Rykter (aka Rumors) premiered on the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) in 2022. We follow Erik, a mopey teen, as he transfers to a high school on a small island. Three local students see him from across the classroom and really dig his vibe. Wannabe influencer Thea wants to date him. Nice girl Sara wants to befriend him. Popular athlete Mathias isn’t sure what he wants. When Erik snubs them Thea begins spreading rumors about him.

The first season is full of unlikable characters making ridiculous decisions. Season two grows more interesting but the characters are still flat. We get gullible heroes, cartoonish bullies, and poor Mathias torn between both worlds. Erik (Benjamin Ebbessen) is the protagonist, but the writers keep his motives a mystery. It’s Mathias (Teo Tomczuk) who is allowed inner conflict. Will he stick with his cruel jock friends? Will he transform into the model student his family wants? Or will he explore his budding feelings for Erik? The show was marketed to me as a queer romance. But that is absent in season one and fleeting in season two. Folks looking for a love story may want to stick to the Erik and Mathias clips on YouTube. At least until we know if season three will keep its promises this fall.  

NRK does not globally distribute their programs. It is the fans who’ve been providing subtitles and sharing episodes. The same phenomena occurred with NRK’s Skam. Though the similarities between shows are superficial. It’s hard to recommend Rykter in its current state. But I can see the potential for something more down the line.

You can read more of my reviews on The Avocado, Letterboxd and Serializd. My podcast, Rainbow Colored Glasses, can be found here.