Livstid

As this eight part Norwegian drama opens we are introduced to protagonist Victoria Woll, She is in prison being escorted to meet a man. Alone in a locked room he takes a kukri from under the table and lunges at her. The action then cuts back eighteen years and Victoria is a police officer leading a unit that specialises in high profile cases. The man from the opening is shown to be police chief Jan Devold; a man keen to see the unit fail. Each episode features a 'case of the week' as well as being top & tailed with scenes in prison showing Victoria's determination to prove that it is Devold who deserves to be there, not her.

I thought this was an enjoyable series. The individual cases are interesting as is the question of how Victoria might prover her innocence. The characters are solid with the actors doing a good job bringing them to life. The ending does feel more like an end-of-season rather than end-of-series which is a pity as it leaves one wanting more and leaves important questions unanswered. Overall I'd say it is worth a watch if you enjoy Scandi-crime dramas.

These comments are based on watching the series in Norwegian with English subtitles.

I am a fan of Nordic crime series. They are entertaining and even with low budget they are usually well played and well composed. But this one is terrible, uninteresting, and all actors are almost painful to watch. It seems obvious that they do not seem convinced by the amateurish dialogues. If you add that there is a background story happening 10 years later, badly connected to the rest of the episodes, it becomes pretty unwatchable. Without another season, and I doubt there will be one, it will remain a dead project making no sense whatsoever.

Livstid begins with a gripping premise: decorated Oslo detective Victoria Woll is serving a life sentence, and the series unfolds in dual timelines to reveal how she got there. Played with stoic intensity by Tone Mostraum, Woll leads a quirky but capable team of investigators while quietly battling systemic corruption and betrayal from within - notably from her superior, Jan Devold.

Each episode features a standalone case, while the overarching mystery of Woll's imprisonment builds in parallel. While this structure allows for variety, it occasionally undercuts narrative cohesion. The prison timeline is too lightly developed in early episodes, which weakens the dramatic payoff.

The acting is more than decent - Mostraum's expressive performance stands out, despite a script that leans on clichés. Supporting characters, like the eccentric Kit Lange and the tech-savvy Dozer, add colour but feel underutilised. The Series builds tension with slow reveals, but pacing issues and a lack of resolution frustrate. By the end of episode eight, you are left with more questions than answers.

Fans of Nordic noir might find enough intrigue in the weekly cases and moody Oslo setting to stick with it. However, the inconsistent writing, uneven tone, and a finale that fails to deliver on the show's potential may leave other viewers disappointed. Livstid shows flashes of promise, but ultimately buckles under the weight of its own ambition.

All in all: watchable, but best for genre enthusiasts with tempered expectations.

I just need to figure out the link between the current and the future. There's said to be a hint in each episode. Devold is the obvious connection, but I wonder how and why. Hope for a second season!

Terrible story line. Terrible acting. Terrible characters.