Atlantic Crossing Review: Tronefall (Season 1 Episode 2)
On Atlantic Crossing Season 1 Episode 2, “Tronefall,” the Crown Prince and Princess are still separated and are forced to make decisions that could affect the entire nation of Norway.
Two storylines run parallel—one following Crown Princess Märtha (Sofia Helin) and the other her husband, Crown Prince Olav (Tobias Santelmann). They are balanced and each so well-told that they could stand on their own, but cutting between the two adds incredible drama.
To see them having to make tough decisions regarding the safety of their family as well as the welfare of their country and not being able to discuss it with each other is extremely nerve-racking. Ideally, they would do whatever they could to reunite and ride out the war together, but when you’re royal other factors take priority such as the integrity of the Crown and the preservation of the line of succession.
It’s rather valiant of Olav to not only want to serve alongside the Norwegian Army but to lead them. He’s practically bursting with pride at the idea of having that honor. His father, the King (Søren Pilmark), worries about his son being in danger, but also about who would take his spot on the throne if something happened to him.
He convinces Olav that it’s best they both go to London, and they plan on Märtha and the kids joining them for the voyage.
As the risk of being found by the Germans increases, their chance at safe passage gets smaller and smaller. They are not safe at the Salen Hotel where they had just arrived after crashing through the border into Sweden so they pack up again and go to Stockholm.
Their stay at the Royal Summer Castle with Märtha’s uncle, King Gustav (Carl Magnus Dellows), is cut short—family ties are not strong enough for him to discount threats from Hitler for housing a political refugee even if she is his niece. The Allies pull out of Norway and it’s too dangerous for them to fly to Tromsø to meet up with Olav.
Märtha and the children missing the boat is devastating.
Olav’s reaction as he realizes he must leave without his family is covered in a well-shot scene that portrays the severity of the situation. Conversely, Märtha hearing the news is in one long profile shot. We don’t see her face, but you can feel her anguish at this latest obstacle. The juxtaposition of these two differently shot scenes makes the moment that much more affecting.
Lastly, the princess is out of options until her friend, US President Franklin Roosevelt (Kyle MacLachlan), arranges for their transport to America.
All this moving around is a benefit to the aesthetic of the show. The locations are beautiful and beautifully utilized. The most stunning scene comes at the end as Märtha and the children including heir to the throne, Prince Harald, are ferried to the ship that will take them across the Atlantic.
Norwegian fishermen recognize them and salute them as they pass by, singing Norway’s national anthem. It’s a moving and heartfelt moment, and a great way to end another great episode.
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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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.