Watch Norsemen

Norsemen is a Norwegian comedy-drama TV series set in 790 AD Norway, created and written by Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgersen. The show debuted on NRK1 on October 14, 2016, with six episodes for its first season. The series follows the story of a group of Vikings living in the fictional village of Norheim. It depicts their daily lives, the village's political struggles, and their raids to neighboring villages. The show is a blend of dark humor and absurd slapstick comedy that aims to poke fun at the Vikings' mythology.

The show's premise involves Norsemen, Nothelm's tribe, who are preparing for battle with Olaf, the opposition's chief. The Vikings are shown going about their day-to-day activities with thoughts of battle lingering in their minds.

Many of the characters in Norsemen have contrasting personalities, which creates conflict within the village. The chief, Olav (Henrik Mestad), has an affinity for poetry and enjoys creating grand works, but the rest of the village sees this as a detriment to their safety. They would much rather see him preparing them for battle.

The show's dynamic unfolds as each villager faces their own struggles with relationships, leadership, and the impending war. The characters' eccentric traits provide humor in otherwise tense situations.

Norsemen uses satire to comment on contemporary themes such as political correctness and social norms. The Vikings' behavior is sometimes incoherent and politically incorrect - this contrasts with modern-day sensibilities and creates humor. The show is very self-aware and makes fun of itself, which is a refreshing spin on the stereotypical Viking saga.

The show is cinematic, with high production value and high-quality cinematography. The landscapes of Norway serve as a beautiful backdrop to the scenes of village life. The music incorporates catchy folk songs that contribute to the show's light-hearted tone.

Norsemen's strength lies in its ensemble cast, consisting of talented actors that play their roles perfectly. Nils Jørgen Kaalstad delivers a commendable performance as Arvid, an insecure warrior who attempts to find meaning in his life. Kåre Conradi plays Orm, the effeminate farmer who became the acting chieftain after the death of his brother, the previous chief.

The show's popularity led to it being picked up by Netflix in 2017, with season one being repackaged as season three for the platform. Later, Netflix released two more seasons, with the most recent one released in 2020.

In conclusion, Norsemen is an absurd and entertaining show with an excellent cast, creative writing, and beautiful visuals. It expertly blends dark humor and absurd comedy for an enjoyable viewing experience. Fans of the Viking era will enjoy the show's humorous take on Viking legend and mythology, while others will enjoy the show's unique perspective on an otherwise serious subject.

Norsemen is a series that ran for 3 seasons (18 episodes) between October 21, 2016 and on NRK1