Gard B. Eidsvold delivers a world-class performance in Quisling. He doesn't just play Vidkun Quisling-he becomes him. The sheer range of emotions he conveys, from delusions of grandeur to fleeting moments of doubt, is nothing short of mesmerizing. His portrayal is so layered and intricate that it could serve as a psychological case study in Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD), and Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD).
One of the most fascinating aspects of his performance is how he seamlessly twists his perception of reality, even when it blatantly contradicts his own past words and actions. There are moments where we see flashes of recognition-brief glimpses where he seems to understand the gravity of what he has done-only for him to immediately retreat into a delusional messianic self-image. This constant push and pull between denial and self-aggrandizement is unsettling to watch, yet impossible to look away from.
The cinematography and direction enhance this psychological unraveling, subtly pulling us into Quisling's warped mind. Rather than portraying him as a straightforward villain, Quisling presents him as a deeply flawed, self-justifying figure, making his descent into betrayal all the more disturbing.
Eidsvold's performance elevates the film/series beyond a historical retelling-it becomes a chilling psychological portrait of a man whose delusions led to national catastrophe.
