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.

Swedes, like myself, love to hear and see what other nationalities think of us. A lot of our entertainment is about laughing about ourselves and embarrassing situations. We love sarcasm and innuendos as well, but embarrassing situations really is popular.

Welcome to Sweden exposes a wide range of odd Swedish behaviourisms and is as entertaining to laugh with as it is to laugh at. The confused reactions of the character played by Greg Poehler helps to add to the humour.

If you know a Swede or someone who moved there or away from there, this is a funny way to get an insight into this very bizarre culture of the world's happiest people. There are things to learn and avoid from Swedish "wisdom", but in both cases it can be fun to laugh at (or with).

If you don't really like "etno humour", then you would probably rate this TV series a lot lower than me, but I find these 20 minute bitesize pieces of Swedish (and American! as the author is American) humour delightful.

For Swedes who think the series stereotypes us: Yes it does. All entertainment does this. Learn to laugh at yourself (or in worst case, others) and enjoy life rather than whine. :P (Yeah, so we're not all like this, but I'm guessing any intelligent person (even Americans) get that!)

... 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.

This is one of the funniest shows I've seen in a long time and I'm just "some guy from Australia who knows nothing about Sweden". I liked the US edit so much that I started only watching the original with subs. It's amazing how much the US butcher it and still manage to make it funny.

I find myself learning more and more words but you sort of have to because it seems like most the subs you find are done with google translate. That's the good thing (and I mean the only good thing) about the US edit, you know what you're reading is what they're saying and a 5yr old has enough time to read it. That being said season 2 seems to have more English in it, it seems like they're trying to increase their audience to include less intelligent and lazy viewers.

It's great to have a quick little pick me up and to have something other your standard US dribble to watch (80 different cop/law/hospital dramas). Cast is great and the fact that the only bad actor is an American just makes it funnier. I mean, what's going on with the odd couple? At least they're butchering one of their own shows for once.

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.