Home for Christmas S1: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Reading Time: 3 minutes
Image is a photo montage of various scenes from Home for Christmas. Central photo is the theatrical poster for the show.

🇳🇴 Home for Christmas 🇳🇴

Home for Christmas is a Norwegian Netflix Original Series. Comedy Drama Romance. 6 x 26-31 min episodes. 15 Cert U.K. Subtitles and dubbing available.

Premise:

“The constant comments on single life of 30-year-old Johanne and society’s expectations of the perfect family Christmas finally gets to her. Johanne starts a 24 day hunt for a partner to bring home for Christmas.”

Cast:

Ida Elise Broch as Johanne
Felix Sandman as Jonas
Mads Sjøgård Pettersen as Stein
Gabrielle as Jørgunn
Kingsford Siayor as Thomas
Arthur Hakalahti as Sebastian
Oddgeir Thune as Henrik
Line Verndal as Eira
Ole Christoffer ErtvĂĄg as ErtvĂĄg
Dennis Storhøi as Tor
Bjørn Skagestad as Bengt Erik
Stian Blipp as Bente
Nader Khademi as Paul

Crew:

Idea: Amir Shaheen and Kristian Andersen
Writers: Miriam Larsen, Mattis Herman Nyquist, Julie Skaufel, Fredrik Høyer
Director: Per-Olav Sørensen

Review:

In the spirit of full disclosure I am not usually a fan of romcoms. In fact I usually try to avoid them, if I can. I have actually watched Love, Actually which is clearly and frequently referenced in this show, so that helped. However, being willing to “take one for the team” I ventured into dangerous territory and watched the Norwegian romcom, Home for Christmas. And I LOVED it (I know, no one is more surprised than I!)

What I particularly enjoyed, from my limited previous experience with the genre, is that many of the expectations and tropes are subverted in this.

Also refreshing are the intergenerational aspects of the drama, no mere ciphers here for the older characters. Attitudes towards them, their lives, romantic and sexual encounters are skilfully handled.

The exploration of the social pressures put upon women to find a “suitable” partner is explored in a variety of highly entertaining ways and there are many laugh out loud moments. There are at least as many other events that make you cringe. Quite clearly also is that the person who is completely unbearable to one person can be the perfect fit for another. Too old? Too young? Too needy? To stalkerish?

That appearances can be deceptive is also a strong thread running through this show, along with the aftermath of broken relationships on others and “being dumped”.

Many hilarious incidents, set within a story that has poignant emotion and sadness makes this a very enjoyable and entertaining show. I am very much looking forward to watching S2. Who would I like to see Johanne with? Do I even think that she needs to “be with” someone? Time will tell…

Not sure a cross-country skiing session would be my idea of a great first date.

S2 of Home for Christmas arrives on Netflix December 18, 2020. We will be reviewing S2 here at Reel 2 Reel Talk.

Official Netflix Trailer:

For those who are fans of Nordic/Scandi TV shows and films there is a great affiliated Facebook Page:

https://m.facebook.com/manvelovTheofficialfanpage/

This online publication also has its own Facebook Page with a wide variety of content: 

https://m.facebook.com/reel2reeltalk/

Other Links:

Ride Upon the Storm ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Undercover: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Quicksand: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Love & Anarchy: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Ragnarok: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

The Rain: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Bordertown: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Lilyhammer: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

The Great Heist, Netflix ~ All for the Money: Spoiler Review

Before We Die ~ Spoiler Review

Norsemen: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

The Forgotten Army: Prime ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Farang: Dead Man Running ~ Non-Spoiler Review

The Gift: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler ReviewInhuman Resources: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Inhuman Resources: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

The Protector: Netflix S1-3 ~ Non-Spoiler Review

White Lines: Netflix S1 ~ Spoiler Review

Greyzone a Swedish-Danish Thriller ~ Spoiler Review

Thieves of the Wood: Netflix ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Helen Dorn ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Occupied ~ Non-Spoiler Review

Stockholm Requiem ~ Non-Spoiler Review

2 Comments

Thanks for reading this article, please feel free to comment