I like shows that show us a regular person going ab out their life: how they make decisions, their fears, actions etc. We all have insight into ourselves and I enjoy seeing how other people approach life. This program isn't one of those shows.
It reminds me a bit of Nurse Jackie (spoiler for Nurse Jackie: she has a big problem yet at work she is super nurse and solves all the tricky problems and patients. And it's not to say people can't be high functioning addicts but this is a little ridiculous and a little boring. ) Rita is similar to Nurse Jackie in that Rita is the super teacher who enchants students of all ages as seen by her classes of kids ages 7 and 14. She may struggle with a few difficult ones but she always prevails. She is super teacher, part time social worker and ally to colleagues. And that is strange considering we are told that Rita is somehow a screwup (not normal). Of course, it is important to note that we are told that and not shown. It is built into the dialogue because what we see is actually quite different:
Rita is no screw up! Look at her. Besides being an outstanding teacher, she is also a great mum. Yes her teens may have issues with her now and then but they are pretty close to her. Closer than most parents of teens. She reaches out time and time again but knows when to back off. She has family dinners together and her kids seem to be doing very well even if displaying the 100% normal insecurities of being a young adult. She is also a supportive colleague going to bat for the bullied teacher and supporting the new teacher. She lets her annoying sister and her mum come and stay when they need to even though she was emotionally neglectful.
So where is this "not normal", we are told Rita is? Is it wearing casual clothes? It can't be as the principal wears shorts every day. Is it that they are snug fitting? The principal's shorts are snug fitting. And Rita's pants have nothing on the leggings worn by many women. She wears a tshirt and baggy plaid shirt on top. Is it her libido and satisfaction, enjoyment, relish of casual sex? Well, the principal is the same right in terms of casual sex in his office? There is always a man participating so how can Rita be considered not normal when a bunch of men behave the same? Where is this "not normal" we are told Rita is?
If anything Hjordis is a far more interesting character. The fact that she relates to the kids who were different and yet is a functioning adult is an actual interesting show. And yet since I am guessing it is Rita's sex life that makes the show want us to think her as "not normal" or at least different, isn't it interesting that they chose a heavier actress whose character laments her limited sex experience for the truly interesting character.
We get something interesting when the guidance councillor asks her why she became a teacher. And she guesses that Rita wanted to become an authority figure. We are then told her mum wasn't a great authority figure and we can put two and two together. This is as deep as we get with understanding Rita.
The show was weird to start. I thought it should have been called Rita and Brood since it was an ensemble show almost equally about her three kids. The second season got rid of two of them for most of it and we see Rita trying to make her relationship work. That second season should have ended in Rita crashing and burning with her getting caught covering for Mads' bipolar mother and her renewed affair with her first love exposed. That could have led to a real crisis for Rita and interesting climb back out. But again Rita is rescued by her role as "super teacher" when she doesn't suffer any professional punishment. The third season is a little different in that it brings in an external storyline in a way. The season is not about her personal relationships as much. It works but is also more mundane....its about the school system, politics, parents interfering, kids that need extra help. But this feels more heavy handed in it all and is cliched. This ain't The Wire and I think the more personal focus on Rita from the first season was a better focus.
The fourth season added a lot to the entire series as we see Rita's teenage years. It takes Rita full circle back to her home town and the literal sites of some of her greatest anguish. We learn why Rita wanted to be the teacher she was (and it had nothing to do with Helle's theory about wanting to be an authority.) Well I guess it did in a way but it was more about wanting to be the adult, that kids want adults to be. Season 4 seemed a natural ending to the whole series. Rita went through an awful experience with her mother leaving, her father checking out and being abusive and a trusted adult taking advantage of her - don't give me any BS about her being of consenting age. This season did a good job of showing how damaging poor parenting of teens is. Teens are still very vulnerable - it isn't just younger children that can suffer from poor parenting. You can see the kind of damage here. Rita missed out on a specific growth that I think happens in your late teens : the ability to trust that you have something to give and the ability to trust that you are loved and have something to receive and you are worthy of it. People poo poo teens turning to their friends instead of their parents but i think it is an important social and emotional development and not just "rebelling".
Unfortunately the last season didn't explain how she managed to become a teacher, get married and have kids. It is a big jump from the 16 year old we are left with. In fact the last season was filler at least for the the first 5-6 episodes. I mean do we really care what happens to Jeppe? We see a whole new reason given for why Rita became a teacher - to protect kids from their parents. I think the fourth season reason was better and fit her better. She was protecting kids from other teachers and an unreasonable school system as well. I guess all five seasons became an arc. But so uneven! My other big thing that I think was done poorly was the use of the Hjordis character. In some ways it was okay - she came in as an eager but naive whirlwind of energy and creativity. They gave her such a big story arc in the last two seasons. I loved the character at first but I thought the focus on her following Rita was weird.
I do enjoy watching the Danish education portrayal such as it is.
Postscript: the kids do a great job in this for the most part.
It reminds me a bit of Nurse Jackie (spoiler for Nurse Jackie: she has a big problem yet at work she is super nurse and solves all the tricky problems and patients. And it's not to say people can't be high functioning addicts but this is a little ridiculous and a little boring. ) Rita is similar to Nurse Jackie in that Rita is the super teacher who enchants students of all ages as seen by her classes of kids ages 7 and 14. She may struggle with a few difficult ones but she always prevails. She is super teacher, part time social worker and ally to colleagues. And that is strange considering we are told that Rita is somehow a screwup (not normal). Of course, it is important to note that we are told that and not shown. It is built into the dialogue because what we see is actually quite different:
Rita is no screw up! Look at her. Besides being an outstanding teacher, she is also a great mum. Yes her teens may have issues with her now and then but they are pretty close to her. Closer than most parents of teens. She reaches out time and time again but knows when to back off. She has family dinners together and her kids seem to be doing very well even if displaying the 100% normal insecurities of being a young adult. She is also a supportive colleague going to bat for the bullied teacher and supporting the new teacher. She lets her annoying sister and her mum come and stay when they need to even though she was emotionally neglectful.
So where is this "not normal", we are told Rita is? Is it wearing casual clothes? It can't be as the principal wears shorts every day. Is it that they are snug fitting? The principal's shorts are snug fitting. And Rita's pants have nothing on the leggings worn by many women. She wears a tshirt and baggy plaid shirt on top. Is it her libido and satisfaction, enjoyment, relish of casual sex? Well, the principal is the same right in terms of casual sex in his office? There is always a man participating so how can Rita be considered not normal when a bunch of men behave the same? Where is this "not normal" we are told Rita is?
If anything Hjordis is a far more interesting character. The fact that she relates to the kids who were different and yet is a functioning adult is an actual interesting show. And yet since I am guessing it is Rita's sex life that makes the show want us to think her as "not normal" or at least different, isn't it interesting that they chose a heavier actress whose character laments her limited sex experience for the truly interesting character.
We get something interesting when the guidance councillor asks her why she became a teacher. And she guesses that Rita wanted to become an authority figure. We are then told her mum wasn't a great authority figure and we can put two and two together. This is as deep as we get with understanding Rita.
The show was weird to start. I thought it should have been called Rita and Brood since it was an ensemble show almost equally about her three kids. The second season got rid of two of them for most of it and we see Rita trying to make her relationship work. That second season should have ended in Rita crashing and burning with her getting caught covering for Mads' bipolar mother and her renewed affair with her first love exposed. That could have led to a real crisis for Rita and interesting climb back out. But again Rita is rescued by her role as "super teacher" when she doesn't suffer any professional punishment. The third season is a little different in that it brings in an external storyline in a way. The season is not about her personal relationships as much. It works but is also more mundane....its about the school system, politics, parents interfering, kids that need extra help. But this feels more heavy handed in it all and is cliched. This ain't The Wire and I think the more personal focus on Rita from the first season was a better focus.
The fourth season added a lot to the entire series as we see Rita's teenage years. It takes Rita full circle back to her home town and the literal sites of some of her greatest anguish. We learn why Rita wanted to be the teacher she was (and it had nothing to do with Helle's theory about wanting to be an authority.) Well I guess it did in a way but it was more about wanting to be the adult, that kids want adults to be. Season 4 seemed a natural ending to the whole series. Rita went through an awful experience with her mother leaving, her father checking out and being abusive and a trusted adult taking advantage of her - don't give me any BS about her being of consenting age. This season did a good job of showing how damaging poor parenting of teens is. Teens are still very vulnerable - it isn't just younger children that can suffer from poor parenting. You can see the kind of damage here. Rita missed out on a specific growth that I think happens in your late teens : the ability to trust that you have something to give and the ability to trust that you are loved and have something to receive and you are worthy of it. People poo poo teens turning to their friends instead of their parents but i think it is an important social and emotional development and not just "rebelling".
Unfortunately the last season didn't explain how she managed to become a teacher, get married and have kids. It is a big jump from the 16 year old we are left with. In fact the last season was filler at least for the the first 5-6 episodes. I mean do we really care what happens to Jeppe? We see a whole new reason given for why Rita became a teacher - to protect kids from their parents. I think the fourth season reason was better and fit her better. She was protecting kids from other teachers and an unreasonable school system as well. I guess all five seasons became an arc. But so uneven! My other big thing that I think was done poorly was the use of the Hjordis character. In some ways it was okay - she came in as an eager but naive whirlwind of energy and creativity. They gave her such a big story arc in the last two seasons. I loved the character at first but I thought the focus on her following Rita was weird.
I do enjoy watching the Danish education portrayal such as it is.
Postscript: the kids do a great job in this for the most part.