Lilyhammer

Frank Tagliano, a New York mob fixer, turns state's evidence and asks for an unusual new life under witness protection: relocation to Lillehammer, Norway, which he nicknames Lilyhammer. He adopts a quieter identity, Giovanni "Johnny" Henriksen, but his instincts and methods don't exactly match Nordic rules. The series follows him as he sets up businesses, makes uneasy alliances with local residents and criminals, and tries to bend a sleepy town to his version of order, all while juggling secrecy, cultural misunderstandings, and the occasional old habit. The tone shifts between dark crime elements and deadpan comedy, keeping the focus on character and community rather than big action set pieces.

Released in 2012, the series was created by Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad and stars Steven Van Zandt, Paul Kaye, Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, Sven Nordin and Steinar Sagen. It was produced for Norwegian television and reached international audiences through streaming distribution.

The show received attention at home in Norway, earning several nominations at national television award events and helping raise profiles for cast and crew. Critics and industry observers often pointed to Van Zandt's casting as a standout element that drew international interest.

Lilyhammer left a noticeable mark by blending American mafia tropes with Scandinavian small-town life, making Lillehammer itself a recognizable location for viewers who might not have known it before. Van Zandt's performance and the oddball contrast of cultures sparked conversations about cross-cultural television, and the series helped pave the way for more globally minded productions featuring mixed casts and settings.

Overall reception leaned positive, reflected in a user vote average of 7.28/10 from 275 votes. Reviewers tended to praise the series' offbeat humor, the mismatch of criminal instincts against local norms, and its recurring themes of identity, reinvention, and the friction that comes when an outsider tries to reshape a community on their own terms.