'Billionaire Island' Reviews: "gripping and creeps up on you suddenly, taking viewers by absolute surprise"

         On September 12, 2024, Netflix released 'Billionaire Island', which has received predominantly positive reviews from critics. In the series, "The ruthless owner of a Norwegian farm plans to buy out a local rival to become the world's largest salmon farmer." The ensemble cast includes Kåre Conradi, Svein Roger Karlsen, and Trine Wiggen. Read the full review round-up below.

        Jack Seale of Guardian notes, "Billionaire Island is the English translation of Milliardærøya, which is … a Norwegian dramedy about salmon farming. It is about wealthy people – the characters are the dominant entrepreneurs on an island that is a leading player in the global fishing industry – and the story combines a struggle for corporate power with family drama. In other words, Succession with salmon. But the series, created by Lilyhammer showrunners Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin, feels very Norwegian in its outlook and humour. It is dry, wry and droll. Its rewards take time to earn." Adding, "Do you find the line of dialogue “I brought you some fish balls to keep your strength up” inherently amusing? If not, Billionaire Island might leave you cold, but there are riches here beneath the surface."

       Archi Sengupta of LeisureByte.com says, "Billionaire Island is fantastic. It’s gripping and creeps up on you suddenly, taking viewers by absolute surprise. The family drama is what keeps things interesting from start to end, and by episode 6, it is hard to stop watching the show because you wonder who is going to backstab whom next. All in all, a very interesting watch."

       John Anderson of Wall Street Journal praises the series, stating, "There is a classic nighttime-soap-style ambience to this six-part season (with clearly more to come) and an ocean of narrative possibilities available with characters having so many problems and agendas." Concluding, "There is something inherently funny about fish being the subject of cutthroat corporate warfare. And as developed and written by Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin (the “Lilyhammer” creators), “Billionaire Island” also recognizes that there is something inherently humorous about cutthroat Norwegians. It isn’t a huge leap upstream to assume that most Americans view Scandinavians, generally, as sophisticated people who live in nations where big business is conducted with a certain civility. But the underhanded way in which the high-heeled Julia Lange (Trine Wiggen) is trying to wrest away the industrial salmon empire of the dyspeptic Gjert Meyer (Svein Roger Karlsen) is meant to give Norwegians a giggle, too. Largely because so many characters are so bad at being bad."

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