Wall Street Journal by Dorothy Rabinowitz

In the Inspector Morse mold only more depressed and decidedly less dynamic, Inspector Wallander (Kenneth Branagh) has made his slow and pensive way through some slow and depressive plot entanglements during the four seasons of this “Masterpiece Mystery!” series without losing a scintilla of his power to fascinate. This season, the fourth, is no exception.

RedEye by Curt Wagner

The relentless bleakness would be my only quibble with the series; one doesn't often choose to feel as battered as the characters on screen. But you won't be able to turn it off.

Entertainment Weekly by Clark Collis

The result is satisfyingly twist-filled and chilling in every sense.

The New York Times by Alessandra Stanley

The pacing is occasionally so slow and deliberate that it may test some viewers’ patience, but the series takes its time because the real mystery is Wallander and his uneasy inner life.

Baltimore Sun by David Zurawik

It is a joy to see a first-rate, high-quality production featuring a genuine star. And this star is bringing his best game to an intelligent script that deals with challenging, knotty, complicated issues and characters that mirror the real world in which we live.

Kansas City Star by Steve Paul

It’s an atmospheric, pinned-to-your-seat winner.

New York Daily News by David Hinckley

In many ways, Branagh's Wallander slides seamlessly into a long line of screen detectives who think more loudly than they talk.

Wall Street Journal by Nancy DeWolf Smith

Vide Shakespeare and all the other roles, Mr. Branagh has never been better cast.

Philadelphia Inquirer by David Hiltbrand

Wallander, as you might expect, has a very Scandinavian tone, full of gray landscapes and characters shot through murky panes of glass. But the acting is excellent, down to supporting-cast members.

The New York Times by Mike Hale

That the series is still a more satisfying televised mystery than average has a lot to do with its consistently high production values and the original decision to film it in the locations where the books are set. ... The other reason, of course, is Mr. Branagh.