Seth Rydell

Seth Rydell is the central antagonist turned anti-hero in the Swedish crime-thriller film series Johan Falk. Through Seth's actions and role in the first two seasons, he can be viewed as the central antagonist turning into a leading role in the third season. He is one of Gothenburg's most notorious gangsters and is almost always involved with criminal activities such as illegal weapons dealing. He was portrayed by Jens Hultén, who also played Lindström from Wallander.

Season 1
The former-criminal Frank Wagner is now cooperating with the police and is now an infiltrator in Rydell's gang who is telling the police whatever they are planning. Seth is the biggest reason Frank can't live a normal life as he wishes, because if Seth would find out that Frank has been working for the police all along, he would most likely kill him.

Season 2
Seth keeps doing illegal business while Frank is infiltrating. However, in a failed business, Seth is caught by the police woman Sophie, who forces him to serve her and the police. Seth eventually agrees on harsh conditions but secretly keeps doing his illegal business. In the last film of the season, the Russian mobsters reveals to Seth that Frank has been working for the police all along. Seth then spreads a promise all over the city: that he will reward half a million SEK to the one who shoots Frank Wagner. However, Seth is betrayed and almost killed by his assistants but Frank Wagner saves him just in time. As a result, Seth gives up on killing him.

Season 3
Now being one of the leading roles, Seth is now forced to serve Sophie who now helps eachother. His former partner-in-crime Jack eventually shows up after a long time in prison. Jack becomes a threat to Seth since he is very upset with Seth's leadership and decisions. Jack is involved with the pakistani drug-lord Vijay. Although his loyalty to both parties are tested back and forth, in the end of the day, despite dying at Seth's hand, Jack remained a steadfast friend of Seth.

In the last film, Johan Falk asks Seth to do him a favour: Johan Falk knows that a Russian assassin will interogate him with extremely cruel methods, and in case Johan looses patience completely and starts talking, he asks Seth to kill the russian ONLY if that happens and Seth agrees. During the moment Johan is interogated and tortured, he never starts talking. The Russian eventually gives up and decides to kill him, but Seth, hiding in the bathroom next to them, runs towards him and shoots him, saving Johan Falk.