Conscription

A war enthusiast, a spoiled brat, a female male chauvinist and an identity-confused guy from Oslo east. Are these to protect Norway?

Conscription (2019-2021) is a Norwegian short-form military comedy series created by Herman Flesvig for NRK1. Flesvig also plays a central role alongside Mikkel Niva as Lauritzen and Jonas Kinge Bergland as Lt. Stølan, with Josefine Frida Pettersen appearing as Aurora in several episodes. The engine is a pointed ensemble premise: a war enthusiast, a spoiled brat, a self-described chauvinist and an Oslo east transplant with a shaky sense of who he is are thrown into the same national service unit. Each brief episode, roughly twelve minutes long, stacks up awkward encounters, bureaucratic absurdity and clashing egos, all played with a dry, deadpan irreverence. Across two seasons and twenty episodes, the show keeps asking whether these misfits are really there to protect Norway, poking gently at national pride and masculine posturing. It is a small, sharp national television production, and its tone is wry, sardonic and occasionally uncomfortable. Fans of Stripes, Dads and Brooklyn Nine-Nine will find a kindred mix of ensemble chaos and institutional satire.

• Stripesshort-form absurdist military comedy, workplace-style ensemble of mismatched recruits
• Dadsmockumentary-style comedy of mismatched institutional misfits in a rigid organization
• Brooklyn Nine-Nineensemble of mismatched characters in a rigid institution, sharp deadpan comedy

Created by

Herman Flesvig

Release Date

2019-12-13

Episode runtime

12 min

Rating

8.0 / 10 (13)

What is Conscription about?

Four mismatched young conscripts in Norway's armed forces stumble through national service, each for their own reasons.

What is Conscription like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Conscription as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Conscription violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Conscription.

Which shows are like Conscription?

Shows with a similar feel include Stripes, Dads, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

How long is Conscription?

Conscription: 2 seasons, 20 episodes.

Is Conscription still running?

No, Conscription has ended.