After I’d finished wiping away the tears that coincided with the closing credits of R.I.P. Henry’s final episode, I started to give some thought as to how I’d best describe this show; a show that I’m fairly certain for the first one and a half episodes I was hankering not to fall for. Where I’ve eventually landed is that it’s a sort of A Man Called Ove/Otto meets House crossover with a central character, Dr Henry Johnsen (Mads Ousdal), who, in keeping with those in the two just mentioned, is really rather dislikable; at least at first.
Over the course of eight 50-minute episodes and an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions, we’re treated to a masterclass of character development… even if it takes an incurable brain tumour to set the wheels in motion.
Set primarily in the beautifully picturesque town of Odda, R.I.P. Henry follows egocentric loner Dr Johnsen as he slowly but surely comes to terms with a diagnosis that threatens to curtail not only his surgical career but his life. Whilst those that work with him recognise his undeniable brilliance with a scalpel in hand, as a person, his character is often deplorable.
Rude, unpleasant, and offensive (we’ve all worked with one of those, right..?), he is extremely difficult to warm to. That said, as the episodes begin to unfold, we’re shown glimpses into his recent past that go some way to explaining why he is how he is, and why he is so desperate to flee Odda and start afresh in a renowned hospital in Bergen.
To allow that move to Bergen to materialise, there is of course a need to find Henry’s replacement in Odda. That position is to be filled by Dane, Agnes Olsen (Julie Agnete Vang – The Killing, Borgen), with whom it’s fair to say Henry clashes. She is one of the first to notice the change in Henry’s clinical presentation, though one doesn’t necessarily require a medical degree to realise uncontrollable tremors and blackouts aren’t great attributes in a surgeon!
Initially reluctant to accept his fate, and outright determined not to appear vulnerable, Henry tries as best he can to keep it all hidden, even carrying out very inadvisable self-surgery (on one occasion involving a drill – look away if you’re squeamish!). The show really turns, however, when Henry starts to lean into his vulnerability and introspectively wrestles with his ability to save others, but perhaps not himself. The sympathy doesn’t flow as quickly as the water pouring over Odda’s Låtefoss, but it does come, and before long I found myself searching, almost longing, for any way whatsoever that all was going to end well. Whether it does… well, you’ll have to watch to find out.
Credit must go to directors Arild Frøhlich, Linn-Jeanethe Kyed, and John Kåre Raake for creating such an easy-to-hate, and then such an easy-to-love, lead character. An emotional, heartwarming, and altogether enjoyable watch. R.I.P. Henry.
R.I.P. Henry box set available on Walter Presents via Ch4 streaming on February 14th
