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Erikoisjoukot (finnish for 'Special Forces') is a Finnish quasi-military training television programme based on the British SAS: Who Dares Wins format. The show first premiered on streaming service Ruutu in May 2022, and later premiered on Nelonen network early 2023. The second season began to air in March 2024, with a third season has already been confirmed by the channel.

Format

Following the premise of the original, British adaption, a group of celebrities are put into a shortened version of the Special Forces’ selection course. Over the course of two weeks, the recruits must face their fears and complete in various tasks designed for those who aspire for the Finland's Defence Forces' Special Forces. At the end of the course, the Head Instructor and his fellow Directing Staff will decide, who has passed the selection process.

The conditions of the recruits during the course are considered rudimental as they reflect a real combat base. They are accommodated at the Abandoned Limestone Factory in Lohja, the surrounding environment of which is not only versatile, but one of the toughest in the country. The recruits will not receive any special treatment, but will be completely at the mercy of the Directing Staff.

Unlike many other reality competition series, there are no straight eliminations. However, the recruits can be culled by the Staff, or withdrawn, in case of any injuries or medical reasons to be quitted from the course. The recruits can also decide themselves, to voluntarily withdraw from the competition, if the pressures are getting too high – and hand their armband to one of the Directing Staff instructors.

Cast

The Directing Staff consists of four ex-Special Forces soldiers of the Finnish Defence Forces, with the combined experience of over four decades of war fighting and operations. The Head Instructor ('Pääkouluttaja') is Janne Lehtonen, an ex-Finnish Navy Special Forces Sergeant, Combat Diver, Scout Sniper and Combat Medic in Counter-Terrorism contracts, with 13 years of experience on the fronts. The other Directing Staff instructors are: Jan Knutti, a former Navy Combat Diver and Finnish Border Guard's Officer for the Counter-Terrorism unit; Matias Petäistö, a former Pioneer and team leader for the Finnish Army's Utti Jaeger Regiment; and Robin Hendry, a former Navy's Combat Diver and Combat Medic.

Seasons

Series overview

Winners

Season 1 (2023)

The filming began on early August 2021 at Abandoned Limestone Factory, in the city of Lohja, Finland. 14 well-known finnish Celebrities took part in this Season.

Recruits

Episodes

Season 2 (2024)

The 15 celebrity recruits of the second season were revealed in January 2024. Like the first season, this season was filmed at the abandoned Limestone Factory in Lohja, in autumn of 2023. At the end of the season, there is an "Aftermath" episode, in which the recruits and instructors gather to discuss about their journey.

Recruits

Episodes

Season 3 (2025)

The third season was filmed at the factory on Lohja in October of 2024, and is airing in Spring 2025. Seventeen celebrity recruits took part in this season.

Reception

Critical reception

The show has formed mixed reception. While some television viewers have been pleased and open minded towards the format, many people disagree with the physical and mental pain the recruits will have to go through in the series. Some authors of Helsingin Sanomat have criticed for the pointless "maltreatment" of the recruits, and that it "won't raise one's health". For the response, the Head Instructor of the program, Janne Lehtonen has said, that "everything on the program has a purpose", and that by stretching the limits of human body, people can find new sides and characteristics from themselves.

Awards and nominations

See also

• SAS: Who Dares Wins

Notes

1. The show was first introduced on Ruutu streaming service in summer 2022, and the first episode actually aired on television that year. However, the full official run on TV, with all episodes, started in January 2023.

References

1. Vatka, Miia. "Nyt puhuu Erikoisjoukkojen vastaava tuottaja: "Sarjassa ei leikitä sotaa"". iltalehti.fi (in Finnish).
2. ^ Vatka, Miia. "Erikoisjoukot on Suomen tv-historian rankin kilpailu – nämä julkkikset osallistuvat". iltalehti.fi (in Finnish).
3. ^ "Tältä näyttää Nelonen Median kevään 2024 TV-tarjonta!". Nelonen (in Finnish).
4. ^ @nelonen (3 June 2024). "Ja arvatkaa mitä… Erikoisjoukot saa jatkoa kolmannen kauden merkeissä! 😍 Pistä sydän jos tää oli sulle iloinen yllätys! ❤️" [Erikoisjoukot continues with a third season!] (in Finnish) – via Instagram.
5. Kantola, Iida (31 May 2022). "Entinen eliittisotilas Janne Lehtonen paljastaa, millaista Suomen erikoisjoukoissa oikeasti on – vain harva tietää totuuden salatusta ammatista". Ilta-Sanomat.fi (in Finnish).
6. Tähtivaara, Sarianne (25 July 2022). "He läpäisivät karmaisevan Erikoisjoukot-ohjelman – yksi kokelaista purskahtaa vuolaaseen itkuun". Ilta-sanomat.fi (in Finnish).
7. ^ Jalkanen, Pinja (28 May 2024). "He selvisivät Erikoisjoukot-rääkin voittajiksi – yksi teki ratkaisevan virheen". Ilta-sanomat.fi (in Finnish).
8. ^ "ERIKOISJOUKOT – program info". telsu.fi (in Finnish).
9. ^ "Erikoisjoukot – Ruutu". ruutu.fi (in Finnish).
10. ^ "Finnpanel – TV Audiance Measurement". Finnpanel.
11. Nousiainen, Janna. "Rankan tosi-tv-ohjelman osallistujat julki – mukana 15 uutta julkkista". Ilta-sanomat (in Finnish).
12. Kantola, Elisa (3 June 2024). "Erikoisjoukot-kokelaat avautuvat kokemistaan kauhunhetkistä – paniikkikohtauksia ja pyörtymisiä". seiska (in Finnish).
13. @jknutti (11 October 2024). "Tämän syksyn rankin kaksi viikkoinen alkaa olemaan takana" – via Instagram.
14. "Nelonen Median kevään 2025 tv-ohjelmisto on nyt julki!". Nelonen.fi (in Finnish). 20 November 2024.
15. Yrttiaho, Tuomo (30 May 2022). "Erikoisjoukot-inttirealityssä on korostetun vakava ja tiukka ote, mutta self help -mantrojakin toistellaan". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish).
16. "Äärirajoilla". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 24 May 2024.
17. Seppä, Sanni (21 April 2024). "Janne Lehtonen oikoo sitkeän harhaluulon erikoisjoukoista: "Ei se todellakaan ole sitä"". voice.fi (in Finnish).
18. "Tässä ovat Kultainen Venla 2022 -ehdokkaat". seiska.fi (in Finnish). 8 December 2022.
19. "Kultainen Venla 2024 -finalistit julkistettu". kultainenvenla.fi (in Finnish). 10 December 2024.

External links

• Erikoisjoukot on Ruutu
• Erikoisjoukot at IMDb

• Finnish television shows
• 2023 Finnish television series debuts
• 2020s Finnish television series
• Finnish reality television series
• Nelonen original programming
• Finnish television series based on British television series
• Television shows filmed in Finland