Borgen Series 2

[Bellebelle]

Anyone else looking forward to this starting tomorrow night (BBC4, 9pm)?

I loved the first series and have been using serious willpower to stop myself buying the second series or looking up spoilers online (Denmark and some other countries are a year ahead of us). Have to confess that I have read some articles which give info of some of the plot lines but I won't put on any spoilers other than to say that it sounds good but a bit hard going at times, a lot darker than series 1.

Seriously don't think I've ever been this excited about a television programme, I actually wish the BBC would just show one episode a week rather than two back to back to draw it out for longer!

[Sugarice]

I am gutted that this is over, gutted!

Right, when's The Bridge back on?

[guineapiglet]

Yes, I too feel rather bereft that it is all over! We have really enjoyed this series - do wish we could have such a charismatic and human prime minister like her! Really good last couple of episodes, looks like it is all going to be OK for K and K now, foudn Kasper's visit to his Mum very touching, she still loves him and knows him as her song suggested.

The depiction of Laura and her subsequent rehabilitation was brilliantly done, and she really needed Birgitte with her at her side all the time, slowly it seems, Philip realised what was at stake - why does it take men so long to work things out - why did he launch into a relationship so quickly, very unfair on all involved. The Prime Minister's life will always be under scrutiny but this was total invasion, and seems to echo the Leveson issues over here, no-one should be subject to such invasion of privacy.

It all ended on an upbeat note, loved seeing her take control and address the feminism issue, - good for her, she is an 'icon' for our time, really human, sympathetic and credible. Can't wait for the next series. Justified, next I hope!

[Icapturethecastle]

Did anyone see the DM article about series 3 won't link as it has a kind of spoiler! So sad my Scandi dramas have finished. I have been practising the bun but I just can't get it that big!

[MooMinCow]

There is also an article/interview with SBK in the Sunday Times Style mag today. She looks amazing (think I have a girl crush!)

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

3 cheers for Borgen. Great final episodes! Loved how time off caring for Laura helped her too - bright colours, hair down, daylight shots - then back to business sharp and on the ball, back in the driving seat.

[Lessthanaballpark]

Just watched it. Fantastic ending with her stirring speech and all the women MPs were smiling.

That Laugesan is a slimey toad....

And what about Katrine, now Kasper finally wants to have nippers but she's just told Torben she's not having any...... oh lordie ... I've got a whole year to worry about that until it comes back into my life.

[Vagndidit]

Coming out of lurkdom here...

I am gutted, GUTTED, to have discovered this is the end of the series. I thought we had another week.

My life will be empty without my weekly Birgitte fix. Am still grieving for Sarah Lund

[Bellebelle]

Tonight was amazing! Those last two episodes were amazing! Sidse was amazing and lovely and funny and sparkly and just lovely!

Still a bit giddy (if you couldn't tell) and have too much to do for tomorrow (have done virtually no pre-Monday prep today due to the building excitement) to post everything just now but will be back tomorrow with full report.

She was just LOVELY...

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Lucky Bellebelle tell us all about it .

Lessthanaballpark fear not, do you remember Torben marvelling at how 'good' Katrina had been whilst on short contract ie showing humility? and how he sort of missed her being a PITA? Something tells me he won't be altogether surprised (possibly not even too savage) if she tells him she's preggers... .

[unitarian]

I really feared that Birgitte would have to compromise, that the final outcome would be that women can't have a career and young children successfully. I feared she would throw in the towel.
How wonderful that she found a way through it all and was triumphant - and that Philip realised what he had thrown away.

I think she's going to find a new man in the next series, that Katrine will have to figure out the family life/work problem in her turn and Amir will feature prominently.

[AgentProvocateur]

I know who her love interest is in the next series. He's a hunky Scot! (Ex Monarch of the Glen, for anyone who remembers that.

Also, was Nicola Sturgeon at your session, BelleBelle? I hear she's a big fan.

[Graceparkhill]

I too am waiting for Bellebelle because it is thanks to her that I heard about it.
Anyway my thoughts are:

It was amazing - the atmosphere was electric with anticipation . The two episodes were greeted with applause and when Sidse came on it was a bit of a rock star reception.

She was wearing a red "tartan "outfit - jacket and tight trousers with her hair loose. Not very style and beauty of me but best I can offer.

She seemed genuinely amazed and a bit overwhelmed at the reception.

She came across as super intelligent,modest and funny. One questioner described her as a role model and she was quick to point out that her character was the role model and she is an actress.

My DH who was reluctant to schlep over to E'burg was deeply impressed by the whole experience !

[Bellebelle]

...and I'm back.

Okay, so what I thought of last two episodes first. I have to say that while watching Borgen on the big screen was pretty epic (the scenes at Liseholm looked amazing) it made it feel different in a way I'm not sure I liked all that much. Given that I barely let DH talk when it's on at home it was rather off putting being in a cinema full of people tutting, murmuring etc throughout. There was also a lot of laughter at parts which I don't think would normally be comedic (the parts where Kasper and Katrine were arguing at the flat they were viewing) but as someone else has since pointed out to me one of the effects of transferring it to the big screen was that we saw a lot more of the characters expressions. Kasper shows some brilliant comedy timing during those arguments and the scene when Philip gets into the car with Cecile after Birgette shouting at him and Cecile starts talking to him about their relationship got a big laugh as you can see him quite clearly thinking "not you too!"

I really need to watch the episodes again to fully absorb but the parts which stood out for me where:

1. Birgette telling Philip that he gave up too quickly - WE KNOW! I loved every second of that scene, everything she said was exactly what I'd thought since the end of S1 and the thing that I'd found a bit unbelievable - that he'd give up something so good so quickly. He really had no reply, just kept on asking her "how" and her response that they would have worked it out together was perfect. Her final line to Cecile that she had just finished shouting at her boyfriend was brilliant.
   

1. The scenes between Kasper and Laura were very well done, not much said but the connection was touching. He helped her in subtle ways and she helped him back telling him that his past didn't have to define him. I like the way that we often see actions taken by one character which will have a positive outcome elsewhere and they won't ever possibly know. For instance after Hanne and Katrine agreed not to air the information they had in episode 8 on one side of the warring counties conning the other out of oil revenues Birgette then used the same information to persuade the reluctant leader to agree to peace. Katrine will probably never know how important her work actually was and Birgette will never know how Kasper helped her daughter.
   

1. When Kasper visited his Mother. Possibly the most painful scene of the night but so well done.
   

1. Birgette sitting outside with Bent, sunglasses on head, coffee in hand - just like the old days - Yay!
   

1. And of course, the final scene with that speech, the camera picking up the smiling faces of the female MP's in the room, from the left wing Ann-Sofie to the right wing one who makes the biscuits, all looking on with respect and recognition. Ending with her amazing, wrinkle nosed, smile.
   

Then she walked in the freaking room!!!!

So, she wore a tartan suit which I found a little bit cringy at first but she actually got away with it. It looked quite Vivienne Westwood and she rocked it. She's quite tiny and so incredibly pretty, sparkly eyes and great hair (no powerbun). As we've seen her English is excellent although she doesn't speak in such a pronounced English accent as she does in the programme and she did do that charming thing of asking a few times if she had the right word for something, of course she did, she was probably just trying to make us feel better about the fact that in an audience of almost 300 we probably collectively know about 3 Danish words between us and one if them is Tak! She laughed a lot, was a bit clumsy (sat on her microphone), fidgeted quite a bit and ensured she spoke right to whoever asked her a question from the audience. Even my DH who doesn't like Birgette fell a little bit in love with Sidse I think, we all did.

I haven't got time just now to write down everything I have to share (I will return tomorrow) but the stand out thing for me (which I may have missed but I don't think it's come up in any interviews) was that S2 was meant to to be the last series and that when they filmed the final episodes they all thought that was it. S3 wasn't commissioned until after. So originally we were meant to come away thinking, well she delivered what she set out to from the start, looks like Philip is starting to regret walking away (result!), K&K are going to have babies, be happy ever after etc and Birgette found her way back again, doesn't matter what the outcome of the election turns out to be because all the good people were okay - THE END. She said that S3 is going to go in a very different direction.

Sorry, I have to go but will tell you the rest tomorrow.

Hi, hi!

[redlac]

My fav bit was Kaspers face when talking to Laura about his stay in a mental hospital when he was 14. She asked how they cured him and his face was just perfect, widened his eye, put on aad expression and he said what made you think they did. Wonderful scene

[womblingalong]

What am I going to doooo, now it's over? It was fab, finally Philip got told, and left Cecile (DH calls her hippo face

What should I get to cope with withdrawal symptoms? I haven't seen The Killing, or The Bridge or The Wire, what would you all recommend?

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Thanks for that Graceparkhill and Bellebelle sounds like a great afternoon. Electric yes I can imagine everyone was thrilled. Do you know I hadn't thought about Other People's Annoying Viewing Habits, could have been very distracting! Interesting you say Sidse is tiny, it never crossed my mind, she must be one of those actors who fills the screen with her presence.

womblingalong I've never seen The Wire but I remember someone saying they found subtitles invaluable for that too!?! Just my view but although I've always liked The Killing best, (tremendous acting, great script, atmosphere) after Borgen I think I would gravitate to The Bridge next.

[womblingalong]

Thanks Donkeys!

[redlac]

The Bridge first as it is pure perfection then the Killing

[womblingalong]

Ok 2 votes for the bridge, so will get the box set,

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Haven't spotted the lead actors in The Bridge in any of the other Nordic thrillers, which is rare. Happy viewing!

[LaVolcan]

Just to spoil things - I would go for The Killing first, then Killing III, plus a few doses of Wallander for light relief and then The Bridge........

[bamboozled]

The bridge, the bridge, the bridge...

[MooMinCow]

The Bridge definitely. Saga Noren is fantastic character! If you don't fancy a full on series, Those Who Kill is good. Each episode is a case, with (as usual) a kick ass flawed female detective plus male sidekick (this one is a criminal/forensic psychologist)

[bamboozled]

Oh yes, those who kill - fab too!

[diddl]

Found it again!

Thought the ending was great!

So the guy who was Archie in MOTG will be in it-along with a new hairdo for Kaspar!!

a bit spoilery