It is one of the most expensive TV series ever produced in Norway, but is it any good? With a budget of 90 million crowns ($10.89 million), and a story based on an idea by ​​Jo Nesbø, expectations were high for the premiere of Occupied which started October 4th on TV2.

After an environmental disaster in Norway, an environmental movement leads to the election of a Green Prime Minister. He stops oil and gas production in Norway, which results in an energy crisis in Europe. As a result the EU backs a Russian invasion of Norway in order to get the country to resume oil and gas production.

Here is the verdict from some of Norway’s most esteemed critics…

Sigurd Vik, NRK:
“No expense is spared on gunpowder! There is a lot of excitement from the start, and the premise of the series is exciting… Those who have not grown up with the threat from neighbours know the environmental threat. That’s smart thinking.

Tom Stahlsberg, Dagbladet:
Occupied falls apart because we do not believe in anything, it’s neither exciting nor entertaining.

Morten Nilson, VG:
Occupied is, unfortunately, not even good for a Norwegian series… And where did the 90 million go?.. Maybe we “see the money” in the last five episodes of the series.

Vibeke Johnsen, Nettavisen:
Occupied feels in many ways distorted, true, but not entirely fair. It is however very realistically done – something that can be attributed to good lines and brilliant interpretations from those involved.

Viewers in the UK can decide for themselves when it airs in January 2016 on Sky Arts…