Beforeigners is a Norwegian television series that premiered on 21 August 2019. The show was created and written by Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad, and directed by Jens Lien. Produced by Rubicon TV AS for HBO Nordic, it is the first Norwegian-language series produced by the Nordic region channel of American network HBO.
The series concerns the titular "beforeigners", people from different time periods who suddenly appear in the present, and their integration into 21st-century Norway. The protagonists are Lars (Nicolai Cleve Broch), an Oslo police detective, and Alfhildr (Krista Kosonen), a Viking-era recruit, who investigate the murder of a Stone Ager. In September 2020, HBO confirmed that the series had been renewed for a second season. Season two premiered on HBO Max in Europe on 5 December 2021, and in the United States on 23 December 2021. In the second season, Alfhildr and Lars investigate Oslo murders with ties to Jack the Ripper.
Premise
Season 1
Beforeigners is set in Oslo, where people from the Stone Age, Viking Age, and the 19th century appear in Bjørvika bay. These migrants, or "Beforeigners", attempt to integrate into contemporary Norway. Senior detective Lars and Viking-era recruit Alfhildr investigate a Stone Age woman's murder. Alfhildr and fellow shield-maiden Urðr help their Viking commander, Thorir Hund. Lars' daughter, Ingrid, and her friend Maddie, fake a "time migration" for Russefeiring. Maddie returns older and with visions of the past. Maddie welcomes the arrival of Olaf the Stout.
Season 2
Lars and Alfhildr investigate brutal murders with ties to Jack the Ripper. Two fake UK police consultants confirm the link to Ripper murders, though these are later denied by real London police. Ingrid is pregnant with Sturla's baby. A search is on for three women who "time-migrated" from Victorian-era London to Oslo. Magnus the Good's DNA confirms the identity of Olaf the Stout. A Viking-era völva reveals Alfhildr's importance to Olaf's reinstatement as King of Norway. Lars and Alfhildr pursue John Roberts, a theoretical physicist.
Cast and characters
Sources:
Nicolai Cleve Broch as Lars Haaland: Oslo police senior detective
Krista Kosonen as Alfhildr Enginnsdóttir (patronymic literally: no one's daughter): former Viking shield-maiden, multi-temporal police recruit Tobias Santelmann as "Blond Viking" (Olaf the Stout)/Olav Haraldsson: Viking king of Norway, later canonized as St. Olav Ragnhild Gudbrandsen as Wenche: police detective, Lars' subordinate as Harald Eriksen: police section leader, Lars' superior Stig Henrik Hoff as Tommy Henriksen/Thorir Hund: former Viking commander, delivery rider as Gregers Nicolai Schweigaard: Marie's 19th-century husband Ylva Bjørkås Thedin as Ingrid Haaland: Lars and Marie's daughter Ingunn Beate Øyen as Chief of Police, Grete Skog: Harald's boss Mikkel Bratt Silset as Nabo (literally: neighbour) Kurukhés: Lars' neighbour Madeleine Malling Breen as Madeleine "Maddie" Aas: Ingrid's school friend as Alex Pedersen: police detective, Lars' subordinate, undercover Norwegian intelligence agent Lavrans Haga as Jørn: police detective, Lars' subordinate Agnes Kittelsen as Marie Gran: Lars' ex-wife, married to Gregers as Othilia Winther: 19th-century journalist Pål Sverre Hagen as Doctorand: former scientist, neo-Luddite cult leader as Oddvar: forensic pathologist Celin Ayara as Sofie: Maddie's school friend Tiril Gjesdal Clausen as Aisha: Maddie's school friend Aslak Maurstad as Preacher: 19th-century doomsayer
Season 1 cast
Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir as Urðr Sighvatsdóttir: former Viking shield-maiden
as Navn Ukjent (literally: Name Unknown): Stone Age man
as HC (Holger Caspersen): 19th-century brothel owner
Eili Harboe as Ada/Trine Syversen: former military drone specialist, neo-Luddite
Jeppe Beck Laursen as Skjalg Egilsson: Viking skald
Bhkie Male as Gedi Suleyman: security company director
Odd-Magnus Williamson as Jeppe: harbour police
Nils Jørgen Kaalstad as Kirketjener/Church Servant: Olaf adherent
Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Kalv Torbjørnsson: Viking, Åsatru missionary
as Jeanette: Tommy/Thorir's modern-era wife
Season 2 cast
Sources:<ref name="Season 2 cast">Season 2 cast: