Have you ever had something happen to you that has made you reassess the rest of your life? A moment so striking in its capacity for change that you realise you have been living a life that you’re not entirely happy with? For Lise (Katrine Greis-Rosenthal), it’s the prospect of losing her job as co-host of Danmark Vågner, a magazine style breakfast show that is ailing in terms of viewing figures.
That’s where Chaos picks up, with Lise and her husband / co-host Martin (Hadi Ka-Koush) on the brink of losing their shared career. Martin thinks it will give them pause to start a family; Lise realises she’s not interested in motherhood. A tipsy encounter with Johannes (Jacob Lohmann, Oxen), a former chef who now lives somewhat “off grid”, sees the perfectly coiffeured TV host step outside her picture-perfect world. Will she get a fresh start … or will it just be, as the title suggests, chaos? Directed by Lars Kaalund, and written by Emma Broström, this eight-part series is one you won’t want to miss.
From episode one, you will be thoroughly engaged in everything that’s going on – and there is a lot. But the characters are written so well that they instantly feel familiar, even if their lives are so different from our own. Katrine Greis-Rosenthal is endlessly watchable as Lise, a confident TV personality who has had her life shattered. Not only is she on the brink of a career-ending show cancellation, she could not be on a more different path from her husband. Greis-Rosenthal makes the most of generous close-ups to give us Lise’s inner thoughts. She aptly switches between light and engaging breakfast host to an emotionally lost regular human. Her chemistry with Jacob Lohmann’s Johannes is instant. Their spark on first meeting will have you begging your television for them to kiss. It’s nice to see Lohmann in a role that involves sensuality and emotion – he’s usually cast in a uniform or as something of a misfit. He’s a brilliant romantic lead.
Over the course of the eight episodes, writer Emma Broström packs a multitude of diverse narratives in, allowing the supporting cast to feel fleshed out and interesting. Hadi Ka-Koush’s (somewhat thankless) turn as Martin does have you oscillating between frustration and empathy. Sarah the intern (Silje Havmøller Schmidt) knows all of the studio gossip and has lots of creative ideas whilst studio boss Viktoria (Amanda Collin) makes demands from “head office” without getting her pristine suits in a ruffle. Lise’s parents have their own skeletons to shed, leaving our lead spiralling even further into chaos.
The series manages to really nail the tone of breakfast television, without ever being condescending. There’s cooking segments, DNA tests, Denmark’s biggest aubergine and the pet of the day. It’s fast-paced, constantly changing in tone, and we get a glimpse of what it’s like to work in that environment. (Spoilers, it’s having producers constantly speak in your ear whilst you try to conduct a sentence that sounds cheery and interested.) Danmark Vågner’s set undergoes a punchy makeover, bringing splashes of colour against Lise’s tastefully neutral wardrobe. She’s a vision in cream culottes, stone blazers and white silk blouses. It’s only when she’s with Johannes do we see her wavy hair escape its usual chignon and her wardrobe becomes more relaxed and cosy. It’s a neat little visual metaphor.
Chaos is so utterly bingeworthy that you won’t want it to end. It’s the perfect balance of romance, comedy, drama and emotional tension. If you’ve ever had a moment that caused you to re-think your path in life, this is absolutely the show for you. (Or, if you just love a bit of romance and fun, you’ll want to devour this as well.)
Without giving any spoilers away, it does end on a major cliffhanger, so consider this our enormous plea to Viaplay to give us season two.
Chaos releases on Viaplay UK on May 18 and Viaplay USA on May 22.
Written by: Mary Munoz, Content Creator at Nordic Watchlist