Beforeigners: HBO’s Forgotten 12-Episode Sci-Fi Thriller Is One of Television’s Most Unsettling Series
A sudden arrival in Oslo
Beforeigners begins after powerful flashes of light appear in the ocean. People from earlier periods then mysteriously reappear in the near future, changing life in Oslo. The newcomers are called “beforeigners” and “timeigrants.” They arrive from three eras: the Stone Age, the Viking period and the late 19th century.
Struggling to fit in
As the arrivals seek refuge, they face the challenge of adapting to a society shaped by a very different time. Their effort to assimilate becomes central to the series’ premise.
Oslo, meanwhile, must contend with social, political and cultural tensions created by the newcomers. The show uses time travel to explore the consequences of bringing people from distinct historical periods into one present-day city.
A praised time-travel premise
The series premiered on August 21, 2019, as HBO Nordic’s first Norwegian original production. It ran for two seasons. Season 1 earned a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, based on five critic reviews. The account also points to the evolving chemistry between the show’s main characters as part of its appeal.
Key points
- Beforeigners follows people from three historical periods who appear in near-future Oslo.
- The newcomers’ arrival creates social, political and cultural tensions.
- HBO Nordic’s Norwegian original premiered on August 21, 2019, and ran for two seasons.
- Season 1 received a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score based on five critic reviews.