Netflix’s New Series Debuts With a Perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Viewers Can’t Stop Bingeing

In a crowded moment for gritty crime shows, one new entry is punching way above its weight: it just landed a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and jumped to #2 on Netflix 's Top 10 Most Watched. The hook? Oslo after dark, a damaged detective, a serial killer, and the kind of rot inside the police that never stays buried for long.

So, what is 'Detective Hole'?

Based on Jo Nesbo's long-running Harry Hole novels, the series zeroes in on the fifth book, The Devil's Star. It keeps things close to the source because Nesbo himself wrote the show, which is a big swing after previous attempts to adapt Harry didn’t quite land. Tobias Santelmann steps into the title role, playing Harry as a brilliant, volatile cop who drinks too much, carries a lot of damage, and still can’t let go of the job.

The season sets Harry on a two-front war: track a brutal killer terrorizing Norway and deal with his old nemesis inside the department, Detective Tom Waaler. Harry is convinced Waaler is dirty to the core, and the cat-and-mouse between them is just as charged as the hunt for the murderer. It’s personal, it’s messy, and it constantly threatens to swallow Harry whole.

Why critics are into it

Early days, but the critical love is loud: a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The show leans into that chilly Nordic mood with stark, stylish visuals, the casting clicks, and even when the plot wanders a bit, there’s a steady pulse pushing it forward.

"This is an altogether tastier kettle of pickled herring than the film. It puts the character - a brilliant, driven, temperamental, introverted loner who struggles with alcoholism and depression - back on the right track," says critic Pat Stacey.

And yes, the tortured-cop template is familiar, but Santelmann plays Harry with enough raw, lived-in detail that it feels fresh rather than a greatest-hits of sad-detective beats.

What audiences are saying

The viewer score is more mixed so far, sitting at 79% on Rotten Tomatoes. The main gripe: pacing. It can feel compressed, like the creative team tried to stuff a season-and-a-half into one run in case renewal didn’t happen. Fair note. A little air between the big swings would help. But even with the squeeze, it’s gripping television and absolutely worth a second (and honestly third) season to let this world breathe.

Bottom line

If you want a sharp, unvarnished detective story with a conscience and a mean streak, 'Detective Hole' delivers: Oslo looks great, the tension is high, and the Harry-Waaler clash gives the show teeth. The fact that it’s already #2 on Netflix's Top 10 Most Watched tells you people are finding it. The 100% critics score tells you they’re right.