Does Netflix's 'The Asset' Ever Get Any Better?
By Dustin Rowles | TV | November 5, 2025
The Netflix series The Asset (Legenden) attracted attention for ranking among the platform’s top ten and being promoted as a scandi noir. As a fan of the genre, I was intrigued — but while it technically fits the label, setting a crime story in Scandinavia doesn’t automatically make it true noir.
The show consistently hints at a compelling twist that never arrives. It stays flat, conventional, and predictable throughout, following a formula familiar to anyone who’s seen undercover cop thrillers before.
"If you’ve ever watched a show or movie where a police officer infiltrates a criminal empire by befriending the girlfriend, nothing here will surprise you."
The story centers on a police cadet named Tea (Clara Dessau), assigned to infiltrate a criminal network led by Miran (Afshin Firouzi) by gaining the trust of his wife, Ashley (Maria Cordsen). Despite the setup, the narrative develops with no surprises — watchers could easily jump from the first episode to the finale and miss little in between.
"So if you’re watching the first couple of episodes and wondering, ‘Does this ever get better?’ the answer is a resounding no."
Final Thoughts
The Asset never fulfills its noir promise and settles into mediocrity despite its potential and Scandinavian backdrop.
Author’s Summary: A visually moody but narratively bland take on Scandinavian noir, The Asset fails to deliver thrills or depth beyond its familiar premise.