Season 1 • Episode 10
LatestVan loses his assault rifle in a forest camp and goes to search it with Sergeant Parikka. Rachel, who still has quarrel with Stenu, is leaving home when a strange disease hits the commune.
Van Hamilton’s first ever trip to his mother’s homeland, Finland, takes a wrong turn as soon as he gets off the plane. The 23-year-old rich kid from California was supposed to have a five-star holiday with his girlfriend Rachel. Instead, he is handcuffed and sent to faraway army barracks to be trained as a commando. Van soon realises that this is not a mistake: he has fallen into a trap set by his parents, who hope that serving in a foreign army will finally turn their loved but spoiled son into a responsible man. Meanwhile, Rachel has to learn to survive in Helsinki without money or a return ticket. She becomes friends with Van’s cousin and his underground rap trio in hopes that familiarizing herself with the customs of the “Nordic white trash” will send her academic career in sociology skyrocketing.
Direction
Jalmari Helander's signature deadpan absurdism from Rare Exports
Production
Genuine Finnish army locations give authentic military boot camp grit
Acting
Kian Lawley commits fully to being the most punchable protagonist possible
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Creator Jalmari Helander is best known for the cult horror-comedy Rare Exports, which also weaponizes Finnish folklore and deadpan humor against arrogant outsiders.
The series satirizes Finland's mandatory military service, which still applies to all male citizens—a genuine cultural anxiety the show weaponizes for comedy.
FI
