To be sure the TV productions starring Kenneth Branagh are superlative--dark, mysterious, frightening. Wall lander is not the tall, handsome, super-hero detective we've all come to expect. He drinks too much, he smokes too much, he eats too much, and his personal relationships are strictly abysmal. However he has a deep reverence for the law and protection of society, and this is what makes him such a great detective. For even more, read the books by Swedish author Henning Mankel to get Walander at his best and fullest.
For other great detective yarns, read the series by Louise Penny starting with "Still Life," and the Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly.