I watched the first three series without realising two things. Firstly that Season Three has only eight episodes. So I was really disappointed at the unsatisfying end of episode eight that there was not more to come. There were so many loose ends. So I had an immediate look at Season Four and was even more shocked to see that it's a semi-prequel set in 1950. Worse, the events in that season were never referred to in the preceeding programmes. It's pretty clear that the writers and production company realised they couldn't carry on into the future with ageless actors (none of them looked older in the 70s than they were in 1945 when the story started) and they didn't have the courage to develop new story lines for the next generation.
The other major flaw in the whole caboodle was the frequent changes of character of the main participants. One minute one of the brothers was wicked, next season he's good and the other brother is suddenly evil. Wives were spiteful and scheming for a few episodes then become paragons while another one assumes her character flaws. Loyal staff having worked for decades for the Lowänders inexplicably do the dirty.
OK, it's a soap. But it could have been so much more. I know Sweden well and know that the façade of liberty was laboriously acquired as was its prosperity. If only the series had gone more into that.
Nonetheless, the sets were convincing as were the street scenes, clothes and haircuts. The writing and plots kept my attention despite their implausibility.
Have a watch but don't expect a chef d'oeuvre.
The other major flaw in the whole caboodle was the frequent changes of character of the main participants. One minute one of the brothers was wicked, next season he's good and the other brother is suddenly evil. Wives were spiteful and scheming for a few episodes then become paragons while another one assumes her character flaws. Loyal staff having worked for decades for the Lowänders inexplicably do the dirty.
OK, it's a soap. But it could have been so much more. I know Sweden well and know that the façade of liberty was laboriously acquired as was its prosperity. If only the series had gone more into that.
Nonetheless, the sets were convincing as were the street scenes, clothes and haircuts. The writing and plots kept my attention despite their implausibility.
Have a watch but don't expect a chef d'oeuvre.