[PIC]Underappreciated Lilyhammer is worth the watch
Lilyhammer warrants way more attention than it’s getting. This Netflix original series deserves to be mentioned alongside today’s arguably most-binge-watched shows such as House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black — also Netflix originals — and Breaking Bad.
Ex-mobster Frank Tagliano, who becomes Giovanni Henriksen, joins the witness protection program after he testifies against his former associates.
He asks to be sent to Lillehammer, Norway because, from what he saw in the 1994 Winter Olympics, it’s beautiful. There’s fresh air, white snow and beautiful women. And, best of all, “nobody but nobody’s gonna be lookin’ for [Frank] there.”
After all, Norway is the land of second chances.
The FBI specifically tells Frank that if he gets into any trouble with the police, he’s on his own. Frank shrugs it off. New identity, new man.
He’s less than thrilled, however, to learn the chief of police is his neighbor.
Transitioning from a “feared and respected gangster” in New York to an unemployed immigrant in Lillehammer proves difficult for Frank. To make a living and succeed in his new Norwegian setting, Frank finds himself reverting to his old ways. Within a week of being there, Frank has already bribed and blackmailed a public official, brushing it off as “cultural differences.”
The show is very intense and fast-paced, but enough humor is weaved in to make Lilyhammer appropriate and appealing for wider audiences. I’m not a fan of mobster or purely action movies; if I’m going to watch something, I’d like to get a laugh out of it. So for me, this is the perfect balance.
There’s also a romantic subplot, which I always enjoy. While romance doesn’t always add to a story, it definitely adds depth to Frank’s character. Instead of Frank just being a former-mobster-turned-Norwegian-bar-owner, the audience gets to see his softer side as he courts Sigrid, a woman he met on the train.
The only downside to the show is that, to make it as authentic as possible, the majority of the dialogue is in Norwegian with English subtitles. I wouldn’t mind were it not for the fact that I generally like to do other things while I’m watching shows. But because I don’t understand Norwegian, I have to be looking at the screen so I can follow along.
However, I have learned that the word for “cheers” is “skål.”
Overall, I give Lilyhammer a four out of five stars. It’s very entertaining, and with all of the different storylines, it’s impossible to get bored. The first two seasons are available on Netflix. The third season has been confirmed.
