Watch Welcome to Utmark

Welcome to Utmark is a dark comedy-drama TV series produced by HBO Nordic, which premiered in 2021. The show follows the lives of residents in a small Norwegian town known as Utmark, which is far off the grid and surrounded by mountains and forests. The story takes off when a new police officer, the freshly divorced and somewhat uncommitted, Johanne Vik (May-Linda Kosumovic), arrives in Utmark to investigate a missing person case.

From the very first episode, it is apparent that Johanne is struggling to adapt to the town's unconventional way of life. This is highlighted when she meets the town's eccentric characters, including the likes of a burly and warm-hearted mechanic named Raed (Marius Lien), the town's ambitious and conniving mayor, Randall Finnegan (Trygve Svindland), and the commune leader, Lilith (Rozafa Celaj). As Johanne searches for the missing person, she soon discovers that Utmark's residents have secrets that they are willing to go to great lengths to keep hidden, and each of them has a unique and often odd backstory.

The show's cinematography, stunning scenery, and haunting soundtrack immediately draw viewers into the mysterious world of Utmark. As the series progresses, the odd and often mischievous townspeople create hilarious or tense moments that so perfectly blend the line between drama, comedy, and darkness. The series' humor comes from the contrast between Johanne's straight-laced and disciplined demeanor and the town's bizarre and mystical nature.

The characters are the show's strong point, and each of them is fleshed out, letting viewers understand their motivations and behaviors. Most of them may be hiding something, and their quirks manifest themselves in the way they interact with one another. Raed, for example, is a gentle giant who always wants to help others and remember everyone's name. In contrast, the town's mayor, Randall Finnegan, is a seasoned politician who always puts his interest above everyone else, and Lilith's socialist community is both exploitative and manipulative with its members, and even more so for outsiders.

The series' pacing is a bit slow, but it helps to establish the town's atmosphere and allow the viewers to become fully invested in what's happening. The opening episodes bring to light the importance of land rights, which serve as a catalyst for the plot's central point. As the series gains momentum, it brings into focus Johanne's investigation into the missing person case and how it ties up with each character in Utmark.

The show has some beautiful visuals, from the beautiful snow-capped landscapes of northern Norway to interior shots of warm and peculiar homes. The use of folklore, mythology, and supernatural elements adds to the show's mysterious air and adds to the overall enjoyment. The dialogue is also fantastic, with some hushed conversations and beautiful interaction between the town's residents.

In conclusion, Welcome to Utmark is an impressively beautiful and mysterious show. It is a slow burn, and patience is required to fully enjoy the show. However, the series' fantastic characters, unconventional humor and perfect blend of drama, comedy, and mystery, all add to a fantastic viewing experience. HBO Nordic has done well with this show, and it has proven to be addictive and worthy of anyone's watchlist.

Welcome to Utmark is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (8 episodes). The series first aired on October 14, 2021.