaler. Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole Release Date March 26, 2026 A grisly string of ritualistic murders hits Oslo, forcing brilliant but self destructive detective Harry Hole to chase a killer who seems to be building a pattern no one else can see. Network Netflix Cast Tobias Santelmann, Joel Kinnaman, Ellen Helinder, Anders Baasmo, Maxime Baune Bochud, Pia Tjelta, Cato Skimten Storengen, Agnes Born, Frank Kjosås, Kelly Gale, Peter Stormare, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Nader Khademi, Agnes Kittelsen, Ane Dahl Torp Directors Øystein Karlsen, Anna Zackrisson Writers Jo Nesbø Main Genre Crime Creator(s) Jo Nesbø Executive Producer(s) Eric Fellner, Jo Nesbø, Katy Rozelle, Niclas Salomonsson, Rene Ezra, Tim Bevan, Øystein Karlsen Producers Tor Arne Øvrebø Seasons 1 Director Øystein Karlsen