Valkyrien (2017– ) User Reviews

An enjoyable drama from Norway

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 6 September 2017]

Leif Lien is Chief Technical Officer for Norway's Civil Defence in the Oslo area; this puts him in charge of the network of tunnels and old bomb shelters under the city. In one of these shelters he is preparing for the end of civilisation; something he is sure will happen soon. Ravn Eikanger is a doctor who has been told that he can't use an untested new procedure to treat his terminally ill wife. Leif allows Ravn to use the clinic he has built in his shelter in exchange for also treating other 'customers' who don't want to go to official hospitals. The third person in the shelter is Leif's friend Teo Naustvik who is wanted by police and criminals alike after a botched robbery left him with a bag full of cash and his criminal colleagues locked in a bank vault. Over the course of the series Ravn attempts to find a cure for his comatose wife while the rest of the world thinks she is dead… and his daughter grows to suspect that he murdered her. A police officer closes in on Teo, with tragic consequences and Leif is frustrated that nobody is taking his warnings that civilisation is in danger seriously.

Enjoyment of this series, as with many others, does rely on just accepting what we are told even if it is medically or scientifically unlikely/impossible. If you can it is rather fun. The story is intriguing as the genre was uncertain; at times it was a crime drama, a medical drama, a comment on the ethics of medical research and the money to be made in the field and even elements of a post-apocalyptic thriller. The characters are interesting, particularly the rather paranoid Leif and the likable but incompetent criminal Teo. The largely subterranean setting gives the series a good atmosphere. The cast does a fine job; most notably Pål Sverre Hagen, Sven Nordin and Mikkel Bratt Silset as Leif, Ravn and Teo respectively. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to people looking for something a little different.

These comments are based on watching the series in Norwegian with English subtitles.

must see

[Gert-haesendonck · 8/10 · 14 December 2017]

I added the «comedy» tag to this series. Originally the description read «drama», but it's so much more than that: if you watch this series, you'll (hopefully) notice how funny, smart and unpredictably original its dialogue is. Generally, I'm not a fan of any actor, I rather believe in good casting. Yet I need to mention that Pal Sverre Hagen does (again) a magnificent job. He appeared on my radar while watching «Kraftidioten» (English: «In order of disappearance»), a movie in which he plays a psychopathic drug dealer in an incredibly humoristic fashion. The story of Valkyrien may be a little farfetched, personally I think it's exceptionally original in its writing. It is very off beat, unpredictable, even philosophical. In short: very smart and funny. All actors are very well cast and do a marvelous job. Superb writing and a must see if you're in for something original.

Hasty breath of fresh air

[Ladiloque · 6/10 · 15 May 2017]

Do you remember how much time we spent watching Walter White cleaning his meth-lab equipment to perfection?

Or how long does it take for the average sci-fi blockbuster to introduce you to the concept of time-travelling?

If you do, you will probably understand what I mean by hasty.

In recent years what most American series lack in original and clever script, Scandinavian-northern productions seem to have plenty. They may miss the hits due to bad marketing, low international appeal, small letdowns or whatever prevents their values to strive (hits which - by the way - often get in the hands of various remakes). Still, this is the sign of cultures that nurture intelligence VERSUS beauty contests, popularity ratings and political correctness. But this is an entirely different topic.

The story in Valkyrien is so open and complex that it could last 10 seasons (but it does it all in 8, 45 minutes episodes). A lot of topics rarely seen otherwise are dealt with: the power of bureaucracy, ethics and bio-ethics, sustainability, ecology, unavoidability of society, conspiracy theories. Given the number of productions around it's awesome finding something so fresh and interesting.

Yet some lows can be spotted in the superficiality which we are provided here and there for action's or drama's sake (forget scientific or even procedurals' accuracy) and in some "too unlikely" scenes. And here is imho the major weakness of the show: to make people care you need them to believe in what they see. And to achieve this, spending a proper amount of time and details to allow the disbelief to be suspended is critical. I'm not suggesting that indulging in artificial lengthening (like in soaps, or even successful series like Lost) is the right solution. I'm stating that by abusing the simplistic pace of action movies, your audience forgets about depth. Which shouldn't be your objective if you focus your plot on complex, nerdy, not-popular and potentially-boring topics.

Anyway: if you enjoy originality and well written cross genre stuff give it a try. But it would need a longer polished remake for the ideas to properly shine.

It has its moments, but generally inconsistent plot and performances

[BeneCumb · 7/10 · 23 May 2018]

On the heels of the Swedes and the Danes, the Norwegians have vigorously stepped into the world of Scandi Noir, usually successfully. The synopsis of Valkyrien was intriguing as well, but as the events progressed I began to realise that it was too much a medical drama (which I tend to avoid) and much less crime-and-noir. The pace appeared to be slow and some characters did not provide additional value to the series (e.g. Teo´s and Leif´s families), but both Teo and Leif (Pål Sverre Hagen is the most versatile type in this series) produce lots of giggling and wtf! moments, breaking otherwise mostly static run of events. Sven Nordin as Ravn Eikanger is good, but nothing special, and the rest did not impress me too much. The moral ideas remained somewhat wishy-washy and the ending was too trivial as well.

So, Valkyrien is more like Det Tredje Øyet or Mammon, rather than Okkupert or Frikjent, for example. No, it is not a bad work, but additional smoothness and less scientific character could have made this series more interesting to me.

Excellent roller-coaster

[pawebster · 9/10 · 16 August 2017]

This is a great series. OK, the medical stuff isn't in the least bit realistic and the developments happen much too quickly - but, hey, it's a thriller. It rattles along and it's thrilling.

Best of all, though, is the fact that there are such good characters and such good acting. A standout is Pal Sverre Hagen, who is excellent as the very unusual Leif. The comic relief from the disaster-prone Teo, also very well acted, really made me laugh.

I will be Gladly trying this!

[zekeblack · 6 August 2017]

I echo the comment of previous reviewer that the field is in desperate need of some different plot premises. We made it, I hope, past the unlikable dysfunctional, usually addicted to drugs, alcohol,or an equally destructive behaviour who is gruff beyond rude, head-strong beyond reason. Now we have the formula: scenes alternating between violence and sexual, often both together, without much plot device. With required violence, often extended, on women.

I look forward to something new, even if I have to suspend disbelief occasionally. i hope it discards those over-used tropes.

Has some issues

[Poster-Boy · 7/10 · 24 March 2022]

I was hesitant about starting this series because the teaser didn't make it sound interesting. But I got hooked and found it was entertaining. If you're a stickler for believability you will probably have some issues with the story. But the characters are likeable and plot twists will keep your attention.

eeeeeYup, I liked it.

[zaenkney · 8/10 · 10 November 2019]

A fantastical series with awesome and sideways characters. It's dark, has specters of humors in the shade of the story that hardly give time for a laugh yet definitely add to the personality of the entire movie. Of course there were medical potholes, but this movie is more about other things (being abandoned, shamed, loving each other, the value of money, all kinds of thing; what we value and what we don't). I enjoyed it very much.

Totally Entertaining

[pauldfoximdb · 10/10 · 17 October 2020]

This series starts off as a boring and predictable series. Some Doctor doing the "Frankenstein" piece.

But its nothing like that. The story line is a mix of "yeah, so what", and "hey! these are great characters". Leif is a standout - his humoristic attitude, yet involved in a series of events which is totally novel, and set in the fictitious(?) caves under Oslo.

I think all the acting is brilliant - and the script is simply, not predictable.

I was so concerned to start watching this, but I am so glad I did.

[8.6] Leif shines above all with his knowledge, narratives and doomsday pessimism

[cjonesas · 9/10 · 19 May 2021]

Beyond thrilling and dramatic with superb acting, very very interesting plots and awesome realism, but going downhill by episode 6 until the end, losing its wonderful dramatic tightness and adding many not-credible and "soap-opera" sub-plots.

Valkyrien had definitively potential and driving force for a second season. My main feeling is sadness after the joy, thrill and entertainment that it brought me.

Wish it had 4-5 episodes more, tying some loose ends and bringing real closure for a one-season series.

• Screenplay/story: 9
• Development: 8.5
• Realism: 9
• Entertainment: 9.5
• Acting: 9
• Filming/cinematography: 8.8
• Visuals/special effects: 8.5
• Music/score: 9
• Depth: 9
• Logic: 7
• Flow: 9.5
• Thrill/drama: 8.5
• Ending/closure: 7.

Inconsequential, unimaginative, science-y thriller series.

[Carambotti · 4/10 · 5 April 2023]

The setup and location is all very promising. But by 5th episode, I couldn't take the bumbling oopsies that pass for slight comedic relief. Teo gets yelled at for being careless as he cleans, while Ravn literally smears himself all over the tent that Vilma is kept in, while he is bleeding out of his eyes. Having been thru a real, global pandemic, it's silly to see how careless and thoughtless this show spent on the pandemic sub-plot. I get the purpose of plot device is to play on our fears, but this is just unimaginative. Incompetant police detective, bumbling, hapless muscle thug, husband that will sacrifice others to save his doomed wife, and a mastermind that surveils all but never quite connects. And yet again, clunky cell phone texting gets used as a stand in for clever writing. Bummers.

An Exciting Romp but Full of Scientific and Medical Impossibilities

[qui_j · 5/10 · 11 June 2017]

If you are looking for playful and exciting entertainment but don't care about medical or scientific impossibilities, then you can manage to get through this series. I guess the creators of the series thought that if the show is entertaining enough, people wont focus on the medical impossibilities that litter the show e.g operating on people with anesthesia, two doctors who seem to specialize in everything under the sun etc. You also have to put up with the usual moralizing about global events (climate change, pharmaceutical companies, health care)that is fairly common in Danish and Norwegian movies, and to a lesser extent in Swedish series. So, if you can ignore the scientific silliness and just go on a crazy roller coaster ride for the entertainment, this series is for you. If there's a second season, I'll probably watch it but after a while I fear that the sheer impossibility of the plot events may just cause me to lose interest.