Pernille is the kind of show that makes you feel simultaneously giddy and sad, and the kind that makes you skip the credits as soon as you can to play the next episode. Like a Norwegian Better Things, it follows the titular Pernille (Steenstrup) as she raises two difficult but loving daughters, an emotionally distant nephew, and a father who’s found a new lease in life after finally coming out of the closet. To top it all off, Pernille works in child welfare, earning the ire of many unfit parents as she thanklessly saves children from abuse. Pernille is sometimes fun to watch—the heroine is prickly and plucky as she navigates her duties while carving out time for herself (often sexually). But sometimes it’s also difficult to watch. Between being a social services agent and a mom, Pernille comes to learn she’s not always right. But she is relatable and real, and therefore ultra comforting to watch.
Pørni is about the dilemmas that you end up in when you, to the best of your abilities, try to do the right thing for your loved ones, and yourself. In that order. Pørni has two daughters with a jerk of an ex who has moved to Copenhagen, who focuses mainly on himself.
Pernille (Henriette Steenstrup) looks after two daughters, a nephew, her elderly father, and dozens of children under welfare. Amid her demanding duties, she tries to find time for herself.
The series never teeters into overly sentimental territory. Each episode feels perfectly balanced between joy and pain, the celebration of life and the messiness of it all. And with each episode running just over 30 minutes, it’s a breeze to watch.
It’s like Better Things was never cancelled!
