Beforeigners

Both HBO and Netflix support local production companies to produce unique independent content. Most of it is horrible. This, however, is excellent. The reveals in the last ten minutes of the season finale are mind blowing.. in an "ahh.. of course" kind of way. Wow. What a setup.. what a satisfying payoff. Genius.

I want to emphasize that THIS series has a good plot but a BRILLIANT fictional world. Past, present and maybe future intertwined. Old vikings try to fit in with 2020s and 1900's British Edwardians - pubs with foreign letters, a 1900s dressed accordingly, riding a horse while wearing headphones. A tinder-social media just for the beforeigners. And have a look on the offficial HBO website, there is SO much in depth information on this world: Hoe to eat like a viking. How to curse 10000 years ago. ... and whatnot. The visuals are packed with hints on a complete, rich world... this is what I call, as a practicing production designer and set dresser: THIS is the art. This is the stage a plot stands on. This is the base for a damn good and intense story. I want more of this!

PS: Can't rate plot and acting this time, because I was too consumed with the worldbuilding.

This show is absolutely brilliant! It is wrongly categorized as "Drama/Sci-fi". It is deliriously hilarious! I dare you to watch it alone and not laugh out loud. The concept, acting, screenplay and cast are all brilliant. The rarest (and best) part of all is the originality of concept. This is HBO's first venture into Norway. For me, most HBO series are seriously lacking. Even the wildly popular "Game of Thrones" is loaded with gratuitous violence, sex, language, etc. I find this boring. Even their big budget series "Westworld" is highly un-original and inferior when compared to this small series. With the exception of HBO's 2016 TV Mini-series "The Night Of" (8 Episodes), this is the best show they have made in years; bar none. If you have not heard of Danish actress Krista Kosonen, you will soon; I promise. Besides several roles in smaller TV shows or films, she had a bit part in a huge one: Denis Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049" (2017). Now, she has a lead role in a brilliant HBO TV Mini-series (6 episodes). Go Vikings!!! I love it.

I looked out this show, because I heard that in this show Krista Kosonen speaks languages that she doesn't actually speak irl. I wanted to see how good work she does. But yeah, I forgot that aspect as soon as I found the show. It's not Krista, it's Alfhildir, a bad ass police and a soldier. The show is funny, witty, very perceptive about nuances of the present day nationalism and migration themes. Also I love love love the "old languages" in the show #linguisticnerd .

Okay, there are also many historical flaws (it almost hurt me to see modern harness on a horse in year of 1300 or something. Like come on, wrap something over them or something) and inconsistencies, but I can forgive them, because the show is very good. Oh and also, good work Krista! You nailed the languages!

Norwegian television and movies are very typically slow when it comes to dialogue and plot development. Not bad, but slow. Yes, we see it here as well, but this is much more American-ized than normal, and I mean that in a good way!

There hasn't been much that impresses me from an acting standpoint yet - but I do like the characters with what little build up they have gotten so far, and look forward to seeing them develop. I do place my money on Krista Kosonen to be the one to carry the show, and she does definitely bring entertainment value from the very first second. She is a prehistoric viking shieldmaiden now joining modern day police as she clearly was quick to adapt and rushed through the police academy. Then she is paired with a grumpy veteran police officer / single dad. I mean - what's not to like about that setup?!

I don't normally review titles this early, because it can truly go both ways from here - so take it with a grain of salt. But so far, the show delivers a weird and entertaining plot, clever and frequent tidbits of humor relating to old vs modern times, and solid acting. Let's hope it all holds up, and this could surely go down into history as Norway's finest - maybe even competing with "The Bridge" for the throne of Scandinavian television.

Edit: After completing all episodes of season 1, I stand by my rating, and can confirm an intriguing plot development and more depth to the characters in a well written way. There was also some side characters that struck an emotional chord with me, which is always welcome. Again, for Norwegian standards, it impresses. But I might say it is somewhat lacking in the storytelling aspect regarding the underlying "main mystery" that typically is supposed to carry the intrigue, and it can easily be forgotten between scenes of less overall importance. But then again, you rarely put on anything from Hollywood where the mystery ISN'T showed down your throat in episode one, so I find myself welcoming the change a little and enjoying interesting characters instead, which works great for this show if you ask me!