Welcome to Sweden

I'm an American who lived in Sweden a couple of years and speak Swedish. I found this show to be hilarious. I laughed most of the way through it. I do have a feeling that a lot of the subtle humor will be lost on those who have never experienced Swedish culture. I don't know if it will last long here due to that problem, but I for one hope it lasts a while.

The character development did seem a little weak as others have mentioned. The writers need to add more personality to help us connect more to the story. Despite it's shortcomings, I would encourage everyone to give it a chance and see if it can get you to laugh.

I enjoy this show. I like the play between American and Swedish cultures. The writing is fun and quirky. I like unusual shows, but they usually end up canceled. Not a lot of people into quirky I guess. I'm hoping this ones runs at least a few seasons. Greg Poehler reminds me of Greg Kinnear a bit, and I love seeing Amy Poehler and other guests pop in and out of the episodes. Also, the struggle for an American trying to find work in a foreign country without speaking the language is real. I don't think Greg Poehler's character is a 'sad sack' as another reviewer said, he's just an American fish in Swedish waters. And let me say, that trying to write ten lines for every review is kind of a pain! I give that a 3 stars!

There is really so little to like about this show; it's a nepotistic slap in the face for anyone expecting to be even mildly entertained on a Thursday eve. Essentially a mix of contrived, cliché characters that play on a familiar theme; an awkward American trying to fit into a foreign culture. Yet for this formula to work, one has to like (or actually tolerate) the American in question, and Greg Poehler (Amy Poehler's brother....surprise!) is just too painful to watch; apparently years of being Amy's brother and being told he's pretty talented himself actually gave him the delusion he could act. Yet from the very opening scene with a cameo from Amy herself, it is blatantly apparent that the talent, timing and overall ability to pull-off a lead in a sit-com sat on only one side of that table. Once in awhile obscenely bland shows like this can spring forth an "Urkle" which saves it from cancellation, yet the cloyingly predictable bumbling uncle who is clearly a reincarnation of "Belkie" from "Perfect Strangers" (i.e. the foreigner who wants to be American) is just sad. Bad editing, bad writing, bad acting and a BAD choice overall.

The show could have been so much more, but Greg's awful acting, horribly played-out sad-sack role could have been given so much more depth if it were played by another actor. Any other actor.

The show does play hard on the cultural discontinuities between life in the US and life in Sweden, striking up *every single* possible stereotype (and I've got no problem with that), to the exclusion of other location-agnostic jokes that might be a good fit for that specific situation. The show's writers obviously suffer from a strong lack of creativity or have been specifically told to keep the topic on Sweden. All the time. Yawn.

What would really help take this show into a second season (or at least to the end of this season before being canceled) is if the writers added a little more depth to his wife's character and showed us more of the parents (who seem like engaging actors taking on roles that beg more exploration). I can honestly say that all 5 points that I've awarded this show go firmly to the actors who play the family of Josephine Bornebusch. Hopefully one of the Poehlers is reading this.

... don't know what happened.. maybe the pandemic... maybe realization of climate disruption.. watching the first time enjoyed it... then watching again had quite a different reaction ... all the actors are not the problem... just the writing now seems a lot more inane-wearisome ... will not be viewing it again.