15 Reasons You Should Be Watching ‘Borgen’

Borgen is a political drama that follows Birgitte Nyborg’s rise to power as Denmark’s first female prime minister. This Danish gem is often compared to The West Wing for its prestige and Madam Secretary in its subject matter. 

You may be asking yourself why you should subject yourself to political drama when that is exactly what pervades our real lives right now, but Borgen really is a great antidote to the chaos of these unprecedented times.

There is an optimistic idealism weaved throughout the series which makes it a perfect escape (especially if you are, like me, feeling a bit on the hopeless side of things). 

Traveling in your life may be limited at the moment, so come with me on a fictional trip to Denmark and see why Borgen should be your next binge. 

1. Sidse Babett Knudsen as Birgitte Nyborg

The heart of this show is the strong female lead played wonderfully by Sidse Babett Knudsen. Birgitte Nyborg is powered by her principles and fights fiercely for what she believes to be right. Seeing a woman in power who holds her office to high moral standards makes for a particularly exhilarating experience.

Knudsen crafts a well-rounded character in Birgitte. She can be tough as nails and she can also be warm and soft, holding her own against the boy’s club of Borgen while doing her best to hold her family together amidst big changes. She possesses tenacity and vulnerability in an admirable and human way.

With Birgitte, you get drama, humor, and all-around feel-good vibes — someone to passionately root for in this cutthroat world of Danish politics. 

2. Women Empowerment

While the concept of the show is inherently feministic in focusing on a woman in government and in charge, it goes much further than that.

Many storylines address problems and politics that affect women of the world at large. Sex work, abortion rights, and corporate gender equality are a few of the issues that the writers bring to the forefront as well as the ever-present double standard women face all the time. 

Women’s voice in government is not the only space covered on Borgen. Their voice in the media is portrayed through the character of Katrine Fønsmark (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen). Katrine faces sexism and workplace male chauvinism constantly. She calls it out when she sees it and she fights for her rightful place.

On Borgen’s Season 2 finale, critics in the press question Birgitte’s qualifications as prime minister with the angle being on her gender. “I’d love to debate politics, but I’ll be damned if I’ll debate my gender” is her adamant response. 

3. Birgitte Hjort Sørensen as Katrine Fønsmark

Confession time: I started watching Borgen because I liked Sørensen’s turn as Kommissar on Pitch Perfect 2 so much. These roles are night and day, and it really shows that Sørensen has the range. 

Katrine is a plucky young newswoman in relentless pursuit of the truth. Like Birgitte, she is guided by her moral compass and is not afraid to stand up for her beliefs.

Many shows with a strong female lead seem to operate on the idea that one character like that is enough. On Borgen, you get two — more bang for your viewing buck.

4. Portrayal of Journalistic Integrity

While we’re on the subject of Katrine (who has a poster of All The President’s Men up in her apartment), freedom of the press is a topic that comes up often. Birgitte upholds this constitutional right on the government side, and Katrine as well as a few other journalists defend it on the frontlines. 

In contrast, the ugly side of the media is also shown.

Mikael Laugesen (Peter Mygind) makes for an unscrupulous villain who is in charge of a large news outlet. Showing good media versus bad media and the motivations behind both really emphasizes the importance of journalistic integrity not just in a fictional story but in reality, too.

5. Birgitte’s Style

From pantsuits to leather skirts to cozy sweaters, Birgitte’s style is always a pleasure to look at.

She can do homey casual, sharp business attire, and elegance with ease, and it regularly adds to the mood and sometimes the emotion of a scene. Her sleek, voluminous power buns in the first two seasons are a comforting mainstay, and her chic glasses and fashion-forward style on Season 3 is a perfect updated look for the two-year time jump. 

I think of it as a cross between The Fall’s feminine Stella Gibson and the no-nonsense finesse of Dana Scully in the later seasons of The X-Files. If you are a fan of either of these ladies’ tasteful wardrobes, then you will enjoy keeping an eye on Birgitte’s lovely looks. 

6. Pilou Asbæk as Kasper Juul

Kasper is a skilled spin doctor and his place on Birgitte’s team creates an interesting dynamic because he doesn’t hold values as sacred as she does. They often disagree, but they still work really well together.

Also, his relationship with Katrine adds complicated drama and a bridge from Borgen to the media. 

Kasper has an intense backstory making him a complex character, and Asbæk plays him with the precision and the depth needed for the role. 

7. Focus on Mental Health

Borgen Season 2 features a story arc involving an anxiety disorder. Birgitte’s teenage daughter, Laura (Freja Riemann), suffers a panic attack, and the subsequent diagnosis and treatment are handled with care while threading nuanced drama into the political fabric of the show. 

Putting the subject of mental health into a major plotline and focusing on its effect on a young person is valuable. It starts the conversation and raises awareness of the rise of mental disorders among adolescents.

8. Social Issues

Mental health isn’t the only social issue to which the show draws attention.

Every episode addresses at least one social issue and sometimes many at once. Obviously, it is mostly focused on the conditions of Denmark, but the stories are universal and relatable.

Denmark has a multi-party system — politicians from the left and the right and in-between try to push their agendas through Parliament while also having to work together. Debates about race, class, gender, religion, and immigration are prevalent throughout the series.

9. Benedikte Hansen as Hanne Holm

Hanne Holm is a veteran newswoman who serves as a messy mentor of sorts to Katrine, although sometimes it’s the other way around.

As an “old women’s libber,” she handily shoots down the double standards aimed at women and with a biting acumen and panache that only comes with age and experience. I would not want to be on Hanne Holm’s bad side, but I sure do enjoy watching her speak her mind.

10. Birgitte’s Nose Scrunch

Knudsen is a queen of the micro-expression. So often her reactions are nuanced and subtle, but, here and there, we are treated to bigger expressions like smirks and scowls. However, it is the delightful nose scrunch that packs the most punch.

It’s big and bold and, I believe, near impossible not to get a warm, fuzzy feeling when she does it. 

11. Welcome to Denmark

The beautiful city of Copenhagen is highlighted in the show’s exterior shots. Christiansborg Palace, aka Borgen, houses Parliament, the Supreme Court of Denmark, and the Prime Minister’s office. Central to the city as well as the show, the historic castle is featured heavily. 

The fountain where Birgitte and Bent Sejrø (Lars Knutzon) often meet is in the Royal Library Garden, known to be one of the most tranquil spots in the city.

Birgitte and Katrine are frequently seen commuting on bicycles which is representative of real city life in bike-friendly Copenhagen. A recent study shows that a whopping 62% of residents bike to work or school daily.   

12. Lars Knutzon as Bent Serjø

Bent is a party leader of the Moderates and Birgitte’s trusted confidante and friend. He is there for her in good times and bad just as she is for him. They have their ups and downs like any close friendship but always come back together to fight the good fight.  

Not often would I care for a character that is an old, white male politician, but Knutzon plays Bent in such an adorable, teddy bear way that it’s hard not to like him.

13. Leslie Knope Would Watch

I wholeheartedly believe that if Leslie Knope was a real person, she would binge Borgen and quote it regularly (and make Ann watch it).

And don’t we all kind of want to be a little bit like Leslie Knope?

Just like Leslie, Birgitte wants to make the world a better place. On Borgen’s very first episode, Birgitte’s speech pinpointedly reflects Leslie’s idealism and drive. “I became a politician because I once had an opinion on how to organize the world. I still do.” 

14. Puts the Party in Party Politics

American politics are particularly draining on our psyches right now, but learning about the ins and outs of a foreign country’s political system is somehow refreshing and exciting. It’s interesting to see a different approach to some of the same problems. 

There are many parties for the Danes to consider when voting, and Borgen portrays fictionalized versions of the real ones.

The Labour Party and the Liberals are the big contenders with smaller ones like Birgitte’s Moderates vying for seats in Parliament. This diversity brings many characters and personalities into the stories which, in turn, makes for entertaining drama.

15. It’s Coming Back

When you get to the end of Season 3, you will be wishing there was more. Never fear, Netflix in partnership with DR, is bringing Borgen back for a fourth series with the original creative team and Knudsen and Sørensen reprising their roles. 

However, there is a bit of a wait — Season 4 is set to release in 2022. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to see how many times I can binge-watch the series in anticipation of its return. 

And, hey, I may just pick up some Danish vocab in the process.

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Do you plan on checking out Borgen, or are you already a fan? Let us know in the comments below!

Borgen Seasons 1-3 are streaming now on Netflix.

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