Borgen [** Spoilers **]

Cosmic Maybe

Borgen has definitely been the best thing on tv this year. What annoys me though is that BBC 4 insisted on showing it in 2 hour chunks. Why? I find it a bit strange especially since it was originally broadcast over 10 weeks in Denmark. All the episodes (apart from the African peace treaty ones) are self contained and don't benefit from being shown as double bills. I saw the first series when they repeated it one episode a week during the summer and found that way much better. Also, you'd think it would benefit the BBC to space them out considering the second episode always has a lot lower ratings then the first.

goose2005

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I don't know if that's how it really works but that's how they explained it on the show. It didn't matter that her party was one of the smaller in the coalition because the leaders of the bigger parties couldn't get anyone to back their deals with them as PM. She made enough concessions on policy and ministries that Labour were willing to take her deal with her as PM and their leader as deputy.

I'd assume it doesn't happen in real life even if it's possible as a bigger party is never going to concede PM to a smaller party. The bigger party usually coerces a small party into doing their bidding.

Maybe Labour didn't want a Green PM and the greens didn't want a Labour PM, so she was chosen as the least disagreeable option?

The Black Oil

That's something I've been wondering about as well. I don't know what Danish/Swedish they first showed on BBC4 - The Killing? Perhaps they found that the double helpings were a hit in the ratings and that became the formula for the broadcast schedule for all their Scandinavian drama. 2 episodes on a Saturday became part of the hype, I suppose.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

^ I think they did it initially because they weren't sure if people would tune in for ten weeks for a subtitled Danish show. By having two episodes a week it made it like an "event". Like you'd stay in for 2 hours of TV on a Saturday, you might not for just one hour.

I think that worked well for something like The Killing, and even for The Bridge because various things ran through the episodes and having only one episode a week might have been a bit frustrating as a viewer, might have sent people running to find the whole series elsewhere. Two episodes a week would give you enough answers to keep you waiting until the next week. However, as said already, I'm not sure that was necessary with Borgen and I must admit some nights I'd find myself struggling towards the end of the 2nd episode to keep paying attention.

Plus, if they had The Killing, The Bridge and then Borgen all on one episode a week for 10 weeks, that's 30 weeks of 52 filled for the year. The way they've shown them they've only filled 15 weeks.

Cosmic Maybe

Interesting interview with Sidse Babett Knudsen aka Birgitte Nyborg

http://www.digitalspy.ie/tv/news/a458304/borgen-qa-with-star-sidse-babett-knudsen-video.html

Fluorescence

Great interview. She's so lovely

seligehgit

Love the fact that the Beeb show a double helping of Borgen even if the plots are not related,makes for a damn good Saturday night,ditto Forbrydelsen and Broen.These programs are so good it is hard enough having to wait for the following week's helping without stetching out a season on the double.

seligehgit

Love the fact that the Beeb show a double helping of Borgen even if the plots are not related,makes for a damn good Saturday night,ditto Forbrydelsen and Broen.These programs are so good it is hard enough having to wait for the following week's helping without stretching out a season on the double.

Cosmic Maybe

Good news!!! BBC 4 have confirmed that they've acquired the third series of Borgen.

Bad news - have to wait till January 2014.

Bit about it in the Guardian:

Borgen to return to BBC for third series *SPOILER ALERT*

expectationlost

borgen is great but is very simplistic at times, don't ya think

Fluorescence

expectationlost wrote: »

borgen is great but is very simplistic at times, don't ya think

What makes you say so?

expectationlost

Fluorescence wrote: »

What makes you say so?

well they deal with complex issue, but sometimes very simply, brigette gets horney over some man fixing her sink :rolleyes:, kasper says to katrine that her boyfriend is a dope, she goes home and shouts at him for not paying attention to politics, katrine fights with her boss in the first season are not just idealistic but simplistic.

TwoShedsJackson

expectationlost wrote: »

well they deal with complex issue, but sometimes very simply, brigette gets horney over some man fixing her sink :rolleyes:, kasper says to katrine that her boyfriend is a dope, she goes home and shouts at him for not paying attention to politics, katrine fights with her boss in the first season at very not idealistic but simplistic.

Birgitte shagging the driver had been building since the start of season 2 after she was seperated from the husband. I found that they didn't rush most plotlines, what was it episode 4 or 5 before that happened and they had been emphasising her loneliness and the pressure she was under with her job for quite a while before that.

If it was just a case of her 'getting horny over some man fixing her sink' they could have thrown in some 80s porn 'boom chikka waa waa' music too!!

expectationlost

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Birgitte shagging the driver had been building since the start of season 2 after she was seperated from the husband. I found that they didn't rush most plotlines, what was it episode 4 or 5 before that happened and they had been emphasising her loneliness and the pressure she was under with her job for quite a while before that.

If it was just a case of her 'getting horny over some man fixing her sink' they could have thrown in some 80s porn 'boom chikka waa waa' music too!!

okay so the arc has been building but it was a bit of cliche you have to admit, people fly off the handle at moments notice, also they never seem any time to interview anybody on that tv show, the producers are alwys saying times up katrine. every bloody time, she never gets to ask many questions.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

expectationlost wrote: »

okay so the arc has been building but it was a bit of cliche you have to admit, people fly off the handle at moments notice, also they never seem any time to interview anybody on that tv show, the producers are alwys saying times up katrine. every bloody time, she never gets to ask many questions.

She's presenting the news, live. Have you ever watched the evening news here? They have experts on all the time and only give them a minute to talk.
The odd scene where they're on tat debate show they obviously don't show us the entire thing, just the end where they wrap it up.

expectationlost

you think they develop a newsnight type show where they get more time then, and use their access to the politicians access judicioulsy

snubbleste

Borgen writer has a film out.
Remember that one of the episodes in Season 2 had Danish soldiers being held hostage by Somali pirates?
In Tobias Lindholm's drama the crew of a Danish cargo ship are taken hostage after their boat is boarded by Somali pirates. The film is inspired by real events and scripted by Lindholm, the writer behind Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt and TV series Borgen. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2013/mar/20/a-hijacking-trailer-video

_Whimsical_

Has anyone found decent subtitles anywhere for Borgen series 3?
Any point in the right direction here or via PM would be VERY gratefully received.

DeepBlue

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Has anyone found decent subtitles anywhere for Borgen series 3?
Any point in the right direction here or via PM would be VERY gratefully received.

Perhaps post #590 might be of help on this thread.
I can't vouch for them as I haven't tried them myself. I think I'll just wait until the BBC airs them.

The Black Oil

Even the AV Club have gotten on board. Hopefully it'll make Americans more aware of it and they'll stay away from a remake.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/count-to-90,97772/

Sheela

Photos and opening credits from series 3 here

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-02-08/borgen-series-3---picture-and-video-preview

Can't wait!

DeepBlue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccta_uZCeC0

No Kasper in the new title sequence except on one of the TV sets (with new hair style).

Is he not returning for series 3?

Fluorescence

He's on the credits, so yeah I hope so. He'd better be - he's the main reason I watch Borgen. Best storyline, most disgustingly beautiful actor :pac:

Sheela

I read somewhere that he is returning...

He is going to be working with Torben on the TV show

Has anyone seen A Hijacking? Thought it was v good..

The Black Oil

I'd venture the Americans will have season 3 of Borgen before us.

(US only)

http://www.linktv.org/borgen

brian_t

According to DigiGuide the third and final season starts on Saturday 16th November.

Two episodes starting at 9.00pm.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

^ What a pleasant surprise! I was expecting it to be January again.

brian_t

Confirmation. (Although not by the BBC yet)

Birgitte's Back - and who's got her back? Bent? Kaspar? Katrine?
Find out in the first double episode on Saturday 16th November!

https://www.facebook.com/BorgenUK

mafaa

DeepBlue wrote: »

Perhaps post #590 might be of help on this thread.
I can't vouch for them as I haven't tried them myself. I think I'll just wait until the BBC airs them.

any idea when air ?

brian_t

mafaa wrote: »

any idea when air ?

Saturday 16th November 9.00pm

_Whimsical_

brian_t wrote: »

Saturday 16th November 9.00pm

Setting my ntl box right now.

spank_inferno

Set my sky box!

I hope Birgitte is still a stone cold milf.

Sheela

Sidse Babett Knudsen was on Newsnight tonight - here is a section of her interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jsSx0fopmE

Interview with Adam Price in the Guardian (some spoilers contained within)

http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/nov/14/borgen-creator-adam-price-birgitte-nyborg-third-series

Really looking forward to this ....

Full interview here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggf2a090bcA&feature=youtu.be

The Black Oil

3.01, 3.02

So, change afoot for everyone, and with a price. It's never been within the Borgen universe for Kasper and Katrine to have a stable relationship, plus the Bent/Nyborg one has a few dents in it, also. Cutthroat and underhand shenanigans. We are back.

And yes, everyone needs to do a helicopter trip over Hong Kong.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Did they actually go to Hong Kong just to shoot those few seconds of one episode? What kind of massive budget do they have?

Anyway......

Not feeling Kasper's new look, hardly recognised him. Other than that it's very good to have Borgen back

PeterDuggan

Anyone else notice a lip sync problem on BBC4 last night?

The Black Oil

The only thing I'd count against it, or have mixed feelings on, is Birgitte's idealism. It's a light that burns brightly in the show, and I'm sure there will be bumps along the way as with previous seasons, but at times like the press conference it's almost too clean and idealisitic. Supposed it has to be, though. :pac:

I presume Torben is going to be challenged even more by Alex (Warner Bros bloke).

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Does Torbin have a thing for Katrine himself? Or is he just worried about losing his job?

seligehgit

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Does Torbin have a thing for Katrine himself? Or is he just worried about losing his job?

Doubting that,it does seem to be implied that if he does'nt start producing success stories that bring in high ratings Alex will sack him.Yeah Birgitte's idealism is a tad unrealistic in modern day politics.The instability of Katrine and Kasper's relationship is definitely matched by that of Bent and Birgitte and a recurring theme.Really enjoyed the double bill,no sign of the rather boring home crisis that plagued Birgitte last season,stick to the politicking and media world!

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

seligehgit wrote: »

,no sign of the rather boring home crisis that plagued Birgitte last season,stick to the politicking and media world!

No, but it seems to have spread to Katrine this series. Struggling to keep a good position outside the home while Kasper has no problem with his new job and being a part time dad.

cpb

Does anyone know if it will be repeated during the week. Missed it on Sat night. Thanks

Sheela

No, this is not being repeated like in previous years.

*someone* I know was able download it from a torrent website during the last series

Or do a google search on how to watch from the BBC iplayer

The Black Oil

3.03 & 3.04

OK. I'd have to be somewhat critical of the first episode. There was a bit too much of moving people around, having them do 180s, hiring and firing - all a little crammed in (the shedding of people at the end made a bit more sense). But hey, they hadn't even landed as a party, and the episode had the broom cupboard conference room and creative workshop chairs!

'Pakistani prophet of doom' - now there's a phrase that'll stick. Glad it was in the script and how they opened up that whole discussion. They need to have the grey haired bloke in the suit more to do.

Torben and Katrine seem to be taking most of the bruisings of this season, though his GTFO to Alex was great. Her brother was always going to get burned by the pig story. Messed up stuff, but not surprising. Glad Healy-Rae, sorry, Saltum, is still in the picture.

seligehgit

Found these episodes lacking in a certain bite,whole storyline around the setting up of the new party is rather boring.As for pig industry story,surely they could come up with something more meaty!:D I do know how important it is to the Danish economy but it hardly makes for riveting viewing.
Brilliant to have Svend Age Saltum back,he's such a caricature but highly entertaining,Healy Rae(esque).A buffoon likely to be very dangerous in power.Katrine is struggling to get over Kasper,poor Torben is really having a tough time of it at the moment.I definitely think the first season's fare was far superior to what's been on offer thus far.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

What's up with Birgitte's shaky hands? She dropped a box because her fingers were numb and then she kept clenching the same hand when her and Sick Boy were eating risotto.

I didn't like Kasper's new hair last week, but I really don't like his bald head. I assume we're seeing less of Kasper this year because he's been busy making films in real life, and I assume this is the reason for the new look too? Shame.

It doesn't seem quite as intense as it did the last two series. It's a bit strange for them to go this new route with Birgitte when this is the last series they're doing. It seems a bit like it's been tacked on at the end of her political career. Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying it but it's..... different.

spank_inferno

Does anyone know if Denmark & Danes are as hyper-stylised as portrayed in Borgen?
Or are people a bit more 'Normal'.

Also, the wealth on display seems baffling.
Katerine earned over €13k for doing very little in Birgittes failed leadership campaign.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

spank_inferno wrote: »

Also, the wealth on display seems baffling.
Katerine earned over €13k for doing very little in Birgittes failed leadership campaign.

Birgitte had a lot of money from her public speaking and being on the boards of some companies. I think she did overspend a bit on that campaign though, as evidenced by her and the kids moving down a grade or two in the housing market.

EaSwe

This. The whole programme is like an Ikea ad, everyone's home is perfect and contemporary, a bit too much so. And the TV1 office! It's like Scandinavian design porn.

spank_inferno wrote: »

Does anyone know if Denmark & Danes are as hyper-stylised as portrayed in Borgen?
Or are people a bit more 'Normal'.

Also, the wealth on display seems baffling.
Katerine earned over €13k for doing very little in Birgittes failed leadership campaign.

DeepBlue

EaSwe wrote: »

This. The whole programme is like an Ikea ad, everyone's home is perfect and contemporary, a bit too much so. And the TV1 office! It's like Scandinavian design porn.

I want want want Kasper's flat.

I wouldn't mind his social life either. :pac:

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Do you think Birgitte having an English boyfriend is just fan service? Acknowledgement that there's a big fan base in the English speaking world? I can't see any other significance to him being English. He could easily have been a Danish business man. I don't like it when they speak so much English, it confuses me.