This Danish television series has me captivated and I have watched all the episodes more than once. In fact I am learning a few Danish expressions with the repetition. It is subtitled. I am not alone in finding this a worthwhile series. So while it is about Denmark and made for Danes, it definitely transcends its country and is relevant worldwide. 70 countries show this series; strangely not Canada. So popular is this series that “Borgen” is becoming a word adopted in common speech to mean complexity.
I am thinking of fall nights and tea and a fire and the pleasures of this series. It is stimulating and presents uniquely issues that are part of our lives. Denmark has a coalition government and this series is about Brigitte Nyborg, the current prime minister and what it takes to manage a coalition. As a Canadian, it makes you think about what is going to happen in our upcoming election and if our female Green Party leader is onto something when she speaks of coalition, not a Canada friendly concept.
While it is a political drama and causes us to think through our positions on prostitution, engagement in war, First Nations issues (Greenland) and mental health care, it also takes us into all the reality of family dynamics where both parents work and the mother is the prime minister. It does all this with such sensitivity. I am particularly touched by the episode on Greenland. It makes me think of our own north and the First Nations issues there. I cannot watch this one dry eyed.
The episodes on the mental and emotional health of Laura, the daughter bring home the reality of teen mental health and its impact on the family system. The series changes the way you think about the fairness of the health care system in the area of emotional health.
As well it has a second story line. Here we see the media and the government interface. This second drama is exciting and full of memorable characters with their own complex traumas.
There is a problem with accessing this fine drama series in Canada. This past summer TVO showed the first season. The public library carries all the seasons but there is a waiting list. I found that you can sign up for all the seasons and then when you finish one hopefully you will not have to wait too long for the next. As well speciality CD/video stores carry Borgen. You can also access most episodes via the internet. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am.