Huset / Prisoner

There are nearly as many prison stories as hospital dramas and detective shows – but none feel as immersive and authentic as Prisoner. DR Drama’s new flagship show brings together a Nordic dream team: writer Kim Fupz Aakeson, directors Michael Noer and Frederik Louis Hviid, and actors including Sofie Gråbøl and David Dencik. From the tense first moments, we follow four very different prison guards as they navigate the daily power struggles of the inmates, the ever-present threat of violence, and the bureaucratic nightmares of a broken system. Unlike the inmates, the guards ostensibly have their freedom – but they also are burdened by family conflicts and secrets. These unique characters are placed within an extremely brutal, raw, and gritty depiction of prison – the authenticity is helped by real prison guards guiding the writing process (and appearing on screen) as well as shooting in a real prison on the outskirts of Copenhagen. “Prisoner” avoids typical prison drama clichés to show a complicated and honest human world behind the walls.