‘Bäckström’ Recap: ‘Episode 3’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Bäckström’.
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We spend a lot of time in modern society, worrying about getting to the top of our respective career fields. Because the mantra in our world, is that we have to be the best and we must do whatever it takes to earn that title. But while that has motivated a great deal of people to work hard to achieve their dreams and indeed rise to the top of their field, we are so focused on reaching the peak of the proverbial mountain… that we rarely discuss what comes next when we get there. Do we simply kick back and relish in the wonder of our accomplishments? Or are there new challenges that await us when we reach the pinnacle of our career field? All of which are important questions… and only one of them, seems to have an answer.

Because time and time again, we’ve heard from folks at the top, who point out that there is indeed a new challenge that arises for those who reach the apex, in that… a target is painted on the champion’s back. For others want what the top gun has, and they will try to unseat them and claim the title and the advice we’ve heard from them, when that happens… is to do the work. Which is uh, a touch vague to say the least, but perhaps that’s the point. Because maybe, if you’re the best at what you do, you’ll know to just keep your head down when others come knocking for your championship belt and things will turn out alright. And it just so happens that the next episode of Bäckström on AcornTV, dives deep into this particular problem and that potential solution. Since this unsettling issue was plaguing Sweden's biggest investigator when we we catch up with him in 'Episode 3'.

For while he was in Bangkok looking into the biggest case of his career, everyone back home was making him look bad. Because Ankan was making great strides in solving the robbery, since she was able to get in close to Boris and plant a tracker on his car. Which in turn allowed for her to track down his base of operations, to the point where the team is ready to raid it and bring the whole case together. Plus, the Olsson/Olzzon ‘twins’ made some serious headway on the missing Mi Mi case, since they were able to snag a search warrant for the restaurant she worked at and they even caught the owner in the midst of some kind of cover up when they stormed in. And they did all of this, without an ounce of of Bäckström’s help and well… seeing everyone try and become as good as he is, definitely put him in an awkward place.

Because he was no longer the center of attention, and to complicate matters further… this surge of success made him feel useless since he was struggling to make any headway with Jaidee’s case. For every single lead he investigated, turned up very little. For instance, the man that found her body with Daniel, was as honest as they come and the family members he interviewed had little to offer and to top it all off… his trademark ability to read the moment and visualize what happened… yielded no results. Which more or less taught us that when people at the top are being chased, they struggle for certain, and fear and worry that their top standing might disappear because they've somehow lost their abilities. But while that was fascinating to explore in its own right, there was mention of a solution to these fears and worries and that was explored in the final moments of this tale.

For despite feeling as though he’d failed or was losing his touch, Bäckström never stopped doing his best to collect clues and well, just when it seemed as though he was at his breaking point… those clues came together, giving him the insight and the lead, he needs. And it would seem, that a mix up is what allowed for Jaidee to ‘die’ twice and really, in the end… this was simply one quality episode. One that managed to challenge Bäckström like never before and as an added bonus, it really did move the plot along at a brisk pace and it was quite wonderful to be immersed in a true serial. But what matters most, is that this one really leaves you hungry for more. Because deep down, the audience knows that Bäckström is onto something big and that definitely compels one to continue the journey, so we can see exactly where this epiphany will lead our intrepid hero. Until next time.  

‘Bäckström’ is available to stream now on AcornTV.  ​

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