Pandilleros de Oslo

It's tough being an immigrant - even second generation - in European society. The Gangs of Oslo suggests exactly that. Even gifted kids with a bright future find themselves caught up in an environment which makes 'escape' into 'normal' society difficult.

The show revolves around a Pakistani immigrant police officer who can't shake off his childhood friendship with a present day gang leader. Despite his best effort the officer, Moaz, is caught up in the crime nexus.

As the series develops, flashbacks provide more context as does the predicament of a young 'runner' for the gang.

Ultimately, after some unexpected twists and tirndsy, there's a conclusion to the contradictions ... You'll have to watch to get the details!

Oh, where to begin with this show? It's like they discovered the magic of bokeh and just couldn't let it go.

I could almost hear the director shouting, "More bokeh! We need more bokeh!" in every production meeting. It's like they had a bokeh quota to meet or something. Heres an idea. Maybe throw in a few shots where the background is actually discernible.

Ah, the plot, the saving grace of this rollercoaster of a show. It's like they threw a dart at a wall of story ideas and landed on "passable." Don't get me wrong, "passable" can sometimes be code for "It's okay, I guess," but in this case, it's the lifeboat in a sea of chaos.

Finally the acting. If i had to describe it with one word, it would be volatile. One moment, you're witnessing a dramatic scene that would make Shakespeare proud. The next, it's like they've switched gears and are channeling their inner cardboard cutout. But hey... its entertainment.

Just finished watching the series, and cannot understand the negative reviews here, they have clearly not watched the show.

With only 6 episodes, and the show coming to a satisfying end, this is worth your time.

Leading actors are good, I also really like the camera techniques used, even though I am not much for drone footage, as that is not our normal point of view.

It can be quite intense, the plot is only over a short time period, illustrates how cynical criminal gangs need to be, and how restricted police might be under these circumstances. Some say it is a Norwegian "the wire" while I felt it was a bit like "The Departed" It is not the very best show I have watched, so it might have gotten an extra point to compensate for the other uninformed reviews here.

I don't write much reviews but after watching this show and then reading the only review, battering every aspect of the show, I felt the need to write something that is more representable and not just a hate speech because it wasn't how I wanted I to be.

Gangs of Oslo is about two blood brothers from the childhood - one growing up to be the leader of a gang, the other a cop and how their stories entangles after not ben speaking since they were 15.

The show keeps you interested in what's next and you will get surprises, good moments and twists. Cinematography is good for this kind of series and it's well built up.

Maybe the show starts a little slow in the first episode but finds a good and increasing pace throughout the show. I for one liked the acting and characters a lot and I think most of the actors solved their role/part in a great way.

Gangs of Oslo is exactly what it is supposed to be, and for me that counts a whole lot in how I review it. I hope they come up with a good s2 follow up.

This is not "Snabba Cash"(similar concept from Sweden) where you're basically on the edge of your seat every step of the way. But, if you're going to compare everything to anything you will always end up being disappointed.

I would say 8/10 but since I live in Oslo it gets an extra star:)

First of all, I'm not sure why the Bokmål Norwegian title of the series was changed to Gangs of Oslo. The Norwegian title described far more relevantly the concept underlying the series.

OK, that quibble over, the programme delved into interesting dilemmas about loyalty and compulsion. Does one remain loyal to one's job or one's friends from childhood, one of whom is owed a debt by the other? In the end, the friends stay loyal to each other in a neat plot twist that exonerated Moaz and liberates Rami.

Yes, the story is a bit threadbare at times and the strategies followed by the investigators to catch their man shouldn't have fooled either of the main characters. I'm neither a cop nor a gangster but I saw through what was happening. However, I didn't see the ending coming.

Not as good as some similar series, but still worth a watch. Get through the slightly slow episode one and stick with it.