The Machinery

The Machinery (Swedish: Maskineriet) is a Swedish TV crime drama, which debuted on 24 May 2020 on Viaplay. It is directed by Richard Holm (director) with the screenplay written by Peter Arrhenius, Niclas Ekström and Kjersti Ugelstad and co-created by Holm, Ekström and Ugelstad. The first season consists of eight episodes. Most of its action is set in September 2019 in Strömstad Sweden and Sandefjord Norway, flashbacks include scenes set in Mexico. The main protagonist Olle (Kristoffer Joner) is investigated by police led by Nina (Julia Schacht) for his involvement in a robbery-murder orchestrated by his first wife Monika (Emilia Roosmann). Olle's second wife Josefin (Hanna Alström) is unaware of Olle's criminal past, while her financially desperate brother Palle (Anastasios Soulis) works for Monika due to his debts to criminal biker Axel (Mattias Nordkvist). Olle, Monika and Nina seek the stolen money. Monika is shot by Josefin but Olle takes the blame. Palle burns his own restaurant down for an insurance scam.

The second season of six episodes started on 15 May 2022. Additional scriptwriters are Gunnar Svensén and Karin Aspenström. Action is set two years later and mostly in Swedeen although some scenes depict Norway. Josefin now lives with daughter Lilly (Maja Svärd) and stepson Jimmy (Gabriel Gunerius Fevang) while continuing for her deceased father's business. Palle is out on parole. When Olle's trial is due to start, Jimmy, wearing a bomb vest, takes his classmates hostage, which results in his teacher becoming comatose and later dying. Monika flees after causing a prison transport collision and impersonates waitress Pernilla (Ellen Mattsson). Olle escapes with Erik (Magnus Roosmann – Emilia's father). Both Olle and Monika look for Josefin, their children and the money. Nina, suspended from active duty, unofficially hunts Monika and Olle. Palle conceals heist money and launders it via a luxury car racket. Palle is engaged to Julie (Roshana Hosseini), who spies on him for Axel.

Cast and characters

 * Kristoffer Joner as Olle Hultén ( Ole Edvardsen, a.k.a. Terje Olav Mørk): ex-criminal, Monika's husband, abandoned her in Mexico prison, Jimmy's father. Josefin's husband, Lilly's father, Henrik's son-in-law and designated successor. Blackmailed by Monika into supplying Laholmen machinery for robbery. Imprisoned, awaiting trial, for shooting Monika. Escapes by convincing Erik that he hid stolen money.
 * Jakob Hetland as Young Ole: teenage friend of Brede, during robbery gone wrong he abandons Brede to die (season 1 only).
 * Julia Schacht as Nina Berge: Oslo police officer, liaises with Swedish police to investigate robbery-murder and missing money. Brede's younger sister. Suspended for conflict of interest but continues investigating: arrests Olle and Monika. Later, still suspended, unofficially hunts both Monika and Olle, looking for heist money.
 * Hanna Alström as Josefin Hultén: Olle's second wife, Lilly's mother, works for father Henrik's Laholmen company, Palle's elder sister. Becomes Jimmy's stepmother when Olle and Monika are imprisoned. After Henrik's death tries to run Laholmen, looks for missing money. Guilt-ridden she becomes increasingly unreliable, fired from Laholmen, loses custody of Lilly and Jimmy.
 * Emilia Roosmann as Monika Hansen (a.k.a. Victoria Fagermoen): Olle's first wife, abandoned in Mexican prison, Jimmy's mother, Nikolaj's lover. Frames Olle for robbery-murder whilst getting away with money but thwarted by Olle and Josefin. Shot by Josefin. Escapes prison vehicle, seeks Jimmy and stolen money; wants revenge on Olle and Josefin.
 * Anastasios Soulis as Palle Hultén: Henrik's son, Josefin's brother, financial ineptness leads to debts with Axel's criminal biker gang, bribed by Monika to frame Olle. Takes Lilly hostage on Monika's orders, burns down his restaurant for insurance money. Hides robbery money, after brief prison stint, launders money via stolen luxury car racket. Become engaged to Julie, who betrays him to Axel.
 * Gabriel Gunerius Fevang as Jimmy: Monika and Olle's son, Lilly's older half-brother. Plays football, learns criminal activities from Monika, Nikolaj and Olle. Accidentally shot by Josefin. Fostered by Josefin after Monika's imprisonment. Takes classmates hostage, wearing bomb vest; plants second bomb in car. Car bomb injures his teacher who later dies.
 * Maja Svärd as Lilly: Josefin and Olle's daughter, Jimmy's younger half-sister. Kidnapped by uncle Palle to lure Olle into Monika's trap. Supports Jimmy. Goes into fosterage after Josefin becomes erratic.
 * Bahador Foladi as Daniel: Strömstad police, Olle's friend, liaises with Nina. Investigates Monika and Olle's escapes.
 * Antti Reini as Håkan Johansson: supervisor at Laholmen, schemes to take-over Olle's favoured status, starts romancing Josefin. Promoted to replace Josefin. Seduced by Josefin but later killed by her.
 * Angela Kovács as Louise Hultén: Henrik's wife, mother of Josefin and Palle. Becomes Laholmen board member, agrees with Josefin replacement by Håkan. Fights and kills Axel.
 * Mattias Nordkvist as Axel Wessberg: Swedish criminal biker gang leader, loaned money to Palle. Tortures Palle when he defaults. Funds Erik's escape, expect payoff from Olle. Also suspects Palle of hiding stolen money. Fights Palle and Louise, killed by Louise.
 * Iselin Shumba as "Police Superintendent"/Rahmiya: Nina's boss, suspends Nina due to link with Brede. Keeps Nina suspended, advises her to take up desk duties or resign. Disbelieves Nina's claim that Monika survived prison transport collision.

Season 1 only

 * Emil Almén as Jack Harding: Olle's former friend but was abandoned during failed Mexican heist. Imprisoned at Topo Chico. Works with Monika to frame Olle, escapes Sandefjord heist scene with stolen money, takes Anja hostage. Causes accident, which kills Anja. Killed by Monika.
 * Rune Temte as Magnus Helgesen: Sandefjord police, Nina's subordinate.
 * Bjørn Sundquist as Einar Edvardsen: Sandefjord traffic police, Olle's father. Falsified Brede's death: removed evidence implicating Olle.
 * Jakob Eklund as Henrik Hultén: Laholmen owner, married to Louise, father of Josefin and Palle. Anoints Olle as successor.
 * Anderz Eide as Tom: Sandefjord mechanic at dockyards, Olle's former friend, works for Monika. Ran away during heist leaving Jack behind. Betrays Olle to Monika.
 * Sampo Sarkola as Nikolaj Ström: Monika's lover, kills security guard during heist, frames Olle for robbery-murder. Killed in fight with Olle.
 * Deniece Ignacio Nyman as Isabella: Palle's restaurant waitress, Palle's love interest.
 * Anne Marie Ottersen as Irene Edvardsen: Olle's mother, Einar's wife.
 * Hanne Dahle as "Nina's Mother": Brede Karlsen and Nina Berge's mother.
 * Filip Aladdin as "truck driver": smuggles Olle across border from Norway to Sweden.
 * Tind Soneby as "Hotel Maid": works at Swedish hotel, sees Olle tied up, killed by Monika.
 * Kristin Grue as Anja Haltvik: Sandefjord security guard, taken hostage, killed in collision caused by Jack.
 * Bernhard Ramstad as "Arthur the Farmer": harbours Jack, killed by Jack.
 * Sebastian Oulie Brynhildvoll as Brede Karlsen: Nina's older brother, killed 20 years ago during robbery gone wrong. Left for dead by best friend Olle.
 * Samantha Gurah as Cassandra/"Nikolaj's Neighbour": Magnus' friend.
 * Tor Wibe as "Taxi Driver": takes Jack to boathouse.

Season 2 only

 * Magnus Roosmann as Erik: long-term prisoner coerces Olle to fund his escape with heist money. Note: Magnus is the father of Emilia, who portrays Monika.
 * Roshana Hosseini as Julie: Palle's fiancée, spies for Axel.
 * Ellen Mattsson as Pernilla Carlsson: waitress, helps Monika. Monika impersonates her.
 * Semir Chatty as Mehmet: Erik's henchman, befriends then coerces Olle.
 * Annika Ryberg Whittembury as Annika Hjort: Olle's lawyer.
 * Robin Stegmar as "Guard Officer Tidaholm": inducts Olle into his cell.
 * Sanna Ekman as Rebecca: Erik's girlfriend, contacts Axel for escape.
 * Klas Wiljergård as Rasmus: hospital orderly on Jimmy's ward.
 * Jonas Karlström as Reine Sandström: Palle's contact with car thieves.
 * Kamjar Rezaei as Gordon: prison inmate, assaults Olle for Erik.
 * Michael Brolin as Kenny: prison inmate, assaults Olle for Erik.
 * Karl Ytterberg as Liam: buys and sells stolen luxury cars for Reine and Palle.
 * Gilda Stillbäck as Eva-Lena: Jimmy's social studies teacher, critically injured by bomb: dies later.
 * Karin Bengtsson as Lisa Bergström/"Negotiator": Swedish police negotiator.
 * Lisa Öman as Elvis: Palle's hireling, helps launder money through Reine.
 * Ramtin Parvaneh as Kasper Holmström: municipal social secretary, investigates Josefin's home situation; places Lilly in fosterage.
 * Magnus Sundberg as "Investigator Tidaholm": Swedish police, interviews Olle about Kenny and Gordon's deaths.
 * Charlotte Trulsen as "Foster Mother": cares for Lilly.
 * Janne Aimée Fevik as "Restaurant Owner": Pernilla's boss.
 * Erik Lundin as "Police Officer": assists Lisa and Daniel.
 * Lars G. Svensson as Manfred/"Chairman Laholmen": Laholmen CEO, Josefin's boss.