Rita

Rita is centered on a fiercely independent, bluntly honest teacher who wins her students' loyalty but struggles to get along with the adults around her. She's confident in the classroom, quick with a joke or a reprimand, yet her private life is messy: relationships, parenting, and workplace politics all test her limits. The show balances her professional triumphs with very human setbacks, showing how someone who connects so well with kids can still have thorny, unresolved issues with partners, colleagues and authority figures.

Created by Christian Torpe and Marie Østerbye, Rita premiered in 2012 and stars Mille Dinesen as Rita Madsen, with Carsten Bjørnlund, Lise Baastrup and others in key roles. The series launched on Danish television and introduced international viewers to its lead through subsequent festival screenings and regional distribution.

While it didn't dominate international awards seasons, Rita received recognition at home, picking up nominations and attention at Danish television events. Critics often singled out Mille Dinesen for her energetic lead performance and praised the writing for its sharp, character-driven moments, even if big global trophies never followed.

Rita left a noticeable mark on Nordic TV culture by popularizing a teacher character who is messy, honest and unpredictably loyal. Her blunt lines and unconventional problem solving made her a frequent reference in discussions about modern schooling and parenting, and the show inspired active online fan communities and debate about adult behavior around children.

Critics and audiences generally responded well, reflected in a vote average of 7.467/10 from 91 votes. Reviewers pointed to the smart mix of comedy and drama, the moral ambiguity of the lead, and recurring themes like motherhood, workplace friction and the gap between adult roles and personal needs. The series finds humor in awkwardness and keeps emotional stakes grounded in everyday choices rather than big plot twists.