Borgen Season 4 Review: The Power of Women

The beloved Danish political drama is back!

Borgen: Power & Glory is a standalone fourth season to the popular import, Borgen, whose three seasons were made available to stream in the US through Netflix in 2020.

It’s been a good ten years since Birgitte Nyborg (Sidse Babett Knudsen) made waves in Copenhagen when she formed a new party, the New Democrats. Borgen made Danish government highly addictive television centering on the woman who became the first female Prime Minister of Denmark.

Fans of The West Wing and The Newsroom will, no doubt, enjoy, political science enthusiasts, too; but really the show is for anyone who loves well-written, well-produced, and well-acted drama. 

Note: This review contains spoilers for Borgen Seasons 1-4.

Those who liked the original run will likely find Borgen: Power & Glory to be the same fantastic show but with a deeper, darker look at the eternal power struggle of modern politicians. Season 4 takes the idealism that Borgen valiantly upheld for three seasons and adds some perspective, particularly a global perspective.

It’s no longer about trying to gain power but rather what it’s like after you’ve attained it. How does political power affect someone with the ideals and moral standards of Birgitte Nyborg? As an experienced and respected politician, how will she handle being faced with losing that power?

These broad-stroke questions are examined across eight solid episodes amid a turbulent storyline that covers international relations, colonialism, and climate change. The plot often takes unexpected directions, and many subplots are skillfully interwoven.

Within those subplots and the main story social issues are examined, but so is the personal. One thing Borgen never loses sight of is the human element in politics, and Power & Glory continues to tell its stories with integrity and truth. 

Because it is so truthful, the hero of the story is not infallible. Birgitte makes mistakes and power grabs, and loses perspective. Sidse Babett Knudsen has crafted a brilliant character and delivers, once again, a powerhouse performance that shows exactly why she’s known as one of Denmark’s greatest actors.

Among the onslaught of TV reboots, Borgen: Power & Glory proves its worth in the international television landscape. It does right by its origins and takes a risk in trying something new by portraying Nyborg engaging in dirtier politics. And it is a risk that pays off with delicious drama and superb performances that respect the established characters and how they’ve grown.

The original three seasons balanced Birgitte’s struggles with her victories, Power & Glory leans into the low points as she digs herself deeper into the messy geopolitical embroilment. She’s divorced and single, publicly at odds with her son, and losing the support of her party. Like PM Signe Kragh (Johanne Louise Schmidt) tells her, “You’re alone on an ice floe now.”

Hiring nemesis Mikael Laugesen (Peter Mygind) indicates a clear shift in the diplomatic politician’s agenda. The situation is desperate if Birgitte is willing to dabble in the dark side with the likes of him.   

Knudsen in this role is the heart of the series, but she’s also surrounded by a capable and talented team just as Nyborg, Denmark’s Foreign Minister, is. Birgitte Hjort Sørensen returns as Katrine Fønsmark who is back in journalism as the head of news for TV1 where she got her start as an investigative reporter. 

Just like it’s fascinating to see what Birgitte has been up to all this time, Katrine’s story is one that holds interest. She is now the boss and has to deal with a headstrong anchor. Narciza Aydin (Özlem Saglanmak) bears strong resemblance to Katrine when she was in Narciza’s position on Borgen Seasons 1 and 2. 

She often butted heads with then news director, Torben Friis (Søren Malling). The power balance has flipped and it adds some great depth to the newsroom aspect of the show. 

Although the relationship between Katrine and Birgitte has circled back to where they were at the start of the series, everything they’ve gone through and worked toward together factors in, giving the two leads even more nuanced conflict with which to contend.

The developments and dilemmas happening in Denmark and in the halls of Christiansborg are grounded by the inclusion of Indigenous-focused storylines. Following the Greenlanders who are directly affected by Danish politics and the discovery of oil provides much of that human element of the series as well as necessary representation.

Acting Arctic Ambassador Asger Holm Kirkegaard (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) acts as a bridge between Denmark and Greenland. Følsgaard brings a lot to the table as the affable Asger, particularly in his complicated relationship with Greenland’s Premier representative, Emmy Rasmussen (Nivi Pedersen). 

Tempering the global political crises with personal stories allows the series to examine the real-life big picture through meaningful fictional narratives.  

I can’t really say the series picked up where it left off because it takes place a decade later with a notable change in tone, but the high-quality storytelling has been carried over seamlessly. This chapter of Borgen lives up to its lofty reputation of excellence in dramatic television worldwide. 

Now, that’s a power grab I can get behind. 

What did you think of Borgen: Power & Glory? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Borgen Seasons 1-3 and Borgen: Power & Glory are streaming on Netflix.

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