Utmark

Really absurd and surprisingly humane, totally twisted and wonderfully indifferent, Utmark is one of the best series I've watched this year.

This quirky pitch black Norwegian drama seriously took me by surprise - revolving around a grim conflict between an alcoholic shepherd and a mesmerically terrifying "lone wolf" character but branching out to take in a whole community of oddballs, deviants, criminals and misfits. The tone has a somewhat Coen Brothers vibe, albeit a great deal earthier and more starkly Scandinavian. It can be a little unremitting and not every character gets equal focus (the priest's arc always feels a bit crowbarred-in) but the performances are extraordinary throughout and the atmospheric photography really takes you to that bleak, beautiful place. Worth a watch, certainly, and I'd be interested to see more!

If Fargo and Northern Exposure have a baby, that's "Welkome to Utmark" 😅

Script, acting and characters are great. Good build up of story. Great direction. Season 2 is a must.

And it persists in being that for each and every episode and each and every character. Rock solid writing, directing, acting, photography. EVERYthing. Everything.

This is SO solid and fantastic that if there isn't a season 2, I will find out who's responsible, find them, and strangle them myself.