Mediterranean Noir and Nordic Peripheries in Southern Europe

This chapter analyses the spread of Mediterranean Noir from literary sources to television industries and the spatio-generic subgenre’s recent interest in producing Italian and Spanish crime series in northern territories. Influenced by the aesthetics of Nordic Noir, Mediterranean Noir has reacted to the beautiful and brighter depictions of the Mediterranean countries, referred to as the renowned ‘Montalbano model,’ and as a contrast series have been produced in Northern Green Spain and Northern areas in Italy resulting in a more marginal scenogeography and a ‘darker’ aesthetics. Firstly, we read the Spanish series Bitter Daisies (2018–21) in the light of the spatio-generic reference to Galician Noir and as a representative example of how creatives’ intentional search for something ‘authentic’ may result in a strong sense of place. Secondly, we analyse the Italian Thou Shalt Not Kill (2015–18) as one of Rai’s most radical experiments with gloomy atmospheres and ambiguous protagonists, including a direct break with televisual tourist imagery. Thirdly, we interpret the Italian Petra (2020-) as a stylistic cultural encounter between Mediterranean and Nordic traditions and location strategies. The overall readings of Mediterranean Noir function as representations of locative character relationships dubbed ‘narratives of identity,’ ‘narratives of challenge,’ and ‘narratives of choice.’