Billionaire Island: Netflix TV Series Review, Imagine combining the unbridled luxury of Succession with the sharp elegance of Dallas, but transporting it all to the breathtaking coasts of Norway. Billionaire Island, the new Netflix series by the creators of Lilyhammer, Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin, is a dive into the icy seas of the Atlantic, where the object of desire is not oil or the media, but fish. Salmon, to be precise. And anyone who thinks that you can't make an intriguing drama around the fishing industry is very wrong. The premise of the series may seem bizarre or unappealing at first glance, but the creators of Billionaire Island have managed to build a plot that skillfully mixes satire, family intrigue, and black humor, winning over the viewer episode after episode. The series is available for streaming from September 12, 2024.
Billionaire Island is a suspenseful drama with surprising twists
The story takes place on the fictional island of Brima, where the salmon industry is the real engine of the local economy. At the center of the narrative is the Meyer family, who have dominated the fish market for decades, led by the old Gjert Meyer, played by Svein Roger Karlsen. Gjert is the last representative of an era in which power was gained through hard work and personal relationships, and he is determined to maintain control of his company, despite growing internal and external problems. However, his reign is faltering under the pressure of new forces, represented by Julia Lange, a ruthless and ambitious businesswoman, played by Trine Wiggen. Julia is everything that Gjert is not: young, modern, and ready to use any means to get what she wants.
From the first episodes, Julia establishes herself as a central figure in the series. His plan is clear: to take advantage of Gjert’s weakness and the death of a major shareholder of the Meyer Corporation, exiled in Dubai, to take control of the company. It is in this context that Billionaire Island unfolds as a classic power struggle, where the stakes are not only money but total control of an entire industry, in this case, salmon farming. However, the series does not limit itself to exploring the usual themes of greed and ambition; what makes Billionaire Island unique is its ability to poke fun at itself and its protagonists.
The tone of the series is a perfect balance between drama and black comedy. The creators have done an excellent job of portraying the protagonists as complex, but at the same time often ridiculous, characters. Gjert is a man of the old regime, accustomed to a life of privilege and power, but he is also awkward and often out of place in the new world he finds himself facing. His world, made of small privileges such as a free coffee at the local bar, is slowly collapsing, and he seems to have neither the strength nor the ability to stop this inevitable fall. Julia, on the other hand, represents modernity, the most aggressive and unscrupulous capitalism, but even she, despite her calculating coldness, shows moments of uncertainty and vulnerability that make her an interesting and multifaceted character. The series is also enriched by a series of secondary characters that add further depth and humor to the narrative. From the youngest members of the Meyer family, who try to make their way in the complicated world of business, to the inhabitants of Brima who observe the power struggles from afar with a mixture of admiration and sarcasm, each character has a well-defined role in the overall balance of the series. The family dynamics are complex and well-developed, with alliances that form and break throughout the episodes, creating a continuous sense of uncertainty and tension.
Visually, Billionaire Island is a feast for the eyes. The settings are magnificent: the island of Brima, with its pristine Nordic landscapes, offers a suggestive contrast to the dark plots that develop among the opulent offices and sumptuous villas of the protagonists. There is something deeply ironic in seeing these scenarios of peace and natural beauty serve as the backdrop to such corrupt and ruthless power games, and the series plays skillfully on this contrast. A truly ironic, intelligent visual, stylistic, and tonal counterpoint: the direction is studied, the cinematography cooked to perfection, all perfectly supported by a pressing and narrative soundtrack.
Billionaire Island: Evaluation and Conclusion
Billionaire Island is a series that manages to skillfully mix drama, satire, and comedy, creating a unique and captivating product. Even those who are not interested in the world of the fishing industry will find in its characters and dynamics an engaging and at times hilarious narration. Its creators demonstrate once again that they know how to create original and surprising stories, and Billionaire Island promises to be one of the most interesting series on the current television scene. With only six episodes, the series leaves the viewer eager to discover what the future holds for the Meyer family and Julia Lange, promising new seasons full of intrigue and twists.