13 replies to this topic

[Raider Duck]

Premiering on Netflix in February 2012, and starring Steven Van Zandt as a mob figure who goes into witness protection in Lillehammer, Norway.

Official Site and Trailer.

Looks like they're going for a cross between The Sopranos (obviously) and Fargo, with both a cold-weather location and offbeat (but probably uber-competent) sheriff.

Also, I suspect the Norwegian authorities will be a little unused to the mafia's...uncouthness?

Interesting that after publicly saying (during the extended Sopranos wind-down) he wasn't interested in acting again, Van Zandt comes back in not only a starring role, but playing a Silvio-like gangster at that.

Edited by Raider Duck, Jan 4, 2012 @ 10:49 AM.

[Silje]

The US is actually getting the show before it premieres here in Norway. It was scheduled to start on New Year's Day but it's been postponed (worst-case scenario: it can't be shown in Norway) due to some illegal product placement.

I'm looking forward to the show, the bit in the trailer where he walks after the sheep, "where you goin'?", gets my mood up every time I see it.

[yarnover]

So, I generally liked it. I even laughed out loud a couple of times. Based on the end of episode one, I also like the fact that things won't be plain sailing for Frank/Giovanni w/his new identity. The locals are fun, and not annoying, which was what I'd feared. I did wonder where Giovanni was getting all his money from. Did the FBI set him up with a lot of start-up funds? I wasn't clear on that.

Am not sure if I will watch the rest of the season this weekend, or dole out the episodes here and there.

[Raider Duck]

I did wonder where Giovanni was getting all his money from. Did the FBI set him up with a lot of start-up funds? I wasn't clear on that.

While the Feds are undoubtedly sending him a monthly allowance, most of the cash he snuck over in his bulletproof vest and then hid in his freezer, William Jefferson-style.

Watched two episodes so far. It's fun. Supposedly David Chase, at one point, was considering Van Zandt to play Tony Soprano in a more comedy-oriented show than what The Sopranos eventually became. It almost feels like we're getting a look at that here. The two obviously left on good terms, because Frank/Johnny is Silvio in all but name, right down to running a nightclub. Chase could probably sue, were he so inclined.

Also, the beginning of Episode One felt like a direct shout-out to the late 70s/early 80s Gambino family: The elderly patriarch (Carlo Gambino) dies, but instead of passing the crown on to the respected street boss (Neil Dellacroce), gives it to his brother-in-law (Paul Castellano), the businessman everyone considers a prissy bean-counter.

[yarnover]

While the Feds are undoubtedly sending him a monthly allowance, most of the cash he snuck over in his bulletproof vest and then hid in his freezer, William Jefferson-style.

Thanks, RaiderDuck. I'd completely forgotten about that.

I'm curious what type of reception the show has gotten in Norway.

[Raider Duck]

I'm curious what type of reception the show has gotten in Norway.

According to Wikipedia, the premiere was watched by a full 1/5 of Norway's entire population.

[Polyglot]

I'm curious what type of reception the show has gotten in Norway.

According to Wikipedia, the premiere was watched by a full 1/5 of Norway's entire population.

And the second episode had even more viewers, even if it's on opposite both The Mentalist, and CSI:NY, which are both fairly popular here in Norway.

It's an okay way of passing the time, but I'm not entirely sold on the show yet. It's supposed to be a comedy, but I feel like I'm just sitting there, waiting for something funny to happen, but it never quite does. It's missing something, that last piece of the puzzle, that will make it great. Right now, it's simply not quite there.
But, we're only 2 episodes in, so things may change (for better, or worse...)over the remaining 6 episodes. And there will also be a second season.

[starleen]

Really? Not very many comments here. I loved it! Yes, derivative of Sopranos, but such a unique setting--I'll take it! I love the juxtaposition between Frank and the uber cheerful Norwegians. Their social culture fascinates me. I greedily watched all 8 episodes, and I'm hungry for more!

[PostModem]

I, for one, wanted to wait until I got through all eight episodes before checking other people reactions in order to avoid spoilers.

I liked the show too. Nothing ground breaking and mostly predictable, but fun. It was fairly obvious that the mob would find Frank and that his girlfriend would't put up with his shenanigans for very long, but it was still a fun ride getting there.

Having most of the dialog be subtitled didn't bug me as much as I thought it would either, though I did have to pay more direct attention than I do for most other shows.

Also, I'm totally digging in Arne and I was glad when they didn't kill him off.

[starleen]

Loving Torgier and Jan. Really, all of them. The police lady and her baking! The "prison", the troll amusement park. Hee! Can't wait to see Jan at his new job! And are we sure those twins are Giovanni's?

[fayster]

Count me in. We're through 5 episodes and enjoying it. The fish-out-of-water angle is enough right now to make it humorous. It starts to veer towards over-the-top but then comes back, at least so far. We've just seen the end of Geir which was unexpected and not sure where it will go from there. Loved Johnny/VZ singing at the end of this episode. He's a lot easier to like than Tony Soprano but no angel. Supporting cast is enjoyable.

It's not like I have so many shows to watch that I can't squeeze this one in. And the advantage of the sub-titles is that my somewhat hearing-impaired spouse never asks me "what'd they say?" Given the choice between this and the Swedish-inspired "The Killing", this one wins hands-down.

The question is how to discuss it in this forum when it comes out all at once? There's not that week-long lag time to chew the fat, speculate on the minute details or gaps in the writing. Hmmm...maybe that's a good thing?

[mike3121]

Great show but yes it's in between funny and serious. Because of that I feel it may fall flat. I'm originally from Michigan (lot's of snow and ice). I really like the forest scenes when they were looking for the wolf. Reminded me of Michigan when I was a kid. All the shades of blue. Now I live in the Pacific North West. Lot's of beautiful scenery but no snow.

[Raider Duck]

Season Two is currently filming. Paul Kaye from Game of Thrones is joining the cast.

[Hal9000]

On twitter, Maureen Van Zandt mentioned she will be in an episode os S2.