As the cast of Game of Thrones moves onto the next phase of their careers, inevitable attempts to not be typecast will lead to projects that are as far from Game of Thrones as the Wall is from Dorne. And while Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Gianstbane) might be still be working on fantasy shows like The Witcher, his passion project TWIN, a quiet Norwegian drama, is a stunning departure for the former Thrones wild man.
A long-simmering idea between Hivju and series director Kristofer Metcalfe, TWIN was 20 years in the making. It follows a pair of twins, Adam and Erik, both played by Hivju. Hivju spoke to us at length about the project, and we’re happy to say, the long gestation was worth the wait.
Available through the streaming service MHZ Choice, the eight-episode story revolves around Erik taking Adam’s place after the latter is accidentally killed by his own wife, Ingrid (Rebekka Nystabakk). Minus the whole murder bit, it sounds like a sitcom, but instead we get is a deep dive into identity, illusion and envy that slowly unfolds before viewers’ eyes as Erik, an irresponsible surfer bum, is forced to pretend he’s Adam, a seemingly perfect husband and family man. But nothing is as it seems, and we slowly discover that Adam’s life might not have been that perfect after all.
Initially, the series moves rather quickly, as the opening episode rapidly sets up the premise, with Adam being killed and Erik slipping into his life. Taking place in a tiny resort town in the far north of Norway, one might wonder how one twin’s disappearance could be explained, but luckily Erik crashed his RV into the sea, providing both a perfect alibi for Erik to assume Adam’s identity, and a reason for Erik’s traffic cop friend Frank (Gunnar Eiriksson) to pursue the case.
After the opening episode, things slow down dramatically. We are treated to a slow — but never boring — plot that revolves around Frank’s attempts to prove that Adam murdered Erik, and not the other way around. Filmed on location in the far reaches of Norway, the scenery will instantly make you check on flights to Scandinavia, as you watch the characters drive and boat from one stunning locale to the next.
The most interesting plot threads revolve around Ingrid, Adam, and their children, Karin (Mathilde Holtedahl Cuhra) and Fredrik (Øyvind Samuel Palerud). Karin is a rebellious teenager who quickly sees something is different about her father, even if she can’t quite figure out the reason why. Likewise, the series slowly peels back the layers of Adam and Erik’s relationship, which we learn has been fractured for over 15 years.
Hivju is fantastic in this role. It’s a vast departure from the overly confident Tormund we saw for years on Thrones. Hivju particularly excels at accepting the condolences of Erik’s friends (who believe him to be Adam). He wears a pained, awkward expression as he lives through what is basically his own funeral. Erik never knows quite what to say or even where to go, and Hivju makes his struggle compelling to watch.
As the series goes on, more than a few characters become suspicious of this new Adam and the show really hits its stride. From discovering the basis of the brother’s strained relationship to watching Frank pursue who he thinks killed his friend to Karin’s gradual unraveling, the show, although focused on a small group of characters in a remote resort town, is as entertaining as any of today’s grand dramas.
On the other hand, the slow pace might have some viewers wishing the show had trimmed some fat here or there, but the show is not about whether Erik and Ingrid will get away with their crime, but an exploration of the daily lives of the people around us. The fat, if that’s what you want to call it, is the show. Erik’s assumption of Adam’s identity leads to the unmasking of several other characters who are not leading the lives they’d like others to believe. Ingrid is not the perfect mother and wife, nor is Adam the perfect husband and father. It’s a fascinating journey into the mundane world of everyday domestic life, and one that would have suffered from any sort of trimming.
Beware: ending SPOILERS below:
And just as in real life, there’s very little closure to be found as the series comes to an end. After attending his own funeral, where we see Hivju reduced to tears, Erik departs for places unknown, realizing he’ll be unable to keep up the charade. Ingrid moves on as a newly single mother, and the rest of Erik’s friends make their peace with his “death.” Frank alone realizes what has actually happened, and his moment of clarity changes his dogged determination to see his friend’s killer brought to justice to a quiet happiness that his friend still lives, and is off to continue living the vagabond lifestyle he always wanted. There is no justice for Adam, and yet the show feels as if it comes to a proper conclusion.
Other Game of Thrones vets might attempt to break the mold with wacky romantic comedies or big budget superhero films, but Hivju has already accomplished what many of the others will fail at: taking a wildly dissimilar role and making it his own while showcasing dramatic talents we had previously not seen.
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