Ráðherrann

I don't know how they do it. Iceland has a population of 350,000 people and yet they manage to turn out such high quality series on a regular basis. Especially impressive when you consider that they have no natural secondary market for their productions because their language is unique to the island (i.e. you'll need subtitles to watch).

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson is one of our favourite actors in any international series and after the first series of Trapped several years ago my wife and I became fans of his. He is outstanding in this because of the complexity of the character. Initially he has to be the calm sane politician with just the hint of a quirk or two to having a few eccentricities in the second and third episodes to being a bit over-the-top irrationally enthusiast about projects as the series progresses to finally reach the inevitably conclusion. He portrays all this really well.

One minor criticism (from my wife who used to work in mental health) is the change from extreme manic to extreme depression late in the series is a bit unrealistic but I think viewers will excuse that realism flaw readily enough - especially given the circumstances of the change (say no more, don't want to give any spoilers).

The plot itself isn't perfect, but the character study and the acting from the cast and the beautiful Icelandic scenery more than make up for anything one might want to quibble with.

More please, Iceland, and especially more from one of our favourite actors.

If you were a fan of TV series, 'Borgen' - I believe you will enjoy 'The Minister'. Writing, directing, acting, scenery, photography wonderfully capture the essence of the person vs. the politician as well as provide a travel log of Iceland and insight into local / EU politics.

I'd definitely recommend this if you are trying to find the next bingeable show. I came to watch Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and stayed because it's a poignant portrait of mental illness blended with political intrigue. There were a few too much cringey over the top scenes, but that's my only criticism.

I found this to be fairly shallow, predictable. you have the main character's quirks/illness and very little else. The remaining characters are very thinly drawn and pretty much stereotypes. Also we already know from academic peer reviewed work that their is a streak of what most would consider mental illness broadly present among politicians and elected and unelected govnrerment officials. It is not manic behavior -- it is narcissism and sociopathy. In the US for example, the location with the most psychopaths and sociopaths is Washington DC. And that is not arising from the general citizenry there -- it is quite specifically the govnrerment officials. Just google: Washington DC psychopathy capital of the US. And in fact northern Virginia, and southern Maryland where a large chunk of the government workers live is the second highest level of psychopaths.

So this show presents an illness that is mercurial almost charming and then something worse. It doesn't come near the reality which is more like US and UK House of Cards. As outrageous as House of Cards was, the data show that is actually a reality. And a much more interesting, fascinating reality. Most European productions and narratives tend to shy away from that. Bad actors in govnrerment tend to be portrayed as outliers. That is a bit infantile.

Ultimately this series has nothing to say. And it also does not entertain. Yes, we get it, the stark landscapes from scando-noir, are compelling. and Iceland is particularly stark, but it's not compelling not when there is nothing else.

Great story,great scenery,great great great!! Thank God mental illness is finally being shown on the big screen the way it is irl. bravo Iceland! please keep them coming!!!