Beforeigners

Beforeigners season 1 takes place in Oslo, where sudden flashes of light appear in the bay in Bjørvika. People from different time periods—the Stone Age, Viking Age, and the 19th century—suddenly appear in the present. Police officer Lars Haaland meets the first "time migrants", who speak Old Norse.

A few years later, the so-called "Beforeigners" struggle to integrate into modern Norwegian society. Some 19th-century individuals found work as journalists, office workers, and teachers, while most of the old Norse folk are homeless and sleep in parks. The Stone-Agers mainly live at the fringes and in forests. Some modern Norwegians perceive these "refugees" as a drain on society.[8]

Lars now lives alone, having shared custody of his 17-year-old daughter, Ingrid, while his ex-wife, Marie lives as a neo-Victorian with her 19th-century husband, Gregers. Lars is addicted to temproxate, or "time drops", a strong sedative prescribed to newcomers—otherwise illegal. He quarrels with Marie over Ingrid when their daughter wants to go Russefeiring, a traditional celebration at Norwegian high schools. More time migrants continue to appear in the harbor on a daily basis (over 13,000 new arrivals per year). The government claims time migration only occurs from the past.

A woman with Stone-Age tattoos and rotten teeth is found dead on a beach and Lars is put in charge of the investigation. He is partnered with a first-day cop, Alfhildr Enginnsdóttir (Krista Kosonen), a Viking-era woman from the 11th century. She is the first police officer with a "multi-temporal background", but is shunned by most of her colleagues, who consider her unfit for the job and only a PR stunt by management. Lars and Alfhildr gradually get used to working together, though they have occasional run-ins and disagreements.[9]

The dead woman's autopsy reveals that she was strangled, and she has odd cross-hatches on her back. A young girl reports she saw a "green sea monster with glowing eyes" seize the dead woman. As the investigation continues, a Stone-Ager, Navn, becomes a suspect. A second autopsy reveals the dead girl is not from the past but rather a contemporary Norwegian. A new trend occurs, where "wannabe time-migrants" shed their 21st-century identities and live as Beforeigners. The murdered woman is identified as the German-born Mariana Werner, a neo-Luddite who opposes modern technology.

Throughout the series, Alfhildr has momentary flashbacks to her Viking past. She is revealed to have been a shield-maiden and not a farmer's wife, as she had declared in order to attend the police academy. In her free time, she seeks her former commander, Thorir Hund. She reunites with fellow shield-maiden Urðr Sighvatsdóttir, who introduces her to the Viking-era community. They track down Thorir, now named "Tommy Henriksen", who has no memory of his past. Alfhildr and Urðr are convinced he is Thorir, who slew Olaf the Stout. An attack by an individual who is a follower of Olaf triggers memories in Thorir, and he seeks answers. Alfhildr dates a corrupt harbor cop, Jeppe.

Meanwhile, Ingrid and her friends go Russefeiring to fake a time migration. One of them, Maddie, is high on temproxate, which she stole from Lars. As she jumps into the water, a time flash simultaneously disgorges more migrants. Maddie is suddenly older, with rotten teeth and visions of the past. The girls are quarantined. Maddie suffers an identity crisis and begins praying devoutly. Towards the end of the season, Maddie journeys to an ancient church and digs up a sword and crucifix. She is met by a Christian Viking, Olaf.

Thorir remembers rescuing Alfhildr as a young girl wearing a modern life jacket while on his Viking boat, indicating that time migration is possible in both directions.

Season 2 of Beforeigners has Lars and Alfhildr investigate a series of brutal murders in Oslo, with ties to Jack the Ripper.[10][11] They are assisted by London police.[12] Lars is distracted when Ingrid has an affair with Sturla.[3][13] A recent time migrant claiming to be Olaf Haraldsson says he did not die at the Battle of Stiklestad.[13] Alfhildr is contacted by Volve, who has knowledge of her background.[3]

Sources:[15]

• Hedda Stiernstedt as the Völva: Viking-era former slave, later a witch and spiritual leader
• Paul Kaye as John Robert: theoretical physicist
• Billy Postlethwaite as Isaac: poses as English consultant, "Mr. Rubenstein"
• Jade Anouka as Adepero: poses as English police officer, "Precious Clark"
• Philip Rosch as Henry
• Herman Flesvig as Sturla: Norse weatherman
• Ann Akinjirin as Precious Clark: English police officer