BORGEN. If you are not watching it, let me tell you.
No, Borgen is not a show about zombies. This is just a visualization of the inside of my brain for the past week. Well, five days. Because that's what it took for me to consume two seasons of this show and goddamn I want more ;___;.
Borgen is a Danish political drama about Denmark's first (fictional) female Prime Minister. It is, in a nutshell, The West Wing: Denmark, a little more mature, a little less idealized, a little less Sorkin. Sometimes a lot. It revolves around three main characters:
Birgitte Nyborg, a charismatic politician who unexpectedly becomes Denmark's first female PM
Kasper Juul, her spin doctor/media guy/adviser, essentially a far more cynical Josh Lyman, Sam Seaborn, Toby Ziegler and CJ Cregg rolled into one
Katrine Fønsmark, a sharp news anchor and political journalist. Kasper and Katrine used to be seriously involved, but she ultimately broke it off because he kept too many secrets.
(If you are wondering why these folks look so familiar, let me help you: Laura Roslin, Billie Piper, Joshua Jackson. That Joshua Jackson resemblance is not going to go away.)
Anyway, I had never heard of this show until I read
jae's recent post A review of four recent shows about politics and journalism where she talks about Political Animals, The Newsroom, Boss and Borgen. I agreed with so much of what she said about the first two, that when I read her first words about Borgen, I immediately thought: hmmmmm.
"I hesitate to type these words, especially in this journal that I originally created at the height of my West Wing fannish involvement, but I feel compelled to: could this be the best political show ever made?The political and journalistic storylines strike just the right balance between the inevitable cynicism of realistic politics and the idealism of nobler goals, but perhaps even more importantly, they’re exciting enough to make for truly fine television. Plus, every single character, while flawed, is fascinating, believable, and real. You don’t just want to watch what happens next to these characters, you get invested in them. You--dare I say--come to love them."
(YES. THIS. ♥.)
marina started watching the show the same weekend, and you can read her review about it here. And now that I have linked you to other people's excellent in depth thoughts I can focus on just saying WATCH IT. WATCH IT GUYS. AND THEN OFFER IT FOR YULETIDE because dear lord I want ALL OF THE FIC. This show has excellent political drama set in a political landscape not too different from my own which makes it interesting in and of itself, but oh, but the end of season 2 the intensity and complexity that the relationships have evolved to just makes me crave all of the fic.
Where can I watch this show?
Okay, so in August and September, all of the episodes are/will be legally streaming on linktv.org right here. Unfortunately it's region based and I honestly cannot figure out when exactly each ep is streaming and whether they're available only in the US or in other regions too. You can also watch them sometime on BBC Four in the UK, or idk, some local channel where you live, or buy the DVDs. HOWEVER. All of the eps are super super easy to find online, subtitles and all, and if you have any trouble just let me know and I'll help you out :D
And now:
Note: nearly all photos/gifs courtesy of the internet, and the following tumblrs:
themirrorofsin,
beautyoftheendx,
kayelbee13,
imaginaryhat,
sonictoaster,
notnadia.
Your PM, Birgitte Nyborg
SHE IS THE LOVELIEST
No really, she's amazing. I cannot say enough good things about the character or about the actress. <3333333.
She also has the most freaking adorable smile, like
look at her
CRINKLES
or you know. Mary McDonnell.
She is just basically really great
Birgitte, Kasper, and her bodyguards
On the left, Bent Sejrø, the PM's close friend and adviser and Leo McGarry, if you will. On the right, JOSHUA JACKSON'S SECRET TWIN have I mentioned.
I like Bent a lot, guys
Okay so Kasper and Birgitte might just be my favorite relationship in this series (although it's hard to choose). The actors have SO MUCH chemistry, and the characters *____*. Kasper works around the clock for her, doing whatever she needs to stay in power, and she relies on his advice and trusts him to watch her back and knows she'll fire him if she has to so please, Kasper, don't fuck up.
oh man this scene ;___; I will say no more of it
Their relationship is actually strictly professional, and while the PM absolutely stays out of Kasper's love life, her love/family life is pretty much his business, due to their jobs. This makes their tiny rare interactions about Kasper's personal life (or in this case behavior :/) all the more delightful.
In Brussels no one hears you scream.
I believe I have also mentioned Kasper and Katrine. Whose ever changing relationship, over the course of two seasons, is a thing of majesty.
Katrine's the young, hardball news anchor, who'll press and press in interviews and won't let politicians off the hook (to her boss's alternating respect and dismay, and to the detriment of her own career). When she catches whiff of a lead she's a like a force of nature.
She is not always as put together as all that, but she knows how to be professional when it counts
I don't think I can ever have enough about friendships between government and press. It's like FIFTY SHADES OF EXCELLENCE and intrigue and leaks and distrust.
lol at Katrine's hard on for confidential data documents
<333333333333 Kasper and Katrine ugh
Another excellent character is Hanne Holm, the seasoned veteran journalist (and now alcoholic political editor) who works with Katrine and who grows into being her mentor.
We've been over most of these characters but let me tell you about two more: on the far right, Torben, Katrine's long suffering boss who tries to compromise between journalistic integrity and good crowd-pleasing television. And next to him is Birgitte's husband. Let's just take a moment to look at Birgitte and her family and her utter utter hotness:
Birgitte, her husband, and their two children. It is not always quite as picture perfect.
Birgitte and her daughter Laura
Sorry Phillipe, cockblocked again
Trying to navigate between a demanding job and home
let me just say that the PM and her husband are incredibly hot together though
so I will just wrap up with a few more photos of Birgitte, because. look at this.
♥
♥♥
♥♥♥
To summarize: if you are/were a fan of The West Wing, Battlestar Galactica, The Good Wife, and/or good political dramas: watch this. (AND THEN OFFER IT FOR YULETIDE.)
And again, feel free to hit me up for links :-)
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