saffronhare

I got an email from the friendly folks at Netflix last night, alerting me to a new "original" series created Just for Netflix. For once, I had some time, so I clicked the Internet and watched the first couple of episodes of Lillyhammer. (Yes, I know it's misspelled. I think it's on purpose. Please let me believe it's on purpose.)

A very odd 90 minutes later, I'm don't know what I think about it.

PRO:
~ Actual Norwegian people (like, only about a half-dozen of the people in the cast or production credits have non-Norsk kind of names).
~ In actual Norway (lots of fantabulous Norwegian scenery), using what seems to be real-life locations or at least very realistic studio sets.
~ Speaking their native language (mixed with some English)and looking like normal people (not Hollywood-ified versions of themselvs).
~ Truly excellent use of Norsk humor.
~ Sheep. Plus, a disgruntled Elvis impersonator.

CON:
~ Terribly unoriginal premise of mobster going into witness protection program and starting out as a fish out of water in his new "hometown."
~ Steven Van Zandt isn't particularly easy on the eyes (so sue me).
~ New dude in town gets the girl into bed really unreasonably quickly (I'm not against sex on television, but this was just sort of gratuitously, er...gratuitous).
~ Character immediately begins dispensing "mob rules" wisdom, which endears him to all the right people and allows him to begin taking over the town. Except, suddenly, blackmail and bribery and money laundering are OKAY. Like the local yahoos have never heard of such things and were just waiting for somebody really smart to come along and show them all they've been missing. I really hope the series develops such that maybe Dude changes some of *his* ways instead of showing everyone that the mob way is how things oughta be done.