The Machinery (Swedish: Maskineriet) is a Swedish TV crime drama, which debuted on 24 May 2020 on Viaplay.^[1] It is directed by Richard Holm [sv; se] with the screenplay written by Peter Arrhenius, Niclas Ekström and Kjersti Ugelstad and co-created by Holm, Ekström and Ugelstad.^[2][3] The first season consists of eight episodes. Most of its action is set in September 2019 in Strömstad Sweden and Sandefjord Norway,^[4] flashbacks include scenes set in Mexico. The main protagonist Olle (Kristoffer Joner)^[5] is investigated by police led by Nina (Julia Schacht)^[6] for his involvement in a robbery-murder orchestrated by his first wife Monika (Emilia Roosmann). Olle's second wife Josefin (Hanna Alström)^[6] is unaware of Olle's criminal past, while her financially desperate brother Palle (Anastasios Soulis) works for Monika due to his debts to criminal biker Axel (Mattias Nordkvist [sv; se]). Olle, Monika and Nina seek the stolen money. Monika is shot by Josefin but Olle takes the blame. Palle burns his own restaurant down for an insurance scam.

The second season of six episodes started on 15 May 2022. Additional scriptwriters are Gunnar Svensén and Karin Aspenström. Action is set two years later and mostly in Swedeen although some scenes depict Norway. Josefin now lives with daughter Lilly (Maja Svärd) and stepson Jimmy (Gabriel Gunerius Fevang) while continuing for her deceased father's business. Palle is out on parole. When Olle's trial is due to start, Jimmy, wearing a bomb vest, takes his classmates hostage, which results in his teacher becoming comatose and later dying. Monika flees after causing a prison transport collision and impersonates waitress Pernilla (Ellen Jelinek [sv; no]). Olle escapes with Erik (Magnus Roosmann – Emilia's father).^[7] Both Olle and Monika look for Josefin, their children and the money. Nina, suspended from active duty, unofficially hunts Monika and Olle. Palle conceals heist money and launders it via a luxury car racket. Palle is engaged to Julie (Roshi Hoss [sv]), who spies on him for Axel.

• Kristoffer Joner as Olle Hultén (né Ole Edvardsen, a.k.a. Terje Olav Mørk): ex-criminal, Monika's husband, abandoned her in Mexico prison, Jimmy's father. Josefin's husband, Lilly's father, Henrik's son-in-law and designated successor. Blackmailed by Monika into supplying Laholmen machinery for robbery. Imprisoned, awaiting trial, for shooting Monika. Escapes by convincing Erik that he hid stolen money.
  • Jakob Hetland as Young Ole: teenage friend of Brede, during robbery gone wrong he abandons Brede to die (season 1 only).
• Julia Schacht as Nina Berge: Oslo police officer, liaises with Swedish police to investigate robbery-murder and missing money. Brede's younger sister. Suspended for conflict of interest but continues investigating: arrests Olle and Monika. Later, still suspended, unofficially hunts both Monika and Olle, looking for heist money.
• Hanna Alström as Josefin Hultén: Olle's second wife, Lilly's mother, works for father Henrik's Laholmen company, Palle's elder sister. Becomes Jimmy's stepmother when Olle and Monika are imprisoned. After Henrik's death tries to run Laholmen, looks for missing money. Guilt-ridden she becomes increasingly unreliable, fired from Laholmen, loses custody of Lilly and Jimmy.
• Emilia Roosmann as Monika Hansen (a.k.a. Victoria Fagermoen): Olle's first wife, abandoned in Mexican prison, Jimmy's mother, Nikolaj's lover. Frames Olle for robbery-murder whilst getting away with money but thwarted by Olle and Josefin. Shot by Josefin. Escapes prison vehicle, seeks Jimmy and stolen money; wants revenge on Olle and Josefin.
• Anastasios Soulis as Palle Hultén: Henrik's son, Josefin's brother, financial ineptness leads to debts with Axel's criminal biker gang, bribed by Monika to frame Olle. Takes Lilly hostage on Monika's orders, burns down his restaurant for insurance money. Hides robbery money, after brief prison stint, launders money via stolen luxury car racket. Become engaged to Julie, who betrays him to Axel.
• Gabriel Gunerius Fevang as Jimmy: Monika and Olle's son, Lilly's older half-brother. Plays football, learns criminal activities from Monika, Nikolaj and Olle. Accidentally shot by Josefin. Fostered by Josefin after Monika's imprisonment. Takes classmates hostage, wearing bomb vest; plants second bomb in car. Car bomb injures his teacher who later dies.
• Maja Svärd as Lilly: Josefin and Olle's daughter, Jimmy's younger half-sister. Kidnapped by uncle Palle to lure Olle into Monika's trap. Supports Jimmy. Goes into fosterage after Josefin becomes erratic.
• Bahador Foladi as Daniel: Strömstad police, Olle's friend, liaises with Nina. Investigates Monika and Olle's escapes.
• Antti Reini as Håkan Johansson: supervisor at Laholmen, schemes to take-over Olle's favoured status, starts romancing Josefin. Promoted to replace Josefin. Seduced by Josefin but later killed by her.
• Angela Kovács as Louise Hultén: Henrik's wife, mother of Josefin and Palle. Becomes Laholmen board member, agrees with Josefin replacement by Håkan. Fights and kills Axel.
• Mattias Nordkvist [sv; se] as Axel Wessberg: Swedish criminal biker gang leader, loaned money to Palle. Tortures Palle when he defaults. Funds Erik's escape, expect payoff from Olle. Also suspects Palle of hiding stolen money. Fights Palle and Louise, killed by Louise.
• Iselin Shumba [no] as "Police Superintendent"/Rahmiya: Nina's boss, suspends Nina due to link with Brede. Keeps Nina suspended, advises her to take up desk duties or resign. Disbelieves Nina's claim that Monika survived prison transport collision.