Dag

Irreverent, funny and sometimes quite poignant, this Scandi-comedy makes me chuckle and think with the unfolding of each season. The chronicle of a marriage counselor who is more damaged than his clients, his secretary prone to fits of historical dementia and his best friend who just cant resist the wildest and least appropriate interpersonal entanglements are just the tip of this Nordic romp's story line. Great nods to global pop culture await the viewer. Some scenes can be a little raunchy, even uncomfortable, but try hard to hold back offense, its a bawdy but intelligent comedy. Watch it from the beginning and howl, if only for the bad English subtitles.

From the land of Ibsen, comes DAG. A comic hero/philosopher in the shape of marriage guidance counsellor Dag, whose philosophy of life advocates living alone to that of being married. This comic incongruity is played to maximum exaggeration when he confronts his startled clients with observations that marriage 'represses' your true self, and that divorce is better than marital misery. As with all comic caricatures there is a degree of truth in a philosophy that chooses to ignore such fanciful ideas like love and friendship. Of course, Dag practices what he preaches in his high security 'man-cave', where his solitary pleasures, after spending his day advising clients, are eating junk food, drinking, and listening to music. These are occasionally disturbed by his cuddly 'friend' Benedict whose inability to keep his fly zipped constantly lands him in hot water. Whereas, Dag appears to be more choosy in his sexual partners, as his well-intentioned sister (who sets Dag up with blind dates) is always finding out. That is until Dag meets his sister's friend: Eva.

After only two episodes I'm hooked on this dark and satirical take on the comedy of the sexes. Can Eva find out if 'loner' Dag has a heart? Will she become the soul-mate that his sister craves for him? As I already have a crush on the elfin-like Tuva Novotny, who plays Eva, this is a no-brainer for me. However, it will be fun watching their verbal and physical foreplay as the series develops. Needless to say this ageing misanthrope loved it. More please!!

Norwegian sitcoms are not exactly the hottest thing on TV, at least not since they cancelled "Fleksnes", which was an adaptation of Hancock's Half Hour, only much better, back in the late sixties. But "Dag", about this very improbable dystopic loner of a couples' counsellor is right up there with the very best from anywhere, like Curb your enthusiasm or The Office (no similarities apart from the quality).

All the pieces of the puzzle fall readily into place: Very witty scriptwriting, and original concept, great casting, superb acting, clever directing and well-paced editing. The fact that it's done in Norwegian makes it twice as funny; it really is the funniest language in the world – especially to us Swedes.

By the way, the very lovely Tuva Novotny is not Norwegian, but Swedish. You're forgiven for thinking so though, since her accent is 100 percent perfect.

In short, don't miss this little comedy gem!

I am almost at a loss for words. Usually Norwegian television likes to follow the usual script, which is either reality (which is a prime example of human de-evolution), or a soap which almost always ends with someone crying (badly), or a "hilarious" comedy where every second is filled with some sort of a "witty" punch-line (usually leaving you with a bad taste in your mouth).

But in this show, the television network must have left the decisions to the the writers, producers and actors, and it shows. From start to finish the tale devours you and please, for your sake, don't resist it.

I really cannot describe the show, with a word that would encapsulate the essence of the greatness this show deserves. Brilliant? Marvelous perhaps? From the acting to the script, everything is superbly put in place so that you and me can be swept away into the drama and the really tragic but so disturbingly funny comedy the show displays. Undoubtedly the best Norwegian series I have ever seen, and I would at least rate it as perhaps among one of the greatest shows out there.

I think perhaps it looses some of it's greatness if you are not Norwegian and have to watch it trough subtitles, but I still think that this is definitely a show which should be watched at least once, no matter the audience.

Original, great, tremendous. I do not believe I can run out of good words to say about this show.

Actors Atle Antonsen, Tuva Novotny, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Agnes Kittelsen, scriptwriters Øystein Karlsen and Kristopher Schau and of course the rest of the contributory staff, I salute you. You have rekindled my faith in Norwegian television.

Dag starts of with us being introduced to the main character Dag. In the beginning the show seems like a comedy, however as the show progresses the writing gets deeper and touches on subjects like loneliness, relationships with your close friends and death. One of the best norwegian shows I have seen.