RVK’s Trapped
Season 2, Episode 4
Directed by Ugla Hauksdóttir
Written by Sigurjón Kjartansson & Clive Bradley

* For a recap & review of Episode 3, click here.
* For a recap & review of Episode 5, click here.
The township’s in chaos. Skúli (Sigurbjartur Atlason) has been brought to the hospital unconscious, in critical condition. Hinrika (Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir) doesn’t know when or if they’ll get to interrogate him.
Then there’s Andri (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) dealing with the aftermath of Mayor Hafdís Magnúsdóttir (Jóhanna Vigdís Arnardóttir) being kidnapped. He goes to Torfi (Vignir Rafn Valþórsson) seeking any kind of info, getting nothing whatsoever. The police, along with the search team, are going to pore over the entire town and all the farms, with no specific clues as to where they should look.

Ketill (Steinn Ármann Magnússon) sits in the hospital reciting a poem to himself that somewhat describes the type of perpetual shitstorm white nationalist patriarchs create through their brood: “Willing he followed his father‘s word though all opposing should thwart my rede“— Sonatorrek by Egill Skallagrimsson.

Andri and Ásgeir (Ingvar E. Sigurðsson) go check out the hair salon near where Hafdís was taken. It isn’t open. They go to the grocery store nearby to have a look at the CCTV footage from outside the building. They see the Mayor leaving the salon, heading for her vehicle. They notice the hairdresser, Hanna Stina (Íris Hólm) watching the Mayor leave. Did she alert Hammer of Thor?
The group has Hafdís somewhere. They’ve got a video camera setup and have something they’d like her to read. They have demands. She pleads: “You‘re destroying your lives.” She doesn’t believe the government will comply. But they pour sheep’s blood over her when she asks to wash her face before being on camera.
Andri runs into reporter Lovísa (Lára Jóhanna Jónsdóttir). She wants to talk, and has info. She’s trying to gain favour. He makes clear he doesn’t “do deals with the press.” She shows him the video of the piece they were shooting in front of the Mayor’s house, when the vehicle drove past fast. Except the license plate was purposefully covered.

In hospital, Hinrika speaks to Halla (Sólveig Arnarsdóttir). The woman’s still recovering. She worries for Hafdís, who’s an old friend of hers. She asks if there are any demands yet from Hammer of Thor. The Chief of Police asks Halla about Gisli, finding her a bit resistant to talk about him. Hmm.
Hafdís speaks to the camera, calling Hammer of Thor “patriots“— their own words. The group specifically names itself. No more fucking around. They consider the Mayor their enemy. They’ll murder her if need be, to get the proper attention.

Things are troublesome for Ebo (Kingsford Siayor). His brother-in-law’s asking questions, wondering why Víkingur (Aron Már Ólafsson) keeps looking at him. The Ghanaian worries. He wants to be “more discrete” about their relationship. If he gets caught it means death back home. He’s married with a child. His life is infinitely difficult.

Andri has Trausti (Björn Hlynur Haraldsson) back in town as they’re looking at more of the CCTV footage. They see the jeep from outside the Mayor’s place speeding away from near the salon. Ásgeir recognises the vehicle, having pulled the guy over recently— Tómas Gunarsson (Víkingur Kristjánsson). Andri goes to Torfi, pressing for info, verifying Tómas is a Hammer of Thor member.
Then the video of the Mayor hits the internet.

“All countries go through periods like this.
All countries have had to wage a war for independence.”

The group are devolving. Hanna accidentally reveals herself when the Mayor recognises her voice. SWAT and police raid a home. Doesn’t help they’ve barged into a nursery with guns. Andri talks to the guy’s ex, who lives there. She says Tómas hasn’t been there in months. He was banging Hanna. After the cops are gone, the woman calls Tómas to ask why they bust into her house.
Everything’s falling apart.

Hanna rushes home, cleaning up all the white nationalist literature and other propaganda lying around. Y’know, normal stuff. She’s anticipating a visit from police. Sure enough, Andri’s knocking at her door shortly afterwards. She doesn’t act overly surprised when he tells her about the Mayor’s kidnapping. Andri attempts to play on her racism / nationalism to make her talk. It sets her off on a rant: “I will never become the property of some bloody foreigners.”
Skúli’s starting to talk, sending SWAT down on Hammer of Thor’s location. Police are able to get to the Mayor, taking down the remaining kidnappers. Hanna’s taken in for her part in the abduction. That doesn’t mean it’s over. How Hammer of Thor members are out there fighting for their cause?

The cops find video that gives the two brothers an alibi for the night Finnur was killed. This means they’re starting all over again. Andri and Trausti at least have a better relationship going forward, each supporting the other in the face of the press. They do have to deal with the fact there’s still a killer on the loose. They feel Hammer of Thor won. The declaration between the town and American Aluminium wasn’t signed. Hard to feel like a winning day, even if they saved the Mayor.

At home, Aron (Stormur Jón Kormákur) looks for booze to drink with Þórhildur (Elva María Birgisdóttir). He finds a bag of cash instead. He thinks it’s “finders keepers,” but it could be far more complicated. Þórhildur starts messing around with the phone in the bag, sending a message to a clearly sketchy contact. The person on the other end should be one to worry about— they thought Finnur was dead, and now someone’s texting from his phone. Big time uh oh.
Great episode. This season has been as good as the first for Father Gore. The plot is much different, and there are new faces, but it’s all working incredibly well. So many compelling things coming up in the story.
It’ll only get crazier and more disturbing before it’s all over.