Øyevitne

Listen, I watched this series 10 years after it's initial release, and will review it as such. The actual storyline is engaging and interesting, despite an ending that leaves some to be desired. The acting from the two boys is impressive as they were very young, Axel Bøyum does a very good job bringing Philip to life, and his portrayal is both realistic and leveled. Anneke von der Lippe also portrays a complex and interesting character very well, trying to walk the line between professional and personal life. Some of the other characters are less complex and don't bring as much to the story.

The romantic relationship between the two boys also leaves a lot to be desired, and with very little chemistry between them in most scenes, it's hard to care about their relationship. I would prefer for their relationship to be explored more, rather than it taking a back seat to support the rest of the TV-series, regardless of how entertaining the series is.

Now here's a fine crime series from Scandinavia : well-acted, well-plotted, twisty and full of surprises. The series is also moving, especially where it explores the difficulties, insecurities and tensions related to adolescence. It's the cruelest period in human life, when the difference between fitting in and not fitting in can mean the difference between walking home in peace and quiet and being thrown in a ditch. Try being gay under such circumstances - it's pretty much like having "Please kick me" tattooed on your forehead.

I also enjoyed the beautifully shot locations and exteriors.

I've just noticed that "Les innocents", the French adaptation, is on the telly. Would it hurt the eyes of a viewer from Bordeaux to watch a hillside in Norway ? Even if I get to be a hundred, I'll never understand why television makers look at a foreign series, say "Wow, this stuff is pretty good" and then rush away in order to make their own version. Generally speaking it's an exercice in redundancy.

Norwegian drama/thriller "Eyewitness" was my latest Nordic noir binge. Six episodes - each one increasingly had me on the edge of my seat. The story begins with two teenage boys witnessing a brutal murder scene. This series reminded me a little of Irish thriller "The Fall", in that we learn early on who the killer is. Suspense is heightened by the race to solve the crime before the killer finds the eyewitnesses. This gripping thriller also explores other contemporary issues in society: bikie gangs, addiction, sexuality and relationships. Talented cast - can't wait to watch more Norwegian drama series. Highly recommended crime series.

Do yourself a favor and see this series before the American remake. I'm amazed how the majority of American viewers do not realize that every time a Scandinavian TV series or movie is successful, a network or studio buys its rights and soon we have the American remake--which is ALWAYS inferior. The Bridge, The Killing, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, among several others, have been remakes of far superior original versions. The rights for Eyewitness, this excellent Norwegian thriller, were sold to the USA Network and the remake was filmed in Canada for the USA Network. If you can see the original (it is available at DailyMotion), do it before seeing the remake.

While not as long (only 10 one-hour episodes) and labyrinthine as The Killing or The Bridge, this is a relatively complex, character-driven, realistic, well-paced edge of the seat thriller. Two rural teenage boys hide the fact they have witnessed the murder of several bikers to avoid revealing they were having a secret gay encounter. Their secrecy will allow the killer to continue to operate freely while the bikers and the Balkan mafia will go to war. The plot is completely believable while the situations, locations (real biker clubs, etc.), and character development create a naturalistic feeling that prevails in every scene.

This series reaffirms the fact that Norway now shares with Denmark and Sweden the world crown of crime fiction. Eyewitness is an absolute must for lovers of Scandinavian noir and police thrillers.

Yes, this is not a 10/10 rating. But that doesn't make this suspenseful thrilling drama any lesser than a MUST WATCH!

The only other Norwegian series that I've seen is SKAM. It blew over the internet, and I've got to say, it is a masterpiece. Now, I wasn't intending on watching any other Norwegian series, any time soon. But I really wanted to watch the US remake of this series, Eyewitness.

I read online (at a lot of places) that for the viewers of the original drama, that is, THIS, Eyewitness, the US remake was a complete and utter failure. And because I had some time on my hands, I gave this a go. And my, my, was it worth it! This certainly exceeded my expectations. Enough that I do not want to watch the US remake anymore. Not any time soon. Knowing myself, I will later on.

Let's get into it?

THE GOOD:

1. The acting! Norway has got some seriously talented people in their acting department. I mean as far as I remember, none of these actors are known to me. Just like none were from SKAM. And just like SKAM, they are a MASSIVELY talented bunch! A HUGE APPLAUSE!

2. The script and the idea. It's a fairly original idea and it's perfectly understandable that people in US made their own version of this. It IS that good, after all.

3. The execution. I cannot remember the last time, the conclusion of any series had me so tightly gripped!

THE BAD:

1. It felt like the script was probably extended to fill in 6-hour long episodes. The excitement and the gripping tension of this dark series was little to non-existent in the middle of the series. Episodes 3 and 4, to be precise. Certain elements were really not required and could be done without.

2. Little to no conclusion. The series came extremely abruptly to a conclusion. We got the answers to all the "what" questions, but a lot of "how"s and "why"s were left unanswered.

3. Because there was no conclusion, there was no aftermath. AT ALL. Which is okay, but I really don't think it should have ended the way it did. A few more minutes could have done SO, SO much good! But, nevertheless. The review must go on!

SOME NOTES:

1. This is NOT a "gay" series as some people point out. There is only a very little representation of it, despite it being a "central" plot. Now, that isn't a good OR a bad thing. It's just how it is.

2. A shout-out to the following actors/actresses, JUST BECAUSE: Axel Bøyum, Anneke von der Lippe, Per Kjerstad, Bjørn Skagestad, Tobias Santelmann. I don't even know how to pronounce these names, but these actors are really just AMAZING!

SUMMARY:

This series is not at all perfect but is definitely gripping, dark, and binge worthy. Despite the few pointless plots that lead to a few boring moments, and the extremely little conclusion that leaves many questions unanswered, this series is most definitely a MUST WATCH! If you're up to watch a Norwegian cinema/TV or a foreign crime drama in general, this is it!

I give it a hard earned and well deserved 7/10! :)