Harockerce What a beautiful movie!

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

matahari20-1 I give it 2 for the idea. Other than that, it is insulting to Americans, Norwegians, Muslims, women, intelligence and comedy. It's even insulting to gangsters. The central character is a boorish, bigoted, creepy creep who stalks a much younger woman, calls a Muslim character a 'towel-head' (I don't care if that character was portrayed as disrespectful to women; that entire sequence came off as disgustingly ignorant and bigoted and felt like we're supposed to be in on it with mafiaman, slapping the guy around and enjoying it because he's Muslim, not because he was a rude misogynist.) The show is an embarrassment to Americans. Truly, I am embarrassed for America watching this. I am embarrassed for the writers too, who I believe are Scandinavians, and that is a great shame coming from a part of the world currently delivering some of the best crime fiction TV on the planet. Fail.

SeriousJest I went into the first season hoping for The Sopranos-meets-Norway. I don't know much about Norway, and it's nice to get a glimpse into other countries through productions that feature them as almost a character in themselves (for example, The American). This series did a great job in featuring Norway. However, it was also pretty hokey and featured a protagonist that I did not like.Frank Tagliano is a narcissistic, hypocritical bully, who pushes his culture and ideas of how the world should be onto everyone in his newly adopted country, stepping on hapless and sometimes innocent Norwegians for selfish gain in stereotypical American imperialist fashion. However, unlike The Sopranos, in which Tony Soprano constantly struggled with his conscience, this show glorifies Frank. I feel like I'm supposed to chuckle as he "outsmarts" (more like strong-arms) people into satisfying his every whim.Fortunately, in the second and third seasons, Frank became a little more judicious and tolerable, while other characters, such as Fausa's Torgeir, flourish. In my opinion, Fausa carries the show. He is charismatic, funny, humble, and tough when he needs to be. He idolizes Frank, even though he is often unrewarded for his unconditional love. Most importantly, he is the conscience of the show, and through him, we are reminded of the price one pays for being or following Frankie the Fixer.By the way, world, look out for Maria Joana and Ida Elise Broch. You might fall in love.

gatecontrol1630 The main actor is put into many unrealistic scenarios that would never happen in real life and the way he struggles out of them. The writers and directors also follow the same Hollywood trend of creating a distorted view of Muslims and Islam. Don't forget about homosexuality. Even if it doesn't make sense they have to through in some homos into the scene and create a sodomite mafia character. Overall, the show gets off to a very slow start and has some funny scenes as it progresses. There's always a new villain and problem that the main actor and his crew have to deal with which does not drag on into many episodes which makes for things interesting.

John G I've never seen "The Sopranos" so I don't have anything to compare the performance of Steven van Zandt, except as a musician. Thus, when I saw the name i the writing and producing credits I did not make the association. On the one hand, with all my Norwegian friends, I am appalled at the corruption, but on the other hand, it is intriguing as to how the blackmailing process is executed. We also like it that the Norwegian characters answer in their native language and that everyone is so polylingual. This is a great series that American audiences could use as an intro to European sociology. The scenery of Norway should also be included in the credits, as it is beautiful. If Trond (Torgeir) is excluded from subsequent episodes, I will be severely disappointed.