Inspired by the events of the 11-day standoff in 1981 between Sweden and the U.S.S.R. when a Soviet U-137 'Whiskey'-class submarine ran aground on rocks deep inside Swedish territorial water... Read allInspired by the events of the 11-day standoff in 1981 between Sweden and the U.S.S.R. when a Soviet U-137 'Whiskey'-class submarine ran aground on rocks deep inside Swedish territorial waters.Inspired by the events of the 11-day standoff in 1981 between Sweden and the U.S.S.R. when a Soviet U-137 'Whiskey'-class submarine ran aground on rocks deep inside Swedish territorial waters.
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See this as satire rooted in reality-90% truth, but with 10% fiction to keep the audience engaged and able to take in all the real absurdities that are hard to believe actually happened.
It's a mix between The Office, Blackadder, and Russians being their authentic selves. Many great characters and well-acted performances.
To truly appreciate the series, you probably need to have lived during the time it takes place. The settings and details are spot-on. A phone booth becomes a secure phone line, someone traveling is, of course, unreachable until they arrive, and everyone smokes freely everywhere. The calm and diplomatic Swedish approach clashes with the more confrontational American mentality.
And the Soviet Union's complete lack of competence in waging war is just like Russia today. But they compensate with alcohol. Sure, it's satire at a high level, but satire is grounded in truth and a sense of relatability.
Take the series for what it is-a fun satire. But if you have the time and interest to do a bit of research afterward, you'll be surprised how much of what made you laugh actually happened in real life.
It's a mix between The Office, Blackadder, and Russians being their authentic selves. Many great characters and well-acted performances.
To truly appreciate the series, you probably need to have lived during the time it takes place. The settings and details are spot-on. A phone booth becomes a secure phone line, someone traveling is, of course, unreachable until they arrive, and everyone smokes freely everywhere. The calm and diplomatic Swedish approach clashes with the more confrontational American mentality.
And the Soviet Union's complete lack of competence in waging war is just like Russia today. But they compensate with alcohol. Sure, it's satire at a high level, but satire is grounded in truth and a sense of relatability.
Take the series for what it is-a fun satire. But if you have the time and interest to do a bit of research afterward, you'll be surprised how much of what made you laugh actually happened in real life.
This was a pleasant surprise to see! I didn't expect such whimsical view of something there's a serious is nuclear war. The six episodes indeed were drawn out. But nevertheless fine entertaining and whimsical. I really hope they do another one of those types again because it's something about something as serious as a nuclear war and made in such a whimsical way just makes it more intriguing. If you haven't seen it yet please do so because you're gonna be pleasantly surprised find entertaining and something to really enjoy when you have the time to watch. The female actress who played the The Russian diplomat is astounding. It's a must watch for those I like this type of genre.
A not fully truthfull but really fun description of the events following the stranded Russian U-boat in Swedish waters. I myself served in the army during this event and can assure that it was a really tense situation. The following decade was full of imagined incidents. U-boats, russian divers snooping around in Stockholm, spies taking pictures in prohibited areas. Some of it probably true, some of it probably just "the Russian scare" running amok in peoples imagination. It was a another time then, God knows what would happen today if there was a U-boat loaded with nuclear warheads stranded yet again...
10Mimi2606
This is a welcome satirical tale in dark times. We need more laughs, not less. I don't see the problem of doing a comedy based on true facts. This was a dramatic but also embarrassing event at the time it happened. A breath of fresh air for fans of Armando Ianucci and Jonas Jonasson. Clever script, wrapping uncomfortable truths in humor and absurdity.
For a Swedish production, the humor is biting, and often dark, but it's also grounded in very human moments.
Some great and tense wargame scenes.
Whiskey on the Rocks is an nice addition to the landscape of dark comedy and satires on television.
For a Swedish production, the humor is biting, and often dark, but it's also grounded in very human moments.
Some great and tense wargame scenes.
Whiskey on the Rocks is an nice addition to the landscape of dark comedy and satires on television.
Whiskey on the Rocks is a delightful and satirical take on one of the Cold War's most bizarre and tense moments-the grounding of the Soviet submarine U 137 in Swedish waters. The series brilliantly juxtaposes historical gravity with humor, crafting an entertaining narrative that simultaneously pokes fun at the absurdities of the situation and paints a vivid picture of its era.
The stunning cinematography captures the cold, tense beauty of the Swedish archipelago, while the meticulous period details transport viewers back to the 1980s. Rolf Lassgård's portrayal of Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin adds depth and authenticity to the story, balancing the weight of political responsibility with the comedic undertones of the script.
The writing is a standout feature, offering a playful, irreverent lens through which to view this historical event. The vodka-fueled antics of the submarine crew are portrayed with such charm and wit that they feel like characters straight out of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. This resemblance underscores the series' knack for blending historical fact with whimsical fiction, creating a narrative that's as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
Whiskey on the Rocks may have sparked controversy for its timing and tone, but as a piece of satirical art, it succeeds in turning a Cold War flashpoint into a uniquely Swedish comedy of errors. It's a must-watch for fans of history, satire, and striking cinematography.
The stunning cinematography captures the cold, tense beauty of the Swedish archipelago, while the meticulous period details transport viewers back to the 1980s. Rolf Lassgård's portrayal of Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin adds depth and authenticity to the story, balancing the weight of political responsibility with the comedic undertones of the script.
The writing is a standout feature, offering a playful, irreverent lens through which to view this historical event. The vodka-fueled antics of the submarine crew are portrayed with such charm and wit that they feel like characters straight out of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. This resemblance underscores the series' knack for blending historical fact with whimsical fiction, creating a narrative that's as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
Whiskey on the Rocks may have sparked controversy for its timing and tone, but as a piece of satirical art, it succeeds in turning a Cold War flashpoint into a uniquely Swedish comedy of errors. It's a must-watch for fans of history, satire, and striking cinematography.
Did you know
- TriviaThe premise follows the unofficial Soviet explanation at the time, that a wild drinking party on board had caused the grounding. This was widely discredited by the Swedes as implausible for a number of reasons.
- GoofsThe real-life captain, Anatoly Gushchin, was in his 30s, not an elderly man as depicted. The politruk, GRU officer Vasily Besedin, was the same age. Moreover, the Chief of Staff Josef Avrukyevich (sometimes named Avsukyevich) was on board as a supervisor with a role that has yet to be established, which the series omits.
Details
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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