Okkupert

This is a great well done show, very dark but with bright daylight action that doesn't fatigue you. The scenario is great and acting convincing. It's dystopian but still so real and feels so... Like it's all ready happening.

Go for it, it's a good one. I will update my score as I proceed with the series. So far so good so great!

It has been criticized by other reviewers, that the plot is not plausible. In a situation, where the energy supply is decreasing it might well be plausible to force Norway to keep supply up. The reason for Russia to do that must not necessarily be an economical one. The force used to direct Greece is an example for what happens in a situation where a small country is not following the dominating powers' interest. The Prime Minister in "Occupied" faces a situation where he cannot keep his promises for the sake of avoiding disaster. This is again a situation similar to what happened in Greece (avoiding the "Grexit"). The point is that the plot is plausible in the sense that is not contradictory and is based on assumptions that are not arbitrary. The series also shows the dilemmas faced by different persons in different contexts. There is a journalist who wants to report the truth but is told by his wife and the prime minister to be responsible. This is a dilemma everyone of us might face (depending on the circumstances).

A bold series with an impactful premise, that was refreshingly enjoyable. At times, melodramatic and tainted with soap opera-ish situations and conversations, but most of the time consistent and true to its base nature and screenplay.

Truthfully speaking, I expected more from it. More character, more shininess and a brighter ending. It was mild, juggled with many sub-plots, got confused on the way, wasn't brought to a satisfying closure and begged for a tying and finishing season 4!

• Screenplay/story: 9
• Development: 9
• Realism: 9
• Entertainment: 9
• Acting: 9
• Filming/cinematography: 9
• Special effects: 9
• Music/score: 8.5
• Depth: 8.5
• Logic: 7
• Flow: 8
• Suspense/thrill: 8.5
• Ending/closure: 7

It was a fun and appealing ride, but could have been more impactful and shocking, had it stuck to a rawer screenplay and development with less dramatization. In one word, needed to be more brutal.

P.S. The Statoil building looks fine, interesting and futuristic to me. A semi-crazy architectural achievement. I guess, it's a question of taste!

Very good and complex story writing! I don't get the bad reviews that criticize that the plot is illogical. I think it is very well thought-out if one accepts the premise: Norway wants to quit the oil production and the EU and Russia don't like it. Hej, it's fiction - just like the Zombie-Apocalypse in the Walking Dead - so get over it! Then the interesting things start to happen. If one considers the situation that a small country such as Norway faces when it is caught in the middle of forces out of their control, there really is not much Norway can do on their own. It all depends on what Russia, the EU and the US do. And all of these play their role in this scenario representing their own interests. And of course there is some resistance from the Norwegian population, even terrorism. But there is no obvious good or bad side. To all the Russians: the role Russia plays is not ALL bad. Yes, they are the bad guys that occupy Norway, but actually the EU started the whole conflict and the US do everything so they don't have to intervene. So everyone of the big players is an asshole. I am looking forward to see a second season.

The fictional idea of this story is that Europe's mail oil producing country, Norway, is forced by foreign powers to continue their oil production after getting a new extreme green environmental government announcing the end of fossil fuel production. This critique is based upon all ten episodes in the first season.

Occupied is a ten episode first season based upon a script idea by acclaimed novelist Jo Nesbø. In hand of three re-known screen writers, his has been made into a series which has been given much interest even before it was aired for the first time on October 4th. The Russian embassy in Norway has already condemned the series, or rather the whole idea, before seeing as much as a trailer.

In the near future one of the biggest oil producing countries in the world, Norway, has elected a green environmentally eager government after the severe extreme weather Maria has killed 700 people in the most severe natural catastrophe in the country ever. The new prime minister announces that Norway will stop their production of fossil fuels like oil and natural gas, in order to reduce carbon dioxide put out into the atmosphere, what we know as global warming. This happens at the same time as the world sees an energy crises, with civil wars in the Middle East, and is not liked by either the European Union or Norways biggest neighbor Russia. In addition to this the United States has withdrawn from their NATO membership. After opening a thorium power plant, the newly elected Norwegian prime minister leaves after saying to the world press that the age of fossil fuel is over, and is kidnapped by Russians in a helicopter. At the same time a group occupies oil production facilities in the North Sea, basically to force Norway to continue their oil production. Norway has just seen a Russian silk occupation, with threats of something more severe.

The series is fast paced, and jumps in time, telling in retrospect what has happened since last episode, and this functions surprisingly well. This means you have to think more about what's been happening, and since the series challenges what you really happen in such a situation. However, you sometimes would like to see some of the things happening in between the episodes.

The first impression of the series is both interesting food for thought and exciting as a a dramatic event forced by nature, global warming and energy crises. However, in my opinion, the series struggles to keep the needed realism along the way, especially in the second half of the episodes. Then you'll take it as a pure fictional story, not even based on a plausible idea.

There are weaknesses in instruction of some of the actors, especially the young resistance movement. Some of the dialog would need several more takes to be natural. This annoys quite a bit, and very much so, since this is one of Norways most expensive dram series ever.

The series has already been sold to a lot of markets based on the idea, solely. Well worth a watch, even with the weaknesses. And it's likely that a new season will be made after the success this have had, especially abroad.