Borgen is a Danish political drama television series that follows Birgitte Nyborg’s rise to power as Denmark’s first female prime minister. When the show debuted in 2011, TV and film adaptations of the Nordic Noir genre were enjoying an early peak of popularity. Across books, film, and television, the genre continues to intrigue readers and viewers alike. While Borgen is not a police procedural or cop show, thanks to similar storyline and the Scandinavian setting, it’s classified as a Nordic Noir for many, or at least as close as a dark political drama can be to one.
Borgen is Back
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It rapidly became a strong favorite in the golden age of television, focusing not only on the internal politics of Borgen, but also on the personal lives of the politicians and journalists who worked there; for many, it was considered The West Wing of European television. This was a significant accomplishment since it was Denmark’s first effort at a political drama, and it attracted worldwide attention. Now, after a decade-long break, the political drama is back, and made a much-anticipated return on Netflix on 2 June (a continuation, but now under the title Borgen - Power & Glory), with a much darker and sinister feel that leans more towards its Nordic Noir style. In an interview with The Guardian, co-writer Adam Price said that the time was right to bring the show back:
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The cast also talk about re-visiting their characters:
“We did say to each other that if the right story came along, we would try to get the band back together again. Sidse actually said, ‘See you in 10 years’! Then the right story did appear, though at the time I didn’t know it would end up being Borgen.”
So what is Borgen about, and why should everyone be watching it? The heart of this show is the strong female lead played wonderfully by Sidse Babett Knudsen. She plays Birgitte Nyborg, who is powered by her principles and fights fiercely for what she believes to be right. A powerful aspect to Borgen is seeing a woman in power, she can be tough as nails, yet also warm and soft, as she does her best to hold her family together amidst big changes. She embodies perseverance and vulnerability in a way that is both impressive and, of course just human. There are many lessons that can be taught from watching Borgen, so let’s find out why you should watch it.
“I didn’t think about it until I got the call and then when I started reading the first script, it felt like finding an old friend on Facebook.”
Women Empowerment
While the show is considered a feminist masterpiece simply because it centers on a woman in power, it goes much deeper than that. Many narratives in Borgen deal with issues and politics that impact women all around the world. The writers bring up a number of concerns, including sex work, abortion rights, and gender equality. Women’s voices in the media are portrayed through the character of Katrine Fønsmark, who is regularly confronted with sexism. This portrayal is incredibly powerful to watch and can also be quite educating.
Although, in the season two finale, critics did question Birgitte’s qualifications as prime minister with the comments focusing on her gender: “I’d love to debate politics, but I’ll be damned if I’ll debate my gender.” However, strong women still sometimes struggle, especially with mental health, which is also something that has been highlighted brilliantly and sensitively in Borgen and another reason why you should give it a watch.
Mental Health and Social Issues
Borgen follows the ways in which Birgitte needs to deal with social pressures in a way that a man would not. The show is very aware of the double standard as she fights to keep her marriage together or spend enough time with her children. Although, throughout the show, Birgitte’s marriage, her children’s mental health, and their relationships with her all suffer.
For example, season two features a story involving an anxiety disorder. Birgitte’s teenage daughter, Laura suffers a panic attack, and the subsequent diagnosis and treatment are handled with care while of course still bringing drama into the story. Featuring scenes tackling serious mental health issues in the storyline, especially its effects on young people, is valuable for the audience. Not only can it be extremely eye-opening, but it can educate and spread awareness of the severity to these issues. Every episode addresses at least one socially relevant issue and sometimes many at once. Debates about race, class, gender, religion, and immigration are prevalent throughout the series, as well as portraying how damaging it can be.
Ultimately, Borgen is a show about people doing the best they can under the extremely difficult circumstances. They have a lot to learn and try to juggle a tricky work-life balance. Sound relatable? Some may say that it is a show simply about life, one that everyone can relate to and maybe learn something from. If you haven’t yet seen it, it should definitely be put on the must-watch list.
