Watch Beforeigners

Beforeigners is a Norwegian science fiction drama television series created by Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin for HBO Europe. The show premiered in Norway in August of 2019, and it was later released internationally in 2020. The show features an intriguing and innovative concept that involves time-travel, pairing it with murder-mystery themes.

The show is based on the premise that people from different eras, also known as "beforeigners," start to inexplicably appear in the Oslo Fjord region in the present day. It is implied that these people are traveling from past eras, ranging from the Viking Era to the 19th century. The show follows the story of two beforeigner detectives, Alfhildr Enginnsdottir (Krista Kosonen) and Lars Haaland (Nicolai Cleve Broch), who team up to solve a series of gruesome murders.

The plot of Beforeigners is intriguing and is one of the most original concepts in recent years. It explores relevant issues such as xenophobia, assimilation, and societal change. The series is a character-driven drama with a murder-mystery and time-traveling element that keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats. The show is set in Oslo, which serves as a pertinent backdrop that highlights the cultural differences of different time periods that are portrayed in the show.

Beforeigners has a compelling premise, but it is the portrayal of the characters that elevates the show. The two leading characters, Alfhildr (Kosonen) and Lars (Broch), are both beforeigners, and they serve as a catalyst for examining the cultural differences between the past and the present. Alfhildr is a Viking from the year 800, and her character is portrayed with a stoic demeanor, a fierce work ethic, and a deep sense of loyalty. In contrast, Lars is a police officer who was born and raised in the present day, and his character is vibrant, warm and friendly.

The show's creators do an excellent job of highlighting the cultural differences between the two eras the characters come from. The episodes devoted to exploring historical eras are particularly engaging, as they are well-researched and beautifully filmed, making Beforeigners feel like a hybrid of a historical documentary and a television show. The portrayal of the Viking era, in particular, is done well and gives viewers a sense of the people and their customs.

Beforeigners presents other beforeigners as well, and the show excels at character development for these characters as well. One of the standout characters, for example, is a woman who was found in the ocean, and who is later discovered to be from the 19th century. Through her story, the show explores the challenges of assimilation faced by people from different time periods when introduced to the present-day society.

In addition to the standout performances by the leading cast, Beforeigners has strong secondary characters who are also integral to the plot. The show delves deeper into the backstories of these characters, providing context and nuance to their actions. It is through these secondary characters that the show examines some of the societal issues prevalent in the present day.

Beforeigners is excellently directed, and the production values are top-notch. The creators have managed to imbue the show with a Nordic noir atmosphere that is both moody and cinematic. The visual effects used to create the time-traveling element are seamlessly integrated into the plot, and the show avoids making the time-traveling a gimmick, which can happen in shows that involve time-traveling.

In conclusion, Beforeigners is an exciting and inventive show that offers a unique take on the time-traveling and murder-mystery genres. The show is well-acted, well-directed, and well-produced, and it manages to be intriguing while also exploring societal issues. The show is a must-watch for fans of science fiction, Nordic noir, and murder-mystery genres. Its thought-provoking themes and strong character development make it stand out in a crowded television landscape.

Beforeigners is a series that ran for 2 seasons (12 episodes) between August 21, 2019 and on HBO