Perfect Netflix series hailed as must watch hidden gem as fans binge for 16,500,000 hours
'Gut-bustlingly funny'
Featured Image Credit: NRK1
Topics: Netflix, Streaming, Reddit, Film and TV
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Netflix, Streaming, Reddit, Film and TV
Netflix fans are besotted with a Viking comedy series that's scored perfect ratings.
The streaming giant offers titles for every mood, from gritty crime dramas to hard-hitting documentaries.
However, there are moments when we crave something a bit lighter.
And if you fancy a good laugh, then this hidden gem TV series could be exactly what you're looking for.
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The show first broadcast on Norwegian network NRK1 before being picked up by Netflix and brought to the attention of the rest of the world.
Yet the show was uniquely filmed in both English and Norwegian simultaneously, meaning you can comfortably watch with neither subbing nor dubbing if you're not fluent in Norwegian.
The dark comedy series is set in the year 790 AD, transporting us to the tiny Viking settlement of Norheim.
Here, the everyday lives of chieftains, warriors, farmers and slaves collide in rather absurd ways.
And rather than epic battles, the six-episode first season focuses on village power struggles, relationship drama and the juxtaposition of Viking brutality and the calmer joys of life - like art, theater and, uh, monogamous marriage...
Henrik Mestad, Nils Jørgen Kaalstad and Kåre Conradi lead the cast, delivering perfectly timed comedic performances.
The show ran for three seasons in total, between 2016 and 2020.
And despite its rave reviews and incredible ratings, some people are only just hearing about it.
The show we're talking about here is called Norsemen, of course.
The discussion began on Reddit, where one person asked for recommendations on series people consider underrated, yet are 'must-watch.'
While the thread was flooded with stellar suggestions, one in particular stood out
"First season is comedy platinum!" one person reckoned, adding: "The metered way they pronounce everything with a vocal inflection up at the end of every sentence has me rolling!"
Another agreed: "I loved Norsemen," as a third said: "So underrated!"
The praise continued over on Rotten Tomatoes, where the show's first season racked up a flawless 100 per cent score from critics.
"A cross between The Office and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, it's absurdist, occasionally gross and beautifully original," Globe and Mail's John Doyle said.
Decider's Jade Budowski, meanwhile, hailed it 'disarmingly, gut-bustlingly funny.'
Audience members were in agreement, as one described it as 'one of the best comedies in recent years.'
"Brilliant, moving and very funny. And maintains a very high standard throughout the seasons. Absolutely worth a watch," another said.
On IMDB, it was rated a solid 7.7, as one keen fan summed it up: "A goofy Viking spoof, with twisted humor and great costuming. What's not to love?!"
All three seasons of Norsemen are streaming now on Netflix.