Series synopsis
The Kingdom, also known as Riget is a comedy drama mystery television series that premiered on DR1 on November 24, 1994. It ended on October 30, 2022. It was created by Lars von Trier. It stars Ernst-Hugo Järegård, Kirsten Rolffes, Holger Juul Hansen and Søren Pilmark.
The Kingdom is the most technologically advanced hospital in Denmark, a gleaming bastion of medical science. A rash of uncanny occurrences, however, begins to weaken the staff's faith in science – a phantom ambulance pulls in every night, but disappears; voices echo in the elevator shaft; and a pregnant doctor's fetus seems to be developing much faster than is natural.
Premise
The Kingdom is the most technologically advanced hospital in Denmark, a gleaming bastion of medical science. A rash of uncanny occurrences, however, begins to weaken the staff's faith in science – a phantom ambulance pulls in every night, but disappears; voices echo in the elevator shaft; and a pregnant doctor's fetus seems to be developing much faster than is natural.
Premise: A baptism of fear awaits you at... THE KINGDOM
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Ernst-Hugo Järegård as Stig Helmer
- Kirsten Rolffes as Sigrid Drusse
- Holger Juul Hansen as Einar Moesgaard
- Søren Pilmark as Jørgen Krogshøj
- Ghita Nørby as Rigmor Mortensen
- Jens Okking as Bulder Harly Drusse
- Otto Brandenburg as Hansen
- Baard Owe as Palle Bondo
Supporting cast
- Birgitte Raaberg as Judith Petersen
- Peter Mygind as Morten 'Mogge' Moesgaard
- Vita Jensen as Opvasker #1
- Morten Rotne Leffers as Opvasker #2
- Solbjørg Højfeldt as Camilla
- Annevig Schelde Ebbe as Mary Krüger
- Birthe Neumann as Fru Svendsen
- John Hahn-Petersen as Nivesen
- Henning Jensen as Bob
- Bodil Jørgensen as Karen Svensson
- Mikael Persbrandt as Helmer Jr.
- Lars Mikkelsen as Pontopidan
Guest cast
- Erik Wedersøe as Ole
- Helle Virkner as Emma Mogensen
- Willem Dafoe as Grand Duc
- Bente Eskesen as Sygeplejerske på neurokirurgisk
- Julie Wieth as Sygeplejerske ved Mona
- Annette Ketscher as Skadestuesygeplejerske
- Birte Tove as Sygeplejerske på neurokirurgisk
- Ole Boisen as Christian
- Tomas Stender as Medicinstuderende
- Søren Lenander as Vagt
- Mette Munk Plum as Monas mor
- Lise Schrøder as Sygeplejerske
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 18 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 5 | ||
| Season 1 | 4 | November 24, 1994 | December 15, 1994 |
| Season 2 | 4 | November 1, 1997 | November 22, 1997 |
| Season 3 | 5 | October 9, 2022 | October 30, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | In Lars von Trier's Kingdom | |
| 2 | Portrait of Lars von Trier | |
| 3 | Featurette with Udo Kier |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Unheavenly Host Mrs Drusse, a hypochondriac psychic gets herself admitted to the Kingdom because she believes the hospital is haunted. Meanwhile, Dr Helmer, a Dane-hating Swede under investigation for malpractice joins the hospital's secret brethren. |
November 24, 1994 |
| 2 |
Thy Kingdom Come Mrs Drusse continues her investigation, Krogshøj steals the severed head from Mogge and uses it to blackmail him, while Bondo is at his wits' end when a patient's relative refuses to hand over his liver infected with a rare cancer. |
December 1, 1994 |
| 3 |
A Foreign Body Dr Helmer decides to steal the incriminating report but unbeknownst to him, Krogshøj has the same plan, Bondo wants to transplant the cancerous liver into himself, and Mrs Drusse finds out Mary didn't die of TB as reported. |
December 8, 1994 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Death on the Operating Table After Moesgaard's tour of the hospital, the director orders the Secret Brotherhood to investigate the hospital's problems. A sudden accident sends Drusse, who had been reluctantly discharged, back to the surgical ward. Despite her difficult delivery, Judith prepares to meet her baby. |
November 1, 1997 |
| 2 |
Birds of Passage After poisoning Krogshøj, Dr. Helmer fears another investigation will be launched and goes to help him. While recovering from her surgery, Mrs. Drusse attends a gathering with the restless spirits, but not everyone is welcome there. Judith's son continues to grow at an alarming rate. |
November 8, 1997 |
| 3 |
Gargantua Dr. Krogshøj's life hangs in the balance. Moesgaard manages to avert conflict in the ward, but the Kingdom remains in danger of falling apart. After coming face to face with the embodiment of Satan, Mrs. Drusse must rely on Bulder's knowledge of the Kingdom's deepest recesses. |
November 15, 1997 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Halmar A mysterious voice calls upon the sleep walker, Karen, during a nightmare. The Kingdom is in need of her assistance, and at the hospital, she finds an ally in the porter, Bulder. |
October 9, 2022 |
| 2 |
The Congress Dances Karen has a new vision that could possibly aid her in locating the voice. At The Kingdom, preparations are being made for the annual pain congress, but it seems that the demon, Grand Duc, is on the guest list. |
October 9, 2022 |
| 3 |
Big Brother Karen locates the spiritual core of The Kingdom. Helmer discovers what he was looking for at the hospital, but after a violent clash with Naver, he realizes that things do not always proceed according to plan. |
October 16, 2022 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | DR1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | November 24, 1994 |
| Last aired | October 30, 2022 |
| Runtime | 68 minutes |
| Status | ended |