Ragnarok (TV series)

Ragnarok is a Norwegian fantasy drama television series reimagining of Norse mythology from Netflix. It takes place in the present-day fictional Norwegian town of Edda in Hordaland, which is plagued by climate change and industrial pollution caused by factories owned by the local Jutul family. The Jutuls are actually four jötnar (supernatural beings, inexactly translated as "Giants" in the English language overdub and closed captions) posing as a family. They are challenged by Magne, a teenage boy who is surprised to learn that he is the reincarnation of Thor, the Norse god of thunder. He begins to fight against those who are destroying the town after his friend dies under mysterious circumstances. In the second season, he is joined by more people who embody other Norse gods.

The series premiered in January 2020, with a second season released in May 2021. It is Netflix's third Norwegian-language TV series, following Home for Christmas and Lilyhammer. The series is produced by the Danish production company SAM Productions.

In November 2021, Herman Tømmeraas, who plays Fjor, confirmed that the series was returning for a third and final season. The third season was released on August 24, 2023.

Main

 * David Stakston as Magne Seier, returns to Edda as a high school student. The reincarnation of Thor, god of thunder.
 * Jonas Strand Gravli as Laurits Seier, Magne's younger half-brother, and Vidar's son. He is the reincarnation and reimaging of Loki, god of mischief.
 * Herman Tømmeraas as Fjor, high-school-age "son" in the Jutul family of jötnar from Norse mythology.
 * Theresa Frostad Eggesbø as Saxa, the high-school-aged "daughter" in the Jutul family.
 * Emma Bones as Gry, Magne's and Fjor's love interest.
 * Henriette Steenstrup as Turid Seier, Magne's and Laurits' mother, wife of Asbjorn.
 * Synnøve Macody Lund as Ran, principal of the high school and "mother" in the Jutul family.
 * Gísli Örn Garðarsson as Vidar, CEO of Jutul Industries, "father" in the Jutul family, and Laurits' biological father.

Supporting

 * Odd-Magnus Williamson as Erik Eidsvoll, teacher at the high school, father of Magne's short-lived friend, Isolde, and later, step-father to both Magne and Laurits.
 * Bjørn Sundquist as Wotan Wagner, elderly disabled aged care resident. The reincarnation of Odin, god of wisdom and king of the gods.
 * Eli Anne Linnestad as Wenche, supermarket checkout operator. Her real identity is Völva. She awakens Magne's, Iman's and Wotan's powers.
 * Tani Dibasey as Oscar Bjørnholt, high school student, hangs out with Fjor.
 * Iselin Shumba Skjævesland as Yngvild Bjørnholt, local police chief, Oscar's mother.
 * Danu Sunth as Iman Reza, new high school student. The reincarnation of Freyja, goddess of love, who can manipulate minds.
 * Billie Barker as Signy Marie Kjærstad, Magne's new love interest.
 * Benjamin Helstad as Harry Kristersen, mechanic, boxer. The reincarnation of Týr, god of war.
 * Espen Sigurdsen as Halvor Lange, doctor at nursing home, "dark elf" or dwarven blacksmith.
 * Fridtjov Såheim as Sindre, high school counselor.
 * Vebjørn Enger as Jens, who Wotan later transforms into the reincarnation of Baldr, god of light.
 * Ruben Rosbach as Kiwi, who Wotan later transforms into the reincarnation of Heimdall, god of foreknowledge.
 * Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin as Isolde Eidsvoll

Reception
The series holds a rating of 7.5 on IMDb. Wired said Ragnarok was "angsty, eccentric" "climate change fiction" and compared it to Twilight. The A.V. Club also compared it to Twilight.

The series was not well received by some Norwegian media. The newspaper Verdens Gang (VG) called it nonsensical, said that the characters, plots, and dialogue were a failure, and noted that even though it was filmed in Norway, using the Norwegian language, the series was a Danish production. Furthermore, VG noted that, despite being set in Western Norway, the characters do not speak in western dialect. The newspaper Dagbladet called it a stilted mixture of the teen drama series Skam and Norse mythology, "just as bad as it sounds". Filmdagbok made a point of it being superficial and politically boring.

Glowing reviews were also posted, including a Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 70% for season 1, and IGN's K. Campbell praising season 1 as "compelling" and citing "the strength of its central concept, which depicts the end of the world as a slow creep...".