Furia, on Viaplay, is a Norwegian series that will keep you on your toes. Asgeir (Pål Sverre Hagen) and his daughter arrive in Vestvik, a remote and idyllic small town, so Asgeir can take a job on the local police force. As often happens in crime series, a murder occurs on the first night Asgeir is in town. It’s a local kid who had vandalized the Muslim refugee center. Mild-mannered police chief Siem (Henrik Mestad) immediately finds a Muslim suspect and calls the case closed. Asgeir isn’t buying it. Ragna (Ine Marie Wilmann) is a cook at a tourist retreat, and also a Catholic alt-right blogger, writing about how Christianity is under fire from refugees and liberals. Through a disastrous screw-up on Asgeir’s part, we find out that Ragna is actually a cop, embedded into a local alt-right terrorist cell that is part of a huge European network. Fortunately, her cover isn’t blown. To appease Ragna, Asgeir admits he is actually a special ops agent who is in hiding from the Russian mob. He thought Vestvik would be a good place to lay low and give his daughter a normal life. Ha! Things get crazy quickly, and if you can suspend your disbelief that this sleepy town is a cog of international terrorist activity, you are in for a real thrill ride.
See what other Norwegian Crime Dramas we recommend here.
But First, Some History
One of the worst domestic terrorist attacks in Europe happened on July 22, 2011 on the Norwegian island of Utøya. Anders Behring Breivik set off a decoy explosive in Oslo, killing 8 people, then takes the ferry to Utøya, the location of a summer camp organized by the ruling Labour Party. Breivik was dressed as a cop, assuring everyone he was there to secure the island. Instead he opened fire, killing 69 people, most of them teenagers. On the day of the attacks, via text messages, Breivik published his manifesto, blaming Muslim immigrants and feminists for European “cultural suicide”. The attack, which is the subject of a 2018 Netflix film called 22 July, had been in planning since 2002. In Furia, the head of the local cell derides Breivik as “a narcissist and poser,” stating that what their group has planned much bigger. As a trusted member of their group, Ragna will be put to the test-how far will she go to maintain her cover?
Click here to see more suggestions on Viaplay.
Our Take on Furia
The name “Furia” translates to The Furies, who are deities in the Iliad that rise up from hell to punish those who make a false vow. And the series has that energy to it. It’s a tough series to review because there are so many spoilers right out of the gate. But here is what I can say: it’s jaw-clenchingly suspenseful. Also, it has a few problems. One is that the bad guys are almost cartoonishly bad. The other is that it’s hard to suspend disbelief in many scenes. That being said, it’s gripping and unpredictable. I promise you won’t be able to guess what will happen, which is refreshing. I’m about half-way through and it’s not clear how Ragna and Asgeir will come together to fight the white supremacists. And maybe they won’t-because, like in Game of Thrones, no character is safe. If you are looking for something entertaining to binge, Furia is for you.
Tip: You are going to want to watch episode 2 immediately after the cliff hanger of episode 1, so schedule accordingly.
Looking for more of the best in foreign TV? Don’t miss our other great reviews HERE!
