At this point in the seriefile boom we have seen many series about people returning after death or disappearance. Titles such as the French ‘Les Revenants’, the American ‘The 4400’ or the Australian ‘The Glitch’ have gotten into these temporary waters that often cost it to go out without falling into inconsistencies. We know that playing with time is not easy, but it is more difficult to surprise with these plots. The last to be able to surprise with such a story have been the Nordics.
‘Beforeigners’ starts with the inexplicable appearance in the Oslo fjord of people from the past. But not only from a recent past, no, there are individuals from prehistory, and Vikings, with their skins, swords and tattoos included. This will create a new social framework with great cultural, religious and technological differences. They are emigrants of the past and the mission of the Government is that all live in harmony respecting the customs and beliefs of others.
From first visually it costs a little, to see a Viking from head to toe next to a policeman of the 21st century. But these dares are what make ‘Beforeigners’ different and, above all, entertaining. It is not a series to break the head, nor for dense dramatisms. It is a series to disconnect and entertain with light stories that hide very original ideas that work better or worse, are different, risky and very enjoyable.
The transverse plot of the series is the investigation of a mysterious murder in Oslo. The case will fall to Detective Lars Haaland and Detective Alfhildr Enginnsdottir, the first agent of Viking origin who enters the Norwegian police force. She will strive to integrate into the police force, hiding her past as a Viking squire. The research, without being anything from the other world, handles Norwegian mythology very well and constantly plays with the characters and cultural clashes.
‘Beforeigners’ is more enjoyed by the whole than by the specific case. More important is what they remember from their past and what they want to do with the world of the 21st century. A series that despite the triviality of its plot reflects on an issue as important and current as refugees. In the end, those appearing in ‘Beforeigners’ are temporary refugees, they don’t come from another country but from another era. They face endless threats of personal identity and social acceptance.
Despite the prominence of the two policemen, it ends up being a very choral series, in which the script is increasingly branching out more and more introducing new characters that, despite appearing secondary, will end up being decisive. The season closes giving many answers but leaving the door open for a new installment, which if it receives the approval could be even better than the first (the plot that remains in the air promises a lot).
