It's not an exaggeration to say that Anxious People, the Swedish limited series based on the book by Fredrik Backman, depicts the most botched bank robbery — ever. In fact, this robbery is such a failure that the series’ antagonist starts off by going to a cashless bank (first rule of bank robbing: make sure there's something to… rob). Then, while trying to escape, our inept robber stumbles into an apartment open house, where he accidentally (yes, accidentally) winds up taking a group of hostages.

So, how do a bank robber, an overly enthusiastic real estate agent, two IKEA addicts, a pregnant couple, a bank manager and a person in a rabbit costume end up spending their time as hostages before their captor disappears into thin air? Anxious People examines the backgrounds and backstories of each of the captives, the cops investigating the crime and (spoiler alert) how the robber manages to escape without a trace. 

Before you tune in to watch the six half-hour episodes, get a head start by meeting the dysfunctional denizens whose lives are accidentally connected forever — even though they might already have been more connected than they realize. 

Jim (Dan Ekborg)

A veteran police officer in this small Scandinavian town, and widowed father to son Jack and daughter Jill, Jim has a soft spot for wounded souls — a great trait in any human, but sometimes a disadvantage in his work as a cop.

Jack (Alfred Svensson)

As the town's most promising cop, Jack could have a career in Stockholm — if he wasn't worried about taking care of his aging father and addict sister. Jack has been compassionate and empathetic since a young age, but his job has hardened those traits a bit over the years.

Roger (Leif Andrée) and Anna-Lena (Marika Lagercrantz)

Long-married couple Roger and Anna-Lena find themselves at an open house just before New Year's Eve while looking for a new apartment to flip. In the process of building their mini real estate empire, they've been to nearly every IKEA in Sweden. (Yes, that's quite a feat.)

Julia (Carla Sehn) and Ro (Petrina Solange)

Married couple Julia, who is pregnant, and Ro are looking for a place to start their family — but the two women are having a hard time deciding what they want in a new home. Or, you know, their anxiety and insecurity about becoming parents for the first time is manifesting itself in a long-lasting hunt for the perfect apartment, which is itself a metaphor for their fear about impending parenthood. That too.

Estelle (Lottie Ejebrant)

Estelle is an older woman ostensibly searching for a new apartment for her daughter — and is alone at the showing while her husband parks the car. For all her “sweet old lady” facade, she is hiding a world of secrets from her fellow hostages.

Zahra (Anna Granath)

A high-powered bank manager, Zahra is an outlier at the apartment showing. Her income bracket alone puts her well outside the target buyer demographic. But it turns out that (surprise, surprise) she has a deeper connection to the apartment — and to her fellow hostages — than she lets on.

Lennart (Per Andersson)

Dressed as a rabbit for reasons that are later explained, Lennart is an actor who gets caught up in dramas — both hostage-related and otherwise — that he never really understands.

Rånaren Liv (Sascha Zacharias)

A single mother of two young girls, Rånaren Liv is simply trying to navigate divorced life the best she can — until she gets involved in this wholly bizarre turn of events.

Mäklaren Maria (Sofia Ledarp)

The hard truth about the real estate agent responsible for the ill-fated showing is that she might not be very good at her job. Then again, no one’s job description has instructions for what to do when a bank robber accidentally shows up and takes everyone hostage.