Where would the Agsardian gods, caught in modern times, live? In the fjords of Norway, where the forces of nature are still as strong as humanity's destructive influence. Canobu contributor Mari Grigoryan tells us about a Netflix chamber film series that takes the familiar plot of Norse mythology, but in a way that has nothing to do with Marvel.
Ragnarok
Release year: 2020 onwards.
Genre: fantasy, thriller, superhero
Length: 12 episodes - 9 hours
Where to watch: Netflix
Synopsis of the story
A woman named Turid (Henriette Steenstrup) returns to the fictional Norwegian town of Edda with her two teenage sons, Magne (David Alexander Schoholt) and Lauritz (Jonas Strandt Gravely). When the children were young, the whole family lived in Edda, but after the mysterious death of her husband, Turid had to leave. When they return, strange things begin to happen in the town: for example, an old stranger approaches Magna and touches her forehead for some reason.
Edda is in turmoil: the inhabitants are often sick, and many blame the dirty production - the factories of the Jotul family. The Jotul children, Fjor (Herman Tommeraas) and Saksa (Teresa Frostad Eggesbø) go to the same school as Magne and Lauritz and always confidently defend their parents' reputation, assuring them that the factories are not harmful to the environment. Magne's new friend Isolde (Ilva Tedin Björkaas), a young eco-activist, doesn't believe this at all.
Suddenly, Isolde dies in a mountain accident. But the circumstances of her death are very unusual, and Magne is convinced that he has seen Vidar Jotul, the head of the company and father of Fjor and Saksa, nearby. While investigating the death of his girlfriend, the teenager gradually realizes that he is dealing with subjects unknown to ordinary people... and an encounter with an old woman has suddenly revealed to him a divine physical power.
Things to remember
"Ragnarök" is billed on Netflix as a superhero series. But in tone, it's a far cry from the Marvel films featuring Thor, culturalist and folkloric humor, and comic interpretations of Norse mythology. Above all, it's very aesthetically pleasing: the city of Edda is surrounded by snowy Nordic mountains, both beautiful and dangerous. The events of Ragnarök unfold slowly, interspersed with scenes of Edda's ordinary life and the teenage problems of Magne, Lauritz, Fjor, and other students. In addition to divine (almost superheroic) powers and an unusual plot, the series finds room for well-developed characters, touching relationships, and interesting developments.
In the development of mythology, the authors are as good as Neil Gaiman and his book American Gods. In the novel, the heroes of myths and legends came to the United States with immigrants and lived among the people, impoverished and weakened by the fact that humanity had stopped believing in them. The old gods took on different forms, and the new inventions of humans gave rise to new gods - incarnations of mass media, technology, and the internet.
The story of Ragnarok is a bit smaller, as only the Norse gods operate in this world. Many of them are still in their teens, such as Magne, Lauritz and the heroine of season two, Iman, the respective incarnations of Thor, Loki and Freya. However, the series doesn't lose at all. The plot is simple but fascinating, with a tense confrontation between the gods and the Jotuns. And the evil ice giants, like the characters in American Gods, have adapted perfectly to life among humans: they make a lot of money and influence with their factories, but they also pollute and destroy the planet, bringing the coveted end of the world closer.
That said, Ragnarök has a fine cast of Scandinavian actors who excel in their roles. The villains are brilliant, especially Icelandic actor Gisli Orn Gardarsson (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) as Vidar, a fearsome and bloodthirsty leader who in the eyes of the audience comes across as a true gentleman and exemplary family man. But the most interesting thing was the local version of Loki. Played by Norwegian actor Jonas Strandt Gravely ("Detective Visting"), he gradually transforms from a sweet and harmless teenager into a charming and cunning trickster. In addition, Lauritz does not hesitate to put on makeup or dress up as a woman, which brings him closer to the magical image of Loki from the myths.
