BORGEN: Season 3

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

On DVD from MHz is the most amazing series going into Season 3 with BORGEN.

This series tells the story of Birgitte Nyborg (Sidse Babett Knudsen), and when Season 2 ended her position as Prime Minister of Denmark was about to change. Coming in two years later so much in Nyborg’s life has drastically changed.

Now traveling as a speaker, the former Prime Minister Nyborg travels much of the time. The relationships with husband Michael is in a good place and her children Laura (Freja Riemann) and Magnus (Emil Poulsen) have adjusted.

Finally, a little personal happiness has come into her life as British architect Jeremy Welsh makes his feelings known. With all of this one would think it would be enough, but not for Nyborg as she begins to feel the pangs of politics.

Approaching Kruse, the leader of the Moderate party, to come back she is quickly rebuffed. Hearing what the new ideals of the party are she comes to terms with the face that she no longer supports what the Moderates are doing.

Only Birgitte Nyborg could shake things up when she puts together a new party to challenge the status quo. Hiring television reporter Katrine Fonsmark (Birgitte Sorensen), the New Democrats come together with members of other parties including Bent Sejro (Lars Knutzon) and take on issues that will get them into parliament.

With the media watching along with Torben Friis (Sorn Malling) of TV1, Hanne Holm (Benedikte Hansen) and Simon Bech (Anders Juul), even Kasper Juul (Pilou Asbaek) can’t help throwing in his experience with Nyborg.

Nothing is off limits as the new party takes on pork farmers, in-house spies, communism and sex workers with a Season 3 finale that only BORGEN can provide!

FINAL WORD: Knudsen as Nyborg is a knock out! Once again as the center of this series she is riveting to watch. This season Knudsen’s character takes so many risks that I almost felt like I was being intrusive. I can’t imagine anyone else playing this role and trust me when I say no one else could. This is a female character who is intelligent, emotional, rational, realistic and, most importantly, a feeling human being. Knudsen seems to have a grasp on all of those delivering episode after episode and viewers are thrilled.

Sorensen as Fonsmark really breaks out this season. At the end of Season Two, this character was attempting to have a relationship and life with Kasper Juul. Wanting children was a big issue with this couple and now, in Season Three, Fonsmark gets her wish. Of course immediately it can be said ‘be careful what you wish for’ and that comes into play repeatedly. Sorensen plays every aspect of a new mother, jilted lover and working woman with such believability its crazy!

The TV1 staff with Malling, Hansen, Juul and Asbaek come will a full plate of issues, changes, investigating and calling the boss! They pull together and play so well as a group. I love the scenes in the office watching the characters bounce off each other.

Other cast include: Soren Spanning as Lars Hesselboe, Morten Kirkskov as Niels Lund, Peter Mygind as Michael Laugesen, and Ole Thestrup as Svend Age Saltum.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give BORGEN: Season 3 – five tubs of popcorn out of five. This series is just absolutely amazing. Can you tell I’m a ridiculously a huge fan? There are reasons for this. First and foremost, this series has a brilliant storyline that never gets tired taking on very serious issues and not letting anything slide in the resolution.

Second, the cast is stellar – period. Every character in this series has a purpose for being there and no situation is wasted. Led by the marvelous Knudsen whose own story line in Season Three is very close to home for many women, it does so without dripping with platitudes.

Instead, once again, the writers and Knudsen put together a woman who is completely realistic which is why, to my way of thinking, the series is relevant. This actress portrays a character that is strong, rational when needed and irrational with reason, she is loving – not only of her family but also of her country – she is smart and thorough giving those around her the same chance to succeed.

Supported by Sorensen as Fonsmark, she is another woman who is going through drastic changes. Realizing that motherhood isn’t just answering the biological clock, she comes to terms with her biggest fears, loss of love and finding a happy medium for it all.

Season Three is definitely woman oriented but not overly so. I did miss having Kasper behind the political curtain but giving Sorenson a chance to step forward I’m hoping beyond hope there could be a Season Four that will put them head-to-head as equal spin-doctors. A girl can dream can’t she?

BORGEN actually means ‘the castle’ referring to Christiansborg Palace which is where Parliament, the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court are located. Written and produced by Adam Price, he is also responsible for the original Danish hit series THE KILLING. 

For the complete series go to http://shop.mhznetworks.org and you will also be able to browse the other series MHz has to offer.

In the end – BORGEN is everything and more in television programming!