As the year is coming to a close, critics at The New York Times have published their list of the “Best TV Shows of 2025”, and among their picks are two Swedish series: Mafia and Diary of a Ditched Girl.

Mafia, a crime drama released earlier this year on Viaplay in the UK and US, caught attention for its intense atmosphere, compelling storytelling and strong performance by lead actor Peshang Rad. Mafia is directed by Mani Maserrat and Tomas Jonsgården, and Axel Stjärne serves as the lead writer.

Diary of a Ditched Girl, a Netflix comedy-drama about modern dating, was praised for its raucous but bittersweet portrayal of relationships and heartbreak. The series is directed by Emma Bucht and Susanne Thorson, with Tove Eriksen Hillblom and Moa Herngren as screenwriters.

Monika Fagerholm is the winner of the 2025 Finlandia Award for ‘Best Fiction’. Her critically acclaimed novel Nowhere Land / Women in Revolt is praised by the jury with the following motivation:

“This year’s Finlandia Award goes to a profound and expansive novel that delves into writing, social currents, feminism, and family. The author writes like no one else; the sparkling, distinctive prose flows in a seductive spiral from beginning to end. The novel within the novel and its references are masterfully woven into the larger story, which I devour eagerly as I find myself captivated by every one of its characters.”

The Finlandia Award is Finland’s most prestigious literary award, presented by the Finnish Book Foundation. Since 1984 it has honored outstanding works by Finnish authors.

The second season of the acclaimed Finnish tv series The Man Who Died, adapted from Antti Tuomainen’s darkly humorous suspense novel of the same name, has been nominated for Finland’s ‘Best Drama of the Year 2025’.

Written by Brendan Foley and directed by Samuli Valkama, it stars Jussi Vatanen (Fallen Leaves) in a story that follows one man’s search for his own killer.