Insel der Milliardäre

Series checks all the boxes of "rich family in charge of large business empire". Messed up family. Rivalry with another similar family. Question on how to react to changes in the world and industry. Outside players trying to muscle in. An event that upends existing situation. Generational shift bringing conflict within family. Backstabbing.

So in that regard it's not terribly original. Succession, Yellowstone.... What makes it different, and appealing, is unusual setting, at least for global audience. We are used to seeing corporate lords living on New York, maybe Los Angeles, leading media or finance companies. Here we get small Norwegian town where families battle for dominance of salmon industry.

There is quite a bit of "we don't do things American way, we are more conscious of impact we make and try to be ethical, but actually not really". Privileged elite is privileged, but not in a way 0,1% Americans would be.

There are few outright funny scenes, such as magnate flipping out at cake shop because they used wrong font and saleswoman not taking his crap, but the humour is mostly satire, contextual and subtle.

Worth the watch.

I went in with low expectations but couldn't stop watching. The cinematography was beautiful and stunning, easily the best part of the show. The story itself was a typical family drama with infighting for control of a billion-dollar business, but the characters were compelling, and the twists kept coming. I enjoyed many of the story arcs, and for me, it explored a part of the world and industry I wasn't familiar with-Norwegian culture and the salmon industry, which added novelty. While the story seemed to conclude, I'm hoping for a sequel. Hope the series gets more viewers and we get an encore.

If you don't get the gender reversals in this subversive and wonderful film, look again. Males are reduced to carrying things for the all powerful females. Males swan around in pearls, makeup, and skirts. They tend babies and iron shirts, complain when no one shows up to eat their cooking. One male is not only sterile but can't get it up without having his wife on the phone. Women, on the other hand, wear pantsuits, show up in boardrooms, cut deals, ride in a helicopter, steer their own boats, dip snuff. Powerful mamas vie with younger versions of themselves in their daughters. A tour de force.

The series portray salmon farmers on a fabled island closely depicted on one of the pioneer islands that developed the industry. In their quest for hegemony, family lines get crossed in trickery and deceit.

The first two episodes are somewhat slow, but they pick up rapidly with stunning scenery and local extras shining in their self irony and whit.

The acting gradually shows the multifaceted and shifting alliances on the island that actually boasts the highest average wealth in a Norwegian municipality.

Some of the scenes are priceless, especially one where a veteran actor has a cameo appearance during Halloween. The ending opens for a sequel.

This is the best Norwegian series I have ever seen. The reviews in Norway has been very good, which is indeed deserved.

My background is financial journalism in Norway, and I find the plot quite realistic. The series describes the pros and cons of the salmon industry in a balanced way.

The casting works well, and the acting is generally good. The leading role of the salmon queen is especially convincing.

But more than anything this is elegant satire, and great fun. I laughed through all the episodes, but of course it helps to have a nordic sense of humor and a knowledge of this entrepreneurical coastal culture.