Lykkeland inadvertently encapsulates how it is to grow up and live in Norway post-oil: yes, there are underlying problems in everyone's lives (and in society in general), but if you pursue your own well-being and believe in goodness, you can absolutely achieve happiness.
Despite the fact that I'm not especially fond of happy endings and despite that I think we gradually should stop pumping the North Sea for oil, the series put me in a blissful awe.
The actors, the cinematography, the character building, the side stories - it's all fantastic. Even though I've never really wanted to be born anywhere else in the world, this series really reminded me how lucky I've been.
The build up is a bit slow, which in my opinion is not bothersome, but if you are not like me, you have been warned. On the other side, I think most viewers in the latter category will fall in love with the series if they just pull through the first couple of episodes.
There are only one downside of the series in my opinion:
The series could be criticized for leaving out some of the story's more tragic aspects, for example oil spills and some of the divers' suffering from brain damages later in life. Meanwhile, I don't think it would fit the narrative of season one. Maybe this could be illuminated in later seasons? (crossing my fingers)
The story of Lykkeland, combined with some minor knowledge of the political landscape of USA today, is proof that The American Dream is a nightmare come true compared to The Norwegian Fairytale.
Despite the fact that I'm not especially fond of happy endings and despite that I think we gradually should stop pumping the North Sea for oil, the series put me in a blissful awe.
The actors, the cinematography, the character building, the side stories - it's all fantastic. Even though I've never really wanted to be born anywhere else in the world, this series really reminded me how lucky I've been.
The build up is a bit slow, which in my opinion is not bothersome, but if you are not like me, you have been warned. On the other side, I think most viewers in the latter category will fall in love with the series if they just pull through the first couple of episodes.
There are only one downside of the series in my opinion:
- (spoiler) the fate of the main character's (Anna) relationship to her fiancé (Christian) quickly becomes a bit predictable. (/spoiler)
The series could be criticized for leaving out some of the story's more tragic aspects, for example oil spills and some of the divers' suffering from brain damages later in life. Meanwhile, I don't think it would fit the narrative of season one. Maybe this could be illuminated in later seasons? (crossing my fingers)
The story of Lykkeland, combined with some minor knowledge of the political landscape of USA today, is proof that The American Dream is a nightmare come true compared to The Norwegian Fairytale.