Featuring special effects aplenty, Mysteriet på Greveholm threw everything at the screen: ghosts, skeletons, rockets, robots, you name it. It was a huge treat to watch every December morning and easily the Christmas calendar with the most SFX in Swedish history. The miraculous thing about the show, however, was that it melded the SFX with genuine warmth and a superb sense of humour. It managed to be kid-friendly, yet never boring - it was intriguing and actually engaging, with a puzzle that the main characters Ivar, Lillan and Melitta had to piece together throughout the course of the 24 episodes. A great cast brought the colourful characters to life - bumbling family father Leif, obsessive dentist mother Astrid, household ghosts Jean and Staffan. As good as the child actors were they were completely overshadowed by Peter Fridh, Anna-Lena Brundin, Gösta Engström and Pierre Lindstedt, who all provided wonderful humour and wit. The show had many great gags and quotes, a fun soundtrack, and a brilliant conclusion. Director Dan Zethraeus has lots of fun with his special effects but he never lets them overshadow the story and comedy. And there you have it: the best Christmas calendar of all time, and a genuine classic.
PS. SPRAK is the coolest robot ever.
PS. SPRAK is the coolest robot ever.