Gangs of Oslo

Just finished watching the series, and cannot understand the negative reviews here, they have clearly not watched the show.

With only 6 episodes, and the show coming to a satisfying end, this is worth your time.

Leading actors are good, I also really like the camera techniques used, even though I am not much for drone footage, as that is not our normal point of view.

It can be quite intense, the plot is only over a short time period, illustrates how cynical criminal gangs need to be, and how restricted police might be under these circumstances. Some say it is a Norwegian "the wire" while I felt it was a bit like "The Departed" It is not the very best show I have watched, so it might have gotten an extra point to compensate for the other uninformed reviews here.

Hailed by Ricky Gervais recently on Twitter, this show peaked my interest. I am Norwegian myself and also live on the east side of Oslo, close to where many of the shows locations are set - which was a nice thing to see!

Set in the east side of Oslo, historically renown for it's gangs and high crime rate, we follow two "brothers" from a fictitious area "Lakkeberg" - Moaz and Rami, who grew up together but ultimately chose their lives on each side of the law. The story revolves around Rami and his criminal gang called the "Enemiez" and Moaz as the police investigator. The show has a slow start but slowly grows on you. The twists and turns keeps you on edge in the later episodes. The personal stories of everyone - the kids, the families, the gangs and police - come through well and you get a good feel for the complicated choices they all have to go through.

Special compliments to both main actors as they portray the feelings and complicated life choices very well, and are credible in their roles.

The show is all around well acted by the entire cast, has a great score and good drama/action throughout. Give it a go, you won't regret!

I really like the foreign made gangster/crime genre whether it is movies or television. Most of the "Hollywood" formula is absent from these productions which is a good thing. Gangs of Oslo is no exception. It starts slow. In fact I couldn't really get into it until about the 3rd episode. It takes off from there and brings the nuance I like from productions that are outside of the normal "Hollywood" fare. Its not a over the top gangster show that tries to bombard with you with constant improbable moments which are suppose to surprise you and keep you engaged. No, its very well written. This is a must watch for cinemaphiles who look for nuance and fantastic writing.

Oh, where to begin with this show? It's like they discovered the magic of bokeh and just couldn't let it go.

I could almost hear the director shouting, "More bokeh! We need more bokeh!" in every production meeting. It's like they had a bokeh quota to meet or something. Heres an idea. Maybe throw in a few shots where the background is actually discernible.

Ah, the plot, the saving grace of this rollercoaster of a show. It's like they threw a dart at a wall of story ideas and landed on "passable." Don't get me wrong, "passable" can sometimes be code for "It's okay, I guess," but in this case, it's the lifeboat in a sea of chaos.

Finally the acting. If i had to describe it with one word, it would be volatile. One moment, you're witnessing a dramatic scene that would make Shakespeare proud. The next, it's like they've switched gears and are channeling their inner cardboard cutout. But hey... its entertainment.

It's tough being an immigrant - even second generation - in European society. The Gangs of Oslo suggests exactly that. Even gifted kids with a bright future find themselves caught up in an environment which makes 'escape' into 'normal' society difficult.

The show revolves around a Pakistani immigrant police officer who can't shake off his childhood friendship with a present day gang leader. Despite his best effort the officer, Moaz, is caught up in the crime nexus.

As the series develops, flashbacks provide more context as does the predicament of a young 'runner' for the gang.

Ultimately, after some unexpected twists and tirndsy, there's a conclusion to the contradictions ... You'll have to watch to get the details!