Krøniken

I've seen the whole of the first series and I think it is just superb. It had been billed as a successor to " Matador" which in my view is one of the best TV series ever made.

All expectations have been fully met. Although it is fiction it gives one an insight into life in post-war Denmark , the way people lived a the attitudes that prevailed.

The series is based around a company that produced radios and then very reluctantly , had to accept that television had become a fact and had to start making televisions in order not to lose ground to it's competitors. For those who enjoyed Matador and the British series Upstairs Downstairs , Kroniken is an absolute must.

Well, this is a series that many people have been talking about for the past two years, many mentioned as a sort of sequel to the famous "Matador", and in many ways it is.

Well, the first episode was watched by 2,2 million danes, which is roughly 40% of the country, a very nice premiere for sure. DR Drama, which is the production company and a subcompany of Danish Television is having a very succesful time these days, winning emmy's for both "Rejseholdet" and "Nikolaj & Julie", two years in a row. One can wonder why they plan on shutting down when their next series "Ørnen" is finished one day...well, that's another story..

This show started out so well, and I just watched episode 6 on TV now. I think the two first episodes were incredible, but since then it's gone downhill. No development, most characters are totally cliched and predictable and it is starting to remind me a little of those stupid soap operas of which they make an episode a day - you know which daytime soaps I'm talking about. And it's a shame - cause the production values are so high in this, expensive, but the story is starting my pants off.....to say it like it is....

Krønikken starts were Matador, the immortal Danish TV classic, ended. While it does not reach Matador's level, it certainly is an important contribution that vividly describes the culture of the Danish society from the postwar period, to the beginning of the modem times.

Unlike Matador, Krønikken, (the Chronicle) takes place in Copenhagen, and not in a province town; therefore its focus is a little narrower, and it has more supporting characters that are only seen in a few episodes. Its primary focus is the capitalistic family, whose patriarch owns the radio, and later, TV factory Bella, but it also has a strong focus on the development of the Danish social democratic party. This is because, that the Social Democrat was the primary architect for the modem Danish welfare state, which was created in this period.

It is a story, but it describes the history of that period better, then mere facts ever could.

If you are interested in the Danish culture, then Krønikken, is a must see.

Even though Denmark has won two consecutive Emmy's for best non American TV series Krøniken is a much better drama series. The family saga covering a period of +30 years of Danish modern history (1949-1970) is taking up politics family values and all the relevant moral and ethic issues of the time.

If you get the chance you should see this spellbinding piece of work.

One of the finest facets of Krøniken is its authenticity. Every detail is authentic and original and you really feel like being at the exact place at that exact time. Amazing.

Actress Anne Louise Hassing (Ida) got her national breakthrough playing next to Anders W. Bertelsen (Palle) who has already established his position as one of the most popular younger Danish actors after a series of sympathetic roles in films and TV-series. Next to them a lot of popular names appear in the series in minor roles.

I have seen the whole of the first series and I think it is a very worthy successor to Matador.

Although fictional , the series gives one an insight into life and the prevalent attitudes in post-war Denmark. It is very realistic with excellent characterization

There are really two stories side by side. One is the coming of television to Denmark and how the various radio manufacturers adapted to it and the other is the development of the characters and the events that transpire in their lives.

A gripping series and I'm just waiting for the second series to be broadcast.