Atlantic Crossing Review: Ild og vann (Season 1 Episode 4)

It’s a rollercoaster of emotions on Atlantic Crossing Season 1 Episode 4, “Ild og vann,” but it certainly is a riveting ride. 

The Crown Princess and the President’s sunny friendship experiences some dark clouds, and much of their scenes together are painfully awkward and tense. But, I am not complaining because I love the drama, and this episode really delivers on that front.

Märtha (Sofia Helin) is put in a difficult position that might shake even the most seasoned of politicians, and the stakes are high—basically, Norway and nearly all of Europe are depending on her to make these political moves.

No pressure or anything.

When she is tasked with this mission, she has already had a series of public blunders and discouraging convos with Franklin Roosevelt (Kyle MacLachlan). These are the emotional lows of the episode, and some of it is pretty distressing to watch. 

Märtha is set to give a speech at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church, but shifty Morgenstierne (Trond Teigen) switches it up on her. She was already nervous and this throws her entirely.

It’s a similar situation to that on Atlantic Crossing Season 1 Episode 3, “Over Atlanteren,” when he pushes her into a press conference immediately after her harrowing journey. Here, the speech is cut short just as it begins—Märtha’s nose starts to bleed and she must excuse herself. 

The nosebleed comes out of nowhere so it is quite unnerving, and it is a big blow to her confidence. Then she goes from that to a pleasant visit with Franklin that ends unpleasantly.

Franklin had just been very candid and open with her in a particularly moving monologue which MacLachlan nails. They are interrupted by a call from Crown Prince Olav (Tobias Santelmann) in London who urges her to arrange for Morgenstierne to meet with the President on Norway’s behalf. After what Franklin just told her, this is the worst thing she can bring up now. 

Franklin: So you do have an agenda.

Ouch.

What affects her the most, though, is her exchanges with a Norwegian sailor (Fridtjov Såheim) who was one of the few survivors of a German attack. He gets angry and yells at her in front of a room full of people for what he sees as her family’s cowardice. Märtha had been feeling useless and ineffectual before, and this spurs her into action.  

She makes amends with the sailor by giving him a letter from his family back home, and he is grateful, but still implores her to do what she can to get the United States to help. Seeing the personal toll and loss has on a fellow Norwegian refugee gives her the determination she needs to find a way to appeal to Franklin. 

It’s very clever of her to have Ambassador Morgenstierne school her on policy so she knows everything she’ll need to in order to debate this heated topic. And she does a superb job—Franklin even uses her “fires spread” analogy when introducing the Lend-Lease Act.

This is a big win for European nations who need all the help they can get to fight against Hitler and the Nazis. However, it is not great for Franklin as we see in the last scene.

Roosevelt is just beginning his second term, having won the election on this episode—seriously, so much happens—having promised voters that America would stay neutral. 

Märtha and Olav—yes, he came over for a surprise visit—see a crowd gathered around a television in the window of a shop listening to Roosevelt’s speech. They are not happy with this development and start chanting “America first!” It’s a really grotesque display that hits very close to home for viewers in the present day.

Stray Observations:

• Olav visiting is a huge surprise that I was not expecting. They have a brief sex scene which reminded me of the first scene of the first episode of Atlantic Crossing, “Angrepet.” I had a feeling there would be more racy content and I was right!
• I very much dislike this portrayal of Missy LeHand, Franklin’s private secretary. 
• More Eleanor, please!
• Märtha’s impression of Roosevelt, tho.

What did you think of this episode of Atlantic Crossing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Atlantic Crossing airs Sundays at 9/8c on PBS.

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