Character Relationship Map: Cold

Characters

• Óðinn Hafsteinsson (played by Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson) — protagonist

  Óðinn is a father returning to work in child welfare while trying to care for his daughter, Rún, after the death of her mother, Lára. He investigates the history of the closed juvenile home Krókur and...

• Aldís Anna Agötudóttir (played by Elín Hall) — supporting

  Aldís is a pregnant woman connected to Krókur who becomes involved in helping Lilja escape the institution. Before their attempt, she reveals that a baby she once delivered had severe defects and woul...

• Lilja Sævarsdóttir (played by Selma Björnsdóttir) — supporting

  Lilja is a young woman living under the control of Krókur, where she faces hostility and intimidation and protests when another resident is confined. With Aldís's help, she attempts to escape, but an...

• Diljá Davíðsdóttir (played by Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir) — supporting

  Diljá is Óðinn's colleague in child welfare. When journalists begin investigating the closed juvenile home Krókur, she worries that the inquiry will affect Óðinn and his daughter Rún, who are already...

• Lára (played by Álfrún Örnólfsdóttir) — supporting

  Lára is Rún's mother and Óðinn's deceased partner. Her death is a source of grief for Rún and a central mystery for Óðinn, who cannot remember whether he went to her apartment on the night she died. T...

• Einar (played by Mikael Kaaber) — supporting

  Einar is named by Lilja as the father of her child. During the confrontation over Lilja's attempted escape, the institution's authority figure claims that Veigar is the father, but Lilja denies this a...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Lilja Sævarsdóttir → Einar (Family Claimed Father Of Her Child) — Lilja identifies Einar as the father of her child during the confrontation over her future at the institution.

  When the authority figure claims Veigar is the father, Lilja denies it and says Einar is the father.

• Óðinn Hafsteinsson → Diljá Davíðsdóttir (Professional Colleagues) — Diljá's concern connects Óðinn's work on the Krókur history to the difficulties he faces at home.

  Óðinn returns to work in child welfare, and the plot identifies Diljá as his colleague. She worries that the Krókur investigation will affect him and...

• Óðinn Hafsteinsson → Lára (Family Former Partners) — Lára's death remains central to Óðinn's personal questions and his efforts to reconstruct what happened.

  The plot says Óðinn is trying to understand the night Lára died and that he cannot remember whether he went to her apartment.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Óðinn Hafsteinsson → Aldís Anna Agötudóttir (Narrative Investigator And Historical Subject) — Aldís's disclosure forms part of the disturbing history Óðinn is trying to understand, though the plot does not describe a direct encounter between them.

  Óðinn investigates Krókur's past, while Aldís is part of the parallel story set under the institution's control and reveals that a baby was buried ali...

• Lilja Sævarsdóttir → Aldís Anna Agötudóttir (Alliance Escape Allies) — Aldís helps Lilja attempt to leave Krókur, but the institution's authority figure stops them.

  Aldís becomes involved in helping Lilja leave the institution, and Lilja attempts to escape with her.

Story Analysis

An investigation into Krókur's buried history intersects with Óðinn's uncertainty about Lára's death and the unresolved fate of Lilja and her child.

Plot Progression

1. The Investigation Begins — Óðinn returns to child welfare as a report about journalists investigating Krókur draws his attention to the institution's past. Diljá warns that the investigation may affect him and his family.
2. Cruelty Behind Closed Doors — The parallel story reveals Lilja's life under Krókur's control and her protest against another resident's confinement. Aldís becomes involved in helping Lilja leave.
3. Buried Truths and Uncertain Memory — Aldís confesses that she buried alive a baby she believed would not survive. In the present, Óðinn struggles to remember whether he went to Lára's apartment on the night she died.
4. The Escape Is Stopped — Lilja and Aldís attempt to escape, but the institution's authority figure stops them and demands that Lilja remain and surrender her baby. Lilja names Einar as the father and denies the authority figu...