From Stranger Things to The Vampire Diaries, a number of sci-fi shows have become streaming hits and cultural sensations. From time-travel stories to shows about monsters and supernatural beings, sci-fi shows have a tendency to win over viewers and leave them at the edge of their seats. But while some have become streaming hits, others have remained under the radar. The Norwegian series Beforeigners, for instance, is certainly one of them. The two-season series, which first released in 2019, has earned an impressive 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and is a must-watch for sci-fi fans.
What Is ‘Beforeigners’ About?
Nicolai Cleve Broch and Krista Kosonen in Beforeigners.Image via HBO
Set in the near future in Oslo, Norway, Beforeigners starts off with a new and unprecedented phenomenon in which powerful flashes of light occur in the ocean and people from the past mysteriously reappear. These people, who are nicknamed “beforeigners” and “timeigrants,” come from three distinct time periods: the Stone Age, the Viking era and the late 19th century. As they seek refuge in present-day society, they struggle to adjust and assimilate to their new reality, while society also struggles to let them in.
Seven years after the first flashes started taking place, burned-out police officer Lars Haaland (Nicolai Cleve Broch) is paired with the first beforeigner to join the police force: Alfhildr (Krista Kosonen), who comes from the Viking Age. Together, the two are tasked with solving the murder of a woman with Stone Age tattoos who’s found on a beach. As their investigation unfolds, they begin to unravel a larger conspiracy behind the origin of the mysterious mass arrivals.
‘Beforeigners’ Is an Underrated Sci-Fi Gem
Jonathan Chedeville and Oddgeir Thune in Beforeigners.Image via HBO
From the concept alone, it’s safe to say that Beforeigners, which was HBO Nordic’s first original series from Norway, has a lot going on. In addition to telling its country’s history through the beforeigners themselves, the show also balances being a detective drama, a mystery, and a buddy cop show. Luckily, it does so in a way that feels gripping, unexpected and nail-biting. From the reviews, audiences have highlighted how seamlessly the show’s themes intertwine and join as puzzle pieces to the same story. Plus, by using the beforeigners as a metaphor for real-life immigration and xenophobia, the show also delivered hard-hitting social commentary that doesn’t feel forced or jaded.
Lastly, the chemistry between main stars Broch and Kosonen becomes the heart of the show. While Lars has become run-down with his life and career, Alfhildr and her warrior-like idealism come into his life like a breath of fresh air. In many ways, the two of them are extreme opposites, and it leads to a humorous and almost electric dynamic between them. In addition to Brosh and Kosonen, Beforeigners also stars Stig R. Amdam, Ragnhild Gudbrandsen, Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin, Nader Khademi, Lavrans Haga, and Kyrre Haugen Sydness, among others.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi, detective dramas, historical fictions, mysteries, and international shows, Beforeigners is the show for you. In addition to ticking all those boxes, the series manages to deliver its high-concept plot in a way that’s both entertaining and intellectually engaging. By having the main mystery be about the death of a beforeigner, the show uses mystery and humor to get viewers thinking about belonging, identity, and the complexities of modern multicultural societies, all while leaving them at the edge of their seats. The two-season series is certainly a hidden gem, but hopefully not for long.
Release Date
August 21, 2019
Network
HBO Nordic, HBO Max
Directors
Jens Lien
Writers
Anne Bjørnstad
Nicolai Cleve Broch
Lars Haaland
Krista Kosonen
Alfhildr Enginsdottir
Ragnhild Gudbrandsen
Wenche
Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin
Ingrid