Scandinavians don’t do comedy very well. Well, they do, but right now, little of the good stuff seems to make it to or be made by the streamers. Pernille is one of the few exceptions.

Some of the recent Scandi comedy releases are at best a struggle. If you like Nordic content, they’re far from what you want to see. If you like comedy, there are much better things out there.

Pernille, however, is a class act. The award-winning series is much loved in its home country of Norway and rightly so. It’s warm, witty, insightful and turns every day family life into great entertainment.

Brits will inevitably want to mispronounce the Norwegian name, Pørni, hence the shift to the lead character’s full name, Pernille, as the UK title. The five-season series has just dropped on Netflix in one great bundle – good news for Viaplay subscribers who have been stuck at season three for some time now.

Five seasons may seem daunting, but Pernille is very addictive and viewing seems to go effortlessly quickly.

The series is about single mother Pernille as she looks after her three children and elderly father and struggles with relationships. The comedy of the lead character’s home life is offset by the serious drama of the children she meets in her job at the child welfare service.

The character of Pernille / Pørni is played by Henriette Steenstrup, who created and wrote the series. Viewers will know Henriette from the film Barn (Beware the Children) and Netflix series Ragnarok. She is fantastic in the lead role, and her acting is a key part of what makes the programme so authentic and believable. She greets the trials and turmoil of ordinary life with wonderful comments and delightful facial expressions.

Over the course of the five seasons, viewers are taken on a journey with Pernille and her family. Her relationship with her daughters, as they grow up, is central to this. Pernille is loving and caring and deals with her children’s behaviour and tantrums with a compelling mix of adult tolerance and puzzled acquiescence.

Her relationship with her gay father is equally well done and believable. Even the very theatrical character of the writer’s ex-husband is very engaging. It’s the understated interplays between the divorced couple that really work.

The ongoing theme of ‘unlucky in love’ is one that many viewers will relate to, along with all the messy mistakes that Pernille makes. Her discussions about sex and relationships are very heart-warming and funny – the references to Pernille’s ‘long boobs’ are particularly amusing.

The storylines of hardship, loss and tragedy also resonate – at times quite deeply. Not surprisingly, there are lots of touching moments in the series. The song that staff at the child welfare department write and sing for their retiring boss is genuinely sweet and lovely.

And a (good) Scandi comedy wouldn’t be complete without a good helping of quirkiness. Pernille’s evening retreat to her car, parked in the garage, to smoke and have phone conversations is a lovely touch. As is her love of Liverpool FC and Nick Cave.

The only aspect of the series that isn’t authentic is the permanent summer sunshine that descends on the yellow family house. Anyone who’s been to Norway will know that’s far from reality!

Pernille is great viewing and will leave you wanting more, even after five seasons.

ALL five seasons of Pernille are available now on Netflix globally

Written by: Tim Collison, Content Creator at Nordic Watchlist