Das Mädchen aus Oslo

Yes. The mother drove me bezerk watching this. If you were a top politician/negotiater before, how come you get braindead 20 years after?

The girl. Everytime something happens she screams like a hurt pig. If something happens, you concentrate to get your ass outta there and quiet. Dont think the writer/author likes women.

When it comes to the story it is a bit simple. Israelis have made really excellent series before, but this was not a great moment. If you want to watch somethin while you wait for your pizza its ok.

There is a lot that is wrong with this series. The characters annoyed me. Especially the kidnapped daughter Pia and her pain in the butt mother. Maybe do yourself a favor and watch episodes 1 & 2 then reward time is due, skip to the last one episode 10.

This show is decent in terms of plot and acting, but it's basically B-Grade. A young Norwegian girl visiting Israel is captured by Isis along with her friends, an Israeli brother and sister. Her mother, who comes to find her, enlists the help of an unlikely ally, and dot dot dot....

There are some strong players in this show, along with good scenery and production, but it's very formulaic and the characters fall flat in large part because of the choice to make all the main players converse in English. It makes sense, since the Norwegian mother is fluent in the language and even participated in the Oslo talks, as did the main Israeli touch-point. The daughter who is kidnapped is fluent too. As is, apparently, the head of of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. And a Palestinian doctor she befriended at the time.

But it doesn't work. Because the actors are not fluent, and that's fine, and should have stayed that way.

After a few episodes of this, I felt like I was was watching the SNL "Norwegian Playhouse" sketch. The mother tells someone her plan will pay off "Big Time." He replies "Don't Mess With Me" (OK I made up the second part, but it's basically apt). It ends up sounding ridiculous. The scenes with subtitles work much better, especially those that feature the hostages and their captors, all of which are sufficiently tense.

Anyway, this is a weird mash-up of Scandinoir and "Fauda." It's OK, but not great.

It has all the trimmings of an engaging political thriller with the powder keg that is the Middle East as backdrop. In fact, it harkens to the failed 1993 Oslo Accords. It is where the two protagonists Alex Bakke and Arif Shor meet for the first time.

Some viewers might consider the motivations of Alex for doing what she did as extreme, irresponsible or even implausible but we can suspend disbelief here and give her a pass considering that she's a desperate mother who only wants Pia to be rescued and be freed.

The directors are able to turn up the tension steadily as the story progresses. The viewer can appreciate the complicated situation faced by the protagonists although we glean that they, too, are practical individuals. The dynamics between Daesh and Hamas is quite interesting. This adds excitement to the film.

There are dramatic moments. One scene in particular tugs at the heart: when Nadav is reunited with his mother and estranged father.

The actors are good. Aside from Annake von der Lippe whose strong performance as Alex is admirable, credit should be given, too, to Raida Adon who portrays Layla al Kelani. Those who are fans of Fauda might recognize Shadi Mar'i and Boaz Conforty in this series. They play the roles of Walid al Abed and Avichai, respectively, in Fauda.

The viewer appreciates the locations of the series---from Oslo to Sinai. Perhaps, this is one rare film that makes copious use of wide-angle shots of biblical Sinai with its barren peaks.

Watch out for Season 2. The last scene of Episode 2 sets up the incoming new season.

Quite enjoyed it. However loses stars and ratings as the mother has to be one of the worse annoying And irritating ones I've ever seen on tv or screen.