The gripping premiere of "The Åre Murders" kicks off at a lively party where two teenage girls, Amanda and Ebba, appear to be steering clear of each other's company. Amanda attempts to reach her father, Harald, but her calls go unanswered; he is occupied in a clandestine tryst with a woman named Mira in the confines of a car. Just as Amanda is about to give up, her phone rings from an unrecognized number, prompting her to excuse herself from the festivities. She ventures out into the snow-blanketed road, her bicycle in tow, until a vehicle halts abruptly in front of her, casting an eerie shadow over her path.
Elsewhere, Hanna, a woman who has fled from an apparent altercation with a man named Christian, sets her course towards Åre behind the wheel. Her sister, over the phone, counsels her to seek refuge in her cabin and take a much-needed respite.
Later that evening, Amanda's mother, Lena, notices her daughter's absence but assumes she's spent the night at Ebba's. Mira, the woman from Harald's sexual encounter, returns to retrieve his phone, revealing a close bond she shares with Lena. In hushed tones, Mira warns Harald that her husband, Fredrick, seems to be privy to their affair and insists they cease it immediately. As she departs, Harald catches sight of Amanda's missed call on his phone, a flicker of concern crossing his face. The family subsequently attends church, seeking solace amidst their ordinary routines.
The following morning, Hanna finds herself navigating the narrow streets of Åre, inadvertently driving the wrong way down a one-way road. Here, she crosses paths with Daniel, the town's steadfast police officer. He requests her license, but to her dismay, she realizes she's left it behind. Instead, she presents him with her police badge, a symbol of her authority now intertwined with a moment of vulnerability.
Meanwhile, Harald sets off to Ebba's residence in search of Amanda, only to discover she isn't there. Ebba speculates that Amanda might have sought out Viktor, a name that piques Harald's curiosity. Returning home, he finds Lena already in a state of worry, having contacted the authorities. Harald plays a voicemail from Amanda, her voice tinged with urgency, requesting a ride home from the party.
This narrative weaves together a tapestry of intertwined lives on the brink of dramatic upheaval, setting the stage for the mysteries and intrigues that lie ahead in "The Åre Murders."
Meanwhile, Hanna catches a glimpse of a photograph featuring Christian and his latest sweetheart, which piques her curiosity. Her phone buzzes with an urgent notification regarding the search for Amanda. Her sister's voice, crackling through the receiver, cautions her to rest and stay out of harm's way. Undeterred, Hanna ventures out to lend a hand in the hunt. The snow-blanketed town teems with individuals, all eager to find Amanda.
Hanna strikes a conversation with a local woman who extols Amanda's kindness but bemoans her questionable choice in romantic partners. The woman reveals that Amanda is entangled with Viktor Malm, a notorious hothead. As dusk descends, the search operation is halted, leaving Amanda's mother in a state of increasing desperation. Hanna promptly shares her insights about Viktor with Daniel and his fellow detectives.
Subsequently, Hanna approaches Superintendent Grip, introducing herself as a Stockholm-based cop. She subtly broaches the idea of a temporary assignment in Åre. They retreat to a cozy restaurant, where Hanna confesses that her work in the Domestic Violence Unit had become overwhelming, prompting her to seek a respite. Despite her need for a break, her eagerness to contribute to the Åre team is palpable.
Back at Amanda's residence, her brother Harald discovers the family dog lying lifeless in the snow, a grim omen of tragedy. Meanwhile, Daniel and his team zero in on Viktor's phone location, leading them to an abandoned cabin nearby. Suspecting him of holding Amanda against her will, they storm the cabin only to find Viktor entangled with another woman in his bed.
The first episode of "The Åre Murders" concludes with a harrowing scene: a ski lift operator flips the switch, igniting the machinery, and to his horror, spots a somber figure perched on one of the lifts — Amanda's lifeless body, a grim testament to the darkness lurking beneath the serene snow-covered surface.
