The Girl Who Played With Fire

Lisbeth stays in her new apartment on Fiskargatan and follows the news, shocked to see that her personal life is now common knowledge. When Lisbeth was 17, a man assaulted her in a train station, and she kicked him in the face. She was arrested for assault, did not speak to the police, and was only released when another passenger testified that the man had assaulted her. Afterward, Lisbeth was declared incompetent and put under guardianship. Now, the news paints Lisbeth as someone who has a severe mental illness, and Mimmi is portrayed as deviating from social norms.

Lisbeth sees news stories with comments from a teacher and a classmate from her former school. Once, when Lisbeth found an error in a textbook, she alerted the teacher, who refused to listen. When the teacher physically shook Lisbeth, Lisbeth hit her with the textbook. Similarly, the classmate bullied Lisbeth, beating her up in front of other students. When Lisbeth hit the boy with a bat, she was reprimanded, and the boy was not punished.

Seeing Teleborian on TV reminds Lisbeth of her childhood. After All The Evil, Lisbeth tried to explain herself to police officers and psychologists, none of whom listened. Teleborian is a sadist who enjoyed strapping Lisbeth to a table (called a “stimulus-free” treatment), which Lisbeth later learned violates the Geneva Convention. Lisbeth swore to never speak with the authorities again, which infuriated Teleborian until Lisbeth was sent to foster care at age 15.

Another report cites a woman named Johanna, who claims to have known that Lisbeth was bisexual when she was 10 or 11. Lisbeth has no recollection of this person, and she suspects that people are lying for attention. She wonders why All The Evil has not leaked to the news.

In the past, Lisbeth and her hacker contact, Plague, hacked into the police network with limitations, but now, Lisbeth makes a document on all the information she can gather on the police’s investigation of her. Lisbeth is glad that there are only a few pictures of her, few of which look like her.

Lisbeth researches Dag, Mia, and Bjurman, whom she says died for failing to follow her rules. Lisbeth noticed Blomkvist’s misinformation to the press, which led her to reach out on his computer, though she resents needing his help.

Investigating Armansky, Lisbeth sees that he ordered a camera for his office, which means that she needs to adjust her infiltration methods in the future.

While investigating the police network, Lisbeth gets a message from Plague, who offers to help her. Lisbeth pays him 30,000 kronor to create a mirrored hard drive of Ekstrom’s home computers, which Plague does in 48 hours. Lisbeth discovers all Bublanski’s reports, which Ekstrom should not have at home, including Armansky’s involvement in the investigation. Lisbeth feels betrayed, and she hates Hedstrom.

Lisbeth discovers that Ekstrom is leaking information to the press, but she does not understand why he did not leak the 1991 police report on All The Evil. She reaches out to Blomkvist cryptically, and she is shaken by his offer of friendship.

Lisbeth dresses as Irene Nesser, gets fast food, and visits Bjurman’s apartment after midnight. She finds a rusty key and an insurance policy for his cabin in Stallarhomen. She stops to buy groceries and sees a newspaper speculating that she has left the country.

Lisbeth spends a day cleaning her apartment. When Scala publishes a piece on Mimmi, Lisbeth is furious, and she worries that this investigation will cost her the few friendships she has.

Paolo Roberto, a famous boxer, shows up at Blomkvist’s apartment and tells him that he knows Lisbeth. They agree that she is innocent, and Paolo reveals that he boxes with Lisbeth. Blomkvist is shocked, and Paolo tells him that Lisbeth came to his gym looking to box. He and other boxers made fun of her, but she fought hard. They called her style “Terminator Mode” because she would do anything to nail her opponent. After Lisbeth was kicked out of the women’s section, Paolo took Lisbeth in and helped her build strength. When she started beating larger guys, she became a mascot. They called her “the Wasp,” which inspired her wasp tattoo.

Blomkvist tells Paolo to reach out to Mimmi about Lisbeth.

Bjorck gets his files on Zalachenko from Sapo. Bjorck is more worried about getting exposed for the Zala Affair than he is about his involvement with sex workers.

Blomkvist finds that Bjorck’s record has a gap between 1970 and 1985, implying confidential work for Sapo. Blomkvist cannot find a link to Dag’s and Mia’s murders beyond Zala.

Lisbeth finds Blomkvist’s note to Berger about Bjorck, Bjurman, and Zala, but she does not know the connection between them. She leaves Blomkvist a note, telling him to avoid Teleborian, leave Mimmi out of the investigation, investigate Zala further, and investigate the 1991 police report. She adds that she saw Dag and Mia on the night of the murder but did not kill them. She says hello to Paolo and asks Blomkvist how he knew that she stole Wennerstrom’s money.

Blomkvist responds, asking if he should focus on Zala. He says that he will only reveal Lisbeth’s mistake in person. Lisbeth says to focus on Zala and a blond giant.

Bublanski’s team discovers that someone broke into Bjurman’s apartment, but they do not know who or why.

Lisbeth reads Dag’s notes on Sandstrom and then goes out as Irene Nesser to buy tape and rope before taking a train north.

Blomkvist continues to confront johns, but he does not think they are important.

Lisbeth goes to Sandstrom’s apartment and waits.

Faste interviews Cilla Noren, a former member of Evil Fingers, regarding Lisbeth. Noren answers Faste’s questions sarcastically, explaining that she has not heard from Lisbeth in over a year. Faste prods Noren about her sexuality, prompting Noren to threaten a lawsuit.

Modig reviews Dag’s manuscript and realizes that Blomkvist was right. The threat of exposure is a significant motive in Dag’s and Mia’s murders but not in Bjurman’s. Modig visits Faste, who reveals that Dag called Bjurman on the night of the murders. Modig sees an issue in the proposed timing of Lisbeth killing Bjurman, driving to Dag and Mia’s apartment, and killing them, but Faste illustrates how she could have done it. Modig calls Faste a “shithead,” and Faste tells Modig that she should not be a police officer at “this level.”

Eriksson calls Blomkvist, noting the gap in Lisbeth’s file immediately before she was hospitalized at St. Stefan’s. They both realize that a confidential Sapo case would be excluded from the file, meaning that Bjorck probably knows why Lisbeth was committed.

Sandstrom was relieved by Dag’s death since he did not want to be exposed. He unlocks his front door, hears a rustle behind him, and feels a pain in his back.

Blomkvist threatens to expose Bjorck at a press conference, and Bjorck agrees to meet with Blomkvist to talk about Zala.

Sandstrom wakes up with his mouth taped shut and his limbs bound. Lisbeth appears and puts a noose around his neck, stringing him from the ceiling. She uses a pulley to lift Sandstrom by his neck, allowing him to see her painted face. She takes Sandstrom’s gun and loads it. She then shows him a picture from his hard drive of Ines, one of the girls he abused. Lisbeth promises to kill Sandstrom unless he answers her questions.

Blomkvist struggles to piece together the case so far, suspecting that Lisbeth might be the motive for the murders.

Lisbeth asks Sandstrom about his involvement with Zala and learns that Sandstrom smuggled drugs for Harry Ranta, whose brother, Atho, offered him Ines as a “gift.” Lisbeth clarifies that Sandstrom raped Ines. Sandstrom assaulted Ines multiple times, but he refused when Atho told him to smuggle more drugs. One night, Atho and Harry brought Sandstrom to a warehouse, where the blond giant killed a man named Gustafsson in front of him, and then Lundin cut off the man’s head and hands. The blond giant threatened to kill Sandstrom, and then Atho called Zala, who told Sandstrom to smuggle the drugs. Sandstrom agreed. Sandstrom did not tell Dag any of this information, and Lisbeth does not think she can get any more details from Sandstrom. She releases Sandstrom, takes his gun, changes her clothes, and leaves.

Lisbeth researches Atho and Harry Ranta, finding that both have extensive criminal records, including sexual assault. She finds their addresses.

Paolo stakes out the Lundagatan apartment, but Mimmi does not come home or answer her phone.

Sandstrom panics, fearing both Lisbeth and Zala’s blond giant. He calls Harry and Atho, but Silvia, Atho’s girlfriend, answers. She says that the Ranta brothers are vacationing in Tallinn, Estonia, which does not help Sandstrom’s anxiety.

Paolo looks up and sees Mimmi walking to her apartment. A van pulls up, and a giant man gets out, grabs Mimmi, knocks her unconscious, and throws her in the van. The van drives off, and Paolo pursues it.

Mimmi wakes up in the van and kicks the giant in the head. He twists her leg and sits on her.

Blomkvist calls Paolo, who tells him something about Mimmi and a van through static.

Paolo tosses his phone on the passenger seat when the battery dies. He maintains several hundred yards between him and the van but loses sight of the vehicle when it starts taking back roads.

Eriksson calls Blomkvist to report that Bjurman worked with Bjorck at Sapo between 1976 and 1978.

Paolo finds the van parked at a warehouse in the woods. A man with a ponytail comes out to the van, and the giant brings Mimmi into the warehouse. Paolo follows them.

Mimmi tries to fight the giant, who knocks Mimmi down. Paolo approaches and punches the giant in the kidney, and the giant turns in surprise. The giant is shocked to see a famous boxer, and Paolo punches the giant, who does not seem to feel pain. The giant knocks Paolo back. They exchange blows, but Paolo thinks he will lose. Paolo remembers the last match of his boxing career and summons the hunger that a boxer needs to win. In a burst of inspiration, he dodges the giant, hits him multiple times in the face, and feels something yield. The giant kicks Paolo’s leg, but Mimmi kicks the giant’s groin from behind. The giant falls but punches Mimmi’s face, and then Paolo hits the giant’s head with a plank. Paolo unsteadily carries Mimmi to the forest. They collapse and hold their breath as the giant searches for them. The giant finally gets into his car and leaves, and Paolo introduces himself to Mimmi.

The giant feels his face and neck, noting his injuries. He does not feel pain, but he is shocked that he lost a fight, especially against Paolo. Realizing that his blood is in the warehouse, he turns back to clean.

Paolo heads toward Stockholm with Mimmi.

Berger calls Blomkvist to tell him that Paolo and Mimmi are in the hospital, and Blomkvist goes to meet them. He finds Paolo severely injured, and Paolo tells Blomkvist that the giant does not feel pain.

Bublanski and Modig meet Blomkvist in Paolo’s hospital room. Blomkvist connects the attack on Lundagatan to Mimmi’s abduction and reveals the Zala connection to Bublanski, urging the police to shift their focus away from “satanist cults.”

The warehouse is destroyed when the police arrive, frustrating Bublanski. He gathers his team and assigns Modig to look through Dag’s work, Faste to investigate Zala, Andersson to look for Lisbeth, and everyone to look for the giant. Faste opposes this strategic shift, insisting on the “lesbian sex cult” angle (382), which Bublanski ridicules.

Modig confides in Bublanski that Hedstrom has a vendetta against Lisbeth.

Scala publishes information on Paolo’s involvement in Mimmi’s kidnapping, and Ekstrom removes Modig from the team, accusing her of leaking information. Bublanski tells Modig to remain on the team and work with Blomkvist.

Berger debates the ethics of cooperating with the police regarding journalistic integrity and assigns Eriksson to help Modig sift through Dag’s work.

Lisbeth investigates Bjurman’s lakeside cabin, finding an attic filled with documents.

The giant hears about Sandstrom calling the Rantas, which reminds him of Bjurman. When Dag called Bjurman about Zala, the giant had to kill Bjurman to avoid exposure. Then, the giant killed Dag and Mia, taking Dag’s computer to destroy evidence of Zala. When the police started looking for Lisbeth, the giant and Zala decided to kill Lisbeth, but nothing went as planned. After burning down the warehouse, the giant remembers Bjurman’s files on Lisbeth and Zala at his cabin, and he sends Lundin to burn the cabin, too.

Bublanski steals Hedstrom’s phone and discovers the calls to Scala. Holmberg calls Bublanski and reports that they are finding bodies buried around the destroyed warehouse.

Lisbeth reads through Palmgren’s journals in Bjurman’s attic, recalling her pattern of fleeing foster homes as a child before finally deciding that Palmgren was a friend. The police report from 1991 reveals that Bjorck and Teleborian collaborated to put Lisbeth in a psychiatric hospital because they feared she might reveal information about Zala.

Bublanski brings Ekstrom to confront Hedstrom, whom he arrests for leaking vital information to the press.

Lundin and Nieminen approach Lisbeth, and she disables Lundin with a can of Mace and a kick to the groin. Before Nieminen can take out his gun, Lisbeth disables him with a Taser. She uses Nieminen’s gun to shoot Lundin in the foot and then steals one of their motorcycles.