Norsemen (TV series)

Norsemen is a Norwegian comedy television series created by Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgersen. It premiered on NRK1 in Norway in 2016 under the original title Vikingane (The Vikings). The series is notable for being filmed simultaneously in both Norwegian and English, with each scene shot twice using the same cast. The English version, titled Norsemen, is distributed internationally, primarily through Netflix.

The show is a parody of Viking life, portraying the inhabitants of the village of Norheim as they deal with daily life, inter-village politics, and interactions with other cultures. Norsemen utilizes an anachronistic comedic style, blending historically inspired settings and costumes with modern dialogue, social norms, and contemporary issues, creating a humorous contrast. The series is known for its dark humor, absurd situations, and satirical commentary on societal norms.

The main characters include the chieftain Olav, his wife Hildur, his second-in-command Arvid, and Orm, a slave. Recurring themes involve power struggles, cultural clashes, raiding expeditions, and the challenges of adapting to new ideas and technologies.

Norsemen received positive reviews for its originality, humor, and production quality. It ran for three seasons.