 |
| Erikoisjoukot Season 4 |
Erikoisjoukot (Finnish for “Special Forces”) is Finland’s most intense reality‐competition programme. Inspired by the acclaimed SAS: Who Dares Wins format, it brings celebrity recruits through a brutally demanding quasi‑military selection process. The series has aired on Ruutu and Nelonen since 2022 and became the most‑watched original Finnish series on Ruutu
Season 4: What’s New?
- Premiere Date: Kicks off Thursday, 4 September 2025 on both Ruutu and Nelonen at 21:00. Filming took place during summer 2025 in Lohja-marking the first season shot in warm weather, introducing new physical challenges linked to heat and environment.
- Format Changes: For the first time, the 16 recruits are divided into two teams at the outset. They face team‑based tactical and endurance scenarios before merging into a single group as eliminations begin.
- Instructors Return: Season 4 continues with its core leadership team: Head Instructor Janne Lehtonen, supported by Jan Knutti, Matias Petäistö, and Robin Hendry-all veterans with decades of special operations experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia
Meet the 16 Recruits (Kokelaat)
The new season features a diverse line‑up of Finnish public figures from sports, media, entertainment, and wellness:
- Karoliina Blackburn - actress
- Mika Poutala - former Olympic speed skater (minister)
- Nico Salo - floorball player
- Sonja Aiello - wellness coach
- Mauro Severino - fashion designer
- Iida Ketola - salon entrepreneur
- Arttu Kuosmanen - musician
- Aleksi Rantamaa - podcast host
- Noora Toivo - sports journalist
- Mikko Kekäläinen - journalist
- Elina Mäkinen - ice swimmer
- Mikael Renwall - content creator
- Robert Helenius - former boxer
- Tiia Aalto - Miss Finland heir
- Nino Ärling - influencer/content creator
- Markus Pöyhönen - ex‑sprinter
Every recruit faces extreme physical and psychological challenges, forcing them to discover personal resilience.
Themes & Challenges
- Aggression (Episode 2): The recruits are thrust into high‑stress, nocturnal alert simulations to test their mental grit and emotional control early on.
- Team Leadership (Episode 3): Evaluates decision‑making under exhaustion, trust‑building across team lines, and discipline using live firearms such as assault rifles—designed to push mental limits as well as physical endurance.
- As the season progresses, tasks escalate: increasingly complex endurance drills, sleep deprivation, survival scenarios in hot weather, and high‑pressure team missions.
What’s at Stake & Why It Matters
- Personal Growth: As seen in previous seasons, recruits often experience emotional breakthroughs—many report unlocking unimaginable inner strength.
- Viewer Engagement: The series has drawn criticism for its toughness: while some praise it as transformative, others see it as unnecessary harshness. Head Instructor Lehtonen defends the format: “everything has a purpose,” and pushing human limits enables new self‑discoveries
- Cultural Impact: The show has firmly established itself in Finnish pop culture. Previous seasons have been nominated for awards like the Kultainen Venla and consistently broken viewership records on Ruutu
Looking Ahead
Season 4 aims to deliver an even more intense and structured experience through team formations, heat‑dynamic exercises, and tightly orchestrated progressions.
The official Erikoisjoukot podcast, hosted by recruits Nico Salo (No. 3) and Nino Ärling (No. 15), will debut alongside the televised episodes on Supla and Ruutu, offering further behind‑the‑scenes insight
Finale details, including winners and breakout standouts, will emerge as the season unfolds from September onward.
Summary
- What: Finnish celebrity-based Special Forces reality show
- Where: Ruutu streaming & Nelonen network
- When: Season 4 premieres 4 Sept 2025
- Who: 16 Finnish public figures; instructors with real special operations backgrounds
- Why watch: Unique blend of elite training, human-limit testing, and emotionally gripping storytelling
Season 4 promises to deliver unrivalled grit, drama, and transformation. Who among these recruits will stand tall under pressure and endure until the end? Only time-and the Season 4 journey-will tell.