Love & Anarchy

Being Scandinavian everything and everyone has style. Outfits that are supposedly thrown on are meticulous in their colour coordination. The furniture and décor is always tasteful, and everyone has money, even the IT guy sharing a Hispster influenced 'hovel', (yup, lots of bare chip board, just like a trendy Shoreditch café). The sound track is 'cheesy Indie pop' that 15 year olds will love, yet is still a step above the better Eurovision entries.

But once you get past the clichés and the 'Visit Sweden Because We're Cool' tourist ad' this is a smart and witty tragi comedy. There's a sense of self discovery that begins with a dare and snowballs. The characters get fleshed out, even bit players, so that we get to know that everyone deep down is not as happy as they could be.

We're shown that women can like porn too, that the famous Swedish egalitarian attitude to parenting and society isn't all it's made out to be, that some of the men and women can be real selfish a-holes and a barrier to happiness.

I haven't finished, I'm halfway through ep' 7. I'm desperate for the main characters to work it out and find happiness, but it will be messy, people will get hurt.

I am a middle aged man that used to scorn this kind of thing as being too 'fluffy' and for sad, divorced women with a taste for mid day cocktails. I'm glad I'm all grown up now otherwise I would have missed this. I think ep 8 is going to make me cry, just a little, but I hope so.

Although I would probably classify this series as a romantic comedy, it is not what you would typically expect from one. While one of the driving plot themes is the relationship between Sophie and Max, the series examines (at times humorously, and at others dramatically, but always with sensitivity) issues like identity and being true to yourself, mental illness, family, progress and diversity, consumerism, and others. I enjoy so much watching it, ang going from laughter to crying. Another theme that pops up frequently is 'political correctness' which is often examined humorously but no 'sides are taken' so to speak. In my view it addresses relatively deep issues in a smart but fun way, while still having the suspense of a romantic comedy. Plus, I like the documentary-like camera work, I think it fits the show well.

Any production you find Ida Engvoll in, you can be sure to be in for a memorable experience. This actress is so amazing, so unpredictable and of course, so shiny beautiful with her innocence-mimicking eyes that in any "entertainment" she goes, she wreaks havoc in such a marvelous, captivating way and Love & Anarchy is no exception.

A series full of immersive experience, contemplation with or without coffee or in the spa. A show full of deep freeing messages. Not for everyone, sure, but the little circle of people that like it make up for the missing ones.

Watch it, praise Ida Engvoll for existing and being such a great weird actress, illuminating us with her unique aura and dazzling smile.

This Swedish serie really surprised me.

Great acting from all cast and some very good laughs in every episode Nordic humor with superb international twists I highly recommend it.

I almost watched the entire series in one day, so so so good. The chemistry between the 2 actors was absolutely crazy! The topic is for sure provocative and sensitive but I really liked the way it was presented.

Recommend it 100%, you get some really nice views of Stockholm and there are some quite funny parts as well.

Loved it!