Occupied–No Time Left

In Occupied, a complicated three-season Norwegian series (Okkupert: 2015-2019) inspired by the masterful author of thrillers, Jo Nesbø, no one wins.   In the near future, there is a pending crisis:  climate change may be at the point of no return.  Norwegian Prime Minister, Jasper Berg (Henrik Mestad) of the Green Party, has been elected based upon his campaign promises to halt the catastrophe of global dependence on fossil fuel.  Terminating gas and oil production, Berg promotes the development of an alternative, non-polluting fuel, thorium. 

The European Union, unable to imagine their economies without oil, reluctantly agrees to Russia’s invasion of Norway to force the continuation of oil production. Conflict in the Middle East and the US withdrawal from NATO also leave Norway with few options except capitulating to the aggressive takeover of their refineries by Russia.  

But are campaign promises lies that haven’t happened yet?  As a consummate politician and brilliant tactician, Berg is determined to retain power at all costs.  So he breaks his promises.  To conceal the nature of Russia’s “winner takes all” assault,  Berg covers up the invasion as an “energy partnership” between two super-powers and spins the presence of the Russians as a temporary “energy partnership”. This “alternative truth” becomes increasingly complex as Russia isolates Norway from its allies in the EU. The Russian ambassador to Norway, Irina Sidorova (Ingeborga Dapkünaité), is perhaps the most vulnerable of all as she sees the harrowing repercussions of every action being planned and implemented.

Despite strenuous pleading with and threats against the US, Berg is unsuccessful in persuading the US to become involved in forcing Russia to leave Norway.  Berg is blamed for his homeland being occupied while Russia is developing more allies, increasing its power at the expense of  Norway’s abandonment.  Out for his own political survival,, Berg soon faces resistance from Free Norway, an activist group enraged by both Russia’s occupation as well as Berg’s rejection of continued production of thorium. 

Betrayal, kidnapping of children, threats against spouses, and murder result in a “new normal” as Norway realizes there are no checks and balances against powerful aggressors.  No one prevails who is unwilling to be sycophants to those who  have an endless thirst for power.

And the powers at the helm are left fighting it out until the bitter end.   Quite a  cinematic ride with no time left for dealing with climate change!

Availability:  Netflix