Fenris (TV series)

Fenris is a Norwegian TV crime drama series. It was broadcast on network Multi and streamed on Viaplay from 25 September 2022. Its six episodes were directed by Simen Alsvik, created by Alsvik with Magnus Monn-Iversen, and written by Alsvik, Maren Skolem and Nikolaj Scherfig. Fenris was filmed in Folldal, Nord-Østerdal during September 2021, and is set in Østbygda, Innlandet county near Norway's border with Sweden. It depicts struggles between conservationists protecting wild wolves and farmers and shooters, who agitate for open culling.

Lead protagonist Emma (Ida Elise Broch) returns to her home town to update wolf distribution for SNO (Norwegian: Statens naturoppsyn, English: Norwegian Nature Inspectorate) after her estranged father and wolf researcher Marius (Magnus Krepper) stops reporting. In August 2022 teenager Daniel (Alfred Vatne) goes missing; most locals blame wolves. Other major roles are journalist Naim (Cengiz Al), police sheriff Asbjørn (Jan Gunnar Røise) and his sister Anne (Ingjerd Egeberg), the town's mayor.

Plot
15-year-old Daniel disappears in early August 2022, he studied wolves in Innlandet county. Emma returns to her home town Østbygda with her son Leo. She asks her father Marius why he stopped reporting wolf numbers. Emma finds Daniel's coat, which is bloodied and has wolf hairs. Asbjørn organises search patrols while investigating Daniel's parents and associates. Locals quickly blame wolves and Marius; their animosity is fuelled by Naim's alarmist reports. Coat's wolf hair belongs to the alpha-male, Fenris, which disappeared in June. Emma believes coat's blood and hair were planted to draw suspicion away from the perpetrator. Days later Marius also goes missing and Emma finds his corpse in a distant cabin. Asbjørn determines it was suicide but hides evidence. Naim begins to doubt wolf attacked Daniel. Leo is abducted by Stian's gang, smeared with meat and tied to a tree. Next day, Tuva convinces Stian to help locate Leo, who is rescued.

Asbjørn authorises local wolf cull. Emma thwarts hunters by removing female wolf's tracking collar. Naim injured by illegal bear trap. Jan and Anne promote their wilderness lodge project to investors. Adrian declares his love for Elvira. Jan blackmailed Marius due to his affair with Elvira. Jan shot Fenris dead and injured Sunniva. Asbjørn covered up both events. Adrian tries to help Jan by kidnapping Daniel and hiding him on a farmhouse in Sweden. Emma finds Fenris' carcass and tells Asbjørn to cancel hunt permits. Asbjørn takes Emma to farmhouse where Jan shoots Adrian and Asbjørn. Jan puts Emma in basement with Daniel and starts gassing them with car exhaust. Tuva and police arrive. Tuva kills Jan and rescues Emma and Daniel. Tuva reinvestigates mountain cabin, determines Marius was murdered. Anne had an affair with Marius; they would meet at the cabin. Anne killed Marius.

Cast and characters

 * Ida Elise Broch as Emma Salomonsen: Oslo-based SNO (Norwegian: Statens naturoppsyn, English: Norwegian Nature Inspectorate) researcher, Marius' daughter, Leo's mother.
 * Julia Aicha Chikhaoui as Emma as a child, raised by grandparents after her mother died.
 * Magnus Krepper as Marius Storhammar: Østbygda resident, ardent wild wolf conservationist, SNO front-line data logger, Emma's father.
 * Cengiz Al as Naim Karimi: Oslo-based journalist, visiting Østbygda, investigates Daniel's disappearance, initially blames wolves but changes his mind.
 * Jan Gunnar Røise as Asbjørn Kolomoen: Østbygda sheriff, organises search for Daniel, Anne's brother.
 * Ingjerd Egeberg as Anne Kolomoen: Østbygda mayor, Asbjørn's sister, plans for wilderness lodge.
 * John Emil Jørgensrud as Knut Ove: hunter, former sawmill worker, Kathinka's partner, Daniel's stepfather.
 * Helena F. Ødven as Elvira Erickstan: 15-year-old student, Madeleine's daughter, Daniel's friend.
 * Viljar Knutsen Bjaadal as Leo Salomonsen: 14-year-old Oslo student, Emma's son.
 * Jonas Strand Gravli as Jan Petter Kolomoen: entrepreneurial businessman, proposes wilderness lodge to investors, Anne's older son.
 * Tevje Espeland as Adrian Kolomoen: Anne's younger son, clumsy.
 * Julia Schacht as Kathinka Belset: housewife, Daniel's mother, Knut's partner.
 * Cato Skimten Storengen as Harald Gutu: sawmill worker, hunter, Knut's friend, Stian and Halvard's father.
 * Kikki Stormo as Madeleine Erickstam: Elvira's mother.
 * Kai Remlov as Johan Smestad: taxidermist, owns mountain cabin, which Marius rented.
 * Øystein Røger as Jo Ås: Oslo-based SNO leader, Emma's boss.
 * Ane Ulimoen Øverli as Tuva: Østbygda policewoman, works for Asbjørn.
 * Per Schaanning as Ørnulf Vaset: Østbygda journalist for Østerdølen, liaises with Naim.
 * Alfred Vatne as Daniel Belset: 15-year-old student, Elvira's friend, studies wolves with Marius, goes missing.
 * Ole Jansen Ulfsby as Stian Gutu: older student, bullies children, Halvard's older brother.
 * Sunniva Katinka Ødegaard as Sunniva Berger: 16-year-old student, supposedly shot herself: disfigured, partly paralysed.
 * Simay Leblebicioglu as Stine: SNO researcher, works for Jo.
 * Johannes Blåsternes as Carl Fredrik Eberhardt: potential lodge investor, courted by Jan and Anne.
 * Baar Metcalfe Lindgren as Halvard Gutu: student, Stian's younger brother.
 * Karin Hennie as Emmas Mor: "Emma's mother", Marius' wife, suicidal with mental problems, died in car accident.

Reception
The Wall Street Journal's John Anderson observed "One of the intriguing things about the thoroughly engrossing Fenris is the multitude of possible motives among the villagers. And the varieties of their animal instinct." Writer for Prime News Print felt it is "Bold, gripping, and compelling, it's an exceptional series that accomplishes more by doing less... One of the most winning aspects of the series is its cinematography, which stands out among even other great Nordic noir series." Ida Elise Broch who portrays Emma Salomonsen compared her character Emma with Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, "an enigma... unapproachable and extremely complex." Prime News Print's reviewer praised Broch's portrayal of Emma, "a brilliant performance... her grit and her oft-concealed vulnerability... [her] emotional trajectory is a sight to behold."