Vaka (TV series)
| Vaka | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Henrik Georgsson |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | Sweden |
| Original language | Swedish |
| Original release | |
| Network | Prime video |
| Release | 30 January 2026 |
Vaka is a six-episode 2026 Swedish drama series focused on the fallout of an insomnia epidemic in Stockholm. It premiered 30 January 2026 on Prime Video.[1] On the Swedish review aggregator website Kritiker, the film earned an average rating of 2.5/5 based on 11 critics' reviews.[2]
Cast
- Jonas Karlsson as Christian Elwing, the Minister for Health and Social Affairs and a former physician; Hugo's father and a widower since the death of his wife Linnea
- Aliette Opheim as Elin Karlberg: an ambulance nurse and Moa's wife
- Gizem Erdogan as Saga: a government official
- Silas Strand as Isak: Johannes' young son
- Malte Gårdinger as Hugo Elwing: Christian's son with substance abuse issues and a long criminal history
- Frida Argento as Linda: a teenage social media influencer
- Jörgen Thorsson as Johannes Johansson: Isak's father
- Siham Shurafa as Moa: Elin's wife and a colleague of Christian's
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Wide Awake" | Henrik Georgsson | Brynja Björk | 30 January 2026 | |
|
A plane crashes in the opening flashforward. Eighteen hours earlier, a disoriented ski lift attendant, Lukas, causes a mass casualty incident. Ambulance nurse Elin responds to the scene and receives CPR help from Lovisa, a non-practicing physician. Elin wants to admit Lukas to the hospital, but police suspect drugs; he later escapes custody. Distracted by securing a lighter sentence for his troubled son, Hugo, the Minister for Health Christian announces a partnership with Framkemi. His medical school friend Henrika owns the company and is publicly confronted by an agitated employee demanding they contact the ECDC; he is escorted away by security. Teen influencer Linda films a woman falling off a treadmill who says she "wants to be tired." Elin receives a panicked call from Lukas, interrupting an anniversary dinner with her wife, Moa; Elin finds him dead. As Christian and his colleague Saga meet to have sex, Henrika reviews results warning of a catastrophe. The pilot collapses, causing the crash that kills 190 people, including Henrika. Online, Linda suggests the name "Vaka" for the disease that prevents sleep. | |||||
| 2 | "Behind Closed Doors" | Henrik Georgsson | Brynja Björk | 30 January 2026 | |
| 3 | "Thicker Than Water" | Henrik Georgsson | Pauline Wolff | 30 January 2026 | |
| 4 | "Break the Fall" | Henrik Georgsson | Pauline Wolff | 30 January 2026 | |
| 5 | "The Greater Good" | Henrik Georgsson | Brynja Björk | 30 January 2026 | |
| 6 | "Cut and Run" | Henrik Georgsson | Brynja Björk | 30 January 2026 | |
References
Citations
Sources
- Fjellborg, Karolina (30 January 2026). "Prime Videos svenska storsatsning "Vaka" fallerar totalt" [Prime Video's major Swedish venture "Vaka" is a complete failure]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- [Kritiker] (2026). "Vaka (2026) • 11 recensioner" [Wake (2026) • 11 reviews]. Kritiker (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- Lindblad, Helena (29 January 2026). "Röriga virusthrillern "Vaka" gör stockholmarna galna och regeringen grälsjuk" [The chaotic virus thriller "Vaka" has insane Stockholmers and a quarrelsome government]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- Söderqvist, Jan (30 January 2026). "Epidemithrillern "Vaka" saknar mål och riktning" [The epidemic thriller "Vaka" lacks focus and direction]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 30 January 2026.