Okkupert

We seldom binge on any series but we couldn't help ourselves with Occupied. Now in Season 2 on Netflix, we watched every episode available and have nothing to be ashamed/guilty about. The writing is top notch and based on a completely plausible premise. Norwegians have always felt they were more environmentally responsible than their neighbours, thanks to ample renewable sources of electricity. The primary premise is that, having decided to help their European neighbours get off oil by developing a new, safe source of nuclear power, the Europeans don't want help. Another premise is that the US has become insular and withdrawn from NATO. Don't tell me that's far-fetched in the age of Donald Trump. Finally, Russia has a well-planned scheme to take over Norway. I will bet that there is a filing cabinet somewhere in Moscow filled with exactly such scenarios as this. The premises are all more plausible than the Game of Thrones, which is what makes Occupied so fascinating to watch.

Another source of plausibility is a cast that resembles real people rather than talking Barbies and Kens. Foreign film always has a more everyday quality to the cast which is why they can portray everyday situations so much better. Throw in some adultery and miscellaneous sex with knotty ethical dilemmas and you'll watch all 18 episodes without a break.

10 episodes of blissful engagement. Somebody skillful achieved what I'd consider an understated style of the TV series '24', without the body count. A pleasant surprise.

Things begin with a middle-aged man walking solo down the center of a snow- covered road, looking bewildered. A quick flashback to who he is and how he got there, then back to the road where the story turns into a snowball itself — entangling more characters and subplots as it rolls along. Every scene counts, and contributes to the quick pacing as the story unfolds.

If you're watching these on Netflix, don't go past episode six unless you have time to finish. Don't bother trying to stop after that, it's not possible — I tried… ;-)

Worth it's weight in subtitles, 'Occupied' is a great show.

The fictional idea of this story is that Europe's mail oil producing country, Norway, is forced by foreign powers to continue their oil production after getting a new extreme green environmental government announcing the end of fossil fuel production. This critique is based upon all ten episodes in the first season.

Occupied is a ten episode first season based upon a script idea by acclaimed novelist Jo Nesbø. In hand of three re-known screen writers, his has been made into a series which has been given much interest even before it was aired for the first time on October 4th. The Russian embassy in Norway has already condemned the series, or rather the whole idea, before seeing as much as a trailer.

In the near future one of the biggest oil producing countries in the world, Norway, has elected a green environmentally eager government after the severe extreme weather Maria has killed 700 people in the most severe natural catastrophe in the country ever. The new prime minister announces that Norway will stop their production of fossil fuels like oil and natural gas, in order to reduce carbon dioxide put out into the atmosphere, what we know as global warming. This happens at the same time as the world sees an energy crises, with civil wars in the Middle East, and is not liked by either the European Union or Norways biggest neighbor Russia. In addition to this the United States has withdrawn from their NATO membership. After opening a thorium power plant, the newly elected Norwegian prime minister leaves after saying to the world press that the age of fossil fuel is over, and is kidnapped by Russians in a helicopter. At the same time a group occupies oil production facilities in the North Sea, basically to force Norway to continue their oil production. Norway has just seen a Russian silk occupation, with threats of something more severe.

The series is fast paced, and jumps in time, telling in retrospect what has happened since last episode, and this functions surprisingly well. This means you have to think more about what's been happening, and since the series challenges what you really happen in such a situation. However, you sometimes would like to see some of the things happening in between the episodes.

The first impression of the series is both interesting food for thought and exciting as a a dramatic event forced by nature, global warming and energy crises. However, in my opinion, the series struggles to keep the needed realism along the way, especially in the second half of the episodes. Then you'll take it as a pure fictional story, not even based on a plausible idea.

There are weaknesses in instruction of some of the actors, especially the young resistance movement. Some of the dialog would need several more takes to be natural. This annoys quite a bit, and very much so, since this is one of Norways most expensive dram series ever.

The series has already been sold to a lot of markets based on the idea, solely. Well worth a watch, even with the weaknesses. And it's likely that a new season will be made after the success this have had, especially abroad.

Critics seem to be getting hung up on the realism of the set up for this series. Is it realistic that Russia would undertake a 'soft' invasion of a small European country after critical energy production was stopped in response to climate change, and would NATO sit back and allow it to happen on their doorstep? Probably not, but that's not what this brilliant political thriller is really about. If a more powerful country invaded YOUR country, would you resist, would you keep your head down and try to 'get along' with the invaders if they kept promising to leave but didn't, what compromises would you make to try to avoid a full blown military invasion and loss of life. At what point would you decide that 'enough's enough'? When you see someone openly shot in the street by the occupiers? When free press is shut down? Vichy France, Russia's recent forays into the Ukraine and Hong Kong being handed back to China, all spring to mind. Viewers need to get over the likelihood or otherwise of the basic premise of this series, and just enjoy a really well written, well acted mini series that keeps you in a state of nervous suspense. One that makes you think about history, current world events and future possibilities. How far would you allow yourself to be pushed around before you decided to push back?

It has been criticized by other reviewers, that the plot is not plausible. In a situation, where the energy supply is decreasing it might well be plausible to force Norway to keep supply up. The reason for Russia to do that must not necessarily be an economical one. The force used to direct Greece is an example for what happens in a situation where a small country is not following the dominating powers' interest. The Prime Minister in "Occupied" faces a situation where he cannot keep his promises for the sake of avoiding disaster. This is again a situation similar to what happened in Greece (avoiding the "Grexit"). The point is that the plot is plausible in the sense that is not contradictory and is based on assumptions that are not arbitrary. The series also shows the dilemmas faced by different persons in different contexts. There is a journalist who wants to report the truth but is told by his wife and the prime minister to be responsible. This is a dilemma everyone of us might face (depending on the circumstances).