Borgen

BORGEN....what a strange name for a TV series.  Borgen means “the Castle,” a nickname for Christiansborg Palace, which is the house of Denmark’s government.

So what's the show about?  Danish politics!  Zzzzzzzz........ Wait!  Don't snooze just yet!  I had the same reaction when my daughter Sara, a movie guru, suggested I watch it.  

A bit of background:  The Danish series, which started in 2010 and ran three years, was a hit all across Europe.  It was the rave of every film blog.  It was the talk of the town, so to speak.  We in the U.S. are slow to join the throngs of film enthusiasts.

Think of it as you would Breaking Bad.  Some of us (this reviewer for sure) were slow to catch on to the genius of Breaking Bad, but when we did, we were hooked!

Borgen is the same.  WOW!  

So what's it really about? Never a spoiler, I will describe it generally:  A brave woman named Birgitte Nyborg, with a long history in Danish politics, suddenly finds herself elected Prime Minister.  Huh?  How can such an event be a surprise?  Easy.  In Danish politics, there is a "coalition" system, where the majority sector gets to choose its prime minister.  

Birgitte is a wonderful character:  Happily married and the mother of two, she ventures into the world of leadership with great optimism, full of principles, morals, and a sense of purpose.  Lo and behold, the realities of the political arena set in, and soon our heroine is fighting some fascinating battles!

Add to Birgitte a very pretty young newscaster, Katrine, who plagues the new prime minister in her search for truth, justice, and the DANISH way!  Of course, she has baggage of her own and we come to be entranced with her character as well.  

Don't forget the prime minister's right hand man, a young, dynamic, brilliant "spin doctor", Kasper, who helps her out of the hot spots by twisting the truth just a bit!  Oh, he happens to be in love with the pretty reporter!  Don't you just love it?  

Other fascinating characters populate this unique and searing series.  They are easy to remember, as each holds our attention with different insights into the Danish political fray.

What's the real reason I love this series?  I am learning so much about Denmark, its way of life, its history, and its relationship to other countries.  In one episode, I even learned about Greenland and how the poor struggle for survival.  I even learned that Denmark founded Greenland.

The Danes have always been an extraordinary people.  They have done good in the world.  They have a solid moral history.  They saved 8000 Jewish citizens from the Nazis by smuggling them to Sweden.

To watch Borgen, you have to go to Amazon and buy the series.  Yeah, a bummer.  But I say the cost is well worth it.  And don't worry about the subtitles.  After a while, you forget you are reading them.

Dare to enter Borgen, a world of politics, intrigue, and excitement.  You won't forget this unusual journey.  

You will never look at Denmark the same.