What would you think of an Irish ‘Borgen’?

iffandonlyif

Borgen is the brilliant Danish series that dramatises politics and the media coverage of it. Great characters, exciting and thought-provoking plots, and just an enjoyable world to inhabit.

I’d love there to be an Irish equivalent. Shouting matches in the Dail, backroom deal-making, corruption scandals, etc. The closest we’ve got are probably Charlie and the little-known Val Falvey, TD with Ardal O’Hanlon.

I think it could do really well. Maybe I’m just a political geek, but it would immediately become much-watch television for me.

Any thoughts, and maybe potential plot lines?

George White

Michael McElhatton born to play Mehole.

StevenToast

Id prefer a reboot of Glenroe.

The Black Oil

I've thought about it the odd time re Irish political skulduggery. They could probably film on the Oireachtas during recess.

Jim_Hodge

I'll stick with the real drama of politics, thanks. We've sufficient political content on TV anyway.

Hold My Hand

It’d be hard to get leads as charismatic as Birgitte and Katrine. There’s not one Irish politician or journalist that could match them imo. Was in Copenhagen and visited some of the filming locations. I love subtitles so think that’s what appeals too. Think the earlier suggestion for bringing back Glenroe might appeal more to an Irish audience.

brian_t

The closest we’ve got are probably Charlie and the little-known Val Falvey, TD with Ardal O’Hanlon.

Don Wycherley played a dodgy government minister in Rásaí na Gaillimhe on TG4.

Hangdogroad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123974497#Comment_123974497

The Running Mate was another TG4 show that focused on political skullduggery, though think it was more small town local politics.

zell12

Borgen was great, has become a cult politico classic. Scribe to the commissioning editors at TG4 with the idea https://www.tg4.ie/en/corporate/tg4-team/

and it would be a ratings winner here, possibly marketed internationally too

LambshankRedemption

I used to work for a company whose client was Netflix and I was in a meeting with Netflix one day and one of their guys said "You want to know how House of Cards came about? One of our biggest divisions is Data Analytics. They look at what people watch, when, for how long and a plethora of other things you wouldn't think of. They looked at the data and said, if you create an serious, political drama, an hour long, it will be a success. So we did and it is".

Yes i think an Irish political drama could be a huge hit if they get a decent writer.

Bellbottoms

I don't think it would work TBH.

It has been a while. But I remember correctly the show is about a small center left party forming a coalition goverment, with left leaning parties.

We have had multiple coalition goverments. But none where a minor partner becomes PM. So you have a show about a coalition goverment where either FF or FG are running the goverment.

So just like this goverment, and the one before that and the one before that.

Who would your antagonist be?

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123974694#Comment_123974694

FFS. The OP isnt saying "lets copy the exact plot of a danish political drama but set it in Ireland", hes asking would a political drama work in Ireland and I think most people would say yes.

The OP is at step 1, would it work? You are on step 37, who will be the antagonist.

Ozymandius2011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123974228#Comment_123974228

I agree. Would be interesting to see how the boom, CAP reforms, the crash, the arrival of the internet and the decline of the Church affected Glenroe. Biddy sadly died in a tractor accident on the show but Mary McEvoy is still around. Maybe she could play Biddys ghost like Angie in recently. And maybe bring back Fidelma, her doctor love interest, Blackie Connors etc. I think Fidelma had a fling with Miley and the doctor with Biddy. Mario Rosenstock was the doctor.

Maybe Geraldine Plunkett could return as Biddys mother Mary.

Bellbottoms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123974775#Comment_123974775

I could see that working. Glenroe has also become a commuter town. Make it Greystones light, with yoga moms and vegan cafes. Sets up some nice conflicts within the town. The yoga hub and the church being the two big meeting points for the two groups. With the coffee shop being nuetral ground.

The main conflict could be over a greenway and a windfarm. The older farmers objecting the greenway but wanting a wind farm and the yummy mummies being in favour of the greenway. But against the wind farm.

Radio5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123974790#Comment_123974790

Also featuring in the conflict could be yummy mummys with their 4 x4s objecting to heavy machinery on the roads going to and from the remaining farms near the town, animal welfare, rights of way, and controversies about re-zoing land for development.

zell12

Borgen had a female PM, before Helle Thorning-Schmidt became the first real PM. So who knows, our version could be pre-empting a Holly/Mary Lou/Iwanna 😉 We have the same population as Denmark and have immense interest in politics. There is no reason why it could not work, we have all the ingredients

Bellbottoms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123974913#Comment_123974913

Denmark has colonies, a monarchy, is a member of Denmark. Its politics are more diverse.

Now if they Irish version were about, say a United Ireland. Having to naviage the intergration of unionism and unionist traditions into a united republic. How that effects their support, what compromises people are willing to make. How the UK pushes back against some things etc. That would be an intresting show.

iffandonlyif

Thanks guys. Some interesting replies so far.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123974364#Comment_123974364

Yeah, you’re right. The cast is absolutely crucial to its success. I would throw in Kasper as well - crazily charismatic.

You may be hinting at the idea that Borgen seems more intellectual/cultured because it’s got subtitles. I wonder would it be less appealing if we understood the Danish and weren’t awed by the novelty of a chic European city?

cml387

Anyone remember "The Ambassador" with the (sadly late) Pauline Collins. I thought it was a moderately successful poltical drama, so it can work if done properly. Mind you, that was a BBC production.

Bellbottoms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123975220#Comment_123975220

Yes, I didn't like it. I remeber it being more like Ballykissangle then say Borgen or The Thick of It.

cml387

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123975248#Comment_123975248

In fairness it did focus on the sensitivities of British/ Irish relations and had some meatire plots than Ballyk. And there was nothing ever like "The Thick Of It" and never will be.

Bellbottoms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123975271#Comment_123975271

I remember the whole Rockall thing being played for laughs. Oh look at the silly Irish fishermen claiming Rockall.

TBF it has been over 25 years since I have seen the show. But I remember thinking it was fiddley eye sh1te. It may well be better then I remember.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123975286#Comment_123975286

TBF, it came out 27 years ago. Maybe it was didley eye sh1te, but ireland, and Irelands appreciation for TV dramas has changed dramatically since then.

CramCycle

I think a " thick of it" or "Yes Minister" for Ireland would work well, how you'd tell if it was a drama or a comedy would be at the discretion of the viewer. Having previously worked beside the dept of finance and ag for years, the British government hang ups of many in more senior / aged roles would be easy to write for if they have seen either of the above shows.

Ozymandius2011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123975220#Comment_123975220

Only vaguely and I dont remember much of it. I remember the Rockall dispute came up in it.

iffandonlyif

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123975220#Comment_123975220

I only heard about it recently and watched the first series online somewhere. It’s reminiscent of Morse and the like. It’s a nice little slice of 90s nostalgia, but you wouldn’t get away with something so bland today (or maybe the production quality just dates it).

I didn’t see the Rockall episode that someone else complains about. But I did see one in which a fishing boat was wrecked by a British submarine, which is sympathetic to the Irish perspective and asks some probing moral questions of its British audience. We really do go out of our way to be offended.