Norsemen (2016)
A wickedly funny Norwegian comedy-drama that drops modern sensibilities into an 8th-century Viking village with gloriously absurd results.
Norsemen - Series Information
- Original Title: Vikingane
- First Air Year: 2016
- Last Air Year: 2020
- Created by: Jon Iver Helgaker, Jonas Torgersen
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 3
- Number of Episodes: 18
- Status: Canceled
- Original Language: Norwegian
- Spoken Languages: English, Norwegian
- First Air Date: October 21, 2016 (United States - TV-MA), October 21, 2016 (Germany - 18), October 21, 2016 (France - 18), October 21, 2016 (Australia - MA15+), October 21, 2016 (Spain - 18), October 21, 2016 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: NRK1
- Alternative Titles: Vikingane (NO), אנשי הצפון (IL), 挪威的维京人 (CN), Vikingane (FR), Norsemen (PL)
- Production Companies: Viafilm, NRK
- Production Countries: Norway
Norsemen - Plot
Norsemen is an epic and humorous drama series set in the Viking Age. The residents of an 8th-century Viking village experience political rivalry, social change and innovations that upend their culture and way of life.
Norsemen - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get your first taste of Viking village chaos:
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Norsemen - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Jon Iver Helgaker
- Jonas Torgersen
Main Cast
- Trond Fausa Aurvåg
- Jon Øigarden
- Kåre Conradi
- Silje Torp
- Mikkel Bratt Silset
- Nils Jørgen Kaalstad
- Kristine Riis
- Bjørn Hallgeir Myrene
- Marian Saastad Ottesen
- Nikis Theophilakis
Writers
- Jonas Torgersen
- Jon Iver Helgaker
Executive Producers
- Anders Tangen
- David Lee Leader
Norsemen - FAQs
Was Norsemen filmed in two languages simultaneously?
Yes, and it's one of the show's most fascinating production quirks. Every scene was shot twice — once in Norwegian for the original broadcast and once in English for international audiences. The same cast performed both versions, which means the English dub is actually the actors themselves speaking their lines.
Where can you stream Norsemen?
Norsemen is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. If you prefer to own it, the series can be purchased on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Netflix carries both the Norwegian-language original and the English-language version of the show.
Is Norsemen historically accurate?
Not really — and that's entirely the point. Norsemen gleefully blends authentic Viking-era settings and costumes with thoroughly modern attitudes and anachronistic dialogue. The humor comes precisely from transplanting contemporary sensibilities into an 8th-century Norse village, making historical accuracy secondary to comedic effect.
How many seasons and episodes does Norsemen have?
Norsemen ran for three seasons, each containing six episodes, bringing the total to 18 episodes. The series aired from 2016 to 2020 before being cancelled. Each episode runs approximately 30 minutes, making it an easy binge-watch over a weekend.
Who are the main actors in Norsemen?
The ensemble cast includes Trond Fausa Aurvåg as the Roman slave Rufus, Kåre Conradi as the hapless chieftain Orm, Silje Torp as the fierce Frøya, Jon Øigarden as the scheming Jarl Varg, Mikkel Bratt Silset as Ragnar, and Nils Jørgen Kaalstad as the lovable warrior Arvid, among others.
Is Norsemen worth watching for comedy fans?
Absolutely. Norsemen delivers sharp, deadpan humor that fans of shows like Monty Python or What We Do in the Shadows will immediately appreciate. The writing is clever, the performances are committed, and the absurdist premise — modern sensibilities in a Viking village — never gets old across its three seasons.
Who created Norsemen?
Norsemen was created by Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgersen, who also served as the series' primary writers. The show was produced by Viafilm in partnership with NRK, Norway's public broadcaster, and originally aired on NRK1 before reaching international audiences through Netflix.
What are some shows similar to Norsemen?
If you enjoy Norsemen's comedic take on the Viking world, Vikings: Valhalla and The Last Kingdom offer grittier historical drama in the same era. For more laughs, The Decameron shares its irreverent medieval spirit. Ragnarok and Beforeigners are also strong Norwegian picks with genre-bending storytelling.
More About Norsemen
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