Culture Focus//Borgen - Series 3 - Episodes 1 + 2
Episode
1: A Child of Denmark/ Episode 2: The Land is Built on Law
SPOILERS
AHEAD!
Starring:
Sidse Babett-Knudsen, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen.
“We
few, we happy few, we band of brothers…”
Borgen is back – but not
for long. It’s the final season of this addictive show – resplendent in its
hope, humanity and idealism. After calling an election at the end of the
previous series we see the results almost immediately. It’s two and half years
later and Birgitte is no longer Prime Minister. She has left politics and moved
into the private sector holding positions on the board of companies across the
globe. We see her in Hong Kong first, on her way to a rather silly sounding gathering
of the board for a pharmaceutical company. We also see her in the company of
people, family, a boyfriend and shopping without her phone ringing her to
another meeting. A sea change indeed then from the insular, lonely life she was
leading last series.
In recognition of new
beginnings as well the episode numbering has been reset. This is not episode 21
- it’s episode 1. It was stated in an interview that this series wasn’t planned
to happen so it could be connected to that – but, frankly, we’re just happy to
have it back! Change isn’t just limited
to Birgitte either – it’s everywhere. Katrine and Kasper have a son and have
split up in the intervening years, now sharing his care. Torben, the ever
confused looking Editor at TV1 is getting pressure over ratings and content –
with Katrine’s loss not helping him any more than a slap in the face.
The first episode is
largely set up, with some parts feeling somewhat unnecessary but with even the
trademark gorgeous furniture and scarves on minimum exposure this was truly
different. But soon things would enter the familiar territory we all know and
love…
“How would you feel about me going back to politics?” (Birgitte to
Phillipe)
After spending so much
time away from Denmark after losing the election Birgitte is feeling unhappy
with her country. New legislation is
getting increasingly Right Wing and inhuman and something needs to change. With
Katrine as her media advisor and Bent her faithful ear , Birgitte’s attempt to
become leader of the Moderate’s fails narrowly but the visibly crestfallen
politician doesn’t give up and is soon set up in new, somewhat ramshackle
premises with the idea of a new
political party.
It’s here the narrative
picks up (and makes you glad the double bill format was preserved for the BBC
screening) and we see the action really unfold. Along the way we see Katrine
enjoy some frenzied sex on the nursery floor as the new Program Director at
TV1 (not beloved of Torben) joins her for a night. This begins the severance of
the ties we’ve come to accept – Katrine at TV1 with Torben borderline demanding
her return when she’s not there.
By the end, aggravated by
the previously mentioned night of passion in the nursery and TV2’s receiving
the exclusive Nyborg back in politics interview he certainly isn’t begging her
any longer. Even Bent is seemingly against Birgitte’s new party – but (somewhat
too soon, perhaps) comes to her side to joining the newly christened New
Democrats. The scene is set for the next four weeks and whatever happens at the
end you know there will be cries of encore…
See you next week!
Words by Sebastian Gahan.
