Ep 5. Men Who Love Women

In the fifth episode of season one of the Danish political drama Borgen, titled "Men Who Love Women," we see Birgitte Nyborg (Sidse Babett Knudsen) struggling to balance her personal and professional life. Birgitte, who is the newly elected Prime Minister of Denmark, finds herself being pulled in two different directions: on one hand, she wants to spend more time with her children and husband; on the other hand, she knows they need her support and leadership in the political arena.

The episode opens with Birgitte discussing a new initiative to combat gender equality with her colleague, Bent Sejro (Lars Knutzon). The plan involves creating a quota system in which at least 40% of top-level positions in both the public and private sectors would be occupied by women. The idea is met with some resistance from male colleagues who believe the plan is unfair and unnecessary, and Birgitte must navigate both the political and personal ramifications of her stance on the issue.

Meanwhile, Birgitte's husband, Phillip (Mikael Birkkjær), has started a new job at a PR firm. He is quickly swept up in the glamorous lifestyle, working long hours and socializing with many attractive and powerful women. Birgitte, who is already feeling insecure about the amount of time Phillip spends away from home, becomes increasingly jealous of his new colleagues and his perceived lack of attention to their family. As the episode progresses, we see their relationship strained and pushed to its breaking point.

In addition to these personal struggles, Birgitte must also navigate the political fallout from a sexual harassment scandal involving one of her party's MPs. Birgitte must decide how publicly she should address the issue, and whether or not the MP should be removed from his position. The scandal highlights the complexities and challenges of navigating the intersection of politics and gender issues.

Overall, "Men Who Love Women" is a character-driven episode that delves into the personal lives of the show's main characters while also exploring important political issues. Birgitte's struggle to balance family and politics, as well as her dedication to gender equality, makes her a compelling and complex protagonist. The episode serves as a reminder that even those in positions of power are still subject to personal struggles and challenges, and highlights the impact of political decisions on individuals and families.