Bene Cumb I can't say I am unfamiliar with what Lars von Trier has created, but I have ambiguous feelings regarding his works. Well, the choice of actors is always wonderful, but the main ideas and progress of events are not always for my liking (the "Land of Opportunities" Trilogy, above all). Nevertheless, I try to know the score and will probably see all his works - with certain intervals.Riget was the works I had heard a lot of good things about, but somehow I did not find the time or opportunity to watch it - as I decided to see all episodes in succession. Despite of not too keen on series with supernatural elements, I became caught by the script and performances almost at once, often with wow! effect, giggling and appreciating fresh and brave approaches, including twisted humour, muted sepia colour scheme, 2 dishwashers with Down Syndrome who discuss the strange events in the hospital, von Trier himself narrating in the end of each episode... All the leading actors are at least good, and most of those young(er) then have become internationally known in Scandinavian Noir productions.True, not all episodes are even, seamless and sometimes the sci-fi element prevailed too much, plus the format and quality made the experience aggravated, but still: Riget was so ahead of time, witty and bold, with elements many considered "gaffe" today, I would easily give 9 points.

Jackson Booth-Millard From director Lars Von Trier (Breaking the Waves, Dogville), I spotted this Danish language title in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, so it was slightly strange to find out it was a mini TV series, but then again The Ten Commandments, also included, was a series as well, I was looking forward to seeing what it had to offer. It should be noted that this is the first of two series, the second called The Kingdom II, there was supposed to be a third and final series that would conclude all the story lines and answer all the questions, but one of the leading stars died, and as a result the series was cancelled, and it doesn't look like there will be a conclusion, but in a way, that sort of makes it more significant, maybe like Twin Peaks kind of stuff. Basically the series is set in a hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark, called Rigshospitalet but better known as The Kingdom, it is the most technologically advanced hospital with quality medical science, many patients are cared for on the grounds and there is a good amount of staff. Throughout the show there are many strange things going on, such as a possible haunting, spirits or poltergeists of young patients appearing and disappearing, voices echoing through elevator shafts and corridors, two dishwashers who both have Downs Syndrome, and a female doctor becomes pregnant with the unborn child developing much faster than is natural. The main characters of the show include spiritualist patient Sigrid Drusse (Kirsten Rolffes), pathology professor Palle Bondo (Baard Owe) and recent appointee neurosurgeon Stig Helmer (Ernst-Hugo Järegård), and other characters include Rigmor Mortensen (Ghita Nørby), Jørgen Krogshøj (Søren Pilmark), Dr. Einar Moesgaard (Holger Juul Hansen), Mary Krüger (Annevig Schelde Ebbe), Bulder Harly Drusse (Jens Okking) and Porter Hansen (Otto Brandenburg). I will be honest and say that I could not follow any of the story lines going on, because I had to concentrate on the foreign language subtitles, and it was hard to follow the bizarre events, but I could certainly enjoy it being a little scary, freaky and in many moments funny, the rapid pregnancy and ending with the birth of the alien baby was the most fun to watch, so it was an interesting black comedy horror thriller. Very good!

innocuous In spite of some interesting camera work and visual images, this is just a rip-off of David Lynch and a few other talented directors. (The appearance by the director after the first episode foreshadows the poor quality of the series as a whole.) Perhaps I just don't get it. Still, I expected much more after all the positive reviews this has received. Slow, boring, and pointless....But...I still have to submit some more lines. OK, the characters are stereotypes, with little depth, especially the lead bad guy. (Not actually a bad guy, but you'll know of whom I'm writing.) The only way I was able to watch the entire season was by pretending that it is simply a commentary about socialized medicine (which it is).

Suomi_perkele "Danskjävlar!" An arrogant Swedish doctor Stig Helmer has a new job in a hospital in Copenhagen that they call "Riget" or in English "the Kingdom". It was build on an old swamp and a gate hell is opening slowly. Things creepy as hell are starting to happen and everything isn't right in "Riget". Once you jump into Riget's world - you'll can't stop loving it.Lars von Trier truly is a genius. Not many people can put so much stuff in one hour. The mystery, the horror, the drama and the comedy in Riget are really something completely different. Acting is great. The mood is fantastic. The "expressionless" comedy of von Trier's mastermind reminds me a lot of the Finnish comedy, except I've never liked Finnish stuff so much as Riget. Riget walks behind other master - David Lynch, but still stands by itself. Well I really can't but it into words - watch Riget and you'll see something you'll never see again. Well, I'm speechless. The greatest Nordic TV-show ever and one the greatest all over the world. I'm proud to be Nordic. Now - when will we Finnish have Riget in DVD? I could buy Danish import which has Finnish subtitles but it would be a real culture act to publish Riget in Finland. Then more people could watch this masterpiece.Extremely highly recommended.