Occupied S01E10

Synopsis

"The Americans attempt to remove Jesper Berg from their embassy, while Hans Martin frantically searches for Sidorova."

What I thought?

We start off with Jesper Berg, the PM, giving a speech condoning Free Norway and also at the same time bigging up the Americans as Noway's friends whilst being understanding of Norwegian people's feelings. This goes down badly with the American Ambassador who decides to say nothing but instead poison the PM during dinner. Nice! This leads to the Norwegian PM no longer being on American soil but instead in some hospital somewhere. As it happens, it's a hospital somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Wenche Arnesen is there to hold his hand as such, which reassures him, although her treacherous links to Free Norway are unknown to him, although when all security suddenly disappears from outside his hospital room, he sees some military approaching who don't look friendly. Legging it in his pants he doesn't get very far, instead once again seemingly drugged as such (although they say he's sleeping) and flown to somewhere else also in the middle of nowhere, where Team Free Norway are camped up enforce, leading to an uneasy handshake between the PM and his former military general Fritt Norge who is doing the old A-Team Hannibal look thing.

Meanwhile, Hans accuses Arnesen of co-operating with Free Norway at her home, demanding she say where Sidorova is being held. This doesn't all add up, as although we know that she's been up to no good for ages and we suspect Hans has been dubious about her, we've not actually seen any tangible proof in Han's hands or from anyone else that Arnesen has been up to anything dodgy. I'm not sure therefore how he thinks he can go in all strongly like this now? Anyhow, she says nothing incriminating. As Hans links up with the Police to search for Sidorova by using his bat like ears to detect noises in the background of the Free Norway hostage video, Arnesen spends the rest of the episode with a local priest. She's recorded a video revealing herself to be leading Free Norway, which seems unlikely as she's barely given any instructions to them. I think this is all about her feeling good about her terminal illness. The vicar won't help her die of course but as it happens he ends up doing everything else that's on the dodgy side of the law, which involves uploading her video to the press and disposing of her body in the incineration facilities he obviously runs. So much for not taking part in her death proceedings, huh?

Meanwhile, Han's amazing hearing of ship horns in the hostage video background leads to him and the police lady Ingrid down at the nearby docks. Supposedly there's only one dockyards nearby? The sounds are linked to a ferry somehow. Now utilising his amazing bionic eyesight, Hans figures out which ship it is in the dockyard using his binoculars and darn-right superhuman abilities of deduction. Ok, there was some chap on top of the ship with a gun walking about. Even so, this is still a little incredulous how this little plot bit develops. Naturally Hans goes in alone like a one-man-band but without musical instruments. Creeping through the ship he uses Free Norway's weapons against them by nicking a stun grenade. Wham Bang, thank you man later and he's cleared the scene, shooting Iljas dead along the way and rescuing a rather dazed and distressed Sidorova. Cut to ten or so minutes later and time has progressed, including a rather nasty further Free Norway attack on some russian military general. Now that the Arnesen video is out and she's nowhere to be found and will never be unless ash has DNA traces, Sidorova offers Han Arnesen's job, which I'm not sure she really has the authority to do, but you assume she'll suggest it to the Norwegian government who will have to agree with her. Hans only takes a nanosecond to think and accept any way.

What a finale! This had everything, from high tension drama, dramatic gun-fire, a hostage rescue by a one-man-terminator, and genuine emotion. In one episode alone this summed up the first season for'Occupied', in which has been one sticky dramatic tense situation after the other. However, the oddness of the way some plot-lines went down stops it from being excellent.

Rating 7/10 (GOOD STUFF)

Hans accuses Arnesen of working with Free Norway with absolutely no tangible proof.

Jesper's interview with CNN gives the American Ambassador a headache.

So, the ambassador drugs his Ferrero Rocher chocolates with poison to give Jesper a headache.

The PM recovers in a hospital which isn't really much more than an abandoned building.

Bente overseas Russian security shooting someone in a backstreet - a plot aspect that's not explained or ever touched upon again.

Best acting performance by an animal this season; Arnesen's dead cat.

Yes, that ship miles away with the idiot walking about in clear sight with a gun. That one. Think that's where Sidorova is, huh?

Terminator Hans drops a stun grenade to knock everyone out, before then shooting the hapless 

 Iljas.

Sidorova is naturally very distressed from the whole situation, and probably has a massive headache.

Where's everyone gone? The PM goes to take a look.

Argh. Free Norway are there. The PM legs it in his pants before being captured.

Bente lets Free Norway use her restaurant, which was for the reason of informing the A-Team hit-squad to assassinate some Russian's leaving the embassy.

Only Mr T was missing from this scene.

Emotional scenes between Arnesen and a local vicar, who despite saying he'll not help her die, then proceeds to dispose of her body.

The PM was just as amazed that there appears to be fantastic mobile signal coverage all over Norway as he was about Arnesen's confession video.

But will the PM really go along with leading Free Norway?

Occupied S01E09

Synopsis

"Jesper Berg continues his duties as Norway's prime minister from within the US Embassy, while Free Norway carry out an audacious and dangerous plot against the Russians."

What I thought?

Twas all a little bit chaotic this week for my brain to keep up with the foreign language and subtitles. Finally however, Occupied really does mean what it says, as the Russians move into Norway and the tension, as well as the terrorism level is risen to red, which I guess must be the top shelf. 

With the PM lurking about the American Embassy, 'Free Norway' raise their game and kidnap Irina Sidorova, our favourite russian ambassador from the comfort of her health spa. From feeling calm, to having a gun stuck at your head. I'd ask for refund! Security also seems somewhat lapse if you ask me. 3 bodyguards? One was also kidnapped, the other shot and the last one, Bente's lover, falls into the pool. Not sure on his fate, but clearly she wasn't concerned about him any more as it's her leaking of information that led to Sidorova's kidnapping. Seems she's fully swapped to Team Norway now, but likely to be squeezing as many buffet orders from her Russian friends as possible in the future,

Mr Pessimist, Hans Martin Djupvik, is caught up in all this kidnapping, in that he's held in the embassy under suspicions until, back from nowhere, Serkin helps him escape. Well, he escorts him out of the building with no one else really looking the slightest bit interested. Slightly odd that. Anyhow, Hans wife is up the creek too as both him and her are splashed on the front of a newspaper as not to be trusted due to his russian involvement, leading to her being suggested to not proceed with a case involving a russian guy. I assume the guy had something to do with the bombing but I got lost so much this week. Someone else who also got a tad confused was the PM, who found the American ambassador somewhat frosty, then somewhat corporative, and then somewhat placid once the Sidorova kidnapping news broke. With Free Norway broadcasting their prisoners on-line and shooting one of the bodyguards, they gave Russia 24 hours to leave Norway. Given that we know from past episodes that Sidorova's superiors don't really care much for her, and that the Russians have started to occupy the country's main airport, one can assume that the 24 hours will not expire with less Russians in Norway.

It's now gone past political tension and into the world of military and resistance tension. The show has done so well at the political lark so far, that it's time to see if it can make the action just as thrilling.

Rating 7/10 (GOOD STUFF!)

It's cold in Norway, but it's even colder in the American Embassy for the PM.

CGI scene! Russian jets and a Norwegian plan have a political skirmish earlier in the episode.

... which means he does have an idea what she means!

Bente choose sides and goes for Team Norway by supplying info to Free Norway.

The intel leads to Free Norway kidnapping Sidorova from her spa visit, proving that relaxation isn't always good for your health.

Arneson's health is seriously degrading as she suffers a nose bleed and then later a seizure. 

Knowingly now being occupied, the PM tells Norway to stand up to the Russians.

Although the PM probably regrets his words later on as Team Norway issue an execution and an ultimatum.

Occupied S01E08

Synopsis

"Jesper Berg initiates a police action in order to get the Russians out of the country with disastrous consequences. Hans Martin continues to work with the Russians." (S1, ep 8)

What I thought?

Well, the stakes are raised yet another notch this episode!

First up, the PM is off to see the King to tell him that a new government needs to be formed, with the King asking him to remain in power until the cabinet have made up their minds over the new government make-up. First little shocker follows, in that the journalist (whom I've kept calling Bente, but is actually called Thomas) is really dead! He certainly looked pretty dead last week but I was betting he'd be ok. Nope, he's really dead and has already been buried by this point as we're at the his funeral wake, with his ex-editor chief letting Thomas's wife (who is called Bente) that he's going to run a story claiming his death wasn't an accident, as the Norwegian police have said. Obviously that doesn't go down well with Russian-loving Bente.

The PM makes a stand after learning that Russians are pouring illegally into Norway and goes on TV to tell everyone to report such illegals to police so they can be deported. Obviously that goes down like a lead brick with the russian ambassador Irina Sidorova who demands he go back on what he said. Looking butch, yet somehow like he' needs the toilet at the same time, Jesper Berg refuses.

As Bente houses more Russians so as to avoid them being sent home, our main man Hans is working with the russian security force and discover the Free Norway base, now deserted, but full of ammunition. Where have they gone then? Hmmm.

After being interviewed by Ingrid from the Police, Bente finds that her daughter Maja blames herself for her dad's death. Naturally that's very unlikely to be true, and it's revealed that Thomas phoned Maja on that day to say hello and that she tried to ring the number back but got a russian guy. How she can be sure it was someone from Russia at her age I don't know, but Bente takes this information back to Ingrid, who confirms she suspects her husband's death wasn't an accident. Upset, Bente demands the Russians leave her restaurant, and even her russian security lover is getting the brush off. Amazing that she's actually upset about Thomas when she was as cold as ice before he left, in a sort of strange charector change for her after they seemed to be mostly solid as a unit.

Next, the big part of the episode. Things really get dramatic and tense when masked russian (who else?) men attack the PM and his PA in their office! Apparently a russian working in the cafe downstairs let them in. Seems very suspect that these guys with bombs and guns could have walked in and through the building to the PM's office without anyone noticing or raising the alarm? Well, they did. With an extremely tense stand off between the PM and the attackers, our man of the moment as always, Hans, is dispatched by Irina to do some diplomatic work. She's doesn't want to be associated with the russian masked men, although whether she actually is or not is very hard to determine. Hans does his diplomacy work in the PM's room with the PA, PM and terrorists present but after a reasonable start, things go wrong quickly as arguments between the sides see guns pointing everywhere and shouting even within the russian group. Dramatically and suddenly, blood is spilled as the Norwegian SWAT group outside gun down the terrorists in a millisecond, ending what was quickly going to be a worse outcome. I found this whole segment extremely nerve whacking and well executed. The sudden shooting by snipers was brilliantly unexpected.

Hans is debriefed by the Russians and their new head of security whom has discovered Han's double agent ploy, which Hans defends by saying he's just trying to keep things peaceful. Not the best defence but Irina defends him too and it seems he lives to fight another day and continue his crusade to be a human scarecrow. Ok, made that last bit up, but he once again looks incredibly glum all episode.

The PM in the meantime is holding up in the American Embassy (apparently the only safe place in Norway for him currently) and he we see him hook up via teleconference to the new government and the king, and reveal that he's part of the new government (Seems everyone is on the same side after all that drama) and that his first order will be to create more illegal immigration camps to house any illegal Russians. That seems like a good idea from his perspective but given the events of this episode, I suspect that's the daftest decision he could have made.

Rating 7/10 (GOOD STUFF)

I don't know why, but I was expecting the Queen to be behind the seat, maybe stroking a cat.

He's dead alright! Well Well Well. A primary character is no more.

Masked Men (Russian of course) storm the PM's Office rather too easily.

Hans is the natural negotiator, but even the Norwegian superhero of the hour can't solve this one.

With things about to go badly wrong, the terrorists are taking out by Norwegian Snipers.

Hans escapes a russian inquisition, barely, thanks to Irina's assistance.

Bente has finally had enough of Russians and wants them out of her restaurant.
GET OUT MY PUB! She doesn't say but that's what she would say in Eastenders.

A new government is formed from the umm existing government. 

Occupied S01E07

Synopsis

"Jesper Berg has won the election, but the Russians show no signs leaving Norway. Meanwhile, Hans Martin receives an intriguing offer from the Russians."

What I thought?

What an episode! So much happening this week both political and action wise.

We're thankfully spared the rigmarole of the referendum being played out any longer than necessary, as things start off with the PM not only scoring a victory with that vote, but also scoring with his PA. She's lurking sexily around his bedroom, confirming what I'd suspected for a long time. Those two are getting it on.

At the Norway-Russia border things are hotting up, which given it's ruddy cold out there, is saying something. Somehow the PM manages to get some EU assistance, but it's aircraft to patrol the area minus any actual ammunition. Hmm. In fact, a senior Russian Governmental figure calls the PM with a rather cryptic speech that sounds like a threat made by a James Bond Villain. Its disturbing stuff and the PM is obviously very flustered with a situation that is spiralling out of control, of which he has about as much control as a cog in a machine does. You can tell how stressed he is, as later on he's having a good go at his sex machine PA by complaining about her shoes.

Our main man, Hans, is this week on leave after being placed under an internal investigation what with that Birkeland shooting last week. Seems somehow Arnesen probably manipulated it to make it look like he was more at fault than her. Certainly she's created a good story to cover her "Free Norway" involvement. Rejecting several offers from the Russians to work for them, Hans is cleared by the investigation but is told he can no longer work for the Police department as he's lost his security clearance. That's rather clumsy huh? Anyhow, we all know where this is leading, even if it takes until the last few minutes for the PM and his intelligence chief to personally ask Hans in the comfort of his own house to accept the Russian's offer and become a sort of double agent. Even though she was in another room and shouldn't have been listening, we have Han's wife call him out to make sure he gets them to sign an agreement in writing yo show that he's on Norway's side and not the Russians if he does this.

Thomas's marriage is going south, but he's going East. Using some of his contacts he heads to the Norway-Russian border where a local reindeer hunter reports russian involvement in the area. Thomas not only misses his step-daughter's birthday (Although he sends a video msg) he also seems to have completely missed his wife's affair with the russian security guy. Thomas and wife are at clear odds this week, particularly over their son, who is now involved in a toss of war with his actual mum. There's no news on exactly what happened with him carrying a petrol bomb last week! That seems to have been fully resolved and glossed over. Regardless, Thomas gets a lift into russian territory, although come the end, we see his body being dragged out of a lake. Is he dead? I think we're meant to think so although I'm going to guess he's not. However, would stir things up if he was, huh? Seems this show does do cliffhangers after all!

Meanwhile, Arnesen goes fishing. Well, she meets that General whom we saw earlier in the season who has now retired and recruits him to recruit people who know how to fight to join "Free Norway". He's interested and thus with Iljas's help, Erikkson is sprung from prison as his court case is about to begin in rather dramatic fashion. His transport car is rammed, two police killed rather callously, before we see him with what must be Team Free Norway in the middle of nowhere where the General lurks along with Iljas and plenty of ex-military.

It's an episode full of developments which really shows the strain and pressure on the PM who is seriously not only being screwed by the EU and the Russians, but in some light relief, by his PA.

Rating 7/10 (GOOD STUFF)

And where does she keep her purse? Naughty Naughty PA.

Arnesen meets the now ex-military General to go fishing. 
Literally, he's fishing.

He briefly smiled, but naturally all returned to normal on the news that he was out of a job.

Thomas heads to the border but I doubt he'll want to see many reindeer, unless they are russian reindeer perhaps.

It's got to be said, but the EU Chief comes across as a major twat in this programme.

Aside from the serious issues going on, the PM feels the need to resolve something that he'll undoubtedly put his foot in at some point once again.

Dramatically sprung from jail, Erikkson joins up with a rapidly expanding Free Norway Group.

... you could say that! It's time for Hans to go somewhat as a double agent.

Is Thomas alive? Seems this show can do proper cliffhangers!

Occupied S01E06

Synopsis

"Prime Minister Jesper Berg offers the EU a referendum that goes entirely against his ideology, while Hans Martin attempts to find out who is behind the Viksund attack."

What I thought?

The joint main plotlines for this week involve the aftermath of last week's oil refinery explosion, with the PM trying to find a way to "fix" the problem and get the Russians out of Norway quicker than two quick things. Further removing any creditability that he or his party ever had, he pushes successfully for a referendum where the people of Norway get to vote if they keep producing oil for 10 more years or not. If passed, he sees this as the end of the russian occupation, something that is now much bigger than his credibility. Not only is he losing friends and allies like lemmings, at the end of the episode he looks to have lost his wife somewhat, as she declares she's not sure she wants him to join her in France, where they are moving to shortly. Giving she must know a fair amount, by being his wife, you'd think she'd be more understandable, but apparently he's a changed man. Personally, I reckon this is more likely to do with his affair with his PA.

Hans is continuing to look miserable this week, not least as Arnesen is stopping him from actually doing anything useful in his investigations of the bombing. She's secretly met with the number one suspect Eivind Birkeland again, and although she's now semi-reluctant to help him now, she meekly agrees to his request to get him safe passage out of Norway. However, our man Hans, who wherever there is trouble he'll be, overhears her talking on the phone in the car park to Birkeland. Having heard her say every incriminating word possible, such as "terrorist", "You're wanted", "Don't call me here", and "I'll meet you" follows her to her next meeting with Birkeland . Once she's gone he does his police wannabe stuff and attempts to arrest Birkeland, but before he can, our suspect is shot in the head by a sniper. A rather cheesed off and flustered Hans is later seen at home having a long shower. We're left feeling unclear why he never called for backup in the first place, or what's happened subsequently to Birkeland's body etc. I'm also somewhat convinced that the Russians, who he met earlier, have tipped him off about his boss's dodgy involvement beforehand because he looked like he suspected her most of the episode of being corrupt.

In other developments, Bente's son tries to impress his girl by using the russian bodyguards who know him near the embassy/restaurant to let him pass with a bag hidden with petrol bombs. He bottles it though, literally, but not before he's sent one bomb into his parent's restaurant! What a dope. Sure, we hear him moan about the Russians in Norway, but what exactly have they done that's made his life a hell? This has to be more about impressing the girl than his rambles about Russians. 

Bente himself is lurking about the funeral service for the Russians killed last week, and gets talking to someone who claims he should also have been killed in bomb but was drunk or something like that. He has dressed up for a funeral but looks too cagey to get too close, and legs it when a russian security service guy sees him. Why get dressed then when you must know security would be at service? Anyhow, Bente got his name, but at end of episode we find Bente not only failing to find any information on the guy online but also his employers claim he's never worked for them. 

It's not much of a cliff hanger again, but this show doesn't seem to do those. The heart, soul and action of this show never happens at the very end, but is spread over the course of the episode.

Rating 7/10 (GOOD)

BBC News again. Do they not have their own national news in Norway?

Selfie with a terrorist.

Bente's car gets vandalised. Sadly, no subtitles for most of the language.

After some kissing with her russian security friend at the restaurant, we see Bente's wife sneak home and take a pee. I'm not sure why we needed to see that though.

In a classic overhearing situation, Hans listens as his boss reveals everything to anyone listening about what she's up to.

How to impress a girl; don't torch your parent's business.

HEAD-SHOT!
Yup, I think Birkeland might be dead.

Might I suggest Google?

The PM drops his pants and she says he's not the man he used to be. Hopefully she's talking politically and not personally.

Occupied S01E05

Synopsis

"Prime Minister Jesper Berg looks ahead to the Russians' departure but a major event at an oil and gas facility at Viksund changes the entire political landscape."

What I thought?

Now we know the context behind Arnesen's sudden brain tumour revelation last week, as this week she decides to help terrorist group "Free Norway" secretly by meeting with one of them and providing info. This all seems very much specially instigated to provide some extra impetus for the terrorist group by the writers. One can see it makes sense as she has nothing to lose, but if her brain tumour had been more common knowledge from episode one, this may not have come across as a contrived storyline.

Reporter Bente gets chastised by the editor for posting a story that goes too far at criticising the PM. The editor has been given the blow-dryer treatment from the government and gets all panicked by it, whereas Bente goes ape, apparently quitting his job during the argument. At his wife's restaurant, there's a russian farewell dinner tonight; a goodbye meal we all feel is unlikely to hold true, given this is only episode 5. Although Bente actually decides to tell his wife about the threats to her business, he then gets contacted by "Free Norway" and told to meet them miles away within a certain time period. Concerned as to what that means for the restaurant, he legs it to the location without telling his wife just as a bomb goes off at the rendezvous point, which happens to be a refinery distribution centre full to the brim with Russians. Think we can all gather that the Russians aren't going home after all. Fancy that! The perceived threat to the restaurant being changed to the oil refinery was nicely done, because everything was heavily suggested to be the restaurant up until this point.

Meanwhile, the two lads on the run from last week are picking cabbages, presumably for money and keeping a low profile. Iljas however, for reasons not really understood, borrows another workers mobile and contacts his sister to arrange a meeting. This is all tracked and watched by the secret service and our man Hans. Iljas's meeting with his sister and uncle is somewhat brief when they offer him passage to Canada. I'm not sure what everyone's logic is here but seems his family want to protect someone they openly know planted that bomb last week, and Iljas himself then gets angry at them and storms off. What was that meeting all about then? Bit confusing. Anyhow, as he's being tracked, this leads to the police zooming in on his and Eriksson, who gets arrested but Iljas somehow gets away.

Aside form all this, our PM finds his position under question, and comes across really as someone stuck between a rock and a hard place. Thankfully it's heavily suggested that he might get some relief via his PA who he seems to have a little bit on the side with.

Rating

7/10 (GOOD)

... It's a box. How secure is that?

Ok, there's a phone in the box. Arnesen muddles the waters this week by supplying information to terrorist group "Free Norway"

It's the Russian farewell party at what must be, I guess, the only restaurant in town.

... Obviously being PM has it's perks then?

The PM and his PA get all OTT with their interpersonal skills. Well, it's suggested but not actually seen.

... which means it has EVERYTHING to do with your abilities as a leader.

Picking cabbages is certainly not a lot of fun.

Bente has balls to say that to his editor and boss.

Meanwhile, Bente's wife gets friendly with one of the russian security services. I'd be surprised if it doesn't get physical at some point.

Erikisson makes a real shambles of his escape, especially given he had a tip-off that the police were coming.

There's a shocking end to the episode for Bente and us viewers.

A car bomb full of Russians detonates at an oil refinery.