Whisky on the rocks

Review of Whiskey on the Rocks

Whiskey on the Rocks is a Swedish miniseries that takes on one of the most dramatic events of the Cold War: the grounding of the Soviet submarine U137 off the coast of Karlskrona in 1981. The series delivers suspense, political intrigue, and a fascinating glimpse into an era marked by mistrust and power struggles.

Rolf Lassgård shines in the role of Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin. His performance is impressive, capturing the essence of the Swedish leader through both body language and dialect. Lassgård's portrayal is a testament to his versatility as an actor and his ability to carry a story.

The production design is another highlight. The series successfully recreates the atmosphere of the time with an authenticity that feels tangible. From the costumes to the interiors-every detail is carefully crafted, grounding the narrative in its historical context.

The humor woven throughout the series is also worth mentioning. Subtle, well-placed comedic moments-often centered on the cultural and linguistic misunderstandings between the Swedes and the Soviets-add a lightness that balances the otherwise serious tone and makes the characters more relatable.

With its high production quality, Whiskey on the Rocks is not only compelling for Swedish audiences but also for an international one. While the series takes some liberties with historical details, it also balances drama, realism, and humor, keeping viewers thoroughly engaged. The historical significance of the event and its connection to the Cold War make it particularly relevant.

In summary, Whiskey on the Rocks is a powerful miniseries deserving of all the attention it can get. With great acting, impressive production design, and a gripping story laced with humor, it leaves a lasting impression.

This is a welcome satirical tale in dark times. We need more laughs, not less. I don't see the problem of doing a comedy based on true facts. This was a dramatic but also embarrassing event at the time it happened. A breath of fresh air for fans of Armando Ianucci and Jonas Jonasson. Clever script, wrapping uncomfortable truths in humor and absurdity.

For a Swedish production, the humor is biting, and often dark, but it's also grounded in very human moments.

Some great and tense wargame scenes.

Whiskey on the Rocks is an nice addition to the landscape of dark comedy and satires on television.

See this as satire rooted in reality-90% truth, but with 10% fiction to keep the audience engaged and able to take in all the real absurdities that are hard to believe actually happened.

It's a mix between The Office, Blackadder, and Russians being their authentic selves. Many great characters and well-acted performances.

To truly appreciate the series, you probably need to have lived during the time it takes place. The settings and details are spot-on. A phone booth becomes a secure phone line, someone traveling is, of course, unreachable until they arrive, and everyone smokes freely everywhere. The calm and diplomatic Swedish approach clashes with the more confrontational American mentality.

And the Soviet Union's complete lack of competence in waging war is just like Russia today. But they compensate with alcohol. Sure, it's satire at a high level, but satire is grounded in truth and a sense of relatability.

Take the series for what it is-a fun satire. But if you have the time and interest to do a bit of research afterward, you'll be surprised how much of what made you laugh actually happened in real life.

A not fully truthfull but really fun description of the events following the stranded Russian U-boat in Swedish waters. I myself served in the army during this event and can assure that it was a really tense situation. The following decade was full of imagined incidents. U-boats, russian divers snooping around in Stockholm, spies taking pictures in prohibited areas. Some of it probably true, some of it probably just "the Russian scare" running amok in peoples imagination. It was a another time then, God knows what would happen today if there was a U-boat loaded with nuclear warheads stranded yet again...

This was a pleasant surprise to see! I didn't expect such whimsical view of something there's a serious is nuclear war. The six episodes indeed were drawn out. But nevertheless fine entertaining and whimsical. I really hope they do another one of those types again because it's something about something as serious as a nuclear war and made in such a whimsical way just makes it more intriguing. If you haven't seen it yet please do so because you're gonna be pleasantly surprised find entertaining and something to really enjoy when you have the time to watch. The female actress who played the The Russian diplomat is astounding. It's a must watch for those I like this type of genre.