On Netflix: “Lilyhammer” a go go!

What happens when you put a gangster on the run into a small Norwegian village?

I discovered Lillehanmer, Norway by watching the Olympics, which gives me something in common with Frank Tagliano (played with utter charm by Steven Van Zandt – yes him!), a swift and suave gangster-turned-business man in the clever Netflix series “Lilyhammer”.  Tagliano manages to transform the quiet wintery town of Lillehammer into an unassuming Mecca of acceptance and low key excitement involving some very open-minded, if not sometimes clumsy, Norwegians who are willing to dip their toes into minor law bending adventure .  While Tagliano’s ability to avoid the sort of finger smashing penalties that come with being a gangster in the Witness Protection Program can come across as too perfect, he possesses plenty of genuine street smarts, bravado and humanity mixed with a little wink, nod and occasional heavenward look of gratitude.  Tagliano is the best friend of Lady Luck, and the people who surround him would succumb to every casualty of misfortune and stupidity without him.

During season one, “Lilyhammer” offered enough background into peculiar Norwegians characters, along with some of the country’s cultural mores and celebrations, all mixing  happily together with Tagliano’s main story.  There is the girlfriend and her son – a young boy who learns to win both confidence and card games, a doddering sidekick and accompanying crew plucked from the unemployment line, a stoic government employee who doubles as a slimy cultural ambassador, a handful of Muslim immigrants and a few unsavory gangsters.  The center of Lilyhammer never ceases to be Tagliano, who is not the cold blooded Gambino era upstart who shoots anyone as if he were wielding an uzi while blind.  Instead, he is a throwback gangster reminiscent of a more honorable era, if there is such a thing.  It is, after all, through Tagliano’s benevolence and understanding that things manage to thrive while never getting too out-of-hand.

With such richness of characters and colorful plot twists to offer, “Lilyhammer” moved seamlessly into its second season.  The characters were matured and explored, aided with the help of an assortment of odd characters to spice up and tie together the storylines.  Tagliano, still the master of Lillehammer’s night life, continued to progress his ideas for the tiny Norwegian town, with an idea to venture into reindeer racing.  Along the way, there are the sub-adventures, the insecurities of being a gangster on the run and the subtle humor that never ceases, making season two better than the first.

“Lilyhammer” is a smart comedy that touches lightly on social issues with an armful of wit.  I forget if there is some nudity.  It might be there, but not enough to send someone running to speak of its evils in a Netflix review.  I am also not sure why the producers chose the Lilyhammer spelling, as the town’s proper name is Lillehammer, but it helps to add that extra sparkle of magic into an already enchanting town and net show.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfRgVbp9gSY

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