5 Wonderful coming-of-age Scandinavian series we recommend
Teen series depict a very specific period in life and take viewers on a journey into adulthood, a genre now defined as a 'coming-of-age' series. From sex, drugs, and personal identity, to mental health, today's series are getting better at acknowledging and addressing taboos surrounding young adults. What's fascinating is the unique and authentic nature of Scandinavian production.
Pickbox NOW, in collaboration with the Scandinavian streaming service Viaplay, brings the acclaimed Scandinavian series to our home ground through a special Viaplay Select offer. Hence, we present an overview of the top 5 wonderful Scandinavian teen series, exuding drama and youthful extravagance, just like the teenage years.
Whether crafted to make us laugh, spark conversations, or provide a sense of relief and entertainment, these Scandinavian series are the best to watch, and we recommend them wholeheartedly!
5. Where Were You? - Danish teen crime series
Where Were You? (2022 - ) is a fresh and intriguing Danish teen crime series. The story revolves around 16-year-old Louise, whose life turns upside down when her best friend Monica is raped by an unknown assailant at their high school. Louise is determined to find the rapist, but things get complicated when it turns out to be Thais, whom Louise secretly loves.
The series is a touching and tense portrayal of today's times, intertwining friendships, sex, social heritage, and dreams of the future. This Danish series intriguingly showcases how a crime affects a group of friends and their school, how rumors spread like wildfire, and reminds us that growing up isn't always a choice.
Sebastian, a 23-year-old gamer, faces an ultimatum from his parents: either quit gaming and pursue education or move out. Sebastian decides to establish an international gaming team with his best friends.
This eight-episode teen comedy is a riotous Danish series that will have you laughing until tears stream down your face. Sebastian, 23, lives at home and spends all his time playing the popular game Counter-Strike. When his parents finally kick him out, Sebastian must start earning a living for the first time - what could be better than forming a professional gaming team with his friends? Unfortunately, he soon discovers that becoming a global superstar in the hyper-competitive esports world is anything but a game... Esports is a dream career for millions of young people today - and a mystery to almost everyone else. However, this series transcends the gaming theme as it tells a universal story about personal ambitions and the pursuit of success.
This darkly humorous series is based on the acclaimed debut novel by Kjersti Halvorsen. The focus is on Ida, a young woman who has just moved to Oslo to study psychology.
Ida has an obsessive fear of terrorism and a constant sense that disaster is imminent. When she meets Axel, Ida becomes convinced that he is a future school shooter and that she has a personal responsibility to stop this catastrophe. In this unique Nordic story, the theme may be dark, but the tone of the series is bright. Ida herself embodies these qualities - she is alternately painful, funny, and, above all, relatable.
The acclaimed Swedish teen series Thunder in my Heart is a delightful surprise from Swedish new cinema and brims with humor and heart.
Described as a drama-comedy about love and identity, it's compared to Lena Dunham's series Girls. The focus is on 22-year-old Sigrid - called Sigge - and her group of friends. They're faced with the unexpected demands of adulthood as they try to reconcile their own identities, passions, and pasts. Swedish critic Jacob Lundström wrote that "it's a series that thumps its way to a generational voice, where both lament and the roar of joy are worth listening to."
Teen series often depict specific life experiences, and the touching Danish series One of the Boys aims to highlight the need for representation of queer men. It portrays the beauty of first loves, the pain of abuse, and the pressure to conform to traditional masculinity. This sensitive, witty, and touching mini-series is perfect for anyone who feels they don't quite fit in.
The focus is on 16-year-old Lau, who doesn't quite fit in with the popular boys. He's socially anxious, clumsy, doesn't like football, and can't relate to conversations about girls and sneaking out for beer. When Lau meets Axel, a charming and open guy from Copenhagen, he begins to realize that there isn't just one way to be cool. Axel's confidence and genuine nature inspire Lau, who starts developing feelings for him. As their feelings grow, Lau must confront who he truly is and learn to embrace himself. Viaplay and Pickbox NOW - Scandinavian series and movies on home ground Numerous original Scandinavian series and films from the gigantic streaming service Viaplay can be watched on our domestic streaming service Pickbox NOW, available in Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. The offerings span various genres - from drama, romantic films, comedies, documentaries, crime stories to biographical films - all in the Scandinavian style!"
Viaplay and Pickbox NOW - Scandi series and movies on home soil