Ragnarok is a Norwegian fantasy drama streaming television series that reimagines Norse mythology in a modern setting. It follows Magne, a teenage boy who discovers he is the reincarnation of Thor, the god of thunder, and his struggle against the Jutuls, a family of giants who pose as wealthy industrialists and are responsible for the environmental crisis in his town of Edda. The series also features other characters who embody other Norse gods, such as Loki, Odin, and Freya.
The series premiered on Netflix in January 2020, with a second season released in May 2021 and a third and final season released in August 2023. It is Netflix’s third Norwegian-language TV series, following Home for Christmas and Lilyhammer. The series is produced by the Danish production company SAM Productions.
The series has received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences, who praised the performances, production design, and action sequences. The series has a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 10 reviews, and a 7.4/10 rating on IMDb, based on 43K ratings. Some of the common themes in the reviews are:
- The series is a creative and refreshing take on Norse mythology, with a social and environmental message that resonates with the current times.
- The series has a fairly shaky grip on its tone, but the YA drama works well in tandem with its smart adaptation of Norse myth, even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing in the end.
- The series moves quickly, but also stumbles into Twilight-style storytelling, alternating dour and portentous drama with unintentionally comical interludes.
- The series focuses more on the individual storylines of the younger cast, who shine in their roles and face new challenges and dangers.
- The series also explores the darker aspects of the world and the characters, as well as their inner conflicts and doubts.
- The series still suffers from some pacing issues, uneven tone, and lack of character development for some of the supporting roles.
