"I consider you a dead man in my government now."
In the Grauniad's G2 supplement this week there was a guest column from someone connected with The Thick of It, in which he described Borgen as "The Thick of It without the laughs". I'd say it was closer to Yes, Minister without the laughs but the comparison stands. There's a very similar feel, and perhaps the format which is common to all three shows is a little more problematic when it comes to a straight drama like Borgen.
There are continuing plot threads, yes, but these are heavily focused on character- little things like the fact that Hoxenhaven is a member of a political dynasty, desperate to attain the political success that his family background expects in spite of the fact he's a rather weak man. But the "story of the week" format is a bit of a problem for a series that defines itself by realism. Last week the only political issue that existed was the state visit. This time there seem to be no other political issues around to distract us from the illicit bugging of the Solidarity party. A satirical comedy can get away with this sort of thing as we expect a degree of caricature. Here, it's a little awkward.
On the other hand, it's also probably necessary that things are this way for the individual episodes to have any coherence. No drama based on the world of politics could avoid doing things this way, and Borgen is bloody brilliant. Still, there's a certain awkwardness.
Anyway… this week we have a meditation on the conflict between friendship and power in which Birgitte is forced, through political expediency, to side with a weak, lacklustre and petulant Justice Minister (Hox) against her estranged left-wing friend (Anne-Marie Lindenkrone). Hox may be weak and, when he begs to keep his job, pathetic, but as an insider he knows how to play the game and the value of a well-timed leak. Such are the perks of an upbringing within a family used to power. Lindenkrone has none of these advantages, and pays a harsh price.
There's a nice political balancing act in how the two sides are presented, too. Hox is heard to use a lot of disturbingly authoritarian "War on Terror" style incoherent rhetoric, while Lindenkrone's years-old plan to kidnap the then PM's children is really quite far beyond the pale, whatever the circumstances.
Politics and relationships are awkward, er, bedfellows elsewhere, too. Katrine's idyllic relationship with Benjamin, which has until now been defined pretty much entirely by physical attraction and extremely frequent great sex, suddenly starts to flounder when he admits he doesn't know who the defence minister is. The two of them have nothing in common. This is a fling, nothing more. My money's still on her and Kasper getting back together.
As for Birgitte and Philip, the disintegration of their relationship is becoming ever more painful to watch. The fact that she can even think of accusing him of having an affair means that a line has been crossed. On the other hand… is he? If not, will he?
I disagree about this lacking laughs. Some of the jokes are great.
ReplyDeleteActually, rather a lot of the jokes are great! But they're the sort of jokes that work in the context of "straight" drama which has to focus on realism and character in a way that an overt satirical comedy doesn't. I suppose "without the laughs" isn't quite the right way of putting it- it's just the difference in genre that I was alluding to, and how that makes the "issue of the week" format a bit more awkward.
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