TWO STUNNING SERIES ON MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH A HIGHER POWER “HERRENS VEJE” (RIDE UPON THE STORM) DANISH: ENGLISH SUBTITLES. NETFLIX

From time’s commencement man has perpetually sought a deity or deities beyond his limitations; a force, willingly recognized as a power to be emulated, worshipped, lauded on a plane mortals can only aspire to; many who attained divine status were men among men: Buddha, Jesus. “Herrens Veje” is one of the finest series I have viewed in recent years; pulsating with charismatic characterizations of such vibrancy they leave the finest of scars on one’s memory. Danish actor Lars Mikkelsen’s (Mads, brother) award winning, electric performance as “Johannes Krogh”, dean of the Church of Denmark, his wife “Elizabeth” (Ann Elenora Jorgensen) and sons “August” (Bertil De Lorenzi) and “Christian” (Simon Sears) with unfathomable depth, sincerity, delineate portraits of a family in flux; God, defines their lineage of priests; Johannes is an orator, a messianic visionary who has passed his gift of godlike oratory and vision to his son August; troubled, conflicted Christian, admiring but perpetually at odds with his father. During 20 episodes, writer Adam Price illuminates the human condition, flawed but remarkable: addiction, knowing no boundaries wraps it tempting tentacles around the most “saintly”, adulterous relationships, ruined expectations; genius lies in its ecumenical inclusiveness: Catholic, Muslim, Lutheran, all lay claim to the “better righteousness”, without judgment, pedantic platitudes, viewers allowed discernment, freedom of choice.

FIVE STARS!!!

“ALL THE SINS”  FINNISH:  ENGLISH SUBTITLES AMAZON PRIME

Laestadianism (founded by Lars Levi Laestadius in mid-19^th century, Lapland) is a conservative branch of  Lutheranism; centering around “forgiveness of sins” granted by a priest and members of the Laestadian community; its rigidity, unlike “Herrens Veje,  exclusivity, lends “All the Sins” a bleak, totalitarian scenario rooted in the slayings of two Laestadians; detective “Lauri Raiha”, (tortured performance by Johannes Holopainen) returns, after ten years, to solve the murders and confront the horrific injustices, egregious sins perpetrated against him by the hierarchy and its fold; his partner savvy, intuitive “Sanna Tervo” (feisty, solid, tough Maria Sid) teams in vivisecting Lauri’s trauma and opening long dormant wounds in a faction smothered by unethical, intolerant inequities. 

FOUR STARS!!!!

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